>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: CONGRESSWOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI JOINS US IN STUDIO FOR THE LATEST ON HEALTHCARE AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CONCERNS.

ALSO TONIGHT: A REPORT THAT LOOKS AT CHRONIC ABSENTEE-ISM AMONG ARIZONA SCHOOL-KIDS.

AND, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES SET FOR THE ORPHEUS MALE CHORUS OF PHOENIX.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> ARIZONA MADE POSSIBLE BY YOUR FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA CONGRESS-WOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI IS JOINING OTHER HOUSE DEMOCRATS IN LAUNCHING A NEW TRACKING SYSTEM DESIGNED TO MONITOR ALLEGED MIS-CONDUCT BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.

FOR MORE ON THAT AND OTHER ISSUESWE WELCOME CONGRESS-WOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU TED.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WHEN WAS THIS ANNOUNCED?

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

THEY WERE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE EPSTEIN FILES.

ON MONDAY, ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE HAS BEEN BRUTAL ICE ACTIVITY.

ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

OF COURSE, THE ISSUE INSIDE THE DETENTION CENTER THEMSELVES.

WE HEARD FROM LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE U.S.

CITIZEN WRONGFULLY DETAINED BY ICE AND LABOR MEMBERS DETAINED.

A LAWYER SENT TO EL SALVADOR.

MANY WERE SENT TO FOREIGN PRISONS UNLAWFULLY.

WE LAUNCHED A TOOL SO THAT ANYONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN SUBMITTED ALLEGED MISCONDUCT BY ICE.

THIS IS NOT A REALTIME TRACKER BUT A REPOSITORY TO VET AND VERIFY THESE INSTANCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE ICE AND CHRISTIE NOME AND THIS ADMINISTRATION MUST AND WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE EGREGIOUS ABUSES.

>> WHERE WILL THEY SUBMIT THE INFORMATION?

WHO COLLECTS THE DATA?

HOW EGREGIOUS?

>> IT WILL VERY.

SAY YOU ARE SOMEONE THAT FACED RACIAL PROFILING BY ICE.

I HEARD FROM MY CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE CITIZENS, LAWFUL RESIDENTS.

MANY CASES WHERE IF THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN IS BROWN YOU ARE TARGETED BY ICE AND THIS ADMINISTRATION.

THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.

IF YOU ARE ASSAULTED.

A WIDE VARIETY OF INFORMATION GOING TO THE OVERSIGHT DEMOCRATS.

THERE IS A TAB FOR THIS TOOL IN PARTICULAR WE HAVE A BIG IT MINORITY TEAM.

OVERSIGHT DEMOCRATS HAVE A TEAM LOOKING AT THIS.

>> I'M SURE THE VETTING PROCESS IS IMPORTANT.

>> NO.

PLEASE.

>> YOU CALLED ICE A ROGUE AGENCY.

NO LONGER CAPABLE OF REFORM.

SHOULD ICE BE ABOLISHED.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WORD ABOLISHED OR NOT.

LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS OF ELON AND DOGE TAKING A SLUDGE HAMMER TO A WIDE VARIETY AGENCIES.

ICE NO LONGER HAS THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU HAVE MEN IN MASKS BREAKING LAWS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

NO ONE TRUSTS THAT.

IN A POST TRUMP WORLD, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE LEGAL PATH WAYS TO IMMIGRATION AND NOT TREAT PEOPLE IN THE WAY THEY ARE TREATED TODAY WHICH IS HORRIFIC.

>> ANYONE POINTING THE FINGER AT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE DOING THE BIDDING OF ILLEGAL ALIENS.

>> THAT'S CLASSIC SCAPEGOATING FROM THE TOUCH ADMINISTRATION.

I HAVE BEEN INSIDE ICE DETENTION CENTERS.

MOST PEOPLE INSIDE THE DETENTION CENSERS NOT JUST IN ARIZONA HAVE NO RECORD WHAT SEW EVER.

THE DATA IS OUTSIDE.

THIS ADMINISTRATION REFERS TO ANYONE UNDOCUMENTED AS ILLEGAL ALIENS.

THAT'S THE TERMINOLOGY THEY'D LIKE TO USE.

THEY HAVE BEEN GOING AFTER IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE LEGALLY.

THEY HAVE TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS.

THEY ARE GREEN CARD HOLDERS HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS HAVE BEEN DETAINED BY ICE.

THIS IS A RACEST POLICY LEAD BY STEVEN MILLER HE'S THE MASTERMIND BEHIND ALL OF THIS AND THEY BREAK THE LAW EVERY SINGLE DAY.

DONALD TRUMP IS UNDERWATER ON IMMIGRATION ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER ISSUE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE SHACKLE DOUGH HEARING HERE.

THE SHADOW FIELD HEARING.

WOULD REPUBLICANS CALL IT A POLITICAL STUNT.

IT'S NOT AN ACTUAL HEARING.

IS IT A GLORIFIED PRESS CONFERENCE?

>> IT MARINING YOU NEED TO GO OUTSIDE WASHINGTON D.C.

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY, IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RANKING DEMOCRAT.

THIS IS A MECHANISM BY WHICH WE CAN DECIDE AND HAVE HEARINGS ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE.

IT WAS EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE.

WE HEARD FROM SO MANY IMPACTED BY ICE.

INCLUDING A U.S.

CITIZEN WRONGFULLY DETAINED.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND.

IF DEMOCRATS GAIN CONTROL IN CONGRESS, HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THINGS TO INSURE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND A PATH WAY TO CITIZENSHIP WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT DOING A BAD THING.

WHAT ARE YOU IDEAS?

>> I THINK EVERY AMERICAN AGREES WE NEED A SECURE BORDER.

DAILY VIOLATIONS OF THE U.S.

CONSTITUTION.

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING.

FOUR PEOPLE LIKE DACA RECIPIENTS THAT ARE AMERICAN IN EVERY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM TO HAVE A LONG-TERM PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.

THAT'S BEEN PROMISED AND IT'S BEEN BROKEN.

I HEAR FROM EVERYONE FROM DEVELOPERS.

I SPOKE TO A LOTOVER FARMERS THERE.

THEY ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

NAY HAVE WORKERS WHO ARE SCARED TO COME TO WORK.

THAT I HAD RAIDS HAPPENING NOT JUST HERE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE.

WE WENT TO A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES THERE.

SOME THINK ABOUT SHUTTING THEIR DOORS.

PEOPLE ARE TOO SCARED TO STOP.

>> A FEW THINGS THEs THEY ARE INVESTIGATING MARK KELLY.

>> ANOTHER EGREGIOUS EFFORT TO SILENCE CRITICS AND POLITICAL ENEMIES.

YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS I DO, SENATOR KELLY IS A HERO.

WHAT HE DID ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SAY YOUR OATH IS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

DONALD TRUMP WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO SILENCE ANYONE HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH.

IT WON'T WORK.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND.

WAS IT NECESSARY TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY KNOW?

>> IT IS ESSENTIAL WHEN YOU HAVE AN AUTHORITARIAN REGIME.

THEY OPERATE LIKE A KING AND DICTATE TOR.

WHO IS INDICTING ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I HAVE A COLLEAGUE IN NEW JERSEY.

FACING 17 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT OF AN ICE OFFICER WHEN ANY HUMAN CAN SEE THIS WOMAN AS STANDING THERE.

THIS CONGRESSWOMAN STANDING TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT.

THEY START TO SWARM HER.

THIS IS HAPPENING LEFT AND RIGHT.

THESE CASES ARE ABSURD.

THIS IS WHAT THEY TRY TO DO WITH SENATOR KELLY.

>> I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SHUTDOWN.

STILL DON'T HAVE THE EXTENSION ON THE AC.

A VOTE IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESULT OF THE VOTE WILL BE.

WAS IT WORTH IT?

>> THE FIGHT FOR HEALTHCARE WAS WORTH IT.

I SPOKE TO MY CONSTITUENTS THE WAY THEY STRUGGLE WITH HOUSING AND NEED YOU'RE SUPPORT FOR MANY ABOUT HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS.

THE FACT THEY PRESENTED NO PLAN WHATEVER TO IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE CRISIS IS ALWAYS A VALIANT EFFORT.

IT'S A FIGHT THAT WILL CONTINUE.

WE ARE COMING UP AGAINST ANOTHER DEADLINE IN JANUARY.

I THINK, YOU FELTLY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE DATA AND POLLING SHOWS IT.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THE REPUBLICANS ON HEALTHCARE RIGHT NOW.

>> THE EXTENSION ON THE BENEFITS.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT THAT?

>> I NEED A REAL PLAN.

REPUBLICANS ARE UP IN ARMS ABOUT THE RUMORS OF THIS PLAN.

I'M OPEN-MINDED.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SUFFER.

I SPEND MOST OF THE SHUTDOWN WORKING WITH FOOD BANKS.

>> I 42 THE POINT WOULD BE.

MOST WOULD CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT OR GETTING THIS DONE.

JUST GET DONE.

I JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE NOTHING FOR YEARS NOW.

LET'S SEE A REAL PLAN.

I ALSO, I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THERE IS A DISCHARGE POSITION ON THE FLOOR THAT ANY REPUBLICAN CAN SIGN-ON TO EXTEND THE SUBSIDIES BY THREE YEARS.

I DON'T BELIEVE ONE REPUBLICAN SIGNED ON SO FAR.

>> THANK YOU YASSAMINE ANSARI.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

>> YOU TOO.

>>> CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE IN ARIZONA.

AND NEW DATA SHOWS THAT A CERTAIN GROUP OF STUDENTS SEEM TO BE MISSING MORE SCHOOL THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.

EDUCATION REPORTER ROXANNE DE LA ROSA HAS MORE.

THE ORPHEUS MALE.

>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS AN ISSUE IN ARIZONA.

IF IT WERE THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE FOCUSING ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE NUMBERS ARE SURPRISING.

EDUCATION FOUNDATION RELEASED A NEW REPORT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, 2025, THEY LOOKED AT RATES SINCE 2021 THROUGH 2024.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT PAUL SHARES WHAT THE DATA SHOWS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ARIZONA.

>> ID WENT DOWN TO 34%.

THINK ABOUT THAT, MORE THAN A THIRD OF EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IS CHRONICALLY ABSENT.

THEY MISS 18 OR MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL PER YEAR.

>> THEY SPOKE ABOUT CONSIDER STUDENTS MISSED THE MOST SCHOOL DAYS.

>> THOSE IN LOWER INCOME SCHOOLS.

THEY USE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH AS A PROXY.

THEY WERE CHRONLY ABSENT.

>> THEY HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF ABSENCES WITH NATIVE AMERICANS AT 53%.

LATINO STUDENTS WERE AT 39%.

>> WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL RUBIO SAID LAST YEAR THE ABSENTEE RATE WIS AT 61%.

RUBIO SPOKE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES HIS STUDENTS FACED.

>> WE UNDERSTAND, OUR COMMUNITY HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS.

WE KNOW THERE ARE THINGS THAT KEEP STUDENTS COME FROMMING TO CAMPUS INCLUDING ACCESS THE HEALTHCARE.

SOME BECAUSE OF LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.

>> ABOUT 30 CAME TO MEET WITH THEM ON A DAILY FOR SIX WEEKS.

THE PROGRAM INCLUDED GIFT CARDS WHEN STUDENTS MET THEIR ACADEMIC AND ATTENDANCE GOALS.

RUBE YO SHARES AN EXPERIENCE WITH A MENTEE.

>> MY STUDENT WON THE RAFFLE FOR THAT STORE.

>> I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE HIM WIN THE GIFT CARD BECAUSE HE WANTED A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.

THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL THIS FISCAL YEAR, THIS KID CAME TO FIND ME AND SHOW ME THE NEW SHOES WITH THE GIFT CARD HE WON.

AGAIN, IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT HELP THEM STAY MOTIVATED AND I WANT THEM TO COME TO SCHOOL.

>> THE PROGRAM WAS A SUCCESS WITH 93% OF STUDENTS MEETING THEIR ATTENDANCE GOALS.

RUBIO PLANS TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAM FOR A SECOND YEAR AND SHARE WHAT'S BEHIND THE PROGRAM.

>> IT'S COMMUNITY.

WE BELIEVE HE TAKES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

I DECIDED TO BE APART OF THE MENTORING.

WE WILL TAKE ON THE STUDENTS AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

LIKE I SAID, IT TAKES EVERYONE.

WE PITCH IN TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

>> ROXANNE REPORTING FROM ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> THE ORPHEUS MALE CHORUS OF PHOENIX HOLDS CONCERTS AROUND THE VALLEY EACH YEAR, WITH SPECIAL HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES COMING UP IN EARLY DECEMBER.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ FOR MORE ON THE ORPHEUS MALE CHORUS OF PHOENIX AND ITS UPCOMING PERFORMANCESWE'RE JOINED BY DR.PROFESSIONAL ORGANIST, PIANIST, AND HARPSICHORDIST AND ONE OF THE NEWER MEMBERS OF THE CHORUS.

WELCOME.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THE CHORUS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 90 YEARS.

>> I STARTED AFTER CHRISTMAS.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, 2025.

>> WHAT DID YOU EXPECT AND WHAT HAVEIO FOUND?

>> I FINDING OUT A GREAT COMMUNITY OF 80 PLUS MEMBERS IN THE CHORUS.

WE LOVE TO SING NUMBER ONE AND PEOPLE OF SUCH A GREAT VARIETY.

AGES, ABILITY, BACKGROUNDS.

THEY COME TOGETHER AND WORK EVERY WEEK TO PUT-ON THE CONCERTS.

>> HOW DO YOU FIND THE PEOPLE.

DO THEY AUDITION?

DO THEY COME TO YOU?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> MOSTLY PEOPLE IN THE CHORUS THAT RECOMMEND OR FIND SOMEBODY.

INTERESTINGLY I WAS IN THE VETERANS DAY PARADE AND HANDING OUT CARDSABOUT THE CONCERTS, I SAID, IF YOU SING IN THE SHOWER COME SING WITH US.

>> OKAY, GREAT.

>> IT'S MOSTLY FROM PEOPLE RECOMMENDING AND ASKING COME AND SIT.

>> 80 MEMBERS, HUH.

>> YEAH, A GREAT ASSIGNED.

>> IT'S A ELECTRONIC SOUND.

>> YEAH, NOTHING LIKE IT.

>> YOU ARE THE PIANOIST AND KEYBOARD GUY FOR THE GROUND.

DO YOU SING AS WELL.

>> I SING, YES.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PERSON THAT'S FABLY.

BECAUSE I PLAYED OREGON AND BROKE WITH THE DIRECTOR AND KNEW THAT AND DECIDED TO DO A PIECE WITH THE CHORUS AT THIS TIME.

WITH THE OREGON.

WE DO CONCERTS IN CHURCHES.

I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

DO IT FOR THE ONE PIECE.

THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER ONE.

>> GLORIA.

>> YES.

>> YOU WERE GOING TO ADD SOMETHING ONTO THAT, YOU WERE SAYING BUT.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> ME IN THE WAY AGAIN.

>> THE TECHNIQUES, HOW DIFFERENT ARE THEY?

>> THEY ARE DIFFERENT.

I ACTUALLY HAVE, BACHELORS IN PIANO AND OREGON.

EVERY PLACE I HAVE BEEN IN COLLEGE, SEVERAL PLACES WITH PEOPLE ON THE HARPSICHORD.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

THE NOTES AND KEYS ARE IN THE SAME PLACE.

HOW THEY PRODUCE SOUND IS DIFFERENT.

IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO LISTEN AND RESPOND TO THAT.

>> WHEN YOU PLAY WITH A CHORUS AND YOU HAVE 80 VOICES BOOMING.

DOIO -- DO YOU EVER GET LOST, NOT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE BUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> SOMETIMES.

YOU LOOK AT THE SCORE AND FOLLOW THAT ALONG.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE TO PLAY.

>> PROBABLY SOMETHING BY BACH.

>> A MANY THINGS I'D LIKE TO PLAY.

>> YOU EXPECT TO PLAY IT AND WELL.

SOMETIMES YOU DON'T ALWAYS LIKE SOMETHING SOMEONE ELSE IS SAYING.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT'S ABOUT BEING A PROFESSIONAL.

>> DO YOUR JOB.

>> THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

DECEMBER 6th AT PARADISE VALLEY.

AMERICANLIGHT RATHER THAN AT SUN CITY.

THE 13th ST.

PAT THREW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN ORGANS.

>> VARIETY OF ORGANS BUT THEY ARE NICE INSTRUMENTS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GET A CHANCE TO PLAY ALL OF THEM AND WITH THE CHOIR.

>> THE MISSION FOR THE CHOIR, IT SOUNDS LIKE JUST BEING THERE AND HELPING PEOPLE THROUGH MUSIC.

IS THAT'S WHAT IS GOING ON HERE IT'S A COMMUNITY ORGANIZE.

WE WANT TO HELP THE COMMUNITY DO A VARIETY OF THINGS OUTSIDE THE CONCERTS.

>> VETERANS HOMES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO BUILD COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE CONCERTS COMING UP IN DECEMBER.

DR.STEEVESSEN GRAY.

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND FOR THE WHOLE 90s.

ONE OF THE 97 YEARS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>>> HERE ON ARIZONA HORIZON OUR STUDENTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF SUCCESS.

OUR STUDENT WORKERS PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO PUT-ON A SHOW.

WORKING ON WRITING, PRODUCING VIDEOS, GREETING GUESTS, AND MORE.

WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE HELP OF STUDENT WORKERS.

JACOB, BRANDON, TATE, HARRISON, AND IAN.

ALSO OUR INTERNALS LILY, ROMO, AND EMILY.

THIS THANKSGIVING, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR ARIZONA HORIZON STUDENTS.

>> WE INDEED ARE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT