[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, LONGTIME FRIEND OF FORMER ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL GRANT WOODS, WHO DIED OVER THE WEEKEND.

ON "CRONKITE NEWS," HOW AN INCREASE IN ONLINE DATING DURING THE PANDEMIC HAS LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN DATING SCAMS, AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," A LOOK AT THE MYTHS AROUND DOMESTIC ABUSE AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE'S INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION MET AGAIN TODAY, BUT THE "ARIZONA MIRROR" REPORTS IT WAS MORE OF A BUSINESS MEETING THAN A MAP-DRAWING SESSION.

THE COMMISSION CHAIR EMPHASIZED SHE WANTS CURRENT MAPS APPROVED BY THURSDAY, FOLLOWED BY A STATE-WIDE TOUR TO GET PUBLIC IMPUT.

>>> AND CONSUMERS ARE APPARENTLY FEELING MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT SPENDING MONEY AGAIN.

NEARLY HALF OF RESPONDENTS SAY THEY INTEND TO TAKE A VACATION IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

>>> HEALTH NEWS, THE FDA VACCINE ADVISORS TODAY RECOMMENDED USING THE PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE FOR 5 TO 11 YEAR OLDS.

THEY SAID THE BENEFITS FOR A OUT-WEIGH THE POTENTIAL RISKS.

FDA IS TAKING THE VOTE UNDER CONSIDERATION.

CDC ADVISORS WILL MEET NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS TODAY'S DECISION.

>>> COMPUTER GLITCHES OVER THE WEEKEND ARE EFFECTING ARIZONA'S LATE EAST COVID NUMBERS.

THE GLITCHES ALSO EXPLAIN WHY COVID FATALITIES SPIKED AT 102 TODAY.

THAT UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER IS DUE TO A CATCHUP FROM DELAYS.

>>> THE NEED FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTS IS UP DUE TO A SPIKE IN THE USE OF ALCOHOL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>>> CONGRESSMAN GREG STANTON HONORED FORMER ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL GRANT WOODS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY, AS ARIZONANS CONTINUE TO MOURN THE LOSS OF GRANT WOODS.

I SPOKE WITH ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENT CHAIR-ELECT FRED DUVAL WHO TALKED ABOUT HIS LONG-TIME FRIEND.

FRED, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE SPEAKING WITH YOU.

I KNOW YOU AND GRANT WOODS WENT WAY BACK, AND WENT TO COLLEGE TOGETHER IN CALIFORNIA.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> THE FIRST TIME I MET HIM WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

HE ARRANGED FOR THE AMPLIFIER TO PLAY MISSION IMPOSSIBLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SPEECH, AND I THOUGHT WHO IS THIS MISCHIEVOUS GUY?

>> THE YOUNG GRANT WOODS COMPARED TO THE GRANT WOODS?

>> TOTALLY THE SAME GUY.

HE WAS ALWAYS THE FUNNIEST IN THE ROOM AND ALWAYS FIRST IN THE CLASS.

THE BREADTH OF HIS GIFTS WERE CLEAR TO EVERYBODY EARLY ON.

I WROTE FOR BOB ROB, AS DID GRANT, AND GRANT DID MOVIE REVIEWS AND MUSIC REVIEWS, AND YOU COULD SEE THE BREADTH OF HIS RAGE EARLY ON.

>> AND THE COLLEGE IN CALIFORNIA.

>> YES.

>> THAT IS KIND A GROUP.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT -- THE PERSON THAT WAS SO CHARISMATIC COULD ALSO BE VERY BLUNT.

HE NEVER RAN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE AGAIN.

DID THAT HOLD HIM BACK A LITTLE BIT?

>> WELL, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

HE IS ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO BEING HONEST, LIVING HONESTLY, HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR HONESTY.

THE WORST THING TO BE IN GRANT WOODS'S LIFE WAS A POSER.

A POSER IS SOMEBODY WHO IS SPINNING AND MASSAGING THE TRUTH.

HE WOULD PUT IT ALL OUT THERE IN EVERYTHING HE DID, FROM MUSIC TO POLITICS TO HIS WORK, HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.

AND WE CELEBRATE THAT ON ONE HAND, BUT WE REALLY DON'T REWARD THEM BECAUSE THAT HAS A WAY OF STIRRING UP ALL OF THE CONTROVERSIES.

AND GRANT WOULD GO AFTER ANYBODY WHO HE THOUGHT WAS COMMITTING INJUSTICE.

>> AND HE ALSO WOULD SUPPORT DEMOCRATS WHILE HE WAS A REPUBLICAN.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO HAVE HIS SUPPORT DURING YOUR GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN?

>> I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIS OPEN SUPPORT.

WE PUT HIM IN A TV AD.

NOW I LOST, AND LOST PRETTY BADLY, SO I DON'T KNOW THE VALUE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> BUT WHO GOES AFTER KENT KENDRIK IN ARIZONA?

HE IS WILLING TO TAKE ON ANYBODY WHO HE THINKS IS NOT HOLDING UP THEIR END OF THEIR PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED IT TOOK HIM SO LONG TO LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> NO, HE UNDERSTAND THAT BEING A REPUBLICAN, AND REMAINING WITH ONE FOOT IN WHAT IS LEFT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GAVE HIM MORE VALUE TO THE DEMOCRATS HE WANTED TO CROSS OVER FOR, AND HE WOULD ALSO ENDORSE REPUBLICANS, SO HE WAS A BIPARTISAN GUY IN WHO HE SUPPORTED.

>> AND AS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOCUSED A LOT ON PROTECTING CONSUMERS.

WERE THOSE WERE THE BIGGIES OR WERE THERE OTHER THINGS?

>> OH, YEAH.

AND CIVIL RIGHTS WHEN HE WAS AG ON THE MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY, BIG DEAL.

HE DID -- HE LAUNCHED SOME ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUITS AS AG WHICH NOW HAVE BECOME KIND OF STANDARD PRACTICE.

HE WAS LATE 30S, EARLY 40S, A YOUNG GUY, BUT HE ALWAYS KNEW WHO HE WAS, AND WILLING TO USE EVERY TOOL IN HIS EXTRAORDINARY BOX OF SKILLS.

>> AND WE DID A FEATURE ON HIM WHEN HE RELEASED HIS ALBUM OF ORIGINAL MUSIC.

HE WAS REALLY INTO THAT STUFF, WASN'T HE?

>> HE WAS A RENAISSANCE MAN.

HE HAS POETRIES, AND PLAYS, AND THE MUSIC PROJECT, AND THEY WERE ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF HIM, BUT THE THROUGH LINE IS THE PROBING OF TRUTH AND WHAT IS HONEST, REAL, AND JUST.

>> I KNOW CIVIL DISCOURSE IS A BIG THING WITH YOU.

CIVIL DISCOURSE A BIG THING WITH HIM?

>> YES.

HE -- WELL, WHAT WAS A BIG THING TO HIM WAS THE ABILITY TO COLLABORATE.

ONE OF HIS GIFTS THAT HE SPEAKS IN EDGY WAYS, AND IT GOT HIM IN TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS COLORFUL AND PART OF THE CHARACTER.

>> YOU TWEETED OUT, BIGGEST LIFE FORCE I KNEW.

AND THE MOST TALL LENL LENL -- TALENTED PERSON I KNEW.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

HE IS A HUGE PERSONALITY, WITH HUGE GIFTS.

HE WAS ALWAYS IN THE ROOM WHEN IT HAPPENED.

PEOPLE WERE DRAWN TO HIM BECAUSE HE IS COMPELLING, FUNNY, AND BRIGHT, AND I SPOKE TO HIM LAST THURSDAY.

WE DO AN ANNUAL BUCKET TRIP, AND WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO CATCH THE MARLINS, AND WE ALWAYS FINISHED WITH I LOVE YOU, AND GUYS DON'T DO THAT, BUT IT IS HONEST.

>> GOOD FRIENDS DO THAT, AND YOU ARE A GOOD FRIEND.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MEDIA LITERATE.

>>> THIS IS MEDIA LITERACY WEEK, AN EVENT PUT ON BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDIA LITERACY EDUCATION THAT INVOLVING USING NEWS, SOCIAL MEDIA, MOVIES AND MUSIC TO BETTER DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM KRISTY ROSCHKE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE NEWS CO/LAB AT ASU'S CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

KRISTY, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> MEDIA LITERACY WEEK, WHAT IS THIS ABOUT.

>> IT TALKS ABOUT THE WAY THAT PEOPLE ENGAGE WITH MEDIA AND DIFFERENT WAYS WE KNOW HOW TO FIND IT, INTERPRET IT, AND HOW WE USE IT IN OUR LIVES.

SO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDIA LITERACY EDUCATION STARTED MEDIA LITERACY WEEK WHICH REALLY GIVES PEOPLE AN INTRODUCTION TO WHAT MEDIA LITERACY IS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO THINK CRITICALLY, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> GIVE ME A DEFINITION OF MEDIA LITERACY WEEK?

>> SURE.

THE MOST STANDARD DEFINITION IS THE ABILITY TO ACCESS, EVALUATE AND ACT ON MEDIA MESSAGES.

IT INCLUDES BOOKS, MUSIC, AND HERE WE FOCUS MOSTLY ON THE NEWS, BUT IT IS MUCH BROADER THAN THAT.

>> AND EVEN ADVERTISEMENTS -- OBVIOUSLY WITH ADVERTISEMENTS, SOMEBODY SAYS THEY CAN FIX THIS AND THEY CAN'T -- YOU HAVE TO BE LITERATE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

ALL OF THESE TYPES OF MESSAGES THAT WE CONSUME EVERY SOMEDAY, THEY HAVE AN IMPACT ON US, AND HOW WE CAN CRITICALLY REACT TO THEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A NEW WAY OF READING AND WRITING.

>> YES.

YOU NEED TO READ AND WRITE TO BE ABLE TO CONSUME MEDIA, BUT IT IS ALSO HOW MEDIA EFFECTS US.

>> IN THIS DAY OF SOCIAL MEDIA, WHERE EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER ARE SAYING THE MOST RIDICULOUS THINGS ALL OF THE TIME, HAS THE ABILITY OF MEDIA LITERACY ERODED A LITTLE BIT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THERE ARE SO MANY MORE MESSAGES THAN WE ARE USED TO.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE NOISE, IT DOES MAKE IT HARDER A LOT OF THE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHO QUESTION SHOULD BE GIVING OUR ATTENTION TO, AND WHO IS CREDIBLE.

>> AND WHAT GOES ON DURING MEDIA LITERACY WEEK?

>> THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION IS HOSTING A NUMBER OF EVENTS, AND IT'S DIFFERENT WAYS PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT MEDIA LITERACY WEEK, EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR PARENTS, BECAUSE WE CAN START TEACHING WITH THAT VERY YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF A CLASS.

>> THE NEWS CO-LAB, WE OFFER A FREE MEDIA CLASS, THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT WHAT CREDIBLE RESOURCES.

HOW TO SPOT MISINFORMATION, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACTS THE MEDIA WE SEE.

>> HOW DO YOU SPOT MISINFORMATION.

>> SOME OF IT IS TO KIND TO BE IN TUNE WITH YOUR EMOTIONS.

>> YEAH.

>> IF YOU SEE SOMETHING AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL REALLY ANGRY, CHANCES ARE, YOU SHOULD GIVE IT A SECOND LOOK.

>> DO YOU NEED A WIDER ARRAY OF LITERACY SKILLS TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE INTERNET?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYTHING FROM HOW WE ACCESS INFORMATION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WE'RE SEEING THE FEED AS EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME, ALSO WHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO AS THEY LOOK AT THESE MESSAGES, AND IT HAPPENS SO FAST.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE GOT MESSAGE, MESSAGE, MESSAGE, AND THEY ARE ALL FROM DIFFERENT AVENUES AND DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO FOCUS ON ONE OF THEM?

>> IT'S HARD.

AND SOME OF IT IS KNOWING THE MARKERS OF PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST.

AND A NEWS SOURCE THAT MAYBE LOOKS REAL, BUT YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE, YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT.

>> THE GATE KEEPERS ARE STILL THERE, AREN'T THEY?

>> THEY ARE.

AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE CAN SHARE AND PROMOTE ANYTHING WE WANT TO, WHICH MAKES US ALL GATE KEEPERS.

>> SO SOMEBODY IS WATCHING IN, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, WHERE DO THEY GO THIS WEEK?

>> THEY CAN GO TO THE CRONKITE'S SCHOOL MAIN EVENT.

AND YOU ARE GO TO MEDIA ACTIVE, AND IF YOU GOOGLE THAT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND OUR COURSE.

>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

KRISTY ROSCHKE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE NEWS CO/LAB AT ASU'S CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

KRISTY, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UNVACCINATED COVID PATIENTS ARE MAKING FORE FEWER AVAILABLE HOSPITAL BEDS, WHICH IS LEAD KING TO THE POSTPONEMENT OF CRITICAL MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PREVENTIVE CARE.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH DR. SWAPNA REDDY, FROM ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HEALTHCARE FOR SERIOUS ILLNESSES, AND WHY IT IS BEING DELAYED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS?

>> YES, A NEW POLL IS GIVING US DISTURBING INFORMATION.

ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE U.S. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX HAVE DELAYED TREATMENT FOR SERIOUS ILLNESSES OR SERIOUS ISSUES IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND THIS IS SERIOUS FROM A HEALTH OUTCOME PERSPECTIVE, AND WHAT IT IS REFLECTING TO US ABOUT OUR HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND ITS CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.

>> AND COVID IS A BIG REASON HERE, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND ICU UNITS, THE ABILITY OF ICU UNITS, IT'S AT VERY CONCERNING LEVELS.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS IN HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS HOSPITAL BEDS ARE FULL, AND WHAT -- WHO THEY ARE FILLED WITH ARE COVID PATIENTS AND PRIMARILY THE UNVACCINATED COVID PATIENTS, RIGHT?

SO WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THAT?

THERE IS LESS CAPACITY FOR OTHER PATIENTS, LESS CAPACITY FOR FOLKS TO GET PROCEDURES FOR SERIOUS CONDITIONS, AND LESS CAPACITY TO TAKE IN REALLY IMPORTANT SCREENING AND PREVENTION.

AND ESPECIALLY IN HOT SPOTS IN THE U.S. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX, WE'RE SEEING REDUCED CAPACITY, ABILITY AND ACCESS.

AND WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES.

>> ARIZONA HAS HAD ITS PROBLEMS AS FAR AS ICU AVAILABILITY.

ARE WE CONSIDERED A HOT SPOT?

LIKE IDAHO AND MONTANA, I HEARD, THESE PLACES ARE A TOUGH GO OF IT.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE CERTAIN NOT AS BAD AS IDAHO, AND IDAHO HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND IN SOME CASES THEY ARE BEING TO RATION CARE.

WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT HERE, BUT WE ARE SEEING IT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

SO HOW LONG FOLKS GET TO STAY IN BEDS, THESE ARE SITUATIONS THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE SEEING IN THE U.S. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX OR THE DEVELOPED WORLD, BUT WE STILL ARE.

AND WINTERS IS COMING, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A POTENTIALLY BAD FLU SEASON.

LAST YEAR WE SAW A REALLY, REALLY MILD FLU SEASON.

WELL, FOLKS WERE WEARING MASKS, AND THERE IS A CHECKERBOARD EXPERIENCE WITH MASK WEARING AND MASK MANDATES RIGHT NOW.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL A LITTLE BIT STAGNANT IN CLOSING THAT GAP BETWEEN THE UNVACCINATED AND VACCINATED, AND WE'RE SEEING RECORD STAFFING SHORTAGES IN MANY INDUSTRIES.

>> AND YOU REFERRED TO THIS EARLIER.

EXPOUND ON THIS IF YOU WOULD.

GETTING TO CANCER SCREENINGS EARLY, AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

ALL THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DELAYING GOING TO THE HOSPITAL, RIGHT?

BECAUSE AT SOMETIMES IT FELT LIKE AN UNSAFE PLACE.

BUT THE PROBLEM WITH DELAYING THESE REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES IS AT SOME TIMES FOLKS ARE NOT HAVING CANCERS SCREENED AND DETECTED EARLY.

THAT IS KEY TO SURVIVAL.

WHEN WE'RE CATCHING THESE REALLY SERIOUS ILLNESSES LATER WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT EARLIER, FOLKS HAVE MORE SERIOUS TREATMENT, AND IN GENERAL, ARE NOT NECESSARILY SEEING THE SAME RATE OF SURVIVORSHIP, SO PRETTY SERIOUS KIND OF OUTCOMES HERE, AND SOMETHING WE REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

HOW DO HOSPITALS INCREASE CAPACITY RIGHT NOW?

BUT ALSO HOW DO HOSPITALS PLAN FOR CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS IN THE FUTURE?

>> ARE THOSE PLANS UNDERWAY?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY IN SOME HOSPITAL SYSTEMS WE ARE SEEING SOME PRETTY INTENSIVE PLANNING, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT, AND ONE THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WITHIN THE CLINICAL WALLS, IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT FOLKS ARE STILL ADDRESSING A PANDEMIC, AND DEALING WITH THE CAPACITY ISSUES AT THE MOMENT.

OUTSIDE OF THOSE CLINIC WALLS, IT FEELS LIKE THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

SO I THINK MOST OF THE LARGER HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS ARE ABSOLUTELY TRYING TO PLAN IN HOW TO DO BETTER, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC AT HAND, AND THOSE WORKER SHORTAGES ARE CERTAINLY NOT HELPING.

>> DR. SWAPNA REDDY, FROM ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW PEDIATRICIANS ARE PREPARING TO ADMINISTER COVID-19 VACCINES TO YOUNGER CHILDREN, AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," A LOOK AT THE MYTHS AROUND DOMESTIC ABUSE AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

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