>> OKLAHOMA'S NEW TEN MOST WANTED LIST IS ALREADY RESULTING IN THE ARREST OF FUGITIVES.

>> YOUR VIEWERS WILL SEE ONE OF THESE GUYS AND GIVE US A TIP THAT WILL THEN GIVE US A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION THAT WE'LL GO IN WITH FULL FORCE, FIND THEM AND ARREST THEM.

>> THE "ROMEO SCAM" THAT IS TARGETING AND RUINING THE LIVES OF OKLAHOMA'S ELDERLY.

>> IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THESE ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS, MAYBE JUST ASK SOME QUESTIONS DELICATELY TO KIND OF FIND OUT IF THEY ARE A VICTIM OF A SCAM.

>> THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER IS SEARCHING FOR A NEW HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR INMATES.

>> THEY NO LONGER WANT TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE IN THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL BECAUSE THE JAIL IS CHRONICALLY UNDERSTAFFED AND IT'S NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

>> DONATIONS LARGE AND SMALL ENSURE THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMA CITY CHILDREN WILL HAVE A NEW COAT TO WEAR IN THE WINTERTIME.

>> AND PROVIDE THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE SECURITY OF KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE A COAT FOR THE WINTER.

>> THOSE STORIES, PLUS AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON THE ELECTION NOW JUST A MONTH AWAY.

>> NEXT ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT” >> Rich: HELLO EVERYONE, WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," I'M RICH LENZ.

>>> CAMMERS ARE TAKING NOTICE OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF AMERICANS GOING ONLINE IN SEARCH OF A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP.

ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, IN 2022, ALMOST 70,000 PEOPLE REPORTED BEING THE VICTIM OF A ROMEO SCAM AND THAT NUMBER IS ON THE RISE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH PART ONE OF A TWO PART SERIES ON HOW THE SCAM WORKS AND WHO IS BEING VICTIMIZED.

STEVE?

>> RICH, I TALKED ABOUT TULSA INTERNATIONAL AND WILL ROGERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ABOUT THIS ROMEO SCAM, LEAVING THESE PEOPLE IN SORROW, DISBELIEF, AND IN MANY CASES, WITH FINANCIAL WRECKAGE.

>> SO WHAT YEAR IS THIS CAR?

>> 2008.

>> IT'S YOUR DAD'S BABY?

>> YES, IT'S PART OF MY INHERITANCE.

>> HOW MANY MILES DO WE HAVE ON IT?

>> 125.

>> WILLIAM BELLAMY LIVES IN THE TULSA AREA AND LOST HIS 77-YEAR-OLD FATHER AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER IN MAY.

WE'RE NOT SHARING HIS PICTURE OR NAME BECAUSE THE EMBARRASSMENT THE FAMILY FEELS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR DAD BUT THEY WANT HIS STORY OUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO HELP OTHERS.

BELLAMY SAID HIS FAMILY FOUND A TRAGIC SECRET THAT BELLAMY'S FATHER KEPT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SCAM HE HAD FALLEN VICTIM TO A LONG TIME AGO BUT WOULDN'T ADMIT, EVEN TO HIMSELF.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF DETAILS AND HE WOULD NEVER DIVULGE ALL OF IT.

SO OF IT WE FIGURED OUT AFTER THINGS GOT BAD, SOME OF IT WE FIGURED OUT AFTER HE DIED.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS A WOMAN.

>> I THINK THE INDUSTRY IS MOSTLY MEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S MOSTLY MEN.

THAT'S WHY THEY WANT TO TEXT.

THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE A PHONE CONVERSATION OR A VIDEO CONVERSATION, THEY DON'T WANT TO MEET YOU IN PERSON.

THEY'RE NOT WOMEN.

>> THIS IS A PHOTO OF A YOUNG WOMAN THAT WILLIAM BELLAMY SAID HIS FATHER THOUGHT HE HAD BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH ONLINE SINCE 2019.

HERE ARE ALSO TEXT MESSAGES, THE ALLEGED MYSTERY WOMAN SENT TO BELLAMY'S DAD, CONSTANTLY ASKING FOR MONEY.

BELLAMY'S MOTHER DIED UNEXPECTEDLY IN 2016, SOMETHING THAT BELLAMY SAID HIS FATHER TOOK VERY HARD.

HE SAYS HIS FATHER ENDED UP SENDING THAT PERSON WHO AGAIN HE THOUGHT WAS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN IN NEED AT LEAST A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THAT'S PROBABLY ON THE LOW SIDE.

BY THE TIME BELLAMY'S FATHER DIED THIS PAST MAY.

>> IS IT SAFE TO SAY YOUR FATHER DIED HEARTBROKEN AND PENNILESS?

>> BASICALLY.

>> HOW MUCH?

>> WE'RE UNSURE.

HE TOLD ME AT ONE POINT IT WAS $24,000.

>> IT WAS A LOT MORE PROBABLY?

>> IT WAS WAY MORE.

HE GOT PHOTOS OF THE PERSON AND IT TOOK ME 2 SECONDS TO FIND THEM ON GOOGLE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THERE ARE MILLIONS, BILLIONS OF PEOPLE ONLINE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW EXIST, SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FIND SOMEBODY THAT IS POSTING A PICTURE ONLINE AND RIP IT OFF THE INTERNET.

>> BELLAMY SAYS THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS HIS FATHER MAY HAVE TRIED TO MEET HIS ALLEGED LOVE INTEREST AT THE NEARBY TULSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS.

ACCORDING TO THE POLICE CHIEF HERE AT TULSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THEY ARE NOW SEEING THE SPRAP -- SHRAPNEL OF THIS ROMEO SCAM AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

>> IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS ENGAGED IN THESE ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS, ASK THEM QUESTIONS DELICATELY TO SEE IF THEY'RE THE VICTIM OF A SCAM.

>> Reporter: POLICE CHIEF DALE HANSEN PUT A BULLETIN OUT ABOUT ROMEO SCAMS THAT HE SAYS ARE NOW PREVALENT AT THIS AIRPORT.

>> WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE ARRIVE AT A BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA, THEY WILL BE WAITING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

OUR POLICE OFFICERS WILL SEE THEM WAITING THERE AND WE WILL STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE COMING IN ON AN AIRPLANE.

WE HAVE DONE THIS JOB FOR A WHILE SO SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BREAK THE NEWS THAT MAYBE WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM IS A SCAM.

SO THAT'S HOW THAT CONVERSATION DEVELOPS.

>> WOMEN TOO?

>> YES.

>> NOT JUST ELDERLY FOLKS, PEOPLE YOUNGER.

>> YES, CORRECT.

>> HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN TODAY?

>> WE REACH OUT TO OUR PARTNERS AND WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE ABOUT WEEKLY OR ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY, WE'RE SEEING SOME FORM OF IT.

I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE INCIDENTS THAT HAVE GONE UNREPORTED BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE CRIMES THAT IT'S TOUGH TO ADMIT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED OR YOU GIVEN MONEY TO SOMEONE.

>> IT'S EMBARRASSING.

>> YES, IT HAS HAPPENED A LOT MORE THAN WE KNOW OF.

>> WILL ROGERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN OKLAHOMA CITY CERTAINLY IS NOT IMMUNE.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS OR A WELCOME SIGN.

WE SEE THEM FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND THEN YOU SEE THEM AGAIN AS YOU ARE LEAVING AT THE END OF THE DAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES WE HAVE SOME AIRPORT STAFF THAT WILL NOTICE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MULTIPLE HOURS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THEY WILL GO AND ASK THEM WHO ARE YOU WAITING FOR.

>> Reporter: WILL ROGERS INTERNATIONAL SPOKESPERSON STACY HAMM SAYS SHE REMEMBERS A SPECIFIC INCIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN AN ELDERLY MAN ARRIVED AT WILL ROGERS, EXPECTING TO HOOK UP WITH A WOMAN WHO TOLD HIM SHE WAS FLYING IN ON AN AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT THAT DID NOT EXIST.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD TURNED OVER HIS BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION, HE HAD LEFT THIS PERSON IN HIS WILL TO INHERIT EVERYTHING ONCE HE HAD PASSED ON.

>> Reporter: HAMM SAYS THAT ALLEGED SCAM ARTIST LAID IT ON SO THICK THAT THE ELDERLY MAN THOUGHT HIS ONLINE LOVE INTEREST WAS IN THE AIR FORCE AND WAS STATIONED AT A BASE IN COLORADO.

THIS SCAM IS DIABOLICALLY CRUEL THAT SOME OF THESE VICTIMS SHOW UP AT THE AIRPORT THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO PICK SOMEONE UP FLYING IN ON AN AIRLINE THAT THE REALITY IS THAT THE AIRLINE DOES NOT FLY IN AND OUT OF EITHER TULSA OR OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY TERRIBLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE ARE FALLING FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> IT'S FOR LOVE.

>> YEAH, JUST THE FACT THAT THERE ARE OTHER INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> THESE ARE NOT DUMB PEOPLE, THESE ARE SMART PEOPLE.

IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE SCAM.

>> THESE ARE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE WITH PEOPLE HERE, IN THE AIRPORT OF ALL PLACES.

THEIR EXPECTATION IS THEY'RE WAITING FOR THEIR POTENTIAL PARTNER TO STEP OFF THE AIRPLANE AND DEVELOP THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM IN PERSON.

WE FEEL LIKE WE TRY TO GIVE THEM SOME INFORMATION TO HELP THEM IN THAT PLACE BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

>> Reporter: ALL WILLIAM BELLAMY HAS LEFT FROM HIS DAD IS A 16-YEAR-OLD SEMI-RELIABLE AUTOMOBILE.

>> YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T MAKING HIS BILLS, HE TOOK OUT LOANS ON HIS HOUSE THAT HE OWNED OUTRIGHT, HE NEARLY LOST HIS HOUSE, AND HE WAS GOING AROUND TOWN ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY.

EVERYONE IN TOWN KNOWS ALL THIS STUFF.

IT'S HURTFUL AND IT TOOK MY OTHER BROTHER SAID IT TOOK A LOVING FAMILY MAN AND TURNED HIM INTO A DRUG ADDICT.

MY FAMILY HAD DEALT WITH ADDICTION NOT BECAUSE OF MY DAD AND IT WAS HARD.

THIS WAS WORSE.

AT LEAST -- AS CALLOUS AS IT SOUNDS, WHEN YOU BUY DRUGS, YOU HAVE DRUGS TO SHOW FOR IT.

THIS HE HAD NOTHING.

HE WAS HANDING HIS MONEY AWAY TO NOBODY.

[♪♪♪] >> NEEDLESS TO SAY, IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, POLICE ARE THERE TO ADVISE AND TO HELP BUT IN PART TWO OF MY SERIES NEXT WEEK, I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU WHY INVESTIGATORS TELL ME THAT IT'S SO HARD TO NAIL THESE THINGS DOWN AND PROSECUTE THE CRIMINALS.

RICH.

>> Rich: STEVE, REMARKABLE REPORTING, THANK YOU.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME OKLAHOMA HAS AN ONLINE 10 MOST WANTED LIST TO HELP CAPTURE CRIMINALS AND IT'S PROVING TO BE EFFECTIVE.

LAUNCHED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DRUMMOND, REWARDS ARE RANGING FROM $1,000 TO $10,000 IS AVAILABLE.

>> YOU COMMIT A CRIME AND ARE HARD TO FIND.

>> Reporter: IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A WEEK SINCE GET NER DRUMMOND LAUNCHED HIS 10 MOST WANTED WEBSITE.

HE WAS CAPTURED SHORTLY AFTER THE WEBSITE'S LAUNCH THANKS TO THE PUBLIC PROVIDING INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> EVERY ONE OF THESE FUGITIVES HAVE FRIENDS, HAVE ENEMIES, HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, HAVE COLLEAGUES.

THEY GO TO SOCIAL MEDIASITES.

THEY GO TO GROCERY STORES.

YOUR VIEWERS WILL SEE ONE OF THESE GUYS AND GIVE US A TIP THAT WILL THEN GIVE US A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION AND WE WILL GO IN WITH FULL FORCE AND ARREST THEM.

>> Reporter: THE OKLAHOMA SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUPS APPROVES TO ENLIST THE PUBLIC'S HELP TO SOLVING CRIMES AND CAPTURING CRIMINALS.

FOR HER, IT'S PERSONAL.

>> I THINK OKLAHOMA NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE WANTED PEOPLE OUT THERE.

I THINK FAR TOO OFTEN PEOPLE JUST ASSUME THAT CRIMINALS ARE CAUGHT.

I KNOW IN MY OWN CASE WITH MY SON'S HOMICIDE, PEOPLE ASSUME HIS CASE WAS SOLVED YEARS AGO.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS HER SON'S KILLER IS STILL AT-LARGE, 12 YEARS LATER.

WEBSITES AND OTHER TOOLS ARE VITAL TO KEEP OTHER CASES IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND.

>> IF IT'S NOT IN THE MEDIA THAT CASES ARE UNSOLVED AND PEOPLE ARE STILL WANTED, PEOPLE ASSUME THAT EVERYTHING IS GREAT AND FINE.

THEY MISSED A NEWS STORY THAT SOMEONE WAS ARRESTED AND TRIED AND CONVICTED.

THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OKLAHOMA AND THE STATE TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION, TO KNOW THAT THIS LIST IS OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE.

>> TO THE VIEWERS, IF YOU ENCOUNTER ONE OF THEM, ASSUME THEY ARE ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

DO NOT TAKE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS BUT GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THE CLUES WE NEED TO FIND THEM.

>> Reporter: TIPS COULD LEAD TO A REWARD OF $1,000 TO $10,000.

THE CRIMES COMMITTED IS WIDE RANGING.

WHILE THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE FBI'S MOST WANTED LIST, O-XZ OKLAHOMA IS ON THEIR OWN TO FIND THEIR FUGITIVES.

>> THE TEN MOST WANTED ARE FEDERAL FUGITIVES.

THESE ARE STATE-BASED FUGITIVES.

THE FBI IS NOT GOING TO COME INTO OKLAHOMA AND DO ANYTHING FOR US.

WE WILL DO IT FOR OURSELVES.

>> THERE WERE NINE MEN AND ONE WOMAN ON THE LIST, FROM THE CRIME OF MURDER TO CHILD MOLESTATION.

THAT'S WHAT PUT JUAN JOSE RIVERA-PENA ON THE LIST.

>> WE HAVE A PERSON THAT HAS COME INTO THE HOME, A MALE LIVING INSIDE THE HOME AS WE SO OFTEN SEE, AND HE INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHES THE GIRL, DOING INAPPROPRIATE THINGS WITH HER.

SHE EVENTUALLY TOLD HER MOTHER AND THAT CAUSED A PROBLEM FOR THE HOUSEHOLD WHERE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND ULTIMATELY A WARRANT WAS ISSUED FOR HIS ARREST.

>> Reporter: ALSO WANTED FOR A SIMILAR CRIME IN OKLAHOMA CITY, RODOLFO JAIME GONZALEZ.

>> THERE IS A MALE LIVING INSIDE THE HOME WHO IS NOT THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER OF THE VICTIM.

AGAIN, THE PERSON LIVING INSIDE THE HOME MAKES INAPPROPRIATE ADVANCES TOWARDS HER, TOUCHES INAPPROPRIATELY, LEWD PROPOSALS, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES, ULTIMATELY SAME THING, SAME TYPE OF THING HAPPENS.

HE ENDS UP WITH A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST.

>> THE OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAM WHICH IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALLOWS THE POLICE TO GIVE VITAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA IN PUBLIC HAS GIVEN US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOLVE CRIMES THAT NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED BEFORE BECAUSE FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE GET TO PUT THE MESSAGE OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW AT THEIR CONVENIENCE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO TURN ON THE NEWS AT 6:00 OR 10:00 TO WATCH A BRIEF SEGMENT ON IT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THEIR PHONE OR THEIR TABLET OR THEIR LAPTOP THAT THEY CAN VIEW IT AT ANY TIME.

>> Reporter: SARAH BURDINE AGREES, SOCIAL MEDIA IS AN EFFECTIVE CRIME FIGHTING TOOL.

>> I'M A BIG ADVOCATE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

I'M A BIG ADVOCATE OF REMINDING PEOPLE THROUGH MEDIA OUTLETS.

I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA HAS SUCH A BROAD REACH FOR PEOPLE AND IF YOU JUST WENT TO MY FAMILY AND ASKED THEM, RATHER THAN THE COMMUNITY AND ASKING THEM -- >> THIS ELECTION YEAR HAS BEEN SHAPED IN SOME RESPECT.

WE HAD SIX INCUMBENTS, THREE IN THE HOUSE, THREE IN THE SENATE WHO LOST IN THE PRIMARY OR THE PRIMARY RUN OFF ELECTIONS.

THESE ARE THE TOP TWO POSITIONS THAT ESSENTIALLY WERE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR SO THAT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE NOW I THINK AS WE GO INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION IS WHETHER THAT ANTI-INCUMBENCY FERVOR CARRIES INTO THESE OTHER RACES.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON NOVEMBER 5TH.

THERE IS THIS MOOD OUT THERE.

WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO CORRAL MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS THAT WAY SOMETIMES, SO WE'LL SEE IF REPUBLICANS EXPAND ON THEIR MAJORITIES ALREADY.

>> Rich: THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>>> SHELLEY ZUMWALT HAS ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT.

SHE LED THE AGENCY SINCE 2022, PRIOR TO THAT SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF TWO OTHER STATE AGENCIES.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT WILL CHOOSE HER REPLACEMENT.

SHELLEY ZUMWALT'S LAST DAY WILL BE OCTOBER 11TH.

>>> THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES HEALTHCARE FOR INMATES OF THE COUNTY JAIL IS LEAVING OCTOBER 9TH.

FOR MORE ON THE REASONS WHY AND WHAT THE JAIL OFFICIALS INTEND TO DO NEXT, I SPOKE WITH BRIANNA BAILEY, WITH OUR CONTENT PARTNERS AT THE FRONTIER.

>> TELL US MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY'S TURNKEY HEALTH.

>> THIS WAS A COMPANY THAT WAS FOUNDED IN OKLAHOMA.

THEY PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AT JAILS ACROSS THE STATE.

SINCE THEY WERE FOUNDED IN 2009, THEY HAVE RAPIDLY GROWN AND NOW THEY ARE SERVING JAILS IN AT LEAST 10 STATES THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND.

>> DID THEY GIVE ANY SPECIFIC REASONS FOR WALKING AWAY FROM THIS CONTRACT?

>> TURNKEY HEALTH SAYS THEY NO LONGER WANT TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL BECAUSE THE JAIL IS CHRONICALLY UNDERSTAFFED AND IT'S NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO BE IN.

THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO PRISONERS INSIDE THE JAIL.

>> DID THIS CATCH OFFICIALS BY SURPRISE OR WERE THEY EXPECTING THIS?

>> THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL WAS SUPPOSED TO RENEW THEIR CONTRACT WITH TURN KEY EARLIER THIS YEAR BUT THEY POSTPONED VOTING ON A NEW CONTRACT, AND THE COMPANY WAS IN THE JAIL WORKING MONTHS AND MONTHS.

WE FOUND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE MANY HIGH LEVEL PROVIDERS THAT ARE WORKING IN THE JAIL.

THERE ARE NOT MANY DOCTORS.

A LOT OF TIMES, THE PEOPLE IN THE JAIL ARE LOW LEVEL NURSING ASSISTANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF THE HEALTHCARE FROM ACTUAL DOCTORS ARE COMING FROM PROVIDERS THAT MAY SEE YOU OVER AN iPAD SCREEN AND MIGHT BE SERVICING PATIENTS IN JAILS IN OTHER STATES MAYBE.

THEY'RE SPREAD THIN.

>> SO WHAT ABOUT THE FACILITIES INSIDE THE JAIL, WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEM AS ADEQUATE?

>> YEAH, THE JAIL IS NOT REALLY SET UP TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE VERY WELL FOR THE DETAINEES.

THEY HAVE A SMALL MEDICAL CLINIC ON THE TOP FLOOR OF THE JAIL.

IT IS POORLY DESIGNED.

THAT'S BEEN A COMPLAINT FROM THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE JAIL FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE FACILITIES.

ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE ELEVATORS AT THE JAIL OFTEN BREAK DOWN.

THAT MAKES IT HARD FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO REACH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN THEIR CELL.

>> BRIANNA, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE INMATE POPULATION AT THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL?

ANY RED FLAGS THERE OR IS THAT INFORMATION YOU ARE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN?

>> PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF PROVIDING HEALTHCARE IN JAIL IS THAT YOU HAVE A POPULATION THAT IS VERY SICK, PROBABLY SICKER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE JAIL, THEY'RE OFTEN WITHDRAWING FROM DRUGS, THEY ARE SOMETIMES HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

THEY PROBABLY DID NOT HAVE VERY GOOD ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE BEFORE THEY WERE ARRESTED, SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ARRESTED.

ONCE THEY ARE BOOKED INTO THE JAIL, IT'S THE JAIL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE FOR THE DETAINEES IN THE JAIL.

THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE.

SO, IT CAN BE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE AND CHALLENGING TO DO AT ANY JAIL.

>> BRIANNA, WHAT IS THE LATEST ON FINDING A NEW HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR THE COUNTY JAIL?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THEY MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING IS INSTEAD OF HIRING A PRIVATE COMPANY TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, IT'S HIRING THEIR OWN DOCTOR THAT WOULD HAVE NURSES WORKING UNDER THEM.

>> COME OCTOBER 9TH, TURN KEY HEALTH WALKS AWAY FROM THE COUNTY JAIL.

BRIANNA BAILEY, THE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE FRONTIER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Rich: THANKS TO SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS FOR SHARING THE PROPOSED DETAILS OF THE BUDGET.

SOME LAWMAKERS ARE VOICING OPPOSITION TO IT.

THEIR MAIN OBJECTION IS USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PAY FOR BIBLES IN SCHOOL CLASSROOMS.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON HAS OUR REPORT.

>> IN A UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS APPROVED A $4.1 BILLION BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE 2026 YEAR.

RYAN WALTERS WHO SITS ON THE OETA BOARD BY VIRTUE OF HIS ELECTED POSITION AND SET $3 MILLION WOULD GO TOWARDS PURCHASING BIBLES FOR SCHOOLS.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT ENSURING THAT OUR HISTORY COURSES INCLUDES THE ROLE THE BIBLE PLAYED THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE EFFORTS OF LEFT-WING GROUPS AND THE TEACHERS UNIONS TO DRIVE THE BIBLE OUT OF SCHOOL.

I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR OUR KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THE BIBLE PLAYED.

>> Reporter: THE ALLOCATION WOULD BE ADDITIVE TO $3 MILLION THE BOARD HAS ALREADY AUTHORIZED TO BE USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF BIBLES.

>> THIS WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE $6 MILLION IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS TO ENSURE THAT THE BIBLE HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF OKLAHOMA CLASSROOMS AND WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT STEP FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWING THE LEFT TO CENSOR AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> Reporter: WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MARK McBRIDE.

HOWEVER, HIS LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT DID TELL US McBRIDE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH BIBLES BEING IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT THAT THEY SHOULD BE DONATED AND NOT PURCHASED WITH APPROPRIATED MONEY.

McBRIDE WENT ON TO TELL HIS ASSISTANT THIS WAS NEVER MENTIONED IN ANY BUDGET REQUEST.

I'M CURIOUS WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE COMING FROM.

I AM ALSO A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

THIS APPEARS TO BE THE BEGINNING OF STATE SPONSORED RELIGION.

EDUCATION BOARD MEMBER SARAH HE PACK SHARES SIMILAR CONCERNS AT LAST THURSDAY'S MEETING.

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED WITH ANYONE WHO HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH ME.

I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ANY KIND OF IDEA AND I KNOW YOU SAID THIS IS NOT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, ANY IDEA ABOUT ESTABLISHING SOME KIND OF STATE RELIGION, DOING THINGS THAT MAY END UP FAVORING ONE RELIGION OVER ANOTHER, OR WHATEVER ELSE IT IS THAT WE MAY NEED TO CONSIDER UNDER THE 1ST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION.

>> Reporter: DEMOCRATIC LEADER DISAGREES WITH THE FUNDS TO BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM.

HE WANTS TO USE MILLIONS IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SOMETHING THAT THE MAJORITY OF OKLAHOMANS ARE ADMITTEDLY AGAINST, WHILE OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS REMAIN SOME OF THE MOST UNDERFUNDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NATION.

OKLAHOMA RANKS 45th IN THE UNITED STATES FOR PER STUDENT EXPENDITURES AND OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE PAID MORE THAN $10,000 LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE SALARY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS.

THERE ARE MAJOR GAPS IN FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OKLAHOMA AND YET THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT CONTINUES TO ABANDON THE NEEDS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PUSH FOR POLICY THAT DO NOT BENEFIT TEACHERS, STUDENTS, OR FAMILIES.

HE HAS AND CONTINUES TO FAIL US IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WALTERS DID NOT SPECIFY WHERE THE $3 MILLION TO PURCHASE BIBLES WOULD COME FROM, HOWEVER HE DID MENTION THAT HE PREFERRED THAT THE KING JAMES VERSION OF BIBLES BE USED.

IF APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE, WALTERS'S PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD INCREASE BY $103 MILLION.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: THE BUDGET REQUEST INCLUDED A REQUEST FOR $85 MILLION FOR A FLEXIBLE BENEFIT ALLOWANCE, 4 MILLION FOR PATERNITY LEAVE, AND $10.8 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

WALTERS IS ASKING FOR $500,000 TO FUND A SCHOOL SECURITY PILOT PROGRAM THAT WOULD TRAIN EDUCATORS ON HOW TO CARRY AN USE FIREARMS.

>> SO THAT A TEACHER, AN ADMIT -- ADMINISTRATOR, SUPPORT STAFF FITTING FOR THE ROLE COULD CARRY ON CAMPUS IN ALIGNMENT TO THE POLICY TO ENSURE PROTECTION TO THE STUDENTS IN THAT DISTRICT.

WE WOULD PROVIDE SIGNAGE TO THE DISTRICT LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT CARRY ON THE SITE TO ENSURE THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NOT TARGETED BY EVIL INDIVIDUALS THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAVE BEEN TARGETING OUR SCHOOLS.

>> Reporter: THE BUDGET DID NOT REQUEST FUNDS FOR IMAGINE MATH AND IMAGINE READING PROGRAMS, BUT WALTERS IS ONCE AGAIN ASKING FOR MONEY TO EVALUATE TEACHERS.

>> LASTLY, WE HAVE A TEACHER LEADER EFFECTIVENESS PROGRAM.

THIS IS OUR EVALUATION MODEL.

WE ASK FOR $250,000 LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT GET IT.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

I WILL TELL YOU ALL, I WANT YOU TO BE UP TO SPEED ON THIS.

THERE HAD BEEN CONVERSATIONS IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH DOING AWAY WITH THE T.L.E.

THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS PROPOSED, BUT THAT'S BEEN A CONVERSATION.

I ASKED FOR THIS IN THE BUDGET TO ENSURE THAT IF THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM AND WE CONTINUE ADMINISTERING IT HERE AS AN AGENCY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TEACHERS UNDERSTAND HOW THEY ARE BEING EVALUATED.

>> Reporter: STATE AGENCIES SEND THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE LEGISLATURE, BUT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST.

THEY HAVE SET TO CONVENE IN 2025.

TAELYR JACKSON, "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> Rich: TAYLOR, THANK YOU.

IT DOESN'T FEEL COLD IN OKLAHOMA YET BUT YOU KNOW IT'S COMING.

THE ON CUE COMPANY GATHERED AT EUGENE FIELD ELEMENTARY TO DISTRIBUTE HUNDREDS OF NEW WINTER COATS AS THEIR COAT-A-KID PROGRAM.

THEIR GOAL IS TO RAISE $130,000 AND DISTRIBUTE 6,500 NEW COATS THIS WINTER.

>> THERE IS SUCH A NEED.

OVER 90% OF OUR STUDENTS LIVE IN FAMILIES THAT ARE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

OUR FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING.

THAT'S WHERE WE STEP IN AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE ASKING OUR COMMUNITY FOR HELP.

$20 BUYS A NEW WONDERFUL WINTER COAT FOR A CHILD IN NEED.

>> ONE REASON IT MATTERS IS BECAUSE WE ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS AS THE WEATHER CHANGES, THEN OKLAHOMA, THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE IN A HEARTBEAT.

OUR STUDENTS WILL HAVE A COAT TO WALK TO AND FROM SCHOOL.

SO WE SAY A GENEROUS THANK YOU TO ON CUE FOR THIS DONATION.

>> Rich: ON KUDO NATED $10,000 TO THEIR GOAL OF $130,000.

>>> THE LOSS OF LIFE RESULTING FROM HURRICANE HELENE IS HEARTBREAKING.

HUNDREDS ARE STILL MISSING AND THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY WASHED AWAY.

IT'S SO OFTEN THE CASE AFTER DISASTER.

OKLAHOMANS ARE STEPPING UP TO HELP WITH THE RECOVERY.

AS WE LEARN IN THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> MUTUAL ASSISTANCE CREWS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO GEORGIA, WORKING 16-HOUR SHIFTS.

THEY COULD REMAIN IN THE SOUTHEAST FOR UP TO 14 DAYS AND THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED INTO ACTION SINCE MAY.

THEIR LAST DEPLOYMENT WAS LESS THAN A MONTH AGO WHEN THEY TRAVELED TO LOUISIANA IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE FRANCINE.

OKLAHOMA COMPANIES ARE LAGGING BEHIND OTHERS IN THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO ADOPTING AI TECHNOLOGY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS FROM THE BUSINESS TREND AND OUTLOOK SURVEY.

3.5% OF SERVICES USE AI IN THE SOONER STATE.

5% SAY THEY WILL ADOPT AI PRACTICES IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

THE HIGHEST USES ARE FOUND IN WESTERN STATES AND SELECT STATES IN THE EAST NATIONALLY, ALMOST 27% OF BUSINESSES ARE USING AI TO REPLACE EMPLOYEE TASKS.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS INCLUDED IN A MONEY.COM ANNUAL LISTING OF THE 50 BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

MONEY REPORTS A FRIENDLY BUSINESS CLIMATE, PLUS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE THAT INCLUDES THE CONVENTION CENTER MAKES THE 20th POPULAR CITY A GREAT PLACE TO START A BUSINESS AND RAISE A FAMILY.

OKLAHOMA'S TOTAL REVENUE IN AUGUST ROSE ALMOST 2% FROM AUGUST 2023.

THE STATE TREASURY SAID GROSS RECEIPTS INCREASED $24.2 MILLION FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS.

THE GROSS PRODUCTION TAX, INCOME TAXES, MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES ALL ROSE IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

BASS PRO SHOPS AND CABELA'S WILL HOLD A HIRING FAIR WITH A GOAL OF HIRING 4,000 SEASONAL AND PART TIME AND FULL TIME WORKERS.

ONSITE INTERVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA OR YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE AT BASSPRO.COM/CAREERS.

>> THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> Rich: SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE IS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

THEY BUILD BEDS FOR CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE ONE TO SLEEP IN.

LAST SATURDAY, ABOUT 30 VOLUNTEERS GATHERED AT THE MEMORIAL ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST IN EDMOND WHO SAW SANTA CONSTRUCT BEDS THAT WOULD BE DELIVERED THE NEXT DAY.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT'S PRETTY DIFFICULT FOR A CHILD SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR OR COUCH TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP SO THESE BEDS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE KIDS THAT RECEIVE THEM.

ALL FIVE OF OKLAHOMA'S CONGRESSIONAL SEATS ARE UP FOR GRABS ON NOVEMBER 5TH.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER INTERESTING RUN OFF RACES TO DETERMINE THE MAKE UP OF THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE AS WELL, PLUS OF COURSE WE ELECT A NEW PRESIDENT NEXT MONTH.

FOR MORE ON ALL THAT HERE IS MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD WITH A PANEL OF OKLAHOMA POLITICAL REPORTERS.

>> RICH, JOINING ME IS PAUL MONIES AND SHAWN ASHLE.

WHILE BOTH OF YOU WILL BE HERE ON NOVEMBER 5TH FOR OUR HOUR LONG COVERAGE ON ELECTION RESULTS, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU TO JOIN US HERE ON IN-DEPTH.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

SHAWN AS SOMEONE WHO COVERS OKLAHOMA POLITICS, WHAT ARE THE TOP BIG RACES OFFER ISSUES THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL WHAT WE NEED TO REALIZE IS THIS ELECTION YEAR HAS BEEN SHAPED IN SOME RESPECT.

WE HAD SIX INCUMBENTS, THREE IN THE HOUSE AND THREE IN THE SENATE, WHO LOST IN THE PRIMARY OR THE PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

TWO OF THOSE WERE TOP LEADERS, ONE FROM EACH CHAMBER.

PRO TEM GREG LOST HIS RACE AND ON THE SENATE'S SIDE, HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGET CHAIRMAN KEVIN WALLACE LOST HIS RACE ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

THESE ARE THE TOP TWO POSITIONS THAT ESSENTIALLY WERE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE NOW I THINK AS WE GO INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION IS WHETHER THAT ANTIINCUMBENCY FERVOR CARRIES ON TO THESE OTHER RACES.

>> EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> WE SEE THAT THE ELECTORATE TURNS AGAINST THOSE INCUMBENTS, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SERVING IN OFFICE.

WE SAW THAT WITH THE SIX WHO ALREADY LOST THIS YEAR.

A LARGE NUMBER OF RACES WERE ALREADY DECIDED EITHER ON FILING DAY WHEN SOMEBODY DID NOT DRAW AN OPPONENT OR IN THE PRIMARIES.

THERE REALLY IS NOT A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE RACES ON THE BALL LOSS THIS YEAR, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM THAT COULD BE FACING THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> PAUL, WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THIS WILL HAVE ON THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN OKLAHOMA?

>> YEAH, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON NOVEMBER 5TH.

LIKE SHAWN SAID, THERE IS AN ANTI-INCUMBENCY MOOD OUT THERE.

WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO CORRAL MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS THAT WAY SOMETIMES, SO WE SEE IF REPUBLICANS EXPAND ON THEIR MAJORITIES ALREADY.

THAT'S ALREADY CAUSED SOME FRICTION IN THE SENATE THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH SOME VERY CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS MAKING PROBLEMS AND MAKING ISSUES WITH THE -- WE DID SEE IN THIS LAST SESSION AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT TOWARDS THE END THERE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STILL SOME CALLS OUT OF THAT.

YOU DECIDED WHO IS IN THE ROOM AT THAT POINT AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THE VOICE AND THE DEMOCRATS FELT E-XZ EXCLUDED FROM THAT, IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AS WELL.

THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THAT GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND, THAT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF DISCORD INTERNALLY IN THESE CAUCUSES.

ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, WE'LL SEE IF THE DEMOCRATS CAN EXPAND SOME OF THEIR SEATS TOO.

>> SHAWN, ARE THERE STATE RACES THAT ARE UNDER THE RADAR THAT CAN SURPRISE US COME ELECTION DAY?

>> I'M NOT LOOKING AT SPECIFICATION -- SPECIFIC RACES, I'M LOOKING AT THE PURPLE DISTRICTS, DISTRICTS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST A FLIP-FLOP BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND THERE ARE A FEW OF THOSE.

THERE ARE ONE OR TWO OTHERS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN SOME MOVEMENT AROUND A PARTICULAR DISTRICT, WHERE WE'VE SEEN INDIVIDUALS LOSE AND WE MIGHT SEE SOMEONE CHALLENGED IN A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT.

I LIVE IN HOUSE DISTRICT 45.

I THINK MY CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE IS THE FIFTH REPRESENTATIVE I'VE HAD SINCE I'VE LIVE IN THAT DISTRICT AND I HAD DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT AGAIN.

SO THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS LIKE THAT OR THE POTENTIAL TO BE LIKE THAT, SO THAT IS WHAT I WILL BE WATCHING FOR ON ELECTION NIGHT.

>> WHAT KIND OF CAUSES THAT MIX UP?

>> WELL, IT'S REALLY GROWN QUITE INTERESTING.

IT USE TO BE BECAUSE VOTER REGISTRATIONS WERE EVENLY SPLIT.

YOU HAD ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS AND THE SAME NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS AND THEN IT WAS A MATTER OF TURNOUT.

THERE IS A NEW ELEMENT IN THAT NOW AND THAT'S THE INDEPENDENT VOTER.

ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS OF REGISTRATION IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

IN MY DISTRICT, I HAVE NOT HEARD WORD ONE FROM EITHER CANDIDATE WHO IS RUNNING TO BE MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

THAT WAS THE SAME TWO YEARS AGO.

THAT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TARGETING THE INDEPENDENTS.

THE INDEPENDENTS WILL DECIDE WHO WINS THAT RACE BECAUSE THE HOUSE, THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN REGISTRATION IS ROUGHLY EQUAL AND TURNOUT IS ROUGHLY EQUAL BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

THE INDEPENDENTS WILL DECIDE THAT RACE.

>> COULD WE SEE THAT HAPPENING ON A STATE LEVEL?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE BUT IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF WORK AND IT WOULD HAVE -- IT WOULD BE A UNIQUE CANDIDATE ON THE STATEWIDE LEVEL TO DO THAT.

>> THIS IS A QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, ARE THERE ANY SHIFTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN OR HEARD WHISPERS THAT MAY IMPACT VOTER DECISION.

>> TURNOUT WILL BE A KEY, YOU ARE SEEING THE ABSENTEE MAN-IN BALLOTS.

I THINK THE DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 21ST TO REQUEST THAT.

SO BY PARTY WHICH ONES ARE REQUESTING THAT, NOT FOR A LONG TIME FOR THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE, THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS BY REPUBLICANS TO LIMIT THAT AND NOW HERE IN THE STATE, WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

WE HAVE STAYED TRUE TO THAT.

OF COURSE COVID WAS A SPECIAL CASE.

WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, SO WHO WILL BE REQUESTING THOSE ABSENTEE BALLOTS SO THEY CAN GET WHAT THEY WANT.

>> MOVING TO THE MAYORAL RACE QUICKLY HERE, PAUL, WHAT ARE THE DEFIING ISSUES IN THE RACE AND HOW WILL THAT SHAPE THE OUTCOME?

>> SO WE HAVE OUR FINAL TWO CANDIDATES.

WE HAD THE PRIMARY IN AUGUST AND THIRD PLACE NORMAN WAS CLOSE BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

HE DIDN'T GET THE VOTES HE WANTED SO THERE ARE TWO CANDIDATES IN THAT RACE.

KAREN IN TULSA COUNTY.

MONROE, A LONG TIME STATE REP, STILL HAD BEFORE HE RAN FOR MAYOR, HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ANYMORE, BUT I THINK A TURN LEFT.

HE LEFT BEFORE HIS TERM ENDED TO RUN FOR MAYOR IN TULSA.

IT'S BEEN A COMPETITIVE FEW WEEKS.

THINGS HAVE COME UP WITH THE POLICE FUNDING, MUNICIPAL RACES, MAYORAL RACES, AND YOU KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUES WITH SOME OF THE ABUSE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE TULSA COUNTY JUVENILE CENTER AND HE WAS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

SO OF COURSE TULSA ITSELF, JUST OPENED UP ITS NEW KIND OF LAKE ON THE RIVER THERE AND SO THE IDEAS OF GETTING BEHIND CIVIC IMPROVEMENT, THAT IS A BIG PART OF THAT RACE TOO, I THINK.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK SHAWN?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN IS LIKE PAUL MENTIONED, WE HAD A PRIMARY IN THIS RACE AND NOW WE'RE ESSENTIALLY IN A RUN OFF BUT GENERAL ELECTION SETTING.

SO THE CANDIDATES NOT ONLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH UNDECIDED VOTERS, THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH VOTERS WHO VOTED FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATE.

THEY HAVE TO DRAW THEM TO THEIR CAMP.

WHETHER THEY HAVE DONE THAT OR NOT, WE WON'T YET KNOW.

WE WILL KNOW ON NOVEMBER 5TH.

THAT'S A UNIQUE CHALLENGE OPPOSED TO GOING TO A GENERAL ELECTION AGAINST A SINGLE OPPONENT.

>> HOW WOULD THEY DO THAT?

WHAT METHODS WOULD THEY USE?

>> THEY HAVE TO SHOW HOW THEY ARE SIMILAR TO THEIR PREVIOUS OPPONENT, WHICH CAN BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES.

IF WE THINK BACK TO THE MOST RECENT VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE FOR EXAMPLE, WE SAW THEM DRAWING DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THEMSELVES BUT ALSO AGREEING ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

SO NOW THEY HAVE TO SAY, I AGREED WITH MY OPPONENT ON THIS ISSUE IN ORDER TO GET SOME OF THOSE VOTES.

>> WELL, MOVING ON TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE V.P.

'S DEBATE EARLIER THIS WEEK?

SHAWN, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> IT WAS INTERESTING.

APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT THEY DID DISCUSS A LOT OF ISSUES AND THEY FOCUSSED VERY DIRECTLY ON THEM, RATHER THAN AVOIDING THEM.

IN SOME CASES, THEY WERE RATHER SPECIFIC IN THEIR CAMPAIGN'S INDIVIDUAL PLANS, MORE SO THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

THE QUESTION OF VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES IS ALWAYS WHAT IMPACT DO THEY HAVE ON THE ELECTORATE?

WILL THEY INFLUENCE SOMEBODY TO VOTE FOR ONE CANDIDATE OR THE OTHER IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN?

GENERALLY STUDIES SHOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT BIG OF AN IMPACT, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE PLAY THIS GAME FOR A REASON.

WE HAVE ELECTIONS FOR A REASON.

WE'LL SEE WHAT INFLUENCE THAT MAY HAVE HAD COME NOVEMBER 5TH.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK PAUL?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY WELL WONKY DEBATE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SUBSTANCE, I THINK, COMPARED TO THE FIRST DEBATE WHERE THERE WAS MORE OF SCORE SETTLING OR POINTS TO MAKE IN TERMS OF QUICK TURNAROUNDS FOR PERSONALTY-BASED ATTACKS.

IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT POLICY BUT THEY HAVE THE REHEARSED LINES.

IT FELT MORE SUBSTANTIVE THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE EARLIER, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS MORE FOCUSED ON SCORING POINTS.

>> AND PERSONAL ATTACKS.

PAUL, WITH OKLAHOMA BEING A CONSERVATIVE STATE, DO WE FORESEE ANY SURPRISES WITH VOTER TURNOUT OR BEHAVIOR IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THIS YEAR?

>> ARE ANY COUNTIES GOING TO GO FOR THE DEMOCRATS?

IT'S UNLIKELY GIVEN PAST PERFORMANCES.

YOU KNOW, OKLAHOMA COUNTY MIGHT BE THE ONE THAT DRAWS THAT, BUT IT'S STILL -- IT CAME CLOSE IN 2020, BUT IT'S STILL A TRUMP COUNTY, AND TULSA COUNTY WAS FAIRLY SIMILAR.

YOU KNOW, LIKE SHAWN SAID EARLIER, THE ELECTORATE, THEY'RE UNSETTLED, THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS A HALF INCUMBENT RACE WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT RUNNING.

SO WE'LL SEE THAT.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY SURPRISE IF ONE OF THE COUNTIES WOULD TURN BLUE BUT EVEN THAT, I THINK IT'S A LONG SHOT.

>> SHAWN, ANY SURPRISES?

>> I SORT OF LIKE TO LOOK AT TURNOUT AND SEE HOW THEY COMPARE TO PREVIOUS YEARS.

IN THIS CASE, WITH DONALD TRUMP, HE IS TWICE BEEN ON THE BALLOT.

WILL HE DO AS WELL IN OKLAHOMA THIS YEAR AS HE DID THOSE PREVIOUS TIMES?

AS PAUL MENTIONED, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS AN INCUMBENT OF SORTS, RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY, AND SEE HOW SHE DOES COMPARED TO JOE BIDEN AND HER CAMPAIGN FOUR YEARS AGO WILL BE INTERESTING.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A GUESS AT THOSE NUMBERS, BUT I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY WILL TURN OUT.

>> Cassidy: WELL, LIKE WE MENTIONED BEFORE, PAUL HISTORICALLY VOTER TURNOUT IN OKLAHOMA HAS BEEN RELATIVELY VERY LOW, DO WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT TREND COVER IN NOVEMBER OR MORE WILL BE HEADING TO THE POLLS?

>> TURNOUT IS HIGHER IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLES, BUT IT'S NOT A TON OF EXTRA VOTERS GOING.

IT'S A COUPLE PERCENTAGE POINTS IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR AND IT'S PRETTY STANDARD ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL IN TERMS OF THOSE CYCLES AND TURNOUTS.

YEAH, OKLAHOMA, YOU KNOW, WILL SEE ON ELECTION DAY, BUT I KIND OF -- YOU HAD SOME INTEREST IN SOME OF THE REGISTRATION AND THE SUMMER, AND THE PRIMARIES HELPED OUT A LITTLE BIT.

THE DEMOCRATS WERE NOT SUPER EXCITED ABOUT A LOT OF RACES.

THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY RACES FOR THEM.

SO YOU KNOW, VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND TURNOUT WILL BE KEY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK BOTH PARTIES AND THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THEM, KNOW IT'S A TURNOUT GAME AND YOU NEED YOUR SUPPORTERS OUT THERE AND ANIMATED AND BRING THEIR FRIENDS TO THE POLLS TOO.

>> Cassidy: DO YOU EXPECT THIS ELECTION TO BREAK THAT TREND?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

I THINK WE WILL BE IN THE UPPER 60s PERCENTAGES LIKE WE NORMALLY ARE IN PRESIDENTIAL YEARS.

REALLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH, I DON'T THINK, FROM THE STATE PARTIES IN TERMS OF VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS, AT LEAST NOT YET.

AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION, WE MAY SEE THAT TURN AROUND.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THE VOTERS FELT ABOUT THE PURGE OF VOTERS OR HOW THAT NEWS WAS DISPLAYED TO THEM?

>> IT WAS INTERESTING.

IT WAS A LARGE NUMBER, 450,000 PLUS OVER THE BETTER PART OF 3.5 YEARS, BUT REALLY THE REASON THOSE VOTERS WERE PURGED IS ESTABLISHING STATE STATUTE.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THE NUMBER OVER THREE YEARS IS RATHER SURPRISING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT SEEMS TO BE THOSE ARE VOTERS WHO SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT, THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER ALIVE HAVE MOVED ON TO OTHER STATES AND OTHER QUALIFYING FACTORS.

I DON'T THINK THAT WILL NEGATIVELY EFFECT TURNOUT.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY ON THE ROLLS, WHO MAY NOW GO OUT TO VOTE.

>> YEAH.

IF I COULD JUST ADD THAT THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 11TH, WHICH IS PRETTY SOON.

SO, I THINK THAT ISSUE WITH THE PURGING OF THE ROLLS AND LIKE SHAWN SAID, OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD.

IT SOUNDED LIKE A BIG HEADLINE NUMBER.

THEY DO THIS EVERY MONTH AND THEY DO THIS UNDER STATUTE.

IT'S THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO IT BUT WITH OTHER STATES NATIONALLY, FOCUSING ON THESE ISSUES TOO, FLORIDA, TEXAS, SIMILAR KIND OF THING, AND NOW IN A SIMILAR WAY, I THINK NO ONE WOULD DISAGREE WITH THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE THAT AREN'T THERE, DEAD PEOPLE OR THOSE WHO MOVED TO OTHER STATES.

IT INCREASES THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE.

I THINK OKLAHOMA OFFICIALS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB TO REINFORCE THAT WE HAVE A VERY SAFE AND SECURE ELECTION SYSTEM HERE IN THE STATE.

THERE IS A PAPER TRAIL, SO TO SAY, AND WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE MAY HAVE SEEN CALLED TO ATTENTION IN PREVIOUS ELECTION CYCLES.

>> Cassidy: THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON NOVEMBER 5TH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Rich: GREAT CONVERSATION.

WELL, NOW YOU KNOW HOW EMOTIONAL IT IS TO SAY GOODBYE TO A SICK OR DYING PET, BUT HOW MUCH BETTER WOULD IT BE IF YOU COULD DO THAT IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME?

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE ARE GOING TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON WHERE A VETERINARIAN OFFERS HEARTFELT HOUSE CALLS TO MAKE A DIFFICULT DECISION A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE.

[♪♪♪] >> TO BE ABLE TO HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THAT EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS THE WORST DAY YOU HAVE WITH YOUR PET, THE DAY YOU HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE AND BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT, TO BE SURROUNDED BY LOVE.

IT'S THE MOST REWARDING WORK THAT I DO.

IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE.

I'M DR. SUSAN THOMAS.

I AM A SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARIAN.

I GRADUATED IN 2000 AND IN 2010, THE DOGS THAT I GRADUATED WITH, MY PERSONAL DOGS WERE ALL AGING.

I HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT HOW I WOULD APPROACH THEIR END OF LIFE.

I WAS WORKING AT AN EMERGENCY HOSPITAL AT THE TIME AND I WAS LIKE I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO WORK TO DO THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO BE OUT IN PUBLIC.

I DON'T WANT MY PET TO BE SCARED OR WORRIED OR ANXIOUS ABOUT BEING AT THE HOSPITAL.

WHEN I LOOKED FURTHER INTO IT, THERE WAS LITERALLY NOBODY PROVIDING IN-HOME END OF LIFE SERVICES.

SO I STARTED MY OWN MOBILE PRACTICE DOING IN-HOME EUTHANASIA IN 2010, IT WAS CALLED PEACEFUL PASSING.

IT'S THE WAY I WISH EVERY SINGLE PET COULD TRANSITION BECAUSE FOR THE PET, THEY ARE IN THEIR COMFORTABLE SPACE.

THEY ARE AT HOME.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT PAIN AND THE STRESS OF BEING TRANSPORTED TO A CLINIC AND THEN THE STRESS OF BEING IN A CLINICAL SETTING AND FOR THE OWNERS, THEY HAVE PRIVACY TO DPROOEF -- GRIEVE IN THEIR OWN SPACE.

>> WORKING IN EMERGENCY, YOU WORK WITH A LOT OF SICK PETTINGS -- PETS AND YOU DO A LOT OF EUTHANASIAS SO YOU SEE HOW MUCH BETTER IT IS TO BE AT HOME.

IN A WAY, THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO HOW VETERINARIAN MEDICINE OR MEDICINE USE TO BE.

DOCTORS WOULD COME TO YOUR HOME.

EVERYONE HAS THE SENSE AFTER THE PET HAS GONE, HOW THEY GET TO FALL ASLEEP AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES ON THEIR BED, UNDER THEIR FAVORITE TREE, OR WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE.

FOR A LOT OF US, IF WE HAD THE CHOICE WHEN THE TIME COMES, THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT THEY WOULD CHOOSE SO THAT'S WHAT THEY CHOOSE FOR THEIR PET.

>> THE VALUE OF HAVING A DOCTOR THAT COMES TO YOUR HOME FOR THE END OF LIFE SERVICE IS A BLESSING BECAUSE YOU ARE SAD, YOUR FAMILY IS SAD, YOUR PET PROBABLY KNOWS YOU'RE SAD, THEY'RE NOT FEELING WET, AND TO HAVE TO TRANSPORT THEM TO THE CLINIC IS EVEN MORE STRESSFUL.

YOU ARE FLUSTERED, YOU ARE DRIVING, YOU ARE CRYING, AND WITH DR. THOMAS COMING HERE, I CAN DO THAT IN MY HOME AND FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.

I DON'T FEEL RUSHED.

SHE DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL RUSHED.

IF YOU ARE IN A CLINIC, SOMETIMES YOU THINK OH GOSH, I BETTER GET OUT OF THIS ROOM.

I AM GLAD THAT IT'S A BENEFIT THAT SHE DOES.

>> SHE CAME ON SUNDAY, MY DOG WAS SITTING WITH ME ON THE END OF THIS COUCH.

SHE SAT ON THAT END AND MY DOG MOVED OVER AND CUDDLED RIGHT UP TO HER.

HE HAD NEVER GOTTEN THAT FRIENDLY WITH ANYBODY.

SHE'S A BLESSING.

SHE IS GENTLE AND KIND AND INFORMATIVE AND CARING AND LOVING.

I DIDN'T EVEN CRY THEN, I CRY NOW AND ALL AFTERNOON BEFOREHAND, BUT IT WAS CARING AND REASSURING AND IT WAS OKAY.

I WAS READY, HE WAS READY, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

THIS WAS IN OUR HOME, MY DOG HAD GOT TO BE THERE WITH ME AND IT WAS VERY PEACEFUL.

>> NOW HAVING BEEN DOING THAT FOR 24 YEARS, I TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS AND I WOULD SAY THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE VET WOULD WANT TO TAKE AN X-RAY OR TRY A NEW MEDICATION.

IF THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE, IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT EUTHANASIA MAY BE THE BEST OPTION.

BY THE TIME THEY REACH OUT TO ME, THEY HAVE SEEN ENOUGH THINGS WHERE THEY ARE CONCERNED.

I JUST SAY YES, YOU ARE RIGHT.

LIKE THIS IS EFFECTING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

I WISH VETERINARIANS WOULD JUST SORT OF START THAT CONVERSATION FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE COMING IN AND THEIR PET IS 15 OR 16 AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS AN OPTION.

INSTEAD OF REACHING FOR DR. GOOGLE, REACH OUT TO YOUR VETERINARIAN BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE AND WE WANT TO HELP YOUR PET BE MORE COMFORTABLE.

I WISH MORE VETERINARIANS FROM THE E.R.

AND GENERAL PRACTICES WOULD TELL THEIR CLIENTS THAT SAYING GOODBYE AT HOME IS AN OPTION.

THEY MAY NOT OFFER THAT SERVICE, BUT A LOT OF MY CLIENTS FIND OUT WORD OF MOUTH FROM THEIR FRIENDS OR THEIR HAIRDRESSER, OR THE LADY AT THE GROCERY STORE, AND THEIR VETS AREN'T TELLING THEM WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, YOU HAVE SOME OPTIONS.

I TELL THEM TO REFRAME IT IN THEIR HEAD AND THINK OF IT AS THIS IS A GIFT WE'RE GIVING THIS PET BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

SO YEAH.

I TRY TO BE AS EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE AS POSSIBLE.

[♪♪♪] >> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" >> ROMEO SCAMS NOT ONLY RUIN THE LIVES OF THE VICTIMS, IT CAN ALSO TEAR FAMILIES APART AS WELL.

PART II OF STEVE SHAW'S REPORT, COMING UP NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00.

>> WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM IN SHAWNEE PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA'S MATT BARNETT.

REMEMBER: YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE OETA.TV.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND "X" BY SEARCHING OETA.ONR AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, JUST SEARCH, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT".

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

[♪♪♪]