[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA ARIZONA HORIZON, A MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR REACTS TO THE CONTINUED SENATE REPUBLICAN RECOUNT OF LAST YEAR'S ELECTION.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, WHAT TO KNOW TO STAY SAFE DURING A VISIT TO THE GRAND CANYON, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW REPRESENTATION MATTERS, EVEN ON THE BENCH.

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

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

CONTINUED SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND STAGNANT VACCINATION RATES LEAD TO ANOTHER INCREASE IN COVID CASES TODAY.

WE HAD ABOUT A HUNDRED MORE THAN YESTERDAY.

FOUR OF THE TOP FIVE ZIP CODES FOR NEW CASES ARE IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

POSITIVITY RATES ARE ALSO ON THE INCREASE WITH A CLOSE TO 13% POSITIVITY RATE ON TESTS COLLECTED IN THE PAST SEVEN DAYS.

>>> THERE IS INCREASING CONCERN OVER BREAK-THROUGH CASES AMONG THOSE THAT ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

THE CDC NO LONGER TRACKS MILD INFECTIONS.

>> THE CDC -- FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT THEY HAVE NOT FULLY EXPLAINED STOP TRACKING MILD BREAK THROUGH INFECTIONS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

THAT'S A MISTAKE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO THIS IS HAPPENING TO.

>> BACK IN MAY, THE CDC TRANSITIONS FROM MONITORING ALL REPORTED BREAK-THROUGH CASES TO ONLY THOSE THAT INVOLVED SERIOUS ILLNESS OR DEATH.

>>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS STEPPING UP ITS PRESSURE ON HOLDING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION THAT IS NOT TRUE.

>>> THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ALSO HELD TALKS WITH FOX NEWS.

THIS COMES COMES AS FOX HOST SEAN HANNITY, URGED HIS AUDIENCE TO, QUOTE, PLEASE TAKE COVID SERIOUSLY DURING LAST NIGHT'S BROADCAST.

>>> AND ANOTHER DAY AND ANOTHER TRIP TO SPACE FOR AN AMERICAN WITH THE RESOURCES TO GET THERE.

THIS TIME IT'S BILLIONAIRE AMAZON FOUNDER JEFF BEZOS, WHO TOOK A THREE-MEMBER CREW 65 MILES UP INTO SPACE.

THE CREW CELEBRATING THERE DURING A FEW MINUTES OF WEIGHTLESSNESS, INCLUDED 85-YEAR-OLD 82-YEAR-OLD MARY WALLACE FUNK, KNOWN AS WALLY.

SHE IS NOW THE OLDEST PERSON EVER IN SPACE.

>>> THE STATE SENATE'S RECOUNT OF MARICOPA COUNTY VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND U.S. SENATE IS IN ITS THIRD MONTH WITH NO CLEAR OF WHEN IT IS ALL GOING TO END.

EARLIER TODAY WE TALKING ABOUT IT WITH MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR STEVE GALLARDO.

[ TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ] >> SOUNDS LIKE THE SENATE WANTS MORE DATA FROM THE COUNTY.

HAVE YOU RECEIVED A REQUEST?

IF SO, WHAT KIND OF DATA IS REQUESTED?

>> WE'RE ANTICIPATING SOMETHING COMING DOWN, ACCORDING TO WHAT -- >> A SUBPOENA?

>> ANOTHER SUBPOENA APPARENTLY.

BUT THEY HAVE GOTTEN PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THEY HAVE ASKED FOR.

THEY HAVE CONDUCTED A FULL REVIEW, A HAND COUNT, THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE COLISEUM, AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY TYPE OF REASON TO SHOW THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF FRAUD OF COMPROMISED ELECTION.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A SMOKING GUN THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

THE FACT IS, WE DID CONDUCT A SOLID ELECTION, AND UNFORTUNATELY RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE DOING SOME TOUGH DAMAGE TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND REPUTATION.

>>> AND HAS THE COUNTY GIVEN THE SENATE COMPUTER NETWORK COUNTERS?

THIS >> IT IS CONNECTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT IS CONNECTED TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH.

WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT ROUTERS, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION LIKE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SIDE, WE HAVE HIPAA RECORDS WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY.

THEY HAVE TO DO MORE EXPLAINING ON WHAT THEY PLAN ON DOING WITH THESE ROUTERS BEFORE WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TURNING IT OVER.

>> CAN YOU EXTRACT SOME DATA FROM THE ROUTERS AND KEEP THE OTHER STUFF SAFE?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NO, THEY CAN'T HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH RECORDS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECORDS.

THERE IS SOME SENSITIVE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW TO PROTECT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO ABIDE BY THOSE FEDERAL LAWS, SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT REQUEST.

>> AS FAR AS SHARPIES, THE INK BLEEDING THROUGH, AS FAR AS 70,000 BALLOTS BEING RECEIVED WITH NO RECORDS, THIS WAS BROUGHT OUT IN THE HEARING OR MEETING.

LET'S GO TO SHARPIE-GATE.

>> IT IS CYNICAL.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A SMOKING GUN.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

AND THE FOLKS CONDUCTING THIS AUDIT ARE FOLKS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE.

THEY DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE.

THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND ARIZONA'S ELECTION PROCEDURES, AND HOW WE CONDUCT ELECTIONS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

>> THE 74,000 HAS MADE A LOT OF ROUNDS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THERE IS NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR 74,000 BALLOTS BEING RECEIVED WITH NO RECORD OF THEM BEING SENT OUT.

>> THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT FILES THAT THEY RECEIVED.

FILES THAT SHOWED EARLY BALLOTS THAT WERE SENT OUT PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.

STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO DO A CUT OFF TO STOP IT.

AND THEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT ANOTHER FILE.

THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.

WE'RE NOT TOO SURE -- WE THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE SENATE IS PUT OUT A REPORT, BUT BE PREPARED TO DEFEND IT IN COURT.

>> THEY SAY THEY CAN'T UNTIL THEY GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION.

>> THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT, TED.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE CONSULTANTS THAT ARE SO INEXPERIENCED.

THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

THEY CONTINUE TO POKE AT THICK -- THINGS WITHOUT A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.

UNFORTUNATELY THESE CONSULTANTS DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE TO DO A FORENSIC AUDIT.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

AND LAWMAKERS HAVE NO IDEA HOW THE LOGISTICS OF AN ELECTION ARE CONDUCTED.

THEY DON'T.

HOW VOTES ARE COUNTED AND TABULATED, THEY DO NOT HAVE A CLUE.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THEY HAVE HANDLED THIS STUFF.

THE MACHINERY NOW, THE COUNTY SAYS CAN'T USE IT ANYMORE.

$2.8 MILLION.

IS THE COUNTY ON THE HOOK FOR THIS?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD SUBSIDIZE ANY TYPE OF FAKE AUDIT.

THE SENATE IS ON THE HOOK FOR IT.

IT IS KAREN FANN, KEN BENNETT, AND THE CYBER NINJAS.

THEY ARE ON THE HOOK.

[ TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ] >> THE FACT IS THAT YOU HAVE LEGISLATORS AND TRUMP LOYALIST THAT CONTINUE TO PUT OUT UNFOUNDED STATEMENTS.

THEY LOST THE ELECTION.

AND THEY HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS THAT THE ELECTION WAS SAFE, SECURE, AND ACCURATE.

>> DO YOU THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE COOPERATED FROM THE GET-GO, AND THIS WHOLE THING WOULD BE OVER BY NOW.

>> WE TRIED TO.

WE DID EVERYTHING -- THEY WANTED AN OUTSIDE REVIEW.

WE HIRED TWO CONSULTANTS THAT DID THE REVIEW, AND THEY WERE STILL NOT SATISFIED.

THE FACT IS, THEY ARE TRYING TO JUSTIFY THEIR LOSS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CONDUCTED A SAFE AND SECURE ELECTION.

>> MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR STEVE GALLARDO, THANK YOU, SIR, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK >>> UP NEXT, ARIZONA SCIENTISTS FIND A POSSIBLE BREAKTHROUGH IN THE TREATMENT FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES.

>>> A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS AT THE U OF A [ TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ] >>> OKAY.

SO IT'S A PROBLEM WITH INSULIN HERE, AND YOUR RESEARCH -- THIS IS REALLY FASCINATING STUFF.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE LIVER AND HOW IT PLAYS A PART IN, WHAT, COMMUNICATING WITH THE BRAIN AS FAR AS INSULIN IS CONCERNED?

THIS >> YEAH, AS FAR AS A METABOLIC ORIGIN GOES, THE BRAIN IS THE GRAND CENTRAL STATION OF METABOLISM.

IT'S WHERE ALL OF THE NUTRIENTS PASS THROUGH.

IT ALSO HELPS TO TAKE UP NUTRIENTS WHEN THERE'S AN EXCESS.

SO WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS EFFECTING GLUCOSE IN TYPE 2 DIABETES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD ALREADY SHOWN THAT FATTY LIVER -- SO THE AMOUNT OF FAT THAT BUILDS UP IN THE LIVER WAS ASSOCIATED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES, BOTH THE SEVERITY OF IT, AND HOW OFTEN IT OCCURRED, AND SO OUR RESEARCH WAS FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING THAT BETTER.

>> AND THE RESEARCH -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, IT SOUNDS AS IF THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LIVER AND THE BRAIN WITH THE NEUROTRANSMITTER INVOLVED KIND OF GOT ALL SCREWED UP.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

NORMALLY THE LIVER IS VERY IMPORTANT IN BREAKING DOWN A TRANSMITTER, AND IN OBESITY, THE LIVER SHIFTS OVER AND STARTING PRODUCING THAT GABBA, AND THAT CHANGES GLUCOSE HOME YOU STATUS.

>> SO IT SAYS, HEY, YOU DON'T NEED TO COME OUT RIGHT NOW, CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> FATTY LIVER AND FATTY LIVER DISEASE.

HOW DOES SOMEONE KNOW THEY HAVE A FAT LIVER?

>> YEAH, MOST OF WHAT WE IDENTIFY AS FATTY LIVER IS SUBSEQUENT TO OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH ARE TYPE 2 DIABETES, HYPERTENSION.

THEY ALL OCCUR IN RESPONSE TO FAT CELLS BUILT UP IN THE LIVER.

THERE ARE IMAGING METHODS TO IDENTIFY AND MEASURE FATTY LIVER SPECIFICALLY, BUT USUALLY WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF FATTY LIVER.

>> AND YOU HAVE THE FATTY LIVER, AND THE NEUROTRANSMITTER, AND IT'S NOT SENDING THE RIGHT SIGNALS.

YOUR RESEARCHES SHOWS WHAT, IF YOU DEADEN THE NEUROTRANSMITTER, THINGS IMPROVE?

>> YEAH, THAT'S THE EXCITING PART.

IF WE CAN PREVENT THE LIVER FROM TAKING THAT NEUROTRANSMITTER, WE CAN TAKE MICE THAT ARE OBESE, AND RETURN THEM TO HAVING NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE, NORMAL INSULIN.

>> HOW FAR ALONG IS YOUR RESEARCH?

>> WE HAVE DONE PRE-CLINICAL TRIALS.

WE ARE USING AN FDA-APPROVED DRUG TO INHIBIT GABBA PRODUCTION.

WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT INITIAL CLINICAL TRIAL COMPLETED WITHIN A YEAR.

THAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH ARIZONA TAXPAYERS THROUGH A GRANT SITUATION, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT, BUT THEN WE'RE -- IN MY LAB DEVELOPING NORMAL INHIBITORS, BECAUSE THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE CROSSES INTO THE BRAIN AND HAS CONSEQUENCES THAT DON'T ALLOW FOR LONG-TERM APPLICATION, SO I'M WORKING WITH A DOCTOR IN THE COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY TO LIMIT LIVER GABBA PRODUCTION.

>> IF YOU ARE DEADENING THE NERVES THAT MAKE THIS CONNECTION REGARDING THIS ONE SITUATION, ARE THERE OTHER PATHWAYS THAT ARE ALSO BEING DEADENED?

>> THAT'S THE LUCKY PART ABOUT THIS FINDING.

IS THESE -- THE ENZYME WE'RE INHIBITING IS IN THE BRAIN AND IN THE LIVER, BUT NOT IN A LOT OF OTHER TISSUES, SO AS LONG AS WE CAN PREVENT OUR DRUGS FROM CROSSING INTO THE BRAIN, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FAIRLY SAFELY TARGET THE LIVER AND END UP WITH A COMPOUND THAT IMPROVES LIFE FOR THE 50% OF ARIZONANS THAT TYPE 2 DIABETICS.

>> FASCINATING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

[ TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ] >>> LET'S FACE IT, BACK THEN, THERE WERE VERY FEW BILINGUAL REPORTERS, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT COULD REPORT LIKE PEDRO, SO ONCE HE GOT HIS OWN CONFIDENCE, HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE GREAT.

HE WAS AN INSIDER.

AND I TELL MY STUDENTS WHAT YOU COLLEGE STUDENTS DON'T REALIZE BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE IS ALL OF THESE GREAT INSIDERS THAT YOU SEE ON ALL OF THE SPORTS NETWORKS, THEY ARE ALL FORMER NEWSPAPER WRITERS WHO LEARNED HOW TO BE GOOD REPORTERS, AND THEN THEY GOT SNAPPED UP BY THE SPORTS CENTER TYPE PEOPLE.

>> I KNOW PEDRO LOVED TO TALK TO STUDENTS.

WHAT WAS HIS MESSAGE?

>> LEARN HOW TO BE A REPORTER.

>> YEAH.

>> THE SPORTS REPORTING CLASS I HAVE BEEN TEACHING THE LAST FEW YEARS, ABOUT HALF OF STUDENTS ARE BROADCAST MAJORS, AND THE OTHER HALF WANT TO BE DIGITAL OR PRINT WRITERS, AND I HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM THAT FIRST YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO BE A GOOD REPORTER, SO PEDRO WAS PERFECT, BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS MESSAGE, AND ALSO HIS BACKGROUND.

HE BECAME A GREAT REPORTER, MOSTLY COVERING THE A'S BEFORE HE CAME TO PHOENIX.

AND HE GOT HIRED BY ESPN BECAUSE HE WAS A GREAT REPORTER.

>> RESPONSE FROM THE STUDENTS?

>> THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS GUY WOULD FIRST OF ALL SHOW UP, AND SECOND OF ALL HOW AT HOME HE WAS TALKING TO THEM, AND HOW HELPFUL HE WAS AND ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS, AND HE WOULD WRITE HIS EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE BOARD OF THE CLASS, AND MAKE SURE THAT -- DON'T BE AFRAID TO CONTACT ME ANY TIME.

>> THE BOOK IS TITLED "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE: WHAT PEDRO GOMEZ SHOWED US ABOUT BASEBALL AND LIFE," THERE IT IS.

THERE IT IS.

YOU WANT TO TAKE A SHOT OF THE BOOK RIGHT THERE THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE.

WHAT HID PEDRO GOMEZ SHOW US ABOUT BASEBALL AND LIFE?

>> THAT IT'S -- THEY ARE PEOPLE.

YEAH, THEY ARE REALLY GOOD ATHLETES, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PEOPLE.

AND YOU SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT, AND YOU SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT IT'S HARD -- SPORTS -- PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS ARE HARD.

I WAS READING WHAT HIS SONS WROTE FOR THE BOOK, AND HE ALWAYS STRESSED DON'T GET TOO HIGH AND DON'T GET TOO LOW.

PLAYERS GO INTO SLUMPS ALL THE TIME AND WORK THEIR WAY OUT OF IT.

AND YOU DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP.

YOU SAY I'M GOING TO GET BETTER AND WORK IT OUT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

BECAUSE BASEBALL, YOU CAN FAIL 70% OF THE TIME AND STILL MAKE IT TO THE HALL OF FAME.

>> RIGHT.

>> WOULD HE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENT LEGACY IF HE STARTED IN ANOTHER SPORT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

HE WAS ALWAYS THE BASEBALL GUY.

I KNOW WHEN HE WAS THE SPORTS COLUMNIST AT THE REPUBLIC, HE COVERED THE SUNS, AND ASU SPORTS, BUT HIS -- HIS WHEELHOUSE WAS BASEBALL, AND HE JUST KNEW IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY, AND HE UNDERSTOOD IT, AND COULD TALK ABOUT IT, AND THAT'S WHY ESPN HIRED HIM.

BUT I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE HE LOVED PEOPLE.

HE LOVED HIS FAMILY, AND HE LOVED BASEBALL.

>> YEAH.

BILL HILL, THE BOOK IS "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE: WHAT PEDRO GOMEZ SHOWED US ABOUT BASEBALL AND LIFE."

THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING STORIES ABOUT YOUR FRIEND.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME.

>> YOU BET.

>>> AND AN EVENT WITH MANY OF THE CONTRIBUTES ON THE BOOK WILL BE HELD THURSDAY AT BANES & NOBLE AT THE 101 AND SHEA IN SCOTTSDALE.

>>> 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 HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE JOURNEY THE PHOENIX SUNS TOOK THIS YEAR TO GET TO THE NBA FINALS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW REPRESENTATION MATTERS, EVEN ON THE BENCH.

[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP ON CRONKITE NEWS TONIGHT, THE DELTA VARIANT NOW ACCOUNTS FOR THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF COVID CASES IN THE U.S. WE'LL EXPLAIN WHERE ARIZONA STANDS WHEN IT COMES TO THE INFECTION.

>>> ALSO BUSINESSES ARE REACHING OUT TO SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT VOTER'S RIGHTS.

>>> AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW REPRESENTATION MATTERS, EVEN ON THE BENCH.

>>> GOOD EVENING -- >>> TECH [ TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ]