SURPRISES AND STORIES ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

MONDAY EVENINGS AT SEVEN.

HOW FAMILIES IN ENID ARE RECOVERING FROM AN EF FOUR TORNADO THAT THANKFULLY CLAIMED PROPERTY BUT NO LIVES.

I HEARD THE SIRENS.

JUST GRABBED MY TODDLER, PUT TENNIS SHOES ON HIM AND WE LAID DOWN IN THE BATHTUB TOGETHER.

I LAID OVER THE TOP OF THEM.

THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT HEARS ORAL ARGUMENTS IN A CASE THAT COULD ULTIMATELY IMPACT MILLIONS OF OKLAHOMANS.

YOU PAY ME TO PROTECT YOU, AND YOU PAY ME TO INVESTIGATE BAD ACTS OF FOREIGN CORPORATIONS THAT COME INTO THE STATE TO INJURE OKLAHOMANS.

MEET BOB, THE ROBOT BOOSTING LEARNING IN CHOUTEAU, OKLAHOMA.

IT JUST SHOWS ME WHERE I NEED TO REVIEW AND KIND OF HELPS ME FIGURE OUT WHERE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THINGS.

AFTER A TWO YEAR DELAY, THE NEW SALLISAW VETERANS HOME IS ACCEPTING OKLAHOMA HEROES.

WE ARE TAKING NEW ADMITS LITERALLY WEEKLY.

AT THIS POINT, WE CAN HOLD UP TO 175 RESIDENTS TOTAL.

AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES IN OKLAHOMA.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LANDLORD TENANT ACT AND OUR RIGHTS, IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE 70S.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS A WORTHY CELEBRATION FOR THESE OKLAHOMA CITY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT HEARING ORAL ARGUMENTS THIS WEEK ON ALLEGATIONS THAT STATE FARM INSURANCE ENGAGED IN A COORDINATED EFFORT TO DENY CUSTOMER CLAIMS ON WIND AND HAIL DAMAGE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND HAS INTERVENED IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY A BROKEN ARROW COUPLE AFTER THEIR CLAIM FOR A NEW ROOF WAS DENIED BY STATE FARM.

MONDAY'S HEARING CONCERNED WHETHER DRUMMOND COULD PROCEED WITH HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE CASE.

IF SO, HE WOULD ARGUE THE LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF ALL OKLAHOMANS WHO FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN WRONGED.

STATE FARM ARGUING THAT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE Q AND A BETWEEN THE LAWYERS AND JUDGES ON MONDAY.

ULTIMATELY, THE SEPARATION OF POWERS IS IMMUTABLE UNTIL THE PEOPLE DECIDE TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION THAT PREVENTS THE AG FROM INTERVENING IN THIS CASE.

THIS COURT SHOULD ISSUE A WRIT OF PROHIBITION PREVENTING THAT INTERVENTION, AND I WELCOME THIS COURT'S QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE A BUSINESS THAT HAS COMMITTED A MASSIVE FRAUD, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS STEPPING IN AND DOING HIS JOB TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM THIS MASSIVE FRAUD THAT THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER IS UNABLE TO BRING UNDER THE EXISTING STATUTES.

HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY SAY THAT THE HIRSCH'S BENEFIT IN ANY WAY FROM THE AG INTERVENING IN THIS CASE?

FROM A JUDICIAL ECONOMY OR AN EFFICIENCY VIEW?

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THIS IS A SIMPLE CASE.

THIS ISN'T COMPLICATED.

HOW DOES EXPANDING THIS TO ALL THESE OTHER PARTIES AND ALL THESE OTHER LITIGANTS POSSIBLY HELP THE HIRSCH'S GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, RESOLVING THEIR DISPUTES?

THE PLAINTIFF, BILLY HIRSCH, A BROKEN ARROW POLICE OFFICER, FULLY SUPPORTS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CASE.

AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE MATTER, BUT AS AS THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED AND WE'VE LEARNED MORE, IT TURNS OUT THIS WAS A PERVASIVE SCHEME THAT WASN'T JUST DONE TO US.

IT WAS DONE TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND TO THE TUNE OF WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MILLIONS OR MAYBE EVEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THERE ARE DOCUMENTS IN STATE FARM'S POSSESSION THAT I WANT TO SEE.

AND IF THOSE DOCUMENTS ILLUSTRATE A PURPOSEFUL SCHEME TO INCREASE THE RATES OF OKLAHOMANS AND DECREASE THE CLAIMS PAYABLE, THEN WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM THAT I WILL TAKE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND THE CIVIL CONSUMER PROTECTION STATUTES OF OKLAHOMA.

THANK YOU.

THE SUPREME COURT RECESSED WITHOUT ANNOUNCING ITS DECISION.

OF COURSE, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS TOP OF MIND FOR HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES IMPACTED BY TORNADOS THIS WEEK AND LAST.

THE TOWN OF EDEN WAS HIT BY A MONSTER EF FOUR TWISTER A WEEK AGO THURSDAY, LEAVING DOZENS OF HOMES IN SPLINTERS, BUT THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS KILLED.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US FROM OUR NEWSROOM WITH MORE ON A STORM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE.

TAYLOR.

YEAH.

RICH.

JUST THIS WEEK, ANOTHER TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE STATE, THIS TIME IN ATOKA AND PUSHMATAHA COUNTIES.

THANKFULLY, JUST LIKE THE ENID TORNADO, NO ONE LOST THEIR LIFE.

ENID RESIDENTS HAVE SPENT THE LAST SEVEN DAYS SALVAGING WHAT'S LEFT OF THEIR PROPERTY AFTER LAST THURSDAY'S STORM RIPPED THROUGH THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF TOWN.

MY WHOLE HOUSE IS IN PIECES.

ENID POLICE OFFICER MARIANNE GUAY WAS AT HOME WITH HER YOUNG SON WHEN THE STORM APPROACHED THE TOWN.

I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WAS COMING THROUGH.

THOUGHT IT WAS JUST TYPICAL OKLAHOMA WEATHER.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY DOING LAUNDRY, SO I DIDN'T HEAR THE SIRENS.

AND MY HUSBAND, WHO HE WORKS FOR THE WAUKOMIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, RUSHED HOME TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS OKAY, AND HE GOT HERE AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ROTATION AND STUFF COMING TOWARDS THE HOUSE, AND HE HAULED BACK TOWARDS WAUKOMIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS.

AND THE NEXT THING WE KNEW, THE SIRENS WERE GOING OFF AGAIN, AND HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME IT'S COMING STRAIGHT FOR THE HOUSE.

GUAY IMMEDIATELY SPRUNG INTO ACTION.

I HEARD THE SIRENS, JUST GRABBED MY TODDLER, PUT TENNIS SHOES ON HIM, AND WE LAID DOWN IN THE BATHTUB TOGETHER.

I LAID OVER THE TOP OF THEM.

YOU COULD HEAR THE WIND.

YOU COULD HEAR IT APPROACHING.

AND THEN MY HOUSE STARTED SHAKING.

GLASS SHATTERING.

AND NEXT THING I KNEW, I LOOKED UP AND THERE'S THIS GUY.

THE EF FOUR TORNADO RIPPED THE ROOF OFF OF HER HOME, THE GRAY RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE GUAY, J AND HER FAMILY LIVED, RECEIVED THE BRUNT OF THE DAMAGE.

ESTIMATED WINDS 170 TO 175 MILES AN HOUR, PROBABLY ON THE GROUND ABOUT NINE MILES.

BUT IT WAS VERY, VERY SLOW MOVING, ABOUT 500 YARDS WIDE AT THE MAXIMUM WIDTH COMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE, MAKING IT THE FIRST EF FOUR TORNADO RECORDED IN GARFIELD COUNTY SINCE APRIL 1991.

ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ABOUT 40 HOMES WERE DESTROYED IN THE STORM.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SALVAGE WHAT WE CAN AND GET ALL OF OUR PROPERTY, MAINLY FOR MY TODDLER, SEE WHAT WHAT WE CAN SALVAGE THEIR HIS ROOM AND HIS PLAYROOM WAS BASICALLY OKAY.

THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD STANDS STRONG AS MANY HAVE RUSHED TO AID IMPACTED FAMILIES LIKE THE GAY HAYES.

I JUST WANT TO START OUT BY THANKING ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

I WAS AT THAT COMMAND CENTER LAST NIGHT, AND THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT SHOWED UP IN JUST A MATTER OF SEEM LIKE 20 MINUTES.

I KNOW THAT AT THE END OF 20 MINUTES, WE HAD NINE AMBULANCES ON ON SCENE.

AS IT TURNED OUT, WE DIDN'T NEED ALL THOSE, BUT WE HAD THOSE RESOURCES FOR US.

IT WAS A JOINT VENTURE THROUGH ALL THE AGENCIES.

THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS IS LENDING A HELPING HAND THROUGH THEIR OKLAHOMA REALTOR DISASTER FOUNDATION AND ENID.

WE'RE WORKING IN TWO PHASES.

WITHIN 24 HOURS, WE WERE ON THE GROUND GIVING OUT IMMEDIATE CASH GRANTS.

IN FACT, I THINK WE GAVE OUT 40 OF THEM IN THE FIRST, FIRST 20 HOURS THAT WE WERE THERE TO JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY WE COULD FIND THAT WAS DISPLACED BY THE TORNADO.

THOSE WERE SMALLER GRANTS.

THEY WERE INTENDED TO HELP WITH THINGS LIKE FOOD, HOTEL ROOMS, CLOTHING ON YOUR BACK.

CEO BRIAN HUTCHINSON SAYS FOR THE SECOND PHASE, THEY WILL PARTNER WITH A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, THE REALTOR RELIEF FOUNDATION.

AND ONCE WE SOLIDIFY THAT FINAL PARTNERSHIP, WE'LL BE BACK IN THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE SOME SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER FINANCIAL GRANTS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THIS, BY THAT TORNADO, HE SAYS.

THANKS TO DONATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION IS ABLE TO HELP FAMILIES IMPACTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW IT'S NOT JUST OUR MEMBERS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO DO AS WELL.

WE'D INVITE THEM TO BE A HERO OF HOPE.

THEY CAN FIND THE INFORMATION AT OKAY REALTORS.COM.

ENID ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SCOTT MORRIS SAYS THE COMMUNITY OF ENID IS BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THE OUTPOURING OF AID THEY'VE RECEIVED.

WE JUST COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THE RESPONSE FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND FROM OUR NEIGHBORS.

OKLAHOMA, AS AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE RESILIENT AND WE HAVE PEOPLE SHOW UP AND WANT TO HELP.

ALL THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL.

FROM STILLWATER, CANTON, WATONGA.

I CAN'T NAME ALL THE.

ALL THE HELP THAT WE RECEIVED LAST NIGHT AND SO THANKFUL AND PROUD OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND HOW WE HANDLE THINGS IN OKLAHOMA.

ENID CITY OFFICIALS SAY AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NO NEED FOR ADDITIONAL DONATIONS OF SUPPLIES DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

INSTEAD, THE CITY OF ENID ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO MAKE MONETARY DONATIONS THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE UNITED WAY, THE SALVATION ARMY, DISASTER RELIEF AND THE CHEROKEE STRIP COMMUNITY DISASTER RELIEF FUND.

HOURS AFTER THE STORM HIT, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT WAS ON HAND TO THANK THE MEDIA FOR ALERTING RESIDENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER OF THE STORM.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MEDIA FOR ALWAYS DOING A GREAT JOB OF NOTIFYING US WHEN TO TAKE COVER, AND WE CAN'T TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED.

WHEN YOU DO GET THESE WARNINGS THAT THERE'S A THERE'S A TORNADO ON THE GROUND OR TORNADO WARNING, WE NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS REBUILD.

BUT THE LOSS OF LIFE WOULD BE WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

ONE THING EVERYONE IS GRATEFUL FOR NO FATALITIES.

THERE'S NOTHING SHORT OF CERTAINLY A MIRACLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.

AND SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

BUT THE SECOND THING IS, YOU KNOW, TORNADO SEASON IS INGRAINED IN OKLAHOMA'S DNA, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND SO WE KNOW WHERE OUR SAFE PLACES ARE.

WE ALSO HAVE MADE IT A NATIONAL MODEL ON THE AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUAL AND RESIDENTIAL SAFE ROOMS THAT WE HAVE IN PROPERTIES.

SO SAFE ROOMS DO SAVE LIVES, AND CERTAINLY SO DOES SHELTERING IN PLACE.

IT'S SAD, BUT IT'S JUST PROPERTY.

I CAN GET IT BACK EVENTUALLY.

SO AS LONG AS MY FAMILY'S SAFE AND WE ALL ARE, I THINK EVERYONE HERE HAS SOME INJURIES, BUT EVERYONE MAINLY HERE IS IS OKAY.

SO THAT'S WHAT MATTERS THE MOST.

THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS PARTNERED WITH HEARTLINE OKLAHOMA AND AIR BNB TO PROVIDE FREE, TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY THE ENID TORNADO.

RESIDENTS CAN CALL 211 FOR ASSISTANCE.

RICH TAYLOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALSO THIS WEEK, THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCING SOME GOOD NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA FARMERS.

THERE WILL BE A SECOND ROUND OF DISASTER RELIEF AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT FARMERS WHO SUFFERED LOSSES FROM NATURAL DISASTERS IN 2023 AND 2024.

AND THESE PAYMENTS, WHICH HAD BEEN CALCULATED AT 35%, ARE BEING INCREASED TO 70%, DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE TO AFFECTED FARMERS.

PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON SIGNED THE FAIR HOUSING ACT INTO LAW IN 1968.

IT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, FAMILY STATUS, DISABILITY AND AGE.

58 YEARS LATER, CRITICS SAY DISCRIMINATION STILL EXISTS, INCLUDING HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOTTE.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE PROPERTIES, AND ESPECIALLY FOR LOWER INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS.

SO A LOT OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TOWARDS BIGGER HOMES, HIGHER INCOMES.

AND SO WE'RE ENDING UP WITH A MISMATCH BETWEEN HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED HOUSING AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

THAT MEANS RENTS ARE RISING.

THAT MEANS IT'S HARDER TO BUY A HOME AND CAUSING LOTS OF OTHER PROBLEMS.

YOU COULD BE EVICTED ON A FRIDAY, HANDED THAT FEED ON A FRIDAY, AND THEN FIND YOURSELF IN COURT AS EARLY AS MONDAY OR TUESDAY OF THAT NEXT WEEK, AND FIND VERY LIMITED SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOURSELF.

THEN MAYBE YOU COULD SEEK OUT AN ATTORNEY.

BUT LEGAL AID SERVICES IS CLOSED OVER THE WEEKENDS.

THINGS LIKE THAT ARE ISSUES THAT A LOT OF TENANTS ARE RUNNING INTO.

THERE ARE BUILDERS OUT THERE READY AND WILLING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE.

IT IS NOT AS EASY AS WE SAY IT.

YOU JUST GO BUILD AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THE COST OF BUILDING HAS GONE UP AS WELL.

SO ALL OF THAT PLAYS A FACTOR IN THAT.

THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

STUDENTS AT CHOUTEAU MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE DISCOVERING A WHOLE NEW KIND OF TEACHER'S AIDE, AND APPARENTLY IT'S HAVING A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN.

STEVE SHAW IS BACK FROM MEIGS COUNTY AND JOINS US NOW TO TELL US MORE ABOUT BOB.

STEVE.

RICH, A CALIFORNIA TECH COMPANY, CAME UP WITH WHAT IT CALLS AN M2 ROBOT.

IT'S KIND OF A PINT SIZED VERSION OF R2-D2 FROM THE STAR WARS MOVIES FIVE DECADES AGO.

CHOUTEAU MIDDLE SCHOOL IS THE FIRST SCHOOL IN THE STATE TO USE IT, AND THEY NAMED IT BOB.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO GIVE US THE MOST ACCURATE WITH THAT.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

BOB, WHAT'S THE QUESTION THAT MY KIDS SHOULD BE ASKING RIGHT NOW?

HOW DOES AN OUTLIER CHANGE THE MEDIAN?

HOW DOES THE OUTLIER CHANGE THE MEDIAN?

IT CAN INCREASE OR DECREASE.

OKAY.

CAN.

MATTHEW BENDER IS CHOUTEAU MIDDLE SCHOOL'S MATH DEPARTMENT CHAIR.

HE TEACHES ALGEBRA AND PRE-ALGEBRA.

SUMMARIZE THE LESSON.

WE'VE BEEN ON A ROLL.

BREAKING DOWN THE MYSTERIES OF MEAN, MEDIAN, AND MODE.

YOU'RE EXPLORING HOW TO FIND THE MEDIAN BY ORDERING DATA AND WORKING OUR WAY IN, AND HOW OUTLIERS CAN STRETCH THE MEAN WAY OUT OF LINE WITH THE REST OF THE DATA.

SIX MONTHS AGO, BENDER INTRODUCED BOB TO HIS CLASSROOMS.

HE SAYS BOB HELPS HIS STUDENTS GET IT.

BENDER UPLOADS HIS CURRICULUM AND LESSON PLANS INTO BOB'S SYSTEM.

FROM THERE, BOB FOLLOWS ALONG, ASKS QUESTIONS, AND HIGHLIGHTS WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

WHERE IT REALLY SHOWS ME THE KIDS THAT AREN'T GETTING IT ARE AT THE END.

WHENEVER I GIVE THEM A REFLECTION.

AND SO, SO, SO WHAT I DO IS AFTER THE M2 GETS DONE, AFTER I GET DONE WITH MY LESSON, IT AUTO GENERATES A REFLECTION BASED ON WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

AND SO WHAT I CAN DO THEN IS I CAN POST A LINK TO THAT IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM.

THE KIDS WILL GO IN THERE AND FOLLOW THE LINK, AND IT WILL TAKE THEM TO M2'S WEBSITE, AND THEY LOG IN WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR GMAIL ACCOUNT, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO TALK TO THE COMPUTER AND ASK THEM THREE QUESTIONS.

AND THE FIRST QUESTION IS ALWAYS THE SAME FOR EVERY KID.

AND THEN BASED ON THEIR RESPONSE, IT STARTS TRYING TO DIG DEEPER INTO EITHER WHAT THEY KNOW OR WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW.

AND SO THAT'S WHENEVER IT GIVES ME EACH STUDENT'S DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE, HOW WELL THEY UNDERSTOOD THE LESSON, WHERE EACH STUDENT IS STRUGGLING OR WHERE EACH STUDENT GOT IT.

SO ALL THAT FEEDBACK, THAT'S WHAT'S GOLD.

OH YEAH.

GOLD.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S PROBABLY SO MUCH EASIER FOR THEM TO TELL THE TRUTH TO THE COMPUTER THAN TO THE TEACHER.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I TRY TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN MY CLASS.

WE TALK ABOUT IT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR THAT IT'S OKAY TO BE WRONG.

LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BE WRONG IN MATH.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE GROW.

CHOUTEAU MIDDLE SCHOOL IS THE ONLY SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO RECEIVE ONE OF THOSE M2 ROBOTS.

THEY GOT IT FROM AN $8,500 GRANT FROM TOSHIBA.

YOU GOT THE GRANT?

I GOT THE GRANT, YES.

DON BENDER IS TEACHER.

MAT BENDER'S FATHER.

DON ALSO TAUGHT MATH FOR FOUR DECADES.

21 YEARS AT CHOUTEAU.

THESE DAYS, HIS JOB IS TO FIND GRANTS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

MATH WAS SO HARD FOR ME IF I'D HAD THIS.

THERE'S JUST A LOT OF EMBARRASSMENT IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER AND IT'S EASY NOT TO SAY ANYTHING.

THIS THIS COMPUTER HELPS KIND OF BRIDGE THAT GAP.

IT DOES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED, BUT THE KIDS ARE SITTING THERE IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER AFTER HE GETS DONE TEACHING, AND THEY'RE LETTING THE COMPUTER KNOW IF THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE LESSON.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS RELATIVELY NEW TO EDUCATION, BENDER SAYS.

THESE ROBOTS DON'T REPLACE HOMEWORK.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES TEACHERS IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK FROM THEIR STUDENTS.

HE SAYS STUDENTS ARE MORE HONEST WITH ROBOTS BECAUSE IT'S JUST HUMAN NATURE.

HE SAYS THAT FIRST $8,500 TOSHIBA GRANT AND A $5,000 GRANT FROM ARVEST BANK WAS ENOUGH TO FURNISH FIVE OTHER M2 ROBOTS LIKE BOB FOR THE SCHOOL.

THE KIDS TODAY GROW UP ON COMPUTERS.

THEY GROW UP ON THEIR CELL PHONES.

THEY'RE USED TO THIS TECHNOLOGY.

AND I THINK FOR SO LONG, SCHOOLS HAVE LAGGED BEHIND THAT.

IT'S STILL PENCIL, PAPER BOOKS, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

BUT WE NEED TO INTRODUCE THINGS LIKE THIS TO KEEP THE KIDS MOTIVATED AND ABSENTEEISM.

I THINK WE'LL SEE DROP.

I THINK WE'LL SEE TEST SCORES INCREASE.

SO THAT TELLS ME THAT THE AVERAGE OF THIS IS SEVEN POINT.

WE'LL SAY ONE.

OKAY.

MATTHEW BENDER'S STUDENTS TELL ME BOB IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST A NOVELTY.

I KIND OF LIKE IT JUST SHOWS ME WHERE I NEED TO REVIEW AND KIND OF HELPS ME FIGURE OUT WHERE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF THE ROBOT WASN'T THERE TO HELP, LET'S BE HONEST, I'D BE FAILING.

A COMPUTER CAN KIND OF FERRET OUT WHO DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT AND WITHOUT THE, WITHOUT THE TEACHER HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS OUT A LOT WITH CATCHING MISTAKES AND EVERYTHING AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS.

WELL, I WENT FROM A C LAST YEAR TO LIKE A 100 THIS YEAR.

SO YOU'RE GETTING AN A THIS YEAR SO FAR AND YOU THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF BOB?

YES.

DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THIS WOULD BE THIS SUCCESSFUL?

NO.

UNTIL THIS YEAR, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS EXISTED.

CHOUTEAU MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL MICHELLE BRUMLEY SAYS HER SCHOOL WILL USE THEIR SIX M2 ROBOTS FOR MATH AND LANGUAGE CLASSES.

THERE'S LOTS OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE THAT JUST IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING.

SO IF YOU SPEAK SPANISH BUT NOT ENGLISH, YOU CAN GET A SPANISH VERSION.

YES, OF WHAT THE TEACHER'S SAYING.

SO WHATEVER THE TEACHER IS UP HERE SAYING TO THE CLASS, IT IS GIVING YOU A SUMMARY IN YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE, IN YOUR EAR, AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE HEARING IT IN ENGLISH.

SO WHAT DOES 38 PLUS 44?

82, 82?

WHAT'S 82 DIVIDED BY 41, 41?

IT'S VERY COOL AND I APPRECIATE IT A LOT.

LIKE WHEN WE GO BACK THROUGH AND WE DO THE REVIEWS, LIKE THE REFLECTIONS, I LIKE TALK TO IT AND I TELL IT LIKE HOW I UNDERSTOOD IT.

IT SHOWS ME WHERE I MESSED UP AND THEN IT SHOWS HIM WHERE I MESSED UP TOO.

AND THAT'S BIG BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WITH THAT HELP, YOU GOT YOU DO BETTER IN CLASS.

I DO A LOT BETTER.

BESIDES THOSE GRANTS, THE DISTRICT TELLS ME THE COST FOR THESE ROBOTS IS ABOUT $3,000 A YEAR FOR LICENSING FEES.

SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL.

RICH.

REALLY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STEVE.

WELL, A GROUP OF OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE COMPLETED A ONE YEAR WORKFORCE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PUT THEM ON THE PATH TO A CAREER IN HEALTH CARE.

AND THAT'S WORTHY OF A CELEBRATION.

ON WEDNESDAY, OO HEALTH, OKC AND THE OKC FOUNDATION HOSTING THE VERY FIRST FUTURE FORD SENIOR CAREER AND SUCCESS CELEBRATION AT THE CLARA LUPER CENTER IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND PART OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDED A CAREER FAIR AND ON SITE JOB INTERVIEW INTERVIEWS.

WE REALLY REVVED IT UP THIS YEAR AND GOT INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND READING TO THE STUDENTS AND HAVING THEM SEE ACTUALLY LIKE FIRSTHAND, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE IN LAB.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE IN PHARMACY.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE IN HEALTH CARE.

AND SOMETIMES IT MAY NOT BE A CLINICAL ROLE.

SO WE ALSO HAVE NON-CLINICAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE REALLY ARE SETTING THE TONE FOR STUDENTS.

YES.

I FEEL LIKE THE PROGRAM MOST DEFINITELY PREPARED ME FOR TODAY JUST TO BE CONFIDENT IN WHEN I SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERVIEWING ME, HOW TO COME OFF, HOW TO, YOU KNOW, DRESS, HOW TO SPEAK, HOW TO PUT MY RESUME TOGETHER SO THEY COULD HAVE ONE THAT IS AMAZING.

THE SENIORS IN ATTENDANCE ARE GRADUATING FROM DOUGLAS JOHN MARSHALL SOUTHEAST AND STAR SPENCER HIGH SCHOOLS.

THE SALLISAW VETERANS HOME WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN MARCH OF 2023, BUT COST OVERRUNS AND DELAYS PUSHED THAT BACK TO JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT?

JASON DOYLE TRAVELED TO SEQUOYAH COUNTY TO TAKE A TOUR AND FIND OUT, AND HE JOINS US NOW.

JASON RICH, IT WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2020 WHEN THEY BROKE GROUND ON THE SALLISAW VETERANS CENTER TO REPLACE THE AGING TALIHINA FACILITY.

THE NEW CENTER RECENTLY RECEIVED A FEDERAL APPROVAL, WHICH WILL ALLOW MORE VETERANS TO MOVE IN TO THE STATE OF THE ART FACILITY.

WELL, I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE ANY NAVY VETERAN.

OBIE BREWER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST RESIDENTS TO MOVE INTO THE 175 BED SALLISAW VETERANS CENTER, AND SO FAR, HE LIKES IT.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD PLACE.

BREWER WAS A SEABEE WHILE SERVING IN THE NAVY.

I WAS EQUIPMENT OPERATOR.

I SPENT 17 MONTHS, 18 MONTHS IN THE MARIANAS, AND I SPENT A TOUR SIX MONTHS ON MIDWAY IN THE PACIFIC.

THERE I WAS OVER.

I WAS OVER IN THAT AREA WHEN THE KOREAN WAR ENDED IN 1953.

JUST LIKE BREWER, EACH OF THE NEW RESIDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN ROOM.

I'M IN GOOD HANDS HERE.

THIS LADY HERE WILL MAKE SURE I'M BETWEEN HER AND MY WIFE.

I AIN'T GOING IN THERE.

AND ACCORDING TO VETERANS CENTER ADMINISTRATOR SHANLEE REID.

BREWER IS GETTING MORE NEIGHBORS SOON.

WE WERE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED ON APRIL 9TH.

SO WE ARE.

WE ARE TAKING NEW ADMITS LITERALLY WEEKLY.

AT THIS POINT, WE CAN HOLD UP TO 175 RESIDENTS TOTAL, AND WE'RE.

WE'RE BRINGING THEM ON WEEKLY.

AND RIGHT NOW, OUR CURRENT STAFF.

SINCE THIS IS 29, I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE.

32, I THINK IN THAT BY THE END OF THE WEEK, THAT FEDERAL RECOGNITION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE CENTER TO RECOUP SOME COSTS TO TAKE CARE OF RESIDENTS FROM THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

GETTING THE APPROVAL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WASN'T EASY.

IT TOOK THREE SURVEYS TO REACH THIS POINT.

IT'S A PASS FAIL SURVEY THAT YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

SO THE FIRST TWO SURVEYS, THEY FOUND A FEW THINGS THEY WANTED US TO FIX, AND WE GOT ON THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND RESOLVED A LOT OF ISSUES.

THAT THIRD SURVEY WE WE WENT THROUGH WITHOUT ANY DEFICIENCIES NOTED.

SO THAT ALLOWED US TO BE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED AND READY TO OPEN UP.

WHILE THE NEW FACILITY CAN NOW FULLY OPEN, IT WASN'T EASY TO SHUT DOWN THE TALIHINA VETERANS CENTER, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE SALLISAW CENTER.

THE SALLISAW DIRECTOR OF NURSING ALSO HELPED TO CLOSE THE FACILITY IN OCTOBER 2023.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, IN HOUSE TRANSFERS TO OTHER FACILITIES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PREPARATION OF LIKE GETTING FILES WHERE THEY SHOULD BE ARCHIVES, THAT SORT OF THING, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T JUST DESTROY SOME OF THE RECORDS.

SHE SAYS THROUGH ALL THAT WORK, THE HARDEST PART WAS SAYING GOODBYE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF MIXED FEELINGS WITH THEM, AND SO THAT WAS TOUGH.

GRIFFITH HAD SEMI-RETIRED AFTER THAT, BUT THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CALLED TO ENLIST HER HELP IN OPENING THE NEW FACILITY.

THE BUILDING WAS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION WHEN I COME BACK.

AND SO THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAD TO BE DONE, A LOT OF POLICIES IN NURSING TO RIGHT, GOING THROUGH AND MAKING SURE THAT THE TALIHINA VETERANS WERE GOING TO BE OFFERED THE FIRST ADMISSIONS HERE.

ONE OF THE FIRST ARRIVALS WAS JIMMY BILLINGS.

HEY, THE NAVY VETERAN WAS MOVED FROM THE TALIHINA CENTER TO THE SULFUR CENTER TO AWAIT THIS FACILITY OPENING.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S WHAT'S QUIET.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ONLY 2024 OF US AT ONE TIME.

SO WE'RE STARTING STARTING TO FILL UP NOW.

BUT IT WAS QUIET.

IT'S A BIG OLD PLACE.

YOU KNOW, THE VETERANS CENTER IS A WHOPPING 215,000FT!S, WITH FOUR HOUSING UNITS AND SEVERAL AMENITIES.

ADMINISTRATOR REED SHOWED SOME OF THEM DURING OUR TOUR.

THIS IS OUR DINING ROOM AND THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON JUST A SECOND AFTER YOU COME IN.

THERE WE GO.

SO HAS YOUR EFFICIENCY STUFF.

ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF AUTOMATION GOING ON.

THE TABLES ARE DESIGNED WITH VETERANS NEEDS IN MIND.

THE TABLES ARE ALL DESIGNED TO WHERE IT ALLOWS WHEELCHAIRS TO BE ROLLED UP, AND IT'S A GOOD SETUP.

THERE'S ALSO A GYM WHERE RESIDENTS CAN GET IN A LITTLE EXERCISE WITH THE HELP OF STAFF.

YEAH, WE GOT YOU.

LET'S GO.

READY?

THREE.

TWO.

ONE AND STAND.

PUT YOUR HANDS UP THERE.

THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.

COME UP BIG AND TALL.

THE FACILITY EVEN HAS A ROOM TO HELP WITH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, WHICH GIVES THE VETERANS MORE INDEPENDENCE ON THINGS LIKE DOING LAUNDRY OR THE DISHES.

IT'S STILL ACTUALLY WORK.

DOORS, TWIST KNOBS.

IT'S THE REAL DEAL.

REED SAYS IT ISN'T.

TOO OFTEN YOU FIND A VETERAN CENTER, LET ALONE A LONG TERM CARE FACILITY, HAVE ITS OWN FULL SCALE BARBER SHOP TO KEEP THE VETERANS LOOKING SHARP.

WE HAD A BARBER IN AND SHE COMES, WHAT, ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH?

ONCE?

YEAH, THE NEW SALLISAW CENTER EVEN HAS A PIECE OF THE OLD TALIHINA VETERANS CENTER, A HOWITZER WHICH USED TO SIT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE NOW CLOSED CENTER.

OF COURSE, THERE ARE ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THE RESIDENTS BUSY.

MAMA AMY TOLD.

A NEW ROAD, AND THAT INCLUDES THAT CARD AND SAY, BINGO!

JIMMY BILLINGS LIKES THOSE WEEKLY BINGO GAMES.

SOMETHING TO KEEP YOU OCCUPIED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AN HOUR OR SO OF BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING BESIDES JUST SIT THERE AND WATCH TV.

MARINE VETERAN ROGER THURBER LIKES A GOOD BINGO GAME, TOO.

I HAVE ONE, PROBABLY 18 OR $19 SO FAR, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE VERY BIG POTS BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY 3 OR 4 OF US PLAYING.

THE ONLY THING MISSING FOR THURBER IS A FISHING HOLE.

I'M SURE THE SAME HAPPY HAPPINESS WOULD GO ON HERE IF WE COULD GET IT STARTED HERE.

CENTER ADMINISTRATOR SHANLEY REED TOLD ME THEY EXPECT TO HAVE MORE THAN 100 VETERANS LIVING AT THE SALLISAW CENTER BY THE END OF THE SUMMER.

RICH.

JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THERE IS LESS THAN A MONTH LEFT IN THE SECOND REGULAR SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, PERHAPS MUCH LESS, BUT THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

WITH MORE ON THE REMAINING WORK STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION, WE ARE JOINED NOW BY QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SEAN ASHLEY FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE THE CAPITOL.

AND SEAN, IS GOVERNOR STITT EXPECTED TO SIGN A BILL THAT WILL PERMANENTLY BAN THE USE OF CELL PHONES BY STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

HE CERTAINLY IS.

GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED THE ORIGINAL BILL IN 2025 THAT CREATED THE ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.

DURING THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR THAT REQUIRED SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADOPT A POLICY BANNING CELL PHONES.

BELL TO BELL.

THAT THAT BILL HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY BY BOTH TEACHERS AS WELL AS STUDENTS, ACCORDING TO REPRESENTATIVE CHAD CALDWELL, THE HOUSE AUTHOR OF THE MEASURE AND AND SENATOR ALI SEEFRIED, THE SENATE MEASURE.

THIS WILL MAKE THAT PROCESS PERMANENT.

PHONES WILL BE BANNED BELL TO BELL UNDER LOCAL DISTRICT POLICIES, WHICH WILL BE CRAFTED TO BEST SUIT WHAT THOSE DISTRICTS NEED, BEGINNING WITH THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR AND CONTINUING THEREAFTER AS STICKING WITH EDUCATION.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE RETIRE REHIRE BILL THAT'S ALSO BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK TO BE SIGNED.

YES, THIS IS A RATHER INTERESTING PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW, A RETIRED TEACHER CAN RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE HER RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

IF THEY WAIT 36 MONTHS OR THREE YEARS AFTER RETIRING TO DO SO.

HOUSE BILL 2288 BY HOUSE SPEAKER KYLE HILBERT AND SENATOR AVERY FRICKE'S, CHANGES THAT TIME PERIOD TO SIX MONTHS, ALLOWING THEM TO COME BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM MUCH MORE QUICKLY.

THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS APPROACH WILL HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE TEACHER SHORTAGES, PARTICULARLY IN MORE RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR CERTAINLY MOVING QUICKLY TO SIGN BILLS RELATED TO THE 2027 BUDGET INTO LAW.

THAT'S RIGHT.

GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED SENATE BILL 1177, THE $12.82 BILLION GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL BACK ON APRIL 15TH.

BUT SINCE THAT TIME, HE'S BEEN SIGNING A NUMBER OF BILLS OR ALLOWING OTHERS TO BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE, THAT IMPLEMENT THAT BUDGET, THAT TELLS STATE AGENCIES HOW THEY NEED TO SPEND THE FUNDING THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING.

SO FAR, HE HAS SIGNED APPROXIMATELY 30 BILLS AND ALLOWED 20 MORE TO TAKE EFFECT, AND THERE ARE STILL OTHERS GOING TO AS DESK, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TEACHER PAY RAISE WAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE EARLIER THIS WEEK AND NOW GOES BACK TO THE SENATE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

BEFORE GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

CHANGING SUBJECTS.

WHAT'S THE LATEST ON EFFORTS TO ENSURE LONG TERM FUNDING FOR OKLAHOMA'S 988 MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS WERE BELIEVED TO BE THREATENING THE EXISTENCE OF THAT HOTLINE, BUT LAWMAKERS HAVE APPROPRIATED $5.9 MILLION TO A SPECIAL FUND THAT WAS CREATED BY ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO HELP FUND THE ONGOING OPERATIONS OF THAT HOTLINE.

THE.

THE BILL ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE STATE LOOK FOR WAYS SUCH AS ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING AND OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE HOTLINE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

REAL QUICKLY, A FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU VOTERS WILL CONSIDER A STATE QUESTION CONCERNING PROPERTY VALUE TAX INCREASES ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

GIVE US THE DETAILS ON THAT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

S.J.R.

39 PROPOSES A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD LOWER THE GROWTH RATE OF THE MARKET, VALUE OF HOMES AND AGRICULTURAL LANDS FOR PROPERTY TAX PURPOSES.

CURRENTLY, FOR EXAMPLE, A HOMESTEADS VALUE CAN GROW AT 3% ANNUALLY FOR PROPERTY TAX PURPOSES.

THIS WOULD REDUCE THAT TO 1.75% AND SOMEWHAT SIMILARLY, THE GROWTH IN AGRICULTURAL LAND VALUE WOULD BE REDUCED TO 4% FROM 5%.

OBVIOUSLY SAVING THE OWNERS OF THAT LAND MONEY.

BUT OF COURSE, THIS HAS TO GO TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

AND THAT QUESTION WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, AFTER IT FAILED TO SECURE ENOUGH VOTES TO GO ON THE AUGUST BALLOT.

INTERESTING.

OKAY.

SEAN ASHLEY, PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL.

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

ESG STANDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE, AND IT'S USED BY CREDIT RATING SERVICES TO HELP ASSESS RISK.

AND THAT CONCERNS ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND.

AS JASON DOYLE EXPLAINS IN THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW, OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND HAS JOINED A MULTI-STATE EFFORT TO FIND OUT HOW CREDIT AGENCIES ARE USING ESG POLICIES TO COME UP WITH THEIR RATINGS.

THE LETTER WAS SENT TO FITCH RATINGS, MOODY'S, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, AND THE U.S.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

DRUMMOND AND THE OTHER AGS POINT TO RECENT DOWNGRADES OF FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES FOR THE BASIS OF THEIR CONCERN.

OGE ENERGY AND GOOGLE HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FOR THE UTILITY TO POWER THREE OF GOOGLE'S DATA CENTERS IN OKLAHOMA.

THOSE CENTERS ARE BEING BUILT IN STILLWATER AND MUSKOGEE.

GOOGLE WILL PAY TO CONNECT THE DATA CENTERS TO GRID CONTRACTED COSTS, REGARDLESS OF THE COMPANY'S ENERGY USE AND ITS SHARE OF POWER GENERATION REQUIRED TO SERVE THE CENTERS.

ALSO, AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT, GOOGLE IS MAKING AVAILABLE POWER GENERATED BY TWO SOLAR PANEL FIELDS BUILT NEAR ITS DATA CENTERS.

THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION MUST APPROVE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN OGE AND GOOGLE FOR IT TO TAKE EFFECT.

SPEAKING OF OGE AND ITS PARENT COMPANY, OGE ENERGY REPORTS FIRST QUARTER PROFITS OF $57.9 MILLION.

THAT'S A DECLINE FROM 2020 FIRST QUARTER NET INCOME OF $71 MILLION.

COMPANY LEADERS SAY THE DOWNTURN IN PROFITS IS DUE TO MILD WEATHER AND HIGHER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSES.

OGE ENERGY STILL BELIEVES IT WILL GENERATE EARNINGS IN THE RANGE OF $2.38 TO $2.48 A SHARE, ASSUMING NO MAJOR WEATHER PATTERN CHANGES FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

TULSA BASED ONE OAK SAW A 12% INCREASE IN PROFITS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

NET INCOME TOTALED $776 MILLION FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 2026.

DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, ONE OAK'S PROFITS WERE $691 MILLION.

THE STRONG FIRST QUARTER HAS PROMPTED COMPANY LEADERS TO RAISE EARNINGS GUIDANCE FOR ALL OF 2026, TO THE RANGE OF 3.21 BILLION TO $3.79 BILLION.

TO HELP ENCOURAGE ITS EMPLOYEES TO VOLUNTEER MORE IN THE COMMUNITY.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED MIDFIRST BANK HELD A COMMUNITY CONNECTION EVENT INTRODUCING ITS EMPLOYEES TO TEN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

EMPLOYEES LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND HOW THE NONPROFITS IMPACT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON, GREAT JOB.

OKLAHOMA'S FAIR HOUSING LAW PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN RENTING OR SELLING HOUSING BASED ON RACE, RELIGION, SEX, AGE, AND OTHER FACTORS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT DISCRIMINATION AND OTHER PROBLEMS DON'T EXIST.

IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, MODERATOR SUSAN AND HER PANEL DISCUSS WHAT'S BEING DONE TO PREVENT THOSE RICH.

OUR GUESTS JOINING US FOR IN-DEPTH ARE OKLAHOMA SENATOR JULIA KURT, WHO HAS PROPOSED FAIR HOUSING LEGISLATION.

WE ALSO HAVE KIMBERLY ROBBINS, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, OR OKC, MA, AND JAKE RAMSEY, WHO IS A REPORTER WITH OKLAHOMA WATCH.

HE'S BEEN FOLLOWING FAIR HOUSING ISSUES.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS GREAT DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT FAIR HOUSING.

SENATOR, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG FAIR HOUSING ISSUES IN OKLAHOMA THAT YOU SEE?

THE BIGGEST ONE IS JUST A SHORTAGE.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE PROPERTIES AND ESPECIALLY FOR LOWER INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS.

SO A LOT OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TOWARDS BIGGER HOMES, HIGHER INCOMES.

AND SO WE'RE ENDING UP WITH A MISMATCH BETWEEN HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED HOUSING AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

THAT MEANS RENTS ARE RISING.

THAT MEANS IT'S HARDER TO BUY A HOME AND CAUSING LOTS OF OTHER PROBLEMS.

WE HEAR THIS NATIONWIDE, BUT IN OKLAHOMA.

I DO WANT TO SOME STATS I CAME ACROSS FROM THE NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION.

OUR MINIMUM WAGE IS $7.25 AN HOUR.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO WORK 93 HOURS A WEEK TO AFFORD A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT AT FAIR MARKET RATE.

THAT WOULD BE A RENT OF $864.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A PAY ISSUE.

IS THIS A PAY ISSUE OR A RENT?

HIGHER RENT ISSUE.

JAKE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YEAH.

SO IN MY REPORTING, I'VE COME ACROSS BOTH OF THOSE PROBLEMS BEING AN EXAMPLE OF WHY OKLAHOMA'S EVICTION RATES ARE SO HIGH, AS WELL AS WHY OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IS LIMITED.

AND IT'S TYPICALLY IN MY REPORTING, COME DOWN TO, LIKE YOU SAID, THE 7.25 AN HOUR BEING QUITE AN ISSUE.

IT'S IT'S RENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW FOR TENANTS.

AND MANY OKLAHOMANS JUST DO NOT MAKE THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PAY RENT.

AND IT OFTEN ENDS IN THEM FALLING BEHIND AND HAVING TO PAY OFF THESE ARREARS AND THEN FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS CYCLE WHERE THEY END UP BEING EVICTED SEVERAL TIMES OVER.

AND THAT ADDS TO EVEN FURTHER PROBLEMS WITHIN OUR STATE.

I WANT TO COME BACK TO EVICTION JUST A MINUTE.

BUT FIRST, KIMBERLY, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, WHY ARE OKLAHOMA REALTORS INVESTED IN THIS ISSUE?

WHY WOULD THEY CARE?

AS LONG AS YOU'RE SELLING THE HOMES?

LISTEN, WE ADVOCATE FOR CONSUMERS FROM THE START TO THE FINISH OF A REAL ESTATE DEAL AND INCLUDING RENTAL PROPERTY AS WELL.

SO OUR JOB, I MEAN, WE ARE RIGHT THERE WITH THE CONSUMER.

WE ARE HOLDING THE HAND OF THE RENTER THAT'S BEING EVICTED.

SO IT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEART TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FINDS DECENT HOUSING.

HOUSING IS OUR IS OUR THING.

LET'S LET'S TALK VERY MICRO HERE.

WHEN SOMEONE'S COMING IN AND THEY'RE AFRAID THEY DON'T HAVE THE CREDIT RATING OR ENOUGH MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT OR THE INCOME TO GET A HOME.

YOU KNOW, HOW DO THEY GET HELP THROUGH THAT PROCESS?

AND ARE THERE INSTANCES WHERE THERE IS NO HELP FOR THEM?

WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE PROBLEM SOLVERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

I MEAN, IF THAT MEANS ROOMING WITH SOMEONE, FINDING SOMEONE, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE RENTAL MARKET BECAUSE RENTS ARE SO HIGH.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, SHARED SHARED LIVING SPACES, YOU KNOW, TAKING THAT LARGER HOUSE AND RENTING THE ROOM OUT AND HAVING SHARED SPACES FOR PEOPLE IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE REDUCED TO, TO GET INTO HOUSING RIGHT NOW.

IS THAT MORE COMMON THAN, SAY, TEN, 20 YEARS AGO?

MUCH MORE.

AND I DON'T SAY IT'S COMMON.

I SAY THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO NOW TO GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.

ALL RIGHT.

SENATOR, I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE JAKE BROUGHT UP EVICTION AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A SENATE BILL 1209 ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT FOR US?

YEAH.

SO SENATE BILL 1209.

I'M WORKING WITH DANIEL PAY, WHO'S A REPRESENTATIVE FROM LAWTON.

IT'S A BIPARTISAN BILL.

IT WOULD JUST ADD SUNDAYS TO THE EVICTION TIMELINE.

SO OKLAHOMA HAS ONE OF THE FASTEST EVICTION TIMELINES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ABSOLUTELY RESPECT PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH MAKING SURE THERE'S FAIR DUE PROCESS AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN FIGURE OUT THEIR NEXT STEP IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE LEAVING THAT PROPERTY.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S A FIVE DAY WINDOW BETWEEN FILING AND THAT COURT DATE.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS ADDING SUNDAYS AND FEDERAL HOLIDAYS.

SO RIGHT NOW, SOMEBODY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BANK, MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET PAID, BUT THEY'RE STILL EXPECTED TO BE.

THAT'S PART OF THAT TIMELINE THERE.

SO YOU SAY ADDING SUNDAYS AND FEDERAL HOLIDAYS, DOES THAT MEAN IT'S BECOME PART OF THE FIVE DAYS OR THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE FIVE DAYS?

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE PART OF THE FIVE DAYS.

OKAY.

SO THIS WOULD EXCLUDE THEM, WHICH WOULD MEAN IT WOULD BE SLIGHTLY LONGER.

MIGHT ADD AN AVERAGE OF A DAY TO AN EVICTION PROCESS.

BUT THE BIG THING I NOTICED WAS WE HAD HUNDREDS OF EVICTIONS WHERE PEOPLE COULD BE EVICTED ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO BANKS ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

IT'S NOT HEALTHY.

AND OUR SHERIFFS ARE SCRAMBLING TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

SO WE REALLY THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A HEALTHIER PROCESS.

JUST TO ADD THAT LITTLE WINDOW IN THERE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA PER CAPITA WISE WHAT THE EVICTION RATES ARE IN OKLAHOMA COMPARED TO OTHER STATES AROUND THE REGION?

OR ARE WE ONE OF THE HIGHER ONES?

YOU SAID WE'RE ONE OF THE FASTER ONES.

TULSA AND OKLAHOMA CITY HAVE BEEN, JAKE, HAVE MORE RECENT INFORMATION, BUT THE LAST LABS I SAW WERE ABOUT 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO, AND WE WERE SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES PER CAPITA.

I IMAGINE IT'S GONE UP SINCE THEN.

WE THERE'S NOT BEEN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS IT.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST COST EVICTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

NATIONWIDE, THERE'S A LOT OF STATES THAT HAVE RAISED THOSE FEES A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T USING EVICTION AS JUST A WAY TO COLLECT MORE MONEY.

ABSOLUTELY.

IN THAT PROCESS, THERE'S A WAY FOR LANDLORDS TO GET PAID, AND THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO GET PAID BEFORE A JUDGMENT.

SO ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO CAN WE RESOLVE THESE THINGS BEFORE THE FILING, BEFORE THE ACTUAL COURT CASE, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN EITHER STAY IN THEIR PROPERTY OR LEAVE PEACEABLY?

WHAT DOES SUPPORT LOOK LIKE THUS FAR IS WHERE WE ARE IN MAY.

IT IS A FRAUGHT ISSUE.

IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE WORRY THAT WE'RE IN SOME SLIPPERY SLOPE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE LANDLORDS HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THEIR PROPERTY, WHICH IS NOT AT ALL WHERE OKLAHOMA IS.

WE'RE WAY ON THE OTHER END OF THAT SPECTRUM, SO IT'S NEVER AN EASY ISSUE.

WHAT'S THE EVICTION PROCESS LIKE WHEN SOMEONE WHEN A WHEN A HOMEOWNER SAYS, I WANT TO EVICT THIS PERSON, WHAT STEPS MUST THEY GO THROUGH AND HOW LONG DO THE STEPS TAKE?

JAKE.

YEAH, SO THERE'S THE FIVE DAY NOTICE TO QUIT, WHICH IS THE INITIAL NOTICE THAT COMES AFTER A MISSED PAYMENT.

THEN THERE'S THE FORCIBLE ENTRY AND DETAINER.

THAT'S THE OFFICIAL TITLE FOR AN EVICTION NOTICE.

AND AFTER THAT'S BEEN FILED, THE TENANT CAN FIND THEMSELVES IN EVICTION COURT IN AS LITTLE AS THREE DAYS.

SO YOU COULD BE TO A POINT TO SENATOR KURT'S BILL FOR A SECOND.

YOU COULD BE EVICTED ON A FRIDAY, HANDED THAT FED ON A FRIDAY, AND THEN FIND YOURSELF IN COURT AS EARLY AS MONDAY OR TUESDAY OF THAT NEXT WEEK AND FIND VERY LIMITED SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOURSELF.

THEN MAYBE YOU COULD SEEK OUT AN ATTORNEY.

BUT LEGAL AID SERVICES IS CLOSED OVER THE WEEKENDS.

THINGS LIKE THAT ARE ISSUES THAT A LOT OF TENANTS ARE RUNNING INTO.

AND A LOT OF THE TIME IT COMES DOWN TO, LIKE SENATOR KURT SAID, THAT FAST TIMELINE AND THOSE LOW EVICTION FEES.

OKAY, WAIT A MINUTE.

I LIKE TO WATCH COURT VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE AND IT'S ALWAYS DRAWN OUT AT LEAST 30 COURT AT LEAST 30 DAYS.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT.

YOU HAVE AT LEAST 30 DAYS.

ONCE YOU GET THE NOTICE.

IT IS NOT THE CASE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

AND I CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A FAN OF COURT DRAMAS OR YOU'RE A FAN OF COURT IN GENERAL, I WOULD RECOMMEND GOING AND SITTING IN AN EVICTION COURT.

IT CAN BE AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE.

I SAT IN ONE ON TUESDAY WHERE I BELIEVE THERE WERE OVER 200 EVICTIONS FILED IN JUST OKLAHOMA COUNTY ALONE, AND THEY'RE THE TENANTS THERE WERE JUST CRAMMED IN.

IT WAS VERY LIMITED SPACING, AND A LOT OF THEM JUST WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, AND MANY OF THEM JUST DIDN'T SHOW UP BECAUSE THAT TIMELINE WAS PRETTY SHORT AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE.

MAYBE THEY COULDN'T FIND CHILDCARE, MAYBE THEY COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, SECURE TIME OFF OF WORK, MAYBE THEY COULDN'T FIND A RIDE.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT TENANTS RUN INTO IS THEY TYPICALLY JUST CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE COURT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

CAN I ADD THAT EVICTIONS?

I MEAN, THAT IS ACTUALLY THE ONLY CIVIL PROCEDURE THAT IS EXCLUDED FROM NORMAL TIMELINES.

SO IN THE LIKE THE THE TIMELINES FOR ANY KIND OF SMALL CLAIMS COURT, THEIR SPECIFIC RESPONSE DEADLINES, THAT KIND OF STUFF, EVICTIONS ARE ACTUALLY EXCLUDED FROM THAT.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S A SHORTENED TIMELINE.

AND THE TIMELINE JAKE'S TALKING ABOUT COULD BE FOR DAMAGE OR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

THERE'S A FASTER TIMELINE FOR THAT IF THERE'S A DANGER HAPPENING THERE.

BUT FOR NONPAYMENT, IT'S 5 TO 10 DAYS FOR THE COURT CASE, RIGHT?

IT'S TOUGHER IN THESE REALLY POPULOUS COUNTIES.

RURAL COUNTIES DON'T HAVE EVICTION COURT EVERY DAY.

OKLAHOMA AND TULSA COUNTY ARE HAVING IT FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF EVICTIONS EVERY DAY.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO MOVE UPSTREAM AND TRY TO RESOLVE SOME OF THESE THINGS BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE KIMBERLY, WHY IS IT THE HOMEOWNERS, THE PROPERTY OWNERS PROBLEM THAT SOMEONE CAN'T DO CHILD CARE, WHETHER THEY'RE THEY ARE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE RENT PAID AS AGREED TO BY A LEASE.

SO WHY SHOULD THE PROPERTY OWNER TAKE ON THE BURDEN OF THE RENTERS FINANCIAL ISSUES?

WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE JUST HUMAN.

WE'RE HUMAN.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE AND THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND I'M SAYING THIS, I'M BEING THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, BUT I'M, I'M COMING FROM I ALSO DO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MYSELF.

AND I HAVE ALSO WALKED PEOPLE THROUGH EVICTIONS MYSELF.

AND THERE IS A HUMANE WAY TO WALK PEOPLE THROUGH EVICTIONS.

I THINK A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH US JUST LEARNING.

THERE'S KNOWLEDGE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THERE AND LIKE, WHAT IS THIS PROCESS?

HOW DO WE MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, MORE EFFICIENT FOR PEOPLE AND HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS?

SO AS YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THESE PROCESSES WITH PEOPLE IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, DO YOU EVER JUST WHAT DO YOU WHEN YOU SIT AROUND AND THINK, IF I COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND FIX THE WORLD IN THIS ARENA, WHAT WOULD YOU WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?

I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE YOU ASKED ME THAT QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS LIKE, DID I BELIEVE LIKE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MY LIFE'S WORK TO TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT?

I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LANDLORD TENANT ACT AND OUR RIGHTS, IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE 70S.

AND WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH WITH HOW WE'RE COMING TO THE TABLE.

I ALWAYS SAY THIS THE TENANT DOESN'T LIKE EITHER THE OWNER OR THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY.

THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY DOESN'T CARE FOR THE TENANT OR THE OWNER, AND THE OWNER DOESN'T LIKE EITHER ONE OF US.

SO WE STILL COME TO THE TABLE.

I SAY IT'S LIKE A FAMILY REUNION WHERE WE HAVE FAMILY ISSUES, AND WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH THE ISSUES THAT ARE ON THE TABLE.

AND I THINK THAT REALLY COMES DOWN TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND HOW WE'RE TREATING EACH OTHER THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THESE ARE REAL PROCESSES, BUT THESE ARE STILL PEOPLE'S REAL LIVES, REAL LIVES.

YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN WE THINK SOMETHING'S FUNDAMENTAL TO SAFETY AS A COMMUNITY, WE, WE CHANGE THE RULES A LITTLE BIT.

SO LIKE WITH UTILITIES, YOU CAN'T SHUT SOMEONE'S UTILITIES OFF WHEN IT'S OVER 100 DEGREES.

YOU CAN'T SHUT OFF THEIR HEAT WHEN IT'S UNDER A CERTAIN DEGREES.

THAT'S NOT TRUE WITH EVICTION.

SO WHERE DO PEOPLE END UP GOING?

AND ANYONE CAN ANSWER THIS IF THEY'RE IF THEY'RE OUT IN A WEEK, YOU HAVE A WEEK TO PACK UP YOUR LIFE AND FIGURE OUT YOUR NEXT MOVE.

DO WE SEE OVERCROWDING IN SHELTERS?

IS THAT WHY WE'RE SEEING A RISE IN HOMELESSNESS ON THE STREET?

FOLKS ON THE STREET, WHICH I'VE SEEN MORE THAN EVER BEFORE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND I CAN JUMP IN ON THAT ONE.

I'LL SAY THAT WHILE NOT EVERY EVICTION DOES END IN HOMELESSNESS, THERE IS A THING CALLED SERIAL EVICTIONS, WHICH IS TYPICALLY, WHENEVER A LANDLORD EVICTS A TENANT MULTIPLE TIMES AS LIKE A RENT COLLECTION TOOL, THAT'S THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT WE SEE A LOT.

AND THAT ALSO PLAYS INTO OUR EVICTION RATES.

AND I CAN ELABORATE ON THAT FURTHER, IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO LATER.

BUT NOT EVERY EVICTION ENDS IN HOMELESSNESS, LIKE I SAID, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY LEADING TO AN INCREASE.

I REMEMBER I SPOKE WITH MEGAN MUELLER, THE CEO OF THE HOMELESS ALLIANCE, ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

AND, AND SHE SAID THAT TYPICALLY WHENEVER THEY SEE SOMEONE COME THROUGH THEIR DOORS, IT OFTEN IS BECAUSE THEY WERE EVICTED OR THEY LOST THEIR HOUSING IN SOME CAPACITY IN THAT TIMELINE.

WE DO HAVE MORE MINORS ENDING UP HOMELESS THAN WE DID.

AND THAT'S FAMILIES WITH MINORS, BECAUSE IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY, TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING EVICTION HAVE MINORS IN THE HOME.

AND SO THEY A LOT OF PEOPLE END UP ROOMING WITH OTHER PEOPLE, LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS.

AND THEN YOU ALSO DO SEE CITY RESCUE MISSION TOLD ME THEY HAVE PEOPLE PULL UP IN CARS EVERY TIME THEY HAD A MEDICAL CRISIS THE MONTH BEFORE.

THAT PUT THEM BEHIND BY A FEW DAYS, AND THEY'RE EVICTED AND OUT IN TWO WEEKS, AND THEY THEY SHOW UP AT THE SHELTER.

OKAY, QUICKLY, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT AVAILABILITY.

WHO'S GOING TO START BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

WHEN IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

AND CAN YOU I SEE THERE'S SECTION EIGHT HOUSING AND HOUSING THAT IS NOT SECTION EIGHT.

BUT DO ALL LANDLORDS HAVE TO ACCEPT INCOME NO MATTER WHERE IT COMES FROM UNDER FAIR HOUSING LAWS?

AND ANYONE CAN TAKE THIS THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING LAW.

BUT I REALLY WISH IT WERE.

BUT YEAH, IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING LAW.

BUT OFA HAS GREAT PROGRAMS.

THERE'S GREAT PROGRAMS TO BUILD.

THERE ARE BUILDERS OUT THERE READY AND WILLING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE.

IT IS NOT AS EASY AS WE SAY IT.

YOU JUST GO BUILD AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THE COST OF BUILDING HAS GONE UP AS WELL.

SO ALL OF THAT PLAYS A FACTOR IN THAT.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF AGENCIES WORKING TO TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.

AND THE REALTORS SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR BOTH THE HOMEOWNER AND THE TENANT AS WELL.

GOD'S BACKYARD.

OH, YEAH.

YOU LIKE THAT.

I LIKE THAT I FILED SOMETIMES I FILE BILLS TO KIND OF PUSH IDEAS BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE NEED ALL THE TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX BECAUSE OKLAHOMA IS SO FAR BEHIND ON BUILDING AND DEVELOPING LOW INCOME PROPERTIES.

SO I FILED A BILL THAT WAS ABOUT CONVERTING BUILDINGS INTO HOUSING, BECAUSE I KNOW IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND IN OUR SMALL TOWNS, THERE'S LOTS OF BUILDINGS THAT ARE VACANT OR ABANDONED THAT COULD BECOME HOUSING PROJECTS.

AND I FILED SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY ALLOWING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES TO USE THEIR EXTRA PROPERTY TO PROVIDE HOUSING.

IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE IT WOULD PREEMPT LOCAL CITIES ZONING AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT WE'VE SEEN NATIONWIDE THAT SOMETIMES CHURCHES WITH EXTRA PROPERTY END UP DOING LOW INCOME HOUSING, AND IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

PREEMPT OH YEAH.

BUT LIKE, THEY MAKE IT WHERE THE CITIES CAN'T MAKE LAWS ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

SO LIKE IN ARKANSAS, I THINK IT'S ARKANSAS DID A STATEWIDE OPTION FOR, FOR CHURCHES TO USE THEIR PROPERTY FOR HOUSING.

AND THAT MEANS THE CITIES DON'T GET TO TELL THEM NO ON ANYTHING.

YEAH.

BUT WE NEED THAT BECOME A PROBLEM IN ARKANSAS.

IT JUST PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

OKAY.

SO YEAH, WE'LL SEE.

PROBLEMS MAY BE FORTHCOMING.

IT'S INTERESTING.

MY COLLEAGUE, ONE OF MY RURAL COLLEAGUES WHO RUNS THE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD NOT HEAR THAT BILL, HE BROUGHT UP CONCERNS AROUND PEOPLE DEVELOPING COMPOUNDS.

YOU KNOW, HE SAID, WELL, WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP THIS FROM BECOMING, YOU KNOW, LIKE A INAPPROPRIATE COMMUNITY?

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT IT.

BUT HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE DANGERS OF KIND OF INSULATED COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BUILD HOUSING, BUT THEY MAY NOT WANT LOW INCOME FOLKS.

AND LIKE SHE MENTIONED, I MEAN, NOT ALL LANDLORDS TAKE SECTION EIGHT SUBSIDY.

AND THAT'S REALLY THAT FILLING THAT GAP SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF JUST PUBLIC HOUSING THAT'S JUST DIRECTLY PAID FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED LANDLORDS THAT ACCEPT SECTION EIGHT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES THERE IN TERMS OF BUREAUCRACY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED HOUSING THAT IS NOT $800 OR WE NEED TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE.

SO FINAL WORDS FROM EITHER ONE OF YOU.

I WILL SAY, JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS CONVERSATION HERE AND MANY MORE ARE WHAT HELPS TO BRIDGE THESE GAPS AND HELP SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

WE ALL HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH ALL OF OUR MINDS TO FIGURE OUT, HOW DO WE HELP THE CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

WELL, LET'S FURTHER THE CONVERSATION.

THIS IS A GREAT START, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, SUSAN.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL REVIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, WHERE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC WOUNDS ARE RECEIVING LIFE CHANGING CARE THANKS TO DONATED PLACENTAS.

THAT STORY COURTESY OF OUR PBS PARTNERS AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WHAT BEGAN AS A SMALL OPERATION IN ACADIANA HAS GROWN INTO A NATIONAL BIOTECH SUCCESS.

TIDES MEDICAL IS TAKING WHAT WAS ONCE A BYPRODUCT OF CHILDBIRTH AND TURNING IT INTO LIFESAVING WOUND CARE SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE DEVELOPED IT HERE IN LAFAYETTE.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING IT TO MARKET IN 2017.

IT ALL BEGINS HERE IN LAFAYETTE, WHERE EVERY PLACENTA DONATION IS CAREFULLY COLLECTED AND TRANSFORMED INTO LIFE SAVING GRAFTS FOR HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AND CARE FACILITIES.

IN ONE OF THE COMPANY'S FOUR CLEAN ROOMS, TWO TECHNICIANS AT A TIME WASHED THE TISSUE AND SEPARATE ITS LAYERS, PREPARING IT FOR TESTING AND USE.

HOW ARE THE SKIN GRAFTS MADE?

SO IT'S A PROCESS.

WHEN A MOTHER HAS A PLANNED C-SECTION, HER OB WILL GENERALLY TALK TO HER AND TELL HER ABOUT A DONATION PROGRAM, SO THE MOTHER WILL CONSENT TO DONATE IT AND GO THROUGH A MEDICAL HISTORY LIKE YOU'RE GIVING BLOOD OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ORGAN.

AND ONCE SHE CONSENTS, OUR TECH WILL GO INTO THE DELIVERY AND THEY'LL TAKE THE PLACENTA AND PUT IT IN A STERILE BASIN.

WE BRING IT BACK HERE TO OUR FACILITY, WHERE WE RUN IT THROUGH TESTING AND MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE FOR TRANSFER.

ONCE COLLECTED, PLACENTAS ARE STORED IN MEDICAL GRADE FREEZERS FOR UP TO A YEAR.

ONE PLACENTA CAN PRODUCE ABOUT 40 SKIN GRAFTS, AND THE PROCESS TAKES ROUGHLY TWO WEEKS.

AFTER STERILIZATION, THE GRAFTS ARE PACKAGED TO LAST UP TO FIVE YEARS.

SO WE ARE IN ALL 50 STATES.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE SICKEST PATIENTS OUT THERE.

A PATIENT WITH AN UNTREATED CHRONIC WOUND HAS THEIR SURVIVORSHIP.

THAT'S ABOUT ON PAR WITH SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER OR PANCREATIC CANCER.

SO IF IT GOES UNTREATED, YOU WILL BE DEAD WITHIN FIVE YEARS.

SO WE WE'RE TRYING TO, TO MAKE SURE THE PATIENTS GET THE CARE THEY NEED.

LAST YEAR, TIDES MEDICAL EARNED RECOGNITION AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING PRIVATE COMPANIES IN THE U.S.

A TESTAMENT TO THEIR SUCCESS.

BUT RECENT CHANGES TO MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT HAVE SHAKEN THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.

SPENDING ON SKIN SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS HAS SKYROCKETED, JUMPING FROM 256,000,000 IN 2019 TO NEARLY 10,000,000,000 IN 2024.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES.

CMS SAYS THE INCREASE COMES FROM HIGHER PRICES, WIDER USE ACROSS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, BILLING IRREGULARITIES, FRAUD CONCERNS AND IN SOME CASES, LIMITED CLINICAL EVIDENCE.

AT THE SAME TIME, NEW RULES BROUGHT STEEP CUTS TO REIMBURSEMENT RATES, CREATING CHALLENGES FOR COMPANIES LIKE TIDES MEDICAL.

JANUARY 1ST, THERE WAS SOME REFORM EFFORTS BY CMS TO REDUCE THE PRICING IN OUR SPACE, AND IT LED TO ABOUT A 90% CUT IN OUR REIMBURSEMENT RATE.

SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY CHALLENGING YEAR FOR US.

WE'VE HAD TWO ROUNDS OF LAYOFFS ALREADY.

WE'RE TRYING TO RETOOL HOW WE SELL, HOW WE BRING OUR PRODUCTS TO MARKET.

AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT WE COULD GET A BETTER SOLUTION IN THE FUTURE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FRAUD IN THE SPACE.

SO THE GOVERNMENT ACTED IN A WAY THAT TO TRY AND ELIMINATE THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, NOW I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TALK TO THEM AND HOPEFULLY GET A LITTLE BIT HIGHER RATE.

WE'VE BEEN ABOUT REFORM FOR A LONG TIME.

WE SAW THE FRAUD HAPPENING, AND NOT THAT MANY MORE PATIENTS WERE TREATED.

WHILE THESE INDUSTRY SETBACKS ARE SIGNIFICANT, TIDES MEDICAL IS ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD, TURNING TO CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF WOUND CARE.

THE COMPANY IS NOW THE EXCLUSIVE U.S.

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE APPLICA 3D, THE FIRST FDA APPROVED 3D BIOPRINTER THAT CAN CREATE PERSONALIZED GRAFTS RIGHT IN THE OPERATING ROOM.

INVENTED IN SOUTH KOREA BY ROCKET HEALTH CARE, THE PRINTER USES A PATIENT'S OWN TISSUE TO MAKE GRAFTS TAILORED TO THEIR WOUND, READY TO BE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY.

SO WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE 3D PRINTER.

TAKE ME THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE START WITH AN IPAD THAT HAS A CAMERA TECHNOLOGY THAT ACTUALLY TAKES A PICTURE OF THE WOUND BED TO CREATE A CUSTOMIZED GRAPH.

FROM HERE, YOU WOULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THE WOUND BED SO YOU CAN MAKE A CUSTOMIZED FILE TO BE PRINTED.

SO THIS IS THE FINAL PRODUCT AFTER THE PHYSICIAN DEBRIDES THE WOUND.

THIS WOULD BE APPLIED DIRECTLY INTO THAT WOUND BED, AND THEN DRESSED APPROPRIATELY FOR THE TREATMENT PROCESS TO BEGIN.

THESE ARE TYPICALLY PERFORMED IN SURGICAL SUITES WE'VE CURRENTLY TREATED WITH OUR PARTNER ROCKET.

OVER 300 PATIENTS WORLDWIDE, OVER 12 DIFFERENT SITES.

AND THERE'S ONE ACTUALLY IN LOUISIANA AT OPELOUSAS GENERAL HOSPITAL, FROM ADVANCED PLACENTAL GRAFTS TO AI GUIDED 3D PRINTING, TIDES MEDICAL IS TRANSFORMING WOUND CARE AND SAVING LIVES RIGHT HERE IN LOUISIANA.

INNOVATION, RESILIENCE AND A UNIQUELY LOUISIANA SPIRIT ARE TURNING WHAT WAS ONCE DISCARDED INTO LIFE SAVING TREATMENTS FOR PATIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE TO BE THE LEADER IN 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FOR TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT SKIN CONDITIONS.

AND I'D LIKE TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE'RE AT A FULL SCALE EMPLOYMENT MODEL AND CREATING A LOT OF NEW AND INTERESTING JOBS HERE IN LAFAYETTE.

VERY INTERESTING.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, WE CONTINUE OUR SPECIAL SERIES ON 50 YEARS OF OKLAHOMA HISTORY.

SINCE THE CENTENNIAL IN 1976.

NEXT WEEK, WE LOOK BACK AT THE YEARS 2006 THROUGH 2015.

THAT IS COMING UP FRIDAY AT SEVEN.

WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE MURALS OF NORMAN PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA JASON STEWART.

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.

CAN I KICK IT?

YES YOU CAN.

CAN I KICK IT?

YES YOU CAN.

CAN I KICK IT?

YES YOU CAN.

CAN I KICK IT?

YES YOU CAN.

CAN I KICK IT?

CAN I KICK IT?

YES YOU CAN.

CAN I KICK IT?

YES YOU CAN.

WELL?

I'M GONE.

CAN I KICK IT?

TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAN QUEST LIKE A TRIBE DOES.

BEFORE THIS, DID YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT LIVE WAS COMPREHEND TO THE TRACK FOR IT'S WHY?

CUZ GETTING MENTIONS ON THE TIP OF THE VIBE WAS ROCK AND ROLL TO THE BEAT OF THE FUNK FUZZ.

WIPE YOUR FEET REALLY GOOD ON THE RHYTHM RUG.

IF YOU FEEL THE URGE TO FREAK, DO THE JITTERBUG.

COME AND SPREAD YOUR ARMS IF YOU REALLY NEED A HUG.

AFROCENTRIC LIVING IS A BIG SHRUG, A LIFE FILLED WITH THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.

A LOWER PLATEAU IS WHAT WE'RE ABOVE.

IF YOU DISS US, WE WON'T EVEN THINK OF OKLAHOMA.

AGRICULTURE STARTS AT SUNUP.

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY BRINGS YOU THE BEST OF AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AG RESEARCH EXTENSION AND MESONET WEATHER