>> TAX RELIEF FOR ALL OKLAHOMANS WHO PURCHASE GROCERIES IS NOW THE LAW.

>> BY CUTTING THE STATE'S PORTION OF THE GROCERY TAX, WE'RE GOING TO BE DELIVERING ON REAL RELIEF FOR REAL OKLAHOMA FAMILIES.

>> TWO IN-DEPTH REPORTS ON THE DEADLY IMPACTS OF BULLYING.

>> TRAGIC.

WHENEVER YOU HEAR THE DEATH OF ANY CHILD, IT IS JUST HEARTBREAKING.

>> HE WOULDN'T WANT ME TO BE ANGRY.

HE WOULD WANT ME TO HELP FIX IT.

>> OU HEALTH STEPPING UP TO HELP UKRAINIAN DOCTORS CARE FOR THE CASUALTIES OF WAR.

>> OPPORTUNITIES FOR TREATMENT, NOT ONLY MILITARY GUYS, BUT THE CIVILIANS WHO WERE DAMAGED BY THE TERRORISTS.

>> AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH COMES TO AN END, PROGRESS IN VERNON, OKLAHOMA.

>> WELL, WE'RE ON THE WAY RIGHT NOW.

WE JUST GOT A $1.3 MILLION GRANT FOR FIXING THE ROADS.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR NEWSCAST THIS WEEK WITH THE SUBJECT OF BULLYING.

IT IS INSIDIOUS IN ALL ITS FORMS, AND WITH THE DEATH OF OWASSO TEENAGER NEX BENEDICT VERY MUCH IN THE NEWS, WE'LL BEGIN WITH TWO REPORTS: ONE ON NEX, AND ANOTHER ON A YOUNG MAN FROM MUSTANG WHO RECENTLY TOOK HIS LIFE AFTER BEING CYBER-BULLIED.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH THE LATEST FROM OWASSO.

JASON?

>> RICH, THE OWASSO COMMUNITY AND MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE ARE MOURNING NEX BENEDICT'S PASSING, SAYING THE LOSS OF A CHILD IN ANY COMMUNITY IS A TRAGEDY.

WHILE HOW THE TEENAGER DIED IS UNKNOWN RIGHT NOW, SOME BELIEVE BULLYING COULD HAVE LED TO NEX BENEDICT'S DEATH.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?

>> THAT'S NEX BENEDICT TALKING POLICE OFFICER CALEB THOMPSON.

NEX WAS IN THE HOSPITAL BEING CHECKED OUT AFTER A FIGHT WITH THREE GIRLS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL BATHROOM.

>> THEY WERE TALKING WITH THEIR FRIENDS, AND WE WERE LAUGHING, AND THEY HAD SAID SOMETHING LIKE, WHY DO THEY LAUGH LIKE THAT, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT US IN FRONT OF US.

AND SO I WENT I WENT UP THERE AND I POURED WATER ON THEM, AND THEN ALL THREE OF THEM CAME AT ME.

THE DEATH LED TO DOZENS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WALKING OUT.

THOSE STUDENTS HOPE TO DRAW MORE ATTENTION TO BULLYING WHICH IMPACTS YOUTH AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

ON THE DAY OF THE FIGHT, THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SHOWS THE GROUP OF STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED WITH THE FIGHT WALKING TO THE BATHROOM.

A FEW MOMENTS LATER, NEX FILLS THEIR WATER BOTTLE AT THE FOUNTAIN AND THEN GOES INTO THE BATHROOM.

WHEN NEWS OF THE FIGHT REACHED SCHOOL FACULTY, A TEACHER ENTERS THE BATHROOM AND THEN THE GROUP WALKS OUT ON THEIR OWN.

AFTER THINGS BROKE UP, NEX WAS IN THE NURSE'S OFFICE WHEN A SECURITY OFFICER ESCORTED THEM TO THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND THEN TAKEN HOME BY THEIR HOM.

HOME.

>> HI, BELINDA, THIS IS SUE BENEDICT.

I'VE GOT MY DAUGHTER AT THE HOSPITAL.

SHE'S A JUVENILE, AND SHE HAS BEEN ATTACKED AT SCHOOL, AND I NEED TO GET SOMEONE UP HERE SO I CAN FILE CHARGES.

>> THEY CAME AT ME.

THEY GRABBED MY HAIR.

I GRABBED ON THEM.

I THREW ONE OF THEM INTO A PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER, AND THEN THEY GOT MY LEGS OUT FROM UNDER ME AND GOT ME ON THE GROUND AND WAS BEATING THE [BLEEPING] OUT OF ME.

>> DURING THAT CONVERSATION WITH OFFICER THOMPSON, NEX'S MOM BELIEVES HER CHILD WAS BEING BULLIED.

>> SHE TOLD ME, SHE SAID, MOM, THE THREE GIRLS THERE ARE JUST -- THEY WON'T LEAVE ME [BLEEPING] ALONE.

THEY'RE MAKING COMMENTS.

THEY'RE CALLING US NAMES.

THEY'RE THROWING STUFF AT US.

WELL, WHO'S OVER THIS PLACE?

>> I SAID, IGNORE IT.

GET ABOVE IT.

JUST IGNORE IT.

>> IT WAS THE NEXT DAY, FEBRUARR CALLED 911 WHEN SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH NEX.

>> I NEED TO GET SOMEONE, AN AMBULANCE HERE QUICK PLEASE.

MY DAUGHTER -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING WRONG.

SHE'S POSTURING.

>> HOW OLD IS SHE?

>> SHE IS 16.

>> NEX WAS BREATHING ERRATICALLY AND NONRESPONSIVE.

>> I HAVE MEDICS ON THE WAY.

I WANT TO KNOW HOW HER BREATHING IS.

>> SHE'S BREATHING IN, BUT THEN SHE -- HER EYES, THEY OPEN BUT SHE'S DOING LIKE A HUH, LIKE A REALLY QUICK, AND HER HANDS ARE POSTURING ALREADY.

THEY'RE ROLLING IN.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FROM HER HEAD INJURY.

BECAUSE THE GIRLS THAT BEAT HER UP KNOCKED HER TO THE GROUND.

SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR.

>> IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER THAT, NX DIED.

>> TRAGIC.

WHENEVER YOU HEAR THE DEATH OF ANY CHILD.

IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING.

>> OKLAHOMA INSTITUTE FOR CHILD ADVOCACY CEO JOE DORMAN SAYS BULLYING IS ON THE RISE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE SEEING A RISE IN BULLYING ACROSS THE NATION, BUT ESPECIALLY HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

ABOUT 46% OF KIDS, TEENAGERS, REPORT THERE HAS BEEN SOME TYPE OF BULLYING.

>> NORMAN ADDS THAT IMPACT IS BIGGER AMONG LGBTQ TEENS.

>> THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY SEES ABOUT DOUBLE THE RATE OF WHAT YOU WOULD SEE ON AVERAGE TEENAGERS, SO IT'S AN INCREASE INTO THAT COMMUNITY.

>> THE NEWS OF THE TEEN'S DEATH WAS EVEN NOTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE LATE LAST WEEK.

>> OKAY.

SO I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME DEVASTATING NEWS OUT OF OKLAHOMA.

AS A PARENT, I WAS ABSOLUTELY HEARTBROKEN TO LEARN ABOUT NEX BENEDICT'S DEATH.

EVERY YOUNG PERSON DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED AT SCHOOL.

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH NEX BENEDICT'S FAMILY, FRIENDS, ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY IN THE WAKE OF THIS HORRIFIC AND GUT-WRENCHING TRAGEDY.

>> WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY NOTED THAT RESOURCES ARE DEDICATED TO THOSE EXPERIENCING BULLYING OR HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF AN LGBTQ YOUTH.

>> THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHED THE 988 LINE TO HELP, AND WE HAVE A LINE DEDICATED TO SERVING LGBTQ PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE THAT CAN BE REACHED BY DIALING 988 AND PRESSING 3.

>> THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S INITIAL REPORT INDICATES THAT BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF NEX BENEDICT'S DEATH.

TOXICOLOGY AND OTHER FINDINGS ARE PENDING.

RICH.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

THERE SEEMS LITTLE DOUBT THAT SOCIAL MEDIA HAS INCREASED THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF BULLYING.

IT'S INSTANTANEOUS, OFTEN ANONYMOUS, AND IT CAN LEAD TO DEADLY OUTCOMES.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH THE HEARTBREAKING STORY OF A YOUNG MAN FROM MUSTANG AND WHAT HIS MOTHER IS NOW DOING IN HIS MEMORY.

STEVE?

>> RICH, A MONTH AGO, A MUSTANG HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR, POPULAR WITH CLASSMATES, KILLED HIMSELF IN HIS PARENTS' HOME IN YUKON.

WHAT LED HIM TO THAT POINT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED.

IT HAD TO DO WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND IT'S NOT JUST HIS FAMILY THAT'S SAYING IT'S TIME FOR REAL CHANGE.

♪♪ >> WHEN HE WAS IN FOURTH GRADE, HIS FOURTH GRADE TEACHER, BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS SINGING IN CLASS WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STUDYING PROBABLY, SHE PUT HIM ON THE STAGE AT LUNCHTIME, AND HE WOULD SING TO THE ENTIRE FOURTH GRADE CLASS.

>> MISTY TURNER SAYS HER SON, JOT TURNER, WAS A KIND OF KID OTHER KIDS WANTED TO BE AROUND.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

DO THE -- OH, YEAH.

>> ALL SEEMED RIGHT IN JOT'S WORLD.

>> HE WANTED TO BE A HISTORY TEACHER WHILE HE WORKED ON HIS MASTER'S DEGREE TO BE A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST.

>> SO HE WAS ACTUALLY A SERIOUS STUDENT?

>> YES, VERY GOOD STUDENT.

I SPOKE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO JUST TO DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MY OWN PEACE OF MIND TO SEE IF HE HAD ANY KIND OF BEHAVIORAL REFERRALS OR TARDIES OR ANYTHING THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT, AND HE DIDN'T.

>> JOT TURNER EXCELLED IN SCHOOL.

HE PLAYED PERCUSSION AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS IN MUSTANG'S MARCHING, JAZZ AND CONCERT BAND.

AFTER JOT'S DEATH, MISTY SAYS SEVERAL CLASSMATES TOLD HER HER SON ROUTINELY HELPED THEM WITH THEIR SCHOOLWORK.

>> WHEN HE WAS FIRST LEARNING HOW TO SPELL -- >> MISTY, WHO IS A LONG-TIME SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR FOR MUSTANG AND YUKON SCHOOLS SAYS HER SON LEARNED AT A YOUNG AGE HOW IMPORTANT BEING KIND IS.

>> JOT WAS A LIVE AND LET LIVE PERSON.

HE JUST THOUGHT THAT EVERYBODY DESERVED A FAIR SHOT.

WHEN HE WOULD GET KIND OF UPSET WITH ME WHEN I WOULD DRIVE AND IF I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF ROAD RAGE AND WOULD GRIPE BECAUSE SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE CUT ME OFF IN TRAFFIC, HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY STUFF LIKE, MOM, YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

>> THAT'S SOME INSIGHT.

>> A YEAR AGO, JOT GOT A JOB WORKING THE GRILL AT THAT SONIC IN MUSTANG.

HIS MOM SAID HE LOVED THAT JOB BECAUSE HE ENJOYED THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

>> HE LOVED WORKING AT SONIC.

HE -- >> THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO REALLY LEARN A WORK ETHIC.

>> BOTH OF MY KIDS HAVE GOOD WORK ETHICS.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY STRICT WITH OUR KIDS, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE DIDN'T REALLY SEE THIS COMING.

I THOUGHT I KNEW EVERYTHING.

>> WHY JOT TURNER COMMITTED SUICIDE IN HIS PARENTS' HOME SOME TIME DURING THE DAY, JANUARY 31st, IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE CANADIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SHERIFF CHRIS WEST SAYS HE CAN'T DISCUSS IT, BUT HE DID TELL ME THERE ARE CURRENT STATE BULLYING LAWS THAT COULD APPLY TO WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

MUSTANG PUBLIC SCHOOL'S SUPERINTENDENT CHARLES BRADLEY TOLD ME MONDAY A CURRENTLY SUSPENDED MUSTANG STUDENT AND ANOTHER MALE WHO DOESN'T ATTEND ANY SCHOOL HAD BEEN LINKED TO MALICIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS DIRECTED AT JOT TURNER.

>> THAT THERE WAS SOME BULLYING GOING ON VIA SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM OF SOME CONTENT THAT WAS PUT IN THERE.

TRUE OR NOT, I HAVE NO IDEA.

THAT'S THE INVESTIGATION THERE.

BUT FROM THE TIME THAT I WAS TOLD -- FROM THE TIME THAT THE CONTENT WAS PUT UP THERE UNTIL THE TIME OF THE SUICIDE WAS LESS THAN 24 HOURS.

WHEN YOU HAD JUST, YOU KNOW -- WERE ABLE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED, IT FELT LIKE A CRIME.

IT LOOKED LIKE A CRIME.

IT JUST HAD ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WHAT A CRIME SHOULD BE, AND THEN TO FIND OUT, AND I'M NOT EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER.

JUST AS A PARENT TO HEAR THE WORDS, SORRY, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO, THERE'S NO LAW, THERE'S NO VIOLATION OF THE LAW, THAT WAS HARD TO TAKE.

THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE FIRST TIME IT'S EVER HAPPENED, BUT SPEAKING WITH THE MOTHER, IT'S LIKE, THIS HAS GOT TO BE WORTH -- THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOT TO COME OUT OF THIS.

CRIMES OF ALL LAWS MUST EVOLVE WITH THEM.

>> OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND SAYS WHAT HAPPENED WITH JOT TURNER AND OTHER CYBERBULLYING VICTIMS IS ON HIS RADAR.

>> MY OFFICE IS WORKING IN CONCERT WITH SEVERAL LEGISLATORS TO EXPLORE HOW CAN WE MAKE MORE ROBUST THE LAWS TO ENFORCE CYBERBULLYING.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S SOMEWHAT UNDEFINED.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE LAWS THAT YOU CAN PROSECUTE, BUT WE NEED TO REMOVE THE AMBIGUITY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR LANE TO PROSECUTE CYBERBULLYING, AND WE WILL DO SO.

>> MISTY TURNER IS NOW FOCUSED ON HELPING CHANGE STATE CYBER CYBERBULLYING LAWS.

>> LEGISLATORS WERE ASKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS FOR THOSE THAT ARE BULLYING OTHERS.

FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM.

WHAT MAKES THEM DO THAT FOR OTHER PEOPLE?

>> AND SHE'LL PATIENTLY WAIT FOR JUSTICE, IF IT COMES IN ANY WAY.

>> YEAH.

HE WOULDN'T WANT ME TO ANGRY.

HE WOULD WANT ME TO HELP FIX IT.

>> THE MUSTANG SCHOOL DISTRICT'S COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR MADE AN OBSERVATION THAT'S WORTH SHARING.

HE SAID OKLAHOMA'S CYBER-BULLYING LAWS WERE WRITTEN AT A TIME WHEN A LOT OF US CARRIED PAGERS NOT CELLPHONES.

RICH.

>> STEVE, THANK YOU.

>> THE MAYORS OF OUR STATE'S TWO LARGEST CITIES EACH WON THEIR LAST ELECTIONS BY OVERWHELMING MARGINS.

DAVID HOLT AND G.T.

BYNUM ARE POPULAR AND VERY BUSY, SO IT'S NOT OFTEN WE GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT WE DID THIS WEEK, AND THAT CONVERSATION IS COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> PEOPLE IN TULSA TODAY EXPECT TO BE AMONG THE BEST, EXPECT TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD, AND MY HOPE IS THAT THE NEXT MAYOR WILL CONTINUE THAT KIND OF AMBITION AND CONFIDENCE FOR OUR CITY AND DO THE THINGS THAT ALLOW US TO BE A TRULY GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE CITY.

>> TO G.T.

'S POINT ABOUT NOT WISHING ILL FOR OKLAHOMA CITY, BUT WISHING FOR HIS OWN COMMUNITY TO RAISE ITS GAME, THAT'S HOW ALL OF THIS SHOULD WORK.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE COMPETITIVE, BUT IN A HEALTHY WAY, LIKE, OKAY, WELL, THEY'RE DOING THAT; I WANT TO -- I WANT TO MATCH THAT STANDARD IN OUR OWN WAY, RIGHT?

AND I HOPE THAT THAT'S HOW THE WHOLE STATE FEELS, THAT WE'RE ALL SORT OF PUSHING EACH OTHER TO HIGHER LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE AND NOT TRYING TO DRAG EACH OTHER DOWN OUT OF RESENTMENT.

>> THE REST OF THA EXCELLENT CONVERSATION, COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>> THE STATE GROCERY SALES TAX IN OKLAHOMA NO LONGER EXISTS.

ON TUESDAY MORNING, GOVERNOR STITT WAS JOINED BY HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS TO OFFICIALLY SIGN THE TAX CUT INTO LAW.

IT'S EXPECTED IT WILL SAVE EACH OKLAHOMAN AN AVERAGE OF $104 A YEAR AND REDUCE STATE REVENUE BY $418 MILLION PER YEAR.

>> I GET TO DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE TODAY BY SIGNING THE LARGEST SINGLE YEAR TAX CUT IN OKLAHOMA HISTORY.

SO IT'S JUST AMAZING, AND I WANT TO THANK THE LEADERS IN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE.

BY CUTTING THE STATE'S PORTION OF THE GROCERY TAX, WE'RE GOING TO BE DELIVERING ON REAL RELIEF FOR REAL OKLAHOMA FAMILIES.

>> IT'S A HUGE DAY FOR OKLAHOMANS.

IT'S THE TAX THAT WILL IMPACT MORE OKLAHOMANS THAN ANY OTHER TAX WE COULD POTENTIALLY ADDRESS.

>> WE ARE PROVIDING INFLATION RELIEF TO THE PEOPLE THROUGH THIS MECHANISM, AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO HELP THEM DO IS COMBAT THE INFLATION THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.

>> THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO PUSHING LAWMAKERS TO CUT THE STATE INCOME TAX AS WELL.

>> THIS WAS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL DEADLINE WEEKS FOR LAWMAKERS DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

WITH MORE WE HEAD TO THE OETA STUDIO IN THE STATE CAPITOL WITH SHAWN ASHLEY.

LET'S START WITH THE SPECIFICS OF THIS FIRST DEADLINE.

>> THIS IS THE DEADLINE FOR BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS TO BE HEARD IN THEIR CHAMBER OF OR BEGIN.

ORIGIN.

THAT MEANS HOUSE BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS NEED TO BE HEARD IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE, AND SENATE BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS NEED TO BE HEARD IN A SENATE COMMITTEE BEFORE THEY CAN MOVE ON TO THE FLOOR.

THIS IS REALLY THE TIME WHEN THE LARGEST CALLING OF BILLS TAKES PLACE.

THOSE THAT DON'T RECEIVE A HEARING DON'T MOVE FORWARD IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> ANYTHING BIG THAT'S NOT MOVING FORTH THAT WE KNOW OF?

>> RIGHT NOW, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY.

A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS WORKING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE WHOSE LANGUAGE IS LIKELY TO CHANGE BEFORE IT REACHES THE FLOOR OR BEFORE IT MOVES ACROSS THE ROTUNDA FOR CONSIDERATION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> VERY GOOD.

NOW, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM IS WORKING TO TWEAK THE PARENTAL CHOICE TAX CREDIT PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR WHICH GIVES A TAX BREAK TO PARENTS SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR HOME SCHOOLING THEM.

WHAT CHANGE IS TREAT LOOKING FOR MAKE?

>> PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHANGE PROPOSED IN THE BILL THAT TREAT IS ADVANCING WOULD CHANGE THE TAX CREDIT FROM A CALENDAR YEAR OR TAX YEAR STATUS TO AN ACADEMIC YEAR STATUS, WHICH, OF COURSE ARE DIFFERENT.

CALENDAR YEARS RUN FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER, BUT THE SCHOOL YEAR RUNS AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER ON INTO MAY.

THE WAY THE TAX CREDIT IS SET UP NOW, IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE ACADEMIC YEAR.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRET PRESIDENTY MAKING THAT ADJUSTMENT, MORE STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE TO ATTEND A PRIVATE SCHOOL BETWEEN THE SPRING AND FALL SEMESTER WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CREDIT.

>> WHAT WOULD HAS BILL 3701 DO.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NEAL HAZE SAID IT WOULD MAKE OKLAHOMA A STATE WHERE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WOULD NOT WANT TO LIVE.

IT PREVENTS ALL STATE BENEFITS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE IDEA BEING TO CUT OFF ALL STATE AID TO ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN THE STATE.

>> SHAWN ASHLEY WITH QUORUM CALL, A PUSH BY SENATOR ADAM LOOKS LIKE IT'S VLADIMIR PUTIN -- LIKE LIKELOOKS LIKE IT'S BEN HOLD.

WHY HAS HE PULLED BACK THAT BILL?

>> MOVING TO THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION EQUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AN OFFICE INVOLVED IN SCHOOL REPORT CARDS, THE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER PROGRAM AND A CREDITING PROGRAMS FOR TEACHER PREPARATION.

IN HIS PRESENTATION TO THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, HE NOTED SINCE THE BILL WAS FIRST REVEALED HE RECEIVED A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO IT AND THEREFORE HE CHOSE NOT TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

>> FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.

OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL GETENER DRUMMOND HAS ISSUED OFFICIAL LEGAL OPINIONS ON THE LEADERSHIP OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE AUTHORITY.

WHAT DID HE SAY?

>> WELL, WHAT HE SAID WAS THAT TIM GATS COULD NOT WEAR THREE HATS, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE AUTHORITY.

AS A RESULT, DIRECTOR GAETZ RESIGNED HIS POSITION AS A MEMBER OF GOVERNOR STITT'S CABINET AS SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AND WAS THEN REAPPOINTED DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, RESUMING THAT ROLE.

THEREFORE, GOVERNOR STITT WILL NEED TO FIND A NEW SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY ALSO WILL NEED TO FIND A NEW DIRECTOR, BECAUSE UNDER GETENER DRUMMOND'S RULING HE SAID CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS CANNOT HOLD DUAL POSITIONS IN STATE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH DIRECTOR GAETZ WAS DOING.

>> VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> SEE YOU THEN.

>> THE SUPERINTENDENT OF OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS RESIGNED.

DR. SEAN MCDANIEL LEAVES AFTER SIX YEARS AT THE HELM OF OKLAHOMA'S SECOND-LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE OKC BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL LEAD THE SEARCH FOR HIS REPLACEMENT.

UNDER MCDANIEL'S TENURE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY PASSED A 955-MILLION-DOLLAR BOND PACKAGE IN 2022.

MCDANIEL'S LAST DAY ON THE JOB WILL BE JUNE 30TH.

>> OU HEALTH IS STEPPING UP TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY FOR A GROUP OF UKRAINIAN DOCTORS WHO WILL RETURN TO THEIR WAR-TORN COUNTRY TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING HELP FOR SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT STORY.

TAELYR?

>> RICH, SINCE CONFLICT STARTED BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA, HOSPITALS IN UKRAINE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH INJURED CIVILIANS AND MILITARY MEN.

THANKS TO OU HEALTH, SOME DOCTORS WILL HAVE NEW TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BACK HOME.

>> OLEKSANDR AND IGOR ARE TWO OF THE FOUR DOCTORS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN OPERATION UKRAINE, A PROGRAM CREATED TO ALLOW UKRAINIAN HEAD AND NECK SURGEONS TO SPEND A MONTH IN THE U.S. TRAINING AND LEARNING NEW SKILLS.

>> IT'LL BE VERY, VERY PROGRESSIVELY EFFECTIVE FOR OUR TREATMENT FOR OUR MILITARY GUYS.

AND WE SEE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR TREATMENT, NOT ONLY MILITARY GUYS, BUT THE CIVILIANS WHO WERE DAMAGED BY THIS TERRORISTS.

>> OU HEALTH BEGAN DEVELOPING THE ONE-MONTH CURRICULUM FOR THE PROGRAM IN 2022 AFTER THE WAR BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA BEGAN.

ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AS OF FEBRUARY 2024, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 20,000 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN INJURED.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TECHNOLOGISTS TO TREAT THESE PATIENTS.

BECAUSE OF THAT, WE CAME HERE TO THE STATES, AND HERE WE COULD LEARN NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ESPECIALLY MICROSURGERY, AND I THINK IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

THESE ARE THE GLASSES.

>> PROGRAM DIRECTOR DR. MARK MIMS IS HOLDING THE OHANONA ONE GLASSES.

THE GLASSES WERE CREATED FOR REMOTE SURGICAL TRAINING.

>> WE COLLABORATE WITH OHANA ONE, WHICH PROVIDES SURGICAL SMART GLASSES, AND THEY DONATED ONE TO EACH SET OF SURGEONS, SO THAT WHEN THEY GO BACK TO UKRAINE, THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THEM.

THE GLASSES WILL ALLOW THE UKRAINIAN SURGEONS TO LIVE-STREAM THEIR SURGERIES IN REAL TIME TO DOCTORS AT OU HEALTH.

>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING NEW METHODICS FOR -- FOR MAYBE BETTER CONNECTION, TRANSATLANTIC CONNECTION.

AND WE CAN USE AND EXCHANGE OUR KNOWLEDGE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MINDSET.

>> THE PROGRAM HOSTED TWO OTHER GROUPS OF DOCTORS LAST YEAR.

>> SO WE KEEP IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH ALL OF OUR SURGEONS AS THEY GO BACK TO UKRAINE, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE THEY'VE BEEN HERE AT OU HEALTH.

THEY -- OF THE FIVE SURGEONS THAT WE HAVE TRAINED HERE, THREE OF THEM ARE DOING THESE VERY COMPLEX MICROVASCULAR CASES, AND THEY'VE HAD EXTREMELY GOOD SUCCESSES ON PAR WITH WHAT OUR U.S. SURGEONS HAVE HERE AS WELL.

AND SO WE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY ABLE TO IMPACT THEIR PATIENTS.

>> MIMS SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST GROUP TO USE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OUR EARLY SURGEONS FACED WAS TAKING THE SKILLS THAT THEY LEARNED HERE IN THE CADAVER LAB AND OBSERVING IN THE OPERATING ROOM AND PERFORMING THEM ON PATIENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IN ORDER TO ASSIST WITH THAT TRANSITION, WE WILL NOW BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE SEEING.

AND SO, IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED ADVICE FOR DIFFERENT STEPS OF THE OPERATION, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT IN REAL TIME, ALLOWING THEM TO BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THESE COMPLEX PROCEDURES.

>> WHILE THE SURGEONS ARE OPERATING IN UKRAINE, OU HEALTH SURGEONS WILL BE ABLE TO VIEW THE SURGERY ON THEIR ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

>> WE'LL BE HERE WATCHING A COMPUTER MONITOR OR A TV FEED AND ABLE TO CONVERSE AUDIBLY WITH THEM AS WELL AS CAPTURE STILL SHOTS, DRAW DIAGRAMS, BRING UP RELEVANT ANATOMY SO THAT THEY CAN SEE WHAT THEY NEED TO SEE WHEN THEY NEED TO SEE IT.

>> WE GRAB A SCREEN SHOT OF WHAT HE IS SEEING.

>> I THINK ALSO THAT THIS GLASSES WILL HELP US TO LEARN OUR DOCTORS ALSO IN UKRAINE.

WE CAN CHANGE OUR EXPERIENCE ALSO BETWEEN OUR MILITARY HOSPITAL AND LEARN OUR YOUNG DOCTORS STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DOCTORS WHO CAN TREAT THESE PATIENTS IN UKRAINE, TREAT PROPERLY.

>> DR. MIMS SAYS IT HAS BEEN TOUCHING TO MEET EACH UKRAINIAN DOCTOR.

>> PERSONALLY, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST HONORS OF MY CAREER, MEETING THESE SURGEONS, TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE JUST WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

THE STORIES THAT THEY WILL TELL YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY BREAK YOUR HEART AND BRING YOU TO TEARS.

AND IT'S VERY CHALLENGING TO SEE SUCH WONDERFUL PEOPLE GO THROUGH SUCH HARD TIMES, AND TO BE ABLE TO PLAY A SMALL PART IN SOME FORM OF SUPPORT FOR THEM HAS TRULY, TRULY BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME.

>> THE GROUP HAS USED THE GLASSES IN SIMULATION MODELS FOR TRAINING AND PLAN TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO REAL LIFE ONCE THE SURGEONS RETURN TO UKRAINE.

RICH?

>> TAELYR, FASCINATING STORY.

THANK YOU.

>> AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH COMES TO A CLOSE, WE WANTED TO RE-VISIT OUR REPORT ON THE HISTORIC BLACK TOWN OF VERNON, OKLAHOMA, NAMED AFTER WILLIAM TECUMSEH VERNON, AN EPISCOPAL BISHOP AND EDUCATOR BORN IN 1871.

WITH THE VALUABLE HELP OF THE TOWN'S HISTORIAN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADD IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION ABOUT A COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST 130 YEARS BUT WAS ONLY OFFICIALLY INCORPORATED IN 2005.

♪♪ >> VERNON IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE.

>> CLARENCE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VERNON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE TOWN NOTARY, OWNER AND PUBLISHER OF THE VERNON PRESS AND TOWN'S OFFICIAL HIS TORN.

>> BASICALLY VERNON STARTED IN ABOUT 1895 WITH EVERETT MCCABE WHO WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING MOST OF THE TOWNS OF VERNON AND PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN INSURES THEY WERE SUCCEEDING.

IN 1895, HE WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE LAND FROM THE CREEK NATION TO THE 40 ACRES THAT THE TOWN ORIGINALLY STARTED ON.

THEN AROUND 1910, THE TOWN WAS PLOTTED, AND 1911, IT WAS ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED.

>> IN ITS HEYDAY, VERNON GREW TO ABOUT 2300 PEOPLE.

>> THE HEYDAY WOULD HAVE BEEN FROM AROUND 1917 TO AROUND 1923.

>> COTTON WAS KING IN THOSE DAYS UNTIL IT WASN'T.

>> THE PRICE OF COTTON DROPPED, AND THEN THE NEXT THING THAT HIT WAS THE -- AND THEN THERE WAS -- THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THE DEPRESSION, AND DURING THE DEPRESSION, OF COURSE, EVERYTHING SLOWED DOWN, AND THEN THE FINAL STRAW WAS THE RAILROAD.

WHEN THE RAILROAD LEFT IN 1939, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT.

>> TODAY JUST 27 PEOPLE CALL VERNON HOME.

>> WE USED TO ALWAYS SAY VERNON WAS THE PLACE TO BE.

>> THE VERNON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION HAS ABOUT 75 MEMBERS AND INCLUDES PAST AND PRESENT RESIDENTS OF THIS 80-ACRE TOWN IN MCINTOSH COUNTY.

>> I ATTENDED SCHOOL HERE.

MY MOTHER STARTED ME TO SCHOOL HERE IN VERNON HIGH SCHOOL WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD.

I HAD A WONDERFUL TEACHER, AND I NEVER FORGOT HER.

>> MARY BOONE RECALLS A BUSTLING MAIN STREET WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP.

>> THE THING ABOUT IT, WE DID HAVE STORES HERE, AND WE HAD THE MCDONALD'S STORE, THE HOLLOWAY STORE AND A HAMBURGER CAFE.

>> HER COUSIN SAYS VERNON DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY UNTIL SHE WAS A TEENAGER.

>> I WAS BORN IN '43, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY UNTIL '58.

I WAS ABOUT 13 OR 14, AROUND 14 WHEN WE FIRST -- WHEN WE HAD ELECTRICITY WHERE THEY RAN THE LINE UP THERE AND WE WAS ABLE TO GET A TV.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A HIGHLIGHT.

>> ON THIS DAY, CLARENCE WALKER REUNITED WITH HIS PAL BENNY.

THE TWO SPENT MOST OF THEIR CHILDHOOD GROWING UP IN VERNON.

>> I WENT UP THERE MANY TIMES.

I SPENT MORE TIME UP THERE, I BELIEVE, THAN I DID MY OWN HOUSE, ESPECIALLY IN THE DAYTIME.

I WAS ALWAYS UP THERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WASN'T IN SCHOOL.

I'D GO UP THERE AND PLAY WITH HIM UNTIL THEY RUN ME HOME.

>> PASTOR OF THE NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH IN VERNON, ANDERSON FIELDS, REMEMBERS THE HARD WORKING DAYS OF HIS YOUTH.

>> WHEN I WAS COMING UP ON 14 YEARS OF AGE AND MY DAD ASKED ME TO STAY AT HOME TO HELP FARM.

>> PASTOR FIELDS RETURNED HOME TO VERNON AFTER RETIRING AND JOINED THE CHURCH MINISTRY.

>> SO I'M THANKFUL TO BE FROM VERNON, AND I GOT HOMESICK, AND I SAID I WANT TO MOVE BACK HOME, AND I CAME BACK HOME.

>> MARY BOONE GRADUATED FROM VERNON HIGH SCHOOL IN 1954, HOME OF THE TIGERS.

>> WE HAD A NICE GYM NASUM.

>> CLARENCE'S GRANDFATHER WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE SCHOOL BUILT.

>> HE AND SEVERAL OTHER BUSINESSMEN FROM VERNON WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE COUNTY AND PUT A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT TO GET FUNDING TO BUILD THE SCHOOL BUILDING IN VERNON.

SO THE BRICK BUILDING THAT YOU SEE THERE TODAY, THAT IS AS A RESULT OF W.M BACCHUS GETTING THE FUNDING, AND THEY GOT $300,000 TO BUILD THAT BUILDING AND TO DO REPAIRS OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTY.

$300,000 THEN IS 8.3 MILLION IN TODAY'S MONEY.

>> AND THAT'S YOUR GRANDFATHER.

>> THAT'S MY GRANDFATHER, AND HE WAS THE SHERIFF OF THE TOWN FROM 1925 UP UNTIL AROUND 1950.

>> ERIK COALY WAS BORN IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AND MOVED TO VERNON IN THE 8th GRADE.

>> COMING HERE, IT KIND OF SLOWED THINGS DOWN, MADE THINGS ON A MORE SMALLER PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO ALLOWED ME TO LOOK AT THINGS IN THE EYES OR LENSES THAT MY FOREFATHERS AND MY FAMILY LOOKED AT IN THE SENSE OF TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> COLLIE'S FAMILY ENCOURAGED HIM TO BE A TRUE STUDENT ATHLETE.

>> MY MOM ALWAYS ENJOYED THE FACT OF ME PLAYING BASKETBALL, BUT SHE ALWAYS STRESSED EDUCATION.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, AND JUST THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO READ AND WRITE WAS WAY MORE IMPORTANT TO HER THAN ME EVER DUNKING A BASKETBALL.

>> AFTER GRADUATING, HE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA.

>> THE ONE THING WITH VERNON, VERNON BEING A SMALL COMMUNITY, TULSA BEING A SMALLER UNIVERSITY AMONGST THE STATE SCHOOLS.

>> HE WENT ON TO PLAY BASKETBALL FOR THE TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE FROM 1996 TO 2000 UNDER LEGENDARY COACH BILL SELF.

>> HE WAS ONE OF THE EASIEST GUYS I PLAYED FOR AND MOTIVATED YOU TO GIVE YOUR ALL.

IF YOU NEEDED SOMEBODY TO TALK TO, EVEN TO THIS DAY, I CAN STILL CALL HIM.

>> HE WAS A CONTRIBUTOR ON THE 2000 TULSA TEAM THAT WON 32 GAMES AND ADVANCED ALL THE WAY TO THE ELITE 8.

DURING HIS TIME IN COLLEGE SPORTS, COALY SAYS HE ALWAYS MADE TIME TO RETURN TO VERNON.

>> MY HEART WAS ALWAYS HERE FROM THE TIME I MOVED HERE AS A KID, JUST BEING ABLE TO SAY, KEEP THE FAMILY HOUSE OPEN, SO WHEN WE HAVE THE FAMILY REUNION, PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE TO COME HOME TO.

>> HE NOW VOLUNTEERS HIS TIME HELPING THE VERNON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION IN ITS MISSION TO REVITALIZE THE TOWN.

>> WHEN YOU WANT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF, WHAT BETTER WAY TO VOLUNTEER FOR A TOWN THAT IS BASICALLY ONE BIG FAMILY THAT IS STILL THRIVING AND CONTINUING ON EVEN THOUGH ON A SMALLER SCALE.

>> BETTY CATO SAYS THE FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1978.

>> IT WILL NEVER BE LIKE IT USED TO BE, BUT WE STILL -- WE GREW UP HERE.

WE LOVE VERNON.

>> THE FOUNDATION WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CITY ITSELF TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND HISTORICAL BUILDINGS.

>> WE'RE ON THE WAY RIGHT NOW.

WE JUST GOT A $1.3 MILLION GRANT FOR FIXING THE ROADS.

THERE'S ANOTHER 1.3 MILLION FOR BRINGING THE WATERWAYS, FIXES THE WATERWAYS, THE BRIDGES.

>> THEY ALSO HOPE TO RESTORE THE DOZIER BUILDING AND TURN IT INTO A MUSEUM.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1915 AND AT ONE POINT WAS HOME TO THE CITY'S POST OFFICE.

WHAT'S NEEDED MOST NOW IS AN INFLUX OF NEW BUSINESSES.

>> I WOULD LIKE JUST TO SEE THE IDEA OF PEOPLE HAVING A PLACE TO COME BACK HOME TO, WHETHER IT BE FORWARDABLE HOUSING, SOME TYPE OF BUSINESS, MANUFACTURING, OR EVEN JUST THE IDEA OF A RETIREMENT VILLAGE.

>> I GOT INTERESTED IN HELPING THE TOWN, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE SOME CHANGE TAKE PLACE.

SO I GOT INVOLVED TO SHOW THEM WHAT A GOVERNMENT LOOKS LIKE AND THE THINGS YOU CAN DO.

>> TOURISM MAY EVENTUALLY PLAY A ROLE AS WELL, BECAUSE WHETHER YOU'RE VISITING OR CALL IT HOME, VERNON, OKLAHOMA IS A PEACEFUL PLACE TO BE.

>> EVER TIME SOMEBODY COMES HOME, THEY ALWAYS SAY THIS IS THE BEST THEY'VE GOTTEN IN A LONG TIME, AND IT'S JUST THAT SENSE OF LOVE AND WARMTH THAT YOU GET.

>> UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYORS DAVID HOLT AND G.T.

BYNUM, BOTH OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA ARE EXPERIENCING SOLID GROWTH AND OPTIMISTIC FUTURES.

THIS WEEK, WE GOT THE TWO MAYORS TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THEIR SUCCESSES AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

HERE'S MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD, WITH OUR WEEKLY, IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

JOINING ME NOW IS DAVID HOLT, THE MAYOR OF OKLAHOMA CITY, AND MAYOR G.T.

BYNUM OF TULSA.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO START OFF WITH A QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU.

WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THIS PERCEIVED RIVALRY AND COMPETITIVENESS BETWEEN FOLKS THAT LIVE IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN TULSA.

MAYOR HOLT, IN YOUR MIND, IS THAT REAL?

AND IF SO, IN WHAT WAYS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT PROBABLY WAS REAL FOR A LONG TIME, AND SOME OF IT CAN JUST BE FUN AND FRIENDLY, BUT SOME OF IT WAS PROBABLY TRULY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, BECAUSE THOSE RIVALRIES WOULD PLAY OUT IN A REAL WAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL OR IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONVERSATIONS, AND PROBABLY BOTH CITIES WERE ESSENTIALLY LOSING IN THAT GAME.

YOU KNOW, MAYOR BYNUM AND I, WE HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR 20 YEARS BEFORE WE BECAME MAYORS OF HOMETOWN.

AND SO WHEN THAT HAPPENED, WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS REALLY IN THE STATE'S BEST INTEREST AND IN OUR CITY'S BEST INTEREST TO STRIKE A DIFFERENT TONE, AND SOME OF THAT IS SYMBOLIC, RIGHT?

SOME OF IT IS JUST LIKE, LET'S JUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

LET'S BE PARTNERS.

LET'S TALK WELL OF EACH OTHER.

LET'S SHOW UP TO EACH OTHER'S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESSES.

LET'S KIND OF TREAT THIS MORE LIKE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OKLAHOMA'S TWO MAJOR CITIES INSTEAD OF MAYBE THE RIVALRY THAT IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY, AND WE CARRIED THAT OUT.

NOW I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE ALMOST 6 YEARS.

IN HIS 8th AND FINAL YEAR, AND IT'S REALLY BEEN A WONDERFUL NEW TONE, AND I THINK THAT YOU SEE OTHER PEOPLE ADOPTING IT.

AGAIN, WE CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK THAT WE'VE SET A DIFFERENT TONE FOR HOW THE METRO SHOULD TREAT EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S PLAYED OUT IN NUMEROUS WAYS AT THE CAPITOL AND ELSEWHERE, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T HAVE TO -- THIS IS ON STORY UNTO ITSELF.

BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS MORE THAN JUST SYMBOLIC.

IT REALLY BECAME A VERY MATERIAL POLICYMAKING PARTNERSHIP THAT, AS WE CAN BOTH DOCUMENT IN OUR CITIES, LITERALLY SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES, BECAUSE WE REALIZED THAT OUR TWO METROS HAD TO MOVE IN THE SAME WAY AND AT THE SAME TIME IF THE ACTIONS WERE GOING TO BE CREDIBLE TO COMBAT COVID-19, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING WE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE WHEN WE BOTH TOOK OFFICE BUT ULTIMATELY WAS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO MANIFEST OUR PARTNERSHIP.

>> MAYOR BYNUM, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH MAYOR HOLT'S STATEMENTS?

>> OH, 100%.

I THINK EVEN JUST FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAIRLY RIDICULOUS FOR US TO BE TRYING TO ONE-UP ONE ANOTHER, BUT THE REALITY IS I THINK WE BOTH REALIZED THAT BOTH OF OUR CITIES BENEFIT FROM CLOSER COLLABORATION.

THE REALITY IS WE ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE KIND OF RIVALRY THAT PEOPLE USED TO CLAIM NOR ARE WE FAR ENOUGH APART.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS IN OKLAHOMA THINK BEING AN HOUR APART IS LIKE THIS GIANT DIFFERENCE, BUT THAT'S A DAILY COMMUTE IF YOU LIVE ON THE COASTAL UNITED STATES.

AS MAYOR HOLT POINTED OUT, EARLY ON IN OUR TIMES IN OFFICE, WE REALLY FOCUSED ON MORE LIKE SYMBOLIC THINGS WE COULD DO.

I WOULD SAY WE PUT A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON IT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT.

WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO LOCATE A BUSINESS HERE IN TULSA, WE'RE TELLING THEM ABOUT THE THUNDER.

WE'RE TELLING THEM ABOUT BRICKTOWN AND THE RIVERFRONT AND OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND OUR HOPE IS THAT WHEN MAYOR HOLT IS PITCHING PROSPECTS IN OKLAHOMA CITY HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE GATHERING PLACE AND U.S.A. BMX AND GILL CREASE MUSEUM.

WE THINK WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES IF WE'RE MARKETING THE BENEFITS OF BOTH METRO AREAS RATHER THAN TALKING ABOUT THEM LIKE WE'RE THOUSANDS OF MILES APART, AND THEN AS MAYOR HOLT POINTED OUT, I THINK PROBABLY THE CLOSEST THAT HE AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON A DAILY BASIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, AND THAT WAS A CASE WHERE I WOULD SAY FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS AT LEAST OF THAT PANDEMIC HE AND I WERE TALKING TOGETHER ON THE PHONE 3 TO 4 TIMES A DAY, AND NONE OF THE REGULATIONS THAT WE PUT IN PLACE WERE DIFFERENT.

HE AND I TALKED IN ADVANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE WERE ANNOUNCING SOMETHING, IF HE WAS GOING TO ANNOUNCE SOMETHING IN OKLAHOMA CITY, I WOULD BE ANNOUNCING IT AROUND THE SAME TIME IN TULSA AND VICE VERSA SO THAT FOLKS IN OUR TWO -- OKLAHOMA'S TWO LARGEST CITIES KNEW WE WEREN'T ASKING PEOPLE IN TULSA TO DO SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA CITY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND, AND I THINK COORDINATING IT IN THAT WAY, AS MAYOR HOLT SAID, SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

THOSE FOLKS AREN'T AWARE WE SAVED THEIR LIVES BY DOING, THAT BUT IT WAS A TRUE LIFESAVING EFFORTS.

I THINK MOVING FORWARD AS WE LOOK AROUND THE WORLD, THE CITIES THAT ARE GROWING THE FASTEST AND ACHIEVING THE GREATEST OUTCOMES ARE NOT CITIES TRYING TO DO IT ALL BY THEIR SYSTEMS.

THEY'RE CITIES WORKING AS REGIONS.

WE NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN DALLAS FORT WORTH, NEW YORK AND NEWARK OR OUT IN SILICON VALLEY.

ALL OF THESE ARE REGIONS THAT ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

I THINK WE CAN BE MORE SPECIFICALLY SUCCESSFUL IN OKLAHOMA WHEN OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

>> WELL, OUTSIDE OF THE PANDEMIC, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER WAYS THAT WE'VE SEEN TULSA AND OKLAHOMA CITY COLLABORATE?

>> WELL, I THINK HE DID A GOOD JOB OF SORT OF SUMMARIZING THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT -- AND I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T GET INTO, BUT IN MORE DEPTH, THAT PROBABLY DESERVES A LITTLE MORE ILLUMINATION IS HOW MUCH WE NEED TO -- ALREADY ARE, BUT NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AT THE CAPITOL.

YOU KNOW, REALLY WHAT OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA LARGELY WANT FROM OUR STATE LEGISLATURE IS TO BE LEFT ALONE.

WE HAVE BOTH PROVEN THAT WE HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO INVEST IN OURSELVES.

WE WOULD LOVE MORE PROBABLY SUPPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT THAT HAS NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN A MAJOR SOURCE FOR OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA.

MOST OF THE TIME, WE THINK IF WE COULD JUST BE LEFT TO OUR OWN DEVICES, OUR TAXPAYERS HAVE SHOWN THE CONFIDENCE IN OUR GOVERNMENT, INCESTING IN INVESTN OURSELVES AND THE CONFIDENCE OF SELF-GOVERNANCE IN GENERAL.

I THINK WE HAVE MORE POWER IF OUR MAYORS, CITIZENS ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

ALL TOO OFTEN IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE'S POLITICS, IT'S BEEN LIKE THERE'S THREE GROUPS, OKLAHOMA CITY, TULSA AND EVERYBODY ELSE, RURAL OKLAHOMA.

AND THOSE NUMBERS DON'T WORK FOR OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA.

WE'VE BEEN DIVIDED AND CONQUERED.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, AND MAYBE THAT'S THE LAST THING HE DIDN'T COVER IN DEPTH THAT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP.

>> MAYOR BYNUM, BY THE TIME YOU LEAVE OFFICE, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SITTING IN YOUR SEAT?

>> OH, I AM STUDIOUSLY AVOIDING TAKES SIDE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THE KEY THING TO ME IS I WANT WHOEVER WINS THE MAYOR'S RACE TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS.

AND SO I HAVE INVITED ALL OF THE MAJOR CANDIDATES TO COME AND MEET OFF THE RECORD WITH OUR DEPARTMENTAL LEADERSHIP HERE WITH THE CITY OF TULSA SO THEY CAN ASK ANY QUESTIONS OFF THE RECORD AS THEY WANT AS THEY'RE FORMING THEIR PLATFORMS FOR THE CANDIDACY.

I HAVE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF THE CANDIDATES, AND I'M BUILDING INTO MY BUDGET FOR THE COMING YEAR A TRANSITION FUND SO THAT WHOEVER WINS HAS THE ABILITY TO FUND THEIR TRANSITION, AND WHEN I WAS ELECTED MAYOR, I HAD TO GO OUT AND RAISE MONEY FOR MY TRANSITION, AND REALLY DID NOT -- AND I HAD RUN AGAINST MY PREDECESSOR, SO IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT DID NOT HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT IN THAT TRANSITION, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHOEVER COMES IN AS MAYOR BE ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, AND SO MY MAIN FOCUS IS ON DOING EVERYTHING I CAN, BUILDING UP OUR TEAM THIS YEAR, GIVING THEM A BUDGET WITH A SURPLUS WHEN THEY COME INTO OFFICE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT TRADITIONALLY MAYORS IN TULSA DO NOT INHERIT, AND REALLY MAKING IT SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE AS -- THEY'RE KEYED UP TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WHEN THE MAYOR OF TULSA CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM THAT.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE NEXT MAYOR OF TULSA?

>> WELL, THE THINK THE BIG THING FOR ME, AND I WILL SPEAK TO THIS, BECAUSE YOUR QUESTION TO MAYOR HOLT A MINUTE AGO WAS REALLY GREAT ABOUT THE OTHER WAYS WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.

I'LL JUST SPEAK FOR US HERE IN TULSA.

I THINK THAT FOR US WE'VE TAKEN A GREAT DEAL OF INSPIRATION FROM THE SUCCESS OF OKLAHOMA CITY IN INVESTING IN ITSELF.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK OKLAHOMA CITY WOKE UP TO ABOUT AT LEAST A DECADE BEFORE WE DID IN TULSA.

WHEN THEY PASSED MAPS, WE WERE FAILING TO PASS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS.

AND WHAT I THINK OKLAHOMA CITY PROVED OUT IS THAT WHEN YOU INVEST IN YOURSELF, THE POPULATION GROWTH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT COMES.

THAT IS A NATURAL AFTERMATH OF A COMMUNITY THAT HAS CONFIDENCE AND IS AIMING TO BE A NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE CITY LIKE OKLAHOMA CITY DID.

SO FOR US, WHEN OKLAHOMA CITY WAS PASSING THESE INITIATIVES, AT LEAST FOR ME, IT WASN'T, OH, I WISH THAT HAD FAILED.

IT WAS, WOW, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IN OKC IS AMAZING.

WE OUGHT TO BE DOING THAT HERE IN TULSA AS WELL.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT HAS JUST CONTINUED IN SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS.

MAPS HAVE BEEN PASSED.

WE PASSED A COUPLE OF VERSIONS OF WHAT WE CALLED VISION TULSA IN TULSA.

SO MY HOPE FOR THE NEXT MAYOR -- WHEN I RAN, THERE WERE TWO MAIN REASONS I RAN, BUT ONE OF THEM AND A BIG ONE WAS MY WORRY THAT TULSANS HAD JUST BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THIS NOTION OF MANAGING DECLINE, LIKE THINKING THAT WE WERE A ONCE GREAT CITY, OUR BEST DAYS ARE BEHIND US, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE DECLINE.

I HOPE AND I THINK THE BIGGEST THINK WE'VE DONE IN MY TIME IN OFFICE IS TURN THAT AROUND.

SO PEOPLE IN TULSA TODAY EXPECT TO BE AMONG THE BEST, EXPECT TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD, AND MY HOPE IS THAT THE NEXT MAYOR WILL CONTINUE THAT KIND OF AMBITION AND CONFIDENCE FOR OUR CITY AND DO THE THINGS THAT ALLOW US TO BE A TRULY GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE CITY.

>> WELL, WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME HERE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE MORE POINTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ON.

THIS ONE, DO YOU FEEL THAT CITIES LIKE TULSA AND OKLAHOMA CITY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN HELPING TO SUPPORT THE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND THEM?

MAYOR HOLT, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK WE DO IT INDIRECTLY.

OBVIOUSLY OUR FIRST OBLIGATION IS OUR OWN RESIDENTS, AND I HAVE 700,000 OF THEM.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THEM.

IT'S NOT AS IF WE WERE SWIMMING SOME SO MUCH CASH THAT WE CAN SHARE IT, BUT I DO THINK WE SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITIES IN NUMEROUS WEIGHS WAYS.

WASTE.

I'M SURE, IT IS TRUE THAT A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF INCOME TAX DOLLARS ARE COMING OUT OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA, AND ALL OF THOSE INCOME TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA ALSO COLLECTS SALES TAX, AND AGAIN, I WOULD STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT A DISPROPORTIONATE OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE COMING OUT OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA.

AGAIN, I THINK BY CONTINUING TO DO WHAT WE DO, BY PRODUCING MOST OF THE GDP IN THE STATE FOR OUR TWO COMMUNITIES, WE ARE GIVING THE STATE GOVERNMENT THE RESOURCES IT THEN UTILIZE TOSS SUPPORT OTHER COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THE ROLE WE PLAY HAPPENS ORGANICALLY, AND WE SUPPORT THAT.

TO G.T.

'S POINT ABOUT NOT WISHING ILL FOR OKLAHOMA CITY BUT WISHING FOR HIS OWN COMMUNITY TO RAISE ITS GAME, THAT'S HOW ALL OF THIS SHOULD WORK.

EVERYBODY SHOULD BE COMPETITIVE BUT IN A HEALTHY WAY.

LIKE, OKAY, THEY'RE DOING THAT.

I WANT TO MATCH THAT STANDARD IN OUR OWN WAY, RIGHT?

AND I HOPE THAT THAT'S HOW THE WHOLE STATE FEELS, THAT WE'RE ALL SORT OF PUSHING EACH OTHER TO HIGHER LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE AND NOT TRYING TO DRAG EACH OTHER DONE OUT OF RESENTSMENT.

.

I KNOW THAT G.T.

AND I, WE WAND WE WAN ARDMORE TO SUCCEED, THE PANHANDLE, EVERYBODY BECAUSE IT'S GOOD TO ALL OF US.

>> MAYOR BYNUM, DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON THAT TOPIC?

>> WE SHOULD NOT FEAR GROWTH IN RURAL AREAS THAT SURROUND TULSA.

WE SHOULD BE HOPING FOR IT AND ROOTING FOR IT.

WHEN YOU HAVE POPULATION GROWTH AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THOSE AREAS, THE CORE CITY, IF YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, IT WILL BENEFIT FOR THAT.

SO WE'VE BEEN BIG ADVOCATES OF HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE REGION, WHEN THEY HAVE ECONOMIC PROSPECTS, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT TULSA, I'LL GO MEET WITH THEM AND TELL THEM WHY THAT CITY OR TOWN IS A GREAT PLACE FOR THEM TO LOCATE, KNOWING THAT IT WILL BENEFIT US.

SO I THINK TO MAYOR HOLT'S POINT, WHEN THE CORE CITIES ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR BUSINESS AND ARE SUPPORTIVE OF REGIONAL GROWTH, EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM THAT.

>> MAYOR BYNUM, MAYOR HOLT, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU TO THE MAYORS FOR GIVING US THEIR VALUABLE TIME.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT: THE LARGEST WILDFIRE IN TEXAS HISTORY HAS NOW BURNED 25,000 ACRES IN OKLAHOMA, AND IT'S FAR FROM CONTAINED.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS FROM THE PANHANDLE FRIDAY AT 7.

>> WE'LL SAY "SO LONG" THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT A NEW EXHIBIT AT OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ENTITLED "ROUTINES AND RITUALS" PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA'S JASON STEWART.

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

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

♪♪ >> I'M POLLY ANDERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND WE'RE HERE JUST TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TO REMIND