>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WILDFIRE SEASON IS HERE.

WE'LL GET THE LATEST ON FIRES AROUND THE STATE AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE COMING WEEKS.

ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A NEW PROGRAM TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES.

AND A NEW BOOK TAKES AN IRRELEVANT RETIRE LOOK -- IRRELEVANT RELEVANT LOOK AT WEIGHT LOSS INDUSTRY.

NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TIM SIMON.

NEARLY 90 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY ARE UNDER HEAT ALERT, AND THAT INCLUDES THE PHOENIX AREA AND MOST OF ARIZONA.

DAYTIME HIGHS OVER 110 ARE NOT UNUSUAL FOR OUR PART OF THE WORLD BUT THIS MORNING'S LOW OF 91 DEGREES AT SKY HARBOR WAS 6 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AND THAT TREND OF OVERNIGHT LOWS ABOVE 90 DEGREES IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WELL IN TO NEXT WEEK.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNS THAT EXTREME HEAT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF WEATHER-RELATED FATALITIES IN THE U.S.

IN THE NORTHEAST, THEY'RE DIGGING OUT FROM HISTORIC FLOODING.

THIS IS THE AFTERMATH OF FLASH FLOODING IN VERMONT WHICH RECEIVED 5.5 INCHES OF RAIN YESTERDAY ALONE.

STATE OFFICIALS DESCRIBE THE FLOODING AS, QUOTE, HISTORIC AND CATASTROPHIC WITH RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE STRANDED AT HOMES, ROADS AND BUSINESSES CLOSED AND MORE THAN 100 WATER RESCUES REPORTED.

>>> OTHER HEADLINES, BANK OF AMERICA TODAY WAS ORDERED TO PAY MORE THAN $100 MILLION TO CUSTOMERS ALONG WITH 90 MILLION IN PENALTIES AND $60 MILLION IN FINES.

THIS OVER ALLEGATIONS BY FEDERAL REGULATORS.

B OF A DOUBLE DIPPED ON FEES, WITHHELD CREDIT CARD REWARDS AND OPENED FAKE ACCOUNTS.

THE BANK'S PRACTICES WERE UNCOVERED AS PART THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ORDER LAST YEAR TO EXAMINE FEES THAT BANKS WERE CHARGING CUSTOMERS.

>>> AND AN ENCOURAGING STORY INVOLVING A BABY BOBCAT THAT WAS FOUND IN ATTIC OF A HOME IN SCOTTSDALE.

THE SEARCH FOUND THE KITTEN'S MOM HIDING IN THE HOMEOWNER'S BATHROOM.

GAME AND FISH OFFICERS MANAGED TO CAPTURE BOTH MOM AND KITTEN AND AFTER CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO MORE KITTENS IN ATTIC, MOMMA CAT AND BABY CAT, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WERE RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.

>>> WILD SEARCH IS HERE.

FOR A LOOK AT WHERE FIRES -- WILDFIRE SEASON IS HERE.

WE'RE JOINED BY JOHN TRUETT, STATE MANAGER AND OFFICER OF THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE USUALLY TALK TO YOU THIS TIME OF YEAR, ACTUALLY, WE USUALLY TALK TO YOU A LITTLE EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> WELL, THIS YEAR WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY IN OUR FIRE SEASON JUST BECAUSE OF THE COOL, MOIST SPRING THAT WE'VE HAD.

SO RIGHT NOW WE WERE JUST OUT PICKING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR FIRE SEASON IN THE MOST CRITICAL TIME OF OUR SEASON IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WHERE USUALLY IT'S THE TAIL END OF IT.

>> WHAT IS THE CURRENT FIRE THREAT?

>> WE'RE IN -- OUR FUELS ARE AT CRITICAL CONDITION RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS RECEPTIVE GOES, DRYNESS OF THE GRASSES AND THE BRUSH.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE STOOD UP AS A PLAN IN LEVEL 5, THAT'S OUR MOST EXTREME PLANNING LEVEL, SO WE HAVE EXTRA RESOURCES ON HAND AND THINGS TO RESPOND TO THE WILDFIRE THREAT.

>> AND I WANT TO GET TO THE RESOURCES IN A SECOND BUT ARE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STATE GETTING SPECIAL ATTENTION RIGHT NOW?

>> THE LOWER ELEVATIONS ARE BECAUSE OF THE GRASS CROP THAT WE'VE HAD, THE LATE MONSOONS LAST YEAR AND THE SPRING RAINS WE HAD THIS YEAR, HIGHER ELEVATIONS ARE HOLDING WELL WITH THE GREEN UP AND MORE THAN ABUNDANT MOISTURE WE'VE HAD UP IN THE HIGHER ELEVATION.

SO OUR LOWER ELEVATIONS ARE WHAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> AND AS FAR AS THE FORECAST FOR THE COMING WEEKS, ARE YOU EXPECTING, AGAIN, LOWER ELEVATIONS, HIGHER ELEVATIONS?

>> THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS ARE COMING INTO PLAY BUT THE LONGER WE HOLD OFF ON THE MONSOONS, THEN THE WHOLE STATE WILL COME TOO PLAY.

SO WE'RE HOPING ON AN EARLIER ONSET OF MONDAY SOMES BUT THEY'RE TALKING -- SON MOONS -- MONSOONS BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST.

>> THE IMPACT, WE'RE SEEING AN AWFUL LOT OF HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND THE STATE.

WE'RE USED TO THAT IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD BUT AGAIN USUALLY MONSOON KIND OF EVENS THINGS OUT, AND YOU GET THE HUMIDITY WITH THAT, AND THAT KIND OF HELPS WITH THE FIRE SEASON.

HOW IS ALL THIS WORKING AS FAR AS THE FIRE SEASON IS CONCERNED?

>> RIGHT NOW WITH THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES WE HAVE, IT REALLY AFFECTS OUR GROUND, OUR WORKFORCE, SO WE HAVE TO DOUBLE UP THOSE RESOURCES.

YOU CAN'T EXPOSE THOSE FOLKS OUT THERE FOR TOO LONG.

YOU HAVE TO ROTATE THEM IN.

AND THEN WHAT'S GOING ON AT LEAST NOW WITH THE HIGHER HUMIDITIES, THE FINER FUELS WILL BE A ZORB SOME OF THAT MOISTURE.

SO IT'S KIND OF PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF A DAMPER ON THE GRASS CROP.

BUT OUR BRUSH, THE BIGGER FUELS, ARE READY TO GO, SO NOW THEY'RE CARRYING THE FIRE.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED PUTTING A DAMPER ON SOME OF THIS STUFF.

IT PUTS A DAMPER ON IT, BUT AS WE TALKED EARLIER BEFORE THE SHOW, IF IT'S OUT THERE, IT'S GONNABURN, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S STILL GONNA SPREAD.

JUST THE RATE AT WHICH IT SPREADS MAY SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT BUT BY ANY MEANS IT'S NOT GOING TO PUT IT OUT.

>> SUNNY CEASING TEMPERATURES I WOULD IMAGINE WOULD ALSO IMPACT EVAPORATION WHICH WOULD ALSO DRY THINGS OUT.

TRUE?

>> TRUE.

WHAT WE CALL THE BURNING PERIOD.

SO OUR OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES THE HIGHER TEMPERATURES, YOU KNOW, WILL NOT ALLOW THAT OVERNIGHT RECOVERY.

SO NOW YOU'RE GETTING INTO A 24-HOUR BURN PERIOD INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, 16-HOUR BURN PERIOD WITH A NITRO COOLER AND THEN THE FIRE WILL LAY DOWN.

RIGHT NOW IT WON'T DO THAT.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES.

IT WAS JUST MISERABLE OUT THERE, IMPACT ON FIRES IN GENERAL.

IMPACT ON FIRE FIGHTING CREWS.

>> YOU KNOW, OUR CREWS, THEY'LL WORK 16-HOUR SHIFTS OUT THERE, SO IF THEY WORK IN THE DAY SHIFT AND THEN WE HAVE TO BED THEM DOWN AT NIGHT, WE HAVE FIRE CAMPS SET UP AND THOSE ARE USUALLY OUTSIDE THAT THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, PITCH THEIR TENT AND SLEEP OUTSIDE.

SO TRYING TO GET RESTFUL SLEEP AT 90 DEGREES IS BASICALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

SO IT REALLY PUTS A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON THE FIREFIGHTERS.

>> HOW IS ALL OF THIS CLIMATE CHANGE IN GENERAL, BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS FAR AS MOVING SEASONS AND SUCH, HOW IS THIS CHANGING THE WAY FIRES ARE BEING FOUGHT?

>> STRATEGICALLY AND TACTUALLY NOT TOO MUCH BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE -- YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE HAD SOME RELIABLE LONG-RANGE FORECASTING THAT WE COULD KIND OF PLAN FOR.

NOW THE LONG-RANGE FORECASTING IS KIND OF UNRELIABLE BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE METEOROLOGIST THAT ARE SAYING THIS IS STUFF WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

SO WE CAN'T REALLY PREPARE FOR THAT LONG-RANGE STRATEGIC PLANNING, YOU KNOW, STAFFING UP AND DOING THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> WE TALKED TO YOU MENTIONING RESOURCES EARLIER.

USUALLY IN THE WEST PEOPLE TEND TO FOCUS ON AREAS LIKE IDAHO, COLORADO, ARIZONA, WHATEVER.

WHO'S THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW IN THE WEST?

>> RIGHT NOW IT'S US, ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.

WITH THE WESTERN STATES HAVING -- THEY'RE, AGAIN, A MONTH BEHIND THE BURNING BUT THEY ARE STARTING TO COME INTO PLAY.

CALIFORNIA IS STARTING TO EXPERIENCE FIRES.

THEY'RE GONNA GO INTO A HEAT WAVE, AS WELL.

THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEIR FUELS, DRY THEM OUT.

AND THEN CANADA, THAT DOESN'T JUST STOP AT THE BORDER, THE NORTHERN STATES UP THERE, YOU KNOW, WASHINGTON, THEY'RE SEEING FIRES IN OLYMPIC PARK THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL STARTING TO COME EVENTUAL PLAY.

>> HERE IN ARIZONA, MANPOWER EQUIPMENT, ARE WE OKAY?

>> WE'RE GOOD THERE BECAUSE OF THE SLOW START TO THE WEST.

SO WITHIN THE STATE, WE HAVE ABUNDANT OF RESOURCES AND THE FEDERALS OF THE FOREST SERVICE, BLM AND THOSE FOLKS, THEY'RE RING BRINGING IN SURPLUS EQUIPMENT THAT THEY'RE NOT NEEDING OUT IN THE WEST JUST YET.

SO WE'RE LOOKING GOOD ON STAFFING.

>> AND FOR HOMEOWNERS LIVING IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, LIVING OUT IN RURAL AREAS ESPECIALLY, BUT ALL HOMEOWNERS, THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY AND KEEP BUYERS FROM SPREADING, WHAT, JUST KEEP THIS STUFF AWAY FROM THE HOUSE?

>> DO YOUR HAS ARREST REDUCTION.

KEEP THE VEGETATION CUT DOWN LOW, AND AS YOU DO THAT, IT HELPS US COME IN AND PROTECT THAT STRUCTURE.

IF YOU'RE NOT MAINTAINING THAT GOOD 100 FOOT CLEARANCE THEN WE CANNOT GO IN THERE AND HELP DEFEND THE STRUCTURE AT ALL.

>> ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS WHERE A LOT OF GROWTH IS HAPPENING.

IT'S EXPANDING OUT FURTHER, AND FURTHER OUT THERE.

ARE THEY GETTING THE MESSAGE?

>> THEY'RE GETTING THE MESSAGE BUT AS FAR AS WHEN THEY START TO EXPAND OUT, YOU KNOW, NOW THEY'VE BECOME THE IGNITION SOURCE, SO WE'RE HAVING A LOT MORE FIRES START IN THE RURAL AREA DUE TO, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS LIVING OUT IN THOSE AREAS.

SO BEFORE DIDN'T YOU HAVE AN IGNITION SOURCE AND NOW THEY'RE STARTING BEHIND THOSE TRUSS AND WITH ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE, NOW, WE HAVE A HIGHER START RATE OUT IN THE RURAL AREA.

>> JOHN TRUETT, ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT, GOOD CONVERSATION.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

LET'S HOPE IT'S A QUIET SEASON.

>> LET'S HOPE SO.

>>> UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A NEW TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.

>>> A NEW PROGRAM'S BEEN LAUNCHED AND DESIGNED TO HELP TRAIN COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.

THE ONLINE PROGRAM IS PAIRED WITH INTERNSHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

HERE NOW WITH THE DETAILS IS COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS, YOU GUYS ARE BEHIND THIS PROGRAM, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> TALK TO US MORE ABOUT IT.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS THE RESULT OF A $3 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO INCREASE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER WORKFORCE HERE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE AWARE OF THE SHORTAGE OF HEALTH WORKERS, GENERALLY SPEAKING, ACROSS THE STATE, BUT THIS IS AN EXTRA ELEMENT OF BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS HEALTH CONCERNS AND SPECIFICALLY MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE STATE.

>> DEFINE A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER.

>> GREAT QUESTION.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER USED AS AN UMBRELLA TERM ENCOMPASSES A LOT OF DIFFERENT TITLES.

SO COMMUNITY HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES, THEY'RE ALSO KNOWN AS WORKERS, SOMETIMES THEY'RE CALLED CASE MANAGERS OR OUTREACH SPECIALISTS.

BASICALLY ANYBODY WHO PERFORMS A FUNCTION OF BEING A LEE LIAISON, WORKING WITH FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING THEM TO GET CONNECTED AND ESTABLISH WHAT SOME OF THE SERVICES ARE THAT THEY NEED.

>> AND OFTEN THESE FOLKS ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE THE TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT IS THOSE RESIDENTS NEED.

>> AND THE IDEA IS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BETTER HEALTH SERVICES, TRUE?

>> YES, EXACTLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IS THAT SOCIAL DETERMINANCE OF HEALTH, OR JUST THE CONDITIONS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, THE ECONOMIC SITUATION WHICH PEOPLE LIVE IS A BETTER PREDICTER OF HEALTH OUTCOMES THAN OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE -- WE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT.

SO THINGS LIKE ACCESS TO CARE, BEING ABLE TO HELP FOLKS ADDRESS THOSE STRUCTURAL ISSUES AND GET THEM CONNECTED WITH CARE IS A REALLY VITAL FIRST PIECE AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, THEY COME FROM THE COMMUNITY AND KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE THE BEST WAY OF BEING ABLE TO APPROACH THEM AND HELPING THEM TO GET ENGAGED.

>> THIS IS AN ONLINE PROGRAM.

ARE YOU TRAINING PEOPLE THAT ALREADY LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY?

ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT SIGN UP FOR THE PROGRAM THAT WOULD GO TO -- HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> SO THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS IT'S AN ONLINE CURRICULUM, IT LAST TWO ACADEMIC SEMESTERS, SO TALL AND SPRING.

10 TO 15 HOURS A WEEK AND A COURSE WHICH MEANS PEOPLE CAN DO IT ON THEIR OWN TIME, WE JUST HAVE ESTABLISHED DEADLINES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE TO HELP PEOPLE STAY ON PACE, AND THEN AT END OF THOSE TWO SEMESTERS, WE HELP PAIR PEOPLE UP WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO ARE LOCAL WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET MORE SPECIALIZED HANDS-ON TRAINING ACTUALLY DOING CHW WORK AND HOPEFULLY WITH THAT LEADING TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT.

>> WHEN YOU SAY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ARE THESE FOLKS IN HEALTH SERVICES, THE INDUSTRY, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> SOME ARE HEALTH SERVICE INDUSTRY, SOME ARE JUST COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

WE HAVE A COMBINATION.

WE ARE ALSO OPEN TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

SO ANYONE THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS EITHER FOR HEALTH EDUCATION OR HELPING TO CONNECT FOLKS WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT THEY MIGHT NEED, SO EXAMPLE, SIGNING UP FOR SNAP BENEFITS, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH.

>> INFORMATIONAL STUFF THERE, VERY IMPORTANT.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOD SEND FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

SOUNDS LIKE THAT WOULD REALLY WORK WELL WITH TRIBAL NATIONS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

PHOENIX INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE IS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS AND THAT IS ONE OF THE -- WE HAVE NOTICED WITH THE 60 OR SO FOLKS THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP ALREADY IS THAT THERE IS A LARGE REPRESENTATION FROM THAT POPULATION.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH.

>> AND AGAIN, THAT COMMUNITY CONNECTION, THE CULTURE, THE LANGUAGE, THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS, THAT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, DOESN'T IS THIS.

>> IT DOES.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IS DESPITE NOT HAVING PRESTIGIOUS EDUCATION OR A PH.D. OR AN MD TITLE, THEY'RE OFTENTIMES MORE EFFECTIVE AT BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND, BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WHAT IS THE LIVING SITUATION?

WHAT IS THE DAY TO DAY LIKE FOR THESE FOLKS?

AND BY DOING THAT, THEY ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE ABILITIES OF BEING ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEM AND, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING SOME OF THAT EXTRA SUPPORT THAT GOES A LONG WAY IN HELPING THAT GET THOSE FOLKS CONNECTED WITH SERVICES AND ALSO JUST HELP BUILD BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> YOU MENTIONED BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS AND SUCH.

I READ THAT THE GRADUATES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATIONS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

TALK TO BUS THAT.

>> YEAH.

BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 20 22, THE CITY OF ARIZONA INTRODUCED VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.

SO AS IMPLIED IN NAME, THIS IS VOLUNTARY, BUT IT'S IN AN EFFORT TO HELP PROMOTE THE LEGITIMACY AND REALLY RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THIS POSITION.

AND SO WHAT IT IS IS BASICALLY A WAY THAT THE STATE HAS RECOGNIZED OR IS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE FOLKS WHO HAVE COMPLETED APPROVED TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SO IT'S AN EFFORT TO STANDARDIZE THE BACKGROUND AND MAKE SURE THESE FOLKS ARE REALLY PREPARED TO ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITIES THEY NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.

>> AND WE SHOULD MENTION THERE IS A STIPEND INVOLVED FOR FULL-TIME PARTICIPATES.

>> SO THE GRANT -- ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT IT IS MOST OF THE MONEY IS GOING DIRECTLY TO OUR LEARNERS.

SO FOLKS WHO ARE ACCEPTED THROUGH THE COURSE OF THIS GRANT WHICH RUNS THROUGH 2025, WILL BE ELIGIBLE -- UP TO 200 LEARNERS WILL BE EDGE ELIGIBLE FOR A $7500 STIPEND AND THAT IS CONTINGENT ON THEIR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.

AND IT'S DESIGNED TO HELP MAKE THIS EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE TO FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE INTEREST IN HEALTHCARE OR BE INTERESTED IN HELPING THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT MAY HAVE HAD SOME OTHER BARRIERS THAT OTHERWISE KEPT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO DO SO.

>> AND WE SHOULD MENTION THE JULY 31st DEADLINE FOR APPLICANTS THIS GO-AROUND?

>> YES.

THE JULY 31st DEADLINE IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE COHORT STARTING IN AUGUST.

THAT BEING SAID, WE DO HAVE OTHER COHORTS.

THERE'S A TOTAL OF FOUR COHORTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING DURING THIS GRANT PERIOD.

SO IF FOLKS MISS THE JULY 31st DEADLINE, CONTINUE TO APPLY BECAUSE WE CAN -- OUR NEXT ONE WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY.

>> VERY GOOD.

GREAT PROGRAM.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>>> MY NAME IS ED CABUTI AND YOU'RE LISTENING TO ARIZONA PBS.

[ MUSIC ] AS AN INDIGENOUS PERSON YOU'RE LIVING ON THE LANDS OF YOUR ANCESTORS THAT GOES BACK NOT HUNDREDS OF YEARS BUT MANY MORE THAN THAT.

DO WE RECOGNIZE HOW RECENT THIS HISTORY IS AND DO WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S NOT ONLY IN OUR PAST, IT'S OUR HERITAGE AND IT'S OUR PRESENT.

♪ ♪ TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR NATO KICKS OFF A SUMMIT AFTER TURKEY CLEAR THE PATH FOR SIDE WITHEN TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE.

THAT'S COMING UP AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> A NEW BOOK BY A LOCAL AUTHOR TAKES AN IRREVERENT LOOK AT THE WEIGHT LOSS INDUSTRY BY TAKING ON ALL SORTS OF ISSUES REGARDING WEIGHT AND PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS.

THE BOOK IS TITLED "HOW I LOST 100 POUNDS IN JUST 50 YEARS" AND THE ARTHUR IS KRISTEN McCARTOR.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE UNDERSTAND FROM THE TITLE ALONE, WE'VE GOT SOME LEVITY GOING ON HERE, STILL A SERIOUS ISSUE.

WHAT GOT YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> I HAD DIETED FOR HALF A CENTURY.

AND TOWARD THE END OF THAT, I BEGAN TO HAVE SOME SUCCESS NOT JUST WEEK TO WEEK, BUT MONTH TO MONTH AND EVEN YEAR TO YEAR, I SAW MY WEIGHT GO DOWN.

I ALSO FELT BETTER, I HAD A CLEAR MIND, ENERGY, AND I WASN'T HUNGRY ALL THE TIME AND I DID IT BY REVERSING A LOT OF WHAT I LEARNED FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

IT WAS KIND OF CRAZY AND I WOULD GO ON THESE RANTS, I'D TALK TO MY DOGS, GUYS, CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

THIS IS CRAZY.

AND THEN I REALIZED I REALLY WANTED TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLED WITH WEIGHT AND WITH DIETS, AND AND I NEED A BROADER AUDIENCE THAN CANINES.

>> AND YOU GO AFTER SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH A LOT ON OBESITY, ESPECIALLY HOW IT HAS -- IT'S REALLY CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

>> IT HAS, IT HAS.

AND I NOT A SCIENTIST, I'M NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, DO NOT TAKE NUTRITION OR DIET ADVICE FROM ME.

I DON'T GIVE THAT.

I TELL THE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ASKED TO THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THE ADVICE.

IF SOMEONE GIVES YOU A STUDY IT CAN BE VERY HARD TO KNOW HOW THAT STUDY WAS PUT TOGETHER.

SO YOU NEED TO ASK A LOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS.

>> YES.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ADVICE BUT THIS IS YOUR STORY AND YOU'RE SHARING YOUR STORY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHEN YOU WERE ON YOUR QUEST TO LOSE WEIGHT AND CAME AND WENT UP AND DOWN, YOU -- WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT THIS LATEST -- AND YOU'RE ON THE KETO DIET.

THIS IS BASICALLY THE ONE THAT STUCK WITH YOU.

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT THIS WAS THE ONE?

>> I WAS WORKING WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, SHE'S SINCE MOVED BUT SHE WAS SUPERVISING ME ON A KETO PLAN BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD WORK, AND I STARTED SEEING RESULTS, AND I STARTED FEELING BETTER.

AND IT WAS REALLY ODD BECAUSE SHE HAD ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED ME IN ADDITION TO DOING KETO TO CUT OUT DAIRY, AND I REALLY RESISTED THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD STUFF.

BUT I TRIED IT, AND JOINT PAIN THREE DAYS LATER, LITERALLY JOINT PAIN THAT I'D HAD FOR MONTHS, WAS GONE.

AND I WASN'T HUNGRY IN THE MORNINGS.

THAT HAD BEEN MY LIFE FOR DECADES, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO LIGHTEN UP THE WHOLE DIET AND THIS WAS WAS WORKING WITHOUT ALL THE PAIN.

>> AND YET IT WAS GOING AGAINST, CERTAINLY BACK PREVIOUS YEARS, IT WAS VERY MUCH GOING AGAINST THE IDEA OF CUTTING OUT -- YOU'VE GOT YOUR BACON ON TOP YOUR EGGS ON TOP OF YOUR BUTTER, THAT MAKES A LOT OF GPs THROUGHOUT JUST SHUTTER.

>> IT DOES.

AND I BELIEVED THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

A LOT OF DIETS -- A LOT OF DOCTORS WILL NOW TELL YOU THAT CHOLESTEROL THAT YOU EAT MAY NOT REALLY BE RELATED TO THE CHOLESTEROL IN YOUR BLOOD SYSTEM.

SO THERE'S A LOT THEY DON'T KNOW.

>> FOR DIETING IN GENERAL, IS -- IT SEEMS TO A PROBLEM THAT THIS IDEA OF ONE DIET FITS ALL.

DO YOU THINK MAYBE KETO WORKS FOR YOU BUT THE MEDITERRANEAN WORKS FOR HIM AND PALEO WORK FOR HER?

>> OH, TOTALLY.

TOTALLY.

EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT.

AND I HAVE HEARD FROM SOME KETO DOCTORS THAT KETO DOESN'T WORK FOR A SMALL SECTION OF PEOPLE.

IT BACKFIRES IN SOME WAYS.

EVERY BODY IS DIFFERENT.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO SINCE THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES CAME OUT IN THE '70s PROMOTING LOW FAT AND STUFF, THAT SET US UP TO THINK THIS MUST BE GOOD FOR EVERYBODY AND IT'S NOT.

>> SO WHEN YOU SEE THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC AND IT'S STILL EXISTS AND STILL GROWING AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK GOING ON?

>> I THINK, IN MY NEVER TO BE CONFUSED WITH HUMBLE OPINION -- >> WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THAT CATCH PHRASE IS ALL OVER THIS BOOK.

>> YES, I THINK THE ADVICE IS TOO HIGH CARB FOR MOST PEOPLE, AS FAR AS THE FEDERAL ADVICE, AND IT'S DRIVING INSULIN RESISTANCE.

WE TALK ABOUT OBESITY AS A DISEASE BUT I THINK IT STARTS BEFORE THAT.

WE SEE OH OBESITY BECAUSE IT'S A SYMPTOM.

BEFORE THAT WE HAVE INSULIN RESISTANCE.

THERE ARE DOCTORS WHO USE METAPHOR, AND I REALLY LOVE IT, INSULIN IN YOUR BODY IS LIKE A LABORED SECURITY GUARD AT THE BANK, HE'LL LET YOU MAKE DEPOSITS OF FAT BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE WITHDRAWS.

SO YOU HAVE TO GET INSULIN OUT OF THE WAY.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE INSULIN RESISTANCE CAUSES THEM TO PUT ON WEIGHT AND WE SAY, OH, THEY'RE OBESE, AND THEN THEY BECOME DIABETIC AND WE SAY THAT'S CAUSE IT.

BUT WHAT'S CAUSING THE INSULIN ASSISTANCE IN.

>> REAL QUICKLY BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, THIS IS FASCINATING STUFF HERE.

THERE ARE CONCERNS REGARDING KETO, EVERYTHING FROM LIVER FAILURE, KIDNEY DISEASE, TYPE I DIABETES, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ONE RIGHT DIET FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU'VE GOTTA FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S ADVICE.

UNCONTROLLED DIABETES IS A MONSTER AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DOWN, IT WILL COST YOU EVERYTHING, INCLUDING YOUR MIND, ALZHEIMER'S TYPE 3 DIABETES.

>> YES, THEY ARE.

>> SO YOU GOTTA FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S ADVICE BUT YOU GOTTA ASK GOOD QUESTIONS.

>> AND YOU WOKE THIS BOOK AGAIN... DID YOU GET IT TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION?

>> TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION, BUT TO BE CLEAR IT'S NOT, DON'T BE FAT, PEOPLE.

>> NO, THERE'S WIT INVOLVED.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND YOUR RESPONSE SO FAR?

>> A LITTLE SLOW BUT IT'S GROWING.

>> IT'S GROWING.

>> WELL, IT'S HOW I LOST 100 POUNDS IN JUST 50 YEARS.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS FOR YOUR DIET, AND CONTINUED SUCCESS ON THAT, AND GOOD BOOK AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH MORE JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.