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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

>>> A LOCAL HOSPITAL LOOKS TO GET OLDER PATIENTS UP AND BACK HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>>> AND A NEW BOOK HIGHLIGHTS CONNECTIONS TO THE FAMED TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES TODAY JOINED 17 OTHER STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN FILING LAWSUITS CHALLENGING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT ENDS AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP TO CHILDREN BORN IN THE U.S. TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

>> AS I SAID AFTER THE ELECTION, I WILL NOT ALLOW, I WILL NOT ALLOW DONALD TRUMP TO SHRED THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH NATIONAL SECURITY OR PROTECTING AMERICAN JOBS.

AT ITS CORE, IT IS AT ITS CORE A COMPLETE REJECTION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THE VALUES THAT IT HAS SERVED AS THE BEDROCK OF OUR GREAT NATION.

TED: THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP EXECUTIVE ORDER IS FACING LAWSUITS FROM ADVOCACY GROUPS AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION AND GOT THIS RESPONSE FROM ARIZONA SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO -- >> NO ONE, WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING IN ARIZONA EVER ASKED FOR THAT.

IT DOESN'T BRING US MORE BORDER SECURITY.

DOESN'T BRING ANY MORE SECURITY, AND YOU ARE DIVIDING THIS COUNTRY.

SO I HOPE THINGS LIKE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP IS NOT WHERE WE SHOULD BE GOING.

TED: MARCO RUBIO SWORN IN AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

AFTER THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY, HE SPOKE TO STATE DEPARTMENT STAFF.

>> I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR NOMINATING ME.

IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE.

FRANKLY TO OVERSEE THE GREATEST, THE MOST EFFECTIVE, THE MOST TALENTED, THE MOST EXPERIENCED DIPLOMATIC CORE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD RESIDES IN THIS BUILDING.

TED: RUBIO IS THE FIRST LATINO U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE FIRST OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CABINET NOMINEES TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.

LEADERS OF THE FAR RIGHT PROUD BOYS AND OATHKEEPERS MILITIAS WERE SET FREE TODAY AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP ISSUED A LEGAL REPRIEVE TO ALL PEOPLE CHARGED WITH THE ATTACK ON SUPPORTERS IN 2021.

MOST ARE QUIET BUT SOME ARE SPEAKING UP.

>> IF YOU TACKLE A POLICE OFFICER, IT'S A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, AND SHOULD PAY A PRICE FOR THAT.

I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR CAPITOL OFFICERS, THEY'RE HERE DOING SERVICE LIKE THE SECRET SERVICE AND DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE FOLKS PROTECTING US EVERY SINGLE DAY.

TED: THE PROUD BOYS LEADER SERVING A 22-YEAR SENTENCE FOR CONVICTION OF SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY.

>>> A TRUMP-APPOINTED FEDERAL JUDGE EXTENDED A BLOCK ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FROM SHARING REPORT INTO THE INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS.

THE CASE IS ON APPEAL AFTER THE SAME JUDGE DISMISSED THE PROSECUTION LAST SUMMER, RULING THAT THEN SPECIAL PROSECUTOR JACK SMITH WAS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY APPOINTED.

>>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS FIRED THE COMMANDANT OF THE COAST GUARD, ADMIRAL LINDA FAGAN WAS THE FIRST FEMALE UNIFORMED OFFICER, REMOVED BY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION OVER CLAIMS OF FAILING TO ADDRESS BORDER SECURITY AND FOCUSING TOO MUCH ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION POLICIES.

>>> ANDY BIGGS FILED FORMAL STATEMENT OF INTEREST RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

HE'S A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE FAR RIGHT FREEM CAUCUS AND A FIRM TRUMP SUPPORTER.

THOUGH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED SUPPORT FOR KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON AS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

>>> THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS A NEW CHAIRMAN AND THREE BOARD MEMBERS, IT APPROVES THE BUDGET AND JOINING US IS THE NEW CHANGE THE BOARD THOMAS GALVIN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> HI, TED.

TED: FRANK SINATRA DOING IT MY MAY, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

>> MY NEW THEME SONG.

TED: YOU WON THE ELECTION, YOU ARE THE CHAIRMAN.

AS FAR AS THE ELECTION IS CONCERNED, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WON AND WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE NOW CHANGE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THE REASON I THINK I WON WHEN I WENT OUT IN THE DISTRICT IN THE EAST VALLEY, PREDOMINANTLY SCOTTSDALE AND MESA, NEARLY A MILLION PEOPLE, VERY SIMPLE, I LISTENED TO THE VOTERS, ISSUES THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THEM AND IT WAS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

AND I HAD A RECORD WHERE WE CUT PROPERTY TAXES EVERY SINGLE YEAR SINCE I JOINED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND INVESTED IN PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAKE SURE COUNTY SHERIFF AND COUNTY ATTORNEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP US SAFE.

TED: WHEN YOU SAY PUBLIC SAFETY AND ECONOMIC SITUATIONS, IS THAT THE MESSAGE THEY SENT TO YOU DIRECTLY, OR THAT'S THE GENERAL CONSENSUS?

>> IT'S SHARED VALUES.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S IMPORTANT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND FOR ME AS I OUTLINED IN THE SPEECH LAST WEEK AS THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MAKING SURE WE'RE ENSURING PROSPERITY AND SECURING SAFETY.

THIS RESONATED WITH MY VOTERS.

TED: PRIORITIZING FISCAL CONSERVATISM, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> VERY SIMPLE, DON'T SPEND MORE THAN YOU BRING IN.

WE CONTROL THE SECOND LARGEST BUDGET IN THE STATE.

OUR BUDGET IS ROUGHLY $4 BILLION.

OBTAIN FOURTH LARGEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY, WITH 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY, WE HAVE A POPULATION LARGER THAN 25 STATES BUT A GREAT FISCAL RECORD.

WE'VE CUT PROPERTY TAX RATES EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD BUT ENSURING GOOD SERVICES AND GETTING PEOPLE BANG FOR THEIR BUCK.

TED: YOU GOT THREE NEW MEMBERS ON THE BOARD THIS GO-AROUND, WHO ARE THEY AND HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE BALANCE OF WHAT GOES ON?

>> SURE THING.

WE HAVE A RETURNING MEMBER, DEMOCRAT STEVE GALLARDO, AND MARK STEWART WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT 1 IN THE EAST VALLEY.

THE BOARD IS THE SAME, STILL A 4-1 REPUBLICAN COMPOSITION, IT IS A REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE BOARD.

ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTY LED BY REPUBLICANS OUT OF THE TOP TEN COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THESE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, WELL-KNOWN PUBLIC SERVANTS BUT EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH THEM OVER FOUR YEARS.

TED: WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING AND SPENDING OBVIOUSLY THE PRIORITY HERE.

HOW DOES THE DYNAMIC OF THE THREE NEW INDIVIDUALS, HOW DOES IT CHANGE THINGS?

>> IN THAT RESPECT, WE DON'T CHANGE.

THEY WANT TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN THE GREAT RECORD OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, A CONSERVATIVE RECORD OF BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS.

TED: PUBLIC DOLLARS, MORE FUNDS FOR MCSO.

COMPENSATION STRUCTURE, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> A BIG PROMISE WE NEED TO TACKLE AT MARICOPA COUNTY.

A LOT OF STUFF WE CAN BE PROUD OF BUT LOT OF STUFF WE NEED TO WORK ON.

I WANT US TO BE A BOARD OF ACTION AND DELIVER A CONSEQUENTIAL CHAIRMANSHIP.

AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WE HAVE THE LOWEST PAY COMPARED TO 27 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN MARICOPA COUNTY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT THAT HAM STRUNG OUR PURSE STRINGS HERE, BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE, THEY NEED HELP, AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM.

WE PAY MONEY TO TRAIN THEM BUT THEN WE LOSE THEM.

I WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE CUTTING DOWN ATTRITION AND INCREASING OVERSIGHT.

>> THE BIGGEST IMPEDIMENT TO PROGRESS AT MCSO HAVE YOU SAID, EXPLAIN PLEASE?

>> ONE THING I SAW ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS VOTERS WERE SHOCKED TO HEAR WE HAVE SPENT $300 MILLION SINCE THE FIRST FEDERAL LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN 2007.

THIS IS MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT ON COMPLIANCE PAPERWORK.

OBVIOUSLY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TODAY IS DIFFERENT THAT THE SHERIFF WE SAW 15 YEARS AGO.

WE'RE ON THE FOURTH SHERIFF UNDER THIS FEDERAL LAWSUIT.

I THINK THE TIME HAS COME TO FORGE A NEW PATH AND GET OUT OF THAT AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO GET OUR DEPUTIES ON THE STREET AND DETENTION OFFICERS IN JAILS TO PROTECT US.

TED: AND YET COMPLIANCE AT AN EARLIER DATE AND MORE VIGOROUS COMPLIANCE, I WOULD IMAGINE, I WOULD HOPE, SHUT ALL THIS DOWN AND EVERYONE WOULD HAVE MOVED FORWARD.

THERE WERE COURT RECORDS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE PULLED OVER WITH MORE FREQUENCY, DETAINED FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME.

WE HEAR THIS.

WHY IS GOING ON?

>> I AM GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU ON THE STATISTICS.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MADE GREAT, TREMENDOUS STRIDES SINCE THE LAWSUIT WAS FIRST FILED.

IN MANY WAYS WE'RE AT NEAR COMPLIANCE IN ALL OF THE MEASURES BUT THE COMPLIANCE GOAL POSE OF THE CHANGED AS WELL AND NO ONE IN MARICOPA COUNTY MUCH LESS AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ADVOCATING OR PUSHING FOR POLICIES THAT ARE DISCRIMINATORY.

THAT WOULD BE DISGUSTING.

WE'VE LEFT THOSE DAYS, WHEN PAUL PENZONE DEFEATED SHERIFF ARPAIO, VOTERS WANTED A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, NOW THEY VOTED FOR JERRY SHERIDAN AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE.

TED: AS FAR AS ELECTION RESULTS.

GOT TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR WAS GROUND ZERO FOR A LOT OF THE CONTROVERSY.

A 95-1 PLAN.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

>> WE HAVE SEEN THE WAY THE ELECTION LAWS ARE SET UP, COUNTING VOTES TWO WEEKS AFTER ELECTION DAY.

ONE OF FIVE STATES DOING THAT.

PROVIDED A CONSIDERABLE STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM ESPECIALLY WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS.

WHAT I HAVE DONE IS WORKED WITH MY COLLEAGUE DEBBIE LESKO, STATE SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSEN, WHAT IS GREAT NEW LAW, IMPROVING ACCESS TO VOTERS BUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE 95% OF VOTES TABULATED ON ELECTION NIGHT.

WE CUT OFF THE DATE FOR LATE-EARLIES AND LAW SENATE PETERSEN PROPOSED EXPANDS VOTING BY TWO DAYS AND EXPAND THE NUMBER OF POLLING SITES AVAILABLE FOR VOTERS.

TED: FOR THOSE WHO SAY RUSHING TO GET RESULTS HURTS ACCURACY, YOU SAY?

>> HOGWASH.

THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU GOT TO DO IS ACCURACY AND SXHOEK ALL 15 COUNTIES HAVE DONE THAT.

WE NEED THE RESULTS TABULATED BY ELECTION NIGHT.

BY OPENING ACCESS GETS US THERE.

TED: NEVER HAD TO DO IT IN THE PAST, IS THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CLOSE RACES?

IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN AND RAN IN THE STATE OR LOCAL RACES, YOU ARE LIKELY TO WIN AND FIGURE OUT YOU WERE GOING WIN EARLY.

THEY'RE SO CLOSE NOW, IT TAKES A LOT MORE COUNTING OF VOTES TO FIGURE OUT WHO WON.

ISN'T THAT THE MAIN DIFFERENCE?

>> ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES.

OUR SYSTEM CANNOT TOLERATE EVERY ELECTION CYCLE WE NEED PRIVATE POLLING CYCLES, I HEARD THEM SAY IT WOULD IMPEDE ACCESS TO VOTING.

BY OPENING UP GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS TO POLLING SITES, YOU OPEN ACCESS.

WE CAN'T RELY ON THE PRIVATE FACILITIES, EVERY TIME WE HAVE A NEW CYCLE, THEY TELL US WE'RE OUT.

TED: I GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOCKEY.

YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOCKEY.

ARE YOU SERIOUS HERE?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> I AM SERIOUS.

FOR ME PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IS AMAZING.

IN THE VALLEY, WE HAVE THE BEST SPORTS IN THE WORLD.

WE HOST THE SUPER BOWL, NASCAR.

FIRST IS GET REGULATION ON CHASE FIELD, I TALKED TO COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN AND BELIEVE WE CAN ATTRACT THE RIGHT OWNER TO EXPAND A NEW HOCKEY TEAM FOR ARIZONA, BRING THE COYOTES SO TO SPEAK, BACK, AND GET A NEW WORLD CLASS FACILITY.

TED: SO YOU ARE CONFIDENT?

>> VERY CONFIDENT.

GOING TO TAKE TIME.

TED: WHAT ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS AND THE CHASE FIELD SITUATION.

>> THE DIAMONDBACKS WANT TO STAY AT CHASE FIELD.

WE OWN IT BUT THE DIAMONDBACKS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL EXPENSES AND REVENUE.

TED: TOM GALVIN, YOU HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU.

>> I'M READY.

TED: ARE YOU SET?

>> I AM.

TED: THANK YOU.

.

TED: A NEW INITIATIVE AT BANNER-BAYWOOD MEDICAL CENTER LOOKS TO REDUCE THE LENGTH OF STAY BY ASSESSING MOBILITY NEEDS.

HERE IS SEAN WYNE FOR BANNER-BAYWOOD MEDICAL CENTER.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: MOBILITY INITIATIVE.

EXPLAIN PLEASE.

>> INITIALLY STARTED THAT BANNER SYSTEM INITIATIVE WHICH WE TAKE PATIENTS THAT COME INTO OUR HOSPITAL THAT ARE INDEPENDENT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY LEAVE US INDEPENDENTLY.

THAT STARTED BACK IN JANUARY OF 2022, AND WE EXPANDED THE PATIENTS WE WERE LOOKING AT MOBILIZING OR WALKING THE PATIENTS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT SO WE COULD BETTER HELP THOSE PATIENTS.

TED: WHEN YOU DID THIS AND INITIALLY GOT THIS UNDER WAY, DID YOU NOTICE SOMETHING?

DID THIS HELP START THE MOBILITY INITIATIVE SAYING THESE FOLKS ARE DOING BETTER THE MORE THEY MOVE AROUND?

>> INITIAL WAS LOOKING AT INDEPENDENT PATIENTS AND LENGTH OF STAY STAYED THE SAME WITH THE PATIENTS AND IN BANNER-BAYWOOD, WE HAVE A LARGE JER RAT RICK POPULATION, WE EXPANDED TO WORK WITH PATIENTS THAT NEEDED MORE HELP AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THOSE PATIENCE WERE UP AND WALKING AND MOVING.

TED: YOU HAVE DEDICATED TEAMS WITH THIS?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF TRANSPORTERS TO MOBILIZE THE PATIENTS, ALL THE THERAPISTS, ALL HANDS ON DECK.

TED: I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULD ALLOW NURSES TO BETTER PRIORITIZE OTHER THINGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE GET GROUPS TOGETHER, IT ALLOWS THE NURSES TO DIG IN ON THE PATIENT CARE ASPECT.

TED: THERE IS A MOBILITY BED ASSESSMENT TOOL, WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT STARTED IN BAYWOOD AND IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ASSESSMENT TOOL.

ONE IN WHICH THE NURSES DO AN ASSESSMENT ON THE PATIENT.

THEY'RE BASICALLY LOOKING AT HOW THE PATIENT MOVES WHEN THEY GET IN AND OUT OF BED, AT THE LOWEST LEVEL GET AT THE LOWEST EDGE OF THE BED AT HIGHEST LEVEL THEY GET OUT OF BED LIKE YOU AND I. TED: WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS NEEDED FOR THESE FOLKS?

>> TRANSPORTERS HAVE GONE THE EXTRA TRAINING HOW TO MOBILIZE PATIENTS, KEEP PATIENTS SAFE, HOW TO AVOID FALLS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

TED: IS THERE MORE THAN A LITTLE BIT?

IS THERE SERIOUS STUFF GOING ON?

POINTED FOCUSED TRAINING?

>> THERE IS POINTED, FOCUSED TRAINING ON HOW TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

TAKE GOOD STEPS.

HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND USE A WALKER, HOW TO USE A GAIT BELT.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING PEOPLE UP, OLDER PATIENTS IN PARTICULAR, IT'S A HUGE THING.

>> THOSE PATIENTS THAT DON'T GET UP ARE HIGHER RISK OF PNEUMONIA, SKIN BREAKDOWN, DVTs, OCCLUSIVE THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE PIECE THAT WE'RE SO USED TO BEING UP AND MOVING, YOU LOSE THAT IN THE HOSPITAL.

TED: YOU GOT THE COMPLICATIONS AND HAVE A LONGER STAY IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

WE DID A STUDY OF OUR OWN WHICH WE FOUND WHEN WE HELP THE PATIENTS THAT NEED MORE HELP TO MOVE, WE BROUGHT THE LENGTH OF STAY DOWN TWO DAYS.

IT WAS SIX DAYS NOW DOWN TO FOUR DAYS GETTING THEM UP AND MOVING.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE RESEARCH, REDUCING NUMBER OF DAYS?

>> WE'RE PROUD OF IT.

TED: WHAT'S GOING ON NEXT?

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THE OTHER PATIENTS THAT ARE LESS MOBILE WE'RE WORKING WITH AND SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.

TED: AND AS FAR AS GERIATRIC RESEARCH, YOU CAN SEND STUDIES AND NUMBERS OFF AND HAVE PEOPLE STUDYING AND DO RESEARCH ON THIS?

>> I THINK THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM THAT IS NOT TALKED ABOUT AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD BE.

TED: SEAN WYNE BANNER-BAYWOOD MEDICAL CENTER, GET UP, MOVE AROUND, AND IT HELPS ALL THE TIME, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES, JEEP GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: A LOCAL AUTHOR HAS WRITTEN A NEW BOOK CALLED "BLACK WINGS OVER ARIZONA" AND WRITTEN BY A TUSKEGEE-TRAINED RETIRED AIR FORCE PILOT.

WITH US IS DR. RICHARD TOLIVER.

THE TITLE, BLACK WINGS OVER ARIZONA, THAT'S A COOL TITLE.

>> I THOUGHT ABOUT IT A WHILE AND I WANTED TO REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE, IMAGE OF THE PEOPLE, THE BEAUTIFUL BACKDROP OF ARIZONA, WHICH I LOVE SO DEARLY AND THEY LOVE SO DEARLY.

SO WHAT WE DID IS FOUND A WAY TO MERGE THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ARIZONA, WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND THE LIVES THEMSELVES.

TED: THIS BASICALLY IS THAT, A COMPILATION OF STORIES, TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WITH ARIZONA CONNECTIONS AND THE ARCHER RAGSDALE ARIZONA CHAPTER.

EXPLAIN THAT, PLEASE.

>> ARCHER RAGSDALE CHAPTER IS THE TUSKEGEE AIRMAN-INCORPORATED CHAPTER THAT WE GAVE TO ARIZONA 18 YEARS AGO, AND THE DOUBLE NAME, ARCHER RAGSDALE IS THE NAME OF THE FIRST BLACK CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT ASSIGNED TO ARIZONA, FRED ARCHER, AND THEN WE WANTED TO -- HE'S AN NCO AND WANTED THE PILOTS TIED TO THAT, LINCOLN RAGSDALE, SENIOR, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SENT TO ARIZONA IN 1945 ALONG WITH TEN OTHER GUYS.

SO WE COMBINED BOTH THE ILLICIT AND THE REGISTERED PILOT ARCHER RAGSDALE.

TED: THE YOUNG MEN THAT WERE PROFILED IN HERE, WHO WERE THESE GUYS?

>> THESE WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE QUALITY OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN EXPERIENCE THAT STARTED BACK PRIOR TO WORLD WAR II, WHEN WINDS OF WAR WERE RAGING ACROSS EUROPE, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT REALIZED WE WERE NOT PREPARED.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PILOTS.

AND AT THAT TIME, NO LAW ALLOWED BLACKS TO JOINT MILITARY AS PILOTS, AS OFFICERS, ET CETERA, SO A BILL WAS PASSED IN 1939 THAT CREATED A CIVILIAN PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM AND ALLOWED HISTORICAL BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PARTICIPATE.

TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE AT THAT TIME, HIRED A MAN TO COME DOWN AND BEGAN TO BUILD AN AIRFIELD AND SET UP A TRAINING PROGRAM AT TUSKEGEE.

THEY GOT THE NOD TO BE SELECTED FIRST IN THE PROGRAM IN 1941.

TED: WOW.

>> AND THAT'S HOW TUSKEGEE AIRMEN LEGACY BEGAN.

TED: YOU LOOKED AT MILITARY CAREERS, EARLY LIFE MILITARY SERVICE, POST LIFE MILITARY SERVICE, MILITARY YEARS, WHAT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF RESEARCH?

>> IT WAS, AND WE ARE FORTUNATE IN OUR CHAPTER TO HAVE TEN CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, WE CALL THEM THE HERITAGE CHAPTERS AND WE ASK THEM FOR DOCUMENTATION, PHOTOGRAPHS, THINGS THEY HAVE OR THINGS THEY REMEMBER.

WE LED THAT EFFORT FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS COLLECTING THE DATA, AND ONCE WE GOT THE DATA TOGETHER, WE BEGAN TO LOOK AT HOW TO LAY OUT STORY.

HOW THEY BEGAN?

WHAT LED THEM TO JOIN THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, EXPERIENCED HOW THEY WANTED TO BECOME PILOTS?

WHAT THEY DID DURING THAT TIME?

OF THE 15,000 AIRMEN, 450 WENT OVERSEAS TO FLY, AND THEY CAME BACK TO THE STATES AND THEY WERE BACK IN THE WAY THEY LEFT IT.

SO THEY HAD FIGHTING TWO WARS, THE ONE AT HOME AND THE ONE OVERSEAS.

TED: INDEED.

>> THAT'S HOW WE GOT IT.

TED: AT THE FOREFRONT OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

THEY'RE EDUCATORS, ENTREPRENEURS, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS.

KIND OF RUNNING OUT OF TIME A LITTLE BIT.

YOU CHRONICLED AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, AND THESE WOMEN THAT WERE SENT TO EUROPE IN WORLD WAR II.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> WE WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE ONE OF THE 855 BLACK WOMEN WHO WERE COLLECTED TO GO OVER TO ENGLAND TO UNSCRAMBLE THE MAIL THAT HAD BEEN STACKED UP IN DILAPIDATED HANGARS.

THE MORALE WAS GOING BADLY.

THE GENERAL WAS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THE MORALE.

SOMEBODY SAYS GET THESE WOMEN OVER THERE AND SEE IF THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM.

855 OF THEM WERE SENT TO ENGLAND.

THEY ARRIVED IN VERY RIGID CONDITIONS, WEATHER, FACILITIES TO LIVE IN.

THEY HAD TO CREATE THOSE THINGS FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEY CREATED A SYSTEM UNIQUELY DESIGNED TO TRY TO ATTRACT THE SOLDIERS, WOMEN AND OTHERS BY SERIAL NUMBERS AND SO ON, AND GIVEN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD TO UNSCRAMBLE THE MAIL.

THEY DID IT IN THREE MONTHS, CREATED IT, DID SUCH A FINE JOB.

THEY SENT THE NEXT TO FRANCE.

BY THE TIME THE WAR ENDED, THEY DISPENSED AND DISTRIBUTED MILLIONS OF PIECES OF MAIL, PACKAGES AND SO ON.

TED: JUST A GREAT STORY.

WE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT HERE.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK AND TO, AGAIN, CHRONICLE THESE FOLKS?

>> WELL, I WAS BLESSED TO BE TOUCHED BY THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER OF 18 YEARS OLD AND WANTED TO GO TO TUSKEGEE.

I WANTED TO BE A PILOT AFTER GROWING UP IN WORLD WAR II, IN CALIFORNIA.

MY OLDER BROTHER WENT TO TUSKEGEE, FOUND A WAY TO WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL.

I DID, TOO.

THAT'S WHEN I MET MY FIRST BLACK PILOT IN MY LIFE.

ONE MONTH LATER I WAS GETTING MY FIRST FLIGHT AND TRAINED AND MOTIVATED AND ENCOURAGED BY THEM.

THEY BECAME A PART OF MY LIFE.

TED: IT BECAME A PART OF YOUR LIFE, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE HISTORY.

YOU TAKE CARE.

>> GOD BLESS.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.