SUNUP.OKSTATE.EDU.

OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURE STARTS AT SUNUP.

TEST DRIVES AND AUTO NEWS ON MOTORWEEK SUNDAY MORNING AT SEVEN ON OETA.

WHAT LAWMAKERS AND THE ACLU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT STUDENTS WALKING OUT OF CLASS TO PROTEST ICE.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO WALKOUT, IF YOU REALLY HAVE SOMETHING YOU STAND UP FOR, YOU KNOW, GO DO IT ON A SATURDAY.

SO STUDENTS DO NOT LOSE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE GATE.

THAT IS A CORE TENANT OF FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS.

REACTION TO TWO OF THE STATE'S LARGEST ENERGY COMPANIES MOVING THEIR HEADQUARTERS OUT OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

I WAS NOT SURPRISED.

OUR INDUSTRY IS VOLATILE INDUSTRY, AND IT'S IT'S SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

ONE ON ONE WITH THE MAYOR OF OKLAHOMA CITY FOLLOWING HIS LANDSLIDE REELECTION.

IT WAS SOMETHING OF AN ENDORSEMENT OF EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING, BOTH THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT AND THE OUTCOMES THAT WE SEEK.

WHEN YOU GET 86.5%.

THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS EXPANDING TAX CREDITS FOR OKLAHOMA CAREGIVERS, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE A VIABLE OPTION FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO KEEP A LOVED ONE AT HOME.

OKLAHOMA'S COUNTDOWN TO AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY BEGINS.

THE VISION OF TOMORROW IS BETTER THAN OUR TODAY.

AND THAT PROMISE IS WHAT OKLAHOMA 250 IS ALL ABOUT.

PLUS, AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

AS OF FRIDAY MORNING, 42 WILDFIRES AND 23 DIFFERENT COUNTIES HAVE SCORCHED MORE THAN 300,000 ACRES OF OKLAHOMA LAND.

ON TUESDAY, GOVERNOR STITT DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR WOODWARD, BEAVER AND TEXAS COUNTIES.

AND HE ADDED HARPER COUNTY TO THAT LIST ON THURSDAY AFTER WIND WHIPPED WILDFIRES DESTROYED HOMES AND INJURED FOUR FIREFIGHTERS NEAR WOODWARD, THREE OF THEM SERIOUSLY, AFTER THEIR TRUCK OVERTURNED IN A DITCH.

WHILE THE FIRE DANGER LESSENED ON FRIDAY, OKLAHOMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXPECTS THE FIRE DANGER TO PICK UP NEXT WEEK, PEAKING ON TUESDAY.

THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMA CHILDREN HAVE WALKED OUT OF SCHOOL TO PROTEST ICE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND IT HAS SOME LAWMAKERS QUESTIONING IF THOSE STUDENTS AND OR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SHOULD BE REPRIMANDED, OR IF THEY'RE SIMPLY EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT.

TAELYR RICH.

THE STUDENT LED WALKOUTS BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, AND MOST OF THE DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE HAVE SENT OUT MESSAGES CLARIFYING THAT THESE PROTESTS ARE NOT ENDORSED BY THE SCHOOLS.

NOW.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE STAGED MULTIPLE WALKOUTS IN PROTEST OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS ICE.

THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS SET OUT FOR THE TOWN HALL.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY MOTHER IS AN IMMIGRANT FROM GERMANY.

SHE WENT THROUGH ALL THE LEGAL PAPERWORK AND EVERYTHING, AND I ALSO HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE IMMIGRATED HERE.

SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER TO ME, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE I KNOW WILL BE SAFE.

STUDENTS WE SPOKE WITH SAY THEY DISLIKE HOW IMMIGRANTS ARE BEING TREATED BY ICE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE BLACK, WHITE, MEXICAN, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT RACE YOU ARE.

YOU'RE STILL HUMAN AND WE SHOULD BE TREATED.

AS STUDENT.

WALKOUTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN EL RENO, OWASSO, NORMAN, TULSA, OKC AND SURROUNDING AREAS ON WEDNESDAY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT THANKED MUSTANG HIGH SCHOOL FOR TAKING DISCIPLINARY ACTION INVOLVING MORE THAN 100 STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN A STUDENT LED WALKOUT HELD FEBRUARY 5TH.

ACCORDING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

STUDENTS WERE ASSIGNED IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION FOR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES.

MUSTANG PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS ALSO CLARIFYING THAT NO STUDENT WAS DISCIPLINED FOR THE CONTENT OF THEIR SPEECH OR VIEWPOINT, BUT RATHER A CONSEQUENCE FOR MISSING INSTRUCTION DURING THE SCHOOL DAY SO STUDENTS DO NOT LOSE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE GATE.

THAT IS A CORE TENET OF FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS.

AND SO THEY JUST AS EVERYONE ELSE, CONTINUE TO ENJOY THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO EXPRESSION.

ACLU OF OKLAHOMA LEGAL DIRECTOR MEGAN LAMBERT SAYS THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS TO BE AWARE OF.

FIRST, IF THEY ARE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES ON CAMPUS, IT CANNOT BE IN A WAY THAT DISRUPTS CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.

IF IT IS, THAT'S NO LONGER WITHIN THE PROTECTION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND THEN THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT PROVIDE AN EXCUSED ABSENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE WALKOUTS.

RIGHT.

SO YOU DO HAVE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST ON SIDEWALKS AND STREETS.

HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT FUNCTION AS AN AS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE.

HOWEVER, IT DOES PROTECT STUDENTS FROM BEING PUNISHED MORE HARSHLY FOR MISSING CLASS TO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT THAN FOR ANY OTHER REASON, LAMBERT SAYS.

ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THEIR FREE SPEECH RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED SHOULD CONTACT THEM, SO THAT THE ACLU OF OKLAHOMA WILL BE BEHIND YOU TO ENSURE THAT YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED.

AS YOU ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTION AND ADVOCACY.

SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY WANT THE STUDENT WALKOUTS TO CEASE.

IN A LETTER SENT TO SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS, 14 REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, REQUESTED THAT SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE PROTESTS AND INVESTIGATE REPORTS ON TEACHERS WHO PROMOTED OR FACILITATED THE WALKOUTS.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE FREEDOM CAUCUS CHAIR FOR COMMENT BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER.

SENATE PRO TEM LONNIE PAXTON, WHO DID NOT SIGN THE LETTER SENT TO OSD, ADDRESSED SCHOOL WALKOUTS DURING HIS PRESS AVAILABILITY.

THE GIST OF THE LETTER I CAN SUPPORT STUDENTS SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL.

I MEAN, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO WALKOUT, IF YOU REALLY HAVE SOMETHING YOU STAND UP FOR, YOU KNOW, GO DO IT ON A SATURDAY.

THAT REALLY IMPRESSED ME.

IF YOU WALKED OUT ON A SATURDAY AND WALKED, WALKED UP AND DOWN THE STREETS AND AND PROTESTED, I'M ALL FOR THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTITUTION NOT JUST ALLOWS.

IT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO PROTEST THINGS THAT THEY SEE THAT THEY DISAGREE WITH.

AND I WILL SUPPORT THAT ALL THE TIME.

IN RESPONSE TO THE LETTER, SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS STATED THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS IN CONTACT WITH SCHOOL LEADERS AND A STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART, EACH SITUATION IS BEING HANDLED WITH A CALM SENSE OF ORDER THAT ENSURES STUDENT SAFETY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS MAY ADOPT POLICIES THAT REGULATE ON CAMPUS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND DISTRICTS MAY IMPOSE DISCIPLINE OR ATTENDANCE PUNISHMENTS IF STUDENTS VIOLATE THOSE POLICIES.

LATER, SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS RELEASED A JOINT STATEMENT WITH THE OKLAHOMA SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, DOCTOR DAN HAMLIN.

ACCORDING TO THAT STATEMENT, EVIDENCE OF DISTRICT ENDORSED PROTESTS HAS YET TO BE FOUND.

LAMBERT SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO EVALUATE YOUR OWN LEVEL OF RISK WHEN CONSIDERING POLITICAL PROTEST.

SO IF THAT LEVEL OF RISK IS LOW, IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTION AND EXPRESSION, THEN A LOW RISK WAY TO DO THAT IS BY SHOWING UP WITH EXPRESSIVE MATERIAL AT SCHOOL.

RIGHT?

SO THE QUINTESSENTIAL EXAMPLE ARE THOSE ARMBANDS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

THE SAME IS TRUE WITH OTHER PIECES OF CLOTHING OR LIKE PENS OR OTHER FORMS OF EXPRESSION THAT DO NOT DISRUPT CLASSROOM CURRICULUM.

ANOTHER WAY IS ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTION WHEN IT IS NOT DURING CLASS TIME, BUT STILL ON CAMPUS, DURING BREAKS, DURING LUNCH, IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT DISRUPT LEARNING.

AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO PROTEST, UNDERSTAND YOUR SCHOOL POLICIES AROUND AN ABSENCE SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RISKS ARE, BUT YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT PUNISHMENT WOULD BE ABNORMAL FOR THAT ABSENCE, SO YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE VIOLATED BY THE SCHOOL OR THE DISTRICT.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, VISIT ACLU.

OKAY, DOT RICH TAYLOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE RESULTS OF A FISCAL AUDIT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDER JOY HOFMEISTER, ORDERED BY GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT, WERE RELEASED ON WEDNESDAY.

STATE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR CINDY BIRD SAYS SHE DID NOT DISCOVER ANY MISSING FUNDS, BUT DID CONCLUDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT LACKS OVERSIGHT ON HOW LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SPEND STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY.

MORE THAN 98% OF ALL EDUCATION DOLLARS ARE SPENT AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, NOT AT THE STATE LEVEL BY SWD.

OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO SHIFT TO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS, BIRD SAYS.

THE CURRENT ACCOUNTING SYSTEM USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WASN'T DESIGNED TO FIND MISSPENDING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, SHE ADDS.

THE LEGISLATURE COULD TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THAT ISSUE.

GOVERNOR STITT AND OTHERS GATHERING AT THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER ON PRESIDENTS DAY TO UNVEIL PLANS TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY THIS COMING JULY 4TH.

IT INCLUDES A WEBSITE, OKLAHOMA TWO 50.COM, AND SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR OKLAHOMA STUDENTS, INCLUDING TWO CONTESTS.

STUDENTS CAN ENTER THE OQ 250 EDUCATION CONTEST AND THE NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL 1776 AWARD, AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM BY GOING TO THE WEBSITE ON YOUR SCREEN.

WINNERS WILL BE HONORED AT THE STATE CAPITOL WITH PRIZES AND CASH AWARDS.

AS WE APPROACH AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY IN 2026, WE HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST TO CELEBRATE OUR HISTORY, BUT TO INVITE THE NEXT GENERATION TO UNDERSTAND IT, ENGAGE WITH IT, AND HELP SHAPE WHAT COMES NEXT.

THAT IS WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS THAT IT OPENS THAT AVENUE OF CONVERSATION UP SO OUR COMMUNITIES CAN TALK TO THOSE KIDS AS THEY'RE GROWING UP, TO EXPLAIN TO THEM, THIS ISN'T JUST A GIVEN.

OUR FREEDOM IS NOT A GIVEN.

PEOPLE FOUGHT FOR IT.

PEOPLE DIED FOR IT AND MADE AMERICA WHAT IT IS.

OKLAHOMANS HAVE LED WITH AN UNSHAKABLE BELIEF THAT THE VISION OF TOMORROW IS BETTER THAN OUR TODAY.

AND THAT PROMISE IS WHAT OKLAHOMA 250 IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S WHY OKLAHOMA CELEBRATION OF AMERICA 250 BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR CENTERS ON THREE CORE VALUES TO EDUCATE, TO ENGAGE, AND TO UNITE.

AND AGAIN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONTEST AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, GO TO OKLAHOMA.

TWO 50.COM.

THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON WAS STANDING WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR WHEN HE DELIVERED HIS ICONIC I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IN 1963, AND FIVE YEARS LATER, HE WAS STANDING ABOVE THE FALLEN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AFTER AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET STRUCK KING DOWN ON THE BALCONY OF THE LORRAINE MOTEL IN MEMPHIS.

AFTERWARDS, JACKSON PICKED UP THE TORCH AND CARRIED ON KING'S WORK.

AND FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, HE WAS THE PREEMINENT VOICE OF KING'S MOVEMENT, CREATING OPERATION PUSH AND TWICE RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

IN 1984 AND 1988.

JACKSON DIED AT HIS HOME IN CHICAGO ON TUESDAY AT THE AGE OF 84.

WE'LL DISCUSS HIS LEGACY IN OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

HERE'S A PREVIEW WHAT HE BELIEVED IN THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION, AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAD SUPPORT WHEN IT CAME TO BLACK RIGHTS.

TO BE IN A ROOM WITH HIM, TO SIT DOWN AND TO HEAR HIM TELL STORIES ABOUT DOCTOR KING, TO TALK ABOUT MARCHES THAT HE WAS A PART OF.

I'M BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DONE THAT.

COMMON SENSE AND COMMON DECENCY AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.

THAT'S WHAT THE MOVEMENT WAS ALL ABOUT.

THE CHALLENGE WAS THEN.

THE CHALLENGE IS NOW.

JESSE SPOKE.

THEN WE HAVE TO SPEAK NOW.

THIS IS THE TIME THAT THE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE DIRECTION AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IF HE COULD SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HE WOULD PRESS US FORWARD.

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

WELL, WHEN YOU GARNER ALMOST 87% OF THE VOTE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE THE JOB YOU'RE DOING.

AND THAT'S THE CASE FOR DAVID HOLT, WHO LAST WEEK BECAME ONLY THE FIFTH PERSON TO WIN A THIRD TERM AS MAYOR OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

JASON DOYLE SAT DOWN WITH THE MAYOR THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS HIS SUCCESS AND HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

JASON RICH, MAYOR HOLT SAYS WINNING A THIRD TERM REALLY HASN'T SOAKED IN YET, BUT HE'S READY TO GET TO WORK TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

IT IS VERY SURREAL.

YEAH, WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE NEWLY MINTED THIRD TERM MAYOR OF OKLAHOMA CITY AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY CONVENTION CENTER THIS WEEK.

HE'S STILL GETTING USED TO THE LARGE MARGIN OF VICTORY THAT SECURED FOUR MORE YEARS FOR DAVID HOLT.

I WOKE UP THAT MORNING GUESSING A PERCENTAGE THAT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT I ENDED UP WITH.

SO I DO THINK THAT THAT WAS ESPECIALLY VALIDATING AND DEFINITELY GIVES YOU A FEELING OF A MANDATE.

THAT MANDATE IS TO CONTINUE PUSHING OKLAHOMA CITY FORWARD.

IT WAS SOMETHING OF AN ENDORSEMENT OF EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING, BOTH THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT AND THE OUTCOMES THAT WE SEEK.

WHEN YOU GET 86.5%, WHICH IS THE SECOND HIGHEST TOTAL IN THE ENTIRE CITY'S HISTORY, BUT ESPECIALLY TO DO IT IN THIS NATIONAL POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE NOBODY CAN AGREE ON ANYTHING.

YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT MOMENTUM IS TO IMPLEMENT A FEW MAJOR ITEMS VOTERS APPROVED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THAT INCLUDES THE MAPS FOR PROJECTS, THE $2.7 BILLION GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROJECTS, AND THE NEW THUNDER ARENA.

WE'VE BUILT UP A LOT OF TRUST, AND THIS ISN'T AN EIGHT YEAR STORY.

THIS IS A 30 YEAR STORY ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PASSAGE OF MAPS IN 1993.

AND CERTAINLY THAT'S PART OF OUR OUR OF OUR SUCCESS AS WELL.

THERE'S GREAT CONTINUITY.

EVERY MAYOR SORT OF HANDS THE BATON TO THE NEXT.

THAT'S THAT SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

THERE ARE LOTS OF CITIES IN THIS IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE THE THE NEXT MAYOR'S FIRST JOB IS TO UNDO EVERYTHING THE MAYOR BEFORE THEM DID.

AND WE'VE NOT TAKEN THAT APPROACH.

WE HAVE DEFINITELY STOOD ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE GIANTS BEFORE US.

ONE OF THOSE GIANTS IS THE ONLY OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR TO WIN FOUR TERMS.

MICK CORNETT HOLT SERVED AS CORNETT'S CHIEF OF STAFF DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS IS BEST OFF WITH WITH MAYOR HOLT IN OFFICE.

I THINK HE'S DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

I THINK THE CITY IS DOING REALLY WELL AND I THINK THE VOTERS MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE, CORNETT SAYS.

HOLT HAS THE ABILITY TO KEEP OKLAHOMA CITY ON ITS GROWTH TRAJECTORY.

I'M IMPRESSED THAT HE'S HE'S TAKEN ON TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS.

YOU KNOW, A PERSON IS AS GIFTED AND AS INTELLIGENT AS HE IS, COULD BE DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND THE FACT THAT HE WOULD PUT SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY INTO TRYING TO MAKE HIS HOMETOWN A BETTER PLACE, I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

SO YOU GOT FOUR MORE YEARS.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE START TO HAPPEN FOR OKLAHOMA CITY OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS?

WE'VE GOT SO MANY COOL MAPS FOR PROJECTS WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE AND OPEN IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THAT'S A JOURNEY FOR ME THAT STARTED ALL THE WAY BACK IN 2018.

WE GOT TO GET REAL, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO GET THIS BOND ISSUE OFF THE GROUND.

JUST LAST WEEK WE VOTED TO SELL THE FIRST THE FIRST FEW BONDS OUT OF IT, $230 MILLION.

IT'S THE BIGGEST BOND SALE IN OKLAHOMA CITY HISTORY.

WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GET TO 2.7 BILLION.

SO THAT'S A JOURNEY THAT THAT WILL BE BEGUN IN EARNEST HERE OVER THESE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

ONE OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BUSINESS LEADERS, WHO HAS WORKED WITH THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY OVER THE YEARS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OTHER MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS LIKE THE BRICKTOWN BALLPARK, IS ADG PRESIDENT AND CEO JASON COTTON.

HEY, SIR.

HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS MORNING?

HEY.

GOOD MORNING.

ANY MESSAGES OR ANYTHING?

I HAVE GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR FROM TIME TO TIME BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO FOR THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, HE'S OBVIOUSLY GOT A HUGE STAFF OVER THERE THAT WORKS FOR HIM, AND WE WORK DAILY WITH HIS STAFF.

BUT THERE ARE TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY THINGS ABOUT THE MAPS PROGRAM OR MAYBE PARTICULAR PROJECTS WITHIN THE PROGRAM.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE REALLY ENJOYED THAT.

ADG IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIRM WHICH DOES ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ALL ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR MAJOR PROJECTS LIKE THOSE FOUND IN THE MAPS PROGRAM.

COTTON SAYS HOLT HAS A TALENT OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO HELP SOLVE ISSUES.

HE'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT A LOT OF TIMES IN POLITICS, LIKE CONVERSATIONS TEND TO ATTRACT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AT THE KIND OF THE ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM.

AND I THINK THAT THE MAYOR REALIZES THAT THE REALITY IS USUALLY SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND OF MORE MODERATE AND LIKE, ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD SOLUTION.

HOLT THINKS THE NEXT BIG THING FOR OKLAHOMA CITY WILL BE A TRANSIT SYSTEM WHICH CONNECTS THE METRO AREA.

PEOPLE CAN SEE IT.

TRAFFIC IS ESCALATING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR AND PUBLIC TRANSIT CONVERSATIONS ARE COMPLEX AND THEY'RE BUREAUCRATIC, AND THEY TAKE A LONG TIME TO SEE THROUGH.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO BE WORKING ON IT NOW.

HOLT SAYS CONNECTING OKLAHOMA CITY THROUGH TRANSIT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE CAPITAL CITY IS A MAJOR ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE STATE.

IN FACT, OUR SHARE OF GDP JUST IN THE LAST TEN YEARS HAS GONE FROM ABOUT 30% TO NOW IT'S LIKE 42%.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT TRAJECTORY OF OUR GDP SHARE OF THE STATEWIDE ECONOMY JUST KEEPS GOING UP.

I MEAN, YOU COULD IMAGINE THAT BY, YOU KNOW, 2040, IT MIGHT BE HALF THE STATE'S GDP.

OF COURSE, THERE'S ALSO THE START OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ARENA, WHICH WILL PLAY HOME TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER OVER THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND HOLT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE CHAMPIONS BIGGEST FANS AS THE PLAYOFFS APPROACH THIS YEAR.

I KNOW THEY DEFINITELY WANT THAT NUMBER ONE SEED IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE, BUT BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL GETTING EXCITED ABOUT.

AND CERTAINLY I'M SURE THE CITY WILL BE ON FIRE ONCE AGAIN WHEN THE PLAYOFFS ARRIVE.

MAYOR HOLT WILL BE SWORN IN TO BEGIN HIS THIRD TERM ON MAY 5TH.

RICH, JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AS HE DOES EACH WEEK DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SEAN ASHLEY JOINS US NOW FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL.

AND, SEAN, THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION HAS RELEASED ITS 2027 BUDGET NUMBERS.

GIVE US THE DETAILS ON THAT AND THE REACTION FROM THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS.

WELL, THE PICTURE HAS IMPROVED FROM WHAT THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION TOLD US BACK IN DECEMBER, THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE ABOUT $12.2 BILLION TO SPEND IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

THAT'S ABOUT $123 MILLION MORE THAN THEY WERE TOLD IN DECEMBER.

BUT IT'S $500 MILLION LESS THAN THEY APPROPRIATED FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

NOW, GOVERNOR STITT WAS PLEASED TO SEE RECURRING REVENUE THAT MONEY COLLECTED FROM TAXES EACH YEAR INCREASING IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

AT THE SAME TIME, SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR CHUCK HALL INDICATED THAT THE BUDGET YEAR WILL BE, HE SAID, CHALLENGING BECAUSE WE HAVE STATE AGENCIES REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $1.8 BILLION OF FUNDING, BUT THAT $500 MILLION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT'S AVAILABLE THIS YEAR AND WHAT WAS APPROPRIATED LAST YEAR.

OKAY, SO THAT SAID, THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MET ON TUESDAY BUT DIDN'T APPROPRIATE ANY MONEY.

SO WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.

THERE WERE SIX PROPOSALS ON THE AGENDA TO CREATE SPECIAL ACCOUNTS FOR NEW PROGRAMS OR PROPOSED PROGRAMS BEING CONSIDERED BY LAWMAKERS.

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR CHUCK HALL ASKED THE AUTHORS OF THOSE BILLS TO REMOVE THE APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE BILLS, INDICATING THAT IT WAS TOO EARLY IN THE PROCESS TO COMMIT TO SPECIFIC DOLLAR NUMBERS.

NOW, WHAT WAS ALSO VERY INTERESTING IS THAT THREE OF THOSE WERE PROPOSALS.

WERE SENATOR HALL'S PROPOSALS.

EACH OF THE BILLS HAD THE MONEY STRIPPED FROM THEM AND THEY MOVED FORWARD, SHOWING SOME SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN THOSE BILLS.

SEAN, HOW ARE LAWMAKERS IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA RESPONDING TO THOSE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES THROUGHOUT THAT AREA?

WELL, WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF LAWMAKERS, BOTH FROM NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA AND FROM CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AS WELL, EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER THE LOSS OF PROPERTY AND THE DAMAGE TO FARMLAND, AS WELL AS PRAISING THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE BEEN BATTLING THOSE FIRES.

ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, WE SEE A PROPOSAL PUT FORTH BY SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM LONNIE PAXTON THAT WOULD CHANGE THE CRITERIA FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DECLARE BURN BANS, WHICH HELP PREVENT WILDFIRES LIKE THOSE CURRENTLY OCCURRING IN THIS CASE.

IN PARTICULAR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT DOES IS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN AREA BE IN SEVERE DROUGHT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA, ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT DROUGHT MONITOR, IT WAS ONLY IN DROUGHT, NOT SEVERE DROUGHT.

SO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THERE COULD NOT DECLARE BURN BANS, WHICH MIGHT HAVE HELPED PREVENT SOME OF THESE FIRES.

VERY, VERY INTERESTING.

WHAT ARE THE DETAILS ON A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A TEACHER BILL OF RIGHTS?

SENATOR DAVID BULLARD, A REPUBLICAN FROM DURANT, IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL THAT PROPOSES THE TEACHER BILL OF RIGHTS, SENATE BILL 1237.

AND THIS BILL LISTS SPECIFIC RIGHTS, 13 OF THEM TO BE EXACT, FOR TEACHERS TO HAVE IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE AND IN THE CLASSROOM.

SOME OF THEM ARE MORE GENERAL THAT YOU AND I ARE USED TO LIKE CERTAIN FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, YET OTHERS ARE MORE SPECIFIC TO THE SCHOOL SETTING.

NOW, OPPONENTS TO THE BILL ARGUED IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THAT MANY OF THESE ISSUES ARE ALREADY ADDRESSED IN CURRENT LAW.

BUT LAWMAKERS APPROVED THE BILL IN THAT COMMITTEE, AND IT NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION.

OKAY, SEAN ASHLEY, ANOTHER BUSY WEEK FOR YOU, PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL.

WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH BACK WITH YOU NEXT WEEK.

OKAY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

THE CARING FOR CAREGIVERS ACT TOOK EFFECT ON NEW YEAR'S DAY ON 2024.

NOW, STATE REPRESENTATIVE TAMMY WEST WANTS TO AMEND AND EXPAND THE LAW TO DELIVER MORE TAX RELIEF TO MORE PEOPLE.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT WEST HOPES TO CHANGE.

STEVE.

RICH THAT CARING FOR CAREGIVERS LAW THAT PASSED THREE YEARS AGO PROVIDED UP TO A $2,000 TAX CREDIT FOR FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE PAYING FOR ELDER CARE.

THIS NEW HOUSE BILL WOULD EXPAND THAT CREDIT TO $3,000 A YEAR.

AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL, YOU HAVEN'T HAD TO LIVE WITH THIS YET.

IN FIVE MONTHS, JIM AND BARBARA REED WILL BE MARRIED 50 YEARS.

THEY RAISED TWO DAUGHTERS.

THEY BOTH HAD CAREERS.

LET ME GET HIM IN THERE.

GO AHEAD.

STAY THERE, STAY THERE.

THESE YEARS SHOULD BE GOLDEN.

THEY'RE NOT.

YOU WANT TO JUST ABOUT ANY.

YOU WANT TO JUST ABOUT ANY.

I'LL RAISE THE HEAD UP.

OKAY.

YOU DO OR DON'T YOU KNOW WHERE THE REMOTE IS TO YOUR TV?

TWO YEARS AGO, JIM, WHO'S 73, SUFFERED A MASSIVE STROKE.

EVEN THOUGH BARBARA IS A LONGTIME MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR FOR THE STATE, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.

I HAD A REALLY HARD TIME WITH ACCEPTING WHEN HE COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE BECAUSE HE WAS HELPING PROVIDE INCOME FOR THE HOME, AND WHEN HE WASN'T ABLE TO WORK IT, PUT IT ALL ON ME.

BARBARA AND JIM ALMOST LOST THEIR HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE MEDICAL EXPENSE.

FORTUNATELY, MY MORTGAGE COMPANY WORKED WITH ME AND FOR THE REASONS THAT I TOLD THEM BECAUSE OF HIS HEALTH.

BUT THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS BE MYSELF AND PARTIALLY GET MYSELF DRESSED.

SHE GETS ALL MY MEDS FOR ME, COOKS FOR YOU, AND TAKES THEM TO ALL DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.

MY TYPICAL DAY IS JUST ACTUALLY I LIVE IN MY CALENDAR BECAUSE I HAVE TO KEEP EVERYTHING ON THERE WITH ALL OF THE MEETINGS AND WORKING FULL TIME AND WHAT'S COMING UP WITH MY JOB, KNOWING WHAT JIM'S NEEDS ARE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, SPECIFICALLY, DRIVING JIM TO SEE HIS DOCTORS IS A CHALLENGE.

EVERY WEEK I THINK I GOT TEN MORE YEARS, BUT TO DOCTORS AND ALL THEY THEY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINION.

BUT YOU WANT TO SEE IT THROUGH.

YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING?

YES.

BARBARA SAYS THE ORIGINAL CARING FOR CAREGIVERS LAW PAID FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SMALL BARS IN THE BATHROOM AND AROUND THEIR HOUSE.

THAT MORE EASILY ALLOWS JIM TO GET AROUND.

HAS THAT HELPED?

YES, EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

HAS IT BEEN ENOUGH?

NO, NO.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT EXPAND AND COVER MORE THINGS LIKE MILEAGE SPECIFICALLY.

IT DOESN'T EVEN TOUCH THAT HOUSE.

BILL 4118 WOULD COVER MILEAGE TO AND FROM DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, AS WELL AS SUPPLIES FOR INCONTINENCE AND SOME HOME HEALTH AIDE VISITS.

I'M MEETING HELP WITH HIM.

HE IS ADVANCING WITH DEMENTIA AFTER HAVING A STROKE AND HE IS NEEDING MORE.

JUST CARE MOMENT BY MOMENT.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE TAMMY WEST AUTHORED HOUSE BILL 4118.

SHE SAYS RIGHT NOW, IT COSTS THE STATE AROUND $8 A DAY.

WHEN A LOVED ONE IS CARED FOR AT HOME.

IF THAT SAME LOVED ONE LIVES IN A FACILITY, SHE SAYS, THAT COST THE STATE OVER $200 A DAY.

I THINK, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO YOUR COMMENT, STEVE, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING THIS OR HAVE LIVED IT THAT YOU THEY KNOW, THEY KNOW PERSONALLY THAT, HEY, IF I HAD JUST BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A RAMP, IF I COULD HAVE AFFORDED THIS, IF THAT SMALL BATHROOM REMODEL WOULD HAVE MADE FOR A SAFE PLACE, IF I COULD HAVE AFFORDED ADULT DIAPERS.

I MEAN, SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE THE PRETTY BASIC THINGS THAT YOU RUN INTO THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY UNEXPECTED EXPENSES BUYING A WHEELCHAIR, RENTING A LIFT, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NOT FREE, SHE SAYS.

IF 4118 PASSES, MORE OKLAHOMANS WILL BE ELIGIBLE.

WE NOW HAVE NO AGE LIMIT WHERE PREVIOUSLY IT WAS THE AGE OF 62 AND UP, WE FOUND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CAREGIVING IS NOT LIMITED TO ONLY OLDER FOLKS.

HOUSE BILL 4118 WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE INCOME LEVEL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE $3,000 TAX CREDIT.

BEFORE, IF YOU WERE SINGLE AND A CAREGIVER, IF YOU MADE MORE THAN $50,000 A YEAR, YOU WEREN'T ELIGIBLE.

THAT THRESHOLD IS NOW 75,000.

FOR A COUPLE, THAT LIMIT HAS MOVED FROM 100 TO $150,000.

SO IT IS A, I THINK, A UNIVERSAL ISSUE.

AND WITH OUR AGING POPULATION, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BECOME EVEN MORE SO.

AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE A VIABLE OPTION FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO KEEP A LOVED ONE AT HOME.

AND THEIR FIRST THOUGHT NOT TO BE, I'VE GOT TO GO SHOP FOR A NURSING HOME OR ASSISTED LIVING CENTER.

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS OR AARP, 63 MILLION AMERICAN ADULTS IDENTIFY AS PRIMARY CAREGIVERS.

THESE CAREGIVERS SPEND AN AVERAGE OF $7,200 A YEAR ON ELDERLY FAMILY CARE.

HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THERE ARE 835,000 ADULTS WHO ARE UNPAID PRIMARY CAREGIVERS.

SEAN IS OKLAHOMA'S AARP STATE DIRECTOR.

AS OUR STUDIES HAVE SHOWN, PEOPLE WANT TO BE IN THEIR OWN HOMES WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ALL THEIR LIVES, AGING IN PLACE.

AND IF WE CAN MAKE MODIFICATIONS, WHETHER THAT'S PROVIDING A CAREGIVER TAX CREDIT, HOME MODIFICATIONS TO HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THE HOME, THAT'S MONEY WELL SAVE.

AND REALLY, THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

TAMMY WEST SAYS THIS BILL HAS PASSED THROUGH ONE COMMITTEE.

AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WILL NOW LOOK AT IT.

THEN IT WILL BE HEARD ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, THEN OVER TO THE SENATE AND ON TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

RICH, STEVE, GREAT REPORT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JUST DAYS AFTER ANNOUNCING THEY WERE MOVING THEIR HEADQUARTERS AT HOUSTON TO MAJOR OKLAHOMA, ENERGY COMPANIES HAVE RELEASED THEIR EARNINGS STATEMENTS.

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

DEVON ENERGY REPORTS ITS NET EARNINGS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2025 TOTALED $562 MILLION.

THE COMPANY GENERATED OPERATING CASH FLOW OF $1.5 BILLION, AND WHEN THE QUARTER ENDED, DEVON REPORTS IT HAD A $1.4 BILLION CASH BALANCE AND AN UNTOUCHED CREDIT FACILITY OF $3 BILLION.

THE COMPANY ALSO HAS PLANS TO INCREASE ITS DIVIDEND, PAID TO SHAREHOLDERS BY 31% TO 31.5 CENTS A SHARE, ONCE THE MERGER WITH TERRA ENERGY IS COMPLETE.

THE OTHER COMPANY MOVING ITS HEADQUARTERS TO HOUSTON, EXPAND ENERGY REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER NET INCOME OF $553 MILLION.

THAT'S A TURNAROUND FROM THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2024, WHEN THE COMPANY REPORTED A LOSS OF $399 MILLION.

EXPAND IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON DEBT REDUCTION DURING THIS YEAR.

A DIVIDEND OF 57.5 CENTS A SHARE IS EXPECTED TO BE PAID ON MARCH 26TH.

OGNI, ALONG WITH LEADERS FROM TINKER AIR FORCE BASE AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, CUT THE RIBBON ON A NEW 96 MEGAWATT GENERATION UNIT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE POWER NEEDS OF NEARBY CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS THE MILITARY INSTALLATION.

THE NEW UNITS ALLOW TINKER TO MAINTAIN POWER DURING GRID DISRUPTIONS, TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS DURING AN EMERGENCY OR NATIONAL SECURITY EVENTS.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

NOW WITH MORE ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DEVIN AND EXPAND MOVING THEIR HEADQUARTERS TO TEXAS, WE'RE JOINED BY NOAH MACK AND NOAH.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THE EFFECT THIS MIGHT HAVE ON OKLAHOMA CITY'S ECONOMY?

WELL, RICH, ACCORDING TO ALL THE FOLKS I SPOKE WITH, OKLAHOMA WILL FEEL A STING FROM THE EXODUS OF THESE TWO LEGACY COMPANIES.

BUT SOME SAY THIS PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE TO DIVERSIFY ITS BUSINESS LANDSCAPE.

OTHERS WANT TO SEE OKLAHOMA HOLD ON TO ITS OIL AND GAS IDENTITY.

DEVIN TOWER, OKLAHOMA CITY'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE SKYLINE ICON, MAY BE IN FOR A NEW NAMESAKE, AS THE ENERGY COMPANY EYES A MOVE TO HOUSTON.

EXPAND ENERGY, FORMERLY CHESAPEAKE, ALSO PLANS TO MOVE ITS HEADQUARTERS THERE.

I WAS NOT SURPRISED.

OUR INDUSTRY IS VOLATILE INDUSTRY, AND IT'S IT'S SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

DEVIN ENERGY DECLINED AN INTERVIEW BUT SAID IN A STATEMENT.

IN THE HYPERCOMPETITIVE MARKET WE FACE TODAY, HOUSTON PROVIDES GREATER ACCESS TO COMMERCIAL COUNTERPARTIES.

MANY OF OUR PEERS AND OTHER INDUSTRY RESOURCES.

WE PLAN TO MAINTAIN A CONTINUED SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

IT'S A CYCLE, AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT CYCLE TWO HUGE CYCLES AND SEVERAL SMALLER CYCLES, SEVERAL TIMES FROM 1976 TO 2026.

THAT'S A WHILE.

THAT'S ABOUT 50 YEARS, ISN'T IT?

RETIREE JAMIE COPE WAS A LONGTIME DENIZEN OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, WORKING IN THE SERVICE SIDE OF THINGS, AND ALONGSIDE HAROLD HAMM, WORKED FROM WYOMING TO THE MEXICAN BORDER AND FROM THE APPALACHIANS TO THE ROCKIES.

DEVIN IS TAKING ITS HQ TO HOUSTON FOLLOWING A MERGER WITH DOTERRA.

EXPAND WAS BORN OUT OF A MERGER ABOUT A YEAR AGO WITH CHESAPEAKE AND SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY.

THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION FOR BOTH COMPANIES, AND SOME PEOPLE REMAIN HERE, BUT LIKE I WOULD SAY, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THAT THAT RESIDE ON THE CHESAPEAKE LOCATION AND IN THE DEVON TOWER, I WOULD SAY THEY'LL BE MOVING TO HOUSTON.

OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR DAVID HOLT SAYS THE JOBS HAVE BEEN ERODING OVER TIME.

ANYWAYS, MOST OF THE JOBS HAD GONE AWAY A LONG TIME AGO.

YOU KNOW THOSE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, CHESAPEAKE SUPPOSEDLY HAD LIKE 6000 EMPLOYEES HERE AT ONE TIME.

BUT TODAY, EXPAND ITS SUCCESSOR COMPANY ONLY HAS ABOUT 500.

DEVIN USED TO HAVE 2000, I'M TOLD.

NOW ABOUT 1000.

COPE POINTS OUT THIS EXODUS WILL DENT STATE TAX REVENUE WHEN IT COMES TO INCOME AND SALES TAX, BUT THAT THERE WILL STILL BE TAXABLE ASSETS LIKE OIL WELLS STAYING IN OKLAHOMA.

BUT THE CHIEF QUESTION CIRCLING THESE CONVERSATIONS IS WHERE DOES OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY GO FROM HERE?

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE'RE BEING FORCED TO DO AS A CITY IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND AS A STATE, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEVELOP OTHER INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE.

BRIAN HILL, CHAIR OF THE HOUSE COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, BELIEVES THAT DEVIN AND EXPAND LEAVING THE STATE PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION.

WE SAW SO MUCH OF US, OUR TAX BASE BEING SO CONNECTED TO OIL AND GAS THAT WE WOULD STRUGGLE WHEN THINGS WERE DOWN.

HILL WANTS TO SHIFT FOCUS TO EMERGING INDUSTRIES LIKE BIOMED, BIOTECH, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND WITH COMPANIES LIKE DAWN AND PHOENIX INVESTING HERE.

AEROSPACE?

YES, OIL AND GAS, $63 BILLION LAST YEAR, BUT AEROSPACE $44 BILLION LAST YEAR.

AND HILL WANTS TO SPREAD HIS AEROSPACE FERVOR AROUND THE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK THAT THE THE ASTRONAUT THERE IS A GREAT SYMBOL OF WHAT OKLAHOMA HAS AHEAD OF US.

THE GOLD CLAD SPACEMAN GETS PASSED AROUND TO DIFFERENT LAWMAKERS AT THE CAPITOL.

IT'S ACTUALLY HEADED TO TO NICK ARCHER'S OFFICE.

REPRESENTATIVE NICK ARCHER CHAIRS THE HOUSE ENERGY COMMITTEE, AND HE HAS PENDING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SET OKLAHOMA ON A PATH TO BUILD A NATIONAL LABORATORY.

THERE ARE 17 ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THEY ARE RESEARCH HUBS DESIGNED TO INNOVATE AND GENERATE LONGTERM BUSINESS.

UNTIL WE START TO FOCUS IN ON INITIATIVES LIKE THIS, TO PUSH OUR BIGGEST INDUSTRIES IN THE STATE TO DRIVE US INTO THE FRONTIER OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, TO ANCHOR SOME OF THESE INDUSTRIES WITHIN THE STATE.

I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE SOME OF OUR COMPANIES PULL OUT FOR OTHER AREAS WHERE THESE TYPE ECOSYSTEMS EXIST, AND ARCHER HAS FOUND A PARTNER IN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE CHIP KEATING.

AS GOVERNOR, I WILL LAUNCH THE MOST AMBITIOUS ECONOMIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY INITIATIVE IN OKLAHOMA HISTORY, THE TRUMP NATIONAL LABORATORY FOR ENERGY AND NATIONAL SECURITY, HEADQUARTERED RIGHT HERE IN OUR STATE.

KEATING VIEWS EXPAND AND DEVON'S DEPARTURE AS MORE ALARMING THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S NOT A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S DEVASTATING NEWS, AND I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAYING IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

OIL AND GAS IS THE LARGEST GDP IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM.

WE SHOULD DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY, BUT NOT DO IT.

ON THE HEELS OF TURNING OUR BACK TO THE OIL AND GAS BUSINESS.

AND THE PETROLEUM ALLIANCE SHARES THE IDEA THAT THE STATE'S OWN DECISIONS REPULSED THESE TWO OIL GIANTS.

SUBMITTING A LETTER TO THE LEGISLATURE SAYING, QUOTE, IF YOU WANT LESS OF SOMETHING, RAISE TAXES ON THAT THING AND TREAT IT WITH DISDAIN, AS LAWMAKERS DID FROM 2015 TO 2018.

HOWEVER, COPE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC THIS WILL BE A TEMPORARY SETBACK AND IT'LL CREATE SOME DIFFICULTIES.

BUT IT'S NOT A DEATH BLOW TO OKLAHOMA AND WE'RE SO RESILIENT.

WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO EXPAND ENERGY FOR COMMENT AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK.

RICH.

NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON DIED AT THE AGE OF 84 ON TUESDAY AT HIS HOME IN CHICAGO.

ACTIVISTS, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND POLITICIAN JACKSON WAS A FORCE IN AMERICAN LIFE FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES, AND HIS LEGACY AND IMPACT ARE THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

AS OKLAHOMA MARKS BLACK HISTORY MONTH OF 2026, WERE ALSO REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, AND THE FOUNDER OF THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION.

LEADERS ACROSS OKLAHOMA ARE CALLING HIM A LIFELONG SOLDIER FOR JUSTICE AND A BRIDGE BETWEEN GENERATIONS.

TONIGHT, WE'RE ASKING WHAT HIS LEGACY MEANS RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS REPRESENTATIVE RON STEWART, THE CHAIR OF THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.

CJ WEBER NEAL, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE.

CJ IS ALSO THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE OKLAHOMA SOONER STATE PARTY.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED VIA ZOOM BY GARLAND PRUITT, THE PRESIDENT OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BRANCH OF THE OF THE NAACP.

AND FINALLY, DELICIA REED, THE SECRETARY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR ALLIANCE.

SO, REPRESENTATIVE STEWART, YOU RELEASED A STATEMENT FOLLOWING REVEREND JESSE JACKSON'S DEATH SAYING, WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE, STRENGTHENING PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND SUPPORTING BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES.

THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT REVEREND JACKSON CHAMPIONED FOR DECADES.

WHAT DOES THAT RECOMMITMENT LOOK LIKE IN REAL TERMS HERE IN OKLAHOMA?

WHEN WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THE FIGHT, HONOR THE THE MOVEMENT OF OUR ANCESTORS AND OF THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE US.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WE REALIGN THOSE EFFORTS WITH THE LAWS AND HOW THEY ARE WRITTEN TODAY.

AND SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A LITTLE TRICKY TO NAVIGATE BECAUSE LAWS CHANGE RAPIDLY.

BUT WE WANT TO STAY COMMITTED TO THE TO THE CORE AND TO THE ESSENCE OF WHAT INDIVIDUALS LIKE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON AND THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE US WERE COMMITTED TO.

SO THAT RECOMMITMENT IS INTENTIONAL, AND IT HAS TO BE STRATEGIC, AND IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CHOOSE TO DO DAILY.

AND AS CHAIR OF THE BLACK CAUCUS, WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU FOCUSED ON THIS SESSION?

YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES RARELY CHANGE.

WE'RE GOING TO CHAMPION THOSE ISSUES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN VIEWED WITH DISPARITIES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITIES, YOU HAVE THE DISPARITY IN ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE, WHICH INCLUDES MENTAL HEALTH AND MATERNAL HEALTH.

YOU HAVE DISPARITIES IN EDUCATION, HOME OWNERSHIP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES, ENTREPRENEURISM.

SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WHEN WE'RE WRITING LEGISLATION AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LEGISLATION AS IT'S COMING ACROSS OUR DESK, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND THAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY NOT BEEN ENGAGED AND HAVE THOSE DISPARITIES, THAT WE CLOSE THAT GAP.

CJ, YOU SAID REVEREND JESSE JACKSON WASN'T JUST A HISTORICAL FIGURE TO YOU, BUT ACTUALLY A MENTOR.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO MEET HIM, TO LEARN FROM HIM AND WHAT WAS HIS PRESENCE LIKE?

YOU KNOW, WHEN HE ENTERED THE ROOM.

SO THE ONE THING THAT I CAN SAY THAT HE SPOKE ABOUT ON HIS TRIP HERE IN TULSA IS NUMBER ONE, HE TALKED ABOUT DESCENDANTS.

HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT DESCENDANTS WERE RECEIVING THE REPARATIONS THAT THEY DESERVED BECAUSE OF WHAT OCCURRED, YOU KNOW, HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

THE SECOND THING THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS EDUCATION, MAKING SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON WHAT IS GOING TO BRING THE NEXT GENERATION INTO A COMPETITIVE MARKET.

AND SO HE HAD TALKED ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, LOOKING AT THE GREENWOOD DISTRICT AND MAYBE OPENING UP BANKS AND LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE IT'S A BLACK OWNED HISTORY.

AS FAR AS WHAT GREENWOOD STOOD FOR BACK DURING THE 20S AND CONTINUES TO STAND FOR TODAY.

SO THAT WAS ANOTHER THING THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN.

BUT TO BE IN A ROOM WITH HIM, TO SIT DOWN AND TO HEAR HIM TELL STORIES ABOUT DOCTOR KING, I'M BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DONE THAT.

THAT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

WELL, GARLAND, THE NAACP CALLED REVEREND JACKSON A LIFELONG SOLDIER FOR JUSTICE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY MADE HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE SO EFFECTIVE?

BECAUSE IT WAS RELEVANT.

IT WAS RELEVANT.

IT WAS RIGHT NOW DEALING WITH THE ISSUES WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH NOW.

I NOTICED BOTH OF THE PREVIOUS PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE PANEL EXPRESSED EDUCATION.

HE PROMOTED EDUCATION, SUPPORTED EDUCATION.

AND HERE WE ARE NOW.

JUST LAST WEEK WHEN THE GOVERNOR, DURING HIS FINAL SPEECH, SAYS, I'M GOING TO GIVE MONEY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS VERSUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE DONATION HERE $5,000 BECAUSE 15, $20,000 TO GO.

SO YOU'RE DISENFRANCHIZED.

AGAIN, THEY MENTIONED HEALTH CARE.

HERE WE ARE.

NOW, LET ME STAY WITH EDUCATION RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE MORE MINORITIES AND BLACKS UNEMPLOYED NOW THAN SINCE COVID.

FEDERAL WORKERS, VETERANS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.

HE DEALT WITH THE NOW.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT EDUCATION THEN WAS A STRUGGLE AND A FIGHT.

IT'S STILL A STRUGGLE AND A FIGHT.

SO PELL GRANTS HAVE BEEN CUT, SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN CUT.

OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN DONE AWAY WITH.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE GOT AN IN DID WAS DID AWAY WITH DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

ALL THAT DOES IS GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EXPERIMENT THAT WE HAVE.

THE CHALLENGE WAS THEN THE CHALLENGE IS NOW.

JESSE SPOKE.

THEN WE HAVE TO SPEAK NOW.

DELICIA GARLAND MADE A TON OF FANTASTIC POINTS.

SHE DID.

WOW.

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

AND WHAT IS REVEREND JACKSON'S LEGACY MEAN HERE IN OKLAHOMA NOW?

IT JUST GIVES US THE AIR.

WE NEED TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND OUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.

WHAT HE BELIEVED IN THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION.

AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAD SUPPORT WHEN IT CAME TO BLACK RIGHTS.

IT WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS RESONATE WITH US AND WE'LL ALWAYS PUSH TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

AND FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

AND DID THOSE EFFECTS REACH US HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA CITY?

YOU KNOW, HIS COALITION WAS PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT.

BACK THEN.

BUT WE ARE TRYING TO EXPAND IT NOW AS WE MOVE ON TO OUR OUR COALITIONS THAT WE HAVE THE OKLAHOMA CITY ALLIANCE.

AND THERE'S JUST SO MANY OUT THERE THAT PUSH FOR EQUAL RIGHTS BETWEEN ALL RACES.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW AS WE EMBARK UPON OUR NEW MODERN SOCIETY, THAT WE CONTINUE THIS MOVEMENT AND CONTINUE TO STILL FIGHT FOR THOSE BASIC RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

AND I REALLY DO.

I WANT TO MOVE BACK TO WHAT GARLAND SAID.

REPRESENTATIVE STEWART, THERE WAS A LOT OF REALLY CLEAR POINTS IN THERE OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

HOW DO WE GET THE LEGISLATURE INVOLVED?

THE BIGGEST THING IS ENGAGEMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE WHEN IT GETS AROUND ELECTION TIME, YOU HEAR THAT OFTEN.

YOU KNOW, CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS, CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, YOUR LEADERS AND LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.

AND SOMETIMES I BELIEVE THAT WE TEND TO KIND OF GLOSS OVER THAT, BECAUSE YOU HEAR IT SO MUCH THAT MAYBE IT LOSES SOME OF ITS IMPACT.

BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, IF YOU REALLY WANT CHANGE, YOU HAVE TO LET YOUR LEGISLATOR KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.

YOU HAVE TO SPEAK TO THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE MOST MEANINGFUL IN YOUR AREA.

GARLAND HAD TOUCHED ON SOME VERY, VERY SPECIFIC POINTS THAT WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYE ON AS AS A LEGISLATURE, AS A LEGISLATION AND AS A BLACK CAUCUS IS THAT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT WEAKENING SUBSIDIES FOR LIKE CHILD CARE, TAKING AWAY BENEFITS LIKE SNAP OR, OR REDUCING THAT AMOUNT, THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT POUR INTO OKLAHOMA THAT ARE MAN, THEY'RE NEEDED GREATLY.

AND IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT BLACK OKLAHOMA.

IT AFFECTS ALL OF OKLAHOMA.

SO WHEN FEDERAL DOLLARS CUT OFF, EVERYONE SUFFERS.

SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN JUST LIVE FROM DAY TO DAY.

AND CHILD CARE IS A BIG PART OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT AFFECTS WORKFORCE, THAT AFFECTS YOUR ABILITY TO THRIVE.

IF I DON'T HAVE CHILD CARE, I CAN'T GO TO WORK THAT AFFECTS BUSINESSES, THAT AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH, AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH.

IT'S LIKE IT'S JUST A WIDE SPAN.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY WITH THE SNAP, WHEN THAT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THAT FIASCO, I MEAN, THESE ARE REAL LIFE, REAL TIME ISSUES THAT AFFECT US RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WHEN WE SAY CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR, THOSE ARE THE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THESE THINGS ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED CHANGE ON THESE THINGS RIGHT NOW.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A CULTURAL ISSUE.

IT'S A STATE OF OKLAHOMA ISSUE.

WELL, AND VERY QUICKLY, I LOVE THE POINT THAT YOU MADE.

I MEAN, CALLING YOUR LEGISLATOR OR LEGISLATOR CAN FEEL REALLY OH, MY GOSH, I'M CALLING THE LEGISLATURE.

SO, I MEAN, SOMEONE WANTS TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THEIR LEGISLATORS.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

DO THEY NEED TO LOOK FOR THAT DISTRICT?

DO THEY NEED I MEAN, IS THERE A WAY TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO CHANGE?

YOU KNOW, KIND OF GIVE ME A VIEW OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NEVER CONTACTED THEIR LEGISLATURE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO OKLAHOMA.

OKAY, HOUSE.GOV OR OKAY, SENATE.GOV, AND YOU CAN FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA THAT YOU LIVE IN, YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THE VOTER PORTAL AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT DISTRICT IT IS THAT YOU WITHIN THAT YOU LIVE.

SO NOW THAT YOU HAVE THAT DISTRICT NUMBER, YOU CAN ALSO LOOK UP THE THE REPRESENTATIVE OR THE SENATOR THAT REPRESENTS THAT AREA.

AND THEN THAT PHONE NUMBER IS PUBLIC.

YOU CALL THAT NUMBER, YOU CALL, YOU EMAIL THAT EMAIL.

AND UNDERSTAND AS LEGISLATORS, WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE'RE STEWARDS.

WE DON'T OWN ANYTHING.

WE DON'T DRIVE ALONE.

WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO YOU PUT US HERE.

WE REPRESENT YOU.

WE STEP INTO THIS LEADERSHIP AS A REPRESENTATIVE.

SO CALL THE NUMBER, SEND THE EMAIL.

THAT'S HOW YOU BECOME EFFECTIVE.

CALL THE ELECTION BOARD.

THE ELECTION BOARD.

ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS GIVE ME YOUR ADDRESS AND THEY GIVE YOU WHO.

ALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE.

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND GARLAND.

OH GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

YEAH.

NOW.

REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, ONE OF MY FRATERNITY BROTHERS, OMEGA SAPPHIRE, HE WAS LIVING IN A TIME THAT THE SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES SEEMED REAL SIMILAR.

NOW THEY WAS PROMOTING VOTER REGISTRATION, AND HERE THEY ARE PUTTING UP BRAND NEW, SOUND, GOOD TACTICS TO DO AWAY WITH YOUR FRANCHISE.

AS FAR AS VOTERS ARE CONCERNED, WOMEN, WOMEN ARE THE BIGGEST POPULATION OF THE VOTERS HERE.

WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU GOT TO HAVE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR A PASSPORT JUST TO REGISTER.

THAT'S GOING TO DISENFRANCHIZE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE OCCUPYING IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

ANOTHER ROADBLOCK, ANOTHER CHALLENGE, ANOTHER DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE BEING VOTED ON AND PUT IN PLACE.

AND HE WAS PROMOTING CIVIL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, VOTER RIGHTS.

ALL OF THOSE ARE RIGHTS SHOULD BE GUARANTEED US BY THE CONSTITUTION.

THEY'RE VIOLATING 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ON A REGULAR, ONGOING BASIS.

SO HIS CHALLENGE WAS THE SAME CHALLENGE WE HAVE NOW STANDING UP, SPEAKING UP AND DEMANDING SOMETHING FROM WHAT WE SEE, KNOW AND EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY.

WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THE LEGISLATURE TELL US THAT YOU'RE WRONG FOR KNOCKING FOLKS WINDOWS OUT, DRAGGING THEM OUT THE CAR, STOMPING THEM AND BEATING THEM IN THE END UP BEING AMERICANS.

WE GOT SOME POLICIES AND ACTIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE THAT SHOULDN'T BE.

AND COMMON SENSE AND COMMON DECENCY AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.

THAT'S WHAT THE MOVEMENT WAS ALL ABOUT.

GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS CALLED AMERICA.

WELL, THIS IS MY FINAL QUESTION.

I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND ASK IT TO ALL OF YOU.

ALL OF YOU.

BUT IF REVEREND JACKSON WAS WATCHING OKLAHOMA RIGHT NOW WATCHING THIS NEWSCAST, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE WOULD WANT US TO HAVE?

STAY IN THE STRUGGLE.

STAY IN THE STRUGGLE.

STAY IN THE FIGHT.

YOU ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

YOU HAVE TO CHALLENGE.

YOU HAVE TO DEMAND SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WHAT WE SEE, KNOW AND EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY.

THAT WAS.

THAT'S THE LIFE HE LIVED.

THAT'S WHAT ACTIVISTS DO.

THAT'S WHAT SOLDIERS DO.

THAT'S WHAT WARRIORS DO.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS.

HE WAS A SOLDIER, A WARRIOR.

AN ADVOCATE FOR EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT HE DID.

THAT'S WHAT HE LIVED AND DIED FOR.

DELICIA.

AND I THINK GARLAND IS RIGHT IN THAT RESPECT.

WHAT HE WOULD PROBABLY WANT US TO KNOW IS THAT WHAT AFFECTS ONE OF US AFFECTS ALL OF US.

AND AS LONG AS WE ARE CHALLENGING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT COME TOWARDS OUR WAY, THAT DISENFRANCHIZE OUR PEOPLE BY RACE, BY BY TREATMENT, WE ARE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

YOU KNOW, MY FATHER USED TO SAY, PUT YOUR FEET IN THE STREETS, YOU KNOW, AND GET TO MOVING.

AND SO SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO DO.

YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE TO ADVOCATE.

WE STILL MUST FIGHT FOR OUR BASIC RIGHTS NO MATTER WHAT IS WRITTEN ON PAPER.

REPRESENTATIVE STEWART, THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO ACTUALLY LOCK IN.

THERE'S OPPORTUNITY HERE.

OKLAHOMA HAS IT'S BEEN FRACTURED.

THERE'S THERE'S INFIGHTING, THERE'S THERE'S DISAGREEMENT AND THERE'S NO REAL IN MY OPINION.

THERE'S NO REAL SET COURSE ON HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS THAT ARE OFTEN CONFLICTING WITH ONE ANOTHER, EVEN IN THE STATE HOUSE.

AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO DRIVE THIS NOW.

AND SO WHILE WE'RE HAVING THIS, THIS INFIGHTING AND THIS LACK OF DIRECTION, THIS IS THE TIME THAT THE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE DIRECTION AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IF HE COULD SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HE WOULD PRESS US FORWARD.

CJ FINAL THOUGHTS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION IS.

I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THE ISSUE IS RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S SO MUCH BETWEEN RED AND BLUE AND BLACK AND WHITE AND HISPANIC AND ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

WHEN IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE HUMAN CAUSE, WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO LIVE DOCTOR KING'S DREAM?

ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, YOU KNOW.

DON'T BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF YOUR CHARACTER.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO PUSH US FORWARD.

I BELIEVE IN OKLAHOMA.

I BELIEVE IN ALL OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME FORWARD TO EXPRESS HOW THEY FEEL.

BUT IT DOESN'T JUST STOP HERE.

IT NEEDS TO EXTEND OUT.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO LIVE THAT VISION THAT REVEREND JACKSON HAD.

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

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

THANK YOU.

WE THANK YOU.

THAT WAS AN AMAZING CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU.

CASSIDY.

THE DEEP FREEZE THAT HIT OKLAHOMA BACK IN JANUARY ALSO IMPACTED COLORADO.

AND THAT WAS A GOOD THING FOR FOR SCUBA DIVERS WHO HAD BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY TO EARN A VERY SPECIAL TYPE OF CERTIFICATION.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO DENVER TO CHILL OUT WITH THIS REPORT PRODUCED BY OUR PBS PARTNERS AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS.

WE'RE CONDUCTING A ICE DIVING CLASS, SO WE'RE CERTIFYING DIVERS TO BE CERTIFIED TO DIVE IN ICE.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR TWO YEARS TO DO THIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.

THREE DAYS AGO, THERE WAS NO ICE OUT THERE.

IT WAS OPEN WATER, IF YOU WILL.

SO WHEN WE CAME OUT HERE TODAY, WE HAD A LOW OF TEN DEGREES AND LO AND BEHOLD, WE GOT SOME GOOD ICE THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY STAND ON AND GET IN THE ICE.

NICE THING THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY IS WE HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN PUEBLO COUNTY.

THEY'RE ON THEIR ICE DIVING TEAM TO GET CERTIFIED SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO SOME PUBLIC SERVICE TYPE OF DIVES.

PUEBLO COUNTY IS A PRETTY LARGE COUNTY.

THERE'S LOTS OF BODIES OF WATER IN PUEBLO COUNTY.

WINTERS AND ICE IS A BIG PART OF WHAT'S IN COLORADO AND EVEN IN THIS COUNTY AS WELL.

SO HAVING THE SKILL TO BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY PROVIDE A RESCUE OR A RECOVERY IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DIVE TEAM IS TRAINED TO DO.

SO NOW I'M JUST PUTTING A BUILDING THE KIT, AS THEY SAY.

SO WE ARE PUTTING THE BCD ON THE CYLINDER AND GETTING THIS ALL READY.

AND THEN WE MOVE THIS DOWN TO THE EDGE OF THE ICE HOLE.

SO IT'S ALL GEARED UP READY TO GO.

YEAH.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

EXCITED.

LITTLE NERVOUS HEALTHY NERVOUS BUT EXCITED I ANTICIPATE TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING.

SO I'M JUST GONNA STAY CALM AND GO SLOW.

YEAH, YEAH.

KICK YOUR FEET UP BEFORE WE RIGOR IN HERE.

NO, NO, JUST KEEP YOUR FEET UP.

YEAH.

OH.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO.

ICE DIVE SAFELY IS SUPER IMPORTANT WITH RESCUE DIVERS ON TOP.

WE HAVE TENDERS UP ON TOP OF THE ICE.

IT'S JUST A WAY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.

YOU HAVE THIS, LIKE, GLOW OF THE ICE FROM THE SUNSHINE COMING DOWN.

IT'S.

IT'S REALLY NEAT.

FISH SEEM TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT I LOVE IT.

IT'S KIND OF CALMING TO ME.

YOU KNOW, I JUST I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INFATUATED WITH THE UNDERWATER WORLD.

AND SCUBA DIVING ALLOWS US THIS BEAUTIFUL CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO STAY DOWN THERE AND EXPLORE AND ADVENTURE.

ONE DAY, HOPEFULLY I'LL GET TO NORWAY AND I'LL GET TO GO DIVING IN THE ICE WITH THE ORCAS.

THAT'S GOALS.

THE BIGGEST QUESTION I GET IS WHY?

WHY WOULD YOU GO OUT HERE AND ICE DIVE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT?

IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE, KIND OF A PINNACLE OF DIVING.

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO IT.

IT'S KIND OF A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO COLORADO AND BE ABLE TO ICE DIVE.

OOH, COLD ON THE NEXT OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HOW DO YOU RETRIEVE BLOOD SAMPLES FROM RURAL AREAS TO TRANSPORT THEM TO A LAB OR HOSPITAL?

IF YOU'RE THE CHOCTAW TRIBE, YOU'LL SOON BE USING DRONES.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS FRIDAY AT 7 P.M.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM CALLED ROUTE 66 FROM TRAILS TO TRUCK STOPS.

SHOT AND EDITED FOR US BY OETA JASON STEWART.

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

LENZ.

EVERYONE, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

IF YOU EVER PLAN TO MOVE TO WEST.

TRAVEL MY WAY.

TAKE THE HIGHWAY.

THAT'S THE BEST.

I GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66.

IT WINDS FROM CHICAGO TO LA.

MORE THAN 2000 MILES ALL THE WAY.

GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66.

NOW YOU GO THROUGH SAINT LOUIS, JOPLIN, MISSOURI AND OKLAHOMA CITY.

LOOKS MIGHTY PRETTY.

YOU'LL SEE I'M A REAL OLD GALLUP, NEW MEXICO.

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA.

DON'T FORGET WINONA KINGMAN, BARSTOW, SAN BERNARDINO.

WON'T YOU GET HIP TO THIS TIMELY TIP WHEN YOU MAKE THAT CALIFORNIA TRIP?

I'LL GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66.

SHE WAS CARMEN.

SHE WAS GRACE BUMBRY, ONE OF OPERA'S PIONEERING AFRICAN-AMERICAN STARS.

AND SCENES FROM HER LEGENDARY CARMEN.

TREAT YOUR