OETA FOR FREE ANYTIME.

TUNE IN OVER THE AIR OR VISIT OETA'S.

WE'LL EXAMINE THE REASONS BEHIND THE RISE IN HOMELESSNESS IN OKLAHOMA.

INDIVIDUALS COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION ARE TEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

BUT AT SOME POINT STICKING THEM INTO A JAIL.

IT MAY BE PART OF THE CURE.

YOU KNOW, THE GROWING PRESENCE OF TURNING POINT USA CHAPTERS ON OKLAHOMA COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

I WANT THEM TO HAVE PEACE, AND I WANT THEM TO SEE THAT EVERYBODY HERE HAS A VOICE AND THAT THEY CAN USE THAT VOICE FOR GOOD.

YOU CAN GET PAID TO GROW A GARDEN LIKE THIS IN YOUR OWN YARD.

WE ARE RUNNING, NOT RUNNING LOW ON POLLEN, BUT WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON POLLINATORS.

OKLAHOMA RANCHERS TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID A SCREWWORM OUTBREAK IN OUR STATE.

THE BIGGEST FEAR I HAVE WITH THIS, IF IT EVER DOES CROSS INTO THE UNITED STATES, IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US PRODUCERS.

IN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION DEVOTED TO NATIONAL ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS MONTH.

PEOPLE JUST THINK, OH, AS WE GET OLDER, WE GET SENILE, WE START TO HAVE MEMORY ISSUES.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

MEMORY ISSUES ARE DEMENTIA.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS A NEW READING ROOM FOR KIDS AT THE FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT I'M RICH LANDS.

THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS REMAINS A HOT TOPIC IN OKLAHOMA RIGHT NOW, WITH SOME SUGGESTING THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS ENACTED A FEW YEARS AGO HAVE HELPED LEAD TO A RISE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING ON OUR CITY STREETS AND ALONG OUR HIGHWAYS.

PROPONENTS OF THE REFORM LEGISLATION SAY THAT IS SIMPLY NOT BACKED UP BY THE FACTS.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

JASON.

RICH, THE TULSA COUNTY SHERIFF, SAYS IN HIS EXPERIENCE SINCE OKLAHOMA MADE SIMPLE DRUG POSSESSION A MISDEMEANOR, MORE PEOPLE HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY TO LIVING ON THE STREETS.

OTHERS SAY SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO A PERSON BECOMING UNHOUSED.

AND USUALLY I START OFF THIS CONVERSATION WITH KIND OF THE BIG PICTURE.

TULSA COUNTY SHERIFF VIC REGALADO HAS BEEN SHERIFF FOR MORE THAN NINE YEARS NOW, PART OF A MORE THAN 30 YEAR CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE SAYS THE HOMELESS ISSUES IN TULSA AND THROUGHOUT OKLAHOMA DID NOT SPRING UP SUDDENLY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT HERE.

THIS WAS NOT OVERNIGHT.

IT TOOK DECADES IN THE MAKING.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT STARTED WHEN WE STARTED CLOSING ALL OF OUR OUR LONG TERM MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES.

THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

AND THEY ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, REALLY, LITERALLY, IN A LOT OF INSTANCES WERE SET BACK OUT INTO THE STREETS.

REGALADO SAYS THAT BEGAN AN INCREASE OF PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG ABUSE ISSUES.

HE BELIEVES THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS IN STATE QUESTION 780 AND STATE QUESTION 781 ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM.

THEN YOU ADD IN POOR LEGISLATION LIKE 780 AND 81, WHICH MADE MISDEMEANORS OUT OF OUR DRUG LAWS.

YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE ARGUED THAT WE WERE INCARCERATING PEOPLE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR DRUG ADDICTION, AND THAT WAS NOT TRUE.

A RECENT STUDY BY OKLAHOMANS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM SEEMS TO POINT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

AFTER STATE QUESTION 780 AND 781 WERE APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2016 AND PUT INTO EFFECT.

SINCE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT, WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT CRIME AND COURT FILINGS ACROSS THE BOARD ARE DOWN.

MICHAEL OLSON IS THE POLICY COUNSEL FOR OKLAHOMANS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

HE SAYS THE ORGANIZATION'S REPORT INDICATES THAT BY AVOIDING JAIL, PEOPLE ARE AVOIDING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE CYCLE IS BROKEN WHERE INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, GET CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONTACT AND THEN ARE PUT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT ADDED BURDENS, AND THAT TENDS TO INCREASE CRIMINAL OR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

SO AS WE BREAK THAT CYCLE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS CRIME IS DOWN.

COURT FILINGS ARE DOWN, BOTH FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS.

REGALADO DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT STATE QUESTION 780 HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED HOMELESSNESS OR CRIME.

HE SAYS MANY PEOPLE NEED TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM WITH DRUG ADDICTION TO AVOID BEING HOMELESS.

HE SAYS, JUST GO TO AN AA MEETING TO SEE IT FOR THEMSELVES.

98% OF THE ONES I'VE HEARD, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THEM, AGAIN, START OFF WITH, YOU KNOW, I STARTED WITH MARIJUANA, THEN I GRADUATED TO COCAINE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I GOT MARRIED, I GOT A JOB, BUT THEN I COULDN'T QUIT IT.

AND MY WIFE FOUND OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, CHANCE AFTER CHANCE, SHE DIVORCED ME.

AND THEN THEN I MOVED AND, WELL, YOU KNOW, I WAS LIVING IN THE STREETS.

I COULDN'T SEE MY KIDS, YOU KNOW?

BUT THAT STILL DIDN'T STOP ME.

I CONTINUED TO CHASE THAT HIGH.

HE CONTENDS THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM HELPS PEOPLE AT THAT STAGE GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

WHEN YOU TAKE A PERSON'S FREEDOM OR THE THREAT OF TAKING A PERSON'S FREEDOM, THAT'S A BIG DEAL, YOU KNOW?

AND SO THEY'RE FORCED INTO TREATMENT AND AND TREATMENT.

YOU KNOW, I'LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU IS TAKES 5 TO 6 TIMES TO REALLY KIND OF SINK IN BECAUSE ADDICTION IS SUCH A POWERFUL THING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT TYPICALLY DOESN'T WORK ON THE FIRST ONE, BUT IT DOES INTRODUCE THEM TO WHAT LIFE CAN BE.

HOWEVER, OLSON SAYS ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DOESN'T REDUCE HOMELESSNESS.

I WOULD SAY, IF ANYTHING, THE OPPOSITE IS THE CASE IN THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TENDS TO CREATE HOMELESSNESS.

WE KNOW NATIONALLY, FOR INSTANCE, THAT INDIVIDUALS COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION ARE TEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION, OLSON SAYS.

SEVERAL FACTORS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM LOWER THE CHANCES OF KEEPING A PERSON OFF THE STREET.

IT HURTS INDIVIDUAL FINANCES BEING IN PRISON.

CRIMINAL RECORDS TEND TO LOWER YOUR MARKETABILITY IN THE JOB MARKET.

SO ALL THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER SO THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONTACT TEND TO BE MORE RISKY FOR HOMELESSNESS THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

OKLAHOMA CITY HAS A PROGRAM CALLED THE ENCAMPMENT REHOUSING INITIATIVE, WHICH IS SEEING SOME EARLY SUCCESS BY CLOSING 25 HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.

OUR GOAL IS TO HOUSE 500 PEOPLE BY THE END OF 2025.

WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 444, SO WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK TO HIT THAT GOAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE HAVE FOUND WHEN WE'RE GOING INTO ENCAMPMENTS, 93% OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED HOUSING ARE ACCEPTING.

SO WE'RE FINDING A HIGH RATE OF ACCEPTANCE OF HOUSING.

THESE ENCOUNTERS HAVE ALLOWED OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICIALS TO ASK WHY PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS.

WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT THE DATA AND MENTAL HEALTH REPORTED BY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS THE THE LOWEST REASON REPORTED FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THEY CITE FINANCIAL ISSUES, RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT AND JOB LOSS AS THEIR NUMBER THREE REASONS FOR BECOMING HOMELESS.

HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE.

YOU HAVE YOU DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS THEIR LIFESTYLE, RIGHT?

THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW HAVE BAD LUCK.

THEY GOT LOST THEIR JOB.

THEY COULDN'T PAY RENT, FOUND THEMSELVES HOMELESS.

BUT THOSE PEOPLE TYPICALLY ARE VERY SHORT TERM BECAUSE THERE'S PROGRAMS TO GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET.

AND THEY TAKE IT AND THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND THEY MOVE ON.

SHERIFF REGALADO SAYS THOSE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS, NOT THE GENERAL RULE FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN HIS EXPERIENCE.

I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THEM, THOUGH, ARE REALLY SUFFER FROM EITHER ONE OR BOTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WALK AROUND DOWNTOWN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A DOCTOR OR A COP OR ANYBODY ELSE TO REALIZE, OH MY GOD, THERE'S THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE.

HE BELIEVES SOMETIMES LADY JUSTICE CAN LEAD TO SOMEONE GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.

THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED.

I, I THINK MOST PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY AS OPPOSED TO STICKING THEM INTO A JAIL.

BUT AT SOME POINT, STICKING THEM INTO A JAIL, IT MAY BE PART OF THE CURE.

YOU KNOW, SHERIFF REGALADO AND OKLAHOMANS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM DO AGREE THAT MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE CRUCIAL TO HELP PEOPLE LEAVE THE STREETS AND PREVENT A FEW FROM WINDING UP THERE.

RICH.

JASON.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT HAS PUT A HOLD ON NEW K THROUGH 12 SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS ENACTED BY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS.

THE COURT RULING IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY OKLAHOMA PARENTS, PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND FAITH LEADERS WHO SAID THE NEW STANDARDS VIOLATED THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

THE COURT ORDERED THAT THE CURRENT STANDARDS ENACTED IN 2019 REMAIN IN PLACE.

OFFICIALS EXPECT FULL CAPACITY FOR CHARLIE KIRK'S FUNERAL SERVICE, WHICH WILL BE HELD INSIDE OF AN NFL STADIUM ON SUNDAY JUST OUTSIDE OF PHOENIX.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL ATTEND, ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF OKLAHOMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

AND THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN LARGE VIGILS HELD ON BOTH THE OU AND OSU CAMPUSES.

NOAH MACK HAS MORE ON THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF TURNING POINT USA CHAPTERS IN STILLWATER AND NORMAN.

NOAH RICH OVER A DECADE AGO AT 18, KIRK CO-FOUNDED TURNING POINT.

THE ORGANIZATION SAYS THEY HAVE RECEIVED OVER 54,000 REQUESTS TO CREATE NEW CHAPTERS AT SCHOOLS ON CAMPUSES SINCE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION LAST WEEK.

THE GROWING SUPPORT, EVIDENCED BY THE TURNOUT AT THIS WEEK'S MEMORIAL SERVICE ON OSU'S CAMPUS.

A SEA OF SPECTATORS FILLED THE LAWN OUTSIDE OF THE EDMUND LOW LIBRARY AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

ALL THEY ARE IN REMEMBRANCE OF CHARLIE KIRK, THE CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST WHO WAS SLAIN LAST WEEK.

KIRK IS KNOWN FOR TOURING COLLEGE CAMPUSES AROUND THE NATION AND DEBATING STUDENTS ON POLITICAL ISSUES.

CHARLIE WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON DECEMBER 10TH AT UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY.

CHILLINGLY RESPONDING TO A QUESTION ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE.

WE SHOULD WARN VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

ALTHOUGH THE VIDEO FREEZES RIGHT BEFORE THE SHOT.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY MASS SHOOTINGS THERE HAVE BEEN IN AMERICA OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS?

COUNTING OR NOT COUNTING.

GANG VIOLENCE.

GREAT.

KIRK IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, ERICA, AND TWO KIDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN STUDENTS INVOLVED IN TURNING POINT USA, THE RIGHT WING ORGANIZATION KIRK FOUNDED IN 2012, THE NIGHT OF KIRK'S ASSASSINATION.

OU'S CHAPTER OF TURNING POINT HELD A VIGIL AROUND 100 IN ATTENDANCE, AND JUST ABOUT A WEEK LATER THIS TUESDAY, OSU'S CHAPTER WELCOMED SEVERAL HUNDRED.

I HOPE EVERYONE IN THIS, THIS PLACE HAS PEACE, AND I WANT THEM TO SEE THAT EVERYBODY HERE HAS A VOICE AND THAT THEY CAN USE THAT VOICE FOR GOOD.

ONE OSU STUDENT PRESENTED A POEM SHE WROTE ABOUT THE SHOOTING LAST WEEK.

AMERICA'S DIVISION, A BLUE AND RED LED TO A HUSBAND AND FATHER PRONOUNCED DEAD.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NO LONGER FREE WHEN EXERCISING OUR RIGHTS COMES AT SUCH A COST.

THE COST OF VIOLENCE AND DEVASTATING LOSS.

THERE WERE PRAYERS.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN SILENCE.

MUSIC.

SAVIOR GOD TO THEE AND SPEECHES.

I WAS IN THE SHOWER THE DAY AFTER THE SHOOTING HAPPENED, AND THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF IS WHY DID CHARLIE NAME IT TURNING POINT?

WE ARE THE TURNING POINT.

ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, POLITICAL FIGURES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WERE QUICK TO CONDEMN THE KILLING, SPARKING DISCOURSE ON HOW TO COMBAT FESTERING POLARIZATION AND MORE AND MORE FREQUENT POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

OKLAHOMA SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD, IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, IMPLORED PEOPLE TO PROCEED WITH UNDERSTANDING OVER RAGE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD TWO ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS LAST YEAR.

WE HAD THE ASSASSINATION OF LEGISLATORS IN MINNESOTA.

WE HAD THE ONE OF OUR GOVERNORS HAD HIS MANSION IN PENNSYLVANIA WAS ACTUALLY BURNED, AN ARSON ATTEMPT ON IT.

WE'VE NOW HAD THIS ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT MOMENT FOR THE COUNTRY, AND IT'S A MOMENT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

JUST AS PEOPLE.

I'VE HAD FOLKS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAY, THIS IS THE MOMENT WE NEED TO TAKE UP ARMS.

AND I JUST HAVE SO SAID TO THEM, BASICALLY, SHUT UP, STOP HERE.

WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SAYING CHARLIE KIRK AND HIS FAMILY PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND HIM, PRAY FOR THE NATION AND SET THE EXAMPLE THAT OUR NATION ACTUALLY NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

OUR NATION DOESN'T NEED AN EXAMPLE OF BITTER, ANGRY RHETORIC.

AND ABOUT I'M GOING TO HIT THEM HARDER THAN THEY HIT ME.

THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS.

OKLAHOMA'S OTHER SENATOR, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, A CLOSE FRIEND OF KIRK'S, HAS ALSO STAYED VOCAL IN HIS DISDAIN FOR THE MURDER.

SOME CRAZY INDIVIDUAL DECIDED TO TO SILENCE HIS VOICE AND STEAL IT FROM ALL OF US AND AND TAKE HIS AND TAKE SOMEONE'S HUSBAND IN A WAY, AND TAKE SOMEONE'S FATHER AWAY.

AND WHY?

FOR WHAT?

DID HE THREATEN YOU?

BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN IN THE LORD.

BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN TRADITIONAL VALUES.

BECAUSE HE COULD DEBATE THE CONSTITUTION.

KIRK WAS ALSO KNOWN FOR HIS OFTEN CONTROVERSIAL VIEWS ON SOCIAL ISSUES.

YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE MY APPENDIX AND YOU'RE A BLACK LESBIAN IN LEVITICUS 18, IS THAT THOU SHALT LAY WITH ANOTHER MAN, SHALL BE STONED TO DEATH.

JUST SAYING.

IN OKLAHOMA, REPORTS OF TEACHERS POSTING CALLOUS COMMENTS FOLLOWING KIRK'S DEATH HAVE FLOODED THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

70 CERTIFIED TEACHERS, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT, CONTINUING TO SAY ANY TEACHER POSTING DEFAMATORY AND EGREGIOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE TEACHING IN OKLAHOMA CLASSROOMS AND THAT DISTRICTS THAT DEFY SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS ORDER THAT EVERY SCHOOL HOST A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT NOON WILL BE INVESTIGATED.

DISTRICTS LIKE NORMAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH SAID TO PARENTS THAT THEY ALREADY FOLLOW OKLAHOMA STATUTE AND HOLDING A MINUTE OF SILENCE EACH DAY, AND THAT ADDING ANOTHER MINUTE WOULD CREATE AN UNNECESSARY DISRUPTION TO THE SCHOOL DAY.

ASIDE FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION, A TEACHER WAS FIRED FROM HERITAGE HALL PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR POSTING AN ABRASIVE COMMENT ONLINE FOLLOWING KIRK'S DEATH.

HERITAGE HALL, TELLING US THE COMMENT READ ALONG THE LINES OF I HOPE THE GUN WAS OKAY.

THE SCHOOL'S PRESIDENT ADDING THAT THE COMMENT WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH OUR SCHOOL'S MISSION AND VALUES.

HERITAGE HALL DOES NOT CONDONE VIOLENCE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM EVER.

A MAJOR LYNCHPIN OF CHARLIE KIRK'S POLITICAL ENTERPRISE WAS HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CHRISTIANITY, AND FAITH WAS A PRINCIPAL THEME AT OSU'S MEMORIAL SERVICE.

HE WAS VERY POLITICAL AND A CHRISTIAN.

HE WASN'T JUST POLITICAL, AND HE WASN'T JUST A CHRISTIAN, AND BEING A CHRISTIAN SHOULD.

IF YOU'RE A GENUINE, JESUS BELIEVING CHRISTIAN, SHOULD IMPACT EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE, AND THAT INCLUDES YOUR POLITICS.

AND THAT'S THE WHOLE MESSAGE THAT HE WAS TRYING TO GET ACROSS.

WHEN I CAME HERE MY FRESHMAN YEAR, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CHURCHES WERE AROUND HERE.

SO INVITE A FRIEND TO CHURCH.

I WANT CHURCHES TO BE PACKED FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

OKAY.

LEVI HOBBS, PRESIDENT OF OSU'S CHAPTER OF TURNING POINT, SAYS KIRK'S DEATH HAS GALVANIZED MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN THE ORGANIZATION.

EVER SINCE THE CHARLIE INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED, WE GAINED 1500 FOLLOWERS ON OUR INSTAGRAM.

WE GAINED 100 PEOPLE IN OUR GROUPME.

AND TONIGHT ALONE, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE 100 PEOPLE MORE IN OUR GROUPME AND PROBABLY ANOTHER THOUSAND OR TWO ON OUR ON OUR INSTAGRAM AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND LIKE WHAT I SAID WHEN I DID MY SPEECH EARLIER WHEN WE POSTED OUR MEMORIAL, I WAS EXPECTING 500 PEOPLE.

THAT WAS A LOT BIGGER THAN 500 PEOPLE.

AND SO I THINK THAT SHOWS THAT THIS IS A MOVEMENT THAT'S GROWING AND THE TORCH ISN'T GOING TO BURN OUT YET.

AND THE OKLAHOMA REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS DRAFTED A RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER 10TH AS A STATE HOLIDAY, URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE IT UP NEXT SESSION.

RICK.

NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS MONTH, AND THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION.

WE'LL COVER SEVERAL TOPICS, INCLUDING THE HARD WORK DONE BY CAREGIVERS, THE PAIN EXPERIENCED BY CHILDREN AS THEIR PARENTS FADE AWAY, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO HELP LESSEN THE CHANCES OF EXPERIENCING THIS DISEASE LATER IN LIFE.

HERE'S A PREVIEW OF THAT CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR KASSIDY MUDD AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

NUTRITION IS NOT GOING TO SURPRISE YOU.

YOU KNOW GOOD NUTRITION IS A GREAT THING.

THE ONE I LOVE THAT IS KIND OF THE MAGIC PILL, IF YOU WILL.

THAT ISN'T IS MOVEMENT.

AND THAT BY THAT I MEAN EXERCISE.

SO I DO REFORMER PILATES.

I DON'T LIKE REFORMER PILATES, BUT I DO IT BECAUSE IT IS A FORM OF MOVEMENT AND ALSO HAS ANOTHER GOOD INTERVENTION.

AND THAT'S SOCIAL INTERACTION.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT AND ABOUT, ESPECIALLY ON THE MOVEMENT SIDE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S TAI CHI, THERE'S LOCAL CLASSES THAT YOU CAN TAKE, YOGA, JUST ANYTHING THAT GETS YOU OUT AND MOVING.

THEY SAY 30 MINUTES A DAY IS WHAT'S HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANYBODY TO GET MOVING.

WE ARE GROWING ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA AT OMRF.

MYSELF, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING TOGETHER, BUT ALSO IMPORTANTLY TACKLING THIS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

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

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VETERINARIAN, OKLAHOMA STATE MAY BE THE PLACE FOR YOU.

THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCING THAT 97% OF ITS STUDENTS HAVE PASSED THE NORTH AMERICAN LICENSING EXAM IN 2025, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 89%.

OSU'S PASS RATES HAVE EXCEEDED THE NATIONAL AVERAGE EVERY YEAR SINCE 2013.

I WAS VERY EXCITED, SUPER PROUD OF MY CLASS.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE ALL KIND OF CAME TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, DID THAT AS A TEAM.

AND OBVIOUSLY LIKE THE FACULTY AND STAFF AND EVERYONE HERE PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN THAT.

SO I JUST KNOW, LIKE WHEN ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND EVERYONE LIKE WE SAW THE SCORES, WE WERE ALL SUPER EXCITED.

AND JUST IT FURTHER BUILT OUR CONFIDENCE, I GUESS, IN OURSELVES.

JUST AS NEW GRADS GOING INTO PRACTICE.

AND I THINK THE QUALITY OF STUDENTS THAT COME JUST OUT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS SO HIGH.

AND SO WHAT'S REALLY GREAT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN A REALLY EXCITING TIME BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO HOPEFULLY BREAK GROUND VERY SOON ON A BRAND NEW TEACHING HOSPITAL.

AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT FINALLY BE ABLE TO BUILD THIS FACILITY THAT'S GOING TO MATCH THE EXCELLENCE OF THE STUDENTS WE ALREADY RECRUIT AND HAVE HERE.

OSU ANNOUNCED JUST LAST WEEK THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD A NEW $350 MILLION ANIMAL HOSPITAL ON CAMPUS TO REPLACE THIS CURRENT 44 YEAR OLD FACILITY.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A SCREWWORM INFESTATION?

ME NEITHER, BUT IT TURNS OUT IT CAN BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR LIVESTOCK.

AND RECENTLY, THE US SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, BROOKE ROLLINS, VISITED OKLAHOMA TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE USDA IS DOING TO KEEP THE SCREWWORM FROM INFECTING ANIMALS.

HERE.

TAYLOR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS.

TAYLOR.

WELL, RICH, THE SCREWWORM WAS AN ISSUE MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO IN THE US, AND WHILE THE PARASITE WAS DECLARED ERADICATED HERE IN THE US, THE THREAT IS NOW GROWING AT THE BORDER.

THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR SORTING ALLEY.

MANY RANCHERS LIKE RODNEY COHEN HOPE TO NEVER EXPERIENCE THE NEW WORLD.

SCREWWORM.

THE BIGGEST FEAR I HAVE WITH THIS, IF IT EVER DOES CROSS INTO THE UNITED STATES, IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US PRODUCERS, BECAUSE THE FIRST THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF THEY REPORT A CASE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MARKET, THE SPECULATORS ARE GOING TO KILL THE MARKET.

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE TEN, $20 OFF OUR PRICES OVERNIGHT OR IN A FEW IN A MATTER OF FEW DAYS.

COHEN RUNS A STALKER OPERATION ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE, CAROL, AND THEIR SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW.

THE FAMILY CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 160 CATTLE.

COHEN SAYS IT KEEPS THEM PLENTY BUSY BY THE STALKERS AND THE FALL AND RUN THEM IN THE WHEAT PASTURE, PUT THEM OUT ON WHEAT PASTURE TO GET THE GAIN ON THEM, AND WE RUN THEM IN THE SUMMERTIME, ON SUMMER PASTURE ALSO, WE GROW WHEAT, WHICH IS WHERE WE PUT THE CATTLE IN THE WINTERTIME AND THEN HARVEST THE WHEAT.

WHAT WE DON'T GRAZE OUT, COHEN SAYS THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER GETTING NEW CATTLE ARE CRUCIAL TO WATCH FOR SICKNESS.

WELL, WE USUALLY WATCH THE CATTLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE GETTING NEW CATTLE IN.

WE WATCH THEM MORNING AND NIGHT, CHECK THEM TWICE A DAY.

SO ON THE ON THE SCREWWORM, THEY LOOK, IT LOOKS FOR AN OPEN WOUND.

SO GUYS MIGHT HAVE TO CONSIDER RETHINKING WHEN THEY WOULD DEHORN OR CASTRATE CATTLE.

NEW WORLD SCREWWORM CAN BE DEVASTATING FOR THOSE IN THE CATTLE INDUSTRY.

WHEN A NEW WORLD SCREWWORM FLY LAYS EGGS, THE MAGGOTS BURROW INTO OPEN WOUNDS OF LIVING ANIMALS.

IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND EVEN DEATH TO LIVESTOCK.

JUST ONE FEMALE FLY CAN LAY UP TO 300 EGGS AT A TIME.

USDA SECRETARY BROOKE ROLLINS MADE A STOP IN OKLAHOMA TO TALK TO RANCHERS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO STOP THE SPREAD.

THIS VISIT TO OKLAHOMA HAS REMINDED ME THAT AMERICAN RANCHERS ARE AMONG THE MOST RESOURCEFUL AND RESILIENT INDIVIDUALS IN OUR NATION, ACCORDING TO THE USDA, SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR INCLUDE THE PRESENCE OF FLY LARVAE IN THE WOUNDS, IRRITATED BEHAVIOR, HEAD SHAKING, AND THE SMELL OF DECAY.

CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO DRUG THAT CAN CURE THE DISEASE.

THE FLY IS TYPICALLY FOUND IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, BUT SCREWWORM IS MAKING ITS WAY CLOSER TO THE AMERICAN BORDER.

IN FEBRUARY, USDA AND MEXICO IMPLEMENTED A COMPREHENSIVE PRE-CLEARANCE INSPECTION AND TREATMENT PROTOCOL TO ENSURE SAFE MOVEMENT FROM OF OUR LIVESTOCK ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

ROLLINS SAYS MEXICAN CUSTOMS AGREED TO ELIMINATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE USDA'S AIRCRAFT THAT IS USED IN SUPPRESSING THE SPREAD OF SCREWWORM.

SO WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO RELEASE THE THE AERIAL RELEASES WHERE WE WERE WORKING TO GET RID OF THE SCREWWORM EVERY DAY.

AND WHEN WE THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO, WE WERE HELD BACK BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.

BUT THAT HAS SINCE CHANGED, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

THE FEDERAL AGENCY IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH MEXICO TO GET THE SPREAD UNDER CONTROL.

NUMBER TWO, WORKING TO ENSURE OUR WILDLIFE MIGRATION PREVENTION IS WORKING TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY IN RESPONSE TO THE CONTINUED AND RAPID NORTHWARD SPREAD OF THE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM THROUGHOUT MEXICO IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, USDA SUSPENDED ALL LIVE IMPORTS OF CATTLE, HORSES AND BISON THROUGH THE U.S.

PORTS OF ENTRY ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

THE USDA SAYS THE MAIN GOAL IS THAT THE U.S.

FOOD SUPPLY REMAINS SAFE.

THE SCREWWORM MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON U.S.

LIVESTOCK DURING THE 1950S AND 60S.

IT EVEN SWEPT THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA PLAINS.

I WAS TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THAT FIRSTHAND, BUT I'VE LISTENED TO MY LATE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER'S TALK ABOUT GOING OUT EVERY DAY, ALL SUMMER LONG WITH THE BOTTLE OF STUFF TO PAINT NEWBORNS NAVELS, AND TO TREAT EVERY WOUND ON AN ANIMAL I'VE LISTENED TO MY OLD RETIRED GAME WARDENS POINT OUT TO ME THAT BEFORE THESE WERE ERADICATED IN THE 60S, WE HAD DRAMATICALLY FEWER DEER AND A VARIETY OF OTHER WILDLIFE BECAUSE THEY ATTACK ALL MAMMALS IN OKLAHOMA, MAN BY THE NAME OF EDWIN KETCHUM HELPED ERADICATE THEM BY CHANGING HOW THEY REPRODUCED.

ROLLINS SAYS THEY PLAN TO USE SIMILAR METHODS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY USED IN THE 60S, LIKE STERILE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM FLIES.

LET ME EXPLAIN.

BY MATING THE FEMALE SCREWWORMS, THE STERILE FLIES RENDER THEIR LARVAE HARMLESS AND STAMP OUT THE THREAT TO OUR ANIMALS.

THIS IS HOW WE GOT RID OF IT BACK IN THE 1960S.

AND AGAIN, PROTECTING OUR FARM ECONOMY AND THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY.

THE USDA HAS INVESTED $21 MILLION INTO AN EXISTING FACILITY IN MEXICO, AND PLANS TO INVEST $750 MILLION TO BUILD A US BASED FACILITY.

COHEN FEELS CONFIDENT IN THE USDA'S EFFORTS TO FIGHT THE PARASITE.

I THINK THEY'RE ON TOP OF EVERYTHING.

USDA IS DOING A GOOD JOB.

THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN UP ANOTHER FACILITY IN TEXAS TO FIGHT THE SCREWWORM TO FOR THE STERILE FLY AND TURN THOSE LOOSE, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PLUS FOR US, COHEN SAYS.

IN THE MEANTIME, HE'LL KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE DANGEROUS PARASITE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ANIMALS WITH OPEN WOUNDS, BE SURE AND KEEP THEM A CLOSE EYE FOR SURE.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT IS SUSPECT THAT YOU'RE NOT SURE OF, DON'T HESITATE TO CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN OR GET OUTSIDE HELP IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE THE QUICKER YOU CAN DEAL WITH IT, THE QUICKER YOU CAN GET IT UNDER CONTROL AND GET IT ISOLATED.

THOSE WITH LIVESTOCK OR PETS THAT SPEND TIME OUTDOORS SHOULD CHECK THEIR ANIMALS REGULARLY.

HUMANS SHOULD ALSO TAKE PRECAUTION BY COVERING UP WOUNDS IF THEY ARE TRAVELING TO AREAS AFFECTED BY THE SCREWWORM.

RICH TAYLOR, THANK YOU.

THERE'S ANOTHER AGRICULTURAL GRANT PROGRAM AVAILABLE IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA THAT'S ACTUALLY PAYING PEOPLE TO CULTIVATE A GARDEN ON THEIR PROPERTY.

STEVE SHAW WENT OUT TO CHECK IT OUT AND JOINS US NOW.

STEVE RICH, THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION AND THE STATE MONARCH SOCIETY TEAMED UP TO OFFER HUNDREDS, EVEN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY FOR FOLKS TO BUILD A GARDEN.

THE GOAL IS TO ATTRACT WHAT ARE CALLED POLLINATORS.

THESE ARE ROSE, MULEY, PINK MUHLY GRASS.

LET'S SEE.

THIS IS A FUN ONE.

IF YOU GO OVER HERE.

WE'VE GOT THE GUARA.

WE'VE GOT PINK GUARA AND WHITE GUARA.

CHRIS PATTON AND MATT CRONIN ARE EDMOND MEMORIAL AND OKLAHOMA STATE OKC GRADS WHO OWN A GARDENING COMPANY SINCE LATE MAY.

THEY'VE TURNED THEIR FRONT YARD INTO A GARDEN, AND THE BLACKFOOT DAISIES HAVE JUST BEEN.

THEY HAVE GONE INSANE.

THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION, OKIES FOR MONARCHS AND OTHER PARTNERS THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, OFFERED A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR FOLKS IN OKLAHOMA, CLEVELAND AND CANADIAN COUNTIES TO GROW GARDENS.

THE GOAL IS TO ATTRACT WHAT ARE CALLED POLLINATORS.

SO A POLLINATOR.

THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TYPES, EVERYTHING FROM BUTTERFLIES, DRAGONFLIES, BEES, FLIES, WASPS, ETC.

THOSE FLYING INSECTS, THEY POLLINATE OUR FOOD CROPS AS WELL AS OUR OTHER PLANTS SUCH AS WILDFLOWERS.

AND SO THEIR POLLINATION POWERS HELP LITERALLY PUT FOOD ON OUR PLATE.

ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE BITES OF FOOD WE TAKE REQUIRES OUR FOOD CROPS TO BE POLLINATED.

WE ARE RUNNING, NOT RUNNING LOW ON POLLEN, BUT WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON POLLINATORS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS WHICH WE CAN GET INTO IF YOU WOULD LIKE, DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS, POLLINATOR POLLINATOR POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN DECLINING RAPIDLY OVER THE LAST DECADE.

WHY THE NUMBER OF FACTORS?

SO THE USE OVERUSE OF PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES.

PATENT AND CRONIN WERE ONE OF 33 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WHO THIS YEAR GOT A PIECE OF A $60,000 GRANT, WHICH WAS SUPPLIED BY THE KIRKPATRICK FOUNDATION.

GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE REIMBURSED UP TO $525 FOR EACH 100FT!S THEY PLANT.

MATT D CHRIS RECEIVED JUST OVER $2,000.

OH MY GOD, IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

WE'VE REALLY LOVED JUST FINDING ALL THESE NEW SPECIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY KNOWN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, AND WANTED TO TRY OUT LOTS OF NATIVES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING AT THE DIFFERENT NURSERIES AND STUFF.

BUT OH, IT'S BEEN SO FUN.

WE'VE BROUGHT IN LIKE TEN TONS OF COMPOST, LIKE 200 PLANTS OR SO.

ABOUT A MONTH AFTER WE FINISHED THE PLANTING.

SO ALL THE PLANTS WE JUST FINISHED THE THE ROCK STUFF THIS WEEK.

BUT ONCE WE HAD REALLY GOT THOSE PLANTS TO BE BLOOMING AND SETTING IN, THE BIRDS CAME BACK AND THAT HAS BEEN REALLY COOL.

WE'VE GOT SOME NATIVE YAUPON TREES THAT ARE THAT WERE HAVE BEEN AT THE HOUSE FOR A WHILE.

WE ALSO PLANTED SOME APPLE TREES AND SOME OAKS AND A BALD CYPRESS.

AND THE BIRDS HAVE JUST LOVED HAVING THOSE TALLER PERCHES.

SO THEY'LL GO PLAY IN THE BIRDBATH AND THEN THEY'LL, YOU KNOW, GO DRY OFF ON THE TREES.

YEAH, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF BUGS, LIGHTNING BUGS.

WE'VE HAD ORB WEAVERS, GRASSHOPPERS, PRAYING MANTIS.

LET'S SEE SOME MOSQUITOES, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT WE'VE GOT THE DRAGONFLIES THAT TAKE CARE OF THOSE.

THEY'RE LIKE THE LITTLE HELICOPTERS.

BUT WHAT ELSE HAVE WE SEEN?

SOME LIZARDS.

YES.

SKINKS.

LIZARDS.

AND THEN WE PLANTED DOWN THERE ALONG THE STREET.

KATE DAY, A 2008 YUKON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, ALSO RECEIVED AROUND $2,000 TO START HER GARDEN IN MAY.

THE GRANT PROCESS WAS ACTUALLY REALLY SIMPLE.

I HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR A LOT OF GRANTS AND IT WAS A LOT EASIER THAN THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

SO YEAH, IT MAYBE TOOK 20 MINUTES.

I DON'T KNOW, I WAS QUITE DETAILED, I THINK IN MY LIKE SPECIES LIST AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SHE SAYS.

IT TOOK A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE AND HELP FROM HER HUSBAND, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.

IT'S IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO PLANT A GARDEN TO, TO CLEAR THE SPACE AND TO, YOU KNOW, DIG THE HOLES.

AND LUCKILY IT WAS NOT THE HOTTEST PART OF THE YEAR, SO IT WAS OKAY.

BEN BIRDWELL OWNS RALPH'S RANCH, WHICH IS A REGENERATIVE FARM THAT GROWS AND SELLS CUT FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES.

HE GOT A $1,300 REIMBURSEMENT.

IT DOES FEEL GOOD.

YEAH, IT'S REALLY EMPOWERING.

I USED TO WORK BEHIND A COMPUTER EVERY DAY, AND SO MAKING THE SWITCH TO BEING OUTSIDE EVERY DAY HAS BEEN GOOD FOR ME, BUT ALSO FEELS LIKE I'M CREATING A SPACE THAT IS GOOD FOR OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.

ONE OF THE REALLY BIG VALUES FROM THIS PROGRAM THAT THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE AT THE 33 AWARDEES IS HOW IT HAS STRENGTHENED THEIR NEIGHBORLY BONDS, THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS ON ON THEIR BLOCK, YOU KNOW, BY THEM BEING OUT FRONT IN THEIR GARDENS AND BEING SEEING THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE SEEING THEM DO SOMETHING LIKE, OH MY GOSH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO YOUR FRONT YARD?

AND THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SHARE WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE DOING AND HOW THEY'RE CREATING A PLACE OF FOOD AND SHELTER FOR OUR POLLINATOR FRIENDS.

MARCUS LONG IS AN URBAN SOIL HEALTH SPECIALIST WITH THE OKLAHOMA CONSERVATION COMMISSION.

SO THE PURPOSE IS PURPOSE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IS TO INCREASE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF OF LAND.

YOU KNOW, ALL LAND IS MEANT TO HAVE A FUNCTION, WHETHER IT BE GROWING FOOD OR SUPPORTING WILDLIFE AND CITIES AND SUBURBS, THEY REALLY TEND TO LOWER ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION.

AND SO PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, WHEN WE PLANT NATIVE PLANTS, NOT JUST NATIVE PLANTS, BUT DIVERSE NATIVE PLANTS, WE RAISE THAT FUNCTION.

HOPEFULLY WE'RE BREAKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE BOUGHT IN TO THE IDEOLOGY OF WHAT THIS GRANT PROVIDES, LET'S HELP YOU GET THERE.

LET'S GIVE YOU SOME OF THE RESOURCES YOU NEED TO COMPLETE YOUR PROJECT.

KATY HAWK SAYS THEY HOPE TO EXPAND THIS GRANT PROGRAM TO OTHER COUNTIES NEXT YEAR, AND THEY ARE WORKING ON GETTING THAT FUNDING SOURCE.

RICH, THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

THANK YOU STEVE.

THE CHICKASAW NATION IS INTERESTED IN EXPANDING ITS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TO INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER.

JASON DOYLE HAS THE DETAILS IN THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

THE CHICKASAW NATION, THROUGH ITS WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY SOVEREIGN NATIVE HOLDCO, IS INVESTING IN OKC FOR SOCCER.

THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH WILL FIELD A UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES MEN'S TEAM ONCE OKLAHOMA CITY FINISHES BUILDING ITS MAPS FOR MULTI-PURPOSE STADIUM.

CHICKASAW NATION GOVERNOR BILL ANOATUBBY SAYS THAT THE INVESTMENT IN OKC FOR SOCCER REFLECTS OUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE CHICKASAW NATION JOINS ECHO INVESTMENT CAPITAL, RUSSELL WESTBROOK ENTERPRISES, AND THE OKC FOR SOCCER OWNERSHIP TEAM AS PARTNERS IN THE PROJECT.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND RECREATION IS CLOSING.

THE FIVE RESTAURANTS OPERATING AS LOOKOUT KITCHEN IN STATE PARKS.

THOSE WILL CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, AND THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROVIDING GRAB AND GO FOOD OPTIONS FOR GUESTS.

THE AGENCY WILL BE LOOKING FOR A NEW VENDOR TO OPERATE AND REOPEN THE RESTAURANTS.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL TREND WHEN IT COMES TO RENTAL PRICES.

REALTOR.COM AUGUST MONTHLY RENT REPORT SHOWS THAT THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RENTAL IS $1,002.

IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THAT'S A DECREASE OF 2.2% FROM AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE DROPPED BY 2.2%, AS WELL TO AVERAGE $1,713.

WHILE IT APPEARS RENTAL PRICES ARE EASING, THEY HAVE NOT YET REACHED PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

WHEN PRICES ESCALATED, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY'S HAROLD HAMM INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN ENERGY RECENTLY HELD AN EVENT, TAKING A LOOK AT THE NEED TO POWER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION EXAMINED THE NEED TO MATCH THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT BY AI APPLICATIONS AND DATA CENTERS TO THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION NEEDS.

THE PANELISTS AGREED THAT NATURAL GAS AND NUCLEAR INNOVATION WILL BE KEY TO MATCHING THE DEMAND FOR ENERGY.

THE PIONEER WOMAN, REE DRUMMOND, IS TEAMING UP WITH SHOPPING CHANNEL QVC TO LAUNCH AN APPAREL AND FOOD LINE.

THE COLLECTION WILL BE CALLED REE BY THE PIONEER WOMAN.

WHILE THE LINE IS AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW.

IT WILL PREMIERE ON THE QVC CHANNEL ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW, JASON.

THANKS.

THE FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS OPENED A NEW INTERACTIVE READING ROOM FOR KIDS.

IT'S CALLED THE FAMILY DISCOVERY CENTER.

IT'S A TWO STORY SPACE LOCATED INSIDE OF THE MUSEUM THAT BRINGS BOOKS TO LIFE WITH IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO HONOR NATIVE CULTURE AND OKLAHOMA ITSELF.

AND THIS SPACE IS REALLY DEDICATED TO OUR FAMILIES.

I SAY THAT THIS IS A LOVE LETTER TO FAMILIES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, BECAUSE WE WANT FAMILIES CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER ONCE AGAIN.

IT'S JUST LIKE, IT'S JUST IT'S JUST SO GOOD BECAUSE IT'S REMINDING US ABOUT THE OUTDOORS, HOW WE SHOULD NOT LITTER ON THE EARTH.

IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD.

IT'S AMAZING.

ALI ACTUALLY SAVED UP MONEY IN HIS PIGGY BANK FOR FIVE YEARS, AND DONATED THAT MONEY TO THE COMPLETION OF THE FAMILY DISCOVERY CENTER.

THERE ARE VERY FEW OKLAHOMA ADULTS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED BY THE SCOURGE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

IN SOME WAY.

THEY MAY BE THE CHILD OF A PARENT WHO HAS THE DISEASE OR CAREGIVER, PERHAPS A PERSON WHO'S BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S THEMSELVES.

SEPTEMBER IS ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS MONTH, AND THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH MODERATOR KASSIDY MUDD CASSIDY.

THANK YOU RICH.

WE'RE JOINED HERE TODAY BY DOCTOR LAURA GARRETT WITH THE OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, DOCTOR HEATHER RICE FROM THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION.

AND FINALLY, MORGAN HAMILTON, WHO IS THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S HEALTHY BRAIN PROGRAM MANAGER.

LADIES, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME HERE ON IN DEPTH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU.

WELL, DOCTOR GARRETT, TO START US OFF, WHAT EXACTLY IS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?

SO WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT DEMENTIA.

DEMENTIA IS THE BROAD UMBRELLA.

SO THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT FORMS OF DEMENTIA UNDERNEATH THAT.

AND ALZHEIMER'S IS THE MOST COMMON.

SO THAT'S THE ONE WE TALK THE MOST ABOUT.

AND MOST OF THE DEMENTIA DIAGNOSES HAVE VERY SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS.

BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT ISN'T A NORMAL PART OF THE AGING PROCESS.

AND STATISTICALLY MOST PEOPLE WON'T HAVE DEMENTIA.

BUT IT IS A VERY COMMON FORM OF COGNITIVE DECLINE.

AND WE OFTENTIMES TALK ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS AND HOW THEY ARE SIMILAR.

THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION IS A GREAT RESOURCE, BUT THAT'S SOMETIMES I WISH WE CALLED IT THE OKLAHOMA DEMENTIA ASSOCIATION, BECAUSE IT KIND OF GIVES YOU A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

TO GO INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WELL, I MEAN, I WANT TO START WITH THIS IS NOT A NORMAL PART OF AGING.

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THAT?

IS IT STIGMA OR WHAT IS IT, MORGAN.

IT'S STIGMA.

THERE'S STIGMA ATTACHED TO IT.

AND PEOPLE JUST THINK, OH, AS WE GET OLDER, WE GET SENILE, WE START TO HAVE MEMORY ISSUES.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

MEMORY ISSUES ARE DEMENTIA.

AND SO WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF, OF THE DISEASE ARE, SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR, AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO TO MAYBE PREVENT OR DECREASE THEIR RISK FOR THE DISEASE.

AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS HERE IN A SECOND.

BUT REALLY QUICKLY YOU SAID YOU WISH IT WAS CALLED THE DEMENTIA.

SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

WELL, THERE'S SO MANY FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT US.

IT'S A COMMON STORY FOR SOMEONE TO SAY, OH, I JUST WISH I KNEW ABOUT ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WERE OUT THERE.

AND AGAIN, MORGAN MENTIONED THE STIGMA.

IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIAGNOSIS, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH THE DISEASE BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE NEVER DIAGNOSED.

MANY FAMILIES NEVER REACH OUT FOR THE RESOURCES.

AND MANY FAMILIES DON'T KNOW THAT.

THERE ARE SOME GREAT THINGS WE CAN DO NOW TO STAVE OFF, OR PERHAPS ELIMINATE SOME OF THE RISK FACTORS BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S NORMAL.

YES, I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE.

AND DOCTOR RICE BRINGING YOU IN HERE, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE BRAIN WHEN THIS IS GOING ON?

SO, SO PART OF WHAT DISTINGUISHES ALZHEIMER'S FROM OTHER TYPES OF DEMENTIA ARE TWO KEY FEATURES THAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE THE BRAIN, AND THAT IS ACCUMULATION OF AMYLOID PLAQUES IN THE BRAIN, AS WELL AS ACCUMULATION OF TAU TANGLES.

AND THESE HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, CHANGES IN THE BRAIN HAPPEN IN ADVANCE OF EVEN SYMPTOMS.

AND AS WE'RE LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE, WE'RE ALSO LEARNING.

IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN JUST THOSE TWO FEATURES.

SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF CELLS IN THE BRAIN THAT ARE INVOLVED IN PROCESSES.

IT'S A NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE.

SO WE ULTIMATELY HAVE LOSS OF BRAIN CELLS OR NEURONS.

BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT THERE'S CHANGES IN HOW THOSE CELLS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

THERE'S CHANGES IN INFLAMMATORY CELLS IN THE BRAIN, HOW THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM INTERACTS WITH THAT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF CELLULAR PROCESSES THAT ARE RESULTING IN THESE CHANGES IN THESE AMYLOIDS AND, AND PLAQUES AND TAU TANGLES, BUT ALSO ARE ACTING IN RESPONSE.

SO THERE'S THESE CYCLES HAPPENING IN THE BRAIN.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS SUCH A COMPLICATED DISEASE THAT WE NEED TO LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT.

AND I JUST WANT TO START, YOU KNOW, SYMPTOMS RIGHT NOW.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SYMPTOMS.

AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO GO INTO RISK FACTORS.

AND WHEN DOES THIS ALL START.

I MEAN, DOCTOR GARRETT CAN YOU LAY THIS TIMELINE OUT FOR US?

YEAH I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SYMPTOMS AND THE IDEA OF WHAT IS WHAT IS YOUR BASELINE, WHAT IS NORMAL FOR YOU.

BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF COMMON FOR US TO THINK, OH, I'M FORGETTING THINGS, WHEN IN FACT WE'VE PROBABLY FORGOTTEN THINGS ALL OUR LIVES.

WE JUST ACCOUNT IT TO AGE.

WHEREAS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PERSON WHO MAY BE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S, WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE?

YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, THE GROCERY STORE ONCE A WEEK, ONCE A MONTH, AND YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR WAY HOME FROM THAT LOCATION.

THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIGN THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE RECOGNIZING FAMILIAR THINGS, THOSE ARE OTHER THINGS.

I HAD A GRANDMOTHER.

SHE WOULDN'T WRITE A RECIPE FOR CHOCOLATE CAKE DOWN, BUT SHE ALWAYS BROUGHT THAT CAKE TO OUR FAMILY GATHERINGS.

AND WHEN SHE STOPPED BRINGING IT, WE KIND OF KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP.

SO AGAIN, IN THE END, SHE PROBABLY COULDN'T PUT THAT RECIPE TOGETHER ANY LONGER.

AND THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIGN THAT SOMETHING'S UP.

AND I'D SAY THE OTHER ONE I REALLY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS SOCIAL ISOLATION, BECAUSE IN THE EARLY STAGES, WE TEND TO PULL BACK AND SAY, I'M JUST NOT GOING TO TRY AND STRUGGLE WITH THAT.

SO IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S REAL GREGARIOUS AND OFTEN OUT AND DOING SOCIAL THINGS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPS, THAT'S A SIGN THAT I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO WHAT ARE THE FIRST KIND OF SIGNS THAT WE LOOK FOR MORGAN.

SO WE LOOK FOR THEY DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME.

THEY GET LOST.

THEIR RECIPES START TASTING A LITTLE FUNNY BECAUSE WHAT THEY'VE ALWAYS BROUGHT, THEY ADDED SUGAR INSTEAD OF SALT OR SALT INSTEAD OF SUGAR.

AND SO NOW IT'S GOT THAT WEIRD FLAVOR TO IT.

FINANCIAL.

THE BILLS KEEP PILING UP.

YOU KNOW, THEY PUT IT TO A SAFE PLACE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PAY DOWN THE ROAD AND IT DOESN'T GET PAID.

SO I MEAN, WE'VE HAD CAREGIVERS THAT HAVE COME IN AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I WENT AND VISITED MOM AND DAD, AND I FINALLY FOUND A STACK OF BILLS THAT THEY HAD PUT IN A DRAWER.

THEY WERE GOING TO COME BACK AND PAY LATER OR THEY'RE OVERSPENDING.

THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'VE ALREADY BOUGHT SOMETHING, AND SO THEY JUST KEEP BUYING IT.

AND SO NOW THEY'VE GOT A STOCKPILE OF AN ITEM BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT COGNITIVELY THINKING CORRECTLY AND REMEMBERING.

SO YOU CAN HAVE JUST LITTLE THINGS.

PEOPLE BECOME HONEY AND SWEETIE AND DARLING BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO REMEMBER THOSE THAN SOMEONE'S NAME.

AND SO THAT'S PARTIALLY WHY THEY MAY START BECOMING MORE OF A RECLUSE, BECAUSE GOING OUT AND TRYING TO REMEMBER PEOPLE'S NAMES BECOMES TOO TEDIOUS, AND THEY DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO NOTICE THAT THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES.

AND SO THEY START TO KIND OF STEP BACK FROM THOSE THINGS THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE.

THEY COULD FORGET THEIR FAVORITE GAME.

THEY DON'T REMEMBER THE RULES OF THE GAMES OR HOW TO CROCHET, HOW TO READ, YOU KNOW, BOOK CLUB.

THEY CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY READ.

SO IT'S HARD TO ATTEND BOOK CLUB AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REREAD SOMETHING OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO TRY TO REMEMBER IT.

AND SO THEY JUST, THEY, THEY BECOME RECLUSIVE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S NOT OUT.

IT'S IT'S A WAY THAT THEY CAN HIDE IT A LITTLE BIT.

YES.

PROTECT THEMSELVES.

SO IF THIS IS NOT NORMAL, HOW HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN AND HOW DO WE STOP IT?

WELL, THERE'S NOT A CURE.

WE NEED TO SAY THAT UP FRONT.

IT HAPPENS TO ME EVERYWHERE I GO.

PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THEY FOUND A CURE.

AND THAT UPSETS ME DEEPLY BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FOR HOPE.

AND I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT DESIRE FOR HOPE.

BUT I TOLD YOU EARLIER, THERE'S GOOD NEWS.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS.

AND JUST AS AN ACADEMIC, I ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE REALLY GOOD STUDIES, THE GOLD STANDARD STUDIES, AND THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION HAS SPONSORED ONE THAT I LOVE.

IT'S CALLED THE POINTER STUDY.

THE POINTER STUDY IS AMAZING IN THAT THEY TOOK INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD RISK FACTORS TOWARD ALZHEIMER'S, AND THEN DID INTERVENTIONS TO SEE IF THEY WERE EFFECTIVE.

AND MOST OF THEM WON'T SURPRISE YOU.

THERE ARE THINGS WE KIND OF FIGURED OUT, BUT THIS IS ACTUAL RESEARCH THAT AUTHENTICATES THOSE PIECES OF INFORMATION.

NUTRITION'S NOT GOING TO SURPRISE YOU.

YOU KNOW, GOOD NUTRITION IS A GREAT THING.

THE ONE I LOVE THAT IS KIND OF THE MAGIC PILL, IF YOU WILL.

THAT ISN'T IS MOVEMENT.

AND THAT BY THAT I MEAN EXERCISE.

SO I DO REFORMER PILATES.

I DON'T LIKE REFORMER PILATES, BUT I DO IT BECAUSE IT IS A FORM OF MOVEMENT AND ALSO HAS ANOTHER GOOD INTERVENTION.

AND THAT'S SOCIAL INTERACTION.

SO THOSE THINGS AND WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE STUDY THAT IS SOMEWHAT NEW IS INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER, IF YOU WILL, PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING WITH THEM DID BETTER, ALTHOUGH EVERYBODY IN THE STUDY DID BETTER IF THEY DID HEALTHY INTERVENTIONS.

AND BY BETTER I MEAN LESS COGNITIVE DECLINE.

A LOT OF THEM DID BETTER WITH THEIR GENERAL HEALTH FACTORS.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, HAVING SOMEBODY THAT KIND OF KEEPS YOU ON TRACK AND ENCOURAGES YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE.

SO I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE MY FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY EAT WELL.

THE OTHER ONE THAT I LOVE THAT I'M REALLY WORKING ON IS COGNITIVE EXERCISE.

AND BY THAT I MEAN YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF COGNITIVELY.

SO I'M TRYING TO LEARN GERMAN.

I'M NOT IT'S NOT GOING WELL.

BUT THE POINT IS, I'M EXERCISING MY BRAIN IN NEW AND EXCITING WAYS.

AND THE SCIENCE SUPPORTS THIS.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE GREAT NEWS, IS THAT IF YOU ARE WORRIED OR YOU THINK YOU HAVE RISK FACTORS, IT'S NOT TOO LATE TODAY TO START FOLLOWING THE STUFF THAT THE POINTER STUDY TALKED ABOUT.

AND I REALLY WANT TO GO INTO SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT OMF IS DOING HERE SHORTLY.

BUT MORGAN, TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT RISK FACTORS AND HOW WE CAN GET AHEAD OF THIS.

SO THERE ARE LOTS OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT AND ABOUT, ESPECIALLY ON THE MOVEMENT SIDE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S TAI CHI, THERE'S LOCAL CLASSES THAT YOU CAN TAKE, YOGA, JUST ANYTHING THAT GETS YOU OUT AND MOVING.

THEY SAY 30 MINUTES A DAY IS WHAT'S HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANYBODY TO GET MOVING.

AND SO JUST TAKING A WALK AROUND THE BLOCK.

BUT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, OKLAHOMA HEALTHY AGING INITIATIVE, THEY ALL HAVE PROGRAMS OUT THERE TO GET FOLKS MOVING.

SO TAI CHI FOR MOVING BETTER BALANCE.

THEY HAVE SALE CLASSES.

YOU CAN DO WALK WITH EASE, WHICH IS ALL ABOUT GOING OUT AND WALKING.

AND SO THESE ARE ALL AVAILABLE ACROSS THE STATE IN DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

AND SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THERE.

AGAIN WE TALK ABOUT RESOURCES.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

SO GETTING TALKING TO THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT DIET AND GETTING CONNECTED TO A NUTRITIONIST COULD EVEN BE HELPFUL IF THEY'RE REALLY WANTING TO FIX THAT NUTRITION SIDE.

BUT WE JUST WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT THERE STOPPING SMOKING TEA SET.

WE HAVE A WHOLE HELP LINE THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH SMOKING CESSATION.

LET'S GET PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THAT.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS OUT THERE TO HELP WITH BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MONITORING.

WE HAVE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMS ON TOP OF DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS HERE IN THE STATE.

SO GETTING PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THINGS THAT COULD HELP REDUCE THAT RISK AND OVERALL IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

AND SO JUST IN GENERAL, RISK FACTORS ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING HEALTHY AND, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT CAN LEAD YOU TO MAYBE DEVELOPING DEMENTIA THAT WE MIGHT NOT TALKED ABOUT?

DOCTOR GARRETT?

WELL, AGAIN, I THINK THERE IS THE GENETIC COMPONENT.

WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT THAT, PERHAPS.

BUT I ALSO THINK MOST PEOPLE CONCLUDE INACCURATELY THAT GENETICS IS THE ONLY FACTOR IN THAT.

AND OF COURSE, THAT'S INACCURATE.

SO AGAIN, THE THINGS THAT REALLY HELP US I'M BIG INTO PORTION SIZE, YOU KNOW, LET'S EAT LESS.

WE LIVE IN OKLAHOMA WHERE WE GO TO THE BUFFET.

RIGHT.

AND WE DON'T WE HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES PERMISSION TO NOT BE IN THE CLEAN PLATE CLUB ANYMORE AND EAT WELL.

THE CLOSER YOU ARE TO YOUR FARMER, PROBABLY THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE.

SO THE LESS PROCESSED THE FOOD IS.

THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE AS WELL TOO.

AND I ALSO THINK THE IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT GREAT PROGRAMS IS WE HAVE TO BE COMPLIANT.

IF I DECIDE I'M GOING TO RUN A MARATHON, THAT'S PROBABLY A REALLY UNREALISTIC THING FOR ME TO DO VERSUS GO TO A YOGA CLASS WHERE I'M GOING TO HAVE GREAT FUN AND MEET PEOPLE AND INTERACT.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO PICK SOMETHING THAT'S SO FAR REACHING THAT YOU WON'T EVER ACHIEVE IT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY.

ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS WHERE YOU CAN MEET THOSE PEOPLE.

I MEAN THAT IT'S THROUGH ALL OF MY EDUCATION.

IT'S ALWAYS YOU NEED THAT ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER WHEN IT COMES TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY AT ANY AGE, AT ANY AGE, AT ANY AGE, AT ANY AGE, IT'S BENEFICIAL.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHY PUTTING OUR KIDS INTO SPORTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREAT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S ALSO THAT SOCIALIZATION.

AND SO GOING OUT AND DOING YOGA IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU GET TO MEET PEOPLE, YOU DON'T USE IT.

YOU GO TO YOUR LOCAL SENIOR CENTER, GO TO THE LOCAL GYM.

YES, BUT IT'S JUST GREAT TO HAVE THAT PERSON, BUT ALSO TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE.

SO YOU'RE KIND OF GETTING THAT TWOFOLD, THAT SOCIALIZATION, BUT ALSO THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AT THE SAME TIME.

AWESOME.

WELL, DOCTOR RICE, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOPE THAT WE DO HAVE AND SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING AT OMEN ABOUT THE AMYLOID.

RIGHT.

SO PROTEIN YES.

THE MISSION AT OMRF IS THAT MORE MAY LIVE LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES.

AND IT'S IT'S IT'S CLEAR FROM ALL THE THINGS WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT ALZHEIMER'S HAS TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT.

SO WE ARE GROWING ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA AT OMRF.

MYSELF, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING TOGETHER, BUT ALSO IMPORTANTLY, TACKLING THIS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

AS I MENTIONED, IT'S A COMPLEX DISEASE.

SO WE HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THOSE CELLS THAT THAT PRODUCE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES.

WE HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING INSIDE THE CELLS AT ORGANELLES CALLED MITOCHONDRIA, WHICH SUPPLY THE ENERGY FOR CELLS AND SEEING HOW THAT'S AFFECTED.

AND WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH PEOPLE THAT WORK ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM TO SEE HOW THAT INTERPLAY GOES.

IN MY LAB, I WORK ON THE AMYLOID BETA PATHWAY THAT FORMS THOSE PLAQUES.

BUT I'M LOOKING AT THIS THROUGH A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT LENS, NOT JUST FOCUSING ON AMYLOID BETA PROTEIN, BUT ACTUALLY THE SOURCE OF THAT PROTEIN.

SO IT COMES FROM A LARGER PROTEIN CALLED AP OR AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN.

AND IT PRODUCES THAT AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF FRAGMENTS.

SO IN MY LAB WE'RE LEARNING WHAT DOES THIS NORMALLY DO IN THE BRAIN.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS GO RIGHT.

SO WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.

AND WE ACTUALLY THINK PART OF THAT PROTEIN IS BENEFICIAL IN THE BRAIN.

AND SO NOT JUST REMOVING THE DETRIMENTAL PARTS, BUT CAN WE BOOST THOSE BENEFICIAL PARTS IN THE BRAIN.

THAT'S INCREDIBLY INTERESTING AND THAT'S INCREDIBLY EXCITING.

AWESOME.

EXCELLENT WORK.

WELL LET'S I WANT TO WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO RESOURCES.

SO THIS IS JUST OPEN FOR ALL OF US.

BUT SAY YOU KNOW, YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEBODY AT HOME OR YOU THINK YOU MIGHT NOTICE SOMETHING.

WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP AND RESOURCES, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO NEXT?

MORGAN TALK TO THEIR DOCTOR.

GET INTO THEIR DOCTOR.

BUT THERE'S GREAT RESOURCES.

WE HAVE THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OKLAHOMA CHAPTER THAT'S RIGHT HERE.

THEY HAVE A 24 OVER SEVEN HELPLINE THAT ANYBODY CAN CALL AT ANY TIME.

WE HAVE OUR HEALTHY BRAIN PROGRAM AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE HAVE A STATEWIDE COALITION.

SO IF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES AND WE DON'T RIGHT AHEAD KNOW IT, WE CAN GET CONNECTED AND TRY TO FIND A RESOURCE ACROSS THE STATE FOR FOLKS.

BUT I MEAN, JUST DON'T HESITATE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

MAKE SURE WE HAVE TO BREAK THAT STIGMA.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS START HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS GETTING IN.

WE HAVE A WHOLE NOTES TO TAKE TO THE DOCTOR SHEET THAT OUR COALITION HAS CREATED, THAT IT GIVES TEN IDEAS OF THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WITH YOUR LOVED ONE, AND IT'S A PLACE TO TAKE YOUR NOTES ON SO THAT WHEN YOU GET TO THE DOCTOR AND THE DOCTOR ASKS, HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER IT BECAUSE THE CAREGIVERS ARE SO STRESSED, AS IS THE PERSON LIVING WITH THE DISEASE.

SO LET'S MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY CAN JUST HAND THAT TO THE DOCTOR TO START THAT CONVERSATION OF THESE ARE SOME THINGS WE'VE NOTICED OR THAT HAVE CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE OR JUST SINCE WE LAST SAW YOU.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE THOSE GUIDES THAT ARE THERE, AND WE EVEN HAVE A CAREGIVER GUIDE THAT THE COALITION HAS KIND OF PUT TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES.

WELL, DOCTOR GARRETT, VERY QUICKLY HERE, I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO TALK MORE ABOUT CAREGIVERS AS WELL.

BUT CAN YOU KIND OF DESCRIBE, LIKE SHE MENTIONED, THE STRESS THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND THEN THE RESOURCES WE HAVE FOR THEM.

RIGHT.

WELL, WE KNOW ONE OUT OF FOUR CAREGIVERS PASSES BEFORE THE PERSON WITH THE DISEASE DOES.

SO THAT'S SO IMPACTFUL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THE MASK ON FIRST, TAKING CARE OF THAT CAREGIVER, BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE THERE TO CARE FOR THE PERSON WHO'S LIVING WITH THE DISEASE.

WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT SUPPORT GROUPS, BUT THERE ARE REALLY COOL SUPPORT GROUPS OUT THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW RESEARCH OUT THERE.

WHEN I STARTED IN THIS FIELD BACK WHEN, I WON'T SAY WHEN, BUT WE HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR WORKING WITH DIFFICULT BEHAVIORS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH RESEARCH, MUCH BETTER TECHNIQUES TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH THE DISEASE.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET SOME OF THOSE STRATEGIES.

AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE 24 OVER SEVEN HOTLINE IS SOMETIMES YOU MAY BE AT TWO IN THE MORNING AND YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY WANDERING AND YOU JUST NEED HELP OR SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO, AND THAT'S A PERSON ON THE OTHER LINE THAT CAN BE YOUR YOUR LIFELINE.

THAT'S JUST WONDERFUL.

DOCTOR RICE, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT INSPIRES ME EVERY DAY IS HEARING FROM PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS.

I TRAVELED SOME WITH OMRF WHEN WE WENT AROUND THE STATE LAST YEAR AND ALSO MEET MEET DONORS OF THE FOUNDATION, AND MANY OF THEM ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING RESEARCH BECAUSE THEY'RE AFFECTED AND HEARING THEIR STORIES AND WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

IT MOTIVATES ME, INSPIRES ME EVERY DAY TO DO WHAT I DO.

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU ALL AND SO THANKFUL FOR YOU ALL.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THAT WAS A GREAT PANEL.

GOOD JOB CASSIDY.

WE'VE PROBABLY ALL SEEN A CROP DUSTER DIVING DOWN OVER ROADWAY TO DROP FERTILIZER OR INSECTICIDE AND SOMETIMES SEEDS ON THE FARMLAND.

THESE AIR TRACTORS HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1921, BUT TECHNOLOGY IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE THAT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF DRONES THAT CAN PRETTY MUCH DO THE SAME THING.

SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR HUMAN PILOTS?

HERE'S A REPORT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS.

THE JOB OF AN AG PILOT IS TO APPLY CHEMICALS, FERTILIZERS, SEEDS AND ON CROP GROUND IN GENERAL, BECAUSE WE'RE OPERATING TEN FEET OFF THE GROUND IN THE OBSTACLE ENVIRONMENT, MOMENTS OF INATTENTION THAT ARE MAYBE A FRACTION OF A SECOND CAN TURN DANGEROUS REALLY FAST.

OUR MARGIN FOR ERROR IS SO SMALL, THE MORE AND MORE BUILDING THAT GOES ON IN NORTHERN COLORADO THAT CREATES MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, MORE ROADS, MORE POWER LINES, MORE LIGHT POLES.

THERE ARE SOME SPOTS THAT WE JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT AN AIRPLANE IN BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES OR BECAUSE IT'S SURROUNDED BY HOUSES.

WE JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.

THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME BURNING DESIRE INSIDE OF ME TO GET INTO AVIATION.

WHEN I GOT INTO COLLEGE, I DECIDED, YOU KNOW, I THINK I WANT TO, I WANT TO PURSUE THIS.

I TOOK AN INTRO FLIGHT, WHICH IS WHERE YOU GO UP WITH A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, AND THEY JUST KIND OF TAKE YOU AROUND AND SHOW YOU HOW TO FLY THE AIRPLANE A LITTLE BIT AND SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU LIKE.

I DID THAT AND I WAS HOOKED.

VERY MINUTE THAT WE TOOK OFF, I WAS LIKE, I'M DOING THIS THE REST OF MY LIFE.

THE MORE I GOT INTO IT, THE MORE MY AG ROOTS WERE CALLING ME BACK.

ONE OF THE BIG REASONS PLANES ARE GOOD FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK IS THE TIMELINESS.

WHEN THE PESTS START COMING ON, THERE'S POTENTIAL TO LOSE A HUGE AMOUNT OF YIELD FOR THAT FARMER.

BEING AS INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE AS I HAVE BEEN, I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT DRONES WERE GOING TO COME INTO THIS WORLD IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

AND SO WHEN THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT USING DRONES FOR APPLICATION, IT PIQUED MY INTEREST.

WE HEAR A LOT OF THINGS IN THE INDUSTRY LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE MANNED AIRCRAFT ANYMORE.

AND AND I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT I THINK THESE TWO TOOLS CAN BE A GOOD COMPLEMENT TO EACH OTHER.

THERE ARE PLACES THAT ARE FIT FOR A DRONE, AND THERE ARE PLACES THAT ARE FIT FOR AN AIRPLANE, AND SOMETIMES THEY CROSS OVER AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT CAPACITY.

THE DRONES DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE LARGE ACRES QUITE AS QUICKLY AS AN AIRPLANE.

WE CAN ONLY HOLD ABOUT FIVE GALLONS IN THE DRUM, WHEREAS THE AIRPLANES 500 GALLONS.

IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE DRONES HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY LARGE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE VERY SOPHISTICATED SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY IN IT TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY MARGINS.

DO I THINK IT'LL HAPPEN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE?

I MAYBE LONG AFTER WE'RE GONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING AT SUCH A RAPID PACE.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, THE OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE AUTHORITY IS RELEASING NEW RENDERINGS FOR A PROPOSED HIGHWAY IN THE NORMAN AREA.

HOW WILL THE PUBLIC RESPOND?

JASON DOYLE REPORTS FRIDAY AT SEVEN.

WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK.

WE'LL LOOK AT OTA'S FAMILY FUN DAY AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO LAST SATURDAY, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OTA'S LEGACY KOTO.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OTA TV.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH ANY OF THE REPORTS IN THIS NEWSCAST AGAIN, THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL BY MONDAY EVENING.

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.

I LOVE SAINT LOUIS.

I LOVE.

ALL.

OH.

000.

SO I'M AN EDUCATOR.

AND SO AS A TEACHER, OTA IS THE ONLY THING THAT I REALLY ALLOW IN MY CLASSROOM BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS COOL APPROPRIATE.

BUT AS A PARENT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS GOOD.

IT'S STIMULATING FOR THE MIND, BUT NOT TOO STIMULATING FOR HIM.

I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

ANYTHING BEING INAPPROPRIATE ON THERE, IT'S ALWAYS SAFE FOR KIDS.

OH HO HO HO.

OH MY GOD.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN OTA FANS FOR 50 YEARS.

I THINK WE LOVE MOST THAT IT BRINGS CULTURE TO PEOPLE OUT.

NEXT TIME ON GALLERY AMERICA WE MEET AMY SANDERS DEMELLO, A TULSA BASED CERAMIC ARTIST THAT USES HER WORK TO CULTIVATE HUMAN CONNECTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH DELICATE MESSAGES