NINE ON OETA.

OETA IS JUST A CLICK AWAY.

VISIT US ONLINE TODAY.

LAWMAKERS REACHING A BUDGET AGREEMENT FAR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ARGUE ABOUT IF WE GET THE BUDGET DONE SO EARLY.

CANDIDATES LINING UP TO TOSS THEIR HATS INTO THE RING FOR OKLAHOMA PUBLIC OFFICE NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE, BUT IT IS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

IT'S A LITTLE DAUNTING AT ABOUT 300 PEOPLE IN HERE.

OUR SPECIAL SERIES ON OKLAHOMA BY THE DECADES CONTINUES LEADING UP TO OUR NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY.

ON MY WATCH.

WE MOVED FROM 45TH IN PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME TO ABOUT 3736, BECAUSE WE PUT RIGHT TO WORK IN THE CONSTITUTION.

AS THE CENTENNIAL OF ROUTE 66 DRAWS NEAR, THERE'S A NEW ATTRACTION OPENING UP ALONG THE MOTHER ROAD.

SO TODAY, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF 66 IS THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE I MEET ALONG THE ROAD, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK ALONG THE ROAD.

THIS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM GETTING SOME ONE ON ONE TIME WITH A THUNDER STANDOUT.

I JUST WANT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THEM.

THEY ALREADY INVITED ME TO THEIR GAME NEXT SEASON, SO I GOT TO MAKE SURE I MAKE THAT THOSE STORIES, PLUS AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH HOUSE LEADERS ON THE BUDGET AGREEMENT.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ.

SOMETHING VERY RARE HAPPENED AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS REACHING A BUDGET AGREEMENT ALMOST TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND NOW IT'S UP TO BOTH CHAMBERS TO SIGN OFF ON THE DEAL.

JASON DOYLE JOINED US FROM OUR OETA STUDIO AT THE CAPITOL WITH MORE ON THIS UNEXPECTED NEWS.

JASON RICH.

IN THE MORE THAN 20 YEARS I FOLLOWED THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THIS IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST BUDGET AGREEMENTS I'VE SEEN.

IT'S A SLIGHT INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TO $12.8 BILLION TO FUND STATE SERVICES.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ARGUE ABOUT IF WE GET THE BUDGET DONE SO EARLY.

BUT INDEED, THERE IS A BUDGET AGREEMENT AND IT IS NO APRIL FOOL'S JOKE.

THIS IS THE EARLIEST A DEAL HAS BEEN REACHED ON THE STATE SPENDING PLAN IN QUITE SOME TIME.

IT'S ALSO THE FINAL BUDGET AGREEMENT GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT WILL BE INVOLVED WITH DUE TO REACHING HIS TERM LIMIT THIS YEAR.

I GET TO END MY TIME SERVING THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF CONSERVATISM AND AN AMAZING ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THIS $12.8 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES A RAISE OF $2,000 TO THE MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY, ANOTHER INCREASE IN OVERALL EDUCATION FUNDING, AS WELL AS REFORMS TO WELFARE PROGRAMS.

GOVERNOR STITT ALSO GOT HIS WISH FOR A SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND.

THE TAXPAYER ENDOWMENT TRUST FUND IS GOING TO LOCK UP $200 MILLION IN EXISTING SAVINGS FOR INVESTING.

THE IDEA IS TO KEEP ADDING TO THE FUND UNTIL IT REACHES $1 BILLION, SO IT CAN BE USED FOR INVESTMENTS OR SHORING UP A STATE BUDGET.

AS A RESULT, WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE, THIS ACCOUNT WILL START DELIVERING EARNINGS TO SUPPORT STATE'S GENERAL REVENUE.

AND IT'S GOING TO LOCK UP SAVINGS TODAY AS WE'RE PROTECTING FUTURE CORE SERVICES.

ANOTHER PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS TO ASK VOTERS TO REFORM THE MEDICAID EXPANSION.

WE ARE NOT REPEALING MEDICAID EXPANSION WITH THAT STATE QUESTION.

THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP EVERYWHERE I GO AND TELL THIS QUESTION, HITS THE BALLOT.

MEDICAID IS SIMPLY BEING MOVED FROM THE CONSTITUTION TO STATUTE, SO WE CAN WORK ON IT.

SINCE THE MEDICAID EXPANSION WAS PUT INTO THE STATE CONSTITUTION BY VOTERS IN 2020, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT MAINTAINING THE MEDICAID PROGRAM IF FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE CUT.

PAXTON ARGUES MOVING TO STATUTE ALLOWS THE LEGISLATURE MORE FLEXIBILITY SO WE CAN WORK AROUND THE EDGES AND MAKE IT WORK MUCH BETTER FOR THE STATE TO GET THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE HELP, THE HELP THEY NEED, BUT NOT THOSE WHO JUST REFUSE TO GO TO WORK.

WHILE REPUBLICANS ARE HAPPY WITH THE AGREEMENT, SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE LEERY.

GENERALLY, WHAT WE HEARD WAS NOT ADDRESSING THE FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT OKLAHOMANS FACE EVERY DAY, PROPOSALS THAT ARE NOT LOOKING AT OUR CHALLENGES AROUND COST OF LIVING AND THE ABILITY TO GET BY.

KURT GIVES EXAMPLES OF HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND CHILDCARE AS ISSUES.

DEMOCRATS WANT THE STATE BUDGET TO ADDRESS.

SENATOR KERRY HICKS ALSO NOTED THAT CHILDCARE IS GETTING HARDER TO FIND AROUND THE STATE.

THIS IS A RECURRING SITUATION, AND WHEN DHS SAYS WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDY PROVIDED TO FAMILY OR FOLKS ELIGIBLE TO QUALIFY FOR CHILDCARE SUBSIDY BECAUSE OF A BUDGET ISSUE THAT IS NOT SOLVING PROBLEMS, THAT'S CREATING PROBLEMS.

THEY ALSO BELIEVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS COULD HAVE MORE IF IT WEREN'T FOR TAX BREAKS.

FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL PARENTS.

THAT IS $250 MILLION.

THAT IS APPORTIONED.

IT IS SET ASIDE.

IT IS OFF THE TOP SPENDING THAT GOES TO SUBSIDIZE PRIVATE EDUCATION FOR WEALTHY FAMILIES.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT MEDICAID EXPANSION OUT OF THE CONSTITUTION.

SINCE IT'S IN STATUTE IT CAN BE REPEALED ANYTIME BY THE LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL HAPPEN WITH THE BUDGET AGREEMENT IN PLACE.

IT LIKELY MEANS THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION COULD END EARLY.

RICH.

INTERESTING.

THANK YOU, JASON.

AND COMING UP IN OUR IN-DEPTH SEGMENT, IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO SIT DOWN WITH HOUSE LEADERS KYLE HILBERT AND CYNDI MUNSON TO GET FURTHER INSIGHT INTO THE BUDGET AGREEMENT.

SHOULD BE A GREAT DISCUSSION WITH PERSPECTIVES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

HERE'S A PREVIEW WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD DEADLINE WEEK WHERE THE HOUSE BILLS HAVE A DEADLINE.

YEAH, SO THIS IS REALLY KIND OF THE TURNING POINT IN SESSION.

LAST WEEK WE HAD A DEADLINE WEEK WHERE THE HOUSE BILLS HAD A DEADLINE OF THURSDAY TO PASS AND SENATE BILLS ON THEIR SIDE.

AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE VETTING THE SENATE BILLS THEY SENT OVER AS THEY WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH COMMITTEE.

AND SO IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGET WORK, WE'RE ALSO WORKING THROUGH POLICY DILIGENTLY.

SO YOU'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, HOUSE MEMBERS CONTINUE TO DIG INTO THOSE SENATE BILLS, AS WELL AS THE SENATORS DIGGING INTO HOUSE BILLS AS WE PASS POLICY.

THAT'S GOOD FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY THAT THEY HAVE A BUDGET DEAL AND READY TO MOVE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET OUT OF SESSION EARLY.

YOU KNOW, MY FIRST INSTINCT IN HEARING THAT IS CONCERN, MAINLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME ANYTHING IS RUSHED, THAT MEANS THAT SOMEBODY IS PROBABLY BEING LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION AND LEFT OUT OF THE LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR FOR THE BUDGET.

THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAS NOT BEEN A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND NEITHER HAS MANY OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS EXPANSION.

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

AND IN ADDITION TO THE HOUSE LEADERS LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, WE'LL ALSO BE SPEAKING WITH QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SHAWN ASHLEY, AND HE GETS UPDATED ON ALL THE OTHER BREAKING NEWS FROM THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

WOW.

WEDNESDAY CERTAINLY WAS AN EXTREMELY EVENTFUL DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

WITH THE BUDGET DEAL, AERO DAY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE FILING PERIOD FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING ELECTED OFFICE, ALMOST ALL THE TOP JOBS ARE UP FOR GRABS, WITH OKLAHOMA VOTERS SET TO ELECT A NEW GOVERNOR, U.S.

SENATOR, CONGRESSMAN AND ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE SUPERINTENDENT, AND MANY OTHERS.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW FROM OUR OETA STUDIO WITH MORE DETAILS ON WHO'S IN AND WHO'S OUT.

NOAH.

WELL, RICH CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN POUNDING THE PAVEMENT FOR MONTHS NOW, BUT AS OF THIS WEEK, IT'S OFFICIAL.

DURING FILING PERIOD, CANDIDATES OF ALL SORTS MIX AND MINGLE.

AND IT'S A GREAT PULSE CHECK ON WHERE THE ELECTION SEASON IS GOING.

ON FILING DAY, THE CAPITOL IS A BUZZING HIVE OF NEW FACES AND FAMILIAR FACES IN POLITICS.

FILING DAY IS LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WIN, I LOVE IT, IT'S A FUN DAY.

NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE, BUT IT IS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

IT'S A LITTLE DAUNTING.

ABOUT 300 PEOPLE IN HERE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE DMV, LONG LINES AND A STACK OF PAPERWORK.

YOU PROVIDE A CASHIER'S CHECK TO THE STATEWIDE ELECTION BOARD AND SIGN YOUR NAME ON A BASICALLY AN APPLICATION FORM.

AND NOW WE GET OUR NAME ON THE BALLOT.

CANDIDATES SEEKING STATE AND NATIONAL OFFICES WERE PRESENT.

THE SEAT WITH ARGUABLY THE BIGGEST SPOTLIGHT IS THE VACANT SENATE SEAT LEFT BEHIND BY NOW SECRETARY MARKWAYNE MULLIN CURRENT U.S.

REPRESENTATIVE, KEVIN HEARN, JUMPED INTO CAMPAIGN MODE JUST WEEKS AGO.

VERY BUSY.

NOT MUCH TIME LEFT IN THE DAY.

I GET UP AT ABOUT 4:00 EVERY MORNING, GO TO BED ABOUT MIDNIGHT EVERY NIGHT.

SO I THINK IT'S THE PROVERBIAL BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS RIGHT NOW.

HEARN'S PLAN WHILE HE'S AWAY FROM WASHINGTON, IS TO STAY UNTIL APRIL 13TH AND CAMPAIGN.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HIT ALL THE MAJOR CITIES, ALL THE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON EVERY MINUTE WE'RE HOME.

BUT HE MIGHT HAVE TO PUT AWAY HIS CAMPAIGN HAT AND PUT ON HIS CONGRESS HAT.

WITH THE SENATE STILL QUIBBLING OVER FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, WE VOTED ON IT NOW FOUR TIMES IN THE HOUSE AND SENT IT TO THE SENATE AS RECENTLY AS FRIDAY NIGHT AT ALMOST MIDNIGHT, WE VOTED TO SEND IT BACK TO THE SENATE.

WITH IT BEING FUNDED.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD.

ANOTHER SALIENT RACE IS THE BID TO SUCCEED GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT, THE SOLE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER CYNDI MUNSON ENTERED THE CAPITOL TO CHEERS, SIGNS AND POM POMS.

CYNDI.

I'M THANKFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING UP, AND THAT'S THE ENERGY I FEEL WHEN I'M OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

SO IT FEELS GOOD.

IN SPEAKING WITH VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE, MUNSON SEES PEOPLE SOURING ON NATIONAL POLITICS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF A TRUMP PRESIDENCY.

AND IN THE WAKE OF THE CURRENT PARTIAL SHUTDOWN OVER DHS FUNDING, THEY'RE SEEING WHAT GOVERNMENT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S DYSFUNCTIONAL, AND THEY'RE SEEING THAT THOSE WHO ARE STEPPING UP AND PROVIDING REAL LEADERSHIP ARE GOVERNORS AND STATE LEADERS.

SHE THINKS DEMOCRATS HAVE A REAL SHOT AT PICKING UP WINS.

THEY WANT GOOD SCHOOLS.

THEY WANT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

THEY WANT BETTER JOBS IN OUR STATE.

AND HAVING A LEADER THAT STANDS UP FOR THEM AND DOESN'T BEND AND PANDER TO THE PRESIDENT OR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

AND SO I THINK THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT WE HAVE HERE ARE JUST LIKE WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE DEMOCRATS ARE WINNING AND UNLIKELY DISTRICTS AND STATES.

I THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

FORMER SPEAKER CHARLES MCCAUL, A REPUBLICAN, BELIEVES A ROBUST PORTION OF OKLAHOMA'S STILL SUPPORT TRUMP, AND SO DOES HE, DONALD J. TRUMP, OUR PRESIDENT, HAS WON ALL 77 COUNTIES IN THIS STATE THREE TIMES.

AND AS GOVERNOR, I'M NOT JUST GOING TO WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON.

I'M GOING TO WORK CLOSELY WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THIS WEEK IN A YOUGOV ECONOMIST POLL, TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATING ON THE ECONOMY HAS DIPPED TO THE LOWEST POINT BETWEEN BOTH OF HIS TERMS.

MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF HIS HANDLING, MCCAUL ADMITS.

FOR OKLAHOMANS, THEIR POCKETBOOKS ARE AT TOP OF MIND.

ANYWHERE YOU GO IN THE STATE, IT'S A IT'S AFFORDABILITY OF LIVING RIGHT NOW.

TO TACKLE THAT, MCCAUL WANTS TO FREEZE PROPERTY TAXES.

I WANT TO SEE IT FROZEN FOR ALL PEOPLE OF THE STATE FOR THREE YEARS.

AND THEN I WANT TO MAKE THOSE FREEZES PERMANENT FOR THOSE 62 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING INTO THEIR RETIREMENT YEARS.

MCCAUL ALSO WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE INCOME TAX.

LIKE HIS OPPONENT, FORMER BUDGET SECRETARY MIKE MASSEY.

SO WE STOPPED LOSING COMPANIES LIKE DEVON ENERGY TO THE NO INCOME TAX STATE OF TEXAS.

OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ALSO ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.

THEY DO A GREAT JOB HERE.

FILING IS REALLY, REALLY SMOOTH.

YOU GET YOUR PAPERWORK FILLED OUT BEFOREHAND.

PAUL XEROX RUNS A GOOD SHIP.

FORMER STATE LAWMAKER JOHN ECCLES IS RUNNING TO TAKE OVER THE OFFICE FROM CURRENT AG GENTNER DRUMMOND.

WE ARE GOING TO GET RID OF ILLEGAL, ILLEGAL WEED INSIDE THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

ATTACK THE SCOURGE THAT IS FENTANYL.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT.

WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT YOUR FREEDOMS AND BACK PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE PLANS HE HAS INSIDE THE NATION AND INSIDE THE STATE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

NEWCOMER AND FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR NICK COFFEE IS RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT AND WANTS TO STEER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TOWARD TACKLING CORRUPTION.

THESE PEOPLE ARE BREAKING THE LAW, CIVIL STATUTES, CRIMINAL STATUTES, ETHICS RULES, AND NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM.

SO I WANT TO BRING BACK A SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE OFFICE THAT'S BEEN SORELY LACKING, I THINK, FOR THE LAST 8 TO 10 YEARS IN OKLAHOMA.

THIS IS COFFEE'S FIRST TIME FILING AS A CANDIDATE FOR AN ELECTION.

NO, I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT OTHER THAN I'VE GOT MY PAPERWORK FILLED OUT.

I'LL GET UP THERE.

I'LL DO IT.

EVERYBODY HAS DONE BEFORE ME AND FILE PROPER.

SO THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME.

AGAIN, I'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE.

AND SO JUST SEEING THE EXCITEMENT OF THE CAPITAL, I LIKE IT.

ON TOP OF CANDIDATES JUMPING IN TO CLAIM THE OPEN SEATS, THERE ARE INCUMBENTS WHO COME TO FILE FOR REELECTION AND THOSE WHO COME TO CHALLENGE THOSE INCUMBENTS, SUCH AS GINA NELSON, A DEMOCRAT RUNNING TO OPPOSE STEPHANIE BICE IN OKLAHOMA'S FIFTH DISTRICT.

WELL, STEPHANIE BICE HAS NOT HAD AN IN-PERSON TOWN HALL IN OVER FOUR YEARS.

SHE'S NOT LISTENING TO THE CONSTITUENTS IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT, AND NONPROFIT FAMILY ADVOCATE WILL WEB RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN TO CHALLENGE JOSH BRECHEEN IN OKLAHOMA'S SECOND DISTRICT.

THIS IS HIS FIRST TIME FILING.

I'LL ADMIT TO BEING SOMEWHAT APATHETIC.

THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE, BUT AFTER AFTER I HAD CHILDREN, I FELT LIKE IT WAS.

IT WAS PROBABLY APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED AND A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED.

THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE SLATED FOR JUNE 16TH, AND THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS MAY 22ND.

RICH NOAH, GREAT REPORT.

WELL, THANKS TO THE IOWA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA, THERE WILL BE A NEW WAY FOR MOTORISTS TO GET THEIR KICKS ON ROUTE 66 BEGINNING NEXT WEEK.

STEVE SCHORR JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

STEVE RICH NEXT THURSDAY ON ROUTE 66, JUST WEST OF CHANDLER, THE IOWA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA WILL OPEN OKLAHOMA'S FIRST HARRAH'S CASINO.

AND SINCE WE'RE IN ROUTE 66 IS 100 YEAR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, THE TIMING IS PERFECT.

HARRAH'S OKLAHOMA OPERATES UNDER THE CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMING UMBRELLA.

WE'RE BRINGING ENERGY TO OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME WE'RE GOING TO BRING LAS VEGAS ACTION.

AND I PROMISE YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ENERGY WITH GOOD OLE.

OKLAHOMA HOSPITALITY GENERAL MANAGER JOE SCHIBETTA HAS WORKED FOR CAESARS NEARLY 30 YEARS ALL OVER THE U.S.

INCLUDING LAS VEGAS.

HOW MANY GAMES HERE?

WE HAVE 1012 SLOT MACHINES.

LOOK AROUND THE MACHINES.

THE DESIGN OF THE CASINO IS REALLY WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE IF WE WOULD HAVE PUT THIS SMACK DAB ON THE MIDDLE OF THE STRIP.

GREAT PRODUCT.

LOTS OF BARS FOR US TO HAVE PEOPLE ENJOY THEMSELVES IF THEY DON'T WANT A GAME, SCHIBETTA SAYS.

HARRAH'S OKLAHOMA OFFERS 12 TABLE GAMES, INCLUDING ULTIMATE, TEXAS HOLD'EM, BACCARAT AND BLACKJACK.

THE FACILITY ALSO BOASTS A LARGE SPORTS BAR, AN UPSCALE RESTAURANT AND BAR AND DASH CAFE.

IT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL.

WE'VE NEEDED THIS A LONG TIME.

WHY ALL THE JOBS THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR THE COMMUNITY?

JENNIFER STEWART IS A 1997 CHANDLER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO WAS ONE OF 60 EMPLOYEES FROM THE OLD IOWA CASINO ACROSS THE STREET ON ROUTE 66 THAT WERE OFFERED JOBS TO COME HERE.

HARRAH'S, OKLAHOMA WILL HAVE NEARLY 300 EMPLOYEES.

WE WERE ALL SO GRATEFUL THAT THEY LET US TRANSFER OVER.

WE.

WE GOT TO WATCH IT FROM CLEARING OUT THE LAND TO GOING UP INTO JUST A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

AND THEN ONCE WE GOT TO COME IN AND SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS IN HERE, WE WERE BLOWN AWAY.

THIS FALLS RIGHT BETWEEN BOTH TURNPIKE, BETWEEN CHANDLER AND WELLSTON.

WE'RE EXCITED FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BRING IN MORE FOOT TRAFFIC TO US.

I MEAN, NO QUESTION, ROUTE 66 IS A GREAT TOURIST DESTINATION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT THIS BEING HERE IN THIS LOCATION, WE SEE IT BRINGING A LOT MORE PEOPLE IN IOWA.

TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA CHAIRMAN JAKE KEYS SAYS BEING PART OF CAESARS IS HUGE.

CAESAR'S ALREADY HAD MEMBERS UP TO CAESARS REWARDS US ALL WITHIN JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES OF THIS PROPERTY.

AND SO THAT'S A BUILT IN CUSTOMER BASE THAT WE'LL GET TO RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THE GUESTS OF HONOR NEXT THURSDAY WILL BE O U LEGENDS BIG GAME, BOB STOOPS AND BARRY SWITZER.

JERRY MCCLANAHAN MAY BE THE CLOSEST YOU'LL GET TO BARRY SWITZER IN CHANDLER, OKLAHOMA.

HE'S QUITE AN ARTIST AND ROUTE 66 HISTORIAN WHO KNOWS AS MUCH ABOUT ROUTE 66, AT LEAST HERE IN THE SOONER STATE THAN PROBABLY ANYBODY IN THE WORLD.

YOU JUST LOVE THIS, DON'T YOU?

IT'S IT'S IT'S TAKEN OVER MY LIFE.

YOU KNOW, I LOVE OLD CARS AND NEON SIGNS AND GAS STATIONS.

YOU'RE A PRETTY GOOD ARTIST, DUDE.

WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ROUTE 66 ORIGINATES AT THE NAVY PIER IN CHICAGO AND RUNS THROUGH NINE STATES BEFORE IT ENDS.

APPROXIMATELY 2450 MILES LATER AT THE SANTA MONICA PIER ON THE LEFT COAST.

IN 2008, JERRY MCCLANAHAN OPENED JERRY'S ROUTE 66 GALLERY JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM DOWNTOWN CHANDLER ON MANVILLE AVENUE.

MCCLANAHAN WAS BORN IN DUNCAN, OKLAHOMA, IN 1957.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR, JERRY'S DAD FOUND LUCRATIVE WORK IN THE CALIFORNIA OIL FIELDS, AND JERRY FELL IN LOVE WITH ROUTE 66 WHEN HIS FAMILY CAME BACK TO VISIT OVER THE YEARS.

AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT AND SEE ALL THE GREAT STUFF RUSHED BY AND DAD WOULD HARDLY EVER STOP.

HE WOULDN'T STOP TO EVEN LET ME GO TINKLE, YOU KNOW, HE'D HAND ME THE PAPER CUP OVER THE BACK SEAT.

BUT WE USED MILK JUGS.

YEAH.

JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'D STOP AT THE DRIVE INS AND YOU GET THE LITTLE DIXIE CUPS, YOU KNOW, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE STOPPED AT THE SNOW CAPPED DRIVE IN IN SELIGMAN.

IT WAS A MAGICAL CITY IN THE SUMMER.

I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2000.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN CADDO COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA, SOUTHWESTERN CANADIAN COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA UNTIL 8 P.M.

CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME AT 7:17 P.M.

CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LAKEBA, MOVING EAST AT TEN MILES AN HOUR.

EXPECTED HAZARDS INCLUDE TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL.

THIS IS A RADAR INDICATED THREAT ROTATION.

THE FOLLOWING IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED.

FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER.

MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

DAMAGE TO ROOFS, WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.

TREE DAMAGE IS LIKELY.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE LUCY.B AND CEDAR LAKE.

TAKE COVER NOW MOVE TO A STORM SHELTER, SAFE ROOM OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING.

AVOID WINDOWS IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS IN A MOBILE HOME OR IN A VEHICLE.

MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

THE TOWN OF CHANDLER RECEIVED A $650,000 STATE GRANT TO DRESS UP THE PLACE A BIT FOR THE CENTENNIAL.

WE HAVE A NEW PARK GOING IN THAT WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE ROUTE 66 COMMISSION NAMED AFTER JERRY, NAMED AFTER JERRY MCCLANAHAN.

WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THAT THEY BROKE GROUND.

THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF DIRT WORK RIGHT NOW.

SIDEWALKS ARE GOING IN.

MCCLANAHAN PARK IS BEING CONSTRUCTED ON AN OLD BASEBALL FIELD.

CHANDLER IS KNOWN NATIONWIDE FOR THEIR LARGE BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS.

ALSO, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, THERE SHOULD BE A LARGE HOTEL ATTACHED TO HARRIS, OKLAHOMA.

RICH.

OKAY, STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE $44 BILLION AEROSPACE INDUSTRY IN OKLAHOMA IS OKLAHOMA'S SECOND LARGEST ECONOMIC ENGINE.

AND IF YOU WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, THE STATE CAPITOL WAS THE PLACE TO BE ON WEDNESDAY, WITH MORE THAN 60 EXHIBITORS AND DOZENS OF INDUSTRY LEADERS ON HAND TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC AND LAWMAKERS WHO FILL THE HALLS OF THE ROTUNDA.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT AND FORMER NASA ADMINISTRATOR JIM BRIDENSTINE JOINING ABOUT A THOUSAND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AT THAT EVENT.

THERE'S 120,000 OKLAHOMANS THAT WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY ACROSS 1100 DIFFERENT COMPANIES.

SO WE KNOW AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE.

WE'VE GOT ENGINEERS, MECHANICS, PILOTS, INNOVATORS ACROSS ALL THOSE DIFFERENT COMPANIES CONTRIBUTING TO POWERING OUR INDUSTRY.

WE WANT THIS TO BECOME THE STATE'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO SEND US TO THE ECONOMIC PROMISED LAND FOR ALL OKLAHOMANS, NOT JUST AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE, BUT WE BELIEVE HAVING AN ECONOMY TIED TO AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE IS GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY IN THE STATE.

THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM IS ON THE WAY.

WE'RE GOING TO SEND FOUR ASTRONAUTS TO THE MOON, THREE AMERICANS, ONE CANADIAN.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE FOR THIS COUNTRY AND EVEN FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

BUT JIM BRIDENSTINE, ALSO CONDUCTING A Q&A SESSION WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAD BEEN HONORED AS AEROSPACE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH.

AS WE DRAW CLOSER TO CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY THIS COMING JULY 4TH, WE CONTINUE THIS WEEK WITH OUR SPECIAL SERIES OKLAHOMA!

BY THE DECADE SINCE THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR OF 1976.

THIS MONTH, WE LOOK BACK AT THE BIGGEST NEWS, SPORTS, AND POP CULTURE STORIES BETWEEN THE YEARS 1996 AND 2005.

TAKE IT AWAY TAELYR JACKSON RICH.

DURING THIS DECADE, OKLAHOMA DOMINATED.

IN SPORTS, BRICKTOWN GREW AND THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD WAS ONCE AGAIN EXEMPLIFIED DURING ONE OF THE DEADLIEST STORMS ON RECORD.

AS OKLAHOMA WORKED TO HEAL FROM THE BOMBING, PROSECUTORS PREPARED THEIR CASE AGAINST TIMOTHY MCVEIGH AND TERRY NICHOLS, WITH THE TRIAL LATER MOVED TO DENVER TO ENSURE THE SELECTION OF AN IMPARTIAL JURY.

IN MAY OF 1996, THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS RUSHED TO THE MOVIE THEATERS TO CATCH A NEW FILM CALLED TWISTER.

THE BLOCKBUSTER WAS SHOT IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING MAYSVILLE, PONCA CITY AND WAKITA.

LATER THAT SUMMER, OKLAHOMANS WERE BEAMING WITH PRIDE AS THEY WATCHED EDMOND NATIVE SHANNON MILLER LEAD THE U.S.

GYMNASTICS TEAM TO A GOLD MEDAL AT THE ATLANTA GAMES.

IN 1997, HANSON POPPED ON THE SCENE.

THE GROUP, MADE UP OF TULSA BROTHERS ISAAC TAYLOR AND ZAC, RELEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, IN MAY.

THE ALBUM PEAKED AT NUMBER TWO ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS, AND IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THEIR SMASH HIT BOP PEAKED ON INTERNATIONAL CHARTS.

BY DO RIGHT BY YOU.

BY 1998, THE MAPS PROJECT WAS IN FULL EFFECT, LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICIALS MADE IT REALLY CLEAR THAT THEY KNEW THAT TO HAVE A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, WE NEEDED TO HAVE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN, AND WE'VE CREATED THAT FOR SURE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY PASSED MAPS IN ORDER TO MAKE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AS CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, WHICH AGAIN, INCLUDED THINGS AND ALSO INCLUDED THINGS LIKE PAYCOM CENTER, WHICH IS NOW HOME TO THE THUNDER.

I MEAN, JUST THAT, RIGHT?

THERE IS SUCH A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

GOVERNOR RON NORICK, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF MAPS, CREATED THE MAP INITIATIVES IN THE EARLY 90S.

ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDED THE SOUTHWESTERN BALLPARK, WHICH OPENED ON APRIL 16TH.

BALLPARK, YOU KNOW, WAS A HIT INSTANTANEOUSLY.

AND I THINK AT THE TIME THAT THE BALLPARK CAME ON IN 1998, THERE WAS STILL SOME QUESTIONS.

THERE WERE STILL QUESTIONS IN THE AMONG THE PUBLIC AND TAXPAYERS.

WELL, IS THIS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?

CITY OFFICIALS PROMISE THIS BIG, YOU KNOW, SHINY GROUP OF PROJECTS.

BUT IS IT REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?

AND THE BALLPARK WAS THE FIRST EMPHATIC ANSWER THAT, YES, INDEED, THIS DOES HAPPEN.

AND YES, INDEED IT IS SPECIAL.

IN FACT, IN 1999, ESPN THE MAGAZINE AND BASEBALL WEEKLY BOTH RATED THAT BALLPARK AS THE NUMBER ONE MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK IN THE UNITED STATES.

ON JANUARY 11TH OF 1999, FRANK KEATING WAS SWORN IN FOR HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR.

I AND STATE YOUR NAME, I, FRANK KEATING AND KEATING'S INAUGURATION SPEECH.

HE STATED THAT HIS GOALS WERE TO INCREASE OKLAHOMA'S NATIONAL ACT AVERAGE, INCREASE THE STATE'S PER CAPITA INCOME, AND DECREASE DIVORCE RATES.

IT'S ON MY WATCH.

WE MOVED FROM 45TH IN PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME TO ABOUT 3736.

BECAUSE WE PUT RIGHT TO WORK IN THE CONSTITUTION, WE DID TORT REFORM.

I WAS A FATHER OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WE DID PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE.

WE FINISHED THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTING EVERY TOWN OF 10,000 MORE BY A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY TO THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM.

I MEAN, ALL THESE KIND OF THINGS MADE PEOPLE THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING.

AND AND WE DID.

IN MAY, MOTHER NATURE'S FURY HIT THE HEARTLAND.

HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

I'M GETTING FIREFLIES WITH.

WE WEREN'T REALLY EXPECTING EARLY IN THAT MORNING, THAT NUMBER OF STORMS NOBODY COULD HAVE EVER PREDICTED.

BUT THAT BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY TURNED INTO A DEADLY STORM.

WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS BEGAN TO CHANGE.

WE HAD A LOT OF WARM, HUMID, UNSTABLE AIR NEAR THE GROUND.

NEAR THE SURFACE.

WE HAD A DRY LINE OUT TO THE WEST, WHICH KIND OF DIVIDES VERY HUMID AIR TO THE EAST FROM VERY DRY, HOT AIR TO THE WEST.

WE HAD A LOW PRESSURE AREA.

WE HAD A KIND OF A MID UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM THAT WAS IN THE AREA, AND WE JUST HAD A LOT OF WIND SHEAR, WHICH CAUSES THOSE STORMS TO TO ROTATE AND TO BE BECOME EVEN MORE INTENSE.

MULTIPLE SUPERCELLS PRODUCED SEVERAL DAMAGING TORNADOES ACROSS PARTS OF THE STATE.

SOME MOBILE DOPPLER RADAR MEASUREMENTS INDICATED IT COULD HAVE HAD WINDS WELL OVER 200 MILES AN HOUR, MAYBE OVER 300 MILES AN HOUR.

MORE THAN 70 TORNADOES RIPPED ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS, CAUSING NEARLY $1.5 BILLION WORTH OF DAMAGE.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED DURING THE STORM, AND MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES.

IN JULY, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED FOR THE OPENING OF THE BRICKTOWN CANAL.

THE SPOT QUICKLY BECAME A TOURIST ATTRACTION.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WAS INTERESTED IN COMING DOWN AND SEEING, IS THIS REAL?

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

AND SO THERE WERE 40,000 PEOPLE IN THE CANAL AREA IN THE FIRST WEEKEND.

THAT WAS THE ESTIMATES.

AND IT WAS JUST A SEA OF PEOPLE BLANKETING THE HILLS AROUND US, THE BUILDINGS THAT SURROUND US.

A LOT OF THEM WEREN'T THERE AT THE TIME.

AND SO IT JUST KIND OF CREATED THIS STADIUM LIKE ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE WERE TAKING VIPS AND THEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON BOAT RIDES UP UNTIL 2 A.M.

THE NEXT, THE NEXT DAY, ANOTHER PLAY STRAIGHT UP THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAIL.

AND IN NORMAN, A NEW ERA FOR SOONER FOOTBALL WAS ON THE HORIZON.

BIG GAME.

BOB STOOPS STARTED HIS FIRST SEASON AS A HEAD COACH FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

UNDER STOOPS LEADERSHIP, THE SOONERS SECURED A WINNING RECORD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS, FINISHING SEVEN AND FIVE THE DECADE BEFORE BOB STOOPS WAS HIRED.

THE TEAM THE OU FOOTBALL TEAM WON JUST 54% OF ITS GAMES.

ZERO TEN WIN SEASONS.

DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE FIVE YEARS BEFORE BOB GOT THERE.

DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A WINNING SEASON, BUT DANIEL, OKLAHOMA, THE UNDEFEATED OKLAHOMA SOONERS DOMINATED COLLEGE FOOTBALL, BEATING KANSAS STATE TO WIN THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP, SETTING UP FOR A SHOWDOWN AGAINST FLORIDA STATE AND THE ORANGE BOWL IN EARLY JANUARY.

ON JANUARY 3RD, 2001, THE SOONER FOOTBALL PROGRAM CLAIMED ITS SEVENTH NATIONAL TITLE, DEFEATING FLORIDA STATE 13 TO 2 AND THE ORANGE BOWL TO FINISH OFF A PERFECT 13 WIN SEASON.

BUT WEEKS LATER, A TRAGEDY STRUCK THE SPORTS COMMUNITY.

ON THE SNOWY NIGHT OF JANUARY 27TH, A PLANE CARRYING TEN MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY'S MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM CRASHED 40 MILES EAST OF DENVER.

THE ACCIDENT DEVASTATED THE COWBOY COMMUNITY AND A MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS HELD AT GALLAGHER-IBA ARENA.

SUPPORT THEM AS NEVER BEFORE.

NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR TEAM, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUNG MEN WHO NEED TO LIVE BEYOND THIS DEVASTATING MOMENT.

BY 2002, THE OKLAHOMA DOME WAS COMPLETED.

THE DOME WAS A SYMBOL OF OKLAHOMA COMPETENCY, AND OKLAHOMA'S WILLING TO INVEST IN ITS HISTORY.

AND LOOK AT THE ARTWORK.

AND I WAS VERY, VERY ACTIVE IN FINDING PAINTINGS.

AND SENATOR CHARLES FORD FROM FROM TULSA WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THE PLACE WAS FILLED WITH THE STORY OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA'S LAST CURRENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, BRAD HENRY, TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY 2003 DURING A MAJOR BUDGET SHORTFALL.

THANK YOU.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

I MIGHT REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU APPLAUD OFTEN DURING MY REMARKS, IT MIGHT HELP KEEP YOU WARM.

SO.

IN MAY, A SERIES OF LONG TRACK TORNADOES HIT THE GREAT PLAINS.

MORE THAN 1000 HOMES WERE DAMAGED.

BRAD HENRY, BRAD HENRY I'M JAMIE BARBOUR ON DOWN THERE.

I HATE IT THAT IT'S UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN JANUARY OF 2005, OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOY MIKE GUNDY BECAME THE 22ND HEAD COACH OF OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

GUNDY COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED THE PROGRAM AND WENT ON TO BECOME THE WINNINGEST COACH IN THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY.

IN AUGUST, HURRICANE KATRINA SWEPT THROUGH LOUISIANA.

THE CATEGORY FIVE STORM DESTROYED THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, LEAVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DISPLACED.

THE NBA TEMPORARILY RELOCATED THE NEW ORLEANS HORNETS TO OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE TEAM SPENT TWO SEASONS PLAYING IN THE FORD CENTER IN DOWNTOWN OKC BEFORE RETURNING TO NEW ORLEANS LATER THAT FALL.

THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER OPENED ITS DOORS, BEING SO CLOSE TO THE HUB OF STATE GOVERNMENT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY OF OKLAHOMA RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN OUR STATE HISTORY ARE MADE.

IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT HAVING THE HORNETS IN OKLAHOMA PROVED THAT THE STATE COULD HANDLE A MAJOR SPORTS TEAM.

IT ALSO GAVE A VISION OF WHAT WAS TO COME IN LATER YEARS.

COMING UP ON MAY 1ST, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE YEARS 2006 THROUGH 2015, AND I BELIEVE THAT WILL FALL ON YOUR SHOULDERS, RICH, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT WAS GREAT WORK.

JUST A MOMENT.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT THAT WAS BEAUTIFULLY EDITED BY OUR RANDY HAYES AND SCOTT CASSIDY MUDD CORTREZ COLBERT WERE THE PHOTOGRAPHERS SUPER, SUPER WORK.

WELL, THE OKLAHOMA TAX COMMISSION IS SENDING LETTERS TO OKLAHOMANS WHO MIGHT HAVE HAD THEIR INFORMATION STOLEN FROM THE STATE AGENCY.

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

THE OKLAHOMA TAX COMMISSION HAS SENT LETTERS TO THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS TELLING THEM THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY A HACKER.

THE BREACH WAS DISCOVERED IN DECEMBER.

ACCORDING TO THE AGENCY.

THE INFORMATION TAKEN INVOLVES INDIVIDUALS NAMES AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS.

THE TAX COMMISSION IS PROVIDING FREE CREDIT MONITORING AND FRAUD ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER HAS SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION OF TAIPEI, ONE OF TAIWAN'S LARGEST TRADE ORGANIZATIONS.

THE MOVE HELPS TO ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK TO EXPAND BUSINESS BETWEEN THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA AND COMPANIES IN TAIWAN.

THE DEAL ALSO SUPPORTS FUTURE BUSINESS DELEGATION EXCHANGES AND FUTURE COOPERATION ON INVESTMENTS AND TRADE BILL INFRASTRUCTURE WON'T BE BUILDING A DATA CENTER IN COWETA AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

THE COMPANY HAS WITHDRAWN ITS APPLICATION TO BUILD THE $195 MILLION, 100 ACRE DATA CENTER PROJECT THIS WEEK.

BILL PULLED THE PROJECT AFTER AREA RESIDENTS VOICED CONCERNS OVER NOISE, WATER USAGE AND INDUSTRIAL IMPACT.

ANOTHER DATA CENTER PROJECT IN EAST TULSA, CALLED PROJECT ANTHEM, ALSO WITHDREW ITS APPLICATION TO BUILD A SECOND PHASE STARTING ON APRIL 20TH.

TULSA BASED COMMERCIAL HEATING AND AIR MANUFACTURER AON WILL HAVE A NEW CFO.

ANDY CHEUNG WILL TAKE ON THE ROLE, AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT.

CHONG MOST RECENTLY WORKED AS AN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CFO FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE GROUP.

HE HAS MORE THAN 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN HVAC AND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES.

HE'S REPLACING REBECCA THOMPSON AS CFO.

SHE WILL RETURN AS AON'S CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER, WHICH SHE HELD BEFORE BECOMING THE CFO IN 2021.

THE PLAN IS FOR HER TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL REPORTING.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED BUSINESS, CONNECTIVITY AND COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY USA DIGITAL IS REBRANDING AS A PIO.

THE NAME IS MEANT TO REFLECT THE COMPANY'S EVOLUTION AND ITS COMMITMENT TO MODERN COMMUNICATION BUSINESS SOLUTIONS.

OTHER THAN THE NAME CHANGE, THE COMPANY WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER THE SAME SERVICES TO ITS CLIENTS AND BE MANAGED BY THE SAME OWNERSHIP.

OKLAHOMA CITY HR SOFTWARE COMPANY PAYCOM HAS BEEN NAMED AS A 2026 PLATINUM EMPLOYER ON THE FIRST EVER WHERE YOU WORK MATTERS LIST.

THE LIST IS PUT TOGETHER BY THE BURNING GLASS INSTITUTE, THE SCHULZE FAMILY FOUNDATION AND HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL.

PAYCOM WAS RECOGNIZED FOR INVESTING IN ITS EMPLOYEES THROUGH TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, DEVELOPMENT AND UPSKILLING.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

IT WAS ANOTHER BUSY WEEK AT 23RD IN LINCOLN, AND AS WE DO EACH WEEK DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE'RE JOINED NOW BY QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SHAWN ASHLEY FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE OF THE CAPITOL.

SHAWN, THE BIG NEWS IS A BUDGET AGREEMENT.

TAKE US BEHIND THE SCENES ON HOW THAT HAPPENED SO SOON.

WELL, APRIL 1ST IS THE EARLIEST A BUDGET AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED UNDER GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT AND THE SECOND EARLIEST SINCE 2007, WHEN THE SENATE WAS EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

NOW, FOR WEEKS, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE BEEN TELLING US THAT IT WOULD BE A TIGHT BUDGET YEAR.

SO THAT REALLY LIMITED THEIR OPTIONS IN WHAT THEY COULD DO.

THE GOVERNOR'S NEGOTIATORS AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS MOVED AROUND A LOT OF MONEY, WELL OVER $1 BILLION.

THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS TO ELIMINATE ONE TIME EXPENDITURES FOR THINGS LIKE THE PURCHASE OF THE PRISON IN LAWTON, AS WELL AS NEW AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING UNITS FOR VARIOUS STATE AGENCY BUILDINGS.

THEY'LL ALSO TAKE MONEY FROM THE STATE REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND, AND THEY ARE ALSO REMOVING MONEY FROM VARIOUS AGENCY REVOLVING FUNDS THAT HAD EXCESS BALANCES FROM TAXES AND FEES.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR HAD SOME EARLY AGREEMENTS ON THINGS LIKE $250 MILLION FOR MEDICAID FUNDING, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR'S SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND.

SEAN, DEMOCRATS WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE HOUSE BILL THAT PASSED LAST WEEK, ALLOWING FOR VOLUNTARY PRAYERS IN SCHOOL.

HOUSE BILL 3240 REQUIRES THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS, BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT A POLICY REQUIRING SCHOOLS PROVIDE TIME FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES TO PRAY AND TO STUDY RELIGIOUS TEXTS.

REPRESENTATIVE TONI HASSELBACK, THE BILL'S AUTHOR, SAID IT WAS BASED ON A SUPREME COURT GUIDELINES FOR VOLUNTARY PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BUT REPRESENTATIVE JACOB ROSENKRANZ, FOR EXAMPLE, ASKED IF THE BILL MIGHT LEAD TO RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN BETWEEN MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS OR RELIGIOUS GROUPS, SEAN, LAWMAKERS ALSO MOVING AHEAD WITH BILLS TO IMPROVE LITERACY, AND EVENTUALLY THEY'LL TACKLE SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS AS WELL.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

EACH CHAMBER HAS PASSED BILLS THAT THEIR SUPPORTERS SAY WILL IMPROVE LITERACY, PARTICULARLY AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THESE BILLS PROVIDE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS, AND IF STUDENTS ARE NOT MEETING CERTAIN LITERACY BENCHMARKS FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO BE HELD BACK AND RECEIVE ADDITIONAL LITERACY EDUCATION.

THE PROPOSED STATE BUDGET INCLUDES ALMOST $80 MILLION FOR FUNDING THOSE LITERACY PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS CERTAIN MATH PROGRAMS.

LAST YEAR, YOU MAY RECALL, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED A SET OF SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS THAT WERE EVENTUALLY TOSSED OUT BY THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT.

NEW STANDARDS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN AND NOW APPROVED BY THE BOARD, AND THOSE WILL COME TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR CONSIDERATION.

THE LEGISLATURE CAN APPROVE THEM, DISAPPROVE THEM, OR TAKE NO ACTION, IN WHICH CASE THE STANDARDS WILL BE APPROVED.

THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING THOSE IN THE COMING DAYS.

AND, SEAN, THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL THAT COULD MAKE IT A LITTLE TOUGHER FOR YOUNG OKLAHOMANS TO OBTAIN THEIR FIRST DRIVER'S LICENSE.

HOW SO?

YEAH, THIS KIND OF WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH THE LITERACY EFFORTS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS PUTTING FORTH.

HOUSE BILL 4153 REQUIRES APPLICANTS FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR A DRIVING PERMIT UNDER THE AGE OF 18, SHOW THAT THEY HAVE PASSED THE EIGHTH GRADE LITERACY EXAM IN ORDER TO GET THEIR LICENSE.

IF THEY HAVE NOT, THEY'LL HAVE TO WORK ON THAT, AND ONCE THEY PASS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THEIR LICENSE REAL QUICKLY.

REPUBLICANS HAVE AGREED ON THEIR SENATE LEADER WELL AHEAD OF THE 61ST OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR.

SENATOR LONNIE PAXTON WAS RENOMINATED BY THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO BE THE CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT PRO TEM.

THEY WILL REAFFIRM THAT VOTE IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN HE'LL BE ELECTED BY THE FULL SENATE WHEN THEY MEET IN JANUARY AND BEGIN THE 61ST LEGISLATURE, WHICH WILL MEET IN 2027 AND 2028.

OKAY.

SEAN ASHLEY, PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL.

THANKS, AS ALWAYS, FOR YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

WELL, NOW THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM A JOURNALIST WHO HAS COVERED THE STATE CAPITOL FOR MORE THAN 21 YEARS, LET'S HEAR FROM THE LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD WELCOMES REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER KYLE HILBERT AND DEMOCRAT MINORITY LEADER CINDY MUNSON.

THANKS, RICH.

HOUSE SPEAKER KYLE HILBERT WILL JOIN US HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES VIA ZOOM.

BUT HERE IN STUDIO IS MINORITY HOUSE LEADER CINDY MUNSON.

NOW LET'S GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE EARLY BUDGET AGREEMENT BETWEEN REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNORS DID.

YEAH.

WELL, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HERE.

YEAH.

THE REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY THAT THEY HAVE A BUDGET DEAL AND READY TO MOVE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET OUT OF SESSION EARLY.

YOU KNOW, MY FIRST INSTINCT IN HEARING THAT IS CONCERN, MAINLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME ANYTHING IS RUSHED, THAT MEANS THAT SOMEBODY IS PROBABLY BEING LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION AND LEFT OUT OF THE LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR FOR THE BUDGET.

THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAS NOT BEEN A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND NEITHER HAS MANY OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S A HANDFUL OF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAD THEY MADE SOME NEGOTIATIONS AND THEN CAME OUT AND PRESENTED THAT THEY HAD A FINAL PRODUCT.

AND WHILE THAT'S ALL GREAT, WE STILL HAVE TO TAKE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS, FIGURE OUT WHAT'S MISSING FROM THE BUDGET, WHAT COULD STILL BE ADDED, AND HAVING HAVING QUESTIONS AND DEBATE OVER OVER THE ACTUAL BILL.

NOW, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTED, I WILL SAY THIS.

THE HOUSE CHAIRMAN, THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN IS COMING TO THE CAUCUS NEXT TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO TO ANSWER SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS, WHICH I'M GLAD TO TO HAVE HIM.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CHAIRMAN WALLACE IMPLEMENTED MANY YEARS AGO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A DONE DEAL, AND THERE PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO BE VERY MANY CHANGES FROM WHAT WE HEAR, BECAUSE AT FIRST BLUSH, IT'S LIKE WE HAVE THIS DONE APRIL 1ST INSTEAD OF THE END OF MAY ALMOST.

BUT IT'S LIKE, LET'S JUST LEAVE SOME ROOM FOR DISCUSSION, WHICH WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK.

YES.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH YOU ON THAT.

SO YOU'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL GOING INTO THE BILLS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS PART OF THE SESSION.

YOU'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT FUNDING THINGS LIKE EXPANDING ACCESS CARE THROUGH MEDICAID.

WHAT ARE THESE EFFORTS?

WHERE DO THEY STAND RIGHT NOW?

YEAH.

SO BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS WERE APPROVED BY OKLAHOMANS.

OKLAHOMANS DECIDED AND VOTED TO PROTECT MEDICAID EXPANSION IN THE CONSTITUTION.

SAME THING WITH TEA SET.

THESE ARE TWO THESE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT HELP ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SO WE KNOW PRIOR TO MEDICAID EXPANSION OR RIGHT AFTER 300,000 MORE OKLAHOMANS WERE INSURED, HOSPITALS ALL ACROSS THE STATE WERE ABLE TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE KNOWING THAT FUNDING WAS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY COULD KEEP THOSE RURAL HOSPITAL DOORS OPEN.

THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS OR PERHAPS SERVICES THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND SO TO MOVE THIS OUT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND TO PUT IT IN STATE STATUTE, WHICH IS WHAT THE SPEAKER'S BILL IS DOING, PUTS THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AT RISK.

BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN REPUBLICANS DO IS THAT WHEN THERE IS A FINANCIAL SITUATION, OR IF THEY HAVE PRIORITIES THAT THEY WANT TO MOVE AROUND, THEY WILL CUT HEALTH CARE.

IN 2016, THEY CUT 100,000 OKLAHOMANS OFF THE MEDICAID ROLLS.

SO THEY'VE ALREADY SHOWN US WHAT THEY'LL DO WHEN THEY HAVE POWER OVER MEDICAID.

THE SECOND THING WITH TEA SET IS THAT THESE ARE THESE ARE NOT TAX DOLLARS.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.

THESE ARE SETTLEMENT DOLLARS BETWEEN THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND THOSE DOLLARS WERE USED ARE ARE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE USED SPECIFICALLY FOR HEALTH CARE, PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE, HEALTH CARE AND OTHER WAYS TO KEEP OKLAHOMANS HEALTHY.

WE CONSISTENTLY RANK LAST OR NEAR THE BOTTOM FOR HEALTH CARE, HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES.

AND WHAT THIS DOES, THERE'S A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT DECIDES WHERE GRANT MONEY CAN GO TO, WHETHER THAT'S TO SOMETHING LIKE THE STEPHENSON CANCER CENTER OR OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING, OR HOSPITALS THAT ARE PROVIDING HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO OKLAHOMANS ALL ACROSS OUR STATE.

AND SO FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO WANT TO HAVE THIS POWER GRAB AND SEE A PUCK, A BUCKET OF MONEY THERE, AND TO USE IT AND MOVE IT OVER TO OUR TO TO PUT IT UNDER OUR CONTROL IS NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT WANTED.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, JUST GOING A LITTLE MORE INTO DETAIL ON, ON THIS TEA SET ISSUE, THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN WANTS MONEY TO GO TOWARDS OKLAHOMA'S PROMISE.

I'M AN OKLAHOMA'S PROMISE RECIPIENT.

I WANT THAT PROGRAM EXPANDED.

I HAVE WORKED ON EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM.

I WANT EVERY CHILD WHO WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

BUT WE COULD DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE COULD FIND WAYS TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT TAPPING INTO SET.

THIS BILL ALSO REMOVES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THEY ARE THE GOVERNING BODY, NOT LEGISLATORS, THAT ARE APPROPRIATING THOSE DOLLARS OR GIVING THOSE DOLLARS VIA GRANT.

THE SECOND THING IS TO ALLOW A VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND.

THERE IS A CAP AT 10%, BUT I HAVE TALKED TO THE BOARD OF INVESTORS IN THE PAST WHEN THIS HAS BEEN AN EFFORT IN PROBABLY ABOUT 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO, WHERE THEY SAID, THAT'S RISKY BUSINESS.

THAT'S NOT REALLY WHERE WE WANT TO PUT THESE THESE DOLLARS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE AVAILABLE, SECURED AND USED FOR THEIR PURPOSE.

AND SO HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN WITH THAT.

BUT THIS THESE BILLS PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE.

THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SENATE.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE THE ENERGY IS AROUND THESE BILLS, BUT THOSE WERE MY CONCERNS.

AND AND AGAIN, WE HAVE TO PROTECT EVERY PROGRAM.

WE HAVE TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES FOR OKLAHOMANS.

AND AS WE WILL BE SPEAKING WITH SPEAKER HILBERT LATER, WE'VE SEEN MOVEMENT ON EDUCATION BILLS SUCH AS SPEAKER HILBERT'S HOUSE BILL 4420.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED, OR IS THERE ANY CHANGES YOU WOULD MAKE TO THAT BILL?

YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANY EFFORT THAT WE WE CAN PUT FORTH TO IMPROVE LITERACY OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN IN OKLAHOMA IS IMPORTANT.

WHAT WHAT I'M MOST CONCERNED WITH IS LONG TERM FINANCIAL COMMITMENT AND MAKING SURE WE'RE MAKING THE INVESTMENTS TO OUR TEACHERS, TO OUR SCHOOLS, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MANDATING SOMETHING ON THEM AND THEN NOT GET THE OUTCOMES THAT WE WANT AND THEN UNDO ALL OF THIS.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR DISTRICTS, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

THIS IS WHAT THE OUTCOMES WE WANT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WE NEED TO FUND THOSE INVESTMENTS AND THAT IMPLEMENTATION.

AND YOU'VE ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT LEGISLATION LIKE THE CHOOSING CHILDBIRTH ACT.

WHAT CONCERNS YOU ABOUT THAT?

YEAH.

THIS YEAR WE FAST TRACKED $2 MILLION TO GO TO THE OKLAHOMA PREGNANCY CARE NETWORK THROUGH THE CHOOSING CHILDBIRTH ACT REVOLVING FUND.

WE WE DON'T FAST TRACK MONEY FOR AGENCIES.

HARDLY.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT THIS ORGANIZATION DOES.

THIS IS A 500 1C3 PRIVATE ORGANIZATION THAT'S GETTING OUR TAX DOLLARS.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS INFORMATION.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING.

AND ARE THEY MAKING ANY IMPROVEMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN IN OUR STATE.

AND THOSE QUESTIONS CONTINUE TO GO UNANSWERED.

THIS ORGANIZATION IN PARTICULAR LACKS INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

I THINK MAYBE AFTER A FEW QUESTIONS, THEY FINALLY FILED THEIR TAX PAPERWORK.

SO THOSE ARE OUR CONCERNS.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T FAST TRACKED MONEY LIKE THAT FOR ANY AGENCY.

AND WE DON'T DO IT OFTEN.

AND SO WHY WE DID THAT, THE FRONT END OF THE SESSION, I'M UNCLEAR WHEN, AGAIN, THESE EFFORTS TO REPEAL MEDICAID AND SET AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE ARE TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE.

THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE.

THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE FAST TRACKING, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE FUNDING THEY NEED AND PROTECTING THOSE PROGRAMS.

ANY OTHER BILLS OR ISSUES THAT YOU EXPECTED TO MOVE UP BY NOW THAT HAVEN'T?

AND MAYBE WHAT'S HOLDING THEM UP?

WELL, THERE'S QUITE A FEW BILLS THAT THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS FILED, SOME OF MY OWN THAT WOULD REALLY HELP WORKING FAMILIES, THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED SOME TAX RELIEF TO THEM THAT WE DIDN'T HEAR GO THROUGH.

NOW, SINCE THE CHAMBER DEADLINES HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED, THOSE BILLS AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO CROSS OVER.

AND SINCE WE ARE IN THE LAST SESSION OF THE OR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE, WE WE THOSE THOSE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY DEAD.

BUT I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, THE CONCERNS THAT I CONTINUE TO HAVE AND WHAT I WOULD WANT TO RAISE HERE IS THESE PROPERTY TAX STATE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING PUT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AND SPECIFICALLY TO BE PUT ON THE AUGUST 25TH BALLOT.

I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT THE PLAN LOOKS LIKE.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ON THE OTHER SIDE?

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES IF PROPERTY TAXES ARE FROZEN OR ELIMINATED?

OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, THEY RELY ON THOSE VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE I HAVE GREAT CONCERN.

AND WE NEED OKLAHOMANS TO WEIGH IN ON THAT.

WELL, WE WILL BE KEEPING UP WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF THE SESSION.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

NOW JOINING US VIA ZOOM IS HOUSE SPEAKER KYLE HILBERT.

MR.

SPEAKER, AN EARLY BUDGET AGREEMENT.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

YEAH, IT'S A REALLY EXCITING WEEK.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE MY COUNTERPART, SENATOR PAXTON, AS WELL AS GOVERNOR AND OUR BUDGET TEAM.

SENATOR HALL AND CHAIRMAN TREY CALDWELL AND ALL THEIR SUB CHAIRS, VICE CHAIRS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY PUT IN TO REALLY PUTTING US IN THIS POSITION.

YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE OUR CONSTITUTION SAYS WE MUST ADJOURN OUR SESSION NO LATER THAN THE FINAL FRIDAY IN MAY.

AND MANY TIMES THROUGH VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, THE LEGISLATURE BECOMES IN A POSITION WHERE THE BUDGET ISN'T FINALIZED UNTIL THE FINAL WEEK.

AND SO ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE YOU'RE OPERATING UNDER THE GUN, YOU HAVE A BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE TO PASS UNDER A QUICK DEADLINE.

AND BY HAVING A BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT, BY HAVING REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCING OUR POSITION ON THE BUDGET ON APRIL 1ST, IT PUTS US IN A POSITION WHERE, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK, AS WE CONSIDER THE BUDGET, PEOPLE HAVE HAD A WEEK TO TO HEAR IT OUT AND VET IT FOR THE PUBLIC AND EVERYBODY BEFORE YOU HAVE A FINAL VOTE.

AND IT'S JUST A MUCH BETTER PROCESS AND NOT RUSHED AND JUST DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE OUR TEAM FOR PUTTING US IN THIS POSITION.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, RATHER THAN BEING UNDER THE GUN, AS IT WERE, IT'S WE'VE GOT IT FIGURED OUT NOW IN APRIL, IT'S THE 1ST OF APRIL.

SO NOW WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT HALF OF THE LEGISLATURE?

YEAH.

SO THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS IT ALSO HELPS AGENCIES BETTER PREPARE.

SO THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINS JULY 1ST.

AND SO OFTENTIMES WHEN THE LEGISLATURE FINISHES THE BUDGET IN THE FINAL WEEK OF MAY, THAT MEANS AGENCIES HAVE ONE MONTH IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BALANCE THE BOOKS FOR THE BUDGET THAT JUST BEGINS A FEW WEEKS LATER.

SO BY ANNOUNCING ON APRIL 1ST WITH THE BUDGET'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IT'S A MUCH BETTER PROCESS FOR ALL OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND THE BUDGET WE PASSED IS REALLY GOOD.

FOR THE EIGHTH TIME IN TEN YEARS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WILL HAVE MORE MONEY THAN THEY'VE EVER HAD IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT FROM US.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S IMPORTANT.

ONE THING THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT RELENTLESSLY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS READING FOR US IN OKLAHOMA, ONLY 27% OF OUR THIRD GRADERS CAN READ AT A THIRD GRADE READING LEVEL.

AND FRANKLY, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

WHEN YOU ASK YOUR LISTENERS IF ANYONE'S LISTENING ABOUT WHERE THEY BELIEVE OKLAHOMA RANKS IN EDUCATION, THEY'RE PROBABLY SAYING 48TH, 49TH, IF NOT 50TH.

AND FRANKLY, THAT'S FAILURE IN OUTCOMES.

WE NEED TO HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES AND WE CAN DO IT.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST DECADE, WE HAVE A STATE LIKE MISSISSIPPI, WHICH IS GENERATIONALLY BEEN AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE BARREL IN EDUCATION OUTCOMES, AND THEY'VE HAD A GREAT TURNAROUND OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST DECADE WHILE INVESTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY IN EDUCATION AS WE DO WHILE HAVING HIGHER POVERTY RATES.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SKYROCKET IN EDUCATION RANKINGS.

JUST LAST YEAR, MISSISSIPPI, WHICH HAS GENERATIONALLY BEEN LAST IN EDUCATION RANKINGS LAST YEAR, THEIR FOURTH GRADE READING SCORES WERE NINTH IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SO OUR QUESTION IS, IF MISSISSIPPI CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T OKLAHOMA.

AND SO WE'RE PLANNING OUR FLAG IN THE GROUND.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT WORKING WITH PARENTS, WORKING WITH GRANDPARENTS, WORKING WITH OUR TEACHERS.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE READING ADEQUATELY AND THAT WE CAN HAVE GREAT SUCCESS IN EDUCATION IN OKLAHOMA.

AND THIS BUDGET ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.

AND SPEAKER HILBERT, AS WE'RE GETTING TO THE MIDDLE PART OF THE SESSION, LOOKING AHEAD, ARE THERE ANY BILLS OR ISSUES YOU EXPECTED TO BE MOVED FORWARD BY NOW THAT HAVE NOT, AND MAYBE WHAT'S HOLDING THEM UP?

YEAH, SO THIS IS REALLY KIND OF THE TURNING POINT IN SESSION.

LAST WEEK WE HAD A DEADLINE WEEK WHERE THE HOUSE BILLS HAD A DEADLINE OF THURSDAY TO PASS AND SENATE BILLS ON THEIR SIDE.

AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE VETTING THE SENATE BILLS THEY SENT OVER AS THEY WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH COMMITTEE.

AND SO IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGET WORK, WE'RE ALSO WORKING THROUGH POLICY DILIGENTLY.

SO YOU'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, HOUSE MEMBERS CONTINUE TO DIG INTO THOSE SENATE BILLS, AS WELL AS THE SENATORS DIGGING INTO HOUSE BILLS AS WE PASS POLICY.

THAT'S GOOD FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON THAT FRONT?

YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, MENTAL HEALTH IS A REAL CHALLENGE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND IT HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE.

AND YOU SEE IN OUR STATE BUDGET, WE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR OUR PROVIDERS AND TRYING TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I WILL SAY, I THINK THIS IS AN AREA WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF A HEAVY LOAD ON WHOMEVER THE NEXT GOVERNOR IS.

AND SO THAT'S MY CHALLENGE TO ALL THE CANDIDATES.

RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IS WHOEVER ENDS UP WINNING, THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO LEAN INTO THIS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND CAST A VISION OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STITT ADMINISTRATION AS HE FINISHES OUT THE REMAINING NINE MONTHS IN HIS TENURE, TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

BUT WE WE DO HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.

AND IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE'RE CERTAINLY COMMITTED TO TRYING TO IMPROVE THOSE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.

AND THIS WILL BE A QUESTION THAT I WILL THAT I THAT I SPOKE WITH CINDY ABOUT.

BUT THE CHOOSING CHILDBIRTH ACT.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THAT.

YEAH.

ULTIMATELY, LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.

AND FOR US IN OKLAHOMA, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING MOTHERS.

AND SO WHEN, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY MOTHERS IN OKLAHOMA HAVE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARISE WHERE THEY HAVE AN UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY, THAT WE HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP HELP THEM BOTH HELP THE MOTHER AS WELL AS HELP THE CHILD, BECAUSE WE, WE ARE A PRO-LIFE STATE.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MOMS WHEN WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT KIDS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT ALL OKLAHOMANS.

FINAL THOUGHTS.

ANYBODY LOOKING AND WATCHING THIS NOW GOING FORWARD FOR THE REST OF THE SESSION?

YEAH.

STAY TUNED.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A GREAT SESSION.

I REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH SENATOR PAXON, GOVERNOR STITT.

WE'VE HAD A GREAT SESSION.

AND OF COURSE, IT IS THE ELECTION SEASON.

SO EVERYBODY'S FOCUSED ON THE CAMPAIGNS THAT'LL BE HAPPENING.

BUT MAKE SURE AND GO VOTE AND AND STAY TUNED TO EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

SPEAKER HILBERT, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO JOIN US.

YOU BET.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

AND CASSIDY, THANK YOU FOR THAT CONVERSATION.

IF YOU'RE A YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL HOOPSTER, IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN GETTING TIPS FROM AN NBA STANDOUT AND THE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AT STAR SPENCER HIGH SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA CITY GOT THAT OPPORTUNITY ON TUESDAY, THUNDER CENTER ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN PRACTICING WITH THE TEAM AND SHARING SOME OF HIS CONSIDERABLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, IHEART IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SKECHERS, DONATING NEW BASKETBALL SHOES AND $15,000 TO THE SCHOOL TO SUPPORT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR HOME INSTABILITY.

THE MONEY CAME IN THE SHOES.

WE WERE ALL THERE, SO IT WAS BEAUTIFUL THEN.

IT'S EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL NOW BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN ANOTHER PAIR OF SHOES.

AND YOU KNOW, ISAIAH CAME THIS TIME AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ADDED.

I THINK EVEN BY HIM.

I THINK A BIG THING IS ALSO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CONSISTENT.

I THINK EVERYTHING I DO IN THE COMMUNITY IS ABOUT CONSISTENCY.

AND SO I THINK JUST BEING HERE WITH SKECHERS, BEING ABLE TO JUST SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM, GET TO KNOW THEM.

WHAT SALIH NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE FIRST EVENT.

AND SO I MEAN, NOW, I MEAN, JUST IN A SITUATION WHERE I JUST WANT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THEM.

THEY ALREADY INVITED ME TO THEIR GAME NEXT SEASON, SO I GOT TO MAKE SURE I MAKE THAT.

BUT IT'S COOL.

I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT GROUP OF GUYS.

COACH WAS GREAT.

I MEAN, JUST WATCHING HIM, COACH WAS DEFINITELY COOL AND ALL THOSE PLAYERS.

HARTENSTEIN ALSO HELD A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH THESE YOUNG STUDENTS, FOCUSING ON DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, THE OKLAHOMA CONNECTION TO THE ARTEMIS MISSION.

IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES, TO THE SURFACE OF THE MOON, AND THEN POSSIBLY TO MARS.

IN THE FUTURE.

JASON DOYLE WILL HAVE OUR REPORT FRIDAY AT SEVEN, AND WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK TO LOOK AT THE STAFFORD AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM IN WEATHERFORD, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA JASON STEWART.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND, IF YOU'D LIKE TO WATCH ANY OF THE REPORTS IN THIS NEWSCAST AGAIN, THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE BY MONDAY NIGHT ON YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS MORE OF OUR CONTENT BY VISITING THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT FACEBOOK PAGE.

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.

OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURE STARTS AT SUNUP.

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY BRINGS YOU THE BEST OF AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AG RESEARCH, EXTENSION AND M