>>> A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE ON PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTS IN CUBA.

AND A LOOK AT HOW LOWER VACCINATION RATES IN RURAL ARIZONA ARE RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN CASES OF COVID-19.

IT'S ON THE NEXT ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS ON AIRSES, THE LEGAL CONCERNS INVOLVING VACCINE MANDATES O. CRONKITE NEWS, SMALL BUSINESSES IN SCOTTSDALE ARE COMBINED ESCAPE ROOMS WITH SCAVENGER HUNTS.

AND ONEK IT DOWN-- ON BREAK IT DOWN, A LOOK AT THE HIT SHOW RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE.

ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

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

I'M TEDSIMONS.

ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR COVID CASES SUP OVER A THOUSAND.

THAT'S A 30% INCREASE OVER LAST WEEK.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ALSO ON THE INCREASE WITH 26% HIKE IN ADMISSIONS, 2 IN% INCREASE IN ICU BEDS IN USE.

IT'S ALL DUE TO THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS DRAIRNT DELTA VARIANT AND STAG-- AND STAGNANT VACCINATION RATES.

THE COUNTRY HAS REEFED ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT.

>> WE ARE YET AT ANOTHER PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THIS PANDEMIC WITH CASES RISING AGAIN AND SOME HOSPITALS REACHING THEIR CAPACITY IN SOME AREAS.

WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE NATION, UNIFIED IN OUR RESOLVE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF OURSELVES, OUR CHILDREN, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR FUTURE.

>> AS FOR THOSE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED, AND CONCERNED ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH CASES, THE CDC DIRECTOR HAD THIS MESSAGE.

>> BEING FULLY VACCINATED GIVES YOU A HIGH DEGREE OF PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTION AND AN EVEN HIGHER DEGREE OF INFECTION BETWEEN SEVERE ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATION, AND DEATHS.

THAT'S WHAT THE VACCINE WAS DESIGNED FOR AND WAS STUDIED AND THE VACCINES GENERALLY DO THEIR JOB QUITE WELL.

>>> THE ARIZONA COYOTES ARE IN TALKS TO BUILD A NEW ARENA ON CITY-OWNED LAND JUST SOUTH OF THE 202.

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC REPORTS THAT THE OWNER OF THE COYOTES IS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO BUILD AN ARENA AND SHOPPING AND DINING COMPLEX ON THE SITE AS EARLY AS TODAY.

A PRIVATE INVESTORS WOULD FUND THE ARENA WITH TEMPE PAYING THERE ARE 70MILLION TO ADD INFRASTRUCTURE-- $70 TO ADD INFRASTRUCTURE CLEAN UP.

THE COYOTES PLAY ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR LEASE IN GLENDALE.

>>> DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN THE WEST ARE BAD AND GETTING WORSE.

THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR REPORTED MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE WEST IS DEALING WITH EXTREME OR EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN RECORDED HISTORY.

ARIZONA'S DROUGHT CONCERNS ARE NOT NEW BUT THE DRY CONDITIONS IN OTHER AREAS ARE.

REPORT SINGLES OUT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST HER THE DROUGHT IS EXPANDING REQUEST I CANNILY-- QUICKLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY.

>>> JOBLESS CLAIMS JUMPED LAST WEEK.

ABOUT 50,000 MORE AMERICANS FILED FOR BENEFITS.

THE WEEKLY INCREASE WAS NOT EXPECTED AND IT SHOWS THE ECONOMY IS NOT BACK TO NORMAL, WITH SIGNS THAT THE RECOVERY PROCESS IS SLOWING DUE TO THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.

>>> AND A MASSIVE INTERNET DISRUPTION KNOCKED OUT A NUMBER OF CORPORATE WEBSITES THIS MORNING.

U.P.S., FedEx, DELTA, AND SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, AMAZON, GOOGLE, MICROSOFT, ALL EXPERIENCED OUTAGES AT THE SAME TIME.

THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO A PAVER OF KEY INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING ONE THAT SAID THAT THE DISRUPTION WAS NOT THE RESULT OF A CYBER ATTACK ON ITS PLATFORM.

>>> ARIZONA'S LARGEST EMPLOYER BANNER HEALTH IS REQUIRING COVID VACCINATIONS FOR ALL 45,000 OF ITS WORKERS BY NOVEMBER.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT RACES THE QUESTION OF THE LEGAL PROGRAM MATERIALS OF VACCINE MANDATES.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH JAMES HODGE OF THE COLLEGE OF LAW.

JAMES HODGES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE'RE TALKING VACCINE MANDATES HERE.

WHAT ARE THE LEGAL PARAMETERS OF MANDATES FOR-- NOT JUST COVID VACCINATIONS BUT ANY VACCINATIONS?

>> WELL, IT ALL STARTS WITH A VERY LONG HISTORY IN THE UNITEDSTATES OF ALLOWING VACCINE MANDATES FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS, TED.

THESE ARE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS WE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN INFECTIOUS DISEASES LIKE COVID-19.

SO WE'VE USED THEM FOR DOZENS OF YEARS.

IN SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE.

THE LEGAL PRECEDENT FOR WHAT'S BEING CHALLENGED RIGHT NOW IN REGARDS TO COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES IS REALLY WELL SETTLED.

WE CAN AND DO USE THEM ROUTINELY IN THE UNITEDSTATES.

>> SO THEY ARE BINDING, THEN?

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VACCINE MANDATE AND A FORCIBLE VACCINATION MEASURE.

VACCINATE MANDATES ARE NOT CONSIDERED COMPULSORY.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

THEY'RE SAYING FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PART OF SOCIETY, GO TO SCHOOL, FOR YOU TO GO TO WORK, ATTEND THIS FOOTBALL GAME, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO BE VACCINATED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T SPREAD A PARTICULAR INFECTIOUS DISEASES TO OTHERS.

A FORCIBLE VACCINE, WHICH IS NOT ON THE TABLE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING OF RIGHT NOW, IS WHEN GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY TRIES TO LUL-- ACTUALLY COMPEL YOU.

THEY PHYSICALLY FORCE YOU TO DO SO.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

A LOT OF AMERICANS SOMETIMES MISTAKE THAT.

>> IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH, LET'S TAKE BANNER HEALTH WHICH SAYS IF YOU WANT TO KEEP WORKING HERE, YOU HAVE TO BE VACCINATED BY NOVEMBER 1st.

THEY'RE NOT FORCING PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED, BUT IT'S A DE FACTO.

YOU HAD THE CHOICE BUT IF YOU CHOOSE X YOU'RE OUT OF HERE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

AND IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY, TO SCHOOL THIS NEXT SEMESTER, A LOT OF PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE INSTITUTING THOSE SAME MEASURES.

WE STILL SEE THOSE FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE AS CONDITIONAL.

THERE'S A CONDITION UPON WHICH YOU WORK HERE.

THERE'S A CONDITION UPON WHICH YOU GET TO ATTEND SCHOOL HERE.

YOU CAN WALK AWAY.

YOU'RE NOT FORCED INTO THE VACCINATION.

THAT LEGALLY MAKES A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.

WE PROBABLY CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED IF WE TELL THEM TO, BUT WE CAN SET CONDITIONS AND WE'RE ROUTINELY STARTING TO SHOW THE MANDATES SHOW UP IN A LOT OF PLACES, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SETTING ONE FOR ITS PLAYERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> THAT'S GET A LOT OF BRUSHBACK BY THE MINUTE, A LOT OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS DON'T HAVE BEEN TO BE INVOLVED.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FDA-APPROVED AND FDA-AUTHORIZED VACCINE.

I CAN'T JUST START A BUSINESS AND SAY I HAVE A VACCINE I MADE INTO MY BASEMENT AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT, CORRECT?

>> DON'T TRY THAT.

WE'LL COME DOWN HARD ON YOU BECAUSE THAT'S DANGEROUS AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WE WOULD NOT ALLOW.

A VACCINE LIKE THE LIKES OF WHAT YOU SEE IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 FROM PFIZER, FROM MODERNA, JOHNSON& JOHNSON, THAT HAVE UNDERGONE RIGOROUS SCRUTINY BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, ALMOST AT THE SAME SORT OF LEVEL YOU'D SEE THEM FULLY APPROVE A VACCINE, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS THROUGH AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

THE APPROVAL THAT COME OUT THAT HAVE IS PROFOUND.

IT'S SECURING FOR AT LEAST OUR PURPOSES WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE VACCINE IS SAFE, IT'S EFFECTIVE, AND IT'S GONNA WORK TO ACTUALLY STOP THE THREAT OF COVID-19.

SO THE DIFFERENCE IS YOU'RE SEEING WITH MANDATES, SOME ENTITIES ARE SAYING IT'S NOT FULLY FDA APPROVED.

AND THUS WE CAN'T POSSIBLY MANDATE IT OR WE COULDN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO TAIBLGHT.

WELL, THE ACTUAL REALITY IS YES, YOU CAN ISSUE A MANDATE AROUND THE AUTHORIZED VACCINE BECAUSE THOSE FDA AUTHORIZED VACCINES HAVE UNDERGONE VERY HEAVY SCRUTINY AS WELL AND ACTUALLY AS YOU'RE SEEING FOR MONTHS ON END PROVING HIGHLY SAFE FOR USE WITHIN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

CONSEQUENTLY, VACCINE MANDATES FOR AN AUTHORIZED VACCINE LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THE COVID-19 LEGITIMATE, LEGALLY, THAT'S NOT A POINT OF CLASSIFICATION FOR DISTINGUISHING IN THIS REGARD.

>> AND YET THE SUPREME COURT IN A VARIETY OF RULINGS LOOKS AT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND VERY CLOSELY AND FINDS THIS SACROSANCT, IF YOU WILL.

WHAT ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OF THOSE WHO FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS DON'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED?

>> THAT'S SUCH A GREAT POINT.

AND IT'S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE IN MOST STATES YOU STILL SEE A RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FOR THOSE RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.

YOU SEE IT WITH AN EMPLOYER DISCRIMINATION LAWS, EXCEPTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS OR OTHERWISE.

IT'S A PROFOUND FACT OF VACCINATION POLICY THAT WE LEAST AT SOME RESPECT FOR THOSE REGIONS INTERESTS.

-- REGIONS INTERESTS.

LET'S DRAW A LINE, BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT HAS NEVER SAID IN ITS HISTORY THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR A GENERAL VACCINE REQUIREMENT.

AND IT'S NEVER SAID THAT BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT FACED THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE AND NEVER HAD TO ISSUE THAT TYPE OF DECISION IN A CASE BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

THAT COULD CHANGE.

>> OKAY.

>> THE REASON THAT COULD CHANGE IS COURT COULD BE FACING ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LAWSUITS.

IT COULD ACCEPT AND/OR ISSUE A VERY DIFFERENT OPINION WITH A DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCY ON THE COURT THAT WE'VE SEEN IN PRIOR YEARS.

>> AND WHAT'S WAY WAS GOING TO ASK.

IS THIS AN EVOLVING ISSUE AND WILL WE SEE COURT CASES ON THIS?

>> YOU BET.

THEY'RE ALREADY PERCOLATING NATIONALLY.

A RECENT CASE OUT OF TEXAS AFFIRMED A HEALTHCARE ENTITY VACCINE MANDATE.

A CASE OUT OF INDIANA AFFIRMED THAT INDIANA UNIVERSITY CAN REQUIRE VACCINES.

IN THE END ONE OF THOSE CASES ON A RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SORT OF PERSPECTIVE IS GOING TO GET TO THAT HIGHER LEVEL.

POTENTIALLY WITH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

AND THAT COURT HAS SHOWN DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC A VERY STRONG RESPECT FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, CONSISTENT WITH FIRST AMENDMENT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IT COULD FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ISSUE A PERSPECTIVE SAYING, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A RELIGIOUS EXCEPTION TO THESE MANDATES IF THAT WERE TO OCCUR, TED, I PREDICTABLY THINK YOU'LL SEE A GREATER NUMBER OF PERSONS EXEXERCISE THAT EXEMPTION AND AS A RESULT YOU COULD SEE LOWER VACCINATION RATES THAN WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE TO QUELL THIS PANDEMIC ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

JAMES HODGE, ASU CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH LAW AND POLICY.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE, SIR.

THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE, TED.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOOK AT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE VACCINATION RATES IN RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE.

>>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S SENDING AN ADDITIONAL $100MILLION TO RURAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR VACCINE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH DR.DANIEL DIRKSON, DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA CENTER FOR RURAL HEALTH, ABOUT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS VACCINE AND OTHER COVID ISSUES IN ARIZONA'S RURAL AREAS.

DOCTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING NOW, WHAT ARE WE SEEING AS FAR AS RURAL ARIZONA AND THE COVID VIRUS, COVID VACCINES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS?

>> WELL, THANK YOU, TED.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN ARIZONA IS ALSO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN RURAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH LOWER VACCINATION RATES.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE DOMINANCE OF THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT'S NOW COMPRISING 83% OF THE COVID-19 CASES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND FROM THE SEQUENCING THAT THEY'RE DOING IN ARIZONA, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE AT LEAST AT 70%.

AND SOMETIMES HIGHER.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THOSE COUNTIES THAT HAVE LOWER VACCINATION RATES, SUCH AS MOJAVE COUNTY, EVEN MARICOPA COUNTY, ONE OF THE-- YOU KNOW, METROPOLITAN COUNTIES IN OUR STATE, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DIAGNOSED CASES AND AN UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> YOU MENTIONED MOJAVE COUNTY.

ARE THERE OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE, STICKING WITH RURAL AREAS RIGHT NOW, THAT SEEM ESPECIALLY HIT?

>> WELL, PINAL COUNTY, WHICH HAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AS DOES MARICOPA AND PIMA COUNTIES, ARE LARGER POPULATION COUNTIES.

BUT AFTERAPIE IS ANOTHER AREA-- YAVAPAI IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WE SEE AN INCREASE.

IT TENDS TO BE THE COUNTIES THAT ARE HOVERING AROUND 40% OR LESS OF THE POPULATION THAT'S BEEN VACCINATED.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY MORE VULNERABLE IN THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH THOSE LOW VACCINATION RATES.

THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEIR VACCINATION RATES UP TO A HIGHER LEVEL SUCH AS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HAVE DONE BETTER.

THE CHALLENGE ON THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER, YOU KNOW, FOR YUMA COUNTY, COCHISE, AND SANTACRUZ, IS THAT THIS VIRUS DOES NOT RESPECT, YOU KNOW, WALLS BETWEEN COUNTRIES NO MATTER HOW HIGH THEY'RE BUILT.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE ACROSS THE SISTER CITIES IN MEXICO AND WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE MEXICAN CONSULATE TO TRY TO GET VOICES, ESPECIALLY-- VACCINATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE GO TO WASTE NOW THAT WE'RE IN A STATE IN OUR PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE WE HAVE PLENTY OF VACCINATIONS BUT WE NEED TO GET THEM TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE SAME ACCESS WE DO IN THE UNITEDSTATES.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF COMMERCE THIS TIME OF YEAR ACROSS THE BORDER IN OUR FOURTH BORDER COUNTIES.

-- FOUR-BORDER COUNTIES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE INDIVIDUALS ARE VACCINATED IF THEY DELIVER PRODUCE OR HELP PICK THE PRODUCE OR THE WORK ON THE FARMS AND OTHER THINGS THAT-- WHERE WE NEED THE WORKFORCE TO HELP US GET THE ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SERVICES TO ARIZONANS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE REGARDING COVID INFORMATION IN RURAL AREAS, VACCINATIONS IN RURAL AREAS?

A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

A LOT OF FOLKS GETTING THINGS COMING BOTH WAYS HERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE DONE?

>> WE KNOW THAT FROM THE DATA THAT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE, ITS SAFETY, IS IT SAFE FOR MY KIDS, HOW OLD DO MY KIDS HAVE TO BE BEFORE WE GET THEM, THAT WE LOOK AT THEIR TRUSTED PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.

A FAMILY PHYSICIAN, PEDIATRICIAN, SUSTAINABILITY.

THAT'S WHO THEY LOOK TO TO HELP ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.

WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB GETTING THOSE VACCINATIONS AVAILABLE.

WE'VE DONE VERY WELL GETTING THEM OUT THROUGH OUR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

WE WERE LEADING THE COUNTRY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN RURAL-- IN OUR MOST RURAL COUNTIES GETTING VOICES OUT.

BUT WE-- VACCINATIONS OUT.

BUT WE NEED TO REDOUBLE THE EFFORT, WHETHER IT'S A ZIP CODE AREA OR, YOU KNOW, A SMALL GRIEWNT THAT REALLY HASN'T-- COMMUNITY THAT REALLY HASN'T GOTTEN THE MESSAGE.

WE COULD DO BETTER IN SOME OF THOSE POCKETS AND THEY SEND TO BE VERY VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEIR RATES AREN'T WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

>> LAST QUESTION.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS FAR AS RURAL HOSPITALS?

RURAL HOSPITALS HAVE IT ROUGH IN THE BEST OF TIMES.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING A PRETTY HIGH OCCUPANCY RATE RIGHT NOW IN OUR HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE.

RURAL BUT EVEN OUR URBAN.

NOT ALL THOSE ARE COVID CASES.

WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN TUM OF COVIDCADES AND WE'RE SEEING-- COVID CASES AND WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.

THOSE TRENDS CORNER US-- CONCERN US.

THIS VACCINATION THAT'S AVAILABLE, WHICHEVER ONE YOU CAN GET TO, IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING EVEN THIS MORE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE DELTA VARIANT.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS IF YOU GET THE VACCINATION, IF YOU GET BOTH DOSES, YOU'RE WELL PROTECTED AGAINST HOSPITALIZATION.

AND THESE MORE SERIOUS HOSPITALIZATIONS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN PREVENTING DAD.

>> DR.DANIEL, ARIZONA CENTER FOR RURAL HEALTH, GOOD INFORMATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> AND ARIZONA PBS WILL AIR A SPECIAL PROGRAM ON VACCINES AND MISINFORMATION MONDAY NIGHT JULY 26th AT 9:00 CALLED, "VACCINATION FROM THE MISINFORMATION VIRUS."

>>> THE U.S. TODAY IMPOSED TARGETED SANCTIONS ON CUBA FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF PEACEFUL PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTS THAT BROKE OUT LAST WEEK.

LOCAL POLLSTER MICHAEL NEIL RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING PHONE MESSAGES FROM A FRIEND THAT O'NEIL MADE IN PAST TRIPS TO CUBA.

>> MIKE, LET'S JUST SAY THAT GETTING STUFF HERE IN CUBA HAS BECOME A DAY-LONG ACTIVITY.

PEOPLE WOULD LINE UP FOR HOURS, SOMETIMES OVER EIGHT HOURS, TO GET SOMETIMES SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS TOILET PAPER AND THAT'S WHEN YOU LUCKY AND YOU GET THEM.

SO IT'S NOT THAT YOU LINE UP FOR HOURS AND YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS HERE.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO GET MORE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CUBA FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS MAN FROM CUBA AND IS THE HONORARY CONSULATE OF SPAIN FOR ARIZONA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO YOU ARE.

THEY ASSOCIATE YOU MOST PROMINENTLY WITH YOUR FAMOUS JEWELRY STORE, AL MOLINA'S FINE JEWELRY.

THEY MAY NOT KNOW THAT YOU'RE A NATIVE OF CUBA.

AND THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN POLITICAL MATTERS, AT LEAST TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ARE THE HONORARY CONSUL FOR SPAIN IN ARIZONA.

SO YOU HAVE A PERSPECTIVES THAT MAYBE SOME OF OUR FOLKS DON'T.

TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON.

WELL, FIRST, YOUR BACKGROUND IS REGARDS TO CUBA AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU.

GREAT TO SEE YOU, JOSE.

I WAS BORN IN CUBA ON MARCH 2 OF 1959, THREE MONTHS AFTER THE REVOLUTION.

AND MY FATHER WAS INCARCERATED FROM 1959 TO 1965.

AND WE CAME TO THE UNITEDSTATES IN 1967.

WE ARRIVED IN CHICAGO.

I WAS 7 YEARS OLD.

AND I WAS WEARING A SHORT PANTS AND A VERY THIN SHIRT.

AND WE LANDED IN CHICAGO ON THE SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN MY NOSE FROZE, MY FACE FROZE, AND MY EARS FROZE.

SO IT WAS A CHALLENGING TIME FOR AN 8-YEAR-OLD.

BUT WE BECAME AMERICANS AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> AT THAT TIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE PREDICTED THAT THE CASTRO REGIME WOULD NOT LAST.

BUT IT DID.

AND IN MANY RESPECTS IT'S STILL GOING ON EVEN THOUGH THE CASTROS ARE NO LONGER ON THE SCENE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, THOUGH?

THESE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE UNPRECEDENTED AND THEY SEEM TO BE BUILDING IN FERVOR?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION, AT LEAST BASED ON MY KNOWLEDGE ON CERTAIN THINGS.

TRULY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE FACT THAT THE CORONAVIRUS HAS CREATED SOME ISSUES.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WERE SYRINGES THAT WERE COMING TO CUBA AND THEY WERE BLOCKED BY THE-- BY THE UNITEDSTATES FOR SOME REASON.

I KNOW THAT WHAT CUBANS WANT TODAY IS RICE, BEANS, AND CHICKEN.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AN AVERAGE MONTH, A CUBAN BASICALLY GETS ONE CHICKEN AT A TIME.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF HUNGER.

THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATIONS.

AND I KNOW THAT-- I KNOW THAT ALL CUBANS BASICALLY DON'T LIKE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CUBA TODAY.

AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF-- I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO REMOVE THE BLOCKADE.

I REALLY DO.

YOU KNOW, HERE WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH VIETNAM AND THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY AGAINST US, BUT I THINK THAT A SMALL LITTLE COUNTRY LIKE CUBA COULD DEFINITELY BE HEALTHIER FOR ALL OF US.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE U.S.

LIFTING THE SANCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.

>> AND HOW MUCH OF THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A REACTION TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IS DIRE, BUT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON FREEDOMS FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE AT LARGE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT CUBANS HAVE HAD A VERY CHALLENGING SITUATION FOR THE LAST 62 YEARS, JOSE.

YOU KNOW, I NINE, I REMEMBER-- I MEAN, I REMEMBER VERY MUCH MY MOTHER HAVING TO GO TO SOMEONE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RICE OR BEANS AND TRADE JEWELRY FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO BE PURCHASED.

MY MOTHER USED TO STAND IN LINE AT 10:00 BEFORE THE TRUCK WOULD ARRIVE AT 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 IN THE MORNING, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE HAD TO DO.

AND MANY TIMES THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE SHELVES TO BUY.

SO THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS PRETTY YOUNG.

AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT MY MOTHER WAS DOING.

AND SO WE DO STILL HAVE CHALLENGES.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE BECAUSE WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY CREATED SITUATIONS WHERE TOURISM WAS OPEN BY CUBA AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CORONAVIRUS THAT WAS ACTUALLY CONTROLLED.

BUT NOT CONTROLLED ENOUGH WHERE A LOT OF CUBANS ARE IN HOSPITALS.

OBVIOUSLY HAVING ISSUES AT THIS TIME.

>> SO DO YOU STILL HAVE FAMILY THERE OR OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION?

>> WELL, YES.

I HAVE OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

AND I ALSO HAVE COMMUNIST FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW.

MY MOTHER'S THIRD COUSIN.

IT'S NOT REALLY SOMEBODY THAT I EVEN KNEW, BUT WE TRIED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.

I HAVE A COUSIN THAT GOES TO CUBA ALL THE TIME.

AND THEREFORE, WHEN I-- WHEN SOMETHING IS HAPPENING, I CALL MY COUSIN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND THIS-- THIS SITUATION HAS TO-- HAS TO BECOME MORE OF A SITUATION TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAN TO OBVIOUSLY NOT SUPPORT THE ARMY OR THE POLITICS.

>> SO AL, LAST QUESTION.

THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN I THINK SOMEWHAT DESCRIBED AS RATHER HEAVY HANDED.

400 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

THERE ARE REPORTS OF THOUSANDS WHO HAVE QUOTE/UNQUOTE DISAPPEARED.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ACTUALLY SUPPORT-- THAT I KNOW ACTUALLY SUPPORT ANY OF THAT INFORMATION.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE BEING COMMUNICATED AS PEOPLE THINK.

THE INTERNET IS NOT WORKING.

THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THERE ARE COMMUNICATIONS, BUT THESE COMMUNICATIONS ARE BASICALLY VERY FEW AND FAR APART.

I KNOW-- I KNOW THAT THEY'RE SUFFERING.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH-- ALL THEY WANT IS FOOD TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND MEDICINE TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP-- OR HAVE DEVELOPED A VACCINATE.

BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT-- VACCINE.

BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM A HUMANITARIAN SITUATION, THAT IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES, NOT SAVING POLITICS.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS SITUATION AND I HOPE TO HAVE YOU BACK TO TALK ABOUT THIS MORE AS THINGS DEVELOP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, JOSE.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TEDSIMONS.

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, RUNNING GROUPS REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR COME TOGETHER FOR A UNIQUE FUND-RAISER.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A LOOK AT THE HIT SHOW "RUPAUL DRAG RACE."