♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WHAT TO KNOW AS EARLY VOTING BEGINS TODAY.

ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW EFFORT TO PROMOTE BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS.

AND RESEARCHERS LOOK AT HARVESTING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE AIR TO HELP GROW ALGAE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> "ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS TODAY AS AN ESTIMATED 1.9 MILLION EARLY BALLOTS ARE EXPECTED TO GO OUT TO MARICOPA COUNTY VOTERS.

THERE'S A LOT TO KNOW ABOUT EARLY VOTING AND A COUPLE OF QUESTION MARKS AS WELL.

JOINING US NOW IS STEPHANIE MURRAY OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC AND AZCENTRAL.COM.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THAN FOR JOIN WITHING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE ARE UNDERWAY.

THIS IS BALLGAME.

WE HAVE STARTED.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

I THINK BEING YOU NO, WE TEND TO THINK ABOUT ELECTION DAY AS ONE DAY.

BUT IT'S REALLY A PERIOD OF A FEW WEEKS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE CALVING THEIR BALLOTS, BY THE MAIL, EARLY, STARRING NOW.

>> SO CAN VOTERS -- LET'S GET SOME FACTS IN HERE.

CAN VOTERS STILL REQUEST A MAIL-IN BALLOT?

>> YES, THEY CAN UNTIL OCTOBER 23rd.

>> OKAY.

WHEN YOU ARE MALE THEM BACK, I KNOW THE POSTAL SERVICE KIND OF WANDS THEM A WEEK BEFORE IS A GOOD IDEA IS THAT I GOOD IDEA?

>> I WOULD SAY FOLLOW THE POSTAL SERVICE RECOMMENDATION.

DROP IT IN THE MAIL BY OCTOBER 27TH.

IF YOU MISS THAT DEADLINE, YOU ARE KIND OF A LAST-MINUTE PERSON YOU CAN BRING YOUR BAT TOWEL A BALANCE THE DROP BOX OR TO AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION OR BRING IT TO A VOTING LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT, CAN YOU VOTE EARLY IN PERSON?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

DO YOU THINK THAT UNTIL THE FRIDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

>> OKAY.

WHEN YOU DROP OFF YOUR BALANCE OUT ELECTION DAY, WHICH RECORDERS CAN'T STAND, DRIVES THEM CRAZY.

THERE IS A NEW DEAL WHERE IF YOU SHOW I.D., WHAT HAPPENS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

PART OF THE ISSUE YOU IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A MAIL-IN BALLOT YOU SIGN THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE.

SO THEY KNOW IT'S YOU.

AND THAT IS KIND OF SLOWING DOWN THE BALLOTS THAT COME IN ON ELECTION DAY BECAUSE ELECTION WORKERS HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE SIGNATURES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE RIGHT.

SO FOR YOU IF YOU GO YOU CAN STAND IN LINE, SHOW I.D.

SEPARATE YOUR BALLOT AND THEN THEY'LL COUNT IT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT SIGNATURE VERIFICATION PROCESS.

>> HOW DID THAT WORK DURING THE PRIMARY?

>> IT WORKED PRETTY SMOOTHLY.

THERE WAS A DECENT PORTION OF VOTERS AT THAT USED IT AND IT DID SPEED IT UP.

>> BACK TO THE ARE YOU.

DID ANYTHING HAPPEN WHERE THERE WERE CONCERNS, ADDRESS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED OR QUESTIONS MARK FOR THE GENERAL?

>> THE BIG SURPRISE TO ME THAT CAME OUT.

PRIMARY, ESPECIALLY IN MAYOR WON'T A COUNTY WAS HOW SMOOTHLY THINGS WENT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF STRIPE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES TO OVERSEE ELECTIONS IN MAYOR COPY A COUNTY THAT'S THE RECORDERS OFF OFFICE AND THE BOARD OF SUPERINTENDENTS, THEY HAD BEEN IN THIS LEGAL BATTLE FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND IT WAS BITTER ONLY CAME TO A CONCLUSION BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

AND THEN EVERYBODY WAS HOLDING THEIR BREATH, PRIMARY DAY AS THINGS WENT WELL.

>> THEY DID GO WELL AND YOU BROUGHT THE RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP LET'S TALK ABOUT HIM MAIL-IN VOTING HE TELLS THE BOARD OF SUPERINTENDENTS WILL BE SLOWER THIS YEAR BECAUSE WHAT, A POSTAL -- THE POST OF FACILITY HAD BEEN CLOSED?

WHAT WERE HE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE RECORDER WAS AT A BOARD OF SUPERINTENDENTS MING GIVING THEM A PRESS FASHION WHO TO EXPECT HE OVERSEAS VOTER REGISTRATION AND MAIL-IN VOTING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS BEFORE ELECTION DAY IS UNDER HIS PURVIEW AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID, HE SAID THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS CLOSED DOWN A FACILITY HERE SO SOME OF THE BALLOTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET ROUTED THROUGH SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

THAT'S GOING TO SLOW THING DOWN.

I REACHED OUT TO THE POSTAL SERVICE AND THEY SAID, THAT IS INCORRECT.

THEY HAVE PLENTY OF CAPACITY TO HANDLE THINGS LOCALLY.

ACCORDING TO THE POSTAL SERVICE AND NOTHING HAS ACTUALLY BEEN CLOSED DOWN.

>> SO, I MEAN, THIS DOESN'T SOUND LOOK A MISUNDERSTANDING IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE SAYING A FACILITY HAS CLOSED DOWN AND THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE FACILITY SAY, NO, IT HASN'T.

>> BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THERE ARE TWO DIVE HE GOES STORIES -- DEFERRING STORY FROM THE RECORDER AND POST THE SERVICE REACHED OUT TO THE RECORDER'S OFFICE TO ASK IF THEY COULD CLEAR IT UP.

WHAT RECORD ARE HEAP WAS TALKING ABOUT AND I DIDN'T HEAR BACK.

>> THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN THE FACT THAT THE OTHER SIDE SAYS YOU ARE DEAD WRONG.

>> CORRECT.

>> JUSTIN TIN HEAP IS I TRUMP PORTER AND TIES TO ELECTION DENIERS, WE KNOW THAT.

DON'T TRUMP, PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT HAPPY ABOUT SOME EARLY BALLOTS BEING MAILED OUT WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> WHAT CAUSED THE ATTENTION OF THE PRESIDENT WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM RECORDER HEAP A FEW DAY AGO THAT A BATCH OF 3,000 BALLOTS WAS SENT OUT EARLY AROUND OCTOBER 1st, BEFORE THE OCTOBER 7TH START DAY FOR EARLY VOTING.

THE EXPLANATION IS THAT A VENDOR THE COUNTY USES CALDRON BACK BROUGHT SOME BALLOTS TO A USPS FACILITY, THEY THE CAN COLORADO BE TRAINER THEY WERE IN THE BALANCE AT THEY WERE ON WAS SENT OUT BEFORE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.

REGARDING HEAP ANNOUNCED IT.

HE EXPLAINED IT WAS THE VENDOR'S FAULT AND THEN THE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS, WAS SAYING THAT MARICOPA COUNTY IS IN HIS WORDS VERY, VERY DISHONEST.

>> TWO VERSUS THERE, VERY, VERY DISHONEST AND HE SAID IT WAS NOT A MISTAKE THE SINCE DEN WAS NOT A MISTAKE.

AND HE BLAMED -- SOUND LIKE THE RECORDER'S OFFICE AND DOES HE EVEN KNOW THE RECORDER IS SUCH A TRUMP SUPPORTER?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTIONS.

AS YOU MENTIONED.

HE IS AN ALLY OF THE SPREAD.

EL BASED THE CLAIM THAT IS WAS THERE WIDESPREAD FRAUD IN THE 2020 ELECTION WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT TRUE NEVER EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD FRAUGHT FOUND AND SO IT WAS A TWIST TO HEAR THE PRESIDENT ACCUSING HIM OF LIKE AND BEING CAUGHT.

IT'S IMPORTANT NOTE THE BALLOTS THEY ARE FINE TO USE, THEY DON'T NEED BE CHANGED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IF YOU GOT ONE JUST VOTE ON IT AND SEND IT BACK JUST AS NORMALLY WOULD.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IF THEY GOT THEM EARLY AND DASH ODD OF THEIR THINGS AND PUT THEM IN THE MAIL.

>> ACCORDING TO THE RECORD'S OFFICE THEY'LL HOLD THEM SECURITY UNTIL IT'S TIME TO START PROCESSING THE BALLOTS.

>> NO REAL HARM DONE JUST CLUNKY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, I THINK AROUND 1.9 MILLION BALLOTS ARE GOING TO GO OUT.

SO SMALL TRACTION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE SMALL MARGINS HERE IN ARIZONA.

SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE A TUNED TO IT.

>> AND WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT CALLS THE COUNTY ANOTHER -- HE SAID THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THE COUNTY IS QUOTE, CROOKED.

THAT KIND COMMENTS AND THE VERY, VERY DISHONEST, COMMENTS THESE SWORDS OF THINGS ARE THEY STILL AT PLAY OR HAVE PEOPLE FIGURED OUT FOR THE MOST PART WHERE THEY STAND ON THIS THING?

>> JUST LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES RUNNING STATEWIDE FOR SOME OF THE TOP OFFICES, A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN EMBRACED THESE 2020 ELECTION FRAUD CLAIMS, ALEX RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

ANDY BIGS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SO I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF ELECTION DENIER MOVEMENT IS VERY MUCH, YOU KNOW, STILL AROUND HERE.

>> AND, AGAIN, NO ELECTION FRAUD HAS EVER BEEN DISCOVERED IN MARICOPA COUNTY, OR IN ARIZONA.

VOTERS NEED TO REALIZE THAT.

AND LET THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATIONS HANG-UP THERE IN THE EITHER S THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT VOTERS NEED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT.

>> JUST KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE DEADLINE AND MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU MAIL YOUR BALLOT IN DO IT BY THE 27TH ON HE BRING IS IN PERSON TO MAKE SURE IT'S COUNTED ON TIME AND CHECK THE STATUS OFF YOUR BALANCE OUTLINE TO SEE WHERE IT IS AT ANY TIME.

>> WE SHOULD MENTION THAT WHAT, LIKE 80% OF VOTERS IN ARIZONA VOTE BY MAY.

>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE ELECTION.

>> IT'S DISRUPTIONS FOR THE MAIL-IN VOTING WOULD BE A DISRUPTION TO A LARGE SHARE OF VOTERS.

>> DO YOU HEAR ANY WORRIES FROM SECRETARY OF STATE OR COUNTY RECORDERS.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYBODY THAT I TALKED TO IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE.

I HAVE HEARD CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE WONDERING WHEN THE SAN DIEGO ISSUE WITH THE RECORDER WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM, SO YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR MARICOPA COUNT ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S BIG E69 SWING COUNTYING WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED AGAIN.

>> NO KIDDING EVERYONE WILL BE WATCHING US HERE AND YOU'LL HAVE A BUSY NIGHT I AM SURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> STEPHANIE MURRAY, ARIZONA PUBLIC, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ ♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ ♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ >> ARIZONA PBS IS OUR STATION.

WE ARE SUPPORTING IT TO BENEFIT FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF THE STATION IS THE REPLACEMENT OF ITS EXISTING TOWER ATOP SOUTH MOUNTAIN.

THAT'S WHY BILL AND SUE, ALONG WITH OTHER DONORS ISSUED A CHALLENGE MATCHA LAYING HOW LONG TO YOU DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT.

>> WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GO A PART OF THE PROJECT.

>> WON'T YOU PLEASE JOIN US.

VISIT MEET THE CHALLENGE.

♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ ♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ >> A NEW REPORT FROM EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA FINDS THAT STUDENTS PURSUING WORKFORCE PROGRAMS LIKE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ARE NOT GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.

THIS AS EMPLOYERS ARE STRUGGLING TO REACH THESE STUDENTS THROUGH CLEAR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME RICH NICKEL, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

AND, RICARDO LOPEZ VALENCIA, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE ALIGNMENT AT EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

GOOD POFF YOU BOTH HERE.

RICH, I WILL START WITH YOU IT SOUNDED LIKE IT'S I WAY TO GET A COUPLE OF PLAYS SPINNING THEIR WHEELS CLOSER TOWING.

>> WE ARE IN A REALLY GREAT TIME IN ARIZONA IN MANY WAYS.

ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE VAIL.

TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS FOLK IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AND THE WORKFORCE SYSTEMS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS, KNOW THAT THERE IS THIS REAL PRESSURE TO HAVE REALLY SKILLED TALENT MEETING THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE A THE LOVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING ON PARALLEL PATHS AND EDUCATION PATH, KIND OF A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PATH.

BUT WE ARE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO CONCENTRATE INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO BRING THOSE CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER.

AND HAVE A COORDINATION JUST TO HELP THE STATE BE ABLE TO SCALE SOME OF WHAT IT NEEDS.

>> STATEWIDE PROGRAM I IMAGINE TO HELP FACILITATE THESE CONVERSATIONS WHAT DO YOU SEE THIS PROGRAM LOOKING LIKE?

OR IS IT STILL JUST LET'S THINK ABOUT IT FIRST AND MOVE ON IT LATER?

>> THERE ARE WONDERFUL PARTNERS IN ARIZONA DOING AMAZING THINGS.

TO SET AIR STUDENTS ON CAREER PATHWAYS, WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THAT THEY ARE WORKING INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER.

YOU MENTIONED CAREER IT TECHNICAL EDUCATION THAT'S IN THE QUESTION-12 SOMETIMES THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM ARE ALL INDEPENDENT WHICH ARE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDING A FUTURE WORKFORCE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARIZONA'S LEARNERS.

THEN YOU HAVE OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS, THAT ARE ALSO PROVIDING CREDENTIALS, 4-YEAR DEGREES AND PROVIDING A FUTURE WORKFORCE AND OPPORTUNITIES AND THEN YOU HAVE 277-PLUS TRADE SCHOOLS.

>> YES.

>> THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THAT ARE ALSO PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY.

SO WHAT WE ARE CALLING FOR AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IS BEST PRACTICE IS ALIGNMENT AMONG THAT ECOSYSTEM.

ENSURING THAT WE ARE PROVIDING PATHWAYS THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIED THAT FAMILIES AND STUDENTS CAN NAVIGATE TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY EXISTS IN A STATE.

>> HOW DO YOU PUT THIS ALL UNDER ONE TENT.

AND IS ARIZONA MADE UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH SUCH A THING?

>> SO I WOULDN'T REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS AS PUTTING IT UNDER ONE TENT.

ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE NEED TO BE SOME COORDINATING ACTIVITY.

THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING OKAY A LOT OF INNOVATIVE THINGS GOING ON.

BUT AT THIS POINT, SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT REALLY SCALABLE.

UH-HUH WE ARE THINKING IS HOW DO WE HELP BETTER CONNECT SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON REGIONALLY, SO THAT OTHERS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE.

AND ALSO HOW DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT THAT CAN HELP COORDINATE THE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS.

WHERE THEY GET SHARE SUPPLY THERE THE SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS.

IF AN INDUSTRY COMES IT SEEMS UP TO THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE WORKFORCE IS GOING TO COME FROM.

WE THINK THERE IS REAL OPPORTUNITY THROUGH COORDINATE AND NOT THROUGH CONTROLLING.

>> NOT THROUGH HURTING, BUT COORDINATING THEIR ACTIVITY.

>> YEAH.

>> COORDINATING THEIR ACTIVITIES.

I MEAN, AFTER A WHILE DON'T THE TENTACLES RUN LONG AND DEEP?

>> THEY CAN.

AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOTICED AND SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DID INITIALLY, WAS TO SEE WHERE BEST PRACTICE EXISTED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE HAVE POINTED TO STATES LIKE FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, WASHINGTON, WHERE THEY HAVE CREATED EFFORTS WHETHER THROUGH LEGISLATIVE PROCESSOR EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHERE ALIGNMENT OCCURS, AND THAT IS -- THAT BENEFITS THOSE STUDENTS.

THE OPPORTUNITY HERE IN ARIZONA IS WHAT THAT WE ARE NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH AS RICH SAID, WE HAVE WONDERFUL AGENCIES, WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE COORDINATING, TED, BASED UPON RELATIONSHIP.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK WHERE HE ACTUALLY ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT THE EDUCATION TO WORKFORCE GOALS ARE.

WHICH INDUSTRY SECTORS WE ARE POINTING OUR STUDENTS TO AND, RECOGNIZING THAT A REGIONAL APPROACH IS JUST AS VALUABLE BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF COCONINO COUNTY, ARE UNIQUE THE NEEDS OF SANTA CRUZ, COCHISE COUNTY AND MARICOPA COUNTY AS WELL.

>> THAT'S WHERE THE BIG TENT MIGHT NOT MAKE SUCH A GREAT IDEA.

HOWEVER, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

ARE YOU GETTING IDEAS?

I THE THEY WOULD BE APPROVING OF SUCH A PROJECT.

BUT ARE YOU GETTING IDEAS?

I MEAN THE BEST PRACTICES ARE ONE THING BUT YOU GOTTA PUT THEM IN PLACE.

>> YEAH, THERE IS ACTUALLY I THINK I AM FEELING MOMENTUM AROUND THE IDEA.

PEOPLE CLEARLY KNOW WE CAN'T LEAVE 50% OF OUR ARIZONA STUDENTS BEHIND WHEN WE HAVE ALL OF THESE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE COMING TO OUR STATE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ARIZONA EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS TODAY, ONE THING YOU FIND IS THAT ONLY 50% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ARE GOING ONTO ANY TYPE OF POST-SECONDARY AFTERWARDS.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE ARE LEAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THE MONEY THAT THEY COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE STATE ON THE TABLE AND HAVING TO IMPORT THAT TALENT.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, HELIOS EDUCATION AND EDUCATION FORWARD, YOU KNOW, RELEASED A REPORT TODAY CALLED BILLIONS IN THE BALANCE.

AND WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT IF WE COULD GET OUR 2026 HIGH SCHOOL COHORT TO MEET THAT 60% ATTAINMENT GOAL WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, IT WOULD ADD $11.1 BILLION TO OUR ECONOMY.

SO YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE KIND OF HAVE THIS $11 BILLION GAP.

WE HAVE TO CLOSE THAT GAP BY BETTER COORDINATING THE EDUCATIONAL WORKFORCE PIPELINE.

>> WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES, RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE BUT WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES AS YOU SEE RIGHT NOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A CHALLENGE EVERYBODY TEDDY THINK THERE IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.

AND WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT ARIZONA STUDENTS DESERVE THE BEST.

AND THE JOB OF EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA IS TO END SURE THAT EDUCATION REMAINS AT THE CERTAINTY OF THIS CONVERSATION.

AND AS MUCH AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CAREER PATHWAYS, FOR STUDENTS, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT ARIZONA STUDENTS ARE READING PROFICIENCY AT THE THIRD GRADE AND MATH PROFICIENT BY THE EIGHTH GRADE AND GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THERE IS WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT AND THERE IS SUPPORT REGARDLESS OF PARTY, REGARDLESS OF ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE A POINTING IN THE SAME REX.

>> REAL QUICKLY, IS FUNDING AN ISSUE HERE?

>> FUNDING IS NOT NECESSARILY AN ISSUE AT THIS POINT.

CERTAINLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME ALLOCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT COORDINATION IS EFFECTIVE.

FUNDING IS NOT REALLY THE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS THE IT'S REALLY ABOUT BEING INTENTIONAL IN THE DESIGN OF HOW THE SYSTEM WORK TOGETHER.

>> RICH, RICARDO, GOOF TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> REALLY APPRECIATE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ >> ALONG U.S.

93 BETWEEN KINGMAN AND LAKE MEAD IS THE WONDER.

EIGHT MAILS WAY IS THE ORIGINAL SITE OF THE TOWN OF WHITEHILLS, WHERE 15 MINES PRODUCED MORE THAN $12 MILLION IN GOLD AND SILVER.

WHEN WORD OF THE STRIKE FINALLY GOT OUT, WHITEHILLS WENT FROM NOTHING TO A TOWN OF 1500 IN TWO YEARS.

AT ITS HEIGHT, THEY POSTED A POST OFFICE, ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONE SERVICE, GENERAL STORES, A SCHOOLHOUSE, AND PLENTY OF SALOONS, BY 1914, THE BOOM HAD GONE BUST.

AND BY THE 1930s, THE RUINED REMAINED YET THE PEOPLE WERE GONE.

TODAY THERE IS LITTLE LEFT TO REMIND US OF THE RAPID RISE AND FALL OF WHITEHILLS.

♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ ♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ >> RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING TO GROW ALGAE BY WAY OF CAPTURING CO-2 FROM THE AIR AND THEN PUTTING THE CARBON DIOXIDE IN LIQUID THAT HOUSES AND GROWS ALGAE.

IT'S A PROCESS THAT COULD HAVE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BY REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASSES.

WIM VERMAAS IS BEHIND THIS RESEARCH, HE'S FROM ASU'S SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES.

>> WELCOME DO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YEAH.

LET'S TALK -- FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS ALGAE?

>> THEY ARE VERY LARGE GROUP OF LITTLE PHOTOSYNTHETIC MIKE ROBES AND THEY REALLY ARE EVERYWHERE.

THEY ARE A VERY WIDE VARIETY OF ORGANISMS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN LIVING FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS.

AND THEY ARE THE SOURCE OF THE OXYGEN THAT WE ARE BREATHING.

>> HOLY SMOKE, BUT THEY BE BE CULTIVATED INTO FUELS, CHEMICALS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> YEAH.

MANY PRODUCTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE LIKE LIKE BETACAROTENE COMES FROM ALGAE.

AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PRODUCTS THAT NOW ARE BEING LOOKED AT.

WE CAN MAKE THAT FROM ALGAE TOO, AND YOU CAN PUT GENES IN THAT WILL MAKE THE ALGAE PRODUCE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY DIDN'T MAKE.

AND THAT'S HELPS YOU TO ACTUALLY MAKE THINGS THAT NOW YOU GET OUT OF PASS THE FUELS.

OUT OF OTHER THINGS ET CETERA.

>> ALGAE IS GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT IN THAT WAY BUT FEEDING THE ALGAE AND GROWING THE ALGAE USING "KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON", TALK ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH, YOUR PLANS OF HE CAN TRACKING IT FROM THE AIR AND PUTTING IT IN TO LIQUID NO THAT GOES, THAT WORKING HUH?

>> USUALLY WHAT PEOPLE DO IN THE PAST IS JUST BUBBLE, CO2 FROM COMPRESSED GASES.

AND WHAT THEN HAPPENS IS MOST OF THE CO2 IS ACTUALLY GOING OUT.

SPOT AREA RATHER THAN HAVING A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE CO2.

>> YEAH.

>> PRESENCE IN THE AIR IT HAS A NEGATIVE EVENING.

SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TAKE IT FROM THE AIR DIRECTLY, YOU CAN SAY, WELL, YOU CAN BUBBLE ALL THAT -- ALL THAT AIR, TOO, BUT THAT IS WAY TOO ENERGY INTENSIVE.

SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS HAVE CO2 ABSORB TO CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS, WHEN IT IS DRY, THEY GET TRANSPORTED INTO THE LIQUID.

THEN THE CO2 COMES OFF, AND GETS EATEN BY THE ALGAE.

SO IN THAT WAY, YOU HAVE A DIRECT TRANSPORT ESSENTIALLY FROM THE AIR INTO THE WATER.

AND THEN THOSE CHEMICAL COUNTS GO OUT AGAIN, OUT OF THE WATER, THEY DRY, THEY ABSORB CO2, AND.

>> DID YOU DO THE WHOLE THING ALL OVER AGAIN IT'S LIKE A ROTATING BELT, AGAIN, CORRECT?

>> IT IS A ROTATING BELT AND TALKS A COUPLE OF HOURS FOR THE BELT TO MAKE THE CYCLE.

AND IT'S -- IT TRAN PORTS CO2 FROM THE AIR INTO THE MEDIUM.

>> I UNDERSTAND IN READING ABOUT THIS THAT YOU USE POLYMERS TO KIND OF CAPTURE THE C OFF.

TWO AND THEN DUNK -- CO2 AND DUNK IT INTO THE WATER.

WHAT A PALMER AND WHY DOES IT WORK AS OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER METHOD.

>> THESE ARE SPECIFIC ONES THEY ARE AMONIUM COMPOUNDS, AND THEY SPECIAL IN THAT THEY ABSORB CO2.

THAT WAS WORK THAT ONE OF THE FACULTY MEMBERS CLAUSE FOUND ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS AGO.

WHERE C OFF.

TWO CAN ABSORB WHEN IT IS DRY, AND IT RELEASED AGAIN WHEN IT IS WET.

>> WOW.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE POLYMERS GO FROM THE AIR INTO THE MEDIAL, YOU CAN TRANSPORT CO2 ALONG WITH IT.

>> NOW, IS THIS KIND OF ACTION, IS IT JUST AL JAY SPECIFIC -- ALGAE SPECIFIC CAN IT BE USED IN OTHER WAYS FOR OTHER THINGS?

>> OH, YES, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS EATING CO2.

AND SOMETHING USEFUL OUT OF THAT.

ALGAE ARE QUITE NICE IN THAT BECAUSE THE NATURAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS PROCESS TAKES CO2, FIXES THE CARBON AND MAKES VALUABLE PRODUCTS OUT OF THAT CARBON.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT ALGAE, YEARS AGO IT WAS A HOT TOPIC EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT IT'S THE NEXT BIG THAT.

IT SEEMED LIKE IT COOL DOWN OVER THE YEARS IS THE PROMISE STILL THERE FOR ALGAE?

>> YES.

IT HAS TO BE QUITE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO USE IT FOR.

MAYBE IT A DOZEN YEARS AGO PEOPLE THOUGHT, OH, YEAH, THIS IS A GREAT THING AND IT CAN MAKE BIOFUELS AND IT CA MAKE ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.

IT CAN ACTUALLY DO SO BUT DOING SO ECONOMICALLY IS VERY DIFFICULT.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS GROW ALGAE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE VALUABLE COMPOUNDS, AND THEY MAKE FUEL, TOO, AND THEN THE VALUABLE COMPOUNDS PROVIDE YOU WITH THE ECONOMIC DRIVER.

>> I SEE.

>> TO MAKE THIS WORKABLE.

AND THE FUELS AND STUFF THAT IS JUST EXTRA.

AND THAT'S A NICE THING TOO.

>> ON A GRAND SCALE THAT'S AN EVENING NICER THING THERE, ASU SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES FOR YOU SHARING THE RESEARCH IT'S FASCINATING STUFF AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU BET.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW I AM TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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