[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," ANALYSIS OF THE OPENING DAY OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK AT LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REMOVE VOTERS FROM THE STATE'S PERMANENT EARLY VOTER LIST; AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE WAY THAT LABELS PUT ON PEOPLE CAN BE LOADED WORDS.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BEGAN TODAY WITH A VIDEO OF TRUMP'S CALL TO ACTION AT A JANUARY 6TH RALLY NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE AND A SUBSEQUENT RIOT BY A PRO-TRUMP MOB.

IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS TODAY SAID THAT THE VIDEO ALONE PROVES THAT TRUMP INCITED THE RIOT.

>> I'LL SHOW YOU.

>> WE WILL STOP THE STEAL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> TODAY I WILL LAY OUT JUST SOME OF THE EVIDENCE PROVING THAT WE WON THIS ELECTION AND WE WON IT BY A LANDSLIDE.

THIS WAS NOT A CLOSE ELECTION.

AND AFTER THIS, WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN -- AND I'LL BE THERE WITH YOU -- [ CHEERS ] .

>> -- WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN -- WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN TO THE CAPITOL -- >> YEAH!

TAKE THE CAPITOL!

TAKE THE CAPITOL!

>> WE ARE GOING TO THE CAPITOL, WHERE OUR PROBLEMS ARE.

IT'S THAT DIRECTION.

>> THE PRESIDENT WAS IMPEACHED BY THE U.S.

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON JANUARY 13TH FOR DOING THAT.

YOU ASK WHAT A HIGH CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR IS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION.

THAT'S A HIGH CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR.

IF THAT'S NOT AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE, THEN THERE IS NO SUCH THING.

>> RASKIN LATER ADDED EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY ABOUT HOW HIS DAUGHTER WAS VISITING HIM AT THE CAPITOL ON THE DAY OF THE RIOT.

>> I PROMISED HER THAT IT WOULD NOT BE LIKE THIS AGAIN THE NEXT TIME SHE CAME BACK TO THE CAPITOL WITH ME.

AND SHE SAID, DAD, I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO THE CAPITOL.

OF ALL THE TERRIBLE BRUTAL THINGS I SAW AND I HEARD ON THAT DAY, AND SINCE THEN, THAT ONE HIT ME THE HARDEST.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS FOLLOWED BY ARGUING AMONG OTHER THINGS AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AGAINST A FORMER PRESIDENT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, ADDING THAT THE PROCEEDINGS ARE A PARTISAN ATTACK AGAINST TRUMP.

>> LET'S UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE REALLY HERE.

WE ARE REALLY HERE BECAUSE THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DOES NOT WANT TO FACE DONALD TRUMP AS A POLITICAL RIVAL IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S THE REAL REASON.

>> MORE ON THE IMPEACHMENT IN A MOMENT.

ARIZONA SAW AN INCREASE IN NEW COVID CASES TODAY.

BUT THE STATE'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE CONTINUES TO DECLINE.

DIFFERENT STORY FOR COVID-19-RELATED DEATHS THOUGH.

ARIZONA HAS THE NATION'S THIRD HIGHEST AVERAGE.

ONE MORE COVID NOTE, HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO SHOW DECREASES.

ICU BEDS BOTH NOW AT THEIR LOWEST LEVELS IN TWO MONTHS.

THE DAY AFTER THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT PRAISED THE MASS VACCINATION PROCESS AT STATE FARM STADIUM, THE CDC ANNOUNCED A COVID VACCINATION FORUM FOR LATER THIS MONTH.

THE GOAL IS TO EDUCATE LEADERS ON THE SAFEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AND EASE THE WIDE-SPREAD VARIATION IN HOW STATES ARE ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE.

ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP WOULD BE TO INCREASE HAVE BEENING SEEN SUPPLY, AND THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED IT IS DOING JUST THAT.

>> WE WILL INCREASE WEEKLY VACCINE DOSES TO 11 MILLION.

SO THAT IS A TOTAL OF A 28% INCREASE IN VACCINE SUPPLY ACROSS THE FIRST THREE WEEKS.

I KNOW AMERICANS ARE EAGER TO GET VACCINATED, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH MANUFACTURERS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF VACCINES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>>> AND IN OTHER NEWS THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ANNOUNCED ITS FINDINGS IN THE HELICOPTER CRASH THAT KILLED KOBE BRYANT AND AT IT OTHERS.

THEY FOUND THAT THE PILOT VIOLATED RULES BY FLYING INTO BAD WEATHER AND WAS LIKELY DISORIENTED BEFORE SLAMMING INTO THE HILLSIDE.

>>> BACK TO THE SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, WE SPOKE TO FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY PAUL CHARLTON FOR HIS THOUGHTS ON WHAT HE HEARD AND SAW IN THIS INITIAL ROUND OF ARGUMENTS.

PAUL CHARLTON, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU ARE OUR GO-TO IMPEACHMENT GUY THE NEXT ONE IN A YEAR HERE.

YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF DAY ONE?

>> JUST AS IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, TED, WHEN YOU AND I SAT DOWN TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRST IMPEACHMENT.

THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT EVENTS FOR US AS AMERICANS AND FOR HISTORY.

THE IMPRESSION I RECEIVED TODAY WAS THIS CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION, CAN YOU IMPEACH A PRESIDENT WHO NO LONGER HOLDS THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT?

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS WHO HAVE WEIGHED IN ON THIS ISSUE BELIEVE YOU CAN, BUT THERE ARE THOSE FEW WHO SAY YOU OUGHT NOT TO, AND IT IS CONSTITUTIONALLY IMPERMISSIBLE.

BUT ASIDE FROM WHAT IS A SCHOLASTIC VIEW, THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE EMOTIONS TOOK HOLD.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, THE HOUSE MANAGER STARTING WITH THIS 13-MINUTE VIDEO OF THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING AND PEOPLE RESPONDING.

>> THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY BECAUSE THERE HAD TO BE AN INSTRUMENT, IF YOU WILL, IN WHICH THE HOUSE MANAGER COULD BRING THIS VIDEO INTO HIS OTHERWISE LEGAL AND SCHOLARSHIP ARGUMENT, SO WHAT HE SAID WAS YOU CANNOT HAVE A JANUARY EXCEPTION -- IN OTHER WORDS WE CANNOT HAVE A RULE IN WHICH A T PRESIDENT CAN DO WHATEVER HE OR SHE WISHES IN JANUARY, LEAVE OFFICE, AND NEVER BE IMPEACHED.

SO WHAT WOULD A JANUARY EXCEPTION LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE, HE PLAYED THIS INDISPUTABLY POWERFUL VIDEO.

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING, THIS CONCEPT OF THE VIDEO.

THAT VIDEO, OTHER VIDEOS, GRAPHIC IMAGES.

AND MOST IMPEACHMENT TRIALS THERE ARE RABBIT HOLES, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF VIDEO AT PLAY HERE.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

>> THIS IS A TRIAL IN WHICH WE MAY NEVER HEAR FROM A SINGLE LIVE WITNESS, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE EVENTS WERE CAPTURED LIVE ON VIDEO.

WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID.

WE KNOW HOW PEOPLE MOVED FROM THE LOCATION.

WE SAW HOW PEOPLE VIOLENTLY INTERRED THE CAPITOL.

THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FOR THE SENATE AND WE AMERICANS IS WHAT IF ANY RESPONSIBILITY DOES THE PRESIDENT BARE FOR THAT TERRIBLE AND TRAGEDY IING DAY IN WHICH FIVE PEOPLE DIED.

>> REPRESENTATIVE RASKIN TALKED ABOUT HAVING HIS FAMILY AT THE CAPITOL THAT DAY, AND HIS 24-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SAYING I DON'T EVER WANT TO COME BACK HERE AGAIN.

HE BROKE UP.

AND THE JURORS OF THIS TRIAL, THEY WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.

SOME OF THEM WERE TARGETS.

THAT MAKES THIS TRIAL JUST CRAZY DIFFERENT THERE MOST JUDICIAL AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

>> I THINK, TED, SO BE EVEN MORE SPECIFIC, AND SENATOR LAYHEY WHO SITS AS THE JUDGE, A AND WILL VOTE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

WHERE ELSE WOULD A TRIAL LIKE THAT TAKE PLACE.

EACH OF THESE SENATORS HAD THEIR LIVES PUT AT RISK, AND NOW THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY NOT VOTE OR HEAR THE EVIDENCE AND GO FORWARD AND WHETHER THE PRESIDENT BE IMPEACHED.

BECAUSE THAT IS THE DECISION TODAY.

SHOULD WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS TRIAL AT ALL, OR ARE THE CONSTITUTIONAL IMPEDIMENTS SO GREAT THAT THE TRIAL CANNOT GO FORWARD.

>> WHICH MAKES IT SEEMS TO ME AS A GLORIFIED MOTION FOR DISMISSAL.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

DONALD TRUMP IS A PRIVATE CITIZEN RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE SAYING YOU CAN'T VOTE TO IMPEACH AND CONVICT A PRIVATE CITIZEN.

HE WAS REACHED WHILE HE WAS STILL PRESIDENT, BUT THE CONVICTION WILL COME AFTER HE IS LONG GONE.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> THIS IS VERY MUCH LIKE A MOTION TO DISMISS.

AS A MATTER OF LAW THE PRESIDENT OUGHT NOT TO BE HERE IN THIS SENATE IN THIS TRIAL.

WHAT THEY HAVE TO OVERCOME IS THE MAJORITY VIEW, BUT EVEN PERHAPS MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

WHEN PRESIDENT GRANT WAS PRESIDENT, HE HAS A SECRETARY OF WAR WHO WAS ABOUT TO BE IMPEACHED SO HE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, RESIGNED FROM OFFICE, AND SAID I'M NO LONGER IN OFFICE AS THE SECRETARY OF WAR, AND YOU CANNOT IMPEACH ME.

THE SENATE HELD EXTENSIVE DEBATES ON THAT ISSUE, AND DETERMINED WE CAN, WE WILL, AND THEY DID SO.

SO THERE IS PRECEDENT.

THERE IS CASE LAW.

THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS HAVE AN UPHILL BATTER HERE.

>> AND ANY SURPRISES?

ANYTHING THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPECT?

>> I -- I THINK WHAT I EXPECTED -- AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT HAD A TEAM OF LAWYERS WHO WERE READY TO ASSIST HIM.

THEY QUIT ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO.

IT'S CLEAR TO ME AS YOU WATCH THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS THAT THEY ARE QUICKLY TRYING TO CATCH UP.

THEY DON'T APPEAR TO BE AS POLISHED AS THE HOUSE MANAGERS ARE.

THESE LAWYERS ARE NEW AND NOT AS WELL PREPARED.

HAVING SAID THAT, TED, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE OUTCOME IS PROBABLY -- PROBABLY NOT GOING TO RESULT IN A CONVICTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND AN IMPEACHMENT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S AN INTERESTING NOTE REGARDING HAVING TO KEEP LOOKING AT YOUR NOTES WHILE MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION.

FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY PAUL CHARLTON, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> LIVE COVERAGE OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL CONTINUES TOMORROW MORNING BEGINNING AT 10:00 RIGHT HERE ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IS IT WISE FOR SPORTING EVENTS TO START ALLOWING FANS BACK IN THE STANDS?

>>> THE PHOENIX SUNS ARE THE LATEST NBA TEAM TO WELCOME BACK FANS IN THE STANDS, AND WE SAW SPECTATORS ON THE COURSE AT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN AND IN ATTENDANCE AT SUNDAY'S SUPER BOWL.

BUT IS THIS A GOOD THING?

WE ASKED DR. SHAD MARVASTI OF U OF A'S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SUPER BOWL ON SUNDAY, YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU SAW FANS IN THE STANDINGS AND SELL BRANDTS ON THE STREETS?

>> WELL, FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, I CRINGED AND FELT ANXIOUS GIVEN THE FACT WE'RE STILL NOT OUT OF THE WOODS WITH THIS PANDEMIC, AND JUST NOT A GOOD TIME TO GET ALL OF THOSE FOLKS TOGETHER, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE KNOW WHAT IMPACT THE HOLIDAY GATHERINGS HAD, AND THE TRAVEL THAT OCCURRED THEN, LEADING TO THE BIGGEST SPIKE THAT WE HAD.

SO VERY CONCERNED AND HOPING THAT PEOPLE KEPT THEIR DISTANCE AS THEY COULD, BUT THE IMAGES DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THEY WERE DOING EVERYTHING WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM DOING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN.

IT LOOKED LIKE MOST PEOPLE WERE DOING -- AND AGAIN, IT'S OUTSIDE, WHERE IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, OR DOES IT?

>> IT DEFINITELY MAKES A DIFFERENCE, BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, I THINK IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FIELD, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR BEST PRECAUTIONS, BUT IT ALSO IS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS OFF OF THE FIELD, WITH PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER AND HAVING ALL OF THAT, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO INCREASED SPREADS.

PEOPLE TEND TO GET TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF THE ACTUAL EVENT EVEN IF THE GUIDELINES ARE FOLLOWED.

AND OUTDOORS IS DEFINITELY BETTER THAN IN DOORS WITH ANY SUCH GATHERING.

>> I WANT TO GET YOUR ADVICE TO THE CACTUS LEAGUE.

MOST CITIES STILL NOT SURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO ALLOW FANS.

TEMPE IS SAYING THEY ARE MAYBE GOING TO ALLOW 25% CAPACITY FOR SPRING TRAINING GAMES, GOT TO WEAR MASKS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT?

>> WELL, AGAIN, I'M A BIT CHALLENGED WITH THESE GATHERINGS, BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGHER RISK.

WHETHER THEY ARE OLDER OR IF THEY HAVE CHRONIC DISEASE SHOULD REALLY THINK TWICE ABOUT ATTENDING.

I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT EXTENDED VACCINATION PROGRAMS AND START WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED.

AND WITH THE VACCINE PROCESS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THESE LARGER ORGANIZATIONS GETTING OUT INTO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES TO REALLY ADDRESS THE EQUITY ISSUE OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

MAYBE THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO OUTREACH BY GETTING THOSE FOLKS VACCINATED AND THEN GIVING THEM TICKETS TO COME TO THESE EVENTS.

>> YEAH, AND PHOENIX SUNS LOOKING AT INCREASING FANS IN THE ARENA.

THAT'S AN INDOOR EVENT.

THEY WANT MASKS AND SEPARATION AND THIS SORT OF THING.

IF YOU GO TO THE GAME AND LEAVE AND DON'T GO OUT AND PARTY AFTERWARDS IS THAT OKAY?

>> IT'S -- I THINK -- YOU KNOW, IT'S IN DOORS, SO YOU ARE TAKING OFF YOUR MASK, SO THERE IS DEFINITELY A RISK THERE.

THE RISK IS REAL THERE, SO, AGAIN, I THINK THEY COULD LOOK AT INCLUDING ONLY VACCINATED FOLKS TO BEGIN WITH, AND THEN HELPING TO SUPPORTED VACCINATIONS IN COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT GESTURE, AND A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY.

>> WE'RE SEEING A DECLINE IN CASES HERE IN ARIZONA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOLIDAY BUMP MIGHT BE EASING, BUT WE HAVE THE VARIANTS COMING.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING HERE?

>> I THINK OUR LOCAL EVENTS LIKE THE PHOENIX OPEN, THESE THINGS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO SURGES HERE AND THERE, BUT THE VARIANTS ARE REALLY CONCERNING.

WE'RE REALLY IN A RACE TO GET FOLKS VACCINATED IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER.

SO I THINK IT'S A BIT UNPREDICTABLE, WHICH IS WHY EVERYONE REALLY SHOULD KEEP THEIR DISTANCE, AVOID GATHERINGS AND WEAR MASKS FOR AT LITTLE WHILE LONGER, UNTIL WE CAN ALL GET VACCINATED, WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE UNTIL MAY OR EARLY JUNE.

>> SO FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GO SEE A SPORTING EVENT, YOU SAY?

>> I WOULD SAY IF YOU ARE IN A HIGHER-RISK CATEGORY, DON'T DO IT RIGHT NOW.

STAY HOME AND WATCH.

IF YOU ARE VACCINATED, I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE GOING, AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO, BE AS STRICT AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE AND WEARING A MASK.

>> OKAY.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. SHAD MARVASTI OF U OF A'S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU TOO, TED.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >>> VALLEY METRO IS OFFERING A FREE S.T.E.M.

PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS CALLED ENGINEERS OF THE FUTURE, IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE MENTORED BY ENGINEERS WORKING ON LIGHT RAIL CONSTRUCTION.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS LEARNED MORE FROM VALLEY METRO'S TONY SANTANA.

>> TONY, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

YOU HAVE TALKED TO US ABOUT VALLEY METRO'S ENGINEERS OF THE FUTURE PROGRAM.

TELL US HOW IT WORKS AND HOW IT WORKED PREPANDEMIC.

>> WE HAVE THE PROGRAM THAT STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE DID GO INTO CLASSROOMS AND HAVE LESSONS THAT WOULD DISCUSS PHYSICS, MOTIONS, THINGS FOCUSED ON S.T.E.M.

AREAS.

AND EVERY TIME AN ENGINEER LIKE MYSELF OR ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD GO IN AND DISCUSS ENGINEERING AND REALLY HAVE THAT FIRST -- FIRST PORTION OF THE CLASS TO DISCUSS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH AND HAVE A DIFFERENT SUBJECT EVERY TIME, AND THEN GET INTO THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE STUDENTS.

>> AND THESE WERE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

WE DID HAVE SOME SIXTH GRADERS, BUT WE HAD A HEAVY FOCUS ON THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS AS WELL.

>> AND HOW DID THE PANDEMIC EFFECT THE PROGRAM?

>> YEAH, JUST LIKE ALL OF US, WE HAD TO ADAPT.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS NOW STILL HAVE THE PROGRAM, AND THE MENTORS LIKE MYSELF THAT WILL GIVE LECTURES AND TRY TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THOSE SCIENCE ASPECTS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUTUBE AND ONLINE TO THE STUDENTS, SO WE WILL STILL BE DOING THE SAME FOCUS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OBVIOUSLY NOT IN PERSON AND WE'LL BE USING TECHNOLOGY IN OUR FAVOR TO HAVE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE STUDENTS.

>> ANY SENSE ON WHETHER YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME REACH THAT YOU HAD BEFORE, GIVEN DIFFICULTY WITH SOME ACCESS TO THE INTERNET?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN, AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOLS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF ACCESS THEY HAVE, AND WHAT STUDENTS HAVE AVAILABILITY TO THE INTERNET, AND IF NOT, WE WILL TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THOSE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN A MAINSTAY OF THE PROGRAM SINCE IT STARTED.

I UNDERSTAND IT IS A REFLECTION OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, YOUR LIFE JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN ENGINEER.

GIVE US SOME INCITE INTO WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO KIDS LIKE YOU WERE A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> FOR ME, I GREW UP INNER CITY RIGHT OFF OF I-17 AND JEFFERSON.

MY FATHER STILL LIVES THERE TODAY.

I DIDN'T HAVE -- MY PARENTS ARE VERY HARDWORKING.

THEY DID WHATEVER THEY CAN TO PUSH EDUCATION ON ME, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE SOMEBODY READILY ACCESSIBLE TO ME AS AN ENGINEER, OR SOMEBODY TO TELL ME HOW I CAN APPLY MY MATH SKILLS INTO MAKING IT A CAREER, SO JUST BEING AVAILABLE TO THOSE STUDENTS AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT -- GIVE THEM THOSE LECTURES AND THAT MENTORSHIP TO SAY YOU CAN DO SOMETHING WITH S.T.E.M.

WE ALL KNOW THESE KIDS LOVE TO PLAY TIKTOK AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ON THEIR PHONES, BUT I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BASE TO HAVE.

IT'S VERY ANALYTICAL.

YOU CAN USE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE.

AND I WANT TO BE THAT MENTOR TO THESE STUDENTS EARLY IN THEIR LIFE, SO THEY KNOW THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, AND MEN ORS LIKE MYSELF TO BE THERE TO HELP THEM START THEIR CAREER, SO THEY CAN HAVE A GOOD LIFE AND LIVE, AND DO GOOD THINGS FOR US, BECAUSE THE FUTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE NEED GOOD TRANSPORTATION, AND NURSES AND DOCTORS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE KIDS ARE THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR THEM.

>> AND WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO THESE KIDS, AGAIN, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, MANY OF WHOM I WOULDN'T THINK WOULD HAVE MUCH OF AN INTEREST IN S.T.E.M.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> AT FIRST THE KIDS ARE REALLY SHY, AND WE REALLY TRY TO BREAK THEM OUT OF THAT, AND GET THEM TO WORK IN A TEAM AND SPEAK UP, AND I REALLY THINK THEY ARE INTERESTED IN THE S.T.E.M.

PORTION OF THE PROJECT, BUT ONCE WE START TO APPLY IT TO THE PROJECT AND REAL LIFE FEATURES, THEY REALLY SEEM INTERESTED.

THEY ARE REALLY INTERACTIVE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND THEY START ASKING MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ENGINEERS DO, AND HOW DOES OUT APPLY TO SOME OF THE THINGS THEY PLAY ON THEIR PHONE AND THE GAMES, AND THAT'S THE WHOLE GOAL OF IT, IS JUST TO GET THEIR MINDS WORKING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A BIGGER PICTURE OUT THERE IF YOU START FOCUSING ON S.T.E.M.

AND WE HAVE REALLY SEEN A LOT OF -- A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE KIDS?

JUST THE SHORT TIME THAT WE HAVE IN THESE PROGRAMS.

>> LAST TIME YOU WERE ON THE SHOW, YOU SHOWED SOME OF THE STUDENTS' WORKS.

AS I RECALL, A STATION FOR THE LIGHT RAIL WAS ONE OF THEM.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

ONE THING WE FOCUS IS ON, IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE WELCOMING STATIONS, AND THOSE STATIONS HAVE THINGS LIKE ARTWORK AND JUST SHADE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME IN PHOENIX.

SO THEY JUST WOWED US WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE CREATIVE ABOUT AND THEY THOUGHT THROUGH, AND THEY REALLY SPOKE WELL ABOUT THEIR PROJECTS, AND THEIR MIND WAS JUST INCREDIBLE ONCE THEY STARTED THINKING, SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT.

>> TONY, WHILE WE HAVE GOT YOU ON THE SHOW, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION?

>> IT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN BY 2024.

THEY ARE ACTIVELY DOING A LOT OF THE PROJECTINGS.

THE LIGHT RAIL IS A SMALL PORTION OF WHAT WE DO.

WE MAKE THE ROAD ADA ACCESSIBLE, SO THAT'S THE PORTION YOU ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF UTILITY RELOCATIONS, AND THEN FINALLY YOU'LL SEE A LIGHT RAIL PROJECT GO UNDER.

BUT WHEN WE BUILD THESE PROJECTS, WE REALLY TRY TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND MAKE IT A PIPELINE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

I LIVE RIGHT DOWNTOWN, AND I TAKE THE TRAIN ALMOST EVERY DAY TO PLACES TO GO EAT, SO GO TO OTHER CITIES LIKE TEMPE.

SO IT'S REALLY GOOD JUST TO CONNECT TO YOU TO DIFFERENT AVENUES AND HAVE A DIFFERENT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.

>> TONY SANTANA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THIS REPORT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IT IS FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANKS 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, THE LATEST ON A COURT DECISION TO TEMPORARILY BLOCK PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MORATORIUM ON DEPORTATIONS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW LABELS THAT ARE PUT ON PEOPLE WITH BE LOADED WORDS.

♪♪