>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, IT'S THE DEMOCRAT'S TURN IN OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AS WE GET LATEST FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ALSO TONIGHT, A CALL FOR JUSTICES FROM GENERATIONS OF FAMES WHO LIVE DOWNWINDS FROM NUCLEAR TEST SITES.

>>> AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO SPEAK UP TO A TRUSTED ADULT ABOUT SUICIDE, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE ARE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Ted: WELCOME.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE PRINCIPAL OF RIGGS ELEMENTARY IS ON LEAVE AFTER THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC STATEMENTS MADE BY PRINCIPAL JAMIE LANDER WHILE THEY WERE INTERVIEWING HER STEPSON IN CONNECTION TO SO-CALLED "GILBERT GOONS" ASSAULT.

HE HAS BEEN ARRESTED CONNECTION WITH THE BEATING OF A TEEN AND ACCUSED IN A LAWSUIT OF COORDINATING ANOTHER ATTACK.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DISTRICT DECLINED TO COMMENT ON WHY LANDER IS ON LEAVE AND WHO INITIATED THE ACTION.

>>> WAYMO ANNOUNCES THE FIRST-EVER SOFTWARE RECALL AFTER TWO SELF--DRIVING CARS HIT THE SAME TOW TRUCK LAST YEAR IN PHOENIX.

THE OFFICIALS SAY THE TOW TRUCK WAS PULLING A PICK-UP AT AN ANGLE WITH THE FRONT END IN A TURN LANE.

BOTH WAYMO CARS INTERPRETED WHAT THE CAMERAS WERE SEEING AND HOW THE TOW TRUCK WOULD MOVE AND THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN EITHER VEHICLE.

>>> SCOTTSDALE OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING AT THE CHAOS OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN AND RECOMMENDING CHANGES.

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC REPORTS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL CROWD CONTROL INCLUDING POLICE WORKING WITH THE TOURNAMENT'S PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS.

MORE PARKING WAS MENTIONED ALONG WITH LIMITING THE NUMBER OF TICKETS AND ALCOHOL SOLD.

A CHANGE IN THE WAY THE TOURNAMENT IS MARKETED WHICH HAS EMPHASIZED AS A PARTY SPOT.

>>> ONE PERSON KILLED AND 21 INJURED TODAY AS SHOTS FIRED AT THE END OF THE KANSAS CITY CHIEF'S SUPER BOWL PARADE IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY.

FANS WERE URGED TO EXIT THE AREA NEAR THE PARADE ROUTE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND POLICE SAY THREE ARMED PEOPLE WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITH ONE OF THE SUSPECTS REPORTEDLY TACKLED AND INITIALLY DETAINED BY PEOPLE IN THE CROWD.

>>> IT'S WEDNESDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND TONIGHT WE HEAR ON ELECTION CHANGES AND PROPOSED IMMIGRATION BILL.

JOINING US NOW IS SENATOR PRIYA SUND-ARESHAN AND JENNIFER PAWLIK.

ELECTION CHANGES WERE MADE AND THEY WEREN'T SUCH GOOD CHANGES AND TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> I THINK WE FOUND OURSELVES IN A PICKLE THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE 2022 LAW THAT EXPANDED THE RECOUNT MARGIN BY WHICH ONE KNOW, CLOSE RACES WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO AUTOMATIC RECOUNT.

COUNTIES CAME TO US IN THE FALL TO THE LEGISLATURE AND STARTED TALKING TO US ABOUT CHANGES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO FIND ADDITIONAL DAYS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT THE POSSIBLE NUMBER OF RECOUNTS THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY AT THE STATE-WIDE LEVEL.

THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING OUR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS SENT TO THE COLLEGE.

WE WERE ABLE TO PASS THE BILL LAST WEEK AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY -- FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE, WE THINK THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE DEMOCRACY IN ARIZONA BY FIXING THE NUMBER OF DAYS NEEDED AND ENSURING VOTERS WERE NOT HARMED IN THE PROCESS AND WILL FIND OUT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT SO MORE ELIGIBLE VOTERS WILL BE CONFIDENT THEIR VOTES WERE DOWNED.

>> Ted: THERE'S CONCERN THIS DOES NOT MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE AND MIGHT BE PEOPLE WITH CURING TIMES AND IN RURAL AREAS AND NAVAJO NATIONS AND THIS DOES NOT MAKE THINGS EASIER AND DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> MAYBE A LITTLE BIT AND WE DID HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS FROM THE NAVAJO NATION, REPRESENTATIVE SOCI AND REPRESENTATIVE PESHLAKI THAT THE NAVAJO NATION CONDUCTS THEY'RE OWN ELECTIONS ON THE SIXTH OF AUGUST.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THEIR ELECTION SO THE PEOPLE ON THE NATION DON'T HAVE TO VOTE TWICE IN A WEEK'S TIME.

I KNOW THE LEADERSHIP UP THERE NOW IS NEGOTIATING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE THEIR ELECTIONS TO ALIGN WITH OUR NEW DATE, WHICH WILL BE JULY 30th .

>> Ted: SIGNATURE VERIFICATION WAS INVOLVED AND SOME FOLKS WERE THINKING, THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S MAKING EASIER TO VOTE.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> SO I THINK THAT WAS A PART OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS AND, FORTUNATELY, WE GOT IT TO A PLACE WE FELT COMFORTABLE THAT YES, THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION GUIDELINES WERE CODIFIED INTO STATUTE AND THESE ARE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION PROVISIONS BASED ON SECRETARY HOBBS' OWN SIGNATURE GUIDELINES AND WE ARE CLEAR TO SAY THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE BASIS FOR ADDITIONAL LITIGATION, TO CHALLENGE ADDITIONAL VOTER BALLOTS.

SO ON THE HOLE, WITH THE CHANGE IN THE PERIOD, THERE WERE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS THAT VOTERS HAD MORE ACCESS AND THE BALLOTS COULD BE COUNTED AND WOULDN'T BE THROWN OUT UNNECESSARILY.

>> Ted: WAS THERE ANY TALK ABOUT JUST RESCINDING THE LAW AND GOING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS?

>> WE CERTAINLY FELT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

WE WERE TOLD FROM THE OUTSET THE MAJORITY WAS NOT WILLING TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

HAD WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, I THINK WE MAY HAVE HAD AN EASIER PROCESS TO GET TO YES.

BUT THE OUTCOME IN THIS BILL IS QUITE GOOD AND I THINK VOTERS CAN FEEL CONFIDENT THEIR VOTE HAS BEEN PROTECTED.

>> Ted: FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE, WERE THERE FOLKS SAYING I'M NOT CRAZY ABOUT THIS?

>> THERE CERTAINLY WERE PEOPLE SAYING THEY WEREN'T CRAZY ABOUT IT, BUT THANKS TO THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVE TARICK, WE FELT LIKE THE MUST-HAVES WERE INCLUDED.

SO WE WERE COMFORTABLE IN SUPPORTING THE BILL.

>> Ted: AND I NOTICE THAT SOME OF THIS STUFF REVERTS BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS IN 2026.

WHAT WAS THE IDEA THERE?

>> THE 2026 ASPECT, I THINK, THAT WAS A PORTION THAT IN THE FINAL BILL WE REMOVED BECAUSE THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT REMOVING THE PRIMARY IN 2026 TO MAY AND WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

THAT'S STILL A WAY OFF AND SO WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND DISCUSS WHEN THE PRIMARY, HOW EARLY THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED.

BUT FOR THIS YEAR'S PURPOSES, THIS BILL, IT DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

>> Ted: USING STATE AND COUNTY BUILDINGS AS POLLING SITES AND THAT WAS OK BY YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT FROM THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE BILL TO ACT AS THAT PURPOSE WITHOUT KIND OF THE APPROVAL OF THEIR OWN ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS.

THIS IS A BETTER VERSION AND HONESTLY, AS WE KNOW, VOTE-BY-MAIL IN ARIZONA IS THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF VOTING AND SO THAT CONTINUES.

VOTING BY MAIL IS THE BEST OPTION.

>> Ted: WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS GO HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S TALK ABOUT HB2748 AND I HOPE WE DON'T THINK OF THIS -- WHO KNOWS, THIS MIGHT BE A NEW NUMBER SIMILAR TO SB1070 AND SOUNDS LIKE THIS LEGISLATION IS SIMILAR TO SB1070 AND WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, IT IS VERY SIMILAR AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS I THINK IT'S ASHAME THAT IN CONGRESS, THAT OUR REPUBLICANS BLOCKED THE BILL FROM BEING PASSED.

BECAUSE IMMIGRATION IS A FEDERAL ISSUE AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A NATIONWIDE LAW RATHER THAN A PATCHWORK OF STATE-TO-STATE LAWS.

>> Ted: BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, AT LEAST NOT RIGHT NOW AND THIS BASICALLY SAYS IMMIGRATION BECOMES A STATE LAW AND IT'S OUTLINED HERE.

>> IT IS.

MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL, JUST LIKE WE SAW WITH 1070 TEN YEARS AGO.

>> Ted: SENATOR, THE GOVERNOR, I DOUBT SERIOUSLY, IF SHE'LL HOLD A PARADE AND SIGN THIS THING AND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> YEAH, I HAVE TO AGREE.

OUR LATINO COMMUNITY HAS COME OUT AGAINST THIS AND WE SAW WHAT THAT DID TO ARIZONA COMMUNITIES.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT I WOULD HAVE TO BE CARRYING IF I WENT RUNNING AND NEEDED TO PRODUCE MY PAPERS SOMEHOW BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN.

AND SO, IT IS EVEN WORSE, HOWEVER, THAN SB1070.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY DECIDED TO BE BRINGING THAT KIND OF ATTACK ON OUR POPULATION AGAIN IS SIMPLY IN THE FACE OF THAT AND A RACIST APPROACH.

>> Ted: REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE CAPITOL ARE CALLING THIS VITAL LEGISLATION SAYING THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DIRE BECAUSE THERE IS, QUOTE, UNCONTROLLED TIDE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

>> I THINK THAT IS -- THEY MAY TRY TO JUSTIFY IT HOWEVER THEY MAY, BUT THIS IS AN ATTACK ON PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR SKIN COLOR AND POTENTIALLY SOMETHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR FOR HAVING TO JUSTIFY THEIR EXISTENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> Ted: I THINK REPUBLICANS SAY IT WOULD BE AN ATTACK ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN HERE BY ILLEGAL PURPOSES AND HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TELL IF SOMEONE WAS HERE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY OR BORN HERE IN ARIZONA.

JUST BY LOOKING AT THEM, THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW.

>> Ted: YOU STARTED OFF BY TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS AND WE'LL ENTHE CONVERSATION HERE.

IS THIS A CONGRESSIONAL MATTER AND SHOULD THE STATE HAVE NOTHING TO TO WITH THIS ISSUE?

>> MAYBE THE STATE SHOULD SUPPORT WHAT THEY'RE DOING FEDERALLY, BUT I THINK THE LAW NEEDS TO COME FROM GRASS.

>> Ted: GOOD TO YOU HAVE BOTH HERE AND MEET YOU BOTH, AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE IN ARIZONA LIVING DOWNWIND IN NUCLEAR TEST SITES.

>> WELCOME TO "CHECK, PLEASE, ARIZONA, WHERE ARIZONA RESIDENTS RECOMMEND THEIR FAVORITE THINGS.

THERE'S A BEER-FORWARD DINING SPOT AND BISTRO CLASSICS.

>> IT'S WARM AND VERY INVITING.

>> I THINK THE FOOD IS FANTASTIC AND ALWAYS A DISCOVERY!

>> ALL NEW THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> JOIN ME FOR A LOOK AT THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE GOTHIC AGE INTRODUCED RADIANTS CATHEDRALS THAT TOWERED HIGHER WITH LOVINGLY STONEWORK AND STAINED GLASS AND ART THAT CELEBRATED SECULAR LIFE AND HOW PAINTING EVOLVED TO REALISTICALLY TELL THE STORIES OF THE AGE OF FAITH.

THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> NEXT TIME -- >> A MURDER.

>> WHILE BARNABY IS ON VACATION, A MAN IS KILLED ON THE WOODS.

BUT HE ISN'T SURE THE RIGHT MAN IS IN JAIL AND ANOTHER DEATH CONFIRMS HIS SUSPICION.

>> TWO MURDERS IN THE SAME WOOD BY TWO DIFFERENT MURDERS.

>> MIDSUMMER MURDERS, THURSDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: THOUSANDS OF ARIZONA FAMILIES DEVELOP MULTIGENERATIONAL CANCERS LIVING DOWNWIND OF NUCLEAR TEST SITES ARE WORKING IN THE URANIUM INDUSTRY AND MANY WERE EXCLUDED FROM A FEDERAL PROGRAM.

THEY WERE WORRIED THE PROGRAM WILL SOON EXPIRE.

FOR MORE, WE WELCOME MATTHEW CAPALPY AND JUSTIN.

>> I'M A THIRD GENERATION OF MOHAVE COUNTY, BORN AND RAISED IN KINGMAN AND IT'S LOCATED 90 MILES FROM THE NEVADA TEST SITE.

THIS IS WHERE THE NUCLEAR TESTING TOOK PLACE DURING THE COLD WAR.

THERE WERE MULTIPLE, OVER 150, I BELIEVE, ABOVE-GROUND TESTS WHERE THE METEOROLOGISTS AT THE TEST SITE WOULD WAIT FOR THE WIND TO BLOW FROM WEST TO EAST.

THE NUCLEAR FALLOUT AND ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED RADIATION WOULD FALL IN THE FOUR-CORNERS.

THE POOR PEOPLE, THE NATIVE AMERICANS, THE RANCHERS AND RURAL FOLKS SUFFERED FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

>> Ted: WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ISSUE DATES BACK TO THE '40'S WHEN WORLD WAR II FIRST TOOK PLACE.

OVER HALF OF THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY OF URANIUM MINED IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY MINED THE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL TO BUILD THE ATOMIC BOMB TO ADVANCE THE NUCLEAR AGENDA DURING COLD WAR.

WE HAD PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II AND THE UNFORTUNATE PART IS THAT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN RECOGNIZED UNTIL RECENTLY.

EVEN WITH THE RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT, THERE'S A CLASS OF PEOPLE EXCLUDED.

SO WITH 30 YEARS OF URANIUM MINING, WE DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANT CANCER RATES AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND IT'S TURNING INTO AN ISSUE WE CAN'T MANAGE.

THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TO HELP FOLKS.

AGAIN, NAVAJO MINERS WHO WORKED AND VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE WAR, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING THEIR PATRIOTISM WOULD COME BACK AND WORK IN MINES TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THE U.S.'S NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS.

>> Ted: YOU TALK ABOUT CANCER RATES, KINGMAN, DOES IT STILL HAVE THE HIGHEST CANCER RATE IN ARIZONA?

>> IT DOES.

THE GENETIC DAMAGE IS PASSED ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION ONCE SOMEONE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO THAT LETHAL AMOUNT OF RADIATION.

IT WAS OFTEN THE CASE POST THE NUCLEAR TESTS THAT OCCURRED AT THE TEST SITE.

>> Ted: WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AND WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN A LONG, DIFFICULT JOURNEY.

IN 1990, THE SENATOR OF UTAH CREATED THE RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT.

IT WAS TREMENDOUSLY FLAWED AND NARROW IN THE FOCUS AND DIDN'T INCLUDE THE AREA AROUND LAsVEGAS.

IT DIDN'T LAW MOHAVE COUNTY AND IT DIDN'T INCLUDE SOUTHERN UTAH AND NORTHERN ARIZONA.

WE NEVER UNDERSTOOD.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CORRECT THIS FOR 30 YEARS.

IT'S A MATTER OF JUSTICES THAT THE PEOPLE IN THESE REGIONS IMPACTED SUFFERED AND DIED FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

>> Ted: JUSTIN, THE ONE-TIME PAYMENT WAS ALONG THE LINES OF $50,000 OR SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE AS FAR AS THIS MAYBE BE EXPANDED?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

>> TO ADDRESS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT AND THE WORK DOESN'T STOP THERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FAMILIES DIRECTLY EXPOSED BECAUSE THESE FOLKS WOULD COME HOME AND THEY WOULD HAVE URANIUM, YELLOW CAKE ON THEM AND ON THE RESERVATION WHERE ACCESS TO SERVICES ARE LIMITED AND IT'S NOT LIKE EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS A WASHER OR DRIER.

PEOPLE WERE HANDWASHING THESE IN LOCAL WATER SUPPLIES.

PEOPLE WERE EXPOSED AND BUILDING THEIR HOMES OUT OF THE TAILINGS AND THIS HAS CAUSED A HUGE ISSUE.

THESE WHO AREN'T ELIGIBLE UNDER THE PROGRAM ARE THOSE DIRECTLY AND ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE WORKERS COMING HOME AND EXPOSED.

THERE WAS A BIRTHING COHORT AND IDENTIFIED THAT AS WELL CONTINUED TO GIVE BIRTH.

THE NEWBORNS WERE ACTUALLY HAVING TRACES OF URANIUM IN THEM AND CREATED GENETIC MUTATIONS.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION?

WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE?

>> CONGRESSMAN CRANE RECOGNIZES THAT THE COUNTRY DID WELL BY THE TEST THAT TOOK PLACE WHAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM IS CONGRESSMAN SHWEIKER AND DEBBIE LESKO AND WE MET WITH THEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

>> Ted: ARE THEY SIMPLY NOT RESPONDING?

>> THEY ARE FEELING WHETHER IT'S THE COST AND WHETHER SOMETHING AMERICA SHOULD JUSTIFY.

WE TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT.

>> Ted: WHAT TO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, MATT?

>> AGAIN, FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN DISMISSED IN OUR EFFORTS REGARDING ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION OR RECOGNITION REGARDING THIS.

MOSTLY IT BOILS DOWN TO COSTS.

AND IN OUR REGARD, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE COST OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND DOING BUSINESS AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT SUFFERED.

>> Ted: ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC SOMETHING CAN GET DONE?

>> I'M ALWAYS HOPEFUL, BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND I AM THE SOLE SURVIVING MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MOHAVE COUNTY.

THE COMPENSATION IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO WHAT THE PEOPLE SPENT ON CANCER TREATMENTS.

THE WOMAN THAT WAS OUR BOARD DIRECTOR, OUR CHAIR, SHE PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR.

BETWEEN HER AND HER HUSBAND, THE OVERALL TREATMENT COSTS WERE OVER $3 MILLION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

>> Ted: JUSTIN, ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT ADVANCE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT AND PUSH FOR JUSTICE AND ALL THOSE AFFECTED.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR COMING FROM WASHINGTON.

WE APPRECIATE SPEAKING WITH YOU AND HAVING YOU ON THE SHOW.

BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

♪ >> WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SUBMIT QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS TO ARIZONA HORIZON@ASU.EDU.

>> Ted: YOUTH SUICIDE REMAINS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FROM THOSE 10 TO 24.

THEY'RE WORKING TO ENCOURAGE AWARENESS TO MENTAL HEALTH WARNING SIGNS IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE HAVE CHRIS PHILLIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF YOUR GROUP AND WHAT IT DOES AND WANTS TO DO.

>> WE HOLD A CONFERENCE FOR SIXTH THROUGH TENTH GRADERS AND WE ASK THEM TO SEND A DELICATE OF STUDENTS.

WE WANT TO TEACH THEM WHAT THE WARNING SIGNS ARE OF CHILDREN AND PEERS DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS AND SUICIDAL TO RECOGNIZE THE WARNING SIGNS AND TAKE IT TO A TRUSTED ADULTS.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS AND WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

>> BASICALLY CHANGING IN BEHAVIOR AND MAYBE SADNESS, LOTS OF SLEEPING AND MAYBE SOMEONE IS TALK MORE ABOUT DEATH OR ABOUT DARK SUBJECTS THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

MAYBE THEY'RE GROOMING ISN'T THE WAY IT USED TO BE AND THEY'VE HAD A SERIOUS CHANGE IN THEIR PERSONALITY.

WE'RE NOT ASKING THE OTHER STUDENTS TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION THEMSELVES, BUT IF THEY SEE THE WARNING SIGNS, TELL AN ADULT BECAUSE IT'S BETTER YOU TELL AND BE WRONG THAN NOT TELL AND SOMEBODY TAKES DRASTIC MEASURES.

>> Ted: IS IT DIFFERENT FOR KIDS AND ADULTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THESE THOUGHTS AND THESE WARNING SIGNS?

>> NO.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY SIMILAR AND I THINK WE ALWAYS HEAR AFTER A TRAGEDY IN SCHOOL THAT SOMEBODY NEW OR THOUGHT IT BUT NOBODY SAID ANYTHING.

WE'RE ENCOURAGING STUDENTS, DON'T BE AFRAID TO TELL.

TELL A TRUSTED ADULT.

>> Ted: TELLING A TRUSTED ADULT, HOW DO YOU GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS TO KIDS THAT IT'S OK TO TALK TO AN ADULT ABOUT SOMETHING -- I MEAN, THIS IS SENSITIVE STUFF HERE.

THE SULLEN TEENAGER IS ALMOST A CLICHE THESE DAYS AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO THE KIDS, THEY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE MOST TIMES BETWEEN, I GREW UP WITH HIM, HE'S ALWAYS THAT WAY AND THE CHANGE.

SO WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO DIAGNOSE THEIR FRIENDS OR SOMEONE THEY DON'T KNOW.

BUT IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT ON YOURSELF.

TELL A TEACHER, TELL A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, TELL AN SRO OR A COACH.

TELL SOMEONE AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN STEP BACK AFTER THIS POINT.

>> Ted: BUT THINGS LIKE BULLYING AND GRIEF AND ABUSE AND THESE THINGS, AGAIN, THAT'S DIFFICULT.

HOW DO YOU GET A KID TO TRUST AN ADULT?

>> YOU DON'T ALWAYS.

THE GOAL IS TO HAVE SMALL GROUPS OF CHILDREN WHO COME TO THE CONFERENCE COME UP WITH A PLAN TO SPREAD THAT WORD IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO A STUDENT IS MORE LIKELY TO HEAR IT FROM ANOTHER STUDENT AND THINK, OH, THAT'S NOT SO BAD AS OPPOSED TO AN ADULT.

WE ASK THE SCHOOLS TO SEND THE SMALL CONGREGATIONS OF STUDENTS AND THOSE STUDENTS CREATE A PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPREAD THIS INTO THEIR SCHOOL TO GET THOSE STUDENTS TO TRUST AN ADULT.

>> Ted: I WOULD IMAGINE SOMETIMES PLANS ARE DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S WHY WE DON'T TELL THEM, HERE IS THE PLAN AND HOW YOU DO IT.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> WE GIVE THEM THE WARNING SIGNS AND TELL THEM, YOU NEED TO TRUST AN ADULT AND TAKE THAT BACK AND TRY TO GET IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TOGETHER THAT YOU CAN SPREAD TO THE STUDENTS.

>> Ted: ARE THERE TOOLS AND RESOURCES AND IS THERE A PATHWAY TO DO THIS THAT WOULD DIFFER, I GUESS, TO DIFFERENT KIDS?

>> WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING IS TELLING THEM IF YOU SEE X, Y AND Z, THE CHILD IS DEPRESSED AND YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

THE ONLY THING WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO IS TELL A TRUSTED ADULT.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO DO THEIR OWN SELF-DIAGNOSIS.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS SCHOOLS AND CITIES PARTICIPATING, HOW ARE WE DOING?

>> THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR BACK IN-PERSON AFTER THREE YEARS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND WE HAD 31 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ATTEND AT THE END OF JANUARY AND OVER 1700 STUDENTS.

SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD TURNOUT AND WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A BIGGER TURNOUT NEXT YEAR AND HOPING TO BE ABLE TO MAYBE STREAM THE CONFERENCE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT ABILITY THIS YEAR, BUT SINCE WE'RE TRYING TO REACH ALL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE NEED A STREAMING ELEMENT.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE KIDS WHO GET THE TRAINING AND INFORMATION?

>> SO WE'VE HAD A VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM THE STUDENTS.

THEY SEND THE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS INTO THE WEBSITE AND WE LIKE TO SHARE THOSE, AS WELL, WITH OTHER SCHOOLS STRUGGLING OR STUDENTS.

THEY WERE VERY POSITIVE.

WE DO IT IN AN UPBEAT WAY AND NOT MEN TO LECTURE TO THE KIDS AND AN UPBEAT WAY AND WE TRY TO BRING IN ACTORS SO THEY'RE ENGAGED FOR THAT TIME PERIOD.

>> Ted: SPEAK UP, STAND UP, SAVE A LIFE.

CHRIS PHILLIS, CONTINUED SUCCESS AND THANK YOU FOR SHARE THE STORY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.