INVESTIGATE TODAY'S ISSUES ON FRONTLINE TUESDAY EVENINGS AT NINE ON OETA.

MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA SECONDARY SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S CALL TO ELIMINATE THEIR ORGANIZATION.

KEVIN STITT SAID STUFF ABOUT UNELECTED AND UNACCOUNTABLE AND BASICALLY THAT THEY'RE JUST RUNNING WILLY NILLY AND IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

WHAT IMPACT WOULD A PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE STATE'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY HAVE ON OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY?

I MEAN, IT WOULD BE VERY DETRIMENTAL, YOU KNOW, FROM A MEDICINAL STANDPOINT FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND ALL IT'S GOING TO DO IS IGNITE THE BLACK MARKET.

THE STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD REJECTS A PROPOSAL TO AUTHORIZE A JEWISH PUBLIC SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA.

IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THE STATE IS WILLING TO ENTERTAIN A RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL.

AND SO FAR, THE ANSWER HAS BEEN NO.

THE PUSH TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE IN OUR STATE.

YOU NEVER QUITE REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF NEEDING QUALITY HEALTH CARE LOCALLY UNTIL IT'S YOUR CHILD OR A CHILD OF A LOVED ONE.

EXPANDING THE QUALITY OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR OKLAHOMA'S FIRST RESPONDERS.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE CULTURE IN FIRST RESPONDERS.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS A NEW LOOK AND NEW NAME FOR CENTRAL OKLAHOMA'S REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

NEXT, ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

WE BEGIN WITH SEVERAL DEVELOPING STORIES THIS WEEK INVOLVING POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AT ALL LEVELS ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL, AND HIGHER ED.

REPORTER JASON DOYLE TAKES A LOOK AT A NEW EFFORT TO CREATE A PUBLIC RELIGIOUS SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA.

AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH STEVE SHAW AND THE GOVERNOR'S CALL TO ELIMINATE THE OKLAHOMA SECONDARY SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

STEVE RICH, GOVERNOR STITT GOT THE LOUDEST OVATION AT HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WHEN HE SAID, IT'S TIME TO ELIMINATE THE OSSAA.

THE COACH OF ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL PROGRAMS IN THE STATE SAYS THAT'D BE A VERY BAD IDEA.

SO YEAH, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF LOTS OF DIFFERENT HISTORY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HERE.

MIKE DUNN'S BEEN HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT CARL ALBERT IN MIDWEST CITY FOR FIVE YEARS.

THE TITANS HAVE WON FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE CLASS FIVE-A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

I'M BIASED.

I LOVE THIS PLACE.

I GRADUATED FROM HERE.

I GOT TO PLAY FOR THE LEGENDARY GARY ROSE.

GARY ROSE WON 219 GAMES AND TEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 22 YEARS.

COACH DUNN LISTENED CLOSELY TO GOVERNOR STITT IN LAST WEEK'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

A STUDENT CAN TRANSFER TO A NEW SCHOOL, BUT IF THEY WANT TO EXCEL IN ATHLETICS, THEIR OPPORTUNITY MAY BE BLOCKED BY AN UNELECTED AND UNACCOUNTABLE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ASSOCIATION.

THE OSSAA.

LAST YEAR, WE HEARD STORIES OF STUDENTS WHO FOLLOW THE RULES, DID EVERYTHING RIGHT TO TRANSFER SCHOOLS.

AND YET THE OSSAA DENIED THEM THE CHANCE TO PLAY BASKETBALL AT THEIR NEW SCHOOL.

THEIR PARENTS HAD TO HIRE A LAWYER AND GO TO COURT JUST TO GET JUST SO THEIR KIDS COULD GET TO PLAY AT THEIR NEW SCHOOL.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

COACH DUNN SAYS THE GOVERNOR AND THE OTHER OSSAA CRITICS HAVE IT WRONG.

WHEN THESE LEGISLATORS, WHEN THEY ACTUALLY SIT DOWN WITH SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS THE PROCESSES AND KNOWS HOW THIS WORKS, A LOT OF TIMES THEIR STORY CHANGES, BUT THEY THEY THROW STUFF OUT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, KEVIN STITT SAID STUFF ABOUT UNELECTED AND UNACCOUNTABLE AND BASICALLY THAT THEY'RE JUST RUNNING WILLY NILLY.

AND IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF GUARDRAILS.

COACH DUNN SAYS THE 15 MEMBER OSSAA BOARD INCLUDES SUPERINTENDENTS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

THEY'RE ALL EITHER ELECTED OR THEY'RE CHOSEN, AND THEY ALL TAKE THEIR ROLES VERY SERIOUSLY.

SINCE THE 20 2526 SCHOOL YEAR BEGAN LAST FALL, OSSAA SPOKESMAN VAN SHEA IVAN TELLS ME THEY'VE RECEIVED 1304 HARDSHIP WAIVER APPLICATIONS.

THE OSSAA APPROVED 1187 OF THOSE, OR JUST OVER 91%.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE MOVEMENT, I THINK IS HAPPENING.

IT'S IT'S FROM KIDS.

IT'S FROM PARENTS.

THEY WANT TO BE LIKE THE COLLEGE GUYS.

YEAH.

THEY YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TIME THERE'S A BUMP IN THE ROAD, LET'S LET'S GET OUT OF THERE.

LET'S GO FIND THE GREENER GRASS.

YOU KNOW, THREE MONTHS AGO, AT AN INTERIM STUDY AT THE STATE CAPITOL, OSSAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID JACKSON ANSWERED LAWMAKERS QUESTIONS AND EXPLAINED HOW THE OSSAA WORKS.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE OSSAA IS THAT WE'RE INSENSITIVE TO STUDENTS WHEN IT WHEN IT COMES TO ELIGIBILITY.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, THAT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

ONE OF JACKSON AND THE OSSAA BIGGEST CRITICS AT THE INTERIM STUDY WAS ATTORNEY HANNAH WITTON.

UP UP UP UP.

KEEP ATTACKING 20 ON THAT PICK AND ROLL.

WITTEN REPRESENTED FOR BASKETBALL PLAYERS WHO TRANSFERRED TO CLASS TWO, A GLENCOE HIGH SCHOOL, FROM OTHER SCHOOLS LAST FALL.

THE OSSAA INITIALLY DENIED THOSE KIDS REQUESTS.

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU END UP IN JUVENILE COURT.

WITTEN SAYS A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE LAST FALL ENTERED A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION, WHICH ALLOWED THE FOUR GLENCOE BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO PRACTICE AND PLAY FOR A PANTHER SQUAD.

THAT'S 20 AND THREE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

IT'S VERY CLEAR THE OSSAA IS NOT RESPECTING THE OPEN TRANSFER LAWS, WHICH IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO PROTECT.

HOWEVER, WITTEN DOESN'T THINK DISBANDING THE OSSAA IS A SOLUTION EITHER.

I STAND READY TO WORK WITH ANYBODY IN A FUTURE SYSTEM WORKING TOWARDS ELIGIBILITY.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT LAW, 2013 OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT CASE, SAYS THAT THE OSSAA IS A STATE ACTOR, TAKES TAXPAYER MONEY, AND IT HAS TO PROVIDE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AND, LIKE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, OPERATE WITHIN THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

I DO BELIEVE OUR DISTRICT COURT SYSTEM WOULD PUT THOSE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR ANY NEW SYSTEM THAT ARISES.

I REACHED OUT TO THE OSSAA LAST WEEK AFTER GOVERNOR STITT'S STATE OF THE STATE.

THEY SENT ME THIS.

WHILE WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT GOVERNOR STITT DID NOT REACH OUT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE OSSAA OPERATES, WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH HIM AT ANY TIME.

WE WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP HIM BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR MEMBER GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND THE WORK OUR SCHOOLS DO COLLECTIVELY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS ACROSS OKLAHOMA.

I CAN TELL YOU, I HAVE KIDS ALL OVER THE STATE BEGGING FOR HELP, AND JUST RECENTLY, MYSELF AND CALEB HANEY WERE ABLE TO ASSIST A KID TO GET ELIGIBILITY BECAUSE THE OSSAA BELIEVES IT CAN DETERMINE WHO IS AND IS NOT A PROPER GUARDIAN UNDER OKLAHOMA LAW.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT NOT A SINGLE LAWYER SITS ON THEIR BOARD, EARLIER THIS WEEK, I ASKED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO CLARIFY WHAT THEY ENVISIONED INSTEAD OF THE OSSAA.

THEY SENT ME THIS.

THE GOAL IS TO ALIGN SCHOOL ATHLETICS WITH THE STATE'S OPEN TRANSFER REFORMS, SO STUDENTS CAN COMPETE FOR THE SCHOOLS THEY ATTEND.

THIS WILL ENSURE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS FOR OKLAHOMA STUDENTS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

RICH STEVE, THANK YOU.

THE STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED A PROPOSAL TO CREATE A JEWISH PUBLIC SCHOOL AT A MEETING IN OKLAHOMA CITY ON MONDAY, AND THEY DID SO BASED ON A U.S.

SUPREME COURT RULING.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US FROM OUR NEWSROOM TO EXPLAIN THE REASONING BEHIND THAT DECISION.

JASON.

RICH, THE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WERE ACTUALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE BEN GAMLA ORGANIZATION'S APPLICATION.

AND DESPITE THE NO VOTE, THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE.

SOMETIMES SOMEONE COMES ALONG WITH A VERY DIFFERENT IDEA THAT CHANGES THE SPORT FOREVER.

THAT'S OKLAHOMA STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN BRIAN SHELLEM, DISCUSSING INNOVATIONS WHICH COULD CHANGE HOW WE EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

HE BELIEVES CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA ARE ESSENTIAL TO THAT MISSION.

AS WE GET INTO OUR WORK TODAY, I WANT US TO BE MINDFUL AS WE GRANT CHARTERS, AS WE CONSIDER THEM, THAT WE THINK THAT THESE PEOPLE HERE, OBVIOUSLY SOMETIMES THE IDEAS DON'T WORK, BUT HOPEFULLY, SOMETIMES THE IDEAS DO WORK.

ONE OF THE DECISIONS BEFORE THE BOARD WAS THE APPLICATION FOR THE NATIONAL BEN GAMLA CHARTER SCHOOL FOUNDATION TO ESTABLISH A JEWISH PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA.

THE FLORIDA BASED ORGANIZATION IS KNOWN FOR ITS SCHOOLS IN THAT STATE.

HOWEVER, THERE WAS SOME PUSHBACK FROM OKLAHOMA CITIZENS WHO WANT TO KEEP RELIGION AND THE GOVERNMENT SEPARATED, STARTING WITH OKLAHOMA CITY RESIDENT DAN EPSTEIN, WHO IS JEWISH.

MY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WAS ENTIRELY PRIVATE.

MY PARENTS DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYBODY ELSE TO PAY FOR IT.

THEY PAID FOR IT AS PART OF DUES TO OUR OUR CONGREGATION.

AND SO I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE APPLICATION OF BEN GILLUM SCHOOL.

EPSTEIN AGREES WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I ALSO THINK THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT BE FUNDING SECTARIAN EDUCATION.

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S JUDAISM OR CATHOLICISM OR PASTAFARIANISM.

RELIGION IS HERE.

THE STATE IS HERE.

EDUCATION ACTIVIST SEAN CUMMINGS ALSO PROVIDED HIS THOUGHTS ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR PUBLIC DOLLARS TO HELP FUND A RELIGIOUS BASED PUBLIC SCHOOL.

WE'RE GOING TO LITIGATE THIS IN THE SUPREME COURT IF THESE GUYS LET IT GO THROUGH ANYWAY, IT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.

THAT'S THE PLAY.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT A JEWISH SCHOOL.

THIS IS ABOUT A MONEY SCHOOL.

THAT'S WHY THE MONEY SUIT ON.

WE CAUGHT UP TO CUMMINGS AFTER THE MEETING.

SO I CAME OUT TODAY JUST BECAUSE I WAS HERE THROUGH ALL OF THE SAINT ISIDORE STUFF.

AND I'M HONESTLY, I'M A LITTLE ANNOYED AND SURPRISED THAT WE'RE DOING THIS AGAIN.

CUMMINGS IS REFERRING TO THE SAINT ISIDORE OF SEVILLE PUBLIC VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE PREVIOUS ITERATION OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD AND THEN CHALLENGED IN BOTH THE OKLAHOMA STATE COURTS AND EVENTUALLY THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT.

ON A 4 TO 4 DECISION, THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT UPHELD THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT'S 2024 RULING THAT SAYS UNDER OKLAHOMA LAW, A CHARTER SCHOOL IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

AS SUCH, A CHARTER SCHOOL MUST BE NONSECTARIAN.

HOWEVER, SAINT ISIDORE WILL EVANGELIZE THE CATHOLIC FAITH AS PART OF ITS SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

WHILE SPONSORED BY THE STATE.

THIS STATE'S ESTABLISHMENT OF A RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL VIOLATES OKLAHOMA STATUTES, THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE.

SAINT ISIDORE CANNOT JUSTIFY ITS CREATION BY INVOKING FREE EXERCISE RIGHTS AS A RELIGIOUS ENTITY.

THIS WEEK'S REJECTION OF THE BEN GAMLA JEWISH SCHOOLS APPLICATION DID NOT COME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME, GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THESE EFFORTS WITH THE SAINT ISIDORE CASE AND SO FORTH, THIS UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT COME AS A SURPRISE.

IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THE STATE IS WILLING TO ENTERTAIN A RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL, AND SO FAR THE ANSWER HAS BEEN NO.

FARLEY IS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE BEN GAMLA SCHOOL, AND WAS AN OFFICIAL WITH THE SAINT ISIDORE CHARTER SCHOOL AS WELL.

HE SAYS THAT HE'S HOPEFUL THAT A RELIGIOUS EDUCATION BASED ORGANIZATION WILL EVENTUALLY BE APPROVED AS A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL.

WE STILL THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA THAT NEED MORE EDUCATIONAL CHOICE, QUALITY, EDUCATIONAL CHOICE, AND IT'S BEEN OUR GOAL AND STILL IS OUR GOAL TO PROVIDE THAT.

FARLEY ADDS THAT THE BEN GAMLA ORGANIZATION HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF EFFECTIVE EDUCATION IN ITS HOME STATE OF FLORIDA.

SO WE BRING THAT THAT HISTORY TO THE STATE, AND WE'RE SIMPLY PROPOSING TO DO THIS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

OVERWHELMING SUCCESS, OVERWHELMING RATINGS AND SUPPORT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WE WANT TO PRESENT KIDS IN OKLAHOMA TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM IN OKLAHOMA THAT, AS WE INDICATED IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING, IS REALLY UNIQUE IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF JUST ITS OPENING TO INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY.

STATE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN BRIAN SHELLEM AGREES THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF ORGANIZATION RUNS THEM, CAN LEAD TO INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION.

I THINK THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS THE TIP OF THE SPEAR WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING OUR EDUCATION OUTCOMES IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TODAY, I THINK YOU GUYS CAME IN TO BEN GAMALA, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT OUR BOARD IS BOUND BY THE OKLAHOMA STATE SUPREME COURT RULING.

SHELLEM BELIEVES THE CONVERSATION ON RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS SPONSORING PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA IS NOT OVER.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE AT THE US SUPREME COURT LAST YEAR IN APRIL, AND IT WAS A44 TIE.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S DIFFERING LEGAL OPINIONS ABOUT THIS, BUT NO MATTER WHAT, WE WERE BOUND BY THE OKLAHOMA STATE SUPREME COURT.

SOME BELIEVE THE LAW IS ALREADY DEFINED.

NO SECTARIAN EDUCATION PERIOD WITH PUBLIC MONEY.

WELL, OKAY THEN THEN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GO LEGALLY AROUND IT OR BRING IT TO THE PEOPLE, SEE IF PEOPLE REALLY WANT IT.

AN APPLICANT FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL HAS 30 DAYS TO FIX THINGS IN THEIR APPLICATION.

IF THEY'RE REJECTED BY THE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD, BUT THAT PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN IN THE BEN GAMLA CASE.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS THE BOARD INDICATED, THE ISSUE HERE IS IT'S THE JEWISH NATURE OF THE SCHOOL WHICH WE'RE NOT WILLING TO CHANGE.

SO WE ARE NOT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT 30 DAY OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE COURTS.

FARLEY SAYS THE BEN GAMLA LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE DECISION WILL LIKELY START IN THE FEDERAL COURTS, FOREGOING THE STATE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

RICH, JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND GOVERNOR STITT HAS ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ELIMINATING LIFETIME TENURE FOR FACULTY AT OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES, WHICH CURRENTLY EDUCATE ABOUT 54,000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SEE ALL INSTRUCTORS HIRED UNDER FIXED TERM CONTRACTS THAT CAN BE RENEWED BASED UPON PERFORMANCE AND STUDENT OUTCOMES.

FACULTY WHO HAVE ACHIEVED TENURE AT THESE INSTITUTIONS WILL KEEP IT, AND THE TENURE BAN DOES NOT APPLY TO PUBLIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES, WHICH INCLUDES OU AND OSU.

FIREFIGHTING OFTEN RANKS AS THE SECOND OR THIRD MOST STRESSFUL JOB YOU CAN HAVE, AND POLICE WORK ALWAYS MAKES THE TOP TEN.

AND THAT'S WHY ACCESS TO A SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES FIRST AID, MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOTTE.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE FIXERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO WHEN WE'RE OUT RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.

AND WE'RE NOT USING USED TO HAVING TO FIX OUR OWN PROBLEMS.

WE FIX OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS.

THE RESOURCES ARE THERE.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THE STIGMA.

WELL, IF I GO TO SOMEBODY IN THE DEPARTMENT, ARE THEY GOING TO GO TALK TO THE HIGHER UPS RIGHT THERE?

WILL THERE BE A BRIEF OF THAT CONFIDENTIALITY?

SO THAT'S WHERE GROUPS LIKE OURS STEP IN AND SAY, OKAY, YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SOMETHING, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THEN COME TO US.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE DO IS WE HAVE THEM IDENTIFY THEIR EMOTION.

RIGHT.

IF THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING, THEY'VE EXPERIENCED IT.

AS SOON AS YOU'RE IN THAT SAFE PLACE, IDENTIFY THAT EMOTION BECAUSE THAT ALLOWS YOUR BRAIN THEN TO START GOING INTO PROBLEM SOLVING MODE RATHER THAN OVERWHELM MODE.

THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, KENDRICK SIMPSON HAS BECOME THE FIRST PERSON TO BE EXECUTED IN OKLAHOMA.

IN 2026.

SIMPSON WAS PUT TO DEATH ON THURSDAY AT THE STATE PENITENTIARY IN MCALESTER FOR THE MURDER OF TWO MEN IN A DRIVE BY SHOOTING IN 2006.

IN JANUARY, THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD DENIED HIS REQUEST FOR CLEMENCY.

SIMPSON WAS 45 YEARS OLD.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF OKLAHOMANS DID WHAT GOVERNOR STITT HOPES THEY WILL DO?

VOTE TO BAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN OUR STATE?

WHAT WOULD THE RAMIFICATIONS BE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS, CONSUMERS, AND OUR ECONOMY?

NOAH MACK HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO THAT AND JOINS US NOW.

NOAH.

WELL, RICH OKLAHOMANS LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA NEARLY EIGHT YEARS AGO.

THAT WAS THROUGH A STATE QUESTION.

AND STITT WANTS ANOTHER STATE QUESTION TO REVERSE IT.

BUT KILLING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY WOULD PUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OUT OF A JOB AND CEASE THE MEDICAL PROGRAM FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS.

THESE PLANTS CAME IN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FREEZE, SO THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE, BUT I MUSTERED THROUGH IT SO IMPORTED WATER.

BORN AND RAISED OKLAHOMA.

AND JOHN BIRD IS PREPARING HIS FIRST HARVEST SINCE RECEIVING A LICENSE TO GROW CANNABIS.

AND HE BUILT THIS OPERATION WITH HIS OWN TWO HANDS.

HE DIDN'T COME IN AND BUILD THIS ROAD.

I HAD TO BUILD THIS ROAD, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO BRING WATER POWER TO THIS PLACE.

A LOT OF OKLAHOMANS PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL AND THEIR POCKETBOOKS INTO THIS.

I MEAN, THIS WASN'T A CHEAP ENDEAVOR.

AND THAT'S WHY HE'S STILL STUNNED AFTER HEARING THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS SEND THE MARIJUANA ISSUE BACK TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, AND LET'S SHUT IT DOWN.

WHEN I SAW IT, IT WAS SUCH A SHOCKER.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT THAT HE HAD ACTUALLY SAID THAT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE A DAY AFTER THE STATE OF THE STATE ANNOUNCING THE CAPTURE OF DRUG LORD HAOTONG CHEN AND THE UNRAVELING OF HIS ILLEGAL DRUG SYNDICATE SPANNING ACROSS FOUR STATES, INCLUDING OKLAHOMA.

DRUMMOND, WHO IS RUNNING TO SUCCEED GOVERNOR STITT, AGREED WITH HIM ON TERMINATING THE STATE'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO BE GONE.

IT WOULD.

ONE OF THE EARLIEST BRIEFINGS I GOT FROM THE FBI SAID, YOU KNOW, I SAID, WHAT CAN WE DO?

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHUT DOWN ALL MARIJUANA OPERATION.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

OKLAHOMA VOTERS APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN 2018 BY 58%.

JOHN BELIEVES GOVERNOR STITT SIDESTEPPED ACCOUNTABILITY IN HIS ADDRESS.

IT SEEMS LIKE HE HAS ALLOWED THIS STUFF TO HAPPEN, AND INSTEAD OF POINTING THE FINGER AT HIMSELF, HE WANTS TO POINT IT AT PEOPLE LIKE ME AND SOME OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE DOING IT RIGHT.

AS OF THIS MONTH, THERE ARE ROUGHLY 2000 GROWERS, 1400 DISPENSARIES, AND OVER 600 PROCESSORS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

STITT DIRECTLY TOOK AIM AT DISPENSARIES IN HIS SPEECH.

NOW WE HAVE MORE DISPENSARIES THAN WE DO PHARMACIES.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

THESE STOREFRONTS HIDE AN INDUSTRY THAT ENABLES CARTEL ACTIVITY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN OUR STATE.

DISPENSARY OWNER JERRY FLOWERS CALLED THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS LAUGHABLE AND SAYS IF OKLAHOMA'S MEDICAL PROGRAM WERE ABOLISHED, THAT WOULD OPEN UP THE DOOR TO AN EXACERBATED BLACK MARKET.

I MEAN, IT WOULD BE VERY DETRIMENTAL, YOU KNOW, FROM A MEDICINAL STANDPOINT FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND ALL IT'S GOING TO DO IS IGNITE THE BLACK MARKET.

IT'S GOING TO SET IT ON FIRE IN OKLAHOMA.

I THINK IT'S BAD.

NOW, HE'S ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE STATE WOULD MAKE UP THE TAX REVENUE.

AT ITS ZENITH, THE INDUSTRY BROUGHT IN NEARLY 149 MILLION TAX DOLLARS AND HAS FLOATED AROUND 100 MILLION ANNUALLY EVER SINCE.

AT THE GENESIS OF THE PROGRAM, THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE SCRAMBLED TO COME UP WITH REGULATIONS TO POLICE IT, AND FLOWERS BELIEVES THE LACK OF GUARDRAILS AT THE ONSET MADE OKLAHOMA VULNERABLE.

WHEN COLORADO OPENED UP THEIR THEIR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM 20 YEARS AGO.

I TRIED TO GET A LICENSE, BUT THE FIRST CRITERIA WAS YOU HAD TO BE A RESIDENT OF COLORADO TO QUALIFY.

THAT'S WHERE OKLAHOMA MESSED UP AND LET THE CRIMINALS IN.

HE ADDS THAT THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL MARIJUANA AUTHORITY, THE STATE AGENCY TASKED WITH LICENSING, GROWS AND DISPENSARIES, DESERVES SOME OF THAT BLAME FOR FAILING TO VET MALEVOLENT APPLICANTS.

DON'T LOOK THE OTHER WAY BECAUSE YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET $1 MILLION IN APPLICATION FEES, OKAY, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN?

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S NOT GOING TO RUN 400 OPERATIONS.

IN DECEMBER, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ORDERED THAT CANNABIS BE RECLASSIFIED FROM A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG TO SCHEDULE THREE.

ALTHOUGH THE DRUG IS NOT OFFICIALLY RESCHEDULED, THE CHANGE WOULD FEDERALLY RECOGNIZE THE DRUG'S MEDICINAL POTENTIAL AND PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE RESEARCH.

WELL OVER HALF OF THE UNITED STATES HAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAMS, SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SEE A BENEFIT WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

IN OKLAHOMA, THERE ARE OVER 315,000 MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS.

ONE OF THOSE PATIENTS IS PRE-MED STUDENT HANNAH ROSE, WHO USES THE INDICA STRAIN TO OFFSET HER INSOMNIA WITH INDICA.

I SLEEP A LOT MORE SOLIDLY.

I STAY ASLEEP AND I WAKE UP PERFECTLY REFRESHED.

I ALSO FEEL A LOT CALMER WHEN I WHEN I DO TAKE WHEN I DO TAKE MY MEDS.

AND I DEFINITELY FEEL MORE GROUNDED AND I FEEL, YOU KNOW, MORE WHOLESOME.

HANNAH HAS ALSO NOTICED AN IMPROVEMENT TO HER OVERALL SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC LIFE, AND HOPES RESCHEDULING COMES WITH LESS STIGMATIZED EDUCATION AROUND CANNABIS.

I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF EDUCATION, WHETHER IT BE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OR, YOU KNOW, WITHIN, LIKE MEDICINAL, LIKE MEDICINE, LIKE PRACTITIONERS OR PEOPLE WHO DO RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC.

I THINK THAT THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT TO LEGISLATORS.

FOR JOHN BIRD, HE BELIEVES IN THE PLANT'S MEDICINAL PROPERTIES AND BELIEVES IN HIS STATE.

HE PLANS ON KEEPING HIS LITTLE SLICE OF OKLAHOMA PARADISE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

YOU GET THIS EVERY DAY.

HE EVEN NAMED HIS BUSINESS AFTER HIS VIEW.

OKLAHOMA NIGHTS CRAFT CANNABIS SOME OF THE BEST VIEWS IN THE WORLD ARE RIGHT OUT HERE IN THIS AREA.

IT'S AS MUCH TIME AS I DO IN HERE WORKING.

I'M OUTSIDE DURING THE NIGHT TIME WATCHING THE SKIES.

IF BOTH CHAMBERS PASS A JOINT RESOLUTION, A STATE QUESTION, RATHER THAN GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR APPROVAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE BALLOT.

RICH, NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, THE SECOND WEEK OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 60TH LEGISLATURE IS NOW ON THE BOOKS WITH MORE ON WHAT TRANSPIRED AT 23RD IN LINCOLN THIS WEEK.

WE WELCOME BACK QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SEAN ASHLEY, WHO JOINED US FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL.

AND SEAN, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOT HAPPY WITH GOVERNOR STITT AND THE PRESIDENT IS POSTING ABOUT IT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW, GOVERNOR STITT HEADS THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, AND THEIR ANNUAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IS COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

THERE ARE A SERIES OF EVENTS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATION WAS EXCLUDING DEMOCRATS FROM SOME OF THE INVITATION LISTS.

AND THIS HAS LED TO A BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE PRESIDENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

ON WEDNESDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP INDICATED THAT GOVERNOR STITT HAD GOTTEN IT WRONG, AND HE WENT ON TO CALL GOVERNOR STITT A RHINO AND SAID HE BARELY ENDORSED HIM IN HIS REELECTION BID.

AND THEN ON THURSDAY, THE PRESIDENT WAS AT IT AGAIN, INDICATING THAT GOVERNOR STITT HAD GOTTEN IT WRONG, THAT ALMOST ALL THE DEMOCRATS WERE INVITED TO ALL THE EVENTS AND THAT OKLAHOMA WOULD SOON HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR WHO PERHAPS WOULD KNOW HOW TO WRITE A PRESS RELEASE.

BUT I GUESS THIS JUST GOES TO SHOW, EVEN IN POLITICS, THE GUEST LIST AND THE SEATING CHART REALLY, REALLY MATTER.

THEY DO.

OKAY, TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST BILL SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR STITT THIS YEAR.

YEAH, IT'S REALLY KIND OF EARLY, BUT SENATE BILL 743 WAS CARRIED OVER FROM THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE BILL INCREASES PENALTIES AND CLARIFIES WHAT IS INVOLVED IN DISRUPTING A WORSHIP SERVICE.

THIS BILL WAS THE RESULT OF AN INCIDENT INVOLVING THE SENATE AUTHORS CHURCH SENATOR TODD GALLAGHER IN 2025.

THE.

THE BILL WAS SENT TO GOVERNOR STITT AFTER IT WAS APPROVED BY THE SENATE.

IT WAS ONE VOTE AWAY FROM GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AT THE END OF LAST SESSION, AND SIMPLY WAS NOT HEARD BEFORE THEY ADJOURNED SINE DIE.

GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED THE BILL AND IT TOOK EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

SEAN.

STATE SUPERINTENDENT LINDEL FIELDS HAS PRESENTED HIS EDUCATION PRIORITIES TO LAWMAKERS, BUT SOME SAY THAT THEY ARE SHORT ON SPECIFICS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IN HIS BUDGET PRESENTATIONS TO THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS OUTLINED A VERY BASIC BUDGET FOR LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER, ASKING ONLY FOR THE MINIMUM NEEDED TO TO FUND THE FLEXIBLE BENEFIT ALLOWANCE FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

AND A SUBSEQUENT PRESS RELEASE, THE SUPERINTENDENT OUTLINED SOME POLICY OBJECTIVES FOR LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, HE DID NOT CATCH A PARTICULAR DOLLAR AMOUNT TO THOSE.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE LEGISLATURE IS LEFT WONDERING WHAT TO DO AND IS REALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH AN EDUCATION AGENDA OF THEIR OWN.

AS WE HAVE SEEN IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

NOW, FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.

GOVERNOR STITT HAS SAID HE WANTS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TAX CREDITS.

IS THAT IDEA GAINING TRACTION EARLY IN THIS SESSION?

WELL, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE YET TO APPROVE A MEASURE THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE $250 MILLION CAP ON THE PARENTAL CHOICE TAX CREDITS.

HOWEVER, THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION DID APPROVE A BILL THAT WOULD INCREASE THE CAP EACH YEAR BY $50 MILLION IF THE USE OF THAT CREDIT INCREASED TO 95% OF THE AVAILABLE CAP.

IT'S SORT OF A COMPLICATED MATHEMATICAL EQUATION, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE LAWMAKERS ARE WILLING TO RAISE THE CAP, AT LEAST SOMEWHAT, BUT PERHAPS NOT AS MUCH AS THE GOVERNOR HAS REQUESTED.

SEAN.

REAL QUICKLY, THE REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY IN THE HOUSE HAS A NEW MEMBER.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

DYLAN TRAVIS, THE REPUBLICAN FROM MERRIMACK, WAS ELECTED IN A SPECIAL ELECTION TUESDAY.

HE WILL BE SWORN IN THIS UPCOMING WEDNESDAY TO JOIN THAT SUPERMAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE.

TWO SEATS WILL REMAIN VACANT THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WELL, AS ALWAYS, SEAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL.

SEAN.

ASHLEY, ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

WELL, OKLAHOMA CITY VOTERS REALLY LIKE THE JOB DAVID HOLT IS DOING AS MAYOR IN TUESDAY'S ELECTION, THE INCUMBENT RECEIVING A NEAR-RECORD 86.5% OF THE VOTE TO BECOME THE FIFTH MAYOR, REELECTED FOR A THIRD TERM DATING BACK TO THE CITY'S FOUNDING IN 1889, HOLT WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2018.

HIS THIRD TERM BEGINS MAY 5TH AND LASTS UNTIL 2030.

THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA NOW HAS A NEW NAME, LOGO, AND BRANDING.

FOLLOWING A VOTE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON WEDNESDAY, IT'S NOW SIMPLY ONE TRANSIT.

ORIGINALLY FORMED IN 2019, THE NEW NAME AND BRANDING IS DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT A LONG TERM PLAN TO MODERNIZE THE SYSTEM AND EXPAND IT INTO NORMAN AND EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

AND PROGRESS.

WE'LL START OUT WITH PHASE ONE, AND WE'LL BUILD THE COMMUTER RAIL LINE CONNECTING NORMAN TO OKLAHOMA CITY AND THE DOWNTOWN SANTA FE HUB, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THUNDER STATION TO EDMOND.

THERE'LL BE ABOUT 11 STATIONS ALONG THAT LINE.

IT'S A 38 MILE LONG COMMUTER RAIL LINE, AND IT'S JUST AN EXCITING, EXCITING TIME FOR US.

AND SO WE'VE WE'VE REBRANDED WITH OUR OUR NEW LOGO AND OUR NEW NAME, AND HERE WE ARE.

WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE FUNDING TO BEGIN THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THAT RAIL LINE IS NOT YET IN PLACE.

ANOTHER MAJOR OKLAHOMA ENERGY COMPANY IS MOVING ITS HEADQUARTERS OUT OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

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

EXPAND ENERGY, FORMERLY CHESAPEAKE ENERGY, BEFORE MERGER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, IS MOVING ITS HEADQUARTERS FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO HOUSTON.

THE FOCUS WILL BE MOVING THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, AND THE COMPANY PLEDGES TO KEEP A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

WITH THE MOVE ALSO COMES AN EXECUTIVE CHANGE BOARD CHAIRMAN, MICHAEL, WHICH IS NOW THE INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO, REPLACING NICK DELLOSSO JR AT THE HELM.

DELLOSSO WILL SERVE AS AN EXTERNAL ADVISOR ON THE MOVE.

THE HQ MOVE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MID 2026.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED MIDFIRST BANK IS EXPANDING ITS HEADQUARTERS.

THE COMPANY HAS PURCHASED A 250,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING ON THE FORMER CHESAPEAKE ENERGY, NOW EXPAND ENERGY CAMPUS.

THE MOVE IS PART OF MIDFIRST LONG TERM GROWTH STRATEGY.

THE COMPANY HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED IN OTHER STATES.

BANK ALSO WANTED TO REINFORCE ITS COMMITMENT TO ITS HOME STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

PAYCOM SOFTWARE EARNED $453.4 MILLION IN NET INCOME DURING 2025.

THAT'S COMPARED TO THE COMPANY'S NET INCOME OF 502 MILLION DURING 2024.

REVENUE FOR THE COMPANY INCREASED BY 9% YEAR OVER YEAR TO TOTAL NEARLY $2.1 BILLION.

PAYCOM BELIEVES IT CAN TOP THOSE REVENUES THIS YEAR BY 6 TO 7%.

EMIRATES GLOBAL ALUMINUM AND ITS PARTNER, CENTRA ALUMINUM, HAVE HIRED BECHTEL TO START THE ENGINEERING WORK FOR ITS PRIMARY PRODUCTION PLANT IN INOLA.

BECHTEL WILL WORK ON THE DESIGN OF THE NEW PLANT AS THE PROJECT PUSHES AHEAD TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION.

BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST NEW ALUMINUM SMELTER BUILT IN THE US SINCE 1980.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON THANKS.

OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S OU HEALTH HOSPITAL KICKING OFF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE WEEK WITH AN EVENT IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE CONDITION IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF BIRTH DEFECT, BUT WITH THE RIGHT TREATMENT, THE SURVIVAL RATE IS VERY GOOD AND GETTING BETTER.

TAELYR JACKSON MET ONE YOUNG FAMILY DEALING WITH THE DISEASE AND SHE JOINS US NOW WITH THEIR STORY.

TAELYR RICH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK IS OBSERVED EACH FEBRUARY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE BIRTH DEFECT.

I MET THE KENNAMER FAMILY WHO SHARED HOW THE OU CHILDREN'S IMPROVED THEIR DAUGHTER'S LIFE.

MACIE WAS 18 WEEKS PREGNANT WHEN SHE AND HER HUSBAND FOUND OUT THEIR BABY GIRL, KADE, HAD A HEART CONDITION CALLED DOUBLE OUTLET RIGHT VENTRICLE.

I WAS JUST A YOUNG MOM, LIKE, NAIVE OF, LIKE, NOT EVEN REALIZING THAT THIS CAN SOMETIMES BE PEOPLE'S REALITY WHEN THEY GO TO ANATOMY SCANS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THINKING, I JUST WAS GOING TO FIND OUT IF I WAS GOING TO HAVE A GIRL OR BOY, AND I FOUND OUT SO MUCH MORE.

AND SO OUR LIFE KIND OF FLIPPED ON A DIME OF JUST, WOW, THIS IS OUR NEW REALITY.

I NEED TO KIND OF BE MOM AND NURSE AT THE SAME TIME AND LEARN THIS WHOLE NEW WORLD.

CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE ALTERS HOW BLOOD FLOWS THROUGH THE HEART AND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE BODY, AND IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CONGENITAL ANOMALIES THAT AFFECTS 1 IN 100 BIRTHS.

KADE UNDERWENT A NUMBER OF OPEN HEART SURGERIES AT A YOUNG AGE.

ALTHOUGH NAVIGATING A HEART PROBLEM CAN BE DAUNTING, KENNAMER SAYS THE STAFF AT OU CHILDREN'S HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES FEEL COMFORTABLE.

FROM OUR VERY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT HERE AT OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S, WE HAVE FELT, SEEN AND KNOWN.

WE'RE ALMOST EIGHT YEARS INTO THIS JOURNEY, AND THANKS TO THE TOP NOTCH MEDICAL CARE HERE AT OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S, WE'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE ALL OF KADE'S HEALTHCARE HERE, RIGHT IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU NEVER QUITE REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF NEEDING QUALITY HEALTH CARE LOCALLY UNTIL IT'S YOUR CHILD OR A CHILD OF A LOVED ONE.

IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD BEING ABLE TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY UNIT WHOLE, SURROUNDED BY YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM WHILE ALREADY NAVIGATING AND TRYING TIME.

PHYSICIAN IN CHIEF DOCTOR MICHAEL STEINER SAYS OU CHILDREN'S DOESN'T JUST FOCUS ON THE DIAGNOSIS.

SO WE DO IT WITH INTERDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL CARE BETWEEN CARDIOLOGISTS, CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS, INTENSIVISTS AND ADVANCED IMAGING PROVIDERS.

BUT WE ALSO DO IT WITH DEEPER TEAM MEMBERS ACROSS NURSING THERAPIES, REHABILITATION, DIETICIANS, NUTRITION, SOCIAL WORK, AND ALL OF THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT GO INTO MAKING CARE HOLISTIC AND ADDRESSING THE WHOLE CHILD, AND NOT JUST THE DIAGNOSIS.

OU CHILDREN'S WILL SOON HAVE A NEW STATE OF THE ART FACILITY FOR PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY PATIENTS.

LAST SEPTEMBER, THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ANNOUNCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION HEART CENTER.

IT PUTS OKLAHOMA NOW IN A POSITION IF THERE WERE ONLY 35 PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

NOW THERE'S ABOUT 125 PROGRAMS.

THERE ARE ONLY 35 PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

OKLAHOMA WOULD STILL BE ONE OF THE PROGRAMS.

AND IT WAS KEY GETTING GETTING US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND MAKING SURE WE CAN PROVIDE THIS TOP OF THE LINE CARE SO THAT WE MATCH EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

IF NOT DO BETTER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY HERE.

AND WE'RE NOT.

WE DON'T HAVE OUR PROGRAM TAKEN AWAY, SO WE PUT OURSELVES IN A GOOD POSITION, AND HAVING A HEART CENTER WILL JUST SOLIDIFY THAT IT WILL BE FOR DECADES TO COME.

$20 MILLION WAS GIFTED BY THE PRESBYTERIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION FOR THE PROJECT, AND THE LEGISLATURE INVESTED $200 MILLION AS WELL.

OU CHILDREN'S SURGEON IN CHIEF DOCTOR HAROLD BURKHART HELPED ADVOCATE FOR THE NEW CENTER.

AT ONE TIME, A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS THERE WAS DISCUSSION THAT MAYBE THERE WOULDN'T EVEN BE A HEART SURGICAL PROGRAM FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND IF THEY HAD KEPT GOING, HOW THEY WERE GOING BEFORE I GOT HERE, THE RESULTS WERE AVERAGE AND THE VOLUMES WERE LOW BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS LEAVING THE STATE, THEY WOULD HAVE MADE AN EASY ARGUMENT JUST TO NOT HAVE A PROGRAM.

PERFORMING MORE THAN 500 PEDIATRIC HEART SURGERIES EACH YEAR, OU CHILDREN'S IS RANKED AMONG THE TOP 50 BEST CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS IN THE NATION FOR PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY.

SURVIVAL IS SO MUCH BETTER NOW THAN IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO.

AND THERE'S THREE AREAS.

THE BIGGEST AREA IS THAT INFANT OR NEWBORN SURGERY, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT A THIRD OF ALL HEART SURGERIES WE DO HERE.

THE SURVIVAL IS MUCH BETTER NOW, AND GETTING INVOLVED WITH THOSE CHILDREN PRENATALLY AND RIGHT AWAY, AND HAVING THEM HERE IN A SPECIALIZED UNIT, HAS INCREASED THEIR SURVIVAL TO WHAT WAS MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO, A 75% SURVIVAL NOW IS ABOUT A 95% SURVIVAL.

THE NEW HEART CENTER WILL HELP OU CHILDREN'S SERVE MORE FAMILIES LIKE THE ERS.

SHE IS JUST DOING SO AMAZING.

AND THAT REALLY IS A TESTAMENT TO ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE HERE FOR HER.

BUT YEAH.

SO SHE TURNS EIGHT NEXT MONTH.

SHE DOES.

WE HAVE INDOOR SOCCER TONIGHT.

SO SHE DOES SOCCER AND SHE DOES HOMESCHOOL CO-OP AND HORSEBACK RIDING.

OTHER THAN KEEPING AN EYE ON HER EXERTION, LITTLE KADE LIVES A NORMAL LIFE.

SHE MAY GET TIRED OR EASIER, BUT I ALWAYS WANT HER TO KIND OF SET THOSE LIMITS AND NOT ME PUT SOMETHING ON HER.

BUT SHE'S REALLY EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS AND YOU WOULD HONESTLY NEVER KNOW.

JUST HAVING HER RUNNING AROUND AND LOOKING AT HER AND SHE'S REALLY DOING SO AMAZING.

KIM SAYS HER DAUGHTER WEARS HER HEART CONDITION AS A BADGE OF HONOR.

IT'S SO SWEET BECAUSE SHE BECAUSE SHE'S GONE THROUGH REALLY HARD THINGS.

SHE HAS THE TENDEREST HEART TO OTHER PEOPLE GOING THROUGH HARD THINGS, AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S MADE HER MORE OF A COMPASSIONATE PERSON.

AND SO SHE'S JUST DONE AMAZING WITH IT ALL, REALLY.

THE NEW HEART CENTER WILL SPAN MORE THAN 200,000FT!S, AND IS SET TO OPEN IN LATE 2029.

RICH, THAT'S A GREAT STORY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TAELYR OKLAHOMA'S FIRST RESPONDERS, WHETHER THEY'RE FIREFIGHTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMTS OR 911 SCREENERS, HAVE THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF HAVING ONE OF THE TEN MOST STRESSFUL JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM HERE IN OKLAHOMA?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADDO.

ALL RIGHT, RICH.

THIS IS A GREAT TOPIC.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR OUR GUESTS TO BE WITH US TODAY.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

I DON'T THINK SO.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE TO OUR GUESTS.

FIRST WE HAVE KORI NEUNER.

HE IS WITH OU HEALTH CORPORATE HEALTH SERVICES.

HE'S A PROJECT MANAGER AND A FORMER POLICE OFFICER OF 25 YEARS.

NEXT WE HAVE BRETT QUAY.

HE IS THE CEO OF WARRIORS REST FOUNDATION AND A FORMER STATE TROOPER.

26 YEARS.

AND THEN WE HAVE MARY LUJAN, A LICENSED COUNSELOR, AND IT SAYS THERAPEUTIC DRIVE THROUGH.

I'M GOING TO GET THE ADDRESS TO THAT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US AND THANKS FOR HAVING US.

I'M EXCITED TO GET INTO THIS.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND TRAUMA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND THAT MEANS POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, PARAMEDICS AND PROBABLY OTHERS OUT THERE IN THE FIELD.

COREY, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WITH YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH FIRST RESPONDERS DEALING WITH TRAUMA?

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE FIXERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO WHEN WE'RE OUT RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.

AND WE'RE NOT USING USED TO HAVING TO FIX OUR OWN PROBLEMS.

WE FIX OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS.

AND SO DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE FOR THEM VERY QUICKLY PROCESSING WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD HAVE A FATALITY CAR ACCIDENT.

AND THEN THE NEXT THING THEY KNOW, THEY'RE DEALING WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD DISPUTE OF SOME KIND.

SO THE UPS AND DOWNS AND THE VALLEYS AND TROUGHS OF THOSE KINDS OF RESPONDING, IT'S VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.

AND BRETT, WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE LIKE?

LIKE YOU WERE YOU WERE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR OVER TWO DECADES.

WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE LIKE?

IS IT LIKE EIGHT HOUR, NINE HOUR A DAY JOB?

AND THEN YOU GET TO GO HOME AND CUT IT OFF?

VERY, VERY RARELY IS IT DOES IT WORK LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE SHIFT WORK WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THERE'S A TON OF STUDIES THAT ARE BEING DONE RIGHT NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS OPTIMAL FOR THAT, BOTH FOR THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, EVERYBODY THINKS THAT THERE'S THAT THEY'RE RIGHT.

BUT FOR A LOT OF US, I WAS IN SPECIAL SERVICES, SERVED ON OUR SWAT TEAM.

SO EVEN WHEN I WENT HOME BACK THEN, WE HAD PAGERS, SO I WOULD HAVE MY PAGER ON.

SO WE WERE NEVER REALLY OFF CALL.

AND SO YOU STAY AT A, AT A, AT A, YOU KNOW, A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF, OF AWARENESS EVEN WHEN YOU'RE AT HOME THAT THAT WEARS ON YOU AFTER A WHILE.

AND MARY, I DIDN'T SAY THIS ABOUT YOU, BUT TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO FIRST RESPONDERS.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

I DO.

MY HUSBAND IS A FIREFIGHTER WITH OKLAHOMA CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN ON THERE FOR ALMOST 19 YEARS.

AND THEN MY SON DECIDED, WELL, DAD'S DONE IT.

I THINK I SHOULD DO IT, TOO.

AND HE'S BEEN ON WITH OKLAHOMA CITY FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

AND WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED WHEN YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR SON ARE EXPERIENCED, DID YOU SEE THEM EXPERIENCE TRAUMA AND GO THROUGH DEALING WITH THAT?

YES.

AND THAT'S WHY, ESPECIALLY WITH MY HUSBAND, THAT'S WHY I AM NOW A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR, PRIMARILY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, BECAUSE THERE WAS AND MY HUSBAND HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT AND HAD TO ACTUALLY WORK SOMEBODY THAT HE WORKED WITH.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE GENTLEMAN HAD PASSED AWAY.

AND SO THEN YOU GET INTO THIS, WELL, I CAN SAVE SOMEONE'S GRANDMA, BUT I CAN'T SAVE MY BEST FRIEND, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME.

BUT HE HAD ABOUT FOUR YEARS THAT HE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH PTSD AND WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME WE HAD NO CLUE.

AND SO THEN WHEN WE STARTED REALIZING THAT AND SEEING ALL THAT AND I WAS LIKE, WE HAVE THIS BIG, JUST DARK BLACK HOLE BETWEEN WHAT WE'VE TAUGHT THEM IN THE ACADEMY AND NOW YOU'RE OUT HERE TREADING WATER, TRYING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

AND I WAS LIKE, I WANT TO SHINE THAT LIGHT IN THAT BLACK HOLE.

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO MIGHT SAY, WELL, YOU'RE GOING IN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A FIREFIGHTER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A PARAMEDIC, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.

DIDN'T YOU EXPECT TO SEE BAD THINGS?

I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN BE PREPARED FOR REALLY WHAT IT IS YOU WITNESS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY I CAN PREPARE YOU FOR EVERY SINGLE INCIDENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO COME ACROSS, YOU KNOW, AND BE PREPARED FOR, YOU KNOW, OKAY, I'M I'M GOING TO HELP A, YOU KNOW, AN ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL.

NOW I'M THERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS MY GRANDMA.

RIGHT?

AND SO NOW I'VE GOT THIS CONNECTION WITH SOMEBODY, AND I'M TAKING THAT TRAUMA HOME UNAWARE, YOU KNOW, JUST ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY EXPERIENCE.

COREY, WHEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE ON THE JOB.

BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT EVERYONE IS A HUMAN BEING.

EXPERIENCES WORKING, BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY LIFE, MANAGING PAY.

HOW'S THE PAY?

WHAT ARE THE OTHER STRESSORS THAT YOU FACE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER?

YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S THERE'S A HARD BALANCE TO BE STRUCK.

YOU HAVE A RANGE OF PAYS, YOU KNOW, FROM RURAL OKLAHOMA INTO METROPOLITAN AREAS.

AND THEN THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THE ATTRACTION OF OVERTIME.

I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ALL DEAL WITH THAT, WHETHER IT'S A FIREFIGHTER OR A POLICE OFFICER.

ANY AGENCY HAS THOSE OVERTIME OPPORTUNITIES.

AND AND THAT'S DIFFICULT TO TURN DOWN.

BUT YOU NEED THAT TIME AWAY.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT BALANCE TO STRIKE IS MAKING THAT TIME TO BE A PERSON WHO IS NOT THAT FIRST RESPONDER.

FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I HAD ABOUT A 30 45 MINUTE DRIVE HOME AFTER MY SHIFT, AND THAT ALWAYS GAVE ME SOME TIME.

AND BY THE WAY, I WAS ALMOST ALWAYS THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF THAT MENTALITY.

AND BUT I TOOK THAT TIME ON THE DRIVE HOME TO LISTEN TO MUSIC, TO PROCESS WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT I THINK I, YOU KNOW, WAS TALKED ABOUT THAT, THAT VICARIOUS TRAUMA.

YOU KNOW, WE GO TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE CALLS.

THEY CREEP INTO OUR MINDS.

AND SOMETIMES IN THE MOST INOPPORTUNE MOMENTS, AND THEY DEFINITELY CHANGE US.

AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS A CULTURAL CHANGE.

IT'S VERY SLOW, BUT WE'RE THERE.

WE'RE GETTING THERE.

AND I THINK WHAT WARRIORS REST IS DOING AND THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY IS DOING, AND ALSO THE EFFORTS WITHIN THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP CULTURAL COMPETENCE, TO BE ABLE TO, WITH CONFIDENCE, HAVE A FIRST RESPONDER SET IN FRONT OF YOU AND TELL YOU THOSE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT THEY WITNESSED, THAT THEY SMELLED, THAT THEY THAT JUST STICK WITH THEM.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, THAT CULTURAL COMPETENCE IS, IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE VALUE OF, OF THERAPISTS LIKE THAT ARE.

IT'S JUST YOU CAN'T REPLACE IT.

IF YOU GO INTO A REGULAR THERAPIST AND SIT DOWN AND START TALKING ABOUT, I MEAN, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THESE STORIES FROM FIRST, THERE'S HORROR STORIES OUT THERE FROM FROM FIRST RESPONDERS WHO GO IN AND SIT DOWN WITH A THERAPIST AND JUST GOOGLE GOOD THERAPIST AND SEE SOMEBODY WITH A FIVE STAR RATING, AND YOU GO IN THERE TO SIT DOWN AND YOU START TALKING ABOUT IT, AND THEY'RE LIKE, BY THE SECOND SESSION, THEY'RE LIKE, THEY'RE LIKE, IS HELP AVAILABLE?

IS HELP READILY AVAILABLE THROUGH AGENCIES, OR IS THAT SOMETHING A FIRST RESPONDER HAS TO GO AND FIND ON THEIR OWN IT SO IT VARIES DEPENDING ON WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU'RE WITH.

THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE VERY PROACTIVE IN THIS.

AND PART OF THAT HAS COME LIKE HE HAD TALKED ABOUT.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE CULTURE IN FIRST RESPONDERS.

IT NORMALLY IT STARTS FROM THE TOP DOWN.

SO THERE ARE CHIEFS OKLAHOMA CITY THERE.

LAST COUPLE OF CHIEFS HAVE BEEN VERY PROACTIVE WITH IT TO WHERE THEY HAVE ACTUALLY EMBEDDED A CLINICIAN IN HOUSE.

I KNOW EDMOND HAS DONE THE SAME THING.

YOU GET OUT IN THE RURAL AREAS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

RIGHT.

AND THAT AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON WITH THE FOUNDATION IS REALLY GETTING RESOURCES OUT TO THE TO THE RURAL AREAS.

BUT SO THE RESOURCES ARE THERE.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THE STIGMA.

WELL, IF I GO TO SOMEBODY IN THE DEPARTMENT, ARE THEY GOING TO GO TALK TO THE HIGHER UPS RIGHT THERE?

WILL THERE BE A BRIEF OF THAT CONFIDENTIALITY?

SO THAT'S WHERE GROUPS LIKE OURS STEP IN AND SAY, OKAY, YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SOMETHING, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THEN COME TO US.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH US, THEN WE'VE GOT OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN THAT YOU CAN GO TO.

AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN A SMALL AGENCY IN A SMALL TOWN WHERE THERE MIGHT BE TWO THERAPISTS, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, OR ONE, YOU KNOW, IN A SPECIFIC TOWN AND PEOPLE TALK.

AND SO THERE'S THIS FEAR OF GOING TO THAT ONE THERAPIST IN MY TOWN, OR THEY MIGHT TRAVEL.

I'VE TALKED TO OFFICERS WHO HAVE TRAVELED 50, YOU KNOW, 75 MILES TO GO TO ANOTHER THERAPIST BECAUSE THEY WANT AN EXPECTATION.

WHY IS THERE A STIGMA FOR THIS?

I THINK IT GOES BACK TO I THINK IT GOES BACK TO KIND OF WHAT COREY HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

WITH THAT, YOU'VE GOT TO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN THIS TOUGH EXTERNAL SHELL IN ORDER TO DO YOUR JOB RIGHT.

AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A CHANGE IN THAT.

IT'S STARTING.

BACK WHEN WE CAME ON, YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

YOU DIDN'T SHOW EMOTION.

WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIFICALLY, THERE IS A FEAR THAT IF YOU DO GO TO A COUNSELOR OR YOU DO SHOW THAT THERE IS A A WEAKNESS THERE, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU, WHICH IS YOUR BADGE AND YOUR GUN.

RIGHT.

AND SO KIND OF GOING BACK TO WHAT COREY TALKED ABOUT, WILL IT GO WITH THE FAMILY SIDE OF IT AND WHY PEOPLE WORK OVERTIME?

YES, THERE IS A FINANCIAL BENEFIT FOR THAT.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS, IS THAT THEY'RE USING THAT TO ESCAPE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE MOST COMFORTABLE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO GO HOME WHERE THINGS HAVE BROKEN DOWN, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN UGLY TO THEIR WIFE AND THEIR KIDS.

AND SO THEY GO TO WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE SAFEST, WHICH IS BAD, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE CUMULATIVE TRAUMA STARTS BUILDING UP FOR MOST.

THAT'S WHAT GETS US, MARY, TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, CUMULATIVE TRAUMA.

AND DOES THIS RING TRUE WHAT THESE TWO ARE SAYING.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT THE AVERAGE PERSON EXPERIENCES LIKE 3 TO 4 TRAUMATIC EVENTS IN THEIR LIFE.

RIGHT.

AND AND SO LIKE IF, LET'S SAY MY DOG GOT OUT AND GOT HIT BY A CAR, RIGHT.

ME PERSONALLY, I'M LIKE, OKAY, NOW I DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE MY GATE IS LOCKED.

I MAKE SURE MY DOG IS ON A LEASH BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED THAT ONE INCIDENT RIGHT NOW.

LOOK AT A FIRST RESPONDER, RIGHT?

AND YOU SAY, OKAY, THEY'VE SEEN THE CAR WRECK FROM SOMEBODY DRINKING AND DRIVING.

THEY'VE EXPERIENCED A RESTAURANT THAT THE FRONT WINDOW GOT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY RAN INTO THE FRONT OF THAT RESTAURANT.

THEY EXPERIENCED SOMEBODY BEING ATTACKED WHO WAS JUST WALKING TO AN ATM.

RIGHT.

SO NOW THEIR BRAIN STARTS PUTTING ALL THESE THINGS IN PLACE, AND EVERY TIME THEY GO OUT SOMEWHERE, WHEN THEY'RE SOMEWHERE WITH THEIR KIDS OR THEIR FAMILY, THEY'RE RUNNING THROUGH ALL THOSE SCENARIOS, OKAY, DON'T SIT BY THE WINDOW.

RIGHT.

DON'T SIT WITH YOUR BACK TOWARDS THE DOOR.

DON'T.

THEY'RE RUNNING THROUGH ALL OF THESE BECAUSE THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THEM.

SO WHAT ARE SOME COPING TECHNIQUES THAT YOU GIVE YOUR CLIENTS?

FIRST OFF, I ALWAYS TELL THEM BECAUSE THEY LOVE TO COME IN AND TELL ME THEY'RE BROKEN, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

AND I'M LIKE, HEY, YOUR BRAIN IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOU, TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND ALIVE.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR BRAIN'S DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.

RIGHT?

AND ANOTHER THING THAT WE DO IS WE HAVE THEM IDENTIFY THEIR EMOTION, RIGHT?

IF THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING, THEY'VE EXPERIENCED IT.

AS SOON AS YOU'RE IN THAT SAFE PLACE, IDENTIFY THAT EMOTION, BECAUSE THAT ALLOWS YOUR BRAIN THEN TO START GOING INTO PROBLEM SOLVING MODE RATHER THAN OVERWHELM MODE.

WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES LEFT.

SO I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, COREY.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND HOW IT CAN HELP.

SO RIGHT NOW I WORK FOR OU HEALTH AND WE ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

SO YOU'VE GOT FUNDAMENTAL, YOU KNOW, CONNECTIONS IN BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL HEALTH AND THE MENTAL HEALTH.

AND SO WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TO TAKE MY TRAINING COMING FROM THE FIRST RESPONDER COMMUNITY AND MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE AND ADAPT THAT TO OU HEALTH, AND THEN SPEARHEAD AN INITIATIVE WHERE WE ACTUALLY GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, WE GO TO BRIEFING STATIONS, WE GO TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND PROACTIVELY ENGAGE THEM AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND HOW TO BE HEALTHY, AND HOW THAT PHYSICAL HEALTH INTERACTS WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

IT IT DOES.

EVERYONE SAYS EXERCISE MORE.

YOU'LL FEEL BETTER.

AND HOW CAN HOW CAN FOLKS FIND YOU JUST THAT SIMPLE.

IF ONLY I WOULD DO IT.

YES.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WHAT ABOUT YOU?

HOW CAN FOLKS FIND YOU?

YOU KNOW I DO.

YOU CAN FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S THERAPEUTIC.

DRIVE THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH TIDBITS YOU CAN USE IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

OKAY.

BUT.

AND WRITE THAT DOWN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S SOME GOOD LITTLE TIDBITS THERE.

BUT.

AND NORMALLY LIKE LIKE BRETT ALSO REFERS PEOPLE TO US AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF FOR COUNSELING.

AND BRETT, TELL US ABOUT WARRIORS REST.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP.

SO WE ARE WE'RE A NONPROFIT BASED OUT OF BASED OUT OF THE METRO OKLAHOMA CITY HERE.

BUT WE YES, WE WE OFFER CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO INDIVIDUAL FIRST RESPONDERS OR DEPARTMENTS IN BOTH THE METRO, WITH REALLY OUR FOCUS BEING IN THE RURAL AREA.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO GET RESOURCES OUT TO THEM.

SO WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH VETTED CLINICIANS THAT WORK WITH FIRST RESPONDERS.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF EVENTS COMING UP.

WE DO A WHAT WE CALL A POST-CRITICAL INCIDENT, SEMINARS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

IT'S AT NO CHARGE.

IT'S A THREE AND A HALF DAY EVENT THAT WE OFFER, AND WE GET TO DIG INTO THEIR TRAUMA.

WE GET TO GIVE THEM SOME EDUCATION AND STUFF AND GET THEM STARTED ON THE PATH TO BEING HEALTHIER, BOTH PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AND QUICKLY.

FOR ANY VIEWERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, WHAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS KIND OF CARE?

SO WITH THERE ARE OTHER GROUPS THAT WE WORK WITH THAT CAN HELP OFFSET SOME OF THAT COST.

IN OKLAHOMA, ALL OF OUR SERVICES THAT WE THAT WE OFFER, WE TRY TO TRY TO DO IT FOR FREE.

I WAS GOING TO SAY FOR OUR SERVICES, OUR SERVICES ARE COVERED BY INSURANCE.

SO THERE'S NO COST TO THE PARTICIPANT THAT PARTICIPATES IN OUR BIOMETRIC SCREENINGS.

SO YEAH, THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION.

I TOLD YOU IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH TIME, BUT OUR TIME IS UP.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS AND FOR BEING VERY OPEN ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO KEEPING ALL OF US SAFE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND THEY ARE HEROES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND SUSAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO THE ARIZONA DESERT, WHERE THE ANCIENT ART OF MASK MAKING FOR THE YAQUI INDIANS LIVES ON.

THANKS TO ONE MAN.

THAT STORY, COURTESY OF OUR PBS FRIENDS AT ARIZONA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT THE PASCUA YAQUI RESERVATION, HONORING OUR PEOPLE AND OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OF THE YAQUI TRIBE.

SO NOW I'VE BEEN COVERING FOR 47 YEARS.

RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE TALKING TO THE LAST TRADITIONAL WORLD COVERED MASK MAKER HERE IN THIS IN THE UNITED STATES ON OLD PASCUA HERE IN TUCSON, ARIZONA.

I AM WORKING AND TEACHING PEOPLE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME THROUGH MY ELDERS.

IT'S ABOUT HERE.

IN HERE.

THAT'S THE SPIRITUAL PART.

WELL, TRADITIONALLY I GO HARVEST THE WOOD BEFORE I ENTER THE FOREST, THE THE DESERT WORLD.

I ASK PERMISSION FROM THE CREATOR AND MOTHER EARTH THAT I'M GOING TO TAKE THE PIECE OF WOOD TO PRODUCE A PIECE OF ART THAT REPRESENTS MY NATION.

AND WHEN I SEE A PIECE OF WOOD, I SEE THAT IMAGE THERE.

IT COMES TO ME THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF THE ART WORLD, THE SPIRIT OF MY PEOPLE.

IT'S OUR WHOLE PROCESS.

BECAUSE FIRST YOU HAVE TO COME OUT WITH THE SPIRITUAL PART OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRING OUT.

THEN YOU HAVE TO SEND IT.

YOU HAVE TO FORM IT.

I DO GET A BIG OLD COTTONWOOD, AND I SPLIT IT WITH A WEDGE ACROSS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND DO WORK ON 6 TO 8 MONTHS AT A TIME.

I DO FORM THEM FIRST AND THEN I START FORMING THE FACES.

THEN I TURN IT AROUND AND I START DIGGING OUT AFTER THE FACES OF FORM IT'S GOING TO BE, AND DIGGING.

AND THEN I CUT THEM OUT WITH A MACHETE.

AND OF COURSE THEY HAVE THE CROSS ON THE FOREHEAD.

THE BLESSED DANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE CEREMONY, BUT ALSO REPRESENTS THE FOUR DIRECTIONS OF EARTH AND THE SUN SYMBOL.

THE TRIANGLES UNDER AROUND THE REPRESENTS THE LIFE, THE MOUNTAINS, THE TRIANGLE UNDER THE REPRESENTS THE RAINDROPS.

BECAUSE WE'RE KNOWN FOR FARMING, ALSO REPRESENTS A TEARDROP OF THE REVOLUTION BETWEEN THE YAQUI AND THE MEXICANS.

BACK THEN, WHEN BEFORE THE YAQUI CAME ACROSS FOR THE FREEDOM THAT THAT REPRESENTS THE STARS, FAMILY MEMBERS, THE RED REPRESENTS THE FLOWER, BUT ALSO THE BLOODSHED IN THE REVOLUTION, THE WHITE REPRESENTS PURITY, ALSO THE CANDLELIGHT IN EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS HORSEHAIR BECAUSE MAN REPRESENTS THE OLD MAN OF THE FIESTA.

BEFORE THE DEER DANCER CAN PERFORM, THE DANCER HAS TO DANCE THREE SONGS TO BRING THE SPIRIT OF THE DEER FROM THE FLOWER WORLD, THE TO THIS WORLD TO HONOR ALL ANIMALS, INSECTS AND HUMAN LIFE, NOT ONLY TO BLESS OUR TRIBE, OUR INDIGENOUS TRIBE, AND MUCH AS ALL THE WORLD.

THAT'S WHY WE DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO TAKE PHOTOS OF THE DEER DANCER.

ONCE THE CREATOR CALLS ME, I THINK IT'S LOST AND NOBODY PICKS UP.

BUT THAT'S MY DREAM BECAUSE FOR A WHILE I DIDN'T HAVE NOBODY LEARNING THIS.

I DO HAVE APPRENTICES THAT ARE LEARNING AND THEY'RE GOOD.

DURING THE WEEKENDS I GO OUT THERE AND EDUCATE PEOPLE, AND THEN THEY UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE AND THE MEANING OF WHO WE ARE AND THE SYMBOLISM THAT WE CARRY ON THE MASK OR IN THE CARVING, BECAUSE IT'S VERY SPIRITUAL.

I WAS I WAS TAUGHT TO SHOW RESPECT, AND THIS IS WHAT WE TEACH AS ELDERS IS TO BE HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, STUDENTS WALKING OUT OF CLASS TO PROTEST ICE.

IT'S HAPPENING AT HIGH SCHOOLS ALL OVER OKLAHOMA.

NOW SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO PUT A STOP TO IT.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON REPORTS FRIDAY THAT SEVEN.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE GREENWOOD RISING HISTORY CENTER IN TULSA.

SHOT AND EDITED FOR US BY OETA CASEY FERGUSON AND JASON STEWART.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH ANY OF THE REPORTS IN THIS NEWSCAST.

AGAIN, THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE BY TUESDAY NIGHT ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

AND 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.

ON AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, IT WAS THE ONLY ARMED OVERTHROW OF AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT.

WHAT WILMINGTON TELLS US