>> Rich: IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA THANKSGIVING REPORT -- >> IT'S BEEN AROUND THE STATE FOR MY SIXTH YEAR, BUT WHAT I SAW DOWNTOWN, SULFUR, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

>> Rich: THERE WERE ROMEO SCAMS TARGETING THE ELDERLY.

>> JUST ASKING THE QUESTION DELICATELY.

>> Rich: OKLAHOMA COWBOYS FAR, FAR FROM HOME ON THE FASHION RUNWAYS OF PARIS.

>> I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MORE EXPOSURE TO WHAT WE DO HERE IN OKLAHOMA AS WELL AS THE COWBOY CULTURE STUFF.

>> Rich: THE SEARCH OF ONE OF OKLAHOMA's MOST ICONIC LAWMAN.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO GET THERE AND CLEAN THIS PLACE UP AND FIND OUT WHERE HE'S AT.

>> Rich: AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

THAT'S NEXT ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL THANKSGIVING EDITION "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

WE RECAP THE STORIES WE FELT HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT IN 2024 AND WE BEGIN IN APRIL AS COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE RALLIED TO RECOVER FROM AN HISTORIC NIGHT OF STORMS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A RECORD 59 TORNADO WARNINGS WITH 25 CONFIRMED TORNADOES CLAIMING THE LIVES OF FIVE PEOPLE.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY AND JASON DOYLE AND SCOTT CASSIDY WERE ON THE GROUND AND JASON JOINS WITH A REPORT THAT AIRED ON MAY 3.

>> IT'S BEEN QUITE SOMETIME OKLAHOMA HAD A TORNADO OUTBREAK LIKE THE ONE WE SAW IN LATE APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

THAT WEEK BROKE A WEEKEND WITH 55 TOTAL TWISTERS TOUCHING DOWN IN THE SOONER STATE.

♪♪ >> COMMUNITIES ALL OVER OKLAHOMA ARE ASSESSING SATURDAY's DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK INCLUDING DOWNTOWN SULFUR WHICH WAS DEVASTATED.

>> DEFINITELY THE MOST DAMAGE SINCE I'VE BEEN GOVERNOR THAT I'VE SEEN.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DAMAGE AND I'VE BEEN AROUND THE STATE, MY SIXTH YEAR AND WHAT I SAW WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS REACTING TO WHAT THEY WITNESSED ON THEIR TOUR OF THE MURRAY COUNTY SEAT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TORNADO WHICH HIT THE TOWN AROUND 10:30 P.M. ON SATURDAY.

>> YOU JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THE DESTRUCTION.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN DESTROYED NOW.

>> Reporter: A WOMAN LOST HER LIFE DURING THE TORNADO STRIKING THIS DOWNTOWN BAR.

THE OTHER PEOPLE INSIDE MANAGED TO ESCAPE WITH FEW INJURIES.

HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES MCCALL ON HAND AND COMMITTING LEGISLATIVE HELP TO THE CITY IMPACTED BY THE TWIST ES.

ERS.

>> WE'LL RISE, CLEAN UP AND REBUILD AND MOVE FORWARD AND WE'LL BE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WITH SULFUR AND THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND SEEK RESTORATION.

>> THESE SEVERE SPRINGTIME STORMS SHOW US ONCE AGAIN WHAT THEY CAN DO.

IN FACT, THE TORNADO HERE IN SULFUR, LOOK BEHIND ME.

THOSE SHIRTS AND THAT SHOP ARE STILL FOLDED.

SHORTLY AFTER THE GOVERNOR's GROUP LEFT THE WASTELAND THAT WAS DOWNTOWN SULFUR, BUSINESS OWNERS BEGAN FIGURING OUT A WAY FORWARD.

>> I COULDN'T WAY TO SEE IT, TOUCH IT AND SEE IF IT'S REAL.

IT'S A PROCESS AND I'M HAVING TO TAKE IT MINUTE BY MINUTE.

>> THEY STARTED THIS FURNITURE STORE MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO.

>> WE'VE HAD THIS BUSINESS FOR 24 YEARS AND STARTED THE BUSINESS WITH $30 AND A USED COUCH AND BUILT OUR WAY UP TO THIS.

THE WHOLE TIME FROM DAY ONE, IT'S MY FAMILY AND I WITH EMPLOYEES COMING AND GOING.

>> MENCH AND HIS FAMILY ARE PLANNING TO KEEP IT GOING IN SULFUR.

>> HARD WORK AND PUSHING THROUGH ADVERSITY.

THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

WE'LL BE BACK AND BIGGER.

>> HE'S GLAD HIS FAMILY SURVIVED.

>> IT'S KIND OF A BITTERSWEET THING, MAN, BECAUSE I LOOK ACROSS THE CELLAR AND I SEE MY KIDS AND I WON'T AND KNOW EVERYONE IS OK.

BUT I KNOW EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED FOR, MY FATHER, WIFE, MY MOM IS BEING TORN APART AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

>> POWER OUTAGES SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE WITH 43,000 REPORTED WITHOUT POWER AFTER THE STORMS.

CREWS WERE BUSY RESTORING POWER TO THE HOLDINGVILLE AREA ON ZANE.

SUNDAY AND A NEARBY HOME DESTROYED WITH EVERYONE SAFE.

>> STARTING HEARING THE WIND AND A TRAIN SOUND EVERYBODY SAYS IS NOT REAL.

>> 18-YEAR-OLD JAMES DAVIS AND HIS DOG MADE IT OUT.

>> I RAN TO THE LIVING ROOM WHERE MY FRIDGE IS AND ME AND HIM MET IN THE LIVING ROOM AND GOT ON THE FLOOR AND UNDERNEATH A TABLE IN OUR LIVING ROOM.

THAT'S WHEN IT HIT US, AS SOON AS WE GOT UNDERNEATH THE TABLE, MAN, IT JUST COMPLETELY OBLITERATED THE HOUSE.

>> WHILE HE'S GLADS HE SURVIVED, UNFORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT SPARE THE LIFE OF A MAN AND 4-MONTH-OLD BABY.

ANOTHER DEATH HAPPENED ON I-35 IN MARIETTA.

A DRIVER WAS KILLED AS AN EF TORNADO TORE THROUGH THE DOWN ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

THE DAMAGE BROUGHT FEMA ADMINISTRATOR DEANNA CHRISMA TO SEE FOR HERSELF.

>> ON BEHALF THE PRESIDENT, WE WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH OUR HEARTACHES FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE AND THE IMPACTS THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM THE MULTIPLE TORNADOES THAT WENT ACROSS YOUR STATE.

>> SHE NOTES THAT THERE WILL BE A LARGER RESPONSE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAN JUST FEMA ITSELF.

THE STUNNING DAMAGE TO MARIETTA's LARGEST EMPLOYER, THE DOLLAR DISTRIBUTION CENTER, CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN FROM I-35.

OF COURSE, OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES WERE IMPACTED.

>> WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES LOOKING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES LOANS AT LOW INTEREST TO REBUILD AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES, AS WELL.

THAT'S NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE BUT A FUNCTION OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN REASSURED THE DOLLAR TREE EMPLOYEES WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AND GET IT UP AND RUNNING.

>> THE ONE AND ONLY GROCERY STORE.

WE HAVE FAMILY DOLLAR, BUT THERE'S NO PRODUCE IN THAT TYPE OF FORM.

>> THE TOWN's ONLY GROCERY STORE HOMELAND WAS BLOWN AWAY WITH A DOLLAR GENERAL ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

THE TOWNSPEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO FEUD BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY SHELTER SET UP AT THE FAIRGROUNDS AND THE MAYOR OF MARIETTA IS PLANNING ON REBUILDING BIGGER AND BETTER.

>> MARIETTA's HOSPITAL, THE MERCY LOVE COUNTY HEALTH CENTER STRUCK BY THE TWISTER WITH PATIENTS AND STAFF INSIDE.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TOTALLY CLOSED EXCEPT FOR EMS.

IF YOU CALL 9-1-1, WE CAN RESPOND.

>> THE EIGHT PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL AND THE TWO OTHERS WERE TRANSFERRED SAFELY AND MERCY IS SETTING UP TEMPORARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN MARIETTA.

INSURANCE ADJUSTORS ARE OUT IN FULL FORCE.

THEY SAY PROPERTY OWNERS CAN TAKE ACTION TO HELP THE PROCESS.

>> TRY TO SECURE YOUR PROPERTY AS BEST AS POSSIBLE SO WHETHER THAT'S PUTTING TARPS ON THE ROOF OR WINDOWS, BUT SECURE YOUR PROPERTY FROM FURTHER DAMAGE OR HOUSE.

LOSS.

>> REPORT THE DAMAGE TO THE STATE.

>> WHETHER THEY FILE A CLAIM OR NOT, REPORT THE DAMAGE TO THE STATE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS US TO TRIGGER POTENTIALLY A FEDERAL SYSTEM.

>> THE STATE WEBSITE TO REPORT THE STORM DAMAGE IS DAMAGE.OK.GOV WHERE A PERSON WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION.

STORMY SPRINGSES IN OKLAHOMA, THESE PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA ARE PROMISING TO THE RESILIENT AND REBUILD.

>> Rich: 2024 SET A RECORD FOR THE MOST TORNADO WARNINGS IN A YEAR BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER CENTER.

NOW WELCOME BACK IN FEBRUARY, T TAELYR JACKSON BROUGHT US A STORY ABOUT TWO COWBOYS HOME ON THE RANGE AND JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

>> THE COWBOY CULTURE IN OKLAHOMA HAS BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER TWO COWBOYS FROM SPENCER WERE FEATURED IN A LOUIS VUITTON FASHION SHOW IN PARIS AND THEY'RE SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT BLACK COWBOYS IN OKLAHOMA.

COWBOY RONNIE DAVIS NEVER IMAGINED HIS PASSION FOR HORSES WOULD LAND HIM A ROLE IN A LOUIS VUITTON FASHION SHOW.

NEW BRUNSWICK.

♪♪ >> IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE!

THE EXPERIENCE ITSELF WAS AMAZING!

♪♪ >> MUSIC PRODUCER PHARELL WILLIAMS IS ALSO A FASHION DESIGNER AND INTRODUCED HIS LOUIS VUITTON APPAREL IN PARIS AND THEY WERE CHOSEN TO WALK THE RUNWAY.

>> I WANTED TO TAKE THE RUNWAY TO BRING MORE EXPOSURE TO WHAT WE DO HERE IN OKLAHOMA AS WELL AS THE COWBOY CULTURE ITSELF.

THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WANTED A REAL COWBOY TO BRING OUT AS MUCH AUTHENTICITY.

>> DURING RODEO SEASON, YOU CAN FIND DAVIS RIDING IN THE PONY EXPRESS RELAY RACE.

>> EVERYBODY IS WAITING TO SEE THAT AND THAT'S THE BEST COMPARED TO BULL READING.

>> WE STARTED COWBOY AS A COLOR DEAL AND YOU START SEEING PEOPLE EVOLVE AND SEE THE COLISEUM AND NOW YOU HAVE PONY EXPRESS RACES.

>> COME ON, ATTA BOY!

OH, YEAH!

>> WORLD CHAMPION BULL RIDE TIPTON GREW UP IN THE SYSTEM.

>> MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER HAD A ROUND-UP CLUB STARTED BY MY GREAT UNCLE.

WE RODE IN A LOT OF PARADES, YOU KNOW, AS A KID.

SO I WAS RAISED IN THE SYSTEM.

>> THE SPENCER NATIVE GOT HIS START ALONGSIDE THE LATE BARE-BACK RIDER, ARTHUR STONE ERB.

STONER.

HE SHOWED ME THE FORMAT OF HOW TO GET MY FEET TOGETHER AND RIDE AND HE NEVER RODE, BUT HE COULD SEE IT.

>> TIPTON WAS JUST A TEENAGER HE PROVED HE WAS READY BY SUCCESSFULLY RIDING A BULL.

>> HE HADN'T BEEN RODE AND ME BEING GOOD AS A KID, A LOT OF THE WHITE GUYS, TIP GUIDING AND THIS WOULD BE A GOOD MATCH AND I RODE IT.

I DIDN'T GET HIT.

WHEN STONEY SEEN ME, YOU THINK I'M READY?

>> YEP.

>> HE WENT ON TO BE THE PRO RODEO ASSOCIATION WORLD CHAMPION BULL ROADER.

>> IT MAY BE A RODEO TODAY.

>> IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA, CHRIS HARVEY IS TAKING ON THE REINS IS BRINGING RODEO BACK TO TOWN.

>> WE WILL BE BRINGING THE TATUM's RODEO BACK.

>> THERE WAS A FOREST HERE AND TREES AND WE HAVE A POND ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND A POND ON THE NORTH SIDE.

>> THE RODEO IS SCHEDULED FOR THE FIRST WEEKEND IN JULY.

WITH THE COWBOY CULTURE BECOMING POPULARIZED, THE COWBOY SAID IT'S NOT A FAD BUT A LIFESTYLE.

>> FEED YOUR HORSES, MAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'.

FOR MY RELATIVES THAT COMPETE, THEY HAVE TO DO A LOT OF EXERCISING AND GET A LOT OF REPS IN, BUT JUST TAKING CARE OF THE ANIMAL, MAN, AND TREATING IT LIKE YOU WOULD, MAN.

YOU TREAT YOUR BODY LIKE A TEMPLE AND YOU WANT TO DO THE SAME THING WITH YOUR HORSES.

>> YOU BETTER WHOA.

>> BLACK COWBOYS HELPED TO BREAK HORSES AND HERD CATTLE AND SAME BECAME WELL-KNOWN INCLUDING NAT PICKET AND LOVE.

>> I COWBOY WHEN I GET A CHANCE TO AND CHUBBY, HE'S BEEN LIVING IN TATUM ALL HIS LIFE AND HE BREAKS HORSES, TRAINS HORSES AND RAISES HUNTING DOGS AND THIS IS HOW HE MAKES A LIVING.

>> HOLD UP!

>> RICHARDSON SAYS RODEOING IS NOT FOR THE FEINT OF HEART.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, RODEOING, IT'S A DANGEROUS SPORT, KNOW, SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE VERY ACTIVE AND SOME THAT JUST COME TO THE RODEO AND ENJOY THE GOOD OLD TIME.

>> OH, MAN!

HE'S HUNG IN THAT ROPE.

LOOK AT THAT, NORTON TRYING TO GET HIM OUT IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> MY FIRST YEAR, I QUALIFIED AND FIRST ROUND AND I HANG UP AND GET HUNG IN THE ROPE AND HE SEPARATED RIBS.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE RODEO CIRCUIT.

THIS MONTH, HE WAS ABLE TO HONOR SOME OF THOSE LEGENDS AT THE GALA.

>> WHEN WE PUT ON THIS EVENT ON VIDEO AND CROWNED 25 OF OUR LEGENDS AND THEY ALL WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE, MAN, IT WAS JUST, LIKE, GOD!

>> YOU HAD RODEO LEGENDS THAT WERE RODEOING IN THE '60s AND '70s AND PAVED THE WAY FOR A LOT OF THOSE COWBOYS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN RODEO EVENTS NOW.

>> TIPTON IS ALREADY GEARING UP FOR THE NEXT COWBOY AWARDS AND GALA HELD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1st AND I HEAR TICKETS FOR THE EVENT ARE GOING FAST.

RICH.

>> Rich: THAT'S A GREAT STORY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE SCAMMERS ARE TAKING NOTICE OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF AMERICANS GOING ONLINE FOR SOCIAL ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS.

ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, IN 2022, ALMOST 70,000 PEOPLE REPORTED BEING THE VICTIM OF A RODEO SCAM AND THAT ROMEO SCAM.THIS IS PART ONE OF O SERIES THAT AIRED IN NOVEMBER.

STEVE?

>> I TALKED TO BOTH TULSA NATIONAL AND WILL ROGER's NATIONAL AIRPORT ABOUT THIS ROMEO SCAM THAT'S LEADING PEOPLE LEAVING PEOPLEIN SORROW, DISBELY CASES, FINANCIAL WRECKAGE.

>> SO WHAT YEAR THIS IS CAR?

>> A 2008.

>> THIS IS YOUR DAD's BABY.

>> PART OF MY INHERITANCE.

>> HOW MANY MILES YOU HAVE GOT ON IT?

>> LIKE 125.

>> Steve: WILLIAM LIVES IN THE TULSA AREA AND LOST HIS 77-YEAR-OLD FATHER AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER IN MAY.

WE'RE NOT SHARING HIS FATHER's PICTURE OR NAME BECAUSE OF THE EMBARRASSMENT THE FAMILY FEELS WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR DAD, BUT THEY WANT HIS STORY OUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO HELP OTHER FAMILIES.

THIS WAS BELLAMY's FATHER's CELL PHONE AND IN IT, HIS FAMILY FOUND TRAGIC SECRETS THE FATHER KEPT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SCAM HE HAD FALLEN VICTIM TO A LONG TIME AGO BUT WOULDN'T ADMIT EVEN TO HIMSELF.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF DETAILS, LIKE PULLING TEETH, AND HE WOULDN'T DIVULGE ALL OF IT, BUT SOME OF THIS WE FIGURED OUT AFTER THINGS GOT BAD.

SOME OF IT AFTER HE DIED.

>> YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS WAS A WOMAN HE WAS DEALING WITH?

>> NO.

IN FACT, I THINK THE INDUSTRY IS MOSTLY MEN.

THAT'S WHY THEY WANT TO TEXT, YOU KNOW.

THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE PHONE CONVERSATIONS.

THEY DON'T WANT VIDEO CONVERSATIONS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO MEET YOU IN-PERSON BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WOMEN.

♪♪ >> THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE YOUNG WOMAN WILLIAM SAYS HIS FATHER THOUGHT HE'D BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH ONLINE SINCE 2019.

HERE ARE ALSO TEXT MESSAGES THE ALLEGED MYSTERY WOMAN SENT TO BELLAMY's DAD, CONSTANTLY ASKING FOR MONEY.

BELLAMY's MOTHER DIED UNEXPECTED IN 2016.

SOMETHING BELLAMY SAYS HIS FATHER TOOK VERY HARD.

HE SAYS HIS FATHER ENDED UP SENDING THAT PERSON, WHO AGAIN, HE THOUGHT WAS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN IN NEED, AT LEAST A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY ON THE LOW SIDE.

BY THE TIME BELLAMY's FATHER DIED AGAIN THIS PAST MAY.

>> IT IS SAFE TO SAY YOUR FATHER DIED HEARTBROKEN AND PENNYLESS.

>> YEAH, BASICALLY.

>> HOW MUCH?

>> WE'RE UNSURE.

HE TOLD ME $21,000.

>> BUT A LOT MORE?

>> WAY MORE.

>> HE GOT PHOTOS OF THE PERSON AND IT TOOK ME TWO SECONDS TO FIND THEM ON GOOGLE AND FIND OUT IT WAS A FIXED WORKER.

THERE'S MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF PEOPLE ONLINE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW EXIST.

SO YOU HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO POSTING PICTURES AND RIP IT OFF THE INTERNET.

>> BELLAMY SAYS THERE'S EVIDENCE HIS FATHER MAY HAVE TRIED TO MEET HIS ALLEGED LOVE INTEREST AT THE TULSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

>> THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS.

ACCORDING TO THE POLICE CHIEF AT THE AIRPORT, THEY'RE SEEING THE SHRAPNEL OF THIS ROMEO SCAM HERE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

>> IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THESE ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS, MAYBE JUST ASK QUESTIONS DELICATELY TO FIND OUT IF THEY'RE THE VICTIM OF A SCAM.

>> TULSA NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF DAN HANSEN RECENTLY PUT AN ALL POINT's BULLETIN OUT ON ROMEO SCAMS HE SAYS ARE NOW PREVALENT AT THIS AIRPORT.

>> WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY ARRIVE AT A BAGGAGE CLAIM WAITING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, EITHER AMBASSADORS OR POLICE OFFICERS WILL SEE THEM WAITING THERE.

WE'LL STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEY'RE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S COMING IN ON AN AIRPLANE.

WE'VE DONE THIS JOB A LITTLE WHILE AND WE HAVE TO SOMETIMES BREAK THE NEWS THAT MAYBE WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM IS A SCAM AND THAT'S HOW THAT CONVERSATION DEVELOPS.

>> WOMEN, TOO?

>> YES.

>> AND NOT JUST ELDERLY FOLKS?

PEOPLE YOUNGER?

>> YES.

>> HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

>> REACHING OUT, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE.

I THINK ABOUT WEEKLY OR ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY WE'RE SEEING SOME FORM OF IT AND I'M SEEN INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNREPORTED BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE CRIMES THAT'S TOUGH TO ADMIT.

IT'S TOUGH TO ADMIT YOU'VE BEEN SCAMMED OR MONEY OVER THE INTERNET.

>> IT'S EMBARRASSING.

>> YES.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S HAPPENED A LOT MORE THAN WE KNOW OF.

>> WILL ROGER's INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CERTAINLY IS NOT NEW.

>> THEY COME WITH A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS AND WELCOME SIGN.

YOU SEE THEM FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND AS YOU'RE LEAVING AT THE END OF YOUR DAY.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, EITHER SOMETIMES WE HAVE SOME AIRPORT STAFF THAT WILL -- IF THEY'VE NOTICED THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR MULTIPLE HOURS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THEY'LL GO AND ASK THEM, WHO ARE YOU ASKING FOR?

>> WILL ROGERS's SPOKESPERSON SAYS SHE REMEMBERS A SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT YEAR WHEN AN ELDERLY MAN ARRIVED AT WILL ROGERS EXPECTING TO HOOK UP WITH A WOMAN WHO TOLD HIM SHE WAS FLYING IN ON AN AMERICAN AIRLINE's FLIGHT THAT DID NOT EXIST.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD TURNED OVER HIS BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION.

HE HAD LEFT HIS PERSON IN HIS WILL TO INHERIT EVERYTHING WHEN HE PASSED ON.

>> HAM SAYS THAT ALLEGED SCAM ARTIST LAID IT ON SO THICK THAT ELDERLY MAN THOUGHT HIS ONLINE LOVE INTEREST WAS IN THE AIR FORCE AND STATIONED AT A BASE IN COLORADO.

THIS SCAM IS SO DIABOLICALLY CRUEL, THEY THINK THEY'RE PICKING SOMEBODY UP ON ON ANAIRLINE, THAT IT DOES NOT N OUR OUT OF TULSA OR OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> IT'S PRETTY TERRIBLE, YEAH.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PEOPLE ARE FALLING FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> JUST FOR LOVE.

>> YEAH.

AND JUST THE FACT THERE'S OTHER INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> THAT'S ARE NOT DUMB PEOPLE.

THESE ARE SMART PEOPLE, BUT IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE SOPHISTICATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE FOUND, TOO, THESE ARE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE WITH PEOPLE, IN THE AIRPORT OF ALL PLACES.

THEY'RE EXPECTATION IS THEIR WAITING FOR THEIR POTENTIAL LOVED ONE TO STEP OFF THE AIRPLANE AND DEVELOP THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM IN-PERSON.

THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS AND WE TRY TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION AS A RESOURCE TO HELP THEM IN THAT PLACE BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

>> ALL WILLIAM BELLAMY HAS LEFT FROM HIS DAD IS A 16-YEAR-OLD SEMI RELIABLE ANNUAL.

AUTOMOBILE.

>> HE WASN'T MAKING HIS BILLS AND TOOK OUT LOANS THAT HE OWNED OUTRIGHT AND NEARLY LOST THE HOUSE.

HE WAS GOING AROUND TOWN ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY.

EVERYBODY IN TOWN KNOWS ALL THIS STUFF.

>> THAT'S HURTFUL.

>> AS MY OTHER BROTHER SAID, IT TOOK A LOVING FAMILY MAN AND TURNED HIM INTO A DRUG ADDICT.

NOT FAMILY DEALT WITH ADDICTION, NOT BECAUSE OF MY DAD, AND THAT WAS HARD BUT THAT WAS WORSE.

WHEN YOU BUY DRUGS, YOU HAVE DRUGS TO SHOW FOR IT.

BUT THIS, HE WAS HANDING HIS MONEY AWAY TO NOBODY.

>> LAW ENFORCEMENT TELLS ME ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING PARTS OF ALL OF THIS IS EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THESE VICTIMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RIPPED OFF FOR HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OR MUCH MORE, THEY STILL WON'T ADMIT IT TO THEIR FAMILIES OR THEMSELVES THEY'VE BEEN HAD.

>> SHE'S HOMELESS AND BROKE AND DOESN'T REALIZE IT.

(SIRENS).

>> JOHN CRAFT SPENT 32 YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE AND OKLAHOMA AND THE LAST SEVERAL, HE WAS BRIDGE CREEK's FIRE CHIEF.

CRAFT SAYS EARLIER THIS YEAR HE CAUGHT WIND THAT A FAMILY MEMBER HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT UP IN AN ONLINE ROMEO SCAM.

CRAFT SAYS THAT FAMILY MEMBER THINKS SHE'S INVOLVED WITH A WELL-KNOWN TELEVISION ACTOR.

>> STARTED WITH HER HAVING SOME TASKS.

THEY TASKED HER WITH SCOURING THE INTERNET TO FIND FAKE WEBSITES AND THROUGH THAT A RELATIONSHIP, IF YOU WILL GREW.

I THINK THEY WERE GROOMING HER FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND HONESTLY, STEAMS LIKE SHE'S BRAINWASHED.

>> SO SHE THINKS SHE'S SOME KIND OF INVESTIGATOR FOR THIS MOVIE STAR?

>> YES, AND HAS BEEN SCOURING THE INTERNET THE SHUT DOWN FAKE WEBSITES ABOUT HIM.

>> WE'RE NOT IDENTIFYING CRAFT's FAMILY MEMBER, BUT WE'VE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO HER FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

I'M NOT IDENTIFYING THAT ACTOR, EITHER.

>> SUPPOSEDLY, HE WAS GETTING DIVORCED AND HE'S COMING TO GET HER AND THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE OFF TO WHERE HE IS IN CALIFORNIA.

BUT IT'S OVER THE COURSE OF THE MONTHS, THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING COME UP.

WELL, I CAN'T GET THERE THIS WEEK OR CAN'T GET THERE THIS MONTH AND IT'S JUST ALWAYS AN EXCUSE.

>> HOW MUCH MONEY HAS SHE SENT HIM?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT.

SHE SOLD HER HOUSE AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW, SENDS HIM HER ASSOCIATE SECURITY CHECK.

HER SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK AND MAYBE CLOSE TO 100,000.

>> DOES SHE HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE?

>> YES.

SHE'S CURRENTLY WITH FRIENDS.

>> CRAFT SAYS THAT HOLLYWOOD ACTOR IS AWARE SCAM ARTISTS ARE USING HIM TO RIP PEOPLE OFF AND HE DISAVOWS ANY INVOLVEMENT.

TARA HARDIN IS AN OKLAHOMA COUNTY SHERIFF's DEPUTY WHO TEACHES SCAM PREVENTION TO OLDER ADULTS LIKE THIS ONE THIS OKLAHOMA CITY.

HARDIN SAYS THE JOHN CRAFT FAMILY SITUATION IS NOT UNUSUAL.

PEOPLE, MOSTLY SENIORS, ARE GETTING SCAMMED BY PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS AND MANY WHO AREN'T EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> SHE'S LOST EVERYTHING.

SHE'S, LIKE, BORROWING MONEY TO JUST DO WHATEVER.

SHE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

THAT'S HOW BAD IT'S GOTTEN FOR HER.

BUT THAT'S COMMONPLACE, IS IT?

>> IT'S BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE AND NOT JUST MEN BUT WOMEN, ALSO, AND NOT JUST SINGLE PEOPLE.

THIS IS JUST HAPPENING ON DATING WEBSITES.

THIS IS HAPPENING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THROUGH MISSED TEXT MESSAGE OR WRONGLY DIALED PHONE CALL.

THEY'RE MAKING CONTACT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH A WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO REPORT IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT.

SHE HAD LOST EVERYTHING, AS WELL.

SHE WAS A MARRIED WOMAN AND IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY A COUNTRY AND WESTERN STAR THAT SHE WAS TALKING TO ONLINE.

IT WAS NOT THIS INDIVIDUAL.

BUT SHE HAD SENT EVERYTHING.

HAD MAXED OUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS AND DRAINED THEIR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

>> JOHN CRAFT SAYS WHILE THE REST OF HIS FAMILY TOOK A HARD LINE, HE TRIED TO GO EASY, HOPING TO REACH THE FAMILY MEMBER HE BELIEVES IS STILL GETTING SCAMMED.

>> THE PREMISE SHE'S UNDER NOW, IT'S AN INVESTMENT, SENDING ABANDON TO AN INVESTMENT AND BASICALLY ONCE HE GETS WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH HIS DIVORCE, HE'LL COME AND TOGETHER THEY'LL BE INVESTING IN THIS THING AND THEY CAN REAP THE REWARDS OF THIS INVESTMENT.

BUT IT'S NOT THERE.

>> IT'S L A LA LAND.

>> WE SAID TRY TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY THAT YOU'VE INVESTEDDED ID SHE WON'T DO IT.

>> WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

>> WE ALL HAVE A NEED TO FEEL LOVE.

>> HEART OF MY INHERITANCE.

>> LAST WEEK, I TOLD YOU ABOUT A 77-YEAR-OLD TULSA COUNTY MAN WHO DIED FROM CANCER IN MAY.

HIS SON TOLD US HIS DAD DIED BROKE BECAUSE HE GAVE HIS LIFE SAVINGS TO SOMEONE HIS FATHER THOUGHT WAS THIS YOUNG WOMAN.

>> TELL ME HOW A 77-YEAR-OLD MAN COULD EVER THINK THAT SHE WANTS TO BE WITH HIM.

>> AGAIN, IT GOES TO THAT EGO.

WHEN SHE TELLS THAT -- WHEN THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG 25-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TELLS US A 77-YEAR-OLD MAN WHAT A WONDERFUL MAN HE IS, HOW MUCH HIS FAMILY MUST APPRECIATE HIM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAYBE HE HEARD WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER BUT HASN'T HEARD FOR A FEW YEARS IN HIS LIFE, IT STRIKES A CORD AND DOES WITH ALL OF US.

>> HARDIN SAYS FBI NUMBERS IN 2023 SHOWED THERE WERE $3.1 BILLION IF REPORTED ELDER FRAUD.

HOWEVER, THAT'S JUST 20% OF WHAT THE TRUE NUMBER WAS.

>> IT WILL EVENTUALLY RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING THE BULK OF OUR ASSET BASE WHICH LIES IN OUR OLDER POPULATION AND WE ARE TRANSFERRING IT THROUGH THESE FRAUDS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

>> THEY'VE NEVER SEEN A LIVE VIDEO FEED OF THE PERSON OR FACE-TIME AND SENDING MONEY VIA APPLE PAY, BITCOIN.

HOWEVER IT WORKS TO SEND MONEY, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> HOPEFULLY THIS KIND OF THING IS BIGGER THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE AND UNTIL YOU KNOW OF IT, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE TRULY ARE AFFECTED BY THIS.

SO IF I CAN HELP ONE PERSON TO MAYBE GIVE THEM INFORMATION TO WHATEVER FAMILY MEMBER THEY'RE DEALING WITH OR ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS REALIZE, OH, I'M HEARING THE SAME THING SOMEBODY LIVING THROUGH THIS, MAYBE I DO NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS.

>> AGAIN, I'VE TRIED TO REACH JOHN CRAFT's FAMILY MEMBER BY PHONE AND EMAIL AND CRAFT SAYS HE STILL IS ON HER SIDE.

>> UNTIL THAT PERSON IS WILLING TO TRULY ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THEY'VE BEEN SCAMMED, YOU KNOW -- THERE'S A TERM FOR IT WE'VE LEARNED.

IT'S A "PIG SLAUGHTERING" SCAM.

IT'S TRUE.

THEY'RE TRULY BLEEDING AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

>> ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR A.I.

HAS CHANGED THE GAME IN THIS FRAUD.

CROOKS CAN EASILY CHANGE THEIR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ONLINE WITH A.I.

THINK ABOUT THAT ONE.

>> RICH?

>> Rich: EXCELLENT SERIES OF REPORTS, THANK YOU.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP E FOLKS IN THE FUTURE.

>>> TO A STORY I PUT TOGETHER IN LATE APRIL.

THERE'S SOMETHING PROFOUNDLY FORLORN ABOUT A NEGLECTED CEMETERY, ESPECIALLY THE ONES OF DOZENS OF PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA.

RUBIN HAS BEEN CLEANING UP THE HARDI IN CEMETERY WHERE THEY BELIEVE A LEGEND FIGURE IN OUR HISTORY MAY BE BURIED.

IT'S RECORDED IN THIS LEDGER DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS WHICH LIES UNDERNEATH THORNY BRUSH IN MUSKCOGEE, OKLAHOMA.

>> REX IS MY GIVEN NAME AND I WEAR A LOT OF ORANGE AS I WAS AN ENTERTAINER AND HAVE BEEN FOR 30 YEARS AND I DO JUGGLING AND STILT WALKING AND I DEVELOPED A CHARACTER CALLED "ORANGE REX."

>> Rich: ONE THAT HAS DONE A RIGOROUS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH SINCE ACQUIRING THIS FROM AN OKLAHOMA THRIFT STORE FOR $25.

>> I WOULD DESCRIBE HIM AS AN ACTIVIST GENEALOGIES.

>> Rich: HE'S THE FOUNDER OF AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO UPLIFTING THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF BACK PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA AND THINKS THIS OVERGROWN TRACT OF LAND IS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT.

>> SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THESE GREAT SITES AROUND OUR STATE AND THEY WILL YIELD TOURISM DOLLARS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT HISTORY CONNECTION.

>> Rich: WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO ORANGE R EX's LEDGERS.

DOES THE NAME BASS REEVES RING A BELL?

>> I LOOKED HIM UP.

>> Rich: A SPOKESPERSON HAS SEEN THESE LEDGERS AND SAYS WHILE THIS ISN'T HIS OFFICIAL DEATH CERTIFICATE, IT DOES APPEAR TO BE AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTATION.

>> THEY WERE RECORDED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND A MEDICAL EXAMINER OR DOCTOR's CERTIFICATE.

>> Rich: A FORMER SLAVE WHO BECAME ONE OF THE GREATEST LAWMAN IN OKLAHOMA HISTORY, ARREST MORE THAN 300,000 MEN AND WOMEN AS A DEPUTY.

>> ARE YOU A LAWMAN OUR OUTLAW?

>> I BIT OF BOTH I RECKON.

>> THEY HELPED TO BUILD THE STATE.

HE DID DO A LOT TO MAKE SURE THIS COULD BECOME A STATE.

>> Rich: REEVES DIED IN 1910 AND REX IS CONVINCED HIS GRAVE SITE IS SOMEWHERE IN HERE.

>> IS THIS JUST ANOTHER HEADSTONE?

>> THIS IS A MARKETER COMMEMORATING SOMEONE WHO ISN'T BURIED IN THE CEMETERY BUT NASHVILLE.

BUT THIS IS WHO THE CEMETERY IS NAMED AFTER AND THIS IS MABEL HARDING.

>> Rich: REX LEAD A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS IN AN EXCESSABLE AREA AND ESTIMATED THERE ARE 2,000 GRAVESTONES HERE, BUT NO ONE KNOWS BECAUSE GETTING TO THEM IS DIFFICULT.

>> I'LL START WITH THE SNAKES.

THEY SHOULD BE ASLEEP AND WE COULD DEAL WITH THAT.

BRIERS, BUSHES, TREES, IT HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED PROBABLY 20 YEARS.

>> Rich: RAY IS THE FOUNDER OF LEGACY KEEPERS AND A MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION STARTED BY ORANGE REX CALLED THE MUSKOGEE COUNTY CEMETERIES AND ASSOCIATION.

>> THERE ARE TWO THOUSAND HEADSTONES AND 500 ARE BURIED AND FACE DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO CLEAR SIX TO 12 INCHES OFF THAT WHOLE PLACE.

>> AND THERE ARE LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL HEADSTONES THAT ARE STANDING.

THE ONE THAT WE BELIEVE IS HIS IS FACE DOWN AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, VERY BURIED.

YOU CAN JUST, GO, LET'S FLIP IT OVER AND SEE.

WE HAVE A MONUMENT COMPANY THAT WILL DO IT.

>> Rich: ALL OF WHICH TAKES MONEY AND A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS WILLING TO DO A LOT OF HARD WORK FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> EVERY PERSON THAT HAS THAT SHOVEL, WEED EATER, CHAINSAW.

>> HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT'S THE GRAVE SITE?

>> I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT HE'S IN THERE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S AT.

WE'LL HAVE TO CLEAN IT UP.

>> WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THAT?

>> A COUPLE YEARS, MAYBE.

>> OBVIOUSLY CLEANING OUT A SEVEN-ACRE CEMETERY WILL BE A HERCULEAN TASK, BUT IF THEY CAN DO IT AND IF THE GRAVE SITE IS SOMEWHERE BEHIND ME, WHAT AN AMAZING THING THAT WILL BE, THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF AN ICONICPERSON IN OKLAHOMA.

>> I NEED A MAN WITH A GOOD GUN AND A STRAIGHT SPINE.

YOU UP FOR THE TASK?

>> I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE IN MY SUNDAY BEST IF I WASN'T.

>> I THINK HAVING THE SERIES, THAT WAS ONE OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE HIS STORY WAS TOO BIG TO MAKE IT INTO A MOVIE.

SO THE SERIES WAS THE IDEAL.

>> Rich: IT INTRODUCED HIM TO A NEW AUDIENCE.

AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRING VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING DESCENTANTS OF PEOPLE BURIED HERE TO HELP CLONE UP AND RESTORE THE CEMETERY.

>> HE'S MY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER.

>> Rich: FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHE'S SEEN THE LEGENDARY OF ANOTHER MARSHALL.

>> IT TIES EVERYTHING IN FOR ME AND IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO DESCRIBE.

>> DESCENDANTS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BLAMED FOR THE CONDITION OF THE CEMETERY AND DEATH DOESN'T CARE WHO YOU ARE.

WHEN YOU GO, THINGS ARE LEFT UNDONE AND PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS PICK THEM UP.

>> THIS CEMETERY WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY SIGNIFICANT FROM 1905 UP THROUGH THE '20s AND '30s AND '40s BECOMES BROKEN IN THE SENSE THAT THE FAMILIES THAT FOUNDED IT, MANY MOVED AWAY.

>> Rich: IT RESTS ON CREEK NATION PROPERTY AND THE COOPERATION WILL BE IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD.

AS THEY DO, ANOTHER ISSUE IS PROTECTING THEIR HALLOWED GROUND FROM PEOPLE WITH ULTERIOR MOTIVES.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT SET BACK AND WEDGE SOMETHING, PUT A LITTLE WEDGE IN THERE OUT OF RESPECT.

>> THE SAD PART IS THAT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU OPEN SOMETHING UP AND YOU DO IT TOO SOON AND YOU DON'T HAVE SECURITY, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE PARAMETERS SET.

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FROM WHAT WE CALL GRAVE HUNTERS, TREASURE HUNTERS.

>> YOU HAVE TO RUN YOUR STRING LINES AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A DRAINAGE PLANT AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME BEFORE, JUST FLIP OPEN THE STONE AND HAVE A BUNCH OF FANATICS TO SEE THEM.

I'M TRYING TO NOT MAKE A CIRCUS OUT OF THAT.

>> Rich: THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE FOR ANOTHER DAY.

THIS IS A WORTHWHILE GOAL AND EVEN IF IT ISN'T, THERE'S OTHER DOZENS OF PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA BURIED, INCLUDING SIR JONES WHOSE 29 FILMS DOCUMENTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN THE 1920s REMAINS A TREASURE TROVE.

>> THERE ARE DOZENS OF IMPORTANT MEN BURIED IN THERE.

THERE'S 100 REVERENDS IN THE CHURCH SECTION.

THERE'S JUDGES, LAWYERS AND, IN MY OPINION, OF ALL OF THE CEMETERIES, IT WAS THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE SOUTHWEST.

I BELIEVE HE'S IN THERE.

IF THE FOREST IS IN THE WAY, WELL, WE'LL CUT DOWN THE FOREST.

>> Rich: EACH WEEK ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, WE AIR AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

IN AUGUST, CASSIDY MUDD TACKLED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

TO BE CLEAR, A.I.

IS NOTHING NEW.

BUT THIS TO PLAY CHECKERS WAS CREATED IN 1951.

AND NOW A.I.

IS CHANGING JUST ABOUT THE WAY WE DO EVERYTHING AND THAT WAS OUR FOCUS ON AUGUS.

>> TO EXAMINE WHAT IT OLY WHAT R OKLAHOMA FUTURE IS DR. TERRY REED, THE DIRECTOR OF POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND OKLAHOMA's DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DATA SERVICES AND FINALLY, JOINING US VIA ZOOM IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA CYBER INNOVATION INSTITUTE.

SO TO KICK OFF THIS CONVERSATION, I WANT TO ASK, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE PROS AND CONS ARE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

>> CHAD.

>> THIS IS A NATIONAL DEBATE AROUND THE TOPIC OF A.I.

AND WHAT ARE THE PRO's AND CON's?

I VIEW THERE ARE MORE PROS THAN CONS AND SOME PROS INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO MOVE FASTER.

ALLOWING US TO FOCUS ON MEANINGFUL TASK LIKE CODER FRIENDS THAT RELY ON CHATGPT TO DO 95% OF THEIR MEDIAL WORK AND THEY COME OVER THE TOP WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE AND TWEAK THE CODE TO DEVELOP GREAT APPLICATIONS WE ALL USE TODAY.

ON THE CON FRONT, THE BIGGEST CON IS THE POWER OF YOUR A.I.

IS DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO THE QUALITY OF DATA YOU HAVE USED TO TRAIN ON.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD DATA, IF YOU DON'T HAVE INCLUSIVE DATA THAT IS FAR-REACHING, YOU ARE LIMITED IN YOUR SCOPE AND YOU'RE MAKING YOUR A.I.

UNDERPERFORM.

>> DR. REED, PROS AND CONS?

>> I THINK THE PROS FOR INTELLIGENCE IS THAT IT IS THE NEXT BIG GENERAL CHANGE IN OUR LIFE.

IT'S MUCH LIKE COGNITIVE UNLOADING DEVICES.

ONLY CO-INTELLIGENT IS A WORD USED BY MANY PEOPLE.

IT CAN BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT, TO ENHANCE, TO GET US TO PLACES AND UNDERSTANDINGS QUICKLY AND UNLIKE WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE.

BUT THAT ALSO LEADING TO THE CONS AND SO THE CON IS SOMETIMES IT'S SO GOOD YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE HALLUCINATION IS.

SO IT TAKES THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING TO BE ABLE TO DISCERN THESE DIFFERENCES.

AND SO, REALLY, WE'RE TAKING -- I THINK OF THINGS FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOWER LEVELS OF LEARNING, THAT'S WHAT A.I.

CAN DO FOR US SO THAT WE'RE FREED UP TO GET INTO HIGHER LEVELS AND SYNTHESIS OF LEARNING.

SO HOW CAN WE MAKE THE PROS AND CONS WORK TOGETHER AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

>> JENNIFER?

>> SO WE LOOK AT THE PROS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN VIEW OF WHAT IT COULD DO FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, THERE ARE TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC AND INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD OF US.

IT'S LITTERLY EVERYTHING IT'S LE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN OUR INDUSTRIES TO MAKE THEM MORE EFFICIENT AND HOW TO OPEN UP NEW LINES OF BUSINESS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT ALREADY EXIST.

THE OPPOSITE END OF THAT IS WHEN WE LOOK AT INNOVATION.

THERE IS TRULY A NEW FRONTEER THAT THEY CAN CREATE NEW BUSINESSES AND PROCESSES THAT CAN SOLVE THE WORLD's PROBLEMS AND ALSO BRING BACK FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE STATE THROUGH NEW JOBS AND NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS THAT IT COMES WITH THE CONS.

I'LL GO BACK TO WHAT CHAD SAID, IT COMES BACK THROUGH THE ETHICAL IMPLEMENTATION AND ETHICAL USAGE OF THE TECHNOLOGIES, BOTH WHEN EXISTING BUSINESSES AND NEW INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION OF SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND REALLY KIND OF DERISK ALL OF THE CONS THAT COME WITH IT.

>> JESSICA, PROS AND CONS?

>> THE GROUP SUMMED IT UP.

FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE, HOW DO WE DRIVE EFFICIENCIES AND MANUAL PROCESSES AND TAKE SOME OF THOSE PIECES, AUTOMATE THOSE MATH MANL EFFICIENCIES.

A.I.

CAN BRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMMERCE TO THE STATE AND THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT NOT ONLY THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA BUT CITIZENS FROM A JOB PERSPECTIVE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

WE ARE ALSO EVALUATING HOW WE CAN BENEFIT OR HOW CITIZENS CAN BENEFIT FROM SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHENEVER WE LOOK AT CITIZENS AND HOW THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHAT SERVICES THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA CAN OFFER THEM, HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT KNOWLEDGE GAP AND EDUCATE CITIZENS ON WHAT'S AVAILABLE?

FROM A CON's PERSPECTIVE, WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING THREE, SIX, MONTHS, NINE MONTHS FROM NOUN.

THINK THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO CADENCE YOURSELF OUT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY AND IMPLEMENT IT WITH THAT ETHICAL FRAME OF MIND.

>> MOVING ON, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN OKLAHOMA.

HOW WOULD YOU SEE PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA, DR. REED, ARE PERCEIVING A.I.?

>> WHENEVER THEY START TO THINK ABOUT A.I., THERE'S WIDE VARIANCES USED BECAUSE IT GOES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TRUSTING, WORRIED ABOUT THEIR PRIVACY, WORRIED ABOUT HOW IT WILL BE USED AND HOW THEIR OWN INFORMATION WILL BE USED AND ACCESSED, SO THAT ETHICAL SIDE COMES INTO PLAY.

THEN THE SIDE OF PEOPLE THINKING HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE TEASEE PROBLEMS?

BECAUSE THESE ARE THE ONES WE'RE WORKING ON SOLVING.

SO THE INTEREST OF STUDENTS FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT IS LARGE.

THEY CAN SEE, THEY'RE THE YOUNGER GEN Z's AND MEAN LEN AND MILLENNIALS SO WHERE IT WILL TAKE THEM AND WHERE ALL OF THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE MET.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE HAVE DO IN EDUCATION, HOW WE CAN ADDRESS EACH OF THOSE AND WHAT KIND OF APPLICATIONS WORK FOR A.I.

AND WHAT ONES DON'T.

SO THAT'S WHAT I SEE AS A STATE.

THERE'S JUST A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT AND A LOT OF INTEREST IN DEGREES IN IT.

BUT YOU DON'T NEED A DEGREE, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO INCORPORATE IT IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STRIVING FOR FROM THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE.

>> CHAD, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE STATE OF A.I.

DEVELOPMENT IN OKLAHOMA?

>> I THINK THE STATE OF DEVELOPMENT OF A.I.

IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING ACROSS THE NATION.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE ANY DIFFERENT.

I THINK THERE ARE POCKETS OF EARLY DEVELOPMENT ON THE A.I.

FRONT.

A LOT OF THOSE ARE ANALYST JOBS THAT RELY ON DATA AND HAVE HISTORICAL DATA, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO USE A.I.

PLATFORMS AGAINST AND MAKE FASTER DECISIONS.

AND SO, WE'RE SEEING THAT NOT ONLY IN OKLAHOMA BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT ACROSS THE GLOBE.

THERE ARE ALSO POCKETS OF AREAS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT ABLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE A.I.

I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF THE STATE TO GET AFTER BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT AND USAGE ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

I KNOW JENNIFER AND HER OCATS TEAM ARE TAKING GOVERNOR STITT's EXAMPLE, MONEY AND LEADERSHIP AND VISION AND TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THAT AND SO, GETTING THAT OUT ACROSS RURAL OKLAHOMA, TO GIVE THEM THE HIGH SPEED CONNECTIVITY THEY NEED, THAT WILL DEVELOP A.I.

IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA FASTER.

>> JESSICA, JENNIFER TOUCH ON TOUCHED ONTHIS, BUT HOW ARE WE E STATE OF OKLAHOMA USE A.I.

>> WE WANT TO MAINTAIN SAFETY AND SECURITY AND ENSURING THAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS MINDFUL OF THAT LEVEL OF DATA AND HOW IT'S USING IT APPROPRIATELY.

AND SO LEANING INTO THE GOVERNOR's TASK FORCE, I HAVE AUTHORED AN A.I.

STANDARD FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND THIS CAN BE, YOU KNOW, GOOGLE SEARCHED VERY EASILY TO OUTLINE WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO FROM A PUBLIC FACING PERSPECTIVE TOOL.

SO YOUR CHATGPT AND GEMINI, VERSUS INTERNAL.

DATA IS KEPT SAFE AND SECURE WITH AN INTERNAL TOOL BUT THE LANGUAGE MODELS TRAIN.

RECENTLY, WE COMMISSIONED AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY's GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WHICH I'M CHAIRING.

EVERY TECHNOLOGY THAT STATE AGENCIES WANT TO USE, WE HAVE DEVELOPED INTERNALLY AND THAT OUR VENDOR PARTNERS ARE USING WILL FUNNEL THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS OUR STANDARDS.

PRIMARILY LEANING INTO THE DATA PIECE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HOW WE BRIDGE THE GAP FROM DATA AND SKILLSET's PERSPECTIVE.

>> JENNIFER, HOW DO YOU SEE A.I.

IMPACTING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE IN THE SHORT AND LONG TERM?

>> THE SHORT-TERM, IT'S TAKING STRATEGIC EFFORTS TO BOTH USE A.I.

AS A DRIVER OF INNOVATION AND COMPANIES THAT EXIST AND ALSO HELPING LEVERAGE THE GROWTH AND EXPANSIONS.

THIS IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT OKLAHOMA CAN SUCCEED IN.

BECAUSE WHILE A.I.

HAS BEEN AROUND A WHILE, THE NEW SUR INTELLIGENCE AND RECOGNITION CREATES OPPORTUNITIES.

DR. REED TALKS ABOUT THE SUR INTELLIGENCE, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY CREATES OPPORTUNITIES THAT THOSE IN OKLAHOMA HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE.

>> JESSICA, LONG VISION IN OKLAHOMA?

>> I LOOK INTO MY CRYSTAL BALL AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE CITIZENS ACCESS TO SERVICE.

ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, THERE'S A WOMAN GOING THROUGH PERSONAL ISSUES ASKING HOW DO I GET SUPPORT AND HOW DO I GET HELP?

WE'RE BUILDING OUT A SOLUTION WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES BASED OFF OF WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT YOU AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING YOU AND A CITIZEN AND OFFERING, BASED OFF OF THAT DATA, HOW THESE OTHER SERVICES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

SO HERE IS HOW TO APPLY FOR THOSE SERVICES.

SO AN END-TO-END CENTRIC EXPERIENCE WILL BE CRITICAL INTO THE FUTURE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> DR. REED, FINAL THOUGHTS, HOW DO YOU SEE A.I.

EVOLVING OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS?

>> I THINK IT BECOME A PART OF OUR EVERY DAY AND EVERY TYPE OF QUESTION THAT WE ASK, IT WILL ENHANCE AND IT WILL FREE US UP TO DO ADDITIONAL WORK AND CHANGES THAT WILL MOVE US ALONG FASTER THAN WE'VE EVER THOUGHT WE COULD MOVE IN THE PAST.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US ON "IN-DEPTH."

>> Rich: ON THE NEXT EDITION, KEEPING OUR SENIOR CITIZENS ACTIVE AND ENGAGED AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT IN OKLAHOMA THAN TO BE A COWBOYGIRL OR COWBOY FOR A DAY.

WE'LL PROGRAM THIS IN GUTHERIE NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00.

FROM ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE ON PUTTING THIS ON THE AIR EVERY WEEK, I'M RICH LENTZ, AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

WEEKEND.