>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE IMPACT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES ON THE METRO PHOENIX HOUSING MARKET.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE U.S. WITHDRAWS FROM THE U.S. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, WHAT THAT MEANS TO GLOBAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

AND THE USE OF DONKEYS TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGES.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED ASSUME ONS -- SIMONS.

WEEKEND IMMIGRATION RAIDS RESULTED IN NEARLY 1,000 ARRESTS AROUND THE CAN COUNTRY AND THERE WERE REPORTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BEING QUESTIONED AND DETAINED.

DO WE HAVE THE INTRODUCE THERE?

>> A LOT OF THE FAMILIES THAT WE TALKED TO, WE FEEL THAT MANY OF THESE CASES THAT ARE COMING THROUGH, THE ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH, ARE -- THEY FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN RACIALLY DISCRIMINATED AND PROFILED.

NAVAJO PEOPLE NATIVE PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT HERE SINCE THE TIME OF MEMORIAL, AND THERE'S JUST A LOT OF FRUSTRATION BEING PROFILED OR STEREOTYPED, THAT WE ARE NOT FROM THIS COUNTRY.

>> TRAVEL GOVERNMENTS ARE TELLING THEIR MEMBERS THAT THEY SHOULD CARRY THEIR CERTIFICATE OF INDIAN BLOOD AS A FORM OF IDENTIFICATION.

EVEN THAT IS NOT A SURE THING.

>> RIGHT NOW IT'S VERY UNCERTAIN IF THAT IS BEING VERIFIED AS A CORRECT TYPE OF OR, YOU KNOW, ELIGIBLE IDENTIFICATION BY I.C.E.

OR ANY TYPE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> ALSO OF NOTE, PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS TO DRESS FOR THE MEDIA WHEN CONDUCTING RAIDS.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF AGENTS MAKING ARRESTS SHOW FEDERAL AGENTS INTACT TIME GEAR AND ARRESTS EMBLAZONED WITH U.S. SECURITY AND YOU I.C.E.

AND ENSURE THAT THEIR CLOTHING CLEARLY DEPICTS THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENCIES SO AS TO THE RECOGNIZED BY THE NEWS MEDIA.

>>> AND CHINA'S ADVANCES IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY AHEAD OF EFFORTS IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE.

A 1-YEAR-OLD START-UP BASED IN CHINA ANNOUNCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CHATBOT THAT USE AS FRACTION OF THE SPECIAL COMPUTER CHIPS LEADING AI COMPANIES RELY ON.

THE COMPANY CLAIMS TO HAVE SPENT UNDER $6 MILLION TO TRAIN THE NEW MODEL AS WESTERN TECH COMPANIES HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AND IN SOME CASES BILLIONS FOR THE SAME WORK.

THIS SENT TECHNOLOGY STOCKS ON A FREEFALL ON WALL STREET WITH THE NASDAQ FALLING 3% AND THE S&P FALLING NEARLY 1.5%.

>> THE RECENT WILDFIRES THAT DEVASTATED THE LOS ANGELES AREA ARE PUSHING MANY OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES TO LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR A NEW PLACE TO LIVE AND REBUILD, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE LOOKING AT METRO PHOENIX AREA.

FOR MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME KATHERINE REGER, REAL ESTATE REPORTER FOR THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC AND AZCENTRAL.COM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE IMPACT OF THOSE FIRES ON OUR MARKET RIGHT NOW IS... >> WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IT.

>> OF COURSE PEOPLE WANT A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, AND THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS ARE GETTING CALLS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO PURCHASE ALREADY BECAUSE IT'S -- IT COULD TAKE FIVE YEARS OR MORE OF THE HOMES INSURED TO REBUILD.

AND WE JUST WANT TO GET IN SCHOOL MODE, YEAH, IT'S COMING.

>> ARE THEY LOOKING FOR ANY RENTALS OR HIGH INSTEAD IT'S A GROUP FROM CALIFORNIA HERE.

>> HIGH END RENTALS MOSTLY I'M HEARING SO FAR.

AND, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY THE PRICE -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MEDIAN RENT HERE IT'S $1,000 -- MORE THAN $1,000 LESS THAN IT IS IN LOS ANGELES AND OUR HOME PRICE IS HALF OF WHAT THEIR MEDIAN IS.

>> ARE THOSE PRICES GONNA STAY THE SAME OR ARE WE GONNA SEE SOME MOVEMENT?

>> THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT MOVEMENT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD DURING THE PANDEMIC AND PEOPLE MOVED HERE BECAUSE THEY COULD WORK REMOTELY AND WERE SO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE, HOME PRICES WERE UP 30% AND THEN WE WAVE INTO YOU KNOW THIS HOUSING SHORTAGE, WHICH WE STARTED BUILDING OUT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE'RE LIKE NUMBER 3 IN THE COUNTRY FOR HOME BUILDING AND APARTMENT BUILDING.

AND ECONOMISTS ARE CONCERNED WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK THERE.

>> OKAY.

BUT, I MEAN, HOW HIGH ACCOUNT RENTS GO HERE?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, DEPENDING ON -- BECAUSE A TYPICAL RENTER IS ALREADY RENT-STRAINED BECAUSE WE WENT UP 30% IN 2,000 YEARS, AND WE'VE ONLY DROPPED LIKE 5% SINCE THEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, INCOMES ARE UP, WHICH IS GOOD, IN ARIZONA BUT THEY CAN PAY SO MUCH MORE.

AND WORKING REMOTELY HERE COULD BE VERY EASY FOR MANY, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVES, PEOPLE WHO ARE INDEPENDENT, AND YOU KNOW, YOU JUMP ON A PLANE IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO A MEETING AND BACK IN L.A.

IN A COUPLE OF HOURS.

SO IT COULD -- AND IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIG AREA FEEDER STATE FOR METRO PHOENIX ANYWAY.

>> YOU MENTIONED HOUSING.

THE HOUSING MARKET AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, JUST BASICALLY THE HOUSING SHORTAGE, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

HOW DO THOSE EQUATIONS PLAY INTO ALL OF THIS?

>> WELL, THAT DEMAND, AND WE HAVE HAD HOUSING HOME BUILDING AND APARTMENT BUILDING AND THAT HELPS, BUT DRIVING UP THE PRICES AND THE AVAILABILITY WE'D BE RIGHT BACK TO THIS SEVERE CRISIS.

AND THAT IS A CONCERN.

AND OF COURSE, YOU WANT THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEVASTATED BY THE FIRE TO HAVE A HOUSE AND TO WELCOME THEM, BUT THE DISPARITY IN PRICES... >> COULD THERE BE A CERTAIN PART OF THE VALLEY WHERE YOU COULD SEE SOME SIGNIFICANT SPIKES?

I MEAN, WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER IN LOS ANGELES IS INCREDIBLE, SOME OF THE SPIKING THAT'S GOING ON AND, I GUESS, OFFICIALS ARE STARTING TO LOOK INTO IT.

I THINK THERE'S A STATE LAW AGAINST THIS SORT OF THING AFTER A DISASTER.

BUT GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

ARE WE SEEING CERTAIN AREAS?

IS IT SCOTTSDALE, NORTH PHOENIX?

>> DEFINITELY SEEING PARADISE VALLEY, SCOTTSDALE, BILTMORE AREA, AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE VERY POPULAR AREAS FOR MORE AFFLUENT BUYERS AND RENTERS.

YOU KNOW WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME LAW IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT RENT SPIKES.

IT'S NOT IN OUR -- FORTUNATELY IT'S NOT OUR EMERGENCY BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT LAW THAT LIMITS AN INCREASE, IT'S SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

>> REAL ESTATE AGENTS, AGAIN, THEY'RE TELLING THAT YOU THE PHONES ARE RING HEARING?

RINGING.

RINGING AND RINGING.

AND IT CAME FAST.

IT CAME REALLY FAST ONCE KIND OF FIGURING OUT WHAT IT WAS, DISPLACED, AND I THINK ONE AGENT TOLD ME LIKE 22 CALLS IN A MORNING.

>> HOLY SMOKES.

>> YEAH.

AND LZ PEOPLE ALREADY LOOKING AT BUYING BECAUSE THEY ADOPT KNOW WHEN THEY CAN GO BACK THERE, THEY WANT A HOME, THEY WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE, AND THAT'S A LUXURY.

>> WILL WE SEE AN INCREASE IN IN OR ONCE PEOPLE GET GROUNDING, WILL IT LEVEL OFF?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> TALKING TO A GROWTH EXPERT, THEY SAID METRO PHOENIX, LAS VEGAS AND SALT LAKE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF NEW BE RESIDENTS.

BECAUSE IF YOU STAY SOMEWHERE LONG ENOUGH AND YOU CAN'T REBUILD -- AFTER OAKLAND FIRE, THOSE RESIDENTS SAID THEY WANT TO REBUILD BUT THEY FOUGHT THE INSURANCE AGENCIES AND ENDED UP GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, A LOT OF THEM DID AND THERE'S SO MUCH TO REBUILD IN LOS ANGELES.

PACIFIC PAL SAID, IT'S A BURN SCAPE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT TO MOVE INTO THAT AREA, WAIT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> SCHOOLS, SHOPPING CENTERS, THE WHOLE THING.

AND METRO PHOENIX IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, AND GREAT TIME OF YEAR TO COME OVER, AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE DRAW AND THE PRICES.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, WE TALKED BEFORE THE SHOW, PURPOSE AND SAYING YOU WERE IN A CERTAIN PAT OF TOWN, AND YOU JUST HAPPEN TO LOOK AT THE PARKING LOT, AND ALL THE CALIFORNIA ALSO PLATES.

>> SO MANY, YEAH, WAS AROUND THE BILTMORE AREA AT A SHOPPING CENTER.

AND I NOTICED SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STORE, IT WAS A WHOLE FOODS, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THINGS WERE.

AND THEN I NOTICED WHEN I CAME OUT AND I WAS WALKING OVER TO TRADER JOE'S, I WALKED THE PARKING LOT, AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS IS NOT SPRING TRAINING.

IT'S NOT THE PHOENIX OPEN.

YOU KNOW, BARRETT JACKSON -- YOU KNOW, YOU'D BE IN SCOTTSDALE IN MOST CASES.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.

>> YEAH.

LAST QUESTION BEFORE WE GO.

WILL THIS ALL BALANCE OUT FOR US?

FOR RESIDENTS, FOR THOSE WHO ARE LIVING HERE?

THOSE WHO ARE THINKING OF SELLING THEIR HOMES, THOSE WHO ARE THINKING OF BUYING A HOME?

HOW DO WE FIT INTO ALL OF THAT?

>> CERTAINLY INTERESTING.

WELL, THE COMPETITION -- AND I JUST LOOK BACK TO THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE HAD THAT RUSH OF PEOPLE COMING IN, AND WHAT IT DID AND HOW IT PRICED PEOPLE OUT.

IF YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR HOME, IT COULD BE A GOOD THING.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO MOVE AND YOU HAVE TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE OR GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO THAT IS A CONCERN.

BUT IT'S SO NEW THAT I'M WATCHING IT DAILY TO SEE, AND I'LL KEEP WRITING ABOUT IT AND WHERE IT GOES AND THE FORECAST AND LOOKING AT THE RENT PRICES.

>> YEAH.

WE'LL KEEP READING.

YOU KEEP WRITING, WE'LL KEEP READING.

ARIZONA PUBLIC AND AZCENTRAL.COM, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MANY EXECUTIVE ACTIONS OF THE PREVIOUS WEEK INCLUDED DECISIONS TO WITHDRAW FROM THE WORLD 'HEALTH ORGANIZATION ALONG WITH FREEZING RESEARCH INCLUDING CANCER RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND REVERSING SOME OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S INITIATIVES TO REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS.

JOINING US NOW IS WILL HUMBLE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE W.H.O.

WHAT IS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION?

>> THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, IT'S PART OF THE UNITED NATION'S NETWORK OF ACTIVITIES, AND IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO BE A PLACE THAT HELPS, ESPECIALLY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, TO HAVE HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, LABORATORY CAPACITY, AND SO THE DONOR NATIONS, ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CONTRIBUTE.

THE U.S. HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING ABOUT 18% OF THE BUDGET.

THE NEW PRESIDENT OBJECTS TO THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, IT'S $400 MILLION.

BUT IT GOES FOR THINGS LIKE TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL, YOU REMEMBER THE E. COLI EPIDEMIC A FEW YEARS AGO.

THEY REALLY -- EBOLA EPIDEMIC A FEW YEARS AGO, THEY DEVELOPED A VACCINE FOR THAT.

POLIO ERADICATION.

WORKING WITH CLEANING WELLS AND WATER, INNOVATION VNGSES FOR DIARRHEA.

A LOT OF WORK IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD TO HELP THEM CONTROL INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND OTHER DISEASES BETTER.

>> WHEN THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER HE COMMENTED, OOH, THAT'S A BIG ONE.

WHY IS THIS IN THE CROSS HAIRS?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> WELL, IF YOU READ -- BASICALLY HE'S MAD ABOUT -- PART OF IT IS HE'S MAD ABOUT COVID.

REMEMBER, HE THINKS IT WAS MISMANAGED BY THE W.H.O., ET CETERA.

THE U.S. QUIT -- TRIED TO QUIT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AT THE END OF THE TRUMP -- THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA QUIT, IT'S A CLUB, WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO QUIT THE CLUB, THE BYLAWS SAY YOU CAN'T LEAVE FOR A WHOLE YEAR.

SO HE FORMALLY QUIT A YEAR BEFORE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN CAME IN AND JOINED BACK UP.

ALSOD BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALREADY PAID THE 2025 DUES.

BECAUSE HE WAS IN OFFICE FOR A FEW DAYS.

>> OKAY.

SO A YEAR AWAY.

BUT THE PRESIDENT -- THE CURRENT PRESIDENT CALLED IT A CORRUPT GLOBALIST SCAM AND RIPPING OFF AMERICA AND IT MISMANAGED COVERED-UP -- HE STILL SEEMS TO THINK IT CAME OUT OF A LAB AND WHO COVERED UP THE WHOLE DOG GONE THING.

DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

>> THE W.H.O.

DID REALLY TRY HARD TO GET INTO CHINA TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE KEY QUESTIONS.

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DID LIMIT THE ACCESS TO THE W.H.O.

RESEARCHERS AND THERE WAS SO MANY TROUBLE ACTUALLY DOING THAT KIND OF WORK BUT BECAUSE A LACK OF ACCESS BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT NOT MALFEASANCES BY WHO.

>> WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

>> THE MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACT WILL BE A BUDGET REDUCTION.

U.S.

PAYS ABOUT $400 MILLION, 18%.

BUT WE PREPAID 2025, IN 2026, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

MY GUESS IS CHINA GETS INTO THE LEADERSHIP ROLE.

IT GIVES CHAMPIONSHIP THE OPPORTUNITY DRIVE THE BUS AT WHO BECAUSE WE'RE QUITTING THE CLUB.

>> AND IT IS LEADERSHIP.

IT IS A LEADERSHIP POSITION.

>> YES.

SO THERE'S A WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, THAT'S ALL OF THE NATIONS THAT ARE PART OF WHO, WHICH IS BASICALLY -- WELL, IT IS EVERY NATION EXCEPT FOR US NOW OR GONNA BE.

THEN THERE'S THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, WHICH YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT, THE U.N., IT'S LIKE THE COUNCIL.

THAT'S THE PIECE THAT REALLY DRIVES THE POLICY.

WE'RE NOT GONNA BE THERE FOR THAT ANYMORE.

SO MY INITIAL REACTION TO LEAVING WHO IS, OH, NO.

THIS IS GONNA BE BAD.

BUT THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MORE I THOUGHT, OKAY, THEY HAVE A WHOLE YEAR TO PLAN TO FILL THAT 18% GAP IN THEIR BUDGET, AND THEY ALSO DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR DECISION-MAKING AND THEY'RE MEDALLING FOR THE -- MEDDLING IN THE NEXT THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

>> UNLESS THE ADMINISTRATION RECONSIDERS.

>> I THINK THEY WILL.

CHINA WILL DECIDE WE'RE GOING TO PAY YOUR DUES, BE THE DOMINANT FORCE AT WHO, AND BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK THINGS THROUGH, AND THEN THEY'LL SAY SOME REASON WHY WE JOINED BACK, THAT'S NOT THAT REASON BUT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, FREEZING A RESEARCH AT NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, WE'RE TALKING CANCER RESEARCH, WE'RE TALKING ALL MEDICAL RESEARCH?

>> $50 BILLION OF -- $47 BILLION OF MOSTLY MEDICAL RESEARCH.

IT'S THE BIGGEST PORTFOLIO OF MEDICAL RESEARCH IN THE WORLD, AND IT IS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW.

>> WHY TARGET THAT?

>> YOU'RE ASKING THE WRONG GUY.

>> WELL, THERE'S GOTTA BE -- >> I THINK WHAT THEY WANT -- I'M GONNA GUESS.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT FUNDING THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH SOME STEM CELLS OR SOMETHING, BECAUSE THEY'RE AGAINST THE EMBRYO THAT IT CAME FROM.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THE EFFECT IS, YOU KNOW, WHO -- SORRY.

>> NIH.

>> NIH DOESN'T JUST FUND THINGS WILLIE NILLY.

BUT THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS FOR HOW THEY DECIDE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FUND IN RESEARCH PROJECT, AND SO THERE'S REVIEW COMMITTEES THAT MEET PERIODICALLY AND THEY'RE SCHEDULED OUT LIKE A WHOLE YEAR IN ADVANCE, AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF HOMEWORK THEY HAVE TO DO IN ADVANCE OF THESE MEETINGS.

THOSE ARE ALL SUSPENDED.

THE TRAVEL HAS STOPPED, AND SO EVENTUALLY I THINK THIS RESEARCH IS GONNA GO ON, BUT NOT UNTIL THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH OF A DELAY THAT MAYBE SUSPENDS A LOT OF RESEARCH FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.

AND MY GUESS IS THEY'RE GONNA DECIDE TO OVERRULE SOME OF THESE ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND NOT FUND SOME OF IT BECAUSE THEY OBJECT TO THE KIND OF RESEARCH THAT THE REVIEW COMMITTEES ARE CONSIDERING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE YOU GO, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAD A LOT OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ACTIONS GOING ON, CAPPING FOR THIS, CAPPING FOR THAT.

IS THAT -- WHAT'S GOING ON?

I'VE HEARD HE KIND OF STOPPED THAT AS WELL.

>> YEAH, BUT IT WAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THAT BUT REALLY NOT THAT CONSEQUENTIAL.

I JUST WANT VIEWERS TO KNOW, REMEMBER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT THAT FINALLY GAVE MEDICARE THE OPPORTUNITY NEGOTIATE A HANDFUL OF REALLY EXPENSIVE DRUGS?

THAT IS STILL -- THAT AUTHORITY IS STILL INTACT.

THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER IS NOT GONNA END THAT.

I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE AS AGGRESSIVE OF NEGOTIATORS AS THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WAS ON SOME OF THESE DRUGS AND LET THE DRUG COMPANIES GET OFF EASIER.

TIME WILL TELL.

>> MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AFFECTED?

>> MEDICARE MOSTLY.

ON THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT THE PRESIDENT JUST SIGNED, IT'S NEGLIGIBLE.

>> SO THIS WAS MORE OF A HEADLINE THAN A NATURAL EFFECT.

>> YES, THAT'S THE WAY TO SAY IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WILL HUMMEL, A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON OUT THERE IN THE HEALTH FIELD, HUH?

>> YEAH.

>> BRAVE NEW WORLD.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> DONKEYS OF THE START AN ORGANIZATION IN CAVE CREEK THAT PROVIDES THERAPEUTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES.

A SHORT TIME AGO I TALKED WITH SOPHIE REINER, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND ALSO JOINING US KATIE STERNS AND THEIR FRIEND GIRMO.

GUIRMO, KATIE, SOPHIE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NOT THE ONLY JACK ASS ON THE STAGE.

THIS IS FAMILIAR IT IS AIC.

SOPHIE, THIS IS YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOUR GROUP, RIGHT?

>> WHAT GOT YOU STARTED DOING THIS?

>> I STARTED END OF 2019.

I WANT TO OFFER THE AMAZING BENEFITS OF DONKEY TO HELP CHILDREN AND ADULTS AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

>> AND BASICALLY THAT'S DONKEYS OF THE HEART, COGNITIVE, BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL CHALLENGES, THEY'RE BASICALLY THERAPY DONKEYS.

>> SO WE CANNOT CHOOSE THE WORD THERAPY.

I'M NOT A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND UNLESS I WORK WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, THEN WE CAN USE THE WORD THERAPY.

WHAT WE DO IS HAVE EQUINE MENTAL SERVICES.

THIS IS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE.

I HAVE SEVEN OTHER DONEES, AND THEY HAVE OF COURSE TO HAVE SOME TALENT TO HELP THE CHILDREN.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED, FOR EXAMPLE, I RESCUED TWO DONKEYS IN NOGALES, AND AFTER TWO YEARS OF TRAINING, ONE WAS ABLE TO DO THIS KIND OF JOB.

HE'S -- HE WAS NOT READY TO DO DIAMOND OF LIFE, SO HE'S HAVING A GREAT LIFE DOING NOTHING EXCEPT PLAYING AND EATING AND BEING LOVED.

I KEPT HIS BUDDY.

HE'S GREAT.

SO YOU CAN SEE THEY CAN DO THE WORK WITH THE TRAINING.

THE QUALITY OF WORK IS REALLY COMING TO EXCELLENCE AND THESE GUYS GOT TO BE EXTREMELY HAPPY, THE WELL-BEING THAT THEY CAN GIVE BACK TO THE CHILDREN.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE THERAPY BUT I CAN.

I'M GOING TO USE THERAPY.

HOW DOES A THERAPY SESSION WORK WITH LET'S SAY GUIRRMO.

I SHOW UP AND YOU FIGURE HE'S GOOD FOR ME.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> I ALWAYS MEET THE CHILDREN BEFORE ENROLLING THEM IN SESSION.

SO WE STOP TO WORK WITH CHILDREN AGES 4, WHEN I SPEAK WITH THE CHILD, I CAN SEE MORE OR LESS SIDES OF HIS PERSONALITY, AND I CAN CHOOSE THEN WHICH DONKEY WILL BE THE BEST FOR THE CHILD.

SO THE FIRST TIME YOU WILL WORK, YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN HOW TO APPROACH A DONKEY, TO RESPECT THE SAFETY RULES, ALWAYS REMINDING THAT IT'S AN EQUINE, AND YOU NEVER KNOW, NEVER SAID NEVER WITH AN EQUINE.

SITUATIONS ARE PARAMOUNT FOR A NONPROFIT.

AND THEN THE CHILD WILL LEARN HOW TO GROOM, SO TO TOUCH AND INTERACT WITH THE DONKEY, AND THEN YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO WALK SAFELY WITH THE DONKEY.

AND THE PHYSICAL BENEFITS, THE MENTAL BENEFITS?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

I HAVE A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT ARE ASD, AND WHAT I NOTICE VERY QUICKLY IS BETTER COMMUTATION, AND THEN HOW THEY CAN COORDINATE THEIR BODY WHEN THEY STOP TO RIDE.

RIDING IS -- SEEMS TO BE ALWAYS EXTREMELY EASY.

IT'S NOT, BECAUSE YOUR RIGHT ARM CAN DO SOMETHING, YOUR LEFT ARM CAN DO SOMETHING.

YOUR RIGHT LEG WILL DO SOMETHING ELSE.

SO IT'S IN THE BRAIN SO IT REQUIRES A LOT OF WORK.

SO WHEN I SEAT KIDS BEING ABLE TO ASSOCIATE ARMS, BODY, LEGS, IT'S AMAZING, AND HOW THEY ARE SO HAPPY.

WEIGH LOVE IS THE SMILE OF THE CHILDREN.

>> YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY YOU CAN PRETTY WELL -- PRETTY QUICKLY I WOULD IMAGINE SEE THE REWARDS.

>> IT'S IMMEDIATE, YOU KNOW, AND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THEIR DONKEY BECAUSE THEY CREATE A BOND WITH THEIR DONKEY.

SO THEY COME ONCE A WEEK, AND DECISIONS ARE ONE HOUR, AND IT'S MOSTLY INDIVIDUAL.

I DO NOT HAVE MORE THAN ONE KID AT ONE TIME.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA, I WOULD IMAGINE, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE KINDS OF KIDS AND THESE KINDS OF DONKEYS.

THEY WANT THAT ONE ON ONE.

SPEAKING OF LONGIES, LONGIES CAN BE STUBBORN.

THEY CAN BE STUBBORN.

ARE THESE GUYS NOT STUBBORN?

>> NO.

>> WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THEY'RE STUBBORN -- STUBBORN.

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING, THEY ARE PROCESSING THE SITUATION.

THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN THEY'LL ACT.

SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T THINK IS GOOD FOR THEM, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

>> OKAY.

>> WHICH IS GREAT FOR THERAPY.

THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT TELLING YOU, HEY, RESPECT MY BOUNDARIES.

I HAVE RED LINES.

DON'T CROSS THEM.

>> YES.

>> AND THEY TELL THEM TO YOU VERY KINDLY.

BUT IF YOU INSIST, USUALLY WHAT I NOTICE THEY TURN THEIR HEAD ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION ANY MORE TO YOU.

>> OH, THEY DISMISS YOU.

INTERESTING.

AND GUIRMMO IS HOW OLD?

>> HE'S 25?

>> 25?

IS THAT PRETTY GOOD FOR A DONKEY?

>> YES, GONEY -- DONKEYS, OF COURSE IF THEY ARE VERY WELL TREATED, NOT ABUSED BY WORK, THEY CAN LIVE UP TO 50 YEARS.

AVERAGE AGE IS 30 TO 40.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE HUMAN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD FOOD, GOOD HEALTHCARE, YOU DON'T THAT I HAVE LONG.

>> WELL, HE IS OBVIOUSLY DOING VERY WELL, VERY WELL BEHAVED.

HE GAVE YOU A NUDGE THERE.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

>> HE'S PROBABLY PRETTY MUCH HAD HIS SHELF LIFE FOR THIS.

>> GUIRMMO, CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL OF YOUR GOOD WORK, AND CONGRATULATIONS, SOPHIE, TO YOU, AND YOU, KATIE, AS WELL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

AND SAFE TRAVELS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>>> THAT IS IT IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.