>>> AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GENL REQUEST, CUSHION DATES SUPPORTERS ARE SEEKING CLEMENCY.

>> BEING CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO DIE IS THE HIGHEST PENALTY, OKLAHOMA HAS BOTCHED EXECUTIONS AND WRONGFULLY CONVICTED MORE PEOPLE THAN WE CAN COUNT.

>> HOME HAND OPENS A FULL SERVICE FOOD MARKET.

>> TO REALIZE SOME OF THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO GET A GREEN PEPPER OR GALLON OF MIKE.

>> A SMALL TOWN BATTLES A LARGE TRIBE TO KEEP A MEAT PACKING PLANT FROM OPENING.

>> I PRACTICED ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, AND WE'RE CORRECT, THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND THE TRIBE IGNORED US.

>>> DID YOU KNOW OKLAHOMA IS RAPIDLY BECOMING THE BARBEQUE CAPITAL OF AMERICA?

>> TOOK ME FOREVER TO FIND GOOD BARBEQUE.

THIS PLACE IS A BOMB.

>> MEDICAID EXPANSION MEANS BETTER DENTAL CARE FOR THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS.

>> THEY WITH BE ABLE TO GO TO A DENTIST AND SAY I HAVE SOONERCARE, I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN O'CONNOR IS ASKING THE OKLAHOMA CRIMINAL COURT OF APPEALS TO SET EXECUTION DATES FOR SEVEN INMATES CURRENT LIE DEATH ROW INCLUDING JULIUS JONES.

THAT IS GALLON I HAVE NICING SUPPORTERS WHO WANT TO SEE SOME OF THOSE INMATES FREE OR GIVEN LESSER SENTENCES.

>> DEATH ROW INMATE JULIUS JONES HAS A COMMUTATION HEARING SCHEDULED SOON, IN HOPES HE CAN ARGUE THAT HE DIDN'T KILL A MAN 22 YEARS AGO.

ON WEDNESDAY, 'WITNESS TO INNOCENCE,' A COALITION OF DEATH ROW SURVIVORS FROM DIFFERENT STATES, DELIVERED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR JULIUS JONES TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> MY NAME IS GARY DRINKARD.

I WAS ARRESTED AND CONVICTED FOR A ROBBERY-MURDER IN ALABAMA THAT I DID NOT COMMIT.

WHEN I READ JULIUS' CASE, I MEAN, MEMORIES JUST FLEW BACK TO MINE.

>> JULIUS JONES HAS BEEN A HIGH-PROFILE CASE FOR SOME TIME, WITH DOCUMENTARIES AND CELEBRITIES SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT AND BELIEF THAT JONES IS INNOCENT.

WHILE THE JUSTICE FOR JULIUS CAMPAIGN REMAINS HOPEFUL, THEY HAVE NEW CONCERNS FOLLOWING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DECISION TO SEEK EXECUTION DATES FOR JONES AND SIX OTHER DEATH ROW INMATES.

>> JUST LAST WEEK, THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR OKLAHOMA REQUESTED OF THE OKLAHOMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AND OCTOBER THE 28TH EXECUTION DATE FOR JULIUS KNOWING FULL WELL THAT HE'S ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR A COMMUTATION HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 13TH.

AND SO OF COURSE THAT IS REALLY TROUBLING TO US.

>> WEDNESDAY'S EVENT WAS PART OF 'JULIUS JONES WEEK,' A WEEK LONG EVENT ORGANIZED BY THE JUSTICE FOR JULIUS COALITION.

IT INCLUDES A LIVECAST NIGHT OF PRAYER, A HOOP FEST ON THURSDAY, AND OTHER EVENTS CONTINUING ON INTO THE WEEKEND >> SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, STARTING AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING, WE WILL BE HAVING THE JUSTICE FOR JULIUS 5K RUN.

>> JULIUS JONES ISN'T THE ONLY DEATH ROW INMATE SEEKING REPRIEVE FROM THE DEATH CHAMBER RICHARD GLOSSIP IS SEEKING A WAY TO STOP HIS EXECUTION FROM HAPPENING.

HE WAS ABOUT TO RECEIVE A LETHAL INJECTION IN 2015, WHEN A MIXUP OF THE EXECUTION DRUGS WAS DISCOVERED.

THE STATE HALTED ALL EXECUTIONS UNTIL A COMPLETE REVIEW OF PROTOCOLS WAS PUT INTO PLACE.

GLOSSIP'S CASE HAS DRAWN QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION OF IT'S OWN.

>> HERE I AM A PRO DEATH PENALTY GUY TRYING TO GET RICHARD GLOSSIP OFF, NOT BECAUSE I'M AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE HE'S 100% INNOCENT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MCDUGLE IS BACKING AN EFFORT TO GATHER SIGNATURES TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OF GLOSSIP'S CASE.

SO FAR, 10,000 SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN GATHERED ON A PETITION, IN ADDITION TO A REQUEST BY 34 LAWMAKERS THAT MCDUGLE SUBMITTED TO THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD IN JUNE.

>> I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

>> MCDUGLE IS CONVINCED THAT GLOSSIP WAS SET UP TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR BARRY VAN TREESE'S KILLING.

>> THESE WERE ALL PEOPLE WHO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND SHOW SOME EVIDENCE TO THEY DIDN'T JUST SIGN ON TO THAT LETTER BECAUSE KEVIN MCDUGLE'S NAME'S ON IT, I MEAN, EVERY ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED ONTO THAT TOOK THE TIME TO LISTEN, TOOK THE TIME TO TAKE A LOOK, TOOK TIME TO WATCH THE NETFLIX SERIES.

>> GLOSSIP HAS BEEN GRANTED A HEARING FOR ALTERNATE METHODS TO LETHAL INJECTION IN JANUARY, BUT MCDUGLE HOPES TO HAVE HIS CASE RE-OPENED BEFORE THEN.

OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN O'CONNOR BELIEVES IT IS TIME FOR THE STATE TO RESUME EXECUTING DEATH ROW INMATES.

IN A STATEMENT, O'CONNOR SAYS IN PART.

"OUR THOUGHTS REMAIN WITH THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES OF THE VICTIMS OF ALL DEATH ROW INMATES.

THEY HAVE ENDURED THE LENGTHY APPEALS PROCESS, WHILE WAITING DECADES FOR JUSTICE FOR HORRIFIC CRIMES THEIR LOVED ONES SUFFERED.

FURTHER DELAY WILL ONLY PERPETUATE THAT INJUSTICE."

DESPITE THE MOVE BY O'CONNOR, JONES' SUPPORTERS ARE NOT GIVING UP.

>> WE'VE HAD THE, UH, REALLY THE PLEASURE TO MEET WITH JULIUS JONES IN PERSON.

AND HE IS ABSOLUTELY, UM, GRATEFUL FOR THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.

AND HE'S ABSOLUTELY, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM, HE'S A MAN OF GRACE AND A MAN OF FAITH.

SO HE OFTEN SAYS THANK YOU TO THE GREAT SUPPORT, UH, ACROSS THE NATION> >> THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE REALLY BEEN GOING STRONG AT BUILDING ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS, FOR JULIUS AND AROUND JULIUS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS AT RISK OF EXECUTING A WRONGFULLY CONVICTED PERSON.

>> THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD HAS MOVED BACK JONES' COMMUTATION HEARING TO OCTOBER 5TH, ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE REQUESTED EXECUTION DATE OF OCTOBER 28.

>> OUR SYSTEM IS NOT PERFECT.

IT'S NOT PERFECT MISTAKES IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT THE PROBLEM COMES IN IS THAT WHEN THIS MISTAKE HAPPENED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAS THE POWER ACTUALLY SEES IT, AND DON'T TRY TO TAKE ACTION INSTEAD, PROLONG HEARINGS.

>> THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INCLUDING OKLAHOMA TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE PROHIBITIONS A MASKING CONSTITUTION CONSTITUTES CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION AND DISCRIMINATES AGAINST STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE AT INCREASED OF RISK GETTING SEVERELY ILL.

THE OTHER STATES BEING INVESTIGATED ARE IOWA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, AND UTAH.

>>> WHILE THERE IS TALK ELSEWHERE THAT THE DELTA VARIANT MAY BE PEAKING IN THE UNITED STATES THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE CASE IN OKLAHOMA.

THE ROLLING SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW COVID CASES PICKED UP SLIGHTLY AND STANDS AT 2,634 AS OF FRIDAY.

TOTAL HOSPITALIZATIONS NOW WELL ABOVE 1500.

42 OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.

HOWEVER, 24 MORE PEOPLE ARE OCCUPYING ICU BEDS THIS WEEK.

WORST OF ALL, 218 PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM COVID IN JUST THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, NEARLY DOUBLE LAST WEEK'S RATE.

43.4% OF ALL OKLAHOMANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

>>> OKLAHOMA CONGRESSMAN MARKWAYNE MULLIN MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO ENTER AFGHANISTAN TO TRY AND RESCUE FIVE AMERICANS TRAPPED INSIDE THE COUNTRY.

MULLINS SAYS HE IS SAFE BUT WOULD NOT CONFIRM THE REPORTS.

MULLIN REPORTEDLY ARGUED WITH OFFICIALS IN NEIGHBORING TAJIKISTAN WHO WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO TRANSPORT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY.

OFFICIALS HAVE HARSHLY CRITICIZED AMERICAN LAWMAKERS WHO TRIED TO ENTER AFGHANISTAN SAYING THEY ARE ENDANGERING THEMSELVES AND THOSE THEY WISH TO HELP.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE CONGRESSMAN FOR COMMENT BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM HIM.

>>> THERE'S BEEN A VISION FOR NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA SIT EAR FOR 25 YEARS AND IT'S REALITY.

OKLAHOMA BASED HOMELAND STORES OPENING A FULL SERVICE SUPERMARKET AT NORTHEAST 36th STREET AND LINCOLN ON WEDNESDAY, EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATING WHAT HAD BEEN A FOOD DESERT IN THAT PART OF TOWN.

NOW CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND THIS STORE WILL BE FIRST IN OKLAHOMA CITY TO OFFER HUNGER FREE OKLAHOMAMANS DOUBLE UP PROGRAM WHICH MATCHES SNAP BENEFITS DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR ON FRESH PRODUCE UP TO $20 PER DAY.

>> THIS IS SURPRISED A LOT OF OKLAHOMANS TO REALIZE SOME OF THEIR NEIGHBORS HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO GET A GREEN PEPPER OR GALLON OF MILK OR BASIC FOOD NEEDS.

IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN ANYONE REMEMBERS SINCE WE BUILT ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP.

AS EMPLOYEE OWNED COMPANY THIS IS EXCITING MILESTONE FOR US.

>> IN ADDITION TO ALL THE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THE HOMELAND STORE WILL FEATURE THE MUCH ANTICIPATED RETURN OF BARBEQUE.

WITH MORE ON THAT AND OUR STATE'S RISE TO BARBEQUE SUPREMACY WE'RE JOINED BY REPORTER STEVE SHAW.

STEVE.

>> OKLAHOMA TOOK A BACK SEAT TO BARBEQUE HOTSPOTS IN TEXAS, KANSAS CITY, NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE.

THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.

LEO'S BARBECUE AT 36TH AND NORTH KELLEY WAS AN OKLAHOMA CITY INSTITUTION FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS WHEN PROPRIETER CHARLES SMITH CLOSED IT DOWN EARLIER THIS YEAR LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> MY DAD MADE ME PROVE MYSELF BEING LEO'S SON BACK IN '89.

1989.

>> THAT SPIRIT SMITH SAYS IS WHY HE TOOK THE LEAP WHEN HOMELAND OFFERED HIM HIS OWN SPOT IN THEIR NEW STORE TO PRODUCE AND AND SELL SOME OF LEO'S FAVORITES.

>> AND THEY BELIEVED IN ME HERE AT HOMELAND.

SO I WAS LIKE WOW AND THEY WERE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HAVING ME AND THEY HAD THAT ENERGY I NEEDED TO GET THAT PUSH TO GET ROLLING AGAIN."

>> OH WE'VE GOT A FULL SMOKE HOUSE.

IT DROVE THE CONSTRUCTION GUYS CRAZY.

WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS BIG ROLL UP DOOR?

WE GOT TO BRING IN WOOD.

WE'RE NOT GONNA BE SMOKING WITH CHIPS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME GOOD WOOD.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A RACK AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BRING IT IN AND HE'S GOING TO PROBABLY SHOW YOU THE SMOKER HE'S GOT, AND THE SET UP HE'S GOT.

BUT NO IT WILL BE THE REAL DEAL."

>> AND YES FOLKS, LEO'S FAMOUS STRAWBERRY CAKE IS ABOUT TO MAKE A TRIUMPHANT RETURN.

>> RIBS, BRISKET, HOT LINKS, BOLOGNA, BEANS, SLAW, POTATO SALAD AND MACARONI.

YOU KNOW WE GONNA DO ALL OF THAT AND THE SAUCE COMES ON THE SIDE CAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING TO HID AND EVERYBODY WHO GETS A DINNER WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE A WINNER WHEN THEY ENTER.

SO WE GIVE THEM A SLICE OF THAT STRAWBERRY BANANA CAKE.

SEE LITTLE LEO'S IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.

SO REMEMBER THAT BOYS AND GIRLS!

>> WHILE LEO'S EMBRACES A NEW BEGINNING THERE'S A LEGEND IN THE MAKING 33 MILES TO THE NORTHEAST IN LINCOLN COUNTY.

>> GOOD MORNING CARNIVORES!

HOW YA ALL DOING TODAY?

>> THE TINY TOWN OF WELLSTON OFF ROUTE 66 IS WHERE MANY SWEAR YOU'LL FIND THE BEST BARBECUE ANYWHERE.

IT'S CALLED "BUTCHER BARBECUE."

PEOPLE WAIT IN LINE HOURS TO GET THEIR GRUB ON HERE.

>> WE KNOW YOU ALL HAVE WAITING AND I CAN HEAR THOSE TUMMIES RUMBLING, THE RIBS HAVE BEEN RUBBED, THE MAC HAS BEEN CHEESED AND THE COLE HAS BEEN SLAWED.

THE BUTCHER BARBECUE STAND IS NOW OPEN!

>> LAST SATURDAY, LARRY PERCY WAS FIRST IN LINE HE DROVE 15 HOURS.

>> I LEFT TROY, ALABAMA AT TWO O'CLOCK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND DROVE STRAIGHT HERE.

I WAS THE FIRST ONE HERE AT 8:30 THIS MORNING.

>> KENNETH HERRING WAS SECOND IN LINE.

>> ONCE I TASTED THEIR SLICED BRISKET, I NEVER EAT EAT ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S THE BEST BRISKET I'VE EATEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE!

>> I'M FROM GEORGIA, AND BARBECUE IS A STAPLE.

MOVED HERE 13, 14 YEARS AGO.

TOOK ME FOREVER TO FIND GOOD BARBECUE.

THIS PLACE IS THE BOMB.

>> IS THE FOOD THAT GOOD?

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THE BURNT ENDS ARE TO DIE FOR.

MY SON AND I ARE REALLY GOOD INTO BARBECUE, WE'RE PRETTY GOOD AT IT.

BUT THESE GUYS ARE CHAMPIONS.

>> YES.

YES.

YEP.

IT'S OUR DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

>> LITTLE "BUTCHER BARBECUE" IS ACTUALLY A GRAND CHAMPION.

THREE YEARS AGO, A MAN NAMED CHARLIE DAVID BOUSKA WON THE JACK DANIELS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INVITATIONAL COMPETITION WHICH EXPERTS CONSIDER THE GRANDADDY OF EM ALL.

CHARLIE DAVID'S SON LEVI BOUSKA OPENED BUTCHER BARBECUE OUT OF A 40 FOOT LONG RAILROAD SHIPPING CONTAINER IN 2015.

>> I'M A SECOND GENERATION BUTCHER AND A THIRD GENERATION BARBECUE GUY.

AND SO JUST KIND OF FELT WE COULD DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK IT WAS JUST THE CULMINATION OF EVERYTHING, US HAVING GOOD FOOD HERE, CONSISTENT GOOD FOOD HERE LONG WITH ALL OF THE WINS HE'S DOING ON THE ROAD AND DEFINITELY WHEN HE WON THE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP IT KIND OF PUT A BIG SPOTLIGHT ON US FOR SURE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> BUTCHER BARBECUE IS OPEN JUST THREE DAYS A WEEK.

FROM 11 A.M. FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY UNTIL THE MEAT RUNS OUT, WHICH IS USUALLY AROUND 3 P.M. >> IT'S VERY HUMBLING.

IT'S IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST HUMBLING THING I DO EVERY MORNING.

I GET TO WAKE UP AND LOOK AT 155 TO 200 BRAND NEW FRIENDS EVERY MORNING >> WE GET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IN FACT THAT COME HERE.

SO IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR A LITTLE TOWN LIKE WELLSTON.

>> I LOVE THE STORY BEHIND THIS PLACE.

I JUST WANT TO SUPPORT EM.

AND I'M FROM ALABAMA, THRU MEMPHIS, THIS PLACE BEATS EM ALL.

>> IN EDMOND, OWEN WILSON'S BIG O'S PORK AND DREAMS IS STILL GOING STRONG.

NEXT WEEK BIG O'S WILL OPEN A SECOND LOCATION IN MIDWEST CITY.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOOD FOOD, AND PEOPLE WILL COME NO MATTER WHAT.

IF YOU HAVE THOSE TWO, YOU CAN CONQUER ANYTHING.

>> HAYDEN STAERKEL AND PHILLIP KIRK ARE MEMBERS OF A STATEWIDE GROUP CALLED THE OKLAHOMA BARBECUE SOCIETY.

>> NOW THERE'S A LOT OF BACKYARD COMPETITIONS TOO.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE BACKYARD COMPETITIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ON THE PROFESSIONAL CIRCUIT.

>> WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO PONCA CITY IN TWO WEEKS.

I THINK IT'S $15,000.

>> WITH OKLAHOMA CITY'S CLARK CREW BARBECUE WINNING THE JACK DANIEL'S COMPETION IN 2019, THAT MEANS THE LAST TWO WINNERS OF THAT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CAME FROM OKLAHOMA.

COVID 19 KNOCKED THE COMPETITION OUT LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, I YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S REALLY NEAT YOU ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT TEXAS BARBECUE, KANSAS CITY OR CAROLINA, BUT I THINK WE'RE REALLY MAKING A STAMP ON THE BARBECUE WORLD.

>> KANSAS SPEEDWAY WILL HOST THE ANNUAL AMERICAN ROYAL BARBEQUE COMPETITION, RIGHT ON PAR WITH THE JACK DANIELS.

OKLAHOMA TEAMS HAVE WON THAT IN RECENT YEARS, AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STEVE.

>>> UPDATE TO A STORY WE TOLD BUT IN APRIL.

WINCHESTER IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA IS MOVING FORWARD IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST MUSKOGEE NATION.

RESIDENTS SAY THE PLANT WILL POLLUTE THEIR LAND AND WATER AND THAT THE TRIBE IS REFUSING TO DISCUSS OR SOLVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE FACILITY.

AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER IS REPRESENTING WINCHESTER WHICH IS LOCATED JUST OFF OF HIGHWAY 75 BETWEEN OKMULGEE AND GLENPOOL.

>> WE FILED A 60-DAY NOTICE LETTER UNDER THE CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER ACT.

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT GIVES THEM NOTICE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE VIOLATIONS THAT WE POINTED OUT IN THE LETTER.

>> THEY DON'T A PERMIT TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISCHARGING RAW WASTE WATERS INTO A CREEK THAT LEADS TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISCHARGING PATHOGENS, RAW WASTE SEWAGE THAT GETS AERATED BY SHOOTING UP THE AIR, GOING TO BE BLOWN AND DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERES.

>> THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA USE THE GROUND WATER FOR THEIR DRINKING WATER.

AND THE GROUND WATER IS JUST FOUR FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.

THE MONEY THAT IS BEING -- THAT WAS RECEIVED TO BUILD THIS FACILITY CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CARES ACT.

THE -- THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST REGULAR FOLKS.

THEY'RE MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE.

SO THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THE BIGGER DOG BEATING UP ON THE LITTLE DOG.

>> THE SPOKESMAN TELLING US THAT THEY HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN THE INTEGRITY OF OUR OPERATION AND ITS DESIGN AND INTEND TO OPEN THE FACILITY IN MID OCTOBER.

THE TRIBE HAS TOLD PAGE THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

>>> ONLY EMERGENCY TOOTH EXTRACTIONS WERE COVERED THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

BUT THAT'S CHANGING.

JASON DOYLE DISCUSSES THE IMPROVING MEDICAID OPTIONS WITH REPORTER CATHERINE SWEENEY.

>> THE SITUATION WHEN IT COMES TO DENTAL INSURANCE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

THERE'S A LOT OF OKLAHOMANS THEY'RE GOING WITHOUT DENTAL INSURANCE COVERAGE RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

ABOUT HALF OF OKLAHOMANS CAN'T GO TO THE DENTIST.

THEY DON'T HAVE DENTAL INSURANCE.

>> WE HAVE 4 MILLION PEOPLE, SO THAT'S ABOUT 2 MILLION PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO GO GET THEIR TEETH CLEANED OR GET A TOOTH REPAIRED, OR GET A FILLING OR GET DENTURES OR A REPLACEMENT TOOTH.

THAT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS HAS LED TO SOME TAKING THEIR DENTAL CARE INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

>> I INTERVIEWED, UM, A FEW PEOPLE, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA DENTAL FOUNDATION.

IT'S A NONPROFIT.

THEY DO ALL KINDS OF WORK TO GET DENTAL SERVICES INTO COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

ONE OF THE SERVICES IS THE MOBILE SMILES UNIT.

UM, IT'S A BIG FANCY TRAILER AND THEY DRIVE IT TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE AND IT HAS A DENTAL CLINIC INSIDE OF IT.

AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE SEEN, UM, THEY TOLD ME ABOUT ARE PRETTY WILD.

I THINK THE MOST COMPELLING, UM, THE DIRECTOR, UM, JOHN WILGUESS SAID THAT HE TALKED TO A WOMAN AND SHE SAID, BOY, I WISH I WOULD'VE KNOWN YOU GUYS WERE COMING.

UM, FEW WEEKS AGO I HAD THESE TEETH AND THEY WERE JUST HURTING SO BAD.

I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

AND I TOOK A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY AND A PAIR OF PLIERS AND PULLED THEM OUT.

UM, THAT'S HOW PAINFUL THESE -- THESE TOOTH CONDITIONS CAN BE.

THEY CAN BE OVERWHELMING, UNBEARABLE.

LAWMAKERS, UM, THEY ACTUALLY FUNDED DENTAL BENEFITS, PREVENTATIVE DENTAL FOR ADULTS AND MEDICAID.

SO THAT SOONER CARE, UM, UP UNTIL THIS POINT THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE ADULT LIMITED DENTAL PROGRAM IS WHAT WE CALL IT, UH, ALLOWS MORE BENEFITS FOR ADULTS.

SO THESE BENEFITS WERE -- HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR CHILDREN.

IT'S NOTHING NEW FOR CHILDREN, BUT NOW ADULTS CAN HAVE RESTORATIVE, SUCH AS SILVER AND TOOTH COLORED RESTORATIONS ON THEIR TEETH OR FILLINGS.

THEY CAN HAVE DENTAL CLEANINGS, THEY CAN HAVE FLUORIDE TREATMENT, THEY CAN HAVE TREATMENT FOR GUMS, UH, AND THEY -- THEY CAN HAVE ALSO PARTIALS AND COMPLETE DENTURES, WHICH IS A REAL BIG DEAL BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO HAVE EMERGENCY EXTRACTIONS.

>> UH, WILL THERE BE A CO-PAY INVOLVED WITH THIS?

>> THERE IS A $4 CO-PAY FOR ADULTS, YES.

IT DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY EMERGENCY SERVICES.

>> DOES THERE SEEM TO BE A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOUR DENTAL HEALTH AFFECTS YOUR OVERALL HEALTH?

YES.

WE ACT LIKE IT'S JUST THIS, YOU KNOW, ISOLATED CHAMBER THAT'S PART OF YOUR BODY AND IT CAN'T AFFECT ANYTHING ELSE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR POLICYMAKERS, THEY NEED TO BE STUDYING THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, FOR, YOU KNOW, YOU AND ME RANK AND FILE PEOPLE, UM, IT'S KIND OF HARD NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY, BECAUSE YOU CAN PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AND DENTAL IS SEPARATE.

UM, I SAW A JOKE THE OTHER DAY THAT WAS LIKE THEY'RE LUXURY BONES, I GUESS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY EXTRA TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE ONES.

>> SO THE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES ARE JUST -- THAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS.

SO YOU CAN COME IN REGULARLY TO SEE YOUR DENTIST.

YOU CAN GET YOUR TEETH CLEANED REGULARLY, GET FLUORIDE TREATMENT, WHICH HELPS PREVENT CAVITIES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IF YOU DON'T GET A CAVITY, YOU NEVER NEED TO LOSE A TOOTH MORE THAN LIKELY UNLESS YOU GET HIT IN THE MOUTH OR SOMETHING, FOR SURE.

BUT, UM, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT TOO THICK AND PAIN AND ALL THAT.

IF YOU COME IN REGULARLY AND LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOUTH.

>> YOUR DENTAL HEALTH AFFECTS YOUR OVERALL HEALTH.

UM, DR. DAVID JONES IS A DENTIST FROM MUSKOGEE THAT I INTERVIEWED.

HE WORKS ON THE MOBILE SPIRALS UNIT.

HE SAID YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.

YOU GET AN INFECTION IN YOUR MOUTH, THE BLOOD IN YOUR MOUTH GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT'S EVERYWHERE ELSE.

YOU ONLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE HEAD.

YOUR MOUTH ISN'T UP, BUT YOUR BRAIN IS IN IT, TOO.

YOUR SINUSES ARE IN IT, TOO.

IT'S ALL INTERCONNECTED.

>> CATHERINE SWEENEY WITH STATE IMPACT, OKLAHOMA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE IMAGES OF DESTRUCTION AND DEATH FOLLOWING HURRICANE IDA ARE HEARTBREAKING.

16 YEARS AGO, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF OFFERED AID FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA AND THEY'RE BACK IN THE BAYOU STATE THIS WEEKEND USING CHAIN SAW TEAMS TO CLEAR AWAY MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF STORM DEGREE.

BAPTIST DIRECTOR SAYS A CREW IS ON SITE RIGHT NOW.

IN ADDITION TO A LARGE OUTDOOR KITCHEN THAT CAN PRODUCE UP TO 9,000 MEALS PER DAY.

>> HOT MEAL MEANS EVERYTHING FOR THESE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

>> YES.

YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN THERE YET, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE -- THAT THEY ARE SO -- FEEL SO OVERWHELMED THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND SO IN THEIR CHAOS WE BRING COMFORT.

WE LIKE TO SAY WE BRING HOPE, HELP AND HEALING.

AND SO WE COME ALONGSIDE THEM AND TRY TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE INITIAL PROCESS OF CLEAN UP.

>> COMING UP LITTLE BIT LATER, WE'LL DISCUSS OKLAHOMA'S WILD WEATHER, AND THE ROLE GLOBAL WARMING MAY BE PLAYING IN IT.

>>> HURRICANE IMPACTING COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE TO THE BENEFIT OF SOONERS FANS.

THEIR OPENERS WAS SCHEDULED TO BE PLAYED AT TULANE IN NEW ORLEANS.

KICKOFF REMAINS AT 11:00 A.M.

BUT THAT CONTEST WILL NOW BE PLAYED IN NORMAN.

>>> OKLAHOMA ENERGY COMPANIES ARE ANSWERING THE CALL TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS IN LOUISIANA FOLLOWING THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THE HURRICANE.

WITH MORE ON HOW THEY'RE GETTING INVOLVED HERE IS JASON DOYLE.

>> OKLAHOMA'S TWO MAJOR ELECTRIC UTILITY PROVIDERS HAVE SENT DOZENS OF CREWS TO HELP IN THE HURRICANE RAVAGED PORTION OF LOUISIANA.

OG&E SENT MORE THAN 50 TRUCKS WITH 240 LINEMEN AND OTHER PERSONNEL TO HELP WITH THE EFFORT.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA SENT 25 CREWS WITH 182 WORKERS.

BOTH COMPANIES ARE HELPING ENTERGY RESTORE POWER THROUGH THEIR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENTS.

THE OG&E AND PSO CREWS COULD BE IN LOUISIANA FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS.

>>> OKLAHOMA IS ONE OF EIGHT STATES WORKING WITH APPLE TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO STORE OFFICIAL DIGITIAL DRIVERS LICENSE OR INDENTIFICATION CARDS ON THEIR I-PHONE THROUGH THE APPLE WALLET APP OR ON THE APPLE WATCH.

THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY COMMISSION WILL SELECT CERTAIN AIRPORTS AS THE FIRST LOCATIONS PEOPLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THE APPLE WALLET I.D.

THE PROCESS TO ADD AN I.D WILL BE MUCH THE SAME AS ADDING A CREDIT CARD TO THE APP.

>>> KRATOS DEFENSE AND SECURITY SOLUTIONS HAS SUCCESSFULLY TESTED IT'S AIR WOLF TACTICAL DRONE SYSTEM AT ITS BURNS FLAT, OKLAHOMA RANGE FACILITY.

THE DRONE SYSTEM CARRIED MULTIPLE NEW PAYLOADS, USING KRATOS' PROPRIETARY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AUTONOMY SOFTWARE SYSTEM.

THIS WAS THE INAUGURAL TEST FLIGHT FOR THE BURNS FLAT LOCATION AND IS EXPECTED TO SEE ITS USE BY THE COMPANY GROW.

THE AIR WOLF DRONE JOINS KRATOS LINE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE JET DRONES.

TULSA-BASED GREYSTONE LOGISTICS BROUGHT IN A YEARLY NET PROFIT OF A LITTLE MORE THAN $3 MILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR.

THAT WAS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S NET INCOME, WHICH DREW IN NEARLY $5 MILLION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE COMPANY HAS LOWERED ITS DEBT AND FINANCING LEASES BY NEARLY $5.9 MILLION.

GREYSTONE LOGISTICS COLLECTS PLASTIC AND RECYCLES IT INTO PALLETS.

>>> VANCOUVER BASED KAYAPUSH IS EXPANDING ITS CANNABIS DISPENSARY H-R SERVICES TO OKLAHOMA.

THE COMPANY OFFERS A SOFTWARE PACKAGE TO DISPENSARIES FOR H-R, PAYROLL, TIME TRACKING AND SCHEDULING THE SOFTWARE ALSO INTEGRATES WITH SEVERAL POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEMS AND THE OKLAHOMA'S FUTURE SEED TO SALE TRACKING SYSTEM.

KAYAPUSH CURRENTLY OFFERS ITS SOFTWARE SERVICE IN FIVE OTHER STATES.

>>> YOU'LL NOTICE A LITTLE DEWALT YELLOW ALONG WITH THE CRIMSON AND CREAM ON THE SIDELINES AT OU FOOTBALL GAMES THIS SEASON.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE POWER TOOL MANUFACTURER IS SPONSORING COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS FOR THE FIRST TIME TO HELP MARKET ITS PRODUCTS.

OU IS ONE OF THE FIRST 25 COLLEGE TEAMS TO RECEIVE THE SPONSORSHIP WHICH COMES IN THE FORM OF TEAM BENCHES INSTALLED EXCLUSIVELY BY DEWALT TOOLS.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> THANKS.

THIS WEEK AN OKLAHOMA COUNTY JUDGE ISSUED A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION ON THE LAW BANNING MASK MANDATES IN OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS GOING FORWARD, WE SPOKE WITH NEWS DIRECTOR SHAWN ASHLEY.

>> OKLAHOMA COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE NATALIE MAI MADE THE RULING WEDNESDAY.

HER RULING, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED AS EARLY AS TUESDAY, WILL ALLOW PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BOARDS OF EDUCATION, NOT JUST THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS OR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, TO IMPLEMENT MASK MANDATES.

THERE ARE TWO CAVEATS.

FIRST, THEY MUST APPLY TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST UNVACCINATED STUDENTS AND STAFF.

AND SECOND, THEY MUST INCLUDE EXEMPTIONS FOR PERSONAL AND MEDICAL REASONS.

MAI SAID PARENTAL CHOICE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ANY REQUIREMENT WHATSOEVER MUST HAVE THAT OPTION AVAILABLE TO THE PARENTS.

THAT PART OF THE RULING DREW PRAISE FROM GOVERNOR STITT, WHO SAYS THIS THE VICTORY FOR PARENTAL CHOICE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE RULE OF LAW.

>> SHAWN, HOW FAR ALONG ARE WE IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS?

AND SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE DRAMATIC OR SUBTLE CHANGES WHEN IT'S COMPLETED?

>> THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEE REDISTRICTING STAFFS RECEIVED THE ACTUAL CENSUS COUNT NUMBERS ON AUGUST 12TH AND THEY'RE PLUGGING THEM INTO THE SOFTWARE.

NOW THEY'LL HAVE TWO THINGS TO DO.

FIRST, THEY HAVE TO REDRAW THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BASED ON THE ACTUAL CENSUS COUNT, AND THEN THEY MUST MAKE SURE THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ARE WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR, IF YOU WILL, THAT THEY AGREED TO WHEN THEY DREW THOSE DISTRICTS BASED ON ESTIMATES THEY HAD AT THE TIME.

THE ACTUAL NUMBERS APPEAR TO SHOW WHAT THE ESTIMATES INDICATED, AN INCREASE IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN POPULATIONS AND A DECREASE IN RURAL AREAS.

THAT MEANS THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WILL CHANGE, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW THEY WILL CHANGE.

AS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, IT'S A MATTER OF HOW CLOSE THEY GOT USING THOSE ESTIMATES.

>> THE STATE HAS TAKEN A CLOSER LOOK AT HIS WAITING LIST, A LONG WAITING LIST FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRYING TO ACCESS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES.

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO FIND OUT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE WAITING LIST FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES IS LITERALLY YEARS LONG.

DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION MEMBERS TALKED ABOUT THAT THOSE SEEKING SERVICES OFTEN AGED OUT OF THE SERVICES THEY NEEDED AND HAD REQUESTED BEFORE THEY GOT TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS, THERE ARE MORE THAN 6,000 OKLAHOMANS ON THE WAITING LIST.

THESE ASSESSMENTS, WHICH WERE FUNDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET, WILL HELP DETERMINE THE COST FOR ELIMINATING THE WAITING LIST IN OKLAHOMA.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE STATE IS ALSO USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THOSE FAMILIES ON THE WAITING LIST ASSISTANCE TO CONNECT THEM IMMEDIATELY WITH SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> SHAWN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ENERGY COMPANIES SENDING CREWS DOWN TO LOUISIANA AFTER THE HURRICANE.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY WORD FROM THE GOVERNOR OR OTHER LEGISLATORS?

>> THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICER REPORTS MULTIPLE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN LOUISIANA.

SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY, THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL AND STATE >> INDUCTED 130 STATE'S GREATEST MUSICIANS.

THE CLASS INCLUDED WOODY GUTHRIE.

JEAN OUGHTY, LEON RUSSELL, CARRIE UNDERWOOD AND DOZENS MORE INCLUDING THE LATEST, THREE MEMBERS OF THE '80S ROCK BAND THE CALL.

>> ON A HOT SATURDAY IN JENKS, THREE OKLAHOMANS RECEIVED A MUCH-DESERVED HONOR.

FOR KEYBOARDIST STEVE HUDDLESON, IT ALL BEGAN WITH A PHONE CALL FROM DRUMMER SCOTT MUSICK.

>> HE SAID, YOU'RE GONNA BE INDUCTED INTO THE OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND I SAID, "FOR WHAT?

>> STEVE HUDDLESTON PLAYED ON THE FIRST TWO CALL ALBUMS BEFORE LEAVING THE BAND TO BECOME A PILOT.

THAT'S HIM WORKING THE SYNTHIZER ON THEIR 1983 HIT, "THE WALLS CAME DOWN".

>> HE SAID, WELL, YOU'RE FROM ENID, WHICH IS TRUE.

AND YOU WERE IN THE CALL, WHICH IS TRUE.

SO I MADE THE REQUIREMENTS.

THANKS VERY MUCH GUYS.

APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING OUT.

>> ACTUALLY, IS TAKES A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT TO BE EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO THE OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME, LOCATED IN THE RESTORED FRISCO TRAIN DEPOT IN DOWNTOWN MUSKOGEE.

>> THEN IT GOES WITH EXCELLENCE THAT'S NOTICED NATIONALLY OR INTERNATIONALLY, AND SO THE CALL FITS RIGHT INTO THAT REALM BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT AS MODERN ROCK ARTISTS AND INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT AS MODERN ROCK ARTISTS.

>> HUGH FOLEY IS THE INDUCTION COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE HALL OF FAME.

ON SATURDAY, HE WAS JOINED ON STAGE BY JEFF MOORE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OK POP MUSEUM, WHICH IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT WHEN COMPLETED, WILL INCLUDE AN EXHIBIT ON THE CALL A "CALL" MADE BY SERIOUS FAN.

>> THE MUSIC FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, YOU KNOW, I WAS INTO THE KIND OF THE COLLEGE RADIO POST-PUNK NEW WAVE THING.

THAT WAS THE CALL.

AND SO I REMEMBER BUYING EVERY ONE OF THE ALBUMS.

>> AND APPRECIATING THE AMAZING TALENTS OF THE GROUP'S LEAD SINGER AND SONGWRITER, OKLAHOMA CITY NATIVE, MICHAEL BEEN.

>> MANY PEOPLE ARE GREAT MUSICIANS AND THEN YOU HAVE GREAT WRITERS AND KIND OF THESE VISIONARIES, AND HE WAS ALL OF THAT.

>> BEN DIED OF A HEART ATTACK IN 2010 AT THE AGE OF 60.

ON SATURDAY, HE WAS REPRESENTED BY HIS BIG SISTER, LINDA BEEN SOUTHWELL.

>> HE WAS FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN I, AND WE LOST HIM TOO SOON, BUT HE SAID, HE WOULD SAY, LINDA, IT'S NOT THE AGE, IT'S THE MILEAGE.

THAT WAS HIS FAVORITE THING.

CAUSE HE'D PROBABLY BEEN AROUND THE WORLD 10 TIMES BY THEN.

>> SCOTT MUSICK, A TULSA NATIVE, WAS WITH BEEN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

HE AND BEN NOT ONLY CO-FOUNDED THE BAND, BUT WERE THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR SIGNATURE DRIVING SOUND.

>> MICHAEL AND I HAD PLAYED TOGETHER FOR YEARS.

SO WE WERE REALLY TIGHT ON BASS AND DRUMS.

>> MICHAEL ON BASS AND SCOTT ON DRUMS, THERE'S -- THERE'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, SIMPATICO BETWEEN THOSE TWO INSTRUMENTS IN A BAND AND THEN TO HAVE THOSE TWO GUYS BE THE OKLAHOMANS IN IT REALLY THAT'S THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE ENTIRE BAND.

>> THE CALL RELEASED NINE STUDIO RECORDS, A LIVE ALBUM AND SCORED THEIR FIRST AND ONLY NUMBER ONE SONG IN 1989, WITH "LET THE DAY BEGIN."

>> THE FACT THAT WE WERE SOMEWHAT POPULAR MUST MEAN THAT OUR FANS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEKERS LOOKING FOR SOME, UH, SPIRITUAL CONNECTION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, THAT KIND OF, KIND OF THING, THE SAME THINGS THAT, UH, MICHAEL WAS INTERESTED IN SEARCHING FOR.

>> THE 2021 INDUCTEES INTO THE OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME, THE CALL.

>> THEY'RE NOW PART OF AN AUGUST FRATERNITY REPRENTING ALL GENRES OF MUSIC, FROM COUNTRY STARS LIKE ROGER MILLER AND TOBY KEITH, JAZZ ARTISTS LIKE WAYMAN TISDALE, AND ROCKERS NEAL SCHON OF JOURNEY, J.J. CALE, LEON RUSSELL AND SO MANY MORE.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HAVE BEEN INDUCTED INTO IT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST BIG TIMERS."

>> AND THEY'RE PLANNING ANOTHER BIG TIME SHOW.

ON OCTOBER 1ST, THEY'LL BE JOINED BY GUITARIST AND CO-FOUNDER TOM FERRIER FOR A FULL-BLOWN REUNION CONCERT AT MAGGIE'S MUSIC BOX.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

HURRICANE IDA WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL HURRICANES TO EVERY STRIKE LOUISIANA.

WAS IT THE RESULT OF GLOBAL WARNING?

HOW DO WE EXPLAIN CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS IN OKLAHOMA?

ARE THEY TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT?

WE PRESENT PART TWO OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH OKLAHOMA CLIMATE EXPERT.

HERE IS SUSAN CADOT.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

RIGHT NOW EVERYONE MAY BE COMPLAINING BECAUSE IT'S SO HOT, BUT ACTUALLY THE WEATHER HAS BEEN A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN OKLAHOMA, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS TO OUR VIEWERS TODAY.

WE HAVE DR.

HAIR OLD BROOKS.

ALSO IN NORMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> WELCOME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> HURRICANES ARE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY.

GRAND WEATHER EVENTS SEEM TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN.

IS THAT TRUE OR DOES IT JUST SEEM THAT WAY GLOBALLY?

>> GLOBALLY SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE EASY TO SEE AND SOME AREN'T.

THE QUESTION OF HURRICANES IS ACTUALLY STILL NOT REALLY WELL UNDERSTOOD.

IT DOESN'T APPEAR THERE HAS BEEN MUCH OF A CHANGE IN THE OVERALL FREQUENCY OF TROPICAL WEATHER SYSTEMS, BUT THE STRONGEST ONE WE'RE GETTING ENOUGH EVIDENCE THE STRONGEST ONES ARE GETTING STRONGER, AND MORE OF THEM ARE INTENSIFYING RAPIDLY, WHICH -- RAPID INTENSIFICATION HAS A LOT OF ISSUES FOR RESPONSE, BECAUSE IF A HURRICANE INTENSIFIES MICHAEL COUPLE YEARS AGO, INTENSIFIED RAPIDLY JUST BEFORE IT MADE LANDFALL, AND SO IT WAS A RELATIVELY EVEN ALL HURRICANES ARE BIG EVENTS BUT RELATIVELY MINOR HURRICANE UNTIL JUST BEFORE IT CAME ONSHORE.

AND THEN THE WINDS RAPIDLY INCREASED AND NOW MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE THING YOU KNOW SOMEONE MIGHT SAY I CAN HANDLE THAT LEVEL OF WIND.

WELL, YOU KNOW, 48 HOURS LATER IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BEAST.

WE ARE SEEING -- THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE'RE SEEING IS THAT -- THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT MORE OF -- EVEN THOUGH THE OVERALL AVERAGE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL HASN'T CHANGED MORE OF THE RAINFALL IS OCCURRING AS HEAVY RAINFALL EVENTS.

AND EVEN -- SO HIGHER OCCURS IN THE WETTEST DAYS.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS PRETTY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

OUR SUMMERTIME PROBABILITY OF RAIN HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL, IT'S SOMEWHERE LITTLE OVER 20% OF THE DAYS IT RAINS.

BUT NOW THE FRACTION OF THOSE DAYS THAT WE GET ONE INCH OF RAIN IF IT RAINS, HAS DOUBLED IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

USED TO BE ONE OUT OF EVERY SEVEN DAYS IT RAINS, NOW IT'S TWO OUT OF EVERY SEVEN DAYS IT RAINS.

WE GOT ONE INCH OF RAIN.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF RAIN VERY MUCH.

IT'S GONE UP A LITTLE BIT.

BUT ONE INCH OF RAIN IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS WHERE WE START GETTING NUISANCE STREET FLOODING.

WE HAVE THE HAVING THOSE KIND OF EVENTS OCCURRING MORE OFTEN.

AND IF WE GO TO THE NORTHERN PART OF THE U.S., THAT'S EVEN BEEN A BIGGER DEAL.

HIGHER FRACTION OF THE RAIN OCCURS WHEN IT'S REALLY RAINING HARD, AND THAT MEANS WATER RUNS OFF, IT'S NOT -- RECHARGE RESERVOIRS BUT IT'S NOT AS GOOD FOR FARMERS AS IF THERE HAD BEEN A LOT MORE SLOW RAIN EVENTS.

>> WE GET FAST -- HEAVY AND FAST AND THEN MOVES ON.

WE'VE SEEN THAT.

I LOVE DOING THIS, BECAUSE I GET TO ASK THE FOREMOST EXPERTS, MY QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE OVER COFFEE WITH FRIENDS.

SO THIS IS GREAT.

HOPEFULLY IT ANSWERS SOME QUESTIONS FOR SOME OTHERS, IF NOT JUST MY FRIENDS.

I WANT TO ASK YOU THESE CHANGES OR THE WARMING OVER LONG TERM IS IT SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS DEFINITELY YES.

I MEAN, THE -- ON GLOBAL SCALE PROBABLY THE -- IN SOME SENSE THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS SEA LEVEL RISE.

SEA LEVEL HAS GONE UP, AND IT'S GOING UP QUICKER THAN IT WAS, AND IT WILL GO UP.

THE LAST TIME THIS MUCH CARBON DIOXIDE WAS IN THE ATMOSPHERE WAS HUNDREDS -- MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

AND SEA LEVEL WAS ROUGHLY 100 FEET HIGHER THAN IT IS NOW.

AND EVENTUALLY WE COME INTO EQUILIBRIUM.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO MELT THE ICE ON GREEN LAND AND ANTARCTICA.

THAT'S A -- YOU KNOW, JUST DOESN'T GO AWAY QUICKLY.

WE'RE SORT OF COMMITTED TO MELTING A LARGE PART OF GREEN LAND AND PROBABLY SOME OF ANT ARTITODAY AND SEA LEVEL IS GOING TO GO UP.

YOU THINK ABOUT A PLACE LIKE FLORIDA, AND VERY LITTLE OF IT IS ABOVE 20 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

AND NEW ORLEANS JUST HARD TO SEE HOW NEW ORLEANS 100 YEARS FROM NOW WILL BE THERE IN THE WAY -- IN THE WAY IT IS.

>> JUST 100 YEARS FROM NOW?

>> IF WE GET A COUPLE FEET MORE OF SEA LEVEL RISE, YOU GOT A COUPLE FEET MAKES IT HARD -- YOU HAVE FLOODING HAPPENING ALL THE TIME.

AND IT BECOMES -- WE MAY -- MAY TAKE 200 YEARS, BUT WE'RE SORT OF COMMITTED TO LARGE SEA LEVEL RISE ALREADY.

FOR US HERE IN OKLAHOMA, ONE OF THE REAL BIG CHALLENGES IS THAT THERE IS GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE THAT GEEING ON AERS REFERRED TO AS THE 100th MERIDIAN, IS A BOUNDARY NOTICED IN 19th CENTURY BETWEEN RELATIVELY WET AND DRY REGIONS THAT RUNS CLOSE TO THE 100th MERIDIAN FROM OKLAHOMA UP INTO NEBRASKA AND THE DAKOTAS.

THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THAT IS MOVING EAST FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES.

AND THAT WOULD IMPLY THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT PROBABLY BY THE END OF THE CENTURY WESTERN OKLAHOMA WILL BE DRIER PROBABLY CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WILL BE DRIER THAN IT IS NOW.

ON AVERAGE.

AND YOU KNOW WE HAVE -- WE ALREADY HAVE LOTS OF WATER ISSUES IN THE STATE, YOU KNOW, AVAILABILITY OF WATER IS A BIG DEAL IN OKLAHOMA.

THAT'S GOING TO GET TO BE A BIGGER DEAL IN THE FUTURE, AND HOW WE ADAPT TO THAT, HOW WE ATTEMPT TO MITIGATE AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN IS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

THOSE ARE ALL -- WATER RESOURCES, THE WESTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT IS TIED TO WATER AVAILABILITY.

AND THAT'S GOING TO GET TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM IF THINGS DRY OUT IN -- ON AVERAGE, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE NEAR A PLACE THAT PROBABLY A LOT OF THAT CHANGE IT OKLAHOMA IF YOU GO TO THE EASTERN PART OF OKLAHOMA, YOU LOOK AT THE TREES.

>> RIGHT.

>> RADICALLY DIFFERENT THAN TREES IN EARN WITH OKLAHOMA.

RIGHT ON THAT BOUNDARY BETWEEN PRETTY WET AND DRY.

AND THE TALL GRASS VERSUS SHORT GRASS WE CAN ACTUALLY TELL HOW THIS FEATURE HAS BEEN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, BECAUSE DIFFERENT POLLEN RECORDS, AND DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE HAVE LONG-TERM OBSERVATION OF WHERE THIS LINE HAS BEEN, AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE AS FAR EAST AS IT'S EVER BEEN BY THE END OF THE CENTURY.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY ON THIS TOPIC?

>> I GREW UP ALONG THE FIRST IN BUFFALO.

IF WE LOOK AT THE CHANGE IN THE NORMAL THAT THE -- THE FEDERAL AGENCIES TRACK, SO FOR 1981 THROUGH 2010 PERIOD, THE NORMAL RAINFALL AMOUNT IN BUFFALO WAS LITTLE OVER 24 INCHES.

WHEN WE SWITCHED TO 1991 TO 2020 PERIOD, THAT NORMAL RAINFALL DROPPED TODD 22 INCHES.

SO SEAM AIRED AREAS OF WHAT WE CONSIDER WEST TEXAS, THE TEXAS PANHANDLE, OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE, THAT HAS STARTED TO SHIFT EAST.

FOR OKLAHOMA, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT TOO MUCH PART THEY ARE INTO THE FUTURE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CHANGES HAPPENING GRADUALLY WE WILL START TO SEE MORE IMPACT.

FOR OKLAHOMA LIKE I SAID ONE OF THE PLACES IN THE WORLD THAT HAS SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME WEATHER WHEN WE START TO HEAT UP THOSE SUMMER MONTHS, EVEN YEAR ROUND, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE AIR POLLUTION.

THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE -- THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE IN THOSE URBAN AREAS AND AROUND THE STATE.

SO YOU KNOW, FOOD PRODUCTION, WHEN WE START TO SHIFT THOSE AREAS TO THE EAST, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WHEAT BELT OF OKLAHOMA?

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY?

WE STARTED TO SEE OUR WHEAT INDUSTRY START TO SUFFER FROM MORE FREEZE EVENTS BECAUSE THE WHEAT STARTS TO GERMINATE EARLIER STARTS TO COME OUT OF DORMANCY EARLIER MORE -- LEAVING IT MORE VULNERABLE TO FREEZE EVENTS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES OUT OF DORMANCY EARLIER THAT LEAVES IT YOU KNOW WHEN WE JUST HAVE A NORMAL FREEZE EVENT THAT WE WOULD EXPERIENCE IN MARCH THAT WHEAT IS A LITTLE BIT FARTHER ALONG THAN IT SHOULD BE.

WE SEEN THOSE THINGS START TO HAPPEN IN OKLAHOMA, BUT AGAIN YOU KNOW WHEN WE START TO SEE THOSE EXTREMES START TO BECOME MORE EXTREME, WHAT DO THE STATE DO?

AND IN AN AREA WHERE THE NATURAL VAIR ABILITY OF THE WEATHER IS ALREADY PRETTY DAMAGING AT TIMES, TO THE ECONOMY, AND TO THE CITIZENS WELL-BEING IN OKLAHOMA, WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THOSE EXTREMES START TO BECOME A LITTLE BIT WORSE OVER TIME?

SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE THE -- THE AREAS OF SCIENCE WE NEED TO FOCUS YOU KNOW NOT JUST OUT TO THE HUNDRED YEARS BUT WHAT DO WE DO IN THE NEXT DECADE, THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE OVER NEXT FEW DECADES THREE TO 5 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT ON ANNUAL BASIS IN OKLAHOMA.

SO WHAT DO WE DO THEN?

>> THAT'S MY NEXT QUESTION, IS IT TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING?

>> IN A SENSE IT SORT OF IT BUT SORT OF ISN'T.

WHEN WE GET THE MOLECULES IN THE ATMOSPHERE IT TENDS TO LAST FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

THE CONCENTRATIONS TEND TO STAY ELEVATED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, LIKE DR. BROOKS WAS SAYING, TAKES A LONG TIME TO COME IN.

ONE OF OUR BIG SINKS IN THE MOTION IS TRYING TO TAKE UP THE CARBON DIOXIDE.

IT'S STILL INCREASING.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND YOU KNOW THOSE CONCENTRATIONS ARE ELEVATED, YOU KNOW, THE FEEDBACK EFFECT STARTS TO KICK IN.

SO AS WE'RE LOSING THAT POLARIZE IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE WE COVER THE DARKER OCEAN SURFACE, AND WE START TO ABSORB MORE OF THE SUN RADIATION, INSTEAD OF REFLECTED BACK TO SPACE FROM THE ICE.

THE ICE IS WHITE, GOOD REFLECTOR OF RADIATION.

WE LOSE THAT ENERGY BACK TO SPACE.

AS WE UNCOVER THAT OCEAN SURFACE IT ABSORBS THE HEAT.

IT HEATS UP THE OCEAN, THE OCEAN STARTS TO MELT MORE OF THE ICE OVER TIME, SO EVENTUALLY WHEN WE GET TO BE OVER NEXT FEW DECADES WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE ICE FREE TANK, AT LEAST DURING THE WARM SEASON UP IN THAT AREA OF THE EARTH.

>> THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK STARTS TO BECOME RUN AWAY TRAIN, AND YOU KNOW, IN EFFECT THE POLAR REGION ACTED AS SORT OF A REFRIGERATOR OR AIR CONDITIONER FOR THE EARTH.

IT KEEPS SOME OF THAT -- AT LEAST A PORTION OF THAT SUN'S RADIATION REFLECTED BACK TO SPACE BEFORE IT CAN START TO BE ABSORBED BY THE EARTH'S CLIMATE SYSTEM OR THE EARTH'S SURFACE.

WHETHER THAT BE OCEANIC OR LAND SURFACES.

SO IT DOES BECOME A RUN AWAY TRAIN, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE YOU KNOW MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT TOO LATE TO STOP THAT RUN AWAY TRAIN, EVEN IF WE START TO CURTAIL SOME OF OUR EMISSIONS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW THAT POINTS TOWARDS MITIGATION IS GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT.

WE KNOW THAT GREEN ENERGY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE COULD HELP, BUT YOU KNOW LOT OF THE -- A LOT OF THE -- WHAT I WOULD SAY DAMAGE IS ALREADY BEEN DONE UNFORTUNATELY.

>> AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT'S -- YOU KNOW I -- I RAN TRACK IN CROSS-COUNTRY IN COLLEGE, YOU KNOW.

I CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

AND MY PHYSICAL CONDITION IS NOT WHAT IT WAS WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EXERCISING WON'T HELP ME LIVE A BETTER LIFE.

IT MAY NOT BE AS GOOD AS IF I HAD BEEN CONSISTENT FOR THE LAST LARGE NUMBER OF YEARS.

I WOULD BE IN BETTER SHAPE NOW -- >> I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> RIGHT.

I WOULD BE IN BETTER SHAPE NOW IF I STARTED EXERCISING A LOT YOU KNOW 30 YEARS AGO.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU KNOW THERE'S NO HOPE IN STARTING TO DO SOMETHING NOW.

SAME KIND OF THING, I MIGHT -- TEN YEARS FROM NOW I MIGHT HAVE WISHED I STARTED A LOT LONGER, BUT I'LL STILL BE BETTER OFF IF I START NOW THAN I WOULD BE IF I JUST SAID WELL, IT'S TOO LATE.

NO POINT IN DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT NOW.

AND IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE MORE WE CAN DO, IT'S EASIER -- THE EARLIER WE START, WE -- IT'S EASIER.

IF WE STARTED BEING SERIOUS ABOUT THIS WHEN YOU KNOW IT WAS EVIDENCE OF SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY BACK 50 YEARS AGO THE PLANET WAS GOING TO BE WARMING, WE NEED BETTER OFF THAN IF WE STARTED IN 2000.

AND WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF WE STARTED IN 2000 THAN IF WE START NOW BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY BE BETTER OFF IF WE START DO THINGS NOW THAN IF WE WAIT 20 MORE YEARS TO DO ANYTHING.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

IT'S REALLY GOOD INFORMATION, AND IT IS GREAT TO GET IT FROM EXPERTS LIKE BOTH OF YOU FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

GOOD TO KNOW.

THANK YOU BOTH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>>> SUSAN AND GUEST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHILE OKLAHOMA IS BETTER KNOWN FOR SWEEPING PLAINS AND MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE THERE IS A VERY ACTIVE ROCK CLIMBING COMMUNITY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE RUGGED WICHITA MOUNTAIN AND INDOOR GYMS THAT OFFER ROCK CLIMBING ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR IN OUR CITIES.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL REVIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL TO OREGON FOR OUR PBS PARTNER PROFILE OF VERY POPULAR CLIMBING SPOT REOPENED AFTER BEING SHUT DOWN BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT JUST OPENED A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

TRYING TO GET HERE PRETTY EARLY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A TON OF PEOPLE BUT THERE'S WAY LESS THAN NORMAL.

>> YEAH, THIS PLACE IS MORE LIKE MOBBED RIGHT NOW, MOBBED.

MY SON.

HE'S GOING TO LEAD OFF THIS THING FOR US.

>> HE'S LEARNING SO MUCH RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE.

YEAH.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE HAVEN'T HEARD THE NEWS OR WHAT BUT LIKE IT'S A CLIMBER'S DREAM TO CLIMB AND HAVE THIS PLACE TO OURSELVES, SO PRETTY PSYCHED ABOUT IT.

I BELIEVE THAT ROCK CLIMBING IS REALLY A BIG THING FOR THIS TIME PERIOD RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE HAVING THE ABILITY TO LIKE HANDLE SOME OF THOSE LIKE PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS AND GET A GRIP ON FEAR IS LIKE -- IT'S ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT ROCK CLIMBING TAUGHT ME.

>> YOU GOT IT.

>> SO I THINK THAT TRANSLATES INTO ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF LIFE, YOU KNOW.

EVEN WHEN THE VIRUS IS GONE YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THAT FEAR.

WHO IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT?

WE HAVE TO DO IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

YOU GOT TO FIND YOUR OWN WAY TO CONQUER YOUR FEAR.

>> I'M BACK.

>> WE'RE CLIMBING.

FIRST DAY IN TWO MONTHS, ALMOST A MONTH.

I THINK I SAW MAGIC LIGHT, IT'S ONE OF THOSE TOPICS ON THE WALL.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME.

I'VE BEEN OUT OF SHAPE.

HAVEN'T CLIMBED IN TO MONTHS AND REALLY FEELING IT.

>> MY HANDS, FINGERS HURT BUT IT'S THE PAIN THAT YOU KIND OF MISS, FEET HURT FROM MY SHOE.

ANYONE WHO CLIMBS THESE ARE THE PAINS THAT COME WITH IT.

>> I THINK FOR ME CLIMBING MAKES ME FEEL REALLY ALIVE, LIKE I THINK WHEN I CLIMB THAT'S MY ONLY FOCUS, AND I REALLY ENJOY JUST BEING ABLE TO ZONE IN AND DEDICATE MY MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITY 100% TO SOMETHING.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT IT, IS JUST PUSHING MYSELF TO MY LIMIT REALLY.

>> NICE JOB ON THAT.

THAT LOOKS REALLY HARD.

>> I LIKE SEEING HER SMILING FACES.

PEOPLE ARE SO READY TO BE BACK OUTSIDE AGAIN.

PEOPLE ARE RESPECTING THE LIMITED OPENING AND RESPECTING OTHER PEOPLE'S SOCIAL DISTANCE.

IT'S GOING REALLY SMOOTHLY RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'RE AT SCHMID ROCK STATE PARK, AND IT'S OPENING DAY SO WE GOT TO COME OUT AND PLAY, AND IT WAS REALLY AMAZING BEING ALONG THE TRAIL AND SEEING THE WEEDS THAT WERE POPPING UP WHERE WE USUALLY WALK AND THE DIFFERENT FLOWERS THAT WERE SO UNDISTURBED.

I WAS TRAIL RUNNING.

>> AND WE TOOK A DOG WALK.

>> YEAH.

>> WE'RE BOTH MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, SO WE WORK EVERY DAY WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM THAT, JUST THAT FEELING OF BEING TRAPPED INSIDE, AND I THINK JUST SYMBOLICALLY BEING ABLE TO BREATHE A LITTLE BIT OF FRESH AIR IS REALLY HEALTHY.

>> WE CLIMBED, JUST REALLY RELAXING TO ME.

POSES AN INTERESTING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGE AND PUTS ME IN A NICE STATE.

>> IT'S NOT ONLY LIKE PHYSICAL WORK OUT BUT ALSO THIS REALLY BIG MENTAL WORK OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST THERE AND FOCUSED ON FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET UP THE WALL.

>> FOR ME CLIMBING A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH LIKE COMING CRASHING UP AGAINST A LOT OF FEAR AND THEN PUSHING THROUGH IT AND LIKE YOU GET A LOT OF CONFIDENCE FROM IT.

REALLY HELPS ME FEEL LIKE I CAN TAKE ON ANYTHING WHEN I ROCK CLIMB.

>> NOT FOR ME.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF A TRIPLE FACTORY PRODUCING PROTECTIVE GEAR INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF MASKS THEY'RE DONATING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OKLAHOMA.

AND WE WILL SAY A SUNNY SO LONG FOR NOW WITH A TRIP TO THE SUNFLOWER FIELD COURTESY OF OETA CASEY FERGUSON.

FOR ALL OF US ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" I'M RICH LENZ.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY AND AS ALWAYS STAY TUNED TO OETA.

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