WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT, MANY OF US HAVE SEEN HOW ADDICTION DESTROYS LIVES. SHE WENT FROM A VERY VIBRANT MOTHER TO SOMEONE WHO WE DIDN’T KNOW. AMERICA’S EMPLOYERS ARE STEPPING IN TO HELP PEOPLE RECOVER AND KEEP THEM WORKING. WE’RE GOING TO GIVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE. IS THERE INVESTMENT PAYING OFF AND FOR GENERATIONS OF THIS FAMILY HAVE FARMED THE LAND IN ARIZONA? THIS IS WHAT WE’RE ABOUT. THIS IS US. BUT THE MEGADROUGHT HAS FORCED THEM TO CONSIDER SELLING. I THINK WE’RE STILL IN SHOCK THAT WE SAID THE S WORD. WHAT? ONE FAMILY’S DEPENDANCE ON WATER REVEALS ABOUT THE VULNERABILITY OF OUR NATION’S FARMERS. BUT FIRST, IT’S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS SINCE THAT FIERY TRAIN CRASH IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO. YET CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON SAFETY IS DEADLOCKED. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET AMERICA ON TRACK TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES ALONG THE RAILS? THAT’S RIGHT. NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. THE CLEANUP EFFORT CONTINUES IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO, AFTER THAT 50 CAR TRAIN DERAILMENT BACK IN FEBRUARY. THE ACCIDENT RENEWED CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE COUNTRY’S RAIL SYSTEM. IN TOTAL, 140,000 MILES OF TRACK CRISSCROSS. OUR NATION, ALL OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES WITH OVERSIGHT BY THE NATIONAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION. IN APRIL, OUR CORRESPOND DAN LIEBERMAN TRAVELED TO PITTSBURGH, WHERE THE TRAINS RUN ALONG MAJOR WATERWAYS, SAYS LOOK AT WHERE THIS BRIDGE IS SITUATED. YOU GET A DERAILMENT AND THAT’LL TAKE THE TRAIN AND THE BRIDGE DOWN. A TRAIN DERAILMENT IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, IS TOP OF MIND FOR RESIDENTS LIKE GLEN OLCERST, A LAWYER AND LOCAL TRAIN SAFETY ADVOCATE WHO’S BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM ON THE POTENTIAL RISKS OF A DERAILMENT FOR YEARS. THOSE LACK GROUND CARS ARE OIL TRAINS. THIS BRIDGE IS PART OF THE NORFOLK. SOUTHERN’S MOST CRITICAL EAST WEST RAIL LINE BETWEEN CHICAGO AND THE OIL REFINERY. CITIES ON THE EAST COAST. ULCERS TOOK US ABOARD A PATROL VESSEL BELONGING TO THREE RIVERS, WATERKEEPERS, AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP THAT MONITORS WATER QUALITY IN THE REGION. HE SAYS THIS IS THE BEST VIEW OF WHAT HE CONSIDERS TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST SAFETY THREATS RAILROAD BRIDGES. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE UP THERE. JUST LOOK, HE SAYS. AT THE FORT WAYNE BRIDGE IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, ITS ENTIRELY CORRODED AND LOOK WHAT IT’S HOLDING UP. I MEAN, ALL OF THE WEIGHT FROM THE BRIDGE AND THE TRAINS COMES DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING. THIS IS WHY I’M CONCERNED AND THIS IS WHY WE ALL NEED TO BE CONCERNED. THE BRIDGE’S OWNER, NORFOLK SOUTHERN, SAID THIS BRIDGE WAS INSPECTED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR AND THAT BRIDGES ARE SUPPORTED STRUCTURALLY BY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PARTS, ADDING ESTHETICS DO NOT DETERMINE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. BUT OLCERST IS NOT CONVINCED YOU NEED TO PROVE IT. SHOW US THE INSPECTION REPORTS. WE ASKED BOTH NORFOLK SOUTHERN AND THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION FOR THE REPORTS, BUT WERE TOLD THAT ONLY AN ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL MAY OBTAIN THEM. I DON’T KNOW THAT THE RECORDS NEED TO BE PUBLIC PER SE, BUT I THINK THAT WE COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN WITH THE PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND CAN ACTUALLY HELP. KENT HARRIS IS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE RIGHT NOW THAT RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEING PROPERLY AND THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND INSPECTED? ON THE WHOLE? I HAVE TO YES. I’M SURE THAT THINGS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS. THERE’S NO QUESTION THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST. IN PARTICULAR, THE OLD PART OF THE NATION, PRETTY MUCH MOST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN VERY POOR SHAPE AS A RESULT OF DECADES OF ESSENTIALLY NO, NO MAINTENANCE. AND WE DON’T DEAL WITH IT UNTIL WE HAVE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. THESE ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES. HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT THAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS PROPER, MAINTAINED AND SAFE? WE HAVE REGULATIONS AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO MEET THOSE MANDATES. WHILE TRAINS REMAIN AMONG THE SAFEST FORMS OF TRANSPORTING FREIGHT, THERE WERE MORE THAN 1100 DERAILMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LAST YEAR, AVERAGING ABOUT THREE PER DAY. THESE DERAILMENTS ARE JUST A COST OF DOING BUSINESS FOR THEM. THAT’S IT. THAT’S THE WAY THEY VIEW IT. AND UNTIL THAT’S TAKEN BACK INTO THE CONTROL OF THE REGULATORS AND THE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES ARE PROPERLY STAFFED AND PROPERLY FUNDED. AND I’M CONCERNED EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED. DAN LIEBERMAN JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUING PUSH FOR INCREASED OVERSIGHT. DAN, IT IS SO NICE TO HAVE YOU NOT REALLY SURPRISED THAT CONGRESS HAS STALLED ON THIS ISSUE, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS MOVING FORWARD? IT’S INTERESTING. IT’S NOT SURPRISING. AT ALL. BUT LOCAL ADVOCATES IN PITTSBURGH CONTINUE TO PRESS STATE AND CITY OFFICIALS TO MAKE THESE CHANGES. THEY WANT THE RAILROADS TO BE SAFER, BUT NOTHING’S HAPPENING AS OF YET. IT IS INTERESTING, THOUGH, THAT ACROSS THE BORDER IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, THE MAYOR THERE WAS SO CONCERNED WITH RAIL SAFETY AND THE CONDITION OF THESE RAIL BRIDGES IN HIS CITY THAT HE HIRED AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO MAKE A REPORT TO STUDY THE 25 BRIDGES. I SPOKE TO HIM AND HERE’S WHAT HE SAID. WHAT WE FOUND WAS VERY, VERY. --, THE FACT THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THEM WERE IN POOR OR SEVERE CONDITION AND MANY OF THEM HAVING CONDITION TURNS SO BAD THAT. THAT OUR ENGINEERING CONTRACTOR THERE SUGGESTED THAT THE RAILROADS TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO INSPECT THE BRIDGES THEMSELVES OR TAKE REMEDIATION WITH REPAIRS. NOW, IT DID GET NORFOLK. SOUTHERN, THE RAILROAD COMPANY, TO RESPOND AND START FIXING UP SOME OF THESE BRIDGES IMMEDIATELY. AND IT ALSO GOT STATE SENATORS TO RESPOND AS WELL. IS THERE ANY STATE THAT’S DOING IT? WELL? WELL, CALIFORNIA IS DOING IT PRETTY WELL. THEY PUT MORE DOLLARS INTO A STATE RUN RAILROAD SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAM, BUT MOST STATES ARE NOT INVESTING IN THESE DOLLARS. BUT ADVOCATES IN PITTSBURGH, THEY’RE HOPING TO PUT PRESSURE AND THEY’RE LEARNING FROM BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, HOPING THAT THEY CAN START TO SEE CHANGE THAT MAKES SENSE, DAN LIEBERMAN. THANK YOU. YOU GOT IT. NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, GROWING MORE WITH LESS FARMERS WANT TO CONSERVE WATER. HOW THESE ARIZONA FARMERS ARE HOLDING ON TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND LEGACY DESPITE FREQUENT DROUGHT. PLUS THIS INDIANA COMPANY HELPS EMPLOYEES STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. IT’S ALL WORTH IT. WHY THE BUSINESS SAYS IT’S A GOOD INVESTMENT. YOU’RE WATCHING MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. IN DECEMBER OF 2021, WE INTRODUCED YOU TO THE CAYWOODS OF CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA, A FAMILY OF CROP FARMERS GOING BACK FOR GENERATIONS. THEY RAISE MOSTLY COTTON AND ALFALFA. WHEN WE VISITED THEM, THEY WERE REELING FROM THE IMPACT OF THE MEGADROUGHT BARELY HOLDING ONTO THEIR LAND AND WORRIED THAT THEIR FAMILY LEGACY WAS GOING TO BE LEFT IN THE DUST. HERE’S OUR CORRESPONDENT DINA DEMETRIOS. DOES THIS ALFALFA LOOK LIKE HOW YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO LOOK? NO, WE WOULD LIKE IT TO LOOK A LOT THICKER WERE WE WERE INTO KIND OF A SITUATION WHERE IT WAS NOT GREENING UP AT ALL. AND SO DO YOU TAKE IT OUT? DO YOU TAKE THE CHANCE THAT IT’S GOING TO REBOUND? AND IF IT DOES REBOUND, IS IT GOING TO BE WORTH THE WATER? THE CAYWOODS HAVE BEEN PRODUCTIVE COTTON AND FORAGE CROP FARMERS FOR 100 YEARS. FOR GENERATIONS. FARMING 247 ACRES. BUT BEFORE HE PASSED, NANCY CAYWOODS FATHER WONDERED IF IT WOULD MAKE IT TO A FIFTH. HE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DROUGHT, YOU KNOW, AND HE SAID, I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER YOU GUYS CAN HANG IN. LAST APRIL, THE SAN CARLOS IRRIGATION DISTRICT, WHICH PROVIDES WATER FROM THE GILA RIVER TO CAYWOOD AND HER NEIGHBORS CUT DOWN. THEN COMPLETELY CUT OFF IRRIGATION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO WATER. THE CAYWOODS PLANTED NO COTTON, A PRIMARY CROP. WE HAVE PROBABLY 50 TO 60% OF OUR GROUND FALLOW. THAT’S A HUGE HIT TO YOUR FARM. IT’S A VERY LARGE HIT AND IT HURTS. YOU KNOW, FINANCIALLY. IT’S JUST IT’S BREAKING US. THE YEARS LONG DROUGHT HAS RAVAGED THE AREA. COOLIDGE DAM AND ITS RESERVOIR, SAN CARLOS LAKE, WHICH PROVIDES IRRIGATION TO HUNDREDS OF FARMS, PLUMMETED TO 3% OF FULL CAPACITY. NOW, THIS MAIN CANAL IS BONE DRY. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE AROUND 60% FALLOWING THIS YEAR. STEPHEN MILLER IS THE CHAIR OF THE PINAL COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND SITS ON THE BOARD OF THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT, WHICH MANAGES THE COLORADO RIVER’S CANALS AND ALLOCATIONS THROUGH THREE COUNTIES. IT’S GOING TO DEFINITELY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE ECONOMICS OF THIS. THIS COMMUNITY, $2.8 BILLION OF GENERATED IN THE AG COMMUNITY IN PINAL COUNTY. NOT ONLY DO FARMERS LOSE INCOME, THEIR PROPERTY TAXES ALSO BECOME UNBEARABLE. THE TAX CODE IS SET UP TO KEEP AN AG STATUS ON YOUR LAND, WHICH GIVES YOU A REDUCED RATE. I MEAN, IT DOUBLES THE TAXES FROM AG STATUS TO VACANT LAND FOR THE CAYWOODS. THAT’S A $22,000 TAX. AND WATER BILL. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. IF WE HAVE TO SELL TO TRY TO FIND LAND IN A MORE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THERE’S MORE WATER AVAILABLE TO US. BUT I THINK WE’RE STILL IN SHOCK THAT WE SAID THE S WORD, THE SALE WORD IS JUST ALMOST MORE THAN ANY OF US COULD EMOTIONALLY HANDLE FOR NOW, THE CAYWOODS ARE LOOKING TO DEEPER GROUNDWATER WELLS FOR A REPRIEVE. IT JUST GIVES US THIS LITTLE TINY, SHINY BIT OF HOPE AND IT’S THAT LITTLE BIT OF HOPE THAT ALLOWS THE CAYWOODS TO CONTINUE STAYING ROOTED IN PINAL COUNTY FOR NOW, THIS IS OUR FAMILY LEGACY. THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO. THIS IS WHAT WE’RE ABOUT. THIS IS US IN CASAGRANDE, ARIZONA, I’M DINA DEMETRIUS, FOR MATTER OF FACT, THERE’S GOOD NEWS TO REPORT. THE CAYWOOD FAMILY IS STILL FARMING AFTER. SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN SNOWS AND RAINFALL. WELL, WE VISITED NANCY CAYWOOD LAST WEEK. SHE WAS GIVING A TOUR OF THE FARM, TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER. WE ASKED ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY’VE MADE TO PRESERVE THEIR LIVELIHOOD. WE LIKE TO BE KNOWN AS WATER CONSERVATION. FARMERS WANT TO CONSERVE WATER. SO WE JUST SPENT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY LEVELING FIELDS AND OUR WATER IS FLOWING MUCH FASTER. SO THAT’S HELPING REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WE USE. WE GROW ALFALFA TYPICALLY ON THIS FARM AND WE CAN LEAVE OUR ALFALFA IN FOR FOUR YEARS AND RIGHT NOW OUR ALFALFA IS GETTING TO THE END OF ITS LIFE CYCLE. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER CROPS THAT ARE ABOUT 90 DAYS CORN, OATS. THEY ALL TAKE ABOUT FOUR ACRE FEET OF WATER AND WE’RE DOING THAT IN ABOUT A 90 DAY CYCLE. AND SO WE HARVESTED OATS IN MARCH, DID VERY WELL WITH IT. WE PUT CORN IN RIGHT AFTER THAT. IT WAS HARVESTED IN JULY AND NOW WE HAVE MORE OATS IN THE GROUND. WE’RE KIND OF YEAR BY YEAR, STORM BY STORM. AND WE’RE WATCHING THE LEVELS OF COOLIDGE DAM ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE THE APPS ON OUR PHONE. WE LOOK AT WEATHER FUTURES AND WE’RE JUST TRYING TO GUESS WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS FARM WORK. AS FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, CAYWOOD SAYS IT’S STILL UNCERTAIN. RECENTLY, SHE WENT TO CAPITOL HILL TO PUSH FOR APPROPRIATIONS FOR WATER INDUSTRY STRUCTURE LINES TO SUPPORT FARMING. COMING UP, AN INDIANA BUSINESS MADE HEADLINES FOR COVERING EMPLOYEES ADDICTION TREATMENT. WE’LL HAVE A PROGRESS REPORT ON THEIR INNOVATIVE APPROACH. PLUS, THE MOST DETAILED LOOK YET AT THE EIGHTH CONTINENT. IT. WELCOME BACK. TO MATTER OF FACT, THE WORKPLACE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FOR ADDRESSING SOME SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE CDC. IT FOUND THAT 70% OF ALL ADULTS WITH AN ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE DISORDER ARE EMPLOYED. FIVE YEARS AGO, WE SENT OUR CORRESPONDENT, JESSICA GOMEZ TO INDIANA TO VISIT A WORKPLACE SUPPORTED RECOVERY PROGRAM. IT COSTS THE COMPANY AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $16,000 PER PERSON TO PROVIDE TREATMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES. TAKE A LOOK. WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA, DOTTED WITH FACTORIES AND FARMS IS A PLACE WHERE HARD WORK IS JUST A WAY OF LIFE. I GREW UP DOING CHORES. I GREW UP AND HAVING RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE NOTHING WAS FOR FREE. FOR 48 YEAR OLD SHAWN, A MACHINE OPERATOR AT BELDEN INC WORK ETHIC IS EVERYTHING. BUT AFTER 23 YEARS AT THE PLANT, WHICH MANUFACTURES HIGH END BROADCAST CABLES. SHAWN IS NOT RUNNING HIS MACHINES. HE’S CLEANING. I HAVEN’T BEEN ON MY MACHINE YET. EIGHT WEEKS. IN A WAY, IT’S KIND OF DRIVING ME CRAZY. SHAWN FAILED A ROUTINE DRUG TEST AFTER A MINOR FORKLIFT ACCIDENT. THE COMPANY’S NORMAL PROCEDURE UP UNTIL THIS YEAR. TERMINATION. BUT INSTEAD OF FIRING HIM, BELDEN SENT SHAWN HERE TO CENTERSTONE OF INDIANA FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND THEY’RE FOOTING THE BILL. I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME DEPRESSION AND SOME ANXIETY ISSUES TO A BILL SHAWN COULD NEVER HAVE AFFORDED ON HIS OWN. I DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY. I’M EITHER IN THERAPY EVERY DAY FOR TWO HOURS, OR I GO TO AA MEETINGS. WE WERE THRILLED TO BE COMING TO THE TABLE BECAUSE AS EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR FOLKS IS KEY, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE’VE SEEN THE FAILED DRUG SCREEN PERCENTAGES ALMOST TRIPLE, WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE IMPACT AS WE TRY TO STAFF OPENINGS. SO LAST FEBRUARY, BELDEN CREATED THE PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, NOT ONLY PAYING FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FOR EMPLOYEES, BUT FOR APPLICANTS AS WELL, THOSE THE COMPANY WOULD LIKE TO HIRE. BUT WHO FAIL A PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG SCREEN. WE’RE GOING TO GIVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE. BUT IT’S IN EXCHANGE FOR THEM MAINTAINING A CLEAN LIFESTYLE, COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY, WANTING TO HELP THEMSELVES. BUT WE’RE GOING TO GIVE THEM HOPE TO DO THAT, BELDEN SAYS. SHAWN CAN HAVE HIS OLD JOB BACK WHEN CENTERSTONE FEELS HE’S READY AND HE PASSES A SERIES OF DRUG TESTS. SO FAR, SO GOOD. THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. IT’S APPARENT TO THEM THAT PEOPLE ALL IN THE COMMUNITY ARE ALSO INVESTED IN THEM. WHEN YOU HAVE THAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO, IT’S A MOTIVATOR. THE COUNTY’S SECOND LARGEST EMPLOYER, BELDEN, IS A PLACE WHERE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES MAKE A LIVING AND MOST HERE, LIKE LEWIS HUBBELL, KNOW SOMEONE IMPACTED BY ADDICTION. HUBBELL’S SISTER, WHO USED TO WORK AT BELDEN, DIED OF A HEROIN OVERDOSE SIX YEARS AGO. SHE WENT FROM A VERY VIBRANT MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN. ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH HER JOB AND LOVE WITH HER FAMILY. VERY STRONG, VERY BUBBLY TO TO SOMEONE WHO WE DIDN’T KNOW. HUBBELL OFTEN WONDERS WHETHER THE PROMISE OF TREATMENT AND A JOB WOULD HAVE KEPT HER OFF THE STREETS AND ALIVE. IF THIS WORKS AND IF WE COULD SAVE JUST ONE PERSON’S LIFE LIKE IT COULD HAVE SAVED MY SISTER’S, IT’S ALL WORTH IT. ABSOLUTELY ALL WORTH IT. AND I WISH MORE COMPANIES WOULD GIVE PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE. A SECOND CHANCE, SHAWN SAYS, HAS HELPED PUT HIS LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE. BEING SOBER, IT’S A GOOD FEELING. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE MORE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR DREAMS ARE MORE REALISTIC. STICK IN RICHMOND, INDIANA, FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M JESSICA GOMEZ, THE BELDEN COMPANY. IS STILL OFFERING THE REHAB PROGRAM TO EMPLOYEES AND NEW HIRES. FEWER EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR SERVICES SINCE THE PANDEMIC, AND THREE EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES EACH YEAR SINCE 2020. BELDEN IS STILL THE ONLY COMPANY IN INDIANA THAT OFFERS THE REHABILITATION SERVICES THROUGH CENTERSTONE. AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, WHAT RESEARCHERS LEARNED WHEN MAPPING THE SO-CALLED EIGHTH CONTINENT. AND A DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION THAT PUTS THESE OFRENDAS DISPLAYS ALONGSIDE WORKS BY DIEGO RIVERA, MONET AND VAN GOGH. WE’LL SHOW YOU WHERE TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTER OF FACT. WPTV. IT’S BEING CALLED THE EIGHTH CONTINENT. ZEALANDIA. SIX YEARS AFTER ITS DISCOVERY, RESEARCHERS HAVE OFFICIALLY MAPPED THE MOSTLY UNDERWATER LANDMASS. ZEALANDIA IS ALMOST 2,000,000MI, ABOUT HALF THE SIZE OF AUSTRALIA, BUT ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF IT IS ABOVE WATER. THE PORTION THAT MAKES UP PART OF NEW ZEALAND. SCIENTISTS SAY THE LANDMASS BROKE OFF FROM ANTARCTICA AND AUSTRALIA. TENS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO. THE MAPPING INCLUDES DETAILS ABOUT ZEALANDIA’S GIANT VOLCANIC REGION. SO IS IT ACTUALLY A CONTINENT TODAY? NAH, THAT’S KIND OF UP FOR DEBATE GIVEN HOW MUCH OF IT IS UNDERWATER. REGARDLESS, RESEARCHERS SAY ZEALANDIA IS NOW BETTER MAPPED THAN OTHER RECOGNIZED CONTINENTS. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, WHY THESE DAY OF THE DEAD OFRENDAS ARE ATTRACTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OFAND FINALLY, ONE OF’ TOP ART MUSEUMS HAS BEGUN ITS OWN DAY OF THE DEAD TRADITION PROMISE. MEXICAN ARTIST DIEGO RIVERA PAINTS WHAT ARE CALLED THE DETROIT INDUSTRY MURALS. BACK IN THE 1930. THE WORLD RENOWNED DISPLAY IS AT THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS. NOW, THE MUSEUM IS HOPING IT CAN ALSO BRING ATTENTION TO THE WORKS OF MEXICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS. EVERY FALL, THE MUSEUM INVITES LOCAL ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DESIGN AND DISPLAY OFRENDAS THE OFFERINGS TRADITIONALLY PLACED IN A HOME ALTAR DURING THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION. THE MUSEUM SAYS THE GOAL IS TO SHED LIGHT ON THE MEXICAN TRADITION AND BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH REMEMBERING LOVED ONES. LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 37,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE EXHIBIT. AND IF YOU WANT TO CATCH IT THIS YEAR, YOU STILL HAVE TIME. IT’S GOING TO BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH NOVEMBER 5TH. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT. I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN, AND I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANY TIME. HEAD TO MATTER OF FACT, WPTV.