COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: THE FEDS INCREASE THE PUSH FOR A WATER-USE DEAL AMONG STATES INCLUDING ARIZONA, THAT USE COLORADO RIVER WATER... ALSO TONIGHT: A LOOK AT A NEW "FREE SPEECH CENTER" AT ASU... AND, WE'LL LEARN ABOUT A NONPROFIT THAT'S WORKING ON PROVIDING MEALS TO THE HOMELESS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S OFFICIAL: DONALD TRUMP'S ELECTION MEANS THAT HE WILL NOT FACE PROSECUTION OVER CHARGES THAT HE TRIED TO SUBVERT THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

HE ALSO WILL NOT BE PROSECUTED OVER ILLEGALLY TAKING AND KEEPING CLASSIFIED FILES FOR HIMSELF WHEN HE LEFT OFFICE.

THAT'S ALL BECAUSE SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH SAID TODAY DROPPED BOTH CASES AGAINST TRUMP.

SMITH SEEKED DISMISSAL BY WAY OF COURT FILINGS IN WHICH SMITH SAID THAT THE DISMISSALS WERE NOT BASED ON THE MERITS OR STRENGTH OF THE CASES BUT BECAUSE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS A POLICY THAT FORBIDS THE PROSECUTION OF SITTING PRESIDENTS.

THE JUDGE IN THE SUBVERSION CASE GRANTED DISMISSAL.

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF REVIVING BOTH CASES ONCE TRUMP LEAVES OFFICE.

OTHER HEADLINES: THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY DECLINED TO HEAR A TOBACCO INDUSTRY CHALLENGE TO ANTI-SMOKING IMAGES ON PACKS OF CIGARETTES.

THE FDA REQUIRED THE GRAPHIC HEALTH WARNINGS IN A 2020 RULING BUT SEVERAL MAJOR TOBACCO SELLERS SUED.

A FEDERAL JUDGE RULED IN THEIR FAVOR, BUT A U.S. DISTRICT COURT REVERSED THAT DECISION.

NEXT STOP THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH TODAY DECLINED TO HEAR THE CASE, BUT IT COULD COME BACK TO THE HIGH COURT AFTER IT WORKS ITS WAY BACK THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN ARE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG-CANCER AT HIGHER RATES THAN MEN.

AND THAT MANY OF THOSE WOMEN DIAGNOSED HAVE NEVER SMOKED.

LUNG CANCER HAS RISEN 84% IN WOMEN IN THE PAST 42 YEARS COMPARED TO A 36% DROP IN MEN.

THE STUDY SUGGESTS THAT A RISE IN A GENETIC MUTATION IS LEADING TO THE INCREASE IN CASES.

LAST WEEK, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PREVIEWED A SET OF PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THE COLORADO RIVER'S SUPPLY-AND- DEMAND PROBLEM, AN ISSUE THAT FINDS LOWER-BASIN STATES INCLUDING ARIZONA, INCREASINGLY AT ODDS WITH UPPER-BASIN STATES OVER WATER ALLOCATIONS.

TO GET THE LATEST, WE WELCOME SARAH PORTER, FROM THE KYL CENTER OR WATER POLICY AT ASU'S MORRISSON INSTITUTE.

THE FEDS ARE LOOKING AT DOING NOW.

WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, DO WE KNOW IF THAT VANTAGE POINT WILL CHANGE?

>> IT'S VERY HARD TO SAY.

WE WILL VERY LIKELY HAVE A NEW COMMISSIONER OF THE BUREAU RECLAMATION FOR A NEW BOSS, BUT UNDERNEATH THAT BOSS ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF TECHNICAL EXPERTS, AND THEY GENERALLY DON'T SHIFT FROMMED A STRIKES ADMINISTRATION, SO CHANCES ARE, THE WORK THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT IN PLACE IN TERMS OF THE ALTERNATIVE TO BE MODELS WILL CONTINUE.

THE DIFFERENCE THAT A COMMISSIONER MAKES TYPICALLY IS THE ABILITY TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, TO BANG HEADS TOGETHER, TO GET PEOPLE INTO A ROOM AND MAKE THEM TALK, TO ISSUE ULTIMATUMS THAT PEOPLE TAKE SERIOUSLY.

SO PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN WHO THE NEW COMMISSIONER WILL BE.

>> IS THERE ANY INDICATION RIGHT NOW, AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S THE CASE, BUT YOU TELL ME, THAT THEY ARE INCHING TOWARDS SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT?

IT SURE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE TO.

>> NO, I WOULD SAY WE CAN ONLY GUESS FROM THE OUTSIDE AND FROM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HEAR.

BUT I WOULD SAY THERE IS VERY LITTLE INDICATION OF MOVEMENT ON BOTH SIDES.

IT IS, AS YOU SAY, THE UPPER BASIN AND THE LOWER BASIN DISAGREEING, AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE INDICATION RIGHT NOW THAT THEY ARE COMING TO TERMS AROUND THAT DISAGREEMENT, AND BASICALLY THE DISAGREEMENT IS THE UPPER BASIN, WHICH IS WYOMING, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO AND UTAH.

THEY BELIEVE THAT THE LOWER BASIN SHOULD TAKE ALL OF THE SHORTAGE, SHOULD BE THE ONLY STATES TO EXPERIENCE CUTS.

>> HOLY SMOKES, SOUNDS LIKE A NON-STARTER RIGHT THERE.

>> WELL, IT'S DIFFICULT.

THEY HAVE THEIR REASONS AND THEIR REASONS ARE THAT THEY'RE USING MUCH LESS WATER THAN THE UPPER BASIN.

THE UPPER BASIN IS USING ALL OF THE WATER THAT IT'S ENTITLED TO OR IT HAS BEEN.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE UPPER BASIN -- THE LOWER BASE HEIN WORKED HARD TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER IT'S USING, AND THE UPPER BASIN IS USING A LITTLE OVER HALF THE WATER THAT'S IT'S ENTITLED TO, MAYBE 60, 65%.

>> WITH THAT IN MILD, WE'RE HEAR BEING A COMPACT CALL, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE TWO -- WE'RE HEARING ABOUT A COMPACT CALL, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE NASTY BUSINESS.

>> IN THIS CONTEXT A COMPACT CALL WOULD BE A DEMAND FROM THE LOWER BASIN STATE THAT THE UPPER BASIN DELIVER THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT THE FAMOUS COLORADO COMPACT OF 1922 -- THE CONTRACT OF 1922 SAYS THAT THE UPPER BASIN IS OBLIGATED TO DELIVER TO THE LOWER BASIN.

THE ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A COMPACT CALL SHOULD HAPPEN OR WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT THE LOWER BASIN HAS OUTLINED A PRETTY STRONG CASE FOR BEING ABLE TO MAKE A CALL AND HAVING ESSENTIALLY THE LAW ON ITS SIDE, FOR REQUIRING THE UPPER BASIN TO DELIVER THE WATER THAT THE LOWER BASIN IS ENTITLED TO.

>> ESPECIALLY IF THE UPPER BASIN IS NOT OR CAN'T DELIVER THE WATER OVER 10 YEARS AND HAS NOT DELIVERED THE WATER.

WELL, WE'VE HAD LIKE A DROUGHT FOR MOST OF THOSE 10 YEARS; HAVE WE NOT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, HOW -- THE RESERVOIRS IN THE UPPER BASIN INCLUDING LAKE POWELL AND LAKE MEAD, AND HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, THE LOWER BASIN WOULD SAY THE COMPACT SPECIFIES THAT OVER -- THE CONTRACT SPECIFIES OVER 10 YEARS THE LOWER BASIN IS ENTITLED TO 75 MILLION ACRE, THAT'S A LOT OF WATER, AND IT'S UP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS THE RIVER MASTER, THE MANAGER OF THIS SYSTEM, TO DELIVER THAT WATER, ABSENT OF SOME AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER DIVISIONS.

>> WHAT KIND OF REACTION HAVE WE HEARD ABOUT THE UPPER BASIN ON THIS CONTRACT CALL?

I IMAGINE NOT TOO POSITIVE.

>> THE MAIN ARGUMENT THAT THE UPPER BASIN MAKES IS THAT THE SHORTAGES THAT WE'RE SEEING, THE CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM WE'RE SEEING ARE ATTRIBUTE TONIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE TO SOME DEGREE AND THEY'RE SAYING NO ONE WAS EVER THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE BACK IN 1922 WHEN THE UPPER BASIN AGREED TO DELIVER 75 MILLION ACRE FEET.

AND THE LOWER BASE HEIN A RESPONSE, WHICH IS WHEN YOU MAKE GREETS, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE COMPLICATED ARE RISKS YOU UNDERTAKE.

SO THERE ARE ARGUMENTS TO AND FROM.

BUT THE BIGGEST ARGUMENT THAT THE UPPER BASIN IS MAKING IS THEY HAVE SOME OTHER TECHNICAL ARMS BUT THE BIGGEST ONE IS CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS THERE'S LESS WATER IN THE RIVER, AND THEREFORE WE ALL NEED TO ADJUST.

>> OKAY.

WHAT DOES THAT ADJUSTMENT MEAN AS FAR AS THE PHOENIX METRO AREA AND IN YUMA FOR AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION?

>> VERY GOOD QUESTIONS.

THE ANSWER IS, WE HAVE NO IDEA.

SO WE ALLOW -- WATER IS DELIVERED ACCORDING TO PRIORITY.

TYPICALLY THE -- YOU KNOW, WHOEVER GOT THERE LAST TAKES SHORTAGE FIRST.

AND THE USE OF SOME SAY THEY HAVE THE JUNIOR PRIORITY IN THE LOWER BASIN.

SO STICKING WITH PRIORITY, ALL OF THE SHORTAGE WOULD GO TO CAP USERS, AND THEN EVENTUALLY SHORTAGES GOT BIGGER AND BIGGER AND THEY COULD EVENTUALLY REACH USERS OF HIGHER PRIORITY IN YUMA OR THE COLORADO RIVER.

BUT RIGHT NOW A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS ARE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN PRIORITY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO SEE THE CAP GO DRIVE.

-- GO DRY.

SO WE DON'T KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS -- AT LEAST OUR ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE IS VERY INSIST ENTER THAT WATER SHOULD TONIGHT RUN IN THE C-A-P.

BUT THE CITIES AND THE TRIBES AND THE INDUSTRY THAT RELY ON THAT WATER RIGHT NOW, THEY SIMPLY DON'T KNOW.

THEY'RE IN A TIME UNCERTAINTY AND MAKING PLANS TO BE READY TO PROVIDE WATER REGARDLESS OF THAT UNCERTAINTY.

>> AND THAT UNCERTAINTY, I WOULD IMAGINE, WOULD BE COMPOUNDED IF THIS WINDS UP AS A COURT CASE -- IF IT'S CLOSER TO A COURT CASE, ARE ALL BETS OFF?

>> KIND OF.

THERE WOULD BE A REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY ACTION THAT WOULD PROVIDE RELIEF, YOU KNOW, HAVE WATER RUN IN THE CAP, DELIVER WATER TO USERS IN THE SYSTEM, AND I THINK IT'S ANYBODY'S GUESS WHAT A COURT WOULD DO, AND OF COURSE, IT WOULD TAKE YEARS AND YEARS I THINK THE BETS WOULD BE ON HOW MANY YEARS, MAYBE EVEN DECADES, THE LITIGATION COULD TAKE.

>> WOW, PAST 2026, THAT'S FOR DOG GONE SURE, RIGHT?

>> OH, YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> ALL RIGHT, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

ASU IS ESTABLISHING A NEW CENTER FOR FREE SPEECH.

THE UNIVERSITY BRING IN NATIONAL SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES INVOLVING FREE SPEECH.

ASU EXECUTIVE VICE-PROVOST PATRICK KENNEY IS HERE TO TELL US MORE.

IT'S NEW, SOUNDS KIND OF SELF-EXPLANATORY, BUT YOU TELL ME.

>> FREE SPEECH EMBEDDED IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS A KEY ASPECT FOR DEMOCRACY.

THOUGH IT'S ALSO A KEY ASPECT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

ONE OF OUR GOALS AMONG MANY AT UNIVERSITY, TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS WHO LOOK AT A WIDE RANGE OF MARKETPLACE IDEAS SO THEY CAN THINK CRITICALLY NEW THINGS THROUGH THE LENS THAT THEY WANT TO VIEW THEM THROUGH AND HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT KIND OF SPEECH.

>> WHEN IT'S ENCOURAGING, THE UNINHIBITED EXCHANGE OF IDEAS EXPLAIN AND DEFINE UNINHOIBTED IN THIS CONTEXT?

>> IN THIS CONTEXT, THAT'S ACTUALLY -- THAT PHRASE OR CLOSE TO IT IS PART BEHALF WE CALL THE CHICAGO PRINCIPLES.

AND UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WENT FORWARD QUITE A WHILE AGO NOW.

THAT SAID UNIVERSITIES MUST ADHERE TO THAT PHRASE OR VERY CLOSE TO IT.

PARAPHRASING THAT.

AND THAT MEANS STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO ANY UNIVERSITY, FRANKLY, THAT SIGNS ON TO THIS CONCEPT AND BE ABLE TO REACH OUT AND BE EXPOSED TO ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CONCEPTS AND IDEAS, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER REGULAR TRAINING THAT THEY'RE UNDERGOING.

LIKE MATHEMATICS OR POETRY OR PHYSICS OR WHATEVER THEY'RE TRYING TO LEARN, BUT SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAMPLE THESE DIFFERENT IDEAS, ABOUT DEMOCRACY, ABOUT GOVERNMENT, ABOUT LIFE IN THE WORLD, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

>> WHEN IT'S UNINHIBITED AND A FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, DEFINE IDEAS.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BRING SOMEONE IN HERE THAT SAYS THE CERT FLAT, ARE YOU?

>> NO, MOST LIKELY MOTTE THAT PARTICULAR EXAMPLE BUT WE COULD BRING IN PEOPLE THAT ARE HOLDING IDEAS THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE BELIEVE OR WONDER ABOUT OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT.

AND THAT HELPS EDUCATE FOLKS TO KIND OF WEIGH THESE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND HEAR COMPELLING EVIDENCE FOR AND AGAINST.

>> AS FAR AS BREAKING THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, INFRINGING ON OTHER STUDENT'S RIGHTS, I IMAGINE THAT'S OVER THERE.

YOU CAN'T GO THAT FAR.

>> CORRECT.

PRESIDENT KOSOVOMAN PUT HIS FOOT STRONGLY DOWN ON FREE SPEECH IS SOMETHING THE UNIVERSITY EMBRACES, BUT SIMULTANEOUSLY, YOU CAN'T INTERRUPT THE BUSINESS OF THE UNIVERSITY.

THERE ARE SO MANY STUDENTS AT ASU NOW, SO MANY FACULTIES AND GRANTS AND PROJECTS GOING ON THAT THE BUSINESS MUST GO ON.

YOU CAN'T DISRUPT THAT.

BUT YOU CAN PROTEST.

YOU CAN SPEAK YOUR MIND.

YOU CAN HAVE CERTAIN VIEWS, AND YOU CAN HOLD THEM AND HOLD THEM STRONGLY, AND YOU CAN DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT YOU CAN'T INTERRUPT THE REST OF THE BUSINESSES AT UNIVERSITY.

>> IS THERE A GOVERNING BOARD THAT DECIDES WHICH SPEAKER IS ALLOWED AND MAYBE THIS SPEAKER'S A BIT TOO MUCH?

>> SO ONE THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS ANY FACULTY MEMBER CAN BRING GUESTS INTO THEIR CLASSROOM AS LONG AS IT CONNECTS CLOSE THREE WHATEVER THE CONTEMPT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

WE DON'T EVEN MONITOR THAT, FRANKLY.

WE TRUST THE FACULTY TO DO THAT.

THERE WILL BE BOARD THAT WILL OVERSEE THAT.

IT'LL BE SMALL, BUT PRIVATE CITIZENS, UNCONNECTED TO THE UNIVERSITY.

WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM.

THEY WILL HELP GUIDE THE NEW DIRECTOR AND DECIDING HOW TO SELECT CANDIDATES FOR THAT.

>> AND THIS STARTS NEXT SEMESTER?

>> I THINK IT WILL START NEXT SEMESTER, SPRING 2025.

WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE A NATIONWIDE SYMPOSIUM TO BRING GUESTS AND SPEAKERS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD, DEPENDING ON WHAT TOPIC THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

>> WHAT WAS THE IMPOTENCE FOR THIS?

>> WELL, ASU, PRESIDENT COW AND ASU HAVE BEEN ON BOARD WITH THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND YOU SEE THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION.

THAT'S A FOUNDATION, A PRIVATE FOUNDATION, A NONPROFIT THAT RANKS UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ABOUT HOW OPEN ARE THEY TO FREE SPEECH PRINCIPLES AND CONTENT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

WE'VE HAD A VERY HIGH RATING FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I'M IN THE TOP 10 AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT.

I THINK THE IMPOTENCE FRANKLY IS, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRACY IS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT CONCEPTS ARE OPEN FOR DEBATE, WHAT PUBLIC POLICY LOOKS LIKE AND OUR STUDENTS NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO THAT.

>> AND IT SOUNDS TO ME AS IF BOTH SIDES ARE LOOKING AT ASU AND SAYING THEY GOT A PROBLEM WITH FREE SPEECH, EVEN THOUGH THE HIGH RATINGS, YOU GOT THE PROBLEM ON ONE SIDE WITH THE LIBERALS, THE CONSERVATIVES SAYING THE CONSERVATIVE VOICES ARE BEING QUELLED, ON THE OTHER SIDE.

HOW ARE YOU SQUARING THAT CIRCLE?

>> I THINK THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS IN THE UNIVERSITY, CLASS BY CLASS, ALL AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EDUCATION THAT ARE GOING ON, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S AS BIG A PROBLEM AS PEOPLE MIGHT ANTICIPATE.

WHAT SOMETIMES CAPTURES PEOPLE'S ATTENTION, INTERESTS AND CRITIQUE IS WHO WE BRING IN ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY TO GIVE SPEECHES, TALKS ON ALL KINDS OF TOPICS.

AND THEY OFTEN COME IN ON HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS THAT ARE DIVIDED BOTH INTERNATIONALLY AND IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK EITHER SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM MAY LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, HMM, ARE THEY FAVORING ONE OVER THE OTHER?

I THINK WE KEPT A CAREFUL LOOK AT THAT.

THERE'S A LONG LIST OF GUESTS WE'VE BROUGHT IN OVER THE YEARS.

AND IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLY BALANCED.

>> WHEN YOU SAY YOU KEEP TRACK OF, THAT IS THERE LITERALLY A CHART, THERE LITERALLY A LIST?

>> THERE IS A LIST.

HOW FAR IT GOES BACK, I'M NOT SURE.

BUT THERE IS A LIST OF AT LEAST 25, 30 PEOPLE ON IT.

>> YEAH.

AND THEY BASICALLY MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T TILT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> WE WORK HARD AT, THAT RIGHT.

>> START SOME TIME NEXT YEAR.

>> YES.

>> CENTER FOR FREE SPEECH HERE.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS, WHERE?

>> SURE.

SOON WE'LL HAVE A WEBSITE UP, AND THEY CAN TAP INTO IT THERE.

WE'RE WORKING ALSO ON A BROAD KIND OF FRAMEWORK AROUND WORKING HIGHER -- WHAT CAN HIGHER EDUCATION DO TO MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

IT'LL BE A NICE BIG WEBPAGE FOR THAT, AND THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE CENTERS UNDER IT.

>> I WAS GONNA SAY, YOU LEFT ME A BIG ONE BEFORE YOU GO.

LAST QUESTION, WHAT CAN UNIVERSITY DOES?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING UNIVERSITIES CAN DO IS GET THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE, WHO ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND DO ALL THE WORK OF GOVERNMENT, EITHER VOLUNTEER WORK OR ACTUALLY WORK IN ALL OF OUR FEDERAL STRUCTURE, RIGHT, FROM STATE AND LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS, ALL THE WAY TO UNITED STATES CONGRESS -- WE NEED TO GET THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE THUSSED AND ENGAGED AND INTERESTED IN DOING THAT WORK.

AND I THINK THAT'S UPON US TO BRING SPEAKERS, INTRODUCING THEM TO THE POLITICAL CLASS, TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VALUE OF DOING THAT KIND OF WORK IS.

WE NEED TO SEND AS MANY PEOPLE OUT AS WE SEND IN OTHER PROFESSIONS, NURSING, BUSINESS, ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

HOMELESSNESS IN ARIZONA CONTINUES TO BE AN INCREASING CONCERN, WITH CITIES AND TOWNS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL IS LOOKING TO HELP.

THE NON-PROFIT, WHICH RUNS ALMOST ENTIRELY ON VOLUNTEERS HAS INCREASED ITS OUTPUT OF MEALS TO 7,000 PER DAY TO MEET GROWING NEEDS.

JOINING US NOW IS SHANNON CLANCY SHE'S ST. VINCENT DE PAUL'S ROB AND MELANIE WALTON-ENDOWED CEO.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> BUSY TIME OF YEAR, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> IT IS A VERY FULL TIME OF YEAR.

>> HOW DOES IT CHANGE?

WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE BUSY 365 DAYS A YEAR.

BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO BRING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHERE OUR COMMUNITY REALLY THINKS ABOUT US AND THINKS ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.

WHEN WE'RE GRATEFUL, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GIVE BACK SO IT BECOMES EVEN MORE BUSY IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THESE TRANSITIONAL HOUSE SHELTERS BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

YOU'VE GOT TWO THEM HERE.

>> IN AUGUST WE OPENED TWO NEW RESIDENCES.

THE FIRST DePAUL MANOR IS FOR 100 FOLKS, 50 AND OLDER, AND THOSE WHO ARE FACING DISABILITIES.

THEY STAY WITH US AND GET WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AND HELP MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, AND THE SECOND ONE IS ROSALIE'S PLACE, THAT'S A RESIDENCE SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A JOB OR WHO ARE SEEKING TO GET A JOB.

AGAIN, GIVING PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

AND I THINK IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, WE DO -- WE SEE HOMELESSNESS INCREASE.

I WOULD SAY THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY WE HAVE SO MUCH COLLABORATION AND SO MANY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WORKING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB THAN, YOU KNOW, OR AT LEAST HAVING MORE SUCCESS THAN SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES BUT STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, AND THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO HAVE THESE RESIDENTS.

THEY WORK, THEY HELP PEOPLE GET BACK INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

>> HOW LONG CAN A RESIDENT STAY IN THESE SHELTERS?

OUR AVERAGE STAY IS 8 TO 9 MONTHS BUT I'LL TELL YOU WE'VE BEEN OPERATING OUR FIRST ONE FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND THE AVERAGE STAY FOR MUCH OF THAT TIME WAS FIVE TO SIX MONTHS.

IT'S INCREASE THE BECAUSE OUR HOUSING PRICES HAVE INCREASED.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S MADE SUCH AN IMPACT ON HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT DOES IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO REHOUSE PEOPLE BUT IF WE CAN GET BACK INTO A PLACE THEY CAN AFFORD, THEN IT STICKS.

THEY CAN REALLY MAINTAIN THAT HOUSING AND THEY WON'T BE BACK ON THE STREET.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT THE SUCCESS RATE IS FOR THOSE FOLKS.

>> FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IT'S 95% OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY ENTER HOUSING ARE STILL THERE A YEAR LATER.

SO IT'S IT WORKS.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GIVING PEOPLE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND PLACE THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE AND PEOPLE CAN BE REHOUSED AND GO ON TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.

>> AND IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO WANT THAT FOR THEMSELVES TOO.

THEY'VE GOTTA TAKE THAT STEP.

>> IT IS.

BUT I THINK IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE COLLABORATIVELY WITH GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S ALSO A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHEN YOU OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME INSIDE, WE'LL SAY YES.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT THEY'RE FACING, SO REALLY WHAT WE WOULD SAY IS WE NEED MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO COME INSIDE AND WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AS A COMMUNITY IN PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS, BY REALLY GETTING AHEAD IT AND KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THAT'S REALLY THE VERY BEST WAY TO ATTACK HOMELESSNESS, IS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AT ALL.

>> ONCE IN THE SHELTERS, THOUGH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, OTHER KINDS OF TRAINING GOING ON THERE?

>> YEAH.

ESPECIALLY IN ROSALIE'S PLACE, IT'S AN ENTIRE RESIDENCE THAT IS DEVOTED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A JOB OR WORKING ON GETTING ONE.

AND OUR SHOW THAT WE CAN REDUCE THAT TIME THAT THEY SPEND THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A JOB, THEY HAVE THAT JOB AND HAVE THAT INCOME AND WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE FOLKS THERE.

>> WHICH ONE THAT HAS THE ANIMAL CLINIC FOR COMPANION.

>> IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY -- THE VETERINARY COMMUNITY.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT A LOT OF FOLKS WON'T COME INSIDE WHEN THEY CAN'T BRING THEIR ANIMALS.

THAT'S THEIR FAMILY, AND SO IF WE CAN REACH OUT AND PROVIDE THAT CARE TO PEOPLE AND THEIR ANIMAL COMPANIONS, THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO WELL TOGETHER AND MANY PEOPLE WILL SURRENDER ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEM.

SO REALLY THIS IS JUST LAG AT HOLISTIC SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE, THAT ARE ANIMALS, IN ORDER TO HELP THEM LIVE THE LIVES THEY WERE MEANT TO LIVE AND GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND MOVE FORWARD.

>> THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.

>> LAST QUESTION HERE, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S THANKSGIVING, A THANKFUL TIME, ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

OR DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE PROBLEM IS JUST GETTING WORSE?

>> ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

>> I AM.

I AM OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE WE SEE THINGS THAT WORK EVERY DAY.

WE SEE THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

WE HAVE A KIND AND GENEROUS AND LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY.

WE COULDN'T DO THE WORK WE DO WITHOUT IT.

SO THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE ALL FEEL GRATEFUL FROM THE BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE, AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT.

SO I WILL SAY THE VERY BEST WAY TO FEEL HOPEFUL ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THE COMMUNITY IS TO COME TO ST. VINCENT DePAUL.

WE SEE THE VERY BEST IN PEOPLE EVERY DAY, AND SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, JOIN US AS A VOLUNTEER, DO A DRIVE FOR FOOD WITH YOUR FAMILY OR YOUR COLLEAGUES, OR MAKE A MONETARY DONATION AND HELP PEOPLE MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES, AND THAT COMES BACK TO HELP YOU AND HELPS YOU FEEL SO HOPEFUL.

>> OKAY.

WE GOTTA STOP YOU RIGHT THERE.

I COULD LET YOU GO ON FOREVER WITH THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHANNON CLANCY.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.