NUTCRACKER ON GREAT PERFORMANCES TUESDAY EVENING AT EIGHT ON OETA.

ENJOY OETA FOR FREE ANYTIME.

TUNE IN OVER THE AIR OR VISIT OETA.

WHY A GRADE OF ZERO CONTINUES TO DIVIDE THE CAMPUS.

A LOT OF STUDENTS SAYING THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH SIMILAR THINGS IN THEIR CLASSES, AND THAT THEY'RE SCARED TO SPEAK UP ABOUT IT.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE EVER HEARD OF A FACULTY PUTTING ON LEAVE AS A RESULT OF A GRADE DISPUTE.

AS OU PREPARES FOR THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS, OSU INTRODUCES ITS NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.

CAN WE WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP?

OKAY, AND SORRY, CHAD, BUT MY ANSWER TO THAT IS HELL YES.

WE CAN WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AROUND HERE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKES AIM AT THE STITT ADMINISTRATION, ISSUING CITATIONS TO INDIGENOUS HUNTERS ON TRIBAL LANDS.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE DOUBT THE LAW IS CLEAR.

THE GOVERNOR WILL LOSE AGAIN, AND WE'LL JUST BE A LITTLE BIT POORER AS A STATE.

HOW DHS AND GENEROUS DONORS WILL MAKE THIS A MERRIER CHRISTMAS FOR HUNDREDS OF FOSTER CARE CHILDREN.

HE'S WOKE UP TO NO TOYS FROM SANTA CLAUS.

AND THIS YEAR, I'LL SEE A LITTLE BOY WAKE UP TO MORE TOYS THAN HE'LL EVER KNOW.

WHY ARE SHOPPERS FLOCKING BACK TO OKLAHOMA'S BIG MALLS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?

INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE.

COMMUNITY.

BEING ABLE TO GO SHOPPING AT A PHYSICAL LOCATION WHEN YOU WANTED TO.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, INCLUDING U.S.

REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE BICE.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

A 630 WORD ESSAY HAS LED TO MILLIONS OF WORDS BEING WRITTEN AND SPOKEN CONCERNING ITS CONTENTS AND RESULTING FALLOUT, AND THE DIVIDE BETWEEN WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG HAS BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL STORY, WITH SUPPORTERS PROTESTING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH THE ONGOING CONTROVERSY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

TAELYR.

WELL, RICH, THE FALLOUT FROM STUDENT SAMANTHA FULNECKY RECEIVING A ZERO ON AN ESSAY HAS NOW LED TO TWO INSTRUCTORS BEING REMOVED FROM THE CLASSROOMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

JUSTICE FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS GATHERED AT THE OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL STUDENT UNION ON DECEMBER 5TH IN SUPPORT OF TEACHING ASSISTANT MEL COUTH, WHO WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AFTER GIVING SAMANTHA FULNECKY A FAILING GRADE ON AN ESSAY.

WE ARE CALLING ON THE UNIVERSITY TO STAND ACCOUNTABLE ON THEIR ACTIONS AND TO SUPPORT THE STUDENT WHO HAS UNDERGONE BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND OTHER HORRENDOUS THINGS.

IN THE WAKE OF FRIDAY'S PROTESTS, THE UNIVERSITY SUSPENDED A SECOND INSTRUCTOR FOR VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION AFTER SHE EXCUSED STUDENTS FROM CLASS TO ATTEND THE PROTEST, WHILE NOT ALLOWING OTHER STUDENTS TO BE EXCUSED TO ATTEND A COUNTER PROTEST.

THE OU GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE PASSED A RESOLUTION THURSDAY CALLING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM THE UNIVERSITY.

I WISH THE POLICIES WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE OUT KNOWN FOR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW PROPER PROTOCOL.

I KNOW THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS WHO HAVE CHALLENGED THEIR GRADES AND THEIR GRADES, AND THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE EVER HEARD OF A FACULTY PUTTING ON LEAVE AS A RESULT OF A TRADE DISPUTE, SO I WISH THOSE KIND OF COMMUNICATIONS WERE MORE OUT THERE.

I WISH WE TALKED ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT WERE IN PLACE AND KIND OF MAYBE REVISITED SOME OF THOSE POLICIES.

THIS COMES AFTER NIKKI'S ESSAY WENT VIRAL ONLINE AFTER SHE CLAIMED RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION AFTER RECEIVING THE FAILING GRADE.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE GRADE, IT'S ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND IT AND ABOUT WHAT THE UNIVERSITY IS ALLOWING.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWING PROFESSORS LIKE THIS AT UNIVERSITIES THAT DON'T WANT THEIR STUDENTS TO HAVE FREE SPEECH.

I THINK IT'S IT'S JUST CRAZY.

AND IT'S SO MUCH DEEPER THAN THE SCORE AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT.

SO WHAT WAS THE ASSIGNMENT?

WELL, STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO WRITE A 650 WORD ESSAY REACTING TO AN ARTICLE ON GENDER ROLES.

THE PAPER WAS GRADED ON A 25 POINT SCALE, AND POINTS WERE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA.

DOES THE PAPER SHOW A CLEAR TIE IN TO THE ARTICLE ASSIGNED?

DOES THE PAPER PRESENT A THOUGHTFUL REACTION OR RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE RATHER THAN A SUMMARY?

AND IS THE PAPER CLEARLY WRITTEN?

WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO THESE REACTION PAPERS ALL SEMESTER, SO I'VE DONE QUITE A FEW OF THEM.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN OVER ANYTHING THIS CONTROVERSIAL UNTIL UNTIL NOW.

FULNECKY CONTENDED THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS, AND REFER TO THE BIBLE IN HER ESSAY TO SUPPORT HER ARGUMENT.

HOWEVER, THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THE ESSAY LACKED EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE AND WAS OFFENSIVE.

WE WERE ASKED TO GIVE OUR OPINION AND OUR REACTION TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT GENDER STEREOTYPES AND GENDER NORMS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I DID.

I DIDN'T NEED ANY EVIDENCE.

IT WAS NOWHERE IN THE INSTRUCTIONS OR IN THE SYLLABUS ANYWHERE.

THE UNIVERSITY SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THEY TAKE CONCERNS INVOLVING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS SERIOUSLY, AND IMMEDIATELY BEGIN A FULL REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

BUT FULNECK SAYS THERE ARE MORE STUDENTS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OU, A LOT OF STUDENTS SAYING THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH SIMILAR THINGS IN THEIR CLASSES AND THAT THEY'RE SCARED TO SPEAK UP ABOUT IT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THAT I'M GLAD I CAN TALK ABOUT THIS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN JUST THE GRADE, BECAUSE OTHER STUDENTS ARE DEALING WITH THIS, TOO, AND DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH ON THEIR ON THEIR CAMPUS.

LAST WEEK, FULNECKY SHARED HER SIDE OF THE STORY WITH OAK PARK, A CONSERVATIVE GROUP.

COULD YOU JUST START BY TELLING US WHEN YOU TURNED THIS ASSIGNMENT IN, YOU HAD NO IDEA THAT THE GUY WHO WAS YOUR TEACHER WAS ACTUALLY YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A WOMAN.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YES.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE.

IT WAS A TEACHING ASSISTANT.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT HE WAS TRANSGENDER.

I KNOW PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE TRIED TO SAY THAT I'VE ORCHESTRATED THE WHOLE THING AND THAT I WROTE THAT PAPER TO BE OFFENSIVE, BUT I WAS ASKED TO GIVE MY OPINION, AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WOULD OFFEND THE PROFESSOR.

OAK PARK BOARD MEMBER, REPRESENTATIVE SHANE JETT, SAYS THE FREEDOM CAUCUS PLANS TO SPEAK WITH THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT ABOUT THE ISSUE.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT THE FREEDOM CAUCUS IN OKLAHOMA STATE SENATE AND HOUSE HAS ISSUED A REQUEST TO MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY, AND WE EXPECT TO GET ANSWERS ON THIS.

AND NOT ONLY THIS, BUT THE UNIVERSITY FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEATH OF CHARLIE KIRK.

THE OU JUNIOR HAS GAINED SUPPORT FROM OKLAHOMA CONSERVATIVES LIKE FORMER STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS.

WHAT AN ABSOLUTE AMERICAN HERO STANDING UP FOR HER CHRISTIAN FAITH AGAINST THESE RADICAL LEFTISTS THAT CONTINUE TO TRY TO FORCE WOKEISM ON THIS NEXT GENERATION.

I COULDN'T BE MORE IMPRESSED WITH SAMANTHA.

I COULDN'T BE MORE IMPRESSED WITH HER TENACITY AND INTELLIGENCE.

AND GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT, WHO TOOK TO FACEBOOK TO SHARE HIS THOUGHTS ON THE SITUATION.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR FREEDOM AND INSEPARABLE FROM THE ABILITY TO HAVE A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION.

THE SITUATION AT OU IS DEEPLY CONCERNING, AND I'M CALLING ON THE OU REGENTS TO REVIEW THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION AND ENSURE ALL APPROPRIATE ACTIONS ARE TAKEN TO ENSURE OTHER STUDENTS AREN'T UNFAIRLY PENALIZED FOR THEIR BELIEFS.

THE ESSAY HAS RECEIVED MIXED REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE NATION.

SOME ONLINE USERS SIDE WITH FULNECKY, WHILE OTHERS AGREE WITH THE INSTRUCTOR'S GRADE.

NEVERTHELESS, FULNECKY SAYS SHE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A 100 ON THE ASSIGNMENT.

I THINK I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN 100.

I'VE GOTTEN 100 ON EVERY SINGLE ESSAY I'VE WRITTEN IN THIS CLASS, AND I WRITE THEM ALL THE SAME.

ALL THE EXACT SAME.

THE TA HAS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH HOW I WRITE MY PAPERS IN THIS CLASS, SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TITLE OR GRAMMAR OR HOW I WRITE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT HAS TO DO WITH ME TALKING ABOUT GOD IN IT AND MY STANCE ON GENDER.

BUT A FELLOW STUDENT WHO ASKED NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED DISAGREES.

OUR PROFESSORS ARE GRADING BECAUSE THEY'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THEY'RE EDUCATED AND THEY KNOW HOW TO GRADE PAPERS.

RIGHT NOW, SHE SAYS, SHE'S FOCUSED ON PREPARING FOR FINALS.

YEAH, I WILL BE RETURNING AND FINISHING CLASSES, FOCUSING ON FINALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

TO NIKKI TOLD US THAT THE UNIVERSITY DECIDED THAT THE ZERO SHE RECEIVED WOULD NOT COUNT TOWARDS HER FINAL GRADE.

RICH TAYLOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, SOMETHING PROBABLY EVERYONE AT OU CAN AGREE ON MAKING THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND HOSTING A HOME GAME AT OWEN FIELD IS WORTH BIG MONEY, BUT MAYBE NOT AS MUCH AS YOU THINK FOR HOSTING ALABAMA ON FRIDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 19TH.

THE SEC CONFERENCE RECEIVES $4 MILLION THAT IS SPLIT BETWEEN ITS 16 MEMBER SCHOOLS.

FIVE SEC TEAMS MADE THE PLAYOFFS, SO THAT'S $20 MILLION RIGHT OFF THE BAT WITH EVEN BIGGER PAYOUTS.

IF YOU CONTINUE TO WIN AND ADVANCE.

OU ALSO RECEIVES $3 MILLION TO COVER EXPENSES FOR THE GAME AND TICKET AND CONCESSION REVENUE.

THE CFP KEEPS ALL TICKET REVENUE AND DISTRIBUTES THAT AMONG ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS.

OKLAHOMA DOES GET TO KEEP ALL CONCESSIONS AND PARKING REVENUE.

WELL, THERE WAS PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT UP IN STILLWATER ON MONDAY AS THE COWBOYS OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED MIKE GUNDY'S FULL TIME REPLACEMENT.

FORMER NORTH TEXAS COACH ERIC MORRIS LED THE MEAN GREEN TO A TEN TWO SEASON THIS YEAR.

YEAH, I THINK IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITH WITH THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND REVENUE SHARE AND NIL WHERE IT'S GONE, I THINK SOME PEOPLE FORGET THAT FOOTBALL'S A REALLY TOUGH SPORT.

IT'S HARD TO WIN.

IT'S MADE FOR TOUGH PEOPLE THAT ARE BIG, STRONG, FAST, WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

AND SO WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN BRINGING THESE KIDS TOGETHER AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME.

AND THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE BUILD IN THAT LOCKER ROOM IS, IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN OLD SCHOOL MENTALITY THAT WE BRING.

NOW TO DO THAT, I THINK YOU HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ON THE FRONT END.

THAT WAY YOU CAN COACH THEM REALLY HARD ON THE GRASS.

THE 40 YEAR OLD MORRIS BECOMES OSU'S 25TH HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.

HE SIGNED A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WORTH JUST UNDER $4 MILLION PER SEASON.

OSU ALSO PAID $2.3 MILLION TO BUYOUT MORRIS'S CONTRACT AT NORTH TEXAS.

ADVANCES IN AI TECHNOLOGY ARE MAKING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHAT'S REAL AND WHAT'S FAKE ONLINE, AND THAT CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS A NATIONAL STANDARD ON HOW AI WILL BE REGULATED, WHILE STATES LIKE OKLAHOMA WANT TO HAVE THEIR OWN SAY IN HOW THE TECHNOLOGY IS GOVERNED.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT.

NOAH.

YEAH.

RICH, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THURSDAY NIGHT THAT WILL SET UP A TASK FORCE DESIGNED TO SUE STATES FOR CERTAIN STATUTES ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, LIKE MANY OTHER STATES, OKLAHOMA AS AI LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS AND SOME TEED UP FOR THE FUTURE.

HI, HOW CAN I HELP YOU TODAY?

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LIKE CHATGPT HERE HAS A RAPIDLY GROWING TECHNOLOGY AND GOVERNMENTS ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP.

DO YOU PREFER BEING REGULATED BY STATE GOVERNMENT OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

I DON'T HAVE PERSONAL PREFERENCES, BUT I CAN SAY THAT STATE REGULATION CAN BE MORE LOCALIZED AND FLEXIBLE.

WHILE FEDERAL REGULATION CAN PROVIDE CONSISTENCY ACROSS STATES.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE CONTEXT.

THAT'S THE CENTRAL ISSUE HERE, THE PERENNIAL FEDERALIST DEBATE.

THE QUESTION IS WHO IS IN THE BEST POSITION TO REGULATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

AND SPECIFICALLY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY?

HART BROWN WITH PR FIRM SAXUM, WORKS ALONGSIDE COMPANIES IN IMPLEMENTING AI INTO THE WORKSPACE.

HE'S BEEN TRACKING A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER COMING DOWN FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL HINDER THE STATES ABILITY TO REGULATE THE TECHNOLOGY.

THE CRUX OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS TO CHALLENGE STATE LAWS ON AI, THE EO SAYS UNITED STATES AI COMPANIES MUST BE FREE TO INNOVATE WITHOUT CUMBERSOME REGULATION.

BUT EXCESSIVE STATE REGULATION THWARTS THIS IMPERATIVE.

IN EFFECT, WHAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER DOES IS CREATE AN AI LITIGATION TASK FORCE, AND ITS FUNCTION WILL BE TO SUE STATES ON THE GROUNDS THAT SUCH LAWS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY REGULATE INTERSTATE COMMERCE, ARE PREEMPTED BY EXISTING FEDERAL REGULATIONS, OR ARE OTHERWISE UNLAWFUL.

IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S JUDGMENT, HART BELIEVES THIS FEDERAL EFFORT WILL OPEN UP A LITIGIOUS PANDORA'S BOX, CREATING A LEGALLY VOLATILE ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL ULTIMATELY THROTTLE BUSINESSES.

IF WE'RE IN A BIT OF A START STOP ENVIRONMENT, THEN IT BECOMES QUITE COMPLEX FOR BUSINESSES TO ADOPT THE TECHNOLOGY FAST, WHICH MEANS WE WOULDN'T GET NECESSARILY THE ECONOMIC LIFT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S RATIONALE FOR LAUNCHING THIS TASK FORCE IS ONE OF NATIONAL SECURITY.

THE WORLD IS IN A TYPE OF ARMS RACE TO DEVELOP ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

AND THE PRESIDENT ARGUES INDIVIDUAL STATE BY STATE REGULATIONS MAY CLOG THE US'S ABILITY TO OUTCOMPETE ADVERSARIES LIKE CHINA.

WHOEVER DEVELOPS IT FIRST AND FOREMOST, OVER THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS, HIGHLY LIKELY TO BE THE ECONOMICALLY DOMINANT COUNTRY FOR THE NEXT 75 TO 100.

SO THERE'S THE UNDERLYING CURRENTS THAT ARE CAUSING THIS QUESTION OF SHOULD THIS BE STATE GOVERNED AND REGULATED OR REGULATED ON THE FEDERAL SIDE?

SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE OKLAHOMA?

IN ALL OF THIS, I SPOKE WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYES, WHO HAS AN AI RELATED BILL IN THE WORKS.

THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN ENUMERATED POWERS DESIGNATED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

ALL OTHER POWERS ARE DESIGNATED TO THE STATE.

SO WHILE THERE IS A ROLE, I THINK, FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PLAY IN REGULATION OF AI ONE, ME GOING BACK AND READING THE TRUMP ORDER, I DON'T THINK WHAT HE'S LOOKING AT AND WHAT I'M LOOKING AT ARE THE SAME THING.

YEAH.

AND SO YOU DON'T FORESEE THERE BEING ANY ENTANGLEMENTS WITH OKLAHOMA AND THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER?

I DON'T.

BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S A COIN TOSS SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL.

YOU KNOW, SUPREMACY, THE LAW HAYES IS DEVELOPING HAS TO DO WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION AGAINST MALICIOUS DEEPFAKES, A TYPE OF AI THAT REPLICATES A PERSON'S LIKENESS, MAKING THEM SAY OR DO THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

A RECENT EXAMPLE PERMEATING THE POLITICAL SPACE IN OKLAHOMA IS AN ATTACK AD ON FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER AND CURRENT OKLAHOMA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE CHARLES MCCALL, A PHONY, CHARLES MCCALL TALKS BIG ABOUT STOPPING SEX CHANGES FOR MINORS.

THE AD, WHICH PLAYS OFF THE CANDIDATE'S OWN AD WHERE MCCALL CHOPS A BANANA IN HALF, ATTACKS HIS RECORD ON SEX CHANGES FOR MINORS AND UTILIZES AN AI GENERATED VISUAL OF MCCALL PEELING A BANANA BANANA.

CHUCK MCCALL JUST TOO WOKE FOR OKLAHOMA, HAYES STRESSES THIS IS THE AREA STATES HAVE THE BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITY IN SETTING UP GUARDRAILS FOR PROTECTING OKLAHOMANS FROM DISINFORMATION AND FROM THEIR LIKENESS BEING NON-CONSENSUALLY MANIPULATED.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR POLITICIANS, EVEN THOUGH THAT THAT KIND OF STIRRED THE POT BACK UP WHEN THEY RAN THAT AD.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR PROTECTIONS FOR YOU AND I AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE, BECAUSE IT'S A HUMAN BASIC RIGHT TO CONTROL YOUR NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS AND VOICE.

OKLAHOMA DOES ALREADY HAVE A HANDFUL OF LAWS RELATING TO AI ON THE BOOKS.

ONE OF THEM ADDED AI GENERATED CONTENT TO OKLAHOMA'S CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE STATUTE.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER DOES EXPLICITLY MENTION CHILD PROTECTIONS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK.

THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IN OKLAHOMA IS MESS WITH SOMEBODY'S KIDS.

AND IF YOU'RE USING AI TO CREATE VIDEO IMAGES OF KIDS AND THEN PORTRAYING THAT IN PORNOGRAPHIC FASHION, I'M SORRY, I THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IF THEY TRY TO DO THAT.

HART ALSO BELIEVES LAWS THAT AIM TO PROTECT CONSUMERS GENERALLY WON'T BE THE FIRST TO RECEIVE LAWSUITS.

HOWEVER, HE DOES EXPECT THERE TO BE LEGAL PUSHBACK FROM STATES CLAIMING THEIR POWERS ARE BEING TRAMPLED ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN STATES ARE THE ONES COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER.

IF YOU CAN WRITE THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK CORRECTLY, THEN I THINK WHAT YOU'D FIND IS YOU WOULD FIND MORE AND MORE BUSINESSES WANTING TO COME TO YOUR STATE.

HE GOES ON TO SAY OKLAHOMA IS IN A PRIME POSITION TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN ATTRACTING THIS TYPE OF COMMERCE, ADDING THAT NO MATTER WHICH WAY THE SCALE TIPS, COMPETITION IS UNAVOIDABLE.

WHILE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE EVERYBODY GET ON THE SAME PAGE AND HAVE BROAD ADOPTION OF WHATEVER REGULATORY FRAMEWORK WE WE CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, I THINK YOU WILL SEE, INEVITABLY THERE WILL BE SOME STATES THAT WILL DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY NO MATTER WHAT.

AND ULTIMATELY, FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE, THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES WILL DECIDE WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT THE MONEY.

REPRESENTATIVE HAYES CLARIFIES THAT HE ONLY CAN SPEAK FOR HIS BILL, AND SAYS OTHER LAWMAKERS COULD INTRODUCE BILLS THAT RUN UP AGAINST THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER.

RICH NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IS ALSO CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF A PROFESSIONAL DEGREE.

CRITICS SAY THIS WILL IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF STUDENT LOAN MONEY AVAILABLE FOR NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO FEWER PEOPLE PURSUING THOSE CAREERS.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

SOME FOLKS DECIDED TO TAKE THE PROFESSIONAL PIECE OF THIS AND SAY THAT NURSES OR TEACHERS OR OTHER IMPORTANT PROFESSIONS AREN'T PROFESSIONAL.

THAT WAS NEVER THE THE INTENT.

THE INTENT WAS SORT OF TO SAY, THESE ARE THE DEGREES THAT HAVE A HIGHER, HIGHER COST ASSOCIATED WITH THEM OUT OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SORT OF DESIGNATED THOSE HIGHER LOAN LIMITS.

THIS WON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL UNTIL THE NEXT SUMMER.

AND SO WE HAVE OUR UNIVERSITIES LOOKING AT THE THE DEGREES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED AND SEEING IF THERE IS ONE.

YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS IS THAT THE ACROSS THE SYSTEM OF OKLAHOMA HIGHER EDUCATION, PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUR COST OF ATTENDANCE IS IS VERY LOW.

IT'S ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE NATION.

AND SO FOR ANY CHANGES LIKE THIS, WE HOPE THAT THAT IS MITIGATED BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE VERY AFFORDABLE.

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

THE CHOCTAW, CHICKASAW AND CHEROKEE NATIONS ARE SUING GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT AND THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOR ISSUING CITATIONS TO INDIGENOUS HUNTERS ON TRIBAL LANDS.

THE TRIBES SAY THEY HAVE A SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO HUNT AND FISH AS THEY WISH, WHILE THE GOVERNOR CONTENDS LAWS ARE BEING APPLIED DIFFERENTLY TO OKLAHOMA CITIZENS BASED ON THEIR RACE, WHICH IS ILLEGAL.

WHILE THE DISPUTE WILL BE DECIDED IN FEDERAL COURT THIS WEEK, ATTORNEY GENERAL DRUMMOND ISSUED A NON-BINDING OPINION ON THE MATTER.

IT'S AN UNFORCED ERROR BY THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

IT'S A SILLY WASTE OF RESOURCES.

IT IS A PETULANT GOVERNOR WHO IS HOLDING HIS BREATH AND SAYING, IT'S MY WAY, EVEN IF IT'S CONTRARY TO THE LAW.

EVERY ONE OF THE TRIBES I'VE TALKED TO, THEIR LEADERSHIP.

THEY WOULD SO LOOK FORWARD TO A GOVERNOR WHO SAYS, TRIBAL PARTNER, PLEASE CONTACT WITH US.

AND THEY WOULD ALL TO A TO A TRIBE DO THAT.

AND THEN THE STATE WOULD BE GETTING REVENUE THAT IT PRESENTLY IS NOT.

AND I KNOW $35 MILLION IS NOTHING TO THE GOVERNOR, BUT IT'S MEANINGFUL TO THIS TAXPAYER.

WHY ARE WE LEAVING THAT ON THE TABLE?

IT'S PETULANCE.

IN HIS MOST RECENT STATEMENT ON THE MATTER, GOVERNOR STITT SAID THIS ABOUT DRUMMOND, WHO IS SEEKING TO REPLACE HIM AS GOVERNOR IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.

STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS HAVE BEEN CLEAR.

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA CAN PROSECUTE INDIANS WHO COMMIT NON-MAJOR CRIMES IN OUR STATE, WHILE DRUMMOND'S TOP POLITICAL DONORS HAVE PRESSURED HIM TO DISREGARD STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.

WE BELIEVE OKLAHOMANS SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY UNDER THE LAW.

WHILE MILLENNIALS AND GEN X GRAVITATED TO ONLINE SHOPPING.

TURNING THEIR BACKS ON SHOPPING MALLS, IT TURNS OUT GEN ZERS ARE EMBRACING THE IN-PERSON SOCIAL ASPECT OF THE MALLS, LEADING TO A RESURGENCE IN THEIR POPULARITY.

AND THERE'S NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF THAT THAN OKLAHOMA CITY'S PENN SQUARE MALL, WHICH IS CELEBRATING ITS 65TH ANNIVERSARY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

BABY BOOMER STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

STEVE RICH, OKLAHOMA CITY LEADERS IN THE LATE 1950S ENVISIONED PENN SQUARE MALL'S POTENTIAL AS ONE OF THE PREMIER SHOPPING CENTERS IN THE STATE.

AND WHILE COVID 19 AND ONLINE COMPETITION ROCKED MANY RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS ALL OVER THE US, PENN SQUARE REMAINS THE LARGEST MALL IN THE SOONER STATE.

OKAY, PERFECT.

WHAT'S THE PRICE POINT ON THAT BABY?

RILEY MCMILLAN AND HER TWIN SISTER, JORDAN.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR TOTAL TODAY IS GONNA BE 75.98.

YOU WANT TO DO CASH OR CARD OR CARD?

OKAY.

OWN AND OPERATE THE BUCKLE ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF PENN SQUARE MALL.

YEAH.

LOVE IT.

PERFECT.

BLAKE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

THE LADIES MOVED HERE FROM A BUCKLE IN AN AMARILLO, TEXAS, MALL SIX MONTHS AGO.

AND BLACK FRIDAY A FEW WEEKS AGO WAS AN EYE OPENER.

LOVE.

GOOD FOR MOMS AND STUFF.

AND THEN THIS ONE'S GOING TO RUN ABOUT 86 TO 90.

NICE.

RIGHT GUY.

SAME THING.

BUCKLE BLOCK.

SO 86 TO 90.

BUT I DID THE TROUSER BOTTOM OPENING BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN HUGE.

AND THEN WE JUST GOT ALL THOSE SEVENS IN TOO.

SO THE BUCKLE DID MORE BUSINESS ON BLACK FRIDAY THAN ANY STORE IN THAT SPACE HAD DONE HERE IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES.

I THINK.

LOCATION AND THEN THE MALL MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THE STORES THAT THEY'VE BROUGHT INTO THE MALL.

I MEAN, IT'S GOT A GOOD ASSORTMENT OF LIKE CORPORATE BRANDS, BUT THEN ALSO SMALL MOM AND POP BRANDS ARE ALSO IN HERE.

SO IT'S GOT A FAIR ASSORTMENT OF UNIQUE BUT ALSO WELL-KNOWN BRANDS.

TO ONE THING, I THINK THE MALL'S ALSO DONE THAT'S HELPED SINCE THE PANDEMIC IS THEY OFFER ONLINE SERVICES.

YES.

DO YOU GUYS OFFER ANY OF THAT?

WE DO.

SO WE'VE GOT ONLINE SERVICES TO WHERE WE CAN GIVE THE GUESTS THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE DO IN STORE, BUT ALSO ONLINE.

YEAH, WE'VE GOT LITTLE PERSONAL STYLISTS THAT WE HAVE THAT CAN MESSAGE PEOPLE AND HELP WITH CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS, OUTFIT IDEAS.

HOW CRAZY WAS LAST FRIDAY?

IT WAS WILD.

LITERALLY SO WILD.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A STORE BE THIS BUSY, BUT WE WERE PREPARED.

OUR TEAM WAS EXCITED.

I THINK THESE GUYS DO A REALLY GREAT JOB WITH THE WAY THAT THEY FILL THE I MEAN, THERE'S NO VACANCIES IN THIS MALL, BUT LIKE THE STORES THAT JEFF HAS LIKE GOTTEN INTO THE MALL HAVE BEEN REALLY GAME CHANGER.

LIKE I KNOW ALO AND OFFLINE JUST OPENED UP.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY BECOME A DESTINATION MALL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF NEWNESS ALL THE TIME.

LONG TIME PENN SQUARE MALL GENERAL MANAGER JEFF REYNOLDS SAYS A MAJORITY OF MALL CUSTOMERS STILL LIKE TO SEE, FEEL, TOUCH AND TRY ON THINGS THEY WANT TO BUY HERE.

IT'S SUCH A HASSLE TO HAVE TO GET THE WRONG SIZE, YOU KNOW, YOU ORDER A NINE AND A SHOE AND IT COMES IN AND IT'S NOT THE SAME NINE AS YOU MIGHT FIND IF YOU TRIED IT ON IN THE STORE.

SO AVOIDING THAT INSTANT GRATIFICATION AND BEING ABLE TO TOUCH AND FEEL THE PRODUCT.

PENN SQUARE MALL ORIGINALLY OPENED IN 1960 AS AN OUTDOOR SHOPPING CENTER THAT SPANNED 545,000FT AND BOASTED 46 RETAIL STORES IN THE 1980S, DEVELOPERS ADDED A ROOF.

IN THE 90S, JCPENNEY JOINED A ROSTER OF PENN SQUARE ANCHORS THAT WOULD GROW TO INCLUDE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S DILLARD'S, MACY'S, AND A TEN SCREEN AMC MOVIE THEATER THAT WAS THE FIRST IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA TO OFFER ONLINE SCHEDULING AND RECLINING SEATS.

PENN SQUARE MALL NOW COVERS MORE THAN 1,000,000FT!S AND FEATURES 150 RETAIL STORES.

YOU GOT SOME NEW STORES JUST THIS YEAR, DON'T YOU?

OH, WE HAVE.

WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF STORES OPEN THIS YEAR JUST ALONE.

WE'VE HAD OUR JOHNSTON AND MURPHY GARAGE, ALO YOGA, OFFLINE BY AERIE, PERFUME MANIA AND MORE TO COME IN 2026.

PENN SQUARE MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JILL FARREN SAYS PENN SQUARE AVOIDED MAJOR UPHEAVAL BROUGHT ON BY COVID 19 FIVE YEARS AGO AND THE EXPLOSION OF ONLINE SALES THAT FOLLOWED BECAUSE THEY WERE SMART ENOUGH TO PIVOT.

WE HAVE OUR STORES THAT ARE DELIVERING CURBSIDE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, A MESH OF ALL THOSE DIFFERENT SERVICES.

YEAH, THAT WAS REALLY SMART TO ME.

YOU KNOW, HOW MANY YEARS AGO DID YOU START ONLINE SALES HERE?

ONLINE SALES.

SO SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, WE ACTUALLY ALSO HAVE OUR OWN ONLINE SHOP SIMON.COM THEIR OWN WEBSITE.

SO WE'RE JUST LEVERAGING OUR OWN CENTERS FOR THOSE SALES.

THE OUTLETS, ALL THOSE DIFFERENT BRANDS.

SO WE ARE UTILIZING BOTH AS WELL.

SHE SAYS.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS LIKE PENN SQUARE'S ANNUAL WEATHER EVENT IN MARCH DRAWS INCREDIBLE NUMBERS.

EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A WEATHER EVENT THAT IS PRETTY.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE MAYBE IF YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE, YOU MIGHT NOT GET IT.

BUT WEATHER IS A BIG DEAL IN OKLAHOMA.

IT HAPPENS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL COURT WHERE WE HAVE ALL ALL OF OUR STATIONS OUT, ALL THE CHIEF METEOROLOGISTS THERE, STORM CHASERS.

IT'S JUST A UNIQUE EVENT.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS HERE COULD SURPRISE YOU.

FOUR STRATEGICALLY PLACED AUTOMATED MASSAGE CHAIRS ALSO COME IN HANDY FOR SHOPPERS OR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAD SURGERY EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

JEFF REYNOLDS SAYS COVID 19 DID TEACH VALUABLE LESSONS.

I THINK WHAT COVID?

ONE THING IT TAUGHT, AT LEAST TO ME, IS THAT WE WE LEARN TO APPRECIATE THINGS THAT WE NO LONGER HAD AVAILABLE INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE, COMMUNITY, BEING ABLE TO GO SHOPPING AT A PHYSICAL LOCATION WHEN YOU WANTED TO.

WE WERE CLOSED FOR 45 DAYS, AND I THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MUCH THEY MISSED IT.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN I TRY THIS?

ALL OF THIS?

YES.

BETHANY RESIDENT TITO REYES STOPPED IN TO THE BUCKLE JUST AFTER BLACK FRIDAY.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THEM ALL?

THEY CLOSED IT THE BEST.

IT FITS ME BETTER.

BETTER SHOES.

SO THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.

AND I LOVE THE I LOVE THE FOOD TOO.

YEAH.

THE FOOD COURT.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING AT THE FOOD COURT?

IT'S CALLED THE TERIYAKI CHICKEN.

CHECK OUT MY PIECE.

HONESTLY, I THINK I USED TO THINK CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS LIKE A DYING ART.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE DO ENJOY LIKE, OUR STYLING SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.

AT LEAST HERE AT BUCKLE, WE REALLY HELP PEOPLE PUT OUTFITS TOGETHER THAT OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN THINK OF.

AND BY THE WAY, THE MCMILLAN SISTERS TOLD ME THEY HAD TO HIRE 50 PART TIME WORKERS TO STAFF THE BUCKLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

RICH STEVE, THANK YOU AND THANKS TO THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOME GENEROUS DONORS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE EXTRA CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE THIS YEAR.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

JASON RICH, THIS PROGRAM HAS BECOME CRUCIAL FOR FOSTER FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE WHO PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR KIDS FACING A TOUGH TIME DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND.

I HAVE FIVE BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN, I HAVE FIVE FOSTER CHILDREN, AND I HAVE TWO ADOPTED CHILDREN.

FOR CRYSTAL BENNETT, THAT MEANS A BUSY DAILY ROUTINE.

MORNINGS CAN BE CHAOTIC FOR GO TO SCHOOL.

ALL FOUR ARE IN ELEMENTARY AND THEN THE THREE YOUNGEST ARE IN DAYCARE.

SO IN THE MORNINGS IT'S JUST SURVIVAL MODE AND TRY TO GET US BOTH TO WORK ON TIME.

CRYSTAL AND HER HUSBAND, MONTE, LOVE CHILDREN AND THEY WANTED A FULL FAMILY LIFE, WHICH IS WHAT LED THEM TO DECIDE TO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS.

I HAVE A KIND OF A SILLY STORY.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I WAS OBSESSED WITH THE MOVIE ANNIE, AND I JUST KNEW THAT I WOULD BE SO NICE TO THOSE KIDS.

I WOULD NEVER BE THE MEAN LADY.

AND SO I'M NO DADDY WARBUCKS, BUT I JUST KNEW THAT AFTER I HAD MY BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN, I STILL WANTED MORE.

HER FIRST FOSTER PLACEMENT CAME IN 2001, WHEN MY YOUNGEST BIOLOGICAL SON WAS ACTUALLY STILL AN INFANT CARRIER.

I GOT MY FIRST FOSTER PLACEMENT.

SINCE THEN, CRYSTAL BENNETT FOSTERED SEVERAL CHILDREN.

THIS CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO BE SPECIAL FOR THE BENNETTS.

THAT'S BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR FOSTER CHILDREN WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE CHRISTMAS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BOY HERE NOW THAT'S BEEN PLACED WITH US TWO MONTHS AGO.

A TRANSIENT CHILD WAS NEVER HAS NEVER HAD A CHRISTMAS.

HE'S SEVEN YEARS OLD.

HE'S NEVER HAD A CHRISTMAS TREE.

HE'S NEVER HAD A CHRISTMAS TOY.

AND THIS YEAR WILL BE HIS FIRST YEAR TO HAVE CHRISTMAS.

THE HOPE IS THAT IF A CHILD GETS PULLED INTO FOSTER CARE TODAY, THAT WE CAN HAVE GIFTS READY FOR THEM BY THE END OF THE DAY.

THAT'S DENISE HURLBERT, THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR CITIZENS CARING FOR CHILDREN, EXPLAINING HOW HER ORGANIZATION'S RAPID RESPONSE, IN COORDINATION WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, MAKE SURE NO MATTER THE SITUATION, A FOSTER CHILD FINDS HIMSELF, CHRISTMAS WILL NOT MISS THEM.

SO THIS IS OUR JOY FOR KIDS PROGRAM.

WE SERVE OVER 1500 YOUTH AND CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

THIS TIME OF YEAR.

I'M IN A DOWNTOWN WAREHOUSE WHERE HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF GIFTS ARE GETTING READY TO GO TO FOSTER CARE FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CALLS THE PROGRAM HOLIDAY HOPE.

HOLIDAY HOPE PROGRAM IS THIS WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE GET TO FILL WISHLISTS FOR THE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE, AND WE ARE ABLE TO CONNECT FOSTER PARENTS IN EVERY COUNTY WITH THEIR LOCAL RESOURCES, WHO CAN BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM YEAR ROUND.

BUT WE ALSO GET TO SPRINKLE A LITTLE HOLIDAY MAGIC FOR OUR KIDDOS IN CARE.

CODY DIRECTION SAYS DHS AND ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE CITIZENS CARING FOR CHILDREN, HELP BRING CHRISTMAS JOY TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS FROM LAST YEAR, WE SERVED OVER 5300 WISH LISTS ACROSS THE STATE AND THIS YEAR IS STACKING UP TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO THAT.

SO THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT.

CHILD WELFARE STAFF TO OUR PARTNERS, OUR ORGANIZATIONS, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SPONSORS ACROSS THE STATE, CITIZENS CARING FOR CHILDREN'S JOY FOR KIDS PROGRAM HELPS WITH A BIG CHUNK OF THOSE WISH LISTS.

WE'RE SERVING 13 DIFFERENT COUNTIES, INCLUDING.

OKLAHOMA COUNTY IS OUR BIGGEST ONE THAT WE SERVE, BUT WE SEND STUFF OUT AS FAR AS IDABEL.

DOWN IN MCCURTAIN, THE FOSTER KIDS WILL BE GETTING GIFTS FROM AN ORGANIZATION SIMILAR TO CITIZENS CARING FOR CHILDREN.

IF IT WASN'T FOR HOLIDAY.

HOPE YOU KNOW, WE WE CAN PROVIDE A SMALL CHRISTMAS, BUT WE CAN'T PROVIDE WHAT HOLIDAY HOPE CAN HELP US DO.

WE ASK FOR A MINIMUM VALUE OF $100 PER GIFT SET?

A LOT OF OUR DONORS GO WELL ABOVE THAT, BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE CLOTHES THAT COME IN ARE GOING TO FIT, THAT THE CHILD IS ACTUALLY GETTING WHAT THEY ASKED FOR, AND THAT WE ARE MEETING THAT MINIMUM VALUE.

HOW THE HOLIDAY HOPE PROGRAM WORKS IS THAT FOSTER FAMILIES GIVE THEIR KIDS LISTS TO DHS.

THAT AGENCY THEN PROVIDES THE LIST TO ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FULFILL THROUGH THE DONATIONS THEY COLLECT LAST YEAR.

THAT WAS CRUCIAL FOR THE BENNETT FAMILY BECAUSE MONTE BENNETT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, HE'S THANKFUL THAT ALL OF HIS KIDS GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE HOLIDAYS LAST YEAR WITHOUT HIS TREATMENT.

STOPPING THAT FROM HAPPENING.

THEY HELPED OUT A GREAT DEAL, MADE SURE THAT ALL THE KIDS GOT TO ENJOY CHRISTMAS, AND GOT TO OPEN PRESENTS.

IT WAS JUST ME WORKING LAST YEAR.

WE HE.

WHEN WE FOUND OUT MY HUSBAND HAD CANCER, HE HAD STAGE FOUR ALREADY AND WE IMMEDIATELY HAD TO GO INTO FIGHT MODE AND IT WAS JUST ME AND KEEPING HIM.

AND WE HAD SIX FOSTERS AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW, KEEPING US GOING AND WITHOUT HOLIDAY HOPE, NO CHRISTMAS.

THERE WAS JUST NO WAY.

CRYSTAL SAYS BEING A FOSTER MOM DURING THAT TIME HELPED HER GET THROUGH.

THEY HAD LOVED HIM LIKE A DAD, AND I COULDN'T IMAGINE SAYING, I'M SORRY.

MONTE'S MORE IMPORTANT.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT NEVER EVEN CROSSED OUR MIND.

WE WERE GOING TO DO IT AS A FAMILY, ALL OF US.

THE NEWS IS A BIT BRIGHTER FOR THE BENNETT'S DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

MONTE'S CANCER IS IN REMISSION.

TOMORROW THEY REMOVE HIS CHEMO PORT AND ALL THAT BATTLE IS BEHIND US.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

I CAN'T WAIT.

IN THE MEANTIME, CRYSTAL AND MONTE ARE GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS WITH THEIR LARGE FAMILY HOLIDAY.

HOPE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND.

IT IS WHAT EVERY LITTLE KID DREAMS OF.

WAKING UP AND SEEING.

OUR LIVING ROOM IS NOTHING BUT A BIG CHRISTMAS.

AND TO PROVIDE THAT AND PEOPLE TO PROVIDE THAT AND GIVE THEIR HEARTS TO DO THAT, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THESE KIDS.

IT'S EVERYTHING TO THEM.

SHE APPRECIATES DHS AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO ARE PUTTING A LITTLE MORE MARY INTO THE FOSTER KIDS CHRISTMASES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO NEVER EXPERIENCE GETTING THEIR OWN GIFTS.

A NEW BICYCLE IS SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US THINK IS A BIG DEAL.

A NEW BICYCLE TO A LITTLE BOY CHANGES DAY, AND HE THINKS HE MIGHT WAKE UP TO NOTHING.

HE'S DONE THAT HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HE'S WOKE UP TO NO TOYS FROM SANTA CLAUS.

AND THIS YEAR I'LL SEE A LITTLE BOY WAKE UP TO MORE TOYS THAN HE'LL EVER KNOW.

IT APPEARS THAT HOLIDAY HOPE IS REACHING ITS GOAL THIS YEAR, WITH NEARLY ALL OF ITS WISH LISTS FROM FOSTER KIDS BEING SPONSORED AND NOW TAKING A LOOK AT BUSINESS.

THE MERGER BETWEEN TWO MAJOR AEROSPACE COMPANIES WILL HAVE AN IMPACT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

THE BOEING COMPANY HAS COMPLETED ITS ACQUISITION OF SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS.

BOTH COMPANIES HAVE A MAJOR PRESENCE IN OKLAHOMA.

THE DEAL IS IN AN ALL STOCK TRANSACTION VALUED AT $4.7 BILLION.

BOEING WILL INTEGRATE SPIRIT'S BOEING RELATED WORK INTO.

ITS COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, ALONG WITH SPIRIT'S AFTERMARKET OPERATIONS.

SPIRIT DEFENSE WAS CREATED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY WITHOUT INTERRUPTION, AND SOON SPIRIT TULSA'S FACILITY WILL BEGIN CARRYING THE BOEING BRANDING.

TULSA BASED INDUSTRIAL OILS AND LIMITED IS SET TO BE ACQUIRED BY A SUBSIDIARY OF DALLAS BASED SINCLAIR CORPORATION.

THE DEAL IS WORTH $38 MILLION.

INDUSTRIAL OILS AND LIMITED IS MOST RECOGNIZED FOR ITS BRAND OF LUBRICANTS.

THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX HAVE COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO TRANSFER CREDITS TO A FOUR YEAR PROGRAM.

THE AGREEMENT IS TILTED TOWARD ADULT LEARNERS WHO ARE PURSUING A DEGREE WHILE CONTINUING TO WORK.

THE AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TO APPLY THEIR ELIGIBLE CREDITS TO ANY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX OFFERS.

DALLAS PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM STONE TREE INVESTMENT PARTNERS IS MAKING AN INVESTMENT INTO OKLAHOMA CITY BASED REAL POWER INTERNATIONAL.

STONE TREE'S INVESTMENT WILL HELP REAL POWER TO EXPAND ITS GROWTH AND CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AT BOTH ITS OKLAHOMA CITY AND HOUSTON, TEXAS FACILITIES.

REAL POWER CREATES SOLUTIONS TO HELP CONTROL AND IMPROVE DRILLING, REELING, AND WINDING OPERATIONS.

THEY ALSO PROVIDE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO SEVERAL OTHER INDUSTRIES LIKE MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS, FIBER OPTICS, AND WIND ENERGY, AMONG OTHERS.

THE AMOUNT OF STONE TREE'S INVESTMENT INTO REAL POWER WAS NOT DISCLOSED.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS CHANGING THE RULES ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY STUDENT MAY BORROW TO PURSUE TO PURSUE A CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL DEGREES, AMONG THEM NURSES, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT AND IS IT FAIR?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

CASSIDY RICH.

JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS DOCTOR JOEL KENDALL, THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED VIA ZOOM BY CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE BICE, WHO REPRESENTS OKLAHOMA'S FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

CONGRESSWOMAN, DOCTOR KENDALL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US HERE ON IN DEPTH.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU BOTH.

CONGRESSWOMAN BICE, WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CHANGING WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEFINITION OF A PROFESSIONAL DEGREE?

AND WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THAT CHANGE?

SURE, SURE.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE GOAL OF THIS CHANGE IS REALLY JUST TO DELINEATE WHAT DEGREES CAN HAVE A HIGHER LOAN LIMIT, AND WHAT DEGREES HAVE A LOWER LOAN LIMIT.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE SORT OF LICENSED DEGREES, THINK DOCTOR PHYSICIAN OR DOCTOR LAWYER, THESE ARE GOING TO BE PROFESSIONAL DEGREES THAT REQUIRE EXTENSIVE SCHOOLING AND ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS THE INCREASE IN COLLEGE TUITION.

AND TO SOME EXTENT, THEY'RE CHARGING, YOU KNOW, TENS OF HUNDREDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EVEN OVER $100,000 FOR A DEGREE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO COLLEGE AND YOU'RE TAKING OUT THESE VERY EXPENSIVE LOANS, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPAY THEM WHEN YOU COMPLETE THE PROGRAMS?

AND THAT'S REALLY THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE DESIGNATED SORT OF PROFESSIONAL DEGREE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL.

IT JUST MEANS THAT IT'S A CLASSIFICATION OF DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT NEED THAT HIGHER LOAN LIMIT.

AND DOCTOR KENDALL, FROM A HIGHER EDUCATION STANDPOINT, WHAT DOES THIS CHANGE MEAN HERE IN TERMS FOR STUDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION?

REALLY RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE WAITING AND SEEING, YOU KNOW, THIS WON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL UNTIL THE NEXT SUMMER.

AND SO WE HAVE OUR UNIVERSITIES LOOKING AT THE THE DEGREES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED AND SEEING IF THERE IS ONE.

YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS IS THAT THE ACROSS THE SYSTEM OF OKLAHOMA HIGHER EDUCATION, PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUR COST OF ATTENDANCE IS IS VERY LOW.

IT'S ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE NATION.

AND SO FOR ANY CHANGES LIKE THIS, WE HOPE THAT THAT IS MITIGATED BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE VERY AFFORDABLE.

OUR TUITION COSTS ARE MUCH LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE COST, TUITION COSTS ACROSS THE NATION.

SO IN THAT ASPECT, WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT WILL BE SOMEWHAT MITIGATED.

AND, CONGRESSWOMAN BICE, HOW WILL THIS WORK TO LOWER THE COST OF TUITION IN SOME OF THOSE FEES?

BECAUSE IT IS LIKE I MEAN, LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS CHEAPER, BUT IT IS STILL QUITE EXPENSIVE.

SURE.

I THINK THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LOAN LIMIT.

SO FOR A SORT OF GENERAL BACHELOR'S DEGREE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A $20,000 PER YEAR LOAN LIMIT, UP TO 100,000 FOR A LIFETIME LIMIT.

AND ANYTHING OVER AND BEYOND THAT, YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT PRIVATE LOAN OPTIONS.

BUT REALLY, THE POINT BEING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE COLLEGE AFFORDABLE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BECOME SO EXPENSIVE AND PROHIBITIVELY SO IN MANY CASES.

AND SO WE WANT TO SORT OF PUT SCHOOLS ON NOTICE THAT TUITION INCREASES, YOU KNOW, EXORBITANTLY ARE NOT NOT IDEAL AND THAT THEY NEED TO REALLY EVALUATE THE COST OF THESE PROGRAMS.

THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE STUDENTS AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEIR LONG TERM FINANCIAL VIABILITY.

I WOULD ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THE DOCTOR THAT OKLAHOMA DOES HAVE VERY AFFORDABLE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

I HAVE PUT TWO OF TWO OF MY CHILDREN THROUGH A STATE COLLEGE AND ONE THAT WILL GRADUATE THIS WEEKEND.

SO I FULLY RECOGNIZE THIS MAY NOT BE AS BIG OF AN IMPACT TO OKLAHOMA.

THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE STILL IN THE RULE MAKING PROCESS.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO ACTUALLY GET THROUGH.

ONCE IT'S BEEN PROPOSED, THERE IS A PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN A FINAL RULEMAKING WILL COME OUT.

SO WE'RE A LITTLE WAYS OFF FROM THIS ACTUALLY GOING INTO EFFECT.

AND THAT GIVES INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TIME TO GIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES MAY BE WITH THIS NEW RULE.

AND, CONGRESSWOMAN BICE, I LIKE HOW YOU SAID BEFORE THAT THIS DEFINITION IS JUST AN ADMINISTRATIVE DISTINCTION AND NOT AN ACTUAL VALUE ON PROFESSIONS LIKE NURSING AND EDUCATION.

A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHY THAT DISTINCTION WAS IMPORTANT.

AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE WORRIED THAT THIS IS SAYING THAT THEIR DEGREE IS NO LONGER VALUABLE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

WELL, I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY FALSE.

LOOK, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR, PHYSICIAN.

I'M SORRY.

NURSES AND TEACHERS AND OTHER DEGREED INDIVIDUALS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO OKLAHOMA AND THE COUNTRY.

I THINK THEY JUST USED A TERM PROFESSIONAL DEGREED TO MEAN SOMETHING THAT'S A HIGHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION.

RIGHT?

LIKE I MENTIONED, IF YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY, IF YOU ARE A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, I'M SORRY, A SPEECH PATH.

IF YOU ARE A LAWYER, THESE ARE DEGREES THAT REQUIRE SOME SORT OF LICENSING IN MANY CASES.

AND SO THEY WERE TRYING TO DELINEATE WHAT THOSE PARTICULAR DEGREE PATHWAYS WOULD LOOK LIKE VERSUS SORT OF A TRADITIONAL UNDERGRAD DEGREE.

AND I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, MAYBE THE MESSAGE WAS SKEWED A LITTLE BIT AND PEOPLE TOOK OFFENSE TO THE WORD PROFESSIONAL.

LOOK, THESE IMPORTANT PROFESSIONS LIKE NURSING AND TEACHING ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR STATE AND OUR NATION, AND IN NO WAY IS MEANT TO TO TO DEMEAN THAT PARTICULAR THOSE PARTICULAR PROFESSIONS.

THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.

DOCTOR KENDALL, EVEN IF THIS IS A DEFINITION, IS ADMINISTRATIVE, HOW WILL THIS CHANGE HOW PEOPLE CAN BORROW FOR UNIVERSITY?

WELL, WE STILL HAVE A FEW STEPS BEFORE THAT.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING HOW THAT'S GOING TO ALL PLAY OUT.

AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW OUR UNIVERSITIES REACT TO THAT.

I WILL SAY THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THIS.

AND LET'S SAY THAT IT GOES THE WAY THAT IT IS.

THERE'S DEFINITELY WAYS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOOK EVEN INTO FOUNDATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND ALL THAT TO, TO TO KEEP THEM THERE BECAUSE THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS FAR OFF ENOUGH THAT WE CAN'T REALLY SAY SPECIFICALLY WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

IF I CAN ADD TO THAT, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE OFFERING THESE DEGREES THAT WHEN A STUDENT GRADUATES DO NOT PROVIDE A REAL LIVABLE WAGE.

I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IS OFFERING A FILM DEGREE THAT THE COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE ALMOST $140,000 FOR A FOUR YEAR DEGREE.

THE POTENTIAL EARNINGS OF THAT DEGREE ARE AS UNDER $10,000 ANNUALLY.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IS THESE THESE EXPENSIVE DEGREES THAT DON'T HAVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR STUDENTS.

CONGRESSWOMAN BICE, WHY WAS THE FUTURE PAY PORTION OF THIS PLAN A PART OF DECIDING THESE LOAN LIMITS?

WELL, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT STUDENTS TO TAKE OUT $100,000 WORTH OF STUDENT LOANS AND NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THEM BACK.

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE IF YOU LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE THAT'S BEEN PUT FORWARD, THESE ARE FEDERAL SUBSIDIZED STUDENT LOANS.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TAKING, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE RISK, IF YOU WILL, OFFERING THESE LOANS UP AND IF THE INDIVIDUAL CAN'T MAKE A LIVING WAGE OFF OF THE DEGREE THAT THEY HAVE OBTAINED, THAT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS, FIRST OF ALL, RECOGNIZE WHAT THE EARNINGS POTENTIAL ARE FOR A DEGREE AND ALSO WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE FOR THAT DEGREE.

THERE ARE SOME THERE'S SOME LEGISLATION OUT THERE THAT THE ED AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE HAS PUT FORWARD THAT WILL, I THINK, BRING A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY TO THE CONVERSATION FOR THESE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO COLLEGE TO RECOGNIZE THEIR EARNINGS POTENTIAL VERSUS THE COST OF A DEGREE.

DOCTOR KENDALL, AS AS CONGRESSWOMAN BICE JUST MENTIONED, FOR DEGREES LIKE NURSING, EDUCATION, SOCIAL WORK THAT DO NOT ALWAYS PAY AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD HOPE.

SO DO WE THINK TYING LOAN LIMITS TO EXPECTED FUTURE EARNINGS COULD AFFECT WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO AFFORD EDUCATION?

WE'LL SEE.

YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS WE THINK THAT WE ARE AFFORDABLE ENOUGH ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WE SHOULD MITIGATE OR HOPEFULLY MITIGATE ANYTHING THAT MIGHT NEGATIVELY AFFECT THIS.

ONCE AGAIN, WE AT THE REGENTS ARE PROUD OF OUR UNIVERSITIES BECAUSE THEY DO LOOK AT THIS AT ALL TIMES.

YOU KNOW, JUST IN THE PAST MONTH, WE DID A FEW THINGS THAT LOOKED AT LOW PRODUCING PROGRAMS AND MADE SURE THAT THE PROGRAMS ARE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.

AND THEN WHEN A WHEN AN INSTITUTION CREATES A PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ARE ASKING IS HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE, HOW MANY JOBS ARE OUT THERE AND WHAT DOES IT PAY?

SO WE LOOK AT THAT ALREADY.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS MAY AFFECT WE'RE NOT WE'RE ONCE AGAIN GOING TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THIS WILL AFFECT.

BUT WE AS THE REGIONS ARE PROUD OF HOW OUR UNIVERSITY KIND OF LOOK AT THAT ALREADY FROM A WORKFORCE PERSPECTIVE, THOUGH, IS THIS SOMETHING IN OKLAHOMA THAT MIGHT MAYBE CONVINCE PEOPLE NOT TO GO FOR A NURSING DEGREE?

DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE?

I THINK IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, WE SHOW HOW MUCH WE VALUE THOSE PROGRAMS.

AND AND WE DO MANY THINGS TO TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.

WE TRY TO GET THE STUDENTS IN THE PIPELINE.

WE TRY TO SUPPORT THEM AND HELP THEM PERSIST THROUGH COLLEGE AND SUPPORT THEM AFTERWARDS.

OUR LEGISLATURE AND THE REGENTS, JUST IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE DONE SEVERAL THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE IDENTIFIED MONIES THAT WE HAVE SPENT SPECIFICALLY TO BUILD UP PROGRAMS LIKE NURSING IN EDUCATION, THERE'S THE SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS, JUST IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE EXPANDED THE ACCESS TO NURSING PROGRAMS.

SO WE DEFINITELY VALUE THAT AND SHOW THAT EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS IS ANOTHER ONE WHERE THEY INSPIRE TO TEACH PROGRAM THAT PAYS STUDENTS NOT ONLY IN COLLEGE, BUT GIVES THEM A STIPEND IF THEY TEACH IN OKLAHOMA OUT OF COLLEGE.

SO, YOU KNOW, CHANGES IN TITLES NOTWITHSTANDING, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA VALUES THIS THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE WORKFORCE NEED IS VERY MUCH THERE ACROSS THE BOARD.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.

AND I THINK OKLAHOMA IS POSITIONED INCREDIBLY WELL.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER STATES THAT I THINK HAVE BEEN EGREGIOUS IN THE INCREASES THAT THEY HAVE LEVIED ON STUDENTS AS IT RELATES TO COST, AND I DON'T THINK STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT, THE LONG TERM FISCAL IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE ON THEIR ON THEIR ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, BUY A HOME, BUY A CAR.

AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME EDUCATION AWARENESS AROUND A DEGREE COST, AS WELL AS THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THAT PARTICULAR STUDENT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT.

AND I'M ACTUALLY REALLY PROUD OF OKLAHOMA BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING IT WELL.

AND, CONGRESSWOMAN BICE, JUST TO CLARIFY, FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THESE PROGRAMS, WILL THEY BE GRANDFATHERED IN OR DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW THOSE LIMITS WILL APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD?

MY UNDERSTANDING IS, YES, I THINK, AGAIN, WE'RE STILL IN THAT RULEMAKING PROCESS.

THIS IS PROPOSED TO GO INTO EFFECT IN 2026.

SO NEXT YEAR, SHOULD WE, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE RULEMAKING PROCESS AND HAVE SORT OF THAT FINALIZED RULE RELEASED PRIOR TO THAT?

AND CONGRESSWOMAN, YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THAT MOST NURSING STUDENTS IN OKLAHOMA ALREADY BORROW UNDER THE NEW LOAN LIMIT.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

YEAH, I THINK WE'VE BEEN SEEING, FIRST OF ALL, SHOUT OUT TO OUR UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NURSING STUDENTS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO TO RECEIVE INTO A PROGRAM.

WE'VE HAD A NURSING SHORTAGE ACROSS OKLAHOMA FOR QUITE SOME TIME, CERTAINLY POST COVID.

THAT'S BEEN A BIG CHALLENGE.

AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE TO BOOST UP OUR NUMBERS IN NURSING, BUT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE ALSO AFFORDABLE.

IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY DOING A SORT OF UNIQUE HYBRID WHERE YOU CAN TAKE CLASSES ONLINE AND THEN DO CLINICALS, THOSE ARE AFFORDABLE AND THEY'RE ALSO CATERED TO WORKING INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY ALREADY HAVE A JOB BUT WANT TO GET INTO THAT NURSING PROGRAM.

SO AGAIN, I WOULD JUST SAY OKLAHOMA IS DOING IT RIGHT.

AND, CONGRESSWOMAN BICE, I JUST WANTED TO JUMP BACK A LITTLE BIT.

BUT WITH THE NEW GRADUATE LOAN LIMITS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN 2026, WHAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND SETTING THESE LIMITS NOW AND WHAT ARE THEY INTENDED TO ADDRESS?

I KNOW WE'VE KIND OF ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT, BUT THE 2026 PART OF THAT, WELL, I THINK WE'RE GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF A RUNWAY TO GET THROUGH THIS RULEMAKING PROCESS BEFORE A FINAL RULE IS, IS IMPLEMENTED.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE A LITTLE WAYS OUT.

WE ARE GOING TO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY DO WANT TO GRANDFATHER INDIVIDUALS IN THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROGRAMS, PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS.

AND THEN START THIS WITH NEW STUDENTS ENTERING COLLEGE IN 2026.

SO WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IS WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT STUDENTS AREN'T BEING LEVERAGED TOO HIGH ON THEIR LOANS, AND SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM WHEN THEY'RE OUT OF COLLEGE.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION FOR ME THAT SOME FOLKS DECIDED TO TAKE THE PROFESSIONAL PIECE OF THIS AND SAY THAT NURSES OR TEACHERS OR OTHER IMPORTANT PROFESSIONS AREN'T PROFESSIONAL.

THAT WAS NEVER THE THE INTENT.

THE INTENT WAS SORT OF TO SAY, THESE ARE THE DEGREES THAT HAVE A HIGHER, HIGHER COST ASSOCIATED WITH THEM OUT OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SORT OF DESIGNATED THOSE HIGHER LOAN LIMITS.

AND LOOK, THERE ARE SOME DEGREES THAT WE PROBABLY DIDN'T INCORPORATE THAT WILL BE LOOKED AT LIKE A PHYSICAL THERAPIST OR SPEECH PATH, OR OTHERS WILL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS CAN ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY ADDED TO THE LIST OF HIGHER LIMIT DEGREE PROGRAMS.

WELL, WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

BUT DOCTOR KENDALL, LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENTS HERE IN OKLAHOMA WHO ARE HOPING TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION?

I THINK THERE'S MANY PATHWAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS.

AND SO I THINK THESE THESE PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLY VALUED AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, AND WE'RE HIGHLY AFFORDABLE.

SO I ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO TO LOOK INTO THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY'RE NEEDED AND WE'LL SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THEIR TIME AT COLLEGE.

AND CONGRESSWOMAN BICE, FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.

BUT FOR ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING THAT MIGHT STILL BE FEELING A LITTLE ANXIOUS AND UNSURE ABOUT THESE CHANGES.

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW?

WELL, I WOULD WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE VALUE THE PROFESSIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WHETHER YOU'RE A NURSING STUDENT, A TEACHER, SOME OF THESE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, EVEN GENERAL BUSINESS DEGREES, THESE ARE IMPORTANT DEGREES FOR OUR STATE TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING A VALUE FOR YOUR EDUCATION.

AND EDUCATION.

PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED.

AND IN SOME CASES, IN SOME STATES, IT'S ALMOST UNATTAINABLE.

I'M PROUD OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT.

WE'RE MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE.

AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GREAT JOB CASSIDY.

THANK YOU.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL TO COLORADO TO MEET A WOMAN DETERMINED TO MAKE IT IN A SPORT TYPICALLY DOMINATED BY MEN.

CRYSTAL PUENTE IS A NAVAJO INDIAN WHO RIDES BULLS AND ORGANIZES HER OWN RODEOS.

HER STORY, COURTESY OF OUR FRIENDS AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS.

HEP HEP HEP HEP HEP HEP HEP HEP.

ALL RIGHT, I'M READY.

IN ONE WORD.

YES, SIR.

OH!

HE'S THERE.

SECOND PLACE IS THE SPURS TRAPS.

AND THEN PAYOUT FOR THIRD.

OH, YEAH.

I'M GONNA GO BACK THERE AND TALK TO THEM RIGHT NOW.

MY FAMILY HAS DONE BULL RIDING EVENT A LONG TIME AGO, AND I KIND OF GOT A TASTE OF HOW TO DO IT, WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO BE.

SO WHEN I STARTED RIDING WOLVES, WHEN I STARTED GETTING INTO RODEO, I KEPT TELLING MYSELF THAT I WANTED TO BE IN CHARGE.

OKAY.

OKAY.

OKAY, OKAY.

I'M LOCKING THE DOOR.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

HEY, BABE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO UP.

PUSHED UP.

OKAY.

WEAK RIGHT THERE, BRUH.

THAT LITTLE ONE'S ALL IN.

I HAVE FOUR BROTHERS.

FIVE SISTERS.

WE KIND OF GREW UP AROUND RODEO.

AND RODEO HAS JUST KIND OF PASSED DOWN FROM MY DAD.

WE ALL TRY TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.

LIKE, IF SOMEONE GOES OUT, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE NEXT TO US.

MY FAMILY HAS HELPED ME TAKE CARE.

CONCESSION.

TAKE CARE OF ADMISSION.

MY BROTHER WAS A JUDGE AND I HAD MY BROTHER IN LAW HELPING WITH FLAG.

THAT'S JUST WHAT WE DO AS A FAMILY.

OH, JOHN.

NO HARM.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

PINON, ARIZONA.

AWESOME SHEEP.

AND MY FAMILY HAS HOSTED.

BULL RIDING'S A LONG TIME AGO.

YEAH, I WAS YOUNG.

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT WE DID HAVE SMALL PARTS OF ROLES, LIKE HELPING WITH PICK UP TRASH.

THE FIRST TIME I WANTED TO HOST MY OWN SHOW WAS 2010.

I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH AND I WANTED TO DO AN ALL WOMEN'S SHOW.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF A GOAL FOR ME TO HAVE MY OWN AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT ONE TOGETHER.

IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF COURAGE TO FINALLY GET UP THERE.

JUST.

WOW.

CAN YOU BRING ME THE SADDLE?

IF I'M BEING HONEST, THE LAST SIX MONTHS WHEN I STARTED PREPARING, EVERYTHING WAS KIND OF ALREADY STRESSING ME OUT.

I'VE BEEN SPENDING MONEY LIKE CRAZY THROUGH THIS PAST MONTH JUST TO GET EVERYTHING READY.

THINGS WEREN'T COMING OUT THE WAY I WANTED THEM TO.

I PAID $500 FOR BUCKLES, AND I'M VERY, VERY SAD THAT OUR BUCKLES DIDN'T GET TO COME IN RIGHT AWAY.

YOU GOT TO STAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING, AND YOU GOT TO TELL PEOPLE STRAIGHT OUT LIKE, THIS IS HOW I WANT IT.

THIS IS HOW WE'RE GONNA DO IT.

A LOT OF CHANGES YOU ALSO HAVE TO MAKE WITHIN THE SHOW.

DESPITE THE PART WHERE I WAS STRESSED OUT, I FELT PRETTY PROUD OF MYSELF.

I POSTED TWO SHOWS LAST YEAR.

THERE WAS ONLY 11 RIDERS, BUT THIS YEAR THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 52 RIDERS.

I WOULD SAY RODEO MEANS HAVING FUN, HAVING A GOOD TIME, MAKING SURE YOU'RE SAFE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

OH NO.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS OKLAHOMA STYLE, WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT SOME OF THE CLASSIC TUNES PERFORMED AND WRITTEN BY OKLAHOMANS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE AMERICAN PIGEON MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA LEGACY.

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

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

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH.

LENZ.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE SALUTE A MOST BELOVED AMERICAN MASTER OF STAGE, CINEMA AND TV.

I'M DICK VAN DIKE.

REMEMBER?

THERE'S NO LIMIT TO HIS TALENT.

FILLED WITH LAUGHTER