♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," HIGH TEMPERATURES THIS SUMMER HAVE BEEN IN THE NORMAL RANGE, BUT OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE HIGHER THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASU GAMMAGE IS HONORED BY THE TONY AWARDS.

>>> AND A NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT THE VERDE RIVER.

THOSE STORIES AND NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

FALLOUT OVER LAST WEEK'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE CONTINUES.

A NEW CNN SURVEY SHOWS THAT THREE QUARTERS OF U.S.

VOTERS NOW SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WOULD HAVE A BETTER SHOT AT HOLDING THE PRESIDENCY THIS NOVEMBER WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

THAT SAID, THE NATIONWIDE SURVEY SHOWED NO CHANGE IN THE SIX-POINT LEAD THAT DONALD TRUMP HAD AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN PRIOR TO LAST WEEK'S DEBATE.

>>> IN A HYPOTHETICAL MATCHUP, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TRAILS TRUMP BY ONLY TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM, MICHIGAN GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER AND TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG MATCHED THREE TO FOUR POINTS WHEN MATCHED BEHIND PRESIDENT TRUMP HEAD-TO-HEAD.

>>> A PROPOSAL WOULD PROTECT WORKERS FROM INJURIES RELATED TO HEAT EXPOSURE ON THE JOB.

THE FIRST SUCH FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARD.

>> WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, THERE ARE NO RED STATES OR BLUE STATES.

I'VE DEMONSTRATED THAT.

I SAID NO MATTER WHETHER YOU VOTE FOR ME OR NOT, EVERYONE GETS TREATED FAIRLY.

JUST COMMUNITIES, NOT RED COMMUNITIES OR BLUE COMMUNITIES, JUST COMMUNITIES.

FAMILIES LOOKING FOR HELP.

MY ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

TED: THE PRESIDENT NOTED MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM EXTREME HEAT THAN FLOODS, TORNADOES AND HURRICANES COMBINED, AND TO CHANGE THIS T NOW IS NOT ONLY OUTRAGEOUS BUT STUDENT.

>>> A DRUG HAS BEEN SHOWN TO SLOW COGNITIVE DECLINE IN PATIENTS FACING EARLY STAGES OF ALZHEIMER'S.

THE FDA PREVIOUSLY DELAYED APPROVAL DUE TO THE DRUG'S LONG-TERM SAFETY BUT AN ADVISORY PANEL VOTED IT OUTWEIGHED THE RISKS OF THOSE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF ALZHEIMER'S.

>>> NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION IN THE PHOENIX AREA IS UP 57% SO FAR THIS YEAR.

ACCORDING TO RL BROWN REPORTS, A HOUSING RESEARCH FIRM WHICH TOLD "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" THE JUMP IN NEW HOME PERMITS COMES DESPITE A JUMP IN HIGHER INTEREST RATES.

HOME BUILDERS OFFERING MORTGAGE RATE BUYDOWNS.

SOUTHWEST VALLEY IS TOPS WITH THE NORTHWEST VALLEY SECOND AND THE SOUTHEAST VALLEY THIRD.

THE MEDIAN PRICE OF A NEW HOME IN THE PHOENIX METRO REGION, $475,000, UP JUST 1% FROM LAST YEAR.

>>> IT'S SUMMERTIME IN ARIZONA AND MEANS HOT TEMPERATURES.

ONCE AGAIN THE STATE IS EXPERIENCING RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES, MAKING IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO KEEP COOL.

JOINING US NOW IS ASU CLIMATOLOGIST RANDY CERVENY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU OF THE WE ALWAYS BRING YOU HERE AND JUST COMPLAIN.

I MEAN, WHAT WENT ON LAST MONTH?

HOLY SMOKES.

SEEMED LIKE IT NEVER COOLED OFF?

>> IT REALLY DIDN'T.

WHAT WAS SAD IS NOT ONLY THE HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE HOT.

THE NORMAL TEMPERATURES IN JUNE ARE ABOUT 104, 105 DEGREES.

WE AVERAGED LAST MONTH 109 DEGREES FOR OUR HIGH TEMPERATURES.

INCREDIBLY HOT, HOT DAY, BUT WHAT'S BAD IS IT WAS THE NIGHTTIME THAT WAS WORSE.

TED: YES, I THINK WE HAVE A GRAPHIC TO SHOW HOW MANY THINGS HAPPENED OUT THERE.

DAILY AVERAGE, 97 DEGREES.

RANDY, THAT'S HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE NEXT IN LINE.

>> EXACTLY.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED BASICALLY.

WE'VE BEEN MONITORING TEMPERATURES HERE IN THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA FOR OVER 100 YEARS, AND TO SEE THESE KINDS OF TEMPERATURES IS ALARMING FRANKLY.

TED: AND THE LOWS GETTING WARMER, THAT PLAYS A BIG FACTOR.

WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT?

>> TWO REASONS.

ONE IS THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

ASPHALT, CONCRETE, TARMAC HOLDS HEAT MUCH BETTER THAN GRASS.

SO DURING THE DAY IT ABSORBS ALL THE HEAT AND AT NIGHT IT STARTS TO RELEASE IT.

BUT CARBON DIOXIDE ALSO HOLDS ONTO HEAT VERY NICELY, SO DURING THE DAY, ALL THAT HEAT GETS TRAPPED BY THE BIG CO2 DOME WE HAVE OVER THE WORLD NOW BASICALLY, BUT PARTICULARLY OVER ARIZONA AND PHOENIX AND HOLDS ONTO THE HEAT.

TED: AND THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

ONCE YOU PAVE OVER THE DESERT, IT'S DIFFICULT TO REDO.

YOU ARE KIND OF STUCK, AREN'T YOU?

WE'RE HERE FOR THE LONG TERM.

>> ASU HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MITIGATE IT.

WE'VE LOOKED AT PAINTING ROADWAYS WHITE AS OPPOSED TO BLACK.

THEY WORKED AT MAYBE CHANGING ROOFTOPS TO DIFFERENT COLORS TO BETTER REFLECT IT, SO THERE'S A CONCERTED EFFORT AT ASU TO TRY TO MITIGATE THESE PROBLEMS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY HOW MUCH DO THOSE THINGS HELP, THOUGH?

HOW MUCH?

>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO APPLY THEM ON A LARGE BASIS.

COMPUTER MODELS SUGGEST THEY MIGHT HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD IMPACT ON TEMPERATURES.

TED: HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT DID THE FACT, IT SEEMED LIKE IT GOT HUMID AWFULLY QUICKLY AND EARLY THIS YEAR.

WHEN IT'S HUMID, THE NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES DON'T DROP AS MUCH, DO THEY?

AM I GHAETH RIGHT?

>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

AND WE HAVE TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO TO BLAME FOR THE EARLY START TO THE MONSOON.

ALBERTO WAS A TROPICAL STORM THAT WAS OUT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS OVER IN MEXICO BUT TRAVELED ALL THE WAY ACROSS MEXICO, LOST BEING A TROPICAL STORM AND JUST A BIG PUDDLE OF MOISTURE AND THE MOISTURE WAS PUDDLED UP AND PUSHED INTO ARIZONA.

TED: WE HAVE A GRAPHIC FOR THE FORECAST MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY AND LOOK AT THE SOUTHWEST HERE.

I'M NOT AN EXPERT LIKE -- NO Ph.D.

IN METEOROLOGY, BUT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO GET WETTER AS THE SUMMER GOES ON?

>> WE LIKE SEEING THE GREEN THUMB IN THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE MAP THERE.

THAT NICE LITTLE SURGE OF MOISTURE.

THAT IS CLASSIC MONSOON.

IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS WEEK, WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE REALLY HOT TEMPERATURES BY THE 4th OF JULY HERE.

IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS WEEK, THE PROGNOSIS IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE START OF THE MONSOON.

GOOD THUNDERSTORMS.

TED: SIX TO TEN DAYS NORMAL ESPECIALLY FOR US IN CENTRAL ARIZONA, BUT 8 TO 14, THAT'S LOOKING GOOD.

AND RANDY AT THE BOTTOM DOWN THERE, THAT REALLY LOOKS GOOD.

>> SO THE WHOLE MONTH OF JULY LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET MORE MOISTURE.

UNFORTUNATELY THE LOW TEMPERATURES AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE A WHOLE LOT BUT HAVE AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS EVEN NOT ON THE RIM BUT COMING INTO THE VALLEY.

TED: IMPACT, EL NINO, LA NINA?

ANYTHING GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> THE BIGGEST IMPACT, WE'RE MOVING INTO LA NINA, THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS MORE ATLANTIC HURRICANES.

RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A CLASS 5 HURRICANE OUT IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, BERYL.

TED: YES.

>> THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE A HUGE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS TO THE PEOPLE IN MEXICO, BUT AGAIN, THAT MOISTURE IS GOING TO TRAVEL ALL THE WAY ACROSS MEXICO AND NEXT WEEK, THAT'S GOING TO CHARGE UP OUR MONSOON.

TED: SO ALBERTO 2.0?

>> ALBERTO, MAYBE ON STEROIDS BECAUSE IT WILL BE MUCH, MUCH MORE INTENSE.

A BIGGER STORM, HAS A WHOLE LOT MORE WATER WITH IT.

TED: THAT MEANS THAT MONSOON NUMBER -- WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT MONSOON, EVERY TIME YOU COME ON, YOU CAN'T FORECAST A MONSOON VERY WELL.

THESE GUYS WITH THE MAPS SEEM TO BE SAYING SOMETHING HERE.

SOMETHING COULD BE GOING ON?

>> RIGHT, THE PROBLEM WITH THE MONSOON IS IT'S LOCALIZED THUNDERSTORMS.

UNFORTUNATELY LIKE WE HAD LAST WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE STORMS WHERE IT MIGHT HIT ONE PART OF THE VALLEY AND THE OTHER PART OF THE VALLEY IS DRY.

NEIGHBORS MIGHT SAY WE GOT A GREAT STORM LAST NIGHT.

YOU'LL SAY WHERE WAS IT?

THE MONSOON IS SPOTTY.

IT'S LOCALIZED.

TED: AS A STATE AS YOU SAID ON THE PROGRAM MANY TIMES.

HIGHER ELEVATION, BETTER THE CHANCE FOR RAIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CAVE CREEK ALWAYS GETS MORE RAIN THAN PLACES LIKE SKY HARBOR AIR.

SKY HARBOR IS IN THE LOWEST PART OF THE VALLEY.

TED: SOUTHWEST VALLEY, SAME SORT OF THING, RIGHT?

>>IT.

>> WE'RE REALLY GETTING CLOSE TO THIS.

HAVE WE EVER HAD 100 DEGREES FOR -- IS IT LIKE 97 THE HIGHEST LOW WE'VE HAD?

>> WE GOT CLOSE TO THAT JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

YEAH, I SAID ON THE RECORD HERE, THAT WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A MINIMUM LOW TEMPERATURE OF 100 DEGREES BEFORE WE HIT A NEW RECORD HIGH OF OVER 122.

OUR HIGHEST TEMPERATURE EVER HERE IN PHOENIX IS 122.

I THINK WE WILL HAVE 100 DEGREE LOW TEMPERATURE BEFORE WE HAVE 122.

TED: SEEMS AS THOUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS, USED TO BE THE 118, 119, SOMETIMES A 120 HERE AND THERE, BUT USUALLY 17, 18, WE DON'T SEEM LIKE WE'RE GETTING AS MUCH OF THAT BUT BOY, THE NIGHTTIME LOWS ARE A DRAG.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S PART OF THE REASON.

THE MOISTURE HOLDS THE HEAT IN.

IT ABSORBS THE HEAT SO WE DON'T GET UP TO 19 -- 122 DEGREES.

IT KEPT THE HIGHER TEMPERATURES FROM GETTING INTO RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE RANGE.

TED: LAST QUESTION, YOU MENTIONED LA NINA, THAT MEANS A DRY WINTER, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES.

IF IT HOLDS AND THE FORECAST IS FOR A LA NINA CONTINUING TO DEVELOP OVER THE SUMMER INTO THE WINTER, YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY A DRY WINTER FOR US.

TED: DO THEY EVER FLIP-FLOP?

>> THEY HAVE, BUT PROBABLY BY THIS TIME, IT WOULD BE REALLY UNUSUAL TO SEE A FLIP-FLOP TAKE PLACE.

TED: RANDY CERVENY, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

.

TED: COLLEEN JENNINGS-ROGGENSACK IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASU GAM ARMS, SHE WAS RECENTLY HONORED BY TONY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THEATER.

WE WELCOME COLLEEN JENNINGS-ROGGENSACK ALONG WITH A LITTLE FRIEND.

>> I BROUGHT A LITTLE FRIEND, ANTOINETTE PERRY WITH ME.

TED: HOW DOES IT FEEL GETTING THAT AWARD?

>> ASTONISHING.

YOU NEVER EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN.

I TELL YOU SOMETHING INTERESTING.

THE TONY HONORS HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN TO SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY.

NUMBER ONE, THAT WAS A SURPRISE.

MOSTLY TENDS TO NEW YORKERS, AND TWO, I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT I WAS ON THE RADAR FOR THAT.

YES, I'M ARIZONA'S ONLY TONY VOTER, BUT TO REALLY BE AWARDED AND RECOGNIZED BY MY TRIBE, EVERYONE ON BROADWAY, WAS EXTRAORDINARY.

TED: THEY SAID UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO PROMOTING ARTISTS AND ADVANCING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ACCESS IN THE THEATER.

SOUND ABOUT RIGHT?

>> SOUNDS EXACTLY RIGHT.

WHAT'S WONDERFUL IS USUALLY IT'S BROADWAY THEN THE ROAD.

BUT FOR THE KIND OF WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING AT GAMMAGE, IT'S GAMMAGE AND THEN NEW YORK, SO EVERYTHING FROM OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

EVERYTHING FROM OUR MILITARY FAMILY FIRST NIGHTS PROGRAMS AND YOU KNOW I'M A MILITARY BRAT, THAT'S AN AMAZING PROGRAM WE BRING 200 MILITARY FAMILIES TO THE THEATER FOR FREE.

DO DINNER AND THEY MEET WITH THE CAST.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

ALSO SAYING THAT BROADWAY IS FOR EVERYONE, AND THAT MEANS NOT JUST ON THE STAGE OR IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT IT MEANS MY JOB.

I OFTEN MEET WITH A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN ARIZONA AND SAY I'M A PLACE HOLDER.

30 YEARS, BUT I'VE BEEN HOLDING THIS PLACE FOR YOU.

THIS IS YOUR JOB.

UNDERSTAND.

THAT WAS PART OF IT.

AND ALSO ASU GAMMAGE AND OUR COMMUNITY EMBRACES NEW WORK.

SO WHEN WE TAKE LEAPS AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO BRING SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING THAT'S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE LIKE GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY, GOING TO OPEN OUR SEASON.

OUR THEATER GOING COMMUNITY EMBRACES IT.

TED: I WANT TO GET TO GIRL FROM THE NORTH IN A SECOND.

THE UPCOMING SEASON AND THE IMPACT ON EVERYTHING HAPPENING OVER THERE.

>> IT'S ASTRONOMICAL.

WE'RE IN THE START OF A MIDDLE OF A FIVE WEEK RUN WITH "HAMILTON."

COMING INTO THE THEATER, PEOPLE SAID WE HAVE A TONY VOTER IN THE HOUSE.

AND ACTUALLY THE PLACE WHERE THE AWARD IS GOING TO RESIDE INSIDE THE THEATER.

HAVE PEOPLE SEE IT, TAKE PICTURES WITH IT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

TED: NOT ON YOUR MANTLE PIECE?

>> IT WILL STAY THERE A MOMENT OR TWO.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY'S GAMMAGE HAS DONE, THE WORK I'VE WORKED COLLECTIVELY WITH PEOPLE ON THAT WE RECEIVED.

THIS CAN YOU SEE WHAT A SPECTACULAR SEASON WE HAVE.

TED: LET'S SHOW THE GRAPHIC OF EVERYTHING COMING UP HERE.

>> SO AMAZING.

TED: THERE ARE FAMILIAR NAMES.

"WICKED," THAT'S FAMILIAR.

>> THIS IS THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF "WICKED."

THE LITTLE GREEN GIRL, AND THAT OTHER LITTLE GIRL ARE GOING TO BE ON THE STAGE WHICH IS PHENOMENAL.

LIFE OF PI, A GREAT NOVEL WITH INCREDIBLE PUPPETS, WAR HORSE AND THE AMAZING PUPPET JOEY.

SPRING HAND THEATER DOES THE BIG TIGER, A ZEBRA, A LION, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

SOME FAVORITES, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.

KIMBERLY AKIMBO WON THAT AWARD.

TED: AND MAMMA MIA, WHO DOESN'T KNOW THAT?

>> WHO DOESN'T KNOW THAT?

TED: HOW DO YOU GET THAT?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> THIS PAST YEAR ALONE, I SAW OVER 38 PLAYS AND MUSICALES.

I SPEND A LOT OF MY LIFE IN THE DARK, WHICH IS GREAT, THEN I MEET WITH PRODUCERS, WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS IN BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA, AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT HAS GREAT LEGS AND WILL TRAVEL GREAT ON THE ROAD.

KIMBERLY AKIMBO IS SOMETHING WE LEAD OFF WITH.

MOULIN ROUGE, EVERYONE IS WAITING IN LINE TO SEE THAT.

GIRL FROM NORTH COUNTRY, MRS.

DOUBT FIRE AND FUNNY GIRL ARE ON SALE.

NOW IF YOU'RE A SUBSCRIBER, YOU ALREADY HAVE TICKETS AND LUCKY, SMART YOU, WE WILL OPEN THOSE UP, AND THE OTHERS OPEN A LITTLE LATER AND "WICKED" IS THE CHRISTMAS GIFT.

TED: I GOT YOU.

BEFORE WE GET TO GIRL FROM NORTH COUNTRY, THE FACT THAT DYLAN SONGS ARE UP THERE IS FANTASTIC.

THINGS LIKE THE AWARD, THINGS LIKE BEING THERE FOR AS LONG AS YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOUR STATUS, GAMMAGE THE STATUS.

IS IT GETTING EASIER TO GET THESE THINGS?

>> I THINK WHAT PEOPLE AND PRODUCERS DO IS SAY WE WANT TO OPEN AT ASU GAMMAGE, ESPECIALLY WITH A NEW WORK.

YOU REMEMBER "HAMILTON" WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT AFTER THE PANDEMIC, WE REMOUNTED THE SHOW FROM NEW YORK AND GOT THEM ON THE WAY AS WE DID WITH MEAN GIRLS.

PRODUCERS, THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF THEIR MOUTH ARE WE GOT TO PLAY ASU GAMMAGE.

TED: GREAT NEWS.

GIRL FROM NORTH COUNTRY, IF YOU ARE A DYLAN FAN, THERE'S A LOT OF SONGS INVOLVED THERE.

IS THERE A BAND ON STAGE?

>> THE ACTORS PLAY.

THERE ARE OTHER MUSICIANS BUT NOT A JUKEBOX MUSICAL.

YES, THERE ARE DYLAN SONGS BUT IT TELLS A STORY ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN THE DEPRESSION.

HOW A GROUP OF PEOPLE GET TOGETHER IN A ROAD HOUSE AND MAKE LIFE EXCITING.

IF YOU LOVE DYLAN MUSIC, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW BOB DYLAN'S MUSIC, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT.

TED: YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE IT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GOOD AND THE STORY, THE CAST IS SO TALENTED.

TED: YOU DRIVE BY GAMMAGE RIGHT NOW, YOU SEE THE HAMILTON TRAILER AND YOU GO THE PLACE IS PACKED.

>> PLACE IS PACKED.

TED: THEY'RE GETTING THE JOB DONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, NOT THROWING AWAY OUR SHOT.

TED: YES, IT STILL BRINGS THEM IN.

IT STILL MOVES.

>> AND ALL AGES FROM VERY YOUNG TO VERY OLD AND I'LL LET YOU IN ON A LITTLE SECRET, PRESIDENT MICHAEL CROW KNOWS EVERY WORD TO EVERY SONG IN "HAMILTON" BECAUSE HE HAS SUNG IT.

TED: AMAZING.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT FOR A RECOMMENDATION.

TED: I'M GOING TO TAKE YOUR WORD FOR THAT ONE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD, BEST OF LUCK ON THE SEASON, AND ALWAYS GREAT VISITING WITH YOU BECAUSE THIS IS THE REAL DEAL HERE.

>> THIS IS THE REAL DEAL.

IT'S KIND OF LEGIT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> KIND OF.

GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, TED, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

.

TED: A NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK CELEBRATES THE VERDE RIVER AND THE WONDERS AND NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE VERDE VALLEY.

THE BOOK IS TITLED "ON THE VERDE RIVER" AND DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE YOUNG READERS TO LIFE ALONG ARIZONA'S MOST WILD AND BEAUTIFUL HABITATS.

THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR JOIN US NOW.

PHOEBE, GIVE US A BETTER DEFINITION OF "ON THE VERDE RIVER."

>> TAKES YOU THROUGH A DAY AND INTRODUCES TO YOU ANIMALS AND PLANTS AND TREES AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE ON THE VERDE RIVER.

THERE ARE RABBITS HOPPING AND OTTERS SPLASHING AND A LITTLE FAMILY WHO'S COME TO VISIT AND SPEND THE DAY AND WATCH THE STARS COME OUT.

TED: THIS IS A CHILDREN'S BOOKS CORRECT?

WHAT KIND OF AGES INVOLVED HERE?

>> I WOULD SAY BEST FOR 8 AND UNDER BUT THE BACK IS FULL OF FUN FACTS.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF ADULTS TELL ME THEY LIKE THE BOOK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VERDE RIVER.

TED: I THINK IT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE VERDE RIVER AND THE VERDE VALLEY.

JIM, AS FAR AS ILLUSTRATING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, DID YOU FOLLOW THE PROS OR SAY I'VE GOT RABT HERE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> SHE KEPT ME ON TASK.

SHE WANTED THE RABBIT, I DO THE RABBIT, SOMETIMES IT WASN'T THE RABBIT SHE WANTED SO I DO ANOTHER ONE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, BUT THE INSPIRATION OF DOING THIS FOR HER MUST HAVE BEEN SPECIAL FOR YOU.

>> WELL, WE'VE COLLABORATED BEFORE WITH SOME CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT SHE HAS WRITTEN AND I'VE ILLUSTRATED SO THIS IS PRETTY SPECIAL, AND THE PEOPLE THAT PUT IT TOGETHER, OBVIOUSLY DID A GREAT JOB.

COVER, THE QUALITY OF THE PAGING IS PRETTY SPECTACULAR.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION THE FAMILY CONNECTION HERE.

>> YES, THIS IS MY FATHER-IN-LAW.

TED: A FAMILY JOB HERE.

>> YEAH.

TED: WHEN YOU WROTE THE BOOK, THE PROSE, DID THEY WRITE THEMSELVES ON THE TRIP?

>> ACTUALLY YEAH, MY FAMILY LOVES TO SPEND TIME ON THE VERDE.

COUPLE TIMES I WAS SITTING AROUND BEAUTIFUL COTTONWOOD INSPIRED TO WRITE ABOUT THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS THAT WE'D SEEN AND IT REALLY IS INSPIRED BY THE VERDE.

TED: ONCE YOU SEE THE BOOK, YOU LOOK AT THE BOOK AND SAY THAT'S IT.

>> HERE WE ARE.

TED: IS THIS PRETTY MUCH HOW YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD TURN OUT?

>> I THINK IT IS, YES.

IT WAS FUN TO USE SOME OF JIM'S ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FAMILY SPENDING TIME ON THE RIVER BECAUSE MY BOYS AND HUSBAND AND I LOVE TO BE THERE SO WE CAN SEE OURSELVES IN THE SCENES.

TED: YEAH, AND PICTURES FOLLOW PROSE SOMETIMES AND SOMETIME NOT?

>> EXACTLY.

LIKE I SAID, SHE'S THE AUTHOR.

I HAD TO FOLLOW HER LEAD.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION THE HERRON, HE HAD A GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATION OF THE HERRON OR A PAINTING, IT'S ONE OF THE FEW TWO PAGE SPREADS OF AN ANIMAL.

>> THE BOOK CAME OUT THE WAY SHE EXPECTED.

DID IT COME OUT THE WAY YOU EXPECTED?

>> MUCH BETTER.

THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THIS THING TOGETHER WERE EXCEPTIONAL.

THEY DIDN'T SPARE ANY EXPENSE ON THE PAPER, THE QUALITY OF THE COVER, AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED.

WE'VE DONE SOME BOOKS BEFORE, AND THEY WERE NICE.

THIS ONE IS EXCEPTIONAL.

TED: THIS WAS PUBLISHED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE VERDE VALLEY TOO?

>> YEAH, FRIENDS OF THE VERDE RIVER PUBLISHED IT.

WHEN THE BOOK SELLS IT HELPS THE RIVER, TO CLEAN IT UP AND PROVIDE FOR THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT DEPEND ON THE RIVER.

TED: I UNDERSTAND SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE VERDE VALLEY ARE INVOLVED AS WELL?

>> GIVING 500 COPIES TO THE SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES IN THE WATERSHED.

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE GIFT, AND THAT WAS FROM A GRANT.

TED: VERY GOOD.

WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAVE YOU HAD?

WHEN DID IT COME OUT?

>> CAME OUT IN THE FALL LAST YEAR, I'M VISITING 13 LIBRARIES THIS FALL TO READ TO THE KIDS AND FAMILIES IN THE AREAS.

TED: TELL THEM ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS?

>> OH, YEAH -- TED: I WAS GOING TO GET TO THAT.

PLEASE DO.

>> IT WAS CHOSEN TO BE ON THE GREAT READS OF GREAT PLACES LIST FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

TED: ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?

YOU MUST BE PROUD.

>> IT'S PRETTY NEAT.

TED: YOU HAVE ANOTHER BOOK IN MIND?

YOU'VE DONE OTHER BOOKS, RIGHT?

>> I'M DOING ONE ABOUT A LITTLE ARIZONA CREATURE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, YOU THINK OF THEM IN COSTA RICA BUT THEY HAVE THEM IN ARIZONA AS WELL.

TED: IS JIM GOING TO DO ILLUSTRATIONS AS WELL?

>> I'M GETTING READY.

TED: STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS, RIGHT?

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH ART, I SEEM TO REMEMBER YOU GETTING INVOLVED WITH SPORTS, NOT ART.

>> RIGHT, MY BACKGROUND WAS IN SPORTS, I PLAYED BASKETBALL FOR A LONG TIME PROFESSIONALLY, AND WE STARTED SPORT COURT OF ARIZONA, WHICH WE RAN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME WITH HER HUSBAND AND HER -- WHAT IS -- >> BROTHER-IN-LAW.

>> YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW, RIGHT.

I KNEW I WAS REACHING RETIREMENT AGE AND NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO AND ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING ABOUT ART IN ME, AND STARTED TAKING LESSONS AND IT TOOK OFF FROM THERE.

THAT WAS ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

TED: SIGNATURE MEMBER OF THE WATERCOLOR ASSOCIATION.

>> WATERCOLOR IS A VERY DIFFERENT MEDIUM, ISN'T IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY IT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT BUT I HAVEN'T TRIED ANYTHING ELSE.

TED: BUT YOU ALWAYS KNEW BUBBLING -- YOU ARE SHOOTING HOOPS AND YOU'RE GOING I'D RATHER BE DRAWING.

>> I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

I THINK I'D RATHER BE SHOOTING HOOPS.

TED: YOU JUST MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH.

THIS IS GREAT SUCCESS, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS, AND IT JUST MAKES -- MUST MAKE YOU FEEL PROUD TO HAVE THE BOOK.

I ASK AUTHORS THIS ALL THE TIME, WHEN YOU HOLD THE BOOK, IT'S SOMETHING SPECIAL, ISN'T IT?

>> DEFINITELY.

AND ESPECIALLY GETTING TO WORK WITH MY FATHER IN LAW AND TO BENEFIT ARIZONA.

TED: GOOD ALL THE WAY AROUND, GOOD FOR YOU TO HOLD THE BOOK TOO?

>> SHE LETS ME SOMETIMES.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.

APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR STORY.

AND THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.