>>> I'M HERE TO TELL YA, THE STATE OF THE STATE IS AS STRONG AS IT'S EVER BEEN AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT'S PENULTIMATE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS DELIVERS A SMALL PARCEL OF COMMON GROUND FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> THAT'S POTENTIALLY AN AREA OF AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR.

WE HAVE SUPPORTED HIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE EFFORTS IN THE PAST.

>>> PART-TWO OF OUR SERIES ON THE PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILIES.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ATTACKING YOU, THE COMMENT IS WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

I AM THE POLICE!

>>> TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE SIMULATOR AND AT FIRST IT MAY FEEL A LITTLE VIDEO GAMEY, A LITTLE CARTOONISH, BUT WHEN YOU START HAVING TO WORK THE AIRPLANES AND APPLY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS --- IT GETS REAL, REALLY FAST.

>>> THE FAMILY OF A MAN MURDERED IN PRISON, SUES THE D.O.C.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF AN OKLAHOMA LAWMAKER.

>> A NONVIOLENT CRIME RECEIVING TWO YEARS, HOW IN THE WORLD DOES HE END UP AT THE HIGHEST MAXIMUM PRISON IN OKLAHOMA.

>>> PLUS, AN INDEPTH CONVERSATION ON THE FLU OUTBREAK SWEEPING ACROSS THE STATE.

NEXT, ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT".

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

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT DELIVERING HIS 7TH, AND NEXT-TO-LAST, STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, TO OPEN THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE.

AND THE GOVERNOR CERTAINLY GAVE THOSE LISTENING IN HIS SPEECH A LOT TO CONSIDER AND REACT TO.

CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW FROM OUR O.E.T.A.

STUDIO INSIDE THE CAPITOL WITH THE DETAILS.

JASON?

>> GOVERNOR STITT IS CALLING FOR TAX CUTS AND A FLAT BUDGET.

DEMOCRATS SAY IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GOVERNOR IS FOLLOWING ALONG WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S WISHES.

>> MAKE THEM HEAR YOU.

THEY ARE BY CAN CROWD OF ROUGHLY 300 PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH STEPS OF THE CAPITAL.

>> MR. PRESIDENT, THE JOINT COMMITTEE FROM THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE GOVERNOR, THE HONORABLE KEVIN STITT.

>> A SHORT TIME AFTER THE MORNING PROTEST WAS FINISHED, GOVERNOR STITT TOOK TO THE HOUSE FLOOR LAYING OUT HIS AGENDA FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND BEYOND.

>> WE NEED TO COMMIT TO THESE FOUR PRINCIPLES.

WE NEED TO: 1 - PROTECT OKLAHOMA TAXPAYERS.

2 - BE THE BEST STATE FOR BUSINESS 3 - SAFEGUARD OUR SAVINGS 4 - PROTECT THE OKLAHOMA WAY OF LIFE.

THESE IDEAS AREN'T CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THEY WILL REQUIRE TOUGH CHOICES.

THEY WILL REQUIRE SACRIFICE.

>> BEFORE HE TOUCHED ON WHAT KIND OF SACRIFICE MIGHT BE REQUIRED, HE DID CALL FOR A HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT CUT TO THE PERSONAL AND CORPORATE INCOME TAXES FOR THIS SESSION BECAUSE SURROUNDING STATES ARE CUTTING TAXES.

>> IF WE DON'T ACT QUICKLY, WE ARE GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND AND WE'LL BE CONSIDERED A HIGH TAX STATE.

SO I'M CALLING FOR A HALF AND A PATH - A HALF POINT CUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND BUSINESS INCOME TAX AND A PATH TO ZERO INCOME TAX.

>> THAT PROPOSAL CAUSED DEMOCRATS TO PUSH BACK WHEN THEY RESPONDED LATER MONDAY AFTERNOON.

>> IN 2016, ‘17 AND ‘18, WHEN I STARTED MY SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WE HAD A ONE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT, AND THAT WAS DUE TO REPUBLICAN INCOME TAX CUTS, THEY SLASH BUDGETS WHEN IT CAME TO EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTHCARE, OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES, THE THINGS THAT OKLAHOMANS ALL CARE ABOUT.

>> IT SEEMS STITT EXPECTED SOME PUSH BACK ON HIS TAX CUT PROPOSAL.

>> I LIKE TO REMIND THE NAYSAYERS WHEN WE CUT TAXES, THE MONEY DOESN'T DISAPPEAR.

IT SIMPLY STAYS IN OKLAHOMANS' POCKETS AND GETS REINVESTED IN OUR ECONOMY.

IN TIMES OF EXCESS REVENUE, OKLAHOMANS SHOULD KEEP MORE OF THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET ESTIMATES THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX WOULD COST $202.6 MILLION TO STATE REVENUES.

THE CORPORATE CUT WOULD RESULT IN AN ESTIMATED $37.4 MILLION NOT GOING INTO STATE COFFERS.

STITT WOULD LIKE THE LEGISLATURE TO SPEND LESS THAN THEY DID FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET OF NEARLY $12.5 BILLION.

HE WANTS LAWMAKERS TO ALLOCATE 11.1 BILLION TO STATE AGENCIES.

>> TODAY, I'M LAUNCHING DOGE-OK TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON FLAT BUDGETS AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S CALL GREATER GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY WITHIN HIS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH RESULTED IN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER HE SIGNED ON MONDAY, CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, OR DOGE.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MET WITH CRITICISM BY DEMOCRATS.

>> IT'S BEEN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S BEEN THEIR CHARGE FROM THEIR VOTERS TO BE LOOKING FOR ALL OF THAT STUFF ALL OF THIS TIME.

AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOW IN HIS SEVENTH YEAR, THE GOVERNOR'S GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

SHAME ON HIM.

IF HE'S AWARE OF THOSE KINDS OF INEFFICIENCIES, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT DAY ONE.

>> STITT DOES HAVE THE BACKING OF HOUSE SPEAKER KYLE HILBERT WHO IN A STATEMENT SAID, "FINDING GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY WITH AN OKLAHOMA VERSION OF DOGE IS A SHARED PRIORITY AND WILL BE CRITICAL AS WE SEEK TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT FISCALLY THIS YEAR."

OF COURSE, THE SELF-DESCRIBED BUSINESSMAN GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO CALL FOR OKLAHOMA TO BECOME THE MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY STATE IN THE NATION.

>> BY BEING THE BEST STATE FOR BUSINESS, WE'RE PAVING THE WAY TO BE THE BEST STATE FOR EDUCATION, THE BEST STATE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE BEST STATE FOR FAMILIES.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM LONNIE PAXTON IS ON BOARD.

HE ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART, "THIS SESSION, THE SENATE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE THE GOVERNOR AND OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE TO ADVANCE POLICIES THAT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE, CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS INVESTMENT AND MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN CORE SERVICES."

DEMOCRATS SAY BEFORE OKLAHOMA CAN BECOME BUSINESS-FRIENDLY, IT NEEDS TO HELP PARENTS GET TO WORK BY HELPING MEET THE CHILD CARE DEMAND.

THEY ARE PROPOSING A TAX CREDIT FOR BUSINESS WHO ASSIST EMPLOYEES IN PAY FOR CHILD CARE.

>> THE EMPLOYER TAX CREDIT FOR ALL THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO WANT TO SHARE IN THE COST OF CHILDCARE FOR FAMILIES.

WHEN THOSE FOLKS ARE DOING THAT, I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THE STATE SHOULD INCENTIVIZE, IT'S A THREE-LEGGED STOOL.

SO THE PARENTS ARE PARTICIPATING, THE EMPLOYER IS PARTICIPATING IN THE STATE'S PARTICIPATING BY THAT TAX CREDIT.

>> DURING HIS SPEECH, STITT DISCUSSED HOW A MAN WHO HAD SERVED 15 YEARS IN PRISON CONTINUED TO OWE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE COURTS.

>> IT'S TIME TO REFORM THIS SYSTEM AND GET RID OF WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY DEBTORS' PRISON.

>> DEMOCRATS AGREE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH COURT FINES AND FEES.

>> THAT'S POTENTIALLY AN AREA OF AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR.

WE HAVE SUPPORTED HIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE EFFORTS IN THE PAST AND ESPECIALLY THINGS ALLOWING PEOPLE FIRST CHANCE OR DIVERSION FROM PRISON, WHICH IS SO MUCH BETTER FOR ALL OF US.

I THINK THAT THE BIG CONCERN IS, IS IT A SHELL GAME?

IF WE CUT TAXES OVER HERE, HOW ARE WE TO PAY ON THE OTHER SIDE?

>> THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS AT ITS STARTING POINT.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL GET ITS FINAL FIGURE ON HOW MUCH MONEY IT HAS TO APPROPRIATE IN THE NEXT BUDGET ON FEBRUARY 14, AND THEN LAWMAKERS HAVE A LITTLE UNDER FOUR MONTHS TO PASS POLICY AND A BALANCED BUDGET.

>> MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD >> WHILE CURRENT LAWMAKERS ARE GETTING TO WORK, MANY INVOLVED WITH CAPITOL WORK ARE MOURNING THE LOSS OF FORMER LEGISLATOR RYAN KIESEL.

THE SEMINOLE DEMOCRAT SERVED IN THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE FROM 2004 TO 2010.

KIESEL ALSO SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ACLU OF OKLAHOMA FROM 2011 TO 2020.

HE DIED AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER AT THE AGE OF 45.

RICH.

>>> JASON, THANK YOU!

AFTER 3-AND-A-HALF YEARS AT THE HELM-- DR. KAYSE SHRUM UNEXPECTEDLY RESIGNED AS THE PRESIDENT OF OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY ON MONDAY.

A REASON FOR THE ABRUPT RESIGNATION, ANNOUNCED TWO DAYS LATER, WAS NOT GIVEN.

HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO OUR CONTENT PARTNERS AT "NON-DOC"-- THE OSU, A&M BOARD OF REGENTS RAISED CONCERNS OVER THE HANDLING OF STATE FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S INNOVATION" FOUNDATION.

DR. JIM HESS HAS BEEN APPOINTED INTERIM PRESIDENT, WHILE A NATIONWIDE SEARCH IS CONDUCTED.

>>> WELL, I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THE FLU IS RAMPANT IN THE SOONER STATE- IT KNOCKED ME OUT OF ACTION LAST WEEK, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER OKLAHOMANS-- WHAT'S GOING ON?

WHY IS OKLAHOMA CURRENTLY RANKED NUMBER 1 IN THE COUNTRY IN THE NUMBER OF RECORDED CASES OF INFLUENZA?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF OUR UPCOMING "INDEPTH” SEGMENT, WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> MOST YEARS THIS IS WHEN WE SPEAK IN GENERAL.

THERE ARE A FEW YEARS WHERE WE WILL SEE IT EARLY.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE HAD ONE THAT PEAKED IN LATE NOVEMBER, WHICH WAS DEFINITELY EARLY FOR US, BUT THIS IS TYPICALLY WHAT WE SEE AND IT HAPPENS AFTER THE KIDS GET BACK TO SCHOOL IN JANUARY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF TRANSMISSION AND THEN THE ADULTS GET IT MORE, BUT IT USUALLY STARTS IN MID-DECEMBER, MID EARLY DECEMBER, THEN TAKES OFF.

>> IT IS REALLY HARD TO SAY WHEN, YOU KNOW, PEAK ACTIVITY IS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I CAN SAY THAT NATIONALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE ALREADY HIT OUR PEAK, BUT OKLAHOMA'S ACTIVITY IS STILL INCREASING.

SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO OUR PEAK.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE SOME EITHER PLATEAU OR DECREASE IN ACTIVITY SOON.

BUT WE HAVE NOT DEFINITIVELY HIT OUR PEAK YET.

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

>>> IS THE STRESS OF THE JOB HELPING CONTRIBUTE TO A DISPROPORTIONATE RATE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT?

IN PART TWO OF HIS SERIES, STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO HELP EXPLAIN WHY THAT APPEARS TO BE THE CASE.

STEVE?

>> RICH I TALKED TO THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WORK AT OU.

BACK IN THE DAY, HE WAS A LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS POLICE DETECTIVE.

FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, HE'S STUDIED WHY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS MUCH MORE PREVALENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILIES.

YOU STUDY THE UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.

>> HE'S AN INVESTIGATOR FIRST, AND IT WAS PRUDENT TO INVESTIGATE THE GIANT ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

WHICH IS THE FACTING THAT HE SAID, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS TWO TO FOUR TIMES FOR PREVALENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT THAN ANY OTHER LINE OF WORK.

>> WE NEED TO WEED IT OUT.

SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN MORE OFTEN, THERE'S DECADES OF RESEARCH DONE BY EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE FBI.

YOU CAN SEE IT CAN BE FROM TWICE TO FOUR TIMES AS HIGH THE RATE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILIES.

I BELIEVE AND SAID MANY TIMES AND AT MANY VENUES, THAT FAMILY RELATED VIOLENCE IS AN EPIDEMIC.

HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND HIGHLY CONNECTED TO A MULTITUDE OF OTHER PROBLEMS.

>> IS IT WORSE IN OKLAHOMA THAN OTHER STATES?

>> YES, IT'S BEEN RESEARCHED.

OKLAHOMA IS LITERALLY THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR A WOMAN.

>> HE SAYS HE WAS PAYING ATTENTION ON AUGUST 30, 2003, WHEN THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY BRUTALLY MURDERED HIS WIFE, WHO WAS ALSO A CLEVELAND COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF.

>> WHY WOULD A DEPARTMENT SHERIFF SHOOT HIS WIFE 12 TIMES IN THE FACE, EVEN THOUGH HE'S A DEPUTY SHERIFF?

>> FROM MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TO SHOOT SOMEONE IN THE FACE, LIKE THAT RIGHT THERE IS INCREDIBLE FRUSTRATION AND ANGER.

>> 12 TIMES.

>> 12 TIMES.

THAT'S -- THAT'S TO SUBCONSCIOUSLY MOST LIKELY TO PROVE A POINT.

THAT THEY'RE IN CONTROL OF YOUR IDENTITY AND WHO YOU ARE.

>> WHERE'S ALCOHOL AND DRUGS PLAY IN ANY OF THIS?

>> BIG TIME.

BIG TIME.

>> WE NEED STRONG LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY ROUTINELY WORK IN DANGEROUS HIGH STRESS SITUATIONS AND THEN THEY GO HOME.

>> ONE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH I FOUND MYSELF LEANING INTO AND TRYING TO EXPLORE MORE IS THE SAME THINGS THAT CAN MAKE US HEALTHY AND FUNCTIONAL CAN OUT OF BALANCE WILL VERY UNHEALTHY AND DYSFUNCTIONAL.

>> IT'S ALREADY BECOMING PHYSICAL, PUSHING, RESTRAINING -- >> DID HE EVER HIT YOU?

>> YES.

>> LESLIE LIVES IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

A DECADE AGO HER ROMANCE WITH A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER WENT BAD.

>> HE STRANGLED ME, ATTACKING ME AND RELEASED ME AND THREATENED IT WOULD BE WORSE NEXT TIME, AND I BELIEVED HIM.

>> THE OHP BACKED HER 100%.

>> CHARGES WERE FILED AFTER HE ATTACKED ME.

I DID GO TO THE POLICE, IT'S HARD WHEN SOMEONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ATTACKING YOU, THE COMMENT IS WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CALL?

I AM THE POLICE.

I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE HIGHWAY PATROL SUPPORTED ME VERY MUCH WHEN I CALLED 911.

THE COUNTY RESPONDED AND SENT A SUPERVISOR.

HE ULTIMATELY WENT TO TRIAL, FOUND GUILTY AND SERVED PRISON TIME.

>> LESLIE SAYS YEARS BEFORE THE LHP TROUPE, SHE WAS MARRIED TO AN OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE OFFICER.

SHE SAID THAT ALSO ENDED BECAUSE OF HIS ABUSE AND THE OKPD STEPPED IN.

>> WHEN THEY KNOW ABOUT IT, THEY CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT IT.

WHEN IT'S CONSCIOUS.

>> LESLIE SAYS WHEN SHE WAS GOING THROUGH IT, THE CANADIAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ADVOCACY OFFICE WAS A GUARDIAN ANGEL.

THE SAME OFFICE THAT HELPED HER GET JUSTICE FOR HER DAUGHTER, JORDAN.

THE LITTLE GIRL IN THIS PHOTO, 37 YEARS AGO, THAT'S JORDAN.

>> DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL.

STILL TO THIS DAY, DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXPERTS WILL TELL YOU YOUR DAUGHTER PULLING AWAY FROM YOU IS TEXTBOOK.

>> YES, THAT'S WHAT WE FOUND OUT.

SHE PULLED AWAY FROM US, HER BROTHER, JUST TO BE OUT OF -- ALL OF US.

>> AND THAT BREAKS YOUR HEART.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WERE SO CLOSE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT OTHER THAN YOU KNOW, THAT WAS MY BABY GIRL.

>> THE VICTIM ADVOCATE COORDINATOR AND THE DA'S OFFICE, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT STOOD BY AND HELPED ME GET THROUGH THIS.

I CANNOT HAVE -- I CANNOT HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THIS POINT OF HEALING WITHOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE.

>> SHE'S PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE YWCA OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE LARGEST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SHELTER IN THE STATE.

>> I HOPE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT US, OR FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAN SHOW THEM THE WAY TO OUR RESOURCES.

>> THERE ARE MORE THAN 00 BEDS HERE, AND YOU'LL NOT BE TURNED AWAY.

>> WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING, KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO CREATE WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO SAFELY ENGAGE WITH US.

>> IRRATIONAL AND HIGHLY EMOTIONAL THAT'S HOW WE'RE WIRED.

IF I'M SCARED OF LOSING YOU, NOW I'M PUTTING ALL KINDS OF CRAZY IDEAS.

AND I JUST EXPERIENCED AND NOW I'M HAVING TO -- TOO MANY DRINKS AT NIGHT TO SLEEP BETTER.

NOW I'M SCARED OF LOSING, THINGS GET OUT OF CONTROL QUICKLY.

>> THAT'S HOW YOU CAN SHOOT SOMEONE 12 TIMES IN THE FACE.

>> LIKE THAT'S REALLY FAR DOWN IF LINE.

-- THE LINE.

BUT KEEP COMPOUNDING, UNFORTUNATELY, YEAH.

>> THE OKLAHOMA CITY YWCA IS WHERE LESLIE"WENT TO AND GOT HELP.

WE NEED TO REITERATE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN BE A BRUTAL JOB.

AND THERE ARE MANY GREAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE SOONER STATE.

RICH.

>> STEVE, OUTSTANDING REPORTING, THANK YOU.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DEMANDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS" BE THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST-- TRAINED AND HIRED BASED STRICTLY ON MERITOCRACY AND NOT ON DEMOGRAPHIC QUOTAS.

THE TRAINING TO BECOME AN ATC IS RIGOROUS AND IT'S DONE, RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

REPORTER NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS.

NOAH?

>> THAT'S RIGHT RICH.

THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACADEMY IS LOCATED AT THE MIKE MONRONEY CENTER HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND FOLLOWING THE FATAL COLLISION IN DC --- PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OTHERS POINTED TO DIVERSITY HIRING AS A HINDRANCE TO RECRUITMENT EFFICACY.

BUT WHAT DOES THE PROCESS ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

>> WE CAN SEE ONE AIRCRAFT THAT'S ON APPROACH HERE.

DELTA 802.

>> IT'S VERY EXACTING.

THEY DON'T JUST LET ANYONE CONTROL TRAFFIC ON THEIR OWN.

>> STEPHEN WEST IS A FORMER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER.

>> FOR THE FIRST PART OF YOUR CAREER YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S EXPERIENCED WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU, LISTENING TO EVERY WORD THAT YOU SAY AND HOW YOU SAY IT AND JUDGING THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE.

>> AND NOW HE PASSES ON HIS KNOWLEDGE TO ANOTHER GENERATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

>> IT'S MORE LIKE A PUZZLE.

I'M GOING IN, DOING A JOB, BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE SAME JOB EVERYDAY.

IT'S SOMETHING LIKE NEW.

I GET TO LIKE ALL THESE LITTLE PUZZLE PIECES --- EXCEPT THEY'RE PLANES GOING HUNDREDS OF MILES AN HOUR.

>> THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INDUSTRY HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THE NEWS CYCLE SINCE THE TRAGIC NIGHT OF JANUARY 29, WHEN A MILITARY BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER COLLIDED IN MID-AIR WITH AN AMERICAN AIRLINES REGIONAL JET OVER THE POTOMAC RIVER, KILLING 67 PEOPLE.

IT WAS THE UNITED STATES' DEADLIEST AIR DISASTER IN OVER TWO DECADES.

>> WE ARE ONE FAMILY, AND TODAY WE ARE ALL HEART BROKEN.

>> IN A WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING FOLLOWING THE COLLISION --- PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BEGAN SPECULATING THAT DIVERSITY HIRING OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS PLAYED A ROLE.

>> THE FAA IS ACTIVELY RECRUITING WORKERS WHO SUFFER SEVERE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS, AND OTHER MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS UNDER A DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION HIRING INITIATIVE.

>> OKLAHOMA SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN ECHOED THE PRESIDENT IN A FOX NEWS INTERVIEW SUGGESTING DEI CONTRIBUTED TO SMALLER CLASSROOMS.

HE SAID QUOTE --- INSTEAD OF THESE CLASSES BEING A HUNDRED PERCENT FULL, WE WERE AT 80% OR 70%, AND IT WASN'T FROM A LACK OF INDIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR IT.

EXCEPT EACH CLASS HAD A RATIO THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE ON IT.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE FAA ACADEMY --- LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA CITY --- TO SEE IF MULLIN'S REMARKS WERE TRUE.

THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST.

THE FAA DID HOWEVER REPORT BACK IN SEPTEMBER THAT OVER 1800 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WERE HIRED IN FISCAL YEAR 2024.

THAT NUMBER EXCEEDED THE ADMINISTRATION'S EXPECTATIONS.

REGARDLESS --- THE AVIATION WORLD HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER STAFFING SHORTAGE --- AS EMPHASIZED BY SENIOR OKLAHOMA SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD.

>> WE'RE SHORT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

WE'RE INVITING PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH THE VERY RIGOROUS TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE ACADEMY THERE.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS FOR FOLKS WHEN THEY GET IN THE FIELD 'WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE SITUATION EVEN BETTER FOR THOSE FOLKS IN THE FIELD.

HOW DO WE GET THEM MORE HELP?

AND HOW DO WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE ACADEMY TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE AND TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

>> THAT BRINGS US TO A BRAND NEW PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA --- CALLED ENHANCED ATCTI.

>> AIR TRAFFIC COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE.

>> IN OCTOBER --- FOUR ATCTI PROGRAMS ACROSS THE U.S.

WERE BESTOWED THE TITLE OF "ENHANCED," AND OU WAS THE FIRST OF THE BUNCH TO BE APPROVED BY THE FAA ACADEMY.

BEFORE THIS PROGRAM --- STUDENTS WOULD GRADUATE WITH A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE AND THEN APPLY FOR FURTHER TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY.

STEPHEN SAYS THIS NEW INITIATIVE WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO BYPASS THE ACADEMY AND GRADUATE STRAIGHT INTO WORLD OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL.

>> WE'LL NEVER REPLACE THEM, BUT WE AUGMENT WHAT THEY DO AND WE PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF NEWLY HIRED CONTROLLERS TO GO INTO THOSE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING POSITIONS.

>> STEPHEN ADDS THAT THEIR PROGRAM MIMICS THE EXACT CURRICULUM AT THE ACADEMY.

COME MAY --- THESE THREE OU SENIORS WILL BE A PART OF THE VERY FIRST CLASS TO GRADUATE THROUGH THIS ENHANCED PROGRAM.

>> I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO IT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS --- THREE OR FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS.

>> JACOB MASTON SAYS BEFORE GRADUATION THEY TAKE AN EXAM CALLED THE AT-SA --- WHICH IS AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING COMPETENCY TEST FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

>> QUICK MATH, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, ATTENTION SPAN, READING, PERSONALITY PROFILE.

>> THEY WILL ALSO UNDERGO FOUR SEPARATE PERFORMANCE REVIEWS --- ALL CONDUCTED ON AN AIR TRAFFIC TOWER SIMULATOR --- A PIECE OF A EQUIPMENT THEY ARE PROUD TO HAVE.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE SIMULATOR AND AT FIRST IT MAY FEEL A LITTLE VIDEO GAMEY, A LITTLE CARTOONISH, BUT WHEN YOU START HAVING TO WORK THE AIRPLANES AND APPLY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS --- IT GETS REAL REALLY FAST.

>> AND IT ACCOUNTS FOR MOTHER NATURE'S UNEXPECTED.

>> WE HAVE A NICE BLUE, SUNNY DAY UP ON OUR SIMULATOR TODAY.

WE CAN CHANGE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO WHERE IT'S CLOUDY, TO WHERE IT'S RAINY, TO WHERE IT'S SNOWING.

WE CAN GO TO DAY, TO DUSK, TO NIGHT AND BACK AGAIN.

AND IN ALL OF THOSE CONDITIONS THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT SHIFT.

>> AND CURTIS HARRIS SAYS --- LIKE MOST JOBS --- PRACTICE IS KEY.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN GO THROUGH A LECTURE, LEARN ALL OF IT, BUT UNTIL YOU APPLY IT, IT DOESN'T REALLY FULLY CLICK.

>> IF THEY SUCCESSFULLY LEAP ALL THESE HURDLES --- UPON GRADUATION THEY WILL LIKELY ENTER INTO A LOWER LEVEL TOWER POSITION AND WORK THEIR WAY UP TO LARGER AIRPORTS.

BUT BEING THE GUINEA PIGS CAN BE NERVE RACKING.

>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE ENTIRE AIR TRAFFIC COMMUNITY IS GOING TO ACCEPT US AS ENHANCED STUDENTS.

THEY'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

>> NONETHELESS --- ALL THREE OF THE STUDENTS ARE MORE THAN EAGER TO GET INTO THE FIELD.

>> IT'S JUST AN AMAZING JOB, MAN, THERE'S NOT REALLY A WHOLE LOT LIKE IT.

>> STEPHEN HOPES THAT THIS NEW INITIATIVE WILL HELP TO QUELL THE NATIONWIDE STAFFING SHORTAGE.

ADDING THAT THE UNITED STATES PROVIDES MORE AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND THAT THOSE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ARE REALLY NEED.

RICH.

>>> THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS ACTIVELY SEEKING ORGANIZATIONS WILLING TO HOST IT'S SUMMERTIME CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE HEALTHY MEALS TO KIDS WHO OFTENTIMES, DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEM ONCE SCHOOL LETS OUT.

THE OSDE IS LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH NONPROFITS, CHURCHES, SUMMER CAMPS AND OTHERS TO PROVIDE A LOCATION TO DISTRIBUTE THE MEALS.

SOME TRAINING IS REQUIRED.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, CONTACT DEE HOUSTON AT DEE.HOUSTON@SDE.OK.GOV.

>>> THE CITY OF NORMAN IS ONE OF 18 COMMUNITIES IN AMERICA TO RECEIVE A HUD GRANT FROM THE FORMER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE HOUSING THAT IS MORE AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE.

THE CITY WILL USE THE $1 MILLION GRANT TO MODERNIZE A ZONING CODE THAT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 1954, AND IN DOING SO, WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS TO ACQUIRE THE PERMITS THEY NEED TO BUILD HOUSING UNITS OF ALL DIFFERENT TYPES.

>> SO IT WILL FUND SOME INITIATIVES TO HELP BRING OUR CITY CODES TO KIND OF UPDATE THEM, MODERNIZE THEM TO ALLOW FOR MORE CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND TO HOPEFULLY ALLOW FOR MORE TYPES OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

SO NOT JUST SINGLE FAMILY, BUT DUPLEXES, QUADPLEXES, APARTMENT COMPLEXES, REALLY JUST ANYTHING TO HELP PROVIDE MORE UNITS.

ESSENTIALLY YOU CAN COME IN AND GET A PLAN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY BUILDING CODE FOR YOUR PROPERTY.

SO IT KIND OF TAKES OUT THE ARCHITECT FEES AND DESIGN FEES FOR A RESIDENT WHO WANTS TO BUILD A NEW UNIT.

>> THE CITY HAS 5 YEARS TO SPEND THE MONEY BUT INTENDS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM IN THREE YEARS.

>>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN HUMPHREY HAS BEEN A STAUNCH CRITIC OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS- EVEN SUGGESTING IT BE RENAMED, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRUPTION.

NOW, THE LAWMAKER FROM LANE IS JOINING AN OPEN-RECORDS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE D.O.C.

FILED BY THE FAMILY OF AN INMATE WHO WAS MURDERED WHILE INCARCERATED.

TAELYR JACKSON IS WITH US NOW TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.

TAELYR?

>> THAT'S RIGHT RICH, REPRESENTATIVE HUMPHREY CLAIMS THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS NOT BEEN TRUTHFUL ABOUT A 2024 INMATE DEATH.

BUT ODOC SAYS THEY HAVE TRANSPARENT.

REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN HUMPHRIES IS CALLING FOR ANSWERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION ON THE DEATH OF INMATE MARQUIEL ROSS.

>> WE HAVE A WRONGFUL DEATH.

WE HAVE A PERSON WHO RECEIVED TWO YEARS.

IT'S EVEN QUESTIONABLE SHOULD HE HAVE EVEN BEEN IN PRISON.

IF YOU GO BACK, YOU GET THEIR OWN VICTIM STATEMENT, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS QUESTIONABLE ON DA'S SUPERVISION WHAT WAS DONE, WHETHER HE SHOULD HAVE EVER BEEN REVOKED ON SUPERVISION OR ACCELERATED AND SENT TO PRISON.

ALL OF THOSE ARE QUESTIONABLE.

BUT A PERSON WHO IS NONVIOLENT, A NONVIOLENT CRIME RECEIVING TWO YEARS, HOW IN THE WORLD DOES HE END UP AT THE HIGHEST MAXIMUM PRISON IN OKLAHOMA.

>> HUMPHREY AND THE FORMER INMATE'S FAMILY SAY THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DENIED THEM ACCESS TO RECORDS ON ROSS'S DEATH.

>> WE NEED TO SEE THE WRITE-UPS.

WE NEED TO SEE THE HEARINGS.

AGAIN, GETTING THIS INFORMATION FROM THEM IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

I HAVE REQUESTED IT AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MUCH OF THE INFORMATION I WANT.

>> KAY THOMPSON IS THE CHIEF OF >> AND THE FEDERAL LAW WE CANNOT VIOLATE THAT.

WHAT WE NEED IS A SIGNED WAIVER FROM THE INMATE TO SAY, YES, THIS PERSON, JUST LIKE YOU AND I GO TO THE DOCTOR, THIS PERSON CAN HAVE MY MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH INVESTIGATION.

>> KAY THOMPSON IS THE CHIEF OF PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

SHE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT IS WILLING TO RELEASE THOSE RECORDS ONCE THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION.

HUMPHRIES SAYS HE'LL BE JOINING AN OPEN RECORDS LAWSUIT THAT WILL BE FILED BY THE FORMER INMATES' FAMILY.

ATTORNEY RICHARD LABATH RECOUNTS THE EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE INMATE ARREST IN 2023 >> HE WOUND UP WALKING ON A ROAD IN NORTH TULSA THE NIGHT OF HIS 19TH BIRTHDAY.

AND A FELLOW WHO HAD JUST BOOSTED A CAR STOPPED AND PICKED HIM UP.

WELL, ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER AND THE OWNER OF THE CAR HAD BEEN FOLLOWING FROM A DISTANCE.

THE CAR ROLLED UP AT A QUICK STOP.

THE POLICE WERE CALLED, THE ACTUAL THIEF FLED AND GOT AWAY.

AND THE TULSA COUNTY DA IN THEIR EXUBERANCE DECIDED TO CHARGE MARKEL WITH POSSESSING STOLEN PROPERTY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HUMPHRIES QUESTIONS HOW THE INMATE ENDED UP IN MAXIMUM SECURITY.

>> WHY WOULD YOU TAKE SOMEBODY NONVIOLENT TWO YEARS APPEARS LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN OUT, MOST LIKELY, VERY, VERY LIKELY SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN RELEASED, PLACE HIM IN MAXIMUM SECURITY WITH AN INMATE THAT I BELIEVE HAD KNOWN VIOLENT TENDENCIES AND THEN ALLOWED HIM TO BE KILLED."

>> ACCORDING TO THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT CORRECTIONS MARQUIEL ROSS WAS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON IN JANUARY 2023.

ROSS WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED AT NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA COMMUNITY CENTER IN VINITA.

HOWEVER, AFTER MULTIPLE INFRACTIONS BY THE INMATE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER FACILITY.

ROSS REPORTEDLY CONTINUED MISCONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY VIOLATIONS WHICH LED TO HIS TRANSFER TO THE MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY IN MCALISTER.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HUMPHREY HAS SAID THAT WE WERE TRYING TO COVER THAT UP AND HURRIED AND, AND GAVE THE INFORMATION TO THE DA THAT IS ALSO INACCURATE.

SO ROSS'S DEATH OCCURRED ON THE 12TH, SEPTEMBER 12TH, AND BY SEPTEMBER 23RD WE HAD OUR INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED AND WE HAD SUBMITTED THAT INFORMATION TO PITTSBURGH COUNTY DA.

NOW, ONCE A DA GETS INFORMATION, IT IS UP TO THEM WHETHER THEY WANT TO FILE THE CHARGES AND ON WHAT TIMELINE.

SO WE DID NOT DELAY, WE DID NOT HESITATE.

WE DID OUR JOB.

>> REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN HUMPHRIES HAS REMAINED VOCAL ABOUT HIS DISAPPROVAL OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS UNDER STEPHEN HARP, UNDER DIRECTOR HARP, HAS NOT BEEN TRUTHFUL ON ANYTHING THAT I'VE DEALT WITH THEM ON.

I WILL CALL HIM OPENLY A LIAR.

HIS RECORDS ARE INCORRECT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HUMPHREYS RHETORIC AND HIS CONTINUED ATTACK AGAINST THE AGENCY HAS REALLY BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO US AND OUR EMPLOYEES IN THEIR MORALE.

>> THOMPSON SAYS HUMPHERIE'S ACCUSATIONS HAVE STRAINED THE ORGANIZATION'S RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

>> WE HAVE PROBLEMS RECRUITING BECAUSE OF HIS CONTINUED ATTACKS ON US, WHICH I FEEL ARE COMPLETELY UNFAIR.

DO WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS?

YES.

BUT WE ARE A GREAT AGENCY.

WE HAVE GREAT EMPLOYEES THAT TRULY CARE ABOUT THE INMATES.

>> THE AGENCY SAYS THEY HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE TO ADDRESS INMATE MEDICAL NEEDS.

>> WE HAVE 24 HOUR MEDICAL CARE AT SEVERAL OF OUR FACILITIES, BUT WE DO HAVE ON STAFF MEDICAL AT EVERY FACILITY.

WE TAKE CARE OF WHATEVER THE INMATE IS GOING THROUGH, EVEN MENTALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

WE HAVE DEDICATED STAFF THAT GIVE THE BEST CARE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HUMPHRIES SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK ANSWERS FROM THE AGENCY >> SO I BELIEVE I BUILT A REPUTATION THAT WHEN I SAY SOMETHING, I'LL DOCUMENT IT.

I AND I AM TELLING YOU THAT I PLAN ON EXPOSING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THESE UNSPEAKABLE PROCESSES BECAUSE OF THIS CAPITAL BUILDING.

>> IF YOU ARE CONCERNED OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT LOVED ONE THAT IS INCARCERATED YOU CAN CALL THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' COMMUNITY OUT REACH UNIT AT 405-425-2607.

RICH.

>>> THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS INVESTING TO ENSURE THAT DRONE TRAFFIC REMAINS REGULATED AND SAFE.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATE-WIDE, "OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW" WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> TO KEEP THE SKIES SAFE FOR ALL KINDS OF AIRCRAFT, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACE AND AERONAUTICS HAVE AWARDED A CONTRACT TO OKLAHOMA CITY BASED VIGILANT AEROSPACE FOR AN AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

THE SYSTEM WILL INCLUDE AN AUTOMATIC DETECT-AND-AVOID APPLICATION TO SUPPORT DRONE FLIGHTS AND THE ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY INDUSTRY.

VIGILANT WILL DEPLOY ITS FLIGHT HORIZON SYSTEM AT THE OKLAHOMA AIR AND SPACE PORT AT THE CLINTON-SHERMAN AIRPORT.

TULSA BASED ONEOK IS PARTNERING WITH MPLX TO CONSTRUCT A 400,000 BARREL A DAY LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS EXPORT TERMINAL IN TEXAS CITY, TEXAS.

THE JOINT VENTURE WILL ALSO BUILD A 24-INCH PIPELINE FROM ONEOK'S MONT BELVIEU STORAGE FACILITY.

THE JOINT VENTURE WILL BE CALLED TEXAS CITY LOGISTICS AND WILL BE HALF OWNED BY ONEOK.AND THE OTHER HALF OWNED BY MPLX.

EACH COMPANY WILL INVEST $700 MILLION INTO THE PROJECT.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED COMSTOCK HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE TO ISSUE UP TO $152 MILLION IN QUALIFIED PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS.

THOSE TYPE OF BONDS ARE TAX-EXEMPT THAT GOVERNMENTS ISSUED TO HELP FINANCE PRIVATE PROJECTS WHICH HAVE A PUBLIC BENEFIT.

THE BONDS ARE MEANT TO HELP COMSTOCK FUELS FINANCE AND BUILD ITS FIRST 400,000 BARREL PER YEAR COMMERCIAL BIO-FUELS REFINERY.

IT WILL BE BUILT IN OKLAHOMA, BUT THE SITE HAS YET TO BE FINALIZED.

OKLAHOMA'S ONLY SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY AFFILIATE, SAGE SOTHEBY IS EXPANDING TO KANSAS CITY.

SAGE SOTHEBY HAS PURCHASED ELEMENT SOTHEBY.

SAGE SOTHEBY'S WAS FOUNDED IN 2017.

THE TERMS OF THE DEAL WERE NOT DISCLOSED.

AFTER A MONTH OF LOWER PRICES, GASOLINE PRICES ARE STARTING TO RISE AGAIN IN OKLAHOMA.

TRIPLE A SAYS A MONTH AGO, THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR UNLEADED WAS NEARLY 2.56 A GALLON.

THE CURRENT AVERAGE IS 22 CENTS HIGHER AT 2.78 A GALLON.

THAT NATIONAL AVERAGE PRICE IS GOING UP AS WELL, COMING IN AT JASON DOYLE.

THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>>> LAST WEEK, A HANDFUL OF OKLAHOMA SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE FORCED TO CANCEL CLASSES BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND STAFF SICKENED BY THE FLU.

EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT IT.

IS THE FLU SHOT LESS EFFECTIVE THIS YEAR?

HAS THE VIRUS MUTATED?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO AVOID BEING INFECTED?

TO DISCUSS ALL OF THAT AND MORE, HERE'S "INDEPTH" MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD AND THIS WEEK'S PANEL OF GUESTS.

CASSIDY?

>> GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE BETTER AND BACK IN ACTION.

TO SEE WHY OKLAHOMA HAS A SIGNIFICANT FLU OUTBREAK, WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY DR. DOUGLAS -- THE CHIEF OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT OUHS.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> LET'S START WITH THE OBVIOUS, OKLAHOMA IS LEADING THE NATION IN FLU CASES RIGHT NOW.

WHY ARE WE SEEING SUCH A -- WHY ARE WE HIT SO HARD.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS A LOT OF INFLUENZA GOING AROUND.

THE STATISTIC THAT YOU CITED, IS FROM WALGREENS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF CASES, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH GOING ON AS TEXAS, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT THE DATA FROM WALGREENS DOES TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD THAT OKLAHOMAENS ARE TREATED WITH ANTIFLU MEDICATION, THAT'S A GOOD THING AND FOR THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

>> CAN YOU TELL US THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN TYPE A AND D. >> IT'S MORE SEVERE.

AND INFLUENZA B CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT INFLUENZA A CAN.

INFLUENZA A TENDS TO SPREAD MORE QUICKLY AND RAPIDLY, AND THERE'S ALWAYS JUST A LOT MORE OF IT.

YOU CAN'T HAVE SOME EPIDEMIC THAN INFLUENZA B.

THE SCIENTISTS LOOK AT INFLUENZA A BECAUSE IT MUTES MORE RAPIDLY AND MIXES WITH OTHER ANIMALS.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING THE AVIAN FLU.

THE A STRAIN.

>> RIGHT, THE AVIAN FLU IS STRAIN A.

>> ARE WE SEEING A MORE SEVERE STRAIN THIS YEAR?

>> WE ARE IN OKLAHOMA PREDOMINANTLY, THE -- HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS BEEN A BIT MORE SEVERE IN OUR POPULATIONS AND FROM SEASON TO SEASON.

OUR HIGHEST KIND OF MOST SEVERE RECORDED SEASON WAS H-3 SEASON.

FROM 217 TO 2018.

BUT IT'S STARTING TO PICK UP NATIONALLY AND IN OKLAHOMA.

AND THAT CAN ALSO CAUSE SEVERE INAL.

>> YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE TRACKING FLU CASES IN REAL TIME, WHAT'S THE DATA TELLING US?

WHERE ARE THE HOT SPOTS?

>> WE DO TRACK INFLUENZA REAL TIME AND TRACK IT WEEKLY YEAR AROUND.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW FOR INFLUENZA IS EVERYONE IN OKLAHOMA IS AT HIGH RISK FOR INFLUENZA.

IT IS SPREAD COMPLETELY ACROSS THE STATE, I WOULDN'T SAY THERE'S NO HOT SPOTS.

IT'S EVERYWHERE.

THE RISK BEING HIGH IS REALLY INFLUENCED BY THE FACT IT'S SO WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE STATE, AND ON -- WHEN WE MEASURE THE INTENSITY OF THE ACTIVITY, WE'RE A FIVE OUT OF FIVE TON INTENSITY -- ON THE INTENSITY SCALE.

>> SO WE COMPARE WHERE WE AT NOW TO 2017, ARE WE WORSE?

>> IT IS VERY VERY SIMILAR.

AND EVEN SIMILAR IN THE TIMING OF IT ALL.

>> SHE MAKES A GREAT POINT THE TIMING OF THE FLU SEASON IS INTERESTING.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO PREVIOUS YEARS?

>> MOST YEARS THIS IS WHERE WE SEE PEAK, IN GENERAL.

A FEW YEARS WHERE IT'S EARLY, SEVERAL YEARS AGO ONE PEAKED IN LATE NOVEMBER.

BUT THIS IS TYPICALLY WHAT WE SEE, HAPPENS AFTER THE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN JANUARY.

IT STARTS IN MID DECEMBER, MID TO EARLY DECEMBER AND TAKES OFF.

>> THIS YEAR DID IT START EARLIER?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

>> WE HAD A BIT OF A LATE SEASON, LIKE START TO IT.

BUT WE STARTED IT INCREASED RAPIDLY.

SO NATIONALLY WE WERE LIKE FOUR WEEKS BEHIND, KIND OF WHEN EVERYONE ELSE STARTED TO SEE THE INCREASE, AND -- >> IT TOOK OFF.

>> IT DID.

>> THE FLU SHOTS ARE A HOT TOPIC.

IS THIS YEAR'S VACCINE DOING ITS JOB?

>> IT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW.

EVERY YEAR THERE'S A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO LOOK AT VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS AND THE NUMBERS FOR THE SEASON HAVE NOT COME OUT YET.

IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT THE VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS LOOKS LIKE.

BUT, THE VACCINE IS STILL A REALLY IMPORTANT TOOL, HE HAVE BEEN ON A YEAR WHERE IT'S NOT VERY EFFECTIVE.

YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE RISK REDUCTION, OR THE AMOUNT IT HELPS YOU TO STAY OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, IT'S STILL VERY GOOD AT PREVENTING SEVERE INFECTIONS AND POSSIBLE DEATH.

>> IS IT LESS EFFECTIVE?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF INFLUENZA, A LOT OF SICK FOLKS IN THE HOSPITAL.

SOME ARE VACCINATED.

WE THINK ABOUT IT AS THAT EVEN IF IT DOESN'T PREVENT THE CASE, IT GIVES YOU ENOUGH ADDED IMMUNITY, IT CAN TURN A FATAL CASE INTO A BAD CASE, AND A MILD CASE INTO A VERY MILD CASE.

THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE DISEASE MODIFICATION, EVEN IF YOU GET SICK YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT AS SICK.

>> IF SOMEONE HASN'T GOTTEN THE FLU SHOT, IS IT TOO LATE?

>> NO, THERE'S TIME LEFT.

IT TAKES ONE TO TWO WEEKS FOR THE ANTIBODIES TO RISE SUFFICIENTLY AFTER GETTING THE VACCINE.

ALTHOUGH I CAN'T SAY WITH CERTAINTY, A GOOD BET IN TWO WEEKS, STILL A LOT OF INFLUENZA IN OKLAHOMA.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDER IF YOU GET THE FLU SHOT WILL YOU STILL GET THE FLU OR SYMPTOMS ARE MILDER?

>> BOTH CAN HAPPEN.

THE VACCINE INCLUDES THREE DIFFERENT STRAINS OF FLU.

2 A AND 1 B.

LET'S SAY YOU HAD FLU IN DESMOND, AND WELL, THAT WAS ONE OF THE STRAINS.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE AING STRAINS.

BUT YOU'RE UNPROTECTED FOR THE OTHER A STRAIN OR THE B.

THERE'S STILL REASON TO GET THE VACCINE, EVEN IF YOU HAD IT A MONTH OR TWO AGO.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE, CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING SICK AGAIN?

>> IT CAN HAPPEN.

YEAH.

>> WHAT KIND OF TESTS ARE AVAILABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FLU.

>> THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD.

OVER 75% ACCURATE, AND AUVEN THEY'RE PCR'S.

OR OTHER KIND OF MULTIPLEX TESTING.

AND IT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE SEVERAL VIRUSES ALL LOOK ALIKE.

OFTEN IT HELPS FOR THE CLINICIAN TO KNOW WHAT THE PERSON HAS.

YOU WOULD TREAT THEM DIFFERENTLY.

>> SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS INCLUDING OKLAHOMA CITY EDMOND AND -- HAVE CLOSED DUE TO THE FLU OUTBREAK.

IS THIS UNUSUAL?

>> EVERY YEAR WE HEAR OF SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO FLU OR A COMBINATION OF OTHER ILLNESSES.

THERE'S TOO MANY SICK KIDS OR TEACHERS OUT.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR IS IN LINE WITH SOME OF THE MORE SEVERE YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD.

FROM AN ACTIVITY PERSPECTIVE, BUT DEFINITIVELY NOT UNEXPECTED.

>> THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING NOT JUST BECAUSE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE SICK, BUT TO CLEAN THE BUILDINGS.

ARE THERE PRACTICES YOU BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE USING?

>> USUALLY THE INDUSTRIAL CLEANERS ARE GOOD TO KILL INFLUENZA.

IN THE WINTER TIME YOU CAN SNEEZE OR OPEN A DOOR AND THE NEXT PERSON WHO TOUCHES THE DOOR, GETS YOUR FLU.

>> WASH YOUR HAND.

PLEASE WASH YOUR HAND.

WITH THE RECENT REPORTS OF FLU RELATED DEATHS IN CHILDREN HERE IN OKLAHOMA, HOW IS THE -- DOING -- WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?

>> IT GOES BACK TO THE PREVENTION METHODS.

INCLUDING THE VACCINES.

THE VACCINES ARE VERY GOOD AT MODIFYING YOUR ILLNESS AND THAT IS THE SAME FOR CHILDREN.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE VACCINE, TALK TO THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

PRACTICE ALL THE PREVENTION PIECES.

TEACH YOUR KIDS HOW TO WASH HANDS AND WHEN TO WASH THEM.

HOW TO COVER THE COUGH.

HOW TO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE.

EVERYONE IS REALLY -- WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOUCHING OUR FACE, BUT THIS TIME OF YEAR IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

>> TOUCH A DOORKNOB AND SOMEONE BEHIND YOU WILL GET IT.

PEOPLE WONDER, IS IT A COLD THE FLU OR COVID?

THE STRAINS THEMSELVES LOOK THE SAME.

BUT WHAT ABOUT BE THE SYMPTOMS?

>> CLINICAL INFLUENZA I THINK OF SOMETHING THAT HITS YOU VERY HARD.

YOU'RE FINE IN THE AMONG AND BY THE AFTERNOON FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BEAT UP.

A TYPICAL COLD GENERALLY DOESN'T DO THAT.

THEY SMOLDER FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN COUGH.

INFLUENZA HITS YOU HARD AND FAST.

>> AND IN TERMS OF TREATMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER.

WHAT DOES TREATMENT LOOK LIKE?

>> THERE AREN'T MANY, IF ANY, ANY TREATMENTS FOR NOROVIRUS.

EXCEPT THE FLUIDS.

YOU HAVE TO STAY ON FLUIDS.

SO YOU DON'T GET DEHYDRATED.

INFLUENZA, THERE'S REASONABLE GOOD ANTIVIRALS.

AND WITH COVID, IT'S TRICKIER, THERE IS ONE DRUG THAT YOU CAN TAKE AS OUT PATIENT AND SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL, I'VE TAKEN IT, IF YOU TAKE IT, TAKE IT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF GETTING SICK.

YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF A GOOD OUTCOME.

>> WHAT ABOUT OTHER ANTIVIRALS.

>> TAMI FLU IS THE TRADE NAME -- IT'S A GOOD DRUG AS IS -- >> IT'S PERFECT, I NEED TO KNOW.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROVIDES THE UPDATES.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAYS FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME TO GET THE INFORMATION?

>> WE POST UPDATES WEEKLY ON THURSDAY AROUND 10:00 IN THE MORNING.

AND IT IS -- YOU CAN GET TO IT BY ACCESSING OK VIRAL VIEW.

AND WE HAVE A USER WHAT I THINK IS USER FRIENDLY DASHBOARD FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GET A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT THEIR RISK LEVEL IS FOR EACH OF THE THREE MAJOR VIRUSES THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THAT ARE CIRCULATING AS WELL.

AND YOU CAN LOOK AT STATEWIDE OR LOOK AT IT FOR YOUR PART OF THE STATE IF YOU'RE MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON LOCALLY, AND MONITOR THAT YOURSELF.

INFORMATION ON OUT PATIENT, HOSPITALIZATIONS, DEATHS AND WASTE WATER.

>> AS WE'RE MONITORING THE SITUATION, ARE YOU -- ARE WE NEARING THE PEAK OR THE OUTBREAK WILL GET WORST?

OKLAHOMA'S ACTIVITY IS STILL INCREASING.

I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE CLOSE TO OUR PEAK, HOPEFULLY SEE PLATEAU OR DECREASE IN THE ACTIVITY SOON.

BUT WE HAVE NOT DEFINITIVELY HIT THE PEAK YET.

>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

ARE WE SEEING THE PEAK?

>> I'LL GO OUT ON A LIMB, I'LL SAY THAT BECAUSE WE STARTED LATE, THIS YEAR, WE PROBABLY STILL HAVE A FEW WEEKS TO GO BEFORE WE START TO DECLINE.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN NEVER BE SURE.

>> QUESTIONS FOR BOTH OF YOU -- >> I THINK THE MAJOR CONCERN I HAVE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED.

GETTING YOUR VACCINES PREVENTS MANY THINGS.

JUST ANOTHER PLUG.

MAKE SURE YOU GET VACCINATED.

>> FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> JUST TO ADD ON TO THAT, I SAID PREVIOUSLY THAT H3N2 IS THE PREDOMINANT STRAIN SO FAR, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS H1N1 IS BECOMING MORE COMMON.

AND GOING BACK TO WHAT WE ALREADY DISCUSSED WITH IT NOT BEING TOO LATE TO GET VACCINATES, AS H1N1 COULD CONTINUE TO INCREASE -- IT'S IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED -- THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT CAN HIT AND HIT LATE IN THE FLU SEASON.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>>> IT'S REFERRED TO AS "THE LOST COLONY"-- BUT, WAS IT EVER REALLY LOST AT ALL?

IN THIS WEEK'S "NATIONAL VIEW" SEGMENT, WE TRAVEL TO THE EAST COAST OF VIRGINIA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A GROUP OF ENGLISH SETTLERS WHO SEEMINGLY DISAPPEARED BACK IN THE 1600'S.

AS WE LEARN IN THIS REPORT FROM WHRO PUBLIC MEDIA IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA-- ONE RESEARCH HISTORIAN THINKS THAT'S NONSENSE.

>> IT'S A MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT START IN 1937, AND IT CREATED THIS MYTH OF A COLONY THAT VANISHED AND NONE OF THAT IS REAL.

>> HE FEELS PASSIONATELY THAT THE LOST COLONY WAS NEVER LOST.

>> THEY'RE NOT NEAR THEM ON THE ISLAND, THEY HAVE COMPLETELY MOVED IN.

>> HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, AND RUNS THE LOST COLONY MUSEUM.

>> WE HAVE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COMING OUT OF THE GROUND WITH THE BEST PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE WORLD BEHIND IT.

>> IN 1587, THE LEADER OF THE EXING PE ADDITION RETURNED TO ENGLAND.

AND RETURNED TO FIND THE SETTLEMENT ABANDONED.

>> THEY SAY THAT THE COLONY VANISHED AND THEY LEFT BEHIND THIS CRYPTIC MESSAGE ON A TREE.

AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS.

>> THE REASON THEY DO THIS IS MYSTERY ITSELF.

IT'S CLEARLY LABELED ON THE MAPS.

>> THE HIGHLIGHT IS THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF ARTIFACTS.

>> WE'RE FINDING HAMMER SCALE, THAT'S A BY-PRODUCT OF BLACKSMITHING.

YOU PUT AN IRON ROD IN THE COALS, IT'S RED HOT.

WE HAVE BUCKETS OF IT, AND THIS IS SHOWING THEM LIVING THERE, NOT JUST TRADED IN.

THIS IS SHOWING THE PRESENCE OF THE ENGLISH WORKING METAL AND LIVING IN THE INDIAN VILLAGE FOR DECADES.

>> AND AS THE ISLAND IS MORE DEVELOPED, FINDING THE LINKS NOW IS CRITICAL.

>> THE HISTORY IS ALREADY CONSERVATIVELY CLEAR OF WHAT HAPPENED.

-- CRYSTAL CLEAR OF WHAT HAPPENED.

THE FACT WE'RE ABLE TO PRESERVE THIS AS WELL, THAT MAKES HAPPY.

IT'S IN REAL DANGER OF BEING LOST.

>>> SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" TAKING PART IN A PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ON THURSDAY, HOSTED BY STATE HISTORIAN, DR. MATHEW PEARCE.

WE SHARED EXCERPTS FROM OUR EMMY-WINNING SERIES ON "BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS" AND TOOK QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE AS WELL-- INCLUDING SOME OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS YEAR-LONG PROJECT THAT FIRST AIRED IN 2023.

>> I MEAN, THIS GUY IS FROM THIS LITTLE TOWN, SUMMIT.

HE GOES TO OSU, GETS AN AGRICULTURE DEGREE, GOES TO VIETNAM AND WINS MEDALS, I MEAN THE, THE, THE TOP MEDALS.

AND THEN HE GOES OUT AND GOES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WHAT DOES HE DO?

HE TEACHES AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, BUT WHAT, WHAT DOES HE DO HERE AT THE END OF HIS LIFE, HE MOVES BACK TO SUMMIT AND HE GROWS GARDENS AND GIVES HIS STUFF AWAY.

THAT'S WHAT AN ALL-BLACK TOWN IS.

>> YOU CATCH WATCH ALL 13 EPISODES OF "BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS" BY LOGGING ONTO OETA.TV.

>>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT"-- IT'S OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURE'S VERSION OF "SHARK TANK".

STATE ENTREPRENEURS HOPING TO RECEIVE FUNDING TO BRING THEIR BIG IDEAS TO LIFE.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS, NEXT FRIDAY AT 7!

WE'LL ROLL THE CREDITS THIS WEEK WITH ANOTHER LOOK AT CITIZENS EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON MONDAY, SHOT AND EDITED FOR US BY OETA'S KACI FERGUSON.

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!