[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A TROUBLING INCREASE IN DHIRN HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19.

ON CRONKITE NEWS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS NOW LEGAL IN ARIZONA.

WE'LL LOOK AT HOW THE FIRST WEEKEND OF SALES WENT HERE IN THE VALLEY.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN HOW THE PANDEMIC IS CONTRIBUTEING TO CHILDHOOD HUNGER.

ALL OF THIS IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

ON THIS DATE LAST YEAR, ARIZONA RECORDED ITS FIRST KNOWN CASE OF COVID-19.

TODAY THE STATE IS THE NATIONAL HOT SPOT FOR THE VIRUS.

THIS COMES AS THE STATE REPORTS CLOSE TO 5,000 NEW COVID CASES TODAY, AND OVER 200 NEW DEATHS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS IN ARIZONA ARE DROPPING, BUT NOT BY MUCH.

91% OF ICU BEDS ARE IN USE.

GOVERNOR DUCEY TODAY ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO ACCELERATE THE STATE-WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

THE ADVISORY ALLOWS THE STATE TOE REALLOCATE DOSES TO WHERE THEY CAN BE MORE RAPIDLY DISTRIBUTED.

VACCINE MAKER MODERNA ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT HAS SUPPLIED THE U.S. WITH MORE THAN 30 MILLION DOSES SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE PROBLEM IS THE CDC SAYS ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF THOSE DOSES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERS.

MODERNA IT IS STILL ON TRACK TO DISTRIBUTE 200 MILLION BY THE END OF JUNE.

THE CDC SAID IT IS FINDING LITTLE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE, BUT THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS THAT SOME INDOOR ATHLETICS HAVE LEAD TO MORE INFECTIONS.

U.S.

SENATORS WERE SWORN IN TODAY FOR THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND 45 SENATORS VOTED TO DISMISS THE TRIAL.

FORMER ARIZONA SENATOR JEFF FLAKE TOLD CNN WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE WERE STILL IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> IF I WERE IN THE SENATE, I WOULD CERTAINLY VOTE TO CONVICT, AND ALSO CALLING THE REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE OF STATE IN GEORGIA ASKING HIM TO FIND YOU VOTES AND THEN TRYING TO FIRE THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL TO GET LACKEY WHO WOULD BRING THE CHALLENGE TO THE SUPREME COURT.

THAT ALL HAPPENED AFTER THE ELECTION, AND THERE HAS TO BE SOME CONSEQUENCE.

I HOPE THERE IS A CONVICTION.

>> FLAKE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW IS FACING SOME SERIOUS CREDIBILITY ISSUES ALL BECAUSE OF TRUMP.

>> SINCE THE INCIDENT ON CAPITOL HILL, SINCE THE INSURRECTION, 9,000 REPUBLICANS IN ARIZONA HAVE CHANGED THEIR PARTY REGISTRATION.

MILLENNIALS AND SUBURBAN WOMEN HAVE BEEN WALKING AWAY FROM THE PARTY FOR A WHILE, AND I THINK NOW THEY ARE IN A DEAD SPRINT UNLESS WE GET AWAY FROM TRUMP-ISM.

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED SEVERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS TODAY, AMONG THE ISSUE PS ADDRESSING PRIVATE PRISONS.

AND IT WAS A YEAR AGO TODAY THAT KOBE BRYANT, HIS YOUNG DAUGHTER AND SEVEN OTHERS DIED IN A HOSPITAL CRASH.

HE LEARNED ALL-STAR HONORS FOR 18 OF HIS 20 SEASONS IN THE LEAGUE.

BANNER HEALTH IS REPORTING AN INCREASE IN CHILDREN BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID-19, WITH ADMISSIONS CLOSE TO FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN THEY WERE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM DR. DAVID MOROMISATO, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT BANNER DESERT MEDICAL CENTER.

DOCTOR, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT AN INCREASE IN KIDS BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING OUT THERE?

>> LIKE THE SURGE WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN ARIZONA WITH WHAT WE THINK OF AS ADULT PATIENTS, OR ADULTS, WE'RE SEEING THE SAME SURGE HAPPENING IN CHILDREN, AND SO WITH THIS SURGE, WE HAVE SEEN A FIVE TO SIX-FOLD INCREASE IN CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID OR COVID COMPLICATIONS, JUST AS WE HAVE SEEN IT WITH ADULTS, AND THIS IS ALL PROBABLY IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

>> HOW SERIOUS ARE THESE CASES WITH THESE KIDS?

>> YOU KNOW, IF -- IF A CHILD REQUIRES HOSPITALIZATION, THAT MEANS THAT -- THAT THEY NEED EXTRA SUPPORT THAT CAN'T BE PROVIDED IN THE HOME, SO THAT WOULD MEAN OXYGEN THERAPY OR IV FLUIDS, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP DOWN FLUIDS OR KEEP UP WITH THEIR OWN NEEDS, OR IF IT GETS BAD ENOUGH, THEY NEED A VENTILATOR.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT VENTILATORS, INTY -- INTEE BAGSS, YOU WOULD HOPE YOU DON'T SEE AS MUCH WITH CHILDREN.

>> I KNOW.

AND CHILDREN OVERALL ARE PROBABLILESS SUSCEPTIBLE THAN ADULTS WITH COVID-19.

BUT WE STILL SEE CHILDREN BEING HOSPITALIZED AND ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CHILDREN WHO GET HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID WILL ACTUALLY NEED THE ICU, MEANING MORE INTENSETIVE THERAPY, CLOSER MONITORING, VENTILATOR SUPPORT, AND SOME OF THE COMPLICATIONS HAVE REQUIRED EVEN ECMO SUPPORT.

>> WOW, AND HAS A COMPARISON WITH ADULT PATIENTS, DO YOU SEE THE SYMPTOMS, THE TREATMENT, THE CARE, DOES IT DIFFER ALL THAT MUCH?

>> IT DIFFERS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IN CHILDREN WE ALSO SEE WHAT IS CALLED MIS, OR MULTI-SYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME, WHICH IS POST-INFECTION OF COVID.

SO THEY ARE COMING IN WITH THIS PERSISTENT FEVER OR SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF INFORMATION, AND MOST COMMONLY OR CLASSICALLY WE THINK OF THE HEART, AND HEARTRIES S OR THE HEART MUSCLE BEING EFFECTED.

>> WE HEAR ABOUT LONG-HAUL CASES WITH ADULTS.

WHAT ABOUT KIDS ARE THEY BETTER ABLE TO GET PAST THIS, OR ARE THERE LONG-HAUL RESULTS THERE TOO?

>> WHICH THINK CHILDREN DO, BUT IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING IF CHILDREN ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH THIS, THAT THEY GET LONG-TERM FOLLOW UP WITH A CARDIOLOGIST, SO WE -- IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL.

>> YEAH, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SAYS ARIZONA HAS THE WORST PER CAPITA RATE OF CHILDREN BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19.

WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> WELL, CHILDREN LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY LIVE WITH THEIR PARENT, AND JUST AS OUR ADULTS ARE GETTING INFECTIONS WITH COVID-19 AND ALSO BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH IT, AT THE HIGHEST RATES IN THE COUNTRY, THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK WE WOULDN'T SEE THIS HAPPEN IN OUR CHILDREN AS WELL.

>> AND ALL OF THIS IMPACTS EDUCATION, DOCTOR, BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT THESE SCHOOLS TO GET BACK OPEN, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN INCREASING NUMBER OF KIDS BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID, THAT'S A FACTOR THERE.

>> IT IS, AND WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT -- THAT LEARNING IN PERSON IS SO IMPORTANT.

IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD ON FAMILIES.

HOWEVER, WITH THE PENETRATION OF COVID IN THE COMMUNITY, AS HIGH AS IT IS, WE STILL RECOMMEND DISTANCE LEARNING FOR NOW, UNTIL WE CAN GET THE POSITIVITY RATE DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER, AND RECOGNIZING THAT SOME CHILDREN STILL MUST BE IN PERSON, PLEASE ADHERE TO THE CDC GUIDELINES.

THAT'S GOING TO BE KEY TO KEEPING CHILDREN AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

>> CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR, WHEN DO YOU THINK THESE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO START TURNING AROUND?

>> WELL, WE HAVE SEEM TO HAVE REACHED A PLATEAU, AND THEY ARE STARTING TO COME DOWN.

WE ARE STILL AMONGST THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY, BUT WITH THIS MOST RECENT SURGE, IT IS STARTING TO TURN AROUND.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE ADHERING TO MASKING, NOT AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD BE, BUT WE ARE DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

WE WANT TO KEEP STAYING WITH THE MASKING, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND BEING CAREFUL WITH OUR CIRCLES, SO I AM HOPEFUL THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS, WE WILL SEE THIS CONTINUE TO COME DOWN, AND -- AND HOPEFULLY GET BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL, BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S STILL TOO HIGH.

>> YEAH, NO KIDDING.

DOCTOR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU ARE DOING GREAT WORK OUT THERE, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, AND THANKS FOR REALLY GETTING THE WORD OUT ON STAYING SAFE AND KEEPING OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES PROTECTED.

>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

>> OKAY.

BYE-BYE.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE FIRST COVID-19 CASE WAS REPORTED?

ARIZONA.

MORE THAN 12,000 ARIZONANS HAVE DIED OF THE DISEASE SINCE THEN.

CRONKITE NEWS REPORTER JAKE HOLTER EXPLAINS HOW SOME MEDICAL EXPERTS ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE U.S. IS CLOSE TO TURNING THE CORNER.

>> Reporter: THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES ANNOUNCED THE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 IN 2020 A YEAR AGO TODAY.

>> WE HAVE MADE HISTORIC ACCELERATION IN PATIENT CARE.

WE HAVE ADVANCED VACCINATION DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE IMPROVED HOW WE CARE FOR PATIENTS AND EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR TELEMEDICINE.

>> Reporter: THIS DOCTOR SAYS THE MORE PEOPLE PUT THEIR TRUST THERE IN THE SCIENCE THE BETTER CHANCE WE HAVE OF OVERCOMING THE VIRUS.

WILL HUMBLE SAID IT COULD HAPPEN IF MORE VACCINES COME ON BOARD.

>> WE HAVE TO BRING ON THE OTHER TWO VACCINES, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY FLEXIBLE AND BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE FROZEN, THEY CAN BE IN EVERY DOCTOR'S OFFICE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> Reporter: OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS VIRUS IS MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN IT WAS A YEAR AGO.

THAT HAS HELPED AND IT MAKES THIS DOCTOR OPTIMISTIC.

>> I THINK WE'LL BE OKAY AT THE END OF THIS SUMMER OF 2021, BUT THIS VIRUS, AGAIN, HAS DONE SO MANY MYSTERIOUS THINGS THAT IF IT TURNS OUT THAT I'M WRONG, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.

>>> IT HAS BEEN A DARK YEAR WITH COVID-19, NOW A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE STATE.

OVER 12,000 FATALITIES ARE MORE DEATHS THAN CANCER AND HEART DISEASE IN RECENT HERE.

UP NEXT CONGRESSWOMAN ANN KIRKPATRICK ON WHAT SHE HOPES TO SEE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>>> CONGRESSWOMAN ANN KIRKPATRICK WAS AMONG THOSE IN THE HOUSE TO VOTED TO SEND AN ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT TO THE U.S. SENATE.

WE SPOKE TO HER ABOUT THAT AND WHAT SHE IS LOOKING FOR FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

CONGRESSWOMAN GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LOTS TO DISCUSS.

WHAT IS THE MOOD IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S A LITTLE CHAOTIC.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE HOPEFUL NOW THAT WE HAVE GOT A NEW ADMINISTRATION, BUT A LOT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE RIGHT THERE AT THE END BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, AND -- AND THINGS GOT SHAKEN UP A LITTLE BIT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO CALM THINGS DOWN.

I THINK THE MOOD OVERALL IS VERY, VERY HOPEFUL.

NOW THAT WE HAVE THE PRESIDENCY, THE HOUSE, AND THE SENATE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUSH AHEAD SOME OF THE PROGRESSIVE IDEAS AND VALUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD AT FOR SO LONG.

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, AND PROVIDING COVID RELIEF.

THOSE ARE THE TOP TWO.

I DON'T THINK ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE OTHER.

I THINK THEY CAN BE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY, BUT THOSE ARE THE BIG ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW.

>> CAN THEY BE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN THE SENATE IS INVOLVED IN A IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

YOU SENT YOUR VOTES OVER TO THOUGH SENATE.

THEY NOW LOOK OVER THE CHARGE.

THE TRIAL IS GOING TO START HERE SOON.

IS THAT -- REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THIS IS NOT THE BEST THING FOR THE COUNTRY.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT THERE?

>> NO.

PEOPLE COMMITMENT CRIMES, THEY HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT WITH AN IMPEACHMENT.

I THINK WE CAN DO ALL THREE SIMULTANEOUSLY.

WE HAVE GOT THE DESIRE.

WE HAVE GOT THE STAFF TO DO THAT, AND -- AND IT HAS TO BE DONE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK, DOES THE COUNTRY HAVE THE DESIRE FOR THAT, BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING IT WILL FURTHER DIVIDE THE COUNTRY.

>> I THINK THE COUNTRY DOES HAVE A DESIRE.

THAT'S WHAT I HEAR FROM MY STIT WANTS, AND THEY WANT IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS.

>> HOW EASY HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU TO MOVE BEYOND THIS.

WHERE WERE YOU ON JANUARY 6TH?

>> I WAS IN MY OFFICE.

SO IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY.

YOU KNOW, THEY TOLD US TO BARRICADE OUR OFFICES AND SHELTER IN PLACE, AND YOU NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY VISUAL OF THE HALLWAYS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE DID.

WE -- WE ALL JUST GOT REALLY, REALLY QUIET AND WAITED IT OUT.

>> YEAH, AND AGAIN, THIS IMPEACHMENT CHARGE, ALLEGES THAT THE PRESIDENT -- FORMER PRESIDENT -- WAS INCITEMENT OF INSURRECTION.

DID HE SAY SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR, ACT IN A PARTICULAR WAY THAT YOU THINK CEMENTED THINGS FORE YOU.

>> YEAH, HE SHOULD HAVE CALLED ACTION TO HIS PEOPLE TO FIGHT BACK, AND I THINK THEY TOOK THAT SERIOUSLY, AND THAT WAS INSIGHTFUL.

IT INCITED THE RIOT, AND IT WAS HIS CALL TO ACTION.

>> DO YOU THINK HOUSE MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED NOT ONLY THE RALLY -- MAYBE NOT THE RIOT, BUT THE RALLY, AND HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH THESE FALSE ELECTION CLAIMS, DO YOU THINK HOUSE MEMBERS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR ALL OF THIS?

>> I DO.

I DO.

IF YOU ARE TELLING LIES OR MISLEADING THE PUBLIC, THERE HAS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SO THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION, ABSOLUTELY.

>> ACCORDING TO THOSE IN ARIZONA'S DELEGATION?

>> YES.

>> HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THEM AT ALL?

>> I HAVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I LIKE THEM, BUT I DON'T LIKE THE ACTIONS THAT THEY TOOK.

I LIKE THEM AS PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T LIKE THEIR ACTIONS.

>> AND HOW DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE?

>> I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION FIRST; THAT WE SHOULD FIND OUT THE FACTS AND THEN CONGRESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> IT HAS TO BE FACTUAL.

IT HAS TO BE BASED ON FACTS.

>> OKAY.

AND, AGAIN, THE 14TH AMENDMENT, SOME WERE SAYING IF IT DOESN'T APPLY NOW, IT DOESN'T APPLY AT ALL.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> I'M SURE ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USE.

I GUESS WE SHOULD KEEP ALL OF THE TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX THAT WE MAY NEED IN THE FUTURE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THEM, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY URGENCY RIGHT NOW TO USE THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

>> AND YOU STARTED BY TALKING ABOUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, AND IMMIGRATION AND COVID RELIEF.

FOR ARIZONA WHAT DOES A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MEAN FOR OUR STATE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, HE HAS BEEN TO ARIZONA SEVERAL TIMES, SO HE KNOWS ARIZONA, AND I THINK HIS VALUES ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE STATE.

AND WE DO NOT WANT A BORDER WALL, AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IS OPPOSED TO BUILDING A BORDER WALL.

WE WANT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, BUT NOT A WALL, SO SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN SO SENSITIVE, SO EMOTIONAL TO ARIZONANS, I THINK WE CAN FINALLY MOVE BEYOND.

>> MOVE BEYOND, BUT IS THERE THAT SPIRIT -- IT SEEMED AS THOUGH BIPARTISANSHIP WAS REARING ITS HEAD THERE, BUT YOU WONDER HOW LONG THAT IS GOING TO LAST.

WHAT ARE YOU FEELING THERE?

>> WELL, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

I FEEL LIKE -- ESPECIALLY ARE OUR ARIZONA DELEGATION.

PEOPLE JUST WANT TO GET TO WORK, GET THINGS DONE FOR ARIZONA, AND WE HAVE A GREAT DELEGATION OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW, BUT THAT'S DEMOCRACY, YOU KNOW?

THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS IS.

SO I'M MORE HOPEFUL, I THINK, THAN I EVER HAVE BEEN ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR ARIZONA AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN ANN KIRKPATRICK THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> THIS YEAR'S INDUCTEES TO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME ARE SET TO BE ANNOUNCED.

BUT CURT SCHILLINGS INDUCTION IS AGAIN IN DOUBT.

MARK FALLER IS SPORTS EDITOR OF THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

HE IS AMONG THOSE VOTING AGAINST SHILLING MAKING THE HALL OF FAME.

MARK FALLER, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE MADE YOUR OPINIONS KNOWN REGARDING CURT SCHILLING AND THE HALL OF FAME.

LET'S START WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.

SHOULD CURT SCHILLING BE VOTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME?

>> I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE -- I HAVE NOT VOTED FOR HIM SINCE 2016.

I THINK HE HAS DISQUALIFIED HIMSELF BECAUSE OF HIS HATE SPEECH AGAINST MANY GROUPS ACROSS -- ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THERE IS NO SPECIFIC CLAUSE IN THE HALL OF FAME INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT THE VOTERS SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO.

I JUST BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE YOU TO FOCUS ONLY ON THE PLAYER'S CAREER IN BASEBALL, BUT IN 2020 AND 2021, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO THAT ANYMORE.

>> HOW MUCH DOES CHARACTER COUNT IN TERMS OF BASEBALL'S HALL OF FAME?

>> WELL, UP UNTIL NINE YEARS AGO, I'M NOT SURE IT COUNTED HARDLY AT ALL.

YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE HALL OF FAME AND FIND PLENTY OF BAD ACTORS FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THAT HAVE BEEN VOTED IN FOR ALL SORTS OF REASONS, AND I THINK STEROID'S ERA MADE PEOPLE TAKE A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THE CANDIDACY OF PLAYERS, STARTING WITH BERRY BONDS, SAMMY SOSA, AND MARK McGUIRE, AND A FEW OTHERS.

SO TO ME I THINK IT'S JUST A HALF STEP OVER, THOUGH.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A PLAYER'S MORALITY.

WERE THEY CHEATING?

YOU START TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS, I THINK YOU HAVE TO EXPAND IT TO OTHER THINGS.

THE ARGUMENT HAS BEEN MADE WITH ALL OF THESE OTHER PLAYERS IN THERE, HOW CAN YOU NOW USE THE MORALITY CLAUSE.

I CAN ONLY DO WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, AND I HAVE TO VOTE MY CONSCIENCE.

>> BECAUSE IT IS THE HALL OF FAME, AND NOT NECESSARILY THE HALL OF STATISTICS, AS A HALL OF FAME, COULD SOMEONE LIKE A CURT SCHILLING WHO OBVIOUSLY SUCCEEDED GREATLY ON THE FIELD, COULD YOU PUT HIM IN THE HALL OF FAME, BUT ALSO WHEREVER YOU DESCRIBE HIS CAREER AND HIS PERSON INCLUDE SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT HE HAS SAID, SOME OF THESE ACTIONS HE HAS TAKEN?

>> SO THE WAY THE HALL IS SET UP, AND THE PLAQUES HAVE ONLY A FEW LINES OF TEXT ON THEM THAT BASICALLY ARE USED FOR EITHER THEIR STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS OR, PERHAPS, HE WAS A VERY BELOVED PLAYER FOR HIS TEAM OR SOMETHING VERY GENERIC LIKE THAT.

I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, THERE ARE PLAYERS LIKE THOME THOME -- TOMMY JOHN.

ROGER MARIS, NEITHER ONE OF THOSE PLAYERS HAD STATISTICS THAT WOULD NECESSARILY MAKE THEM HALL OF FAMERS, BUT THEY ARE IN THE HALL OF FAME FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

I THINK BASEBALL AND THE HALL OF FAME MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERHAPS PUT A -- A DISPLAY TOGETHER ON, THIS WAS THE STEROID ERA, OR THIS WAS THE ERA THAT BASEBALL TURNED ITS BACK AND BURIED ITS HEAD, AND SO DID THE MEDIA UNTIL THEY FINALLY STARTED ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.

MAYBE THAT'S THE WAY TO APPROACH IT.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS CURT SCHILLING GOING TO MAKE THE HALL OF FAME?

>> WELL, THERE IS A TRACKER THAT WE FOLLOW.

THERE IS A MAN NAMED RYAN THIBODEAU THAT TRACKS ALL OF THE KNOWN BALLOTS, AND RIGHT NOW SHILLING IS RIGHT AT THINK CUSP.

HE IS AT 74.9.

HE IS RIGHT ON CUSP.

NOW THAT'S BASED ON THE KNOWN BALLOTS.

THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC LIKE MINE AND OTHERS, BUT A LOT HAVEN'T BEEN COUNTED YET.

>> IF HE MAKES IT, WHICH TEAM WILL HE GO WITH.

IF HE DECIDES, INDEED TO GO WITH THE DIAMONDBACKS, HOW DOES THE TEAM HANDLE THIS?

>> I THINK HE WOULD GO IN WITH THE RED SOX CAP, BECAUSE HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PLAYERS TO BREAK THE CURSE OF THE GREAT BAMBINO.

NOBODY COULD DISPUTE HE DID GREAT THINGS IN BASEBALL, BUT DIAMONDBACKS HAVE KIND OF A QUESTIONABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, I THINK, AT THIS POINT, IS THE BEST WAY I CAN PUT IT.

I THINK THEY WOULD BE JUST AS HAPPY IF HE PUT A BOSTON RED SOX CAP ON.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FORE NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOR OF LOCAL NEWS OF ARIZONA PBS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS ARIZONA DISPENSARIES STARTED SELLING RECREATIONAL POT THIS WEEKEND.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROLLOUT.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN THE PARALLELS BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND FOOD INSECURITY.