>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

HEAR ABOUT WAYS TO STAY SAFE AND HELP PREVENT HEAT DEATHS DURING OUR TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES .>> WE'LL ALSO DISCUSS THE RECENT ANNIVERSARY MARKING THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

>> AND WE'LL LEARN ABOUT A NEW ART EXHIBITION FEATURED AT THE SCOTTSDALE CIVIC CENTER.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS HOW SHALL OF LOCAL NEWS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS OF FRIENDS ON PBS.

THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS IN PHOENIX TODAY.TRUMP APPEARED AT THE DREAM CITY CHURCH FOR A TOWN HALL EVENT PUT ON BY TURNING POINT ACTION, A LOCAL CONVSERVATIVE GROUP HEADED BY CHARLIE KIRK.

AT THE EVENT, TRUMP TOOK QUESTIONS FROM AUDIENCE MEMBERS.

DURING THE RALLY, TRUMP SAID PRESIDENT BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUED THIS WEEK CLAMPING DOWN ON ASYLUM WAS QUOTE "REALLY PRO-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN PLEADED NOT GUILTY TODAY FOR HIS ROLE IN THE FAKE ELECTORS CASE TO TRY TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION.

HOFFMAN WAS ONE OF 18 PEOPLE INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY IN CONNECTION WITH A SCHEME TO DECLARE DONALD TRUMP THE WINNER OF THE ELECTION IN ARIZONA, EVEN THROUGH PRESIDENT BIDEN WON.

THE HEAD OF THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CRIMINAL DIVISION SAID HOFFMAN COULD REMAIN FREE AT THIS TIME BUT NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE BOOKING PROCESS.

TODAY IS THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF D- DAY, THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN WORLD HISTORY.

THE START OF ALLIED OPERATIONS THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY FREE WESTERN EUROPE.

SPEAKING IN NORMANDY FRANCE PRESIDENT BIDEN MARKED THE ANNIVERSARY BY PLEDGING TO NOT WALK AWAY FROM UKRAINE.

DRAWING A COMPARISON TO TODAY'S WAR BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA TO NAZI DOMINATION.

BIDEN SAID TODAY THAT QUOTE, "TO SURRENDER TO BULLIES TO BOW DOWN TO DICTATORS, IS SIMPLY UNTHINKABLE.

>> WE ARE LIVING WHEN DEMOCRACY IS MORE AT RISQUE CROSS THE WORLD SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II AND THE BEACHES WERE STORMED.

>> FORMER TRUMP ADVISOR STEVE BANNON HAS BEEN ORDERED TO REPORT TO PRISON JULY FIRST FOR CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS CHARGES.

BANNON WAS SENTENCED TO FOUR MONTHS FOR FAILING TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONY TO THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE JANUARY SIXTH INSURRECTION.

BANNON'S SENTENCE HAD BEEN PAUSED WHILE HE APPEALED HIS CONVICTION.

A JUDGE RULED BANNON CAN CONTINUE WITH HIS APPEAL, BUT THE SENTENCE MUST BE SERVED STARTING NEXT MONTH.

AND, YESTERDAY, A JUDGE RULED THAT GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS BROKE THE LAW BY GOING AROUND THE STATE SENATE TO APPOINT DE FACTO DIRECTORS OF STATE AGENCIES AFTER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS STYMIED HER ATTEMPTS TO APPOINT THE DIRECTORS SHE WANTED.

MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE SCOTT BLANEY WROTE "THE GOVERNOR TOOK A SERIES OF ACTIONS THAT, WHEN VIEWED IN ISOLATION ARGUABLY COMPLIED WITH CERTAIN APPLICABLE STATUTES, BUT TOOK THOSE ACTIONS FOR AN IMPROPER PURPOSE, CULMINATING IN AN IMPROPER RESULT ONE THAT VIOLATES ARIZONA LAW," THE JUDGE WILL HOLD A HEARING WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR IN JULY OR AUGUST TO TRY AND COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION.

>>> WE ARE BACK IN THE DANGER ZONE WHEN IT COMES TO HEAT.

AND MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO STAY SAFE DURING OUR EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

JOINING US NOW TO SHARE LIFE SAVING INFORMATION IS DR. NICK STAAB, THE ASSISTANT MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE MARICOPA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

WE'LL DO A QUICK LESSON ON WHO HANDLES WHAT WHEN IT COMES TO HEAT RELIEF.

MARICOPA COUNTY IS OVER SEEN BY MEG.

TAKE IT AWAY, DOCTOR.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS IS TO GET COOLED IN AIR-CONDITIONED PLACES.

PROVIDED BY A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

MANY COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZES AN FAITH BASED ORGANIZES.

CITIES AND TOWNS ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ORGANIZED BY THE MARICOPA COUNTY ORGANIZES.

THIS IS TO EXPAND AND MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE ROBUST.

>> IS IT VOLUNTARY OR PEOPLE REQUIRED?

>> AT THIS POINT IT'S VOLUNTARY.

WE ASK FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE AREAS OF TOWN WHERE WE SEE THEY DON'T HAVE COVERAGE WITH HEAT RELIEF CENTERS OR HIGHER RISK POPULATIONS THAT NEED BETTER ACCESS.

IT'S ALL THE HANDS ON THIS SUMMER BUT FOCUS ON REDUCING THE HEAT RELATED ILLNESS AND STAGGERING NUMBER OF DEATHS WE SAW LAST SUMMER.

>> LAST SUMMER WE MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES.

EVERYDAY WE WERE NATIONAL HEADLINES.

THEY ARE WATCHING US AGAIN TO HAVE A REPEAT OF THAT.

IMPROVEMENTS IN PREVENTING DEATH AND COOLING CENTERS.

ARE THINGS DIFFERENT THIS SUMMER?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON YEAR AND THE LAST OF HEAT SEASON.

THE HEAT SEASON IS PREDICTABLE.

IT'S FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER.

WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THAT AND PROVIDE SERVICES.

WE ARE WORKING FROM STATE LET THEM, COUNTY LEVEL, AND LOUIS COUNTY CAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE SITES ARE OPEN LONGER.

MORE DAYS OP OPERATIONS AND OPERATING ON THE WEEKEND.

WE PARTNER WITH 2-1-1 FOR PEOPLE TO CALL IN AND FIND OUT WHERE THE RESOURCES SITES ARE AND OTHER RESOURCES.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF THIS.

I KNOW FROM MY PAST REPORTING WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR SUBSTANCE AND FINDING EXPERTS AND THOSE TRAINED IN THIS.

THE STAFFING CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

IS IT A CHALLENGE FOR COOLING CENTERS?

IS IT A NO-BRAINER TO HAVE 24/7 COOLING CENTERS.

>> YES, STAFFING IS A PROBLEM.

MARICOPA COUNTY COUNTY VOLUNTEERS ARE AVAILABLE AT HEAT RELIEF CENTERS TO BREAK UP THE STAFFING.

WE USE A LOT OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZES.

INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND USING SUBSTANCES TO HELP OUR HEAT RELIEF CENTERS.

THEY CATER TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT.

>> MANY CLOSED AROUND BUSINESS TIME.

HOURS FROM 5 TO 7 ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

WE ARE OPENING EXPANDING HOURS OVER THE WEEKENDS.

USING 2-1-1 TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE.

INCREASING SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

JUST TRYING TO INCREASE ACCESS.

>> THOSE WHO ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO POP IN AND OUT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW OR DO, IF ANYTHING?

>> ANYONE VISITING MARICOPA COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IS AT RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESS.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE AIR-CONDITIONING WON'T BE THERE.

THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU SHOULD GO.

THINK ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU HAVE OLDER PEOPLE NEARBY CHECK ON THEM AND MAKE SURE THEIR AIR-CONDITIONINGS IS AVAILABLE AND WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

>> HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M NOT JUST HOT OR SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS.

>> IT'S A WIDE SPECTRUM.

IF YOU START TO GET CONFUSED.

IF YOU START TO HAVE A HEADACHE OR FEEL NAUSEOUS.

IF YOUR SKIN STOPS SWEATING, THAT'S A SIGN YOUR BODY HAS GOTTEN TOO HOT.

GET INTO A COOLER SPACE AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.

>> WHERE CAN PEOPLE GET INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROTECT THEM SYED RIZWAN FAROOKS OR BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS THAT WANT TO STEP-UP AND SUPPORT?

>> SO, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

WE HAVE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH 2-1-1 AND OTHER LINKS TO COUNTY RESOURCES AND PLACES TO GO TO FIND THAT HELP.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION.

I'M SURE WE'LL TALK AGAIN THIS SUMMER.

>> I'M SURE WE WILL.

THANK YOU, CHRISTINA.

>>> IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED BY A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER.

THAT OFFICER WAS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO A PRISON IN TUCSON.

FLOYD'S MURDER SPARKED CALLS FOR POLICE REFORM LOCALLY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HOW MUCH HAS CHANGED?

ARIZONA HORIZON HOST TED SIMONS RECENTLY SPOKE WITH ROY TATEM JR.

THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE ARIZONA NAACP.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

FOUR YEARS.

FIRST OF ALL, DOES IT FEEL LIKE FOUR YEARS?

>> NO.

NO.

>> WHAT'S CHANGED?

>> SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED.

OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A PANDEMIC AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

A LOT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED ABOUT THAT.

GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED IN INDIANAPOLIS.

THE OFFICER HAS BEEN CONVICTED AND THERE WAS A SHIFT IN COMMUNITY AT THE TIME WHERE THERE WAS A WORLDWIDE OUTRAGE AROUND THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

NOW, IN 2024, THAT OUTRAGE HAS DWINDLED TREMENDOUSLY.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> TIME.

PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

OTHER THINGS HAVE TAKEN PRECEDENT IN THEIR LIVES.

POLITICS AND THEIR PERSONAL LIVES.

>>> WHAT ABOUT THE CALLS FOR TRAINING AND REFORM.

THOSE CALLS WERE MADE.

SEEMS LIKE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN.

HAS THAT SLOWED AS WELL?

>> THERE WAS A HUGE CALL AND PUSH FOR THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE AND POLICING ACT.

I THOUGHT, FOR ONCE, WE WOULD SEE SOME FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD IMPACT POLICING AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

MANY PEOPLE, JUST KIND OF, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY FELT DEFEATED BUT THEY DIDN'T FEEL THEIR ENERGY WAS GOING TO IMPACT NATIONAL OR FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

SO, I THINK PEOPLE JUST GOT BACK TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

>> IF IT DOESN'T IMPACT NATIONAL AND LEGISLATURE YOU STILL HAVE LOCAL IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HAVE YOU SEEN CHANGES THERE.

>> I'LL SAY, I HAVE BEEN A HUGE ADVOKATE AND ENGAGED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.

YOUR CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND CITY MANAGER.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT GOVERN YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO, HERE IN PHOENIX, AS WE TALK ABOUT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE CITY OF PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOW, FOR ROUGHLY THREE YEARS.

>> A NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP THERE.

>> THEY SAID THERE IS MORE TRANSPARENCY AND TRAINING.

THE DOJ NEEDS TO GET THAT REPORT IN THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS, ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>> I'M NOT BUYING THAT.

I'D LOVE TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FINDINGS.

JUST REMEMBER, THE PHOENIX POLICE, FOUR YEARS AGO, WAS THE LEADER IN LETHAL IMPACT CONNECTIONS TO THE POLICE, SO, CONTACT WITH THE POLICE.

YOU COULD DIE FASTER AT THE HANDS OF THE PHOENIX POLICE, NYPD, CHICAGO POLICE.

PHOENIX LEAD THE NATION.

>> WHEN THEY SAY CHANGE WOULD HAPPEN FASTER AND BETTER WITHOUT THE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, YOU SAY .

.

.

>> I SAY THE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT IS NECESSARY.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ONCE AGAIN, PHOENIX LEAD THE NATION IN USAGE OF LETHAL FORCE IN THE COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE TO INVESTIGATE WHY THAT IS.

>> FOUR YEARS LATER AFTER GEORGE FLOYD, HOW BEST TO TAKE WHAT HAPPENED AND MAKE THE KIND OF CHANGES YOU NEED TO SEE?

>> IT'S HARD, BECAUSE THE POLICE CULTURE IS SO EMBED -- EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE ALL POLICE OFFICERS ARE GOOD.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY ARE NOT GOOD.

I BELIEVE INHERITLY PEOPLE COME TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH A HEART AND ATTITUDE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

THE CULTURE CREATES AN US VERSE THEM HOW BEST TO REMEMBER THE LEGACY OF GEORGE FLOYD MANY FELT THE PAIN BECAUSE THEY WERE HOME WE SAW THE LIVE FEED OF GEORGE FLOYD BEING MURDERED UNDER THE KNEE OF DERRICK.

I CAN ONLY IMAGE THE HOUSEHOLD CONVERSATIONS THAT MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE WHEN YOU ARE WATCHING TV AND YOU SAW A MOTHER ON THE TV YOU NEED THE CONVERSATION IN THE HOUSE.

>> ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

>> AM I OPTIMISTIC ABOUT?

>> POLICE REFORM.

>> I WISH I COULD BE.

I HAVE ENGAGED WITH LOCAL DEPARTMENTS FOR OVER THE LAST DECADE.

MANY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

I BELIEVE WITH THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IN PLACE WE COULD MAKE PROGRESS.

>> ALL RIGHT, CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE ROY TATUM JR.

THANK YOU.

>>> AN ARIZONA ARTIST HAS TURNED A PERSONAL LOSS INTO A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF BEAUTY AND INSPIRATION.

JOINING US IN STUDIO IS KORYN WOODWARD WASSON, THE ARTIST OF THE EXHIBITION "FLIRTING WITH THE DESERT" WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING SHOWCASED AT THE SCOTTSDALE CIVIC CENTER LIBRARY.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I HEARD YOU SAY YOU HAD A CRUSH ON THE DESERT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> I LOVE THAT YOU THINK ABOUT ALL DAY LONG, SO, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE DESERT WHEN I WAKE UP-AND-IN MY CAR AND FRONT YARD.

I'M ALWAYS WAITING FOR THE NEXT TIME I GET TO SEE THE DESERT.

>> YOU GREW UP IN ARIZONA.

DID YOU ALWAYS LOVE THE DESERT?

>> NO, I GREW UP ON COUNTY ISLAND STREET.

THE TEMPE CHANDLER AREA.

I GREW UP WITH HORSES AND SHEEP AND ALL OF IRRIGATED PROPERTY.

SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO HAVE THE DESERT IN MY LIFE.

MY BROTHER-IN-LAW INTRODUCED ME TO HIS PLANTS AND SHOWED ME EACH INDIVIDUAL THING AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CACTUS AND SAW THE BEAUTY IN THAT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EXHIBITION.

WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE WITH FOLKS.

THE WATERCOLORS ARE GORGEOUS.

>> THIS IS A CROWN I MADE.

THIS IS MY FIRST LOVE.

THIS IS WENDY AND MYSELF.

THIS PIECE IS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS I HAVE TAKEN.

ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS I'M WORKING FROM ARE MY OWN PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHS.

>> IT WAS A PERSONAL LOSS YOU EXPERIENCED.

>> I LOST MY DAD IN 2018 TO SKIN CANCER.

I MADE A SHOW TO MARK THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING THERE 2019.

I WROTE A COLLECTION OF 15 STORIES TO GO ABOUT OUR TIME ALONGSIDE THE WORK I MADE.

NOW I CONTINUE TO MAKE WORK ABOUT HIM AND FOR HIM AND THE APPRECIATE HE GAVE ME.

HE WAS A TEACHER AND GAVE ME A LOVE FOR PLANTS EARLY.

>> WHY DO YOU INCORPORATE THIS IN YOUR ARTWORK?

>> I GO BACK THROUGH MY DAY AND THINK ABOUT WHO I GET TO SEE.

WHAT MADE ME PULL MY CAR OVER AND TAKE PHOTOS.

HOW DO I-MARK WHERE IT WAS IN MY LIFE AND THROUGH THE PLANTS AND STORIES I SEE THE JOURNEY OF MY EXPERIENCES WITH MY CHILDREN, FRIENDS, AND PARTNERS, IT'S REALLY NICE.

>> THE WRITTEN WORD, HAVING THAT ALONG WITH INDIVIDUALS DOES THAT MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE?

>> PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND ART.

ANYTHING GETTING THEM IN THE DOOR.

MOST OF US HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ.

A STORY IS SOMETHING WE CAN FEEL A CONNECTION TO AND PATHWAY INTO LOOKING AT THE ART.

>> THE EXHIBITION HAS PAINTINGS AND MURALS AND 3-D. WHY SO MUCH DIVERSITY?

>> I TAUGHT MANY TIMES.

I LOVE ALL SORTS OF MEDIUMS.

I LOVE TO SEE THIS LOVE I HAVE BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE IT INTO DIFFERENT MEDIUMS.

IT'S SHARP AND SCARY AND NICE AND SOFT WHEN I WORK IN THREE DIMENSIONAL WORK.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> YOU CAN WEAR IT.

IT'S A CROWN.

>> BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE DESERT, EVEN IN THE SUMMER YOU TOLD ME THAT.

>> EVERYTHING IS PRETTY IN THE SUMMER.

>>> YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLANT OR FLOWER.

>> AN APPLE CACTUS AND NIGHT BLOOMERS.

THE BRITISH PARADISE ARE OPENING UPRIGHT NOW.

I HAVE A CALENDAR IN MY HEAD OF WHAT COMES TO LIVE IN THE SUMMER.

>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKEAWAY FROM YOUR WORK?

>> I HOPE THEY FEEL APPRECIATE FOR THE SMALL THINGS AND LOOK IN THEIR PARKING LOTS AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND FRONT YARDS TO SEE THE BIRDS AND PLANTS.

>> I'LL MAKE A POINT OF LOOKING THIS SUMMER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JULY 1st WHERE?

>>> THE SCOTTSDALE LIBRARY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.