[ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rich: HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OKLAHOMA, TOO OFTEN IT BEGINS AT HOME.

>> WE SEE MOTHERS AND FATHERS SELLING THEIR CHILDREN.

WE SEE PEOPLE SELLING THEIR SPOUSES, THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS.

>> Rich: LAWMAKERS ALSO DISCUSS WAYS TO BETTER PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABUSIVE PARENTS.

>> NOW, OF COURSE, OUR NUMBER-ONE MOTIVATION IS TO PUT FAMILIES BACK TOGETHER.

BUT IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN.

>> Rich: WITH A RAPIDLY GROWING HISPANIC POPULATION, IS IT TIME FOR OKLAHOMA TO HAVE ITS OWN MEXICAN CONSULATE?

>> IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR CONSULATE TO BE IN ARKANSAS AND NOT IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Rich: THE PRESIDENT UNVEILS HIS BUILD BACK BETTER CHALLENGE AND OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA STAND TO BENEFIT.

>> THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS KIND OF VALIDATION AND MOMENTUM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Rich: A WHISTLE-BLOWER ALLEGES FRAUD AT A TAHLEQUAH NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO HELPING INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

>> IN FACT, WHEN THE MONEY WAS TAKEN, I'M TOLD THERE WERE NO DIRECTORS, NO ONE OVERSEEING THAT MONEY AND THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT.

>> Rich: THOSE STORIES PLUS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT OKLAHOMA'S POLITICS WITH THE MIDTERMS JUST TWO MONTHS AWAY, NEXT, ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

[ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rich: HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ESPECIALLY INVOLVING CHILDREN, IS BOTH HEARTBREAKING AND HORRENDOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER TRAFFICKING IN OKLAHOMA OFTEN BEGINS IN THE HOME.

ASTEVE HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: RICH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THE EXPLOITATION OF HUMAN BEINGS FOR SEX AND CHEAP OR FREE LABOR OR SERVICES.

IN OKLAHOMA, THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM HAS BEEN THAT TRAFFICKERS USED OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEMS TO TRANSPORT VICTIMS, BUT THAT'S ONLY PART OF IT.

>> WE HAVE STAFF WORKING IN DIFFERENT SHIFTS 24 HOURS A DAY.

THAT'S SO THE SURVIVORS WILL HAVE 24-HOUR SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: WHITNEY ANDERSON IS CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DRAGONFLY HOME.

THEY'VE TAKEN MORE THAN 6,000 CALLS REPORTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING SINCE THEY OPENED THEIR CRISIS CENTER IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA IN LATE 2016.

WE CAN'T SHOW YOU THE CRISIS CENTER BECAUSE ITS LOCATION IS TOP SECRET.

WHAT WE ARE SHOWING YOU IS VIDEO FROM INSIDE THEIR NEW, NINE-BEDROOM TRANSITIONAL HOME.

AGAIN, AT AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.

IT OFFICIALLY OPENS IN ABOUT A MONTH, AND WILL SERVE AS MANY AS 20 HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS AT A TIME.

>> WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT TRAFFICKERS PREY UPON VULNERABLE SITUATIONS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF VULNERABLE SITUATIONS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Reporter: WHY?

>> SO, THAT COULD LOOK LIKE -- I THINK WE'RE IN THE TOP IN THE NATION FOR ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE OR PHYSICAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND TRAFFICKERS PREY UPON THOSE INSTANCES OF SOMEBODY HAVING BEEN ABUSED AND NOT HAVING THE SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND SELF-ESTEEM AND THEY EXPLOIT THAT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

>> Reporter: ANDERSON SAYS HUMAN TRAFFICKERS EXPLOIT POVERTY, THEY EXPLOIT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED, AND ANY SORT OF THINGS THAT CAN MAKE IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO FUNCTION DAY-TO-DAY.

>> SO TRAFFICKERS WILL SAY, THEY MIGHT FIND SOMEBODY IN THE VULNERABLE SITUATION.

SAY THERE'S A MOTHER WHO'S HAVING A HARD TIME PROVIDING FOOD FOR HER CHILDREN OR HAVING A STABLE PLACE TO LIVE, AND A TRAFFICKER WILL SWOOP IN AND SAY, I CAN PROVIDE THE FOOD, I CAN PROVIDE THE HOME, AND THEN THERE ARE STRINGS ATTACHED.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT LOOKS SO MUCH MORE INSIDIOUS.

>> THEY'RE PRETTY HEAVY STRINGS.

>> YES, THEY'RE HEAVY STRINGS.

THE PERSON WHO IS DESPERATE TO MAKE ENDS MEET IS UNAWARE OF WHAT THOSE STRINGS REALLY MEAN.

>> Reporter: YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO ALSO KNOW THAT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING INDUSTRY IN THE SOONER STATE, WHICH INVOLVES I-35, I-44 AND I-40 ALSO INCLUDES PEOPLE YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW.

>> WE SEE MOTHERS AND FATHERS SELLING THEIR CHILDREN.

WE SEE PEOPLE SELLING THEIR SPOUSES, THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS.

>> Reporter: MELISSA IKE CO-FOUNDED DRAGONFLY HOME AND IS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS.

>> FAMILIAL TRAFFICKING IS A REAL PROBLEM IN OKLAHOMA, IN EVERY PART OF OKLAHOMA.

IT IS STILL UNDERIDENTIFIED, UNDERREPORTED, IT'S VERY COVERT.

IT'S HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT.

>> SO SOMEONE IS IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, AND MAYBE THEY WANT TO PAY THEIR RENT OR GET DRUGS OR JUST HAVE MORE MONEY, UM, THEY CAN CREATE ADS ONLINE, THEY CAN TARGET, YOU KNOW, FIND CUSTOMERS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND SELL THEIR CHILD.

THIS IS NOT -- THIS IS REALLY NOT THAT UNCOMMON.

HONESTLY, WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THIS, I HAD HEARD THE SAME THING, AND SO IT WAS ALL ABOU I-35 AND I-44 AND I-40.

THERE WAS TOO MUCH IN COMMON.

IT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

IN FACT, IT WAS ABOUT -- FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A BUSINESS.

SO TRAFFICKERS ARE SELLING HUMAN BEINGS, AND THERE IS A MARKET FOR THAT.

SO, THERE'S A DEMAND AND A MARKET FOR COMMERCIAL SEX, ILLICIT SEX AND FREE OR CHEAP LABOR.

>> Reporter: CHARLIE IS AN ATTORNEY AND PROSECUTOR FROM KANSAS CITY WHO MOVED TO EUROPE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHERE HE PROSECUTES SOME OF THE WORST HUMAN TRAFFICKING OFFENDERS ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

>> YOU TAKE CARE OF OUR VICTIMS.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS IS WE'VE GONE SO FAR THAT WAY, WE'RE NOT PROSECUTING -- WE'RE NOT PUTTING MORE RESOURCES INTO PROSECUTING AND CONVICTING TRAFFICKERS AND THEIR COMPLIES.

>> Reporter: HE SHARED FACTS THAT ARE STARTLING.

HE SAYS THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 MILLION SLAVES GLOBALLY, OVER SIX MILLION CHILDREN WORLDWIDE ARE HELD IN SLAVERY.

28% OF THE TOTAL VICTIMS ARE CHILDREN.

HUMAN TRAFFICKERS PROFIT MORE THAN $150 BILLION EACH YEAR.

IN 2017, 17,880 OFFENDERS WERE PROSECUTED WORLDWIDE.

JUST 7,045 WERE CONVICTED.

COULD YOU SAY SOCIAL MEDIA HAS POURED GAS ON THIS FIRE?

>> I'LL BE MORE SPECIFIC.

I WOULD SAY PORNOGRAPHY TIED IN WITH THE INTERNET IS THE FUEL AND THE FLAME.

I SAY THAT NOT JUST AS AN ADVOCATE TRYING TO PROTECT VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, BUT I'M SAYING THAT AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR AND AS AN INVESTIGATOR WHERE I LISTENED TO THE EVIDENCE FROM DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS THAT SAID, LOOK, MOST OF THE THINGS THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING, THEY DIDN'T JUST COME OUT OF THEIR MOTHER'S WOMB WITH THIS DESIRE.

IT WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND IT STARTED WITH PORNOGRAPHY AND IT'S CONTINUING TO GROW.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF SMALL LITTLE VERSIONS, GANGS INVOLVED IN THE TRAFFICKING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS OFF THE SCALES, LET ALONE ALL THE OTHER ISSUES, THE SEXUAL ABUSE THAT'S HAPPENING WITH FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND SCHOOLMATES AND ALL.

SO, FOR SURE WE NEED, YOU KNOW, SHELTERS.

KIND OF LIKE PRISON, DO WE NEED MORE PRISONS?

WE PROBABLY NEED MORE PRISONS.

WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO GET THESE TRAFFICKERS OFF THE STREET.

>> WE HAVE FIVE MORE INDIVIDUAL ROOMS AND TWO LARGER FAMILY ROOMS.

>> Reporter: DRAGONFLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHITNEY ANDERSON SAYS HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO REPORT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> I WOULD RECOMMEND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE'S ALSO THE OKLAHOMA BUREAU OF NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS HAS A HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOT LINE.

IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING STRAIGHT TO THOSE AVENUES THEY CAN CALL THE DRAGONFLY HOME HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE.

WHAT IS THAT NUMBER?

>> 405-212-3377.

>> Rich: AGAIN, THAT NUMBER IS 405-212-3377.

DRAGONFLY HOME'S BIGGEST FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR, THE CROWN OF BEAUTY GALA, IS SEPTEMBER 30th AT THE EMBASSY SUITES IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

RICH?

>> Rich: STEVE, THANK YOU.

NINE MORE PROJECTS IT SLATED TO USE ARPA FUNDS HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

LAWMAKERS WILL RECONVENE LATER THIS MONTH TO CONSIDER THE MEASURES IN A SPECIAL SESSION, WHICH RANGE FROM MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO WASH AND SEWER PROJECTS.

THE PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE WOULD THEN GO TO THE GOVERNOR FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

THE STATE HAS ABOUT $1.8 BILLION IN ARPA FUNDS TO SPEND.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO CONSIDERING CHANGING OKLAHOMA'S LAWS REGARDING PARENTAL RIGHTS.

IT WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN INTERIM STUDY MEETING AT THE CAPITOL EARLIER THIS WEEK.

JASON DOYLE HAS THE DETAILS ON THAT.

>> Reporter: RICH, THIS INTERIM STUDY TOOK A LOOK AT CONDITIONS OF OKLAHOMA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH 8600 KIDS IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, LAWMAKERS WHO SPONSORED THE STUDY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO TRY TO KEEP FAMILIES INTACT.

>> LOOKING AT FAMILIES, PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

>> Reporter: REPRESENTATIVE DANNY WILLIAMS IS A SPONSOR OF THIS WEEK'S INTERIM STUDY EXAMINING PARENTAL RIGHTS IN THE STATE OF FAMILIES IN OKLAHOMA.

HE SAYS RIGHT OFF, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO KEEP FAMILIES INTACT.

>> A LOT MORE LOCAL SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT FROM CHURCHES, CIVIC CLUBS AND THAT KIND OF THING WITH FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, UM, IN THAT AREA.

>> Reporter: MOST OF THAT SUPPORT WOULD COME IN THE FORM OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES LIKE COUNSELING OR ADDICTION RECOVERY DUE TO THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF BOTH IN OKLAHOMA.

SEVERAL CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM ARE THERE BECAUSE OF A PARENT'S DRUG ADDICTION OR INCARCERATION, WHICH LED TO THEIR SEPARATION.

IF A FAMILY'S ALREADY FRACTURED TO THE POINT WHERE COURTS ARE INVOLVED, IT SEEMS IT TAKES A LITTLE TOO LONG TO HELP MAKE SURE THE KIDS CAUGHT IN THOSE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS GET PLACED IN A SAFER ENVIRONMENT.

>> NOW, OF COURSE, OUR NUMBER-ONE MOTIVATION IS TO PUT FAMILIES BACK TOGETHER.

BUT, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN.

SO, HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT?

WE'RE FINDING THAT THERE ARE SOMETIMES KIDS GET HUNG OUT TWO TO FIVE YEARS IN THAT LIMBO.

THEN THAT DAMAGES THEN MENTALLY AND AFFECTS THEM EMOTIONALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED.

>> Reporter: THE LACK OF EXPEDIENCY IN FAMILY COURT CONCERNING CHILDREN WAS CONFIRMED DURING THE STUDY BY THE COMMISSIONER MIKE WARREN.

>> WE WERE GETTING SOME COMPLAINTS FROM FOSTER PARENTS THAT WANTED THINGS TO MOVE QUICKER, AND THEY WERE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT CHILDREN, AND, AFTER A DETERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS HEARING, AND IT WAS NOT HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: WARREN OUTLINED THERE IS A LACK OF QUALIFIED LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN THE COURTS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS.

HE SAYS IT COMES DOWN TO THE PAY SCALE FOR FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS.

>> THE RURAL COUNTIES, WHICH IS EVERYBODY ELSE BUT OKLAHOMA CITY, I BELIEVE, ENID, TULSA, AND LAWTON, WE SCAMPER TRYING TO GET ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT PARENTS.

>> Reporter: DESPITE A PUSH TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER, A CHILD'S WELL-BEING SHOULD BE MADE A PRIORITY AND FOR THE CHILD TO FIND A SAFE PLACE WITH OR AWAY FROM THE PARENTS.

>> IN ORDER TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY, WE NEED TO ACHIEVE SOME TYPE OF PERM NANCY WHERE THE CHILD FEELS THEY CAN RELAX, THAT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS ON EDGE, THAT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.

>> Reporter: THE ADVERSE EVENTS IN A CHILD'S LIFE CAN LEAD TO AN ACREASED ASIS SCORE, A STANDARDS FOR ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS AND MEASURES THE TRAUMA.

>> THE HIGHER A SCORE IS CORRELATED WITH A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS, THAT CAN HAPPEN THE REST OF YOUR ADULT LIFE, WHICH IS A SHORTER LIFE SPAN, HIGHER RATES FOR, YOU KNOW, HEART DISEASE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: WHEN THE CHILDREN IN THE HOME SEE OR EXPERIENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ILLICIT DRUG USE OR EXPERIENCE ABUSE OR NEGLECT THEMSELVES, THEIR FUTURE IS LESS BRIGHT.

>> POOR NUTRITION AND OTHER THINGS ALL HAVE THE CHANCE -- OR THE ABILITY TO IMPACT A CHILD'S HEALTH.

POOR HEALTH IN CHILDHOOD AFFECTS OTHER ASPECTS SUCH AS SCHOOL REASONS AND ATTENDANCE AND CAN LAST INTO THEIR FUTURE.

>> Reporter: WHICH MEANS JUDGES HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND AN OUTSIDE ADVOCATE BELIEVES THEY SHOULD GO BEYOND THE HE-SAID/SHE-SAID OFTEN ENCOUNTERED DURING CONTESTED CUSTODY CASES, ACCORDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXPERT BARRY GOLDSTEIN WHO WAS NOT PART OF THE INTERIM STUDY BUT HAS SERVED AS AN EXPERT WITNESS AND A TRAINER IN OKLAHOMA.

>> THEY'RE GIVEN COMPLETE DISCRETION.

THEY COULD FOCUS ON HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN, BUT, IN MOST CASES, THEY DON'T.

THEY FOCUS ON OTHER LESS IMPORTANT ISSUES.

>> Reporter: GOLDSTEIN HAS CRAFTED MODEL LEGISLATION CALLED THE SAFE CHILD ACT WHICH BRINGS THE SCIENCE BEHIND ASIS SCORES AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO THE COURTROOM TO BETTER PROTECT A CHILD FROM POTENTIAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT OR INCREASED FEAR AND STRESS DUE TO ABUSE IN THE HOME.

>> MOST OF THE HARM FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE IS NOT THE IMMEDIATE PHYSICAL INJURIES, WHICH IS WHAT COURTS LOOK FOR, IT'S LIVING WITH THE FEAR AND STRESS THAT ABUSERS CAUSE.

IN MOST CASES, COURTS DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THE FEAR AND STRESS.

>> Reporter: HOWEVER, NO SPECIFIC LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PROPOSED YET IN OKLAHOMA.

REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS IS OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS FROM THE EXPERTS ON THE PANEL.

>> WE ASKED THEM TO COME BACK WITH THEIR TWO OR THREE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MAKE THE MOST DIFFERENCE.

TODAY, LET'S TRY TO DO THOSE.

THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND TAKE THE NEXT TWO OR THREE AFTER WE'VE IMPROVED THERE.

>> Reporter: THE INTERIM STUDY ISSUE WAS THAT FAMILY COURT CASES DEALING WITH THE CUSTODY OF CHILDREN ARE NOT THE PRIORITY IN DISTRICT COURTS AROUND THE STATE.

MEANING THOSE PARTICULAR DOCKETS ARE PROCESSED SLOWER THAN CRIMES OR CIVIL CASES.

>> Rich: JASON, THANK YOU.

A WHISTLE-BLOWER IN TAHLEQUAH IS ALLEGING EMBEZZLEMENT AND FRAUD AT THE NONPROFIT NATIONAL INDIAN WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER.

WHITNEY BRYEN WITH OUR CONTENT PARTNER OKLAHOMA WATCH HAS DONE EXTENSIVE REPORTING ON THIS AND WILL TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS LEARNED.

WHO IS THE WHISTLE-BLOWER?

WHAT IS SHE ALLEGING?

>> Reporter: PATTY MITCHELL IS A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

BUT AT THE TIME SHE CALLED ME IN APRIL, SHE WAS STILL WORKING THERE, AND WHAT SHE TOLD ME WAS THEIR DIRECTOR, JANIE DIBBLE, AT THE TIME, HAD TAKEN $80,000 OF PUBLIC MONEY OUT OF AN ACCOUNT AND BASICALLY DISAPPEARED.

THERE WAS NO BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THERE WAS NO ONE WATCHING JANIE WATCHING THE MONEY THAT THE EMPLOYEES COULD GO TO FOR HELP AND THEY FELT STUCK.

>> Rich: WHAT WAS THE ORGANIZATION TASKED WITH DOING, AND WERE THEY MEETING THE GOALS?

>> WHEN THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN THE '90s, THEY WERE TASKED WITH WORKING ON NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES, AS THE NAME SUGGESTS.

OVER TIME, PRIORITIES SHIFTED NATIONAL, AND THEN, OF COURSE, AT THE LOCAL NONPROFIT, YOU KNOW, THEY FOLLOWED THE MONEY, IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME.

AS PRIORITIES SHIFTED, SO DID THE MONEY, AND THEY WENT THERE.

SO, THESE DAYS, THEY'RE FOCUSED MORE ON YOUTH, MENTAL HEALTH, ANTI-BINGE DRINKING CAMPAIGNS, IT'S MOSTLY AROUND YOUTH IN THE TAHLEQUAH AREA, INSTEAD OF NATIONAL TRIBAL COMMUNITIES LIKE IT ONCE WAS.

>> Rich: HOW MUCH MONEY?

>> Reporter: WELL, THEY HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN $4.3 MILLION IN FEDERAL PUBLIC GRANT MONEY DURING THE TIME THAT THAT DIRECTOR, JANIE DIBBLE WAS IN CHARGE.

>> Rich: THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

NOW, SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE NONPROFIT APPEAR TO CONTRADICT SOME OF WHAT THE WHISTLE-BLOWER IS ALLEGING.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> Reporter: SURE.

WELL I SPOKE WITH PAM IRON, SHE'S ONE OF THE FOUNDERS.

SHE'S BACK NOW ON THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I ALSO SPOKE WITH THE CURRENTLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHE'S A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE ORGANIZATION, WHO ACTUALLY WORKED UNDER JANIE DIBBLE.

THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MONEY THAT WAS MISSING HAS BEEN RETURNED, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MOVE THE ORGANIZATION FORWARD AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.

ON THE OTHER HAND, BURT THOMAS, HE'S A CONSULTANT FOR THIS GROUP, HE'S ACTUALLY IN CHARGE OF HELPING THEM FULFILL GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND USE THIS MONEY CORRECTLY.

HE TOLD ME NO MONEY WAS EVER TAKEN, BUT HE WON'T ELABORATE, DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Rich: A QUICK PHONE CALL, WASN'T IT?

>> Reporter: IT WAS A QUICK PHONE CALL.

HE HUNG QUICKLY.

HE IS INVESTED IN ORGANIZATION.

HE'S BEEN PAID $20,000 BY THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE GRANTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

SO, HE CERTAINLY HAS A REASON TO DEFEND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.

>> Rich: THIS ORGANIZATION LACKS HANDS-ON OVERSIGHT, FROM WHAT I READ IN THE ARTICLE.

THERE ARE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MISSING IN ACTION.

>> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY.

BACK IN 2015, AS THAT NATIONAL PRIORITY SHIFTED AND THE MONEY SHIFTED THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, THE ORGANIZATION SHIFTED, TOO, AND SOME OF THOSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WERE THERE FROM THE BEGINNING, AND THEY WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

SO, THERE WAS A MASS EXODUS AROUND 2015.

SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE, IF ANY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT ALL.

IN FACT, WHEN THE MONEY WAS TAKEN, I'M TOLD, THERE WAS NO BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NO ONE OVERSEEING THAT MONEY OR DIBBLE'S DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT.

>> Rich: TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS WHISTLE-BLOWER, FORMER EMPLOYEE PATTY MITCHELL.

BESIDES TALKING TO YOU, DID SHE TAKE HER CONCERNS TO ANYBODY ELSE?

>> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY.

PATTY IS A ERY OUTSPOKEN WOMAN.

SHE'S CHEROKEE.

SHE WAS EXCITED TO WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS UNTIL SHE FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS REALLY DOING.

SHE'S REPORTED TO SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES, THE SBI, SHE'S REPORTED TO THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

BASICALLY, SHE'S REPORTING TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN.

>> Rich: OKAY.

SHE'S TALKING.

ANY LUCK GETTING THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JANIE DIBBLE, TO GIVE HER SIDE OF THE STORY?

>> I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH JANIE DIBBLE.

I'VE LEFT HER MESSAGES, VOICE MAILS, I EVEN STOPPED BY HER HOUSE AND LEFT A NOTE ASKING HER TO CALL ME, THAT I WANTED TO HEAR HER SIDE OF THE STORY BUT NO LUCK.

>> Rich: WHITNEY BRYEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU.

>> Rich: DESCRIBING IT AS LOCALIZED VERSION OF HIS BUILD BACK BETTER PRAN, PRESIDENT BIDEN AWARDED GRANTS TO 21 ORGANIZATIONS AND CITIES, AMONG THEM OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA.

THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE GRANTS DURING A VIRTUAL MEETING THAT INCLUDED TULSA MAYOR G.T.

BYNUM AND THE OTHER RECIPIENTS.

WE REPORT HOW THEY WILL BENEFIT TWO OF OUR METRO AREAS.

>> Reporter: THE U.S. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION WILL INVEST APPROXIMATELY $73 MILLION IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AS PART OF ITS $1 BILLION "BUILD BACK BETTER" CHALLENGE.

>> IT'S CENTERED AROUND A VISION THAT AS OUR ECONOMY RECOVERS AND MODERNIZE AND CHANGE THE NATURE OF HOW WE MANUFACTURE, WE WANT WORKERS IN SMALL BUSINESSES LEADING THE TRANSITION.

>> Reporter: THE OKLAHOMA BIOTECH INNOVATION CLUSTER HAS BEEN AWARDED $35 MILLION TO FUND NUMEROUS JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPAND OKLAHOMA CITY'S SCIENTIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> SO MANY PARTNERS WERE INVOLVED.

>> Reporter: JEFF SEYMOUR, EXECUTIVE VP SAYS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS GRANT WILL GO TOWARDS THE BIOSCIENCE ECONOMY IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> HOW CAN WE START, GROW, AND HELP COMPANIES IN THE BIOSCIENCE SPACE STAY HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECTS WILL INCLUDE DEVELOPING 10 RESEARCH LABS FOR DRUG DISCOVERY AND BIOMANUFACTURING WORKFORCE TRAINING THE GRANTS WILL BE WRITTEN TO IMPACT THE REGIONAL EPICENTRE OF A BIOMANUFACTURING HUB FOR THE U.S.

SO, THEY ARE LARGELY GOING TO UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, STEVENSON CANCER CENTER.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT THE MAJORITY OF DRUG MANUFACTURING OCCURS IN INDIA AND CHINA.

THEY WANT TO MAKE AMERICA A LEADING MANUFACTURER.

>> THIS GRANT WILL GO TO NOT ONLY INVENT NEW DRUGS BUT ALSO MANUFACTURE THEM HERE ON AMERICAN SOIL.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THIS WILL MAKE THE NEW INDUSTRY IN THE STATE COMPETITIVE.

>> THIS EDA GRANT WILL ALSO HELP RESKILL AND UPSKILL EXISTING JOBS.

SO, IF THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE THERE COULD BE A DOWNTURN IN OIL AND GAS, LIKE WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HISTORICALLY, YOU COULD HAVE SOMEONE COME OUT OFF OF A RIG AND MOVE INTO THE LAB.

>> Reporter: IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA, FEDERAL FUNDS WILL BE USED BY THE TULSA REGIONAL ADVANCED MOBILITY CORRIDOR, ALSO KNOWN AS TRAM, THE CORRIDOR HAS BEEN AWARDED $38.2 MILLION.

>> A BIG PLAYER LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REALLY SAYING AND VALIDATING WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW TO BE TRUE ABOUT TULSA AND WHAT WE CAN DO HERE.

THERE'S NEVER REALLY A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS KIND OF VALIDATION AND MOMENTUM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE COALITION WILL WORK ON FOUR MAIN PROJECTS WITH THE HELP OF ITS MULTIPLE ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL FOCUS ON RESEARCH PRODUCTION AND ADVANCED MOBILITY.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCALE OF THE GRANT AND THE TRUE INTENT OF THIS GRANT, IT IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO QUALITY JOBS FOR ALL TULSANS AND PROVIDING PATHWAYS FOR THAT.

>> Reporter: THEY WILL USE THE GRANT TO FUND A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

THE PLANT WILL TREAT OVER FOUR MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.

>> THAT IS INTENDED TO MAKE APPROXIMATELY 2200 ACRES OF TRILLIUM PROPERTY PAD READY FOR -- TO ENCOURAGE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE PART OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TO LOCATE IN THE AREA.

>> Reporter: TULSA PORT CHAIRMAN DEWEY BARTLETT IS A THIS WILL CREATE JOBS FOR THOSE WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES.

>> TOO MANY TIMES WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE SAID IN THE PAST THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE TO BE A SUCCESS AND THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IT GIVES SOMEBODY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET A GOOD, HIGH-PAYING JOB, GREAT BENEFITS, BUT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO THAT JOB AT THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY, THEY CAN TAKE THAT TRADE ELSEWHERE.

>> Reporter: JENNIFER HANKINS, THE HEAD OF PARTNERSHIP FOR TULSA INNOVATION, SAID THE GRANT WILL HELP TULSA PREPARE FOR FUTURE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

>> A LOT OF THAT IS ANCHORED IS HOW ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE TULSANS SUCCEED IN IS IT BEDROCK OF INDUSTRIES HERE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EARNEST IS CRITICAL TO THIS, MAKING SURE OUR MECHANICS AND OUR MRO TECHNOLOGIES ARE REALLY MATCHING UP TO WHERE THIS INDUSTRY IS HEADED IN THE FUTURE.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE PROJECTS INVOLVES CREATING A LAUNCHPAD RESEARCH CENTER AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY TULSA CAMPUS.

>> THAT WILL ALLOW US TO EVALUATE AND TEST VARIOUS ADVANCED MOBILITY CONCEPTS IN THE NATIONAL EARNEST.

>> Reporter: OSU WILL WORK WITH THE OSAGE NATION TO CREATE AN ADVANCED MOBILITY FLIGHT CORRIDOR.

>> BEING ABLE TO GET THE SYSTEMS IN AND EVALUATE THEM IN AN URBAN SETTING, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, BUT FLYING OVER SUBURBAN REGIONS, IT REALLY OPENS UP NEW AVENUES.

>> Reporter: JACOB SAYS ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY IS THE FUTURE OF AVIATION.

>> ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY, WHICH IS A REALLY NEW GOLDEN ERA OF AVIATION, ELECTRIFYING AIRCRAFT WHICH IS BETTER FOR THE CLICHLT.

>> Reporter: BOTH TULSA AND OKLAHOMA EXPECT AN ECONOMIC IMPACT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS.

TAELYR JACKSON, THE "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> Rich: TAELYR, THANK YOU.

HIS BACKGROUND WITH RED AND MARINES, PRESIDENT BIDEN DELIVERED A SPEECH IN PHILADELPHIA LAST WEEK THAT GENERATED STRONG REACTION FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

WE'LL DISCUSS THOSE REACTIONS IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT.

>> I'VE DONE POLLING NATIONAL AND IN STATE.

YOU LOOK AT THE TOP ISSUES FOR NOVEMBER.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WE HAVE MIDTERMS COMING UP IN JUST ABOUT TWO MONTHS, AND IF YOU LOOK, WHAT ARE THE TOP ISSUES?

INFLATION, THE ECONOMY, THE BORDER.

>> IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE MOTIVATING DEMOCRATS IN A STATE WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE WRITING US OFF AS A ONE-PARTY STATE.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY WILL BE TALKING ABOUT OR THINKING ABOUT HIS SPEECH ON NOVEMBER 8th >> I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY PRETTY EFFECTIVE GETTING DEMOCRATS TO SAY, YES, THIS IS THE RIGHT MESSAGE.

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT OUR PRESIDENT TO SAY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST DON'T THINK IT WAS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO GET THE APPEAL TO REACH THOSE REPUBLICANS HE WAS TRYING TO REACH.

AND I DON'T THINK IT HAD THE IMPACT HE WAS HOPING AS FAR AS INFLUENCING ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER.

>> Rich: THAT FULL CONVERSATION COMING UP JUST A LITTLE BIT LATER ON IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>> WHILE MORE THAN 350% OF OKLAHOMA CITY' POPULATION IDENTIFIES AS WHITE, THE NEXT LARGEST DEMOGRAPHIC, ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS, IS HISPANIC.

21% AND GROWING.

WHAT COMMON GOALS AND INSPIRATIONS AND STRUGGLES?

KENNEDY SEPULVADO HAS THE ANSWERS NOW.

>> Reporter: RICH, OF THAT 21% OF OKLAHOMA CITY RESIDENTS WHO IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 90% OF THAT POPULATION IS OF MEXICAN HERITAGE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THIS GROUP OF RESIDENTS FACE IS ACCESS TO THE CONSULATE OF MEXICO.

>> WELCOME TO OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> Reporter: OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECENTLY WELCOMED THE NEW CONSUL GENERAL OF MEXICO TO THEIR CAMPUS.

CARLOS IGNACIO GIRALT CABRALE WAS APPOINTED LAST MONTH.

>> WE PROTECT MEXICAN CITIZENS AND ALSO OFFER TRADITIONAL CONSULAR SERVICE TO THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, MEXICAN PASSPORTS.

>> Reporter: BETTER ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING THE HISPANIC POPULATION ACCORDING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS.

>> SO, WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IS PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO TRAVEL TO ARKANSAS FROM OKLAHOMA TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR WORK DONE, THEIR BUSINESS DONE, WHETHER IT'S CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION, RESIDENT INFORMATION, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> COULD YOU IMAGINE LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE CLOSEST U.S. EMBASSY WAS FIVE HOURS AWAY OR MORE, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO MISS DAYS OF WORK OR, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET VERY FEW, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.

>> Reporter: THIS HAS BEEN A REALITY FOR MANY LATINOS AND HISPANICS LIVING IN OKLAHOMA.

WHILE OKLAHOMA HAS A CONSULATE OF GUATEMALA, SPAIN, SWITZERLAND,URUR, ROMANIA, JAPAN, GERMANY AND FRANCE, MANY HISPANIC OKLAHOMANS HAVE TO TRAVEL HOURS OF STATE FOR SERVICES.

>> YOU ARE ASSUMING THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A CAR THAT WOULD GET THEM THERE.

SOME OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO LEASE CARS OR HAVE A NEIGHBOR OR SOMEBODY IN THE FAMILY TAKE THEM.

>> IT'S DONE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, TAKE OFF WORK, GO OVER THERE AND MORE THAN LIKELY RENT A ROOM, SO THERE'S THIS COST INVOLVED.

THEN IT'S POSSIBLE YOU MAY NOT BE SEEN THAT DAY.

>> Reporter: HOWEVER, A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE IS IN THE WORKS.

>> A STUDY WE DID A FEW YEARS BACK, THERE'S MORE MEXICAN PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA THAN THERE IS IN ARKANSAS.

SO, IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR THE CONSULATE TO BE IN ARKANSAS AND NOT IN OKLAHOMA.

AND, OVER THE YEARS, OKLAHOMA HAS GROWN SO TREMENDOUSLY, OVER 500,000 LATINOS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, PROBABLY 90% ARE MEXICAN.

SO, IT MAKES SENSE FOR IT TO BE HERE.

>> Reporter: THAT'S THE PLAN.

A CONSULATE OF MEXICO COULD OPEN IN OKLAHOMA NEXT YEAR, BUT THE CONSUL GENERAL URGES THE COMMUNITY TO BE PATIENT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE WALKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARD THE GOAL OF OPENING A NEW OFFICE IN PROBABLY NEXT YEAR.

NONETHELESS, WE HAVE TO BE CAUTION ABOUT THAT, OPENING A NEW MEXICAN CONSULATE IN THE AREA IS NOT AN EASY JOB.

>> THE BIG THINGS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.

THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED IT, SO HAS THE UNITED STATES APPROVED IT, AND SO HAS THE OKLAHOMA STATE APPROVED IT.

THOSE ARE THE BIG DEALS.

NOW IT'S THE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: THE NEW OFFICE WILL IMPROVE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND OPEN THE DOORS FOR ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT.

>> IT'S GROWING TREMENDOUSLY.

AS THE CONSUL COMES IN AND MORE BUSINESS DONE, THERE'S MORE MONEY THAT WILL BE SPREAD AROUND IN THE ECONOMY.

>> Reporter: THE OFFICE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR MEXICANS LIVING AND WORKING IN OKLAHOMA BUT OTHER LATINOS WILL HAVE TO DRIVE OUT OF STATE FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRY'S CONSULATES.

LUIS RENDON USED TO HAVE TO DRIVE TO HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR THE CLOSEST CONSULATE OF VENEZUELA.

>> 2018, 2017 WHEN THINGS GOT WORSE BETWEEN THE VENEZUELA AND THE U.S. EVERYTHING BROKE.

NOW IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US.

>> Reporter: VENEZUELANS MUST DRIVE TO OTHER PLACES TO RENEW DOCUMENTATION.

>> HOW DO I COME BACK HERE.

>> Reporter: OR THEY HAVE TO FORK OVER CASH TO GET APPOINTMENTS SET UP.

>> I HAD TO PAY ALMOST $500 FOR SOMEBODY TO GET HER THE APPOINTMENT IN CHILE IN THE CONSULATE IN CHILE.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THAT, LUSIS TRYING TO STRENGTHEN THE TIES BETWEEN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND OKLAHOMA.

HE SPENDS PART OF HIS WEEK AS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE AT O.E.T.A.

BUT ON SATURDAY, HE'S THE COLOR ANALYST FOR LOS SOONERS, THE SPANISH BROADCAST OF SOONER FOOTBALL.

>> TO BE FROM SOUTH AMERICA AND BE A BRIDGE FROM THE SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND OTHER DIFFERENT PLACES LIKE ARGENTINA, CHILE, MEXICO AND SPAIN WHO LISTENS AND NFL.

IT'S REALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE BEING PART OF OU AND FOOTBALL.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S ALMOST A RELIGION HERE BECAUSE IT'S SO BIG.

>> Reporter: AS LUIS ACTS AS BRIDGE BETWEEN COMMUNITIES, OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS BRIDGING THE GAP IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

OCCC WILL HOST THIS YEAR'S OKLAHOMA CITY FESTIVAL ON SEPTEMBER 18th.

IT'S THE LARGEST CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC CULTURE IN OKLAHOMA CELEBRATES MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY.

ON WEDNESDAY, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THE OKLAHOMA CITY FOUNDATION AWARDED THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH A $25,000 GRANT THAT WILL ASSIST IN FUNDING THAT FESTIVAL.

RICH?

>> Rich: KENNEDY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS WISHING TO TAKE PART IN THE "PURPLE STAR" PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HELP SCHOOLS WHO ENROLL A LARGE NUMBER OF MILITARY-CONNECTED CHILDREN TRANSITION TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT AS THEIR PARENTS CHANGE ASSIGNMENTS AND LOCATION.

THERE ARE NEARLY 30,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OKLAHOMA THAT COME FROM MILITARY FAMILIES AND OKLAHOMA IS THE 12th STATE IN THE NATION TO IMPLEMENT THE "PURPLE STAR" PROGRAM.

>> NEW AND IMPROVED COVID BOOSTER SHOTS AVAILABLE IN OKLAHOMA.

THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY APPROVED USE OF BOOSTER SHOTS WHICH TARGET THE ORIGINAL STRAIN OF COVID AND THE OMICRON VARIANT.

THE PFIZER VERSION CAN BE GIVEN TO ETHOS -- THOSE 12 YEARS AND OLDER.

YOU CAN FIND OUT IF THE BOOSTERS ARE AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA.

WE HAVEN'T CHECKED OUT THE WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN SEVERAL WEEKS.

RAVAGING 1,183 NEW CASES A DAY OVER THE LAST WEEK, TOTAL OF 18,683 ACTIVE INFECTIONS.

340 OKLAHOMANS ARE CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED, 84 OF THEM IN INTENSIVE CARE AND 39 PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM THE VIRUS IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

>> AS WE DO EVERY WEEK, IT'S TIME TO RECAP THE STATEWIDE ECONOMIC NEWS.

HERE'S JASON DOYLE WITH THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> Reporter: FORECLOSURE STARTS IN OKLAHOMA JUMPED 80 IN AUGUST.

THAT'S THE LARGEST INCREASE OF FORECLOSURE STARTS IN THE COUNTRY.

NATIONWIDE, THERE ARE MORE THAN 34,500 FORECLOSURE FILITION UNDER WAY, WHICH BRINGS FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY BACK ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

NONPROFIT TULSA INNOVATION LABS IS TEAMING UP WITH THE GEORGE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, FIRM ENERGY INNOVATION CAPITAL AND THREE OKLAHOMA ENERGY COMPANIES TO CREATE AN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY START-UP HUB PROVIDING ACCESS TO EARLY-STAGE CAPITAL FUNDING AND HELP THE START-UPS WITH OFFICE SPACE AND CONNECTIONS WITH BUSINESSES LOOKING FOR THEIR PRODUCTS.

THE HUB WILL HELP ALL VARIETIES OF ENERGY-RELATED COMPANIES, INCLUDING SOLAR, WIND AND ASPECTS OF ELECTRIC GRID MANAGEMENT.

DEVON ENERGY, ONE OAK AND WILLIAMS ARE THE COMPANIES PARTNERING WITH TULSA INNOVATION LABS ON THE PROTECT THAT WILL CREATE 1700 ENERGY-RELATED JOBS.

WILLIAMS PURCHASED NOR TECH MIDSTREAM.

THE 80-MILE PIPELINE BRINGS NATURAL GAS TO THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH METROPLEX AND INCLUDES NATURAL GAS STORAGE IN NORTH TEXAS AND SUPPLIES NATURAL GAS TO ELECTRIC GENERATION COMPANIES AND ALLOWS WILLIAMS TO PROVIDE STORAGE SERVICES.

FIRST-TIME UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS FELL BY NEARLY HALF DURING THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 27th.

THE COMMISSION SAYS INITIAL CLAIMS WERE 1,542, A DECREASE OF 1,260 FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

THE FOUR-WEEK MOVING AVERAGE FOR INITIAL CLAIMS ALSO DROPPED BY 484 TO AN AVERAGE OF 2,719 CLAIMS.

TULSA-BASED NIRVANA GROUP, THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF NIRVANA DISPENSARY IS EXPANDING, OPENING A FACILITY IN ALBUQUERQUE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

THE NEW NIRVANA FACILITY WILL PARTNER CANNABIS PRODUCTS HITTING THE NEW MEXICO DISPENSARIES BY OCTOBER.

>> Rich: GREAT JOB.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN ERNEST WITH THE MIDTERMS ELECTIONS TWO MONTHS AWAY.

HE GAVE A SPEECH RECENTLY.

TO DISCUSS THE SPEECH AND THE IMPACT IT MIGHT HAVE ON OKLAHOMA ELECTIONS, HERE'S MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT WITH OUR WEEKLY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION FEATURING A SPECIAL PANEL OF GUESTS.

SUSAN?

>> Susan: THANK YOU, RICH.

JOINING US TODAY ARE EXTREMES IN THE POLITICAL FIELD OF OKLAHOMA.

I WILL INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU NOW.

ALICIA ANDREWS, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF OKLAHOMA STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

CHAD ALEXANDER, A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND THE FORMER STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR AND JAMES DAVENPORT, ASSOCIATES DEAN OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AT ROSE STATE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Susan: ALICIA, WE WILL LET YOU BREAK THE ICE FOR US.

I WANT TO FIND OUT HOW YOU FEEL DEMOCRATS PERCEIVE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SPEECH ON DEMOCRACY.

>> I'LL SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, THE DEMOCRATS THAT I'VE BEEN EMAILING WITH, UM, DEMOCRATS FEEL HOPEFUL, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S AN ADULT IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THE CONVERSATION ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY, YOU KNOW, HIT HOME, HIT HOME WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> Susan: CHAD, HOW DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS PERCEIVED THE SPEECH?

>> PROBABLY FROM WHAT THEY'VE SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT IT, NONE OF THE MAJOR NETWORKS CARRIED IT.

I THINK ONLY MSNBC AND CNN DID.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY WATCHED IT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

MOST WHAT THEY SAW IS WHAT THEY'VE SEEN ON NEWS INTERVIEWS OR TALKING HEADS OR THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA GETTING THEIR INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

IT KIND OF REMINDED ME OF THE BASKET OF DEPLORABLES IN 2016.

THE PEOPLE THAT THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THEM ARE A LOT MORE MOTIVATED WHEN THEY FEEL INSULTED THAN PEOPLE CHEERING PEOPLE ON.

>> Susan: JAMES, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CHAD BROUGHT UP THE BASKET OF DEPLORABLES.

THAT KIND OF BACKFIRED.

EVERYONE ADOPTED THAT NAME AND FELT THEY WERE BEING TARGETED BY THIS.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU THINK THIS SPEECH WILL HAVE, IF ANY, IN OKLAHOMA?

>> I DON'T KNOW IN OKLAHOMA IF IT WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

DEMOCRATS WILL BE RELATIVELY SUPPORTIVE OF IT, THEY'RE GOING TO PREACH -- APPRECIATE THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

IF REPUBLICANS PAID ATTENTION, IT WAS THROUGH A FILTER.

FROM A REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AS EGREGIOUS AS THE BASKET OF DEPLORABLES WAS.

PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S CHALLENGE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A SEPARATION -- HE TRIED TO DO THIS.

HE TRIED TO SAY, LOOK, WHAT HE CALLED THE MAGA REPUBLICANS DON'T REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS.

I'M NOT SURE THROUGHOUT THE TOTALITY OF HIS SPEECH, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT MESSAGE HUNG ON, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE A REPUBLICAN WATCHING IT.

>> Susan: FROM A DEMOCRAT'S STANDPOINT, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MAGA REPUBLICAN AND A REGULAR, OLD REPUBLICAN, I GUESS.

>> I'M GOING TO SPEAK AS AN OKLAHOMA DEMOCRAT BECAUSE I'M IN A ROOM WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER DEMOCRATS.

AS AN OKLAHOMA DEMOCRAT, ABSOLUTELY.

WE -- WE ARE ASWIM IN REPUBLICANS, WE HAVE REPUBLICAN NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

I PERSONALLY APPLAUD THE PRESIDENT BY MAKING THE DISTINCTION.

IT'S NOT ALL REPUBLICANS THAT ARE TRUTH DENIERS.

IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL THE SAME.

>> Susan: WHA IS THE DISTINCTION?

>> A MAGA REPUBLICAN HAD A LOYALTY TO A PERSON RATHER THAN THE COUNTRY, HAD A LOYALTY TO AN IDEOLOGY THAT'S EXTREME.

WHEREAS, A REPUBLICAN IS JUST SOMEONE WHO DISAGREES WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT DEMOCRATS OUR PLATFORM AND PHILOSOPHY IS.

THEY HAVE A SEPARATE PLATFORM AND PHILOSOPHY.

YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE WE NEED THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM TO KEEP THE DEMOCRACY GOING.

CHAD, IS THERE A DISTINCTION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OR EVERYONE FEELS THE SAME WAY?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> WELL, I THINK JUST ASKING THE QUESTION SAYS A LOT.

WHAT A MAGA REPUBLICAN IS PROBABLY DEPENDENT ON WHO YOU'RE ASKING.

I AGREE WITH PROFESSOR DAVENPORT, I THINK EVEN IF THE DISTINCTION WAS TRYING TO BE PUT IN AT THE SPEECH, IT KIND OF GOT LOST WITHIN THE SPEECH.

IF YOU VOTED FOR A TRUMP AND YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, YOU FEEL LIKE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU.

I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

GOING TO THE BALLOT BOX AND VOTING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP OVER JOE BIDEN WAS ME BEING A CIVIC-MINDED PERSON IN A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.

>> Susan: WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT IN OKLAHOMA AND PROBABLY NOT MUCH.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS GOTTEN FEEDBACK CERTAINLY NATIONWIDE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

UNITY?

DO YOU THINK IT CREATES MORE DIVISION?

HEY, IF I VOTED FOR TRUMP, I'M A MAGA REPUBLICAN?

>> I DO THINK THERE'S A QUESTION HERE, RIGHT?

DOES SIMPLY VOTING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP MAKE YOU WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN REFERRED TO AS A MAGA REPUBLICAN, RIGHT?

OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE.

I THINK HE'S THINKING SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I DON'T THINK HE QUITE MADE THAT CLEAR AS HE COULD HAVE, RIGHT.

I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU USE THAT PHRASE MAGA REPUBLICAN, IF I'M A REPUBLICAN AND I VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP I MIGHT NOT BE SOMEONE WHO IS, LIKE, A LOYAL TRUMPIAN AND I WILL DEFEND HIM REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING ELSE, BUT I MIGHT HAVE, IN THE TWO ELECTIONS THAT HE WAS UP AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE, I MIGHT HAVE FELT LIKE, THIS IS THE OPTION I'M GOING TO GO WITH.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE A BIG DISTINCTION AND SAID, JUST BECAUSE YOU VOTED FOR TRUMP DOESN'T MAKE YOU A MAGA REPUBLICAN.

I NEVER HEARD THAT EXPLICITLY, RIGHT, COME OUT.

AND SO I THINK HE LEFT IT OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION, WHICH IS NOT GOOD IF HE'S TRYING TO APPEAL.

HE'S TRYING TO APPEAL TO REPUBLICANS AS MUCH AS HE IS TO DEMOCRATS, RIGHT?

HE'S TRYING TO SAY, LOOK, YOUR PARTY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A FORCE THAT IS NOT REALLY WHO YOUR PARTY HAS TRADITIONALLY REPRESENTED, WHO YOUR PARTY -- WHAT YOUR PARTY HAS BEEN ABOUT.

AND HE'S TRYING TO APPEAL TO THOSE MORE WHAT I WOULD CALL TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN EXCITED ABOUT TRUMP, BUT I DON'T THINK -- I JUST DON'T THINK THE SPEECH WAS SUPER EFFECTIVE IN DOING THAT.

I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY PRETTY EFFECTIVE, AS ALICIA SAID, AT GETTING DEMOCRATS TO SAY, YES, THIS IS THE RIGHT MESSAGE, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT OUR PRESIDENT TO SAY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST DON'T IT WAS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO GET THE APPEAL TO REACH THOSE REPUBLICANS HE WAS TRYING TO REACH.

AND I DON'T THINK IT HAD THE IMPACT HE WAS HOPING AS FAR AS INFLUENCING ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER.

AND THAT'S JUST MY PERSPECTIVE FROM THIS.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT I DISAGREE WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID OR WASN'T SAID, BUT I DON'T THINK THE IMPACT WOULD BE AS GREATS AS THE PRESIDENT WAS HOPING IT WOULD BE.

>> Susan: SPEAKING OF IMPACT, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN THAT MIGHT IMPACT HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTE IN OKLAHOMA.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED MIGHT GET REPUBLICANS' ATTENTION TO MAYBE CHANGE THEIR MIND?

>> I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID BEFORE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE THAT VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP IS A MAGA REPUBLICAN.

WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE GOING FORWARD IS HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE NOMINEE, AND THEY CAN VOTE EARLY IN THE GAME TO MAKE SURE HE'S NOT THE NOMINEE.

I THINK THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED -- I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO VERY FAR.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, JUST TODAY OR YESTERDAY, WE LEARNED THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWOO, YOU KNOW, THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS IN INNOVATION AROUND NUCLEAR CAPACITY.

HE'S IN POSSESSION OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS.

THOSE MAKE ME SAY, IF YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SOMEONE WHO WAS A THREAT TO AMERICA, THEN THAT WOULD MAKE YOU A MAGA REPUBLICAN VERSUS A REPUBLICAN.

>> DO EVENTS LIKE WHAT ALICIA JUST DESCRIBED, JANUARY 6th, THE SUPREME COURT ABORTION RULING, DOES THAT GET MODERATE REPUBLICANS' ATTENTION IN OKLAHOMA?

>> NO.

I'VE DONE POLLING NATIONALLY AND IN THE STATE, YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE TOP ISSUES ARE FOR NOVEMBER, MIDTERMS IN TWO MONTHS, IF YOU LOOK, WHAT ARE THE TOP ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT?

INFLATION, THE ECONOMY, THE BORDER, UKRAINE IS AN ISSUE, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE ISSUES.

I THINK THE RAID ON MAR-A-LAGO IS GOING TO BE JUST AS POLARIZING AS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS FEEL LIKE DONALD TRUMP WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION BEFORE HE WON.

INFORMATION CAME OUT YESTERDAY THAT HIS FOUR YEARS WORTH OF MEDICAL RECORDS WERE TAKEN, TAXES WERE TAKEN.

THAT'S WHAT THE MAGISTRATE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO APPOINT A SPECIAL MASTER.

IT WAS TRYING TO TURN THE ELECTION AND MAKE IT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP IN NOVEMBER.

THEIR BEST PLAY IS NO MAKE IT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

HE'S NOT ON THE BALLOT.

ALL HIS SUPPORTERS WON'T BE THERE AND TRY TO MAKE IT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT INFLATION IF YOU'RE JOE BIDEN RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BORDER IF YOU'RE JOE BIDEN RIGHT NOW.

ONE MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO THE UNITED STATES.

THOSE WILL BE ISSUES IN NOVEMBER THAT WE WON'T BE TALKING ABOUT THE SPEECH.

>> Susan: WHAT IS IT ABOUT -- HERE WE ARE, IT'S 2022, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS STILL BRINGING UP FOLLOWERS OF DONALD TRUMP OR THOSE WHO ARE LOYAL TO HIM.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP THAT MAKES HIM A CATALYST TO THIS DAY?

>> AS CHAD SAID, HE -- HE -- HE IS A POLARIZING FIGURE.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MIDDLE GROUND WITH DONALD TRUMP.

YOU'RE EITHER VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE OR YOU'RE VERY, VERY HOSTILE AND THERE AREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, MEH, OKAY.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING, BOTH IN THESE ELECTIONS AND IN THE 2024 ELECTIONS, IS TO WHAT TYPES OF ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE CONFRONTING VOTERS?

THIS IS WHY I DON'T THINK THIS SPEECH IS GOING TO HAVE AS MUCH IMPACT.

CHAD IS RIGHT.

YOU HAVE INFLATION, YOU HAVE THE ECONOMY IN GENERAL, YOU HAVE SOME INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, THE WAR IN UKRAINE, SOME THINGS LIKE THAT THAT I THINK ARE ALL GOING TO WEIGH ON VOTERS' MINDS MORE THAN THE SPEECH.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO VOTE, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICAN, ALTHOUGH, IN A STATE LIKE OKLAHOMA, I THINK THE ODDS ARE VERY HEAVILY THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE THAT.

I DO THINK THAT THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING IN THE DOBBS CASE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A WILD CARD.

IT MIGHT MAKE SOME DIFFERENCES ON THE MARGINS IN SOME PLACES.

IF YOU'VE GOT SOME KIND OF PURPLE DISTRICTS THAT YOU HAVE -- POSSIBLY EVEN IN OKLAHOMA, YOU MIGHT SEE SOME SURPRISES THERE.

I DON'T GET THE SENSE YET, NOW, AGAIN, WE'RE STILL A GOOD WAYS AWAY FROM NOVEMBER, I DON'T GET THE SENSE YET THAT IT HAS BECOME THE CATALYZING ISSUE THAT PERHAPS DEMOCRATS WERE HOPING THAT IT WOULD BE, BUT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR IT TO DEVELOP INTO THAT.

IT'S A WILD CARD.

KANSAS IS A RED STATE.

VOTERS VOTED IN WHAT A STATE WITH A LOT OF PRO-LIFE ELECTED OFFICIALS SAID THEY WANTED TO PROTECT SOME MEASURE OF ABORTION ACCESS IN THEIR STATE, AND OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS AREN'T SUPER DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES, SO I THINK THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE THAT COULD PLAY ON SOME MARGINS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE JUST YET.

>> Susan: ALICIA, YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE.

ONE THING I WANTED TO ASK YOU IS IS IT TOUGH TRYING TO RALLY A DEMOCRATIC WIN IN OKLAHOMA?

>> IT IS.

I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT CHAD SAID EARLIER, THAT DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ON TO BALLOT.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR HIM SAY THAT, SINCE SO MANY REPUBLICAN CAST ARE CAMPAIGNING ON THEIR SUPPORT OF DONALD TRUMP.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE MOTIVATING DEMOCRATS IN A STATE WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE WRITING US OFF AS A ONE-PARTY STATE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY'S GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT OR THINKING ABOUT THIS SPEECH ON NOVEMBER 8th.

I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY HERE.

I THINK THAT WHAT PEOPLE WILL BE THINKING IS THAT WE WERE IN CRAZY AND CONTINUE RIGHT NOW TO BE IN A CRAZY INFLATION SITUATION WITH REGARDS TO INFLATION.

HOWEVER, THOSE MARGINS ARE TURNING THE CORNER TO FAVORABLE.

GAS PRICE HAVE DROPPED NEARLY EVERY DAY FOR 90 DAYS.

THOSE FROM KINDS OF THINGS THAT WILL GET DEMOCRATS TO POLLS.

YES, PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT INFLATION AND HOW IT'S HITTING THEIR POCKETBOOK BUT THEY'RE ALSO SEEING SOME IMPROVEMENT.

THE RATE OF JOB CREATION, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS, POCKETBOOK ISSUES THAT BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE THINKING ABOUT AND THEY'RE IMPROVING.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WILL BE THINKING AROUND NOVEMBER 8th.

THEY WILL HAVE FORGOTTEN THE SPEECH AND THE PRESIDENT WILL HAVE MADE MORE SPEECHES BY THEN.

>> Susan: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHARING YOUR INSIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Rich: VERY GOOD.

IN THIS WEEK'S "NATIONAL VIEW " WE WILL TAKE YOU THE BUXTON, NORTH DAKOTA WHERE THEY ARE TRANSFORMING A CHURCH.

PRAIRIE PUBLIC MEDIA HAVE A STORY HUNDREDS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING.

[ ♪♪♪ ] [ ♪♪♪ ] >> Reporter: AS AN ARCHITECT, I'VE ALWAYS HAD KIND OF A SOFT SPOT FOR THE HISTORIC RURAL CHURCHES.

I KNOW WE CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL, BUT I FEEL WE NEED TO SAVE SOME.

THIS ONE BECAME MOST INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAD A FAMILY CONNECTION.

IT'S NOT VERY BIG.

IT ONLY SEATS ABOUT 100 PEOPLE IN THE INSIDE, 120.

SO, IT'S NOT OVERWHELMING OR DAUNTING TO SAVE THE CHURCH.

>> I GOT REALLY INTO THE ARCHITECTURALLY HISTORY AND THE VERNACULAR OF THE AREA, WHAT THE CHURCH IS AND THE OLD SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITIES BUILDINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF KEEP THAT HISTORY.

ON MARCH 17th, 1879, 63 INDIVIDUALS STARTED A CHURCH.

THEY CAME HERE FROM NORWAY AND THEY HAVE A SISTER CHURCH IN NORWAY.

THAT'S WHERE IT KIND OF GOT ITS NAME AND START.

I LOVE TO DO HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORK.

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE MARRIED HERE, AND OUR IN-LAWS ARE BURIED HERE.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW PLAYED PIANO HERE FOR 40 YEARS.

MY SONS WERE BAPTIZED HERE.

I HAD A CONNECTION, TOO.

CHALLENGES ARE ALWAYS FINDING THE FUNDS TO DO THE WORK.

AND FINDING THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO DONATE AND ALSO FINDING PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO DONATE THEIR TIME, TOO.

[ ♪♪♪ ] >> IT'S BEEN USED FOR WEDDINGS FOR PROBABLY SINCE IT'S BEEN BUILT.

SO, IT IS KIND OF CONTINUING THAT USE.

ALSO, I ENVISION KIND OF THE FUTURE CONCERTS.

IT CREATES KIND OF AN INTERESTING ACOUSTICAL SETTING.

THE LAST CONCERT WE HAD, THERE WAS A PRETTY GOOD TURNOUT.

>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE WANTING TO HAVE MORE OF THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS CLOSE TO HOME.

WE USED TO HAVE TO TRAVEL TO DO THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS.

SO HAVING SOME CULTURAL EVENTS IN NORTH DAKOTA AND WESTERN MINNESOTA IS THE PERFECT SPOT.

OUR THOUGHT IS TO MAYBE HAVE VISITING ARTISTS, TRAVELING ARTISTS, THEY COULD PROBABLY COME AND STAY HERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AT A TIME AND DO THEIR ARTWORK AT THIS LOCATION AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE AN ART EXHIBIT, TOO.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT DONE IN THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

THAT'S KIND OF OUR GOAL.

OUR MAIN GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO GET THE ROOF REDONE.

WE HAVE A GRANT FROM THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY THAT WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR MATCHING SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE WATER OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PAINTING THE OUTSIDE.

SO, WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED AND THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF OUR PROJECT.

[ ♪♪♪ ] >> THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME NOSTALGIA.

SITTING IN THE PEWS WHEN I BUT YOUNGER, I USED TO SIT THERE AND SHUFFLE MY FEET BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE THEY NEVER TOUCHED THE GROUND, SO I HAVE SOME MEMORIES LIKE THAT, OR WATCHING MY GRANDMA PLAY THE ORGAN HERE.

THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE I'VE PLAYED THE PIANO FOR SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICE.

THE SECOND I WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR, IT FLOODS MY MEMORY OF TIMES LIKE THAT.

>> I FEEL CALM WHEN I COME HERE.

IT HAS THIS PLEASANT, CALM, PEACEFUL FEELING.

IT'S QUIET, IT'S SERENE.

IT'S A LITTLE OFF IN THE DISTANCE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND STILL HAS THAT NOSTALGIC LOOK.

>> Rich: HISTORIC LEARN LOSS.

HOW DID OKLAHOMA STUDENTS HANDLE REMOTE LEARNING?

THAT NEXT.

IT'S TIME TO TWO-WHEEL IT OUT OF HERE WITH THE WHEELER CRITERIUM.

IF YOU ENJOY OUR NEWSCAST, PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS TO WATCH.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," I'M RICH LENZ.

STAY TUNED AND STAY SAFE TO O.E.T.A.

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