>> REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATED PRIORITIES AS A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION GETS UNDERWAY.

>> I THOUGHT HIS MESSAGE TODAY SET A GOOD POSITIVE TONE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HE TALKED A LOT ABOUT POLICIES THAT HELP THE WEALTHIEST OKLAHOMANS.

>> AN IMMIGRATION BILL NEGOTIATED BY OKLAHOMA SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD IS VOTED DOWN.

>> WE CAN'T DO NOTHING.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET DONE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.

>> REMEMBERING ONE OF OKLAHOMA'S MOST ICONIC AND SUCCESSFUL COUNTRY ARTISTS.

>> IN THE PROFESSIONAL SENSE, SONGWRITING WAS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT TO HIM THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE HE WAS SO PROUD OF THAT.

>> WILL THIS MAMMOTH SKYSCRAPER ONE DAY DOMINATE THE OKLAHOMA CITY SKYLINE?

>> EVEN IF ONLY PHASE ONE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS, I THINK IT'S A HUGE POSITIVE FOR BRICKTOWN AND FOR DOWNTOWN.

>> BLACK HISTORY MONTH PUTS A RENEWED FOCUS ON THE DEVASTATING IMPACT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE HAS ON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> WE PROVIDE EDUCATION, EDUCATION ABOUT UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, THE WARNING SIGNS OF DEMENTIA.

WE TEACH A LOT OF CAREGIVER COURSES.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M TAELYR JACKSON.

RICH LENZ WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK.

THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 59TH LEGISLATURE GOT UNDERWAY ON MONDAY, FOLLOWING GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT'S SIXTH STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WITH MORE ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY AND THE REACTION TO IT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, WE'RE JOINED BY OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT.

JASON DOYLE.

>> GOVERNOR STITT'S WISH LIST FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION INCLUDES TAX CUTS, MORE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND A PATHWAY TO CLARIFY JURISDICTIONS BETWEEN THE STATE AND ITS TRIBAL NATIONS.

>> THE GOVERNOR, THE HONORABLE, KEVIN STITT.

GOVERNOR STITT'S NAME CALLED OUT FOR THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE HAD RECORD REVENUE GROWTH, THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT AND RECORD SAVINGS.

WE ARE TOP 10 IN REAL GDP GROWTH.

>> HE HAS MORE PLANNED FOR THE STATE.

>> BUT WE CAN'T LET SUCCESS MAKE US COMPLACENT AND FORGET WHAT MADE THE OKLAHOMA DREAM POSSIBLE, WHICH IS FREE ENTERPRISE AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES, NOT MORE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS >> TAX CUTS AND BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY HAVE BEEN THE HALLMARK OF THE STITT ADMINISTRATION SINCE 2019.

>> YOU KNOW, WITH RECORD SAVINGS AND SURPLUSES, I'M ASKING, IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

>> STITT IS STILL TRYING FOR A PERSONAL INCOME TAX CUT OF A QUARTER OF A PERCENT.

AND WHILE THAT PROPOSAL IS ON HOLD IN THE SPECIAL SESSION, WHICH IS NOW RUNNING CONCURRENTLY TO THE REGULAR SESSION, HE TRIED TO REASSURE LAWMAKERS THAT IT WOULDN'T HURT REVENUES.

>> TWO YEARS AGO, WE CUT A QUARTER POINT FROM TH INDIVIDUAL TAX RATE, AND WE LOWERED BUSINESS TAX BY TWO FULL PERCENTAGE POINTS.

SINCE THEN, REVENUE COLLECTIONS HAVE INCREASED BY 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S BEEN THE TREND AFTER EVERY TAX CUT WE'VE PASSED.

SO I'LL SIGN ANY TAX CUT THAT COMES TO MY DESK.

>> WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE A TAX CUT.

IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES MCCALL OVERSAW THE INCOME TAX CUT PASS THE HOUSE LAST WEEK DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION AND APPRECIATES THE GOVERNOR POINTING OUT THAT PREVIOUS TAX CUTS DON'T HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON STATE REVENUES.

>> I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR'S TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT STATE REVENUES HAVE DONE SINCE WE MADE THE LAST TAX CUT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT.

>> HE TALKED A LOT ABOUT POLICIES THAT HELP THE WEALTHIEST OKLAHOMANS.

>> THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY LEADER REPRESENTATIVE CYNDI MUNSON BELIEVES THE GOVERNOR IS OUT OF TOUCH OF WHAT OKLAHOMANS WANT.

>> OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT JUST A WEEK AGO WE WERE VOTING ON A 0.25% INCOME TAX CUT THAT WE KNOW DOES NOT HELP THE AVERAGE OKLAHOMAN.

THOSE OF US WHO MAKE A MIDDLE INCOME, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 47 AND $55,000 A YEAR, WOULD BARELY GET A HUNDRED DOLLARS BACK A YEAR.

BUT THE WEALTHIEST 1% IN OKLAHOMA, THAT TOP EARNER, WOULD RECEIVE OVER $2,300 A YEAR.

>> STITT PLANS TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE STATE TO BE MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

AND WHILE A LOWER INCOME TAX RATE COULD HELP, HE ALSO PLANS TO CONTINUE RECRUITING BUSINESSES THAT PLAY TO THE STATE'S STRENGTHS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP INVITING ENERGY COMPANIES TO COME HERE AND JOIN THE RANKS OF DEVON, WILLIAMS, CONTINENTAL, AND ONEOK.

WE WANT MORE RETAIL GIANTS LIKE HOBBY LOBBY, BRAUM'S, AND QUIKTRIP TO CALL OKLAHOMA HOME.

WE WANT TO KEEP BUILDING OUR AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE INDUSTRY WITH COMPANIES LIKE AMERICAN AIRLINES, BOEING, AND LOCKHEED MARTIN.

WE WANT TO SECURE THE CRITICAL MINERAL SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOOSEN CHINA'S GRIP ON THESE TECHNOLOGIES.

>> STITT ALSO WANTS TO CONTINUE EDUCATION REFORMS TO HELP ENHANCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

JUST LAST YEAR, HE ESTABLISHED WITH THE LEGISLATURE THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS.

>> LOOKING FORWARD, LET'S FOCUS ON OPENING THE DOOR TO MORE WORKFORCE-ORIENTED SCHOOLS SO THAT EVERY KID IN OKLAHOMA IS COLLEGE READY OR CAREER READY.

>> FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, STITT WANTS NEW IDEAS FOR SCHOOLS.

>> LET'S EMPOWER COMMUNITY LEADERS TO START NEW, INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE MOLDED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR STATE AND PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE.

>> THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING FOR POSSIBLE REFORMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

THAT COULD INCLUDE SHUTTING DOWN OR MERGING EXISTING INSTITUTIONS.

>> I WANT TO EMPOWER OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO BE THE VERY, VERY BEST IN THE NATION.

TO BE THE BEST, WE NEED TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS TO OUTCOME-BASED HIGHER EDUCATION MODELS AND STOP SUBSIDIZING INSTITUTIONS WITH LOW ENROLLMENT AND LOW GRADUATION RATES.

>> THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WANT TO KNOW MORE BEFORE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THAT.

I KNOW THE REGENTS HAD A PLAN A WHILE BACK, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, TO TRY TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THE OFFERINGS.

BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCRETE DETAILS.

WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH THE GOVERNOR.

>> HE WASN'T REAL SPECIFIC ON IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW ON ALIGNMENTS OR CONSOLIDATION, YOU KNOW, IT -- IT'D BE INTERESTING TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE COLOR AND DETAIL ON HIS PLAN OR HIS -- OR HIS THOUGHTS.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS ADD WHAT COULD REALLY BOLSTER THE WORKFORCE IS AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE.

>> AND WHAT I DIDN'T HEAR IS THE NO.

1 ISSUE THAT WE ARE FACING AS A STATE IS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.

IT WAS NOT MENTIONED ONE IOTA.

>> OF COURSE, TRIBAL RELATIONS CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY FOR STITT.

>> MANY OKLAHOMANS I TALK TO WANT CLARITY ABOUT WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT IN OUR STATE.

THAT'S BECAUSE TODAY OUR STATE IS STILL DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT FROM THE MCGIRT DECISION.

IT'S A DECISION THAT HAS ROCKED OUR STATE AND CAUSED DIVISION WHERE PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS NONE.

>> THE GOVERNOR BELIEVES HE IS MAKING PROGRESS WITH SOME TRIBAL ISSUES.

>> I KNOW THERE IS A PATH FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS WE'VE FOUND NEGOTIATING COMPACTS WITH THE APACHES, THE CHICKASAWS, THE CITIZEN POTTAWATOMIE, AND THE WYANDOTTE GOVERNMENTS JUST OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

>> GOVERNOR STITT DID WAX A LITTLE POSITIVE WHEN IT CAME TO TRIBAL RELATIONS, EVEN THOUGH HE STILL OUTLINED ISSUES HE SEES BECAUSE OF THE US SUPREME COURT'S MCGIRT DECISION.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAY THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND TRIBES NEEDS TO GET BETTER.

>> HIS CONTINUED CONFLICT WITH TRIBAL LEADERS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

HIS COMPARISON TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ARIZONA TO OKLAHOMA IS UNACCEPTABLE.

OUR TRIBAL LEADERS AND TRIBAL NATIONS ARE GREAT PARTNERS WITH THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, WHO DO INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHO DO INVEST IN ROADS AND BRIDGES AND WHO DO INVEST IN HEALTHCARE.

>> OTHER POLICY ISSUES THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ARE LIMITING COURT FINES AND FEES WHICH KEEP PEOPLE IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, TRIMMING GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, AND PROMOTING FAMILIES.

>> WE'RE MAKING SURE THE NEXT GENERATION CAN LIVE OUT THEIR AMERICAN DREAM, THEIR OKLAHOMA DREAM.

LET'S GO.

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

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A GREAT SESSION.

>> THIS SESSION WILL BE A BIT DIFFERENT THAN PAST SESSIONS WITH HOW THE SENATE WILL HANDLE ITS BUDGETING PROCESS AND A CONCURRENT SPECIAL SESSION, WHICH AT LEAST THIS TIME HAS A CHANCE TO PRODUCE AN INCOME TAX CUT.

TAELYR.

>> THANK YOU, JASON.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON MAJOR POLITICAL NEWS AHEAD IN THIS NEWSCAST, BUT FIRST, THE OTHER BIG STORY IN OKLAHOMA THIS WEEK: THE DEATH OF TOBY KEITH AT THE AGE OF 62 AFTER AN 18-MONTH BATTLE WITH STOMACH CANCER.

BORN IN CLINTON, OKLAHOMA, IN 1961 AND RAISED IN MOORE, TOBY KEITH SOLD MORE THAN 40 MILLION ALBUMS AND RECORDED 20 NO.

1 COUNTRY SINGLES.

HE WAS AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND ALSO RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR CHARITY, INCLUDING BUILDING A HOME IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES BATTLING CANCER.

ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT ON HIS WEBSITE, KEITH DIED PEACEFULLY AT HOME ON MONDAY, SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY.

LONGTIME COUNTRY MUSIC DJ, BILL REED, REFLECTED ON KEITH'S LEGACY.

>> IT WAS A GUT PUNCH.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD ALL HOPED THAT TOBY HAD TURNED THE CORNER.

HE DID THE SHOWS IN VEGAS.

HE HAD PLANS FOR 2024 TO GO ON TOUR AND POSSIBLY SOME NEW MUSIC.

IN FACT, HE DOES HAVE NEW MUSIC OUT.

"DON'T LET THE OLD MAN IN" WAS A SONG THAT HE SANG AT THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE COUNTRY AWARDS BACK IN SEPTEMBER.

WE STARTED PLAYING IT LIKE THE NEXT DAY.

AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE SONGS WHERE IT -- I THINK IT'S PROBABLY HIS MOST POWERFUL SONG, BECAUSE THE OLDER YOU GET, ESPECIALLY, THE MORE YOU IDENTIFY WITH THAT SONG, AND YOU CAN'T HEAR IT WITHOUT SHEDDING A TEAR.

>> BECAUSE HERE IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, YOU NEVER KNEW WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO RUN INTO TOBY.

NOW, ELSEWHERE, IT'S PROBABLY AT A CONCERT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT HERE IT MIGHT BE MCDONALD'S, IT MIGHT BE HOME DEPOT, AN OU GAME.

WE HAD STORIES THAT YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE PLACES PEOPLE RAN INTO TOBY, AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS, HE WAS THE NICEST GUY, WOULD ALWAYS TAKE PICTURES, WANTED TO KNOW WHO WE WERE, WHERE WE LIVE, THAT KIND OF THING.

>> AS OF FRIDAY MORNING, FUNERAL INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC.

>> A WIDE-RANGING BORDER SECURITY BILL NEGOTIATED BY OKLAHOMA SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD FAILED IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE ON WEDNESDAY.

THE BILL PROVIDES $118 BILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING THAT INCLUDES $20 BILLION FOR THE BORDER, $60 BILLION IN FINANCIAL AID TO UKRAINE AND $14 BILLION TO ISRAEL.

IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION, OUR PANEL DISCUSSES THE PROS AND CONS OF THE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> WE PRESENTED THE BILL.

IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THE FIRST PROCEDURAL MOTION, SO I TURNED TO MY COLLEAGUES AND SAID, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN B?

BECAUSE WE CAN'T ALLOW, AS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE A DAY TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE COUNTRY DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.

SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO BE ABLE TO PUSH BACK.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIALOGUE TODAY AMONG REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO SAY WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP, NOT ONLY FOR ISRAEL, UKRAINE, AND FOR TAIWAN, BUT FOR OUR OWN NATIONAL SECURITY AS WELL.

>> THIS IS ALL INTERTWINED.

THIS IS NOT JUST SOME ONE-OFF ISSUE THAT WE CAN CYNICALLY LOOK AT AND SAY THIS NEEDS TO BE SOLVED BY CONGRESS.

NO.

THIS IS REAL LIFE.

THIS IS AFFECTING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

IT'S AFFECTING THEIR BUSINESSES.

IT'S AFFECTING THEIR POCKETBOOK.

AND WHAT WE JUST SAW WERE SHEAR, NAKED, POLITICAL REASONS, SOMETHING TO PUT ON THE SHELF FOR 9 MONTHS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE A POLITICAL ISSUE OUT OF THIS.

SHAMEFUL.

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

>> A PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT ONE OF THE TALLEST BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY IS BEING MET WITH A COMBINATION OF ENTHUSIASM AND SKEPTICISM.

WILL IT EVER GET OFF THE DRAWING BOARD AND BECOME A REALITY?

REPORTER STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH THAT STORY.

STEVE?

>> TAELYR, I TALKED TO THE DEVELOPER OF THIS PROPOSED PROJECT A FEW DAYS AGO.

TO HIM, IT'S NOT IF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT HOW SOON WILL THEY START.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO START MOVING DIRT IN JUNE OR JULY WITH A GRADING AND INFRASTRUCTURE PERMIT.

>> SCOTT MADISON IS A NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA DEVELOPER.

HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH OKLAHOMA CITY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR ON A SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT THAT INITIALLY WOULD HAVE INCLUDED FOUR 345-FOOT HIGH TOWERS IN BRICKTOWN NEXT TO RENO AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS IN LOWER BRICKTOWN.

MADISON SAYS THE PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE SEVERAL HUNDRED APARTMENTS, LUXURY CONDOS, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL AND ONE, POSSIBLY 2 HYATT HOTELS.

>> IT'S CURRENTLY A SURFACE PARKING LOT THAT'S USED FOR OVERFLOW PARKING FOR THE THUNDER, THE DODGERS, CONVENTION CENTER, THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY NEXT DOOR, WHICH IS THE HARKINS THEATER, AND THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE THERE AND SOME OTHER USES, OFFICE BUILDING, HOTEL.

>> NEXT TO THE BIG U-HAUL BUILDING.

>> EXACTLY.

>> MADISON IS NO STRANGER TO SCALE THIS SIZE.

>> I BUILT A HIGHRISE MIX USED CONDO, RETAIL OFFICE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, WHICH GOLDMAN SACHS WAS MY PARTNER ON AS WELL.

I DID A HOTEL IN HOUSTON CALLED THE ICON HOTEL.

MAGIC JOHNSON WAS MY PARTNER ON THAT.

WE CONVERTED A 110-YEAR-OLD BANK BUILDING, VERY SIMILAR TO THE NATIONAL BANK BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY, INTO A HOTEL, WHICH IS MANAGED BY MARRIOTT.

>> HE SAYS WHAT HE HAS PLANNED FOR BRICKTOWN IS JUST A THIRD OF A SIZE OF A PROJECT HE DID IN MIAMI.

>> BUILT THE LARGEST PROJECT IN THE UNITED STATES CALLED MIAMI WORLD CENTER.

IT'S 17 MILLION SQUARE FEET ON 10 CITY BLOCKS IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI.

BEEN INVOLVED WITH THAT PROJECT FOR 15 YEARS.

>> MATTSON SAYS WHEN OKLAHOMA CITY VOTERS BACK IN DECEMBER APPROVED THE EXTENSION OF A PENNY SALES TAX, THAT WILL BUILD A NEW 900 MILLION-DOLLAR HOME FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER, HIS PEOPLE CAME UP WITH A NEW BRICKTOWN PLAN.

HE CALLS IT PHASE 2.

IT INVOLVES THE PROJECT'S FOURTH TOWER.

THEY NOW WANT TO EXTEND IT FROM 345 FEET HIGH TO 1907 FEET HIGH, MORE THAN TWICE AS HIGH AS OKLAHOMA CITY'S DEVON TOWER.

IT WILL BE KNOWN AS LEGENDS TOWER.

IT WILL BE THE TALLEST TOWER IN THE UNITED STATES, SIXTH TALLEST IN THE WORLD.

>> THE CITY ITSELF IS UNDER -- IT NEEDS ANOTHER 3500 HOTEL ROOMS, ACCORDING TO THE STUDIES THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT WERE DONE BY THE CITY.

THAT'S MAINLY DUE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.

THERE'S A SHORTAGE IN HOTEL ROOMS, SO WE WENT BACK TO HYATT AND SAID WE WANT TO DO A SECOND HOTEL.

AND SO THE THOUGHT WAS, LET'S GO DO A TOWER THAT'S MIXED USE AS RESIDENTIAL HOTEL AND CONDOS IN IT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE IDEA OF THE TALL TOWER CAME OUT.

>> IS THIS LEGITIMATE?

>> THIS IS LEGITIMATE.

>> KENTON IS A FORMER OKLAHOMA CITY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND CURRENT CEO OF ITS ALLIANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> YOU KNOW, THE DEAL THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM IS TO DO $550 MILLION WORTH OF DEVELOPMENT AND 900 RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND TOWERS THAT ARE AT LEAST 20 STORIES.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S CODIFIED IN OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM.

ANYTHING ABOVE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO, ASPIRATIONAL DREAMS, ET CETERA.

WE DON'T WANT TO LIMIT THEIR DREAMS, BUT REALLY THE DEAL WE HAVE WITH THEM IS FOR THE 20 STORY TOWERS.

>> SARAH WELCH MANAGES OKLAHOMA CITY'S SUBDIVISION AND ZONING OFFICE.

SHE SAYS MATTSON'S LATEST MAMMOTH TOWER PROPOSAL STILL NEEDS WORK.

>> FROM OUR OFFICE'S PERSPECTIVE, THEY HAVE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY.

>> WHAT WOULD THAT ENTAIL?

>> LIKELY WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION CALLED SIMPLIFIED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.

YOU MAY HEAR IT REFERRED TO AS A SPUD.

>> AND WHAT WOULD THAT DO?

>> WELL, THAT'S A NEGOTIATED ZONING DISTRICT THAT WOULD OO AW THEM TO PROPOSE THE HEIGHTS WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR, BUILDING MATERIAL, SIGNAGE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO START THAT PROGRESS PROBABLY AT THE END OF THE THIS WEEK, BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK, READY TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION AND START THAT PROCESS, AND IT SHOULD TAKE 3 OR 4 MONTHS HOPEFULLY, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET APPROVED.

WEE ALREADY APPLIED TO THE FAA FOR THE HEIGHT, AND THAT APPLICATION IS IN PROCESS WITH THEM.

IT WILL PROBABLY GET DONE IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS.

>> MATTSON THINKS HE CAN GET THE FIRST THREE TOWERS BUILT SOME TIME IN 2026.

THE LEGENDS TOWER THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

>> AND WE HAVE 100% FINANCING ON THE ENTIRE PROJECT ALREADY IN PLACE.

>> I THINK WE JUST WORKED VERY CREATIVELY, THE CITY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HERE, TO PUT TOGETHER A DEAL THAT HAS SOME INCENTIVES, BUT THEY'RE INCENTIVES THAT THEY ONLY GET IF THEY BUILD IT.

IF THEY DON'T BUILD IT, THEY DON'T GET A DIME.

>> THERE'S QUITE A BUZZ ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

>> I THINK EVERYBODY IS JUST INTERESTED AND, YOU KNOW, WAITING TO SEE.

>> CHAD HUNTINGTON HAS OPERATED BRICKTOWN WATER TAXI FOR 25 YEARS.

HE SAYS THIS COULD BE GREAT.

>> CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT, ISN'T IT?

IT REALLY IS, OBVIOUSLY, A HEAD TURNER, AND IT WOULD BE A HEAD TURNER IF IT'S BUILT.

EVEN IF ONLY PHASE 1 OF THAT DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS, I THINK IT'S A HUGE POSITIVE FOR BRICKTOWN AND FOR DOWNTOWN.

>> KEVIN MCKRAKEN OWNS WHISKEY CHICKS IN LOWER BRICKTOWN, JUST A STONE'S THROW AWAY FROM WHERE MATTSON'S PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD SIT.

MCKRAKEN SURVIVED BARELY WHEN STREETCAR TRACK CONSTRUCTION UNINTENTIONALLY CHOKED OFF HIS BUSINESS 7 YEARS AGO.

MCKRAKEN HEARD ABOUT THIS SIX MONTHS AGO.

>> OH, MY, YEAH.

THAT'S GREAT.

THAT'S GREAT.

WELL, WE SURVIVED, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT, AND WE KNOW THERE THERE BE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, SO BRING IT ON.

WE'LL STILL BE HERE OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK AND STUDIES HOW OKLAHOMA CITY HAS REALLY HAD A MORE RESILIENT DOWNTOWN THAN OTHERS POST PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, I SAW SOME STATS TODAY THAT THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DOWNTOWN IS ABOVE WHERE IT WAS IN 2019.

THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IS ABOVE WHERE IT WAS IN 2019.

SO WE'VE REALLY RECOVERED AND COME THROUGH THE PANDEMIC NICELY.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO CONTINUE THE GROWTH.

>> THERE ARE MORE PASSENGERS COMING THROUGH THE AIRPORT IN OKLAHOMA CITY NOW THAN THERE WERE 2019, A LOT MORE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THIS, IS WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT VISITORS, PEOPLE VISITING, COMING TO SEE.

AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THE AMENITY PACKAGE AND THE ATTRACTIONS HERE, THIS COULD BE JUST ONE MORE THING TO HELP ATTRACT FOLKS TO OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> THAT 19 HUNDRED AND SEVEN FEET NUMBER IS SIGNIFICANT.

DEVELOPER MATTESON SAYS IT WAS APPROPRIATE.

OKLAHOMA WAS GRANTED STATEHOOD IN 1907.

TAELYR.

>> THANKS, STEVE.

THAT'S EXCITING.

>> THE GRAYSON JAIL HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1900, WE FEATURED THE SMALL STONE STRUCTURE IN OUR SERIES ON OKLAHOMA'S 13 REMAINING BLACK TOWNS.

THE 140-SQUARE FOOT JAIL WAS IN OPERATION UNTIL 1937, AND THESE DAYS, MAYOR LEON ANDERSON MAKES SURE IT LOOKS GOOD FOR TOURISTS WHO STOP BY TO VISIT ON OCCASION.

BEING LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROVIDES RECOGNITION, LIMITED PROTECTION AND, IN SOME CASES, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.

>> AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY THAN WHITE AMERICANS TO DEVELOP ALZHEIMER'S, AND THEY FACE SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES IN DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND CARE.

ALZHEIMER ADVOCATES ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE OF COLOR TO PARTICIPATE IN CLINICAL TRIALS FOR RESEARCH.

>> THIS MONTH HERE IN OKLAHOMA, WE ARE TRYING TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR BACK HISTORY MONTH AND REAPING INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND RAISING AWARENESS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S OR ANOTHER TYPE OF DEMENTIA.

SO WE HAVE A COURSE COMING UP THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, AT OSU TULSA, AND IT'S GOING TO BE AT 10 A.M., AND IT'S GOING TO BE A COURSE CALLED UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A FOCUS ON MINORITY POPULATION.

>> PROGRAMS MANAGER CARRIE LEE SAYS THE ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION PROVIDES SUPPORT AND CARE FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY ALZHEIMER'S.

>> THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION IS LOCATED IN EVERY SINGLE STATE.

SO NO MATTER WHAT STATE YOU'RE IN, THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHAPTER THERE THAT CAN HELP YOU FIND LOCAL RESOURCES.

WE PROVIDE EDUCATION, EDUCATION ABOUT UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, THE WARNING SIGNS OF DEMENTIA.

WE TEACH A LOT OF CAREGIVER COURSES.

>> DEMENTIA IS AN UMBRELLA TERM FOR LOSS OF MEMORY.

ALZHEIMER'S IS A TYPE OF DEMENTIA.

THE DISEASE IMPACTS THE BRAIN AND AFFECTS MEMORY, THINKING AND BEHAVIOR.

MORE THAN 6 MILLION AMERICANS ARE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND 67,000 OF THEM LIVE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> IT'S A BRAIN DISEASE, SO IT'S KILLING A LOT OF THE CELLS AND THE NEURONS THAT'S IN THE BRAIN, WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE THOSE MEMORY CHALLENGES, WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE PRONE TO TRIPPING AND FALLING, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DETECT, LIKE, HOW FAR AWAY OR HOW CLOSE AN OBJECT IS.

>> BLACKMON IS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.

>> WHAT I FOUND IS THAT THROUGH THAT, I LEARNED, NO.

1, A LOT OF INFORMATION, BECAUSE JUST LIKE MOST PEOPLE, THEY DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT ALWAYS I'M ALZHEIMER'S ANDDEMENTIA.

>> SHE SAID BEING INVOLVED HELPED HER IDENTIFY SYMPTOMS IN HER MOTHER.

>> I STARTED TO LOOK AT THE 10 WARNING SIGNS AND HOW -- WHAT LEADS TO IT, RIGHT, WHAT CAUSES ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA.

HOW DOES SOMEONE EVEN BRING UP THE QUESTION?

AND I STARTED TO LOOK AT THAT EVEN IN MY OWN PERSONAL SPACE WITH MY MOTHER.

I BELIEVE THAT MY MOTHER HAD ALZHEIMER'S THAT WENT UNDIAGNOSED.

IT WAS AS A RESULT OF SOME OTHER UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, BUT SHE DID ACTUALLY CHECK THE BOX FOR ALL OF THE 10 WARNING SIGNS ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> WARNING SIGNS LIKE MEMORY LOSE THAT DISRUPTS DAILY LIFE, TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING VISUAL IMAGES, CONFUSION WITH TIME AND PLACES AND MOOD CHANGES.

>> THAT SHE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF THAT MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT THAT IMPACTED HER MEMORY.

AS SHE CONTINUED TO PROGRESS, SHE STARTED TO GET WORSE.

ONE OF THE WARNING SIGNS THAT WE SAW WAS, OF COURSE, LIKE THE BIGGEST ONE IS THE MEMORY LOSS.

SHE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE.

SO AT SOME POINT, WE ENDED UP HAVING TO SELL HER CAR, BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT BASIC DIRECTIONS, RIGHT.

SHE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO THE GROCERY STORE THAT WAS DOWN THE STREET FROM HER NOT EVEN A FULL MILE.

>> THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OFFERS CLASSES.

>> BASICALLY THAT CLASS WILL GO THROUGH WHAT IS NORMAL COGNITIVE DECLINE VERSUS WHAT A DEMENTIA COGNITIVE DECLINE.

OFTEN PEOPLE WILL START TO REPEAT THEMSELVES, FORGET RECENTLY LEARNED INFORMATION, WHICH WE ALL DO THAT, BUT WE GIVE EXAMPLES IN THIS COURSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S NORMAL AND WHAT'S ALZHEIMER'S TYPE.

>> 21% OF BLACK PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 70 ARE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S.

>> AND THAT'S SUCH A HUGE NUMBER.

YOU KNOW, BUT ONLY ABOUT 20% OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE GOOD RESOURCES FOR QUALITY CARE, AND HERE AT THE ASSOCIATION, WE'RE TRYING SO HARD TO CHANGE THAT WITH HEALTH EQUITY AND REACHING INTO ALL COMMUNITIES.

>> LEE SAYS THE NATION'S HISTORY OF RACIAL EXCLUSION PLAYS A ROLE IN THE DATA.

>> DUE TO A HISTORY OF EXCLUSION FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND DISCRIMINATION FOR MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS, OVER TWO-THIRDS OF BLACK AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT THERE IS RACIAL BIAS AMONGST PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHEN IT COMES TO RESEARCH AND MEDICAL RESULTS.

>> ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN PARTICIPANTS IN ALZHEIMER RESEARCH STUDIES WERE 35% LESS LIKELY TO BE DIAGNOSED.

BLACKMON SAYS MEDICAL DISTRUST IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND PARTIALLY TO BLAME.

>> WE ARE STILL IN 2024 DEALING WITH THE RAMIFICATIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH THINGS LIKE THE TUSKEGEE EXPERIMENT.

THAT LED TO MEDICAL MISTRUST.

WE ALSO HAVE WHAT HAPPENED WITH HENRYETTA LAX AND THE STEALING OF HER STEM CELLS FOR RESEARCH WITHOUT HER PERMISSION, AND SO WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT HOW SOCIETY HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT, THAT'S WHERE YOU GET TO THE POINT OF, OKAY, INDIVIDUALS DO NOT TRUST GOING TO THE DOCTOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> BLACKMON ENCOURAGES FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOVED ONES WITH DEMENTIA TO VISIT THE ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION FOR RESOURCES.

>> THE ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION HAS 24/7 INDIVIDUALS ON STAFF THAT, IF PEOPLE HAVE A QUESTION, IF THEY NEED SUPPORT, IF THEY ARE L LIKE THEY'RE CRYING AND GET READY TO LOSE IT, THEY CAN CALL THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY IS HANGING OUT THE "HELP WANTED" SIGN.

WITH MORE ON THE AVAILABLE JOBS AND HOW TO APPLY, HERE'S RICH LENZ WITH THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY WILL HOST A ONE-STOP HIRING EVENT ON FEBRUARY 13th BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 4 P.M.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES SHOULD APPLY ONLINE AT OKC.GOV/CAREERS NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 11th.

OPEN POSITIONS INCLUDE ANIMAL WELFARE OFFICER, BUILDING MAINTENANCE MECHANICS, ELECTRICAL AND ELEVATOR INSPECTORS IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL OTHER POSITIONS.

SALARIES RANGE FROM -- FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO OKC.GOV/CAREERS OR CALL.

THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL BLACK COWBOYS RODEO AWARDS BANQUET WILL BE HELD AT THE NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY ON SATURDAY.

THE GALA WILL HONOR COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS WHO HAVE EXCELLED IN RODEO DISCIPLINE.

IT WAS CREATED TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE HISTORY OF COWBOY CULTURE.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY BASED COMPANY WILL OFFER THREE AND A HALF CENTS PER SHARE ON COMMON STOCK PAYABLE ON MARCH 18th.

THE 25-YEAR-OLD COMPANY IS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL PROVIDER OF CLOUD BASED HR AND PAYROLL TECHNOLOGY.

THE EDMUND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HONORED ITS 2023 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD WINNERS AT A RECENT BANQUET.

AMONG THE HONOREE DR. ANGELA GRISWALD WAS NAMED WOMAN OF THE YEAR.

TONY SCOTT WAS NAMED EDMUND VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR.

STATE TREASURER TODD ROSS REPORTS OKLAHOMA TAX RENEWS TOTALED $1.5 BILLION IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 7.6% FROM JANUARY OF 2023.

INCOME TAXES AND SALES TAX FUELED THE INCREASE.

HOWEVER, OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION TAX REVENUE DECLINED BY ALMOST 39% LAST MONTH.

TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS TOTALED JUST UNDER $17 BILLION.

AND FINALLY, JUST IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING HOW MUCH AMERICANS SPEND ON VALENTINE'S DAY ON THEIR PETS, ACCORDING TO CONSUMER PET, LIFESTYLE EXPERT SAYS $2.14 BILLION IN RISING, AN AVERAGE OF $27.42 FOR CATS AND $31.24 ON DOGS.

SORRY, KITTIES.

EITHER WAY, THAT'S A LOT OF CAT NIP, CHEW TOYS AND TREATS.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> HIGHER EDUCATION DAY WAS CELEBRATED AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON THURSDAY.

LAWMAKERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL COLLEGES JOINED WITH GOVERNOR STITT TO RECOGNIZE RECIPIENTS OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO WELCOME STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN OKLAHOMA'S 25 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

>> THERE ARE NEARLY, NEARLY 196,000 STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN OUR STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ALL OF WHOM HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE DECISIONS THAT WILL BE MADE IN THE GREAT BUILDING DURING THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

TODAY WE ARE HERE TO DISPLAY THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, AND YOUR PRESENCE HERE IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF YOUR DEDICATION TO THE VALUE OF A COLLEGE DEGREE.

>> IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE IS A DIRECT LINEAR EQUATION FROM EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM, AND THAT IS WHAT THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IS ABOUT.

NOW, NOTICE I DIDN'T SAY ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

I DIDN'T PROMISE YOU THAT WHEN YOU GRADUATE YOU'LL MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

BUT IF WE WERE BEING HONEST AND I WENT AROUND THIS ROOM, I DON'T THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE GOAL OF THE MAJORITY OF YOU, BUT ECONOMIC FREEDOM, THE FREEDOM TO USE YOUR SKILLS AND YOUR TALENTS TO FIND A PATHWAY AND BUILD A CAREER OF YOUR CHOOSING.

>> MORE THAN A DOZEN CURRENT AND FORMER LAWMAKERS WERE GIVEN THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD DURING THE EVENT.

>> THE FUTURE OF A $118 BILLION BORDER SECURITY BILL NEGOTIATED BY OKLAHOMA SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD IS UP IN THE AIR SINCE IT FAILED IN THE SENATE THIS WEEK.

WHAT'S IN THE BILL, AND WHAT MAKES IT CONTROVERSIAL?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

>> THANK YOU, TAELYR.

JOINING US NOW IS SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD SPEAKING TO US VIA ZOOM FROM WASHINGTON D.C. ON WEDNESDAY, THE SENATE TRIED TO MOVE THE BORDER SECURITY BILL FORWARD, BUT THE VOTE FAILED.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

>> FOR ME, THE GOAL WAS TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE BILL, AMEND THE BILL, MAKE CHANGES, BUT NOT TO JUST DROP IT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

THIS WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WAS STRUCK AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON THE FLOOR AND SAY THERE ARE THINGS THAT EVEN I WANT TO CHANGE IN THIS BILL, BUT WE CAN'T CHANGE IT UNTIL WE GET ON THE FLOOR AND DEBATE IT.

>> SENATOR LANKFORD, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO NEGOTIATE THIS BILL AND GET IT PASSED, SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO OUR STATEWIDE AUDIENCE HERE AT OETA WHY YOU THINK THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT?

>> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST MAJOR CHANGE IN BORDER SECURITY POLICY IN THE PAST 30 YEARS.

IT WAS VERY FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE ACTUALLY SECURE A VERY OPEN BORDER.

THE BORDER HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT ENFORCED THE BORDER THE SAME WAY PRESIDENT TRUMP DID, OR QUITE FRANKLY, THE WAY PRESIDENT OBAMA DID.

IF THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD JUST ENFORCE THE BORDER THE SAME WAY PRESIDENT OBAMA DID, WE WOULD HAVE HAD MILLIONS OF FEWER PEOPLE ACTUALLY IN THE BORDER.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THE AUTHORITIES HE ALREADY HAS.

THE SECOND THING IS WE WANT TO ADD ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES AND EQUIPMENT AND, QUITE FRANKLY, PERSONNEL TO BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE.

IT ADDED MORE WALL, PEDZ, DID H, ICE OFFICERS, OFFICERS, ADDING NEW TECHNOLOGY AT OUR PORTS TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP FENTANYL MOVING THROUGH VEHICLES COMING ACROSS OUR PORT, AND THEN ALSO ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS AUTHORITY FOR ENTITIES THAT ACTUALLY BRING FENTANYL INTO THE UNITED STATES, ADD SOME NEW AUTHORITIES TO THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

IT ALSO CHANGED THE WAY WE DEFINE ASYLUM, WHICH WE FELT IS VERY IMPORTANT, SO WE'RE GETTING ACTUAL ASYLUM FOLKS COMING IN THAT ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE ASYLUM, BUT FOR LITERALLY THE MILLIONS CROSSING IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT WE ALL KNOW DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ASYLUM, THEY'RE JUST COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND ASKING FOR ASYLUM BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE RELEASED.

WE HAD A FASTER PROCESS, A I HERE STANDARD FOR THAT DETERMINATION, A HIGHER EVIDENCE PIECE FOR ACTUALLY PRESENTING THAT, AND THEN A RAPID TURN AROUND, SO IF THEY COME IN, DON'T QUALIFY FOR ASYLUM, WE'RE ABLE TO QUICKLY DEPORT THEM BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

THAT SENDS A CONSEQUENCE OUT THERE, SO PEOPLE DON'T JUST KEEP COMING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THAT'S WITH A WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

IT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN HOW WE ACTUALLY HANDLE THE BORDER.

>> AND YET MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN PARTY, AT LEAST IN THE U.S. HOUSE, HAS SAID THIS IS A BAD BILL.

HAVE YOU BEEN SURPRISED AT THE LEVEL OF CRITICISM YOU AND THIS BILL HAVE FACED OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS?

>> I HAVE.

THERE HAVE REALLY BEEN TWO BIG PIECES OF CRITICISM.

ONE IS THAT WE SAY IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WE WANT TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE ON THE BORDER BESIDES THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ANY BORDER SECURITY, ANYTHING.

TO ME MAKING SOME PROGRESS IS BETTER THAN JUST DOING NOTHING.

SO MY FOCUS WAS, WHAT CAN WE AGREE ON AND HOW CAN WE MOVE THAT.

SOME FOLKS ARE SAYING, IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.

I WANT MORE ON IT.

THE SECOND SIDE, THE FOLKS GETTING FALSE INFORMATION OUT THERE, WHETHER IT'S INTENTIONAL OR JUST A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE BILL, THERE ARE A LOT OF FALSE THINGS OUT THERE ABOUT THE BILL.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU'LL HEAR THIS NO.

5,000 A LOT, THAT IT LETS 5,000 IN A DAY COMING IN ILLEGALLY, AND PEOPLE WILL SAY I WANT ZERO.

I DON'T WANT 5,000.

AND I'LL SMILE TO THEM AND SAY SO DO I, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T.

IT HAS A SHIFT IN AUTHORITIES AT 5,000.

BUT FOR THE FIRST 5,000 PEOPLE THAT CROSS THE BORDER, WHEN YOU CROSS THE BORDER, YOU'RE APPREHENDED, SCREENED, DEPORTED.

AFTER 5,000, WE'RE BEING OVERRUN, NO TIME TO SCREEN, SO YOU'RE APPREHENDED AND THEN DEPORTED, SO IT'S A FASTER PROCESS IF WE'RE ABSOLUTELY BEING OVERRUN.

OUR FOCUS WAS ZERO PEOPLE ILLEGALLY CROSSING THE BORDER, BUT THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS, AND THERE IS AN EMERGENCY BREAK GLASS LEVEL TO SAY WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO SCREEN.

WE JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO TURN EVERYONE AROUND AND BE ABLE TO DEPORT THOSE FOLKS.

SO THAT'S THE KEY DIFFERENCE THAT'S THERE.

BUT IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY MISUNDERSTOOD.

THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN FOLKS SAYING WE'RE GIVING AWAY WORK PERMITS AT THE BORDER, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

WE STOPPED THE GIVING AWAY OF WORK PERMITS AT THE BORDER EVERY DAY, AND THERE ARE ALSO FOLKS SCREAMING, IT'S ALL AMNESTY, AND ACTUALLY THIS BILL HAS ZERO AMNESTY IN IT.

SO IT'S JUST THE NOISE OF ANY TIME YOU START TALKING ABOUT BORDER SECURITY, THERE'S ALL THIS FALSE NARRATIVE THAT RUNS OUT OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID IT ACTUALLY DOES.

WE JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET TO THE FACTS TO FIND OUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES.

>> ARE THERE ANY RUMORS THAT YOU'VE HEARD THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE TWO YOU MENTIONED?

>> THE BIG ONE IS THE 5,000.

THAT'S THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PART OF THE WHOLE BILL.

THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND, THAT'S NOT LESSING 5,000 IN -- LETTING 5,000 IN, JUST ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.

THE WORK PERMITS ARE ANOTHER BIG PIECE THAT IT DOESN'T DO THAT, AND THE ASYLUM PIECE THAT IT'S NOT DOING MORE AMNESTY.

I'VE ALSO HEARD PEOPLE SAY IT MAKES THE SITUATION WORSE.

THAT'S A FASCINATING ONE FOR ME AS WELL.

WHEN I CATCH THEM AND THEY SAY, IT MAKES THE SITUATION WORSE.

I'LL ASK THEM, HOW DOES IT MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE?

AND THEIR ANSWER HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD IT DOES.

WELL, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BY WHAT WE'VE HEARD IT DOES.

YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.

IT DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES THE SITUATION SO MUCH SO THAT THE NATIONAL BORDER PATROL COUNCIL, LOOKED AT THE BILL, RED THROUGHH IT AND SAID THIS WOULD CHANGE STATUS QUO AND THAT THINGS FAR BETTER AT THE BORDER.

THE PRACTITIONERS AT THE BORDER ARE ASKING FOR A QUICK PASSAGE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE IT WOULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.

WHILE I UNDERSTAND ALL THE RUMORS OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET, I ALSO KNOW THE PRACTITIONERS THAT HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND BORDER PATROL COUNCIL, THEY THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PASS.

>> WHY IS AID FOR UKRAINE AND ISRAEL INCLUDED IN A BORDER SECURITY BILL?

WHY NOT HANDLE THOSE IN SEPARATE BILLS.

>> I WOULD SAY THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ON BORDER SECURITY RIGHT NOW AT ALL.

THERE ARE SOME EAGER ON UKRAINIAN AID.

WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN IN OCTOBER PRESENTED A NATIONAL SECURITY PACKAGE, HE PRESENTED A SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REQUEST FOR ISRAEL, FOR UKRAINE, FOR THE THREATS IN TAIWAN AND ALSO ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THE BORDER ITSELF TO BE ABLE TO HELP FACILITATE SPREADING PEOPLE OUT AWAY FROM THE BORDER.

WE RESPONDED IN THE SENATE BY SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR OTHER COUNTRIES AND THEIR NATIONAL SECURITY UNTIL WE DEAL WITH OUR OWN COUNTRY AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AS WELL.

DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS SAT DOWN WITH US AND WE STARTED NEGOTIATING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD THOSE POLICIES BE THAT WE WOULD THEN PARTNER WITH THESE OTHER FUNDING REQUESTS THAT THEY REQUESTED.

THAT'S HOW ALL OF THEM ENDED UP BEING BLENDING TOGETHER.

IT WAS LITERALLY FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS AGO WHEN IT STARTED AND IT'S TAKEN THAT LONG TO NEGOTIATE A BILL THAT WE FELT LIKE EVERYONE COULD AGREE TO.

>> AFGHAN IMMIGRATION IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS BILL.

WHY DID YOU THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT?

>> IT IS.

ACTUALLY, WE HAD SEVERAL COLLEAGUES, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, SAYING WHILE WE'RE DEALING WITH BORDER SECURITY, WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AFGHAN REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER THAT DISASTROUS WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

ABOUT HALF ARE FULLY VETTED.

THE OTHER HALF, THE FAMILIES WE KNOW AND THEY OFTEN FOUGHT ALONGSIDE THE MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY.

THEY ARE ALSO ARE GETTING STUCK IN THIS PROCESS.

SO WE HAD WHAT'S CALLED THE AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT THAT WOULD FINISH THE VETTING AND EXPEDITE THE PROCESS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO GET CITIZENSHIP.

THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN TOLD THAT.

BUT THE PROCESS IS JUST DRAGGING ON.

SO IT WAS REALLY TO FIX THE BUREAUCRACY AND DEAL WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES.

>> AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S ABOUT $20 BILLION FOR BORDER SECURITY IN THIS PACKAGE AS WELL AS $60 BILLION IN AID TO UKRAINE, AND AGAIN, HOUSE REPUBLICANS FAVOR MORE MONEY BEING ALLOCATED FOR ENFORCEMENT AT THE BORDER.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THEM?

>> MOST OF THE MONEY THAT'S ACTUALLY DESIGNATED, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, UKRAINE MONEY, IS ACTUALLY GOING TO THE UNITED STATES AND BUILDING WEAPON SYSTEMS.

THEY WOULD GO INTO DIFFERENT STRUCTURES OR SYSTEMS, HELP US IN OUR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING TO BE ABLE TO TRACK.

THERE IS THIS PERCEPTION THAT $60 BILLION WE'RE WRITING A CHECK TO ZELENSKYY AND MAILING IT TO HIM.

THAT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT IT IS.

IT'S FOCUSED ON WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM FINISH THE WAR OUT THERE TO HELP THEM GET THIS RESOLVED.

THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW.

WHAT IT'S FOCUSED ON IS HOW DO WE ACTUALLY SOLVE THAT.

BUT THE INVESTMENTS, THE DOLLARS, ARE ACTUALLY STAYING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES ON A WHOLE IN DEVELOPING NEW WEAPON SYSTEMS.

USUAL HAS ALSO JUST ALLOCATED $54 BILLION FROM EUROPE TO UKRAINE.

MUCH OF THAT IS SUPPORTING THEIR GOVERNMENT, HUMANITARIAN AID IN SUCH TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM MOVING AS A NATION.

SO IT'S THE UNITED STATES MOSTLY PROVIDING WEAPONS SYSTEMS DEFENSE, TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THEM WIN THE WAR AND THE EUROPEANS PARTNERING WITH ALMOST THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT TO HELP SUSTAIN THEIR GOVERNMENT AND OPERATIONS.

>> AS WE SAW THIS MORNING, YOU DIDN'T GET THE CULTURE VOTE YOU HOPED FOR, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE BILL IS NOT DEAD YET?

>> NO, THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST AT THE BORDER, SO I CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE CAN'T DO NOTHING.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET DONE TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

SO MY FIRST THINGS FIRST ON IT, IT IS, WE PRESENT ADD BILL.

IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THE FIRST PROCEDURAL MOTION, SO I'VE TURNED TO MY COLLEAGUES AND SAID, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN B, BECAUSE WE CAN'T ALLOW AS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE A DAY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ENTER THE COUNTRY DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO PUSH BACK.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIALOGUE TODAY AMONG REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO SAY WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP, NOT ONLY FOR ISRAEL, UKRAINE, TAIWAN, BUT OUR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AS WELL.

THE LAST THING WE NEED TO HAVE IS A MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE UNITED STATES BASED ON SOMEONE COMING ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN BORDER OR AT ALL.

SO WE'VE GOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

WE'VE HAD 50 PEOPLE JUST IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS THAT WERE ON OUR TERROR WATCH LIST THAT HAVE CROSSED OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.

WE'VE HAD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST YEAR THAT HAVE CROSSED OUR SOUTHERN BORDER, AND IT'S ACCELERATING THAT ARE DECLARED WHEN THEY CROSS AS A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK, THAT IS WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION ON THEM PARTICULAR, BUT WE DO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE FROM, AND IN THAT REGION, IT'S A HOTBED FOR TERRORISM AND EXTREMISM.

BUT THEY WERE RELEASED INTO OUR COUNTRY.

SO FOR ME, THIS IS AN ISSUE WE JUST CANNOT AVOID.

I UNDERSTAND IT'S A POLITICAL ISSUE IN WASHINGTON D.C., BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE I TALK TO, IT'S A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.

PEOPLE NOT OPPOSED TO LEGAL IMMIGRATION.

THEY'RE JUST OPPOSED TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

>> IF THIS BILL PASSES, WHAT AFFECT DO YOU THINK IT WILL HAVE ON OKLAHOMA?

>> WE RAN SOME OF THE NUMBERS ON THEM, AND OBVIOUSLY THE NATIONAL BORDER PATROL COUNCIL, THEY'VE COME OUT AND SAID IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER THAN THE CURRENT STATUS QUO AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO THEY'VE SEEN THAT NUMBER.

JUST SINCE OCTOBER 1st, WE'VE HAD MORE THAN A MILL YONL PEOPLE ILLEGALLY CROSS THE BORDER.

THE BEST WE CAN TELL A THIS POINT, IF WE HAD THIS IN PLACE, OCTOBER 1st, OF THAT MILLION, 800,000 OF THEM WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEPORTED BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY OR BACK INTO MEXICO.

SO WE WOULD CUT THE NUMBERS INTO THE COUNTRY BY 80% IF THIS WOULD HAVE PASSED.

THE OTHER 200,000 WOULD STILL BE IN PROCESSING, AND MANY OF THOSE WOULD BE DEPORTED QUICKLY AS WELL.

SO IT WOULD HAVE MADE A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE FOR THIS BILL TO BE IN PLACE.

AGAIN, THE FOCUS IS WE WANT ZERO PEOPLE ILLEGALLY CROSSING THE BORDER.

WE WANT TO PUSH PEOPLE TOWARDS LEGAL PATHWAYS AND SAY IF YOU WANT TO COME IN THE UNITED STATES TO WORK OR VISIT FAMILY, THERE IS A LEGAL WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO.

THAT BUT WE DO NOT WANT AN OPEN BORDER THAT'S UNVETTED, UNCHECKED.

>> SENATOR LANKFORD, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON THIS PROPOSAL YOU WOULD LIKE OKLAHOMANS TO KNOW.

>> I WOULD ONLY SAY AS YOU'RE RESEARCHING IT, WE WOULD BE GLAD TO SEND YOU THE FACTS.

I HAVE A FAVORITE ABRAHAM LINCOLN QUOTE WHERE HE SAID DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET, AND I JUST REMIND PEOPLE THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S POSTED ON FACEBOOK, JUST BECAUSE IT'S ON TWITTER, JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY PUT IT ON A WEBSITE OR E-MAIL BLAST DOESN'T MEAN IT'S FACTUALLY TRUE.

SO CHASE DOWN THE INFORMATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ACTUAL FACTS ARE.

THE FOCUS IS WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SECURE OR BORDER, HOW DO WE DO THAT, HOW DO WE MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS WE CAN TO ACTUALLY SECURE OR BORDER, AND THEN ONCE WE GET THAT IN PLACE, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO WORK AND TRY TO GET THE REST OF THE THINGS, BUT WE JUST CAN'T IGNORE THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE ISSUES AND NOT JUST SAY, I'VE GOT TO GET EVERYTHING OR I'M GOING TO GET NOTHING.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND WE'VE GOT CHAOS AT THE BORDER.

WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS WE CAN.

>> SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND JOIN NOW JOINING US TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION IS SCOTT MITCHELL WHO IS A POLITICAL ANALYST AT GRIFFIN MEDIA.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF WEDNESDAY'S VOTE?

>> IT'S LIKE A CIRCUS CAME TO TOWN.

THEY INVITED -- THEY, LEADERSHIP, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, INVITED JAMES LANKFORD ALONG WITH DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP TO PUT TOGETHER A BILL TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE BORDER CRISIS, WHICH IT IS, AND AMERICANS ARE DYING BECAUSE OF THAT BORDER CRISIS, AND THEN THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

SENATOR LANKFORD WHO HAS MADE THIS GREAT GOOD FAITH EFFORT OF TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOT THROWN UNDER THE BUS BY HIS OWN PARTY.

NOTHING IS BEING DONE, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POLICY.

IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ELECTION POLITICS.

>> CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?

>> SURE.

THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY CLOSE GENERAL ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT LATER THIS YEAR.

AND AS THE ECONOMY CHANGES AND IT BECOMES LESS A LIABILITY FOR THE PRESIDENT, THE BORDER BECAMR SAW ON THIS INDICATED THIS IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST LIABLE TO JOE BIDEN FOR BEING REELECTED.

THIS BORDER CRISIS, WHICH IS KILLING PEOPLE, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON, WAS SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS WANTED TO GET DONE BACK IN OCTOBER.

THE NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN.

THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE.

I'D EVEN BEEN PUT ON NOTICE THAT SOMETIME AROUND THANKSGIVING THERE WAS GOING TO BE A DEAL SIGNED.

AND THEN IT FELL APART.

IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THAT SOLVING THE BORDER ISSUE RIGHT NOW FOR THIS PRESIDENT WOULD BE AN ASSET TO HIM, AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS HAPPENING TO THE PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, THAT THEY PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS TO KEEP JOE BIDEN, THEY BEING REPUBLICAF REPUBLICANS DID NOT WANT JOE BIDEN TO GET A WIN ON THIS.

AND THAT'S HOW PEOPLE LIKE JAMES LANKFORD WERE SUDDENLY -- THE WIND SHIFTED, AND THEY WERE THROWN UNDER THE BUS.

IT'S JUST ABOUT ELECTION POLITICS.

>> SO YOU WOULD SAY ELECTION YEAR POLITICS PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS BILL FAILING?

>> 110%.

THERE'S NO OTHER EXPLANATION.

WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO THE WEEDS ON THIS, CASSIDY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR, THEY, THE REPUBLICANS LED BY SENATOR LANKFORD, WERE THINGS THEY WANTED YEARS AGO, EVEN LAST YEAR, AND THIS WOULD BE, OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING FROM MOST OF THE OBJECTIVE COMMENTATORS I'VE READ IN ANALYSIS, THIS WAS A VERY STRONG BILL, BUT BEFORE SENATOR LANKFORD EVEN HAD A DRAFT OUT, THERE WERE FELLOW SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, G.O.P., THAT WERE SAYING THINGS ABOUT THE BILL THAT SIMPLY WEREN'T TRUE.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW.

ONE OF THOSE WAS THAT IT WAS GOING TO ALLOW FOR 5,000 A DAY.

AND IT TURNS OUT THAT WAS JUST SIMPLY A LIE.

IT WASN'T TRUE.

AND SO WHEN THIS CAMPAIGN BEGAN, IT WAS SIMPLY A WAY TO KILL THIS BILL, AND THAT ALLOWS FOR 9 MONTHS FOR AT LEAST THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE SENATOR LANKFORD TO SAY JOE BIDEN CAN'T FIX THIS BORDER, BUT OBVIOUSLY SENATOR LANKFORD, SENATOR MCCONNELL, MANY REPUBLICANS WERE ON BOARD TO FIX THIS AND FIX IT NOW, MAINLY BECAUSE IT IT'S A CRISIS, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THE FENTANYL SITUATION BECAUSE IT'S NOT GETTING HANDLED.

SO THAT'S THE DECISION.

GOING TO PUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ON THE SIDELINE FOR 9 MONTHS SO YOU CAN EXPLOIT THE ISSUE AND PERHAPS WIN AT THE BALLOT BOX.

IT'S TRULY ONE OF THOSE CYNICAL THINGS THAT MAKES YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD.

>> SCOTT, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU THINK OKLAHOMANS SHOULD KNOW?

>> I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE A GREAT NUMBER OF OKLAHOMA BUSINESSES THAT WANTED THIS DEAL.

A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OKLAHOMA STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT IMMIGRATION REFORM WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE TRAINING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WE HAVE A LARGE WORKFORCE THAT NEEDS TO HAVE THE SORTS OF TRAINING THAT BUSINESSES, MEDIUM, SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES WANT.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

THIS IS ALL INTERTWINED.

THIS IS NOT JUST SOME ONE-OFF ISSUE THAT WE CAN CYNICALLY LOOK AT AND SAY THIS NEEDS TO BE SOLVED BY CONGRESS.

NO.

THIS IS REAL LIFE.

THIS IS AFFECTING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

IT'S AFFECTING THEIR BUSINESSES.

IT'S AFFECTING YOUR POCKETBOOK, AND WE JUST SAW FOR SHEER NAKED POLITICAL REASONS SOMETHING PUT ON THE SHELF FOR 9 MONTHS BECAUSE WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE A POLITICAL ISSUE OUT OF THIS.

SHAMEFUL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S JUST ABOUT ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

SCOTT MITCHELL, A POLITICAL ANALYST WITH GRIFFIN MEDIA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE TRAVEL TO ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT HELPS LOW-INCOME MOTHERS FEED THEIR CHILDREN HEALTHY MEALS WHILE LEARNING ABOUT NUTRITION EDUCATION AND OTHER SERVICES.

THAT STORY, COURTESY OF NINE PBS.

>>> HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM FROM MY GYNECOLOGIST WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT.

SHE LET ME KNOW THAT THIS WAS NEW AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED.

I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND ANYTHING ABOUT FOOD, I'M IN, SO WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING, AND THERE WAS JUST PROBABLY 2 OF US IN THE BEGINNING.

AND I WAS ALREADY INTERESTED IN LEARNING BETTER WAYS TO FEED THE ENTIRE FAMILY RATHER THAN GOING OUT, GETTING FAST FOOD ALL THE TIME.

IT HELPED TO HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, SO THESE SPEES AND THESE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD SHARE WITH US, YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO GO HOME AND TRY IT WITH YOUR KIDS.

IT WAS A FUN THING TO DO WHILE YOU'RE PREGNANT, YOU KNOW.

>> OPERATION FOOD SEARCH IS A HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATION, WHICH MEANS ESSENTIALLY WE ARE PROVIDING FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY.

BUT WE DECIDED MANY YEARS AGO THAT WE WANT TO DO MORE THAN JUST PROVIDE FOOD IN AN EMERGENCY BASIS.

SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAM I CAN EFFORTS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOOD.

ONE PARTICULAR PROGRAM CALLED NOURISHING HEALTHY STARTS.

>> IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH BIRTHING PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO FOOD INSECURE.

SO IF THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE RECEIVING FOOD, OBTAINING FOOD, PAYING FOR FOOD, THEN THEY BECOME PART OF THE PROGRAM.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS BASICALLY THEY RECEIVE WEEKLY FOOD BOXES.

THEY'RE ABLE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM MATERNAL HEALTH ADVOCATES THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE GETTING ENROLLED IN WIC OR MEDICAID, IF THEY NEED ANY SORT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR OTHER CHILDREN THAT MAY BE IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

THEY'RE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM WITH THAT.

AND THEY RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES THROUGH 90 DAYS POSTPARTUM.

>> ONE OF OUR BIGGEST GOALS IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL MOTHERS IN THE PROGRAM HAVE A BABY THAT'S BORN AT AN AVERAGE OR ABOVE AVERAGE BIRTH WEIGHT.

WE KNOW THAT BELOW AVERAGE BABIES HAVE A PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT HEALTH IMPACTS THAT COULD HAPPEN.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY END UP IN THE NICU WHICH CAN FOLLOW THEM IN THEIR LIFE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO INSURE THAT THROUGH PROPER NUTRITION BABIES ARE BORN AT A HEALTHY BIRTH WEIGHT WHICH SETS THEM UP FOR SUCCESS LONG-TERM.

>> WE HAVE A TEAM OF REALLY GREAT PROFESSIONALS.

THEY ARE DULA'S, WHICH MEAN THEY UNDERSTAND ALL ASPECTS OF BRINGING CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD AND THE CARE REQUIRED BOTH PRE-AND POST-BIRTH.

ANDER THEY'RE ALSO SOCIAL WORKERS SO THEY UNDERSTAND AND ARE VERY WELL CONNECTED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THE RESOURCES MOTHERS NEED.

SO THEY'RE ABLE TO LISTEN REAL INTENTLY TO WHAT MOTHERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH, WHAT THEY NEED, AND MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS FOR THEM AND WORK THROUGH PROBLEMS WITH THEM.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE STRESS OF FOOD INSECURITY, ESPECIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO FEED YOUR CHILDREN, IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

THE STRESS CAUSES DEPRESSION, WHICH LEADS DIRECTLY INTO POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

IF YOU CAN SECURE THAT PIECE OF THEIR LIFE, IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY NOT ONLY HAVE FOOD DURING THE PERIOD THAT WATER ABLE TO PROVIDE IT TO THEM, YOU KNOW, TO THEIR DOORSTEP, BUT GIVING THEM THE SKILLS AND THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED SO THAT AFTERWARDS, WHEN WE'RE NO LONGER PROVIDING IT DIRECTLY, THAT THEY FEEL A LOT MORE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND THAT SAYS A LOT FOR YOUR WELL-BEING, JUST THAT CONFIDENCE IN KNOWING, OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

LIKE, I CAN DO THIS.

I CAN PREPARE THE TYPES OF MEALS MY KIDS WOULD LIKE TO EAT.

I CAN PREPARE AND EAT THE TYPES OF FOOD THAT ARE NOURISHING FOR ME, THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE ME FEEL STRONGER AND HEALTHIER.

THAT GOES A LONG WAY.

>> WE HAD MEETINGS TO WHERE WE WOULD BRAINSTORM IDEAS FOR THE PROGRAM.

IT ALLOWED US MOTHERS TO TALK AS WELL.

WE WERE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES WE ALL HAD AND DIFFERENT WAYS OF HANDLING IT.

SO NOT ONLY WERE WE GETTING GOOD INFORMATION HERE ABOUT FOOD, WE WERE GETTING, LIKE A SUPPORT SYSTEM, SUPPORT GROUP, IF YOU WILL.

I'M NOT IN THE PROGRAM ANYMORE, BUT MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS PLACE AND THIS PROGRAM ARE THE PEOPLE AND HOW THEY CARE AND HOW THEY WANT TO KNOW YOUR OPINION, AND THEY TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION, AND THEY TRY TO MAKE THE PROGRAM BETTER.

JUST THE WAY I WAS TREATED, MY SON, THE WHOLE PROGRAM ALMOST HAD A DOMINO EFFECT WITH MY LIFE.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, OKLAHOMA'S LONG HISTORY WITH THE BLACK COWBOY AND THEIR BRIGHT FUTURE.

WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW THEY'RE BEING CELEBRATED NEXT WEEK.

>> WE'LL SAY "SO LONG" THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN RECONCILIATION PARK LOCATED IN TULSA PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY THE OETA PRODUCTION TEAM.

PLEASE REMEMBER YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OETA.TV.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER BY SEARCHING "OETA ONR."

AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, JUST SEARCH, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT".

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

♪ FLY AWAY, LITTLE PRETTY BIRD.

♪ FLY AWAY, FLY AWAY, LITTLE PRETTY BIRD.

♪ AND PRETTY AWAY.

♪ I SEE IN YOUR EYES A PROMISE.

♪ YOUR OWN TENDER LOVE YOU'LL BRING.

♪ BUT FLY AWAY, LITTLE PRETTY BIRD.

♪ LIVES ON TENDER FLAMES, AND LOVE TENDER SONGS YOU'LL SING.

♪ BUT FLY AWAY, LITTLE PRETTY BIRD, AND PRETTY AWAY YOU'LL SING.

♪ I CANNOT MAKE YOU NO PROMISE FOR LOVE IS SUCH A DELICATE THING.

♪ BUT FLY AWAY, LITTLE PRETTY BIRD.

BIRD.

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