.

TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE LOOKS AT THE LATEST CONTROVERSY INVOLVING THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK AT EFFORTS TO HELP STRUGGLING VENUES SURVIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>>> AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, FULFILLING NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS IN A HEALTHY WAY?

ALL THAT IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

ANNOUNCER: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEMBERS OF PBS.

GOOD EVENING.

TED: WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON REPORTS COVID VACCINE WHICH REQUIRES ONLY ONE SHOT IS 66% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING INVECTION, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND GREAT BUT THE VACCINE IS 85% EFFECTIVE AGAINST SEVERE DISEASE AND 100% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH.

THAT IS PROMISING.

THESE ARE TEST RESULTS BUT CERTAINLY GOT THE WHITE HOUSE'S ATTENTION.

>> THE PRESIDENT IS ENCOURAGED BY PRESIDENT DATA ON A POTENTIAL NEW VACCINE.

HE ALSO KNOWS THIS IS JUST NEW DATA, AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE FDA TO DO ITS JOB OF EVALUATING THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF THE VACCINE.

HE URGES ALL AMERICANS TO MASK UP AND FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES UNTIL IT'S THEIR TURN TO GET VACCINATED.

TED: AS MANY AS A THIRD OF AMERICANS HAVE A DEGREE OF PROTECTION AGAINST COVID-19 ACCORDING TO A CNN ANALYSIS WHICH LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO RECOVERED FROM INFECTION AND THOSE WHO RECEIVED VACCINATIONS, BUT THERE'S CONCERN OVER MUTANT STRAINS OF THE VIRUS, AND DR. ANTHONY FAUCI SAYS THAT'S ALL THE MORE REASON TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THE FURTHER EVOLUTION OF ANY MUTANT BECAUSE, WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU PREVENT REPLICATION AND REPLICATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR MUTATION.

TED: TODAY'S ARIZONA COVID REPORT SHOWS THE STATE IS STILL THE NATIONAL HOT SPOT WITH THE HIGHEST SEVEN DAY RATE OF NEW COVID CASES AND THE SECOND HIGHEST DEATH RATE OVER THE PAST WEEK.

INDEED TODAY WE PASSED THE 13,000 MARK OF KNOWN COVID FATALITIES WITH 203 KNOWN DEATHS ADDED FOR TODAY.

THERE IS ONE BRIGHT SPOT, HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO SHOW A SLIGHT DECLINE IN ADMISSIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE IS THAT.

>>> WALL STREET WENT NUTS AGAIN TODAY AS INVESTORS ARE BACK USING THE ROBINHOOD APP TO DRIVE UP SHARES OF STRUGGLING COMPANIES LIKE GameStop.

THE SMALL TRADERS ARE AT WAR WITH BIG HEDGE FUNDS WHICH ARE BETTING SHARES WOULD DROP.

THEY HAVEN'T DROPPED AND THE BIGTIME SHORT SELLERS LOST UPWARDS OF $8 BILLION ON GameStop ALONE.

ALL MADE FOR A FRENZY THAT THE SEC SAYS IT'S CLOSELY MONITORING FOR ABUSIVE OR MANIPULATIVE TRADING.

>>> TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND OUR WEEKLY LOOK AT THE HEADLINES, INCLUDING ELECTION CURIOSITIES INVOLVING THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE WELCOME LAURIE ROBERTS OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND LUIGE DEL PUERTO OF THE ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES.

A LOT TO TALK ABOUT, LAURIE, START WITH YOU, THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD THE ELECTION, AND CAN ANYONE RUN AN ELECTION AROUND HERE?

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS?

>> YOU JUST CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP.

THIS IS THE PARTY AND THE PARTY CHAIRWOMAN, KELLI WARD WHO SPENT 2 1/2 MONTHS SCREAMING ABOUT STOPPING THE STEAL OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN ARIZONA AND DEMANDING AN AUDIT.

NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE WAS RE-ELECTED BUT NARROWLY LAST WEEKEND AT THE PARTY'S CONVENTION, BUT SINCE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT ERRORS MADE IN THAT ELECTION SPECIFICALLY WITH ANOTHER PARTY POSITION, BUT IT CALLS INTO QUESTION THE WHOLE ELECTION, IF YOU GET ONE WRONG, SO HER OPPONENT IN THAT RACE HAS CALLED FOR AN AUDIT OF THE PARTY'S ELECTION SO HE CAN KNOW WERE THESE ELECTIONS DONE WITH INTEGRITY OR NOT?

AND KELLI WARD HAS FLAT SAID NO, THE FINAL RESULTS ARE IN.

SHE CALLED THEM THE FINAL, FINAL RESULTS.

AUDITS FOR THEE, NOT FOR ME.

TED: THE IRONY HERE, LUIGE, IT'S RICH TO THE POINT OF NAUSEATING.

>> IT CERTAINLY IS PRETTY RICH, RIGHT?

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE STATE PARTY, SORRY, YOU CAN HEAR THE PHONE IN THE BACKGROUND, YOU WANT TO START OVER, TED?

TED: NO.

>> I THINK THAT'S KELLI WARD CALLING YOU.

>> GO AHEAD, LUIGE, I THINK WE ARE GOOD.

>> PERFECT.

IT IS RICH WITH IRONY, IS IT NOT?

KELLI WARD'S ELECTION IS BEING QUESTIONED.

WHAT HAPPENED IS THE STATE PARTY ANNOUNCED THE WINNER FOR ANOTHER OFFICE, AND IT TURNED OUT THAT PERSON IN FACT LOST.

THAT CREATED TO SOME, CERTAIN DOUBTS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE PARTY'S ELECTIONS.

NOW THE PERSON WHO'S ASKING FOR AN AUDIT, THE PERSON WHO RATTED AGAINST KELLI WARD MADE IT CLEAR HE DOES NOT THINK THE AUDIT WILL OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE PARTY ELECTIONS BUT BELIEVES IT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO THERE'S -- PEOPLE CAN HAVE INTEGRITY IN THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION.

AGAIN, IT'S ALL QUITE INTERESTING GIVEN KELLI WARD'S POSITION ON THE 2020 ELECTION RESULTS.

TED: AND LAURIE, THIS IS ALL HAPPENING AS THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS LOSING MEMBERS.

SOME 8,000, 9,000 PEOPLE CHANGING PARTY AFFILIATION SINCE THE ELECTION?

>> I GET NOTES FROM PEOPLE EVERY DAY, THE PARTY DOESN'T REPRESENT THEM ANYMORE, THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES IN THE PARTY.

USED TO BE THE PART OF THE BIG TENT.

A PARTY OF IDEAS AND WE ACCEPT A VARIETY OF PEOPLE.

NOW, THEY JUST WANT TO PURGE THE PARTY OF ANYONE WHO DOESN'T MARCH LOCK STEP WITH VERY STRICT BELIEFS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

SO I THINK FINALLY PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M A RHINO, I'M GONE, AND IT'S HAPPENING A LOT.

FAR MORE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

TED: LUIGE, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE, USUALLY CANDIDATES RUN ON MACHINERY AS IT IS, WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN AND DON'T WANT TO HANG OUT WITH THIS PARTICULAR CROWD?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, POLITICS, YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR BASE TO COME OUT AND VOTE FOR YOU.

THAT'S HOW YOU WIN THE ELECTION.

WE'RE SEEING THE PARTY REGISTRATION BETWEEN THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES NARROW IN THE LAST FEW ELECTION CYCLES.

THIS IS PLUS 3 POINTS FOR REPUBLICANS?

I WANT TO POINT OUT, A LOT OF THOSE WHO SWITCHED TO INDEPENDENT, PERHAPS EVEN DEMOCRAT, I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS SORT OF THE INITIAL REACTION BY PEOPLE.

I THINK WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT WE AS WE GET INTO THE ELECTION SEASON IN TWO YEARS FOR OUR OWN STATE ELECTIONS HERE, I THINK YOU'LL SEE -- YOU'LL SEE THE REPUBLICANS POTENTIALLY GO BACK TO THE PARTY.

UNDERSTAND, THOUGH, THAT THIS IS ALL HAPPENING UNDER THE CONTEXT OF MORE AND MORE PEOPLE REGISTERING AS INDEPENDENTS.

AND THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NARROWING.

YOU'LL SEE A CLOSER RACE OR RACES IF YOU WILL, IN THE NEXT FEW ELECTION CYCLES.

TED: LAURIE, GO TO REPRESENTATIVE SHAUNA BULLOCK, WIFE OF A STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS SHE CALLING FOR?

THIS BILL HAS GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

>> IT IS BREATH TAKING ARROGANT AND PROBABLY THE MOST UNDEMOCRATIC BILL I'VE SEEN IN THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE.

THAT'S SAYING A LOT.

SHE WANTS TO STRIP THE CITIZENS OF THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE, OR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, WHICH TECHNICALLY WE VOTE FOR ELECTORS, SHE WANTS TO STRIP US OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

I GUESS WE'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE, BUT THE VOTES WON'T COUNT.

INSTEAD THE LEGISLATURE WILL RETAIN LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO NAME THE ELECTORS OF THEIR CHOICE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE THE IDEA THAT THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS THEM THE ABILITY, THE AUTHORITY TO SELECT WHATEVER ELECTORS THEY WANT, BUT THE SUPREME COURT LONG AGO SAID IF YOU DIRECT THAT THE WAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT IS BY HAVING A POPULAR VOTE, YOU CAN'T THEN SUBSTITUTE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT FOR THE JUDGMENT OF VOTERS.

IT'S A RIDICULOUS BILL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND WILL GO NOWHERE, BUT IT WILL GIVE US ONCE AGAIN YET ANOTHER BLACK EYE.

IT'S LIKE A HIJACKING OF OUR OWN ELECTION.

TED: LUIGE, WILL THE LEGISLATURE PASS THIS?

IF SO, WHAT'S THE GOVERNOR GOING TO DO WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> I DON'T FORESEE -- I CANNOT PARTICIPATE THE LEGISLATURE PASSING THIS BILL.

SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN HAS AN UNWRITTEN RULE IN THE SENATE, IF A BILL IS TOO CONTROVERSIAL, SHE GETS TO DECIDE WHAT IS TOO CONTROVERSIAL IS NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE IN HER CHAMBER.

IF THE PROPOSAL GETS OUT OF THE HOUSE, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT WILL, BUT IF IT GETS OUT OF THE HOUSE, IT'S PRACTICALLY D.O.A.

IN THE STATE SENATE.

IF IT GETS OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE, I CANNOT SEE THE GOVERNOR SIGNING THIS PROPOSAL.

I THINK IF THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OR IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO PASS OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE, I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS GOING TO PUT IN A TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON THE LEADERSHIP, TO ENSURE THAT IT DOES NOT REACH HIS DESK.

TED: LAURIE, ONE MORE THING ABOUT THE BILL, DOESN'T IT IS A COURT CHALLENGES HAVE TO BE HEARD REGARDING ELECTIONS.

NO MORE DISMISSALS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.

THE BILL SAYS IF SOMEONE FILES AN ELECTIONS CHALLENGE, EVEN IF IT'S COMPLETELY FRIVOLOUS, NOT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING, THERE MUST BE A JURY TRIAL, AND THE JUDGE CANNOT DISMISS IT UNTIL AFTER THEY'VE HAD THE FULL-BLOWN JURY HEARING.

HER HUSBAND IS A STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

I CANNOT IMAGINE HE'S NOT GETTING AN EARFUL FROM JUDGES ACROSS THE STATE TODAY ABOUT THIS.

IT MEANS THAT THAT RIDICULOUS CRACKEN LAWSUIT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE GONE INTO A COMPLETE JURY TRIAL TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS, AS THE JUDGE ULTIMATELY DECIDED, INNUENDO AND GOSSIP.

YEAH, WE'LL HAVE TRIALS ABOUT INNUENDO AND GOSSIP.

GREAT IDEA.

TED: FASCINATING.

LUIGE, KYRSTEN SINEMA, SENATOR SINEMA CAME OUT, HER OFFICE HAS, SHE SUPPORTS THE FILIBUSTER, SHE'S NOT OPEN TO CHANGING HER MIND ON THIS.

WHY IS SHE SAYING THIS AND WHY IS SHE SAYING IT NOW?

>> I THINK SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN SUPPORT OF THE FILIBUSTER.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS HER REAFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE TRADITION IN THE U.S. SENATE.

I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT KYRSTEN SINEMA STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT THIS FILIBUSTER SERVES A PURPOSE AND SERVE THE U.S. SENATE WELL, AND THERE'S NO REASON TO BYPASS IT OR PUT IT ASIDE JUST SO YOU CAN GET YOUR LEGISLATION DONE QUICKER, OR FASTER.

QUICKER OR AT LEAST PASS IT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AS WELL IS THAT SHE'S GETTING A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM HER OWN PARTY.

THIS IS NOT NEW.

THIS IS KYRSTEN SINEMA, WE'VE SEEN HER PARTY CRITICIZE HER, MEMBERS OF HER PARTY CRITICIZE HER FOR ALL SORTS OF REASONS BUT NOT FACING AN ELECTION FOR SOME TIME, I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, IT'S A LONG WAY FROM THE ELECTIONS, IF YOU WILL.

TED: YEAH, BUT LAURIE, SENATOR SINEMA IS PRO COMPROMISE, WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, THAT'S HER STOCK IN TRADE.

>> THAT'S WHAT VOTERS HAVE LONG SAID THEY WANTED.

THAT'S HOW SHE GETS ELECTED.

I THINK SHE'S BEING TRUE TO HER CREDENTIALS, WHICH IS IF YOU HAVE THE FILIBUSTER, IT GIVES THE MINORITY PARTY SOME POWER, IT REQUIRES THE MAJORITY PARTY TO COME TO THE MINORITY PARTY AND TRY TO WORK OUT COMPROMISE.

OF COURSE, THAT REQUIRES THE MINORITY PARTY TO BE PEOPLE OF GOODWILL AND GOOD FAITH, THAT THEY WILL NEGOTIATE AND THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SEEN.

I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE FED UP WITH THIS.

I DON'T THINK SINEMA IS WRONG TO BE DOING WHAT SHE'S DOING, BUT IF THE REPUBLICANS TAKE THAT STANCE OF NO WAY, NO HOW, WE DON'T BELIEVE THE ELECTION WAS FAIR ANYWAY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO CAUSE THEM PROBLEMS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

TED: SEEMS TO ME, THOUGH, THE WAY THE CAPITOL HILL IS ORGANIZED RIGHT NOW, THAT THE FILIBUSTER, BASICALLY THERE'S NO COMPROMISE THERE.

THINGS ARE JUST HANGING ON THE VINE.

IF YOU GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER, YOU MIGHT GET COMPROMISE BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS HAVE A FEW STRAGGLERS ON EITHER SIDE THAT NEED TO BE CONVINCED?

>> THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.

YOU'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN WHEN A VOTE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, NOT ONLY THE STATE LEGISLATURE REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE, TWO THIRDS OR HIGHER THRESHOLD.

I THINK KYRSTEN SINEMA IS LOOKING AT THIS FROM A LONG-TERM POINT OF VIEW AND LAURIE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THIS FILIBUSTER FORCES PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND IT DEPENDS WHO'S IN CHARGE, RIGHT?

IF YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY, YOU WANT THE FILIBUSTER.

IF YOU'RE IN THE MAJORITY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

NOT LIKE -- BOTH SIDES ARE GUILTY OF TRYING TO GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER, IT BECOMES MORE CONVENIENT TO DO SO AND KYRSTEN SINEMA DOESN'T WANT TO GO THE CONVENIENT PATH.

TED: LAURIE, LAST TOPIC AND WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

THE LEGISLATURE LOOKING AT EMERGENCY POWERS BY THE GOVERNOR NOT LIKING WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, ALL SORTS OF BILLS FLYING AROUND HOUSE AND SENATE.

HOW IS THE BATTLE SHAPING UP?

>> WELL, IT'S SHAPING UP TO BE THE LEGISLATURE VERSUS DUCEY.

LET'S FACE IT DUCEY DOESN'T HAVE A LOT -- THEY THINK HE WENT FAR TO FAR WITH THE EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS ON COVID.

PEOPLE THINK HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, SHOULD HAVE DONE FAR MORE.

THE PREVAILING DO AS LONG AS REPUBLICANS ARE IN CONTROL.

THEY'D LIKE TO WREST SOME OF THAT POWER AWAY FROM HIM.

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF BILLS TO DO SO.

SOME ADDRESS THE CURRENT SITUATION, IT WOULD END HIS EMERGENCY POWERS RIGHT NOW, AND SOME TALK ABOUT FUTURE EMERGENCIES TO AT LEAST PUT AN END DATE ON IT OR ABILITY FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE A CHECK ON HIS POWER.

TED: WHO WINS IN THIS LUIGE?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE IS A COMPROMISE.

THERE ARE THREE BROAD PROPOSALS.

ONE IMMEDIATELY LIFTS THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

FOR EXAMPLE, FREE VACCINATIONS FOR RESIDENTS.

THE SECOND ONE IS LIMIT THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN DECLARE AN EMERGENCY AND REQUIRE HIM TO ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO EXTEND, AND THE THIRD ONE IS MORE OVERSIGHT.

WHAT'S DOABLE HERE IS THE LEGISLATURE LIMITING THE GOVERNOR'S -- THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN PUT THE STATE OF THE EMERGENCY AND TO A CERTAIN AGREE ASK THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO EXTEND THAT EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

AGAIN THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO SIGN ANY ONE OF THESE BILLS.

WILL HE DO IT?

LIMIT HIS OWN POWERS?

THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, LUIGE DEL PUERTO "ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES," LAURIE ROBERTS, "ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

GREAT DISCUSSION, YOU BOTH HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>>> UP NEXT, A NEW PROGRAM HELPS WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.

.

TED: THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTED GRANTS TO SUPPORT 22 WOMEN'S BUSINESS SENATORS IN THE U.S., INCLUDING IN PHOENIX.

TERESA MIRANDA IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF IT AND SPOKE WITH "HORIZONTE"'S JOSE CARDENAS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE WANT TO TALK MAINLY ABOUT A GRANT THAT MOST RECENTLY GOT FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION TO FOCUS ON WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS.

TELL US HOW THE GRANT CAME ABOUT AND THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO.

>> NICE TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW PROGRAM.

THAT IS CORRECT, THAT IS THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER THAT RECENTLY GOT AWARDED TO US TO ASSIST WOMEN THAT HAVE THE DESIRE TO START THE BUSINESS OR ARE IN BUSINESS AND NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO ASSIST A THOUSAND BUSINESS WOMEN THAT HAVE THE DESIRE TO DO SO.

WE'RE HERE TO PREPARE THEM, PROVIDE THEM ALL THE TOOLS AND GUIDANCE THAT THEY NEED.

>> SHOULD I HAVE MENTIONED THAT CPLC AND PRESTAMOS AND THE FINANCIAL -- COMMUNITY FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.

>> WE ARE PART OF THE CPLC AND PRESTAMOS HAS BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY PROVIDING CAPITAL.

WE'VE GIVEN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES, NOW EXTENDING OUR SERVICES.

>> NOW THESE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE USED TO BE ONE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, BUT IT'S BEEN AWHILE, THIS IS A RESURGENCE.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR NEED DRIVING THIS RELATED PERHAPS TO THE PANDEMIC?

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY, THIS SAY PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, WE DID NOT HAVE ONE HERE FOR A FEW YEARS, AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, WE FIND THERE IS A MUCH-NEEDED NEED TO CONTINUE, ASSIST AND HELP SMALL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE LOOKING TO START THEIR BUSINESS.

WOMEN CAN RELATE AND HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHO THEY ARE AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND THE GUIDANCE THAT THEY NEED.

>> ANINESS IS FOR WHAT THE IMPACT ON WOMEN'S BUSINESSES HAS BEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC?

THERE'S SOME REPORTS THAT WOMEN IN PARTICULAR, WOMEN, WAGE EARNERS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.

WHAT ABOUT WOMEN BUSINESSES?

>> WOMEN BUSINESSES HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN IMPACTED.

WOMEN HAVE BEEN THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN SEVERELY DRAGGED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MANAGE THE BUSINESS AND THE HOUSEHOLD.

A LOT OF THE KIDS ARE NOT ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, BEING ABLE TO ASSIST THEM.

NOW THEY STAY HOME AND LOST THEIR JOBS.

NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT DO I DO?

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

HOW CAN I GET INTO THE WORKFORCE, RIGHT?

WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'VE ONLY HAD THIS JOB AND I'VE BEEN A HOUSEWIFE THE OTHER PART OF MY LIFE.

HOW CAN I GO AND IMPLEMENT THIS INTO A BUSINESS?

AND WE START PULLING WHAT ARE THE SKILLS THEY HAVE?

THE THINGS THEY'RE GOOD AT?

I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE.

MAYBE WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAD KIDS AND REALLY INVOLVED WITH THE KIDS AND ORGANIZING THEIR GAMES AND THEIR PARTIES, RIGHT?

THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY I CAN GO INTO EVENT PLANNING BECAUSE I CAN ORGANIZE, PULL THINGS TOGETHER.

I CAN DO THAT AS A BUSINESS, OR MAYBE AS A HOBBY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILIES, AND THEY CAN HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY LEARNED AND THE SKILL THEY HAVE TOWARD BUSINESS.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE GIVE THE TOOLS TO REACH THEIR BUSINESS, DEVELOP THE BUSINESS PLAN, DEVELOP THE MARKETING MATERIAL.

THIS IS WHAT THEY GET ONE ON ONE IN THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU ARE DELIVERING THE SERVICES THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING?

>> THIS IS SERVICE THAT WILL BE INDIVIDUALIZED, ONE ON ONE, THEY'LL HAVE A COACH IN THE ONE ON ONE.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO GROUP SETTINGS, BUT THE INTENT IS TO HAVE THE SERVICE IN A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS, RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WE'LL BE DOING VIRTUAL TRAINING MEETINGS, BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A CENTER DEDICATED FOR WOMEN.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE TOPICS INCLUDE NOT ONLY BUSINESS, MARKETING, ACCOUNTING AND SO FORTH, SOMETHING PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IS WEBSITE AND DIGITAL STRATEGY.

>> RIGHT, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN SEEING QUITE A BIT IN THE NEED.

BUSINESSES WE'VE BEEN SERVING IS THEY WERE NOT SET UP.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO PIVOT FROM BEING A STORE FRONT NOR THE BEING ABLE TO BE ONLINE TO NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF HER AT PRESTAMOS, NOT ONLY WITH THE CAPITAL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE THE PAYMENT PROTECTION PROGRAM, THE PPP, AND WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE OVER 900 BUSINESSES WITH THE PROGRAM, AND A LOT OF THEM DID NOT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD INFORMATION.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS OR EVEN HAD AN E-MAIL ADDRESS.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THE BUSINESSES WITH HOW TO WORK DIGITALLY, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION SO THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR THEIR LOAN.

SO DEFINITELY THERE'S MUCH NEED FOR PROVIDING THAT ASSISTANCE, PROVIDING THAT GUIDANCE, SO HOW TO USE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

>> TERESA, WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES, A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

YOU MENTIONED THE PPP PROGRAM, AND WE ARE EXPECTING ANOTHER WAVE OF CARES ACT FUNDING.

QUICKLY, WHAT'S PRESTAMOS DOING IN THIS AREA?

>> DEFINITELY SUPER ACTIVE WITH THE PPP BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS MONEY THE BUSINESSES NEED.

WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE ASSISTANCE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THE PPP, IF THERE'S ANY BUSINESS THAT DID NOT APPLY IN THE FIRST ROUND AND HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT DO I QUALIFY?

PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE WEBSITE.

IF YOU RECEIVED MONEY IN THE FIRST ROUND AND WONDER IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE SECOND ROUND, AGAIN REACH OUT TO OUR WEBSITE AND WE'RE HERE TO ASSIST, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE ANSWERING PHONES AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE, WE HAVE ONGOING WEBINARS.

PRESTAMOS IS THE ONE STOP FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES.

>> VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VICE PRESIDENT OF PRESTAMOS, GOOD TALKING TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW LIVE VENUES ARE BANDING TOGETHER DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>>> AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, FULFILLING NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION IN A HEALTHY WAY?