TAYLOR.

THAT'S 9:00 SATURDAY NIGHT ON THE OETA MOVIE CLUB.

TO UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE, YOU FIRST MUST KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

FINDING YOUR ROOTS.

TUESDAY EVENINGS AT 7 P.M.

SEX ABUSE OF CHILDREN ON THE RISE IN OKLAHOMA.

A LOOK AT WHY THAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

LAST YEAR, FROM 24 TO 25, WE HAD A 30% INCREASE IN THE KIDDOS THAT WE.

WE SAW THE U.S.

HOUSE PASSES A SKINNY VERSION OF THE FARM BILL.

THERE ARE SOME KEY PIECES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

AVIAN RESEARCHERS CALL FOR LIGHTS OUT TO PROTECT BIRDS DURING MIGRATION.

WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THEY FIND THEIR WAY INTO LIKE THE URBAN BUILT ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF HAZARDS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE FOR BIRDS.

WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE DECADE THAT WAS 2006 THROUGH 2015.

IT'S A NEW IMAGE THAT THE STATE HAS EARNED.

IT'S AN IMAGE THAT'S CHANGED OUR OWN ATTITUDE ABOUT OUR STATE.

AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE EPIC CHARTER SCHOOL FOUNDER'S TRIAL THAT JUST WRAPPED UP.

AND THE JUDGE DID FIND EVIDENCE ON ALL BUT 1 OR 2 OF THE CHARGES.

THOSE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M TAELYR JACKSON.

RICHLANDS WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK.

CHILD SEX ABUSE CASES ARE ON THE RISE IN OKLAHOMA.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE DOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

STEVE?

WELL, TAELYR, MY ANTENNA WENT UP LAST MONTH AFTER THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN TULSA SAID HIS DEPARTMENT USED TO GET 50 CHILD SEX ABUSE CASES A MONTH.

NOW, HE SAYS THEY GET 50 A WEEK.

WELL, YOU.

CAYLEY IS KNOWN AS A FORENSIC INTERVIEWER AT THE COURT HOUSE IN YUKON.

CART STANDS FOR CHILD ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM.

IT'S LOCATED IN YUKON'S FORMER HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

LAST YEAR, IT WAS CONVERTED INTO WHAT THEY CALL THE CARDINAL POINT FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER.

IT HOUSES THE CART HOUSE AND OTHER CANADIAN COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES.

WE HAVE A LEGAL AID HERE.

WE HAVE THE DA'S OFFICE HERE.

WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH HERE.

JOANNE RILEY IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CART HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE ESCAPE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH NOTHING BUT THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK.

THE CART HOUSE IS ONE OF 21 CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

COME ON.

WITH THE HELP OF KAYLEE'S TEN YEAR OLD LICENSED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND FACILITY DOG, HARTLEY.

KAYLEE'S CONDUCTED MORE THAN 500 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS WITH CHILDREN WHO POLICE OR PROSECUTORS SUSPECTED HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

YOU CAN TELL THAT IT REALLY RELIEVES A LOT OF STRESS.

I'LL BET YOU HARTLEY OPENS DOORS, DOESN'T HE?

HE DOES.

YEAH, ESPECIALLY WITH LITTLE KIDS.

I'LL HAVE I'LL BE TALKING WITH A LITTLE KID.

AND SOMETIMES THEY'LL BE LAYING IN HIS BED WITH HIM IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM OR JUST LAYING THERE, LIKE PETTING HIM.

AND ALSO WITH TEENAGERS.

TWO TEENAGERS DON'T SO MUCH LAY IN THE BED WITH HIM LIKE THE LITTLE KIDS DO, BUT THE TEENAGERS WILL OFTEN SIT NEXT TO HIM AND PET HIM AND KIND OF JUST LET THEIR STRESS GO TO HIM.

BEING INTERVIEWED AT A POLICE STATION OR A DHS OFFICE.

THERE COULD BE SO MANY BARRIERS FOR A CHILD TO DISCLOSE.

AND SO BEING HERE, THEY HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BY A SAFE PERSON, AND THAT'S DEEMED BY DHS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND US.

WE MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER BRINGS THE CHILD IS A SAFE PERSON FOR THAT CHILD, AND THAT THIS PLACE IS A NEUTRAL PLACE FOR THEM TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

OSB, I STATISTICS SHOW THAT REPORTED INCIDENTS OF CHILD SEX ABUSE ARE UP AROUND THE STATE.

12,080 REPORTED INCIDENTS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE FROM 2021 TO 2025, OR AN AVERAGE OF 2416 CASES PER YEAR.

LAST YEAR, FROM 24 TO 25, WE HAD A 30% INCREASE IN THE KIDDOS THAT WE WE SAW LIKE ABUSE VICTIMS.

YES.

I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO THINK THAT IT'S NOT HAPPENING, OR IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY IN CANADIAN COUNTY, THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF ABUSE OR DO NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT THESE THINGS.

THAT'S WHAT'S SCARY TO ME IS THAT PEOPLE YOU MAY CARRY THIS FOR YEARS, BUT UNLESS IT'S ADDRESSED, IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO COME OUT IN SOME WAY.

AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S UGLY.

YES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF KIDS THAT COME HERE WITH DELAYED DISCLOSURE.

SO OFTEN WHEN CHILDREN ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED, THEY DON'T TELL IMMEDIATELY.

AND SO THEY'LL HOLD IT IN.

AND SOMETIMES IT PRESENTS, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING IN DIFFERENT WAYS BY BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, ADDICTION.

YEAH, ADDICTION, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

THREE YEARS AGO, THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALMOST DOUBLED THEIR SUPPORT FOR CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS FROM $2.6 MILLION TO $5.8 MILLION A YEAR.

CANADIAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TOMMY HUMPHRIES SAYS THE STATE COULD USE MORE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS BECAUSE RESOURCES ARE SPREAD THIN, ESPECIALLY ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE STATE.

SO IF YOU TALK TO DIRECTORS OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS, THEY'RE GOING TO TELL YOU YEAR IN AND OUT, PROBABLY SINCE COVID, THAT WE SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS THAT THEY'RE ASKED TO DO.

AND SO HERE IN MY DISTRICT, I'M THE D.A.

FOR FIVE COUNTIES GRANT, GARFIELD, KINGFISHER, CANADIAN, AND BLAINE.

I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE TWO ADVOCACY CENTERS.

WE HAVE ONE IN ENID, AND WE HAVE ONE HERE IN EL RENO.

BUT YOU THINK ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY DA DISTRICT FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO KANSAS.

THERE'S TWO PLACES TO GO GET THESE VITAL FORENSIC INTERVIEWS.

AND SO IF THEY'RE SEEING MORE INTERVIEWS, WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE INTERVIEWS.

IF A CHILD NEEDS TO TELL THEIR STORY, IF SOMETHING IS, YOU KNOW, TERRIBLE LIKE THAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM, WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEIR STORY IN A SAFE, COMFORTABLE PLACE LIKE A CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER.

JOE DORMAN IS CEO OF THE OKLAHOMA INSTITUTE FOR CHILD ADVOCACY.

THE WORLD HAS BECOME A MUCH SCARIER PLACE BECAUSE OF THE INTERNET.

WE DO HAVE PREDATORS WHO HAVE UPPED THEIR GAME, SO TO SPEAK, ON TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THESE KIDS.

THEY CAN DO IT IN A MASS WAY.

NOW REACHING OUT TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE THROUGH GAMING SITES, OR THROUGH DIRECT MESSAGES OR OTHER WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH CHILDREN.

ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS HAD A TEENAGE DAUGHTER IN TEXAS DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT A PREDATOR REACHED OUT TO HER THROUGH A SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT THAT THE PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD.

HE SAYS IT'S GREAT.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE GAVE THE STATE'S CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS A FINANCIAL BOOST THREE YEARS AGO, BUT THEY NEED MORE.

21, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT ENOUGH.

WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE IN OKLAHOMA, WE SEE ALL KINDS OF INCIDENT.

WE'RE SEEING CHILDREN BECAUSE OF ONLINE ACTIVITY OR MORE SEXUALIZED.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO SEXUAL MATERIALS THEMSELVES.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO STRANGERS.

SO WE DO SEE BOTH.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT.

A LOT OF TIMES IT CAN BE BY FAMILY MEMBER, SOMEONE THAT HAS ACCESS, BUT WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN JUST ONLINE ACTIVITY IN GENERAL.

YEAH.

THE THING THAT'S SCARY IS THESE KIDS GET ONLINE ON GAME TO PLAY GAMES, BUT THE REALITY IS THE PERSON THEY'RE DEALING WITH IS PREDATOR ONLINE AND THEY WANT THEM TO SEND THEM PICTURES.

YEAH, PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY WE TALKED TO ALSO SAY ONE REASON FOR THE INCREASE IN CHILD SEX ABUSE CASES MAY SIMPLY BE THAT EVERYBODY IS GETTING BETTER AT NOT JUST IDENTIFYING IT, BUT THEN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

TAELYR.

STEVE, THANKS.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF REVIEW, AN OKLAHOMA COUNTY JUDGE HAS RULED THAT THE CASE AGAINST THE CO-FOUNDERS OF EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS CAN NOW PROCEED.

WHAT WERE THE DETAILS IN THE TRIAL AND WHAT SHOULD COMPLIANCE LOOK LIKE FOR OKLAHOMA CHARTER SCHOOLS?

WELL, THAT'S THE DISCUSSION THIS WEEK AND IN DEPTH WITH JASON DOYLE AND HIS PANEL OF GUESTS.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

SO LAST WEEK, WE WRAPPED THE PRELIMINARY HEARING, PRELIMINARY HEARINGS BASICALLY LIKE A MINI TRIAL.

IT WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE, SOME WITNESSES THAT ARE PRESENTED.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE JUDGE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A TRIAL.

SO THAT JUST WRAPPED UP.

AND THE JUDGE DID FIND EVIDENCE ON ALL BUT 1 OR 2 OF THE CHARGES.

SO MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT TOWARD TRIAL, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR EXPENDITURES AND OUR REVENUES ARE VERY CLOSELY DICTATED, THE SAME WAY THAT ANY STATE, TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL WOULD BE.

THERE IS SOME LATITUDE FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THINGS AROUND PAY SCALES AND WHO CAN BE EMPLOYED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL.

BUT FUNDAMENTALLY AND PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, IN THE BRICKS AND MORTAR CHARTER SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALMOST IDENTICAL SITUATIONS BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL AND A CHARTER SCHOOL.

THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THE NEWSCAST, AS THE COUNTRY HEADS TOWARDS ITS 250TH BIRTHDAY ON JULY 4TH, WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST 50 YEARS OF OKLAHOMA HISTORY SINCE THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR OF 1976.

THIS MONTH, RICH LENZ RECAPS THE YEARS THROUGH 2006 THROUGH 2015.

IT WAS A DECADE THAT BEGAN WITH THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW OKLAHOMA BORN COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR, AND IT ENDED WITH AN ESTABLISHED STAR RETURNING TO THE CONCERT STAGE WITH ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TOURS OF ALL TIME.

JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL.

TAKE IT FROM MY HAND.

JANUARY 2006 BEGAN WITH AMERICAN IDOL WINNER CARRIE UNDERWOOD'S DEBUT SINGLE, REACHING NUMBER ONE ON THE COUNTRY CHARTS, WHERE IT STAYED FOR SIX FULL WEEKS.

THE NATIVES FIRST ALBUM, SOME HEARTS, EVENTUALLY BECOMING THE BEST SELLING COUNTRY DEBUT EVER BY A FEMALE ARTIST.

ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, BRAD HENRY PREPARED FOR HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR.

20 YEARS LATER, HE REMAINS THE LAST DEMOCRAT TO HOLD OKLAHOMA'S HIGHEST OFFICE.

AT SOME POINT, THE PENDULUM, THE SO-CALLED POLITICAL PENDULUM THAT SOMETIMES SWINGS PAINFULLY SLOWLY.

BUT IT WILL SLOW.

IT WILL SWING BACK AND.

AND THOSE IN CHARGE TODAY NEED TO REMEMBER THAT.

IN APRIL, KEVIN RAY UNDERWOOD WAS ARRESTED FOR THE BRUTAL MURDER OF TEN YEAR OLD JAMIE ROSE BOLIN AND PURCELL.

HE WAS CONVICTED AND EXECUTED 18 YEARS LATER.

ON A HAPPIER NOTE, THE LIFESTYLE EMPIRE OF REE DRUMMOND BEGINS WITH THE DEBUT OF A BLOG CALLED THE PIONEER WOMAN THAT LEADS TO A POPULAR TV SHOW ON THE FOOD NETWORK AND A THRIVING BUSINESS EMPIRE IN DOWNTOWN PAWHUSKA.

FROM RUSSIAN TERRITORY TO THE OKLAHOMA RUN OKLAHOMA, CELEBRATING ITS CENTENNIAL IN 2007 WITH A SOLD OUT CONCERT IN OKLAHOMA CITY, PATRON VINCE GILL, REBA GARTH CARRIED THE FLAMING LIPS AND MANY OTHER NOTABLE OKLAHOMANS.

THE EVENT WAS BROADCAST STATEWIDE BY OETA.

YOU DON'T KEEP SLUGGING WITH THE BIG GUY.

THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME RIGHT NOW.

IN SPORTS, THE BIG 12 CHAMPION OKLAHOMA SOONERS ON THE LOSING END OF ONE OF THE GREATEST UPSETS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY.

BEATEN BY BOISE STATE IN THE FIESTA BOWL, 43 TO 42, BOISE STATE HAS WON THE TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

AND THERE WAS THIS.

I'M A MAN.

I'M 40.

I'M NOT A I'M NOT A KID.

ANGRY WITH THE FOCUS OF A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, OSU HEAD COACH MIKE GUNDY DELIVERS HIS INFAMOUS I'M A MAN RANT THAT'S HEART BROKEN AND THEN SAY THAT THE COACHES SAID HE WAS SCARED.

THAT AIN'T TRUE.

THE COWBOYS FINISHED THAT SEASON WITH A SEVEN AND SIX RECORD.

2008 DELIVERED A FIRST FOR OKLAHOMA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN STATE HISTORY, REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE.

THE BIG POLITICAL DIFFERENCES IN OKLAHOMA GOING BACK TO 1907 WAS NOT REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT, BECAUSE, YES, THERE WERE SMALL MINORITIES, BIG MAJORITIES AT TIMES.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS RURAL VERSUS URBAN.

THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES, AND THERE WAS AN HISTORIC FIRST NATIONALLY AS WELL.

ILLINOIS SENATOR BARACK OBAMA BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK MAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DEFEATING ARIZONA SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN.

SO HELP YOU GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR.

PRESIDENT.

AND BEST WISHES.

MEANWHILE, IN NEW YORK, TULSA BORN TRACY LETTS SEMI-AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PLAY AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY DEBUTS ON BROADWAY AND GOES ON TO WIN FIVE TONY AWARDS.

WHICH BRINGS US TO 2008 AND PART OF 2009, THE THUNDER'S INAUGURAL SEASON IN THE THEN FORD CENTER, FINISHING WITH A 23 AND 59 RECORD.

NOT VERY GOOD, BUT THE PROMISING PLAY OF YOUNG STARS LIKE KEVIN DURANT AND RUSSELL WESTBROOK GIVING FANS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY BEEN REALIZED WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND NOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BILLION DOLLAR CONTINENTAL COLISEUM, IT'S CHANGED THE EXTERNAL IMAGE FROM A DRY, DESOLATE DUSTBOWL TO A CITY THAT HAS ITS YOU KNOW WHAT TOGETHER AND CAN SUPPORT A TEAM LIKE THE THUNDER.

IT'S A NEW IMAGE THAT THE STATE HAS EARNED.

IT'S AN IMAGE THAT'S CHANGED OUR OWN ATTITUDE ABOUT OUR STATE.

WITH SHOTS LIKE THAT, IF THERE'S A LOT MORE.

I LOVE PEOPLE SO MUCH.

BORN IN ADA, OKLAHOMA, IN 1918, 91 YEAR OLD ORAL ROBERTS DIED IN DECEMBER.

THE EPONYMOUS UNIVERSITY HE FOUNDED IN TULSA IN 1963, REMAINS ONE OF THE LEADING THEOLOGICAL COLLEGES IN THE WORLD.

AND WE LOST ANOTHER ICONIC OKLAHOMAN IN MAY OF THAT YEAR.

WAYMAN TISDALE, A THREE TIME ALL-AMERICAN AT OU AND A SUCCESSFUL JAZZ BASSIST AND COMPOSER FOLLOWING A 12 YEAR NBA CAREER, DIED AT THE AGE OF 44 WHILE BEING TREATED FOR CANCER BACK IN THE ZONE.

NOW, OKLAHOMA CITY MOVES THE BALL AND KEVIN DURANT SAYS ENOUGH BALL MOVEMENT, SPORTS NEWS DOMINATING THE 12 MONTHS OF 2010.

IN APRIL, 21 YEAR OLD KEVIN DURANT BECOMES THE YOUNGEST SCORING CHAMPION IN NBA HISTORY, AVERAGING 30.1 POINTS PER GAME TO EDGE OUT LEBRON JAMES FOR THE TITLE.

AND THE THUNDER MADE THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY.

IT IS A SEASON FOR THE RECORD BOOKS IN STILLWATER, ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE OSU FOOTBALL TEAM, BECOMING THE FIRST COWBOY TEAM IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO WIN 11 GAMES, DEFEATING ARIZONA IN THE ALAMO BOWL.

36 TO 10.

THE FINAL SCORE OKLAHOMA STATE ROLLS OVER ARIZONA HERE IN THE ALAMO BOWL IN SAN ANTONIO.

IN 2011, AS BLAKE SHELTON PROPELS HIS COUNTRY MUSIC CAREER TO ANOTHER LEVEL BY BECOMING A NATIONAL BREAKOUT STAR AS A JUDGE IN THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF THE VOICE.

I THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK OF THE VOICE AND NOT THINK OF BLAKE SHELTON.

PEOPLE LIKE BUGS TO A LIGHT.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE, REALLY ATTRACTED TO HIM.

IT HAS TO START WITH A GREAT VOICE.

ON MAY 24TH, A TORNADO OUTBREAK SPAWNED IN AN EF FIVE TORNADO AND TWO EF FOUR TORNADO RESULTED IN 11 DEATHS, 293 INJURIES AND DEVASTATING DAMAGE IN EL RENO, CHICKASHA, PRAGUE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.

AND ANOTHER TRAGEDY TAKING PLACE ON NOVEMBER 17TH.

OSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH KURT BUDKE, HIS ASSISTANT MIRANDA SERNA, AND TWO OTHERS PERISHED WHEN THEIR SMALL PLANE CRASHED IN PERRYVILLE, ARKANSAS.

THE SECOND AVIATION DISASTER TO BEFALL OKLAHOMA STATE IN THE SPAN OF TEN YEARS.

KURT WAS MAYBE ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH WE'D EVER HAD.

HE WAS A FRIEND TO EVERYBODY.

HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS VERY MUCH THE FACE OF HIS PROGRAM.

MIRANDA WAS A VERY, VERY DEDICATED TO HER PROFESSION.

SHE WAS ASPIRATIONAL.

SHE HAD SHE HAD GOALS.

SHE HAD DREAMS.

SHE WAS DRIVEN TO BE A HEAD COACH.

I SAID, OH, LORD JESUS, IT'S A FIRE.

IN APRIL, KIMBERLY SWEET BROWN'S REACTION TO ESCAPING AN APARTMENT FIRE IN OKLAHOMA CITY BECAME A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON.

AND THEN THE SMOKE GOT ME.

I GOT BRONCHITIS, AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

GENERATING MILLIONS OF VIEWS, INSPIRING SONGS AND POPULAR MERCHANDISE.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

AS IS TOO OFTEN THE CASE IN OKLAHOMA, SEVERE WEATHER DOMINATED THE HEADLINES IN 2013.

ON MAY 20TH, A MASSIVE TORNADO LEVELED THE PLAZA TOWERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MOORE, KILLING SEVEN CHILDREN.

IN ALL, THE STORM CLAIMED 25 LIVES AND 212 PEOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED.

11 DAYS LATER, THE LARGEST TORNADO EVER RECORDED, 2.6 MILES WIDE, ROARED THROUGH A RURAL AREA NEAR EL RENO, KILLING FOUR STORM CHASERS.

JUST TWO DAYS AFTER BLAKE SHELTON ORGANIZED AND PERFORMED IN THE HEALING IN THE HEARTLAND BENEFIT CONCERT TO AID TORNADO VICTIMS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH SOME OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS FROM OKLAHOMA AND BEYOND TO JOIN REBA MCENTIRE, VINCE GILL, USHER, AND MANY OTHERS ALSO PARTICIPATED.

THIS LAND THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.

A WHOLE LOT OF SHAKING GOING ON.

IN 2014, THERE WERE AT LEAST 560 EARTHQUAKES OF MAGNITUDE 3.0 OR GREATER, MAKING OKLAHOMA THE MOST SEISMICALLY ACTIVE STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, FAR SURPASSING CALIFORNIA.

YOU KEPT US OFF THE STREET, PUT CLOTHES ON OUR BACKS, FOOD ON THE TABLE.

KEVIN DURANT NAMED THE NBA'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, AND ON MAY 6TH, HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH THANKING HIS MOTHER, BECOMES AN INSTANT CLASSIC.

YOU'RE THE REAL MVP.

I RUINED YOUR LIFETIME.

FINALLY, NO ONE IN THE WORLD SOLD MORE CONCERT TICKETS THAN GARTH BROOKS IN 2015, FANS GOBBLING UP 2.5 MILLION TICKETS, RESULTING IN AN ESTIMATED $80 MILLION IN GROSS INCOME.

THERE'S A LOT OF OKLAHOMA MUSICIANS, MUSICIANS THAT CAME OUT OF OKLAHOMA THAT ARE JUST HARD WORKING PEOPLE, AND YOU CAN REALLY SEE THAT WITH HIM.

YOU KNOW, HE REALLY DOES HUSTLE.

HE REALLY DOES WORK HARD.

AND THAT COMES THROUGH, I THINK, IN HIS MUSIC AND WHY PEOPLE RELATE TO HIM.

RICH LENZ OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

GREAT STORY.

RICH.

COMING UP ON JUNE 5TH, NOAH MACK WILL REPORT ON THE YEARS 2016 THROUGH 2025.

TUESDAY MARKED THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARKET AT EASTPOINT, A COMMUNITY RUN GROCERY STORE SUPPLIED BY URBAN FARMS FROM AROUND THE CITY.

THE MARKET WAS CREATED BY LOCAL NONPROFIT RESTORE OKC AND IS ONE OF THE ONLY GROCERY STORES IN THE FOOD DESERT OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA CITY.

RESTORE OKC BELIEVES SECURE FOOD SECURITY IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR HOLISTIC HEALTH.

THE CLOSURE OF THE LAST STORE IN THIS COMMUNITY WAS DEFINITELY A KIND OF A DEVASTATING RIPPLE EFFECT.

AND UNDER NIKKI NICE AT THE TIME, COUNCILWOMAN NOW SENATOR'S LEADERSHIP, SHE PULLED TOGETHER A COHORT OF US.

WE MET, STARTED THINKING TOGETHER ABOUT HOW DO WE PUSH BEHIND A SOLUTION.

AND THAT REALLY WAS THE START OF OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD.

DURING EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS OUT OF HER STORE'S PARKING LOT.

AND THAT BECAME AN IDEA OF HOW WOULD WE ACTUALLY JUST START A STORE?

HOW WOULD WE DO A COMMUNITY GROCERY STORE?

SO WE CAME TO THIS SPACE AND MET WITH OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEMBERS TO START TO DREAM WHAT THIS COULD POSSIBLY LOOK LIKE.

RESTORE OKC IS ALSO WORKING TO SAVE THE HOMELAND ON 36TH AND LINCOLN, AFTER THE GROCERY STORE CHAIN ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL SHUT DOWN SEVERAL STORES ACROSS THE STATE.

THE MOST RECENT TIME CONGRESS PASSED A FARM BILL WAS IN 2018, WHILE LAST WEEK THE HOUSE PASSED A SKINNY VERSION OF A FARM BILL.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S IN THE BILL AND WHAT STEPS ARE NEXT.

JASON TAELYR, HOUSE RESOLUTION 7567, KNOWN AS THE FARM FOOD AND NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 2026, WAS PASSED BY A BIPARTISAN VOTE ON LAST THURSDAY.

FOR SOME OKLAHOMA PRODUCERS, IT'S A LIFELINE DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES, BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THE BILL ON THIS VOTE.

THE YEAS ARE 224, THE NAYS ARE 200.

THE BILL IS PASSED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

A MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE.

CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE BICE, DECLARING THE VOTE LAST THURSDAY ON THE U.S.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VERSION OF THE FARM BILL, SOMETHING THAT OKLAHOMA'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS DEPEND ON TO KEEP CROPS IN THE FIELD AND LIVESTOCK FED AT TIMES.

IT HAS BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE CONGRESS PASSED A COMPREHENSIVE FARM BILL.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION BUILDS ON FUNDING ALREADY PROVIDED BY THE.

ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL PASSED LAST SUMMER.

A LOT OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS BILL CAME THROUGH LAST JULY.

THIS REALLY BUILDS ONTO SOME OF THOSE PIECES, AND THERE ARE SOME KEY PIECES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

CREDIT PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN KEEPING FARMING AND RANCHING OPERATIONS GOING.

AMY HAGERMAN WITH OSU EXTENSION, SAYS THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE FARM BILL ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR SMALLER LOANS.

SO IF WE THINK ABOUT CREDIT AS A GREAT PLACE TO START EXPANDING THOSE LIMITS ON THE LOANS THAT CAN BE MADE, ALSO EXPANDING THE MICRO LOAN AVAILABILITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALLER PRODUCERS THAT ARE JUST GETTING STARTED IN THE STATE, AND MICRO LOANS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET INTO THOSE KEY PIECES OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY NEED.

DURING HIS OPENING REMARKS WHILE THE FARM BILL WAS BEING WORKED ON BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, CONGRESSMAN FRANK LUCAS SAID THIS LEGISLATION CAN HELP SMALLER PRODUCERS GAIN THE FOOTHOLD THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

IT IS AIMED AT MAKING LIFE BETTER BACK HOME, TO NAME A FEW PROVISIONS AMONG MANY.

THIS BILL REAUTHORIZES A SUITE OF CRITICAL RESEARCH, RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CREDIT PROGRAMS THAT WILL INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND CREATE RURAL RESILIENCY FOR DECADES TO COME.

OKLAHOMA'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ALSO NOTES THE FARM BILL COULD STRENGTHEN THE SAFETY NET FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS RELY ON.

I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY MEMBER HERE WHOSE DISTRICT HAS BEEN DEVASTATED BY WILDFIRES OR OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS, BUT EVENTS LIKE THESE SERVE AS A REMINDER TO US THAT THE PROGRAMS WE GET TO REVIEW IN THE FARM BILL DISCUSSIONS MATTER IN MORE WAYS THAN WE OFTEN REALIZE, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS THROUGH SOME OF THE INSURANCE PRODUCTS, OR WHETHER WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT FOR OUR CROP PRODUCERS IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE MOST DISASTER AND CROP INSURANCE PRODUCTS.

BRINGING THAT FORWARD SO IT REFLECTS CURRENT COSTS OF PRODUCTION IS REALLY ESSENTIAL.

IT MAKES THAT SAFETY NET MORE EFFECTIVE.

PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND THE OKLAHOMA FARMERS UNION, SCOTT BLUBAUGH, AGREES THAT THE FARM BILL IS A VITAL SAFETY NET, BUT DOESN'T FEEL INFLATION AND OTHER COSTS WERE ADDRESSED IN THE CURRENT FORM OF THE LEGISLATION.

YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY NET IS STILL INADEQUATE.

SO BASICALLY WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THIS FARM BILL IS JUST TWEAK THE VERSION FROM EIGHT YEARS AGO A LITTLE BIT.

AND WE ALL KNOW FROM EIGHT YEARS AGO THAT WHAT INFLATION HAS DONE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE COST OF PRODUCTION OF OVER DOUBLED IN MOST CASES.

BLUBAUGH ADDS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TRADE POLICIES HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO FOREIGN MARKETS FOR SOME PRODUCERS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TRADE WARS WITH OUR NUMBER ONE PARTNER CUSTOMER, I GUESS, IN CHINA FOR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW AND DESTROYED OUR OUR TRADE MARKETS.

AMY HAGERMAN WITH OSU EXTENSION SAYS THE OVERALL FARM BILL IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, AND IT COULD LEAD TO IMPROVEMENTS IN TRADE AND RELIEF FOR AG PRODUCERS.

SO WE'RE ON YEAR EIGHT OF THIS FARM BILL, AND THAT HAS HAD SOME CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE THE WORLD LOOKS QUITE DIFFERENT IN 2026 THAN IT DID IN 2018.

ECONOMICALLY.

COSTS OF PRODUCTION, THINKING ABOUT HOW WORLD MARKETS ARE OPERATING RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THESE ARE REALLY KEY CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED TO BRING THE FARM BILL FORWARD TO THE CURRENT MARKET ENVIRONMENT.

WHILE CONGRESS IS TAKING MORE TIME THAN IT USUALLY DOES TO CRAFT A NEW FARM BILL, THERE ARE STILL NEEDS TO BE MET.

RELIEF FUNDING IS COMING FROM THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL PASSED LAST YEAR, BUT THOSE FUNDS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE, EVEN IN THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS LAST SUMMER.

THAT PUT QUITE A BIT OF AGRICULTURE RELIEF IN.

THERE HAS YET TO BE.

IT'S YET TO COME OUT TO THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS, AND IT'LL BE OCTOBER BEFORE THAT MONEY EVEN STARTS TO FLOW OUT TO THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN CONVERSATION AROUND THE FARMER BRIDGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PAYMENTS AS WELL, RECOGNITION THAT THIS FARM BILL HAS TAKEN A WHILE TO GET TO PRODUCTION PHASE, AND THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE SOME OF THAT BRIDGE ASSISTANCE, EVEN IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM AND AD HOC.

BUT NOW ALSO HAVING SOME OF THAT BRIDGE ASSISTANCE FOR DISASTER PROGRAMS AS WELL, BRIDGE FUNDING AND THE USE OF MICROLOANS, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, COULD BE KEY TO KEEPING YOUNGER FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO STAY IN THE INDUSTRY.

WE'RE SEEING SOME OF OUR YOUNG FARMERS ACTUALLY GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.

AND AND I'VE BEEN CALLING THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THIS WAS COMING.

AND THERE ARE MOST VULNERABLE FARMERS AND RANCHERS OR OUR YOUNG FARMERS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EQUITY BUILT UP AND HAVE STAYING POWER WITH THE BANKS TO RIDE IT THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES.

WHILE BLUE BOAR AND OTHER AG PRODUCERS ARE HAPPY FOR THE PROGRESS, HE BELIEVES MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THE WORK ON THE FARM BILL IS COMPLETE.

WE NEED TO TAKE A REALLY LONG LOOK AT THIS FARM BILL AND INSTEAD OF TWEAKING IT, IN MY OPINION, WE NEED TO OVERHAUL IT AND MAKE IT SUITABLE FOR TODAY.

SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE CHAIR JOHN BOOZMAN SAYS HIS COMMITTEE WILL LIKELY TAKE ON THE FARM BILL LATE THIS MONTH OR SOMETIME IN JUNE.

TAELYR THE LEGISLATURE WAS TRYING TO FINISH ITS WORK ON THURSDAY AND ADJOURNED THE SESSION ON MAY 14TH, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SEAN ASHLEY TO TELL US MORE.

SEAN, WHERE DO THINGS STAND NOW WITH LAWMAKERS?

WELL, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAD AGREED TO COMPLETE THEIR BILL WORK BY THE END OF THE DAY THURSDAY.

BUT THEN THE SENATE CHANGED ITS MIND AND DID NOT MEET WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.

SO IT APPEARS THERE'S MORE LEGISLATING LEFT FOR LEGISLATORS TO DO.

WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHEN AND HOW OFTEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE MAY MEET IN THE UPCOMING WEEK, AND WE'RE ALSO WAITING TO SEE WHEN THEY WILL OFFICIALLY ADJOURN THE SESSION SINE DIE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, GENTNER DRUMMOND, FORMALLY REQUESTED THAT THE STATE AUDITOR, CINDY BIRD, CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE OKLAHOMA HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY.

WHAT PROMPTED THIS ACTION FROM THE AG?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REQUEST FOCUSES ON THE MOVE FROM FEE FOR SERVICE TO MANAGED CARE, WHICH TOOK PLACE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IN THE APRIL 24TH.

LETTER TO STATE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR CINDY BIRD, DRUMMOND DETAILS WHAT HE CALLS A PATTERN OF PAYMENT DELAYS, CLAIMS PROCESSING FAILURES, INAPPROPRIATE DENIALS OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES AND A LACK OF SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTION.

CORRECTIVE ACTION BY THE OKLAHOMA HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY, WHICH OVERSEES THE STATE'S MEDICAID PROGRAM.

HE WANTS HER TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES AND REPORT BACK TO HIM AS TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

HOUSE BILL 1979, AUTHORED BY REPRESENTATIVE TRISH RANSON, PASSED THROUGH BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

SEAN, WHAT DOES THAT BILL ENTAIL?

WELL, THIS CREATES THE EARLY CHILDHOOD TASK FORCE, WHICH WILL STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE ACCESS, TO INCREASE AND INCREASE THE QUANTITY OF HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT REPRESENTATIVE RANSON HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND PREVIOUS LEGISLATION SHE PASSED ON THE ISSUE WAS VETOED BY GOVERNOR STITT.

THIS BILL NOW MOVES FORWARD, AND THE TASK FORCE, IF APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR, WOULD PRODUCE A REPORT, AN INITIAL REPORT, BY NOVEMBER OF 2027 AND A FINAL REPORT BY NOVEMBER OF 2028, GIVING LAWMAKERS AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS.

NOW, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

TELL US ABOUT A FEW OF THOSE INDUSTRY REGULATION BILLS.

WELL, ONE OF THOSE BILLS, HOUSE BILL 3462, MODIFIES CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOURNEYMAN PLUMBING EXAMINATIONS.

SENATOR DAVID BULLARD, THE SENATE AUTHOR OF THE BILL, SAID THE SHOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JOURNEYMAN PLUMBERS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

HE SAID THAT THE PROPOSAL MAKES THE PLUMBERS OUT TO LICENSING SIMILAR TO THAT FOR ELECTRICIANS.

ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION WOULD ACTUALLY AFFECT THOSE CONTRACTS.

WE MIGHT SIGN WITH A ROOFER OR A FENCE BUILDER OR SOMEONE ELSE ON OUR DOORSTEP.

SENATE BILL 1090 WAS APPROVED BY THE HOUSE ON THURSDAY, AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CANCEL THOSE CONTRACTS WITHIN A FIVE DAY PERIOD.

IF WE NOTIFY THE PROVIDER BY CERTIFIED MAIL OR IN SOME CASES, BY EMAIL.

THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF OTHER BILLS GOING THROUGH AFFECTING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES BOARD, THE OKLAHOMA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION AND A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN INDUSTRY REGULATION.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT SIGNED HOUSE BILL 4141.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION?

YES.

THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EVIDENCE TASK FORCE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND IT CREATES THE PERMANENT POSITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER COORDINATOR TO OVERSEE SEXUAL ASSAULT.

NURSE EXAMINERS ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS COUNCIL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SEE THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT TEST KITS ARE PROPERLY TESTED AND REDUCE THE BACKLOG OF THOSE ACROSS THE STATE.

THIS EXAMINER'S POSITION IS VIEWED AS A KEY ROLE IN THAT PROCESS.

QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SEAN ASHLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

OKLAHOMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS HOLDING STEADY.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT.

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

OKLAHOMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS UNCHANGED AT 3.9% IN MARCH.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED BY A 10TH OF A PERCENT TO 4.3%.

INTERESTINGLY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA'S WORKFORCE ALSO DROPPED IN MARCH BY 8100 WORKERS.

SIX OF OKLAHOMA'S SUPER SECTORS ADDED JOBS, WITH LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY LEADING THE WAY WITH 1700 NEW POSITIONS.

MINING AND LOGGING TOOK THE BIGGEST HIT IN MARCH, WITH 500 JOBS ELIMINATED.

THE BOARDS OF DEVON ENERGY AND TERRA ENERGY APPROVED THE MERGER OF THE TWO COMPANIES DURING SPECIAL MEETINGS ON MAY 4TH.

THAT RESULTS IN THE MERGER BEING COMPLETED ON MAY 7TH.

THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL BE CALLED DEVON ENERGY, WITH THE HEADQUARTERS, AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, MOVING TO HOUSTON WHILE MAINTAINING A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

TULSA BASED WILLIAMS COMPANY SAYS ITS FIRST QUARTER NET INCOME SET A RECORD AT $864 MILLION.

THAT'S UP BY 25% OVER THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025.

THE COMPANY LEADERS SAY THE TRANSCO'S EXPANSION PROJECTS NEW GULF VOLUMES, HIGHER STORAGE REVENUES AND HIGHER GATHERING VOLUMES IN THE WEST LED TO THE STRONGER SHOWING AND PROFITS.

TULSA BASED ONE GAS SAW ITS FIRST QUARTER PROFITS GROW TO $128.7 MILLION.

THAT'S COMPARED TO 119.4 MILLION DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.

THE ONE GAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALSO DECLARED A QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $0.68 A SHARE.

INVESTORS WITH THE STOCK IN THEIR PORTFOLIO BY MAY 18TH WILL RECEIVE THE DIVIDEND ON JUNE 2ND.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

AVIAN ENTHUSIASTS ARE CALLING ON OKLAHOMANS TO HELP PROTECT BIRDS DURING THEIR MIGRATION SEASON THIS SPRING, THROUGH A CAMPAIGN CALLED LIGHTS OUT OKLAHOMA.

I SPOKE WITH AVIAN RESEARCHERS TO LEARN HOW TURNING OFF A FEW LIGHTS CAN HELP IMPROVE THE ECOSYSTEM.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND BIRDS ARE IN PEAK MIGRATION.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENTHUSIASTS SAY OKLAHOMANS CAN PLAY A ROLE IN KEEPING BIRDS SAFE DURING THE SEASON BY A SIMPLE ACTION LIKE TURNING OFF A PORCH LIGHT.

THE LIGHTS OUT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS CAMPAIGN IS REALLY A PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ONE SMALL CHANGE THAT THEY CAN DO EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS JUST TURN OUT THEIR EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND KEEP LIGHTS FROM SHINING OUTSIDE AT NIGHT CAN HELP HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF BIRDS COME TO AND THROUGH OUR STATE.

DURING MIGRATION, BIRDS MIGRATE AT NIGHT USING THE STARS AS THEIR GUIDE.

BUT INGER GRYFITA WITH THE OKLAHOMA ANIMAL COALITION, SAYS EXTERIOR LIGHTS CAN OFTEN INTERFERE.

AND SO WHEN WE TURN ON A LIGHT, EVEN JUST ONE LIGHT OUT IN A FIELD.

BUT OF COURSE, YOU CAN IMAGINE LIKE WHAT A STADIUM OR A CITY MIGHT LOOK LIKE, IT CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE BIRDS, FLOCKS OF BIRDS TO VEER OFF THEIR PATH AND GET LOST ON THEIR WAY.

AND OFTEN WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THEY FIND THEIR WAY INTO LIKE THE URBAN BUILT ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF HAZARDS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE FOR BIRDS.

INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE SUTTON AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER, DAN REINKING, SAYS EXCESSIVE LIGHT CAN EVEN LEAD TO A BIRDS DEATH.

TALL BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY, CAN BE DISORIENTING TO FLOCKS OF BIRDS MIGRATING AT NIGHT, AND THEY'LL EITHER END UP CIRCLING AROUND AND AROUND A BUILDING BECAUSE THEY'RE DISORIENTED, OR THEY'LL FLY INTO THE GLASS AND AND BECOME INJURED OR KILLED.

THEY CAN EVEN RUN INTO POWER LINES.

AND EVEN WORSE IN SOME WAYS, IS THAT THEY GET STUCK WITHIN THIS URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE, SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THEIR FLOCK MEMBERS FLYING AROUND TRYING TO FIND THEM, USING UP EXTREMELY VALUABLE CALORIC RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO COMPLETE THEIR MIGRATION.

BIRDS MIGRATE PRIMARILY IN THE SPRING AND AGAIN IN THE FALL, BUT PEAK MIGRATION IN OKLAHOMA IS APRIL 15TH THROUGH MAY 30TH.

MIGRATION REALLY VARIES FROM ONE NIGHT TO THE NEXT.

HOW BIG IT IS.

I LOOKED AT DATA FOR JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, AND TWO DAYS AGO, ABOUT 4.5 MILLION BIRDS WERE ESTIMATED TO HAVE FLOWN OVER OKLAHOMA COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ABOUT 4 MILLION BIRDS FLEW OVER TULSA COUNTY.

AND THE NEXT NIGHT, ONLY ABOUT A THOUSAND BIRDS FLEW OVER OKLAHOMA COUNTY, AND ONLY ABOUT 300 BIRDS FLEW OVER TULSA COUNTY BECAUSE THERE WERE UNFAVORABLE NORTH WINDS ON THAT SECOND NIGHT, ACCORDING TO THE CORNELL LAB'S BIRDCAST, MORE THAN 180 MILLION BIRDS MIGRATED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ON MAY 7TH.

REINKING SAYS NOT KEEPING BIRDS SAFE COULD IMPACT AVIAN POPULATION WELL.

BIRD POPULATIONS IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN DECLINING OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF BIRDS THAT DIE FROM COLLISIONS WITH WINDOWS EVERY YEAR, NUMBERS IN THE BILLIONS.

SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT BIRD CONSERVATION ISSUE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOW TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THESE LIGHTS OUT CAMPAIGNS THAT I THINK BEGAN IN CHICAGO OVER 25 YEARS AGO NOW AND HAVE SINCE BEEN SPREADING ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DALLAS AND HOUSTON AND PHILADELPHIA AND SAINT LOUIS AND OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND THEY'RE BUILDING A CAMPAIGN IN TULSA RIGHT NOW AS WELL.

HE SAYS THERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO HELP PREVENT WINDOW COLLISIONS, SUCH AS SCREENS, STICKERS, OR DECALS LIKE YOU SEE HERE.

YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT OF REFLECTION YOU'RE GETTING IN THESE WINDOWS.

IT JUST LOOKS LIKE MORE TREES IN THE BACKGROUND HERE.

BUT THOSE WHITE DOTS GIVE THE BIRDS SOMETHING TO CUE IN ON TO REALIZE THAT THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY A PATHWAY THAT THEY CAN FLY THROUGH.

BIRDS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE EARTH'S ECOSYSTEM.

BIRDS HAVE A VARIETY OF IMPACTS ON HUMAN LIVES.

YOU KNOW, THEIR THEIR PRIMARY PREDATORS OF INSECTS AND INSECTS CAN IN SOME CASES BE MAJOR AGRICULTURAL PESTS, BACKYARD PESTS.

SO THEY'RE THEY'RE BENEFICIAL IN MANY WAYS.

THEY'RE THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY WITH LITERALLY TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS BEING INTERESTED IN BIRD WATCHING AND SPENDING MONEY ON TRIPS AND FIELD GUIDES AND BINOCULARS, GIUFFRIDA SAYS FOLKS OFTEN OBJECT TO TURNING OFF THEIR EXTERIOR LIGHTS DUE TO THE CONCERNS OF A BREAK IN.

THE TRUTH IS, IS MOST BURGLARIES HAPPEN DURING THE DAY WHEN PEOPLE ARE AT WORK.

SO YOU'RE NOT REALLY DETERRING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BREAK INTO YOUR HOME.

AND SECONDLY, WHEN YOU DO HAVE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, IT ACTUALLY PROVIDES MORE SHADOWS FOR PEOPLE TO HIDE IN.

SO MOTION ACTIVATED LIGHTS AND ALARM SYSTEMS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE TO DETER PEOPLE WITH ILL INTENT AROUND, AROUND YOUR PROPERTY, SHE SAYS.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE NATURE BETTER WHEN YOU TURN OFF YOUR EXTERIOR LIGHTS.

WHEN YOU TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS, YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE MORE STARS AND PLANETS.

AND THAT'S COOL.

SO DARK, DARKER SKIES EQUALS MORE STARS AT NIGHT, AND THAT'S GREAT FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE THE EPIC CHARTER SCHOOL CO-FOUNDERS DAVID CHENEY AND BEN HARRIS WERE CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT AND RACKETEERING LAST WEEK.

THE PRELIMINARY HEARING WAS CONCLUDED WITH AN OKLAHOMA COUNTY JUDGE DECIDING THE TRIAL CAN MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT TOOK SO LONG TO REACH THIS POINT, AND WHAT SHOULD CHARTER SCHOOLS DO TO REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH STATE LAWS?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH MODERATOR JASON DOYLE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION IS JENNIFER PALMER, EDUCATION REPORTER WITH OKLAHOMA WATCH, AND CHRIS BREWSTER.

HE'S THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR SANTA FE SOUTH CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR JOINING US HERE ON THE IN-DEPTH TABLE.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

SO JENNIFER, LET'S GET STARTED WITH YOU.

WHERE ARE WE NOW IN THE TRIAL FOR THE EPIC CHARTER SCHOOL CO-FOUNDERS DAVID CHENEY AND ERIC HARRIS?

SO LAST WEEK, WE WRAPPED THE PRELIMINARY HEARING, PRELIMINARY HEARINGS, BASICALLY LIKE A MINI TRIAL.

IT WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE, SOME WITNESSES THAT ARE PRESENTED.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE JUDGE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A TRIAL.

SO THAT JUST WRAPPED UP.

AND THE JUDGE DID FIND EVIDENCE ON ALL BUT 1 OR 2 OF THE CHARGES.

SO MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT TOWARD TRIAL.

SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, IT'S 14 CHARGES FOR EACH FOR HARRIS AND CHENEY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S, I THINK, 15 TOTAL.

BUT THEY DON'T ALL APPLY TO EACH DEFENDANT.

THE THE FORMER CFO, JOSH BROCK, IS ALSO A CODEFENDANT BUT IS ALSO A WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.

SO HE WAS KIND OF THE STAR WITNESS.

HE TESTIFIED AT THE PRELIMINARY HEARING.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, CHRIS, GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF HOW CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO MANAGE FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WELL, CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO MANAGE FUNDS IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THAT ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL WOULD.

WE HAVE A BOARD THAT OVERSEES AND MANAGES OUR FISCAL OVERSIGHT.

WE HAVE AUDITS THAT ARE REQUIRED AND THEN PROVIDED FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW AND REPORTING STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO MEET WITH THE STATE AS WELL.

SO IT'S A MISNOMER TO THINK THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS KIND OF CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITH THE FINANCES.

THAT'S CORRECT.

IN FACT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR EXPENDITURES AND OUR REVENUES ARE VERY CLOSELY DICTATED THE SAME WAY THAT ANY STATE, TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL WOULD BE.

THERE IS SOME LATITUDE FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THINGS AROUND PAY SCALES AND WHO CAN BE EMPLOYED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL.

BUT FUNDAMENTALLY AND PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, IN THE BRICKS AND MORTAR CHARTER SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALMOST IDENTICAL SITUATIONS BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL AND A CHARTER SCHOOL.

OKAY.

THERE IS ONE MAJOR DIFFERENCE WITH THE BOARD, WHICH YOU GUYS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, CHARTER SCHOOLS, BOARD MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED, NOT ELECTED.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE POINTED OUT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH EPIC.

THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BOTH IN THE 2022 INVESTIGATIVE AUDIT AND THE RECENT 2026 AUDIT WAS STILL AN ISSUE WITH A BOARD THAT WAS APPOINTED AND WAS NOT PROVIDING PROPER OVERSIGHT.

OKAY.

VERY INTERESTING, AND THAT IS CORRECT.

AND OF COURSE, IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOU HAVE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, BUT THE OVERSIGHT IS STILL UP TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.

WE SEE THE VAST MAJORITY, IN FACT, OF EMBEZZLEMENT AND MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS HAS OCCURRED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH ELECTED BOARDS.

SO THE THE WEIGHT OF OVERSIGHT STILL RESTS ON THE BOARD, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S ELECTED OR APPOINTED, THEY'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, JENNIFER, IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE CHENEY AND HARRIS WERE CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT AND RACKETEERING, AND IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO GET THROUGH THIS PRELIMINARY HEARING.

WHY DID THE PROCESS TAKE SO LONG THIS TIME?

YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LEGAL WRANGLING OVER THIS.

YOU KNOW, LOTS OF DELAYS RELATED TO MOTIONS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS AT ONCE AND THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN LEGAL TEAM.

AND SO THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO DISQUALIFY THE JUDGE, AND THAT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

SO THAT DID TAKE SOME TIME.

IT WAS INTERESTING.

IT'S THE ONLY PRELIMINARY HEARING I'VE EVER COVERED THAT KIND OF STOPPED BEFORE IT FINISHED.

AND THEN TWO YEARS LATER, WE COME BACK TO FINISH.

SO THAT THAT DID TAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TIME.

ABSOLUTELY.

IN MY EXPERIENCE OF COVERING COURTS, TOO, IT WAS LIKE PRELIMINARY HEARING IS USUALLY MAYBE A HALF A DAY.

SO TO SEE A TWO YEAR PRELIMINARY HEARING, VERY UNUSUAL FOR A TRIAL, VERY UNUSUAL.

YES.

SO, CHRIS, CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE EDUCATION LANDSCAPE IN OKLAHOMA NOW FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.

HAS THE STATE OVER THOSE YEARS INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY STANDARDS FOR FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS?

AND IF SO, HOW SO?

SO PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WHEN WE BEGAN, IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS A LOT LESS OVERSIGHT AND A LOT LESS RESTRICTION ON HOW WE OPERATE.

AND IN FACT, CHARTER SCHOOLS WERE ESTABLISHED TO BE ALLEGEDLY FREE FROM THE ENCUMBRANCES OF A LOT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, THOUGH, WE HAVE THE SAME, IF NOT MORE OVERSIGHT, THE SAME REPORTING STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL FUNDS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND OVERSIGHT THERE FOR STATE EXPENDITURES.

OUR OCA'S REPORTING IS THE SAME AS ANY SCHOOL.

AND AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE AUDIT STANDARDS BOTH FOR THE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS WE HAVE TO MEET EACH YEAR.

NOW IS THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM THAT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS USE, IS THAT CORRECT?

THAT'S CORRECT.

IT MAKES CLEAR WHERE EACH DOLLAR HAS BEEN SPENT, WHAT IT'S BEEN APPORTIONED TO WITHIN THE DISTRICT, THE AMOUNT OF OVERALL REVENUE, THE SOURCES OF REVENUE, AND THEN WHAT YOUR BALANCE IS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

ALL RIGHT, JENNIFER, IT WAS AN AUDIT IN 2020 THAT STARTED THIS WHOLE LEGAL WRANGLING PROCESS WITH EPIC.

WHAT DID THE AUDIT ORIGINALLY FIND?

YEAH.

SO THERE WERE SOME ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT OUT IN THE AUDIT.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, I'VE BEEN REPORTING ON THIS SINCE EVEN BEFORE THE AUDIT YEARS BEFORE.

BUT THE AUDITORS WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS THROUGH SUBPOENAS, AND THAT UNCOVERED SOME ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDS GOING TO THIS PRIVATE COMPANY THAT CHENEY AND HARRIS OWNED AND WAS HIRED BY THE SCHOOL TO MANAGE THE SCHOOL.

AND THOSE FUNDS, YOU KNOW, WERE NOT PART OF THESE AUDITS.

YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO WHERE WE COULD SEE HOW THEY WERE SPENDING THEM.

AND WHAT THE AUDITORS CALLED OUT WAS THAT THIS PRIVATE COMPANY WAS NOT ONLY GETTING 10% TO MANAGE THE SCHOOL, BUT THEY WERE ALSO GETTING A CHUNK OF MONEY THAT THEY CALLED THE LEARNING FUND.

AND THIS WAS AN AMOUNT PER PER STUDENT, PER CHILD WAS ANYWHERE FROM 800 TO $1000, DEPENDING ON THE YEAR THAT THEY COULD SPEND ON EXTRACURRICULARS OR SUPPLIES OR COMPUTERS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WHAT THE AUDITORS FOUND WAS THE MONEY WAS JUST GOING STRAIGHT TO THE THE PRIVATE COMPANY, AND IT WASN'T ALL GETTING SPENT.

AND WHATEVER WAS LEFT OVER WAS STAYING WITH THE PRIVATE COMPANY.

AND THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE THAT THE AUDITORS POINTED OUT.

AND OF COURSE, THOSE FINDINGS WERE WERE THEY TURNED OVER TO A PROSECUTOR OR, OR DID THIS KIND OF GENERATE, HEY, THE PROSECUTOR SAW THIS AND DECIDED TO CHARGE.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

YEAH.

SO OSB WAS INVOLVED, I THINK EARLY ON WHILE THE AUDIT WAS GOING ON.

AND, YOU KNOW, OSB INVESTIGATED AND THEY THE FINDINGS OF BOTH WENT TO THE PROSECUTORS.

AND NOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS THE ONE WHO HAS TAKEN OVER THIS CASE.

ALL RIGHT, I SEE.

SO, CHRIS, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SANTA FE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY.

YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST SINCE WE STARTED CHARTER SCHOOLS HERE IN OKLAHOMA, AND YOU'VE GROWN INTO THIS WONDERFUL, GREAT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WE HAVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OKLAHOMA CITY NOW.

WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE STARTED IN 2001 WITH ABOUT 120 KIDS IN A RENTED CHURCH BASEMENT.

WE'LL GROW TO SERVE OVER 5000 NEXT YEAR AND 11 DIFFERENT SITES.

AND WE'RE NOW PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR THE POPULATION WE SERVE, NOT ONLY IN THE REGION, BUT WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED AMONG THE NATION FOR BEING ABLE TO SERVE UNDER RESOURCED HISPANIC BILINGUAL POPULATIONS, ESPECIALLY.

WELL, OUR TEACHERS AND LEADERS ARE EXCELLENT, BUT ABOVE ALL, THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE IS OUTSTANDING.

WE SERVE PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC STUDENTS.

AS I MENTIONED, ABOUT 97% OF OUR KIDS ARE HISPANIC, 96% QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH.

SO IT'S TYPICAL BLUE COLLAR, WORKING CLASS FAMILIES IN SOUTH OKC.

AND YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE QUALITY OF THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE BUILDING BUSINESSES AND HOMES AND GROWING FAMILIES.

IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE.

WE START OUR 25TH YEAR THIS NEXT YEAR AND GREW FROM SEVEN EMPLOYEES TO OVER 650 FOLKS WORKING ON BEHALF OF THESE KIDS NOW.

AND IT'S AMAZING TO TO SEE THAT GROWTH.

AND IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A DEMAND FOR THESE KIND OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

YEAH, IT'S ALL ABOUT SHIFTING THE POWER OF THE PUBLIC INSTITUTION FROM THE INSTITUTION BACK TO THE PUBLIC.

AND FAMILIES WITH MEANS HAVE ALWAYS EXERCISED CHOICE, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE IN A ZIP CODE OF THEIR CHOICE, OR A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR HOME SCHOOL.

BUT UNDER RESOURCED FAMILIES HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.

AND SO WHAT CHARTER SCHOOLS DO IDEALLY, IS PROVIDE OPTIONS THAT OTHER FAMILIES ALREADY HAVE HAD.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT FAMILIES ARE VOTING VERY, VERY CLEARLY WITH THEIR ENROLLMENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN SERVED IN MAYBE A MORE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES ARE REALLY ASSESSED AND WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, JENNIFER, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A LITTLE MORE HISTORY WITH THE EPIC CASE.

THE IRS ACTUALLY GOT INVOLVED AND STARTED TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO AS WELL.

RIGHT?

THAT'S RIGHT.

YES.

WE'VE REPORTED ON ON THAT INVESTIGATION AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

OF COURSE, THOSE IRS INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL, BUT WE HAVE OBTAINED SOME RECORDS THAT SHOW THAT THAT IS STILL ONGOING.

AND IT'S RELATED TO, YOU KNOW, EXCESS BENEFIT IS WHAT THE IRS CALLS IT, BUT ESSENTIALLY OVERPAYING FOR SERVICES.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE MAY SEE A RESOLUTION TO EVENTUALLY.

I SEE AND, AND DOES THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT PLAYS TOO MUCH INTO THE CURRENT TRIAL, DOES IT?

I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT STILL RELATED TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE SCHOOL, RIGHT.

HOW THEY HAD THE PRIVATE COMPANY THAT WAS PAID TO MANAGE THE SCHOOL.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, CHRIS, WITH EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE NEWS, LIKE IT HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, HAVE YOU FOUND PARENTS ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD SEND THEIR KIDS TO A CHARTER SCHOOL?

YEAH, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

I'VE NEVER HAD A PARENT QUESTION.

OF THE THOUSANDS I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT EPIC, THEY KNOW SOMETHING HAS GONE ON.

I THINK THEIR DECISIONS ARE MORE AROUND.

IS IT BEST FOR MY KID TO BE IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL, AND WHICH SCHOOL, IF IT'S A BRICKS AND MORTAR CHOICE, WOULD SERVE MY PARTICULAR KIDS NEEDS THE BEST.

SO OUR PARENTS, WHILE I'M CERTAIN, ARE AFFECTED IN SOME WAY BY THIS, THEY DON'T FEEL IT.

IT DOESN'T SEEM SORT OF AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL FOR US.

IT HASN'T AFFECTED OUR GROWTH OR WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR TRENDS.

WE ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING THIS RESOLVED, THOUGH.

I THINK THAT NATIONALLY WE SEE CMOS OR CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB IN OKLAHOMA, BECAUSE OUR PER PUPIL FUNDING IS SO LOW, MOST OF THESE FOLKS THAT DO CMO WORK OR CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION WORK DON'T COME TO OKLAHOMA.

THERE'S NO THERE'S NO WAY FOR THEM TO MAKE THE MATH, MATH HERE.

SO WHEN YOU SEE SORT OF A HOMEGROWN ITERATION OF THIS, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PARSES OUT AND ULTIMATELY HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS PROTECTED.

SO IT DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE THIS HASN'T TARNISHED ANY IMAGES OTHER THAN MAYBE THE TWO CO-FOUNDERS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

AND THE GENTLEMAN WAS THE CFO.

AND THAT IS THAT THAT KIND OF YOUR ASSESSMENT THERE?

NO, I WOULD SAY THAT ANYTIME A CHARTER SCHOOL FAILS ACADEMICALLY, FINANCIALLY, ANYTIME THERE'S A SCANDAL, IT DOES WASH OVER THE REST OF US DOING THE WORK.

NOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA THAT ARE CHARTERS ARE BEHOLDEN TO THEIR PUBLIC.

SO THE ASSESSMENTS WE HAVE ARE THE STATE ASSESSMENTS, THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE ULTIMATELY LIES WITH OUR FAMILIES.

AND THE FAMILIES STILL CHOOSE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

BUT I THINK THAT ANYTHING LIKE THIS POINTS BACK TO WEAK LEGISLATION THAT OPENED THE DOORS FOR SOME THINGS THAT OCCURRED, AND WE NEED OUR LEGISLATORS TO BE MORE CAREFUL WHEN THEY'RE CRAFTING OPTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, JENNIFER, NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR WITH THE CHENEY AND HARRIS TRIAL, WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM?

SO THERE'S AN ARRAIGNMENT THAT WILL BE THE NEXT STEP IN THE COURT PROCESS THAT'S COMING UP IN JUNE.

AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF A FORMAL STEP WHERE THEY WILL BE CHARGED WITH THE SAME CHARGES THAT THE JUDGE RECENTLY FOUND THERE WAS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.

SO.

AND THEN ONCE THAT IS DONE, THEN YOU JUST MOVE FORWARD TO TRIAL.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW LONG THAT TAKES.

AND OF COURSE, ARRAIGNMENT.

IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE COURT DRAMA FANS, THE ARRAIGNMENT WHERE THEY GET TO SAY WHETHER THEY'RE GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY PLEAD, THEY PUT IN THEIR PLEA.

AND I ALSO THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH THE RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I MEAN, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS THE ONE THAT'S PROSECUTING THIS.

YOU KNOW, THESE DELAYS HAVE PUSHED IT TO WHERE WE WILL HAVE A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, PROBABLY WHEN THIS KEEPS GOING.

I MEAN, I DON'T I DON'T SEE A TRIAL HAPPENING BEFORE JANUARY.

SO SO THAT'S AN INTERESTING THING TO WATCH TOO.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, AS WE WRAP THINGS UP, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR FINAL THOUGHTS.

CHRIS, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WELL, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW, JASON, ALTHOUGH OKLAHOMA IS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT AS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NATION, AND THAT REALLY IS A DIFFICULT THING TO TO ACCEPT AND TO WORK WITH OKLAHOMA'S BRICKS AND MORTAR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT HARVARD SURVEY, ARE NUMBER SIX IN THE NATION IN OUTCOMES.

SO WE ARE A TOP TEN STATE IN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK IN THE BRICKS AND MORTAR.

AND I, I JUST WOULD SAY THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS, TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NO MATTER WHAT ITERATION THEY'RE IN, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC, PRIVATE, HOMESCHOOL, HOLD THE ADULTS ACCOUNTABLE TO DO THE WORK TO EDUCATE CHILDREN.

OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE IN OKLAHOMA IS NOT OIL AND GAS.

IT'S NOT THE THUNDER.

IT'S OUR KIDS, RIGHT?

AND WE CAN DO A GREAT JOB.

WE'RE ALSO THE FIFTH YOUNGEST STATE IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUR KIDS.

AND THE SCHOOLS ARE RIGHT AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS WORK.

WE'VE GOT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE CAN DO GREAT WORK WITH THESE KIDS.

ALL RIGHT.

AND JENNIFER, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS FROM YOU?

I MEAN, I DO THINK THAT THIS THIS CASE RAISES SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE FUND VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE ABILITY FOR THIS BUSINESS TO MAKE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHICH WE'VE SEEN IN PROFIT, YOU KNOW, OFF OF THE PER PUPIL AMOUNT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS OF WHETHER WE SHOULD BE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, THESE SCHOOLS AT THE SAME AMOUNT AS, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS OR EVEN BRICK AND MORTAR CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE A LOT MORE EXPENSES, BUILDINGS AND BUSSES AND, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL MEALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH VIRTUAL SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE.

ALL RIGHT.

JENNIFER PALMER WITH OKLAHOMA WATCH, CHRIS BREWSTER WITH SANTA FE CHARTERS SOUTH CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE ON IN DEPTH.

THANK YOU.

THANKS.

IT'S A PLEASURE.

THE GOLD AWARD IS THE HIGHEST AWARD GIVEN BY THE GIRL SCOUTS.

AND 15 OKLAHOMA GIRL SCOUTS WERE GIVEN THAT HONOR LAST SATURDAY IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE GOLD AWARD IS GIVEN TO LEADING SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS THAT CREATE A LASTING IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT TAKES HOURS OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO EARN THE PRIZE.

MY PROJECT IS TITLED GROW AND GLOW.

I CREATED AGRICULTURE AND MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY KITS FOR MY LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO TEACH THE STUDENTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND AGRICULTURE.

WITHIN THE KITS, I INCORPORATED BOOKS, GAMES, AND DIFFERENT LEARNING MATERIALS.

AND THEN FOR FOURTH THROUGH SIXTH GRADE, I CREATED MY OWN LESSON PLANS FOR THE TEACHERS TO USE MY PROJECT.

IT'S ABOUT CELEBRATING WOMEN'S.

ON THE CORTREZ, THE MINT HAD A FOUR YEAR AMERICAN CORRIDORS PROGRAM ABOUT THE AMERICAN WOMAN ON THE QUARTERS, AND I WANTED TO EDUCATE MY YOUNGER GIRL SCOUTS IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE YET OFTEN OVERLOOKED BUT SIGNIFICANT WOMEN IN HISTORY, I CREATED A BILL CALLED HOUSE BILL 2935, WHICH IS TO ELIMINATE THE SALES TAX OFF OF DIAPERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS YEAR, BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND GET IT, HOPEFULLY GET IT PASSED NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE GIRL SCOUTS OF WESTERN OKLAHOMA ALSO AWARDED 74 BRONZE AWARDS AND 42 SILVER AWARDS DURING THE CEREMONY.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, STRICTER FEDERAL OVERSIGHT ON TRUCKERS AS IT'S STARTING TO IMPACT COMMERCIAL DRIVERS ON OKLAHOMA ROADS.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS FRIDAY AT SEVEN, AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT EXHIBIT C GALLERIES TIED TO MEMORY RIBBONS, ART, ADORNMENT AND IDENTITY PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA JASON STEWART.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

KIND OF LOVE IT SNEAKS UP ON YOU.

I'M ON THE SCENE.

I AIN'T GOT A CLUE.

I LOVE YOU, GUMSHOE.

I'M YOUR SAM SPADE.

SILENT BUT DEADLY FOCUSED AND HEADACHE.

GOOD LUCK GETTING AWAY.

I WISH I KNEW HOW TO FIT HERE, BUT I'M MORE LIKE A LEAP YEAR.

LUCKY FOR ME, I FOUND THE KEY.

LIVING OUT A MYSTERY.

GONE SHOE KIND OF LOVE SNEAKS UP ON YOU.

I'M ON THE SCENE.

I AIN'T GOT A CLUE.

I LOVE YOU, GUMSHOE.

YOU'RE MY NANCY DREW, NINE LIVES IN THE AFTERNOON ON THE BALL.

YOU GOT THE SCOOP.

A DECK OF ACES UP YOUR SLEEVE.

SMARTEST COOKIE IN THE WHOLE TIN.

GOT ME SITTING HERE WONDERING HOW I EVER CLOSED THE CASE BEFORE YOU CAME TO STAY.

GOT TO KIND OF LOVE IT.

SNEAKS UP ON YOU.

I'M ON THE SCENE.

I AIN'T GOT A CLUE.

I LOVE YOU, GUMSHOE.

OKLAHOMA.

AGRICULTURE STARTS AT SUNUP.

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