NEXT, ARIZONA HORIZONS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS TODAY HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS ON THE CONSTITUTION ALTERNATIVE OF A TEXAS IMMIGRATION LAW.

NOW THAT LAW ALLOWS STATE OFFICIAL TO ARREST AND DETAIN PEOPLE THEY SUSPECT OF BEING IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

THE SAME COURT BLOCKED THE LAW LAST MONTH LEANING HEAVILY ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT'S RULING ON ARIZONA'S SB-1070 IN WHICH THE HIGH COURT STRUCK DOWN SEVERAL PROVISIONS.

THE TEXAS CASE COULD EVENTUALLY GIVE THE SUPREME COURT ANOTHER CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LONG-HELD CONTROL OVER IMMIGRATION POLICY.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY BACKED OFF PLANS TO BUY CRUDE OIL FOR THE COUNTRY'S EMERGENCY STOCKPILE.

IT COMES AMID RISING GAS PRICES.

AAA REPORTS THE PRICES AT THE PUMP HAVE CLIMBED 20 CENTS A GALLON OVER THE PAST MONTH FOR A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF $3.55 A GALLON.

ANALYSTS SAY IT'S DUE IN GREAT PART TO THE CONCERNS THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST COULD ESCALATE AND DISRUPT OIL SUPPLIES.

>>> AND ONE MORE NOTE FOR ONE OF THE WORLD'S EARLIEST-KNOWN BOOKS IS EXPECTED TO GET MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION AT AUCTION LATER THIS YEAR.

THE MANUSCRIPT CONSIST OF 52 LEADS OR 104 PAGES AND WRITTEN OVER A PERIOD OF 40 YEARS AT A MONASTERY IN UPPER EGYPT.

IT'S PART OF A LARGER DISCOVERY MADE IN THE 1950s THAT INCLUDED BIBLICAL TEXTS, CHRISTIAN WRITINGS AND PAGAN LITERARY WORKS.

>>> THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, LOCAL LAWMAKERS PLANNING ON WORKING A ONE-DAY A WEEK SCHEDULE AS LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNOR GET DOWN TO HAMMERING OUT A BUDGET.

JOINING US NOW IS RAY STERN FOR THE ARIZONA PUBLIC AZVALLEYCENTRAL.COM THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

WHAT'S THIS ONCE A WEEK SCHEDULE ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T HAVE THAT MUCH TO DO I GUESS.

NO, THEY'VE GOT A FEW POTENTIALLY DIFFICULT BILLS THAT THEY'LL BE WORKING ON BUT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE THERE EVERY WEEK FOR THAT OR ALL FOUR DAYS OF EACH WEEK AND WHAT WILL BE GOING ON MAINLY IS THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT LEGISLATURE DOES IN SOME WAYS IS CREATE THIS BUDGET SO THE LEADERS WILL STILL BE THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND STAFF.

>> IS IT NOT SOME IRON IRONY THERE'S NO REASON FOR THE RANK AND FILE TO BE THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED IN BUDGET TALKS?

DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT TO YOU?

JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TOO OF THEM IN THE ROOM NEGOTIATING HUNDREDS OF LIGHT ITEMS FOR THE BUDGET.

THEN IT MIGHT NEVER GET DONE.

AND SO THESE MEETINGS ARE INTIMATE TO SOME EXTENT.

THEY INVOLVE THE LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE G.O.P.

LEADERS THAT ARE IN CONTROL OVER THERE BY A ONE SEAT MARGIN IN EACH CHAMBER.

SO SENATOR WARREN PETERSON AND HOUSE SPEAKER BEN TOMAH WILL BE MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND/OR HER STAFF PROBLEM AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK AND THEN THEY WILL RELAY WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEIR CKS AND DISCUSS THE THINGS THAT THEY DID.

OF COURSE, THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE END UP DISAGREEING OR A SURPRISE.

SO THEY EXPECT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I THINK, TO IMPART INFORMATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SO THAT THEY'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.

>> I GUESS I'M KIND OF NAIVE BUT SEEM TO REMEMBER A WHILE AGO THE DEEP BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AND TALKS WERE A LITTLE MORE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC WAS A LITTLE MORE INVOLVED.

THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE, DOES IT?

>> IT HASN'T HAPPENED FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, CERTAINLY, ESPECIALLY WITH DIVIDED GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE THERE NOW.

>> THE PER DIEM.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE THERE.

YOU SAID THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR PER DIEMS.

>> THEY ARE, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, AND THAT INCLUDES EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.

THE LEGISLATORS THAT LIVE OUT OF MARICOPA COUNTY GET A PRETTY GOOD PER DIEM AND, YEAH, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO GET THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE COMING IN FOR ONE DAY A WEEK.

>> AND THAT GOES -- BUT IT DOES DROP AFTER, WHAT, 120 DAYS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO THEN IT WILL DROP FROM THE OUT-OF-COUNTY LEGISLATORS GET I THINK $238 A DAY, THAT WILL DROP DOWN TO $119.

AND COUNTY LEGISLATORS GET $35 A DAY AND THAT WILL DROP TO $10.

>> THAT $10 OF COURSE CAN'T EVEN BUY YOU A HAMBURGER THESE DAYS.

>> OKAY.

WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AND OBVIOUSLY IF LEADERSHIP IS NOT RANK AND FILE, IT'S UPSTAIRS AND -- WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> WELL, NOT THAT MUCH UP UNTIL NOW.

THEY JUST HAD THEIR FIRST SORT OF SOLID BUDGET MEETING YESTERDAY, AND APPARENTLY NOT THAT MUCH HAPPENED BUT THEY WERE HAPPY THAT IT HAPPENED AT ALL.

THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS CLAIM THAT GOVERNOR HOBBS HAS CANCELED A LOT OF BUDGET MEETINGS THAT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND WHEN I CALLED GOVERNOR HOBBS' PEOPLE TO ASK ABOUT THAT, HER SPOKESMAN TOLD ME THAT THE GOVERNOR WASN'T AWARE OF ANY CANCELED BUDGET MEETINGS, WHICH WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.

I SAID, WELL, DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU'RE DENYING WHAT, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID ABOUT CANCELING MEETINGS?

THEY DIDN'T GET BACK TO ME ON THAT, AND WHEN I TOLD SENATOR WARREN PETERSON ABOUT, THAT HE KIND OF LAUGHED AND SAID, YEAH, SHE'S NOT AWARE ABOUT THAT MUCH OVER THERE, WHICH WAS A PRETTY INTERESTING DIG.

BUT I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE -- THEY AREN'T ALWAYS COMMUNICATIVE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO THE PRESS.

>> BUT THERE WAS A MEETING YESTERDAY, AND THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE ONE NOW TOMORROW?

>> ONE TOMORROW, AS WELL.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S RAMPING UP.

AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL ACTUALLY DISCUSS SUBSTANTIVE THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE TOUGHEST THINGS FIRST OR LEAD THAT TO LATER.

BUT DEFINITELY SOME TOUGH THINGS IN THERE INCLUDING GOVERNOR HOBBS' IDEA THAT SHE'S GOING TO MAKE REFORMS TO THE PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT WILL SAVE THE STATE ABOUT $250 MILLION AND REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THAT'S NOT EVEN AN OPTION.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO DO THAT.

>> COT GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE LATEST REVENUE PROJECTSES?

BECAUSE -- PROJECTIONS BECAUSE AREN'T THEY COMING OUT HERE SHORTLY?

>> THEY ARE.

BASICALLY THE LEGISLATURE HAS A FINANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO ADVISE THEM ON THE LATEST REVENUE PROJECTION FIGURES, THAT WILL BE APRIL 11th, WHICH IS WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.

AND THERE'S SOME THOUGHT THOUGH BIT REPUBLICAN LEADERS THAT IT MAY NOT CHANGE THAT MUCH.

AND WHETHER IT DOES OR NOT, I DO THINK THAT THEIR ARGUMENT THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN BUDGET MEETINGS UP TILL NOW TO HAMMER OUT MAYBE THE EASIER THINGS, THAT MAKES SENSE.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW, IT'S ABOUT A 1.7 BILLION SHORTFALL FOR TWO YEARS THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR.

AND WOULD CERTAINLY BE GOOD FOR THEM TO KNOW IF IT'S MUCH GREATER THAN THAT.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THESE TALKS COULD LAST AND HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS IT THAT SPEAKER TOMAH IS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I MEAN, HE WOULD BE WORKING EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVEN WITH THE BUDGET TALKS.

HE MAY BE DOWN THERE MOST DAYS BUT WE'LL HAVE I SUPPOSE SOME TIME FOR SOME CAMPAIGNING, MAYBE NOT AS MUCH AS ONE OF HIS COMPETITORS, ANTHONY KEARNS, WHO'S A SENATOR ALSO RUNNING FOR THE SEAT AGAINST HIM, WHO NOW ONLY HAS ONE WEEK TO SHOW UP.

BUT THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE -- YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THE MONTH OF APRIL, I WOULD SAY, AND INTO MAY.

SO IF THEY'RE ONLY HAVING TWO BUG MEETINGS A WEEK AND THERE'S LITERALLY -- BUDGET MEET ANXIOUS WEEK AND THERE'S LITERALLY WELL OVER 1,000 LINE ITEMS, IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO HAMMER ALL OF THOSE OUT.

>> WE TALKED IN THE HEADLINES ABOUT THE APPEALS COURT HEARING, TEXAS LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION ALTERNATIVE VARIANT AND LEANING HEAVILY ON SB-1070 WHERE THE SUPREME COURT RULED AND THE PROVISIONS KNOCKED OUT BY BY THE HIGH COURT.

AM I HEARING THAT THERE'S A MOVEMENT FOR A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE TO GO AND SEND SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT TEXAS LAW THROUGH THE BALLOT?

>> THERE IS, ACTUALLY.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT, NOT JUST THE BUDGET WHEN THE LEGISLATURE COMES IN ONCE A WEEK, THEY HAVE SOME BALLOT MEASURES INCLUDING WHAT MAY BE CALLED BORDER DAY IN TERMS OF MAYBE PUTTING THAT ARIZONA BORDER INVASION ACT IN THERE, AS WELL AS SOMETHING THAT THE HOUSE SPEAKER HAD PROPOSED THAT WOULD REFORM THE E-VERIFY SYSTEM AND MAKE IT MORE ROBUST.

SO, YEAH, AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE COURTS IN TEXAS BEFORE THEY MAYBE DO THAT.

BUT THAT'S THE PLAN RIGHT NOW.

>> AND IT'S A PLAN BUT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SPEAKER TOMAH WAS ALL THAT EXCITED ABOUT THE PLAN.

IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS SAYING PEOPLE AREN'T NECESSARILY DOING THE RIGHT THING.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I THINK THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT IT FOR SURE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS BORDER INVASION ACT, WHICH NOT ONLY ALLOWS POLICE TO ACCESS IMMIGRATION OFFICERS BUT ALLOWS ARIZONA JUDGES TO ACTUALLY DEPORT PEOPLE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF COURSE SAYS THAT THAT'S THEIR PURVIEW SO THEY'RE FIGHTING HARD AGAINST THAT.

BUT, YEAH, THIS BILL HAS PROBLEMS AND SO THOSE AREN'T GOING TO GET DONE QUICKLY EITHER.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT PETERSON TOLD ME TODAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE AN ELECTION INTEGRITY PACKAGE AS WELL, SOMETHING THAT COULD GO ON THE BALLOT THAT WOULD DEAL WITH SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN CONCERNS ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY.

AND HE DIDN'T GIVE ME FULL DETAILS ON THAT, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TO MAYBE GIVE VOTERS THE CHOICE TO END EARLY VOTING IN ARIZONA, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MAY OR MAY NOT BE POPULAR.

>> SO VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE EARLY ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO END VOTING CENTER.

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

>> OKAY.

>> PEOPLE WILL SEND IN THEIR MAIL-IN VOTES AND MAYBE THEY'LL BE VOTING TO NEVER DO THAT AGAIN.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

RAY STERN, ARIZONA PUBLIC, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THE MILITARY ASSISTED MISSION OR MAM IS A NONPROFIT EFFORT THAT WORKS TO OFFER FINANCIAL AND MORAL SUPPORT TO SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR LOVED ONES, IT'S ALSO A MOTHER'S TRIBUTE TO HER SON.

AND WE WELCOME MARGY BONNES, THE FOUNDER OF THE MILITARY ASSISTANCE MISSION.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I LOVE THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE BACKDROP.

>> THERE WE GO.

GIVE ME A GOOD DEFINITION, A BETTER DEFINITION OF YOUR GROUP.

>> WE HELP SERVICE MEMBERS IN ARIZONA WHEN THEY RUN INTO A FINANCIAL NEED, AND WE ALSO PROVIDE BABY SHOWERS AND HOLIDAY EVENTS AND TICKETS FOR GAMES, WE'RE JUST THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN FOCUS ON THEIR MISSION AND NOT THE FINANCES.

>> SO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND ALSO MORAL IS A PART OF YOUR HELP, AS WELL.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> YES.

WELL, WE HOLD A BABY SHOWER QUARTERLY, AND WE HAVE FIVE EXPECTANT PARENTS COME, AND THEY GET EVERYTHING FROM CAR SEATS TO PACK AND PLAYS TO DIAPERS, LITTLE ITEMS THAT ARE KNITTED FROM PEOPLE IN CHURCHES AND THAT, THAT DONATE THEM.

THEY JUST GET ALL KINDS OF STUFF SO THAT THEY CAN START OFF WITH THAT NEW BABY.

>> SO IF A SERVICE MEMBER, LET'S SAY HE'S SHORT WITH RENT OR MORTGAGE OR UTILITIES OR FOOD.

HOW DOES IT WORK, HOW DO THEY GET AHOLD OF YOU?

>> WITH AN ONLINE APPLICATION.

THEY HAVE TO UPLOAD AN LES, WHICH IS A PAY STUB.

YOU HAVE TO UPLOAD YOUR ORDERS, ID, SO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ARIZONA, BECAUSE WE ONLY SERVE ARIZONA.

AND THEY UPLOAD A BILL.

ONCE WE CHECK EVERYTHING, WE PAY THE BILL DIRECTLY TO THE LIEN HOLDER.

SO WHETHER IT'S AN ELECTRIC COMPANY OR A LANDLORD OR MORTGAGE COMPANY OR AUTO PAYMENT, WE PAY THE COMPANY DIRECTLY.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF FOOD INSECURITY WITH MILITARY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW BUT 1 IN 7 MILITARY FAMILIES HAVE FOOD INSECURITY, BUT DOWN AT PAPPAGO ON AFTERNOONnd AND MCDOWELL, 1 IN 3.

>> WHOA.

SO IT HEADS THE GUARD PRETTY HARD, HUH?

>> IT DOES, YES.

>> DO WE KNOW WHY?

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING BETWEEN ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE DUTY, AND JUST THAT KIND OF THING.

>> AND HOW MANY FOLKS ARE YOU HELPING RIGHT NOW?

WHAT'S THE GOAL, AND HAVE YOU REACHED THE GOAL?

HOW'S THAT WORKING?

>> WE DON'T HAVE A GOAL.

WE JUST HELP AS IT COMES.

SO OVER THIS WEEKEND, WE HAD -- SEE, IT WAS RENT, UTILITIES, AND AUTO INSURANCE.

>> INTERESTING.

OKAY.

AND I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION THIS IS A MOTHER'S TRIBUTE TO HER SON.

TALK ABOUT YOUR SON.

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU FOUNDED THIS ORGANIZATION.

>> IT'S MILITARY ASSISTANCE MISSION, WHICH IS M-A-M, IT'S MY SON'S INITIALS, MICHAEL ADAM.

AND HE WENT TO -- HE VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO IRAQ IN 2005, AND THEN ON MOTHER'S DAY -- THERE HE IS -- HE'S AT THE EUPHRATES RIGHT THERE.

HE WAS VERY EXCITED THAT HE WENT TO THE BATHROOM IN THE EUPHRATES.

>> OKAY, I LIKE THAT.

>> BUT HE VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO IRAQ AND TWO MONTHS LATER I GOT THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR, MOTHER'S DAY, THAT HE HAD BEEN KILLED IN AN AMOUNT BUSH WITH TWO OTHER MARINES AND A CORPSMAN, AND THAT WAS IT.

>> YEAH.

THAT WAS IT, BUT IT WASN'T IT FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU GOT TO -- HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET PAST -- OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE NEVER PAST IT.

BUT HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET PAST IT ENOUGH TO GET THIS THING GOING?

>> WELL, I WAS VOLUNTEERING WITH ANOTHER NONPROFIT SENDING CARE PACKAGES OVERSEAS WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

AND THEN I WAS APPROACHED BY A NATIONAL NONPROFIT TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THEIR ORGANIZATION, AND FROM THERE, I STARTED MAM BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HELP WHEN WE NEED TO HELP.

YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE GET THAT CALL, I JUST WANTED TO DO THAT.

>> DID IT SURPRISE YOU A LITTLE BIT HOW MANY PEOPLE -- IT SURPRISED ME HOW MANY MEMBERS OF THE GUARD NEED FOOD.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SURPRISING.

DID IT SURPRISE YOU AT FIRST?

>> NO.

BECAUSE THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WEE COME TO ME AND HE'D SAY, MOM, I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR GAS TO GET TO DRILL.

WHEN HE LEFT ACTIVE DUTY IN NORTH CAROLINA AND MOVED TO ARIZONA, HE JOINED THE BULK FUEL, WHICH IS A RESERVE UNIT, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET TO DRILL OR HE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR HIS CAR REPAIR.

WE DON'T DO CAR REPAIRS BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR THAT.

WEE COME OUT AND EAT MY FOOD.

>> BUT THAT'S WHAT MOMS ARE FOR.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAM IS NOW FOR.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> AND I LOVE IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES I GET THE "MOM."

HEY, "MOM."

ONCE YOU'RE A MARINE FAMILY, YOU'RE FAMILY.

WE SERVE ALL BRANCHES BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M FOREVER TIED TO MARINES.

>> YES, ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE.

>>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> RESPONSE FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE HELP HERE AND WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE WITH YOUR GROUP?

>> WE'RE JUST CONTINUING TO WALK THE PATH THAT WE NEED.

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A GAP, SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE FILLED WITH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE V.A.

OR WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION OR WHATEVER.

SO WE HAVE AN EDUCATION PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT -- I DIDN'T KNOW AT ASU, THE PARKING IS LIKE ALMOST $1,000.

AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, I WANT THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL AND I WANT THEM TO TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN WORLD.

SO WE WILL HELP WITH THAT.

WE WILL HELP WITH CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH SCHOOL AND GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THAT.

SO WE LOOK FOR AREAS THAT NEED HELP.

>> WELL, MARGY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS THIS GROUP BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S NEEDED AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >> THE THIRD ANNUAL HBCU ALLSTAR GAME IS SET FOR APRIL 7th AT GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY.

THE EVENT SHINES ON SPOTLIGHT ON TOP STUDENT AND ATHLETES AND COACHES FROM HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

WE SPEAK TO TRAVIS L WILLIAMS, THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE HBCU ALL-STARS.

TRAVIS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE ALLSTAR GAME.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THE THIRD ANNUAL HISTORIC HBCU ALLSTAR GAME DURING COLLEGE BASKETBALL'S BIGGEST WEEKEND ON SUNDAY APRIL 7th, 1:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME, 4:00 P.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME.

>> AND THESE ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST FROM HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO MAKES THIS GAME?

>> WELL, WE STARTED OFF THE 23/24 BASKETBALL SEASON WITH 65 OF THE NATION'S TOP HBCU PLAYERS REPRESENTING FROM FOUR PREMIER BLACK COLLEGE CONFERENCES AND OUR INDEPENDENT TEAMS TENNESSEE STATE, HAMPTON, NORTH CAROLINA, THEY'RE PLAYING NON-HBCU CONFERENCES.

SO WE HAVE A NATIONAL STAFF THAT CONSISTS OF FORMER HBCU HEAD COACHES, ASSISTANT COACHES, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE WENT OUT AND WATCHED ALL OF THESE GUYS IN PERSON, ON TELEVISION, SYNERGY, AND SO WE'RE ALL FORMER COACHES, WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY WATCH THEM THIS YEAR, SCOUT THEM AND EVALUATE THEM.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS.

AND THE TEAMS WERE NAMED AFTER RICK MA HORN AND BEN WALLACE, BIG TIME NBA STARS.

>> YEAH, WE WANT TO PAY SOMEAGE AND RESPECT TO THE LEGENDARY PLAYERS FOR THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, WE WANT TO PAY OHMAGE.

THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT SUPPORTERS.

MAHORN, WE JUST PAY RESPECT AND LOVE FOR THESE GUYS THAT ARE PAVING THE WAY FOR THE CURRENT GUYS NOW.

>> TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY AND TRADITION OF HBCU ON AND OFF THE COURT?

>> I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

WE HAD NO OTHER PLACE TO GO, HBCUs, WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST TRADITION IN HISTORY, PROUD, HBCU INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

WE HAVE SOME OF OUR MOST ESTEEMED ALUM THAT GRADUATED FROM HBCU.

WE'RE HARDWORKING, WE'RE TALENTED AND RESILIENT, AND HBCU ALL-STARS WERE FOUNDED ON THAT DUE TO HBCU'S EXPOSURE, ACCESS, RECOGNITION, OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES AND RESULTS.

HARD-WORKING TALENT AND AMBITIOUS STUDENTS, AND STUDENT ATHLETES, AND FROM MY MOST DEDICATED AND BRILLIANT COACH FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AS FAR AS IT -- >> NOW, THE NIL, A PAYING COLLEGE ATHLETES, HOW HAS THAT -- IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMED COLLEGE ATHLETICS, WHAT ABOUT HBCU?

>> THE SAME.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK A YEAR AGO, HOWARD UNIVERSITY WON THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT, THEY WON THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THIS YEAR, THEY LOST ALL FIVE OF THEIR STARTERS DUE TO THE NIL.

AND SO IT'S AFFECTED THINGS ON ALL LEVELS.

IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR A LOT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS.

SO I'M BEING A FORMER STUDENT ATHLETE AND UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF IT.

>> THE CONCEPT OF STUDENT ATHLETES IS INCREASINGLY GETTING LOST IN THE MIDST AND THE DOLLAR SIGNS AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON.

AT HBCU, I HAVE A FEELING THAT STILL IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> OH, YEAH.

IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT STARTS WITH THE LEADERSHIP.

I MEAN, INSTITUTIONS FROM OUR PRESIDENTS ON DOWN TO THESE COACHES.

IN THE LANDSCAPE OF COACHING, IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING GENUINE AND CONCERN AND CARE FOR YOUR PLAYERS.

YOU LOOK AT THE LAND SCAPE WHAT JUST HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO, GRAND CANYON STATE UNIVERSITY IS A VERY YOUNG TEAM, YOU SHOW THAT THE PLAYERS THAT YOU GENUINELY TRULY CARE FOR THEM AND ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE ON AND OFTEN BASKETBALL COURT.

>> HOW DO YOU DO THAT THOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE A DIONNE SANDERS AND COACHES THERE AND SAYS ALL OF A SUDDEN I WANT TO -- WELL, I CAN'T KEEP IT STRAIGHT, BUT, I MEAN, YOU GOT THESE KIDS, THEY'RE IN A GREAT POSITION.

THEY GOT THE CULTURE GOING, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS AND YET HERE'S, THE UNIVERSITY SAYING WE WANT YOU.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, LIKE I SAID, IT STARTS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COACHES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT GOES BACK TO THE RELATIONSHIP.

IT GOES BACK TO WHEN THEY RECRUITED THESE PLAYERS.

AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST DYNAMIC AND BRILLIANT COACHES HAVE INVESTED IN OUR YOUNG STUDENT ATHLETES AND SHOWED THAT HBCU MATTERS ON ALL LEVEL.

AND A LOT OF KIDS WANT TO A PART OF THE TRUE HBCU EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT THE ENTIRE CULTURE.

IT'S LOVE, IT'S GENUINE CARE AND IT'S ABOUT -- WE KNOW IN THOSE CLASSROOMS WITH THE PROFESSORS THAT THEY GENUINELY CARE, THEY'RE JUST NOT ANOTHER NUMBER.

IF THEY SEE A YOUNG MAN, A YOUNG WOMAN STRUGGLING, THEY'RE TRULY GOING TO HELP THEM THROUGH.

>> I BET YOU THE LOYALTY THERE, GRADUATES AND THAT SORT OF THING, REALLY STRONG.

>> UNBELIEVABLE JUST LIKE BRINGING THIS GAME HERE IN LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS.

>> THIS IS A WEEK-LONG CULTURAL EXPERIENCE, TRUE?

>> YEAH.

WE'RE BRINGING THE ENTIRE HBCU EXPERIENCE TO THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

JUST PUT IN PERSPECTIVE, HBCU DOESN'T EXIST IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THEY STOP IN HOUSTON, OKLAHOMA, BUT WE GETTING READY TO BRING THE BAND, THE CHEERLEADERS, THE DANCE TEAM.

OUR HBCU ALL-STARS WILL BE HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEND A LOUD AND COAL MESSAGE THAT WE BELONG HERE JUST LIKE THE FOUR PARTICIPATING FINAL FOUR TEAM.

>> AND THE IMPACT OF HAVING CBS PARTNERSHIP HERE HAS GOTTA BE A BIG DEAL.

>> AMAZING.

THE MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 40 PLUS YEARS.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN HBCU ALLSTAR GAME OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

APRIL 2022 IN NEW ORLEANS, WE MADE HISTORY FIRST EVER, APRIL 2023, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WAS THE FIRST EVER HBCU ALLSTAR GAME ON HBCU CAMPUS, AND IN LESS THAN A WEEK, PHOENIX ARIZONA, WE'RE BRINGING THE THIRD ANNUAL HISTORIC HBCU ALLSTAR GAME TO THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY AND EXPOSE AND MAKE IT INCLUSIVE TO EVERYONE AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND HBCU AND WHY THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT DEAL, AND YOU CERTAINLY SOUND VERY COMMITTED AND EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT SOUNDS COOL.

I MEAN, IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A NEAT WAY TO CELEBRATE ATHLETICS AND ACADEMICS AND CULTURE.

>> THIS IS TRULY AMAZING.

THIS IS A GOD-DRIVEN VISION.

AND WHEN GOD PLACES THE VISION IN MY SPIRIT IN OCTOBER 2019 THIS IS WHAT IT MEANT TO BE.

YOU KNOW, I'M BEING VERY FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT TO GOD IN THIS MOMENT BECAUSE WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, IT'S ABOUT THE CULTURE CELEBRATING BLACKS, BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER THAT DON'T BOSTON HBCU AND WHEN WE COME TO THE COMMUNITY WE ARE GIVING BACK.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF ANCILLARY EVENTS SURROUNDING THE HBCU ALLSTAR GAME.

GRANT PARK, WE'RE RENOVATING GRANT PARK DURING OUR FRIDAY FUN DAY HERE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY COME OUT TO GRANT PARK ON FRIDAY APRIL THE 3rd.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF EVENT THERE IS.

>> TRAVIS WILLIAMS, HBCU ALLSTAR GAME APRIL 7th, THANKS FOR MAKING TIME FOR US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME FOR US.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

APPRECIATE YOU.

>> YOU BET.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.