>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS: AN UPDATE FROM THE LEGISLATURE ON A LAST MINUTE ATTEMPT TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE STATE EDUCATION FUNDING.

>> WHY ARIZONA IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN MIGRANTS FROM CUBA.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS OF PBS.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

GOVERNOR DUCEY TODAY SIGNED INTO LAW A BILL THAT BANS ABORTIONS AFTER 15-WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, INCLUDING CASES OF RAPE AND INCEST.

A SIMILAR LAW PASSED IN MISSISSIPPI IS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

IN SIGNING THE BILL, THE GOVERNOR TODAY SAID THAT HE BELIEVES, QUOTE, "THAT IT'S EVERY STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE IMMEASURABLE VALUE OF EVERY LIFE, INCLUDING PRE-BORN LIFE."

THE GOVERNOR TODAY ALSO SIGNED "OTHER" CONTROVERSIAL BILLS, INCLUDING A BAN ON TRANSGENDER GIRLS PLAYING ON GIRLS SPORTS TEAMS, AND A BAN ON GENDER CONFIRMATION SURGERY FOR MINORS.

BOTH TRANSGENDER-LAWS MIRROR SIMILAR LEGISLATION PASSED IN REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND, THE GOVERNOR TODAY ALSO SIGNED A BILL THAT WOULD TIGHTEN RULES REGARDING PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP WHEN REGISTERING TO VOTE.

STATE LAW ALREADY REQUIRES THAT VOTERS PROVE THAT THEY'RE U.S. CITIZENS WHEN REGISTERING TO VOTE IN "STATE" ELECTIONS.

BUT A 2013 SUPREME COURT RULING HELD THAT THE REQUIREMENT COULD NOT BE APPLIED TO FEDERAL-ONLY VOTERS.

THOSE VOTERS CAN USE A REGISTRATION FORM THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP BUT DOES MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NON-CITIZENS ATTEMPTING TO REGISTER WOULD BE CHARGED WITH PERJURY.

THIS NEW LAW CHANGES ALL THAT - AND DOES SO WITHOUT FEDERAL APPROVAL, WHICH MEANS THAT'S IT'S VERY LIKELY TO WIND UP IN COURT.

AND THE GOVERNOR TODAY ALSO ENDED ARIZONA'S COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY.

IN ANNOUNCING THE MOVE, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WHILE THE VIRUS ISN'T COMPLETELY GONE THE STATE IS, QUOTE, "IN A BETTER POSITION TO MANAGE AND MITIGATE IT."

THIS COMES AS THE LATEST COVID-19 REPORT RELEASED TODAY SHOWS THAT ARIZONA HAS NOW PASSED THE 29,000 MARK FOR COVID-RELATED FATALITIES.

THAT'S ALMOST TWICE AS MANY COVID-DEATHS THAN AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

THE STATE'S COVID FATALITY RATE IS NOW AT 396-PER-100-THOUSAND PEOPLE, WHICH IS THIRD HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

THAT SAID, TODAY'S WEEKLY REPORT FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOWS THAT COVID-CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO SHOW A STEADY DECREASE THAT STARTED IN LATE JANUARY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY RECEIVED A SECOND BOOSTER SHOT.

THIS COMES A DAY AFTER THE CDC EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR A SECOND-BOOSTER FOR THOSE 50-YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

THE PRESIDENT TODAY ALSO UNVEILED "COVID.GOV," A WEBSITE DESIGNED TO BE A "ONE-STOP-SHOP" FOR COVID RESOURCES, INCLUDING VACCINES, TESTS AND MASKS.

ALSO OF NOTE: THE CDC TODAY DROPPED ITS COVID-RISK WARNING FOR CRUISE-SHIPS.

HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE WARNED PEOPLE NOT TO GO ON CRUISES SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT TODAY THE CDC GAVE CRUISES THE GREEN LIGHT AFTER SEEING THAT COVID-CASES ON CRUISE-SHIPS HAVE DROPPED OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

THE CDC DOES SAY THAT YOU'RE MUCH BETTER OFF VACCINATED IF YOU GO ON A CRUISE AND IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO RESEARCH HOW EACH CRUISE-LINE HANDLES PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES.

ECONOMIC NEWS: THE U.S. JOB MARKET ADDED 455,000 PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS IN MARCH.

THAT'S BETTER THAN ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED, THOUGH IT'S LOWER THAN FEBRUARY'S REPORT.

MOST "SECTORS" SAW GAINS IN MARCH, WITH LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SHOWING THE BIGGEST BOOST.

A FULL GOVERNMENT ASSESSMENT OF THE JOB MARKET COMES OUT ON FRIDAY.

AND NASA TODAY RELEASED IMAGES FROM THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE THAT SHOW THE MOST DISTANT SINGLE STAR EVER OBSERVED.

IT'S NICK-NAMED "EARENDEL," AND THERE IT IS, IT'S 28-BILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY.

SCIENTISTS SAY IT COULD BE 50-TO-500-TIMES MORE MASSIVE THAN "OUR" SUN AND MILLIONS OF TIMES BRIGHTER.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THE STAR WAS CREATED JUST 900- MILLION YEARS AFTER THE BIG BANG.

THE DISCOVERY OF "EARENDEL" FIGURES TO HELP ASTRONOMERS INVESTIGATE THE EARLY YEARS OF THE UNIVERSE.

IT'S A BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL, WITH APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES TAKING CENTER STAGE.

THERE'S ALSO MUCH TALK OF AN EDUCATION-FUNDING OVERHAUL THAT WE LOOKED AT IN-DEPTH YESTERDAY AND WILL NO DOUBT HEAR MORE OF IN THE COMING DAYS.

WE GOT THE LATEST FROM REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JOHN KAVANAGH OF FOUNTAIN HILLS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A PRETTY HECTIC WEEK, HUH?

>> IT IS.

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS, ALTHOUGH THIS WEEK, THERE'S ONLY ONE COMMITTEE IN EACH CHAMBER THAT CAN HEAR BILLS AND THAT'S THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

TRADITIONALLY THESE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN CALLED THE LAST HELICOPTERS OUT OF SAIGON BECAUSE IT'S THE LAST CHANCE FOR BILLS THAT HAVE NOT GOTTEN A COMMITTEE HEARING TO BE HEARD AND YOU CAN'T GO TO THE FLOOR UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH COMMITTEE.

TRADITIONALLY A LOT OF MEMBERS CONVINCED THE CHAIR OF THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES TO ALLOW THEM TO AMENDMENT THEIR BILLS ON TO EXISTING BILLS WHICH AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

EACH COMMITTEE HAD 20 BILLS.

I'M ON THE HOUSE HE APPROPRIATIONS AND WE WERE THERE UNTIL 7:00, 8:00 TRYING TO GET THROUGH IT AND THE SENATE WENT UNTIL 9:00 I'M TOLD.

>> THE CONCERN WAS THE RESURRECTION OF THE BAN ON EARLY VOTING.

THAT'S GOING NOWHERE, CORRECT?

>> THAT CAN NAVIGATE OUT OF THE FLOOR ON SENATE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN GET OUT OF THE FLOOR ON THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALL OPPOSED TO IT AND BASICALLY WITH 16 REPUBLICANS AND IN THE SENATE AND 31 IN THE HOUSE AND THAT'S THE NUMBER OF VOTES YOU NEED, ANY ONE REPUBLICAN CAN KILL A BILL.

WE'RE ALL LIKE LITTLE GOVERNOR'S NOW, WE CAN VETO THINGS AND I THINK THERE'S MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN EACH CHAMBER THAT WOULD OPPOSE THAT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIGGY HERE, WE'VE TALKED IT THIS WEEK AT LENGTH, THIS EDUCATION FUNDING OVERHAUL.

WHY IS AN OVERHAUL NECESSARY?

>> THE EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA IS FRANKLY A COMPLICATED, INEFFICIENT, UNFAIR POORLY WORTHED POORLY CRAFTED RESULT OF DECADES AND DECADES OF COMPROMISES AND BILLS TO GET IT PASSED.

IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, VERY CONTROVERSIAL, I'M TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION FUNDING, SO.

>> HAS NOTHING THAT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD.

YOU CAN'T GIVE EVERY STUDENT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THERE ARE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, RURAL DISTRICTS HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS.

IT'S BECOME SO COMPLICATED THAT IT'S LIKE READING AN OLD STEREO ASSEMBLY MANUAL, YOU WIND UP GETTING A HEADACHE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT.

I THINK THIS IS A CHANCE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST CORRECT SOME OF IT, AND THERE'S SOME IN EQUITY BETWEEN CHARTER AND DISTRICT SCHOOLS.

I SUSPECT THAT IT'S GOING TO DRAG ON FOR FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS BEFORE ANYTHING ACTUALLY GOES TO THE FLOOR, IF IN FACT THERE CAN BE AN AGREEMENT ON SOMETHING THIS COMPLEX.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

SHOULD SOMETHING THIS CONSEQUENTIAL BE A STRIKER?

IT'S A 100 PAGE AMENDMENT.

THAT SEEMS LIKE TALK ABOUT HELICOPTERING IN AND OUT OF THINGS.

>> IN TERMS OF THE HUNDRED PAGE, IF YOU MAKE SEVERAL LINE CHANGES IN ONE SECTION OF LAW THAT'S 100 PAGES LONG AND ONE CHANGES IN THE BEGINNING AND ONE IN THE END, YOU'LL HAVE A 100 PAGE LAW.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S 100 PAGES WORTH OF TEXT CHANGED, BUT A LOT IS BEING CHANGED.

YOU KNOW, END RESULT MAY BE WHAT CREATED THE CURRENT ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONAL KIND OF WEIRD FUNDING SYSTEM, AND THAT THERE WILL BE SOME COMPROMISE THAT SPEAKS TO THE BIT, HARD TO SAY.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS GETTING RUSHED, THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITICISM THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE CHANCE FOR.

OPINION, I THINK THREE PEOPLE FOR, THREE AGAINST, COUPLE OF MINUTES EACH AND THAT'S BASICALLY LESS THAN AN HOUR OF PUBLIC CONSIDERATION.

ARE YOU OK WITH THAT?

>> NO, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GO TO THE FLOOR TOMORROW.

IT'S GOING TO PROBABLY TAKE WEEKS OF DISCUSSION, AND THERE WILL BE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, YOU KNOW, WE WERE NEVER AT A SHORTAGE FOR INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS.

IF THIS DOES PROCEED, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF INPUT.

>> AND LAWMAKERS, I SAY THIS SOMEWHAT FACETIOUSLY, BUT LAWMAKERS WILL REELED THE THING BEFORE THEY VOTE ON IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE PERSONALLY GET SUMMARY SHEETS THAT STAFF PROVIDES, AND IN ADDITION, IN THE ACTUAL BILL, ANYTHING THAT'S BEING CHANGED IS INVOLVED OR A DIFFERENT COLOR, SO YOU CAN GET RIGHT TO IT.

YOU CAN NEVER READ EVERY BILL IN ITS ENTIRETY, BECAUSE AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THERE BILL IS 100 PAGES LONG AND THAT'S ONLY ONE BILL.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO HAVE US COME IN JANUARY 1 AND LEAVE DECEMBER 31 AND WORK 16 HOURS A DAY, YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARY, BECAUSE WE GET REASONABLE SUMMARIES FROM STAFF AND CAN DOUBLE CHECK BY GOING TO THE BOLD SECTIONS TO SEE WHAT THE CHANGE ACTUALLY DOES.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT REPEAL AND REPLACE OR ACCELERATE, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO TERM IT HERE.

IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OPEN TO YES, LOWERING INCOME TAX MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATION CALLED FOR, OPEN TO THAT IF IT MEANS YOU ALSO IN CORRELATION INCREASE EDUCATION FUNDING TO PROP 208 LEVELS, ARE YOU WILLING TO THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK YOU'LL DEFINITELY SEE A LOWERING -- I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE A LOWERING OF THE INCOME TAX BEYOND LAST SESSION, WHICH IS PRETTY HISTORIC, 2.5% WITH THAT WHAT YOU WILL SEE HOPEFULLY IS THE ACCELERATION OF THE THAT, TAKING IT DOWN TO 2.5% SO WE DO IT NOW INSTEAD OF DEFER IT A YEAR OR SO, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE.

I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE IT GO LOWER, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MONEY TO GO LOWER AND HAVE THE MONEY TO GIVE MORE TO EDUCATION.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A PHENOMENAL SURPLUS, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS IN ON GOING EXTRA REVENUE, AND DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU COUNT, YOU KNOW, TWO TO $3 BILLION IN ONE TIME MONEY THAT WE CAN SPEND.

WE CAN CERTAINLY AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF EDUCATION AND IT'S BEEN THE WILL OF THE LAST SEVERAL SESSIONS TO DO THAT.

>> IT'S ALSO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, PROP 208, IT'S 800 MILLION TO A BILLION DOLLARS.

ARE YOU READY TO INCREASE EDUCATION FUNDING TO THOSE LEVELS IF IT GOES ALONG WITH THE TAX CUT?

>> YEAH, AND I THINK WE'LL BE PRETTY CLOSE.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, ALTHOUGH THAT MUCH IN ONE YEAR WILL BE KIND OF DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFORTUNATELY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE PROP 208 THING GOT TIED TO A VERY UNPOPULAR AND PERMANENTLY, IN MY OPINION, VERY, VERY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POISON PILL.

YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD REALLY HURT BY INCREASING THE TOP TAX RATE.

THERE WAS NO NEED TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS.

>> YOU'RE SAYING IT WAS UNPOPULAR WITH THOSE IN THE BRACKET IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THERE ARE OTHERS WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.

>> I KNOW FOLKS THOUGHT IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHO ENDED UP LOSING THEIR JOBS.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE $100,000 EXTRA IS THAT BUSINESSES ARE DRIVING HERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS DRIVING THEM HERE IS THE RIDICULOUS TAX INCREASES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN PLACES LIKE CALIFORNIA.

WE'VE SUDDENLY BECOME A STATE WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST UPPER INCOME TAX BRACKET, INCOME TAXES AND GUESS WHAT, THOSE CARS KEEP DRIVING AND THEY'LL GO TO TEXAS, THEY'LL GO TO FLORIDA.

>> THAT SAID, REPRESENTATIVE, LAST QUESTION HERE AND WE'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO WORK AT THE LIDGE LATER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET ISSUES.

HOW MUCH IS THE BUDGET BEING CONSIDERED RIGHT NOW?

A LOT OF HOW PROFILE CASES INVOLVING ELECTION REFORM AND OTHER STUFF, YOU'VE STILL GOT A BUDGET TO GET THROUGH.

>> WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT.

WE TOLD OUR MEMBERS IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE THEIR ASKS, WE'RE ALREADY, I'M PART OF THE SMALL GROUP IN THE HOUSE THAT MEETS WITH A SMALL GROUP IN THE IS NOT OF BUDGET LEADERS THAT MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF.

WE HAVE TO FIRST AGREE ON REVENUES, THIS IS DIFFERENT LEVELS OF HOODS GETTING WHAT.

HOW MUCH IN THIS AREA, HOW MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW MUCH TRANSPORTATION, HOW MUCH SCHOOL FACILITIES, HIGH ERR ED.

FIRST WE GET A GENERAL AGREEMENT AND THEN BEGIN TO FINE TUNE IT AND IT ALWAYS TAKES UNTIL AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST END OF APRIL BEFORE WE CAN GET SOMETHING DOWN.

IT'S A BIG BUDGET, IT'S COMPLICATED.

YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE IT COME ABOUT IN MAY.

>> WARM WEATHER, SINE DIE THEN.

THANK YOU, SIR, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, BYE-BYE.

UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: HOW ONE RESEARCHER IS FIGHTING BACK AGAINST FOOD DESERTS.

>> THERE ARE CURRENTLY 43 FOOD DESERTS IN ARIZONA.

THESE ARE PLACES WHERE RESIDENTS LIVE MORE THAN ONE MILE FROM FRESH AND HEALTHY FOOD.

JOSE-BENITO ROSALES CHAVEZ FROM ASU'S SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES AND URBAN PLANNING IS WORKING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FOOD DESERTS THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING.

WE SPOKE WITH PROFESSOR CHAVEZ TO LEARN MORE.

>> WELCOME TOLL ARIZONA HORIZON.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> WHAT IS, GIVE ME A DEFINITION OF WHAT IS SPACE WAS OPPORTUNITY.

>> SPACES OF OPPORTUNITY IS A 19-ACRE FARM IN SOUTH PHOENIX.

IF YOU DRIVE TO THE AREA, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO NOTICE IT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A PLACE THAT HAS SPACES FOR FARMERS TO PRODUCE SMALL SCALE FARMING AND THEY ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY GARDENS FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO COME AND DO A SMALL FIELD AND GROW THEIR OWN FOOD.

>> YOU BAY A FEW BUCKS AND GET A BLOT OF LAND.

>> IF YOU'RE A COMMUNITY MEMBER, YOU PAY $5 A MONTH AND YOU CAN HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GROW YOUR OWN FOOD AND EITHER USE IT FOR YOURSELF OR SHARE WITH IT OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE AREA.

>> YOU GROW IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT YOURSELF.

>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MANAGERS TO HELP YOU IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT FARMING, SOMEONE WITH KNOWLEDGE AND FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD AND SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.

>> HOW IS ASU INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS?

>> ASU DON'T HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION WITH THEM.

I TOOK MY STUDENTS TO LEARN WHAT IS HAPPENING, TO HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD AND FARMING AND GET OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY COME AND HELP IN THE AREA, BUT THIS IS A COLLABORATION OF IF THE GARDENS, THE FOUNDATION, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AMONG OTHERS THAT PROVIDE THIS SO COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN FARM.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS IS THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM THAT TEACHES FARMERS HOW TO DEVELOP A FARM ON THEIR OWN, SO EVENTUALLY, THEY CAN GO AND BUY A LARGER PIECE OF LAND WHERE THEY CAN DO LARGER SCALE PRODUCTION.

>> AND THUS GET RID OF FOOT DESERT IT IS WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T CLOSE TO FOOD.

>> THEY WANT TO TEACH YOU TO FARM SO YOU CAN GO AND GET THE LOCAL PRODUCTION THAT CAN HELP THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> HOW DID THIS IDEA, I HEAR THERE'S A PREVIOUS PROFESSOR THAT WAS INVOLVED AND HE RETIRED AND IT WENT AWAY, YOU BROUGHT IT BACK?

>> SHE USED TO TEACH A CLASS AND NOW I TEACH CLASSES MYSELF AND NOW I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CLASS AND DO THAT SOME OF THE SAME METHODS USED AND PART OF THAT WAS TO HAVE PROFESSIONALS COME AND TALK TO THE STUDENTS, BUT GO ON FIELD TRIPS SO STUDENTS CAN SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY IN TERMS OF FARMING.

>> WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?

TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MEXICO AND I WAS LOW INCOME FAMILY, SO IN MEXICO, WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE FOOT SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE SUPERMARKET, GROCERY STORES, ALSO VENDORS AND FARMERS MARKETS, A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN QUICK ACCESS TO THEM BUT IN MY CASE, WE OFTENTIMES DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GO BUY FOOD, WE REMEMBERED MOSTLY ON A DIET THAT CATSED OF MILK, THE DAIRY PRODUCER LET US BORROW AND WE WOULD PAY WHEN THEY HAD THE MONEY.

TORTILLAS, WE HAD A VERY DIVERSE FOOD SYSTEM BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THINGS.

IN THE U.S., WE HAVE INCOME THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS BUT ACCESS, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE SUPERMARKETS, FARMER SAID MARKETS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AGAIN, A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN LOOSE VOICE WHERE I GREW UP, IN MEXICO, WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THESE FOOD CONVENIENT KNEES, HERE WE HAVE THE MONEY BUT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD SOURCES.

>> ARE THE KIDS GETTING THIS, GETTING THE POINT ACROSS?

>> YEAH, STILL THE MAIN POINT IS WE NEED LOCAL FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE AND ALSO HOW IN MY PLANNER CAN INFLUENCE, HOW CAN YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN CREATING THESE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE CONDITION HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD SINCE PLANNERS CAN HELP IN FORM DECISION MAKERS AND IMPACT DECISIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> IN THE RESPONSE FROM THE RESIDENTS DOWN THERE?

>> THEY LIKE IT, BECAUSE THIS IS AN AREA PROVIDING SECURITY AND PROVIDING A GREEN SPACE AND INCREASING BIODIVERSITY OF THE SPACE IN OUR SYSTEM.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, GOOD WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB SOMEWHERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

TAKE CARE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, WHY RUSSIA IS CONTINUING ITS BRUTAL ATTACKS IN UKRAINE DESPITE PLEDGE TO SAY DEESCALATE.

COMING UP AFTER YOUR HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO CAUSE DROUGHT AND EXTREME HEAT IN ARIZONA AND MUCH OF THE WEST.

A TEAM AT ASU IS STUDYING WAYS TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE BY REDUCING CO2 EMISSIONS.

CLARK MILLER IS THE LEAD AUTHOR OF THE STUDY.

HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR ENERGY AND SOCIETY IN ASU'S SCHOOL FOR THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION IN SOCIETY.

CLARK MILLER, WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE'RE TALKING CO2 EMISSIONS, WHAT A PROJECT WITH ASU AND ARP JOINING FORCES?

>> YES PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP THE ORGANIZATION HAS.

>> THE FOCUS IS DECARBONIZATION.

>> THAT MEANS GETTING ALL THE WAY TO CARBON NEUTRAL FOR THE ARIZONA ECONOMY, MEANING WE GET RID OF ALL OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS THROUGH EITHER REDUCING OUR USES OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF CARBON BASED FUELS, OIL, COAL AND SO FORTH, OR THROUGH OTHER MECHANISMS, LIKE CAPTURING THAT CARBON AND STORING IT IN THE GROUND.

>> ENOUGH THIS WAS A BUNCH OF RESEARCH HERE DONE WITH WHAT, EDUCATORS, INDUSTRY, A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS, SOUNDS LIKE.

>> WE HAD STAKEHOLDERS FROM ASU, LOTS OF EXPERTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS, SRP LOTS OF EXPERTS FROM THEM, OTHER UTILITIES IN THE STATE PARTICIPATED AS DID A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS OF SRP.

>> AND THE RESULTS CAME OUT WITH IT SOUNDS LIKE FOUR POTENTIAL PATHWAYS TO GET INTO THAT CARBON NEUTRAL LEVEL.

THE FIRST ONE IS ELECTRIFYING THE ECONOMY.

GIVE US A BETTER INDICATION WHAT THIS MEANS.

>> ELECTRIFICATION MEANS ELECTRICITY AS YOUR SOURCE OF ENERGY.

THIS IS AN ELECTRIC CAR, SWITCHING FROM GASOLINE POWERED TO AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER END USE TECHNOLOGIES THAT USE FUEL AT THE MOMENT THAT WE COULD USE ELECTRICITY FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, A HEATER IN YOUR HOUSE, YOU ALREADY HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN USING A FUEL LIKE NATURAL GAS OR USING ELECTRICITY TO TREAT YOUR HOUSE.

>> SAME THING WITH RESIDENTIAL, IT ALL APPLIES.

>> YES.

IT CAN HAPPEN IN HOUSES AND IN INDUSTRIAL AND FACTORY SETTINGS.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE PATHWAY THAT GETS YOU THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ENERGY REQUIRED TO POWER THE ECONOMY IN THE LONG TERM, BECAUSE ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES ARE VERY EFFICIENT, SO WHALE ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS YOU SAVE MONEY, BECAUSE YOUR ELECTRICITY TO GO A MILE IS CHEAPER.

>> CHEAPER THAN USING GAS.

THE SECOND PATHWAY IS BUILDING A NEW CARBON ECONOMY AND THIS INVOLVES WHAT, STORAGE OF CO2?

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

>> YEAH, SO THE IDEA HERE IS THAT WE DEVELOP A VARIETY OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CAPTURING OF SOME CARBON.

WE WOULDN'T LEAVE VERY MUCH OF OUR CARBON BASED FUELS IN THE ECONOMY BUT WE MIGHT LEAVE SOME AND ONCE YOU CAPTURE IT, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM A SMOKE STACK OR A PLUME FROM A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT, YOU CAN TURN IT BACK INTO FUEL AND USE IT AGAIN.

THE IDEA IS TO CREATE A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN WHICH WE ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THE CARBON AND WE DON'T RAISE THE AMOUNT OF THE CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

>> THAT SOUND EXPENSIVE.

WHY WASN'T IT DONE BEFORE.

>> LOTS ARE PLACES TRYING IT.

IT IS EXPENSIVE, THE BASIC PROBLEM WITH THE NEW CARBON ECONOMY AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T EXPECT VERY MUCH OF IT, IS THAT IT'S AN ADD ON, RIGHT?

YOU PAY FOR THE FUEL AND THEN YOU PAY TO CAPTURE THE CARBON AND STORE IT AND YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR THE VERIFICATION AND MONITORING TO MAKE SURE ALL THE CARBON REMAINS IN THE GROUND.

WE DON'T EXPECT THAT TO BE A BIG PART OF THE PUZZLE BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN PARTS OF THE ECONOMY THAT ARE HARD TO DEAL WITH, LIKE AIRPLANES FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T EVER A LOT OF ALTERNATES IN THE MOMENT.

THEY ARE WORKING ON HYDROGEN.

>> ANOTHER POTENTIAL PATHWAY IS BUILDING A HYDROGEN ECONOMY TO REPLACE FOSSIL FUEL.

I'VE HEARD ABOUT HYDROGEN FOR A LOT OF YEARS NOW BUT ALL I SEE IS A LICENSE PLATE.

>> HYDROGEN IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION AT THE MOMENT.

IT IS AND HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR REALLY DECADES, AS A VERY, VERY CLEAN SOURCE OF FUEL, AND YOU MAY REMEMBER THE HINDENBURG.

>> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SORRY, DIDN'T MEAN IT THAT WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT'S GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION NOW IS THE IDEA THAT WE MIKE MAKE HYDROGEN WITH RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY.

>> AND FOR BIG THINGS LIKE A ZEPPELIN, TRUE?

>> MORE WE WOULD USE IT FOR BIG THINGS LIKE POWER PLANTS.

>> THAT'S WHAT I MEAN, BIG STUFF.

>> NATURAL GAS.

WE CAN ALSO TURNS OUT USE IT IN SMALL WAYS.

WE'VE RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED A COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA THAT IS SELLING THE EQUIVALENT OF A POWER WALL BATTERY, EXEMPT IT'S A HYDROGEN STORAGE UNIT FOR YOUR HOME.

THEY STORE IT AND IT PUTS IT IN A CELL AND YOU CAN PRODUCE ELECTRICITY WHEN YOUR HOUSE NEEDS IT.

IT'S NO MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BUYING A BATTERY, SO PROBABLY A PRETTY GOOD SOLUTION IF WE CAN DO IT.

LAST PATH WAY IS FOCUSING ON POPULATIONS THAT MAY BE LEFT BEHIND.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE BUT REAL QUICKLY, THAT'S A FACTOR, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S A HUGE FACT OR.

THE BIG MESSAGE IS WE CAN DO THIS, GET TO 100% CARBON NEUTRALITY IN ARIZONA.

THE CHALLENGE IS A LOT OF TECHNOLOGIES REQUIRES A LOT OF INVESTMENT UP FRONT.

THEY THEN SAVE YOU MONEY OVER THE LONG TERM BUT THAT UP FRONT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR HOUSEHOLDS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE WORKFORCES AT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS AND SO FORTH THAT ARE GOING TO BE DISPLACED BY THIS TRANSITION.

>> POLITICAL WILL FOR THIS SORT OF THING?

>> WHAT I SEE HAPPENING IS THAT THERE'S A GROWING SENTIMENT ACROSS THE ECONOMY WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS DONE.

I THINK IT WILL BE THERE WHEN WE NEED THE SUPPORT.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

COMING UP, EFFORTS TO MOVE FROM GAS TO ELECTRICITY TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY.