>> Rich: IS OKLAHOMA MIXING OUT ON SPORT's BETTING?

>> IT'S THE SOLUTION TO ILLEGAL MARKET.

THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THAT OKLAHOMA HAS.

>> Rich: WOULD COULD BE DONE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OKLAHOMA?

>> THERE SIMPLY ISN'T ENOUGH HOUSE FOR LOW-INCOME AND EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT ARE BEING HIT THE HARDEST.

>> Rich: SEPTEMBER IS "SICKLE CELL" MONTH.

WE'LL LEARN ABOUT THE TREATMENTS.

>> MY LIFE REVOLVED AROUNDLE "SICKLE CELL."

>> THE CHEROKEE AND CHOCTAW CELEBRATE DIFFICULT TIMES.

>> WE KEPT ALIVE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CHEROKEE.

>> Rich: THOSE STORIES NEXT ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

HELLO, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

THE NFL KICKED OFF THE 104 SEASON ON THURSDAY NIGHT IN KANSAS CITY WITH THE CHIEF'S THINKING TO THREE-PEAT THE CHAMPIONS.

EXPERTS EXPERT $35 BILLION TO BE WAGERED ON NFL GAMES ALONE AND TWICE THAT AMOUNT WILL BE BET ILLEGAL.

IT'S ILLEGAL IN OKLAHOMA FOR NOW.

>> Steve: 20 YEARS AGO, THE STATE AGREED ON A COMPACT AND ALLOWED GAMING.

CRAFTS AND ROULETTE WERE ADDED BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SPORT's BETTING IN OKLAHOMA, IT'S STUCK IN QUICKSAND.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THINK SPORT's BETTING WILL BE LEGAL IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS IN OKLAHOMA?

>> Steve: MATTHEW MORGAN IS CHAIRMAN AND RECENTLY AT THE ANNUAL GAMING CONVENTION AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, MORGAN HOSTED A SPORT's BETTING ROUNDTABLE WITH A TRIO OF THE SPORT's BETTING LANDSCAPE.

JONATHAN EDSON IS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH NEW YORK-BOSSED FAN DUAL OFFERING ONLINE SPORT's BETTING THAT'S LEGAL IN ABOUT 20 STATES.

>> WHEN YOU DO MOVE A STATE FROM ILLEGAL TO LEGAL, YOU KNOW, YOU DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING OFF OF THE BLACK MARKET.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT GOOGLE SEARCH TRENDS FOR COMPANIES THAT OPERATE IN THE LEGAL MARKET.

AS SOON AS FAN DUAL LAUNCHES, IT'S LEGAL AND YOU HAVE LEGITIMATE OPERATORS, THE SEARCH FOR THOSE ILLEGAL COMPANIES FALLS OFF A CLIFF.

SO THE LEGAL MARKET REALLY IS THE SOLUTION TO ILLEGAL MARKET.

>> Rich: BUT IN OKLAHOMA, SPORT's BETTING IS STILL ILLEGAL.

38 STATES NOW ALLOW SPORT's BETTING AND 12 INCLUDING OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, MISSOURI AND MINNESOTA STILL DON'T ALLOW IT.

EVEN THOUGH STATES THAT BORDER OKLAHOMA LIKE KANSAS AND ARKANSAS DO.

MATT MORGAN TOLD ME LAST WEEK SPORT's BETTING IS STILL ILLEGAL HERE BECAUSE GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT NEVER FORMALLY NEGOTIATED WITH THE TRIBES ON A NEW GAMING COMPACT.

BUT MORGAN SAYS INFORMALLY, STITT INDICATED HE WANTS TO BRING IN OUT-OF-STATE BETTING OPERATORS WHICH IS A NONSTARTING BETTER FOR THE TRIBES.

SPORT's BETTING OPERATORS WORK ON NARROW MARGINS AND RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE FOR THEM TO DO IT HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE SEE ALL THE MONEY THAT PEOPLE BET ON BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, A GOOD OPERATOR MAKES THREE TO FOUR CENTS THEY SEE COME IN.

>> IN SPORT's BETTING?

>> IN SPORT's BETTING.

>> Steve: THE TRIBES GIVE THE STATE 4% TO 6% TO THE TRIBING AND ANOTHER 10% TO CARD GAMES AND HAVE ALREADY GIVEN THE STATE $210 MILLION IN 2024 AND THEY GAVE STATE EDUCATION $201 MILLION IN 2023.

HE SAYS $2.2 BILLION, THAT'S BILLION WITH A "B" HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE STATE SINCE THE FIRST COMPACT AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN 2004.

MORGAN SAYS IF THE TRIBES COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE, SPORT's BETTING OPERATIONS INSIDE OKLAHOMA CASINOS WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING IN SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS.

THE SOONER STATE IS MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY CONSIDERING SPORT's BETTING IS STILL ILLEGAL IN TEXAS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THAT OKLAHOMA HAS.

WHEN YOU ARE NEXT TO A HIGH POPULATION STATE THAT'S NOT LEGAL AND YOU ARE LEGAL, YOU WILL SEE CROSS-BORDER PLAY.

WE SAW THAT IN NEW JERSEY AND WE SEE IT TODAY IN IOWA, WHICH BORDERS ON MINNESOTA.

>> THERE'S A G-LOCATION SERVICE THAT CAN TRACK SOME OF THAT.

>> Steve: PATRICK TARNAY SAYS PEOPLE ALL OVER THE U.S.

ALREADY LEGALLY AND ILLEGALLY BET ON SPORTS USING THEIR PHONES.

>> TYPICALLY IT'S MAKING YOUR BET FROM THE COUCH IS A LOT EASIER THAN DRIVING TO A CASINO.

WE SEE PEOPLE DOWNLOAD THE APP, REGISTER AND BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING FROM THEIR HOME.

SO YES, USUALLY A MUCH BIGGER APPETITE FOR PEOPLE BETTING ON THEIR PHONES THAN RETAIL.

>> Steve: I REACHED OUT TO THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST, A NATIONAL OFFICER IN NASHVILLE REFERRED ME TO TO OKLAHOMA MINISTERS WHO HAVEN'T RESPONDED.

HOWEVER, THIS PAST TUESDAY, I DID SPEAK TO DR. WILEY HARWELL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION ON PROBLEM GAMING IN NORMAN.

>> OK, WE DO MANY, MANY THINGS.

WE RUN THE 24-HOUR HELP LINE THAT'S ENTERED IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> Steve: THE STUDY TWO YEARS AGO SHOWED MORE THAN 6% OF ADULTS IN OKLAHOMA HAVE SOME SORT OF GAMBLING DISORDER WHICH MAKES SENSE, HE SAYS, BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE NATIVE AMERICAN CASINOS HERE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

>> YOU KNOW, 60% OF OUR CALLS TO THE HELP LINE SAID THEY GOT THE NUMBER FROM THE CASINO.

>> Steve: HARWEL SAYS SPORT's BETTING IS ALREADY HERE.

>> UTAH PROBABLY NOT BUT IT WILL BE LEGAL EVERYWHERE AND IT'S AVAILABLE NOW.

YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW THE RIGHT SITES TO GO TO AND YOU CAN BET AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

>> Steve: IS THAT A BAD THING?

>> NEVER WOULD SAY IT'S A BAD THING.

LEGALIZED FORMS OF GAMBLING, THINK ABOUT IT, FOR A HUGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION, FOR 70% OF PEOPLE COULD BE A FORM OF RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT.

IT'S THE RISK GROUPS THAT MADE HAD OTHER ADDICTIONS, HIGH DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR DISORDER, THAT WHEN THEY GET INVOLVED THEY'RE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP A PROBLEM.

>> Steve: I REACHED OUT LAST THURSDAY TO GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT's OFFICE ABOUT WHERE SPORT's BETTING IN OKLAHOMA STANDS AND NO ONE FROM THE GOVERNOR's OFFICE RESPONDED.

BY THE WAY WANT THAT HELP LINE IS 1-800.

GAMBLER.

>>> THE CHEROKEE NATION CELEBRATED THE 77th HOLIDAY NATION LAST WEEK AND THE THEME OF THIS YEAR's HOLIDAY WAS "WEAVING OUR FUTURE."

IT INCLUDED A STATE-THE-THE NATION ADDRESS FROM CHIEF HOSKIN, JR. >> ALL OF THIS MEANS THE CHEROKEES COMING UP CAN BE A GENERATION OF CHEROKEES TO SEIZE THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES OF THIS GREAT CHEROKEE CENTURY THAN ANY GENERATION BEFORE IT.

[APPLAUSE].

>> IT MEANS THAT CHEROKEES LIVING IN THEIR TWILIGHT CAN LIVE WITH GREATER SECURITY AND GREATER DIGNITY AND FOR ALL OF US, IT MEANS THAT OUR CHEROKEE COMMUNITIES KEEP IMPROVING.

THE STATE OF OUR NATION IS STRONG, BUT WE CANNOT REST.

>> Rich: THIS IS THE CHEROKEE CONSTITUTION BACK IN 1939.

AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CHOCTAW NATION GATHERED FOR THEIR ANNUAL LABOR DAY FESTIVAL IN TUSKAHOMA.

THE TRADITION DATES BACK TO 1969 AND BRINGS CITIZENS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO THE CHOCTAW HEADQUARTERS NEAR DURANT.

THERE WAS A STATE-THE-THE NATION ADDRESS FROM THEIR CHIEF, GARY BATTON.

>> WE WORK TO ENSURE TRAVEL ENTS HAVE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THEY CAN WORK ON ACHIEVING THEIR OTHER GOALS.

WE SET OUT TO COMPLETE 600 NEW HOUSING UNITS BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR '25 AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR '24, WE WILL BE OVER HALFWAY THERE.

WHEN WE COMPLETE OUR GOAL NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE BUILT OVER 1300 TOTAL HOMES ACROSS THE RESERVATION.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.

>> Rich: BATTON IS THE 47 ALSO CHIEF OF THE CHOCTAW NATION.

>>> THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1894 TO RECOGNIZE THE AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT.

130 YEARS LATER, LABOR UNIONS ARE ENJOYING A REINTELLIGENCER RESURGENCE IN THEUNITED STATES.

THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO APPROVE OF UNIONS HAS CLIMBED IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

THAT'S THE FOCUS WITH CASSIDY MUDD.

>> INFLATION, COVID COMING OUT, BUT THE PROFITS THAT THE CORPORATIONS HAVE GENERALITIED D THE STAGNATE WAGES THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ONLY WANTING BETTER WAGES BUT THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT ON THE WORK SITE.

THAT'S PART OF IT.

>> WE STARTED FIGHTING FOR WHAT WE BELIEVED IN BACK IN THE 1880's.

SO IT TOOK 35 OR 40 YEARSLE 40 YEARS OFSTRUGGLE.

THE RIGHT-TO-WORK CAME IN AND NOW WE'RE ON THE REBOUND AND COMING BACK STRONG.

>> Rich: THAT'S COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>>> SEPTEMBER IS "SICKLE CELL" DEASE AWARENESS MONTH, SCD AFFECTS MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND 20 MILLION WORLD-WIDE AND MOST, BUT NOT ALL ARE BLACK.

THIS WEEK WE EXPLORE NEW TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR IN LIFE-LONG DISEASE WITH TAELYR JACKSON.

>> IN THE 1970's LIFE EXPECTANCY WITH A PERSON WITH "SICKLE CELL" WAS 14 YEARS AND SOME ARE LIVING WELL INTO THEIR 70s OR CURED ALL TOGETHER.

>> I WOULD SAY IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

>> 19-YEAR-OLD TAMERON DIDN'T HAVE A TYPICAL CHILDHOOD.

>> MY FRIEND SAID, I HAVE A FEVER AND OH, MY GOSH, DID YOU HAVE GO TO THE ER?

NO, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I HAVE TO GO TO THE REALIZE BECAUSE I HAVE "SICKLE CELL."

MY CHILDHOOD WAS FULL OF ME REALIZING THAT I WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER KIDS.

>> SICKLE CELL IS CAUSED BY A GENETIC MUTATION IN THE HEMOGLOBIN.

CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF LOW OXYGENS OR OTHER STRESS, THOSE RED BLOOD CELLS COME IN THE SHAPE OF A SICKLE.

WHEREAS, NORMAL IS ROUND.

>> IT APPEARS ONE IN EVERY 13 AFRICAN-AMERICAN BIRTHS.

THOSE LIVING WITH "SICKLE CELL" EXPERIENCE CHRONIC PAIN AND KIDNEY ISSUES.

>> I HAD TERRIBLE PAIN ALL OVER MY BODY FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE.

ONE TIME IT GOT SO BAD THAT I DIDN'T WALK FOR A MONTH BECAUSE IT WAS IN MY THIGHS AND HURT REALLY BAD.

I WOULD SAY PAIN WAS A HUGE PART OF MY CHILDHOOD AND FATIGUE.

I GOT TIRED EASILY.

IF I WAS TOO HOT, IT WOULD START A PAIN CRISIS AND TOO COLD, A PAIN CRISIS.

MY ENTIRE LIFE REVOLVED AROUND "SICKLE CELL" AND DEALING WITH THE PAIN.

>> THE PAIN OFTEN PREVENTED HER FROM REGULAR ACTIVITIES LIKE PLAYING IN THE SNOW.

>> I COULDN'T BECAUSE IT WAS SO COLD OUTSIDE.

MY ONE WISH WHEN IT'S SNOWING, YOU KNOW IT DOESN'T SNOW A LOT IN OKLAHOMA, I WANTED A SNOWBALL FIGHT AND MAKE A SNOWMAN AND I COULD NEVER DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO COLD.

>> THESE RED BLOOD CELLS THAT CHANGE SHAPE GET STUCK IN THE SMALL BLOOD VESSELS CALLING THAT VASOECLESIAN.

MOSTLY PAIN SUCH AS STROKES, INFECTIONS, BECAUSE THE SPLEEN FIGHTS INFECTIONS AND GETS DAMAGED BY SICKLE CELL DISEASE, AS WELL.

>> DR. BAKER IS A PROFESSOR AT OU HEALTH AND SAYS THIS DISEASE IS USUALLY DETECTED AFTER BIRTH.

>> IN THE UNITED STATES, ALL BABIES THAT ARE BORN HAVE SCREENINGS THAT CAN DETECT SOWING.

SICKLE CELL.

>> ACCORDING TO THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, NEWBORN SCREENING IS A STATE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM THAT REACHES BABIES IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR.

THE SCREENING IS MADE UP OF THREE PARTS INCLUDING BLOOD SPOT SCREEN, THE HEARING SCREEN AND THE PULSE OXI SCREEN.

THERE'S ARE MULTIPLE TYPES OF "SICKLE CELL."

>> THE MOST COMMON ONE, IT'S A TRAIT FROM EACH PARENT.

YOU CAN HAVE OTHER FORMS WHERE YOU INHERIT THE TRAIT FROM ONE PARENT AND A DIFFERENT TRAIT FROM THE OTHER PARENT AND THAT IN COMBINATION CAUSES A TYPE OF SICKLE CELL.

>> THERE ARE MANY TREATMENTS AVAILABLE.

>> WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE SICKLE CELL CLINIC HERE AND PRIMARILY, WE'RE LOOKING AT SUPPORTIVE CARE WHICH IS MANAGEMENT OF PAIN.

ALSO ANTIBIOTICS AND THERE ARE MORE THERAPIES EVEN FIVE OR TEN YEARS AGO.

HYDROXIARIA HELPED TO MODIFY SICKLE CELL AND WE HAVE A FEW MORE NOW, LIKE OXBRIDA ARE NEWER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PATIENTS.

>> I DID A LOT OF BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, A LOT OF ER VISITS, A LOT OF PAIN MEDICINE.

>> THE ULTIMATE CURE IS A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT.

>> THE ONLY CURE IS TO RELAYS ONE WITH THAT DOESN'T HAVE SICKLE CELL.

WE WERE LIMITED AND THE PATIENTS THAT DID BEST WERE PATIENTS THAT HAD A SIBLING WHO MATCHED THEIR HLA BECAUSE THERE WAS LESS RISK OF A TRANSPLANT.

WITH SCIENCE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE OTHER PEOPLE AS DONORS WITH BETTER OUTCOMES, LIKE UNRELATED PEOPLE OR A PARENT CAN BE A DONOR FOR BONE MARROW TRANS PLANTSES.

TRANSPLANTS.

THERE WAS GENE THERAPY AND THAT IS THE UPCOMING THEME AS AN OPTION FOR CURE.

THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT.

>> SHE WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT AT 11 AND ONE OF THE FIRST PARENT-TO-KID IN THE STATE.

>> I STILL WAKE UP AND THINK, DAMN, I'M NOT HURTING?

I CAN DO ALL THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO.

I CAN GO SKATING OR RUN OUTSIDE OR STUFF LIKE THAT.

MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.

>> SHE SAYS SHE'S TRULY GRATEFUL FOR HER PARENT's SUPPORT.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH WITHOUT THEM.

ALL THE LATE NIGHTS BECAUSE I'M HAVING A PAIN CRISIS AND ALL OF THE ER VISITS, 30 DAYS AT A TIME AT THE HOSPITAL.

I NEVER FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORT AND I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER KIDS DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL.

>> KAMRYN IS PAIN FREE AND PUR PURSUING HER CAREER AS A LAWYER.

>> Rich: THERE'S AN ACUTE NEED FOR HOUSING WHICH IS A DWELLING THAT REQUIRES THE OCCUPANTS PLAYING NO MORE THAN 30% OF TEAR GROSS INCOME INCLUDING UTILITIES.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US TO TELL US WHAT'S BEING DONE TO IMPROVE THAT SITUATION.

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO OKLAHOMA SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MORE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE PURCHASING HOMES.

>> THEY SAY OKLAHOMA LACKS AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT NOW.

>> IF YOU'RE IN THE PRICE POINT OF UNDER 250,000, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A STRUGGLE.

I CAN FIND THEM, BUT REALLY 200 AND BELOW IS EVEN WORSE.

WE HAVE ZERO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT'S CRAZY!

>> ACCORDING TO ROOM BY THE LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION, OKLAHOMA NEEDS THOSE WITH LOW INCOME AND 25% FALL INTO CATEGORY AND MANY OF THOSE WHO FIT IN THE CATEGORY ARE THE WORKING POOR, DISABLED OR SENIOR CITIZENS.

>> THERE'S A HUGE GAP BETWEEN HOUSING WAGES AND HOUSING COSTS.

THAT'S CAUSING PEOPLE TO YOU YOU HAVINGLE.

YOU STRUGGLE.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FOR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME FAMILIES THAT ARE HIT THE HARDEST.

>> SABINA BROWN RESEARCHERS OKLAHOMA's HOUSING AND SAYS THAT IT'S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO PUT A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS.

>> CURRENTLY TO COMFORTABLY AFFORD A TWO-BEDROOM RENTAL IN OKLAHOMA, YOU NEED TO MAKE ABOUT $19.91.

SO IF YOU'RE WORKING A MINIMUM WAGE JOB, THAT'S ABOUT 88 HOURS PER WEEK JUST TO AFFORD A ONE-BEDROOM AND 110 HOURS A WEEK TO AFFORD A TWO BEDROOM.

>> FINDING A STARTER HOME FOR A PERSON IN OKLAHOMA READY TO BUY IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUY.

>> FIRST HOUSE I BOUGHT FOR 68,000 WAS, LIKE, YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO SEE THAT.

100K, IT'S DELAPIDATED AND IN NEED OF REPAIR.

>> THE STARTS PRICE POINT IS MUCH HIGHER THESE DAYS.

>> MY BEGINNER STARTING HOME FOR YOUNG FOLKS IS 300K.

>> JESSICA IS TRYING TO BUY A HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE OKLAHOMA AREA.

>> I CURRENTLY LIVE IN A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH MY ALMOST 2-YEAR-OLD DOG AND SHE NEEDS SPACE TO RUN AROUND.

AND I FIGURED MY CAREER HERE IS GOOD SO I MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD AND GO FORWARD WITH GETTING HOUSE.

>> SHE WAS NOT EXPECTING THE KINDS OF PRICES WHEN SHE BEGAN SHOPPING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE.

>> YOU ARE HAVING TO FIGHT FOR HOUSING BECAUSE HOUSING THAT POP UP ON THE MARKET THAT ARE A REALLY GOOD PRICE FOR THE TYPE OF HOW'S IT IS AND PEOPLE ARE JUMPING ON THAT REALLY, REALLY FAST.

>> SHE'S GLAD THERE ARE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HELP NEW HOME BUYERS.

>> I HAVE THE FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER's ASSISTANT.

I GOT A LOAN OF $150,000 FROM THEM.

>> CENTRAL OKLAHOMA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS WELL-KNOWN OF TACKLING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY DEVELOPING NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS ONE IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> CORNERSTONE CREEK AND THE MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT EVER.

WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS AGO.

IT WAS LIKE 2.3 MILLION TO BUY THE PROPERTY.

WE RAISED THE MONEY FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND NOW WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING IT.

>> CORNERSTONE CREEK WILL BE DEVELOPED IN A COUPLE OF STAGES AND MOVE IN FAMILIES WHEN THE HOUSES ARE COMPLETED.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE WILL BE 450 HOUSES THERE.

>> HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HELPS PEOPLE WITH LIMITED INCOMES GET IN THESE HOMES AND IF THEY QUALIFY, THE OWNERS HAVE TO PUT IN 100 HOURS OF WORK.

>> THERE'S A GREAT NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT NEED ONE HOUSE AT A TIME, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.

>> REALTOR BOW SAYS WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATES, IT'S HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE ON A HOME.

>> IT'S HARDER AND RENTALS ARE GOING CRAZY.

YOU JUST KEEP MORE AND MORE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE HOPES.

>> ALSO PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA ARE COMPETING AGAINST HOME BUYERS FROM OTHER STATES.

>> WHAT HAPPENS, SOMEBODY COMES IN FROM CALIFORNIA AND OH, MY GOSH, THIS IS 250, 300,000, NOT A PROBLEM AND THEY'RE BUYING THEM.

>> SOME OF HER CLIENTS WHO WANTED TO SELL A HOME ARE LEASING THEM OUT.

>> CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL APPLY FOR A RENTAL PROPERTY.

WE'VE SEEN SOMETHING FOR 1800 NEAR THE PLAZA AND I PROBABLY HAD TEN OR 15 APPLICANTS IN THE FIRST WEEK.

IT'S INSANE!

THAT'S 1800 A MONTH.

>> WE'RE SEEING FOLKS LIKE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND DAYCARE WORKERS AND TEACHERS ASSISTANTS THAT DON'T MAKE ENOUGH TO COVER A MODEST RENTAL HOME.

>> THE LEGISLATURE TRIED TO HELP WITH A $215 MILLION PROGRAM TO DEVELOP WORKFORCE HOUSING BUT SAYS MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TACKLE THE SHORTAGE.

>> TO FILL A GAP THIS SIZE, WE NEED TO SEE MORE INVESTMENTS STARTED TO HOUSING FOR OUR LOWEST INCOME FAMILIES THAT WE KNOW ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST.

THE OTHER SOLUTION THAT LAWMAKERS COULD LOOK AT IS UPDATING OUR ZONING LAWS.

BROWN SAYS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE DWELLINGS LIKE GARAGE APARTMENTS OR A MOTHER-IN-LAW SUITE IN THE BACKYARD.

IT'S SOMETHING BOW SUPPORTS.

>> I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO BATTLE OUR AFFORDABILITY IS TO ALLOW SOMEBODY TO PUT YOUR GRANDMOTHER OR SISTER OR WHOEVER IN THE BACKYARD, IF THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL UNIT.

>> CENTRAL OKLAHOMA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WILL HAND THE KEYS OVER TO ITS FIRST OFFICIAL RESIDENT OF THE CORNER CREEK RESIDENT NEXT WEEK.

>> Rich: A GREAT OF THE A RAT RACE DOWN THE RIVER IN FIVE RAFT REFER.

THERE WAS A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE K LIGHTS UP AT NIGHT.

THE WHITE-WATER PLUME HAD TO BE SHOOT DOWN.

>>> A PIPELINE CAPABILITY AND THAT TOPS THE BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> THIS DEAL IS WORTH 5 UPPER 5R $5.9 MILLION.

THEY WILL PAY TO OBTAIN THAT COMPANY's ENTIRE ELISABETH ENLI.

ENERGY WILL PROVIDE CHILLED WATER AND STEAM SERVICE TO A NEW MEDICAL CAMPUS.

THE IDEA IS TO USE THE STEAMED AND CHILLED WATER FOR SPACE HEATING AND COOLING, DOMESTIC HOT WATER AND STEAM HUMIDIFICATION.

BY GOING THIS ROUTE, THEY REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS ON THEIR CAMPUS.

>>> TO HELP PAY FOR ACQUISITIONS, THE COMPANY PLANS TO OFFER 7.9 MILLION COMMON UNITS WHICH ARE LIKE STOCK SHARES IN THE PUBLIC OFFERING.

MOCK WILL ALLOW UNDERWRITERS TO PURCHASE 1.2 MILLION COMMON UNITS AT THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE.

THE COMPANY WANTS TO USE THIS MONEY TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASES OF OIL AND GAS ASSETS OF KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED SANDRIDGE ENERGY CLOSED ITS DEAL TO LEASE HOLE INTERESTS IN THE CHEROKEE PLACE OF THE BASIN AND WORTH $144 MILLION.

THE MOVE WILL ALLOW SANDRIDGE TO PRODUCE MORE OIL AND GAS THIS YEAR.

JASON DOYLE, "THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW."

>> Rich: 16.2% OF AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTED BY A UNION AND HOW POPULAR ARE UNIONS IN OKLAHOMA WHICH IS A RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE?

THAT'S THE TOPIC WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD AND HER GUESTS.

>> WE HAVE JIMMY CURRY AND CURTIS CHAMBERS OF THE BUILDING TRADE UNIONS.

JIMMY, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

HOW DOES THE RESURGENCE COMPARE TO THE SITUATION IN OKLAHOMA?

ARE WE SEEING A SIMILAR SITUATION?

>> DEFINITELY.

I WAS ON A PICKET LINE FOR THE APPLE WORKERS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR FIRST CONTRACT WITH THE CW COMMUNICATION WORKERS AND WE'RE SEEING IT HERE, TOO.

>> WE'RE SEEING IT HERE, AS WELL.

CURTIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ALL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE JUST BUSTING WIDE OPEN.

>> WHY DO WE THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT CHANGE?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

I MEAN, INFLATION, COVID COMING OUT, BUT THE PROFITS THAT THE CORPORATIONS HAVE GENERATED AND THE STAGNANT WAGES THAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT ON THE WORK SITE.

>> WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO JOIN A UNION?

>> WELL, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YOU PAY A LITTLE BIT IN DUE's MONEY, THE BENEFITS YOU GET WITH THAT HEALTH INSURANCE AND YOUR PENSION PLAN IS JUST ENORMOUS.

YOU KNOW, IT OFTEN RATES ABOUT $18 AN HOUR ON YOUR HOURLY WAGE.

YOU GET THAT WHEN YOU WORK AND WORK FOR 30 YEARS AND AT THE END OF 30 YEAR, YOU RETIRE INTO DIGNITY BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD CHECK AT THE END.

NOW YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PENSION BUT THEY CARE ABOUT THAT HOURLY WAGE.

>> AS THEY GET OLDER, THEY'LL START PAYING MORE INTO THAT PENSION PLAN.

CURTIS, HOW COULD YOU SAY THE STATE OF THE UNION IN OKLAHOMA HAS CHANGED SENSE THE BEGINNINGS SO, SO LONG AGO.

TELL ME ABOUT THE HISTORY.

>> SO, SO LONG AGO, UNIONS WERE RAISED UP AND OKLAHOMA THROUGH THE TURN OF THE CENTURY INTO THE OF THE NUMBER ONE UNION STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE STARTED FIGHTING AND DYING FOR WHAT WE BELIEVED IT IN THE 1880s BY THE TIME 1934 ROLLED AROUND, WE GOT THE EIGHT-HOWEVER WORK DAY.

SO IT TOOK 35 OR 40 YEARS OF STRUGGLE TO GET AN EIGHT-HOUR WORKDAY FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND OKLAHOMA WENT TO A CHANGE AND NOW WE'RE ON THE REBOUND.

>> JIMMY, THE RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW.

>> I WAS PRESIDENT WHEN THAT PASSED IN 2001 AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT DOES.

IT MAKES US -- WE'RE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW TO REPRESENT ALL WORKERS WHETHER THEY PAY DUES OR NOT.

SO IT DID HURT US FOR AWHILE AND OVERCAME IT AND GOT PASSED IT.

SO WE'RE DEALING WITH IT, BUT THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO AND THE AFL REPRESENTS 220 LOCAL UNIONS IN THE STATE AND OVER 100,000 MEMBER, BUT IF OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE CALL FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO ORGANIZE AND 90% IT'S NOT OVER WAGES.

IT'S OVER WORKING CONDITIONS, SAFETY, RESPECT AND HOW THEY'RE TREATED ON THE JOB.

>> THERE WERE YEARS OF BRAINWASHING ABOUT NEGATIVITY TO UNIONS TO WHERE THEY WOULD GET IN A UNION AND GET ALL OF THE BENEFITS OF THE REGULAR UNION MEMBERS BUT DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANY DUES.

SO THEY GOT ALL OF THE BENEFITS FOR FREE.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY GO OVER TOO WELL IN THE WORKFORCE.

>> WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING IN A UNION?

LAY THAT OUT.

>> WHEN WE SAY HEALTH AND WELFARE, THAT MEANS HEALTH INSURANCE.

SO MOST OF THE CONTRACTORS PAY AT LEAST $5 AN HOUR AND SOME OF THEM MORE THAN THAT.

FOR ACADILLAC INSURANCE PLAN THS SECOND TO NONE AND COVERS ALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.

IT'S BASICALLY FREE TO THE MEMBER.

SO IF YOU HAVE FOUR KIDS, ONE KID OR A KID WITH DOWN SYNDROME OR SPECIAL NEEDS, IT COVERS THEM 100% MINUS A SMALL DEDUCTIBLE.

>> OTHER THAN INSURANCE, JIMMY, WHAT ARE THE OTHER BENEFITS?

>> OKLAHOMANS IS AN EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL STATE WHICH MEANS YOUR EMPLOYER CAN FIRE YOU FOR ANY REASON OR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

IN A UNION, YOU HAVE CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS AND HAVE TO HAVE JUST CAUGHT FOR YOU TO BE TERMINATED.

THAT'S HUGE!

I GET CALLS AT OUR OFFICE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TERMINATED AND WHAT CAN I DO?

QUITE HONESTLY, UNLESS YOU HAVE A UNION CONTRACT IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, YOU HAVE NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

>> SO IF YOU HAD A UNION CONTRACT, NO MATTER WHERE YOU WORKED, IF YOU WERE FIRED, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> YOU COULD FILE A GRIEVANCE, GO TO AN ARBITRATOR LEAK A JUDGA JUDGE.

SO IN A UNION WORKPLACE, YOU HAVE RIGHTS AND YOU HAVE THE CONTRACT AND BOTH YOU AND THE EMPLOYER HAVE RULES THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW.

UNLIKE IN THE NORMAL PRIVATE SECTOR ONE HAVE NONE OF THOSE RIGHTS.

>> CURTIS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRAIGHTS UNIONS ARE OVERCOMINGO OVERCOME OBSTACLES?

>> POLITICS.

TRYING TO FIND UNION LABOR-FRIENDLY AND WORKING-FOLK FRIENDLY.

WE WANT TO FIND CANDIDATES THAT ARE GOING TO WORK FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND SUPPORT THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

>> WHERE ARE THE INDUSTRIES WHERE THIS IS ACTIVE?

>> AEROSPACE.

I CAME OUT OF AMERICAN AIRLINES IN TULSA, THE LARGEST MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN THE WORLD.

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE AND YOU ALSO HAVE McALLISTER AMMUNITION DEPOT.

THE SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS IN TULSA.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WE HAVE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES THAT ARE YOUR LETTER CARRIERS AND THE VA HOSPITAL, THE FEDERAL PRISON, UPS DRIVERS OR TEAMSTERS.

AND THE ONE I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, THERE'S THREE GLASS PLANTS.

IF YOU DRINK BUDWEISER BEER BOTTLE, IT'S UNION MADE IN HEN N RIETTA, OKLAHOMA.

>> WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, BUT WHY ARE UNIONS IMPORTANT TO THESE INDUSTRIES, SPECIFICALLY?

>> BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FINEST TRAINED WORKFORCE IN THE WORLD.

WE HAVE THE BEST APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND THIS IS WORTH A LOT TO AN EMPLOYER.

>> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET INVOLVED WITH THOSE PROGRAMS?

DO YOU NEED ANY PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING?

>> YOU GET RIGHT INVOLVED.

A LOT IS FAMILY AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS TELL THE YOUNGER FAMILY MEMBERS AND COUSINS AND THEE GROWN UP IN IT.

OTHERWISE, PEOPLE GET THE WORD OUT AND HOW COME YOU MAKE SO MUCH?

WELL, I'M WORK FOR A CONTRACTOR THAT BELONGS TO A UNION.

WELL, THEY FIGURE OUT THAT THEY CAN GO TO A UNION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND GET FOUR YEARS OR MORE OF TRAINING AT NO COST TO THEMSELVES.

AND THE EMPLOYER PAYS IT ALL AND IT'S A JOINT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY SCRUTINIZED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ACCREDITS THE PROGRAM TO WHERE IT'S A REAL DEAL.

WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, YOU'RE A LICENSED JOURNEYMAN.

>> WHY WOULD YOU SAY SOME PEOPLE ARE HESITANT ABOUT UNIONS?

>> THE OLD JIMMY HOFFA THING, WE TAKE YOUR MONEY AND DON'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING IN RETURN WHICH IS SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH.

MY DAD WAS A UNION MEMBER.

I AM AND TWO OUT OF MY KIDS ARE IN THE UNION.

SO IT'S JUST -- YOU HAVE A SET OF RULES AND IF YOU'VE WORKED NONUNION AGAIN, YOU COULD BE FIRED OR ANY OR NO REASON.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A SET OF RULES BOTH YOU AND THE EMPLOYER HAVE TO FOLLOW, IT MAKES LIFE EASIER.

IF IT'S AN UNSAFE WORK CONDITION, YOU CAN TELL THE BOSS, HEY, I WON'T DO THAT AND YOUR UNION IS THERE TO BACK YOU UP.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS TO IT.

>> CURTIS, GOING OFF OF WHAT JIMMY SAID, TELL US ABOUT PUBLIC PERCEPTION.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE THINK THE WAY THEY DO?

>> THE SOUTH, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST UNIONS, PER SAY.

THAT'S WHERE THE RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW WAS PERCEIVED, DOWN IN TEXAS AND RIGHT-TO-WORK CAME ABOUT BECAUSE A BLACK MAN WAS HIRED BY THE COMPANY AND BELONGED TO A UNION.

AND THAT BLACK MAN WAS GOING TO MAKE EXACTLY THE SAME WAGE THAT THAT WHITE MAN WORKING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.

AND THERE'S SOME RICH WHITE GUYS THAT DIDN'T LIKE THAT.

SO THEY WROTE THIS LAW AND THEN THEY PERPETUATED AND THEY SPEND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO FIGHT UNIONS.

AND WHY IS THAT?

THERE'S A REASON WHY.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY THE WAIVES.

WAGES, THEY DONT TO PAY THE INSURANCE AND THEY DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE TO RETIRE INTO DIGNITY.

THEY WANT A DESPERATE WORKFORCE.

>> WHY?

>> FOR MONEY.

>> JIMMY, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS THAT OKLAHOMA UNIONS HAVE HAD ON THE STATE, ON WORKER's RIGHTS, PAY RAISES AND ALL OF IT?

>> WE HAD A PRESENCE AT THE STATE CAPITOL EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN AROUND.

I'M A REGISTERED LOBBYIST AND PLEASE DON'T TELL MY MAMA.

[ Laughter ] >> BUT WORKING AT THE CAPITOL AND OVER THE YEARS, WORKER's COMP, UNEMPLOYMENT, WE JUST DON'T LOBBY FOR UNION WORKERS BUT ALL WORKERS.

AND YOU CAN HEAR LIKE MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH WILL SOON BE ON THE BALLOT, THANK YOU.

THE CHAMBER WILL SAY THIS WON'T BE GOOD FOR WORKERS.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO PAYS.

I HAVE ONE PERSON, ONE BOSS AND THAT'S THE WORKERS.

THE CHAMBER IS PAID FOR BY BUSINESSES AND THAT'S A HUGE THING.

ALL THESE RIGHTS THAT WORKERS HAVE CAN BE TAKEN AWAY WITH PASSING A SIMPLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> JIMMY, WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN GET STARTED WITHIN YOUR PROGRAM?

>> WELL, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT VISIONS, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, PRIVATE, INDUSTRIAL AND THE BUILDING AND TRADES AND CURTIS BEING OUT OF THE BUILDING AND TRADES, THERE ARE 22 APPRENTICESHIP SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GED OR EQUIVALENT, DRIVER's LICENSE AND 18.

THE WEBSITE THAT CURTIS IS TALKING ABOUT, THESE SCHOOLS, TULSA, OKLAHOMA CITY, IN BETWEEN AND THEY GIVE YOU ALL WHO TO CALL AND HOW MUCH YOU WITH START AT.

MOST OF THEM ARE 50% TO 65% OF JOURNEYMAN WAGES.

THEY'RE DYING FOR PEOPLE.

MOST OF THE APPRENTICESHIP START BETWEEN $18 AND $22 AN HOUR.

THERE'S NO EXPERIENCE.

THE FREE SCHOOLING IS, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU GO TO WORK AND IF YOU'RE AN ELECTRICIAN AND YOU'RE A GOFER.

YOU GO TO THE SCHOOL AND GET YOUR ADVANCED CLASSROOM TRAINING BUT DOING HANDS-ON AND LEARNING WHILE YOU'RE EARNING.

IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

MY SON WENT THROUGH IT AND MY DAUGHTER IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH IT.

THAT'S HOW YOU CAN GET STARTED.

>> THEY GET A RAISE EVERY SIX MONTHS, NO MATTER WHAT, UNLESS THEY DON'T TURN IN THEIR WORK OR ABSENT FROM SCHOOL.

THEY CAN BE REMOVED QUICKLY IF THEY DON'T DO RIGHT.

SO THEY ONLY WANT THE BEST.

WE WANT THE BEST OF THE BEST.

BUT THEY GET A RAISE EVERY SIX MONTHS.

SO IF YOU START OFF MAKING A LIVING WAGE AND MAKE A DECENT WAGE.

>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR THE BOTH OF YOU.

CURTIS, HOW DO YOU SEE UNIONS EVOLVING IN OKLAHOMA OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS?

>> OUR APPRENTICESHIP PAPS ARE S ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS AND GETTING BETTER.

IT'S AN ECONOMIC BOOSTER FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO HAVE A WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE AND SHOULD BE ATTRACTIVE TO EVERY COMPANY THAT THESE ARE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED PEOPLE AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

SAFETY IS FIRST.

>> JIMMY, FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> OUR JOB AS UNION MEMBERS IS TO GET AS MUCH MONEY INTO OUR EMPLOYER's POCKETS AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S OUR JOB.

PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S DIFFERENT, BUT WE WANT OUR EMPLOYERS TO MAKES A MUCH PROFIT AS THEY CAN AND OUR JOB IS TO REACH IN OUR POCK TO SEE HOW MUCH TO GET OUT.

>> THAT'S ALL OF THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

>> Rich: GREAT CONVERSATION THERE.

IN THIS WEEK's "NATIONAL VIEW" WE HEAD TO St. LOUIS, MISSOURI ABOUT AN IMPROVE TEAM CALLED "SOME BLACK PEOPLE" AND THAT STORY IS COURTESY OF 9 PBS.

>> YOU'VE BEEN JEALOUS OF ME SINCE YOU WERE BORN.

>> I WAS IN LIKE A LEARNING ERA, TAKING A LOT OF DIFFERENT CLASSES AND USED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

I WAS TAKING A PHILOSOPHY CLASS AND I PASSED BY THIS BUILDING.

ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THERE'S A PAINTED SIGN THAT SAYS "CLASSES" AND I LOOK IT UP AND LOOKED WEIRD AND UNCOMFORTABLE AND I THOUGHT, I NEED THAT AND SIGNED UP.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING AND DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE THIS.

BUT IT EVENTUALLY BECAME SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO.

JUST LIKE EVERY TIME I WOULD COME TO CLASS ON SUNDAY NIGHTS, I WOULD LEAVE AND CAN'T WAIT TO DID THAT AGAIN.

IT WASN'T LIKE A BIG PICTURE THING.

BUT JUST, LIKE, I LIKE THAT AND WANT TO GO AGAIN.

AT LEVEL TWO OR THREE, WHEN I STARTED COMING TO SHOWS, I WAS INTO IT WANTED TO DO IT.

>> THE IMPROV SHOP, WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2009.

>> THERE WAS ONE OTHER BLACK WOMAN IN MY CLASS, BRITNEY, AND THAT WAS HELPFUL FOR ME AND I KNEW THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE I COULD 100% RELATE TO AND I FELT SAFE WAY.

BUT SHE STOPPED SIGNING UP FOR CLASSES.

IT WAS JUST ME AND OTHER WHITE PEOPLE.

>> IN CHICAGO, WHEN I WAS TAKING CLASSES, THIS WAS IN 2003, 2004, PREDOMINANTLY WHITE PEOPLE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO GET IT TO BE MORE DIVERSE.

THE MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE ON STAGE, THE MORE DIVERSE THE THOUGHTS AND THE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE PEOPLE IS GOING TO WEAVE A MORE INTERESTING FABRIC.

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GET TO GET INTO MORE INTERESTING AND POTENTIALLY DIFFICULT CONTENT, WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN SPEAK FROM THOSE EXPERIENCE PLACES.

>> I CAME TO A SHOW ONE NIGHT BY MYSELF AND ONE OF OUR OTHER TEAMMATES, CHARLES, WAS PLAYING.

I CAME TO SHOWS FOR AWHILE AND WAS WAITING TO SEE ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR ON ONE TEAM AND HADN'T SEEN IT.

WHAT I SAW WAS FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I WATCHED CHARLES PERFORM AND THAT'S THE FUNNIEST PERSON I'VE SEEN IN MY LIFE.

AND SOMETHING THAT CHARLES ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT ME IS I HAVE A LOT OF AUDACITY AND I WANT AND FOUND ERIN AND WE SHOULD MAKE A TEAM OF ALL BLACK PEOPLE, YOU ME, CHARLES AND WHOEVER ELSE.

AND THEN IT JUST WENT FROM THERE SLOWLY AND EXCITED EVERYONE THAT WE TALKED TO.

IT JUST TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

OTHER BLACK PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WERE, LIKE, YES, WE HAVE TO DO THAT AND MADE IT HAPPEN.

IT WAS VALIDATING AND EXCITING.

>> WE HAVE SOME BLACK PEOPLE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> I SPENT MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE DOING THIS.

AROUND 2015 IS WHEN I STARTED AND I WAS THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR IN ANY OF MY CLASSES.

THE CONVERSATION STARTED HAPPENING, LIKE, DIVERSITY OR THE LIFE THEREOF AND I GOT TOGETHER WITH FOLKS STARTED WORKING ON THE SCHOLARSHIP, JUST TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING AND WE HAD SOME TOWNHALLS WHERE WE WOULD COME TOGETHER AND DISCUSS HOW WE COULD MAKE THE SAFE SPACER AND A KINDER SPACE.

AND LIKE I TOLD THEM, I'M REAPING THE BENEFITS.

I WANTED TO BE ON AN ALL-BLACK TEAM AND IS FEW OF US AROUND THAT IT WASN'T TOTALLY FEASIBLE.

AND SO WHEN I GOT THE MESSAGE TO JOIN UP, IT WAS, LIKE, YEAH, OF COURSE.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS FOLLOWING ME?

WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS GOING IN FRONT OF ME?

[ Laughter ] >> I LIKE USING THE ANALOGY OF RUNNING IN A POOL AND GELLING OUT OF A POOL AND RUNNING.

IT'S EASIER.

NOT BECAUSE OF ANYONE IN THE SPACE BUT BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE IN AMERICA.

SOMETIMES AS A BLACK PERSON, YOU MODIFY YOURSELF IN WAYS WHEN YOU'RE ALONE.

I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS CERTAIN THINGS THAT I WASN'T BRINGING TO THE TABLE.

MY IMPROV, CERTAIN CULTURAL THINGS.

IT'S A LOT MORE FREEING AND YOU CAN BE YOUR FULL SELF.

IT FELT SO SAFE.

>> IT'S EASY TO BE MY WHOLE SELF THE WHOLE TIME WHICH I CONSAY BEFORE.

IT WOULD BE SUPPORTED.

LIKE A LIGHTNING ROD, RIGHT.

SOME BLACK PEOPLE CAN GO ON STAGE AND THEN THEY CAN HAVE HAVE BLACK PEOPLE DO A SHOW AND REALIZE, OH, THIS ISN'T JUST FOR WHITE PEOPLE.

THIS IS FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE.

IT'S A LIGHT FORM THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON PEOPLE THAT SHIED AWAY BECAUSE THE SPACE HAS BEEN SUCH A WHITE SPACE.

TO BE ABLE TO BREAK THAT TO ALLOW FOR MORE PEOPLE TO COME IN, IT'S A HUGE DEAL.

>> Rich: ON THE NEXT EDITION, PEOPLE LOSE THEIR AIR CONDITIONING AND YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHO COMES IN.

>> WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT OUR AWESOME OETA CREW IN ACTION LEAD BY BRANDON DOWNEY AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OETA.TV AND YOU CAN FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND X BY SEARCHING OETA ONR AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, SEARCH THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

ALL OF US PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON AIR.

I'M RICH LENZ AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

♪♪♪ >> I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT OETA WITH SUSAN KETO AND WE WANT