♪.

TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," DETAILS ON THE PLAN TO SIGNIFICANTLY OVERHAUL THE WAY THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS, RESTAURANTS CHANGED HOW THEY DID BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC, SOME WON'T BE GOING BACK.

>>> AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN SEXUALITY, RACE AND GENDER, ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

ANNOUNCER: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION, THANK YOU.

>> "ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF -- .

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

THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TODAY EXPANDED ITS EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION FOR ALL ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 50 TO GET A SECOND BOOSTER COVID SHOT, THE AUTHORIZATION IS FOR THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINE TO BE GIVEN AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST BOOSTER.

A SECOND BOOSTER WAS ONLY PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED FOR THOSE WITH SEVERE IMMUNE DEFICIENCIES BUT TODAY'S AUTHORIZATION IS FOR ANYONE OVER 50 YEARS OF AGE.

THE CDC IS NOT EXPECTED TO OFFICIALLY RECOMMEND A SECOND BOOSTER.

THE CDC HAS SIMPLY OKAYED THE SHOTS FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO GET THEM.

AS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY APPEARS MIXED ON WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER BOOSTER IS NECESSARY.

>>> THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND THE U.S. AIR FORCE MISSED OR IGNORED SIGNS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE THAT A TOP CIVILIAN COMMANDER WHO HELD SENSITIVE POSITIONS WITH THE U.S. ARMY IN ARIZONA AND AFGHANISTAN WAS INVOLVED IN SEXUALLY ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR THAT RESULTED IN HIS ARREST FOR LEADING A CHILD SEX ABUSE RING THAT ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED HIS OWN ADOPTED SON.

ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, REPORTS DAVID FRODSHAM AND WAS ARRESTED AND SERVING 17 YEARS ON SEX ABUSE CHARGES.

AP REPORTS THE SIGNS INCLUDED ORDERING FRODSHAM BACK TO BAGRAM AIRFIELD AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

>>> U.S.

BUSINESSES HAD MORE THAN 11 MILLION OPEN JOBS TO FILL IN FEBRUARY.

THAT'S SLIGHTLY MORE THAN ECONOMISTS PREDICTED AND SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE ALL-TIME HIGH RECORDED IN DECEMBER.

IT SAYS THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS QUITTING THEIR JOBS INCHED UP TO 4.4 MILLION IN FEBRUARY.

>>> RUSSIA SAID IT WILL, QUOTE, DRASTICALLY REDUCE MILITARY ACTIONS ON TWO FRONTS IN UKRAINE, INCLUDING THE CAPITAL CITY OF KYIV, ACCORDING TO THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY FOLLOWING IN-PERSON TALKS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE IN ISTANBUL.

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RESPONSE?

>> WE'LL SEE.

I DON'T READ ANYTHING INTO IT UNTIL I SEE WHAT THEIR ACTIONS ARE.

WE'LL SEE IF THEY FOLLOW THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING.

THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE BEGUN TODAY, NOT BEGUN, CONTINUED TODAY IN TURKEY AND OTHERS.

I HAD A MEETING WITH THE HEADS OF STATE OF FOUR ALLIES IN NATO.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSENSUS THAT LET'S SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.

TED: TWO SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS CALLED THE DEVELOPMENT A, QUOTE, MAJOR STRATEGY SHIFT ON RUSSIA'S PART.

>>> IN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS, THE SLAP SEEN AROUND THE WORLD SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE OSCARS RESULTED IN A BIG BOOST IN TICKET SALES FOR COMEDIAN CHRIS ROCK, WHO WAS SLAPPED BY ACTOR WILL SMITH AFTER ROCK MADE A JOKE ABOUT SMITH'S WIFE AND HER SHAVED HEAD, WHICH ROCK MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN IS DUE TO HAIR LOSS FROM AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

ONE AGENCY SOLD MORE TICKETS IN ONE NIGHT THAN IT DID IN ALL OF LAST MONTH, WITH TICKET PRICES GOING FROM 46 BUCKS A POP TO A MINIMUM OF $341.

>>> LEGISLATION THAT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED THE WAY ARIZONA'S PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED PASSED THE HOUSE WITH LIMITED TIME FOR DEBATE OR CONSIDERATION.

AS SUCH, THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE 100 PAGE LEGISLATION.

TO GET ANSWERS, WE SPOKE TO CHUCK ESSIGS, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALS.

CHUCK, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STUFF GOING ON HERE.

THIS IS A MAJOR OVERHAUL AND REVAMP OF THE WAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ARIZONA ARE FUNDED.

TALK TO ME ABOUT -- GIVE US A GENERAL OVERVIEW HERE AND DIVE INTO DETAILS?

>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY'RE DOING IT, RUSHING IT THROUGH IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY THINK THERE'S BETTER WAYS OF DOING IT.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS TODAY AND GETTING READY FOR BUDGETS OF NEXT YEAR AND CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE FACING A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGE WITH HIGH INFLATION, RECOVERING FROM COVID, SO THEY CERTAINLY NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND THAT'S TRUE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTERS, ESPECIALLY TO OFFSET SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH INFLATION, BUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS THEY'RE GIVING THEM MORE MONEY IN SOME PLACES AND TAKING IT AWAY IN OTHERS.

FOR CHARTERS, JUST ABOUT ALL THE FUNDING IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING, AND THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ONE THING THEY THINK WOULD BE BETTER, RATHER THAN TAKING SOME OF THESE THINGS AWAY, GIVE THEM TO CHARTERS, BECAUSE I THINK THEY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, AND IT WOULD HELP CHARTERS WITH SOME OF THEIR REVENUE ISSUES.

BUT THE FIRST THING IS TEACHER EXPERIENCE.

THE LEGISLATURE, SINCE 1980, HAD IN THE FORMULA A BOOST, A FEW PERCENTAGE-POINT BOOST IN THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE TEACHERS MORE EXPERIENCED THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.

GENERALLY IT COSTS MORE FOR THE TEACHERS BECAUSE DISTRICTS TEND TO PAY EXPERIENCED TEACHERS A LITTLE MORE THAN NEW TEACHERS COMING IN, AND SECONDLY ENCOURAGES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT AND KEEP THEIR TEACHERS WORKING THERE.

THE LEGISLATURE IS ELIMINATING THAT FOR TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THAT'S ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $50 MILLION, TAKEN OUT OF THE FORMULA.

TED: CHUCK, WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT?

WHAT'S THE POINT?

>> THEY SAY IT'S NOT FAIR.

THAT IT ENCOURAGES THAT DISTRICTS HAVE MORE MONEY, THAT CAN PAY TEACHERS MORE TO STAY THERE.

WHAT'S INTERESTING, THE DISTRICTS THAT BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THE TEACHER EXPERIENCE INDEX ARE DISTRICTS IN RURAL AREAS AND THEY DON'T HAVE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE COMPETING FOR THEIR TEACHERS.

THEY BASICALLY ARE TEACHERS MOVE TO THE AREAS, GET CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO I THINK THAT ARGUMENT THAT IT HELPS SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS KEEP MORE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS IS NOT VALID, AND IF IT DID, THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE TURNOVER THAN LESS TURNOVER.

THAT'S CALLED A TEI, THE TECHNICAL TERM FOR IT IS GIVING MORE MONEY TO DISTRICTS THAT ARE HAVING TEACHERS THAT ARE MORE EXPERIENCED THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.

SECOND THING, THERE'S BEEN A PROVISION IN THE FORMULA FOR A LONG TIME THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS GET EXTRA 1.25%, THAT WAS PUT IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO TO HELP WITH TEACHER COMPENSATION.

CHARTERS DON'T GET EITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS, THE QUESTION I HAVE AND OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE, WHY ARE YOU TAKING THAT AWAY BECAUSE CHARTERS DON'T HAVE IT, GIVE IT TO CHARTERS.

THE ONE THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL WORK FOR CHARTERS.

TELL THE STATE HOW MANY TEACHERS THEY HAVE.

THAT'S TWO OF THE BIGGEST THINGS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LOSING.

THE EXTRA TEACHER COMPENSATION IS ALMOST $70 MILLION, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THE MAJOR INCREASE IN THE FUNDING FORMULA PUPIL, THEY'RE GIVEN AN EXTRA 2.5% TO THE FORMULA, FOR CHARTERS, THAT'S A 2.5% INCREASE.

FOR DISTRICTS, THE TEACHER EXPERIENCE FACTOR AND TEACHER COMPENSATION TAKES A GOOD PART OF THE MONEY AWAY.

THAT'S FRUSTRATING TO DISTRICTS.

TED: FROM A DISTANCE, IT'S COMPLICATED STUFF, TAILOR THE FUNDING TO THE STUDENT RATHER THAN THE DISTRICT?

AM I GETTING THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THEM SAY, THE MONEY GOES TO THE DISTRICTS, THE DISTRICTS STILL OPERATE AND THE CHARTERS OPERATE.

STUDENTS WHO GO TO BASIS OPERATE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THEY'RE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HIRES TEACHERS, HAS FACILITIES, I DON'T SEE WHY THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGES THAT, AND THE MONEY IN ARIZONA FOLLOWS THE STUDENT.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT LOSE STUDENTS ARE IN DIFFICULT TIMES BECAUSE THEY LOSE THAT REVENUE.

STUDENTS THAT GO TO DISTRICTS AND GAIN STUDENTS, THAT HELPS THEM WITH REVENUE.

WE PAY MONEY PER STUDENT, AND WHEREVER THAT STUDENT GOES, THE MONEY GOES ALONG WITH THEM.

TED: SOUNDS AS THOUGH AGAIN, FROM A DISTANCE, LOOKING THIS OVER, THAT ALL CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE STATE WOULD SEE AN INCREASE, AND MANY IF NOT MOST OF THE PUBLIC DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY THE RURAL PART OF THE STATE, THEY WOULD SEE A DECREASE IN FUNDING?

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

MOST EVERY CHARTER GAINS MONEY, AND ABOUT 121 OF THE 220 DISTRICTS, NOT COUNTING THE VOCATIONAL DISTRICTS, SO ABOUT HALF OF THEM LOSE MONEY UNDER THIS.

SOME LOSE A LITTLE, SOME LOSE A LOT, AND THE MAJOR LOSERS ARE THOSE DISTRICTS IN RURAL ARIZONA.

TED: ALL RIGHT, SO I'M HEARING THE PROPONENTS SAYING IT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD.

IT WILL COME OUT BETTER FOR FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS IN FIVE YEARS OR SO.

I'M HEARING ALL THAT, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT ALL THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT DOES THAT.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE REWARDING THING IS WHEN THE NEW FORMULA WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 1980, THERE WAS A REVISION TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS, BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE, AND SO THE FORMULA IS WORKING.

IF THEY'RE COMPLAINING THAT THE RURAL SCHOOLS HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DO, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE FORMULA WAS DESIGNED TO DO BECAUSE IT DOES -- TO GET SUPPLIES INTO THE SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO THE STAFFING, WHERE YOU CAN'T PUT 30 OR 35 STUDENTS IN EVERY CLASSROOM WITH EVERY TEACHER.

YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FIRST GRADERS IN SOME SCHOOLS AND SECOND GRADERS TO DO THAT.

ANY DISTRICT WITH LESS THAN 600 STUDENTS FROM 1980 TO TODAY, GETS ADDITIONAL MONEY.

THE SMALLER THEY ARE, THE MORE THAT AMOUNT PER PUPIL INCREASES UNTIL THEY ARE 100 STUDENTS OR LESS AND THEN IT REMAINS THE SAME.

WE INTENTIONALLY HAVE IN THE FORMULA AND IT'S WORKING AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT, BUT I THINK NOT ONLY IN ARIZONA BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SMALL RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL CHALLENGES ON A PER PUPIL BASIS.

IT COSTS MORE TO RUN THE SCHOOLS.

TED: WHAT ABOUT BONDING?

WHAT ABOUT OVERRIDES, QUICKLY PLEASE?

>> YOU WOULD STILL KEEP BONDS AND OVERRIDES, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE NEW LEVEL OF FUNDING WHICH THE MAJOR FACTOR IN THAT WHERE MORE MONEY COMES FROM, CHARTER ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE, AND THAT WOULD GIVE DISTRICTS ABOUT $1500 MORE PER STUDENT.

THAT WOULD BE THE MAIN REASON TO GET INTO THE ALTERNATIVE FORMULA, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE ADDITIONAL FORMULA, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION, RAISE QUALIFYING TAX RATE BY 20%.

70 CENTS FOR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND GIVE UP BONDS AND GIVE UP OVERRIDES.

YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS IF YOU KEEP BONDS AND OVERRIDES BUT YOU WOULD LOSE THE SCHOOL FACILITIES BOARD HAS MONEY THEY GIVE TO SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THAT ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS.

YOU WOULD NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THAT MONEY UNLESS YOU WERE BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL.

AND A LOT OF OTHER PROVISIONS THAT YOU LOSE, BUT THE MAIN THING IS YOU LOSE BONDS AND OVERRIDES TO BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE NEW SYSTEM.

TED: RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

YES OR NO.

THIS THING HEADING TO COURT IF IT PASSES?

>> I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES.

MORE IMPORTANT IS WHAT IT DOES ESPECIALLY TO SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM HAVE GREATER CHALLENGES THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY OR DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE TO BE DOING.

TED: CHUCK ESSIGS, THANK YOU SO MUCH, GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

GREAT INFORMATION.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE NEED FOR CAREGIVERS TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEMSELVES.

.

TED: CAREGIVERS TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARING FOR ANOTHER PERSON BUT OFTEN FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES.

IT'S A GROWING CONCERN, AND TONIGHT, AS PART OF MONTHLY AARP SPONSOR SEGMENTS THAT HIGHLIGHT ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OLDER ADULTS IN ARIZONA, WE SPEAK TO DR. RAJEESH BHATKA HOW TO CARE FOR CAREGIVERS.

DR. BHATKA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

TALKING CAREGIVERS TODAY.

LET'S DEFINE TERMS, WHAT EXACTLY IS A CAREGIVER?

>> A CAREGIVER PROVIDES CARE FOR A RELATIVE, FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR, AND THAT INCLUDES ANYTHING THAT THE LOVED ONE FROM CARE FOR PAYING FOR FINANCES, GROCERIES, PRESCRIPTIONS, IT'S ALL-ENCOMPASSING.

THAT'S WHAT A CAREGIVER IS.

TED: WITH AN AGING POPULATION, THERE ARE MORE CAREGIVERS ALL THE TIME, AREN'T THERE?

>> THERE ARE, IT'S A GROWING FIELD OF 53 MILLION PEOPLE SO FAR IN THE UNITED STATES, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE RECORDING SOME SORT OF FATIGUE AND SOME SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OF BURNOUT RELATED TO CARE GIVING.

EVEN THOUGH IT GIVES THEM A LOT OF SATISFACTION, IT'S A TOTALLY ENCOMPASSING THEIR WHOLE WAY OF LIFE, HELPING SOMEONE GET TO THEIR NEEDS.

TED: LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

A RECENT STUDY, ONE IN FOUR FIND IT DIFFICULT, OF CAREGIVERS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN HEALTH.

>> IT IS CORRECT.

BECAUSE THEY'RE TIME CONSUMING, TAKING CARE OF LOVED ONES, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, GET TO DOCTORS OFFICES AND THE CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHETHER FROM LONELINESS, FROM ISOLATION BECAUSE OF FULL-TIME BEING THE CARETAKER, OR JUST INCREASED STRESS OF BEING A CARETAKER.

TED: I SAW THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL STRAIN ALL PLAY A PART, HUH?

>> YEP.

ALL PLAYS A PART BECAUSE AS THE U.S. POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW, WE'RE LIVING LONGER, PEOPLE ARE HAVING MORE COMPLEX HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THE CAREGIVERS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS.

THE AVERAGE CARETAKER IS ABOUT 63 YEARS OLD AND TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE WHO'S 65 AND OLDER.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, THAT GO UNCHECKED FOR A WHILE.

TED: I THOUGHT THE LONELINESS ASPECT IS INTERESTING.

NOT SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT.

YOUR LIFE IS LOCKED INTO THE ONE POSITION, YOU CAN FEEL ISOLATED, HUH?

>> YOU CAN, YEAH.

BECAUSE THEIR TIME CONSUMES TAKING CARE OF LOVED ONES 24/7 AND THEY FEEL BURNED OUT.

THEY HAVE NO ONE TO TALK TO.

THEY HAVE NO RESOURCES, THEY'RE UNAWARE OF THE HELP AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

TED: HAVE YOU SEEN SITUATIONS WHERE CARE GIVING SIMPLY ISN'T THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

>> THERE ARE.

IN SUN CITY, WE SEE IT A LOT.

WE HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE LIKE THEIR NEIGHBOR, AND SOMETIMES IT'S TOO MUCH FOR THE CAREGIVER.

THAT LOVED ONE NEEDS MORE EXTRA ATTENTION, NEEDS MORE SPECIALIZED CARE.

THOSE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU NEED TO STEP BACK, TALK TO THE CAREGIVER, ALSO TALK TO THE PATIENT AND PATIENT'S FAMILY TO SEE WHAT THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS.

>> ARE GOOD POINT.

WHAT SHOULD CAREGIVERS KNOW?

ARE THERE GROUPS, PLACES TO LEARN MORE AND GET DIAGNOSED YOURSELF?

>> YEAH, THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES OUT THERE.

ONES LIKE THE ARIZONA CAREGIVER COALITION, CAN GIVE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THE EXTRA HELP.

THERE'S ALSO SUPPORT GROUPS LIKE THE ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUPS.

ADULT SUPPORT GROUPS ARE OUT THERE, WE JUST NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT AND PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN BENEFIT EQUALLY.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, BEST ADVICE TO CAREGIVERS WATCHING RIGHT NOW AND THINK OF THEMSELVES, THIS SOUNDS LIKE ME?

>> YEAH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, MAKE SURE YOU'RE SLEEPING WELL, GETTING GOOD DIET IN, HEALTHY EXERCISE REGIMENT AS WELL.

SLEEPING 7 TO 8 HOURS A NIGHT AS WELL, AND ALSO GO TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR, GET A CHECKUP, MAKE SURE MENTAL HEALTH IS CHECKED, PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE EVALUATED AS WELL.

TED: ALL RIGHT, RAJEESH BHATKA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'RE HERE TO HELP THE PATIENTS AND THE CAREGIVERS.

.

TED: THE GOVERNOR'S STATE BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES $176 MILLION IN SPENDING FOR ARIZONA'S PARKS AND TRAILS.

TRAVEL AUTHOR ROGER NAYLOR SPOKE TO US ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR STATE PARKS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, $177 MILLION FOR STATE PARKS AND TRAILS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

IT'S TO MODERNIZE?

IMPROVE?

A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH?

>> ABSOLUTELY A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

THESE ARE LITTLE GEMS AND THE STATE PARKS, THEY'RE SELF-SUSTAINING.

THEY ONLY GO BY THE MONEY THEY BRING IN.

THEY DON'T GET ANYTHING FROM THE GENERAL FUND, SO HAVING ADDITIONAL MONEY WOULD BE HUGE.

SO MANY OF THE PARKS PROTECT BUILDINGS THAT ARE 100 YEARS OLD, 150 YEARS OLD, FORT VERDE, REARDON MANSION, YUMA TERRITORIAL PRISON.

THESE ARE CHAPTERS IN ARIZONA HISTORY AND NEED UPKEEP.

THEY NEED IMPROVEMENT TO THE TRAILS.

SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF THAT STUFF, BUT ALSO A LOT OF MODERNIZATION, THE BROADBAND ACCESS, MORE ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE AND STUFF.

THEY WANT TO WORK ON VIRTUAL REALITY PROGRAM, THINGS TO ATTRACT KIDS TO BRING IN MORE AND MORE FAMILIES.

YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE GEYSERS LIKE ME, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO GO.

YOU WANT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE.

THE STATE PARKS ARE BITE SIZED FAMILY-FRIENDLY LITTLE ADVENTURES.

THIS IS WHERE YOU TAKE THE KIDS CAMPING, TEACH THEM TO FISH.

TEACH THEM TO KAYAK AND HAVE A GREAT TIME AND STILL BE HOME BY DINNER TIME OR BY THE WEEKEND.

SO THEY'RE ESSENTIAL.

TED: AS A TRAVEL WRITER, YOU SHOULD BE AT THE PARKS ALL THE TIME.

THEY SHOULD BE SICK OF SEEING YOU OUT THERE.

WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPSITE IMPROVEMENT, WASTE WATER FACILITIES, HOW MUCH IS THAT NEEDED?

>> IT IS NEEDED.

IF YOU REMEMBER IN 2009, WHEN THERE WAS A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE, AN ECONOMIC PROBLEM, AND ALL THE FUNDS FOR THE PARKS WERE SWEPT AWAY.

A LOT OF THE STATE PARKS HAD TO CLOSE.

OTHERS WERE ONLY KEPT OPEN BECAUSE PEOPLE STEPPED UP, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY STEPPED FORWARD.

VOLUNTEERS CAME FORWARD, BECAUSE THESE PARKS ARE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE ECONOMIC ENGINES FOR THE SMALL TOWNS, SO PEOPLE REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

THEY KEPT THINGS GOING.

ALL THE PARKS HAVE REOPENED AND ARE DOING WELL, BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MEAN YOU'VE GOT EXTRA MONEY TO IMPROVE THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM OR ADD NEW STRUCTURES OR FIX UP THE STUFF THAT NEED MORE AND MORE IMPROVEMENT.

OUTSIDE IS BETTER THAN INSIDE A LOT OF TIMES AND THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO DO THAT, TO GO CAMPING TO GO HIKING, TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME OUTDOORS AND THE PARKS ABSORBED THAT.

THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.

THE VISITATION CONTINUES TO GO UP, AND YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT INFLOW.

>> ARE THERE AREAS YOU CAN THINK OF, REGIONS, PARKS, TRAILS, CAMPSITES IN PARTICULAR.

IS IT FOCUSED IN ANY ONE AREA?

IS IT STATEWIDE?

>> IT IS STATEWIDE.

MORE THAN 30 PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS AND THE MONEY IS SPREAD OUT ACROSS ALL OF THEM.

THERE ARE STATE PARKS IN EVERY COUNTY OF ARIZONA EXCEPT GREENLEE AND MARICOPA.

MOST OF THEM ARE ATTACHED TO SMALL TOWNS.

I LIVE IN COTTONWOOD, DEAD HORSE RANCH STATE PARK VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY WHEN I'M IN TOWN HIKING.

I KNOW WHAT A QUALITY OF LIFE IT IS TO HAVE THE SWATH OF OPEN SPACE RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR BUT PROTECTS A BIG SECTION OF THE VERDE RIVER WHICH IS A CRUCIAL WATER SOURCE, AND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE CAMPGROUNDS HAVE JUST BEEN PACKED.

IT'S BEEN FULL.

THERE'S AN OVERFLOW OF PEOPLE, AND THE RANGERS ARE BARELY KEEPING UP.

THEY NEED SOME OF THE FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO PUT BACK INTO THE PARKS TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS AND TO MAKE ANY KIND OF EXPANSION THEY WANT TO.

I CAN SEE THE TRAILS, SOME OF THE TRAILS NEED IMPROVEMENT.

SOME OF THE BUILDINGS ARE HANGING ON.

THEY NEED A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT, AGAIN WITH, ALL THE MODERNIZATION THEY WANT TO DO AS WELL.

>> ARIZONA PARKS TRAILS, ARE WE DIFFERENT THAN NEIGHBORING STATES?

IS THERE A STATE DOING THIS RIGHT OR BETTER THAN WE ARE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

ARIZONA STATE PARKS WAS NAMED THE BEST IN THE NATION JUST A FEW YEARS AGO EVEN, SO THEY'RE MAKING DO AND STRETCHING THE DOLLARS AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND HAVE AN INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE THAT HELPS KEEP EVERYTHING PROPPED UP WITH ALSO THE COMMUNITIES ADDING TO AND A LOT OF ARRANGEMENTS HAVE WORKED OUT WITH THE SMALL TOWN TOWNS WHERE THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING FUNDS.

BUT THEY NEED MONEY COMING INTO THEM.

AND AGAIN, I'M SPEAKING AS AN OUTSIDER, NOT AFFILIATED WITH ARIZONA STATE PARKS.

I'M JUST A FAN.

I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE PARKS ARE TO FAMILIES AND PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.

TED: LAST QUESTION, AS A FAN, A TRAVEL WRITER AND A GUY THEY'RE SICK OF SEEING AT THE PARKS, ONE THING YOU WANT TO SEE EMPHASIZED.

>> I'M A FAN OF HIKING TRAILS, THE MORE TRAILS THE BETTER.

I ALSO APPRECIATE ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO IS PROVIDE EXPERIENCE OF ALL TYPES FOR PEOPLE.

ONE SUMMER DAY, HIKING AT SONOITA CREEK NATURAL AREA, ADJACENT TO PATAGONIA STATE PARK.

I WAS HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME OUT HIKING IN HOT SWEATY WEATHER.

CAME BACK, HAD A COLD DRINK, I'M SITTING ON THE BEACH AND THERE IS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL RUNNING ON THE WATER, CHASING DUCKS, KICKING SAND.

WE HAD SUCH A GREAT DAY.

DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES BUT THE PARKS GAVE US EACH WHAT WE WANTED.

I HAD SOLITUDE AND HIKING TRAILS AND SHE HAS A SANDY BEACH TO PLAY ON AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE BOATS AND STUFF.

SO ALL OF IT IS AN EXPANSION, EVEN IF IT'S NOT STUFF I NECESSARILY CARE ABOUT.

I WANT THAT FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

I WANT THAT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

THIS IS HOW THEY FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PARKS.

THIS IS HOW THEY GROW UP TO BECOME PEOPLE LIKE ME.

>> PEOPLE LIKE ROGER NAYLOR, TRAVEL WRITER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

ANY TIME, TED.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪.

TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, MEET ASU'S NEW WOMEN'S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH.

>>> AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN" WHY BLACK LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET HIV AND FACE MEDICAL INEQUALITY?