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OKLAHOMANS SET SAIL TO CELEBRATE OUR NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY.

WELL, IT MEANS THAT THIS EXPERIMENT, THIS GREAT THING THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DID, WAS FOR REAL.

AND AT LAST, IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AN ARTISTIC NEW FACILITY OFFERING PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE.

DIVERSION HELP GIVES YOU JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS IN A BLACK HOLE AND WE HAVE LIFTOFF ON A FIVE YEAR, $520 MILLION PLAN TO IMPROVE REGIONAL AIRPORTS AROUND THE STATE.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT BRINGS IN MORE INCOME TAX, MORE SALES TAX, MORE MORE ECONOMIC GENERATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

CAN THESE LITTLE CRITTERS AT OMRF HELP FIND A WAY TO REVERSE HEART DISEASE?

AND I WILL SAY I'M VERY EXCITED THAT THEY'VE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH HERE IN OKLAHOMA, AND I HOPE IT MAKES IT THROUGH MEDICAL TRIALS.

I HOPE THAT IT IT GOES ALL THE WAY AND THAT IT WORKS.

THE OWL IN OWL CAMP STANDS FOR OKLAHOMANS WITHOUT LIMITS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IS JUST WATCHING THOSE KIDS EXPERIENCE CAMP, THE EXCITEMENT, INTERACTING WITH OTHER KIDS, DOING THE ACTIVITIES.

THOSE STORIES PLUS, PRESIDENT TRUMP NOMINATES IN OKLAHOMA TO TAKE OVER AT ICE.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ OKLAHOMANS DIDN'T WAIT TILL THE 4TH OF JULY TO BEGIN CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

HUNDREDS TURNING OUT FOR THE FIRST EVER BRICKTOWN BOAT PARADE LAUNCHING FROM THE CHICKASAW PLAZA.

SIX DECORATED BOATS WINDING THROUGH A MILE LONG STRETCH OF CANAL BEFORE DOCKING AT THE WEST END, AND WE ASKED SOME OF THE RIDERS AND SOME OF THE WATCHERS WHAT AMERICA 250 MEANS TO THEM.

THIS EXPERIMENT, THIS GREAT THING THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DID, WAS FOR REAL.

AND IT LASTED, YOU KNOW, AND IT JUST SHOWS THE ENDURANCE OF A SYSTEM THAT WAS CREATED BY REALLY COOL MEN.

AND TO THIS DAY, WE STILL ENJOY THE LIBERTIES AND THE FREEDOMS THAT THOSE GUYS DREW UP 250 YEARS AGO.

AND IT STILL STANDS.

OH MY GOSH, THIS IS A REALLY SPECIAL YEAR.

I JUST GOT BACK FROM PHILADELPHIA AND WENT TO BETSY ROSS HOUSE AND LEARNED ABOUT THE FLAGS BEING MADE THE FIRST TIME.

SO FOR ME, IT'S FREEDOM FOR OUR COUNTRY AND I HOPE IT JUST KEEPS GOING ON.

IT MEANS WE ARE THE MOST AWESOME NATION IN THE WORLD.

AND BEING RIGHT HERE TODAY IN BRICKTOWN IS QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICA.

EXCITED ABOUT GETTING ON THE BOAT AND HAVING A GREAT TIME WITH MY FRIENDS.

WELL, FIRST, 4TH OF JULY HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY.

BUT YEAH, I'M LOVING ALL THE CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND GLAD THAT OKLAHOMA'S PARTAKING IN SPECIAL WAYS THAT WE ARE.

IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE OUT HERE IN BRICKTOWN, SEEING FAMILIES AND FOLKS WHO HAVE EVEN PAST LEADERS, CURRENT LEADERS WHO ARE INVESTING IN OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA CITY IN PARTICULAR.

MIKE MACY WAS ALSO INVITED TO RIDE BUT DID NOT ATTEND, THOUGH FORMER OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR RON NORICK AND MICK CORNETT DID TAKE PART IN THE PARADE.

FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN PRESENTING A SPECIAL SERIES OF REPORTS ON OKLAHOMA BY THE DECADES, A RETROSPECTIVE ON THE EVENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR STATE SINCE THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR OF 1976, LEADING UP TO OUR NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY.

THAT WAS THE PAST.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

TO CONCLUDE OUR SERIES IN THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION, MODERATOR SUSAN CADOTTE INVITES A PANEL OF FUTURISTS TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT 50 YEARS IN OKLAHOMA.

WHAT BIG CHANGES DO THEY ENVISION?

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

WELL, 50 IS REALLY HARD TO PREDICT.

I MEAN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE WERE 50 YEARS AGO, SO 1976, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHERE WE'D BE AT TODAY?

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD VISIONS OF, OH YEAH, WE'LL HAVE COLONIES ON THE MOON.

MAYBE WE'LL BE ON MARS.

YOU KNOW, ON THE ECONOMIC SIDE, WHAT WE'RE REALLY FOLLOWING IS SOME STRUCTURAL TRENDS, RIGHT?

SO MIGRATION PATTERNS AND YOU LOOK AT RESOURCE USE PATTERNS, AND YOU CAN LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AND KIND OF GET A SENSE OF WHAT POCKETS, WHAT AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES MIGHT SEE THE MOST POPULATION GROWTH MIGHT BE PRONE TO EXPERIENCE THE MOST ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THE WORLD'S CHANGING SO FAST RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU GRAPPLE WITH THINKING AND FORECASTING REALLY FAR IN THE FUTURE, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE DAY TO DAY RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE REST OF THAT COOL CONVERSATION COMING UP IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

THE DIVERSION HUB IS A BRAND NEW 36,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IN OKLAHOMA CITY THAT PROVIDES RESOURCES TO PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND OFFERS THEM A CHANCE TO AVOID, AND IN SOME CASES, GET OUT OF JAIL TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM.

STEVE SHAW MET SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE RECENTLY, STEVE RICH.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE IN TROUBLE.

INSTEAD OF LENGTHY STAYS IN COUNTY JAILS OR PRISONS, DIVERSION PROGRAMS HAVE BECOME AN OPTION FOR FOLKS WHO REALLY WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE.

ALL RIGHT, THREE, TWO.

ONE.

THE NEW $19 MILLION DIVERSION HUB IS ANOTHER OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN AREA OR MAPS PROJECT.

THE FACILITY HAS TEN MEETING ROOMS AND FIVE CLASSROOMS AND A LOT OF LOCAL ART.

THIS CONCEPT OF BRINGING TOGETHER THIS THIS ONE STOP SHOP FOR PEOPLE INTERACTING WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND DIVERTING THEM FROM JAIL OR PRISON.

AND THAT'S THE HUB THAT IS ACTING AS A DIVERSION AWAY FROM THOSE OUTCOMES, WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT JUST LIFE CHANGING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVED HERE, BUT LIFE CHANGING FOR ALL OF US.

IT MAKES A BETTER COMMUNITY.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE LIVES THAT END IN PRISON OR JAIL.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TO LIVE IN FREEDOM AND TO REALIZE THEIR DREAMS.

MAYOR DAVID HOLT FOUND LAST WEEK'S RIBBON CUTTING FITTING BECAUSE IT CAME EXACTLY ONE YEAR TO THE DAY AFTER THE NBA WORLD CHAMPION OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER'S VICTORY PARADE.

THIS IS A MAPS PROJECT.

THIS CONTINUES A THREE DECADE JOURNEY THAT OUR CITY HAS BEEN ON TO IMPROVE OURSELVES, TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

JUST OVER TWO DECADES AGO, SAMUEL MCWHORTER WAS A PRETTY GOOD LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER.

BUT A DESTRUCTIVE DRINKING PROBLEM KEPT TAKING CHUNKS OUT OF HIS BACKSIDE.

I GOT IN A LOT OF TROUBLE, OF COURSE, AND MY FIRST TREATMENT CENTER WAS A NUDGE FROM THE JUDGE.

I WAS IN A DEFERRED SENTENCING PROGRAM IN CLEVELAND COUNTY, AND I COULDN'T STOP.

THEN HE DISCOVERED METHAMPHETAMINE.

AND ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, CHANGED MY LIFE, RIGHT?

LIKE I THOUGHT THAT I HAD ARRIVED THE VERY MOMENT THAT I DID IT.

INSTEAD, SAMUEL'S ADDICTIONS LOST HIM GOOD JOBS AT TINKER AIR FORCE BASE AND THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD.

MCWHORTER SAYS IN THE LAST 13 YEARS, HE'S BEEN IN AND OUT OF COUNTY JAILS.

PROBABLY TEN TIMES.

I'VE BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT TREATMENT CENTERS, SEVERAL DETOXES, SEVERAL SUICIDE WATCH AND MENTAL INSTITUTIONS I DON'T HAVE.

IT'S TOUGH.

IT IS TOUGH.

THEN FOUR MONTHS AGO, WHILE HE FACED FELONY DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES, MCWHORTER CAUGHT A BREAK.

AND I CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT REALLY WELL.

YOU'RE MAKING THE RIGHT MOVES.

IT'S PROBABLY PART OF IT.

I YEAH, I DON'T KNOW OTHER THAN GOD'S GRACE, THOSE FELONY CHARGES WERE REDUCED.

IN EXCHANGE, MCWHORTER ENROLLED IN DIVERSION HUB.

AND SO FAR, IT'S STUCK.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT NOW?

I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT OTHER THAN I'M WILLING TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM ANOTHER MAN AND GET COMPLETELY HONEST WITH HIM.

I HIT MY KNEES EVERY MORNING AND ASKED GOD TO TO KEEP ME GOOD TO GO.

OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WALKING THROUGH.

YOU'LL NOTICE REALLY COOL ART PIECES.

DIVERSION HUB DIRECTOR MEGAN TAELYR IS A FORMER OKLAHOMA COUNTY PROSECUTOR WHO SAYS PEOPLE NEED PRACTICAL HELP WHEN THEY MAKE THE DECISION TO STOP SABOTAGING THEMSELVES.

WE HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME THEIR BARRIERS AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND SO WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT, WHETHER THAT IS A HOUSING NEED, A FOOD INSECURITY, A LACK OF ACCESS TO TREATMENT, TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT.

WE BRING COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT ARE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY AND OUR EXPERTS IN THOSE SPACES.

WE BRING THEM INTO OUR FACILITY.

AND IN ONE STOP, YOU CAN VISIT WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

THE NEW DIVERSION HUBS ACTUALLY BEEN OPEN A COUPLE MONTHS, AND THEY'VE ALREADY SEEN THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS.

2009 PUTNAM CITY WEST GRADUATE ASHLEY HILBERT HAD A SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY SOFTBALL AT ARKANSAS, BUT A DUI ARREST LATE IN HER SENIOR YEAR RIPPED AWAY THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I JUST KEPT ON DRINKING AND STOPPED PLAYING SOFTBALL.

AINSLEY SPENT THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS GETTING RIPPED UNTIL A FRIEND INTRODUCED HER TO HEROIN.

YEAH, I TRIED IT AND THAT TURNED INTO A TEN YEAR PRISON SENTENCE, BASICALLY.

AND NOT ACTUAL PRISON.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I ENDED UP DOING HEROIN FOR TEN YEARS WITH HIM.

I HAVEN'T USED HEROIN IN ALMOST FOUR YEARS.

BUT WHEN THE FENTANYL CAME OUT, I THEN STARTED USING FENTANYL.

SO YOU NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT.

YEAH.

HILBERT SAYS SHE'S BEEN OFF FENTANYL MORE THAN A YEAR.

DIVERSION HUB, SHE SAYS, HELPED HER FIND A JOB.

THERE IS HELP OUT THERE IF YOU WANT IT.

IT'S JUST BEING ABLE TO FIND THE STRENGTH INSIDE OF YOURSELF TO BE ABLE TO GET UP AND GET OUT THERE AND GET IT.

YOU HAVE TO PUT IN THE FOOTWORK TO BE ABLE TO GO GET IT, BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WILL ALSO PUT IN JUST AS MUCH WORK AS YOU DO IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GO OUT THERE AND GET IT.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES THAT WILL DO THAT FOR YOU.

WILLENA WILSON SAYS A BIPOLAR CONDITION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ROBBED HER.

SHE JUST NEEDED ANOTHER CHANCE.

THERE IS A DIVERSION.

HUB GIVES YOU JUST THAT DIVERSION HUB GIVES YOU JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS IN A BLACK HOLE, PEOPLE ARE OFTEN STUCK IN THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION BASED ON UNMET NEEDS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT CONTINUE TO BE STUCK IN THIS VICIOUS CYCLE OF BEING IN AND OUT OF JAIL, UNABLE TO COMPLETE WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ORDERED TO DO.

WE HELP THEM REMAIN COMPLIANT.

WE HELP ADVOCATE FOR THEM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WALK ALONGSIDE THEM SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

IT'S A LOT EASIER IF I GET OUT OF THE WAY.

ISN'T THAT SO HARD TO.

ISN'T THAT SO HARD TO REMEMBER SOMETIMES?

NOT ONLY IS IT HARD TO REMEMBER, I MEAN, IT'S A HARD CONCEPT TO EVEN GRASP.

ALL THREE OF THOSE FOLKS DESERVE CREDIT FOR BEING WILLING TO SHARE.

DIVERSION HUB IS LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA CITY, BUT THEY ALSO SERVE CLIENTS IN NORMAN AND EL RENO.

RICH, STEVE, GREAT REPORT.

THANK YOU.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOMINATED IN OKLAHOMA TO TAKE OVER AS THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.

LANCE SHROYER, A FORMER OKLAHOMA STATE TROOPER, WILL NEED TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE U.S.

SENATE BEFORE REPLACING THE DEPARTED TODD LYONS AT ICE.

HE HAS 29 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IS A FRIEND OF THE MAN.

HE'LL BE REPORTING TO FELLOW OKLAHOMAN AND SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY MARKWAYNE MULLIN.

OKLAHOMA WILL SPEND MORE THAN A HALF $1 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONAL AIRPORTS AROUND THE STATE.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS SLATED FOR CONSTRUCTION.

JASON RICH, THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN IS MODELED AFTER THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S EIGHT YEAR PLAN, WHICH PUTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TOP OF MIND FOR OKLAHOMA'S AVIATORS.

ON MONDAY, JUNE 8TH, THE FOURTH LONGEST RUNWAY IN NORTH AMERICA WAS REOPENED AND THE AIR FORCE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE, TOUCH AND GOES AT THE INFINITY ONE OKLAHOMA SPACEPORT.

THIS FACILITY AND MANY OTHERS AROUND THE STATE ARE PREPARING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND UPGRADES THAT WILL KEEP OKLAHOMA COMPETITIVE IN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY.

THOSE PROJECTS ARE PART OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND AEROSPACE RECENTLY APPROVED FIVE YEAR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.

WE WANTED TO PUT FORTH A COMPREHENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN THAT IT WASN'T JUST A ONE YEAR ITERATION OF HOW DO WE DO INFRASTRUCTURE IS WE KNOW INFRASTRUCTURE IS A LONG TERM THOUGHT PROCESS.

THE FIVE YEAR CONSTRUCTION PLAN WAS APPROVED BY THE STATE AERONAUTICS COMMISSION IN MAY, PUTTING MORE THAN 100 PROJECTS ON THE LIST FOR THE NEXT HALF DECADE.

THIS FIVE YEAR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN THE REVENUES THAT WE HAVE AND THE FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE IN INFRASTRUCTURE ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS IN THE FIVE YEAR PLAN WILL BE BUILT AT THE SPACEPORT.

CURRENTLY, THIS PART OF THE SPACEPORT IS BEING USED BY THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL TO TRAIN TROOPERS WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH SPEED CHASES.

BUT IN JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS, A GROUNDBREAKING WILL HAPPEN AT THE END OF THIS RUNWAY, AND IT WILL BECOME THE FUTURE HOME OF DON AEROSPACE'S HANGAR THAT WILL REALLY TAKE US INTO THE SPACE AGE HERE AT THE SPACEPORT, AND REALLY LEAN ON THE ASSET THAT WE'VE HAD OUT HERE FOR A GREAT NUMBER OF YEARS TO REALLY GET US FROM THE RUNWAY TO SPACE, AS WE'VE BEEN TRYING SINCE 2006.

NICK YOUNG IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE INFINITY ONE OKLAHOMA SPACEPORT.

HE SAYS THAT A VARIETY OF AEROSPACE COMPANIES CURRENTLY USE THE FACILITY.

WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF TESTING THAT GOES ON OUT HERE ON BOTH THE MANNED AND UNMANNED ASPECT OF FLIGHT.

AND SO WHILE SOME OF THESE HAVE BEEN SPACE COMPANIES, OTHERS HAVE BEEN CONTRACTORS FOR MILITARY PROJECTS OR EVEN JUST UAS BEYOND VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT OPERATIONS, THE ADDITION OF DON AEROSPACE HAS HELPED TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE FORMER CLINTON-SHERMAN MILITARY BASE AND AIRPORT INTO A TYPE OF INDUSTRIAL PARK.

WE HAVE SOME OTHER KIND OF MORE FORWARD THINKING AND REALLY EARLY, EARLY PHASE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WANT TO TEST OUT HERE AS WELL.

AND SO WE HAVE SOME SPACE COMPANIES THAT HAVE SET UP ON THE WEST SIDE FOR SOME VERTICAL LAUNCH TESTING AS WELL.

AND THEN WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF INTEREST THAT'S REALLY POPPED UP OVER THE PAST YEAR ON BOTH THE TRADITIONAL AVIATION SIDE OF THE HOUSE AS WELL AS SPACE.

THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND AEROSPACE PUT TOGETHER THE FIVE YEAR PROGRAM FOR WELL THOUGHT OUT AND PLANNED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THIS GIVES COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN FOR THE NECESSARY PREREQUISITES OF THE PROJECT, THE NECESSARY BUDGET FOR THE LOCAL MATCH THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED FOR THOSE VARIOUS PROJECTS, AND ALSO GIVES US SOME CERTAINTY FOR THINGS LIKE IF WE HAVE A PROJECT FALL OUT, THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE THAT COULD GO FILL THAT HOLE AND STEP FORWARD A YEAR OR TWO, POTENTIALLY.

THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 176 PROJECTS IN THE FIVE YEAR PLAN THE GUTHRIE EDMOND AIRPORT JUST THIS WEEK CUT THE RIBBON ON A PROJECT TO PREPARE FOR A NEW ONE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

DIRECTOR ARTIE SAYS THIS TAXIWAY IS A PARTNERSHIP TO BOLSTER SAFETY AT THE AIRPORT.

IN A PROJECT LIKE WE HAVE HERE, $6 MILLION, A TRUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF GUTHRIE AND EDMOND.

GOES TO SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HEADS TOGETHER AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND A VISION FOR HOW TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT AN AIRPORT.

A NEW TERMINAL BUILDING AT THE GUTHRIE EDMOND AIRPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE NEW PLAN.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE GOT A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF WHERE THE FACILITY WILL BE BUILT JUST RIGHT THIS WAY.

AND IT'S THE LITTLE LOW WING SITTING THERE.

STAN YOUNG IS WANTED TO BE A PILOT SINCE HE WAS A KID.

HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN IN SMALL PLANES BEFORE?

YES.

OKAY.

OKAY.

YEAH.

SOME PEOPLE GET KIND OF APPREHENSIVE AFTER CHECKING IN WITH AIR TRAFFIC.

HERE WE GO.

HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO TAKE US TO THE SKIES ABOVE THE GUTHRIE EDMOND AIRPORT.

IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF BUMPY, SO WE COULD GET A GLIMPSE OF THE JUST COMPLETED TAXIWAY PROJECT AND THE SITE OF THE FUTURE TERMINAL.

WHAT DOES THAT TAXIWAY DO FOR YOU?

YEAH.

SO WE WE'RE NOT MEETING EXISTING FAA DESIGN STANDARDS.

AND SO THAT WAS TO CORRECT THAT ISSUE.

BUT IT ALSO SETS US UP FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

THIS TAXIWAY WILL BE CONNECTING TO OUR FUTURE TERMINAL APRON AND OUR NEW TERMINAL FACILITY.

AND THAT'S ALL TO JUST BETTER CREATE A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR PILOTS.

THE GUTHRIE EDMOND AIRPORT IS GETTING $7 MILLION FROM THE ODAA5 YEAR PLAN TO BUILD THE NEW TERMINAL.

IT'S GOING TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE EXISTING SIZE OF OUR CURRENT FACILITY.

IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETE WITH A 24 HOUR ACCESS PILOT LOUNGE, A CONFERENCE ROOM THAT WILL BE TURNED INTO AN AVIATION CLASSROOM FOR LOCAL STUDENTS AS WELL.

ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING COMPONENTS IS THE NEW RESTAURANT AND DINING COMPONENT OF THAT.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE MORE VISITORS FROM THE PUBLIC COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE THEIR LOCAL AIRPORT.

ANOTHER 2.6 MILLION IS SET ASIDE FOR THE GUTHRIE EDMOND AIRPORT TO BUILD MORE TAXI LANES.

ONCE THE NEW TERMINAL IS COMPLETED.

THE TAXI LANE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN 2028.

A TERMINAL ALSO.

IT'S A LITTLE CLICHE, BUT IT SERVES AS THE FRONT DOOR TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S THE FIRST IMPRESSION THAT VISITORS HAVE WHEN THEY COME IN TO VISIT GUTHRIE AND EDMOND, MAYBE FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY ARRIVE AND WHEN THEY LEAVE THE RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT.

OF WHAT DIRECT DOLLARS CAN WE INFLUENCE MORE JOBS?

OBVIOUSLY, THAT BRINGS IN MORE INCOME TAX, MORE SALES TAX, MORE MORE ECONOMIC GENERATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT ALSO MEANS OKLAHOMA SKIES WILL REMAIN FRIENDLY TO ITS LOCAL PILOTS.

HOW'S THAT CROSSWIND TREATING YOU WELL?

SO FAR, SO GOOD.

NOW, THIS AFTERNOON IT MAY BE A DIFFERENT STORY, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING OKAY.

DOWNWIND.

THE FUNDING FOR THE FIVE YEAR PLAN COMES FROM A MIX OF FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS, WITH LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS TO HELP COMPLETE THE MORE THAN 100 PROJECTS ON THE LIST.

RICH.

JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE CHICKASAW NATION IS OFFICIALLY UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP WITH THE SWEARING IN OF THE TRIBE'S NEW GOVERNOR.

CHRIS ANOATUBBY WAS GIVEN THE OATH OF OFFICE ON JUNE 26TH, SUCCEEDING HIS FATHER AS CHICKASAW GOVERNOR.

HANNAH TUBBY STARTED HIS SERVICE WITH THE CHICKASAW NATION 30 YEARS AGO AS A STAFF PHARMACIST.

HE ALSO WORKED IN THE TRIBAL NATIONS COMMERCE DEPARTMENT AND MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING IN MICE.

THE QUESTION NOW WILL IT WORK IN HUMANS?

THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION IS CONDUCTING RESEARCH IT HOPES WILL HELP REVERSE HEART DISEASE.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS.

NOAH.

YEAH.

RICH RESEARCHERS WERE ABLE TO RECOVER HEART FUNCTION IN DIABETIC MICE.

DIABETIC HUMANS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO CONTRACT HEART DISEASE.

THIS DISCOVERY, HOWEVER, COMES AT A TIME WHERE RESEARCH FUNDING CAN BE HARDER TO MAINTAIN.

THEIR HEART IS BEATING VERY QUICKLY.

THE HEARTBEAT OF THE MICE IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM HUMAN.

THIS IS A SONOGRAM OF A MOUSE HEART.

RESEARCHERS AT THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION STUDY THESE TINY HEARTS ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF A PENCIL ERASER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HUMAN HEART, SPECIFICALLY ONE UNDER THE STRESS OF DISEASE.

HEART DISEASE IS NOT JUST A KILLER.

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, ACTUALLY, BUT MORE SO IN OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE MUCH HIGHER RATES OF OBESITY AND AS A RESULT, HEART DISEASE.

IN OUR STATE, OKLAHOMA HAS MORE DEATHS FROM HEART DISEASE THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION, ACCORDING TO A STUDY FROM THIS YEAR.

RESEARCHERS DOCTOR HINA NIZAMI AND DOCTOR CHEY FANG LI RECENTLY HIT A BREAKTHROUGH CONCERNING A PROTEIN CALLED SARM1.

THIS PROTEIN, FOUND IN BOTH MICE AND HUMANS, IS USUALLY INERT EXCEPT IN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES.

THAT'S WHEN THE PROTEIN BECOMES MALICIOUS, DISTURBING METABOLISM AND IN TURN, HEART HEALTH.

LI USES THIS ANALOGY.

THE HEART IS TO HUMANS AS AN OIL PUMP IS TO A CAR, AND PSALM ONE IS A LEAK, ROBBING THE MACHINE OF WHAT IT NEEDS TO FUNCTION.

SO WE STARTED WITH A SIMPLE HYPOTHESIS.

WE THOUGHT, WHAT IF WE REMOVE THIS PROTEIN OR WE SOMEHOW KEEP ITS ACTIVITY IN CHECK USING A CHEMICAL MOLECULE?

THEY DID JUST THAT IN DIABETIC MICE, AND SURE ENOUGH, 50% OF WHAT WAS LOST IN HEART FUNCTION WAS RESTORED.

THIS IS A PROOF OF CONCEPT STUDY BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS NEVER BEEN TESTED TO HAVE A ROLE TO TO MODULATE HEART DISEASE PROGRESSION.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN A LENGTHY PROCESS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE ROAD, THERE COULD BE A DRUG TO REVERSE DISEASE IN THE HUMAN HEART.

I ALWAYS SEE THIS MAYBE AS A SCIENTIST I SHOULDN'T, BUT THIS DRUG ALMOST FELT LIKE MAGIC NO MATTER HOW I USED IT, WHETHER IN MICE OR IN CELLS, IT SEEMED TO MAKE THE HEART FUNCTION OR HOW WELL THE MITOCHONDRIA FUNCTION OR HOW GOOD THE CELLS LOOK, SOMETIMES EVEN BETTER THAN CELLS OR MICE THAT HAVE NO DISEASE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I'VE BEEN A TYPE ONE DIABETIC FOR 13 YEARS, AND IN THAT TIME I'VE GROWN TO BE A LITTLE BIT JADED.

TAELYR YOUNG KEEPS AN EAGLE EYE ON ADVANCES IN DIABETES RESEARCH, AND HE FEELS LIKE HE'S SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE.

AND I HATE TO USE THE WORD JADED, BECAUSE THAT KIND OF IMPLIES ANGER.

I MIGHT BE ANGRY AT THE OVERALL PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY OR THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, BUT THE RESEARCHERS ARE DOING THEIR BEST AND THEY MEAN WELL.

BUT IT'S LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S JUST A BUNCH OF HICCUPS SOMETIMES THAT THEY CAN'T HELP AND FUNDING.

AND IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN, THAN JUST SAYING, WELL, IT WORKED ON MICE.

HERE YOU GO.

90% OF DRUGS IN CLINICAL TRIALS FAIL.

IF THEY DO SUCCEED, THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKES 10 TO 15 YEARS BEFORE IT REACHES PATIENTS.

LEE'S LAB IS STARTING THAT JOURNEY AND IS IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

2 OR 3 YEARS WE WILL HAVE A DRUG TARGET WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY TESTING.

HE IS CURRENTLY TESTING ON SOME NEW COMPOUNDS THAT INHIBIT SARM1, BUT HURDLES ARE EVER PRESENT IN GENERAL.

SCIENTISTS THESE DAYS IS IN A TOUGH POSITION IN TERMS OF GETTING FUNDING.

THE MACHINE NIZAMI IS USING HERE TO TEST HER COMPOUND WAS OBTAINED THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA CENTER FOR ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH.

OSCAR GRANTS PROVIDE MANY RESOURCES, LIKE THIS MOUSE TAILORED ULTRASOUND MACHINE, WHICH HELPS LEE STUDY THE PRIMARY MUSCLE CELLS THAT MAKE UP THE HEART CALLED CARDIOMYOCYTES.

AND THAT'S WHY WE.

WE WANT TO PARTICULARLY ISOLATE THOSE CELLS AND USING THE.

THIS MICROSCOPIC METHOD.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE TRACES THAT ARE CONTRACT, RELAX, CONTRACT, RELAX, OFFER SINGLE CARDIOMYOCYTES SUPPORT PUSHES THE NEEDLE IN RESEARCH LIKE THIS, LEADING TO LARGER GRANTS FROM FEDERAL SOURCES.

OSCAR GETS ITS FUNDING FROM THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ENDOWMENT TRUST, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED BY A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE 25 YEARS AGO WITH THE MISSION OF PROMOTING PUBLIC HEALTH.

RECENTLY, THE LEGISLATURE HAS FLOATED BILLS TO SHIFT THAT MISSION TOWARDS FUNDING HIGHER EDUCATION.

THIS WOULD THREATEN OSCAR SURVIVAL AND REVERBERATE DOWN TO EFFORTS LIKE NIZAMI AND LEE'S.

LEE BELIEVES EVERY DISCOVERY AND STEP IN THE PROCESS MATTERS, BUT CONCEDES THAT INDIVIDUAL RESEARCHERS NEED TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

WE, AS SCIENTISTS, NEED TO DO MORE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHY WE ARE DOING THAT, AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WE WILL MAKE.

MANY PEOPLE IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY ARE AWARE THAT WE NEED TO ADVOCATE OUR EFFORT BETTER, SO THAT'S WHY I THINK TAKING A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS IS A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

AS MUCH AS TAELYR REMAINS APPREHENSIVE, I GUESS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE WIND BLOWS THE SAME DIRECTION EVERY DAY FOR SO LONG, AND THEN YOU STEP OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR AND IT'S KIND OF BLOWING THE OTHER WAY, YOU PROBABLY KIND OF TELL YOURSELF, WELL, IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT TO START BLOWING THE OTHER WAY AGAIN.

HE IS STILL ROOTING FOR NIZAMI AND LEE, AND I WILL SAY I'M VERY EXCITED THAT THEY'VE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH HERE IN OKLAHOMA, AND I HOPE IT MAKES IT THROUGH MEDICAL TRIALS.

I HOPE THAT IT IT GOES ALL THE WAY AND THAT IT WORKS.

TAELYR IMPLORES PEOPLE WITH DIABETES TO STAY PLUGGED IN TO THE RESEARCH WORLD, AND NIZAMI HOPES THIS DISCOVERY GALVANIZES OKLAHOMANS TO DO JUST THAT.

I'M GLAD WE ARE DOING THIS.

I'M GLAD IT'S REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY, OF COURSE, ARE NOT IN THE LAB TO SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING, OR MAYBE NOT ABLE TO EVEN READ A PAPER, BUT I HOPE IT REACHES PEOPLE THAT WE ARE OUT HERE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT ULTIMATELY BENEFITS ALL OF US, AND NOT DOING THIS JUST FOR PRESTIGE OR PAPERS OR ALL OF THAT.

SO ON MOST DAYS IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE JUST A JOB, BUT SOMETHING THAT'S EVENTUALLY LEADING TO A LOT OF FULFILLMENT FOR EVERYONE.

NIZAMI AND LEE SAY A DRUG THAT INHIBITS SARM1 IS ALREADY IN CLINICAL TRIALS FOR BRAIN FUNCTION.

THEY ARE THE PIONEERS LOOKING INTO HOW THIS PROTEIN AFFECTS HEART FUNCTION.

RICH.

VERY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU.

NOAH.

CHILDREN WITH VISION LOSS LEARN A POWERFUL LESSON WHEN THEY ATTEND OWL CAMP.

THEIR LACK OF EYESIGHT DOES NOT DEFINE WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY CAN BECOME.

THE CAMP WRAPPED UP THIS WEEK, BUT NOT BEFORE TAELYR JACKSON PAID A VISIT TO DAVIS, OKLAHOMA TO CHECK IT OUT.

TAELYR STANDS FOR OKLAHOMANS WITHOUT LIMITS.

THIS CAMP HELPS KIDS AGES 8 TO 16 FOCUS ON CAPABILITY RATHER THAN DISABILITY.

YEAH, IT'S LIKE A SMALL LITTLE STEP DOWN.

DEMARI WASHINGTON IS ONE OF 11 OWL CAMPERS.

I JUST FEEL A PART OF IT AND I LIKE FIT IN NEW VIEWS, YOUTH PROGRAM MANAGER CHRISTY DIXON SAYS.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

IT'S HUGE, NOT ONLY FOR OUR KIDS WHO ARE GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO ACTIVITIES WITH EVERYONE ELSE, BUT I ALMOST SEE IT AS BEING A MORE POSITIVE THING FOR KIDS WHO DON'T NORMALLY SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SIT HERE WATCHING THEM DO THE EXACT SAME THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND THERE'S SUCH AN APPRECIATION FOR LIKE, OH, IF THEY DID IT, I CAN DO IT TOO.

AND FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, OWL CAMP HAS PROVIDED THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR JUST THAT.

THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE.

NEW VIEW YOUTH ENJOY TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES LIKE SWIMMING IN THE LAKE AND NATURE HIKES.

SO THEY HAVE A BRAND NEW ROPES COURSE THREE STORIES TALL AND YOU JUST PUT THEM IN THE RESTRAINTS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, AND THEN THEY GO AND DO.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, CAMPERS WENT ON A MILE LONG TRAIL RIDE.

THE HORSES WERE KIND OF STUBBORN, BUT WE MANAGED.

THEY WERE PRETTY FUN TO RIDE.

THERE'S DEFINITELY PLENTY OF OUTDOOR SKILLS.

WE'VE ALREADY DONE SWIMMING, TOMAHAWK THROWING, SO IT GOES DEEPER BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES IT GIVE THEM THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEIR SIGHTED PEERS WOULD HAVE, IT'S ALSO GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THINGS WITH THE DISABILITY THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT THEY COULD DO.

KAYLIE MILTNER IS THE YOUTH ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR, AND SHE SAYS NEWVIEW HAS HELPED HER IN NUMEROUS WAYS.

HOW THEY'VE HELPED ME IS THEY OFFERED ME SOME TRAINING, SO I GOT TO DO ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ORIENTATION, MOBILITY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ALL THROUGH THEIR PROGRAMS.

AND IT'S ALSO HELPED ME FIND A PASSION IN THIS JOB, BEING A YOUTH ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR, BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THE FAMILY THAT WE'RE GROWING.

FOR THE SECOND YEAR, OWL CAMP WAS HELD AT THE YMCA OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY'S CAMP CLASSEN IN DAVIS.

DIXON SAYS BEFORE CAMP EVEN STARTS, THEY COME OUT TO ENSURE EVERYTHING IS SAFE FOR THEIR CAMPERS.

WE MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT COULD BE SOME KIND OF DANGER FOR OUR KIDS, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE IT, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, WE WANT TO MAKE IT A HIGH CONTRAST, REFLECTIVE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE HAVE YOU MAY SEE RED AND YELLOW AND BLUE KIND OF THINGS OUT HERE.

CAMP CLASS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JASON BROWN SAYS THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWVIEW IS VALUABLE.

IT LETS THEM KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO HARD THINGS.

YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING A KID NOWADAYS IS PRETTY CHALLENGING IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT WHEN YOU'RE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, THAT'S ONE MORE THING YOU GOT TO WORK THROUGH.

BUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IS JUST WATCHING THOSE KIDS EXPERIENCE CAMP, THE EXCITEMENT, INTERACTING WITH OTHER KIDS, DOING THE ACTIVITIES.

CAMP CLASS SITS ON 2200 ACRES IN THE ARBUCKLE MOUNTAINS.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY CAMP.

CLASS HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1941 AS PART OF THE YMCA OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY.

SO DURING THE SUMMER WE HAVE RESIDENT CAMP.

WE'LL HAVE CLOSE TO 1100 CAMPERS.

WE DO A CAMP FOR KIDS FROM A MILITARY BACKGROUND.

WE WORK WITH DIABETES SOLUTIONS OF OKLAHOMA.

DIXON SAYS GETTING USED TO THE TERRAIN LAST YEAR WAS A BIT ROCKY, BUT THIS YEAR THEY'VE ALL GOT IT DOWN.

ONCE THEY KIND OF GET THEIR FEET UNDER THEM RIGHT, THEY'RE GOOD TO GO.

AND SO NOW THEY'RE KIND OF RUNNING THE SHOW.

WE'RE MORE OR LESS WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO AND ALL THAT.

NOW THE KIDS KIND OF HAVE IT UNDER THEIR BELT AND THEY'RE DOING GREAT, AND THEY'RE PROBABLY LEADING US BETTER THAN WE WERE LEADING THEM.

MELISSA WEATHERS 15 YEAR OLD SON GABE, HAS ATTENDED CAMP FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS.

HE LOOKS FORWARD TO IT EVERY YEAR, LIKE SINCE HE GOT OUT OF SCHOOL THIS YEAR.

HE'S LIKE, WHEN ARE WE GOING?

CAN WE GO NOW?

IS IT TIME?

SO HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT.

GABE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STARGARDT'S DISEASE WHEN HE WAS IN THE SECOND GRADE.

IT WAS TERRIFYING AT FIRST.

HE STARTED LOSING HIS VISION IN THE SECOND GRADE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WE WENT TO AN OPTOMETRIST AND HE HAD JUST BEEN THERE LIKE SIX MONTHS BEFORE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG.

BUT THEN HE STARTED READING WITH HIS BOOK, LIKE RIGHT UP TO HIS FACE, AND HE COULDN'T SEE THE BOARDS.

THE DISEASE CAUSES VISION LOSS IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AND IS TYPICALLY PASSED THROUGH GENETICS.

HE'S LOSING HIS CENTRAL VISION, SO HE USES HIS PERIPHERAL MORE, AND HIS BRAIN JUST TRIES TO FILL IN WHAT HE'S MISSING IN THE CENTRAL PART.

SO HE IS LEGALLY BLIND.

AND WHEN YOU SAY SOMEONE'S LEGALLY BLIND, THERE'S LIKE A SPECTRUM.

SO SOME PEOPLE CAN SEE NOTHING.

AND THEN SOME MIGHT SEE A LITTLE BIT.

AND GABE HASN'T LET THAT STOP HIMSELF FROM ENJOYING LIFE.

HE'S A BASEBALL PLAYER FOR THE OKLAHOMA LOOKOUTS.

OH IT'S GREAT.

11TH AND 12TH OF THIS MONTH WE'RE HAVING OUR OKLAHOMA TOURNAMENT IN TULSA.

SO WE'RE READY TO BE SUPER HOT.

AND BUT IT'S ALWAYS FUN.

I LOVE ALL THE GUYS ON OUR TEAM AND THE VOLUNTEERS.

OVERALL, DIXON SAYS CAMPERS LEAVE WITH NEW INDEPENDENCE.

WE TALKED TO THE CAMP COUNSELORS AHEAD OF TIME AND SAID, DON'T TREAT THEM ANY DIFFERENT.

AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MESSAGE, IS THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO BE TREATED ANY DIFFERENT.

THERE'S SMALL THINGS THAT WE ACCOMMODATE FOR IN THIS OR THAT TO MAKE THEM FULLY INDEPENDENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THESE OKLAHOMANS WITHOUT LIMITS ARE ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING CAMP IN 2027.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONTACT NEWVIEW OKLAHOMA FOR SERVICES, VISIT ENVY OKLAHOMA.ORG.

RICH TAELYR.

THANK YOU.

MORE BIG NAME INVESTORS RECRUITED FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM THAT WILL BEGIN PLAYING IN OKLAHOMA CITY IN 2028.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED ECHO INVESTMENT CAPITAL ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT'S WELCOMING FORMER OU QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER FORWARD JALEN WILLIAMS AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN AS INVESTORS INTO THE OKLAHOMA CITY PROFESSIONAL SOCCER CLUB AND THE DOWNTOWN STADIUM DISTRICT, THEY JOIN FELLOW ATHLETE INVESTORS RUSSELL WESTBROOK, JOZY ALTIDORE AND NICK BENITO.

THE SOCCER CLUB'S NAME, COLORS AND BRANDING WILL BE UNVEILED LATER THIS YEAR.

THE ENOLA TOWN COUNCIL IS TAPPING THE BRAKES ON PLANS TO BUILD AN ALUMINUM SMELTER WITHIN ITS INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.

THE MORATORIUM IS SET FOR 60 DAYS.

OKLAHOMA PRIMARY ALUMINUM SENT A LETTER TO THE TOWN COUNCIL RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT A LONG TERM MORATORIUM, WHICH COULD SET THE STAGE FOR LEGAL ACTION.

THE PAUSE IS MEANT TO ADDRESS ENOLA RESIDENTS CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT THE SMELTER MAY HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED SANDRIDGE ENERGY IS EXPANDING INTO THE CHEROKEE PLAY IN THE MIDCONTINENT REGION IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA.

THE COMPANY HAD ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE PRODUCING ASSETS AND LEASEHOLD INTERESTS IN THE OIL AND GAS FORMATION FOR $65 MILLION.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED GULFPORT ENERGY ALSO IS EXPANDING, BUT THAT COMPANY IS TARGETING A FORMATION IN OHIO.

THE COMPANY SAYS THE ACQUISITION INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 4700 NET UNDEVELOPED ACRES IN THE OHIO UTICA FORMATION.

GULF PORTS DEAL IS EXPECTED TO COST $83 MILLION.

THE COMPANY ALREADY HAS DEVELOPED OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN THE OHIO UTICA AND EXPECTS TO BEGIN DEVELOPMENT OF ITS NEW ACQUISITION IN 2027.

OKLAHOMANS ARE SPENDING LESS MONEY THAN LAST MONTH TO FILL UP THE TANK AS THE INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND GETS UNDERWAY.

TRIPLE A OKLAHOMA'S FUEL PRICE REPORT SHOWS A GALLON OF REGULAR UNLEADED AVERAGES ABOUT $3.39 A GALLON.

THAT'S DOWN FROM A MONTH AGO AT $3.80 A GALLON.

HOWEVER, GAS PRICES HAVEN'T COME DOWN TO LAST YEAR'S LEVELS YET.

OKLAHOMA MOTORISTS WERE PAYING $2.74 A GALLON A YEAR AGO.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY IS A TIME TO LOOK BACK AND FORWARD.

WHAT WILL THE NEXT 50 YEARS LOOK LIKE IN OKLAHOMA?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADDO AND HER PANEL OF FUTURISTS.

SUSAN, JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE IN OKLAHOMA, WE HAVE JEFFREY SEYMOUR, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY INNOVATION DISTRICT.

WE ALSO HAVE RUSSELL EVANS, THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, AND JAMIE JACOB, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA AEROSPACE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

THAT IS A LONG TITLE, JAMIE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

PLEASURE.

SO, JAMIE, START OFF.

LET'S START OFF WITH YOU QUICKLY.

JUST KIND OF LET FOLKS KNOW WHAT YOU DO.

SURE, SURE.

MY MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE LAND GRANT MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, SPECIFICALLY WITH EMERGING AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, AND SUPPORT GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY ACROSS THE STATE AND NATION TO MAKE SURE THAT OKLAHOMA IS A LEADER IN EMERGING AEROSPACE.

A BIG PART OF THE FUTURE.

WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.

OKAY.

JEFF, HOW ABOUT YOU?

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO I RUN A NONPROFIT, THE OKLAHOMA CITY INNOVATION DISTRICT, INC.

THAT'S FOCUSED ON WORKING ON ALONGSIDE PARTNERS LIKE THESE TWO TO BRING NEW COMMERCIALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE PREPARE OUR RESIDENTS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE.

AND FINALLY, RUSSELL, SO MY DAY JOB IS REALLY AS AN ECONOMIST.

SO I WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY AS DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.

SO I'M IN HIGHER ED, BUT I ALSO CONSULT WITH TRIBES AND CITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS AND INDUSTRY GROUPS ON, ON A NUMBER OF FORWARD LOOKING PROJECTS, THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE ECONOMY MIGHT LOOK LIKE A YEAR OR TWO FROM NOW.

SO TODAY'S CONVERSATION, LOOKING LONGER DOWN THE ROAD.

SOUNDS SOUNDS AWFULLY APPEALING TO ME.

IT'S PERFECT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY ON THE NATION'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL.

TA DA!

I CAN SEE THE WORD VERY WELL.

YES.

THANK YOU.

THERE'LL BE A TEST LATER FOR EACH OF YOU.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK.

I WANTED TO LOOK TOWARD THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

WHAT'S GOING WHAT'S WHAT'S OUR STATE, OUR NATION GOING TO BE LIKE WHEN AMERICA CELEBRATES HER 300TH BIRTHDAY?

BUT YOU GUYS SHUT THAT DOWN PRETTY QUICK.

YEAH.

ESPECIALLY YOU, JAMIE.

WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT?

WELL, 50 IS REALLY HARD TO PREDICT.

I MEAN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE WERE 50 YEARS AGO, SO 1976, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHERE WE'D BE AT TODAY?

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD VISIONS OF, OH, YEAH, WE'LL HAVE COLONIES ON THE MOON.

MAYBE WE'LL BE ON MARS.

AND THINKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.

YOU KNOW, WE PREDICTED SUPERCOMPUTERS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WOULD COME A LOT QUICKER THAN IT HAS THINGS LIKE NUCLEAR POWER.

SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO PREDICT THAT FAR IN THE FUTURE, EVEN TEN YEARS, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ALL THE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST DECADE.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE'D BE USING CHATGPT AND AI ON OUR PHONE TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE OUR HOMEWORK PROBLEMS?

THE WORLD'S CHANGING SO FAST RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU GRAPPLE WITH THINKING AND FORECASTING REALLY FAR IN THE FUTURE, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE DAY TO DAY RIGHT NOW?

WELL, RUSSELL, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON AS YOU'RE TRYING TO GUESS?

FIGURE OUT IN AN EDUCATED WAY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING FIVE, TEN YEARS?

YEAH.

FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE THE IDEA OF LOOKING 50 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE I LIKE THE IDEA OF FORECASTING FAR ENOUGH IN THE FUTURE THAT IT'S A FORECAST TO WHICH I CAN NEVER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

SO TO ME, THE FARTHER WE GO, THE MORE COMFORTABLE, THE MORE COMFORTABLE I AM.

YOU KNOW, ON THE ECONOMIC SIDE, WHAT WE'RE REALLY FOLLOWING IS SOME STRUCTURAL TRENDS, RIGHT?

SO MIGRATION PATTERNS AND YOU LOOK AT RESOURCE USE PATTERNS, AND YOU CAN LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AND KIND OF GET A SENSE OF WHAT POCKETS, WHAT AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES MIGHT SEE THE MOST POPULATION GROWTH MIGHT BE PRONE TO EXPERIENCE THE MOST ECONOMIC GROWTH, WHAT AREAS WILL BE CHALLENGED, HOW WE'LL HAVE TO ADAPT TO SOME RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, WATER CONSTRAINTS IN THE SOUTHWEST, IN PARTICULAR IN OTHER AREAS.

AND AND SO AS YOU LOOK LONG RUN, YOU CAN SEE SOME PATTERNS THAT ARE RESHAPING THE UNITED STATES JUST A LITTLE BIT AND THEN SPECULATE ON WHERE TECHNOLOGY MIGHT LEAD AND WHERE THOSE FURTHER DISRUPTIONS MIGHT COME.

OKAY.

LET ME ASK ALL OF YOU.

LET'S START WITH TECHNOLOGY AND AI.

BEFORE WE WE STARTED OUR DISCUSSION, I DID SHARE WITH YOU THAT I PUT INTO GOOGLE AI SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE IN 50 YEARS.

HOW BIG A ROLE IS AI GOING TO PLAY?

AND WILL OKLAHOMA HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THAT ROLE?

AND I'LL LET ANY OF YOU ANSWER.

WELL, I THINK EVERYONE WILL HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS.

YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE SEEN HOW THIS IS ROLLED OUT AND BECOME INTEGRATED, NOT INTO REALLY JUST OUR OUR WORK LIVES, BUT OUR DAILY LIVES, YOU KNOW, AND HOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING UP YOUR RESEARCH, YOU SAY, OH, HERE, AI IS NOW ASSISTING ME IN DOING THIS.

AND WHAT I THINK IS REALLY THE MOST PRESCIENT IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING WHAT THE CURRENT GENERATION WHO'S GROWN UP WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK OF THIS IN TERMS OF THE THREE OF US HERE, FOUR OF US AT THIS TABLE.

WE'RE ALL DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS.

YOU KNOW, WE GREW UP IN AN ANALOG WORLD WITH TECHNOLOGY, AND WE'VE REALLY IMMIGRATED INTO USING COMPUTERS INTO OUR DAILY LIVES.

THE CURRENT GENERATION THAT IS BEING BORN NOW AND BEING EDUCATED RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ALL DIGITAL NATIVES.

AND NOW WE HAVE THE FIRST GENERATION OF AI NATIVES THAT ARE USING THESE MACHINE LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES, REALLY TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.

JEFF, QUICKLY, IT'S THE INNOVATION DISTRICT.

WHAT ARE YOU FORECASTING?

I KNOW IT'S OKLAHOMA CITY, BUT DO YOU TAKE A LOOK AT TAKE A BROADER LOOK AT THE STATE.

WE DO.

I MEAN, WE TRY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND THRIVE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

AND THINKING ABOUT, AS JAMIE SAID, WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION LOOK LIKE TO CONTINUE TO ENABLE OKLAHOMA CITY AND OKLAHOMA'S LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THESE SPACES?

FOR US, WE REALLY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE ENERGY MARKET WILL CONTINUE TO BE DISRUPTED.

THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR NOT JUST AEROSPACE, BUT TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY.

KIND OF TYING BACK TO SOMETHING THAT RUSSELL SAID IS, YOU KNOW, OKLAHOMA IS REALLY IN A UNIQUE POSITION IN THAT WE'RE IN THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT COMES TO POPULATION GROWTH.

SO WHY ARE WE SEEING POPULATION GROWTH IN THE MIDWEST?

YEAH.

LET ME COME BACK TO THE AI QUESTION FIRST AND THEN TO THE POPULATION QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

ON THE AI QUESTION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT IS INTERESTING THAT JAMIE MENTIONED IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF USERS.

THEY WILL BE NATIVE AI USERS.

AND WE'RE STRUGGLING IN HIGHER EDUCATION WITH THIS IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED IT SORT OF BEFORE THE TAPING, THIS IDEA.

WE CAN STILL IDENTIFY AI WRITING.

I THINK WE HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF NATIVE USERS THAT ARE COMING IN, AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER AI IS LEARNING TO WRITE LIKE US, OR WHETHER THESE YOUTH ARE LEARNING TO WRITE LIKE THEIR AI RESPONSES.

OH, NO.

RIGHT.

AND SO, SO THE DIFFICULTY OF PERCEIVING WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT EVEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION ALREADY IS GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE SEE YOUNG STUDENTS WHO ARE SORT OF ADOPTING THE VOICE OF THE THINGS, OF THE THINGS THAT THEY READ, I THINK, ON A BIGGER SCALE FOR OKLAHOMA.

I STILL THINK AI IS A MICRO LEVEL DISRUPTOR, NOT A MACRO DISRUPTOR OVER THE NEXT 10 OR 15 YEARS.

IN OTHER WORDS, I THINK IT WILL REFINE THE WAY WE DO TASKS, DIVISIONS, DEPARTMENTS, BUT ENTERPRISE LEVEL AI REFORMS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.

THEY REQUIRE A TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY REQUIRE A WORKFORCE THAT'S COMFORTABLE WITH THAT TECHNOLOGY.

AND YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME PEOPLE THAT TRIED TO RUSH INTO ENTERPRISE LEVEL SOLUTIONS, WALKING THEM BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK IT WILL.

I THINK ENTERPRISE LEVEL DISRUPTIONS WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO TO ON BOARD.

I WILL, I, I, IT'S FUNNY, I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PROBABLY PUSH BACK, BUT I KIND OF DO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT WE TALK ABOUT AND WE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY REALLY ARE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT DISRUPTION IN THE ENERGY MARKETS.

A GREAT EXAMPLE, WHAT DOES AI LOOK LIKE INTERNALLY DISRUPT THE WAY THEY DO WORK, BUT ALSO THE WAY THEY THINK ABOUT RESOURCES?

RIGHT?

AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, I THINK THE POINT ABOUT HELPING OUR RESIDENTS BE PREPARED FOR THAT FUTURE, I THINK ONE OF OUR GOALS AS A DISTRICT AND ORGANIZATION IS TO HELP THINK ABOUT RESIDENTS THAT HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRADITIONAL ECONOMY, BUT BEING MORE EQUIPPED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ECONOMY OF THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION.

YEAH, AND I THINK THE IMPACT ON THAT IS REALLY A SOCIETAL DISRUPTION EVEN MORE THAN IT IS ON ECONOMIC DISRUPTION.

SO IT'LL CERTAINLY BE OPPORTUNITIES ON THE ECONOMIC SIDE THAT WILL HELP COMPANIES GROW FASTER AND DO THINGS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE DONE PREVIOUSLY OR BEEN ABLE TO DO PREVIOUSLY.

BUT THE IMPACT ON SOCIETY AT LARGE, IT'S REALLY AKIN TO WHEN WE HAD THE PRINTING PRESS, AND THEN WE HAD THE CAPABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE AT THEIR FINGERTIPS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT TRAINING AND A WORKFORCE FOR FUTURE OCCUPATIONS, DOES THAT LOOK LIKE A TRADITIONAL COLLEGE EDUCATION ANYMORE?

OR MORE LIKE REALLY FOCUSING ON TECH ONLY?

I KIND OF RIFF FIRST, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL TOSS IT IS I THINK WE'RE SAYING IT'S GOT TO BE IN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE THINKING DEEPLY ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AT A PHD LEVEL TO THINK ABOUT PRIMARY RESEARCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OKLAHOMA.

WE'VE GOT TO CREATE A DEEPER BENCH OF PRIMARY RESEARCH TAKING PLACE HERE THAT SPINS THINGS OFF.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, LAYERS ON TOP OF THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, MICRO-CREDENTIALS, I THINK THE MAJOR TURNING POINT THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN THE MARKETPLACE IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF SKILLS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE CREATIVE SKILLS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE TECHNOLOGY SKILLS, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND SOMETIMES TACTILE SKILLS AS WELL.

AND YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BLEND ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER.

I WANT TO COME.

I WANT TO I WANT TO COME TO RESOURCES IN A MINUTE.

BUT BUT FIRST, JAMIE, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY.

I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OKLAHOMA IS REALLY FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW.

WHAT IS IT LOOKING LIKE?

IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY GOING TO BRING MORE?

I WANT TO SAY ATTENTION TO OKLAHOMA, BUT MORE STANDING TO OKLAHOMA.

YEAH.

AND IF YOU LOOK BACK AT OKLAHOMA'S HISTORY, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A REALLY STORIED AVIATION PAST GOING BACK OVER 100 YEARS.

AND IN TERMS OF THE EARLY DAYS OF FLIGHT, AND WE REALLY KIND OF BUILT OUR AVIATION LEGACY ON THAT.

BUT AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, OBVIOUSLY WE SEE UNMANNED AUTONOMOUS AIRCRAFT BECOMING A REALLY MORE PREVALENT PART OF OUR ECONOMIC SECTOR IN AEROSPACE, BUT ALSO A GROWING TRUE SPACE ECONOMY AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE STATE.

AND REALLY TURN THIS MORE FROM, I WOULD SAY, A BIG A SMALL S AEROSPACE ECONOMY TO MORE OF AN EQUAL FOOTING ON BOTH AERO AND SPACE.

AND I THINK THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN OKLAHOMA FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LEAN INTO THAT, NOT JUST IN SUPPORTING THAT TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, BUT ACTUALLY AT SOME POINT DOING LAUNCHES FROM THE STATE.

THAT'S WOW, THAT'S NOW THAT'S A BIG DEAL THAT THEY'RE GETTING PARITY IN THAT ARENA.

EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT MARS.

IS IT A PIPE DREAM?

IT'S IT'S A REALLY HEAVY LIFT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT GETTING TO THE MOON, IT'S EXPONENTIALLY MUCH HARDER TO GET TO MARS.

DO I BELIEVE WE WILL GET THERE AT SOME POINT?

50 YEARS.

I'LL GO BACK TO RUSSELL'S COMMENT.

I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT BECAUSE I'LL BE DEAD BY THEN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

RIGHT.

NOBODY HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE IN THE NEXT IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

I'D BE REALLY SURPRISED IF WE PUT PEOPLE ON MARS NEXT 20 TO 30.

I THINK IT MAY HAPPEN, BUT IT'S A REALLY, REALLY HARD CHALLENGE.

WHEN ARE WE GETTING FLYING CARS BEFORE WE GET TO RESOURCES?

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

SO SO WE DO HAVE FLYING CARS.

NOW.

WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THAT.

THEY'RE NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE, NOR DO WE HAVE THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS US TO OPERATE THOSE SAFELY.

WE'RE ALREADY DOING MEDICAL DELIVERY NOW, TESTING THAT, DELIVERING MEDICAL SUPPLIES WITH SOME OF THE TRIBES HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

IT'S LIKE YOU JUST DROPPED AN ASTEROID RIGHT HERE IN THIS TABLE.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I LOVE THAT I'M SUPER NOW I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO TAKE SOME LONGEVITY MEDICINE SO I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT RESOURCES.

IS THERE ARE THERE ENOUGH RESOURCES IN OKLAHOMA AND WHAT SORTS?

AND DO YOU GUYS EVEN LOOK AT THAT FOR WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRIES, YOU KNOW, POPULATION, WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE?

WHY WOULD WE SEE AN INCREASE IN POPULATION IN OKLAHOMA AND NOT JUST THE WHOLE MIDWEST?

YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU'VE SEEN THIS LONG TERM TREND FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTH AND WEST, RIGHT?

SO YOU SEE SORT OF SOUTH CENTRAL, SOUTHWEST AREAS, THIS I-35 CORRIDOR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, SOUTHEAST FLORIDA, NOW INTO GEORGIA AND SOME OTHER SOUTHEASTERN STATES ARE SEEING VERY, VERY STRONG GROWTH, SORT OF.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST HAS EXPERIENCED STRONG GROWTH THAT HAS THAT HAS LED UP IN JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT I THINK THESE LONG TERM STRUCTURAL TRENDS, THOSE WILL CONTINUE.

THERE'S A NATURAL FLOW PEOPLE IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY INTO THIS AREA, AND I THINK WE ARE.

IT'S INTERESTING YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FLYING CARS AND AND BIGGER PICTURE ABOUT SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOME OF THOSE SOLUTIONS.

OKLAHOMA REALLY IS A BIT OF A LABORATORY WHERE WE CAN BE ON THE FRONT END OF LEARNING AND EXPERIMENTING WITH SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MIX THAT WE HAVE WITH NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES WITH SOME, SOME, SOME PERSISTENT DECENTRALIZATION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WHERE LESS URBANIZED NATURALLY THAN OTHER STATES.

AND SO TO SORT OF GENERATE SOME URBANIZATION WILL CREATE SOME DELIBERATE POLICIES.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TEST SOME UNIQUE THINGS IN OKLAHOMA AND BE ON THE FRONT END OF SOME INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS.

THE WAY THAT WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY IS A CHANCE TO ALSO INVITE OTHERS TO THE TABLE.

AND I THINK THE WAY THAT WE'VE MADE REALLY MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS IN OUR CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE, IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, IT WAS ALWAYS INTENTIONAL TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT.

AND FOR US, THAT'S CREATING A MORE ALIGNMENT AROUND SOME OF THESE KEY VERTICALS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, BUT ALSO INVITING COMPANIES AND RESEARCHERS AND TECHNOLOGISTS THAT AREN'T HERE YET TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THIS FUTURE AND, AND USE THAT LABORATORY ENVIRONMENT THAT RUSSELL JUST DESCRIBED TO REALLY SOLVE BIG PICTURE PROBLEMS USING TECHNOLOGY IN A, IN A SPACE THAT REALLY BENEFITS THE RESIDENTS OF OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA CITY.

YEAH.

I, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SOUND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TOO PAROCHIAL WHEN I SAY THIS IN THE SENSE THAT THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT OKLAHOMA IS OUR ABILITY TO, I THINK, WORK TOGETHER VERY EASILY, COLLABORATE, COORDINATE WITH EACH OTHER.

WE'RE BOTH SMALL ENOUGH TO KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO TALK TO, BUT LARGE ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE A PRETTY DEEP WELL OF EXPERTISE WITHIN THE STATE.

NOW WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

I'D LIKE TO GIVE EACH ONE OF YOU A CHANCE TO DO A FINAL WORD FOR FOLKS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT SHOULD DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE THAT WILL HELP THEM BETTER PLAN FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES?

I'LL START WITH YOU.

I'LL GO BACK TO THE RESOURCE PIECE.

YOU KNOW, YOU ASKED ABOUT KIND OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH RESOURCES OF OUR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, 30 OR 40 YEARS AGO?

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FRACKING BOOM IN OKLAHOMA BEING THIS POWERHOUSE IN NATURAL GAS.

BUT NOW IF WE LOOK AT THE OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, WIND ENERGY NOW PRODUCES A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE ENERGY ACROSS THE STATE.

THINGS DOWN THE ROAD 50 YEARS FROM NOW, AND WE START TO LOOK AT THE OTHER ENERGY AND AEROSPACE RESOURCES.

AGAIN, VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT, BUT I'LL BE PRETTY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THINGS GO IN THE FUTURE.

JEFF.

I THINK FOR ME, IT'S BE A SPONGE.

THERE'S SO MUCH INTERESTING THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, WHETHER IT COMES TO JOBS AND SKILLS OR THE TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY EMERGING, THAT THE WAY TO BE REALLY COMPETITIVE LONGER TERM IS TO BE A SPONGE AND SOAK THESE THINGS UP AND UNDERSTAND WHAT ADAPTABILITY AND CREATIVITY LOOKS LIKE, AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AS A REGION AND AS EMPLOYEES.

I THINK WHAT I'M WATCHING FOR IS IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER OUR IDENTITY AS AN OIL AND NATURAL GAS STATE IS STILL OUR CORE IDENTITY AND WHAT OUR IDENTITY WILL BE OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

CERTAINLY, AEROSPACE SEEMS TO BE THE LEADER IN THE CLUBHOUSE IN THAT CONVERSATION, BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND THE OKLAHOMA ECONOMY 50 YEARS FROM NOW, LIKE WHAT IS THE IDENTITY?

WHAT IS THE THING THAT PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH THE OKLAHOMA ECONOMY?

AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT EVOLVES.

BUT IT WILL IT WILL LIKELY BE VERY DIFFERENT 50 YEARS FROM NOW THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THIS WAS A FUN DISCUSSION.

THANKS.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THE INVITATION.

YEAH, THAT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU.

SUSAN.

IF THERE'S ONE THING LOUISIANA HAS PLENTY OF, IT'S OYSTER SHELLS AND ALGAE.

THE STATE'S COASTLINE AND SWAMPS ARE FULL OF BOTH.

AND IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL REVIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL DOWN TO THE BAYOU, WHERE STUDENTS AT NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY ARE LEARNING HOW TO TURN THEM INTO CLEANER, BURNING BIOFUELS.

THAT STORY, COURTESY OF OUR PBS PARTNERS AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING IN BATON ROUGE.

ALONG THE BAYOU, ALGAE AND OYSTER SHELLS ARE EASY TO OVERLOOK, BUT INSIDE THIS NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY LAB, STUDENTS ARE GIVING THOSE LOCAL BYPRODUCTS A SECOND LIFE.

THE TEAM IS RESEARCHING HOW ALGAE CAN BE CONVERTED INTO BIODIESEL, A CLEANER BURNING ALTERNATIVE TO GASOLINE.

WHILE CRUSHED OYSTER SHELLS ARE USED TO LOWER THE COST OF PRODUCTION.

WE HAVE ABUNDANCE OF OYSTER SHELLS AND THEY POSES CHALLENGES OF DISPOSAL AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES OF POLLUTION, AND WE ALSO HAVE PLENTIFUL MICROALGAE.

WE SAT DOWN AND DECIDED TO THINK IF WE COULD PUT THE TWO TOGETHER TO SOLVE ONE PROBLEM OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, TO PROBLEM OF POLLUTION AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR IT WILL BE A WISE IDEA.

TRADITIONAL BIODIESEL PRODUCTION OFTEN DEPENDS ON FOOD CROPS LIKE SOYBEANS, WHICH REQUIRE LARGE AMOUNTS OF LAND AND EXPENSIVE INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS.

BUT PROFESSOR BELLO AND HIS STUDENTS WANTED TO FIND A CHEAPER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH, USING RESOURCES ALREADY ABUNDANT IN LOUISIANA.

THE PROCESS STARTS IN THE FIELD, WHERE STUDENTS COLLECT ALGAE FROM NEARBY DITCHES AND WATERWAYS.

ONCE BACK IN THE LAB, THE ALGAE IS DRIED, PROCESSED AND CONVERTED INTO FUEL.

AT THE SAME TIME, OYSTER SHELLS, ANOTHER COMMON LOUISIANA BYPRODUCT, ARE CRUSHED AND TRANSFORMED INTO A CATALYST THAT HELPS DRIVE THE CHEMICAL REACTION NEEDED TO MAKE BIODIESEL.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES FROM THE AREA, WHICH ALREADY IS LOWERING THE COST, BECAUSE FEEDSTOCKS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE REACTION ARE MORE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THEIR PROCESS COULD DRASTICALLY REDUCE CERTAIN BIODIESEL PRODUCTION COSTS COMPARED WITH SOME TRADITIONAL METHODS.

WE HAVE DONE A PRELIMINARY TECHNO ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, AND OUR FINDING WAS HUGELY GOOD.

WE WERE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THIS PROTOCOL BECOMES SUCCESSFUL, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CUT COSTS BY ABOUT 70 TO 80%.

THE RESEARCH RECENTLY GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION WHEN NICHOLLS UNDERGRADUATE SAMIA EL-ASHRY PRESENTED THE TEAM'S FINDINGS AT THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY SPRING 2026 NATIONAL MEETING IN ATLANTA.

FOR SAMIA, THE PROJECT BECAME MORE THAN JUST AN ASSIGNMENT IN A SCIENCE CLASS.

IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO RESEARCH WITH REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS.

BEFORE EVEN GRADUATING COLLEGE.

IS THIS SOMETHING YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE DOING?

BECAUSE THIS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH.

HONESTLY, NO.

ANNA, I'M A PRE-MED MAJOR, SO THIS IS LIKE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FIELD.

BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING A GOOD TIME.

YOU KNOW IT.

IT'S GOOD FOR THE WORLD.

IT'S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE WORLD THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

SO I'VE BEEN ENJOYING IT.

AND I'M LEARNING.

AT MANY UNIVERSITIES, ADVANCED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFTEN RESERVED FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS OR FACULTY RESEARCHERS.

BUT AT NICHOLLS, UNDERGRADUATES ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN EVERY STAGE OF THE PROCESS, FROM COLLECTING ALGAE IN THE FIELD TO ANALYZING DATA IN THE LAB.

THE TEAM IS NOW PARTNERING WITH A LOUISIANA BASED COMPANY TO CONTINUE TESTING HOW THE BIODIESEL PERFORMS UNDER DIFFERENT WEATHER AND SAFETY CONDITIONS, RESEARCHERS SAY.

THE LONG TERM GOAL EXTENDS FAR BEYOND LOUISIANA.

OUR INTENTION IS, NUMBER ONE, SCALING TO A PILOT LEVEL WHERE WE COULD HAVE SOME PARTNERS HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, AT LEAST WE COULD BE ABLE TO PRODUCE EVEN AT, LET'S SAY, 500, MAYBE 1000L.

AND THEN OUR LONG AIM IS TO BE ABLE TO GO COMMERCIAL BECAUSE ALGAE AND SHELL WASTE ARE FOUND WORLDWIDE, THE SAME PROCESS COULD POTENTIALLY BE ADAPTED BY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS.

IT'S HUMBLING.

IT'S IT'S AMAZING.

WE JUST HAVE TO DO OUR OWN PART FOR, FOR, FOR THE PLANET.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S COOL BECAUSE LIKE, YOU LEARN ABOUT IT IN CLASS AND THEN YOU COME DO IT IN THE LAB AND THEN LIKE, WOW, LIKE IT CAN ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD.

AND HERE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA, STUDENTS ARE PROVING THAT SOME OF THE BAYOU'S MOST OVERLOOKED MATERIALS COULD HELP FUEL A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HAVE YOU SEEN THESE FAKE AI POLITICAL ADS?

SHOULD THEY BE OUTLAWED?

GOVERNOR STITT THINKS SO.

WHAT DO THE CANDIDATES SAY?

NOAH MACK REPORTS FRIDAY AT SEVEN.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LOOK AT INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN PURCELL, OKLAHOMA, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA LEVI WILKERSON.

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE BIG RED, WHITE AND BLUE PLANS TO CELEBRATE OUR GREAT COUNTRY ON SATURDAY.

ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

BORN DOWN IN A DEAD MAN'S TOWN, THE FIRST KICK I TOOK US WHEN I HIT THE GROUND AND END UP LIKE A DOG.

AS CAN BE TOO MUCH.

TIL YOU SPEND HALF YOUR LIFE JUST TO COVER IT UP.

NOW BORN IN THE U.S.A.

I WAS BORN IN THE U.S.A.

I WAS BORN IN THE U.S.A.

BORN IN THE U.S.A.

NOW GOT IN A LITTLE HOMETOWN JAM.

SO THEY PUT A RIFLE IN MY HAND AND SEND ME OFF TO A FOREIGN LAND.

TO GO AND KILL THE OLD MAN.

BORN IN THE U.S.A.

I WAS BORN IN THE U.S.A.

BORN IN THE U.S.A.

BORN IN THE U.S.A.

COME BACK HOME TO THE REFINERIES.

HIRING MAN SAYS SON I FELT WAS UP TO ME.

WENT DOWN TO SEE MY MAN.

HE SAID, SON, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND NOW?

NO NO NO.

I BROTHER.

I CAN'T FIND FIGHTING OFF ANYTHING ON.

THEY'RE STILL THERE.

HE'S ALL GONE.

HE HAD A WOMAN HE LOVED IN SAIGON.

I GOT A PICTURE OF A MAN I. JOIN US FOR A NIGHT CELEBRATING 250 YEARS.

IT'S A ONCE IN A GENERATION CELEBRATION.

LIVE FROM COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, IT'S AN EPIC LIVE EVENT