>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE LEGAL ARGUMENTS FOR DONALD TRUMP BEING REMOVED FROM PRIMARY BALLOTS IN MAINE AND COLORADO.

ALSO TONIGHT, WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS WANT TO SEE.

AND A VOLLEY VALLEY MOM GETS HER LIFE BACK AFTER A SURGE.

SURGERY.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS IS MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE BORDER CHECK POINT AT LUKEVILLE IS SET TO OPEN UP TOMORROW.

IT WAS CLOSED ON DECEMBER 4th DECEMBER 4th DUE TO AN INFLUX OF MIGRANTS.

IT WAS CRITICIZED DUE TO CROSS-BORDER BUSINESS TRAFFIC AND IT PROVIDES DIRECT ACCESS TO THE BEACHTOWN OF ROCKY POINT.

GOVERNOR HOBBS RESPONDING AS WELCOMED NEWS BUT CRITICAL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SENDS MORE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

BORDER SECURITY TALKS ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON CAPITOL HILL FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER.

>> OUR NEGOTIATORS ARE HERE NOW AND THEY HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION WHO'S NOW CLOSELY INVOLVED ALL OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND WE'RE CLOSER THAN WE HAVE BEEN AND THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE AND THERE'S STILL DIFFERENT ISSUES TO BE OVERCOME WITH.

>> Ted: BUT THAT INCREASE IN FUNDING CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH ACCORDING TO THE HEAD OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

>> WE WILL NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PERFORM OUR JOBS AS FULLY AND COMPLETELY AS WE COULD DO SO.

WE NEED THEM NOW AND THAT IS WHY THE PRESIDENT SUBMITTED A SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING PACKAGE QUITE SOMETIME AGO.

WE NEED ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO ADVANCE THE SECURITY AT THE BORDER.

WE NEED TECHNOLOGY TO ADVANCE OUR FIGHT AGAINST FENTANYL.

WE NEED ADDITIONAL ASYLUM OFFICERS TO SILENCE THE AADJUDICATION PROCESS.

>> IT'S WHY THE LUKEVILLE CROSSING WAS CLOSED.

>>> JOB OPENINGS FELL TO THE LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 2021 AND THE NUMBERS ARE IN LINE WITH OTHER ECONOMIC INDICATORS AS INTEREST RATES REMAIN AT 22-YEAR HIGHS.

TODAY'S JOB REPORT IS A SIGN THE WHITE HOT ECONOMY IS BEGINNING TO COOL DOWN.

>>> DONALD TRUMP WAS RECENTLY REMOVED FROM PRIMARY BALLOTS IN COLORADO AND MAINE FOR HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN THE JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

IT CAME BY WAY OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

AS FOR MAINE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE MADE THE DECISION TO REMOVE TRUMP FROM THE BALLOT.

BOTH STATES CITE THE 14th 14th AMENDMENT BAN ON INSURRECTIONISTS HOLDING OFFICE AS A REASON FOR THEIR DECISIONS.

HERE TO DISCUSS THIS IS STEPHEN MONTOYA, PARTNER WITH MONTOYA, LUCERO AND PASTOR, ONE OF OUR GO-TO CONSTITUTIONAL GUYS.

THIS IS INTERESTING STUFF.

WHY DID COLORADO SUPREME COURT DO WHAT THEY DID?

WHY DID THE MAIN SECRETARY OF STATE DO WHAT SHE DID?

>> WELL, THEY BASED ON THE ARTICLE, SECTION 3 OF THE 14th AMENDMENT, ENACTED BY OUR CONGRESS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IN 1868.

IT BASICALLY PRECLUDES ANYONE FROM HOLDING ANY OFFICE WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN AN ONLY TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION BUT HAS VIOLATED THAT OATH IN THE FORM OF INSURRECTION OR REBELLION.

THE COURT CONCLUDED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD GIVEN AID AND COMFORT TO THE INSURRECTIONISTS OF JANUARY JANUARY 6th.

AND AND CONSEQUENTLY HE COULD NOT HOLD OFFICE AGAIN.

>> Ted: WHAT PROOF IS NEEDED FOR A COURT OR SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAKE SUCH A MOVE?

>> THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION THEORETICALLY.

IN THE REAL WORLD, IT'S NOT THAT HARD OF A QUESTION BECAUSE IN THIS CASE, YOU HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP ON JANUARY 6th TELLING THE CROWD TO MARCH TO PENNSYLVANIA -- AT PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE WHERE A HANGED MAN'S NOOSE WAS PREPARED FOR MIKE PENCE AND THEY WERE ABOUT TO CERTIFY THE ELECTORAL VOTE AND HE WAS URGING THE CROWD TO MARCH TO THE CAPITOL AND DISRUPT THAT CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS, WHICH IS BY ANY DEFINITION INSURRECTION.

>> Ted: THAT SAID, THERE'S A LINE OF THOUGHT THAT YET YOU JUST PRESENTED A GREAT CASE, REALLY STRONG, REALLY SOLID AND HE HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANYTHING.

AND YOU NEED TO WAIT FOR A CONVICTION BEFORE MAKING THIS MOVE.

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THERE'S NO HISTORICAL PRECEDENT FOR THAT.

EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PRECLUDED FROM HOLDING OFFICE IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN CONVICTED CRIMINALLY OF INSURRECTION.

BUT GOING BACK TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, WHAT PROCESS IS DUE?

THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS, BUT HE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONFRONT ADVERSE WITNESSES, TO SUBPOENA DOCUMENTS.

HE WASN'T GIVEN A JURY TRIAL.

HE WAS GIVEN A TRIAL BEFORE A JUDGE.

IN THE CASE OF COLORADO, A REAL JUDGE, A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.

IN MAINE, HE WAS GIVEN AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING WHICH IS NOT A TRIAL BEFORE OFFICERS, SPECIFICALLY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

AND THE PROBLEM WITH SECTION 3 OF THE 14th AMENDMENT, IT DOESN'T PRESCRIBE ANY TYPE OF PROCESS TO EFFECTUATE THE ACT.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, THERE WAS A PROCESS BECAUSE THE SOUTH WAS OCCUPIED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY SWORN TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION WERE HOLDING OFFICES IN THE CONFEDERATE STATES.

SO A STATUTE WAS PASSED IN 1860 AND THE UNITED STATES' ARMY ENFORCED IT BY KICKING PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE WHO HAD HELD OFFICE UNDER THE CONFEDERACY AFTER THEY HAD SWORN TO UPHOLD OR CONSTITUTION.

>> Ted: I WANT TO HAVE YOU COMMENT ON SOMETHING THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID WHEN SHE REMOVED HIM FROM THE JOB.

SHE BASICALLY SAID HE TOOK NO TIMELY ACTION TO STOP IT.

YET, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, WHAT ABOUT THIS THOUGHT, THAT REMOVING HIS NAME FROM THAT BALLOT OR ANY BALLOT BASICALLY SUSPENDS THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF VOTERS.

>> WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE A CIVIL RIGHT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT QUALIFIED.

I CANNOT VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I CANNOT VOTE FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD TO BE THE PRESIDENT.

SO THAT'S REALLY NOT IN THE REALM -- YOU DON'T HAVE A CIVIL RIGHT TO SOMEONE NOT QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE AND THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL QUALIFICATION UNDER THE 14th AMENDMENT.

>> Ted: WILD SWING WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN?

>> A WILD SWING, BUT THEY HAVE A STRONG POINT.

THERE'S NO PRESCRIBED PROCESS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER HE AIDED AND ABETTED AND GAVE COMFORT NO INSURRECTIONISTS AND WILL THAT BE DETERMINED STATE BY DETERMINE?

OR WILL THAT BE DETERMINED NATIONWIDE?

BECAUSE IT'S A NATIONAL LEX, ELECTION, YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DETERMINED ONCE AND IT WOULD BE APPLIED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> Ted: THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, THEY WANT THIS TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE SUPREME COURT, GO DIRECTLY NOW AND HOW DO YOU SEE THAT ALL PLAYING OUT?

>> I THINK IT'S, HONESTLY, ONE OF THE CHALLENGING, MOST CHALLENGING LEGAL ISSUES I'VE EVER THOUGHT OF.

I THINK IT'S A MESS AND WHAT I THINK THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO DO IS I THINK THEY'LL SAY, HEY, LISTEN, YOU VERY WELL MIGHT BE RIGHT.

HE MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO REMOVAL, BUT CONGRESS FIRST HAS TO PASS A LAW LIKE SETTING FORTH A PROCEDURE, A UNIFORM PROCEDURE THAT IS GOING TO DECIDE THIS ISSUE FOR THE COUNTRY ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT STATE BY STATE.

BECAUSE WE CANNOT HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE ONE ELECTED FEDERAL OFFICE, THE PRESIDENCY, IN TEXAS BUT NOT IN COLORADO.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE ELECT PRESIDENTS.

>> Ted: THAT KIND OF ANSWERS MY LAST QUESTION HERE, WHICH IS IF THE 14th AMENDMENT IN THIS APPLICATION OF THE 14th 14th AMENDMENT, IT DOESN'T APPLY NOW IN THIS SITUATION, WHEN DOES IT APPLY?

DOES IT ON APPLY ONCE CONGRESS FIGURES OUT THE LOGISTICS?

>> ARGUABLY.

ONE OF THE REASONS THIS IS A NOVEL ISSUE, WE'VE NEVER HAD AMERICAN CITIZENS RAID THE CAPITOL TRYING TO DERAIL A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

LET HOPE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> Ted: INDEED.

THE LAST QUESTION, IF THE SUPREME COURT -- IF AND WHEN THEY DECIDE, BROAD RULING OR VERY NARROW?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A BROAD RULING THAT IN ORDER FOR THIS PROCESS TO PROCEED, CONGRESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO ACT AND BECAUSE CONGRESS IS NOT GOING TO ACT, NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THE RULING FROM COLORADO AND THE RULING FROM MAINE WILL BE REVERSED.

>> Ted: WOW!

GOOD STUFF.

STEPHEN MONTOYA, JUST FASCINATING AND IT'S AMAZING!

>> IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE AND AN INTERESTING, FASCINATING AND VERY TOUGH ISSUE.

>> Ted: THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, WE HEAR FROM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM THE UPCOMING LEGISLATURE SESSION.

♪♪ >> WELCOME TO "CHECK, PLEASE, ARIZONA."

>> YOU PICKED THIS, WHY?

>> ANYTHING YOU ORDER WILL BE PHENOMENAL.

>> I ADD MEATBALLS.

>> GARLICKY IN THE BEST WAY.

I WAS THAT PERSON THAT WENT UP TO THE SALSA BAR FOUR TIMES.

>> I'M GETTING HUNGRY.

>> HEY, JOIN ME FOR A LOOK AT THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE 20th 20th CENTURY AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKED FROM GRITTY REALISM TO A NEW ERADCISM, TO THE PRIMITIVISM OF THE FOLKS AND TO THE STRANGE DREAMS OF SURREALISM.

WE'LL SEE HOW PICASSO EVOLVED WITH THE CENTURY.

WHILE THE ART WORLD WENT ABSTRACT AND INTO THE STREETS.

>> THURSDAY NIGHT ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> CLASSICAL ARIZONA PBS, YOUR CLASSICAL MUSIC CONNECTION.

LISTEN TO CLASSICAL ARIZONA PBS ON DIGITAL 8.5, ON THE GO, DOWNLOAD THE FREE CLASSICAL APP TO LISTEN TO EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCES ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICES, ACCESS A LISTENING OF CONCERTS ACROSS ARIZONA.

VIEW VIDEO, PICTURES AND MORE AND DON'T FORGET TO KEEP UP WITH ARIZONA PBS ON TWITTER.

THIS IS YOUR CLASSICAL MUSIC CONNECTION.

♪♪ >> Ted: THE LEGISLATURE IS SET TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS NEXT WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND WITH THAT IN MIND THIS WEEK, WE WILL BE HEARING WHAT ADVOCATES FOR A VARIETY OF ISSUES ARE LOOKING FOR FROM LAWMAKERS IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

LASTER NIGHT, WE HEARD FROM BUSINESS INTERESTS AND TONIGHT, FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY.

OUR GUEST, SANDY BAHR, THE GRAND CANYON CHAMPION AND VANIA GUEVARA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> SANDY, OVERALL PRIORITIES, IS ALPHA?

>> WATER HAS BEEN THE PRIORITY FOR SURE.

WE THINK IT'S WAY PAST TIME FOR THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE TO DO SOMETHING REAL ABOUT WATER.

WE ARE IN AN ARID STATE AND WE KNOW WE HAVE LESS WATER AND WE NEED TO BE CONSERVING IT A LOT BETTER INSTEAD OF CREATING MORE LOOPHOLES, WHICH THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

IT'S TIME TO CLOSE THEM AND TO LIMIT GROUNDWATER PUMPING AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS SAFE, ADEQUATE DRINKING WATER.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS CHISPA IS CONCERNED, LET'S START WITH WATER.

>> WE JUST WANT THESE BILLS TO BE HEARD.

OFTENTIMES ANYTHING RELATED TO CLIMATE OR ENVIRONMENTAL SEEMS TO BE DEAD ON ARRIVAL AND, UNFORTUNATELY, LEGISLATORS MAY NOT BELIEVE CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING OR SOMETIMES ARE PUT OFF BY CERTAIN TERMINOLOGIES THAT WE FACE.

ANYTIME WE MENTION ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE OR RACIAL EQUITY, IT FALLS ON DEAD EARS.

>> Ted: IF THAT'S THE CASE, IS THERE A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAYBE NOT HAVE VERBIAGE FROM THAT?

>> WE'VE GOT CREATIVE AND CLEVER AND WORKED WITH LEGISLATORS WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT WE DO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF, YOU KNOW, HEAT IMPACTING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

LAST SESSION, WE INTRODUCED THE KID'S BILL FOR FUNDING IN SCHOOL SO THAT KIDS AND STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO SHADE AND NATURE.

THERE'S STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT IT HELPS LEARNING AND ACTUALLY TO COOL THE PLAYGROUND.

IT DIDN'T GET A HEARING, BUT WE WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE TREES IN SCHOOL.

WE HOPE A LOT OF THE BILLS GET HEARD.

>> Ted: SANDY, I THINK I READ 20 WATER BILLS WERE FILED AND READY TO GO AND HIT THE RUNWAY.

ARE THESE WATER BILLS LIKE TO SEE OR LOOPHOLES?

>> THEY'RE MEASURES OR ADDITIONAL LOOPHOLES.

THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL AND WE THINK THOSE NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED.

THERE ARE THINGS THE GOVERNOR CAN DUE ADMINISTRATIVELY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.

THEY CAN SAY, LOOK, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREAS.

THESE ARE THE AREAS WHERE WE LIMIT GROUNDWATER PUMPING.

THERE OUGHT TO BE MORE OF THOSE.

THERE NEED TO BE MORE LIMITS AND IT'S HARMING PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Ted: I WANT TO GET TO CLIMATE ISSUES AND CLEAN ENERGY, BUT TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE LAWMAKERS DO TO GET IT DONE?

>> IT MEANS COMMUNITY OF CHORE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME LIFE EXPECTANCY IN WAYS OF AIR POLLUTION, ACCESS TO HEALTHY WATER AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE SEE A DIFFERENCE OF DEGREES OF TEMPERATURE ABOVE, EIGHT DEGREES BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH PHOENIX.

FOR US, WE WANT TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE IT CAN BE AN INTIMIDATING PLACE FOR A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEDICALS.

MEMBERS.

IT'S UP TO US TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AND WE WORK WITH ALLIES TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS TO MAKE THEIR STORIES THE EXPERT EFFORT COMMUNITIES AND TO ENSURE THEIR STORIES ARE HEARD SO THAT ACTION IS TAKEN.

>> Ted: IS THAT AN IDEA THAT YEARS PAST, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT HEARING AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND NOW THE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING?

>> BECAUSE OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SIERRA CLUB, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE COMING OUT MARGINALIZED.

>> Ted: CLIMATE ISSUES, CLEAN ENERGY AND HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE DONE THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, IT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT AND OUT THERE EVEN IF THEY DON'T TAKE ACTION.

THE GOVERNOR, LAST YEAR NOW, 2023, ESTABLISHED THE OFFICE OF RESILIENCY AND OFFICE OF RESILIENCY IS WORKING ON CLIMATE ACTION PLANNING.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORT THAT WORK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DOLLARS COMING TO ARIZONA FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AND WE ARE, BUT THERE'S MORE WE CAN DO.

AND THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE HELPING WITH THAT.

SO WHETHER THEY DECIDE TO GET ON BOARD WITH THAT OR NOT, I CAN'T SAY.

WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO IN THE PAST AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THE SAME PERSON WHO'S BEEN STOPPING ALL THE WATER BILLS, REPRESENTATIVE GAIL GRIFFIN, PROMOTING ANTISOLAR BILLS EACH SESSION AND WILL LIKELY BE DOING MORE OF THAT.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, BUT ONE-VOTE MARGIN AND YOU HAVE LAST YEAR, BIG SURPLUS.

THIS GO AROUND, 400 MILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT AND HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO ALL OF THIS?

>> IT MEANS THEY WILL BE LOOKING TO CUT PROGRAMS, IMPORTANT PROGRAMS AND WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE A HARD, YOU KNOW, CASE FOR KEEPING WATER FUNDING BEEN, PROTECTING OUR WATER QUALITY AND NOT TAKING MORE MONEY AWAY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES OR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

BECAUSE THAT'S INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE AND WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD MORE CUTS THERE.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH SESSION, FOR SURE.

>> Ted: THE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, IT SOUNDS LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, THEY'RE PLAYING DEFENSE AT THE CAPITOL AND ARE YOU EXPECTING MORE OF THE SAME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT WE HAVE STRONG ALLIES IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WITH THE OFFICE OF RESILIENCY AND WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE IT WORK SOMEHOW DESPITE THE DEFICIT.

>> Ted: THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> TONIGHT, THE RIFS OF A REGIONAL CONFLICT COMING UP AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND CONCERNS VIA EMAIL AT ARIZONA HORIZON@ASU.EDU.

>> Ted: NICOLE PHILIPS WAS DIAGNOSED BY EPILEPSY EPILEPSY AS A TEENAGER.

NICOLE UNDERWENT SURGERY AND IT INVOLVED REMOVING PART OF NICOLE'S BRAIN.

IT WORKED AND SHE WAS ABLE TO RESUME A NORMAL LIFE.

IT'S QUITE THE STORY AND TONIGHT, WE'RE JOINED BY NICOLE PHILIPS AND THE NEUROSURGEON.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> I'M REALLY GOOD.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HEAR.

LET'S START WITH THE BASICS.

DOCTOR, WE THINK WE KNOW WHAT EPILEPSY IS, BUT WHAT IS EPILEPSY?

>> SO EPILEPSY IS THE CONDITION WHERE THE BRAIN HAS UNPREDICTABLE ELECTRICAL STORMS WHICH SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE BRAIN.

THEY DISRUPT FUNCTIONS LIKE MOVEMENT, SPEECH, UNDERSTANDING AND CAN BE ASSOCIATED IN RARE CASES WITH SUDDEN DEATH.

THIS SOMETIMES DOESN'T RESPOND TO MEDICATION.

WHEN MEDICATIONS DON'T WORK TO CONTROL THE SEIZURES, THEN WE HAVE TO START TO THINK ABOUT SURGICAL OPTIONS.

>> Ted: AT WHAT AGE IS IT DIAGNOSED OR CAN IT BE DIAGNOSED AT ANY AGE?

>> IT CAN BE DIAGNOSED IN AGE AGE AND HAPPEN IN CHILDREN OR OLDER ADULTS.

IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY AGE.

>> Ted: DOES IT ALWAYS GET WORSE OR EVER EASE?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, MEDICATIONS CAN CONTROL SEIZURES.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, IN ABOUT 30% OF PEOPLE, MEDICATIONS STOP WORKING OR THE SEIZURES BECOME RESISTANT TO MEDICATION IN.

THEN WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE SURGICAL OPTIONS TO TREAT THE EPILEPSY.

>> Ted: NICOLE, DID YOU KNOW IT WAS GOING ON?

>> I WAS DIAGNOSED WHEN I WAS 14 BACK IN 2008.

I KNEW WHAT IT WAS BUT I ONLY HAD A COUPLE OF SEIZURES AND I WAS PUT ON MEDICATION THAT WORKED.

ABOUT TWO TO THREE YEARS AGO, I STARTED HAVING SEIZURES ALL OF THE TIME.

I WAS SENT OVER TO THE MAYO CLINIC AND THEY TRIED MORE MEDICATION AND NOTHING WAS HELPING.

SO THAT'S WHEN DR. PARKER CAME TO ME AND WAS, LIKE, WE NEED TO HAVE SURGERY.

>> Ted: WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT SURGERY?

>> I WAS VERY SCARED, NORMALLY, OF COURSE, BUT THE TEAM IS AMAZING AND I KNEW I WOULD GET MY LIFE BACK AND IT HAD TO BE DONE.

>> Ted: DESCRIBE THE SURGERY.

ARE YOU REMOVING A PART OF THE BRAIN AND IT IS NOW -- THERE'S NOTHING THERE NOW OR HOW DOES THIS WORK?

>> AS NICOLE MENTIONED, WE CAN ONLY DO THIS TYPE OF SURGERY BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM.

WE ALL WORK TOGETHER AS PART OF A LARGER TEAM.

TO DO THIS TYPE OF SURGERY, WE START WITH THE BEST INFORMATION.

THAT MEANS GETTING THE BEST BRAIN IMAGING, THE EEG IMAGING AND SEEING A PICTURE NOW OF THE MRI SCAN OF NICOLE'S BRAIN AND WE HAVE TO PINPOINT WHAT THIS OTHER BRAIN SIGNAL INFORMATION, WHERE EXACTLY THE SEIZURES WERE COMING FROM AND THEN WE DESIGNED THE SMALL SURGERIES TO REMOVE THAT AREA OF THE BRAIN WHERE THE SEIZURES WERE COMING FROM.

WHAT MADE NICOLE'S SURGERY CHALLENGING, SO RISKY FOR THE TEAM IS THAT THIS LITTLE ABNORMAL COLLECTION OF BRAIN CELLS THAT WERE CAUSING THE SEIZURES WERE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MOTOR AREA OF THE BRAIN, RIGHT NEXT TO THE AREA OF THE BRAIN THAT CONTROLS THE LEFT LEG AND THE LEFT LEG SENSORY.

>> Ted: WOW!

>> WE HAD TO BE PRECISE IN MAKING SURE WE PRESERVE NICOLE'S LEG FUNCTION IN DOING THE SURGE.

SURGERY.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU SEE THE AND ABNORMALITIES, IS THERE JUST ONE?

>> WE'RE LUCKY TO TREAT THAT ONE AREA.

SOMETIMES WE SEE MULTIPLE AREAS WHERE THERES ABNORMALITIES.

WE CAN STIMULATE THE BRAIN TO STOP SEIZURES.

IN THIS CASE, SINCE IT WAS ONE, WHAT WE CALL FOCAL OR A SMALL AREA OF THE BRAIN, WE WANTED TO CALL FOR THE SURGICAL CURE TO GIVE NICOLE THE BEST CHANCE NOT TO HAVE SEIZURES AT ALL ANYMORE.

THAT WAS THE SURGICAL OPTION, TO REMOVE THOSE NEURONS OR CELLS CAUSING THE SEIZURES.

>> Ted: USUALLY IT'S TO GET BETTER, SOMETHING IS BOTHERING THEM AND NOW IT'S NOT BOTHERING THEM ANYMORE OR WON'T OVER TIME.

WITH YOUR SURGERY, IT IS TO KEEP SOMETHING THAT WAS BOTHERING YOU AWAY.

SO WHEN YOU WOKE UP AND THE FIRST DAY OR TWO, WHAT YOU WERE THINKING?

I MEAN, WERE YOU LIKE, IT'S NOT HAPPENING?

THIS IS GOOD.

>> I ALWAYS HAD IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, WILL IT HAPPEN AND IT WAS REALLY CRAZY THAT I HAD TO TEACH MYSELF THAT IT IS OK.

I WAS ONE-YEAR SEIZURE FREE AND THAT'S HUGE.

>> Ted: WOW!

>> NOW I KNOW I'LL BE OK. >> Ted: WAS THE LEFT LEG OK AND THEY DID A GOOD JOB ON THAT LEFT LEG?

>> A VERY GOOD JOB.

MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE, I COULDN'T FEEL IT AND OK AND DR. PARKER WASN'T CONCERNED.

NO ONE WAS CONCERNED.

AS THE SWELLING GOES DOWN, THE FUNCTION WILL COME BACK.

I'M FINE, FEEL EVERYTHING AND NO ISSUES AT ALL.

>> Ted: SOUNDS LIKE A TOTAL SUCCESS THERE, DOCTOR.

>> IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM AND GREAT TECHNOLOGY.

WHEN NICOLE WAS ASLEEP DURING SURGERY, WE USED DIFFERENT SYSTEMS TO NAP THE BRAIN SO WE COULD SEE IT AT A SMALL LEVEL ON THE MICROSCOPIC SCALE, IF YOU WILL, WHERE THE FUNCTION IS IN THE BRAIN.

WE USE THAT TECHNOLOGY AND WE USE THAT EXPERT TEAM AT THE MAYO CLINIC TO DO THE SURGERY SAFELY.

>> Ted: OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DO WHEN MEDICATION DOESN'T WORK.

ARE WE HITTING A POINT WHERE YOU CAN POSSIBLY DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND SIDE-STEP MEDICATION?

>> SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WE'RE WORKING ONLY THINGS LIKE THAT.

FOR INSTANCE, IN MY RESEARCH LABORATORY, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO STIMULATE THE BRAIN AND THERE'S INTEREST IF STEM CELL THERAPY TO REPAIR AR ABNORMAL CIRCUIT INDUSTRY.

WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING TO SIDE-STEP TO DO A SURGERY WHERE WE REMOVE SOMETHING.

>> Ted: BEFORE YOU GO, WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, DO I UNDERSTAND YOU PICKED UP AN ARIZONA CARDINAL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD?

>> YES.

HE WAS AT THE GAS STATION AND HE CALLED MY HUSBAND AND SAID, HEY, CAN YOU HELP ME OUT?

ARE YOU GOING TO THE STADIUM?

YEAH, SURE.

WE TOOK HIM TO THE CARDINAL'S STADIUM.

>> Ted: DO YOU REMEMBER HIS NAME?

>> JESSE LOKETTA.

HANGING WITH THE CARDINALS.

>> Ted: NICOLE, BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FORTED SIMONS.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.