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

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA SAW AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 14,000 CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY.

THAT IS NOW A DAILY OCCURRENCE.

ARIZONA ALSO REPORTED 213 COVID-RELATED FATALITIES, BUT ARIZONA'S DEATH RATE IS STILL 10TH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

AND HOSPITALS ARE SEEING INCREASING SHORTAGES OF STAFFING AND RESOURCES.

AND IF YOU HAVE SEEN EMPTY SHELVES AT LOCAL GROCERY STORES AS OF LATE, YOU ARE NOT AT LOAN.

GROCERY STORES ARE SAYING WORKER SHORTAGES ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY CALLED FOR CHANGES TO THE FILIBUSTER TO ADDRESS VOTING REGISTRATION.

>> I BELIEVE THE THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY IS SO GRAVE THAT WE MUST FIND A WAY TO PASS THESE BILLS.

AND IF THAT IS BLOCKED, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP THE FILIBUSTERS.

>> KYRSTEN SINEMA HAS STATED PUBLICLY THAT SHE OPPOSES CHANGES TO THE FILIBUSTER.

>>> THERE WAS AN ANNUAL STUDY PUBLISHED SAYING OCEANS ABSORB HEAT FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, AND CAN CAUSE MORE POWERFUL STORMS AND INCREASE RAINFALL.

>>> THE OMICRON VARIANT IS MAKING FOR A SPIKE IN COVID CASES AROUND THE STATE, ALONG WITH THE INCREASE IN COVID PATIENTS.

WE TALKED TO A LOCAL DOCTOR ABOUT THIS.

WHERE DO WE STAND NOW IN ARIZONA?

>> RIGHT NOW OUR CASE RATES HAVE EXCEEDED THRESHOLDS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE IN ARIZONA, AND IT IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT TIME.

>> HOW LONG BEFORE WE SEE PEAK CASES, AND PEAK NUMBERS IN TERMS OF FATALITIES, AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> HOSPITALIZATIONS WILL PEAK EARLY IN FEBRUARY AND DEATHS MID-TO LATE FEBRUARY.

>> AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OMICRON, IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR AT LEAST TO MOST FOLKS THAT IT IS NOT QUITE AS SERIOUS AS THE DELTA VARIANT WAS.

IS THAT TRUE?

AND WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THAT?

>> IT IS TRUE THAT OMICRON IS NOT AS SERIOUS IN TERMS OF NEEDING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT IT CAN OVERWHELM US SIMPLY BY SHEER NUMBERS.

>> AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

THE NUMBERS OF FATALITIES, USUALLY SEEM TO LAG CASES.

SAME KIND OF THING GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

>> YES, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A FOUR TO FIVE-WEEK LAG.

>> I GOT TO ASK YOU, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SEEING AND HEARING THIS MORE FREQUENTLY OF LATE, SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING GO AHEAD, GIVE ME THE OMICRON, IT IS NOT AS SERIOUS, IF I GET IT, I'LL BE -- IT'S AS GOOD AS THE VACCINATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> THAT IS NOT GOOD MEDICAL OR HEALTH ADVICE.

IT DOESN'T COME WITH ANY OF THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVING THE LIVE VIRUS WILL.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS NOT CAPABLE OF SENDING YOU TO THE HOSPITAL OR EVEN CAUSING YOU DEATH.

>> AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT WON'T CAUSE YOU MORE PROBLEMS AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> WELL, THERE DOES SEEM TO BE LASTING IMMUNITY BUT NOT NECESSARILY REININFECTION.

THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE DELTA SURGE.

WITH DELTA, MANY PEOPLE NEEDED SERIOUS HELP, AND SO TRYING TO GET CARE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND HAVING GENERAL CARE IN THE BACKWARD, AND THE GREATEST PRESSURE WILL BE IN OUR GENERAL HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

AND WE'RE ALREADY BACK ABOVE PEAK LEVELS, SO IT'S A SERIOUS CONCERN.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE FLU?

ARE WE SEEING THE FLU NOW?

>> FORTUNATELY WE'RE HAVING A BELOW AVERAGE FLU SEASON THIS YEAR, SO I THINK THE EFFORTS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE TAKING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES ARE ALSO WORKING TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE FLU AS WELL.

>> WITH OMICRON, CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE A SHARP DROP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN?

>> YES, I THINK THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD EXPECTATION.

THAT'S WHAT WE SAW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND SOUTH AFRICA.

BUT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, MORE PEOPLE HAVE HAD A THIRD-SHOT BOOSTER, SO IT'S HARD TO DRAW AN EXACT EXPECTATION, BUT I THINK THE DOWN SIDE WILL BE SHARP.

>> AND REGARDING HOME TESTING, ARE THESE THINGS FOR THE MOST PART SAFE AND ACCURATE?

>> YES, THEY ARE DEFINITELY SAFE AND IN THE CURRENT CONTEXT, THEY ARE VERY ACCURATE, AND IF YOU GET A POSITIVE TEST, YOU CAN ALMOST BE CERTAIN THAT YOU IN FACT HAVE THE OMICRON VARIANT, AND YOU SHOULD STAY HOME AND ISOLATE.

GIVEN HOW TRADITIONAL OUR PCR TESTING IS, AT-HOME TESTS ARE REALLY FILLING AN IMPORTANT GAP, AND YOU SHOULD BE CONFIDENT THEY ARE ACCURATE FOR YOUR PURPOSES, AND THEY ARE A GREAT ADJUNCT TO THE OTHER STEPS THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE.

>> ENCOURAGING.

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST RIGHT NOW?

>> RIGHT NOW, AT THE MOMENT, THE REAL PRESSURE IS IN THE HOSPITAL AND TRIAGE SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO FALL DOWN THE STAIRS OR CUT YOURSELF WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE.

EXPECTING TIMELY CARE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS IS A REAL STRUGGLE.

AND WE KNOW TIME IS MUSCLE, TIME IS BRAIN, AND ANY DELAYS IN CARE CAN HAVE IMPORTANT MEANINGFUL CONSEQUENCES.

SO OUR HOSPITALS ARE UNDER SIEGE, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE THE REAL CRITICAL PIECE TO WATCH OVER THE NEXT TWO TO FOUR WEEKS.

>> DOCTOR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND UP NEXT, THE OPENING DAYS OF THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>>> THE ARIZONA LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGAN YESTERDAY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, WE ASKED FOR AN UPDATE ON THE GENERAL MOOD AT THE CAPITOL FROM HOWIE FISHER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

EVERYBODY ON GOOD BEHAVIOR SO FAR?

>> SO FAR.

THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE GOT A SMATTERING OF APPLAUSE, SO I THINK EVERYONE IS TRYING TO BEHAVE.

THERE IS THE ONGOING ISSUE OF THE REPRESENTATIVE WANTING TO VOTE FROM HOME BECAUSE SHE JUST HAD HER BABY.

>> OKAY.

REAL QUICKLY, WITH THAT IN MIND, WE OBVIOUSLY REPORTED ON THE STATE OF THE STATE YESTERDAY, AND I DIDN'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF MASK WEARING GOING ON IN THAT BUILDING.

>> MOST OF THE DEMOCRATS WERE MASKED UP.

EVEN AMONG THE MEDIA -- LOOK, I'M TRIPLE VACCINATED, AND I WORE A MASK IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

I THINK THERE IS A BIT OF MASK FATIGUE, AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING, IF WE GET IT, WE'LL GET OVER IT.

>> AND HOW WAS THE STATE OF THE STATE RECEIVED DOWN THERE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THIS IS THE USUAL ISSUE, WHERE REPUBLICANS SAID WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT COVID, AND THE DEMOCRATS SAID WE'RE HITTING A SCHOOL EXPENDITURE MAXIMUM.

AND FOR THE DEMOCRATS, IT WAS PAR FOR THE COURSE, WHY IS HE NOT DEALING WITH WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

>> AND HE DIDN'T MENTION ELECTION REFORM.

>> I THINK HE RECOGNIZES THERE IS NO WIN ON THAT QUESTION.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE DOWN THERE WHO WANT TO GET RID OF EARLY VOTING, AND PEOPLE WHO SAY EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE, AND HE DOESN'T SEE A WIN ON THAT.

THIS WAS A POLITICAL SPEECH MORE THAN ANYTHING.

IT HAD TO DEAL WITH THE BILLION DOLLARS THAT IS GOING INTO FINDING WATER AND DESALLENIZATION.

AND HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO SEND LEGISLATION THAT WE WANT THE LEGISLATURES TO ENACT.

AND SCHOOL OF CHOICE, WHICH IS GIVING PARENTS MORE DOLLARS TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

>> DEALING WITH WATER, BUT NOT BEING VERY SPECIFICALLY, ALMOST AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT, AND THERE MIGHT BE A SPECIAL SESSION IN ORDER.

IS THERE GOING TO BE A SPECIAL SESSION JUST TO DEAL WITH WHAT WASN'T APPROVED LAST SESSION?

>> I THINK THERE IS SOME SENTIMENT ON THAT.

AND ALL LAWS TAKE EFFECT AFTER THE END OF THE SESSION.

IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION THAT ENDS, LET'S SAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, YOU CAN HAVE THOSE LAWS IN PLACE BY THE TIME THE ELECTION COMES UP.

BUT HOW MANY OF THESE THINGS CAN PASS ON THEIR OWN?

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHETHER THERE ARE THE VOTES FOR THE QUESTION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

AND EVEN THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS AID SAID HE COULDN'T NAME ONE.

>> SO MAYBE THESE THINGS DON'T GET RESURRECTED, AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY CAN'T PASS ON THEIR OWN.

>> AND THAT'S THE THING.

LET'S SEE WHERE OMICRON IS?

EARLIER TODAY, THE CHIEF MEDAL OFFICER FROM BANNER SAID THINGS WILL GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER.

WELL, IF WE HAVE SCHOOLS CLOSING DOWN, DESPITE THE GOVERNOR'S BEST EFFORTS TO KEEP THEM OPEN, ARE REBETTER OFF LETTING THEM KEEP THEIR MASK MANDATES, AND KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN.

>> YEAH.

HOWIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

>>> ASU PROFESSOR RECENTLY PASSED AWAY.

HE WAS IN THE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY, AND WAS KNOWN FOR GROUND BREAKING SCIENCING.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE ABOUT THE HIS PASSING.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PASSING OF DR. JOSE WHO WAS KNOWN IN THE FIELD OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY, BUT I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT HE HAD AS A PERSON.

>> YES.

HE WAS STARTED IN HIS CAREER IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIKE MOST LATINOS START THEIR CAREER, AND HE WAS ALSO A VETERAN, AND VERY CONNECTED WITH THE FARM WORKER MOVEMENT.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND HE GOT HIS DEGREE FROM UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND THEN HE CAME TO ASU.

>> YES.

THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND WHEN DID YOU FIRST MEET HIM?

>> I FIRST MET HIM IN 1992 WHEN I CAME FROM DePAUL UNIVERSITY, AND IT WAS ABOUT 25 CHICANO LATINO FACULTY, AND WE MET EACH MONTH, AND PARTICIPATED IN HISPANIC GRADUATIONS AND MENTORED STUDENTS, AND TRAVELED UP AND DOWN THE STATE.

AND WE USED TO MEET WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF U OF A, NAU, ASU, AND SO ON, SO THAT -- AND HE WAS ALWAYS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

AND AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, HE SAID, WHEN CAN I GO AGAIN.

>> AND HE NEVER FORGOT HIS ROOTS.

TALK ABOUT HIS CONNECTION TO CAESAR CHAVEZ.

>> THERE WHAT I KNOW, SINCE HE WAS A FARM WORKER, HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE MOVEMENT, AND ONCE HE GOT HERE, AND KNOWING CAESAR CHAVEZ WAS BORN HERE, AND HE WANTED TO GIVE -- NOMINATED HIM FOR AN HONORARY DOCTOR AND IT.

AND I WAS PASSING THROUGH YUMA ON A BUS, AND GOT HERE, AND I HEARD THAT CAESAR CHAVEZ WAS DEAD.

AND NOW YOU TRAVEL EVERYWHERE, AND YOU SEE CAESAR CHAVEZ EVERYWHERE.

>> AND HE WAS INVOLVED NOT ONLY AT ASU, BUT ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ONE OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAD TO DO WITH A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IN GUADALUPE.

>> UH-HUH.

I WASN'T INVOLVED IN THAT, BUT I THINK IT WAS VERY WORRY THAT HE DID THAT.

BECAUSE GOING TO CHURCH IN GUADALUPE SINCE 1994, AND IT HAS CHANGED A LOT, AND A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH PROJECTS IN WHICH HE WAS INVOLVED.

THE COMMUNITY IS TRILINGUAL.

>> SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT ON THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.

THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL THAT HE WAS IN, DID SPEAK ABOUT HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A RENOWNED SCHOLAR, BUT IT EMPHASIZED MORE ON WHAT HE MEANT TO ASU.

LET'S CLOSE WITH THAT AND WHY HE IS GOING TO BE MISSED?

>> HE IS GOING TO BE MISSED BECAUSE OF HIS BILINGUALISM.

HE WAS A SIGNIFICANT SCHOLAR.

HE PUBLISHED MANY ARTICLES, AND HAD MANY CITATIONS.

SO HE WILL BE REMEMBER AND MISSED AT ASU, PARTICULARLY ASU WEST, BUT ALSO ASU TEMPE AND THE OTHERS, WAS HE WAS A MODEL FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING TO US, PROFESSOR.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, JOSE CARDENAS FOR INVITING ME.

IT IS A PLEASURE.

I COULD SPEAK MORE ABOUT JOSE.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS, THIS MAY BE THE LAST REMAINING HOME OF WILD JAGUARS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN ARE THERE OTHER LIFE FORMS IN THE