AFTERNOON AT FIVE ON OETA YOUR WEEKEND MOVIE TRADITION.

OETA MOVIE CLUB.

SATURDAY EVENINGS AT NINE ON OETA.

OKLAHOMA AND ALL OF AMERICA COMMEMORATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF NINE OVER 11.

I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE, 25 YEARS LATER FOR THEM, THAT THEY'RE STILL GOING THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS.

OU ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS HONING THEIR CRAFT AND HELPING OKLAHOMA VETERANS AT THE SAME TIME.

I JUST FEEL LIKE MY GENERATION JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND MAYBE ENOUGH ABOUT VETERANS AND FEELS A WILL TO HELP THEM.

ROBOTS HELPING.

NOT REPLACING HUMANS IN THE WORKPLACE.

NO LOSS IN FULL TIME EMPLOYEES THAT WE'VE HAD OR PART TIME EMPLOYEES.

TRUTHFULLY, IT'S JUST BEEN A SUPPLEMENT FOR OUR STAFF.

KEY TOPICS AT THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE REGION FORUM IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE ABOUT $275 MILLION A YEAR SHORT OF INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO KEEP IT IN THE CONDITION IT'S IN TODAY.

AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON THE POTENTIAL OF A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION CONVENING IN OKLAHOMA.

CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR TRYING TO SAY, LET'S REDO THE CONSTITUTION.

THERE'S TOO MUCH TO LOSE FOR EVERYONE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ FOREIGN ATTACKS ON THE HOMELAND HAVE BEEN THANKFULLY RARE IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.

THERE WAS PEARL HARBOR, OF COURSE, AND THEN 60 YEARS LATER, THE DEADLIEST ATTACK TO DATE, NINE OVER 11.

TODAY IS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT TERRIBLE DAY IN 2001, AND IN REMEMBRANCE, CEREMONIES WERE HELD IN NEW YORK CITY, WASHINGTON, D.C.

AND SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ON FRIDAY MORNING.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH HOW OKLAHOMANS ARE COMMEMORATING THAT GRIM MILESTONE.

NOAH RICH, SIX OKLAHOMANS DIED IN THE EVENTS OF NINE OVER 11, EITHER AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER OR THE PENTAGON, AND CONNECTIONS TO OKLAHOMA'S SHARED EXPERIENCE WITH A DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACK CONTINUED TO DEVELOP WITH NEW YORK AND BEYOND.

MOST PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER THE ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, RECALL WHERE THEY WERE AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

I WAS SITTING AT HOME ON THE COMPUTER WHEN I, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, SAW THE SAME THING THAT THE WORLD SAW ON TV LIKE THEY DID ON APRIL THE 19TH.

MANY OKLAHOMANS WERE WATCHING THIS DISASTER UNFOLD, HAVING EXPERIENCED A TERROR ATTACK IN THEIR OWN STATE ONLY SIX YEARS PRIOR.

PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHO HE AND I WERE SCHOOLMATES AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY THAT HE CALLED ME AND SAID, WHAT IN THE LORD'S NAME IS HAPPENING?

AND I SAID, WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU'RE THE MAN THAT HELPED US THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA CITY TRAGEDY.

AND HE SAID, BUT THIS IS HUMONGOUS.

AND A GROWING NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T RECALL THAT DAY.

A MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS HERE WEREN'T BORN WHEN IT HAPPENED.

WE DON'T HAVE THE THE MEMORY THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS.

OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY IS ONE OF THE MANY INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY HONORING THE QUARTER OF A CENTURY ANNIVERSARY OF THESE DEADLY FOREIGN ATTACKS.

RAIN OR SHINE, WE TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER THE LIVES LOST FOR OUR COUNTRY.

BETWEEN THE FOUR PLANES THAT FLEW INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, THE PENTAGON, AND ONE THAT WAS REDIRECTED BY AMERICAN PASSENGERS INTO AN OPEN FIELD IN PENNSYLVANIA, 2977 VICTIMS DIED ON THAT DAY, SIX OF WHOM WERE FROM OKLAHOMA.

ADDITIONALLY, NINE NEW YORK CITY FIRST RESPONDERS WHO AIDED OKLAHOMA IN ITS TIME OF NEED ALSO LOST THEIR LIVES, AND OKLAHOMA RETURNED THEIR FAVOR.

I'M HAPPY TO BRING A BUNCH OF OKIES UP THERE TO WORK, TO IMPROVE, AND TO SAVE A LOT OF BAD SITUATIONS FROM BECOMING WORSE, OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR FRANK KEATING ACCOMPANIED RESCUE CREWS TO NEW YORK CITY.

SO WE WENT UP THERE, AND I REMEMBER A WONDERFUL SINGER BY THE NAME OF ANDREA BOCELLI, WHO WAS THERE AT THE SITE, POURING OUT SMOKE AND EVEN FLAME, AND HE SANG THE AVE MARIA AND HE'S BLIND.

I. ARE NINE OVER 11 WAS AN ATTACK ON AN ENTIRE COUNTRY FELT BY AN ENTIRE COUNTRY, BUT ONLY A HANDFUL OF CITIES AROUND THE WORLD CARRY THE WEIGHT OF NOT ONLY MEMORIALIZING SUCH A TRAGEDY, BUT TEACHING IT.

WE CAN'T JUST SHOW PEOPLE KNOWLEDGE.

WE NEED TO HAVE THE EMPATHY WITH US.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL HOSTED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

LINA FARAH, THE DIRECTOR OF THE JULY 22ND CENTER IN OSLO, NORWAY, THE NORDIC CITY AND A COASTAL ISLAND OF UTOYA, EXPERIENCED A DOMESTIC TERRORIST ATTACK ON JULY 22ND, 2011, KILLING 77 INDIVIDUALS.

OSLO LAUNCHED ITS MEMORIAL THIS SUMMER, RECEIVING INSPIRATION FROM OKLAHOMA'S MEMORIAL.

FIRST, I WOULD SAY I WAS VERY, VERY IMPRESSED ABOUT THE MEMORIAL ITSELF WITH THESE BEAUTIFUL CHAIRS AND THE 901 AND NINE AND THREE AT THE BEGINNING AND BEFORE THE TRAUMA AND AFTER THE TRAUMA AND ALSO ALL THE EXHIBITIONS.

SO I THINK IT WAS VERY INSPIRING.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PICTURES, OF COURSE, BUT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY POWERFUL TO BE THERE.

DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL, KARI WATKINS, VISITED OSLO FOR THEIR GRAND OPENING.

THIS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM ON THE GROUNDS OF WHAT WAS THE.

ALFRED P MURRAH FEDERAL BUILDING WAS A PIONEER INSTITUTION AT THE TIME OF ITS CONCEPTION WHEN WE DID THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE SUMMER WE STARTED, THE SUMMER OF 95, THERE WAS NO OTHER GUIDE.

I MEAN, THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WAS THE CLOSEST THING FOR US.

AND THEY HAD SOME STRUGGLES, BUT THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL TO US, AS WAS THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, WHICH HAD JUST OPENED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

BUT NEITHER ONE WERE ON THE SITE OF AN ATTACK, WHICH DOES CHANGE KIND OF THE STORY AND THE AND THE POWER OF THE PLACE.

I WOULD BE THERE 630 7:00 AND JUST WATCH ALL MY COWORKERS, FORMER COWORKERS COME TO WORK AND THEY'D GO BY AND WAVE.

AND THIS IS WHERE MY OFFICE WAS.

RICHARD WILLIAMS, A SURVIVOR OF THE 1995 BOMBING, MADE SEVERAL TRIPS TO NEW YORK CITY WITH OTHER SURVIVORS AFTER THE EVENTS OF NINE OVER 11 TO CONSOLE AMERICANS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR TRAUMA.

BEING INVOLVED WITH THEM WAS VERY CATHARTIC AND HELPFUL FOR US BECAUSE PEOPLE HELPED US AND WE FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO HELP THEM, AND WE SAT DOWN WITH THAT GROUP IN 2004 AND STARTED EXPLAINING TO THEM OUR PROCESS HERE AND WHAT WE HAD GONE THROUGH IN TERMS OF RECOGNITION, INCLUSION, AND PARTICIPATION IN THE MEMORIALIZATION PROCESS.

AND THEY JUST DIDN'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT HAD ANY KIND OF RECOGNITION OR ACCEPTANCE OR ANYTHING.

SINCE 2001, THE MISSION OF MEMORIALS LIKE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, NEW YORK AND OSLO IS TO PROTECT AND SHARE THE STORIES OF THOSE IMPACTED, AS WELL AS TO TEACH FUTURE GENERATIONS ABOUT THE FOLLY OF POLITICAL EXTREMISM AND TO ENSURE THAT MESSAGE SPREADS BEYOND THE WALLS OF ANY INSTITUTION.

WE HAVE TO REACH THEM WHERE THEY'RE WILLING TO LEARN THE STORY.

IF IT'S WHATEVER WAY IT IS, WE HAVE TO GO REACH THEM.

AND THEN WHEN THEY GET HERE, THEY'RE LIKE, OH MY GOSH, THIS IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN WHAT I THOUGHT.

THIS IS.

I HAVE A ROLE.

I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PLAY IN THIS STORY.

I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE 25 YEARS LATER FOR THEM, THAT THEY'RE STILL GOING THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS.

ONE OF THE OUTREACHES FROM THIS COMMUNITY OF MEMORIAL MUSEUMS IS THROUGH A NEW SHORT DOCUMENTARY COMMEMORATING THE LIVES LOST ON NINE OVER 11, WITH VOICES FROM FIVE DIFFERENT MEMORIAL DIRECTORS AROUND THE WORLD.

RICH, NOAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO SET AN ELECTION TO LET OKLAHOMA VOTERS DECIDE IF THE STATE SHOULD CONVENE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO AMEND OR REWRITE A DOCUMENT FIRST RATIFIED BY VOTERS IN 1907.

HOWEVER, A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER HAS FILED SUIT TO STOP HIM.

IN OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH SEGMENT, WE'LL DISCUSS HOW AND WHEN A CONVENTION COULD BE HELD.

HERE'S A PREVIEW WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOU.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS, AND EVEN WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS IN HIS STATEMENT, IS THAT THESE POWERS WERE RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE.

AND SO THIS IS NOT THE PEOPLE CREATING AN INITIATIVE ASKING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, BECAUSE THEY CAN DO THAT.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

AS DOCTOR BOURKE POINTED OUT, THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT CLAMORED FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION.

THE LAWSUIT, ON BEHALF OF FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARK MCBRIDE, AS A TAXPAYER AND VOTER.

THE GIST OF IT IS THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE PROCLAMATION THAT SETS AN ELECTION, A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR VOTERS TO ADDRESS NEXT APRIL, AND ALSO ISSUED A EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT APPOINTS THIS NINE PERSON COMMISSION THAT BASICALLY RECOMMENDS WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

SO WE OPPOSE THE GOVERNOR'S ENTRY INTO THIS ARENA.

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

FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT, THERE ARE FEW THINGS MORE VALUABLE THAN GETTING HANDS ON REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD.

AND THAT'S THE CASE FOR A GROUP OF SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL MAJORS TASKED WITH HELPING OKLAHOMA VETERANS.

STEVE SHAW JOINED US FROM OUR NEWSROOM TO EXPLAIN STEVE RICH, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, REACHED OUT TO OU SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR EXPERTISE AND HELP FIGURING OUT WAYS TO MORE EFFICIENTLY OPERATE THREE OF THE STATE'S SEVEN VETERANS HOMES.

IT'S SOMETHING ALL INVOLVED TOOK VERY SERIOUSLY.

YOU KNOW, I'VE GONE THROUGH DEPLOYMENTS, BACK SURGERIES, ALL OF THESE THINGS AND HAD TO PICK THE PIECES BACK UP AND REINVENT MYSELF.

SO THAT'S WHY DIGNITY IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

NICK NUNN WAS AN ARMY POLICE K9 OFFICER FOR 15 YEARS.

HE SAYS THIS PHOTO WAS FROM ONE OF THE LARGEST RAW EXPLOSIVE SEIZURES IN THE ENTIRE WAR WITH AFGHANISTAN.

BEING A VETERAN MYSELF, I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES THAT THESE MEN GO THROUGH, ESPECIALLY IN THESE CARE FACILITIES.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE BAD, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY LOSE A BIT OF IDENTITY AND DIGNITY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT ARCHITECTURE AS A PRACTICE CAN BE USED TO RESTORE DIGNITY TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM TRAGEDY, AGING, LOSS.

AND WHEN I SAY LOSS, I MEAN LIKE LIMBS, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO NAVIGATE A WORLD THAT'S NOT BUILT FOR THEM.

NUNN IS ONE OF JUST OVER 60 OU ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS WHO SPENT LAST FALL AND THIS SPRING MAKING SITE VISITS AND COMING UP WITH WAYS TO IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS AT VETERANS CENTERS IN ARDMORE, CLAREMORE, AND SULFUR TWO THAT WERE BUILT MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO, AND WHERE JUST OVER 440 VETERANS STILL CURRENTLY CALL HOME.

I SOUGHT IT OUT, ACTUALLY.

I HEARD ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

DOCTOR AMBER WILEY IS DIRECTOR OF OU.

S INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS PART OF THE GIBBS COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

VETERANS WERE SHARING BEDROOMS, BASICALLY LIKE WE HAVE STUDENTS HERE WHO SHARE DORMS, TWO TO A ROOM.

OUR VETERANS WERE SHARING THEIR VERSION OF A DORM, TWO TO A ROOM, AND THE STANDARDS HAVE IMPROVED SUCH THAT THE FEDS AND THE STATE ARE SAYING, HEY, WE NEED TO CONVERT THESE TWO PEOPLE ROOMS TO ONE PEOPLE ROOMS SO VETERANS CAN HAVE PRIVACY.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH A ROOMMATE.

I MEAN, I'M GROWN.

I DON'T PARTICULARLY ENJOY HAVING TO SHARE ALL OF MY SPACE WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.

WHAT CAN WE USE THAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST 40 SOME ODD YEARS ABOUT DESIGN AND INCREASING COMFORT AND JOY, AND MAKING OUR VETS FEEL RESPECTED?

HOW CAN WE INCORPORATE ALL OF THAT STUFF?

THE TRICK IS TO DO IT WITHOUT INCREASING THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, RIGHT?

THAT THAT WAS A MAJOR ISSUE.

NICO SKUJA IS A PETROLEUM ENGINEERING STUDENT WHO IS ALSO STUDYING SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AT OU.

HE WORKED ON A SOLAR PLAN FOR THE VETERANS HOME IN SULFUR.

WE FOUND OUT THAT THE ROOF COULDN'T MAINTAIN THE WEIGHT OF THE SOLAR PANELS FOR THE ARRAY THAT I CREATED FOR IT.

SO SKUJA CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO MOUNT SOLAR PANELS ON THE GROUND NEXT TO THE SULFUR FACILITY.

SCROOGE'S GRANDFATHER SERVED IN THE NAVY.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I TOOK ON THE PROJECT TO BEGIN WITH.

I JUST FEEL LIKE MY GENERATION JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND.

MAYBE ENOUGH ABOUT VETERANS AND FEELS A WILL TO HELP THEM JUST BECAUSE TIMES ARE DIFFERENT.

MAYBE BACK IN THE DAY WITH VIETNAM AND WORLD WAR TWO AS WELL.

SO THAT WAS THE GREATEST GENERATION, BY THE WAY.

YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW, GOOD DESIGN DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OUT OF REACH FOR PEOPLE.

GOOD DESIGN IS FOR EVERYBODY.

JENNIFER FUENTES IS AN INTERIOR DESIGN GRADUATE STUDENT WHO WORKED ON THE CLAREMORE AND SULFUR PROJECTS.

SHE ALSO HAS FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SERVED.

SO THIS MEANS SOMETHING TO YOU?

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND ASIDE FROM IT BEING VETERANS, IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME ON A HUMAN LEVEL ABOUT DIGNITY AND PROPER CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.

ANU AHLUWALIA IS A GRADUATE INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENT WHO WORKED ON THE SULFUR VETERANS HOME PROJECT.

MY JOB WAS BASICALLY SPATIAL PLANNING, FURNITURE SELECTION, AND ERGONOMICS OF COMMON AREAS, HALLWAYS AND THE RESTROOMS, PRIVATE AND SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE PROJECT?

OH, I LEARNED THAT LONG TERM FACILITIES ARE NOT JUST FACILITIES, THEY ARE MORE OF THEIR HOME.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY AGE OVER TIME.

ANU PLANS TO TAKE WHAT SHE'S LEARNED BACK TO HER HOME COUNTRY IN NIGERIA.

JAY BYNUM IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

HE SAYS HE SOUGHT INPUT FROM O.U.

COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR A REASON, REALLY TO THINK DIFFERENTLY, RIGHT?

THERE ARE GOING TO BE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO SELL US WHAT THEY DO.

AND WHAT I WANTED IS SOMEONE WHO'S UNENCUMBERED, WHO'S NOT MOTIVATED BY A PROFIT AND LOSS PIECE, BUT WHO'S GOING TO BRING SOME OUT OF THE BOX THINKING TO HELP US THINK DIFFERENTLY.

PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, DIFFERENT TOOL SETS, DIFFERENT APPROACHES, DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE IN ENGINEERING.

I JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT GOES ON, BOTH IN OUR ENTERPRISE, TO SUPPORT AND SERVE THE VETERANS AND THE FAMILIES OF THOSE RESIDING HERE IN OKLAHOMA, AND THE TEAMWORK ACROSS THE STATE, WHERE WE CAN PARTNER WITH OUR ACADEMIC EXPERTS AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A STORY WORTH TELLING, THE WAY THAT THEY REACHED OUT TO US TO TAKE ON THIS PROJECT, I THINK IT SHOWS THAT THEY CARE DEEPLY, AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ALREADY TAKING THESE PLANS, THIS WORK THAT WE DID JUST AND JUST WRAPPED UP A FEW MONTHS AGO AND ARE ALREADY MAKING HEADWAY IN TERMS OF MAKING IMPROVEMENTS, SHOWS THEIR DEDICATION TO THOSE THAT THEY SERVE.

DIRECTOR BYNUM TOLD ME HE'D LIKE TO GET STARTED ON ALL OF THESE PROJECTS SOON, BUT THE FIRST THING THEY HAVE TO DO IS GET PERMISSION FROM A GOVERNOR APPOINTED COMMISSION TO DO THE WORK.

RICH.

STEVE.

THANK YOU.

POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AN APPARENT ACT OF VANDALISM IN OKLAHOMA CITY'S ASIAN DISTRICT.

A BOAT SYMBOLIZING THE JOURNEY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES MADE FROM THEIR WAR TORN COUNTRY TO THE UNITED STATES WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY FIRE LAST WEEK.

INSTALLED IN 2025.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE BOAT HAS BEEN TARGETED.

AS WE LEARN FROM ONE OF THE ARTISTS WHO CONCEIVED AND BUILT THE PROJECT.

WE'VE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH VANDALISM, SO I'VE BEEN COMING BY AND CHECKING ON THE BOAT AND COVERING UP ANY VANDALISM OR CLEANING IT REGULARLY.

YEAH, IT'S A REALLY TRAGIC EVENT.

IT'S A REALLY SAD, UNFORTUNATE LOSS.

THIS BOAT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL TO THE COMMUNITY, SO THE ENTIRE FRAME IS STEEL, THE HULL IS STEEL.

SO IT WAS DAMAGED BUT NOT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT DESTROYED BY ANY MEANS.

SO RIGHT NOW THE PLAN IS TO, TO CLEAN IT UP, YOU KNOW, GET ALL THE DAMAGED MATERIAL OFF OF IT, GET IT BACK TO MY SHOP.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE ASIAN DISTRICT TO MAKE A PLAN ON HOW TO REBUILD IT.

SO IT CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

OFFICIALS ARE ASKING ANYONE WHO SAW ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS OR HAS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHO DID THIS, TO COME FORWARD WITH THAT INFORMATION.

THERE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL ELIMINATE MILLIONS OF JOBS CURRENTLY PERFORMED BY HUMANS.

A FEW DECADES AGO, THE SAME WAS BEING SAID ABOUT ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY.

SO FAR, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

THE FAR FROM ROBOTIC.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS.

JASON RICH, THE ROBOTICS COMPANY WE SPOKE WITH, SAYS THE INTENT ISN'T TO REPLACE WORKERS.

IT'S MEANT TO ELIMINATE REPETITIVE TASKS WHILE PROVIDING A VALUE ADDED SERVICE TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO INTEGRATE THEIR WORKPLACE WITH AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS.

AND WE'RE OFF.

IT'S WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT SWIFT COLLISION IN BROKEN ARROW AND PRINGLE ROBOTICS CUSTOMER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN ONE AMADOR IS SETTING UP A ROBOT FOR A DEMONSTRATION BEFORE IT CAN START CLEANING THE FLOOR.

FOR THIS GIANT WORKSPACE, FIRST, THE AREA HAS TO BE MAPPED USING A COMBINATION OF LIDAR AND LASERS.

I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO STRAIGHT.

WE'LL GO STRAIGHT AND THEN WE'LL COME AROUND.

YEAH, JUST DO A BIG L. THE MAPPING PROCESS TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT IT'S TO MAKE SURE THE ROBOT CAN LEARN WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO CLEAN AND FOR THE AREAS THAT WILL POSSIBLY NEED TO AVOID.

SO THIS IS GETTING RID OF OBJECTS THAT WERE THERE AND MAYBE AREN'T THERE ANYMORE.

OR ARE STILL THERE, BUT WOULDN'T BE THERE LATER WHEN THE EDITS TO THE MAPPING PROCESS ARE DONE, THIS ROBOT CAN BEGIN WORKING ON ITS OWN.

WE EVEN PUT A CAMERA ON THE NEWLY NAMED DUSTY THE ROBOT, TO SHOW THE DEVICE'S MAIDEN VOYAGE.

SO DURING THE DEMONSTRATION HERE AT SWIFT COLLISION, THEY WENT AHEAD AND SET UP THE MAP.

WHICH MEANS MY FRIEND THE ROBOT HERE IS NOT GOING TO RUN ME OVER.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT YOUR REFLECTIONS OF WHAT YOU SAW TODAY.

I SAW DEPENDABILITY AND CONSISTENCY.

I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF ANY OBSTACLES WOULD STOP THE ROBOT OR CONFUSE IT, AND IT JUST SWEPT RIGHT PAST THEM, NO PUN INTENDED.

AND WE THE EASE OF USE AND JUST WATCHING THE PROGRAMING AND HOW RESPONSIVE IT WAS, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.

SWIFT COLLISION CEO KYLE AL RIFAI REACTING TO THE DEMONSTRATION PRINGLE ROBOTICS PROVIDED AT HIS NEARLY 140 ZERO ZERO ZERO SQUARE FOOT FACILITY, WHICH IS PRETTY TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED ITSELF.

SWIFT IS AN ADVANCED, TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED BODY SHOP.

WE USE AI, WE USE THE LATEST METHODOLOGIES TO REPAIR CARS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY WITH OUR ASSEMBLY LINE STYLE BODY SHOP AND OUR OE CERTIFICATIONS.

IT MAKES US ONE OF THE TOP LEADERS IN OUR INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.

AL RIFAI SAYS THE AUTONOMOUS ROBOT SHOULD FIT INTO HIS ADVANCED AUTO BODY SHOP AND BE A GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMPANY.

WHAT WE SEE AI AS A TOOL ROBOTICS, AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS TO HELP US DO THE SIMPLE TASKS SO OUR EMPLOYEES CAN FOCUS ON THE BIG THINGS.

IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE SMALL THINGS AND HAVE THEM TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, THEN WE CAN FOCUS AND GROW THE COMPANY IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

PRINGLE ROBOTICS, AI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, ALLEN HOLT, SAYS ROBOTS TODAY AREN'T MEANT TO REPLACE WORKERS.

OUR ROBOTS DON'T REPLACE PEOPLE, THEY JUST FREE PEOPLE UP SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE DIRTY FLOORS OR THE DIRTY GRASS OR WHATEVER IT IS.

HOLT ADDS THAT ROBOTS ARE BEING DESIGNED TO TAKE ON THE MENIAL TASKS THAT SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO FIND WORKERS TO DO.

WE HAVE A VERY LARGE LINE OF MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF FULLY AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS, LIKE THE ONE YOU SAW AT THE IGA, WHICH WAS THE BELLA BOT, WHICH IS FOR DELIVERY OF MEALS AND DRINKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION, WE HAVE INSTALLED A CASINOS.

WE ALSO HAVE A FULL LINE OF FULL AUTONOMOUS MOWERS NOW.

AND WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUTONOMOUS CLEANING ROBOTS.

THAT BELLA BOT YOU JUST SAW CAN EVEN WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A GUEST.

SHE UNDOCKING.

PLEASE WAIT.

GOING TO CLEANING AREA.

STILLWATER MEDICAL CENTER HAS AN AUTONOMOUS ROBOT TO FOUND THIS BOT BROUGHT IT IN LAST MONTH AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR US.

I MEAN IT DOES THE FLOORS MAPPING CAN DO CERTAIN SCHEDULES, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE JUST, YOU KNOW, SEND IT AND IT HELPS US WITH THE WORK WE DO.

THIS ROBOT CLEANS ALL THE FLOORS OF STILLWATER MEDICAL CENTER, ITS CONNECTED CLINICS AND LABS, AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT MEDICAL OFFICES.

RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT IT AUTOMATICALLY SCHEDULED FOR THE EVENINGS THAT WE RUN IT DURING THE DAY.

MY STAFF WILL RUN IT IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

WHENEVER WE HAVE A LOW CENSUS DAY OF APPOINTMENTS OVER IN OUR OUTPATIENT WAITING RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER HERE, THEN WE'LL RUN IT IN THAT AREA OR WE'LL RUN IT IN OUR CATH LAB WAITING AREA HERE THAT WE ARE IN.

SINCE THIS ROBOT TOOK THE JOB AT STILLWATER MEDICAL CENTER, GARDNER SAYS THEY HAVE NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE IN CLEANLINESS AT THE HOSPITAL.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE, YOU KNOW, ELBOW GREASE THAT IT TOOK FOR US TO CLEAN THE FLOORS BEFORE WHERE WE WERE SCRUBBING A LITTLE HARDER.

THIS HAS TAKEN THAT, YOU KNOW, TOP LAYER OFF WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO, WHEN WE DO GO HANDS ON AND MOP THOSE FLOORS, IT JUST TAKES THAT LITTLE LESS TIME AND A LITTLE LESS EFFORT TO, TO GET IT BACK TO, YOU KNOW, CLEAN FLOORS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO KEEP INFECTIONS AND OTHER PATHOGENS FROM SPREADING.

THE ROBOT DID IT WITHOUT ELIMINATING A JOB FOR HUMAN NO LOSS IN FULL TIME EMPLOYEES THAT WE'VE HAD OR PART TIME EMPLOYEES.

TRUTHFULLY, IT'S JUST BEEN A SUPPLEMENT FOR OUR STAFF AND HOW IT CAN GO KIND OF HAND IN HAND WITH OUR STAFF.

TULSA COUNTY SHERIFF VIC REGALADO IS IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING AN AUTONOMOUS ROBOT TO KEEP THE TULSA COUNTY JAIL CLEAN, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL DO THAT JOB IN A JAIL.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT ONE WE FIND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO HIRE JANITORS TO COME INTO THE JAIL THAT CAN PASS THE SECURITY BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT WE REQUIRE TO WORK WITHIN THE JAIL.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE'S NOBODY PUTTING IN FOR THIS JOB.

USUALLY IT'S A TRUSTEE INMATE ASSIGNED TO CLEAN FLOORS.

BUT REGALADO SAYS HAVING THE CLEANING ROBOT DO THAT DUTY HELPS TO BETTER SECURE THE JAIL.

OFTENTIMES, WHEN YOU HAVE INMATES WHO ARE WORKING AS TRUSTEES, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE LOW LEVEL AND.

MEMBERS OF OUR JAIL, QUITE OFTEN THEY'RE UTILIZED TO TRANSFER DRUGS OR OTHER CONTRABAND WITH THROUGHOUT THE JAIL.

SO IT HOPEFULLY WILL CUT DOWN ON ALL OF THAT AS WELL.

SHERIFF REGALADO SAYS THAT THE ROBOT WILL ALSO HELP KEEP JAIL EMPLOYEES SAFER BECAUSE LESS CONTACT WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIALS LIKE BODILY FLUIDS.

THAT DEVICE WILL GET TO WORK IN THE COMING WEEKS.

NOW, IN BUSINESS NEWS, OKLAHOMA'S TAX COLLECTIONS HAVE BEEN RISING FOR A STRAIGHT YEAR NOW.

THE DETAILS ARE IN THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

THE AUGUST STATE REVENUE REPORT FROM THE STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE SHOWS.

OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, OKLAHOMA'S COFFERS HAVE TAKEN AN $18 BILLION, A 6.1% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTH PERIOD.

IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST ALONE, TAX COLLECTIONS TOTALED $1.3 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF 3.7% COMPARED TO AUGUST 2025.

THOSE FIGURES WERE BOOSTED BY INCREASES IN INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX, OIL AND GAS TAXES, AS WELL AS SALES AND USE TAXES.

SAN FRANCISCO BASED CHIME IS ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT TO BUY ENID BASED STRIDE BANK.

THE DEAL IS WORTH $590 MILLION.

STRIDE HAS BEEN A PARTNER OF CHIME FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

CHIME BELIEVES THE DEAL WILL INCREASE ITS REVENUE WHEN THE DEAL CLOSES.

STRIDE BANK WILL BE REBRANDED AS CHIME.

OHIO BASED OTC INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT HAS ACQUIRED GLOBAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

GLOBAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS IS A REGIONAL PROVIDER OF ROTATING EQUIPMENT, SALES, SERVICE AND REPAIR.

THE DEAL EXPANDS OTC'S NETWORK AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES INTO OKLAHOMA AND ARKANSAS.

THE MUSKOGEE NATION ENTERPRISES IS EXPANDING ITS SECURITY AT ITS CASINO PROPERTIES USING AN AI SYSTEM PROVIDED BY PHILADELPHIA BASED ZERO AIS.

THAT COMPANY HAS CREATED A WEAPONS DETECTION AND THREAT INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM.

MUSKOGEE NATION GAMING ENTERPRISES STARTED USING THE ZERO I SYSTEM AT ITS RIVER SPIRIT CASINO IN 2023, AND WILL NOW EXPAND IT TO ALL OF ITS PROPERTIES TO HELP WITH REAL TIME THREAT DETECTION, IMPROVEMENT OF RESPONSE TIMES, AND TO REINFORCE A CULTURE OF SAFETY.

WEST WIND ELEMENT CEO KAYLEE LONG WILL BE A FEATURED GUEST ON A PANEL AT NEXT MONTH'S CRITICAL MINERALS EXPO NORTH AMERICA IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

THE PANEL IS CALLED SPOTLIGHT ON BASE METALS PLANNING AHEAD FOR FUTURE SUPPLY CHAINS.

LONG FOUNDED WEST WIND ELEMENTS AND IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY CLASS ONE NICKEL REFINERY IN THE U.S.

LONG SAYS NICKEL IS FOUNDATIONAL TO DEFENSE, AEROSPACE AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON, THANK YOU.

THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER RECENTLY HELD THEIR ANNUAL STATE OF THE REGION CONFERENCE, WHICH FOCUSES ON PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT WITHIN A TEN COUNTY REGION IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

TAELYR JACKSON ATTENDED AND NOW JOINS US WITH MORE TAELYR.

YEAH, RICH, AS THE OKC METRO CONTINUES TO GROW, THE NEED FOR BETTER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE STATE CONTINUES TO INCREASE AS WELL.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN DRIVING POINTS AT THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE REGION LUNCHEON.

STAKEHOLDERS FROM AROUND THE METRO GATHERED FOR THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE REGION LUNCHEON HELD AT THE NATIONAL COWBOY HALL OF FAME MUSEUM.

CITY LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS DISCUSSED HOW STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORTATION CAN HELP WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

AND THIS GROWTH ISN'T JUST HAPPENING IN ONE CORNER OF OUR COMMUNITY.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CANADIAN, LOGAN AND MCLEAN COUNTIES.

CITIES LIKE GUTHRIE, PIEDMONT, NEWCASTLE AND EL RENO HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED MORE THAN 3% YEAR OVER YEAR POPULATION GROWTH.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, OKLAHOMA COUNTY CONTINUES TO BE THE DRIVING ENGINE OF JOB GROWTH.

AND THAT TELLS US SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY REGION ISN'T JUST ONE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A NETWORK OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INCREASINGLY CONNECTED BY PEOPLE, JOBS, INVESTMENT AND OPPORTUNITY.

ACCORDING TO THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBERS 2025 BY THE NUMBERS REPORT, OKC IS GROWING FASTER THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE 41 LARGEST METROS IN THE U.S.

THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER CEO CHRISTY GLENNON WATERS SAYS THE OKLAHOMA CITY GREATER REGION IS IN THE EPICENTER OF THE I-35 MEGALOPOLIS, WHICH PUTS THE STATE IN A GREAT POSITION FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'RE NOT JUST BUILDING A STRONGER OKLAHOMA CITY.

WE'RE BUILDING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GROWTH REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND OUR REGION ISN'T JUST GROWING WITHIN OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE INCREASING AND DRIVING OKLAHOMA'S GROWTH.

A LITTLE MORE THAN 6000 JOBS WERE ADDED IN 2025, ACCORDING TO THE CHAMBER'S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, AND THE NUMBER OF JOBS IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE.

ONE THING ALL CITY LEADERS AGREE ON IS THAT THE STATE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE MUST KEEP UP WITH THE RAPID GROWTH.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP GROWING.

YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC VOLUMES ARE NOT GOING TO GET SMALLER NO MATTER WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE INVEST, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

THE FASTEST GROWTH THAT I'VE SEEN IN METROPOLITAN OKLAHOMA CITY IS HAPPENING OUT ON THE KILPATRICK TURNPIKE THERE IN CANADIAN COUNTY.

WE'RE TALKING 10% A YEAR TRAFFIC GROWTH ON THAT FACILITY.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE WIDENING TO SIX LANES.

SUSTAINABILITY OF SUPPORT FOR TRAFFIC VOLUMES LIKE THAT IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO RUN INTO PROBLEMS.

SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THOSE ALTERNATIVES.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT REGIONAL WELL, YOUR POPULATION CENTERS, YOU KNOW, NORMAN EDMOND, CANADIAN COUNTY, EAST SIDE OF OKLAHOMA CITY, WE EVENTUALLY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONNECT THOSE.

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TIM GATZ SAYS DETERIORATING ROADS AND HIGHWAYS HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHY TRANSPORTATION MATTERS DOESN'T MATTER.

METROPOLITAN RURAL, WE'VE GOT TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMY, COMMERCE AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENRY, AND WE WORK REALLY HARD TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

IN ORDER TO DO IT, WE USE EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX.

GATZ EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION IN THE STATE TO MAKE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS OUTLINED IN THEIR EIGHT YEAR PLAN.

WE'RE ABOUT $275 MILLION A YEAR SHORT OF INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO KEEP IT IN THE CONDITION IT'S IN TODAY, RIGHT?

NOT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE TO THE GREEN JUST TO STAY EVEN.

SO, WE ARE RESOURCE CHALLENGED.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE LEVERAGE RESOURCES WITH OUR COUNTIES, WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WITH OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, WITH MORE FOLKS FLOCKING TO OKLAHOMA FOR JOBS AND SPORTING EVENTS.

THAT MEANS MORE TRAFFIC.

OKLAHOMA CITY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION JASON BRANCH SAYS IT'S TIME TO INVEST IN PUBLIC TRANSIT LIKE COMMUTER RAILS, TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE MODE FOR TRANSPORTATION.

I THINK IF YOU JUST THINK OF OUR REGION AND OKLAHOMA CITY SPECIFICALLY BEING A TOP 20 CITY, WE ARE THE ONLY CITY REGION OF THAT SIZE THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN ADVANCED HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT SYSTEM, ONE THAT IS SUPPORTED BY DEDICATED FUNDING.

SO I THINK THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF COMPETITIVENESS THERE TO KEEP OUR REGION GROWING.

THAT REALLY NECESSITATES ONE TRANSIT AND THE ONE TRANSIT PLAN.

NOW, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING THAT COMES TO MIND, THOUGH, IS THE DATA.

AND, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA GOVERNMENTS, WE'VE LEARNED, WE KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN THE COMING DECADES, THE POPULATION GROWTH WILL BE 30% OR MORE, ACCORDING TO THE ONE TRANSIT WEBSITE.

THE ORGANIZATION IS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING AND OPERATING THE REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS OKLAHOMA CITY, NORMAN AND EDMOND.

MORE INTERESTING IS THEY'RE PROJECTING VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED TO GROW AT ABOUT 42%.

SO MORE PEOPLE IN THE AREA AND THOSE PEOPLE HERE ARE GOING TO BE DRIVING EVEN MORE.

SO IT SEEMS TO BE SETTING US UP FOR KIND OF AN UNSUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN TRANSPORTATION.

IF WE DON'T DEVELOP SOME ALTERNATIVE MODES AND METHODS OF GETTING AROUND OUR REGION, THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER IS SET TO HOST THEIR ANNUAL STATE OF THE ECONOMY LUNCHEON IN NOVEMBER.

RICH TAELYR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE CHOCTAW NATION SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS WITH THE TRIBE, PROVIDING FREE MEALS TO CHILDREN AGE 18 OR YOUNGER.

HEADQUARTERED IN DURANT, THE THIRD LARGEST INDIAN NATION IN THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDING ALMOST 38,000 HOUSEHOLDS WITH SUMMER MEAL KITS OR ELECTRONIC BANK TRANSFER CARS TO PURCHASE FOOD, AND THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO NON-TRIBAL FAMILIES IN THE AREA AS WELL.

OKLAHOMA STATE'S CONSTITUTION WAS FIRST RATIFIED BY VOTERS IN 1907.

NOW, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT IS PUSHING TO HAVE A SPECIAL CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO CHANGE OR AMEND THAT DOCUMENT.

VOTERS WOULD HAVE THE FINAL SAY SO.

IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, WE'LL DISCUSS THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT WOULD PLAY OUT.

HERE'S MODERATOR SUSAN CADDO AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO DISCUSS.

THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE IS UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DOCTOR MELODY ROWLETT.

AND VIA ZOOM, ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE LEGAL CHALLENGE TO STITT CALLING FOR THE VOTE.

DOCTOR BOB BURKE, WHO IS ALSO AN HISTORIAN.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FIRST, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU, DOCTOR ROWLETT.

EXPLAIN WHAT A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IS FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW.

WELL, AT A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, IT'S FIRST OF ALL EITHER COMES FROM THE PEOPLE, AN INITIATIVE ASKING FOR THAT, OR IT'S A REFERENDUM PUT OUT BY THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL FOR A VOTE AS TO WHETHER WE HAVE A CONVENTION OR NOT.

NOW, OKLAHOMA HAS ONLY HAD ONE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, AND AT THAT TIME YOU HAVE PROGRESSIVE'S, YOU HAVE THE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES, AND YOU HAVE OTHER LEADERS IN THE STATE WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER TO FORM A NEW CONSTITUTION FROM SCRATCH.

SO IN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS SENT OUT, HE SAID THE FOUNDERS IMPOSED AN AFFIRMATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMAND.

THE QUESTION OF SUCH PROPOSED CONVENTION SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 20 YEARS.

EXPLAIN THAT.

WELL, EVERY 20 YEARS THROUGH A REFERENDUM PROCESS, BECAUSE ONLY THE LEGISLATURE CAN CREATE REFERENDUMS.

THE LEGISLATURE IS SUPPOSED TO PUT A VOTE BEFORE THE PEOPLE THAT ASK THEM TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE SHOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

AND WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN?

DOES THE CONSTITUTION, YOU SAID, SHOULD BE YOU EMPHASIZE, SHOULD.

IT IS NOT A SELF-EXECUTING MANDATE.

IT IS NOT.

SO THE PEOPLE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR BURKE, I'M GOING TO TURN TO YOU.

YOU ARE REPRESENTING THOSE WHO DO NOT THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS THE AUTHORITY.

IS THIS LAWSUIT FIRST OF ALL, YOU CAN SHARE WHO'S BEHIND THE LAWSUIT.

AND THEN IS IT ABOUT OKLAHOMA DOES NOT NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, OR THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CALL ONE?

IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT.

THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO.

IT'S CERTAINLY UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO DETERMINE IF WE EVEN SUBMIT A REFERENDUM TO THE PEOPLE.

I AGREE WITH MY LEARNED PROFESSOR FRIEND, AND I AGREE THAT IT'S NOT SELF-EXECUTING.

THE COURTS HAVE ALWAYS HELD IT TO NOT BE SELF-EXECUTING.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY STATE, BY THE WAY, THAT THAT SAYS, HEY, YOU OUGHT TO VOTE ON IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT ONLY TWICE HAVE WE EVER HAD A REFERENDUM ON IT.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT VOTE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND VOTED IT DOWN BOTH TIMES.

SO THE LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARK MCBRIDE, AS A TAXPAYER AND VOTER, THE GIST OF IT IS THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE PROCLAMATION THAT SETS AN ELECTION, A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR VOTERS TO ADDRESS NEXT APRIL, AND ALSO ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT APPOINTS THIS NINE PERSON COMMISSION THAT BASICALLY RECOMMENDS WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

SO WE OPPOSE THE GOVERNOR'S ENTRY INTO THIS ARENA.

IF THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO SUBMIT THIS TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, THAT IS UP TO THOSE VOTING MEMBERS.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT, DOCTOR BURKE, THAT WHY HASN'T OKLAHOMA WHY HAVEN'T LAWMAKERS INSTITUTED A CONVENTION FOR 56 YEARS?

WELL, THEY'RE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE, AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN A HUE AND CRY FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION THAT I'M AWARE OF.

A COUPLE OF TIMES BACK IN THE 20S AND 30S, WE HAD SOME TOUGH YEARS IN THIS STATE WHEN WE WE TRIED TO IMPEACH AND REMOVE SEVERAL GOVERNORS, AND WE DID SO TWICE.

BUT THERE'S THERE'S NOT A GREAT NEED FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

AND SO THE LEGISLATURE, TIME AND TIME AGAIN HAS SIMPLY REFUSED, AS THEY DID THIS THIS YEAR, THEY.

THERE WAS A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE CALLED A VOTE FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, AND THE LEGISLATURE SIMPLY DID NOT APPROVE THAT BECAUSE YOU.

ONE WOULD EXPECT THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR TRYING TO SAY, LET'S REDO THE CONSTITUTION.

THERE'S TOO MUCH TO LOSE FOR EVERYONE.

IF WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FOR 100.

YOU KNOW, SINCE 1906, AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN IN GUTHRIE, WE HAVE HAD A SOUND CONSTITUTION.

IT IS THE LONGEST IN THE LAND, BUT IT HAS PROTECTED THE INTERESTS OF ALL OKLAHOMANS.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN SAY I DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION.

WHETHER YOU ARE A BUSINESS PERSON, A CORPORATION, WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THIS STATE, OUR CONSTITUTION PROTECTS YOU.

AND SO WE DON'T NEED A NEW ONE.

AND BUT THIS THIS LAWSUIT IS SIMPLY ABOUT, HEY, THE GOVERNOR CANNOT CALL THIS ELECTION.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO SHUT IT DOWN.

ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO LET OUR VIEWERS KNOW THAT WE DID INVITE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO JOIN IN ON THIS DISCUSSION, AND THEY POLITELY TURNED DOWN THAT OPPORTUNITY.

BUT THEY DID SEND THIS STATEMENT.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT JUSTIFIES THE CALL FOR A VOTE IN HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, SAYING IN THIS EXCERPT, THE FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PEOPLE'S RESERVED POWERS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT COULD BE FRUSTRATED IF THEY'RE EXERCISED, DEPENDED ENTIRELY UPON LEGISLATIVE ACTION, AND THEREFORE PLACED ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS IN THE CONSTITUTION, ALLOWING THE PEOPLE TO EXERCISE LEGISLATIVE POWERS DIRECTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 14, EXPRESSLY RESERVES TO THE PEOPLE THE POWER TO PROPOSE LAWS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND TO ENACT OR REJECT THE SAME AT THE POLLS, INDEPENDENT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

DOCTOR ROWLETT, I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THAT COMMENT AND AND WHAT DOCTOR BURKE HAD TO SAY.

WELL, I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS, AND EVEN WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS IN HIS STATEMENT IS THAT THESE POWERS WERE RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE.

AND SO THIS IS NOT THE PEOPLE CREATING AN INITIATIVE ASKING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, BECAUSE THEY CAN DO THAT.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

AS DOCTOR BURKE POINTED OUT, THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT CLAMORED FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS DECLINED IN THEIR DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE STATE TO ENACT A REFERENDUM.

AND PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH JUST WHAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS WANT.

I BELIEVE DOCTOR MENTIONED SEVERAL OTHER STATES HAVE THE PERIODIC CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION REFERENDUM.

I THINK THAT'S 14.

DO THEY IMPLEMENT THEM?

DO THEY HAVE A SELF-EXECUTING IMPLEMENTATION OF A VOTE BY THE PEOPLE, WHETHER OR NOT TO HOLD A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION?

OR DO THEY KIND OF RUN ALONG THE SAME TIMELINE AS US?

THEY RUN ALONG THE SAME TIMELINE AS WE DO.

SO IT'S NOT SELF-EXECUTING.

AND AND NONE OF THESE PLACES ARE THESE AUTOMATIC, YOU KNOW, AT YEAR 20, AT YEAR 20, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS.

AND IT DOES LEAVE THE POWER FIRMLY IN THE HANDS OF EITHER THE PEOPLE THROUGH THE INITIATIVE PROCESS OR THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, THROUGH THE REFERENDUM PROCESS.

WELL, I'M GOING TO ASK BOTH OF YOU AND DOCTOR BURKE, YOU MAY WANT TO ANSWER THIS, BUT AS LAWMAKERS RAISE THRESHOLDS FOR THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED TO PUT A QUESTION ON THE BALLOT, IS IT BECOMING HARDER FOR THE GENERAL POPULACE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE CALL, PUT A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION?

WELL, I HAVE OPPOSED MOVES IN THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE IT HARDER, BECAUSE IN 1906 IN GUTHRIE, ALL OF THE DELEGATES, ALL OF THEM WERE AFRAID OF BIG GOVERNMENT, AFRAID OF BIG CORPORATIONS.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A VERY PROGRESSIVE CONSTITUTION.

IT'S A POPULIST CONSTITUTION.

AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT IN OUR CONSTITUTION, THE FIRST RIGHT RESERVED WAS TO THE PEOPLE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS AS THERE HAS BEEN NO CALL BY THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE COULD DO A PETITION TODAY.

AND FRANKLY, THE LIMITATIONS PLACED BY THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY WOULD NOT HAVE AFFECTED THE RIGHT TO OF PEOPLE TO CALL FOR IF EVERYBODY WAS SO UPSET IN THIS STATE AND WE NEEDED A NEW CONSTITUTION, BELIEVE ME, I COULD GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO CALL THAT FOR AN ELECTION, OR I COULD BEAR UPON THE LEGISLATURE TO DO SO.

SO, DOCTOR, I DO WANT TO FIND OUT, IS WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW WITH THE GOVERNOR TAKING THIS STAND TO CREATE A COMMISSION TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT IN APRIL.

IS THIS UNUSUAL?

THIS IS UNUSUAL.

FOR EXAMPLE, ANY OTHER TIME THAT THERE HAS BEEN A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT?

IT'S JUST A REFERENDUM AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD CALL A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

AND SO AND THAT'S THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS.

RIGHT.

SO THE PEOPLE HAVE VOTED SEVERAL TIMES NOT TO DO THAT.

AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANTED WHEN THEY FORMED THIS, DOCTOR BURKE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE HAD THIS GROUP, A DISPARATE GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND IT WAS A VERY POPULIST CONSTITUTION.

IT WAS THE FIRST EVEN PUT INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS INTO THE CONSTITUTION, CALLING FOR THE ROLL TO COME FROM THE LEGISLATURE, THE ROLL TO COME FROM THE PEOPLE IN TERMS OF BIG CHANGES.

HAVE OTHER STATE CONSTITUTIONS BEEN CHANGED IN RECENT, SAY, THE LAST LET'S SAY, THE LAST 56 YEARS, SINCE 1970?

IS THAT VERY COMMON OR AN UNCOMMON THING FOR STATES TO DO?

AND EITHER ONE OF YOU MAY ANSWER, I KNOW, DOCTOR BURKE, YOU'VE PROBABLY, AS YOU'RE GETTING READY TO TO ARGUE THIS, YOU'RE PROBABLY DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH YOURSELF.

YEAH, YEAH.

NO, NOBODY HAS JUST COME AND HAD A BRAND NEW CONSTITUTION.

NOW REMEMBER, BECAUSE OF THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM, OKLAHOMA HAS AMENDED ITS CONSTITUTION MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

I MEAN, OVER AND OVER WE HAVE STATE QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME.

WE HAD TWO COMING UP FOR A VOTE LAST WEEK OR, YOU KNOW, THE RECENT ELECTION.

SO OURS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT.

OUR CONSTITUTION IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, AND WE HAVE AMENDED IT A HUNDRED TIMES, MORE THAN A HUNDRED TIMES.

JUST A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON.

AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE I DID LOOK THIS UP ONLINE.

SO SO THE CONCEPT OF HOLDING A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION WAS INVENTED IN MASSACHUSETTS IN THE 1970S, BECAUSE LAWMAKERS HAVE AN INHERENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHEN REVISING THEIR OWN POWERS.

MASSACHUSETTS INNOVATION WAS TO ELECT DELEGATES INDEPENDENT OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PROPOSE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES, WHICH WOULD BE SUBJECT TO DIRECT VOTER APPROVAL.

IS THAT CORRECT?

THAT IS CORRECT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS ABOUT A NEW CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IS THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE THAT SORT OF REPRESENTATION, THAT THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

THERE WOULD BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT CONSTITUTIONS ANYWAY, IS THAT THEY ARE THE OVERARCHING LAW, RIGHT?

THEY'RE THE SUPREME LAW OF OKLAHOMA.

AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF PROTECTIONS, AS DOCTOR BURKE POINTED OUT, FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE STATE, WHETHER THEY BE INDIVIDUALS OR CORPORATIONS.

BUT THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE THERE FOR THEM.

AND SO MAYBE THIS SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE POLITICALLY BIASED, WHICH ALSO WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO RECOIL FROM THAT.

WHY WOULD IT BE POLITICALLY BIASED?

AND THE NEXT AND THAT KIND OF MESHES WITH THE NEXT QUESTION I WAS GOING TO TENDER IS WHY NOW FROM A GOVERNOR WHO IS EXITING STATE STAGE RIGHT ON TWO TERMS, WHY DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS NOW?

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT DIRECTLY TO THAT SITUATION, BUT WHY MIGHT SOMEONE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION THAT HAVE LIMITED SOME INTERESTS IN OUR STATE, RIGHT?

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE HOW THE SUPREME COURT OF OKLAHOMA HAS FOUND THAT THE PROVISIONS REGARDING SECTARIAN SCHOOLS OR BENEFIT OF PUBLIC MONIES FOR SECTARIAN EVENTS OR OR SUPPORT OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS HAS BEEN SAID.

NO, YOU KNOW, IT'S AGAINST THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION.

WE SPECIFICALLY HAVE THAT IN THERE.

AND THIS LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN PUSHING AGAINST THAT WITH SOME OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT COULD BE A PART OF THAT.

ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR BURKE, AS WE'RE WINDING DOWN ON OUR TIME, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A FINAL WORDS OR INFORMATION.

THIS IS PEOPLE STATEWIDE WILL SEE THIS OF WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER.

IT MATTERS BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE INCREDIBLE RIGHTS, INALIENABLE RIGHTS IN OUR OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION THAT WAS PATTERNED SO MUCH AFTER THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

THE FIRST ARTICLE AND PARAGRAPH OF OUR CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT THE SUPREME LAW OF OKLAHOMA SHALL BE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND SO THAT WE WANT OUR CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT EVERYONE.

WE WANT A FAIR PLAYING FIELD.

IF YOU GO TO COURT IN THIS STATE, WE DON'T WANT A CONSTITUTION THAT FAVORS YOU AS A PLAINTIFF.

WE DON'T WANT A CONSTITUTION THAT FAVORS YOU AS A BUSINESS OR A DEFENDANT.

SO THEREFORE, WE WANT A FAIR PLAYING FIELD.

OUR CONSTITUTION GIVES EVERYONE THAT, AND WE MUST PRESERVE THAT.

WE DON'T NEED A NEW CONSTITUTION.

HEY, HOW SOON DO YOU SEE THIS MAKING IT TO THE COURTS?

BECAUSE I KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S TIMELINE SEEMS PRETTY QUICK.

HE WANTS A COMMISSION TO HAVE ANSWERS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

WELL, I'VE ASKED FOR A MOTION TO STAY IN ADDITION TO FILING THE APPLICATION FOR ORIGINAL JURISDICTION RATHER THAN GOING TO THE DISTRICT COURTS.

I'VE ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE THIS UP.

I SUSPECT THEY WILL.

AND BECAUSE THE, YOU KNOW, SECRETARY OF STATE AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START SPENDING MONEY SETTING UP AN ELECTION.

SO THEREFORE, I THINK THE SUPREME COURT WILL ACT UPON THIS RATHER QUICKLY.

AND, DOCTOR ROWLETT, FINAL WORDS FROM YOU.

WHY SHOULD OKLAHOMANS PAY ATTENTION TO THINGS LIKE THIS?

OKLAHOMANS SHOULD PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE WHENEVER THEY ARE CONSIDERING INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS, THEN THE THE INFORMATION IS IN FRONT OF THEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING THESE DECISIONS.

AND SO THEY HAVE AMENDED THE CONSTITUTION, AS YOU SAID, I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY 200 TIMES.

AND THEY'VE DONE THIS BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL QUESTION WAS PUT BEFORE THEM.

THEY COULD CONSIDER THAT TO HAVE A WHOLE SCALE CONSTITUTION.

IT IS, FRANKLY, BEYOND WHAT WE CAN DO AS A PEOPLE TO MAKE A DECISION ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

VERY WELL PUT.

SHE SHE PUT THAT IN A GREAT WAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT LINE TO END ON.

I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR EDUCATION.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND SUSAN, THANK YOU.

THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

WHEN THE CLASSICAL VIOLIN MADE ITS WAY TO LOUISIANA, IT GOT A NEW SOUND AND A NEW NAME, THE CAJUN FIDDLE.

AND IT REMAINS THE DEFINING INSTRUMENT OF AUTHENTIC ACADIANA MUSIC.

AS WE LEARN IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW.

TIME FOR A TRIP DOWN THE BAYOU, COURTESY OF OUR FRIENDS AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THE VIOLIN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

IT DATES BACK TO THE 1500S, AND IT'S A CORNERSTONE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

VIOLIN MUSIC ORIGINATED IN EUROPE, BUT IT WAS SHIPPED INTO LOUISIANA IN THE 1700S, AND THE MUSIC CHANGED FROM THE VIOLIN TO THE LOUISIANA FIDDLE.

BECAUSE OF THE COMPACT, TRAVEL FRIENDLY SIZE AND THE STURDY CONSTRUCTION, EUROPEANS BROUGHT VIOLINS OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND BUNDLES.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY ETHNICITIES AND THERE ARE SO MANY CULTURE GROUPS LIKE BLUEGRASS AND BLUES AND COUNTRY MUSIC.

WE HAVE ALSO THE, OF COURSE, THE CAJUN AND ZYDECO THAT MANY PEOPLE ASSOCIATE WITH LOUISIANA DOCTOR SHANE RASMUSSEN OF NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY WORKS TO PRESERVE LOUISIANA FIDDLE MUSIC BY DIRECTING STATEWIDE CULTURAL PROGRAMS.

SO THE MISSION OF LOUISIANA FOLKLIFE CENTER IS TO DOCUMENT, PRESERVE AND PRESENT THE TRADITIONAL FOLK LIFE AND THE CULTURE OF LOUISIANA.

THE CLASSICAL VIOLINS MADE THEIR WAY DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER INTO LOUISIANA, AND THAT'S WHEN CLASSICAL VIOLIN MUSIC BEGAN TO CHANGE.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THE CLASSIC EUROPEAN VIOLIN VERSUS LOUISIANA FIDDLER?

YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIDDLE AND THE VIOLIN IS OFTEN HOW YOU PLAY IT.

RUTH ROWLAND IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BATON ROUGE CONSERVATORY AND IS A CLASSICALLY TRAINED VIOLINIST.

THE.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIOLIN AND FIDDLE.

IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME INSTRUMENT IN CLASSICAL MUSIC.

WE WANT TO PLAY MELODIES ONLY IN CAJUN MUSIC.

WE'RE PRETTY MUCH A ONE MAN BAND.

THE LOUISIANA FIDDLES WERE MASS PRODUCED, MAKING THEM CHEAPER AND MIXED WITH ADDITIONAL VIOLINS AND GUITARS AND BASS.

THEY WERE LOUD ENOUGH TO CUT THROUGH A NOISY ROOM.

SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VIOLIN AND A FIDDLE?

THE FOOL ON THE END OF THE STICK, JOE IS A MULTI-AWARD WINNING LOUISIANA FIDDLER, WHO TODAY STANDS AS ONE OF THE MODERN MASTERS OF LOUISIANA FOLK FIDDLING TRADITION.

WHEN YOU LEARN TO PLAY VIOLIN OR A CERTAIN TECHNIQUES THAT WE REALLY DON'T USE AS FIDDLE PLAYERS, THE FIDDLE HAS MORE COLOR, IT HAS MORE RHYTHM, IT'S MORE RHYTHMIC, THERE'S MORE TONE TO IT.

JOE GAVE US A SAMPLE OF THE TRADITIONAL VIOLIN AND ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO THE UNDISPUTED KING OF LOUISIANA MUSIC.

SO WE'LL LOOK AT AMAZING GRACE, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE PLAY PRETTY REGULAR.

VIOLIN STYLE OF MUSIC IS PLAYED ONE NOTE AT A TIME IN THE TRADITIONAL MELODY OF A CLASSICAL EUROPEAN ORCHESTRA.

NOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY A LITTLE SOMETHING WITH A LITTLE CAJUN TO IT, THEN WE WANT IT TO HAVE MORE COLOR.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT DRONING, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PLAY A COUPLE OF STRINGS AT THE SAME.

HAS MORE COLOR, HAS MORE LIFE TO IT.

THINK YOU CAN TEACH ME HOW TO PLAY THIS?

WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU'LL STICK THAT UNDER YOUR CHIN.

OKAY?

STICK YOUR THUMB IN THERE, TURN IT OVER AND DRAG THE BOW.

IT'S THAT LOUISIANA FIDDLE THAT BRINGS NEW LIFE TO THE HISTORIC VIOLIN MUSIC.

THE FIDDLE PRODUCES A LOUDER AND FASTER MUSICAL SOUND, MORE IN LINE WITH DANCES AND CELEBRATIONS.

THE EUROPEAN VIOLIN.

THE BRIDGE IS MORE CURVED TO MAKE IT EASIER TO PLAY ON ONLY ONE STRING AT A TIME, LIKE TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR.

THE FIDDLE HAS A MORE FLAT BRIDGE SO THAT YOU CAN PLAY TWO STRINGS MORE EASILY.

TODAY, THAT FIDDLE MUSIC UNIQUE TO LOUISIANA, IS BEING PRESERVED, WITH FIDDLE COMPETITIONS AND CONCERTS BEING PERFORMED ALL AROUND LOUISIANA.

SOMETIMES THERE AREN'T A LOT OF PLACES FOR THEM TO PERFORM.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LOCAL JAM SESSION AT THE LOCAL PARISH LIBRARY OR THE MUSEUM OR OR THEY HAVE A FRIEND GROUP OR A FAMILY GROUP.

AND THAT'S GREAT.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT.

AND SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PLACES TO CONNECT WITH OTHER FIDDLERS TO BE PART OF A LARGER COMMUNITY.

SO THE FIDDLE REMAINS AT THE HEARTBEAT OF LOUISIANA MUSICAL SCENE.

GREAT MUSIC, GREAT FESTIVALS AND GREAT TEACHERS.

READY.

TO KEEP PRACTICING ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

KEEPING OKLAHOMA STATE ATHLETES HEALTHY AND READY TO COMPETE.

AND YES, THAT INCLUDES THE CHEERLEADERS.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS ON THE NEW DOCTOR IN CHARGE IN STILLWATER.

FRIDAY AT SEVEN.

WE WILL SAY SO LONG FOR NOW WITH A TRIP TO WATONGA AND ROMAN NOSE STATE PARK.

OUR TRAVEL GUIDE OETA JASON STEWART.

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ AND WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

HAS IT REALLY BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE THE NINE OVER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS?

TO COMMEMORATE THIS MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY, JOIN US LIVE FROM THE MET FOR ITS FIRST PERFORMANCE SINCE COVID CLOSED