♪ >> ON THE NEXT HORIZON, THE JOURNALIST ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES THE GOVERNOR'S VACCINATION EFFORTS.

>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS, THE JOURNALIST ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES NEWS AND THE GOVERNOR OVER COVID REGULATIONS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS WHAT USED TO BE AN ART GALLERY CATERS TO A NEW CLIENTELE AND HOW TO DEAL WITH COVID CONCERNS.

THAT'S COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

THE GOVERNOR TODAY SIGNED A 100 MILLION DOLLAR WILDFIRE RELIEF PACKAGE.

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES MONEY FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION EFFORTS AND POSTFIRE RECOVERY EFFORTS FOR AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING.

IT IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FUNDING AS THE TELEGRAPH FOR GLOBE AND SUPERIOR CONTINUING TO BURN.

70 PERCENT CONTAINED AND THE EXTREME HEAT IS NOT HELPING MATTERS AS THE FIRE MOVES THROUGH BRUSH AND CLOSE TO A THOUSAND FIRE PERSONNEL ON THE SCENE.

THE OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE WAS FIRST DETECTED FRIDAY AND WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY.

COVID NEWS CANADA HAS EXTENDED ITS RESTRICTIONS ON NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL TO THE U.S. UNTIL AT LEAST JULY 21st.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID IT WAS MADE IN COORDINATION WITH THE U.S. >> THEY WANT TO MOVE THEM BACK WITH A FIRST DOSE.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HELD A BRIEFING TODAY ON THE GLOBAL THREAT OF THE DELTA VARIANT OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

IT IS WELL ON ITS WAY BECAUSE OF ITS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED TRANSMITABILITY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY AND DOCUMENTS AND WE NOW HAVE A SPECIAL EXPERT GROUP THAT IS BEING SET UP TO -- TO EXACTLY TRACK THE PERFORMANCE OF VACCINE AND EFFECTIVENESS WHEN USED AT POPULATION LEVEL WITH THE VARIANT.

>> THE DELTA VARIANT ACCOUNTS FOR 99 PERCENT IN THE U.K. >> THE EARTH IS TRAPPING MORE HEAT.

THE ATMOSPHERIC ASSOCIATION FOUND IT WAS GREENHOUSE GRASSES.

THE TEMPERATURE INCREASES FROM TRAPPING MORE OF THE SUN'S ENERGY COULD MEAN AMONG OTHER THINGS, EXTREME EVENTS LIKE A HISTORIC DROUGHT IN THE U.S. >> A STUDY ON SLEEPING.

THE STUDY FOUND IT IS CLOSELY LINKED WITH DEMENTIA.

SEVEN AND TEN HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT IS RECOMMENDED.

>> TIME NOW FOR THIS WEEK'S JOURNALIST ROUNDTABLE.

PLANS FOR COVID MITIGATION AND UPDATES ON THE STATE BUDGET AND THE ONGOING ELECTION REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS.

>> WE WELCOME YOU.

>> MARY JOE AND JEREMY, GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

A LOT TO GET TO.

LET'S TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR AND ASU.

WHAT IS UP WITH THIS?

IS THE GOVERNOR AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO TELL ASU WITH ALL OF THOSE MITIGATION THINGS YOU CAN'T TO.

>> YES, HE WAS UPSET AS WERE SOME LAWMAKERS ABOUT ASU'S POLICY, IF A STUDENT IS COMING BACK AND NOT VACCINATED, WE WANT YOU TO WEAR MASK AND WE WANT REGULAR TESTING FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY ELSE.

THE GOVERNMENT SAW THAT AS BEING DRACONIAN.

AND I THINK FRANZEN CALLED IT TYRANNY AND THREATENED TO VOTE AGAINST ANY BUDGET LIKE THAT.

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE THEY SAID THEY WOULD FOLLOW IT.

>> THE POLICY -- THE POLICY TO NOT MAKE VACCINES MANDATORY, IF THERE'S OTHER VACCINES STUDENTS HAVE TO TAKE, THAT SEEMS TO BE A REQUIREMENT.

WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE?

>> IT IS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY AND OVER THE COVID VACCINE AND IT IS SURROUNDING THE OTHER MITIGATION MEASURES AND IT HAPPENED REGARDING THE PANDEMIC AND COVID OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THERE'S AN ARGUMENT THAT SOME CRITIC HAS MADE THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE.

IT IS A MEASLES RUBE BELLA.

THE LEGISLATOR DIDN'T REQUIRE A VACCINE.

YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT TO DAILY HEALTH CHECK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FOUND IT INTRUSIVE.

THEY SHUT THAT DOWN.

AND THERE WAS TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ENSHRINE THIS IN LAW.

THE TIME TO DO THAT THIS YEAR.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT COME UP AGAIN.

>> IT IS ANOTHER FRAUD IN THE MASK, MORE.

MASKS CAN BE SO POLITICALIZED, YOU WAIT UNTIL YOUNGEST KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE FALL.

THAT WILL BE A HUGE ISSUE.

>> THAT WAS -- THAT WAS -- THAT CAME OUT OF THE BLUE HERE.

MATT SALMON.

YOU BEEN AROUND A LOT.

YOU REMEMBER MATT, HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR 20 SOME ODD YEARS AGO AND DID NOT WIN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

DID HE ANNOUNCE HE WANTS TO RUN?

HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR?

>> NO, THERE WAS SIGNALLING HE WAS INTERESTED IN IT.

EVEN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

HE HAD AN EYE ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE FOR SOME TIME.

WE SEE IT LEADING AND BEING AN OPEN SEAT AND THERE'S TERM LIMITS.

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO JUMP IN AND 20 YEARS AFTER MATT FIRST RAN.

IS THAT GOOD, IS THAT BAD?

ARIZONA HAS CHANGED A LOT IN 20 YEARS.

ELECTORATE IS DIFFERENT.

IT COULD BE GOOD AND BAD.

>> THE CROWD IS STARTING TO FORM HERE NOW AS THE STATE TREASURER, AND WE GOT THE DEVELOPER.

WE GOT FORMER TV ANCHOR TERRY LAKE.

THIS MAKES FOUR NOW.

CAN YOU HAVE A FAVORITE IN A FOUR-WAY RACE LIKE THIS?

>> IT IS HARD TO SAY.

SOMEBODY BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME HAS A LOT IN THE EAST VALLEY WHERE HE REPRESENTED IN CONGRESS.

MAYBE NOT SO MUCH STATEWIDE.

PROBABLY GOOD FUND RAISING.

YOU MAY HAVE -- HIS CAREER AS LOBBYIST AND HIS LINK TO CONGRESS AND THEN THE VACCINE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND HE SAID, NO, I OPPOSE THAT, ASU'S POLICY ON THE VACCINE.

AND ROBESON OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS TOUCHY ISSUE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A FAVORITE.

ROBSON SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THAT WILL CARRY LATE BUT NO BACKGROUND IN POLITICS OR GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THIS SHAPES OUT AND WHETHER ANYONE ELSE GETS IN THE RACE.

THESE ARE THE BIG FOUR CANDIDATES WE HAD OUR EYES ON.

>> JOE, WOULD HE EVEN CONSIDER THIS UNLESS HE HAD INTELLIGENCE POLLING, ADVICE THAT IT IS A DONE DEAL.

CONSIDERING TALK TO US ABOUT THE LAST TIME THAT SALMON RAN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> THAT WAS INTERESTING, HE WAS A REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

THERE WAS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE NAMED MAHONEY.

AND MAKING IT A THREE PERSON RACE MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

IT WAS A VERY NARROW WIN FOR JANET.

YOU COULD EASILY GIVE MAHONEY AS BEING A SPOILER IN THAT.

THE DYNAMICS ARE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

AS MUCH AS FUND-RAISING IS CRUCIAL, THERE'S AN ELEMENT, TRUMP'S PRESENCE.

HOW MUCH ARE THESE CONTINUES GOING FOR ALIGNING THEMSELVES WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO SEEK PERHAPS HIS ENDORSEMENT?

THAT MAY BE MORE PERSUASIVE IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY THAN ANY FUND RAISING.

>> HOW PERSUASIVE ONCE YOU GET TO THE GENERAL?

YOU GOT A FOUR-WAY RACE AND YOU GOT SOMEONE WHO IS TOTALLY PRO TRUMP WINNING, HOW DOES THAT DO IN THE GENERAL?

>> YOU HAVE A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

THEY GENERALLY FAVOR THE REPUBLICANS.

IF THAT IS TRUE, HOW MUCH IT HOLDS TRUE.

IF THERE'S OTHER FACTORS REGARDING TRUMP OR OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE WEREN'T SEEN YET.

THERE'S UNKNOWNS.

PROBABLY MORE THAN NORMAL GOING INTO AN ELECTION LIKE THIS.

>> INDEED.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

YOU'RE COVERING THIS THING.

IT MUST BE VERY FRUSTRATING.

ONE STEP FORWARD AND ONE OR TWO STEPS BACK.

>> THAT DESCRIPTION CAME FROM ONE OF THE KEY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS THAT ARE PUSHING FOR THIS BUDGET.

THE BIG HOLDUP REMAINS THE TAX CUT, THE SO CALLED FLAT TAX.

IT IS NOT FLAT, IT IS A SINGLE RATE, TO GET THAT DOWN TO 2.5 PERCENT, YOU GOT TO TAKE A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF THE BUDGET.

THEY HAVE TAKEN A PRETTY HARD STANCE.

WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT KIND OF LOSS OF INCOME FOR THIS AGREEMENT.

WE GOT TO GET A BETTER DEAL.

THAT'S WHAT IT HAS BEEN.

IT IS NOW JUNE 18TH, SOON -- SOON, WE GOT A JUNE 30th DEADLINE.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A DEADLINE TO CLARIFY THINGS.

>> THERE WAS A TOWN HALL I BELIEVE YESTERDAY.

THE GOVERNOR GOING TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WHAT WAS THIS ABOUT?

>> HE WAS TRYING TO WHIP UP SUPPORT FOR THIS BIG TAX PACKAGE WHICH SORT OF INDICATES THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE REAL WORK SEEMS TO BE GOING ON WHERE WE HAVE HOLDOUTS TRYING TO HAMMER OUT SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF LEADERSHIP ON A -- ON WHAT CHANGES MIGHT BE MADE SO WE COULD GET THEM ON BOARD IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE THE STATE IS GOING TO LOSE, HOW MUCH THE CITIES WILL LOSE.

AND THEY WOULD PAIR DOWN TO 1.3.

YOU WOULD INCREASE THE 15 PERCENT OF INCOME TAX REVENUE TO 18 PERCENT.

FOLKS IN THE -- MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAD HEARTBURN ABOUT THAT.

THEN SPEAKER RUSTY BAUERS PUTTING UP WHAT WILL GO IN ON TUESDAY AND MOSTLY CONTINUE STATE SPENDING AS IT IS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A STATE BUDGET FROM THE COVID THING.

THIS MAY BE BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH WHEN THEY HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET.

IT SOUNDS LIKE BAUERS AND OTHERS ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED.

>> NOBODY WANTS A BARE BONES BUDGET.

THERE'S TOO MANY IN THIS BUDGET PACKAGE AND TAX CUTS AND PAY RAISES FOR STATE EMPLOYEES AND ROAD PROJECTS AND ABILITY TO PAY OFF DEBT.

THERE'S MORE MONEY FOR UNIVERSITIES OR 50 MILLION FOR SPECIAL ED.

THREATENING TO DO A BARE BONES BUDGET THAT WOULD EXCLUDE ALMOST ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET YOU ANYWHERE.

>> THEY SIGNED WILDLIFE RELIEF BILL.

THIS WAS IN A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE DOWN THERE ANYWHERE.

COULDN'T THEY HAVE DONE IT IN REGULAR SESSION?

>> OF COURSE THEY CAN.

SPECIAL SESSIONS CAUSE A SPOTLIGHT.

WHAT IS MORE DISTURBING IN A WAY IS THIS WAS A GREAT BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER, IT IS PUTTING 100 MILLION IN WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION AND 75 MILLION TO FIGHTING FIRES AND 25 MILLION TO DO THINGS THAT MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAPPEN AS MUCH OR SEVERELY.

THAT'S A SEVEN FOLD INCREASE FROM WHAT WE HAVE BEEN FUNDING AFTER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE BEEN SEEING WILDFIRES.

IT DOES INDICATE THERE'S BEEN PROBABLY A LONG-TERM NEGLECT OF -- OF OUR LAND OUT THERE AND OUR FORESTS AND OUR HIGH DESERT WHERE THERE ARE FLAMMABLE MATERIALS.

THIS IS STARTING TO WORK ON A LONGER TERM PLAN SO WE DON'T DO SESSIONS EVERY YEAR.

>> MARY JO, JEREMY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, REGARDING THE REVIEW THAT WE HAD, AND THE AUDIT AND WHAT HAVE YOU GOING ON AT THE COLISEUM, WHERE ARE WE WITH THIS?

THERE'S HEADQUARTERS AT THE POST-OFFICE BOX AND THE OFFICE BUILDING IS FLORIDA.

>> THERE'S THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT THE POST-OFFICE BOX.

THE OFFICE IS ELSEWHERE.

OVER AT THE COLISEUM THEY FINISHED THE BALLOTS AND FINISHING UP THE PAPER EVALUATION A THEY'RE LOOKING FOR BAMBOO WATER MARKS OR WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

THEY SHOULD BE FINISHED UP BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK AND THE CONTRACT IS TO THE END OF JUNE.

THEY'VE BEEN TELLING THE MEDIA, COOL, WE'LL SEE RESULTS OF THIS LATE JULY, EARLY AUGUST AND EVERYONE WILL FIGHT OVER THE RESULTS.

>> WHEN YOU SAY RESULTS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT WOULD THEY LOOK LIKE?

>> IT IS HARD TO SAY.

I PRESUME YOU GET RESULTS OF THE HAND COUNT.

THE COUNT YOU GOT OUT OF THE TABULATION MACHINE ARE ACCURATE.

WE GET ANALYSIS OF WHETHER THE MACHINES WERE HACKED BY VENEZUELA OR WHOEVER IT IS.

AND WHETHER -- WHETHER THEY'RE SUSPICIOUS WITH THE BALLOTS AND MAYBE OTHER STUFF.

THERE'S INTERESTING THINGS IN THE STATEMENT.

CYBER NEWS HAD EXPERTS SCRATCHING THEIR HEAD.

WE KNOW A LOT OF WHAT WE'LL SEE OR WHAT KIND OF THINGS THEY'LL TELL OF OTHER THINGS.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

>> MARY JO, LAWMAKERS WILL PASS AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHERE IT TAKES US.

>> THAT PROBABLY WON'T BE UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT DOES IT.

THEY GET BACK TO PER DIEM PAY.

AFTER THIS LONG BUDGET YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF TOWN.

>> ARIZONA MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE APPRECIATE IT.

UP NEXT, A LOOK AT THE YUMA PROVING GROUND AND THE IMPACT ON THE STATE.

>> U.S. ARMY PROVING GROUND IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE WORLD.

IT IS A SITE OF VAST ARRAY OF MILITARY WEAPONS TESTING.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM CAPTAIN McFAUL COMMANDER OF THE GROUND.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> APPRECIATE THE HONOR AND EXCITED TO HAVE THE TIME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE YUMA PROVING GROUND.

WHAT IS YUMA PROVING GROUND, WE DO TESTING.

WE TEST MILITARY EQUIPMENT.

WE TO COMMERCIAL TESTING.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING FIELDED IT IS THROUGH A TEST CENTER.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE MAKE SURE THE EQUIPMENT DOES WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SERIOUS TESTING IN THE LONGEST AND LARGEST, TRUE?

>> FOURTH LARGEST INSTALLATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

THIS GIVES US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONTROL WHAT WE DO.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT TESTING HERE AND WHAT IS DONE OUT THERE AND HOW OFTEN ARE THE TESTS CONDUCTED?

>> EVERY DAY.

THERE'S MULTIPLE EQUIPMENT BEING TESTED OUT THERE WHETHER IT IS DRIVING, SHOOTING, FLYING, IT JUST -- IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH DECONFLICTION YOU HAVE TO DO.

>> IN YUMA DESERT WARFARE WOULD EMPHASIZE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

YOU GOT TOP CAPABLE OF ALL SORTS OF THINGS, ARE THERE WAYS TO GET A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE?

>> IT IS DESERT, IT IS HOT WEATHER.

WE DO TESTING WHETHER IT IS WINTER.

OUR JOB IS TO JUST TEST EQUIPMENT.

THE MOUNTAINS HELP OUT.

IS THERE TRAINING INVOLVED AS WELL?

>> THERE'S TRAINING.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY DO TRAINING.

THE TRAINING CAN BE DONE AT THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER OR BACK AT HOME STATION LIKE FORT HOOD OR FORT CAMPBELL AND FORT BRAGG.

>> PROVING GROUND.

A MAJOR INSTALLATION THERE.

THE IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> IN 2007 THERE WAS A LARGE STUDY DONE THAT SAID THEY HAD 1.1 BILLION DOLLAR TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT.

NO MATTER THE COUNTY, IT IS THE SURROUNDING AREA.

>> AS FAR AS WEAPONS TESTING AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS, HOW HAS TECHNOLOGY CHANGED THE DYNAMIC THERE?

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AIR, SEA, LAND.

AND NOW TECHNOLOGY.

HIGH-TECH.

>> THINGS CHANGED.

>> YES.

WE'RE GOING TO SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES.

TO ME THAT IS GREAT.

WHEN WE PUT SOMEONE OUT OF HARM'S WAY IT IS A GOOD THING.

I'M NOT SAYING THE TECHNOLOGY IS PROVING ITSELF THERE.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT THE WPG?

>> ABOUT A YEAR.

>> WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE?

>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD EXPERIENCE.

ONCE I GOT OUT HERE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS AMAZING ARE THE PEOPLE.

PEOPLE IS THE NUMBER ONE THING WE HAVE OUT THERE.

IT IS OUR CAN-DO CULTURE.

PEOPLE KEEP COMING BACK.

IT IS OUR WORKFORCE.

IT IS THE CAN-DO ATTITUDE.

EVERY TIME I WALK AROUND, I TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE, PATRICK, TELL THEM THANK YOU.

PEOPLE, WE COULD DO.

I CAN DO ANYTHING.

WHAT I CAN'T FIND IS MY CULTURE.

I CAN'T FIND MY PEOPLE.

THAT MAKES ME A PROVING GROUND FOR THE SPECIAL.

>> YEAH.

OBVIOUSLY IF IT IMPACTED YOU.

ARE YOU SURPRISED SO MANY PEOPLE IN ARIZONA DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROVING GROUND EXISTS?

>> I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING AND A BAD THING.

IT IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE WE ARE BEING TESTING OUT THERE.

IT IS NICE TO BE QUIET.

WHEN THINGS ARE EXPLODING YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE QUIET, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S WHY -- I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET -- TO JUST BOAST ABOUT PROVING GROUND AND THE AWESOME WORKFORCE OUT THERE.

IT IS A SMALL COMMUNITY.

ROUGHLY ABOUT 2,000 PEOPLE AND ONE THING PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND AT YPG IS IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COLD REGIONS AND TROPICAL REGIONS TEST CENTERS.

ALASKA, PANAMA.

THERE'S THESE TESTS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT.

>> WHAT IS NEXT?

>> WHAT IS NEXT.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A HUGE DEMONSTRATION.

MAN, THAT WAS SO SPECIAL.

IT WAS ABOUT -- IT WASN'T ABOUT WAS THIS RADIO TO FIELD OR IS THE TECHNOLOGY STARTING TO MATURE.

THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S WHAT TOOK PLACE.

THE ARMY, THE TOP FIVE PRIORITIES.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TESTING THAT IS GOING ON.

LAST YEAR DURING THE COVID ENVIRONMENT, WHEN -- WHEN STAY AT HOME ORDER WAS ISSUED WHY DID PG NOT STAY HOME?

89 PERCENT OF MY WORKFORCE STILL WENT IN EVERY DAY.

YOU CAN'T FIRE A CANNON FROM THE HOUSE.

THEY WENT TO WORK.

DO WE HAVE PEOPLE COME DOWN?

YES.

BUT IT WASN'T TRANSMITTED ON YPG.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION THE OTHER DAY, WE WERE HAVING PEOPLE AND THEY SAY, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR YPG.

I'M THANKFUL.

ASK WHY YOU'RE THANKFUL?

THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, DURING COVID A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AN ECONOMIC TURNDOWN.

WE DIDN'T.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY SAID PATRICK, WE WANT TO THANK YOU IN YOUR WORKFORCE BECAUSE YOU'RE ONE OF THE REASONS WE DID IT.

I THOUGHT THAT'S SPECIAL.

MY WORKFORCE NEEDS TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT THEY WERE COMING IN EVERY DAY.

I WAS SO PROUD OF THEM.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF THE SUCCESS OF THE YUMA PROVING GROUND AND CONTINUED SUCCESS THERE AND GOOD WORK.

COLONEL PATRICK McFAUL, PROVING GROUND COMMANDER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOAST ABOUT YPG.

>> TONIGHT ON NEWS HOUR, BIDEN WARNS AMERICANS OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

COMING UP ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.