AFTERNOON AT FIVE ON ODETTA.

WATCH THE EXPERTS REVEAL THE FASCINATING TRUTHS OF FAMILY HEIRLOOMS, YARD SALE BARGAINS AND LONG LOST ITEMS ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW MONDAY EVENINGS AT SEVEN.

THE GOVERNOR NAMES A NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT AS THE POST WALTERS ERA BEGINS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THIS WORK IS DEEPLY PERSONAL.

AS A FATHER, I SHARE THE SAME HOPES AND WORRIES AS EVERY PARENT.

WHAT'S BEING DONE TO STEM THE RISING TIDE OF ELDER ABUSE IN OKLAHOMA?

IF YOU'RE THREATENED AND YOU'RE SCARED, YOU DIAL 911.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE KNOW THAT IN A NURSING HOME YOU'RE NOT IN PRISON.

OKLAHOMA'S TRIBES WANT TO SAY AND HOW A FEDERALIZED FEMA WILL OPERATE IN OKLAHOMA.

SO I THINK IT'S A MISTAKE TO FOR FEMA TO RETREAT IN A IN A ROLE THAT I THINK IS VERY EFFECTIVE.

DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE ALWAYS EFFECTIVE, DOESN'T MEAN THERE SHOULDN'T BE REFORM.

WILL QUARTERLY REPORTS SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST FOR PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES IN OKLAHOMA?

IF INVESTORS PERCEIVE THAT REDUCTION IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FREQUENCY AS BEING SOMETHING THAT REDUCES TRANSPARENCY.

WELL, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE TRUST.

AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE CAPABILITIES OF OKLAHOMA'S MNSCU FACILITIES.

OUR COMMITMENT TO OKLAHOMA IS TO ENSURE THAT NO BABY, NO FAMILY NEEDS TO LEAVE THIS STATE.

PLUS, THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN.

NEXT, ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT I'M RICH LENZ.

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF RYAN WALTERS ON TUESDAY.

HIS REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN NAMED, AND THE DEPARTMENT UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP IS NOW FACING A FINANCIAL INVESTIGATION ORDERED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAYLOR JACKSON HAS MORE ON WHAT GOVERNOR STITT IS CALLING A NEW MOVEMENT IN OKLAHOMA EDUCATION.

AND TODAY IS A NEW DAY FOR THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

DRAMATIC CHANGES COMING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCED LINDALE FIELDS AS THE NEW HEAD OF THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THIS WORK IS DEEPLY PERSONAL.

AS A FATHER, I SHARE THE SAME HOPES AND WORRIES AS EVERY PARENT.

WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS TO BE SAFE, TO BE KNOWN, AND TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.

FIELDS IS A RETIRED CAREERTECH ADMINISTRATOR WITH MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

HE PLANS TO FOCUS ON THREE PRIORITIES DURING HIS 16 MONTHS IN OFFICE.

NUMBER ONE READING PROFICIENCY.

BECAUSE EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THE GIFT OF LITERACY.

NUMBER TWO TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BECAUSE NOTHING MATTERS MORE THAN GREAT EDUCATORS IN EVERY CLASSROOM.

AND NUMBER THREE, CAREER PATHWAYS, BECAUSE EVERY GRADUATE DESERVES MORE THAN A DIPLOMA.

THEY DESERVE A FUTURE WITH OPTIONS.

GOVERNOR STITT IS CALLING FOR OKLAHOMANS TO UNITE BEHIND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

WE REALLY ALL WANT THE SAME THING AS AMERICANS, AND TOO MUCH HAS BEEN DIVIDING US, AND WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER, AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION IN A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF OSD, STITT CREATED THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TURNAROUND TEAM, MADE UP OF OKLAHOMANS WITH EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION.

ONE FAMILIAR FACE IS NELLY SANDERS, WHO SERVED AS THE OKLAHOMA SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.

DAN HAMLIN WILL REPLACE SANDERS IN THAT ROLE.

ADDITIONAL CHANGES INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT OF BOARD MEMBER ZACK ARCHER AND SARA LEPAK.

THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED WEST NO FIRE, WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE NATIVE AMERICAN LIAISON UNDER STITT AND BROUGHT BACK PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER BRIAN BOBEK.

GOVERNOR STITT IS ALSO REQUESTING A LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM TO ALLOW VOTERS TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION, TO GIVE THE NEXT GOVERNOR THE POWER TO APPOINT THE SUPERINTENDENT RATHER THAN HOLDING AN ELECTION.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE A POSITION APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE'RE ONLY THERE'S ONLY 12 STATES IN THE US THAT ELECT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, AND THERE'S REALLY ZERO CORRELATION BETWEEN OUTCOMES WITH THOSE 12 STATES THAT THEY'RE HAVING BETTER OUTCOMES THAN THE OTHER STATES.

AND ANOTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT, ATTORNEY GENERAL DRUMMOND, CALLED FOR A FINANCIAL AUDIT OF OCSD DURING THE PERIOD THAT WALTER SERVED AS SUPERINTENDENT.

IN A LETTER SENT TO OKLAHOMA STATE AUDITOR CINDY BIRD, DRUMMOND WROTE.

GIVEN THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENTS WELL ESTABLISHED HISTORY OF MISHANDLING TAX DOLLARS, COMBINED WITH NEW AND ONGOING ALLEGATIONS OF MISSPENDING, I AM NOW ORDERING AN INVESTIGATIVE AUDIT OF THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THE QUESTION NOW WHAT BECOMES OF WALTER'S MANY MANDATES AND PLANS TO PUT BIBLES IN EVERY OKLAHOMA CLASSROOM, IN STATE TESTING, AND ADD A WOKE TEST FOR TEACHER APPLICANTS LIVING IN NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA?

WELL, TURNS OUT MANY DISTRICTS DID NOT IMPLEMENT THE MANDATES, AND LEGISLATORS SAY WALTERS DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PUT SOME OF THEM IN PLACE.

AS FOR THE WOKE TEACHER TEST, THE LINK SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE WEBSITE.

WHOEVER IS PLACED INTO THIS SEAT TEMPORARILY WITH THE APPOINTMENT HAS QUITE A BIT OF WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

PARENTS AND OKLAHOMA APPLESEED COMMUNITY ORGANIZER ERICA WRIGHT HOPES A NEW SUPERINTENDENT WILL BRING POSITIVE CULTURE.

SOMEONE WHO IS ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, SOMEONE WHO'S ABLE TO HAVE A COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, RIGHT.

IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ANY INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

LAST WEEK, HOUSE COMMON EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR DICK LOWE SAID HE WANTS THE FOCUS BACK ON STUDENTS.

I WANT TO SEE EVERY KID THAT GOES THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, HOMESCHOOL, WHATEVER.

I WANT YOU EDUCATED.

SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS MADE IT CLEAR ON THURSDAY THAT HE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT IN THE UPCOMING 2026 ELECTION.

I'M LASER FOCUSED ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE STATE AGENCY TO TO RIGHT THAT SHIP TO CALM THE WATERS.

I DON'T PLAN TO SPEND ANY ENERGY RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

I'M NOT I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.

I'M IN.

I'M RUNNING.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

BUT SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR ADAM PUGH IS.

AND HE DOES WANT THE JOB FULL TIME.

WHEN FIELDS STEPS ASIDE IN EARLY 2027, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS A LEADERSHIP ROLE.

YOU ARE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AN AGENCY.

YOU ARE THERE TO SERVE.

YOU ARE SERVING YOUR FELLOW PEERS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

YOU'RE SERVING WITH THE LEGISLATURE, AND THEN YOU'RE SERVING REALLY 500 PLUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 700,000 KIDS, 50,000 TEACHERS, 30,000 SUPPORT PERSONNEL, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PARENTS.

HE CURRENTLY JOINS SIX OTHERS WHO ARE VYING FOR THE POSITION.

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TITLE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

IT'S ABOUT A PERSON WHO HAS A HEART OF SERVICE, KEEPS KIDS AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS AT THE FOCAL POINT OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE OLIVER HODGE BUILDING.

TAYLOR JACKSON, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

TAYLOR.

THANK YOU.

THE US GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN AT MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY AS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FAILED TO REACH A SPENDING AGREEMENT, WITH EACH SIDE BLAMING THE OTHER FOR THE IMPASSE.

DEMOCRATS WANTED ENHANCED COVID ERA OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES TO BE RENEWED, WHILE REPUBLICANS SAY THEY'VE ALREADY PASSED A FUNDING BILL IN THE HOUSE, AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REJECTING A SIMILAR BILL IN THE SENATE.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS, WHICH THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO MAKE PERMANENT, THOSE ARE COVID ERA SUBSIDIES FOR HEALTH CARE.

OR YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT MEDICAID REVISIONS?

WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT DEMOCRATS SHOULDN'T HOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HOSTAGE.

IN LIEU OF THAT, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FUND GOVERNMENT, GET EVERYTHING BACK OPEN, AND THEN LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME OF THOSE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

DONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS HAVE BARRELED US INTO A SHUTDOWN BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO PROTECT AMERICANS HEALTH CARE.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THE WAY OUT OF THIS SHUTDOWN IS TO SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE WITH DEMOCRATS TO ADDRESS THE LOOMING HEALTH CARE CRISIS THAT FACES TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES.

DEMOCRATS WANT TO AVERT THIS CRISIS, BUT REPUBLICANS TRIED TO BULLY US, AND IT'S CLEAR THEY CAN'T.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID HE HAS THE POWER TO PERMANENTLY ELIMINATE THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL JOBS WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS SHUT DOWN.

ELDER ABUSE IS ON THE RISE IN OKLAHOMA.

AND TO HELP COMBAT IT, THE STATE ADMINISTRATION HAS A DEPARTMENT THAT IDENTIFIES CASES OF ELDER ABUSE AND THEN PROVIDES RESOURCES TO HELP VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH THE HEARTBREAKING CALAMITY THAT BEFALLS TOO MANY ELDERLY OKLAHOMANS.

STEVE RICH 46 YEARS AGO, SOMETHING CALLED THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT REQUIRED EVERY STATE TO HAVE A LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.

AN OMBUDSMAN IS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ELDERLY, AND THEY INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS BY PEOPLE LIVING IN LONG TERM CARE.

I WAS PAINTING FERRIES, FERRY SCENES, AND I'VE GIVEN THEM ALL AWAY.

SANDRA MADDEN IS A 68 YEAR OLD CANCER AND STROKE SURVIVOR.

THIS IS A WATERFALL AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LAKE AT THE BOTTOM.

ORIGINALLY FROM NORMAN, SANDRA WAS A REGISTERED NURSE FOR 25 YEARS.

SHE ACCIDENTALLY STUCK HERSELF WITH AN INFECTED NEEDLE 14 YEARS AGO, WHICH LED TO HEPATITIS C. DOCTORS DIAGNOSED SANDRA WITH MALIGNANT THYROID CANCER.

THREE YEARS LATER AND IT GOT WORSE.

YOU HAD A STROKE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

DID DID YOU HAVE TWO STROKES DURING THE PANDEMIC?

YES.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

IT WAS TOUGH.

MADDEN SPENT THE NEXT MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES IN OKLAHOMA CITY, MIDWEST CITY AND ADA.

SHE SAYS DURING THAT TIME, SOMEONE CLOSE TO HER ASSIGNED THEMSELF HER LEGAL GUARDIAN.

EVEN THOUGH MADDEN FELT SHE WAS GETTING MUCH BETTER AND WANTED TO GO HOME.

WHY WAS YOUR GUARDIAN SO DEAD SET ON YOU STAYING IN A NURSING HOME?

HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE A CAREGIVER OF ANY KIND.

SO IT'S BEEN A THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE.

IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE.

I GOT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, THOUGH.

WHEN YOU HAD CANCER, DID YOU EVER FILL OUT ANY DOCUMENTS, LIKE A ADVANCED DIRECTIVE WITH INSTRUCTIONS?

THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

YOU KNOW THAT NOW, RIGHT?

YEAH.

EXPERTS TELL ME.

UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OKLAHOMANS AT EVERY AGE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR LIFE.

SHOULD THEY SUFFER A MEDICAL EMERGENCY?

HI, REBECCA.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M FINE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

REBECCA WILLIAMS IS A SYSTEMS ADVOCATE FOR OKLAHOMA'S OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT AFTER YOU TURN 18 YEARS OLD, YOU BECOME AN ADULT.

YOU NEED TO FILL OUT AN ADVANCED DIRECTIVE.

YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN I-35 OR SOME SEMI MIGHT SLAP YOU IN THE FACE.

WILLIAMS ENCOUNTERED SANDRA MADDEN IN DECEMBER OF 2023 AT THE AID OF NURSING HOME, WHERE SANDRA BELIEVED SHE WAS BEING HELD AGAINST HER WILL.

I'M NOT INTIMIDATED BY NOBODY WHEN IT'S WHEN IT'S RIGHT FOR THE RESIDENTS, IT'S RIGHT.

AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO INTIMIDATE ME BY YOUR TITLE OR WHO YOU ARE.

WHATEVER IS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIRS IS GOING TO BE THEIRS.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE BEING THEY WERE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE YOU.

I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO.

YEAH, LIKE THEY HAD BEEN EVERYBODY ELSE LIKE, OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE'S SHE'S GOT DEMENTIA.

AND I SAID, REALLY?

YOU KNOW, THIS WILLIAMS WENT RIGHT TO WORK CONTACTING THE OKLAHOMA DISABILITY LAW CENTER, WHO PROVIDED A FREE LEGAL PATHWAY TO GET SANDRA FREE.

DID THE GUARDIAN DRAIN HER FINANCES?

YES.

AND SO THIS IS THIS IS WHENEVER WE WENT, WE GOT AN ATTORNEY THAT WAS SO AMAZING.

AM I ALLOWED TO SAY HIS NAME?

SURE.

HIS NAME IS MR.

HILL.

BRYAN HALL.

BRYAN HALL.

BRYAN HALL.

OH, MY GOSH, SO AMAZING.

WHERE'S HE FROM?

HE.

HE HAS A PRACTICE IN NORMAN.

PART OF THE LEGAL PROCESS TO DISSOLVE SANDRA'S GUARDIANSHIP WAS SHE HAD TO BE EXAMINED BY A NEUROLOGIST.

WILLIAMS SAYS THAT NEUROLOGIST DETERMINED SANDRA MADDEN HAD NO SIGNS OF DEMENTIA, SCHIZOPHRENIA OR BIPOLAR DISORDER.

WILLIAMS SAYS SANDRA'S GUARDIAN HAD CLAIMED, IF YOU ARE THREATENED AND YOU'RE SCARED, YOU DIAL 911.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE KNOW THAT IN A NURSING HOME YOU'RE NOT IN PRISON.

YOU'RE LIKE, IF YOU'RE AT 501 SOUTH MAIN IN, YOU KNOW, POCASSET OR WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DIAL 911 TO GET THE ASSISTANCE THAT YOU NEED.

IT'S LIKE A VIDEO THAT GOES THROUGH MY HEAD AT NIGHT.

YOU DIDN'T DESERVE THAT, DID YOU?

NO I DIDN'T.

REBECCA, DOES.

WHAT HAPPENED TO SANDRA?

DO YOU THINK THAT HAPPENS A LOT MORE OFTEN THAN WE KNOW?

1,000%.

THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING INSIGHT FOR GUARDIANSHIP.

OVERSIGHT, I'M SAY, SHOULD SAY FOR GUARDIANSHIP.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT IT'S NOT BEING FOLLOWED.

BILL WHITEHEAD IS OKLAHOMA'S LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN.

HE STEERED ME TO THE SANDRA MADDEN CASE AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING HE SAYS IS NOW TOO COMMON.

BY THE YEAR 2034, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA OVER THE AGE OF 65 THAN WE HAVE UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A FIRST TIME OCCURRENCE FOR OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY'S ON THE SAME TRACK AS WELL.

THERE'S THERE'S THINGS THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR DOWN THE ROAD.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS STARTING TO POP UP IS THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HAS AN AGING OUR WAY PROGRAM THAT THEY THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PREPARED FOR THIS AS WELL.

THERE ARE SOME WAYS TO PREVENT GUARDIANSHIPS FROM EVER BEING NEEDED IN THE FUTURE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME AREAS THAT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

PLANNING.

AND IN ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR IS THAT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT OLDER PEOPLE, OKAY?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AGE 60 OR ABOVE OR ANYTHING ELSE.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE THAT ARE YOUNG TO START THIS PROCESS NOW.

I THINK THAT IT BECOMES MORE OBVIOUS AS YOU GET OLDER THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ADVANCED DIRECTIVE, A POWER OF ATTORNEY AND THAT KIND OF THING IN PLACE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT SHOULD BE YOUR SPOUSE OR, OR THE PERSON THAT'S CLOSE TO YOU AND YOU THINK IT'S AN AUTOMATIC, BUT IT'S NOT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I ALWAYS SAY, LOOK AT THE PEOPLE.

THAT MAY NOT BE SO OBVIOUS FOR YOU, LIKE A VERY GOOD FRIEND.

THE REALITY IS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO AGING ISSUES UNTIL UNTIL IT'S ON TOP OF THEM.

YEAH.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT REACHES OUT AND GRABS THEM BY THEIR COLLAR.

THIS IS WHERE IT HITS THE.

THE LAKE.

SANDRA MADDEN GOT OUT OF THAT GUARDIANSHIP IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

SHE GOT OUT OF THAT NURSING HOME ON HALLOWEEN.

I JUST WANTED OUT.

I DIDN'T CARE IF I HAD TO BE HOMELESS.

I JUST WANTED OUT.

I, I JUST FELT LIKE I WAS IN JAIL FOR TWO YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON FOOD STAMPS BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

AND I HAD TO TAKE I HAD TO GET FOOD STAMPS.

IF YOU WERE A VICTIM OF THIS KIND OF ABUSE OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS BEING VICTIMIZED, CALL THE ABUSE HOTLINE AT ONE 805 223511.

RICH, STEVE.

GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU.

WE'VE JUST WRAPPED UP NICU AWARENESS MONTH.

NICU STANDS FOR NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, THE SPECIAL PLACE WHERE PREMATURE AND SICK BABIES GO TO GET WELL.

IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH SEGMENT, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NICUS IN OUR STATE.

HERE'S A PREVIEW OF THAT CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE NICU STAY.

I HAD A NORMAL PREGNANCY.

EVERYTHING WAS GREAT.

YOU KNOW, NO SIGNS THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE AN ISSUE.

JUST LIKE DOCTOR TIPPLE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I OFTEN SAY THAT WHEN YOU'VE MET ONE NICU FAMILY, YOU'VE MET ONE NICU FAMILY, AND EACH EXPERIENCE IS VERY DIFFERENT.

AND IT CAN RANGE ON THE BASIS OF MOTHER'S HEALTH OR BABY'S HEALTH.

WE ARE THE UNIT THAT YOU THAT I HOPE YOU NEVER KNOW EXISTS.

BUT YOU'RE GLAD.

YEAH.

WHEN YOU NEED IT, THAT IT DOES.

AND WHERE THE PEOPLE THAT I HOPE YOU NEVER NEED TO MEET.

BUT WE'RE THERE IF YOU NEED US.

AND OUR COMMITMENT TO OKLAHOMA IS TO ENSURE THAT NO BABY, NO FAMILY NEEDS TO LEAVE THIS STATE TO RECEIVE STATE OF THE ART CARE THAT IS AVAILABLE, SOMETIMES IN EXCESS, IN OTHER PLACES IN STATES VERY NEAR TO US.

THE REST OF THAT IMPORTANT CONVERSATION COMING UP A LITTLE BIT LATER ON IN THIS NEWSCAST, WHEN THE CURRENT 2025 HURRICANE SEASON IS OVER, THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF FEMA WILL BE PHASED OUT AND REPLACED BY A NEW MODEL THAT WILL GIVE STATES, BLOCK GRANTS AND MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS.

IN OKLAHOMA, NATIVE TRIBES WANT TO BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH MORE DETAILS.

NOAH.

YEAH, RICH, THE CHEROKEE NATION IS CELEBRATING A RECENT AGREEMENT WITH FEMA, YET ARE FEELING DISMAYED WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S MOVE TO FEDERALIZE THE DECADES OLD AGENCY.

MEANWHILE, OKLAHOMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BRACES FOR CHANGE.

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THIS STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS OKLAHOMA'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.

STATE AND LOCAL DEPARTMENTS FOCUS ON THE RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS, WHILE THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, OR FEMA, COMES IN FOR RECOVERY IF NECESSARY.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, HOWEVER, VOWED TO RESTRUCTURE OR COMPLETELY DISSOLVE FEMA, WHETHER IT'S A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, YOU WANT TO USE YOUR STATE TO FIX IT AND NOT WASTE TIME CALLING FEMA.

AND THEN FEMA GETS HERE AND THEY DON'T KNOW THE AREA.

THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE AREA, AND THEY WANT TO GIVE YOU RULES THAT YOU'VE NEVER HEARD ABOUT.

THEY WANT TO BRING PEOPLE THAT AREN'T AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE YOU ALREADY HAVE.

AND FEMA HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A DISASTER.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT FEMA GO AWAY.

IF FEMA'S ROLE WERE TO BE DIVVIED UP TO INDIVIDUAL STATES, BLOCK GRANTS WOULD BE GIVEN TO STATE DEPARTMENTS.

IN SHORT, THE MONEY WOULD BE GIVEN TO STATES UP FRONT TO GIVE THEM MORE CONTROL OVER THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER, TRUMP CREATED A REVIEW COUNCIL TO ANALYZE FEMA'S CURRENT EFFICACY AND TO GENERATE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AGENCY.

IN THE COUNCIL'S THIRD MEETING, HOSTED IN OKLAHOMA CITY, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ECHOED TRUMP'S SENTIMENTS.

WE KNOW OUR LAND, WE KNOW OUR PEOPLE, AND WE KNOW HOW TO RESPOND FASTER, LEANER AND SMARTER THAN WASHINGTON EVER COULD.

THAT'S THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD, AND THAT SHOULD BE THE AMERICAN STANDARD.

THE CURRENT THRESHOLD FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE IS $7.45 MILLION.

SO IF OKLAHOMA IS HIT WITH A DISASTER, THE DAMAGES MUST REACH THAT NUMBER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

THE GOVERNOR AND OKLAHOMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROPOSED RAISING THE THRESHOLD TO 30 MILLION.

OEM DIRECTOR ANNIE VEST SAYS IT'S THOSE LARGER SCALE DISASTERS THEY REALLY NEED HELP WITH.

WE BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITIES CAN HANDLE THEM, THAT WE CAN HANDLE THOSE SMALLER EVENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE MAYBE MORE NUISANCE OR CHRONIC EVENTS, SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN COME IN AND HELP WHEN WE REALLY NEED THEM TO, WHICH IS THE BIG CATASTROPHIC EVENTS THINKING THE 2019 FLOODING ACROSS OKLAHOMA, THE MOORE TORNADO, THE EVENTS THAT IMPACT US STATEWIDE AND REALLY EXCEED OUR CAPACITY.

VEST IS EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF TRANSFERRING MORE CONTROL FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO THE STATE LEVEL, HIGHLIGHTING THAT RECOVERY WOULD BECOME MUCH SMOOTHER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, WE FIND IS THAT THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS ARE DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS.

IT'S BUREAUCRACY FOR THE FOR THE SAKE OF BUREAUCRACY.

IT'S A TON OF PAPERWORK, AND THE END USER IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT.

AND ALL THEY SEE IS FRUSTRATION.

SO IF YOU COULD GIVE THAT BACK TO US, LET US USE OUR ENGINEERS.

LET US USE OUR COST ESTIMATES, LET THE COMMUNITIES DRIVE THEIR OWN RECOVERY.

INSTEAD OF HAVING TO CHECK A BOX HERE, CHECK A BOX HERE, CHECK A BOX HERE, THINGS WILL GO MORE EFFICIENT.

WE'D SAVE MONEY ADMINISTRATIVELY AND RECOVERY WOULD GET DONE MUCH, MUCH SOONER THAN WE HAVE.

WE STILL ARE CURRENTLY CLOSING OUT PROJECTS FROM THE 2015 FLOODING, AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE THE WORK IS SLOW.

IT'S BECAUSE THE PROCESS IS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLY SLOW PROCESSES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY HAS IN PLACE.

SO WHERE DOES THIS CONVERSATION LEAVE OKLAHOMA TRIBES?

WELL, BACK IN JANUARY, THE CHEROKEE NATION SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH FEMA.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THEY SIGNED WHAT'S CALLED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING GIVING THE CHEROKEES AND FEMA MORE INTERTWINED RELATIONS.

AND THEY CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO US, TRAIN WITH US, PROVIDE TABLETOP EXERCISES FOR US.

ANYTIME WE CALL THEM, THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION.

THEY HELP US GROW OUT OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.

AND I MEAN, ULTIMATELY, WITHOUT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, WE COULDN'T SHAPE OUR RESPONSE IN INDIAN COUNTRY AS WELL AS WE HAVE.

CHIEF OF THE CHEROKEE NATION, CHUCK HOSKIN JUNIOR, WARNS THAT THE LOOMING FEMA REVAMP COULD HAMPER THAT PARTNERSHIP.

SO I THINK IT'S A MISTAKE TO FOR FEMA TO RETREAT IN A IN A ROLE THAT I THINK IS VERY EFFECTIVE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE ALWAYS EFFECTIVE, DOESN'T MEAN THERE SHOULDN'T BE REFORM.

BUT IF THAT REFORM MEANS WE LOSE A FEDERAL PARTNER, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE FACE OF NATURAL DISASTER.

IN TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ARE MENTIONED EXPLICITLY IN A LIST OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS.

THE REVIEW COUNCIL IS DIRECTED TO ACCOUNT FOR.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE REVIEW COUNCIL HAS PUT IT OUT SPECIFICALLY TO TRIBES TO COME AND VOICE OUR CONCERNS AND VOICE OUR OPINIONS, AND THEY'VE DONE THAT IN MULTIPLE PLATFORMS.

THEY ALLOWED US TO COME TO OKLAHOMA CITY, THE STATE CAPITAL, AND DO THAT.

AND THEN WE'VE BEEN INVITED TO MULTIPLE ONLINE ZOOM MEETINGS WHERE WE'VE EACH BEEN GIVEN KIND OF A VOICE TO SAY THINGS.

HOWEVER, TRIBES LIKE THE CHEROKEES BELIEVE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ERRED WHEN EXCLUDING A TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COUNCIL.

DEPUTY CHIEF BRIAN WARNER ARGUES HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE WOULD NOT ONLY BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHEROKEE NATION, BUT FOR THE BROADER COMMUNITIES THEY'RE A PART OF.

WHEN WE TAKE MONEY OUT AND WE PUT IT IN FOR ROADS, BRIDGES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WE KNOW THAT CHEROKEES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT DRIVE THOSE ROADS AND THOSE BRIDGES.

WHEN WE PUT MONEY INTO A SCHOOL, WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST CHEROKEE NATION KIDS THAT GO THERE WHEN WE CAN OUTFIT A COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN RAVAGED BY A TORNADO, RAVAGED BY FLOODING, IF WE CAN PUT EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN THERE, WE CAN PUT THE RIGHT TYPE OF PERSONNEL.

WE CAN MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS ACROSS.

SOMETIMES JUST COMMUNICATION MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD, STRONG FEDERAL POLICY, YOU HAVE LOCAL POLICY AND YOU HAVE A GOOD, STRONG TRIBAL SOVEREIGN MIXING IN WITH ALL OF THAT MAN, THAT CORD CAN HARDLY BE BROKEN.

THE CHEROKEES AND OTHER TRIBES HAVE EXPLICITLY ASKED FOR REPRESENTATION ON THE REVIEW COUNCIL, BUT WITH THREE MEETINGS ON THE BOOKS, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

NO MATTER THE FATE OF FEMA, TRIBAL AND STATE OFFICIALS REMAIN CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO DISASTER SITUATIONS.

WHETHER RECOVERY BECOMES A FUNCTION OF THE STATE.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

THE REVIEW COUNCIL STARTED THEIR WORK IN MAY AND IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS IN NOVEMBER.

RICH NOAH, THANK YOU.

WELL, THE CHEROKEE NATION AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO OPERATE THE CLAREMORE INDIAN HOSPITAL.

THE EXISTING FACILITY WAS THE LAST HOSPITAL LOCATED ON CHEROKEE NATION LAND TO BE RUN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND TRIBAL LEADERS SAY THERE ARE BIG PLANS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE.

$11 MILLION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING BUILDING, AND $244 MILLION HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO BUILD A NEW HOSPITAL THAT'S EXPECTED TO OPEN IN 2027.

IT'S A GREAT DAY HERE IN CLAREMORE TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE ONE LAST IHS RAN FACILITY UP UNDERNEATH THE CHEROKEE NATION UMBRELLA TO RAISE THE LEVEL THE STANDARDS, WHETHER IT'S ACCREDITATION STANDARDS OR OR JUST DELIVERY STANDARDS ON HOW WE FEEL THAT OUR CITIZENS WANT AND NEED TO BE DELIVERED TO, AND ALSO TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE'RE A PARTNER, WE'RE A COMPACTING TRIBE WITH IHS.

SO THIS FACILITY WILL STILL STAND TODAY TO SERVE OTHER NATIVES.

THEY DON'T JUST HAVE TO BE CHEROKEE TO GET A SERVICE HERE.

INDIAN TRIBES IN THIS NATION, INCLUDING THE CHEROKEE NATION, ARE REALLY SETTING A STANDARD NOT JUST FOR INDIVIDUAL SUBJECT AREAS OF GOVERNMENT, BUT THE WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT.

SO OUR BOOKS ARE BALANCED, OUR GOVERNMENT IS OPEN.

WE DON'T HAVE THE DYSFUNCTION THAT PLAGUES A LOT OF GOVERNMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I THINK MORE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND WE'RE CELEBRATING IT TODAY IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS GREAT OPENING.

THE CHEROKEE NATION'S EXISTING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM HANDLES ABOUT 2.5 MILLION PATIENTS A YEAR AT ITS 11 CLINICS AND HOSPITALS, QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS.

THEY'VE BEEN A REQUIREMENT OF PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1970.

NOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SUGGESTING THAT POLICY SHOULD CHANGE IN JUST TWO REPORTS PER YEAR OR EVERY SIX MONTHS, AND THAT CHANGE COULD IMPACT ALL OF US, NOT JUST CORPORATE CEOS.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

JASON RICH, WHETHER IT'S YOUR 401 K OR A MAJOR BROKER MAKING DECISIONS, THOSE EARNINGS REPORTS PROVIDE CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS.

THE POSSIBLE MOVE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS MEANT TO SAVE PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES MONEY, AND THE IDEA SEEMS TO HAVE SOME MOMENTUM.

THE MAIN FINANCIAL REPORTS THAT COMPANIES HAVE TO PROVIDE ARE THE BALANCE SHEET, THE INCOME STATEMENT AND THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS.

THAT'S OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR ERIC CISNEROS, EXPLAINING WHAT PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT WHEN THEY ISSUE THEIR QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

HE SAYS IT'S A GOOD WAY TO CHECK ON A COMPANY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH.

THE INCOME STATEMENT IS A STATEMENT THAT WILL SHOW US HOW THE COMPANY PERFORMED OVER A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD, IN TERMS OF PROFIT OR LOSS, AND THE BALANCE SHEET CAN GIVE US AN IDEA ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL HEALTH.

IT CAN TELL US ABOUT THEIR DEBT LEVELS, THEIR ACTIVITY AND THEIR UTILIZATION OF THEIR ASSETS, AND ALSO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR GROWTH PROFILE, CISNEROS ADDS.

IT COMES IN HANDY FOR INVESTORS.

COMPANIES AND INVESTORS BOTH USE THESE REPORTS FOR DECISION MAKING PURPOSES.

I WOULD SAY THE MOST BASIC THING THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS, DID MY MONEY GO UP OR DOWN FROM THE LAST TIME, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS IT A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE?

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER AND WEALTH MANAGER FOR CHAPELWOOD FINANCIAL SERVICES, DAMIEN KING, SAYS THAT THOSE REPORTS HELP TELL A COMPANY'S STORY TO INVESTORS.

I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF INVESTORS UNDERSTAND THAT A QUARTER IS JUST THREE MONTHS, AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THREE MONTHS.

MOST OF OUR CLIENTS DON'T GET OVERLY CONCERNED OR ELATED IF IN ONE QUARTER THEIR MONEY IS WAY UP OR WAY DOWN, BUT IF THERE ARE CONSECUTIVE OR MULTIPLE QUARTERS WHERE THEY SEE THAT, WELL, THEN THEY CAN USE THAT AS SORT OF A GUIDEPOST TO BEGIN ASKING QUESTIONS AND MAYBE MAKING SOME CHANGES TO THEIR PORTFOLIO.

SOME ARGUE THAT THE QUARTERLY REPORTS CAUSE A PHENOMENON CALLED SHORT TERMISM, OR THE PRACTICE OF MAKING DECISIONS FOR A COMPANY BASED ON THE QUARTERLY REPORT PERFORMANCE AND NOT LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES.

I USE THIS EXAMPLE.

WHAT IF AT YOUR JOB, INSTEAD OF GETTING AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW, YOU GOT REVIEWED EVERY QUARTER AND YOU KNEW THAT EVERY QUARTER YOUR BOSS WAS GOING TO COME TO YOU AND SAY, WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEK, JASON?

OR THIS QUARTER?

WHAT DID YOU DO NOW?

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD BEGIN OPERATING IN SUCH A SHORT TERM BUBBLE THAT MAYBE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY LONG TERM PLANNING.

THAT'S PART OF THE REASONING BEHIND PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S CALL TO END QUARTERLY REPORTS AS A REGULATION FOR U.S.

PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES.

IN HIS TRUTH SOCIAL POST PROMOTING THE CHANGE TO SEMIANNUAL REPORTING, TRUMP SAYS IT WILL SAVE COMPANIES MONEY.

IT'S VERY BURDENSOME FOR COMPANIES TO AND IT'S COSTLY IN TERMS OF JUST MONEY IN ORDER TO PRODUCE THESE REPORTS.

AND THE MORE FREQUENTLY YOU HAVE TO DO IT, THE MORE MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO BELIEVES IT WILL HELP COMPANIES THINK ABOUT THE LONG TERM.

SO THERE IS THE IDEA THAT MANAGERS ARE POTENTIALLY KIND OF MANAGING TOWARDS THOSE QUARTERLY EARNINGS REPORTS.

AND IF WE HAVE A MORE LONG TERM FOCUS, THEN THEY'LL THEY'LL TAKE THOSE RESOURCES AND FOCUS MORE ON THE LONG TERM.

CISNEROS SAYS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS CAN HELP SET THE FOCUS TO A LONGER TERM, EVEN IF NOTHING CHANGES.

WITH THE CURRENT QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

HE USES ELON MUSK TAKING A STRUCTURED COMPENSATION PACKAGE FROM TESLA AS AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPANY MOVING TO MORE LONG TERM THINKING.

THE PACKAGE REQUIRES MUSK TO FIND WAYS TO HIT GROWTH BENCHMARKS OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD.

A LOT OF THE METRICS ARE MULTIYEAR GOALS.

THEY'RE TEN YEAR GOALS WHERE HE HAS TO NOT ONLY KEEP THE COMPANY OPERATING WELL IN THE ELECTRIC CAR MARKET, BUT HE ALSO HAS TO EXPAND THE COMPANY INTO NEW MARKETS.

SELF-DRIVING ALSO ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION.

THE PRACTICE OF SEMIANNUAL REPORTING IS ALREADY THE STANDARD IN THE UK AND WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

HOWEVER, SEVERAL COMPANIES HAVE CONTINUED THE PRACTICE OF PROVIDING QUARTERLY REPORTS TO INVESTORS, AND THE PUBLIC THINK THAT THAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE THE MANDATE IT RELAXES THE MANDATE FOR THE QUARTERLY REPORT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY COMPANY WILL CHOOSE TO ONLY DO TWICE PER YEAR.

I THINK WHAT WE'LL SEE ARE SOME COMPANIES BE EARLY ADOPTERS AND DO THAT.

SOME WILL PROBABLY STICK WITH THE QUARTERLY REPORT, KING ADDS.

THE IMPACT OF VOLUNTARILY PROVIDING QUARTERLY REPORTS IF THE REQUIREMENTS ARE RELAXED, COULD INCREASE TRUST AMONG INVESTORS.

SO YOU'RE THE INVESTOR AND YOU ARE TRYING TO INVEST IN TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES.

ONE COMPANY ONLY PUTS OUT A REPORT TWICE A YEAR, SO YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AS MUCH.

THE OTHER COMPANY PUTS OUT A QUARTERLY REPORT.

YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM.

YOU FEEL MORE CONFIDENT.

WHOSE STOCK ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BUY?

MOST AMERICANS CONTACT WITH THE STOCK MARKET COMES THROUGH THEIR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS LIKE 401 S, THE 401 PLAN.

THE FUND MANAGERS, THEY RELY ON THESE QUARTERLY REPORTS AS WELL FOR MAYBE REBALANCING, YOU KNOW, IF THEY NEED TO REBALANCE FROM GROWTH TO DIVIDENDS OR SOMETHING ELSE, THEY RELY UPON THOSE.

IF YOU DON'T GET AS MANY OF THOSE REPORTS, THEN MAYBE THEY DON'T REBALANCE AS OFTEN.

MAYBE THEY MISS A WINDOW, KING NOTES.

THAT COULD LEAD TO MORE SELF-DIRECTED BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS WITHIN 401 S, THEY HAVE MORE INVESTMENT OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM, AND USUALLY ARE DOING THAT THROUGH A WEALTH MANAGEMENT FIRM, AND THEY MIGHT EVEN HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT WEALTH MANAGER TO HELP GUIDE THEM IN THIS PROCESS.

SO IF I'M GOING TO HAVE LESS INFORMATION THEN MAYBE NOW WITH A SELF-DIRECTED ACCOUNT IN MY 401, I CAN ACTUALLY WORK WITH AN ADVISOR WHO MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO MORE OF THAT INFORMATION TO HELP ME.

AND REALLY, IT'S GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY.

IF INVESTORS PERCEIVE THAT REDUCTION IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FREQUENCY AS BEING SOMETHING THAT REDUCES TRANSPARENCY, WELL, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE TRUST AND THEN ULTIMATELY PARTICIPATION.

RECENT STUDIES BY THE NASDAQ AND THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUGGEST THAT REDUCING REPORTING TO JUST TWICE A YEAR COULD LEAD TO MORE COMPANIES GOING PUBLIC.

IN OTHER NEWS, PAYCOM MADE A SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK, ONE THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 500 EMPLOYEES.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

PAYCOM THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT DUE TO ADVANCEMENTS IN AUTOMATION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, IT'S UNDERGOING A WORKFORCE RESTRUCTURING, WHICH ELIMINATES MORE THAN 500 BACK OFFICE JOBS.

ONLY NON-CLIENT ROLES HAVE BEEN AUTOMATED, ACCORDING TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY SOFTWARE COMPANY.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND HIRE FOR JOBS IN SALES, SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION AND SERVICES.

THOSE WHO ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS ARE BEING OFFERED SEVERANCE PACKAGES, OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES AND ACCESS TO INTERNAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

AT PAYCOM, BLUE WHALE MATERIALS IS COMMISSIONING ITS BASELINE BLACK MASS PRODUCTION FACILITY IN BARTLESVILLE.

ONCE THE COMMISSIONING IS COMPLETE, THE PLANT IS EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS UP TO 14,000 TONS OF BATTERY MANUFACTURING SCRAP A YEAR.

IT'S THEN TURNED INTO BLUE WHALES PROPRIETARY HIGH PURITY BLACK MASS CONTAINING COBALT, NICKEL AND LITHIUM CALLED BLACK SAND.

THE COMPANY SAYS THE PROCESS IS A WAY TO PRODUCE MORE CRITICAL MINERALS IN THE U.S.

BLUE WHALE ALSO IS CONTINUING TO BUILD OUT ITS FULL BATTERY RECYCLING PROCESS, TO BE OPERATIONAL DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

OKLAHOMA CITY BIOTECH COMPANY WHEELER BIO HAS NAMED JAY BENSON AS ITS NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

BENSON WILL OVERSEE WHEELER'S MANUFACTURING, SUPPLY CHAIN AND OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS.

IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN WHEELER BIO IS SCALING ITS U.S.

OPERATIONS TO MEET A GROWING DEMAND FOR BIOLOGICS MANUFACTURING.

BROKEN ARROW BASED PARAGON FILMS HAS EARNED THE CERTIFICATION OF GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT THE STRETCH FILM PACKAGING COMPANY HAS EARNED THE AWARD.

72% OF THE COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES GAVE A POSITIVE REVIEW OF PARAGON FILMS, WHICH IS 15 POINTS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THE GREAT PLACE TO WORK ORGANIZATION SURVEYS EMPLOYEES TO FIND OUT IF THEY'RE PROVIDED WITH THE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES NEEDED TO PERFORM THE JOB.

PERCEPTION OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, A WORK LIFE BALANCE, AND OTHER METRICS.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

THERE ARE A DOZEN NICU FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THEY VARY IN THEIR CAPABILITIES, BUT THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME GOALS IN COMMON, MAKING SURE PREMATURE BABIES GET TO GO HOME AND THAT SICK BABIES ARE ABLE TO GET WELL.

IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, WE FOCUS ON THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

HERE'S MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

THANK YOU.

RICH.

JOINING US TODAY IS DOCTOR TRENT TIPPLE, THE SECTION CHIEF OF NEONATAL AND PERINATAL MEDICINE AT THE OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT OU HEALTH.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY LORI APPLICANT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKET IMPACT IN OKLAHOMA FOR THE MARCH OF DIMES.

LORI IS ALSO A FORMER NICU MOM.

AND FINALLY, WE'RE JOINED BY TAMARA CRABTREE, WHO IS NICU FAMILY SUPPORT PARTNER FOR THE OKLAHOMA FAMILY NETWORK.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY ON IN-DEPTH.

THANK YOU.

SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU.

NOW, DOCTOR TIPPLE, FOR VIEWERS WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS NICU.

SO NICU IS A SPECIALIZED UNIT WITHIN A HOSPITAL THAT IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ADVANCED NEONATAL CARE FOR ANY BABY THAT REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST ROUTINE SUPPORTIVE CARE AFTER BIRTH.

IT'S COMPRISED OF A SPECIALIZED TEAM, OFTENTIMES LED BY NEONATOLOGIST WHO HAS ADVANCED TRAINING BEYOND PEDIATRIC TRAINING, NEONATAL ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS, NURSES, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, AND OTHER FAMILY SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN HELP OUR FAMILIES.

AND FOR MOST PARENTS WHO ARE ENDING UP IN THE NICU, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PLAN OR PREVENT.

IS THAT RIGHT?

IN MOST CASES, NO, YOU CAN'T PREVENT IT.

SOME CAN PLAN FOR IT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEIR BABY HAS CONGENITAL CONDITIONS OR CLINICAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE A KNOWN ADVANCED LEVEL OF SUPPORT, WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH THOSE FAMILIES AND HELP PREPARE THEM FOR THE JOURNEY THAT THEY WILL ENCOUNTER.

AND WHAT ARE CONGENITAL CONDITIONS.

SO THINGS LIKE HEART DEFECTS, OTHER DEFECTS IN ORGANS AND KNOWN GENETIC CONDITIONS, THINGS THAT WE CAN REALLY ANTICIPATE AND SEE BEFOREHAND IT'S FOREHAND AND PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT DURING MOM'S PREGNANCY TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN ANTICIPATE A JOURNEY THAT WILL INCLUDE US.

GOOD TO KNOW.

AND TAMARA, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS BABIES NEED NICU CARE?

SO I OFTEN SAY THAT WHEN YOU'VE MET ONE NICU FAMILY, YOU'VE MET ONE NICU FAMILY, AND EACH EXPERIENCE IS VERY DIFFERENT AND IT CAN RANGE ON THE BASIS OF MOTHER'S HEALTH OR BABY'S HEALTH.

AND I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE AND THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE NEEDED NICU CARE FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS.

AND SO WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT MOMENT LIKE WHENEVER THEY FIND THAT OUT?

AND WHERE DO YOU COME IN DURING THAT PROCESS?

FROM THE TIME A FAMILY'S ADMITTED, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WORK ONE ON ONE WITH THOSE FAMILIES, WHETHER THAT BE A PREMATURE DELIVERY OR WHETHER THEY'VE RECEIVED A DIAGNOSIS IN UTERO, WHERE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE, OR EVEN IF MAYBE THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO LAND THERE, I'M ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM EARLY ON IN THEIR JOURNEY TO HELP THEM PROVIDE RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO BE A PART OF.

AND WHO CALLS YOU?

IS IT THE DOCTOR OR IS IT THE FAMILIES?

SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM NOT ONLY PHYSICIANS AND NEONATOLOGISTS, BUT ALSO THE STAFF INSIDE OUR UNIT, WHETHER THAT BE NURSES, PTS, AND THEN FAMILIES CAN DO SELF-REFERRALS.

THEY CAN SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M LOST, I WANT HELP, I WANT TO, I WANT TO BE SUPPORTED BY ANOTHER FAMILY WHO'S WALKED THAT PATH IN THE PAST.

AND THEN WE ALSO CAN RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM SOCIAL WORKERS AND ALL OF THE ALL OF THE TEAM THAT WORKS TOGETHER TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.

EXCELLENT.

WELL, LORI, TAKE US BACK.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST FOUND OUT THAT YOUR SON TYLER, WHO IS NOW DOING INCREDIBLY WELL AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING HEALTHY OUTCOMES LATER, BUT WHAT DID YOU FEEL LIKE?

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THAT TYLER NEEDED NICU CARE?

SCARED.

AFRAID?

IS HE GOING TO BE OKAY?

YOU KNOW, WHY ME?

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE A NICU STAY.

I HAD A NORMAL PREGNANCY.

EVERYTHING WAS GREAT.

YOU KNOW, NO SIGNS THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE AN ISSUE.

JUST LIKE DOCTOR TIPPLE SAID.

YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, I ENDED UP GETTING PREECLAMPSIA AND MY BLOOD PRESSURE WENT UP, WHICH IS PART OF THAT, AND WAS GOING TO BE ON BED REST.

THEY SENT ME HOME TO BE ON BED REST.

I GO HOME, MY WATER BREAKS, I GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND WITHIN EIGHT HOURS I DELIVERED.

AND SO HE WAS EARLY.

THEY THOUGHT HIS LUNGS WEREN'T FULLY DEVELOPED.

AND SO YOU JUST IT'S JUST ALL SO FAST THAT YOU JUST HAVE NO TIME TO REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, SO SCARY TO GO THROUGH THAT AND NOT KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER HE'S GOING TO BE OKAY, IS HE GOING TO HAVE ANY DISABILITIES WHEN HE GROWS UP, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SO IT'S VERY SCARY.

IT'S VERY SCARY.

AND ESPECIALLY NOT HAVING ANYTHING WRONG WITH YOUR PREGNANCY, HAVING ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA.

SO DID YOU HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE TAMARA DURING THAT TIME OR WERE YOU KIND OF ON YOUR OWN?

WE DID NOT HAVE THAT.

THAT WAS 33 YEARS AGO.

I HATE TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN THAT LONG AGO, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THAT RESOURCE THEN AND DID NOT REALIZE WHAT MARCH OF DIMES DOES AND AND WHAT THEY CAN DO.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS GOING TO GO TO WORK FOR THE MARCH OF DIMES THAT I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ABOUT MARCH OF DIMES AND WHAT THEY DO, AND FOUND OUT THEY STARTED NICUS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY DID SURFACTANT THERAPY TO HELP LUNGS DEVELOP IF THE BABY'S LUNGS WEREN'T DEVELOPED.

SO IT WAS REALLY JUST A BLESSING THAT I WAS ABLE TO KIND OF FIND MY PASSION TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK.

NOW THAT TYLER IS PLAYING IN THE NFL, WE SAY ALL THE TIME NICU TO NFL IS WHERE HE'S AT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE STILL GIVING BACK AND STILL, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING MARCH OF DIMES MYSELF TYLER BECAUSE WE'RE THAT LUCKY FAMILY THAT YOU KNOW HE ONLY SPENT TEN DAYS IN THE NICU.

THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT SPEND 120 DAYS IN A NICU.

HE WEIGHED 6 POUNDS 11OZ.

SOME BABIES WEIGH LESS THAN 2 POUNDS.

SO WE'RE LUCKY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES DON'T EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WORSE THAN THAT.

SO WE FEEL LIKE WE WANT TO GIVE BACK.

IT'S A PASSION.

IT'S IT'S WHAT I LIVE EVERY DAY AND I LOVE IT.

AND SO FORTUNATE THAT I GET TO WORK WITH DOCTOR TIPPLE AND TAMRON.

WHAT WE DO, WE'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, GOING TOWARDS THAT SAME MISSION OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES DON'T HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.

WELL, DOCTOR TIPPLE, HOW MANY NICUS ARE THERE IN OKLAHOMA AND WHAT DO THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CARE MEAN, LIKE LEVEL TWO, LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR?

SURE.

I THINK I'LL START WITH THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST.

AND SO A LEVEL TWO NURSERY IS TYPICALLY KNOWN AS A SPECIAL CARE NURSERY.

AND SO THAT IS FOR BABIES BORN REALLY EIGHT WEEKS OR LESS PREMATURE OR 32 WEEKS GESTATION WITH A NORMAL PREGNANCY GOING TO 40 WEEKS GESTATION.

SO THESE BABIES GENERALLY HAVE MODERATE, OFTENTIMES RESPIRATORY ILLNESS THAT REQUIRES VERY TEMPORARY SUPPORT, USUALLY LESS THAN 24 HOURS IF THEY REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SUPPORT, ANY TYPE OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION THAN TYPICALLY THOSE ARE NURSERIES WHERE BABIES ARE STABILIZED AND MOVED TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, THE NEXT LEVEL BEING THEN LEVEL THREE.

SO LEVEL THREE NICU THEN ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A WIDER RANGE OF RESPIRATORY SUPPORT, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT ALL GESTATIONS.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE LIMITS OF GESTATION ARE OFTEN SOMETHING THAT ARE DISCUSSED.

BABIES AREN'T REALLY PHYSICALLY AND PHYSIOLOGICALLY MATURE, PROBABLY UNTIL A MINIMUM OF ABOUT 22 WEEKS GESTATION.

AND SO A LEVEL THREE NICU FOR A LESS COMPLICATED, EXTREMELY PRETERM INFANT IS THE PLACE WHERE BABIES LIKE THAT ARE OFTEN SUPPORTED AND CARED FOR.

THEN THE LEVEL FOUR PROVIDES THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE.

THAT'S THE HEART LUNG BYPASS, OR ECMO.

BABIES WHO NEED SOMETHING CALLED THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA FOR NEONATAL ENCEPHALOPATHY.

SO IF THEY'VE HAD AN INTERRUPTION IN OXYGEN DELIVERY DURING SOMETIME DURING THE LATE PREGNANCY OR AROUND THE TIME OF BIRTH, ALSO ACCESS IMMEDIATE ACCESS WITHIN ONE HOUR TO PEDIATRIC SURGERY.

ALL PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTIES, AND THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT A WIDE RANGE OF CONDITIONS, WHETHER THOSE ARE THE CONGENITAL CONDITIONS WE REFERENCED EARLIER OR ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT ADVANCE TEAM AND WITHIN THE LEVEL FOUR NICU CHILD LIFE.

YEAH, SOCIAL WORK THERAPY, FAMILY SUPPORT.

LORI REFERENCED THE VERY LONG STAYS, THE LEVEL FOUR NICU, WHICH IS GENERALLY A REGIONAL REFERRAL NICU, ARE OFTENTIMES WHERE THOSE PARENTS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE COMING FROM ACROSS OKLAHOMA END UP SPENDING MANY MONTHS WITH THEIR BABY.

TAMARA, AND YOU MENTIONED THIS BEFORE FOR THAT LEVEL FOUR NEONATAL CARE.

SOME PEOPLE ARE THERE FOR MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN RURAL OKLAHOMA THAT DO NOT LIVE CLOSE TO ONE OF OUR NEONATAL NICU CENTERS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THOSE FAMILIES AND WHERE DO THEY STAY?

YEAH, A LOT OF THE I SHOULD SAY, NOT A LOT, BUT SOME OF THE HOSPITALS DO HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT THEY CALL AT LEAST AN INTEGRIS.

IT'S CALLED THE PLAZA.

AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO HOUSE OUR FAMILIES WHO LIVE OVER 100 MILES AWAY AND PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.

AS FAR AS FOR HOUSING, THE RURAL COMMUNITY, I DO BELIEVE, ARE IT'S VERY HARD TO SERVE THE RURAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH DESERTS IN OUR IN OUR OKLAHOMA IN GENERAL.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THAT RURAL CAPACITY IS REALLY, REALLY HARD.

AND I KNOW AT OU WE HAVE THE THE AVAILABILITY TO HOUSE FAMILIES AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AND THERE'S SOME OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THAT'S IT'S A HARD AND VERY EXPENSIVE.

WHAT'S THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR?

IT'S A IT'S A HARD AND VERY EXPENSIVE VENTURE VENTURE.

IT'S JUST DIFFICULT WHEN THEY ARE FROM RURAL OKLAHOMA.

LORI, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE?

THANKFULLY, YOU WERE ONLY THERE FOR TEN DAYS, RIGHT?

AND I LIVED I LIVED IN TULSA AT THE TIME, AND SO IT WASN'T A PROBLEM TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL.

BUT I WILL SAY, AS YOU WERE TALKING, TAMARA, THAT I SAW SO MANY BABIES THAT WERE THERE AND NEVER HAD ANYONE COME TO SEE THEM WHILE I WAS THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD LIMITED TIMES THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GO AND VISIT THE BABY.

THERE WERE TIMES THAT YOU COULDN'T, AS THE DOCTORS AND NURSES WERE DOING THINGS WITH THE BABIES.

AND SO OF COURSE, I WAS THERE AS OFTEN AS I COULD BE THERE WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPEN, I WAS THERE.

BUT THERE'S SO MANY FAMILIES.

IF THEY LIVE THAT FAR AWAY, THEY'RE WORKING.

WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THEY CAN'T COME.

AND SO THOSE BABIES DON'T HAVE SOMEONE SEEING THEM ALL THAT TIME IN THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS VERY SAD.

AND I NOTICED IT, YOU KNOW, A LOT WHEN I WAS THERE AND FELT SO BAD BECAUSE SOME OF THEM PROBABLY HAD BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

I WAS ONLY TEN DAYS, BUT SOME HAD BEEN THERE MONTHS.

AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE WEEKENDS WHEN THE FAMILIES COULD COME TO SEE THE BABY.

SO IT'S JUST SO AWFUL FOR THE FAMILY, TOO.

YOU'RE MISSING YOUR BABY.

I MEAN, AND THANKFULLY WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE THERE TO LOVE ON THEM, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME.

IT'S NOT THE SAME.

WELL, LORI, REALLY QUICKLY HERE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT YOUR SON IS THRIVING TODAY.

HE'S AN NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER.

WHAT LESSONS WOULD YOU SHARE WITH OUR VIEWERS WHO MIGHT BE KIND OF STARTING THIS PROCESS OUT, WHO ARE LIKE, YOU WERE VERY SCARED, RIGHT?

I THINK, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BE PREPARED.

AS WE SAID, YOU REALLY CAN'T BE PREPARED.

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY EARLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, READ THINGS, EDUCATE YOURSELF ON YOU KNOW, WHAT?

IF I DO HAVE A BABY EARLY?

WHAT IF THE SITUATION WERE TO HAPPEN?

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO TO THE MARCH OF DIMES WEBSITE, MARCH OF DIMES.ORG.

AND IT HAS ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION ABOUT SIGNS OF PRETERM BIRTH, OR WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR BABY DOES HAVE TO GO TO THE NICU.

THE RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE, INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE ON THE WEBSITE ABOUT WHAT YOUR NICU JOURNEY WOULD BE LIKE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BOOK THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE NICU THAT IS ABOUT HAVING A JOURNEY IN THE NICU, SO EDUCATE YOURSELF.

DON'T THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

TRY TO BE PREPARED.

IF AND OF COURSE WE HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T.

THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE.

DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THAT WE HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

BUT I WOULD SAY EDUCATING YOURSELF, BECAUSE IT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I WAS THROWN INTO THAT I DID NOT EXPECT.

IT WAS VERY SUDDEN AND A JOURNEY THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

AND AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO FEEL LIKE THAT.

I'M TRYING TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH IT OR THAT CAN BE PREPARED, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT SITUATION.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR TAKING, YOU KNOW, THOSE HARD TIMES THAT YOU DIDN'T DESERVE AND TURNING IT INTO SOMETHING WONDERFUL.

TRULY, ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, TAMARA.

WHAT FOR OUR VIEWERS WHO ARE WATCHING AT HOME, LIKE LORI JUST SAID, WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM HOPE FOR, SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

SO OKLAHOMA FAMILY NETWORK WAS STARTED OVER 25 YEARS AGO BY A NEONATOLOGIST WHO RECOGNIZED THAT FAMILIES NEEDED SUPPORT.

THEY NEEDED THE LOVE, THE CARE, AND THEY NEEDED THE EDUCATION AS WELL.

ON HOW TO BE A PARTICIPANT IN THEIR BABY'S CARE.

SO THAT FAMILY CENTERED CARE PIECE IS A PIECE THAT I ALSO TAKE TO FAMILIES TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE AS MUCH MEDICINE FOR THEIR BABY AS THE MEDICINE THAT'S PUSHED BY THE PHYSICIANS AND THE OTHER STAFF THERE.

THE OTHER THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THAT I'M, I, I VOLUNTEERED MYSELF INTO A POSITION WITH OKLAHOMA FAMILY NETWORK.

WE ARE ALL, ALL OF US WHO WORK FOR OFTEN HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES INSIDE EITHER A NICU OR A GENETIC DIAGNOSIS, OR THEY'RE LIVING THE LIFE OF AN EXPERIENCE WITH A CHILD WHO HAS A SPECIAL NEED.

AND AND SO WORKING ONE ON ONE WITH FAMILIES.

MY STORY IN PARTICULAR IS THAT I DELIVERED AT 30 WEEKS GESTATION AND HAD A VERY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH TWO HEALTHY PREGNANCIES AND DELIVERY AT 20 WEEKS GESTATION THAT DID NOT SURVIVE, AND THEN ALSO ONE AT 30 WEEKS GESTATION, WHICH WAS DUE TO UTERINE RUPTURE.

SO WE ARE ALL SURVIVORS AND THOSE OF US THAT WORK FOR OFTEN, BUT THEN ALSO PARTNERING WITH THE FAMILIES WHO ARE PART OF THE UNIT, WHO HAVE LIVED THE EXPERIENCE, WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE INSIDE THE NICU.

WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

I MEAN, THAT IS TRULY THE HEART AND SOUL OF OKLAHOMA.

FAMILY NETWORK IS TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES KNOW THIS IS NOT A JOURNEY THEY HAVE TO ENDURE BY THEMSELVES.

THEY GET WONDERFUL CARE FROM PHYSICIANS.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT WONDERFUL RESEARCH OUT THERE TO HELP PREVENT THINGS FROM HAPPENING THROUGH MARCH OF DIMES.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE FAMILY SIDE THAT JUST THAT JUST IS ABLE TO TOUCH IN A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, PHYSICIANS CAN'T.

AND TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THAT MAYBE PHYSICIANS DON'T UNDERSTAND, OR THERE'S A QUESTION THAT'S JUST LOOMING IN THE HEART OF A FAMILY.

SO REALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT ALONE IN ANY CAPACITY OF THEIR JOURNEY FOR THE NICU.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR TIPPLE.

FINAL THOUGHTS.

FINAL THOUGHTS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

NUMBER ONE THANK YOU FOR THEM.

I MEAN, I THINK AS TAMARA POINTS OUT, IT TAKES EVERYONE.

AND THOUGH I WON'T SPEAK ABOUT IT, I'M A NICU FATHER AS WELL.

AND THAT CERTAINLY INFLUENCES WHAT WHAT I DO AND THE WAY I DO WHAT I DO.

BUT I CAN'T LIVE IN THAT SPACE AND PROVIDE THE CARE.

AS THE NEONATOLOGIST, CARING FOR AN INFANT.

AND SO WE ARE THE UNIT THAT YOU THAT I HOPE YOU NEVER KNOW EXISTS.

BUT YOU'RE GLAD.

YEAH.

WHEN YOU NEED IT, THAT IT DOES.

AND WHERE THE PEOPLE THAT I HOPE YOU NEVER NEED TO MEET.

BUT WE'RE THERE IF YOU NEED US.

AND OUR COMMITMENT TO OKLAHOMA IS TO ENSURE THAT NO BABY, NO FAMILY NEEDS TO LEAVE THIS STATE TO RECEIVE STATE OF THE ART CARE THAT IS AVAILABLE, SOMETIMES IN EXCESS, IN OTHER PLACES, IN STATES VERY NEAR TO US, BECAUSE THAT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE THAT.

AS THE STATE'S LEADING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THAT OR SOMETHING, WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO GROW IN AND INVEST IN, TO BRING THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT LOVING ON WORKING WITH AND PROVIDING THE BEST OUTCOMES DESPITE SOMETIMES THE WORST CIRCUMSTANCES.

VERY WELL SAID.

WELL, THAT IS ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

YEAH, THAT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO THE GATEWAY CITY AND LEARN HOW THE COLORIZATION OF OLD BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS IS BOTH AN ART AND A SCIENCE.

THAT STORY, COURTESY OF OUR FRIENDS AT PBS IN SAINT LOUIS.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO VIEW THE PAST AS FOREIGN WHEN IT'S IN BLACK AND WHITE.

I THINK COLOR REALLY BRINGS THINGS TO LIFE.

SAINT LOUIS HISTORIAN MARK LOWER HAS A KNACK FOR SEEING HISTORY THROUGH A COLORFUL LENS.

COLORIZATION, TO ME, IS MORE THAN JUST TAKING THE BLACK AND WHITE PICTURE AND PUTTING IT INTO PHOTOSHOP AND COLORING IT.

IT'S REALLY DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PICTURE.

LIKE A WRITER DEVELOPS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHARACTERS, EVEN THOUGH THE PICTURES ARE STILL PEOPLE IN THE PICTURES WERE ALIVE AT ONE POINT.

THEY HAD THEIR OWN LIVES.

THEY WERE GOING TO WORK.

THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL.

COLORIZATION HAS BEEN A PRACTICE SINCE THE 1860S, WHEN ARTISTS WOULD TAKE WATERCOLOR TO FILL IN BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS BY HAND.

PHOTOS DEVELOPED ON A METAL PLATES, KNOWN AS DAGUERREOTYPES, WERE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TO HAVE COLOR ADDED.

THOUGH TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANCED SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY, MODERN DAY COLORIZATION IS SURPRISINGLY SIMILAR.

USING PROGRAMS LIKE PHOTOSHOP, COLORISTS METICULOUSLY SECTION OFF INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS OF A PIECE AND ADD COLOR AS THEY SEE FIT.

I PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO FINDING THESE PICTURES.

SAINT LOUIS INSTITUTIONS HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK TO DIGITIZE THEIR COLLECTIONS.

THAT'S PRIMARILY WHY I WORK WITH SAINT LOUIS STUFF, BECAUSE WE WE HAVE A LOT OF IT.

I LIKE THE OBSCURE ONES.

I LIKE THE, THE THE LANDMARKS.

BUT LIKE THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE PROCESS IS THE HUNT, WHETHER THE PICTURE CAN BE COLORED AND WHETHER THE PICTURE SHOULD BE COLORED.

BUT THE PROCESS OF COLORING A PHOTO ISN'T A QUICK ONE.

I'M KIND OF A PERFECTIONIST, SO COLORS.

I CAN DO A COLOR IN THREE HOURS, BUT THEN I'LL JUST DWELL OVER IT AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S PERFECT.

IT'S A REAL PAIN, BUT I MEAN, THERE'S NO THERE'S NO GAIN WITHOUT THE PAIN.

WHILE MARK DOES SELL HIS PRINTS THROUGH HIS COMPANY, ARCH CITY DESIGNS, HE'S MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE'S NOT IN IT FOR THE MONEY.

I DON'T I DON'T GO INTO COLORING A PICTURE AND CHOOSING A PICTURE BECAUSE I CAN SELL IT OR I WANT TO SELL IT.

YOU JUST GOT TO COLOR WHAT YOU WANT TO COLOR.

YOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO SIT THERE AND SPEND FIVE HOURS COLORING A PICTURE, YOU'D BETTER BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE INVESTED IN.

THE ART OF COLORIZATION ISN'T AN EXACT SCIENCE.

THROUGHOUT HIS JOURNEY, MARK HAS LEARNED TO TAKE CERTAIN LIBERTIES WHEN WORKING ON HIS PIECES.

I'M GOING TO SAY STRAIGHT OFF THAT I DON'T GO FOR PURITY IN MY PICTURES.

I THINK IF YOU WANT A MIRROR IMAGE OF WHAT SAINT LOUIS WAS LIKE IN 1955, YOU JUST LOOK FOR COLOR PICTURE, THEN FIND A COLOR PICTURE.

DON'T ASK ME.

I PERSONALLY PREFER A MORE ARTISTIC STYLE, SORT OF AN IMAGINED LOOK AT SAINT LOUIS IN COLOR, AS I IMAGINE IT MIGHT LOOK.

USING REALISTIC RED BRICK AND SIGNS THAT ARE KIND OF RESEARCHED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT APPROPRIATE SIGNS FOR THOSE COLORS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT NOT REALLY REALISTIC BECAUSE I WANT IT TO BE ARTISTIC, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE MY OWN TAKE ON WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN COLOR.

FOR MARK, COLORIZATION IS AS MUCH ART AS IT IS HISTORY.

IT GETS PEOPLE TO LOOK AT PICTURES THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE IGNORE.

AND THERE'S SO MANY PICTURES THAT WE HAVE OF SAINT LOUIS.

I TEND TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS THE PICTURES THAT SHOW SCENES THAT AREN'T RECOGNIZABLE, SCENES THAT MIGHT NOT BE READILY IMPORTANT.

THEY DON'T JUMP AT YOU AS LIKE, WELL, THIS IS THE ARCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION, OR THIS IS THE OLD COURTHOUSE.

THIS MIGHT JUST BE A STREET WIDENING PROJECT ON THIS SMALL BLOCK, BUT NOW YOU GET TO SEE THIS SMALL BLOCK AND COLOR AND SUDDENLY YOU CARE ABOUT IT PIECE BY PIECE, BUILDING BY BUILDING.

MARK ADDS A BIT MORE VIBRANCY TO SAINT LOUIS PAST FROM LIVING SAINT LOUIS.

I'M CARTER REEVES.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT IS THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN BEING HARMED BY THE ADDICTIVE USE OF CELL PHONES.

AN IMPORTANT IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD FRIDAY AT SEVEN.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT SOME CLASSIC MUSCLE CARS AT A SHOW IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY LEGACY.

NOW, REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, WETA-TV.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO WATCH ANY OF THE REPORTS IN THIS NEWSCAST AGAIN, THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL BY MONDAY EVENING.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

ALL MY.

FRIENDS.

NO RIDER.

THE LOW RIDER IS A LITTLE HIGHER.

LOW RIDER BIKE A LITTLE SLOWER.

NO RIDER.

THE REAL GOER.

NO TIME.

TO KNOW.

EVERY STREET.

YEAH.

NO.

DRIED UP.

DIDN'T WANNA MEET YA.

CO-OPS ARE MORE THAN JUST A UTILITY.

THEY PROVIDE JOBS AND THEY RAISE THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR EVERYONE IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, WHICH ENABLES THE STANDARD OF LIVING