>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

THE INFLUENCE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY ON THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

ALSO TONIGHT, CONCERNS WITH THE LINK BETWEEN WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS AND LOSS OF MUSCLE MASS.

>>> AND SCIENTISTS FROM THE PHOENIX ZOO CAPTURE A RADIO VIDEO OF AN OSOWAT IN ARIZONA.

THE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TODAY PASSED A TEMPORARY SPENDING BILL THAT WOULD REVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WHEN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS NEXT WEEK.

THE STOP GAP MEASURE FOCUSES ON KEEPING FEDERAL AGENCIES FUNDED THROUGH DECEMBER 20th, WHICH MEANS OVERALL SPENDING DECISIONS WON'T BE MADE UNTIL AFTER NOVEMBER 5TH ELECTION.

THE SHORT-TERM MEASURE NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE WHERE IT IS EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED.

AS WE REMINDED YOU YESTERDAY, ARIZONA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ROBERT BROWN BRUNELL IS EXPECTED TO RETIRE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

SERVED AS CHIEF JUSTICE FROM 2019 UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR, BRUTINEL'S RETIREMENT ALLOWS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS TO APPOINT A JUSTICE TO THE COURT, THE LAST GOVERNOR APPOINTEE WAS NAMED BY JANICE NAPOLITANO BACK IN 2005.

>>> HURRICANE HELENE CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN IN THE CARIBBEAN AND FORECAST TO HIT THE U.S. GULF COAST TOMORROW.

THIS IS VIDEO TODAY FROM CANCUN MEXICO.

THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN AND HIT THE LAND OF THE U.S.

WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT WILL HAPPEN AT BIG BEND AREA BEFORE THE PANHANDLE.

THAT AREA INCLUDES TALLAHASSEE.

CITY'S MAYOR TODAY SOUNDED THE ALARM.

>> WE WILL HAVE COUNTLESS DOWNED TREES.

WE WILL HAVE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

WE WILL HAVE LOSS OF POWER.

YES, THE UNITY REMAINS -- HELENE REMAINS CENTRAL AS FORECASTED WE WILL SEE UNPRECEDENTED DAMAGE LIKE NOTHING WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE AS A COMMUNITY.

>> INDEED, RESIDENTS ALONG THE ENTIRE AREA OF FLORIDA ARE WARNED TO EXPECT HEAVY RAIN, WIND AND STORM SURGES THAT COULD MAKE FOR THE REGION'S MOST HURRICANE IMPACT IN RECENT MEMORY.

>>> SOME INVESTORS SEE CRYPTOCURRENCY AS AN INDICATION THAT MARKETS ARE STILL ON EDGE ABOUT THE ITEM, THIS IS A SPIKE IN GOLD.

THIS COMES AFTER A LEAK OF THE FEDERAL INTEREST RATES ARE BEING CUT BY HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT.

>>> AND A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT OVER A THIRD OF CHILDREN WORLDWIDE ARE NEAR SIGHTED AND THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE.

THE STUDY LOOKED AT MORE THAN 5.5 MILLION CHILDREN IN ADOLESCENTS IN 50 COUNTRIES ACROSS SIX CONTINENTS AND FOUND THAT OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS NEAR-SIGHTED INNOCENCE THAT DEMOGRAPHIC INCREASED FROM 24% TO NEARLY 36% WITH A NOTABLE SPIKE AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

RESEARCHERS SAY THAT INCREASED SCREEN TIME IS A MAJOR FACTOR SUGGESTING THAT TIME FOR KIDS TO BE LIMITED ALONG WITH REGULAR BREAKS FROM SCREEN READING.

>>> CRYPTOCURRENCY BECOMING A TOP SPENDER IN THE ARIZONA U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE ELECTIONS.

GROUPS AND SUPPORT OF THE DIGITAL CURRENCY REPORT CLOSE TO $6 MILLION INTO THE CAMPAIGNS OF CRYPTO-FRIENDLY CANDIDATES, ACCORDING TO THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC.

LAURIE DENVER STEPHEN JOINS UNITED STATES -- DENVER 17 JOINS US NOW.

THIS IS FASCINATING STUFF, LAURIE GERSTEEN, WHAT IS CRIMINAL OH CURRENCY?

>> IT'S A VIR -- WHAT IS CRYPTOCURRENCY?

>> IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

FOR A LOT OF INVESTORS, CRYPTO IS JUST ANOTHER PART OF THEIR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, SOMETHING THEY BOUGHT INTO, HOPING TO MAKE SOME MONEY.

FOR OTHERS THEY SEE IT AS PART OF A WIDER OOH TO PAN PROJECT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD A NEW WORLD OF FINANCE OUT OF REACH OF REGULATORS, OUTSIDE THE TYPICAL MAINSTREAM BANKING, SO KIND OF A HEROIC WILD WEST OF FINANCE AND TECH.

AND.

>> NOW THESE GROUPS ARE ADVOCATES FOR CRYPTOCURRENCY ARE, WHAT, SUPPORTING CANDIDATES WHO ARE CRYPTO-FRIENDLY, CRIMINAL OH-FRIENDLY IN WHAT WAY -- CRYPTO-FRIENDLY IN WHAT WAY?

>> IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PRIORITIZE GROWTH.

THESE ARE CANDIDATES AWARE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT ARE GOING TO START TO HAVE TO MAKE DECISION BESIDE WHAT RULES APPLY TO THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY.

FOR EXAMPLE, HOW DO MONEY LAUNDERING RULES APPLY TO THEM?

SHOULD THEY BE TREATED LIKE ORDINARY SECURITIES AND STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STRICT REGULATIONS.

>> I SUPPOSE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF SKEPTICISM WHEN IT COMES TO CRYPTO OUT THERE.

THESE CANDIDATES I WOULD IMAGINE EASE SOME OF THAT SKEPTICISM?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD SAY SO.

BEING GENERALLY -- THEIR COMMENTS ARE SPARSE AT THIS POINT, KIND OF AN OBSCURE TOPIC BUT IN GENERAL THEY SAY THEY WOULD PRIORITIZE THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY.

>> AND SOME OF THE CONCEPT.

AND I CONCERNS WOULD ALSO BE -- I MEAN, FINANCIAL CRIMES.

IS CRYPTO MAKE FINANCIAL CRIMES EASIER IS THAT A TREND OUT THERE, A THOUGHT OUT THERE?

>> ONE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT CRYPTO IS THAT IT'S DECENTRALIZED, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THE U.S. DOLLAR THAT'S PART OF A CENTRAL BANK WITH A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT REGULATING IT.

FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S BETTER THOUGHT OF AS MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUAL TRANSACTIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL USERS.

SO SKEPTICS ARGUE THAT THAT MAKES IT -- MEANS IT CAN BE USED FOR SHADY TRANSACTIONS.

>> NOT ONLY THAT, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD PUT CONSUMERS AT RISK, WOULD IT NOT?

>> THAT'S WHAT THE CRITICS SAY.

CRITIC ALSO POINT OUT THE LACK OF A CENTRAL GOVERNING BODY MEANS IT'S KIND OF HARD TO KEEP THIS CURRENCY ON THE RAILS.

IT MAKES IT PRETTY UNSTABLE.

>> SO YOU'RE COVERING A CANDIDATE WHO IS CRYPTO-FRIENDSLY, GETTING CRYPTO BUCKS.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT -- HOW ARE THEY BASICALLY SELLING THE PRODUCT?

>> AGAIN, I THINK REALLY THE WORD ON THEIR LIPS IS GROWTH.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE REPEATING AND PROMOTING INDUSTRY ARGUMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YEAH, YOU CAN REGULATE US.

YOU CAN MAKE CLEARER RULES, YOU KNOW, THAT CLARIFY WHAT RULES WILL GOVERN US, BUT THAT WILL COME AT EXPENSE OF GROWTH AND THE INNOVATION AND SORT OF WILD WEST SPIRIT THAT THEY ARGUE MAKES THE CRYPTOCURRENCY INDUSTRY POTENTIALLY GOOD FOR THE WORLD.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK YOU WROTE SOMETHING ABOUT STABLE COINS, THAT IT WOULD HELP PRESERVE THE DOLLAR.

WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> YEAH, IT GETS REALLY ABSTRACT REALLY FAST.

BUT I THINK WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW IS THAT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF THE U.S. DOLLAR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENTERING A NEW AREF GEOPOLITICAL COMPETITION.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THE DOLLAR MIGHT NOT GO AS FAR ON THE WORLD STAGE AND PEOPLE THINK THAT CRYPTOCURRENCY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP BOOST THE DOLLAR ON THE WORLD STAGE.

>> AND AGAIN, THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE GETTING THESE CRYPTO DOLLARS, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE SAYING LET'S GO THIS DIRECTION.

IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE DEALING WITH GOLD HERE IN SOME RESPECTS.

SOMETHING OTHER THAN A DOLLAR THAT IS SO HEAVILY REGULATE THE.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE FED CUTTING INTEREST RATES AND SUCH, SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WOULD BE MORE INTERESTED THAN THE DEMOCRATS, AM I RIGHT?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE SEE -- AND I'M PAINTING PRETTY BROAD STRIPS HERE BUT BY AND LARGE WE SEE PRETTY WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR CRYPTOCURRENCY IN REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE MUCH MORE WILLING TO PLAY BALL.

REALLY THE RESERVATIONS ARE ON THE LEFT, SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN HAS BECOME A LEANING CRITIC, AGAIN, VOICING CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT RISKS COULD THIS POSE TO CONSUMERS AND HOW IT COULD ENABLE FINANCIAL CRIME.

>> SO HERE IN ARIZONA, WHICH CANDIDATES, HIGH-PROFILE CANDIDATES IF YOU COULD, WHO'S GETTING THE MONEY, AND ARE THESE, AGAIN -- ARE THEY RUNNING OUT THERE SAYING LET'S GET CRYPTO?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE -- THE FOUR MAIN CANDIDATES THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS BACKED, TWO OF THEM HAVE ACTUALLY LOST ALREADY.

THE INDUSTRY HAS KIND OF A MIXED RECORD.

THEY LOST IN THE PRIMARIES BUT TWO OF THEM ARE IN THE RUNNING.

AND YASMINE -- JUSTICE WON A PRECOMPETITIVE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND ALMOST CERTAINLY GO ON TO WIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND RUBIN GALLEGOS, THE DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR SENATE AGAINST REPUBLICAN KARI LAKE.

>> THAT'S FASCINATING BECAUSE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW REPUBLICANS ARE MORE IN LINE THAN DEMOCRATS AND TWO BIGGEST ONES ARE DEMOCRATS.

HOW ARE THEY RESPONDING WHEN THEY'RE ASKED ABOUT THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT I WILL SAY, TED, IS THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY IS MAKING A PLAY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IT'S BEEN A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE, PARTICULARLY FOR YASMINE SAFARI, WHO HAS BEEN FACING SOME CRITICISM FROM INVESTMENT GROUPS, FROM WHAT ARE SEEN AS BIG BUSINESS BILLIONAIRE DOLLARS SUPPORTING HER CAMPAIGN.

BUT THIS GOES TO SHOW THAT THIS IS A REAL MOVEMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING.

I THINK THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY SEES AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THEY THINK WITH THE NEW POLITICAL HEFT THEY CAN START TO MAKE INROADS ON THE LEFT.

>> AND IF YOU ASK RUBIN GALLEGOS, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, IF YOU JUST SAY, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS, WILL THEY SAY, WHAT, IT'S NEW, IT NEEDS TO GROW, THREAT FLOWER, LET'S NOT GET TOO CRAZY?

HOW DO THEY EXPLAIN THEMSELVES?

>> YEAH.

MORE OR LESS.

I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ASKED THESE CANDIDATES FOR MORE CLARITY ON THEIR POSITIONS AND CURIOUS MYSELF FOR THOSE ANSWERS, BUT YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD CALL FOR A LATER REGULATORY TOUCH ON SOME OF THE CANDIDATES BACKED BY CRYPTO HAVE SIGNED TONIGHT A LETTER ESSENTIALLY CALLING FOR -- TO PRIORITIZE THE GROWTH.

>> INTERESTING.

AND IT'LL SEE PROBABLY MORE OF CRYPTO'S INFLUENCE IN ELECTIONS IN THE FUTURE.

THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY, IS IT?

>> YEAH.

I DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH, BUT IT CERTAINLY SEEMS SO.

THEY ARE AGAIN MAKING A PUSH TOWARDS DEMOCRATS.

ONE THING WE'RE WATCH SOMETHING HOW KAMALA HARRIS WILL POSITION HERSELF ON THE ISSUE.

DONALD TRUMP HAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBEDDED CRYPTO LIKE MANY REPUBLICANS BUT ADVOCATES ARE STILL -- >> WELL, LISTEN, I FIND THIS FASCINATING.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING KIND OF OUT THERE THAT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND, AND YET THOSE THAT UNDERSTAND, IT SEEMS VERY PRO, AND THOSE AGAINST IT, THEY SEEM REALLY AGAINST.

GREAT REPORTING ON THIS, ON THE INFLUENCE IN ARIZONA ELECTIONS AND CANDIDATES.

THANKS FOR DOING THIS FOR US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

A CONCERNING CONNECTION BETWEEN WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS MUSCLE LOSS.

WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS WITH DR. MISHOFF FROM MERRILL CLINIC, ARIZONA.

THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

FIRST OF ALL, THESE PARTICULAR DRUGS, WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY DO?

>> YEAH.

SO THESE MEDICATIONS WERE INITIALLY INVENTED AS DIABETES MEDICATIONS, AND THEY'VE BEEN PHENOMENAL.

THERE WERE OLDER ONES THAT WERE MODERATELY EFFECTIVE, BUT THE NEW ONES, THE ZEPABOUND, THE GENERIC NAMES, ARE VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE IN INCREASING WEIGHT LOSS, HELPING PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, AND NORMAL PEOPLE ARE LIKE, THESE ARE GREAT WEIGHT REDUCING MEDICATIONS AND THEY'RE NOW BEING USE FOR WEIGHT LOSS IN NON-DIABETIC PATIENTS.

>> WHAT DO THEY DO TO THE PANCREAS AND WHAT DO THEY DO TO INSULIN TO BE SO EFFECTIVE?

>> THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF MECHANISMS, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FOR THE TWO MEDICATIONS.

BUT THEY IMPROVE ONE OF THE HORMONES THAT HELPS YOUR BODY TO PROCESS INSULIN A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN TERMS OF INSULIN SENSITIVITY.

IT ALSO SLOWS DOWN THE GUT, SLOWS DOWN DIGESTION, WHICH IS PART OF THE SIDE EFFECTS WHICH CAN BE LIKE CONSTIPATION OR INABILITY FOR YOUR STOMACH TO WORK PROPERLY.

AND SO IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL FULLER, LONGER, AND THE POUNDS JUST KINDS OF MELT OFF.

>> THEY MELT OFF TO THE POINT WHERE NOW THERE'S A CONCERN THEY'RE MELTING OFF TOO MUCH HERE, LOSS OF MUSCLE MASS.

AGAIN, HOW DOES THAT EQUATION WORK BETWEEN THESE MEDICATIONS AND LOSS OF MUSCLE MASS?

>> YEAH.

I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MEDICATIONS THAT, WITH ONLY -- WOULD ONLY TRACH AWAY FAT AND NOTHING ELSE, RIGHT, KEEP US STRONG AND AS VIBRANT AS WE ARE, BUT ALL WOULD YOU LOSE IS FAT AND LOOK GREAT, RIGHT.

THE PROBLEM IS, ALL OF THESE MEDICATIONS YOU LOSE NON-FAT MASS ALSO.

SO THINGS LIKE SKELETAL MUSCLE, OTHER TISSUES, ET CETERA.

AND THE WORRY IS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH STUDIES, PARTICULARLY IN OLDER PATIENTS, ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE LOSE MUSCLE MASS, AT MINIMUM IT'S ABOUT 25% MUSCLE MASS LOSS, AND IN SOME STUDIES MAYBE EVEN AS MUCH AS 40 TO 60% OF THAT NON-FAT MASS THAT'S LOST AS MUSCLE.

>> COMPARE THAT TO YOU JUST TELLING THE PATIENT GET ON A BETTER DIET, DO MORE EXERCISE.

I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YOU USE THESE MEDICATIONS, IT HAPPENS A LOT QUICKER, THE PROCESS IS FASTER.

>> THE PROCESS IS FASTER.

AND IF YOU'RE DOING IT WITHOUT DOING EXERCISE AND ALL YOU'RE DOING IS REALLY REDUCING YOUR CALORIC INTAKE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE STAFF, YOURSELF.

YOUR BODY STARTS BREAKING DOWN MUSCLE AND FAT, BOTH TO TRY TO GET CALORIES.

>> WOW.

>> AS OPPOSED TO LET'S SAY SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING ON A DIET ALONG WITH EXERCISE.

NOW, THAT EXERCISE IS KEEPING THE MUSCLES GOING, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'RE GONNA LOSE LESS MUSCLE MASS.

>> AND FOLKS ARE USING THESE MEDICATIONS FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO LOSE WEIGHT, OBVIOUSLY, AND TO BETTER THEIR BMIs.

LET'S TALK ABOUT BODY MASS INDEX, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY IT'S A SARGE DON'T GO FOR IT.

OTHER PEOPLE SAY IT'S A GREAT BAROMETER.

WHAT SAY YOU?

>> IT'S NOT PERFECT, RIGHT.

IT'S BASICALLY JUST A FORMULA THAT CORRECTS YOUR WEIGHT FOR YOUR HEIGHT.

IT'S NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS THAN THAT.

THERE ARE MORE SOPHISTICATED WAYS OF LOOKING AT ACTUAL BODY COMPOSITION, THEY'RE JUST NOT EASILY AVAILABLE.

ANYONE CAN CALCULATE THEIR BODY MASS WITH WEIGHT, AND HEIGHT.

AND PEOPLE ARE VERY MUSCULAR, LIKE LET'S SAY OLYMPIC ATHLETES, THISSER A' GONNA HAVE A HIGH BMI BUT ALL MUSCLE AND ALL HEALTHY, RIGHT.

SO IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT'S NOT BAD.

AND PEOPLE DO FIXATE ON IT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT THERE WHEN YOU GO TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR.

>> THEY FIXUATE IT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WANT TO GET LIKE A HYBRID OR SOMETHING, THEY WANT TO TAKE THESE MEDICATIONS TO GET AS LOW BMI AS POSSIBLE BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DOESN'T THAT NECESSITATE ANOTHER DRUG TO GET WHATEVER THE OTHER DRUG IS DOING TO MITIGATE THAT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE?

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THAT.

COULD YOU COMBINE MEDICATIONS THAT WILL THEN REDUCE THE MUSCLE MASS AND THEN MAYBE YOU JUST LOSE ONLY FAT MASS, YOU KNOW.

BUT I THINK THE CHALLENGE THAT I'M SEEING IN CLINIC IS THAT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE 100 POUNDS OVERWEIGHT AND HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES AND FOOD APNEA, IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING MEDICATION FOR PEOPLE LOSING 60, 70, POUNDS, WHEN THEY'RE 100 POUNDS OVERWEIGHT BUT I AM INCREASINGLY SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEIGHTED BY THEIR BODY MASS INDEX AND ASKING FOR THESE MEDICATIONS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET EVEN SKINNIER, RIGHT.

AND THEN I THINK THAT'S WHERE I'M WORRIED THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START LOSING GOOD WEIGHT, MUSCLE WEIGHT, THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AS A JERRY TRANSITION TO GOOD FUNCTION.

>> ARE THERE OTHER SIDE EFFECTS TO KNEES DRUGS?

>> BECAUSE OF THE GI EFFECTS, THINGS LIKE CONSTIPATION, NAUSEA ARE VERY COMMON AND OFTENTIMES WHY PEOPLE MAY STOP THE MEDICATIONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU STOP THE MEDICATIONS, THE WEIGHT TENDS TO COME BACK FOR ALMOST ALL OF MY PATIENTS THAT I'VE SEEN.

>> DOES IT COME BACK AS QUICKLY AS IT WENT AWAY?

>> YEAH, A FEW PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE CHANGES, LET'S SAY IF YOUR KNEES HURT FROM HAVING EXCESS WEIGHT, NOW YOU'RE GETTING BACK TO EXERCISE.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE MADE THE LIFESTYLE CHANGES BUT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF PATIENTS THEY GAIN THE WEIGHT RIGHT BACK, AND THEN THE JURY'S OUT, ARE YOU GAINING FAT BACK OR GAINING MUSCLE AND FAT BACK.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS, DOCTOR.

DOES IT MAKE YOU THINK TWICE ABOUT PRESCRIBING THESE THINGS?

>> IT DOES.

I WILL PRESCRIBE THEM FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIABETES OR WHO ARE VERY, VERY OVERWEIGHT, A BMI OVER LET'S SAY 35 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT IF YOUR BODY MASS INDEX IS IN REASONABLE RANGE, REALLY SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT TWICE, ASK YOUR DOCTOR.

DON'T GO TO ANY OF THESE WEIGHT LOSS CENTERS, CERTAINLY DON'T GET IT FROM THE PERSON WHO'S SELLING IT FROM THE SIGN ON THE SIDE OFFED ROAD THAT SAYS OZEMPIC, $200, CALL THIS NUMBER.

>> HOLY SMOKES.

ALL RIGHT, DR. MISHON, ARIZONA CLINIC.

FASCINATING.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TECHNICALLY SMERK A MULTIPARTY SYSTEM BUT AMERICA HAS ALWAYS HAD TWO MAJOR PARTIES.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE MUST FIRST LOOK AT HOW THE COUNTRY'S ELECTIONS WORK.

THE U.S. SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION IS BASED ON WHO WINS THE MOST VOTES IN EACH DISTRICT, NOT NECESSARILY A MAJORITY OF ET CETERA VOTES CAST.

WHETHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, STATE OR IN THE CASE OF THE.

EASY, THE NATION AS A WHOLE IS REPRESENTED BY A SINGLE MEMBER RATHER THAN A PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION BASED ON THE NUMBER OF VOTES RECEIVED.

ED.

>> NEW VIDEO FROM TRAIL CAMS OPERATED BID PHOENIX ZOO IS WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE FIRST OSHAWOTT IN ARIZONA, IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

KIMBERLY REAGAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS EXCITING FOR YOU, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S VERY EXCITING, YES.

WE'RE ELATED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION.

>> LET'S START WITH THE BASICS HERE.

WHAT IS AN OSHAWOTT.

>> IT'S A MEDIUM SIZED CAT, TYPICALLY THEY'RE ASSOCIATED WITH CENTRAL AMERICA CONSIDERED TO A TROPICAL CAT AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE GET THEM CONFUSED WITH THE JAGUAR BECAUSE IT HAS A SPOTTED PATTERN SIMILAR TO A JAGUAR BUT AN THEY'RE CONSIDERABLY SMALLER AND IMPORTANT FOR THE ECOSYSTEM.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY RARE, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> SO JAGUAR IS BIGGER, MOUNTAIN LION, COUGAR, BIGGER, WHAT ABOUT A BOBCAT?

>> BOB -- THE OSOLAT, BOBCAT, IS A LITTLE BIGGER.

SO THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECORD WEST OF I-19 IN OVER 50 YEARS FOR AN OCELOT.

THIS IS THE FIRST SIGHTING IN OVER 50 YEARS, THERE ARE RECORDS EAST OF I-19 MORE RECENTLY UNDER SOME OTHER COLLABORATOR WHEN IS HAVE DONE GREAT WORK.

>> SO WEST OF I-19, HOW FAR NORTH OF THE BORDER?

>> WE'RE TALKING A COUPLE OF MILES.

>> INTERESTING.

OKAY.

HOW WAS THE OCELOT -- BASICALLY ON VIDEO -- I MEAN, HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU GOT SOMETHING ON VIDEO?

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE A PROJECT OUT IN THE HIGHLANDS WITH 50 CAMERAS OUT THERE, AND OUR INTENTION IS TO LOOK AT WHAT WILDLIFE IS OUT THERE AND HOW CAN WE BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS.

HOW I KNOW IS BECAUSE WE GO TO THE TREE AND GET THE DATA FROM THE CAMERAS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WE HAVE AN SD CARD AND I PLUGGED IT INTO MY PHONE TO TAKE A QUICK GLANCE AT THE VIDEOS TO SEE HOW THE CAMERA WAS FUNCTIONING, AND WHAT IS ON THERE AND GET TO KNOW THE SITE A BIT AND I SAW THIS SPOTTED CAT.

BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND IN BIOLOGY, I'M TRAINED TO IDENTIFY THESE ANIMALS AND KNEW IT WAS ONE ONE OF TWO OPTIONS, JAGUARS ARE A LOT BIGGER AND THIS IS A SMALL CAT AND VERY DISTINCTIVE WITH THEIR SPOTTING PATTERNS SO I KNEW RIGHT AWAY IT WAS AN OCELOT.

>> IF THIS IS THE FIRST ONE FOUND IN 50 YEARS AND OBVIOUSLY NEAR THE BORDER, VERY, VERY RARE.

HOW DO THEY MAKE BABY OCELOTS?

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

IS THIS ONE THAT WAS JUST ROAMING AND LOOKING ON.

OWN?

>> MOST LIKELY THIS ONE IS ROAMING AROUND FOR A NEW HABITAT AND MATES.

THEY NEED TO FIND A PARTNER TO CONTINUE THE POPULATION.

WE'RE CURIOUS ABOUT THAT NOW.

WILL WE FIND MORE IN FUTURE YEARS.

HOW FAR MIGHT IT HAVE TRAVELED, ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS WE'RE EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

>> IN THE AREA THAT IT WAS VIDEOTAPED, WAS IT DESERT?

>> DESERT SCRUBBING.

SO WATER WILL FLOW DEPENDING ON MONSOON SEASON.

THERE'S KIND OF A POCKET OF VEGETATION BUT MOSTLY PRETTY EXPOSED LANDSCAPE.

>> AND WOULD YOU SET YOUR CAMERAS IN AREAS I WOULD IMAGINE WHERE YOU THINK SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN RELATIVELY CLOSE TO WATER, HUH?

>> SOMETIMES, YES.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT HABITATS THAT OCCUR AND HOW WILDLIFE ARE USING THESE DIFFERENT HABITATS SO WE HAVE SOME NEAR WASHES AND WATER RESOURCES BUT ALSO HAVE SOME SITES THAT ARE IN MORE RURAL AREAS TO SEE WHAT SPECIES ARE POTENTIALLY OCCUPYING THOSE MORE ARID SITES.

>> HOW CLOSE TO CIVILIZATION WAS THIS?

>> THE CLOSEST CITY IS NOGALES AND THEY'RE ABOUT 15 MILES FROM NOGALES TO A COUPLE OF MILES.

>> AND ANOTHER ONE WAS IN THE WAUCHULA MOUNTAINS?

>> -- >> THERE'S TWO OCELOTS KNOWN IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW, OURS AND THE OTHER IN THE MOUNTAINS.

>> AND THEY'RE ALSO CONSIDERED ENDANGERED.

>> THEY ARE ENDANGERED, ESPECIALLY FOR ARIZONA.

WE ONLY HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WE KNOW OF HERE.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED FOR ARIZONA AND MEXICO AS WELL.

>> WHAT HAPPENED?

I MEAN, THEY WERE IN TEXAS, MEXICO, HERE, AND NOW THEY'RE BARELY HERE AT ALL.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> SO IT WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT INFLUENCES OF WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED AND MAIN ONE WAS THAT IT'S SOME HUNTING THAT HAPPENED EARLY IN THE 1900s AND A HAT THAT'S SO BEAUTIFUL LIKE THIS, MANY PEOPLE OFTEN WANT THAT PELL PELTAGE.

BUT NOW THEY'RE FACE A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS, AS WELL, CLIMATE CHANGE, CHANGING HABITAT, MORE HUMAN INFLUENCES, SO THERE'S A LOT THEY'RE HAVING TO WORK AGAINST TO REVIVE THE POPULATION HERE.

>> AND THE CAMERAS THAT WERE UP THAT GOT THAT PARTICULAR GUY, HOW LONG WERE THEY UP AND HAD THEY SEEN ANYTHING ELSE DOWN THERE?

>> YEAH, THERE ARE 50 CAMERAS, AND IT STARTED IN APRIL OF 2024, SO JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

I CHECKED THESE CAMERAS IN JULY.

SO IT WAS ONLY UP THREE MONTHS AT THIS TIME TO GET THIS ON RECORD.

BUT OUR INTENTION IS THAT THE CAMERAS WILL STAY UP UNTIL OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE OVER A YEAR OF SEASONAL DATA, GATHERING INFORMATION ONLY ON ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE OCELOTS AND ALL OF THE OTHER WILDLIFE THAT WMUR THIS REGION.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING YOU'D EXPECT IN ARIZONA, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

MOUNTAIN LIONS, BOBCATS, WHITE COWATEES.

FOUR DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SKUNK, WE'VE GOT COYOTE, HYENA, KIND OF ANYTHING THAT IS VERY POPULAR IN ARIZONA WE'VE GOT DOWN THERE.

>> AND THE FOCUS ON THE AREA GONNA RAMP UP A LITTLE BIT NOW, THAT WHAT YOU WERE KINDS OF REFERRING TO THERE?

>> THIS STUDY IS ALREADY ONE WE HAVE IN MOTION.

AND SO THE FACT THAT WE GOT AN OCELOT ONLY FURTHER ENERGIZES US BUT WE WERE ALREADY GOING TO STUDY THIS REGION FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE WILDLIFE THERE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT BEING ENERGIZED, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS JUST IN GENERAL CONSERVATION TERMS NOT JUST FOR OCELOTS, BUT CONSERVE NATION GENERAL.

>> YEAH.

SO WITH CONSERVATION, OFTENTIMES WE NEED INFORMATION, THIS IS A DATA POINT OF WHERE THE SPECIES IS OCCURRING AND WHY IT MIGHT RECUR IN THE FUTURE, AND SO HAVE EVEN THIS ONE DATA POINT FOR AN ANIMAL THAT'S ENDANGERED THAT WE ONLY KNOW TWO OF IN THE STATE IS MASSIVE.

SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OTHER COLLABORATORS IN ARIZONA ALONG THE BORDER AND OTHER PARTNERS TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION AND WORK TOGETHER TO HELP PROTECT OCELOTS.

>> AND THE ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION, WHAT IS THAT?

>> THAT'S OUR NAME BUT ALSO THE PHOENIX ZOO.

THE PHOENIX ZOO IS DEDICATED TO GIVING BACK TO WILDLIFE AND WILD SPECIES AS WELL AS SHOWING PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THE AMAZING WILDLIFE WE HAVE IN THE WORLD.

SO OUR ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION BECAUSE WE'RE DEDICATED TO CONSERVATION.

>> PART OF THE PHOENIX ZOO, AN ADJUNCT?

ARE YOU ON SITE?

>> I AM ON SITE.

SO THE SAME THING, BASICALLY.

WE JUST WANTED TO ESTABLISH OURSELVES MORE AS A CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT, EVERYBODY ON GROUNDS IS DEDICATED TO CONSERVATION AND MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR US TOMORROW AND FOR THE WILDLIFE TOMORROW, AS WELL.

>> SOUNDS GREAT, AGAIN, KIMBERLY REAGAN, ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OC CELOTS.

>> THANK YOU, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SHARE IT.

>> YOU SHOULD BE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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