♪♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, PHOENIX MAYOR IS LIKELY TO LEAD A GROUP OF MAYORS RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TONIGHT, ARIZONA COMES CLOSE TO REACHING ITS RECORD CONSECUTIVE DAYS YOU WITHOUT RAIN.

AND HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS, THE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO PBS ARIZONA HORIZON, CONTINUING TO PULL BODIES OUT OF THE POTOMAC AFTER A PLANE CRASHED WITH A U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER.

THERE ARE NO SURVIVORS AND NO ANSWERS AS TO WHY THE COLLISION OCCURRED.

THE N.T.S.B.

WITH AN UPDATE THIS AFTERNOON.

>> OUR INVESTIGATIVE TEAM WILL BE ON SCENE AS LONG AS IT TAKES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN ALL OF THE PERISHABLE EVIDENCE AND ALL THE FACT FINDING THAT'S NEEDED TO BRING US TO A CONCLUSION OF PROBABLE CAUSE.

OUR INTENTION IS TO HAVE A PRELIMINARY REPORT WITHIN 30 DAYS AND THE FINAL REPORT WILL BE ISSUED ONCE WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF OUR FACT FINDING AND INVESTIGATION.

>> BUT EARLIER IN THE DAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP WITHOUT EVIDENCE PLACED BLAME ON DIVERSITY EFFORTS AT THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.

>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT VARIOUS ARTICLES THAT APPEARED PRIOR TO MY ENTERING OFFICE, HERE IS ONE, THE F.A.A.

'S DIVERSITY PUSH INCLUDES FOCUS ON HIRING PEOPLE WITH SEVERE INTELLECTUAL AND PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES.

THAT IS AMAZING.

AND THIS IS F.A.A.

SAYS PEOPLE WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES ARE MOST UNDERREPRESENTED SEGMENT OF THE WORK FORCE AND THEY WANT TO MAN THEM-- THEY WANT, THEY CAN BE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, I DON'T THINK SO.

THIS WAS ON JANUARY 14TH, SO THAT WAS A WEEK BEFORE I ENTERED OFFICE.

THEY PUT A BIG PUSH TO PUT DIVERSITY INTO THE F.A.A.

'S PROGRAM.

>> THE PRESIDENT MADE THOSE REMARKS EVEN AS HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WAS UNKNOWN.

RESPONSE FROM DEMOCRATS.

>> IT'S ONE THING FOR INTERNET PUNDITS TO SPEW OFF CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

IT'S ANOTHER FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THROW OUT IDLE SPECULATION AS BODIES ARE STILL BEING RECOVERED AND FAMILIES STILL BEING NOTIFIED.

IT JUST TURNS YOUR STOMACH.

>> U.S. AND RUSSIAN FIGURE SKATERS WERE AMONG THOSE ON BOARD THE FLIGHTS.

THE SKATERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WERE RETURNING FROM A CAMP FOLLOWING THE U.S. WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN KANSAS.

FORMER OLYMPIC SKATER NANCY KERRIGAN SPOKE ABOUT THE SKATING COMMUNITY.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW EVERYBODY TO HAVE THE CONNECTION.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT TRAINING, THAT RIGOROUS SCHEDULE OF FALLING OVER AND OVER AND SOMEHOW PICKING YOURSELF BACK UP, WHICH IS LIKE THE MAIN LESSON, I THINK, LEARNED IN SKATING IS YOU GET BACK UP, KEEP ON TRYING AND EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD, YOU GET BACK UP, EVEN WHEN YOU'RE CRYING, HURT, PAIN, YOU GET BACK UP AND MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S NOT EASY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO DO NOW TOGETHER.

>> AND OF NOTE A PRELIMINARY F.A.A.

REPORT SHOWS THAT STAFFING AT THE F.A.A.

CONTROL TOWER WAS NOT NORMAL FOR THE TIME OF DAY AND VOLUME.

AND THE CONTROLLER WAS DOING THE WORK OF TWO PEOPLE, AMID A SHORTAGE OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

ON CAPITOL HILL, A CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR KASH PATEL, AT ONE POINT DISAGREEING WITH THE PRESIDENT FOR CLEMENCY FOR THE JANUARY 6TH RIOTERS.

>> I'VE ALWAYS REJECTED ANY VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I HAVE, INCLUDING IN THAT GROUP, SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED ANY VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT ON JANUARY 6TH AND I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE COMMUTATION OF ANY SENTENCE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO COMMITTED VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> AND CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR TULSI GABBARD BEGAN TODAY, THE ADMINISTRATION'S CHOICE FOR NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE CONCERNED OVER GABBARD'S POSITION ON EDWARD SNOWDEN, WHO LEAKED DOCUMENTS AND IS A NATIONALIZED CITIZEN OF RUSSIA.

>> IS EDWARD SNOWDEN A TRAITOR TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

THAT'S NOT A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER WHEN THE STAKES ARE THIS HIGH.

>> SENATOR, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED IN THE-- >> YOUR ANSWER IS YES OR NO.

IS EDWARD SNOWDEN A TRAITOR TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

>> AS SOMEONE WHO HAS-- >> I'LL GO ON.

>> SOMEONE WHO WORE UNIFORM IN COMBAT I UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL NATIONAL SECURITY-- >> APPARENTLY YOU DON'T.

>> ONE MORE HEADLINE, SARA BROWN, THE CHIEF BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS HAS RESIGNED AS THEY NEGOTIATE A SPENDING PLAN WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, SPECIFICALLY THE ABSENCE OF FUNDING FOR EXPECTED ENROLLMENT AND GROWTH IN THAT ENROLLMENT IN THE STATE'S MEDICAID PROGRAM.

IN 2027 AND 2028.

BROWN HAS BEEN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DIRECTOR SINCE 2022 AND THE TWO WORKED TOGETHER WHEN HOBBS WORKOUT AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

PHOENIX MAYOR GALLEGO WILL THE BE NEXT CHAIR OF CLIMATE MAYORS OF 350 MAYORS WORKING TOGETHER TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WELCOME YOU BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU REGARDING THE FEDERAL GRANT AND THE LOAN FREEZE THAT WAS ON AGAIN AND OFF AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> IT WAS INCREDIBLY CHAOTIC AND DISRUPTIVE.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX HAS MORE THAN $3 BILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WE ADMINISTER.

WE HELP DELIVER REALLY IMPORTANT SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, SUCH AS HEADSTART.

THE TEACHERS GET REIMBURSED THROUGH A PORTAL THAT WENT DOWN VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

WE'RE NEGOTIATING SOME VERY IMPORTANT HOUSING DEALS WITH THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

THOSE GOT PAUSED.

THERE'S JUST INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY AND PEOPLE COMING TO ME AND SAYING, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY PAYCHECK IF WE CAN'T SUBMIT THE PAPER WORK TO GET PAID?

>> THEY RESCINDED THE DIRECTORIVE, I GUESS, FROM OMB, OFFICE MANAGEMENT BUDGET.

I IMAGINE THE CONCERN AND CONFUSION IS STILL OUT THERE?

>> THERE'S ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF FEAR AND APPREHENSION WHAT REIMBURSEMENTS WE'LL GET AND IF THE MONEY WE HAVE BEEN COUNTING ON WILL ARRIVE.

WE ARE NOT GETTING RESPONSES FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES WHO HAVE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES INTERPRETING THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF UNNECESSARY CHAOS, BUT IF THERE HAD BEEN MORE PLANNING AND MORE DETAIL, PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IMPACTED AND WHAT IS NOT.

>> OKAY, OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING THAT WE WILL WATCH HERE IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.

YOU ARE THE NEXT CHAIR OF CLIMATE MAYORS.

EXPLAIN.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> SO, THIS IS A NATIONAL GROUP OF MAYORS FROM A HUGE VARIETY OF POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES WORKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

RIGHT NOW, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS PULLED OUT OF THE PARIS ACCORDS, BUT SO MANY MAYORS AND GOVERNORS WANT TO MEET THESE GOALS, IT'S KEY FOR US IN PHOENIX.

YOU REMEMBER HOW HOT THIS SUMMER WAS.

NOT ONE PERSON HAS EVER TOLD ME THEY WANT THE SUMMER TO BE HOTTER IN PHOENIX.

THIS IS REALLY A UNIFYING PRINCIPLE FOR US AND IT'S A SOLUTION AND AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FROM ASU TO OUR SMALL STARTUPS.

WE'RE PRETTY MOTIVATED TO ADDRESS CLIMATE SO IT GIVES ME A MUCH BIGGER PLATFORM TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE DOING SUCCESSFULLY.

I THINK THE STORY IS NOT ALWAYS TOLD ACCURATELY WHAT WE'RE DOING ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN PHOENIX AND HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING THE HEAT AND I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION.

>> WITH THAT PLATFORM, WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?

OBVIOUSLY GETTING THE CORRECT STORY OUT THERE ON WHAT PHOENIX IS DOING, I THINK, WOULD BE CLOSE TO NUMBER ONE, WOULD IT NOT?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

THE NATIONAL MEDIA DOESN'T ALWAYS COVER OUR SITUATION ACCURATELY.

WE'RE REAL LEADERS ON THIS AND WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SEE HOW WE ADDRESS THE SUMMER.

AND A CHANCE TO BRING NEW RESOURCES TO PHOENIX.

THERE ARE BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY AND PARTNERS WHO WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

I'M EXCITED TO BE AT THE TABLE AND HELP DELIVER FROM OUR COUNTRY, BUT MY JOB IS FOR PHOENIX.

>> INDEED.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE WE'RE KIND OF GROUND ZERO HERE AS FAR AS HEAT IS CONCERNED, BUT THERE ARE BEST PRACTICES ELSEWHERE THAT PHOENIX COULD ADOPT?

>> THERE ARE INCREDIBLE SOLUTIONS TO HELP REDUCE THE ENERGY BILLS AND COSTS ARE CHALLENGING.

THERE'S NEW MOTIVATION BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR COUNTRY WAS IMPACTED FROM EARTHQUAKE HADS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND FLORIDA TO THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA.

MOST OF OUR COUNTRY IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HAVE HAD PRETTY DEEP CLIMATE RELATED IMPACTS AND SO PEOPLE ARE COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND DELIVERING.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE HIGHER PROFILE OF LEADING THIS GROUP WILL INDEED LEAD TO MORE ATTENTION, MORE ATTENTION FROM AN ADMINISTRATION THAT'S NOT AS KEEN ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THESE CLIMATE CHANGING EFFORTS AS YOU ARE?

>> WE MADE GREAT PROGRESS REDUCING OUR EMISSIONS DURING THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

ONE OF OUR LARGEST GRANTS EVER FOR LIGHT RAIL WHICH WAS THE SOUTH CENTRAL LIGHT RAIL WE GOT FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THAT HELPED TAKE CARS OFF THE STREET AND REDUCE EMISSIONS.

THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THEIR GOAL IN AWARDING US THAT GRANT, BUT IT'S-- PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH MULTIPLE GOALS.

>> BUT THE NEW EPA DIRECTOR, HE'S VERY MUCH AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL RECLATIONS OF ALL KINDS, HE WANTS TO GET RID OF CALIFORNIA'S TAIL PIPE LIMITS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ON A LOCAL LEVEL AND AS THE CHAIR OF THIS GROUP TO SHOW THE OTHER SIDE?

>> WE HAVE BEEN A HUGE BENEFICIARY OF CLEAN TECH INVESTMENT IN PHOENIX.

WE HAVE A GREAT FACILITY IN MARYVILLE THAT'S MAKING SOLAR PANELS AND EMPLOYING OUR RESIDENTS.

WE'RE LEADERS IN SEVERAL CLEAN VEHICLE MANUFACTURING, SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT I CAN TELL THE STORY ABOUT THE PEOPLE I'VE MET WHO WERE LAID OFF FROM OTHER JOBS, BUT GOT GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS SECTOR.

HOPEFULLY AMERICAN MANUFACTURING CAN BE A UNIFYING AREA FOR ALL OF US AND WE CAN REALLY CELEBRATE THE FEW AREAS WHERE WE AGREE.

>> AND I CAN'T LET YOU GO WITH THE NATIONAL MEDIA ARE REPORTING THINGS YOU DON'T THINK ARE ACCURATE OR TRUE ABOUT PHOENIX.

GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES.

>> SO THE -- WE ARE QUITE PROACTIVE AROUND ADAPTATION AND MAKING THE CITY MORE COMFORTABLE AND THAT STORY DOESN'T GET TOLD.

OFTEN THE NATIONAL MEDIA WILL SHARE STORIES ABOUT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN ARIZONA AROUND WATER RIGHTS AND ATTRIBUTE TO PHOENIX, SO IF THERE'S A WELL PROBLEM IN A RURAL COMMUNITY, THAT WILL SOMETIMES BECOME PHOENIX AND SOME OF THE PICTURES AROUND OUR WATER SITUATION IN PARTICULAR, I THINK, DON'T SHOW THE PLANNING AND IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE ARE DOING, AS WELL AS SO MANY OF THE LEADING POLICIES WE'VE DONE AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE.

SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE A FEW OUTLETS ON THE EAST COAST ARE NOT ROOTING FOR US TO SUCCEED.

>> THE LAST QUESTION, ARE WE SEEING RESULTS?

ARE WE SEEING GREENHOUSE GASES IN ARIZONA, THE POLLUTION -- IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.

>> WE, THE CITY OF PHOENIX HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY SINCE 2012, WE'VE MANAGED TO REDUCE PER CAPITA EMISSIONS BY MORE THAN 20%.

WE REALLY ARE GETTING GREAT THINGS DONE.

REDUCING ENERGY BILLS AND SOLAR ENERGY SEEM TO BE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE PRETTY BROAD CONSENSUS AND SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON DELIVERING RESULTS THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, KATE GALLEGO, MAYOR OF PHOENIX AND THE NEW CHAIR OF THE CLIMATE MAYORS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> >> IT WAS ANOTHER SUNNY DAY IN PHOENIX, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF LATE.

SO MANY IN FACT THAT WE CAME CLOSE TO REACHING A RECORD NUMBER OF DAYS WITHOUT RAIN.

WHY ARE THINGS SO MUCH DRIER THAN USUAL AND WHAT DOES THE FORECAST SHOW?

WE ASK ASU CLIMATOLOGIST WHO JOINS US NOW.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

USUALLY YOU HAVE ROTTEN NEWS AND I THINK YOU'LL FIT THE BILL TONIGHT.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AND GOING ON THE PAST FEW MONTHS?

>> WE'VE HAD WHAT IS CALLED A RIDGE.

IT BASICALLY IS WHERE IS THIS, THE JETSTREAM?

RIGHT NOW, FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, THE JETSTREAM HAS BEEN ARCING UP OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND THEN HITTING OREGON AND WASHINGTON SO THAT SEATTLE AND PORTLAND, THOSE ARE THE CITIES GETTING A FAIR AMOUNT OF RAIN THIS LAST FALL AND INTO THE WINTER, BUT THAT MEANS ALL THE STORMS ARE UP THERE, NOT COMING DOWN INTO CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE LA NINA?

IS THAT LA NINA?

>> THAT'S PERFECT LA NINA, THE TEXTBOOK OF WHAT WE EXPECT.

>> IS THIS A STRONG LA NINA?

>> IT JUST STARTED SO IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY STRONG YET, BUT GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE CHANGES MADE, I THINK IT WILL INTENSIFY INTO A PRETTY STRONG LA NINA.

>> THAT MEANS RAIN HERE AND EVEN SNOW IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AT ALL.

>> YEAH, THE ENTIRE STATE IS GOING TO BE DRY, BASICALLY, UNFORTUNATELY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE A MAP HERE.

YOU BROUGHT A MAP HERE OF THE FORECAST FOR WHAT WE SHOULD BE SEEING HERE AS FAR AS PRECIPITATION.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS, RANDY.

>> WE DON'T LIKE THE BROWN COLORS AND WHEN YOU START TO SEE THE PARTS OF THE STATE ARE IN EXTREME BROWN, THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S VERY LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING STORMS COMING INTO THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY.

AND AS I SAID, THE PLACES THAT ARE GOING TO GET THE RAIN ARE THE ONES THAT WE NORMALLY KIND OF THINK OF, BECAUSE LA NINA IS THE COMMON ONE.

EL NINO IS THE ABNORMAL ONE.

WITH LA NINA WE'RE HAVING THE RAINS UP IN THE NORTHWEST.

>> AND THIS IS FEBRUARY, MARCH, AND APRIL.

>> YEAH.

>> THINGS START DRYING OUT IN MAY AND JUNE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> IT'S POSSIBLE, I HATE TO SAY THIS, IT IS POSSIBLE WE MAY NOT GET RAIN UNTIL THE MONSOON.

>> OH, GEEZ.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE A NEW NORMAL?

DOES THIS FEEL LIKE SOMETHING WE BETTER GET USED TO?

>> WHAT WE HAVE-- THERE ARE TWO THINGS, THE SHORT-TERM CAUSE, THAT'S LA NINA.

THE LONG-TERM CAUSE IS THAT THE SUBTROPICAL HIGHS, THE ARCING HIGH PRESSURE THAT FORCES THAT JETSTREAM UP NORTH IS GETTING STRONGER AND INTENSIFYING PRETTY MUCH EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

YES, THIS IS BECOMING THE NEW NORMAL.

>> IS THERE A REASON WHY IT'S INTENSIFYING?

>> WELL, UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE, UNDER THE CHANGING SITUATION THAT WE HAVE, THE DRY BELT AROUND 30 DEGREES NORTH AROUND THE WORLD GETS BIGGER AND THAT'S-- WE'RE CLOSE TO THAT AND IT'S EXPANDING INTO OUR DIRECTION.

>> SO WE'VE GOT A MONSTER LA NINA HEADED OUR WAY AND DONE ITS BUSINESS AND HASN'T STARTED YET.

CAN A LA NINA FOR WHATEVER REASON FLIP AND BECOME AN EL NINO OR AT LEAST A LOWER CASE LA NINA?

>> NOT USUALLY VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE AS I SAY, EL NINO IS THE ABNORMAL SITUATION.

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE PACIFIC OCEAN TO CHANGE ITS TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTICS.

IT'S JUST NOW GETTING COLD AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF HEAT, A LOT OF ENERGY TO PUSH THAT WARM WATER BACK OVER TOWARDS US.

>> DO WE OFTEN SEE SUCCESSIVE LA NINAS.

>> YES.

>> WE DO?

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE JUST SAW THAT A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE HAD THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF LA NINA.

LET'S GET-- >> I WISH I HAD MORE.

>> LET'S FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO TALK ABOUT.

HOW ABOUT TEMPERATURES?

YOU'VE GOT A MAP WITH TEMPERATURES, TOO, DON'T YOU?

>> PUT IT THIS WAY, MAYBE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS GOING TO LIKE THIS.

OUR TWO FAVORITE WORDS ARE GOING TO BE THE NORM HERE, HOT AND DRY.

SO, WE'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO BE DRY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE HOT AND THAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY BE STARTING NEXT WEEK.

SO DURING THE PHOENIX OPEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE RAIN EVEN THOUGH THE MYTH IS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE RAIN, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL, USUALLY A COUPLE OF RAINY DAYS, BUT THIS IS AGAIN, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL AND IT'S LIKE IT STARTS IN ARIZONA WHEN IT GOES EASTWARD HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, THIS IS-- WE'RE LOOKING AT TEMPERATURES STARTING EVEN NEXT WEEK UP INTO THE 80'S.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOCKED THIS LAST FEW WEEKS IN A KIND OF COLD SNAP, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET UP INTO THE 80'S.

>> DOES ANY OF THIS, ANY OF YOUR MAPS, YOUR WONDERFUL MAPS HERE, DO THEY SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE SUMMER?

>> NO.

THE SUMMER IS ALWAYS A HARDER THING TO FORECAST BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON KIND OF LOCALIZED THINGS, HOW FAST DO WE GET HEAT UP, HOW MUCH MOISTURE IS DOWN IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA TO BE PUSHED UP INTO US, SO, THESE THINGS ARE A LITTLE HARDER, BUT, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT LOOKING WELL BECAUSE IF WE'RE HOT AND DRY THROUGH THE SPRING, KEEP IN MIND THAT'S GOING TO BE FIRE, FIRE SEASON LIKE WE MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME.

>> Ted: AND LOOK AT HOW THE TEMPERATURES, I MEAN, THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES UP ON INTO THE EASTERN SEABOARD, I MEAN, THAT'S GLOBAL WARMING.

>> THAT IS GLOBAL WARMING, AND THE LA NINA IS CAUSING CLOUDINESS IN THE NORTHWEST AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THOSE TEMPERATURES IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON.

>> Ted: HOW SOON CAN WE LOOK AT LA NINA?

>> PROBABLY TWO, THREE YEARS AWAY BEFORE WE HAVE AN EL NINO.

>> Ted: ALL RIGHT, RANDY, BETTER START RECONSIDERING HERE.

>> WITH OUR IMPROVED FORECASTING, WE CAN GET PREPARED AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY MANAGE WATER AND MANAGE BETTER BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING.

THAT'S THE TAKE HOME MESSAGE.

>> Ted: I GUESS ONE THING, NOT A LOT OF RAIN MEANS NOT A LOT OF VEGETATION, NOT A LOT TO BURN, BUT A ROUGH WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

>> WHAT VEGETATION IS THERE, IT DRIED UP.

>> Ted: RANDY, CLIMATOLOGIST, GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND SEE YOU AGAIN, KIND OF, SORT OF.

[LAUGHTER] ♪♪ THE SEARCH WHAT LED TO A COLLISION BETWEEN A PLANE AND MILITARY HELICOPTER AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> THE BANNER UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER IN PHOENIX IS IMPLEMENTING A NEW WAY TO HELP DETECT DELIRIUM ESPECIALLY IN OLDER PATIENTS.

DR. NIMIT AGARWAL IS AT BANNER MEDICAL CENTER IN PHOENIX.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, DOCTOR.

THIS IS CALLED NOVAD.

>> IT'S A VERBAL ASSESSMENT OF DELIRIUM.

A TOOL USED IN THE MEDICAL ELECTRONIC RECORDS AND NURSES ARE DOCUMENTING PATIENT'S CARE AT ALL TIMES AND WHAT WE REALIZED WAS, THE USE SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF THAT EVALUATION AND WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT, THE DOSE EVALUATIONS WE CAN DETECT DELIRIUM EASIER.

IT MAKES LIFE EASIER FOR OUR NURSES BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY DOCUMENTING THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE WERE NOT USING IT TO OUR BEST BENEFIT AND NOW THOSE SPECIFIC ELEMENTS WE MAY BE ABLE TO DETECT DELIRIUM MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE.

>> MORE INFORMATION IS A BETTER THING.

>> IT IS A LOT OF TIMES AND HOW DO WE USE THAT INFORMATION IS, I THINK, VERY IMPORTANT.

>> BEFORE WE GET TOO MUCH FURTHER.

GIVE ME A DEFINITION OF DELIRIUM.

>> DELIRIUM IS A STATE WHERE THE BRAIN HAS CHEMICALS, NEURO CHEMICALS THAT ARE GOING WHACKY, PRESENT AS CONFUSIONAL STATES AND PATIENTS MAY NOT BE THEMSELVES AND HEAR OFTEN FROM FAMILY MEMBERS, HEY, THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS NORMALLY AT HOME, SOMETHING IS DIFFERENT.

WHAT IS THAT SOMETHING WHICH IS DIFFERENT?

THAT COULD BE DELIRIUM.

IT COMES IN DIFFERENT FORMS AND IT CAN BE IN HYPOACTIVE STATE OR HYPERACTIVE STATE.

AND HYPERACTIVE THE CHEMICALS ARE GOING WHACKY AND AGITATED AND RECKLESS AND NOT CONNECTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

HYPO ACTIVE SLEEPY AND NOT INTERACTING WITH THE WORLD.

>> DOES IT INTERSECT IN ANY WAY WITH DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER'S, THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

>>?

ABSOLUTELY.

PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA HAVE SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN THE BRAIN HAPPENING, THOSE PATIENTS ARE MUCH HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING DELIRIUM IN AN ACUTE MEDICAL STATE.

AND WHAT WE ARE A FINDING IN RESEARCH, PATIENTS WHO DEVELOP DELIRIUM, THEY MAY BE AT HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA DOWN THE LINE AND IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

>> AND NOVAD USES INFORMATION FROM A MEDICAL RECORDS AND THAT START.

IT SOUNDS LIKE AI, ARE WE GETTING INTO AI HERE?

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE THAT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK DELIRIUM AND AI IN THE FUTURE SHOULD BEING COMING SOON.

>> AND DIAGNOSING DELIRIUM ESPECIALLY IN OLDER PATIENTS AND PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR DELIRIUM WE DON'T HAVE TREATMENT.

FOR SEPSIS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE ANTIBIOTICS, BUT FOR DELIRIUM WE DON'T HAVE ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT, MEDICINE TREATMENT.

THE TREATMENT IS IDENTIFYING IT EARLIER AND DOING INTERVENTIONS LIKE ENGAGING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, GETTING FAMILIES TO ENGAGE WITH THEM, GETTING THEM TO WALK, DOING THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE DELIRIUM RISK.

>> IF IT'S NEUROTRANSMITTERS, WOULDN'T SOME SORT OF ANTI-DEPRESSANT OR THINGS THAT GO AFTER NEUROTRANSMITTERS, WOULD THAT JUMBLE UP THINGS OR THAT'S A WILD CARD?

>> NO, CERTAIN MEDICATIONS FOR LAST RESORT, SAFETY, FOR EXAMPLE, ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS, FOR MEDICATIONS LIKE THAT, BUT THESE MEDICATIONS WE ARE GOING TO USE VERY CAREFULLY IN THE LOWEST POSSIBLE DOSE FOR THE SHORTEST PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN INDEPENDENT RISK OF BAD OUTCOMES, BUT WE USE THAT SOMETIMES WHEN SAFETY BECOMES A CONCERN, WHEN PATIENTS PULLING TUBES OUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR THEY'RE A RISK TO OTHERS AT THE HOSPITAL, NURSES.

>> AND WE SHOULD MENTION, ARIZONA HAS 18% OF THE POPULATION OF ARIZONA IS OVER THE AGE OF 65.

GERIATRIC CARE NEEDS TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE, DOES IT NOT?

>> AND THERE ARE CMS AND MEDICARE ASKING FOR HOSPITALS TO DO AGE FRIENDLY CARE, WE SHOULD NOT JUST BE LOOKING FOR DISEASE, BUT DELIRIUM, FOR EXAMPLE, MAKE SURE THEY'RE MOBILIZING AND MAKING SURE THE MEDICATIONS WE'RE GIVING ARE THE RIGHT MEDICATIONS AND I THINK WHAT'S MATTERS TO OUR PARTIES AND NEW MEASURES THAT CMS HAS COME OUT FOR 2025.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS, DON'T KEEP THEM IN THE HOSPITAL ANY LONGER THAN THEY NEED TO BE THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANYTIME YOU SPEND IN THE HOSPITAL THE RISK FOR DELIRIUM, DECONDITIONING, RISK FOR INFECTIONS IS HIGHER SO YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM IN THE HOSPITAL, IDENTIFY THE DISEASE, TREAT THE DISEASE AND NEXT LEVEL OF CARE AS SOON AS WE CAN.

>> AGAIN, DR. NIMIT AGARWAL, NOVAD FOR DELIRIUM.

INTERESTING STUFF.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ ARIZONA PBS DELIVERS UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES IN MUSIC, THEATER AND THE ART, THANKS TO MEMBERS LIKE YOU AND: