STUDY THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS AND FOUGHT TO PROTECT THEM.

IT'S GORILLAS IN THE MIST, STARRING SIGOURNEY WEAVER.

THAT'S 9:00 SATURDAY NIGHT ON THE OETA MOVIE CLUB.

VICTIMS OF CRIME GATHER AT THE STATE CAPITOL SEEKING TO REDUCE CRIME RATES IN OKLAHOMA.

IF I CAN HELP ONE VICTIM, ONE SURVIVOR WITH THE WORDS, THEN IT'S WORTH IT.

THE PUSH TO ELIMINATE RACIST LANGUAGE IN HISTORICAL OKLAHOMA CITY DOCUMENTS.

SO YOU COULD EXPLICITLY SAY THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SHALL NOT BE INHABITED BY ANYBODY OTHER THAN, SAY, THE CAUCASIAN RACE.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR THE VISIONARY BEHIND OETA.

AND HE SAID, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE PART OF MY CEREMONY OF LIFE.

AND OF COURSE, WHAT DO WE.

THE TEARS.

AND I SAID, OF COURSE, BOB, ANYTHING YOU WANT, I'M GOING TO DO AN IN DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE USE OF PSYCHEDELICS TO TREAT PTSD AND DEPRESSION.

AND I THINK AS POLICYMAKERS, WE SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY AND LOOK INTO THE RESEARCH AND CONDUCT THESE CLINICAL TRIALS.

A ROUTE 66 CELEBRATION AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

WE HAVE OVER $20 MILLION WORTH OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

SO IT'S PRETTY SPECIAL.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS NATIONAL ACADEMIC RECOGNITION FOR OKLAHOMA'S ONLY HBCU.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE ANNUAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS DAY WAS HELD AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON MONDAY.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR VICTIMS AND DISCUSS LEGISLATION THAT COULD IMPROVE CRIME RATES IN OKLAHOMA.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE OF THE CAPITOL WITH MORE.

JASON RICH.

CRIME VICTIMS ALSO ARE CALLING FOR THEIR RIGHTS TO BE ENFORCED AND NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN.

WHILE A CRIMINAL IS GOING THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND SERVING TIME.

AUGUST 16TH OF 1982.

I WAS THE VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME.

THAT'S FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRY INGMIRE SHARING HIS STORY AT THE ANNUAL CRIME VICTIMS DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

IT'S AN EVENT THAT HE RARELY MISSES.

I WAS ELECTED IN 96, MY FIRST SESSION 97, AND SINCE 1997, I'VE ONLY MISSED ONE OF THESE CEREMONIES.

INGMIRE FEELS IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE HIS STORY WITH OTHERS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT CRIME.

I NEVER BACK AWAY FROM TELLING MY STORY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HAVE NEVER BEEN A CRIME VICTIM OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

NONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CRIME VICTIMS.

SO WHEN I TELL THE STORY, IT I THINK IT ALERTS THEM TO THE REALITY THAT, WOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VICTIMS OF CRIME GET HELP.

JUST A WORD OF CAUTION.

TERRY INGMIRE STORY IS HARROWING.

OPEN UP THE DOOR.

I TAKE A 20 GAUGE SHOTGUN BLAST TO THE UPPER ABDOMEN.

I'M THINKING I'M IN TROUBLE.

I KNOW WHERE MY HELP IS.

I PUSHED THE DOOR, RAN TOWARDS THE BEDROOM.

THE SECOND SHOT CAME THROUGH AND I DIDN'T KNOW I'D BEEN HIT THE SECOND TIME.

BLEW MY LEFT WRIST OFF.

THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE HAND ON WAS SOME SKIN, FOUR TENDONS AND ONE ARTERY.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I'D BEEN SHOT.

THE EVENT ALSO FEATURED A POEM WRITTEN BY TANYA BYERS, WHO IS A SURVIVOR OF CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT AND LOST HER DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER TO A NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE CAUSED BY A CAR CRASH.

THE TITLE IS CALLED THE LIGHT WE CARRY.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE WORLD WENT QUIET AND THE DARK FELT FAR TOO DEEP.

I CARRIED QUESTIONS IN MY MIND AND PROMISES I HAD TO KEEP.

IN 2017, I LOST MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER TO A NEGLIGENT CAR CRASH, AND I JUST CONTINUED TO WRITE.

I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME THAT I HAVE A WAY OF PUTTING INTO WORDS WHAT THEY'RE THINKING OR FEELING, AND I FEEL THAT IT WAS A GIFT.

MY WRITING IS A GIFT, AND I WOULD BE DOING A DISSERVICE IF I DIDN'T SHARE IT FOR FOR OTHER VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS.

BYERS SIMPLY WANTS CRIME VICTIMS TO KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

IF I CAN HELP ONE VICTIM, ONE SURVIVOR WITH THE WORDS, THEN IT'S WORTH IT.

THE LATEST CRIME STATISTICS SHOW THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IN OKLAHOMA IS CERTAINLY NOT ALONE WHEN IT COMES TO FALLING VICTIM TO A VIOLENT CRIME.

THE FBI SAYS OKLAHOMA'S VIOLENT CRIME RATE IN 2024 TOPPED OUT AT 423 CRIMES PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

THAT'S NEARLY 18% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AT 359 VIOLENT CRIMES COMMITTED PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

IT PLACES OKLAHOMA AS THE 13TH HIGHEST FOR VIOLENT CRIME IN THE NATION.

THAT LEVEL OF VIOLENT CRIME IN OKLAHOMA MEANS VICTIMS NEED SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR THEIR RIGHTS.

CRIME VICTIMS DO HAVE RIGHTS IN OKLAHOMA, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ALSO HAVE RIGHTS.

IF.

IF YOU'RE A VICTIM OF CRIME, THEN UNDER THE OKLAHOMA CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS ACT, THERE ARE SPECIFIC RIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE, AND IT'S UPON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT MAY BE TAKEN AN INCIDENT REPORT ON THE WORST DAY THAT YOU'VE PROBABLY EVER HAD IN YOUR LIFE.

IT'S UPON THEM TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS.

OKLAHOMA VOTERS APPROVED MARSY'S LAW AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN 2018.

IT PROVIDES THAT THE RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS A SUSPECT OF A CRIME GOING THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT MARSY'S LAW IS THE START OF A VICTIMS RIGHTS MOVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THAT VICTIMS HAVE ENFORCEABLE RIGHTS, THAT ARE ACTIONABLE, THAT CAN CARRY OVER, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE.

EVEN BEFORE MARSY'S LAW, THERE WERE SOME SERVICES OFFERED TO CRIME VICTIMS.

IN FACT, IT HELPED TERRY INGMIRE AS HE WAS RECOVERING FROM THE GUNSHOT WOUNDS THROUGH THE CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND.

I WAS ABLE TO BE AWARDED HELP PAYING OFF WHAT MY MY INSURANCE COMPANY DIDN'T PAY WHILE OFF FROM WORK.

I DIDN'T RECEIVE PAY, SO THEY ALLOWED OKAY, PAY FOR LOST WAGES.

TANYA BYERS SAYS THE STATE HAS BEEN IMPROVING WHEN IT COMES TO VICTIMS RIGHTS.

I'VE BEEN IN THE VICTIM SERVICES.

I'VE WORKED BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND THEN WITH MY POETRY HAVE STAYED INVOLVED.

IT HAS COME A LONG WAY.

AS TERRY INGMIRE SAID, IT'S NOT.

I DON'T THINK IT'LL EVER BE 100%, BUT OKLAHOMA HAS DEFINITELY COME A LONG WAY THAN WHAT IT WAS THAT THAT I SAW SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THE CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS CEREMONY AT THE CAPITOL IS PART OF THE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK OBSERVANCES HERE IN OKLAHOMA, GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE TO REFLECT, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED TO STOP AND REFLECT ON THE GOOD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THINK THROUGH THE IDEAS ABOUT WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE AND THE PROGRESS WE STILL NEED TO MAKE.

MOYER ADDS THAT CRIME VICTIMS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS THEY HAVE PROTECTED RIGHTS, TOO.

THAT STARTS WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT REPORT THROUGH PROSECUTION.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR EVERY SINGLE STATE ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS AND HAS INTERSECTIONALITY WITH CRIME VICTIMS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VICTIMS RIGHTS ACT IS UPHELD.

THIS WEEK, THERE WERE REMINDERS LIKE THE SPECIAL PURPLE LIGHTING OF OKLAHOMA CITY, SKYDANCE BRIDGE AND THE MYRIAD GARDENS KEEPING CRIME VICTIMS TOP OF MIND.

SOMETHING THAT TERRY INGMIRE APPRECIATES.

IT'S BEEN 44 YEARS IS SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT EVERY DAY, AND IT'S SOMETHING I TRY TO PASS ALONG TO THE LEGISLATORS THAT CRIME VICTIMS, NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS WEEK MEAN SOMETHING.

CRIME VICTIMS DAY AT THE CAPITOL EVEN MEANS MORE.

AT MONDAY'S CEREMONY, TWO ADVOCATES WERE ALSO RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO SECURE THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS AND TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO RECOVER.

RICH.

JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL ACCELERATE APPROVAL OF CERTAIN KINDS OF PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS, WHICH HAVE SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN TREATING PTSD AND DEPRESSION, PARTICULARLY AMONG COMBAT VETERANS.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

ARE THEY SAFE, AND HOW SOON WILL THEY BE AVAILABLE TO OKLAHOMA VETERANS SEEKING HELP?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN KUDO.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

IT WAS VERY HUMBLING TO HEAR ABOUT MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY WAS FACING, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, AND WE'RE SEEING WHETHER IT'S PTSD, DEPRESSION, OR ANXIETY, TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE ON A WHOLE RANGE OF COMMUNITIES.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT DREW ME TO THIS IDEA.

AS FAR AS PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY, WHERE WE LIVE IN A VERY UNCONVENTIONAL TIME THAT REQUIRES UNCONVENTIONAL SOLUTIONS.

LATELY, PROBABLY MORE IN THE PAST FIVE OR PLUS YEARS OR SO, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING IBOGAINE, LARGE DOSES OF IBOGAINE UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MENTAL HEALTH REASONS.

EVEN WITHIN MY OWN HEALING JOURNEY, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS VETERANS, WE KNOW WHEN WE GO TO GET CERTAIN HELP, IT'S JUST, LET'S JUST THROW PILLS AT YOU, RIGHT?

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO WIN.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOUR ENGINE'S LOW ON OIL.

AND INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE OIL IN IT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO POUR IT ON TOP AND SEE WHERE IT COMES IN.

THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

IT SEEMS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT IN 2026, RACIST LANGUAGE WOULD STILL EXIST IN HISTORICAL OKLAHOMA CITY DOCUMENTS, BUT IT DOES.

AND NOW AN OU GRADUATE STUDENT AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS ARE HELPING CITY OFFICIALS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN, STEVE.

RICH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAND DOCUMENTS THAT DATE BACK TO THE 1890S.

IT'S QUITE A PARTNERSHIP THAT RECENTLY GOT QUITE A BOOST.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF OUR PLAT DOCUMENTS.

THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.

WILLIAM WILSON IS A FIRST YEAR UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRAD STUDENT WHO'S PURSUING DUAL MASTER'S DEGREES IN CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE RED IS WHERE THE LANGUAGE HAS BEEN FOUND THUS FAR.

THE GREEN.

THERE IS NO LANGUAGE IN IT, AND THEN BLUE IS FURTHER REVIEW.

SO FURTHER REVIEW IS KIND OF.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SITUATIONS WHERE THE SCANS WERE NOT READABLE.

WHAT WILSON AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS ARE TRYING TO DO IS IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE RACIST LANGUAGE, INCLUDING THE N WORD THAT CAN STILL BE FOUND IN MANY OLD HOUSING COVENANTS.

SOME OF THESE PLAQUES CAN BE FOUND ONLINE.

SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

PLAT DOCUMENTS.

WHEN YOU ARE BUILDING A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN THE CITY, SAY, I WANT TO CREATE 100 HOMES AT THE EDGE OF NORMAN.

WITH THE CITY, I WOULD HAVE TO FILE A DOCUMENT.

IT'S BASICALLY A MAP SHOWING WHAT I'M BUILDING HERE, AND IT'S JUST A MAP OF HOW ALL THE DIFFERENT LAND IS GOING TO GET PARCELED OUT.

AND THEN ON THAT, I CAN ACTUALLY PUT DIFFERENT COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS FOR MY NEW NEIGHBORHOOD.

SAY, I DON'T WANT YOU TO OWN ANY LIVESTOCK ALL THE HOMES HAVE TO BE PERMANENT BUILT.

YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY MOBILE HOMES OR ANY TEMPORARY HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

PRE-CIVIL RIGHTS ERA.

YOU COULD ACTUALLY PUT RACIAL RACIAL COVENANTS ON THAT.

SO YOU COULD EXPLICITLY SAY THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SHALL NOT BE INHABITED BY ANYBODY OTHER THAN, SAY, THE CAUCASIAN RACE, THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968 MADE THAT KIND OF RACIST, TOXIC GOBBLEDYGOOK ILLEGAL.

BUT MANY PLATS AND COVENANTS IN OKLAHOMA CITY WERE NEVER CHANGED.

GETTING RID OF THEM IS TEDIOUS AND TAKES TIME.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT PLAYS INTO THAT IS THE FACT THAT, SPANNING OVER 600MI, OKLAHOMA CITY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN AMERICA.

DOCTOR CHARLES WARNKEN IS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF REGIONAL AND CITY PLANNING AT OU.

HE'S ONE OF THE OU FACULTY MEMBERS WHO ARE OVERSEEING THE PROJECT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THESE RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS HAVE BEEN FOUND EVERYWHERE FROM EAST COAST TO WEST COAST, DOCTOR WARNKEN SAYS GOVERNOR STITT DESERVES CREDIT FOR SIGNING SENATE BILL 1617.

TWO YEARS AGO, THAT ALLOWED MUNICIPALITIES IN OKLAHOMA TO DO WHAT OKLAHOMA CITY RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO DO.

BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REALTORS THAT JUST BECAME AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.

AND OFTEN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRANSACTIONS OF PROPERTY, FIND OUT THAT THESE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS EXIST.

AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE THE COALESCENCE OF DIFFERENT INTEREST GROUPS THAT REALLY COME TOGETHER TO, TO SPONSOR THIS, HOW DO YOU WIPE THEM OUT?

YOU CROSS THEM OUT, YOU PUT WHITE OUT ON IT.

BASICALLY, THEY ARE DECLARED NULL AND VOID.

AND THEN THE, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAS THE RIGHT TO JUST CROSS OUT, LITERALLY EX OUT THAT HISTORICAL LANGUAGE.

YOU WERE THE ONE THAT REACHED OUT TO YOU.

YES, YES, EMMA.

WINOOSKI IS SPECIAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLIANCE OFFICER FOR OKLAHOMA CITY.

SHE SAYS THE CITY OF EDMOND WAS THE FIRST MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE TO DO THIS.

OTHER BIG CITIES NATIONWIDE THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OR HAVE ALREADY DONEN MINNESOTA AND WASHINGTON, D.C.

AMENDING THESE.

AND SO THEY'VE BEEN GOOD PARTNERS FOR US.

ON SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH AT THE DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY RON NORICK LIBRARY, MORE THAN 75 VOLUNTEERS SHOWED UP TO HELP WILLIAM AND OTHER OU VOLUNTEERS WORK ON IDENTIFYING RACIST LANGUAGE IN OLD OKLAHOMA CITY PLATS AND COVENANTS, WHICH IS THREE TIMES MORE VOLUNTEERS THAN WERE EXPECTED.

YES, I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE EVENT AS WELL AND SAT IN AND, YOU KNOW, TALK TO FOLKS.

DOCTOR AMBER WILEY IS A 1999 EDMOND SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO HAS DEGREES FROM YALE, VIRGINIA, AND GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY'S.

SHE DIRECTS OU'S INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY COMMUNITIES.

THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS IN PROVIDING SUPPORT, BUT THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.

AND SO PART OF WHAT WE DO AS A CENTER IS THE KIND OF MATCHMAKING WORK WITH FACULTY AND STUDENTS.

JONATHAN KERBER IS A PUTNAM CITY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND OU FRESHMAN WHO'S VOLUNTEERING ON THE PROJECT.

HE SAYS THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EYE OPENING.

JUST GOING OUT THERE AND SEEING IT AND KIND OF LIKE WILLIAM WAS SAYING, SEEING HOW BLUNT A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE IS AND HOW IT'S JUST RIGHT THERE.

I MEAN, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE I GREW UP, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THAT JUST HAVE THIS LANGUAGE AND YOU'RE LIKE, THAT'S CRAZY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WILD TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW, YOU KNOW, PLACES CAN HAVE THAT.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WERE COMPLETELY JUST WITHIN THEIR OWN WORLD AND DIDN'T ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW, IT DIDN'T HAVE THE CONTEXT TO, TO, TO THINK PROPERLY ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S GOOD THAT WE'VE MOVED ON PAST THIS.

PROFESSOR WILEY JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE IN OKLAHOMA CITY TWO MONTHS AGO.

SHE SAYS HER NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN TAGGED FOR RACIST HOUSING PLATS.

ISN'T THAT IRONIC?

IT IS.

AND I'VE TOLD MY COLLEAGUES HERE IT FEELS VERY SUBVERSIVE TO LAY MY HEAD DOWN AT NIGHT KNOWING I'M NOT REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

I MEAN, I AM I FEEL LIKE I AM IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS FIRST IMAGINED, NO, THEY DIDN'T EXPECT ME.

DID NOT WANT ME TO BE THERE.

THIS ISN'T GOOD HISTORY.

LIKE, THIS ISN'T GOOD STUFF TO BE HAVING IN OUR DOCUMENTATION.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE SCOPE OF HOW FAR THESE THINGS WENT, AND TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT GETTING THEM OFF OF THE BOOKS.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE ERASING THAT THESE THINGS EVER HAPPEN, BUT WE DO.

IF IT'S NO LONGER ENFORCEABLE, IT SERVES NO PURPOSE IN THAT DOCUMENT, OKLAHOMA CITY LEADERS WERE SO BLOWN AWAY BY THE VOLUNTEER TURNOUT AT THAT MARCH 28TH EVENT.

THEY AND OU ARE BRAINSTORMING TO FIND MORE WAYS THE PUBLIC CAN HELP GET THIS DONE.

RICH.

STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AN IMPRESSIVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT TO REPORT CONCERNING OKLAHOMA'S ONLY HISTORICAL BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY.

THE REHABILITATION COUNSELING PROGRAM AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN RANKED IN THE TOP TEN NATIONWIDE BY U.S.

NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, AND IT IS NUMBER ONE AMONG ALL HBCU INSTITUTIONS.

DOCTOR COREY MOORE IS THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM.

WE SEE THIS PROGRAM AS A PROGRAM OF DISTINCTION THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 25 YEARS, AND IT HAS HAD TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING OUR STUDENTS, PREPARING OUR STUDENTS TO GO OUT AND AND PROVIDE THE MOST CUTTING EDGE, BEST PRACTICE BASED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES AND OTHER DISABILITIES.

LANGSTON'S REHABILITATION COUNSELING PROGRAM IS CELEBRATING ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.

THE MAN WHO BUILT OETA INTO THE NATIONALLY RESPECTED PUBLIC TELEVISION NETWORK THAT IT IS TODAY WAS LAID TO REST ON THURSDAY.

ON WEDNESDAY, A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR BOB ALLEN WAS HELD AT THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER.

TAELYR JACKSON ATTENDED AND JOINS US NOW.

TAELYR.

YEAH, RICH, IT REALLY WAS A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE THAT HONORED BOB ALLEN'S LIFE AND HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

ONE THING THAT WAS CLEAR THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SERVICE IS THAT ALLEN TRULY LOVED OETA.

OKLAHOMANS GATHERED THIS WEEK TO PAY THEIR LAST RESPECTS TO BOB ALLEN.

MR.

OETA, IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE'RE HERE TOGETHER TODAY TO REMEMBER BOB AND THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER.

THIS IS WHERE WE COLLECT THE STORIES OF OKLAHOMA, ITS LEADERS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FACED CHALLENGES AND OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES, THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN THE OPPORTUNITIES AND SEIZED WHAT THEY COULD TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

WRITING HISTORY AS THEY GO.

BOB WAS A HISTORIC CHARACTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

LONGTIME OKLAHOMA HISTORIAN BOB BLACKBURN WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF ALLEN'S.

BLACKBURN SHARED THAT ALLEN, WHO WAS BATTLING A LONG TERM ILLNESS, HAD PERSONALLY ASKED HIM TO SPEAK AT HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE.

HE SAID, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE PART OF MY CEREMONY OF LIFE AND OF COURSE, WIPED AWAY THE TEARS.

AND I SAID, OF COURSE, BOB, ANYTHING YOU WANT, I'M GOING TO DO.

HE SAID, GOOD BECAUSE HE HANDED ME THE PROGRAM WITH MY NAME ON IT.

HE HAD PLANNED EVERYTHING FOR THIS, AND AS THE FAMILY KNOWS, THEY'VE.

THEY KNOW ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO PLAN AHEAD, TO HAVE A VISION, TO BE A SHOWMAN, TO MAKE THINGS TOUCHING.

ALLEN'S VISION AND ABILITY TO PLAN IS PART OF THE REASON OETA HAS REMAINED ONE OF THE TOP PUBLIC BROADCAST STATIONS IN THE NATION.

BOB CREATED THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE THAT'S FUNDED BY BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS.

WE RELY ON DONORS FOR PROGRAMING AND OTHER THINGS AT OETA, AND THE STATE PROVIDES ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL FUNDING.

AND SO HIS VISION OF THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS VERY UNIQUE.

AND IT HELPS US BROADCAST EVERYTHING THAT WE DO FOR OKLAHOMANS.

ALLEN, ALONGSIDE OETA STATION MANAGER BILL THRASH, CREATED CAPTIVATING CONTENT FOR OKLAHOMA VIEWERS.

NEW IDEAS CREATE NEW REALITIES.

ALL OF THOSE ORIGINAL PROGRAMMINGS, ALL OF THAT ORIGINAL PROGRAMING IN OETA.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, THE OKLAHOMA PASSAGE, THE MOVIE CLUB, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

HE WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR SYNDICATING THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW TO MORE THAN 200 PBS STATIONS IN 1987.

AND HE WAS NO STRANGER TO GETTING ON CAMERA FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

UNLESS WE CAN RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION LINE, HERE HE IS ON A TRANSMITTER, RAISING FUNDS TO REPLACE A CABLE CONNECTOR THAT WAS DESTROYED DURING A WINDSTORM.

IT WAS MY HONOR, AND STILL IS MY HONOR TO BE PART OF THE OETA FAMILY.

GWEN FALCONER LIPPERT WAS A PART OF LIVE FUNDRAISING EVENTS LIKE FESTIVAL 601,295.

HOW ABOUT IT?

AND THE HOLIDAY AUCTION?

IT'S HOLIDAY AUCTION TIME, SO COME JOIN THE FUN.

SHE SAYS ALLEN'S FUNDRAISING INSPIRED OTHER PBS STATIONS, BUT TO THIS DAY, PEOPLE LOVE OETA SO MUCH THAT I CAN GO ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND PEOPLE WILL THINK THEY KNOW ME, AND THEN THEY'LL GO, OH, YOU'RE THAT GIRL ON OETA.

AND I ALWAYS USED TO KIND OF REAR BACK THINKING, OH MY GOODNESS, I WASTED YOUR TIME.

AND THEY WOULD NOT SAY.

THEY WOULD SAY, THANK YOU FOR MAKING PUBLIC TELEVISION WHAT IT IS.

AND IT ALL GOES BACK TO BOB ALLEN.

HE HAD A DREAM.

HE HAD A VISION.

HE HAD A PLAN.

AND OTHER PBS STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TOOK LESSONS FROM HIM ON HOW TO CONDUCT A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN.

HE WAS GENIUS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS, OETA LIVE FUNDRAISING PLEDGE FESTIVAL WAS BROUGHT BACK THIS YEAR, AND LIPPERT SAYS OETA SUPPORTERS ARE PLEASED.

PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED THAT FUNDRAISING IS BACK.

THAT FESTIVAL, LOCAL FESTIVAL, BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY OWN THEIR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

THOSE WHO WORKED WITH BOB ALLEN ADMIRED HIS THOUGHTFULNESS TOWARDS HIS EMPLOYEES, BUT HE ALSO WORKED VERY HARD FOR US AS EMPLOYEES.

AND SO I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT HE WAS ALWAYS KIND OF CARING ABOUT US AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD WHAT WE NEEDED.

AND HE ALSO MADE SURE THAT OUR OUR SALARIES WERE COMPETITIVE.

I THINK THAT PROBABLY WHAT I AND MOST PEOPLE REFLECT ABOUT IS HIS SMILE, HIS ENTHUSIASM, AND JUST A REALLY DOWN TO EARTH HUMAN BEING.

AND YOU COULD TELL HIS PASSION FOR OETA EVERY DAY.

ALLEN'S PEERS ALSO SAY HE HAD A SPECIAL WAY OF MAKING PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY MATTERED.

SO I WAS IN THE PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS, AND THEN A NEWS POSITION CAME AVAILABLE.

AND BOB ALLEN, MY BOSSES, LET ME KNOW THAT BOB ALLEN SUGGESTED THAT THEY OFFER ME THE JOB.

AND I WAS LIKE, WOW.

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE I DIDN'T THINK I WAS, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY IMPORTANT OR WHATEVER.

BLACKBURN SHARED WITH THE CROWD THAT ALTHOUGH ALLEN KNEW HIS TIME WAS COMING TO AN END, HE REMAINED POSITIVE AS HE REFLECTED BACK ON HIS LIFE.

AND HE SAID, DON'T BE SAD.

HE SAYS, I'M NOT SAD.

I'VE LIVED A GOOD LIFE.

I'M SURROUNDED BY A GREAT FAMILY.

WE'RE UNIFIED.

WE LOVE EACH OTHER.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LIFE.

HAD A GREAT MARRIAGE TO A WONDERFUL WOMAN AND HE SAID, I'M READY.

ON THURSDAY, THE FAMILY HELD A GRAVESIDE CEREMONY AT EL RENO CEMETERY IN CANADIAN COUNTY, WHERE MR.

OETA WAS LAID TO REST.

AS WE DO EACH WEEK DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SEAN ASHLEY JOINING US NOW FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE THE CAPITOL.

AND SEAN, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEGUN TO VETO SOME BILLS.

TAKE US THROUGH THAT.

GOVERNOR STITT HAS VETOED THREE BILLS THUS FAR.

ON MONDAY, HE VETOED HOUSE BILL 3006.

THIS BILL WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE SUNSET DATE FOR THE OKLAHOMA ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INDIAN EDUCATION UNTIL JULY 1ST OF 2031, STITT SAID.

THE COUNCIL HAS NOT MET REGULARLY AND THAT ITS DUTIES OVERLAP THOSE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION OFFICE.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND, IN THE LEGISLATURE, THINGS CAN NEVER BE EASY.

THERE'S ANOTHER BILL, HOUSE BILL 3302, THAT ACTUALLY REMOVES THAT COUNCIL FROM SUNSET REVIEW AND WOULD MAKE IT A PERMANENT, ONGOING COUNCIL.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT BILL BEFORE WE KNOW THE TRUE FATE OF THE COUNCIL.

ON WEDNESDAY, STITT VETOED TWO OTHER BILLS, BOTH OF WHICH INVOLVED FEES.

HOUSE BILL 4032 INCREASED THE FEE.

OPERATORS OF NON-COAL MINE OPERATIONS PAY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MINES, AND HE ALSO VETOED SENATE BILL 2074, WHICH MAKES CHANGES TO THE WAY PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY PHARMACIES FOR THE PRESCRIPTIONS THAT THEY FILL.

THAT BILL ALSO CONTAINED A FEE, AND GOVERNOR STITT INDICATED THAT THAT FEE WOULD LEAD TO INCREASED COSTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, LARGER BUSINESSES AND THE OKLAHOMA HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY.

SEAN, THERE'S TALK OF HAVING A SPECIAL ELECTION ON AUGUST 25TH.

WHAT WOULD BE ON THE BALLOT AND WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING TWO PROPOSED STATE QUESTIONS ON THE AUGUST 25TH PRIMARY RUNOFF BALLOT.

ONE OF THOSE STATE QUESTIONS WOULD REMOVE MEDICAID EXPANSION FROM THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND PUT IT IN STATE STATUTE, GIVING LAWMAKERS GREATER LATITUDE OVER WHAT THEY COULD DO IN TERMS OF OF MEDICAID EXPANSION.

THE OTHER PROPOSAL WOULD CHANGE THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE.

THE BILL HAS PASSED THE HOUSE AND IS NOW AWAITING CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.

IT WAS TO BE CONSIDERED ON THURSDAY.

HOWEVER, IT WAS LAID OVER AND NOT TAKEN UP A SPORTS BETTING BILL, LIVE OR DEAD, FOR THIS SESSION.

WELL, WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE JUST YET.

ON WEDNESDAY, HOUSE BILL 1047 FAILED IN THE SENATE ON A 21 TO 27 VOTE.

THE BILL ALLOWS NATIVE AMERICAN GAMING TRIBES TO OPERATE SPORTS BETTING, BOTH IN PERSON AND ELECTRONICALLY.

THE STATE WOULD RECEIVE A FEE FROM THOSE OPERATIONS, WHICH WOULD BE USED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AS WELL AS HIGHER EDUCATION.

SENATOR BILL COLEMAN, THE AUTHOR OF THE MEASURE, HELD THE BILL ON WHAT'S CALLED A NOTICE TO RECONSIDER, WHICH GIVES HIM THREE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO ASK SENATORS TO VOTE ON THE BILL AGAIN.

HE DID NOT EXERCISE THAT NOTICE ON THURSDAY, SO HE HAS MONDAY AND TUESDAY TO BRING UP THE MEASURE AGAIN.

IF IT PASSES, IT WOULD GO TO THE HOUSE, BUT IF IT DOES NOT PASS, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND SEAN, WHAT IS THIS DEADLINE THAT LAWMAKERS ARE FACING THIS WEEK?

THAT'S RIGHT.

ON THURSDAY, LAWMAKERS HAD TO HEAR BILLS FROM THE OPPOSITE CHAMBER IN COMMITTEE HOUSE BILLS IN SENATE COMMITTEES AND SENATE BILLS IN HOUSE COMMITTEES.

THOSE BILLS THAT FAILED TO TO MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE WILL NOT GO TO THE OPPOSITE CHAMBER FLOOR, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BILLS WILL BE CUT DOWN AS WE ENTER THOSE FINAL FEW DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FINALLY, SEAN SONNY DIED, USUALLY AT THE END OF MAY, BUT COULD IT BE EARLIER THIS YEAR?

WELL, LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO GET OUT EARLIER.

THE QUESTION IS EXACTLY HOW MUCH EARLIER?

THE HOUSE SEEMS TO WANT TO MOVE AT A MORE RAPID PACE THAN THE SENATE, SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THINGS COME TOGETHER IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEK OR SO.

OKAY.

VERY GOOD.

SEAN ASHLEY, PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL.

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

WELL, THE OFFICIAL DATE FOR THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROUTE 66 IS NOVEMBER 11TH.

BUT THE REVITALIZATION AND CELEBRATION OF THE MOTHER ROAD IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

AND THAT'S DUE IN LARGE PART TO LEGISLATION PASSED IN 2022 THAT PROVIDES NON-MATCHING GRANT MONEY TO OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES SEEKING TO IMPROVE THEIR STRETCH OF ROUTE 66 IN TIME FOR THE CENTENNIAL.

THE LAW DESIGNATES THAT $6.6 MILLION IN SALES TAX REVENUE BE AWARDED EACH YEAR FOR ROUTE 66 ENHANCEMENTS.

ON TUESDAY, STAKEHOLDERS GATHERED AT THE CAPITOL TO CELEBRATE.

WE'RE THROWING A 100 YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY ALL YEAR LONG.

NOVEMBER 11TH IS THE OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY OF ROUTE 66, BUT WE'VE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON IN ONE OF THESE ROUTE 66 TOWNS.

I FEEL LIKE ALMOST EVERY DAY.

AND SOME OF THE STATISTICS AND THE DATA THAT WE'RE STARTING TO GET IN OF, YOU KNOW, RECORD MONTHS, RECORD WEEKENDS, YOU KNOW, NO VACANCY AT ROADSIDE ROUTE 66 MOTELS.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANTED, NOT JUST BLOWING OUT THE CANDLES ON A BIRTHDAY CAKE, BUT WE WANTED ALL OF THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO FEEL THE BENEFIT WITH INCREASED SALES TAX FOR ALL OF THESE TOWNS.

WELL, MAY 30TH IS GOING TO BE A BIG DAY.

THAT'S THE DAY THAT THE CITY OF TULSA IS GOING TO TRY TO BREAK A WORLD RECORD FOR THE MOST CLASSIC CARS THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.

IF YOU'VE GOT A CLASSIC CAR AND CLASSIC IS 1996 OR OLDER, WHICH HURTS MY HEART A LITTLE, BUT YOU COULD COME UP, REGISTER AND THEN HELP BREAK THAT GUINNESS RECORD.

AFTER THAT, YOU CAN CRUISE ROUTE 66 THROUGH THE MIDPOINT CORRIDOR TO OKLAHOMA CITY.

THERE'S A BIG PARTY HAPPENING IN SCISSORTAIL PARK THAT EVENING.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PINNELL SAYS THERE ARE CURRENTLY $20 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS AND IMPROVEMENTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN OKLAHOMA, AND ONE OF THEM RECEIVED ITS OFFICIAL DEDICATION AT A CEREMONY IN WELLSTON ON THURSDAY.

IT'S A GIANT, COLORFUL VERSION OF A PUSHPIN, THE KIND YOU PRESS INTO A MAP TO SAY, HERE'S MY LOCATION.

LOCATED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF THE TURNER TURNPIKE AND ROUTE 66, IT IS THE WORK OF JOSEPH O'CONNELL'S CREATIVE MACHINES, AND IT'S APTLY TITLED YOU ARE HERE.

THE GOAL WAS NEVER SIMPLY JUST TO PUT ARTWORK ALONG THE MOTHER ROAD AT THIS MIDPOINT, BUT IT WAS TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT REFLECTS THE PAST, RESONATES IN THE PRESENT, AND ENDURES INTO THE FUTURE.

AT BEST, PUBLIC ART DOES MORE THAN BEAUTIFY A SPACE.

IT CREATES CONNECTION.

IT INVITES PEOPLE TO PAUSE, TO REFLECT AND SEE THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR SELVES WITHIN A RENEWED PERSPECTIVE.

AND PART OF THURSDAY'S CEREMONY INCLUDED CUTTING THE RIBBON ON A BRAND NEW HIGHWAY BRIDGE AS WELL.

LIKE MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND NATION, OKLAHOMA CITY IS CHOOSING TO HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON ON NEW DATA CENTERS.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

DURING THIS WEEK CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR OKLAHOMA CITY, A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER APPLICATIONS WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.

THE MORATORIUM IS SET UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, OR UNTIL CITY LEADERS HAVE MADE POSSIBLE CHANGES TO CITY ORDINANCES.

THEY WANTED THE TEMPORARY REPRIEVE TO STUDY THE IMPACT MAJOR DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENTS HAVE ON CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES.

SOME OF THAT WORK WAS ALREADY UNDERWAY BEFORE THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PAUSE IN DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT.

THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO EXPECTS TO CARVE OUT EXEMPTIONS TO THE MORATORIUM FOR SMALLER, CLOSED SYSTEM DATA CENTERS, LIKE THOSE FOUND ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

STILLWATER BASED USA RARE EARTH IS SET TO ACQUIRE THE CERRO VERDE GROUP IN BRAZIL.

THE TRANSACTION IS ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH APPROXIMATELY $2.8 BILLION.

SARA VERDE OWNS A RARE EARTH MINE AND PROCESSING PLANT, USA RARE EARTH WILL HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO THE NECESSARY RARE EARTH ELEMENTS TO MAKE ITS SPECIALIZED MAGNETS USED IN ALL KINDS OF DEVICES.

THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE SOMETIME IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, OKLAHOMA CITY BASED BANK FIRST CORPORATION REPORTS NET INCOME OF $63 MILLION.

THAT TOPS THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2020 PROFIT OF $56.1 MILLION.

NET INTEREST INCOME ALSO INCREASED FOR THE BANK, COMING IN AT $127.6 MILLION, COMPARED TO $115.9 MILLION DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.

BANK FIRST LEADERS SAY STRONG DEPOSIT GROWTH, MARGIN EXPANSION AND INCREASES IN NON-INTEREST INCOME HELPED PUSH NET INCOME HIGHER.

TULSA BASED ONE OAKS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE DECLARED A QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $1.07 A SHARE, WHICH IS UNCHANGED FROM LAST QUARTER.

INVESTORS WILL NEED TO HAVE THE STOCK IN THEIR PORTFOLIO BY MAY 4TH TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT ON MAY 15TH.

ONE OAK HAS DECLARED QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS TOTALING $4.28 PER SHARE OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THE ORGANIZATION TECH BREAKTHROUGH HAS BESTOWED ONE OF ITS RETAIL TECH BREAKTHROUGH AWARDS TO OKLAHOMA CITY BASED PAYCOM.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW PAYCOM HAS RECEIVED THE OVERALL WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR FOR HELPING RETAIL COMPANIES MANAGE HR ISSUES THROUGH ITS SOFTWARE.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON, THANKS.

IBOGAINE IS A PSYCHEDELIC EXTRACT FROM THE ROOT OF AN AFRICAN PLANT THAT HAS SHOWN PROMISE IN TREATING THE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD AND DEPRESSION.

LAST SATURDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL HASTEN APPROVAL OF IBOGAINE AND OTHER PSYCHEDELICS TO TREAT MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

ARE THEY SAFE?

AND WHEN WILL THEY BE AVAILABLE?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

RICH, THIS FEDERAL MEASURE PROVIDES $50 MILLION FOR STATE LEVEL RESEARCH INTO USE OF A PSYCHEDELIC DRUG, IBOGAINE.

AND THE BILL IS IN PLAY AT THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

THE FIRST GUEST I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE IS ONE OF THE BILL'S SPONSORS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL PAY.

DANIEL IS FROM WEST LAWTON.

ALSO WITH US IN THE STUDIO IS JOSE CINCO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WARRIORS FOR FREEDOM.

AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM IS JIMMY NGUYEN, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF PSYCHEDELIC PASSAGE.

EVERYONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.

AND THE FIRST THING THAT I SAID WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS AND, AND, AND JIMMY, THIS MAY BE FOR YOU.

WHAT IS IBOGAINE?

AM I EVEN SAYING IT CORRECTLY?

WELL, YOU ARE SAYING IT CORRECTLY.

THE COMMON PRONUNCIATION IS IBOGAINE, AND IBOGAINE IS A PSYCHEDELIC COMPOUND THAT IS, THAT HAS ITS ORIGINS IN AFRICA, PRIMARILY THE GABON REGION WITH.

COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE BWITI TRADITION.

AND SO I BEGAN HAS THIS COMPOUND IBOGA WITHIN IT.

AND THERE HAS BEEN MANY, YOU KNOW, YEARS OF CULTURAL USE AND LATELY PROBABLY MORE IN THE PAST FIVE OR PLUS YEARS OR SO, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING IBOGAINE, LARGE DOSES OF IBOGAINE UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MENTAL HEALTH REASONS.

I'VE READ SOME ARTICLES ON THIS, AND ONE OF THE DRUGS ALSO ARE THINGS LIKE MOLLY, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS ECSTASY BEING CONSIDERED.

YEAH, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PSYCHEDELIC COMPOUNDS THAT ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF CLINICAL TRIALS.

PRIMARILY YOU'RE SEEING MOLLY OR MDMA, LSD AND PSILOCYBIN.

AND THEN WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPOUNDS THAT ARE IN DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL, WHICH INCLUDES SEVERAL SYNTHETIC ANALOGS OF IBOGAINE AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU IN A MINUTE AND TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THIS.

BUT I WANT TO TURN TO REPRESENTATIVE PAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS STATE MEASURE.

NOW, AS WE SAID, THERE COULD BE MONEY ON THE TABLE FOR STATES UNDER THE FEDERAL MOVEMENT TO KIND OF FAST TRACK.

YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS BEFORE NOW.

TALK ABOUT YOUR WORK IN THIS AREA, REPRESENTATIVE.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS VERY CRITICAL TOPIC.

IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW.

AND SO I REPRESENT A CONSTITUENCY THAT'S IN LAWTON, FORT SILL.

WE ARE A MILITARY COMMUNITY THAT'S HOME FOR ME.

I GREW UP BORN AND RAISED IN LAWTON, AND MY PARENTS OWNED A DRY CLEANERS.

SO WHEN I WAS HELPING THEM AS A KID, I GOT TO MEET A LOT OF SOLDIERS WHO WERE STATIONED AT FORT SILL.

AND HEARING THEIR STORIES WAS VERY INSPIRING.

AND AS A CANDIDATE, I WAS FIRST RUNNING IN 2018.

IT WAS VERY HUMBLING TO HEAR ABOUT MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY WAS FACING, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, AND WE'RE SEEING WHETHER IT'S PTSD, DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY, TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE ON A WHOLE RANGE OF COMMUNITIES.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT DREW ME TO THIS IDEA AS FAR AS PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY, WHERE WE LIVE IN A VERY UNCONVENTIONAL TIME THAT REQUIRES UNCONVENTIONAL SOLUTIONS.

AND CERTAINLY, POST COVID, MENTAL HEALTH HAS BECOME A FOREFRONT POLICY ISSUE FOR LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND I CO-CHAIR THE MENTAL HEALTH CAUCUS AS WELL.

AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW WITH MENTAL HEALTH, AND LOOKING AT THE INITIAL SCIENCE AND RESEARCH WHEN IT COMES TO PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY, WHETHER THAT IS PSILOCYBIN OR IBOGAINE OR WHAT HAVE YOU, I THINK THERE'S POSSIBILITY.

AND I THINK AS POLICYMAKERS, WE SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY AND LOOK INTO THE RESEARCH AND CONDUCT THESE CLINICAL TRIALS.

SO I'M VERY PLEASED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER LAST WEEK AUTHORIZING $50 MILLION OF STATE LEVEL RESEARCH FUNDING FOR THOSE OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND CERTAINLY TEXAS, THEY'VE ALREADY GONE IN THIS DIRECTION.

I HOPE OKLAHOMA CAN BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.

NOW, I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS.

BUT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, DOES THIS NEW MEASURE SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP GIVE NEW HOPE TO YOUR EFFORTS TO SEE THIS HAPPEN IN OKLAHOMA?

YOU KNOW, MY OPINION, HOPE IS THE ANTICIPATION AND EXPECTATION OF SOMETHING GOOD WILL HAPPEN.

NOW, I THINK BECAUSE OF THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, BECAUSE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE ON THE TABLE.

IT DOES GIVE ME HOPE FROM MY CONSTITUENTS IN LAWTON-FORT SILL, FRANKLY, VETERANS ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH.

SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN, AS LAWMAKERS, MOVE FORWARD AND WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS MATTER.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW I'M GOING TO ZERO IN ON JOSE.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU ARE A VETERAN.

YES.

YES, MA'AM.

SO YOU HAVE A VERY PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT ALL THE TIME LATELY.

I SAY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, CAN WE BECOME NUMB TO IT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HELP?

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE BECOME NUMB TO IT.

WE HEAR THE 22 A DAY.

NOW, SOME MAY SAY THAT THOSE NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED, MAYBE 17 VETERANS COMMITTING SUICIDE, YOU KNOW, LOSING THEIR LIFE AT HOME VERSUS BEING IN COMBAT IS IS JUST STAGGERING.

AND THE MORE WE LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE CONDITIONED, WE'RE HEARING THAT.

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE CELEBRATING VETERANS.

BUT ARE WE REALLY, TRULY HELPING THEM MOVE THE NEEDLE TO HEAL THEMSELVES?

WELL, I THINK PEOPLE KIND OF GET INURED TO, TO CONSTANT INFORMATION.

AND IT IS EASY.

AND SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE TOO BIG OF A PROBLEM TO OVERTAKE.

NOW, BACK IN THE, I THINK 70S, NIXON HAD THE WAR ON DRUGS.

I THINK OF PSYCHEDELICS.

I THINK OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DOING DRUGS ILLICITLY.

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

IS IT WHY DID PEOPLE START TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY?

AND ARE YOU A PROPONENT OF USING THIS?

ABSOLUTELY.

I AM EVEN WITHIN MY OWN HEALING JOURNEY.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS VETERANS, WE KNOW WHEN WE GO TO GET CERTAIN HELP, IT'S JUST, LET'S JUST THROW PILLS AT YOU, RIGHT?

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO WIN.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOUR ENGINE'S LOW ON OIL.

AND INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE OIL IN IT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO POUR IT ON TOP AND SEE WHERE IT COMES IN.

EVERY SINGLE PERSON TO INCLUDE ON THIS PANEL IS DIFFERENT.

SO THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE OR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IS VERY DIFFERENT.

BUT AS WE HAVE FOUGHT OUR LIVES FOR FREEDOM, WE SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE OUR TREATMENT.

SO I AM A HUGE PROPONENT IN FINDING THESE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES IN A CONTROLLED THERAPEUTIC SETTING AND GETTING THAT HELP THAT VETERANS NEED.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU.

THE SETTING IS SO IMPORTANT.

I'VE HEARD IT CAN BE AN HOURS LONG, AND IN THE ARTICLE I READ THEY CALLED IT A TRIP.

SO I'M NOT USING THE WORD TRIP ON MY OWN.

AN HOURS LONG TRIP THAT NEEDS TO BE SUPERVISED.

YES.

SO IT'S NOT JUST POPPING A PILL.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROCEDURE.

NO.

AND HONESTLY, A LOT OF AMERICANS WE LOOK FOR IN ANY HEALTH CARE, WE LOOK FOR THAT MAGICAL PILL.

BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S THE SAME THING WITH ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES.

YES, I AM A PROPONENT FOR IT.

NO, NOT JUST TAKE IT AND START TRIPPING AT HOME, BUT BEING IN A SAFE SETTING WITH SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO HELP YOU WALK THROUGH THE STEPS TO FIND YOUR RECOVERY.

OKAY, JIMMY, I'VE HEARD THAT THIS CAN HELP SOMEONE FOR A YEAR.

JUST ONE TREATMENT CAN HELP SOMEONE FOR A YEAR, AND NOT JUST VETERANS WHO ARE BATTLING PTSD, BUT THOSE WHO ARE BATTLING DRUG ADDICTIONS AND OTHER KINDS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

IS THAT TRUE?

THAT ONE TREATMENT COULD LAST FOR A YEAR OR LONGER?

THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF APPLICABLE USES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF JUST WELLNESS IN GENERAL FOR INDIVIDUALS, THERE IS A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE, FOR SURE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF, OF APPLICATIONS THAT THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, RELEVANT HERE.

AND THERE IS THIS COMMON, YOU KNOW, STORY THAT I CAN HAVE ONE DOSE AND HAVE TEN YEARS OF THERAPY.

AND THOUGH THAT CAN SOUND VERY APPEALING AND I DO, I HAVE WORKED WITH INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE SEEN MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE THESE TYPES OF BREAKTHROUGHS.

WHAT WE SEE AND ACCORDING TO A RESEARCH PAPER, PSYCHEDELIC PERCEPTIONS IN 2021 BY RESEARCHER KATE CORRIGAN AND THEIR TEAM, IT'S JUST WIDELY KNOWN THAT THERAPEUTIC PSYCHEDELIC USE IS MORE EFFECTIVE WITH PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT QUICKLY, AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.

WHAT IS A SESSION LIKE?

WHAT HAPPENS IN A SESSION?

WELL, THERE ARE IN OUR SOCIETY THERE'S THREE COMMON MODULES HERE.

THERE'S THE PREPARATION.

WELL, FIRST, BEFORE THAT, THERE'S SCREENING AND INTAKE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE SUITABLE AND HAVE A SAFE PROFILE AND BACKGROUND TO ENGAGE IN THESE SUBSTANCES.

THERE'S THE PREPARATION PHASE, WHICH IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

ALL OF THE TOOLS AND SKILLS AND FRAMEWORKS, THE CONTENT THAT YOU WANT TO EXPLORE GOING INTO THE EXPERIENCE.

THERE'S THE ADMINISTRATION PERIOD WHERE YOU ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THE PSYCHEDELIC UNDER WITH IN-PERSON SUPPORT, AND THEN THE INTEGRATION PHASE, WHICH HAPPENS IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS AFTERWARDS, WHERE YOU ARE INTEGRATING THE EXPERIENCE INTO YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE, TURNING IT INTO APPLICABLE CHANGES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF POST TREATMENT THERAPY.

THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, REPRESENTATIVE PAY, I WANT TO TURN BACK TO YOU AND TALK ABOUT TEXAS.

FIRST OF ALL, ONE OF THE OBSTACLES FOR JUST THE GENERAL POPULACE I THINK WOULD BE COST.

I READ THE COST ME $5,000 AND UP FOR TREATMENT.

BUT IN TEXAS, THEY GOT THE 50 MILLION, BUT THEY COULDN'T THEY COULDN'T SECURE MATCHING FUNDS FROM A PRIVATE DRUG DEVELOPER.

DO THE STATES HAVE TO GET MATCHING FUNDS?

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR TEXAS, BUT BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE FDA WILL PROVIDE THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.

AND WHAT I WOULD SUBMIT IS THAT IN ADDITION TO COST, IT'S ALSO STIGMA WHERE, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S A LOT OF CONNOTATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO PSYCHEDELICS BECAUSE OF THE 1960S AND 1970S DURING THAT ERA.

AND I FACED TREMENDOUS OPPOSITION FROM SOME COLLEAGUES WHERE THE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE DOING HERE?

ARE WE JUST GIVING AWAY DRUGS FOR FREE?

AND NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLINICAL TRIALS IN VERY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE THESE STATISTICS OF PEOPLE TAKING THEIR LIVES CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

AND I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO ARE PERSONALLY STRUGGLING THROUGH WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

SO I THINK WHATEVER IT TAKES AS POLICY MAKERS, WE GOT TO GET IT DONE TO HELP THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRITICS OF USING PSILOCYBIN AND PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS FOR TREATMENT?

WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT THAT?

WHAT IS THEIR OPPOSITION TO IT?

THE MAIN OPPOSITION IS THAT THEY'RE COMPARING IT TO ANOTHER GATEWAY DRUG, THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE WORSENING THE CONDITIONS, MAKING THEM MORE ADDICTED IN THE LONG RUN.

BUT BASED ON THE INITIAL RESEARCH AND SCIENCE THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED, THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

AND WHAT I WOULD RESPOND TO THAT IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSING MATTERS CURRENTLY WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING.

AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT COMPASSION.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT APPROACH WHERE WE'RE RECOGNIZING REALITY.

AND I'VE ALSO BEEN A PROPONENT OF, JIMMY, YOU MENTIONED HARM REDUCTION EARLIER IN THE INTERVIEW, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT, SIMPLY TELLING SOMEONE WHO'S STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR WITH ADDICTION TO JUST SUCK IT UP.

THAT'S SIMPLY NUMBER ONE THAT IS SO INSENSITIVE TO WHERE THEY'RE AT IN LIFE.

AND NUMBER TWO, IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO WORK WITHOUT APPROACH.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS TYPE OF THERAPY AND THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY HERE.

AND I'M GLAD WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY'RE SEEING THIS FOR WHAT IT IS, WHICH IS A CHANCE TO SAVE LIVES.

JOSE, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

BUT I KIND OF WANT TO END WITH YOU BECAUSE THIS IS VERY PERSONAL FOR YOU.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY, BUT EVERYONE STATEWIDE IS SEEING THIS.

AND I BELIEVE WE CONNECT THROUGH OUR STRUGGLES AND MAYBE SOMEONE CAN HEAR WHAT YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY IS.

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET HELP?

IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO SHARE IT NOW, BUT I WAS VERY SELFISH IN MY RECOVERY, MY PTSD, MY DEPRESSION, ME ME ME ME ME.

WHAT I DIDN'T SEE IS THE EFFECTS THAT I WAS TAKING ON MY WIFE, MY CHILDREN, THOSE AROUND ME.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT PUSHED ME THROUGH FAITH AND THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT SOMETHING'S GOT TO CHANGE.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE TREATMENT IS, YOU HAVE TO WANT TO CHANGE INTERNALLY.

YOU HAVE TO SAY, WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW ISN'T WORKING, AND I NEED TO PERSONALLY CHANGE THAT RIGHT NOW IN ORDER TO CHANGE.

NOW, AGAIN, I WENT OFF INTO THE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE BECAUSE WHAT I WAS DOING AT THE TIME WAS NOT HELPING ME.

IT WAS MAKING ME ISOLATED, CAUSING ME TO BE A ZOMBIE AND JUST GOING THROUGH THE DAYS.

THE BIGGEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANYONE IS SIMPLY ASK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF TIMES, AND I'M GLAD PEOPLE LIKE REPRESENTATIVE PAYER HEAR THAT.

AND JIMMY, THEY JUST ASK LIKE, WE GENUINELY CARE WHAT'S GOING ON.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP?

BECAUSE A LOT OF VETERANS SAY, I'M FINE, LEAVE ME ALONE.

I'LL KIND OF DEAL WITH IT.

I'LL SUCK IT UP, I'LL PACK IT UP AND JUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU KEEP PACKING IT IN YOUR BACKPACK.

SOONER OR LATER IT'S GOING TO GET TOO HEAVY.

YOU'RE GOING TO FALL OVER.

SO REACH OUT TO THOSE VETERANS.

JUST ASK THEM A SIMPLE, HOW'S IT GOING?

HOW ARE YOU SLEEPING?

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR UP TO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS.

HOW COULD SOMEONE REACH OUT TO YOU?

WARRIORS, YOUR WARRIORS FOR FREEDOM, WARRIORS FOR FREEDOM.

WE'RE ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS UNDER WARRIORS FOR FREEDOM.

WE'RE LOCATED AT 4616 NORTHWESTERN.

YOU CAN COME CHECK OUT OUR PURPOSEFUL THRIFT.

THAT'S HOW WE HELP FUND THE VETERAN PROGRAM AND STUFF THAT WE DO.

BUT WE'RE FIGHTING TO END VETERAN SUICIDE.

WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THOSE THAT FEEL THAT THEY'RE COMPLETELY LEFT OUT, THAT THEY'RE ISOLATED.

WE WANT TO BRING YOU BACK INTO COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU.

WE WANT YOU TO FIND YOUR WARRIOR COMMUNITY AND HELP YOU, HELP YOU TO RECOVERY AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY ALSO.

WOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

AND JIMMY, BEFORE WE LEAVE, I WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW THEY CAN REACH OUT TO YOU.

OR DO YOU EVEN WANT ANYBODY TO REACH OUT TO YOU?

YES, OF COURSE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SPREAD NOT ONLY HARM REDUCTION, BUT EDUCATION AND PROVIDING PSYCHEDELIC, CURIOUS PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS, SKILLS AND FRAMEWORKS THAT THEY NEED TO REACH THEIR INTENTIONS AND GOALS.

SO, AS MR.

CINCO SAID VERY ELOQUENTLY, COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT.

YOU CAN FIND US AT PSYCHEDELIC PASSAGE.COM WHERE YOU CAN SEE OUR BLOG, OUR PODCAST, AND OUR EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM AS WELL.

PERFECT.

AND FINALLY, REPRESENTATIVE, DO YOU WANT ANYONE TO REACH OUT TO YOU?

AND IF SO, HOW CAN THEY FIND YOU?

ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY WITH MY CONSTITUENTS, AS WELL AS ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THIS CAUSE SO THEY CAN TALK TO MY LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT CALL OR EMAIL, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

PERFECT.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TIME AND THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION WITH ALL OF US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU.

SUSAN LEARNED A LOT THERE.

ART WITH AN EDGE.

A VERY SHARP EDGE.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL REVIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO NOME, NORTH DAKOTA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CRAFTSMANSHIP BEHIND THE TRADITIONAL ART OF KNIFE MAKING, COURTESY OF OUR FRIENDS AT PRAIRIE PUBLIC TELEVISION.

MY NAME IS JED ANDERSON AND I'M A FULL TIME BLADESMITH.

WE ARE IN MY SHOP IN NOME, NORTH DAKOTA, AND WE'RE ABOUT AN HOUR FROM FARGO.

WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD, I WAS AT A COUNTY FAIR UP IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND I SAW A BLACKSMITH, AND I STOOD THERE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF WATCHING HIM, JUST AMAZED AT WHAT HE WAS DOING.

AND THEN IN 2016, I WAS ON A SEASONAL LAYOFF.

AND I CURIOSITY, I HAD NOTHING ELSE TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EARLY IN THE YEAR TO HOP ON THE HARLEY AND GO SOMEWHERE.

AND I BUILT MYSELF A FORGE.

AND THEN ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER, I MADE MY FIRST KNIFE AND I WAS ON A FULL BODY HIGH.

AFTERWARDS, I KNEW THEN THAT THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

BEEN IN THIS GARAGE FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.

IT'S IT'S NOT A LOT OF FANCY STUFF.

THE FORGE THAT I HAVE, I'VE GOT $50 INTO THAT.

MADE IT OUT OF AN OLD OIL DRUM.

MY PRESS.

I BUILT THAT OUT OF AN OLD WOOD SPLITTER.

THE MOST FANCY PIECE OF GEAR I HAVE ARE MY BELL GRINDERS.

OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FANCY BECAUSE I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE MY HANDS TO MAKE IT.

I'VE DONE SWORDS, DAGGERS, FILET KNIVES, CHEF'S KNIVES, HUNTING KNIVES, BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT'S SHARP AND POINTY I CAN MAKE.

WHAT I TRY AND MAKE ARE PIECES THAT ARE GOING TO BE USED, THAT ARE PRACTICAL.

KEEP THAT AREA ONE MORE TIME.

STILL GOT A LITTLE BIT OF MEAT IN THERE.

FUNCTIONAL ARCH IS WHAT MY STUFF HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE PROCESS.

IT'S IT'S KIND OF BASIC, YOU KNOW, DOING A MONO STEEL BLADE OUT OF LIKE A LEAF SPRING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU HEAT THE STEEL, YOU HAMMER IT OUT THE SHAPE AND THICKNESS, AND THEN YOU TAKE IT OVER TO THE BELT GRINDER, CLEAN IT UP, HEAT, TREAT IT, AND THEN DO THE HANDLE WITH DAMASCUS PATTERN WELDED STEEL.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED, A LOT MORE TIMELY, BUT IT'S KIND OF THE SAME PROCESS.

HEAT THE STEEL, GET IT, THE FORGE WELL TOGETHER.

AND THEN YOU JUST KIND OF START MANIPULATING THE STEEL TO GET THE CERTAIN PATTERNS THAT YOU WANT, AND BEING ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE STEEL TO GET CERTAIN PATTERNS JUST COMES FROM PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE JUST GOT TO GET IT STRAIGHTENED OUT.

I AM SELF TAUGHT A LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR, A LOT OF GOOD DAYS, A LOT OF BAD DAYS.

SO WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SOMETHING AND IT DOESN'T DOESN'T WORK OUT, THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO SALVAGE IT.

EVEN THROUGH FAILURE, YOU CAN FIND SOME FORM OF SUCCESS.

ONE OF THE FIRST PROVERBS I LEARNED ABOUT BLADESMITHING IS THAT BLADESMITHS DON'T MAKE MISTAKES.

WE ONLY MAKE SMALLER KNIVES.

THIS IS GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE WHEN WE MOVE UP TO THE NEXT GRIT.

BUT AGAIN, OH, WHAT HAPPENED?

THAT'S PERFECT THAT IT'S NICE AND SMOOTH.

LOOKS LIKE SUGAR.

THAT'S A GOOD HEAT TREAT.

JUST I WAS FLEXING IT TOO MUCH AND BEFORE IT WAS READY AND IT SNAPS.

AND SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WITH THIS, I'M GOING TO GRIND DOWN RIGHT IN THIS AREA AND GIVE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF, THREE INCHES FOR A HIDDEN TANG.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN THIS INTO A NICE LITTLE PARING KNIFE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE FILLET KNIFE I WANTED, BUT I CAN AT LEAST MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THIS.

WHEN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MEANS, IT'S IT MAKES THE LEARNING A LOT EASIER.

WITH EVERY HEAT, EVERY SITE, EVERY ROUND OF HAMMERING AND YOU DO.

IT GETS YOU CAN SEE MORE AND MORE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO.

WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

I LOVE A GOOD STORY.

MAKING THINGS FROM OLDER PIECES.

THAT KNIFE ALREADY HAS A STORY BEHIND IT.

YOU KNOW, FOR CUSTOM ORDERS, I'VE HAD PEOPLE SEND ME PIECES OF MATERIAL FROM, YOU KNOW, THEIR GRANDFATHER'S FARM, A CAR THAT THEY THAT THEY WERE REBUILDING WITH THEIR FATHER.

AND THAT ADDS EVEN MORE TO THE KNIFE.

EVERY KNIFE THAT I MAKE, I WANT TO HAVE A STORY BEHIND IT.

I WAS IN THE MARINE CORPS FROM 2004 TO 2009, GOT OUT AS A CORPORAL, AND THIS YEAR IT WAS THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE OF THE MARINE CORPS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I MADE THE MARINE CORPS NCO SWORD.

AND SO THE BLADE IS 250 LAYERS.

DAMASCUS.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS PACIFIC WAR MARINE.

HE WAS GUADALCANAL, SAMOAN ISLANDS.

HE'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I BECAME A MARINE.

80 YEARS LATER, I WAS IN THE SAME DIVISION AS HIM.

AND SO IT WAS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO FOR A LONG TIME AND FIGURED THIS YEAR WAS THIS WAS THE YEAR TO DO IT.

MOST OF THE RESPONSES I'VE HAD WITH MY KNIVES ARE, DAMN, THAT'S SHARP.

AND THAT ENCOURAGES ME TO KEEP ON DOING WHAT I'M DOING.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SEEM TO LIKE WHAT I DO.

BEING ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING DOING THIS.

I LOVE IT, I LOVE COMING OUT TO THE SHOP AND BEING ABLE TO CREATE THINGS.

AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR WHAT I FOR WHAT I MAKE, IT MAKES ME FEEL AWESOME.

IF YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE, YOU NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE.

IT'S CLICHE, BUT IT'S TRUE.

YOU KNOW, DOING THIS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, OKAY, WHAT DO I WANT TO MAKE TODAY?

AND EVEN IF I'M FEELING A LITTLE BIT SLUGGISH AND NOT FEELING TOO MOTIVATED OR CREATIVE, THERE'S OTHER THINGS I CAN COME OUT AND DO IN THE SHOP, KEEP MYSELF BUSY UNTIL I GET THAT SPARK.

I LOVE BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT I LOVE AND AND BE ABLE TO LIVE OFF OF IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET RICH DOING IT, BUT AS LONG AS I CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND FOOD IN MY BELLY, I'M GOING TO KEEP ON DOING IT.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

THE LONG DELAYED SALLISAW VETERAN'S HOME HAS FINALLY OPENED.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE NEW FACILITY AND FIND OUT HOW IT IS IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING OF OUR AGING VETERANS.

THAT'S FRIDAY AT 7 P.M.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT MANY OF US MIGHT NOT BE IN THIS STUDIO RIGHT NOW IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE EFFORTS OF BOB ALLEN AND HIS 42 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OETA.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES, OFFERING A SIMPLE THANK YOU TO MR.

ALLEN AND HIS FAMILY.

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK.

I'M RICH LENZ.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

YOU KNOW, BOB ALLEN WAS A TRUE VISIONARY.

HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO CREATING A STATEWIDE NETWORK THAT EDUCATES, INFORMS, AND ENTERTAINS ALL OKLAHOMANS.

AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE FOR HIS VISION THAT HE HAD FOR OKLAHOMA AND WHAT HE'S BUILT FOR OUR CITIZENS.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN OETA IN 2007, ORIGINALLY DURING MY FIRST RUN, AND BOB ALLEN CAME IN JUST TO TALK TO ME, AND IT WAS AMAZING.

WE SAT DOWN AND REALLY TALKED ABOUT HIS PHILOSOPHY AND HOW IT WOULD TACKLE THE CAPITAL AS THE CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT AND BUT WHAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS THE SENSE THAT I WAS JOINING THE OETA FAMILY.

AND BOB ALLEN WAS GREAT AT MAKING ME FEEL WELCOME HERE.

AND NOW I'M HOPING ALL THESE YEARS LATER THAT I'M STILL HERE WITH OETA NEWS, THAT I'M UPHOLDING THE LEGACY THAT BOB ALLEN SET FOR THE REST OF US HERE AT OETA.

I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIRING ME OVER 35 YEARS AGO, AND THAT OETA WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS TODAY WITHOUT HIM, AND THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING HE DID FOR OETA.

I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOB AND HIS FAMILY FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT HE MADE THROUGH THE YEARS OF MAKING OETA WHAT IT IS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO HOLD THE FORT DOWN AND KEEP IT GOING HERE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK BOB FOR THE GIFT OF OETA TO ALL OF OKLAHOMA.

EVERYTHING WE ARE IS BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATION HE LAID.

WHEN THE AMERICAN WEST BEGAN TO FADE.

WHEN RAILROADS STITCHED THE CONTINENT TOGETHER WITH NEW BORDERS THAT WERE DRAWN IN INK AND BLOOD,