STATION MIR.

TUESDAY EVENING AT 8:00 ON OETA.

OETA IS JUST A CLICK AWAY.

VISIT US ONLINE TODAY.

TWO OF THE FIVE MOST POLLUTED LAKES IN AMERICA ARE LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA.

I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL PRETTY DIRTY IF YOU ASK ME.

SO I'M LIKE, I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW YOU DECIDE WHICH ONE'S THE DIRTIEST.

A DESPERATELY NEEDED NEW ANIMAL SHELTER IS BEING BUILT IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF SQUARE FOOTAGE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT LETS US TURN THE PAGE ON THIS, ON HOW OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PARASITIC INFECTION AFFECTING THOUSANDS IS NOW BEING REPORTED HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

IT CAN TAKE ZERO UP TO TWO WEEKS, 0 TO 14 DAYS BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY SHOW SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF DIARRHEA.

THE FIGHT TO KEEP AM RADIO AVAILABLE ON ALL NEW VEHICLES.

THAT IS THE A, M AND EVERY VEHICLE ACT.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS WHO HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THIS MEASURE TO BRING IT TO A VOTE IN IN DEPTH CONVERSATION ON MAKING THE MOST OF THE NEW TRUMP ACCOUNTS FOR KIDS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PUT IN SEED MONEY, $1,000 FOR CHILDREN BORN BETWEEN JANUARY 1ST, 2025 AND DECEMBER 31ST, 2028.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE CODE, CALLS ON THE CAMPUS OF OKLAHOMA STATE.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

OKLAHOMA'S RIVERS AND LAKES NEED CLEANING UP AND THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT WITH THE QUALITY OF OUR DRINKING WATER AS WELL.

IN FACT, TWO OF THE FIVE MOST POLLUTED LAKES IN THE COUNTRY ARE LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT'S BEING DONE TO RECTIFY THAT.

NOAH RICH LAKE.COM RANKS LAKE, TEXOMA AND EUFAULA AMONG WHAT THEY DEEM THE PANTHEON OF DIRTIEST LAKES.

WHAT MAKES A DIRTY LAKE IS DETERMINED BY SEVERAL METRICS, BUT WHAT GOES INTO CLEANING THESE LAKES TAKES A VILLAGE.

LAKE EUFAULA.

THE BIGGEST LAKE IN OKLAHOMA AND AN INLAND DESTINATION FOR THOSE LOOKING TO HAVE A FUN TIME BY THE WATERSIDE.

BUT BENEATH THE SURFACE, WITHIN THE WATER, LAKE EUFAULA TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.

LAKE.COM DEEMED EUFAULA AND LAKE TEXOMA AMONG THE DIRTIEST LAKES IN THE UNITED STATES.

TEXOMA RANKS NUMBER THREE AND EUFAULA AT NUMBER FOUR.

I'VE BEEN ON A LOT OF LAKES IN OKLAHOMA.

I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL PRETTY DIRTY, IF YOU ASK ME, SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW YOU DECIDE WHICH ONE'S THE DIRTIEST.

LAKE.COM CONSIDERED SEVERAL METRICS TO SCORE THESE LAKES LIKE LEAD, PHOSPHORUS, AMMONIA, AND PH.

A LARGE SWATH OF OKLAHOMA'S DRINKING WATER COMES FROM LAKES AND RESERVOIRS LIKE EUFAULA, AND WATER TREATMENT CENTERS SEPARATE THESE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WATER.

STILL, EUFAULA RESIDENT AMBER ASBURY FILTERS HER WATER.

I'VE LIVED IN SO MANY TOWNS THAT I'VE GOTTEN LETTERS LIKE MONTHS LATER THAT WERE LIKE, OH, WE HAD AN OOPSIE, BUT IT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, I JUST ALWAYS FILTER MY WATER.

EVEN WITH TREATMENT PROCEDURES, CONTAMINATION STILL HAPPENS.

MOST RECENTLY IN MOORE, OKLAHOMA LAST WEEK.

BASED ON SOME SAMPLE RESULTS THAT CAME BACK POSITIVE FOR TOTAL COLIFORM AND E COLI.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IN ANY SITUATION WITH ANY WATER SYSTEM, IT REQUIRES A BOIL ORDER.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INVESTIGATED AND FOUND SEVERAL POSSIBLE CAUSES WITHIN THE MOORE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.

WE FOUND SOME AREAS THAT THEY COULD IMPROVE ON.

WE FOUND SOME AREAS THAT WERE OPEN TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE STORAGE TANK.

THAT COULD BE A POSSIBLE ISSUE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED IT.

THE INCIDENT EXEMPLIFIES WHY TESTING IS ESSENTIAL.

CURRENTLY, I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 100 LAKE MONITORING STATIONS ACROSS 80 LAKES.

THE OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCES BOARD TESTS FOR ALL DIFFERENT UNITS ACROSS THE STATE'S MAJOR LAKES AND RESERVOIRS.

THIS BROWN BOTTLE WE WILL FILL, AND WE WILL FILTER SOME OF THAT WATER OUT THROUGH A VERY FINE PIECE OF FILTER PAPER.

THEY SUBMIT THEIR RESULTS TO DICK AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, WHERE LAKE.COM GOT THEIR DATA.

THIS STREAM THAT I'M IN HERE RIGHT NOW EVENTUALLY CONNECTS TO LAKE EUFAULA, WHICH IS NUMBER FOUR ON THE LIST.

AND THERE'S A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT METRICS THAT YOU CAN TEST IN STREAMS FOR WATER QUALITY.

AND THEN WHEN THE VIALS UNDERNEATH, I'M GOING TO REMOVE MY FINGER FROM THE SIPHON SO THAT THE BOTTLE FILLS UNDER WATER.

THE BLUE THUMB PROGRAM MONITORS LOCAL STREAMS.

ONE OF THEIR SALIENT TESTS IS A BIOLOGICAL ONE, WHERE THEY RECORD THE BIODIVERSITY OF ANIMALS IN THAT STREAM.

IF AN INTEGRAL SPECIES IS MISSING FROM THE ECOSYSTEM, THAT'S INDICATIVE OF POOR WATER QUALITY.

THE WAY WE LIVE IN CITIES, THE WAY WE FARM TENDS TO SEND A LOT OF SEDIMENT, SOIL AND NUTRIENTS, ESPECIALLY PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN TO STREAMS.

AND THOSE ISSUES IN STREAMS CAUSE PROBLEMS.

EUFAULA IS A UNIQUE CASE STUDY AS IT HAS LOTS OF TRIBUTARIES, STREAMS AND RIVERS THAT FEED INTO IT.

LAKE EUFAULA HAS A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES.

THERE'S HISTORICAL COAL MINING IN THE LAKE EUFAULA WATERSHED THAT'S CAUSED SOME ACID WATERS AND HEAVY METALS IMPACTS.

THERE'S TOO MUCH SEDIMENT IN THE WATER.

THERE'S HIGH NUTRIENTS.

AND AND SOME OF THE TRIBUTARIES ALSO HAVE TOO MUCH FECAL BACTERIA.

SUCH BACTERIA, LIKE E.COLI, COMES FROM AN INFLUX OF FECES FROM ANIMALS AND HUMANS.

ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WERE REPORTS OF MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE BEING DUMPED INTO LAKE EUFAULA FROM THE LAKESIDE COMMUNITY OF CARLTON LANDING.

I DON'T WANT TO SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT ANY PENDING ENFORCEMENT THAT WE HAVE, MAYBE, BUT SIMILAR TO THE DRINKING WATER SIDE ON WASTEWATER DISCHARGES, WE REGULATE THOSE AS WELL.

IF THAT'S HAPPENING ILLEGALLY OR THEY'RE NOT MEETING PERMIT LIMITS, THEN WE WILL TAKE ENFORCEMENT ON THAT ACTION.

SHANNON PHILLIPS WITH THE OKLAHOMA CONSERVATION COMMISSION SAYS TO BRING THE NUMBERS BACK INTO THE GREEN.

THAT REQUIRES WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO LIMIT WASTE RUNOFF.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME FOR US TO SOLVE WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES IN LAKE EUFAULA, BUT WE START BY WORKING IN WATERSHEDS OF SMALL CREEKS LIKE THIS.

AND REBECCA BOND WITH BLUE THUMB SAYS IT TAKES EVERY INDIVIDUAL.

AND WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON JUST EDUCATING YOUR AVERAGE OKLAHOMA RESIDENT ON WHAT THEY CAN DO TO POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR STREAMS, BECAUSE ALL OF US NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR STREAMS.

BLUE THUMB RECRUITS VOLUNTEERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO MONITOR STREAMS OPEN TO ANYONE.

I'VE HAD KIND OF A GROWING INTEREST IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ABOUT FRESHWATER SYSTEMS AND KIND OF THE LIFE THAT GATHERS THERE.

SARAH IS A LIBRARIAN FROM NOBLE, AND SHE FREQUENTS NEARBY STREAMS ONCE A MONTH TO PERFORM CHEMICAL TESTS WITH A KIT PROVIDED BY BLUE THUMB, AND SHARES HER RESULTS WITH THE COLLECTIVE.

THE WATERWAYS YOU'LL SEE LIKE IT SUPPORTS SO MUCH LIFE.

TERRESTRIAL, AQUATIC IN BETWEEN, AND THEN ALSO US.

I THINK IT KIND OF BRINGS THAT BACK INTO FOCUS THAT WE HUMANS ARE CREATURES TOO, THAT NEED THAT NEED THESE ENVIRONMENTS, AND SOME NEED THE WATER IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

IT'S JUST REALLY PEACEFUL UP HERE BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S LIKE EITHER GONE OR STILL IN BED OR THEY'RE JUST NOT MOVING AROUND.

SO I STAY UP HERE AND JUST, I SEE EVERYTHING AND IT'S QUIET.

THIS IS THE MOST PEACE I'VE FOUND SINCE I LEFT THE ARMY.

AMBER IS A DISABLED COMBAT VETERAN AND MOVED INTO A BOATHOUSE LAST YEAR.

THE WATER HELPS A LOT WITH THE PTSD AND ANXIETY, LIKE I WAS AN INSOMNIAC FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS UNTIL I MOVED ON TO THE BOAT, AND SHE DOES HER PART TO LIMIT THE HUMAN IMPACT TO THE WATER AROUND HER DOING INTERMITTENT SHORELINE CLEANUPS.

I JUST DID ONE TODAY.

I FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF A MARINA, THEN MAYBE THAT'S KIND OF PART OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT'S YOUR TRASH TO.

THAT WAS ALL ABOUT SURFACE WATER QUALITY.

NEXT WEEK I WILL DIG INTO GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND IT'S ALL NEW SET OF CHALLENGES.

RICH NOAH.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU.

OKLAHOMA STATE ANNOUNCING THEY HAVE REACHED THE HALFWAY POINT IN THEIR GOAL TO RAISE $2 BILLION TO ENHANCE THEIR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.

THE NAME OF THE CAMPAIGN IS THE COLD CALLS, AND IT HAS NOW RAISED MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN DONATIONS, WHICH WILL BE USED TO EXPAND AND CREATE RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS.

THAT FIGURE REPRESENTS A RECORD SETTING YEAR FOR FUNDRAISING.

DURING DOCTOR JIM HESS'S FIRST YEAR AS PRESIDENT.

IT IS OUR LAND GRANT MISSION FOR ALL STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION WHERE THEY CAN GO OUT AND MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AND AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD AND FULFILL THEIR OWN DESTINY.

THUS, WE WANT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT WHO ARRIVES HERE TO HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY.

EVERY SINGLE STUDENT.

THE SCHOOL REPORTS MORE THAN 88,000 INDIVIDUAL DONORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAMPAIGN THUS FAR.

THE CURRENT OKLAHOMA CITY ANIMAL SHELTER OPENED IN 1995.

31 YEARS LATER, IT'S OUTDATED AND OVERCROWDED.

BUT SOON THAT WILL ALL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

STEVE SHAW JOINED US FROM OUR NEWSROOM WITH DETAILS ON THE NEW SHELTER EXPECTED TO OPEN BY CHRISTMAS.

STEVE.

RICH, THE NEW 70,000 SQUARE FOOT OKLAHOMA CITY ANIMAL WELFARE SHELTER, WILL OPEN LATE THIS FALL AND NOT A MINUTE TOO SOON, MY FRIEND.

YOU WANT TO COME OUT FOR A WALK?

COME ON, LET'S DO IT.

GAYLE LEICHNER HAS BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY ANIMAL SHELTER FOR 28 YEARS.

YEAH.

GOOD JOB, JEN.

ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CURRENT ANIMAL WELFARE FACILITY, WHICH HAS SERVED OKLAHOMA CITY FOR 31 YEARS, IS THE NEW $35 MILLION ANIMAL WELFARE SHELTER.

JOHNNY SANDOVAL IS A 2013 GRADUATE OF PONCA CITY HIGH SCHOOL AND IS SUPERINTENDENT OF OKLAHOMA CITY'S ANIMAL SHELTER.

HE SAYS THIS NEW FACILITY WILL RIVAL ANY ANIMAL WELFARE SHELTER IN AMERICA.

I THINK SO.

IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF SQUARE FOOTAGE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT LETS US TURN THE PAGE ON THIS, ON HOW OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, AND GIVE US A CHANCE TO REDEFINE OURSELVES AND KIND OF REDEFINE ANIMAL WELFARE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

BACK IN THE DAY, THE OLD FACILITY WAS BUILT TO HANDLE 300 DOGS.

IT WAS DURING A TIME WHEN THE AVERAGE STAY FOR A DOG HERE WAS JUST 3 TO 5 DAYS UNTIL THEY WERE EUTHANIZED.

A KILL RATE OF 70 TO 80%.

PUBLIC OPINIONS CHANGE, THOUGH, OVER THE YEARS, AND NOW ONLY 20% OF THE DOGS ARE EUTHANIZED HERE.

BUT THIS SHELTER HAS BEEN FORCED TO HANDLE AS MANY AS 500 DOGS AT ONE TIME BECAUSE OF ALL THAT.

JUST LAST MONTH, AN OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE DRUG BUST IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA CITY TURNED UP A STAGGERING 450 BIRDS, 49 DOGS, A HORSE AND REPTILES.

ALL OF THOSE ANIMALS, INCLUDING THESE TWO DOGS, ENDED UP HERE.

JUST YESTERDAY, WE TRANSFERRED OUT ABOUT 80 PLUS BIRDS, AND WE'RE STARTING TO WORK WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS TO GET MORE OF THEM OUT.

WE NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO COME TOMORROW, TODAY.

IN THE NEXT HOUR.

AND, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCIES ARISE WHERE WE CAN SHOW UP TO A CALL.

AND WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE JUST FIVE PETS TURNS INTO 50 OR 50 TURNS INTO 100.

OKLAHOMA CITY'S METROPOLITAN AREA PROJECTS OR MAPS FOR PENNY SALES TAX IS PAYING FOR THE NEW SHELTER PROJECT.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE KENNEL AREAS.

MAPS PROGRAM MANAGER DAVID TODD SAYS THE NEW SHELTER IS 70% COMPLETE.

THERE'S A FULL CLINIC IN HERE.

THERE'S SEPARATE, SEPARATE LOBBIES FOR ADOPTION.

HE SAYS.

THERE WILL BE 520 KENNELS FOR DOGS AND MORE THAN 150 FOR CATS, AND IT WILL BE MULTI-LEVEL.

THERE WILL ALSO BE MANY MORE AND MUCH LARGER EXAM AND OPERATING ROOMS AND OUTDOOR SPACES WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN COME AND INTERACT WITH THE ANIMALS.

YOU KNOW, IT IS CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT THAT COMES UP, BUT NOTHING THAT'S SO SUBSTANTIAL THAT WE CAN'T OVERCOME, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

IN ADDITION TO THE HUGE SIZE INCREASE, THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS NEW FACILITY IS GOING TO BE THE NOISE OR THE LACK THEREOF, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRODUCT OF THOSE INCREDIBLY CRAMPED SPACES IN THE OLD FACILITY.

AND ANYONE WHO'S EVER WALKED IN HERE HAS GOTTEN REAL ACQUAINTED WITH THE EVER PRESENT FOUL ODORS, EVEN AT THE FRONT DOOR.

MORE ROOM, MORE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OF THE FACILITY.

IF YOU IF YOU ACTUALLY GO BACK INTO WHERE THE KENNELS ARE, THERE'S BEEN SPECIAL ATTENTION FOR NOISE ABATEMENT AND ALSO ODORS.

AND THERE'LL BE SOME WINDOWS IN HERE, RIGHT?

THERE'S NATURAL LIGHT FOR EACH OF THEM.

THERE WE GO.

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING INTO WORK?

AND IT DOESN'T SMELL LIKE THIS?

YEAH.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I'M EXCITED FOR THAT.

I'M EXCITED TO JUST BE IN A NEW SPACE AND START A NEW CHAPTER AND, AND BEING ABLE TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB.

YEAH, YEAH.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

THEY'LL GET SOME MORE OUTDOOR TIME.

THE BIG WORD AROUND HERE IS ENRICHMENT.

AND THESE DOGS IN THIS BUILDING DON'T GET ENOUGH DOG TIME WHERE THEY CAN BE DOGS AND RUN AND PLAY.

WHEN YOU HAVE A LESS STRESSED ANIMAL, THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IS BETTER.

WE AIM TO MITIGATE AND MINIMIZE FEAR, ANXIETY, AND STRESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND BECAUSE THAT FACILITY IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, A MUCH.

MUCH MORE HUMANE ENVIRONMENT AND A MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY, REALLY CROSSING OUR FINGERS TO SEE A LOT LARGER PUBLIC PRESENCE MOVING FORWARD, GETTING SOME MORE VISIBILITY, PEOPLE KNOWING THAT WE EXIST AND WE'RE HERE FOR THEM.

JEREMY WALTON IS A 1991 MOORE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO IS THE SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT FROM CROSSLAND CONSTRUCTION THAT'S BUILDING THE NEW SHELTER.

I JUST THINK THIS WAS A BIG A BIG NEED FOR OKLAHOMA CITY.

THEY WERE REALLY CROWDED IN THE CURRENT ANIMAL SHELTER THAT THEY HAVE, AND THESE PEOPLE LOVE THEIR ANIMALS AND THEY JUST WANT TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM.

PETS ARE PETS ARE FAMILY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE TO ENSURE THE BEST FOR THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL AS THE ANIMALS THAT THEY OWN AND CARE FOR.

DAVID TODD SAYS THE NEW SHELTER WILL BE OPEN BY CHRISTMAS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT RECENT LARGE ANIMAL SEIZURE, OKLAHOMA CITY ANIMAL WELFARE IS STILL OFFERING DEALS TO FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A PET.

RICH, STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEW TRUMP ACCOUNTS FOR AMERICAN CHILDREN BEGAN INDEXING ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ON JULY 6TH, NOW SEEDED WITH $1,000 FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE ACCOUNTS ARE DESIGNED TO GROW AS A CHILD GROWS INTO ADULTHOOD.

HOW CAN YOU TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN KUDO.

HERE'S A PREVIEW AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

WE ARE ACTUALLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRUMP ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

SO THE TRUMP TRUMP ACCOUNTS ARE ALL ABOUT GIVING CHILDREN A EARLY HEAD START FOR LONG TERM SAVINGS.

AND SO IN THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE, WE HAVE A BRAND NEW PROGRAM, THE OKLAHOMA TRUMP ACCOUNT SAVINGS INVESTMENT PROGRAM, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A $250 CONTRIBUTION TO THAT CHILD'S FUTURE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT PARTNERING.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PUT IN SEED MONEY, $1,000 FOR CHILDREN BORN BETWEEN JANUARY 1ST, 2025 AND DECEMBER 31ST, 2028.

SO THERE'S THAT WINDOW OF TIME THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SEE THAT WITH 1000.

SO YOU GET THE 1000 PLUS THE 250 FROM THE STATE.

THERE'S EVEN AN EXTRA LITTLE BENEFIT.

SO MICHAEL DELL AND HIS WIFE HAVE PLEDGED THIS HUGE GRANT.

THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

FOR THOSE OF US OF A CERTAIN GENERATION HOPPING IN THE CAR AND CRANKING UP THE A M RADIO, WAS OUR INTRODUCTION TO ROCK AND ROLL IN THE TOP 40 COUNTDOWN WITH CASEY KASEM.

NOW, I REALIZE SOME OF OUR VIEWERS AND SOME STAFF PERHAPS HAVE NO IDEA WHO CASEY KASEM IS, AND THAT'S OKAY.

BUT AM RADIO IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF AMERICANA, AND NOW MANY CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE REMOVING THE AM DIAL FROM THEIR CAR STEREO SYSTEMS.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO STOP THAT.

JASON RICH, GROUPS OF PROFESSIONAL BROADCASTERS FROM OKLAHOMA AND OTHER STATES WERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THIS WEEK LOBBYING FOR CONGRESS TO TAKE UP THE LEGISLATION, WHICH WOULD KEEP A M RADIO IN NEW VEHICLES AND AT LEAST FROM SOME RADIO LISTENERS POINT OF VIEW, THEY WANT IT TO REMAIN IN THE DASH.

IT'S TIME FOR THE OPEN MIC TALK SHOW.

THE OPEN MIC TALK SHOW IS AIRED ON OKLAHOMA CITY'S HEART AND SOUL 92.1 FM AND 11:40 A.M.

SINCE 1993, CO-HOST TERRI MONDAY AND LANA WEST DISCUSSED THE PROPOSED FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO KEEP AM RADIOS IN NEWER VEHICLES ON THEIR SHOW THIS WEEK.

BASICALLY, THE NEW AUTOMAKERS DO NOT WANT TO HAVE AM RADIO IN THEIR VEHICLES.

TERRY MONDAY ALSO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RADIO PROGRAMING FOR PERRY BROADCASTING, CURRENTLY BASED IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE THREE STATIONS HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, TWO IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ONE IN FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, AND FIVE IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

HE CERTAINLY SUPPORTS KEEPING AM RADIO IN THE DASH.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, NOT NOT ONLY IMPORTANT, WHAT WE'RE DOING TO KEEP IT OUT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT RADIO AM ESPECIALLY IS A LIFELINE.

MONDAY PRAISES THE EFFORTS OF THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

TO ENCOURAGE CONGRESS TO PASS THE BILL TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS PRESIDENT WILL PAYNE.

OF COURSE, WILL PAYNE AND SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS FROM OKLAHOMA ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY ADVOCATING FOR AM RADIO IN OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES.

OF COURSE, WE CAUGHT UP WITH WILL PAYNE VIA ZOOM AS HE WAS PREPARING TO TWIST ARMS ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK.

WE ARE TRYING TO PASS HOUSE RESOLUTION 979.

THAT IS THE AM IN EVERY VEHICLE ACT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS WHO HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THIS MEASURE TO BRING IT TO A VOTE.

PAYNE SAYS THAT PASSING THIS LEGISLATION ISN'T ABOUT TELLING CAR MANUFACTURERS HOW TO BUILD CARS.

IT'S A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS TELL THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY TO MANDATE THAT OH AM, AND EVERY VEHICLE WILL BE THERE FOR SAFETY.

AND THE REASON WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DONE IS THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM COMES THROUGH THE AM DIAL KRMG IN IN TULSA IS WHERE IT STARTS.

AND THEN IT FILTERS THROUGH ALL AM FM TV STATIONS, CELL PHONE COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET THAT EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.

PAYNE SAYS THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF SUPPORT AMONG CONGRESS MEMBERS FOR HOUSE RESOLUTION 979.

WE'VE GOT OVERWHELMING SUPPORT.

ALL WE NEED IS LEADERSHIP TO PUT IT TO A VOTE, PUT IT ON THE DOCKET, LET'S VOTE FOR IT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS TO DO PUSH LEADERSHIP, BRING IT TO A VOTE.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE THINK AM THEY THINK OLD AND OUTDATED.

YEAH.

NOT NECESSARILY.

YEAH, IT HELPS AND IT BENEFITS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

FOR MANY OLDER RADIO LISTENERS, A TRIP ALONG THE AM DIAL CAN BRING OUT THE NOSTALGIA FOR RADIO PERSONALITIES LIKE WOLFMAN JACK AND CASEY KASEM.

AMERICAN TOP 40.

I'M CASEY KASEM, ONE OF THE CALLERS TO THE OPEN MIC SHOW WONDERED IF THE YOUNGER GENERATION SIMPLY HASN'T BEEN INTRODUCED TO BROADCAST RADIO IN THE AGE OF DIGITAL.

I HAD ALL MY STATIONS PRESET, AND WE WOULD LISTEN TO YOU ALL IN THE MORNING ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.

AND THEN NOW THAT I ONLY HAVE THIS VEHICLE, WE DO THE SAME THING.

AND SO THE QUESTION IS, IS ANYBODY INTRODUCING THEIR CHILDREN TO, YOU KNOW, REGULAR RADIO OR THEY ARE ADAPTING TO THE DIGITAL AND THE APPS AND ALL OF THAT ON THE PHONE.

CAR MANUFACTURERS LIKE TESLA, BMW, VOLVO, AND VOLKSWAGEN ARE STARTING TO BUILD VEHICLES WITHOUT THE AM BAND.

SOME OF THE REASONS WHY INCLUDE ELECTRIC INTERFERENCE WITH EV MOTORS AND BATTERIES, A PUSH FOR PAID IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORMS AND MANUFACTURERS SAY CONSUMER HABITS HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE THEY CONNECT THEIR PHONES TO THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.

ABUZZ WILL PAYNE SAYS THERE IS A SOLUTION FOR THE AM INTERFERENCE IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND AM RADIO WAS INTERFERING.

WE FOUND OUT THAT'S ABOUT A $2 PART PER CAR TO REMOVE THAT INTERFERENCE FROM THE EV AND THEN STILL BE ABLE TO HEAR AM RADIO JUST FINE.

AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS SAY THAT THEY WANT TO REMOVE THE AM AND THE FM IN THE DASH.

AND THAT IS WHAT TERRY MUNDY FEARS.

NOW, I'M GOING TO IMPLEMENT MY PERSONAL OPINION.

FOR ME, WHEN YOU SAY AM RADIO, I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO ALSO EVENTUALLY BE FM AND HD.

THE REASON ABE AND OTHER BROADCASTERS ARE PUSHING TO KEEP AM RADIOS IN THE CAR BOILS DOWN TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE RECEIVE THOSE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS LIKE ON THE AM BAND, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OURSELVES A DISSERVICE IF WE.

IF WE DO DECIDE THAT THEY ARE OBSOLETE.

OKLAHOMA IS A IS A TEXTBOOK CASE OF WHY YOU NEED IT, BECAUSE IF YOU TRAVEL TO GUYMON OR YOU TRAVEL TO HOCHATOWN FOR THE WEEKEND, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE CELL PHONE SERVICE THAT ENTIRE TRIP.

THERE'LL BE SPOTS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE CELL PHONE SERVICE AT ALL, BUT THERE'S AM, THERE'S FM, AND THERE'S HD RADIO THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE.

THERE'S EMERGENCY ALERT MESSAGES THAT ARE VITAL.

TERRY MUNDY AGREES.

I'M AN OKIE BORN AND RAISED.

I LOVE ME SOME TORNADOES.

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

OPEN.

MY CO-HOST LANA WEST CAN SEE HOW SOME WOULD SEE AM RADIO IN A CAR AS A BIT OUTDATED.

YOU KNOW, I'M SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

BUT AS FAR AS CARS GO, YOU KNOW, THEN VERSUS NOW, I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN THERE USED TO BE ASHTRAYS IN CARS, YOU KNOW, GREAT POINT.

AND NOW WE DON'T YOU CAN'T FIND ANY.

WELL, NO, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY VEHICLES, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE ASHTRAYS ANYMORE.

MONDAY CONTENDS IT'S STILL A GREAT MEDIUM FOR LOCAL INFORMATION AND ENTERTAINMENT.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE PULLING IN TO A SMALL TOWN AND RADIO.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A LIFELINE BECAUSE WHEN THEY BROADCAST THOSE LOCAL FOOTBALL GAMES AND THE BASKETBALL GAMES, THE ENTIRE TOWN SHUTS DOWN.

AND NOT ONLY DO THEY ATTEND, BUT THEY LISTEN TO RADIO.

AND THOSE BROADCASTS MONDAY ALSO ENCOURAGES PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO IN THEIR CAR, TO ALSO SPEAK OUT.

THIS IS A PROCESS THAT EVERYBODY CAN PARTICIPATE IN FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND LET OUR LEGISLATORS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND WHAT WE THINK ABOUT RADIO AND EVERY VEHICLE.

AND NOT TO LOSE THAT.

THE VOTE ON H.R.

979 IS YET TO TAKE PLACE.

WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS PRESIDENT WILL PAYNE SAYS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO ENCOURAGE CONGRESS TO TAKE UP THE SAVE THE A M IN THE DASH BILL, THEY CAN TEXT A M TO 39179 TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION.

RICH.

VERY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU.

JASON.

WITH THE SOUND OF CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW BILLION DOLLAR INDOOR ARENA WITHIN EARSHOT, OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR DAVID HOLT DELIVERING HIS EIGHTH ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS ON WEDNESDAY.

OUR CRIME RATES HAVE BEEN IN DECLINE FOR A DECADE.

OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS BEEN BELOW 4% FOR 55 OF THE LAST 58 MONTHS.

WE'VE RUN THIS EXPERIMENT ALREADY FOR 30 YEARS.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO WHAT WE'RE DOING.

PEOPLE WILL VOTE WITH THEIR FEET, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THIS SAFE, INCLUSIVE, EXCITING CITY WITH PLENTY OF JOBS.

THIS POPULATION GROWTH IS NOT GOING TO STOP.

HOLT WENT ON TO ANNOUNCE THE NAME AND LOGO FOR THE NEW PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM THAT WILL BEGIN PLAY IN THE NEW OUTDOOR STADIUM IN 2028.

THEY WILL BE CALLED OKC UNITED, THE CDC ANNOUNCING FRIDAY MORNING THAT A PARASITIC INFECTION THAT'S BEEN REPORTED IN MORE THAN 30 STATES AND SICKENED MORE THAN 5100 PEOPLE, HAS BEEN TRACED TO LETTUCE SOLD AT TACO BELL RESTAURANTS, WITH THE LATEST ON THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS REPORTED HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY TAELYR JACKSON TAELYR RICH.

THAT FOODBORNE ILLNESS IS CALLED CYCLOSPORA.

CASES IN THE STATE HAVE RISEN FROM 11 TO 56.

WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATES THE NUMBER OF CASES EACH TUESDAY.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE OVERLY CONCERNED.

JACOB BOYER AND HIS SON ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE RECENT INCREASE IN CYCLOSPORIASIS, A MICROSCOPIC PARASITE CAUSING INTESTINAL ISSUES ACROSS THE NATION.

BETWEEN BITES AT A TACO BELL, BOYER TOLD US HE'S TAKEN PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID GETTING SICK BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, AS SOME MAY KNOW, YOU KNOW, THESE NUMBERS DO BREAK OUT.

AND I THINK WITH WITH THE PARASITES, WHEN THEY DO BREAK OUT, WILL WASH YOUR PRODUCE, ACTUALLY WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU WASH YOUR PRODUCE AND BE MINDFUL AND DON'T EAT, EAT SALADS.

YOU KNOW THAT COME IN THE PLASTIC BAG.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTS 56 CONFIRMED CASES IN THE STATE, AND SIX OF THOSE CASES HAVE LED TO HOSPITALIZATION.

SO FAR, 34 STATES HAVE OUTBREAKS, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

AS OF JULY 13TH, 1645 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, BUT SOME STATES ARE REPORTING MUCH HIGHER NUMBERS, LIKE MICHIGAN, WITH 4312 CASES AS OF THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

MICHIGAN, KENTUCKY, OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA, I THINK ARE THE THE FOUR BIG ONES.

ACCORDING TO AP NEWS, MICHIGAN OFFICIALS ARE POINTING THE FINGER AT LETTUCE.

SOME FAST FOOD CHAINS IN THE AREA, LIKE TACO BELL, VOLUNTARILY REMOVED FRESH PRODUCE FROM THE MENU TO HELP PREVENT CONTAMINATION.

BOYER SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY EATING FAST FOOD, BUT WILL ASK FOR NO LETTUCE IN THE MEANTIME.

BUT BUT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE.

BECAUSE THAT LETTUCE, YOU KNOW I CAN'T WASH IT BEFORE EATING IT.

AND OU CHILDREN'S CHIEF OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR DONNA YOUNG, SAYS THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THE ILLNESS.

SO TYPICALLY THE ORGANISM KIND OF HIDES IN THE GROOVES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT ARE KIND OF UNWASHED.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RASPBERRIES, ALL THE BUMPS AND GROOVES THAT RASPBERRIES HAVE CYCLOSPORA.

AND WHEN WE LEARN ABOUT IT IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, WE LITERALLY LEARN ABOUT IT ASSOCIATED WITH RASPBERRIES BECAUSE IT CAN HIDE IN THOSE BUMPS AND GROOVES.

THE PARASITE IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH CONSUMPTION OF CONTAMINATED FOOD OR WATER, BUT IT CAN TAKE A WHILE FOR SYMPTOMS TO SHOW.

THAT'S THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE EPIDEMIOLOGIC NATURE OF THIS ILLNESS IS THAT AFTER YOU GET INFECTED, IT CAN TAKE ZERO UP TO TWO WEEKS, 0 TO 14 DAYS BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY SHOW SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF DIARRHEA.

OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE BLOATING, EXTREME FATIGUE, AND VOMITING.

IF YOU'RE HAVING MORE THAN 2 OR 3 DAYS OF DIARRHEA, OR OF COURSE, IF YOU'RE GETTING TIRED OR FATIGUED AND YOU CAN'T KIND OF KEEP UP WITH THE LIQUIDS THAT YOU KNOW YOU'RE PUTTING OUT, THEN YOU NEED TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR BECAUSE THERE IS SOME TESTING THAT CAN BE DONE.

DOCTOR WHO SAYS THE PARASITE CAN POSE A RISK TO ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.

I WOULD SAY THIS ONE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ORGANISM.

THE THE GROUP THAT'S AT RISK TO GET THE SICKEST ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS, PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS LIKE LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OF AGE AND THE ELDERLY.

THOSE WOULD BE YOUR HIGH RISK GROUPS.

BUT EVERYONE WHO INGESTS THE ORGANISM IS AT EQUAL RISK OF GETTING INFECTED.

EXPERTS RECOMMEND AVOIDING PRODUCTS LIKE LEAFY GREENS SUCH AS SPINACH AND SALAD MIXES, FRESH HERBS LIKE CILANTRO AND PARSLEY, BERRIES, RASPBERRIES, GREEN ONIONS, SNOW PEAS AND PRECUT FRUITS OF ANY KIND, AS WELL AS FRUIT AND VEGETABLE TRAYS.

SOME FOLKS ARE OPTING OUT OF NAME BRAND PRODUCE AND BUYING LOCAL, LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE INSTEAD.

TONYA MAYFIELD IS THE OWNER OF THE HARVEST OF PIEDMONT, AND SHE SAYS SINCE THE CASES OF CYCLOSPORIASIS IN THE STATE OF INCREASED.

SHE'S ALSO SENT AN INCREASE OF CUSTOMERS LOOKING FOR LETTUCE.

TUESDAY I WENT AND PICKED UP ALL OF OUR PRODUCE FROM THE OKLAHOMA CITY FOOD HUB.

WE USED THEM TO SOURCE ALL OF OUR PRODUCE.

THEY VET THE FARMS AND IT'S ALL OKLAHOMA LOCAL, SO THEY DO THE HARD WORK.

I GO AND PICK UP WHAT MY ORDER IS, AND I DID THAT TUESDAY, AND I DID A QUICK LITTLE VIDEO OF WHAT WE HAD AVAILABLE.

AND YESTERDAY IT WAS JUST NONSTOP OF PEOPLE PICKING UP THE LETTUCE, PICKING UP THE SQUASH, THE CUCUMBER, THE TOMATO, ALL OF THE THINGS.

MAYFIELD SAYS.

TYPICALLY, THE WEEKENDS ARE THE BUSIEST.

IT'S NORMALLY NOT ON THOSE WEDNESDAYS, AND IT DIDN'T REALLY OCCUR TO ME OF CORRELATING THE TWO.

I'M LIKE, OH YEAH, THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE CRISIS GOING ON.

SO I THOUGHT I WAS JUST POPULAR.

BUT NO, IT WAS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND THEY WERE ALL ASKING, IS THIS OKLAHOMA?

IS THIS OKLAHOMA?

AND I'M LIKE, YEP, LOTS OF NEW PEOPLE THAT I HADN'T MET BEFORE.

SHE EXPECTS THE INCREASE IN CUSTOMERS WILL CONTINUE.

SO WE JUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE TRENDS.

BUT SEEING HOW MUCH WENT OUT THIS WEEK WILL DEFINITELY REORDER EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR NEXT WEEK.

LIKE THE LETTUCE CLAMSHELL, IT'S A HEAD.

IT LASTS FOREVER.

WE SOLD OUT OF IT.

THE ONE OF THE FLAVORS YESTERDAY, WHICH WE'VE NEVER DONE IN ONE DAY BEFORE, MAYFIELD SAYS ONE POSITIVE OF EATING LOCAL IS KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE YOUR FOOD IS GROWN.

ONCE YOU HAVE LOCAL FRESH GROWN PRODUCE AND YOU TRY TO GO BACK TO A BIG BOX MARKET, IT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

AND ONCE YOU MAKE THOSE LITTLE SWAPS, IT'S HARD TO GO BACK JUST FOR THE SAVINGS YOU.

IT'S IT'S THE WHOLE PICTURE SUPPORTING LOCAL, KNOWING WHERE YOUR DOLLAR IS GOING AND THAT IT'S GROWN WITH A SAFE SOURCE.

SO YEAH, WE TRY TO STICK TO WHO WE KNOW FOR OUR FOOD.

YEAH.

AND ONCE AGAIN, THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATES THE DATA.

EVERY TUESDAY AT 10 A.M.

YOU CAN VISIT THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

RICH TAYLOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA HAS REACHED A SETTLEMENT IN A DECADES LONG LAWSUIT AGAINST THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

BUT NOT EVERYONE THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW, WITH JASON DOYLE, OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND HAS COME TO A SETTLEMENT WITH THE POULTRY PRODUCING COMPANIES NAMED IN A FEDERAL LAWSUIT FOR POLLUTING THE ILLINOIS RIVER WATERSHED BASIN.

THE TWO DECADE OLD LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED FOR $44 MILLION.

THE MONEY WILL GO TO SET UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL RELIEF FUND FUND AND AN INDEPENDENT COMPLIANCE MONITOR AND ENFORCE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FINANCIAL PENALTIES.

THE PRODUCERS ALSO WILL BE REQUIRED TO GRADUALLY REDUCE THE POULTRY WASTE APPLIED WITHIN THE WATERSHED.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT CRITICIZED THE SETTLEMENT, SAYING IT TOOK TOO LONG TO REACH THE AGREEMENT AND CREATED UNCERTAINTY FOR OKLAHOMA POULTRY PRODUCERS.

THE FEDERAL JUDGE OVERSEEING THE CASE MUST APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT BEFORE IT GOES INTO EFFECT.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED PAYCOM HAS DEVELOPED A NEW SOFTWARE TOOL TO TRACK ASSETS USED BY A COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES CALLED ASSET MANAGEMENT.

THE SOFTWARE CAN HELP KEEP TRACK OF THINGS LIKE LAPTOPS AND OTHER TOOLS OWNED BY THE COMPANY.

IF AN EMPLOYEE LEAVES THE COMPANY OR MOVES TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, ASSET MANAGEMENT HELPS TO ENSURE THOSE ITEMS ARE RETURNED.

IT CAN ALSO MAINTAIN FLOOR PLANS AND SEATING ASSIGNMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES AND COMPANY ASSETS.

REALTOR.COM.

JUNE 2026 REPORT SHOWS THAT BUILDING MULTI-UNIT HOUSING LIKE APARTMENTS IS ON THE RISE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE REPORT SAYS THAT TRADITIONALLY IN OKLAHOMA CITY, PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR MULTI-UNIT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN A SMALL PART OF HOUSING GROWTH.

HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR INCREASE IN PERMIT APPLICATIONS TO BUILD APARTMENTS.

THE REALTOR.COM REPORT ALSO SHOWS RENT IS TRENDING LOWER IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WITH THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RENTAL NOW AT $920 A MONTH.

THAT'S A 2.1% DROP FROM JUNE OF LAST YEAR, WHEN OKC'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECLARED A QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $1.07 A SHARE.

INVESTORS WILL RECEIVE THE PAYOUT ON AUGUST 14TH IF THEY OWN THE STOCK BY AUGUST 3RD.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON THANK YOU.

TRUMP ACCOUNTS ARE CREATING MILLIONS OF INFANT INVESTORS IN THE UNITED STATES, SEEDED WITH $1,000 FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THESE ACCOUNTS ARE DESIGNED TO GROW AS A CHILD GROWS INTO ADULTHOOD, WITH MORE ON HOW BEST TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS NEW PROGRAM, HERE'S MODERATOR SUSAN KUDO AND HER PANEL OF FINANCIAL EXPERTS WITH THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ARE DAMON KING, WHO IS A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER WITH CHAPELWOOD FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND BRIAN HAMMONDS, WHO IS A PROGRAM AND OUTREACH OFFICER FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, DAMON, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

TELL FOLKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

WELL, I AS YOU MENTIONED, I'M A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER.

BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE ARE WE BECOME OUR CLIENT'S OUTSOURCED CFOS.

WE MANAGE ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES, NOT JUST MANAGING INVESTMENTS.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT RETIREMENT, CASH FLOW, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, LONG TERM CARE.

I'M WORKING WITH A CLIENT RIGHT NOW WHO'S DEALING WITH A MESSY REAL ESTATE ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE EVEN HAD A CLIENT SIT IN MY BOARDROOM AND ASK ME TO HELP HER AFTER HER HUSBAND PASSED AWAY TO CREATE HER ONLINE DATING PROFILE.

SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD PUT THAT ON YOUR BUSINESS CARD.

YOU GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THAT.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

BRIAN, DO YOU HELP WITH ONLINE DATING?

I DO NOT I AM VERY BUSY, THOUGH AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

I HELP MAINTAIN ALL OF OUR AMAZING PROGRAMS THAT HELP WITH OUR CITIZENS FINANCIAL FUTURE, FROM COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANS TO DISABILITY SAVINGS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT HELP WITH UNCLAIMED PROPERTY.

SO DOING LOTS OF OUTREACH IN THAT AREA TO TO TELL THE CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA ABOUT WHAT THE TREASURER'S OFFICE DOES.

WELL, WHAT PROMPTED OUR INVITATION TO BOTH OF YOU WAS THE TRUMP SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR COLLEGE.

AND AS WE'VE TALKED, WE'VE GOTTEN INTO IT.

IT JUST BROADENS OUT TO SO MANY FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS AND IDEAS THAT PARENTS AND ANYONE IN GENERAL CAN UTILIZE.

SO LET'S START WITH THE TRUMP SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

LET'S START WITH YOU, BRIAN.

WHAT IS THAT?

WELL, AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE, WE ARE ACTUALLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRUMP ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

SO TRUMP ACCOUNTS ARE ALL ABOUT GIVING CHILDREN A EARLY HEAD START FOR LONG TERM SAVINGS.

AND SO IN THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE, WE HAVE A BRAND NEW PROGRAM, THE OKLAHOMA TRUMP ACCOUNT SAVINGS INVESTMENT PROGRAM, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A $250 CONTRIBUTION TO THAT CHILD'S FUTURE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT PARTNERING.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THAT ACCOUNT.

RIGHT, DAMON?

THEY WILL IF YOU MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, THAT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PUT IN SEED MONEY, $1,000 FOR CHILDREN BORN BETWEEN JANUARY 1ST, 2025 AND DECEMBER 31ST, 2028.

SO THERE'S THAT WINDOW OF TIME THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SEE THAT WITH 1000.

SO YOU GET THE 1000 PLUS THE 250 FROM THE STATE.

THERE'S EVEN AN EXTRA LITTLE BENEFIT.

SO MICHAEL DELL AND HIS WIFE HAVE PLEDGED THIS HUGE GRANT.

SO FOR CHILDREN BORN, I THINK IT'S FROM 2016 TO 2024, THEY MISSED THAT WINDOW.

THEY'RE OFFERING GRANTS OF $250 ALSO TO HELP WITH THAT, TO HELP SEED THE TRUMP ACCOUNT.

SO HOW DOES THAT GROW?

BECAUSE THESE DAYS WITH COLLEGE CROSSING, LET'S SEE, WE LOOKED THIS UP.

WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS IN STATE TUITION FOR A FOUR YEAR PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN OKLAHOMA IS ROUGHLY BETWEEN 23 AND $31,000.

THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING TUITION, FEES AND LIVING EXPENSES.

AND EVEN FOR TRADE SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA, IT'S TYPICALLY BETWEEN 18 TO 35 AND THAT'S PER YEAR.

SO IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

1250 IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

YES IT IS.

AND SO BACK IN 2007, THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE STARTED A PROGRAM CALLED SEED FOR OKLAHOMA KIDS.

WE SEEDED THOSE ACCOUNTS WITH $1,000.

OVER 18 YEARS.

THAT MONEY HAS COME COMPOUNDED, BUT THE ENGAGEMENT FROM FAMILIES HAS BEEN AMAZING.

SO THAT ENGAGEMENT OF SMALL SAVINGS $25, $50, $100 A MONTH GROWS THOSE ACCOUNTS OVER TIME.

WELL, EXPLAIN.

OKAY.

FINANCIAL PLANNER, ADVISOR, GURU EXPLAIN COMPOUNDS WHEN HE SAYS COMPOUNDS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

SO HERE'S THE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER.

YES, $1,250 IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

BUT COMPOUND INTEREST, AND I DON'T KNOW IF EINSTEIN REALLY SAID THIS OR NOT, BUT HE SAID COMPOUND INTEREST IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE.

ALL RIGHT.

THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET ANY OF US WILL EVER OWN IS TIME.

AND TIME CAN DO AMAZING THINGS.

COMPOUNDING INTEREST.

SO LET'S SAY YOU EARN 8% INTEREST ONE YEAR.

YOU GET THAT MONEY ADDED, THE NEXT YEAR YOU EARN THAT 8% ON THE MONEY YOU PUT IN, PLUS THE INTEREST YOU EARNED.

AND THAT COMPOUNDS AND BUILDS ON EACH YEAR.

AND OVER TIME IT CAN GROW TO QUITE A SUM.

SO THE GROWTH RATE INCREASES EVERY YEAR.

WELL, THE AMOUNT THAT YOU THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE GETTING.

YEAH.

AND DEPENDING ON THE TRUMP ACCOUNTS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE DEFAULT POSITION IS THAT IT'S GOING TO INVEST IN AN S&P 500 INDEX FUND.

OKAY.

SO BASICALLY IT'S TRACKING THE S&P 500 INDEX, THOSE 500 COMPANIES THAT WE ALL INVEST IN, AND THE AVERAGE ANNUALIZED GROWTH OF THAT INDEX OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD OF TIME IS ABOUT 10%.

OKAY.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

SO IF YOU STAY INVESTED LIKE THAT OVER TIME, THAT'S ABOUT THE RETURN YOU'RE GOING TO EXPECT TO GET.

THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD RATE OF RETURN, RIGHT?

THAT'S NOT TOO BAD.

THAT'S NOT TOO BAD.

OKAY, BRIAN, ABOUT THE 529 EDUCATION ACCOUNTS, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

IT IS.

SO THEY DO WORK TOGETHER.

SO THE OKLAHOMA 529 PROGRAM IS THE ACRONYM.

529 KIND OF IS SIMILAR TO THE TRUMP ACCOUNTS.

530 A SO GOVERNMENT LOVES TO USE THAT TERMINOLOGY TO KIND OF NEST THESE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TOGETHER.

SO THE OKLAHOMA 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT IS GEARED TOWARDS FINANCIAL EDUCATION SAVINGS, WHEREIN THE TRUMP ACCOUNTS ARE GEARED MORE TOWARDS LONG TERM SAVINGS.

YES.

AT 18 YOU COULD PULL OUT SOME OF THOSE FUNDS FOR EDUCATION, BUT THE 529 PROGRAM IS MORE GEARED DIRECTLY TO THAT.

THE OKLAHOMA'S 529 PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING PERFORMING FIVE TWO NINES.

EVERY SINGLE STATE IN THE COUNTRY HAS A 5 TO 9 PROGRAM.

OUR STATE HAS A $20,000 TAX DEDUCTION FOR TWO PARENT HOUSEHOLDS AND A $10,000 TAX DEDUCTION FOR SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS.

AND IF I COULD ADD ON TO THAT, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE 529 PLANS IS SO THERE'S THERE'S A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH YOU CAN GIFT TO A PERSON IN A GIVEN YEAR WITHOUT PAYING GIFT TAX IN 2026.

THAT'S $19,000.

ALL RIGHT.

SO IF YOU GIVE MORE THAN THAT, YOU PAY GIFT TAX ON THE AMOUNT ABOVE THAT, BUT WITH A 529, YOU CAN DO WHAT'S CALLED SUPERFUND IT, MEANING YOU CAN GIVE UP TO FIVE YEARS WORTH OF GIFTS IN ONE YEAR.

SO YOU COULD ACTUALLY FUND SUPERFUND, A 529 ACCOUNT 19,000 TIMES FIVE, $95,000.

IF YOU'RE A MARRIED COUPLE, YOU CAN USE GIFT SPLITTING AND DOUBLE THAT TO $190,000.

ALL RIGHT.

OVER.

AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T GIVE ANY MORE GIFTS TO THAT KID, THAT KID, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

BUT YOU CAN REALLY SUPERCHARGE THESE 529 ACCOUNTS.

SO A, THAT HURTS MY HEAD.

AND B, I PROBABLY, LIKE MOST OKLAHOMANS, CANNOT SUPERCHARGE, CANNOT AFFORD TO SUPERCHARGE THOSE ACCOUNTS.

SO I HAVE A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO THAT.

SO TALKING ABOUT GIFTING OUR 529 ARE OKLAHOMA COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LITTLE CODE THAT YOU CAN SEND OUT VIA TEXT AT BIRTHDAYS AND AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

I HAVE A SEVEN YEAR OLD AT HOME.

WE DO SEND THAT TEXT CODE OUT AT BIRTHDAYS AND AT CHRISTMAS AND SAY, HEY, INSTEAD OF A TOY THAT MAY END UP AT GOODWILL, LET'S THINK ABOUT HIS COLLEGE FUTURE AS HIS GIFT.

AND SO OVER ABOUT A TWO YEAR PERIOD, WE'VE BROUGHT IN ABOUT $3,000 TO SUPERCHARGE THAT ACCOUNT.

I EVERY YEAR FOR GIFTS FOR BIRTHDAYS AND CHRISTMAS, WE ASK OUR GRANT, MY.

MY TWO SONS HAVE AN OKLAHOMA 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS FUND.

WE DIDN'T LEAVE THE HOSPITAL UNTIL BEFORE.

ONCE UNTIL WE GOT THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

AND AS SOON AS WE GOT THAT, WE OPENED THE ACCOUNTS.

AND EVERY YEAR THEY CONTRIBUTE MONEY TO IT FOR BIRTHDAYS AND CHRISTMAS.

NOW THEY'RE TEENAGERS AND IT ADDS UP.

I JUST SEE YOUR KIDS.

THAT IS FANTASTIC.

THAT IS AMAZING.

ANYONE CAN DO IT RIGHT.

BUT I JUST SEE YOUR KIDS ON BIRTHDAYS AND CHRISTMAS WITH, YOU KNOW, WELL, IT'S NOT ALL THEY GET, BUT YOU KNOW, YEAH.

SO FOLKS WHO ARE LIKE, WHAT THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN OKLAHOMA IS 65,000.

THAT'S A HOUSEHOLD TOGETHER.

AND THEN THE INDIVIDUAL MEDIAN INCOME IS 51.

IN THIS ECONOMY WITH HOUSING RATES THE WAY THEY ARE IN OKLAHOMA, MONEY IS PRETTY TIGHT FOR FAMILIES.

SO HOW EASY IS IT TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS STARTED?

IT'S ACTUALLY VERY EASY.

SO OUR 529 PROGRAM IS HAS A SIMPLE WEBSITE THAT YOU GO TO.

IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO GET STARTED.

I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE STATE AT THE ART FESTIVAL, ENGAGING WITH ABOUT 5000 PARENTS THERE JUST RECENTLY.

AND I TALKED TO GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, AUNTS AND UNCLES.

YOU CAN START THESE ACCOUNTS FOR ANY ALMOST ANY BENEFICIARY.

THERE'S NO AGE LIMIT TO THE OKLAHOMA 5 TO 9 PROGRAM.

NOW, THE OKLAHOMA TRUMP ACCOUNTS INVESTMENT PROGRAM WILL HAVE SOME AGE RESTRICTIONS SIMILAR TO THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES AS WELL.

WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO LAUNCH THAT PROGRAM WITH OUR NEW WEBSITE.

AND JUST WE'RE WORKING WITH THE IRS AS WELL.

AND THEN JUST OTHER STATE GUIDELINES TO GET THAT LAUNCHED.

AND, YOU KNOW, SUSAN, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW DOES SOMEBODY GET STARTED A LITTLE BIT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE OVER TIME.

SO HERE'S A LITTLE EXAMPLE, AND I'M GOING TO READ THIS JUST TO MAKE SURE I DO.

YEAH.

LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A NEWBORN OR YOU'RE EXPECTING A CHILD THIS YEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY OPEN THE TRUMP ACCOUNT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOSPITAL.

WHEN YOU APPLY FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE TRUMP ACCOUNT AT THE SAME TIME.

THEN YOU APPLY FOR THE THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT GOES INTO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

THEN YOU APPLY FOR THE 250 FROM THE STATE.

SO YOU START WITH $1,250.

THEN LET'S SAY THAT OVER TIME, YOU MANAGE TO PUT $250 A YEAR INTO THIS ACCOUNT YOURSELF.

GRANDPARENTS, EVEN YOUR EMPLOYER CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A TRUMP ACCOUNT.

IT DOES NOT COUNT AS TAXABLE INCOME TO YOU.

IT GETS INVESTED IN THE S&P 500, WHICH EARNS ABOUT 10% OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.

BY THE TIME THE CHILD IS TEN, THE ACCOUNT IS WORTH JUST OVER $7,200 BY THE TIME THEY'RE 20, RIGHT AROUND THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR OF COLLEGE, IT'S WORTH ALMOST $23,000, IN ADDITION TO 529 FUNDS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE.

SO A LITTLE BIT CAN GO A LONG WAY OVER TIME.

SO THE STATE IS REALLY GIVING 250 TO THE TRUMP ACCOUNT AND THEN 1000 TO 5 TWO NINE.

SO THAT WAS OUR SEAT FOR OKLAHOMA KIDS PROGRAM.

OKAY.

SO WE DO HAVE INCENTIVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR OUR FIVE, TWO, NINE PROGRAM.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A NEWBORN AT THE HOSPITAL.

THOSE MOTHERS ARE GETTING AN EMAIL FROM US.

THEY'RE GETTING A LETTER IN THE MAIL AS WELL.

OFTENTIMES, THOSE ARE CONNECTED TO AN INCENTIVE OF $50, MAYBE $100, JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR IT IS.

BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT EXTRA SAVINGS TO START THAT ACCOUNT.

NOW, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO ADD ABOUT COLLEGE SAVING OPTIONS FOR EVERYDAY OKLAHOMANS?

I WOULD SAY THAT I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE 529 ACCOUNTS, AND NOW THERE'S A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY.

IT USED TO BE THAT YOU WERE VERY RESTRICTED IN HOW YOU COULD USE THESE ACCOUNTS, BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T USE THE MONEY FOR QUALIFIED EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES, BASICALLY FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE, IF YOU PULLED THE MONEY OUT, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY TAXES ON IT, PAY PENALTIES, THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE.

NOW YOU CAN USE THEM TO PAY FOR K THROUGH 12 EXPENSES.

YOU CAN USE THEM TO PAY FOR UP TO $10,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

YOU CAN USE THEM.

ANY UNUSED FUNDS?

I'M HELPING A CLIENT DO THIS RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN ROLL OVER, CONVERT UP TO $35,000 OF UNUSED 529 MONEY INTO A ROTH IRA.

THAT WAY IT'S NOT SITTING THERE DOING NOTHING.

IT'S NOW GOING TO THAT CHILD AFTER COLLEGE.

GREAT START FOR RETIREMENT.

SO AFTER COLLEGE, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO WITH THAT MONEY.

YOU CAN'T JUST LET IT SIT THERE IN THE ACCOUNT.

YOU COULD, I BELIEVE, WRITE NAME A NEW BENEFICIARY IF YOU WANTED TO.

YOU CAN.

SO ALL THE WAY OUT TO A FIRST COUSIN, YOU CAN TRANSFER THAT ACCOUNT OVER TO ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER.

YOU CAN ALSO, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, ROLL THAT INTO AN IRA UP TO $35,000.

BUT BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT WHAT THINGS CAN YOU USE THAT FOR?

IF YOUR BURSAR OFFICE AT YOUR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR YOUR TRADE SCHOOL HAS A STUDENT STORE CONNECTED TO IT, YOU CAN USE THAT FOR A LAPTOP COMPUTER FOR SCHOOL TO KIND OF GET THAT EXTRA HEAD START ON YOUR CLASSES FRESHMAN YEAR, YOUR ROOM AND BOARD AT A LARGER UNIVERSITY.

AS LONG AS THAT'S CONNECTED TO THAT BURSAR OFFICE, YOU CAN USE IT THAT WAY AS WELL.

WHEN A STUDENT GRADUATES, DOES THAT ACCOUNT THEIRS OR THEIR PARENTS?

WELL, THE TRUMP ACCOUNT IS GOING TO BE IN THE NAME OF THE CHILD.

OKAY, RIGHT.

THE 529 IS IN THE NAME OF THE PARENT.

THE CHILD IS THE BENEFICIARY OF THAT ACCOUNT.

HOWEVER, IF THE PARENT DECIDES TO THEN CONVERT THAT MONEY INTO A ROTH IRA.

NOW THE ROTH IRA IS IN THE NAME OF THE CHILD.

SO I'M A 22 YEAR OLD WITH ACCESS TO MONEY THAT I DID NOT SPEND IN COLLEGE, WHICH I FIGURE IT'S ALL GOING TO BE GONE IN COLLEGE.

UNLESS YOU'RE PUTTING A BUNCH OF MONEY IN THERE, I'M GOING TO WANT TO SPEND IT ABSOLUTELY AS A 22 YEAR OLD.

SO THERE'S NO ONE THAT CAN COME IN AND STOP THEM AND SAY, WHOA, HANG ON, SAVE THAT.

SO AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE 5 TO 9 KIND OF COMES IN MORE GEARED TOWARDS THAT PARENT OR GRANDPARENT SETTING UP THAT ACCOUNT, KIND OF HELPING THAT TRANSITION FROM 18 TO, LET'S SAY, 27 NOWADAYS TO KIND OF GET A FULL HEAD ON YOUR SHOULDERS TO DETERMINE EXACTLY HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

AND WHEN THERE'S TWO BENEFICIARIES IN THE HOUSEHOLD, ONE CHILD MIGHT GO TO A MORE EXPENSIVE COLLEGE AND YOU CAN TRANSFER THOSE FUNDS.

IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO, THERE ARE SOME BARRIERS PUT IN PLACE TO PREVENT EARLY ACCESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A ROTH IRA, EVEN IF THEY TRANSFER IT OVER.

IF THE CHILD PULLS OUT MONEY FROM THE ROTH IRA BEFORE IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR FIVE YEARS, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY TAXES ON THAT, PLUS A PENALTY IF THEY PULL IT OUT BEFORE THE AGE OF 59.5, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY A PENALTY.

SO THERE ARE SOME PAINFUL THINGS IN PLACE TO PREVENT EARLY INVASION OF THAT ACCOUNT.

AND THAT'S A SMART WAY TO HANDLE THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT AS WELL, TO SAY, LET'S LET THAT MONEY DO ITS WORK AND THEN SPEND IT AT THE CORRECT TIME TALKING ABOUT FAFSA SCHOOLS.

SO OBVIOUSLY, FIVE, TWO, NINE IS NOW OPEN TO MULTIPLE SCHOOLS, TRADE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION.

IT'S NOT BASED ON STATE LINES.

YOU CAN GO TO ANY SCHOOL, YOU CAN GO TO STANFORD AND UTILIZE THOSE SAME 5 TO 9 FUNDS FROM ANY STATE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

RESULTING MOMENT WHEN SAY THAT THOSE FUNDS WERE NOT USED IN TOTALITY FOR THAT COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN PULL THOSE REMAINING FUNDS OUT WITH NO PENALTY FOR THE FUNDS THAT YOU PUT IN, BUT WITH A 10% PENALTY FOR THE GROWTH IN FUNDS.

ALL RIGHT, THEY'RE GIVING ME THE WRAP UP.

BUT BEFORE WE GO, I WANT TO GET THE PORTAL WEBSITE.

MAGICAL ENTRANCE TO THESE ACCOUNTS.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO TO ENGAGE WITH THE STATE TREASURER ON THE OKLAHOMA TRUMP ACCOUNT INVESTMENT PROGRAM, YOU'LL GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT OKLAHOMA.GOV/TREASURER TO ENGAGE WITH THAT FIRST MAIN PAGE AND THEN GO TO THE NAVIGATION DIRECTLY TO THAT OKLAHOMA TRUMP ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

OKAY, THE OKLAHOMA 529 IS OKLAHOMA 529.COM.

TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

AND I WILL JUST ADD, IF YOUR CHILD WAS NOT BORN DURING THE WINDOW TO GET THE THOUSAND DOLLAR SEED MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IF YOU WANT TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE DEL GRANT OF 250, YOU CAN GO TO A WEBSITE CALLED INVEST AMERICA.

INVEST AMERICA IS WHERE YOU CAN CHECK IT'S BY ZIP CODE AND YOU CAN CHECK THERE.

WOW, WHAT A GIFT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR THIS GREAT INFORMATION.

I ALMOST WISH I HAD A KID TO SEND TO COLLEGE AGAIN.

ALMOST.

THANK YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU.

SUSAN.

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS DO A REMARKABLE JOB HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND OUT WEST AS WELL.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE TAKING A TRIP TO OREGON WHERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE RAMPED UP WILDFIRES IN SPARSELY POPULATED PARTS OF THE STATE.

THAT STORY, COURTESY OF OUR FRIENDS AT OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THAT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A ROAD RELEASED OR SOMETHING.

THESE ARE A LOT BETTER THAN THEY USED TO BE.

RFP A IS A RANGELAND FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION THAT IS CHARTERED BY THE OREGON BOARD OF FORESTRY.

WE'RE VOLUNTEER BASED, AND TYPICALLY WE'RE PROVIDING WILDLAND FIRE SUPPRESSION SERVICES TO THE UNPROTECTED LANDS OF THE STATE OF OREGON.

FROM ROADSIDE FIRES TO LIGHTNING CAUSED ONES THAT MIGHT BE SINGLE TREE TO HUNDREDS OF ACRES.

WILDFIRES HAVE SCORCHED MUCH OF THE AMERICAN WEST THIS YEAR.

THEY TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTION FOR THEIR GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF LAND, AND IN RETURN, THE STATE OF OREGON PROVIDES THEM ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF THE VALUE THEY PROVIDE TO THE STATE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT MYSELF AND MY COWORKERS DO, IS WE HELP THEM WITH TRAINING.

WE HELP THEM ACQUIRE EQUIPMENT, WE REIMBURSE THEM FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE, WE HELP THEM WITH GRANTS.

THEY'RE COMPLETELY BASED ON VOLUNTEERS.

AND SO IT HAS TO BE DRIVEN BY THE LANDOWNERS.

THE LANDOWNERS HAVE TO WANT TO DO IT.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL TRAINING EVENT, BUT TODAY IS REALLY LITERALLY WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE THE TRAIL, GETTING OUR EQUIPMENT OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE KNOW HOW TO USE IT AND HOW TO OPERATE IT.

WE WENT THROUGH ENGINE BY ENGINE, ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS OR DIFFICULTIES THAT OUR CREW OPERATORS MIGHT HAVE ENCOUNTERED OR ARE CURIOUS ABOUT.

AND THEN WE CONDUCTED SOME ACTUAL EXERCISES WHERE WE ARE CONDUCTING HOW TO PROTECT AN ENGINE.

IF IT GETS INVOLVED IN A FIRE.

WE ARE VERY BARE BONES.

ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS A COMBINATION OF A MILITARY TRUCK THAT WAS DONATED TO US, AND THIS PIECE OF SLIP ON FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT THAT YES, WE DID A LOT OF UPGRADES ON IT, BUT TO BEGIN WITH, IT WAS A FOREST SERVICE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

THE RPAS ARE PROTECTING HUGE AMOUNTS OF PRIVATE LAND IN EASTERN OREGON, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHEAST OREGON.

AND IT REALLY SHOWED DURING THE 2024 FIRE SEASON WHEN THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS AT THE STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL AND CONTRACT LEVEL.

AND SO THE ROLE THAT THESE LOCAL LANDOWNERS STAY IN, IN PROTECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES WAS REALLY NOTICED.

IT'S DRY, AND THAT'S A BAD PRECURSOR TO POSSIBILITY OF DISASTROUS LARGE FIRES.

I'D RATHER BE LUCKY THAN GOOD.

YOU KNOW, AS THE SAYING GOES THERE, IF MOTHER NATURE CAN COOPERATE AND WE DON'T HAVE HUMAN CAUSED FIRES, THAT'S LUCK, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE DRY CONDITIONS WITH RECORD LOW SNOWPACK THIS YEAR IN THE EASTERN OREGON AREA.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED ANY LUCK THAT CAN COME OUR WAY.

THIS WILDLAND IS HABITAT NOT ONLY TO OUR DOMESTICATED LIVESTOCK, BUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WILDLIFE.

AND ONE OF THEM THAT HAS GAINED A LOT OF NOTORIETY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THE SAGE GROUSE.

THEY'RE PRETTY HUMBLE GROUP.

THEY DON'T DO THIS FOR RECOGNITION.

THEY DO THIS TO PROTECT THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO IT'S KIND OF HOW IT ROLLS.

THEY'RE ALSO 29 INDIVIDUAL RPAS AND SO THEY SHARE THEIR STORY.

THERE IS A LACK OF THE STORY BEING TOLD.

I THINK THE 2024 FIRE SEASON REALLY HELPED TO BRING OUT WHAT THEY DO.

LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS SUCH A NEED AND THEY HAD SUCH A ROLE IN THEIR LOCAL AREAS.

SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEERS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE A VOLUNTEER WHEN THE OLYMPICS COME TO OKLAHOMA CITY IN 2028, NOW IS THE TIME TO SIGN UP.

JUST GO TO LA28.ORG TO DO SO.

TO MARK THE OCCASION, NEARLY 100 VOLUNTEERS TAKING PART IN A COMMUNITY CLEANUP EVENT ON TUESDAY AT ZACH TAYLOR PARK IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY'LL NEED MORE THAN A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS PER DAY AT THE SOFTBALL AND CANOE EVENTS.

IN TOTAL, LA 28 WILL BE RECRUITING SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF 60,000 VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE 50 VENUES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS OKLAHOMA CITY AND THE FOOTBALL CITIES.

SO IT'LL BE A VAST VOLUNTEER EFFORT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL.

IN THAT PROCESS, YOU'LL KIND OF SELECT SOME OF THE ELEMENTS RELATED TO THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE YOU BRING TO THE TO THE VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE, BUT YOU'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO SELECT YOUR TOP TWO PREFERRED LOCATIONS, WHICH I WOULD IMAGINE OKLAHOMA WHITEWATER CENTER AND OKLAHOMA SOFTBALL PARK WOULD BE THE TWO THAT YOU'RE MOST INTERESTED IN GIVEN YOU'RE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF ME.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TO DO THAT, SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS, GET AS MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR NETWORK INTO THAT REGISTRATION PORTAL.

YOU MUST BE 18 OR OLDER TO BE A VOLUNTEER.

AND AGAIN, FOR MORE INFORMATION, AGAIN, GO TO LA 28.ORG.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL TO ENOLA TO TALK TO RESIDENTS ABOUT A PROPOSED ALUMINUM PLANT THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE BUILT IN THIS SMALL NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA COMMUNITY.

THAT'S FRIDAY AT SEVEN, WE'LL SAY.

SO LONG FOR NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE VILLAGE ON ROUTE 66 PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA JASON STEWART.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

JOIN HANDS, START A LOVE.

TRAIN.

LOVE TRAIN PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

NOW JOIN IT.

LOVE.

START A LOVE TRAIN.

LOVE TRAIN THE NEXT STOP THAT WE MAKE.

WILL BE ENGLAND.

TELL ALL THE FOLKS IN RUSSIA AND CHINA TO.

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT IT'S TIME TO GET ON BOARD.

AND LET THIS TRAIN KEEP ON RIDING.

RIDING ON THROUGH.

WELL, WELL, COME ON, THE WORLD DON'T NEED NO MONEY.

COME ON, START A LOVE TRAIN.

DON'T NEED NO TICKET.

COME ON JOIN, RIDE, JOIN THIS TRAIN.

LOVE.

COME AND DRINK ALL OF YOUR BROTHERS OVER IN AFRICA.

TELL ALL THE FOLKS IN EGYPT AND ISRAEL TOO.

PLEASE DON'T MISS THIS TRAIN AT THE SAME.

CAUSE.

IF YOU MISS IT, I FEEL SORRY.

SORRY FOR YOU.

WELL.

SISTERS AND BROTHERS, COME ON, START A LOVE TRAIN.

LOVE TRAIN.

COME ON.

THE WORLD DON'T NEED NO TICKET, RIGHT?

START A LOVE TRAIN.

LOVE.

SEASON 12 IN THE AMERICAS WITH DAVID YETMAN FEATURES RAINFORESTS OF ALASKA'S PANHANDLE AND PINE FORESTS IN OAXACA'S, HIGHLANDS, MEGA-FARMS, COLONIAL