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I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT, THE LAST FEW YEARS WE’VE SEEN RECORD BREAKING INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THERE’S PEOPLE CRYING OUT FOR SERVICES, BUT SHELTER IS OFTEN JUST THE FIRST STEP. I DIDN’T KNOW, LIKE I NEEDED MENTAL HELP UNTIL I CAME AND THEY CHECKED ME OUT. HOW TO BETTER MEET PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS WHILE HELPING THEM GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. PLUS, IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME HARMING WOMEN, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE WORKFORCE? INSTEAD OF SAYING, HEY, WE MIGHT BE RESPONDING TO SYSTEMIC ISSUES, THEY CALL THEM IMPOSTERS. MY CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR SHERRY DUNN ABOUT WHY BEING QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB ISN’T ALWAYS RESPECTED, AND SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS TOWNS ARE HOPING FOR A NEW ECONOMIC BOOM AS COMPANIES DESCEND ON THE REGION TO EXTRACT HIGH DEMAND. LITHIUM. THESE STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES HAVE HOPE AND QUESTIONS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT KIND OF CONDITION THAT MIGHT LEAVE US IN THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW. ON MATTER OF FACT. HOMELESSNESS IN THE U.S. INCREASED BY 18% FROM 2023 TO 2024. THAT JUMP LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. IN RECENT YEARS. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES HAS BECOME OVERWHELMING FOR MAJOR CITIES, INCLUDING LOS ANGELES. IT HAS THE SECOND LARGEST POPULATION OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE, BEHIND NEW YORK CITY. BUT SOLVING THE CRISIS TAKES MORE THAN JUST SHELTER. 67% OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAVE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. OUR CORRESPONDENT DINA DEMETRIUS VISITED HOPE, THE M O R’S, L.A. COUNTY’S LARGEST NONPROFIT SHELTER ORGANIZATION, TO SEE THE CREATIVE WAY IT’S HELPING PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREETS AND LEARN ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. WE’RE ON THE STREET. NO RV, NO TENT IN THE DIRT. BASICALLY, ROGER PEREZ AND HIS WIFE, JENNA, BOTH HAD DEVASTATING HEALTH CRISES THAT LANDED THEM IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MONTHS. I LOST MY JOB. I HAD SAVINGS, BUT YOU KNOW, THE SAVINGS DEPLETED. WE COULDN’T PAY RENT ANYMORE. IT FORCED THEM ONTO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY STREETS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. I TRIED LOOKING FOR WORK AND I COULDN’T FIND ANY. THE PEREZ’S ARE FINALLY GETTING ON THEIR FEET NOW, LIVING IN A TINY HOME, INTERIM HOUSING WITH HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER AND SAFETY. IT’S ONE OF SEVEN TINY HOME COMMUNITIES LAUNCHED IN 2021 BY HOPE, THE MISSION AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. IF WE DON’T HAVE PLACES LIKE THIS, THE WHOLE THING DOESN’T WORK. MISSION PRESIDENT ROWAN VAN CLEVE SAYS. TINY HOME COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN GAME CHANGING. IT’S PART OF THE ORGANIZATION’S 2700 BED SHELTER SYSTEM, FILLED THROUGH OUTREACH TO THE COUNTY’S 76,000 HOMELESS, TINY HOME COMMUNITIES, INTERIM HOUSING SHELTERS. ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN BRILLIANT BECAUSE THEY’VE BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OFF THE STREET. IT’S ABOUT 9500 PEOPLE THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES ARE NOW INSIDE THEIR BUILT ON CITY PROPERTY, PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE CITY AND PRIVATE DONORS, AND ASSEMBLED QUICKLY WITH FLAT PACK PREFAB PARTS. LAST TEN YEARS HAVE BEEN ON THE STREET LIKE EIGHT OF THOSE TEN YEARS. BUT BEYOND SHELTERING PEOPLE, THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN THE HUMAN. I’M TRYING TO GET CLEAN OFF OF PRIMARILY OPIATES BECAUSE THAT’S THAT’S THE HARD ONE, AND I’M TAKING STEPS. I’M PRETTY EXCITED BECAUSE FROM WHERE I WAS TO NOW IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE ADDICTION SUPPORT. YOU’RE GOING TO GET HOUSING NAVIGATION, WHICH IS KEY. IF WE DON’T HAVE THESE LIFE CHANGING WRAPAROUND SERVICES, ALL WE’D EVER DO HERE IS WAREHOUSE PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMELESSNESS, IN THEIR ADDICTION. OH, I WANT TO DO THAT. COMING IN HERE. WE ALLOW THEM TO. HEY, WOULD YOU LIKE A SHOWER? WOULD YOU LIKE A MEAL BEFORE WE START DOING ALL THAT INTAKE STUFF LIKE SAVE THAT FOR LATER. THE TREBEK CENTER, ONE OF THE MISSION’S 24 SHELTER SITES, IS A CONVERTED SKATING RINK PROGRAM OFFICER LAURA HARWOOD WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT A YOUNG AGE AND HAS LIVED THROUGH TRAUMA SIMILAR TO THE PEOPLE SHELTERED HERE. NOW, BY THE TIME THAT YOU END UP USING DRUGS FOR 22 YEARS, END UP LIVING ON THE STREET IN AND OUT OF PRISON, YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU DO DEVELOP SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH. HOPE CREATED ITS OWN PRIVATE MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITH CLINICIANS AND CASE MANAGERS AT EVERY SITE. HARWOOD ALSO HIRES STAFF FROM PEOPLE THEY’VE HELPED. I’M ALL FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE. IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE SHELTER LIKE A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT, YOU KNOW EACH OTHER AUTOMATICALLY. THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE BECAUSE YOU’RE BUILDING RAPPORT AND THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT. VAN CLEVE ESTIMATES 80% OF THEIR CLIENTS HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, 30% ARE SEVERE. WHILE THEY STABILIZE THESE RESIDENTS, HE SAYS THE INSTABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING CREATES A MASSIVE GAP IN SERVICES. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD NEED? 5 TO $10 MILLION ANNUALLY, BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AREN’T CHEAP. I’VE NEVER BEEN A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN BEATEN AND RAPED ON THE STREET. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY, HOW MANY TIMES SHE NEEDS TO SIT WITH THE CLINICIAN, A THERAPIST, TO WORK THROUGH THAT SORT OF TRAUMA. BUT I KNOW IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LOT. AND IF WE WERE TO INVEST THAT SORT OF MONEY, I GUARANTEE YOU IT WOULD BE CHEAPER FOR SOCIETY. RATHER THAN RELY ON OVERBURDENED COUNTY SERVICES. THE MISSION HAS TO SEPARATELY RAISE THE FUNDS FOR ITS OWN MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THAT’S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN INCLUDE IN OUR BUDGET TO FUND. YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT THE FUNDING, AREN’T YOU? YEAH, YEAH. IF I DIDN’T GET THOSE SERVICES, I WOULDN’T BE HERE. PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND SUFFERING, AND IT’S SUPER IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE THESE SERVICES AND SHELTERS, GETTING THEM HERE AND OFF THE STREET IS THE FIRST STEP. GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO THRIVE AND TO GET HOUSED AS BEAUTIFUL. AND I SEE IT HAPPEN. TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH CONCERNS, YOUR DISABILITY. WE’RE TRYING TO FIGHT A WILDFIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE AND IT’S GOOD. IT’S GOING TO PUT OUT SOME OF THE FIRE. BUT IF WE WANT TO BE WHO WE’RE MEANT TO BE, WE’RE GOING TO NEED SOMETHING BIGGER. IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, I’M DINA DEMETRIUS, FOR MATTER OF FACT. NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE COLLECTIVE POWER, AND WE’VE BEEN SENT SKITTERING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. WHY? SHE’S ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO COME TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE WORKPLACE FOR ALL. PLUS, WE’RE TRYING TO MOVE THAT FROM I JUST NEED A JOB TO I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CAREER OF MY CHOOSING. HOW A RURAL COMMUNITY IS HOPING TODAY’S LATEST TECH ADVANCES CAN BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THEIR TOWN, AND A LACK OF FAST INTERNET AND A LACK OF HEALTH CARE. WHY IT’S PROVING TO BE A POTENTIALLY DEADLY COMBINATION FOR FAMILIES IN AMERICA. YOU’RE WATCHING. MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. THIS IMPOSTER SYNDROME WAS A CONCEPT INTRODUCED IN 1978 BY PSYCHOLOGIST PAULINE ROSE CLANCE AND SUZANNE IMES. IT’S DESCRIBED AS A FEELING OF SELF-DOUBT, OF PROFESSIONAL FRAUDULENCE, AND IT’S OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE. BUT DOES IMPOSTER SYNDROME ACTUALLY UNDERMINE WOMEN AND MASK REAL SYSTEMIC ISSUES? SHERRY DUNN IS THE AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK. IT’S CALLED QUALIFIED HOW COMPETENCY CHECKING AND RACE COLLIDE AT WORK. IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO. NICE TO BE HERE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT COMPETENCY CHECKING IS? COMPETENCY CHECKING, BASICALLY, IS THE WAYS IN WHICH BLACK PEOPLE AND WOMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE REQUIRED TO PROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY AT A HIGHER, HARDER BAR. MORE FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THEIR CAREER, THEY HAVE TO VERIFY WHY THEY’RE IN LEADERSHIP. THEY HAVE TO JUSTIFY THEIR KNOWLEDGE. AND WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE PIPELINE BEING EMPTY, BUT REALLY, COMPETENCY CHECKING IS A BLOCKAGE IN THAT PIPELINE. THIS MAY NOT BE A POPULAR VIEW, BUT I DON’T KNOW THAT I BELIEVE IMPOSTER SYNDROME IS A THING. YOU KNOW, IT’S FUNNY THAT YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE FOUND IN TALKING TO FOLKS IS THAT WOMEN OF COLOR DON’T REALLY HOLD TO IMPOSTER SYNDROME AS MUCH AS WHITE WOMEN DO, AND THERE ARE REASONS FOR THAT. SO THE INITIAL STUDY ON IMPOSTER SYNDROME WAS FROM 73 TO 78. SO THAT’S A FIVE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WOMEN, SPECIFICALLY WHITE WOMEN, ARE UNDERGOING THE TECTONIC CHANGES IN AMERICAN HISTORY. RIGHT. TITLE NINE IN EDUCATION COMING INTO THE WORKPLACE. AND THE STUDY SEEMED, IN MY OPINION, TO MISIDENTIFY THE IMPACT OF COMPETENCY CHECKING AND SYSTEMIC ISSUES ON THEIR FEELINGS OF SELF-WORTH AND TURNED IT IN ON THEM, THAT THEY FELT LIKE A PHONY, THAT THEY HAD A PERFECTIONIST ISSUE. BUT THE STUDY DOESN’T TALK ABOUT ANY EXTERNAL FACTORS. IT’S LIKE THE WOMAN EXISTED ON AN ISLAND FOR FIVE YEARS, AND INSTEAD OF SAYING, HEY, WE MIGHT BE RESPONDING TO SYSTEMIC ISSUES, WE MIGHT BE RESPONDING TO BEING THE FIRST WOMEN IN A PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE AND HOW THAT MAKES US FEEL. THEY CALL THEM IMPOSTERS. OH, I SEE, SO IT REALLY IS LIKE FOISTING THE BLAME ON INDIVIDUALS AS OPPOSED TO SAYING, HEY, THE SYSTEM YOU’RE IN MIGHT BE PROBLEMATIC. WHAT DIFFERENCES HAVE YOU SEEN IN YOUR REPORTING AND YOUR WRITING BETWEEN WOMEN AS A WHOLE AND WOMEN OF COLOR? WOMEN OF COLOR REALLY TEND TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUES CAUSING THEM HARM AT WORK. SO WOMEN OF COLOR TEND TO SAY, HEY, I’M THE ONLY BLACK WOMAN HERE. I’M THE ONLY LATINA HERE. I’M THE ONLY ASIAN WOMAN HERE. I AM HAVING TO DEAL WITH COMPETENCY CHECKING. I AM HAVING TO ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS. I’M HAVING TO DO HARDER PROJECTS. THIS IS WHAT IS STRESSING ME OUT. I DON’T FEEL LIKE AN IMPOSTER. TO YOUR POINT, I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE HARASSING ME SO THEY TEND TO IDENTIFY THE FACTORS AND THEY ARE MUCH MORE OPEN TO COLLECTIVE ACTION. BUT WHAT IMPOSTER SYNDROME DOES IS IT REDIRECTS A LOT OF WOMEN, BUT PARTICULARLY WHITE WOMEN, TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO DO SELF-TALK, AND THEN THEY ARE LESS INCLINED TO DO COLLECTIVE ACTION TO CHANGE WHERE THEY WORK. THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN AT AN INTERESTING TIME WHEN DEI HAS BASICALLY BEEN KILLED AND OR DYING ON THE VINE. I’M CURIOUS WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IS THE IMPACT OF THE DEATH OF DEI ON THIS IDEA OF COMPETENCY CHECKING, OR ON THE IDEA OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME. AS A FORMER PRACTICING ATTORNEY, I DO HAVE TO SAY THE LAW FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND WORKPLACE DIVERSITY HASN’T CHANGED. BUT THE PUSHBACK SEEMS TO BE MUCH BIGGER THAN DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION. THE PUSHBACK SEEMS TO BE ROOTED DEEPLY IN MISOGYNY AND ANTI-BLACK BIAS, AND A CONCERN ABOUT BEING OVERRUN BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN SPACES. HOW DO YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF COMPETENCY CHECKING? WORKPLACES CAN AUDIT THEMSELVES AND DIG DEEPER AND ASK WHO SUCCEEDS HERE AND WHO DOESN’T? WHAT ARE THE PROFILES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE PROMOTING? YOU CAN SEE THAT RIGHT FROM A DATA PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN, WE CAN SAY, YEAH, SOMETIMES WE ALL FEEL INSECURE, BUT THERE ARE SOME SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEAL WITH. WE HAVE COLLECTIVE POWER, AND WE’VE BEEN SENT SKITTERING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AS OPPOSED TO TOGETHER. THE BOOK IS CALLED QUALIFIED HOW COMPETENCY CHECKING AND RACE COLLIDE AT WORK. SHERRY DUNN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME. THANKS. COMING UP, BUSINESSES HAVE ABANDONED HER STRUGGLING ARKANSAS TOWN. THEY TOLD ME YOU DON’T HAVE THE POPULATION FOR ANOTHER GROCERY STORE. WHY? THIS COUNTY JUDGE IS HOPING THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANGE. PLUS, WHY A NATIONAL EFFORT TO ADDRESS AREAS WITHOUT HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS COULD BE PUT ON PAUSE. SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS IS PREPARING FOR A POTENTIAL LITHIUM MINING BOOM. THE AREA SITS ON TOP OF WHAT’S CALLED THE SMACKOVER FORMATION, A GEOLOGICAL FORMATION THAT SPANS FROM FLORIDA TO TEXAS THOUSANDS OF FEET BELOW THE GROUND IS LITHIUM, A MINERAL USED IN THE BATTERIES THAT POWER OUR PHONES AND ELECTRIC CARS. IN JANUARY, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FINALIZED A $225 MILLION GRANT TO COMPANIES STANDARD LITHIUM AND ECUADOR FOR A LITHIUM MINING PROJECT. IN THAT STATE. THIS PAST WEEK. THE COMPANIES EXTRACTED THEIR FINAL TEST SAMPLE. RESIDENTS IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES HOPE THE MINING WILL BRING IN MORE JOBS, BUT SOME ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. OUR CORRESPONDENT JESSICA GOMEZ TRAVELED TO ARKANSAS FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EXTRACTION PROCESS AND TO MEET FAMILIES WHO’VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR GENERATIONS. THANK YOU ALL FOR SPENDING YOUR AFTERNOON WITH US. IN RURAL LAFAYETTE COUNTY, ARKANSAS, A PACKED TOWN HALL MEETING. TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS YOU TO DRILL MULTIPLE WELLS, TEXAS BASED TETRA TECHNOLOGIES IS PARTNERING WITH ENERGY GIANT EXXONMOBIL, LAYING OUT PLANS TO START DRILLING FOR LITHIUM HERE. THE MEETING, HOSTED BY COUNTY JUDGE VALERIE CLARK. YOU DRIVE DOWNTOWN AND YOU JUST THINK, OH, THEY REALLY DON’T HAVE A LOT TO OFFER, LA FAYETTE COUNTY A PLACE WHERE MEMORIES OF ITS HEYDAY, FUELED LONG AGO BY OIL AND GAS, ARE FADING, ALONG WITH SIGNS OF ECONOMIC LIFE. BUT THAT COULD CHANGE AS COMPANIES RACE TO EXTRACT LITHIUM FROM THE SALT WATER OR BRINE FOUND THOUSANDS OF FEET BELOW THE EARTH’S SURFACE. HERE, 60,000,000L OF BRINE HAVE BEEN RUN THROUGH THIS PLANT TO THE EAST IN EL DORADO, STANDARD LITHIUM CEO ROBERT MINTAK. IT’S IN YOUR IPHONE, IT’S IN YOUR LAPTOP. IT’S IN YOUR TABLET. WITHOUT THE LITHIUM ION BATTERY, THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERY DAY WOULD NOT EXIST. THE COMPANY PERFECTING DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION FROM THAT UNDERGROUND SALT WATER. THE BRINE ALREADY PUMPED TO THE EARTH’S SURFACE BY ANOTHER COMPANY THAT PRODUCES BROMINE. THEY EXTRACT THAT BROMINE AND THEY PUT THE BRINE BACK IN THE GROUND. THEY’VE BEEN DOING THAT IN SOUTH ARKANSAS FOR 60 YEARS. IT’S THE SAME BRINE THAT’S RICH WITH LITHIUM. BUT MINTAK SAYS REFINING AND CONVERTING LITHIUM FOR COMMERCIAL USE IS A COMPLEX AND COSTLY PROCESS. AND WHILE IT COULD BRING HUNDREDS OF JOBS TO THE REGION, IT WON’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THE FEDS HIRED THE GRAIN IS HIGHER. EVERYTHING IS HIGHER ON THE ALFRED CATTLE RANCH. IT’S BEEN A ROUGH FEW YEARS. SO WHEN A HANDFUL OF COMPANIES ASKED BRUCE AND LINDA ALFORD TO LEASE THEIR LAND TO DRILL FOR BROMINE AND NOW LITHIUM, THEY AGREED. 2100 ACRES SO FAR. AND I COME UP AND OFFERING YOU MONEY AND YOU HAVE A POSSIBILITY OF MAKING ROYALTY AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON IT. YOU. I THINK YOU WOULD LEASE. BUT THEY STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. I DON’T KNOW WHAT KIND OF CONDITION THAT MIGHT LEAVE US IN. OUR KIDS ARE HERE. OUR GRANDKIDS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE. WE WANT IT TO BE A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE. I TRULY ENVISION THAT THESE STORES, THEY WILL FIND NEW LIFE AGAIN AND SOMEONE WILL COME IN AND OPEN THEM BACK UP. THEY WILL BE VIBRANT. A FUTURE VALERIE CLARK BELIEVES COULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN THE PAST. IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY, ARKANSAS. FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M JESSICA GOMEZ, AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, HOW A LACK OF RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS IS ACTUALLY HARMING PEOPLE’S HEALTH AND WHY THIS COLOR CHANGING PAINT COULD LOWER ENERGY BILLS. TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTEROFFACTTV. WELCOME BACK TO MATTER OF FACT. THERE ARE PLACES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WITH NO RELIABLE INTERNET, A SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS, AND FEW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS. THEY’RE CALLED DEAD ZONES. ACCORDING TO A KFF HEALTH NEWS ANALYSIS. THESE DEAD ZONES SPAN 200 COUNTIES, NEARLY 3 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN THESE COUNTIES AND TEND TO HAVE MORE HEALTH ISSUES AND SHORTER LIFE SPANS, RESEARCHERS FOUND. LIMITED INTERNET SERVICE PREVENTS PROPER MEDICAL CARE AND ACCESS. PEOPLE CAN’T HAVE VIDEO CALLS WITH A DOCTOR OR SIGN ON TO THEIR PATIENT PORTALS. A POTENTIAL SOLUTION HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS, BUT IT’S NOW STALLED. IN 2021, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CREATED THE BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM, OR BEED, UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT. THIS YEAR, BEED WAS ON TRACK TO SEND A TOTAL OF ABOUT $42 BILLION TO ALL 50 STATES TO EXPAND HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS. THAT PLAN HAS NOW BEEN SUSPENDED. EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SECRETARY, HOWARD LUTNICK, RELEASED A STATEMENT DECLARING BEED WAS UNDER A, QUOTE, RIGOROUS REVIEW. WHILE THE STATES ARE IN LIMBO, MANY ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD. LAWMAKERS HAVE FILED AROUND 300 BILLS ADDRESSING BROADBAND ACCESS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND AFFORDABILITY STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, HOW MOOD RINGS INSPIRED A NEW TYPE OF HOUSE PAINT. FINALLY, COULD THE COLOR OF YOUR HOUSE SAVE YOU MONEY? DESIGNER JOE DOUCET WAS RENOVATING HIS FAMILY’S HOME AND WANTED TO GO WITH AN ENERGY EFFICIENT PAINT COLOR, SO HE CREATED A CLIMATE ADAPTIVE PAINT. IT FLUCTUATES BETWEEN DARK AND LIGHT, ACCORDING TO TEMPERATURE. WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 77 DEGREES, THE PAINT TURNS DARK ABOVE 77 DEGREES. THE HOUSE WILL LIGHTEN. HIS INSPIRATION WAS THE MOOD RING LIQUID CRYSTALS IN THE RING CHANGE COLOR WHEN YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE CHANGES, SO TOO WITH THE PAINT. DO SAY TESTED HIS THEORY FOR ONE YEAR ON MINIATURE HOUSE MODELS. IN THE SUMMER, THE WHITE HOUSE WAS 12 DEGREES COOLER INSIDE THAN THE BLACK HOUSE. IN THE WINTER, THE BLACK HOUSE WAS SEVEN DEGREES WARMER. INSIDE, THE PAINT IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT. IT’S EXPECTED TO COST ABOUT 3 TO 5 TIMES MORE THAN REGULAR HOUSE PAINT. BUT DO SAY SAYS THAT WOULD BE IN PART OFFSET BY ENERGY COST SAVINGS. THE CHALLENGE IS FINDING A FORMULA THAT WITHSTANDS THE SUN’S UV RAYS. RIGHT NOW, IT ONLY LASTS A YEAR. DUCEY SAYS HE PLANS TO PAINT HIS OWN HOME AS A TEST. YOU GOT TO WONDER HOW HIS NEIGHBORS WILL REACT TO AN EVER CHANGING FACADE. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS. ANYTIME, HEAD TO MATTEROFFACTTV.