>> IN A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> SHE DID THE FIRST SIT-IN, YOU KNOW, AND THAT HER LEGACY CONTINUES TO LIVE ON.

>> A RECAP OF OUR BEST REPORTS FROM THE PAST YEAR, INCLUDING THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KATZ SIT-IN.

STEVE SHAW UPDATES A STORY ON THE DISPLACEMENT OF VETERANS FROM THEIR HOME IN TALIHINA.

>> I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HERE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

RIGHT NOW I DON'T HAVE MUCH.

>> THE FAMILY THAT STUDIES TOGETHER, GRADUATES TOGETHER!

>> MY DAD REALLY STARTED SEEING MORE OF MY ABILITIES AND CAPABILITIES.

HE WAS LIKE, OH, NO, YOU'RE READY FOR MORE.

YOU JUST HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE SPACE TO WHERE YOU WERE ABLE TO DO MORE.

>> THE OK POP MUSEUM CONTINUES ITS LONG-DELAYED QUEST TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SO HERE WE ARE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AND THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF REALLY COOL THINGS AND THE MAGIC REALLY STARTS TO HAPPEN.

>> THE OKLAHOMA AUTO INDUSTRY HANGS OUT THE HELP WANTED SIGN.

>> WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS SINCE 1946 AND THERE'S -- WE'VE NEVER SEEN A DEMAND LIKE THIS.

THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON A "BEST OF" EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT!"

>> RICH LENZ: HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

EACH YEAR AT THIS TIME, WE SHARE THE STORIES THAT WE ARE MOST THANKFUL TO HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO COVER AND SHARE WITH YOU OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS.

THESE ARE THE STORIES THAT GOT OUR JOURNALISTIC JUICES FLOWING.

SOME ARE SERIOUS, SOME OPTIMISTIC, SOME CONTROVERSIAL AND SOME SAD.

AND ALL ARE PRESENTED IN A THOROUGH, IN-DEPTH FASHION, INCLUDING OUR FIRST STORY, WHICH HAD US WONDERING WHERE SOME OF OUR VETERANS SPENT THEIR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY THIS YEAR.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

STEVE?

>> RICH, IN LATE JUNE, WE LEARNED THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PLANNED TO CLOSE THE TALIHINA VETERANS CENTER DOWN IN LEFLORE COUNTY.

IT'S A LARGE HISTORIC COMPLEX THAT'S SERVED VETERANS FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

IN JUNE, THERE WERE AROUND THREE DOZEN VETERANS LIVING THERE.

CLOSING THE FACILITY WE LEARNED WOULD SAVE THE STATE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH.

>> 82-YEAR-OLD DAVID RAY PUTNAM WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AND SAYS HE SERVED IN KOREA BEGINNING IN 1963.

>> I SEEN THE DOG.

>> WHAT'S THE DOG?

>> PEOPLE DYING, KIDS STARVING TO DEATH.

>> YOU DON'T FORGET THAT STUFF, DO YOU?

>> NO, I DIDN'T.

>> HE'S LIVED AT TALIHINA VETERANS CENTER FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS WHERE HE'S DEALT WITH ALL KINDS OF HEALTH ISSUES, HE SAYS, INCLUDING A BROKEN BACK, A BROKEN HIP AND THREE STROKES.

IN ITS HEYDAY WITH THE STAFF OF 150, TALIHINA CARED FOR AROUND 175 VETERANS AT A TIME.

THAT NUMBER IS NOW DOWN TO JUST OVER 30.

>> I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HERE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

>> RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE MUCH.

>> STEVE BALLARD TURNS 82 ON JULY 3rd.

THE ARMY DRAFTED HIM IN 1958.

BALLARD SAYS HE SERVED THREE TOURS IN GERMANY, TWO IN VIETNAM AND TWO IN KOREA BEFORE BEING MEDICALLY DISCHARGED IN 1979.

BALLARD SAYS HE'S LIVED AT THE TALIHINA VETERANS CENTER FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

>> THIS IS HOME, AND THESE LADIES HERE, IT'S JUST LIKE THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL UP THERE AT -- I TOLD THEM I NEED ONE OF THESE DOCTORS TO GIVE ME A DISCHARGE.

I SAID I'VE GOT TO GET TO TALIHINA CENTER.

I'VE GOT 54 WIVES TO TAKE CARE OF.

THEY ALL LAUGHED, THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY, BUT THEY DID WRITE ME UP A DISCHARGE.

IT TOOK ME A COUPLE DAYS TO GET TRANSPORTATION OUT OF THERE AND BACK DOWN HERE.

NOW, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF I ADD KNOWED THAT -- HAD KNOWED THAT THINGS WAS AS GOOD HERE AS IT WAS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE IN A LONG TIME AGO.

I WOULDN'T HAVE SUFFERED AT HOME.

>> TALIHINA IS ONE OF 7 PLACES IN THE SOONER STATE WHERE VETERANS WHO CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR THEMSELVES LIVE.

THE OTHERS ARE ARDMORE, CLAREMORE, CLINTON, LOTEN, SULFUR, TALIHINA.

BUT TALIHINA HAS BEEN ON THE CLOCK.

>> THE STATE LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY BEGAN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING THE TALIHINA STATE VETERAN'S HOME DOWN FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> THE PLAN WAS TO BUILD A REPLACEMENT FOR TALIHINA IN SALLISAW, WHICH IS 90 MILES TO THE NORTH.

>> SINCE THE PLAN HAS BEEN TO WIND THIS DOWN AFTER THAT PASSED IN 2018, THEY'VE STARTED SLOWING THE PROCESS OF TAKING NEW PATIENTS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE FOREVER.

SO I WILL GIVE THEM CREDIT.

THEY'VE TRIED TO USE SOME NATURAL ATTRITION TO LOWER THE NUMBER.

>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAMES TOLD ME EARLIER THIS WEEK WORD TRICKLED OUT LAST THURSDAY THAT THE REMAINING THREE DOZEN OR SO VETERANS AT TALIHINA WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE BY OCTOBER, WHICH HE SAYS IS RIDICULOUS, CONSIDERING THE SALLISAW PROJECT ISN'T CLOSE TO BEING FINISHED.

>> THEY WERE DEVASTATED, YOU KNOW.

THESE RESIDENTS, THEY KNEW AT SOME POINT IN TIME WHEN SALLISAW GOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND RUNNING THAT THEY WOULD TRANSFER THERE, SO THEY'VE KIND OF HAD THAT MINDSET, BUT THEY DID NOT THINK THAT AT SOME POINT, 90 DAYS, YOU'RE OUT.

AND THAT'S WHAT BLIND SIDED THEM.

>> SALLISAW IS NOT GOING TO BE READY IN 90 DAYS.

>> NO.

>> WE'RE LOOKING PROBABLY TWO YEARS.

THEY'RE HOPEFUL OCTOBER OF '24, BUT THIS THING HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK.

THEY'VE HAD SEVERAL DELAYS.

>> SARA BESHEARS IS THE ADMINISTRATOR.

>> THE STAFFING IS OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE.

WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO CARE FOR THE VETERANS WITHOUT CONTRACT STAFF.

SO WE ARE HIRING CONTRACT STAFF TO HELP CARE FOR THE VETERANS.

>> AT A COST OF PROBABLY 3 TO 4 TIMES MORE THAN IT NORMALLY WOULD COST, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> IS THAT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HERE?

>> I BELIEVE IT IS.

>> SHE SAYS SINCE LAST WEEK, SOME HEADWAY HAS BEEN MADE IN HELPING THE REMAINING VETERANS, WHO LIVE HERE, FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GO IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IN ALL OF THIS IS WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG IN SALLISAW.

>> LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA PASSED THIS LAW IN 2018, AND HERE IT IS GETTING INTO THE BACK HALF OF 2023, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE FACILITY.

>> JENNIFER BLUME FIELD IS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

IT'S THEIR JOB TO HELP THE STATE'S 300,000 VETERANS.

>> A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, AND SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTIBLE, SOME OF THEM NOT.

COVID, OF COURSE, THREW A WRENCH INTO EVERYTHING.

NOBODY COULD HAVE FORESEEN THAT.

SO THE ONLY THING TO DO IS IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS, FIX THE PROBLEMS, AND NOW WE'RE BACK ON TRACK.

>> SHE SAYS NONE OF THE PROUD VETERANS WHO LIVE AT THE TALIHINA CENTER WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.

>> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE TALIHINA LOCATION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL SALLISAW OPENS?

>> IT IS POSSIBLE.

THERE ARE MANY CONVERSATIONS BEING HAD RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO CONSIDER.

THERE ARE MANY FACTORS.

>> THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR MARIE WAGNER AND HER HUSBAND CHARLES.

THEY BOTH SERVED IN THE NAVY.

CHARLES SERVED IN VIETNAM, AND HE'S LIVED AT THE TALIHINA VETERANS CENTER SINCE 2019.

>> DOES HE EVER TALK ABOUT IT?

>> I HAVE TO DIG IT OUT OF HIM.

I HAVE TO DIG IT OUT.

AND WHEN HE GETS INTO IT, IT ALWAYS ENDS IN TEARS.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH PLACE TO BE.

>> I TRY NOT TO -- >> THAT WAS A TOUGH PLACE TO BE.

>> YEAH.

LIKE I SAID, HE DOESN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IT.

>> AFTER OUR STORY AIRED IN JUNE, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PAUSE PLANS TO CLOSE THE FACILITY, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT PAUSE DIDN'T LAST LONG.

ON OCTOBER 20th, VETERANS AFFAIRS TOLD ME TWO VETERANS WERE STILL LIVING AT TALIHINA BUT THEY WOULD LEAVE FOR ONE OF THOSE OTHER STATE FACILITIES BY THE END OF LAST MONTH.

RICH.

>> RICH: STEVE, THANK YOU.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR PROUD PARENTS TO CELEBRATE THEIR COLLEGE GRADUATES IN MAY, BUT WHEN ONE OF THE GRADUATES IS 15 AND THE OTHER IS 13, WELL, THAT IS UNUSUAL AND WORTHY OF CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON A REMARKABLE FAMILY SHE INTRODUCED US TO BACK IN THE SPRINGTIME.

TAELYR?

>> SHANIA AND ELIJAH MUHAMMAD WERE SOME OF THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS TO EARN COLLEGE DEGREES THIS YEAR.

BUT THEIR EDUCATION DIDN'T STOP IN THE SPRING.

SHANIA IS WORKING ON HER MASTER'S, AND ELIJAH IS TAKING CLASSES AT OSU FOR HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

>> ELIJAH MUHAMMAD.

13-YEAR-OLD ELIJAH RECENTLY GRADUATED WITH A ASSOCIATE DEGREE?

CYBERSECURITY.

>> EVERYTHING WE USE IS REALLY KIND OF TECH.

I REALLY WANT TO LEARN HOW IT WORKS SO I CAN EVENTUALLY OWN MY OWN BUSINESS OR PROBABLY INVENT NEW TECH.

>> HIS YOUNG AGE CAME AS A SURPRISE TO HIS CLASSMATES.

THE ENROLLMENT RATE FOR STUDENTS UNDER 15 IS LESS THAN 1%.

>> THEY THOUGHT I WAS JUST, LIKE, PLAYING AROUND.

SO WHEN I WENT AND I WAS ACTUALLY, LIKE, SPEAKING INSIDE, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WHILE IN CLASS, THEY DON'T SAY NOTHING, THEY JUST SIT IN THE BACK.

I WENT IN FRONT OF THE CLASS, ASKING QUESTIONS, AND THEN THEY WAS REALLY SURPRISED.

THEY WERE LIKE, HE'S REALLY IN THIS CLASS.

HE'S JUST REALLY YOUNG.

>> MUHAMMAD'S FATHER SAYS WILL SAYS HEWANTED HIS THREE SONS TOE THAN JUST ANOTHER STATISTIC, SO GETTING THEM ACCESS TO A WELL ROUNDED EDUCATION WAS IMPORTANT.

>> JUST TO KNOW THAT WE ARE BREAKING GENERATIONAL CURSE AND CHANGING THE NARRATIVE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE OUT TO DO.

>> BLACK MEN HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST COLLEGE GRADUATION RATES, AT 40%.

>> IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE HIGHLIGHT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS, BECAUSE NOT MANY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, SO TO BE ONE OF THE FEW THAT ACTUALLY DID CROSS THE COLLEGE STAGE, IT'S AN HONOR.

IT FEELS AMAZING, ESPECIALLY TO DO IT WITH MY YOUNGER BROTHER.

>> THE YOUNGEST MUHAMMAD IS FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE OLDER SISTER WHO OBTAINED A DEGREE LAST YEAR.

>> SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I KNEW WHO WENT TO COLLEGE SO EARLY.

SHE WOULD ALWAYS TALK TO US ABOUT, I KNOW YOU'RE SMART.

YOU'VE JUST GOT TO FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.

SHANIA WAS A DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENT AT OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND LANGSTON UNIVERSITY.

SHE RECEIVED AN ASSOCIATES AT OCCC AND ASSOCIATES DEGREE?

GENERAL STUDIES AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY.

>> ALL OF MY STUFF WAS ON LINE DUE TO COVID.

THAT'S WHEN COVID WAS REALLY BIG.

I REALLY DID HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROFESSORS I MET AND THE CONNECTIONS I GOT TO HAVE EVEN WITH CLASSMATES, EVEN THOUGH YOU REALLY DIDN'T GET TO MEET EACH OTHER.

>> THIS YEAR SHANIA MADE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN BY BECOMING THE YOUNGEST GRADUATE OF LANGSTON UNIVERSITY.

SHE GRADUATED SUMMA CUM LAUDE.

>> SO IN 2021, I WAS ACTUALLY ON CAMPUS WHEN I WAS GOING TO LANGSTON.

ALL MY CLASSES WERE IN PERSON, AND IT WAS A SHOCKER FOR ME, BECAUSE AT THE TIME, ALTHOUGH I KNOW I WAS 14, EVERYONE ELSE DIDN'T, AND THAT WAS NOTHING I WAS PUSHING, SO THEY WERE LIKE, JUST DON'T GO OUT THERE AND SAY YOU'RE 14 JUST YET, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE BEING TREATED BIASED.

>> MUHAMMAD SENIOR SAYS ACADEMICS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN NO.

1 PRIORITY FOR THE FAMILY.

>> EVEN THOUGH THEY ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE WERE STILL DOING OUR HYBRID PROGRAM ON THE WEEKENDS, AFTER SCHOOL, DURING THE SUMMER, BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT EDGE.

JUST LIKE SPORTS, SO IF YOU CHECK OUT THE TOP ATHLETES, THEY DO PERSONAL TRAINING.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN THE GYM A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT.

>> I WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL FROM, YOU KNOW, PRE-K TO 7th GRADE, SO I WAS DOING TRADITIONAL SCHOOLING, AND I KNEW I WAS SMART.

I WAS ALWAYS TOP OF MY CLASS, YOU KNOW.

I PASSED ALL THE TESTS WITH EASE AND STUFF.

IT'S JUST I NEVER REALLY TAPPED INTO IT.

>> THAT WAS UNTIL SHANIA BEGAN HOME SCHOOLING UNDER HER FATHER'S PROGRAM, ONE COLLEGIATE PREP ACADEMY, DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> MY DAD HAS HIS OWN PROGRAM WHERE IT ACCELERATES YOU THROUGH YOU BASICALLY YOUR TEST SCORES AND FOCUSES ON THE ACT.

SO WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, I TOOK THE ACT, AND I DID REALLY WELL ON IT, AND MY DAD WAS LIKE, I KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE PREPARED FOR COLLEGE SOON.

>> MY DAD STARTED SEEING MORE OF MY ABILITIES, CAPABILITIES, LIKE YOU'RE READY FOR MORE.

YOU JUST KNOW YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE SPACE TO WHERE YOU WERE ABLE TO DO MORE.

>> SHANIA PROUDLY WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE WITH HER MOTHER AND TWO OLDER SIBLINGS AT LANGSTON'S CEREMONY.

>> IT WAS JUST AN EXCITING MOMENT, A MOMENTUM MOMENT TO GRADUATE WITH MY SISTER AND MY BROTHER AND FOR MY MOM TO WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY AND BE A DOCTOR, LIKE, IT WAS JUST PHENOMENA.

>> SO ANYTHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LANGSTON AND ALL OF THAT RICH HISTORY THAT OUR UNIVERSITY HAS, NOT THAT LONG AGO, AFRICAN AMERICANS WEREN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO GET A DEGREE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND YOU DID IT AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?

>> IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL AMAZING, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW, LIKE HOW WE WERE -- WE'RE STILL NEW TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE OUR OWN SCHOOLS AND GET OUR EDUCATION ON OUR OWN.

I DIDN'T KNOW -- I'M THINKING, OKAY, THAT'S IN THE 1800S, YOU KNOW, EARLY 19.

IT'S LIKE, NO, ONLY ABOUT 50, 60 YEARS AGO.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

>> HAVING MADE HISTORY OF THEIR OWN, SHANIA AND ELIJAH HOPE TO INSPIRE OTHER YOUNG STUDENTS.

>> ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO, YOU CAN DO IT AS LONG AS YOU PUT IN THE WORK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED.

BUT BEING ABLE TO SHOW OTHERS THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO, SUCCESS HAS NO AGE LIMIT.

>> SO WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THESE TWO SCHOLARS?

ELIJAH IS ENROLLED AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY AND PURSUING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CYBERSECURITY AND FORENSIC, AND SHANIA IS ALREADY ENROLLED IN A MASTER'S PROGRAM AT SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> I WILL BE PUBLISHING MY BOOK, REWRITE, LISTEN, 13 AND COLLEGE, HOW I DID IT, JULY 23rd, 2023, AND THAT'S WHEN I AM THE CEO OF SMART GIRL CLOTHE, SO I WILL ALSO BE PUSHING MY CLOTHING LINE.

>> THE MUHAMMAD SIBLINGS RECENTLY APPEARED ON THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW, WHERE SHANIA SHARED THAT SHE STARTED HER CAREER AS A FULL-TIME TEACHER THIS FALL.

>> RICH: TAELYR.

GREAT STORY.

THANK YOU, AGAIN.

>> THE BIRTH OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN OKLAHOMA BEGAN AT AN OKLAHOMA CITY DRUG STORE COUNTER IN 1958.

THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT ICONIC MOMENT WAS COMMEMORATED WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS IN LATE JULY.

AND JASON DOYLE WAS THERE TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT FOR US.

JASON?

>> RICH, THIS YEAR ALSO IS SPECIAL BECAUSE THE LEADER OF THAT CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, CLARA LUPER, WOULD HAVE TURNED 100 YEARS OLD.

MAKING THIS YEAR'S COMMEMORATION OF THAT SEMINAL EVENT EVEN MORE SPECIAL TO THOSE CONTRIBUTING TO TODAY'S MOVEMENT.

>> A FULL FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON AND MRT MRTN LUTHER KING'S I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH, 13 BLACK STUDENTS ENTERED THE KATZ DRUGSTORE.

WHEN THE STAFF REFUSED TO SERVE THEM, THE YOUTH COUNSEL OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY NAACP STAGED ONE OF THE FIRST CIVIL RIGHTS SIT-INS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING A HAMBURGER AND DRINKING A COKE, YES, IT WOULD HAVE STARTED A CHAIN REACTION.

>> BEFORE THE SIT-INNERS, AS THEY'RE CALLED, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS BEGAN TO MARCH TO RE ENACT THE SIT-IN ON THIS HOT SATURDAY MORNING, A SPECIAL ART SHOW AND DISCUSSION PANEL WAS HELD THE PREVIOUS EVENING AT OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY OF THE THE ANNUAL COMMEMORATION OF THE 1958 DRUGSTORE SIT-IN, WHICH IGNITED DESEGGATION EFFORTS IN OKLAHOMA STAY, IS NOW FAWLD CALD FREEDOM FIESTA.

POETS TOOK THE STAGE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY SIT-INNERS AND THE LEADER WHO STARTED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WITH THOSE 13 STUDENTS, CLARA LUPER.

>> MY SPEECH TODAY IS TITLED, BECAUSE SHE SAT IN.

A NATIONAL GREAT, A STRONG FORCE, A KNOWING OF WHO YOU ARE, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES WE CAN'T COLOR INSIDE THE LINES.

BECAUSE WE SAT IN, WE CAN -- BECAUSE SHE SAT IN, WE CAN STAND UP.

>> WHEN YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU LOVE, AIN'T NO COMPETITION.

JUST REMEMBER WHO PUT YOU IN THE POSITION, BECAUSE ALL THIS COULD BE GONE, AND YOU LEFT IN AN INSTANT.

>> GET LOST ON THE WAY TO MANHOOD, WHITE MALES OR BLACK MALES.

RUN AWAY FROM OPPORTUNITIES TO BE FATHER FIGURES.

>> PERFORMANCE ART WAS ONLY A PART OF THE CELEBRATION.

A GALLERY ALSO DISPLAYED WORKS FROM LOCAL ARTISTS WHO FOCUSED ON CIVIL RIGHTS IN OKLAHOMA, THE SIT-IN OR CLARA LOOPER.

THIS IS NATALIE RAMOS' SECOND PIECE FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE SIT-IN.

IT'S CALLED ECHO.

>> I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I HAD LAST YEAR.

IT'S A MIXED MEDIA, AND I KIND OF WANTED TO SHOWCASE HOW IT REMINDED ME THAT SHE WAS IN HEAVEN, SO I HAVE THE BLUE AND WHITES GOING, BUT HER LEGACY IS STILL LIVING ON EVEN THOUGH SHE PASSED AWAY.

I JUST THINK SHE'S A VERY POWERFUL WOMAN AND WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT IN MY ARM.

>> RAMOS SAYS SHE DID NOT LEARN ABOUT CLARA LUPER IN THE OKLAHOMA CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN SCHOOL.

>> I WISH I COULD SAY I LEARNED IT IN SCHOOL, BUT I DID NOT.

>> HOWEVER, WHEN SHE WAS INVITED LAST YEAR TO CREATE AN ART PIECE, THAT'S WHEN SHE LOOKED INTO THE HISTORY HERSELF.

>> SHE DID THE FIRST SIT-IN AND THAT HER LEGACY CONTINUES TO LIVE ON.

SHE IS AN EDUCATOR AND EVEN AFTER THAT SHE WAS SUBSTITUTING, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT'S -- SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN FOR THAT.

FOR HER TO DO THE FIRST SIT-IN IN OKLAHOMA, THAT'S POWERFUL, AND SHE'S A POWERFUL WOMAN.

>> WHILE THE ART AND PERFORMANCES WERE FANTASTIC, THE MAIN EVENT WAS HEARING FROM THE SIT-INNERS THEMSELVES.

>> WHAT WE HAVE TODAY ARE THE HISTORIC ACTIVIST WHO IS LED THAT STRUGGLE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE ORIGINAL TROUBLEMAKER, I CALL HER THAT, MARILYN LUPER.

>> 65 YEARS AGO, I WAS JUST A BRAT, AND STILL SOME PEOPLE SAY I AM.

>> CLARA LUPER'S DAUGHTER EXPLAINS HOW A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY WITH A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO HAD NEVER LEFT OKLAHOMA BEFORE GAVE THEM A TASTE OF FREEDOM FROM SEGREGATION, AND THAT'S HOW THE IDEA BEHIND THE SIT-IN MOVEMENT WAS BORN.

>> WHEN KIDS GO INTO A RESTAURANT, THE KIDS ON THE BUS SIT DOWN AND EAT, DRINKING COKE.

AND ON OUR WAY BACK, WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE OKLAHOMA A BETTER PLACE.

>> AFTER THE KATZ DRUGSTORE SIT-IN, THE NAACP YOUTH COUNCIL AND CLARA LUPER TOOK ON OTHER BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA CITY IN HOPES THAT THEY WOULD HELP END SEGREGATION.

>> THE DAY CIVIL EYESS THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF THE HUNDREDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT GAVE THEIR SATURDAY MORNINGS, EVERY SATURDAY MORNING.

INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT CARTOONS, WE WERE OUT IN THE STREETS OF OKLAHOMA CITY, BECAUSE WE WANTED OKLAHOMA CITY TO BECOME A BETTER PLACE FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> THE ATMOSPHERE 55 YEARS AGO WALKING INTO THE KATZ DRUG STORE WAS TENSE.

STUDENTS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE WALKING INTO, WHETHER PEOPLE WOULD BE MEAN TO THEM, WHETHER PEOPLE WOULD EMBRACE THEM.

>> THE PEACEFUL PROTEST LED THE KATZ DRUGSTORE CHAIN TO NOT ONLY DESEGREGATE THE OKLAHOMA CITY LOCATION, BUT MORE THAN 50 AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT ALSO PLAYED AS A PRECURSOR TO THE LARGER CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE 1960'S.

>> THIS WAS TRULY A WATERSHED MOMENT, AUGUST 19, 1958, WHEN CLAIRE LUPER'S STUDENTS GO INTO THE DRUGSTORE, BECAUSE IT LED TO OTHERS HAVING THE COURAGE TO WALK IN AND QUIETLY DEMAND SERVICE IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA IN FEBRUARY OF 1960.

>> ♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME.

♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME SOME DAY ♪♪.

>> THE RESTORATION OF THE NAP YOUTH COUNCIL'S FREEDOM CENTER IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA CITY IS UNDERWAY THANKS TO A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT.

THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THE 17 MILLION DOLLAR CLARA LUPER CIVIL RIGHTS CENTER IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2024.

RICH.

>> RICH: JASON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> JAKE KRUMWIEDE IS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE UNFINISHED OK POP MUSEUM IN TULSA.

FOR NOW, HE'S TASKED WITH SECURING ABOUT $36-MILLION DOLLARS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION.

KRUMWIEDE REPLACED JEFF MOORE, WHO WAS KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A RARE BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE MUSEUM BACK IN JULY.

>> I FINALLY MADE IT INSIDE THE OK POPS, SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHOW ME?

>> OH, MY GOSH.

WELL, WELCOME.

YOU'RE ON THE FIRST FLOOR NOW OF OK POPS.

AND WE'RE STANDING UNDERNEATH THIS REALLY INCREDIBLE ART PIECE.

IT'S CALLED THE POWER OF POPS, AND IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE VISUALLY.

IT'S GLASS.

IT'S GEORGEOUS.

IT CHANGES COLORS, AND IT REALLY GETS ACROSS THE SORT OF BIG BANG MOMENT OF POP CULTURE WITHIN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA >> MEG CHARRON IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE UNFINISHED OK POP MUSEUM, AND ON THIS DAY, OUR TOUR GUIDE THROUGH THE 3-STORY, 58,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.

>> EVERYTHING ON THE FIRST FLOOR IS ANYBODY CAN COME IN AT ANY TIME OF DAY AND TAKE PART.

>> SO IT'S FREE?

>> IT'S FREE, YES.

>> BOB WILLS' TOUR BUS WILL BE PARKED OVER THERE, ONCE AGAIN JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIS BELOVED CAIN'S BALLROOM.

A LISTENING LOUNGE FOR UP-AND-COMING OKLAHOMA ARTISTS WILL FILL THIS COZY NOOK AND A 35-HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT GIFT SHOP BECKONS JUST LEFT OF THE ENTRANCE.

>> THINGS FROM MARVEL AND SESAME STREET AND DISNEY AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES THAT OKLAHOMANS HAVE PROUDLY PARTICIPATED IN AND WORKED FOR OVER THE YEARS.

>> SO HERE WE ARE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AND THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF REALLY COOL THINGS AND THE MAGIC REALLY STARTS TO HAPPEN.

AND WE'RE CALLING IT "IMAGINED WORLDS," BECAUSE IT'S EVERYTHING FROM FILM, TELEVISION, LITERATURE, COMIC BOOKS.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT'S NOT MUSIC, WE TELL IT ON THIS FLOOR.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

>> WHICH BRINGS US TO THE THIRD FLOOR, THE HOME OF GARTH AND LEON AND REBA AND CARRIE AND -- WELL, THE LIST IS REALLY LONG AND REALLY HISTORIC.

THIS FLOOR IS DEDICATED TO MUSICIANS.

>> WE FELT LIKE IT COULD HAVE ITS OWN BUILDING, BUT IT DEFINITELY NEEDED ITS OWN FLOOR.

>> IT INCLUDES LEON RUSSELL'S FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND 40-TRACK RECORDING CONSOLE AND TOP HAT, KIOWA INDIAN JESSE ED DAVIS, WHO RECORDED WITH GEORGE HARRISON AND JACKSON BROWN.

THAT'S HIS CANARY-YELLOW TELECASTER, AND JAMIE OLDAKER'S BASS DRUM COVER FROM THE CLAPTON YEARS, JUST A FEW OF THE TREASURES THAT WILL BE SHOWCASED IN THESE INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS.

>> AND WE WANT YOU TO COME UP HERE AND LEARN ABOUT ALL THESE ARTISTS AND KINDA OF HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND CREATE SOMETHING MUSICALLY YOURSELF WHEN YOU LEAVE.

>> NOW AS GREAT AND COOL AS THAT SOUNDS, LISTEN TO THIS SOUND >> THE SOUND OF AN EMPTY ROOM THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED WITH FINISH EXHIBITS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO COST AROUND 36 MILLION MORE DOLLARS.

>> THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA PUT WITHIN THE BUDGET OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY $18 MILLION AS A MATCH.

>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEFF MOORE SAYS THE OK POP FOUNDATION MUST PRIVATELY RAISE ANOTHER $18 MILLION, AND THE INTERIOR BUILD-OUT CANNOT BEGIN UNTIL THE ENTIRE $36-MILLION IS IN HAND.

>> WE'RE GETTING TOWARDS THE HOME STRETCH.

YOU KNOW, I RAN TRACK, SO IF IT'S A MILE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TWO AND A HALF LAPS THROUGH.

WE'RE GETTING OUR, YOU KNOW, BUILDING UP, OUR SPEED FOR THAT THIRD LAP AND OUR FINAL KICK TO TAKE IT HOME.

>> RICH LENZ: SO, JEFF, YOU'RE A CREATIVE GUY, GET TO RUN A MUSEUM.

DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO GET A CRASH COURSE IN ECONOMICS AND HOW THE LEGISLATURE WORKS?

>> I DO APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE STATE INVESTING IN PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> THE MUSEUM'S EXTERIOR WAS COMPLETED IN 2021 AND MOORE SAYS IN SOME WAYS THE DELAYED OPENING HAS BEEN A BLESS, BECAUSE IT'S GIVEN HIS TALENTED TEAM MORE TIME TO COLLECT, CATALOG AND SHARE THE MEMORABILIA OF MORE THAN 5,000 OKLAHOMA CREATEISTS.

>> AROUND 20,000 OBJECTS RIGHT NOW, AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY PURSUING ACQUISITIONS EVERY WEEK, EVERY DAY.

>> EMILY MCKENZIE IS THE COLLECTIONS MANAGER FOR O K-POP.

>> JUST A LOT OF STUFF UPCOMING THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GET AHEAD OF YOU BEFORE IT KIND OF STEAM ROLLS YOU.

>> ONCE THESE ARTISTIC ARTIFACTS ARE SAFELY SQUIRED AWAY IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED VAULT, THE PROCESS CONTINUES WITH THE STORYTELLERS.

>> IRON MAN, WORKED FOR IRON MAN.

THAT'S WHY HE'S FOR MARVEL.

>> RYAN ALLEN'S TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND A VAST AMOUNT OF MATERIAL.

OFTEN THAT MATERIAL INCLUDES INTERVIEWS AND ARCHIVAL VIDEO CRATED AND EDITED BY THE MUSEUM'S PRODUCTION TEAM LED BY GARRETT.

THEY ALSO PRODUCE A WEEKLY PODCAST, AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO WORKS HERE, GARRETT IS SOMEWHAT PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE DAY THE MUSEUM OFFICIALLY OPENS TO THE PUBLIC.

>> YEAH.

DO I WISH THE PLACE WAS OPEN NOW?

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, BUT GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME.

ALL OF US ARE WORKING VERY HARD BEHIND THE SCENES HERE.

THAT HAS BEEN A BIT FRUSTRATING, BECAUSE ALL OF US, IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE REALLY.

>> BY THE END, THE ENTERER BUILDOUT CANNOT -- INTERIOR BUILDOUT CANNOT PROCEED UNTIL THE ENTIRE $36 MILLION IS SECURED.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT 18 TO 24 MONTHS AFTER ALL OF THAT FUNDING IS IN PLACE.

ONCE THAT FUNDING IS IN PLACE, THEN WE CAN GO OUT TO BID AND GET ALL THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND ALL OF THAT WORK DONE.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, REMEMBER THE VAULT?

INSIDE IS A TREASURE TROVE OF UNRELEASED MUSIC BY THE MASTER OF SPACE AND TIME.

HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS.

>> WE HAVE LEON RUSSELL'S ENTIRE MEDIA COLLECTION.

THAT GUY RECORDED EVERYTHING.

HE'S GOT EVERY KIND OF MEDIA YOU CAN IMAGINE.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH VARIOUS GROUPS TO TRY AND PUT SOME OF THESE THINGS OUT THAT PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU MAY RELEASE NEW LEON RUSSELL MUSIC.

>> SO O K-POP WILL BE PARTNERING WITH THE LEON RUSSELL ESTATE AND THE GEORGE HARRISON ESTATE AND DARK HORSE RECORDS TO RELEASE THIS MUSIC THAT'S NEVER BEEN HEARD.

>> THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, HUH?

>> IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> THIS FACILITY WILL DO MORE THAN HONOR THE PAST.

IT WILL SERVE AS AN EVOLVING EXPANDING ENTITY, BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE CAREERS OF OKLAHOMA'S GREATEST ARTISTS AND MOORE SAYS IT WILL DARN WELL BE WORTH THE WAIT.

>> WE FEEL THAT 60% OF OUR VISITORS ARE GOING TO COME FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

SO THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT'S GOING TO PROMOTE, YOU KNOW, WHAT A GREAT STATE IT IS THAT WE LIVE IN AND WHEN YOU'RE RECRUITING A COMPANY, YOU BRING THEM TO O K-POP AND YOU CAN SEE OH, MY GOSH LOOK AT THE INCREDIBLE TALENT OF THE PEOPLE HERE.

I WANT TO BE PART OF THIS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

>> 2023 WAS THE YEAR OF THE WORKER SHORTAGE.

YOU NAME A PROFESSION, AND I GUARANTEE IT LACKED QUALIFIED WORKERS.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS.

AT CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS, 100,000 NEW MECHANICS ARE NEEDED TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE EVERY YEAR THROUGH 2026 TO KEEP PACE WITH DEMAND.

BACK IN JULY, JOEL FILOMENO REPORTED ON WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND HE JOINS US NOW.

JOEL?

>> 2023 BROUGHT A YEAR OF AUTOWORKERS STRIKES, VEHICLE SHORTAGES, AND NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FUTURE OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY.

IN SUMMER, I SPOKE WITH BUSINESS LEADERS AND TECH SCHOOLS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OF TODAY'S AUTOWORKER.

>> RECANJO SAYS THE FAST AND FURIOUS MOVIES AND HOT WHEELS INSPIRED HIM TO JOIN THE AUTO INDUSTRY.

>> THEN WANTING TO JUST TINKER WITH MY OWN PROJECTS THAT I HAVE AT HOME.

AND IT'S JUST KIND OF BEEN A CALLING TO ME TO GRAB MY ATTENTION AT A REALLY YOUNG AGE.

>> RECANJO JOINED JOE COOPER AUTO GROUP A YEAR AGO AFTER FINISHING UP TECH SCHOOL.

>> IT'S A LOT GETTING USED TO, BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE TRADE ALREADY FOR A FEW YEARS, IT WAS REALLY JUST THE NICHE.

RECANJO'S SKILLS ARE IN DEMAND, BECAUSE LIKE MANY OTHER SKILLED JOBS, THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF AUTO MECHANICS.

>> THERE'S ACTUALLY A TECHNICIAN SHORTAGE RIGHT NOW THAT'S ALSO FACTORED IN BY THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF VEHICLES, THE CHIP SHORTAGE OF MANUFACTURERS, YOU KNOW, JUST PAY.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE TECHFORCE FOUNDATION, THE US AUTO REPAIR INDUSTRY WILL NEED 100,000 NEW CAR TECHNICIANS THROUGH 2026 TO KEEP UP WITH RISING DEMAND.

>> WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS SINCE 1946 AND THERE'S -- WE'VE NEVER SEEN A DEMAND LIKE THIS.

WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE CUSTOMERS.

TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE'VE GOTTA GET THE CARS IN AND OUT.

THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS FIXED NOW, SO WHAT WE'VE -- WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS GET THESE CARS IN AND OUT, AND WE NEED TECHNICIANS AT ALL OF OUR STORES.

DON BARRETT WITH THE JOE COOPER AUTO GROUP SAYS MANY OLDER TECHNICIANS ARE RETIRING, LEAVING A GAP IN THE INDUSTRY.

>> YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE SAW LESS AND LESS PEOPLE INTERESTED IN IT.

WELL, THE CARS ARE STILL RUNNING ON THE ICE ENGINES.

WE NEED PEOPLE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.

>> THE 2022 TECHFORCE REPORT REVEALS THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES COMPLETING POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR HAS DROPPED 20% SINCE 2020.

CANADIAN VALLEY TECHNOLOGY CENTER INSTRUCTOR JUSTIN ROBERTS SAYS EMERGING TECH IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY REQUIRES NEW TRAINING FOR THE UPCOMING GENERATION OF CAR MECHANICS.

>> WITH AUTO SERVICE TECHNOLOGY, I SEE THAT COMING UP THE MOST, THE DEMAND FOR HYBRID VEHICLES AND FULL ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

OF COURSE THERE.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THE INDUSTRY TRANSITIONING INTO THAT, THAT DIRECTION.

AND THAT'S GONNA BECOME A LOT OF LEARNING FOR THE NEW TECHS.

THE TECH CENTER'S AUTO SERVICE PROGRAM IS SPLIT INTO 8 PARTS, TAKING ABOUT 2 YEARS TO COMPLETE.

THE TRAINING STARTS STUDENTS WITH THE BASICS.

>> WE HAVE BRAKES, STEERING, SUSPENSION, HVAC AND ELECTRICAL.

AND THEN FOR OUR SECOND YEAR STUFF, WE HAVE ENGINE REPAIR, ENGINE PERFORMANCE, MANUAL TRENDS AND AUTO TRENDS.

>> KEEP PULLING YOUR LATCH DOWN ALL THE WAY.

GAVIN SAYS THE FIRST BOOK HE EVER READ WAS ABOUT CARS.

>> I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE CARS ARE REALLY JUST BIG LEGOS THAT YOU GOTTA HAVE SPECIFICATIONS FOR, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST YOU LEARN SO MUCH MORE HERE THAN I FEEL LIKE YOU WOULD WATCHING YOUTUBE VIDEOS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

UNREIN SAYS INSTRUCTORS AND CLASS PROJECTS HELPED HIM UNDERSTAND THE INS AND OUTS OF KEEPING A VEHICLE MAINTAINED AND RUNNING.

>> YOU KINDA GET GROUPS AROUND YOU THAT YOU CAN, LIKE, LEARN WITH AND GO, LIKE, AROUND THE SECTIONS WITH, AND THAT REALLY HELPS TO HAVE PEOPLE BY YOUR SIDE.

>> HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO WORK WHEN HE COMPLETES HIS TRAINING.

>> EVENTUALLY GO TO, LIKE, A DEALERSHIP, AND THEN AFTER THAT DEALERSHIP, KIND OF SAVE UP SOME MONEY AND OPEN MY OWN SHOP.

>> WE HAVE 60s SPARK PLUG WIRES THAT GO TO DIFFERENT CYLINDERS.

>> FRANCIS TUTTLE TECHNOLOGY CENTER INSTRUCTOR CHARLES LAWSON SAYS WHAT MECHANICS DO UNDER THE HOOD HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

>> WE'RE DOING MORE MAINTENANCE, BUT WE WERE -- WE ARE STILL DOING THE LARGE REPAIRS AND THINGS, SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- IT'S KIND OF A MIXTURE OF ELECTRONICS AND MECHANICAL REPAIRS AS WELL.

>> FRANCIS TUTTLE TECH TRAINS STUDENTS WITH TRADITIONAL DIESEL BASED VEHICLES, ALONG WITH FULLY ELECTRIC CARS LIKE THIS 2023 FORD MUSTANG MACH-E. LAWSON SAYS THOSE WHO ARE TRAINING TO BECOME TECHNICIANS MUST BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO NEW TECHNOLOGY.

>> WE ALSO NEED SOMEONE THAT'S ABLE TO READ ELECTRICAL DIAGRAMS THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, LEARN THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THE VEHICLES AS WELL.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT FROM THE NON-PROFIT TECHFORCE, NEARLY 178,000 NEW ENTRANT TECHNICIAN WILL BE REQUIRED TO GROW THE AUTO REPAIR INDUSTRY TO RUN SHOPS LIKE THESE.

JOE COOPER AUTO GROUP OFFERS UP-TO-DATE TRAINING TWO TO THREE TIMES A YEAR TO KEEP UP WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY.

>> WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS TAKE A PERSON FRESH OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL THAT'S DONE SOME VO-TECH.

WE'LL BUY 'EM TOOLS.

WE'LL SET 'EM UP WITH ANY TYPE OF TRAINING THEY NEED, AND IF THEY HAVE ANY TYPE OF TUITION, WE'LL REIMBURSE THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> FOUNDER OF JOE COOPER HISPANO ALMA ANGUIANO SAYS THERE'S AN EFFORT TO RECRUIT SPANISH SPEAKERS AS MECHANICS AND TECHNICIANS.

>> WE HAVE VERY FEW BILINGUAL PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE, AS I SAY, A GREAT NEED FOR WORK, AND THERE IS A LOT TO OFFER THEM.

AND I CAN PERSONALLY HELP THEM SO THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR EXPENSES PAID TO GO TO UNIVERSITY AND ALSO THE TOOL KIT TO GET STARTED.

>> SHE SAYS A BILINGUAL MECHANIC HELPS THE COMPANY BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH MORE CUSTOMERS.

>> A BILINGUAL PERSON IS TWO PEOPLE IN ONE.

SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS PERSON WHO CAN SPEAK BOTH LANGUAGES CAN ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CLIENTS, THAT THEY CAN HELP TRANSLATE, THAT THEY CAN HELP US.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS.

AN ENTRY-LEVEL MECHANIC CAN EARN AS MUCH AS 39,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR, AND AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN CAN MAKE UPWARDS OF 72,000 DOLLARS.

AND YET, THE SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED MECHANICS IS ONLY INCREASING.

>> BETTER WORK ENVIRONMENTS IN GENERAL WOULD ABSOLUTELY HELP FROM THE JUMP.

YOU KNOW, ALSO INCREASE IN PAY NATIONWIDE WOULD ALSO HELP.

IT WOULD INCENTIVIZE THE YOUNGER GENERATION MORE TO GET INTO THE TRADE.

AND THEN JUST OFFERING MORE COURSES TO LEARN THE TRADE, OBVIOUSLY.

>> MORE THAN 80% OF STUDENTS FROM FRANCIS TUTTLE TECH FOLLOWING CENTER ENTERED THE AUTO TRY WORKFORCE THIS PAST YEAR.

RICH.

>> SOUNDS LIKE PROGRESS.

THANK YOU.

OUR >> OUR WEEKLY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS TACKLE TOUGH ISSUES IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER.

RECENTLY, A SOON-TO-BE DISBANDED STATE BOARD VOTED 3 TO 2 TO APPROVE A CONTRACT FOR THE ST. ISIDORE OF SEVILLE CATHOLIC VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL.

IF IT BECOMES A REALITY, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST SCHOOL OF ITS KIND IN AMERICA, BUT IT FACES SEVERAL LEGAL CHALLENGES.

AND THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION THAT WE AIRED IN MID-OCTOBER.

MODERATED BY CASSIDY MUDD.

>> WE INVITED THE REPRESENTIVITY FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE TO JOIN US, BUT CITING PENDING LITIGATION, THEY TOLD US HE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THAT PENDING LITIGATION, JENNIFER.

WHO HAS FILED SUIT AND M WHO WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE IF THE SCHOOL BECOMES A REALITY?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S ONE LAWSUIT ABOUT OVER THE SCHOOL TRYING TO HALT THE START OF IT, AND THAT IS FROM THE OKLAHOMA PARENTS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND A GROUP OF OTHER PARENTS, TAXPAYERS, SOME OTHER FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY -- THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE PUBLICLY FUNDED, BASICALLY.

>> AARON, TWO BOARD MEMBERS VOTED NO TO THE CONTRACT APPROVAL.

YOUR ORGANIZATION AGREES WITH THIS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHY?

>> WHY THEY VOTED NO?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> YEAH.

WHAT THEY'VE SAID ON PUBLIC RECORD, THOSE TWO BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED NO IS THEY BELIEVE IT IS ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR THE STATE TO FUND THIS SCHOOL, AND WE AGREE WITH THAT.

>> JENNIFER, THREE BOARD MEMBERS VOTED YES.

WHAT WAS THEIR REASON FOR DOING SO?

>> I MEAN, THEY BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, DENNING THE SCHOOL TO THE ARCHDIOCESE WOULD INFRINGE UPON THEIR RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES IS BASICALLY THE ARGUMENT THERE, AND THERE'S NOT A CONSENSUS, WELL, NOT AT ALL, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THESE VOTES HAVE BEEN SPLIT WITH 3-2, SO THEY ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT.

>> ERIN, WHAT CONCERNS YOU ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CURRICULUM AT ST. ISIDORE.

>> THE MAJOR THING IS IT JUST FLIES IN THE FACE OF OKLAHOMA LAW.

CHILDREN IN OKLAHOMA ACCORDING TO OUR CONSTITUTION ARE GUARANTEED A PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION AND SECTARIAN INFLUENCE, BUT IN THIS SCHOOL'S APPLICATION, THEY OPENLY SAY THAT THEY MAY VERY WELL DISCRIMINATE AGAINST STUDENTS BASED ON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AND SO THAT IS OPPOSED TO WHAT OUR CONSTITUTION PROVIDES OUR KIDS.

>> DOES THIS SET A PRECEDENTS PE FOR OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO START SCHOOLS?

>> I BELIEVE IT DOES.

IF YOU OPEN A DOOR FOR A SINGLE FAITH TO BEGIN OPERATING A SCHOOL FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO ALLOW ALL RELIGIOUS ENTITIES TO DO THE SAME.

>> ERIN, WILL STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, SUCH AS DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS AND SEXUAL AND GENDER ORIENTATIONS BE ALLOWED IN THE SCHOOL, AND WHAT WILL BE DONE FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO DON'T ADHERE TO THE CATHOLIC FAITH?

>> THAT IS A MAJOR QUESTION, AND IN THIS SCHOOL'S APPLICATION, THEY HAVE BASICALLY RESERVED THE RIGHT TO POTENTIALLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT ALIGN WITH THE RELIGIOUS VIEWS THEY'RE TEACHING AT THE SCHOOL.

THAT'S VERY CONCERNING, BECAUSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE INTENDED TO BE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS.

>> JENNIFER, DID YOU WANT TO FOLLOW?

>> YEAH, COULD I ADD TO THAT?

I KNOW I DID REVIEW THE APPLICATION, AND AS WELL AS THE CONTRACT, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE NEGOTIATING RIGHT NOW.

THEY DID ADD A PROVISION THAT SAYS THAT THEY WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ENROLLMENT ON A NUMBER OF, YOU KNOW, BASES, INCLUDING RELIGION AND OTHER THINGS.

BUT THAT STILL LEAVES A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM.

YOU KNOW, WE KNOW FROM COVERING PRIVATE SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE USED TO OPERATING, THAT THERE COULD ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, SUSPENSIONS, EXPULSIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHERE, SAY, A STUDENT GOT PREGNANT.

THAT WOULD NOT ALIGN WITH THEIR FAITH, AND THAT COULD BE REASON FOR EXPULSION.

SO EVEN IF THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ENROLLMENT, I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED.

>> GOING OFF OF THAT, WILL THERE BE DIFFERENCES IN HOW THIS VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL FUNCTIONS COMPARED TO OTHER VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS, SUCH AS EPIC AND THE OKLAHOMA VIRTUAL ACADEMY.

>> I MEAN, THEY HAD TO WRITE A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONTRACT BASICALLY.

THEY HAD TO WRITE IN THEIR TO ALLOW THEM TO, YOU KNOW, NOT FOLLOW SOME LAWS IF IT VIOLATES THEIR FAITH, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE OTHER SCHOOLS' CONTRACTS, AND THEY DID DISCUSS AT THE MEETING HOW THIS THEN COULD BECOME A TEMPLATE FOR FUTURE CONTRACT RENEWALS AND FOR NEW SCHOOLS.

>> ERIN, WHY DOES IT FEEL VIRTUAL SCHOOLS ARE -- >> THAT IS A QUESTION KEY.

WE BELIEVE THE LAW SAYS, AND IT'S VERY CLEAR AGAIN, THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHETHER THEY'RE VIRTUAL OR BRICK AND MORTAR, ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THEREFORE, MUST ABIDE BY THE SAME SCHOOLS THAT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ABIDE BY.

>> JENNIFER, IF ST. ISIDORE GETS THROUGH THESE LEGAL CHALLENGES, HOW WILL IT BE FUNDED?

>> IT'S MOSTLY STATE FUNDING.

ALL THE VIRTUAL SCHOOLS, THEY DON'T COLLECT PROPERTY TAX, SO THERE IS NO LOCAL FUNDING COMING TO THOSE SCHOOLS, SO THEY CAN GET SOME FEDERAL FUNDING FOR, LIKE, LOW INCOME STUDENTS OR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, BUT OTHERWISE, IT ALL COMES FROM THE STATE.

>> SO IT WILL BE THE SAME AS OTHER VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS, RIGHT?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT, YEAH.

>> ERIN, ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THIS CHARTER SCHOOL WILL BE TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> THAT IS A VERY REAL CONCERN.

WE ALREADY FEEL LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE UNDER-RESOURCED.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE NEED THAT WE ARE NOT MEETING IN OUR SCHOOLS CURRENTLY.

SO FOR TAXPAYERS TO BE ASKED TO FUND A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, IT DOES DRAW MONEY AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW AND ARE CONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THIS IS A LITTLE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE QUESTION FOR EITHER OF YOU.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH SCHOOL CHOICE?

>> THERE'S KNOT WRONG WITH SCHOOL CHOICE.

IN FACT, OKLAHOMA HAS A REALLY ROBUST SCHOOL CHOICE OPPORTUNITY.

DID YOU KNOW IN OKLAHOMA WE HAVE MORE SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS THAN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES, AND WE SPEND MORE AS A STATE FROM PUBLIC DOLLARS ON PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AGAIN THAN ALL OF THOSE NEIGHBORING STATES IMIND COMBINED, YET MORE THAN 90% OF OUR STUDENTS ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA.

SO SCHOOL CHOICE ISN'T BAD.

PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE CHILDREN MIGHT BE EDUCATED, BUT THE STATE IS REQUIRED TO FUND A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE, THAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, AND THAT PROVIDES THOSE RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERY LEARNER, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE THE FOCUS.

>> JENNIFER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOLLOW?

>> SURE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL CHOICE HAS BEEN SOMETHING MUCH DISCUSSED.

YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY COVER A LOT OF THESE STATEWIDE SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, MAINLY WITH AN ACCOUNTABILITY ANGLE, AND THAT'S ONE THING WE HAVE SEEN FALLS SHORT A LOT OF THE TIMES, YOU KNOW, THE LAW ALLOWS THEM CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS AND WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, OR, YOU KNOW, MISUSE PUBLIC DOLLARS, AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE AT OKLAHOMA WATCH REALLY TRIED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON AND REPORT ON, IS THE MISUSE OF PUBLIC DOLLARS.

SO THAT WOULD BE ONE CONCERN OF MINE.

>> HOW DOES THIS ENTIRE SITUATION SET OKLAHOMA APART FROM OTHER DISTRICTS AND OTHER SCHOOLS AND STATES?

>> TO BE THE NATION'S FIRST.

WE WOULD BE THE ONLY STATE TO BE DOING THIS.

>> JENNIFER, ARE THERE ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS OR CHURCHES IN OKLAHOMA THAT HAVE APPLIED TO START A SCHOOL THEMSELVES?

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

I MEAN, I DO THINK THAT CHARTER SCHOOL ADVOCATES AND FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS IN OKLAHOMA, BECAUSE IF THIS SCHOOL IS APPROVED, IT WOULD OPEN THAT DOOR, AND OTHER ENTITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY WOULD WANT TO FOLLOW SUIT, AND ALSO TRY TO GET, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC APPROVAL AND A STATE CHARTER, BUT YEAH, THIS IS NEW GROUND.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOARD.

ARE THERE USUALLY SPLIT VOTES?

>> YEAH, THIS BOARD HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING.

I MEAN, I HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

OF COURSE THIS BOARD OVERSEES ALL VIRTUAL SCHOOLS.

THEY HAD A VERY CONTENTIOUS CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS AFTER THE AUDIT CAME OUT AND FOUND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ISSUES, AND THEY WERE REALLY UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT TRYING TO GET EPIC BACK IN A PLACE WHERE THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE ACCOUNTABLE TO TAXPAYERS.

AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THEY HAD SOME RESIGNATIONS, AND THEIR BOARD ACTUALLY -- IT'S A FIVE-MEMBER BOARD BY STATUE, AND THEY DROPPED DOWN TO JUST TWO, AND THE STATUTE REQUIRES THREE TO APPROVE ANYTHING, SO THEY COULDN'T EVEN MEET.

THAT COULDN'T EVEN DO BUSINESS FOR A WHILE.

AND THEN WE HAD SOME MORE RECENT APPOINTMENTS, AND THAT'S WHO THERE ARE SOME NOW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER SOME OF THOSE NEW MEMBERS ARE EVEN ABLE TO VOTE ON ST. ISIDORE.

>> ERIN, WHY IS THIS SUCH A DIVISIVE ISSUE AMONG PARENTS AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM?

>> I'M NOT SURE IT IS DIVISIVE AMONG PARENTS.

I ACTUALLY THINK THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS DON'T BELIEVE THIS SCHOOL IS CONSTITUTIONAL OR SHOULD EXIST, SO I'M NOT SURE THERE IS A LOT OF DIVISION ON THE PARENT SIDE.

I THINK PARENTS AGREE THAT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OR FAITH BASED EDUCATION CERTAINLY HAS A PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT'S JUST NOT TO BE FUNDED BY THE STATE.

TAXPAYERS DON'T WANT TO FUND AND ARE PROTECTED FROM FUNDING RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GUARANTEED TO US BY LAW.

SO I'M NOT SURE THERE'S A LOT OF DIVISION AMONGST THE PUBLIC ON THIS ISSUE.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE LEADERS WHO ARE MAKING IT APPEAR THAT WAY.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I READ ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED OVER THE SCHOOL.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS, HUNDREDS.

OVERWHELMINGLY NEARLY ALL OF THEM WERE IN OPPOSITION TO THE SCHOOL.

>> AND LOTS OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHGOERS AND CATHOLICS WEIGHED IN AND SAID, WE DON'T WANT THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DOING THIS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ROBERT FRANKLIN, THE CHAIR, HAS SAID MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER HIS NO VOTES ON THIS, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH COULD OPEN THIS SCHOOL.

THEY COULD OPEN IT TODAY.

THEY COULD HAVE OPENED IT YESTERDAY AS A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

THEY ARE FULLY ABLE TO DO THAT.

IT'S THIS CONTRACT WITH THE STATE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BREAK NEW GROUND ON, AND IF IT WAS -- HIS POINT IS, IF IT WAS ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND SERVING THESE KIDS VIRTUALLY, THEY COULD HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK IT WILL TAKE FOR CLASSES TO BEGIN?

>> UNDER THE CONTRACT, IT'S ABLE TO BEGIN NEXT FALL, BUT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS A COURT ORDER OR SOMETHING PUTTING A HALT TO THAT WHILE LITIGATION GOES THROUGH, IT COULD BE YEARS.

>> ERIN, DO YOU THINK THE SCHOOL WILL EVER BE A REALITY?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THEY'RE TESTING CONSTITUTIONALITY, AND I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS, THE FOLKS THAT ARE BACKING THIS SCHOOL.

I THINK THEY SEE MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT IS NOT THE WAY WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY VIEWED IT BY LAW, AND I THINK EITHER THEY'RE HOPING TO CHANGE THE LAW OR THEY'RE HOPING TO TWIST THE WAY WE UNDERSTAND ITMENT BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THERE'S ANY CONSTITUTIONAL BACKING OR LEGAL BACKING FOR A COURT TO SIDE WITH THE SCHOOL.

>> WHY DO WE -- AND THIS IS FOR BOTH OF YOU.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT ST. ISIDORE CHOSE THIS ROUTE INSTEAD OF BECOMING A PRIVATE SCHOOL?

>> I MEAN, THEY'VE SAID IT PUBLICLY IN MEETINGS, AND THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I MEAN, IT IS THE ABILITY TO COLLECT STATE DOLLARS IN ORDER TO FUND THE SCHOOL, AND THEY'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT, TOO, ABOUT HOW NOT HAVING THOSE DOLLARS WOULD MAKE IT HARD TO COMPETE WITH ANOTHER VIRTUAL SCHOOL THAT IS STATE FUNDED.

SO, YOU KNOW, SAY, IF STUDENTS HAVE THE CHOICE, WHICH THEY DO, BETWEEN A FREE PUBLIC VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND THEIR SCHOOL, WHICH HAD TO CHARGE TUITION, THEY'RE SAYING THAT WOULDN'T BE A FAIR COMPETITION.

>> ERIN, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

>> I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE TRYING TO SET UP SCHOOLS TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH ONE ANOTHER, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO I THINK THE VIEW THAT WE SHOULD HAVE COMPETITIVE ENTITIES IN EDUCATION MEANS THAT SOME KIDS LOSE AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK PUBLIC SCHOOL IS SO VALUABLE, BUT I ALSO WOULD SAY THAT THEY'RE PURSUING THIS METHOD BECAUSE THEY WOULD LIKE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING, AND THEY SEE THE NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD OR MAYBE KIND OF EXPLAIN FOR THE VIEWERS OF OKLAHOMA ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS BOARD, THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE HADN'T TALKED ABOUT YET IS THAT THIS BOARD IS DISSOLVING, SO FOLLOWING THESE VERY -- HIGHLY WATCHED, HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL VOTES, THE LEGISLATURE LAST SESSION VOTED TO REPLACE IT WITH A WHOLE DIFFERENT BOARD, A LARGER BOARD WITH MORE MEMBERS AND THAT WILL OVERSEE BOTH VIRTUAL CHARTERS AND SOME BRICK AND MORTAR CHARTERS, AND SO THAT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IMPACTING HOW THESE BOARD MEMBERS ARE COMING AND GOING, THEY'RE RESIGNING, THEY'RE BEING PLACED ON THE BOARD, ALL IN THE BACKGROUND IS THAT THIS BOARD WILL NOT EVEN EXIST AT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.

>> ERIN, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT LET'S NOT MISUNDERSTAND WILL THISOUS FREEDOM.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

WE KNOW THEY ARE GOOD SCHOOLS, THAT TAXPAYERS AND STUDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO NOT BE INDOCTRINATED AT SCHOOL OR TO FUND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES WITH THEIR ART EARNED DOLLARS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STANDING TO PROTECT.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JENNIFER PALMER WITH THE OKLAHOMA WATCH AND MS. ERIN BREWER WITH THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU,.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> EACH WEEK ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," WE SEEK OUT FRESH, INTERESTING CONTENT FROM OUR P.B.S.

PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THIS STORY FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN P.B.S ABOUT A VETERINARIAN IN COLORADO WHO USES A NON-TRADITIONAL METHOD TO TREAT ANIMALS.

IT'S CALLED NON-THERMAL LASER THERAPY.

>> MY NAME IS DR. JANET GORDON PALM, AND I'VE BEEN A CONVENTIONALLY TRAINED VETERINARIAN FOR 42 YEARS.

>> THERE SHE IS.

>> I NOW FEEL I'M WHAT I WOULD CALL AN INTEGRATIVE VETERINARIAN, AND I'VE INTEGRATED A LOT OF THE COMPLIMENTARY THERAPIES THAT I BECAME OF AS TIME WENT ON BECAUSE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

>> I JUST WALK AND SHE DOES WHAT SHE WANTS.

THAT'S HOW IT GOES.

YES.

COME ON, SWEET PEA.

THIS WAY.

>> SO RIGHT NOW SHE'S TELLING ME, WHO ARE YOU?

I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO BE IN YOUR SPACE.

SO I ALWAYS LIKE TO TRY AND GET CONSENT.

I KNOW.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

>> BEING TRAINED CONVENTIONALLY, WE'RE ALL TAUGHT THAT HERE'S SYMPTOMS, AND SO HERE IS THE TREATMENT FOR THOSE SYMPTOMS.

AND THAT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE.

BUT YOU REACH A POINT WHERE THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT ENOUGH, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES ANIMALS ARE STILL GETTING SICK OR THEY'RE GETTING SICKER.

LASER THERAPY IS QUITE COMMON NOW.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED USING IT ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, IT WAS NOT VERY COMMON IN MY FIELD.

I THINK AN ANALOGY THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS COMPARING IT TO THE SUN AND HOW IT AFFECTS PLANT CELLS, BUT LIGHT ENERGY ABSOLUTELY CAUSES A CHEMICAL REACTION IN PLANT CELLS, WHICH ALLOWS THE PLANT TO PRODUCE ATP, FUEL FOR THE CELL, AND THAT CAUSES THE CELLS TO REGENERATE.

IT FRUSTRATES ME THAT MY COLLEAGUES, A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES, ARE STILL SKEPTICAL, NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH BEING SKEPTICAL, BUT THAT'S BEEN THE -- THAT'S BEEN THE CHALLENGE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE THEY'LL SAY, I WANT TO SEE THE EVIDENCE BASED PEER REVIEWED DOUBLE BLIND STUDIES ON RED TAIL HAWKS THAT THIS WILL SPEED THE FRACTURE HEALING.

AND MY ANSWER TO THAT IS, WELL, I WOULD TO, BUT I CAN'T IGNORE ALL OF THE ANIMALS THAT ARE RESPONDING IN ONE TO TWO TREATMENTS.

ALL THEY KNOW IS I FEEL BETTER.

>> DR. DAY, CAN YOU GIVE ME THE SIMPLE VERSION OF WHAT IS INVOLVED WITH THERMAL LASER, OR THE RAT VERSION, LIKE THE SUN WITH THE PLANT?

>> MITOCHONDRIA.

>> L TO THE A TO THE S TO THE E TO THE R. >> I'M SAYING.

>> GO WITH THE CHANGE.

>> COMING UP ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," THE NEXT INSTALLMENT ON OUR YEAR-LONG SERIES OF REPORTS ON OKLAHOMA'S BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS.

TAELYR JACKSON TAKES US TO CLEARVIEW IN OKFUSKEE COUNTY, ORIGINALLY NAMED LINCOLN AFTER OUR 16TH-PRESIDENT.

CLEARVIEW WAS FOUNDED IN 1903, 4 YEARS BEFORE STATEHOOD.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ >> THESE PEOPLE WERE AGRICULTURALISTS.

THEY CAME HERE.

THEY WERE ALL PREPARED.

THEY WERE ALL ESTABLISHED IN -- ON A TRADE.

THEY KNEW HOW TO MAKE HORSESHOES.

THEY KNEW HOW TO BE BLACKSMITHS.

THEY KNEW HOW TO MAKE CLOTHES.

THEY KNEW HOW TO MAKE HATS.

THEY COULD -- THEY KNEW HOW TO MAKE BRICK.

THEY KNEW HOW TO BUILD HOUSES.

SO ALL THESE PEOPLE WERE TRADESMEN THAT CAME INTO THESE BLACK TOWNS.

SO WHEN THEY GOT HERE, THEY HAD THOSE SKILLS TO DO EVERYTHING.

SO WHEN THEY BECAME A PART OF THE BLACK TOWNS, THEY -- AS THEY BUILT THESE BUILDINGS AND THEY HAD EVERYTHING THAT EVERY PERSON THAT COULD -- THAT THEY NEEDED TO SURVIVE.

>> CLEARVIEW, OKLAHOMA, DEBUTS ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE GREAT WORK DONE BY AN ORGANIZATION CALLED, "SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE."

SHOT AND EDITED BY SCOTT CASSADY AND LUIS RENDON.

PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OETA.TV.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER BY SEARCHING "OETA ONR."

AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, JUST SEARCH, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT".

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

LENZ.

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