>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, BUDGET APPROVED BY THE ARIZONA LAWMAKERS OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND HOW THE COLORADO RIVER WATER IS BEING USED.

AND HUGH GRANT IS HELPING TO FUND THE ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON, THE WIRE NEAR WICKENBURG IS 90% CONTAINED BUT NOT BEFORE DESTROYING 17 INSTRUCTORS AND 7 HOPES, AND IT WAS REPORTED FIVE DAYS AGO.

AND THE RIVERSIDE FIRE EAST OF CAVE CREEK HAS BURPED 60 ACRES AND FORCED THE CLOSURES OF BARTLETT AND HORSESHOE DAM ROADS.

>>> PUSHING CONGRESS TO PUT WARNING LABELS ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS SIMILAR CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL.

HE WANTS TO ADVISE PARENTS THAT USING SOCIAL MEDIA MIGHT DAMAGE ADD LESS HE WANTS.

THOSE WHO HAD 3 HOURS A DAY DOUBLED THEIR RISK OF DEPRESSION, AND TEENS SPEND 5 HOURS A DAY ON THE APPS.

RESTRICTING UNTIL THE KIDS REACH HIGH SCHOOL AGE.

>>> IN POLITICAL NEWS, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WITH BLACK VOTERS.

BIDEN HAD 20 PERCENTAGE POINTS AND 22% IN MICHIGAN.

THE NUMBERS ARE WORSE FOR TRUMP WHO WAS SEEN UNFAVORABLY BY MORE THAN 1 IN 3 IN MICHIGAN AND 5-1 IN PENNSYLVANIA.

2/3 OF BLACK VOTERS SAID THAT TRUMP'S HUSH MONEY CONVICTION MADE THEM LESS LIKELY TO VOTE FOR HIM.

>>> ARIZONA LAWMAKERS THIS WEEKEND APPROVED A BIPARTISAN BUDGET THAT ERASES A $1.5 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL.

AND THE VOTE, TO BREAK IT DOWN, THE VETERAN CAPITAL REPORTER FOR AZ CENTRAL.COM, AND BUSY WEEKEND FOR YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US >> THANK YOU, AND HOPE TO CATCH UP ON MY SLEEP TIME.

>> NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

$1.4 BILLION DEFICIT ERASED AND HOW DID THEY DO IT?

>> LOTS OF CUTS, AND SWEEPING MONEY FROM VARIOUS STATE AGENCY FUNDS, AND THIS IS THE MONEY THAT THEY HAD FOR THE AGENCIES FOR FUTURE PROJECTS, SENDING BAG TO THE GENERAL FUND AND CUTS AND SWEEP AND TRANSFERS.

AND JUST A LOT OF CUTTING AND MOVING THINGS AROUND.

>> KIND OF A COMPLICATED MESS, AND FROM THE FAR LEFT TO THE FAR RIGHT.

>> OH, YEAH.

THIS IS WHERE THEY COME AROUND AND MEET EACH OTHER.

A LOT OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO WERE AGAINST THIS BUDGET, THE MAIN ARGUMENT WAS THAT THIS WAS DUMPED ON US WITH OUT TIME TO READ AND IT'S A BIG BUDGET.

$16.1 BILLION IN SPENDING AND 16 BILLS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, MANY OF WHICH ARE LENGTHY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARGUE THEY WERE NOT BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND NOBODY WAS SEEKING THEIR INPUT UNTIL THE BUDGET LEAKED OUT LAST WEEK.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THE PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS SAID IT'S A BAD BUDGET BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SPEND IN THE RIGHT PRIORITIES, AND WE HAVE DONE NOTHING WITH THE VOUCHER PROGRAM IS COSTING THE STATE MORE MONEY AND IT'S WHY WE HAVE A DEFICIT AND WHY ARE WE NOT ADDRESSING THAT?

>> AND THE GOVERNOR COMES OUT AND SAYS IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS, DELIVERING CHILDCARE TO WORKING FAMILIES AND COMBAT VETERANS, AND PROTECTING THE BORDER AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND SHE'S FINDING THE POSITIVES AND RANK-AND-FILE DEMOCRATS ARE FINDING THE POSITIVES?

>> SOME ARE AND SOME ARE NOT.

THIS BILL WAS VERY DIVIDED AMONG REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN THERE.

AT THE LAST MINUTE, THEY GOT $15,000 FOR THE TRUST FUND AND MANY PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED WE CAN EVEN DO THAT IN A YEAR WE HAVE A BUDGET DEFICIT AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A PRETTY BIG WIN.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS ADDED IN, ARMED SERVICES AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE AMENDMENT.

THERE ARE DOLLARS THAT 24th MIGHT VOTE FOR FOR THE DESIGNATED PROGRAM AND YOU HAD TO DO THAT TO GET MORE OF THE DEMOCRATS ONBOARD.

>> RIGHT, AND THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE ROUNDTABLE ON FRIDAY, BECAUSE IT WAS A CONCEPT THEN, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL NONE TOO PLEASED THAT THE MONEY IS LEAVING FROM A SETTLEMENT AND GOING INTO PRISONS AND WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> SHE TRIED TO KEEP IT FROM LEAVING BUT ARIZONA RECEIVED A BUNCH OF MONEY FROM THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT A YEAR AGO AND THAT MONEY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONTENDS, IS HERS TO CONTROL.

THE LEGISLATURE CAN ALLOCATE THE AMOUNT AND SAY OKAY, WE'LL FREE UP THIS MUCH MONEY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IT'S UP TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DECIDE WHERE THAT MONEY GOES, AND SHE THINKS THAT THIS BUDGET A, DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT PROCESS AND B, TAKES WAY TOO MUCH MONEY.

$195 MILLION OVER 4 YEARS, IF YOU COUNT WHAT'S LEST OF THIS YEAR, AND IT'S TOO MUCH, AND IT'S GOING TO HELP THE PRISON SYSTEM WHEN THAT MONEY SHOULD BE USED IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP FIGHT ADDICTION.

>> AND THAT MONEY CAN GO TO FIGHT OPIOID ADDICTION FOR PEOPLE IN PRISON.

>> AND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN PRISON THAT HAVE ADDICTION ISSUES, AND SHE ALSO HIT HARD ON THE PREVENTION SIDE SO WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE FROM GETTING ADDICTED SO THEY DON'T GET INTO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE CRITICS, THE ALLEGED TRANSFER OF MONEY, AS A WAY TO BACK FILL THE STATE PRISON BUDGET.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SETTLEMENT WITH THE FEDS OVER LACK OF HEALTHCARE COSTS.

THEIR ARGUMENT IS WE CAN USE A LOT OF THIS TO TREAT OUR EXISTING INMATE POPULATION, BUT $195 MILLION?

>> SO IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES FILE SUIT, WILL THE FEDS FILE SUIT, WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THIS?

>> WELL, I WOULD ASSUME SOMEBODY WOULD SEEK AN INJUNCTION AND THEY WOULD DUKE IT OUT IN COURT.

AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, I'M NOT SURE WHERE SHE'S GOING NEXT.

SHE SPOKE VERY CLEARLY THAT SHE ATTENDINTENDED TO SUE AND IF THIS HAPPENED SHE WOULD SUE AND THE FED AND MANUFACTURERS WHO HAVE TO PAY OUT THE SETTLEMENT MIGHT SUE BECAUSE THIS WOULD BREAK THE AGREEMENT SO THEY MIGHT TRY TO GET BACK SOME OF THEIR MONEY >> A LOT OF FLIES IN THE OINTMENT.

>> A LOT TO BE SORTED OUT.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, THE SIGNING IS TOMORROW?

>> WE'RE TOLD TOMORROW, THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THE BUDGET AND PROBABLY ACT ON A COUPLE OF BILLS AS WELL >> WINNERS AND LOSERS AND WALLS YOU HEAR?

WHO IS HAPPY AND WHOES NOT SO HAPPY?

>> WELL, THE THREE NEGOTIATORS FOR THE BUDGET.

IT WAS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND PRESIDENT PETERSON AND GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS.

AND THEY ARE ALL SORT OF PATTING THEMSELVES ON THE BACK AND SAYING THIS IS AS GOOD AS WE COULD GET.

RECOGNIZING WITH A BIPARTISAN GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GIVE AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT.

BUT ALL OF THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WHO ARE REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED FOR THIS BUDGET, ALMOST ALL OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN THE LEGISLATURE VOTED NO.

SO THAT ARE NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT THEIR GOVERNOR GOT THEM.

AND NOT ABLE TO DRAW MUCH OUT OF THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER WAS OUTSPOKEN AND HER MAIN COMPLAINT NOTHING WAS DONE TO CURB THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM.

SHE DOESN'T BLAME THE GOVERNOR FOR THAT.

SHE POINTS OUT THERE ARE TWO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR BUT THAT HAS DRIVEN THE COST TO THE STATE BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY POPULAR AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BUT IT WASN'T >> 400 MILLION AND IT KEEPS GOING AND GOING HERE, AND THE SAVINGS ARE WHAT, A GUARDRAIL WAS PUT UP FOR $2 MILLION?

>> THERE'S A $2.5 MILLION SAFES WITH PRESERVATIONS, SOMEONE IS LEADING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND CAN PICK UP SUMMER SCHOOL COSTS AND ON GO BACK TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A DOUBLE DIP >> YES, AND THEN WE GET SUNNY DAY, AND IT'S BALLGAMES AND IT'S OVER AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE IMPEACHMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL CHRIS MAY >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS TOTALLY GONE AWAY, BUT GIVEN THAT THE LEGISLATOR IS TECHNICALLY DONE FOR THE YEAR, TO DO ANYTHING MORE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO BRING FULL LEGISLATOR BACK IN, AND IN AN ELECTION YEAR AND WITH THE FRAYED FEELINGS, I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

BUT THERE WAS AN ETHICS RECOMMENDATION THAT TWO HOUSE LAWMAKERS, DEMOCRATS, CREATED DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE PUT UP FOR SANCTIONS AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN EITHER >> NOW IT'S A MAD RUSH TO CONFIRM THE ELECTION.

>> THE PRIMARY IS SIX WEEKS AWAY?

WITH THE SIGNING TOMORROW, WHO WILL BE JOINING THE GOVERNOR THERE?

IT'S TELLING SOMETIMES TO SEE.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO HAS BEEN INVITED BUT I KNOW THAT THE MEDIA ISN'T, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT.

>> REALLY?

>> SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT WILL BE A COVERED EVENT SO WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO FIND OUT WHO WAS UP THERE STANDING AT THE GOVERNOR'S SIDE AS SHE SIGNS IT, AND PERHAPS THEY'LL RELEASE A PHOTO TO LET US KNOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, MARY JO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> A NEW REPORT PUBLISHED BY NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY LOOKS AT HOW THE COLORADO RIVER WATER IS USED AND WHERE IT ACTUALLY GOES.

TO KNOW MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY NAU ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, AND THANK YOU FOR AUTHORING AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE >> THIS GOES BACK 20 SOME ODD YEARS AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THIS WATER HAS GONE AND WHERE IT'S GOING.

>> CORRECT.

THE LARGE STUDY WITH MULTIPLE UNIVERSITIES, WE WENT BACK TO 2000 TO LOOK AT WHERE WATER HAS BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE COLORADO RIVER WATER AND HOW IT HAS BEEN USED AND ULTIMATELY TO AN ACCOUNTING OF WHERE THE COLORADO RIVER GOES ONCE IT LEAVES THE RIVER.

>> BUT THE ECHO SYSTEMS, AND EVAPORATION, WAS THAT INCLUDED AS WELL?

>> YES, WE'RE UPDATING A STUDY WE PUBLISHED IN 2020 TO INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT WHERE WATER IS GOING, AND SO THAT INCLUDES EVAPORATION, ALONG THE RIVERBANKS AND IT INCLUDES WATER USED BY WHAT WE CALL MUNICIPAL AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SESSIONS, AGRICULTURE, INTERBASIN TRANSFERS, EVAPORATIONS FROM RESERVOIRS, AND ALSO USE OF WATER ACROSS THE U.S. BORDER AND MEXICO, LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM FROM WHERE WATER IS RECEIVED IN CHEYENNE, WYOMING, TO ENSENADA AND TIJUANA, MEXICO.

SO REALLY ENCOMPASSING THE WHOLE BREADTH OF THE COLORADO RIVER AND WHERE WATER IS USED.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WATER IS USED A LOT FOR AGRICULTURE AND ESPECIALLY TO FEED CATTLE >> CORRECT, SO ACROSS THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN, WE FOUND 54% OF WATER IS USED FOR AGRICULTURE, AND THE MAJORITY OF THAT WATER USED IN AGRICULTURE IS FOR CATTLE FEED CROPS, AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE BASIN HOW MUCH WATER IS GOING TO AG CULTURE.

SO IN THE UPPER BASIN, YOU MAY HAVE MORE WATER GOING TO CROPS THAN IN THE LOWER BASIN AND IN ARIZONA OR THE HEEL -- JILA RIVER BASIN, 25% TO COTTON, SO IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE BASIN HOW IT'S USED FOR AGRICULTURE >> IN THE UPPER BASIN, HAY AND AL FALLA FOR CATTLE AND WATER IS 90%?

>> YES, AND WE CONDUCT THE ANALYSIS, AND WE HAVE A MODELING TEAM AT THE VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY LOOKING AT A COMBINATION OF DATA SETS FROM SATELLITE DATA, LOOKING AT EVAPOTRANSFER ACE, AND BRINGING IN SALT LAKE OBSERVATION OF WHAT CROPS ARE BEING GROWN ON THE GROUND TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT HOW MUCH WATER IS BEING USED IN AGRICULTURE AND HOW MUCH WATER IS BEING USED >> DID ANY OF THIS SURPRISE YOU?

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WE KNEW FROM PREVIOUS STUDIES THAT A LOT OF THE WATER IN THE COLORADO BASIN WAS USED FOR AGRICULTURE AND PRIMARILY CATTLE FEED.

AND THE THINGS THAT COME OUT, THE LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER FOR INTERBASIN TRANSFERS, AND THAT'S WATER THAT IS GOING INTO THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN AND THEN TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE BASIN.

SO THINK OF WATER GOING INTO THE FRONT RANGE OF COLORADO OR LOS ANGELES, SALT LAKE CITY, AND ALSO EVAPORATION WAS A LARGE COMPONENT, WITH VAPO TRANSFER ACE FROM THE RIVER.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT >> AS FAR AS STABILIZING THE COLORADO RIVER, SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS WOULD BE NEEDED AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUATING ARIZONA'S ENTIRE ALLOCATION COMING UP SHORTLY, AND THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT >> IT IS AN AWFUL LOT AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PERIOD OF OUR STUDY, WE FOUND THAT EXCEPT FOR 5 YEARS, THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN WAS OVERDRAFTED AND IT WAS OVERDRAFTED BY 10% OF THE FLO OF THE COLORADO RIVER.

SO WE HAVE BEEN PULLING HARD INTO A DEFICIT OF WHAT WAS STORED IN THE BASIN'S RESERVOIRS.

>> AND YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE REDUCING IRRIGATED AGO CULTURE AND INVESTING IN BETTER IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY.

>> SO INCREASING THE CROP THAT YOU CAN PRODUCE PER DROP AND INNOVATION AS FAR AS HOW WATER IS USED IN AGRICULTURE AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO LIVELIHOOD TO FARMERS HAS BEEN ON THE TOP OF OUR MINDS >> WE TALK A LOT ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND WHAT ABOUT CITY USE?

>> CITY USE, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE BASIN BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN WATER BEING USED IN CITIES AS FARMS HAVE BEEN TRANSITIONED INTO URBAN AREAS.

>> WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF WATER COMMENT PACTS?

I THINK IN 2026, THEY HAVE TO GET THINGS DOWN AND FIGURE OUT A PLAN.

HOW DO YOU USE THESE NUMBERS TO HELP THESE PEOPLE FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNTING OF THE COLORADO RIVER, SO INCLUDING JUST ALL OF THE BASIN WHERE THE WATER ENDS UP GOING, AND SO YOU COME AWAY WITH THIS, TAKING A BASIN LEVEL APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING STORAGE AND FUTURE CUTS.

SO MOVING AWAY FROM FOCUSING ON THE ELEVATION TO LOOKING AT STORAGE ACROSS THE ENTIRE BASIN, I THINK IT'S ONE THING THAT I COME AWAY FROM THIS, AND THE OTHER THING, 2026 IS ON THE ROAD AND DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE.

SO THOSE ARE GOING TO BE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR THOSE AND NEGOTIATIONS >> AND QUICKLY, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS 3 MILLION-ACRE FEET CUT BY THE TIME WE GET TO 2026 AND SOUNDS LIKE A LOT.

AND IS IT A LOT?

THAT'S CERTAINLY A LOT AND THERE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE TOUGH DECISIONS ON HOW THAT ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE >> AND YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT WITH BETTER EFFICIENT IRRIGATION, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING >> WITH THE SITUATION WITH THE OVERDRAFT OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT AN ALL-HANDS ON DECK MOMENTS TO HIT THE TARGETS TO STABILIZE THE RIVER >> ARE PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS?

>> CERTAINLY, THE STATISTICS ON THAT EXPOSURE FOR ARE MUCH MORE THAN ANY OF MY PAPERS COMBINED >> RICHARD RUSH MORE, VERY INTERESTING STUDY, THE RESEARCH ON THE COLORADO RIVER WATER AND WHERE IT ACTUALLY GOES, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

[ ♪ MUSIC ♪ ] >> THE ASKERARS CHAPTER OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION IS LAUNCHING A NEW ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, FOCUSED ON PEOPLE WHO ARE IN UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

TONIGHT, AS PART OF THE SPONSOR WITH THE HIGHLIGHTS WITH ADULTS IN ARIZONA, WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND FOR THAT, WE WELCOME TERRY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ST. XANT AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> BECAUSE OF A GRANT HERE, $750,000.

>> A VERY BIG GRANT AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

IT CAME FROM SOME LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, CHAMPIONED BY REPRESENTATIVE TIM DUNN IN YUMA AND THIS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE NOW IN THE PERRA OF TREATMENT.

ACTUALLY, JUST LAST WEEK, WE RELEASED A NEW TREATMENT AND WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT THINGS OUT THERE NOW.

SO THAT'S WHAT IS SO EXCITING.

SO GETTING AWARENESS TO A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES THAT THERE'S HOPE OUT THERE THAT THIS ISN'T LIKE A DEATH SENTENCE, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN JUST -- ANY KIND OF FINALITY THAT THERE'S HOPE THAT WE HAVE TREATMENTS OUT THERE, AND IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AND WE DID NEED TO GET THAT EARLY ACCURATE DIAGNOSES >> AND THAT EARLY ACCURATE DIAGNOSES IS PART OF THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING HERE, AND IT MIGHT BE DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S >> I CAN TELL YOU WITH SIGNS OF AGING, IT GETS TRICKY AND COULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT?

AS PART OF THE EDUCATION OUT THERE, OUR CHAPTER OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION HAS TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHY THIS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IS SO IMPORTANT, THE EARLY STAGES OF ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, THAT'S WHERE THESE TREATMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE, AND EVERY DAY, 2,000 PEOPLE MOVE FROM THAT STAGE TO THE NEXT AND THEY KIND OF MOVE OUT OF THAT CRITERIA WHERE THEY COULD POSSIBLY BENEFIT.

SO REALLY HAVING ALL OF THIS HOPE AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS EDUCATED.

GET THE EDUCATION AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S HOPE OUT THERE, IF YOU ARE FEELING LIKE THINGS AREN'T RIGHT, GO TO THE DOCTOR AND GET A COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT.

SEE IF YOU CAN GET AN EARLY ACCURATE DIAGNOSES BECAUSE YOU COULD QUALIFY FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD GIVE YOU MORE TIME >> TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF GETTING THAT KIND OF INFORMATION INTO SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS, UNDERSERVED AREAS IN GENERAL.

WHAT'S OUT THERE?

>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS GRANT AND THIS MONEY, BECAUSE WHAT HAS AFFORDED US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IS REALLY GET INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND TALK TO PEOPLE.

ASK THEM HOW BEST WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.

SO AS A PART OF THE MEDIA PART OF IT, WE WILL HAVE BILLBOARDS, OUTDOOR BILLBOARDS, AND WE HAVE SECURED DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY'RE A CAREGIVER OR SOMEONE WHO HAS GONE THROUGH THE DISEASE, WHO HAS GIVEN A VIDEO TESTIMONIAL.

TV, RADIO THAT'S AIRING AND WEB, JUST A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND DOING DIFFERENT PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION.

>> AND THIS IS ALL AROUND THE STATE OBVIOUSLY?

>> ALL THE AROUND THE STATE.

>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S NEW TREATMENT OUT THERE THAT POPPED UP HERE IN RECENT WEEKS.

I KNOW IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL FOR A WHILE AND IT STILL IS, BUT IT SEEMS THAT WE'VE DONE SO MANY ALZHEIMER'S SEGMENTS AND WE KEEP WAITING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A BRIDGE TO CROSS.

ARE WE AT LEAST ON THE BRIDGE?

>> I WOULD SAY WE'RE ON THE BRIDGE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S SO EXCITING.

I WENT ON VACATION LAST WEEK AND CAME BACK AND I GET AN ADVISORY, THAT WE HAVE A NEW -- THE FDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS FOUND THAT -- IS AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR EARLY ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA.

EXCITING AND WHAT THEY FOUND WITH THIS NEW DRUG IS THAT THE BENEFITS FAR OUTWEIGH ANY RISKS THAT ARE COMING ALONG WITH IT.

SO MORE AND MORE TREATMENTS, THEY'RE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER, AND I THINK FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION AND REALLY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR HEALTH SYSTEMS, AND OUR STATE, EVERYONE IS TOO -- EVERYTHING HAS TO MOVE AT THE SAME LEVEL.

WE HAVE TO GET AWARENESS OUT THAT THERE'S HOPE AND GO TO YOUR DOCTOR AND ASK QUESTIONS AND SEE IF HE CAN GET AN EARLY ACCURATE DIAGNOSES, AND THE TREATMENT FOR RESEARCH IS GETTING BETTER TOO.

BUT THE HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE BETTER EQUIPMENT TO DIAGNOSE.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE GET THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOST IN THE SYSTEM, LOST FOR THREE YEARS TRYING TO GET JUST A DIAGNOSES.

>> IS THIS EVEN IN RURAL AREAS?

>> OH, ESPECIALLY, SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS, JUST THE TRAVEL, JUST THE ACCESS TO THAT KIND OF CARE, BECAUSE WE ALSO STATE WITH OUR GERRIATRITION RATE IS VERY LOW.

SO TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN DIAGNOSE YOU IS A TOUGH THING.

>> SO IF YOU HAVE THESE ISSUES YOURSELF, YOU HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE TO DRIVE YOU AND SOMEONE TO HELP YOU AS YOU GO ALONG.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IS FOR DIAGNOSES AND AWARENESS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S OPTIMISM OUT THERE.

>> THERE IS, IT'S INTERESTING.

YOU LOOK BACK 5 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NO TREATMENT AND I LOOK BACK JUST IN OUR STATE, THE AWARENESS AND YOU THINK OF THE GROWING RETIREMENT COMMUNITY HERE, AND AGE IS THE BIGGEST FACTOR OF THIS DISEASE.

>> TERI, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US >> THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.