>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE PHOENIX ENCANTMENT KNOWN AS "THE ZONE" IS FULLY CLEARED AND WHAT'S NEXT?

>>> A LOCAL EVENT FOCUSES ON CLIMATE STORY EASY STORIES AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THIS HOUR OF NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TESTIFIED TODAY IN HIS NEW YORK CIVIL FRAUD TRIAL.

TRUMP'S TESTIMONY WAS DESCRIBED BY THE "NEW YORK TIMES" AS RANTING AND RAMBLING AS HE ATTEMPTED TO DEFEND HIMSELF AS THOSE WHO WORKED FOR HIM WORKED TO MANIPULATE STATEMENTS AND TRUMP CALLED THIS, QUOTE, AN UNFAIR TRIAL, AND CALLED THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR IN THE TRIAL A, QUOTE, POLITICAL HACK.

CHRIS CHRISTIE HAD THIS TO SAY ON TODAY'S EVENTS.

>> HE KNOW THAT HE'S COMMITTED FRAUD.

HE KNOWS THAT THIS IS OVER AND THIS IS JUST ABOUT PLAYING TO THE GRAND STAND.

IMAGINE THE STRESS HE'S UNDER NOW KNOWING HE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO DO BUSINESS AGAIN IN THE STATE WHERE HE WAS BORN AND RAISED AND BUILT THE COMPANY THAT HIS FATHER LEFT TO HIM AND AN EVEN BIGGER COMPANY THAT IT BECAME.

>> Ted: THE JUDGE IN THE CASE REPEATEDLY TOLD TRUMP TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND KEEP HIS REMARKS SHORT ADDING, QUOTE, THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL RALLY.

>>> ISRAEL ANNOUNCED IT HAS ENCIRCLED GAZA CITY AND MAKING IT HARDER TO HAMAS TO CONTROL THE AREA.

THEY CONSIDER THIS IS A HUB FOR THE MILITARY OPERATIONS AND THEY FOLLOWED A MAJOR ISRAELI ASSAULT AND COMES TO GET HUMANITARIAN AID INTO THE GAZA STRIP AS THE UN CALLS FOR A CEASE-FIRE.

>> THE UNFOLDING CATASTROPHE MAKES THE NEED FOR HUMANITARIAN CEASE-FIRE MORE URGENT WITH EVERY PASSING HOUR.

THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY FACES AN IMMEDIATE AND FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY TO STOP THE SUFFERING AND DRAMATICALLY EXPEND HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA.

>> Ted: THE SECRETARY GENERAL ANNOUNCED A 1.$2 BILLION HUMANITARIAN APPEAL, THE WEST BANK AND EAST JER ROOM LUM.

>>> WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLANET AFTER THE PLANET AFTER IT SMASHED INTO EARTH?

THEY SUGGEST REMNANTS WERE BLENDED SPOT EARTH'S FIERY INTERIOR AND COULD BE THERE JUST 800 MILES BEFORE THE EARTH'S SURFACE.

THE RESEARCH WAS PUBLISHED TODAY IN IDENTIFICATION THE JOURNAL NATURE ."

>>> WITH THE AREA NOW CLEARED, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THOSE WHO FOR YEARS CALLED THOSE PHOENIX STREETS THEIR HOME.

WE'RE JOINED BY RACHEL MILNE, THE DIRECTOR OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

SO "THE ZONE" IS OFFICIALLY AND REALISTICALLY GONE?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

WE STARTED ON MAY 10th WITH THE FIRST BLOCK THAT WE CLOSED TO CAMPING AND WE SUBSEQUENTLY CLOSED ALL 15 BLOCKS WHERE THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS CAMPING IN THAT AREA.

>> Ted: FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR, WHAT WAS "THE ZONE"?

>> ROUGHLY 15th AVENUE TO 17th AVENUE AND EVERDOWN TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE HUMAN SERVICE'S CAMPUS.

THIS IS A HOMELESS CAMPUS AND OUR BRIAN GARCIA WELCOME CENTER, THE STATE'S LARGEST SHELTER, AS WELL AS 16 OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THEY ARE THERE TO HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMELESSNESS.

>> Ted: HOW LONG DID PEOPLE CASTER OUT THERE?

>> PEOPLE WERE UNSHELTERED IN THAT AREA FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WE KNOW THAT ENCANTMENT IN THAT AREA GOT MUCH BIGGER IN THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAMPING IN THAT AREA FOR OVER A DECADE, I WOULD SAY.

THE ENCANTMENT GOT LARGE AND LOTS OF TENTS AND MAKE-SHUT STRUCTURES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> Ted: HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> THE 15 BLOCKS WE CLOSE TO CAMPING, WELL OVER 700 INDIVIDUALS.

>> Ted: WOW!

ENTIRELY CLEAN RIGHT NOW AND IS SECURITY THERE TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS CLEAN?

>> TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS CLEAN, WE'RE DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS.

MY TEAM AT HOMELESS SOLUTIONS IS PROACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT KNOW THE AREA IS CLOSED AND MAY STILL BE IN THE AREA.

WE'VE PUT UP A SIGN SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THE BLOCKS THAT ARE CLOSED TO CAMPING.

OF COURSE, OUR HUMAN SERVICE'S CAMPUS HAS PRIVATE SECURITY IN THE AREA, AS WELL.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF NAVIGATION TEAM KNOWS THIS EFFORT OCCURS.

OUR PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN THAT AREA WITH A DOWNTOWN OPERATION UNIT IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN, AS WELL.

>> Ted: THE PLACE IS OFFICIALLY CLEARED BY COURT ORDER, DONE DEAL, OVER WITH, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AND WHERE ARE THEY?

>> THE VAST MAJORITY ACCEPTED AN IN-DOOR PLACEMENT.

I MENTIONED WE CLOSED 15 BLOCKS SINCE MAY 10th AND THE WAY WE DID THAT IS WE TOOK ONE BLOCK AT A TIME.

SO WE WOULD LET THE PEP ON PEOPLE ON THAT BLOCK KNOW WE WERE COMING TO CLOSE TO CAMPING AND WORK WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL ON THAT BLOCK TO KNOW THEM AND WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND WAS SO THAT WHEN WE DID CLOSE THAT BLOCK, WE HAD A DIVERSE ARRAY OF INDOOR OPTIONS FOR THEM.

SO ALMOST 600 INDIVIDUALS OF THE FOLKS THAT WE ENGAGED WITH ENDED UP GOING TO AN INDOOR LOCATION.

>> Ted: 80%?

>> YES.

>> Ted: AND 20% SAYING IT'S NOT FOR ME AND MOVED ON.

>> HOWEVER, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IN ORDER TO ASSIST WITH THOSE 20%, HOPING THEY WOULDN'T GO TO OTHER AREAS AROUND THE CITY, WE OPENED WHAT WE CALL OUR "SAFE OUTDOOR SPACE" OR A "STRUCTURED CAMPGROUND."

>> Ted: AT 15th AND JACKSON?

>> YES.

>> Ted: IS THERE SHADE, SERVICE?

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> IT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND OPEN TO A NUMBER OF LIMITED PEOPLE RIGHT NOW AND THERE IS A BIG WAREHOUSE FACILITY THAT WILL BE UTILIZED FOR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ALL THE MEALS WILL BE THERE AND WE HAVE RESTROOMS, SHOWERS AND LAUNDRY ON SITE EVENTUALLY.

AND A HUGE SHADE CANOPY WHERE FOLKS ARE ABLE TO CAMP.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE OPEN TO LIMITED CAPACITY WITH 40 INDIVIDUALS AND THEY ARE RECEIVING THREE MEALS A DAY AND ACCESS TO RESTROOMS EAR WE PROVIDED EVERYONE WITH A NEW, CLEAN TENT.

>> Ted: WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE ARE YOU GETTING FROM THE FOLKS THERE?

>> WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WAITING TO COME INTO IT AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT THIS WILL BE A GOOD ALTERNATIVE, AS WELL.

>> Ted: WHEN IT COMES TO TEMPORARY LODGING AND PERMANENT LODGING, WHAT IS OUT THERE AND WHAT IS THE CITY OF PHOENIX DOING?

SO LAST YEAR, IN 2022, THE CITY BROUGHT ON 6 600 NEW SHELTER BEDS AND THIS YEAR, WE BROUGHT IN COOPERATION WITH THIS CLOSING DOWN OF THESE STREETS, WE BROUGHT ON OVER 400 TEMPORARY FACILITIED.

FACILITIES.

WE HAVE 790 BEDS IN CONSTRUCTION AND THESE WILL HELP US BRIDGE THAT GAP UNTIL THE PERMANENT STRUCTURES OPEN.

>> Ted: THE RESPONSE FROM THOSE UNSHELTERED, ARE THEY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND WILLING GO?

BECAUSE THE PERCEPTION IS THAT A LOT OF THESE FOLKS DON'T WANT TO GO TO SHELTERS AND IN MANY CASES, THEY DON'T THINK THE SECURITY IS THERE OR FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THESE AREAS.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SO WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY SEEN AN 80% ACCEPTANCE RATE REALLY AS.

WE CLOSED IN ON THE AREA THAT THE BLOCKS THAT WERE OPEN TO CAMPING.

THE LAST TWO BLOCKS THAT WE WORKED WITH LAST WEEK WERE VERY DENSELY POPULATED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO SAID NO THANK YOU TO AN INDOOR LOCATION.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY LAST WEEK, OUR NUMBERS OF ACCEPTANCE WERE IN THE 90 PERCENTILE, BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T ANY BLOCKS OPEN AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM AFTER SOMETIME SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.

>> Ted: YOU'RE NOT SURE ABOUT WHERE THE 20% -- WE'LL CALL THEM 20% -- WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

JUST DRIVING THE STREETS IN A FREEWAY UNDERPASS, IT'S AMAZING!

YOU WOULD SEE A LITTLE TOWN THERE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT DAY, IT'S GONE AND A WEEK LATER, IT'S BACK.

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT?

>> IN GENERAL, IN OUR REGION, WE ARE SEEING INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THAT'S REGION WIDE AND NOT ALL NECESSARILY A COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DID IF AND AROUND THE CAMPUS AND CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT OF THE PEOPLE WE ENGAGED, AROUND 125 OF THEM SAID NO THANK YOU.

WE'RE VERY MUCH GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM AND OFFER THEM THE SAFE OUTDOOR SPACE AND CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE AN INDOOR SHELTER OPTION.

>> Ted: OVERALL, HAS PUBLIC SENTIMENT, IS THAT CHANGING AT ALL, DO YOU THINK, OR STAYING THE SAME?

>> YOU KNOW, IN DIFFERENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I HEAR DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND EVERYONE I THINK I'VE ENCOUNTERED SEES IT'S MORE VISIBLE AND NOTICING IT MORE IN PLACES WHERE IT HASN'T BEEN BEFORE AND THAT'S BECAUSE OUR ENTIRE REGION IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

WE AS A CITY AND REGION, INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SHELTERS, CERTAINLY, AND WE KNOW IT DOESN'T END SOMEONE'S HOMELESSNESS AND FOCUS ON THE HOUSING SOLUTION, AS WELL.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION.

SUCCESS STORIES, ARE YOU GETTING MORE SUCCESS STORIES OUT THERE?

PEOPLE ARE GETTING BACK ON THEIR FEET AND IN THE SWING OF THINGS?

>> 100%.

WE SEE A LOT OF SUCCESS STORIES.

THEY SOMETIMES DON'T MAKE THE NEWS, BUT WE LOVE TO HEAR THE STORIES OF PEOPLE THAT MY TEAM ENGAGED WITH, SOMETIMES IN THE AREA AROUND THE CAMPUS, WHO MOVED ONTO SHELTER AND HAVE SOLVED THEIR HOMELESSNESS AND IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

I LOVE TALKING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND HEARING THOSE STORIES FROM MY TEAM.

>> Ted: RACHEL MILNE, THANK YOU FOR JOINS US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT AN EVENT DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> FOR 33 YEARS, A CLASS MORE THAN 1500 EPISODES.

THEY PROVIDED A PLATFORM FOR A BALANCED EXCHANGE OF OPINION AND WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE MEANINGFUL DISCOURSE IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH US.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO RENEW THE FIRING LINE FOR A NEW GENERATION AND ENGAGE IN THE AMERICA WE WANT TO CREATE IN THE 21st 21st CENTURY.

PLEASE JOIN ME.

>> FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> JOIN ME FOR A LOOK AT THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE MIDAGED.

WE'LL SEE HOW THEY INTRODUCED RADIANT CATHEDRALS AND DECORATED WITH LOVINGLY CARVED STONEWORK AND STUNNING STAINED GLASS.

WE'LL SEE ART THAT CELEBRATED SECULAR LIFE AND SEE HOW PAINTING EVOLVED TO TELL THE STORIES OF SO-CALLED "AGE OF FAITH."

>> THAT'S THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> WHEN YOU WANT TO BE MORE CONNECTED, FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND WATCH US ONLINE.

>> Ted: THE 19th NEWS AS A NATIONAL NEWS PROFIT ORGANIZATION HEADED TO ARIZONA NEXT WEEK FOR AN EVENT AT ASU ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND LOOK AT SUSTAINABLY.

WE WELCOME JESSICA KUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO YOU HAVE AND GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF THE "19th NEWS."

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT WE LAUNCHED IN 2020.

YOU KNOW, WE REALLY SERVE TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND LGBTQ + PEOPLE BY PROVIDING THE INFORMATION AND TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE EQUAL PARTICIPANTS IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

SO OUR NAME, "THE 19th, IT COMES FROM THE 19th AMENDMENT, WHICH GRANTED WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE OVER 100 YEARS AGO.

AND WE DO HAVE AN ASTERISKS TO SIGNIFY IT'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

MANY VOTERS DISENFRANCHISED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE AIM TO SERVE THOSE AUDIENCES WITH OR REPORTING.

>> Ted: WHICH TAKES US TO THIS INTERACTIVE EVENT REGARDING CLIMATE CHANGE.

TELL US ABOUT THIS AND THE INTERACTIVITY, WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> IN CITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, WE CHOSE PHOENIX BECAUSE IT'S FACING THE IMPACTS OF EXTREME HEAT EVERY SUMMER AND WE SEE HOW EXTREME HEAT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE.

AND SO, IN TERMS OF THE INTERACTIVE ASPECT OF OUR EVENT, WE'RE HAVING STORY-TELLERS AND PEOPLE WORKING ON SOLUTIONS FOR THE CLIMATE CRUISE THAT WILL CLIMATE CRISIS SO AUDIENCE MEMBERS CAN MEET WITH THEM.

WE HAVE A TIKTOKER NAMED MICHELLE CHUB, HA WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK EXPLAINING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND IMPACTING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LEADING INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS.

>> Ted: WE'RE TALKING WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS AMBITIOUS SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS AND THIS WHOLE EVENT, "FOCUSED," WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> SO I THINK WHEN YOU READ A LOT OF CLIMATE REPORTING, IT CAN BE DOOM AND GLOOM AND BE DEPRESSING AND I'M A REPORTER AND I'M AWARE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON SOLUTIONS.

I THINK PHOENIX IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE WHERE THE CANARY IN THE COALMINE AND HOW TO ADAPT TO EXTREME HEAT.

I THINK SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT ARE MAYBE HAVING THE COOLING CENTERS OPEN EVERY CENTER AND EFFORTS TO PAVE THE STREETS OF COOL PAVEMENT, WHICH IS THE REFLECTIVE SERVICE THAT COOLS DOWN CITIES AND WE ALSO HAVE ROSEANN ALLBRIGHT WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK ON THE CLIMATE ACTION AS WELL AS LOCAL FOOD POLICY.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AUDIENCES ARE AWARE OF THOSE AND UNDERSTANDING THE URGENCY OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BUILDING A MOVEMENT THAT CENTERS ON THE MOST MARGINALIZED, HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT BY DOING THAT, YOU GET THESE SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS AND YOU GET THEM UP AND RUNNING?

>> I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I'LL BE ASKING OUR PANEL.

I'M MODERATING THE MAIN PANEL THAT WE'LL BE HOSTING NEXT MONDAY.

BUT I THINK SOME OF THAT COMES DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE CREATING THINGS LIKE A CLIMATE ACTION FAN, WHO IS INCLUDED IN THOSE DISCUSSES, WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO HOW ARE THEY BEING REACHED AND HOW ARE RESOURCES REACHING THOSE COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY'RE TRICKLING DOWN FROM THINGS LIKE THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

>> Ted: INDEED, AND TECHNIQUES, I WOULD IMAGINE, THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO EVERY DAY LIFE, THAT HAS TO BE A BIGGY, AS WELL, CORRECT?

>> I KEEP TALKING ABOUT EXTREME HEAT BECAUSE IT'S ON OUR MINDS EVERY SUMMER.

>> Ted: SURE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST HAVING THE TOOLS TO ADAPT TO SOMETHING LIKE THE CLIMATE CRISIS, BUT YOU NEED ON A BASIC LEVEL, MONEY, MONEY TO PAY FOR AIR CONDITIONING AND NEED TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY BILLS.

YOU THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN CITIES ARE LOOKING AT ADDRESSING THE CLIMB CLIMATE CRUISE, CRISIS, THEY NEED TO FUNNEL THOSE.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS APPROACHES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, FROM WHERE YOU SIT AND FROM YOU'VE SEEN AND HEARD, ARE THOSE APPROACHES CHANGING?

ARE PEOPLE TAKING THIS MORE SERIOUSLY OR DO YOU HAVE A WAYS TO GO?

>> I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

I DO THINK THAT WE'VE TRUCKED TRANSITIONING TO THINK OF SOMETHING FROM THE FUTURE TO THE PRESENT.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS PARTICULARLY, LIKE, THE HUMAN IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

YOU THINK ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST WE'RE SEEING HOW WILDFIRES, WATER SCARCITY, HEAT ARE IMPACTING EVERY SUMMER AND EVERY YEAR.

AND SO I DO THINK, LIKE -- NOT JUST LOCAL LEADERS, BUT NATIONALLY, WE PASSED THE LARGEST PIECE OF CLIMATE LEGISLATION UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.

SO YOU THINK THAT IS A GOOD SIGN, THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE FUNDING TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOME OF THE PLANS.

ONE REALLY EASY ONE IS LIKE THE MOVE TO ELECTRIFY POWER TRANSPORTATION AND SCHOOL BUSES AND BRING MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES INTO OUR CITIES.

>> Ted: QUICKLY BEFORE YOU GO, WHEN AND WHERE ON THE EVENT?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

>> NEXT MONDAY AT ASU IN TEMPE AND A FREE EVENT.

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE BEST WAY TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND TO RSVP IS TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE, 19NEWS.ORG.

>> Ted: JESSICA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> CLASSICAL ARIZONA PBS, YOUR CLASSICAL MUSIC CONNECTION.

ON TV, LISTEN TO CLASSICAL PBS AND SURROUND ON DIGITAL 8.5 AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS APP TO LISTEN TO PERFORMANCES ON YOUR DEVICE AND VIEW VIDEO, PICTURES AND MORE AND DON'T FORGET TO KEEP UP WITH CLASSICAL ARIZONA PBS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

CLASSICAL ARIZONA PBS, YOUR CLASSICAL MUSIC CONNECTION.

♪♪ >> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, ISRAELI FORCES CLOSE IN ON GAZA CITY AND THAT'S COMING UP AT 6:00 ON "ARIZONA PBS."

>> Ted: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO GATHER FOR THE PHOENIX VETERAN'S DAY PARADE SET FOR THIS SATURDAY.

THE TIME OF THE PARADE IS "NEVER FORGET, FOREVER HONOR."

AND TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME, PAUL PEDENE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR HONORING AMERICAN'S VETERANS AND KIM ALEXIS SERVING AS THE CELEBRITY, GRAND MARSHALL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PARADE.

THE THEME, WHY THAT THEME AND HOW IS THAT DECIDED?

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> EVERY YEAR, THE TEAM GETS TOGETHER AND WE TRY TO LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING, CURRENT DAY AND WHEN WE HAVE A DRAW-DOWN OF TROOPS, WHEN WE'RE NO LONGER AT WAR, PEOPLE TEND TO FOR GET ABOUT OUR NATION'S VETERANS.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE MORAL INJURY AND THE PROBLEMS, THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SO THAT'S WHY WE PICKED THAT THEME, NEVER FORGET FOREVER.

>> Ted: PARTICIPANTS, WHO WILL WE SEE?

>> MARCHING BANDS AND MARCHING UNITS FROM THE ROTC GROUPS.

YOU'LL HAVE MILITARY HARDWARE AND YOU'LL HAVE A FLY-OVER.

WE'VE RENTED A BEAUTIFUL RED, RIGHT AND BLUE EAGLE BALLOON THAT TAKES 30 TONS OF HELIUM.

AND A LOT OF NOVELTY UNITS.

THE SUN CITY PROMS AND PAGEANT QUEENS AND TWIRLING ATHLETES.

WE HAVE HORSE UNITS AND THE GOVERNOR IS COMING, THE MAYOR IS COMING AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND SHERIFF.

>> Ted: VERY NICE!

AND KIM ALEXIS.

[ Laughter ] >> ISN'T THAT EXCITING.

>> Ted: HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> I WAS GETTING READY TO GO ON ANOTHER SHOW A MONTH AND A HALF AGO AND SHE WAS LIKE STALKING ME.

[ Laughter ] >> DO I KNOW HER?

ANYWAY, SHE ENDED UP TRACKING ME DOWN AND ASKING AND IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR AND, OF COURSE, I SAID YES.

>> Ted: I SAW A MESSAGE THAT ONE OF THE REASONS YOU DO THIS, YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE VETS TO BE THEIR BEST.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT MISSION?

>> WELL, WE CAN ALL STRIVE, NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE, TO BE OUR BEST IN ALL AREAS AND MY WHOLE MESSAGE IS, ANTIAGING WITH CLEAN LIVING.

SO IT'S MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES ON ANYTHING, WHAT YOU THINK TO YOURSELF, TALK TO, LISTEN TO AND ALL OF THESE THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR MAKING YOU EITHER FEEL BETTER OR WORSE ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> Ted: AND IT COMES FROM WITHIN, AS YOU SAY?

>> YES.

>> Ted: DOES BEING KIM ALEXIS, SUPER MODEL ICON GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

>> Ted: IT HELPS WITH THE PARADE.

THE PARADE ROUTES.

>> SOUTH ON CENTRAL, EAST ON CAMELBACK AND ENDS AT INDIAN SCHOOL.

>> Ted: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

>> AN HOUR AND A HALF AND WE HAVE 83 ENTRIES THIS YEAR.

SO A LITTLE BIT LESS.

WE USED TO HAVE 100 AND NARROWED DOWN AND SO IT'S AT BETTER LENGTH FOR US, SO AN HOUR AND A. A-HALF.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU GET?

>> ABOUT 45,000 PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND IT'S PACKED ON CENTRAL AND PACKED ON SEVENTH STREET.

THE CAMELBACK, YOU'RE FACING THE SUN.

IF WE HAVE LATE STRAGGLERS, GO TO CAMELBACK.

>> Ted: KIM, YOU SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE BACK IN THE 1980s AND WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON THOSE DAYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I REALIZE HOW MUCH I WORKED.

AND MY WORK WAS SUCH THAT I COULD LITERALLY SEE IT AND I HAVE BOXES BOXES OF SHEETS AND OLD COMMERCIALS AND COVERS AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE.

WOW!

I DIDN'T ENJOY MY 20s MUCH, BUT I GOT TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD AND ALWAYS BY MYSELF, BUT I DID JUST GET TO HAVE ALL OF THESE GREAT ADVENTURES.

>> Ted: DOES IT FEEL -- BECAUSE I ASKED THIS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS, ESPECIALLY YOUNGER AND NOT READY.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOU WERE A DIFFERENT PERSON BACK THEN?

>> OH, YES.

I CAN LOOK AT OLD INTERVIEWS AND WHO IS THIS?

>> Ted: WOW!

AND YOU, ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THIS.

IT'S VISUAL.

>> I GREW UP IN THE PUBLIC EYE IN A WAY.

AND THEN YOU DON'T WANT TO GROW ANYMORE.

>> Ted: HAVE YOU SERVED AS GRAND MARSHALLS FOR OTHER PARADES IN THE PAST?

>> M FIRST.

ANY TIME I SEE A FLY-OVER, I'LL START CRYING NOW.

TO ME, I HONOR EVERY SOLDIER I SEE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SERVICE PEOPLE IN ALL AREAS, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR MILITARY AND I JUST ENJOY THE PEACE THEY'VE GIVEN US AND APPRECIATE THEM.

THIS IS GIVING BACK.

>> Ted: AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE.

>> SHE'S BEEN SO GRACIOUS TO WORK WITH AND HAS BROUGHT THAT PATRIOTISM TO LIFE FOR MANY PEOPLE.

I REMEMBER WHEN I PUT THAT PICTURE UP FOR THE BOARD AND THEY WERE, LIKE, CAN WE GET HER.

>> Ted: AND YOU GOT HER.

AND THE START IS WHEN?

>> 11:00 A.M., SOUTH ON CENTRAL AT MONTIBELLO AND CAMELBACK AND THEN INDIAN SCHOOL WORK.

>> IT'S 11/11.

>> Ted: THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: AND I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪