>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA SAW AN INCREASE OF CLOSE TO 2600 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY.

AND 38 COVID-RELATED FATALITIES REPORTED.

AS FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS THEY ARE UP AGAIN, AND HERE IS ASU'S BIODESIGN INSTITUTE CHIEF ON THAT.

>>> WE ARE SEEING A RISE OF COVID CASES IN OUR HOSPITALS, AND WE'RE SEEING A RISE OF PATIENTS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.

>> Reporter: YESTERDAY THEY CALLED THE RISING HOSPITALIZATION RATE QUOTE, OMINOUS.

>>> THE FULLY APPROVED PFIZER VACCINE IS EXPECTED TO LEAD MORE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> NATIONWIDE WE HAVE GOTTEN A TOTAL OF 6 MILLION SHOTS IN ARMS IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

>> THIS COMES AS A NEW CDC STUDY SHOWS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COVID VACCINES DROPPED FROM 91% TO 66% ONCE THE DELTA VARIANT HIT.

THAT MEANS THAT VACCINES STILL CUT THE RISK OF CATCHING COVID BY TWO THIRDS AND GREATLY REDUCE THE RISK OF GETTING SEVERELY SICK.

AND THERE WILL SOON BE APPROVAL FOR THE MODERNA AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINES.

>> TWO THINGS DON'T CHANGE, ONE IS THAT GETTING VACCINATED NOW IS STILL YOUR FASTEST PATH TO PROTECTION AGAINST HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH FROM THE VIRUS.

>>> AND A U.S.

TASK FORCE RECOMMENDED LOWERING THE AGE TO START SCREENING FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES FROM 40 TO 35.

ABOUT 13% OF U.S.

ADULTS HAVE DIABETES, AND 35% ARE PRE-DIABETIC.

>>> AND CHARLIE WATTS THE DRUMMER FOR THE ROLLING STONES HAS DIED.

HE HAS BEEN WITH THE BAND FOR THE PAST 58 YEARS, PROVIDING A BEDROCK FOR THE ROLLING STONES.

HE HAS RECENTLY BEEN IN ILL HEALTH.

HE WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE WITH THE BAND ON ITS UP COMING U.S. TOUR.

CHARLIE WATTS DEAD AT 80.

>> YESTERDAY'S FULL APPROVAL OF THE PFIZER VACCINE BY THE FDA IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS IN THE U.S. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH FORMER STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR WILL HUMBLE.

WILL HUMBLE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS APPROVAL, HOW BIG OF DEAL IS THAT?

>> I THINK IT COULD BE A BIG DEAL, IF THE SURVEYS ARE TRUE, ABOUT 30% OF ADULTS WHO ARE UNVACCINATED RIGHT NOW SAY THEY WOULD BE A LOT MORE RECEPTIVE TO GETTING VACCINATED IF THEY HAD ACCESS TO A FULLY APPROVED VACCINE, AND NOW WE HAVE THAT.

SO I'M TAKING A LOOK AT THE DAILY NUMBERS TO SEE IF THAT REFLECTS IN THE ACTUAL DATA.

DO WE SEE A BUMP UP IN VACCINATIONS BECAUSE OF THE FULL APPROVAL.

I HOPE SO.

>> AFTER EVERYTHING WE HAVE GONE THROUGH, 200 MILLION AMERICANS AND GOD KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AROUND THE WORLD, AND A THIRD OF PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING?

>> WE'LL SEE.

DR. FAUCI EXPECTED TWO THIRDS OF THAT ONE THIRD TO ACTUALLY PEOPLE WHO GO FORWARD.

>> AS FAR AS VACCINE MANDATES IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY, ARE WE GOING TO SEE A JUMP THERE?

>> CASE LAW IS VERY CLEAR THAT BUSINESSES HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND CAN IMPLEMENT A VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR STAFF.

THAT'S CLEAR.

I THINK MANY BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DOING A VACCINE REQUIREMENT, AND -- BUT HAVE BEEN HOLDING OFF UNTIL FULL APPROVAL, SO I EXPECT TO SEE MORE BUSINESSES IN THE COMES WEEKS PUTTING FORWARD A REQUIREMENT.

I THINK WE'LL START SEEING IT WITH OTHER SECTORS BECAUSE IT MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE.

YOU HAVE LESS ABSENTEEISM, MORE EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, AND NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY THIS IS A FULLY APPROVED VACCINE, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO GET.

>> SHOULD THIS NUDGE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MORE TOWARDS ALLOWING SOME SORT OF VACCINE MANDATE?

>> WELL, BECAUSE OF A BILL THE GOVERNOR SIGNED, THE REST OF COUNTY, STATE GOVERNMENT, BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 29TH, IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT KIND OF VACCINE REQUIREMENT EVEN THOUGH BUSINESSES CAN.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THE SAME THING AT THE END OF LAST WEEK.

>> ARE YOU EXPECTING OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TO NUDGE IN THAT DIRECTION?

>> I THINK MOST OTHER STATES THAT DON'T HAVE GOVERNORS LIKE OURS, YOU WILL SEE THAT.

>> MORE OF THE PFIZER VACCINE, IT CAN NOW BE ISSUED OFF LABEL.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> SO ANY DRUG THAT IS AUTHORIZED AND APPROVED BY THE FDA -- IF IT'S APPROVED -- HAS GOT A BUSINESS LICENSE, DOCTORS AND PRESCRIBERS CAN USE IT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

SO SOMEBODY WHO GOT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE EARLY OWN BEFORE DELTA, AND NOW THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT MAYBE THAT WASN'T THAT BEST PROTECTION, THEY CAN GO TO THEIR DOCTOR AND ASK FOR A BOOSTER SHOT OF PFIZER NOW, USE IT OFF LABEL.

UNDER EMERGENCY USE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

WHEN YOU HAVE OFF-LABEL USE, WITH AN APPROVED DRUG, YOU CAN BE FLEXIBLE IN THAT WAY, AND THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE >> AND MORE FLEXIBILITY ONCE MODERNA GETS THAT FULL APPROVAL.

>> YES.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE SOMEBODY WHO IS ALREADY DOUBLE VACCINATED, AND THEY GO TO THEIR DOCTOR AND THEY'LL SAY, CAN I GET A BOOSTER?

NOW THEY CAN DO THAT.

THEY CAN DO IT OFF LABEL.

>> INTERESTING.

INTERESTING.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS NEW NAME FOR PFIZER -- >> I CAN'T PRONOUNCE IT.

>> WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I HAVE A THEORY, THAT THE NAME IS SO BAD THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO CALL IT THE PFIZER VACCINE, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A NAME THAT I DON'T THINK ROLLS OFF OF THE TONGUE.

>> NO, IT DOESN'T.

HOW SOON DO YOU THINK MODERNA WILL GET FULL APPROVAL?

>> WELL, THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND PFIZER IN TERMS OF THE DA TA SUBMISSION, SO PROBABLY AROUND HALLOWEEN.

>> FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TESTING DO EXIST, DO THEY NOT?

>> FOR SCHOOLS, YEAH.

ARIZONA GOT $129 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM THE RESCUE PLANNANT TO DISTRIBUTE TO SCHOOLS FOR COVID MITIGATION INCLUDING TESTING.

SO SCHOOLS CAN ASK FOR THE TESTING.

MOST ARE ASKING FOR THE RAPID TEST SO THEY CAN GET AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER, BUT THEY CAN ALSO DO WHAT IS CALLED POOLED TESTING, WHICH IS A PCR TEST, WHERE YOU ARE TESTING A WHOLE CLASSROOM, AND IF ANY OF THE STUDENTS TURN UP POSITIVE, THEY GET FOLLOW-UPS THE NEXT DAY.

A LOT OF SCHOOLS OR EVEN PARENTS DON'T KNOW THIS PROGRAM IS OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE, SO IF YOU ARE A PARENT WONDERING IF YOUR SCHOOL HAS A TESTING PROGRAM, ASK YOUR PRINCIPLE, BECAUSE IT'S AVAILABLE AND IT IS FREE.

THEY JUST HAVE TO ASK THEIR COUNTY OR STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> SO MUCH OF THESE AVAILABLE FUNDS ARE JUST LAYING AROUND, BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO GET THEM OR CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

>> THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS NOT PROMOTING THE POOLED TESTING PROGRAM.

AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF KEEPING IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION INTACT, BECAUSE YOU CAN IDENTIFY STUDENTS BEFORE THERE IS A CASCADE OF CASES.

>> LAST QUESTION, THE ARIZONA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYING THAT THEY ARE SAY THE TRENDS ARE, QUOTE, OMINOUS.

>> YEAH, THEY ARE KIND OF WORRIED, AND THE THING STANDING OUT IS REALLY IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, WHERE THEY ARE REALLY FILLING UP, JUST LIKE BOTH OF OUR SURGES, REALLY, THEY HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THE PEOPLE TO A FLOOR BED, AND SO THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS GUMMING UP JUST LIKE IT DID LAST SUMMER AND OVER THE WINTER.

IT IS NOT AS BAD AS DECEMBER, JANUARY YET, AND I DON'T EXPECT IT TO EVER GET THAT BAD AGAIN, BUT THE HOSPITAL FOLKS ARE STARTING TO REALLY -- WELL, THEY ARE OPERATIONALIZING THEIR EMERGENCY PLANS AGAIN.

>> YEAH.

DON'T GET IN AN ACCIDENT IN OTHER WORDS.

>> YEAH.

>> WILL HUMBLE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU MAKE CARE.

>> YOU TAKE CARE.

>>> UP COME, WE'LL MEET ARIZONA'S NEW STATE CLIMATOLOGIST CLIMATOLOGIST.

>>> THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY APPOINTED A NEW STATE CLIMATOLOGIST.

WE SPOKE TO HER EARLIER TODAY ABOUT WHAT THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST ACTUALLY DOES.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GINNING US.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST.

WHAT DOES THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST DO?

>> THANK YOU.

IT USED TO BE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAD THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST, BUT IN 1973 THEY TRANSFERRED THAT TO THE STATE.

SO I'M THE SIXTH STATE CLIMATOLOGIST FOR ARIZONA.

AND WE DO A LOT OF SERVICE AND OUTREACH.

IT'S NOT A POLITICAL DECISION, SO I'M NOT ADVISING POLICY, BUT I'M HERE TO SERVE AND HELP EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR CLIMATE.

>> SO YOU ADVISE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE CLIMATE TOO, CORRECT?

>> I ALSO AM INVOLVED IN A LOT OF COMMITTEES, SO WE WORK WITH FEDERAL, AND STATE COMMITTEES.

SO I'M CO-CHAIR ON THE DROUGHT COMMITTEE, SO WE EVALUATE THE LEVEL OF DROUGHT EACH WEEK, AND MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ONCE A YEAR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> AS FAR AS THE LEVEL OF DROUGHT RIGHT NOW, AFTER THIS RECENT MONSOON MADNESS, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL, WHERE DO WE STAND NOW WITH THE DROUGHT?

>> DROUGHT IS SUCH A LONG-TERM PROCESS, SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF DROUGHT, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE IN SOME MEASURE OF DROUGHT UNTIL WE GET PROBABLY TWO TO THREE YEARS OF REALLY INTENSE AND HEAVY PRECIPITATION.

MOST OF THE TIME OUR DROUGHT IS GOING TO BE MITIGATED BY WINTER PRECIPITATION.

>> RIGHT, AND THE PRECIPITATION WE GET FROM THE MONSOON, THAT IS HELPING WITH THE RESERVOIRS.

THE COLORADO RIVER IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE RESERVOIRS ARE DOING PRETTY WELL, AREN'T THEY?

>> THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE.

THEY HAVE PLANNED FOR IT, AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO MANAGE THAT.

OUR RESERVOIRS ARE STILL BELOW LEVEL OF WHERE WE WOULD WANT THEM TO BE, BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE A LITTLE BIT OF WEATHER BEING RELEASED FROM THE RESERVOIRS THIS SUMMER WAS AMAZING.

SO WE DO WANT TO MANAGE OUR WATER SUPPLIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH OUR RESERVOIRING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING.

WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT THERE?

>> WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW CLIMATE OPERATES, SO I ALWAYS TRY TO COMMUNICATE TO EVERYONE AROUND ME WHO IS WILLING TO LISTEN, BUT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, THE TWO LARGEST PARAMETERS ARE TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION, AND THE ICCP JUST CAME OUT WITH THEIR LATEST SUMMER REPORT, AND IT IS THE SAME KIND OF THING WE HAVE BEEN SEEING, AND THE SAME KIND OF THINGS WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE LAST 100 YEARS.

THE STATE OF ARIZONA, OUR TEMPERATURE HAS INCREASED ABOUT 2 TO 3 DEGREES FARENHEIT IN THAT LAST 100 YEARS, AND MORE THAN LIKELY IT WILL CONTINUE.

WE'RE NOT EXPECTING IT TO TAKE A BIG JUMP, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY INCREASING.

WITH PRECIPITATION, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING.

WHEN WE DEAL WITH PRECIPITATION IN A DESERT ENVIRONMENT, WE GET HEAVY INTENSE PRECIPITATION IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, AND IT'S HIGHLY VARIABLE, AND IN FACT THAT'S THE EXPECTATION FOR THE FUTURE.

WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT IS GO K ING TO HAPPEN, BUT WE EXPECT IT TO BE VARIABLE.

>> INDEED.

SCIENTISTS ARE SAYING IT IS BECAUSE OF MAN MADE ACTIVITY.

AS A STATE CLIMATOLOGIST NOW, DO YOU HAVE TO WALK A FINE LINE HERE?

YOU DO AGREE THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS MAN MADE, CORRECT?

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW CLIMATE OPERATES.

I'LL TALK TO A MEN'S CLUB IN SCOTTSDALE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND I'LL EXPLAIN HOW THE CLIMATE OPERATES.

WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE RADIATION COMES DOWN, AND HEATS UP THE GROUND, AND THE GROUND HEATS UP THE AIR, SO I LIKE TO EXPLAIN HOW THOSE THINGS OPERATE SO EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM.

A GOOD WAY TO UNDERSTAND CLIMATE CHANGE IS TO UNDERSTAND THE URBAN HEAT ISLANDS, AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN SEE WE'RE PUTTING IN URBAN LOCATIONS AND COVERING THEM WITH ASPHALT AND CEMENT AND PUTTING UP BUILDINGS, AND THAT ABSORBS THE HEAT AND KEEPS IT HOT OVERNIGHT, SO WE DON'T COOL OFF OVERNIGHT.

THAT IS A MEASURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IF WE YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE ENERGY BALANCE.

>> BUT BEFORE WE GO -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR NOW, SCIENTISTS OVERWHELMINGLY BELIEVE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE RESULT OF BURNING GAS AND OIL.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THEY JUST CAME OUT AND ATTRIBUTED HOW MUCH OF THE CHANGE IN OUR TEMPERATURE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO GREENHOUSE GASES.

>> OKAY.

SO YOU ARE ON BOARD WITH THE OTHER SCIENCE OUT THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE POSITION AND BEST OF LUCK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BYE-BYE.

>>> A NEW VIRTUAL MUSIC PROGRAM AT PHOENIX'S MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM LOOKS TO HELP FOLKS WHO HAVE DEVELOPED AGE-RELATED MEMORY PROBLEMS.

IT'S A COLLABORATION WITH ASU AND BEING OFFERED NATIONWIDE.

WE LEARNED MORE ON THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING STUFF GOING ON AT MIM.

A COUPLE OF VIDEO COLLECTIONS NOWING ART, MUSIC, AND THERAPY.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE A PART MUSEUM VISIT, PART MUSIC THERAPY SESSION.

WE SAW THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS A LOT OF SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND PEOPLE WEREN'T ABLE TO CONNECT.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT WAYS TO CONNECT IS THROUGH MUSIC.

SO WE THOUGHT CRITICALLY ABOUT HOW CAN WE OFFER THIS ON A LARGER SCALE TO OTHERS THAT CAN'T COME TO MIM DURING THIS TIME, BUT MAYBE TO OTHERS THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COME TO MIM REGARDLESS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND THIS EXERCISE IS WHAT, COGNITIVE SKILLS AND MAYBE PHYSICAL SKILLS AS WELL.

>> YES, LOTS OF COGNITIVE SKILLS, SUSTAINED ATTENTION.

DECIDED ATTENTION, AND LOOKING AT PHYSICAL SKILLS.

SO WE'RE DOING UPPER EXTREMITIES AND FINE MOTOR MOVEMENT.

AND MOTIVATION FOR ENGAGING IN LIFE, DECREASING ISOLATION BY PARTICIPATING IN MUSIC, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE VIDEO AND LIFE-LONG SPACE AS WELL.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF BASES COVERED THERE.

KATHERINE, THERE WITH TWO SAID YOU COLLECTIONS ONE IS SENIOR WELLNESS, AND THE OTHER IS THE MEMORY CARE COLLECTION.

>> YES, EACH ONE FOCUSES ON OUR FIVE CATEGORIES AT MIM.

AND THEN THE MUSEUM CONTENT DELIVERED BY CURE RATE OR LIKE MYSELF.

>> AND DOCTOR, THE IDEA OF MUSIC AND ART, AND JUST THESE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES, RELIEVING STRESS AND RELIEVING THAT SENSE OF ISOLATION, STUDIES SHOW IT EXISTS, RIGHT?

>> YES, FOR ME AS A MUSIC THERAPIST, I DON'T ALWAYS GET TO GO LIVE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, SO HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY IN WHICH WE CAN REACH SO MANY OLDER ADULTS BY MAKING THIS VIDEO CONTENT IS AMAZING.

>> AND DO YOU ACTUALLY SEE THE LIGHT IN THE EYES START BRIGHTENING?

>> YES, WHEN WE DO OUR SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS, IT'S THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE.

YOU'LL HAVE INDIVIDUALS BEGIN TO PROCESS MEMORIES AND SHARE THE PHYSICAL INTERACTION WITH OTHERS IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

THOSE ARE JUST SUCH GREAT FEELINGS, AND SUCH GREAT THINGS THAT SOMETIMES YOU SEE GO AWAY IF SOMEBODY IS DETERIORATING, SO BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE COGNITIVE SKILLS SO IMPORTANT.

>> YEAH, AND KATHERINE I WAS LOOKING THIS OVER, GLOBAL JOURNEYS.

THAT IS A LOT OF STUFF EVEN FOR FOLKS WHO AREN'T HAVING A LOT OF COGNITIVE ISSUES.

THAT IS A LOT GOING ON THERE.

>> IT IS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO OUR MUSEUM, YOU KNOW THE DEPTH AND SCOPE WE HAVE TO OFFER.

WE GET TO EXPERIENCE SITES AND SOUNDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TOGETHER >> AND WE'RE TALKING QUALITY OF LIFE HERE.

I IMAGINE SOME OF THESE FOLKS, THEY DON'T EVEN REALIZE HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO GET OUT UNTIL THEY EXPERIENCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> EXACTLY.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CONTEXT FROM THE MIM AND THE MUSIC THERAPY.

WE ALSO ADDED THE INTERGENERATIONAL COMPONENT.

SO WITH TEACHING AND SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE, WHAT IS GREAT IS THE SCHOOLS OF MUSIC DANCE AND THEATER, THEY ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THE STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WITH THE OLDER ADULTS SEEING ALL OF THESE 19 AND 20 YEARS OLD SAYING I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU ON A MUSICAL JOURNEY, AND THIS IS PART OF MY BACKGROUND, SO THERE IS THIS CONNECTION WITH DIVERSITY AND INTERGENERATIONAL COMPONENTS AND STILL GETTING TO EXPERIENCE LIFE.

>> YEAH, INDEAD.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO DEVELOP SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> QUITE A WHILE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WE STARTED IN COLLABORATION PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, AND THEN OF COURSE HAD TO PIVOT ONCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, AND SO WE USED THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ENGAGE WITH THE ASU STUDENTS.

SO THE AMOUNT OF TIME FROM SCRIPTING TO EDITING AND ALL OF THE OTHER STEPS, IT HAS BEEN PRETTY INTENSE.

>> YEAH, I WAS TEACHING A CLASS ON THIS SIDE.

AND IT WASN'T JUST THE STUDENTS.

I TAUGHT THE STUDENTS ABOUT AGING, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEMENTIA AND WELLNESS OF THE POPULATION, MAKING SURE WE'RE USING MUSIC THAT DOESN'T HAVE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS.

AND IT WAS ALWAYS SUCH AN AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE QUITE THE SUCCESS.

GOOD CONVERSATION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, BYE.

>>> 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 WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY VOTES NOW THAT COVID HAS DELAYED THE INITIAL REPORT.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE CHANGED DATING FOREVER.

♪♪