[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] [♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" WE SPEAK TO FORMER ARIZONA SENATOR JEFF FLAKE ABOUT THE UPCOMING TRUMP PEOPLE TRIAL AND THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

ON CRONKITE NEWS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE U.K.

VARIANT OF COVID-19.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE MENTAL TOLL ON TEENS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE AHEAD ON THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA STILL LEADS THE NATION IN THE RATE OF NEW COVID CASES OVER THE PAST SEVEN DAYS DESPITE JUST UNDER 3,000 NEW CASES REPORTED TODAY, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY LOWER.

BUT WE ALSO REPORTED 238 NEW COVID DEATHS, AND THAT PUTS THE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE OF COVID FATALITIES THIRD HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

YESTERDAY'S OPENING OF A DRIVE-THRU VACCINATION SITE WENT OUT WITHOUT INCIDENT.

THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR THERE, AMONG THOSE ADMINISTERING THE SHOTS, BUT THERE ARE SUPPLY CONCERNS, INCLUDING MIXED SIGNALS FROM THE STATE AND THE CDC.

OF NOTE, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT WILL START SHIPPING VACCINES DIRECTLY TO PHARMACIES BY NEXT WEEK.

YET ANOTHER VACCINE IS SHOWING PROMISE.

THIS ONE IS FROM RUSSIA.

IT'S CALLED THE SPUTNIK 5.

AN INTERNATIONAL PHASE III TRIAL SAID MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED.

PFIZERER IS EXPECTED TO MAKE $15 BILLION IN VACCINE SALES THIS YEAR.

THE COMPANY'S FIRST EARNINGS REPORT SINCE THE VACCINE WAS APPROVED FOR USE BY THE FDA.

PFIZER SAID IT ALREADY SHIPPED MORE THAN 29 MILLION DOSES TO THE U.S. PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY SIGNED THREE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT REVERSED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

ONE AIMS TO REUNITE CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS AT THE BORDER.

AND AN OVERALL REVIEW OF TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION PROCESS.

ALSO IN WASHINGTON, IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS TODAY PRESENTED THEIR CASE AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLING HIM, QUOTE, SINGULARLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RIOT AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

EARLIER TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT THE UPCOMING TRIAL AND OTHER ISSUES WITH FORMER ARIZONA SENATOR JEFF FLAKE.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU LOOK WELL RESTED.

>> IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD TOO, TED.

>> THE HOUSE MANAGERS ARE OVER THERE AT THE HOUSE, BUT WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL OF THIS.

THE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, SHOULD IT HAPPEN?

>> WELL, YOU CAN ALWAYS QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT TO BRING IMPEACHMENT CHARGES.

THAT'S A VERY POLITICAL DECISION TO MAKE.

BUT THE HOUSE DID IMPEACH AND THE SENATE NOW -- THEIR JOB IS TO HOLD A TRIAL.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENDERS HAVE TO SAY, BUT I DO BELIEVE HE INCITED A RIOT AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO HOLD BACK CONGRESS, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE COUNTRY FROM MOVING FORWARD ON SOME PRETTY SERIOUS ISSUES?

>> WELL, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THE SENATE TO PROCESS SOME OF THE NOMINEES FOR THE COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT THIS TRIAL GOES.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL TAKE THAT LONG, BUT THINGS LIKE THIS ARE IMPORTANT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THIS TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY TO MOVE AHEAD.

I DON'T THINK HE WILL BE CONVICTED.

I DON'T THINK THE VOTES ARE THERE.

WE SAW THAT WITH THE TEST VOTE, BUT I DO THINK IT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO REMIND THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WENT ON, AND IF NOTHING ELSE TO ASSURE THAT WE NEVER GET THERE AGAIN.

>> IS IT IMPORTANT TO REMIND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WHAT WENT ON?

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PARTY RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, WE'RE NOT IN A GOOD PLACE, OBVIOUSLY.

I HAVE BEEN TROUBLED FOR A WHILE AT WHERE WE ARE.

POLICY ASIDE, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOOD POLICY, BUT ON THE POLITIC SIDE SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED WE LOST THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE MIDTERMS, THE LOST THE SENATE, AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

IN THE MIDTERMS WE LOST MORE THAN 400 LEGISLATIVE SEATS NATIONWIDE.

MAYBE A FEW WERE GAINED BACK, BUT NET IS VERY DOWN, AND THE PARTY ITSELF DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE IN ANYMORE.

THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO PUT TOGETHER A PLATFORM AT THE LAST CONVENTION, AND BASICALLY SAID WHATEVER THE PRESIDENT SAID THE PARTY IS, THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND WE NEED TWO STRONG PARTIES IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE REPUBLICANS NEED TO CHANGE.

>> THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS LOST UPWARDS OF 10,000 PEOPLE HERE, WHICH IS REMARKABLE.

YOU WERE CENSURED BY THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I MEAN, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PARTY IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW.

IS IT LIVING IN REALITY?

>> NOT THE PARTY LEADERSHIP.

WHEN WE'RE SUCCESSFUL AS A PARTY, IT'S TYPICALLY WHEN NOBODY KNOWS WHO THE STATE CHAIR OF THE PARTY IS, YOU KNOW?

BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN BOB FANEN WAS THERE, AND OTHERS, THEY WERE NOT TRYING TO IMPOSE SOME LITMUS TEST ON ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO, YEAH, IT'S FANTASY LAND.

SO HAVE EMBRACED AS THE PARTY LEADERSHIP DID, THE BIG FALSEHOOD THAT SOMEHOW THIS ELECTION WAS RIGGED, THAT DIDN'T DO THE PARTY ANY GOOD.

NATIONWIDE EMBRACING THAT FALSEHOOD REALLY LOST US THE TWO SEATS IN GEORGIA, WHICH MEANT CONTROL OF THE SENATE.

AND IN ARIZONA IF WE WANT TO MOVE AHEAD, WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE AWAY FROM TRUMPISM.

AND I BELIEVE WE CAN WIN THOSE ARGUMENTS.

THIS IS STILL, I THINK, A CENTER-RIGHT STATE, AND IT IS A CENTER-RIGHT COUNTRY, BUT WE HAVE TO BE MAKING THE POLICY ARGUMENTS NOT HAVE CULT OF PERSONALITY.

>> A FORMER LAWMAKER IS SAYING THE CURRENT AND FORMER REPUBLICANS CREATED DONALD TRUMP.

VALID POINT?

>> OH, THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

CERTAINLY THIS MOVEMENT STARTED BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT HE EXACERBATED IT AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT, AND SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE PROFITED FROM IT, BUT -- BUT THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO KNEW BETTER, WHO KNEW THAT THIS ELECTION WASN'T RIGGED TO AMPLIFY THE PRESIDENT'S FALSEHOODS.

AND THAT FALLS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WE WILL MOVE BEYOND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHEN YOU LOSE THE LEVERS OF POWER AS AN INDIVIDUAL, I THINK YOU LOSE INFLUENCE FASTER THAN THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO.

AND ESPECIALLY TRUMPISM, SINCE IT'S MORE OF AN ATTITUDE, ONCE YOU STOP WINNING, AND -- AND HE REALLY STOPPED WINNING AFTER HIS ELECTION, YOU KNOW, THEN THAT -- YOU LOSE THAT SWAGGER THAT IS REQUIRED TO KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THIS GOING, SO I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE REALIZING THAT, ELECTED OFFICIALS IN ARIZONA ARE REALIZING WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND WE CAN HAVE THE RIGHT POLICY MOVING AHEAD, PARTICULARLY COMPARED TO THOUGH OTHER SIDE IF WE USE IT.

>> ONE MORE POINT.

DOES IT GIVE YOU PAUSE AT ALL TO KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU, WHO WERE REPUBLICANS WHEN YOU WERE A REPUBLICAN, THAT THESE -- THESE PEOPLE ARE NOW TRUMP FANS NOW.

THESE ARE THE SAME FOLKS -- DOES THAT GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A PAUSE?

>> WELL, I THINK -- I THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM ARE TURNING AND WILL REALIZE THAT WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE BACK TO THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE ANIMATED THE PARTY FOR GENERATIONS, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, ECONOMIC FREEDOM, INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND IT'S EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN FOLLOWING PERSONALITIES, THAN TO DO THE HARD WORK OF GOING OUT AND PERSUADING PEOPLE THAT YOUR IDEAS ARE BETTER.

IT'S EASIER TO BLAME THE OTHER SIDE AND KIND OF FALL FOR THE APOCALYPTIC RHETORIC OUT THERE THAT IF THE OTHER SIDE IS ELECTED, THE WORLD WILL END.

BUT I THINK AND I HOPE THAT AS WE MOVE AHEAD IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS THAT -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL GO BACK TO THEIR DAILY LIVES A LITTLE MORE.

THAT THEY WANT LOOK INTO WASHINGTON FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND COMPETITION, AND CAN GO BACK TO WATCHING FOOTBALL OR THE BACHELOR, OR WHATEVER PEOPLE WERE WATCHING BEFORE, AND REALIZE THAT THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS OUT THERE THAN WHAT IS GOING ON, YOU KNOW, DAY-TO-DAY IN WASHINGTON.

POLICY IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT, BUT NOT PITTING ONE SIDE AGAINST THE OTHER.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SO FAR?

>> I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE NOMINEES HE HAS PUT FORWARD.

IT IS A REFRESHING TO HEAR THEM GIVE PRESS CONFERENCES AND KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, AND ACTUALLY GIVE PROPER PRESS CONFERENCES AS WELL FROM A FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY SIDE, I HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE AND OTHERS.

HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE POLICIES AND SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY SIGNED, I DON'T AGREE WITH.

KEYSTONE PIPELINE.

DAMMING NEW FRAC-ING ON FEDERAL LANDS, I THINK THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT MOST AMERICANS AND MOST IN ARIZONA WILL NOT AGREE WITH.

I WOULD ARGUE ON THOSE POLICIES THAN JUST THROW AROUND ACCUSATIONS, YOU KNOW, AT INDIVIDUALS.

>> AND LAST QUESTION, ARGUING POLICIES, DEBATE, COMPROMISE, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO MADE THAT THE FILIBUSTER KEEPS THAT KIND OF THING FROM HAPPENING.

DO YOU THINK THE FILIBUSTER NEEDS TO GO IN YOU HAVE A DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE, AND CONTROL ON BOTH SIDES DEMOCRATS, BUT STILL THE FILIBUSTER IS THERE IN THE SENATE.

DOES IT NEED TO GO TO GET THINGS DONE?

>> NO, WE NEED TO KEEP IT.

I HAVE -- ON THIS -- I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT.

USUALLY IF YOU ARE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, YOU HATE THE SENATE AND THE FILIBUSTER, BUT MOST TIMES IT IS A GOOD THING.

THE SENATE IS SLOW AND STOJGY, BUT THE FILIBUSTER IS THE LAST REMAINING MECHANISM THAT BRINGS THE PARTIES TOGETHER.

SO HAVE THE REQUIRE TO GET 60 VOTES ON ANYTHING, I THINK IS ESSENTIAL TO GOOD GOVERNMENT.

IT HAS BEEN GOOD OVERALL FOR THE COUNTRY.

I HOPE WE KEEP IT.

AND I WAS GLAD TO SEE CHRIS CONTINUE SINEMA KATE SHE WOULD NOT VOTE TO GET RID OF IT.

>> SENATOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A EFFORT TO DISPEL MYTHS REGARDING COVID-19 VACCINES.

>>> THE MAYO CLINIC RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH THIS U OF A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FOR A TOWN CALL TO ADDRESS CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19 VACCINES.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE WITH DR. JUAN GEA BANACLOCHE ABOUT HOW TO BUILD TRUST IN THE VACCINE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.

YOU WERE PART OF THE ADVISORY PANEL THAT RECOMMENDED THE PFIZER VACCINE.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT WRITTEN LATELY ABOUT RELUCTANCE OF PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO GET VACCINATED.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I THINK THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF POOR TREATMENT AND MISTREATMENT OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN RESEARCH, IN MEDICINE, AND THAT IS DIFFICULT TO -- TO OVERCOME AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU ALSO HAVE -- YOU THINK OF ACCESS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, SO I THINK IT BUILDS MISTRUST IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IS HISTORICALLY IS GATE, AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME THAT SITUATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS NEW.

IT'S NEW, IT'S PRESSING, AND EVERYBODY FEELS VERY RUSHED, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT IN THIS PROBLEM.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE NUMBER, THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE -- IN THE TRIALS WAS 9.5%, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE U.S. AS A WHOLE.

THEY WERE 25% HISPANICS.

SO THE RESULTS OF THE VACCINES APPLY TO THE WHOLE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT REASSURANCE THAT IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.

>> IT'S EFFECTIVE -- IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS -- MANY OTHER TESTS, MANY OTHER STUDIES THEY HAD TESTS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT NOT IN THIS VACCINE.

>> AND YET, THE MISTRUST SEEMS TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

THERE WAS A PUGH SURVEY THAT SAID ONLY 42% OF BLACK AMERICANS SAID THEY WOULD DEFINITELY OR PROBABLY GET A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

THAT COMPARES TO 63% AMONG HISPANICS.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MISTREATMENT.

PEOPLE LIKE THE AIRMEN WHO WERE PURPOSEFULLY INFECTED WITH SYPHILOUS.

SO HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE BEST WAY IS BY BEING OPEN AND EXPLAIN THAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS HIDING UNDER THE TABLE, AND THAT WE ARE GIVING THE VACCINE AND RECOMMENDING THE VACCINE TO OUR FAMILIES, AND TO -- TO OUR LOVED ONES, AND -- AND BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.

BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

I THINK THAT -- THAT OPENNESS AND HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.

WE NEED TO ADMIT THAT THE VACCINE HAS SIDE EFFECTS, GENERAL SYMPTOMS AFTER THE SECOND DOSE, BUT THAT THEY ARE NOT SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, BUT WE CANNOT SAY THE VACCINE -- YOU WILL NOT FEEL ANYTHING.

OF COURSE YOU WILL FEEL SOMETHING.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS, BUT THEY ARE NOT BEEN SERIOUS.

AND THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARILY EFFECTIVE.

AND AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL ABOUT VACCINES, VERY, VERY SAFE.

>> YOU PARTICIPATED LAST WEEK IN A VIRTUAL TOWNHALL DIRECTED TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WERE YOU GETTING THERE THAT SEEMS TO BE BASED UPON THIS MISTRUST THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT?

>> WELL, A COMMON QUESTION IS WHETHER ANY CORNERS HAVE BEEN CUT IN THE PROCESS OF THE EMERGENCY USE OPERATION OF THE VACCINE.

THERE IS THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT VACCINES HAVE BEEN RUSHED INTO THE MARKET OR INTO THE POPULATION WITHOUT ENOUGH STUDIES.

THAT IS REALLY A MISCONCEPTION.

THE REASON THESE VACCINES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN A YEAR INSTEAD OF THE TEN YEARS THAT VACCINES USED TO NEED TO BE DEVELOPED IS NOT BECAUSE THE SAFETY HASN'T BEEN FIRST AND CENTER, IT'S BECAUSE OUR TECHNOLOGY IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN IT USED TO BE, AND ALSO BECAUSE THESE PARTICULAR VACCINES WITH THE RNA TECHNOLOGY CAN BE MANUFACTURED IN A MUCH EASIER AND FASTER WAY THAT OTHER VACCINES IN WHICH YOU NEED TO CULTURE VIRUSES IN CERTAIN LINES, AND THAT IS A PROCESS THAT CAN TAKE FOREVER.

WHERE IN DEVELOPING THIS VACCINE, IT IS MUCH FASTER.

THE IDEA THAT, OH, YEAH, IN NO TIME, WE CAN COME UP WITH A VACCINE THAT WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULDN'T DO IN THE PAST, BUT WE CAN DO IT NOW.

AND THAT IS THE REASON IT HAS TAKEN SUCH A SHORT TIME.

>> DOCTOR WHAT ABOUT LANGUAGE BARRIERS?

>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

IN MY CASE, I'M ORIGINALLY A SPANISH SPEAKER, SO I'M PARTICIPATING ALSO IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN SPANISH, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GO WITH THE NEED IS, SO WE NEED PEOPLE WHO SPEAK SPANISHES, WE NEED TO SPEAK SPANISH TO THEM.

AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN SPANISH.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE FDA WEBSITE, ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS ARE BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND THAT CAN BE A RESOURCE FOR A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER THAT WANTS TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO THEIR PATIENTS, AND JUST A BIG EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS EVERY COMMUNITY.

>> DR. JUAN GEA BANACLOCHE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>>> ASU'S KYL CENTER FOR WATER POLICY HAS A NEW DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH.

SHE IS KATHRYN SORENSEN.

SHE IS AN EXPERT IN WATER ISSUES, AND SHE JOINED US EARLIER TODAY TO STALK ABOUT WATER CONCERNS IN THE VALLEY AND THE STATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU ARE THE NEW DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH.

WHAT DOES THAT INVOLVE?

>> WOW, A LOT OF THINGS.

I'M REALLY PROUD TO JOIN THE KYL CENTER.

THEY HAVE LAID DOWN AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ALREADY.

GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ISSUES, A LOT TO BUILD FROM, AND A LOT YET TO DO.

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US.

>> YEAH, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE.

FOCUS, I WOULD IMAGINE WITH ALL ACCESS OF WATER IS SECURE ACCESS TO SAFE WATER.

DO WE HAVE THAT?

>> IN POCKETS WE DO.

BUT IN OTHER PLACES, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES, CHALLENGES REMAIN.

CERTAINLY HERE IN URBAN ARIZONA, WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES.

IF YOU LOOK BROADER INTO RURAL ARIZONA, THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE TO RELY ON BASICALLY TRUCKED-WEATHER DELIVERIES, WHICH IS NOT IDEAL, AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION IN FAIR AND SAFE ACCESS TO WATER IN INDIAN COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

>> INDEED.

THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN AND ATTENTION REGARDING GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT HERE IN ARIZONA.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOUCHY TOPIC.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THEREIN?

>> FUNDAMENTALLY, THE AQUIFERS IN RURAL ARIZONA ARE WHAT ARE CALLED FOSSIL AQUIFERS, AND THAT MEANS THEY DON'T REALLY GET REPLENISHED NATURALLY AT ANY SIGNIFICANT RATE.

SO IF YOU DRAW THEM DOWN OVER TIME, THAT MEANS YOU ARE JUST MINING THE AQUIFER, AND THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

IT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE IN ARIZONA WHERE THERE MAY NOT BE THE WATER SUPPLIES THAT ARE OFTEN ENJOYED IN URBAN AREAS.

>> INDEED.

AND THE COLORADO RIVER, THAT WHOLE ISSUE OF OVERUSE OF THAT.

IT DOESN'T RAIN AS MUCH AS IT USED TO.

YOU HAVE GROUNDWATER CONCERNS.

YOU HAVE COLORADO RIVER CONCERNS.

A LOTS OF CONCERNS.

>> IT IS.

BUT I'M ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WATER PLANNING HERE IN ARIZONA.

WE HAVE A GREAT FOUNDATION OF WISE WATER MANAGEMENT IN THIS STATE, AND WE HAVE GOT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD FROM THAT.

I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THE CHALLENGES, BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE SIGNIFICANT, AND WE HAVE ALREADY PUT TO USE THE EASY SOLUTIONS.

THE THINGS THAT WERE EASY TO DO, NOSE ARE IN PLACE.

SO LOOKING FORWARD INTO A HOTTER, DRIER FUTURE, THE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US ARE TOUGH, AND THE SOLUTIONS ARE EXPENSIVE AND POLITICALLY DIFFICULT.

>> INDEED.

IN RESEARCHING YOUR BACKGROUND, I SAW THE PHASE WATER EQUITY A COUPLE OF TIMES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT IS BROAD AND SAFE ACCESS TO SAFE WATER ACROSS A COMMUNITY.

HERE IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WATER USE FOR LANDSCAPING IMPORTS RELIEF FROM HEAT ISLAND ISSUES AND EXTREME HEAT.

SO IT HAS TWO DIMENSIONS FOR US HERE IN OUR DESERT ENVIRONMENT.

WATER EQUITY IS TRICKY.

IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING EVERYONE WANTS AND VALUES.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THERE IS ANYONE IN A COMMUNITY WHO THINKS THAT OTHER PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE CLEAN DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY COMPLEX TRADEOFFS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

WATER UTILITIES AS YOU KNOW, TED, ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKINGS.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS MADE UP OF CONCRETE AND IRON AND STEEL, AND THE OPERATIONS ARE COMPLEX.

THERE ARE COMPLEX TRADEOFFS BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, PAYING FOR IT, SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY OVER MANY GENERATIONS AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DISADVANTAGED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> COMPLEX TO THE POINT WHERE FOR MANY OF US, WE TAKE CLEAN WEATHER FOR GRANTED.

>> YEAH.

BUT IF NOTHING ELSE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS HIGHLIGHTED HOW IMPORTANT SAFE WATER ACCESS IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A LOT MORE ATTENTION TO IN THE FUTURE.

>> SO YOUR WORK AT THE KYL CENTER FOR WATER POLICY, AND JUST IN GENERAL, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WATER SUPPLY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> I TELL THEM WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INNOVATE, AND BE EFFICIENT AND SMART WITH OUR MANAGEMENT AND USE OF OUR WATER SUPPLIES, BUT I AM OPTIMISTIC.

ARIZONANS UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF WATER, AND HUMANS ARE PRETTY SMART AND PRETTY GOOD AT FIGURING THIS OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, KATHRYN SORENSEN CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW POSITION, HOPE TO SPEAK WITH YOU MORE IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR KNEW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS CONTROVERSY OVER THE CITY OF PHOENIX ADDING BEDS TO HELP THE HOMELESS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN HOW TEENS ARE STRUGGLING DURING THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC.