[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS, AN UPDATE ON THE STATE'S DECLINING CASES OF COVID-19 AND INCREASING VACCINATION RATES, AND THE STEPS AMAZON IS TAKING AROUND THE COUNTRY TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN WHERE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS FITS IN AN EVOLVING SOCIETY.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA ONCE AGAIN IS REPORTING A RELATIVELY LOW CASES OF COVID-19.

OUR REMAINS 14TH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT THE DEATH TOLL IS STILL A CONCERN.

ONLY THREE NEW FATALITIES REPORTED TODAY.

>>> THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY MODERNA SAYS IT HAS DELIVERED 45 MILLION DOSES OF ITS VACCINE TO THE U.S.

BUT GETTING SHOTSES IN ARMS ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> LET'S SAY IN MAY, IT MAY TAKE UNTIL JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST TO FINALLY GET EVERYONE VACCINATED.

SO I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DISAGREES THAT IS GOING TO BE WELL TO THE END OF THE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL.

>> MODERNA EXPECTS TO DELIVER 100 MILLION DOSES BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY ADDRESSED MORTGAGE RELIEF TODAY.

SUPPLIES TO FEDERALLY BACKED LOANS, AND DEADLINES WERE SET TO HIT BY THE END OF MARCH.

AND MUCH OF THE NATION CONTINUES TO FIGHT A MASSIVE WINTER STORM SYSTEM THAT HAS LEFT AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE DEAD IN WEATHER INCIDENTS.

MILLIONS HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND FRIGID TEMPERATURES.

>>> AS MENTIONED EARLIER, ARIZONA IS SEEING A DROP IN NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

AND MARICOPA COUNTY IS OUT WITH VACCINE INFORMATION.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH WILL HUMBLE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WE HAVE BEEN MENTIONING THAT WE'RE SEEING A DROP IN NEW COVID CASES.

WHY?

>> YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY A TREND.

SO IT'S GETTING BETTER IN POSITIVITY RATES.

WE STILL CONTINUE TO SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF DEATHS.

I THINK PART OF THIS IS THE INTRA-FAMILY SPREAD THAT BEGAN AFTER NEW YEARS HAS RUN ITS COURSE.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE WERE PREDICTING WE COULD SEE BACK IN DECEMBER AND BEGINNING TO DROP OFF IN JANUARY AND INTO LATE FEBRUARY.

SO IT'S WHAT THE MODELERS EXPECTED TO SEE.

IT'S JUST THERE WERE NO INTERVENTIONS IN PLACE.

>> WILL WE SEE ANOTHER BUMP ONCE THE VARIANTS TAKE HOLD.

>> IT IS POSSIBLE.

MOST LIKELY WHAT WE WOULD SEE IS THAT WE DON'T DROP OFF AS QUICKLY AS WE WOULD HAVE, BUT IT MIGHT LEVEL OFF INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN.

AND A BIG REASON FOR THAT IS THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO MAKE GREAT HEADWAY INTO VACCINATING THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

>> SO MARICOPA COUNTY CAME OUT WITH A MAP OF WHO IS GETTING VACCINATED.

>> YEAH.

WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT PEOPLE IN LOW-INCOME ZIP CODES ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE TO GETTING A VACCINE.

I THINK IT'S JUST THE SYSTEM THEY SET UP BY HAVING ALL OF THE APPOINTMENTS COME OPEN DURING A ONE-HOUR PERIOD, AND IF YOU ARE NOT ONLINE DURING THAT PERIOD, YOU LOSE YOUR CHANCE.

SO SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AT A DISADVANTAGE.

AND WE'RE ASKING TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

>> YEAH.

IT LOOKS LIKE INCOME IS THE PRIME MOVER AS FAR AS VACCINATIONS.

>> YEAH.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THEY WERE HAVING A NEW INITIATIVE CALLED THE FEDERAL PHARMACY PROGRAM.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTACTS DIRECTLY WITH PHARMACIES, IN ARIZONA IT IS WALGREENS, FREYE'S AND SAFEWAY.

AND THEN PEOPLE CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS AT THOSE LOCATIONS.

SO IT'S THE PILOT PROGRAM AT THIS POINT.

A MILLION DOSES THIS WEEK, COUNTRY WIDE.

BUT ONCE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IS AUTHORIZED, IT IS ISIS IS -- PERFECT FOR THIS PROGRAM.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WAY TO CLOSE THE GAP.

>> YEAH, SURE DOES.

>> OKAY.

SO HAVE WE SEEN THE WORST OF THIS CRISIS?

>> OH, I THINK SO.

THE WORST OF THE WORSE WAS PROBABLY THAT WEEK AFTER JANUARY 1ST.

THAT IS THE MAIN MARKER FOR DEATHS, HOSPITALIZATIONS, PEOPLE WHO WERE UNABLE TO GET PROCEDURES FOR MONTHS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN NEEDING CANCER SURGERY, AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT.

IT WILL BE UNTIL SUMMER BEFORE WE ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> OKAY.

DOES THAT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT HERD IMMUNITY IS AHEAD, OR WILL WE EVER REACH THAT?

>> NOBODY REALLY KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT THAT THRESHOLD IS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INFECTED IN ARIZONA, BUT WE'RE MAKING REAL HEADWAY WITH VACCINATIONS.

IF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INFECTED OR GET THE VACCINE, IF THAT THRESHOLD IS AROUND 70%, I THINK WE CAN GET CLOSE TO HERD IMMUNITY.

IT WILL NO LONGER BE A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT CIRCULATES, BUT OUR LIVES CAN GET BACK TO NORMAL PROBABLY BY 4TH OF JULY, I THINK.

>> AND THERE IS NO FLU SEASON THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH, JUST LIKE SOUTH AMERICA AMERICA.

PRACTICALLY NO INFLUENZA SEASON, NOT BECAUSE OF INCREASED VACCINATION, THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE MITIGATION, THE MASK WEARING AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> WILL, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THING YOU.

>> THANKS, TED.

>>> LATER THIS HOUR, HONOR HEALTH ANNOUNCED IT WILL CHANGE VISITOR RULES.

>>> OUR STAFF DURING THIS TIME IS -- HAS BEEN BURDENED BY THE RESPONSE TO COVID BEING THE CARE GIVER OF A VERY COMPLEX AND VERY DIFFICULT CONDITION THAT OFTEN RESULTS IN CRITICALLY-ILL PATIENTS.

AND THEY HAVED HAS -- HAD TO BE THE CARE GIVER, MESSENGER AND PATIENT.

>>> DYNAMITING, DRILLING, AND CLEAR-CUTTING ALONG THE MEXICAN BORDER, IT ALL REMAINS ON HALT.

BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY THE DAMAGE IS PERMANENT.

>>> THE LAST TIME WE MET, BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION HAS JUST BEGUN.

NOW IT'S A YEAR LATER, WHAT IS THE SITUATION THERE?

>> YEAH, IT HAS BEEN SUCH A HEART-BREAKING YEAR FOR THOSE OF US WHO CARE ABOUT THE BORDER LANDS IN ARIZONA.

NOW BASICALLY THE ENTIRE END HAS BEEN WALLED OFF.

THERE HAS BEEN A 30-FOOT WALL BUILT, AND IT'S A ABSOLUTE DISASTER FOR WILDLIFE.

AGAIN, IT IS THIS LUSH, BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE DESERT.

AND NOW IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THE DESERT AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR DOZENS OF YEARS.

>> MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE AND WILL NEVER BE THERE, SAUCE IT'S SO REMOTE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WILDLIFE, AND IT'S BIODIVERSITY.

>> YEAH.

IT'S THE CORE PROTECTIVE HABITAT, AND MAKES UP THE LARGEST PROTECTIVE AREA OF HABITAT DIVERSITY ANYWHERE ON EARTH.

IT'S SO SPECIAL BECAUSE THE CACTUS SPECIES ARE MORE COMMON IN MEXICO.

AND THE BIODIVERSITY IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

THEY DEPEND ON THE LAND TO SURVIVE, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY A PLACE THAT IS SO WORRY OF PROTECTION THAT CONGRESS DESIGNATED IT AS PROTECTED.

SO CLEARLY, WE HAVE TO PROTECT THIS PLACE.

I MEAN, IT IS JUST HEART BREAKING, AND MYSTIFYING THAT SO MUCH DAMAGE COULD BE DONE TO A PLACE THAT IS DESIGNATED AS PROTECTED.

>> NOW EX-PRESIDENT, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS PRESIDENT BIDEN DID WAS HALT THE PROTECTION.

SO WHAT DO YOU REALISTICALLY EXPECT TO HAPPEN?

WE HAVE A PANDEMIC, AND A RECESSION, SO WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR?

>> WE'RE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE TO THIS PAUSE, BUT IT IS JUST A FIRST STEP.

RIGHT NOU THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL REVIEW THESE CONTRACTS, AND WE ARE URGING THEM TO CANCEL THEM FOR GOOD.

AND FOR PLACES LIKE OREGON PIPE, IT IS TOO LATE TO PAUSE DESTREK SHUN.

WE NEED A PLAN TO RESTORE WHAT HAS BEEN RESTORED TO WILDLIFE CAN AGAIN MIGRATE THROUGH THE DESERT.

AND WE WANT TO SEE PEOPLE BEING EMPLOYED TO RESTORE THE LAND, AND CREATE JOBS AND BRING BACK SOME OF THE ECOSYSTEMS.

>> SO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IN THE SHORT TERM WOULD BE MAYBE PUTTING DOWN PART OF THE WALL SO YOU COULD HAVE A CORRIDOR FOR ANIMALS WHO CAN NO LONGER MIGRATE, AND THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEED VAST ACTION TO TAKE DOWN PORTIONS OF THIS WALL.

AND CERTAINLY IT WILL BE VERY EASY AND SIMPLE TO TAKE DOWN CERTAIN SECTIONS OF WALL.

WE'RE NOT CALLING FOR THE ENTIRE THING TO BE TAKEN DOWN, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT WOULD BE CONSIDERABLE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE GOT A LIST OF VERY, VERY REASONABLE REQUESTS FOR PLACES THAT THE WALL BE REMOVED.

>> SO YOU HAVE WORKED FOR FIVE NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS, BUT YOU QUIT TO BECOME -- TO JOIN THE CENTER, WHICH TO BE CLEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF A NUMBER OF PARTIES THAT FILED SUIT ON THE BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION.

THERE ARE LOTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN THE U.S., WHY THIS ONE?

>> YEAH, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN BY DREAM TO SPEAK UP TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND FOR A LONG TIME I THOUGHT I WOULD DO THAT WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT, UP UNTIL TRUMP CAME INTO OFFICE.

ONCE HE CAME INTO OFFICE, I WAS TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT THE THREAT OF THE BORDER WALL, I WAS ASKED TO TAKE REFERENCES TO CLIMATE CHANGE OUT OF MY REPORTING.

AND IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT I NEEDED TO JOIN AN ORGANIZATION TO FIGHT DISTRICTLY FOR THIS PLACES, AND THAT'S WHY I JOINED THE CENTER ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO NOW.

BUT SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SPECTACULAR AND BEAUTIFUL THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER IS.

JAGUARS AND BLACK BEARS ROAM ON THE SAME HILLSIDES.

AND THIS IS MY HOME, AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY HOME.

SO I FEEL LIKE ADVOCATING FOR REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION, YOU KNOW -- I COULDN'T IMAGINE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, SUSAN.

>>> GLEN HAMMER HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ARIZONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SINCE 2006, BUT HE IS LEAVING TO GO TO TEXAS.

GLEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU HAVE.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ON HERE FOR MUCH LONGER.

YOU ARE LEAVING TO TEXAS.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

>> I JUST GOING TO ANOTHER TOP FIVE STATE.

BUT I WANT TO SAY, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT HAS BEEN TO BE ON YOUR SHOW.

I JUST DEEPLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS STATE.

>> THAT'S NICE TO HEAR, GLEN.

BUT, AGAIN, WHY ARE YOU LEAVING FOR TEXAS.

>> I HAVE HAD THE GREAT MREF LIDGE -- PRIVILEGE TO DO THIS JOB FOR 14 YEARS.

WE HAVE COME SO FAR AS A STATE.

WE -- WE ARE ROCKING AND ROLLING WHEN IT COMES TO JOB CREATION.

MARICOPA COUNTY IS THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK ON SEVERAL ISSUES, AND WHAT IS EXCITING TO ME ABOUT TEXAS IS THE SCALE OF THE STATE.

THE STATE EXPORTS MORE THAN NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA COMBINED.

SO I FEEL A LOT OF LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED IN ARIZONA WILL BE HELPFUL IN TEXAS.

>> SO ARIZONA OBVIOUSLY A SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER STATE, BUT ARE THERE THINGS THAT TEXAS COULD LEARN FROM ARIZONA?

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF GREAT LEADERS OVER THE YEARS, BUT ARIZONA HAS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND OPEN ENROLLMENT, AND THE TWO MAJOR JOB FILLS, AND THEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL TAX CONFORMITY BILL, WE HAVE REALLY DIVERSIFIED THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

REGULATORY RELIEF, THAT HAS BEEN A BEG SELLING POINT FOR THIS STATE, AND JUST THE WELCOMING NATURE OF THIS STATE IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY, REALLY SPECIAL.

>> INDEED.

THERE ARE SOME CRITICISMS THAT THE CHAMBER HAS NOT BEEN AS INVOLVED AS IT SHOULD BE IN SOCIAL ISSUES, RANGING FROM IMMIGRATION TO EDUCATION.

IS THAT A VALID ARGUMENT?

>> WELL, THERE ARE CRITICISMS OUT THERE, AND SOME CERTAINLY VALID.

I FEEL WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF CON TRY CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT IMMIGRATION, WHEN I CAME INTO THIS JOB, THE FIRST BIG TICKET ITEM I HAD TO DEAL WITH WAS THE WORKER'S IMMIGRATION ACT.

AND WHAT I'M PROUD OF IS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY RALLIED TOGETHER AND SAID, THIS HAS TO BE SOLVED ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, AND THAT REMAINS TRUE TODAY.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE YEAR FOR REAL IMMIGRATION REFORM.

>> AND HERE IN ARIZONA, THE THOUGHT -- THERE ARE MANY WHO LOOK AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHO SAY IT IS A LITTLE TOO COZY WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> WELT, THERE ARE TWO OTHER GOVERNORS?

BOTH STATES.

BOTH ARE VERY PRO-BUSINESS GOVERNORS AND LEGISLATURES.

BUT IF YOU TAKE A LOOK OVER THE YEARS, PARTICULARLY ON SOME OF THE DEFENSE, THAT HAS BEEN CENTER LEFT.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF DACA, AND DREAMERS, AND ON THE TAX AND REGULATORY MATTERS, THAT'S CENTER RIGHT.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SERVED OUR MEMBERS AND ADVANCE ED THE STATE.

>> ARE WE GROWING WISELY?

>> I -- I BELIEVE WE ARE.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE ECONOMY, IN PARTICULAR IN TECHNOLOGY.

I CAN'T EVEN KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY YEARS ASU HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THE COUNTRY.

AND NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN A GREAT LEADER.

>> AND REAL QUICKLY, YOUR ADVICE FOR THE IN-COMING HEAD OF THE ARIZONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY?

>> CONTINUE TO WORK WELL WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE IN ELECTED OFFICE ARE THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

OUR TWO UNITED STATES SENATORS ARE THE CENTER.

CENTER SINEMA HAS ESTABLISHED HERSELF AS THE MOST BIPARTISAN SENATOR.

SO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE ISSUES, AND ARIZONA WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO LIVE.

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED HAVING YOU ON.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN TEXAS.

>> TED, THANK YOU.

>>> 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.

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