♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES JOINS US IN STUDIO TO DISCUSS A VARIETY OF ISSUES.

ALSO TONIGHT, INCREASING CONCER OVER A NOTICABLE DECLINE IN THE STATE AND THE NATION'S BIRD POPULATION.

AND, WE'LL LOOK AT HOW MENTAL COACHING CAN HELP ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, O "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> "ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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

I AM TED SIMONS.

THE EPSTEIN FILES CONTINUE TO GRIP WASHINGTON.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TODAY REPORTS THAT U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI INFORMED PRESIDENT TRUMP EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT HIS NAME APPEARED, QUOTE, "MULTIPLE TIMES," IN A REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN, A SEX-OFFENDER AND ONE-TIME FRIEND OF THE PRESIDENT.

THE JOURNAL'S REPORT CITES SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHO ALSO SAID THAT THE DOCUMENT INCLUDED OTHER PROMINENT NAMES.

ALSO TODAY, A FEDERAL JUDGE IN FLORIDA RULED AGAINST A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REQUEST TO RELEASE GRAND JURY TRANSCRIPTS OF THE EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION.

THE ADMINISTRATION WANTED THE TRANSCRIPTS RELEASED TO ANSWER INCREASING CRITICISM FROM MANY OF THE PRESIDENT'S SUPPORTERS.

BUT THE JUDGE RULED THAT RELEASING GRAND JURY INFORMATIO IS GENERALLY PROHIBITED EXCEPT IN NARROW CASES, AND THIS WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE.

OF NOTE, THE ADMINISTRATION ONL WANTED THE RELEASE OF INFORMATION LIMITED TO THE GRAN JURY CASE, NOT THE ENTIRE EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION, WHICH, AGAIN, INCLUDES MENTIONS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

ALSO OF NOTE, LATE TODAY A HOUS PANEL VOTED TO SUBPOENA FILES I THE EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION, AS THE PUSH FOR DISCLOSURE INTENSIFIES.

OTHER HEADLINES, THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR OF FEMA APPEARED TODAY BEFORE A U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE LOOKING INTO THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO THE DEADLY FLOODS IN TEXAS.

AMONG THOSE QUESTIONING FEMA'S ACTIONS, ARIZONA CONGRESSMAN GREG STANTON.

>> MR. RICHARDSON, YOU WERE NOWHERE NEAR TEXAS AT THE CRITICAL MOMENTS IN THE SEARCH AND RESCUE AND YOU DID NOT EVEN SHOW YOUR FACE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER THE FLOOD.

YOU ARE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THIS CRITICAL AGENCY.

YOU ARE THE LEADER.

BUT YOU DID NOT LEAD AS YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BY FEDERAL LAW.

BUT WORSE, YOU SEEM UN INTERESTED TO LEARN WHAT WENT WRONG AND HOW TO RESPOND BETTER.

DO THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS IN TEXAS DESERVE AN APOLOGY?

>> WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS WAS AN ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY.

HARD TO FATHOM.

I WENT TO TEXAS, I FLEW OVER, IT WAS' ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY.

MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE PEOPLE IN TEXAS.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS -- >> THAT WAS INTENDED AS A YES OR NO QUESTION I'LL TAKE THAT AS A NO.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WASN'T JUST INCOMPETENCE.

IT WASN'T JUST INDIFFERENCE.

IT WAS BOTH.

AND THAT DEADLY COMBINATION LIKELY COST LIVES.

>> THE FEMA CHIEF NOT ONLY DIDN'T APOLOGIZE, HE LATER SAID THAT HE DIDN'T THINK FEMA DID ANYTHING WRONG IN RESPONDING TO THE TRAGEDY.

AND ECONOMIC NOTE, HOUSING PRICES IN THE U.S.

JUMPED TO A RECORD HIGH LAST MONTH.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NATIONA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, WHICH REPORTS THAT THE MEDIAN PRICE O A PREVIOUSLY OWNED HOME HIT $435,000.

RECORD-HIGH PRICE HELPS EXPLAIN WHY HOME SALES WERE DOWN LAST MONTH, FALLING 2.7-PERCENT.

REALTORS POINT TO HIGH INTEREST RATES AS ANOTHER REASON FOR LAGGING SALES.

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES JOINED MORE THAN 20 LAWSUITS AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, MOST RECENTLY INVOLVING CHANGES TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND THE RELEASE OF FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDS.

TO TALK ABOUT THESE COURT ACTIONS AND MORE, WE WELCOME ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU TOO, TOO TED.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANKS TO TAKING TIME OUT FROM SUING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> TO BE PRECISE IT'S 24 TIMES.

>> I KNEW IT WAS MORE THAN 20 BUT IT'S MOVING FIGURE.

>> IT IS.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, YOU HAVE COME OUT VERY STRONG AGAINST ICE AGENTS WEARING MASKS WHEN THEY ARE APPARENTLY REPORTEDLY AND WHAT THEY SAY, IS DOING THEIR JOB.

WHY?

>> SO, LOOK, AS THE STATE'S TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I, YOU KNOW, THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS.

WHICH IS THAT REAL LAWMEN AND WOMEN DO NOT WEAR MASKS.

WE DON'T IN ARIZONA FOR THE MOST PART.

IN SOME VERY RARE CIRCUMSTANCES, IN MY OFFICERS, MAY SPECIAL AGENTS ARE GOING UNDERCOVER, OR DOING VERY SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIONS, WE'LL DO -- WE'LL WEAR MASKS OR NOT WEAR OUR IDENTIFYING INFORMATION -- OR IDENTIFYING BADGES.

BUT THAT HARDLY EVER HAPPENS.

AND SO THE PROBLEM IS THAT BY ALLOWING ICE TO WEAR MASKS, IT CREATES THIS SORT OF WHAT I THINK ARE SAFETY CONCERNS IN SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHO IS ARRESTING THEM.

WHO IS DETAINING THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE COPYCAT SITUATIONS WHERE CRIMINALS ARE, YOU KNOW, DRESSING UP LIKE ICE AGENTS AND IN SOME CASES, IN A COUPLE OF CASES, KIDNAPPING PEOPLE.

AND WE KNOW THE INDIVIDUALS IN MINNESOTA, THE LEGISLATORS WHO WERE ASSASSINATED, WERE ASSASSINATED BY SOMEONE WHO WAS, YOU KNOW, DRESSED UP LIKE A POLICE OFFICER.

IT'S UNSAFE AND IT ALSO DESTROYS TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WRIT LARGE I THINK.

>> YET D.H.S.

ICE, THEY THEY HAVE TO DO IT PROTECTS OFFICERS FROM ASSAULT.

PROTECTS THEIR IDENTITIES BEING SHOWN LINE, DOXING.

THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR DOXING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL LIVE WITH.

YOU KNOW, I GET DOXED, YOU KNOW, I GET THREATS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE LIVE WITH.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THAT AGAINST THE POSSIBILITIES.

-- THE OTHER POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE RAISED WHEN YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS.

FROM MY STANDPOINT AND I THINK THE STANDPOINT OF A LOT OF AGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND JUST LAW ENFORCE, POLICE OFFICERS, AND POLICE CHIEFS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO, THEY SAY IT'S NOT NECESSARY AND WE DON'T DO IT.

>> YEAH.

LAST POINT ON THIS.

ICE IS SAYING THAT'S A NICE ARGUMENT.

ICE WILL -- ICE AGENTS WILL CONTINUE WEARING MASKS.

>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE, I HAVE EXPRESSED DIRECTLY TO ICE THAT IN ARIZONA, I DON'T WANT TO SEE ABOUT US YOU KNOW IT'S NOT MY CALL PER SE.

>> IT'S YOUR CALL TO JOIN LAWSUITS.

>> INSTIGATE LAWSUIT SAYS.

THE OBAMA LAWSUIT INVOLVES CHANGES TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

STALK ABOUT THE CHANGES AND WHY YOU JOINED IN HERE?

>> MY CRITERIA FOR WHEN I DECIDED TO JOIN ARIZONA INTO A LAWSUIT AGAINST DONALD TRUMP AND THE ADMINISTRATION, ELON MUSK AND DOGE, ET CETERA, IS NUMBER ONE, DOES IT VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION?

IS IT UNLAWFUL?

AND NUMBER TWO, DOES IT HARM ARIZONA?

IN THIS CASE CLEARLY BOTH FACTORS WERE MET.

IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNHALF, IT VIOLATED THE A.P.A.

MANY OF THESE SITUATIONS MANY VIOLATE THE SEPARATION OF POWERS.

MORE THAN 400,000 PEOPLE IN ARIZONA, TED, WILL LIKELY LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE UNDER THE CHANGES THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNILATERALLY MADE WITHOUT CONGRESS'S APPROVAL.

>> THIS SHORTENS THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD.

INCREASES OUT OF POCKET COSTS.

I THINK IT KICKS DREAMERS OFF ACA AS WELL.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE INFLATED BECAUSE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO DO IS DO THE PAPERWORK, DO THE DOCUMENTATION, CROSS THE IS AND DOT THE TS.

>> LOOK, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SAYING.

BUT LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE DOING THEY ARE THROWING ROADBLOCKS IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE GETTING HEALTHCARE THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE DUE.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, TED, THEY ARE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR UNLAWFUL.

AS THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER OF ARIZONA, I HAVE TO FILE THAT LAWSUIT.

>> THIS WOULD ALSO, I BELIEVE, FORCE STATES TO DO SOMETHING TO PICK UP THE SLACK, DOES IT NOT?

>> YEAH.

IN A LOT OF THESE CASES, YES.

AND IN ALL OF THOSE CASES THEY ARE PICTURING THE STATES TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DUMP ON US.

AND, YOU KNOW, OUR LEGISLATURE, I DON'T HEAR ANY STIRRINGS OF OUR LEGISLATURE COMING BACK IN TO SESSION TO ADDRESS THIS OR ANY OF THE OTHER HOLES THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS BLOWING IN OUR BUDGET.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE EDUCATION LAWSUIT AND THE FUNDS SUPPOSED TO BE AHEAD RELEASED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH WAS RELEASED AND HOW MUCH ARIZONA GOT?

>> THEY SORT OF CAPITULATED ON THE 21ST CENTURY GRANTS.

THAT'S A SMALL PORTION OF THE ONE $32 MILLION IN EDUCATION THAT RIPPED AWAY FROM ARIZONA SCHOOLS.

THIS IS FUNDING THAT WAS ALREADY APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS.

WAS -- IS DUE TO THE STATES EVERY JULY 1ST, AND STATE SCHOOL ASKS SCHOOL CONTRADICTS RELY ON THIS FUNDING FOR EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, THIS WILL LEAVE PARENTS IN THE LURCH AS SCHOOL STARTS AROUND THE CORNER IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SUMMER PROGRAMS, TEACHER SUPPORT.

SAFETY OFFICERS WHO WE SEE, POLICE OFFICERS, WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP UNIT LAT -- UNILATERALLY DECIDED TO DO THIS.THE LAWSUIT IS BECAUSE IT IMPACTS ARIZONA, BUT IT WAS ENACTED ILLEGALLY.

>> IT WAS ENACTED ILLEGALLY.

THEY DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS, IT'S EYE VIOLATION OF THE SEPARATION OF POWERS.

ONLY CONGRESS CAN DO THIS.

IT WAS ALSO A VIOLATION OF SEVERAL OTHER STATUTORY PROVISIONS.

>> THIS AND THE OTHER LAWSUITS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AND THE STATE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH.

THE PRESIDENT SUPPORTERS WILL SAY IS HE IS THE PRESIDENT.

HE DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY, THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY, TO DO AS HE WISHING WITH THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

IS HE WRONG?

ARE THEY WRONG?

>> THAT'S A MONARCHY.

WE DON'T HAVE A KING IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ANTITHETICAL TO WHAT OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC AGS OR AG WRIT LARGE, I WISH WE HAD REPUBLICANS WHO WOULD JOIN US IN THE LAWSUIT.

WE ARE WINNING, TED.

WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THOSE 24 LAWSUITS.

WE HAVE WON 80% OF THEM.

BUT THE REPUBLICANS STATES, WHICH HAVE MEMBER CAN AGS ARE NOT FILING THE LAWSUITS WHICH MEANS THOSE STATES ARE GETTING HARMED REALLY BADLY.

>> THE FILING OF THE LAWSUITS.

YOU MENTIONED REPUBLICANS, REMEMBER CANS IN STATE ARE CRITICIZING YOU FOR SPENDING TIME DOING THIS AND POINT TO A RECENT POINT IN THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC REGARDING OPEN MEETING LAWS YOU CLOSED 100 MEETINGS.

LACK OF RESOURCES SIDE.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IF YOU WERE NOT INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE OTHER LAWSUITS YOU COULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF?

>> NO.

IN FACT, THE RECORD SHOWS THAT I VALUE HANDLED MORE OPEN MEETING LAW CASES THAN MY PREDECESSOR DID, WHO WAS A REPUBLICAN.

IN FACT, IT'S THE LEGISLATURE WHO IS NOT FUNDING MY OFFICE APPROPRIATELY.

WE CAME UNTIL TO OFFICE AND FOUND AN ENORMOUS BACKLOG.

I THINK OF MORE THAN 900 OPEN MEETING LAW CASES OR AID HUNDRED, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT HAD NOT BEEN HANDLED OR WERE SITTING DORMANT.

WE STARTED WHITTLING AWAY AT THAT.

MORE RECENTLY AS WE CONTINUED TO WORK ON THESE CASES, WE LOOKED AT THE ONES THAT WERE REALLY OLD, VERY STALE AND SENT LETTERS OUT AND SAID TO FOLKS, LOOK, YOU CAN REFILE THIS WITH US BUT WE THINK THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS TOO OLD.

THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT THAT'S A RED HERRING.

AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO THROW AT THE WALL AS I CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW.

>> HAVE ANY BEEN REFILED?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK ON THAT.

I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT, AGAIN, IT JUST SHOWS YOU THAT THEY ARE CASES THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SENT OVER IN THE FIRST PLACE PERHAPS.

OR JUST KIND OF RESOLVED THEMSELVES.

>> SO, AGAIN, WHEN CRITIC SAYS YOU ARE TOO BUSY DOING THIS, YOU CAN BE DOING THAT, YOU SAY?

>> LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING FROM PROTECTING CONSUMERS AGAINST FRAUD.

FROM REVIVING ANTITRUST LAW IN ARIZONA.

TO GOING AFTER THE SAUDIS AND THE WATER THEY ARE TAKING OUT OF WESTERN ARIZONA.

TO BEING THE AG WHO HAS SEIZED MORE FENTANYL THAN ANY OTHER ATTORNEY GENERAL IN ARIZONA HISTORY.

SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND SEE WHAT WE WERE ACCOMPLISHING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS PHONE JOG US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU TOO.

♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ >> I'M CHEF MARK, WELCOME TO CHECK, PLEASE, ARIZONA, THE SHOW WHERE ARIZONA RESIDENTS RECOMMEND THEIR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS.

>> IN THIS EPISODE, WE ARE FEASTING AT AN ITALIAN DELI, A EUROPEAN STYLE BISTRO AND MODERN CUISINE ALONGSIDE OLD WORLD COCKTAILS.

>> DELICIOUS TASTY.

>> CRISPY AND THE INSIDE WAS JUICY.

>> MORE FILLING THAN I ANTICIPATED.

>> TACKED FULL OF FLAVOR, TOO, I HAD THE SAME THING.

>> THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> IF YOU LIVE IN ARIZONA YOU KNOW THE STATE IS HOME FOR THE MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS AND NATURAL WONDERS IN THE WORLD.

THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT NONE OF THOSE, WE ARE VISITING THOSE LOCATIONS THAT ARE AMAZING IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

WHEN YOU MATE NOT HEAR ABOUT UNLESS YOU ASK A LOCAL FROM DEEP UNDERGROUND TO A MARCHY LAKE TO THE TALLEST LOOK OUT ON A MAIN, THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT HIDDEN GEMS.

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

>> THERE HAS BEEN AN ALARMING DECLINE IN BIRD POPULATIONS IN ARIZONA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ABOUT A THIRD OF ALL U.S. BIRD SPECIES OF HIGH OR MODERATE CONCERN.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS FROM ERIKA FLORES OF AUDUBON SOUTHWEST.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE THANKS PHONE JOG US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT'S THE 2025 STATE OF THE BIRDS REPORT.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND VERY ENCOURAGING HERE.

>> NO, AND ARIZONA IS ONE OF THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE STATES IN THE NATION AND EVEN IN ARIZONA WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE BIRD SPECIES.

>> WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

>> IT'S HAPPENING FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THE CHANGING CLIMATE.

HERE IN ARIZONA IT'S BEEN BET GETTING HOTTER, IT'S BEEN GETTING DRIER AND BIRDS REALLY RELY ON A STABLE CONDITIONS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO FIND FOOD AND ALSO BREED.

SO WHEN WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES, RISING TEMPERATURES, AND CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS, IT'S REALLY MAKING THEM STRUGGLE.

>> I WAS GOING SAY, SHIFTING HABITAT NOT JUST FOR THE BIRD, BUT FOR THE THING THE BIRD FEEDS ON, AND THE WHOLE CHAIN, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT.

SO BIRDS RELY ON OUR MONSOON RAINS AND OUR WINTER RAINS.

NOT ONLY FOR COOLER TEMPERATURES AND WATER, BUT ALSO FOR FOOD.

SO INSECTS AND WILD FLOWERS, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RUFUS HUMMINGBIRD IS A MIGRATORY BIRD AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WILD FLOWER BLOOMS AND SO WHEN THEY DON'T SEE THAT, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT RAIN, AND THAT TYPE OF TEMPERATURES, THEN THEY LOOK ELSEWHERE.

>> SO WATER SCARCITY OBVIOUSLY IS INVOLVED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHAT ABOUT JUST SIMPLE, OLD-FASHIONED POLLUTION, IS THAT A FACTOR?

IS THAT STILL A FACTOR?

>> YES.

IT'S POLLUTION, WILDFIRES, ALSO DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF THOSE ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO CHANGING THE CHANGE CAN GO HABITAT FOR BIRDS.

>> WHEN YOU MENTIONED DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT ABOUT LIKE TALL BUILDINGS?

ARE BIRDS -- JUST BIRDS FLAILING INTO BUILDINGS, IS THAT A FACTOR?

>> YES.

THAT'S ALSO A FACTOR.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO AS WELL AT THEIR HOME.

IS TO PUT DECALS ON THAT YOU ARE THEIR WINDOWS SO THAT THAT CAN HELP PREVENT BIRD COLLISIONS.

>> INTERESTING.

SO WHEN I WAS READING ABOUT THIS, CONTROLLING PESTS.

DISBURSING SEEDS, POLLINATING PLANTS.

THIS SORT OF BUSINESS, AS WE MENTIONED, THERE IS A CHAIN THERE.

ARE THE BIRDS AT THE WRONG END OF THE CHAIN OR ARE THE BIRDS -- ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A CANARY THE COAL MINE HERE?

>> BIRDS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR ECOSYSTEM.

AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT BIRDS HAVE, WE SHARE THAT ENVIRONMENT WITH THEM.

SO WHEN THEY ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM.

THEN WE NEED TO PAY A TENSION AND LISTEN.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

AND BIRDING ITSELF FOR ARIZONA, IN TERMS OF TOURISM, BIG DEAL, HUH?

>> BIG DEAL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF BIRDERS THAT GO ESPECIALLY TO SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA.

THERE IS -- WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT HABITATS HERE IN ARIZONA AS WELL, WE ARE THE GRASS LANDS, ARID LANDS, FORESTS AND RIVER SIDES AND THAT BRINGS ALONG BIRDS, BUT EVEN PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THAT REGULARLY LOOK FOR BIRDS, THEY HAVE BEEN NOTICING, YOU KNOW, THOSE BIRDS THAT I USUALLY SEE ALONG THE RIVERSIDE, I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM LATELY.

>> IS IT HAPPENING MORE IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE THAN OTHERS?

OR IS IT JUST GENERAL?

>> THIS IS A CROPS NORTH AMERICA.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE NOTICE IT HERE IN ARIZONA BECAUSE OF THE RISING TEMPERATURES AND THE CHANGING CLIMATE AS WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE STATE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, SO THE LOWER LEVELS OF ARIZONA, LOOKING AT THE DESERT AREA AS OPPOSED TO HIGHER LEVELS NOT ALL THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE HEAR, YOU CAN SEE A BIRD AND THAT BY IS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A CONCERN OVER THE BIRD.

>> WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE SPECIES HERE.

SO SOME OF THE MOST DECLINING BIRDS ARE ACTUALLY ARID LAND AND GRASS LAND BIRDS AND WE HAVE BOTH OF THOSE HERE.

>> YEAH.

OKAY.

THAT'S -- AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, YOU MENTIONED PUTTING STICKERS OR SOMETHING IN YOUR WINDOW TO KEEP A BIRD FLYING IN.

WHAT CAN THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER COULD DO?

>> THEY CAN MAKE THEIR HOME MORE BIRD FRIENDLY.

PLANT NATIVES, THEY CAN ADD FEEDERS TO THEIR GARDENS AND ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT A LOT.

KEEP YOUR CATS INDOORS BECAUSE THEY CONTRIBUTE TO A LOT OF BIRD DEATHS.

AND WE HAVE CONSERVATION PROJECTS, COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROGRAMS, WHERE THEY CAN HELP US COUNT BIRDS AND SURVEY BIRDS.

AND SUPPORT ALSO SUPPORT THEIR LEADERS AND POLICIES THAT HELP PROTECT HABITATS THAT HELP BIRDS AND PEOPLE.

>> AND I KNOW YOU REFERRED TO THIS ARE THEIR SPECIFIC PLANTS FOR SPECIFIC -- I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE MILK WEED GETS THE BUTTER FLIES.

SO WHAT KIND OF PLANTS ARE REALLY GOOD FOR BIRDS AGAIN IN GENERAL?

>> SO WE HAVE A PLANTS FOR BIRDS ON OUR AUDUBON WEBSITE.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> AND IT'S A REALLY GREAT TOOL WHERE PEOPLE CAN PUT THEIR ZIP CODE AND THEN THEY WILL SEE ALL OF THE NATIVE PLANTS THAT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THEIR AREA.

>> OKAY, THAT'S THE AUDUBON WEBSITE?

>> YES.

AUDUBON.ORG.

>> AUDUBON.ORG.

>> YES.

>> IS THERE ANY SENSE THAT THIS COULD TURN AROUND -- OR IS IT BASICALLY FOLLOWING THE CLIMATE LEAD?

>> SO BIRDS ARE VERY RESILIENT, WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE LISTENING WILL PAY ATTENTION AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.

AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE SAME ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY ARE SHARING WITH BIRDS.

AND THAT THEY WILL HELP US CONSERVE HABITATS FOR BIRDS AND PEOPLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ERIKA FLORES, AUDUBON SOUTHWEST GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, GOOD INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ >> I AM JEFF BENNETT, TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S LATEST EFFORTS TO BEAT CHINA IN THE A. I.

RACE BY CUTTING REGULATIONS.

THAT'S AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

ASK A LOT IS HEARD ABOUT THE PHYSICAL PART OF ATHLETIC WORKOUTS, BUT NOT AS MUCH ABOUT THE MENTAL SIDE OF ATHLETIC COACHING AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN GETTING THE MOST OUT OF ATHLETES.

JOINING US NOW IS HUNTER LESSARD, COFOUNDER AND HEAD MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH AT MAVERIX ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING GOING WITH THE MAVERIX.

YOU HAVE TALKING MENTAL PERFORMANCE ON FOR COACHING ATHLETES WHAT, EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS GETTING INSIDE THE MIND OF AN ATHLETE.

ESPECIALLY BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL.

WE PRIORITIZE OUR DEVELOPMENT IS IT'S A GAME OF FALL OUR A LOT OF KIDS SHUTDOWN AND ATHLETES SHUTDOWN AND WE SEE THIS AT THE BIG LEAGUE LEVEL.

SOMETHING THAT COMES IT MIND IS DAVID ORTIZ, BIG POPPY WITH THE RED SOX, HE GOT A BAD CALL IN A GAME, STRUCK OUT ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, BEATING THE PHONE AT THE ORIOLES PARK.

AND SO ALLOWING YOURSELF TO RESET AND NOT LET IT PLAY A ROAD DOWN THE ROAD THAT'S WHERE WE FOCUS.

>> COGNITIVE TRAINING BUT ALIGNING IT WITH PHYSICAL TRAINING.

HOW DO THE TWEEN MEET HERE?

>> THEY ARE ONE AND ONE.

IF ONE IS WORKING TOGETHER, OR ONE IS OFF.

THEN YOU'VE GOT AN ISSUE, RIGHT AND IF THEY DO BOTH WORKING TOGETHER, WE'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS SUCCESS.

IF WE LOOK AT ATHLETES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, NUMBER ONE, THEY ARE VERY PHYSICALLY TALENTED.

VERY PHYSICALLY GIFTED.

BUT THEY ARE VERY MENTALLY IN TUNE.

RIGHT?

THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE.

THEY ARE ABLE TO RESET.

AND THEY ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE IN THE MOVEMENT BEING IN THE MOMENT IS KEY.

>> BESIDES BEING IN THE MOMENT.

ARE THERE OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT PERFORMANCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, SELF DOUBT IS ONE THAT JUST CRUSHES PERFORMANCE.

FEAR.

>> IT REALLY DOES, DOESN'T IT?

IF YOU ARE ON THE GOLF COURSE AND FACING A PUTT AND YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO MISS IT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP MATTERS ANY AT ALL.

>> NOT AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR YOU CAN'T, YOU ARE RIGHT.

I THINK THAT WAS HENRY FORD THAT SAID THAT.

AND SO AS THESE ATHLETES, YOU KNOW, ARE IN THAT MOMENT, HOW ARE THEY TALKING TO THEMSELVES?

ARE ON THEY TALKING IN A POSITIVE WAY, OR IS IT A NEGATIVE AND DISEMPOWERING WAY.

THAT'S WHERE WE TRY TO ALIGN OURSELVES TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM.

POSITIVE, OPTIMISTIC.

THINKING IS SHOWN TO IMPROVE RESULTS.

>> GIVE US AN EXAMPLE.

LET'S SAY I'M A BASEBALL PLAYER AND COMING IN AND I'VE GOT THE TALENT BUT THE MIND IS ALL SMELLED UP HERE.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT THESE TWO THINGS ARE MORE COORDINATED?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE IS NO COOKIE CUTTER PROCESS.

MEETING THE ATHLETE WHERE THEY ARE AT.

I WOULD SAY DO THEY CARRY WITH CONFIDENCE?

HOW DOES THEIR BODY LANGUAGE LOOK?

NUMBER TWO, HOW ARE THEY RESPONDING TO FAILURE?

RIGHT, BECAUSE BE A GAME OF FAILURE, YOU'LL FAIL WAY MORE THAN YOU SUCCEED.

AND 7 OUT OF 10 TIMES, YOU ARE GOING TO GET OUT.

AND THAT STILL PUTS YOU IN THE HALL OF FAME AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

AND SO HOW CAN WE GET THEM TO BE MORE CONFIDENT ALIGNING THOSE TWO.

>> ARE THERE SPORTS, THOUGH, WHERE YOU DON'T -- ONE FAILURE AND YOU ARE OUT.

I MEAN, BALLGAME.

YOU KNOW.

IF YOU MISS THE HEIGHT OR THE JUMP OR GYMNASTICS YOU DON'T DO IT FOR THE FLIP OR WHATEVER.

YOU ARE GONE.

YOU ARE AUDIOS.

DOES THAT MEAN DIFFERENT KINDS OF TRAINING, MENTAL TRAIN SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS DIFFERENT VISUALIZATION TECH MAKES, WE DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES, OPEN EYE, CLOSE EYE.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MANY?

>> WE TAKE THEM THROUGH BREATHING PRACTICES, THEY CLOSE THEIR AS AND IMAGINE THEMSELVES HAVING SUCCESS BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

THERE WAS A REALLY COOLED STUDY DONE AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY WHERE THEY TOOK THREE HE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, GROUP "A", GROUP "B" GROUP "C" GROUP "A" SHOT FREE-THROWS AND PRACTICED.

GROUP "B" DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL.

GROUP "C" THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED TO PRACTICE IN THEIR MIND.

BUT THEY WERE NOT ACTUALLY ABLE TO TAKE A SHOT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE 30 DAYS, GROUP "A" BEING THE PHYSICAL SHOOTERS, IMPROVED THE MOST.

I THINK IT WAS 24%.

GROUP "B" DIDN'T IMPROVE MUCH.

GROUP "C" IMPROVED 22%.

>> WOW.

>> SO LOOKING AT THOSE STATISTICS, HOW MUCH DOES THE MIND PLAY IN TERMS OF OUR RESULTS.

>> GETTING "A" AND "C" TOGETHER IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SUBCONSCIOUS, HOW MUCH DOES THE SUBCONSCIOUS PLAY INTO THIS, YOU CAN SAY AND TALK TO YOURSELF ALL UP, BUT I WILL STILL MISS THAT PUT?

>> YOU'VE GOT THE CONSCIOUS MIND AND THE UNCONSCIOUS, 70% WERE THE STATISTICS EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE PROGRAMMED WITH IS NEGATIVE AND LIMITED.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO TRAIN THEM TO BE MORE POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC THEY ARE GOING UP AGAINST THAT PROGRAMMING AND CONDITIONING THEY DIDN'T GET IT FROM THEMSELVES GOT IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, MAYBE SCOOP THE SCHOOL PARENT, FRIENDS SOMEBODY THAT CARED AND SAID THAT'S TOO BIG OF A GOAL OR YOU ARE NOT FAST ENOUGH.

THEY TAKE THAT IN AND OWN THAT.

AND SO GETTING THEM TO START TO REALIZE THAT THAT'S NOT MINE, I CAN CHOOSE THE WAY I WANT TO THINK, THE WAY I WANT TO FEEL AND CAN I ALIGN MY ACTIONS IN A MANNER GETTING ME TO WHERE I WANT TO GO.

>> REAL QUICKLY, DOES THIS THOUGHT, MENTAL TRAINING CHANGE WITH TALENTS LEVEL.

>> YEAH, LIKE I SAID EARLIER YOU HAVE TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT.

BIG LEAGUER A WHOLE DIFFERENT PLACE THAN A 10-YEAR-OLD AT OUR CAMP RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT, TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AN ADULT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE BIG LEAGUES, BUT WANTS TO BE THE BEST.

IS THAT THE SAME.

>> YES.

PEAK PERFORMANCE.

IT'S THE NEXT WAVE.

>> THIS IS REALLY FASCINATING STUFF.

IT'S SO DIFFERENT THAN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY.

IT'S THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT HERE.

AND IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE MAKES A DIFFERENCE, HUNTER LESSARD MAVERIX ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANKS PHONING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I AM TED SIMONS, THANK YOU EACH FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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