STATE LEARN THESE NAMES.

YOU SHOULD KNOW ON THE NEXT.

BACK IN TIME THURSDAY EVENING AT SEVEN ON OETA.

REACTION TO GOVERNOR STITT'S EIGHTH AND FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS THE STRONGEST IT'S EVER BEEN.

AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

I THINK MANY OF US ARE WAITING FOR GOVERNOR STITT TO LEAVE OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

WHOEVER TAKES THIS PLACE.

THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 60TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOW OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S THE ISSUE OF HOW THEY INTEND TO FUND THAT.

EVERYONE, I BELIEVE, IS HOLDING THEIR BREATH TO SEE EXACTLY HOW THAT PROPOSAL WILL WORK OUT.

THE FIRST OF FIVE SPECIAL REPORTS ON OKLAHOMA DECADE SINCE THE BICENTENNIAL IN 1976.

IN OUR HISTORY HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THE BIG TURNING POINT IS THE 1970S, BECAUSE BY THE 1970S, FARM AND RANCHING IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT.

IS IT TIME FOR OKLAHOMA SCHOOL CHILDREN TO SPEND MORE OF THEIR DAY GETTING PHYSICAL EXERCISE?

THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR KIDS TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY, TO HAVE UNSTRUCTURED TIME, TO BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, TO LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

PLUS AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE NEW UPSIDE DOWN FOOD PYRAMID.

NEXT, ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ, A ONE HANDED GOVERNOR, KEVIN STITT, DELIVERING A 34 MINUTE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ON MONDAY, HIS LAST AS GOVERNOR.

AND HE CERTAINLY USED THE TIME TO PROMOTE SOME BIG AND CONTROVERSIAL IDEAS, INCLUDING THE ELIMINATION OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY AND THE OKLAHOMA SECONDARY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION, OR OSSAA.

AND THERE WAS MORE.

JOINING US NOW WITH REACTION FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF IT, IS NOAH MACK NOAH.

YEAH.

RICH, THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK HERE.

THERE WERE PLENTY OF SIGNATURE KEVIN STITT POLICY POINTS, AS WELL AS SOME NEW CALLS TO ACTION.

HIS REMARKS ON MARIJUANA EDUCATION AND TRIBAL RELATIONS GENERATED THE MOST CONVERSATION AFTER THE SPEECH.

YEAH, LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, THE BELL MARKS THE START OF THE 2026 REGULAR SESSION, AND OKLAHOMA'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OF OVER SEVEN YEARS TOOK TO THE PODIUM FOR HIS FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO RECOGNIZE MY FRIEND, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, OUR GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT.

KEVIN STITT DELIVERED HIS REMARKS WITH A CAST ON HIS RIGHT HAND AND HIGH PRAISE FOR WHERE THE STATE HAS GONE IN HIS HANDS.

THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS THE STRONGEST IT'S EVER BEEN.

AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

STITT LAID OUT A ROADMAP FOR WHERE HE'D LIKE TO SEE HIS LAST YEAR AS GOVERNOR GO, INCLUDING FOR STATE QUESTIONS FROM MEDICAID AND PROPERTY TAXES TO A CAP ON STATE SPENDING AND AN OVERTURN OF A PRIOR STATE.

QUESTION SEN THE MARIJUANA ISSUE BACK TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, AND LET'S SHUT IT DOWN.

IN 2018, OKLAHOMANS VOTED TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

SIX YEARS LATER, STITT SEEKS TO SCUPPER THE STATE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY, PAINTING A GLUM PICTURE.

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

SENATE LEADER LONNIE PAXTON SAYS THAT WAS THE BIGGEST SURPRISE.

EVERYTHING ELSE I'D KIND OF HEARD BEFORE AND, YOU KNOW, AND I ACTUALLY AND I STOOD UP AND CLAPPED ON THAT ONE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN PUSHING BACK ON THIS STATE QUESTION SINCE IT WAS PASSED AND TRYING TO GET IT REINED IN.

A PREVIOUS STATE QUESTION ALSO EXPANDED MEDICAID.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE CONFIDENT THAT OKLAHOMANS WOULD VOTE THE SAME WAY THEY DID A FEW YEARS AGO.

BUT I'D SAY LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHAT THEY DON'T WHAT THEY TAKE FOR GRANTED IS THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

THEY WANT US FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MATTER.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAID EXPANSION AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA, THESE ARE THINGS OKLAHOMANS VOTED FOR, AND THEY'LL PROBABLY KEEP IT IN LAW.

GOVERNOR STITT ALSO LAMBASTED THE LEGISLATURE FOR OVERRIDING HIS VETOES, TALLYING IT ALL UP.

VETO OVERRIDES OF SPENDING BILLS HAVE COST THE TAXPAYERS NEARLY $800 MILLION.

IN MY TIME AS GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE KYLE HILBERT, WHO IS SEEN CHUCKLING DURING THOSE REMARKS, IS SKEPTICAL OF THE GOVERNOR'S ASSESSMENT.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPREADSHEET OF HOW THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER.

BUT LOOK, OFTENTIMES LEGISLATION WHILE IT MAY HAVE A COST ON THE FRONT END, IT'S A COST SAVINGS IN THE LONG END.

AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE IF YOU RAN THOSE NUMBERS, WE MIGHT COME TO A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION.

IN THE LEGISLATURE, OKLAHOMA SITS AT THE BOTTOM OF NATIONAL EDUCATION RANKINGS, AND GOVERNOR STITT PLACED THE BLAME ON LACK OF SCHOOL CHOICE, BOASTING THE PASSAGE OF OPEN TRANSFER AND CALLING FOR THE END TO THE PRIVATE BODY THAT REGULATES HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

IT'S TIME TO ELIMINATE THE OSSAA AND SECURE OUR PROGRESS WITH OPEN TRANSFER.

HE ALSO WANTS FEWER HURDLES FOR PRIVATE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND NO CAP ON THE PARENTAL CHOICE TAX CREDIT.

TO FINISH THE WORK ON THIS ACHIEVEMENT, IT'S TIME TO MAKE THE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO EVERY OKLAHOMA FAMILY WHO WANTS IT.

LET'S ELIMINATE THE CAP.

THE PURPOSE OF THE TAX CREDIT IS TO HELP PARENTS AFFORD SENDING THEIR KID TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

AS OF NOW, THERE IS AN INCOME CAP AND PAXTON DISAGREES WITH GETTING RID OF THAT.

I'M GOING TO SAY WHAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID IS I THINK LIFTING THE CAP ON ANYTHING IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

MUNSON BELIEVES STITT'S VISION FOR IMPROVING EDUCATION IS A FLAWED INVESTMENT STRATEGY.

THE GOVERNOR CAN LOOK AT ALL SORTS OF WAYS OF INCREASING CHARTER SCHOOLS AND INCREASING PRIVATE SCHOOL ACCESS WITH OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, 90% OF OKLAHOMA'S FAMILIES SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE MAKING OUR INVESTMENTS.

ONE OF GOVERNOR STITT'S LAST POINTS IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WAS HIS ISSUE WITH TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, HE SAYS THAT THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO DIVIDE OKLAHOMA.

BUT AS THE RACE TO SUCCEED HIM PRESSES ON, THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

WHEN JUSTICE GORSUCH, IN A54 DECISION IN JULY OF 2020, DECIDED THAT HALF OF OUR STATE WAS A RESERVATION, I BECAME THE FIRST GOVERNOR WHO HAD TO FACE THIS NEW CHALLENGE IN THE WAKE OF THE MCGIRT DECISION, I HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HOLD THE LINE TO KEEP ONE.

OKLAHOMA.

MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE DECRIED THE DYE PROGRAMS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, YET STAND QUIETLY BY WHEN SOME SAY AN INDIAN SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A DIFFERENT SET OF LAWS.

THIS ISSUE WILL CONTINUE TO SPLIT OUR STATE, BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY, UNLESS WE ADDRESS IT HEAD ON.

CHIEF CHUCK HOSKIN JR OF THE CHEROKEE NATION, WAS DISAPPOINTED BY WHAT HE SEES AS A CONTINUAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.

HAS IT BEEN CHALLENGING, POST MCGIRT?

CERTAINLY, AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN A JUSTICE SYSTEM, THERE'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGES.

AND WHEN YOU LAYER MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS, IT CAN BE EVEN MORE SO.

BUT COOPERATION IS HOW WE WORK THROUGH THOSE THINGS.

WE'VE COMPACTED OUR WAY TO SOLUTIONS.

WE'VE COME TO SOME AGREEMENTS.

THE EXCEPTION HAS BEEN GOVERNOR STITT.

SO WHAT HE SEES IN THE FUTURE IS NOT SOMETHING OTHER PEOPLE SEE, AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT I SEE.

HOSKIN SAYS HE APPRECIATES THE COOPERATION THEY'VE RECEIVED FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND LOOKS AHEAD AS STITT TURNS OUT, I THINK MANY OF US ARE WAITING FOR GOVERNOR STITT TO LEAVE OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

WHOEVER TAKES THIS PLACE, ONE OF THE PEOPLE SEEKING TO TAKE HIS PLACE IS ONE OF HIS FORMER CABINET MEMBERS.

MIKE MAYES, THE FORMER BUDGET SECRETARY, WANTS TO CHANGE THE WAY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HANDLES TRIBAL RELATIONS WITH RESPECTFUL DIALOG WITH OUR TRIBAL FRIENDS AND PARTNERS, WE CAN GET WIN WIN SOLUTIONS THAT THAT WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

ANOTHER CONTENDER FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS LEADER MUNSON.

SHE AGREES WITH HOSKIN THAT STITT'S RELUCTANCE TO COOPERATE IS AN OUTLIER, BUT THAT MENDING RELATIONSHIPS MAY TAKE TIME.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED THAT WHOEVER IS IN THE POST OF GOVERNOR NEXT NEXT YEAR, THAT THERE WILL STILL BE SOME HEALING WORK TO BE DONE.

FOR NOW, STITT'S GOT ONE MORE YEAR, AND WHETHER HIS VISION STICKS WITH LAWMAKERS WILL PLAY OUT AS THE SESSION CONTINUES.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

LET'S HAVE A GREAT 26.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, STITT ALSO CALLED FOR A TAXPAYER ENDOWMENT FUND AND TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR THE POWER TO APPOINT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

RICH NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT JOB.

WELL, LAWMAKERS DIDN'T WASTE ANY TIME GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS ON WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN AMBITIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, I'LL VISIT WITH QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SEAN ASHLEY WITH MORE DETAILS.

ON THE FIRST FULL WEEK AT 23RD AND LINCOLN, AND ONE ANNUAL EVENT THAT GOT LAWMAKERS ATTENTION ON MONDAY, THE SWEARING IN OF A NEW GOVERNOR AND FOUR H. JUNIOR GOVERNOR AND THEIR CABINET.

FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS, THE OKLAHOMA INSTITUTE FOR CHILD ADVOCACY HAS SPONSORED THIS INAUGURATION FOR OKLAHOMA FIFTH GRADERS.

THIS YEAR, CAITLIN TALLY OF VALIANT WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR AND RILEY BRADEN OF BRISTOW WAS SWORN IN AS THE FOUR-H JUNIOR GOVERNOR.

THEIR ROLES WERE ADMINISTERED BY LEGISLATORS AND OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NOMA GURICH, SO IT WAS A LONG PROCESS COMING UP WITH MY CAMPAIGN, A LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR, BUT MY SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE TEACHER REALLY HELPED ME THROUGH THIS, AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT HER.

TO BECOME THE JUNIOR GOVERNOR, I HAD TO GO TO AN EVENT, AND AT THE EVENT YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR SPEECH AND YOU WOULD TELL IT TO THE GROUP THAT WAS THERE, AND YOU HAD TO BE FIFTH GRADE.

IT WAS ONLY FOR FIFTH GRADERS.

THE BEAUTIFUL PART ABOUT THIS IS ANY CLASSROOM CAN PARTICIPATE.

OUR KID, GOVERNOR THIS YEAR IS COMING FROM VALIANT.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS COMING FROM BETHANY, AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS COMING FROM LAWTON.

FOR OUR FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THEM COMING FROM CREEK COUNTY AND DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE.

SO WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS RURAL REPRESENTATION THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

AND WE ALSO HAVE MANY CLASSROOMS IN THE METROS THAT PARTICIPATE.

SO THIS TRULY IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANY STUDENT IN THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE.

DORMAN SAYS.

ALMOST 1100 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE KID GOVERNOR PROGRAM THIS YEAR.

THE NEW NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES RELEASED BY ROBERT F KENNEDY, JUNIOR.

S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE LITERALLY TURNED THE TRADITIONAL FOOD PYRAMID UPSIDE DOWN.

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

WHY SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PREVIOUS GUIDELINES?

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

I THINK VISUALLY IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE WE'RE SEEING, BUT A LOT OF THE WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ACTUALLY VERY SIMILAR.

ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WAS MADE WORTH NOTING IS THAT THERE WERE IN PREVIOUS DIETARY GUIDELINES, THERE WAS MORE REFERENCE TO CULTURAL CHANGES IN DIETS FOR PARTICULAR POPULATIONS, SUCH AS ASIAN OR LATINO.

AND SO THIS DOESN'T QUITE IT'S MORE GENERAL FOR EVERYBODY MEAT, DAIRY, PROTEINS, THEY ARE ALL DEFINITELY SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH TO BE INCLUDED IN A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET.

BUT I THINK THE THING THAT I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE BALANCE SIDE OF THINGS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BALANCED DIET AND THEN MAKING SURE ALSO TO HIGHLIGHT THAT MEAT, DAIRY, PROTEIN, ALL A PART OF IT.

BUT REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE QUALITY, I THINK IT WILL INCREASE AWARENESS OF BETTER FOOD OPTIONS AND REALLY LOOKING TO CONSUME A HEALTHIER, NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS COMPARED TO, SAY, FAST FOOD.

BUT AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THAT ACCESSIBILITY COMPONENT OF IT ALL.

THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, THE UNITED STATES WILL CELEBRATE ITS 250TH BIRTHDAY ON THE 4TH OF JULY THIS YEAR.

AND BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING A SPECIAL SERIES OF REPORTS ON THE EVENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED OKLAHOMA SINCE THE BICENTENNIAL IN 1976, THE LAST 50 YEARS BROKEN DOWN INTO FIVE DECADES.

SO LET'S GET STARTED.

REPORTER STEVE SHORE AND THE YEARS 1976 THROUGH 1985.

STEVE RICH 1976 WAS A HUGE YEAR NATIONALLY.

IT WAS WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE BICENTENNIAL, WHICH CELEBRATED AMERICA'S 200TH BIRTHDAY.

AMERICAN VOTERS ELECTED DEMOCRAT JIMMY CARTER AS PRESIDENT.

HERE IN OKLAHOMA, WE HAD THE KING OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL, TWO SUPERB COACHES, BARRY SWITZER AND MICHIGAN'S DYNAMIC BO SCHEMBECHLER, FACE EACH OTHER.

COACH SWITZER FLATLY SAID, PEOPLE WILL SEE TONIGHT THE TWO BEST TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.

ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF 1976, THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR, BARRY SWITZER'S THIRD RANKED SOONERS FACED OFF AGAINST FIFTH RANKED MICHIGAN IN THE ORANGE BOWL.

THAT'S THE SOUND OF A FINAL GUN.

IT'S BOOMER SOONER FOR OKLAHOMA.

OU'S 14 TO 6 WIN GAVE BARRY SWITZER HIS SECOND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

OKLAHOMA, ONCE AGAIN NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONS OF AMERICA NUMBER ONE BOOTLEGGER'S SON.

I'VE READ THE BOOK, BUT HE WAS A FANTASTIC RECRUITER OF GOOD TALENT.

FUTURE THREE TERM OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL DREW EDMONDSON WAS AN OKLAHOMA STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN 76 AND FOLLOWED SWITZER'S CAREER.

CORDIAL.

AND I THINK THE WORLD OF HIM, HE WAS HE WAS COACHING WHEN I WAS IN VIETNAM AND I MADE MONEY BETTING AND GIVING HUGE SPREADS IN OU FOOTBALL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF MILITARY GUYS OVERSEAS THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT OU'S WISHBONE OFFENSE AND HOW MANY POINTS THEY COULD RACK UP, HANG HALF A HUNDRED ON THEM.

AND BARRY'S WORDS, RETIRED STATE HISTORIAN BOB BLACKBURN WAS WITH THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR 32 YEARS.

HE SAYS SINCE OKLAHOMA GAINED STATEHOOD IN 1907, THE MID 70S WERE JUST AS CHAOTIC AS THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WORLD WAR TWO.

IN THE SOONER STATE IN OUR HISTORY HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THE BIG TURNING POINT IS THE 1970S, BECAUSE BY THE 1970S, FARM AND RANCHING IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT.

THERE WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR WHEAT FARMERS, 1974, BUT AFTER THAT BANKRUPTCY, PEOPLE COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY THOSE JOHN DEERE COMBINES.

AND YOU START A SLOW, SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR AGRICULTURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ELVIS PRESLEY, THE OTHER KING, PLAYED AT OKLAHOMA CITY'S OLD MYRIAD CENTER IN MAY OF 76 AND IN TULSA ON JULY 4TH.

ELVIS PRESLEY WOULD INFLUENCE A YOUNG LADY GROWING UP IN CAPITOL HILL, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH OF OKLAHOMA CITY, WANDA JACKSON NEVER PARTIED.

SEND ME TO THE STORE AND BUY SOME MORE AND HAVE A PARTY TONIGHT.

THERE WAS UNREST IN STATE PRISONS IN THE 1970S.

ON JUNE 19TH, 1976, SEVEN INMATES AT MCALESTER STATE PENITENTIARY ESCAPED AND WERE ON THE RUN FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, EVICTED IN THE BOMBING.

DEATH OF A BRISTOL KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.

YES, I REMEMBER THAT.

AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY BOMBING HE WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE COMMITTED.

REX BRINLEY WAS PORTRAYED IN THE IN THE GRIDIRON, THE ESCAPE, I THINK, CAME DURING A RIOT AT THE PRISON, AND BRINLEY WAS ON THE LOOSE FOR A LONG TIME.

HE WASN'T ACTUALLY FOUND AND CAUGHT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE WAS JUST EATEN UP BY CHIGGERS AND TICKS AND TURNED HIMSELF IN.

AND THEY CALLED ME FROM HEADQUARTERS EARLY THAT MORNING AND TOLD ME THAT THE SCOUTS UP HERE HAD FOUND A DEAD GIRL.

AND WHEN I GOT HERE, TO MY SURPRISE, IT WAS 2 TO 1.

THERE WAS THREE.

ON JUNE 13TH, 1977, THREE GIRL SCOUTS, EIGHT YEAR OLD LORI LEE FARMER, NINE YEAR OLD MICHELLE GOOSE, AND TEN YEAR OLD DORIS DENISE MILNER WERE FOUND MURDERED AT CAMP SCOTT IN MAYES COUNTY.

THE GIRLS HAD BEEN BEATEN AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AFTER A TEN MONTH MANHUNT.

LOCAL PRISON ESCAPEE GENE LEROY HART WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT.

HOWEVER, A JURY SET HIM FREE.

TWO YEARS LATER, HE WENT BACK TO PRISON AS HE WAS DOING TIME FOR A MURDER WHEN HE ESCAPED AND HE DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER GOING BACK TO PRISON, AND MOST EVERYBODY THOUGHT THERE WAS A HIGHER JUDGE ON THAT CASE.

ON APRIL 10TH, 1979, THE TERRIBLE TUESDAY TORNADO OUTBREAK HIT THE CITY OF LAWTON, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, AND THE RED RIVER VALLEY.

THE F4 TORNADO KILLED MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE AND CAUSED MASSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE.

1979 WHERE WERE YOU IN 1979?

I JUST MOVED TO OKLAHOMA CITY.

JUST BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE.

OKAY.

DID YOU KNOW 1979 WAS ALSO KNOWN TO BE THE TAIL END OF OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY'S PRE SPRING BREAK STREAKER NIGHT TRADITION?

WELL, I HAVE A STORY ON THAT.

STREAKING.

WE'RE GOING UP THROUGH THE QUADS OF THE GYMNASIUM.

WHO'S STREAKING.

THERE'S THERE'S MORE COMING.

FRANK, GET IN THE CAR.

EVERYBODY'S DOING IT NOW OKAY.

STREAKING.

FOR ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WAS A SHORT LIVED TRADITION THAT BEGAN HERE ON THE OKLAHOMA STATE CAMPUS BACK IN 1973.

AND THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS URGE TO TAKE OFF ALL THEIR CLOTHES, EVERY STITCH, AND TO RUN THROUGH CAMPUS, RUNNING THROUGH THE STUDENT UNION, RUNNING ACROSS THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

THE STREAKING MOVEMENT PETERED OUT IN THE EARLY 80S.

ON JULY 5TH, 1982.

OKLAHOMA CITY'S PENN SQUARE BANK SHUT DOWN.

AND IT'S A COMPLEX STORY.

IT WASN'T MALFEASANCE.

IT WASN'T CROOKS.

IN FACT, THERE WERE GOOD PEOPLE, BLACKBURN SAYS THE PENN SQUARE BANK FAILURE WAS EQUAL TO A SECOND GREAT DEPRESSION FOR OKLAHOMA.

WITHIN THREE YEARS, 96 BANKS FAILED.

IT LED TO MASSIVE BANK REFORM.

THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES LED TO THE RISE OF NEW ENERGY TITANS LIKE T BOONE PICKENS.

OIL AND GAS IS WHAT PEOPLE REMEMBER.

HE MADE AS MUCH MONEY, THOUGH, AS A HOSTILE RAIDER.

HE TRIED TO BUY PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY AT ONE TIME IN A HOSTILE TAKEOVER.

THOSE PEOPLE IN BARTLESVILLE DON'T CARE MUCH FOR BOONE PICKENS.

BUT HE WAS MAKING ALL THIS MONEY.

HE PUT US ON A DIFFERENT PLANE TO COMPETE IN SPORTS, BUT ALSO THE SELF-IMAGE OF US GRADUATES OF OSU.

I FINISHED MY PHD THERE IN 78.

IS THAT FOR ALL OF US?

HE ELEVATED THE IMAGE OF SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO US.

OSU HAS PLENTY TO BE PROUD OF IN TERMS OF ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD TO TO THE ATHLETIC HISTORY, SPORTS HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA.

YOU THINK ABOUT JIMMY JOHNSON'S AND THEN HOW HE STARTS AT OSU.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, ONE COULD SAY GOES ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS, WINNING, YOU KNOW, WINNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SUPER BOWLS.

BUT I MEAN, HE GETS HIS START AT OSU.

ANOTHER STORY THAT DOMINATED OKLAHOMA IN 1984 WAS THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD IN TULSA.

14 PEOPLE DIED.

LAND AROUND THE ARKANSAS RIVER WAS RAVAGED TO THE TUNE OF $180 MILLION.

IN 1985.

BARRY SWITZER SOONERS OVERCAME A SEASON ENDING INJURY TO QUARTERBACK TROY AIKMAN.

IN OCTOBER, FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK JAMAL HOLLOWAY AND LINEBACKER BRIAN BOSWORTH AGAIN LED OU TO THE ORANGE BOWL, WHERE THEY BEAT PENN STATE, EARNING THE KING A THIRD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

BARRY SWITZER HAS A PLACE IN OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY AS THE TYPICAL GUNSLINGER OKLAHOMA INDIVIDUAL THAT'S GOING TO DO IT HIS WAY.

HE'S THE FRANK SINATRA OF SPORTS.

I'M GOING TO DO IT MY WAY.

AND DID HE?

HE BROKE THE COLOR BARRIER.

WHILE OTHER COACHES IN THE SOUTH WERE NOT RECRUITING AFRICAN AMERICANS, BARRY, WHO GREW UP IN A MIXED COMMUNITY WHERE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS WERE HIS BEST FRIENDS.

HE SAID, YEAH, I WANT THAT, THAT STAR.

I WANT JAMEL HOLLOWAY, I WANT THE PRUITTS AND WASHINGTONS OF THE WORLD.

AND HE CHANGED THE CULTURE OF OU FOOTBALL.

NOT EVERYONE LOVED IT BECAUSE THERE WERE STILL, STILL IS TODAY RACISM IN OKLAHOMA AS THERE IS IN ALL OF AMERICA, HE SAID.

I DON'T CARE, I'M GOING TO DO IT MY WAY.

SO EVEN THE RACISTS WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THAT.

I REACHED OUT TO COACH SWITZER TWICE THESE PAST FEW WEEKS.

HE'S BEEN OUT OF TOWN.

EVEN AT 88 YEARS OLD, THE KING IS STILL IN HIGH DEMAND.

COMING UP ONE MONTH FROM TODAY.

ON MARCH 6TH, JASON DOYLE WILL CHRONICLE THE YEARS 1986 THROUGH 1995, IN OKLAHOMA.

RICH, STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT WAS OUTSTANDING WORK.

IF STATE SUPERINTENDENT LINDEL FIELDS AND LAWMAKERS HAVE THEIR WAY, OKLAHOMA SCHOOLCHILDREN WILL BE SPENDING MORE OF THEIR SCHOOL DAY ENGAGING IN PHYSICAL EXERCISE IN THE FUTURE.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN THE POTENTIAL CHANGES.

TAELYR.

THAT'S RIGHT.

RICH STATE LEADERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY NOT ONLY WANT A BETTER EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS, THEY WANT THEM HEALTHIER AS WELL.

IN THE NEAR FUTURE, STUDENTS COULD SPEND MORE TIME DOING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

REPRESENTATIVE CYNTHIA ROE FILED HOUSE BILL 3288, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE CURRENT PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT TIME TO 30 OR 40 MINUTES PER SCHOOL DAY.

I LOVE THE SPIRIT BEHIND OUR STATE, GETTING BEHIND A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE FOR ALL OKLAHOMANS, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO START YOUNG AND KIND OF BUILD THEM UP.

WHILE PE TEACHER AARON RIOS LIKES THE IDEA OF BRINGING MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES TO STUDENTS, HE DOES HAVE A FEW CONCERNS.

I THINK FOR SCHOOLS WITH LARGER POPULATIONS, THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO FIT THAT INTO WITHOUT TAKING AWAY FROM MATH TIME AND READING TIME, I WOULD LIKE THEM TO JUST TO REVISIT THAT LANGUAGE AND MAYBE CONSIDER FINDING A HAPPY MIDDLE GROUND, MAYBE 75 MINUTES A WEEK.

CURRENT STATUTE CALLS FOR A MINIMUM AVERAGE OF 60 MINUTES EACH WEEK.

IF HOUSE BILL 3288 WENT INTO EFFECT, THE MINIMUM AVERAGE WOULD BE 150 MINUTES.

COACH RIOS SUGGESTS LOOKING INTO ADDITIONAL WAYS TO INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

IMPLEMENTING ACTIVE BASED LEARNING TWICE A DAY IN THE SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, A 15 MINUTE ACTION, LEARNING WHILE YOU'RE WALKING AND RECITING WORDS OR DOING SOME KIND OF MOVEMENT INSIDE OF YOUR CLASSROOM WHILE YOU'RE WORKING WITH MATH STANDARDS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME ISSUES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

HE HOPES THE STATE WILL CONSIDER EQUIPPING SCHOOLS WITH THE ABILITY TO ENSURE MORE PERSONNEL.

IN ORDER TO REACH ALL OF THESE GOALS.

UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THE STATE AREN'T QUITE GETTING TO MEET THAT CURRENT 60 MINUTES A WEEK AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL DUE TO JUST DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS OR THE SPACE TO FIT THAT TIME IN AS A, AS A SCHOOL SITE.

SO TIME AND A HALF IS REALLY GOING TO BE CHORE.

AND SO MY, MY FEAR IS THAT WE MIGHT KIND OF JUMP THE GUN AND SAY, WELL, LET'S JUST HIRE A SECOND PE TEACHER.

THEY HAVE A BIG GYM.

WE CAN FIT TWO CLASSES, TWO TEACHERS, 50 KIDS.

IT'S GOING TO BE FINE.

THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT WE TAKE AWAY FROM THE QUALITY OF THAT TIME AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I USE THE EXAMPLE OF WE WOULDN'T ASK TWO ALGEBRA TEACHERS TO TEACH TWO CLASSES IN ONE TINY CLASSROOM.

SO JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT, DO WE WANT QUALITY OR DO WE WANT QUANTITY?

LEADERS IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAVE FILED LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE STUDENT HEALTH, AS WELL.

A SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR, SENATOR ALI SIFFORD, FILED HOUSE BILL 1481 TO ALLOW STUDENTS 40 MINUTES OF RECESS EACH DAY FOR PRE-K THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.

RIGHT NOW, STATE LAW SAYS 20 MINUTES MINIMUM FOR KIDS K THROUGH FIVE AND A TRADITIONALLY SEVEN HOUR SCHOOL DAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENOUGH.

THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR KIDS TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY, TO HAVE UNSTRUCTURED TIME, TO BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, TO LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, TO SAY THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO PLAY, AND THESE ARE THE TEAMS WE'RE GOING TO BE ON.

I MEAN, I'VE WATCHED IT IN RECESS AND AND JUST LET THEM BE KIDS.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, RECESS CAN HELP STUDENTS STAY ON TASK DURING CLASS AND IMPROVE THEIR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR SENATOR ADAM PUGH FILED SENATE BILL 1437 FOR DISTRICTS TO ADMINISTER THE PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST DURING P.E.

BEGINNING IN THE 2026 2027 SCHOOL YEAR.

I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOUR EFFORTS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION IS ON BOARD WITH THE IDEA.

JUST AS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS ABOUT TO START, SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS ANNOUNCED THESE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND HAVING HEALTHY SCHOOLS WAS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES.

ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE.

OSD SUPPORTS PHYSICAL FITNESS INITIATIVES AND RURAL HEALTH GRANTS, AND AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING, THE BOARD ANNOUNCED REVISIONS TO THE PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS.

SOME OF THOSE CHANGES INCLUDE MOVING FROM GRADE LEVEL TO GRADE BAND OBJECTIVES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, MOVING FROM GRADE LEVEL TO LEVEL ONE AND TWO, SIMILAR TO THE HIGH SCHOOL OBJECTIVES AND EMPHASIS ON PHYSICAL LITERACY.

BOARD MEMBER CHRIS VAN DIEN WANTS TO ENSURE EDUCATORS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE STANDARDS EFFECTIVELY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE CONSTITUENTS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT IF THE LEGISLATURE SAYS WE NEED TO INCLUDE THIS, THAT NOT ONLY IS IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER, BUT OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF ARE QUALIFIED TO DELIVER THAT CONTENT.

PE HAS EVOLVED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST RUNNING LAPS AND PLAYING DODGEBALL.

STUDENTS ARE NOW LEARNING NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS BEGIN IMPLEMENTING HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS DURING THE 2023 2024 SCHOOL YEAR, AFTER THE HEALTH EDUCATION ACT WENT INTO EFFECT.

I LOVE THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THE CHILD, THE MENTAL HEALTH, INJURY PREVENTION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ADVOCATING FOR OURSELVES AND UNDERSTANDING HOW THOSE THINGS PLAY A PART IN OUR ADULT LIFE.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE SKILLS CULTIVATED NOW TO KIND OF BUILD ON THOSE.

SO I LIKE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING AND ASKING SCHOOLS TO DO MORE WITH THE WHOLE CHILD.

BOTH SENATE AND HOUSE BILLS HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEES BEFORE MARCH 5TH IN ORDER TO BE HEARD ON THE CHAMBER FLOOR.

RICH TAYLOR, THANK YOU.

WITH MORE THAN 2600 BILLS TO CONSIDER, THE LEGISLATURE HAD A BUSY FIRST WEEK OF THE SESSION, JOINING US FROM OUR OETA STUDIO IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

TO DISCUSS THAT IN MORE DETAIL IS QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SHAWN ASHLEY.

SHAWN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH EARLIER IN THIS NEWSCAST, BUT LET'S BEGIN WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PARTICULARLY STRUCK ME WAS THAT NOT ONLY DID STITT OUTLINE HIS GOALS FOR THE LEGISLATURE, HE ALSO CALLED ON THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA TO DO CERTAIN THINGS TO, AS HE SAID, MOVE THE STATE FORWARD.

THESE WERE FOUR STATE QUESTIONS THAT HE OUTLINED FREEZING PROPERTY TAX INCREASES, APPOINTING RATHER THAN ELECTING THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, ALLOWING ADJUSTMENTS TO OKLAHOMA'S MEDICAID EXPANSION PROGRAM, AND REPEAL OF OKLAHOMA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION.

NORMALLY, WE SEE GOVERNORS ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO UNDERTAKE THESE STEPS, BUT IN THIS CASE, HE'S ASKING THE PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AS WELL.

ALL IN ALL, SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY MUSCULAR SPEECH.

IT SURE DIDN'T SOUND LIKE HE'S GOING TO LAY BACK IN HIS FINAL YEAR IN OFFICE.

THAT'S TRUE, AND I'M NOT SURE THE SPEECH ITSELF REVEALED EXACTLY HOW MUSCULAR IT WAS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET BOOK, HE'S ASKING LAWMAKERS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS.

RIGHT NOW IN 2026, BEFORE THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS IN JULY.

PARTICULARLY, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE TAXPAYER ENDOWMENT FUND, THE STATE SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND, THAT HE TALKED ABOUT INVESTING $750 MILLION IN TO HELP BRING ADDITIONAL REVENUE INTO THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRUMP SAVINGS ACCOUNTS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL JULY 1ST TO DO SO.

HE ALSO OUTLINES A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS FOR STATE AGENCIES THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE NOW RATHER THAN LATER, SUCH AS FUNDING THE CONSOLIDATION OF 33 CALL CENTERS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND ENTERPRISE SERVICES AND FUNDING IN OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY HIGHWAY TROOPER ACADEMY.

YEAH, A LOT ON THE AGENDA THERE.

SENATOR SHANE JETT SEEMS TO BE ANGERING MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY, TO THE POINT THAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO HIS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

JETT ANGERED SOME MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AT THE END OF THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHEN HE QUESTIONED THE ETHICS OF A FELLOW MEMBER AND THAT MEMBER'S WIFE ON THE SENATE FLOOR DURING DEBATE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY HE MADE COMMENTS SUGGESTING THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE SENATE MAY HAVE BEEN INTOXICATED DURING THAT FLOOR SESSION.

THOSE THINGS LED SENATOR MICHAEL BERGSTROM, WHO CHAIRS THE SENATE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES COMMITTEE, TO ASK THAT JETT BE REMOVED AS VICE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, WHICH SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM LONNIE PAXTON DID.

PAXTON ALSO REMOVED JETT FROM THE SENATE FLOOR, PRESIDING OFFICER'S ROTATION.

JETT, IN TURN, HAS FILED A BILL THAT WOULD PROHIBIT LAWMAKERS FROM DRINKING WITHIN THE CAPITOL, SOMETHING THAT IS PROHIBITED BY SENATE AND HOUSE RULES.

YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T CONCERN THE LEGISLATURE, I GUESS, BUT I NOTICED AN ARTICLE YOU WROTE IN QUORUM CALL CONCERNING A MAJOR CRIME RING BUSTED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ON TUESDAY, ATTORNEY GENERAL DRUMMOND ANNOUNCED THAT HIS ORGANIZED CRIME TASK FORCE, WORKING WITH MORE THAN 20 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, HAD ARRESTED MORE THAN 20 INDIVIDUALS IN MULTIPLE STATES LINKED TO A STRAW OWNER SCHEME THROUGH WHICH THEY ILLEGALLY OBTAINED PERMITS THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL MARIJUANA AUTHORITY AND THE STATE BUREAU OF NARCOTICS TO OPERATE BLACK MARKET MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES IN THE STATE, PARTICULARLY GROW OPERATIONS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS NOW FACE CHARGES IN THEIR VARIOUS STATES.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20S LEFT, BUT BEFORE WE GO, THE TOP EARLY BILL PRIORITIES SHAPING UP IN EACH CHAMBER, ONE EACH.

WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

WELL, I THINK IN BOTH CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE EARLY LITERACY BILLS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE, EXACTLY HOW LAWMAKERS PLAN TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE READING AT GRADE LEVEL, PARTICULARLY AT THE THIRD GRADE LEVEL.

A PROPOSAL ON THE SENATE SIDE ALSO EMPHASIZES THAT IN FIRST AND SECOND GRADE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S THE ISSUE OF HOW THEY INTEND TO FUND THAT.

EVERYONE, I BELIEVE, IS HOLDING THEIR BREATH TO SEE EXACTLY HOW THAT PROPOSAL WILL WORK OUT.

SEAN ASHLEY, PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL.

LET'S TALK AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL DO THAT.

THANK YOU.

WELL, THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS MERGING WITH A HOUSTON COMPANY.

THE QUESTION NOW, WHERE WILL THE NEW ENTITY BE HEADQUARTERED?

JASON DOYLE ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.

AND THIS WEEK, STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW DEVIN ENERGY IS COMBINING FORCES WITH HOUSTON BASED KATERRA ENERGY IN AN ALL STOCK DEAL.

THE NEW COMPANY WILL RETAIN THE NAME DEVIN ENERGY, BUT THE HEADQUARTERS WILL BE IN HOUSTON.

THE COMPANY DOES SAY IT PLANS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE MERGER WILL CREATE A NEW LARGE CAP SHALE OPERATOR WORTH APPROXIMATELY $58 BILLION.

DEVIN CEO CLAY GASPER WILL CONTINUE AS THE CEO OF THE NEW ENTITY, WHILE KATERRA CHAIRMAN, CEO AND PRESIDENT TOM JORDAN WILL BECOME A NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

MEHCAD USA WILL BE HEADQUARTERING ITS U.S.

OPERATIONS AT TULSA, PORT OF CATOOSA.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY SPECIALIZES IN PRECISION COMPONENTS, INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

MCAD PLANS TO BRING 300 JOBS TO THE AREA AND WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OKLAHOMA'S BEHIND THE METER LAW TO BUILD ITS OWN POWER GENERATION AT THE PORT.

TULSA BASED MATRIX SERVICE COMPANY'S CURRENT PRESIDENT AND CEO, JOHN HEWITT, IS PLANNING TO LEAVE THE COMPANY LATER THIS YEAR, SO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ANNOUNCED.

SHAWN PAYNE AS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

PAYNE WILL TAKE OVER THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT AND CEO WHEN HEWITT OFFICIALLY STEPS DOWN ON JUNE 30TH.

INTERESTED IN FREE ADMISSION TO THREE OKLAHOMA MUSEUMS THIS WEEKEND?

IF YOU'RE A BANK OF AMERICA CARDHOLDER, YOU CAN VISIT THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM, THE NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, OR THE OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART AT NO COST.

THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH AND EIGHTH.

IT'S PART OF BANK OF AMERICA'S MUSEUMS ON US PROGRAM.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED PAYCOM TOOK A LOOK AT DATA ON HOW MANY PEOPLE CALL IN SICK AFTER THE SUPER BOWL AND FOUND THAT IN 2025, SICK DAY REQUESTS FOR THE DAY AFTER INCREASED BY 45% NATIONWIDE WHEN COMPARED TO A REGULAR WORK DAY.

IT ALSO SHOWS 12% OF WORKERS ACTUALLY SUBMIT A TIME OFF REQUEST FOR THE MONDAY AFTER THE SUPER BOWL.

SICK DAY REQUESTS WERE HIGHEST IN DECEMBER 2025.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

THE NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES RELEASED UNDER HHS SECRETARY ROBERT KENNEDY JR PROMOTE WHAT HE CALLS REAL FOOD MORE MEAT AND DAIRY, FEWER GRAINS, AND FAR LESS ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS.

NOW, THAT SEEMS LIKE A REASONABLE PLAN.

BUT SOME NUTRITIONISTS DO HAVE QUESTIONS, AND THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS STEPHANIE DEBERRY, A REGISTERED DIETITIAN AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA NUTRITION INFORMATION AND EDUCATION PROJECT.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY MASON EMMERT, A PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGIST WITH THE CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA.

AND FINALLY, WE'RE JOINED BY MEREDITH SCOTT, AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF RESEARCH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROMOTION SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

MEREDITH IS ALSO A DIRECTOR OF THE ONI PROJECT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US HERE ON IN-DEPTH.

THANK YOU.

CASSIDY, IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU.

NOW, MEREDITH, WHAT CHANGED MOST DRAMATICALLY BETWEEN THE BIDEN ERA GUIDELINES AND THE NEW HHS GUIDANCE FROM RFK JR?

I THINK VISUALLY IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE WE'RE SEEING, BUT A LOT OF THE WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ACTUALLY VERY SIMILAR.

ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WAS MAYBE WORTH NOTING IS THAT THERE WERE IN PREVIOUS DIETARY GUIDELINES, THERE WAS MORE REFERENCE TO CULTURAL CHANGES IN DIETS FOR PARTICULAR POPULATIONS, SUCH AS ASIAN OR LATINO.

AND SO THIS DOESN'T QUITE IT'S MORE GENERAL FOR EVERYBODY.

SO WHAT HAS CHANGED, WOULD YOU SAY, WHAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR JUST YOUR REGULAR EVERYDAY PERSON?

WELL, JUST I MEAN, HONESTLY, THE VISUAL IS HUGE.

THAT'S HOW THEY READ.

WE YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY IMAGE FOCUSED POPULATION.

AND SO WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE MYPLATE OR THE TRADITIONAL, YOU KNOW, PYRAMID THAT WE GREW UP AS WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN WITH.

BUT WE'VE HAD THE ACTUAL MYPLATE SINCE 2011.

SO IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

A LOT OF A HUGE GENERATION HAS GROWN UP WITH MYPLATE, AND NOW MOVING BACK TO A PYRAMID, VERY DIFFERENT.

WELL, THE PYRAMID IS INVERTED AS WELL.

THEY KIND OF SWITCHED IT UPSIDE DOWN.

SO THAT'S IT'S INCREDIBLY INTERESTING.

BUT STEPHANIE, FROM A NUTRITION STANDPOINT IS EATING MORE MEAT AND DAIRY ACTUALLY SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH.

SO I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE HERE IS THAT MEAT, DAIRY, PROTEINS, THEY ARE ALL DEFINITELY SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH TO BE INCLUDED IN A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET.

BUT I THINK THE THING THAT I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE BALANCE SIDE OF THINGS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BALANCED DIET AND THEN MAKING SURE ALSO TO HIGHLIGHT THAT MEAT, DAIRY, PROTEIN, ALL A PART OF IT, BUT REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE QUALITY.

AND SO THE GUIDELINES AGAIN REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED.

SO LIMITING THOSE SATURATED FATS AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE CHOOSING LOWER QUALITY OR EXCUSE ME, LOWER FAT PROTEINS AND LOWER FAT ANIMAL PRODUCTS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT REPLACING SOMETHING ELSE IN THE DIET, BECAUSE THEY COULD BE TAKING THE PLACE OF HIGHER FIBER DIET, THINGS LIKE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES OR WHOLE GRAINS.

AND SO WHAT WOULD A NICE BALANCE LOOK LIKE?

SO REALLY, YOU'RE WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, NO MORE THAN 20 TO 30% FROM FAT, BUT NO MORE THAN 10% FROM SATURATED FATS, WHICH I KNOW ARE ALL NUMBERS AND A LITTLE BIT HARD TO, YOU KNOW, INTERPRET, BUT REALLY STILL MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING WHOLE GRAINS AND THAT REALLY CARBOHYDRATES, WHOLE GRAINS REALLY SHOULD STILL BE A VERY LARGE PART OF YOUR DIET.

AND MAKING SURE THAT, AGAIN, THOSE MEATS AND PROTEINS ARE THE LOWER FAT SIDE.

AND THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A SILLY QUESTION, BUT WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FATS AND SATURATED FATS?

NOT ALL FAT IS CREATED EQUAL.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FATS.

THERE'S TRANS FATS, THERE'S UNSATURATED FATS, AND THEY'RE SATURATED.

SO SATURATED.

THE EASIEST WAY TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT IF IT'S SOLID AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.

SO THINGS LIKE BUTTER THAT'S A SATURATED FAT.

ALSO THINGS LIKE COCONUT OIL THAT'S A SATURATED FAT BECAUSE IN A JAR IT'S SOLID AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.

AND SO THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF FAT PROFILES.

BUT SATURATED FAT AND HIGHER SATURATED FAT IN THE DIET IS REALLY LINKED TO HIGHER RISK OF CHRONIC DISEASE, THINGS LIKE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

SO WANTING TO MAKE SURE TO LIMIT THOSE, WHEREAS THINGS LIKE AVOCADOS, YOU KNOW, OILS, THINGS LIKE THAT, OLIVE OIL, BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE LIQUID, THEY'RE MORE UNSATURATED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.

OKAY.

GOTCHA.

AND MASON, FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH LENS, WHAT DOES A MAJOR SHIFT LIKE THIS MEAN FOR THE POPULATION'S HEALTH?

OVERALL, THE VERDICT IS STILL OUT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU COMMONLY HEAR THAT TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING CAN BE A BAD THING.

AND SO I THINK WE'LL WE'LL KIND OF HAVE TO SEE.

AND REALLY, WHEN WE SEE A SHIFT IN THESE DIETARY GUIDELINES, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE'LL SEE A SHIFT IN PERSONAL BEHAVIOR.

AND SO THERE'S SO MANY FACTORS INVOLVED IN WHAT GOES INTO OUR MEAL AND WHAT WE CONSUME, A LOT OF WHICH BEING OUR CULTURE, WHAT WE'RE GREW UP AROUND AND WHAT WE'RE SURROUNDING, BUT ALSO ACCESS.

AND SO REALLY WHEN WE WORK AND LOOK TO IDENTIFY ACCESS POINTS TO THESE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, TO NON-PROCESSED FOODS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WE REALLY HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SEE WHICH GROUPS ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THESE AND OBTAIN THESE ITEMS.

WHICH GROUPS AREN'T?

WELL, MASON VERY QUICKLY HERE, WHICH GROUPS CAN AND WHICH GROUPS CAN'T?

I THINK IT'S MORE DIFFICULT.

THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE LESS ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND PRODUCE.

AND SO THAT KIND OF GOES ALONG JUST WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL TERRAIN OF THOSE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA, BUT ALSO ALONG WITH THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

AND SO, OF COURSE, A LOT OF FRUIT CAN BE IMPORTED OR SHIPPED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THESE AREAS, BUT THAT, OF COURSE, CAN BE COSTLY.

AND THEN ALSO JUST THE THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES.

SO IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO GO AND OBTAIN THESE PRODUCE OR HEALTHIER OPTIONS.

IF YOU'RE DRIVING AN HOUR TO WALMART OR YOUR CLOSEST GROCERY STORE.

YEAH, I GREW UP IN WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA, SO WE WENT TO THE GAS STATION.

LUCKILY WE DID HAVE A WALMART, BUT I MEAN, IT WAS THE TOWNS, EVERY OTHER TOWN OVER 30 MILES, EVEN AN HOUR OUT, COMING TO OUR STORES TO JUST GET WHAT THEY NEED FOR THE WEEK.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET AHOLD OF THESE ACTUAL HEALTHIER CHOICES.

BUT MEREDITH, RFK IS FRAMING OR RFK JR FRAMES THIS AS A RETURN TO REAL FOOD.

WHAT DOES THAT PHRASE ACTUALLY MEAN IN POLICY TERMS?

WELL, ONE THING THAT WE KEEP HEARING IS REAL FOOD, BUT I WANT TO MENTION THAT HISTORICALLY WE HAVE ALWAYS DIETARY GUIDELINES HAVE ALWAYS PUT AN EMPHASIS ON WHOLE FOODS, WHICH IS EATING MORE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND AND COOKING FROM SCRATCH, USING DRIED BEANS, NOT HAVING A LOT OF ULTRA PROCESSED FOOD IN OUR DIET.

AND SO THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I AM.

I SEE POSITIVITY IN THAT.

WE REALLY DO NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON WHOLE FOODS, BUT JUST AS MASON MENTIONED, IT IS MORE COSTLY AND AND THERE IS A REASON WHY WE SEE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR, OUR FEDERALLY FUNDED FOOD PROGRAMS USING A CAN OF GREEN BEANS RATHER THAN FRESH GREEN BEANS, THAT THEN YOU HAVE TO PAY SOMEBODY TO TRIM AND COOK AND PREPARE, VERSUS WARMING UP A CAN OF GREEN BEANS.

STEPHANIE, LET'S MOVING BACK TO WHAT'S IN THE FOOD PYRAMID.

ARE FEWER GRAINS A PROBLEM NUTRITIONALLY, OR DOES IT DEPEND ON WHICH GRAINS PEOPLE ARE CUTTING OUT?

IT ABSOLUTELY DEPENDS ON WHICH GRAINS THAT YOU'RE CUTTING OUT.

AND SO AGAIN, JUST KIND OF LIKE THE MEATS, DAIRY PROTEINS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL.

AND SO REALLY LIKE MEREDITH SAID, FOCUSING ON REDUCING SOME OF THOSE ULTRA PROCESSED GRAINS, THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT NUTRITIONAL BENEFIT.

BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL CONSUMERS IS FOCUSING ON THOSE WHOLE GRAINS.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP AND NOT ELIMINATE THOSE, BECAUSE MOST AMERICANS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FIBER AND FIBER FROM WHOLE GRAINS IS REALLY BENEFICIAL.

YOU SEE SO MANY VITAMINS AND MINERALS, FIBER.

AND SO WE WANT TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL NOT TO ELIMINATE THOSE OUT OF OUR DIET.

SO EVEN THOUGH VISUALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S LESS REALLY ELIMINATING THOSE LOWER QUALITY OR THOSE ULTRA PROCESSED ONES.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHOLE GRAINS?

WHOLE GRAINS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES THAT I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS POPCORN.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SNACKS, IS ONE OF MY SON MY SON'S FAVORITE SNACKS TOO.

BUT POPCORN IS A GREAT ONE.

WHOLE GRAIN BREADS.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE BUYING BREAD, I KNOW BREAD IS SOMETHING THAT IS PRETTY UBIQUITOUS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EATING.

AND SO LOOKING FOR 100% WHOLE GRAIN OR WHOLE WHEAT IS A GREAT OPTION.

ANOTHER GREAT OPTION IS REALLY SMALL SHIFTS, THINGS LIKE WHOLE GRAIN PASTA.

THERE'S ALSO THINGS LIKE LENTIL PASTA AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE A GREAT WAY TO KIND OF SNEAK IN A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA WHOLE GRAINS.

SO IT REALLY IS JUST A SMALL LITTLE CHANGE.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO CUT ALL THIS OUT AT THE GROCERY STORE.

IT'S JUST LEANING TOWARDS HEALTHIER OPTIONS.

TINY LITTLE SHIFTS IN YOUR DIET CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT.

AND REALLY OVERALL, WELL, MASON, HOW MIGHT THESE CHANGES AFFECT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH FOOD ACCESS?

WE KIND OF TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK, AGAIN, IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO PERSONAL BEHAVIOR.

AND SO A LOT OF THE TIMES, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THESE POLICY SHIFTS OCCUR.

BUT AGAIN, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY DIRECTLY TRANSLATE TO BEHAVIORAL CHANGE WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THEY CONSUME PRETTY OFTEN.

AND SO I THINK IT WILL INCREASE AWARENESS OF BETTER FOOD OPTIONS AND REALLY LOOKING TO CONSUME HEALTHIER, NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS COMPARED TO, SAY, FAST FOOD.

BUT AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THAT ACCESSIBILITY COMPONENT OF IT ALL AND KIND OF REALLY WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO ARE JUST SIMPLY INTERESTED IN FINDING HEALTHIER FOOD PRODUCTS?

WELL, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING BEHAVIORAL CHANGES.

MEREDITH, STEPHANIE HOWE AND MASON, HOW DO WE CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT FOOD AND WHAT'S HEALTHY?

BECAUSE, LIKE MASON SAID, IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY COMFORTABLE TO COME HOME FROM WORK, GRAB MCDONALD'S OR SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO TIRED.

I MEAN, HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT CONVERSATION?

STEPHANIE, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS IT'S SMALL CHANGES, LIKE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WITH GRAINS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, MONDAY MORNING I'M GOING TO WAKE UP AND EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

SMALL LITTLE TINY CHANGES.

MAKING THINGS DOABLE IS WHAT'S GOING TO HELP SHIFT YOU TOWARDS THOSE HEALTHIER BEHAVIORS.

SO SMALL SHIFTS.

AND MEREDITH, WHY WOULD A FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION MOVE AWAY FROM A LONG STANDING GUIDANCE DIETARY GUIDANCE?

NOW, WE DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND AND THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DIFFERENT AND IN SOME WAYS ESPECIALLY VISUALLY, BUT THEY ARE EMPHASIZING VEGETABLES OR WHOLE FOODS.

AND SO I DO SEE THAT A LOT OF OUR DIETARY GUIDELINES SHAPE POLICY.

WE KNOW THAT THEY CHANGE WHAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE FEEDING OUR OUR CHILDREN, WHAT, YOU KNOW, MEALS ON WHEELS.

AND SO HAVING A DIETARY GUIDELINES THAT'S FOCUSED ON WHOLE FOODS IS IMPORTANT.

WE JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE THE FUNDING IS THERE TO ACTUALLY MAKE THAT REAL, TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE WHILE THESE GUIDELINES ARE IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

BUT THEIR GUIDELINES ARE NOT MANDATES.

CORRECT?

OKAY.

AND HOW DO THEY ACTUALLY AFFECT THINGS LIKE SCHOOL LUNCHES AND FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAMS?

WELL, THEY WILL THEY'RE GOING TO BE DESIGNING WHAT WE LIKE.

WHAT ARE THE RULES.

AND SO YES, THE GUIDELINES ARE GUIDES, BUT THEN THEY RESULT IN POLICY AND IN CHANGES.

AND SO WE MIGHT SEE A CHANGE FROM NO MORE LIKE REDUCING THE PROCESSED FOODS IN SCHOOLS, WHICH I HOPE IF ANY CHANGES ARE MADE.

THERE'S ALSO AN INFLUX OF FUNDING TO MAKE THOSE CHANGE REALITY.

OUR SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.

I'M, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR OUR STUDENTS, THIS IS THEIR PRIMARY NUTRITION NUTRITIOUS MEAL.

AND THEY'RE GETTING MOST OF THEIR NUTRITION AND THEIR MICRONUTRIENTS AND, AND EVERYTHING FROM THEIR LUNCH.

AND SO MAKING SURE THAT THAT IS, IS THE HEALTHIEST OPTION IS IT'S A GOAL FOR EVERYBODY.

AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR DIETARY GUIDELINES, WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED IT TO BE THE BEST.

I THINK IT'S JUST DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND MAYBE SOME IDEOLOGY.

WELL, STEPHANIE IS MYPLATE STILL USEFUL UNDER THESE NEW GUIDELINES OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RETHOUGHT?

NO, I THINK HERE THE IMPORTANT THING IS MY IS A GREAT VISUAL.

RIGHT.

SO OVER THE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE FROM THE FOOD PYRAMID MYPYRAMID THEN WE GOT MYPLATE AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO A PYRAMID VISUAL.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MYPLATE IS A REALLY EASY THING FOR PEOPLE TO USE VISUALLY BECAUSE LIKE MEREDITH SAID, THE GUIDELINES REALLY, ALTHOUGH IT FEELS VISUALLY LIKE THEY'VE CHANGED A LOT, THE ACTUAL DIETARY GUIDELINES, THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT REALLY HASN'T SHIFTED THAT MUCH.

SO THAT VISUAL IS STILL VERY, VERY USEFUL.

IT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR CONSUMERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE EATING ON A PLATE.

IT SHOWS THE CUP OF DAIRY.

IT STILL, YOU KNOW, IS REALLY FOCUSING ON HYDRATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT'S USEFUL.

AND IT ALL GOES BACK TO TO THE REASON WHY WE HAVE FOOD GROUPS IS REALLY BECAUSE OF WHAT WE GAIN OUT OF EACH GROUP NUTRITIONALLY.

SO AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH THAT VISUAL IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, IT'S A VERY, VERY HELPFUL THING.

AND IT WILL TAKE TIME.

YOU WILL SEE DIFFERENCES, BUT ULTIMATELY IT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED A WHOLE LOT.

SO MEREDITH, BEFORE WE STARTED THIS DISCUSSION, WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THESE CHANGES WILL BE COMMUNICATED.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

I'M I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THROUGH THE CHANGES THROUGH THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, WE LOST A LOT OF OUR OBESITY NUTRITION EDUCATION, SNAP EDUCATION WAS ELIMINATED.

AND SO WE WHENEVER WE'RE TRYING TO HELP FAMILIES EAT FROM SCRATCH, COOK FROM SCRATCH AND EAT HEALTHIER, YOU DON'T JUST WAKE UP DOING THAT.

YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO IT.

AND SO WITHOUT HAVING THE PROPER NUTRITION EDUCATION, THAT IS TO TO COMMUNICATE THIS, WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE WHO MAYBE LOOK AT THE VISUAL ONLY AND THINK, OH, BECAUSE MEAT'S ON TOP.

I NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE STEAK IN THE WORLD AND NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT MY SATURATED FAT INTAKE.

AND SO WE WE NEED THE NUTRITION EDUCATION TO BE PAIRED WITH OUR CHANGES.

AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT WITHOUT PROPER FEDERALLY FUNDED NUTRITION EDUCATION, WE ARE GOING TO GET SOME COMPLICATED INTERPRETATIONS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT NOW THESE DAYS, AND THEY SEE THE AN IMAGE AND THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, I'LL JUST FOLLOW THIS.

PERFECT.

BUT NO, WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE EDUCATION THERE.

WELL, WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

BUT MASON, I WANTED TO SEE WITH YOU FROM AN EPIDEMIOLOGY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT OUTCOMES WILL YOU BE WATCHING CLOSELY TO SEE IF THESE CHANGES STICK?

AND DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FINAL THOUGHTS FOR OUR VIEWERS?

I WOULD SAY THERE ARE SEVERAL TRENDS THAT WE'LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY, AND A LOT OF THOSE ALIGN WITH CHRONIC HEALTH DISEASES THAT WE SEE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOOD WE CONSUME AND JUST METABOLIC PROCESSES IN GENERAL.

AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THAT IN OKLAHOMA WE HAVE A VERY HIGH OBESITY PREVALENCE AND ALSO VERY HIGH DIABETES PREVALENCE.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT WE CAN HELP CONTROL AND PREVENT SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS BY THE FOOD WE CONSUME.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE AND MONITOR HOW OUR TRENDS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS REACT TO THESE POLICY CHANGES.

HOW ARE PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATIONS, LIKE WE MENTIONED EARLIER, ABOUT THE LEVEL OF FOOD WE NEED?

IT'S ALL ABOUT MODERATION, I BELIEVE.

AND YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING CAN BE A BAD THING.

AND SO IF YOU'RE CONSUMING TOO MUCH PROTEIN, OF COURSE, THAT CAN TURN INTO EXCESS ADIPOSE TISSUE JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, CONSUMING ADEQUATE FIBER WE KNOW CAN REDUCE YOUR RISK OF COLORECTAL CANCER, WHICH WE'VE SEEN INCREASE OVER RECENT YEARS.

AND SO I THINK REALLY JUST WATCHING THESE PROCESSES AND THE TRENDS OF OUR OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR STATE AND OUR COMMUNITIES, AND EVEN WITHIN THE COUNTY LEVELS, WILL REALLY BE INSIGHTFUL ON HOW WELL NOT ONLY THE GUIDELINES WORK, BUT ALSO HOW WELL ARE WE COMMUNICATING THESE OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

MEREDITH.

FINAL THOUGHTS?

OH MY GOODNESS, SO MANY.

I FEEL THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE CHANGES, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICYMAKERS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO IMPLEMENT.

SO I KEEP SAYING IT, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT IS INFLUENCING THIS.

AND SO WE HAVE THE TOOLS FOR PEOPLE TO EAT MORE.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, HAVE WHOLE GRAINS, EAT, YOU KNOW, LEAN PROTEINS.

THAT'S THE GOAL IS TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A CHOICE TO MAKE THE HEALTHY CHOICE.

STEPHANIE.

FINAL THOUGHTS?

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS THAT THE DIETARY GUIDELINES, ALTHOUGH VISUALLY LOOK VASTLY DIFFERENT, REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED THE ULTIMATE RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN IT REALLY COMES THERE ONE JUST RECOMMENDATIONS SO THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY DO HAVE TO BE INTERPRETED FOR EACH PERSON, BUT THEY'RE JUST GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO EAT A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET.

SO MAKING SURE THAT IT'S WELL ROUNDED.

I MEAN, THOSE KEY CHANGES OR THOSE KEY MESSAGES, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, HALF YOUR PLATE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, FOCUSING ON WHOLE GRAINS, LEAN LEAN PROTEINS, LEAN DAIRY.

NONE OF THOSE HAVE CHANGED.

SO REALLY, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH IT FEELS LIKE A REALLY BIG SHIFT, THOSE KEY NUTRITION RESEARCH AND SCIENCE, THOSE HAVE NOT SHIFTED.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF MY TAKE AWAY.

WELL THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING US.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL STICKING TOGETHER ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND CASSIDY, THANK YOU.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO KENTUCKY FOR A HISTORY LESSON IN DRINKING WATER.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN LOUISVILLE AND OKLAHOMA FOR THAT MATTER, PEOPLE GOT THEIR WATER FROM WELLS AND IT WAS FREE.

NO ONE COULD IMAGINE HAVING TO PAY FOR IT.

AND WE FIND OUT HOW AND WHY THAT CHANGE IN THIS REPORT FROM KENTUCKY PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THE YEAR IS 1854.

THAT'S WHEN THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE VOTES TO CREATE THE LOUISVILLE WATER WORKS, KENTUCKY'S FIRST PUBLIC DRINKING WATER PROVIDER.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1860, WHEN PRODUCTION WOULD BEGIN ON THE BANKS OF THE OHIO RIVER, WHERE THE LOUISVILLE WATER TOWER AND THE ORIGINAL PUMPING STATION STILL STAND TODAY.

BUT BACK THEN, FEW PEOPLE WANTED TO PAY FOR WATER SERVICE WHEN THEY COULD GET IT OUT OF A FAMILY WELL, AS THEY HAD DONE FOR YEARS.

IN FACT, THE REAL PUSH TO GET THE CITY WATER SERVICE WASN'T FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF FIRE.

THE GREAT FIRE OF 1840 DESTROYED MUCH OF DOWNTOWN, HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR MORE THAN JUST BUCKETS OF WATER FROM WELLS TO FIGHT CATASTROPHIC FIRES.

AT FIRST, THE WATER SERVICE IS MOSTLY USED FOR FIRE HYDRANTS, STREET CLEANING, AND THE NEWFANGLED HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS.

IN 1893, THE STEAM ENGINE PUMP WAS CONSTRUCTED AND GROUNDBREAKING WATER FILTRATION EXPERIMENTS WERE DISCOVERING HOW CLEAN WATER COULD HELP PREVENT DISEASES THAT WERE RUNNING RAMPANT IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY.

IN 1909, THE CRESCENT HILL WATER TREATMENT PLANT GOES ONLINE WITH SIX FILTERS, AND WITHIN A YEAR, LOUISVILLE'S TYPHOID DEATH RATE DROPPED BY 60%.

THE CRESCENT HILL FACILITY TOOK OVER FOR THE ORIGINAL PUMPING STATION, ALLOWING FOR LARGER, MORE MODERN PUMPING STATIONS TO OPERATE THE WATER SUPPLY.

RESERVOIR PARK ALSO BECAME ONE OF LOUISVILLE'S PREMIER SWIMMING SPOTS WHEN THE CRESCENT HILL SWIMMING POOL OPENED IN THE HEART OF THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY.

ELECTRICITY COMES TO THE WATER COMPANY IN 1928, AND THE FIRST ELECTRIC PUMP GOES ONLINE, SLOWLY REPLACING THE OLD STEAM PUMPS.

BUT IN 1937, THOSE STEAM PUMPS WOULD BE PUT BACK INTO ACTION WHEN THE WORST FLOOD IN LOUISVILLE'S HISTORY THREATENED TO SHUT DOWN THE CITY'S DRINKING WATER SUPPLY.

THE PUMPING STATIONS WERE FLOODED WITH NEARLY FIVE FEET OF WATER, AND A STEAM BOAT WAS BROUGHT IN TO BRING POWER BACK TO ONE OF THE OLD STEAM PUMPS.

AND THE LOSS OF THE CITY'S DRINKING WATER WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED.

IN THE 1960S, THE LOUISVILLE WATER COMPANY WAS EXPANDING OPERATIONS, SENDING WATER OUTSIDE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AFTER 100 YEARS IN BUSINESS, THEY BEGAN THE LONG PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING AND REPLACING OLD WEARING PIPES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT WERE MADE OUT OF LEAD.

IN THE 1970S, THE LOUISVILLE WATER TOWER PUMPING STATION NUMBER ONE, THE CRESCENT HILL RESERVOIR, GATEHOUSE, AND SHELTER HOUSE ARE ALL ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

AND IF YOU'VE EVER WONDERED WHAT'S INSIDE, WATER TOWERS ARE BUILT TO LESSEN THE PRESSURE OF THE WATER.

STEAM ENGINES WOULD PUMP WATER FROM THE RIVER WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT COULD BLOW THE ROOF OFF OF A CONTAINER OR BUST NORMAL PIPES, SO THEY SHOT UP IN THE TOWER, AND GRAVITY IS USED TO PUSH IT THROUGH YOUR FAUCET.

AT HOME.

LOUISVILLE'S WATER TOWER AND ORIGINAL PUMPING STATION UNDERWENT MASSIVE RENOVATIONS IN THE PAST YEAR, CAREFULLY RESTORING ALL OF THE ORNAMENTAL ARTIFACTS AND STATUES THAT MAKE IT AN ICONIC LANDMARK IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE TODAY.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

ELIMINATING THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

WOULD CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BE REDUCED OR JOBS AND TAX REVENUE LOST, OR BOTH?

NOAH MACK REPORTS FRIDAY AT 7TH FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, SO WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE MEMORIAL PLAZA IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY, SHOT AND EDITED BY OETA CASEY FERGUSON AND JASON STEWART.

KEEP IN MIND, YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS MORE OF OUR CONTENT BY VISITING THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

LENZ.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

I TOLD OUR KIDS, WE'RE GOING TO PRACTICE NONVIOLENCE BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT.

WE'RE GOING WE ARE GOING TO PRACTICE SOMETHING THAT'S AS OLD AS TIME ITSELF AND AS FRESH AS TODAY'S NEWSPAPER.

THE GROUP MET AT MY HOUSE ON A HOT AUGUST DAY, AND ON THAT DAY MY DAUGHTER MERLYN SAID, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

LET'S GO DOWN TO KATZ DRUGSTORE AND TAKE US A SEAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY DON'T SEE US.

AND THAT WAS ONE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD.

YOU SEE, I BELIEVE THAT WHITE OKLAHOMANS HAD NEVER SEEN US.

THEY HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT US.

YOU GO DOWN THERE, YOU'RE WHITE, YOU GO DOWNTOWN, YOU WANT TO EAT, YOU SIT DOWN AND EAT AND YOU SLEEP.

YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE PRIVILEGES.

AND I SAY, DO Y'ALL REALLY WANT TO DO IT?

HE SAID YES.

I SAID, OKAY, YOU HAVE MY APPROVAL.

IT WAS OVER TO 19, 1958, AND WE WENT TO KATZ DRUGSTORE.

VERY VERSATILE DRUGSTORE.

YOU COULD BUY SHOES AND YOU COULD GET YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED.

YOU COULD BUY ANYTHING.

AND THEN THEY HAD A LITTLE COUNTER THERE, BUT YOU COULDN'T EAT.

AND WHAT KIND OF SENSE DOES THIS MAKE?

SO I FELT WHEN I WALKED IN KATZ DRUGSTORE, THAT I HAD AS MUCH RIGHT IN THAT STORE AS ANY OTHER PERSON.

THIS WEEK, ONE INCREDIBLE NIGHT WHERE ICONS MUHAMMAD ALI, MALCOLM X, SAM COOKE AND JIM BROWN GOT TOGETHER.

IT'S ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, STARRING KINGSLEY BEN-ADIR.

THAT'S 9:00 SATURDAY NIGHT ON THE OETA MOVIE CLUB, NOW STREAMING ON THE PBS APP.

FROM EMMY WINNING SCHOLAR HENRY LOUIS GATES JR.