COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: A MAJOR DECISION FROM THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT TODAY SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENS THE LANDMARK VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

ALSO TONIGHT: THE LATEST ON CASES OF MEASLES IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

AND, A NEW REPORT LOOKS AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OUTDOOR WATER RECREATION IN THE STATE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT TODAY STRUCK DOWN A LOUISIANA CONGRESSIONAL MAP AND ITS NEW MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICT AS QUOTE, "RACIAL GERRYMANDERING."

THE DECISION SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITS THE LANDMARK VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND WILL NO DOUBT IMPACT FUTURE ELECTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

JOINING US NOW IS STEPHEN MONTOYA, PARTNER AT MONTOYA LUCERO AND PASTOR.

GOOD TO.

>> YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING IN ON THIS.

OK.

THIS IS LOUISIANA MAP.

I KNOW TWO DISTRICTS THERE ARE MAJORITY, MINORITY.

>> WERE?

TED: WOULD THE COURT LOOK AT BOTH OF THEM OR THE LATEST ONE?

>> WELL THE COURT LOOKED TO THE CREATION OF TWO.

FIRST THERE WAS ONE.

THE DISTRICT COURT IN A DECISION BY A TRUMP AUPON TEE, AND IN A FINDING THAT WAS OVER 100 PAGES LONG SAID, HEY, THIS IS INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION.

BUT THEY ONLY HAVE ONE EIGHTH OF THE HOUSE SEATS, SO THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, A STAUNCH CONSERVATIVE SAID, HEY, YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER SEAT.

IT WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SUPREME COURT.

IT WAS ARGUED LAST TERM, AND THE ISSUE OF ALLEGED RATION GERRYMANDER WAS NOT DECIDED.

AND IT WAS NOT RAISED BY EITHER PARTY.

THE SUPREME COURT ITSELF RAISED THE ISSUE.

TED: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> ON ITS OWN MISSION.

TED: OK.

>> SO USUALLY PARTIES PRESENT QUESTIONS TO THE COURT.

THE QUESTION, IN THIS CASE, WAS PRESENTED TO THE COURT BY THE COURT ITSELF, AND REARGUED THIS TERM, THEN THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

>> 6:3.

THIS MAP.

THIS DISTRICT I SHOULD SAY VIOLATES THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

DID THE COURT GET IT WRONG?

>> IT DID.

IT GOT IT WRONG TWICE OVER.

IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, TRUMP AUPON TEE, STAUNCH REPUBLICAN, USED RACE IN DECIDING THAT THERE HAD TO BE TWO DISTRICTS, AND THEY CONSIDERED THAT IN OF ITSELF TO BE A RACIAL GERRYMANDER THAT VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION.

BUT THE SUPREME COURT ALSO DECIDED ON ITS OWN MOTION, NO PARTY RAISED THIS ISSUE UNTIL IT WAS RAISED BY THE COURT, THAT IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A VIOLATION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

YOU HAD TO SHOW STRONG EVIDENCE OF INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION.

THAT IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLING ASPECTS OF THE CASE BECAUSE SECTION TWO OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, ACTUALLY OVERRULED ANOTHER SUPREME COURT CASE CALLED CITY OF MOBILE VERSUS BOLDEN IN 1980, AND IN THIS CASE, THE SUPREME COURT SAID IN ORTER TO SHOW A VIOLATION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, YOU HAVE TO SHOW INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION.

CONGRESS SAID, HEY, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE MEANT.

THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO DO SUPREME COURT.

SO THEY AMENDED SECTION TWO TO STAY SHOWING THE DISCRIMINATORY RESULT, AN IMPACT WAS ENOUGH.

TED: SO BUT THE COURT TODAY SAID WE ARE GOING BACK.

WE ARE GOING BACK TO WHAT WE DID ORIGINALLY BEFORE.

>> CORRECT.

>> WHAT WAS THE RUNNING HERE?

HE CALLED IT A LIMITED RULING, BASICALLY, THE CONTENT THAT THE CENTRAL TENANT OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, THAT THE CENTRAL TENANT REMAINS, AGAIN, DID THEY GET THAT RIGHT?

>> THEY GOT THAT WRONG.

THEY SAID THE CENTRAL TENANT WAS TO PROHIBIT INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION.

HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT WHAT CONGRESS SAID.

CONGRESS SAID THERE HAS TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AND ARRANGEMENTS OR LAWS CUSTOMS, POLICIES, THAT TAKE AWAY THAT RIGHT, BY MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR MINORITIESES TO VOTE ARE ILLEGAL IF THAT IS THEIR RESULT, NOTWITHSTANDING THEIRS.

TED: SO CONGRESS SAID IN EFFECT, SUPREME COURT TODAY SAID NO.

INTENT.

YEAH ITS INTENT BOTH ESTABLISHING THE VIOLATION BUT ALSO YOU CANNOT USE RACE IN ESTABLISHING A REMEDY.

TED: YES.

OK.

THIS IS ALREADY AFFECTING A TON OF STATES THE SOUTH.

THEY ARE RACING TO GET EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT BEFORE PRIMARY SEASON AND GENERAL ELECTION SEASON.

WHAT ABOUT US OUT HERE IN THE WEST?

>> IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO IMPACT US, TOO, WE'LL JUST SEE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, WHO HAS VE TOW POWER AND WE ALSO HAVE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

TED: THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO ASK ABOUT.

WE HAVE OUR OWN COMMISSION HERE.

WE ARE INSULATED.

>> YEAH, WELL, NO, BECAUSE REMEMBER, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CASE, THAT CAME OUT OF ARIZONA.

AND IN THAT CASE, THE COURT ALLOWED THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO IMPOSE SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT THE LOWER COURT IN THE NINTH SIR QUIT HAD FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THEY BASICALLY SAID, HEY, THE THIRD PARTIES CANNOT PICK UP YOUR VOTE, IF YOU CANNOT TRIV, MAYBE ARE PARALYZED, MOREOVER, YOU HAVE TO VOTE YOUR OWN PRESCIENT, SO THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE STATE TO VOTE IN THE OWN RECENT BECAUSE YOU MOVED OR YOU ARE VISITING RELATIVES OR BECAUSE YOU ARE HOME BOUND OR HOSPITAL BOUND, YOUR VOTE DOESN'T COUNT.

TED: JUST IS SAID TODAY IN OPPOSITION, CONSEQUENCES ARE LIKELY TO BE FAR-REACHING AND GRAVE.

DID SHE GET THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

ONLY I THINK THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY UNDERMATED IT.

THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS ESSENTIALLY DEAD, THE SUPREME COURT HAD ALREADY DECLARED THE SECTIONS 4 AND 5 OF THE ACT WERE A NULTY BECAUSE THEY VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION.

REMEMBER THE PRE CLEARANCE REQUIREMENT OF SECTION 5.

>> RIGHT.

>> IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE ANY VOTING DISTRICT.

YOU HAD TO RUN IT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FIRST.

TED: THAT IS LONG GONE.

>> THAT IS LONG GONE.

THEY GOT RID OF SECTION, SECTION 5.

NOW THEY GOT RID OF SECTION 2 DEFACTO.

TED: YEAH.

OK.

IMPACT ON MINORITY REPRESENTATION ON CAPITOL HILL.

TED: I THINK IT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANY MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATION'S CONGRESSES FROM THE OTHER STATES ANY MORE.

TED: AND AS FAR AS LA TIN KNOW REPRESENTATION, IN CONGRESS, IN CALIFORNIA, I SHOULD SAY, AROUND THE WEST.

>> WELL IN CALIFORNIA, I DON'T THINK IT GOING TO MATTER, CALIFORNIA IS A MIND OR TY, MAJORITY STATE, IT IS DEEPLY DEMOCRATIC STATE, SO I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO MATTER THERE.

HOWEVER, IN STATES LIKE COLORADO, ARIZONA, I THINK IT WILL MATTER.

A AND WILL MATTER MORE IN 2028 THAN THIS YEAR.

>> I THINK SO.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO ACTUALLY THINK OF A PLAN, AND RUN IT THROUGH THE COURTS, BUT AS YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED.

THE SUPREME HAS HABIT OF FAST TRACKING THE CASES.

TED: SO BOTTOM LINE, THE SUPREME COURT SAYS, BOTTOM LINE.

REDISTRICTING, FO FOR IT.

IF IT HAPPENS TO FALL TO MINORITY DISTRICT, GOOD FOR YOU.

WE DON'T CARE.

JUST DON'T TRY TO MAKE IT BASED ON RACE.

>> CORRECT.

>> SEE EITHER IN REMEDY OR SUSTAINING THE VIOLATION.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS, THIS IS GOING TO BE CRAZY TIMES IN THE SOUTH HERE.

YEAH, IT IS.

AND IT WAS ALREADY PRETTY BAD.

YEAH.

STEVEN MONTOYA, PASTOR, PRETTY BIG.

THIS IS A BIG RULING, ISN'T IT?

OF.

IT IS A BIG RULING, AND IT REALLY DOES FURTHER UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY AND IT IS, IT IS REALLY A PATTERN OF THE COURT STRIKING DOWN LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO TRY TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> STEVEN, THANKS, SIR.

WE APPRECIATE.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ TED: HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE RAISING CONCERNS AFTER 4-NEW MEASLES CASES WERE REPORTED IN MARICOPA COUNTY, BRINGING THE YEAR'S TOTAL TO TEN - THAT'S THE HIGHEST COUNTY TOTAL IN AT LEAST 30-YEARS.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME WILL HUMBLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

>> WE ARE STILL AT TEN.

RIGHT NOW.

THIS SECOND.

IT COULD GO UP DURING THE SHOW.

TED: OK.

I KNOW A LOT OF NEW CASES ARE LINKED TO A YOUTH BASKETBALL GAME IN MESA, CORRECT.

>> YEAH.

A KID WAS THERE PLAYING.

I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS.

I WAS NOT A CASE INVESTIGATOR.

BUT WAS THEN SYMPTOMATIC AFTERWARDS THEN AS YOU REMEMBER FROM COVID, THE CONTRACT TRACING FOLKS GO IN, OK, WHERE WAS THE CASE INSO THE YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE.

SO MARICOPA COUNTY, PUBLIC HEALTH WENT OUT, FOUND THE TEAMS THAT WERE THERE, GAVE NOTICE TOT THE PARENTS TO TRY TO GET THEM TO ESPECIALLY THE UNVACCINATED KIDS THAT WERE THERE TO REALLY WATCH FOR SYMPTOMS SO THEY DON'T GO TO SCHOOL AND SPREAD IT IN A CHARTER SCHOOL OR SOMETHING.

VO YES.

THE GAME WAS APRIL 11th.

THE FIRST CASE WAS REPORTED APRIL 16th.

EVERYONE ATTENDING THE GAME, EVERYONE IN THAT GYM EXPOSED.

>> EXPOSED ABOUT NOT SUSCEPTIBLE.

WITH ALL THE VACCINATED PEOPLE WERE LIKE NO PROBLEM.

TED: BUT IF YOU WERE EXPOSED AND NOT VACCINATED HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED WHAT IS THE INCUBATION NERD WHAT HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT IF YOU GOT IT OR NOT?

>> SOMEWHERE BETWEEN EIGHT AND SEVEN, AND 12 DAYS.

THAT IS USUALLY.

THE INCUBATION PERIOD COULD GO UP TO 20 IN SOME CASES.

THAT IS SORT OF THE OUTSIDE EDGE.

SO YOU CAN THINK OF IT LIKE BETWEEN A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS.

FOR THAT EXPOSURE OUT ON THE EAST SIDE, I THINK THE END POINT FOR LOOKING FOR SYMPTOMS IS MAY SECOND OR THIRD.

>> WOW.

HOLY SMOKES.

THEN QUEEN CREEK, A CHURCH SPONSORED EASTER EGG HUNT, THREE LOCATIONS THERE.

PEOPLE ARE TRACKING THAT ONE AS WELL.

>> YEP.

SO THEY ARE TRACKING THAT.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THEM THE PERIOD OF EXPOSURE PERIOD FOR THAT UNWHICH IS OVER WITH.

>> YEAH.

OK.

SO BASICALLY, 67 CASES STATEWIDE.

A LOT OF THAT IN THE NORTHERN BORDER, CORRECT.

>> OH, A LOT MORE.

OH, YOU MEAN 2026.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> ABOVE THE COLORADO STRIP UP THERE.

YEAH.

HUNDREDS OF CASES BETWEEN 2025 AND 2026.

THERE WERE CASES IN PAIGE.

TED: AS FAR AS STATEWIDE THIS YEAR, WE ARE HE SEEING HOW MANY?

>> WELL, YOU JUST SAID THE NUMBER.

>> 67.

I GET IT MIXED UP.

OK.

ALL RIGHT.

THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHY?

WHY IS IT GOING SON IN.

>> WELL THE VACCINATION RATES ARE TOO LOW FOR DISEASE AS CONTAGIOUS AS MEASLES.

IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

THE MUSCONE STAGOUS DISEASE THERE IS.

SUPER CONTAGIOUS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE VACCINATION RATES IN THE 95% LEVEL TO SUSPEND, TO STOP THAT TRANSPOLICING PERSON-TO-PERSON.

TO STOP THAT CHAIN.

WE ARE NOT ARIZONA -- WE ARE NOT THERE ANY MORE.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE ANY MORE.

I WAS AT A -- I WAS GIVING A LECTURE FOR THE MEDICAL STUDENTS AT AS YOU A MONTH AGO.

I AM LIKE YOUR GENERATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO RECOGNIZE MEASLES WHEN AFTER YOU CLINICIAN, YOU KNOW, FOR ABOUT TWO GENERATIONS OF DOCTORS, THEY DID NOT SEE MEASLES CASES.

THIS GENERATION IS GOING TO SITE THEIR WHOLE CAREER I THINK.

TED: THAT IS BECAUSE OF -- >> OR BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE IT?

TED: IS THAT VACCINE SCEPTICISM.

>> YEAH.

THAT IS IT.

THAT IS IT.

YEP.

SIMPLE AS THAT.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

SO BASICALLY, WE'LL LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

BY THE WAY, 220 CASES LAST YEAR.

247 YEAR.

>> YEAH.

WE'LL GET THE NUMBERS STRAIGHT BAITS IS CHANGE AS WE SPEAK.

>> MOST OF THE CASES IN THE COLORADO STRIP OF THAT 7.

>> MARICOPA COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT.

COVID, FLU, WHAT ARE WE SEEING?

ING SO WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR RESPIRATORY ILLNESS SEASON.

THE BIGGEST PLAYER IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS THIS YEAR WAS NOT COVID.

IT WAS INFLUENZA SO IT PEAKED IN EARLY FEBRUARY AROUND THE GOLF TOURNAMENT PERIOD, RIGHT?

EARLY SUPER BOWL TIME.

THAT IS WHEN IT WAS PEAKING.

AT THAT POINT, IT WAS LIKE 5% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS WERE BECAUSE OF INFLUENZA.

COVID HAS BEEN LIKE, LIKE LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE BEEN COVID THIS RESPIRATORY SEASON.

SAME ABOUT THE SAME FOR RSV.

TED: THE CICADA THING.

THE CICADA STRAIN OF COVID.

ARE WE WORRY BAD THIS?

>> A DIFFERENT NAME, A DIFFERENT BRAND, BUT REALLY THE SAME PRODUCT, YOU KNOW?

IT DIDN'T SEND PEOPLE MORE FREQUENTLY TO THE EMERGENCY TENT.

IT DIDN'T HAVE MORE SYMPTOMS.

IT WAS ABLE TO TRICK IMMUNE SYSTEMS A LITTLE BIT BETTER, THAN THE PREVIOUS VERSIONS, BUT LIKE I SAID, THIS LAST RESPIRATORY SEASON INFLUENCE ZA WAS THE MAJOR PLAYER NOT COVID.

TED: DID VACCINATIONS PLAY A ROLE IN THAT?

>> SURE.

IT IS PREVENTIBLE ILLNESS AS WELL.

VACCINATION RATES ARE REALLY LOW COMPARED TO MEASLES.

IT IS REALLY LOW.

TED: REALLY?

>> I THOUGHT EVERYONE GOT A FLU SHOT?

>> JUST YOU.

TED: APPARENTLY I AM THE ONLY ONE.

>> A LOT OF SENIORS, THANKFULLY, A LOT OF SENIORS ARE VERY DILIGENT ABOUT GETTING THEIR INFLUENZA VACCINE.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY, WILL.

>> WE ARE SENIORS SO WITH CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

THERE IS ACTING CDC DIRECTOR.

AND THERE IS A REPORT OF COVID VACCINATIONS THAT SOUNDS LIKE THIS ACTING CDC DIRECTOR IS WHAT?

SHOVELING THIS UNDER THE NEAREST CHAIR.

WHAT IS GOING SON IN YEAH.

HIS NAME IS JAY.

HE IS THE INTERIM, THE ACT CDC DIRECTOR, HAS BEEN FOR A FEW MONTHS.

THE STAFF THERE WROTE A STANDARD REPORT WITH HOW AFFECTIVE WAS THE COVID VACCINE THIS INFLUENZA SEASON THEY SHOWED IT REDUCED BY 50%.

THE STAFF IS LIKE IT WENT THROUGH ALL THE REZ VIEW PROCESS.

BUT THEN, HE IS LIKE, WE ARE NOT PUBLISHING THIS THING.

SO -- AND I TALKED TO SOMEONE.

THIS IS LIKE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF SOMEONE WHO WORKED THERE SAID LIKE IT WAS ALL THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEY WON'T LET US.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS ACTING DIRECTOR.

THE IN COMING DIRECTOR.

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS NERN WILL THIS PERSON PIT SNOUT THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT.

I AM GLAD YOU ASKED.

SHE IS THE NEW NOMINEE.

SHE IS CAREER U.S.

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE PHYSICIAN.

SHE HAS GREAT REPUTATION.

I SAW HER ON NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK GIVE A GOOD VIDEO ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH, VACCINES HOW THAT IS GOOD.

THAT WILL BE A FIRST -- I WROTE A BLOG ABOUT THIS.

THIS WILL BE A FIRST TEST FOR DR.

SCHWARTZ IF SHE IS NOMINATED BUT NOT IN THE JOB YET, LIKE BRING THE REPORT UP AND PUBLISH IT OR KEEP IT SHELFED?

THAT IS THE FIRST THING WHERE I SAY, OK, HER REPUTATION WAS GOOD, BUT HER BEHAVIOR IS NOT.

OR I COULD BE SURPRISED AND BE LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A CDC DIRECTOR NOW.

>> WILL HUMBLE, ARIZONA HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

WILL, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> READY ALL RIGHT.

TAKE CARE.

THANKS.

TED: A NEW REPORT FROM AUDUBON SOUTHWEST HIGHLIGHTS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF WATER-BASED RECREATION IN ARIZONA.

IT'S AN EFFORT TO MAKE AN ECONOMIC CASE FOR PROTECTING THE STATE'S RIVERS LAKES AND STREAMS.

HALEY PAUL IS THE SENIOR POLICY DIRECTOR AT AUDUBON SOUTHWEST.

WATER-BASED OUTDOOR RECREATION.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT?

>> YEAH.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

TED: YEAH.

>> EVERYTHING FROM PICNICKING, RELAX BOOING ASTREAM, TO FISHING, BOAT, HIKING, CAMPING, WILDLIFE WATCHING.

EIGHT DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES WE EVALUATED IN OUR STUDY.

TED: IF YOU ARE NEAR WATER, THAT IS OUTDOOR RECREATION AS FAR AS YOU ARE CONCERNED.

TED: SO THE STUDY BASICALLY MAKES A CASE FOR PROTECTING THE WATERWAYS.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS THESE ACTIVITIES AND HOW PROTECTED OR UNPROTECTED THEY ARE IN CERTAIN AREAS?

>> YEAH.

SURE.

MEAN, ARIZONA IS REALLY A RID STATE SO THE LITTLE RIBBONS OF LIFE WE DOZ HAVE ARE EXTREMELY PRECIOUS.

THE BIG TOP-LINE FROM THE REPORT THAT IS OUTDOOR RECREATION ALONG THE WATER IS A $12 BILLION INDUSTRY IN THE STATE.

SUPPORTS 72,000 JOBS SO WE THINK, THAT MEANS, NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE SHOULD PROTECT IT BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE ECONOMY?

>> YEAH.

THAT IS ANNUAL OUTPUT.

$12 BILLION THERE.

ON WATER RELATED OUTDOOR RECREATION.

9.7 BILLION.

ON KAYAKS, BIKES.

STILL A LOT OF STUFF.

YEAH.

WELL THE WAY WE EVALUATED THIS NUMBER WAS WORKING WITH ECONOMICS RESEARCH FIRM WHO CONDUCTED A STUDY OF ARIZONA RESIDENTS THEN EVALUATED HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND?

HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU SPEND?

HOW FAR FROM HOME DID YOU TRAVEL?

THEY TAKE THAT INFORMATION.

THEY COMPARE WITH IT THE SPENDING PROFILES IF YOU WILL OF THE DIFFERENT OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES PUT NIGHT THE FANCY ECONOMIC MODEL THAT IS HOW WE GET THE GREAT RESULTS?

TED: THE JOBS $4 BILLION IN WAGES ANNUALLY.

>> YEAH.

THAT MEANS A LOT.

THAT IS A TAX BASE, YOU GOT TAX CORRECT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK, EXACTLY.

I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE THAT GO HIKING IN HE DONE NA ALONG OAK CREEK AND THE RESTAURANT AFTERWARDS THEN GO TO THE LUNCH.

ALL OF THAT RIPPLE EFFECT FROM THE ECONOMY IS WHAT WE SEE.

TED: ALL TOLD, $7 BILLION ADDED TO THE STATE'S GDP.

THAT IS LIKE TWICE AS MUCH AS GOLF?

>> OH, YEAH.

SO WE ALSO HAD OUR ECONOMIST DO A LITTLE COMPARISON, NOT A WE WANT TO PLAY FAVORITES BUT WANT TO SEE WHERE DOES WATER BASED OUTDOOR RECREATION RANK WHEN IT COMES TO INDUSTRY.

WE FOUND IT IS LARGER THAN THE GOLF INDUSTRY IN THE STATE AND LARGER THAN THE WINE INDUSTRY?

>> YEAH.

SUPPORTS MORE JOBS AND MINING IN THE STATE.

YEAH THAT IS WHAT THE ECONOMIC REPORT SAYS.

TED: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

MY GOODNESS.

YOU ARE NOT COUNTING THINGS LIKE CURL TURAL, SPIRIT U, HISTORICAL.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS NOT COUNTED.

WHEN YOU PRESENT THIS TO PEOPLE LEADERS , OFFICIALS, DECISION-MAKERS, WHAT'S THE POINT?

WHAT POINT ARE YOU TRYING TOIC?

YEAH.

WITH THIS REPORT, WE REALLY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS THE VAL THIEF WATER ITSELF IN OUR RIVERS, LAKES, STREAMS, SO WE KNOW THAT WATER IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITIES?

AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, WHAT ABOUT THE WATER ITSELF IN THE RIVERS?

I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS REPORT, TO THE DECISION-MAKER QUESTION, WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK THIS DOWN BY EACH COUNTY IN THE STATE.

SO HOW MUCH DOES THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTE TOT THE OVERALL PICTURE HERE.

WHAT IS NICE IS LOCAL DECISION-MAKERS CAN SEE, OH, THE WHITEWATER DRAW IN, YOU KNOW, SOUTHEAST ARIZONA, THE COUNTY, THE WILCOX THAT SUPPORT ALL THE SAND HILL CRANES SUPPORT THIS REALLY BIG ECONOMIC ENGINE OF PEOPLE COMING TO WATCH THE BIRDS SO I THINK IT GIVES PEOPLE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE IN HOW TO LOOK AT THE PLACES THEN HOW, IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD, YOU ARE REALLY HAVE ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE.

TED: WERE THERE SURPRISES IN THE COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THAT YOU YOU?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING THING I FOUND WAS THE DIFFERENT ACTIVES FROM AROUND THE STATE, SO THEY WILL GO BACK TO THE COUNTY.

WILDLIFE ACTIVITY, I FOUND FASCINATING VERSUS THIS COUNTY WHICH HAS THE GRAND CAN WHERE ON, ALL THE FOREST, CAMP, HIKING WERE THE TOP ACTIVITY.

SO JUST DEPENDED WHERE ON YOU WERE IN THE STATE WITH WHAT WERE MOST POPULAR.

AGAIN.

THIS REPORT IS BEING DONE AMID HISTORICLE DROUGHT, TWINDLING WATER SUPPLIES, HOW DOES THAT FACTOR SIGN IN OH, A BIG FACTOR.

REALLY GREAT TIMING WE HAD THIS REPORT, YOU KNOW?

LANDED THIS, LANDED THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE IN A CRISIS FOR SURE ON THE COLORADO RIVER.

WE HAVE SEEN JUST DIRE, REALLY GRIM WINTER, NOT A LOT OF SNOW.

SO I THINK IT POINTS TO THE FACT WE CANNOT LET OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR RIVERS.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THE WATERSHEDS, IN THE LANDSCAPES AS WELL AS SAVE WATER TO HELP STAN LIES THE SYSTEM SO WE ARE NOT IN A CRISIS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

TED: YOU SAY INVEST IN RIVERS, STREAMS, WATERS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN SNOOP WELL, FOREST HEALTH, RIGHTING?

WE KNOW THE SALT RIVER PROJECT THAT HELPS DELIVER SALT RIVER TO THE PHOENIX VAL WILLING I. THEY ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WORK BEING DONE IN THE WATERSHED AND THE FOREST TO HELP THIN THE FOR SOWS WE REDUCE THE RISK OF CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE.

WE CAN DO HEAD WALTERS WHERE YOU ARE KEEPING MORE WATER ON THE LANDSCAPE, FLOWING DOWN THE MEANDERING STREAMS THEN LETTING THEM SOAK INTO THE GROUND SO YOU HAVE WATER IN TIMES OF NEED SO IT IS NOT JUST RUNNING DOWN REALLY FAST.

SO THOSE ARE SOME EX ABLE PELLS OF HOW WE RESTORE THE LANDSCAPE.

IT IS INTERESTING HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP NATURE AS NATURE WANTS TO BE, AT THE THE SAME TIME, TRYING TO SAVE NATURE BY WORKING THINGS?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT IS ALWAYS FINDING THOSE WIN WINS THAT IS WHAT I AM EXPECTED ABOUT THIS REPORT BECAUSE IT POINTS TO THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST AND FIND THE WIN WINCE.

THEN I THINK, YOU KNOW, WATERSHED RESTORATION, RAIN SCAPE HOUSE, RANGE LANDS, KEEPING THE GRASS LANDS HEALTHY ALL OF THAT CONTRIBUTES TO HEALTHIER WATER SUPPLIES ARE WE CANNOT ONLY FOCUS ON HARD INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE MARL.

AGAIN EVERYTHING YOU MENTIONED IS FOR PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE, THOUGH, A DOLLAR SIGN MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

IT TRANSLATES.

IT DOES.

IT HELPS KIND OF CONVEY THE IMPORTANCE AND WE KNOW THE ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT BUT PUTS A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON IT.

WHERE CAN WE FOON THE FLOOR?

GO TO AUDUBON.

ORG/AZ RIVERS OR GOOGLE ECONOMIC RIVERS AWED DOE BEEN AND YOU WILL FINAL UT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

AWED DOZE BON SOUTHWEST.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I AM TED SIMONS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I THINK LIKE TO THINK WE ARE UNIQUE IN THE WAY WE PRESENT NEWS, THES