>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, TEMPE VOTERS REJECT A PROPOSED 2.1 BILLION COYOTES ARENA AND DISTRICT AND OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND WE'LL HEAR FROM DEMOCRATS ON HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WE'LL SPEAK ABOUT THE GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY AND RESIDENTS.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

TEMPE VOTERS YESTERDAY REJECTED THE COYOTES ARENA HOCKEY ARENA, ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND THE VOTE WAS NOT CLOSE.

WITH ALL THREE BALLOT PROPOSITIONS, LOSING BY MARGINS FROM 12 TO 14 POINTS.

THE RESULTS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KAY COYOTE'S FUTURE AND THEY'RE TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL, QUOTE, REVIEW WHAT THE OPTIONS WILL BE GOING FORWARD.

THE LEAGUE'S COMMISSIONER TODAY TOLD ESPN THAT HE, QUOTE, DOESN'T ENVISION A SCENARIO IN WHICH THE COYOTE'S ARE PLAYING AT THE MULLET ARENA NEXT SEASON.

MORE IN A MOMENT.

>>> A TRIAL INVOLVING KARI LAKE'S CLAIMS THAT MARICOPA COUNTY DID NOT PROPERLY VERIFY VOTER'S SIGNATURES ON BALLOTS SIGNATURES IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTION AND SHE SHOULD BE DECLARED GOVERNOR OR THEY SHOULD HAVE TO GOAT VOTE FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

THE REST WERE DISMISSED.

THIS WAS, TOO, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.

BUT THE JUDGE SAID THEY NEED NO PROVE THAT NO SIGNATURE VERIFICATION TOOK PLACE.

TODAY'S WITNESSES DID NOT PRESENT ANY SUCH EVIDENCE.

THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST THREE DAYS.

>>> A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND GOOD CHOLESTEROL COULD BE LINKED TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

THOSE WITH HIGHER SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGHER HDL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS HAD A CHANCE OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER'S.

RESEARCHERS AREN'T WHY THE GOOD CHOLESTEROL WOULD BE A FACTOR BUT THEY THINK THOSE LEVELS UPSTATE THE BALANCEUPSET THE PROTEIN IN DEMENTIA.

>>> A NEW STUDY SHES A HEALTH IMPACT OF MARIJUANA USE ON FETAL DEVELOPMENT AS EARLY AS THE FIRST TRIMESTER.

A DECREASE IN BIRTH WEIGHT IS ONE OF THE CONCERNS WITH EMOTIONAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED, TEMPE VOTERS EJECTED THE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT.

SAM KMACK, THANKS FOR TAKING TIME FOR US AND WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS OF THIS?

>> I THINK MOST PEOPLE WERE.

IT SEEMED POLITICAL SPLIT, BUT WHAT THE MOST SURPRISING THING WAS HOW FAR APART IT WAS.

IT WAS HOW BIG OF A GAP IT WAS.

>> Ted: WHAT WERE VOTERS DECIDING ON?

>> THREE BALLOT PROPOSITIONS AND ALL THREE WOULD HAVE FACILITATED THE COYOTE'S ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND HOCKEY ARENA AND APARTMENTS, STUDENTS RESTAURANTS AND ALL OF THAT?

>> Ted: IT'S A LANDFILL AND A STORAGE AREA AND NOT DOING THAT MUCH RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S A FORMER LANDFILL AND HOUSES A MUNICIPAL OPERATION'S YARD.

>> Ted: WHY DID IT LOSE AND WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

>> I'M NOT SURE YET.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO WRAP THEIR HEAD AROUND IT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WASN'T PERVASIVE ENOUGH, WHAT THE COYOTES WERE SELLING.

THIS IS PEOPLE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, THAT MAYBE THE COYOTES OVERPROMISED IN CERTAIN AREAS AND THAT MIGHT HAVE TURNED OFF VOTERS WERE SKEPTICAL OR OVERPROMISED THAT WE'LL CLEAN THIS UPA TURN THIS INTO A BEAUTIFUL WHAT YOU HAVE?

>> THE AMOUNT OF JOBS IT WOULD CREATE AVENUE AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT TURNOUT?

>> ABOUT 34%,A, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS A RECORD HIGH IN TEMPE, BUT SECOND.

>> Ted: PRETTY CLOSE, HUH?

>> YEAH.

>> Ted: AND EVERY MAYOR FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM AND ALL SAYING THIS IS A GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITY AND, YET, THIS THING GOES DOWN IN FLAMES AND THAT HAS TO BE A SURPRISE.

>> ESPECIALLY FOR THE SITTING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND YOU'VE GOT NOW, EARLY NEXT YEAR IN MARCH, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR OF THEM, INCLUDING THE MAYOR GOING UP FOR REELECTION AND SO THERE COULD BE SOME POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> Ted: DID YOU SENSE A MEMBER SWING TOWARD THE END AT ALL TOWARD NO?

>> I COULD NOT GAUGE WHERE EVERYONE WAS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE THING, SO I STOPPED TRYING TO GUESS.

I THINK IT WAS UP IN THE AIR AND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CLOSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I SAW HOW HIGH THE TURNOUT WAS.

BUT NO, I DIDN'T FEEL IT SWING NO UNTIL IT DID.

>> Ted: AS YOU MENTIONED YOU THOUGHT THAT THE COYOTES, PERHAPS, MIGHT HAVE OVERPROMISED A LITTLE BIT.

DID EITHER SIDE ALIENATE VOTERS?

IT WAS A NASTY CAMPAIGN IN SOME RESPECTS AND DID ANY OF THAT SPILL OVER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN.

DIFFERENCE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ALIENATED VOTERS, BUT IF YOU PROMISE THE WORLD, IF THEY'RE SKEPTICAL ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT FOR THE PROJECT, IF THEY FEEL THEY'RE SOLD, YOU KNOW, TOO MANY -- BEING PROMISED TOO MANY GREAT THINGS, THAT COULD BE A TURN OFF.

>> RESPONSE FROM EITHER SIDE, ARE WE HEARING ANYTHING YET?

>> I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH FROM THE COYOTES.

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO GOT UP AT ONE OF THE ELECTION WATCH PARTIES AND HE DIDN'T TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND SAID THAT HE'S DISAPPOINTED JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE ON THAT SIDE AND, OBVIOUSLY, THE OPPOSITION WAS VERY HAPPY.

>> Ted: THE NFL REPORTED TODAY SAYING -- LAST NIGHT THEY WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED AND THE COMMISSIONER DOESN'T SEE ANY REASON FOR THE COYOTES TO PLAY AT THAT ARENA WHICH RAISES THE QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COYOTES?

>> I'M NOT SURE YET AND I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW EITHER.

NECESSITYNEXT YEAR, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'LL BE AT THE MULLET ARENA AND BEYOND THAT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS.

>> Ted: DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE 46 ACRES.

>> 46 46 ACRES?

>> IT DEPENDS HOW TEMPE WILL TACKLE THAT.

SOME ARE SAYING THERE WILL BE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY GOOD OPTIONS LATER THIS YEAR, SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH.

>> Ted: IF NOTHING ELSE, THAT PUSHES THE PROCESS WITH THAT PIECE OF LAND AND I'VE HEARD THAT NUMEROUS TIMES FROM YOUR REPORTING.

TEMPE PEOPLE SAY THAT'S THE BIGGEST PIECE OF LAND WE HAVE LEFT.

>> THE LAST BULK OF LAND TO DEVELOP AND SO, THEY HAVE TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE.

>> Ted: FOOTPRINT CENTER WHERE THE SUNDAYS SUNS PLAY AND MAYBE THE COYOTES COULD FIND A TRIBAL LAND SOMEWHERE.

ARE ALL OF THESE ON THE TABLE FOR THE HOCKEY TEAM.

>> GLENDALE WOULD HAPPEN AND THE CITY SOLD THAT TO THE COMPANY WHEN THE COYOTES WERE THERE AND FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, IT WASN'T A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

BEYOND THAT, I THINK ANYTHING IS ON THE TABLE BEYOND GLENDALE AND TEMPE.

>> Ted: WHY WOULD THIS BE ONGOING?

>> THE DISPUTE ABOUT THE RULE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES.

IT WAS A TRIGGER.

>> Ted: THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

IS THIS A BIGGER MESSAGE IN THIS VOTE?

IS SOMETHING -- IS THIS JUST, BASICALLY, WE DON'T WANT THE HOCKEY ARENA RIGHT THERE OR SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON THERE?

>> I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

WHAT I DO KNOW AND I THINK IT IS THE BIGGER MESSAGE IN THE ISSUE THAT'S GOING SORT OF SPAN THE REST OF THE YEAR, IS SORT OF HOW THIS IMPACTS THE SITTING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THEY ALL GOT ON BOARD AND TOLD PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR IT.

AND THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY INDICATE THAT THEY HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ELECTIVE LEADERS.

>> Ted: SAM KMACK, THE VOTES ARE IN.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE DOING AND NOT DOING AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Ted: IT'S WEDNESDAY AND TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

THIS WEEK, IT'S THE DEMOCRAT'S TURN AND JOINED BY STATE SENATOR KRISTINE MARSHA LAURA TERECH AND YOU'RE HERE AND YOU'RE NOT AT THE CAPITOL AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU'RE ADJOURNED UNTIL JUNE 12th.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS WE SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF AND WE HAVE ADJOURNED AND WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME NEGOTIATIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN FOR PROP 400.

WE HEARD RUMOR THERE'S CERTAIN VACATION PLANS THAT NEEDED TO BE ACCOMMODATED.

BUT DEFINITELY WE HAVE WORK TO DO AND I AM EAGER TO GET BACK AND I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE TERECH IS AS WELL.

>> Ted: YOU'VE HAD ALL SORTS OF BREAKS.

>> THIS IS SPRING BREAK PART THREE AND MEMBERS ARE ON VACATION AND WE'RE ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO WORK.

>> Ted: DID I CATCH A LOT OF BILLS WORKED FROM SCHOOLS TO BILLS TO DRAG SHOWS?

>> WE VOTE ON 1100 BILLS AND WE HAD TO WAIT WHILE THEY HAD THEIR 31st MEMBER TO FILL A VACANT SEAT AND WE HAD OUR MAYOR MARATHON SESSION.

>> Ted: DID YOU VOTE FOR ANY OF THIS OR IS THIS ALONG PARTISAN LINES?

>> THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE, WE HAD A MUCH MORE, MUCH MORE MODEST CALENDAR, BUT MORE, I VOTED NO ALREADY ON MOST OF THOSE BILLS THAT YOU REFERENCED THAT ARE NOW OVER IN THE HOUSE.

>> Ted: IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THE LEGISLATURE SIMPLY WON'T SIGNE DIE THAT THEY KEEP IT OPEN AND BRING EVERYONE BACK?

ARE YOU HEARING THAT AS A POSSIBILITY?

>> YES, I'VE HEARD THAT AS A POSSIBILITY AND I HOPE THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

I HOPE WE GET PROP 400 DONE AND DEAL WITH THE RIO VERDE ISSUE AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF BIG ISSUES, THOSE IN PARTICULAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT AS SOON AS WE HAVE THOSE BIG ISSUES FINISHED.

>> Ted: ARE YOU HEARING THAT IS A POSSIBILITY?

>> I'VE HEARD THAT AND CONCUR, THAT THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO FINISH UP AND LEGISLATURE IS PART-TIME AND OTHER BUSINESS AND JOBS TO ATTEND TO.

>> Ted: YOU BOTH MENTIONED PROP 400 AND WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

IN SHOULD BE DONETHIS SHOULD GET DONE AND NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WHAT IS HAPPEN HAPPENING?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND-THE-SCENING WORK GOING INTO HAMMERING OUT A DEAL THAT MEETS THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT DATES BACK 40 YEARS, THAT MEETS THE PARAMETER OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN AND THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.

SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF I BILLS IN PLAY AND A LOT OF BEHIND--THE WORK-SCENES.

>> Ted: IS THERE ANY SENSE THAT THE BRIDGE IS BEING CROSSED, GAPPED, ANYTHING, ANYTHING?

>> I HOPE SO.

EVEN THOUGH.

A >> WHEN WEE WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUTLOSING BILLIONS, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SIT ON AND MOVE FORWARD AND COMPROMISE.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE?

IS THIS JUST BASICALLY LIGHTRAIL FUNDING?

IS THAT IT?

>> I THINK SO.

>> YEAH.

>> Ted: IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING IN THE SENATE?

>> IT'S A LOT OF IT HINGING ON LIGHTRAIL AND SOME THE CLEAN ENERGY PARAMETERS THAT COME IN WITH FEDERAL FUNDING, WHICH I CONCUR ALSO WITH MY SEATMATE HERE, THAT IT'S UNFORTUNATE LIGHTRAIL IS IMPORTANT TO A SIGNIFICANT SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION.

>> Ted: IS KILLING THE RENTAL TAX, I HERD COULD HEARD THAT COULD BE A PART OF THE BARGAINING PROCESS.

IS THAT IN PLAY?

>> RUMOR ONLY.

NOT IN ANY OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

SO I DO NOT KNOW, BUT I HEARD THAT RUMOR.

>> Ted: PROP 400 IS EXTENDING AND BEEN AROUND FOR MARICOPA COUNTY AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO APPROVE IT TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AT ANOTHER TIME.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BUDGET?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN THE BUDGET, AND PARTICULARLY, IN GOVERNOR HOBBS' FIRST TERM, SHE PASSED A BIPARTISAN BUDGET WITH A SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

THERE ARE KINGS ARE THINGS I WOULDN'T PUT IN AND THIS IS THE NATURE OF A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS TEACHING AND PART OF WHAT BROUGHT ME TO THE LEGISLATURE, I HAD MY CEILING COLLAPSE OVER MY KINDERGARTENERS AND WHEN I SEE OVER $340 MILLION INVESTED INTO THE SCHOOL FACILITIES, THAT'S NOT INSIGNIFICANT.

WE SEE $300 MILLION K THROUGH 12 AND 80 THROUGH THE UNIVERSITIES AND THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT UNIVERSITIES.

WE PULLED RESOURCES TOGETHER AND A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.

THERE'S WORK TO DO IN THE PROCESS AND CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEGUN AND WE'LL SEE WHAT IS NEXT.

>> Ted: WHAT YOU'RE NOT SEEING IS A AN ATTEMPT TO CAP THE VOUCHER SYSTEM.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD FROM OUR VOTERS, THAT WE HEAR AGAIN AND AGAIN IS RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF TAX DOLLARS.

WHEN YOU SEE A PROGRAM TO COST 33 MILLION AND IS NOW, YOU KNOW, PROJECTED TO COST THE STAY HALF A BILLION AND TO SEE IT GO TOTALLY UNCHECKED, THIS IS A SUBSIDY FOR FAMILIES WHO NEVER HAD A CHILD IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND WE SEE WHO IS USING THIS.

PARTICULARLY WHEN WE SEE, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, FOSTER CARE IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS OR STATE.

>> Ted: A LOT OF ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR PUTTING A CAP ON IT AND NOT TOUCHED IN THE BUDGET AND, YET, DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR THIS.

EXPLAIN, PLEASE.

>> THERE ARE SEPARATE ISSUES AND THEY'RE NOT TIED TOGETHER AND AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE BUDGET THAT I'M PROUD OF.

I MEAN, WE EXPANDED KID'S CARE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MY FORMER SEATMATE, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE KELLY BUTLER HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS.

WE'LL BE COVERING NINE AND A HALF THOUSAND NEW KIDS AND 12,000 BY 2025.

THERE WERE REALLY GOOD THINGS IN THERE.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION, IS THERE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN SOME OF THE CAUCUS AND THE GOVERNOR OFFICE?

>> 'S OFFICE?

>> I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LEARNING CURVE AND SMOOTHER MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK PROBABLY FROM BOTH.

WE'VE NEVER WORKED WITH A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OURSELVES AND SHE, OF COURSE, AND GOVERNOR HOBBS BEING BRAND NEW AND IT WAS ROCKY AND I HAVE FAITH IT'S GOING TO BE SMOOTH IN FUTURE YEARS.

>> Ted: YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS A KINDERGARTENER TEACHER, THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND THAT'S GUN.

>> Ted: LOOKS FAMILIAR TO YOU.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Ted: DR. JENNIFER HOFFMAN JUST FINISHED HER TIME AS ASTRONOMER AND RESIDENCE AND STUDIED UNDER THE DARK SKIES AND WORKED WITH VISITORS IN A VARIETY OF ASTRONOMY PROGRAMS.

SHE JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE AT THE GRAND CANYON AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: HOW DOES ONE BECOME AN ASTRONOMER AT THE GRAND CANYON, OF ALL PLACES?

>> I APPLIED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY AND IT CAME ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA AND I HAPPENED TO BE ON SABBATICAL AS A PROFESSOR AFTER THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER.

I TAUT, WOW, THOUGHT, WOW, WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO SOMEPLACE I'VE NEVER BEEN UNDER SOME OF THE BEST SKIES WE HAVE.

>> Ted: WHAT DOES AN ASTRONOMER IN RESIDENCE DO?

>> I DID A LOT OF INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC AND RAN MANY PUBLIC EVENTS AND DID A LOT OF SUNSET GAZING AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THE PARK AND MOONWALKS US, LOOKING AT CHANGES AND PHASES OF THE MOON.

I DID SEVERAL STARGAZING PARTIES AND I DID A BUNCH OF WEBINARS TRYING TO SORT OF SPREAD THE WORD AND EXCITEMENT TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Ted: SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT ASTRONOMY IN GENERAL AND DARK SKIES IN PARTICULAR, TRUE?

>> YES, FOR SURE.

I HOPE THAT PEOPLE START TO SEE THE SKY AS PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM AND PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND PART OF OUR HERITAGE, SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED AND VALUED.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS LIGHT POLLUTION IS CONCERNED, IS THAT MESSAGE STARTING TO GET OUT THERE, DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK SO.

DEFINITELY SOME PLACES MORE THAN OTHERS.

BUT I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE GRAND CANYON, YOU KNOW, WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE DARK SKY AND THINK, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THIS OR SOMETHING LIKE IT BACK HOME.

>> Ted: AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TO THE GRAN GRAND CANYON AND NOT IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT AND NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK UP AND SEE, IT MUST BE JUST REMARKABLE!

>> IT'S PRETTY STUNNING.

I WAS THERE IN LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING, SO WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET A TON OF PERFECT NIGHTS.

BUT I WAS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE SKY EVEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WASN'T DARK.

AS I SAID, WE WERE LOOKING AT SUNSETS AND THE MOON AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN OBSERVE FROM THEIR OWN BACKYARD EVEN IF THEY LIVE IN THE CITY.

I'M HOPING PEOPLE WILL CONNECT WITH THE SKY REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

>> Ted: ANOTHER ASPECT OF YOUR TEACHING, UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AND GETTING GIRLS AND WOMEN INTERESTED IN ASTRONOMY.

>> FOR SURE AND SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT AND INCORPORATE INTO ALL OF MY SCHOLARSHIPS.

I'M JUST ABOUT TO RUN A SUMMER CAMP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS.

THAT'S FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES MOOWHO COME TO CAMPUS AND DO EXPERIMENTS AND FUN STUFF DURING THE SUMMER, SO YES, THAT IS SOMETHING I'M TRYING TO DO WITH ALL OF MY WORK.

>> Ted: AND YOUR WORK, BASICALLY HOW STARS BECOME SUPER NOVAS?

>> I STUDY THE KIND OF STARS THAT EXPLODE AT THE END OF TEAR LIVESTHEIRLIVES, MORE MASSIVE THAN THE SUN AND SOME IN BINARY SYSTEMS THAT HAVE TWIN STARS AND ORBIT EACH OTHER.

THOSE ARE STARS THAT CYCLE AND ORBIT ON A REGULAR BASIS AND SUPER NOVA IS A CHANGE, THAT FADES AWAY.

THOSE WERE MY TWO THEMES AT THE GRAND CANYON.

>> Ted: I NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A SKY AND CANYON FOR RESEARCH, BUT WENT YOU'RE UP THERE AND TALKED ABOUT LIGHT POLLUTION, DOES LIGHT POLLUTION EVEN REACH THAT AREA?

>> IT IS A DARK SKY PARK AND SO, I COULDN'T TELL, I COULDN'T TELL LIGHT POLLUTION WITH MY EYES.

BUT AS FAR AS FROM A HUMAN EXPERIENCE, I THINK IT'S GOOD.

IT'S PRISTINE.

>> Ted: SO ASTRONOMER RESIDENCE, YOU FILLED YOUR TIME THERE AND OFF DOING THAT AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR AN ASTRONOMER AND RESIDENCE?

>> WELL, I FEEL LIKE IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT STAYS WITH ME FOR A LONG TIME AND SO I WILL GO BACK TO MY POSITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER AND RUN MY SUMMER CAMP AND TEACH MY CLASSES AND WORK WITH STUDENTS AND DO MY RESEARCH.

BUT I THINK WHAT I DID AT THE GRAND CANYON WILL STICK WITH ME AND I HOPE WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INCORPORATE MORE OF THIS, YOU KNOW, INTERACTION AS THE PUBLIC INTO MY FUTURE WORK.

I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AND INVITE YOU THERE.

>> Ted: DO YOU ENVISION YOURSELF AT THE CANYON?

YES.

>> Ted: HAVE JENNIFER HALF HOFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.