TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A BUSY WEEK FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, INCLUDING THE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND GOVERNOR DUCEY'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK HOW ONE OF ASU'S HIGHEST RANKED SPORTS TEAMS IS DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC.

>>> AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE ADDED CHALLENGES FACING BLACK ENTREPRENEURS.

ALL THIS AND MORE AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

ANNOUNCER: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

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

ARIZONA HIT A GRIM MILESTONE TODAY AS THE STATE PASSED THE 11,000 MARK FOR COVID DEATHS.

SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR FATALITIES LEADS THE NATION, SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE OF COVID CASES IS HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY WITH OVER 9,000 NEW CASES ADDED TODAY.

THE STATE'S VACCINE ROLLOUT CONTINUES AND APPARENTLY THOSE MOST LIKELY TO GET VACCINATED ARE WOMEN.

CNN STUDY SHOWS ROUGHLY TWICE AS MANY WOMEN AS MEN ARE GETTING VACCINATED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THE REASON MAY BE ELIGIBILITY.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND SENIORS ARE BEING VACCINATED FIRST AND WOMEN TEND TO LIVE LONGER THAN MEN AND WOMEN MAKE UP 76% OF FULL-TIME HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

>>> THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS WALKING BACK CLAIMS BY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN PHOENIX THAT AN ARIZONA MAN AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN LAST WEEK'S RIOT AT THE U.S. CAPITOL INTENDED TO CAPTURE AND ASSASSINATE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

CASE INVOLVES A 33-YEAR-OLD ARIZONA MAN KNOWN FOR WEARING FACE PAINT AND A HORNED HEADREST, PROSECUTORS IN PHOENIX CONTEND AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE LEFT A THREATENING NOTE ON VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE'S DESK IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.

THE D.O.J.

SAYS THERE IS NO DIRECT EVIDENT OF, QUOTE, KILL AND CAPTURE TEAMS AMONG THE RIOTERS.

>>> THE "WASHINGTON POST" SAYS RIOTERS DID COME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE VICE PRESIDENT WHO WAS RUSHED FROM THE SENATE CHAMBER ONLY MINUTES BEFORE THE PRO-TRUMP MOB REACHED THE AREA AND SECONDS BEFORE THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN THE VICE PRESIDENT EVACUATED DOWN A HALLWAY.

>>> VICE PRESIDENT PENCE CALLED HIS SUCCESSOR KAMALA HARRIS AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE WITH TRANSITION.

NO SUCH OFFERS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE PLANS TO LEAVE WASHINGTON THE MORNING OF THE INAUGURATION.

HE WILL NOT ATTEND THE EVENT, BREAKING A DECADES LONG TRADITION.

DESPITE THE PRESIDENT'S PLANNED ABSENCE, RAZOR FENCING AND OTHER SECURITY BARRIERS ARE INSTALLED NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE AND OTHER AREAS OF WASHINGTON.

THIS IS ALL AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S INAUGURATION.

UP TO 20,000 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO DEPLOY TO HELP WITH SECURITY MEASURES LEADING UP TO INAUGURATION DAY.

>>> ECONOMIC NEWS, RETAIL SALES IN THE U.S.

DROPPED AGAIN LAST MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT.

THE THIRD STRAIGHT MONTH OF NEGATIVE RETAIL SPENDING AND ANOTHER INDICATION WHAT REMAINS OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY HAS STALLED AS COVID CASES SURGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>>> TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY WEEK.

WE HAD A PRESIDENT BEING IMPEACHED FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED SECOND TIME, THE GOVERNOR DELIVERED STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND BUDGET PROPOSAL AND BECAME A NATIONAL HOT SPOT FOR COVID-19.

OUR GUESTS THIS WEEK, LORI ROBERTS FROM "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND JIM SMALL FROM THE ARIZONA MIRROR.

THANK YOU, BOTH FOR JOINING US HERE.

JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, LET'S GET IT STARTED WITH THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT.

LORI, TRUMP IMPEACHED AGAIN.

>> YEAH, HE WANTED TO BE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS, HE WANTED TO BE THE MOST EVER, NOW HE'S THE PRESIDENT WITH THE MOST IMPEACHMENTS IN HIS POCKET.

IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE WHAT THEY DID.

I AM A LITTLE SURPRISED, THOUGH, AT DEMOCRATS SO FORCEFULLY WANTING TO HAVE THE TRIAL, WHICH APPARENTLY WILL BE RIGHT UP FRONT AND CENTER JUST AS PRESIDENT BIDEN, NOW PRESIDENT-ELECT STARTS HIS FIRST HUNDRED DAYS AND LIKE ANY PRESIDENT WANTS TO GET OFF WITH A BANG AND WE'RE GOING TO BE MUCKED AND MIRED IN THE SAME OLD THING.

THAT'S A LITTLE SURPRISING TO ME, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY.

TED: YEAH, JIM, SOUNDS LIKE ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION PRETTY MUCH VOTED ALONG PARTY LINES.

>> THEY DID, STOOD BEHIND TRUMP AND OPPOSED THE "ART IN THE 48," AND, YOU KNOW, LARGELY ACCUSED DEMOCRATS OF PLAYING POLITICS, AND, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO CLOSE OUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TERM WITH THE SAME -- THE SAME ALLEGATIONS OR SIMILAR ALLEGATIONS THAT HE'S BEEN A BAD PRESIDENT, AND THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT PETTY POLITICS AND NOT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A DEADLY RIOT AT THE CAPITOL.

TED: AND JIM, STICKING WITH YOU, ANDY BIGGS, CONGRESSMAN BIGGS GAVE A FIERY SPEECH BEFORE THE VOTE, COMPARING TRUMP TO A MARTYR.

DOES HE HAVE A POINT THERE?

>> I MEAN, I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK SO, AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT.

WE'VE SEEN REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THAT TRUMP HAS SOME SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND CULPABILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED, NOT JUST FOR THE SPEECH THAT WAS GIVEN IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THAT MARCH THAT TURNED INTO A RIOT, BUT FOR THE WEEKS AND MONTHS LEADING UP TO IT OF BASICALLY CONVINCING HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THE ONLY WAY HE COULD LOSE AN ELECTION THAT WAS RIGGED AND STOLEN AND THAT WAS THIS WAS THE GREATEST TRAVESTY DONE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO RISE UP AND STOP IT AND NEEDED TO DO WHAT IT TOOK TO STOP IT.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL WAS OBVIOUSLY SHOCKING.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYBODY WHO WATCHED THAT WASN'T SHOCKED AND APPALLED BUT WASN'T SURPRISING AFTER THE WEEKS AND MONTHS OF RHETORIC THAT WAS ESCALATING TOWARD VIOLENCE.

TED: AND LORI, GOVERNOR DUCEY FINALLY CAME OUT AND SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SOMETHING, SAID HE THE PRESIDENT DOES, QUOTE, BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITY.

>> YEAH, IT ONLY TOOK HIM EIGHT DAYS TO COME UP WITH THE FACT THAT MAYBE THE PRESIDENT DESERVES SOME RESPONSIBILITY.

LIKE IT TOOK THREE FULL WEEKS TO COME UP WITH THE STATEMENT THAT ARIZONA ELECTION WAS FOR BIDEN, THAT BIDEN WON OUR ELECTION.

HE IS ONE PROFILE IN COURAGE.

ONE HAS TO WONDER AND HOPE THAT PEOPLE LIKE HIM ARE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR THESE DAYS AND EXAMINING WHAT PART DID WE PLAY, REPUBLICANS PLAY IN ALL OF THIS, FOR ALL THE YEARS WE STOOD SILENTLY BY OR WORSE, SUPPORTED SOME OF THE WORST THINGS THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE, AND THE OUTRAGEOUS THINGS HE SAID.

WHAT PART DID WE PLAY BY NOT DAMPING DOWN ON THAT EARLY ON.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THIS FOR YEARS, INCLUDING DOUG DUCEY.

REMEMBER, ARIZONA WAS ONE OF THE STATES THAT EVERYBODY WATCHED.

WE WERE, IN FACT, ONE OF THE TWO STATES THEY WERE MOVING NOT TO CERTIFY OUR RESULTS LAST WEEK WHEN ALL OF THAT BEGAN.

TED: JIM, LOOKING IN THE MIRROR, MORE FOCUSED WOULD BE CONGRESSMAN BIGGS AND CONGRESSMAN GOSAR, THAT'S WHAT FOLKS ON CAPITOL HILL WANT.

THEY ARE REALLY BEING LOOKED AT FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE RALLY THAT LED TO THE RIOT AND MAYBE OTHER THINGS.

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE THAT FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEAR, THAT WE'RE STARTING OFF 2021 WITH THE POSSIBLE RESURRECTION OF A CLAUSE FROM THE 14th AMENDMENT IN THE 18 -- LATE 1860s, AIMED AT LITERALLY PREVENTING CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM SERVING IN THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, THAT HAS BECOME GERMANE AND RELEVANT AND A VIABLE PART OF THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED, BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL ROLES THAT PEOPLE PLAYED IN FOMENTING THIS VIOLENCE AND IF NOT ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING IT.

AND THE REPORTING THAT'S COME OUT FROM THESE CONTEMPORANEOUS VIDEOS OF ONE OF THE CHIEF ORGANIZERS OF THE PROTEST, TALKING ABOUT HOW HE PLANNED AND ORGANIZED AND CONSTRUCTED THIS WHOLE THING WITH WITH CONGRESSMAN BIGGS AND CONGRESSMAN GOSAR AND A CONGRESSMAN FROM ALABAMA.

THOSE ARE TROUBLING THINGS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE GETTING SILENCE OUT OF GOSAR'S OFFICE, BIGGS DENIES WHO THIS PERSON IS, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT HE WOULDN'T KNOW WHO THIS PERSON IS AND THAT SOMEHOW HE'S, IN REALTIME, THAT HE WAS MAKING UP BIGGS' NAME, AND THE CONGRESSMAN NEVER THOUGHT TO STAMP THAT OUT.

I PERSONALLY HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING IT, I DON'T THINK IT PASSES THE SMELL TEST.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AND AS THE FOLKS IN D.C. AND THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS DO THEIR JOB WITH WHAT COMES OUT.

I'M SURE THERE IS MORE TO TELL WHETHER IT'S WITH THE ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVES OR WHETHER IT'S WITH OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE VERY ACTIVE IN CONGRESS.

TED: LAURIE, THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, WE STARTED SEEMS LIKE A MILLION YEARS AGO BUT STARTED THE WEEK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

NO APPLAUSE LINES, IT'S AMAZING HOW SHORT THE SPEECH IS WITH NO APPLAUSE.

>> OR IF ANYTHING TO BE APPLAUDED?

I DON'T KNOW.

TED: TALK TO ME, OBVIOUSLY HE RECORDED IT AT HIS OFFICE OR PRESENTED IT AT HIS OFFICE BECAUSE OF COVID-19, AND YET HE WANTS IN-PERSON LEARNING AT SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS ARE SAYING, UH, YOU'RE CALLING FOR THIS WHILE DOING A VIRTUAL STATE OF THE STATE?

>> THAT STUCK OUT WELL, A 22 MINUTE SPEECH AND PROBABLY HAD NOT 22 MINUTES OF CONTACT.

MOST OF IT WAS DEFENSE OF HIS HANDLING OF COVID.

WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH, HE SAID, THE STEADY RESPONSIBLE PATH I THINK WERE HIS WORDS AND HE WANTS THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

HE'S GOING TO NOT BE -- THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WHAT HE MEANT ABOUT THIS BUT SAID NO LONGER WILL ARIZONA BE FUNDING EMPTY SEATS.

TEACHERS TOOK THAT AS A THREAT, THEY BETTER GET OUT OF VIRTUAL LEARNING AND BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM PREMATURELY IN THEIR VIEW.

THE PRESS AIDE LATER EXPLAINED WHAT HE MEANT WAS THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW THE KIDS IN SCHOOL IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S ALWAYS THE WAY IT'S BEEN ANYWAY.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE WAS MUCH SURPRISE THERE.

I THOUGHT THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF HIS SPEECH IS WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT A DESIRE TO REFORM AND LOWER TAXES.

THIS, JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER THE STATE'S VOTERS APPROVED AN INCOME TAX INCREASE FOR THE STATE'S MOST WEALTHY TO BETTER FUND EDUCATION.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HE EXPLAINS HOW HE IS ADHERING TO THE WILL OF THE VOTERS TO RAISE TAXES TO BETTER FUND EDUCATION, AT THE SAME TIME HE'S TALKING ABOUT SOME SORT OF INCOME TAX DECREASE ACROSS THE BOARD OR HOWEVER IT'S FASHIONED THAT WILL PROBABLY, POSSIBLY, OFFSET WHAT THE VOTERS JUST DID.

I EXPECT ROUGH SEAS MAY BE AHEAD ON THAT ONE.

TED: JIM, THAT'S NOT REALLY A SURPRISE, IS IT?

>> NO, THE GOVERNOR RAN, WHEN HE FIRST RAN FOR OFFICE RAN ON A PLEDGE HE WAS GOING TO LOWER TAXES EVERY YEAR, AND NEVER BACK A TAX INCREASE, AND MOSTLY UP TO THIS POINT, WE'VE SEEN THE TAX CUT PROPOSALS HE'S HAD HAVE BEEN FAIRLY SMALL, PRETTY SMALL POTATOES.

FOR A LOT OF THE TIME, FRANKLY, HE'S BEEN IN TIGHT BUDGETS WHERE THERE ARE DEFICIT OR NOT A LOT OF EXTRA MONEY TO GO AROUND FOR TAX CUTS.

SO NOW THAT THE STATE HAS MONEY, HE IS LOOKING TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK STRIKE AND GO FOR REALLY LARGE TAX CUTS.

WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS THE DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT, BUT TALKING ABOUT $200 MILLION THIS YEAR.

$400 MILLION THE NEXT YEAR AND ABOUT $600 MILLION THE NEXT YEAR IN TAX CUTS, THAT WILL BE BROAD BASED AND AIMED AT A WIDE SWATH OF ARIZONA, BUT I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT GOING AGAINST THE WILL OF THE VOTERS, IT FLIES IN THE FACE OF WHAT VOTERS WANTED AND CONVINCINGLY ON SAID THEY WANTED IN TERMS OF FUNDING FOR EDUCATION.

I THINK THERE'S SOME DANGER GOING FORWARD IF THE TAX CUTS ARE LARGE ENOUGH THAT IT COULD PUSH ARIZONA INTO A SITUATION WHERE IT'S FORCED TO LOOK AT WHERE DOES -- HOW DOES IT ADEQUATELY FUND THE THINGS IT HAS?

WE HAVEN'T RESTORED FUNDING IN A LOT OF PROGRAMS FROM WHAT HAPPENED A DECADE AGO IN THE GREAT RECESSION, WHEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, HE DID NOT MENTION EXECUTIVE POWER, YOU KNOW REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO MENTION THAT IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> EXECUTIVE POWER, THEY'RE STEAMED AT THE FACT HE'S CONTINUED TO HOLD THIS EXECUTIVE POWER, BUT HONESTLY HAS HE DONE THATCHWITH IT RECENTLY?

I THINK IT WOULD BE NOT SO DIFFICULT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO SAY YOU'RE NOT USING THE POWER, THEREFORE, DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?

TED: INTERESTING, INTERESTING, LAURIE ROBERTS, "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR, THANK YOU, BOTH, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>>> UP NEXT, WE HEAR ABOUT AN EFFORT INVOLVING TEENS HELPING PEERS DEAL WITH BULLYING AND PRESSURES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE BLACK CHURCH IS SAVING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM THE DAYS OF SLAVERY.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD HAVE SURVIVED AS A PEOPLE WITHOUT IT.

>> SPEAK UP, STAND UP, SAVE A LIFE FOLKS USED ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG STUDENTS.

GINA WHO WORKS AT THE MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TALKS MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

GINA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE.

THIS SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING.

SPEAK UP, STAND UP, SAVE A LIFE.

WHAT IS IT EXACTLY?

>> SPEAK UP, STAND UP, SAVE A LIFE IS A MOVEMENT TO EMPOWER OUR YOUTH SO THAT THEY CAN NOTICE THE WARNING SIGNS IN THEIR CLASSMATES, AND EMPOWER THEM TO TELL A TRUSTED ADULT WHEN THEY SEE AN ISSUE.

WE HAVE NOTICED IN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, IN SUICIDES, EVERY TIME THERE'S A TRAGEDY AT OUR SCHOOL, THERE IS ALWAYS WARNING SIGNS, AND WE LOOK BACK ON IT AND ASK THE QUESTION, WHY DIDN'T ANYONE SAY ANYTHING?

AND THE MAIN REASON IS BECAUSE FROM A YOUNG AGE, WE TOLD OUR YOUTH TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, NOT TO BE A TATTLETALE, SNITCHES GET STITCHES AND SURPRISED WHEN THEY DON'T SPEAK UP AND TELL US WHEN SOMEBODY IS IN DANGER.

WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

TED: A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE HERE DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS TO TALK TO OTHER KIDS, TRUE?

>> THAT IS TRUE.

SO WE STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO, AND WE HAD A THOUSAND STUDENTS AND WE STARTED AFTER A TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT ONE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND WE'VE GROWN TO THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 10,000.

WE WERE FORCED TO CHANGE IT FROM AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE WE HELD AT GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY, WHERE WE HAD A FULL ARENA OF 5,000 YOUTH, AND WE'RE SAD WE CANNOT ALL BE TOGETHER, BUT THE EXCITING THING IS THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT LIMITED ON SPACE ANYMORE.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER THIS STUDENT CONFERENCE FREE OF CHARGE TO EVERY SCHOOL ACROSS ARIZONA, AND BECAUSE IT IS VIRTUAL, NOW WE HAVE ALREADY OVER 10,000 REGISTRANTS, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT.

TED: WOW, NO KIDDING, TEACHERS, PARENTS, SCHOOL STAFF, THERE ARE SESSIONS FOR THEM AS WELL?

>> YES, WE WILL HAVE AGE APPROPRIATE TRACKS AND STARTING, FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE OFFERING TRACKS FOR GRADES K-5 GRADE TO BE INCLUDED, AND WE'RE ALSO HAVING A PARENT-TEACHER TRACK.

SO PARENTS WILL BE INCLUDED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND ALSO THAT WILL BE A TRACK FOR ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL THAT ARE INTERESTED.

TED: AND WE SHOULD MENTION, BULLYING, DEPRESSION, SUICIDE, THEY ARE PROBLEMS, ISSUES EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES.

TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 CODE OF ON JUST THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY -- WE KNOW IN JUST THE COUNTY HERE, I WORK AT COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND I'M PROUD OF THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS, WE KNOW THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS SPIKING.

HOMICIDES ARE SPIKING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS UP.

IN ADDITION WE HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCREASING AND FINANCIAL STRAIN THAT PARENTS ARE DEALING WITH BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY'VE LOST THEIR JOBS, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE STUDENTS HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND THAT'S ALL AGREEMENT SO WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT COULD CAUSE TRAUMA, LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TIMES THAT OUR YOUTH ARE FACING, AND WE MAY NOT KNOW THE FULL DAMAGE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THINGS LIKE ACE AND ALL OF THE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES THAT IMPACT HEALTH LATER IN THE LIFE.

WE'RE HOPING TO AVOID SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS MY TEACHING THEM THAT THERE'S HELP OUT THERE AND IT'S NOT HOPELESS.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.

TED: FOR MORE INFORMATION, IF SOMEONE IS WATCHING AND WANT MORE INFORMATION, WHERE DO YOU GO?

>> WWW.SPEAK STAND SAVE.COM.

TED: THE DATE AND TIME FOR THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE?

>> TUESDAY THE 19th, FROM 9:30 UNTIL 2:30 AND REGISTRATION IS OPEN RIGHT NOW.

COME TO OUR WEBSITE AND SIGN UP.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.

IT'S GREAT WORK.

CONTINUED SUCCESS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS US LEANING ON THE INTERNET TO DO WHAT WE CAN'T DO IN PERSON AND LIMITED INTERNET ACCESS IS HURTING THE EDUCATION OF KIDS IN WESTERN COUNTRIES AND HERE IN THE U.S., INCLUDING ARIZONA.

PLENTY OF COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD THAT DON'T HAVE THE INTERNET.

FROM THE CATALYST SCIENCE TEAM, THE STORY OF STUDENT AND TECH LEADERS AT ASU, HERE'S PRODUCER STEVE FILMER.

>> I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING TO VISITING SCHOOLS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS NEVER SEEM TO WORK THERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS SEEING OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THE FORWARD EMPHASIS ON TECHNOLOGY AND COMPLETE LACK OF EMPHASIS ON THE SKILLS NEEDED TO USE THAT TECHNOLOGY.

I BECAME PASSIONATE ABOUT FIGURING OUT HOW TO OFFER BETTER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO KIDS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY ATTEND SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ELECTRICITY, BOOKS, DESKS, THE INTERNET, ET CETERA.

>> Reporter: IT MAYFIELD LIKE THE WORLD IS ON THE INTERNET, BUT LESS THAN HALF OF THE WORLDTS POPULATION HAS EVER CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

TECHNOLOGIES AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TOOK THIS AS A CHALLENGE TO COME UP WITH A KIND OF STARTER KID THAT COULD BE PUT TO USE RIGHT AWAY IN REMOTE PARTS OF THE WORLD.

PLACES THAT ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.

>> AN EVOLUTION OF YEARS OF WORKING IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD AND SEEING THE TECHNOLOGY THAT BOTH FAILED AND SUCCEEDED.

HOW DO WE BRING RELEVANT, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO PLACES THAT LACK ELECTRICITY, LACK INTERNET ACCESS, LACT BASIC INFRASTRUCTURES WE'RE USED TO.

>> I SAID OKAY, IN THREE MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD AN OFF-LINE, SOLAR-POWERED, RUGGED DIGITAL LIBRARY, LET'S GO.

>> THIS IS THE FAMILIAR LAPTOP AND THIS IS SOLAR SPELL.

THIS IS NOT TRYING TO BE THIS.

IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY WHERE THERE'S NO FLEECE PLUG IN THIS EXPENSIVE LAPTOP, VERY SOON THIS JUST BECOMES AN EXPENSIVE DOOR STOP.

SOLAR SPELL HAS GOT A SOLAR PANEL AND A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY INSIDE ALONG WITH A LIBRARY TO LEARN FROM.

SO THIS IS READY TO GO WHETHER THERE'S POWER OR NOT.

THIS COSTS ABOUT $200.

THIS COSTS ALMOST $3,000.

REEF SEEN A LOT OF PROJECTS WHERE THINGS ARE OVERENGINEERED AND FALL APART QUICKLY WHEN THE WESTERNERS LEAVE, SO SEEING THOSE PROJECTS AND HAVE WORKED ON THE PROJECTS, WHAT WE TRY TO DO WITH SOLAR SPELL IS BRING SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK WHEN YOU TAKE IT THERE.

AND ONCE WE LEAVE, IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND WORK AND PERFORM AS WE ENVISIONED IT, SO EXTREME DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY IS WHAT WE NEED BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE IN THE REMOTE PLACES WHEN SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK RIGHT.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TO WHEN THE THINGS GET TO WHERE THEY'RE FINALLY GOING?

THE SOLAR PANEL IS READY TO START CHARGING THE BATTERY BUT THE BATTERY IS SHIPPED ALREADY CHARGED, SO A PARENT, A STUDENT, TEACHER, PLUGS IN A COUPLE OF CABLES.

THIS THROWS UP A WI-FI SIGNAL AND IT'S PRELOADED WITH LOTS TO LEARN.

>> ONE OF THE GREATER CHALLENGES FOR ME IS TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THIS PROJECT IS NOT ABOUT THIS CUTE SHINY BOX THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO THE FIELD, AND IT'S NOT AN INEXPENSIVE CHEAP PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU CAN THROW OVER THE FENCE AND FORGET ABOUT.

IT'S A LIBRARY.

MENTALLY PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR INFORMATION AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET SAFE, RELEVANT, EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO PEOPLE.

>> ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF SOLAR SPELL BEING AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

WE HAVE A LARGE DIVERSE STUDENT BODY INTERESTED IN WORKING ON PROJECTS THAT REALLY BENEFIT EDUCATION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, AND WITH SOLAR SPELL, THERE'S ALWAYS IMPROVEMENT THAT WE CAN MAKE IN THE SOFTWARE AND IN THE HARDWARE DESIGN.

>> THIS IS A PROCESS, I CAME TO REALIZE, AND SO MUCH VALUE FROM GOING TO THE FIELDS, SOMETIMES FROM FAILING, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU ACTUALLY MAKE TIME TO REFLECT AND LEARN FROM THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T GO RIGHT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE RIGHT THE NEXT TIME OR WORK TO MAKE BETTER.

>> Reporter: UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HELP BUILD EACH SOLAR SPELL UNIT, AND AS PART OF COURSE WORK, THEY HELP REFINE AND IMPROVE SOLAR SPELL.

THE UNITS YOU SEE THEM BUILDING HERE WILL SHIP OUT IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT ALREADY, THERE'S A NEWER, BETTER DESIGN, WHICH IS WHAT THE STUDENT TEAMS WILL HELP PUT TOGETHER ON THE NEXT BUILD DAY.

>> WE ASSEMBLE A TEAM OF STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM A REAL WORLD CHALLENGE THAT'S FOCUSED ON A PROJECT THAT PARTNERS IN THE FIELD IDENTIFIED AS A NEED THAT THEY HAVE, AND I TELL THE STUDENTS, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD ON THIS PROBLEM FOR A SEMESTER AND YOU COME WITH ME AT THE END OF THE DAY OR THE SEMESTER AND DELIVER IT TO PARTNERS IN THE FIELD.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, THIS IS THE BEST WE COULD DO FROM ON CAMPUS.

WORK WITH US AND HELP US MAKE IT BETTER FOR YOU.

>> FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT, FOUR KEY AREAS WE LOOKED AT.

THE SOLAR SPELL FROM THE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN STANDPOINT ITSELF.

SECOND IS THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN THAT GOES INTO THE SOLAR SPELL.

THE THIRD IS THE COMPUTER SCIENCE SIDE THAT MAKES RASPBERRY PIE START UP AS A WI-FI ACCESS POINT AND THE INTERNET DESIGN, DESIGNED FOR THE FIRST-TIME USER.

WE HAVE ABOUT 50 STUDENTS INVOLVED IN ALL FOUR OF THE DESIGN AREAS AND IMPROVING SOLAR SPELL AND ENHANCING IT, AND SO EVERY SEMESTER, WE CHALLENGE STUDENTS WITH IDEAS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND ONES THAT ARE REALLY NEEDED TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN THE THE FIELD, SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO HAVE A BALANCE WHAT CAN BE DONE.

>> BASICALLY THE LONG STORY SHORT, IF YOU GIVE STUDENTS THE RIGHT INCENTIVE, THEY ALWAYS COME THROUGH.

EVERY TIME WE GO TO THE FIELD WE IDENTIFY NEW CHALLENGES, THE INITIATIVE WILL NEVER BE OVER, THE HARDWARE OF THE LIBRARY, THE SOFTWARE OF THE LIBRARY, THE CONTENT, THE TRAINING CAN BE IMPROVED AND WE IMPROVE IT EVERY TIME WE GO TO THE FIELD.

.

TED: SOLAR SPELL IS ALREADY ON THE GROUND IN EIGHT REMOTE COMMUNITIES IN AFRICA AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS AND SOLAR SPELL IS IN A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PEACE CORPS TO BRING THE DEVICES AND THE PLATFORM TO MORE AREAS.

.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.