>>> RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A NATION-WIDE SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

WHAT ARIZONA SCHOOLS ARE DOING ABOUT IT, COMING UP.

>>> AND THE ASU'S WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH IS HELPING HER TEAM PREPARE FOR TIP-OFF TONIGHT.

>>> AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A LOOK AT A GENERATION THAT IS BOMBARDED BY STEREOTYPES.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO CRONKITE NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS NATIONWIDE ARE EXPERIENCING BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES.

HERE IN ARIZONA, AT LEAST 11 SCHOOL DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS.

OUR REPORTER TELLS US WHY THAT IS, AND HOW ADMINISTRATIONS ARE TRYING TO COMBAT THE SHORTAGE.

>> REPORTER: THE PARADISE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS AT LEAST 37 BUS DRIVERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN THEIR DISTRICT.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES ARE NOT ANYTHING NEW, BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED UNPREDICTABILITY.

>> I THINK THE PANDEMIC AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN CAUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE INDUSTRY.

>> THERE IS NO TIME FOR BREAKS.

I'M JUST STEADY RUNNING THE WHOLE TIME.

I LEAVE AT 1:30 OR 1:45, AND I DON'T DROP THE BUS OFF UNTIL 5:00 OR 5:30.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE NOW WORKING HARD TO FILL THESE SEATS.

>> WE'RE DOING A LOT OF ADVERTISEMENT.

WE PUT THESE SIGNS ON THE BUSES.

WE ALSO USE SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO OFFERING HIGHER PAY TO ATTRACT MORE DRIVERS.

>> THEY ARE GIVING US A $15 [ INAUDIBLE ] AND TOTAL TO $75 A WEEK, $300 A MONTH.

>> Reporter: WITH GREAT RETIREMENT, PAID TIME OFF AND SO MUCH MORE, WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO DRIVE KIDDOS AROUND.

THE PARADISE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO HIRING FOR NONE DRIVER BUS AIDS.

IN PARADISE VALLEY, RAVEN PAYNE, CRONKITE NEWS.

>>> IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO A RESTAURANT OR HOTEL RECENTLY, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE HELP-WANTED SIGNS.

AS OUR REPORTER FOUND OUT, IN ARIZONA, THE NUMBERS WHILE GOOD MEAN STAFFING SHORTAGES AT MANY BUSINESSES.

>> Reporter: ARIZONA SAW THE SECOND LARGEST UNEMPLOYMENT DECREASE IN THE COUNTRY.

MAKING THIS THE FIRST TIME THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS DROPPED BELOW 6% SINCE MARCH 2020.

BUT IT IS A TOUGH TIME TO BE A RESTAURANT OWNER.

PLACES LIKE THIS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND WORKERS.

>> WHEN I GO IT, IT IS GOING TO TAKE 30 MINUTES TO GET YOUR FOOD BECAUSE OF A LOCK OF WORKFORCE.

>> Reporter: WHILE RESTAURANTS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN EXEMPLOYMENT SINCE LAST YEAR, ARE EXPERIENCING THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> SOME FOLKS FEEL THEY ARE NOT TREATED WITH THE AMOUNT OF RESPECT AND APPRECIATION TO WORK IN SUCH A DEMANDING INDUSTRY.

>> Reporter: AND HE SAYS EMPLOYEES ALSO DON'T WANT TO WORK IN AN INDUSTRY THAT MIGHT NOT BE STABLE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC MANY TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL OR BETTER THEMSELVES OR EVEN CARE FOR A LOVED ONE.

>> I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE WE SEE THINGS GO BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY ROLLED OUT AN INITIATIVE TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING INCENTIVES.

>> THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE FOCUS ON IS ON OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES, TREATING THEM WITH RESPECT, GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED, AND REALLY, THEM BRINGING OVER PEOPLE THEY KNOW.

>> Reporter: JUSTIN STARTED OFFERING DELIVERY OPTIONS TO HELP.

THE ARIZONA OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WILL RELEASE THEIR OCTOBER JOBS REPORT ON OCTOBER 18TH.

>>> ONLINE REAL ESTATE MOGUL ZILLOW ANNOUNCED IT WILL STOP SELLING PROPERTIES.

AFTER THE BREAK WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE PHOENIX MARKET WILL BE IMPACTED.

>>> ZILLOW SAYS IT PLANS TO SELL 7,000 HOMES FOR $2.8 BILLION.

IT SEEMS HIGH HOUSING PRICES AND A SUPPLY CHAIN DIFFICULTY HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS.

>> IT IS NOT EVEN GOING TO BE ON THE MARKET MORE THAN THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

>> Reporter: SO NOW THERE ARE BIDDING WARS AND GETTING PRICED OUT.

>> CASH IS KING, AND THEY CAN AFFORD TO TAKE THE PRICE UP, AND BE THE FINANCED OFFER, BECAUSE THAT HAS TO HAVE AN APPRAISAL, AND IF IT DOESN'T COME IN, THE BUYER HAS TO MAKE UP THE SHORTFALL.

>> THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT BUY YOUR -- TRY TO BUY YOUR HOME AS LOW AS THEY CAN, TO SELL IT FOR AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.

>> Reporter: ZILLOW IS THE LARGEST SELLER IN THE PHOENIX AREA.

>> THEIR I-BUYING ACTIVITY CAUSED THEM TO HAVE TO PAY MORE TOO.

>> Reporter: THE COMPANY WILL ALSO SHUT DOWN ITS HOME-BUYING BUSINESS, AND LAYOFF 25% OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

BUT THEIR LOSS COULD BE A HOME BUYERS GAIN.

THEY ARE NOW SELLING 93% OF THEIR HOMES FOR LESS THAN THEY PAID.

>> FIND OUT WHAT THE HIGHEST-PAYING RETAIL BUYER WILL PAY BEFORE YOU TAKE WHAT LOOKS TO BE THE EASY ROUTE, BUT COULD ALSO BE A VERY COSTLY ROUTE.

>> OTHER I-BUYING COMPANIES ARE STILL BUYING HOMES.

THEY BOUGHT ALMOST A THOUSAND HOMES IN THE AREA THIS YEAR ALONE.

>>> IT IS THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE TO GO HOUSE HUNTING WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 80S ALL WEEK LONG.

>>> WE'RE NOT QUITE COOLING DOWN YET HERE IN ARIZONA.

YOU CAN SEE 84 IN PHOENIX, AND 86 IN YUMA, AND UP NORTH, IT'S IN THE 50S AND 60S.

AS WE LOOK AT THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES, YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE WHY THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN EVERYONE HEADS TO PHOENIX.

PHOENIX IS SITTING AT A NICE 84 DEGREES.

LOOKING AT OUR EVENING PLANNER FOR TONIGHT.

SUNSET WILL HIT AROUND 87 DEGREES, AND A LITTLE BIT OF WIND WHICH MIGHT MAKE FOR A NICE EVENING TO SLEEP WITH THE WINDOW OPEN.

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAYS WILL BE IN THE 80S.

THURSDAY IS GOING TO BE VETERAN'S DAY, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY PLANS OUT DOORS, IT WILL BE A GREAT DAY FOR THAT.

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, A LITTLE MORE CLOUDS ROLLING IN.

>>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL HAVE YOUR CRONKITE SPORTS REPORT.

WE'LL TAKE YOU INSIDE AN ASU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRACTICE.

♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME BACK.

I HAVE YOUR CRONKITE SPORTS REPORT.

THE SUNS ARE OFFICIALLY ON FIRE.

DEFEATING THE SACRAMENTO KINGS 109-104 FOR THEIR FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN LAST NIGHT.

WITH 2 MINUTES REMAINING IN THE 4TH, SACRAMENTO CUT THE LEAD DOWN TO JUST 5, AND THEN DEVIN BOOKER RE-ENTERED AND TOOK OVER.

DEVIN BELIEVES THE TEAM NEEDS TO BE MORE CONSISTENT IN CLOSING OUT GAMES.

>> WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO JUST PUT TEAMS AWAY.

WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TUNES THIS YEAR TO STEP ON TEAMS AND GET THE GAME OVER WITH, SO THAT'S A POINT OF EMPHASIS MOVING FORWARD.

>>> THE RED BIRDS REGAINED CONTROL IN THE TOP SEED IN THE AFC.

DESPITE INJURIES, THE CARDS DOMINATED SAN FRANCISCO.

THE COACH TALKED ABOUT PERSEVERING THROUGH THOSE INJURIES.

>> YOU LOOK AROUND THE LEAGUE, AND EVERYBODY IS DEALING WITH IT, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND A WAY.

AND THAT HAS BEEN OUR APPROACH, AND OUR GUYS RESPONDED IT TO.

>>> ANOTHER SEASON IS ABOUT TO TIP OFF, AND ASU MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS TAKE THE COURT TONIGHT.

OUR REPORTER HAS A PREVIEW OF THE WOMEN'S TEAM.

>> COME ON.

>> Reporter: CHARLIE TURNER THORN ENTERED HER 25TH SOMEONE AT THE HELM OF THE SUN DEVILS, AND SHE WANTS TO GET BACK INTO THE WIN COLUMN.

>> WE HAVE A LOVE OF THE GAME, AND WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO EACH OTHER, AND GETTING BACK TO WHAT OUR PROGRAM USED TO BE.

>> Reporter: THE SUN DEVILS RETURN WITH THEIR TOP-TWO SCORERS.

>> WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, AND I THINK THAT WILL BE THE HARDEST THING FOR THE TEAM.

>> I MISS HAVING FANS SO MUCH.

THE FANS BRING SO MUCH ENERGY AND PASSION TO THE GAME.

>> Reporter: THE RETURN OF FANS IN THE STANDS WILL HOPEFULLY HELP THEM MAKE A RETURN TO THE POST SEASON.

>> WE'RE BACK TO THE LEVEL WE'RE USED TO BEING AT, AND ARE GOING TO COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP.

>>> ACROSS THE VALLEY, GCU HAS FOUND SUCCESS IN THEIR WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM.

THEY ARE GOING DANCING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY.

THEY WON ON SUNDAY TO WIN THEIR FIRST WAC TOURNAMENT TITLE.

IT HAS BEEN QUITE THE TURN AROUND.

THEY WILL BE TAKING ON USC THIS SATURDAY.

AND THAT IS A WRAP ON TODAY'S CRONKITE SPORTS REPORT.

BACK TO YOU.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR CRONKITE NEWS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP IN NEXT, ON AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," MYTHS AND STEREOTYPES THAT SURROUND THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION.

♪ [♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> HEY, EBONY, THANK YOU FOR BREAKING DOWN BEING A BLACK MILLENNIAL, SO WHAT IS A MILLENNIAL?

>> PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY GIVING US ALL OF THESE KINDS OF NAMES, RIGHT?

WE'RE MILLENNIAL, GEN-Y, THE DIGITAL AGE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT MILLENNIAL IS -- LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

PEOPLE FROM THE AGE OF 25 TO ALMOST 40.

MILLENNIALS ARE COMING INTO OUR 30S.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE HAVE GOT TO SAY.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY.

MILLENNIALS WERE BORN IN A CERTAIN GENERATION, AND THEY ARE AS OLD AS 40 AND AS YOUNG AS 25.

>> AND WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT THAT TOO.

>> YEAH.

YOU ARE ALSO THE MOST RACIALLY ETHICALLY DIVERSE, SO I'M A GEN-X-ER, AND YOU ARE 40% NONE WHITE AND THE MOST EDUCATED.

40% OF MILLENNIALS HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE, SO YOU ARE THE MOST DIVERSE AND THE MOST EDUCATED.

>> GIVE IT UP, GIVE IT UP, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE BOOMERS.

MILLENNIALS HAVE STEPPED INTO THEIR OWN.

WE ARE GOING INTO A WORLD THAT IS GLOBAL THINKING.

WE'RE ONE BIG FAMILY AROUND HERE.

SO DATING OUTSIDE OF YOUR RACE, BREAK DOWN OF INTERMINGLING BREAK DOWN, AND SCHOOLS BECAME MORE AND MORE INTEGRATED AND NEIGHBORHOODS BECAME MORE AND MORE INTEGRATED, AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU GET A MORE DIVERSE GENERATION.

>> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A BLACK MILLENNIAL, VERSUS ASIAN, OR LATIN-X OR WHITE MILLENNIAL.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HEAR IS YOU GET A TROPHY FOR EVERYTHING, JUST FOR SHOWING UP.

BUT IN MY HOUSE WE DIDN'T GET A TROPHY FOR EVERYTHING.

MY MOM WAS STRICT.

SO I MIGHT HAVE CAME HOME WITH A TROPHY, BUT IF IT WASN'T FIRST, SECOND, THIRD PLACE, SHE WOULD CHUCK IT OUT THE DOOR, AND SHE WOULD TEACH ME THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

I COME FROM A HUGE FAMILY.

I'M THE OLDEST OF EIGHT SIBLINGS, SO WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GET ALLOWANCES, I DIDN'T GET TO SIT AND CHILL WHILE MY MOM CLEANED MY ROOM, I WAS COOKING AND CLEANING AT A YOUNG AGE, AND I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES I HAVE SEEN FROM MY WHITE COHORTS -- NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT SOMETIMES THAT LAZY STEREOTYPE MIGHT BE A THING, BUT I KNOW IN MY HOUSEHOLD, IT IS NOT RIGHT.

AND A LOT OF MY HISPANIC BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE THE SAME WAY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLACK AGAIN-X-ERS AND BLACK MILLENNIALS?

>> MY JOB WILL STAY IN A JOB FOR 20, 35 YEARS, AND REALLY TRY TO WORK THE SYSTEM.

AS A BLACK MILLENNIAL, I WON'T.

I THINK WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE JOB MARKET.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE DAYS COMPANIES ARE NOT AS LOYAL TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AS THEY USED TO BE.

>> AS THEY USED TO BE.

>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS AGO MILLENNIALS, WE'RE BORN TO TAKE ACTION.

WE BELIEVE WE CAN EFFECT CHANGE.

WE BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE A VEHICLE TO EFFECT POWERFUL CHANGE, SO I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO WORK AND BREAK DOWN THE SYSTEM, AND WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM TO EFFECT THAT CHANGE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN X-ER AND A MILLENNIAL?

BEYOND RACISM?

>> YEAH, BEYOND THAT.

>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME -- MAYBE SOME VALUE BELIEFS.

MY STUDENTS SHARE A LOT IN MY CLASSES.

AND MAYBE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING IN MY CLASSES, BUT I DO THINK MY STUDENTS SHARE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I KNOW I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE HEARD WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE IN A PSYCHOLOGY CLASS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT IS ALSO SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE SEE PEOPLE SHARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING I HAVE NOTICED.

SHARING INFORMATION, AND I THINK THAT FILTER IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT LOWER NOW.

THAT IS ANOTHER DIFFERENCE I HAVE OBSERVED.

BUT, AGAIN, IT COULD BE BECAUSE IT IS MY CLASS AND WHO I AM.

BUT SOME OF THE INFORMATION, I'M LIKE, REALLY?

I DON'T KNOW KNOW THAT I WOULD HAVE SHARED THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOOD OR BAD.

IT'S JUST AN OBSERVATION FROM MY VANTAGE POINT.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST BLACKS.

IT'S ALL OF THEM.

I HAVE COHORTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY, AND WE'RE ALL IN THERE TOGETHER.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE NOTICED, LIKE, THE SHARING, IF YOU WILL.

>> I THINK MILLENNIALS, NATURALLY ARE BIG SHARERS.

WE GREW UP IN A DIGITAL AGE.

I REMEMBER FACEBOOK WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT, IT WASN'T THE BIG PLATFORM THAT YOU HAVE NOW.

YOU HAD TO HAVE A COLLEGE LOG-IN AND PROVE THAT YOU WERE IN COLLEGE.

AND SO IT WAS REALLY JUST A CONNECTION SO YOU COULD HANG OUT WITH YOUR SORORITY SISTERS OR BROTHERS.

AND WE WANT TO BE OPEN AND BE HONEST.

AND I THINK OUR NATURE TO JUST BE HONEST HAS BEEN TRANSLATED TO SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE GREW UP WITH.

OTHER GENERATIONS GREW UP WITH THE PHONE.

OTHERS GREW UP WITH THAT -- WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT?

THE TELEGRAPH?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THIS HAS BEEN A FUN CONVERSATION, EBONY.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME BREAK DOWN BLACK MILLENNIALS.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME CHAT, AND ALSO PLEASE CHAT IN THE BOX BELOW.

AND THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THIS DOWN WITH ME.

>> THANK YOU.

♪