>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON"ARIZONA HORIZON," A NEW REPORT FROM THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS LOOKS UP THE STATE OF THE STATE UNIVERSITIES.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE PLANNED LAUNCH OF A SPACE MISSION TO AN ASTEROID MADE MOSTLY OF METAL.

THE BEST PLACE TO SEE THE LEAVES TURN YELLOW IN ARIZONA.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA.

I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THAT HE AND HIS SECURITY TEAM SPOKE AGAIN WITH ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER, EXPRESSING U.S. SUPPORT AFTER SATURDAY'S ATTACK BY HAMAS THAT KILLED 1200 ISRAELIS WITH AN ESTIMATED 150 PEOPLE TAKEN HOSTAGE.

>> THIS ATTACK IS BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE OF POWERFUL MEMORIES SCARS, BUT BY ANTI-SEMITISM AGAINST THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR, THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR TERRORISM.

NO EXCUSE.

THE TYPE OF TERRORIST MOVES IS BEYOND.

THE COMMITMENT IS TO THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IS UNSHAKEABLE.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ISRAEL'S BACK AND WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH THIS.

>> Ted: THIS COMES AS ISRAEL FORMED A GOVERNMENT AND CONTINUED TO BOMB GAZA WHERE 1100 PALESTINIANS WERE KILLED AND ISRAEL IS CONSIDERING AN INVASION OF GAZA AND SOUTHERN LEBANON WHERE THEY'RE FIRING ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL.

>>> CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS TOMORROW NATED LOUISIANA REPRESENTATIVE STEVE SCALISE TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

HE NARROWLY DEFEATED JIM JORDAN.

>> FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MY HOUSE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES FOR JUST DESIGNATING ME AS THE SPEAKER.

OBVIOUSLY, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

WE'LL HAVE TO GO UPSTAIRS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND RESOLVE THIS AND THEN GET THE HOUSE OPENED AGAIN.

>> Ted: IN DEED, SCALISE HAS TO WIN OVER A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS TO BE VOTED IN THE POSITION AND THUS FAR, QUITE A FEW REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM ARE SAYING THEY ARE A NO VOTE.

GOVERNOR HOBBS CALLING TO PASS ACCOUNT ABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY MEASURES REGARDING ARIZONA'S SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM WHICH THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBES AS WASTEFUL AND A THREAT TO FUNDING FOR OTHER STATE PROGRAMS INCLUDING HEALTH AND SAFETY EFFORTS.

REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, TOM HORNE RESPONDED BY SAYING VOUCHERS WILL, QUOTE, NOT BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK OF MY BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AND THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO, QUOTE, PROPOSE SERIOUS POLICIES AND NOT TWEET VAGUE THREATS.

OF NOTE, OFFICIALS SAY THE STATE IS FACING A $400 BILLION DEFICIT THROUGH TO TAX COLLECTIONS FROM THE FLAT INCOME TAX THREE YEARS AGO.

>>> SCIENCE NEWS, NASA RELEASING ASTEROID SAMPLES RETURNED TO EARTH BY THE OSIRIS-REX SPACE MISSION.

THE HOPE WAS THAT THE SAMPLES OF THIS FOUR.5 BILLION-YEAR-OLD ASTEROID WOULD CONTAIN MOLECULES THOUGHT TO MAKE UP THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE AND SCIENTISTS SAY THEY CHOSE THE RIGHT ASTEROID.

>> THE CARBON AND WATER MOLECULESMOLECULES ARE WHAT WE WANTED TO FIND AND IN THE FORMATION OF OUR OWN PLANET.

THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE ELEMENTS THAT COULD HAVE LEAD TO LIFE.

>> Ted: AND WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON A DIFFERENT ASTEROID MISSION A LITTLE LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>>> THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS RELEASED THE ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT ON ARIZONA'S THREE STATES UNIVERSITY.

ENROLLMENT, TUITION STRUCTURE AND FILLING THE GAP IN CRITICAL HEALTHCARE FIELDS.

JOINING US IS THE CHAIRMAN, FRED DUVAL.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE STATE UNIVERSITIES?

>> IT'S A SPLIT SCREEN, BEST OF TIMES AND WORST OF TIMES.

BEST OF TIMES, MOST UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY ARE LOSING ENROLLMENT.

ARIZONA UNIVERSITY IS GAINING ENROLLMENT AND STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE BUYING WHAT WE'RE OFFERING.

GOOD NEWS.

THE BIGGEST, MOST BROADEST DIVERSE CLASS WE EVER HAD AND WE ARE INCREASINGLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR DISPARATE COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA.

RESEARCH AND OSIRIS-REX AND THE MISSION WHICH TAKES OFF THIS WEEK LEAD BY ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY AND WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY TIME TO BE EXCITED ABOUT OUR UNIVERSITY RESEARCH.

BOTH UNIVERSITIES ARE ALMOST AT A BILLION DOLLARS OF ANNUAL RESEARCH.

VERY FEW STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE TWO UNIVERSITIES DOING THAT MUCH RESEARCH.

PUTFANTASTIC!

ARIZONA ATTAINMENT RATES ARE FLAT AND THAT'S A PROBLEM AND NUMBER TWO, WE'RE NOT MEETING THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF OUR STATE PRIMARILY IN HEALTHCARE AND FOCUSED ON THE TWO THINGS.

>> Ted: ONE OF THE GOALS FOR THE REGENTS ALL ARIZONANS SHOULD BENEFIT FROM UNIVERSITIES.

IS THAT GOAL BEING MET?

>> FOR STUDENTS WHO CAN GET TO US, OF COURSE IT IS.

A COLLEGE EDUCATION HAS SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN A FAMILY'S INCOME AND CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF A FAMILY AND HUGE VALUE FOR GOING TO ANY POST SECONDARY EDUCATION BE IT TWO-YEAR OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES.

BUT IT'S TOUGH TO GET IN AND PRICING IS HARD AND LACK OF STATE SUPPORT MEANS TUITION IS TOO HIGH.

AND WE WORK VERY HARD ON THE RESEARCH SIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THINGS WE ARE FOCUSED ON ARE THINGS TO TOUCH AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ARIZONANS.

WE WORK AT IT EVERY DAY AND HAVE WORK TO DO.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTHCARE FIELDS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ASU, NAU, MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND HOW ARE THEY SIMILAR AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

>> NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT.

LET ME START WITH THIS, ARIZONA IS 47th IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS PER CITIZENS.

THERE'S A LONG WAITING LINE AND OFTENTIMES GETTING THEIR HEALTHCARE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH THE WORST PLACE.

IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE AND NOT WHAT YOU NEED.

SO WE ARE OVERDUE MORE DOCTORS.

THEY'RE EXPENSIVE TO EDUCATE AND THAT WILL BE OUR BIG CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE GREEN LIGHTED A PROPOSAL FOR ASU TO HAVE AN ENGINEERING FOCUSED MEDICAL DEGREE PUTTING AN ENGINEERING DEGREE NEXT TO A MEDICAL DEGREE.

WEARABLES AND WATCHABLES AND ALL TOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY, TELEMEDICINE, ET CETERA, TO EDUCATE THE 21st CENTURY DOCTOR.

AND THEY USE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS WITH PLACES OF NEED BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH GENERAL PRACTITIONERS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

>> Ted: ASU PLANS TO DOUBLE THE GRADUATES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ALL TOAD, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS AND TRAIN THOSE PHYSICIANS FOR THE NEEDS OF THE NEXT CENTURY.

AND ALSO, DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF NURSES, ALLIED HEALTH AND ALL OF THE SUPPORT TEAMS SO CRITICAL FOR PROVIDING OUR HEALTHCARE.

>> Ted: MANUFACTURING, TECH SECTOR AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING AS FAR AS NEEDS AND WHAT'S BEING DONE?

>> THE GREAT NEWS, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RECENTLY PICKED FIVE UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES TO CREATE WHAT THEY CALL A TECH HUB, A $500 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LEAD THE NEXT GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY LANDED ONE OF THOSE FIVE.

ARIZONA IS ON THE PRECIPICE OF THIS INCREDIBLE NEW SORT OF ALCHEMY OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES WHICH YOU THINK OF THE INTEL, ET CETERA.

THE UNIVERSITIES ARE POSITIONED TO MAKE THEIR PLACE AS PROVIDING THE WORKFORCE ABSOLUTE AND BREAK-THROUGHS.

>> Ted: IS THAT WORKFORCE THERE?

>> TIMELY QUESTION BECAUSE YOU KNOW TAIWAN RECENTLY SAID THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA AND WE'LL GO TO TAIWAN TO GET MORE.

WE ARE GOING TO RAMP THIS UP AS FAST AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY NEED OF, BE IT INTEL OR THE TAIWAN SEMI CONDUCTOR HAS WHAT THEY NEED.

THAT'S HOW WE GROW A 21st 21st CENTURY HIGHER WAGE ECONOMY FOR OUR CITIZENS.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED ENROLLMENT IS UP AND TUITION IS A FACTOR AND THERE'S A NEW TUITION FACTOR IN PLACE AND REVIEWS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THE GOAL IS TWO-FOLD.

WE CAN TELL ARIZONA FAMILIES HERE IS HOW MUCH YOUR TUITION WILL BE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND CAP TUITIONS OF THREE%.

WE'RE GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE SAYING IF YOU WILL INVEST IN US, FOR EVERY DOLLAR, WE'LL TAKE IT OUT OF THE TUITION STRUCTURE IN THE STATE WILL INVEST IN UNIVERSITIES THE WAY THEY USED TO 20 YEARS AGO.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> WORK TO DO.

IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR.

LET BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT AND THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOLS, THEY NEED GOOD HEALTHCARE AND WILL TAKE A STATE INVESTMENT TO DO IT.

I APPRECIATE TO TALK TO YOUR VIEWERS IN THAT REGARD.

>> Ted: UNIVERSITIES ADDRESSING WATER NEEDS, WHAT'S DONE AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> OBVIOUSLY NOTHING MORE CRITICAL.

WE HAVE WATER INSTITUTES NOW IN ALL THREE UNIVERSITIES WHICH ARE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF EVERYTHING FROM CONSERVATION TO NEW RESOURCING AND TO ALL OF THE MYRIAD ISSUES THAT DEAL WITH HOW IT IS WE BRING BOTH THE COLORADO RIVER ALLOCATION TO ARIZONA AND IMPORTANTLY, HOW WE CAPTURE AND RETAIN GROUNDWATER INCLUDING RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY.

HOW WE DO A BETTER JOB OF CAPTURING RAIN WATERRUNOFF INTO OUR AQUIFERS TO USE IT AS A PART OF OUR GROUNDWATER SUPPLY.

>> Ted: YOU TALKED ABOUT ATTAINMENT AND A, IS THAT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE?

I WOULD IMAGINE THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE BEST PRACTICES CAN BE FOUND IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM?

WHAT'S GOING ON IN ARIZONA?

>> THREE BRIEF COMPONENTS AND THE FIRST IS CALLED A FEDERAL FORM THAT FAMILIES FILL OUT AND MAKES THEM ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELIEVING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR ARIZONA STUDENTS BECAUSE NONE ARE FILLING IT OUT.

NUMBER TWO IS ASPIRATION, MAKING SURE OUR KIDS GO AND THE KIDS ACROSS THE STREET GO AND COLLECTIVELY DECIDING WE NEED OUR KIDS TO GET MORE EDUCATION AS A SOCIETY.

NUMBER THREE IS THAT THE COST OF TUITION, THE STATE HAS WITHDRAWN ITS SUPPORT AND WE'RE NOW 50% ON A PER STUDENT BASIS OR WHATEVER THE STATE WAS 25 YEARS AGO, THE STATE'S WITHDRAW PUT THAT ON TUITION.

THE WE PROPOSED A PROMISE PROGRAM WHICH EXISTS IN 32 STATES SUPPORTING STUDENTS IN GETTING THEIR DEGREE.

IF THE STATE IS ABLE TO FINANCE US, WE WILL MEET THEM BY REDUCING TUITION AND MAKING SURE THERE'S A PATH FOR MORE ARIZONA STUDENTS TO GET THEIR DEGREE.

>> Ted: CHAIRMAN, ARIZONA BOARD, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: A TEAM OF ARIZONA SCIENTISTS ABOUT TO LUNCH LAUNCH THE FIRST EVER MISSION, "PSYCHE" AND THAT IT WILL REVEAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF EARTH.

>> THIS IS A ROBOTIC SPACE MISSION TO GO SEE AN ASTEROID WAY OUT BETWEEN MARS AND JUPITER AND "PSYCHE" IS THE NAME OF THE MISSION AND ASTEROID.

WHY WOULD WE GO THERE?

>> IT'S PLACES MADE OF GAS AND ICE BUT NEVER VISITED THIS KIND OF BODY.

SO IT'S PRIMARY EXPLORATION.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

ONE OF THE INGREDIENTS THAT MADE OUR EARTH.

>> HOW DO YOU BUILD A HABITABLE PLANET AND THE METAL CORE AND NORTHEASTERLY GETWE'LLAND WE'RE NEVER GET TO OUR CORE.

THERE'S THIS ONE BODY OUT THERE, "PSYCHE" A PART OF A METAL CORE AND THE ONLY WAY HOMES WILL SEE THAT INGREDIENT OF PLANET BUILDING.

WE LIKE TO JOKE WE'RE GOING TO OUTERSPACE TO SEE INNER-SAYS.

>> LAUNCHING FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA AND WE GO OUT AND BACK IN CLOSER TO THE SUN AND GET A GRAVITY ASSIST FROM MARS AND THEN WE WILL HAVE GONE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SUN ONCE AND ALL THE WAY TO INSECT WITH INTERSECT WITH THIS ASTEROID SO FAR AWAY.

THAT WHOLE PROCESS TAKES SIX YEARS AND ONCE WE GET THERE, WE'LL START ORBITING.

WE'LL BE BUSY THAT WHOLE TIME.

THERE WILL BE A CREW MONITORING THE SPACECRAFT AND SENDING COMMANDS AND EXERCISING THE INSTRUMENTS AND WE'LL BE WORKING UP ALL OF THE PLANS FOR WHAT WE'LL DO WITH THE DATA WHEN IT STARTS COMING IN.

ASU HAS BEEN BUILDING UP A LEGACY OF SPACE FLIGHT FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

RON AND PHIL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MISSIONS ALL ALONG AND SO NOW, ASU IS ACTIVE IN 25 SPACE MISSIONS, LEADING MISSIONS OF DIFFERENT SIZES.

THIS IS A SAFE EXPLORATION POWERHOUSE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Ted: FOR MORE ON THE MISSION, WE WELCOME CARVER BIERSON FROM EARTH AND SPACE EXPLORATION AS WELL AS PLANETARY SCIENTIST FOR THE "PSYCHE" MISSION.

WHEN WE SAW THE SPACECRAFT, HOW BIG IS THAT?

>> THE SPACECRAFT ITSELF IS HUGE SOLAR PANELS WE'LL NEED TO COLLECT SUNLIGHT.

>> Ted: ROCKET PROPELLED AND THEY JUST GOT THESE BIG REFLECTIONS AND YOU TAKE OUT THE SUN BECAUSE YOU'RE OUT THERE IN SPACE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: HOW FAR AWAY, THIS ASTEROID STUFF, HOW FAR AWAY IS IT?

>> THE PSYCHE IS THREE TIMES AWAY FURTHER FROM THE SUN THAN THE EARTH IS.

>> Ted: HOW BIG?

>> ABOUT ONE HUNDRED KILOMETERS IN RADIUS AND SMALLER THAN THE SIZE OF ARIZONA.

>> Ted: THE IDEA MADE OF METAL AND NICKEL, THIS SORT OF THING AND HOW DO WE KNOW THIS ONE IS MADE MOSTLY OF METAL?

>> SO WHAT WE CAN SEE FROM THE EARTH, WE CAN BOUNCE RADIO WAVES AND WE CAN TELL THERE'S METAL ON THE SURFACE.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH METAL IS THERE.

WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ENTIRE METAL OR IRON OR NICKEL OR 20% METAL.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO GO THERE AND FIND OUT.

>> Ted: I LOVE THE GRAPHIC OF THE SPACEGRAPH WITH THIS GRAVITATIONAL SLINGSLOT AND IS THAT BY MARS OR WHERE DOES THIS HAPPEN?

>> IN THREE YEARS, WE GET THIS SLINGSHOT WITH EXTRA SPEED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS TO MAKE IT OUT THERE.

IT'S A SIX-YEAR JOURNEY IN TOTAL.

>> WHEN IT FINALLY GETS THERE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT GETS THERE?

>> ONCE WE AROUND, WE GET IN AN ORBIT AND WE CLOSE CLOSER AND CLOSER AND LEARNING MORE AS WE DESCEND TOWARDS THE SURFACE.

IT'S OVER ABOUT A YEAR OF SCIENCE OPERATIONS.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS MISSION AND THE BENNU MISSION, COMPARE THE TWO.

>> SO OSIRIS-REX SPACE MISSION TOUCHED BENNU, GRABBED A PIECE OF DEBRIS AND BROUGHT IT BACK.

WE WON'T DO THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INSTRUMENTS ON BOARD TO LEARN WHAT IT'S MADE OF AROUND AT AS TRIED.

>> Ted: YOU DON'T NEED THE SAMPSSAMPLES TO GET THE INFORMATION?

>> NO.

THIS IS A RECONAISSANCE MISSION.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN AN ASTEROID LIKE "PSYCHE" BEFORE.

WE NEED TO LEARN WHAT THE SURFACE LOOKS LIKE.

>> Ted: I WOULD IMAGINE MAPPING IS A BIG PART OF THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CRATERS LOOK LIKE OR IF THERE'S VOLCANOS AND MAYBE THERE'S METAL VOLCANOS ON THE SURFACE.

PEOPLE ARE THROWING OUT THESE IDEAS TO GO THERE TO TEST.

>> Ted: AS IT ORBITS YOU GET CLOSER AND CLOSER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER.

DIFFERENT TESTS FOR DIFFERENT ORBITS?

>> YEAH.

THERE'S THIS WEIRD SQUASHED SHAPE AND A SENSE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE ORBITING AND THE GRAVITY LIKE AND THAT MAKES IT SAFE FOR US TO ORBIT CLOSE IN LATER ON IN THE MISSION WHERE WE'LL GET A HIGHEST RESOLUTION MAPS AND LEARN THE MOST DETAIL ABOUT THE SURFACE.

>> Ted: LET'S SAY THE MISSION IS SIX YEARS FROM NOW.

>> SIX YEARS TO GET THERE.

>> Ted: OK, SIX YEARS TO GET THERE.

YOU GET THERE AND GET ALL YOU NEED AND TRANSMITTED OR COLLECTED AND BROUGHT BACK?

>> WE'LL BE SENDING DATA BACK AS WE COLLECT IT AND TAKE THESE IMAGES AND TRANSMITTING IT BACK TO EARTH AND GIVING THEM TO THE PUBLIC AND DISPLAYING IT TO SEE.

>> Ted: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SPACECRAFT WHEN THE MISSION IS OVER?

DO YOU SAY GOODBYE AND IT GOES TO DEEP SPACE?

WHAT HAPPEN MISS.

>> HAPPENS?

>> WE DON'T KNOW YET.

WE'LL SEE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AND HOW IT'S DOING AT THAT POINT.

>> Ted: THIS MUST BE AN EXCITING FAME FOR YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF YEARS BUILDING UP TO THIS.

PLANNING YEARS AND YEARS BUILDING THE SPACECRAFT AND TESTING IT SO IT'S READY TO GO AND LAUNCHING ON THURSDAY.

>> Ted: OBVIOUSLY VERY EXCITED AND WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT ASU AND SPACE PROGRAMS?

>> ASU IS AN EXCITING PLACE TO BE AND EVERYONE INVOLVED AT ASU INVOLVED AND A GREAT ENVIRONMENT LEARNING ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM AROUND US.

>> Ted: BEST OF LUCK, CARVER BIERSON.

SOUNDS EXCITING!

GOOD LUCK!

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Ted: THE DAYS ARE GETTING SHORTER AND WEATHER IS COOLER AND LEAVES IN THE HIGH COUNTRY ARE SHOWING THEIR AUTUMN COLOR AND THE COLORS CAN BE SPECTACULAR IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

HERE TO HELP US IS TRAVEL WRITER, ROGER NAYLOR.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS GOOD STUFF.

>> MY PLEASURE.

I LOVE TALKING ABOUT BEAUTIFUL ARIZONA.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY'RE STARTING TO CHANGE?

>> THEY'RE CHANGING.

RIGHT NOW IN FLAGSTAFF AT THE HIGH ELEVATIONS, IT'S KIND OF PEAKING.

I GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A FOREST RANGER UP THERE THIS AFTERNOON AND HE SAID GET THERE NOW.

>> Ted: HOW LONG DOES THE SEASON LAST IN ARIZONA?

>> WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY LONG AUTUMN SEASON BECAUSE OUR DIFFERING ELEVATIONS.

SO IT CAN START AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER OR EVEN AT END OF SEPTEMBER AND LAST INTO DECEMBER AS YOU GO DOWN ELEVATIONS AND STUFF.

RIGHT NOW, FLAGSTAFF IS THE SHOWY SPOT AND I'M SURE THE SAME IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO FLAGSTAFF, THIS IS THE WEEKEND TO GO.

>> Ted: LET'S GO TO FLAGSTAFF AND I HAVE VIDEO OF THE ASPEN NATURE LOOP.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND I THINK THIS IS THE CACHINA TRAIL AND THEN THERE'S ONE FROM AT ASPEN NATURE LOOK.

BOTH ARE AT THE TOP AND THESE PHOTOS, I TOOK THEM PROBABLY ABOUT THIS SAME TIME A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

THE FALL COLORS ARE KIND OF REGULATED BY THE CLOCK BECAUSE IT ISN'T IMPACTED BY RAIN OR HEAT THAT MUCH.

IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW THE SUNLIGHT GETS LESS AND THE LEAVES STOP PRODUCING CHLOROPHYLL AND THAT GREEN GOES AWAY AND THE OTHER HUES SHOW UP.

YOU KNOW GENERALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THIS IS KIND OF THE PRIME TIME.

SO BOTH OF THESE TAILS, ASPEN NATURE LOOP, THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE SNOWBOWL PARKING LOT.

>> Ted: THE TRAIL IS RIGHT THERE.

>> YOU DRIVE UP AND YOU'LL ENJOY BEAUTIFUL SCENERY ALONG THE WAY AND TAKE EITHER THE ASPEN NATURE LOOP, TWO AND A HALF MILES AND THE CACHINA TRAIL WHICH IS FIVE MILES.

THE ASPENS ARE IN THE FIRST TWO OR THREE MILES.

AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE HIKE, JUMP ON THE SEENIC GONDOLA RIDE.

TAKE IT UP TO 11,500 FEET.

THEY'RE STILL DOING THAT THIS WEEKEND AND YOU CAN ENJOY A BIRD'S EYEVIEW.

IT SHOULD GO UNTIL EARLY MIDNEXT WEEK UNTIL THINGS FADE UP.

>> Ted: THAT QUICKLY UP, THERE HUH?

>> IT HAPPENS PRETTY QUICK.

>> Ted: ANOTHER TAPE OF DEAD HORSE RANCH STATE PARK.

FIRST OF ALL, WHERE IS THAT AND WHAT CAN YOU SEE THERE?

>> THAT'S MY BACKYARD.

I LIVE IN COTTONWOOD WHERE THE RANCH IS AND THE VERDE VALLEY.

>> Ted: BEAUTIFUL!

>> ONCE THE A SECONDSPENS ARE FINISHED, YOU GO DOWN IN AL ELEVATION AND OCTOBER IS RIM COUNTRY AND OAK CREEK CANYON, A LITTLE LOWER.

THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN IN EARLY NOVEMBER BECAUSE WE'RE DOWN A LITTLE LOWER, ABOUT 3300 FEET AND WE GOT THE COTTONWOODS AND THE WALNUTS AND BOX ELDER AND THAT SORT OF THING.

USUALLY EARLY NOVEMBER IS FOR US.

>> Ted: THE WHITE MOUNTAINS FROM SUPER HIGH DOWN TO PAYSON.

THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, THE SAME THING, THE HIGHER YOU GO, THE QUICKER IT IS.

>> I WOULD THINK IF YOU'RE HEADING TOWARD BIG LAKE, THAT'S A GREAT TIME.

GO BY THIS WEEKEND AND GET THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, HIT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS AROUND PAYSON, PINE, PICK THE RIM ROAD BETWEEN 260 AND 87 AND THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.

YOU WON'T GET THE BIG SWEEPING PANORAMAS AND FIND GORGEOUS POCKETS OF COLOR ALL ALONG THE WAY.

>> Ted: YOUR PART OF THE WOODS, TRAFFIC CAN PILE UP?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S THE THING.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT ON THE WEEKS, YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS DOING IT ON THE WEEKENDS.

IF YOU HAVE A HOOKY DAY, TAKE IT AND COME UP ON A WEEKDAY.

THE BEST FALL COLOR HIKE IN THE ENTIRE STATE, YOU THINK, IS WEST FORK, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY JAMPACKED ON THOSE THREE WEEKENDS WHERE THE COLOR IS CHANGES.

IF YOU CAN SNEAK UP DURING THE WEEK, YOU'LL HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TIME.

BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF YOU MISS IT ALL OUT, HEAD OVER TO BOY'S THOMPSON.

>> Ted: THAT'S THE LATEST ONE.

>> EXACTLY.

IT LASTS UNTIL AROUND THANKSGIVING.

NOT ONLY THE NATIVE TREES AND CHINESE PISTACHIOS.

I LOVE BOUNCING AROUND SEEING ALL OF THESE PLACES.

>> Ted: WE LOVE HAVING YOU ON TALKING ABOUT YOUR TRAVELS AND EVERYTHING YOU KNOW.

GET OUT THERE FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY NOW AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AS FAR AS MIDLEVEL AND YOU STILL HAVE ANOTHER MONTH.

>> TAKE YOUR TIME AND SEE ME IN COTTONWOOD IN NOVEMBER.

>> Ted: ROGER NAYL OR, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!