[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA BENEFITS WILL IMPACT ARIZONA'S ECONOMY.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, STORMS BRING MAJOR FLOODING AND DAMAGE TO FLAGSTAFF,, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE PREVALENCE OF CASES INVOLVING MISSING AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY RULED AGAINST ATTEMPTS BY THE STATE SENATE, AND SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN TO AVOID DISCLOSING DOCUMENTS.

THE JUDGE RULED NOTHING IN STATE LAW ABSOLVED THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN RECORDS.

THE SENATE HAS SAID IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION.

THE JUDGE RULED THE SENATE NEEDS TO GET IT.

THE RULING CAME DOWN BEFORE REPUBLICANS HELD WHAT THEY CALLED A HEARING TO UPDATE THE LATED ON THE THE SENATE'S RECOUNT OF MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION BALLOTS.

SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN SAID THIS IS NOT ABOUT TRUMP OR OVERTURNING THE ELECTION.

TODAY'S HEARING WAS NOT ABOUT PROVIDING INFORMATION ON WHO IS FUNDING THE RECOUNT OR IF THEY HAVE ANY TIES TO THOSE CONDUCTING THE AUDIT.

THE HEAD OF CYBER NINJA'S SAYS THE RECOUNT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF LACK OF COOPERATION WITH MARICOPA COUNTY OFFICIALS.

>>> OTHER NEWS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT BEGAN HITTING BANK ACCOUNTS TODAY.

IT'S THE FIRST ROUND OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS COULD REDUCE CHILD POVERTY BY AS MUCH AS 50%.

THE WHITE HOUSE DESCRIBED IT AS HISTORIC, AND IT IS SOMETHING THE COUNTRY CAN AFFORD TO DO.

>> THE PEOPLE WHO SAY WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE THE MIDDLE CLASS A BREAK, I SAY WE CAN AFFORD IT, BY MAKING PEOPLE ANOTHER THE TOP AND THE BIG CORPORATIONS, OVER 50 OF WHICH PAID NO TAXES LAST YEAR AT ALL, TO FINALLY JUST START PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE, BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING HARD AND PAYING TAXES DESERVE A BREAK.

>>> QUALIFYING FAMILIES ARE RECEIVING FUNDS BY DIRECT DEPOSIT OR CHECK WITH ME AMOUNT DEPENDING ON FAMILY INCOME AND NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE CHILDREN.

>>> THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE RECENTLY APPROVED AN INCREASE IN STATE JOBLESS BENEFITS, THE FIRST SUCH IN YEARS.

THE GRAND CANYON INSTITUTE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THE BENEFIT OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

DAVE WELLS IS THE INSTITUTE'S RESEARCH DIRECTOR.

DAVE WELLS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AN AWFUL LOT OVER THE YEARS HOW ARIZONA WAS SO LOW IN TERMS OF STATE JOBLESS BENEFITS.

NOT QUITE AS LOW NEXT YEAR, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN MISERABLE.

WE HAVEN'T CHANGED IN 17 YEARS.

WE'RE ONLY 5 BUCKS HIGHER THAN MISSISSIPPI, AND THIS YEAR ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE WAS AN INCREASE TO $320, AND AN INCREASE IN WHAT WE CALL THE INCREASE DISREGARD WHICH IS HOW MUCH YOU CAN EARN, BEFORE THEY TAKE YOUR BENEFITS AWAY, AND IT IS NOW GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY WONDERFUL FOR THESE PEOPLE.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE ARIZONA MOVED ALL THE WAY UP TO 44TH NOW, HUH IN >> YES, IT IS GOING TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BECAUSE BEFORE BASICALLY EVERYBODY WAS CAPPED IF YOU WERE WORKING FULL-TIME, BECAUSE YOU GET HALF OF WHAT YOU PREVIOUSLY EARNED, AND HALF OF MINIMUM WAGE, SO ESSENTIALLY 240, SO 320 IS GOING TO HELP A LOT.

IT IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE GETTING CLOSER TO 15 AND $16 AN HOUR.

AND PEOPLE ABOVE THAT WILL STILL GET CLOSE TO HALF.

>> YEAH, GETTING IT UP FROM ALMOST $30 A WEEK, WAS THINK, I ALMOST REQUIRED.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PLAYS A PART IN THIS CORRECT?

>> RIGHT.

CURRENTLY MOST PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 26 WEEKS PUTTING COVID ASIDE.

BUT NORMALLY THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS 26 WEEKS.

IF THE CALENDAR QUARTERS -- WE'RE TALKING LIKE JANUARY THROUGH MARCH AND APRIL TO JUNE AND SO FORTH -- FOR THOSE THREE MONTHS -- THAT CALENDAR QUARTER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS BELOW 5% THE AMOUNT OF WEEKS ELIGIBLE WILL DROP FROM 26 TO 24, WHICH WAS AN IMPROVEMENT.

SO PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS 24 WEEKS IF THE UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS BELOW 5%, WHICH IT COULD HAPPEN POSSIBLY SOMETIMES NECK -- NEXT YEAR.

>> HOW IS ALL OF THIS FUNDED?

THE >> RIGHT.

WE ALSO HAVEN'T CHANGED THE TAXABLE WAGE BASE.

EMPLOYERS PAY A TAX ON BEHALF OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ON THE FIRST $7,000 ON WHAT EMPLOYEES EARN, AND THAT TAX IS RELATIVELY MODEST.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THE HAS GONE TO THE CAP, WHICH IS SOMETHING LIKE $148 AN EMPLOYEE -- OR $168 AN EMPLOYEE.

AND NEXT YEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN -- ACTUALLY IN 2023, THE TAXABLE WAGE BASE WILL GO UP FROM 7,000 TO $8,000.

BUT THEY ALSO TOOK ABOUT $760 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEYS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS, AND HAS PUT THAT INTO THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND, AND THAT MEANS THE BALANCE FOR EMPLOYERS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO GO DOWN.

THE TRUST FUND WILL HAVE A HIGHER BALANCE, AND THAT HELPS LOWER THE TAXES FOR EMPLOYERS.

>> YEAH, SOUNDS LIKE WINS ALL AROUND.

THE GRAND CANYON INSTITUTE HAS DONE A LOT OF STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC INCREASE ON ARIZONA.

WHAT DID WE HAVE BEFORE, AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING NOW?

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A MASSIVE CHANGE THING.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE SUPPLEMENTS WHICH WERE $300 UNTIL THIS LAST WEEK, AND $600 EARLIER, BUT WHEN YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED -- REMEMBER BENEFITS ONLY COVER HALF OF WHAT YOU EARNED BEFORE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING LIKE ONE-FOURTH OF WHAT THEY WERE EARNING BEFORE.

SO MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET MORE OF IT.

THE WAY THAT DAVID COOK WOULD ALWAYS THINK OF IT AS LIKE EXTRA PAYMENT.

BEFORE YOU COULD GET, BASICALLY $960 A MONTH, AND NOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET ABOUT $1,280 A MONTH.

AND THAT EXTRA MONEY IS GOING TO COME IN HANDY FOR FOLKS.

IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP FOLKS BE MUCH MORE ABLE TO PAY BILLS.

THEY ARE STILL GOING TO STRUGGLE, PEOPLE WILL STILL BE LOOKING FOR JOBS AND SO FORTH, BUT IT WILL HELP THEM GET THOSE TOUGH TIMES A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

>> ONE LAST THING.

THIS GOES INTO EFFECT, I BELIEVE, NEXT YEAR, BUT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF HITCH IN THAT.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, EFFECTIVELY WHEN YOU ARE ON UNEMPLOYMENT, THEY CAN'T INCREASE YOUR BENEFITS.

AND THE FINAL VERSION DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN THE BILL.

SO WE'RE HOPEFUL TO PASS A BILL THAT WILL STRIKE THAT.

SO THAT MEANS IF WE DON'T FIX IT, THOSE PEOPLE ON UNEMPLOYMENT JUNE 30TH, 2022, WON'T GET THE EXTRA TAX AMOUNT, AND THEY WON'T BE HAPPY ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DAVE WELLS, GRAND CANYON INSTITUTE, GREAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, SIR, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> GREAT TO JOIN YOU, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HEAD COACH OF THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS AND A SMALL TOWN IN NORTHERN ARIZONA.

>>> THERE IS A LOT OF EXTRA EXCITEMENT IN HOLBROOK, ARIZONA, AND THE SUNS AND MILWAUKEE BUCKS FACE OFF IN THE NBA FINALS, BECAUSE THE BUCKS HEAD COACH, MIKE BUDENHOLZER, GREW UP IN HOLBROOK, ARIZONA.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM DR. ROBERT KOERPERICH, A FAMILY FRIEND OF THE BUDENHOLZERS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S A PLEASURE HAVING YOU ON UP THERE IN HOLBROOK, ARIZONA, ARE PEOPLE GOING NUTS UP THERE, DOCTOR?

>> THIS IS A SUPER EXCITING TIME.

WE DON'T HAVE GET EXCITED ABOUT HERE, BUT THIS IS A PINNACLE OF EXCITEMENT.

>> ARE THIS BASICALLY NOW A BUCKS COUNTRY?

>> WELL, WE'RE IN ARIZONA, AND THE SUNS HAVE NEVER WON AN NBA TITLE, AND NATIVE ARIZONANS ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO CHOOSE THE SUNS, BUT IN HOLBROOK, OUTWARDLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CHEERS FOR THE SUNS, BUT INWARDLY, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE COACH BUDENHOLZER WIN A TITLE AS WELL.

>> YOUNGEST OF SERVE KIDS, COACH BUD -- BUDENHOLZER?

>> YEAH, WHAT A GREAT FAMILY.

HIS FATHER WAS A HIGH SCHOOL COACH, AND LIBBY WAS OUR MAYOR HERE IN TOWN AND WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM A LITTLE BIT AS WELL, AND RAISED A GREAT FAMILY.

SEVEN CHILDREN.

SINGLE INCOME.

THEY ALL HAVE GONE ON TO DO GREAT, GREAT THINGS FROM NEW YORK BUSINESSMAN TO ACCOUNTANT TO NBA COACH OF THE YEAR TO TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN HAWAII, TO -- JUST -- A LAWYER -- JUST MANY SUCCESSES, AND I THINK THAT HELPFUL TO REVITALIZE SOME OF THE IMPORTANCE WE HAVE AS AN IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> YEAH, INDEED.

ARE THERE ANY BUDENHOLZERS LEFT IN TOWN?

>> THERE ARE NOT.

MOM AND DAD COME BACK FREQUENTLY, AND THE CHILDREN COME BACK ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE ALWAYS HERE.

>> AND WE SHOULD MENTION, MIKE BUDENHOLZER, WON A STATE CHAMPION CHAMPIONSHIP, I BELIEVE AS A PLAYER; IS THAT CORRECT?

>> NO, HE WAS A RUNNER UP.

VINCE WON A CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT MIKE WAS NOT ON HIS TEAM AT THAT TIME.

AND THEN WE WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2011.

>> AND MIKE AND SOME OF THE OLDER BOYS WENT ON TO DIVISION III BALL.

>> YEAH, YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE LIVING HERE.

AND I KNEW VINCE AND LIBBY, AND AS MIKE MATRICULATED THROUGH THE SPURS ORGANIZATION, WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE OUR ALUMNI, SO I STARTED REACHING OUT TO SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI, AND WE HAVE HAD MANY OF THEM IN HOLBROOK, AND I REALIZED THAT MIKE WAS AN ASSISTANT COACH, AND THEN ONE THING LEAD TO THE NEXT, AND EVENTUALLY WE HAD HIM -- WE DEDICATED OUR GYM FLOOR TO THE BUDENHOLZER FAMILY.

SO THAT'S HOW WE EVOLVED TO GET TO KNOW THE FAMILY.

>> SO MIKE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO COME BACK EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

>> HE DID COME BACK JULY 6TH, 2019, FOR THE BUDENHOLZER DEDICATION.

HE DEDICATED HIS NBA COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD TO HIS FATHER, WHICH WAS SUCH A SPECIAL MOMENT.

AND WE GIVE FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS AWAY EVERY YEAR TWO IN THE NAME OF VINCE AND LIBBY, AND TWO IN THE NAME OF MIKE BUDENHOLZER.

>> BASKETBALL IN GENERAL, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS SPORT TO HOLBROOK?

>> BASKETBALL IS LIFE AROUND HERE.

WE BORDER THE NAVAJO NATION.

AND BASKETBALL IS SUCH A BIG THING ON THE NAVAJO NATION.

SO BASKETBALL IS KIND OF INBRED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE LINED UP FOR BIG NAMES AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AFTERNOON FOR A 7:00 GAME THAT NIGHT.

SO VINCE IS 90 YEARS OLD.

AND HE WAS AT THE BUCKS GAME LAST NIGHT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE AT 90 YEARS WORLD WATCHING YOUR SON COACH THAT GAME.

>> DESCRIBE HOLBROOK, ARIZONA.

>> WE'RE LOCATED DIRECTLY BETWEEN GALLOP, NEW MEXICO.

WE'RE A VERY DIVERSE POPULATION.

RICH IN CULTURE.

GREAT MEXICAN FOOD.

WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAVELERS THAT COME THROUGH, AND JUST A GREAT, GREAT COMMUNITY.

AS I HAVE GROWN TO LOVE HOLBROOK, I HAVE LEARNED TO USE THE MOTTO, ONCE YOU ARE HERE, YOU LOVE HOLBROOK.

>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU, WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR?

>> I'M ORIGINALLY FROM KANSAS, SO I DON'T HAVE THE ROOTS IN ARIZONA.

I LOVE THE SUNS, BUT I GOT TO PULL FOR THE ROAD RUNNER.

ONCE A ROAD RUNNER, ALWAYS A ROAD RUNNER.

>> THERE YOU GO, DR. ROBERT KOERPERICH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU BET.

THANK YOU.

>>> A PHOENIX COUPLE A LEADING A SUPPORT GROUP CALLED GRUPO DE APOYO PARA NINOS ESPECIALES, ALSO KNOWN AS GANE.

IT'S A GROUP FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH ADULTS WITH DIFFERENT DISABILITIES.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE WITH GANE'S PRESIDENT GABRIELA OROZCO.

>>> GABRIELA OROZCO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND, JOSE.

BEGINNING WITH GANE, WHICH STANDS FOR GRUPO DE APOYO PARA NINOS ESPECIALES, A SUPPORT GROUP FOR CHILDREN.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

TAKE YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.

GANE IS GRUPO DE APOYO PARA NINOS ESPECIALES, AND IT WAS A SUPPORT GROUP THAT WAS FOUNDED -- I WANT TO SAY -- MAYBE -- OVER 20 YEARS AGO, BUT SOME SUPPORT COORDINATORS AND SOME FAMILIES.

WE TOOK OVER THE GROUP IN ABOUT 2006 -- END OF 2005/2006, AND WITH HAD IT EVER SINCE.

WE PROVIDE SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND OUR FOCUS IS SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES.

WE SEE -- THERE IS MUCH MORE OF A NEED FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES.

FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES THERE IS NOT THE SAME DEDICATION AND SUPPORT.

>> AND WHAT KINDS OF RESOURCES TO YOU BRING TO BARE?

>> WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS WHERE WE TEACH FAMILIES ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, ABOUT HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILDREN, DVD SYSTEMS, WE HAVE THERAPISTS COMING OVER.

EVERY SINGLE MONTH WE HAVE SOMEBODY KNEW THAT COMES OVER AND HELPS OUT FAMILIES OUT.

WE PUT OUT A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHATEVER IS NOT TRANSLATED, WE'LL MAKE IT A POINT TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO TRANSLATE IT OURSELVES, AND PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE PROVIDE FOOD AND A RESPITE AREA, SO THE FAMILIES ARE WELCOME TO COME OVER AND HAVE THEIR CHILDREN THERE, AND WE HAVE MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

SO THOSE FAMILIES THAT MIGHT NOT QUALIFY FOR SUPPORT TO SERVICES BECAUSE OF THEIR DIAGNOSIS, THERE IS SUPPORT IN OUR GROUP, WHERE WE GET A LOT OF DONATIONS, AND THOSE DONATIONS GO BACK TO THE FAMILIES SWERVE.

>> I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY LANGUAGE MIGHT BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS FOR THESE FAMILIES.

OTHER BARRIERS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF THESE FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT OUR FAMILIES FACE IS THE LEGAL STATUS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY FACE.

ANOTHER SITUATION IS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW -- GOING BACK TO THE LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES -- THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM OR POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> THE POINT ABOUT LEGAL STATUS, I ASSUME THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING DEPORTED OR SOMETHING.

HOW DO YOU HELP THEM OVERCOME THAT FEAR?

>> IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT.

THEY COME HERE -- HAVING A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY, AND THIS IS THEIR LAST RESORT, JUST COMING HERE TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET SUPPORT FOR THEIR CHILD, AND THEY COME TO OUR GROUP, HOPING THEY CAN GET JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

EVEN IF IT'S JUST SOMEBODY TO HEAR THEM AND TALK TO THEM.

IN MEXICO, OR ANYWHERE THEY ARE ASKED, THEY MIGHT NOT GET THE SUPPORT OF THERAPY OR SERVICES OR ADEQUATE SCHOOL, WHICH THEY ARE ABLE TO GET HERE WITH SUPPORT HERE.

SO FAMILIES REALLY COME TO SEE HOW THEY CAN JUST HELP THEIR CHILDREN OUT.

>> GABRIELLA, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER ORGANIZATION YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND CREATED CALLED IDEAL CARE.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> IDEAL CARE IS THE COMPANY WE OWN, AND THAT IS THE WAY WE SUPPORT OURSELVES.

IDEAL CARE WE PROVIDE HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR CLIENTS.

WE HAVE CONTRACTED BY THE STATE AND WE PROVIDE RESPITE REHABILITATION FOR FAMILIES IN ARIZONA.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES THAT WILL NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE OF THEIR CONDITION FOR THEIR [ INAUDIBLE ] SUPPORT, AND WE INVITE THEM TO GANE SO THEY CAN FEEL THAT SENSE OF FAMILY AND JUST SHARE WITH OTHER FAMILIES, AND AS A GROUP WE'RE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM AS WELL.

>> WHAT DO YOU HAVE THINK IS THE MOST PRESSING NEED RIGHT NOW?

AND HOW DID THE PANDEMIC EFFECT THE SERVICES YOU OFFER?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE SAW IS THE FEAR.

WE'RE ALL GOING THROUGH THAT FEAR.

BUT IMAGINE HAVING A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY, HAVING THAT FEAR, AND THAT CHILD CAN'T KEEP A MASK ON, SO THAT IS PART OF THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

SO IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE FAMILIES THAT ARE COMPLETELY ISOLATED.

THEY WON'T GO OUT AND DO ANYTHING SOCIAL BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT THEY ARE IN.

SO SOME OTHER THINGS WE HAVE DONE IS PROVIDED TOYS, AND WE -- DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE PROVIDED BLANKETS, WEIGHTED BLANKETS, AND WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THESE FAMILIES TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP THEM OUT, BECAUSE ANXIETY HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.

>> LAST QUESTION.

WHAT ABOUT VACCINATIONS?

ARE YOU TALKING TO THESE FAMILIES ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED?

THIS >> SO THE FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH AND SERVE -- THE MAJORITY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, AND THE FAMILIES -- WELL, FOR US, WE HAVE TOLD THEM IT IS THEIR CHOICE.

THEY HAVE A CHOICE TO VACCINATE THEM, BUT SOME OF THEM WANT TO DO IT, AND SOME OF THEM WANT TO WAIT, SO IT'S DIFFICULT BOTH WAYS.

>> NOT TOO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF OTHER ARIZONANS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, GANE'S PRESIDENT GABRIELA OROZCO, IT WAS A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF OUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, WHY LAST NIGHT'S SUNS GAME DIDN'T FEEL SO FAR FROM HOME.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE PREVALENCE OF CASES INVOLVING MISSING AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

♪♪