PUBLIC SERVANTS HAS PASSED AWAY.

>> WHAT A STORY, OKAYKY SUCCESS AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE THINGS HE DID WELL FOR OUR STATE.

>> LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE ALMOST 12.$4 BILLION TO DIVVY UP IN BUDGET CONSIDERATION.

>> WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT SPENDING WE NEED TO DO.

>> WILL ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST SKYSCRAPERS EVER BECOME REALITY IN OKLAHOMA CITY?

>> IF WE START A YEAR LATER AND IT TAKES MAYBE A YEAR LONGER TO BUILD IT THAT TALL, IT WILL BE FIVE YEARS BEFORE IT'S DELIVERED FROM TODAY.

>> TULSA'S BEYOND APOLOGY COMMITTEE RELEASES ITS FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> WHEN YOU STUDY THE HISTORY OF TULSA, THERE IS SO MUCH LAND THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM BLACK PEOPLE HERE IN TULSA.

>> A WICKED WEEK OF WEATHER CREATING HAVOC ACROSS THE STATE.

>> OUR DINING ROOM HAS SHIFTED IN THE EVENING TIME TO A MAKESHIFT SHELTER WHERE PEOPLE CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT.

WE HAVE BEEN SLEEPING ABOUT 70 TO 80 PEOPLE INSIDE OUR DINING ROOM.

>> AND PLUS AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF THE ICONIC OKLAHOMA CITY STOCKYARDS NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, I'M RICH LENZ.

ANY LIST OF THE MOST ICONIC OKLAHOMANS MUST INCLUDE THE NAME DAVID LYLE BOREN.

HE WAS A FOUR TERM STATE REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 19 5?

SERVED THREE TERMS IN THE UNITED STATES STATE SENATE, THE LAST OKLAHOMANS DEMOCRAT TO DO SO.

AFTER THAT HE WAS THE SECOND LONGEST SERVING PREED OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

AND BOREN DIED ON THURSDAY AT THE AGE OF 83.

HE WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IN 19 HAD 1 WHILE HIS FATHER WAS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

HE GRADUATED FROM YALE IN 1983?

RECEIVED A LAW DEGREE AND OU IN 1968.

HIS IMPACT ON THE HOME STATE WAS PROFOUND FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES.

>> AMAZING LEGACY.

I KNOW SOME THINGS WERE FRAUD AT THE END IN TERMS OF THE REPORTS ON POTENTIAL ALLEGATIONS AND I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

I CERTAINLY TRUST THEM IN THAT CASE.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT OVER SHADOWS WHAT HE DID FOR OUR STATE IN TERMS OF THE PROGRESS IN HIGHER ED AND THE WORK HE DID AS A U.S.

SENATOR.

I THINK THOSE DAYS OF HIM GOING TO OXFORD FROM OKLAHOMA, WHAT A STORY OF OKIE SUCCESS AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE THINGS HE DID WELL FOR OUR STATE.

>> SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN, FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE STILL PENDING.

>>> THE STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION HAS ANNOUNCED THE LEATHER WILL HAVE $12.6 BILLION TO DIVVY UP.

WE ARE JOINED BY JASON.

>> RICH, IT'S ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION THAT QUESTIONED HOW THE FINAL NUMBERS ARE ARRIVED AT.

AT THE SAME TIME LAWMAKERS ARE PREPARING FOR BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

>> SO NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS INFLUENCED BY THIS BOARD.

>> THE REASON WHY LT. GOV.

AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING ASKED THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL BATTLER DRUMMOND, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, QUESTIONED THE FINAL ESTIMATE FIGURE BEFORE THE MEETING TOOK PLACE.

THE BOARD IS CHAIRED BY GOVERNOR KEVIN STEAD AND IS MADE UP OF SEVERAL STATEWIDE OFFICIALS, THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND MISSING WAS RYAN WALTERS AND DRUMMOND.

HE ISSUED A STATEMENT AHEAD OF THE MEETING ANNOUNCING HE WOULD NOT BE ATTENDING AND SAYING IN PART, "I AM DISAPPOINTED BUT NOT SURPRISED THE GOVERNOR REFUSED TO INCREASE LEGISLATIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROCESS WHICH IS FAR TOO IMPORTANT TO OKLAHOMA TO BE MONOPOLIESED BY A CERTAIN POLITICIAN.

THE BUDGET PROCESS IS IN DIRE NEED OF REFORM.

THEY HAVE BUDGET NUMBERS THAT SUPPORT HIS POLICY AGENDA RATHER THAN A CONSENSUS APPROACH THAT WOULD REFLECT LEGISLATIVE INPUT.

DRUMMOND BELIEVES THEY HAVE INFLUENCED THE BOARD TO MAKE WAY FOR HIS DESIRE OF AN INCOME CUT TAX CUT THIS SESSION.

THEY DEFENDED THE UNEXPECTED REVENUE GROWTH FROM DECEMBER TO JANUARY AND OIL AND GAS REVENUES HELPED PUSH THE FINAL FIGURE UP.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT OIL AND GAS REVENUE, IF YOU LOOK BACK TEN MONTHS, WE WERE OFF -- APPROXIMATELY TEN MONTHS WE WERE OFF ABOUT 48%.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS TODAY, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE THE NUMBERS ARE COMING IN WHERE THEY ARE.

>> AN INCREASE IN PERSONAL INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS AND REVENUE FROM INTEREST PAYMENTS ALSO PROVIDED A BOOST TO THE FIGURE.

RUSS NOTED IT ALSO APPEARS REVENUE WERE RECOVERING FROM THE STATE GROCERY SALES TAX BEING ELIMINATED IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.

>> AFTER THE SALES TAX REPORTS FROM THE GROCERY TAX WE DROPPED OFF I'M GUESSING $160 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

THE NEXT MONTH WE SAW THAT COME BACK UP AND WE WERE ALMOST RIGHT IN THE RANGE THAT WE HAD STARTED OUT AT.

SO I'M JUST SO PROUD OF OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY.

WE RECOVERED WELL, WENT RIGHT BACK INTO A LOT OF FORWARD MOTION ON THAT.

AFTER ADDING UP ALL THE PHYSICIAN IN THE COLUMNS, THE GOVERNOR STED ASKED HOW MUCH THEY WOULD HAVE FOR THE NEXT BUDGET INCLUDING REOCCURRING REVENUE AND ONE TIME FUNDS.

>> IT IS 12.363.

>> THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF THE FEDERAL CERTIFIED DOLLARS?

>> YES.

>> THAT'S ABOUT $120 MILLION LESS THAN THE LEGISLATURE HAD FOR THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR WHICH MEANS BUDGET NEGOTIATORS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TO FIND ROOM FOR A POSSIBLE TAX CUT.

>> EVERYTHING IS WEIGHING EVERYTHING OUT AND SEE WHAT THE BALANCE IS.

I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE INCOME TAX AREA.

WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT WE NEED TO CONSIDER WITH A SPENDING WE NEED TO DO.

>> THEY FEEL THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION GETS PRETTY CLOSE ON THEIR ESTIMATES FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY, THEY ARE REALLY PRETTY ACCURATE.

OUTSIDE OF THE YEAR COVID HIT AND DISRUPTED EVERYTHING, THEY NEED TO COME BACK AND RECERTIFY AGAIN WITH SOME NEW NUMBERS, BUT ABOUT EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE BEEN PRETTY ACCURATE.

WHEN WE GET THAT NUMBER WE ONLY APPROPRIATE UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 95% OF THAT.

WE'VE BEEN PRETTY DILIGENT IN GETTING CLOSE TO THAT.

>> TO THE MINORITY LEADER SHE SAID LOWER REVENUE FOR THIS YEAR WAS EXPECTED.

>> WE EXPECTED THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT SOME POINT.

THE BUBBLE FROM ALL THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT, THE MONEY HAS CYCLED ITS WAY THROUGH THE ECONOMY.

WE HAVE TO BE REAL IN THE NUMBERS.

>> WHILE RECURRING NUMBERS ARE DOWN, THE STATE HAS QUITE A BIT OF CASH ON HAND TO HELP MAKE IT THROUGH TIGHTER BUDGETED BUT SHE WARNS LAWMAKERS SHOULD BE CAREFUL HOW THEY ASSIGN THAT MONEY TO BE SPENT IN THE NEXT BUDGET.

>> WE SENT A LOT OF CASH BACK.

WE CAN DEBATE WHAT AMOUNT IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT TO HAVE AS A STATE BUT I THINK HOW WE USE THIS MONEY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT CANNOT GO TOWARDS TAX CUTS AND TAX CREDITS BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

WE HAVE TO BE MORE TARGET THE THAT BE THAT.

>> DESPITE FUNDING GOING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LATELY, KURT SAID MORE IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF STUDENTS DOING WELL IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> THE EASIEST WAY TO MOVE UP IN RANKINGS IS TO ADD MONEY TO THE SYSTEM.

WE ARE YET TO REACH THE REGIONAL PER PUPIL AVERAGE.

ALMOST ALL THOSE RANKINGS INCLUDE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS IN OUR STUDENTS.

IF YOU LOOK WEEING CAN SAY WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, AND I'M GLAD, WE NEED TO.

THERE'S BEEN INFLATION AND WE ARE BEHIND.

DECADES BEHIND IN INVESTMENT BUT WE ARE STILL BELOW THE REGION 23458 PER STUDENT INVESTMENT.

>> ACROSS THE ROW TURN TWO THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP IS TAKING LOOK AT NUMBERS AS THE NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN.

>> I THINK EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION NUMBERS BEING GOOD AND POSITIVE.

>> HE BELIEVES INCREASING TEACHER PAY WILL BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION EVEN IF IT IS A TIGHT BUDGET YEAR.

>> OBVIOUSLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATION EVERY SINGLE SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND PROBABLY WILL BE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AS WELL BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS FOR OUR KIDS.

>> THE TOP NEGOTIATOR, CHUCK HALL, ISSUED A STATEMENT SHORTLY AFTER THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION CERTIFIED THE NEARLY $12.4 BILLION SAYING IN PART WHILE THE STATE FACES SOME FINANCIAL CHALLENGES IN THE UPCOMING YEAR I SEE A WAY OF MAKING GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT.

I'M CONFIDENT THE SENATE, WORKING ALONGSIDE THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR WILL PASS A RESPONSIBLE BALANCED BUDGET THIS YEAR THAT KEEPS OUR STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDnd AS THE STATE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES.

HE GROWS.

>> I WAS HERE IN 2017 AND 2018 WHEN THE FINANCIAL WHEELS CAME OFF IN THIS STATE AND WE WERE SHAKING COUCH CUSHIONS IN THIS BUILDING TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO PAY BILLS.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT PEOPLE BACK IF THAT SITUATION AGAIN.

EVERYTHING WE ARE LOOKING AT IS NOT JUST HOW IT WILL AFFECT THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR BUT HOW IT AFFECTS 2030 WITH THE DECISIONS MADE TODAY.

>> ONE OF THE DUTIES OF THE LEGISLATURE IS TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET BY THE END OF THE SESSION IN LATE MAY.

RICH.

>> JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WITH MORE DETAILS ON THE MANY BILLS FLYING OUT OF COMMITTEES IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND OTHER BREAKING POLITICAL NEWS, I ALSO SPOKE WITH OUR LONG TIME COLLEAGUE SHAWN ASHLEY.

>> LET'S BEGIN WITH THE RACE TO REPLACE THE INTERIM GOVERNOR.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL DRUMMOND ANNOUNCED IN MID JANUARY HE'S SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION TO SUCCEED STED.

AND McHAUL ANNOUNCED HE TOO WOULD BE SEEKING THE NOMINATION.

THEY JOIN MITCHELL HAYNES A FORMER CITY MANAGER AND PRIOR STATE EMPLOYEE IN THAT RACE.

AT THIS POINT KNOWN ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE HAVE INDICATED THEIR INTENTION TO RUN.

AND WE ALSO HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYBODY FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY, THE OTHER RECOGNIZED PARTY IN THE STATE.

BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER CANDIDATE FILING IS 14 MONTHS AWAY AND WE ONLY NEED TO LOOK BACK AT THE 2024 ELECTION TO SEE HOW THINGS CAN CHANGE AND CHANGE QUICKLY.

>> YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

PRETTY LARGE TEACHER SIGNING BONUS PROGRAM HAS MADE IT OUT OF A SUBCOMMITTEE.

HOW MUCH IS IT AND WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF IT BEING ACTUALLY ENACTED?

>> HOUSE BILL 1281 BY REPRESENTATIVE CHAD CALDWELL WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION CREATES THE RETURN TO TEACH SIGNING BONUS ACT.

THIS PROGRAM IS SIMILAR TO ONE PREVIOUSLY RUN BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDER SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS THAT HE SAID BROUGHT 522 TEACHERS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

CALDWELL SAID OF THE BONUS IT'S A CAR, IT'S A NICE DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOUSE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY GETS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

AND THAT IS WHY, HE SAID, THE PROGRAM WILL HAVE CLEAR CLAW BACK DECISIONS IF TEACHERS FAIL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO RETAIN THE BONUS.

LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ATTRACT TEACHERS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ATTRACTIVE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM FOR THEM IS THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FUNDED EVERY YEAR.

JUST IN THE YEAR LAWMAKERS WANT TO OFFER IT AND WHEN THEY HAVE THE MONEY.

SO THAT SORT OF INCREASES THE CHANCES THAT IT COULD GET PASSED THIS YEAR.

>> AGAIN, THAT BONUS WOULD BE $35,000.

THE OKLAHOMA FREEDOM CAUCUS RELEASED THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THIS WEEK.

WHAT IS IN IT AND HOW MUCH POWER DO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO ENACT SOME OF WHAT THEY WANT?

>> THE OKLAHOMA FREEDOM CAUCUS AGENDA INCLUDES FOUR PILLARS, FREEDOM IN FINANCES, FREEDOM IN FAMILIES, FREEDOMS FOCUSED ON FAITH AND FREEDOMS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

AND THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MAY HAVE GIVEN US AN INDICATION OF HOW MUCH POWER THEY DO OR DON'T HAVE TO GET SOME OF IT PASSED.

FOUR BILLS ON THE COMMITTEE'S AGENDA RELATED TO FREEDOM CAUCUS ISSUES.

TWO FOR OPTIONS FOR DIVORCE, ONE REQUIRING A TEN EXPANDMENTS MONUMENT TO BE DISPLAYED AT THE CAPITOL AGAIN AND ANOTHER CONCERNING ABORTION.

ALL FOUR OF THOSE BILLS FAILED TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE COMMITTEE AND ALL FOUR WOULD HAVE FAILED IF THE VOTES OF THE TWO DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE HAD NOT BEEN THERE, IN OTHER WORDS, REPUBLICAN VOTES MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE THEY FACE CHALLENGES EVEN WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IN ADVANCING THAT AGENDA.

>> INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR OKLAHOMA'S GROWING FILM INDUSTRY MAY BE CHANGING A BIT.

HOW SO?

>> OKLAHOMA'S CURRENT FILM PROGRAMS ARE LARGELY DESIGNED FOR MOVIES.

THE CHANGES IN TWO BILLS THAT MADE IT OUT OF SUBCOMMITTEE ON MONDAY CLARIFY AND EXPAND THE INCENTIVES.

AS REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN HILL SAID RING THE BELL THAT THE INCENTIVES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR TELEVISION AND STREAMING SERIES, WHICH HE SAID PROVIDE LONGER-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

>> FINALLY, SHAWN, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LEGITIMATE LATE I HAVE LEGACY OF DAVID BOREN, WHO PASSED AWAY ON THURSDAY.

>> OF COURSE, DAVID BOREN HOLDS A PLACE IN MY HEART BECAUSE HIS POLITICAL CAREER BEGAN IN THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHERE HE SERVED FROM 1967 TO 1974, REPRESENTING THE SEMINOLE AREA.

OF COURSE, WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR WHO CAN FORGET THE PROGRAM AND THE BROOM BRIGADE AS HE TALKED ABOUT REMAKING OKLAHOMA POLITICS AND IN FACT HE DID, GETTING NUMBER OF A LARGE NUMBERS OF AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

BUT ITS ALSO INTERESTING TO NOTE THIS WEEK ANOTHER BILL PASSED BY THE SENATE PRO TEM LONNIE PACKS TON THAT GOES ABOUT ELIMINATING SOME BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE IN OKLAHOMA POLITICS, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.

BUT DAVID BOREN WILL BE WELL-REMEMBERED.

>> THAT WAS VERY WELL SAID.

AS ALWAYS, SHAWN ASHLEY, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE.

>> YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.

>> DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES AND ICY ROADS HAVE MADE ICE CHALLENGING FOR OKAYIANCE ALL ACROSS THE STATE THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE AN UPDATE AS THINGS FINALLY AGAIN AGAIN TO THAW OUT.

NOAH.

>> RICH, I SPOKE WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE HOMELESS SHELTER ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

I ALSO SPOKE WITH THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL HOW THEY RESPONDED WHEN FOLKS FOUND THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY.

>> WE WORKED A TON OF CRASHES.

WE WORKED HUNDREDS.

>> ICY CONDITIONS SWEEPING PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA THIS WEEK KEPT THE HIGHWAY PATROL BUSY.

>> HUNDREDS OF MOTORISTS ASSISTS.

WE WERE MAKING CONTACTS WITH VEHICLES, SOME ACTUALLY OCCUPIED WITH PEOPLE IN THEM.

AND THEN WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED COLLISIONS INVOLVING INJURIES AND/OR NONINJURY COLLISIONS.

BLOCKED ROADWAYS.

IT'S BEEN A LONG 36 HOURS.

>> HERE ARE THE OHP'S STATEWIDE NUMBER.

FROM TUESDAY MIDNIGHT TO WEDNESDAY MORNING OHP REPORTED OVER 250 NONINJURY VEHICLE CRASHES WITH 77 INJURY CRASHES.

AS WELL AS OVER 270 MOTORISTS ASSISTS.

FORTUNATELY NO FATAL CRASHES WERE REPORTED.

ADDITIONALLY PHOTOS STARTED POURING IN FROM THE DAMAGE.

HERE A SEMI-TRUCK CRASHED ALONG WILL ROGERS TURNPIKE.

LUCKILY ONLY MINOR INJURIES WAS REPORTED BUT THE TRUCK WAS CARRYING PRECIOUS CARGO, THOUSANDS OF EGGS, WHICH THE PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED FOR IN THE BIRD FLU OUTBREAK.

AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAID BEING EXTRA PREPARED IS ESSENTIAL.

>> BUNDLE UP.

HAVE ENOUGH LAYERS OF CLOTHING.

EVEN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND ARE IN THE WARMTH OF YOUR CAR, IF YOU SHOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO GET OUT, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE WARM CLOTHES AND A WINTER COAT AND LAYERS AVAILABLE JUST TO STAY WARM.

>> THIS WEEK TEMPERATURES STAYED BELOW FREEZING AND DOUG ADDED THAT THIS KIND OF WINTER WHEREVER IS NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED.

>> IT DOES NOT TAKE MORE THAN PROBABLY MORE THAN 20 OR 30 MINUTES OF EXPOSURE TO TEMPERATURES THAT COLD TO START GETTING BAD THINGS HAPPENING WITH YOUR BODY WITH FROSTBITE OR, YOU KNOW, STARTING TO LOWER THE BLOOD TEMPERATURE.

>> HIS ADVICE DURING THESE TEMPERATURES, STAY INSIDE.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS THE LUXURY OF HOUSING.

APRIL DOSHIER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OKLAHOMA FOOD AND SHELTER WHICH EXTENDED THEIR OPERATION TO 24 HOURS A DAY.

>> NORMAN HAS HAD PEOPLE FREEZE TO DEATH OUTSIDE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES THAN WE ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

ANYTIME TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FRAYING IT CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HOMELESS WHO HAVE COMPROMISED HEALTH ISSUES AND BEING IN THE COLD EX-AS BAITS THOSE THINGS.

SO TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE THE BEST WE CAN WE FEEL COMPELLED TO OFFER THIS SERVICE.

>> FOOD AND SHELTERS FACILITY DOESN'T NORMALLY ACCOMMODATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY TAKE IN DURING WINTER WEATHER BUT THEY MAKE ROOM.

>> THE DINING ROOM HAS SHIFTED IN THE EVENING TO A MAKESHIFT SHELTER WHERE PEOPLE CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT.

WE'VE BEEN SLEEPING ABOUT 70 TO 80 PEOPLE INSIDE OUR DINING ROOM.

THAT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED BUT WE STAFFED UP WITH MONITORS WHO CAN HANDLE IT AND FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT AS LONG AS WE KEEP THINGS GOING THE WAY THEY ARE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE REST OF WINTER.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO SHELTERING THE HOMELESS IT BECOMES A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT.

>> WHEN THESE KINDS OF WEATHER EVENTS HAPPEN, WE DO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OUR OTHER PARTNERS TO SEE WHAT THEY NEED FROM US AND HOW HE CAN BE A SUPPORT SYSTEM TO THEM.

>> ON WEDNESDAY FOOD AND SHELTER DELIVERED MEALS TO THE CITY SPONSORED SHELTER ON GRAY STREET TO HELP THEM KEEP OPERATIONS GOING THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

THEY ALSO RELY ON DONATIONS FROM RESIDENTS.

THINK BLANKETS AND WINTER COATS.

>> WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMPLICATED PROBLEM, THAT IT WILL TAKE MANY OF US TO SOLVE.

THIS IS KIND OF WHAT MAKES NORMAN A GREAT COMMUNITY TO WORK IN.

>> GOING FORWARD DOUG SAID WARMER WEATHER IS ON THE HORIZON.

>> AS SOON AS WE GET INTO THE WEEKEND AND INTO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK, IT WILL ACTUALLY BECOME QUITE WARM.

HAY TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE STATE AS WE GET INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK WILL ACTUALLY BE IN THE 06 HAS AND 70s.

SO, YOU KNOW, FEBRUARY AND INTO MARCH IS DEFINITELY A TIME OF KIND OF TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AS WE GO FROM WINTER TO SPRING.

AND ALTHOUGH WE WILL BE CLIMBING OUT OF THIS COLD SPELL HERE LATE THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND, YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT COLD SPELL COMING WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

THERE'S STILL THE POSSIBILITY WE COULD SEE SOMETHING INTO MARCH.

>> AS WE TRUDGE ON THROUGH TO SPRING, STATE TROOPER PRESTON COX SAID THIS STRETCH OF ICY DAYS SERVES AS A REMINDER.

>> TAKE YOUR TIME AND HAVE THE DILIGENCE FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU BRING APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR AND HAVE A CHARGED CELL PHONE THAT WORKS.

AND ALSO AGAIN PLAN ON HAVING YOUR ROUTE TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME BECAUSE EVERYTHING SLOWS DOWN HAD ICE ACCUMULATES.

>> APRIL TELLS ME FOOD AND SHELTER IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HELP FROM RESIDENTS.

IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE NORMAN AREA, LOOK FOR A SHELTER AROUND YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS.

IF YOU HAVE AN OLD COAT OR GLOVES, THEY WILL PUT IT TO GOOD USE, RICH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY STOCKYARDS FIRST OPENED IN 1910 TO SERVICE WHAT WAS AT THE TIME OKLAHOMA'S FIRST MAJOR INDUSTRY.

NOW THE STOCKYARDS ARE FOR SALE.

THERE'S UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE SPRAWLING PROPERTY IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA CITY WILL BE.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR IN-DEPTH UPCOMING DISCUSSION WITH MS. MUD.

>> IT HAS BEEN A PART OF THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 100 YEARS AND CERTAINLY HAS THAT LONG LEGACY THAT DATES PACK TO THE DAYS WHEN PACKING PLANTS WERE LOCATED RIGHT IN URBAN AREAS.

EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT TRUE ANYMORE, OKLAHOMA NATIONAL HAS BEEN ONE OF THE FEW, IT'S REALLY THE LAST REMAINING OF THOSE ORIGINAL TERMINAL MARKETS.

>> EVERYONE THAT WE'VE TALKED TO APPRECIATES THAT RICH HISTORY, APPRECIATES THE FACT THAT IF THE STOCKYARD WERE TO GO AWAY, THAT WOULD BE A HUGE IMPACT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS POINT, NUMBER ONE I WILL SAY THIS, WE ARE NOT UNDER CONTRACT.

IT'S NOT SOLD.

IT COULD HAPPEN TOMORROW OR SIX MONTHS OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

THERE'S NO NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IT IN THE SHORT TERM IN THE STOCKYARDS WERE TO GO AWAY.

IF IT WERE TO SELL, I CAN APPRECIATE PEOPLE WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP A LITTLE LATER ON IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>>> ONE OF THE TALL SKYSCRAPERS IN THE WORLD EVER BE ACTUALLY BUILT IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY?

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DOUBTS BUT THE DEVELOPER BEHIND THE PROJECT BELIEVES ONE DAY IT WILL BE A REALITY.

STEVE JOINED HIM THIS WEEK AND HAS THIS NEWS.

>> IT'S BEEN JUST OVER ONE YEAR SINCE WE TALKED TO THE NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA DEVELOPER SCOTT MATTESON ABOUT HIS PLANS.

IT INCLUDES A SKYSCRAPER THAT WOULD MAKE IT THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE U.S. >> WE THINK IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> SCOTT MATTESON IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MATTESON CAPITAL.

IT'S A REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY THAT'S NO STRANGER TO BIG IDEAS.

>> IN ITALY WE DID 5,000-ACRE MASTER PLAN WITH GOLF CLUBS AND WINERY AND SCHOOLS, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

WE HAVE DONE BIG PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> HE HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH OKLAHOMA CITY FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS ON WHAT HE SAYS IS A $1.6 BILLION MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT.

IT WOULD INCLUDE THREE TOWERS AND A 1907-FOOT TALL SKYSCRAPER TO COMMEMORATE THE YEAR OKLAHOMA GAINED STATEHOOD.

>> CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEA OF THE SCALE?

EVEN IF IT COMES IN TWO PHASES.

WE ARE TALKING A LOT OF APARTMENTS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF CONDOMINIUMS.

DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY STILL NEEDS MORE HOUSING, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP THAT.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT'S TOTAL OF 5 MILLION SQUARE FEET INCLUDES, OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF PARKING, PARKING FOR THE PUBLIC AND PARKING FOR THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT, AS WELL AS THE COMMERCIAL AND HOTELS.

AND IT'S GOT A COUPLE THOUSAND RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

MAINLY APARTMENTS FOR RENT.

WE INCLUDED AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT AND TO A WORKFORCE HOUSING COMPONENT AS WELL IN THE PROJECT DESIGN.

WE HAVE A COUPLE HOTELS GOING ON, BRANDED RESIDENTIAL CONDOS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

>> MATTESON WANTS TO BUILD IN THE HEART OF BRICK TOWN ON WHAT'S NOW A LARGE PARKING LOT NEXT TO A GIANT U-HAUL BUILDING AND A FEW BLOCKS FROM PACON CENTER WITH THE OKLAHOMA THUNDER CURRENTLY PLAY.

THERE'S A NEW ARENA NEARBY ON THE WAY.

SCOTT MATTESON TOLD ME A YEAR AGO HE WANTED TO BREAK GROUND ON HIS PROJECT BY LAST SUMMER.

HE WAS HELD UP BY CONCERNS BROUGHT BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE AND WILL ROGERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARE LESS THAN 20 MILES FROM WHAT SCOTT MATTESON PLANS.

>> WE DIDN'T REALIZE HAD TO GET FAA APPROVAL FOR THESE -- THE ENTIRE PROJECT.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE TO GET IT FOR THE TALL TOWER BUT WE ENDED UP HAVING TO GET IT FOR THE SHORTER BUILDINGS, AS WELL.

SO THAT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT ONCE WE STARTED THAT PROCESS.

>> CANTON IS PRESIDENT OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY ALLIANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> YOU KNOW, THESE APPROVALS WITH THE FAA AND OTHERS, THEY ARE REALLY OUT OF OUR HANDS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE ALSO VERY DIFFICULT FINANCIALLY TO DO AND THOSE ARE THINGS WE DON'T WANT TO DAMPEN PEOPLE'S DREAMS.

WELL WANT TO HELP IN OKLAHOMA CITY TO FACILITATE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, SCOTT MATTESON SAID WHAT HE WANTS TO DO HERE IS ONLY A THIRD OF THE SIZE OF A $17 MILLION SQUARE FOOT $20 BILLION, 15-YEAR-LONG PROJECT HE'S DOING IN MIAMI.

HE SAYS HE SAYS THE SAME POTENTIAL IN BRICK TOWN HE SAW IN MIAMI MANY YEARS AGO.

>> YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOESN'T HURT AT ALL THAT THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER HAS A PRETTY GOOD SHOT AT WINNING THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH, I'M EXCITED.

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THEM QUITE A BIT.

>> HAVE YOU BECOME A THUNDER FAN YET, SCOTT?

>> YES, YES.

I'VE BEEN TO GAMES WITH SOME OF THE THUNDER STAFF, AND WE'RE ALWAYS EXCITED TO WATCH THEM.

I WATCH THEM QUITE A BIT EVEN HERE WHEN I'M IN NEWPORT.

>> SCOTT MATTESON SAID HE INTENDS TO BREAK GROUND ON THE PROJECT'S FIRST PHASE LATER THIS SPRING.

HE ENVISIONS STARTING ON PHASE 2 IN THE 1907-FOOT SKYSCRAPER IN 2026.

>> IF WE START A YEAR LATER AND IT TAKES MAYBE A YEAR LONGER TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT TALL, IT WILL BE FIVE YEARS BEFORE IT'S DELIVERED FROM TODAY.

>> THAT'S STILL PRETTY AMBITIOUS.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO DO, AMBITIOUS PROJECTS.

>> I WILL TELL YOU THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE VERY DIFFICULT.

IT'S OKAY TO BE SKEPTICAL.

BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE OKLAHOMA CITY HAS A HISTORY OF TACKLING SOME OF THESE TOUGH PROJECTS AND CHALLENGES AND FIGURING OUTWEIGHS TO HELP THEM HAPPEN.

>> CHAD IS PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE BRICK TOWN ASSOCIATION BOARD.

AND HE'S OPERATED THE HIGHLY POPULAR BRICK TOWN WATER TAXI FOR 26 YEARS.

HE SAYS THE WATER TAXI HANDLED 140,000 PASSENGERS LAST YEAR.

HE SAYS IF SCOTT MATTESON SUCCEEDS WITH JUST PART OF WHAT HE WANTS TO DO, IT'S A GIANT WIN FOR OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S YET ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD PUT DOWN TOWN FIRMLY ON THE MAP.

IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT NATIONALLY AND EVEN INTERNATIONALLY SINCE THIS WAS ANNOUNCED.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE POWER RIGHT THERE OF A DEVELOPMENT BEING AS REMARKABLE AS PROPOSED.

SO I THINK IT WOULD HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN AND BRICK TOWN.

>> JENNIFER IS PRESIDENT OF THE NONPROFIT BUSINESS GROUP DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> I THINK IT IS -- DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY IS ON THE CUSP, AND HAS BEEN REALLY FOR A WHILE POST PANDEMIC OF BEING A SOUGHT-AFTER SITE AND THAT'S WHAT IS SUPER EXCITING FOR DOWNTOWN OKC AND ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.

>> SCOTT MATTESON SAYS WHEN CONSTRUCTION STARTS, YES, THOSE HUNDREDS OF CONSTRUCTION JOBS WILL BE TEMPORARY.

BUT HE ALSO SAYS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES ALONG, SO DO A LOT OF PERMANENT HOTEL, COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL JOBS.

RICH.

>> THANK YOU.

TULSA'S BEYOND APOLOGY COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF 13 RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO USE CITY RESOURCES TO FULLY ADDRESS THE RAMTY INDICATIONS OF THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE.

THIS WEEK THEY IMPROVED THEIR IDEAS ON HOW TO IMPROVE HOUSING.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS NOW WITH THE DETAILS >> THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS NEARLY $25 MILLION TOWARDS HOUSING BENEFITS.

I SPOKE WITH THE CHAIR OF THE BEYOND APOLOGY COMMISSION THIS WEEK.

>> IN ITS FIRST MAJOR PROPOSAL THE COMMISSION IS SEEKING REPARATIONS FOR DESCENDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IMPACTED BY RED LINING IN NORTH TULSA.

RED LINING IS A RACIAL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE IN WHICH FINANCIAL SERVICES ARE BE HELD FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES.

>> MINORITIES.

THE 13-MEMBER COMMISSION WAS CREATED IN A 2023 EXECUTIVE ORDER BY FORMER MAYOR G.T.

BYNUM.

CHAIRWOMAN KRISTI SAID IT STARTED AROUND THE CENTENNIAL.

>> DURING THE CENTENNIALFUL THE MASSACRE OUR COMMISSION AND THE FREIGHTER AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION WHICH I CHAIRED AT THAT TIME, WE PROPOSED A PROPOSAL TO CITY COUNCIL WHICH WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT -- I MEAN, WHICH HAD THE CITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE, APOLOGIZE FOR THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO MAKE A COMMITMENT, A COMMITMENT TO PASSING AND CREATING POLICIES THAT EXPLICITLY HELPED BLACK PEOPLE WHO WERE HARMED FROM THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE.

AND CITY COUNCIL PASSED THAT UNANIMOUSLY.

AND WE USED THAT TO START THE BEYOND APOLOGY CONVERSATION.

>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS $8 MILLION FROM BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR HOME AND LANDOWNER SHIP BENEFITS.

7.$5MILLION FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT AND PRESERVATION AND $2 MILLION FOR PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE AND $3 MILLION FOR HOME OWNERSHIP READINESS.

THE REMAINING 18% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET WOULD BE USED FOR THE NORTH TULSA DEVELOPMENT TO INCREASE THE HOUSING SUPPLY IN NORTH FULLS TO ESTABLISH A HOUSING RESERVE TRUST AND MAINTENANCE COST.

>> DESCENDENTS OF THE 19 IT 1 MASSACRE HAVE BEEN SEEKING REPARATIONS FOR YEARS.

TULSA SENATOR REGINA GOODWIN FILED LEGISLATION SEEKING $300 MILLION IN COMPENSATION TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE MASSACRE.

THE MOST RECENT PUSH WAS REJECTED BY THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT.

BUT WILLIAMS IS HOPEFUL THAT MASSACRE DESCENDENTS COULD SEE PEP PAR RATIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> I THINK WE COULD SEE THIS HAPPEN AND NOT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A PLAQUE MAYOR, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD MAYOR WHO UNDERSTAND, RIGHT -- WHO UNDERSTANDS HISTORY, UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE CITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS G.T.

BYNUM, OUR FORMER MAYOR G.T.

BYNUM THAT ACTUALLY SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CREATE THE COMMISSION.

YOU KNOW, HE DID THAT ON HIS WAY OUT.

BUT I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

>> THE COMMISSION ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY VESTS IN NORTH TULSA'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WHY WE WANT TO HAVE THE CITY ADDRESS THAT IS USE SOME OF THE SAVE OUR TULSA INITIATIVE DOLLARS.

BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM IN TULSA.

WE ARE BUILDING NEW HOMES ON TOP OF BAD INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THAT BUT WE JUST NEED TO DIRECT THOSE FUNDS TO THOSE ISSUES.

SO WE DO PLAN ON WORKING WITH OUR CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS AND TO ALSO HELP WITH DEVELOPERS, AS WELL.

>> THE COMMISSION IS ALSO SEEKING TO HELP NORTH TULSANS RECLAIM LAND.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF LAND HAD YOU STUDY THE HISTORY OF TULSA, THERE'S SO MUCH LAND THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM BLACK PEOPLE HERE IN TULSA.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF LAND THAT SITS WITH TDA, THE TULSA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

NOW THEY CHANGED THEIR NAME TO PARDON TULSA.

SO WE PLAN ON WORKING WITH THEM.

>> BUT THE COMMISSION'S WORK ISN'T OVER YET.

THE GROUP STILL HAS OTHER COMMUNITY PRIORITIES THEY ARE WORKING ON.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON BLACK MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH.

WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON CULTURAL IDENTITY.

WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WHICH YOU CAN READ ON THAT WEBSITE, AS WELL, BECAUSE HOUSING IS JUST NOT IT.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS BALL MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE ONE-AND-DONE THING.

>> WILLIAMS HOPES YOUNGER TULSANS WILL LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISM.

>> WHAT I'M LEARNING THE YOUNG PEOPLE GET FROM THIS IS THE WORK THAT HAS TO GO INTO PROTECTING YOUR COMMUNITY AS WELL ON A POLICY FRONT.

AND WORKING WITH YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST IN THE COUNTRY BUT IN OKLAHOMA.

>> AND TO HELP KEEP FOLKS INFORMED ON BLACK HISTORY, WILLIAMS PUT TOGETHER BLACK HISTORY SAT TAKES.

>> HERE IN TULSA WHERE WE ARE TEACHING BLACK HISTORY ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH FOR PRE-K TO ADULTS.

NOW IT'S BEEN FUNDED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, WHICH I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS FORCES YOU TO LOOK AT OUR HISTORY.

>> TULSA MAYOR MONROE NICKELS IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HIS RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.

RICH.

>> REALLY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> OKLAHOMANS WILL HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO LUNG CANCER SCREENING THANKS TO PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE OU HEALTH CANCER CENTER AND THE OKLAHOMA TOBACCO SETTLEMENT.

AND THERE'S A DONATION TO PURCHASE A 40-FOOT VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A CT SCANNER TO D. CASES EARLY AND HELP SAVE LIVES.

>> HAVING A MOBILE VEHICLE COME OUT TO THOSE VEHICLES AND DO SCREENING DIRECTLY ADDRESSES TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS TO SCREENING.

SIMILARLY THERE ARE LOW INCOME POPULATIONS IN ANY COMMUNITIES IN OKLAHOMA, RURAL OR URBAN, THAT MIGHT FACE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS BECAUSE OF LACK OF VEHICLE, NEED TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK IS ANOTHER BARRIER.

AND BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO COMMUNITIES YOU CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS TO SCREENING.

LUNG CANCER HAS LONG BEEN THE LEADING CAUSE OF DANCE CANCER DEATH IN OKLAHOMA AMONGST ALL THE TYPES OF CANCER.

THERE'S OVER 3,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR IN OKLAHOMA THAT UNFORTUNATELY DIE FROM LUNG CANCER.

WE HAVE THE FOURTH HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE IN THE NATION.

MORTALITY RATE IS 70 TO 75% OF ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT GET LUNG CANCERS.

RISK FACTORS FOR THAT PREDOMINANTLY ARE TOBACCO USE HISTORY.

ABOUT 85% TO 90% OF ALL LUNG CANCER CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO CANS I USE.

>> THE DOCTOR SAID TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SCREENING YOU SHOULD HAVE A PRIOR HISTORY OF TOBACCO USE.

.

>> DEVON ENERGY RELEASED THEIR EARNINGS REPORT AND THE REPORT IS POSITIVE.

THAT TOPS THE BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> FOR ALL OF 2024 OKLAHOMA CITY BASED DEVON ENERGY RAKED IN NET EARNINGS OF $2.9 BILLION.

THAT WAS POWERED BY RECORD PRODUCTION OF 737,000 BARRELS OF OIL EQUIVALENT PRODUCTION A DAY.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE ENERGY PRODUCER IS LOOKING TO SLOW DOWN IN 2025 EITHER.

THE COMPANY EXPECTS PRODUCTION TO BE IN THE RANGE OF 805,000 TO 825,000 BARRELS OF OIL EQUIVALENT PRODUCTION PER DAY EQUIVALENT THIS YEAR.

DEVON WAS ABLE TO RETURN $2 BILLION TO SHAREHOLDERS LAST YEAR THROUGH DIVIDENDS AND STOCK BUY BACKS.

DEVON'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS INCREASING THE EXPECTED QUARTERLY PAYMENT DIVIDENDS THIS TO 24 CENTS A SHARE, A 9% INCREASE.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED UTILITY COMPANY OGE ENERGY SAW PROFITS.

$41.5MILLION COMPARED TO 2023'S INCOME OF.

AND THERE WAS HIGHER DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY AND RECOVERY OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

THEY EXPECT THEIR PROFITS TO TIP GROWING IN 2025 BY 5 TO 7%.

TULSA BASED ONE GAS REPORTS 2024 NET INCOME AT $222.9 MILLION.

THAT'S ACTUALLY DOWN FROM THE NET WEEK OF $231.2 MILLION.

THE PARENT EXAMPLE OF OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS AND OTHER NATURAL GAS UTILITIES SAID THE WARMER THAN EXPECTED END OF THE YEAR IMPACTED REVENUES.

WELL, MANY U.S. CITIES ARE SEEING THEIR RENTAL RATES COME DOWN TO NEAR PREPANDEMIC LEVELS, COSTS OF OKLAHOMA CITY'S AVERAGE RENTAL HOME HAS INCREASED.

THE RENT REPORT SHOWS THE AVERAGE OKC RENTAL IS 1,000 IT $1 A MONTH, AN INCREASE OVER LAST CAREER.

FOR THOSE RENTING IN OKLAHOMA CITY IT TAKES ABOUT 17.1% OF THE RENTERS INCOME.

FOR THOSE WHO OWN A HOME IN OKLAHOMA CITY MORTGAGES AND UPKEEP USUALLY TAKES UP 27.4 ERS OF A HOMEOWNERS INCOME, MAKING OKLAHOMA CITY MORE FRIENDLY TOWARDS RENTERS OVER HOMEOWNERS.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

AFTER BEING LED BY THE SAME FAMILY TORE FOUR GENERATIONS, OKLAHOMA CITY'S ICONIC STOCKYARDS ARE UP FOR SALE.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS DISCUSSION WITH CASSIDY MUDD AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

>> JOINING US IS GERALD REYNOLDS, AND DR. DARRYL PEEL, FROM OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY OTHER.

THE STOCKYARDS HAVE BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF THE CATTLE INDUSTRY OVER 100 YEARS.

WITH SOME OF THE RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE WE'VE BEEN SEEING THERE'S A LITTLE UNCERTAINTY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH THE STOCKYARDS AND REASSURE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR FUTURE?

>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

THE STOCKYARDS ARE A HUGE PART OF IN THE ONLY OKLAHOMA CITY BUT THE ENTIRE STATE AND REGION.

WE RECEIVE CATTLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THOUSANDS OF PRODUCERS AT OUR FACILITY FOR THE LAST 110 YEARS.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANYTHING CHANGING ON THAT FRONT FOR THE NEXT 110 YEARS.

THAT'S OUR GOAL AND HOPE.

WHERE WE ARE AT IS THAT THE OWNERSHIP HAS DECIDED TO PUT THE PROPERTY UP FOR SALE.

THE BASIS OF THAT REALLY IS IT'S JUST TIME, IN THEIR MINDS, TO PASS THE OWNERSHIP ON TO MORE LOCAL FAMILIES, MORE LOCAL PEOPLE FROM OKLAHOMA THAT KNOW WHAT OKLAHOMANS NEED, WHAT THE REGION NEEDS.

A GOOD PART OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE FROM OUT-OF-STATE AND DESCENDENTS OF THE ORIGINAL OWNERS.

THE BOARD CHAIRMAN, HIS GRANDPA BUILT THE FACILITY.

SO IT'S A PRIDEFUL THING FOR THEM TO HAVE THIS FACILITY HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL OVER THESE YEARS.

BUT THE NEXT GENERATION REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKING IT ON.

SO AS OPPOSED TO IT NOT BEING CARRIED ON BY SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION THEY WANT TO BE SELECTIVE ABOUT WHO THEY TRY TO SELL THE FACILITY TO TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THIS PLACE HERE FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO THE STOCKYARDS, YOUNGER PRODUCERS THAT CAME WITH THEIR DAD AND GRAND DAD AND THEY COME TO THE STOCKYARDS ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR WHEN THEY BETWEEN THE CAVS AND GO TO SELL THEM, THAT'S THEIR ONLY PAYCHECK OF THE YEAR.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 100 YEARS, GOING TO THE STOCKYARD AREA AFTER THEY SELL THE CATTLE TO MAYBE TAKE THE FAMILY TO A STEAK DINNER OR GOING ACROSS THE STREET OR ONE OF THE OTHER RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA AND JUST MAKE IT A FULL DESTINATION TYPE TRIP.

WE WANT THAT TO CONTINUE.

NOW OBVIOUSLY THINGS IN THE AG WORLD BECOME TIGHTER AND TIGHTER EVERY YEAR.

SO IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WE HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT PARTNERSHIP.

WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO IS ABLE TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT JUST BECAUSE THE STOCKYARD IS FOR SALE IT DOESN'T MEAN OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL, UNTIL IT'S NOT.

AND I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING ANYTIME SOON.

EVERYONE THAT WE'VE TALKED TO APPRECIATE THE RICH HISTORY, APPRECIATES THE FACT THAT IF IT WERE TO GO AWAY, IT WOULD BE NOT GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN INTERESTED TO THIS POINT, NUMBER ONE I WILL SAY IT'S NOT UNDER CONTRACT, IT'S NOT SOLD.

IT COULD HAPPEN IN TOMORROW OR SIX MONTHS OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

THERE'S NO NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IT IN THE SHORT TERM.

IF IT WERE TO SELL CERTAINLY THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE IS SOMETHING I CAN APPRECIATE AND PEOPLE WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT OUR HOPE IS WE FIND SOMEBODY WHO WILL CARRY THINGS ON LIKE THEY ARE CURRENTLY.

>> THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP FOR US.

YOU BROUGHT UP A LOT OF GREAT POINTS I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LATER.

BUT THE CATTLE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, INCLUDING MARKET VOLATILITY AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE CHALLENGES AFFECTING OKLAHOMA RANCHERS AND WHAT ROLL DO THE STOCKYARDS MAY IN THE LARGER PICTURE?

>> THE CATTLE INDUSTRY, BROADLY SPEAKING, IS EXPERIENCING MULTI-DECADE LOWS IN CATTLE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.

THE RESULT OF DROUGHT IN RECENT YEARS AND IT'S ALSO PART OF THE NATURAL CYCLICAL NATURE OF THIS INDUSTRY THAT GOES BACK TO THE LATE 1800S.

NUMBERS ARE TIGHT RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE REDUCED AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR A NUMBER OF SECTORS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND THE INDUSTRY.

OKLAHOMA NATIONAL STOCKYARDS HAS AN INCREDIBLE HISTORY AND LEGACY AND HAS BEEN A PART OF THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 100 YEARS, AND CERTAINLY HAS THAT LONG LEGACY THAT DATES BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN PACKING PLANTS WERE LOCATED RADIOITY IN URBAN AREAS.

AND EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT TRUE ANYMORE, OKLAHOMA NATIONAL HAS BEEN ONE OF THE FEW, IT'S REALLY THE LAST REMAINING OF THOSE ORIGINAL TERMINAL MARKETS THAT STILL, YOU KNOW, WAS ABLE TO CONVERT TO THE AUCTION FORMAT AND HAS CONTINUED TO OPERATE AS AN INCREDIBLE PART OF THE INDUSTRY UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> AND, JERRY, EARLIER YOU WILL MENTIONED IT'S THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS THAT ARE NOT WANTING TO TAKE OVER OR TAKE A PART IN THIS.

WHY DO WE THINK THAT IS, IS IT THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

>> THAT'S THE TWO-FOLD QUESTION.

THE AVAILABILITY OF YOUNGER GENERATION AMONG STOCKHOLDERS IS PART OF THE REASON.

THEY JUST AREN'T HAVING THE HEIRS THAT HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH IT.

MY BOARD CHAIRMAN KIND OF GREW UP AROUND THE SITUATION AND HIS FAMILY HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD AND BEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STOCKYARDS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.

JUST NOT THE SITUATION AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO TAKE THAT OVER.

NOW WE'VE COME OUT OF A COUPLE, A SEVERAL YEAR, MULTI-YEAR DROUGHT FOR SURE THAT HAVE HURT THE CATTLE MEMBERS, NO DOUBT.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST NUMBERS SINCE THE LATE 50s, EARLY 60s AND THAT'S A BIG IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

BUT WE ARE THE LAST NATIONAL STOCKYARDS.

THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF CATTLE IN THE STATE AND PLENTY OF CATTLE IN ARKANSAS, THE ADJACENT STATE AND PLENTY OF CATTLE IN TEXAS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF CATTLE AROUND.

THERE'S PROBABLY BEEN A PUSH AMONG POLITICIANS AND MOVIE STARS THAT WE DON'T EAT BEEF AND SWITCH TO BUGS OR SOME OTHER PROTEIN BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT BUYING THAT.

THE DEMAND RIGHT NOW, THE PRICING FOR THESE ANIMALS IS PHENOMENAL.

IT'S BEYOND WHAT ANYBODY COULD HAVE IMAGINED UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

I'VE BEEN 25 PLUS YEARS IN AGRI BUSINESS, I'VE BEEN AROUNDAGES ALL MY LIFE.

THE PRICE THE GUYS ARE GETTING RIGHT NOW ARE CRAZY.

PEOPLE ARE STILL BUYING A STEAK.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S $15 AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE OR 25 OR 40.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

WE HAVE TO EVOLVE AND FIGURE OUT HOW AS A INDUSTRY WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE THE DYNAMIC, HANDLE THE FEWER PRODUCER.

S. WE WILL HAVE PRODUCERS THAT WILL RETIRE.

THE GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES WILL BE DIFFERENT BUT IT'S NOT GOING AWAY AND YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO SELL THEM.

THE NEED FOR THE STOCKYARDS, REGARDLESS OF THE OWNERSHIP OR REGARDLESS WHOM IS AT THE HELM GOING FORWARD, THE NEED EXISTS.

IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THERE.

>> JERRY MAKES A GOOD POINT, GIVEN THE PRESSURE ON THE CATTLE INDUSTRY, WHAT STEPS CAN RANCHERS TAKE, LIKE HE MENTIONED, TO STAY COMPETITIVE?

>> AS HE MENTIONED THE CATTLE INDUSTRY IS FUNDAMENTALLY STRONG.

WE ARE AT A CYCLICAL LOW NOW EXAGGERATED BY DROUGHT NUMBERS BUT BEEF DEMAND IS INCREDIBLY STRONG.

THE INDUSTRY WILL REBUILD.

WE HAVE DONE IT OVER AND OVER OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS.

WE ARE AT A POINT IT TAKES A FEW YEARS BUT CATTLE INDUSTRY DOESN'T CHANGE DRAMATICALLY.

WE HAVE A MUCH LONGER BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION PROCESS THAN, SAY, THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

IT'S A SLOW PROCESS BUT THE INDUSTRY IS STILL VERY STRONG AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE.

SO WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE ARE AT A POINT TEMPORARILY WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE LOW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I EXPECT TO SEE HERD GROWTH BEGIN, IF NOT IN 2025, CERTAINLY BY 2026.

WE'RE LOOKING AT KIND OF THE BOTTOM OF AN INVENTORY CYCLE HERE AND GOING FORWARD.

AND AGAIN, AS HE MENTIONED, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PRICES RIGHT NOW, RECORD-LEVEL PRICES IN THE INDUSTRY.

THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE STRONG CONSUMER DEMAND FOR BEEF AND, YOU KNOW, STRONG INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMPONENT TO OUR INDUSTRY.

ALL OF THAT WILL CONTINUE AND I FULLY EXPECT THE INDUSTRY TO REBUILD OVER THE COMING YEARS, DEPENDING ON DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND SO ON, AND THAT WE WILL BE, MUCH LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE, THERE ARE SOME UPS AND DOWNS THAT ARE SORT OF A NATURAL PART OF THE INDUSTRY.

BUT NOTHING IS REALLY CHANGING AS FAR AS THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY.

>> DR. PEEL, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE SLOWING DOWN CATTLE PRODUCTION.

DOES THE BIRD FLU PLAY A ROLE IN THAT AT ALL?

>> ACTUALLY NOT IN THE BEEF INDUSTRY.

BIRD FLU, THE AVIAN INFLUENZA IS HAVING SOME IMPACTS ON THE DAIRY SECTOR.

THE DAIRY COWS ARE KNOWN TO GET IT.

IT HAS MINOR IMPACTS ON PRODUCTION.

I SAY MINOR THAN IT DOESN'T CAUSE ANIMAL MORTALITY LIKE IT DOES IN THE BIRDS.

IN THE BEEF SECOND TAR WE HAVEN'T FOUND IT AT THIS POINT.

THE AVIAN IS MORE EXTENSIVE AND FEEDLOTS.

EVEN THOUGH ANIMALS ARE CONCENTRATED IN FEEDLOTS THEY ARE STILL OUT DOORS.

WE DON'T EXPECT TO SEE THOSE KINDS OF IMPACTS AFFECTING THE BEEF INDUSTRY.

>> JERRY, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, THE STOCKYARDS HAVE HAD SUCH A LONG HISTORY IN OKLAHOMA.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE NEW OWNERS OR THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN TO TAKE OVER, HOW DO YOU SEE THEM CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE STATE'S CATTLE PRODUCTION AND PRESERVING THAT HISTORY?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED, OBVIOUSLY.

BECAUSE NOT HAVING -- WITH NOT BEING IN A CONTRACT WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOTS OF INTEREST.

THE INTEREST HAS COME FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ONLY LOCAL BUSINESSMEN, POSSIBLE DEVELOPERS, BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAVE STRONG TIES TO AGRIBUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TALKED TO US HAVE REALLY STRONG TIES TO THE BEEF INDUSTRY.

AND LAND WITH A PARTNERSHIP, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE MISS A BEAT TO OTHER THAN THE FACT WE TALKED ABOUT DIVERSITY IS THE KEY GOING FORWARD.

HAVING SPENT SO MANY YEARS RN AGRIBUSINESS, I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF CYCLES UP AND DOWN.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE COTTON INDUSTRY.

I WOULD SAY ONE CHIEF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT I SAW IN THE COT CON INDUSTRY, THE UPS AND DOWNS, IS PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BUY THAT T-SHIRT OR THE PRACTICE YOU PAIR OF JEANS WHEN THE ECONOMY IS BAD.

PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO EAT MEET AND EAT BEEF.

THAT'S THEIR FIRST CHOICE BY FAR.

ARE THEY GOING TO SWITCH FROM A RIB BUY TO A HAMBURGER STEAK AT SOME POINT?

IT'S NOT ENTIRELY POSSIBLE BUT THEY ARE STILL BUYING THE PRODUCT.

I THINK THAT'S ONE THING TO POINT OUT THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IS AT THE HELM, WE ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE THE DEMAND AND NEED FOR THE FACILITY TO BE THIS PLACE.

THE MARKET EACH WEEK, WE HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HOW THE MARKET GOES.

EVERYONE SAYS, AND ALL OF THE SALE BARNS, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CITY THIS WEEK?

WHETHER IT'S IN TEXAS OR SOMEWHERE IN KANSAS PANHANDLE, WHAT ARE THEY SELLING FOR IN THE CITY THIS WEEK?

WHETHER WE ARE DICTATING THE MARKET, THAT'S PROBABLY A STRETCH TO SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BUT THAT'S NOT PROBABLY EXACTLY THE TRUTH BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.

IF WE WERE TO GO AWAY THOSE CATTLE WOULD FIND A HOME.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF SALE BARNS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT IN MANY CASES ARE DOING A GREAT JOB FOR THE PRODUCERS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WITH WHAT WE SELL EACH WEEK, 8,000 TO 10,000 HEAD.

THE BUYER REPRESENTATION IS ABOVE APPROACH.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PRICES POSSIBLE.

WE ARE ALSO COMPETITIVE IN WHAT WE CHARGE.

A LOT OF BARNS HAVE GONE TO PURGE.

WELL, THAT PERCENTAGE, LET'S SAY IT'S 2% ON WHAT IS TODAY COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

YOU MIGHT BE TALKING TO 20 TO $25 FEE VERSUS TO 80 TO $85 FEE.

IT WILL STILL KEEP US A COMPETITIVE FACILITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NINE COMMISSION MEMBERS WE HAVE.

IT'S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC THAT ONLY TAKE PLACE AT TERMINAL STOCKYARDS.

WE ARE THE LAST ONE.

IT IS A FACILITY THAT HAS NINE GREAT COMMISSION FIRMS THAT REPRESENT THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE PRODUCERS, THOSE CATTLE MEN.

THEY HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE PEOPLE.

IN SOME CASES THOSE ARE SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION COMMISSION MEN THAT ARE REPRESENTED THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIVERSIFY A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE A 2.0, BUT HAVE AN ACTIVE STOCKYARDS THAT STILL SELLS CATTLE, GETS SOME OF THE BEST PRICING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PROVIDES SOME OF THE BEST VALUE AND SERVICE TO OUR PRODUCERS.

>> WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME, GENTLEMEN, BUT DR. PEEL WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE IN THE CATTLE MARKET THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS AND WHAT SHOULD THE NATIONAL STOCKYARD BE DOING NOW TO PREPARE FOR THE CHANGES?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN WE ARE IN A UNIQUE SITUATION RIGHT NOW WITH THE MULTI-DECADE LOWS IN CATTLE NUMBERS, RECORD HIGH PRICES.

THE INDUSTRY, AGAIN, IS AT THE POINT OF KIND OF TURNING AND REBUILDING.

WE'RE GOING TO ENJOY -- YOU KNOW, I EXPECT WE ARE GOING TO ENJOY RELATIVELY STRONG PRICES FOR QUITE SOME TIME BECAUSE IT IS A SLOW REBUILDING PROCESS.

THIS ONE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE HISTORICAL CATTLE CYCLES WE'VE HAD SO THIS ONE IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER.

BUT THE INDUSTRY IS VERY, VERY STRONG, ENJOYING TREMENDOUS DEMAND, SO AS WE GO FORWARD, PRODUCERS WILL HAVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR ALL OF THE SEGMENTS.

THE INDUSTRY AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN, YOU KNOW, THE STOCKYARDS AS WELL AS OTHER SECTORS OF THE INDUSTRY AND SO FORTH GOING FORWARD.

SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE NEXT FEW YEARS REALLY ALMOST TO THE END OF THE DECADE IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF CURRENT MARKET SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN AND THE FACT THAT THAT'S GOING TO PERSIST FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

>> GARY, FINAL QUESTION, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR RANCHERS AND THE PUBLIC TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS DISCUSSION, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL STOCKYARDS?

>> JUST THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE.

LIFE CHANGES.

WE AREN'T THE ONLY BUSINESS THAT'S GONE UP FOR SALE AND TRADED HANDS, OWNERSHIP HAS SHIFTED AROUND.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HAPPEN EVERY DAY IN THE WALK OF LIFE, OPTIONALLY AGRIBUSINESS.

THE BIGGEST THING WE NEED TO TAKE AWAY FROM ALL OF THIS IS WE MAY NOT BE THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE GOING AWAY.

IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO GET THE BEST RICE POUR THE PRODUCER AND MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF THE ANIMALS THEY ARE RAISING.

WILL WE HAVE TO DIVERSIFY AND CHANGE OVER TIMES?

DO WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS WE FACE EVERY DAY THAT WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO?

OF COURSE.

ALL THOSE THINGS ARE THE EVOLUTION OF ANY BUSINESS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEW OWNERSHIP YOU ARE GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE THE DOORS.

THAT'S LIFE AND HOW THINGS GO.

BUT THE ONE THING WE NEED TO KNOW IS WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND WE WILL MAKE SURE IS WE DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FUTURE PATRONAGE.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON IN DEPTH.

>> THAT WAS GREAT.

LEARNED A LOT THERE.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, THE FINDINGS OF A LONG AWAITED AUDIT OF THE TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE SCHEDULED TO BE MADE PUBLIC.

HOW DAMAGING WILL THAT REPORT BE?

WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT FRIDAY AT 7:00.

WE WILL SAY SO LONG THIS WEEK.

A LOOK AT AN EXHIBIT CALLED VISION IN MOTION AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY THE OETA PRODUCTION TEAM.

YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND X BY SEARCHING OETA.

AND ON YouTube SEARCH THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.