>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TOM HORNE JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT AMONG OTHER THINGS THE DISMISSAL OF HIS LAWSUIT ON LANGUAGES IN SCHOOLS AND THE APS RATE HIKE AND THE BRAND NEW STATE OF THE ART FACILITY FOR PETS.

THOSE STORIES AND NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

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

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY RELEASED HIS PROPOSED BUDGET.

IT'S A 7.3 TRILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

OF NOTE, THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR TAX INCREASES ON BIG CORPORATIONS AND THE WEALTHY.

>> WE HAVE A THOUSAND BILLIONAIRES IN AMERICA.

THAT'S NOT A BAD THING PER SE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR AVERAGE TAX RATE IS?

8.2% TAXES.

ANYBODY WANT TO TRADE THEIR TAX RATE?

I'M SERIOUS.

IF WE JUST CHARGE THEM, HAD A TAX CODE THAT CHARGED THEM 25%, NOT THE HIGHEST RATE, 25%, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WOULD RAISE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS?

$400 BILLION.

>> THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL ALSO CALLS FOR NEW SPENDING ON SOCIAL PROGRAMS ALONG WITH EFFORTS TO FIGHT INCREASING HOUSING AND COLLEGE TUITION COSTS.

A NEW STUDY BY THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FINDS THAT MORE THAN A THIRD OF TEENAGERS THINK THEY SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR PHONES.

ABOUT 40% OF TEENS SURVEYED SAID THAT THEY NEED TO CUT BACK, BUT ADMIT THEY FEEL ANXIOUS WITHOUT THEIR PHONES.

THAT SAID OVER HALF OF THOSE SURVEYED ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR SCREEN TIME AND FEEL NO NEED TO UNPLUG AND TWO-THIRDS OF TEENAGERS BELIEVE THE BENEFITS OF USING A SMART PHONE OUTWEIGH ANY POTENTIAL HARM.

IN CASE YOU HADN'T NOTICED DAY LIGHT SAVING TIME STARTED OVER THE WEEKEND.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED IN ARIZONA WE DON'T MOVE OUR CLOCKS FORWARD IN THE SPRING AND BACK IN THE FALL MUCH LIKE MOST OF THE COUNTRY.

OKLAHOMA SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD SAYS IT'S TIME FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TO CHANGE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ANNOYED BY IT.

A RELIC OF WORLD WAR I WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO SAVE LAMP OIL.

LET'S ACTUALLY FLICK OUR LIGHTS ON AND WE CAN DO THIS.

AND IN ARIZONA THEY'VE DONE THIS FOR YEARS AND SOMEHOW THEIR KIDS ARE STILL GETTING TO SCHOOL ON TIME, COMMERCE IS STILL HAPPENING AND TODAY IN ARIZONA THEY'RE NOT WAKING UP WITH A CLOCK THAT'S MESSED UP.

>> WE MAY NOT MOVE OUR CLOCKS, BUT WE ARE NOW EFFECTIVELY ON PACIFIC STANDARD TIME DUE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CHANGING.

A MARICOPA COUNTY COURT JUDGEDY R DISMISSED SUPERINTENDENT TOM HORNE'S LAWSUIT CALLING FON SCHOOLS TO STOP USING DUAL LANGUAGE FOR THOSE STUDENTS YET TO MASTER ENGLISH.

HERE IS SUPERINTENDENT TOM HORNE.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, WE'VE DONE THIS MANY TIMES.

>> QUITE A BIT OVER THE YEARS.

THIS TIME WE'RE TALKING OFF THE BAT ABOUT THE DISMISSAL OF THE LAWSUIT.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YES, YES, SO THE INITIATIVE WHICH WAS PASSED BY OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF VOTERS SAID THAT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS SHALL BE TAUGHT ENGLISH BY TALKING IN ENGLISH AND ALL STUDENTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS.

THAT DIDN'T COME UP IN THE CASE AND IN THE MERITS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION THAT CAUSED ME TO NAME HER AS A DEFENDANT EXPRESSLY SAID SHE WAS NOT GOING TO REACH THAT QUESTION.

THE POINT OF THE JUDGE'S DECISION, THEY DID NOT ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INITIATE LAWSUITS.

I FELT THERE WAS AN IMPLIED DUTY TO DO THAT BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF DUTIES TO SUPERVISE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING.

SHE DIDN'T AGREE, BUT THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT MUCH WORSE FOR THOSE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE INITIATIVE PROVIDES THAT ANY PARENT CAN SUE ANY STATE -- ANY SCHOOL IN THE STATE OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE AND IF SHE SUCCEEDS, WHICH SHE WILL BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR LANGUAGE IN THE INITIATIVE, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT LOSE THEIR JOBS, THEY CAN'T RUN UP FOR ELECTION AGAIN FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO, I TRIED TO BRING DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACTION JUST TO HAVE THE COURT DECLARE WHAT THE LAW WAS SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THOSE KINDS OF CONSEQUENCES, BUT THEY CHOSE TO FIGHT ME SO NOW THEY'LL HAVE THE CONSEQUENCES.

WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SUE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND BRING THE GOVERNMENT -- I KNOW YOU SAID IMPLIED THERE, BUT A STRAIGHT SHOT.

>> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS A BOARD THAT I SERVE ON AND THE DIRECTOR ASKED ME NOT TO AND I FOLLOWED WHAT HE ASKED FOR.

>> OKAY, INTERESTING.

YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE INITIATIVE SAYS X, BUT IN 2019 THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE SAID Y.

THEY SAID THERE WERE-- THEY GOT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO COME UP WITH FOUR PLANS, ONE OF THOSE PLANS INCLUDES DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNING.

WHY DOES THAT NOT APPLY HERE.

>> THE LEGISLATION DIDN'T MENTION DUAL LANGUAGE OR BY LINGUAL.

THEY SAID COME UP WITH MODELS AND IMPLIED LEGALLY.

NOBODY CAN OVERRULE AN INITIATIVE PASSED BY THE VOTERS, NOT THE GOVERNOR, NOT THE LEGISLATURE, NOT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, NOT ME.

I'M OBLIGATED TO ENFORCE AN INITIATIVE THAT'S PASSED BY THE VOTERS.

SO WHEN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SAYS THERE ARE FOUR MODELS, THEY'RE OKAY, THE GOVERNOR SIGNS OFF, THE LEGISLATURES PASSES AND GOVERNOR SIGNS FOUR OKAY.

AND ONE INCLUDES DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM, YOU'RE SAYING THEY CAN'T.

>> THEY CAN'T BECAUSE OF THE INITIATIVE.

LET ME JUST SAY THIS, THE INITIATIVE HAS A PROVISION FOR WAIVERS WHERE STUDENTS HAVE TO LEARN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ENGLISH AND IF THE PARENTS SIGN A WAIVER THEY CAN GO INTO DUAL LANGUAGE.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE-- THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TOLD THE MEDIA THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY FOR ME TO REQUIRE WAIVERS.

IT WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO SAID THAT I COULD NOT REQUIRE WAIVERS.

SO I DON'T SEE THE CONFLICT WITH THE BOARD.

THE CONFLICT IS REALLY WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> LAST QUESTION ON THIS THERE'S HAD A LOT GOING ON HERE AND YOU MORE THAN ONE OCCASION EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE WITH THE IDEA OF DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNING.

>> YES.

>> WHY?

WHY, BECAUSE A LOT OF EDUCATORS THINK IT'S WORKS AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IN 2019 THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE SAID BOARD OF EDUCATION, DO SOMETHING AND ONE MUCH THOSE THINGS THAT THEY DID WAS ALLOW FOR THIS MODEL BECAUSE THEY SAY IT WORKS.

>> THE DATA TOTALLY DISPROVED THAT.

WHEN I TOOK OFFICE THEY HAD BILINGUAL AND MY TWO PREDECESSORS DIDN'T ENFORCE THE LAW.

AND THE RATE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING ENGLISH AND BECOMING PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH WAS A PATHETIC 4%.

I BROUGHT IN STRUCTURED ENGLISH IMMERSION AND GOT UP TO 31%.

AFTER I LEFT OFFICE IT TRAILED OFF AGAIN, SO WE HAVE LOTS OF-- AND WE HAVE RECENT DATA ALSO SHOWING THAT THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE STRUCTURED ENGLISH IMMERSION DO FOUR TIMES AS SWELL AS DUAL LANGUAGE AND KIDS LEARNING ENGLISH, AND THEN GO INTO THE CLASSROOM.

>> AND SOME OF THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED, BUT THIS IS MY LAST POINT ON THIS.

>> NOT THE FIRST TIME AROUND.

>> THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM SAY THIS WORKS.

WHY WOULD THEY SAY IT WORKS WHEN IT DOESN'T.

>> IT'S IDEOLOGY, TED.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE STUDENTS LEARNING ENGLISH AND ACADEMICALLY, STRUCTURED ENGLISH IMMERSION IS BY PROVEN DATA THE WAY TO GO.

BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEOLOGY THAT CONTRADICTS THAT.

I THINK THE INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS SHOULD PREVAIL OVER IDEOLOGY.

ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S THE LAW AND EVERYBODY SHOULD BE OBEYING THE LAW, ESPECIALLY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> WELL, OKAY.

THE ACADEMIC FOCUS ATTESTTATION, THE SURVEYS, I WANT TO TOUCH ON THOSE AS WELL.

>> SURE.

>> BECAUSE A LOT OF SCHOOLS SAID TO HECK WITH THE SURVEYS, WE'RE IGNORING THEM.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO FILL THEM OUT.

THEY'RE POLITICAL.

NOTHING GOOD COMES OUT OF THEM HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> NOT-- THEY DID RESPOND THEY'RE DOING CRITICAL RACE THEORY, THEY DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO DO THAT OR EXCESSIVE EMOTIONAL LEARNING OR THEY'RE NOT ENFORCING DISCIPLINE.

IT'S A MATTER OF TRANSPARENCY, I HAVE A DUTY-- TRANSPARENCY IS MY THING.

I WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AND SO, FOR THOSE MINORITY OF SCHOOLS THAT DID NOT RESPOND, WE'RE PUTTING IN RED LETTERS, REFUSED TO RESPOND.

THE PARENTS WILL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> YOU SAY 77% RESPONDED AND I'VE GOT MORE THAN A THIRD DID NOT RESPOND.

EVEN MY MATH TELLS ME MORE THAN A THIRD IS NOT 77.

>> I CHECKED THE NUMBER AND EVERY DAY WE GET RESPONSES.

>> WHAT'S THE PURPOSE?

A BETTER DEFINITION WHO WILL COT AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION MORE THAN HALF DIDN'T RESPOND TO THAT.

THEY'RE SAYING IT'S NOT CREDIBLE.

>> THAT'S A SMALL MINORITY.

YOU'VE GOT IDEOLOGICAL EDUCATORS IN THE STATE AND IT'S A SMALL MINORITY.

ACTUALLY I HAVE THE NUMBERS, THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS ON THE HOLOCAUST SURVEY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE-- >> I WAS ORIGINALLY TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> HOLOCAUST, 83% OF SCHOOLS RESPONDED.

>> COULD YES OR NO ANSWERS THOUGH, AS THEY SAY, DO THEY HAVE A POINT WHEN THEY SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHICH IS SO STEEPED IN-- >> A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD COMMENT.

>> BUT IT'S STILL YES OR NO.

WHY EVEN GO IN THAT, WHY DO THAT?

>> TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

>> COULD IT NOT BE MISLEADING?

>> NO, BECAUSE THERE'S A BOX-- THEY BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION.

OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE A BOX WHERE YOU CAN EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

THERE ARE PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, AT ARIZONA REPUBLIC WHO SAY CRITICAL RACE THEORY ISN'T TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WELL, THOSE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T RESPOND, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT IT IS BEING TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOL.

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, BUT EDUCATORS SAY THAT THE ENTIRE PROCESS BREEDS CONFUSION, DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> WHAT BREEDS CONFUSION?

>> TELLING THE PARENTS IT'S YES OR NO.

>> BUT THEY CAN EXPLAIN.

>> YOU'VE STILL GOT TO DO A YES OR NO.

>> IT'S NOT MISLEADING.

THE PARENTS NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS.

>> DO THEY NOT NOW.

>> NO, A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T.

THEY NEED TO KNOW IF THEIR STUDENTS ARE BEING TAUGHT CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR IF THEIR STUDENTS ARE BEING TAUGHT INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL MATERIALS.

IF THEIR STUDENTS HAVE EXCESSIVE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING THAT DISTRACTS FROM ACADEMICS.

WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE I SAID I WOULD GET BACK TO ACADEMICS AND AWAY FROM DISTRACTIONS.

THESE ARE DISTRACTIONS, WE SHOULD HAVE THE SCHOOLS TEACHING ACADEMICS BELL TO BELL.

EVERY MINUTE OF INSTRUCTION IS PRECIOUS.

>> DON'T TEACHERS HAVE TO ATTEST TO THAT.

DON'T DISTRICTS HAVE TO ATTEST THAT THEY ARE TEACHING TO STATE CURRICULUM?

DON'T THEY HAVE TO DO THAT ALREADY?

>> THAT THEY'RE TEACHING THE STANDARDS.

>> YES.

>> BUT THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH TIME ARE THEY SPENDING DOING IT?

MY HEROES ARE BIOLOGY TEACHERS WHO LOVE BIOLOGY AND HISTORY TEACHERS WHO LOVE HISTORY AND THEY COMPLAINED TO ME THEY WANTED TO TEACH THEIR SUBJECT BELL TO BELL.

BUT WITH THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE, THEY SAID THEY WERE HAVING TO TEACH GAMES TO KIDS.

-- >> WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND.

WE HAD FIVE DEFENDANTS DEFRAUDING THE PROGRAM.

AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS IT'S RIPE FOR ABUSE.

AND THIS STARTED BEFORE YOUR TENURE, YOU SAID.

BUT IT WAS THERE DURING YOUR TENURE.

AND PEOPLE SAY THIS IS PROBABLY GOING ON MORE SO.

>> I'M GLAD YOU HAD A CHANCE FOR ME TO ADDRESS THIS.

I WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND I PURSUED FRAUD.

WE HAVE-- WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, I HIRED AN AUDITOR AND AN INVESTIGATOR TO ROOT OUT FRAUD IN THE SA AND I'M THE FIRST PERSON TO EVER DO THAT AND WE HAVE -- OF THE CASES SHE HAS, WHICH SHE HAS REALLY MORE THAN THAT, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOUND ALL BUT ONE AND THE ONE EXCEPTION WAS FOUND BY A CREDIT UNION.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOUND NONE AND THE -- LET ME TELL YOU THOUGH, I HOPE THEY GO TO PRISON.

THE EMPLOYEES.

THEY WERE EMPLOYEES HIRED BY MY PREDECESSOR, FIRED BY ME.

TED LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> QUICKLY.

>> THIS IS AN ATTACK BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON PARENTS' RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

I SPEND 90% OF MY TIME AND EFFORT TO FOCUS ON GETTING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO GET BETTER, TO HELP THEM GET BETTER ACADEMIC RESULTS, BUT EVEN A GOOD SCHOOL DOESN'T MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THE KIDS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ATTACKING THE LACK OF GUARDRAILS HERE.

DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE GUARDRAILS ON-- >> SENDING PEOPLE TO PRISON IS A GUARDRAIL.

HAVING A AUDITOR AND AN INVESTIGATOR, WE ROOTED IT OUT AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU, WE HAVE FAMILIES WHERE THEY HAVE THREE KIDS, TWO OF THEM ARE DOING FINE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT ONE OF THEM, ONE OF THEM HAS SPECIAL NEEDS AREN'T BEING MET AND THE PARENTS CAN SEND THEM TO A SCHOOL THAT DOES MEET THE NEEDS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ATTEMPT TO LIMIT THAT CHOICE IS HEARTLESS IN THE SERVICE OF IDEOLOGY.

>> AND TOM HORNE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, A PLEASURE TOFR HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU, TED, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> IF YOU'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO MEET ME, I'M PROUD TO BE YOUR NEW GENERAL MANAGER.

OUR CHALLENGE IS NOT TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO WATCH NECESSARILY.

IT'S REALLY TO GET THEM TO ENGAGE WITH US IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AS WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN REFLECT THE COMMUNITY BETTER, WE CAN REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY BETTER AND WE CAN BECOME MORE OF A PART OF IT.

>> A LITTLE-- ♪♪ ♪♪ YOU'RE GOING TO BE A BIGGER STAR.

STAR.

>> THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OF US.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION RECENTLY VOTED TO APPROVE A RATE HIKE FOR APS CUSTOMERS.

COMMISSIONERS ALSO GAVE THE GO AHEAD ON A CONTROVERSIAL SURCHARGE FOR CUSTOMERS WITH ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS.

AND RUSS WILES HAS BEEN COVERING IT FOR AZCENTRAL.COM.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY THEY WANTED THE RATE HIKE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> BASICALLY, I THINK THE MATH IS, THEY'RE BUILDING THE ELECTRICAL GRID AROUND ARIZONA, A LOT OF GROWTH, AS YOU KNOW, POPULATION AND BUSINESS.

AND THEY BORROW MONEY FOR A LOT OF THAT.

THEY GO BACK TO THEIR RATE AND IT KIND OF REQUESTING THEIR RATES IN ARREARS OR IN RETROSPECT.

THIS RATE CASE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO SO IT'S TAKEN A COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THEM TO KIND OF RECOVER THOSE COSTS.

>> SO, BASICALLY -- FROM WHAT YOU'RE REPORTING FROM, WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S THAT THEY NEED TO REASSURE LENDERS THAT EVERYTHING'S OKAY, KEEP IT COMING?

>> WELL, YES, AND APS HAS A LOT OF DEBT AND THE PARENT COMPANY PINNACLE WEST.

NOT UNUSUAL FOR UTILITIES, FOR A LOT OF CORPORATIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT AN A-RATED CREDIT COMPANY.

THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE B-RANGE, TRIPLE B PLUS.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK-- APS PRESIDENT TED GUYSLER KIND OF ALLUDED DURING THE CORPORATION COMMISSION MEETING THAT THEY WANT TO ASSURE WALL STREET THAT THEY CAN BORROW THE MONEY ON GOOD TERMS AND PART OF THAT IS GETTING THE RATE INCREASES OR THE RATE RELIEF OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, APPROVED BY THE REGULATORS.

>> INTERESTING.

A PUBLIC COMMENTS, WHAT DID YOU HEAR DURING THE RATE CASE.

WHAT WAS HEARD AND HOW MUCH WAS THAT -- I MEAN, DO-- >> HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY.

WHAT WAS THE OVERRIDING SENTIMENT ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THAT THE COMMISSION, THERE'S BEEN A CORPORATION COMMISSION SAID THEY RECEIVED MORE THAN 2000 COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

I DIDN'T READ THOSE, BUT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 22ND APPROVED THIS RATE HIKE FOR APS CUSTOMERS.

IT WAS A 11-HOUR DEAL.

THERE WAS A 11-HOUR SESSION.

AT ONE POINT DURING THE MEETING CHAIRMAN JIM CONNOR SAID HE WANTED TO WRAP THIS UP BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

NOBODY LAUGHED, IT WASN'T A JOKE.

IT WAS A LONG COMMENT.

THERE WERE 28 PARTIES, BUT I COUNTED 45 SPEAKERS GOT UP AND SAID SOMETHING INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONERS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD SAY.

IT SEEMS THERE WAS UNCERTAINTY HOW MUCH THIS WOULD AFFECT THE CUSTOMERS.

>> ONE OF THEM WAS THE NEW CONTROVERSIAL SOLAR SURCHARGE.

THIS MONTHLY FEE THAT CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE SOLAR ROOF TOPS, ELECTRIC GENERATING, HAVE TO PAY.

>> YOU COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW IT WAS GOING TO HIT AS FAR AS THE CUSTOMER WAS CONCERNED?

>> SOME OF THE NUMBERS TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO FIGURE OUT AND THIS IS A COMPLICATED CASE.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE FOR THE CORPORATION COMMISSION ISSUED A PRELIMINARY REPORT THAT RAN MORE THAN 450 PAGES.

>> MY GOODNESS.

>> IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

>> THE SURCHARGE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL SOLAR USERS.

WHY DID THEY ASK FOR THAT?

>> THAT WAS A TRICKY ONE.

FIRST OF ALL, SOLAR CUSTOMERS WILL NOW PAY AN AVERAGE OF $2.40 TO 2.55 $2.55 A MONTFORT MONTH FOR THE RIGHT TO PLUG IN, BASICALLY, INTO THE GRID.

EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE PROVIDING THEIR POWER FOR THE MOST PART.

THEY STILL ARE PLUGGED INTO THE GRID AND NEED HELP OFF HOURS.

>> THE SOLAR INDUSTRY FELT THIS WAS DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST THE SOLAR CUSTOMERS.

THE COMMISSION TOOK A DIFFERENT STAND AND FELT WITHOUT THE SURCHARGE ALLOWING THESE PEOPLE TO PLUG INTO THE GRID FOR FREE, IT WOULD BE DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST THE OTHER, 90% OF OTHER RATE PAYERS WHO AREN'T SOLAR CUSTOMERS.

SO BASICALLY THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR THE FULL COST OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY GET, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

>> THAT WAS THEIR REASONING.

>> YEAH, OKAY.

SO THAT GOES THROUGH.

LAST QUESTION HERE AND WE TALKED ABOUT PROFITABILITY AND CREDIT RATING WITH PINNACLE WEST AT THE PARENT COMPANY.

AND PINNACLE WEST, NET INCOME, $500 MILLION.

I THINK IT WAS YOUR REPORTING.

500 MILLION UP FROM 438 IN 2022.

I MEAN, THIS NOW-- THE RETURN OF INTEREST, THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE-- THEY SEEM LIKE THEY'RE DOING OKAY.

>> I THINK THEY'RE DOING BETTER, THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND THE STOCK PRICE HAS RISEN 3% SINCE THIS HAPPENED.

AND THEY'RE FORECASTING HIGHER EARNINGS FROM 4.41 A SHARE LAST YEAR TO SOMEWHERE AROUND, I THINK IT'S AROUND 4.60 OR 4.50 A SHARE MAYBE HIGHER.

>> RATE HOLDERS ARE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

>> SHAREHOLDERS ARE.

>> BEFORE YOU GO DO WE KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE APS RATE, WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE OR TOP LINE WHATEVER YOU SAY AVERAGE CUSTOMER WILL PAY ABOUT 8% MORE PER MONTH OR ABOUT 10 TO $12 MORE PER MONTH.

>> SO IT IS 10 TO $12.

>> THAT RANGE.

>> RUSS WILES, GREAT REPORTING, AZCENTRAL.COM.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY JUST OPENED A BRAND NEW CAMPUS THAT INCLUDES A STATE OF THE ART MEDICAL CENTER FOR PETS AND HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS LONG-AWAITED NEW FACILITY IS DR. STEVEN HANSEN, PRESIDENT AND CEO AND GOOD FRIEND HENRY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE DR. HANSEN.

GREAT TO HAVE HENRY HERE.

>> WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE HENRY HERE.

HE'S A FABULOUS DOG.

HE WAS BROUGHT INTO OUR NEW FOUNDATION TRAUMA HOSPITAL WHICH JUST OFFICIALLY OPENED LAST WEEK.

HE WAS FOUND IN THE VALLEY AS A SICK STRAY.

HE WITH AS ONE BIG MAT OF FUR.

WE PROVIDED SOME MEDICAL CARE, GAVE HIM A GROOMING AND HE'S RECOVERING NOW AND DOING QUITE WELL.

>> OH, HE IS.

HE'S A JOY.

I HAD A CHANCE TO SHARE TIME WITH HIM EARLIER, A JOY.

THE NEW FACILITY DRIVE VAN BUREN AND CAN'T MISS IT ACROSS FROM THE PAPCO PARK.

>> WE WERE GROWING 2021 AND IT'S BEEN A LONG PATH.

THE CAMPUS WAS OPENED IN 1957, AND IT SERVED US WELL, BUT IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A TRAUMA CENTER.

WE'RE FIRST AND FOREMOST A TRAUMA CENTER FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS.

>> YOU SPECIALIZE IN HOMELESS, SICK AND THAT'S THE SPECIALTY AT THAT FACILITY.

>> 80% OF THE ANIMALS THAT COME TO US, GO THROUGH THE HOSPITAL THE.

>> NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BEHAVIORAL CARE SITUATIONS THERE AS WELL, INCLUDING A LITTLE PLAY AREA TO GET EVERYONE ACCLIMATED.

YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING GOING THERE, DON'T YOU?

>> WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING.

WE'VE GOT OUTDOOR EXERCISE YARDS.

NICE INDOOR CLASSROOMS, WE'LL HAVE KIDS' CAMPS DURING SPRING BREAK AND KIDS WILL COME AND EXPERIENCE THE NEW CAMPUS.

THE CAMPUS IS DESIGNED TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT.

YOU CAN WALK BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS AND WALK DIRECTLY IN AND WATCH SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES HAPPENING.

>> WOW.

>> LOTS OF LIGHTS AND AREAS TO LEARN ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE.

>> IN TERMS OF SERVICES OFFERED AND JUST IN GENERAL, HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN CAMPUS.

>> FROM THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN CAMPUS, THAT CAMPUS IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING ADOPTIONS AND WE HAVE A FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AT THAT CAMPUS.

WE'VE GOT LOTS OF LAND OUTSIDE FOR DOGS THAT NEED LONG-TERM BEHAVIORAL CARE.

>> SO THE TWO CAMPUSES WORKED TOGETHER AND THE NEW CAMPUS IS THE WALTON CAMPUS AT THE PARK.

>> ANIMAL, ABUSE, AND CRUELTY AND THE SURGERIES, IF YOU HAVE THE STOMACH TO WATCH THEM.

I DON'T KNOW.

AND PETS RECEIVING CARE, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE EMPHASIS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THE WHOLE CAMPUS IS MEANT TO BE TRANSPARENT.

WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO COME AND VISIT US.

WE'VE GOT A COFFEE SHOP.

ECHO COFFEE HAS A COFFEE SHOP IN THE MAIN LOBBY.

WE'VE GOT CATIO'S INDOOR/OUTDOOR PATIOS FOR CATS.

CATS EXPOSED TO FRESH HAIR ARE HEALTHIER.

AND IT GIVES THE PUBLIC TIME TO GET COFFEE AND SPEND SOME TIME.

>> AND TELL ME ABOUT THE CATS EXPOSE TODAY FRESH AIR, WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM.

AND IT'S FROM THE CATS FROM SHELTERS ARE STRESSED AND OFTEN CARRYING VIRUSES IN THE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACK AND THE STRESS CAUSES THEM TO BECOME SICK.

IF WE CAN KEEP THEM RELAXED, GIVE THEM FRESH AIR AND VIEWS OUTSIDE AND THEY'RE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE SICK AND THEN ADOPTED.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED SUNNY SLOPE, IS THAT SPAY AND NEUTER, THAT'S IT AT SUNNY SLOPE?

>> THE SUNNY SLOPE IS IN 1311 WEST HATCHER LOCATION, FOCUSED ON SPAY, NEUTER AND VACCINES AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BEGINNING A REMODEL PROJECT THERE AND WE WILL REOPEN THIS YEAR AS A FULL COMMUNITY SERVICE HOSPITAL FOR OWNED ANIMALS.

SO IT WILL SERVE THE AREA SO WE'RE STILL STAYING IN SUNNY SLOPE AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT ALL OTHER SHELTER SURGERIES, OR ALL OTHER SHELTER SERVICES NOW GOING TO THE NEW CAMPUS.

>> LITTLE HENRY HERE, OBVIOUSLY, HE HAD SOME NEGLECT AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ABUSE, BUT CERTAINLY HAD SOME NEGLECT OUT THERE.

WHAT HAPPENS?

DID SOMEONE BRING HIM IN?

WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT'S HENRY'S BIOGRAPHY?

>> FOR HENRY, HE WAS FOUND BY A GOOD SAMARITAN AND BROUGHT TO THE FACILITY.

THAT'S A COMMON OUTCOME OR A COMMON BEGINNING, I GUESS, FOR DOGS LIKE HENRY.

I'VE GOT ONE IN MY HOME, KEVIN, SIMILAR STORY TO HENRY'S.

A LARGE AMOUNT OF ANIMALS COME TO US BECAUSE OF CRUELTY CASES.

WE INVESTIGATE OVER 7,000 CRUELTY CASES A YEAR AND OFTEN INVOLVE LOTS OF ANIMALS LIVING IN VERY POOR CONDITIONS.

SO, POOR LITTLE HENRY HERE WAS A MATTED MESS.

WE DON'T KNOW HIS HISTORY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE HE CAME FROM.

NOBODY CAME TO CLAIM HIM, BUT HE IS A DOLL AND THIS WEEK THROUGH THE 17TH ALL ADULT DOGS ARE WAIVED FEE ADOPTIONS THANKS TO BISSEL PET FOUNDATION.

THERE ARE NO FEES FOR ADOPTIONS ON ADULT DOGS.

>> WOW, I SAID VAN BUREN ACROSS FROM THE PARK.

>> 5501 EAST VAN BUREN.

>> AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO JUST STOP BY AND SEE SOME ANIMALS, JUST LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING DONE THERE, AND IN THE MARVELLOUS FACILITY.

CAN YOU JUST STOP BY?

>> YOU CAN JUST STOP BY AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY BUILT THIS CAMPUS TO BE, IS A PLACE THAT YOU CAN COME BY AND YOU CAN SPEND SOME TIME AND WATCH DOGS BEING TRAINED.

YOU CAN WATCH SURGERIES HAPPENING ALL WITHOUT A GUIDED TOUR.

WE HAVE GUIDED TOURS THAT GO IN DEPTH, BUT YOU CAN GO ON YOUR OWN WALKING TOUR, GET A CUP OF COFFEE, ENJOY SOME TIME WITH ANIMALS.

IT'S REALLY A PLACE THAT YOU DO WANT TO COME AND VISIT.

YOU'LL BE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THE TRAUMA HOSPITAL IS AMAZING AND IT'S THE PRIMARY REASON THAT WE EXIST.

AND DOGS LIKE HENRY, HE'LL FIND A LOVING HOME AND JUST BE THE HAPPIEST DOG FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS OF HIS LIFE.

>> HE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM FINDING HAD A LOVING HOME.

CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF YOUR SUCCESS WITH THE NEW FACILITY.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, HENRY.

>> YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.

>> YES, ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

♪♪ ♪♪ COMING UP TONIGHT AT 7:00, AT 8:00.

AT 9:00.