>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZONS.

STATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS REACT TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

ALSO TONIGHT, HOW MUCH RAIN AND SNOW AND COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL WE SEE IN THIS INDIANAPOLIS WINTER?

AND WE'LL LOOK AT ALL SORTS OF ARIZONA FREEWAY PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THIS-YEAR.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

IS.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE PINAL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND GILBERT POLICE ARRIVED THE FIRST ARREST IN CASES INVOLVING VIOLENT ATTACKS BIT EAST VALLEY TEENAGERS.

THE ARRESTS WERE ANNOUNCED SEPARATELY.

A 21-YEAR-OLDER GILBERT RESIDENT WAS ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT IN THE BEATING OF A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEAR SAN TAN REGIONAL PARK IN PINAL COUNTY IN GILBERT AN 18-YEAR-OLD FACES ASSAULT AND ROBBERY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BEATING A TEENAGER LAST AUGUST AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT.

GILBERT POLICE ARE NOT DISCUSSING ANY OTHER SUSPECTS IN THAT CASE BUT PINAL COUNTY SHERIFF MARK LAMB SAYS HIS AGENCY IS LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL OF, QUOTE, A FEW MORE ARRESTS IN THE SAN TAN VALLEY CASE.

>>> OTHER HEADLINES, THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS REJECTED KERRY LAKE'S SPECIAL ACTION REQUEST FOR THE COURT TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE JURISDICTION OF STEVEN RICHARDS' DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST LAKE.

ATTORNEYS FOR LAKE WANTED THE APPEALS COURT TO REVIEW A LOWER COURT REAL THAT ALLOWED THE DEFAMATION SUIT TO GO FORWARD BUT THE COURT REFUSED AND RICHARDSON'S LAWSUIT CAN NOW PROCEED AT THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL.

THE SUIT ACCUSES LAKE OF KNOWINGLY SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT RICHARD AFTER THE 2022 ELECTION.

>>> DEMOCRATS SELECTED THREE CANDIDATES TO REPLACE FORMER REPRESENTATIVE SULLIN WHO RESIGNED.

CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT 8 ARE DEVIN HODGE WHO NARROWLY LOST, DEBORAH NIOZI A FORMER CHAIR AND RICHARD, THE THREE GAMES GO TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR WHOSE WILL APPOINT A SUCCESSOR, NO WORD AS YET ON HOW LONG THAT WILL HELP.

>>> BANNER HEALTH REPORTED A SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN WINTER ILLNESSES.

THE FLU IS ESPECIALLY WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE STATE WITH THE CDC SAYING IT ITS RATES FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN ARIZONA ARE HIGH.

THEY ADD THAT FLU SHOT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 6 AND HIGH DOSE FLU VACCINES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE 65 AND OLDER.

>>> AND AN ECONOMIC NOTE, MORTGAGE APPLICATIONS SHOT UP 9.9% LAST WEEK.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE MORTAR'S BANKER'S ASSOCIATION.

ANALYSTS SAY DESPITE SHOWS, LOWER INTEREST RATES ARE ATTRACTING MORE HOMEBUYERS.

BUT THE AVERAGE RATE FOR A 30-YEAR FIXED LOAN IS OVER 6.6% AND COMPARES TO A PEAK OF 7.8% LAST OCTOBER.

>>> LAST NIGHT WE HEARD REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS REACT TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

TONIGHT IT'S THE DEMOCRATS' TURN.

JOINING US ARE SENATE MINORITY LEADER MISSY EPSTEIN AND MINORITY LEADER CONTRERAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR, THOUGHTS ON THE SPEECH.

OBVIOUSLY SHE'S A DEMOCRAT, YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT.

>> SO PLEASED.

IT IS FANTASTIC HAVE OUR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS AT THE HELM.

SHE'S DONE GREAT WORK WITH THE WATER AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS, SHOWING LEADERSHIP ON HOW TO HELP EVERY ARIZONAN.

I WAS ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO HEAR SOME OF THE PLACES WHERE WE'VE ALREADY WORKED TOGETHER WITH GOVERNORS SUCH AS ON EDUCATION.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD HER TALK ABOUT HELPING FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS GET THEIR FIRST HOME, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BILLS READY TO MOVE ON THAT HAS.

>> OKAY.

OBVIOUSLY OH OH AGAIN, PROBABLY LIKE A LOT OF WHAT YOU HEARD.

>> THERE'S A LOT I LIKE, JUST THE EXCITEMENT THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE CROWD.

BUT I THINK WHERE SHE CAUGHT A LOT OF -- I THINK WHERE SHE STUMPED THE REPUBLICANS IS WHERE SHE BROUGHT UP THE BORDER CRISIS.

I THINK SHE REALLY STUMPED THEM THERE.

>> SHE BROUGHT UP THAT.

DID IT SURPRISE YOU THAT WAS FIRST THING OUT OF THE BOX?

>> IT DID SURPRISE ME.

IT DID, BUT DIDN'T.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE ARIZONANS REALLY WANTED TO -- IT IMPACTED ALL OF ARIZONA.

THERE WAS PEOPLE HERE THAT -- IT NEARLY HAPPENED OVER THE HOLIDAYS WHERE PEOPLE WANTED TO GO TRAVEL, THEY WANTED TO GO TO THE FAMILY THERE AND HERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HERE THAT OWN HOMES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BEARD, THAT IT AFFECTED THEM IN THEIR POCKETBOOK.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT HAPPENED IN A CRUCIAL TIME PERIOD.

>> SENATOR, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR CRITICIZING A DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION, CALLED IT MISGUIDED, SHORT SIDED.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?

>> SURE.

>> IF THIS IS -- THIS IS AMERICA, WHERE WE DESCRIBE AND CRITICIZE THINGS APPROPRIATELY TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET TO OTHER TOPICS HERE.

ES IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR A VARIETY OF FOLKS.

BUT WE HAD REPUBLICAN LEADERS RESPOND LAST NIGHT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S UNTOUCHABLE FOR THEM.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO REALISTICALLY HAPPEN REGARDING THE SCHOOL VOUCHER SYSTEM?

>> WELL, WE ARE -- HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AS A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN OF SPECIFIC POLICIES.

SO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN PAST YEARS, WE'VE CREATED A BLUEPRINT, A BEAUTIFUL VISION FOR ARIZONA.

THIS IS SPECIFIC POLICIES BECAUSE WE LOOK AROUND AND SEE WE KNOW THE AFFORDABILITY, WE KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE, CHILD CARE, THE COST OF RENT AND HOUSING.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE.

THESE ARE THE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS, AND THEREFORE WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A HOUSE AND SENATE DEMOCRATS VISION AND AGENDA OF THESE SPECIFIC POLICIES AND THOSE ARE WHAT WE WANT TO BE WORKING ON IN A PRACTICAL WAY, AND IF THEY REFORM, WE WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR TO DEVELOP THOSE.

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A WAY, SPEAKER TOMAH HAS ALREADY SAID FINGERPRINTING NO, PROBLEM.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS COLORED IT.

>> RIGHT.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> ACCOUNTABILITY, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE PROJECT.

THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF WHO'S USING IT AND HOW THEY'RE USING IT.

THERE'S SO MUCH NAN HAS BEEN USED.

THERE'S NO SPILLING TO THE EXPENDITURES OF THESE MONIES.

AT THE START, THERE WAS A THOUGHT PROCESS OF SO MUCH OF IT WAS GOING TO BE -- THEY WERE ONLY GOING TO BE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE USED AT THAT -- FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

WE HAVE FAR EXCEEDED THAT AMOUNT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT FAR EXCEEDING WHATEVER WE'VE ALREADY USED TOE THIS POINT.

WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT WHO'S GETTING THE MONEY.

WHO'S USING THE FUNDS, HOW THEY'RE USING THE FUNDS AND MAKING SURE THAT IF IT'S GOING TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE THAT'S MEANT TO BE USED FOR.

>> KIND OF GOING THROUGH TOPICS EVERYBODY.

WE ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME HERE.

WATER.

BASICALLY THE GOVERNOR SAID IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING, LAWMAKERS, I WILL.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE THAT?

>> SHE'S THE GOVERNOR.

THAT'S WHAT GOVERNORS DO.

AND WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION FOR OUR WATER.

WE ARE SEEING FAR TOO MANY DRY TAPS IN RURAL ARIZONA AND WE NEED A PLAN FOR THAT.

>> REPUBLICANS SAY THOUGH THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT GOVERNOR DOES.

GOVERNORS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN GETTING POLICY.

>> ARIZONA HAS A LONG TRADITION OF BRINGING EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE AND IT HAS A TRAFFICS GOVERNORS NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PARTY -- A TRADITION OF GOVERNORS NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PARTY.

THE WATER COUNCIL HAS COME TO COMMON GROUND AND MADE A COUPLE OF GREAT PROPOSALS.

>> AS FAR AS EXEC ACTION SHOULD IT COME TO PASS, THE REPUBLICANS SAY GO AHEAD, WE'LL SEND YOU TO COURT THE NEXT DAY.

>> IF THAT'S HOW THEY WANT TO ACT, DO IT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT A TASK FORCE TOGETHER, SHE HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME WITH COMMON SENSE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND USAGE OF WATER.

WE LIVE IN ARIZONA.

WE NEED WATER.

THIS IS A DESERT.

WHAT MORE CAN THE GOVERNOR DO THAN TO BRING IN TOP INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL OVER AND USE THEIR MINDSET TO COME UP WITH RULES AND REGS.

AND SHE'S DONE THAT.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THE BUDGET NOW BECAUSE I WANT TO GET TO YOU WITH THE BUDGET BECAUSE SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSON SAID THAT BASICALLY ME TWICE ASKED YOU IN THE PREVIOUS MONTHS HERE, GIVE HIM SOMETHING, LET'S WORK ON SOMETHING, AND YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM NOTHING.

>> I AM FLABBERGASTED BY THE PRESS RELEASE THAT WE SAW.

I HAD JUST INTERNET MORNING WITH PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSON.

WE DISCUSSED IT.

WE INTENDED TO BRING AT THE EVENT THE WEEK OUR OVERVIEW.

ONE, IMAGINE YOU'RE A PERSON OUT IN ARIZONA WHO WANT SOMETHING DESPERATELY, IT'S GOTTA BE IN THE BUDGET, I NEED FOR -- TO KEEP PEOPLE -- TO BE TOLD IT'S ALREADY DONE, THAT'S WRONG.

SHUT UP, STAKEHOLDERS, JUST GET THE BUDGET DONE FAST.

DEMOCRATS WANT TO GET IT DONE WELL.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN THE HOUSE.

>> YOU KNOW, SPEAKER TOMAH AND MYSELF HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.

WE'VE BEEN, NICARAGUA ON SEVERAL ISSUES AND GETTINGINGS -- WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SEVERAL ISSUES AND GETTING THINGS DONE AS WE CAN.

BUDGET WORK SO FAR, WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN SO MUCH ABOUT THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE MEETINGS SCHEDULED TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT THUS FAR WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT BUDGET.

>> VERY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE THIS YEAR THAN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

YOU GOT A SURPLUS LAST GO AHEAD, NO SURPLUS THIS TIME.

>> AFTER 60 SOME YEARS OF REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AND MOST RECENTLY DOING BUDGETING WITH THEIR EYES CLOSED, WE'RE LEFT WITH THIS ENORMOUS DEFICIT AND IT IS THE TAX CUT THAT WAS A BILLION DOLLARS FOR BILLION BILLIONAIRES.

IT'S THE RUNAWAY EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT THAT IS THE ESA UNIVERSAL PROGRAM, AND IT'S 30 YEARS OF TAX CUTS THAT HAVE MAINLY BENEFITED BIG CORPORATIONS AND THE WEALTHIEST FEW.

>> AND LAST MONTH, REPRESENTATIVE, THE TAX CUTS HAVE HELPED ARIZONA'S ECONOMY BE THE POWERHOUSE THAT IT IS IS WHAT IS SAID.

ARE THEY WRONG?

>> YES, THEY ARE.

I MEAN, IT'S FUNNY HOW THEY ONLY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

SPEAK FOR ALL OF ARIZONANS.

DON'T JUST SPEAK FOR YOUR FRIEND.

SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY.

WE'RE NOT HERE JUST FOR OUR OWN.

WE'RE HERE FOR ALL OF ARIZONA, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE SPEAKING FOR.

>> AND LAST QUESTION, IS THERE A SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE EVEN REMOTELY IN THE AIR OF COOPERATION, BIPARTISANSHIP, OR IS IT GONNA BE THE SAME OLE' SAME OLE'.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN FOR THOSE POINTS OF COMMON GROUND, AND I THINK THE POINTS OF SENSIBILITY ARE THE THERE.

WE -- FOR INSTANCE ON ESA REFORM, WE WANT TO SAY IF YOU'RE USING TAX DOLLARS, MAKE SURE KIDS ARE ATTENDING SCHOOL.

DOESN'T THAT SEEM SENSIBLE, PRACTICAL AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

>> SENATOR HE TEEN -- GOOD HAVE YOU HERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, THE LATEST INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST.

-- THE LATEST EL NIÑO FORECAST.

ARIZONA IS CURRENTLY IN AN EL NIÑO WEATHER PATTERN WHICH MAY HELP EXPLAIN SOME STORMS GOING THROUGH THE STATE ALONG WITH COLD TEMPERATURES.

ARE WE CURRENTLY IN THE GRIPS OF EL NIÑO?

RANDY, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> ARE WE OFFICIALLY IN AN EL NIÑO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

A FAIRLY STRONG ONE RIGHT NOW.

>> REALLY?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THE REST OF WINTER.

WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING IT TO WEAKEN UNTIL MAYBE JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

IT'S OFFICIAL WHEN?

WHEN AND WHY?

I THINK WE HAVE A GRAPHIC, A SATELLITE MAP OF THE WARMER TEMPERATURES THERE IN THE PACIFIC.

BUT THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A PLAY, BUT -- THROUGH GO.

WHEN DOES THIS MATTER?

>> WELL, THAT'S THE KEY, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT PARTICULAR BOXED REGION.

THAT'S THE AREA WHERE THE SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE IMPORTANT.

AND DURING EL NIÑO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT BOXED AREA BECOMES VERY WARM.

BY THE WAY, THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE GLOBAL TEMPERATURES THAT THIS YEAR WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE ONE OF THE HOTTEST YEARS ON RECORD BECAUSE A LARGE PORTION OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE HERE IN TERMS OF THE OCEAN IS GONNA BE WARM, BUT FOR US THE IMPORTANT SOMETHING WHEN THAT GETS WARM, IT PRODUCES UPLIFT THAT CREATES CLOUDS, THOSE CLOUDS CAN BE PUSHED UP INTO ARIZONA AND GIVE US PRECIPITATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND FOR OUR NEXT GRAPHIC WE HAVE WHAT LOOKS TO BE -- NOW, THIS IS THE MONTH OF JANUARY ONLY AS FAR AS PRECIPITATION IS CONCERNED?

>> CORRECT.

THE THREE-MONTH WINTER PERIOD IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT NOT TOO BAD.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE SHOWING ABOVE-NORMAL CHANCES FOR RAINFALL.

NOT ONLY THIS MONTH BUT THROUGH THE NEXT MONTH AND INTO MARCH.

WHAT THIS IS, THOUGH, THAT WE LOVE SEEING THAT REALLY GOOD GREEN ABOVE-NORMAL CHANCES FOR HEAVY PRECIPITATION HERE IN ARIZONA.

>> ALMOST LIKE THE STATE'S FRAMING THE DOG GONE THING.

IT'S AMAZING.

NOW, THAT'S PRECIPITATION.

AND OBVIOUSLY WITH EL NIÑO, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE WARM.

WHAT ABOUT SNOW LEVELS.

>> GENERALLY THEY'LL BE A LITTLE HIGHER BECAUSE THE MOISTURE IS COMING IN FROM THE TROPICS, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE UNDER A PATTERN WHERE WE'RE GETTING REALLY COLD AIR THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM CANADA.

IF THIS IS HAPPENING OVER ON THE EAST COAST, WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT POLAR VORTEX.

THAT'S THE IDEA, WE'RE GETTING REALLY COLD AIR THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM CANADA AND THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE RECENT FREEZE THAT WE'VE HAD HERE.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE FORECAST HERE NOW FOR THE NEXT MONTH, AND AGAIN, THIS SUGGEST AT LEAST THAT THE TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE -- LOOK AT THAT -- COLD.

>> YES.

THESE AREN'T THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURES BUT THE CHANCES FOR BELOW-NORMAL TEMPERATURES.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS IT'S PROBABLY TWO THINGS.

ONE, WE'RE GOING TO 79 CREASED CLOUDINESS WITH THE STORMS, SO IF YOU HAVE INCREASED CLOUDINESS YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET AS WARM.

BUT ALSO STILL SOME OF THE CANADIAN AIR GOING DOWN INTO THE WEST COAST AND ARIZONA.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS COLD SNAP.

>> THAT'S THE IDEA THAT WE CALL A POLAR VORTEX, THE VERSION OF COLD AIR COMING DOWN FROM CANADA.

AND SO THAT WITH COLD AIR COUPLED WITH DRY CONDITIONS HERE IN THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA ALLOWS FOR THE TEMPERATURES AT NIGHT GET REALLY COLD.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A COUPLE MORE NIGHTS OF THAT.

WE'VE GOT A STORM SYSTEM THAT WILL BE COMING IN TOMORROW, BUT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY, WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING COLD MORNINGS, BUT THEN WE'RE GOING TO START TO WARM UP OVER THE WEEKEND.

IT ONLY SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE FREEZE WARNINGS AND FREEZE ADVISORIES, BUT HOW LONG DO THESE USUALLY LAST IN THE PHOENIX AREA.

WE'LL HAVE THESE PERIODIC COLD AND WET WEATHER COME INTO ARIZONA FOR THE NEXT MONTH, POSSIBLY THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

>> SO SPRING TRAINING COULD HIT MID-FEBRUARY, MARCH AND YOU COULD HAVE SOME PRETTY COLD GAMES OUT THERE.

>> YEAH, AND THE PHOENIX OPEN AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NORMALLY TALK ABOUT HERE.

>> DOES THE COLD BASICALLY SIGNAL SOMETHING IN EL NIÑO.

>> THE IDEA THAT EL NIÑO IS MORE ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN CIRCULATION AND MORE ASSOCIATED WITH MOISTURE THAN TEMPERATURE.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF WEATHER PATTERN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A CLASSIC EL NIÑO SITUATION, WE'RE GETTING THE COLD AIR THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM CANADA AS WELL.

>> LAST WINTER WE HAD PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF RAIN.

WASN'T THAT SUPPOSED TO A LA NINA?

>> IT WAS.

AND THAT'S STILL GOT US PUZZLED, WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE.

THAT'S WHY I WAS A LITTLE UNSURE WHEN YOU WERE TALKING TO ME THIS FALL WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE FORECAST SHOWED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF SITUATION, BUT GIVEN THE ODDITIES OF LAST YEAR, WE WEREN'T SURE.

>> IS GLOBAL WARMING CHANGING THINGS, MAKING FOR THESE ODDITIES WHEN IT COMES TO LA NINA AND EL NIÑO?

IS THAT SCHEMATIC NOW DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING?

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE REMEMBER THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS SUCH A BIG PART OF OUR ENTIRE PLANET THAT WHEN YOU MAKE CHANGES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN, IT CHANGES THE ENTIRE CLIMATE AROUND THE EARTH AND THE ENTIRE CLIMATE AROUND THE EARTH CAN INFLUENCE THE PACIFIC OCEAN, SO IT'S WHAT WE CALL A FEEDBACK PROCESS, AND YES, THERE'S A LOT OF INTERPLAY GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> INTERESTING.

LAST QUESTION HERE, LAST SUMMER WAS THE DIRECT OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

110 FOR 30 SOME ODD DAYS.

JUST CRAZY.

IS THAT THE THE NEW NORM?

>> INCREASED HEAT IS THE NORM.

WE'VE GOT THE CHANGING WEATHER PATTERN.

WE TEND TO HAVE IN THE SUMMER NOW THE CONSISTENT RIDGES THAT SET UP OVER THE TOP OF THE SOUTHWEST AND BAKE US.

BUT IN THE WINTERTIME, WE'RE FINDING THAT THE CIRCULATION PATTERNS CAN BE THE COLD SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW OR AS WE HAD IN THE EARLIER PART OF DECEMBER, WARMER CONDITIONS.

SO IT FLIP-FLOPS A LOT MORE IN THE WINTERTIME THAN IT DOES IN THE SUMMER.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A LOT MORE VOLATILITY.

AZ CLIMB TO GETS, RANDY, THANKS -- AZ CLIMATOLOGIST, RANDY, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

♪ ♪ >>> THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS A NUMBER OF FREEWAY PROJECTS UNDERWAY INCLUDING WORK ON THE 101 PIMA FREEWAY, THE I-17 NORTH OF PHOENIX, AND A BIGGIE, THE EXPANSION OF THE BROADWAY CURVE WHICH SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

JOINING US NOW IS GREG BUYER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR TRANSPORTATION AT A-DOT.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> YOU BET.

>> WHY SO MUCH WORK, WHY NOW?

>> IT'S NEEDED.

WE NEED TO DO A LOT OF WORK ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE, BUT ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS HAS HAD THIS PROGRAMMED FOR QUITE WHILE.

I WAS TRYING TO DO IT.

>> IT'S HELPED.

YOU'RE WATCHING SOMETHING BEING BUILT FROM THE GROUND.

WHAT WAS LATEST.

>> I THINK IT GOES FROM CHANDLER ALL THE WAY OVER TO I-17, CORRECT.

BUT THE I-10 PROJECT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MAP RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S A BIG PROJECT.

>> IT'S EVER-CHANGING.

ANYBODY THAT DRIVES IT ON A NORMAL BASIS SEES THESE CHANGES OCCURRING ALMOST DAILY.

RIGHT NOW IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DRAMA TAKE WE HAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING READY TO BUILD WHAT ARE CALLED THE BENTS FOR THE BRIDGES OVER SOME OF THE EXISTING TRAFFIC.

THEY'VE TAKEN IT AND ACTUALLY SPLIT TRAFFIC ACROSS -- OH WE'RE DOING WHAT'S CALLED A DESIGN BUILDING PROJECT THERE.

THE BUILDER IS THE ONE TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.

HE'S COME UP WITH SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

>> HOW MUCH IS THE 143?

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S EITHER CLOSED, IT'S OPEN, YOU HAVE A NEW PATH.

IT'S REALLY CHANGED A LOT.

>> AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF DOING THE NEW RAMPS >> THE MAJORITY ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION IS OCCURRING AT NIGHT, SO USUALLY BY THE MORNINGS WE HAVE EVERYTHING OPENED BACK UP AND FREE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.

>> YOU GONNA BE OKAY BY THE END OF THE YEAR?

>> YES, WE WILL.

IT'S ON SCHEDULE.

>> THE LOOP 101, THE PIMA FREEWAY UP THERE, SHADE OF PRINCESS, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> WE'RE GOING TO WIDEN THAT SECTION AND PUT IN ADDITIONAL LANES NORTH AND SOUTHBOUND.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AND PUT IN AN INTERCHANGE ALL FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT AND THAT JUST STARTED, CORRECT?

>> IT JUST KICKED OFF, SO WE'RE JUST GETTING GOING.

THAT'S 18 TO 24 MONTHS.

>> OH MY GOODNESS, SO HANG ON TO YOUR HATS THERE.

>> I-17 BETWEEN ANTHEM AND SUNSET POINT, BOY, ANYONE KNOWS THAT ONCE YOU GET PAST A CERTAIN PART IN THE PHOENIX AREA, IT COULD BE A MESS.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

>> WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION ALMOST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR THAT WE'RE WORKING.

SO ANYBODY DRIVING UP TO FLAGSTAFF SEES THAT.

THEY JUST HAD A MAJOR MILESTONE ON THE PROJECT, THEY'VE MOVED OVER A MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF EARTH FOR THAT PROJECT.

SO THERE'S SOME PAVING THAT'S BEING DONE.

SOME OF THE BRIDGES ARE GETTING PUT IN, BUT THERE'S STILL QUITE A BIT TO DO.

>> ADDING A THIRD LANE TO BLACK CANYON CITY?

>> CORRECT.

WE'VE GOT A THIRD LANE, BUT ALSO THE FLEX LANE.

>> WHAT ARE FLEX LANES?

>> FLEX LANES ALLOW US TO BASICALLY BUILD TWO ADDITIONAL LANES INSTEAD OF ADDING ADDITIONAL LANES, WHICH WE DON'T REALLY NEED FOR CAPACITY, BUT WE DO WHEN WE HAVE THE BIG INFLUXES PEOPLE TRAVELING NORTH ON SUNDAYS, COMING -- SATURDAYS AND COMING BACK ON SUNDAY, PEOPLE USE THE EXTRA LANES AND ALSO HELPS US WITH AN ACCIDENT THAT AREA, IT GIVES US ANOTHER ROUTE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE SITTING THERE.

>> THANK GOODNESS.

ANYONE WHO'S BEEN AROUND JUST SITTING THERE... >> BEFORE WE GO, SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH I-40 NEW KINGMAN IN THERE'S AN INTERCHANGE HAPPENING THERE?

>> YES, THERE IS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING AND GIVING A DIRECT ROUTE FROM 93 TYING IN TO I-40.

SO RIGHT NOW AS YOU'RE TRAVELING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE COMING DOWN SOUTH FROM LAS VEGAS, YOU'RE HAVING TO TAKE AND GET OFF ON TO LOCAL ROADS TO GET ON TO I-FOUR, THIS WILL BE A DIRECT PATH THAT'S BASICALLY A FLY-OVER THAT WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT OFF THE 93 AND ON TO 40.

>> THAT'S PRETTY FANCY-LOOKING STUFF UP THERE.

>> IT IS.

IT'S GONNA BE VERY CLEAN AND MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVEL.

>> DOES IT EVER SEEM -- LAST QUESTION HERE, DOES IT EVER SEEM LIKE PENDING THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, ONCE YOU GET ALL DONE, YOU GOTTA START ALL OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAINT IT AGAIN.

EVER FEEL LIKE THAT WITH THE FREEWAYS?

>> IT IS.

IT'S A NEVER-ENDING METHOD JUST TO TRY TO KEEP THEM GOING.

>> BUT SO FAR WE'RE DOING REALLY GOOD.

>> ENCOURAGING TO HEAR FOR ALL OF US.

GREG, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.