"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[*] >> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

COMING UP TONIGHT, COULD A NEWLY DISCOVERED ASTEROID COLLIDE WITH EARTH?

WE WILL GET THE LATEST ASSESSMENT OF THAT RISK.

BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS Dr. ALBERT HICKS HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF HEART TRANSPLANT AND SECTION CHIEF FOR ADVANCED HEART FAILURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IN YOUR FIELD, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY ADVANCEMENTS, YET CARDIOVASCULAR ISSUES REMAIN THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS STLUTLY CORRECT.

AND MAINLY BECAUSE THE RISK FACTORS THAT HELP TO DEVELOP CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE CONTINUE TO RISE.

RATES OF DIABETES ARE GOING UP IN THE U.S. RATES OF OBESITY AND HYPERTENSION WHICH ALL LEAD TO WORSENING HEART DISEASE AND SMOKING.

WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN RID OF SMOKING SO THERE IS A RISK FACTOR THAT IS YOU CAN MITIGATE BUT STILL CAUSES PROBLEMS.

>> Jeff: AND WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON HEART FAILURE AS OPPOSED TO HEART ATTACKS WHICH PEOPLE ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH.

WHAT IS THE SIMPLE, PLA NATION OF HEART FAILURE?

>> IT IS THE HEART IS NOT ABLE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE BODY.

THAT IS THE MOST SIMPLE EXPLA NATION.

AND WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF TREATING OTHER FORMS OF HEART DISEASE, VALVE DISEASE, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND ALL THE END STAGES LEAD TO HEART FILER.

FAILURE.

>> Jeff: AND WE'LL SHOW THE TREND WHICH IS AMAZING.

THE FIRST GOES BACK 100 YEARS.

AND THERE'S I WILL EXPLAIN A LITTLE AND YOU CAN EXPLAIN THE LEFT.

THE SPIKE ON THE LEFT SIDE IS THE SPANISH FLU.

IN TERMS OF DEATH RATES BUT THE LINE THAT GOES ACROSS THE TOP IS COMING DOWN.

AND HAS BEEN FOR DECADES IS HEART DISEASE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SO THIS IS THE SLIDE I LIKE TO USE WHEN I GIVE LECTURES TO THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OR TO OTHER UNIVERSITIES AND PARTICULARLY DURING GRAND ROUNDS AND IT SHOWS AND HIGHLIGHTS THAT HEART DISEASE HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND DURING COVID HEART DISEASE WAS STILL THE HIGHEST KILLER FOR AMERICANS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING DOWN BUT UNFORTUNATELY HEART FAILURE IS ONE OF THE DISEASES MORTALITY HAS BEEN GOING UP.

>> Jeff: GOT TO LIKE THE TREND.

BUT THERE ARE SOME DISPARITIES TO TALK ABOUT IN THIS.

AND THERE IS ANOTHER CHART THAT SHOWS THE RATE OF HEART FAILURE, I BELIEVE, AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICANS BUT YOUNG, YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

WHEN I THINK HEART FAILURE I DO NOT THINK YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> ONE THING THAT IS NOT RECOGNIZED THERE ARE GENETIC MUTATIONS THAT OCCUR WITH HEART DISEASE AND OTHER THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT HEART FAILURE THIS SHOWS THE TOP POPULATION BEING AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED FROM A MORTALITY STANDPOINT WITH HEART FAILURE COMPARED TO OTHER GROUPS.

THE LOW WOULD BE ASIAN-AMERICANS, HISPANIC AMERICANS AS WELL AS CAUCASIANS.

BUT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, MORTALITY FOR HEART FAILURE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS PARTICULARLY YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS ONLY CONTINUES TO RISE.

>> Jeff: AND FOR ANYBODY LOOKING AT THAT THINKING COVID AND CONTROVERSIAL VACCINES, THIS CHART ENDS AROUND 2020.

SO DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THE THIRD THING WE WANTED TO LOOK AT IS JUST A SECTIONAL OF WHAT OUR HEARTS ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE THAT IS GOOD HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE LOOKS GREAT.

IF YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON THE CHAMBERS FOCUS ON THE LEFT VENTRICLE, THE LEFT BOTTOM CHAMBER OF THE HEART.

THAT HAS A NICE THICK WALL.

THE CHAMBER IS NOT TOO ENLARGED.

AND THE VALVES LOOK NORMAL.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HEART FAILURE WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE TOP THAT SAYS SIS TOLLIC HEART FAILURE OR THE ONE TOWARDS THE LEFT AND THE HEART GETS BIGGER THE WALLS GET THINNER AND THEY ARE UNDER MORE STRESS.

AND THE HEART GETS WEAKER.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR TREATMENT OPTIONS IF SOMEBODY IS EARLY IN THIS DISEASE PROCESS?

>> EARLY IN DISEASE PROCESS ARE MEDICATIONS.

IF YOU HAVE A REVERSIBLE CAUSE OF HEART FAILURE WE LIKE TO GET TO THAT CAUSE.

SOMETIMES IF YOU ARE HAVING AN ABNORMAL HEART RHYTHM THAT CAN HELP THE HEART GET BETTER.

AN NORTHBOUNDAL DEPOSITION OF PROTEINS, AMYLOID WHICH CAN AFFECT 5% OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IF YOU TREAT THAT EARLY ENOUGH THAT CAN HELP TO REVERSE IT.

AND THYROID DISEASE WHETHER OVERACTIVE OR UNDER ACTIVE CAN BE A CAUSE OF HEART FAILURE WHEN IT'S OUT OF CONTROL.

TREATING THAT CAN TREAT THE CAUSE AND THE MEDICINES HELP THE HEART TO THUNDERSTORMALIZE AGAIN.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND WITH THAT DISEASE PROCESS UNDERWAY WHO DON'T KNOW IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE ONE THING WITH HEART DISEASE THE BODY'S ABLE TO COMPENSATE VERY WELL UNTIL IT CAN'T.

IF YOU ARE OLDER YOU HAVE LESS ABILITY TO COMPENSATE SO YOU USUALLY PRESENT EARLIER IN YOUR DISEASE COURSE.

YOUNG PATIENTS SURPRISINGLY WHY THE MORTALITY RATE IS PROBABLY SO HIGH IS THEY HAVE VERY STRETCHY BLOOD VESSELS AND THEY PRESENT WHEN THEIR HEART IS EXTREMELY BAD.

SOME OF THE WORST CASES OF HEART FAILURE HAVE BEEN IN VERY YOUNG PATIENTS IN THEIR TEENS AND 20s AND 30s.

>> Jeff: WHY WOULD THEY GET IT?

>> GENETICS.

THERE'S GENETIC PREDISPOSITION AND ABNORMALITIES IN PROTEINS THAT MAKEUP THE HEART THAT CAN CAUSE THE HEART TO DILATE.

AND UNDIAGNOSED CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE THAT MAY NOT HAVE KILLED SOMEONE BUT WILL ALLOW THEM TO HAVE WORSENING HEART DISEASE OVER TIME.

>> Jeff: IF YOU GOT A CHECKUP THEY ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO YOUR HEART AND YOU BREATHE AND WOULD THEY PICK THIS UP?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

I WOULD SAY THAT HEART FAILURE IS A GREAT MIMICKER.

MANY PATIENTS COULD DIAGNOSE MY PATIENTS WILL SAY THEY HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PNEUMONIA OR ASTHMA OR A YOUNG PERSON WITH COPD BEFORE SOMEONE DIAGNOSED THEM WITH HEART FAILURE.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF TREATMENTS?

BECAUSE TELLING SOMEBODY THEY HAVE HEART FAILURE IS OMINOUS?

>> IT IS OMINOUS.

AND I TRY TO LET THEM KNOW THAT ONE, OBVIOUSLY WE TREAT THEIR UNDERLYING CAUSE.

BUT THE MEDICINES WORK.

HEART FAILER IS AN INTERESTING THING.

IT TRICKS THE BODY INTO KILLING ITSELF BECAUSE THE BODY THINKS THE REASON YOU HAVE LOW BLOOD FLOW IS BECAUSE YOU ARE BLEEDING OR DEHYDRATED BUT YOU HAVE A POOR FUNCTIONING PUMP BUT THE BODY WILL RESPOND BY RAISING YOUR ADRENALINE LEVELS BY CAUSING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE TO GO UP BY MAKING YOU HOLD ON TO SALT AND WATER.

BECAUSE THAT WILL BE HELPFUL IF YOU WERE BIT EASTBOUND BY A DOG OR STABBED.

BUT NOT HELPFUL WHEN YOUR PUMP IS WEAK AND HAVING PROBLEMS MOVING THE FLUID AROUND.

THE MEDICINES WE GIVE LITERALLY STOP THE BODY FROM KILLING ITSELF.

>> Jeff: WHEN DOES IT BECOME TIME TO LOOK FOR A TRANSPLANT?

>> WHEN MEDICINES STOP WORKING.

WHEN PATIENTS DON'T GET THE BENEFIT OF THE MEDICATIONS OR GETTING MORE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS AS OPPOSED TO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE MEDS TO DO.

THEN WE START TO LOOK AT THAT PATIENT MAY REQUIRE MORE ADVANCED THERAPIES.

THAT COULD INCLUDE HEART FAILURE DEVICES, POTENTIALLY A HEART PUMP LIKE LEFT ASSIST DEVICE AN LVAD.

AND POTENTIALLY A HEART TRANSPLANT BUT WE HAVE TO WEIGH AND THE RISK AND BENEFITS EVERY PATIENT IS DIFFERENT AND ALWAYS TELL MY PATIENTS THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH.

>> Jeff: PACEMAKERS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY?

>> CERTAIN PACEMAKERS DO.

WE'VE REALIZED THAT PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE DIED AT HIGH RATES THAT WERE ASYMPTOMATIC.

THEY HAD NO SYMPTOMS THEY KNEW THEY HAD HEART FAILURE BUT THEY WOULD LEAVE THE HOSPITAL AND THE MEDS WOULD WORK AND THEY WOULDN'T WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING OR DROP DEAD DRIVING.

ARRHYTHMIAS WERE ONE OF THE HIGHEST CAUSES OF DEATH IF THE HEART WERE TO FALL TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF WEAKNESS.

DEFIBRILLATORS CAN CATCH IT AND TREAT THAT.

AND CERTAIN DEFIBRILLATORS IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT RHYTHM CAN MAKE THE HEART STRONGER.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE MAIN TAKEAWAY YOU WANT OUR VIEWERS TO THINK ABOUT?

AND ESPECIALLY THINK ABOUT NEXT TIME THEY ARE AT THE CHECKUP?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT IF I MENTIONED THE SYMPTOMS AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH FOR HEART FAILURE.

IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A HEART CONDITION IF SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS A HEART CONDITION KNOW THIS CAN RUN IN FAMILIES AND PLEASE GET YOURSELF CHECKED OUT.

THE SECOND THING IS TO STOP ANYTHING THAT CAN WORSEN HEART DISEASE SUCH AS SMOKING.

IF YOU ARE A SMOKER THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO SMOKING IT RAISES YOUR CANCER RATES AND HEART DISEASE RATES.

>> Jeff: ANY TRICKS FOR PEOPLE WHO TRIED AND RELAPSED?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

AND I SAY WE CAN TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THEM AND A SOCIAL WORKER BUT THEY CAN BE HELPFUL INTO GETTING YOU STOP THESE BEHAVIORS.

>> Jeff: Dr. ALBERT HICKS UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: NOW TO THE RISK THAT IS SUBSTANTIAL ASTEROID WILL IMPACT THE EARTH.

LAST WEEK, NASA PUT THE ODDS AT 3% BEFORE CUTTING THE RISK TO BELOW 1%.

WE SPOKE WITH Dr. TERIK DALY OF THE JOHNS HOPKINS APPLIED PHYSICS LAB.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT IS THIS OBJECT THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN FOCUSED ON OVER THE LAST WEEK?

>> SO THIS OBJECT IS ASTEROID 2024YR4.

IT IS AN ASTEROID WHOSE ORBIT BRING IT IS CLOSE TO THE EARTH.

AND DISCOVERED LAST DECEMBER THERE WAS A SMALL PROBABILITY THAT IT MIGHT HILT THE EARTH.

WE NOW KNOW IT WILL NOT BUT THAT SMALL PROBABILITY OF AN EARTH IMPACT THAT MADE IT CAUSE A LOT OF ATTENTION OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

>> Jeff: THE NUMBER I WAS HEARING AND THE NUMBER THAT GOT EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION WAS NASA HAD PUT A 3% PROBABILITY ON THIS.

WHICH IS RELATIVELY SMALL, BUT ALSO NOT ZERO.

SO WHY DID THAT BOUNCE AROUND LIKE IT DID?

>> YES.

SO THE IMPACT AS YOU SAY TOPPED OUT AT JUST A HAIR OVER 3%.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE IMPACT PROBABILITY COMES FROM PREDICTING THE ASTEROID'S PATH THROUGH SPACE FORWARD IN TIME.

I THINK OF IT LIKE IF YOU ARE WATCHING AN ICE SKATER GOING AROUND A RINK THEY GO AROUND IN AN OVAL SHAPE IF YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE ICE SKATER IS GOING TO GO NEXT YOU WANT TO TAKE PICTURES OF THAT ICE SKATER AT DIFFERENT MOMENTS IN TIME.

IF YOUR PICTURES ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER YOU WILL NOT SEE THE ICE SKATER MOVE MUCH.

BUT IF THE PICTURES ARE FARTHER OUT IN TIME YOU ARE ABLE TO CHART THAT COURSE MORE PRECISELY.

AND THE SAME THING IS TRUE OF ASTRONOMERS USING TELESCOPES TO TRACK THAT ASTEROID'S PATH ACROSS THE SKY.

THEY BUILDUP MORE OBSERVATIONS, THE PREDICTION OF THAT PATH THROUGH SPACE CHANGES A LITTLE BIT.

AND WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK WE GOT TELESCOPES WITH GREAT DATA THAT EXTENDED THE ARC AND REDUCED THE CERTAINTY AND THAT IS WHY WE DON'T HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT PROBABILITY WITH THIS ASTEROID.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE TELLING US WE CAN STOP WORRYING ABOUT THIS ONE.

BUT CAN WE STOP WORRYING ABOUT ALL ASTEROIDS EVER?

>> SO WE CAN ABSOLUTELY PUT THIS ONE TO BED.

THE FACT IS EARTH HAS BEEN HIT BY ASTEROIDS IN THE PAST AND IT WILL BE HIT BY THEM IN THE FUTURE.

BACK IN 2013 AN ASTEROID EXPLODED OVER RUSSIA CAUSED $30 MILLION WORTH OF DAMAGE.

RIGHT NOW THE FACT IS WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE MOST OF THE ASTEROIDS ARE THAT ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE REGIONAL DEVASTATION.

AND IT'S FOR THAT REASON THAT NASA IS DEVELOPING A SPACE BASED TELESCOPE THAT IS ONLY JOB IS TO FIND THE ASTEROIDS.

IF WE FIND THEM WITH ENOUGH WARNING TIME, WE HAVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE CAN USE TO POTENTIALLY PREVENT THEIR IMPACT.

WE FIRST NEED TO FIND THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM IF WE FIND ONE ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH EARTH.

>> Jeff: AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE PART OF YOUR WORK INVOLVING PLANETARY DEFENSE WHICH SOUNDS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH REGARD TO PLANETARY DEFENSE?

>> THE PLANETARY DEFENSE IS THE TERM THAT REFERS TO ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON TO UNDERSTAND THE RISK POSED BY ASTEROIDS AND COMETS TO EARTH AND PREPARE TO DO SOMETHING IF ONE DAY WE HAVE AN ASTEROID THAT IS COMING OUR WAY.

IT INVOLVES SEARCHING FOR OBJECTS TO FIND THEM.

CHARACTERIZING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.

COORDINATING WITHIN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS INTERNATIONALLY.

AND THEN PREPARING TO TAKE ACTION IF NEEDED TO PREVENT AN IMPACT OR REDUCE THE CONSEQUENCES IF ONE CAN'T BE PREVENTED.

AND ACTUALLY THROUGH THE U.N.

THERE ARE TWO COLLABORATIONS ONE IS THE INTERNATIONAL ASTEROID WARNING NETWORK.

AND THE OTHER IS CALLED THE SPACE MISSION PLANNING ADVISORY GROUP AND THESE ARE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS THROUGH THE U.N. THAT ARE ENTIRELY FOCUSED ON DEFENDING EARTH AGAINST THE RISK POSED BY ASTEROIDS AND COMETS.

>> Jeff: SAY THIS HADN'T BEEN A FALSE ALARM.

I SHOULDN'T CALL IT A FALSE ALARM.

SAY IT WAS FOUND THAT 3% WAS ACCURATE.

AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE NONZERO CHANCE OF HAVING A PROBLEM IN 2032, I THINK IT WAS.

WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE GOING FORWARD?

WHAT WOULD THE RIGHT APPROACH HAVE BEEN?

BECAUSE CERTAINLY WE ALL WOULD WANT TO NUKE IT ALTER ITS COURSE.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?

>> SO THE CAVEAT THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT WHAT WOULD MAKE SENSE I THINK WE COULD SEE IS OBSERVATIONS WITH THIS ASTEROID WITH TELESCOPES ON THE GROUND CAN CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY APRIL TIME-FRAME.

AND IN ADDITION, THE JAMES MPT.ORG/DONATE SPACE TELESCOPE IS PLANNING TO TAKE DATA OF THE ASTEROID IN MARCH.

DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SPACE MISSIONS AND SO FORTH, BE IMPACT HAD A NONZERO PROBABILITY AFTER ALL THOSE OBSERVATIONS WERE DONE.

IF WE GOT TO THAT SITUATION, WHICH IS HYPOTHETICAL AT THIS POINT, THEN I EXPECT THAT THAT U.N.

ENDORSED SPACE MISSION PLANNING ADVISORY GROUP WOULD CONVENE AND DISCUSS POSSIBLE RESPONSES.

BECAUSE THAT GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL SPACE AGENCIES, EXISTS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

TO BRING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF SPACE AGENCIES TOGETHER TO DISCUSS WHAT COURSES OF ACTION MIGHT EXIST AND THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MEMBER STATES OF THE U.N. AND THE U.S., OF COURSE, WE ALSO HAVE ACTUALLY PROTOCOL FOR RESPONDING TO NEAR EARTH OBJECT IMPACT THREATS THAT WAS ACTUALLY FOLLOWED HERE IN THE U.S.

WHEN THE ASTEROID GOT TO A 1% IMPACT PROBABILITY NOTIFICATIONS TOOK PLACE BASED ON U.S. POLICY.

>> Jeff: WHAT WAS THE DART MISSION?

AND WHAT WAS LEARNED FROM THAT?

>> SO DART WAS THE DOUBLE ASTEROID REDIRECTION TEST.

IT WAS THE FIRST TEST OF TECHNOLOGY TO POTENTIALLY PREVENT AN ASTEROID IMPACT.

THIS IS THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TEST BACK IN 2022 WHEN A SPACECRAFT THAT WE BUILT HERE APL SLAMMED ITSELF INTO AN ASTEROID.

AND CHANGED THAT ASTEROID'S PATH THROUGH SPACE.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THAT HAD BEEN DONE AND IT WAS A TRICKY PROBLEM.

WE HAD TO MAKE A SPACECRAFT THAT WAS SMART ENOUGH TO FLY ITSELF ALL THE WAY TO SMASH INTO THE ASTEROID AND WE HAD PEOPLE HERE AT JOHNS HOPKINS SMART ENOUGH TO DO THAT.

AND WE ALSO HAD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ASTEROID WOULD DO IN RESPONSE TO THAT SPACECRAFT SLAMMING INTO THE ASTEROID.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO LEARN QUITE A LOT ABOUT THAT ASTEROID'S SURPRISING PROPERTIES.

FOR ME THE BIGGEST TAKE HOME IS THAT HUMANITY DOES HAVE A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY TO POTENTIALLY PREVENT ASTEROID IMPACTS.

WHICH MAKES ME FEEL VERI' INSIDE WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THIS POTENTIAL EARTH IMPACT OR YR4 THAT NO LONGER POSES AN IMPACT RISK.

>> Jeff: WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS ONE AND WE'RE ALMOST READY FOR THE NEXT ONE IF YOU SEE ONE ON THE HORIZON ONE DAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH PROGRESS BOTH IN THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS OR SO.

SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO IMPROVING READINESS FOR RESPONDING TO ASTEROID IMPACT THREATS AND WITH THIS ONE, THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE THEY WORKED.

SO I HOPE SOMEONE CAPTURES EVERYTHING THAT WENT RIGHT, MAYBE LESSONS LEARNED SO IF WE GET CONFRONTED IN THE FUTURE WE'RE EVEN MORE PREPARED.

>> Jeff: TERIK DALY JOINING US FROM JOHNS HOPKINS APU WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> Jeff: AND NOW, MPT'S CHARLES ROBINSON HAS THIS REPORT ON THE START OF THE CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

>> I LIKE PLAYING BASKETBALL BECAUSE IT'S LIKE AN AGGRESSIVE SPORT.

SO THAT HELPS ME BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN I ALREADY AM.

AND IT GIVES BROTHERS.

>> DEANNA WAS AMONG THE GIRLS AND BOYS WHO SHOWED UP ON A CHILLY SATURDAY MORNING AT THE MIDDLE BRANCH RECREATION CENTER FOR THE YOUTH SPORTS AND CHEER CLINK PUT ON BY THE CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

AS THE KIDS WENTZ THROUGH THEIR PACES, THERE WAS A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON YOUNG LADIES.

THIS IS THE 50TH YEAR OF THE HBCU'S WOMAN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

DEANNA WAS JOINED BY HER GRANDMOTHER JONES.

>> BASKETBALL WHEN I WAS PLAYING IN THE EARLY 90s.

I WENT THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL SO IT WAS ABOUT CAMARADERIE AND ABOUT TEAM EFFORT AND EVERYBODY WORKING TOWARDS A GOAL.

>> SO THIS IS THE 50TH YEAR OF THE CIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

AND THE YOUNG LADIES ARE HERE FOR THE CLINIC ARE GETTING A HANDS ON APPROACH TO PLAYING BASKETBALL.

SHELLY ANDERSON, THE GIRLS VARSITY COACH AT WOODLAWN HIGH WATCHED THE EVOLUTION OF THE GAME.

SHE REMINDSES ME IN THE EARLY DAYS, WOMEN COULD ONLY PLAY PROFESSIONALLY IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE ABL, WHICH ONLY LASTED FROM 1996 TO 1998.

NOW, HERE'S THE WNBA WHERE BALTIMORE'S OWN ANGLE REESE ONE OF ITS STARS.

>> THE CLINIC AND THE LADIES WILL GET A TOUCH OF ALL AROUND, ALL AROUND FROM DRIBBLING TO OFFENSE AND DEFENSE TO PASSING FROM THE COACHES.

WE ALL ARE COACHES WHETHER IT'S BALTIMORE CITY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND SOME OTHER COUNTIES WE ALL HAVE A PASSION FOR THE GAME.

>> AND THE MIDDLE BRANCH RECREATION CENTER OF BALTIMORE I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> Jeff: AND NOW WITH THE CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BEGINNING TOMORROW, WE'RE JOINED BY AL HUTCHINSON, THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF VISIT BALTIMORE.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WHEN YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR'S EVENTS WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, JEFF THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

AND VISIT BALTIMORE ALONG WITH THE CITY OF BALTIMORE STATE OF MARYLAND, WE ARE VERY EXCITED.

I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR THE CIAA TOURNAMENT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

IT'S REALLY UPLIFTED BALTIMORE CITY AND THE STATE ECONOMICALLY.

WE PUT PEOPLE TO WORK.

AND I THINK THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT 2025 IS GOING TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL IF NOT MORE SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Jeff: LET'S REWIND THE CLOCK TO LOOK BACK HOW TOUGH A ROAD THIS WAS AT THE BEGINNING.

BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, JEFF.

WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN 2020 WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND CHANGE THE WORLD, RIGHT?

AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HOST THIS TOURNAMENT LIVE BASKETBALL IN 2021.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

WE HAD TO REGROUP.

THE CIAA HAD TO REGROUP.

WE REALLY REDID OUR CONTRACT WITH THE CIAA AT THE TIME.

AND THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT CHALLENGE AND 22, 23 AND 24s TOURNAMENT HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY FOR THE CITY.

ECONOMICALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT JUST LAST YEAR, 32.5 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.

TO THE COMMUNITY.

THAT GREW YEAR-OVER-YEAR FROM 2023.

THE FANS INCREASED ABOUT 13% IT WAS OVER 43,000 FOLKS WHO ATTENDED THE GAMES.

OVER 24 BASKETBALL GAMES THIS PAST YEAR.

SO IT IS A TRUE SUCCESS STORY, I THINK.

AND WHERE WE CAME DURING THE PANDEMIC TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, CONTINUING TO GROW THE TOURNAMENT AND ALSO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH THE CIAA CONFERENCE.

IT'S BEEN, I THINK, A VERY WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCE FOR NOT ONLY VISIT BALTIMORE BUT FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

>> Jeff: WHEN PEOPLE HEAR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, THEY THINK BASKETBALL.

BUT THIS IS ABOUT A LOT MORE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, IT IS A FAMILY REUNION, IT'S YOU KNOW, SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES CATCHING UP.

ALUMNI CATCHING UP.

IT IS A FESTIVAL.

IT IS SORT OF A COMING BACK HOME TO SEE EACH OTHER FROM YEARS.

AND IN FACT, IT'S SO SPECIAL A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T ATTENDED THE GREAT INSTITUTIONS, THEY PARTICIPATE THEY COME TO THE GAMES AND IT IS A TRUE FELLOWSHIP.

AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE THISSED LAST WEEK IN FEBRUARY WITH HISTORICALLY IS A SLOW BUSINESS TIME HERE IN THE CITY.

>> Jeff: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

THERE WAS AN EXTENSION AND PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS WAS HISTORICALLY STAGED I THINK IT WAS IN CHARLOTTE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, JEFF.

SO WE WERE FORTUNATE.

IT WAS IN CHARLOTTE FOR 15 STRAIGHT YEARS.

THE FINAL YEAR WAS IN 2020.

THE REAL BROADER CONTEXT 13 INSTITUTIONS, RIGHT, 10 OF THEM ARE FROM VIRGINIA TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

ONLY THREE ARE PRETTY MUCH UP NORTH LINCOLN UNIVERSITY AND BLUE FIELD STATE UNIVERSITY IN WEST VIRGINIA.

SO WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE.

AND WE'VE SERVED THE CIAA CONFERENCE WELL THE COMMISSIONER'S EXCITED AND I THINK THE PRESIDENTS ARE.

WHERE WE ARE NOW, THERE IS A REBID THAT IS OUT ON THE STREET AS WE SPEAK.

BALTIMORE AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND, VISIT BALTIMORE WE SUBMITTED A LETTER OF INTEREST ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

AND THE NEW BID WILL BE FOR 2027, 28 AND 29.

AND WE HAVE TO SUBMIT OUR FORMAL PROPOSAL BY APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH BALTIMORE CITY, STATE OF MARYLAND, BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO REALLY PUT TOGETHER A WINNING BID FOR THE TOURNAMENT.

>> Jeff: HOW IS THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUSINESS OVERALL?

OBVIOUSLY THE PANDEMIC WAS FULL STOP FOR A WHILE.

BUT HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO BEING FULLY BACK TO WHERE WE WERE?

>> THE BENCHMARK IS 2019 NUMBERS RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

I WOULD SAY FOR US IN THE CONVENTION BUSINESS WE'RE PROBABLY 75-80% BACK.

WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE, BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL BE INVESTED IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT CORRIDOR WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNER HARBOR.

THE POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OF OUR CONVENTION CENTER.

THERE'S $7 BILLION THAT WILL BE INVESTED IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

SO I THINK THAT MOMENTUM SPEAKS WELL, BECAUSE MY ORGANIZATION WE'RE BOOKING BUSINESS THREE, FIVE, 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

AND WE'RE SELLING THE FUTURE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT AND WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT AS WELL.

>> Jeff: GOOD NEWS.

AL HUTCHINSON THE C.E.O.

OF VISIT BALTIMORE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AS ALWAYS THANK YOU, SIR.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION".

AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[*]