[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS, THE COVID SURGE CONTINUES ACROSS THE STATE.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW JOURNALISTS HAVE ADAPTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN WHEN DID WEARING A FACE MASK TURN INTO A POLITICAL FIRE STORM.

ALL OF THAT AHEAD ON THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

A DAY AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT, DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF WHAT THEY ARE CALLING SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR BY SOME VISITORS TO THE CAPITOL THE DAY BEFORE LAST WEEK'S INSURRECTION.

THEY TOOK TOURS OF THE BUILDING, AND SOME DEMOCRATS CLAIM THOSE TOURS WERE RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS.

>>> A MAN SEEN HITTING POLICE OFFICERS WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER DURING THE CAPITOL ATTACK HAS BEEN ARRESTED.

THE 53-YEAR-OLD WHO IS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER FROM PENNSYLVANIA CAN BE SEEN ON VIDEO THROWING THE HEAVY OBJECT AT POLICE HITTING THREE OFFICERS.

HE IS IN CUSTODY AND IS FACING FOUR CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>>> THERE IS ANNETIC'S COMPLAINT OVER LAST WEEK'S RIOT AT THE COP CAPITOL.

THE COMPLAINT CHARGES THAT HE SUPPORTED INSURRECTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS FILED BY CAESAR CHAVEZ.

>>> GOVERNOR DUCEY'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL ATTEND NEXT WEEK'S BIDEN INAUGURATION.

HE SAID WHILE HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN ON EVERYTHING, HE BELIEVES BIDEN IS A GOOD MAN AND WISHING HIM WELL.

>>> TODAY'S COVID REPORT SHOWS THERE WERE 7,000 CASES OF COVID-19, AND 182 NEW FATALITIES.

HOSPITALS REPORTING VENTILATORS IN USE AT RECORD HIGHS, AND THE LEADERS OF THE FIVE MAJOR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE GEARING UP TO PRIORITIZE CARE.

THINGS IN PIMA COUNTY ARE TO THE POINT THAT THE CORONER'S OFFICE IS AT CAPACITY.

>> WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMED FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAYS WITH A HUGE INCREASE IN NUMBERS, GONE, 48 OVER MONTHS TO 233 IN 17 DAYS.

>> THERE IS ENCOURAGING VACCINE NEWS.

THE STATE ANNOUNCED THAT IS MASS VACCINATION SIGHT WILL BE OPENED NEXT MONTH AT PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM.

REGISTRATION FOR FEBRUARY APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH VACCINATION SITES WILL BEGIN NEXT TUESDAY WITH A NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE VACCINE DOSES.

>>> THE LABOR DEPARTMENT REPORTS CLOSE TO A MILLION AMERICANS FILED FIRST-TIME JOBLESS CLAIMS LAST WEEK.

THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

AND SOME ARE NOW SAYING THAT IT COULD BE SPRING BEFORE THE LABOR MARKET STARTS TO SHOW MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENT.

>>> ARIZONA CONTINUES TO BE A NATIONAL HOT SPOT FOR COVID-19 AND FOR THE DEATH RATE.

WE SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASU'S BIODESIGN INSTITUTE.

JOSH, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

ARIZONA IS A HOT SPOT AGAIN.

WHY?

>> WE HAVE BEEN RISING STEADILY SINCE OCTOBER IN ARIZONA.

IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME EXACTLY WHY ARIZONA'S PEAK IS COMING -- OR AT LEAST IT'S SO HOT RIGHT NOW, BUT CERTAINLY, I THINK, WE -- WE COULD BE DOING MORE IN TERMS OF THE MITIGATION FACTORS THAT WOULD REDUCE SPREAD IN THE COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE IN ARIZONA PROBABLY HAVE MOVED LITTLE BIT MORE IN DOOR THESE DAYS BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE CHILLIER INSIDE.

ANY TIME SPENT IN DOORS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD THE VIRUS, PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE IN A LOCATION WHERE YOU ARE WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE WITH YOU.

AND I THINK THAT'S CAUGHT UP WITH US, AND CERTAINLY, I THINK THERE IS SOME BUMP FROM THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

LOOKING AT OUR MODEL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN -- IN TRANSMISSION COMING FROM THAT.

SO THE HOLIDAYS HAVE NOT HELPED US.

>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY, ARE WE SEEING NOW A CHRISTMAS BUMP IF YOU WILL?

A NEW YEAR'S EVE BUMP?

OR ARE THOSE THING TO COME?

>> WE CERTAINLY SAW AN INDICATION OF A RISE AFTER THANKSGIVING.

WHETHER OR NOT CHRISTMAS ADDED TO THAT, WE DON'T KNOW YET.

BUT THE NUMBERS ARE SO HIGH RIGHT NOW THAT THE VIRUS IS EVERYWHERE, AND IT'S ALMOST HARD TO SEE CHANGES WHEN THE POSITIVITY TESTING RATE IS AROUND 40%.

>> YOU MENTIONED MITIGATION EFFORTS.

THE GOVERNOR SAID EXTREME MEASURES BY WELL-INTENDED PEOPLE DO FAR MORE CONSEQUENCES THAN GOOD.

ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OVER 10,500 DEATHS DUE TO COVID RIGHT NOW.

IN A TYPICAL YEAR IN ARIZONA, 12,000 PEOPLE DIE FROM HEART DISEASE, AND AROUND 12,000 PEOPLE DIE FROM CANCER.

WE'RE HAVING HUNDREDS OF DEATHS REPORTED THESE DAYS.

IT WON'T BE BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE WE HAVE COVE SURPASS BOTH HEART DISEASE AND CANCER AS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

SO IT'S A SERIOUS ILLNESS.

OUR HOSPITALS ARE RUNNING -- IN THE ICU'S ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60% AND TWO-THIRDS OF THE BEDS ARE COVID-19 BEDS.

AND IN HOSPITALS IN GENERAL, 60% ARE COVID-19.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE WHO GET ILL FROM OTHER CAUSES, SOMEBODY WHO DISCOVERED A LUMP THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, IS GOING TO HAVE TO THINK TWICE ABOUT WHETHER THEY WANT TO GO TO A HOSPITAL WHERE THEY RUN THE RISK OF CONTACTING AN ILLNESS.

SO WE NEED TO REDUCE THE SPREAD.

WE NEED TO PREVENT THIS THING FROM GETTING AROUND, AND WE KNOW WHAT WORKS.

IT WORKED IN THE PAST, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONSIDER DOING THOSE THINGS AGAIN.

>> REAL QUICKLY, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE MOST?

>> FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE SHOULD BE WEARING MASKS WHENEVER THEY ARE NOT WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

YOU NEED TO ASSUME THAT SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT HAS THE VIRUS.

MOST OF THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS OCCURRING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.

THEY DO NOT KNOW THEY HAVE THE VIRUS, AND YET THEY ARE SPREADING IT.

IF WE'RE OUT WE SHOULD BE WEARING MASKS.

WE SHOULD ONLY GO OUT TO GET ESSENTIALS DONE AND GET HOME AGAIN.

WEAR A MASK AT WORK AT ALL TIMES.

WE -- I WOULD NOT SPENDING TIME IN DOORS THAT ARE NOT IN YOUR FAMILY.

I WOULD NOT EAT INDOOR IN RESTAURANTS AT THIS POINT, OR BARS AT THIS POINT.

I WOULD NOT ATTEND, YOU KNOW, PERFORMANCES OR EVEN UNFORTUNATELY GOING TO CHURCH IN PERSON WHERE YOU ARE SPENDING TIME IN DOORS.

IT IS JUST ASKING FOR SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

>> AND THIS IS, OF COURSE, THE VIRUS THAT WE KNOW.

THIS UK VERIANT, HAS IT HIT ARIZONA IN >> THE TEST THAT ASU DOES FOR THE VIRUS, THE SALIVA TEST WE RUN, TESTS FOR THREE GENES.

ONE OF WHICH IS EFFECTED BY THE UK STRAIN.

SO WE LOOK FOR THAT PATTERN.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME.

ONE THAT WE DOCUMENTED, BUT WHEN WE TESTED IT, IT WAS NOT THE UK STRAIN.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO ONE HAS YET FOUND THE UK STRAIN.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TESTS WE RUN DO NOT SHOW IT.

SO IF IT'S HERE IT IS NOT PREVALENT.

>> AND LAST QUESTION, JOSH, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HERE.

ALL OF YOUR TESTING, AND ALL OF YOUR RESEARCH, WHAT IS IT TELLING YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE FACING HERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT THIS HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE VIRUS.

IT IS ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING BECAUSE IT IS TRANSMITTED BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THEY ARE SICK, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT.

IN OTHER INFECTIONS, PEOPLE KNEW THEY WERE ILL, BUT HERE THAT IS NOT TRUE.

IT'S A VIRUS THAT HAS THIS BIZARRE CHARACTERISTIC THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALMOST NO SYMPTOMS, AND MANY PEOPLE DIE FROM IT.

SO IT COVERS A HUGE SPECTRUM OF CONSEQUENCES, DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL, AND IT IS NOT JUST ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO DIE FROM IT, WE'RE NOW SEEING 40 YEAR OLDS, AND EVEN YOUNG PEOPLE.

I KNOW OF A 29 YEAR OLD WHO IS ON VENTILATOR RIGHT NOW.

WE DO KNOW IT IS HIGHLY PREF EVENT, AND EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE VEHICLE SCENES, THEY WILL NOT IMPACT THE SPREAD FOR A LONG TIME.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO STAY ON OUR GUARD AND FOLLOW THE PRACTICES THAT WE KNOW REDUCE THE SPREAD.

>> ALL RIGHT, JOSH, ALWAYS GOOD INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> TAKE CARE.

STAY SAFE.

>>> UP NEXT, COMMUNITY LEADERS TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE FROM THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION.

>>> MORE RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ISSUES AT COMMUNITY LEADERS WANT TO ADDRESSED BY LAWMAKERS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE SPOKE WITH THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE EAST VALLEY NAACP, AND PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ARIZONA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

MONICA, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE FROM THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION?

>> THIS YEAR WE HAVE REALLY BEEN IMPACTED NOT JUST IN ARIZONA, BUT MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO LOSE PROBABLY ABOUT A THIRD BEFORE ALL OF THIS IS SAID AND DONE IN ARIZONA.

THESE BUSINESSES ARE JUST GOING BY THE WAYSIDE BECAUSE OF COVID, AND WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR THIS YEAR FROM THE LEGISLATURE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE KNOW THESE BUSINESSES ARE SMALL AND NIMBLE, AND THEY JUST NEED SOME HELP WITH THAT PIVOT STRATEGY.

SOME THINGS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL ARE THINGS LIKE LEASE -- BEING ABLE TO GET SOME RELIEF ON THEIR LEASES, ON THEIR BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATIONS.

WE DID THIS ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE TO PREVENT EVICTIONS.

SAME THING IS NEEDED ON THE BUSINESS SIDE.

ANOTHER THING IS PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY.

A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE DOING THE VERY BEST THEY CAN TO PREVENT THEIR EMPLOYEES FROM CONTRACTING COVID, AND SO ANY KIND OF LIABILITY PROTECTION FROM BEING SUED IF EMPLOYEES DO GET COVID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT CAN BE IN THEIR CONTROL AND THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN.

ALSO BECAUSE THESE BUSINESSES ARE NOT ONLY SMALL AND NIMBLE, THEY ARE ALSO SMALL AND VULNERABLE, THEY NEED A LOT OF ASSISTANCE.

SO WHATEVER RELIEF OR PARTNERSHIP WITH CDFI'S FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE GRANTS.

A LOT OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO TAKE A TRADITIONAL LOAN, SO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY KIND OF GRANTS THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

THAT'S SORT OF AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

>> ROY, AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE FROM THE LEGISLATURE?

>> WE WANT TO SEE SERIOUS APPROACH AND MITIGATION OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN THE STATE.

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE GOVERNOR MAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO PROTECT ARIZONA FROM COVID-19, AND NOW ARIZONA LEADS THE NATION -- MAYBE THE WORLD.

AND SO WE NEED TO SEE THE -- SWIFT ACTION, DIRECT ACTION.

WE NEED TO SEE SUPPORT NOT JUST FINANCIALLY.

WE NEED TO SEE SUPPORT FOR OUR MEDICAL WORKERS, OUR NURSES, OUR DOCTORS, MEDICAL FACILITIES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST THOSE WHO MAY NEED VENTILATES OR.

AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS.

WE NEED EDUCATION, AS WE'RE TRYING TO JUGGLE IN SCHOOL, OR OUT OF SCHOOL, VIRTUAL LEARNING.

WE NEED A CONCRETE CLEAR COHESIVE PLAN AS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH EDUCATION OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

OUR TEACHERS NEED OUR SUPPORT.

WE NEED SOME VERY CONCRETE CONSISTENT PLANS TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND MEDICAL WORKERS.

NOW LET ME TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A CLEAR MARCHING ORDERS AS WELL, AS THEY WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, ONE, THEY ARE SAFE.

BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SEEN -- I HAVE SEEN A REPORT WHERE OVER 500 PHOENIX POLICE OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY CONTRACTED COVID-19, SO WE'RE DEALING WITH MULTIPLE PANDEMICS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE SEEING AN UP TICK IN VIOLENCE FROM POLICE.

SO I WANT THE POLICE TO BE SAFE, BUT ALSO I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE.

WE NEED CLEAR LEADERSHIP ON ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING FARFETCHED.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND WE WANT TO BE SAFE AS WELL WHEN WE DEAL WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> MONICA, BACK TO YOU.

IS THERE A SENSE OF INCREASING LATINO CLOUT AT THE LEGISLATURE IN ARIZONA, AND HOW DO YOU TURN THAT INTO ACTION?

>> THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, RIGHT?

HOW DO WE MOBILIZE THAT POWER?

WE DO SEE FAR MORE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

GROWING LEADERSHIP WHICH IS CRITICAL ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

IT IS CLEAR WHAT WILL GET US THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

WE NEED THAT LEADERSHIP TO DO THAT, RIGHT?

TO LEGISLATE THAT, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY, AGAIN, THE MOST VULNERABLE, BUT WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE TESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

NOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT VACCINATIONS ARE NOT JUST TRICKLE DOWN, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE NOT THE LAST TO RECEIVE IT, BUT RATHER RECEIVING IT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE.

SO, YES, I THINK THERE IS A LOT MORE POLITICAL CLOUT.

RIGHT NOW THE TRICK IS GOING TO BE HOW DO WE USE THAT?

IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE'RE CONCERNED WITH THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST WE'RE CONCERNED WITH THEIR LIVES.

>> REPRESENTATIVE REGINALD BOLDING WILL BE IN THE HOUSE.

IMPACT OF HAVING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THAT POSITION?

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY PROUD OF REPRESENTATIVE BOLDING.

I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING HIM SINCE DAY ONE, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS AT THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT NOT ONLY IMPACT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, BUT IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THAT WE SAY WHEN AMERICA CATCHES A COLD, BLACK AMERICA CATCHES PNEUMONIA.

WHEN BLACK AMERICA IS HEALTHY, EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO THRIVE AS WELL.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD, BUT ALSO THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH ROOM AT OUR TABLE TO SUPPORTS OTHERS AS WELL.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO COLLABORATING TO WORK WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY, THE OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS TO -- TO -- TO DRIVE COMMON EFFORTS.

>> IN NEVADA, THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND STRUCTURES OF RACISM SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CRITERIA THAT LAWMAKERS CONSIDER WHEN THEY ARE PONDERING LEGISLATION.

MONICA, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE BROKEN UP, AND ALSO IN SOCIAL STRUCTURES.

WE THOSE EXIST.

EVERYTHING WE DO IS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BREAK THOSE DOWN SYSTEMICALLY.

YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE SYSTEM WITH A BETTER SYSTEM.

THAT MEANS CREATING LEVEL GROUND.

EQUAL FUNDING DOESN'T EQUATE TO EQUITY IN THE END.

IT HAS TO BE EQUITY BASED ON NEED, AND THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE FAR MORE VULNERABLE, AND UNLESS YOU TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION IN LEGISLATION, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE SAME INEQUITY AND SYSTEM.

SO IT'S TIME FOR OUR LEGISLATURES, AND OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS, ADVOCATES, ALSO IN NON-MINORITY COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE SYSTEMS THAT ARE ANTIQUATED, AND THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT CAN PROVIDE SO MUCH MORE.

>> AND WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT HERE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE DATA IS THERE TO SAY THAT ARIZONA HAS SEEN AN UP TICK IN HATE CRIMES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S AN UPTICK IN HATE CRIMES IN ARIZONA OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SO WE ARE PAST DUE TO DEALING WITH RACIAL BIAS, INEQUITY AND JUST HATE ALL THE WAY AROUND, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WORKING VIGOROUSLY AND INTENTIONALLY TO STAMP OUT HATE WHERE WE FIND IT.

AND THAT'S AT ALL LEVELS.

WE HAVE GOT TO FIGHT IT WHEREVER WE SEE IT, AND THAT'S THE ROLE OF THE NAACP ALL OVER AMERICA.

>> ALL RIGHT, GREAT DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TED.

>> THANK YOU.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>>> A RECENT SURVEY SHOWS THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE PROGRESS IN TURNING AROUND ARIZONA'S INCREASINGLY SEVERE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA SCHOOL PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATOR'S ASSOCIATION.

JENNA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THIS SURVEY.

TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA BECAUSE WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN THE ABILITY TO STAFF POSITIONS IN EVERY DISTRICT WITH TEACHERS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT VERY SHARP TURN, WE BEGAN TO ASK QUESTIONS OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WHAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING, AND WHAT WE SAW IS THAT WE HAD PLENTY OF CERTIFICATED PEOPLE IN THE STATE, AND THOSE PEOPLE WERE NO LONGER COMING IN AND LOOKING TO BE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHETHER IT BE RURAL OR IN MORE POPULATED AREAS, SO THIS IS OUR SIXTH YEAR IN GATHERING THIS INFORMATION, AND WHAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE IS THAT RECRUITMENT OF TEACHERS IS STILL VERY DIFFICULT.

THERE IS A GOOD SECTION OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT EXPERIENCES VACANCIES, AND ABOUT 47% OF THOSE DISTRICTS ALSO ARE FILLING THOSE VACANCIES WITH TEACHERS THAT HAVE NOT COMPLETED THEIR ENTIRE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

>> AND WE'RE SEEING, WHAT, 500-SOME-ODD TEACHERS HAVE QUIT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF COVID, AND 1300 HAVE LEFT SINCE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> COVID IS CERTAINLY A FACTOR THIS YEAR.

YOU ARE CORRECT THAT THAT MANY PEOPLE DID REPORT THAT COVID WAS THE REASON THAT THEY DID LEAVE.

WE SUSPECT THERE COULD BE MORE.

BUT THIS IS A TREND THAT WE HAVE BEEN MANAGING, LIKE I SAID, OVER ABOUT THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

SO WE HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH THE STATE BOARD IN COMING UP WITH INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITMENT FOR ALL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

WE HAVE -- HAVE THE FORTUNE, YOU COULD SAY OF MORE FUNDING, WHICH HAS BEEN HELPFUL, BECAUSE FUNDING WAS AN ISSUE.

BUT WE STILL REMAIN AROUND 48 OF ALL STATES FOR TEACHER PAY.

SO THE FUNDING HAS APPRECIATED BUT NOT MOVED US ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKING CONDITIONS AND CLASSROOM SIZES, AND OTHER INCENTIVES.

>> WHAT DO WE DO TO BETTER RECRUIT TEACHERS AND KEEP THEM?

>> AT LEAST WHERE I WORK, WE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT WHAT IS WORKING WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.

WE DO SOMETIME TALK TO THOSE LOOKING TO GO INTO EDUCATION, SUCH AS PIPELINES LIKE UNIVERSITIES OR PREP PROGRAMS AND MAKING SOME SHIFTS IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET THEIR NEEDS, AND TO, AGAIN, TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO COME BACK TO THE CLASSROOM OR GO INTO THE PROFESSION IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO, AGAIN, COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH ABE IS SOMETHING WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON.

TEACHING IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CERTAINLY NEED TO BE BUILT FOR, BUT IT IS SO REWARDING.

>> WELL, IT'S AN INTERESTING STUDY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR GOOD WORK OUT THERE IN TRYING TO GET FOLKS INTO THE PROFESSION AND KEEP THEM IN THE PROFESSION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> 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 OF ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, HAS THE WORLD LEARNED TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY DURING A PANDEMIC, JOURNALISTS FOUND NEW WAYS TO GET IT DOWN.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN THE POLARIZING ARGUMENTS INVOLVING THE WEARING OF MASKS.