GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA REPORTED MORE THAN 5200 CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY, THAT'S AS HIGH AS IT'S BEEN IN WEEKS AND KEEPS THE SEVEN-DAY ROLLING AVERAGE ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

14 NEW RECORDED DEATHS AND KEEPS THE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR COVID FATALITIES AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>>> PFIZER SAID COVID VACCINE COULD BE QUICKLY ADAPTED TO TARGET THE NEW OMICRON VARIANT, ENCOURAGING NEWS AND ACCORDING TO DR. ANTHONY FAUCI PART OF A MULTIFACETED APPROACH BY VACCINE MAKERS.

>> ONE IS TO REV UP THE PRODUCTION OF THE VACCINES THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.

THE NEXT IS TO MAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, A BIVALENT, WHERE YOU HAVE THE VACCINE AGAINST THE ANCESTRAL STRAIN AND THE NEW VARIANT, AND THE OTHER IS TO MAKE A VARIANT SPECIFIC BOOST.

TED: PFIZER SAID IT COULD TAKE UP TO 100 DAYS TO DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE A VACCINE BUT STILL TOO EARLY TO KNOW IF A MODIFIED VERSION IS NEEDED.

>>> THEY HAVE QUESTIONED ARIZONA OFFICIALS INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALONG WITH MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

REPORTS THAT HALF A DOZEN STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED AS INVESTIGATORS LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT LED UP TO THE RIOT.

>>> CHARGES FILED AGAINST THE PARENTS OF THE 15-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN WHO KILLED FOUR FELLOW CLASSMATES AND WOUNDED SEVEN OTHERS AT A MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL THIS WEEK.

PROSECUTORS SAID THEY CHARGED THE PARENTS WITH FOUR COUNTS OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER.

>> I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT THESE CHARGES ARE INTENDED TO HOLD THE INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS TRAGEDY ACCOUNTABLE AND ALSO SEND A MESSAGE, THAT GUN OWNERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.

WHEN THEY FAIL TO UPHOLD THAT RESPONSIBILITY, THERE ARE SERIOUS AND CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES.

TED: AUTHORITIES SAY THAT THE SUSPECT'S FATHER BOUGHT THE SEMIAUTOMATIC HANDGUN FOR HIS SON DAYS BEFORE THE SHOOTING AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT AND THE PARENTS FAILED TO INTERVENE WHEN THE SCHOOL FOUND A THREATENING NOTE AT THE BOY'S DESK.

THE PARENTS ARE NOT COOPERATING WITH INVESTIGATORS AND NOT ALLOWING INVESTIGATORS TO QUESTION THEIR CHILD FACING FOUR COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

>>> THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FELL TO 4.2% FROM 4.6% WHICH IS A BIG DROP FOR A SINGLE MONTH.

OF NOTE, UNEMPLOYMENT WAS 6.7% AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

>>> TIME NOW FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND HERE TO DISCUSS THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND LAURIE ROBERTS FROM "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

HOWIE, START WITH YOU AND THE SUPREME COURT ABORTION CASE, MISSISSIPPI ABORTION CASES BUT RINGS BELLS IN ALL STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY INCLUDING ARIZONA.

>> INCLUDING ARIZONA.

WE HAVE A PRE-1973 LAW BACK TO TERRITORIAL DAYS THAT MAKES IT A CRIME, A FELONY TO PERFORM ABORTION WHETHER IT'S MEDICATION OR A PHYSICAL D & C. THAT LAW COMES BACK, THERE IS AN ARGUMENT WHETHER YOU TAKE A PRE-73 LAW AND SAY IT'S ENFORCED AGAIN, BUT THERE WILL BE PROSECUTORS IN THE STATE WHO SAY OKAY, WE'LL CHARGE THE PLACES LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS NOT GOING TO RISK THE CHARGES AND THEY MAY SHUT DOWN VOLUNTARY UNTIL WE GET A COURT RULING.

TED: DEPENDS WHAT THE OPINION IS REGARDING THE RULING.

THIS IS A 15-WEEK BAN IN MISSISSIPPI.

>> RIGHT, IT'S CLEAR THAT AT THE MINIMUM THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT A 15-WEEK BAN FROM WHAT YOU HEARD, BUT IT SEEMS MORE LIKELY FROM THE CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES AND THE QUESTIONS THEY ASKED AND THE COMMENTS THAT THE LIBERAL JUDGES MADE THAT THEY ARE HEADED TOWARD OVERTURNING FIVE DECADES OF LEGAL PRECEDENT.

WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME IS THIS WOULD HAPPEN PROBABLY IN JUNE, AND PRESUMABLY IF THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE IS OUT OF SESSION BY THEN, WHICH MAY BE WISHFUL THINKING, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW QUICKLY GOVERNOR DUCEY CALLS THEM BACK TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN DO, WHETHER IT'S A 15-WEEK BAN OR WHETHER THEY'LL REINFORCE THE PRETERRITORIAL DAYS BAN.

I WOULD GET RID OF THE LAW THAT SAYS ANYONE THAT HELPS A WOMAN GET AN ABORTION CAN GO TO PRISON FOR TWO TO FIVE YEARS, I DID NOT TAKE THAT TO MEAN JUST THE DOCTOR THAT PERFORMS IT BUT ANYONE INVOLVED IN HELPING HER.

>> IT'S WORSE THAN THAT.

THERE'S ANOTHER LAW ON THE BOOKS THAT PROHIBITS THE ADVERTISING OF ABORTION THAT PRESUMABLY MIGHT INCLUDE IF IT'S ILLEGAL IN ARIZONA, A CALIFORNIA FIRM CAN'T ADVERTISE HERE AND PROHIBITS THE ADVERTISING OF CONTRACEPTIVES IN THE STATE, THAT'S HOW PART LEGISLATURE HAS GONE OVER THE YEARS.

TED: LAURIE, YOU MENTIONED MAY BE A JUNE DECISION AND OPINION AND RULING.

WE GOT ELECTION SEASON COMING UP NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO PLAY OUT?

IS THIS A FACTOR?

A MOUNTING CONCERN HERE?

>> WELL, IT'S A MOUNTING CONCERN FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN, AND FOR THOSE WHO DO WANT IT TO HAPPEN, THEY WANT THE LEGISLATURE BACK IN SPECIAL SESSION AND DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN DO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I STILL THINK THEY ARE SPLIT ON THE ISSUE.

I SEE THE POLLS 70% OF PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF ABORTION.

I'M NOT SURE I BELIEVE THAT.

I THINK WE'RE STILL PRETTY SPLIT, AND THERE'S NO REAL COMPROMISE ISSUE HERE.

SO DEPENDING WHO YOU'RE TRYING TO APPEAL TO, IT'S A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING.

>> BUT THE FACT IS THAT, UP UNTIL NOW, SOMETIMES ABORTION COMES UP IN CAMPAIGNS AND DEBATES, HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE.

IF ROE v. WADE IS OVERTURNED, IF WE GO THE FULL ROUTE ON THIS THING.

YOU KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TURN OUT AND VOTE STRICTLY ON THAT.

I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO SAY FORGET THE TAX CUTS, SCHOOLS, FORGET CRITICAL RACE THEORY, THIS IS WHY I'M VOTING FOR PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

TED: THAT'S WHY I MEANT ITEM OF CONCERN, IT'S A BIG ISSUE AND PEOPLE WILL TAKE ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

>> RIGHT, AND YOU HAVE SEEN MATT SALMON CALL KARI LAKE, ONE OF HIS OPPONENTS IN THE GUBERNATORIAL REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, A CHARLATAN, CALLING INTO QUESTION HER ABORTION CREDENTIALS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, MUCH LIKE WHO CAN BE THE TRUMPIEST OF US ALL.

WHO WAS THERE ALL ALONG ON THE ABORTION ISSUE, AND WHO WAS A LATE COMER TO IT.

TED: SPEAKING OF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, HOWIE, KATIE HOBBS HAS APOLOGIZED, I THINK, THERE WAS AN APOLOGY AND AN ISSUE, SHE DESERVED IT, THEN A NONAPOLOGY.

WHERE ARE WE?

I CAN'T KEEP SCORE.

>> VERSION 3 OF THE 15-PART APOLOGY TOUR HERE.

FIRST STATEMENT ISSUED NOT BY HER BUT CAMPAIGN AIDE AND DIDN'T PLEASE ANYBODY, AND SHE PUT OUT A STATEMENT ABOUT HER ROLE IN THE 2.75 MILLION VERDICT AGAINST THE SENATE FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TALONYA ADAMS, WHICH SAID I FEEL FOR MY RESPONSIBILITY BUT I THINK SHE WAS FIRED FOR LEGITIMATE REASONS AND WASN'T BECAUSE OF HER RACE.

THEN DID AN INTERVIEW WITH PEACOCK TV FOR THE 12 PEOPLE WHO WATCH PEACOCK TV, SAYING SEE, NOW I'M TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

THIS IS NOT DYING.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DEAL WITH IT.

WHAT SHE'S SAYING MAY BE TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

THE OTHER THING IS REMEMBER WHAT JOHN McCAIN DID WHEN HE GOT STUCK IN TERMS OF THE KEATING 5?

HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE, AND HE HAD EVERYONE THERE AND SAID I WILL STAY HERE UNTIL ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED.

HE DID THAT.

THE ISSUE WAS DEAD.

AND PERHAPS THAT'S WHAT KATIE NEEDS TO DO, OTHERWISE, I'M SERIOUSLY BELIEVING, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS WHEN WE DO OUR YEAR END SHOW AT THE END OF THE MONTH, SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE.

TED: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS, LAURIE?

>> I THOUGHT ALL ALONG SHE HAS A PROBLEM, WHEN I HEARD VERY INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS SAY NO, NO, NO, WE WITH CANNOT ACCEPT.

THIS IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT COMMUNITY WITH YOU IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALL GOING TO BE ASKED ABOUT KATIE HOBBS, WHAT'S THE POSITION ON KATIE HOBBS, AND A LOT OF DEMOCRATS HAVE PRETTY MUCH IGNORED THE ISSUE OR TAP DANCED AROUND IT BUT NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM.

THIS WEEK YOU SAW DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT JULY IRFLEE COME OUT WITH A PREHITTING "ARIZONA MIRROR" SAYING HOBBS NEEDS A PLAN B. TED: THEY WERE HOT AND HEAVY AND WENT AWAY, I CAN'T KEEP SCORE ON THAT ONE.

>> AND PART OF IT IS I THINK GREG IS WAITING UNTIL THE 22nd OF DECEMBER WHEN WE SEE THE FINAL DISTRICT LINES.

AS A CONGRESSMAN, HE DOESN'T NEED TO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, IT'S HELPFUL TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR YOU.

I THINK HE'S DOING ONE OF THESE, WHICH WAY IS THE WIND BLOWING?

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MARCO LOPEZ?

WHAT IS AARON LIEBERMAN'S CANDIDACY DOING?

IF HE DOESN'T SEE ANYTHING THERE, WILL HE BE DRAFTED BY FOLKS WHO SAY KATIE CAN'T WIN, OR DOES HE FEEL A DRAFT?

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S WAITING FOR, HE DOESN'T WANT TO UPSET HER BASE BY COMING IN AND TRYING TO HORN HIS WAY IN.

HE WANTS TO BE INVITED INTO THE THING.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT DISTRICT HE WOULD LIKELY TRY TO REPRESENT IN REDISTRICTING.

IT'S A SWING DISTRICT, AND HE COULD LOSE IT.

THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN THE END OF THE YEAR SHOW, BUT HE COULD LOSE THERE COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS COULD BE RELEGATED TO THE MINORITY IN THE HOUSE.

DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THAT?

I DON'T COUNT HIM OUT YET.

>> I WANT TO MOVE ON HERE QUICKLY TO ENDORSEMENTS.

DONALD TRUMP HAS APPARENTLY ENDORSED A COUPLE OF LAWMAKERS, ANTHONY KERN AND WENDY ROGERS, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AND WHY IS DONALD TRUMP IN FLORIDA AT MAR-A-LAGO.

WHY DOES HE CARE ABOUT THE STATE CAPITOL?

>> ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST, IF YOU SAY THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND DONALD TRUMP SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT AND SHOULD BE PRESIDENT IN 2024, YOU'LL GET AN ENDORSEMENT IF YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE TO DO IT.

MATT SALMON WAS THE SECOND ONE SO HE LOST OUT TO KARI LAKE.

WENDY ROGERS IS A RETIRED COLONEL, GOT ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE, DEFEATED AN ALREADY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN IN SYLVIA ALLEN, ANTHONY KERN LOST HIS RE-ELECTION BID FOR THE HOUSE.

HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS PRO-TRUMP ADVOCATE, KERN, WE USED TERM LOOSELY FOR THE ELECTION AUDIT.

WAIT A SECOND, HOW DO YOU MAKE HIM A NONPARTISAN VOLUNTEER.

TED: DONALD TRUMP ENDORSED KARI LAKE FOR GOVERNOR AND MARK FINCHEM, DOES THIS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> AND PAUL GOSAR.

I'M INCREASINGLY BEGINNING TO WONDER BY NEXT SUMMER WHETHER AS 2020 FADES FURTHER INTO THE DISTANCE MAYBE DONALD TRUMP AS WELL, AND IT MIGHT BE NICE TO HAVE HIS ENDORSEMENT, IS IT NECESSARY?

WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT YET.

FOR THEM, IT'S RIGHT IN THEIR WHEEL HOUSE AND EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.

YOU HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE ANTHONY KERN, TALKED OUT OF OFFICE BY VOTERS, AFTER HE TRIED TO SLIP THROUGH A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT EASIER FOR HIM TO GET HIS NAME TAKEN OFF A BRADY LIST OF DISHONEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

HE WORKS FOR THE CITY OF EL MIRAGE AS A CIVIL CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND APPARENTLY LIED TO HIS SUPERVISOR ABOUT SOMETHING, AND FOR THAT HE WAS FIRED.

THAT'S NOT EXACTLY A GREAT CREDENTIAL TO SAY THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WOULD ENDORSE, BUT ANTHONY KERN HAS BEEN THERE SINCE DAY ONE AND SAYS THIS IS OUR PRESIDENT, REFUSES TO BELIEVE THAT JOE BIDEN WAS ELECTED AND, THEREFORE, HE'S QUALIFIED.

TED: ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE GO, LAURIE, STICK WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

KYLE RITTENHOUSE, IS HE OR IS HE NOT ENROLLED AT ASU?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

YOU GOT ABOUT A MINUTE TO EXPLAIN THE WHOLE THING.

>> HE SAID DURING HIS TRIAL HE WAS TAKING ONLINE NURSING CLASSES AND ASU CONFIRMED HE WAS TAKING NON-DEGREE ONLINE CLASSES.

HE AT SOME POINT STOPPED TAKING THE CLASSES MAKING ME WONDER IF THAT WAS TO LOOK GOOD FOR THE JURY.

SINCE THEN HE SAID HE PLANS TO COME TO ASU AND STUDY ON CAMPUS, BUT ASU SAYS HE HAS NOT APPLIED FOR ADMISSION, COUPLE OF LEFT LIBERAL LEANING STUDENT GROUPS ON CAMPUS HELD A PROTEST TO SAY MY GOD, WE CAN'T HAVE HIM HERE.

FURTHER, WE WANT PRESIDENT MICHAEL CROW TO DENOUNCE WHITE SUPREMACY AND DENOUNCE KYLE RITTENHOUSE AS A RACIST KILLER.

>> THE DAMN THING IS, LOOK, HE WAS ACQUIT BY A JURY.

HE'S ENTITLED TO GO.

LOOK AT THE TAPE AND SAY HE SHOULDN'T HAVE CROSSED STATE LINES WITH A RIFLE AND RUN INTO A SITUATION LIKE THAT.

HE WAS ATTRACTING IT.

HE WAS ACQUITTED, TO SAY HE CAN'T BE ON CAMPUS, WHEN DO WE STOP DRAWING THE LINE.

TED: WE'LL STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

THANKS FOR PROMOING THE END OF THE YEAR SHOW.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> COMING UP, THE BLACK THEATER TROUPES BLACK NATIVITY PERFORMANCE RETURNS THIS SEASON.

.

TED: THE BLACK THEATER TROUPE IS CONTINUING A 25-YEAR HOLIDAY TRADITION OF PERFORMING BLACK NATIVITY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE THAT'S RIGHT WITH DAVID HENFELD.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU, TOO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED: THANKS FOR COMING INTO THE STUDIO, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, BLACK NATIVITY.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE?

>> MY GOSH, BLACK NATIVITY IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EVENT.

DOING IT EVERY YEAR SINCE 1975, AND, IN FACT, A LOT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN THEATER COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY DO IT.

IT'S LIKE A CHRISTMAS CAROL TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S LIE LANGSTON HUGHES AND LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL DANCING AND LANGSTON HUGHES' POETRY AND GOSPEL MUSIC.

TED: I HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS A SONG PLAY, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> YES, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF IT.

IT IS A SONG PLAY.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE KIND OF PIECES THAT THE PLAY PORTION OF IT, THE TEXT, THE WORDS, ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE SONG BUT NOT A MUSICAL.

IT IS A SONG PLAY.

>> YOU GOT TRADITIONAL GOSPEL MUSIC, CHRISTMAS CAROLS, NEW SONGS AS WELL?

>> NEW SONGS.

SOME THAT WERE WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SHOW BY OUR MUSICAL DIRECTOR, AND SOME OF THE OLD CLASSICS THAT ARE KIND OF DATED BUT THEY'RE BROUGHT UP TO DATE IN THE SHOW, AND THEN WE HAVE A MIXTURE OF IT.

WE HAVE OLD HYMNS AND THAT SORT OF THING, SO IT'S REALLY UNIQUE.

TED: AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, DO YOU CHANGE IT AROUND MUCH?

IS IT A WAR HORSE OR DOES IT GET CHANGED EVERY YEAR?

>> IT GETS CHANGED EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S HOW IT'S WRITTEN.

THE FIRST ACT IS STRICTLY LANGSTON HUGHES' SCRIPT AND STRICTLY THAT STRUCTURE, BUT THE SECOND ACT IS MADE SO THAT COMPANIES CAN DO VARIOUS THINGS WITH THE SECOND ACT.

THERE'S SOME, A PORTION OF THE SECOND ACT IS STILL SOME OF LANGSTON HUGHES' NARRATIVE, IN TERMS OF THE SONGS AND, ET CETERA, THEY MAKE NO SUGGESTIONS, LET YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT.

TED: INTERESTING, SOUNDS LIKE THE KIND OF THING PERFORMERS ENJOY.

>> THEY DO.

AS DO MOST THEATER COMPANIES BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY ECONOMICAL.

IT'S PRETTY ECONOMICAL AND ENTERTAINING, DO YOU THE FIRST ACT, YOU SAVE THE COSTUMES AND SET FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND THEN THE SECOND ACT YOU SPEND A LITTLE MORE MONEY AND GOES ALL-OUT.

TED: THAT'S A GREAT BUSINESS MODEL THERE.

>> IT'S GREAT.

TED: SPEAKING OF BUSINESS MODEL, HOW IS THE TROUPE DOING?

HAVE YOU SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC?

>> IT WAS A LITTLE TOUCH AND GO IN THE BEGINNING, BUT AS THE PANDEMIC GOT WORSE, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH OUR BASE AND OUR SUPPORTERS STEPPED UP MORE, AND SO WE ARE IN THE FINANCIAL POSITION THAT IS UNMATCHED OVER OUR HISTORY.

WE'RE IN A VERY, VERY GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION, SO WE DID WELL.

IT WAS SCARY DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT MANY GROUPS WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE, AND SOME DIDN'T, BUT WE WERE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE, SO WE'RE GOING TO STICK AROUND ANOTHER 50 YEARS.

TED: THAT'S ENCOURAGING TO HEAR.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A LIVE PERFORMANCE?

>> IT IS A LIVE PERFORMANCE.

DANCERS, SINGERS, FIVE MUSICIANS, ALL LIVE.

TED: WHAT KIND OF PRECAUTIONS DOES THE AUDIENCE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT?

>> WELL, WE, MASKS ARE MANDATORY, AND IT IS SUCH THAT WE HAVE SOME SEATS THAT ARE UNOCCUPIED, AND IF YOU REALLY, REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO GET AWAY, THERE ARE SEATS IN THE BACK ROW THAT WE HAVE RESERVED FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE THEMSELVES.

TED: INTERESTING.

OKAY, GIVE US THE DETAILS HERE.

WHEN AND WHERE ARE PERFORMANCES?

>> IT OPENS TONIGHT.

TED: THERE YOU GO.

>> OPENS TONIGHT, DECEMBER 3 THROUGH 19.

AND TICKETS ARE AT WWW.BLACK THEATRE TROUPE.ORG.

PRICES ARE FAMILY ORIENTED, IT'S A GOOD FAMILY SHOW, TOO.

WE USUALLY DON'T ALLOW CHILDREN UNDER THREE, BUT THIS PRODUCTION KEEPS THEM FASCINATED, THE LIGHTS AND THE MUSIC, AND RUNS THROUGH THE 19th OF DECEMBER.

TED: AND LOCATION?

>> 1333 EAST WASHINGTON, THE HELEN K. MASON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

IT MUST FEEL GREAT TO GET BACK ON THE STAGE AFTER THIS TIME.

>> IT IS REALLY GREAT.

IT'S SO GREAT.

IT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT, WE KIND OF HAD TO LOOK AROUND AND SAY HOW DO WE PRINT THESE TICKETS AGAIN?

DO THIS AGAIN?

WHERE IS THIS LIGHT SWITCH?

IT'S REALLY, REALLY GREAT BEING BACK ON STAGE, AND THE AUDIENCES HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY ENCOURAGING AND THEY'RE ENJOYING IT, IT'S GREAT.

TED: WELCOME BACK DAVID HEMPHILL AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND GOOD LUCK TONIGHT, AND FOR THE REST OF THE RUN, BLACK NATIVITY, DAVID HEMPHILL, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT.

.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK AT MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH.

>>> AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," THE TRAIT THAT MAKES SOME ATHLETES BETTER ENTREPRENEURS?

THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM, "ARIZONA HORIZON" IN PARTICULAR, IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT IS ARIZONA'S ONLY PROGRAM DEVOTED TO ARZAR ISSUES SUCH AS THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE AND NATIONAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT ALL ARIZONANS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS CONTINUE TO BE HERE ON ARIZONA PBS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GIVE US A CALL DURING THIS TIME RIGHT NOW.

DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, ISN'T IT REASSURING THAT SHOWS LIKE "ARIZONA HORIZON" TACKLE THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

WITH TED SIMONS AS AN AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST, HE'S GOING TO BE THERE TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE INTERVIEW, THOUGH THEY INCLUDE THE HARD QUESTIONS IS CONDUCTED WITH CIVILITY AND RESPECT.

SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO HAVE A PLACE ON ARIZONA PBS, THIS PROGRAM IS WAITING FOR YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.

WHEN YOU MAKE THE CALL OR GO ONLINE, WE'D LOVE TO SEND YOU AN "ARIZONA HORIZON" COFFEE MUG WITH OUR THANKS.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING YOU GET WHEN YOU SUPPORT "ARIZONA HORIZON."

YOU'LL GET THE GREAT FEELING KNOWING YOU'RE MAKING SURE THAT QUALITY JOURNALISM CONTINUES TO HAVE A HOME ON ARIZONA PBS.

REMEMBER, THE PROGRAMS YOU COUNT ON COUNT ON YOU, THANKS.

IT REALLY IS SO CRITICAL THAT THERE CONTINUES TO BE A PLACE ON THAT QUALITY JOURNALISM HAS A HOME.

THAT PLACE IS RIGHT HERE ON ARIZONA PBS.

KEEP IN MIND, THAT "ARIZONA HORIZON" IS JUST ONE PART OF ARIZONA PBS' INTEGRATED NEWS SERVICE.

WITH CRONKITE NEWS AND "HORIZONTE" YOU WILL FIND LOCAL PROGRAMS WITH RESPECTFUL REPORTING FROM ACROSS OUR STATE DELVING INTO HOT BUTTON TOPICS AFFECTING US EVERY DAY.

THE PBS "NEWSHOUR" AND BBC NEWS PROVIDE A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE TO INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL TOPICS AND AFFILIATION WITH CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM HELPS PRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESPECTED JOURNALISTS OFFERING A REAL WORLD EDUCATION FOR THE DIGITAL MEDIA WORLD OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.

REMEMBER, THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES YOU COUNT ON REALLY DO COUNT YOU ON FOR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU.

♪.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REINSTATED THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY.

COMING UP, WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS AND ARIZONA?

>>> PLUS HOW ARIZONA IS HELPING TO SUPPORT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND GIVE ARIZONANS A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

>>> AND LATER ON "BREAK IT DOWN," WHY SO MANY ATHLETES TAKE THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ROUTE AFTER LEAVING SPORTS?

ANNOUNCER: CRONKITE NEWS STARTS NOW.