ADAM BEACH AND EVAN ADAMS.

THAT'S 9:00 SATURDAY NIGHT ON THE OETA MOVIE CLUB TEST DRIVES AND AUTO NEWS ON MOTORWEEK SUNDAY MORNING AT SEVEN ON OETA.

WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ENSURE SNAP BENEFITS REMAIN AVAILABLE TO ALMOST 685,000 ELIGIBLE OKLAHOMANS?

WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH DC FOR ACTION.

WE'RE ALSO MOBILIZING AND WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT OKLAHOMANS CAN WEATHER THIS STORM.

HUNDREDS OF NEW OKLAHOMA LAWS SET TO TAKE EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 1ST.

IT'S TIME FOR THIS THIS BILL.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.

SO I'M GLAD WE GOT IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

THE CHEROKEE NATION OFFERING HEFTY BONUSES TO KEEP THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE ALIVE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

WE HAVE TO GENERATE NEW SPEAKERS ON THEIR WAY TO FLUENCY SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS AT A FASTER RATE THAN WE'RE LOSING THEM.

THE EFFORT BEING MADE IN TULSA TO TURN THIS EMPTY FACILITY INTO A SUPER SIZED SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS.

IT'S A BIG, BIG OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE A SAFE PLACE TO STAY WHILE WE WORK ON HELPING THEM RESOLVE HOMELESSNESS.

IN IN DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH INTERIM SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT LINDEL FIELDS.

THINGS ARE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING THE KIND OF PROGRESS THAT EVERYBODY CAN EXPECT.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS A VERY COOL WAY TO VIRTUALLY GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

SNAP BENEFITS WILL BE CUT OFF FOR ALMOST 685,000 ELIGIBLE OKLAHOMANS BEGINNING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.

THE FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS ANOTHER CASUALTY OF THE ONGOING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

TAYLOR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH WHAT'S BEING DONE TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP UNTIL LAWMAKERS RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES.

TAYLOR RICH 1 IN 6 FAMILIES IN THE STATE USE SNAP BENEFITS TO BUY GROCERIES, WHILE GOVERNOR STITT WANTS OKLAHOMANS TO PULL TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED.

ALYSSA JAMES IS ONE OF NEARLY 42 MILLION AMERICANS WHO ARE PREPARING FOR SNAP BENEFITS TO END ON SATURDAY.

WE BOUGHT FROZEN VEGETABLES, CANNED VEGETABLES, SOME CANNED MEAT BASE INGREDIENTS THAT WERE THE CHEAPEST WE COULD FIND.

WE ACTUALLY BOUGHT A TON OF HAMBURGER HELPERS, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE WAYS WE COULD REALLY STRETCH A FULL MEAL WITH VERY MINIMAL BUDGET.

THE REGIONAL FOOD BANK HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE FAMILIES LIKE THE JAMES DON'T GO HUNGRY.

WE FORECASTED THIS.

WE WORK WITHIN THE FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK, HAD AN IDEA THAT THIS WAS MAYBE A POTENTIAL DOWN THE LINE.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN JUST IN CASE THE WORST POSSIBLE THING HAPPENS.

AND THE OKLAHOMA REGIONAL FOOD BANK HAS 1300 PARTNERS ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE STATE.

PRICKETT SAYS THE AGENCY IS WORKING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

SO WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO START GIVING OUT MORE FOOD, DISTRIBUTING MORE FOOD OUT TO OUR NETWORK, AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DOING SOME TARGETED DISTRIBUTIONS IN AREAS WHERE WE MAYBE DON'T HAVE AS MANY PARTNERS.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR FOOD.

THE REGIONAL FOOD BANK SAYS THEY HAVE ALREADY SEEN A 37% INCREASE IN PEOPLE ASKING FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT IS CALLING ON OKLAHOMANS TO JOIN TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED HELP.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH DC FOR ACTION.

WE'RE ALSO MOBILIZING AND WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT OKLAHOMANS CAN WEATHER THIS STORM.

WE'RE TALKING TO ALL OF OUR STATE AGENCIES, OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION.

WE'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THEM.

THE LEGISLATURE HERE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, WE'VE TALKED TO OUR CHURCHES, NONPROFITS, ASK EVERYONE TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, TO FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD.

HUNGER FREE OKLAHOMA, A NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES TO SOLVE FOOD INSECURITY IN THE STATE, SAYS THE FEDERAL SNAP PROGRAM CONTRIBUTES APPROXIMATELY $120 MILLION A MONTH TO OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

THAT'S FOOD AID ALSO SPENT IN LOCAL GROCERY STORES, YOU KNOW, AND COMMUNITY BUSINESSES THAT THAT HAS A HUGE RIPPLE EFFECT, NOT JUST ON, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ABILITY TO FEED THEMSELVES AND MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, BUT ON OUR ECONOMY AS WELL.

THE ORGANIZATION RELEASED A STATEMENT ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THAT READ IN PART, WE DEMAND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF FEDERAL CONTINGENCY FUNDS TO COVER NOVEMBER SNAP BENEFITS AND BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO END THE SHUTDOWN AND RESTORE FULL FUNDING.

HUNGER FREE CEO CHRIS BERNARD SAYS SNAP BENEFIT DISRUPTIONS WILL LIKELY CAUSE A DOMINO EFFECT.

IT CAN CREATE PANIC AMONG SNAP USERS TO, YOU KNOW, IT CAN CREATE KIND OF A RUSH ON THE CHARITABLE SYSTEM.

AND THEN THREE, IF A SOLUTION IS NOT FOUND QUICKLY, IT'S QUITE LITERALLY A DISASTER THAT I DON'T THINK THE FOOD SYSTEM HAS EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

THE NONPROFIT ALSO WANTS STATE LEVEL EMERGENCY MEASURES TO ENSURE NO OKLAHOMAN GOES HUNGRY, INCLUDING TEMPORARY STATE FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS SOLVING THE MATTER USING THE STATE'S RAINY DAY FUNDS IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN MOST WOULD THINK.

IT'S SET UP IN A WAY THAT YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO ACCESS IT IN A REVENUE FAILURE, RIGHT?

WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE FAILURE.

THIS IS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROBLEM, NOT A STATE PROBLEM.

IT WOULD ALSO TAKE TWO THIRDS OF A VOTE FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WE'D HAVE TO CALL PEOPLE BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

AND THEN HOW DO WE ACTUALLY GET IT DELIVERED BY NOVEMBER 1ST ON THOSE CARDS, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO DO IT.

OKLAHOMA HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARGUE THAT CALLING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION IS WARRANTED.

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER CYNDI MUNSON SAYS SHE WANTS FUNDS TO GO TO CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FIGHTING AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY IN THE STATE.

IN A STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART, GOVERNORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE MANAGED TO SET UP FUNDING FOR FOOD BANKS AND EBT CARDS FOR THEIR CITIZENS.

OUR GOVERNOR COULD DO THE SAME, OKLAHOMA HUMAN SERVICES SAYS EBT CARDS SHOULD STILL CONTINUE TO WORK DURING THE SHUTDOWN.

IF A FAMILY HAS UNUSED FUNDS ON THE CARD, AND OKLAHOMANS CAN STILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DOUBLE UP PROGRAM AT PARTICIPATING GROCERY STORES AND FARMERS MARKETS, TULSA FARMERS MARKET EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRIS ROBINSON SAYS THE PROGRAM MATCHES SNAP BENEFITS UP TO $20 PER DAY SPENT ON FRESH PRODUCE.

FOLKS HAVE COME TO RELY ON THAT TO GET FRESH FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND SO WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE WE'VE COME TO KNOW.

AND ALSO FOR OUR FARMERS, AS WELL AS THEY RELY ON THAT INCOME AT OUR FARMERS MARKET, STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, INDIVIDUALS CAN BRING THEIR SNAP CARD TO THE TULSA FARMERS MARKET TO RECEIVE $20 IN COMMUNITY TOKENS TO SPEND AT THE MARKET.

AND SO OUR PLAN IS, IS TO HAVE A COMMUNITY FUNDED SUPPLEMENTAL FUND TO HELP THESE STAFF.

USERS STILL HAVE SOME MONEY TO SPEND AT OUR FARMERS MARKET.

THE TULSA FARMERS MARKET, LOCATED NEAR EAST ADMIRAL AND SOUTH LEWIS, SAY AS OF TUESDAY THEY HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO SUPPORT ABOUT 100 FAMILIES.

THIS WEEKEND, THEY HOPE TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OFFERED IF THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

SINCE OUR FOLKS ARE USED TO PULLING OFF OF THEIR SNAP CARDS $20 TO BE MATCHED WITH DOUBLE UP, THEY'RE USED TO HAVING $40 TO SPEND AT OUR MARKET.

OKLAHOMA TRIBAL NATIONS ARE ALSO STEPPING IN TO ASSIST TRIBAL CITIZENS WHO RECEIVE SNAP BENEFITS.

THE COMANCHE NATION SAYS THEY WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN FURLOUGHED OR ARE LOSING SNAP BENEFITS THROUGH THEIR FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THE CHEROKEE NATION SAYS 4.5 MILLION WILL GO DIRECTLY TO IMPACTED CHEROKEE NATION CITIZENS LIVING NEAR OR ON THE RESERVATION.

AS OF FRIDAY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR 31 DAYS.

HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO AFFORD FOOD BECAUSE THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS, THE WAY BILLS ARE, HOUSING, RENT, ALL OF THAT, THAT ALONE IS SO HIGH THAT WE RELY ON SNAP SO HEAVILY.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN AFFORD FOOD SOMETIMES, LIKE WE DON'T EAT OUT NOTHING.

SO IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, I'M NOT SURE HOW EXACTLY I'M GOING TO FEED MY FAMILY.

YOU CAN VISIT THE OKLAHOMA HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE AND CLICK THE BE A NEIGHBOR TAB IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE HELP FOR THOSE IN NEED.

RICH TAYLOR, THANK YOU.

THE FIFTH EXCAVATION OF TULSA'S OAKLAWN CEMETERY TO RECOVER AND IDENTIFY MORE VICTIMS OF THE 1921 RACE MASSACRE IS YIELDING SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERIES.

78 NEW GRAVES HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED SINCE THE NEW WORK BEGAN IN MID-OCTOBER, AND ONE OF THE SIX SETS OF REMAINS EXHUMED AT THE OAKLAWN CEMETERY LAST WEEK WAS FOUND TO HAVE AN INTACT BULLET IN ITS RIBCAGE.

THE PREVIOUS FOUR EXCAVATIONS RESULTED IN THE POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THREE PEOPLE, TWO OF THEM CONFIRMED TO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF THE VIOLENCE IN TULSA'S GREENWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD IN 1921.

AMONG THOSE 42 INDIVIDUALS ARE 31 ADULT SIZED GRAVES, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SYSTEMATICALLY GOING THROUGH AND DOING HAND EXCAVATIONS TO EXAMINE EACH ONE OF THOSE GRAVES.

AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE EXHUMED THREE INDIVIDUALS, ADULT GRAVES THAT WE BELIEVE TO BE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES BASED ON THE CRITERIA THAT WE'RE USING OF ADULTS BURIED IN SIMPLE WOODEN CASKETS.

STACKELBECK SAYS HER TEAM IS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE THIS LATEST ROUND OF EXCAVATIONS SOMETIME AROUND NOVEMBER 7TH.

HE'S BEEN ON THE JOB FOR JUST LESS THAN A MONTH NOW, BUT LINDEL FIELDS IS ALREADY MAKING HIS MARK AS THE STATE'S INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

IN OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, MODERATOR CASSIDY MUD WILL SIT DOWN FOR AN EXTENSIVE ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH FIELDS ABOUT HIS GOALS FOR THE NEXT 14 MONTHS.

OUR JOB IS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS AND IT'S THEIR JOB TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS, SO IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THEM, THEN THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE CAN GET CAN GET BETTER, I BELIEVE.

SO YOU CAN EXPECT A CUSTOMER SERVICE FOCUSED STATE DEPARTMENT AND THEN OUR OUR THREE AREAS OF FOCUS ARE OUR LITERACY, TEACHER RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND THEN FINALLY CAREER PATHWAYS.

SO IN TERMS OF THE THE SERVICES AND VALUE WE BRING AT THE STATE, THE STATE AGENCY WITH ACCREDITATIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THOSE ARE THOSE ARE PRETTY SET IN STONE.

IT'S OUR OUR GOAL TO PROVIDE OR BRING A NEW TONE TO THOSE SERVICES.

THE REST OF CASSIDY'S CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

TULSA MAYOR MONROE NICHOLS HAS A STATED GOAL OF REDUCING HOMELESSNESS IN HIS CITY TO FUNCTIONAL ZERO BY THE YEAR 2030.

NOW, PART OF THAT PLAN INVOLVES THE FORMER TULSA COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER THAT HAS SAT EMPTY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THE CITY OF TULSA HAS PLANS TO REPURPOSE THAT FACILITY.

NOAH MAC JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN HOW NOAH RICH THE DETAILS OF THIS DEAL ARE STILL BEING IRONED OUT, BUT ONCE THE CITY GAINS OWNERSHIP, PLANS WILL MOVE FORWARD TO REFURBISH IT INTO A LOW BARRIER SHELTER.

THIS COMES AS TULSA REMAINS A POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND SURROUNDING HOMELESSNESS.

TEMPERATURES ARE DROPPING, AND SHELTERS LIKE THE TULSA DAY CENTER PROVIDE A CRITICAL LIFELINE FOR FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THE DAY CENTER HAS SAVED OUR LIVES.

SOON, THE CITY WILL BE ADDING A NEW SHELTER TO THE SPATE OF RESOURCES FOR THE UNHOUSED.

WITH AN AGE OF OVER FIVE DECADES, ROUGHLY SEVEN YEARS OF VACANCY, AND A WHOLE LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR, THE OLD TULSA COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER HAS A MAKEOVER ON THE HORIZON.

PENDING SOME LEGAL DETAILS.

TULSA COUNTY WILL HAND THE KEYS OVER TO THE CITY OF TULSA, WHICH HAS A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS 1960S STRUCTURE.

COUNTY DOES STILL OWN THE DETENTION CENTER.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING THROUGH THE REAL ESTATE AGREEMENTS AND MAKING THAT TRANSACTION FINAL.

THE CITY WILL THEN AT THAT TIME, OWN IT, AND WE WILL THEN BE TRANSFERRING IT TO A PRIVATE ENTITY WHO WILL THEN OPERATE AND REDEVELOP THE DETENTION CENTER INTO A HOMELESS SHELTER.

HOMELESSNESS IS A SALIENT ISSUE IN TULSA TODAY.

LAST MONTH, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT LAUNCHED OPERATION SAFE, AN INITIATIVE TO CLEAR OUT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ON STATE PROPERTY IN TULSA.

CONCURRENTLY, AND AT ODDS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S APPROACH, MAYOR MONROE NICHOLS HAS HIS OWN PLAN FOR COMBATING THIS ISSUE, VOWING TO BRING HOMELESSNESS TO WHAT HE CALLS FUNCTIONAL ZERO.

THE MAYOR RAN ON ENDING HOMELESSNESS, REACHING FUNCTIONAL ZERO HOMELESSNESS BY 2030.

THAT CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY FOR THE MAYOR, MEANING THAT HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF AND NON-RECURRING.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY STEPS IN HIS PLAN IS INCREASING SHELTER CAPACITY.

EMILY HALL, THE MAYOR'S SENIOR ADVISOR ON HOMELESSNESS, SAYS THE NEW SHELTER WILL AID IN CARRYING OUT THAT GOAL AND THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE BUILDING HAS BEEN USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP OF CITY AND COUNTY, IT WAS OPENED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME TO UTILIZE AS AN EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTER.

SO WE KNOW THAT THIS SORT OF OPERATION CAN TAKE PLACE IN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY.

IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT CONTINUING ON IN THE FUTURE.

THIS IS THE DETENTION CENTER IN QUESTION, SOON TO BECOME WHAT IS CALLED A LOW BARRIER SHELTER.

AND A LOW BARRIER SHELTER IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A SHELTER WITH LOW BARRIERS TO ENTRY.

AND THE CITY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A PLACE NOT ONLY TO REST YOUR HEAD, BUT A PLACE THAT WILL GET YOU ON THE PATH TO PERMANENT HOUSING.

IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

THERE'S NO TIME CONSTRAINTS OR OUR CONSTRAINTS ON THE FACILITY.

IT'S IT WILL BE OPEN TO MEN, WOMEN.

IT WILL BE OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PETS.

IT WILL BE OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE RESOURCES AND CARE.

THE 46,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING IS EXPECTED TO HOLD 175 BEDS WHEN CONVERTED INTO A SHELTER.

TULSA HOUSING SOLUTIONS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE, AND CEO MARK SMITH SAYS THE NEW, REVAMPED SHELTER WILL SOLVE A NICHE THAT OTHER, MORE OUTDATED SHELTERS MAY NOT HOW THEY WERE DESIGNED OR HOW THEY'RE SET UP VERSUS WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

MOST OF THOSE ONLY OPERATE OVERNIGHT, SO IT'S A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO SLEEP, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE SPACE FOR EVERYONE TO STAY DURING THE DAY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS HERE WITH THE LOW BARRIER SHELTER IS NOT IT'S NOT JUST A PLACE TO SLEEP, BUT YOU CAN STAY THERE DURING THE DAY, ACCESS PROGRAMING AND SERVICES, OR IF YOU HAVE APPOINTMENTS OR IF YOU'RE WORKING, YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THAT AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE YOUR SPOT.

MARK ADDS THAT INCREASING SHELTER CAPACITY IS A CHIEF PRIORITY, PRIMARILY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

IT WON'T SOLVE ALL OF OUR ISSUES.

WE STILL HAVE MANY CHALLENGES TO FACE, BUT IT'S A BIG, BIG OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE A SAFE PLACE TO STAY WHILE WE WORK ON HELPING THEM RESOLVE HOMELESSNESS.

AND ONE OF THE SAFE PLACES TO STAY RIGHT NOW IS THE TULSA DAY CENTER.

SO WE AVERAGE ANYWHERE FROM IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 250 TO 280 A DAY COMING THROUGH THE TULSA DAY CENTER.

AND THEN OUR NIGHT SHELTER, WE CAN WE SHELTER AROUND 80 TO 100, DEPENDING ON WEATHER AS WELL.

THE FACILITY IS 24 HOUR AND INCLUDES MANY OF THE SERVICES THE LOW BARRIER SHELTER IS EXPECTED TO OFFER LIKE A PET CENTER.

WE HAVE FIVE LARGE KENNELS AND THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE ONE OVER HERE WAITING FOR THE OWNER TO COME AND PICK UP.

JOHN 316 IS ANOTHER SHELTER IN THE TULSA AREA.

CEO STEVEN WHITTAKER SAYS HAVING A LOW BARRIER SHELTER IS A UNIQUE AND EFFECTIVE ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY.

I LOVE THAT BECAUSE I RUN A SHELTER THAT WE HAVE PRETTY RIGOROUS RULES, AND THAT DOES EXCLUDE SOME PEOPLE AMONG THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

YOU'LL FIND IF YOU WERE RUNNING A SHELTER, YOU KNOW, 24 HOURS, 365, YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE SOME RULES AS WELL.

SO LOW BARRIERS ARE NEXT LEVEL OF CHALLENGE.

BUT IT IS A NECESSARY ELEMENT TO HAVE IN THE CITY OF OUR SIZE.

IF ALL GOES TO PLAN THE CITY PROJECTS, THE LOW BARRIER SHELTER WILL OPEN ITS DOORS IN EARLY 2027.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK.

OPERATION SAFE IS NOW DISMANTLING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WHILE TULSA IS STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS, HOMELESSNESS ADVOCATES TOLD ME MANY PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET CONNECTED WITH SERVICES.

HOWEVER, MANY MORE WERE ALSO DISPLACED OR LOST IDENTIFICATION.

ULTIMATELY, THEY SAY, INTERGOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION IS KEY TO PROCEEDING WITH THIS ISSUE.

RICH NOAH, GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IN A RELATED MATTER, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS APPOINTED SHARON SHARON MILLINGTON AS THE NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE AFFAIRS.

SHE REPLACES TIM BONO, WHO RESIGNED LAST FRIDAY AFTER JUST ONE YEAR ON THE JOB.

MILLINGTON PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE O. J IN THEIR ONGOING EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THEIR LANGUAGE, THE CHEROKEE NATION IS MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF ITS ELDERLY NATIVE SPEAKERS.

STEVE SHAW IS BACK FROM TAHLEQUAH WITH MORE ON THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR EFFORT.

STEVE RICH WITH 470,000 CITIZENS, CHEROKEE NATION IS THE LARGEST NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE IN THE US, YET THERE ARE ONLY AROUND 1500 OF WHAT ARE KNOWN AS FIRST LANGUAGE FLUENT CHEROKEE SPEAKERS.

LEFT.

AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THE.

HEAVY.

SEE, WE THINK THE JOURNEY THAT THE FREEDOM ERLINDA SOAP TEACHES FIFTH GRADE AT CHEROKEE NATION'S LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOL NEXT TO CHEROKEE NATION HEADQUARTERS IN TAHLEQUAH.

EXCUSE.

YES, OR SO SHE TEACHES HER STUDENTS HOW TO PROPERLY COMMUNICATE THE WAY THEIR ANCESTORS ONCE DID.

TO US.

AT THE SAME.

JOSE.

ERLINDA IS A 2010 TAHLEQUAH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.

SHE'S ALSO A GRADUATE OF THE CHEROKEE LANGUAGE MASTER APPRENTICE PROGRAM.

ARE YOU LIKE IN HEAVEN IN.

OH YEAH.

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THEY CALL THIS MY JOB, BUT IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE PLACE TO BE.

SINCE 2016, CHEROKEE NATION HAS SPENT $175 MILLION TO SUPPORT CHEROKEE NATION LANGUAGE PROGRAMS.

LAST THURSDAY, CHEROKEE NATION PRINCIPAL CHIEF CHUCK HOSKIN JR ANNOUNCED $2.3 MILLION IS BEING USED TO OFFER UP TO $1,000 BONUSES THAT NOW GOES TO CHEROKEE NATION EMPLOYEES WHO WANT TO LEARN TO SPEAK AND TO TEACH THE CHEROKEE LANGUAGE.

THERE'S ALSO UP TO A $2 AN HOUR INCREASE IN PAY.

IT LINKS US, IT BINDS US.

IT TAKES US BACK TO OUR OWN CREATION.

YOU'RE THE KEEPERS OF THE CHEROKEE LANGUAGE, AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME AND ALL OF US TO HONOR YOU TODAY, HOSKIN SAYS AROUND 100,000 CHEROKEE CITIZENS LIVE IN OKLAHOMA AND ADAIR, DELAWARE.

MAYES, SEQUOYAH, AND CHEROKEE COUNTIES.

OUR CHALLENGE IS ONE OF BASIC ARITHMETIC IS WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO GENERATE NEW SPEAKERS ON THEIR WAY TO FLUENCY.

SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS AT A FASTER RATE THAN WE'RE LOSING THEM.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE STILL UPSIDE DOWN ON THAT EQUATION RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE HAVE THE BUILDING BLOCKS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT BY THE END OF THIS DECADE OR IN THE END, TEN YEARS FROM NOW, WE WILL HAVE TURNED THAT EQUATION UPSIDE DOWN AND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE WILL CREATE MORE SPEAKERS THAN WE'RE LOSING.

ERLINDA SOAP SAYS THE MOTIVATION TO LEARN CHEROKEE IS HERE.

O LEARNING CHEROKEE HAS HELPED ME IN SO MANY WAYS.

JUST TO FEEL MORE CONFIDENT, TO FEEL MORE IN TUNE WITH WHO I AM EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO I'M ABLE TO GIVE THAT LOVE BACK, ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN.

ALL OF OUR ELDERS ARE GETTING UP IN AGE, SO THEIR LANGUAGE, THEIR VOICES, WE DO NOT WANT THAT TO BE DIMINISHED OR TO BE READ ABOUT IN A BOOK.

WE WANT TO BE SPEAKING IT, REQUIRING IT, TEACHING THE LANGUAGE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET INVOLVED WITH OUR SPEAKERS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP THOSE THAT NEED THE MOTIVATION.

MITCH HOLCOMB IS ONE OF THOSE ELDERS.

THIS IS FOR MOST, THIS ISN'T A FOREIGN THING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY GREW UP DOING.

SO AND THOSE WHO HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT.

IT'S IT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL ALWAYS STAY WITH THEM.

SO THAT I THINK THAT'S THAT'S THE VALUE IN IT.

HANGING ON TO A CULTURE, TO THE CULTURE, AND IN THE WAY THAT CHEROKEES WERE TAUGHT TO DO.

MOST ARE STILL TAUGHT THAT IT'S JUST THIS MODERN WORLD WHERE WE LIVE FAST.

SO LYRIC MUSKRAT IS IN ORLANDO, SOAP'S FIFTH GRADE LANGUAGE CLASS.

IS IT ALL KIND OF COMING TOGETHER, OR ARE YOU KIND OF UNDERSTANDING WHY THEY WANT YOU TO LEARN THIS?

YEAH.

HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

MAKES ME FEEL PROUD FOR WHO I AM.

SHANNON DONAHOE WAS.

TOO LAZY TO GO TO.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 140 STUDENTS IN THE LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOL.

ANOTHER 40 ARE ON THE LANGUAGE MASTER APPRENTICE PROGRAM.

MANY CHEROKEE CHILDREN FROM AROUND HERE ARE NOW TAUGHT CHEROKEE AS YOUNG AS SIX WEEKS OLD.

RYAN MACKEY IS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE LANGUAGE MASTER APPRENTICE PROGRAM.

HE SAYS PRACTICALLY NEWBORN KIDS ARE PICKING UP CHEROKEE WAYS, AND THEY'RE DOING AMAZING THINGS.

THOSE LITTLE BABIES TALK CHEROKEE THE WAY THAT MOST KIDS TALK ENGLISH, IT'S THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN USUALLY SPEAK ENGLISH AS WELL.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY PREFER TO TALK CHURCH.

YEAH.

WHEN YOU WHEN YOU CAN IMAGINE A BABY BEING IMMERSED IN THE FIRST WORDS THAT SHE'S REALLY HEARING ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS ARE IN CHEROKEE.

THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

AND IT PROBABLY HASN'T HAPPENED ON THIS SCALE FOR MANY GENERATIONS.

JERRY GURDY IS A FIRST LANGUAGE CHEROKEE SPEAKER.

JERRY'S MOTHER, 90 YEAR OLD RUTH GURDY, IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS A MONOLINGUAL CHEROKEE SPEAKER.

THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF MONOLINGUAL CHEROKEE SPEAKERS LEFT IN THE WORLD.

SHE STILL SWINGING, ISN'T SHE?

YEAH.

SHE'S STILL TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO, ISN'T SHE?

SOMETIMES.

YEAH.

HOW'S SHE DOING HEALTH WISE?

SHE'S DOING OKAY.

SHE'S.

SHE'S IN A WHEELCHAIR AND SHE GETS AROUND PRETTY GOOD.

JERRY'S MOTHER LIVES IN SPEAKER VILLAGE, WHICH IS A CLUSTER OF MODEST HOMES THAT SITS ADJACENT TO THE LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOL.

LAST THURSDAY, PRINCIPAL.

CHIEF HOSKIN ALSO ANNOUNCED PLANS TO HIRE TWO HEALTH AIDES, WHOSE JOB WILL BE TO CHECK IN ON THE MOST VULNERABLE CHEROKEE ELDERS.

I THINK IT'S GOOD.

THAT WAY THEY'LL BE CLOSER.

I GUESS IT'S GOING TO BE THEIR STATION HERE.

THAT'D BE A LOT BETTER WHERE THEY CAN GET TO HER QUICK.

SHE NEEDS SOMETHING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT TAKES SOME OF THE BURDEN OFF OF YOU.

YEAH, I'M ALWAYS WONDERING.

SOMETIMES SHE'LL START OUT OF A WHEELCHAIR AND ROLL.

I MEAN, WE SIT ON THE FLOOR, SHE CAN'T GET BACK UP.

THE SOBERING THING ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS PRACTICALLY ALL FIRST LANGUAGE CHEROKEE SPEAKERS ARE OVER 70 YEARS OLD, BUT CHIEF HOSKINS SAYS A DECADE FROM NOW THAT WILL HAVE DRASTICALLY CHANGED.

RICH STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TO COINCIDE WITH THE CENTENNIAL OF ROUTE 66 NEXT YEAR, GOOGLE IS LAUNCHING A NEW THEME PAGE THAT LETS YOU TOUR AMERICA'S MOST ICONIC ROADWAY WITHOUT GETTING INTO A CAR.

USING ADVANCED AI TECHNOLOGY, GOOGLE ALLOWS YOU TO GET BEHIND A VIRTUAL STEERING WHEEL AND GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66 THROUGH OKLAHOMA AND OTHER STATES, AND YOUR JOURNEY CAN TAKE PLACE IN REAL TIME OR BACK IN TIME.

TO.

SO I WAS GEEKING OUT ON THE ON ON THE DISPLAY RIGHT NOW.

CANNOT THANK GOOGLE ENOUGH.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS.

GOOGLE HAS A LOT OF PROJECTS AS AS WE CAN ALL IMAGINE, RIGHT?

BUT FOR THEM TO SEE THE POWER AND THE MAGIC OF ROUTE 66 AND FOR THEM TO DEDICATE A LOT OF MONEY TO DO THIS, IT'S A REALLY BIG WIN FOR OKLAHOMA.

NOW, CHICAGO TO SANTA MONICA IS OVER 2000 MILES, AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A LOT OF STORIES TO TELL.

SO THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND GOOGLE ARTS AND CULTURE, WHEN THEY REACHED OUT TO THESE COMMUNITIES, THEY TALKED TO MUSEUMS AND ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATIONS AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES TO GET AN IDEA.

LIKE, WHAT STORIES DO YOU WANT TO TELL?

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU TELL THOSE STORIES?

IT IS SOMETHING THAT SORT OF DEFINES THE AMERICAN ETHOS FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RED CARPET IS FULLY ROLLED OUT FOR THEM NEXT YEAR AND IN THE YEARS TO COME.

AND THIS TOOL OBVIOUSLY HELPS TO FACILITATE THAT AND TURNS THEIR DREAMS INTO REALITY.

AND THAT'S THE TOURISM GOAL FOR OKLAHOMA.

IF PEOPLE GET HOOKED ONLINE, THERE'S A BETTER CHANCE THEY'LL ACTUALLY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A REAL CAR AND VISIT ROUTE 66 THROUGH OKLAHOMA.

HUNDREDS OF NEW OKLAHOMA LAWS TAKE EFFECT THIS COMING SATURDAY.

WHICH ONES WILL IMPACT THE MOST OKLAHOMANS THE MOST?

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH A CLOSER LOOK.

JASON RICH.

THE NEW LAWS RUN THE TABLE FOR THE AREAS THEY IMPACT, EVERYTHING FROM INTOXICATED AND DISTRACTED DRIVING, UPFRONT PRICING FOR HOSPITALS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND PROTECTING PRIVATE PROPERTY.

SOME MIGHT SUGGEST MORE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION OR SUBSIDIES.

IS THE ANSWER, BUT GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ISN'T ONE OF THEM.

DURING A TUESDAY NEWS CONFERENCE MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS DOESN'T NEED MORE MONEY, HE SUPPORTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SENATE BILL 889, WHICH REQUIRES HOSPITALS TO PUBLISH THE PRICES THEY CHARGE FOR MEDICAL PROCEDURES ON THEIR WEBSITE TO INFORM CONSUMERS.

HE ADDS THAT THE NEW LAW FOLLOWS A MANDATE FROM PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

PRESIDENT TRUMP DID AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

WHAT WE DID WAS CODIFY THAT HERE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND REALLY, IT'S JUST IT'S ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY IN PRICING AT HOSPITALS, PRETTY COMMON SENSE FOR CONSUMERS.

FOR AMERICANS, THE NEW HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY LAW LED TO A NONPROFIT SETTING UP A WEBSITE FOR CONSUMERS CALLED OKLAHOMA HOSPITAL PRICES.ORG, TO COMPARE THE PUBLICLY LISTED PRICES BETWEEN HOSPITALS.

IT GOES LIVE ON NOVEMBER 1ST WHEN THE LAW GOES INTO EFFECT, OKLAHOMA WILL BE THE VERY FIRST STATE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN THAT THE CONSUMERS ARE ALSO PROTECTED, THAT IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE PRICE, THEN NO ONE CAN COME AFTER THEM FOR MEDICAL DEBT.

OTHER LAWS TAKING EFFECT AT THE FIRST OF THE MONTH DEAL WITH INTOXICATED DRIVING.

FOR INSTANCE, SENATE BILL 54 CREATES A NEW AGGRAVATED DUI LAW, MAKING THAT OFFENSE A FELONY.

WE DON'T WANT ANYONE THAT'S THEIR FIRST OFFENSE, OR THEY HAVE ONE TOO MANY BEERS WHEN THEY'RE LEAVING A WATCH PARTY OR SOMETHING TO HAVE A FELONY.

THAT'S NOT THE INTENT OF THIS BILL.

THIS IS AN AGGRAVATED CRIME.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE EGREGIOUS IN WHAT THEY DO AND THEIR ACTIVITIES CAN CAN HARM PEOPLE, AND OFTENTIMES THEY DO.

WEAVER HOPES THAT THIS LAW WILL SAVE LIVES.

VICTIMS GROUPS WERE EXCITED ABOUT THIS BILL BECAUSE THEY THEY'VE LOST KIDS.

THEY'VE LOST PARENTS IN SOME OF THESE CRASHES.

SO IT'S TIME FOR THIS.

ANOTHER LAW, SENATE BILL 518, MEANT TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED, INVOLVES MEDICAL MARIJUANA LABELING.

THIS ADDS WARNING LABELS TO MARIJUANA PACKAGING IN LITIGATION.

WHAT THEY FOUND WAS A LOT OF THE ATTORNEYS WOULD ARGUE, THE FACT THAT, WELL, MY CLIENT DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THIS WOULD IMPAIR THEIR DRIVING.

THERE'S NO WARNING LABELS.

SO THEY'RE NOT COMPLETELY GUILTY.

STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS WILL SEE THE NEW WARNING LABEL ON THE CANNABIS PACKAGING.

THIS IS TO BE USED ONLY BY LICENSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

IT'S ILLEGAL TO DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MARIJUANA, AND PREGNANT WOMEN OBVIOUSLY SHOULD NOT BE USING MARIJUANA WHILE THEY'RE PREGNANT.

HOUSE BILL 1001 IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHICH WAS A LONG TIME COMING.

LAURA AND ASHLEY'S LAW IS NAMED AFTER THE TWO GIRLS THAT HAVE BEEN MISSING FROM WELCH, OKLAHOMA, SINCE 1999, LAURA BIBLE AND ASHLEY FREEMAN CASE HAS EVEN BEEN FEATURED ON UNSOLVED MYSTERIES.

THEIR DISAPPEARANCE WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE FREEMAN'S HOME BURNED AND THE BODIES OF ASHLEY'S PARENTS WERE FOUND.

IT WAS YEARS LATER THAT RONNIE DEAN BUSIC WAS CHARGED WITH A CONNECTION TO THE MURDERS AND DISAPPEARANCES.

HOWEVER, THE BODIES OF LAURA AND ASHLEY WERE NEVER FOUND.

WHILE BUSIC WAS RELEASED AFTER SERVING JUST 38 MONTHS OF HIS TEN YEAR SENTENCE, THE NEW LAW WILL REQUIRE THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE MURDER CASE TO SERVE MORE TIME.

IT REQUIRES SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN CONVICTED OF ACCESSORY TO MURDER TO SERVE 85% OF THE TIME THAT THEY WERE ADJUDICATED, SO IT COULD BE 100 YEARS.

YOU SERVE 85%.

ONE YEAR, YOU SERVE 85%.

HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP REPRESENTATIVE TAMMY WEST HAS TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION DEALING WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

HOUSE BILL 1460 ELIMINATES A HANDFUL OF COURT FEES BEING CHARGED TO PEOPLE IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM.

HOUSE BILL 1462 REQUIRES THAT A VICTIMS RESTITUTION IS PAID BEFORE STATE COURT FINES AND FEES ARE COLLECTED.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE $15 HERE, 20 THERE.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE ASSESSED A MULTITUDE OF THEM, IT REALLY DOES CREATE A BURDEN THAT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING PRISON AND TRYING TO RESTART THEIR LIVES.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY REPUBLICAN SAYS VICTIMS SHOULD BE FIRST IN LINE WHEN THE STATE COLLECTS MONEY FROM THOSE CONVICTED FOR A CRIME, SO I THINK THIS IS JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THE VICTIMS NEED TO BE MADE WHOLE BEFORE THE STATE COLLECTS MONEY.

PROTECTING SOMEONE FROM LOSING PROPERTY IS THE PURPOSE OF SENATE BILL 925, SOMETHING THAT OKLAHOMA COUNTY CLERK MARISA TREAT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO GET PASSED.

THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASING ATTEMPTS TO STEAL PROPERTY RIGHTS THROUGH FALSE DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE AND THE NATION.

I WAS VISITING WITH SOME OF MY COUNTERPARTS IN TEXAS AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT A MAJOR PROBLEM THIS IS ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS TITLE THEFT.

IT'S SHOCKING HOW EASY IT IS, SCARY HOW EASY IT IS.

BEFORE THE LAW WAS PASSED, STREETS OFFICE HAD AN ALERT SYSTEM, BUT SHE FELT MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE TO PROTECT PROPERTY OWNERS.

SO OUR OFFICE HAS AN ALERT SYSTEM THAT WILL NOTIFY YOU IF ANYONE STEALS YOUR PROPERTY.

BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T HAVE WAS A WAY TO HELP VICTIMS AT THAT NEXT STEP ONCE THEIR PROPERTY WAS STOLEN.

SO SENATE BILL 925 WILL ALLOW US TO WORK WITH THE VICTIM.

IF THEIR PROPERTY IS STOLEN, THEY WILL GET TO FILE NOTICE IN OUR OFFICE THAT SAYS SOMEONE STOLE MY PROPERTY, WILL GO TO THE DA'S OFFICE FOR REVIEW.

THEY'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND THEN ONCE THE JUDGE SAYS, YES, INDEED, YOUR PROPERTY WAS STOLEN, YOUR PROPERTY THEN GOES BACK INTO YOUR NAME.

THERE ARE 284 NEW LAWS GOING ON THE BOOKS.

ON NOVEMBER 1ST, ANOTHER ROUND OF LAWS PASSED DURING THE MOST RECENT SESSION WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST.

IN OTHER BUSINESS NEWS, THERE'S GOOD NEWS FOR CUSTOMERS THEIR ELECTRICITY BILL IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN, NOT UP FOR A CHANGE.

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

SENT A LETTER TO ITS RATEPAYERS THIS WEEK LETTING THEM KNOW THAT A FUEL COST ADJUSTMENT IS UNDERWAY.

IT MEANS THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WILL SEE THEIR BILL DROP ABOUT $6.75 A MONTH BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1ST.

THE UTILITY IS MAKING THE CHANGE BECAUSE THE COST TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY IS DROPPED AND DOES NOT PROFIT FROM FUEL COSTS.

THESE FUEL COST ADJUSTMENTS CAN HAPPEN TWICE A YEAR.

IF OG AND E'S COSTS CHANGE.

SKY DWELLER ARROW SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A THREE DAY SOLAR POWERED UNMANNED FLIGHT FOR THE U.S.

NAVY.

THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED OVER THE GULF REGION AND DEMONSTRATES A POTENTIAL FOR LONG DURATION PATROL FLIGHTS TO TRACK VESSEL MOVEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION WITHOUT HAVING TO LAND FOR FUEL.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUCCESSFUL AT SHOWING IT CAN COLLECT ENOUGH SOLAR ENERGY DURING THE DAY TO KEEP FLYING DURING NIGHTTIME HOURS.

TULSA BASED ONE OAK REPORTS A THIRD QUARTER NET INCOME OF $940 MILLION.

THAT'S A MAJOR JUMP FROM THE $693 MILLION PROFIT THE COMPANY REPORTED IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.

ONE OAK LEADERS SAY THE GROWTH WAS POWERED BY INCREASES IN NATURAL GAS PRODUCTS THROUGH ITS PIPELINE SYSTEM.

OKLAHOMA CITY BIOTECH COMPANY WHEELER BIO IS EXPANDING ITS REACH TO THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION WITH THE HELP OF A NEWLY FORMED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MITSUBISHI CORPORATION.

THE PARTNERSHIP WILL ENGAGE BIOTECH INNOVATORS IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, INDIA, SINGAPORE, TAIWAN AND CHINA.

WHEELER BIO SPECIALIZES IN CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT AND BIO MANUFACTURING.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

AND NOW TO SOME POLITICAL NEWS AND THE SURPRISING RESULTS OF RECENT POLLING IN THE RACE TO REPLACE KEVIN STITT AS GOVERNOR IN 2026.

WE'RE JOINED ON SET BY KYLE LOVELACE, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATUS INTELLIGENCE.

AND KYLE, YOU'RE REPORTING A BIG SURGE FOR FORMER REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CHARLES MCCALL.

YEAH.

THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED FROM JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WHEN MEMOS WERE SENT OUT SAYING DRUMMOND WAS THE FOR THE LEADER AND WAS INSURMOUNTABLE.

AND IT WAS HIS LOSE TO RACE, HIS RACE TO LOSE.

WELL, THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

AND SO NOW YOU HAVE BASICALLY NOT JUST A TIED RACE, BUT SPEAKER MCCALL IN A SIZABLE LEAD.

YEAH.

CAN YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT HE DID A BIG AD BUY BOTH DIGITALLY ON TELEVISION, SPENT A LOT OF MONEY.

THAT'S WHAT'S BEHIND THE SURGE.

WELL, TV BY ITSELF DOESN'T MOVE PEOPLE.

SO SINCE I WANT TO SAY IT WAS FEBRUARY OR MARCH, WHENEVER SPEAKER MCCALL ANNOUNCED HE HAS BEEN METHODICALLY AND STRATEGICALLY TOURING COUNTIES, EVERY FISH FRY, EVERY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, EVERYWHERE HE CAN GO.

HE'S BEEN GOING.

AND YOU YOU DO THAT, PLUS THE TV AND PLUS THE, YOU KNOW, ONLINE THINGS THAT SHOWS, SHOWS THE MOVEMENT.

AND SO HIS MESSAGE, AS WELL AS THAT OF HIM BEING A CONSERVATIVE HAS MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

BEFORE WE DIG DEEPER INTO GOVERNOR DRUMMOND, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLL ITSELF.

HOW WAS IT CONDUCTED?

WHEN WAS IT CONDUCTED?

IT WAS OVER 800 RESPONSES FROM 800 LIKELY REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

SO WE TOOK NOT JUST THE GENERAL POPULACE AND NOT JUST NOT JUST LIKELY VOTERS, BUT OR NOT JUST GENERAL VOTERS, BUT LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS.

OKAY, NOW, THE LAST POLL THAT I SAW A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO HAD ATTORNEY GENERAL, GOVERNOR DRUMMOND EASILY IN THE LEAD, A NICE LITTLE LEAD, AND NOW THAT'S EVAPORATED.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS AND WHAT DID YOUR POLLS FIND ABOUT DRUMMOND?

WELL, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS AS THE CAMPAIGN HAS EVOLVED, SPEAKER MCCALL HAS BEEN TAKING THE CONSERVATIVE MANTLE AND DRUMMOND HAS BEEN LOSING THAT.

AND SO WHEN HE ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY HE HAD OVER 50% OF REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, THAT HAS NOW DWINDLED DOWN TO THE MID 30S TO EVEN 20S.

WELL, PART OF THAT IS THE MORE THEY GOT TO KNOW HIM, THE LESS THEY LIKED.

FAVORABILITY WENT DOWN IN YOUR POLL, CORRECT?

CORRECT.

VERY GOOD.

ANY OTHER CANDIDATES WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON?

HOW ABOUT CHIP KEATING?

WELL, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR KEATING'S SON CHIP ANNOUNCED 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO, AND HE'S PROMISED TO PUT IN SIZABLE AMOUNTS.

SO FAR, HE HAS BEEN, IN OUR SURVEYS, INSIGNIFICANT STILL WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

I WOULD IMAGINE HE'S GOING TO PUT A PUSH FORWARD AT SOME POINT.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S A TWO MAN RACE.

YEAH.

BUT AS YOU WERE MENTIONING LAST TIME AROUND OR EIGHT YEARS AGO, NO ONE KNEW WHO KEVIN STITT WAS EITHER.

CORRECT AT THIS TIME.

AT THIS TIME.

THAT'S RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE, CYNDI MUNSON.

RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW YOUR POLLING IS THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, BUT JUST YOUR THOUGHTS ON HER AND WHAT KIND OF CANDIDACY SHE WOULD PROPOSE?

WELL, I THINK SHE COMES FROM HER NORTHWEST PART OF OKLAHOMA CITY IS A PURPLE PART OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

IT IS EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

SHE'S BEEN ONE THAT HAS HISTORICALLY.

AND THAT SEAT WAS REPRESENTED BY DAVID DINKINS.

ODILIA DANK BEFORE HAS BEEN A REPUBLICAN SEAT UNTIL SHE CAME ALONG.

SHE'S A HARD WORKER.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE A HARD WORKER.

I BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE REPUBLICANS RACE TO LOSE.

AS OKLAHOMA IS A CONSERVATIVE STATE AND A TRUMP STATE THREE TIMES, BUT I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE.

YEAH.

FINAL QUESTION.

JUST NEXT ROUND OF POLLING.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE?

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

WE IMAGINE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE SHOWN THE DRAMATIC SHIFT IN MCCALL'S FAVOR.

THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER POLLING OUT THERE.

AND SO THAT EITHER COUNTERS IT OR WHATEVER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE SAME POLLING FIRM AND THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE BEHIND THE FIRM THAT HAD STITT CORRECT AGAINST HOFMEISTER FOUR YEARS AGO, AND THEN ALSO WITH BICE VERSUS NEESE.

SO WE HAVE A RECORD THAT WE CAN STAND ON.

OKAY.

SO MAYBE WE'LL TALK AGAIN THEN.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

KYLE LOVELESS WITH THE STRATUS INTELLIGENCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THE FIRST STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, CHAIRED BY LINDELL FIELDS, LOOKED AND SOUNDED A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST MEETING, LED BY SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS.

IT'S EXPECTED FIELDS TENURE AS SUPERINTENDENT WILL ALSO BE VERY DIFFERENT.

HOW SO?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDS AND LINDELL FIELDS.

CASSIDY.

JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT LINDELL FIELDS.

SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

IT'S MY PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

WELL, SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS, YOU'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR FOR OVER A DECADE.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PATH AND WHAT LED YOU TO THIS ROLE?

OH, SURE.

YES.

AS AN EDUCATION FOR 30, 30 YEARS, THE LAST 12 BEING A SUPERINTENDENT AT TRI-COUNTY TECH UP IN BARTLESVILLE.

AND THEN PRIOR TO THAT TIME, A TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR IN OKLAHOMA SKILL CENTER SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE SYSTEM THAT WORKS WITH WITH INMATES IN IN OKLAHOMA.

AND AFTER 30 YEARS RETIRED FROM THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, DID SOME LEADERSHIP CONSULTING, HAVE BEEN DOING LEADERSHIP CONSULTING.

AND THEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HERE I AM.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR LESS THAN A MONTH.

WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS BEFORE STEPPING INTO THE ROLE?

AND HAS ANYTHING SURPRISED YOU?

MY IMPRESSION?

WELL, I KNEW IT WAS A BIG JOB.

YOU HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED EMPLOYEES.

YOU'RE LEADING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS.

SO THERE WAS NO NO SURPRISES THERE.

I THINK THE ONE SPECIFIC THING THAT SURPRISED ME IS JUST RIGHT OUT OF THE BAT.

I LEARNED I WAS ON 18 BOARDS.

WOW.

AND THAT'S THAT'S A THAT'S A LOT OF BOARDS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG BUDGET AND ALL THE THINGS.

SO OUTSIDE OF THAT JUST I SUPPOSE THE SHEER NUMBER OF MESSAGES WE'RE GETTING EVERY DAY WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE.

I DIDN'T I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT VOLUME.

SO THE NUMBER OF BOARDS AND THE NUMBER OF MESSAGES WE RECEIVE AT THE AGENCY AND IN THE SUPERINTENDENTS OFFICES, IT'S BEEN A LOT.

IT'S BEEN A LOT.

WHAT HAS WHAT ARE WE HEARING FROM THOSE MESSAGES?

WELL, IT'S ALL OVER THE BOARD AND MOSTLY MOSTLY POSITIVE THINGS.

PEOPLE THAT ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, A NEW TONE OR A NEW VIBE.

SOME OF MY FAVORITES HAVE BEEN FOLKS THAT HAVE LEFT TEACHING.

THAT SAID, NOW THEY WANT TO COME BACK OR THEY HAVE A TEACHING DEGREE AND NOW THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT MAYBE STARTING TEACHING.

AND THEN THEN THERE'S SOME THAT PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE GOOD OF THEIR KIDS.

THEY'RE ASKING ABOUT HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND FIFTH GRADE TRACK MEETS AND ALL ALL OVER THE ALL OVER THE PLACE AGAIN, JUST PEOPLE LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR KIDS.

SO IT'S BEEN A VARIETY OF MESSAGES, ALMOST ALL POSITIVE.

WHAT IS A REGULAR DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

TAKE US FROM THE START.

THE START.

OH, WOW.

SO THE THE EARLY DAYS STARTED VERY EARLY, ABOUT 4 A.M.

WOW.

YEAH, WE STARTED EARLY AND IT WAS JUST IT WAS KIND OF IT WAS A BIT OF TRIAGE BECAUSE THINGS HAPPEN HAPPENED SO FAST.

NOT MEETING MEETING BOARD MEMBERS, MEETING STAFF SO EARLY ON, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AT THE AGENCY WITH STAFF MEMBERS AND THEN MAKING DOZENS OF CALLS, MAYBE A HUNDRED CALLS TO PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE THAT I NEEDED TO KNOW, GET TO KNOW.

AND SO LOTS OF PHONE CALLS AND MEETINGS IN THOSE EARLY DAYS AND NOW AND WITH THE AGENCY AND NOW IT'S SHIFTED INTO MEETING WITH FOLKS LIKE YOU AND DOING INTERVIEWS AND HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE UP TO AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.

SO REGULAR DAY NOW IS NOT STARTING QUITE, QUITE THAT EARLY.

TOM NEWELL AND I GET STARTED PRETTY EARLY.

IT GOES PRETTY STRONG UNTIL, YOU KNOW, 5 OR 530, OH MY GOODNESS.

WELL, YOU'VE MET WITH MORE THAN 400 SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THESE LAST FEW WEEKS.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS?

YEAH.

SO THE THOSE EDUCATORS HAVE PRIMARILY BEEN ADMINISTRATOR LEVEL AND PRINCIPAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR MEETINGS ALREADY IN PLACE.

SO WE'RE JOINING THOSE THOSE MEETINGS I HOPE TO TO MEET WITH TEACHERS.

SO THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TELL US ABOUT ACCREDITATION, SOCIAL STUDIES, STATE TESTING, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE WE'VE HEARD ABOUT.

BUT MY FAVORITE CONVERSATIONS IS THIS MORNING WHEN WE STOPPED FOR COFFEE, I RAN INTO A PARENT WHO DROVE IN FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO WELLSTON, AND HE RECOGNIZED ME AND HE WANTED TO SELFIE BECAUSE HIS GRANDDAUGHTER WAS GETTING NAMED A STUDENT OF THE MONTH.

OH, THAT'S SO EXCITING.

WELL, HOW NEAT IS THAT?

SO HE WAS EXCITED TO SHARE THAT WITH HER AND RUNNING INTO TEACHERS AT, YOU KNOW, RESTAURANTS AND WALMART.

THOSE HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITE CONVERSATIONS.

JUST PEOPLE THAT ARE THAT ARE SMILING AND TELLING ME ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND SO.

WELL, SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT 14 MONTHS AND WHAT CAN OKLAHOMANS EXPECT?

YEAH, 14 MONTHS IS NOT A LOT A LOT OF TIME.

BUT I'M I'M OPTIMISTIC WE CAN GET A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THINGS DONE, GET GET THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SETTLED.

WE HAVE SOME REALLY TALENTED PEOPLE THERE, REALLY, REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

BUT I WANT US TO TO SHIFT TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE MINDSET.

OUR JOB IS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS AND IT'S THEIR JOB TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS.

SO IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THEM, THEN THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE CAN GET CAN GET BETTER, I BELIEVE.

SO YOU CAN EXPECT A CUSTOMER SERVICE FOCUSED STATE DEPARTMENT AND THEN OUR OUR THREE AREAS OF FOCUS ARE OUR LITERACY, TEACHER RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND THEN FINALLY CAREER PATHWAYS.

AND MOST OF THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON EARLY LITERACY.

IT'S IT'S NOT A PROFOUND THOUGHT PER SE.

IT'S JUST A FOCUS ON GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS, GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT LITERACY, A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT TEACHERS, AND A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CAREER PATHWAYS.

SO AT THE END OF THE END OF THE 14 MONTHS, I HOPE THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST A START OF A POLICY THAT CAN BEGIN TO IMPACT LITERACY AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF TEACHERS.

WELL, I KNOW YOU'VE SAID PUBLICLY THAT YOU WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE IN THE 2026 ELECTION, BUT IF THINGS GO REALLY WELL, WOULD YOU RECONSIDER RUNNING FOR SUPERINTENDENT FULL TIME?

NO, NOT AT ALL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THAT 15 MONTHS.

AND I, I THINK THAT ALLOWS ME TO FOCUS ON THIS NOT NOT RUNNING OR OR EVEN I'LL JUST SAY POLITICKING.

IT'S JUST ABOUT THE MATTERS MATTERS AT HAND.

AND THAT WAS THE COMMITMENT OUR FAMILY MADE 15 MONTHS.

AND SO NO, GOVERNOR STITT ALSO SAID THAT THERE'S BEEN A MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN GOVERNORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS AND SUGGESTED MAKING THIS POSITION AN APPOINTED POSITION.

DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD HELP OR HURT OKLAHOMA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM?

WOW, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

YES, I I'M AWARE OF HIS THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND BEING IN THE POSITION FOR A FEW MONTHS.

I JUST HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

I CAN SEE CERTAINLY SEE THE PROS OF HAVING BEEN APPOINTED.

RIGHT?

YES, I CAN SEE, SEE THE PROS, THE PROS OF THAT.

BUT UNTIL THIS VERY MOMENT, I HAVEN'T GIVEN THAT THAT MUCH THOUGHT.

SO I'D LIKE TO LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW THERE COULD BE SOME ADVANTAGES THOUGH.

SO LAST WEEK, DURING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, YOU SAID THAT CHANGES WERE COMING TO RYAN WALTERS SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS.

BUT FOR NOW THOSE STANDARDS HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD.

BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES FOR US?

SO WHAT WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS THE COURTS TO CONTINUE THEIR STAY.

SO THEY'VE PAUSED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS.

SO WE'VE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS TO PROVIDE INPUT SO A FEW THINGS CAN HAPPEN THERE.

FOLKS WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT ULTIMATELY GOING BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

AND THEY CAN CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT NEW RECOMMENDATIONS OR STAY WITH THE ONES THEY HAVE.

SO NO REAL NEW UPDATES.

AGAIN, WE'RE JUST WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IF THAT STAY WILL BE EXTENDED.

THAT WAS THE TECHNICAL THING THAT HAPPENED.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

SURE.

WELL, ON STATE TESTING, WE'VE SAID THAT THERE ARE NO CHANGES THIS YEAR AND THAT MEANINGFUL CHANGE TAKES TIME AFTER THIS YEAR.

DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE ON STATE TESTING?

THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

SO STANDARDIZED TESTING, AS I THINK WE MOST MOST OF US KNOW, HAPPENS HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS GETTING THE RESULTS BACK IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO YOU WANT TO USE THE TEST TO AFFECT INSTRUCTION SO YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES.

SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IS A TESTING METHODOLOGY THAT ALLOWS FOR TIMELY FEEDBACK.

THAT'S NOT JUST A ONE AND DONE TEST.

SO I THINK YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING MORE ALONG ALONG THOSE LINES.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, A LOT OF TIME.

AND AND THERE'S THE LEGISLATURE'S INVOLVED.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO SIGN OFF ON THIS.

SO GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE WOULD BE MY FIRST STEP IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

WELL, YOU ALSO MENTIONED EXPLORING NEW ASSESSMENT IDEAS WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WHAT WOULD THAT INNOVATION LOOK LIKE?

WELL, JUST LIKE I MENTIONED.

SO FINDING ASSESSMENTS THAT CAN HELP MEASURE SUCCESS JUST IN TIME AND THROUGHOUT THROUGHOUT THE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INSTEAD OF JUST THAT, THAT ONE MOMENT IN TIME AT AT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO AGAIN, A PROCESS THAT WE COULD USE TO HELP KIDS AND TEACHERS IMPACT INSTRUCTION IMMEDIATELY, NOT MONTHS LATER.

YEAH.

BECAUSE IT'S AT THE END OF THE AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND YOU'VE GOT ALL SUMMER.

I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT THOSE CLASSES WHEN I GET BACK.

I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.

WELL, SUPERINTENDENT FIELDS, SPEAKING OF MEASURING SUCCESS, TELL US ABOUT THE TURNAROUND TEAM.

OH, JUST SO BLESSED TO HAVE SOME COMMITTED FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT ASKING ASKING PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON HOLD FOR 15 MONTHS.

THE TURNAROUND TEAM, BY AND LARGE, IS LIKE ME.

WE'RE THERE.

AND THEN WE'RE PLANNING PLANNING TO LEAVE.

SO THE THE TEAM IS A CORE TEAM.

TOM NEWELL, WHO I MENTIONED EARLIER, CAME OVER FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO BE OUR CHIEF OF STAFF AT PSD, DOING A GREAT JOB.

DOCTOR RAMEL MO ALLEN IS OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR INSTRUCTION AND AGAIN DOING A BANG UP JOB JUST LEARNING EVERYBODY.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MEET AND LEARN.

AND DOCTOR MEGAN OFTEDAHL IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF.

AI AND SO EXCITED ABOUT HER.

AND THEN KRISTEN STEVENS IS ON LOAN RIGHT NOW FROM TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HANDLING DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS.

SO THAT'S THAT'S THE CORE TEAM RIGHT NOW.

AND AGAIN, JUST GETTING TO MEET EVERYBODY AND LEARN WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND AND SO FAR SO GOOD.

SO FAR SO GOOD.

WELL SOME LOCAL LEADERS ARE WONDERING WHAT THE TURNAROUND TEAM MEANS FOR DECISION MAKING.

ARE WE ARE THERE DISTRICTS SEEING LESS AUTONOMY OR IS THAT MORE OF CONCERN LEFT OVER FROM THE PAST TENSIONS THAT WE'VE KIND OF SEEN?

WELL, WE'RE JUST WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.

I THINK BY AND LARGE, I CAN SAY THAT WE WANT AS MANY DECISIONS AS POSSIBLE TO BE TO BE LOCAL.

AND IN THAT VEIN, I THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S ROLE ROLE IS.

THERE'S NOT REALLY A MAGIC WAND, PER SE, THAT FIXES EVERYTHING.

SO 99%, I WOULD SAY THAT'S JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD OF THE THINGS THAT COME TO THE AGENCY TO BE FIXED ARE REALLY LOCAL DECISIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, STARTS WITH THE TEACHER AND THE PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD'S AT THE LOCAL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

SO IN TERMS OF THE THE SERVICES AND VALUE WE BRING AT THE STATE, THE STATE AGENCY WITH ACCREDITATIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THOSE ARE THOSE ARE PRETTY SET IN STONE.

IT'S OUR OUR GOAL TO PROVIDE OR BRING A NEW TONE TO THOSE SERVICES.

I LIKE HOW YOU SAID NEW TONE, BECAUSE RECENTLY YOU ALSO SAID THAT YOUR TEAM WILL LEAD WITH HONESTY AND RESPECT.

SURE.

DO WHAT YOU SAY.

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN.

DO NOT SAY IT.

MEAN.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO USE THAT PHILOSOPHY HERE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?

YEAH, THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

IMPORTANT TO ME.

WE'RE FULL GROWN ADULTS.

WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME AT THE WORKPLACE, SO WE NEED TO TREAT EACH OTHER, OTHER WITH EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND REMIND OURSELVES THAT OUR CUSTOMER ULTIMATELY IS STUDENTS.

AND I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

THAT MIDDLE GROUND STUDENT, SIXTH GRADER THAT HAS A CELL PHONE THAT'S BEING INFLUENCED WAY MORE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY SOCIAL MEDIA THAN A TEACHER COULD EVER DREAM OF INFLUENCING.

SO I WANT TO SET THAT TONE NOT ONLY AT THE AGENCY AND FOR EDUCATION IN GENERAL, BUT THE PUBLIC, TO REMIND ALL OF US WHEN WE SAY SOMETHING, WE'RE SAYING IT TO A SIXTH GRADER.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

IT DOES, IT DOES.

I MAY HAVE GOT OFF TOPIC A LITTLE BIT, I APPRECIATE THAT.

NO THANK YOU.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WELL, THIS MY LAST FINAL QUESTION.

I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY FINAL THOUGHTS FOR THE VIEWERS OF OKLAHOMA SUPERINTENDENT.

WELL, WE'RE JUST WE'RE EXCITED FOR OKLAHOMA.

YOU KNOW, WE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING THE KIND OF PROGRESS THAT EVERYBODY CAN EXPECT.

AND I THINK I WOULD JUST CLOSE WITH THAT, REPEATING THAT FINAL CALL TO ACTION ABOUT THE INFLUENCE.

AND AND I MENTIONED SOCIAL MEDIA BEING TOWARD THE MIDDLE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU WOULDN'T SAY IT TO YOUR YOUR NEIGHBOR SIXTH GRADER, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE'LL SAY THINGS TO OUR OWN KIDS, WE WOULDN'T SAY TO SOMEBODY ELSE, YEAH, YEAH, DON'T SAY IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND, YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTER IS IN FIFTH GRADE AND I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH WITH THE TEACHERS.

AND SOMETIMES SHE NEEDS SOME ASSISTANCE.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE CALL THE TEACHER OR YOU EMAIL THE TEACHER AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU TALK TO THE PRINCIPAL.

THAT'S WHERE YOU START.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE INTERNET IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING.

SIMPLY DO WHAT YOU SAY, SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND DON'T SAY IT.

MEAN TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE THE CHANGE.

SO I THINK IF WE CAN ALL DO THAT, WE CAN.

WE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

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

MY PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR SAYING SO.

VERY REFRESHING CONVERSATION.

WELL, YOU DON'T SEE TOO MANY OLD FASHIONED BOOKMOBILES AROUND ANYMORE, BUT IT'S STILL A THING IN OUR NATION'S 49TH STATE.

AND THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO ANCHORAGE, ALASKA AND LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE MAN'S PASSION PROJECT.

COURTESY OF ALASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

SO THE BOOKMOBILE STARTED AS A BOOKMOBILE IN PITTSBURGH FOR 20 YEARS, AND SO I PURCHASED IT AFTER ITS RETIREMENT.

WE ORIGINALLY BOUGHT IT TO TRANSPORT PRINTING EQUIPMENT FROM PITTSBURGH TO ANCHORAGE, AND MY PLAN WAS TO SELL IT TO SOMEBODY IN ANCHORAGE TO BE USED AS A CAMPER OR A FOOD TRUCK.

AND EVERY TIME WE STOPPED AT A GAS STATION, SOMEBODY CAME UP AND TALKED TO US ABOUT THE BOOKMOBILE IN THEIR SMALL HOMETOWN AND HOW MUCH THEY LOVED BOOKMOBILES LIKE WHEN WE STOPPED AT CAMPSITES, PEOPLE WOULD LEAVE STACKS OF BOOKS ON THE HOOD.

THE GOODWILL TOWARDS THE BOOKMOBILE WAS SUCH THAT BY THE TIME WE GOT TO ANCHORAGE, IT WAS SORT OF REALIZED THAT LIKE, OH NO, WE SHOULDN'T GET RID OF THIS AND HAVE IT TURN INTO SOMETHING ELSE.

IT WOULD BE MUCH, MUCH BETTER TO KEEP IT AS A BOOKMOBILE AND KIND OF BUILD ON THAT.

WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING FROM PITTSBURGH TO ANCHORAGE AT A MAXIMUM OF 55 MILES AN HOUR, YOU SPEND SO MUCH TIME IN THAT VEHICLE THAT YOU BECOME A LITTLE BIT ATTACHED.

I'M JIMMY REARDON.

I'M FROM HERE IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, AND I OPERATE THE ALASKA BOOKMOBILE.

SO THE ALASKA BOOKMOBILE IS A SET OF RESOURCES ON WHEELS.

IT'S A FREE LIBRARY AND MOBILE VENUE.

AND THE LIBRARY IS FULL OF FREE BOOKS.

WE ALWAYS HAVE YOUNG ADULT AND CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN ONE AREA.

WE SHOW UP FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE THE FISH CREEK.

TRICK OR TREAT EVENT.

SO IN THAT, WE HAND OUT CANDY AND FREE BOOKS.

THE OUTDOOR MOVIES HAVE REALLY BECOME A BIG PART OF OUR PROGRAMING.

WE HAVE THIS SCREEN, AND SO WE PROJECT ON THE SIDE OF THE BUS AND CAN DO IT WHEREVER WE WANT.

AND SO WE DO MAYBE 6 OR 7 OF THOSE A WINTER, BECAUSE OUR SEASON IS OBVIOUSLY LIMITED BY LIGHT COMMUNITY AND HAVING CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE AND BEING THERE FOR PEOPLE AND FEELING SUPPORTED AND HAVING FRIENDS AND LIKE FEELING LIKE YOU'RE A PART OF YOUR CITY IS IMPORTANT TO ENJOYING LIVING IN THAT CITY.

LIKE, I CAN'T IMAGINE THOSE THINGS NOT BEING IMPORTANT.

THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT SHOWED OKLAHOMA ADOPT AN OPEN PRIMARY SYSTEM, WITH VOTERS ALLOWED TO CAST BALLOTS REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION.

WE'LL HEAR FROM THOSE FOR AND AGAINST THAT IDEA FRIDAY AT SEVEN, IN HONOR OF ALL HALLOWS EVE, WE'RE GOING TO ROLL THE CREDITS THIS WEEK OVER A SLIGHTLY SPOOKY VIDEO PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OTA'S LEGACY.

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.

SAVVY HUSTLERS AND IT TURNS OUT, PIGEON FASTER.

THE URBAN HUSTLE, THE HELP.

I WANTED EVERYBODY TO BE HERE TO GIVE YOU A NICE BIG HELLO TODAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO DO IT JUST ALL BY MYSELF.

OH, WELL.

TAG.

YOU'RE IT.

BREAK'S OVER, SESAME STREET.

WELL, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I'M A LARGE BIRD.

WHO?

OH, OH, OH.

THAT WAS FUN.

TEXAS BARBECUE IS EXPANDING.

AS TEXAS MONTHLY'S BARBECUE EDITOR, I'VE SEE THAT LANDSCAPE CHANGE IN JUST ABOUT EVERY