>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION WHICH RECENTLY APPROVED AN APPS RATE HIKE.

A LOCAL ORGANIZATION OFFERS EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT TO CANCER PATIENTS.

AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THIS YEAR'S ARIZONA MUSIC FEST WHICH FEATURES LEGENDARY ENTERTAINER LITA MORENO.

THOSE STORIES AND NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZONS."

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA'S EYES MON -- HORIZON.

I'M ED -- TED SIMMONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT PHOENIX NEXT WEEK.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SCHEDULED APPEARANCE FOLLOWS VIOLENTE MAKING A STOP IN PHOENIX LAST WEEK AND FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN VISITING TUCSON EARLIER THIS MONTH.

>>> A FORMAL ATTORNEY FROM -- A FORMAL OPINION FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES STATES THAT ANY INTOXICATING COMPOUND MADE FROM HEMP VIOLATES ARIZONA LAW AND CANNOT BE LEGALLY SOLD OUTSIDE OUTSIDE OF A LICENSED PINS PENSARY.

THE OPINION COMES AS THE STATE LEGISLATURE DEBATE WAYS TO REGULATE THE SALE OF HEMP-BASED PRODUCTS.

>>> IT WAS A QUICK AND UNANIMOUS DECISION BY THE BOARD.

THE NEXT MOVE NOW IS TO GO AHEAD AND SELL THE LAND AT AUCTION, WHICH LIKELY WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL JUNE, AND WHICH COULD VERY WELL FIND THE COYOTES NOT ALONE IN BIDDING FOR THE SITE.

AND A METH NOTE.

A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT ISOMETRICS MAYBE THE BEST EXERCISE FOR LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE.

TRIALS INVOLVES ISOMETRIC, WITH AEROBIC AND AND RESIST TANS TRAINING, AND BOUND THAT WALL SQUATS WAS BEST FOR REDUCING SIS STOLLIC PRESSURE AND AN OVERALL LOWERING OF PRESSURE, THOUGH A STUDY DID FIND THAT RUNNING BASS WEST FOR DECREASING DIASTOLIC NUMBERS.

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

THEY GAVE THE OKAY FOR A MONTHLY AVERAGE FOR SOLAR USERS IN APS TERRITORY.

HERE TO EXPLAIN IT IS CHAIRMAN JIM O'CONNOR.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>> WHY DID APS REQUEST THIS RATE HIKE?

>> WELL, THEY COME IN WHENEVER THEY APPLY.

THEY'RE IN CONTROL OF THE TIMING OF WHEN TO APPLY FOR RATE CASES.

THEY CAME IN TO RECOVER COST THAT'S WILL BEEN PREVIOUSLY SPENT.

BUILDING GENERATION AND THE COST OF SERVICING THE GRID.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR THE MOST PART.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD IT WAS NEEDED TO REASSURE LENDERS, BECAUSE PROFITABILITY -- THEY WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THAT AND THEY NEEDED -- TALK TO US ABOUT THAT AND HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR THAT PLAYED.

>> I'VE RECENTLY ATTENDED THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF STATE REGULATORY BODIES CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. JUST THREE WEEKS AGO.

AND THERE WERE 1800 ATTENDEES AT THAT AND IT WAS ALL FOCUSED ON ENERGY.

THE ENTIRE UTILITY INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE IS IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS.

DEEP TROUBLE.

THEIR COSTS OF BORROWING HAVE RISEN ENORMOUSLY AND THOSE THINGS CALLED INTEREST RATES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE BORROWINGS FALL ON THE BACK OF RATE PAYERS NATIONWIDE.

>> THAT FINANCIAL DISTRESS IS DUE TO WHAT?

>> A VERY LOW CREDIT RATING OF THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.

>> WHY IS IT SO LOW?

>> BECAUSE REGULATORS LIKE OURSELVES HAVE NOT BEEN GENEROUS WITH RATE PAYER MONEY TO COMPANIES IN THAT INDUSTRY.

>> SO AGAIN, REASSURING LENDERS DID PLAY A PART HERE.

HOW MUCH OF A PRIORITY IS REASSURING LENDERS AS OPPOSED TO, SAY, KEEPING RATE HIKES FROM GOING TOO MUCH, TOO HIGH, TOO FAST?

>> WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH MARKET REALITY.

THESE ARE COSTS THAT THE MARKETPLACE DICTATES.

THE COST OF A NEW POWER PLANT, THE COST OF REGULATION OR IN OUR CASE IN ARIZONA, WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS REGULATORY LAG.

THE COMPANIES ARE OUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS UP FRONT.

THEY GET THAT MONEY THROUGH CORPORATE BORROWING, TO BUILD PLANT.

AND THIN AFTER THE FACT, THEY -- AND THEN AFTER THE FACT THEY COME TO US FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

>> IS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH AN AVERAGE RATE PAYER WOULD PAY MORE PER MONTH.

IS THAT WHAT THE REASONING BEHIND THAT -- SEEMED LIKE NO ONE WAS REALLY SURE.

>> THERE'S A LITTLE MISINFORMATION ON THAT VERY POINT.

APRIUS PROVIDED TO THE DOCKETS WHICH IS A PUBLIC POST, THAT EVERYBODY IN ARIZONA AND EVERYBODY ON EARTH CAN SEE IF THEY WISH TO ACCESS IT.

A 500-PAGE REPORT CALLED THE BIN NUMBERS.

AND THAT IS BASELINE THE EXPRESSION -- BASIC THE EXPRESSION OF THE COST IMPACT TO RATE PAYERS.

SO WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION FOUR WEEKS AGO TODAY TO RAISE RATES, WE WERE ANTICIPATING THAT THE BIN IMPACTS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 8%.

WHEN THE FINAL NUMBERS CAME THROUGH, AND THE REASON THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN IS THAT THERE WERE 20 COMMISSIONER AMOUNTS TO THE ORIGINAL -- AMENDMENTS TO THE RECOMMENDED ORDER AND OPINION.

SO THE AD ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE ISSUES THE ROO.

THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS PUT UP CHANGE ORDERS, EFFECTIVELY, IN THE FORM OF AMENDMENTS.

EACH WAS DISCUSSED, DEBATED, AND VOTED ON SEPARATELY.

EACH OF THEM HAD AN IMPACT TAKING AWAY REVENUE FROM APS.

SO THEY CAME IN ASKING FOR A NUMBER.

THEY GOT APPROXIMATELY 200 MILLION LESS THAN THEY ASKED FOR IN THE AGGREGATE.

AND WE THINK THAT THAT LEFT THE COMPANY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION IN A VERY SICK AND CHALLENGED INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE.

>> WOULD IT HAVE MADE BETTER SENSE, YOU TELL ME.

>> SURELY.

>> TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER, ESPECIALLY WHEN -- THE EARNINGS REPORT I THINK WAS FIVE DAYS AWAY WHEN YOU MADE YOUR DECISION HERE AT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION.

AND WE FIND OUT THE PINNACLE WEST IS UP $500 MILLION FROM 4 400 IN SOME 2022.

ROI GOES FROM 8 8.9 TO 9 -- 5.

I KNOW YOU SAY THE INDUSTRY AND PINNACLE WEST SPLIT SOME PROBLEMS WITH LENDING.

COULD IT -- WOULD IT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE UNTIL YOU WAITED FOR THE EARNINGS REPORTS TO COME OUT?

>> NO, NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL.

THE FINAL BILL IMPACT WAS 7.88%.

LESS THAN THE 8% IMPACT.

SO WAITING WOULDN'T HAVE SERVED EVERYTHING.

THAT MEETING ALONE TOOK 11 HOURS THAT DAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE HEARD FROM 28 ENTERVINERS IN THE CASE -- INTERVINNERS IN THE CASE AND ALMOST 50 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC GOT TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY AT THE MEETING.

SO 11 HOURS OF WORKING RIGHT THROUGH GAVE US -- WE WERE RIGHT IN THE BALLPARK AND WE EVEN GOT A KISS ON THE CHEEK WITH LOWER THAN AN 8% BILL IMPACT.

>> EVEN BY WAITING UNTIL THE EARNINGS REPORTS CAME OUT, DO YOU THINK THAT TESTIMONY MIGHT HAVE CHANGED OR MOVED THE NEEDLE A LITTLE BIT?

>> NOT AT ALL.

THE RATE CASE HAD BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION BY OUR COMMISSIONER.

-- COMMISSION SINCE JULY OF 2022.

SO THE HEARING DIVISION AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE THAT TOOK THIS ONE TESTIMONY FROM ALL OF THE CONCERNED PARTIES, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC, THAT INFORMATION WAS IN.

THE A ALJ, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE, BASICALLY GAVE US A RECOMMENDED ORDER AND OPINION.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO VOTE ON.

INFORMATION THAT COMES OUT THE DAY OF THE MEETING, THE DAY AFTER THE MEETING, IS IRRELEVANT.

WITH RESPECT TO THE MARKETPLACE, PINNACLE WEST OWNS APS.

PINNACLE WEST -- ONE OF THE RATING AGENCIES, NOT FOR THE DEBT BUT FOR THE STOCK, MOVED THE COMPANY'S STATUS FROM NEGATIVE TO NEUTRAL.

SO IT WAS NO BIG SWEETHEART DEAL FOR HAPPENINGS.

>> LAST -- APS.

>> LAST QUESTION.

DID MONTHLY CHARGE FOR SOLAR USERS Y.

WAS THAT INITIATED AND WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT AS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS.

90% OF APS'S 1.4 MILLION RATE PAYERS DON'T HAVE SOLAR.

ONLY 10% DO.

AND BACK IN THE 2019 RATE CASE, IT WAS POINTED OUT BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE THAT SOLAR USERS ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE BASIC SERVICE THAT THE OTHER 90% ARE.

SO IF THE -- THE 10% SOL SOLAR USERS ARE BEING SUPERINTENDENTIZED BY THE NONSOLAR USERS.

WHAT WE DID IN THAT ADJUSTMENT WAS TO INCREASE SOLAR CUSTOMERS TO A FAIR PRICE -- MORE FAIR.

>> THE IDEA THAT THEY PAY MORE OF THE FULL COSTS OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY RECEIVE?

>> PRECISELY.

>> WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE THAT YOU HAD FOR THAT?

>> WELL, IS SOLAR CUSTOMERS ARE NOT VERY HAPPY.

>> NO.

>> NOBODY WANTS THEIR BILL INCREASE.

>> LAST QUESTION.

WE'RE KIND OF RUNNING LATE.

BUT HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE FACT THAT THESE FOLKS ARE CONSERVING, THEY'RE NOT USING AS MUCH ENERGY -- ENERGY, AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR AS MUCH ENERGY AND YET THEY ARE USING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GIVES THEM THAT ENERGY?

HOW DO YOU DO THE BALANCING ACT?

>> WE JUST DID IN THE VOTE ON THE RATE CASE.

>> JUST TO INCREASE THE MONTHLY CHARGE?

>> THAT'S WHAT THE STATE CONSTITUTION CONTEMPLATED WHEN IT CREATED AND GAVE US THE AUTHORITY OF RATE-MAKING.

>> JIM O'CONNOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> THIS YEAR MARKS THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GROUP CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY ARIZONA, WHICH PROVIDES EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT TO CANCER PASH -- PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS.

AND JOINING US IS JULIE GUNNIGLE.

-- DUNNIGAN.

SHE'S C.E.O.

OF CSCAZ.

THANKS THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME.

>> WE PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES TO ANYONE IMPACTED BY CANCER AND THAT CAN BE FROM A SUPPORT GROUP TO A MIND, BODY, EXERCISE CLASS, SOCIAL EVENTS, EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, AND CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES AND REFERRALS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN TREATMENT.

>> WE'RE TALKING PATIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, CAREGIVERS.

>> SURVIVORS.

ANYONE AND EVERYONE IMPACTED BY CANCER.

IKE OVER -- >> LIKE OVER 100 FREE FAMILIES?

>> AT LEAST.

EACH MONTH.

YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE OVER 100 CLASSES THAT YOU CAN JUST SIGN UP FOR ANYTIME.

ALL AT NO COST TO YOU, THE PARTICIPANT.

>> AND I SAW THE PHRASE BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO CARE.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> SO A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, IT'S AN OVERWHELMING TIME IN YOUR LIFE.

BUT NOT ONLY IS IT OVERWHELMING EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, BUT SOMETIMES FINANCIALLY.

AND SO WE HAVE RESOURCE NAVIGATORS ON STAFF THAT ARE TRAINED TO HELP PEOPLE IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THEIR BARRIERS TO RECEIVING CARE, TO COMPLETING CARE, AND WE HELP THEM ADDRESS THOSE BARRIERS.

SO WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PROVIDE OURSELVES INTERNALLY OR PARTNER WITH ANOTHER NONPROFIT OR ORGANIZATION IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM WITH TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, COVERING MEDICAL COSTS, LODGING DURING TREATMENT, OR A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.

>> SUPPORT COMES IN A VARIETY OF FASTS.

>> IT SURE -- FASHIONS.

>> IT SURE DOES.

>> BOOK CLUBS, FIELD TRIPS -- THERE'S SO MANY THINGS OFFERED HERE.

HOW DO YOU -- KIND OF A SILLY QUESTION.

BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WHAT WORKS BEST?

>> SO EVERYTHING WE OFFER AT CSCAZ IS EVIDENCE-BATHE.

THERE'S -- EVIDENCE-BASED.

RESEARCH PROVES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BETTER CANCER OUTCOMES BY PARTICIPATING.

WE KNOW THAT A THIRD OF CANCER PATIENTS WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION AS PART OF THEIR JOURNEY.

SO WE HELP ADDRESS THAT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE EXPERIENCING SOMETHING LIKE DEPRESSION OR EVEN HAVING A HARD TIME EMOTIONALLY DEALING WITH YOUR DYING DIAGNOSIS, IT GIVES YOU WORTH -- DEALING WITH YOUR DIAGNOSIS, IT GIVES YOU BETTER OUTCOMES.

WE HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME THAT.

WE HELP THEM KIND OF DEAL WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT AND FEEL BETTER AND CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING.

AND WE KNOW BECAUSE OUR PROGRAMS ARE EVIDENT-BASED, THAT THEY HELP PEOPLE GET THOSE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FROM THEIR CANCER JOURNEY.

>> AND THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME HERE.

YOU GOT SOME HISTORY AND YOU'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE COMING BACK AND SAYING, THIS REALLY HELPED A WHOLE LOT.

>> YES.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 25 YEARS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY CELEBRATING OUR ANNIVERSARY YEAR THIS YEAR.

AND WE HAVE PARTICIPANTS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR THAT LONG.

WE JUST HAD A WOMAN ACTUALLY CALLED YESTERDAY TO SAY THAT SHE HAD BEEN A PARTICIPANT OF OURS 12 YEARS AGO.

>> WOW.

>> WHO HAD BEEN REDID GOD AND NOW UNFORTUNATELY SHE'S -- REDIAGNOSED, AND UNFORECASTERLY SHE'S BACK -- UNFORTUNATELY SHE'S BACK.

BUT SHE CREDITS THE PROGRAM FOR SAVING HER LIFE.

>> THAT HAS TO BE REWARDING TO HEAR.

HAS THE MISSION AND GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION, HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

IS IT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN?

>> THE GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE SURE NO ONE FACES CANCER ALONE.

THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE OUR MISSION AND AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

BUT IT HAS CHANGED IN THE SERVICE DELIVERY BECAUSE NOW WE OFFER SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS STATEWIDE AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT VIRTUALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE IMPLEMENTED A ROBUST VIRTUAL OFFERING AND AN IN-PERSON OFFERING IN PHOENIX AND FLAGSTAFF.

>> IN PHOENIX, BUT YOU'VE GOT LIKE THIS OLD HOME BE, THIS BEAUTIFUL OLD HOME THAT'S JUST DECKED OUT IN A WAY THAT'S VERY COMFORTING, VERY -- JUST A HOME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

JUST LOOKING AT PICTURES OF IT IS LIKE -- AAH.

THAT HAS TO HELP, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES.

AND WE HEAR BY OUR PARTICIPANT THAT IS THE HOME HAS A REALLY GREAT ENERGY ABOUT IT.

IT IS AN OLD HISTORIC HOME FROM 1908.

>> WOW.

>> ON PALM LANE.

SO THE PALM LANE STREET AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DRIVE UP TO AND COME IN AND JUST RECEIVE SERVICES AND JUST GET THE HELP THAT YOU NEED.

>> LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, DON'T THEY?

>> THEY SURE DO.

>> SOMEONE IS WATCHING.

EITHER THEY OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW HAS CANCERED, THEY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF GETTING INVOLVED?

>> IT'S VERY EASY.

YOU CAN GO TO CSCAZ.ORG, AND CLICK GET STARTED.

YOU CREATE A PROFILE AND THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO SIGN UP FOR ANY OF OUR CLASSES.

EF A NEWCOMER ORIENTATION THAT UNPARTICIPATE IN AS WELL.

BUT THAT'S PUTT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN AS WELL.

BUT THAT'S NOT REQUIRED.

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR ANYTHING YOU WANT.

NO COST.

FULLY FUNDED BY DONATIONS.

>> WOW.

ONE MORE TIME THAT WEBSITE.

>> CSCAZ.ORG.

>> CONGRATULATIONS IN ALL YOUR SUCCESS.

CONTINUED SUCCESS.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> RITA MORENO IS A LEGENDARY PERFORMER KNOWN AS THE GROUND BREAKING ACTRESS, SING, AND DPEANSER WITH AN OSCAR, AN EMMY, A GRAMMY, AND TONE EAWARD TO HER WHY.

SHE'S STILL ACTIVE AT THE AGE OF 92.

THIS SATURDAY HE'LL BE "IN CONVERSATION ASK THE AT AN ARIZONA MUSIC FEST APPEARANCE IN SCOTTSDALE SCOTTSDALE.

>> YOU FACED A LOT OF DISCRIMINATION AND YOU HAD TO FIGHT FOR THE ROLES THAT YOU WANTED, THAT DEFIED STEREOTYPES.

WHERE DID THAT GRIT AT THE TIME COME FROM?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT CAME WITH -- AT AT A VERY EARLY AGE.

WHEN I CAME TO BE AMERICA BY PUERTO RICO, WITH MY MAMA, WE CAME BY BOAT, SHIP, BECAUSE WHO COULD AFFORD AIRPLANES IN THOSE DAYS.

MY MOM CAME TO AMERICA WITH ME WITH THE HOPE THAT EVERYTHING SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS COUNTRY WAS TRUE.

THAT THIS WAS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.

AND INDEED, IN IN SOME WAYS IT WAS BUT SOME WAYS IT WASN'T FOR LAT LANEOS.

IT WAS VERY -- LATINOS.

IT WAS VERY HARD.

I GOT CALLED AWFUL NAMES ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.

AND IT WAS -- IT WAS NOT EASY.

IT WAS NOT PLEASANT.

AND ONE OF THE TERRIBLE EFFECTS OF THAT ON ME WAS THAT IT DIDN'T WANT TO BE HISPANIC.

I WANTED TO BE AMERICANA.

I WANTED TO BE WHITE.

AND YOU KNOW, I'M WHITE.

BUT I'M STILL PUERTO RICAN, RIGHT?

AND IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO ACCEPT WHAT I AM, TO ACCEPT MY TALENTS, TO APPRECIATE MYSELF.

AND EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT RECOMMENDING THIS FOR ANYONE ELSE, I DO KNOW THAT THE THING THAT SAVED ME, REALLY, WAS GOING INTO PSYCHOTHERAPY WHEN I WAS IN MY MIDDLE TO LATE 20s.

BECAUSE THAT DOCTOR -- I WAS VERY LUCKY TO FIND SOMEONE PRETTY MARVELOUS, PUT A MIRROR UP TO ME, WHO WAS THE MIRRORRER?

HE WAS MY MIRROR.

AND HE WAS SHOWING ME, WITHOUT MY BEING AWARE OF IT, OF WHO I REALLY WAS.

I WASN'T THIS TERRIBLE, DIRTY LITTLE PUERTO RICAN GIRL WHO WASN'T WORTHY.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT THAT.

I'M SO -- I'M SO GRATEFUL AND I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO GO INTO THERAPY.

>> YOU CAN CATCH THAT FULL INTERVIEW AT AS PBS.ORG.

ALAN NAP SOLAN C.E.O.

OF ARIZONA MUSIC FEST.

IT IS WHAT?

>> OVER 30 YEARS IT'S BEEN PROVIDEDING WONDERFUL ARTS AND, ENTERTAINMENT,.

¦ SLERNING TO THE COMMUNITY -- MUSIC LEARNING TO THE COMMUNITY OF NORTH SCOTTSDALE BUT THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.

SO WE'RE PROVIDING CONCERTS, 40 CONCERTS THIS YEAR.

WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OVER 40,000 ATTENDEES.

WE PROVIDE YOUNG MUSICIANS PROGRAMS, COMPETITIONS, PERFORMANCES, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR REALLY EXCITING ASPIRING YOUNG MUSICIANS.

AND THEN LIFELONG LEARNING AND CREATING AGING PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE ACTUALLY STARTING AS YOUNG AS TODDLERS BUT MOSTLY FOR SENIORS, WHERE THEY CAN ENGAGE IN MUSIC, LEARN ABOUT MUSIC, AND MAKE MUSIC.

>> THIS IS 33 YEARS AS A NONPROFIT.

HOW DID THIS GET STARTED?

>> IT GOT STARTED BY A LOT OF MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS, LARGELY IN NORTH SCOTTSDALE, WHERE THAT 3 YEARS AGO THERE WHATNOT -- 33 YEARS AGO THERE WHATNOT PAVED ROAD ROADS.

SO THEY SAID LET'S BRING MUSIC HERE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL STORY OF THE EVOLUTION OF HOW A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS BUILT UP THIS ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS NOW A DESTINATION FOR ARTISTS AND ARTS LOVERS OF THE VALLEY.

>> AN ARTS LOVER SAYS I WANT TO TO GET INVOLVED HERE.

I WANT TO HAVE SOME MUSIC EDUCATION IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

HOW DO THEY GET INVOLVED?

>> WE HAVE SO MANY OFFERINGS DURING THE YEAR.

IF YOU WANT TO BE 9 A -- AN ATTENDEE, YOU GO ONLINE AND BUY TICKETS AT THE PITTSBURGH.

IF YOU WANT TO ENGAGE -- ON THE WEBSITE.

IF YOU WANT TO ENGAGE IN LIFELONG LEARN LEARNING, WE HAVE AN ARRAY OF LEARNING.

AND SOME OF THE ELITE YOUNG MUSICIANS KNOW THAT WE'RE A DESTINATION FOR THIS TRAINING AND FOR GIVING EXPOSURE TO YOUNG MUSICIANS TO ACCESS ART INDUSTRY AS WE LIKE TO SAY -- ART TRI -- ARTISTRY, AS WE LIKE TO SAY.

IT'S BECOME A CENTRAL DESTINATION FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

>> FOR THE FINEST CLASSICAL MUSICIANS WHO ARE GOING OFF TO CAREERS IN MUSIC.

>> UPCOMING SHOWS, JUDY COLIS?

THAT'S -- COLLINS?

THOSE ARE BIG NAMES.

>> AND WE HAD AN OPERA.

KRISTEN CHENO WESTS.

PAUL ANKA.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL LINEUP OF MAJOR CELEBRITIES.

>> AS FOR RITO MORENO SATURDAY, IS IT BASELINE JUST LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT -- BASICALLY JUST LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS, LIKE DROP-IN MULTI- MULTI-MEDIA.

HER CAREER, WHICH IS -- WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE WITH HER.

>> AND SHE'S GOING TO BE SPEAKING WITH THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF I BELIEVE THE ASU POSTERRIER FILM SCHOOL?

>> QUARTER.

WE'LL BE ON STAGE -- EXACTLY.

WE'LL BE ON STAGE WITH RITA AND TALKING ABOUT HER CAREER.

>> WHEN YOU TALK TO THESE FOLKS, THESE ARE PILLARS OF ENTERTAINMENT.

ICONS HERE.

>> YES.

>> HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM?

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THEIR FIRST INTERVIEW?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I THINK WE'LL SEE THIS ON SATURDAY, BUT IN SOME WAYS, YOU KNOW, SHE'S A PRO AND SHE HAS A LIFELONG HISTORY OF STORIES.

SO -- AND SHE WILL BE AN ENTERTAINER, NOT SO MUCH AN INTERVIEWER.

SHE KNOWS SHE'S IN FRONT OF SOME THOUSAND PEOPLE.

SO I THINK SHE'S ALSO READY TO TELL THE STORIES, EVEN IF WE'VE HEARD THEM BEFORE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME REALLY INTERESTING NEW STORIES AS WELL.

>> SHE DOES EXEMPLIFY ENTERTAINMENT.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SHOW ON CAMERA, A SCREEN, HER PASTWORK?

>> WE WILL.

AND -- PAST WORK?

>> WE WILL.

AND SHE'S A THIRD PERSON TO WIN AN EGOT.

WE'LL HAVE -- ELEMENTS OF HER CAREER.

>> WHERE AND WHEN WILL THAT CONVERSATION TAKE PLACE?

>> SO THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, MARCH 16th, AT 7:30 AT HIGHLANDS CHURCH IN NORTH SCOTTSDALE.

>> AS FAR AS THE ARIZONA MUSIC FEST IS CONCERNED, YOU HAVE WHEN THE RETO -- RITO MERONES AND -- MIRRENO AND JUDE JUDY COLLINS.

HOW DO YOU ATTRACT NEM?

IT'S NOT A STAGE.

IT'S NOT IN THE WILDERNESS.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT YOU DO AND WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT?

>> WE'RE NOW KNOWN AS TAPRESENTING SERIES.

EVEN -- AS A PRESENTING SERIES.

EVEN THOUGH FEST IS IN OUR NAME, ALL OF OUR CONVERTS RUN NOVEMBER THROUGH APRIL AND WE'VE BECOME ONE OF THE MAJOR DESTINATIONS OF ARIZONA FOR ELITE SMU -- MUSICIANS TO KNOW ABOUT.

SO THROUGH MANAGEMENTS AND THE REPUTATION GETS AROUND SO EITHER I'M APPROACHING THEM BECAUSE WE'RE INTERESTED IN THEM OR THEY'RE COMING TO US, SAYING WE HEAR GREAT THINGS.

WE'D LOVE TO BE ON YOUR SEASON.

>> I ASK BECAUSE YEARS PAST I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE AZ STANDS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY, FILM, FINE ARTS, OR MUSIC.

AND IT'S GROWN IN OF RE-RESPECT.

MAYBE NOT FILM -- IN EVERY RESPECT.

MAYBE NOT FILM BUT THE ODDS FINE ARTS.

ARE YOU SUING THAT -- SEEING THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR MARKET IS ONE OF THE MOST SATURATED MARKETS FOR PRESENTERS LARGELY IN THIS PERIOD OF JANUARY TRUE MARCH BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH AN INFLUX OF RESIDENTS AND SNOWBIRDS AND TOURISTS.

SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY HAPPENING, WHICH IS WONDERFUL FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND FOR US BECAUSE WE BECOME A DESTINATION.

>> DO YOU FIND A LOT OF TOURISM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS JOINING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO WE GOT ARIZONA MUSIC FEST AND RITO MORENO.

ALL OF THIS GOING ON.

FOR 33 YEARS, WHAT'S NEXT FOR ARIZONA MUSIC FEST?

>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON GROWING, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE MOMENTUM THAT WE'VE HAD, AND WE'VE HAD VERIOUS -- TREMENDOUS GROWTH, AND WE KNOW PEER JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE REALLY -- WE'RE JUST SCRATCHING THE FURS -- SURFACE.

SO MORE CONCERTS, FOR EXPANDING WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY IS ALL VERY MUCH IN OUR FORECAST GOING FORWARD.

>> DO YOU -- HOW DID YOU SURVIVE THE COVID YEARS?

>> WE DID WELL, ACTUALLY.

WHEN IT WAS SAFE, WE DID CONCERTS OUTSIDE.

SOCIALLY DISTANCED.

BUT THE RESPONSE OF THE AUDIENCE TO COME BACK TOGETHER WAS SO IMPORTANT AND SO APPRECIATED, THAT WE REALLY KNEW WE WERE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AND AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE TO GO INSIDE, WE DID.

WITH VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, COVID PROCAUTIONS AND YOU KNOW -- PRECAUTIONS, AND WE'VE JUST CONTINUED TO GROW AND GROW AND IT'S BEEN VERY EXCITING.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT GROWTH, ALLAN NAPLAN, AND BEST OF FESTS THIS YEAR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOOTBALL COACH JOINING US.

-- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Support for Arizona.

PBS comes from viewers like you and from