TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED BUT THE STATE HAS YET TO MATCH THAT EXTENSION.

WHAT IT MEANS TO ARIZONA TAXPAYERS?

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS, COVID VARIANTS ARE INCREASING CONCERN AND NOW ARIZONA MIGHT HAVE A VARIANT OF ITS OWN.

>>> ALL THIS AND MORE AHEAD ON THE NEXT HOUR OF 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.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS SCHEDULED TO MEET TODAY TO ADDRESS THE LATEST MOVE TO AUDIT THE COUNTY'S PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS AFTER THE SENATE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT FOUR COMPANIES HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO CONDUCT THE AUDIT.

ARIZONA MIRROR REPORTS THAT THE TEAM IS BEING LED BY CYBER NINJAS OWNED BY A TRUMP SUPPORTER WHO PROMOTES A WIDE RANGE OF CONSPIRACIES THAT CLAIM THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN FROM DONALD TRUMP.

DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS WHICH OWNS THE COUNTY'S ELECTION VOTING MACHINES DESCRIBED THE FIRMS AS, QUOTE, BEYOND BIASED AND LED BY CONSPIRACY THEORISTS AND QAnon SUPPORTERS.

>>> PFIZER TODAY REPORTED THAT PROTECTION FROM ITS COVID VACCINE LASTS AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AFTER THE SECOND DOSE.

THAT'S TWICE AS LONG AS PREVIOUS ESTIMATES INDICATED.

PFIZER ALSO SAYS THAT ONGOING TRIALS SHOW FULL PROTECTION AGAINST WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT OF THE VIRUS.

AT LAST COUNT MORE THAN TWO MILLION PEOPLE IN ARIZONA RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF COVID VACCINE WITH MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION FULLY VACCINATED.

AND THE STATE TODAY REPORTED 381 NEW COVID CASES WHICH KEEPS ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE AT CLOSE TO THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

SEVEN-DAY DEATH RATE, 14th WORST WITH 10 NEW FATALITIES CERTIFIED TODAY.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MULTITRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL INCLUDES AMTRAK ANNOUNCING EXPANSION PLANS.

IT WILL ADD NEW CITIES AND IMPROVE SERVICE TO CURRENT LOCATIONS AS WELL AS FIX OUTDATED BRIDGES, TUNNELS AND STATIONS.

THAT'S IF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL MAKES IT THROUGH CONGRESS.

ALSO ON CAPITOL HILL, A BIPARTISAN MEASURE INTRODUCED TODAY WOULD ADDRESS BORDER CONCERNS BY ESTABLISHING A ONE BILLION DOLLAR FUND FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, BUT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FUNDS, DHS WOULD HAVE TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO RESPOND TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF MIGRANTS CROSSING OVER THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.

>>> AND DAY FOUR OF THE DEREK CHAUVIN MURDER TRIAL INCLUDED TESTIMONY FROM ONE OF THE RESPONDING PARAMEDICS WHO SAID THAT BY THE TIME EMT GOT TO THE SCENE, GEORGE FLOYD APPEARED IN CARDIAC ARREST WHILE STILL BEING RESTRAINED BY OFFICER CHAUVIN.

>> YEAH, HE CHECKED PULSE ON HIS NECK, CAROTID PULSE AND ALSO CHECKED THE PATIENT'S PUPILS.

>> AND DID YOU DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNER AT THAT POINT NEXT STEPS?

>> YEAH, HE WALKED BACK TOWARDS ME, AND I ASKED IF HE WAS IN CARDIAC ARREST, AND HE SAID I THINK SO.

TED: DESPITE EFFORTS TO GET FLOYD'S HEART WORKING AGAIN, AT NO POINT DID FLOYD REGAIN A PULSE.

>>> THE FEDERAL TAX DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED THIS YEAR BUT ARIZONA HAS YET TO MATCH THE LATEST FEDERAL EXTENSION.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND OTHER TAX FILING CONCERNS WITH CPA TOM WHEELRIGHT THE CEO OF WEALTHABILITY.

TOM, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, THE TAX DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT NOW?

USED TO BE APRIL 15, NOT SO THIS YEAR, HUH?

>> THIS YEAR, MAY 17.

THAT'S THE FEDERAL DEADLINE, ARIZONA HAS NOT EXTENDED THEIRS.

TED: WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

A COUPLE OF BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN DONE?

>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO FILE A CONFORMING BILL EVERY YEAR, AND I KNOW THIS IS GOING THROUGH LEGISLATURE AS FAST AS THEY CAN DO IT, THEY'RE NOT THAT QUICK.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

OKAY.

SO LET'S SAY THEY'RE GOING TO GET THIS DONE, IT USUALLY MIRRORS AND WE SEE THAT EVERY YEAR.

SO MAY 17, STATE AND FEDERAL, HOPEFULLY FOR STATE, IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT, IS THERE AN EXTENSION TO THE EXTENSION?

>> THERE IS.

IT'S AN EASY EXTENSION TO FILE, YOU CAN EXTEND UNTIL OCTOBER 15, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY, YOU HAVE TO PAY BY MAY 17, YOU DON'T GET TO EXTEND PAYMENT, JUST FILING.

TED: HOW DOES THAT WORK?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY?

>> YOU BASICALLY PREPARE YOUR TAX RETURN AS IF YOU'RE GOING TO FILE AND GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT, AND THEN YOU PAY WITH THE EXTENSION AND THEN YOU JUST WAIT TO FILE UNTIL OCTOBER 15.

THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND INVESTORS DO THIS PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR.

TED: INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

QUARTERLY ESTIMATES ARE USUALLY DUE I THINK APRIL 15, HAS THAT CHANGEED?

>> THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.

THEY ARE STILL DUE APRIL 15.

MANY CPA'S ARE LOOKING AT THE DEADLINE STILL OF APRIL 15.

TED: IS THERE ANY REASON FOR THAT, DO YOU KNOW?

[LAUGHTER] >> IT'S THE GOVERNMENT.

SO WE DON'T KNOW.

THE GOVERNMENT WANTS MONEY IS THE REASON, BUT LAST YEAR THEY DID EXCHANGES, SO IT WAS SURPRISING, TED, THEY DIDN'T EXTEND THE ESTIMATED PAYMENTS ALONG WITH THE FILING DEADLINE.

TED: OKAY, WHAT IF YOU MISS THE MAY 17 DEADLINE, YOU OWE TAXES, BUT YOU STILL CAN'T PAY WHAT YOU OWE?

>> WELL, SO YOU'LL HAVE PENALTIES AND INTEREST, YOU CAN ARRANGE A PAYMENT PLAN WITH THE IRS IN MOST CASES.

SO FILE THE EXTENSION.

THE FAILURE TO FILE PENALTY IS TEN TIMES AS MUCH AS THE FAILURE TO PAY PENALTY.

IF YOU CAN'T PAY, THEY'LL FILE THE EXTENSION.

TED: THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

TED: WE'RE TALKING EXTENSIONS FOR FILING.

DOES THAT MEAN A DELAY IN REFUNDS?

>> WELL, WE ALREADY HAVE THE DELAY IN REFUNDS, TED.

IRS IS WAY BEHIND, AS MUCH AS SIX MONTHS BEHIND IN OPENING MAIL.

SO ESPECIALLY IF YOU FILED AN AMENDED RETURN, FOR EXAMPLE, TO GET A REFUND, THAT'S WAY DELAYED.

ANY HANDWRITTEN CHECKS, IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR REFUND FASTER, FILE ELECTRONICALLY AND GIVE THE BANK ACCOUNT AND THEY'LL DEPOSIT IT.

THAT WILL BE THE QUICKEST WAY.

TED: THAT IS THE BEST WAY OVERALL IS E-FILING, CORRECT?

>> E-FILING IS BY FAR THE BEST WAY TO FILE, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I SEE TREPIDATION THERE.

OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

THE LAST CONTRIBUTIONS TO IRS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS, WAS AN EXTENDED DEADLINE.

IS THAT STUFF EXTENDED TOO?

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

>> THEY DID, THEY EXTENDED THE DEADLINE AS WELL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RETIREMENT ACCOUNT.

THAT'S ALSO EXTENDED.

TED: SO NO CONCERNS THERE.

FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE STIMULUS CHECKS, WHICH VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS HERE, HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO YOUR FILING OF TAXES?

>> SO THE STIMULUS CHECKS ARE TAX CREDITS BY DEFINITION, THEY WERE JUST IN ADVANCE PAYMENT.

SO THERE IS NO NET EFFECT ON YOUR TAX RETURN.

BY THE WAY, THOUGH, IF YOU DIDN'T QUALIFY WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY SENT THEM OUT AND YOU NOW QUALIFY WHEN YOU FILE YOUR TAX RETURN, YOU CAN TAKE THAT CREDIT ON YOUR TAX RETURN.

SO YOU DO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CREDITS, EVEN THOUGH THEY TECHNICALLY DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR TAX RETURN.

TED: INTERESTING.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING RIGHT NOW FROM FOLKS?

THE QUESTION YOU'RE HEARING THE MOST OR THE BIGGEST CONCERN?

>> THEY'RE JUST CONFUSED.

TED, THEY'RE SO CONFUSED, IF YOU WERE EVER THINKING OF USING A PROFESSIONAL TAX PREPARER, THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR.

CONSIDER WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT PAYMENTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED, WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL CARES ACT PAYMENT, THEN THE PAYMENT IN DECEMBER, NOW THE NEW $1400 PAYMENT.

NOW WE HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT NOT TAXABLE UP TO $10,200 IF YOU'RE UNDER $150,000 OF INCOME?

THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES GOING ON HERE THAT ARE REALLY CONFUSING THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF PEOPLE.

ON TOP OF THAT, EVEN IF ARIZONA EXTENDS, THEY HAVEN'T CONFORMED YET TO THE FEDERAL LAW, SO IF YOU'RE IN ARIZONA, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, YOU MAY VERY WELL HAVE TO EXTEND YOUR TAX RETURN FOR ARIZONA EVEN IF YOU DON'T FOR THE FEDERAL.

TED: THAT'S DISCONCERTING TO HEAR.

SHOULDN'T THIS BE SETTLED BY MAY 17, OR SHOULDN'T THIS ALL BE SETTLED?

>> WE CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

THE TAX PREPARERS AND CPAs OF THE WORLD ARE CERTAINLY HOPING IT GETS SETTLED QUICKLY.

TED: I'M SURE, YES, AND WE ALL ARE.

TOM, GOOD INFORMATION, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL TRY TO PUT IT IN EFFECT AS BEST WE CAN.

THANK YOU, SIR?

>> WE DO OUR BEST.

THANK YOU.

TED: UP NEXT, HOW HOPI TRADITIONS ARE PROMOTING HEALTHY HABITS FOR YOUNGER TRIBAL GENERATIONS?

.

TED: LIFE ON THE HOPI RESERVATION IN THE HIGH DESERT OF NORTHERN ARIZONA POSES UNIQUE CHALLENGES, BUT IN A UNIQUE DOCUMENTARY HOLDING ONTO THE CORN, THEY EXPLORE EFFORTS TO USE HOPI KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITIONS TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS.

♪.

>> WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT IS HOPI ABOUT?

IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN IT BECAUSE HOPI REALLY IS A WAY OF LIFE.

>> IN THE HOPI WAY, WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE FIRST CAME HERE, AND THAT WE MADE A COVENANT WITH THE PERSON LIVING HERE.

>> WE ASKED IF WE COULD STAY HERE WITH HIM AND, OF COURSE, HE SAID YES, YOU CAN STAY HERE WITH ME BUT THIS IS ALL I HAVE.

ALL I HAVE IS MY SEED, MY PLANTING STICK AND MY GOURD OF WATER, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> IF HE WAS GOING TO ALLOW US TO LIVE HERE, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE LAND AS WE DID.

WE ARE TAUGHT TO HAVE RESPECT FOR THE LAND AND WATER AND TAUGHT TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE EARTH IS LIVING, IT'S A LIVING, BREATHING BEING.

>> MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, HERMAN LEWIS WAS THE KACHINA CHIEF AT FIRST MESA AND HE TOLD US WHEN WE WERE YOUNG TO NEVER LET GO OF THE CORN.

HE SAID THAT THE RAINS COME TO VISIT THE CORN, AND IF THERE'S NO CORN TO VISIT, THE RAINS WON'T COME AND STARVATION WILL COME AGAIN.

>> MY FEAR OR MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS OUR YOUTH, OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE NOT MAYBE UNDERSTANDING THE HOPI KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE EATING.

WE'RE SO USED TO GOING TO BURGER KING AND McDONALD'S AND PLACES WHERE THEY'RE FEEDING US FOOD, WHICH IS REALLY NOT OUR FOOD SYSTEM.

OUR OWN FOOD SYSTEM IS HERE, WHAT WE GROW.

>> AND I FEEL THAT IF WE'RE ABLE TO RECLAIM OUR CHILDREN'S PALETTES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LOT HEALTHIER FOR IT.

THE MISSION OF THE HOPI CULTURE INSTITUTE IS TO BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WHILE PASSING KNOWLEDGE ONTO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO WE HAVE TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW TO DO IT FIRST, I HAVE TO WALK THE TALK.

OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PROMOTING.

WE'RE PROMOTING TO BE SELF-SUSTAINABLE, WE'RE PROMOTING TO HAVE HEALTHY ACCESS TO FOOD.

WE'RE PROMOTING FOR JUST THE REGULAR JOE OUT THERE TO BE ABLE TO GROW THEIR OWN VEGETABLES IN A SMALL SPACE LIKE THIS.

ME BEING A SINGLE MOTHER, RAISING SIX KIDS, I CAN DO THIS, AND IF I CAN DO THIS AND PEOPLE CAN SEE ME DOING THIS, THEN WE CAN GET MORE BUY-IN FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS WORK.

WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY FEDERAL INDIAN POLICIES LIKE ASSIMILATION, AND REMOVAL AND BOARDING SCHOOLS.

AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INTERRUPTED, WE'VE BEEN INUNDATED WITH A DIFFERENT VALUE SYSTEM, A WESTERN VALUE SYSTEM THAT PRIORITIZES GROWTH AND COMPETITION.

WE'RE HELPING OUR YOUTH EMPOWER THEMSELVES AND HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THEM, OF THEIR LIFE, AND THE HISTORY, THE RICH CULTURE THAT WE HAVE, TO NEVER LET GO OF THE CORN.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE OUR KIDS SUFFERING IN THE FUTURE.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM AT STARVATION.

IF PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES FIRST, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES OR BEING A PRODUCTIVE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

OUR WORK IS ABOUT HEALING, HEALING OURSELVES IN ORDER TO MOVE BEYOND AND TO CREATE A POST-COLONIAL, SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE.

NOT ONLY NOW BUT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS AS WELL.

FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN, I SAW THEM HEAL THEMSELVES WHEN THEY STARTED WORKING WITH THE LAND AGAIN, WHEN THEY STARTED TAKING CARE OF THE GARDEN.

>> IN ORDER TO BE ATTACHED TO THIS EARTH AND TO THIS CULTURE THAT WE HAVE, YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR HANDS INTO THE DIRT.

>> I KEEP PRAYING TO THE SPRINGS WHEN I GO OUT AND TELL THEM TO NOT GIVE UP ON US.

WE'RE NOT PLANTING AS MUCH.

THE RAIN CLOUDS AREN'T COMING TO VISIT.

I FEEL THAT MY GRANDFATHER'S SAYING IS STARTING TO COME TRUE, BUT I'M TELLING MYSELF, NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO COME TRUE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE STARVATION.

THE YOUTH ARE GOING TO LEARN HOW TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD.

THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN TO STAND ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET.

THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO LET GO OF THE CORN.

>> AND WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS OF THIS LAND TO KEEP THE LAND CLEAN SO THAT THE EARTH CAN BREATHE, AND SO THAT THE WILD PLANTS CAN GROW, AND THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE THERE AND THE ENVIRONMENT CAN COME BACK.

INSECTS, MAYBE THE BUMBLE BEES WILL COME BACK AT SOME POINT.

♪ .

TED: ARIZONA'S COMING OFF A RELATIVELY DRY AUTUMN AND WINTER, WHICH MEANS THIS YEAR'S WILDFLOWER SEASON IS NOT QUITE AS SPECTACULAR AS PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT YOU CAN STILL FIND WILDFIRES ACROSS THE STATE, AND AUTHOR ROGER NAYLOR KNOWS ABOUT ARIZONA HIKES TO GO PETAL PEEPING.

ROGER NAYLOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU, TALK ABOUT HIKES AND THINGS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WILDFLOWER HIKES AND WILD FLOWERS IN PARTICULAR.

WHAT KIND OF YEAR ARE WE HAVING FOR WILDFLOWERS?

>> WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS, A SUBPAR YEAR, WHICH HURTS ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE'VE HAD GREAT YEARS THE LAST TWO SEASONS IN A ROW, BUT THIS WINTER WAS JUST TOO DRY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DOWN YEAR, A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER, IT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

RIGHT NOW THE DESERT'S SMILING, BY JUNE IT'S GOING TO BE SNARLING.

GET OUT AND ENJOY IT NOW.

TED: WHEN YOU SAY A DRY WINTER, YOU CAN HAVE A DRY WINTER IN THE HIGH COUNTRY AND LOTS OF RAIN IN THE LOWER PARTS OR LOTS OF SNOW IN THE HIGH COUNTRY AND NOT A HECK OF A LOT OF RAIN.

HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO THINGS?

>> WELL, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE BIG FIELDS OF POPPIES.

PRIMARILY BECAUSE POPPIES ARE ANNUALS.

AL'S CLOVER, LOOPEN, FLOWERS LIKE THAT ARE ANNUALS.

THEY NEED A TRIGGERING RAIN THAT'S AT LEAST AN INCH TO START THINGS IN MOTION AND NEED ENOUGH MOISTURE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER BECAUSE THEY'RE GENERATING AN ENTIRE PLANT FROM SEED, SO THEY NEED THAT AMOUNT OF MOISTURE AND THE TIMING OF MOISTURE.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE MISSING OUT THIS YEAR, BUT FORTUNATELY, WE DID GET NICE RAIN.

SOME NICE STORMS AT THE END OF JANUARY THERE AND FEBRUARY, GETTING A LITTLE MORE NOW, THINGS ARE POPPING UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE DESERT.

WHAT WE'LL SEE ARE THE PERENNIALS, THE BRITTLE BUSH, THE DESERT MARI GOLDS, I WAS OUT HIKING EARLIER IN THE WEEK, AND SEEN STUFF ALONG THE ROADSIDE.

FLOWERS BLOOM ALONG THE ROADSIDE BECAUSE THEY GET THE EXTRA HEAT REFLECTED OFF THE PAVEMENT.

ON THE TRAILS, NOT TOO MUCH.

IN THE NEXT 10 TO 14 DAYS, WE'LL SEE MORE BRITTLE BUSH, MORE GLOBE MALOS, MORE DESERT MARIGOLDS BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PROLIFIC, NOT LIKE THE PAST COUPLE SEASONS.

>> WHERE ARE THE HOTSPOTS RIGHT NOW?

>> I WAS HIKING AT LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK, AND THERE WERE CHUP ROSA BLOOMING, FAIRY DUST BLOOMING AND I SAW BRITTLES WITH BUDS THAT WERE ABOUT TO POP.

BY TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH, THE TRAILS AT LOST DUTCHMAN ARE GOOD, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PART TO HIKE IN TO BEGIN WITH.

I'D LIKE TO START UP THE SIDE AND DRAW A TRAIL, GO ON THE JACOB'S CROSS CUT AND RETURN ON THE TREASURE LOOP.

MAKES A NICE EASY LOOP, LESS THAN THREE MILES AND YOU GET NICE FLOWER VIEWS, IF THE FLOWERS AREN'T BLOOMING, SPECTACULAR MOUNTAIN VIEWS, IT'S GREAT TIME TO BE OUT, ANYWAY.

THE DESERT IS ALIVE NOW, SO MUCH LIFE HAPPENING.

THE HUMMINGBIRDS ARE WHIZZING BY, THE BUTTERFLIES ARE WALLOWING AROUND, BE PART OF THE FESTIVAL OF JOY.

ANOTHER GREAT PLACE IS THE BLACK CANYON TRAIL, A 70 MILE LONG TRAIL, THERE'S A NICE SEGMENT RIGHT THERE BY ROCK SPRINGS CAFE, A LITTLE NORTH OFF THE FRONTAGE ROAD THAT YOU CAN HIKE DOWN TO THE AGUA FRIA RIVER.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING BLOOMING EARLY IN THE WEEK.

HERE'S THE COOL THING ABOUT THAT HIKE, EVEN IF THERE ISN'T ANYTHING BLOOMING AFTERWARDS, YOU GO TO ROCK SPRINGS CAFE AND CONSOLE YOURSELF WITH A PIECE OF PIE.

IF YOU FOUND FLOWERS, CELEBRATE WITH A PIECE OF PIE.

TED: THERE YOU GO.

THE WILDFLOWER WATCHING SEASON, WHEN DOES IT BEGIN?

WHEN DOES IT PRETTY MUCH END?

>> WELL, THIS YEAR'S A LITTLE LATER, A LOT OF TIMES IT STARTS IN MID TO EARLY FEBRUARY, MID-FEBRUARY OR SOMETIMES PEAKS.

OUR TEMPERATURES AREN'T HEATING UP A LOT RIGHT NOW, SO THINGS ARE MANAGEABLE.

THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE LATER, BUT IT USUALLY RUNS FROM LATE FEBRUARY INTO EARLY APRIL, AND THEN AT THE END OF THAT, YOU GET, THAT'S WHEN THE CACTUS START BLOOMING, YOU GET THE ADDITIONAL POP OF COLOR.

AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE OUT THERE.

GET OUT AND SEE ALL OF THIS.

THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, BLIZZARDS, DEALING WITH BLIZZARDS, IT'S OUR DUTY AS ARIZONANS, WE CAN WALK AROUND IN SHORT SLEEVES AT THE END OF WINTER, EARLY SPRING, THEN LET'S DO IT.

TED: ALL RIGHT, VERY ENCOURAGING THERE, AND GET OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE FLOWERS.

ROGER NAYLOR, A PLEASURE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ARIZONA WILDLIFE AND NATURE.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> THANKS, YOU, TOO, TED.

ANNOUNCER: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, SUBMIT QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND CONCERNS VIA E-MAIL AT -- .

>>> THE WORLD OF CARE GIVING HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY THE COVID PANDEMIC, MOST NOTABLY FOR THOSE WITH DEMENTIA.

TINA GIULIANO OF CRONKITE NEWS SAT DOWN WITH THE OWNER OF PERPETUAL HEALTH ASSISTED LIVING IN SCOTTSDALE.

>> IT'S HARD.

>> Reporter: IT'S A SMALL SPACE.

>> NOT ONLY FOR OUR CAREGIVERS, OWNERS, BUT ALSO FOR THE FAMILY AND FOR THE RESIDENTS TOO.

>> Reporter: A SPACE THAT ONLY FITS FIVE PLUS TWO CAREGIVERS AND THE OWNER MARIAN GUTIERREZ.

>> IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY, LIKE I NEED TO BE VERY ATTENTIVE LOOKING FOR THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF COVID.

>> Reporter: LIKE GUTIERREZ SAYS THE CORONAVIRUS DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE.

>> WE'RE FIGHTING THE COVID, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO RACE, THERE'S NO RELIGION, THERE'S NO AGE FOR THIS.

>> Reporter: FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE FACILITY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH DEMENTIA, THE PANDEMIC CAUSE AN ABRUPT CHANGE TO DAILY ROUTINE.

>> I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE MORE CONFUSED BECAUSE THE CONSTANT, THE DAILY VISITATION FROM THE FAMILY, IT'S NOT HAPPENING ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: THOSE ROUTINES AND VISITS REPLACED WITH THE PANDEMIC'S RULES AND REGULATIONS.

SOME RESIDENTS IN ASSISTED LIVING HOMES LIKE THIS ONE STRUGGLE TO REMEMBER THESE, IN ORDER TO DO THIS.

GUTIERREZ SAYS HER HOME FOLLOWS ALL CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS INCLUDING SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKS.

>> THEY'RE TAKING IT OFF AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY DO WE NEED TO PUT IT ON?

AND WHY DO WE NEED TO SOCIAL DISTANCE?

>> COVID-19 HAS ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AMONG THOSE PERSONS LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

>> Reporter: THE VIRUS IS ESPECIALLY IMPACTING MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

>> FOR COVID-19, IT HAS EXACERBATED WHAT WAS A BAD SITUATION AMONG POPULATIONS OF COLOR.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE PANDEMIC CREATED DIFFICULTIES FOR CAREGIVERS AND RESIDENTS, GUTIERREZ SAYS THE PRESSURE LET UP A BIT ONCE THEY WERE VACCINATED.

>> THAT REALLY LESSENED, THE THINKING ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS AND, OH, OKAY, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOOD NOW WITH COVID.

THEY'RE MORE AT EASE NOW.

TED: THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION REPORTS THAT ARIZONA'S DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS HAVE THE HIGHEST HOURS NUMBER WORKED PER WEEK IN THE COUNTRY.

GUTIERREZ AND HER TEAM HAVE FOCUSED ON RESIDENTS BY PLAYING GAMES TOGETHER AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

.