[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," TALKS ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION TO PUT BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION ON PAUSE.

AND ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE MAYO CLINIC SHARES WHAT IT'S LEARNED ABOUT COVID-19 DURING THIS FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE DIFFICULTIES THAT COME WITH CHANGING CAREERS.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID-19 CONTINUE TO SHOW A SLIGHT DECLINE ACROSS THE STATE.

THIS AS THE NUMBER OF NEW COVID CASES IS ALSO TRENDING LOWER.

ARIZONA IS STILL RANKED THIRD HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY THOUGH, WITH 4400 ADDED TODAY, THE STATE'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE DEATH RATE REMAINS FOURTH HIGHEST WITH 176 KNOWN FATALITIES REPORTED TODAY.

THE LATEST VACCINATION NUMBERS FROM THE CDC SHOW ARIZONA HAS VACCINATED ARIZONANS WELL DOWN FROM OTHER STATES.

THE NUMBER OF GLOBAL VACCINATIONS NOW SURPASSES THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, WHICH ESTIMATED EARLIER THIS WEEK, THERE HAD BEEN JUST UNDER 104 MILLION COVID CASES WORLDWIDE WITH JUST UNDER 105 ADMINISTERED DOSES.

IN OTHER NEWS IN-FIGHTING OF THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY SHOWS NO SIGN OF ABATING.

18 MEMBERS TODAY ASKED STATE PARTY CHAIR KELLI WARD TO EITHER AUDIT THE PARTY ELECTION THAT SHE WON, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY.

THEY CALL HER AN UNWANTED DISTRACTION AND, QUOTE, FOIL FOR THE MEDIA.

MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL MEET TOMORROW TO ADDRESS WHAT IS NEXT IN THE FACE OF A POSSIBLE STATE SENATE RESOLUTION TO HOLD THE BOARD IN CONTEMPT FOR REFUSING A SUBPOENA.

THE COUNTY MAINTAINS IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO PROVIDE SUCH CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

THE VOTE IS DELAYED NOW UNTIL MONDAY.

NO WORD IF THE SENATE PLANS TO ARREST THE COUNTY'S FIVE SUPERVISORS.

A VOTING TECHNOLOGY COMPANY FILED A $2.7 BILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST FOX NEWS AND THREE OF ITS TOP HOSTS ALONG WITH ATTORNEYS RUDY GIULIANI AND SYDNEY POWELL.

IT CHARGE THAT THE DEFENDANTS CONSPIRED TO SPREAD FALSE CLAIMS THAT THE COMPANY HELPED STEAL THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THEY SAY, QUOTE, THEY KNEW THE ELECTION WAS NOT STOLEN JUST AS THEY NEW THE WORLD IS ROUND AND TWO PLUS TWO IS FOUR.

THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ORGANIZER INVITED TRUMP TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY DURING THE TRIAL.

THAT INVITE WAS QUICKLY REJECTED.

THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP STARTS NEXT TUESDAY, AND YOU CAN WATCH LIVE COVERAGE RIGHT HERE ON ARIZONA PBS BEGINNING AT 11:00 A.M. ♪♪ >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN RECENTLY SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER STOPPING CONSTRUCTION OF THE BORDER WALL BETWEEN THE U.S. AND MEXICO.

COCHISE COUNTY SHERIFF MARK DANNELS TALKED ABOUT THIS AND OTHER IMMIGRATION ISSUES WITH "HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS.

>> SHERIFF MARK DANNELS THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "HORIZONTE."

YOU HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ORDERS ON IMMIGRATION, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, TELL US WHAT HAS WORKED AND WHAT HASN'T WORKED IN COCHISE COUNTY SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN SHERIFF.

>> THANK YOU, JOSE.

I SERVED ON THE BORDER FOR 37 YEARS IN BORDER ENFORCEMENT, AND WE HAVE SEEN THE EBB AND FLOW OF LEADERSHIP DECISIONS OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C., THE PAST PRESIDENT, UP TO OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT.

AND IT'S ALWAYS BOTHERSOME AND TROUBLING WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DOWN HERE EVERY DAY, YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENFORCEMENT, AND 31 BORDER COUNTIES, AND WE ALL WORK VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

WE HAVE A VERY POSITIVE COLLECTIVE EFFORT DOWN HERE.

WE COLLABORATE VERY WELL.

WE USE OUR AUTHORITIES IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CITIZENS AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PROMOTING QUALITY OF LIFE, SO THAT HAS WORKED VERY WELL, AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE IN ITSELF, BRINGING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CITIZENS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES.

BUT WE DO IT BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT AMERICANS.

ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT HAS TRULY BEEN AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAS BEEN WORKING IN THIS COUNTRY, SO WITHIN HOURS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN BEING ELECTED, WE HAD EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT LITERALLY HALT IT.

I WAS FORTUNATE TO SIT ON THE BIDEN TRANSITION TEAM ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL SHERIFF'S ORGANIZATION, AND WE SPOKE ABOUT WHAT IS WORKING.

WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN COCHISE COMPANY THAT WORKS ALL THE WAY INTO CALIFORNIA, INTO NEW MEXICO, AND UP TO TEXAS.

SO WE HAVE A STOCK OF A THOUSAND CAMERAS.

OVER 600 DEPLOYS, UP TO 700, AND WE HAVE 100% CONVICTION RATE IN COCHISE COUNTY FOR SMUGGLERS.

>> WHEN YOU SAY PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS HALTING THING, YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE WALL?

>> THE WALL AND PROGRAMS.

>> WOULD THAT ALSO PUT A HALT TO THE CAMERA USE?

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE ORDER DOESN'T STOP ANY APPREHENSIONS -- THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ORDERS, BUT THE ONE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WOULDN'T STOP APPREHENSIONS.

>> WE'LL WE'RE SPEAKING WITH OUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.

IT HALTED THE CONSTRUCTION.

FLAT STOPPED IT RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S THE PREROGATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT.

I RESPECT THAT.

IT GOES BACK TO DIFFERENT IDEOLOGY.

BUT ALSO WHAT IS HAPPENING -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAVE AS A SHERIFF RIGHT NOW, AND I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR PARTNERS, IS ARE WE GOING TO GO BACKWARDS AND NOT TAKE THE LESSON S FORWARD?

WE NEED LOCAL DIALOGUE FROM LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL, WHAT IS WORKING, WHAT IS NOT WORKING, HOW DO WE FIND A MIDDLE?

THAT IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.

WE DON'T NEED POLITICS INSERTED INTO POLICING.

WE DON'T NEED POLITICAL THEATER PLAYING ON OUR BORDERS AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

I'M ALL ABOUT IMPROVING PROCESSES AND PROGRAMS.

>> SO WHAT HASN'T WORKED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS?

>> WELL, WE HAVE SEEN LACK OF FUNDING FOR OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.

WE HAVE SEEN IMPACT TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

IN MY COUNTY I JUST HIT ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 100% PROSECUTION.

THESE ARE SMUGGLERS, THE JUVENILE AND ADULT ASPECT.

THAT HAS BEEN ON THE BACKS OF THE IT IS CITIZENS OF COCHISE COUNTY.

AND WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR PEOPLE, OUR CITIZENS AND AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN MY COUNTY.

BUT WE ALL HAVE A VALUABLE THAT WE CAN SHARE, AND WE CAN DO THAT, BUT JUST TO HALT EVERYTHING -- AND WE KNOW OVER THE LAST THREE TO FOUR MONTHS, WE HAVE SEEN A HUGE INCREASE -- JUST OFF OF MY CAMERA SYSTEM, JOSE, WE HAD 1200 UNDOCUMENTED ILLEGALS COME INTO OUR COUNTRY.

>> ON THE WALL, WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE?

>> WELL, THE IMPACT IS -- SAME THING THAT I WAS SHARING WITH YOU, WHEN WE ANNOUNCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HALT OUR IMMIGRATION PROCESS, I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN RELEASED.

AND THIS IS THE OTHER THING I'LL SHARE WITH YOU ON IT -- >> I KNOW YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MESSAGING, BUT JUST FOCUSING ON WHAT IS BEING DONE.

WHAT BENEFIT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM THE WALL.

BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND APPREHENSION SPIKED IN 2019, AND THEY ARE DOWN IN 2020, BUT MOST PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE THAT TO COVID.

>> WELL, THE BORDER WALL -- WHICH I CALL A SYMBOL OF TRUST PASS, IS A 31-FOOT WALL.

IT HAS BEEN A DETERRENT.

IT HAS SLOWED DOWN THE TRAFFIC.

THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THE RANCHERS WHO TRULY ADDRESS BORDER SECURITY BECAUSE OF QUALITY OF LIFE ON THEIR LAND, SO IT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL.

NOW IT'S HALTED.

NOW WE'RE IN THE POLITICAL THEATER?

>> CAN YOU PUT A NUMBER ON IN TERMS OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF APPREHENSIONS?

>> I CAN'T GIVE YOU A PERCENTAGE.

BUT IT'S THE BEST MEASURE OF -- IF SOMETHING IS WORKING IS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THESE RURAL COUNTIES.

AND MY RANCHING COMMUNITY HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE BEST IT HAS BEEN IN 30 YEARS.

>> DO YOU EXPECT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE FURTHER INPUT WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?

WHAT DO YOU SEE GOING FORWARD?

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> WELL, AS AN ELECTED LEADER ON THE BORDER HERE, MY EXPECTATION -- AND I HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT WE'LL CONTINUE THIS DIALOGUE.

I HAD A -- HAVE A MEETING ON FRIDAY, AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

WE HAVE TO BE DIALOGUING ON THESE ISSUE.

WE'RE IN A WORLD PANDEMIC FOR COVID, AND SO THAT'S THE OTHER ASPECT.

BESIDES THE CRIMINAL ASPECT AND THE PROCESSES, WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE PROTECT AMERICA FROM COVID.

WE NEED TO KEEP DIALOGUING.

>> SHERIFF MARK DANNELS THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I HOPE WE HAVE YOU BACK AGAIN TO TALK TO US SOME MORE ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT.

>> THANK YOU, JOSE.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION ISSUES TO ARIZONA VOTERS.

>>> EDUCATION REMAINS THE TOP ISSUE AMONG ARIZONA VOTERS, EVEN IN A YEAR WITH SO MANY HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A RECENT POLL CONDUCTED BY HIGH GROUND FOR THE GROUP EXPECT MORE ARIZONA.

WE SPOKE WITH EXPECT MORE'S ERIN HART ABOUT THE SURVEY AND WHAT TO TAKE FROM THE RESULTS.

ERIN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

INTERESTING SURVEY HERE.

INTERESTING STUDY.

WHAT DID YOU LOOK FOR?

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> TED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

EXPECT MORE ARIZONA CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF 600 REGISTERED VOTERS.

AND WHEN WE ASKED THEM WHAT THE TOP ISSUE WAS IN ARIZONA, FOR THE SIXTH YEAR RUNNING, EDUCATION WAS AT THE TOP OF THEIR MIND.

WE HAVE HAD THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE HAD ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

WE HAVE HAD SO MANY THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS YEAR, BUT STILL EDUCATION REMAINS THE TOP ISSUE THAT VOTERS ARE INTERESTED IN.

AND THIS IS FOR SIX YEARS.

THIS IS NOT A FLASH IN THE PAN THING.

>> AND AGAIN, THE NUMBERS SHOW 28% OF LIKELY VOTERS SAY EDUCATION.

HEALTHCARE IS NEXT AT 18%.

JOBS AND ECONOMY 16%.

YOU MENTIONED SIX STRAIGHT YEARS EDUCATION.

LAST YEAR IT WAS LIKE 42%.

OBVIOUSLY IT DROPPED, BUT WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A PANDEMIC GOING ON BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS SHIFT.

WE HAVE SEEN HEALTHCARE INCREASE, IMMIGRATION DECREASE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES, BUT WE HAVE HAD A VERY INTERESTING YEAR BEHIND US.

>> ANOTHER INTERESTING NOTE HERE IS TEACHER'S SALARY.

79% SAY TEACHERS' SALARIES ARE TOO LOW.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THERE?

>> WHAT IS SO INTERESTING IS WE'RE SEEING STRONG SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS' SALARIES ACROSS EVERY PARTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD DEMOCRATS AT 96%.

REPUBLICANS AT 64%.

INDEPENDENTS 72%.

SO STRONG SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS AND TEACHER SALARIES.

I THINK PEOPLE REALLY ACROSS THE STATE VALUE TEACHERS SO MUCH.

AND THE STATE JUST PASSED PROP 208, THAT WAS LARGELY GOING TO SUPPORT TEACHERS' SALARIES, AND MOST PEOPLE FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT ENOUGH.

SO WE KNOW THERE IS STILL STRONG SENTIMENT THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SUPPORT TEACHERS.

>> INDEED.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING FROM GENERAL LACK OF FUNDING, K-12 IS TOO LOW.

FUNDING, FUNDING, FUNDING.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE SEEN THAT FOR SOMETIME NOW THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR EDUCATION FUNDING, AND IT'S BEYOND K-12.

IT'S ALSO HIGHER EDUCATION, OUR UNIVERSITIES AND OTHERS.

SO IT'S THINKING ABOUT THE WHOLE CONTINUUM OF EDUCATION, AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO SUSTAIN IT IN THE LONG TERM.

>> THE OPPORTUNITY DIFFERENCES OUT THERE, HOW MUCH OF CONCERN WAS THIS TO FOLKS IN THIS SURVEY.

>> WE WERE REALLY HEARTENED TO SEE THAT THE PEOPLE SURVEYED RESPONDED THAT THIS IS TOP OF MIND FOR THEM.

AND WE ASKED THEM IF YOU HAD MONEY TO PUT INTO EDUCATION, WHERE WOULD YOU PUT IT?

AMONG THE TOP WAS TEACHER PAY, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE SCHOOLS WHO NEEDEDED A ADDITIONAL FUNDING GOT THAT FUNDING.

AND THAT'S ABOUT THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING OPPORTUNITY GAPS.

SO STRONG SENTIMENT FROM VOTERS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE MORE FUNNING GOES TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS IN NEEDS.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS THOUGHT THAT PROP 208 WOULD CURE A LOT OF ILLS.

AND THIS SUGGESTS THAT MAYBE FOLKS ARE MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN THAT?

>> YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING.

THE FUNDING HASN'T EVEN STARTED FLOWING YET, AND VOTERS ARE SAVVY ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND PROP 208 WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT SOLUTION, BUT I THINK THEY ARE RIGHT, AND THAT'S A CALL, I THINK, ON ALL OF US AS ARIZONA.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO COME FROM THE BALLOT BOX.

WE CAN COUNT ON IT FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE.

>> WITH EDUCATION TOPS, AND JOBS AND ECONOMY LESS, THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE TAX CUTS MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO ARIZONA VOTERS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE GETTING FROM THESE NUMBERS?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT JOBS.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AND THE PANDEMIC ON THE ECONOMY, AND I THINK THOSE ARE FAIR CONCERNS, RIGHT?

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING THERE.

I THINK TOO, THAT -- AS WE THINK ABOUT SQUARING UP, THERE'S INTEREST IN THE ECONOMY, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE EDUCATION IS FUKD FUNDED FROM A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE.

THERE IS SOME CLASH THERE.

YOU REALLY CAN'T HAVE LONG-TERM EDUCATION FUNDING SOLUTION IF YOU HAVE A BIG TAX CUT ON THE TABLE OR IMPLEMENTED, SO THAT'S THE RUB.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT COME THROUGH THE DATA PRETTY CLEARLY.

AND I THINK IT IS SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US TO CONSIDER.

>> THAT WAS THE POINT I WAS MAKING.

LAST QUESTION HERE, WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THIS SURVEY?

>> I THINK THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR -- FOR ALL OF US.

FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FOR THE COMMUNITY WHO SUPPORTS EDUCATION FOR ALL OF ARIZONANS, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS, AND MAKE SURE OUR TEACHERS ARE PAID WELL, AND THAT WE HAVE EQUITY, THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE MOST NEED GET THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ERIN HART EXPECT MORE ARIZONA INTERESTING SURVEY.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TIME.

>> YOU BET.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>>> LATER IN THE HOUR, CRONKITE NEWS LOOKS AT FOOD STAMP BENEFITS TO LOW-INCOME KIDS WHO AREN'T IN SCHOOL.

>>> THE ARIZONA COYOTES HAVE WON JUST THREE OF THEIR FIRST NINE GAMES THIS SEASON.

BUT FANS ARE GLAD TO HAVE HOCKEY BACK, AND MANY ARE PLACED THAT SHANE DOAN IS BACK WITH THE ORGANIZATION.

HE SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER WITH THE COYOTE FRANCHISE.

HE IS NOW THE TEAM'S CHIEF HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.

SHANE DOAN GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS NEW POSITION.

CHIEF HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.

THE POSITION I GOT IS ONE THAT ALLOWS ME TO BE INVOLVED WITH BOTH SIDES OF HOCKEY OPS AND THE BUSINESS SIDE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HAVING ME ON.

>> YOU BET.

YOU ARE GOING TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE PRESIDENT, CORRECT?

>> YES, I AM.

THAT IS WHO I WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO HELP HIM OUT.

I HAVE EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE VALLEY FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT -- YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THE VALLEY IS A UNIQUE SITUATION.

PHOENIX IS A SMALL COMMUNITY THAT IS GROWING VERY QUICKLY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS OVER THE YEARS.

>> YEAH, INDEED.

WILL YOU BE ADVISING THE OWNER AND GM AS WELL, OR JUST STICKING TO THE PRESIDENT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HELP ADVISE ANYONE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M TRYING TO COME IN KIND OF LOW-KEY, AND IF THERE IS ANYWAY I CAN HELP, I'LL HELP ANYBODY.

>> WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE AS FAR AS WHAT YOU WILL BE ADVISING THESE FOLKS ON.

EVERYONE IS NEW YEAR, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU ARE A FIXTURE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WHAT WILL YOU BUT ADVISING THEM ON?

>> I A THINK A LOT OF IT WILL BE THE MINOR PROGRAM.

THE COYOTES HAVE A GOAL TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THAT.

DEALING A LITTLE BIT WITH THE ALUMNI, AS WELL AS THE -- OVERALL CORPORATE, KNOWING THIS BUSINESS STRUCTURE OF SOME OF THE COMPANIES.

I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED, AND JUST THE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATE.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO KNOW A FEW OF THEM, AND TO BE HONEST, THE HISTORY OF OUR CLUB, AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE HERE FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, IT REALLY HELPS TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.

>> INDEED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING THE COYOTES RIGHT NOW.

YOU MENTIONED MINOR HOCKEY, YOUTH HOCKEY, IS IT JUST GETTING THE OVERALL TEAM PRESENCE OUT THERE?

>> I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT.

THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE HAVE A DESIRE TO DO.

JAVIER HAS MENTIONED THE BRANDING OF PLAYERS, GETTING THEM INVOLVED THERE THE COMMUNITY.

THE BIG THING JAVIER PUSHED ON IS THE CONCEPT OF COYOTES CARE.

AND WE WANT TO GIVE BACK.

WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE GROUP THAT -- THAT MAKES THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL LIVE IN A LOT BETTER, AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING WE WANT TO DO.

>> YEAH, THE BIGGEST THING THAT IS OF CONCERN TO FANS IS THE TEAM STAYING IN THE VALLEY.

DO THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?

>> I'M PROBABLY AS BIG OF FAN AS ANYBODY, AND NO, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO GET INVOLVED TOO IS FOR THOSE EXACT REASONS IS BEING A FAN OF THE TEAM AND THE ORGANIZATION AND THE CLUB, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS EXPRESSED TO ME, THAT I HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, AND TO BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HERE A LONG TIME.

>> YOU MENTIONED MINOR HOCKEY AND YOUTH HOCKEY, HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC EFFECTED JUST YOUTH HOCKEY AROUND THE VALLEY, AROUND THE COUNTRY, NORTH AMERICA FOR GOODNESS SAKE?

>> IT HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE BOYS AND GIRLS PLAYING THE GAME, AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS DISRUPTED KIND OF ANYONE'S PLANS.

AND REALLY THE BOYS AND GIRLS GRADUATING OUT OF MINOR HOCKEY, AND MOVING ON TO PLAY JURY HOCKEY, IT REALLY HAS HAD AN EFFECT ON THEM.

THEY ARE GETTING READY, AND NONE OF IT IS HAPPENING NOW.

SO THEY ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH LIFE-LONG PLANS TO GO AWAY TO PLAY COLLEGE HOCKEY OR JUNIOR HOCKEY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, IT'S ALL GETTING PUT ON HOLD, AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON.

AND I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CLUBS AND THE NHL TEAMS TO BE A PART OF THAT AND HELP THEM OUT.

>> YEAH, LAST QUESTION, ANOTHER BIG PRESSING ISSUE OF COYOTE FANS RIGHT NOW, IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS TEAM TO SCORE A GOAL.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH, WELL, IF WE CAN CONVINCE THE OTHER GOALIES NOT TO BE AS GOOD, I MEAN.

THE LAST TWO GAMES HAVE BEEN TOUGH.

AND YOU HAVE TO TIP YOUR HAT TO THEM.

AND TEAMS WILL GO THROUGH THAT.

WE SCORED 19 IN THE PREVIOUS 5 GAMES, SO IT WASN'T LIKE WE WEREN'T SCORING.

WE JUST HIT A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL HERE.

WE'LL GET IT GOING AGAIN, AND I THINK IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE, BUT JUST TRAFFIC TO THE NET.

WE ALWAYS JOKE ABOUT THE CLICHES IN SPORTS, AND CLICHES IN HOCKEY, AND I'M PROBABLY AS BAD AS ANYONE, BUT IT IS REALLY AS SIMPLE AS PUCKS AND PEOPLE TO THE NET, AND IF WE CAN MANAGE TO DO THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE A LITTLE BIT MORE OFFENSE, AND THE GUYS ARE TRYING.

WE GOT TO TALK TO THOSE OTHER TEAMS GOALIES.

>> YEAH.

YOU HAVE TO DISTRACT THEM.

>> EXACTLY.

>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK WITH THE ORGANIZATION.

GOOD STUFF, SHANE DOAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THIS IS MY JOB NOW, SO IF YOU NEED ME, I WOULD LOVE TO HELP.

>> YOU BET.

>>> 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 LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS HOW WORKING FROM HOME CAN LEAVE YOU MORE VULNERABLE TO CYBER ATTACKS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW CHANGING CAREERS CAN BE A STRESSFUL BUT SOMETIMES NECESSARY MOVE.

♪♪