COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: WE'LL LOOK AT POLITICAL RE-ALIGNMENT AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY... ALSO TONIGHT: A CONFERENCE AIMS AT PROTECTING ARIZONA'S WATER SUPPLY... AND, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE "WALL OF FACES," WHICH HONORS THOSE NAMED ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ROLLER-COASTER DAY ON WALL STREET, AS STOCKS OPENED WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF STAGGERING LOSSES IN REACTING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

BUT THE MARKET REBOUNDED AS THE DAY WENT ON.

FINAL NUMBERS SHOWED THE DOW FALLING ONLY 349 POINTS.

NASDEQ CLOSED UP 15 POINTS AND THE S&P WAS ALSO ESSENTIALLY FLAT, CLOSING DOWN 12 POINTS.

THE PRESIDENT TODAY ISSUED A NEW ULTIMATUM TO CHINA, THREATENING 104 PERCENT TAXES ON CHINESE GOODS IF CHINA DOESN'T RESCIND ITS RETALIATORY TARIFFS.

THOSE TARIFFS BY CHINA WERE IN RESPONSE TO NEW TARIFFS INITIALLY IMPOSED BY THE U.S. AND, THE U.S. PLANS TO DOUBLE EXISTING DUTIES ON CANADIAN LUMBER BEFORE PLANNED TARIFFS TAKE EFFECT THIS WEEK.

THE U.S. HAS LONG CLAIMED THAT CANADA'S LUMBER INDUSTRY IS GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDIZED.

THAT SAID, ABOUT 30% OF SOFTWOOD LUMBER CONSUMED IN THE US IS IMPORTED, WITH CANADA ACCOUNTING FOR MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF THOSE IMPORTS.

BUILDERS ESTIMATE THAT TARIFFS ON LUMBER AND OTHER HOMEBUILDING MATERIALS COULD RAISE THE AVERAGE COST OF A HOME IN THE U.S. BY MORE THAN $9,000.

ANY THOUGHTS OF CONGRESS GETTING IN THE WAY OF THE PRESIDENT'S TRADE POLICIES WERE DISPELLED TODAY BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

>> I THINK YOU GOTTA GIVE THE PRESIDENT THE LATITUDE THAT -- THE RUNWAY TO DO WHAT IT IS HE WAS ELECTED TO, DO AND THAT IS GET THIS ECONOMY GOING AGAIN, AND GET OUR TRADE PROPERLY BALANCED WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.

I THINK MOST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY OF THAT.

WE HAD A $1.2 TRILLION TRADE DEFICIT IN 2024.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR TO OUR COUNTRY.

I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I THINK THEY SEE A PRESIDENT WHO'S ENGAGED AND TRYING TO FIX THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE HIM THE SPACE NECESSARY TO DO IT.

>> INDEED.

ACCORDING TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE RELENTLESS TARIFFS BY THE U.S. ARE RESPONSE TO A, QUOTE, "NATIONAL EMERGENCY" BASED ON CHRONIC TRADE DEFICITS.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, ISREALI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETYANHU VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY, WHERE HE SAID THAT ISRAEL WILL GET RID OF ITS TRADE DEFICIT WITH THE U.S. >> I CAN TELL YOU THAT I SAID TO THE PRESIDENT VERY SIMPLY, WE WILL ELIMINATE THE TRADE DEFICIT WITH UNITED STATES.

WE INTEND TO DO THAT, VERY QUICKLY.

WE THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND WE'RE GOING TO ALSO ELIMINATE TRADE BARRIERS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT UP UNNECESSARILY, AND I THINK THIS WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR MANY COUNTRIES WHO OUGHTA DO THE SAME.

>> ALSO AT THE MEETING, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THAT THE U.S. WOULD ENGAGE IN, QUOTE, "DIRECT TALKS" WITH IRAN ON SATURDAY AND THAT THE TALKS WOULD CENTER ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM.

IF IT HAPPENS IT'LL BE THE FIRST SUCH MEETING BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES IN 10 YEARS.

AND ONE MORE HEADLINE: THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY AGREED TO PAUSE A MIDNIGHT DEADLINE FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO RETURN A MARYLAND MAN MISTAKENLY DEPORTED TO A NOTORIOUS PRISON IN EL SALVADOR.

THE GOVERNMENT ARGUED THAT IT HAD NO WAY TO GET THE MAN BACK TO THE U.S.

DESPITE A LOWER COURT RULING TO DO JUST THAT.

BUT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS TODAY TEMPORARILY BLOCKED THAT TRIAL JUDGE'S ORDER.

THE LATEST NUMBERS FROM THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE SHOW THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE 7600 VOTERS THAT UPDATED THEIR REGISTRATION IN MARCH SWITCHED THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION TO "OTHER," WHICH INCLUDES INDEPENDENTS AND NO- PARTY VOTERS.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN THIS TREND IS CHUCK COUGHLIN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HIGHGROUND... AND JASON BARRAZA, PARTNER AT VERIDUS PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

NOT MUCH GOING ON HERE, SO WE'LL TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING UP.

HOLY SMOKES.

ALL RIGHT, MARICOPA.

A LOT OF FOLKS SAYING I'D RATHER NOT BE EITHER ONE OF YOU GUYS.

>> WELL, THAT'S A SHOCK, RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GOING THROUGH ITS OWN IDENTITY CRISES RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S LOSING MORE PEOPLE TO -- YOU KNOW, THEY'VE LOST AN EQUAL AMOUNT TO REPUBLICANS HAVE GAINED MORE THAN DEMOCRATS THE LAST TWO CYCLES AND THEN THE BIGGEST WINNER IS INDEPENDENTS IN THIS CYCLE.

BUT DEMOCRATS ARE FOLLOWING WELL BEHIND.

I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT A LIKE 362935 INDEPENDENT.

SO INDEPENDENTS ARE RISING, REPUBLICANS ARE RISING, DEMOCRATS ARE FALLING.

>> WHY ARE DEMOCRATS FALLING?

MONTH OF MARCH, NONE OF THIS HAS HAPPEN YET BUT -- >> WELL, DEMOCRATS PEAKED IN 2020 WITH THEIR NUMBERS STATE WIDE AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING SINCE THEN.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE SURPRISING FOLKS, IF YOU'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.

THE REPUBLICAN -- THE "OTHER" CATEGORY, WHICH USUALLY DEALS WITH INDEPENDENTS AND THOSE WITH NO PARTY PREFERENCE HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY INCREASING, SAME WITH REPUBLICANS, AND MORE AND MORE WE SEE THAT INDEPENDENT OR THAT "OTHER" NUMBER CREEPING UP AND CREEPING UP HIGHER AND HIGHER BY THE PERCENTAGES OF THE TOTAL, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BUS WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE DISCONAT ANY TIME WITH POLITICAL PARTIES ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, WHY WE RAN PROP 140, BECAUSE THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY DOESN'T TREAT ALL VOTERS EQUALLY.

IF YOU'RE AN INDEPENDENT, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE BALLOTS, MEANING I CAN'T VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT FOR -- REPUBLICAN FOR COUNTY RECORDER OR DEMOCRAT FOR CONGRESS.

I GOTTA WRITE A STRAIGHT TICKET BALLOT.

AND AS A CANDIDATE YOU CAN'T EVEN RUN IN A PRIMARY.

SO THE IDEA IS TREATING EVERY VOTER EQUALLY, AND THAT WAS OPPOSED BY GOVERNOR HOBBS AND OPPOSED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND SO WE ARE FIGHTING A TWO-FRONT WAR, WHICH IS HARD TO DO.

THAT'S THE INEQUITY OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM IN THE WAY WE DO IT, AND THE ELECTORATE IS RESPONDING ACCORDINGLY.

I DON'T LIKE EITHER OF THE OPTIONS.

>> FOR DEMOCRATS, WHO ARE BECOMING "OTHERS."

WHY ARE THEY DOING IT?

>> I DON'T THINK WE FULL KNOW YET.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RESPONSE THAT HAPPENS WITH VOTERS WHEN THEY ARE REGISTERING, THEY HAVE TO PICK A DECISION BETWEEN WHAT EACH PARTY IS OFFERING.

AS DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THE PARTY IS OFFERING, WE SAW A LOT OF TALK AFTER THE ELECTION THAT THE VOTERS DID NOT LIKE WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S MESSAGE WAS, WHAT THEY WERE PACKAGING AND BRINGING TO THE VOTERS.

THAT -- WHAT WE COULD BE SEEING IS PEOPLE SAYING THAT'S NOT FOR ME.

I WANT TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

WE'RE SEEING SOME THAT ARE GOING TO THE MAGA MOVEMENT, WHICH IS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT MORE AND MORE ARE JUST SAYING I'M GOING TO STAY OUT OF THE PARTY POLITICS, THE PARTISAN POLITICS AND BE AN "OTHER."

>>> REPUBLICANS THAT ARE BECOME AN "OTHER," WHY ARE THEY DOING IT?

>> WELL, A FANTASTIC PIECE OF JOURNAL HIM THAT CAME OUT THIS MORNING ABOUT WHAT THE DICTATORIAL NATURE OF WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS BECOMING WITH A LACK OF RESPECT FOR LIKE THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL.

LIKE WHAT DO YOU WANT -- HOW ARE YOU HERE TO HELP PEOPLE INSTEAD OF VILIFYING THEM, YOU KNOW.

THE POWER OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT TODAY IS USING COERCE ASSIST POWER TO COERCE PEOPLE TO DO THINGS, BEATING UP ON LAW FIRMS SECONDING PEOPLE BACK TO PRISONS THEY DON'T BELONG IN.

MONEY AND MIGHT IS RIGHT, AND ELON MUSK AND OLE BARGAINS ARE IN CHARGE -- OLIGARCHS ARE IN CHARGE.

NOW, PEOPLE HAVE A HISTORY OF NOT BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO.

WE LIKE CHOICES, BUT WE DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO.

>> ARE DEMOCRATS COMING UP WITH A PLAN, WITH AN IDEA WITH, AN IMAGE WITH, A MESSAGE THAT WILL RESONATE?

BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT MESSAGE WAS SAID, WE'D RATHER HAVE DONALD TRUMP THAN YOU.

>> I THINK A LOT OF THAT MESSAGE AND DEVELOPMENT IS IN PROGRESS.

WE'RE ONLY A FEW MONTHS INTO A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND IF YOU HEARD THE HEADLINES THAT YOU WERE JUST READING, THERE'S BEEN A LOT GOING ON.

SO DEMOCRATS HAVE A LOT TO RESPOND TO.

THEY'RE FLOODING THE ARENA WITH ISSUES THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE TO LOOK AT, DEVELOP AND COME UP WITH MESSAGING THAT -- THE CRITICAL POINT IS COME UP WITH MESSAGING THAT RESONATES WITH THE DAY TO DAY VOTER SO THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN LATCH ON TO AND IDENTIFY WITH.

>> THE CHALLENGE ON BOTH SIDES IS TO BRING THOSE VOICES THAT ARE NOT THE EXTREME OF EITHER SIDE, YOU KNOW, AOC AND BERNIE ARE OUT DOING, YOU KNOW, RALLIES RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD NOT SAY THAT'S THE EXPANSION AS PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND SO CAN THE DEMOCRATS FORM A COALITION WITH GREATER REPRESENTATION WHILE IGNORING THAT PART OF THE COALITION?

I MEAN, BROOKS IN HIS OWN ARTICLE SAYS PART OF THE PROBLEM TODAY HAS BEEN CREATED BY THE DEMOCRATS IN THEIR CLEANING-HOUSE UNIVERSITIES AND PUBLIC -- POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND IDENTITY POLITICS, THEY CLEANED OUT A BIG PORTION OF WHAT USED TO BE DEMOCRATS AND TURNED ON MAGA REPUBLICANS.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REGISTRATION AND CHANGING YOUR PARTY AFFILIATIONS.

AND OBVIOUSLY REPUBLICANS HAVE AN EDGE IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.

THEY CAN AFFORD TO LOSE A FEW TO "OTHERS."

CAN DEMOCRATS AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE TO "OTHERS"?

>> OH, NO, DEMOCRATS NEED TO STOP THE BLEEDING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S BEEN A FREEFALL SINCE 2020 WHEN THEY KIND OF PEAKED AS FAR AS THEIR REGISTRATION IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

SO, YES, THEY NEED TO STOP THAT.

THEY NEED TO FIX THIS.

FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> THE CURRENT REGISTRATION FOR GOP IS NOW 7 POINTS ADVANTAGE.

THE PARTICIPATION ADVANTAGE IN THE LAST CYCLE WAS 9.

AND SO IT USED TO BE -- BACK IN THE DAY, IT'D BE 2 OR 3.

AND SO AS JASON SAID, IT'S GOING IN ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>> IS IT GOING TO TONIGHT GO IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, THOUGH, IF WE KEEP SEEING WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND COMING OUT OF WALL STREET?

>> THE DEMOCRATS' BEST MARKETING TOOL RIGHT NOW IS TRUMP BECAUSE HE KEEPS SHOOTING HIMSELF, AS WE'VE WITNESSED, TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WEALTH EVAPORATE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

BUT YOU'VE GOTTA DO MORE THAN THAT.

YOU HAVE TO SPEAK TO WHAT YOU'RE FOR.

AND THAT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE, APART FROM THAT VERY PROGRESSIVE SIDE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> AND DEMOCRATS WERE ABLE TO GET ABOVE THE OTHERS MOST RECENTLY IN 2020 BASED OFF OF THE PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, MESSAGING OFF OF THAT, AS WELL AS A VERY COHESIVE REGISTRATION PROGRAM.

>> AND LAST QUESTION HERE, THIS IS SO FLUID.

THINGS ARE CHANGING ALMOST BY THE HOUR.

DO WE REALLY KNOW WHERE THIS IS ALL HEADED?

>> IF WE, DID I THINK THAT THAT WOULD MAKE US INCREDIBLY POWERFUL TO BE ABLE TO PREDICT THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

>> IT'S SO FLUID.

>> IT'S A VERY FLUID SITUATION.

AND AS WE KNOW TODAY THINGS HAPPEN MORE QUICKLY THAN THEY USED TO HAPPEN, RIGHT, WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THE ADVENT OF THE INTERNET, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, A LIE IS AROUND THE WORLD BEFORE TRUTH PUTS ON ITS SHOES, RIGHT.

SO THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO COMPETE WITH, BUT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A POWERFUL NARRATIVE AND/OR, AS I ARGUED, THE DEMOCRATS OUGHT TO ACCEPT INDEPENDENTS AND CHAMPION WHAT HAS BEEN A GRASSROOTS VALUE OF DEMOCRATS FOR A LONG TIME, TREAT EVERY VOTER THE SAME.

>> CHUCK, JASON, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE, GOOD CONVERSATION AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

THE ARIZONA WATER ASSOCIATION IS HOLDING ITS 98TH ANNUAL WATER CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.

THE GOAL OF THE CONFERENCE, AND THE ASSOCIATION, IS TO ENSURE ARIZONA'S SUPPLY OF RELIABLE AND SAFE WATER.

JOINING US NOW IS JEANNE JENSON AND HEATHER TUGAOEN, CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR, RESPECTIVELY, OF THE ARIZONA WATER CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WHAT IS THE AZ WATER ASSOCIATION?

>> THE AZ WATER ASSOCIATION IS A NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON HIGHLIGHTING AND CELEBRATING THE PROFESSIONALS THAT HELP MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT CLEAN, SAFE WATER AT YOUR TAP EACH DAY AND THAT WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT WATER AND YOU SAY GOODBYE TO IT, WE TAKE CARE OF IT, MAKE SURE IT'S CLEANED, REUSED FOR APPROPRIATE PURPOSE, SO WE PROVIDE THE TRAINING, EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE PROFESSIONALS.

>> WHO ARE SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION?

>> WE HAVE QUITE A DIVERSE RANGE.

WE HAVE UTILITIES, WE HAVE SUPPLIERS FOR DIFFERENT PARTS AND MANUFACTURERS.

WE HAVE CONSULTANTS FROM ENGINEERING FIRMS.

WE HAVE CONTRACTORS.

WE HAVE QUITE A RANGE.

EVERYWHERE FROM THE PERSON WHO PUT THE MANHOLE IN THE GROUND OR TAKES IT OUT AND DOES THE MAINTENANCE TO HIGH-LEVEL EXECUTIVES WITHIN THE DIFFERENT UTILITIES.

>> AND WE'VE GOT 98th ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

98 OF THESE THINGS, HUH?

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M TOLD.

OBVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FIRST FEW.

I BET THEY WERE FUN, THOUGH.

WE'RE LUCKY TO BE COMING UP ON OUR CENTURY MARK NOW.

GROWING EVERY YEAR.

HAPPY TO SAY WE'VE BROKEN RECORDS EVERY YEAR SINCE WE CAME BACK FROM 2020.

OBVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T HAVE A FORMAL CONFERENCE THEN.

MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP HERE IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.

>> AND THE CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON, WHAT GIVE US SOME TOPICS.

>> WE HAVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS FOR OPERATORS AND PROFESSIONALS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS THAT ARE GOING ON.

SO DIFFERENT UTILITIES WILL BRING TEAMS THAT ARE DOING HE METER MANIA AND HYDRO HYSTERIA AND ALL OF THOSE FUN THINGS AND NETWORKING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS GOING ON AS WELL.

>> WHO ARE SOME OF THE SPEAKERS?

>> WE HAVE SOME PRETTY AWESOME KEYNOTE SPEAKERS THIS YEAR, MARK WEAVER, WHO IS A CRISES SPECIALIST, WILL BE SHARING THE POWER OF STORYTELLING AND USING THE ELEMENTS OF STORYTELLING TO BRING THE COMMUNITY IN, BECAUSE WHEN YOU BRING THAT COMMUNITY IN, WHEN YOU MAKE THAT CONNECTION TO WHAT WATER IS FOR THEM, THEY'RE GONNA BE INVESTED, THEY'RE GONNA BE ENGAGED.

ANOTHER KEYNOTE, I'M HAPPY TO CALL A FRIEND OF MINE, DAVID FIELDER IS JOINING US FROM DETROIT, HE HAS THE INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING AND REWARDING OPPORTUNITY TO HELP WITH THE LIED REMOVAL PROGRAMS IN DETROIT WATER AND SEWAGE.

HE'S ON THE GROUND TELLING THAT STORY, HAVING TO GO INTO HOMES FOR FOLKS WHO MAYBE DON'T TRUST THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HAVING TO SAY I REALLY AM HERE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND HERE TO HELP.

>> ARIZONA'S WATER FUTURE, OBVIOUSLY, KIND OF HOVERS OVER ALL THIS, OR DOES IT HOVER OVER ALL THIS?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE PIECES THAT WE TALK TALK ABOUT DURING THE CONFERENCE, AND IT'S ONE OF THE KEY, I THINK, IDEAS THAT WE ALL CELEBRATE AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE HAD SUCH A SUSTAINABLE AND FORWARD-THINKING MINDSET IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA FOR SO MANY DECADES.

WITH THE GROUND WATER RULE COMING IN, WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AMAs, WE HAVE A SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY IN ARIZONA AND OBVIOUSLY WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH -- BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER BASIN ON THE COLORADO RIVER, IT'S QUITE CONTENTIOUS AND INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ALL OF US AT THE CONFERENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUSHING THE NEEDLE FORWARD AND MAINTAINING WATER SUPPLY FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

>> I KNOW ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP WAS MENTIONED AS A BIG FACTOR HERE.

>> IT'S PRETTY WELL-DEFINED EVEN IN STATE STATUTE WHERE WE DON'T JUST LOOK AT WATER IN TERMS OF ITS ABILITY IN ITEMS OF ECONOMIC VALUE BUT HOW DOES IT SUSTAIN THE STATE THAT WE ALL LOVE TO BE A PART OF, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAYBE FOLLOW THE KYLE CENTER, THE REPORTER SAID IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THE NEXT JOB AND NEXT PLACE TO GO BUT NO ONE WILL WANT TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE A BALL FIELD, THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PARK.

IT'S AS IMPORTANT FOR ME HAVING GROWN UP HERE AND HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SEE THE SALT RIVER AS IT IS TO, YOU KNOW, DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND HAVE THAT SUCCESSFUL CAREER.

>> SARA'S BEEN A GUEST ON OUR PROGRAM MANY, MANY TIMES.

WHEN IS THE CONFERENCE?

WHERE IS THE CONFERENCE?

>> NEXT WEEK WE HAVE A GOLF TOURNAMENT STARTING MONDAY MORNING, AND THEN WILL BE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX AT TUESDAY, 8:00 A.M., BRIGHT AND EARLY FOR BREAKFAST.

AND RUNNING THREE DAYS, SO NEXT -- THE 15th THROUGH THE 17th IS OUR DATES.

>> VERY GOOD.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE, GOOD LUCK WITH THE CONFERENCE, AND THANKS FOR SHARING.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

IN NORTHWEST ARIZONA JUST OFF STATE ROUTE 85 STANDS THE MONUMENT TO THE TOWN OF OATMAN.

ODDLY THE MARKER IS 15 MILES FROM THE TOWN IT HONORS.

WEST INTO THE BLACK MOUNTAINS THE MINING TOWN WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

BY THE 1930s NEARLY 2 MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD HAD BEEN EXTRACTED FROM THE SURROUNDING MINES.

THE PRICE OF GOLD AND WORLD WAR II FORCED THE CLOSURE OF THE MINES IN THE '40s.

THE TOWN WAS DELIVERED ANOTHER BLOW WHEN IN 1952 A STRETCH OF INTERSTATE 40 OPENED, SIPHONING OFF OATMAN'S LIFE BLOOD, ROUTE 66 TRAFFIC.

IT QUICKLY BECAME A GHOST TOWN.

[ SOUND OF GUNFIRE ] >> Reporter: ROUTE 66 IS NOSTALGIA FOR THE MOTHER ROAD AND THE OLD WEST AND DRAWS TOURISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THEY WALK THE BOARDWALKS, HANG AT THE LOCAL GUN FIGHTERS AND ARE FOLLOWED AROUND BY OATMAN'S MOST FAMOUS RESIDENTS, THE BOROUGHS, THE SENTENCE OF THOSE SET FREE BY MINERS YEARS AGO.

BEING CLOSER TO NEVADA THAN THE TOWN ITSELF OATMAN'S MISPLACED MONUMENT IS LONG FORGOTTEN BUT THE TOWN IS REMEMBERED DATELY.

>>> I'M JEFF BENNETT, TONIGHT PRESIDENT TRUMP THREATENS MORE TARIFFS ON CHINA IF IT DOESN'T BACK DOWN.

THAT'S AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

"WALL OF FACES" IS DEDICATED TO HONORING AND REMEMBERING THOSE NAMED ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL BY PROVIDING A PICTURE AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THOSE NAMES ONLINE.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME SHARON JOHNSTON TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

SHE'S A VOUNTEER FOR "WALL OF FACES."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALL RIGHT, WALL OF FACES, VIETNAM WALL OF FACES, FIRST OF ALL, DID I GET THE TITLE RIGHT?

>> PRETTY CLOSE.

>> OKAY.

WHAT ARE WE DEALING WITH HERE?

>> BACK IN 2001 WE CAME UP WITH A CONCEPT OF BUILDING AN EDUCATION CENTER, IT'S GONNA BE THREE PORTS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND OFTEN LOTS OF ITEMS ARE LEFT THERE THAT WE'VE COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS.

SO ONE WAS GOING TO BE THAT, ONE WAS GOING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND ONE WAS GOING TO HONOR OUR NAMES ON THE WALL WITH THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS.

IT WOULD ROTATE WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

>> YEAH.

>> THE ISSUE WAS FINDING ALL OF THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS, MORE THAN 58,000 NAMED ON THE WALL.

>> AND THAT IS QUITE A GOAL.

I MEAN, WHERE -- HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT?

>> FOR SOME PEOPLE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT THAT WE WERE EVEN DOING THIS PROJECT WAS, I THINK, THE HARDEST PIECE THAT WAS GOING OUT THERE.

AFTER 50 YEARS MANY OF THESE FAMILIES HAVE THOUGHT THAT NOBODY EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THEM, SO THEY WEREN'T LOOKING FOR INFORMATION.

AND THERE'S PEOPLE THAT START DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU START WITH A NAME, AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL YOU CAN START WITH IS A NAME AND A DATE.

>> SO BASICALLY FOR EVERY 58,000 PLUS NAMES, YOU WANT TO GET A PHOTOGRAPH AND PUT THOSE PHOTOS ONLINE?

>> YES.

EVENTUALLY, WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING BUILDING THE EDUCATION CENTER, THEY WOULD BE SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE CENTER.

HOWEVER, NOW WE HAVE THEM ALL ONLINE, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A PICTURE FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE.

>> YOU DID?

>> WE DO.

WE HAVE ONE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON NAMED ON THAT WALL.

WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, HOWEVER, THE PROCESS IS ENSURING THAT THEY ARE QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHS.

THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, ARE THEY OF THE FAMILY OR THE SOLDIERS THEMSELVES THAT CAN BE PROUD OF BEING THROUGH?

BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS, THEY ARE OFTEN CRUMPLED UP, THEY ARE OFTEN LOST, AND SO GETTING THE QUALITY PHOTOGRAPH IS WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, IS TRYING TO RESTORE SOME OF THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS AND REACH OUT TO THE FAMILY MORE IN DEPTH INSTEAD OF JUST TAKING ONE OUT OF AN OLD NEWSPAPER OR YEARBOOK.

>> A LOT OF INVESTIGATIVE WORK.

THAT'S TOUGH STUFF.

>> IT'S LIKE PUTTING A PUZZLE TOGETHER.

>> IS THAT HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

>> THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.

THAT THERE ARE PIECES, AND HAVE YOU TO BE PATIENT.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHEN TO STOP AND COME BACK SIX MONTHS LATER BECAUSE THEN YOU SEE IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT.

>> AND YOU ALSO HEAR, I WOULD IMAGINE, JUST A NUMBER OF FAMILY STORIES.

YOU MUST HAVE HEARD IT ALL.

>> YOU CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE STORIES BECAUSE FOR THESE FAMILIES IT'S AS IF IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

>> YEAH.

>> IT TRULY IS.

>> AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A TRAVELING WALL THAT HEALS, I THINK WHAT IT IS CALLED.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT DONATE THEIR TIME TO WORK AT THESE EVENTS HELD ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

BUT WALL IS AN ACTUAL REPLICA, EVEN IF THERE'S A MISTAKE ON THE WALL, IT IS AN EXACT REPLICA, SIZED DOWN, THAT GOES INTO A TRUCK AND DELIVERED TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AROUND OUR COUNTRY.

VOLUNTEERS WORK, WE HELP PEOPLE LOCATE THE PERSON'S NAME, AND SHOCKING TO THEM, WE CAN PULL UP OUR CELL PHONES AND BRING UP A PICTURE OF THEIR LOVED ONES OR SOMEONE THAT THEY SERVED.

>> AND I WOULD IMAGINE, I READ THIS, ACTUALLY, THE WALL OF FACES IS FOR THOSE WHO JUST MAY NOT BE READY TO GO TO WASHINGTON AND LOOK AT THE THAT MEMORIAL.

>> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

>> I MEAN, FOR SOME, THAT IS STILL -- THEY JUST STILL CAN'T DO IT.

>> THEY CAN'T DO IT.

IT WAS DIFFERENT IN THOSE DAYS THAN IT IS NOW.

AND I THINK THAT WE ARE SEEING -- WITH THE TRAVELING WALL, WE ARE SEEING OUR CROWDS GET BIGGER BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT, I HAD A WOMAN THISES WEEK.

I HADN'T HEARD FROM HER FOR SEVEN YEARS SHE SAID I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO.

IT WAS HER HUSBAND AND BROTHER ALSO PASSED AWAY.

SHE CALLED AND SAID, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M READY TO GO.

>> CAN YOU DO THE NAME RUBBINGS?

>> YES, YOU CAN.

YOU CAN DO THEM THERE, YOU CAN DO THEM AT THE WALL IN D.C., AND WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IT, AND SOMETIMES FOR THOSE SOLDIERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR FRIENDS, THAT THEY SERVED WITH, IT IS A VERY -- MOMENT FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY GET TO TOUCH THOSE NAMES.

THEY OFTEN RUB THEIR FINGERS OVER THE NAMES, AND THAT IS IN HONORING THE 19 THEY SERVED WITH, WHAT MAY HAVE DIED RIGHT NEXT TO THEM.

>> AND YOU CAN DO THAT WITH THE TRAVELING WALL OF FACES.

>> YES, YOU CAN.

>> ALMOST GET THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

>> EXACTLY.

THE.

>> I'VE GOTTA ASK YOU, HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH THIS?

>> I WAS WORKING ON MY FAMILY GENEALOGY ABOUT 12, 15 YEARS AGO, AND SOMETHING CARMD, ONE OF THE GUYS I WORK WITH, THEY SAID, HEY, WE HAVE THIS FAMILY -- THIS GROUP IN BERKELEY SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA WHO'S BEEN FOR SEVEN YEARS LOOKING FOR THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SOLDIER THAT THEY WANT TO HONOR WITH A MONUMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND I ASKED IF I COULD HELP.

AND I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE FAMILY, BUT NOBODY HAD A PICTURE, AND SO I WROTE FOR HIS RECORDS, AND WHEN THAT PICTURE CAME IN THE MAIL... >> WOW.

>> I WAS HOOKED.

AND I KNEW I HAD TO DO MORE.

>> WELL, HAVE YOU DONE A LOT MORE, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE.

JUST GREAT WORK.

SHARON JOHNSON, AGAIN, WALL OF FACES, A VOLUNTEER, CONTINUED SUCCESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.