TEE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, ON A DAY THAT DONALD TRUMP IS ARRAIGNED ON CRIMINAL CHARGES, WE LOOK AT A NEW POLL SHOWS HIM TIED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN IN A RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

A NEW STUDY SHOWS ARIZONA VOTERS WANT TO CHANGE HOW PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED.

DEATHS AMONG THE HOMELESS ARE ON THE INCREASE WITH HEAT AMONG THE BIGGEST FACTORS.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

EMPLOYEE WELCOME TO ARIZONA RODRIGUEZ.I'M TED SIMONS.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES THAT HE CONSPIRED TO REMAIN IN OFFICE DESPITE LOSING THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

TRUMP TODAY WAS BOOKED, FINGERPRINTED AND ARRAIGNED IN WASHINGTON AND DID NOT HAVE HIS MUGSHOT TAKEN OR DETAINED.

THE ENTIRE PROCESS TOOK 30 MINUTES AND REPORTED TO BE A RELATIVELY ROUTINE PROCEEDING.

AFTERWARDS TRUMP SPOKE BEFORE LEAVING TOWN.

>> JUST IS A VERY SAD DAY FOR AMERICA AND IT WAS ALSO VERY DRIVING THROUGH WASHINGTON, D.C. AND SEEING THE FILTH AND THE DECAY AND ALL OF THE BROKEN BUILDINGS AND WALLS AND THE GRAFFITI.

THIS IS NOT THE PLACE THAT I LEFT.

IT'S A VERY SAD THING TO SEE IT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING, THIS IS A PERSECUTION OF A POLITICAL OPPONENT.

THIS WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN AMERICA.

THIS IS THE PERSECUTION OF THE PERSON THAT'S LEADING BY VERY, VERY SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND LEADING BIDEN BY A LOT.

SO IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HIM, YOU PERSECUTE OR PROSECUTE HIM.

WE CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN IN AMERICA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Ted: IT'S THE THIRD TIME IN FOUR MONTHS TRUMP HAS APPEARED BEFORE A JUDGE TO FACE CHARGES, BUT THESE ONLY INVOLVE TRUMP'S TIME IN OFFICE AND HIS ROLE IN ORCHESTRATING A FAILED ATTEMPT TO BLOCK THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER.

SECURITY WAS HEAVY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE.

NO INCIDENTS REPORTED.

THE NEXT HEARING IS SET FOR AUGUST 28th.

>>> OTHER HEADLINES, GAS PRICES ARE UP AND INDEED, PRICES AT THE PUMP THE HIGH E THIS HIGHEST THIS YEAR DRIVEN BY CRUDE OIL COSTS AND EXTREME HEAT SLOWING REDUCTION AT REFINERIES.

REGULAR AT $3.90 AND WELL BELOW THE PEAK AVERAGE OF $5 A GALLON IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

>>> HEALTH NOTE, THERE'S INCREASING CONCERN OVER THE DRUGS OH OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY.

THEY'RE SEEING STOMACH PROGRAM SIS.

PROGRAM PYRAL SIS.

PARALYSIS.

>> IT'S BEEN THOUGHT THAT THE BLUE WHALE WAS THE LARGEST WHALE TO EVER EXIST ON EARTH AND MIGHT BE TIME TO THINK AGAIN.

FOSSILS IN THE PERUVIAN DESERT.

THE CREATURE HAS BEEN DUBBED PERUCETUS COLASSUS AND IT'S BEEN EXTINCT FOR CENTURIES.

RESEARCHERS DON'T HAVE A FULL SCALE HAS YET AND WILL NEED MORE FOSSILS TO GET A BETTER ESTIMATE ON HOW BIG THE THING WAS.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED, PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY, FRAUD AND OBSTRUCTION IN ATTEMPTS ATTEMPTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 2020 ELECTION.

DESPITE FACING A VARIETY OF CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS, TRUMP IS TIED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN IN A NEW POLL BY THE "NEW YORK TIMES" AND SIENA COLLEGE JUST LATEST TO THE SET OF INDICTMENTS.

HERE IS DOUG AND JASON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TIED, DESPITE THE IMPEACHMENTS AND INDICTMENTS, DONALD TRUMP IS TIED WITH JOE BIDEN.

>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUT IN CONTEXT, POLLS ARE A SNAPSHOT IN TIME AND THE ELECTION IS 15 MONTHS AWAY AND PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS, THAT'S AN ETERNITY AND A LOT CAN CHANGE, BUT IT IS SHOCKING.

IT IS SHOCKING.

WHEN THIS POLL WAS TAKEN, HE WAS UNDER 74 FELONY INDICTMENTS.

NOW HE HAS 78 FEDERAL FELONY INDICTMENTS AND HERE HE IS, TIED WITH THE SITTING PRESIDENT.

>> Ted: JASON WANT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

IT'S HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS.

>> IT'S A TREND IF POLITICS WE'VEIN POLITICS.THE PUBLIC, THE VOTERS, THEY LIKE A BLACK AND WHITE TYPE OF WORLD AND YOU'RE EITHER WITH ME OR AGAINST ME.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THESE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING.

YOU HAVE 42% OF AN ELECTORATE THAT DOESN'T CARE WHAT DONALD TRUMP DOES OR HAS DONE, THEY'RE ON HIS SIDE.

THE OTHER 42% SAYING ANYBODY BUT THAT GUY.

>> Ted: DOUG, THIS FOLLOWS A POLL, THIS TIME OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND WHO THEY WOULD WANT TO SEE AND DONALD TRUMP IS LIKE 54% AND DeSANTIS IS 17% AND NO ONE ELSE GOT ABOVE 3%.

>> YES, AND ALL OF TRUMP'S OPPONENTS, IF THEY DON'T SUPPORT HIM, THEY'RE BRANDED AS TRADERS.

AND HOW DO HIS OPPONENTS MAKE UP THAT GAP?

THEY DON'T.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOW.

BECAUSE NOW, AS WE JUST HEARD ON THE SETUP CLIP, HE IS SETTING UP THE NOTION THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS USING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AS A WEAPON TO TAKE HIM OUT AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY HE CAN FAIRLY WIN.

AND AMERICANS HAVE A DEEP-SEEDED FEELING THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO PLAY FAIR.

AND HE'S DIGGING RIGHT INTO THAT SAYING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WITH JOE BIDEN'S CONSENT IS NOT BEING FAIR.

>> Ted: OK, THAT'S ONE WAY TO LOOK INTO, YOU KNOW, THE AMERICAN'S SENSE OF FAIRNESS AND ANOTHER HE'S TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS.

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S WHAT?

NO FIRE.

>> THE TRUEST STATEMENT IN TEN YEARS, IF HE COULD SHOOT SOMEONE IN FIFTH AVENUE, HE COULDN'T LOSE A VOTER.

BUT HE'S GAINING PEOPLE AFTER COMMITTING CRIMES.

AMERICANS, THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT.

HE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT TURNING OFF AMERICANS TO THE MEDIA, TO NEWS SOURCES, TO OUR OWN GOVERNMENT AND NOW, WHEN THEY COME AFTER HIM WITH LEGITIMATE CRIMES, SOME COMPLAINTS AGAINST HIM, THEY'RE USING THIS AS A WEAPON TO FIND SUPPORT FOR HIM.

>> AFTER OF ARIZONA REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE MAGA VOTERS AND WE SAW THAT IN THE LAST ELECTION.

LAST WEEK, AS I SAID EARLIER, 74 INDICTMENTS AND FOUR MORE.

I DON'T THINK YOU CANNOT FIND ONE OF THOSE VOTERS ARE SAYING, OH, YEAH, NOW THOSE NEW FOUR INDICTMENTS, I'M NO LONGER WITH DONALD TRUMP.

THEY ARE WITH HIM TO THE BITTER END.

>> Ted: THEY'RE WITH HIM TO THE BITTER END AND ARE DEMOCRATS WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN TO THE BITTER END?

I DON'T THINK THE NUMBERS >> I DON'T THINK THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING THAT AND ON THE UPTAKE AND POSITIVE GOING INTO THIS ELECTION SEASON.

BUT I'M NOT SO CONFIDENT THAT THE NUMBERS ARE REFLECTING A POSITIVE OR FAVORABLE ASPECT IN A GOOD DIRECTION FOR BIDEN.

IT'S MORE OF, ANYBODY BUT DONALD TRUMP, WHICH IS WHAT THAT SEGMENT IS REALLY REFLECTIVE OF.

BIDEN IS ACCEPTABLE, HE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT CANDIDATE AND PEOPLE WILL GET BEHIND HIM, BUT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS EXCITED TO BE BEHIND HIM.

>> Ted: OLDER THAN HE IS NOW AS WE ALL ARE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND THAT'S A BIG FACTOR AND HOW MUCH AMONGST DEMOCRATS?

>> I DON'T THINK AMONGST DEMOCRATS.

THEY'LL LINE UP BEHIND WHOEVER THE EVENTUALLY CANDIDATE WILL BE.

IT'S A CONCERN BUT WILL IT BE A CONCERN THE DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE?

NO, THE INDEPENDENTS, BECAUSE WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT?

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS THERE AND WILL THEY ACCEPT HER AS A POTENTIAL?

I DON'T SEE THAT AS AN ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS.

DEMOCRATS WILL BE FINE.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAKE AWAYS FROM THE POLL, SHOWING HOW BIDEN HAS CONSOLIDATED HIS FAVORABILITY AND ACCEPTANCE IN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.

HE MOVED 19 POINTS FROM THE SAME POLL FROM LAST YEAR.

HE WENT FROM 65% NOW, SAY SAY HE'S GOT TO BE A NOMINEE AND 45 JUST A YEAR AGO.

>> Ted: BIDENOMICS HAS KICKED UP AND EXCEPT FOR GAS PRICE EASY WITHS ANDSTILL TIED WITH A TWICE-IMPEACHED CANDIDATE.

>> IT IS, BUT POLLS ARE SNAPSHOT IN TIME.

>> HE'S TELLING HIS STORY AND THIS IS THE FIXTURE OF HIS CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS A GREAT MOVE AND TALKING ABOUT OTHER ISSUES TO BRING PEOPLE IN AND GET THEM EXCITED, BUT WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IS CREATE VOTERS TO VOTE FOR HIM AND NOT VOTERS THAT DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR HIM.

>> WE NEED ASPIRATION AND ASPIRATIONAL MESSAGE NOW, OK?

AND THE PRESIDENT IS HEADING DOWN THAT PATH.

PEEL WANTPEOPLE WANT TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING AND PEOPLE ARE TIRED AND IT'S HOT AND GAS PRICES ARE HIGH AND THEY'RE GRUMPY AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION, THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE FOR.

>> Ted: FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AISLE, A LITTLE PICKING ON DONALD TRUMP HERE, BUT GOODNESS GRACIOUS, SO MUCH TO PICK AT.

YOU HAVE A TON OF RESPECTED, SEASONED VETERAN, LEVEL-HEADED, SOME MODERATE, NOT SO MODERATE AND CERTAINLY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A POLITICAL CANDIDATE, YOU HAVE A TON OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND CAN'T GET OUT OF THE MUD.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO UNLESS SOMETHING MAJOR CHANGES, BUT WHAT CAN CHANGE?

WE HAVE 78 FELONY INDICTMENTS AND HERE WE ARE.

>> Ted: FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AISLE, CAN DEMOCRATS GRAB FOLKS WHO ARE FINALLY GETTING TRUMP FATIGUE OR IS THIS JUST BASICALLY ANYONE BUT A DEMOCRAT?

>> I HOPE THAT THEY CAN AND I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE.

I THINK THEY NEED TO TALK ABOUT MORE MODERATE ISSUES, FROM A POLITICAL PARTY AND THAT'S TOUGH TO DO BECAUSE YOUR TYPICALLY ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

THEY HAVE TO WANT TO GRAB THE MIDDLE AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE AND THEY'VE BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE OPEN.

IF WE CHANGE OUR TALKING POINTS AND MESSAGING, THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE AND THAT WILL BE UP TO THEM TO DECIDE.

>> Ted: WE TALKED BEFORE HOW GEORGE BUSH LOOKING AT HIS WATCH AND THAT AFFECTED VOTES.

>> HUGELY.

>> Ted: LITTLE THINGS USED TO AFFECT VOTES AND THESE ARE NOT LITTLE THINGS AND PILED HIGH.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN.

>> IT'S MORE POLEMIC AND PEOPLE ARE ENTRENCHED AND DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN THE MASTER OF GETTING HIS MESSAGE OUT SAYING I'M THE VICTIM AND LOOK AT THAT BAD JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND HE'S BEING SUCCESSFUL.

>> Ted: JASON, LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, WE'VE SEEN DONALD TRUMP, AND LOST HIS DRAFT ELECTIONLAST ELECTIONAND DEMOCRATS LOST BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE COATTAILS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> I THINK ARIZONA IS A KEY PLAYER IN NATIONAL ELECTION AND THIS IS WHY, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE OUTCOME.

>> THERE'S ONE THING I CAN GUARANTEE.

>> Ted: YES.

>> WE'LL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AND ARIZONA IS A SWING STATE AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT IN THIS STATE AND IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT HERE JUST LIKE IT DID LAST TIME.

>> Ted: WE'LL BE HERE WATCHING IT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

UP NEXT, A NEW SURVEY SHOWS THAT ARIZONA WANTS CHANGES TO HOW PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED.

>> A NEW STUDY FINDS A STRONG MAJORITY OF ARIZONA VOTERS WANT BIG CHANGES TO THE STATE'S PRIMARY ELECTION SYSTEM AND FOR MORE, WE WELCOME TOM RILEY, SCHOOL PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND YOU RAN THIS AFFAIR, DIDN'T YOU?

>> WE SURVEYED 1,063 REGISTERED VOTERS IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: WHAT DID YOU ASK THEM?

>> A SERIES OF QUESTIONS AND THE SURVEY WAS ON VOTER CONFIDENCE SO WE ASKED THEM ABOUT ISSUES AIMED AT INCREASING VOTER CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

>> Ted: LET'S TRY TO GET A ROADMAP FOR VOTER CONFIDENCE IN TERMS OF CHANGES DOWN THE ROAD.

CORRECT.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: FOUR AND FIVE VOTERS DON'T LIKE IT AND WANT IT CHANGED.

>> ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, INDEPENDENTS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF A SYSTEM WHERE EVERYBODY RUNS IN A PRIMARY ON THE SAME BALLOT REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY.

TED WHAT >> Ted: WHAT ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING?

>> I DID NOT RECEIVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT, ABOUT 52% SUPPORT.

MAINLY DRIVEN DOWN BY RECENTLIES.

>> Ted: EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES.

>> THE NON-PARTISAN PRIMARY WHERE EVERYBODY WOULD APPEAR ON THE SAME PRIMARY BALLOT REGARDLESS OF PARTY.

SO JUST ONE BALLOT AND EVERYBODY APPEARS THERE.

RANKED CHOICE IS A SYSTEM WHERE IF AN INDIVIDUAL DID NOT LEAVE 50%, THERE'S A PROCESS WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN RANK THEIR CHOICES AND THEIR SECOND AND THIRD CHOICE VOTES CAN COUNT.

>> Ted: 50% FOR THE GENERAL ONE, AS WELL, AND YOU HAVE YOURSELF A WINNER.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: CONFIDENCE IN THE OUTCOME OF ARIZONA ELECTIONS, 65% AND THAT MEANS 35% DOESN'T HAVE CONFIDENCE.

>> I LOOKED AT IT THE OTHER WAY THAT THERE'S CONSENSUS AND PART OF THE REPORT IS THAT THERE'S A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF CONSENSUS RATHER THAN ISSUES OF BOTH ELECTION INTEGRITY OR ELECTION SAFEGUARDS AND REFORMS.

SO 65% OF THE ELECTORATE WAS CONFIDENT OR SOMEHOW CONFIDENT IN OUR SYSTEM.

>> Ted: VOTE-BY-MAIL, 73% SUPPORT THAT AND YET, YOU HAD THE LEGISLATURE THIS SYSTEM TRYING TO GET RID OF IT.

>> WIDELY SUPPORTING IT AND WIDELY SUPPORTING VOER SAFEGUARDS, TESTING MACHINES, TRACKING BALLOTS, AUDITS, STRICTER I.D., BRINGING IN OUTSIDE OBERS AND OBSERVERS.

>> Ted: DID YOU FIND SURPRISES IN THERE?

>> I WAS A BIT SURPRISED THERE WAS A LOT OF CONSENSUS.

WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THE POLARIZATION BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS, THERE ARE PILLARS TO BUILD UPON AND, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH -- WHETHER VOTERS KNEW WHETHER WE DID AUDIT AND RETEST THE MACHINES AND WE TRACK BALLOTS OR IF THEY WANTED MORE.

THE FACT THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR ELECTORATES ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, I THOUGHT THAT WAS ENCOURAGING.

>> Ted: SOMETHING I FOUND NOT NECESSARILY ENCOURAGING WAS A VERY, VERY LOW LEVEL OF TRUST ON INFORMATION ABOUT ELECTIONS.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> WE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER INDIVIDUALS TRUST THESE INSTITUTIONS ON ELECTION INFORMATION AND NOT GENERAL, THAT THIS IS AN INDICTMENT OF THE INSTITUTION BUT JUST AROUND ELECTION INFORMATION.

AND ACROSS THE BOARD, THERE'S CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DISTRUST AND MAJOR INSTITUTIONS, DELIVERING INFORMATION ON INFORMATION.

THE ONLY THREE GROUPS WITH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE WERE FRIENDS AND FAMILY, UNIVERSITIES, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING AND OUTSIDE OBSERVERS.

BUT CLERGY, POLITICAL LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND OTHERS WERE WIDELY DISTRUSTED BY THE ERECTIONELECTORATE.

WE KNOW THEY'RE LEADING TO DISTRUSTED INSTITUTIONS AND FINDING ACCURATE INFORMATION PARTICULARLY WHEN INFORMATIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WE'RE SEEING MANY INDIVIDUALS SAYING THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THESE INSTITUTIONS.

I DID FIND MANY OF THE SURPRISING FINDINGS, TOO, WAS THE WIDE SUPPORT AMONG ELECTORATE IN CHANGING THE WAY WE CHOOSE OR TOP ELECTION OFFICIALS.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE ELECT THEM IN A PARTISAN MANNER AND RUN IN A PARTISAN MANNER AND BEAT EACH OTHER UP.

THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, WHOEVER WINS, WE EXPECT THE PUBLIC TO EMBRACE THAT AS A NEUTRAL ASH TERROR.

ARBITOR.

91 SUPPORTED THESE INDIVIDUALS LIKE THE SECRETARY OF CONCENTRATE AND RECORDER TAKING AN OATH OF OFFICE TO BE NON-PARTISAN.

ALMOST 70% SUPPORTED THESE INDIVIDUALS BEING ELECTED IN A NON-PARTISAN MANNER INSTEAD OF CURRENT PARTISAN SYSTEM.

>> Ted: IF THEY WANTED THEM APPOINTED, YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF DYNAMICS BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TO APPOINT THEM.

>> MOST OF THE WAY WE CHOOSE IS THROUGH A PARTISAN ELECTION OR PARTISAN BODY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, BUT WHAT VOTERS HERE ARE SAYING IS THAT THEY WOULD PREFER TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS ELECTED IN A NON-PARTISAN MANNER.

WE'RE THE ONLY DEMOCRACY THAT ELECTS OUR ELECTED ADMINISTRATORS.

EVERYWHERE ELSE THEY'RE SHIELDED FROM PARTISAN ACTORS.

WHAT WE SAW FROM THIS SURVEY WAS, ONE, YOU KNOW, THE EMBRACING NON-PARTISAN PRIMARIES YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO JOIN A PARTY TO VOTE.

IF TAXPAYERS ARE PAYINGAND FOR THE TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL, THEY SHOULD BEHAVE AND THEY SHOULD SAY THEY'LL BEHAVE IN A NON-PARTISAN MANNER.

>> Ted: VERY INTERESTING STUDY, GOOD NEWSPAPERS NUMBERS AND GOOD INFORMATION.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: DEATHS AMONG MARICOPA COUNTY'S POPULATION ARE ON THE INCREASE AFTER A 43% IN FATALITIES LAST YEAR AND HEAT IS AMONG THE BIGGEST TOOKS IN THOSE UNHOUSED.

JULIET RILE HAS BEEN COVERING THIS STORY.

THIS IS NOT A PLEASURABLE TOPIC, ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT DEATHS AMONG THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

INCREASING NUMBERS LAST YEAR AND WHAT ABOUT THIS YEAR?

>> THIS YEAR, 2023, SO FAR, WE'RE SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF LAST YEAR AND IN 2022, WE HAD A MINIMUM OF 800 DEATHS LIKELY AND A LOT MORE STILL UNCONFIRMED AND THIS YEAR, IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE OVER 300 AND IN JULY, WHICH IS NOT YET A PART OF THAT COUNT IS EXPECTED TO BE THE DEADLIEST MONTH.

IT WAS THE DEADLIEST MONTH EVERY YEAR SINCE WE STARTED TRACKING THIS IN LATE 2019.

>> Ted: THE LATE SUMMER MONTHS ARE THE HIGHEST AND YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT IN YET.

>> THAT COUNT INCLUDED JUNE, WHICH IS IN THE TOP THREE DEADLIEST MONTHS AND NOT JULY OR AUGUST AND LAST YEAR, 2022, JULY WAS BY FAR, THE DEADLIEST MONTH.

>> Ted: OTHER REASONS FOR FATALITIES BESIDES THE HEAT?

IT LOOKS LIKE DRUG USE AND ABUSE RANKS UP THERE.

>> YES, DRUG USE IS THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR AND ESPECIALLY DRUG USE COMBINED WITH HEAT, THE HEAT EXACERBATES THE USE.

BY SAW A LOT OF CAR ACCIDENTS, CARS HITTING PEDESTRIANS OR TRUCKS AND EVEN THE LIGHT RAIL AND IN ONE CASE, A CITY GARBAGE STRUCK SOMEONE.

AND WE'RE SEEING HOMICIDES AND SUICIDES.

>> Ted: NUMBERS ON THE INCREASE FOR HERE AND COMPARE MARICOPA TO OTHER METRO AREAS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> SURE.

SO HOMELESS MORTALITY EXPERTS THAT I SPOKE TO ALL SAID THAT THESE NUMBERS WERE STAGGERING AND MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY EXPECTED, BUT IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY DEFINITIVELY WHERE MARICOPA COUNTY STANDS NATIONWIDE BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE NOT STANDARDIZED THAT ARE EASY TO COMPARE.

BUT ON THE SURFACE, THE PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY BAD HERE.

>> Ted: THE ZONE, WE HAD YOU ON PREVIOUSLY TO TALK ABOUT THE CLEAN-UP EFFORT CONTINUES AND THE POPULATION HAS NOT CHANGED.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION EVERYONE IS ASKING.

THEY'VE CLEARED SIX BLOCKS AND SINCE THEY BEGAN CLEANUPS, THE POPULATION IN THE ENCAMPMENT AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE STAYED THE SAME.

THERE ARE FLUCTUATIONS FROM WEEK TO WEEK AND WE'RE NOT SEEING A BIG DIP EXPECTED.

>> Ted: ANTIDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT THE HEAT HAS REALLY TAKEN ITS TOLL?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I GO TO THE ZONE, I SEE A FIRE TRUCK HELPING SOMEONE, PRESUMELY WITH A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND ESPECIALLY LAST MONTH BEING, YOU KNOW, A RECORD-BREAKING MONTH FOR THE HEAT.

I THINK THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY BAD.

>> Ted: WHAT CAN BE DONE AND WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION AND IS THERE THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO SO?

IT'S ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT IT AND IS THE WILL THERE?

>> SO THERE'S THREE SOLUTIONS THAT MOST OF THE EXPERTS I TALK TO MENTIONED.

THERE'S HOUSING, HARM REDUCTION AND HEALTHCARE.

HARM REDUCTION IS PREVENTING OVERDOSES AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE NARCAN AND, OF COURSE, HEALTHCARE IS IMPORTANT AND BEING ON THE STREET EXACERBATES EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS, BUT THE BIGGEST THING THAT EXPERTS AGREED WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS TO GET THEM INTO HOUSING AND THAT COULD BE TEMPORARY AND THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

SOME MENTIONED HAVING A UNIVERSAL HOUSING PROGRAM WHICH, I THINK, THE POLITICAL WILL IN AMERICA, WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET.

>> Ted: BEFORE YOU GO, EXCUSES MADE BY MUNICIPALITIES REGARDING THE HOMELESS.

WHY HASN'T THAT POLITICAL WILL BEEN AND WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS STAGGER AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES IN PLACE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT.

IT WILL TAKE FUNDING AND INPUT FROM ALL LEVELS TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE.

>> Ted: YOU ARE REPORTING THAT A PLAN FOR SOMEWHERE SOUTH IN LEVINE, SOUTHWEST PHOENIX AND LANDFILL CONCERNS DOWN THERE AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME SOMEONE HAS AN IDEA, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN THE WAY.

>> IT'S A DIFFICULT ISSUE, TED.

>> Ted: A GREAT JOB REPORTING.

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND FOR STOPPING BY.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

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

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!