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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," DETAILS ON THOUSANDS OF INCORRECT WARNING LETTERS THAT WERE SENT TO REGISTERED VOTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

ALSO TONIGHT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE AG-TO-URBAN LAW DESIGNED TO INCREASE HOUSING WHILE CONSERVING WATER.

>>> AND TODAY MARKS 75 YEARS SINCE THE START OF THE KOREAN MORE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S. SENATE TODAY PASSED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DOMESTIC POLICY BILL THAT CUTS TAXES AND SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS.

THE BILL GOES TO THE HOUSE FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

THE SENATE VOTE WAS 51-50 IN FAVOR WITH THREE REPUBLICANS AGAINST FORCING VICE PRESIDENT J.D.

VANCE TO CAST THE TIE-BREAKING VOTE.

IT EXTENDS $3.8 BILLION IN TAX CUTS ENACTED DURING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST TERM AND ADDS TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR MILITARY AND BORDER SECURITY.

CRITICS OF THE BILL SAY IT WILL INCREASE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT AND CUT MEDICAID ALONG WITH OTHER VITAL PROGRAMS.

ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY SAID IN PART -- ARIZONA SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO ALSO VOTED NO SAYING IN PART -- SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY THAT THEY GAVE THE PRESIDENT WHAT HE WANTED, AND IT'S NOW UP TO THE HOUSE.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IT UP PRETTY SOON.

DID THEY HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID?

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK WE DELIVERED FOR THE PRESIDENT.

WE GAVE OUR HOUSE COLLEAGUES A BETTER BILL THAN WE FOUND.

IT HAS $200 BILLION MORE IN SAVINGS.

TAX CUTS ARE PERMANENT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO.

TED: BUT NOT ALL SENATE REPUBLICANS THINK THEY'RE SENDING A BETTER BILL TO THE HOUSE.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT AND IT'S MUCH LESS CONSERVATIVE THAN IT STARTED OUT TO BE AND ADD MUCH MORE TO THE DEBT, SO I THINK WITHOUT QUESTION, THIS IS NOT A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE BILL, AND IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO THINKS THE DEBT IS A PROBLEM, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN VOTE FOR IT.

TED: PAUL VOTED AGAINST THE BILL.

AS FOR THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS CAN AFFORD TO LOSE ONLY THREE VOTES PROVIDED ALL DEMOCRATS AS EXPECTED VOTE NO.

>>> ONE MORE HEADLINE, A FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP PLANS TO DOWNSIZE AND REORGANIZE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THE JUDGE RULED THE 19STATES INCLUDING ARIZONA THAT FILED SUIT AGAINST THE DOWNSIZING HAD SHOWN THAT CUTS ARE ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS AND CONTRARY TO LAW.

THE ORDER BLOCKS FINALIZING CURRENT LAYOFFS OR ISSUE FURTHER FIRINGS.

>>> THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE RECENTLY SENT OUT INCORRECT WARNING LETTERS TO 83,000 REGISTERED VOTERS, AND NOW IN EFFORTS TO REMEDY THE MISTAKE, LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO THOSE VOTERS WITH CORRECT AND ORIGINALLY INTENDED INFORMATION.

MARY JO PITZL OF AZCENTRAL.COM.

83,000 LETTERS SENT TO PEOPLE MISTAKENLY.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> IT'S A MIX-UP AND, AS WE'RE LEARNING, A MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE AND THE PRINT SHOP THAT PRODUCES THE LETTERS.

MAYBE THERE'S A BIT OF BLAME TO GO EACH WAY, BUT WHAT BLEW THIS STORY UP, ASIDE FROM VOTERS BEING ALARMED TO GET THE LETTERS IN THE MAIL THAT SAY HAVE YOU MOVED?

IF YOU HAVE, THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU OFF THE VOTER ROLLS OR MAKE YOU INACTIVE VOTER.

THE OTHER THING THAT DREW A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THIS IS RECORDER HEAP SAID THIS IS TOTALLY THE FAULT OF VENDOR.

WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

WE GOT E-MAILS THAT SHOW, WASN'T QUITE THAT WAY.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

THAT'S A NEW TWIST ON THE STORY.

BUT THE LETTER WAS SENT OUT SAYING HAVE YOU MOVED?

AND YOU APPLIED FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE IN ANOTHER STATE?

THERE'S A SHOT OF THE LETTER RIGHT THERE.

IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING IN 90 DAYS, YOU'RE OFF THE VOTER ROLLS?

>> YES, THAT'S PART OF ROUTINE VOTER LIST MAINTENANCE, HARD TO BELIEVE WE HAD 83,000 PEOPLE IN MARICOPA COUNTY THAT UPPED AND MOVED.

MAYBE I'M WRONG ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS ON THAT.

THE LETTER INTENDED TO BE SENT WAS MEANT TO ADDRESS THE GLITCH DISCOVERED LAST SEPTEMBER THAT FOUND THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 83,000 VOTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY WHOSE REGISTRATIONS DON'T SHOW PROOF OF U.S.

CITIZENSHIP, AND BECAUSE IN MANY CASES IT WASN'T REQUIRED WHEN THEY FIRST SIGNED UP TO VOTE OR FIRST GOT A DRIVER'S LICENSE, WHICH CAN SERVE AS A REGISTRATION PROXY, BUT THE LAW SAYS YOU GOT TO PROVE CITIZENSHIP.

LETTERS ARE SAYING -- THE INTENDED LETTER WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP PEOPLE GET THEIR CITIZENSHIP STATUS UP TO DATE IN THE VOTER RECORDS TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.

TED: THAT LAW CHANGED IN 2004, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

TED: THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS, OH, WAIT, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT WAS WAY UNDER THE SURFACE THAT REALLY DIDN'T BUBBLE UP TO ANY MUCH OF ATTENTION UNTIL LAST SEPTEMBER.

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE, I THINK, A COUPLE OF THE EFFORTS IN 2016 THAT JUST DIDN'T RESONATE.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, OKAY, SO THE RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP SENDS OUT THIS LETTER, IT'S A MISTAKE, HE BLAMES THE VENDOR.

IT'S THE VENDOR'S PROBLEM, YOU FIND OUT WHAT?

>> PUBLIC RECORDS WE OBTAINED SHOW CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN HEAP'S OFFICE AND THE PRINTER SHOWED THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF BLAME TO GO AROUND, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE LETTER, THE ONE YOU SHOWED, THAT WENT OUT TO VOTERS, WAS APPROVED BY SOMEBODY IN HEAP'S OFFICE.

THE NAMES WERE REDACTED FROM THE E-MAIL.

SO THEY GAVE THE GO-AHEAD, AND THEY SENT THESE THINGS OUT, BUT AS MORE INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED, IT TURNS OUT THE VENDOR SAYS, WELL, YEAH, WE GOT THIS MIXED UP WITH ANOTHER LETTER YOU WANTED US TO SEND OUT, BUT WE SENT YOU THE LINK OF WHAT WAS GOING OUT.

WE'RE OKAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT, DON'T WANT TO FINGER POINT.

WE'LL SEND OUT THE CORRECT LETTER AND EAT THE COST.

TED: WHOA.

THIS IS A LONGTIME VENDOR WITH THE COUNTY, CORRECT?

>> I HAVE NOT CHECKED HOW LONG HE'S BEEN PORTRAYED AS A LONGTIME VENDOR.

SO RECORDER HEAP, LATE MONDAY NIGHT, PUT OUT A NEWS RELEASE TO CLARIFY THIS, TAKING SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAYING MOSTLY IT'S A MISCOMMUNICATION, BUT THAT HE THINKS THE BULK OF THE BLAME LIES WITH THE VENDOR.

BUT THE E-MAIL EXCHANGE DOESN'T QUITE SUPPORT THAT.

IT'S A LITTLE MORE NUANCED.

TED: DOESN'T QUITE REFLECT.

YOU MENTIONED PEOPLE GOT THE LETTER AND HAD TO BE SURPRISED.

YOU TALKED TO SOME OF THE FOLKS.

WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE?

>> WASN'T HARD TO FIND THEM.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHEN VOTER REGISTRATION IS AT RISK, THEY LIGHT UP.

SOME WERE CONFUSED, SOME THOUGHT IT WAS IDENTITY THEFT.

THERE'S WAYS TO CHECK DRIVER'S LICENSE STATUS IS AND VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS IS.

OTHERS THOUGHT IT WAS A HACK.

THEN THEY GOT MAD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANSWERS.

THEY CALLED THE RECORDER'S OFFICE AND GUESS WHAT?

PHONE LINES ARE JAMMED.

EVENTUALLY AN E-MAIL DID GO OUT TO PEOPLE TELLING THEM DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE LETTER, NOBODY'S VOTER STATUS IS AT RISK, AND BE WATCHING YOUR MAIL FOR A NEW LETTER.

TED: THAT WAS THE REACTION OF THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE LETTER.

WHAT WAS THE REACTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS?

>> OH, WELL, TWO THAT ARE VERY VOCAL, CHAIRMAN THOMAS GALVAN AND SUPERVISOR DEBBIE LESKO CONDEMNED HEAP FOR NOT BEING FORTHCOMING ABOUT THIS, AND CHASTISING HIM SAYING HE SHOULD TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS, BECAUSE THEIR OFFICES GOT FLOODED WITH PHONE CALLS.

THEY COULDN'T GET THROUGH TO THE RECORDER'S OFFICE, WHO REPRESENTS ME IN THE COUNTY?

THEIR PHONES WERE FLOODED.

TED: I HEAR THE CHAIRMAN, THOMAS GALVAN, SAYS JUSTIN HEAP OWES CONSTITUENTS AN APOLOGY?

>> YEAH.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S COMING BASED ON THE RELEASE FROM THE RECORDER LAST NIGHT.

TED: IT WAS MORE THAN THAT, IT WAS DON'T HIDE UNDER YOUR DESK AND THESE THINGS.

ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE BOARD AND RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP, THAT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE, IS IT?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, CAN'T YOU TELL THINGS ARE TESTY THERE.

HEAP IS EMBROILED IN LITIGATION NOW CHALLENGING THIS AGREEMENT THAT SUPERVISORS REACHED WITH HIS PREDECESSOR STEPHEN RICHER, AFTER JUSTIN HEAP WONT ELECTION, BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE, PUT LIMITS ON WHAT THE RECORDER CAN DO AND MORE RESPONSIBILITY OVER WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

HE DISAGREES.

HE THINKS THAT'S IN CONTRAVENTION WITH THE LAW, WE'RE IN COURT, SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

TED: THERE'S A COUNTERSUIT INVOLVED?

>> YES, YES.

THE HOPE IS THEY WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF SOLVING THIS ISSUE, OF OKAY, WHAT ARE RECORDER'S DUTIES AND SUPERVISOR'S DUTIES.

THEY BOUNCED AROUND OVER THE YEARS.

TED: I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN CALL IT IRONY BUT VOTER REGRATION IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE TUSSLING OVER, AND WE HAD LETTERS SENT OUT ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION THAT WAS NOT ACCURATE?

>> I DON'T THINK VOTER REGISTRATION IS THE ISSUE.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THE RECORDER IS IN CHARGE OF THAT.

TED: REALLY?

>> YES.

THAT'S IN HIS LANE.

SOME OF THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO WITH MORE -- IT GOES TO EQUIPMENT, BASICALLY WANTS TO STAND UP A WHOLE OTHER OFFICE.

TED: THESE FOLKS, THE 83,000, IF YOU ARE WATCHING, DON'T WORRY.

THE FIRST LETTER IS WRONG, THE SECOND LETTER IS RIGHT.

>> AND IT'S IN THE MAIL.

THERE IS A LINK ON THE RECORDER'S WEBSITE UNDER THE ELECTIONS SECTION, THAT PUTS OUT A LOT OF FAQS AND TRIES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

WE WILL HAVE THE LINK IN THE STORE WE HAD IT PUBLISHES AT AZCENTRAL.

TED: MARY JO PITZL, "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> SURE, THANK YOU.

.

TED: GOVERNOR HOBBS SIGNED THE AG-TO-URBAN BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO BUY WATER RIGHTS FROM FARMERS TO BOOST ARIZONA'S HOUSING SUPPLY WHILE CONSERVING WATER.

WE SPOKE TO SARAH PORTER OF THE KYL CENTER FOR WATER.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE AG-TO-URBAN BILL, WHICH IS NOW THE AG-TO-URBAN LAW.

WHAT EXACTLY DID THE LEGISLATURE PASS AND THE GOVERNOR SIGN?

>> THE NEW LAW ALLOWS FOR THE CONVERSION OF GRANDFATHERED AGRICULTURAL RIGHTS TO PUMP GROUND WATER INTO A SMALLER RIGHT TO PUMP GROUND WATER FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, OR FOR A DIFFERENT USE.

THINK FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT OR MUNICIPAL USE FOR EXISTING USERS.

TED: YEAH, BECAUSE WE KEEP HEARING DEVELOPERS CAN BUY WATER RIGHTS FROM FARMERS, BUT THIS DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE HOMES, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT.

DEVELOPMENT CAN BE INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL.

THOSE ARE GENERALLY THE FORMS OF DEVELOPMENT WE THINK ABOUT.

TED: THAT IS THE BASIS HERE -- NO, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> WELL, THE LAW REALLY IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ONE PATHWAY FOR A WATER SUPPLY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE TO GROWTH, EXISTING WATER PROVIDERS COULD ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LAW, AND, YOU KNOW, ACQUIRE THESE WATER RIGHTS AND USE THEM AS PART OF THEIR WATER SUPPLY PORTFOLIO.

TED: ALL RIGHT, ARE WE TALK GROUND WATER ONLY, IS ANY SAP OR SRP WATER INVOLVED HERE?

>> NO, THIS IS ENTIRELY GROUND WATER.

WHEN ARIZONA ADOPTED THE GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1980, THE THEN-EXISTING AGRICULTURAL WATER USERS, THE FARMERS IN THE PHOENIX AREA, PINAL COUNTY, EVEN TUCSON AREA, RECEIVED A GRANDFATHERED RIGHT TO CONTINUE TO USE GROUND WATER WITH LIMITATIONS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE ACT WASN'T INTENDED TO WIPE THEM OUT, RIGHT?

SO IN 2023, THE ARIZONA IMPOSED A MORATORIUM IN THE PHOENIX AREA ON USING GROUND WATER TO SUPPORT NEW DEVELOPMENT.

THAT SAME TYPE OF MORATORIUM HAD BEEN IMPOSED IN THE PINAL COUNTY GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AREA IN 2019, AND THE IMPACT OF THAT MORATORIUM WAS THAT IT REALLY MADE IT HARD FOR DEVELOPERS IN AREAS THAT WEREN'T SERVED BY THE BIGGER, OLDER CITIES, TO FIND A WATER SUPPLY AS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT NEW DEVELOPMENT.

SO THIS IS ONE PATHWAY THAT OPENS UP THE DOOR TO SOME ADDITIONAL NEW DEVELOPMENT, AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SOMETHING THAT EXISTING WATER PROVIDERS COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IF THEY WANTED TO ACQUIRE THOSE CREDITS.

TED: AGAIN, THE BOTTOM LINE HERE, THE BASIS OF ALL THIS IS THAT AGRICULTURE USES SO MUCH WATER.

HOME BUILDING, WE'LL STICK WITH HOME BUILDING NOW, BUT WHATEVER DEVELOPMENT IS INVOLVED, DOESN'T USE QUITE AS MUCH WATER, SO YOU GET MORE HOMES AND USE LESS WATER.

THAT'S THE EQUATION, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ON AGRICULTURAL WATER USE BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF WATER TO GROW FOOD AND FIBER.

EVERYBODY THAT WATERS A PLANT NEEDS TO REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO KEEP WATERING IT OR IT DIES.

IT RELEASES SIX TIMES THE RATE PER ACRE AS THE WATER THE CITY WOULD USE, THAT'S THE BASIS FOR ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN.

IT DOESN'T -- ON ITS FAIR, SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.

GOING TO LEAVE WATER IN THE AQUIFERS, BUT THAT REALLY DEPENDS ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING HOW MUCH AGRICULTURAL LAND WOULD HAVE BEEN RETIRED WITHOUT THIS LAW?

AND ALSO, HOW MUCH WATER WILL BE RECYCLED, REUSED, WHEN IT'S USED FOR THAT URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

QUITE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT MAKE IT NOT QUITE SO OBVIOUSLY A HUGE WATER SAVINGS.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT REPLENISHMENT OPERATIONS.

HOW DOES IT IMPACT ALL THAT?

RECHARGING AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

REPLENISHMENT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GROUND WATER RELIANT IN THE ACTIVE AREAS WHERE, WE HAVE GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT.

AND THE BIG ISSUE HERE IS FINDING THE WATER SUPPLIES FOR REPLENISHMENT.

TYPICALLY, WE HAVE THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT HAS AN OPERATION, THE CENTRAL ARIZONA GROUND WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLENISHING WATER USED IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

THE DEVELOPERS IN RURAL LANDS IN THAT PROGRAM, IT'S BEEN HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND WATER SUPPLIES FOR REPLENISHMENT.

THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF COLORADO RIVER WATER, THERE'S MORE COMPETITION FOR THE SUPPLIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, SO ONE CONCERN WITH THIS NEW LAW IS MAKING SURE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GET OUT AHEAD OF OURSELVES AND CREATE A REPLENISHMENT OBLIGATION THAT IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THE C.A.P.

CAN MEET.

TED: INTERESTING, INTERESTING.

THE ARIZONA WATER SUPPLY, SHORT-TERM AND FIRST GLANCE POSITIVE.

WHAT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

YOU'RE LOSING FARMS AND BUILDING URBAN AREAS.

>> YEAH, THOSE ARE KIND OF ISSUES THAT ARE SYSTEMIC OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THE LEGISLATION, AND IT REALLY IS -- IT'S HARD TO PIN THEM DOWN, BUT YEAH, THE MORE DEVELOPMENT THAT OCCURS, THE GREATER THE RISK OF URBAN HEAT ISLANDS, THE GREATER THE RISK OF, FOR EXAMPLE, DEPENDING WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE AG LANDS, BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT WON'T NECESSARILY OCCUR ON TOP OF THE FARMS, THE GREATER THE RISK OF PARTICULATE MATTER, THE NEED TO MITIGATE PARTICULATES FROM FIELDS, THOSE WILL BE MANAGED BY THE AGENCIES TO THE EXTENT THEY'RE MANAGED.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND HIGHLIGHTS THAT ANY DECISION LIKE THIS WILL COME WITH A MYRIAD OF TRADE-OFFS THAT HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

TED: AND LAST QUESTION, I KNOW WE'RE DEALING WITH WATER HERE, AND YOU'RE OUR WATER EXPERT, BUT IN TERMS OF AGRICULTURE, THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN ARIZONA, HOW BIG A HIT?

>> YOU KNOW, AGRICULTURE IS NOT MONOLITHIC IN ARIZONA, AND THE AGRICULTURE IN THE PHOENIX AREA HAS SORT OF BEEN ON A GLIDE PATH TO RETIREMENT.

IT HAS LONG BEEN THE VISION OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN LAND USE AND LAND DEVELOPMENT AND WATER MANAGEMENT TO TRY TO RETIRE AGRICULTURE LARGELY BECAUSE IT TAKES SO MUCH WATER TO GROW.

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE CASE FOR THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURE IN THE PHOENIX AREA, AND WITH PINAL COUNTY.

THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM AGRICULTURE ALONG THE MAIN STEM OF THE COLORADO RIVER, PARTICULARLY IN THE YUMA AREA.

THERE'S A RIVER.

IF IT'S MANAGED RIGHT, SHOULD BE A WATER SUPPLY FLOWING BY.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AGRICULTURE FROM A WATER PERSPECTIVE, THE CONCLUSION FROM THE PHOENIX AREA, PINAL COUNTY WHERE, WE DON'T HAVE ABUNDANT WATER SUPPLY TO SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURE ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM PLACES IN ARIZONA OR THE WEST WHERE THERE IS A RENEWABLE SUPPLY OF WATER FOR THAT AGRICULTURE.

TED: SARAH PORTER -- GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE MAIN CROP THAT IS GROWN BY AGRICULTURE IN THESE AREAS THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS VOLUNTARY TRANSACTION, TO CONVERT THE WATER FROM AN AGRICULTURAL USE TO URBAN USE, THE MAIN CROPS ARE FORAGE CROPS, THAT MEANS LIKE ALFALFA AND OTHER CROPS THAT ARE GROWN TO FEED ANIMALS FOR DAIRY OR FOOD, THERE'S A BIG SUPPLY.

THERE'S ABUNDAND FORAGE CROPS AVAILABLE IN ARIZONA AND THE WEST.

A LOT OF IT IS A GOOD AMOUNT IS EXPORTED SO PROBABLY THERE WON'T BE A NOTICEABLE IMPACT ON FOOD PRICES AS A RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO KIND OF A LOW CONVERSION AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS TO URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

TED: ALL RIGHT, SARAH PORTER FROM THE KYLE CENTER FOR WATER POLICY AT ASU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU, TED.

.

TED: THIS YEAR MARKS 75 YEARS SINCE THE START OF THE KOREAN WAR.

SUSAN KEE, A LOCAL WRITER AND HISTORIAN IS WORKING TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO SERVED IN WHAT'S BEEN CALLED THE FORGOTTEN WAR.

JOINING US NOW IS SUSAN KEE.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TED.

TED: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I'M TALKING TO MYSELF HERE'S.

LET'S TALK ABOUT, I MENTIONED TO THIS AS REFERRED BY SOME AS THE FORGOTTEN WAR.

IS IT THE FORGOTTEN WAR?

>> NOT TO THE VETERANS WHO FOUGHT THE WAR, NOT TO THE KOREAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE RELATIVES WHO SURVIVED THE WAR.

TED: YEAH.

WHY DID IT GET THAT NAME?

>> PARTLY BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMAN DIDN'T DECLARE WAR WITH CONGRESS, SO IT WASN'T TECHNICALLY A WAR DECLARED IN CONGRESS.

HE WENT TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND ASKED FOR RESOLUTION TO ANSWER THE INVASION OF NORTH KOREAN COMMUNISTS SO IT WAS A UNITED NATIONS ACTION TO DEFEND SOUTH KOREA AGAINST COMMUNIST INVASION.

TED: AND WE SHOULD MENTION THAT IT IS STILL TECHNICALLY A WAR.

THIS WAR NEVER ENDED, DID IT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

BECAUSE A PEACE TREATY WAS NEVER SIGNED, SO TECHNICALLY THEY'RE STILL AT WAR, AND ALL THAT WAS SIGNED IN JULY 27, 1953, IS AN ARMISTICE AGREEMENT AGREEING TO STOP FIRING ON BOTH SIDES, AND THE DMZ WAS ESTABLISHED AS A BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA.

TED: AND IT EXISTS STILL TO THIS DAY.

>> YEAH.

TED: BOY, DOES IT EXIST.

DO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE KOREAN WAR WAS ALL ABOUT?

>> I THINK VERY LITTLE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.

ALL THEY KNOW IS NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA ARE VERY DIVIDED AND HAVE BECOME VERY DIFFERENT AS A RESULT OF THE WAR.

NORTH KOREA BEING A CLOSED, COMMUNIST REGIME WHERE, PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ANY FREEDOMS WHATSOEVER, AND SOUTH KOREA DEVELOPING INTO THE FLOURISHING ECONOMY.

THEY'RE TENTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, AND FLOURISHING A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.

TED: DOING VERY WELL.

AND THE WAR WAS THE IDEA OF A COMMUNIST TAKEOVER OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

>> YES, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT YOU.

>> EMIGRATED HERE AT THE AGE OF 9?

>> YES.

TED: SO YOU HAD A LITTLE BIT OF MEMORIES OF KOREA, LOT OF MEMORIES OF AMERICA, AND YOU'RE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR KOREAN WAR VETERANS.

WHAT SENT YOU ON THAT PATH?

>> GOD.

I WAS ACTUALLY WORKING IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, AND I GOT KIND OF TIRED AND BURNED OUT OF MY CORPORATE JOB.

IT WAS KIND OF MEANINGLESS, SO I ASKED GOD WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE?

AFTER A LOT OF SOUL-SEARCHING AND PRAYER IFELT GOD WAS TELLING ME TO DO SOMETHING I'M MOST GRATEFUL FOR, I'M MOST GRATEFUL I'M ALIVE AND FREE AND NOT IN A PLACE LIKE NORTH KOREA WHERE PEOPLE, WHO LIVE IN NORTH KOREA, HAVE NO FREEDOMS TO SPEAK OF.

SO I REALIZED, MY GOODNESS, THIS IS A COUNTRY THAT SENT THESE HEROES HERE TO SAVE MY PARENTS DURING THE WAR.

YOU CAN MEET THEM AND THANK THEM.

TED: EVEN NOW WHEN YOU MEET THEM, FEWER OF THESE PEOPLE AROUND, FOLKS ARE GETTING AWFULLY OLD HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I'M KIND OF IN AWE WHEN I MEET THEM, IT'S HUMBLING BECAUSE THE 17-18-YEAR-OLD BOYS WENT OFF TO A PLACE THEY DON'T KNOW, AND TO DIE FOR SOMEONE'S FREEDOM IS BEYOND ANYTHING I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT KIND OF GREATNESS.

TED: DO YOUNGER KOREAN-AMERICANS AND KOREANS, DO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT SACRIFICE?

DO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WENT ON?

>> I THINK THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT DOES A GREAT JOB OF SPONSORING VETERANS.

SPONSOR TRIPS FOR VETERANS OF AMERICA AND OTHER 21 NATIONS TO COME AND BE HONORED, AND I THINK THE LOCAL KOREAN-AMERICANS THAT LIVE HERE, FOR THE MOST PART, THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE KOREAN WAR.

WHEN I MEET WITH THE KOREAN COMMUNITIES, THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR OWN HISTORY.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TEACH OUR YOUTH SO THAT WE NEVER FORGET THE SACRIFICES THAT AMERICA MADE FOR SOUTH KOREA.

TED: THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH YOUR LIFE.

YOU HAVE A NEW DOCUMENTARY, FINAL JOURNEY, KOREA.

YOU ARE WRITING A BOOK?

>> NOT WRITING A BOOK, I HAVE SHORT FACEBOOK POSTS WHERE I WRITE VETERAN STORIES AND DIFFERENT BATTLES THAT HAPPEN DURING THE WAR TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE KOREAN WAR.

TED: HOW BEST TO HONOR CREAN WAR VETERANS?

>> I THINK THE BEST WAY IS TO DOCUMENT THEIR STORIES BECAUSE, AS YOU SAID, THEY ARE NOW IN THEIR MID 90s AND WE'RE LOSING THEM DAY BY DAY, AND THE NUMBERS GET FEWER, TO DOCUMENT THEIR STORIES, TO PRESERVE THAT, FOR THIS GENERATION AND FUTURE, IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN FOR SO LONG, WE NEED TO MAKE IT KNOWN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL MAKE IT KNOWN FOR SOUTH KOREA.

TED: LITTLE MORE REWARDING THAN THE CORPORATE GIG, HUH?

>> A LOT MORE.

A LOT MORE.

TED: YEAH.

CONGRATULATIONS, THE KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL CALLS TO DEFEND THE COUNTRY THEY NEVER KNEW AND DEFEND THE PEOPLE THEY NEVER MET.

DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WORK, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TED.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.