[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA ON ON ARIZONA HORIZON, DETAILS ON A REPORT THAT THE FBI IS INVESTIGATING GOVERNOR DUCEY REGARDING A TAX REFUND TO A CAMPAIGN SUPPORTER.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE LATEST REACTION TO AMERICA'S MILITARY WITHDRAW FROM AFGHANISTAN, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A CONVERSATION REGARDING THE INCREASE IN COVID INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN.

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

♪♪ >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA STUDENTS NEED TO WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

THAT ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO URGE MASKS IN CLASSROOMS NOW.

THE JOINT STATEMENT INCLUDES STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION KATHY HOFFMAN, SAYING THAT DECISIONS MADE BY LAWMAKERS AND NOT BY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE RESULTED IN , QUOTE, ANOTHER DEADLY SURGE IN COVID-19.

AND THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION ADDS WE'VE RETURNED TO FAMILIAR TERRITORITY.

AND THE ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAID, THE HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG CHILDREN, IS QUOTE, ALARMING.

OVER 4700 NEW CASES ON RECORD TODAY.

BUT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THE HIGH NUMBER IS DUE TO A CARRY OVER IN COUNTS.

AND TODAY IS AT 67.

>>> REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKER JEFF WENNIGER ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY OF TREASURER TODAY.

HE IS ANNOUNCED WITH THE ENDORSEMENT OF REGINA COBB, WHO IS NOW SUPPORTING WENNIGER.

>>> A TEXAS LAW PROHIBITING ABORTIONS AFTER SIX WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, WENT INTO EFFECT TODAY.

AND NOW THERE IS NEARLY A COMPLETE BAN ON ABORTIONS WITH NO REGARD TO INCEST OR RAPE.

REACTION FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD?

>> IT'S COMPLETELY UNCONSCIONABLE.

AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEY ARE PREGNANT BY SIX WEEKS.

SO THERE COULD BE PEOPLE WAKING UP TODAY, OR THIS WEEK FINDING OUT THAT THEY ARE PREGNANT, AND -- AND NOT HAVING A FULL RANGE OF OPTIONS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

>> THE LAW IS WRITTEN SO CHARGES AGAINST ABORTION AND FACILITATORS CAN ONLY BE DECIDED BY TEXAS COURTS.

>>> PAYROLLS UNDERPERFORMED EXPECTATIONS FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT MONTH.

374,000 PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS WERE ADDED LAST MONTH, WELL BELOW THE NUMBER EXPECTED BY ANALYSTS.

>>> AND ARIZONA AND GEORGIA ARE THE FIRST STATES TO SIGN ON TO A NEW PROGRAM BY APPLE THAT WILL SOON ALLOW TRAVELERS TO GET THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY BY USING DIGITAL IDS ON THEIR PHONES OR DRIVER'S LICENSES.

AND THE TSA IS PLANNING TO ADD CHECK POINTS TO ACCEPT THOSE METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION.

>>> USA TODAY AND ARIZONA REPUBLIC REPORTER, CRAIG HARRIS RECENTLY RELEASED A STORY ABOUT AN FBI INVESTIGATION INTO GOVERNOR DUCEY.

THE INVESTIGATION FOCUSES ON A MAJOR TAX REFUND FOR A MAJOR CAMPAIGN SUPPORTER.

CRAIG HARRIS JOINED US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE STORY.

CRAIG HARRIS GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WHY IS THE FBI OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION?

>> WELL, IT'S A VERY COMPLEX STORY, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH SALE TAXES, SPECIAL INTERESTS, AND THE BIG CAMPAIGN DONOR.

WHAT IS GOING ON IS THE FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNOR PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO PROVIDE A SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR ONE SMALL COMPANY CALLED CARTER OIL, BUT HAD THEY GIVEN THAT EXEMPTION IT WOULD HAVE OPENED THE FLOOD GATES TO $100 MILLION IN REBATES TO NUMEROUS COMPANIES.

RYAN LLC ENDED UP HIRING THREE STAFF MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR.

INCLUDING THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF.

AND WITHIN MONTHS AFTER LEAVING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THEY WERE LOBBYING PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AN AGENCY THEY HAD AN MANAGED AND OVERSEEN TO GIVE TAX REBATES TO THESE BUSINESSES.

GRETCHEN KONGER WAS ALSO WORKING ON THE CASE, AND HER DAD'S COMPANY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY GOTTEN ABOUT A $10 MILLION REFUND HAD THIS ALL GONE THROUGH.

>> SO THE $100 MILLION WOULD HAVE GONE TO A VARIETY OF COMPANIES REPRESENTED BY THE CAMPAIGN SUPPORTER?

>> YES, CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

SO -- AND THIS GENTLEMAN IS G BRINT RYAN, AND WHAT WAS THE EXCEPTION BEHIND THIS REFUND?

>> THERE WASN'T ANY.

FOR YEARS COMPANIES HAD PAID THIS SALES TAX.

AND WHAT PEOPLE LIKE RYAN DOES IS THEY FIND LOOPHOLES, AND 80 TO 90% OF THE TIME THEY ARE REJECTED, BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP THEM.

AND THEY USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO TRY TO GET AN INSIDE LEG TO PUT PRESSURE ON AGENCIES TO GET THE REFUND BACK.

AND THEY DO THIS BEHIND THE SCENES.

IT WOULD BE LIKE YOU OR ME, CALLING UP THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW, I THINK I SHOULD GET A REFUND, AND MY BUDDY WOULD LIKE YOU TO HELP ME.

SO THAT'S WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE.

HE WAS USING GOVERNOR DUCEY AND HIS TOP AIDS TO PRESSURE THESE FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO GIVE AWAY $100 MILLION TO A HANDFUL OF BUSINESSES IN ARIZONA.

>> AND THESE TOP AIDS WHO OVERSAW THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, THEY LEFT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO WORK FOR THIS GUY?

>> YEAH, AND YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO WAIT AT LEAST A YEAR, AND THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT DOESN'T REALLY APPLY US TO, BECAUSE THESE GUYS DIDN'T WORK AT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, BUT THEY DIDN'T WORK AT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, BUT THEY SUPERVISED THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

AND THE CHIEF OF STAFF WAS IN CHARGE OF PUTTING PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

DURING THE SAME TIME THEY HAD THE EAR OF GOVERNOR DUCEY, BECAUSE THEY KEPT WORKING FOR THE GOVERNOR ON THE SIDE AFTER THEY LEFT OFFICE.

SO THEY HAD DIRECT ACCESS WHILE LOBBYING THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

>> AND THIS DEAL NEVER HAPPENED.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, THE GATES KIND OF GOT BLOWN UP, BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS, AND THINGS WENT QUIET, AND THE COURT OF APPEALS SAYS, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RULE ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS WAS ALL INVOLVED IN A LAWSUITED.

LAWSUIT, AND ONCE THE COURTS SAID NO, RYAN DECIDED TO LET THIS GO AWAY.

AND WE RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT KIRK ADAMS HAS SEPARATELY BEEN LOBBYING TO GET A $20 MILLION REFUND, AND THEY WON'T SAY IF THEY GAVE THAT MONEY AWAY OR NOT.

>> THE OLD FOLKS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, THEY WERE FIRED BY THE GOVERNOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY WEREFIRED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND I THINK THEY WILL CONTEND, THAT THEY HAD BECOME SUCH A THORN IN THE SIDE TO RYAN, THE COMPANY, THAT DUCEY JUST GOT RID OF THEM.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TRIES TO PAINT THESE GUYS AS DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES, BUT THEY WEREN'T.

NO ONE IN THIS STORY CONTACTED ME.

I CONTACTED THEM, AND I FILED THE RECORDS REQUEST, AND WE BASED THIS INVESTIGATION ON OVER 3500 PAGES OF RECORDS, SO TO TRY TO PAINT THESE FOLKS AS DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES IS FLAT-OUT WRONG, AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND ONE PERSON WHO HAD WORKED IN THE DUCEY ADMINISTRATION CALLED THEM GREAT MINDS IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

SO IT'S -- THESE WERE ESSENTIALLY WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO DECIDED TO COME FORWARD, MAYBE NOT IN THE GOVERNOR'S SENSE, BUT THEY CAME FORWARD AND INTERVIEWED WITH US, AND WE PULLED THEIR STORY, BUT IT WASN'T LIKE THEY CONTACTED US.

>> WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAVE YOU HAD FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

>> THEY HAVE TRIED TO BE DISMISSIVE.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO ACT LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO ACT LIKE THE FBI IS NOT INVESTIGATING, WHICH THEY ARE.

I HAVE THAT ON NUMEROUS SOURCES.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO BE DISMISSIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THE GOVERNOR WON'T DO INTERVIEWS.

THEIR STAFF WON'T SIT DOWN AND DO INTERVIEWS FOR THE MOST PART.

SO THEY WANT TO ENGAGE IN VERY TRUMP-LIKE BEHAVIOR, BY GOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TRYING TO ATTACK THE PEOPLE WHO CAME FORWARD, INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY HAVING A CONVERSATION.

>> QUITE A REPORT, AND QUITE AN INVESTIGATION.

CRAIG HARRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING US ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> UP NEXT, THE LATEST ON HOW ARIZONA HOSPITALS ARE HANDLING THIS LATEST COVID SURGE.

>>> HOSPITALS ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN CASES OF COVID-19 WITH MANY EMERGENCY ROOMS AND ICU NEARING CAPACITY.

WE HAVE GOT THE LATEST NOW FROM STEVE PURVES, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VALLEY-WIDE HEALTH.

STEVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE KNOW IT'S A BUSY TIME FOR YOU.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN YOUR EMERGENCY ROOMS AND ICU ROOMS RIGHT NOW?

>> WE'RE SEEING THE RISE OF THE DELTA VARIANT, AND THE RISE IN CASES IN GENERAL, AND IT IS CONTINUING TO GO UP.

THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS -- IS CROWDED, AND STILL HAVING AN IMPACT, YOU KNOW, ON THE WAIT TIMES AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE VALLEY, AND CERTAINLY THAT'S NO EXCEPTION HERE.

>> AND DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH ICU BEDS AND STAFF?

>> THE PROBLEM REALLY IS THE STAFFING COMPONENT OF THIS.

THE STAFFING SITUATION HAS BECOME FAIRLY ACUTE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

PHYSICALLY WE HAVE THE BEDS READY TO GO.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT TO TRY TO STAND UP COVID ISOLATION UNITS, BUT THE STAFF -- STAFFING IS A PROBLEM.

OUR STAFF IS TIRED ACROSS THE VALLEY.

NURSING PROFESSIONALS ARE TIRED, SOME OF THEM ARE CHOSEN TO -- TO DO OTHER THINGS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE A HIATUS BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS PLACED ON THEM.

SO, YES, THE REAL BOTTLENECK IS STAFFING IN OUR HOSPITALS.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU RUN SHORT ON STAFF?

ARE OTHER HOSPITALS COOPERATING?

>> WE'RE WORKING VERY COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS.

A NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU CAN'T STAFF YOUR UNITS.

NUMBER 1, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR NON-COVID PATIENTS.

WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE BURN CENTER, A TRAUMA PROGRAM, SURGICAL SERVICES AND PRIMARY CARE, AND ALL OF THOSE SERVICES ARE THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM.

DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE HAVE ABOUT HALF OF OUR ICU AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF COVID PATIENTS, IT'S CERTAINLY PUTS STRAIN ON OUR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF OTHERS WHO NEED HOSPITAL SERVICES AND OUT-PATIENT SERVICES.

>> WE'RE HEARING REPORTS THAT THERE IS A SPIKE IN CHILDREN BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT?

>> YES, WE ARE SEEING PEDIATRIC ADMISSIONS ACROSS THE VALLEY.

THAT'S THE FASTEST-GROWING SEGMENT OF THE COVID WAVE RIGHT NOW, AND FOR SOME PRETTY OBVIOUS REASONS WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, AND ALSO WITH SCHOOLS BEING BACK IN SESSION.

SO, YES, THAT'S THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT.

>> ARE YOU SEEING COMBINATIONS OF RSV AND COVID?

>> WE CERTAINLY ARE.

THIS IS THE SEASON FOR RSV, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT IN COMBINATION WITH COVID AS WELL.

>> FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED IN YOUR SYSTEM HERE WITH COVID, HOW MANY ARE UNVACCINATED?

>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TOTAL POPULATION OF OUR COVID HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS HAS BECOME THE DISEASE OF THE UNVACCINATED.

WE HAVE BEEN AS MUCH AS 100% OF OUR PATIENTS -- COVID PATIENTS IN OUR HOSPITAL THAT HAVE BEEN NOT FULLY VACCINATED, AND IT HOVERS BETWEEN 95% AND 100%.

OF THE CHILDREN I WOULD EXPECT THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, SAME NUMBER, EXCEPT FOR UNDER 12, OBVIOUSLY THE VACCINE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THAT POPULATION.

BUT AT THEN OF THE DAY, WE KNOW THAT VACCINATIONS ARE THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS.

>> OVERALL IN TERMS OF THE PATIENTS THAT YOU ARE SEEING, ARE THEY SHOWING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS, RESULTS, CO-MORE -- CO MORE BE ITTY THE WHOLE 9 YARDS?

>> WE ARE SEEING YOUNGER PEOPLE REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION, AND UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO BE PUT ON A VENTILATOR.

AND UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

AND THAT'S A REAL TRAGEDY.

>> AND THIS PAST WINTER, WE DID NOT SEE A LOT OF FLU CASES, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF MASK WEARING.

WE HAVE ANOTHER WINTER COMING UP HERE, ARE YOU CONCERNED?

IN >> WE'RE VERY CONCERNED.

IF WE CAN'T GET A HANDLE ON THE SPREAD OF COVID, AND WE'RE NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE, AS WE'RE ANTICIPATING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO ADHERE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING, IT COULD BE ANOTHER PERFECT STORM LIKE IT IS TODAY.

IT PUTS A STRAIN ON OUR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF OTHERS WHO NEED CARE, ESPECIALLY DURING A FLU SEASON, WHEN WE HAVE SEEN YEARS WHEN JUST WITH INFLUENZA HAS COME CLOSE TO OVERWHELMING OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.

>> INDEED.

ARE YOU GETTING ANY POISON CALLS FROM FOLKS WHO ARE TAKING IVERMECTIN OR THINGS THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING?

>> THAT IS ALWAYS A CONCERN.

I'M NOT AWARE THAT WE HAVE HAD ANY POISON CALLS INTO OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF THAT, BUT THAT IS A CONCERN, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE MISINFORMATION CAUSE SOMEBODY TO HARM THEMSELVES.

>> STEVE PURVES, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VALLEY-WIDE HEALTH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> A HALF CENT SALES TAX TO FUND AND EXPAND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS BACK IN 2004, AND IS SET TO EXPIRE IN 2025, WITH THAT IN MIND, VALLEY METRO IS PUSHING TO GET AN EXTENSION OF THE TAX.

VALLEY METRO CEO SCOTT SMITH SPOKE WITH US ABOUT THAT.

SCOTT, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT PROP 400.

WHAT IS IT?

>> PROP 400 WAS PASSED IN 2004 BY THE VOTERS, AND IT HAS PAID FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE EXPANSION OF OUR ROAD SYSTEMS, AND PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND IT IS SET TO EXPIRE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, SO WE'RE WORKING ON HOW DO WE EXTEND THAT TAX THAT WE HAVE HAD NOT ONLY IN THIS LAST APPROVAL, BUT BEFORE THAT.

>> YEAH, PROP 300 BACK IN THE '80S.

YOU SAID 2025, THE NEXT EXPIRATION.

YOU WANT TO GET THIS ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR?

>> THE ATTEMPT TO TRY TO GET IT ON IN 2022, SO IF YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T FIT, YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO CHANGE IT.

THESE PROGRAM WITHES TAKE TIME TO PLAN, AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE FULLY APPRECIATE THE IMPACT THESE TAXES HAVE.

LOOK AT THE FREEWAY SYSTEM, THE ABILITY TO MOVE, LOOK AT THE COMMERCIAL TIME IT HAS CREATED.

LIGHT RAIL ITSELF HAS CREATED ALMOST $15 BILLION IN VALUE.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY LIGHT RAIL IS A COMPLETE BOONDOGGLE.

>> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART THAT IS GONE, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS.

THERE WAS A PRETTY COMPELLING ARGUMENT TO VOTE AGAINST IT IN PHOENIX, AND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY SAID YES TO LIGHT RAIL.

SO PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS AS BEING PART OF OUR FUTURE.

>> AND THE FUTURE, AGAIN, 2025 WOULD EXTEND THE SALES TAX.

AND AS FAR AS PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO EXTEND THIS FOR WHAT?

>> WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO REALIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

TAKE IT AND NOW HAVE THAT GO AWAY.

HAVE THE FREEWAYS CRUMBLE.

NOT BE ABLE TO PLAN FOR THE ONE MILLION-PLUS PEOPLE WHO WILL COME HERE.

AND THE IMPACT WHEN YOU DON'T INVEST.

PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE ME HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN LITERALLY CHANGING THE NATURE OF OUR ECONOMY.

>> AND MANY ARE SAYING EXSTEAD OF EXTENDING TAXES, WE SHOULD BE CUTTING TAXES.

>> YES.

AND THIS HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO ENABLE THE COUNTY TO CALL THE TAX.

WE KNOW WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS RIGHT NOW, AND I HOPE PEOPLE THAT CAN BE STATESMAN-LIKE, AND PUT THAT ASIDE, AND REALIZE THAT TWO THINGS HAVE LITERALLY CHANGED THIS VALLEY, TWO THINGS.

PROP 300, THE HEAVY INVESTMENT?

TRANSPORTATION, AND WATER.

THINK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE CHANGED AS AN ECONOMY.

I THINK THAT IS THE BEST ARGUMENT POSSIBLE, SAYING WHY WOULD YOU STOP THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT?

>> ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU WILLING TO STICK AROUND FOR THIS -- NOW YOU ARE RETIRING.

>> I'M RETIRING FROM VALLEY METRO, BUT NOT FROM DISCUSSIONS.

I HAVE LIVED THIS.

I FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT OUR FUTURE, MY GRANDKIDS FUTURE, AND I LOOK BACK AT THESE DECISIONS WHEN I WAS A KID, AND LOOK AT THE LIFE THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE IN.

>> YOU CAME ON WHEN THE ORGANIZATION WAS IN TROUBLE.

THERE WERE SOME PROBLEM THERE, AND YOU TURNED IT AROUND.

AND KUDOS TO YOU ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BUT ARE IS THERE THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

>> WELL, YOU ARE RIGHT.

AND IT IS JUST A GOOD TIME IN MY LIFE, AND ALSO IN VALLEY METRO, IT'S AS STRONG AS AN ORGANIZATION AS I HAVE EVER SEEN IT, AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD TIME TO MOVE ON AND TURN THOSE REIGNS OVER.

I'M GOING TO STAY INVOLVED?

>> ELECTED POLITICS?

>> I THINK I WILL HAVE INFLUENCE IN OTHER WAYS, BECAUSE I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

>> WOULD YOU CONSIDER RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT AS OPPOSED TO A REPUBLICAN?

>> I AM GOING TO TAKE CARE OF VALLEY METRO RIGHT NOW, AND WHEN I LEAVE, I'LL SEE HOW BEST I CAN SERVE.

>> LIKE A TRUE POLITICIAN, YOU DIDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE CHANGED?

>> YEAH, I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD ABOUT $20 MILLION IN THE BANK WHEN I RAN FOR GOVERNOR, BUT NO REGRETS.

ISLE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN NO MATTER WHAT ROLE I TAKE.

AND I'LL SEE WHAT THAT IS.

>> VALLEY METRO CEO SCOTT SMITH, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>>> 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 ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, AN UNDATE ON TRYING TO SLOW THE RECENT COVID CASES.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A CONVERSATION REGARDING THE INCREASE IN COVID INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN.

♪♪