EVENING AT SEVEN ON OETA.

EXPLORE EARTH'S WONDERS ON NATURE WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT SEVEN ON OETA.

AN AGRICULTURE PRODUCER GETS A LIFELINE BACK FROM THE VERGE OF LOSING HIS FARM.

BUT WE WAS WE KIND OF SCROUNGED AND WAS ABLE TO MANAGE IT THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AND THEN THIS YEAR WAS LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO.

OKLAHOMANS RAISING AWARENESS CONCERNING WOMEN'S HEALTH.

AS CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH GETS UNDERWAY.

GET THOSE FOLLOW UPS DONE.

YOU KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A BAD PAP TEST RESULT AND IGNORE IT.

OKLAHOMA'S WORKFORCE WILL BE IMPACTED BY AI, EVEN AS THE ECONOMY IS PREDICTED TO STAY STABLE IN OUR STATE.

WE NEED TO START PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

I CAN SELL ALL THE REAL ESTATE IN THE WORLD, BUT IF I DON'T HAVE A WORKFORCE TO FILL THOSE JOBS, IT'S NOT GOING TO MEAN ANYTHING.

PLUS, AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES ALLOWED IN THE U.S.

IT'S SIGNALING A MAJOR SHIFT IN POLICY AND IN CULTURAL ATTITUDES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE MUSLIM.

PEOPLE FROM THESE REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

CHICKASHA IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION FOR ITS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MOVIE TRIBUTE, BUT THE MOVIE STUDIO ISN'T THAT BIG OF A FAN.

WHEN WE GOT THE CEASE AND DESIST DESTROY IT IS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SAID.

THAT'S NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO EVERYONE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M TAELYR JACKSON RICHLANDS WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK.

MANY OKLAHOMA HOME AND PROPERTY OWNERS MUST PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES TO THE COUNTIES WHERE THEY LIVE, AND ONE FARMER FOUND HIMSELF ON THE VERGE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BECAUSE OF RISING PROPERTY TAXES.

THEN AN OLD FRIEND DISCOVERED WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN STEVE TAELYR AS AN EXTENSION EDUCATOR AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY.

MIKE ANDERSON HAS BEEN CRUCIAL IN HELPING SMALL FARMERS LEARN THE TRICKS TO GET STARTED.

OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS, WE'VE DONE STORIES SHOWING HOW ANDERSON GOES ABOUT IT.

FOUR YEARS AGO, MIKE AND HIS WIFE BARBARA BOUGHT 11 ACRES OF LAND IN PIEDMONT.

THIS IS KIND OF PRIMITIVE, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU.

FARMING IS IN MIKE ANDERSON'S BLOOD.

HE LEARNED IT FROM HIS FATHER AND HIS GRANDFATHER BEFORE ON THEIR FAMILY PLOT IN MUSKOGEE COUNTY, WAY BACK IN THE DAY.

IN 2022, MIKE AND HIS WIFE BARBARA, TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A GENEROUS RATE THROUGH A FEDERAL FARM PROGRAM THAT ALLOWED THEM TO PURCHASE THEIR 11 ACRE FARM IN PIEDMONT IN CANADIAN COUNTY.

MIKE USES THE FARM TO NOT ONLY GROW CROPS, HE ALSO USES IT TO TEACH AND INSPIRE OTHER SMALL FARMERS AND HIS STUDENTS AT LANGSTON.

WELL, IT'S A GOOD TEACHING FOR HIM, TEACHING OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO HOW TO GROW, PROVIDE ME WITH SOME EXTRA INCOME.

WE WOULD LOVE TO BUY MORE PRODUCT FROM MICAH.

WE'VE GOT A FEW WATERMELONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT DEFINITELY WORK WITH HIM IN A LOT OF WAYS.

JENNA MOORE DIRECTS THE OKC FOOD HUB.

IT'S A NONPROFIT THAT'S A RESOURCE FOR FARMERS TO SELL PRODUCE, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS.

A MONTH AGO, MOORE AND OTHER FRIENDS OF MIKE ANDERSON BECAME CONCERNED.

MIKE IS PROPERTY TAX BILL WAS DUE.

IT WAS MORE THAN $6,000, WHICH WAS DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

MONEY'S TIGHT.

MIKE FEARED HE'D LOSE THE FARM, BUT WE WAS WE KIND OF SCROUNGED, WAS ABLE TO MANAGE IT THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AND THEN THIS YEAR WAS LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO.

JENNA MOORE STARTED THIS GOFUNDME PAGE THAT RAISED MORE THAN $5,000 IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

I WAS JUST EXTREMELY SURPRISED HOW, WELL, HOW MUCH PEOPLE JUST JUMPED IN AND AND CAME TO MY SUPPORT.

MIKE DEFINITELY HAS A BIG NETWORK.

HE'S VERY CONNECTED.

THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL, ISN'T IT?

YEAH FOR SURE.

YEAH, DEFINITELY.

THIS IS THE KIND OF GUY YOU NEED TO KEEP IN BUSINESS.

YEP.

AND IF FARMERS LIKE MIKE, I MEAN HE'S BEEN DOING IT A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND JUST AS SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING WITH FARMERS IN OKLAHOMA.

YEAH, WE NEED FARMS LIKE THIS WHO ARE FEEDING THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHO ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING FRESH QUALITY PRODUCTS TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND TO PEOPLE WHO WHO NEED ACCESS TO GOOD FOOD.

WE NEED TO MAKE THAT WORK.

SO THAT'S KIND OF A A LIFELONG MISSION HERE.

WHY IS IT SO HARD, AND HOW CAN WE MAKE THOSE BARRIERS LOWER SO THAT NOT ONLY PEOPLE CAN START, BUT LIKE SO PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO THE NEXT GENERATION?

THAT BRINGS US TO CYNTHIA DILLINGHAM.

AND THEN THE PLASTIC GOES OVER THAT AND IT KEEPS YOUR WEEDS DOWN.

AND THEN IT ALSO WARMS THE SOIL EARLIER IN THE YEAR SO YOU CAN GET A CROP.

CYNTHIA IS A TULSA REAL ESTATE AGENT, BUT HER PASSION IS FARMING.

16 YEARS AGO, MIKE ANDERSON, WHO THEN WAS WORKING FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SHOWED THE DILLINGHAM HOW TO CONSTRUCT HOOP HOUSES AND USE PLASTIC CULTURE, WHICH ALLOWS SMALL FARMERS TO PLANT.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR, WHEN DILLINGHAM HEARD ABOUT ANDERSON'S RECENT TAX PROBLEM, SHE DID A LITTLE DIGGING.

AND SO I RESEARCHED THE PROPERTY AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD IT IMPROPERLY ZONED.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ZONED AGRICULTURE.

NOW, YOUR AG ZONING IS GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.

MATTHEW WADE MILLER HAS BEEN ASSESSOR IN CANADIAN COUNTY FOR 15 YEARS.

WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU FILING A SCHEDULE F OR DO YOU HAVE THAT LEASE AGREEMENT OR HOW ARE YOU USING IT?

DESCRIBE TO US HOW IT'S BEING USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

YOU GOT TO BE WILLING TO DOT YOUR I'S AND CROSS YOUR T'S.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT, WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO GO WITH THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

AND IT'S A LOT OF TIMES THE WAY IT WAS PREVIOUSLY BEING USED.

WADE MILLER SAYS WHEN THE PREVIOUS OWNER SOLD THAT 11 ACRE PIEDMONT PLOT TO THE ANDERSONS FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS ZONED FOR WHAT'S CALLED URBAN RESIDENTIAL.

THAT DESIGNATION DIDN'T CHANGE WHEN THE ANDERSONS BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.

CYNTHIA DILLINGHAM REACHED OUT TO WAYNE MILLER SEVERAL DAYS AGO ABOUT THE ANDERSON'S PLIGHT.

WAYNE MILLER SENT MICAH THIS AGRICULTURAL USE VALUATION WORKSHEET.

IT'S THE FIRST STEP TO GET THE ANDERSON'S LAND RECLASSIFIED FOR AGRICULTURAL USE, AND SHOULD GREATLY REDUCE MICAH'S PROPERTY TAX BILL.

CANADIAN COUNTY IS THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 85,000 PARCELS AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE LARGE ENOUGH.

WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE ANY TYPE OF EXEMPTION FOR WHICH THEY'RE ELIGIBLE AND CAN QUALIFY.

BUT IF YOU DON'T COME IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT IT OR LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, IT'S REAL HARD FOR US TO KNOW WHAT'S BEING DONE.

IN THIS CASE, IF IT'S BEING USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, AND YOU CAN COME IN AND AND DEMONSTRATE HOW THAT'S BEING USED, THEN YES, WE WANT YOU TO RECEIVE THAT BENEFIT.

I'M LEARNING AS I AS TIME GOES ON, YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE EVERYTHING TO EVERY, EVERY ENTITY THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF FARMERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST GROWING ON THEIR LAND, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND THEY DON'T KNOW.

THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO HAVE IT RIGHT.

ZONED AGRICULTURE.

RIGHT.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

YES.

PHIL CAMPBELL IS A BOARD MEMBER OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY'S CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND A FRIEND OF MICAH'S.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE PRESENT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE START OF A NEGOTIATION TO BUYING A PROPERTY TO THE ACTUAL CLOSING OF SAID PROPERTY TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES ARE HIT CURRENTLY FOR WHAT MR.

MICAH AND MISS BARBER ARE DOING.

THIS IS A TRUE PRODUCTION FARM.

WHEN HE FILLS OUT THAT PAPERWORK, DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO MAKE IT RIGHT?

IT WOULD BE HOPE THAT THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING IN THE FAVOR OF THE FARM.

GRANTED, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW THESE DAYS WHEN IT COMES TO TO TO TO SMALL TOWN GOVERNMENT.

MIKE ANDERSON TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO GET THAT PAPERWORK SUBMITTED TO THE CANADIAN COUNTY ASSESSOR THIS WEEK.

WAYNE MILLER TOLD ME HIS STAFF'S GOING TO GET RIGHT ON IT.

AND AGAIN, HE ENCOURAGES OTHER CANADIAN COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS TO COME TO HIM IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR ZONING.

TAELYR STEVE, THANKS.

NEARLY 13,000 NEW CANCER CASES.

CERVICAL CANCER CASES ARE DIAGNOSED EACH YEAR.

ABOUT 4000 WILL TURN FATAL AS NATIONAL CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH KICKS OFF THIS JANUARY.

EXPERTS ARE ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO START SCREENING FOR EARLY DETECTION.

I JUST WENT INTO THE OBGYN BECAUSE I NEEDED A WELL-WOMAN EXAM AND TO REFILL MY BIRTH CONTROL PILLS.

HONESTLY, LAUREN WAS JUST 22 YEARS OLD WHEN HER LIFE WAS CHANGED AFTER A ROUTINE CHECKUP.

AND SO AT THAT TIME, I ONLY HAD THAT PAP TEST ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE.

SO I HAD ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF.

BUT THEY WERE DOING THE FULL EXAM AND I KNEW MY NEW INSURANCE WAS GOING TO COVER IT.

A YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT AT THE TIME RECEIVED HER FIRST ABNORMAL PAP TEST RESULTS IN THE FALL OF 2015, SO THAT IS KIND OF WHERE THE BALL GOT ROLLING THERE.

SO MY PAP TEST HAD HIGH GRADE ABNORMALITIES.

THEN THEY ENDED UP DOING WHAT'S CALLED A COLPOSCOPY.

A COLPOSCOPY IS A MORE DETAILED PROCEDURE THAT USES A SPECIAL MAGNIFYING TOOL TO EXAMINE THE CERVIX.

DURING THAT PROCEDURE, THE DOCTOR APPLIES A VINEGAR OR IODINE SOLUTION ON THE CERVIX TO HIGHLIGHT THE ABNORMAL AREAS.

IF SUSPICIOUS AREAS ARE FOUND, THEN THE DOCTOR WILL TAKE A SMALL TISSUE SAMPLE FROM THE CERVIX FOR FURTHER TESTING.

THOSE BIOPSIES DID NOT LOOK GOOD AT ALL.

SO THEN MY CHRISTMAS BREAK IN COLLEGE.

SO CHRISTMAS OF 2015, I ENDED UP HAVING A LEEP PROCEDURE WHERE THEY ELECTROCAUTERIZATION THE END OF YOUR CERVIX.

ON JANUARY 4TH, 2016, LAUREN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL CANCER.

MY DOCTOR SAID, OKAY, I'LL JUST SEE YOU IN SIX MONTHS FOR A REPEAT PAP TEST.

AND IN MY MIND I'M LIKE, YOU JUST SAID CANCER.

NO THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE A REFERRAL TO A GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGIST.

AND AGAIN, I'M SUPER LUCKY AND PRIVILEGED THAT I WAS ALSO LEARNING AND WORKING WITH A DIFFERENT OB GYN WHO ALSO ENCOURAGED ME TO PURSUE THIS SECOND OPINION.

LOOKING BACK, LAUREN SAYS SHE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER WITHOUT KNOWING IT.

I HAD BLEEDING DURING AND AFTER INTERCOURSE.

I HAD ABNORMAL DISCHARGE.

I HAD THESE THINGS GOING ON THAT HONESTLY, I JUST CHALKED UP TO STRESS.

WHILE MOST OF HER CLASSMATES WERE ATTENDING PARTIES AND PLANNING GRADUATION, LAUREN WAS MAKING LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS I HAD TO CONTEMPLATE AFTER MY SECOND SURGERY, WHICH WAS A COLD KNIFE CONE, AND THEY FOUND MORE CANCER THERE, AND MY PET SCAN SHOWED CANCER THAT I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION, WHICH WAS COMPLETELY UP TO ME.

WITH MY PROVIDER'S HELP AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IN MAY OF 2016, I UNDERWENT A RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY.

SO THOSE THOUGHTS OF GRADUATING, GETTING MARRIED, YOU KNOW, STARTING A FAMILY, THOSE WERE ALL IMMEDIATELY JUST TAKEN AWAY FROM ME, NOT BY CHOICE.

LAUREN'S CANCER WAS CAUSED BY THE HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS, ALSO KNOWN AS HPV.

ONCOLOGIST DOCTOR JACQUELINE BOWEN SAYS ABOUT 99% OF CERVICAL CANCER IS CAUSED BY THE VIRUS.

HPV IS A LITTLE TRICKY BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WILL GET IT FROM THEIR FIRST SEXUAL ENCOUNTER.

IT'S RATHER UBIQUITOUS IN THE POPULATION, SO ABOUT 75 TO 80% OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD OR WILL HAVE HPV DURING THEIR LIFETIME.

AND MOST PEOPLE WILL CLEAR THAT IN 1 TO 2 YEARS.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS ALMOST ALWAYS, WHEN YOU HAVE HPV, THERE ARE VACCINES AVAILABLE THAT HELP FIGHT AGAINST CERTAIN CANCERS THAT ARE CAUSED BY HPV.

DOCTOR BOND SAYS THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY TWO TYPES OF CERVICAL CANCER.

SO THERE'S SQUAMOUS CERVICAL CANCER.

AND THAT'S A CELL TYPE.

70% OF CERVICAL CANCERS ARE SQUAMOUS.

AND THAT IS JUST FROM WHERE SOME OF THE CELLS ON THE CERVIX ORIGINATE WHAT KIND THEY ARE.

AND THEN 25% ARE IT'S CALLED ADENOCARCINOMA OR THE CELLS ARE FROM MORE OF THE INSIDE OF THE CERVIX.

SO 95% ARE EITHER SQUAMOUS OR ADENO.

BUT THEY ARE ALL CAUSED BY HPV.

AS THE ONLY NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE DESIGNATED CANCER CENTER IN THE STATE, OU HEALTH STEPHENSON CANCER CENTER PROVIDES UNIQUE RESOURCES FOR PATIENTS.

WE DO HAVE ACCESS TO SOME RARE CLINICAL TRIALS, AND ONE OF THOSE JUST OPENED FOR ADVANCED CERVICAL CANCER THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, AND IT'S A NATIONAL PHASE THREE TRIAL.

AND IT IS COMPARING THE TWO BEST REGIMENS THAT WE KNOW OF IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, RANDOMIZING WOMEN TO EITHER ONE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH TREATMENT IS BEST FOR OUR PATIENTS IN THE FUTURE.

TREATMENT FOR CERVICAL CANCER IS BASED ON A PATIENT'S CASE AND NEEDS.

IF IT'S AN EARLY CERVICAL CANCER, THERE IS TREATMENT OPTIONS, USUALLY FOR SURGERY AND THEN SOMETIMES FOR CHEMO RADIATION, WHICH IS A SIX WEEK ABOUT REGIMEN.

AND THOSE ARE BOTH VERY EFFECTIVE IN TREATING EARLY CERVICAL CANCER.

AND WHICH ONE YOU GET TREATED WITH DEPENDS ON SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE CANCER AND EXACTLY WHAT STAGE PEOPLE ARE AT.

IF CERVICAL CANCER IS DIAGNOSED AT MORE ADVANCED STAGES, WE USUALLY ARE TREATING WITH CHEMO RADIATION.

AND NOW AN IMMUNOTHERAPY CALLED PEMBROLIZUMAB OR KEYTRUDA.

AND THAT'S A RELATIVELY NEW ADDITION TO CERVICAL CANCER CARE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THIS MONTH MARKS TEN YEARS SINCE LAUREN'S WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL CANCER.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAPPENED IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY, SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE FOREVER AGO.

AND REALLY, I'VE JUST TRIED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, LET GO OF ANY EXPECTATIONS OR PLANS OR WHAT I THOUGHT MY IDEAL LIFE MIGHT LOOK LIKE WHEN I WAS THAT YOUNG.

AND IN MAY SHE WILL BE TEN YEARS CANCER FREE.

NOW LAUREN SPENDS HER TIME ADVOCATING WITH SURVIVOR, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT EMPOWERS THOSE IMPACTED BY CERVICAL CANCER.

WE ARE A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF WOMEN, AND WE REALLY WORK TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER AND MOTIVATE EACH OTHER TO REALLY JUST CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER AND HOW TO PREVENT IT, AND REALLY CREATE A BOND BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO SURVIVORS.

SHE ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO GET CHECKED REGULARLY FOR EARLY DETECTION.

GET THOSE FOLLOW UPS DONE.

YOU KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A BAD PAP TEST RESULT AND IGNORE IT BECAUSE THOSE ARE DONE FOR A REASON.

AND THIS IS TO FIND CANCER EARLY.

WHEN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION GETS UNDERWAY, THERE WILL BE A BIPARTISAN PUSH TO EXPAND PARENTAL LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING FATHERS AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES.

REPRESENTATIVE EMILY GEIS IS WORKING WITH SENATOR MARK MANN TO PASS A SLATE OF BILLS, WHICH WOULD EXPAND THE TIME THAT CAN BE TAKEN, OFFER PATERNITY LEAVE FOR NEW FATHERS, AND CREATE LEAVE FOR THOSE ADOPTING A CHILD.

SHE SAYS THE PROPOSALS ARE PRO-FAMILY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALLOWING TIME FOR THESE FAMILIES TO BOND AND IF THEY NEED TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, IF THEY NEED SOME THERAPY, IF THEY NEED SOME WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, THAT THEY HAVE TIME TO GET THAT SO THEY CAN BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION AND GROW THEIR FAMILY.

I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PATERNITY LEAVE.

DADS MATTER TOO.

THERE'S ACTUAL STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT FATHERS, WHEN THEY ARE PRESENT IN THE HOME, THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE, IS HEALTHIER, AND THIS ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE MOTHER TOO.

WHEN A FATHER IS THERE AND THE FATHER IS ABLE TO BOND WITH THE BABY AND THE MOTHER IS ABLE TO HEAL, THOSE BILLS WILL BE TAKEN UP THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH BEGINS IN FEBRUARY IN OKLAHOMA, ICON HAS PASSED AWAY, LEAVING AN ARTISTIC LEGACY THAT HONORS HIS NATIVE AMERICAN ROOTS.

HARVEY PRATT'S CAREER INCLUDES MORE THAN 40 YEARS AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT FORENSIC ARTIST.

HE WAS ALSO HONORED FOR HIS NATIVE AMERICAN ARTWORK.

ONE OF HIS MOST FAMOUS PIECES OF ARTWORK IS THE NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC.

IN 2021, PRATT, WHO WAS A CHIEF OF THE CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHO TRIBE, WAS INDUCTED INTO THE OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME.

WE'RE ALSO SAYING GOODBYE TO A FORMER FACE OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, GEORGE TOMIC.

HE WAS ONE OF THE ANCHORS HERE AT OETA IN THE 2000.

HE ALSO REPORTED FOR STATIONS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, TULSA, SAINT LOUIS AND DALLAS-FORT WORTH.

TOMIC PASSED AWAY ON NEW YEAR'S DAY AT THE AGE OF 86.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES ACCEPTED IN THE U.S.

LAST YEAR'S ANNUAL LIMIT WAS 125,000 REFUGEES, A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE TO THE NEW ANNUAL LIMIT OF 7500.

MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW LIMIT OF REFUGEES.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

THIS IS REALLY ALARMING, NOT ONLY FOR THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON OUR REFUGEE RESETTLED FAMILIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO WALK ALONGSIDE THEM.

IT'S SIGNALING A MAJOR SHIFT IN POLICY AND IN CULTURAL ATTITUDES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE MUSLIM PEOPLE FROM THESE REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

THE HARM THAT WE'RE DOING TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WORLD, AND EVEN IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, IS INCALCULABLE.

WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS FOR GENERATIONS.

THESE WERE FAMILIES THAT WERE THAT WERE PLANNING TO ARRIVE AND HAD DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE OF COMPLETING A PROGRAM INTERNATIONALLY THAT WE HAD SET FORTH IN HISTORIC YEARS, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM.

IT'S ABOUT, ON AVERAGE, 95,000 PER YEAR.

AND SO 7500 IS AN UNBELIEVABLY INHUMANE NUMBER.

THEY HAVE FAMILY AND THEY HAVE FRIENDS.

AND THEY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEIR COMMUNITY IS STILL BACK IN IN THOSE AREAS WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO GET TO, TO SAFETY.

THE REST OF THAT DISCUSSION COMING UP LATER IN THE NEWSCAST, LEADING ECONOMISTS SAY OKLAHOMA MUST IMPROVE ITS EDUCATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE THE WORKERS NEEDED TO CONTINUE GROWING OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH THE TAKEAWAY FROM A RECENT GATHERING TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS OF OKLAHOMA.

JASON TAELYR HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

ALL EYES ARE ON EDUCATION AND THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S RANKINGS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE IMPACT OF AI IS ON THE TOP OF MIND FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

THE OKLAHOMA ECONOMY IS DOING WELL.

OKLAHOMA IS WEATHERING THE CURRENT ECONOMY BETTER THAN SOME OTHER STATES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF JOB GROWTH AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

SO I LOOK AT THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF JOB GROWTH, AND THE NATION IS UP 8.3% STATEWIDE, WE'RE UP 9%, OKLAHOMA CITY IS UP 11.1%, ALMOST THREE POINTS HIGHER THAN THE NATION, AND TULSA 9.2%.

SO FAR IN 2025.

THE CHAMBER'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAS ASSISTED WITH 100 COMPANIES ANNOUNCING 3270 JOBS, $200 MILLION IN PAYROLL AND 4.4 BILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.

HOW TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING HAS LED TO A CONVERSATION IN OKLAHOMA'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF LOW EDUCATION RANKINGS?

A WELL KNOWN FACT ABOUT THE SOONER STATE FOR OKLAHOMA.

IF WE WANT DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THIS STATE, WE HAVE TO START WITH OUR K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION SYSTEM.

DOCTOR DEFFENBAUGH PULLED ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT OKLAHOMA IS FACING TO COMPETE IN THE REGION.

WE ARE 38TH IN FOURTH GRADE READING.

TEXAS IS 13TH.

WE NEED TO START PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

I CAN SELL ALL THE REAL ESTATE IN THE WORLD, BUT IF I DON'T HAVE A WORKFORCE TO FILL THOSE JOBS, IT'S NOT GOING TO MEAN ANYTHING.

JAVIER.

NEERA IS THE PRESIDENT OF A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTING FIRM.

I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH EDUCATION.

I WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH EDUCARE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM.

AND THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY WAS YOU LEARN TO READ FROM ZERO TO THIRD GRADE, THIRD GRADE.

YOU READ TO LEARN.

SO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE BASICS.

READING AND MATHEMATICS ARE IMPORTANT, HE ADDS.

OKLAHOMA COULD HAVE A FUTURE IN BIOTECH, DESPITE THE EAST AND WEST COASTS HAVING A HEAD START ON THE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY SIDE OF BIOTECH.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING THOSE SCIENTISTS HERE, BUT WE CAN BRING ALL OF THAT MANUFACTURING, THE DRUG, MANUFACTURING, THE NEW TRIALS FOR CANCER, THEY CAN ALL BE MANUFACTURED HERE.

AGAIN, BECAUSE OF OUR LOW COST OF LAND AND WORK.

FORMER STATE TREASURER AND BANCFIRST SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT RANDY MCDANIEL BELIEVES OKLAHOMA'S CURRENT LOW UNEMPLOYMENT SHOULD PUSH STATE LEADERS TO INVEST MORE INTO IMPROVING EDUCATION OUTCOMES.

I THINK THE LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE KIND OF SPELLS OUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE QUALIFIED NEW EMPLOYEES OF THE FUTURE, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO HAVE A GREAT EDUCATION SYSTEM.

I'M GLAD TO SEE IT CONTINUE TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER IN OKLAHOMA.

ANOTHER DEVELOPING ASPECT OF THE ECONOMY WHICH HAS THE EXPERTS ATTENTION THE RISE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE WORKPLACE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO MATCH THE WHEEL, YOU KNOW, AS AN INVENTION, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT UP THERE WITH ELECTRIFICATION AND REFRIGERATION AND DIGITIZATION AND MECHANIZATION, HIGH SPEED TRANSPORTATION.

IT WILL AT LEAST BE AS GREAT A DISRUPTIVE FORCE AS ALL OF THOSE, WHICH MEANS THE WAY WE WORK IS CHANGING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS IN OKLAHOMA THAT COULD ULTIMATELY BE IMPACTED, BUT IT WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

AI ALSO COULD IMPACT DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.

NEERA SAYS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A POSITIVE IMPACT DUE TO AI DEVELOPMENT, BUT THAT ISN'T THE ONLY KEY TO SUCCESS.

AI GIVES YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION, GIVES YOU NEW WAYS TO LOOK AT PROJECTS, POTENTIALLY, BUT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE ACTUAL PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING THE PROJECT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD PROFORMA, YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD PLAN.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO HAVE A PROJECT GO UP OFF THE GROUND, AND THE LEASE RATE IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS WELL.

THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY COULD FIND GROWTH BECAUSE OF THE ENERGY NEEDED TO RUN AI DATA CENTERS.

KIND OF SOME OF THE THE DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO AI AND THE NEED AND DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY.

I THINK NATURAL GAS IS REALLY POISED TO SEE SOME STRONG GROWTH.

THE FORMER TREASURER BELIEVES AI WILL BE A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD FOR THE ECONOMY, AS IT DISRUPTS HOW WE TYPICALLY WORK.

YOU WANT THOSE ENTRY LEVEL JOBS WHERE PEOPLE CAN DEVELOP THE SKILLS, DEVELOP THEIR CAREER, WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A PROSPEROUS FUTURE.

BUT IT'S HERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK FROM SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY CAN REALLY INCORPORATE THAT IN A HURRY.

THEY CAN ALSO ALSO BE VERY VALUE ADD TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

AND SO THERE'S BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVES.

PART OF THAT DISRUPTION WILL BE FOCUSED ON LESS LABOR INTENSIVE JOBS.

WHITE COLLAR JOBS WILL BE IMPACTED.

IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR THE FULL IMPACT TO REALLY UNFOLD AS IT TOOK A LONG TIME, CERTAINLY FOR COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND DESKTOP MACHINES AND AND APPLICATIONS TO REALLY CHANGE HOW WE DO WORK.

AI ALSO COULD HELP IN THE CLASSROOM, WHICH MIGHT BE A WAY FOR OKLAHOMA TO CLIMB HIGHER IN THE EDUCATION RANKINGS.

WHAT WE REALLY SEE IN THE CLASSROOM IS THAT EFFECTIVE AND ETHICAL USE OF AI LEARNING TOOLS HELPS SOME OF OUR LOWER APTITUDE STUDENTS REALLY CLOSE SOME GAP ON THOSE HIGH APTITUDE STUDENTS.

THE HIGH APTITUDE STUDENTS BECOME A LITTLE MORE EFFECTIVE, A LITTLE MORE PRODUCTIVE.

WHAT HAPPENS TO OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY AND JOB GROWTH IN 2026 COULD DEPEND ON THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK'S DECISION ON INTEREST RATES OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

OUR FORECAST FOR OKLAHOMA CITY NEXT YEAR IS A SLIGHT SLOWING, BASICALLY A DUPLICATE OF THIS YEAR.

IF THE FED IF THE FED CONTINUES RATES AT THEIR CURRENT LEVEL, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HALF THAT GROWTH RATE.

OUR FORECAST IS ESSENTIALLY HALF OR LESS IN TERMS OF JOB GROWTH.

IF THE FED MAINTAINS POLICY, THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE, WHICH DETERMINES WHEN TO CUT OR INCREASE INTEREST RATES, WILL MEET AGAIN AT THE END OF JANUARY.

MANY FORECASTERS EXPECT RATES TO REMAIN UNCHANGED.

TAELYR JASON.

THANK YOU.

FORMER DEATH ROW INMATE RICHARD GLOSSIP IS ASKING A JUDGE TO RELEASE HIM AHEAD OF HIS THIRD TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF HOTEL OWNER BARRY VAN TREECE.

GLOSSIP MADE HIS FIRST COURT APPEARANCE THIS WEEK SINCE THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT VACATED HIS CONVICTION AND ORDERED A NEW TRIAL.

HIS ATTORNEYS ARE ASKING FOR HIM TO BE RELEASED ON BOND DUE TO A NUMBER OF HEALTH ISSUES.

GLOSSIP'S BOND IS SET FOR FEBRUARY 12TH IN THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.

RURAL HEALTH CARE IN OKLAHOMA IS ABOUT TO GET A MAJOR BOOST FROM A FEDERAL PROGRAM CALLED THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM.

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FIVE YEAR PROGRAM, OKLAHOMA WILL RECEIVE $223.5 MILLION FOR THE REFORMS.

OFFICIALS SAY OKLAHOMA'S PLANS ALIGN WITH FEDERAL GOALS THAT INCLUDE IMPROVING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EXPANDING INITIATIVE AND TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN CARE, AND ENSURING LONG-TERM CARE SUSTAINABILITY FOR RURAL PROVIDERS.

THE STATE WILL BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT NEW CONSTRAINTS FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STARTING FEBRUARY 15TH.

THE NEW RULE IS A PART OF GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT S MAKE OKLAHOMA HEALTHY INITIATIVE AGAIN, AND BANS SNAP RECIPIENTS FROM PURCHASING SOFT DRINKS AND CANDY.

THE POLICY WAS ORIGINALLY SET TO START ON JANUARY 1ST, BUT WAS DELAYED TO ALLOW RETAILERS TIME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

MEDIA GIANTS NETFLIX AND PARAMOUNT CONTINUE TO BID FOR OWNERSHIP OF WARNER BROTHERS, AS THE FATE OF THE MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD LEGACY MOVIE STUDIO IS IN LIMBO.

SO IS THE CEASE AND DESIST ORDER SENT BY WARNER BROTHERS TO THE CHICKASHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR ITS 50 FOOT LEG LAMP REPLICA OF CHRISTMAS STORY.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW TO GIVE US THE DETAILS ON THAT.

NOAH.

YEAH.

TAELYR.

THERE'S A LOT OF HOOPLA SURROUNDING THE LEG LAMP COMING DOWN FROM WARNER BROTHERS, AS WELL AS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF CHICKASHA CITIZENRY.

REGARDLESS, THIS ROADSIDE ATTRACTION HAS EMPIRICALLY STIMULATED THIS SMALL TOWN ECONOMY.

IT'S A LEG.

WHAT IS IT?

THIS IS A LAMP.

IT WASN'T.

I THINK I WOULD SAY THAT I'M PROBABLY THE TOP SELLER OF LEG LAMPS AND A CHRISTMAS STORY MERCHANDISE IN CHICKASHA, POSSIBLY THE COUNTY AND THE STATE.

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY PROBABLY EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT.

PROBABLY.

PAMELA PRATHER ENJOYS A QUAINT SHOPKEEPER'S LIFE RIGHT OUTSIDE ONE OF OKLAHOMA'S MOST ODDBALL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

THREE RESTAURANTS, FOURTH ACROSS THE STREET.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SAVOY, ALL CAME IN JUST BECAUSE OF THAT LEG LAMP.

A 40 FOOT LEG LAMP STANDING ON A TEN FOOT CRATE EMBLAZONED WITH FRAGILE.

THAT IS THE MAJOR ATTRACTION.

DONNING CHICKASHA SKYLINE DAY AND NIGHT.

AND ALTHOUGH THE FIXTURE IS UP YEAR ROUND, IT'S A VITAL PIECE TO THE RURAL TOWNS BROADER ECONOMIC STRATEGY OF BRANDING ITSELF AS CHRISTMAS TOWN USA.

IT'S PART OF OUR LONG TERM PLAN OF HAVING A PARK.

THE LEG LAMP STANDS IN THE CENTER OF WHERE THE TOWN ORIGINATED.

WE'RE A STOP ON THE RAILROAD 1892, AND SO IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT NOW OUR TOWN IS BEING REVITALIZED AND AND WE'RE GROWING BECAUSE OF THE SAME AREA.

JIM COWAN HEADS CHICKASHA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND CREDITS THE LEG LAMP FOR A BOOST IN BUSINESS.

THIS BLOCK BEHIND ME WAS ABSOLUTELY, COMPLETELY EMPTY.

THE ATTRACTION STARTED OUT AS A TEMPORARY INFLATABLE PUT UP IN 2020.

THE PERMANENT ONE CAME ALONG IN 2022, AND FOR A MUNICIPALITY THAT RELIES HEAVILY ON SALES TAX, THE BUMP IN TOURISM WAS SIGNIFICANT.

SINCE 2020, SALES TAX REVENUE STEADILY TICKED UP AFTER FIVE YEARS OF THE LEG LAMP, SALES TAX HAS INCREASED BY 38%.

THE LEG LAMP HAS SEEN OVER 322,000 VISITS FROM 104,000 UNIQUE TOURISTS FROM NOT ONLY AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT AROUND THE WORLD.

OUR SMALL MOM AND POP BUSINESSES.

THEY NEED THIS EXTRA TOURISM JUST TO MAKE IT A GO.

OUR DOWNTOWN AGAIN IN THE IN THE 15 YEARS AGO IT WAS PRETTY MUCH NONEXISTENT.

NOBODY WOULD COME DOWN HERE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY CITY LEADERS WERE SHOCKED WHEN WARNER BROTHERS SENT THEM A CEASE AND DESIST.

DESTROY IT IS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SAID.

I'M BROKE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

I WAS WATERING MY PLANT AND I BROKE YOUR LAMP.

ED WHITE IS AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEY AND SAYS THERE ARE SOME UNKNOWNS.

IF WARNER BROTHERS TURNS THAT CEASE AND DESIST INTO A LAWSUIT, THERE'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION OF PROOF.

OF COURSE, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE LEG LAMP.

THE COPYRIGHT ANGLE WOULD BE FAIRLY OBVIOUS IF IN FACT, IT'S A PROTECTABLE ELEMENT.

THE TOUGHER QUESTION IS THE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY QUESTION CAN YOU SUE A STATE AGENCY ESSENTIALLY FOR COPYRIGHT AND OR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, WHICH IS FAR FROM CLEAR.

AND AND EVEN IF YOU CAN SUE THEM, IS THAT GOOD BUSINESS?

RIGHT?

DOES IT MAKE SENSE, OR IS IT BETTER TO JUST KEEP THE KIND OF CONTROVERSY COOKING AND HAVE SOME STORIES OCCASIONALLY COME OUT?

ED DOESN'T REALLY FORESEE WARNER BROTHERS OR THE STUDIO'S SUCCESSORS SUING CHICKASHA OR ITS SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY UNHEARD OF.

IP HOLDERS HAVE, HAVE AND DO UNDERTAKE ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGNS WHERE THEY GO AFTER LITTLE GUYS.

IT'S UNCERTAIN TO ME WHETHER NETFLIX WOULD HAVE THAT STRICTER POLICY, OR WHETHER THE ELLISON GROUP OR WHATEVER THAT GROUP IS CALLED WOULD HAVE THAT STRICTER POLICY.

BUT THAT COULD CHANGE THE EQUATION AND AND TIP THE BALANCE IN FAVOR OF A SUIT.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE WARNER BROTHERS SENT THAT CEASE AND DESIST ORDER, AND CHICKASHA HAS CONTINUED ON BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THIS 50 FOOT STRUCTURE HAS GIVEN CHICKASHA ECONOMY A LEG UP.

HOWEVER, THIS NOVELTY TOURIST ATTRACTION HAS ALSO CREATED A SMALL TOWN POLITICAL RIFT.

SOME PEOPLE LOVE THE LEG LAMP, AND SOME PEOPLE WANT TO BURN IT TO THE GROUND.

NOT TOO DISSIMILAR FROM MRS.

PARKER'S REACTION IN A CHRISTMAS STORY.

THAT IS THE UGLIEST LAMP I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

ALTHOUGH A LOT LESS COMEDIC, THE LAMP STIRRED LEGITIMATE CONCERN AMONG SOME CHICKASHA RESIDENTS WHO SAW THE RATHER RISQUÉ EDIFICE AS A TACKY TOURIST TRAP, SEXUALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND ANTITHETICAL TO CHRISTMAS.

THIRD GENERATION CHICKASHA RESIDENT REAGAN ELKINS HAS BEEN CHRONICLING THE SURPRISINGLY DRAMA SOAKED SAGA FROM THE LEG LAMPS INCEPTION.

AS A MOTHER, I WOULD HAVE REALLY A HARD TIME EXPLAINING TO MY CHILDREN THAT GROWN MEN SAT AROUND A TABLE AND THOUGHT, THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP AND ARGUE ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS, LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE FILMING EITHER.

I WOULD JUST SHOW UP WITH SOMEONE SAID, THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE LEG LAMP AT CITY COUNCIL.

I WOULD SHOW UP WITH A CAMERA AND PUSH RECORD AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

THE DOCUMENTARY DETAILS THE SMALL TOWN QUARRELS AS WELL AS WARNER BROTHERS COPYRIGHT DISPUTE, WHICH ED POINTS OUT BOTH WARNER BROTHERS AND CHICKASHA MAY ULTIMATELY BENEFIT FROM THE DEBACLE.

MY SUSPICION IS IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF, AGAIN, THAT VERSUS THE REAL INTENT TO EVER SUE OR PURSUE THESE RIGHTS.

AND AGAIN, THEY SEND THE MESSAGE THAT SAYS, HEY, WE DO HAVE THESE RIGHTS.

WE MAY ENFORCE THEM.

IT AGAIN, I GUESS THE HOPE ALSO COULD BE WE'RE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW BEWARE.

ALTHOUGH WITH SHOPS LIKE PAM'S CRAFTY QUEEN, JIM BELIEVES THE CHICKASHA LEG LAMP IS A NET POSITIVE FOR THE MOVIE STUDIO.

WARNER BROTHERS OUGHT TO BE THRILLED WITH THE AMOUNT OF OFFICIALLY LICENSED MERCHANDISE THAT THEY'RE SELLING.

PAM SELLS A SLEW OF LOCALLY MADE KNICKKNACKS, AND SINCE NOVEMBER HAS SOLD NEARLY 60 LICENSED A CHRISTMAS STORY LEG LAMPS.

I WAS A STAY AT HOME MOM, A CRAFTER THAT MADE EXTRA MONEY THROUGH CRAFTING SO WE COULD HAVE VACATIONS AND CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR ME TO ACTUALLY OWN A SHOP IN THIS BUILDING THAT WAS BOARDED UP ALL MY LIFE IS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.

AND I DO TELL PEOPLE, LOOK AT THE LEG LAMP.

MAKING ALL MY DREAMS COME TRUE.

DREAMS SHE NEVER KNEW SHE HAD LIT UP BY A 50 FOOT NOVELTY LEG LAMP.

ANOTHER BIG TOURIST ATTRACTION, CHICKASHA BOASTS, IS ITS FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, WHICH IS ONLY AROUND DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

BUT THE LEG LAMP PEOPLE VISIT YEAR ROUND AND THE TOWN HOPES TO CONTINUE THEIR REVENUE INCREASES INTO THIS NEW YEAR.

TAELYR INTERESTING STORY NOAH.

THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE HAS NAMED A NEW DIRECTOR FOR A DIVISION MEANT TO BRING NEW AND GROW EXISTING BUSINESS IN OKLAHOMA.

THAT TOPS THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT BARBER COFFEY IS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH AND EXPANSION, OR EDGE.

COFFEY IS A CERTIFIED ECONOMIC DEVELOPER AND IS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE.

SHE ALSO RECENTLY SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC INITIATIVES FOR THE CITY OF TUCSON, ARIZONA, HELPING TO CREATE 7000 JOBS AND EXPANSION OF MAJOR COMPANIES IN TUCSON.

THE LEGISLATURE CREATED THE EDGE OFFICE IN 2020 FOR OKLAHOMA.

DRIVERS ARE ENJOYING LOWER GAS PRICES TO START THE NEW YEAR, ACCORDING TO TRIPLE A'S OKLAHOMA, FUEL PRICES GAUGE.

THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR UNLEADED IS $2.24.

THAT'S A NEARLY TWO CENT DROP SINCE LAST WEEK AND $0.16 A GALLON CHEAPER THAN PRICES LAST MONTH.

LAST YEAR, AT THIS TIME, OKLAHOMANS WERE PAYING AN AVERAGE OF $2.57 A GALLON FOR REGULAR UNLEADED.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 283 A GALLON.

THAT'S ABOUT $0.17 LOWER THAN A MONTH AGO.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER STAR JALEN WILLIAMS, AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS J-DUB BY FANS, HAS SIGNED A MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH OKLAHOMA CITY BASED PAYCOM SOFTWARE.

THE FIRST COMMERCIAL AIRED OVER THE HOLIDAYS, WITH WILLIAMS USING THE PAYCOM APP CALLED I WANT TO HELP WITH JOB RELATED TASKS.

THIS FOLLOWS ON THE HEELS OF ANOTHER OKLAHOMAN STARRING IN A PAYCOM COMMERCIAL.

ACTOR JAMES MARSDEN, J. DUBS ANSWERS COMMERCIAL WILL AIR ON TOP NATIONAL CABLE NETWORKS AND MAJOR STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

MAJOR SHIFTS IN THE US REFUGEE POLICIES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS REDUCED THE ANNUAL LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES, FROM 125,000 TO JUST 7500.

AND THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH MODERATOR, CASSIDY MUDD AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS WILL DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THESE CHANGING POLICIES.

CASSIDY JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS VERONICA LAZAR, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CARE OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY KIM BANDY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SPARROW PROJECT.

AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM IS NATHAN HUGHES, WHO IS THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR RISING VILLAGE.

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

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL.

SO, VERONICA, TO START, HOW ARE HOW ARE COMMUNITIES WITH THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH REACTING TO THIS NEWS?

THIS IS REALLY ALARMING, NOT ONLY FOR THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON OUR REFUGEE RESETTLED FAMILIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO WALK ALONGSIDE THEM.

IT'S SIGNALING A MAJOR SHIFT IN POLICY AND IN CULTURAL ATTITUDES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE MUSLIM PEOPLE FROM THESE REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY FEELING ON EDGE.

THEY'RE FEELING A LITTLE BIT LESS SAFE.

AND WITH THE HEIGHTENED ISLAMOPHOBIA THAT WE'RE WITNESSING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, YOU DEFINITELY HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE FEELING LIKE THIS IS NOT THE SAME SAFE PLACE THAT THEY'RE USED TO LIVING IN IN OKLAHOMA.

AND YOU SAID THIS WAS A MAJOR SHIFT IN POLICY.

THIS IS A TURNING POINT.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?

YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE FOR AMERICAN MUSLIMS AND OKLAHOMA MUSLIMS.

UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE OCTOBER OF 2023, WE'VE SEEN THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF ISLAMOPHOBIA EVER RECORDED IN THE 30 YEAR HISTORY OF CARE.

SO 2024 WAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS INCIDENTS EVER RECORDED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S 30 YEAR HISTORY.

THE YEAR SURPASSED THE YEAR PRIOR TO THAT 2023.

THAT WAS THE HIGHEST YEAR THAT THEY'D EVER SEEN, AND OVER HALF OF THOSE COMPLAINTS IN 2023 TOOK PLACE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

AND SO SINCE THEN, WE'VE SEEN THIS HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF ISLAMOPHOBIC, ANTI-ARAB, ANTI-PALESTINIAN BIAS THAT HAS GOT PEOPLE FEELING REALLY UNSAFE IN THEIR WORKPLACES, IN THEIR SCHOOLS, ON THEIR COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND EVEN JUST OUT IN ASPECTS OF DAILY LIFE.

YOU MADE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT POINTS THAT I WANT TO PUT A PIN IN, AND WE WILL COME BACK TO THOSE.

NATHAN, WHAT IMMEDIATE IMPACTS ARE WE SEEING IN TULSA AS WELL IN THE AREAS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT?

AND HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE RESHAPED BY THIS NEW POLICY?

I MEAN, WE HAVE A VERY LARGE, VERY LARGE REFUGEE POPULATION HERE IN TULSA AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE 20,000, I BELIEVE, 20,000 BURMESE HERE IN TULSA.

WE HAVE A VERY LARGE AFGHAN POPULATION.

AND FOR A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE, THEY HAVE FAMILY AND THEY HAVE FRIENDS AND THEY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEIR COMMUNITY IS STILL BACK IN IN THOSE AREAS WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO GET TO, TO SAFETY AND TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET INTO A POSITION WHERE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A TALIBAN LET OFF GHANISTAN IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S IT'S NOT SAFE FOR A LOT OF THE PEOPLE'S FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHO ARE ALREADY HERE.

SO A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE ARE REALLY FEELING THE PAIN OF, OF THAT KIND OF SHUTTING THE DOOR TO SOME OF THOSE POPULATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HELPED US DURING WARTIME.

YOU KNOW, OUR OUR AFGHAN ALLIES OVER IN AFGHANISTAN AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER PERSECUTED, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GROUPS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT THE US HAS HAS ALWAYS KIND OF HELD THE DOOR OPEN FOR AND BEEN AND BEEN A SAFE HAVEN.

SEEING THAT SHUT IS, HAS BEEN BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF OUR POPULATIONS HERE IN TULSA.

AND KIM, GOING OFF OF THAT, WHAT CHANGES HAVE WE SEEN IN ARRIVALS SERVICES OR ACTUAL NEED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

YEAH.

SO JUST IMMEDIATELY IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND OTHER POLICY CHANGES AND THE PROGRAM, THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM WAS ESSENTIALLY HALTED WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.

AND THAT THAT IMMEDIATELY IMPACTED THOSE FAMILIES THAT NATHAN'S TALKING ABOUT.

AND I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT FAMILIES THAT WERE HOPING TO ARRIVE.

MANY OF THEM WERE NOT ASPIRATIONALLY PLANNING TO COME BASED ON A PROGRAM THAT MAYBE THEY COULD REACH SOMEDAY.

THEY THEY HAD BEEN VETTED, THEY HAD BEEN APPROVED.

THEY HAD GONE THROUGH A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS OF VERY ROBUST VETTING PROCESS, AND MANY HAD PLANE TICKETS AND HAD DATES SET TO ARRIVE.

AND THE AVERAGE WAIT TIME FOR REFUGEES GOING THROUGH THAT JOURNEY OFTEN, OFTEN CAN RAISE INTO THE 2526 YEAR TIME TIMEFRAME.

AND SO THESE WERE FAMILIES THAT WERE THAT WERE PLANNING TO ARRIVE AND HAD DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE OF COMPLETING A PROGRAM INTERNATIONALLY THAT WE HAD SET FORTH IN PROVIDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

AND SO SO TO NATHAN'S POINT, FAMILIES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BECAUSE MANY OF THEM WERE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILY THAT THEY WERE HOPING TO BE REUNITED WITH.

AND SO WE'RE ALREADY CLOSING THE DOORS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE MOST HEIGHTENED FORCIBLE DISPLACEMENT WE'VE SEEN EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

THE NUMBERS ARE ASTRONOMICAL.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, BIG CHANGE IN POLICY.

SO NOW I KNOW THAT IT'S JUST 7500 PEOPLE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN DECIDED.

SO SO IN JANUARY THE PROGRAM HALTED.

AND IN THAT IN THIS PREVIOUS YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESETTLE 100, UP TO 125,000 PEOPLE.

BUT THE PAUSE MADE THAT NUMBER NEXT TO NOTHING BECAUSE THERE WERE A FEW EXCEPTIONS, AS I MENTIONED WITH AFGHAN SIVS, WHICH ARE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH THE US ARMY.

IF THEY COULD SELF TRAVEL HERE, THEY COULD STILL COME.

AND AND OTHER THAN THAT, IT WAS ALMOST NO ONE COULD ARRIVE.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE PROGRAM HALTED THEN.

NOW OFFICIALLY, THE PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION IS SET EVERY YEAR.

AND THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATION'S CEILING.

IT'S NOT A MINIMUM.

IT'S THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN BE RESETTLED.

SO SO IN COMPARISON, LAST YEAR WAS 125,000.

SO RIGHT BEFORE THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WON THE ELECTION, IN HISTORIC YEARS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, IT'S ABOUT ON AVERAGE 95,000 PER YEAR.

AND SO 7500 IS AN UNBELIEVABLY INHUMANE NUMBER.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION HAS SAID CLEARLY IT WILL PRIORITIZE, IN PARTICULAR, WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING OURS, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATION WE WORK WITH AS AN AFFILIATE CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, ARE CHALLENGING STRONGLY THAT NOTION AND THAT THAT POPULATION IS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM.

AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS TO IMMIGRATE TO THE UNITED STATES.

THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY DISPLACED BY WAR AND VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION, AND THAT THIS PATHWAY HAS TO BE BROADER, BIGGER.

IT IS A IT IS A PROGRAM WE SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF.

THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER, VERONICA.

TELL US ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO COME OVER HERE NOW.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM?

WELL, NOT ANYTHING GOOD FOR AFGHANS WHO ARE GOING TO REMAIN TRAPPED IN AFGHANISTAN.

MANY OF THEM WILL WILL SUFFER AND DIE AT THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH UNITED STATES MILITARY OR AID APPARATUS.

THE ALL OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS WINS THAT WE WE GAINED OVER THE 20 YEAR PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN.

THOSE ARE GONE.

AND SO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED FOR THOSE THINGS WILL ALSO BE SUFFERING AND DYING.

AND NOW WHAT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION FOR THESE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THE RAIDS AND THE PICKUPS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING HERE IN OKLAHOMA, OSTENSIBLY ARE PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS WHO ARE HERE WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION.

BUT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING IS ANYBODY WHO FITS A PARTICULAR PROFILE IS BEING SWEPT UP AND HELD, DETAINED AND PLACED IN PROCEEDINGS UNTIL THEY CAN PROVE THAT THEY QUALIFY TO REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO AFGHAN NATIONALS WHO MAY HAVE PAPERWORK PROCESSING.

RIGHT.

BECAUSE THE BACKLOGS FOR THEIR THEIR CITIZENSHIP PROCESSING ARE INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY LENGTHY.

THEY COULD BE PLACED INTO DEPORTATIONS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WAS REQUIRED OF THEM TO COME HERE LEGALLY WITH THE PROPER DOCUMENTS, AND THEY COULD FACE DEPORTATION, MEANING THAT SOMEONE WHO FLED FROM THE TALIBAN IN 2021 OR IN SUBSEQUENT MONTHS FEARING FOR THEIR LIFE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE WITNESSED THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BEING KILLED IN FRONT OF THEM COULD NOW BE THREATENED WITH BEING SENT BACK TO AFGHANISTAN INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE WHO WILL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY KILL THEM AS SOON AS THEY THEY ARE FOUND IN AFGHANISTAN.

AND SO NOT ONLY ARE WE DISRUPTING THE MANY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND BE OUR NEIGHBORS, WE ARE ALSO DISRUPTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN HERE, WHO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WAS REQUIRED OF THEM TO BECOME AMERICANS LONG, LONG TIME LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND OR CITIZENS TO TO BE WORKERS, TO BE STUDENTS.

AND WE ARE TAKING ALL OF THAT AWAY FROM THEM.

THE DAMAGE THAT THIS IS DOING TO COMMUNITIES HERE AND ABROAD IS CANNOT BE, CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

THE HARM THAT WE'RE DOING TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WORLD AND EVEN IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, IS INCALCULABLE.

WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS FOR GENERATIONS.

NATHAN, I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK INTO THIS AS WELL.

TULSA HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A STRONG RESETTLEMENT COMMUNITY.

TELL US ABOUT WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE GROUND THERE, BUT HOW ARE THESE POLICY CHANGES GOING TO AFFECT THE SERVICES THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE ABLE TO OFFER?

YEAH, I MEAN, IT ALREADY HAS ACROSS THE BOARD.

YOU KNOW, KIM WAS TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE SINCE THE INAUGURATION.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES, A LOT OF CHANGES TO OUR WORK SINCE SINCE THE INAUGURATION HAPPENED, AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE REFUGEE CEILING HAS BEEN PLACED AT SUCH A LOW NUMBER.

SERVICES ACROSS TULSA.

I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY LUCKY TO WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT, A LOT OF PARTNERS WHO REALLY BELIEVE IN THE WORK THAT WE DO AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, REALLY INVEST HERE IN TULSA, WHICH IS IS AWESOME AND HAS ALLOWED US TO PICK UP SOME OF THE SLACK FROM FROM SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

BUT PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD IN TULSA, A LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT NOT ONLY DO DO RESETTLEMENT, BUT ALSO PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE SUPPORT SERVICES AFTER THE FACT.

A LOT OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CUT FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM PROVIDING ESL CLASSES TO LEGAL SERVICES TO, I MEAN, YOU NAME IT ACROSS THE BOARD.

WELL, VERONICA, SOMETHING THAT I KIND OF WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED HERE, WAS YOU WERE SPEAKING AT A CLASS AT WITH IMAM IN CLASS TODAY.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN THE HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND WITHIN THIS.

YEAH.

SO I WAS VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE INVITED TO SPEAK AT IMAM AND CHASES WORLD RELIGIONS CLASS AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY THIS MORNING.

AND MY PRESENTATION, I DO THIS EVERY EVERY TERM HE INVITES ME.

WE TALK ABOUT ISLAMOPHOBIA IN OKLAHOMA.

WE TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE ROOT CAUSES OF ISLAMOPHOBIA, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STEREOTYPES THAT PEOPLE HOLD ABOUT ISLAM AND MUSLIMS BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO COME INTO A CLASSROOM AND LEARN THE TRUTH?

AND WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE WORST MANIFESTATIONS OF ISLAMOPHOBIA THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR STATE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE, DAMAGE DONE TO MOSQUES AND ISLAMIC CENTERS, RESISTANCE TO THE PRESENCE OF MUSLIMS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE, HATE CRIMES, ASSAULT, MURDER, THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHEN ANTI-MUSLIM HATRED IS ALLOWED TO GO UNCHECKED.

BUT WHERE I LIKE TO END THAT LECTURE, AND WHAT ALWAYS GIVES ME HOPE IS WE THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT, AND WE TALK THROUGH BYSTANDER INTERVENTION AND MEDIA LITERACY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WHEN WE SEE THESE KINDS OF HARM BEING DONE TO THE PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT, WE MUST ACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE TALK ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD THE WORLD THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN, AND TO TAKE THOSE STEPS AND PUT IT INTO ACTION, THAT THE WORLD CAN BE A BETTER PLACE, AND WE ALL DESERVE THAT.

AND SO, LEARNING FROM KIM AND HER TEAM AT THE SPIRO PROJECT, I TALK ABOUT THOSE LESSONS, TOO, WITH THESE STUDENTS TO SAY, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT OKLAHOMA CAN BE, SHOULD BE IS A PLACE THAT WELCOMES EVERYONE.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THERE, AND THEY GET REALLY EXCITED AND THEY'RE REALLY FIRED UP AND CREATIVE.

AND SO I THINK THAT THE TIMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW ARE DEFINITELY REALLY DARK FOR THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

RIGHT.

BUT WE ARE RESILIENT.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN OVER 400 YEARS OF PRESENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS IS NOT WHAT BREAKS US.

IT'S NOT WHAT ENDS US.

WE WILL CONTINUE AND PERSIST.

AND SO IF ANYTHING GIVES ME HOPE, IT'S THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING TO YOUNG FOLKS, TEACHING THEM WHAT WE KNOW, AND THEY WILL KEEP GOING WITH US.

KIM, I WANT TO HEAR YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS.

I JUST THINK I CANNOT OVERSTATE THE THE NEED THAT WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER.

AND SO I, I APPRECIATE THE ADVOCACY AND THE FRAMING FOR WE SHOULD BE A SAFE PLACE TO WELCOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE WORST THAT HUMANITY HAS TO OFFER.

BUT ALSO, WE AS OKLAHOMA CITY NEED THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO.

I DO NOT WANT TO GLAMORIZE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT BECAUSE I WISH NO ONE HAD TO GO THROUGH IT.

I WISH THEY WERE COMING HERE BY THEIR CHOICE AND THEY WEREN'T FORCED INTO DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE.

BUT WE DON'T LIVE IN THAT WORLD RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE DO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE BROUGHT THE MOST INCREDIBLE WISDOM, STRENGTH, RESILIENCE.

I'M GOING TO CELEBRATION TONIGHT OF BURMESE CHURCHES GATHERING TOGETHER IN OKLAHOMA CITY TO CELEBRATE CULTURE AND CELEBRATE FAMILIES, AND WHAT THE WINS AND LOSSES OF THIS YEAR.

AND MY FAMILY, PERSONALLY, I JUST HAVE TO SAY, IS FOREVER CHANGED BY THE MENTORSHIP AND THE DISCIPLESHIP THAT HAS HAPPENED FROM THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY, FROM INDIVIDUALS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND I CANNOT PICTURE MY FAMILY WITHOUT THEIR GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP, AND OUR CITY WOULD NOT BE THE SAME.

SO WE'RE ADVOCATING NOT JUST FOR INDIVIDUALS ON THE GROUND THAT NEED OUR SUPPORT.

WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR ALL OF US TO BE A BETTER COMMUNITY AND A BETTER PLACE THAT WE ALL WANT TO LIVE.

THAT'S VERY WELL SAID, NATHAN.

FINAL THOUGHTS?

YEAH.

AND I AGAIN, I KIND OF WANT TO ECHO WHAT WHAT WHAT KIM JUST SAID.

I MEAN, THAT THAT THAT COMMUNITY IS JUST IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND OR, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PRETTY DEEP THIS IS A PRETTY DEEP SUBJECT.

THERE'S A THERE'S A LOT OF IT GETS A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND WHAT I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IS YOU HAVE YOU HAVE NEIGHBORS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT GO TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR KIDS THAT YOU KNOW, THAT ARE IMMIGRANTS AND THAT ARE REFUGEES AND THAT HAVE THESE STORIES AND, YOU KNOW, GO HAVE TEA WITH THEM, GO HAVE DINNER WITH THEM, TALK WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, TALK WITH THEM AT YOUR KID'S SOCCER GAME.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH HOW MUCH WE HEAR ALL THE RHETORIC AROUND THIS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET BACK TO, YOU KNOW, TO GET BACK TO WHAT MAKES THIS IMPORTANT AND WHAT MAKES OUR CITIES WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT MAKES THEM GREAT.

AND THAT IS THAT THAT COMMUNITY AND THOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S THAT THAT'S WHY I, I'M FROM A SMALL TOWN AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I DO DO WHAT I DO.

AND I, I'M GOING TO OR I WENT TO A POTLUCK LAST NIGHT, INTERNATIONAL POTLUCK WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND IT'S, IT'S IT'S AWESOME.

I LOVE IT I LOVE IT.

SO ANYTIME YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, I FEEL LIKE WE WE ALL CAN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GROW AS, AS, AS PEOPLE DOING THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO I THINK THAT'S A PERFECT PLACE TO END IT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

THANK YOU.

SPORTS FANS BLAMING REFEREES FOR BAD CALLS IS NOTHING NEW, BUT SCHOOLS IN IOWA PROVIDING TRAINING FOR FUTURE GAME OFFICIALS.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE GO TO IOWA TO FIND A TEACHER TAKING ON THE TASK OF TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF REFEREES TO HELP ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED REFS TO MAKE CALLS IN HIS STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT'S BROUGHT TO YOU BY OUR FRIENDS AT IOWA PBS.

THE REASON WHY YOU ARE TAKING THIS CLASS IS WE DO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF OFFICIALS IN THE STATE OF IOWA AND AROUND THE NATION.

SPORTS OFFICIATING IS NOT EASY.

IT IS HARD.

BUT THERE'S ALSO MANY REASONS WHY IT IS HARD.

TEACHER ERIK JONES IS LEADING DENISON HIGH SCHOOL'S BLITZ TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION OF IN-DEMAND, HIGH QUALITY REFEREES WHO CAN HELP ENSURE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR LEVEL HEADED SPORTS COMPETITION.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING OLDER THAT HAVE DONE IT FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY'RE GETTING OUT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT REALLY DON'T SEEM INTERESTED IN IT TO BEGIN WITH, AND I WOULD SAY THE MAIN REASON FOR A LOT OF THOSE KIDS IS THEY SEE COACHES, FANS, FANS IS THE BIG ONE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE TALK ABOUT SPORTSMANSHIP.

SPORTSMANSHIP IS PROBABLY PUSHED A LOT OF OFFICIALS OUT OF CHINA.

IS THAT A GOOD WHISTLE TONE?

NO, A GOOD WHISTLE TONE IS A LONGTIME UMPIRE COACH AND AVID OUTDOORSMAN.

JONES TOOK UP THE MANTLE OF SPORTS OFFICIATING INSTRUCTOR AFTER THE SCHOOL WAS APPROACHED BY REF WRAPS, AN INDIANA BASED EDUCATION COMPANY WHICH OFFERS STANDARDIZED ONLINE TRAINING TOOLS AND CURRICULUM FOR OVER A DOZEN SPORTS NATIONWIDE.

SO GO AHEAD AND ACCESS THE MODULES RIGHT NOW.

THE BRAINCHILD OF AN ENTREPRENEUR AND A RETIRED NFL REFEREE, REF REPS HAS MADE INROADS AT BOTH THE COLLEGIATE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

THIS WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE EVER OFFERED BEFORE.

SO COUNSELOR AND VOLLEYBALL COACH DANA MARTIN WATCHED DENISON'S PARTICIPATION MOVE QUICKLY FROM INDEPENDENT ONLINE STUDY TO A POPULAR PHYSICAL EDUCATION ELECTIVE COURSE, STUDENTS FOCUS ON THE DYNAMICS OF TWO SPORTS OF THEIR OWN CHOICE OVER A SEMESTER.

WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THE COURSE IS IT HELPS THEM GAIN THEIR CONFIDENCE BECAUSE THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE SPORTS, AND THEY DO LEARN ABOUT THE RULES.

THEY SEE DIFFERENT PLAYS, DIFFERENT CALLS THAT WERE MADE AND IT GETS EXPLAINED TO THEM.

WATCH IT CLOSELY.

ROETHLISBERGER GOES IN FOR THE QUARTERBACK SNEAK OOH DID HE GET IT.

DID HE GET IT.

WHAT DID THE OFFICIAL DO.

HE RAISED HIS HAND THAT HE WAS DOWN.

AND THEN GUESS WHAT HE DID.

INDECISIVENESS.

HE CHANGED IT TO A TOUCHDOWN CALL BETWEEN HUMAN ERROR SUBJECTIVE DECISIONS AND ASSOCIATED HEAT FROM COACHES ATHLETES AND FANS.

JONES SAYS TRAINEES HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM, BUT THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.

REF REPS ISN'T THE ONLY THING.

REF REPS IS A TOOL.

SO WE'RE USING CLASSROOM DISCUSSION.

WE'RE USING ACTIVITIES HERE IN OUR GYM.

WE'RE HAVING KIDS WORK AT LEAST 2 OR 3 TIMES A YEAR BASKETBALL VOLLEYBALL MATCHES.

SO THEY'RE GETTING THOSE FIRST PERSPECTIVES OF I GOT TO MAKE THAT CALL RIGHT AWAY.

THERE WAS A REF AT OUR FOOTBALL GAME AND SAW A CLEAR FACEMASK, BUT DID NOT CALL IT.

YOU GOT TO BE QUICK.

I GUESS I JUST HAVEN'T EVER SEEN IT THROUGH THE LENS OF A REFEREE UNTIL NOW, BECAUSE IT'S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT THAN BEING A PLAYER.

MR.

JONES IS A GREAT TEACHER.

IT OPENED MY EYES UP TO SEE THAT EVERYBODY'S HUMAN.

I HAVE MADE SOME QUESTIONABLE CALLS AND THE PARENTS, EVEN AT THE LITTLE LEAGUE AGE, GET ON YOU A LITTLE BIT.

SO AFTER YOU MAKE ONE OF THOSE, YOU KIND OF, YOU KNOW, AT HALFTIME, YOU REALLY JUST TALK WITH EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE YOU AREN'T GOING TO MAKE THE SAME CALL AGAIN.

JONES ADMITS HE HOLDS HIS STUDENT REFEREES TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND PRAISES THEIR ABILITY TO ADAPT AND ASSERT THEMSELVES.

I'VE BEEN WITH THEM AND THERE'S THAT ONE PARENT OR THERE'S THAT ONE COACH AND IT'S SIR, YOU KNOW, AND THEY HANDLE IT ACTUALLY PRETTY WELL.

WHILE THE REFEREE SHORTAGE WARNING IS OUT THERE, DENISON STUDENTS ARE TAKING THIS COURSE REPEATEDLY TO BOOST THEIR SPORTS IQ.

WITH REF REP CERTIFICATION IN HAND, THE OPTION TO REGISTER AND BEGIN OFFICIATING LOCAL GAMES IS ENCOURAGED BY FACULTY.

WHEN I CAME HERE, I LEFT BASKETBALL FOR A LONG TIME.

I DID THAT IN COLLEGE AT UNI.

GREAT GREAT JOB AND I TOLD KIDS, I SAID, YOU MAKE GOOD MONEY, YOU MAKE YOU FIND GOOD FRIENDS AND YOU'RE STILL INVOLVED IN THE GAME.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, AN OKLAHOMA SCIENTIST IS STUDYING A SPECIAL FISH, WHICH COULD LEAD TO RELIEF FOR DIABETES PATIENTS.

NOAH MACK EXPLAINS HOW IT WILL WORK NEXT WEEK, AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE BLACKLAND RITUALS AND REJOICING IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM EXHIBIT BY ARTIST JASON PARKS.

PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA JASON STEWART.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

OH, GIVE ME A HOME WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM.

WHERE THE DEER AND THE ANTELOPE PLAY.

WHERE SELDOM IS HEARD A DISCOURAGING WORD.

AND THE SKIES ARE NOT CLOUDY ALL DAY.

WHERE THE AIR IS SO PURE.

THE ZEPHYRS SO FREE.

THE BREEZE IS SO BALMY AND LIGHT.

THAT I WOULD NOT EXCHANGE MY HOME ON THE RANGE.

FOR ALL OF THE CITIES SO BRIGHT.

OH, HOME ON THE RANGE.

WHERE THE DEER AND THE ANTELOPE PLAY.

WHERE SELDOM IS HEARD A DISCOURAGING WORD.

AND THE SKIES ARE NOT CLOUDY ALL DAY.

THE RED MAN WAS PRESSED FROM THIS PART OF THE WEST.

HE'S LIKELY NO MORE TO RETURN TO THE BANK OF.

THIS WEEK.

AN INVENTOR TURNS A BROKEN DOWN CAR INTO A MAGICAL VEHICLE FOR HIS CHILDREN, AND THEY TRY TO SAVE THEIR GRANDFATHER.

IT'S CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG STARRING DICK VAN DIKE AND BENNY HILL.