OETA IS JUST A CLICK AWAY.

VISIT US ONLINE TODAY.

ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION IN THE HALLS OF THE STATE CAPITOL.

THOSE ARE STILL PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS THAT NEED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR.

CANCER SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS ALSO SHARING THEIR CONCERNS WITH LAWMAKERS.

OUR MISSION IS TO EMBRACE, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LIVE LIFE FULL OF HOPE, IMPROVING WAYS TO PROTECT VALUABLE LIVESTOCK FROM RAGING WILDFIRES.

I KNOW SOMETIMES FROM EXPERIENCE, A COW IS PRETTY FAST, BUT NOT NOT FAST ENOUGH TO OUTRUN THAT FIRE THAT DAY.

HOW DRONES AND ROBOTICS ARE IMPROVING HEALTH CARE IN RURAL AREAS OF OKLAHOMA, A DRONE WOULD PROVIDE US A MEANS TO TAKE THAT SAMPLE FROM THE SMALLER LOCATION, SUCH AS OUR CLINIC, OUR HUGO CLINIC, AND TRANSPORT THEM TO A LARGER CLINIC.

AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON THE OKLAHOMA IMPACT OF A SUPREME COURT RULING ON THE TRUMP TARIFFS.

I DON'T SEE HOW THESE TARIFF REVENUES, THESE NEW TAXES ON AMERICANS, ARE BOOSTING BLUE COLLAR EMPLOYMENT IN OKLAHOMA OR IN THE NATION.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS OETA IN THE CLASSROOM NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE ADVOCATES AND LOBBYISTS OUTNUMBER THE LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE ON TUESDAY, WHEN THE HALLS AT 23RD AND LINCOLN WERE BUZZING WITH CONCERNED CITIZENS WANTING A WORD WITH THEIR LEGISLATORS.

WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE FOR YOU THIS WEEK.

JASON DOYLE REPORTS ON CANCER ACTION DAY AT THE CAPITOL, AND THE IMPACT THAT DISEASE HAS ON HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS.

AND WE BEGIN WITH TAELYR.

JACKSON'S REPORT ON PUBLIC SCHOOL DAY AT THE CAPITOL, ALSO HELD ON TUESDAY THIS WEEK.

TAYLOR JOINS US NOW FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE OF THE CAPITOL WITH MORE ON THAT.

TAYLOR.

RICH AS EDUCATORS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORTERS SPENT THIS WEEK ADVOCATING AT THE STATE CAPITOL, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WERE UNVEILING THEIR PLAN TO INVEST MILLIONS IN OKLAHOMA EDUCATION.

WHILE PARENTS AND ADVOCATES MINGLED WITH LAWMAKERS, SENATE REPUBLICANS ROLLED OUT THEIR EDUCATION BUDGET.

THIS WEEK, SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR SENATOR ADAM PUGH ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO FUND $254 MILLION IN OKLAHOMA EDUCATION.

I THINK WHAT YOU'LL SEE TODAY WAS WE DIDN'T JUST FILE BILLS AND HOPE THAT WE COULD FIND SOME DOLLARS IN THE COUCH CUSHIONS.

THE INVESTMENT IN OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS WOULD INCLUDE AN ACROSS THE BOARD, $2,500 PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS.

I MEAN, THE IDEA OF A $2,500 RAISE IS GREAT, AND I LOVE THAT.

THAT EXTRA 200 BUCKS A MONTH ROUGHLY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE TAXES WOULD BE GREAT FOR MY FAMILY.

SO HOW WOULD THIS PLAN BE FUNDED?

WELL, SENATE LEADERS SAY THEY WOULD REDIRECT EXISTING STATE FUNDS FOLLOWING THE LONG TERM STABILIZATION OF THE TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

THE FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH WITH THIS PLAN, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE EARLY 2000, YOU SAW THAT THE TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM WAS PRETTY MUCH IN A FREEFALL AT THE TIME.

TRS WAS ONE OF THE MOST POORLY FUNDED STATE PENSIONS THAT WE HAD IN THIS COUNTRY, COMING IN A LITTLE BIT BELOW 50% THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT WE TOOK BACK IN 2003, TAXPAYERS BEGAN PROPPING UP THE PENSION SYSTEM.

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR CHUCK HALL SAYS SINCE THEN, $7 BILLION HAS GONE TOWARDS TEACHER RETIREMENT, ALTHOUGH EDUCATORS LIKE ERICA PENNELL SUPPORT TEACHER PAY RAISES, THEY AREN'T SURE THIS APPROACH IS BEST.

I WISH THEY WOULD TAX PEOPLE APPROPRIATELY AND USE THAT TO FUND RAISES.

YOU CANNOT ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.

YOU CAN'T ROB MONEY FROM THE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND AND THEN EXPECT THEM TO BE OKAY, BECAUSE I'M ALMOST 55 YEARS OLD, SO I AM GOING TO BE RETIRING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, PROBABLY IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

AND WHAT'S GOING TO WHAT'S THE WHAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

THERE MAY NOT BE A TEACHER RETIREMENT IF THEY CONTINUE TO TAKE MONEY FROM THAT OR CAP THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE TEACHERS THAT NEED THAT MONEY.

HALL SAYS NO FUNDS WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

THE PROPOSAL WILL NOT DECREASE THE MORE THAN $25 BILLION CURRENTLY HELD IN ASSETS AT TRS, OR AFFECT THE MONEY PAID OUT TO OUR RETIREES EACH YEAR.

THAT'S ROUGHLY 1.7 BILLION IN THE IN THIS MOST IMMEDIATE LAST YEAR THAT WAS PAID OUT IN BENEFITS.

THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES 50 MILLION TOWARDS THE STRONG READERS ACT.

29.8 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA, 10 MILLION TO SUPPORT MATH, AND 25 MILLION WOULD BE USED TO EXPAND PARENTAL TAX CHOICE.

WE ARE, I BELIEVE, AT 98.4% CAPACITY OF THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR THE PTC.

AND SO WE WOULD BE EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM AT THE MAXIMUM RATE.

YOU WOULD BE ALLOWING NEARLY 4000 STUDENTS MORE TO ACCESS THAT PROGRAM.

SENATE DEMOCRAT KERRY HICKS HAS REMAINED VOCAL ABOUT HER CONCERNS WITH THE PARENTAL TAX CREDIT.

SHE RESPONDED TO THE GOP PLAN IN A STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART, THIS PACKAGE RAISES THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC DOLLARS GOING TO THE PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER SCHEME TO $275 MILLION, AND WE KNOW THAT VAST MAJORITY OF THAT IS GOING TO WEALTHY PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAVE THEIR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL ANYWAY.

PUBLIC DOLLARS BELONG IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT.

PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE TAX CREDIT AS WELL.

WE WE DON'T DISLIKE PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IT'S JUST THAT WHEN WE'RE USING PUBLIC DOLLARS AND WE'RE ADVOCATE, WE'RE ALLOCATING PUBLIC DOLLARS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR ANY ENTITY IN THE STATE THAT THOSE ARE STILL PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS THAT NEED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR.

OKLAHOMA PARENT LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COALITION CO-CHAIR LEORA WILLIS SAYS IT'S VITAL FOR PARENTS TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.

WE WANT THEM TO LISTEN TO PARENTS BECAUSE IT'S OUR CHILDREN THAT THESE BILLS WILL BE AFFECTING.

WE ALSO WANT THEM TO LISTEN TO TEACHERS BECAUSE AS PARENTS, WE TRUST OUR PROFESSIONALS.

AND WE ENTRUST OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION TO OUR FOR OUR KIDS.

AND SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

EVERY YEAR, PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES ACROSS THE NATION DEDICATE THE LAST WEEK IN FEBRUARY TO BRING AWARENESS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL NEEDS IN OKLAHOMA.

THOSE SUPPORTERS CAN BE FOUND AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

SPEAKING WITH LAWMAKERS ABOUT EDUCATION RELATED LEGISLATION AND WITH MULTIPLE LITERACY RELATED BILLS FILED.

TEACHERS WANT TO FEEL HEARD WHEN IT COMES TO APPROACHING STUDENT OUTCOMES.

IS THIS REALLY EFFECTIVE?

YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE MISSISSIPPI MIRACLE, EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE THAT'S GREAT.

AND MAYBE WE COULD TAKE SOME THINGS THAT THEY DO.

BUT IT IS NOT.

I MEAN, IT HASN'T WORKED HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE'VE TRIED IT ENCOURAGES TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE TO SPEAK WITH LAWMAKERS TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

EVERYTHING WE DO FROM THE STANDARDS THAT WE TEACH TO WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT SAY IN THE CLASSROOM, IS LEGISLATED.

SO IF YOU ARE SITTING BACK, IT'S LIKE VOTING.

IF YOU'RE SITTING BACK AND GOING, I DON'T NEED TO VOTE, SOMEBODY ELSE CAN VOTE FOR ME.

THEN IF SOMETHING PASSES THAT YOU DON'T LIKE OR SOMEBODY GETS VOTED IN THAT YOU DON'T LIKE, YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.

THERE IS ONE OTHER EDUCATION STORY MAKING NEWS.

THIS WEEK, THE TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS REDUCING ITS WORKFORCE, ELIMINATING THE POSITIONS OF ABOUT 50 ADMINISTRATORS.

TPS SAYS THE LAYOFFS ARE NECESSARY TO MAXIMIZE DISTRICT RESOURCES AROUND STUDENT NEEDS AMID BUDGETARY CHALLENGES.

THE DISTRICT WILL HONOR EXISTING CONTRACTS THROUGH JUNE 30TH.

RICH TAELYR, THANK YOU.

AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, TUESDAY WAS ALSO CANCER ACTION DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

LAWMAKERS WELCOMING SURVIVORS, CAREGIVERS AND OTHERS TO LISTEN AND LEARN.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW FROM OUR NEWSROOM WITH MORE ON WHAT THEY HEARD.

JASON.

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK PUTS ON THE ANNUAL EVENT AT THE CAPITOL.

ONE OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS OF THE NETWORK IS A CANCER SURVIVOR WHO HAS TURNED TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS FACING THE DREADED DISEASE.

THIS IS COCO.

SHE WAS BORN ON THE FARM AND THAT'S WHOOPI.

THEY'RE REALLY SWEET.

THAT'S AISHA PATTERSON SHOWING US HER GOATS ON HER FARM IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA.

WITH THAT FARM COMES THE EVERYDAY DUTIES OF CARING FOR ANIMALS, LIKE FEEDING THE CHICKENS.

AND OF COURSE, GATHERING THE FRESHLY LAID EGGS.

NO EGGS.

WELL, THERE MIGHT BE.

THEY LIKE TO HIDE THEM.

SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN HIDE.

TODAY, AISHA FOUND SOME OF THOSE HIDDEN EGGS WITH THE GOATS.

OKAY.

WOW.

YEP.

HIT THE JACKPOT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DO THIS TO US.

MOVING TO THE COUNTRY WAS REALLY A RESULT OF, LIKE, LIVING A LIFE THAT I LOVED, SOMETHING.

I WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

ESPECIALLY AFTER SURVIVING CANCER, AISHA IS ABOUT TO CELEBRATE A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN MAY.

SHE'LL BE CANCER FREE FOR FIVE YEARS.

I WOULD BE LYING IF I SAID THAT THAT FEAR DOESN'T LEAVE.

IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, AND IT'S HARD BECAUSE IT'S IN THE BEST MOMENTS WHEN I'M IT'S MY KID'S BIRTHDAY OR I'M HAVING A DATE NIGHT WITH MY HUSBAND AND I FEEL SO HAPPY.

IT'S JUST LIKE, HEY, DON'T FORGET, WE COULD COME BACK AT ANY TIME.

NOW SHE'S PASSED TREATMENT AND LIVING THE LIFE SHE WANTS TO LIVE.

THAT INCLUDES GARDENING.

BACK IN THE CITY, I HAD A VERY SMALL GARDEN, BUT THEY TOLD ME YOU CAN'T GARDEN BECAUSE IF YOU GET DIRT IN YOUR EYE AND YOU'RE ON CHEMO, YOU COULD GET REALLY SICK, GET A REALLY BAD INFECTION.

AND THAT WAS CRUSHING.

SHE'S GOT HER GARDEN NOW WITH A GREENHOUSE.

GREENS ALL IN HERE.

I JUST GOT DONE WITH, LIKE, THE INITIAL PREP.

AISHA'S EXPERIENCE LED HER TO BECOME A CANCER SURVIVOR ADVOCATE.

SHE'S TURNING HER STORY INTO A PLATFORM ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLE DEALING WITH CANCER.

THIS IS THE DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR AND ADVOCATE.

I SHARED EVERYTHING FROM CHEMO, SURGERY, RADIATION, LIKE DAY IN THE LIFE AND AT FIRST IT WAS JUST LIKE, OKAY, I'M SHARING, BUT THE NEXT THING I KNOW I GET, I'M GETTING MESSAGES FROM WOMEN SAYING, LIKE, I GOT A MAMMOGRAM BECAUSE OF YOU, OR I CHECKED MY BREAST BECAUSE OF YOU.

AND AND IT WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, THERE'S SO MUCH PURPOSE.

AISHA CALLS HERSELF A CONTENT CREATOR, NOT A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER.

SO EARLY ON, I KNEW I WANTED TO SHARE MY STORY LIKE IT WAS JUST LIKE, THIS IS I CAN DO THIS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY STORY.

AISHA WAS DOING JUST THAT ON TUESDAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL, SHARING HER STORY WITH LAWMAKERS AS PART OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S CANCER ACTION NETWORK DAY.

MY NAME IS AISHA PATTERSON.

I AM A FIVE YEAR BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR.

THIS IS ASIA'S SECOND YEAR BEING PART OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S CANCER ACTION NETWORK DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

I'VE LOOKED FORWARD TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GREAT ENERGY BEING ABLE TO BE AROUND OTHER SURVIVORS AND ADVOCATES AND JUST PEOPLE IN GENERAL THAT ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT CANCER IN OKLAHOMA.

THIS IS OUR ANNUAL DAY AT THE CAPITOL FOR ALL OF OUR ADVOCATES AND VOLUNTEERS TO COME UP TO THE LEGISLATURE AND TALK TO MEMBERS ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES.

ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES IS TO KEEP THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ENDOWMENT TRUST, OR T SET, OPERATING AS IT HAS BEEN.

WE'RE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO VOTE NO ON ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DIVERT FUNDING FROM THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ENDOWMENT TRUST OR ELIMINATE ITS BOARD.

AND THERE ARE THREE PROPOSALS THAT WOULD DO THAT.

WE ARE ASKING LAWMAKERS TO OPPOSE ALL OF THESE.

THERE ARE THREE BILLS WHICH COULD CHANGE THE WAY T SET OPERATES IN DISTRIBUTES FUNDS.

AISHA SAYS SHE'S GLAD TO HELP THE CANCER SOCIETY WITH CONVINCING LAWMAKERS TO KEEP T SET AS IS.

TESSA HAS IMPACTED MYSELF, MY KIDS, MY FAMILY PERSONALLY.

THEY GAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT GRANT TO OUR COMMUNITY IN NORTH TULSA, AND THAT WILL IMPACT MY CHILDREN IN THEIR SCHOOL LIFE, THEIR SPORTS LIFE.

AND SO IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO US PERSONALLY.

ONE LEGISLATOR WHO KNOWS THE IMPACT CANCER CAN HAVE IS REPRESENTATIVE MELISSA PROVENZANO, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IN LATE 2023.

A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO YEARS LATER, SHE'S CANCER FREE.

I ACTUALLY JUST RANG THE BELL FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD THREE WEEKS AGO.

AND YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD JUST ALL OVER, BUT THE HAIR REGROWING.

SO I HAD REAL LONG HAIR, BUT NOW IT'S KIND OF SO.

BUT CURLS AND GRAY, WHICH IS RUDE BUT YOU KNOW, SO IT'S COMING BACK.

PROVENZANO SAYS THROUGH IT ALL, SHE'S FELT THE SUPPORT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER, AND REPRESENTED PROVENZANO REGARDLESS OF PARTY LINES.

I GUARANTEE IT, I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE SAYING WE ALL CARE ABOUT YOU, THE FOLKS IN THIS BUILDING LAST YEAR JUST REALLY WRAPPED AROUND ME, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, AND SUPPORTED THE WORK THAT I WAS DOING.

AND ME PERSONALLY.

AND YOU CAN JUST FEEL IT.

THE TANGIBLE PEOPLE SHARING THEIR STORIES AND WANTING TO TALK.

AND AND IT'S BEEN LIFE CHANGING IN A LOT OF WAYS.

WHILE REPRESENTATIVE PROVENZANO RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM HER LEGISLATIVE COLLEAGUES, SOMETIMES FINDING THE SUPPORT RIGHT AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER CAN BE DIFFICULT.

THAT'S WHERE PROJECT 31 CAN HELP.

OUR MISSION IS TO EMBRACE, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LIVE LIFE FULL OF HOPE.

MCLEAN STARTED THE ORGANIZATION AFTER SURVIVING BREAST CANCER TWICE.

SHE SAYS THEY PROVIDE PEER TO PEER SUPPORT TO HELP NAVIGATE THE ROAD TO CANCER TREATMENT.

WHAT WE REALIZED WAS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHER SURVIVORS BECAUSE WE SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, ESSENTIALLY.

AND LIKE I SAID, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW, AND YOU ARE THROWN INTO THIS FOREIGN WORLD.

PROGRAMS LIKE PROJECT 31 AND THE CANCER ACTION NETWORK ARE MEANT TO MAKE SURE CANCER PATIENTS DO NOT FEEL ALONE.

YES, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, BUT EVENTUALLY IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER AND REALLY LEAN INTO COMMUNITY.

IF THAT'S JUST ONE WOMAN THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH IT BEFORE, OR AN AUNT OR SOMEBODY.

FIND THAT ONE PERSON THAT YOU CAN TALK TO THAT GETS IT AND REALLY JUST LEAN INTO THEM.

ACCORDING TO THE OU HEALTH STEPHENSON CANCER CENTER, MORE THAN 24,000 OKLAHOMANS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A NEW CASE OF CANCER EACH YEAR.

OKLAHOMA HAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST CANCER MORTALITY RATE IN THE COUNTRY.

RICH, JASON, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.

THE SUPREME COURT'S SIX THREE DECISION TO BLOCK PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ABILITY TO IMPOSE TARIFFS USING THE INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POWERS ACT, OR IEEPA, HAS RAISED MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT HAS ANSWERED.

DO THE TARIFFS HAVE TO BE PAID BACK?

TO WHOM?

AND DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE A WORKAROUND TO GET AROUND THE RULING?

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

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS REALLY BEEN THE FIRST ONE, THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO ACTUALLY PUSH FOR AMERICAN WORKERS GETTING THE RIGHT DEALS OUT OF THESE OTHER COUNTRIES.

I MEAN, OTHER COUNTRIES WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AMERICANS FOR DECADES.

SO THESE ARE THE TYPES OF WINS THAT WERE POSSIBLE UNDER THE PRIOR TARIFF STRUCTURE.

AND THAT WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE NEW STRUCTURE, JUST USING DIFFERENT LAWS.

I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME CALLING THIS A WIN, BECAUSE WE'VE LOOKED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND BLUE COLLAR EMPLOYMENT SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN IN DECLINE.

WE'VE SEEN BASICALLY SINCE JANUARY FEBRUARY A NET DECLINE IN BLUE COLLAR EMPLOYMENT.

I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S A WIN.

I DON'T SEE HOW THESE TARIFF REVENUES, THESE NEW TAXES ON AMERICANS ARE BOOSTING BLUE COLLAR EMPLOYMENT IN OKLAHOMA OR IN THE NATION IN GENERAL.

PART OF THE WAY THE TARIFFS WERE IMPLEMENTED CREATED CHAOS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

THAT HAPPENS ACROSS THE BOARD ON ALL THE MATERIALS WE BUY OR A LOT OF MATERIALS WE BUY.

THEN THAT CAUSES, YOU KNOW, IT CAUSES ALL THIS DISRUPTION.

SO NOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER SOURCES.

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

THE CHOCTAW TRIBE IS USING $1.9 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT TO PURCHASE DRONES AND ROBOTICS TO RETRIEVE VITAL HEALTH DATA AND RECORDS FROM REMOTE AREAS OF OKLAHOMA AND DELIVER THEM TO WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

STEVE SHAW TOOK A TRIP TO PITTSBURG COUNTY THIS WEEK AND JOINS US NOW WITH HIS REPORT.

STEVE RICH, CHOCTAW NATION IS OKLAHOMA'S FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE TO USE DRONES AND ROBOTICS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES.

THEY SAY IT WOULD CHANGE THE WAY HEALTH CARE IS DELIVERED IN RURAL AREAS.

CHOCTAW NATION FINISHED WHAT THEY CALL THEIR EMERGING AVIATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER ON DAISY RANCH ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

THEY CONVINCED THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT THEY'RE ON THE CUSP OF AN UNMANNED DRONE AND ROBOT SYSTEM CAPABLE OF DELIVERING MEDICAL TEST SAMPLES BETWEEN MEDICAL CLINICS THROUGHOUT CHOCTAW NATION.

IN THESE SMALLER AREAS, THESE SMALLER CLINICS, THE THE IF THERE'S A IF THERE'S A TEST THAT THE DOCTOR ORDERS THAT WE DON'T OFFER IN-HOUSE, WE HAVE TO SEND THAT OUT TO OUR REFERENCE LAB.

AND IF WE DO THAT, THE RESULTS WILL NOT RETURN TO THE DOCTOR'S HANDS FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS.

SO HE'S BASING HIS TREATMENT ON GUESSWORK AT THAT POINT.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PATIENT?

HE DOESN'T REALLY KNOW.

HE'S GOT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS FROM THE PATIENTS, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE TEST RESULTS IN HIS HAND.

CHOCTAW NATION LABORATORY DIRECTOR JASON MANIFOLD SAYS THE FUTURE IS HERE.

A DRONE WOULD PROVIDE US A MEANS TO TAKE THAT SAMPLE FROM THE SMALLER LOCATION, SUCH AS AT OUR ATOKA CLINIC, OUR HUGO CLINIC, AND TRANSPORT THEM TO A LARGER CLINIC SUCH AS MCALESTER, DURANT, TALIHINA HOSPITAL, IDABEL.

AND THOSE CLINIC LOCATIONS OFFER A LARGER TESTING MENU, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO TEST THAT SPECIMEN ON THE SAME DAY THAT IT'S COLLECTED FROM OUR PATIENTS.

AND THOSE RESULTS WILL BE BACK INTO OUR PROVIDERS HANDS THE SAME DAY.

INSTEAD OF HUMANS, THESE THINGS WILL HAND OFF AND PICK UP THOSE MEDICAL SAMPLES.

DOG DRONE WILL TAKE THE SAMPLE FROM THE FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND IT WILL BRING IT TO THE LABORATORY.

NOW, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE IT SET UP TO WHERE WE BRING IT UP TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE CLINIC.

BUT EVENTUALLY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS ACTUALLY INTO THE LABORATORY.

SO THE DOG WILL ACTUALLY WALK INTO THE LAB, HAND OFF THE SPECIMEN.

IF WE HAVE A SPECIMEN TO SEND BACK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE DOG.

THE DOG WILL TAKE IT BACK, LOAD IT INTO THE DRONE, AND WE CAN SEND THE DRONE ON ITS WAY TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO THINK OF NEXT?

I DO NOT KNOW.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT.

IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME 25 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED OFF IN THIS, IN THIS BUSINESS, THE LABORATORY THAT I'D BE SITTING HERE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT A DRONE SYSTEM THAT WOULD TRANSPORT SPECIMENS BACK AND FORTH FROM CLINIC TO CLINIC, I'D SAY YOU'RE CRAZY.

CHOCTAW NATIONS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES DIRECTOR JAMES GRIMSLEY SAYS DRONE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE WORLD WAR ONE, SO WE HAVE PRETTY DEEP ROOTS.

INTERESTING THING IS, MARILYN MONROE WAS DISCOVERED WORKING IN A DRONE FACTORY IN WORLD WAR TWO BECAUSE THE US MILITARY BUILT A LOT OF DRONES AS TARGETS FOR THEIR GUNNERS TO TO DO SO, THEY BUILT THESE SMALL RADIO CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT THAT WERE ESSENTIALLY DRONES.

YOU'RE BEING SERIOUS?

YES.

VERY SERIOUS.

SO SHE WAS DISCOVERED IN ARMY TIMES.

PHOTOGRAPHER WENT THROUGH THE FACTORY AND DOING A STORY ABOUT THE DRONES.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A NEAT STORY.

GRIMSLEY SAYS THE FACT SO MANY PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR ON RURAL ROADWAYS ALSO PLAYS INTO THIS.

I'M A FORMER TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER.

I'VE DEALT WITH THE RURAL HIGHWAY PROBLEM IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA.

I KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE.

THE SAFETY CHALLENGES ARE THE FUNDING ISSUES, WHAT THE HORIZON LOOKS LIKE.

WE MUST LOOK AT THESE NEW MODES OF TRANSPORTATION TO SOLVE SOME OF THOSE SORT OF INCREASING RELIANCE.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CURB THAT DEMAND FOR THE ROADWAYS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUALLY BUILD AND FIX LIKE WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO BE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY.

YOU'RE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE IN A FATALITY ACCIDENT, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT.

THE ROADS ARE NOT QUITE UP TO THE LEVELS WE NEED TO BE, BUT ALSO YOU'RE FARTHER FROM TRAUMA CENTERS.

YOU'RE FARTHER FROM A LOT OF THINGS.

ALYSSA SHARP LIVES IN TUSKAHOMA IN RURAL PUSHMATAHA COUNTY.

YEAH, IT TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND 30 MINUTES, IF NOT MORE, FOR AN AMBULANCE TO GET TO MY HOUSE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE TESTED IT, SHE SAYS DRONE TECHNOLOGY CAN'T GET TO HER FAST ENOUGH.

AS A MOTHER, IT IS SO EXCITING BECAUSE OF WHERE I LIVE.

YOU KNOW, SNAKES ARE ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

SO BEING ABLE TO GET SOME SORT OF MEDICINE OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP ME IF MY SON GOT BIT.

CHOCTAW NATION CAN EARN AS MUCH AS $15 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS IF THEIR ADVANCED HEALTH CARE LOGISTICS PROGRAM SUCCEEDS.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

IF OUR TESTING PHASE PANS OUT TO BE BENEFICIAL, WHICH IS OUR NEXT PHASE, AND WE CAN PROVE THAT THEN THEN WE'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE THE NEXT STEP IN FUNDING, IN WHICH WILL BE THE $15 MILLION.

LOTS OF THINGS ARE CONVERGING.

WE SEE A GENERATIONAL SHIFTS.

WE SEE IN TERMS OF HOW WE LOOK AT TECHNOLOGY, HOW WE ACCEPT IT.

BUT WE'RE SEEING THINGS LIKE AUTOMATION, AI, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THINGS INCREDIBLY SAFELY, INCREDIBLY MORE EFFICIENT.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THE GUARDRAILS AROUND THIS TECHNOLOGY.

SO IT DOES.

IT DOESN'T DO THE THINGS WE DON'T WANT IT TO DO, BUT WE CAN EXPLOIT THOSE BENEFITS THAT WE SEE ALREADY THAT ARE GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.

HOW MANY YEARS DOWN THE ROAD ARE WE TALKING.

THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.

I PREDICT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE QUITE A BIT OF THIS IN REALITY BY 2030.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE ALIGNING FOR THAT.

THE REGULATORY SYSTEM IS ALIGNING.

WE'LL SEE A LOT HAPPEN WITH THE FAA REGULATORY SYSTEM THIS YEAR.

ONE OF THE END GOALS FOR CHOCTAW NATION IS TO EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO SEND MEDICATIONS TO PEOPLE'S HOMES AND EVEN ACCIDENT SITES IN RURAL PARTS OF THE SOONER STATE.

RICH, STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MORE WILDFIRES SWEEPING ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA PLAINS THIS WEEK, PUTTING PEOPLE, LAND, PROPERTY AND LIVESTOCK IN PERIL.

THANKFULLY, NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, BUT AT OKLAHOMA STATE, THEY'RE TEACHING RANCHERS AND FARMERS HOW TO BEST PROTECT THEIR VALUABLE ANIMALS WHEN FIRES DO BREAK OUT.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT.

NOAH.

WELL, RICH, DIFFICULT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENDING LIVESTOCK DURING A WILDFIRE.

THE NUMBER ONE THING OSU RECOMMENDS IS HAVING A CONTINGENCY PLAN BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES.

BUT WHEN A WILDFIRE DOES HIT, PICKING UP THE PIECES IS JUST AS TAXING.

DURING ANY NATURAL DISASTER, KEEPING YOUR FAMILY SAFE IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

BUT THAT'S NOT EASY.

WHEN YOUR FAMILY IS UPWARDS OF 700.

THIS IS POPPY AND THIS IS RICHARD WELLS.

HIS RANCH HAS BEEN IN HIS FAMILY FOR OVER 130 YEARS, AND THIS WEEK IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF A DAY HE WILL NEVER FORGET.

WELL, IT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024.

THEY HAD BEEN WARNING US THAT WE WERE UNDER A HIGH FIRE DANGER.

I HAD BEEN WORKING ALL DAY AND I HAD GOT FINISHED, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY.

I HAD JUST CALLED MY WIFE TO TELL HER THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE WE WERE.

WE HAD PASSED THE WORST OF IT WHEN I HAPPENED TO LOOK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW THE SMOKE.

I, I KNOW SOMETIMES FROM EXPERIENCE A COW IS PRETTY FAST, BUT NOT NOT FAST ENOUGH TO OUTRUN THAT FIRE THAT DAY.

RICHARD LOST 60 COWS TO THE BLAZE.

IT'S A VERY GUT WRENCHING THING TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE RAISED THEM FROM A CHILD.

SO IT IT'S A IT'S A BIG DEAL.

AS OKLAHOMA EXPERIENCES ITS LATEST BARRAGE OF WILDFIRES, OSU EXTENSION IS EDUCATING LIVESTOCK OWNERS ON HOW TO KEEP THESE TRAGEDIES FROM HAPPENING.

PLANNING CAN'T REALLY BE OVERSTATED.

VETERINARY DOCTOR ROSALIND BIGGS SAYS ESCAPE ROUTES ARE ESSENTIAL.

MOST OF THE TIME WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT MOVING THOSE ANIMALS WHERE THERE ARE RESIDENTS BECAUSE TYPICALLY IF THERE'S A RESIDENCE, THERE IS A WATER SUPPLY THERE AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE PRIORITIZED FROM A FIRE RESPONSE PERSPECTIVE DIFFERENTLY THAN POTENTIALLY PASTURE LAND.

AFTER THE FIRE, RICHARD CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF HIS RANCH, LEAVING BARE PATCHES IN THE PASTURE.

NOW HE HAS ACTIONABLE EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS.

LAST WEEK, WHEN THE FIRES BROKE OUT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WAS EVERYWHERE, WHERE I HAD BARE GROUND.

I WENT AND STARTED COAXING CATTLE TO THAT BARE GROUND.

AND IF I COULD SHUT THEM IN THERE, THAT WAY, THEY COULDN'T LEAVE.

I KNEW THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE SMOKE MIGHT GET REALLY BAD THERE, BUT IF THE GROUND'S BARE, THE FIRE CAN'T GET THEM.

I TRY TO STACK HAY AND SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES SO THAT HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T BURN.

ALL OF IT DOESN'T BURN IN A WILDFIRE.

IF HAY SUPPLY DOES BURN, OSU EXTENSION RECOMMENDS SOMETHING CALLED CREEP FEED.

CHEAP, ACCESSIBLE FOOD, OFTEN IN THE FORM OF PELLETS, UNTIL HAY CAN BE ACQUIRED.

ALSO, HAVING MULTIPLE WATER SOURCES IS OPTIMAL.

IN THE NEXT MONTH, FARMERS AND RANCHERS WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID THROUGH THEIR MUNICIPALITY TO HELP WITH WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

ACCORDING TO STATE OFFICIALS, $16 MILLION SPREAD EVENLY ACROSS OKLAHOMA.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FROM OKLAHOMA IS BE AS PROACTIVE AS WE CAN.

AND SO THOSE DROUGHT DOLLARS CAN BE RESPONSIVE, OR THEY CAN PROACTIVELY HELP THOSE PRODUCERS WITH THESE FUNDS.

THE STATE HAS SEEN AN UPTICK IN POND CAPACITY AND IN TURN, MORE WATER FOR CATTLE.

GOVERNMENT DISASTER RELIEF IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN NEED OF REBUILDING FENCES, BARNS AND OTHER LOSSES.

DOCTOR BIGGS SAYS BEING PREPARED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT IS IMPORTANT.

WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, FROM A FARMER AND RANCHER PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD RECORDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS THAT THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, AND THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE THOSE TO THE BEST, BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

IF A FIRE DOES REACH LIVESTOCK, NOT ONLY CAN THE FLAMES KILL, BUT SO CAN SMOKE INHALATION.

AND BIGGS ADDS THAT FOR ANIMALS THAT ARE BADLY INJURED, OFTENTIMES EUTHANASIA SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

I'M JUST BECAUSE WE CAN KEEP THEM ALIVE DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S ALWAYS IN THAT ANIMAL'S BEST INTEREST.

AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU DO LOSE CATTLE, THERE'S AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO RECOVERING FROM A WILDFIRE, LIKE FEEDING CALVES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR MOTHERS.

THERE WAS A MAMA COW LAYING THERE IN THE IN THE SAND WHERE SHE HAD PERISHED.

HER BABY CALF HAD SOMEHOW SURVIVED AND WAS LOOKING AT THAT LIKE, MAMA, I'M HUNGRY AND.

MAKES A GROWN MAN CRY.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF ANY TRAGIC EVENT, MENTAL HEALTH IS CRUCIAL AND DOCTOR BIGGS URGES FOLKS TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES JUST AS MUCH AS THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS.

THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO TAKE AWAY IS THEIR RESILIENCY CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED.

THERE WAS SEVERAL NIGHTS THAT I DIDN'T SLEEP WELL, BUT I HAD A SEVERE ANXIETY ATTACK AND I COULDN'T CATCH MY BREATH.

WORST THING I'D EVER WENT THROUGH.

AND MY WIFE, SHE SHE WAS READY TO CALL THE AMBULANCE TO COME GET ME.

SHE THOUGHT I WAS IT WAS THAT SERIOUS.

BUT I WOULDN'T LET HER, WHICH IS TYPICAL OF A FARMER.

BUT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, HELP WASN'T A BAD THING.

OSU EXTENSION SAYS REACH OUT TO AN EDUCATOR.

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON HOW TO PREPARE OR RECOVER FROM THESE DISASTERS.

RICH.

NOAH.

THANK YOU.

WE REPORTED EARLIER IN THIS NEWSCAST THAT OKLAHOMA SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE RELEASED THEIR DETAILS OF THE EDUCATION FUNDING PACKAGE THEY SEEK.

WITH MORE ON THAT AND THE DEMOCRATS REACTION TO IT, WE WELCOME BACK QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SEAN ASHLEY FOR OUR WEEKLY RECAP OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SEAN, DO YOU SEE COMMON GROUND ON WHAT THE SUPERMAJORITY HAS PUT FORTH?

NOT REALLY.

SENATE DEMOCRATS WERE CRITICAL OF THE PROPOSAL.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER JULIA KURT CALLED IT A SERIES OF DISJOINTED INITIATIVES THAT REALLY WOULDN'T MOVE EDUCATION FORWARD.

SENATOR KERRY HICKS POINTED OUT THAT SOME OF THE MONEY WOULD BE GOING TOWARDS THE PARENTAL CHOICE TAX CREDIT, AND SHE SAID PUBLIC TAX FUNDS SHOULD BE USED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND SENATOR MARK MANN EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT USING MONEY FROM THE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEMS CONTRIBUTION COULD PERHAPS HURT FUTURE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROTUNDA AS WELL, HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGET CHAIR TREY CALDWELL EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD SO QUICKLY WITH A PROPOSAL AND SAID IT'S TOO EARLY TO TALK EDUCATION FUNDING, AND SAID THE HOUSE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE SENATE IN THE NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IMPROVING READING PROFICIENCY, AND THERE'S ALSO CONSIDERATION OF A SUBSTANTIAL OVERHAUL OF HOW MATH IS TAUGHT IN OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS.

OKLAHOMA'S MATH SCORES ARE NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THEIR READING SCORES, AND SENATE EDUCATION VICE CHAIR ALI FRIED IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

AS A RESULT, SHE HAS PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MIRROR A READING TUTOR PROGRAMING PROGRAM IN THE MATH AREA.

AND THAT BILL ACTUALLY PASSED THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY.

IT WOULD PROVIDE MATH TUTORS FOR STUDENTS WHO WOULD HELP DEVELOP A PLAN ON THEIR NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND THEN PUT THAT PLAN IN PLACE IN THE CLASSROOM.

SEAN, THERE'S A PROPOSAL UNDER CONSIDERATION TO PUT VIDEO CAMERAS IN OKLAHOMA COURTROOMS.

IS THAT AIMED AT BROADCASTING TRIALS LIVE TO THE PUBLIC?

THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF COURT REPORTERS NOW.

SOME 72 ARE SHORT STATEWIDE.

AND THIS, ACCORDING TO AN INTERIM STUDY THIS PAST YEAR, IS CAUSING A PROBLEM FOR SOME JUDGES WHO ARE UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HEARINGS AND TRIALS BECAUSE THEY NEED A COURT REPORTER TO GENERATE THAT OFFICIAL RECORD.

THAT'S THE INITIAL REASON FOR THE PROPOSAL PUT FORTH BY SENATOR GILLESPIE.

OF COURSE, OVER TIME, THAT COULD CHANGE.

THE INITIAL COST OF THE PROPOSAL, A PILOT PROGRAM, IS ABOUT $3.5 MILLION TO OUTFIT EVERY COURTROOM IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $73 MILLION, SO IT MAY BE A LONG TIME COMING.

NOW, QUICKLY, ONE LAST QUESTION.

EXPLAIN WHAT SUNSET LAWS ARE AND HOW ONE LAWMAKER IS TRYING TO CHANGE THEM FOR SEVERAL STATE AGENCIES.

YEAH, WE THINK ABOUT STATE AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS BEING PERMANENT FIXTURES OF STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

A NUMBER ARE SUBJECT TO SUNSET.

THEY ACTUALLY EXPIRE AT SOME POINT.

AND EACH YEAR THOSE SUNSETS THAT ARE EXPIRING ARE REVIEWED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES COMMITTEES IN EACH CHAMBER.

HOUSE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES COMMITTEE CHAIR JARED KENDRICKS HAS PROPOSED EXTENDING THOSE FOR A GROUP THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED THIS YEAR TO FIVE YEARS UNTIL 2031, SO THAT THE COMMITTEE ITSELF WILL NOT BE OVERBURDENED.

ONE YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAD TO CONSIDER NEARLY 30 SUNSET REVIEWS IN THEIR WORK DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

INTERESTING.

SEAN ASHLEY FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE OF THE CAPITOL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME IN OKLAHOMA CITY BASED INVESTMENT FIRM IS BETTING ON THE DIVERSIFICATION OF OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF TWO OIL AND GAS COMPANIES TO HOUSTON.

JASON DOYLE HAS THE DETAILS IN THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

CORTADO VENTURES IS LAUNCHING A $10 MILLION ANGEL FUND TO INVEST IN OKLAHOMA BASED COMPANIES, WHICH ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.

THE MOVE IS IN REACTION TO DEVON ENERGY AND EXPAND ENERGY, MOVING THEIR HEADQUARTERS OUT OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE FUND IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EARLY CATALYTIC CAPITAL TO FOUNDERS, BUILDING TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA, AND TO ENCOURAGE THE STATE'S DEEP BENCH OF OIL AND GAS TALENT TO STAY AND HELP POWER A NEW GENERATION OF INNOVATION.

THE NEW ALUMINUM SMELTER BEING DEVELOPED IN INOLA IS BRINGING IN NEW BUSINESS.

US ALUMINUM COMPANY HAS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH IGA AND CENTURY ALUMINUM TO USE THEIR PRODUCT TO DEVELOP PRODUCTS FOR THE ELECTRICAL, DEFENSE, AEROSPACE, AUTOMOTIVE AND MACHINERY INDUSTRIES.

THIS IS THE FIRST DOWNSTREAM CONTRACT THAT IGA AND CENTURY ALUMINUM HAVE SIGNED, AS THE INOLA SMELTER IS BEING BUILT.

U.S.

ALUMINUM IS CALLING ITS NEW VENTURE OKLAHOMA PRIMARY ALUMINUM, AND IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE UP TO 1000 JOBS WHEN FULLY OPERATIONAL.

FURNITURE RETAILER IKEA PLANS TO BRING A STORE TO TULSA, MAKING IT THE FIRST IKEA LOCATION IN OKLAHOMA.

THE COMPANY IS PLACING THE STORE AT TULSA HILLS IN THE FORMER BELK LOCATION.

THE TULSA CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO THE RETAILER.

THE NEW IKEA IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN THE FALL OF THIS YEAR.

BA SYSTEMS WILL BUILD PALADIN SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZERS IN ELGIN, OKLAHOMA, FOR THE U.S.

ARMY.

THE DEAL IS PART OF A $500 MILLION CONTRACT AWARDED TO THE MILITARY CONTRACTOR.

THE CONTRACT ALSO INCLUDES MANUFACTURING THE M99 TO A3 AMMUNITION CARRIERS AS WELL.

ELGIN IS ONE OF THREE BAE SYSTEMS FACTORIES TO BUILD THE ARTILLERY.

TULSA BASED ONE OQ REPORTS ITS FULL YEAR NET INCOME WAS $3.46 BILLION IN 2025.

THAT'S A 12% INCREASE.

THE COMPANY SAYS IT EXPECTS TO HAVE $2.7 BILLION TO 3.2 BILLION IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THIS YEAR.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW, JASON GREAT JOB.

OKAY, SO HOW WILL OKLAHOMA BUSINESSES BE IMPACTED BY THE SUPREME COURT'S SIX THREE RULING STRIKING DOWN DONALD TRUMP'S EMERGENCY POWERS TO IMPOSE TARIFFS?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

JOINING US NOW IS DOCTOR TRAVIS ROACH, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AND THE CHAIR OF DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AT UCO.

BRIAN KELSEY, THE SENIOR LITIGATION ATTORNEY WITH THE AMERICAN FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE.

AND FINALLY, DAVE YOUNG, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION.

DOCTOR ROACH, FOR VIEWERS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING, ALONG WITH WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON, WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT ACTUALLY BLOCK HERE?

SO THE PRESIDENT HAS USED A LOT OF DIFFERENT TARIFF AUTHORITIES, THE ONE SPECIFICALLY HERE, THE INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POWERS ACT, AND WE'LL GET INTO THIS MUCH MORE IN DEPTH.

BUT THAT WAS A VERY SPECIFIC CHANNEL IN WHICH HE WAS ABLE TO KIND OF CHOOSE A TARIFF RATE IN THE MORNING, MAYBE CHANGE IT BY LATER IN THE DAY AND MOVE IT AGAIN LATER ON.

IT'S TAKEN AWAY THAT KIND OF I'LL CALL IT QUICKNESS OF TARIFFS.

AND NOW IT SHOULD BE A MUCH MORE METHODICAL PROCESS GOING FORWARD.

AND BRIAN, LIKE DOCTOR ROACH MENTIONED, THIS RULING WAS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC AUTHORITY USED IN THIS CASE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT STILL HAS LEGAL PATHWAYS TO PURSUE TARIFFS?

AND HOW MIGHT THAT WORK?

YES.

THIS PARTICULAR RULING WAS A LOSS OF THE BATTLE FOR THE PRESIDENT, BUT I STILL THINK THAT HE WILL WIN THE WAR ON TARIFFS BECAUSE PARTICULARLY JUSTICE KAVANAUGH MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE FIVE OTHER STATUTES UNDER WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE TARIFFS.

AND IN FACT, WE'VE SEEN ALREADY THAT JUST IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS INVOKED THREE OF THOSE FIVE STATUTES TO TO PUT FORWARD TARIFFS.

AND, DAVE, MOVING BACK TO WHEN THE ORIGINAL TRUMP ERA TARIFFS WERE PUT INTO PLACE, PARTICULARLY ON STEEL AND OTHER IMPORTS.

HOW DID THAT AFFECT MANUFACTURERS LIKE YOURSELF HERE IN OKLAHOMA?

WHAT THE DIRECT IMPACT WAS, AS I RECALL, THE JUSTIFICATION, AT LEAST THE THE PUBLIC JUSTIFICATION FOR IT WAS TO MAKE IT EQUITABLE TO AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS, STEEL MANUFACTURERS.

AND AS SOON AS THE TARIFFS WERE ANNOUNCED AND THEY THEY WENT INTO FORCE, AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS RAISED THEIR PRICES.

SO AGAIN, THEY WERE HIGHER.

SO WE HAD A WE HAD A IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT A 10 OR 15% BOOST IN OUR COSTS RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

AND SO IT EXCEEDED THE EQUITY.

SO TRAVIS, WHO ACTUALLY PAYS FOR TARIFFS BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BUSINESSES WHEN WE'VE HEARD IT SHOULD BE FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

DO BUSINESSES ABSORB THIS AND DO THEY PASS IT ON TO CUSTOMERS OR HOW DOES THIS WORK.

YEAH.

SO THAT'S A BIG QUESTION.

IN ECONOMICS WE SAY THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STATUTORY BURDEN AND THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF THESE TARIFFS.

AND SO LITERALLY THE PERSON WHO'S HANDING OVER THE TARIFF IS IS IS THE PRODUCER IS THE SUPPLIER, IS THE PERSON WHO HAS TO PAY THE TARIFF, MUCH LIKE A GROCERY STORE IS THE ONE WHO HANDS OFF THE SALES TAX, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONES WHO PAID IT.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN STUDY AFTER STUDY THAT SHOW 90 TO 95% OF THESE TARIFF COSTS HAVE GONE DIRECTLY ONTO AMERICANS.

THE YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON THE THE OUTLET YOU LOOK AT.

I BELIEVE YALE BUDGET LAB LOOKED AT THIS.

IT WAS ABOUT A $1,300 INCREASE OVER THE YEAR THAT AMERICANS PAID, JUST KIND OF OUT OF NOWHERE, AGAIN, TO PAY FOR THESE TARIFFS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THEM TO WORK FOR THE MANUFACTURERS, IT MUST HAVE RAISED COSTS.

AND BRIAN, IS THAT ACCURATE?

AND IF SO, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHY ARE TARIFFS STILL THE RIGHT STRATEGY.

AND WHAT METRIC SHOULD WE USE TO MEASURE WHETHER OR NOT TARIFFS ARE ACTUALLY WORKING.

WELL LOOK WE'VE HAD PRESIDENTS IN THE PAST, BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, WHO HAVE SIMPLY HAD THIS IDEA THAT, OKAY, WELL, AS LONG AS WE MOVE OUR TARIFFS TO ZERO, THE REST OF THE WORLD IS GOING TO FOLLOW SUIT.

AND THAT THAT WILL BE A WIN FOR AMERICAN WORKERS.

AND THAT'S SORT OF POLLYANNA IDEA HAS SIMPLY NOT PLAYED OUT IN PRACTICE.

AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS REALLY BEEN THE FIRST ONE, THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO ACTUALLY PUSH FOR AMERICAN WORKERS GETTING THE RIGHT DEALS OUT OF THESE OTHER COUNTRIES.

I MEAN, OTHER COUNTRIES WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AMERICANS FOR DECADES.

AND YOU SAW JUST IN THIS LAST, MOST RECENT WIN WITH THE PRESIDENT'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH INDIA, HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE MOST OF THEIR TARIFFS DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF ZERO SO THAT AMERICANS PAY NOTHING TO ACTUALLY TO SEND OUR GOODS OVER, TO BE PURCHASED BY INDIANS.

AND SO THESE ARE THE TYPES OF WINS THAT WERE POSSIBLE UNDER THE TARIFF STRUCTURE.

AND THAT WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE NEW STRUCTURE, JUST USING DIFFERENT LAWS.

DOCTOR, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD?

YEAH, I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME CALLING THIS A WIN BECAUSE WE'VE LOOKED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND BLUE COLLAR EMPLOYMENT SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN IN DECLINE.

WE'VE SEEN BASICALLY SINCE JANUARY, FEBRUARY A NET DECLINE IN BLUE COLLAR EMPLOYMENT.

I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S A WIN.

I DON'T SEE HOW THESE TARIFF REVENUES, THESE NEW TAXES ON AMERICANS ARE BOOSTING BLUE COLLAR EMPLOYMENT IN OKLAHOMA OR IN THE NATION IN GENERAL.

DAVE, THOUGHTS ON THAT?

YEAH.

WHAT PART OF THE PART OF THE WAY THE TARIFFS WERE IMPLEMENTED CREATED CHAOS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND SOME OF THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING WE BUY PRIMARILY DOMESTIC STEEL.

INCIDENTALLY, I CHECKED THIS MORNING IN THE US FOR HOT ROLLED COIL STEEL.

WE PAY ABOUT $1,000 A METRIC TON.

WESTERN EUROPE PAYS $775 FOR A METRIC TON.

MOST OF THE REST OF THE WORLD PAYS UNDER $500 A METRIC TON.

SO IF I'M TRYING TO EXPORT, WHICH WOULD HELP WITH THE BALANCE OF TRADES, I'M AT A COST DISADVANTAGE.

IN FACT, WE'VE WE'VE HAD PEOPLE CONTACT US WITH SOME OF THIS AND ASK US TO QUOTE WORK.

AND WE CAN'T WE JUST CAN'T COMPETE.

EVEN WITH THE TARIFFS, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TARIFFS AND THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN COLLECTED.

WILL COMPANIES GET THAT MONEY BACK AND WHO DECIDES HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS OUT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THOSE BIG TBDS RIGHT NOW.

THE SUPREME COURT DID NOT GIVE US ANY GUIDANCE ON HOW THAT WORKS.

I KNOW THAT FEDEX, FOR INSTANCE, HAS SUED THE NATIONAL OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THIS MONEY BACK BECAUSE IT IS MONEY THAT CAME OUT OF THEIR POCKETS.

WILL IT COME BACK TO CONSUMERS?

I THINK THERE'S ALMOST NO CHANCE THAT THAT OCCURS.

THE BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO IS THAT SOME OF THESE COMPANIES, MAYBE THEY NOW REDUCE LOWER TARIFF BILL AND THEY START TO LOWER THEIR PRICES.

BUT WE GET THIS THING IN ECONOMICS.

WE CALL IT ROCKETS AND FEATHERS.

WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW COST, PRICES TEND TO RISE LIKE A ROCKET.

AND IF YOU HAVE A COST THAT COMES DOWNWARDS, IT KIND OF FALLS LIKE FEATHERS.

AND SO EVEN IF THERE'S SOME RELIEF DUE TO A LOWER TARIFF RATE, IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE UNTIL WE EVEN MAYBE SEE IT SHOW UP IN PRICES.

WELL, BRIAN KIND OF MENTIONED THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE JOBS AND MORE OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT NATIONALLY, WE'RE ALSO HEARING THAT MANUFACTURING HASN'T SEEN THE REVIVAL SOME HAVE BEEN EXPECTING, AND THAT THE TERRORISTS HAVE ACTUALLY RAISED COSTS OF THOSE FACTORIES.

DAVE, YOU KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THAT IS TRUE.

AND IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN OKLAHOMA?

YEAH, I'M IT'S A MIXED BAG, AS USUALLY IS WITH THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

THERE ARE MANUFACTURERS IN OKLAHOMA THAT ARE STRUGGLING, AND I KNOW PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHO WERE BUYING WE BUY WE BUY VERY FEW METALS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY, BUT THOSE METALS ARE NOT MADE HERE.

SO WE HAVE TO BUY THEM.

SO THOSE COSTS GO UP AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

AND THEN WE PASS THAT ON TO OUR CUSTOMER, WHICH SOME OF THOSE GOES INTO CONSUMER PRODUCTS, SOME GOES INTO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS.

SO BUT THERE'S ALSO EMPLOYERS THAT ARE DOING BETTER BECAUSE OF IT.

BUT OVERALL MANUFACTURING JOBS SHRUNK ABOUT 75,000 OVER THE LAST LAST YEAR.

SO BUT MOVING BACK A LITTLE BIT, THE PRICES THAT YOU DO HAVE TO PAY ARE MOVED ON TO THE CUSTOMER.

GENERALLY SPEAKING.

THAT'S TRUE BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU MEET THOSE?

RIGHT.

THERE ARE THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE I, I MAY BE LOCKED INTO A CONTRACT THAT I AGREE THAT I'LL SUPPLY CERTAIN THINGS.

AND NOW I'M BUYING MATERIALS AS WE GO.

AND NOW I HAVE TO EAT THAT.

BUT WE USUALLY DON'T DO BUSINESS THAT WAY.

BUT THERE ARE THERE ARE CONTRACTS LIKE THAT.

BRIAN MOVING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

BUT DOES THIS DECISION SETTLE THE REFUND QUESTION OR IS THAT STILL AN ILLEGAL OPEN ARGUMENT?

NO.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE SUPREME COURT PUNTED THAT QUESTION DOWN TO THE LOWER COURTS, AND SO THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE BATTLED OUT THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ADDRESSED THIS RULING DIRECTLY DURING HIS STATE OF THE UNION.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

AND THEN JUST FOUR DAYS AGO, AN UNFORTUNATE RULING FROM THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

IT JUST CAME DOWN.

IT CAME DOWN.

VERY UNFORTUNATE RULING.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ALMOST ALL COUNTRIES AND CORPORATIONS WANT TO KEEP THE DEAL THAT THEY ALREADY MADE, RIGHT?

SCOTT, KNOWING THAT THE LEGAL POWER THAT I, AS PRESIDENT, HAVE TO MAKE A NEW DEAL COULD BE FAR WORSE FOR THEM.

BRIAN, IS THE PRESIDENT CORRECT HERE AFTER THIS RULING, WHAT LEGAL AUTHORITY DOES HE STILL HAVE, AND COULD THE PRESIDENT REALISTICALLY IMPLEMENT SOMETHING BROADER, LIKE A 50% GLOBAL TARIFF?

YES.

AS I'VE SAID, THERE ARE ACTUALLY FIVE DIFFERENT LAWS THAT GIVE THE PRESIDENT THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE THE SAME TYPE OF TARIFF REGIME.

HE'S ALREADY INVOKED THREE OF THOSE, AND THOSE THREE IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN TESTED AND HAVE BEEN USED BY PRIOR PRESIDENTS AND HAVE BEEN TESTED IN THE COURTS.

AND SO HIS AUTHORITY IS ON ON FIRM FOOTING THERE TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO I THINK HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT THESE OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO REOPEN THESE NEGOTIATIONS, THAT HE'S ALREADY THAT HE'S ALREADY SETTLED WITH THEM BECAUSE THERE THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THEY COULD GET WORSE FOR THE OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND I WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

AND THEN ALSO, IF THE PRESIDENT WERE TO IMPOSE A 15% GLOBAL TARIFF, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY?

AND HOW QUICKLY WOULD CONSUMERS HERE IN OKLAHOMA FEEL THAT IMPACT?

SO LET'S GO BACK AND THINK IF THIS TARIFF IS TO WORK AND IS TO BOOST DOMESTIC JOBS GROWTH, THAT LIKELY COMES FROM SOMEONE RESHORING THEIR INDUSTRY THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ELSEWHERE.

IF WE HAVE A TARIFF THAT EXPIRES IN 150 DAYS, I DON'T KNOW ANY BUSINESS OWNER WHO'S GOING TO CHOOSE TO MAKE A MAJOR INVESTMENT ON A TARIFF OUTCOME THAT MAY OR MAY NOT CHANGE IN 150 DAYS.

SO I THINK THAT ECONOMIC LOGIC IS FLAWED.

AND THEN AS FAR AS HOW IT'S IMPACTING CUSTOMERS.

SO RIGHT BEFORE, LET'S SAY, THURSDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED THIS, THE AVERAGE EFFECTIVE TARIFF RATE WAS ABOUT 17%.

AND AGAIN, AMERICANS WERE PAYING, LET'S SAY, 16.5% OF THAT 17% WHEN IT CAME OFF.

THAT BROUGHT IT DOWN TO ABOUT 9%.

BUT THEN THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE PRESIDENT BROUGHT TARIFFS BACK UP TO 10%, THAT MEANT THE AVERAGE EFFECTIVE TARIFF RATE WAS ABOUT 13%.

SO AGAIN, WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER TARIFF RATE NOW THAN WE'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFETIME.

AND THEN OVER THE WEEKEND, THERE WAS A TRUTH SOCIAL THAT SAID HE WAS GOING TO MOVE IT TO 15%.

BUT I GUESS THAT WAS NEVER FORMALIZED.

SO WE'RE BACK AT 10%.

SO WE STILL GET THIS CAPRICIOUS POLICY MAKING THAT IS HARD TO PLAN YOUR BUSINESS AROUND AND THEN IS STILL BEING PASSED ON TO AMERICAN CONSUMERS.

SO AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, WHEN I WAS DRIVING HERE TODAY, THE AVERAGE EFFECTIVE TARIFF RATE IS ABOUT 13%.

WELL, AND MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO PLAN MONTHS AND MONTHS IF NOT LIKE A YEAR IN ADVANCE.

SO HOW DOES THIS UNCERTAINTY PLAY INTO YOUR DECISION MAKING?

WELL, YOU HEAR BUSINESS PEOPLE TALK ALL THE TIME ABOUT UNCERTAINTIES.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS THEM UP AT NIGHT.

SO HAVING SIMILAR EXPERIENCE JUST WE BOUGHT A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT PRIOR TO THE TARIFFS BEING ANNOUNCED.

THIS IS LAST YEAR, BUT IT HAD NOT SHIPPED YET.

IT CAME FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY, BUT BEFORE IT SHIPPED WE HAD TO PAY MORE.

SO WE HAD AN AGREED RATE AND THEN NOW IT HAS TO SHIP AND WE PAID EXTRA THAT KIND OF.

SO IF THAT HAPPENS ACROSS THE BOARD ON ALL THE MATERIALS WE BUY OR A LOT OF MATERIALS WE BUY, THEN THAT CAUSES, YOU KNOW, IT CAUSES ALL THIS DISRUPTION.

SO NOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER SOURCES AND, AND I KNOW OF A MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURERS ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTRACTS THEY HAVE TO FILL.

AND THIS JUST DESTROYS THEIR THEIR BOTTOM LINES.

DOCTOR ROACH YEAH.

AND IT JUST BLEEDS INTO THIS ISSUE AND CONCERN OF STAGNATION.

SO THE STANDARD LINE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE'RE VERY MUCH IN A LOW, HIGH OR LOW FIRE JOB ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO IF YOU ARE SITTING THERE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO MAKE FURTHER INVESTMENTS INTO YOUR COMPANY AND TO HIRE THAT AMERICAN WORKER AND YOU FACE THIS MUCH UNCERTAINTY, YOU'RE GOING TO WAIT.

YOU'RE GOING TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT IS JUST QUITE STAGNANT RIGHT NOW.

BRIAN, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT'S BEEN SAID?

WELL, I WOULD AGREE WITH DOCTOR ROACH THAT STAGFLATION WAS A FEAR A YEAR AGO, BUT AFTER THE PRESIDENT HAS PUT IN PLACE THESE ECONOMIC POLICIES, IT'S BEEN AMAZING THAT THAT NO ONE IS FEARING THAT ANYMORE.

AT THIS POINT.

HE IS WINNING THESE BATTLES.

HE'S HE'S TAKEN THE NEGOTIATIONS TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE A SETTLED ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH AMERICAN WORKERS ARE GETTING THE REAL DEAL THAT THEY DESERVE FROM THESE OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THERE'S NO UNCERTAINTY AROUND THIS TRADE REGIME THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

PUTTING FORWARD SECTION 122.

SURE, THOSE TARIFFS, THEY EXPIRE AFTER 150 DAYS, BUT HE'S ALREADY SAID HE'S GOING TO REPLACE THEM AT THAT POINT WITH SECTION 301 TARIFFS.

WELL THOSE WILL NOT EXPIRE AFTER 150 DAYS.

SO HE HAS A PLAN IN PLACE THAT IS LEGALLY SOUND, THAT WILL ALLOW HIM TO HAVE THE TOOLS THAT HE NEEDS IN HIS TOOLBOX TO CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE, TO GET GOOD DEALS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS.

THE NEXT BIGGEST ONE ON THE HORIZON, OF COURSE, IS CHINA.

WE'VE GOT TO WIN THAT BATTLE.

AND HE, THANKFULLY HAS THE TOOLS THAT HE NEEDS TO WIN IT.

WELL, VERY QUICKLY HERE.

I DO BELIEVE DOCTOR ROACH DID SAY THERE AND DAVE SAY THERE.

THERE IS UNCERTAINTY NOW.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT ARE FEELING THAT UNCERTAINTY NOW?

WELL, THERE'S NO MORE UNCERTAINTY IN THE TARIFF RATE COMING OUT OF INDIA.

IT'S ZERO.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I SAY HE'S HE'S GOING TO CHINA HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

HE'S GOING TO WIN THAT BATTLE AS WELL.

AND EVERY TIME HE SIGNS A NEW AGREEMENT THEN WE DO HAVE DO WE DO HAVE CERTAINTY GOING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THAT CERTAINTY IS ACTUALLY A MUCH BETTER CERTAINTY THAN WE HAD BEFORE, BECAUSE THESE COUNTRIES ARE NO LONGER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US.

WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO HEAR SOME FINAL THOUGHTS.

DOCTOR ROACH.

FINAL THOUGHTS.

I THINK THIS IS REASON WHY WE HAVE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE NEED SOUND AND THOUGHTFUL AND FORWARD LOOKING ECONOMIC POLICY.

AND SO AS I WATCH HOW THIS HAS UNFOLDED, I THINK THAT'S WHAT BRINGS ME SOME LEVEL OF OPTIMISM HERE, IS THAT SUPPOSE THAT WE WILL HAVE NEW TARIFFS THAT THEY WILL BE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS A STUDY OF AN INDUSTRY, A LONGER PROCESS THAN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND NOW THE TARIFF RATE IS X. I THINK THAT HAS BEEN PART OF WHAT'S BEEN SO HARMFUL TO OUR BUSINESSES AND TO CUSTOMERS LIKE MYSELF.

AND I WOULD LOVE A MORE DELIBERATIVE PROCESS HERE.

DAVE.

FINAL THOUGHTS?

I WOULD CONCUR WITH THAT.

I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE IT'S GOING TO BE THAT WAY.

BUT HISTORICALLY, THE LAST YEAR HAS NOT BEEN THAT WAY.

AND IT'S BEEN.

I CAN GIVE YOU SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF MY FELLOWS IN MANUFACTURING AND MYSELF WHERE WE HAVE A DECISION, WE'RE MOVING AHEAD AND OOPS, WE CAN'T BUY IT FROM THERE ANYMORE.

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

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

GLAD IT COULD BE HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CASSIE.

YES.

THANK YOU.

CASSIDY.

MARDI GRAS DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS HAS COME AND GONE AGAIN.

AND THIS YEAR, THE THEME OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARADES HONORED OUR NATION'S UPCOMING 250TH BIRTHDAY.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO HEAD DOWN TO THE BIG EASY TO ENJOY THE BACCHUS PARADE, COURTESY OF OUR PBS PARTNERS AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THE KREWE OF BACCHUS HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS EXTRAVAGANT SUPER FLOATS, BUT THIS YEAR THEY ARE UNVEILING A VERY SPECIAL THEME COMMEMORATING THE COUNTRY'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY.

THIS IS WHERE THE FLOATS ARE PUT TOGETHER FOR THE KREWE OF BACCHUS MARDI GRAS PARADE.

LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK.

THESE FLOATS SHOW A LOT OF HISTORY.

TELL ME SOME OF THE HISTORY HERE.

WE HAVE AMERICAN SPORTS OVER HERE.

THIS FLOAT OVER HERE, WE HAVE HENRY FORD IN THE AUTOMOBILE.

THE NEXT FLOAT IS.

GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR POEM.

ON THE BASE OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

WE HAVE PROHIBITION.

AND THIS FLOAT OVER HERE.

THE FLOAT BACK THERE WITH SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR IS PIONEERING WOMEN.

THEIR FLOATS ALSO MARKED TIMES IN HISTORY LIKE INTEGRATION IN NEW ORLEANS, RUBY BRIDGES GOING TO SCHOOL AND MANIFEST DESTINY AMERICA FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC COAST.

OVER HERE WE'VE GOT VARIOUS INVENTIONS.

THE LIGHT BULB, THE TELEPHONE, THE MOVIES.

WE'VE GOT THE SPACE RACE OVER HERE.

AND OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT BACCHUS ON THE LANDING SHUTTLE RIGHT THERE.

THEN WE'VE GOT AMERICAN AVIATION, EVERYTHING FROM THE WRIGHT BROTHERS ON BACK TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE IN THE REAR.

THERE.

WE'VE GOT THE ROBBER BARONS OVER HERE, CARNEGIE, ROCKEFELLER AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT.

WE'VE GOT THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD, WHICH TIED THE EAST AND WEST COAST TOGETHER.

THESE ELABORATE FLOATS ARE NOT SIMPLE.

SCULPTING OF THE MASSIVE PROPS IS DONE WITH STYROFOAM SHEETS FROM 4 TO 6IN THICK, AND THE SCULPTED FOAM IS THEN COVERED IN A PAPIER MACHÉ FOR EXTRA STRENGTH.

FLOATS ARE THEN PAINTED FRESH TO ENSURE THE COLORS ARE VIBRANT.

NOW THIS IS THE NEW THE INVITATION.

FOR THIS YEAR, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE HUNDRED AND 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO I HAVE THE YEARS THERE.

YOU OPEN IT ON UP AND THEN WE HAVE AN UNCLE SAM, WHICH HAS GOT A VERY BACCHUS LOOKING FACE IN HERE, AND IT SAYS, I WANT YOU AND YOU OPEN IT UP FURTHER TO HAVE A GREAT TIME.

AND HERE IS I WANT YOU TO ATTEND BACCHUS.

SO WE'VE GOT, OF COURSE, THE LIBERTY BELL, INDEPENDENCE HALL, THE AMERICAN EAGLE, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

AND IT'S ALL RED, WHITE AND BLUE WITH THE STARS ALL AROUND IT AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT.

AND EVERY YEAR WE DO A SEPARATE ONE FOR THE THEME.

IT'S NOT JUST THE FLOATS THAT WILL BE HONORING AMERICA.

THE WRITERS ON BOARD WILL BE THROWING OUT MORE THAN JUST TRADITIONAL MARDI GRAS BEADS.

THEY'LL ALSO TOSS OUT RED, WHITE AND BLUE THEMED THROWS, MANY OF THEM DESIGNED TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST BEADS ANYMORE.

YOU GOT A LOT OF OTHERS.

BEADS ARE A VERY, VERY SMALL COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DO.

ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, WE REALLY DECIDED TO GO SUSTAINABLE.

WE WANTED PEOPLE TO TAKE IT HOME BECAUSE WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS IN NEW ORLEANS, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE BEADS, THE JUNK WAS GOING INTO THE DRAINS, STICKING IN THE TREES, STAYING IN THE TREES, CLOGGING UP ALL THE CITY SEWERS.

AND WE SAID, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

AND SO THIS YEAR, WE'VE GOT OVER 250 SUSTAINABLE THROWS, WHICH THESE ARE THESE ARE THINGS THAT IF A KID CATCHES US, HE'S TAKING IT HOME.

HE'S NOT LEAVING IT.

THE CREW WILL BE THROWING ALL KINDS OF THINGS OUT OF THESE FLOATS, INCLUDING 250,000 PAIRS OF SOCKS.

I REALLY LIKE THESE.

THESE ARE MARDI GRAS SPECIAL SOCKS.

TELL ME ABOUT THESE.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE 47 DIFFERENT PAIRS OF SOCKS.

AND THE ONLY FLOAT YOU'RE GOING TO CATCH THESE FROM IS THE KING FLOAT RIGHT BEHIND US.

NO OTHER FLOAT WILL HAVE THESE.

AND OF COURSE THEY'RE ALL THROWN AS PAIRS.

SO YOU DON'T GET THE WHOLE PACK.

YOU GET A PAIR OF THEM.

AND THE OFFICIAL MARDI GRAS COLORS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS THE SCRUBBIES TO CLEAN YOUR POTS AND PANS AND PLATES IN YOUR KITCHEN.

AND THESE ARE PURPLE, GREEN AND GOLD TONGS AGAIN TO USE IN YOUR KITCHEN.

AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO HAVE YOUR GROCERY BAGS THAT YOU USE IN THE GROCERY STORE.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO INTO A GROCERY STORE WITH THEIR OWN BAGS, WITH THEIR OWN THOSE AS WELL.

YEAH.

AND THEY ALSO THEY NEED BAGS FOR THEIR CATCHING ALL THESE THINGS.

A PLACE TO PUT THEM.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE BACCHUS PARADE DATES BACK MORE THAN 50 YEARS, AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PARADES DURING THE BIGGEST WEEKEND OF MARDI GRAS.

BACCHUS STARTED IN 1968.

CARNIVAL HAD TAKEN A NOSEDIVE.

THE HOTELS WERE EMPTY.

THE HIPPIES HAD TAKEN OVER THE FRENCH QUARTER.

PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO COME TO NEW ORLEANS.

ROBBIE CANGELOSI HAS BEEN WORKING WITH BACCHUS FOR DECADES, WATCHING THEM GROW TO NOW CROWDS IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

CARNIVAL IS THE GREATEST FREE SHOW ON EARTH.

IT'S NOT FREE AT ALL.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE.

IT'S THE RIDERS OF THE KREWE OF BACCHUS THAT PAYS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

IT'S A GREAT PARADE.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, OETA STANDS FOR THE OKLAHOMA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION AUTHORITY.

AND THIS WEEK, OUR EDUCATION REPORTER, TAELYR JACKSON WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TO STUDENTS AT WESTERN HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIVERSITY IN OKLAHOMA, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE COVERING SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT JOURNALISM IS THAT YOU CAN TELL STORIES FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

NOW, THE SCHOOL ASKED THAT WE NOT SHOW THE STUDENTS, BUT THEY DID ENJOY TAELYR DISCUSSING HER WORK HERE ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT IN CONJUNCTION WITH FEBRUARY'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

THE NEXT OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, PART TWO OF OUR SIX PART SERIES ON FIVE DECADES OF OKLAHOMA HISTORY SINCE THE BICENTENNIAL NEXT WEEK, JASON DOYLE CHRONICLES THE YEARS 1986 TO 1995.

IN THE SOONER STATE.

THAT'S FRIDAY AT SEVEN, WE'LL SAY.

SO LONG THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE FRED JONES JR MUSEUM OF ART IN NORMAN, FEATURING ARTISTS STEVE YAZZIE, PUT TOGETHER 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 HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

LOVE A MAN.

IN THE PAST FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS, JAZZ VOCALIST SAMARA JOY HAS WON SIX GRAMMY AWARDS, AND NOW SHE'S RAISING THE ROOF WITH HER OCTET AND THE