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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A CLOSER LOOK AT STATE SUPREME COURT DECISION TO DELAY ENFORCEMENT OF ARIZONA'S CIVIL WAR-ERA ABORTION BAN.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WEATHER FORECASTS FOR SUMMER TEMPERATURES AND MONSOON RAINS AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS YEAR'S WILDFIRE SEASON THAT IS ALREADY UNDER WAY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A BALLOT REFERRAL THAT WOULD CHANGE ARIZONA'S EARLY VOTING PROCESS PASSED A SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY.

THE MEASURE CALLS FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS AN END TO VOTERS DROPPING OFF EARLY BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY.

THE EARLY BALLOTS WOULD NEED TO BE IN COUNTY ELECTION OFFICES BY 7:00 P.M. ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THE MEASURE WOULD ALSO POTENTIALLY ELIMINATE VOTE CENTERS.

COMMIT PASSAGE MOVES THE BILL TO THE FULL SENATE WITH THE QUESTIONS AND WORDING ADDRESSED.

THE BILL PUSHED BY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS DESPITE REPUBLICANS ACCOUNTING FOR MOST OF EARLY BALLOT DROP-OFFS IN RECENT ELECTIONS.

>>> U.S. SUPREME COURT REJECTED A CHALLENGE ON THE WAY A CONSUMER WATCHDOG AGENCY IS FUNDED.

THE CASE WAS WATCHED CLOSELY BECAUSE IF THE COURT RULED AGAINST HOW THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU WAS FUNDED IT WOULD HAVE CAST DOUBT ON EVERY RULING THE BUREAU MADE SINCE IT WAS CREATED 13 YEARS AGO, THAT INCLUDES REGULATORY AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS INVOLVING MORTGAGES, CREDIT CARDS AND CONSUMER LOANS WITH JUSTICES SAMUEL ALITO AND NEIL GORSUCH DISSENTING.

>>> THE SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATING BIDEN'S HANDLING OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS, THE MOVE AS REPUBLICANS THREATEN TO HOLD ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND IN CONTEMPT FOR REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH SUBPOENAS TO TURN OVER THE RECORDINGS WHICH REPORTEDLY SHOW THE PRESIDENT IN UNFLATTERING VIEW.

>> HE HAD A REPORT, SUGGESTING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WASN'T WITH IT, EVERY MEDIA OUTLET WOULD BE YELLING RELEASE THE TAPES.

RELEASE THE TAPES.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR FOR THEMSELVES AND JUDGE WHETHER OR NOT THE SUMMARY COUNCIL WAS APPROPRIATE.

RELEASE THE TAPES.

TED: ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND SEES THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

>> WE HAVE GONE TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMITTEES GET RESPONSES TO THEIR LEGITIMATE REQUESTS.

BUT THIS IS NOT ONE.

TO THE CONTRARY, THIS IS ONE THAT WOULD HARM OUR ABILITY IN THE FUTURE TO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIONS.

>>> BUT THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WENT AHEAD AND VOTED TO ADVANCE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST GARLAND OVER THE AUDIO FILES.

>>> AND ECONOMIC NOTE, WALMART REPORTED A 3.8% GROWTH IN SALES LAST QUARTER, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WITH GROCERIES ACCOUNTING FOR MORE THAN HALF OF WALMART'S SALES.

THE LARGEST RETAILER IN THE U.S., ANY INCREASE IN SPENDING COULD BE A BAROMETER HOW CONSUMERS ARE FEELING OVERALL.

WALMART'S FOOD PRICES ARE ABOUT 25% LOWER THAN TRADITIONAL SUPERMARKETS.

WALMART REPORTS MOST GROWTH IS DRIVEN BY PEOPLE MAKING MORE THAN $100,000 A YEAR.

>>> THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT LAST WEEK DELAYED ENFORCEMENT OF 1864 ABORTION BAN THAT THE COURT REVIVED IN A RULING LAST MONTH.

THE 90-DAY DELAY ADDS ANOTHER LAYER TO ALREADY COMPLICATED TIMELINE REGARDING THE BAN WHICH THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY OVERTURNED.

HERE TO HELP MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL IS JENNIFER PIATT AT SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> OF COURSE.

TED: THANKS FOR HELPING ME MAKE SENSE OF ALL THIS.

SO BASICALLY, THE COURT SAID -- THE COURT GIVES 90 DAYS BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS, WHAT, I NEED 90 DAYS TO WORK THIS OUT?

>> I NEED 90 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT IF I'M GOING TO APPEAL YOUR RULING TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

TED: SO BASICALLY SHE'S SAYING I THINK YOU SCREWED UP, AND I NEED 90 DAYS TO PROVE IT AND THE COURT SAID OKAY?

>> YES.

TED: ISN'T THAT UNUSUAL?

>> IT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

CASES WHERE STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL WANT TO APPEAL STATE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENTS UP TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT, STATE SUPREME COURTS WILL SAY YES, OF COURSE, WE'LL GIVE THAT YOU AMOUNT OF TIME TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU WANT TO TAKE APPEAL UP TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

A MATTER OF PROCEDURE THAT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.

TED: TALK MORE ABOUT THE PROCEDURE AS FAR AS IF AND WHEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GOES TO THE SUPREME COURT.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

WHAT ARE THE MECHANICS?

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD FILE A PETITION FOR CERTIORARI ASKING THE SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT'S DECISION BECAUSE OF A FEDERAL LAW OR CONSTITUTIONAL ANGLE THAT SHE BELIEVES THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT MAY HAVE GOTTEN WRONG AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT CAN CHOOSE, YES, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP THE CASE OR NO, WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE CASE.

TED: HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE THAT DECISION?

>> REALLY DEPENDS.

IT'S UP IN THE AIR IN TERMS WHEN TO DECIDE THAT BUT COULD PLACE A STAY IN PLACE WHILE THEY'RE CONSIDERING.

IS THAT LIKELY?

I DON'T THINK SO.

TED: THEY COULD PLACE A STAY TO SAY WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, THEY COULD SAY YES, OBVIOUSLY, THEY WOULDN'T DO A STAY.

EVEN THAT IS OUT THERE IN THE BREEZE, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, YEAH, A CONVOLUTED LEGAL ENVIRONMENT WITH ALL OF THIS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> THE BAN CANNOT BE ENFORCED FOR 90 DAYS WHICH EQUALS AUGUST 12, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER DELAY, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

SO WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS FIRST HAPPENING, WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH WAS IN OFFICE, HE WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER LITIGATION IN TRIAL COURT IN ARIZONA, AND IN ORDER TO AVOID ALL OF THIS LITIGATION, I MEAN MULTIPLE CASES POTENTIALLY, MERGING BECAUSE OF THIS 1864 LAW AT ONCE, HE SAID, OKAY, COURT, I'LL MAKE A DEAL WITH YOU, ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WILL AGREE NOT TO ENFORCE THIS LAW FOR 45 DAYS AFTER A FINAL JUDGMENT FROM THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT, JUST TO GET RID OF ALL THIS MULTIPLE LITIGATION GOING ON.

AND THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT IN THIS ORDER SAID OUR FINAL JUDGMENT WILL NOT ISSUE FOR 90 DAYS.

SO WE TAKE THAT 90 DAYS AND WE ADD 45 DAY AGREEMENT AFTER THAT FINAL JUDGMENT.

TED: SO THAT MAKES FOR LATE SEPTEMBER?

>> SEPTEMBER 26.

TED: SEPTEMBER 26, OKAY.

WE GOT SEPTEMBER 26.

THAT'S FINE, BUT THIS IS FOR A LAW THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE ALREADY SAID GET IT OUT OF HERE.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN FOR A WHILE.

>> YES, THAT'S THE CRAZIEST PART OF ALL OF THIS MESS.

ARIZONA LAWS WHEN THEY PASS THEM DURING THE LEGISLATURE, THEY DON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 90 DAYS AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN LATE JUNE OR IN JULY.

TED: RIGHT, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, THE IDEA THEY'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THERE RELATIVELY EARLY, LET'S SAY IT'S LATE JUNE, YOU GOT 90 DAYS FROM THERE, I'M SEEING DIAGRAMS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> YES, SO IF IT'S IN LATE JUNE, WE ALREADY HAVE A BLOCK ON THE BAN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26, BUT IF IT'S IN JUNE, THAT PUSHES OUT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 28, WE COULD HAVE A TWO-DAY WINDOW WHERE THE LAW COULD BE IN EFFECT.

IF IT'S IN JULY AND PUSHES OUT INTO OCTOBER, IT COULD BE A LONGER WINDOW WHERE THE 1864 LAW IS IN EFFECT BEFORE THE REPEAL TAKES PLACE.

TED: LIKE A DAY, IT COULD LITERALLY BE A DAYS, COULDN'T IT?

>> YES, YES.

TED: WITHIN ALL THIS MACHINERY, ARE MORE APPEALS POSSIBLE?

COULD SOMEONE COME OUT OF THE BLUE WITH SOMETHING ELSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

COULD BE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT COURT CASE THAT COULD COME UP.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT COULD INTERVENE AND PAUSE THIS.

NOW WHETHER AND TO WHAT EXTENT THE STAYS TAKE PLACE, HIGHLY UNLIKELY, THERE'S A LEGAL DOCTRINE CALLED MOOTNESS THAT SAYS THIS CASE IS MOOT, THERE'S NOTHING REALLY TO ARGUE HERE AND OTHER LAW HAS BEEN REPEALED.

SO MOST LIKELY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, OTHER COURTS WOULD SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET INVOLVED HERE BECAUSE IT'S MOOT.

THE LAW IS REPEALED.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT LEGISLATIVE INTENT.

HOW THAT'S INVOLVED HERE?

WE KIND OF FIGURED OUT THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT.

THEY BOOTED IT OUT OF HERE.

AND ALL THE THINGS GOING ON, IS THAT A FACTOR AT ALL AT THIS STAGE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT COULD GRANT A STAY WHILE THIS IS ONGOING OR COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE UP CERT AND WHEN THEY TAKE UP CERT, VERY FREQUENTLY THEY SAY WE'LL PUT THIS LAW ON ICE UNTIL WE ISSUE A FINAL DECISION.

I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKELY BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE VIEWED AS MOOT.

TED: NOW WE GOT A BALLOT MEASURE OUT THERE THAT CREATES THE RIGHT TO ABORTION THERE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

LEGAL CHALLENGES THERE, THEY'RE READY TO POP UP, AREN'T THEY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ELECTION LEGAL CHALLENGES ARE VERY, VERY FREQUENT IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

VERY OFTEN CHALLENGES ON THE VALIDITY OF A SIGNATURE, THE VALIDITY OF THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER FOR SIGNATURE TO BE COUNTED AS VALID BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT ALSO OFTENTIMES ARGUMENTS THAT BALLOT INITIATIVES ADDRESS MORE THAN ONE SUBJECT AND THAT VIOLATES THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION AS WELL.

SO ALL OF THIS POTENTIAL LITIGATION WE COULD SEE UNFOLDING AS THE ELECTION APPROACHES.

TED: AS FAR AS REFERRALS, BECAUSE THERE'S A BATTLE AT THE LEGISLATURE NOW REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A REFERRAL FOR 15 WEEKS AND DO SOMETHING TO CHALLENGE THE OTHER ABORTION MEASURE.

I MEAN, COULD THAT BE CHALLENGED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM OR LESS LIKELY?

>> YEAH, IT COULD BE, ALL OF THESE POTENTIAL REFERRAL MEASURES COULD BE CHALLENGED ON DIFFERENT BASES.

WHERE WE END UP, TED, IS IN A BIG MORASS OF ADDITIONAL LEGAL CASES TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS BIG ELECTION.

TED: WHICH IS WHY WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU BACK.

THE LAST QUESTION, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CONSTITUTIONALITY SO FAR.

IT'S ALL STATUTE AS FAR AS WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DECIDES, STATE SUPREME COURT DECIDED AND THE KIT AND KABOODLE AFTERWARDS, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT, BUT THE REASON THAT KRIS MAYES IS BRINGING THIS WHOLE THING UP IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT SAID WE'RE MAKING THIS DECISION IS WE HAVE THIS STATUTE ON THE BOOKS IN ARIZONA THAT'S ESSENTIALLY A STATUTE THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO READ ALL OF OUR ARIZONA LAWS AS CONFERRING RIGHTS ONTO ALL FETUSES IN STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.

THAT LAW HAS BEEN HELD UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE BY A FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT.

THAT'S WHERE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY ISSUE MAYBE COMES IN FOR THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

ONE OF THE BASES THAT YOU HUNG YOUR HAT ON, ARIZONA SUPREME COURT, IS SOMETHING THE FEDERAL SUPREME COURT SAID IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

TED: INTERESTING.

INTERESTING, SHE MENTIONED THAT, IT'S BEEN THERE IN THE CORNER AND ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND NOW COULD BE THERE AT THE SUPREME COURT.

THANKS FOR CLEARING THIS UP, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> HAPPY TO.

.

TED: A NEW STUDY FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SUGGESTS THAT WE'RE IN FOR ANOTHER SUMMER OF HOTTER THAN AVERAGE TEMPERATURES.

AFTER LAST SUMMER'S RUN OF RECORD-BREAKING HEAT.

JOINING US IS ASU CLIMATOLOGIST RANDY CERVENY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE SUMMERTIME AND THE WINTER.

I SOUND LIKE BOB SEAGER, I WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF THUNDER, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE DRIEST PERIODS IN TYPICAL ARIZONA YEAR.

BUT WE HAD A RATHER POTENT UPPER LEVEL FEATURE, CALLED A SHORT WAVE WORKING THROUGH THE STATE, AND IT WAS ENOUGH TO TRIGGER VERY ISOLATED SHOWERS AROUND THE VALLEY.

TED: AND THUNDER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SUMMER HERE.

THE SIGNS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THE SIGNS NOT SO GOOD.

>> NOT SO GOOD.

NEW MEXICO LOOKS A WHOLE LOT WORSE THAN WE DO.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY HOT AND DRY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE HOT AND DRY.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A MAP HERE SUMMER TEMPERATURES IN THE FORECAST, BUT AGAIN, IF WE'RE ABOVE AVERAGE, THERE WE GO, MY GOODNESS, NEW MEXICO AND MOST OF TEXAS, GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

>> WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS BASICALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT WILL PUSH MOISTURE NOT INTO THE TYPICAL MONSOON FLOW, BUT INSTEAD GOING UP AROUND INTO OREGON AND WASHINGTON.

IT'S PART OF THE LONG-TERM PATTERN THAT WE CALL LA NINA.

TED: YES, AND LA NINA, IT'S HAPPENING, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS HAPPENING.

WE'VE HAD A PRETTY GOOD WINTER THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH EL NINO THAT GAVE US SOME PRECIPITATION, BUT BY SUMMER WE'RE DEFINITELY INTO THE COLDER PERIOD IN THE PACIFIC CALLED LA NINA.

TED: THAT MEANS WHAT FOR THE SUMMER AND WHAT FOR THE WINTER?

>> WELL, THE EFFECTS ON SUMMER BY EL NINO AND LA NINA ARE NOT AS CLEAR CUT.

THE MONSOON IS DRIVEN BY A LOT OF LOCAL FACTORS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SOMEWHAT HOME FOR WHEN I LOOK AT A TEMPERATURE MAP LIKE THIS.

IF IT GETS REALLY HOT INTO TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO, THAT MIGHT JUST ACTUALLY FORCE SOME MOISTURE UP FROM THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME, YOU GOTTA GET THE CRAZY HIGH TEMPERATURES TO GET SOME OF THE MOISTURE COMING UP.

IF WE GET SO MUCH OF THE CRAZY HIGH TEMPERATURES, HOW COME WE'RE NOT GETTING MORE OF A MONSOON?

>> IF WE LOOK AT TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE YOU.

>> WANT THE TEMPERATURE MAP OR MONSOON MAP.

LET'S GET THE MONSOON MAP UP THERE.

>> THERE YOU GO, PRIMARILY THE DRYNESS IS IN NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS.

WE'RE DRY, BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL GET AT LEAST SOME MOISTURE THAT'S COMING UP FROM THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, AND A LOT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON WHETHER WE HAVE HURRICANES OFF ON THE WEST COAST OF MEXICO.

UNDER LA NINA, THAT'S NOT AS COMMON, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE HURRICANES IN THE ATLANTIC THIS YEAR, BUT WE MIGHT GET ENOUGH MOISTURE TO GIVE US SOME.

TED: LOOKS LIKE A WIMPY MONSOON, DOESN'T LOOK CONVINCING.

>> TRYING TO PUT THE BEST FACE ON IT AS POSSIBLE.

TED: SO THE HOT TEMPERATURES DON'T ALWAYS MEAN YOU ARE DRAWING UP THE MOISTURE FROM MEXICO.

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MOISTURE.

YOU CAN DRAW UP AS MUCH AS YOU WANT FROM MEXICO, BUT IF THERE'S NO MOISTURE PARTICULARLY IN THE FORM OF HURRICANES, WE DON'T GET IT PUSHED UP INTO ARIZONA.

TED: TALK ABOUT LA NINA, THIS IMPACTS THE WINTER A LOT.

WHAT A WONDERFUL WINTER, NOW COMES LA NINA.

DO WE HAVE THE -- THIS IS THE WINTER ONE?

THE WINTER ONE.

DOESN'T LOOK ALL THAT HOT FOR US.

>> NO, IT DOESN'T.

THIS IS CLASSIC LA NINA TYPE OF FORMATION, WHERE THE MOISTURE GOES UP INTO OREGON AND WASHINGTON, THE NORTHWEST GETS A LOT OF MOISTURE AND THE SOUTHWEST, PARTICULARLY ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS GET NOTHING, SO WE'RE FORECASTING UNFORTUNATELY A REALLY DRY WINTER FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.

TED: AND AGAIN, I THINK I ASKED YOU THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE, WHEN YOU HAVE EL NINO, HOW MUCH OF THAT SPILLS OVER INTO THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHEN YOU HAVE A LA NINA LIKE THAT?

DOES IT SPILL OVER OR THE PACIFIC TEMPERATURES DO WHAT THEY DO?

>> THEY HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN, BUT WHAT WE'VE NOTICED IN RECENT YEARS IS THEY ARE MORE LONG LASTING.

SO IF YOU REMEMBER, PRIOR TO THIS LAST EL NINO THAT WE HAD THIS WINTER WEEK HAD THREE YEARS OF LA NINA, AND THE LAST ONE TURNED OUT TO BE REALLY WET, BIZARRELY.

LA NINA TENDS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY.

LA NINA FOR US MEANS DRY.

THAT'S A BIT OF A PROBLEM.

TED: AND MORE PREDICTABLE.

WE HAVE HAD EL NINOS THAT ARE POOPY, BUT LA NINAS ALWAYS SEEM TO HOLD FORM, DON'T THEY?

>> TWO YEARS AGO WE WERE IN LA NINA AND GOT EVERYTHING.

SO IT'S STILL, WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS THE WEATHER STILL HAS A LOT OF UNKNOWNS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT AI.

IT WOULD SEEM THAT YOU COULD TAKE, YOU KNOW, YEARLY PATTERNS, MONTHLY PATTERNS, SEASONAL PATTERNS, FEED THEM INTO THE COMPUTER AD NAUSEUM AND WOULD COME OUT WITH A WAY TO FORECAST THAT WOULD BE PRETTY BENEFICIAL.

IS THAT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE BUSINESS?

>> IT ACTUALLY IS.

THE WEATHER SERVICE IS REALLY DELVING IN A BIG MANNER INTO AI.

THEY'RE USING IT PRIMARILY AS A FORECASTING REPORTING TOOL.

THEY'RE TAKING ALL THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY HAVE AND THEY'RE APPLYING AI TO WRITING A FORECAST FOR IT, THAT WE CAN GET FORECASTS OUT FASTER THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

THEY'RE NOT USING IT AS A FORECASTING TOOL TO MAKE A FORECAST, BUT THEY'RE TAKING THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND HAVING AI WRITE IT QUICKLY TO BE DISSEMINATED A LOT FASTER TO THE TV STATIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

TED: RELATIVELY ENCOURAGING THERE.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS IN VERY BIG FASHION.

TED: BOTTOM LINE IS HOTTER THAN AVERAGE SUMMER, WIMPIER THAN AVERAGE MONSOON AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE WINTER.

>> UNFORTUNATELY IT'S ALL BAD NEWS.

TED: THAT'S TERRIBLE, RANDY.

IT'S GREAT HAVING YOU ON.

THANKS FOR SHOWING UP.

APPRECIATE IT.

.

TED: ARIZONA'S WILDFIRE SEASON IS ALREADY UNDER WAY AND AS TEMPERATURES INCREASE AND THE AIR DRIES OUT, THINGS GET ROUGH WITH WINTER RAINS AND SNOWS MAKING FOR MORE VEGETATION TO BURN.

JOINING US IS JOHN TRUETT FIRE MANAGING OFFICER.

JOHN, A PLEASURE, WE HAVE YOU EVERY YEAR TO TALK ABOUT THE FORECAST.

USUALLY WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF RAIN AND SNOW, MAKES FOR A LOT OF FIRE.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> WITH THE RAINS AND INTERMITTENT RAINS WE'VE HAD, WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL GRASS CROP, CONTINUOUS GRASS CROP ACROSS THE LOWER DESERT AND SONORAN DESERT.

UP HIGH A LOT OF SNOW, DELAYED THE FIRE SEASON A LITTLE BIT.

NOW THAT WE'RE DRYING OUT, THINGS ARE STARTING TO CATCH UP, DRYING OUT AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

THE GRASS CROP IS CONTINUOUS THROUGHOUT THE SONORAN DESERT RIGHT NOW.

TED: AS FAR AS WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR, THE FIRE HAS TECHNICALLY STARTED AND NOT IN THE HEAVY PART YET, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF STUFF, AREN'T WE?

.

>> SEEING FIRES WITH THE INTERMITTENT WINDS.

WINDES DRIVING THE FIRES THROUGH THE CONTINUOUS GRASS CROP AND MAYBE A WEEK OR SO FROM THE FIRES CARRYING THROUGH THE NIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF HAVING SOME LARGE FIRES.

TED: ANY MORE OR LESS THAN YOU USUALLY SEE THIS TIME OF YEAR?

>> MORE FIRES THIS YEAR AT THE ONSET OF FIRE SEASON.

TED: YEAH, WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF SNOW AND YOU HAVE THAT SNOWPACK UP THERE, COULD THAT POSSIBLY DELAY THINGS BECAUSE OF THE SLOW MELT?

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> DEPENDS ON THE SLOW MELT.

DID WE GET INCREASING TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE SPRING, AND DID HAVE INCREASE OF TEMPERATURES SO THE SNOWMELT DIDN'T LAST AS LONG AS WE THOUGHT THE SNOWPACK WOULD.

TED: EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, IF YOU HAVE WIND, THAT MAKES THINGS OBVIOUSLY WORSE.

THE WIND FACTORS IN THAT PRETTY MUCH, DOESN'T IT?

>> THE WIND'S A DRIVER OF THE FIRE.

THE WINDS CAN DRIVE IT, THE WINDS KEEP THE SPREAD GOING AND IT'S ABLE TO -- FOR THE FIRE TO FIND THE FUEL OF OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE WINDS THAT ARE CREATED.

>> IS THERE ANY INDICATION IT BEING A SHORTER OR LONGER THAN USUAL SEASON?

>> WITH THE RAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONGER SEASON, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE -- USUALLY SEASON ENDING EVENT WHEN THE MONSOONS COME IN, IT'S A VERY SHORT DURATION, PROBABLY NOT BENEFICIAL TO REHYDRATE THE VEGETATION AND THAT'S GOING TO BRING ONSET OF FALL FIRE SEASON.

TED: INTERESTING, AND THE MONSOON IS A BLESSING BUT CAN BE A CURSE, THOSE DRY STORMS ARE TERRIBLE, AREN'T THEY?

>> RIGHT, WITH THE LAST FORECAST, IF IT'S SHORT, WE HAVE HIGH-BASED THUNDERSTORMS THAT PRODUCE DRY LIGHTNING.

TED: OVERALL, THE WILDFIRE STARTS WHEN AND ENDS WHEN?

>> THE BUSIER PART OF THE SEASON WILL START IN LATE, MID-MARCH, BUT WE HAVE WILDFIRES ALL YEAR LONG, SO LIKE I SAID PREVIOUSLY, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GETTING THE FIRES TO BURN INTO THE NIGHT, BUT SOON THEY'RE GOING TO START CARRYING SO YOU GET REAL ACTIVE FIRE SEASON FOR THE NEXT SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS.

TED: AS FAR AS FIRE MITIGATION EFFORTS, THE USDA HAD FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP, DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

IS IT HELPING OUT?

>> IT IS.

WITH THE DEPARTMENT, OUR FORESTRY SHOP, WE HAVE THE HEALTHY FOREST INITIATIVE.

WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING IN, THE BILLS, INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THE BIPARTISAN, WE'RE RECEIVING A LOT OF FUNDS AND A LOT OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL PARTNERS FOREST SERVICE AND WHAT NOT.

SO WE'RE TREATING A LOT OF ACRES RIGHT NOW.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, FOREST MANAGEMENT IS A BIG DEAL AND I THINK ANYONE WHO'S BEEN TO THE HIGH COUNTRY MAY HAVE SEEN CONTROLLED BURNS HERE AND THERE, LOW LEVEL, ARE THEY MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SO OUT OF BALANCE FOR SO LONG, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO GET THERE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PUTTING THE TREATMENT IN A STRATEGIC AREA.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN DO AS RESIDENTS, MITIGATION EFFORTS, FOLKS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, IN THE DESERTS, BEST ADVICE, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

>> BE CAUTIOUS, RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY IN PINAL, THEY'VE GOT A BURN BAN GOING ON.

THAT'S WHAT SETS -- LATELY ALL OF OUR CAUSES ARE HUMAN CAUSED.

BE CAREFUL DOING MITIGATION YOURSELF, YOU'RE MOWING LAWNS, DOING WELDING, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD SAFE AREA AND GOOD TOOLS TO KNOCK IT DOWN IF IT DOES START.

TED: AND DEFENSIBLE AREA AROUND HOMES AND CABINS, THAT'S REQUIRED, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

WITH THE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE FIREWISE PROGRAM.

COMMUNITIES CAN LOOK THAT UP AND WE CAN HAVE OUR PREVENTION POST BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FIREWISE PROGRAM.

TED: INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS, EVACUATION PLANS, ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA?

>> EVACUATE AS SOON AS YOU CAN, AND THE WORD COMES OUT.

GET OUT OF THE WAY.

THE FIRES THE WAY THEY'RE RUNNING NOW, THEY CAN MOVE MILES, DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST-MINUTE.

TED: WE SAW RANDY WITH GRAPHS AND EVERYTHING, DOESN'T LOOK ALL THAT GOOD, BUT DOESN'T LOOK ALL THAT GOOD FOR PLACES IN THE WEST.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT PERSONNEL?

>> WE ARE.

WE ARE A SMALLER DEPARTMENT, TOO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SEASONALITY OF THE WEST, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE STARTING TO BURN EVERYWHERE, AND THEN WE ALL GO FROM PLACE TO PLACE, AND WITH THE WIDESPREAD DROUGHT, FIRE CONDITIONS, WE'RE GOING TO BE STRETCHED THIN FOR RESOURCES.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE THERE ARE PLANS IN PLACE AND SCHEMATICS IN PLACE.

>> THERE ARE STRATEGIC PLANS BUT ONLY SO MANY THAT CAN GO AROUND, SO MANY AIRCRAFT AND GROUND RESOURCES.

>> JOHN TRUETT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, TED.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.