[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE INCREASING FRICTIONS BETWEEN KYRSTEN SINEMA AND HER FELLOW DEMOCRATS.

AND ON ON "CRONKITE NEWS," A LOOK AT SOME OF THE NEW LAWS THAT GO INTO EFFECT TODAY.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT DENIED THE LEGISLATURE'S REQUEST TO TEMPORARILY BLOCK YESTERDAY'S RULING BY A LOWER COURT THAT INVALIDATED THE RULING ON A MASK MANDATES.

A NUMBER OF NEW LAWS THAT DID PASS CONSTITUTIONALLY DID TAKE EFFECT TODAY.

>>> ARIZONA SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AGAIN TODAY.

IT IS THE FOURTH MEETING IN THE LAST TWO DAYS.

SINEMA AND FELLOW DEMOCRAT JOE MANCHIN HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE PRICE TAG OF THE BILL.

A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBER CLAIMED QUOTE, HOLDING UP THE ENTIRE WILL OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

STATE SENATOR MARTIN QUEZADA IS RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

>>> FORMER OLYMPIAN AND PHOENIX ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMER KLETE KELLER CLETE PLEADED GUILTY TODAY TO A FELONY CHARGE INVOLVING THE JANUARY 6TH RIOT AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

HE AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY AND COOPERATE WITH OFFICIALS TO HAVE SIX OTHER CHARGES DROPPED.

HE WILL LIKELY FACE PRISON TIME.

>>> ARIZONA RECORDED CLOSE TO 3400 CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY.

COVID-RELATED FATALITIES WERE AT 39.

AS THE STATE APPROACHES 20,000 COVID DEATHS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID ARE FALLING, THOUGH.

AND COVID BOOSTER SHOTS DON'T APPEAR TO CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS WORST THAN THE SECOND DOSE.

THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS WERE INJECTION-SITE PAIN, FATIGUE, AND A HEADACHE.

>>> AS MENTIONED EARLIER, SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA IS INKOREAINGLY AT ODDS WITH HER FOLLOW DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL.

IT IS ALL PROMPTED THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO THREATEN A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE.

HE TALKED ABOUT WITH JASON BARRAZA, DIRECTOR OF THE POLITICAL CONSULTING FIRM VERIDUS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'RE TALKING ALL THINGS KYRSTEN SINEMA, AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, AND HER -- WELL, YOU EXPLAIN TO ME, WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> WE'RE IN AN INTERESTING TIME, AND WE'RE SEEING SOME THINGS WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A WHILE HERE.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF INFIGHTING WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND IT IS TAKING A NATIONAL STAGE, AND IT IS THE FOCUS OF THOUGHE NATION RIGHT NOW.

>> SHE IS KEY TO THE PRICE OF THE BILL, BUT THAT MAKES HER ALSO KEY TO PASSING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT SHE HELPED PUSH THROUGH.

AND THE WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING, WHAT DO YOU WANT.

>> YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING HOW THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TIED THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO THE LARGER SPENDING BILL WHICH IS BOOING THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROCESS.

SO WE HAVE THOSE TWO BILLS BEING TIED TOGETHER.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND EVEN THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR IT AT THIS TIME, THEY DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT IT AT THIS TIME, AND KYRSTEN SINEMA HAS SAID SHE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PRICE TAG ON THAT.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY THAT PROBLEM IS, WE DON'T KNOW YET.

BUT IN TEN YEARS KYRSTEN SINEMA HAS MOVED HERSELF FROM A STATE LEGISLATURE TO A TOTAL POLITICAL MOVEMENT BY HER.

>> IS THAT INFLUENCE GOOD FOR ARIZONA?

>> I THINK IT IS.

BECAUSE IT PUTS US ON THE STAGE.

KYRSTEN SINEMA IS OUR VOICE THERE.

SHE IS MAKING SURE THAT SHE IS A CENTER VOICE, A MODERATE VOICE, BECAUSE SHE RECOGNIZES THAT SHE DOESN'T JUST REPRESENT DEMOCRATS, SHE REPRESENTS BOTH PARTIES.

AND THERE IS THE POINT THAT KYRSTEN SINEMA IS SPEAKING TO BOTH SIDES.

SHE IS HEARING ALL OF THE VOICES OUT THERE, AND IN THE END, SHE'LL MAKE THE DECISION THAT IS RIGHT FOR HER AND RIGHT FOR ARIZONA.

>> YOU THINK SHE IS SPEAKING FOR BOTH SIDES.

I'M HEARING A LOT OF DEMOCRATS SAYING THEY ARE NOT HAPPY AT ALL WITH HER.

HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT?

>> IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE WHY SOME DEMOCRATS ARE NOT HAPPY.

WHY ISN'T THE BROOD DEMOCRATIC AGENDA BEING MOVED THROUGH THE PROCESS?

AND REALLY, THE PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING IS YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS FROM ACROSS THE BOARD, DEMOCRATS FROM STRONG HOLDS IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS HERE.

SO WE'RE NOT ALL THE SAME, AND IN ORDER TO SEE THE BROADER AGENDA GO THROUGH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR DEMOCRATS ARE TOGETHER.

>> AND ANOTHER QUOTE IS HER EVASIVENESS IS INSANE.

YOU ARE SAYING THAT EVASIVENESS AND POWER IS A GOOD THING FOR ARIZONA?

>> I THINK IT IS BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONE BEING TALKED TO, AND THAT STRENGTHENS HER POSITION.

AND ARIZONA'S POSITION.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS HER FUTURE?

>> WHO KNOWS.

THAT WOULD BE A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK HER.

HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE SHE IS TRYING TO MAKE A BETTER FUTURE FOR AMERICA.

>> AND WE HAVE SEEN DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE MOVED ON TO BECOME INDEPENDENTS OR DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ANYMORE.

IS SHE GOING TO BE A FUTURE INDEPENDENT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

JOHN McCAIN HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH PARTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, AND I THINK NO ONE IS GOING TO LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT IMPACTED THE MEMORY WE HAVE OF HIM.

>> AND LAST QUESTION, YOU MENTIONED HOW IT'S UNUSUAL TO HEAR ABOUT THIS KIND OF INFIGHTING THE DEMOCRATS.

IS THIS AN INDICATION THAT DEMOCRATS ARE COMING TO POWER?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

AT LEAST HERE IN ARIZONA WE'RE SEEING OUR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE CHANGE.

WE'RE SLOWING MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, WHETHER OR NOT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRODUCT OF THE FUTURE.

JASON BARRAZA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK >>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," INCREASING CONCERN OVER INCREASING CASES OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN THE STATE.

>>> ARIZONA IS SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CASES OF WEST NILE VIRUS.

LAST YEAR AS OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, MARICOPA COUNTY HAD JUST THREE CASES OF THE VIRUS.

THIS YEAR THE COUNTY HAS REPORTED 104 CASES AND COUNTING.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM DR. SHAD MARVASTI OF U OF A'S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WE'RE TALKING WEST NILE DISEASE.

IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR.

WHAT IS WEST NILE DISEASE?

>> IT IS AN INFECTION THAT COMES WITH THE WEST NILE VIRUS.

AND IT'S A SEASONAL EPIDEMIC.

AND YOU CAN ONLY GET IT THROUGH MOSQUITO VIRUS, AND THE MOSQUITO MOSQUITOS USUALLY BITE A BIRD AND THEY GET THE INFECTION.

USUALLY 80% OF PEOPLE INFECTED WILL NOT EVEN KNOW IT.

BUT 20% OF PEOPLE WILL HAVE SYMPTOMS, BUT 1 IN 150 PEOPLE MAY DEVELOP SEVERE PROBLEMS.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

ARE THERE FOLKS THAT ARE MORE AT RISK FOR WEST NILE DISEASE AND THE VIRUS?

>> DEFINITELY.

SAME FOLKS THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR THINGS LIKE COVID.

PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HIGH-RISK CATEGORIES.

>> IS THERE A TEST FOR WEST NILE?

>> THERE ARE BLOOD TESTS THAT WE CAN DO BUT USUALLY THERE IS NO REAL TREATMENT.

WE LOOK FOR THE INFECTED MOSQUITOS.

THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA, SO FAR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE ABOUT 132 CASES, AND 5 DEATHS, AND MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN THE MARICOPA COUNTY.

AND WE ACTUALLY LEAD THE NATION RIGHT NOW IN CASES OF SYMPTOMATIC WEST NILE VIRUS, SO IT'S PARTICULARLY CONCERNING HERE IN ARIZONA AND EVEN MORE SO IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

>> DOES IT COME FROM ALL MOSQUITOS OR JUST A CERTAIN TYPE OF MOSQUITOS?

>> YEAH, IT'S HARD TO DISTINGUISH, REALLY, IT IS PRETTY MUCH ALL MOSQUITOS BECAUSE IT FEEDS ON THE BLOODS OF OTHER CREATURES.

AND ALSO YOUR PET CAN GET INFECTED AS WELL, SO WHEN THEY FEED ON YOU OR OUR ANIMAL, IF THEY HAVE FED BEFORE ON THE INFECTED BIRD, THEY TRANSMIT THAT VIRUS TO YOU.

A LOT OF MOSQUITO BITES PEOPLE HAVE WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THEY HAVE BEEN BITTEN.

SOME PEOPLE GET SWELLING AND A LOT OF THAT INCHING, BURNING SENSATION, VERSUS OTHERS MAY NOT GET THAT.

SO YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD IT, BUT WE KNOW THEY ARE OUT THERE, AND THE COUNTY SETS TRAPS TO CHECK SAMPLES, AND IN 2020, THE COUNTY HAD 10 SAMPLES OF THE VIRUS.

THIS YEAR SO FAR THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY FOUND 612 SAMPLES WITH THE VIRUS.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

AND ONCE THE MOSQUITO BREAKS THE SKIN, DOES THAT MEAN BALL GAME?

BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU FEEL IT, SLAP IT, AND KILL IT.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> ONCE IT GETS THROUGH YOUR SKIN, THE CHANCES ARE HIGH YOU COULD BE INFECTED WITH IT.

WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE WHERE WE CATCH THE MOSQUITO IN THE ACT, AND THAT CAN HELP.

BUT USING THINGS LIKE WEARING LONG SLEEVES, OR DIFFERENT THINGS APPROVED TO BE MOSQUITO REPELLANTS.

>> AND, AGAIN, THE COLD WEATHER PRETTY MUCH KNOCKS THIS OUT.

HOW COLD DOES IT HAVE TO GET?

>> IT'S REALLY A COMBINATION OF HUMIDITY AND POOLS OF WATER.

AND THAT IS WHY ANOTHER THING THAT THE COUNTY IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO GO MORE OF IS SPRAY.

BECAUSE THERE ARE PESTICIDES SPECIFIC TO THESE MOSQUITO POPULATIONS.

BUT IF YOU SEE STAGNANT WATER AROUND YOUR PROPERTY, YOU WANT TO TRY TO DRAIN THAT, BECAUSE IT IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT COMES IN THE SUMMER PARTICULARLY FOR US BECAUSE OF THE MONSOON.

>> AND IS THERE A VACCINE AT ALL IN THE WORKS FOR THIS?

>> THERE IS NO REAL VACCINE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT HASN'T BEEN SOMETHING THAT IS THAT COMMON, IT COMES AND GOES, SO IT'S VERY TRAGIC -- WE JUST LOST A FAMILY FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS OTHERWISE HEALTHY, FROM THIS VIRUS.

SO IT'S PRETTY SAD WHEN IT HAPPENS, SO WE JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TWO.

>> DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, TED.

♪♪ >>> HEARING LOSS IS A CHRONICALLY UNDERDIAGNOSED HEALTH CONCERN AMONG ADULTS THAT OFTEN LEFT UNTREATED, AND WHEN PEOPLE DO GET HELP, IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE.

ASU'S SPEECH AND HEARING CLINIC TEAMED UP WITH THE ARIZONA COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND THE HARD OF HEARING TO PROVIDE HEARING AIDS, AND CARE FOR THE FREE TO THOSE IN NEED.

MICHELE MICHAELS IS THE COMMISSION'S PROGRAM MANAGER WET WITH US.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO HELP LOW-INCOME ADULTS WHO HAVE NO RESOURCES TO GET ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, HEARING NEEDS, AND NO REHABILITATION BENEFITS.

>> SO HOW DOES THIS WORK?

>> YEAH, WE'RE REALLY TARGETING THE LOW-INCOME POPULATION.

AND HELP FOLKS -- BASICALLY WHO HAVE NO HEARING HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, AND THAT KIND OF GROUP OF FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE -- SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT ASU, BUT ANYBODY THROUGHOUT THE STATE CAN APPLY.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD APPLY TO?

>> WE COMMISSIONED A STUDY IN 2010 -- OR 2015, AND THEY FOUND THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 70,000 OR SO ADULTS IN ARIZONA WHO NEED HEARING AIDS, BUT COULDN'T AFFORD THEM.

AND 15 TO 20,000 WOULD AVAIL THEMSELVES OF AID IF THEY COULD.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW THE TYPE OF MODEL THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED IN OUR STATE AND OTHER STATES AT WELL, TO PROVIDE THOSE HEARING AIDS, AND DRAW THE FACT THAT HEARING LOSS REALLY IS A HEALTH ISSUE.

>>> HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

>> SO WITH OUR PROJECT, THERE IS NO COST AT ALL TO THE PERSON, OTHER THAN THEY NEED TO GET THEMSELVES TO THE TEMPE CAMPUS.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS IN OUR STATE AND IN OTHER STATES.

AND WE TALK WITH PEOPLE AND GET ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, AND FIND OUT WHAT IS THE BEST FIT FOR THEM.

IT COULD BE HAVE PROJECT OR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> IF THERE IS NO YOU THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THE COST, HOW MUCH WOULD THIS COST?

>> YEAH.

OKAY.

SO IF A PERSON IS GOING TO GO OUT AND BUY PROFESSIONAL HEARING AIDS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT PROBABLY AT LEAST 800 TO SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS PER HEARING AID.

>> YEAH.

AND THE PARTNERSHIP, HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?

>> THE ARIZONA COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR ANNIVERSARY, AND WE KNOW THERE IS A NEED TO GET PEOPLE FITTED WITH HEARING AIDS.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, A DOCTOR APPROACHED ME, AND SAID WE HAVE A BUNCH OF HEARING AIDS, BUT NO WAY TO FIT THEM.

SO WE WORKED TO GET HEARING TESTING, FITTING, AND THE HEARING REHABILITATION PORTION, AND BROUGHT IN THE HEARING AIDS.

SO IT HAS DEVELOPED OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

>> IN THE FIELD OF HEARING LOSS, WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN, AND HOW HAS TECHNOLOGY CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE.

>> WELL, I AM THE TYPICAL PERSON WITH HEARING LOSS WHO SAYS I WILL WAIT.

I WILL WAIT.

NOW THEY ARE DIGITAL HEARING AIDS, WHICH MEANS THERE IS A COMPUTER CHIP IN THERE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO FINE TUNE THAT HEARING AID TO REALLY MATCH WHERE YOU NEED THE GAIN AND YOU DON'T NEED THE GAIN.

SO ALL OF THE LITTLE LITTLE ASPECT TSS ASPECTS HAVE HELP SO MUCH.

>> WELL, A BRAVE NEW WORLD OUT THERE, AND A REALLY WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

MICHELE MICHAELS, CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK 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 HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW SOME FARMS ARE STAYING IN BUSINESS THROUGH AGRI-TAINMENT.

A COMBINATION OF FARMING AND SEASONAL ENTERTAINMENT.

♪♪