>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, CONCERNS OVER THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF TROOPERS.

>>> AN EFFORT TO RAISE THE VOICES OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS INCLUDING SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING.

>>> A NEW BOOK BY AN ASU CLIMATOLOGIST ADDRESSES EXTREME WEATHER.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE ARE NEXT ON ARIZONA.

>> Ted: THE FATHER OF A BOY ATTACKED BY THE SO-CALLED GILBERT GOONS FILED A PRECURSOR TO CHANDLER DISTRICT.

IT ACCUSES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THE DEATH THREATS WERE DISREGARDED.

THE CLAIM ALSO MEANS THE CITY OF CHANDLER AND THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>>> AMONG CONCERNED, ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY.

>> IT'S A MISTAKE AND THE FORM PRESIDENT DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR OWN NATIONAL SECURITY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PUTIN LOSES HERE.

IF WE DON'T, THIS COULD WIND UP IN A WIDER CONFLICT.

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HIS LOGIC.

IT'S GOOD NEWS, WE HAVE BIPARTISAN TO GET THIS UKRAINIAN AID AND THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF THE AMMUNITION AND NEED OUR HELP.

>> Ted: TRUMP'S OPPONENT, NIKKI HALEY, WAS LESS THAN THRILLED AT TRUMP'S COMMENTS.

>> I LOOK AT WHAT DONALD TRUMP SAID ON SATURDAY AND IT MADE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH.

HE SAID THAT NATO, THAT IF ANY OF THOSE COUNTRIES AREN'T PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE, THAT NOT ONLY WOULD HE DEFEND THEM, BUT THAT HE WOULD ENCOURAGE PUTIN TO TAKE OVER.

HE JUST PUT EVERY MILITARY MEMBER AT RISK AND EVERYONE OF OUR ALLIES AT RISK BY SAYING SOMETHING AT A RALLY LIKE THAT.

THAT'S THE DANGER.

>> Ted: TRUMP'S DEFENDERS INCLUDING THE TOP RANKING OFFICIAL DON'T SEEM TOO UPSET BY ALL OF THIS.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT'S NOW HOW I VIEW THAT STATEMENT.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A STORY THAT HE TALKED ABOUT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

BY THE WAY, DONALD TRUMP WAS PRESIDENT AND DIDN'T PULL OUTSIDE OF NATO.

AMERICAN TROOPS WERE STATIONED OUTSIDE OF EUROPE AND WERE THEN, AS WELL.

DONALD TRUMP IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DOESN'T TALK LIKE A TRADITIONAL POLITICIAN.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS AND YOU WOULD THINK PEOPLE WOULD FIGURE THIS OUT BY NOW.

>> Ted: ONE MORE HEADLINE, FULLOUT FROM THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN AND MORE THAN THE USUAL NUMBER OF PGA PLAYERS COMPLAINED SAYING THE TOURNAMENT WAS OUT OF CONTROL.

THE SCOTTSDALE OFFICIALS SAYING THE MUDDY CONDITIONS MAKING IT WORSE FOR CROWDS TO GATHER.

BUT THE SIZE A NUMBER OF INEBRIATED FANS AND THE GATES WERE CLOSED AND FOOD AND ALCOHOL SALES WERE STOPPED AT 2:00.

NO WORD FROM CITY OR TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS ON ANY PLANS TO REIN THE EVENTS.

>> THE ARIZONA OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS EXPLAINING A TROOPER SHORTAGE.

WE ASKED THE PRESIDENT, JEFF HAWKINS, AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

TALK ABOUT HISTORIC SHORTAGES HERE, HUH?

>> THE GREATEST NUMBER OF VACANCIES IN THE EXISTENCE OF THE AGENCY.

>> Ted: WHY IS IT HAPPENING?

>> PAY, BENEFITS AND WE'VE SEEN HISTORIC PAY RAISES IN THE PAST, BUT EVERYONE ELSE HAS REMAINED COMPETITIVE AND WE REMAIN STAGNANT AND FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Ted: IS THIS SOMETHING A LONG-TIME COMING OR A RECENT SPIKE, THE RESIGNATIONS?

>> THE RESIGNATIONS, A LONG TIME COMING AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

>> Ted: IMPACT OF PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> IT'S HUGE AND I MEAN, THERE AREN'T ANY TROOPERS TO TAKE CALLS.

24-HOUR COVERAGE IS LIMITED, PHOENIX, TUCSON, CASA GRANDE AND DARK AT NIGHTTIME.

>> Ted: SHORTAGES INCLUDE SWORN AND CIVILIAN OFFICERS AND I MEAN, EVERYTHING IN THE DEPARTMENT IS SEEING SHORTAGES?

>> WE'RE ALMOST 500 VACANCIES AND 39 IN OUR DISPATCH RANKS AND THOSE ARE TWO CRITICAL AREAS FOR US.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK TO TROOPERS.

THE AVERAGE PAY FOR A TROOPER IS AROUND WHAT?

>> WE START AT 65 AND TAKES NINE YEARS TO MAX OUT TO 11,000.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH DOES THAT NEED TO INCREASE TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM?

>> ABOUT 12% TO 16%.

>> Ted: COMPETITIVE AGAINST OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE VALLEY?

>> IN THE VALLEY, WE'RE NUMBER 12 AND THEN WE'LL BE 13 OR 14 WHEN I COMES TO PAY.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT FEDERAL MONEY.

SEEM TO THINK FEDERAL MONEY CAME IN FOR EVERYTHING INCLUDING SECURITY AND STATE SECURITY.

>> WE NEVER SAW THAT MONEY.

WE SAW INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY FOR RADIOS AND REPLACEMENT OF PORTABLE RADIOS AND NOTHING FOR RECRUITMENT AND TRYING TO HIRE NEW FOLKS.

WE NEVER SAW MONEY FROM MY COVID DOLLARS FROM THAT.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT RECENT STATE BUDGETS?

>> LAST YEAR, WE ASKED FOR SEVERAL THINGS TO TRY TO HELP WORKING CONDITIONS AND SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, NONE WERE FUNDED EXCEPT FOR THE RADIOS AND THE RADIOS WERE NOT ON THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND WE FOUGHT FOR THEM AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET $44 MILLION TO KEEP THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA RADIOS, JUST PEOPLE WORKING.

THEY WERE GETTING READY TO GO BLACK IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

>> Ted: YOU GOT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BUDGET ISSUE AT THE CAPITOL.

I CAN'T THINK YOU'RE EXPECTING TO GET TOO MUCH.

>> A LOT OF THINGS COULD BE DRAWN BACK AND ONE IS STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ACCENT ON THE WORD "STATE" AND AREAS OF THE STATE AND ARE THEY ESSENTIALLY DARK RIGHT NOW AND SIMPLY NO COVERING OUTSIDE OF THE METROPOLITAN AREAS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

FROM MIDNIGHT, YOU WON'T HAVE A TROOPER WORKING THE ROAD.

IF YOU SEE AN IMPAIRED DRIVER, WE HAVE TO WAKE SOMEONE UP TO RESPOND TO THE CALL.

>> Ted: DO WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR?

WE USED TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND A LOT OF THESE FOLKS DOWN THERE AT THE CAPITOL, ESPECIALLY LAWMAKERS AND ONE PARTICULAR PARTY, THEY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT IT CAN'T LEAD TO THE GOVERNOR JUST YET.

WE WANT TO TRY TO GET TROOPERS ON THE ROAD AND YES, THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF A DISCONNECT AND A LOT OF LEGISLATORS PRO LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT NOT PRO FUNDING AND DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE DOLLARS ON US.

IT'S QUITE EVIDENT AND ASTRONOMICAL.

>> Ted: SO WHAT ARE YOU TELLING THEM AND WHAT ARE THEY SAYING TO YOU AS OPPOSED TO DOING FOR YOU?

>> I TELL THEM THE TRUTH AND WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT THEY WANT TO TELL ME IS EVERYBODY HAS NEEDS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS UPON THEM WITH SHARING THE STATISTIC AND LOSS OF MONEY OF WHERE WE RANK ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC.

TDS DOESN'T CONTROL THE FREEWAYS.

THERE'S A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SIDE THAT TAKES CARE OF NARCOTICS AND FACIAL RECOGNITION AND WE DEAL WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE AFFECTED WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE STAFF.

NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA SHOULD BE COVERED BY NINE DETECTIVES AND CURRENTLY, THERE'S TWO DETECTIVES COVERING THREE COUNTIES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COVER A CASELOAD WITH THOSE FEW TROOPERS.

>> Ted: I'M A LAWMAKER AND YOU TELL ME, GIVE ME THE MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE A LAWMAKER TO TRY TO CHANGE THE SITUATION AS BEST YOU CAN.

>> WHAT I USUALLY SHARE WITH THEM IS THE FACT WE HAVE HAD 313 TROOPERS LIVE FOR REGRETTABLE REASONS, BETTER OPPORTUNITIES, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

IT TAKES $200,000 TO TRAIN A TROOPER AND THAT'S 63.5 MILLION THAT WALKED OUT THE DOOR.

LET US OFFER COMPETITIVE WAGES AND BENEFIT'S PACKAGE TO BE ABLE HAVE A RECRUITMENT BUDGET.

WE KIND OF JUST DO WHAT WE CAN TO DO THE BEST WE CAN, BUT WITHOUT LEGISLATURE MAKING THAT SUBSTANTIVE DEPOSIT INTO OUR AGENCY, IT'S GOING TOKER HORRIBLE.

>> Ted: JEFF HAWKINS, TROOPER'S UNION PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: RAISING VOICES OF GROUPS INCLUDING TRAFFICKING.

>> "FINDING YOUR ROOTS," DANIEL BROOKS.

>> THIS CHANGES THE GAME FOR MY FAMILY.

>> DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD DEEP ROOTS?

>> NO.

>> THAT'S ON ARIZONA PBS.

♪ >> FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, PEOPLE COME TO ARIZONA TO SEE OUR SPECIAL BIRDS.

>> OVER 500 SPECIES OF BIRDS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

>> ANYWHERE YOU ARE IN ARIZONA, YOU CAN ATTRACT HUMMING BIRDS TO YOUR YARD.

>> JOIN US AS WE EXPLORE BIRD WATCHING ACROSS ARIZONA.

THAT'S WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> AT A TIME IN HISTORY WHEN THE EYES OF AMERICA WERE LOOKING TO THE STARS, ONE MAN WAS LOOKING AT OUR NATION'S NATURAL BEAUTY.

HE HAD THE VISION AND THE FORESITE TO PRESERVE AND TO PROTECT AMERICA'S NATURAL RESOURCES, NATURAL WONDERS AND SPAREHEAD THE FIRST CONSERVATION MOVEMENT.

THE POLITICS OF BEAUTY.

THAT'S WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AMPLIFIED VOICES TO TELL THE STORY OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS INCLUDING SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHICH THE SUBJECT OF A NEW DOCUMENTARY TITLED "THE JOURNEY."

JOINING US IS DEBORAH SHAPIRO AND SHARI SCOTT.

DEBORAH, AMPLIFIED VOICES, GIVE ME A DEFINITION.

>> AN ADVOCACY INCUBATOR AND WE GIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN TYPICALLY SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET, THOSE CONVERSATIONS PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE AND WE GIVE THEM A VOICE SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO SPEAK ON TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR CAUSES AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Ted: WHAT GOT YOU STARTED IN THIS?

>> WELL, I'VE BEEN IN THE SPEAKING INDUSTRY FOR 16 YEARS AND THAT'S WHAT MY BACKGROUND HAS BEEN IN AND IT HAS THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAD BEEN TRAFFICKED.

SHE WAS IN HER 60s AND RETIRING AND WANTED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HOME RUN LIFE.

I SAID, WELL, I KNOW YOU WANT TO WORK WITH YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN.

WHY DON'T I HELP YOU WRITE A TALK IN YOUR BACK POCKET IN THE EVENT YOU MEET SOMEONE.

IT WAS HER RESPONSE THAT HAD ME START THIS NONPROFIT.

SHE RAISES HER HANDS AND SAYS, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT.

AFTER 50 YEARS OF HAVING BEEN SILENT AND CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Ted: AND I WANT TO GET TO THE JOURNEY IN A SECOND.

SHARI, AS COMFORTABLE AS YOU ARE, TELL US ABOUT YOUR STORY AND THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR STORY NOW AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE WHERE YOU WERE IN THE PAST.

>> SO MY STORY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I HAD BEEN TRAFFICKED AS A CHILD.

ALL OF MY ABUSE TOOK PLACED IN MY HOME ORED IN MY RELIGION OR INSIDE MY NEIGHBORHOOD OR SCHOOL.

SO IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO USE THOSE WORDS.

I WOULD HAVE USED I WAS MOLESTED OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT WASN'T UNTIL SOMEONE WORKING IN THAT INDUSTRY FOR THE ANTISEX TRAFFICKING.

WHEN I SHARED MY STORY WITH HER, SHE SAID, SHARI, YOU WERE TRAFFICKED.

I SAID, NO WAY, HOW COULD THAT BE?

BY THE VERY DEFINITION, I WAS TRAFFICKED AS A CHILD BECAUSE MY PARENTS SHARED.

>> Ted: WAS IT DIFFICULT AT FIRST JUST IN GENERAL, TO TALK ABOUT THIS TO ANYONE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I KEPT IT SECRET AND, IN FACT, AND I DIDN'T HAVE MEMORIES FOR MANY YEARS.

IT WASN'T UNTIL I HAD MY FIRST CHILD THAT I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG, WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE THE EMOTION THAT I WANTED TO HAVE AND EXPECTED TO HAVE.

>> Ted: WOW!

THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING AND CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

THE JOURNEY, THIS NEW DOCUMENTARY, WE HEAR STORIES LIKE THIS?

>> THE JOURNEY CHRONICLES THE FIRST SET OF WOMEN WHO SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH AMPLIFIED VOICES AT THE CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS.

IT WAS WOMEN IMPACTED BY SEX TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND WE HAD SEVEN WOMEN FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY COME TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES IN FRONT OF HUNDREDS OF WATCHERS, BOTH LIVE AND LIVESTREAMING.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM THEM BEFORE AND HALF THEY MAKE THEIR PRESENTATIONS, IF YOU WILL?

>> IT'S PRETTY EXCITING TO WATCH, ACTUALLY.

IT'S DURING THE PROCESS WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL THE DIP, WHERE IT'S SOMEPLACE EVERYBODY WANTS TO LEAVE AND GET OUT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S CONFRONTING AND TRIGGERING TO GO BACK AND TELL THOSE STORIES.

BUT THE MORE THAT PEOPLE SHARE, THE MORE THAT THEY TELL THEIR AUTHENTIC TRUTH AND MET WITH LOVE AND RESPECT.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT MAKES AND AS SOON AS THEY ARE ABLE TO TELL THAT STORY, EACH FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE'S A FREEDOM THAT EXISTS ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE THEY COULD TELL THAT STORY.

>> Ted: CONFIDENTIAL SUPPORTIVE, THAT KIND OF A COMMUNITY, THAT HAD TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR YOU.

>> IT WAS THE FIRST SAFE SPACE THAT I COULD SHARE MY STORY AND NOT FEEL LIKE I WAS GOING TO BE JUDGED FOR IT.

AND I WASN'T.

THERE WAS SO MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT PROVIDED DURING THAT, THAT IT CHANGED A LOT OF THINGS FOR ME AFTERWARD.

>> Ted: EMPOWERING, I WOULD IMAGINE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: JUST RAISING YOUR VOICE, SIT A DEMARCATION IN YOUR LIFE?

>> IT WAS DEFINITELY A TURNING POINT.

I'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE DIRECTION THAT I'M HEADING, BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY IMPACTFUL.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE JOURNEY IS CONCERNED, DEBORAH, WHERE DO YOU GET A CHANCE TO SEE IT?

>> WE HAD A SHOWING LAST WEEK AND WE DO THEM AS THEY'RE CURATED BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS, NOT JUST PUT IT OUT THERE AND WE'LL BE HAVING ANOTHER SHOWING AND WE TYPICALLY HAVE IT AT THE MAJESTIC THEATER IN TEMPE AND ANOTHER ONE IN MAY WHEN WE LAUNCH OUR NEWEST VOICE, WHICH IS THE VOICE OF MENTAL WELLNESS.

>> Ted: THE LAST QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT.

IT'S NOT HUMAN TRAFFICKING ALONE.

BUT MARGINALIZED VOICES IN GENERAL.

>> YES.

SO WE STARTED WITH THE VOICE OF WOMEN IMPACTED BY SEX TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL ABUSE AND WE THEN PARTNERED WITH THE DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO TO GIVE VOICES TO THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.

WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE CHIEF OF BREAST SURGERY TO GIVE VOICES OF WOMEN IMPACTED BY BREAST CANCER.

SO THIS YEAR COMING INTO 2024, WHILE WE CONTINUE TO GIVE THESE VOICES, WE'LL BE LAUNCHING THE NEWEST VOICE WHICH IS WELLNESS.

>> Ted: CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR YOU AND YOUR KID.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >> TONIGHT ON "THE NEWS HOUR" LATEST FROM GAZA WHERE ISRAELI FORCES RESCUE TWO HOSTAGES IN A DEADLY RAID AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: A NEW BOOK LATER THIS MONTH LOOKS AT EXTREME WEATHER, WHY IT HAPPENS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE.

IT'S "CLIMATE SCIENCE IN ACTION" AND THERE HE IS RANDY.

YOU WROTE A BOOK, DIDN'T YOU?

>> I DID.

THIS IS MY BIG HAT THAT I GET TO WEAR TONIGHT.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

LOOKING AT THE REALITY OF EXTREME WEATHER, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY HAS DONE FOR SOME TIME THAT WHEN AN EXTREME HAPPENS AND WHEN A HIGH TEMPERATURE OR BIG RAINFALL OR STRONG WIND IS RECORDED, THAT THEY GO BACK AND THEY DOUBLE-CHECK THE EQUIPMENT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS OPERATED PROPERLY AND THAT THE PERSON OPERATING IT KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

AND THAT'S GREAT FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES.

WHEN I STARTED THIS PROJECT BACK IN 2007, I REALIZED THERE WASN'T ANYTHING FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD.

SO I GOT TO CONTACT THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF WORLD WEATHER AND WE SAID, OK, WE'LL DO IT.

>> Ted: BASICALLY, THE MEASUREMENT, THE OBSERVATION, THEY'RE ALL ZEROED OUT, CORRECT?

>> WE LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL OPERATION, HOT TEMPERATURE, COLD TEMPERATURE AND I GET A PANEL AND IT'S KIND OF COOL.

I GET THE BEST OF THE BEST AND THE TOP METEOROLOGISTS AND CLIMATOLOGISTS IN THE WORLD.

WE GET TOGETHER TO GO OVER IT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB, THE MEASUREMENT.

>> Ted: THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN THE BOOK I FIND FASCINATING.

YOU SAID 24/7 WEATHER COVERAGE AND FROM PEOPLE LIKE ME, PRETEND WEATHER PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHY WE ASK PEOPLE LIKE YOU, BUT THE 24/7 COVERAGE LENDS ITSELF TO OVERSTATEMENT.

>> IT DOES AND THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT I USE TO GET INTO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.

BACK IN 2005, I WAS WATCHING TELEVISION, A COMMENTATOR, NOT FROM AROUND HERE, WHO SAID KATRINA WAS THE WORST HURRICANE OF ALL TIME.

WHILE KATRINA WAS BAD, IT WAS BY NO MEANS THE WORST OF ALL TIME.

I REALIZED THERE WASN'T ANY DATABASE THAT THE MEDIA HAD IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH THOSE ANSWERS SO WE PUT ONE TOGETHER.

>> Ted: ARE THEY MISCONCEPTIONS OR OUTRIGHT LIES?

HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE?

>> I HAVE.

AS YOU KNOW, WEATHER HAS BECOME POLITICAL AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL CITE THINGS THAT ARE JUST PLAIN WRONG.

TO HAVE A GOOD AUTHENTIC VOICE THAT PEOPLE CAN TURN TO THAT GIVES THE RIGHT ANSWERS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR.

>> Ted: LET'S GET RIGHT ANSWERS REGARDING THE SCIENCE BEHIND SOME EXTREME WEATHER AND WHAT IS THE SCIENCE BEHIND LIGHTNING?

>> OH, THAT'S BEEN SO COOL!

WHEN WE STARTED THE PROJECT, I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE RECORDS FOR THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURE AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT LIGHTNING WOULD BE ONE OF OUR MOST INTRIGUING CATEGORIES AND THAT'S BECAUSE OUR SCIENCE HAS GOTTEN SO GOOD THAT WE CAN NOW MEASURE LIGHTNING FLASHES WITH INCREDIBLE ACCURACY.

WE FOUND OUT THAT WE LITERALLY REQUO THE DEFINITION OF LIGHTNING.

THEY SAID LIGHTNING WAS AN EVENT LASTING LESS THAN A SECOND.

WE NOW KNOW FROM THE MEASUREMENTS THAT A SINGLE LIGHTNING FLASH CAN LAST AS LONG AS 17 SECONDS.

>> Ted: HOLY SMOKES!

>> THERE WAS ONE IN ARGENTINA THAT LASTED 17 SECONDS AND THEY CAN TRAVEL AN INCREDIBLE DISTANCE.

WE HAD A LIGHTNING FLASH THAT STARTED IN SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND WENT DOWN TO SOUTH TEXAS, A DISTANCE OF 477 MILES.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE A LIGHTNING FLASH THAT STARTED HERE IN TEMPE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO LOSANGELOS.

>> Ted: WOW!

THAT'S FASCINATING!

SAME SCIENCE BETWEEN TORNADOES AND HURRICANES?

>> EXACTLY.

OUR TECHNOLOGY IS IMPROVING ALL OF THE TIME AND NOW WE CAN PUT RADAR SYSTEMS ON FLATBED TRAILERS AND UNLIKE THE MOVIE "TWISTER," WHERE THEY HAD TO DRIVE INTO IT, WE CAN LOOK INSIDE OF WHAT A TORNADO IS.

>> Ted: I WOULD IMAGINE RAIN AND YOU'LL SAY WE'RE GETTING MORE RAIN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS?

>> WE'RE IN A CONSTANT PATTERN AND THIS IS PERFECT EL NINO WEATHER WE'RE HAVING.

NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE HAVING PHOENIX OPEN WEATHER AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] >> NEXT WEEK LOOKS CLOUDY AND RAINY.

>> Ted: WE TALK ABOUT EL NINO AND THE MONSOON, BUT EVERY YEAR THE SCIENCE ON THOSE THINGS, IS IT IMPROVING?

>> IT IS IMPROVING AND PART OF THAT IS DUE TO GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED IN WEATHER AND PARTICULARLY GETTING BRIGHT STUDENTS INTERESTED.

ONE OF THE KEY THING I'VE ENJOYED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND I TALK ABOUT IT IN THIS BOOK IS THAT IT HAS CAUSED MANY STUDENTS, AT LEAST FROM EMAILS TO BE INTERESTED IN WEATHER AND PICK WEATHER AS A CAREER.

WITH THOSE BRIGHT KIDS, WE'LL HAVE EVEN BETTER WEATHER FORECASTING AND MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WEATHER IN THE FUTURE POINT.

>> Ted: WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN WEATHER?

[ Laughter ] >> I GREW UP IN NEBRASKA AND WE WERE IN A SMALL TOWN AND I WAS UP ON TOP OF A HILL AND WHENEVER THERE WAS A TORNADO WARNING, THE SHERIFF WOULD COME OUT TO OUR PLACE AND WE WOULD ALL WATCH THE SKIES TOGETHER.

WHEN WE HAD A TORNADO, HE WOULD SIGNAL INTO TOWN.

>> Ted: YOUR BOOK LISTS RECORDS ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GOT ALL SORTS OF SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

WHO WAS IT WRITTEN FOR, THIS BOOK?

>> THIS BOOK, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN AN ACADEMIC PUBLISHER, IT'S WRITTEN FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

IT HAS FUN SCIENCE AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN STILL HAVE FUN.

>> Ted: "JUDGING EXTREME WEATHER, CLIMATE, SCIENCE AND ACTION" AND YOU TALK ABOUT FREAKS AND THE MEDIA AND THANKS FOR NOT INCLUDING ME BECAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR THIS TO BE YOUR LAST APPEARANCE ON THE SHOW.

[LAUGHTER] >> Ted: IT'S BEEN RAINING A LOT, HASN'T IT?

>> THE PERFECT RAINS TO BE DROUGHT BUSTERS.

>> Ted: WHAT HAPPENED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, THAT WAS UNUSUAL?

>> THAT WAS UNUSUAL AND HAS TO DO WITH THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS AND WHAT COMES UP WITH THE TROPICS.

>> Ted: OUT BY THE END OF THE MONTH?

>> IT IS OUT BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

>> Ted: WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU