>> ANOTHER SEISMIC SHIFT IN THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT.

JOE BIDEN OUT AND KAMALA HARRIS IN.

>> I THINK IT'S BROUGHT MORE MOMENTUM TO THIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

>> MEET THE MAN BRINGING AMMO VENDING MACHINES INTO STORES.

>> IF SOMEBODY IN YOUR FAMILY WAS MURDERED, YOU WOULD EXPECT RIGHTFULLY FOR THE CITY TO FIND OUT WHO DID THAT TO THEM AND TO FIND THEIR REMAINS SO YOU COULD GIVE THEM A PROPER BURIAL AND MOURN THEIR LOSS.

>> A NATIONAL REPORT PAINTS A BLEAK PICTURE FOR OKLAHOMA EDUCATION.

>> WE'VE GOT SO MUCH POLITICAL DRAMA AND THEATER GOING ON THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO MOVING EDUCATION FORWARD IN OKLAHOMA.

>> KIDS IN NEED, GETTING THE SUPPLIES THEY NEED AS THE SCHOOL YEAR IS SET TO BEGIN IN LESS THAN A MONTH.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT THESE KIDS WITH 2500 OR 3,000 STUDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE GOOD RESOURCES TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

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

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> Rich: FROM A FAILED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT TO THE FIRST SITTING PRESIDENT TO DROP OUT OF THE RACE IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AND THIS WILL BE ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS AND IT'S FAR FROM OVER.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US MORE WITH JOE BIDEN'S CHOICE TO SUPPORT KAMALA HARRIS.

>> SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED HE ANNOUNCED HE'S OFF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY COALESCED AROUND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AS THE NEW CANDIDATE OF CHOICE.

>> Rich: OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATS ARE READY TO SEE HER TAKE THE LEAD.

>> I THINK SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO PROSECUTE THAT CASE.

>> DAVID WALTERS IS A NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION AND BACKING VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS FOR THE NOMINATION IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS IN CHICAGO.

WALTERS BECAME CONCERNED LIKE MANY OTHERS AFTER THE POOR DEBATE PERFORMANCE BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

>> I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE JUST SO SHOCKED AND STUNNED BY THE PERFORMANCE AND BY THE CONTRAST AND, YOU KNOW, THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO LEAVE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN TURNED IN SUCH A SAD OCCASION.

>> I KNEW IT WAS CATASTROPHIC.

>> WALTERS DECIDED TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE PARTY.

>> I BEGAN TALKING TO OTHERS AND SPEAKING OUT THAT I THOUGHT HE DIDN'T HAVE A PATH TO VICTORY AND THAT HE WOULD STEP DOWN AND FIND A NEW NOMINEE.

>> JUST BEFORE THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED HE WAS LEAVING THE CAMPAIGN, WALTERS WROTE AN OP-ED PIECE AND OUTLINED WHAT SHOULD BE DONE AS PRESIDENT BIDEN DECIDED TO STEP DOWN.

>> OUR VIEW WAS THAT IF THE PRESIDENT DID STEP DOWN AND MAKE THAT DECISION AND DID NOT ENFORCE, WHICH WAS A KEY ELEMENT FOR THIS, THEN WE WOULD HAVE AN OPEN PROCESS AND IF THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN UP UNTIL JULY 27th, THEN THERE WAS STILL TIME TO RUN A 24-DAY PROCESS.

>> WALTERS SAYS THAT 24-DAY PROCESS WOULD BREAK DOWN INTO FOUR DAYS TO SET THE RULES AND TEN DAYS TO CERTIFY THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FORT DEMOCRAE DEMOCRAT NOMINATION WHICH WOULD HAVE CAPTURED A LARGE AUDIENCE AHEAD OF THE CONVENTION.

>> THE IDEA OF HAVING FIVE OR SIX NEW LEADERS IN TOWN SETTINGS WOULD DRAW 50 MILLION VIEWERS EASY AND BUILD GREAT ENERGY AND GREAT EXCITEMENT AND ROLL INTO THE CONVENTION.

>> OF COURSE, PRESIDENT BIDEN DID ENDORSE HIS VICE PRESIDENT.

>> ALL WE WERE TRYING TO DO WAS TO ASSURE PEOPLE THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO SPIN OFF INTO CHAOS AND THERE WERE PLANS, THERE COULD BE PLANS SET IN PLACE QUICKLY TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE PROCESS OR THEY COULD JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH AN ENDORSEMENT OF HER AND LET HER PUT TOGETHER THE CAMPAIGN.

>> PEOPLE ACTED TO KAMALA HARRIS BEING THE PRESIDENTIAL PICK.

>> OKLAHOMA'S YOUNGEST LEGISLATURE FEELS THE CHANGE IS ATTRACTING CHANGE OF YOUNGER VOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN APATHETIC TO THE RACE SO FAR.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY BROUGHT MORE MOMENTUM SO THIS RACE.

THERE WASN'T A LOT OF MOMENTUM IN THE YOUNG COMMUNITY WITH TRUMP VERSUS BIDEN.

BUT NOW, WITH KAMALA HARRIS, IT RESETS WHAT THIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> ALONZO SAYS WHILE HE IS PROUD OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RECORD IN OFFICE, IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION TO STEP AWAY FROM THE RACE.

>> I'M ALSO FAIRLY HAPPY ABOUT THE DECISION BECAUSE I KNOW LEADING UP TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, THERE WERE ASPECTS OF ME AND THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH PEOPLE, WHERE I WAS KIND OF IN THE PLACE OF HAVING TO DEFEND BIDEN.

>> WHERE WERE YOU ON SUNDAY?

AND WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS STEPPING AWAY FROM THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE?

>> I THINK I WAS PROBABLY LIKE MOST PEOPLE AND I WAS JUST RELAXING AT HOME ON A SUNDAY AND MY PHONE STARTED BLOWING UP, NOT JUST WITH OTHER POLITICIANS WORKING HERE AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS AND MEDIA REACHING OUT IMMEDIATELY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE AMANDA SWOPE OF TULSA WILL BE AN OKLAHOMA DELEGATE TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.

>> I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS AS AN EXPERIENCE AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE QUITE THE EXPERIENCE IT'S SHAPING UP TO ME.

SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN POLITICS AND PRE-POLITICS FOR AS LONG I HAD, I WAS TELLING ONE OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES THE OTHER DAY THAT YESTERDAY THAT I'M KIND OF READY FOR THINGS TO NOT BE SO HISTORIC ANYMORE.

>> LIKE MANY OTHERS, SHE'S NOT CONCERNED AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DEBATE PERFORMANCE.

>> I THINK ULTIMATELY, IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION AND I KNOW IT WAS A HARD DECISION AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS VERY THANKFUL TO PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR ALL OF HIS TIME AND SERVICE.

>> CHEROKEE NATION HAS WORKED WILT TRUMP AND BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS AND HE FEELS PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE A TOUGH DECISION.

>> I THINK THIS IS LIKE A LOT OF AMERICANS.

EVEN THOUGH WE SAW IT COMES FOLLOWING THE NEWS FOR A PERIOD OF DAYS OR EVEN A WEEK OR SO, IT'S STILL SOMETHING.

IT'S STILL A BIT STUNNING TO HERE AN INCUMBENT PRESIDENT WHO COULD RUN FOR A SECOND TERM CHOOSE NOT TO DO SO.

>> HOSKIN SAYS WHAT IS IMPORTANT NOW FOR THE AMERICAN VOTERS TO EXPERIENCE CHOICES NOT LAID BEFORE THEM.

>> FROM THE CHEROKEE NATION STANDPOINT, WE APPROACH THINGS ON A NON-PARTISAN BASIS AND WORK WITH FEDERAL LEADERS AND MAKE SURE THE COUNTRY HAS CHOICES AND WHEN THE CHOICE IS MADE, WE WORK WITH THAT.

>> THEY BELIEVE THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE WILL ATTRACT VOTERS FROM THE INDIAN COUNTRY.

>> YOU SEE A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT IN TERMS OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND TURNOUT AND GETTING PEOPLE INFORMED.

>> THE 24th GOVERNOR BELIEVES THIS YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL RACE WILL COME DOWN TO THE SWING STATES AND THERE ARE CRUCIAL STATES IF HARRIS WANTS TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

>> WE MUST WIN STATES, PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN.

THE DEMOCRAT CAN'T WIN WITHOUT THOSE.

>> THE DEMOCRATS WILL GATHER IN CHICAGO ON THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 19th WHERE THE DELEGATES WILL LIKELY MAKE HARRIS THE OFFICIAL NOMINEE.

>> Rich: KAMALA HARRIS IS NOW THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT, BUT WHO WILL SHE CHOOSE AS A RUNNING MATE AND CHOOSE THE DYNAMICS OF THIS DEBATE?

HERE IS A PREVIEW.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ELECTED TO STEP OUT OF THE RACE FOR REELECTION AND AT THIS POINT NOW, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHO ARE CANDIDATE IS.

AND WE'RE IN A SHORTENED TIME FRAME AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY THAT.

THE DELEGATES WILL GET TOGETHER THROUGH AN OPEN PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE CAN SUBMIT THEIR NAMES AND WE WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND SELECT OUR NOMINEE FOR BOTH PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.

>> IT'S NOT AT ALL SURPRISING THE SUPPOSED DEMOCRATIC PARTY WOULD NOT HAVE SOMEONE AS THEIR CANDIDATE WHO HAS NOT BEEN VOTED IN BY THEIR PEOPLE IN THE PRIMARIES.

EVEN FOUR YEARS AGO, KAMALA HARRIS DROPPED OUT BECAUSE HOME RUN NUMBERS WERE SO LOW AND NOT SURPRISING TO SEE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO MAINTAIN A GRIP ON POWER.

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

>>> THE NEWS THAT AMMUNITION VENDING MACHINES ARE OPERATING IN A HANDFUL OF OKLAHOMA STORES IS MET WITH ENTHUSIASM FROM GUN OWNERS AND DISDAINED BY GUN ADVOCATES.

STEVE JOINS US NOW FOR MORE.

>> RICH, WE DROVE DOWN TO ARDMORE ON MONDAY AND SPOKE TO GRANT MAJORS, WHO IS THE CEO OF A DALLAS-BASED AMMUNITION RETAILER CALLED "AMERICAN ROUNDS."

>> WHO WILL WIN THE BIG 12?

>> TEXAS, GUNS UP.

>> GRAND MAJORS IS A TEXAS TECH GRAD WHO HOLDS A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM SMU.

LAST NOVEMBER, AMERICAN ROUNDS INSTALLED THEIR FIRST AMMUNITION VENDING MACHINES KIOSK INSIDE A GROCERY STORE IN PELL CITY, BAMMED.

ALABAMA AND THREE OTHER SUPER SEAMARTS IN KINGSTON, LINDSAY AND WATOMKA.

THERE'S ALSO TWO IN TEXAS AND ONE IN COLORADO.

>> I DON'T THINK WHAT MOST PEOPLE REALIZE IS THAT IN TEXAS, FOR INSTANCE, A LOT OF RURAL GROCERY STORES SELL AMMO ALREADY.

WALMART'S A GROCERY STORE AND SELL AMMO IN TWO THOUSAND LOCATIONS.

SO IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING JUST GETTING A PUSHBACK FROM THE GROCERY STORE STANDPOINT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REPORTS OF, WE DON'T SELL AMMO OR MOM IS BUYING MILK AND EGGS AND THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOOK AT WALMART.

>> MAJORS SAYS YOU HAVE TO BE 21 YEARS OLD TO BUY AMMUNITION AT ONE OF THEIR KIOSKS AND YOU HAVE TO PROVE IT'S YOU WHO'S BUYING IT.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO CHECKOUT, IT ASKS YOU TO USE YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE AND THIS IS GOOD TECH.

SO YOU JUST RUN YOUR I.D.

AND IT WILL SCAN IT AND LOOK TO MAKE SURE IT'S A VALID I.D.

AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE 21 YEARS OLD.

AND THEN, IT'S DOES A FACIAL RECOGNITION SCAN AND MATCH YOUR FACE TO THE PICTURE ON THE I.D.

>> MAJORS SAID AMMUNITION THEFT IS A BIG DEAL IN BIG BOX RETAIL STORES ACROSS THE U.S. >> WE'RE THE SAFEST AND MORE SECURE METHOD OF AMMUNITION SALES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> MILES HALL AND HIS WIFE OPERATED ONE OF THE TEN LARGEST GUN STORES AND INDOOR SHOOTING COMPLEXES IN OKLAHOMA CITY FROM 1981 UNTIL THEY SOLD IT IN 2016.

>> WHAT THIS GUY HAS COME UP WITH IS NOTHING SHORT OF BRILLIANT.

WE ADDED ROUGHLY EIGHT MILLION BRAND NEW, NEVER OWNED A GUN BEFORE SHOOTERS.

THAT IS STAGGERING AMOUNTS, OK?

AND SO, THE STORES THAT WERE USED TO HANDLING THIS MUCH BUSINESS ARE HANDLING THIS MUCH BUSINESS AND WHEN YOU DEAL IN AMMO, YOU HAVE TO BUY A LOT IN ADVANCE TO CARRY THE PRODUCT LINE AND THEY WOULD PUT IT ALL OUT ON THE FLOOR, YOU KNOW.

AND IN INDIVIDUAL BOXES ON THE FLOOR.

>> SO THEY WERE SHOPLIFTING.

>> THERE WAS PEOPLE WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE.

>> SO THAT IS A THING?

>> IT'S A THING, YEAH.

>> MORE ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE DIRECTED AT ONLINE AMMUNITION DEALERS WHO HE SAYS NEVER CHECK FOR I.D.

>> THERE ARE TO SAFEGUARDS WHATSOEVER.

ANY 15-YEAR-OLD, 13-YEAR-OLD, WHETHER PARENTS, CREDIT CARD CAN GO BY 500 ROUNDS, YOU KNOW, JUST RIGHT WITH THIS.

>> YEAH, CELL PHONE, YOU HAVE INTERNET ACCESS AND HAVE IT SHIPPED TO YOUR HOUSE.

>> MAJORS CLAIMS THERE ARE A LOT OF GUN AND AMMUNITION STORES THAT DON'T COLLECT FOR I.D.

EITHER.

HALL PUSHES BACKING ON THAT AT LEAST IN THE SOONER STATE.

>> I CAN SPEAK FOR THE ONES I KNOW AND CERTAINLY ONES IN OKLAHOMA.

THEY'RE ALL ANAL RETENTATIVE MAKING SURE THEY DO IT RIGHT, WHICH IS GOOD.

>> SOMETHING ELSE YOU BROUGHT UP IS ONLINE AMMUNITION SALES IS LIKE THE WILD, WILD WEST AND DON'T CHECK I.D.ES ONLINE.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> IT'S ALL SHIPPED.

THAT'S THE ONLINE WORLD.

>> HARRISON IS PRESIDENT OF YOUNG DEMOCRATS OF OKLAHOMA.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WERE OTHER WAYS TO DO THIS.

>> YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE VENDING MACHINE ASPECT OF IT?

>> VERY MUCH SO.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING I DID MY RESEARCH ON IT A LITTLE BIT AND ASKED THE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH CAN YOU TAKE OUT OF THIS VENDING MACHINE?

>> AT ONE TIME?

>> AT ONE TIME.

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, AS MUCH AMMUNITION AS YOU WANT TO.

>> MAJORS COUNTERS THAT 98% OF AMERICAN ROUNDS SALES HAVE BEEN SINGLE-BOX PURCHASES WHICH HE SAYS CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 50 ROUNDS.

AND HE SAYS THERE'S NOT ENOUGH AMMO IN WHAT HE CALLS THEIR AUTOMATED RETAIL MACHINES AT ANY GIVEN TIME TO BUY MUCH.

HARRISON, THOUGH, ISN'T CONVINCED.

>> OKLAHOMA GUN OWNERS FEELS THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PURCHASE AMMUNITION.

>> THAT'S ONE ARGUMENT THAT SOME WOULD SAY IS VALID, THAT IN RURAL AREAS, THEY DON'T LIKE TO DRIVE TO OKLAHOMA CITY OR TULSA OR TO NORMAN TO BUY THEIR AMMUNITION.

SO I MEAN, THAT SOUNDS LIKE KIND OF A VALID ARGUMENT.

>> AND I WOULD ASK, IS THERE ANOTHER WAY PURCHASE?

>> NEW YORK CITY BASED EVERY TOWN FOR GUN SAFETY HAS WEIGH INTO WHAT AMERICAN ROUNDS IS DOING.

INNOVATIONS THAT MAKE AMMUNITION SALES MORE SECURE VIA FACIAL RECOGNITION AND TRACKS OF SAILOL SALES ARE PROMISING MEASURES THAT BELONG IN GUN STORES, NOT A PLACE WHERE YOU BUY MILK.

WE DON'T NEED TO FURTHER NORMALIZE THE SALE AND PROMOTION OF THESE PRODUCTS.

>> THAT'S JUST, HONESTLY, A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE MARKET.

IT'S ALREADY WHERE MOM IS BUYING MILK, BABY FORMULA AND DIAPERS.

GO TO YOUR WALMART.

>> MAJORS HAS CONTRACTS FOR 200 MORE MACHINES AND 200 MORE RURAL GROCERY STORES ACROSS AMERICA.

AND A THOUSAND MORE LOCATIONS ARE ON A WAITING LIST.

>> THE REAL TRUTH, IF YOU LOOK AT IT AGAINST WHAT'S AVAILABLE, WE'RE THE BEST SOLUTION ON THE MARKET AND SO, I DON'T SEE -- I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE COMPANIES LIKE OURS MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION IN TERMS OF USING OUGHT NATIVE D RETAIL FOR AGE RESTRICTED ITEMS.

>> JAKIA HARRISON IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT AMERICAN ROUNDS DOES WITH PEOPLE'S PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT THEY ACQUIRE WHEN PEOPLE BUY AMMO.

MAJORS SAYS THAT INFORMATION DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE AND WON'T GO ANYWHERE.

>> Rich: THANK YOU.

>>> A FOURTH EXCAVATION OF GRAVE SITES IS UNDERWAY.

IT'S TO IDENTIFY MORE OF THE 17 BODIES BURIED THERE THAT ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE VICTIMS OF THE TULSA MASSACRE.

THIS IS TAKING PLACE WITH TWO VICTIMS WHO HAVE HEADSTONES MARKING GRAVES.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS BURIED IN PLAIN WOODEN CASKETS EVEN IF THEY DON'T SHOW SIGNS OF DRAMA, WHICH Mr. DANIEL'S REMAINS DO NOT SHOW SIGNS OF TRAUMA.

HE FIT A PROFILE THAT HE WAS PLACED IN CASKET TOO SMALL FOR HIM WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOK FOR.

>> AS WE EXAMINE REMAINS CAREFULLY AND WE DO CAREFUL, CAUTIOUS DOCUMENTATION WHILE THEY'RE IN PLACE, ONCE WE EXAMINE THOSE INDIVIDUALS, WE WILL BE TRANSPORTING THEM TO THE ON SITE FORENSIC LABORATORY, WHERE DR. STUBBLEFIELD AND HER TEAM WILL ENGAGE THEIR PROCESS.

>> SO TODAY AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT'S MY HONOR TO STAND WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROCESSES.

WHEN I'M DOING THIS WORK ALONGSIDE OUR TEAM MEMBERS, IT REMINDS ME OF THAT OLD SAYING, DON'T JUST TALK TO THE TALK, WALK THE WALK.

>> IN GENERATION OF TULSA CAN'T GO BACK 100 YEARS AND DO WHAT THE CITY SHOULD HAVE DONE IN 1921 OR 1922.

>> Rich: THE MAYOR CHARACTERIZED THIS PROCESS AS A HUMAN INVESTIGATION, NOT AN HISTORICAL CURIOSITY.

THE PERSONAL FINANCE WEBSITE, WALLET HUB RELEASES THE 2024 REPORT ON THE STATES WITH THE BEST AND WORST SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

DEBITE THE LEGISLATURE BOOSTING SPENDING IN RECENT YEARS.

EDUCATION REPORT TAYLOR JACKSON JOINS WITH DETAILS.

>> RICH, OKLAHOMA WAS RANKED AT 50 ABOVE NUMB ACCORDING TO THE WALLET HUB REPORT AND THAT MEANS OKLAHOMA HAS SOME OF THE WORST PERFORMANCE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

>> WE'RE RANKED NUMBER 50 AND THAT'S JUST PRETTY DISHEARTENING.

>> THE HOUSE APPROPRIATION'S COMMITTEE IS DISAPPOINTED IN THE WALLET HUB 2024 BEST AND WORST SCHOOL SYSTEM'S REPORT.

>> WE HAVE TO MUCH POLITICAL DRAMA GOING ON THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO MOVING EDUCATION FORWARD IN OKLAHOMA AND THAT'S BEEN MY GOAL SINCE I GOT INVOLVED WITH EDUCATION HERE IN THE HOUSE AND WORKING WITH MY SENATE COLLEAGUES TO MOVE EDUCATION FORWARD.

I MEAN, IT'S ALL ABOUT OUR KIDS.

>> McBRIDE SAYS THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE IS AFFECTING THE CLASSROOM.

>> I THINK WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT'S OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A PROBLEM THERE AND IT'S LEAKING OVER INTO THE CLASSROOM.

>> OKLAHOMA'S RANKING IS THE EXACT SAME AS LAST YEAR.

WALLET HUB EDITOR SAYS THE ANNUAL REPORT IS BASED ON MULTIPLE FACTORS LIKE TESTING SCORES AND DROPOUT RATES.

>> WE LOOKED AT THE 50 DIFFERENT STATES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND MEASURED SCHOOL SYSTEMS BASED ON TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES, QUALITY AND SAFETY.

AND IN THOSE TWO CATEGORIES, WE HAD THINGS LIKE SAT SCORES AND ACT SCORES AND INCIDENTS OF BULLYING.

>> THE REPORT SHOWS OKLAHOMA RANKED 47th FOR READING AND MATH SCORES, SOMETHING TEACHERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET BACK ON TRACK SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC WHEN TEST SCORES BEGAN TO SLIDE.

OKLAHOMA NEEDS MORE TEACHERS TO HELP REDUCE CLASSROOM SIZES.

>> OKLAHOMA'S TEACHER-PEOPLE RATIO IS HIGH WITH 16.65 STUDENTS PER TEACHER.

AND THIS MEANS CLASSROOMS IN OKLAHOMA ARE MORE CROWDED COMPARED TO OTHER STATES WHICH CAN AFFECT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION EACH STUDENT RECEIVES.

>> ACCORDING TO THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEBSITE, THE STATE PER PUPIL SPENDING FOR 2022-2023 WAS MORE THAN 11,000.

THEY AGREED TO SET IT AT 3.86 BILLION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, WHICH IS RECORD FUNDING LEVEL FOR K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> THE MEDIAN SAT SCORE WAS 465 WHICH PUTS OKLAHOMA IN THE 47th PLACE IN THE CATEGORY.

FOR ACT SCORES, OKLAHOMA IS IN 43rd PLACE.

COMPARE TOES OTHER STATES, OKLAHOMA RANKED POORLY IN DROPOUT RATES.

>> IT HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY RANKING 46th OUT OF 51 AND THAT PUTS IT -- THAT'S WITH A 20% DROPOUT RATE OVERALL.

AND ONE INTERESTING THING HERE, WE MEASURED GRADUATION RATES FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS SEPARATELY AND OKLAHOMA RANKED 11th THAT CATEGORY.

SO THAT'S A GOOD STAT FOR OKLAHOMA.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T BEEN PLEASED WITH EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES IN THE STATE EITHER.

REPRESENTATIVE JACOB ROSE SAYS HE HOPED THE OKLAHOMA EDUCATION SYSTEM WOULD IMPROVED AFTER WATERS TOOK OVER IN 2023.

>> I WAS HOPEFUL TO SEE IF WE COULD CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HE CHANGED IT TO A LOWER LEVEL AND I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

BUT I REMEMBER THE NEW REGIME UNDER SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS HAMMERING THE PREVIOUS ONE.

>> HE SAYS RIGHT NOW, TEACHERS ARE FEELING DEFEATED HEADING INTO THE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

>> A LOT OF CONFUSION FROM TEACHERS AND I SPEAK TO TEACHERS EVERY DAY AND JUST FROM AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE I'M A FORMER TEACHER AND THAT'S MY PASSION.

I CAN TELL YOU A LOT OF CONFUSION.

ALSO, THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE RANKINGS EITHER, BUT THEN, AGAIN, WE'RE TEACHING OUR KIDS THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

>> THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT TYING CREDITS TO ACCREDITATION WILL IMPACT SCHOOLS.

>> THIS IS A FOCUS ON TEST SCORES AND THE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AND THAT'S THE ISSUE I HAVE.

AND SO I WAS HAPPENING WHEN SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS WAS ELECTED, HE SAID HE WAS WANTING TO DESTROY THE STATUS QUO.

I WANT TO PLACE IT ON THE HOLISTIC CHILD, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT TO NOT JUST PASS TESTS BUT MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF SCHOOL THAT HELPS THEM THE BEST.

>> HE WENT THE OTHER DIRECTION.

>> REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE McBRIDE SAYS IF PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA ARE NOT PLEASED WITH HOW THINGS ARE, THEY NEED TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

>> IT TAKES THE VOTERS TO GET BACK ON TRACK AND I THINK A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP OVER THERE IS DEFINITELY ON THE HORIZON, YOU KNOW.

BUT HEY, WE'RE TWO YEARS AWAY FROM THAT.

I THINK THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH BACK AND I THINK THEY'RE BEGINNING TO REALIZE MORE AND MORE AND MORE THAT THIS IS NOTHING BUT POLITICAL THEATER.

THAT IT'S SELF-PROMOTION OF ONE INDIVIDUAL, NATIONALLY AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED IN OKLAHOMA.

>> WITH THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR AROUND THE CORNER, LAWMAKERS WANT TEACHERS TO KNOW THEY ARE SUPPORTED.

RICH.

>> Rich: THANK YOU SO THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 13th Y SCHOOLS AND A WEEK LATER FOR TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

OVER THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO CAN'T AFFORD CLOTHES AND SUPPLIES, ORGANIZATIONS STEPPING UP TO ENSURE WHAT THEY NEED IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Andrew: THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS FAST APPROACHING AND AS KIDS SQUEEZED THE LAST BIT OF FUN OUT OF THE SUMMER, MANY PARENTS WORRY ABOUT THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

NAMELY, CAN THEY AFFORD WHAT THEIR CHILD NEEDS?

>> I THINK AS LONG MY KIDS HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL, WE'VE OPERATED WE'VEPARTICIPATED IN THE BACKPAK PRACTICE.

PROGRAM.

IT'S NOT REAL EXPENSIVE UNLESS YOU GET DESIGNER NAMES.

YOU GET A BACKPACK FROM THEM AND FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND IT'S YOUR BASIC SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THINGS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO PURCHASE, BUT THIS GIVES YOU A GREAT START.

>> GIVING YOU A HELPING GOOD START WITH SUPPLIES, THIS IS WHAT THEY AIM TO DO FOR FAMILIES HAVING DIFFICULTIES.

>> IT GIVES YOU NOTEBOOKS AND COMPOSITION BOOKS AND PAPER AND PENCILS AND PENS AND RULERS AND CALCULATORS.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR SCHOOL.

AND THEY HAVE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GROUP AND MORE THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> A NATIONAL SURVEY SHOWS THAT FAMILIES SPEND $850 ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND CLOTHES WHICH MANY CANNOT AFFORD.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS 90% ARE AT OR BELOW POVERTY LEVEL.

THIS WAS DESIGNED TO HELP GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDKIDS AND OTHERS RAISING CHILDREN.

>> THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO ENSURE THAT THEY MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT BACK-TO-SCHOOL EXPERIENCE THAT'S MEANINGFUL FOR FAMILIES AND ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR BASIC SCHOOL SUPPLIES IS IMPORTANT SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS IN SUPPORTING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

>> Andrew: OKLAHOMA IS RANKED 49th IN EDUCATION AND 39% IN WELL-BEING.

>> WE HAVE ONE OF THE TOP RANKINGS FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN AND 46,000 KIDS IN FOSTER CARE AND INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

YOU HAVE POSITIVE TOMORROWS THAT WORKS WITH HOMELESS KIDS.

SO MANY DIFFERENT OKLAHOMA CHILDREN FALL INTO CATEGORIES OF POVERTY.

>> JUST NORTH OF DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY, THEY'RE PITCHING IN TO HELP STUDENTS IN NEED.

>> THERE'S A NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE 2500 DISPLACED STUDENTS.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL THINKS IT MAY GROW TO AS MUCH AS THREE THOUSAND BY THE TIME SCHOOLS STARTS.

WE KNOW THERE'S A NEED.

ANYTHING TO GIVE BACK IS WHERE WE WANT TO HELP.

>> POSITIVE TOMORROWS IS ANOTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AIMING TO HELP FAMILIES GOING THROUGH HOMELESSNESS, HOPING PARENTS WITH THE PROGRAMS TO ENSURE KIDS GET A QUALITY EDUCATION.

AT POSITIVE TOMORROWS, WE OFFERR SUMMER BREAK CAMPS AND TO GET SET FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

WE OFFER FAMILY SUPPORT IS THAT MIGHT BE CLASSES FOR PARENTS IF THEY'RE TRYING TO LEARN A PARTICULAR SKILL OR JUST DO GENERAL PARENTS CLASSES.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS 7500 HOMELESS.

>> WE HAVE PARTNERS ASKING FOR LISTS AND BRAND NEW LISTS READY TO DIDN'T AND EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM PROVIDED A LIST OF NEEDS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND THINGS USED IN THE CLASSROOM.

WE HAVE A SNACK-TO-SCHOOL PROJECT TO MAKE SURE WE RESTOCK ACTIVITIES IN THE CLASSROOM AND SNACKS FOR OUR FAMILIES.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT THESE KIDS WITH 2500 OR THREE THOUSAND STUDENTS THAT JUST DON'T HAVE GOOD RESOURCES TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

I THINK THAT LEAVES A LARGE HOLE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THESE ARE THE FUTURE LEADERS FOR TOMORROW.

SO THESE KIDS, IF WE CAN PUT THEM IN A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS WE NEED TO GET ALONG BETTER IN SCHOOL, THEY'LL LEARN BETTER AND THEY'LL BE MORE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND THAT'S GOING TO DO DOING BUT SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY.

>> Rich: THANK YOU.

OKLAHOMA STATE PARKS WELCOMES ALMOST 300,000 VISITORS OVER THE LONG FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND WEEKEND.THAT RESULTED IN AN ECOC IMPACT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

OVERALL, STATE TOURISM OFFICIALS SAY THEIR INDUSTRY GENERATED $833 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE AND EMPLOYS 100,000 PEOPLE.

>>> THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WENT UP SLIGHTLY IN JUNE THAT STORY TOPS "THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW" WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> IT DROPPED TO 3.4% AND AT THE SAME TIME THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASED BY A TENTH OF A%.

A TENTH OF%.

OF PERCENTAGE.

THE MOST JOBS WERE ADDED TO THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND OTHER SECTORS.

THE HOURLY WAGE INCREASED TO $29.64 AN HOUR.

NEW HOMES IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA ARE THE 15th MOST EXPENSIVE OF LARGE CITIES IN THE U.S.

THE AVERAGE NEW HOME NOW COSTS $276,692 ACCORDING TO "CONSTRUCTION COVERAGE."

IT INDICATES THAT A SLOWDOWN IN HOUSING IS PUSHING PRICESES UP.

>>> ROB LEREW VISITING OKLAHOMA TO DISCUSS REGIONAL AGRICULTURE ISSUES THAT PRODUCERS FACE IN THAT PART OF OUR STATE.

THE TOUR INCLUDED STOPS AT A MEAT PROCESSING PLANT NEAR SMITHVILLE AND THE FORESTRY MUSEUM AT THE STATE PARK AND TUCKER RANCH PRODUCING HIGHLY PRIZED PERFORMANCE AND SHOW QUARTER HORSES.

>>> ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS FUNDED BY A GRANT AWARDED BY THE BROADBAND OFFICE TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF HIGH SPEED INTERNET CROSS THE STATE BROKE GROUND.

IT'S ESTIMATED TO COST $4.4 MILLION.

THE BROADBAND OFFICE IS PROVIDING 3.5 MILLION OF THAT WITH THE COMPANY PUTTING UP THE REST OF THE FUNDS.

>>> THERE ARE TWO OTHER GRANTS FOR BROADBAND SERVICE IN MARSHALL COUNTY WITH HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

THIS IS JASON DOYLE, "THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW."

>> Rich: DEMOCRAT DONORS AND DELEGATES ARE THROWING SUPPORT BEHIND KAMALA HARRIS WHO IS ALL BUT CERTAIN TO BE DONALD TRUMP'S OPPONENT IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

BUT WHO WILL HER RUNNING MAY BE AND HOW WILL JOE BIDEN'S DECISION TO STEP AWAY IMPACT THE FINAL RESULTS?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR IN-DEPTH FOCUS WITH CASSIDY MUDD.

>> WE HAVE OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATIC CHAIRWOMAN, ALICIA ANDREWS AND ANDREWS.WHAT DOES SHE BRING TO E THAT'S DIFFERENT?

>> SHE'S A PART OF THE TEAM, THE STILL TEAM OF BIDEN-HARRIS AND BRINGS THAT EXPERIENCE, BUT SHE ALSO BRINGS OUR PROSECUTORIAL EXPERIENCE.

SHE BRINGS EXPERIENCE IN, SHE SERVED IN THE SENATE.

SHE BRINGS A LOT OF THINGS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ENTHUSIASM.

>> THERE SEEMS TO BE A RENEWED EXCITEMENT COMING OUT OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION AND AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK WITH THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

ARE WE SEEING OKLAHOMA REPUBLICANS RAMPING UP FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OKLAHOMA REPUBLICANS ARE EXCITED TO BE SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE, WHERE WE HAVE FOUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT WE COMPARE TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

I'M GLAD SHE SPECIFIED KAMALA WAS INVOLVED AND EVERYBODY CAN COMPARE THOSE TWO FOUR-YEAR PERIODS AND ANYONE LOOKING AT THEIR POCKETBOOK OR GROCERY BILL WILL HAVE TO SAY THINGS WERE BETTER UNDER THE FOUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP THAN THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS GOING TO BEAT JOE BIDEN IN THIS, BUT WE BELIEVE HE WILL EASILY BEAT KAMALA HARRIS BECAUSE SHE IS JUST AS GUILTY OF THE ECONOMIC DESTRUCTION THAT WE'RE SEEING, THE INCREASE IN COST AND RISING COST OF GOODS AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING PRESIDENT TRUMP BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND MAKING AMERICA GREAT ONCE AGAIN.

>> HOW ARE REPUBLICANS REACTING TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION?

ARE THEY SURPRISED OR SHOCKED?

>> DEPENDING ON WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO.

WE'VE KNOWN FOR THREE PLUS YEARS, PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS A PUPPET BEING CONTROLLED.

ANYONE WATCHING SAW THAT HE WAS MENTALLY DECLINING AND OBVIOUS THERE WAS CONTINUED DECLINE AND THE DEMOCRATIC APPARATUS WAS HAVING HIM AS A FIGUREHEAD.

IT'S NOT AT ALL SURPRISING THAT THE SUPPOSED DEMOCRATIC PARTY WOULD NOT HAVE SOMEONE AS THEIR CANDIDATE WHO HAS NOT BEEN VOTED IN BY THEIR PEOPLE IN THE PRIMARIES.

EVEN FOUR YEARS AGO, KAMALA HARRIS DROPPED OUT BEFORE IOWA BECAUSE HER POLL NUMBER WAS SO LAW.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL DO ANYTHING TO MAINTAIN THEIR GRIP ON POWER AT THE COST OF DEMOCRACY AND WHAT'S BEST FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL FOR THEM.

SO WE SEE A RENEWED VIGOR WITH REPUBLICANS THAT ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR ALL AMERICANS AND GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, GET MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER EXPOSE WHAT THE DEMOCRATS AND THE BIDEN AND HARRIS HAVE DONE.

>> TELL US WHAT WE'RE HEAR FROMG ABOUT THE MINI-PRIMARY.

>> I WANT TO CORRECT SOME THINGS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS AN EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT AND HE MADE DECISIONS AND HE MADE DECISIONS WITH HIS TEAM.

THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A PUPPET REGIME AS HE SUGGESTED.

BUT I'M GOING TO REFRAIN FROM NAME CALLING AND ASKING QUESTIONS ASKED THE MINI-PRIMARY IS JUST THAT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ELECTED TO STEP OUT OF THE RACE FOR REELECTION.

AND AT THIS POINT NOW, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHO ARE CANDIDATE IS.

AND IT'S MINI-BECAUSE WE'RE IN A SHORTENED TIME FRAME.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY THAT.

THE DELEGATES WILL GET TOGETHER.

WE WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IT IS AN OPEN PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE CAN SUBMIT THEIR NAMES TO SAY THEY WANT TO RUN.

WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE WILL SELECT OUR NOMINEE FOR BOTH PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.

>> CHAIRMAN ANDREWSS, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HER PICK AS A RUNNING MATE?

>> I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC NAME.

I BELIEVE THAT SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE NEEDS IN A RUNNING MATE.

THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE VETTING PROCESS.

I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH EITHER, YOU KNOW, KENTUCKY GOVERNOR BESHIRE, SENATOR MARK KELLY, THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA, COOPER, THE GOVERNOR THE PENNSYLVANIA, ANY OF THOSE ARE EXCELLENT CHOICES.

WE HAVE AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES AND WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE THINGS I'VE HEARD BANDIED ABOUT.

BUT THE DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES WILL SELECT WHO THE NOMINEES ARE.

>> WHEN IS THAT PROCESS GOING ON?

>> THERE'S A RULE'S MEETING TODAY AND AT THAT TIME, WE WILL FIND OUT WHEN THE VOTE WILL HAPPEN.

>> CHAIRMAN, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION?

>> A RENEWED VIGOR THAT HAS SEEN THE FAILURE THAT IS THE BIDEN-HARRIS REGIME AND WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT ACCOMPLISHMENTS SELLING OUT OUR COUNTRY COUNTRY.

THEY SEE THEM CALLING THIS THE PARTY BOSSES AND A MONTH AGO, THE ENTIRE MEDIA APPARATUS AND DEMOCRAT APPARATUS SAYING JOE BIDEN'S HEALTH WAS FINE AND THEY WERE LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAYING, DON'T BELIEVE YOUR LYING EYES AND BELIEVE WHAT WE'RE TELLING YOU.

AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY HAVE TURNED ON BIDEN AND WILL SELECT SOMEONE, HAND PICK SOMEONE TO BE THEIR NOMINEE BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAILED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MISERABLY.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF DEMOCRAT POLICIES AND TIRED OF NOT HAVING MONEY.

SO THERE'S AN INCREASED VIGOR WITH PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CARE FOR THE FAMILIES AND WANT GOVERNMENT OUT OF THEIR LIVES AND THEY REALIZE THEY HAD THAT UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR FOUR YEARS AND LOOKING FOR A RETURN OF THAT GREATNESS, OF BETTER PURCHASING POWER AND NOT JUST HAVING TO STRUGGLE TO GET BY BECAUSE OF THE FAILED DEMOCRAT POLICIES.

>> CHAIRMAN, WHO DO YOU THINK FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD LIKE TO DEBATE AGAINST DURING THIS UPCOMING CYCLE?

>> ANY OF THE DEMOCRAT NOMINEES THAT THEY PUT UP, HE WOULD LOVE TO DEBATE AGAINST THEM.

WE SAW THAT IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES GREAT IN DEBATES AND SHINES AND SHOWS HOW TO DO THAT AND SO, I THINK HE WOULD BE THRILLED TO GO GET KAMALA HARRIS.

LET'S NOT FORGET THE LAST DEBATE WAS THE IDEA OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO BE BIDEN UP AGAINST TRUMP.

THAT WAS THEIR IDEA AND SET ALMOST ALL OF THE PARAMETERS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ACQUIESCED AND A SLAM DUNKER FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SOMETHING SIMILAR WILL HAPPEN WITH KAMALA HARRIS OR WHOEVER BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING IT'S KAMALA HARRIS AND A WEEK AGO IT WAS JOE BIDEN AND SAYING THAT WAS NO WAY IT WOULD CHANGE.

SO IT MAY NOT BE KAMALA HARRIS.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL LIE ABOUT AND WHO THEIR EVENTUALLY NOMINEE WILL BE.

I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DEBATE THEM AND EXPOSE WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

>> CHAIRMAN ANDREWS?

>> THERE'S AN OLD ADDAGE.

THE CHAIRMAN IS NOT FOCUSED ON FACTS AND MAKING ATTACKS AND CALLING NAMES AND HE'S THROWING AROUND JUST WORDS THAT ARE NOT IN REALITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON DEMOCRATS IN OKLAHOMA AND DEMOCRATS NATIONWIDE FROM THE LETTERS THAT ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND REINVIGORATED AND THE DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS AND QUITE FRANKLY, REPUBLICANS WHO ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THIS RACE FEEL HEARD NOW.

BECAUSE THEY FEEL HEARD AND GETTING SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THIS RACE, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE COME OVER FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND COME OVER FROM THE INDEPENDENT PARTY AND DEMOCRATS ARE SO EXCITED THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE NEW TO ENERGIZE AROUND, TO ORGANIZE AROUND.

WE'LL STAY IN FACTS, RIGHT.

THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION.

THERE WILL BE AT OUR CONVENTION, THERE IS NOT SUCH A THING AS PARTY BOSSES THAT ARE DECIDING.

AND IT'S A GOOD NARRATIVE, I GUESS, FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO RUN ON.

THE REALITY IS THAT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS EARNING OUR SUPPORT AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO EARN OUR SUPPORT.

SO SHE WILL BE ELECTED.

NO INSTALLATION AS THE CHAIRMAN SUCKS.

>> CHAIRMAN ANDREWS, WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD PLAY IN THE CAMPAIGN BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY?

>> PRIMARILY THE ROLE HE NEEDS TO PLAY IS CONTINUING TO LEAD OR COUNTRY AS PRESIDENT.

AND SECONDLY, ACT AS A SUPPORT AND AS A LEADER, FRANKLY, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN PRESIDENT AND HE'S BEEN VICE PRESIDENT.

AS A TRUSTED ADVISER, IT'S A PERFECT PLACE FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN IN THE IN EFFECT 104 DAYS.

>> CHAIRMAN DOM, THE FORMER PRESIDENT APPEARS TO BE LEADING THE POLLS.

DO YOU EXPECT THAT CHANGE WITH THE CHANGE AT THE TOP OF OF THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET?

>> ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE AGAIN, THE FACTS ARE IN OUR FAVOR.

THE FACT IS ANYONE GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE SEES HIGHER PROVES AND PURCHASING LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AGO.

THAT'S A FACT.

SAME THING AT THE GAS PUMP.

IT'S IRONIC THAT SHE WOULD PUSH FORTH AND SAY THEY WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHEN SHE STARTED OUT SAYING KAMALA HARRIS SHARES ALL OF THE SUCCESSES OF BIDEN BECAUSE THEY WERE ATTACHED AT THE HIP.

JUST BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT PERSON PUSHING THE SAME POLICIES DOESN'T MAKE IT DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT EXCITEMENT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AND THAT'S AN EMOTION.

IF THEY WANT TO RUN THEIR CAMPAIGN ON THE EMOTION OF EXCITEMENT COMPARING TO THE FACTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE LESS MONEY TO SPEND BECAUSE OF THEIR FAILED POLICIES, THEY CAN RUN ON THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE REALITY THAT MOST IN OKLAHOMA, WHETHER REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT ARE NOT OPERATING.

HEY, WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO PAY HIGHER PRICES FOR GROCERIES AND GET LESS MONEY BECAUSE OF THESE FAILED DEMOCRAT POLICIES.

>> CHAIRMAN ANDREWS, ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO DISPUTE AMERICANS ARE BETTER FINANCIALLY.

UNDER DONALD TRUMP, COVID WAS SEVERELY MISHANDLED AND WE LOST LIVES.

SECONDLY, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DEMAND FOR GAS PRICES, THEY'RE LESS.

NOW THAT CONSUMERS ARE USING GAS, PRICES HAVE GONE UP.

ON TOP OF THAT, PRESIDENT BIDEN ACTUALLY HAS A RECORD OF DRILLING MORE AMERICAN OIL THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER PRESIDENT.

AND SO IF WANT TO TALK FACTS, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS LONG COMPLAINED ABOUT OIL PRODUCTION AND OIL INDEPENDENCE.

WE'VE ACHIEVED THAT UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN.

I WANT TO SAY IN -- REALITY DOES NOT EXIST IN A SILO.

WE IGNORE THE FACT THAT WE LOST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN LIVES UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE MISHANDLED IT AND LIED TO US ABOUT IT AND THEN HE TRIED TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE WORK THAT BIDEN DID.

HE'S STILL TAKING CREDIT FOR THE JOBS THAT BIDEN BROUGHT BACK.

HE BROUGHT BACK MORE THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT IN HISTORY.

SO HE HAS A RECORD TO RUN ON AND A RECORD OF PROSPERITY TO RUN ON BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH THINGS COST IF YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB.

>> CHAIRMAN, ANY MORE THOUGHTS FOR OUR VIEWERS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> PEOPLE CAN COMPARE THE FOUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP VERSUS FOUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS AND SEE EVERYONE WAS BETTER OFF -- I WON'T SAY EVERYONE.

AMERICANS WERE BETTER OFF UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I CAN COMPARE THE FALSEHOODS OF THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT HAVE INCREASED UNDER THE BIDEN AND HARRIS REGION.

REGIMES.

MOST HAVE GONE TO THE ILLEGALS THAT ARE WORKING HERE.

THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER FOR ILLEGALS IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE BORDER HAS BEEN LEFT OPEN BY THE BORDER CZAR, KAMALA HARRIS.

THINGS HAVE GONE BETTER FOR ILLEGALS AND MUCH WORSE FOR AMERICANS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST AND THAT WILL BE OUR TOP PRIORITY.

UNDER FOUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, AMERICANS WERE PUT FIRST AND BETTER OFF THAN UNDER THESE FOUR YEARS OF THE BIDEN, HARRIS DEMOCRAT REGIME.

ANYONE LOOKING AT THOSE STATISTICS WITH SEE THE ALTERNATE REALITY THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO PITCH.

>> CHAIRMAN ANDREWS?

>> MORE WORDS DO NOT MAKE YOU RIGHT.

THE CHAIRMAN ADDED A LOT OF WORDS AND NOT A LOT ARE GROUNDED IN REALITY.

I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE AND THE POSITIVE IS THAT AMERICA, YOU CAN FEEL THE ENERGY.

AMERICA IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ELECTION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LIVING IN A WORLD WITH PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

>> THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Rich: IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL REVIEW, WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A YOUNG MAN FROM SOUTH DAKOTA WHOSE LOVE OF OLD STEAM ENGINES EARNED HIM A SPOT IN THE WORLD BOOK OF RECORDS.

>> STEAM ENGINES ARE SOMETHING COREY ANDERSON HAS ALWAYS LOVED AND CAN EVEN SAY HE WAS BORN INTO THAT THEM.

>> WE HAVE A SHOW THE WEEK IN ANDOVER AND I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD TO GO TO MY STEAM SHOW.

I WAS GROWING UP IN THAT SHOW AND I'VE BEEN THERE EVERY YEAR.

>> LIKE EVERY KID, COREY GREW UP WITH A DREAM.

>> MY WHOLE JOURNEY STARTED WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD.

I HAD A DREAM TO SEE THE LARGEST STEAM TRACTOR COME BACK TO LIFE.

JUST LIKE THAT, COREY BEGAN WORKING TOWARDS HIS DREAM.

>> I JUST GREW UP AROUND STEAM ENGINES AS A LITTLE BOY AND EVENTUALLY LEARNED HOW TO RUN THEM.

AS I GOT INTO MY TEENAGED YEARS, I WAS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THEM AND I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO FULLY RESTORE ONE.

MY DAD HAD A PROJECT THAT WAS A 65 HORSE CASE I TOOK ON AT 16 AND DID A FULL RESTORATION.

WHEN I WAS 22, AFTER GOING FOR ENGINEERING AND ON THIS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, I STARTED THIS IN MY GARAGE.

I STARTED ANDERSON INDUSTRIES IN MY GARAGE AND STARTED GROWING IT.

>> AS ANDERSON INDUSTRIES GREW, ANOTHER BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY APPEARED IF DADE COUNTY PUTTING COREY ONE STEP CLOSER TO HIS DREAM.

>> DAKOTA FOUNDRY WAS A CUSTOMER AND I WORKED WITH THEM A NUMBER OF YEARS AND LEARNED THEY WOULD BE SELLING THE BUSINESS.

I DIDN'T REALLY PLAN ON HAVING TO BUY THE FOUNDRY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT OPPORTUNITY CAME UP AND IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO BUILD THAT TRACTOR BECAUSE THERE'S LESS THAN 500 IRON FOUNDRIES LEFT IN AMERICA ANYMORE.

>> AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO THE CASE FACTORY IN WISCONSIN TO FIND THE ORIGINAL BLUE DUST BLUF THE 150, IT WAS TIME FOR COREY TO GET TO WORK.

>> I JUST BASIC DECIDED I WOULD GO FULL ON IN BUILDING THIS AND FOR WHATEVER IT WOULD TAKE BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET TO PROJECT FINISHED BEFORE THE MENTORS WHO INVESTED IN ME WEREN'T AROUND TO SEE IT AND ENJOY IT.

SO 2016, I JUST STARTED WORKING FULL-TIME ON IT.

>> AFTER 18 MONTHS OF HARD WORK, IT WAS TIME.

>> WE WORKED HARD AND KEPT AFTER IT AND JUST STARTED PUTTING IT TOGETHER IN JULY.

GOT IT TOGETHER, BASICALLY, FOOO WEEKS BEFORE THE SHOW IN SEPTEMBER AND BROUGHT IT OVER TO THE SHOW GROUNDS IN ANDOVER AND HAD A SUCCESSFUL PULL OF THE 24-BOTTOM PLOW.

SO IT WAS AWESOME.

>> AFTER ITS DEBUT, THE RECORDBOOKS CAME CALLING.

>> I WAS ACTUALLY CONTACTED BY THE GUEST BOOK WORLD RECORDS AND THEY HAD LEARNED ABOUT THE TRACTOR AND THEY HAD SEEN VIDEOS ABOUT IT AND THEY WANTED TO -- THEY BASICALLY WANT TO PUT A RECORD TOGETHER FOR IT AND SO THEY REACHED OUT TO ME AND BASICALLY SENT ME A LIST AND KIND OF A QUESTIONNAIRE AND WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE SPECIFICATIONS TO QUALIFY IT.

IT'S EXCITING WHEN YOU SEE A PROJECT YOU'VE DONE THAT GETS THAT RECOGNITION.

>> WHILE COREY IS PROUD OF THE WORD RECORD, IT'S THE RECOGNITION HE BROUGHT TO HIS HOME STATE IN DADE COUNTY THAT HE'S MOST PROUD OF.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE, LIKE, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THE CAPITAL OF SOUTH DAKOTA BUT THEY KNOW WHERE THE SHOW IS AND IT'S REALLY KIND OF HELPED TO JUST BRANCH OUT SOME AWARENESS OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND WHAT WE DO HERE.

AND ALSO, JUST THE AGRICULTURAL ASPECT OF IT.

BECAUSE THE TRACTOR WAS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE USE IT IN AN OLD FASHIONED AGRICULTURAL SETTING DOING PLOWING LIKE THEY USED TO DO.

IT'S ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

>> Rich: THIS FRIDAY, TODAY, TALLAHASSEE IS CELEBRATING THE RENOVATED JOHN FORD COMMUNITY CENTER WITH A HOMECOMING OBTAIN YET.

AS THEY LIKE TO SAY IN TALLAHASSEE, ONCE A WILDCAT, ALWAYS A WILDCAT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Rich: WE'RE PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT TOOK HOME A HANDFUL OF EMMYS FOR THE BLACK FRONTIER TOWN.

WE DID IN-DEPTH REPORTS AND IT'S REWARDING TO BE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE AND HISTORY OF THE CITIES TO OUR STATE.

IN ALL, OETA ONE FIVE AWARDS LAST SATURDAY NIGHT.

>>> NEXT, ONE OF OUR YOUNG LAWYERS TO SPEND A YEAR WORKING AT THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT AS A SUPREME COURT FELLOW AND THE FIRST IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA.

HER REMARKABLE STORY BEGAN WITH HOME SCHOOLING NEXT FRIDAY AT 7-MILLIMETER.

7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ABSCESS ACCESA AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, JUST SEARCH THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.