TODAY'S ISSUES ON FRONTLINE TUESDAY EVENINGS AT NINE ON OETA.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS FROM BOTH PARTIES SIT DOWN TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE UPCOMING SESSION.

I THINK WE HAVE TO JUST SAY OUT LOUD, UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE'RE 50TH IN THE NATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND THERE'S THERE'S A WAY TO FIX THAT, AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO READ.

THE GOVERNOR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO REDUCE WELFARE FRAUD IN OKLAHOMA.

YOU EITHER HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE LIVING WAGE SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO COVER THEIR OWN BASIC NEEDS, RIGHT AND LIVE, OR WE HAVE TO HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT SUPPORT THEM.

OKLAHOMA'S NATIONAL GUARD STEPPING UP TO HELP FOLLOWING WINTER STORM FERN.

THIS SERVES AS A HUB FOR DOMESTIC RESPONSE.

SO IN EVENTS LIKE WHAT WE HAD THIS LAST WEEKEND WITH THE SNOWSTORMS, WE CAN HAVE EQUIPMENT AND SOLDIERS POSITIONED AND READY TO SERVE.

DID THE STORM LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS?

IN SOME PLACES, THE SNOWFALL WAS HISTORIC.

I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS MUCH SNOW.

IT REALLY HAS COME DOWN THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR WASN'T AS BAD, BUT THIS YEAR IT'S PILED UP PRETTY GOOD.

AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON HOW ICE OPERATES IN OKLAHOMA.

IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE PROPOSED ICE DETENTION FACILITY HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER ENGAGED IN ANY SALE OR LEASE OF THE PROPERTY.

THOSE STORIES.

PLUS, WILL OKLAHOMANS BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO VOTE ON A NEW OPEN PRIMARY SYSTEM?

NEXT, ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

KEVIN STITT WILL DELIVER HIS EIGHTH AND FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THIS COMING MONDAY, WHERE HE'LL SHARE HIS PRIORITIES FOR HIS LAST YEAR IN OFFICE.

THIS WEEK, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS FROM BOTH CHAMBERS DID THE SAME AT A PUBLIC FORUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

NOAH MACK ATTENDED AND JOINED US.

NOW.

NOAH.

YEAH.

RICH.

A PANEL OF MARQUEE LAWMAKERS LAID OUT THE TOP ISSUES AWAITING THEM IN THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION, NAMELY EDUCATION AND A NATIONWIDE IMPASSE OVER HOW TO HANDLE HEALTH CARE COSTS.

THE KICKOFF TO THE 2026 REGULAR SESSION INCLUDED LUNCH POLICY AND A LITTLE LIGHT HEARTED COMEDY.

WE ALL JUST SPENT TEN MINUTES FIGURING OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SIT AND WHERE WE'RE SITTING IS NOTHING LIKE WE CAME UP WITH.

SO IT'S SESSIONS NOT STARTING OFF GOOD.

SO THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE CONVENES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND AND SIX DAYS PRIOR FOR LEADING LEGISLATORS FROM BOTH CHAMBERS.

AND BOTH PARTIES SAT DOWN FOR AN ARMCHAIR CHAT TO BREAK DOWN THE KEY ISSUES.

AND OKLAHOMA'S FALTERING EDUCATION RANKINGS WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE DISCUSSION.

I THINK WE HAVE TO JUST SAY OUT LOUD UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE'RE 50TH IN THE NATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER CYNDI MUNSON WANTS TO SEE OKLAHOMA PUNCH UP ITS INVESTMENTS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION ON STAGE THAT I WISH I WOULD HAVE IS THE RATIO OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS PER COUNSELOR IN EACH SCHOOL, AND I THINK WE ALL ARE PRETTY WELL AWARE THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS IS CRITICAL TO THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

ON STAGE, SHE URGED THAT TEACHERS NEED A RAISE, AND SHE'S GOT A BILL FOR THAT IN THE WORKS.

YES.

SO I HAVE FILED LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S STILL A SHELL BILL.

SO I'M STILL TRYING TO LAND ON WHAT IS THE BEST AMOUNT TO RAISE TEACHER PAY, SPECIFICALLY STARTING TEACHER PAY WITH FORMER SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS OUT OF OFFICE, DEMOCRATS ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT REFORM.

REPUBLICAN HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER MARK LAWSON WANTS TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON READING.

MUNSON'S POINT YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL SEEN IT.

WE'RE 50TH IN EDUCATION AND IN THE HOUSE.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO JUST OWNING THAT.

AND THERE'S THERE'S A WAY TO FIX THAT, AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO READ.

SENATE PRO TEMPORE LONNIE PAXTON AGREES LITERACY RATES NEED ATTENTION, BUT ADDS, SO DOES IN-PERSON LEARNING.

I CAN ASSURE YOU, AS A PARENT OF KIDS WHO ARE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WENT PUBLIC SCHOOL.

MY WIFE'S A 30 YEAR SCHOOLTEACHER TEACHING SECOND GRADE.

YOU CANNOT TEACH A SECOND GRADER HOW TO READ OVER THE INTERNET.

THAT HAS TO BE FACE TO FACE CONTACT WITH OUR TEACHERS.

AND THE RECENT WINTER WEATHER SURGE EXEMPLIFIED HIS ARGUMENT.

I UNDERSTAND IF IT'S TOO EASY TO GO TO SCHOOL, CANCEL SCHOOL LIKE MOST SCHOOLS HAVE, BUT THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOW, AND YOU CAN GO LOOK ON ANY WEBSITE OUT THERE AND LOOK AT THE SCHOOL CLOSURES SITE.

YOU WILL STILL SEE SCHOOLS THAT ARE LISTING REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.

THERE ARE FOUR DAYS INTO REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON IN THAT SCHOOL WORTH EDUCATION.

THEY'RE NOT EDUCATING THE KIDS.

THE TAXPAYERS ARE NOT GETTING THE BANG FOR THEIR BUCK IN THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER TO WHAT THOSE KIDS HAVE DONE THOSE FOUR DAYS.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST YEAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.

PER A SUCCESSFUL BILL FROM LAST SESSION, PAXTON SAYS HIS NEW GOAL IS TO BUMP UP THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL DAYS ALTOGETHER.

IF WE WANT TO INCREASE EDUCATION OUTCOMES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ALSO MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS ARE IN FRONT OF THOSE QUALIFIED TEACHERS MORE OFTEN.

A MAJORITY OF THE CONVERSATION ALSO CENTERED AROUND HEALTH CARE AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WHEN CONGRESS FAILED TO CONTINUE FUNDING OBAMACARE AND PEOPLE STARTED TO LOSE COVERAGE.

I THINK THE RISING COSTS CONTINUE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO PROVIDERS, AND HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE LOST AND WHERE THEIR CHALLENGES ARE, PAXTON WARNS.

THERE'S NOT MUCH WIGGLE ROOM IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, EVEN THOUGH OUR REVENUE IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR.

THERE ARE SO MANY NEW EXPENSES OUT THERE THAT ARE ALMOST ALL TOTALLY RELATED TO HEALTH CARE COSTS.

HEALTH CARE COSTS IS NOT JUST A STATE ISSUE, IT'S A NATIONWIDE ISSUE THAT IT'S I, I WOULD LOVE TO SIT AND GIVE YOU THE MAGIC ANSWER.

I DON'T HAVE IT.

I JUST KNOW WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS.

PAXTON'S DEMOCRATIC FOIL IN THE SENATE, MINORITY LEADER JULIA KURT BELIEVES OKLAHOMA NEEDS A STATE SOLUTION FOR FUNDING HOSPITALS.

I THINK WE GOT TO BE REAL ABOUT THAT, AND WE'VE GOT TO ACTUALLY PUT SOME MONEY BEHIND IT IF WE WANT TO HELP THEM SURVIVE, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT MAJOR INSTITUTIONS THAT COULD BE FOLDING IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF IT.

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO NOT ASSUME SOLUTIONS FROM D.C.

AND ACTUALLY DO THE FINANCIAL PLANNING OURSELVES.

KURT WANTS TO TAKE EVEN MORE STEPS TO ENSURE THE STATE IS READY WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FALLS SHORT.

ONE OF HER BILLS WOULD FUND SNAP BENEFITS AND PAY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF A SHUTDOWN.

I DON'T EXPECT IT TO GET HEARD, BUT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY PUT IN PLACE THOSE TOP PRIORITIES NOW AND NOT WAIT ON, WAIT ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN D.C.

ANOTHER TOPIC WAS GROWING OKLAHOMA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.

WITH UPCOMING EVENTS ON THE HORIZON LIKE THE 2028 SUMMER OLYMPICS, THIS YEAR'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF ROUTE 66 AND OKC THUNDER GAMES.

I THINK WE WE LOOK AT WAYS OF MAYBE BRANCHING OUT FROM THESE QUALITY EVENTS.

I MEAN, OKIE NOODLING, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

THAT IS THE COOLEST THING.

I MEAN, IT'S VERY KITSCHY.

IT'S VERY MUCH OKLAHOMA.

AND I THINK IF WE TREATED TOURISM LIKE THE THIRD LARGEST INDUSTRY IN THE STATE, THAT IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC BENEFIT.

AND I CONSIDER IT AS A STATEWIDE INVESTMENT.

THE DISCUSSION ROUNDED OUT WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND MUNSON, WHO IS ENTERING HER SECOND TO LAST SESSION, WANTS TO SEE THE FOCUS SHIFT TOWARDS TRAINING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE STATE WITH MORE INVESTMENTS INTO HIGHER ED AND CAREER SERVICES.

I LOVE BRINGING PEOPLE TO OKLAHOMA.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF THAT, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE READY TO WORK, READY TO DO THOSE THINGS, BUT WE STILL HAVE INVESTMENTS WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THAT ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO TO STEP UP TO WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

PAXTON SEEMED OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE SESSION AHEAD, SAYING THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN SOLVING DISAGREEMENTS MORE SEAMLESSLY.

I WILL TELL YOU, THERE ARE TIMES THAT THE SPEAKER AND I DISAGREED ON ISSUES, BUT WE HANDLED THOSE BY GETTING BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR AND HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH EITHER US, TWO OR OUR TEAMS, AND WE CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION.

SO THE GENERAL PUBLIC NEVER KNEW WE WERE ARGUING ABOUT SOMETHING.

YET PAXTON STILL KEPT A BIT OF GOOD HUMORED BANTER.

YES, WE WE DO GET ALONG WELL, BUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE FACT THAT THE HOUSE COMES UP WITH SOME REALLY, REALLY BAD IDEAS THE SENATE HAS TO FIX.

BUT SO.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE AJ PITTMAN OF OKLAHOMA CITY RESIGNED FROM OFFICE AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO FORGERY RELATED CHARGES.

DEMOCRAT HOUSE LEADER CYNDI MUNSON AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE KYLE HILBERT, BOTH RELEASING STATEMENTS THAT READ IN PART, WHILE WE BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW WITH CHARGES FORMALLY FILED, WE KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE PITTMAN WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSE DISTRICT 99, AND SPEAKER HILBERT SAID IN PART.

HER RESIGNATION FOLLOWS SERIOUS AND PROVEN VIOLATIONS OF ETHICS LAWS.

THIS CONDUCT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND FALLS WELL BELOW THE STANDARD ACCEPTED FOR ANYONE SERVING IN THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT REPORT.

WELL, SUPPORTERS OF A STATE QUESTION THAT WOULD CHANGE OKLAHOMA'S CURRENT PRIMARY SYSTEM HAVE SUBMITTED MORE THAN 200,000 SIGNATURES TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO TRY AND GET THEIR INITIATIVE ONTO A FUTURE BALLOT.

THE YES ON 836 ORGANIZATION WAS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE 173,000 SIGNATURES TO QUALIFY, AND NOW THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THOSE SIGNATURES ARE VALID.

STATE QUESTION 836 WOULD CREATE A TYPE OF OPEN PRIMARY SYSTEM IN OKLAHOMA, ALLOWING VOTERS TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRIMARY, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT AS VISIBLE OR IN THE NEWS AS ICE AGENTS.

IN MINNESOTA.

ICE IS OPERATING IN OKLAHOMA RIGHT NOW, AND GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS COME OUT PUBLICLY QUESTIONING THE TACTICS USED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO TACKLE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

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

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

IMMIGRATION LAWS EXIST NOT TO BE MEAN AND KEEP PEOPLE OUT.

IT IS A RECOGNITION THAT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR SOCIETY.

AND, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY ARE NOT CRIMINALS.

THEY'RE NOT BAD PEOPLE.

THEY ARE UNDERSTANDABLY LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT HERE.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE.

IF THEY'RE NOT SELLING THE PROPERTY, THEN THERE'S NO LONGER A PROPOSED FACILITY.

SO THEY WOULD NEED TO IDENTIFY A PROPERTY.

AND SO THERE'S NO SALE MOVING FORWARD.

SO AT THIS POINT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DETENTION CENTER THAT COULD BE PUT NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR SCHOOLS.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON TRAFFIC?

WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOT TO MENTION THE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD BE INSIDE THAT BUILDING.

IT IS A WAREHOUSE.

IT IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.

JOIN THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

OKLAHOMA'S DEALING WITH A DIFFERENT KIND OF ICE.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF WINTER STORM FERN, WHICH DUMPED A RECORD AMOUNT OF SNOW IN SOME PARTS OF OUR STATE.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF REPORTS FOR YOU, BEGINNING WITH JASON DOYLE, JASON RICH, ALL 77 COUNTIES IN OKLAHOMA GOT SOME OF THE SNOW DURING THE WINTER STORM, WHICH STRETCHED THOUSANDS OF MILES BEYOND THE CENTER, STATE OFFICIALS SAY WHILE RECORDS HAVE BEEN BROKEN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.

THIS WEEK STARTED WITH A SNOW DAY FOR MANY OKLAHOMANS ACROSS THE STATE TRYING TO GET OUT TO ENJOY THE SNOW PACKED STREETS WHILE JUST A DAY BEFORE ON SUNDAY, OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CAMERAS CAPTURED MOTORISTS STRUGGLING TO GET AROUND AS THE MAJOR WINTER STORM MOVED AWAY FROM THE STATE IN TULSA SUNDAY MORNING, THE SNOW WAS STILL FALLING WHILE A FEW BRAVE SOULS WERE BRAVING THE HIGHWAYS NEAR DOWNTOWN US 69.

JUST OUTSIDE MCALESTER WAS A LONELY PLACE SUNDAY MORNING.

KIND OF UNUSUAL IN THAT IT AFFECTED SUCH A BROAD AREA.

A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE THE WINTER STORMS COME THROUGH AND IT'S A NARROWER SWATH OF PRECIPITATION.

PRETTY MUCH EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE GOT SOMETHING OUT OF THIS ONE.

AND THE BULK OF THE COUNTIES GOT, YOU KNOW, 3 TO 4IN OF SNOW AT LEAST.

WHILE THE BULK OF THE STORM HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND, ITS IMPACT SPILLED OVER INTO THE WEEK.

DEFINITELY A BIG IMPACT ON THE STATE AS FAR AS TRAVEL GOES AND SCHOOL CLOSINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS IS THIS WAS A BIG ONE.

OKAY.

WE'RE HOLDING FOOTSIES.

DO I GET ON THE SIDE?

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR OKIES TO PULL OUT THE SLEDS AND ENJOY SOME TIME AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM AND THEIR JOBS.

GO GO GO SHOW.

OH MY GOD.

WE THOUGHT OF A GOOD IDEA TO TEAM BOND AND THIS WAS THE IDEA.

THIS TEAM IS FROM THE STANDFAST WRESTLING GYM IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE GROUP CAME UP WITH A CLEVER IDEA FOR A SLED.

WE DIDN'T REALLY BRING ANY SLEDS, SO INSTEAD WE JUST WENT TO OUR WRESTLING ROOM AND TOOK OFF LIKE SOME OF THE MATS THAT WERE ON THE WALLS.

AND SO WE USED THOSE MATS RIGHT OVER THERE AND OVER THERE TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN.

COACH PHAM ALSO HAS A GOOD EXCUSE WHY HE ISN'T WEARING A COAT.

WHEN THE TEMPERATURES WERE HOVERING AROUND THE FREEZING MARK ON TUESDAY.

YEAH.

SO REALLY I WAS JUST WORKING TOO HARD, YOU KNOW, I WAS GETTING WARM, SO LIKE IT'S OVER THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I STARTED SWEATING.

SO OF COURSE, AS THIS MAJOR WINTER STORM SYSTEM HIT, IT WASN'T ALL FUN.

AND GAMES STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT, CREWS WORKED DURING THE STORM TO KEEP RUNWAYS AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE AT OKC WILL ROGERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WITH SEVERAL FLIGHTS BEING CANCELED OR DELAYED THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

OF COURSE, THERE WERE ACCIDENTS AND STRANDED DRIVERS TO HELP TOO.

WE RESPONDED TO MORE MOTORISTS ASSIST THAN ANYTHING.

JUST UNDER 500 MOTORS ASSIST ACROSS THE STATE THAT OUR TROOPERS RESPONDED TO, AND THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM SOMEBODY STUCK IN A SNOWBANK TO OUT OF FUEL TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, ACCORDING TO OKLAHOMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, OHP WAS BUSY DURING THE STORM.

DOZENS OF VEHICLES WERE ABANDONED.

HUNDREDS NEEDED A LITTLE HELP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

AS LIEUTENANT SOUTHALL MENTIONED, DESPITE THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THE TIMING OF THE STORM HITTING OKLAHOMA OVER THE WEEKEND HELPED.

WHEN THE STORM HAPPENS OVER THE WEEKEND, WE HAVE LESS CARS ON THE ROADWAY WHICH ALLOWS THE EMERGENCY CREWS, ODOT AND OTA TO REALLY GET OUT THERE AND SALT AND BRINE THOSE ROADS TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE WEATHER THAT'S COMING AHEAD.

AND THEN WITH LESS TRAFFIC, ALLOWS EMERGENCY CREWS TO BE ABLE TO GO UP AND CLEAR ROADS FASTER AND GET PEOPLE OFF, YOU KNOW, TO A SAFER PLACE WHERE WE CAN OPEN ROADS UP, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN ROADS CLOSE DOWN, WE HAVE MORE CRASHES BECAUSE MORE CARS ARE CONGREGATING IN ONE SPOT.

WHILE OHP AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WERE WORKING THE ACCIDENTS ON THE ROADS, OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS WERE GETTING TO ACCIDENTS, NOT ON THE ROADS.

A LARGE MAJORITY OF THOSE PATIENTS THAT WERE RESPONDING TO FOR COLD EXPOSURE OR COLD INJURIES ARE REQUIRING TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW DANGEROUS THOSE TEMPERATURES CAN BE.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, NOW THAT THE SNOW HAS STOPPED FALLING, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF SLIP AND FALL CALLS.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STATEWIDE NUMBERS BACK UP.

WHAT MRS.

RILEY HOWARD SAYS FROM THE START OF THE STORM ON JANUARY 23RD THROUGH JANUARY 28TH, THE NUMBER OF FALLS HIT NEAR 100 WITH PEOPLE GETTING CUT ON THE ICE OR DOZENS HURT IN SOME KIND OF TRANSPORTATION RELATED ACCIDENT.

ALTHOUGH THOSE NUMBERS ARE HIGH, STILL HIGHER THAN NORMAL.

I DO THINK THEY'RE LOWER THAN WHAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT ALL OF THIS PRE-WARNING AND THE PRECAUTIONS THAT FOLKS WERE TAKING, HOWARD CAUTIONS PEOPLE AS THINGS BEGIN TO THAW, BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING, ESPECIALLY AS THE STATE WILL SOON BE HIT WITH ANOTHER ARCTIC BLAST THIS WEEKEND, A LOT OF THE MAJOR ROADS ARE CLEAR AND DRY.

HOWEVER.

THE NEIGHBORHOODS, SIDEWALKS, YOUR DRIVEWAY, OF COURSE, ARE ALL PRETTY SLICK STILL AND WILL BE FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.

THOSE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO THAW AND REFREEZE OVERNIGHT UNTIL IT'S COMPLETELY GONE.

SO JUST BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL.

EVEN AS THINGS BEGAN TO THAW THIS WEEK, THERE WAS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

CLEARING OFF OUR DRIVEWAYS.

I'M A LITTLE OUT OF BREATH AFTER SHOVELING THE SNOW OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A FEW YEARS SINCE I'VE HAD TO HANDLE THIS MUCH SNOW IN ONE SETTING.

AND AS YOU CAN TELL, THE SUNSHINE AND THE JUST ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAVE BROUGHT OUT THE NEIGHBORS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR DRIVEWAYS TO.

SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA CITY RESIDENT GERMAN IS WORKING TO CLEAN OFF HIS FAMILY'S DRIVEWAY ON MONDAY AFTERNOON.

I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS MUCH SNOW.

IT REALLY HAS COME DOWN THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR WASN'T AS BAD, BUT THIS YEAR IT'S PILED UP PRETTY GOOD.

GERMAN WAS PREPARED TO TAKE ON THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES TO HELP HIS FAMILY.

GOTTA STAY WARM USING THE OVERALL, YOU KNOW.

BUT WE'RE GETTING IT DONE.

WE'RE NOT KNOCKING IT DOWN PRETTY GOOD.

WE'RE ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY DONE.

HOPEFULLY WE GET DONE PRETTY SOON.

ON AN INTERESTING NOTE, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOES NOT NAME WINTER STORMS LIKE HURRICANES.

THAT WAS A MARKETING DECISION BY THE WEATHER CHANNEL, WHICH SIMPLY CAUGHT ON WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA.

RICH, JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD HAS OPENED A NEW TRAINING FACILITY IN WEATHERFORD THAT WILL SERVE AS THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HUB FOR WESTERN OKLAHOMA, AND THAT TRAINING WAS CERTAINLY PUT TO USE THIS WEEK THANKS TO MOTHER NATURE.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS ON THAT.

STEVE RICH, A TEMPORARY NATIONAL GUARD READINESS CENTER, OPENED LAST MONTH AT WEATHERFORD'S FIRE STATION, LOCATED ON AIRPORT ROAD, ABOUT A MILE FROM I-40.

IT'S PART OF A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO REINTEGRATE GUARD UNITS BACK INTO RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WEATHERFORD IS IN CUSTER COUNTY, 70 MILES WEST OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE POPULATION IS JUST OVER 12,000.

WEATHERFORD ALWAYS BOASTED A LARGE NATIONAL GUARD PRESENCE OPERATING OUT OF THIS DOWNTOWN ARMORY FOR MANY YEARS.

THEN, 18 YEARS AGO, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT CONSOLIDATED NATIONAL GUARD OPERATIONS IN OKLAHOMA AND ALL OVER THE US.

IT WAS A BUDGET THING THAT MEANT GUARDSMEN AND WOMEN WHO TRAINED IN WEATHERFORD AND OTHER RURAL AREAS BEGAN TRAINING IN LARGER CITIES LIKE EDMOND, NORMAN, MUSTANG, BROKEN ARROW AND ADA.

WEATHERFORD TURNED THAT GIANT ARMORY INTO A GIANT FOOD BANK THAT NOW SERVES PEOPLE LIVING IN 13 DIFFERENT ZIP CODES.

I THINK AT THAT TIME OUR THOUGHT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T WANT TO USE IT AS JUST STORAGE.

AND SO WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PARTNER WITH THE REGIONAL FOOD BANK TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITIES.

SO I'VE BEEN A GOOD DEAL YET.

WEATHERFORD MAYOR MIKE BROWN SAYS HE WAS THRILLED WHEN HE LEARNED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE NATIONAL GUARD PLANNED TO COME BACK TO WEATHERFORD.

THEY'RE NOW KNOWN AS THE 1/58 FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, 45TH ARTILLERY BRIGADE.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO TO MOVE A DETACHMENT OUT INTO WEATHERFORD.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL SOLDIERS THAT LIVE IN THE AREA.

WEATHERFORD HAS HISTORICALLY PROVIDED LOTS OF SOLDIERS, THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND IN OUR PARTICULAR UNIT, AS IT IS NOW THE CLOSEST PLACE THEY HAVE TO DRILL IS FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA.

THE GUARD'S IMPORTANCE WAS ON DISPLAY LAST WEEKEND AND BEYOND, WHEN MEMBERS OF THE WEATHERFORD UNIT HELPED MOTORISTS WHO HAD BEEN OVERWHELMED BY 8 TO 10IN OF SNOW.

THIS SERVES AS A HUB FOR DOMESTIC RESPONSE.

SO IN EVENTS LIKE WHAT WE HAD THIS LAST WEEKEND WITH THE SNOWSTORMS, WE CAN HAVE EQUIPMENT AND SOLDIERS POSITIONED AND READY TO SERVE.

YEAH.

HOW MANY, HOW MANY SOLDIERS CAME IN TO HELP OUT OVER THE PAST WEEK?

WE HAD EIGHT HERE, SIR.

IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS, I MEAN, THE FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE, THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.

RIGHT.

SO OUR SOLDIERS COME IN AND AUGMENT, TAKE ALL MARCHING ORDERS FROM OHP AND ASSIST, WHEN NECESSARY IN REMOVING VEHICLES FROM THE ROADWAYS.

AND THEY'VE BEEN BUSY.

THEY HAVE BEEN BUSY.

MARK CARLIN IS DIRECTOR OF WEATHERFORD EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

HE'S ALSO THE TOWN'S RETIRED LONGTIME FIRE CHIEF.

WHEN WE STARTED HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THEM, POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, RELOCATING BACK TO WEATHERFORD, YOU KNOW, JUST THE ASSETS THAT THEY BRING DURING NATURAL DISASTER, THE ASSETS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IN PREVIOUS YEARS, JUST KNOWING THAT THOSE WERE GOING TO BE AN ASSET THAT WERE RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S MANY PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN THAT ARE IN THE GUARD AND, YOU KNOW, THEY TRAVEL AND THEY GO, THEY GO DO THINGS IN OTHER PLACES.

BUT TO ACTUALLY HAVE THEM BASED HERE, TO HAVE A QUICKER RESPONSE, AGAIN, NATURAL DISASTERS, TORNADOES, FLOOD, FIRE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

JUST THIS PAST WEEK, A BIG SNOWSTORM.

EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, THESE SOLDIERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BASED OUT OF HERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FROM OUR AREA.

THEY'RE THEY'RE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT VESTED INTEREST IN THAT, IT EVEN MAKES THEIR RESPONSE EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL TO THEM, MAYBE A LITTLE QUICKER.

AND ABSOLUTELY, IT'S GOING TO BE QUICKER.

THERE'S AN ECONOMIC PIECE TO THIS, TOO.

YOLANDA CRESWELL DIRECTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR WEATHERFORD.

IT'S A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR CITY, BRINGING PEOPLE TO TOWN FOR TRAINING, CRESWELL SAYS.

IN 2013, THE CITY GAVE THE NATIONAL GUARD THIS 30 ACRES OF LAND ABOUT A MILE DOWN AIRPORT ROAD FROM THE FIRE STATION.

SHE SAYS THE GOAL NOW IS TO CONSTRUCT A NEW NATIONAL GUARD READINESS CENTER WHERE THE GUARDSMEN CAN TRAIN, SHE SAYS.

ONCE THAT NEW FACILITY IS FINISHED, DOZENS MORE GUARD MEMBERS WILL FOLLOW.

IT'S A HUGE IMPACT BECAUSE, LIKE ALWAYS, THEY ARE HERE IN TOWN.

THEY'VE GOT PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN, POSSIBLY ALMOST 80 PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL HAVE HERE IN WEATHERFORD.

SO THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT BE STAYING OR THEY MIGHT BE LIVING HERE.

SO SO IT GOES ALL AROUND AND JUST IMPACTS THE CITY, BUT ALSO IMPACTS OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND UP TO OUR UNIVERSITY AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK MOTORISTS TODAY FEEL SAFER AROUND HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE NATIONAL GUARD.

YES, YES.

SO JUST THAT BIG PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, WE HAVE THAT AND THEN JUST KEEP GROWING.

IN BUSINESS WISE.

ADRIAN MOORE IS A WEATHERFORD FIREFIGHTER AND HE'S A STAFF SERGEANT FOR THE 158.

SO YOU THINK OF THE BIGGEST SPACES, TINKER AIR BASE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, FORT SILL DOWN IN LAWTON, THERE'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF YOUR MILITARY PERSONNEL THAT YOU'RE EXPECTING.

BUT IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, YOU DON'T EXPECT THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ARMORY HERE OR VEHICLES HERE.

SO IT'S IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THAT THIS IS COMING BACK TO WEATHERFORD.

IS THERE ANY CHANCE YOU GUYS COULD BE SENT OUT OF STATE ANYWHERE?

SO IN TERMS OF DOMESTIC RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'LL BE DECISIONS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO YES, IT'S POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE SERVED DOWN AT THE BORDER.

WE HAVE SOLDIERS RIGHT NOW SERVING IN D.C.

AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, HAVING THIS START BACK UP, I HAVE TO BELIEVE, GIVES YOU FOLKS A LARGER SENSE OF SECURITY, NO DOUBT.

WE YOU KNOW, I THINK UP TO THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THRILLED, YOU KNOW, REUNITING WITH NATIONAL GUARD ON MORE OF A PERSONAL LEVEL.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY THE THE PART THAT MAKES US, YOU KNOW, EXCITED.

THEY HOPE TO HAVE THAT PERMANENT READINESS CENTER BUILT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

BUT THAT'S A BUDGET ITEM THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE APPROVED AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

RICH STEVE, GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTINUES TO ELIMINATE RULES AND REGULATIONS PUT IN PLACE BY FORMER SUPERINTENDENT BRIAN WALTERS.

AT THEIR MOST RECENT MEETING, THE BOARD VOTED TO REMOVE A POLICY THAT INCOMING TEACHERS MUST TAKE A U.S.

NATURALIZATION TEST TO RECEIVE THEIR TEACHING CERTIFICATION.

THE BOARD IS ALSO REVISITING ITS PHYSICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS IN CONJUNCTION WITH PENDING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME IN A SCHOOL DAY DEVOTED TO PHYSICAL FITNESS AND RECESS.

ARE THESE STANDARDS SOMEHOW SET IN A WAY THAT CAN MEET THAT FROM SPECIFICALLY A PHYSICAL AND NUTRITIONAL LEVEL TO WHERE THEY ARE TIED TO MENTAL HEALTH?

CONSIDERING THAT WE'RE SEEING SO MUCH OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STUDIES, THEY'RE COMING OUT A LOT AS NUTRITIONAL ISSUES AND PHYSICAL ISSUES, AND THAT MAY HELP SOME OF OUR TEACHERS AND BE ABLE TO DELIVER THAT IN A RIGHT MANNER THAT, HEY, WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE TEACHING THESE THINGS THAT ARE ALSO COINCIDING WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND BEING ABLE TO BOOST THAT UP.

OVERALL.

THE BOARD ALSO MADE OTHER RULES CHANGES THAT MUST NOW BE VOTED ON AND APPROVED BY LAWMAKERS IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AIMED AT REFORMING WELFARE IN OKLAHOMA.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS SOME PROGRAMS ARE RIPE FOR FRAUD AND OTHERS DISCOURAGE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN LIEU OF RECEIVING BENEFITS.

BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES THAT'S TRUE.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT TAELYR RICH, THE GOVERNOR WANTS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY IN OKLAHOMA'S WELFARE PROGRAMS, AND WHILE ADVOCATES AGREE TRANSPARENCY IS NEEDED, THEY HAVE A FEW CONCERNS REGARDING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

MORE OVERSIGHT IS COMING TO OKLAHOMA'S WELFARE SYSTEM.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT HE SAYS WILL INCREASE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE STATE'S WELFARE PROGRAMS SUCH AS SNAP, MEDICAID, TANF AND WIG.

HUNGER.

FREE OKLAHOMA CEO CHRIS BERNARD SAYS THE ORGANIZATION APPLAUDS THE GOVERNOR FOR CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY.

YOU WANT TO PRIORITIZE HELPING PEOPLE GET OFF OF BENEFITS AND INTO GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND ADDRESSING THE BENEFITS.

CLIFF IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, AND NO ONE'S QUITE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT.

BUT THERE IS SOME APPREHENSION REGARDING A FEW PARTS OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

I THINK WHERE IT BECOMES CONCERNING IS SOME OF THE, THE, THE LINES USED TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM, OR SOME OF THE TALKING POINTS USED IN THE PRESS RELEASE THAT HAVE TENDED TO BE LANGUAGE THAT ARE USED TO RESTRICT ACCESS FOR PEOPLE.

RIGHT.

SO WHAT DOES THE ORDER SAY?

WELL, IT REQUIRES STATE AGENCIES TO AUDIT ERROR RATES, ELIGIBILITY RULES AND BENEFIT CLIFFS WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE ORDER BEING ISSUED WITHIN 120 DAYS OF THE ORDER.

AGENCIES ARE TO IDENTIFY AND APPLY WAIVERS, ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE.

THIS WILL REDUCE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY AND TAELYR PROGRAMS TO OKLAHOMA FAMILIES.

AGENCIES ARE INSTRUCTED TO STRENGTHEN EXISTING WORK PROGRAMS AND IMPLEMENT ID VERIFICATION, DATA MATCHING, AND UNIFIED METRICS ACROSS AGENCIES, BERNARD SAYS.

PART OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT CONCERNS HIM ARE THE MENTIONS OF BLOCK GRANTS.

BLOCK GRANTS ARE, FRANKLY, JUST THE WAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PASSES ON A BURDEN TO STATES.

SO ONCE YOU BLOCK GRANT, A PROGRAM LIKE WE DID WITH TANF, FOR INSTANCE, THAT MONEY DOES NOT GROW, EVER.

IT ESSENTIALLY STAYS THE SAME WHETHER THE ECONOMY IS BAD OR NOT, HE SAYS.

IT LIMITS THE GOVERNMENT'S RISK, CAN INCREASE THE STATE'S RISK IN THE NAME OF FLEXIBILITY FOR THE STATES.

BUT OFTEN THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THE STATES MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHO'S DESERVING AND WHO'S NOT.

SO IN ORDER TO HELP SOME FOLKS TRANSITION ON, THEY COULD POTENTIALLY CUT OTHER FOLKS OFF OF BENEFITS WHO NEED THEM.

THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IS ONE OF THE AGENCIES NAMED IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

IT PROVIDES VARIOUS SERVICES FOR OKLAHOMANS, INCLUDING SNAP BENEFITS AND TEMPORARY CASH ASSISTANCE, KNOWN AS TANF.

ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE OKDHS PRESENTED ITS BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGET COMMITTEE.

DURING THE PRESENTATION, HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR JEFFREY CARTMELL ASSURED LAWMAKERS THAT THE AGENCY IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A STRONGER SAFETY NET TO CATCH FRAUD WILL INCREASE OUR STAFF WITH OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE TO GO OUT AND TARGET HIGH LEVEL CRIMINAL ELEMENTS THAT OPERATE IN THESE SPACES AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OKLAHOMANS, AS WELL AS GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL TOOLS IN ORDER TO DO THEIR JOB AT A HIGH LEVEL.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO SKIM BENEFITS OFF OF OUR RECIPIENTS OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER, ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE, THE AGENCY IDENTIFIED 7.1 MILLION IN OVERPAYMENTS AND DISQUALIFIED 801 INDIVIDUALS FOR CONFIRMED FRAUD.

LASTLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MOVING PEOPLE FROM CRISIS TO STABILIZATION TO ULTIMATELY FLOURISHING.

WE WILL NO LONGER GRADE OURSELVES IN THE WORK WE DO BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, BUT SIMPLY BY HOW QUICKLY CAN WE GET THEM TO A PLACE OF FLOURISHING, TO WHERE THEY NO LONGER NEED THOSE SERVICES TO BEGIN WITH?

OKDHS IS THE STATE'S LARGEST AGENCY, AND THEY SAY THEY ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR GOING FORWARD.

OKLAHOMA HUMAN SERVICES APPRECIATES THE GOVERNOR'S FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING THE SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS VULNERABLE OKLAHOMANS.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ALIGNS WITH STRATEGIES ALREADY UNDERWAY AT DHS TO ENSURE OUR PROGRAMS HELP OKLAHOMANS GO FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY TO FLOURISHING.

WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNOR AND OUR PARTNER AGENCIES AND SHARE UPDATES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

OTHER STATE AGENCIES NAMED IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER INCLUDE THE OKLAHOMA HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY, THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THE OKLAHOMA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

ANOTHER ISSUE HUNGER OKAY FOUND, IS HOW PROGRAMS WERE DESCRIBED, THE CHARACTERIZATION AND THE PROGRAMS AS, YOU KNOW, NOT WORKING AND KEEPING PEOPLE ON BENEFITS IS JUST A A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PROGRAMS DO.

RIGHT?

LIKE THE PROGRAMS ARE THERE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN POVERTY.

THE GOVERNOR ISSUED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ON MONDAY AND SAYS THERE IS NO BETTER SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAM THAN A JOB.

IN A STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART, WE MEASURE COMPASSION BY THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO NO LONGER NEED WELFARE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME SELF-RELIANT THROUGH MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT.

TO THAT END, I'M INSTRUCTING OUR AGENCIES TO TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE FRAUD AND ERRORS, SEEK FEDERAL FLEXIBILITY AND DESIGN INITIATIVES THAT ACT AS TRAMPOLINES, NOT HAMMOCKS.

BERNARD SAYS.

MOST FOLKS USING THESE SERVICES DO WORK, BUT WAGES JUST AREN'T ENOUGH.

THE NATURE OF THE SYSTEM WE BUILT IS WAGES TEND TO STAGNATE FOR THE LOWEST LEVEL JOBS, AND THAT MEANS THOSE PEOPLE STRUGGLE.

AND SO THE SOCIETAL DEAL WE HAVE MADE IS WE'RE GOING TO CREATE BENEFITS THAT HELP SUPPLEMENT THAT.

AND YOU CAN LOOK THAT AT THAT AS SUPPORTING FOLKS WHO DON'T EARN ENOUGH.

YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT IT AS SUBSIDIZING SUBSIDIZING BUSINESSES THAT DON'T PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES ENOUGH.

RIGHT?

IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH.

HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CHARACTERIZE IT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING.

YOU EITHER HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE LIVING WAGE SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO COVER THEIR OWN BASIC NEEDS, RIGHT AND LIVE, OR WE HAVE TO HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT SUPPORT THEM.

AGENCIES ARE TO SUBMIT AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN SUMMARIZING CORRECTIVE ACTION IF NECESSARY, AS WELL AS PROGRESS TOWARDS FEDERAL WAIVERS.

TO THE GOVERNOR, RICH TAELYR, THANK YOU.

THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT IS MAKING A MAJOR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO HELP A STILLWATER COMPANY BRING MORE RARE EARTH MATERIALS TO U.S.

SHORES.

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

STILLWATER BASED USA RARE EARTH HAS RECEIVED A LETTER OF INTENT FROM THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO INVEST $1.6 BILLION INTO THE RARE EARTH MAGNET MANUFACTURER.

THESE ARE THE KINDS OF MAGNETS USED FOR DEFENSE PROJECTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

IN THE NONBINDING LETTER, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROVIDE $277 MILLION IN FUNDING, WITH 1.3 BILLION IN A PROPOSED SENIOR SECURITY LOAN.

UNDER THE CHIPS ACT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD GET 10% OF THE COMPANY'S STOCK IN RETURN.

WITH FINANCING IN PLACE, THE GOAL IS TO EXTRACT 40,000 METRIC TONS PER DAY OF RARE EARTHS AND CRITICAL MINERAL FEEDSTOCK PROCESS A COMBINED 8000 METRIC TONS A YEAR OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS, RESHORE PROCESSING, AND INCREASE MAGNET MAKING CAPACITY BY THE YEAR 2030.

EMIRATES GLOBAL ALUMINUM, OR EGA, HAS FORGED A DEAL WITH CENTURY ALUMINUM COMPANY TO DEVELOP THE FIRST US BASED ALUMINUM PRODUCTION PLANT IN MORE THAN 45 YEARS IN INOLA, OKLAHOMA.

EGA WILL OWN 60% OF THE JOINT VENTURE, WITH CENTURY TAKING 40%.

ONCE BUILT, THE PLAN IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 750,000 TONS OF ALUMINUM A YEAR, MORE THAN DOUBLING CURRENT U.S.

PRODUCTION.

OKLAHOMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE A 10TH OF A PERCENTAGE POINT TO LAND AT 3.6% IN DECEMBER.

THE NUMBER OF OKLAHOMANS CONSIDERED UNEMPLOYED IS NOW MORE THAN 73,000, UP FROM LAST MONTH'S TOTAL OF LESS THAN 70,000.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF JOBS AVAILABLE IN THE STATE ALSO DROPPED IN DECEMBER BY 100 WHEN COMPARED YEAR TO YEAR.

MOST OF THOSE JOB LOSSES CAME FROM THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR.

THE AVERAGE HOURLY WAGE DID INCREASE BY $0.03 IN DECEMBER TO $30.96 AN HOUR.

THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASED BY A 10TH OF A PERCENT TO 4.4% IN DECEMBER.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON, THANKS.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT IS AMONG A GROWING NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS THAT ARE PUBLICLY QUESTIONING HOW ICE AGENTS ARE OPERATING AND WHAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS IN REMOVING PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION THIS WEEK, WITH STRONG OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

HERE'S MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD WITH OUR PANEL OF GUESTS.

RECENT QUESTIONS ABOUT ICE ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING CONCERNS RAISED BY OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT, ARE NOW PART OF A LOCAL DEBATE IN OKLAHOMA CITY OVER A PROPOSED FEDERAL IMMIGRATION PROCESSING FACILITY.

TONIGHT, WE'RE HEARING FROM GUESTS WITH OPPOSING PERSPECTIVES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND BOTH THE FEDERAL POLICY GOALS AND THE LOCAL CONCERNS.

DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, OUR GUESTS ARE BEING INTERVIEWED SEPARATELY.

JOINING US FIRST IS IRA MEHLMAN WITH THE FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM, WHO IS JOINING US VIA ZOOM FROM WASHINGTON, DC, TO EXPLAIN HOW FACILITIES LIKE THIS FUNCTION AND WHAT THE FEDERAL PROCESSES LOOK LIKE.

LATER, WE'LL HEAR FROM OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCILMAN KAMAL PENNINGTON ABOUT THE CITY'S AUTHORITY AND CONCERNS RAISED BY RESIDENTS.

IRA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON IN-DEPTH.

PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

SO FOR VIEWERS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING PROPOSED, WHAT IS THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION PROCESS FACILITY AND HOW DOES IT FIT INTO THE LARGER ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM?

WELL, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DETER PEOPLE FROM COMING TO THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST YEAR IS NOT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, THIS ADMINISTRATION, HAS MILITARIZED THE BORDER.

THEY HAVEN'T.

WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS DETERRED PEOPLE FROM COMING TO THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, BECAUSE NOW THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY ARE CAUGHT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE RELEASED INTO THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO BE PUT BACK ACROSS THE BORDER, OR THEY'RE GOING TO BE HELD IN DETENTION UNTIL THEY HAVE A HEARING ON THEIR CASE.

AND MOST CASES, THE CLAIMS THAT THEY WERE MAKING WERE COMPLETELY BOGUS.

THEY WERE JUST AN EFFORT TO GET INTO THE COUNTRY.

SO THE MOST HUMANE AND EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS TO CONVINCE PEOPLE NOT TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND THEY NOW UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY COME ACROSS THE BORDER, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUT INTO DETENTION.

THERE'S GOING TO BE HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEIR CLAIM TO COME TO THE COUNTRY HAS ANY VALIDITY, AND IF NOT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SENT BACK.

OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT TOLD CNN'S STATE OF THE UNION THAT THE SHOOTING WAS A REAL TRAGEDY, AND THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP NEEDS TO DEFINE AN END GAME.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

NOW, AMERICANS ARE ASKING THEMSELVES, WHAT IS THE END GAME?

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

IS IT TO DEPORT EVERY SINGLE NON-U.S.

CITIZEN?

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT AMERICANS WANT.

THE OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR ALSO SAID WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING ON TV IS CAUSING DEEP CONCERNS OVER FEDERAL TACTICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS THE LONG TERM GOAL OF EXPANDING PROCESSING AND DETENTION CAPACITY LIKE THIS?

THEY WANT TO GO AFTER THE WORST OF THE WORST.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS THAT ARREST PEOPLE FOR OTHER OFFENSES AND THEN REFUSE TO TURN THEM OVER TO ICE TO BE REMOVED, THEY'RE GOING TO SEND IN ICE AGENTS TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE.

BUT LOOK, I MEAN, THE IMMIGRATION LAWS EXIST NOT TO BE MEAN AND KEEP PEOPLE OUT.

IT IS A RECOGNITION THAT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR SOCIETY.

AND, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY ARE NOT CRIMINALS.

THEY'RE NOT BAD PEOPLE.

THEY ARE UNDERSTANDABLY LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT HERE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOUR CHILD IS SITTING IN A CLASSROOM WHERE HALF THE KIDS DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH, THAT AFFECTS YOU.

IT AFFECTS YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE.

YOU GO DOWN THE LIST OF ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO AMERICANS.

IT IS AFFECTED BY MASS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

THERE ARE HUGE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

THAT'S MONEY THAT'S NOT BEING SPENT ON OTHER PRIORITIES.

SO THERE IS AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COUNTRY.

AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE BAD PEOPLE.

THEY ARE SIMPLY VIOLATING LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT THE GENERAL INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

I LIKE THAT YOU MENTIONED THE IMPACT.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FACILITY.

MORE THAN 60 RESIDENTS SPOKE OUT AT AN OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCIL MEETING, MANY SAYING THEY FEEL UNSAFE OR WORRIED ABOUT HOW THIS FACILITY COULD AFFECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE RECENT INCIDENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

HOW SHOULD FEDERAL AGENCIES WEIGH STRONG LOCAL OPPOSITION WHEN DECIDING TO WHERE TO PLACE FACILITIES LIKE THIS?

WELL, LOOK, I MEAN THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE, YOU KNOW, AND ANY TIME A SOME KIND OF DETENTION FACILITY IS BUILT, WHETHER IT IS FOR IMMIGRATION PURPOSES OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THESE THINGS PLAY OUT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS THE BEST THING IS TO TRY TO LEAVE IT UP TO LOCAL OFFICIALS AND TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME TO SOME KIND OF JOINT AGREEMENT ABOUT WHERE THE BEST PLACE TO PUT THESE THINGS ARE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, THESE FACILITIES DO PROVIDE JOBS LOCALLY.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT NATURALLY YOU DO WANT TO HAVE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE LOCAL, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS A FEDERAL MATTER, AND ALL 50 STATES ARE SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.

AND WHILE, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD SEEK TO COOPERATE WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES, YOU KNOW, THERE COMES A TIME WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SUPREMACY IN THE AREA OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

DO YOU THINK FEDERAL AGENCIES SHOULD STILL ALLOW FOLLOW LOCAL PERMITTING OR PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS VOLUNTARILY?

YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO TRY TO GET BUY IN, TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, YOU KNOW, COME TO SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION THAT, NUMBER ONE, PROVIDES THEM THE THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS AND TO GET BUY IN FROM THE PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

FINALLY, ON THE CONCERNS FROM CITIZENS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE SPEAKING ABOUT JOBS.

I HEARD THAT THE FACILITY HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY WILL ACTUALLY BE PLACED TO A SAM'S CLUB OR AN AMAZON, AND THOSE WORKERS THERE ARE ACTUALLY SAYING THAT IF THAT FACILITY IS PLACED NEXT TO THEM, THEY WILL QUIT.

SO WHAT IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN BRINGING IN JOBS AND PEOPLE NOT FEELING SAFE ENOUGH TO GO TO WORK?

WELL, LOOK, I MEAN, WHAT WE SAW OVER RECENT YEARS IS THAT WHEN YOU ALLOW LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SIMPLY RELEASE THEM INTO THE COUNTRY, THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GOOD REASON NOT TO FEEL SAFE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN COUNTLESS INCIDENTS IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY CRIMINALS WHO WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE COUNTRY, IN MANY CASES, WERE EVEN ARRESTED BY LOCAL POLICE AND TURNED BACK OUT ONTO THE STREETS RATHER THAN REMANDED TO TO ICE.

YOU KNOW, THE LAKE AND RILEY CASE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

HER MURDERER WAS ARRESTED IN NEW YORK CITY FOR CHILD ENDANGERMENT, AND RATHER THAN TURN HIM OVER TO ICE, THEY LET HIM OUT.

HE WAS ARRESTED AGAIN IN ATHENS, GEORGIA, AND AGAIN RELEASED BACK OUT ONTO THE STREET UNTIL FINALLY LAKE AND RILEY PAID FOR IT WITH HER LIFE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHY SOMEBODY WORKING IN AN AMAZON FACILITY, IF THEY ARE LEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY, WOULD WORRY ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN ICE FACILITY DOWN THE ROAD.

I GUESS IT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE THE SHOOTINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN MINNEAPOLIS AND PEOPLE JUST KIND OF FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE IN GENERAL ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

YEAH.

LOOK, I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE SHOOTINGS IN THE ICE FACILITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PROCESSED.

THEY'RE NOT ARMED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER DETENTION FACILITY.

SO IT'S UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE OUTSIDE CREATING MAYHEM, THEN IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

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

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

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

JOINING US FOR THE REST OF THIS DISCUSSION IS OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCILMAN KAMAL PENNINGTON WITH WARD SEVEN.

NOW, KAMAL, YOU'RE COMING TO US WITH SOME BREAKING NEWS.

I AM HERE WITH SOME BREAKING NEWS.

WE JUST HEARD FROM MAYOR HOLT THAT IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE PROPOSED ICE DETENTION FACILITY HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER ENGAGED IN ANY SALE OR LEASE OF THE PROPERTY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THESE ARE OUTSIDE PROPERTY OWNERS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND SO TO HEAR THAT THAT NEWS IS A RELIEF, I'M SURE, TO MANY OKLAHOMANS TODAY.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

DOES THIS MEAN THAT WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE THAT PROPOSITION FOR AN ICE DETENTION CENTER HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY?

YES.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE.

IF THEY'RE NOT SELLING THE PROPERTY, THEN THERE'S NO LONGER A PROPOSED FACILITY.

SO THEY WOULD NEED TO IDENTIFY A PROPERTY.

AND SO THERE'S NO SALE MOVING FORWARD.

SO AT THIS POINT OKAY, THE THE THREAT IS OVER FOR NOW.

THE THREAT IS OVER FOR NOW.

BUT COULD THE COULD DHS COME BACK AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER LOCATION?

OF COURSE.

OKAY.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS THAT IS AN OPTION.

WELL, KAMAL, YOU HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHEN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE PROVIDED THE REPORT ON THE ICE DETENTION FACILITY.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN AND WHAT DID YOU DID YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU WERE LOOKING FOR?

YES.

AND THIS IS A REALLY COMPLEX ISSUE BECAUSE AND SOMETHING THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IS YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE FROM THE MANY, MANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE HAD AT THE MEETING.

BUT MY LINE OF QUESTIONING WAS ABOUT ESTABLISHING, FIRST, WHAT ARE THE CITY'S LEGAL RIGHTS?

WHAT DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO TO TAKE ACTION, WHETHER WE WANT TO HAVE THE FACILITY OR NOT?

AND SO, BASED ON THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILOR, WE LEARNED A FEW THINGS.

ONE, THAT THE FEDERAL LAW DOES REQUIRE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, TO CONSULT WITH OUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND TO CONSIDER ZONING LAWS AND WHETHER THE PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO MOVE INTO AFFECTS ANY HISTORIC PRESERVATION ISSUES.

AND SO IN OUR RESPONSE, WE WE ASKED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COMPLY WITH OUR EXISTING REQUIREMENT THAT ANY NON MUNICIPAL DETENTION FACILITY RECEIVE A SPECIAL PERMIT.

AND IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A SPECIAL PERMIT, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A VETTING PROCESS THAT STARTS WITH A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE OKLAHOMA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN GOES TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

SO THE FEDERAL LAW DOES ALLOW FOR AND WE LEARNED THIS FROM THE CONVERSATION WITH MUNICIPAL COUNCILOR.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADHERE TO THE LOCAL LAWS.

IT SAYS THAT THEY SHOULD CONSIDER LOCAL LAWS.

SO WHERE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATE POWER AND FEDERAL POWER?

THAT IS WHY OUR RESPONSE IS TO ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL LAWS.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO MAKE LAND USE DECISIONS IS RIGHT HERE WITH THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA, THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DETENTION CENTER THAT COULD BE PUT NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS, NEAR SCHOOLS.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON TRAFFIC?

WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT TO MENTION THE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD BE INSIDE THAT BUILDING.

IT IS A WAREHOUSE.

IT IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.

SO THOSE ARE ALL THE ISSUES THAT WOULD HAPPEN THAT WOULD BE VETTED IF THERE WERE A PUBLIC PROCESS THROUGH THE SPECIAL PERMITTING PROCESS.

AND YOU GUYS HEARD HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND DESCRIBE FEARS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.

LIKE YOU SAID, IMPACT ON SCHOOLS, DAILY LIFE.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU THE MOST FROM WHAT RESIDENTS TOLD THE COUNCIL?

WELL, FIRST I WAS I WAS MOVED BY THE ANGER THAT A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE.

THEY'RE WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON IN MINNEAPOLIS AND IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS OUR NATION, AND ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF ICE WHEN IT COMES TO DETAINING PEOPLE, WHEN IT COMES TO SEARCHES AND SEIZURES, WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.

SO FEAR WAS ON AND ANGER IS IS A PART OF IT.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS DETENTION FACILITY AND THE ACTIONS OF ICE COULD HAVE ON OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE HEARD FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ASIAN DISTRICT IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WHERE RECENTLY THERE WERE ICE AGENTS WHO WERE PERFORMING SEARCHES IN THAT AREA OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND WHAT WAS SHARED WAS THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS, PEOPLE WHO WERE UNITED STATES CITIZENS WHO ARE NOW AFRAID TO WALK THE STREETS IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THAT THEY'LL BE APPREHENDED BY ICE.

WE OF COURSE, THERE SHOULD BE ADHERENCE TO NATIONAL LAWS WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION, BUT WE EXPECT ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ADHERE TO THE CONSTITUTION, TO RESPECT DUE PROCESS, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE RESPECTING THE LAWS OF OUR NATION.

AND SO I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE FOR US TO TO HOLD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE, TO RESPECTING THE CONSTITUTION AND TO RESPECTING OUR LOCAL LAWS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

SO SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO DISPUTE VERY QUICKLY HERE.

THERE'S THIS IDEA THAT IF YOU'RE HERE LEGALLY, YOU'RE YOU'RE ALL GOOD TO GO.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE SCARED.

WHAT COULD YOU COMMENT ON THAT?

WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS AND WE'VE SEEN IT ON TELEVISION OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LEGAL RESIDENTS, U.S.

CITIZENS WHO WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMES, WHO WERE APPREHENDED BY ICE.

AND THEN IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE U.S.

CITIZENS.

I CANNOT IMAGINE THE EMBARRASSMENT THAT THOSE PEOPLE WOULD FEEL FROM BEING HAULED OUT OF THEIR HOMES, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, AND ALL THE WHILE THEY WERE ALL ALONG DID NOT FIT THE CRITERIA THAT ISIS WAS SUPPOSED TO TO USE WHEN EVALUATING WHETHER TO APPREHEND SOMEONE.

SO WE WANT THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION TO BE RESPECTED.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS QUESTIONED FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT TACTICS AND ASKED WHAT THE END GAME WAS IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CNN.

HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

NOW AMERICANS ARE ASKING THEMSELVES, WHAT IS THE END GAME?

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

IS IT TO DEPORT EVERY SINGLE NON-U.S.

CITIZEN?

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT AMERICANS WANT.

DOES WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR REFLECT CONCERNS WE'RE HEARING HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY?

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE GOVERNOR STITT'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF OUR CITIZENS.

WE WANT TO HOLD ICE TO THE SAME STANDARDS THAT WE HOLD OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IF THIS WERE IF IF OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE ILLEGALLY APPREHENDING U.S.

CITIZENS OR ANYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE ACTION AS A CITY COUNCIL.

THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, WOULD BE HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENSURING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS FOLLOWING THE LAW.

AND SO IT IS VERY REASONABLE FOR US TO ASK ICE TO, IN ALL OF ITS PROCEDURES AND ALL OF ITS ACTIONS, TO ADHERE TO THE CONSTITUTION AND TO ADHERE TO OUR LAWS GOING FORWARD.

I KNOW THINGS ARE UP IN THE AIR, BUT WHAT'S NEXT?

I THINK WHAT'S NEXT IS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE AS A CITY.

WHEN IT COMES TO, ARE THERE WAYS FOR US TO STRENGTHEN OUR LEGAL POSITION?

IF THERE'S EVER ANY OTHER ICE DETENTION FACILITY THAT COMES INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR CLOSELY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ICE AND HOW THEY'RE TREATING OUR CITIZENS HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND CONTINUE TO TREAT ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS BEING TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WE BELIEVE IN THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD, AND THAT STANDARD IS THAT WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES, THAT WE WE BELIEVE IN THE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE OF ALL PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE ADHERE TO THAT AS BEST WE CAN.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

CASSIDY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO DES MOINES, IOWA, WHERE TWO CHURCHES, ONE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND THE OTHER PREDOMINANTLY WHITE, ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BRIDGE RACIAL DIVIDES.

THAT UPLIFTING STORY, COURTESY OF OUR PBS PARTNERS AT IOWA PBS.

I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE TRAGEDIES OF OUR NATION, ONE OF THE SHAMEFUL TRAGEDIES AT 11:00 ON SUNDAY MORNING IS ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED HOURS, IF NOT THE MOST SEGREGATED HOURS, IN CHRISTIAN AMERICA.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SHARED THAT THOUGHT WITH JOURNALISTS IN 1960.

TODAY, ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND NEWS STORIES HAVE REPORTED WHAT MANY CHURCHGOERS ALREADY KNOW.

PLACES OF WORSHIP CONTINUE TO BE AN AREA OF HIGH SEGREGATION IN AMERICA, LARGELY IN AMERICA.

WHITE AND BLACK PEOPLE LIVE SEPARATE LIVES.

PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT THE ONE WHITE FRIEND THEY HAVE OR THE ONE BLACK FRIEND, BUT BY AND LARGE, WE DON'T INTERRELATE.

LAURIE SMITH IS A MEMBER OF CORINTHIAN BAPTIST CHURCH IN DES MOINES, A LARGELY BLACK CONGREGATION THAT WAS FOUNDED BY 21 WOMEN IN 1898.

CORINTHIAN FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH PLYMOUTH, A LARGE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ALSO IN DES MOINES.

THESE TWO CHURCHES ARE GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGH MANY WAYS, INCLUDING MUSIC.

EVERY VOICE, AND.

DELIVER.

THAT IS WHY THIS PROJECT IS SO SPECIAL, BECAUSE IT'S BRINGING PLYMOUTH A VERY LARGE, SUCCESSFUL HISTORICAL CHURCH IN ITS OWN RIGHT, TOGETHER WITH A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK CHURCH, AND FINDING WAYS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS RACIAL LINES.

IN 2018, PLYMOUTH STARTED AN ANTI-RACISM COMMITTEE TO HELP ITS MEMBERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL IMPACT OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN AMERICA.

WE WORKED WITH A CONSULTANT WHO SAID, IT'S TIME TO MOVE FROM THE HEAD TO THE HEART, AND IN THINKING ABOUT THAT, THE ANTI-RACISM COMMITTEE REALIZED WE NEEDED TO WORK MORE ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

THEY STARTED A PROJECT CALLED CONNECTING THROUGH CURIOSITY, AN ONGOING IDEA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES THAT MAKE UP THESE TWO CHURCHES AND THEIR MEMBERS.

WE JUST WADED INTO THE MESSY WATERS OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, WITH THE HOPE THAT WE COULD FIND WAYS THAT THE TWO CHURCHES COULD CONNECT TO.

THERE'S A WOMEN'S BOOK STUDY GROUP, AND WE'VE INVITED PLYMOUTH WOMEN TO GO TO CORINTHIAN FOR THIS BIBLE STUDY SO WE CAN TAKE A BIG CHURCH AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT SMALLER.

PASTOR OF, I MEAN, BLACK, WHITE, BAPTIST, CONGREGATIONALIST WOMEN, I MEAN, AND ISSUES OF BEING A MOTHER AND A WIFE AND JUGGLING WORK AND AGING PARENTS.

I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE JUST BIGGER THINGS THAT CONNECT US THAN THAN FAITH OR RACE.

IT IS NEXT SUNDAY, THE 19TH.

AND SO THAT WAS IT, JUST BRAINSTORMING ON WAYS EACH CHURCH CAN WORK TOGETHER AND AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

AND THEN WE JUST GOT TO TALKING ABOUT, WOULDN'T IT BE COOL TO DO A JOINT CONCERT?

WE'LL SEE.

BUT WE'LL MEET IN HERE TOMORROW AND WE'LL MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S SITTING WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SIT.

SO IF I CAN GET YOU ALL MORE ROOM BY MOVING BACK A LITTLE BIT, WE'LL DO THAT TOMORROW, YOU KNOW.

I THINK MUSIC IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE SURVIVAL OF BLACK PEOPLE.

FROM OUR STRUGGLES.

WE FOUND HOPE IN SONG.

WE FOUND COMMUNITY IN SONG.

WE SHARED ESCAPE PLANS IN SONG.

AND SO IT'S VERY MUCH IMPORTANT TO US TO DO WHAT I DO.

I GOT SO WE DON'T MIND CLAPPING.

WE DON'T MIND RAISING OUR HANDS IN PRAISE.

WE DON'T MIND SHOUTING IN JOY.

THAT'S GREAT.

THAT'S GREAT FOR ME.

OUR PAIN AND OUR STRUGGLE WAS SO DEEP.

IT REQUIRES A SHOUT.

IT REQUIRES A CRYING OUT WE THAT COMES FROM A PLACE OF DEEP HOPE AND FAITH AND PAIN SOMETIMES.

I WAS.

UP AT.

AT THE END THEY'LL BE SINGING THE SAME SONG.

I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT METAPHOR FOR LIKE, WHAT IT MEANS TO COME TOGETHER.

I JUST THINK THERE ARE THERE ARE SO MANY MORE WAYS I HAVE SEEN OVERLAP AND AND I DON'T WANT TO DIAL DOWN DIFFERENCE.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE DIFFERENT FAITH BELIEFS.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT RACIAL HISTORIES AND BACKGROUNDS.

BUT THAT SAID, I THINK THERE ARE JUST COMMON POINTS THAT I'D LIKE TO KIND OF LIFT UP AND AMPLIFY.

IT'S EASY TO SAY THAT THE MISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED, BUT FOR THESE TWO CHURCHES, THE WORK IS JUST GETTING STARTED.

ONE OF MY TENDENCIES IS TO WANT TO FEEL LIKE A CHECKLIST, LIKE WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING AND KIND OF CHECK IT OFF, BUT THAT'S NOT REALISTIC FOR HOW AUTHENTIC ORGANIC RELATIONSHIPS FORM.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FIX RACISM, YOU GOT TO HAVE SOME FRIENDS THAT ARE NOT LIKE YOU.

BUT WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND YOUR TIME AND OPEN YOUR HOME AND YOUR HEART TO SOMEONE OF A DIFFERENT RACE, THEN YOU CAN START BREAKING DOWN THE WALLS AND THE STEREOTYPES AND THE MYTHS THAT WE ALL HAVE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, WE BEGIN A ONCE MONTHLY SERIES OF SPECIAL REPORTS ON OKLAHOMA SINCE AMERICA'S BICENTENNIAL.

STEVE SHAW IS GOING TO TAKE US BACK TO 1976.

AS WE COUNT DOWN TO THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF OUR NATION THIS COMING JULY.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A FOND FAREWELL TO WINTER STORM FERN, PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE FRONT PORCH OF OETA JASON STEWART.

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

LENZ.

EVERYONE, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

OKLAHOMA!

AGRICULTURE STARTS AT SUNUP.

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY BRINGS YOU THE BEST OF AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AG RESEARCH, EXTENSION AND MESONET WEATHER DATA EVERY WEEKE