[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS OWN ARIZONA PBS, ON ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE IMPACT OF A CONCESSION-WORKERS STRIKE ON THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TRAVEL PLANS AT SKY ARIZONANS HAVE THE LOWEST HOMEOWNER PERCENTAGE BY RACE AND ARE FAR BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND ON AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," A DISCUSSION ON THE NUMBERS OF BLACK AND LATIN-X PEOPLE IN U.S.

PRISONS.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

120 FATALITIES ARE RECORDED ON THE DAY FOR COVID-19 CASES.

AND JUST A LITTLE OVER 3500 CASES REPORTED.

AND THERE IS A, QUOTE, REPORTING ISSUE WITH ONE OVER THE PROVIDERS.

>>> MISDEMEANOR CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST THE MAN KNOWN AS BAKED ALASKA.

AND HE IS AWAITING SENTENCING ON HIS USE OF PEPPER SPRAY AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE AT A BAR.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE FIRING OF A CANDIDATE.

THEY SAY, QUOTE: AND THEY EXPECT A SPECIFIC PLAN TO ENGAGE A MEANINGFUL POLICY.

>>> THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WILL USE MONEY TO RESEARCH THE ABSENCE OF MISSING AND UNDENTED NATIVE AMERICANS.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED PLANS TO TAP TO THE U.S. OIL PRESERVES.

THE WHITE SAYS IT WILL RELEASE 50 MILES PER HOUR BARRELS OF CASES AS A MESSAGE TO OPEN PECK COUNTRIES TO INCREASE PRODUCTION.

>>> AND 52% OF AMERICANS FIND THAT GUN CONTROL LAWS SHOULD BE STRICTER.

THAT IS LOWER THAN IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO.

>>> THANKSGIVING IS HISTORICALLY THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR, AND THIS YEAR PASSENGER LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGHER IN YEARS.

FOR MORE ON THIS WE WELCOMED SKY HARBOR PUBLIC INGRATIATION MANAGER HEATHER SHELBRACK.

IS THIS STRIKE STILL ON?

>> WE HAD SEVERAL CONCESSION DISEASE AIRS IS STILL ON.

>> SEW ANY CLOSURE FOR THIS THING THAT YOU SEE.

>> WE ARE OPERATING -- WE ARE ONLY ABOUT 10% IMPACTED, AND WE STILL HAVE 50 RESTAURANTS THAT ARE OPERATING.

IN TERMINAL THREE WE HAVE TWO STARBUCKS CLOSED IN TOTAL.

>> IS IT IMPACTING OTHER TERMINAL OPERATIONS?

>> NONE AT ALL?

>> NONE AT ALL.

YOU CAN STILL BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND LIQUIDS NEED TO BE 3 OUNCES OR LESS.

>> AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF LONGER LINES THAN USUAL.

>> WE ARE OPERATING NORM AT TODAY.

RIGHT NOW OUR SECURITY LINES ARE 20 MINUTES OR LESS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD SO TO SPEAK.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY BUSY, SO WE RECKOMMEND TRAVELERS CHECK THEIR FLIGHTING BEFORE ARRIVING.

>> FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PARK AS THEY CARS, WHAT ADVISE DO YOU HAVE?

>> WE RECOMMEND CHECKING OUR WEBSITE CHECK AVAILABILITY.

WE DO RECOMMEND PRE-BOOKING YOUR PARKING.

>> WHAT KIND OF REQUIREMENTS ARE NEEDS AS FAR AS MASKS ARE REQUIRED AND SO FORTH.

>> WE ARE STILL UNDER A MASK MANDATE.

WE ALSO HAVE MANY CLEANING AND SANITATION EFFORTS UNDERWAY.

WE HAVE HEAVY AND ROBUST CLEANING SCHEDULES.

WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR OUR CLEANING EFFORTS.

>> SO BASIC INFORMATION AND ADVISE.

>> ARRIVE TWO HOURS EARLY IF YOU ARE FLYING DOMESTICALLY, OR THREE HOURS EARLY IF YOU ARE FLYING INTERNATIONALLY.

YOU CAN VISIT TSA.GOV TO SEE WHAT IS PROHIBITED IN YOUR BAG.

AND OF COURSE VISIT SKYHARBOR.COM FOR ADDITIONAL TIPS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE REOPENING OF U.S.

BORDERS IS PROMPTING A RETURN OF CANADIAN VISITORS TO ARIZONA.

>>> EARLIER THIS MONTH THE U.S.

REOPENED ITS BORDER TO VACCINATED VISITORS.

A MOVE THAT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CANADIANS EXPECTED TO VISIT ARIZONA THIS WINTER.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ARIZONA, WE CALLED GLENN WILLIAMSON, CEO OF THE CANADA-ARIZONA BUSINESS COUNCIL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.

>> I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE, BUT JUST IN CASE, I DID BRING YOUR MASK.

>> OKAY.

WELL WE ARE BOTH VACCINATED SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD HERE.

>> ANY TIME YOU TAKE A BORDER THAT FAR AND LONG AND CLOSE IT, AND PEOPLE LIVES HUNDREDS OF YARDS FROM EACH OTHER THAT IS DIFFICULT.

YOU WERE ALWAYS ABLE TO COME DOWN, BUT IT WAS TOUGH ON THE BORDER FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ON EITHER SIDE.

WE HAVE SEEN AMERICAN AIRLINES IS NOT GOING TO RESUME THEIR NIGHTS UNTIL THE SUMMER, HOWEVER, OTHER AIRLINES ARE PICKING UP THE SLACK.

AND WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE IT.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SNOW BIRDS IS WHAT THE CALL IT?

>> AND PREPANDEMIC LEVELS?

>> IT IS GOING TO TAKE A YEAR.

DURING THIS TIME CANADIANS SOLD THEIR PROPERTIES FOR AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY I THINK THE TESTING IS STILL VERY QUIZZICAL AND GOING TO SPAIN IN A NEW DAYS.

AND THE TESTING IS THERE, AND EVEN THOUGH THE BORDERS ARE OPEN, THERE IS STILL A CONFUSION ON HOW YOU DO IT.

SO THE SNOW BIRDS ARE THE TOURISTS, THAT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT TO COME BACK UP.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER $1.5 MILLION.

THAT BEING TODAY, TRADE IS DOING FANTASTIC.

AND TRADE HAS GONE UP OVER 20% DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT A HIATUS ON THESE KIND OF THINGS, HOW BIG OF DEAL IS THAT SUMMIT?

>> THE ACTUAL BUSINESS OF MOVING GOODS AND SERVICES AND INVESTMENTS BETWEEN COUNTRIES WAS NOT IMPEDED THAT MUCH.

CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ALLOWED THIS TO OCCUR.

WE FELT THE PINCH ON TOURISM AND ON SNOW BIRDS.

>> ARE YOU HEARING OF A LITTLE BIT OF A PINCH REGARDING PERSISTENT TRADE ISSUES?

>> I THINK UPS AND DOWNS WILL ALWAYS GET PEOPLE GOING.

BUT WE'RE THE LARGEST TRADING NATIONS IN THE WORLD.

THE POLITICAL OVER TONES HAVE CALLED ALL KINDS OF DECISION CUSSES.

WHEN CANADIANS LOOK AT THE U.S., THEY SAY IS IT SAFE?

WHAT IS GOING?

AND AMERICANS LOOK AT CAD CAD -- CANADA, AND SAY THEY HOW FAR DOES IT GO?

>> AND I KNOW THERE IS CONCERN FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE MAKERS AND CONSUMERS, BUT TRADE ISSUES IN GENERAL, ARE THEY WORKING THEMSELVES OUT.

>> THEY ALWAYS DO.

THERE IS A DEAL IN CANADA, AND WE WERE DISCUSSING HOW THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES OPERATING UP IN CANADA.

WE HAVE COMPANIES COMING DOWN TO WORK WITH LUCID.

SO WHATEVER THE GOVERNMENT DOES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL FIND A WORK AROUND.

>> IS [ INAUDIBLE ] STILL IN EFFECT?

>> IT IS.

THE CANADIAN AND AMERICAN SIDE IS PRETTY WELL HONED OUT, AND IS NOT OVERLY IN TROUBLE.

>> AND GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES ARE A BIG FACTOR.

IS THAT GETTING BETTER OR WORSE?

>> I THINK THEY SHARE A RELIANCE ON ASIA.

AND MADE IN AMERICA GETS GOING A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THE TWO OF THEM ARE FAR BETTER.

SO WE HAVE A OPPORTUNITY FOR NORTH AMERICA TO ALIGN ITSELF.

>> SO ARE WE IN A BETTER OR WORSE PLACE THAN WE WERE.

>> MUCH BETTER.

FROM MAJOR BAD EVENT MANY GOOD THINGS CAN COME.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A PANDEMIC COULD BE THE BREAK THROUGH TO CAUSE TELEMEDICINE TO WORK?

>> YEAH.

GLENN WILLIAMSON, CEO OF THE CANADA-ARIZONA BUSINESS COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> ARIZONA HAS A SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM SO SAYS, MATTHEW LADNER.

HE JOINED US EARLIER TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP MODERNIZE OUT ARIZONA STUDENTS GET TO SCHOOL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DOES ARIZONA HAVE A SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM?

>> WE DO, TED.

THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HAS A PROBLEM NOW.

IT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO HIGHER CDL DRIVERS BECAUSE OF AMAZON AND FEDEX.

WHEN SCHOOLS CLOSES DOWN THE DEMAND FOR THESE DRIVERS WENT UP EVEN FURTHER.

AND DRIVERS TENDED TO BE OLDER AND TENDED TO BE RETICENT TO GET BACK ON A BUS.

THIS IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN AVERAGE.

BECAUSE WE KNOW MORE THAN HALF OF ARIZONA KIDS ARE NOT ATTENDING SCHOOLS.

AND THE KIDS ARE CROSSING BOUNDARIES NOW.

AND WHAT HAS DEVELOPED IS A VERY LARGE EQUITY ISSUE, RIGHT?

SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN AUTOMOBILE AND HAVE THE TIME TO TRANSPORT THEIR KIDS IS FAR MORE THAN USUAL.

IF YOU CAN TRAVEL 6 MILES ROUND TRIPPER DAY, A 6-MILE DAILY ROUND ARE TRIP WILL GET YOU TO YOUR SCHOOLS.

SO A NEED TO MODERNIZE TRANSPORTATION IS SIGNIFICANT FOR LOW-INCOME KIDS.

AND IT WAS VERY FAR-SIDED BY GOVERNOR DUCEY AND THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THIS.

IT IS BASICALLY A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM THAT IS ALLOWING SCHOOLS, DISTRICTS, CITIES, COUNTIES AND NON-PROFITS AND OTHERS TO COME WITH SOLUTIONS.

WE'RE LIKELY IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FLOOD THE ZONES.

>> STIPENDS AND DIRECT STIPENDS TO PARENTS?

>> YES, IN LIEU OF TRANSPORTING STUDENTS THE SCHOOL CAN GIVE PARENTS MONEY FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION.

THAT IS ANOTHER POSSIBILITY.

>> AND MICROTRANSIT IS BEING USED AS WELL.

SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT WHY NOT BASICALLY IMPROVE THE PROBLEM WE ARE NOW SO THEY CAN REACH OUT AND GO FARTHER.

>> YES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ALL ARIZONIANS PAY FOR.

23% OF STUDENTS WERE RIDING THE YELLOW BUS, AND THAT HAS CHANGED.

AND AMAZON IS NOT GOING AWAY, AND SO THEY ARE TRYING TO SUPPLEMENT THE YELLOW BUS SYSTEM.

54% OF AMERICAN K-12 STUDENTS WERE GETTING TO SCHOOL ON A YELLOW BUS.

BUT IT WAS -- AGAIN, ARIZONA WAS ALREADY AT 23%.

SO THE YELLOW BUS IS NOT THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERYONE FRONT, BUT EVERY SEAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A KID TO SCHOOL AND GET A PERSON OFF OF THE ROAD.

YOU CAN SEE A LONG LINE OF VEHICLES SPILLING OUT ON THE STREET, RIGHT?

SO THERE ARE INLOU -- IN LOU GRANTS TO HELP.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMMENTING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

AN ARIZONA FOOTBALL PLAYER OPENS UP ABOUT HIS ADDICTIONS.

AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," A DISCUSSION ON THE NUMBERS OF BLACK AND LATIN-X PEOPLE IN U.S.

PRISONS.