[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE RACE FOR THE NEXT GOVERNOR HAS BEGUN.

AND THE SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON IS HEATING UP.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A LOOK AT LATINO MUSICALS MADE INTO MOVIES.

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

I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TIM CROCKETT.

WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO RAISEGE.

MEANWHILE THE MUST CALL FIRE IS RAGING AS WELL.

THAT FIRE IS ONLY 8% CONTAINED.

PHOENIX FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE TODAY TO MOP UP AN URBAN FIRE THAT PROMPTED THE BIGGEST RESPONSE IN HISTORY OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE SMOKE PLUME WAS PICKED UP BY WEATHER SATELLITES.

THE STATE HOUSE GOT BACK TO WORK AFTER A PAUSE ON THE STATE BUDGET AND AGAIN FAILED TO PASS BUDGET BILLS TODAY.

THEY TRIED TO TWEAK BUDGETS TO OFFSET IMPACTS TO CITIES AND TOWNS FROM A FLAT TAX.

>>> STATE OFFICIALS REPORTED A MILESTONE OF VACCINES THAT HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED IN ARIZONA.

MORE THAN 43% OF ARIZONANS HAVE RECEIVED VACCINATIONS.

>>> GOVERNMENT HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE APPROVED THE FIRST DRUG THEY SAY MAY HELP ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE DESPITE OPPOSITION.

THEY SAY THE TREATMENT HADN'T BEEN PROVEN TO TREAT THE DISEASE.

ONE PHYSICIAN WHO VOTEDED AGAINST THE DRUG SAYS HE IS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED BY THE APPROVAL.

>>> THE RACE FOR ARIZONA GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY STARTED.

ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE KATIE HOBBS, KIMBERLY YEE, AND OTHERS HAVE ANNOUNCED.

CHRISTINE RAN FOR THE POSITION IN 2014.

CHRISTINE JONES, WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, STEVE.

AND WELCOME AS A GUEST HOST.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE DON'T EXPECT GOVERNOR DUCEY TO LEAVE EARLY, AND ARE WE GOING TO SEE UPWARDS OF 12, 14 CANDIDATES LIKE WE SAW A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO?

>> I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, WE'LL HAVE TWO COMPETITIVE PRIMARIES.

THE REPUBLICANS, I THINK, ARE GOING TO END UP WITH A CAST OF CANDIDATES, AND WE ALREADY HAVE THE THREE, ALL OF THEM SORT OF TRYING TO CLAIM THE CONSERVATIVE LANE, BUT I THINK ONCE YOU HAVE A MATT SALMON GET IN, POTENTIALLY A KIRK ADAMS, MAYBE EVEN DANIEL McCARTHY, IT STARTS TO GET REALLY CROWDED, AND IT STARTS TO GET REALLY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE THE LANE GETS NARROWER AND NARROWER.

WILL IT BE 12, 13, 14 PEOPLE?

PROBABLY NOT, BUT EVEN HAVING 9 OR 10 MAKES IT VERY NOISY.

>> AND KATIE HOBBS AND MARCO LOPEZ IS THE ONLY OTHER DEMOCRATICDEMOCRAT DEMOCRATICDEMOCRAT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THE RACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK KATIE HOBBS'S STRONGEST POINTS ARE, AND DO YOU THINK THIS SO-CALLED -- WHAT NEGATIVE PEOPLE WOULD SAY, FRAUD-IT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING SHE WILL RUN ON?

>> I DO.

I THINK THAT WILL HAVE A LOT OF LEGS ON IT.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE DONE BY THAT TIME, BUT I THINK THAT MAKES HER LOOK LIKE AN ADULT, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, SHE WILL HAVE HAD AUTHORITY, AND HAVE BEEN BASICALLY PROMOTING HER NAME RECOGNITION.

SO IF I WERE HER, I WOULD CLING TO THAT, AND DEMONSTRATES THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT SHE RAN THE SECRETARY OF STATE DEPARTMENT.

IN THE GENERAL, MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE THINK THAT SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENED WITH THE ELECTION, SO I THINK THAT IS AN INTERESTING DECISION SHE WILL HAVE TO MAKE AT THAT TIME.

>> DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SAY ARIZONANS WANT SOMEONE WHO IS COMPETENT.

AND DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE PHILOSOPHICAL, MORE IDEALOGICAL, OR EVEN IF PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE, MAYBE THEY WILL OR MAYBE THEY WON'T, BUT THEY WANT SOMEBODY WHO DOES THE JOB WELL?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY THEY WANT SOMEBODY WHO DOES THE JOB WELL, AND THEN THEY GET TAKEN BY THE NEGATIVE ADS.

BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ELECTION REFORM AND VOTER ACCESS, AND FREE ELECTIONS AND THESE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT DEMOCRACY, YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS TRULY INSPIRING AND REALLY HAS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES, AND THAT TO ME IS WHERE THE PRIMARIES ARE BOTH GOING TO TURN, BECAUSE LOPEZ IS GOING TO HAVE THE EDGE ON THE MONEY, JUST LIKE ROGUESON WILL IN THE REPUBLICAN RACE, BUT HOBBS CAN STAND ON THE ACHIEVEMENT AND COMPETENCE ISSUE.

AND IF I'LL CRAIG ADAMS, I WOULD SAY, I CAN MAKE THAT SAME CLAIM.

SO YOU WILL HAVE A REALLY INTERESTING CHESS MATCH GOING ON HERE, STEVE.

AND I THINK IT WILL GET VERY INTERESTING AS WE GET MAYBE A YEAR FROM TODAY AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

>> THE COMPETITIVE PRIMARY MAKES IT EVEN MORE INTERESTING, BECAUSE TYPICALLY, IS IT POSSIBLE YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO IS VERY LEFT OR VERY RIGHT, DEPENDING ON THE PARTY?

>> I THINK YOU SEE BOTH.

A VERY LEFT PERSON ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, AND A VERY RIGHT PERSON ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE MOST OF THE POPULATION IS DEAD DOWN THE CENTER, AND I THINK THEY GET FRUSTRATED, BUT UNLESS THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE ARE GOING TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES, THE PEOPLE RUNNING DON'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE, BUT THAT BRINGS US TO WHAT ISSUES EMERGE.

DOES VOTER SUPPRESSION EMERGE?

SURE.

BUT SO DOES BORDER SECURITY.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, BOTH SIDES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

EVERYBODY WANTS IMMIGRATION.

EVERYBODY WANTS IT TO BE REFORMED, AND NOW, THANK GOODNESS, WE HAVE BIFURCATED IMMIGRATION REFORM FROM BORDER SECURITY, SO MAYBE WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON THAT ISSUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CHRISTINE JONES GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> LIKEWISE.

THANK YOU.

>>> COMING UP, WE TALK SUNS PROGRESSION WITH AL McCOY.

>>> THE PHOENIX SUNS HAVE ADVANCED TO THE SECOND ROUND IN THE NBA PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2010.

THEY NOW FACE OFF AGAINST THE DENVER NUGGETS IN PHOENIX.

AL McCOY JOINS US TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE TEAM.

WELCOME BACK TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT IS NICE TO BE WITH YOU, STEVE.

IT REALLY IS.

>> THE LAST TEN OR 11 YEARS FOR THE SUNS NOT REAL KIND.

AND NOW THEY ARE HAVING A GREAT SEASON.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO CALL PLAYOFF GAMES AGAIN?

>> IT IS GREAT.

IT BRINGS BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES.

IT'S EASY TO FORGET ABOUT ALL OF THE YEARS THE SUNS WERE IN THE PLAYOFFS, SO IT'S KIND OF NICE TO RECALL THOSE MEMORIES AND BE BACK ON TRACK WITH PLAYOFF COMPETITION, SO IT DOES MAKE IT MORE FUN.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE FACT FOR LAST SEASON ENDED IN A BUBBLE, AND NOW FANS ARE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AT THE ARENA.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE FANS BACK THERE.

>> IT IS CERTAINLY DIFFERENT.

THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.

THE WAY WE HAVE HAD TO BROADCAST GAMES, WATCHING TV MONITORS TO DO RADIO BROADCASTS, AND WITH NO ONE IN THE ARENA?

SO IT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC TO HAVE FANS BACK IN THE STANDS AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THE SUNS FANS IN PHOENIX ARE SOMETHING SPECIAL, AND THEY HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN HEARD FROM.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHERE THIS TEAM FITS IN THE HISTORY OF THE SUNS.

>> WELL, IT HAS A PERSONALITY OF ITS OWN.

BACK IN 1976, THAT WAS A TEAM OF -- OF VETERANS AND AGAIN, IN '93, BOTH YEARS WHEN THE SUNS WERE IN THE FINALS, THOSE WERE REALLY VETERAN FINALS, AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT CHANGE IN THE NBA LANDSCAPE, AND SO THIS IS BASICALLY OUTSIDE OF A COUPLE OF VETERANS, A YOUNG TEAM, BUT IT'S A TEAM WITH ITS OWN PERSONALITY AS I SAID.

A LOT OF TOGETHERNESS ON THIS PHOENIX SUNS BALL CLUB, AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THEIR STRONG SUITS ALL SEASON LONG.

>> WE HAVE HAD, YEARS AGO WHEN MAGIC JOHNSON AND HIS TEAMS WOULD OFTEN BEAT THE SUNS, AND THERE WAS ALL THE BEAT L.A.

CHANCE.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> THIS RIVALRY, THE SUNS AND THE LAKERS IS THE OLDEST RIVALRY IN THE SUNS HISTORY, AND IT STARTED THE SECOND YEAR THE SUNS WERE IN THE NBA.

THEY MADE THE PLAYOFFS THAT YEAR, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGOT THAT.

THEY JUMPED ON THE LAKER TEAM THAT HAD SUCH GREAT STARS, AND THE SUNS WON THREE GAMES IN A ROW, AND THEN THE STARTING CENTER HURT AN ANKLE COULDN'T PLAY, AND THE LAKERS EVENTUALLY WON, BUT THAT REALLY ESTABLISHED THE RIVALRY, AND IT HAS MAINTAINED THROUGH THE YEARS, SO THEY ARE THE DEFENDING NBA CHAMPIONS, AND THAT CERTAINLY HAD TO BE SOMETHING THE FANS HAD TO ENJOY.

I KNOW I DID.

>> ONE MORE HISTORICAL QUESTION FOR YOU.

DOES DEVIN BOOKER GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS OF THE ORGANIZATION?

>> HE IS CERTAINLY ON THE DOORSTEP.

HE WAS DRAFTED OUT OF KENTUCKY, WASN'T ABLE TO START ON HIS COLLEGE TEAM, BUT HE HAS REALLY WORKED ON HIS GAME.

THERE IS IMPROVEMENT EVERY SEASON, AND THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A HIGHLIGHT, AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION, AS HE CONTINUES IN THE SUNS' UNIFORM, HE IS CERTAINLY ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS ONE WE'LL REMEMBER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

>> AL, EXPECTATIONS, IS THIS A TEAM THAT COULD MAKE THE NBA FINALS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT CERTAINLY IS.

THIS HAS BEEN AN UNUSUAL YEAR.

NOT AN 82-GAME SCHEDULE.

A 72-GAME SCHEDULE.

THE SUNS HAVE THE SECOND-BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE LEAGUE.

THEY WERE THE BEST ROAD TEAM IN THE NBA, AND I THINK THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL -- IT'S UNLIMITED.

AND I THINK WE COULD SEE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING HAPPEN, AND IT WOULD MAKE THE FANS HAPPY.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

>> AL McCOY HAS SEEN IT ALL.

THANKS FOR THE TIME.

>> IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>>> PBS TRAVEL EXPERTS RICK STEVES HAS HAD AN INTERESTING YEAR.

HE USED THAT TOURIST MIND SET AT HOME.

TED SIMONS SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT GETTING BACK OUT.

>> RICK STEVES, THIS IS A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR.

WE SEE YOU.

WE THINK OF TRAVEL.

TRAVEL TRENDS FOR THE SUMMER?

THIS >> TRAVEL TRENDS ARE GO GET YOUR SHOT.

WE WANT TO TRAVEL.

EUROPE WANTS TO TRAVEL.

EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES GOT OFF TO A ROCKY START ON THE VACCINATION FRONT, BUT RIGHT NOW THINGS ARE KICKING BACK INTO GEAR.

>> IS EUROPE STARTING TO OPEN UP FOR VACCINATED TRAVEL, AND IF SO, WHAT AREAS ARE MORE AMENABLE TO TOURISTS AND WHAT AREAS ARE STILL CAUTIOUS.

>> WELL, EUROPE IS NOT OPEN TO ME UNTIL IT IS ALL OPEN.

SO THERE WILL BE A FEW MONTHS WHERE PARTS ARE OPEN AND PARTS ARE NOT OPEN, BUT I'M JUST BEING PATIENT.

AND PATIENCE IS NOT A AMERICAN FORTE AND CERTAINLY NOT MY FORTE.

FOR ME SOCIAL DISTANCING AND RICK STEVES TRAVEL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER.

I GO TO EUROPE TO HAVE MY CHEEKS KISSED IN PARIS.

AND I WANT TO PACK INTO THOSE PUBS IN IRELAND AND CLINK GLASSES ARE STRANGERS.

TRAVEL IS PEOPLE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE THERE.

WE'RE ON A GLIDE PATH NO NORMALCY.

JUST THIS WEEK, WE'RE FINALLY OPENING THE FLOOD GATES ON PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE RICK STEVES TOURS.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE THE FIRST ONE OUT OF THE GATE.

I DON'T WANT THE DISAPPOINTMENTS AND FRUSTRATIONS OF HAVING TO CANCEL A WELL-PLANNED TRIP.

AND ONCE WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE ENOUGH OF US HAVE GOTTEN OUR SHOTS, THEN WE WILL HAVE NORMAL-STYLE TRAVEL AGAIN.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE COUNTING ON.

I THINK IT'S REALLY QUITE EXCITING, THOUGH.

>> FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T WAIT.

DO YOU HAVE TRAVELING TIPS FOR THOSE WHO -- THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED -- IF YOU ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED, YOU ARE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT BOAT.

BUT IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED, AND YOU WANT TO GET OUT, DO YOU HAVE ADVICE?

>> WELL, THIS IS MY INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION OF VACCINATION.

SO WE HAVE SOME WAY TO PROVE WE ARE VACCINATED AND COUNTRIES DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR HEALTH.

THEY ARE CARING ABOUT PROTECTING THEIR CITIZENS.

SO THEY HAVE REQUIREMENTS TO PROTECT THEIR OWN PEOPLE, AND WE'RE WONDERING WHAT KIND OF REQUIREMENTS SHOULD WE HAVE?

I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE AN ISSUE, BECAUSE I THINK PLACES WE TRAVEL TO WILL HAVE THEIR ONLY REQUIREMENTS.

SO EMBRACE THOSE REQUIREMENTS, AND KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

ALSO, REMEMBER, WHEN YOU GET TO EUROPE, IT'S GOING TO BE A QUESTION OF WHAT ALL IS OPEN?

THERE IS NO GOOD INFORMATION POST-COVID YET.

BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET TO EUROPE, KNOW WHAT THE FINE PRINT IS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN EXPLICIT UNDERSTANDING THAT IF YOU HAVE TO CANCEL YOUR TRIP, YOU SHOULDN'T LOSE YOUR MONEY IF IT IS COVID RELATED.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS PAST YEAR?

THIS HAS HIT YOUR BUSINESS AND LIFESTYLE HARD.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?

THIS >> YEAH, I'M EMPLOY A HUNDRED PEOPLE HERE, AND WE WERE COMING OFF OF OUR BEST YEAR EVER, AND THEN COVID CAME AND IT SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING, AND WE HAD TO SEND EVERYBODY BACK THEIR DEPOSITS, AND IN THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR BEST TO HOLD THE TEAM TOGETHER.

BUT WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING IS REALLY EMPLOYING THE TRAVELER'S MIND SET HERE AT HOME.

I AM JUST THINKING IT IS GOD'S WAY OF TELLING ME TO SLOW DOWN.

IT'S THERAPY FOR A WORK A HOLIC, AND I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYING THAT TRAVELER'S MIND SET, WILLING TO GET OUT THERE AND TRY NEW THINGS RIGHT HERE AT HOME, AND I HAVE MADE A POINT OF BEING MINDFUL OF TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, PLEASURE SPEAKING WITH YOU.

BEST OF LUCK THIS NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

AND HAPPY TRAVELS.

>>> RICK STEVES EUROPE AWAITS TONIGHT ANOTHER 7:00 PM HERE ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TRAVELED TO GUATEMALA TODAY.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE LATINO REPRESENTATION OF A COUPLE OF STORIES RETOLD AS MOVIES.

>> I HOPE YOU ARE APPRECIATING "ARIZONA HORIZON" TONIGHT.

BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT IS ARIZONA'S ONLY PROGRAM DEVOTED TO ARIZONA ISSUES, SUCH AS THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE, AND NATIONAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT ALL ARIZONANS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PROGRAMS JUST LIKE THIS CONTINUE TO BE HERE ON ARIZONA PBS.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GIVE US A CALL RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, ISN'T IT REASSURING THAT SHOWS LIKE HORIZON CAN TACKLE IRK YOUS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.