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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR FROM ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY.

ALSO TONIGHT, AN UPDATE ON WATER LEVELS AT SRP RESERVOIRS.

AND A LOCAL NONPROFIT IS HELPING HOME BOUND SENIORS REMAIN INDEPENDENT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY ANNOUNCED SWEEPING NEW PROTECTIONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE U.S. FOR YEARS BUT ARE MARRIED TO AMERICAN CITIZENS.

NEW POLICY CALLS FOR UNDOCUMENTED SPOUSES TO BE SHIELDED FROM DEPORTATION GIVEN A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP AND THE ABILITY TO WORK LEGALLY IN THE U.S. TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE ON THE 12-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DACA PROGRAM WHICH GIVES PROTECTION FROM DEPORTATION TO THOSE WHO CAME TO THE U.S. AS CHILDREN.

>>> ARRAIGNMENTS FOR THE LAST OF THE 18 DEFENDANTS CHARGED IN ARIZONA'S FAKE ELECTOR CASE.

FORMER U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE JIM LAMON AND JENNA ELLIS AND BORIS EPSHTEYN.

AFTER THE HEARING, THE PROSECUTOR HANDLING THE CASE SAID THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ANTICIPATES THAT PLEA DEALS WILL BE OFFERED TO DEFENDANTS BUT DID NOT SAY IF ANY OF THE DEFENDANTS WERE COOPERATING WITH INVESTIGATORS.

>>> ECONOMIC NOTE, RETAIL SALES INCREASED LESS THAN EXPECTED.

ROSE 0.1% IN MAY WITH DECLINING SALES AT GAS STATIONS AND FURNITURE STORES AND SHOPS THAT SELL BUILDING MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT.

SPECIALTY STORES THAT SELL SPORTING GOODS, BOOKS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

>>> FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT PROJECTED TO HIT $1.9 TRILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE WHICH REPORTED THAT THE ESTIMATE IS 20% HIGHER THAN FEBRUARY.

MONEY FROM THE FDIC TO COVER BANK FAILURES FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR ARE A FACTOR AS ARE INCREASING MEDICAID COSTS AND DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, MOST OF WHICH GOING TO NATIONAL DEFENSE.

>>> A NUMBER OF WILDFIRES ARE BURNING ACROSS ARIZONA BUT FIRES ARE RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO NEIGHBORING CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO.

THIS IS A TIME-LAPSE VIDEO OF THE SOUTH FORK FIRE IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO.

SEVERAL THOUSAND RESIDENTS OF RUIDOSO ARE ORDERED TO EVACUATE.

DAMAGED 500 STRUCTURES WITH MANY HOMES REPORTED ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

FIRES BURNED OVER 13,000 ACRES AND 0% CONTAINED.

>>> IN CALIFORNIA, THIS IS ONE OF SIX MAJOR FIRES BURNING FAST AND THREATENING STRUCTURES FROM L.A. COUNTY NORTH OF SACRAMENTO.

GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY ARE PUSHING THE FLAMES.

EVACUATION ORDERS ARE IN EFFECT.

NO INJURIES REPORTED AS YET.

>>> GINA GODBEHERE A CANDIDATE FOR MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THE INCUMBENT IN THE CASE, RACHEL MITCHELL DECLINED INVITATION TO DEBATE.

EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE TO GINA GODBEHERE ABOUT BEING A CANDIDATE.

GINA GODBEHERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, SUPPOSED TO BE A DEBATE, NOT A DEPARTMENT, BUT AS WELL AS WE CAN DO AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE Q&A HERE.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHY ARE YOU RUNNING AGAINST A REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M RUNNING BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN AN EPIDEMIC OF LENIENCY IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING THIS IS NOT A DEBATE.

MY OPPONENT RACHEL MITCHELL WAS ELECTED BY YOUR VOTERS.

SHE DESERVES TO BE HERE AND TO BE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS OF WHY SHE'S IMPLEMENTED THESE POLICIES THAT ARE HURTING NOT ONLY THIS COMMUNITY BUT CRIME VICTIMS.

TO FEEL SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO DEBATE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE NEED TRANSPARENCY AND AT THIS POINT, MY OPPONENT HAS IMPLEMENTED THESE POLICIES THAT ARE HURTING OUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I'M A FOURTH GENERATION NATIVE, I'M A MOTHER AND SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHEN YOU HAVE THE LENIENT POLICIES, HOW IT'S IMPACTED THE CITIES AND CRIME VICTIMS.

TED: YOU DESCRIBED IT AS AN EPIDEMIC OF LENIENCY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> MEANS WE HAVE SEEN ALARMING NUMBER OF CASES TURNED DOWN OR SENT TO YOUR CITIES WHERE THE CITIES DO NOT HAVE SUPERVISED PROBATION SO THE PEOPLE ARE UNMONITORED.

WE'VE SEEN EXPANSION IN LIBERAL DIVERSION POLICIES HURTING CRIME VICTIMS AND DEMORALIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE NO LONGER HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE LIKE WE USED TO, SO WE ARE DEALING WITH THIS REVOLVING CRIMINAL DOOR OF JUSTICE THAT CONTINUES TO ARREST PEOPLE, RELEASE THEM, AND NOT ACTUALLY TREAT AND DEAL WITH THE ISSUES AT HAND.

>> YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR CAMPAIGN, YOU MENTIONED ESPECIALLY AN INCIDENT REGARDING A DRIVER PLOWING INTO SOME CYCLISTS, AND YOU SEEM TO BE SAYING THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DONE HERE BY WAY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER 19 PEOPLE AND KILL 2 AND INJURE A DOZEN OTHER ONES, AND EVERY FELONY CHARGE WAS TURNED DOWN.

I THINK THERE'S AN ARTICLE ABOUT THAT TODAY AND THE VICTIMS.

THEY DESERVE JUSTICE.

YOU CAN'T HAVE SOMEBODY WHO -- AND THE DRIVERS WERE GOING TWO BY TWO BY TWO IN A BICYCLIST LANE AND A TRUCK PLOWED OVER ALL OF THEM.

DIDN'T BRAKE, HE CLAIMED THERE WERE ISSUES WITH STEERING BUT NO CONFIRMATION OF THAT IN ANY OF THE ANALYSIS DONE, AND HE ALSO HAD MARIJUANA IN HIS SYSTEM, BUT CLAIMED IT WAS -- [AUDIO DIFFICULTIES].

IF YOU DRIVE OVER 19 BICYCLISTS KILLING TWO AND NOT AT A MINIMUM BE NEGLIGENT.

TED: IS THAT ONE OF THE VAGARIES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CONVICTION THERE BEFORE YOU GO DOWN THE FELONY TRAIL.

IF SHE WASN'T TOTALLY CONFIDENT, WAS SHE WRONG IN NOT GOING THERE?

>> I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

POLICE DISAGREED WITH HER SEA.

THE VICTIMS DISAGREED.

THE COUNSEL AND THE MAYOR OF GOODYEAR DISAGREED.

THEY ARE PART OF THE REASON I'M RUNG.

THEY ASKED ME TO STEP IN THE RACE, THEY ENDORSED ME.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD OF CONVICTION, IT DEFIES COMMON SENSE TO SAY YOU CAN DRIVE OVER 19 PEOPLE OVER THIS EXTENDED ROADWAY AND NOT BRAKE FOR OVER 5.5 SECONDS AND NOT BE NEGLIGENT.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REASON IS SHE DID NOT GO FOR FELONYS?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I'VE YET TO HEAR A GOOD EXPLANATION FROM HER, AND SHE'S RECENTLY THIS WEEK TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT TO A SITUATION WHERE SOMEBODY HIT ONE OF HER FRIENDS WHO WE KNEW, JUDGE MIRAZ WHO WAS IN A CROSSWALK AND SOMEBODY COULDN'T SEE BECAUSE OF THE SUN, THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN DRIVING OVER ALL OF THE BICYCLISTS IN THAT CASE.

TED: ANOTHER REASON IS PLEA DEAL FOR EX-PRISONS CHIEF CHARLES RYAN.

>> THAT IS CONCERNING, POLITICAL INSIDER WHO GOT A SWEETHEART DEAL.

YOUR JOB IS TO TREAT SIMILARLY SITUATED THE DEFENDANTS THE SAME.

YOU ARE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF JUSTICE.

WHEN YOU GIVE ONE DEFENDANT A DEAL THAT NOBODY ELSE WOULD GET, I GUARANTEE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN, I WOULDN'T HAVE GOT IT.

THAT'S WHEN YOU ERODE PUBLIC TRUST.

TED: JUDGE SAID HE APOLOGIZED, STILL A FELONY, STANDED AA MEETINGS, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE HANDLED THAT CASE?

>> AS A CLASS TWO, YOUR VICTIM POLICE OFFICERS ASKED THE COURT TO REJECT THE PLEA AND THE JUDGE WAS TROUBLED BY IT BUT WENT ALONG WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S DECISION.

AS A CLASS 2 THAT IS A 10 1/2 TO 21 YEAR FLAT TIME.

WHEN SHE CHARGED DISORDERLY CONDUCT BECAUSE SHE SAID IT WASN'T APPOINTING IT WAS WAVING, THAT WAS A MANDATORY PRISON PLEA.

SHE INSTEAD CHARGED DISORDERLY, DISMISSED THE ALLEGATION OF DANGEROUSNESS, DID NOT GO WITH NO AGREEMENTS TO ALLOW THE VICTIMS TO ARGUE FOR IT.

INSTEAD STIPULATED TO PROBATION WITH NO JAIL.

THAT IS TROUBLING.

I SPENT 25 YEARS IN THE OFFICE TRYING MOSTLY DANGEROUS, VIOLENT CRIMES.

NOBODY ELSE GOT A PLEA DEAL LIKE THAT.

TED: WHAT IS YOUR POLICY REGARDING PLEA OFFERS?

>> POLICY IS SUPPOSED TO BE -- IF IT'S A GUN INVOLVING A POLICE OFFICER, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PLEA TO THE CHARGE.

THAT IS THE POLICY FOR -- SINCE I STARTED IN 1996.

IF YOU USE A GUN IN AN OFFENSE, IT IS MANDATORY PRISON.

IN FACT, RACHEL MITCHELL HERSELF SAID WE MADE IT TOUGHER IF YOU USE A GUN IT'S MANDATORY PRISON.

SHE CHARGED THE CASE TO GET OUT OF THE MANDATORY PLEA AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRISON SENTENCE.

SHE CHOSE TO DO PROBATION, NO JAIL, BECAUSE SHE CLAIMED HE HAD BEEN USING ALCOHOL, VOLUNTARY INTOXICATION IS NOT A LEGAL DEFENSE AND NONE OF THE DEFENDANTS -- THE JUSTIFICATION IS NOT A DEFENSE.

SHE TREATED IT AS A LEGAL DEFENSE AND GAVE HIM A DEAL NOBODY ELSE GOT YOU.

>> RECEIVED ENDORSEMENT FROM FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH.

MARK BRNOVICH IS OUT OF FAVOR WITH THE MAGA WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THEY COMPLAIN HE DID NOT GO AFTER CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS REGARDING ELECTION PROBLEMS AND ELECTION CLAIMS.

DO YOU ACCEPT MR. BRNOVICH'S ENDORSEMENT, AND IF SO, WHY?

>> I ABSOLUTELY ACCEPT HIS ENDORSEMENT.

I'M HONORED TO HAVE HIS ENDORSEMENT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL BRNOVICH, WHEN HE WAS HERE, HE WAS A FIGHTER FOR VICTIMS HIS ENTIRE 30-YEAR CAREER.

I'VE WORKED WITH HIM, I KNOW HIS PASSION, HE SERVES ON THE CHILD HEALTH BOARD.

THE FACT THAT HE HAS ENDORSED ME BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT WE NEED SOMEONE, A FIGHTER, WE NEED A PROSECUTOR, NOT A POLITICIAN, AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

I SPENT 28 YEARS AS PUBLIC SERVANT PROTECTING THIS COMMUNITY AND CRIME VICTIMS.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND WORK TO FIX THE PROBLEMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE REAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED FROM HOMELESSNESS TO ADDICTION THAT WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE AND PRETEND EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

TED: DID MR. BRNOVICH DO ALL HE COULD TO PROSECUTE ALLEGED ELECTION CLAIMS AND CRIMES?

PEOPLE WERE SAYING THERE WERE CRIMES OUT THERE THAT HE ACTUALLY IGNORED AND THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE MOSTLY REPUBLICAN HERE.

>> THERE ARE CONCERNS HE DID NOT DO ENOUGH BUT PEOPLE WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH HIM HAVE BEEN DEFENDING HIM, SINCE HE ENDORSED ME TWITTER, AND SAID THAT A LOT OF THE DIFFICULTY IN THIS CASE WAS THAT THE MARICOPA COUNTY WAS NOT COOPERATING IN DISCLOSING THE DISCOVERY NEEDED SO HE COULD COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION.

I WAS NOT PART OF ANY OF THAT.

I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO HIM AS AN ATTORNEY AND SOMEONE WHO'S WORKED AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO HAS BEEN DEFENDING AND PROTECTING THIS COMMUNITY FOR DECADES.

TED: BUT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF SOME OF THE ELECTION GOINGS-ON, PUT IT TO YOU THAT WAY.

WOULD HAVE YOU PROSECUTED -- IF YOU WERE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AT THE TIME, WOULD YOU HAVE PROSECUTED ELECTION CRIMES AS THEY CAME TO YOU?

>> IF THERE WAS ANY EVIDENCE OF AN ELECTION CRIME, THAT IS MY JOB AS COUNTY ATTORNEYED TO BE INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE REGARDLESS WHO COMMITTED THOSE CRIMES.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THERE WAS NO PROSECUTION?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVIDENCE THEY REVIEWED OR DIDN'T REVIEW BECAUSE I WASN'T THE SITTING ATTORNEY.

IF PEOPLE BROUGHT TO ME EVIDENCE OF A CRIME, I WOULD INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE.

TED: BECAUSE THIS IS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, I WOULD ASK IF YOU STILL THINK THE ELECTION WAS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM RIGGED?

>> I THINK THERE WERE CONCERNS WITH THE ELECTION, JUST ARE FROM COMMON SENSE, I WATCHED THE LONG LINES, ISSUES WITH TABULATORS, WE HAVE TO WORK IT FIX THE ISSUES AND BUILD TRUST, AND THE WORST THING WE COULD DO IS RACHEL MITCHELL ASKING FOR SANCTIONS.

THE JUDGE FOUND ONE OF THE LAWSUITS BY KARI LAKE HAD MERIT.

HER TEAM BLAMED THE VOTERS, YOUR VIEWERS, WHO SHOWED UP ON ELECTION DAY TO VOTE FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE USED MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE.

THESE PEOPLE HAD A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS I WOULD NOT DO AND WOULD FIX.

TED: WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, AS FAR AS ABORTION CRIMES ARE CONCERNED, AND AGAIN THE 1864 LAW SEEMS TO HAVE PASSED, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT GETS PROSECUTED BUT THE GOVERNOR WANTS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TAKEST ON PROSECUTIONS, WHAT DO YOU MAKE ABOUT THAT?

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CANNOT REMOVE THE JURISDICTION OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO TRY CRIMES.

IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF ANY CRIME IN THE DEATH PENALTY AREA OR IN THE ABORTION AREA, I WILL PROSECUTE THE LAW AS THEY ARE ON THE BOOKS.

TED: GINA GODBEHERE, MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY CANDIDATE.

>> IF ANYONE WANTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ME, GO GINA FOR JUSTICE.COM.

THANK YOU.

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TED: SRP RESERVOIRS ON THE SALT OR VERDE VALLEY RIVERS ARE AT THE HEAVIEST USE PERIOD OF THE YEAR.

JOINING US NOW IS LESLIE MEYERS, ASSOCIATE MANAGER WITH SRP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: PAST COUPLE OF WINTERS HAVE HELPED, HUH?

>> TWO REALLY GOOD YEARS.

LAST YEAR WE WERE 100% FULL ON THE SYSTEM.

SO STARTING OFF THIS YEAR, WE STARTED OFF IN SUCH A GOOD CHARACTER, THOUGH WE HAD A PRETTY NORMAL YEAR THIS YEAR, WE'RE AT 90% FULL.

TED: HOW DOES THAT IMPACT FUTURE PLANNING LOOKING FOR FUTURE WATER USE AND STORAGE?

>> IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE.

WHEN WE MAKE PROGIONS TOWARDS NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER, WE HOPE WE, OF COURSE, HAVE ANOTHER GOOD, SOLID WATER YEAR, AND WHEN WE CAN START FULL, WE CAN PLAN ON BEING IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

TED: THERE'S AN EQUILIBRIUM AT PLAY HERE, IS THERE NOT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS -- A LOT OF IT IS CARRYOVER.

ONCE YOU GET THE RESERVOIRS FULL.

SO THE SYSTEM IS HIGHLY VARIABLE AND PART OF THE REASON WHY SALT RIVER PROJECT EXISTS IS THAT WE NEEDED RESERVOIRS TO GET THROUGH THOSE VARIABLE YEARS, WE HAVE VERY HIGH HIGHS AND VERY LOW LOWS, THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM ALLOWS US TO BALANCE THAT OUT.

>> YOU ARE WORKING ON STORAGE CAPACITY.

>> WE ARE.

WE ARE.

WE HAVE TWO RESERVOIRS ON THE VERDE SIDE OF OUR SYSTEM, AND WHEN THE WATER COMES DOWN OFF THE VERDE, LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN, SO PERIODICALLY WE HAVE THE HIGH WATER YEARS.

LIKE LAST YEAR, THE WATER COMES HARD AND FAST AND BRINGS A LOT OF SEDIMENT WITH IT.

STOPS UP THE UPPER RESERVOIR WHICH IS HORSE HOW AND DROPS ALL THE SEDIMENTS OUT AND OVER THE YEARS WE'VE LOST ABOUT HALF OF OUR CAPACITY THERE, SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS WE'VE DONE SOME ANALYSIS, A LOT OF STUDY WORK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS THE LOST CAPACITY, AND WHAT WE'VE COME AROUND TO IS PERHAPS BUILDING A LARGER DAM, ENLARGING THE LOWER DAM, BARTLETT DAMTO RECOVER THE CAPACITY IN THE LOWER DAM.

TED: MODIFIES BARTLETT DAM, AND RENEWABLE WATER RESOURCE TO AREAS OUTSIDE OF SRP'S WATER SERVICE TERRITORY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

SO WHEN WE -- OUR ORIGINAL PROJECT WAS ACTUALLY FARMERS IN OUR SERVICE AREA, PUT THEIR LAND UP FOR COLLATERAL TO BUILD ROOSEVELT DAM, AND THAT AREA WHERE THE FARMERS LIVED BECOME OUR WATER SERVICE AREA.

OUR WATER RIGHTS IN OUR SYSTEM BELONGS TO THE WATER SERVICE AREA.

AS WE MAKE THE NEW MODIFICATIONS, THEN, FOLKS CAN BRING IN NEW PARTNERS THAT CAN APPLY FOR THE WATER RIGHTS AND TAKE THE WATER OFF PROJECT, SO WHAT THIS DOES IS HELP US MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCES, LOSSES FROM SHORTAGES ON THE COLORADO RIVER, IT'S REALLY AN INCREMENTAL STEP TO BE ABLE TO MOVE WATER OUTSIDE OF OUR SERVICE AREA TO MAKE UP FOR SHORTAGES OF OTHER PLACES.

>> YOU MENTIONED SERVICE AREA, WHAT IS SRP'S SERVICE AREA, IN GENERAL?

I KNOW TEMPE IS PRETTY MUCH ALL SRP, IS IT NOT?

>> WE HAVE TEN VALLEY CITIES RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF TOWN, ABOUT 275 SQUARE MILES.

WE SERVE ABOUT HALF OF THE WATER IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA, AND IT'S A NICE LITTLE COMPACT AREA, AND IT'S, AS YOU KNOW, IT HAS VERY RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY.

TED: INDEED.

NOW THERE ARE PLANS TO EXTEND THE RELEASE PERIOD FROM ROOSEVELT DACHLT TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> ROOSEVELT DAMWAS MODIFIED IN THE EARLY 90s AND WE ADDED FLOOD CONTROL SPACE.

PHOENIX IS THE FIFTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY AND WE WERE CONSISTENTLY, WHEN WE WERE IN WET PERIODS, FLOODING OUT THE CENTER OF TOWN IN THE SALT RIVER, AND IN THAT FLOOD CONTROL SPACE, WE ADDED 25 FEET TO THE TOP OF THE DAM, AND MORE ON TOP OF THAT FOR SAFETY PURPOSES.

WE HAVE A WATER CONTROL MANUAL THAT IS DICTATED BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE WATER CONTROL MANUAL TELLS US WE HAVE TO RELEASE WATER FROM THE FLOOD CONTROL SPACE IN 20 DAYS.

WE DID SOME ANALYSIS WITH THE CORPS AND THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND DETERMINED IF WE COULD HOLD WATER IN THE BOTTOM FIVE FEET AND RELEASE IT IN 120 DAYS INSTEAD OF 20 DAYS, WE COULD ACTUALLY DELIVER THAT WATER TO BE USED INSTEAD OF JUST RUNG DOWN THE SALT RIVER, AND WE JUST GOT OUR APPROVAL FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, IT WAS DETERMINED IT'S RISK NEUTRAL, SO THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL RISK, AND IT'S A PILOT PROJECT FOR FIVE YEARS, AND WE'LL KICK IT OFF AS SOON AS WE GET FULL ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO USE THE DEVIATION.

TED: FEWER RELEASES.

HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT RIPARIAN AREAS DOWN THE WAY?

>> SO, IN GENERAL, WE TALKED ABOUT WE HAVE VERY HIGH HIGHS AND VERY LOW LOWS, IN GENERAL, IN A YEAR WE GET ENOUGH WATER TO GET IN THE FLOOD CONTROL PHASE, WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO BE RELEASING WATER INTO THE SALT RIVER EITHER FROM THE VERDE OR FROM THE SALT SIDE, BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO HOLD IT ALL, BUT IN THIS SPACE WILL BE JUST FOR THAT SPECIFIC SPACE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DRAW THAT OUT.

FOR INSTANCE, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS LAST YEAR, WE RELEASED ALMOST A FULL YEAR'S SUPPLY OF WATER INTO THE SALT RIVER BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH A GREAT WATER YEAR, SO WE WOULD RELEASE ABOUT 1/7 LESS THAN THAT BY USING THE FLOOD CONTROL SPACE.

THAT GIVES YOU A GOOD IDEA, THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE WATER IN THE SYSTEM, IN THE RIVER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO SOME OF IT.

TED: MAYBE NOT QUITE AS WIDE A CHANNEL.

LESLIE MEYERS, ASSOCIATE GENERAL MANAGER OF SRP, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: NEIGHBORS WHO CARE IS A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS SENIORS TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT, THE ORGANIZATION IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIORS TO GET TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND GO GROCERY SHOPPING.

JOINING ME IS SHERYL KEEME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF NEIGHBORS WHO CARE.

>> AN AGENCY THAT HAS SET ASIDE, ABOUT 13 DIFFERENT SERVICES SO THE FOLKS IN 32-SQUARE-MILE AREA IN SUN LAKES, SOUTH CHANDLER AREA CAN, AGE IN PLACE FOR AS LONG AS SAFELY POSSIBLE, AND WE CELEBRATE 30 YEARS THIS YEAR, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THE VOLUNTEER SERVICES WITH THE GENEROSITY OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

TED: BASICALLY HOME BOUND FOLKS UNABLE TO DRIVE BUT WANT TO STAY AT HOME, AGING AT HOME.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SOME MAY COME ON BOARD AS A CLIENT BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING A KNEE REPLACED OR HIP REPLACED AND RESUME LIFE AND STOP BEING A CLIENT.

>> INTERESTING.

TED: THEY'RE A FAIR AMOUNT, SAY 125, 130 WHO ARE HOME BOUND ALL THE TIME, DO NOT DRIVE ANY LONGER, AND CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, THEY NEED A LITTLE HELP.

>> AND THE HELP IS TAKING THEM TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, GROCERY SHOPPING?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, ERRANDS, NEED TO GO TO THE BANK, THE POST OFFICE.

WE ALSO OFFER SMALL HOME REPAIRS, WE HAVE HANDY MEN WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND THEY WILL CHANGE A LIGHTBULB OR PUT A FILTER IN FOR HEAT BUMP, AND WE DO FOLKS WHO CAN'T SEE TO MAYBE READ IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.

FOLKS WILL HELP THEM READ THROUGH COMPLICATED INSURANCE DOCUMENTS.

WE MAKE SURE THEY FEEL CONFIDENT THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOME AND BE SAFE.

TED: DINNER DELIVERY, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, AND ALSO ALL THIS STUFF SOUNDS LIKE CAREGIVER KIND OF STUFF.

SOMETIME THE CAREGIVER WANTS TO GO OUT TO DINNER AND TAKE A BREAK.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED IT.

CAREGIVERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE OFFER FREE RESPITE CARE.

EACH WEEK, A PERSON WHO IS CARING FOR SOMEONE THEY CANNOT LEAVE ALONE CAN GET A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR HAIR DONE, ONE FULL HOUR, OR THREE TWO HOURS A WEEK.

TED: WHAT ABOUT STOPPING BY AND SAYING HELLO.

IS THAT PART OF THE PROCESS?

>> IT IS.

THAT'S SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT SPEND AN HOUR WITH SOMEONE AND HAVE CONVERSATION.

ISOLATION WITH ELDERLY RAMPANT.

SO BEING ABLE TO SOCIALIZE FOLKS BY HAVING SOMEONE STOP BY OR HAVING REASSURANCE CALL EVERY MORNING OR ONCE EVERY OTHER DAY, WE HAVE FOLKS WHO DO THAT AND YOU DON'T NEED TO BE IN ARIZONA TO DO THAT.

TED: THAT'S TRUE.

FOLKS WITH PARKINSON'S, ALZHEIMER'S, DEMENTIA, MEMORY ISSUES, HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THIS?

>> LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE CAREGIVERS DEAL WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A FORM OF DEMENTIA.

THE VOLUNTEERS, MANY ARE RETIRED NURSES BUT DO NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ANYTHING.

NO ONE IS EXPECTED TO TRANSFER ANYONE OR TAKE THEM TO THE BATHROOM.

IT'S SITTING WITH SOMEONE AND KEEPING THEM COMPANY.

TED: THAT'S WHAT VOLUNTEERS DO, BUT VOLUNTEERS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, THEY CAN GO ON VACATION AND LOTS OF FOLKS GO ON VACATION IN THE SUMMER, DON'T THEY?

>> SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THAT.

OUR PARTICULAR AGENCY IS POSITIONED ON THE EDGE OF THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.

THERE'S ABOUT 12,500 HOMES ON THE END OF WHERE WE ARE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, LOT OF THEM ARE SNOW BIRDS.

LOT OF THEM HAVE HOMES IN NEBRASKA OR KANSAS AND SPEND THE SUMMER WITH CHILDREN OR THEY'RE ON VACATION OR VISITING THIS TIME OF YEAR.

WE LOSE ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOLUNTEER CORPS THIS TIME OF YEAR WHICH IS DESPERATE.

WE'RE HOPING FOLKS STEP UP FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HELP US.

IF EVERYONE DID ONE SERVICE A WEEK OR ONE EVERY TWO WEEKS, IT WOULD HELP US.

TED: HOW ARE VOLUNTEERS RECRUITED?

>> EVERY WAY WE CAN.

WE DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION FREE ON AGING.

FOLKS WILL BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT MAYBE THEY'RE SIGNING UP FOR SOCIAL SECURITY OR MEDICARE, WE VET A LOT OF SPEAKERS AND DO SPEAKER SERIES THROUGHOUT COMMUNITY AND DO ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND FOLKS MEET US AND WE HOOK THEM.

TED: YOU HOOK THEM, DO YOU MATCH THEM, THIS PERSON IS GOOD FOR THAT PERSON?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE THAT ARE A CERTAIN AGE ARE MATCHED WITH SOMEBODY THAT AGE.

IF SOMEBODY IS A WOMAN AND WANT ANOTHER WOMAN TO COME, WE HONOR.

THAT ANYBODY WE RECRUIT KNOWS THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND NEVER ASKED TO DO WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO.

TED: FOR THOSE WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON VOLUNTEERING AND THE PROGRAM, WHERE DO THEY GO?

>> THE FIRST PLACE IS NEIGHBORS WHO CARE.COM.

THERE IS ANOTHER NEIGHBORS WHO CARE IN MASSACHUSETTS, MAKE SURE IT'S NOT THAT ONE.

WE ALSO HAVE A PODCAST, CALLED SOLVING LIFE'S NEXT CHAPTER, YOU CAN FIND IT ANYWHERE YOU FIND PODCASTS OR ON THE WEBSITE.

TED: GREAT INFORMATION AND GREAT WORK.

SHERYL KEEME, NEIGHBORS WHO CARE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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