[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," DETAILS ON COVID TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AND ON "CRONKITE NEWS," HOW STUDENTS AT THE ARIZONA STATE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND USE THEIR OTHER SENSES TO PLAY BASKETBALL, ON "BREAK IT DOWN," A CONVERSATION ABOUT PERCEPTIONS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

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

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX TODAY ANNOUNCED IT WAS PUTTING A PAUSE ON THE VACCINE MANDATE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

THAT IS AFTER A COURT IN GEORGIA PUT A TEMPORARY STOP TO THE BIDEN VACCINE MANDATE.

PHOENIX INSTITUTED ITS OWN CITY MANDATE WITH A DEADLINE FOR ALL CITY WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED BY JANUARY 18TH.

AND, AGAIN, THAT IS NOW ON PAUSE.

CASES OF THE OMICRON VARIANT APPEAR TO BE SHOWING MOSTLY MILD SYMPTOMS.

THIS REPORT COMES FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

SCIENTISTS WARN THAT IT IS FAR TOO EARLY TO LABEL IT AS MORE OF A BUG THAN A KILLER.

ALSO OF NOTE, THE COVID POSITIVITY RATE THERE IN SOUTH AFRICA HAS JUMPED 24%.

>>> TODAY'S ARIZONA COVID NUMBERS SHOW A STARTLING 172 NEW COVID-RELATED FATALITIES, AND IT PUTS THE DEATH RATE AT SIXTH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES WAS JUST OVER 3,000.

AND THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS ROSE AS WELL.

AND THERE IS JUST 5% OF ICU BEDS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW STATEWIDE.

CHRIS MATTHEWS WAS APPOINTED TO TODAY.

HE IS A TUCSON ATTORNEY, AND MARRIED TO FORMER INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING CHAIR.

THEY ALSO APPOINTED MORGAN ABRAHAM FOR THE VACANT SEAT.

AND THIS IS DECEMBER 7TH.

MARKING 80 YEARS SINCE THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR IN HAWAII.

A DAY LATER, THE U.S.

DECLARED WAR ON JAPAN.

A NUMBER OF LOCAL EVENTS WERE HELD TODAY IN HONOR OF THE EVENT.

>>> TRAVELERS OVER THE AGE OF 2 ENTERING THE U.S. MUST NOW PRESENT A NEGATIVE COVID TEST NO LONGER THAN A DAY BEFORE TRAVELING.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS TO ESTELLE WILKINSON.

THE GOAL POSTS ARE CHANGING.

WHAT IS THE LATEST AS FAR AS WHAT INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS NEED TO KNOW?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ARE CHANGING DAY-TO-DAY.

AND RIGHT NOW, EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD THAT WANTS TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY EVEN ON CRUISE SHIPS MUST PROVIDE A NEGATIVE PCR TEST THAT MUST HAPPEN THREE DAYS BEFORE TRAVEL.

AND NOW COMING BACK INTO THE UNITED STATES, IT USED TO BE THREE DAYS, AND NOW YOU NEED TO TAKE THE TEST ONE DAY PRIOR TO TRAVEL.

THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY 24 HOURS, THOUGH.

SO EACH AND EVERY CRUISE LINE, YOU KNOW, HOTELS OR TOUR OPERATORS, THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO DO.

THERE ARE MANY EASY WAYS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE THE TEST BEFORE HEADING TO THEIR DESTINATION.

YOU CAN TAKE IT AT YOUR HOTELS OR YOUR TRAVEL SITE.

RIGHT NOW ALL PASSENGERS CAN CHECK IN, AND THAT GOES ON UNTIL MARCH 10TH.

AND SO MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS TO KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT YOU NEED, TO KNOW WHAT YOU NEED ON RETURN BECAUSE THE STRICTEST REQUIREMENTS ARE REALLY ON RETURN.

ANYBODY WHO IS USING A TRAVEL AGENT OR TRAVEL SERVICE WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO AS FAR AS WHAT TESTS THEY NEED.

>> YEAH, AND STOP RIGHT THERE.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

HOW DO YOU KNOW, AND HOW DO THE AIRLINES OR CRUISE SHIPS -- OR WHATEVER -- HOW DO THE AUTHORITIES KNOW THE TEST IS GOOD ENOUGH TO PASS MUSTER?

>> BECAUSE THERE IS A CERTAIN BRAND OF TEST THAT YOU CAN TAKE, AND IT IS EITHER PCR OR ANTIGEN TESTS.

AND YOU HAVE IT SENT TO A QR CODE, AND THOSE ARE GOOD ENOUGH FOR BOARDING, AND THAT IS FOR HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT ALSO WORKS FOR OVERSEAS.

AND THERE ARE TESTS OF SIX, AND THE ONE APPROVED RIGHT NOW IS THE ANTIGEN TEST THAT YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU AND TAKE IT 24 HOURS PRIOR TO TRAVEL BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU RESULTS IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

I HAVE SENT YOU A COUPLE OF LINKS, AND I HAVE A COUPLE OTHERS I CAN SEND YOU THAT WILL SHOW YOU WHICH ARE APPROVED AND WHICH ARE NOT.

SO, AGAIN, ALWAYS CHECK ON THE CDC WEBSITE PRIOR TO TRAVEL, BECAUSE IT CHANGES EVERY DAY.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT ABOUT VACCINES -- HOW DO VACCINATIONS PLAY INTO ALL OF THIS?

>> THEY REALLY DON'T FOR TRAVEL OVERSEAS.

IN OTHER WORDS YOU HAVE TO BE VACCINATED TO TRAVEL TO MOST COUNTRIES RIGHT NOW.

MEXICO AND A COUPLE IN THE CARIBBEAN ARE NOT REQUIRING THAT YOUR VACCINATION IS GOOD STUFF GOOD -- ENOUGH.

HOWEVER, TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES, YOU STILL NEED THAT TEST.

AND YOU CAN GET RAPID RESULTS THROUGH CVS, AND MAYBE THAT IS BOOKING TRAVEL THEMSELVES, THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY CHECK THE CDC WEBSITE, AND MAKE SURE THEY GET THE CORRECT TEST SO THEY DON'T GET DENIED BOARDING, AND SO I GUESS YOU HAVE TO PREPARE WHEN YOU GO OVERSEAS, HUH?

>> YEAH, YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED.

BRING EXTRA MASKS, AND ALL AIRPORTS WILL HAVE HAND SANITIZING STATIONS, SO YOU WILL FIND -- YOU KNOW, MASKS THERE, TESTING KITS, IF YOU NEED THEM.

MOST AIRPORTS DO HAVE TESTING STATIONS.

LIKE I JUST DID A QUICK BOOKING FOR BORA BORA, AND THEY DO HAVE A TESTING STATION.

MOST AIRPORTS WILL HAVE SOME WAY YOU CAN TEST.

IT'S JUST A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK AHEAD OF TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

GREAT INFORMATION.

WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S WINNERS OF THE ARIZONA INNOVATION CHALLENGE.

>>> THE ARIZONA INNOVATION CHALLENGE IS ONE OF THE LARGEST BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT IS MEANT TO ADVANCE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES IN ARIZONA.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EVENT.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WHAT IS THE ARIZONA INNOVATION CHALLENGE?

>> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING US.

WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR TEN YEARS.

IT IS A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS-CHALLENGE.

THEY ARE GENERALLY INNOVATION COMPANIES LOOKING AT NEW TECH TECHNOLOGIES TECHNOLOGIES.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM WITH AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS.

>> SO MAYBE IT'S A LAUNCH TO SCALE SOME OF THESE VENTURE OPERATIONS?

>> EXACTLY.

WE DESIGNED THIS TEN YEARS AGO TO REALLY UNDERSTAND OUR ECOSYSTEM.

WE DIDN'T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY STARTUPS, OR WHAT TYPE OF STARTUPS, AND WE HELPED EARLY-STAGE START-UP COMPANIES, GET EXPOSURE AND TECHNICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR THIS COMPETITION, AND WE HAVE HAD OVER 2000 COMPANIES APPLY.

AND WE HAVE AWARDED OVER 3,000 COMPANIES.

>> INTEREST.

AFTER TEN YEARS HAVE YOU NOTICED A CHANGE IN WHAT THESE START-UPS WANT AND NEED?

>> INCREDIBLE CHANGE.

IN THE BEGINNING, YOU CAN IMAGINE THEY WERE NEW FRESH COMPANIES THAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET INTO REVENUE OR START THE REDEVELOP PROCESS.

AND NOW THEY ARE ALREADY IN REVENUE GENERALLY, OR WILL BE IN A YEAR.

GENERALLY THROUGH VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING, SO WE HELP THEM GET TO THAT NEXT STAGE OF FUNDING.

>> OKAY.

TALK TO US ABOUT SOME OF THESE WINNERS AND SOME OF THESE FOLKS WHO SURVIVED THIS COMPETITION.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN IMAGINE.

I MEAN, IT IS A VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

WE USUALLY HAVE BETWEEN 85 TO 120 PER YEAR, AND WE HAVE OVER 60 TO 70 JUDGES.

WE WHITTLE IT DOWN TO 15 FINALISTS, AND THE JUDGES SELECT TEN EACH YEAR.

THEY ARE FANTASTIC COMPANIES, AND THEY RANGE FROM A BATTERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY TO SUPPORTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND LIFE SCIENCES, NURSING IN HOMES, AS WELL AS SOFTWARE FOR HR FOR NEW RECRUITMENT.

AND WE'RE JUST REALLY PLEASED WITH HOW THE LEVEL OF THOSE COMPANIES -- AND THE SUCCESS OF THE COMPANIES OVER THE YEARS.

>> TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COMPANIES NOW.

I KNOW THEY ARE ENROLLED IN THIS STARTED-UP.

>> YEAH.

THIS HAS BEEN FOR YEARS.

IT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE THESE TEN COMPANIES AN INTENSE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE TO HELP THEM GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF SUCCESS.

AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THE ADVENTURE READY PROGRAM HAS A 97% SUCCESS RATE IN GETTING THE FOLLOW-ON FUNDING.

AND THE WHOLE 120 COMPANIES HAVE NOW RAISED $850 MILLION OF NEW FUNDING.

SO THAT MEANS NEW JOBS, AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT COME IN TO GROW LARGER AND BETTER COMPANIES.

>> YEAH, THE ACCELERATEOR FOUNDS FASCINATING, AND YOU HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THINGS ONCE YOU ARE A WINNER.

WHO OTHER OBLIGATIONS DO THEY HAVE THOSE WHO HELP THEM GET TO THIS STAGE.

>> YEAH, WE GIVE THE FUNDS IN SLOTS DEPENDING ON HOW THEY GO THROUGH THESE FIVE PANELS.

THESE ARE THE GATE KEEPERS OF THEIR FUNDING.

AND THEY GO THROUGH A BOOT CAMP, AND 500 IS THE LARGEST AND MOST PROLIFIC VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

AND THEY MUST BE AN ARIZONA COMPANY.

THEY MUST REPRESENT THEMSELVES HERE.

THEY MUST HAVE AT LEAST TWO EMPLOYEES.

AND NO GREATER THAN 29 EMPLOYEES.

AND THEY CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN $10 MILLION IN ASSETS, AND IF THEY MAKE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS, THEY GRADUATE SUCCESSFULLY, AND WE HELP THEM GO FURTHER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

♪♪ >>> UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS CAN EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT STRESS AND TRAUMA, WHICH CAN RANGE FROM DEALING WITH PAST EXPERIENCING TO GIVING A CURRENT LIFE IN THE SHADOWS.

OUR FREELANCE JOURNALIST REPORTED ON THE ISSUE.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK ON THE SHOW.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

>> GOOD, THANK YOU.

>>> THE TOPIC TODAY IS ABOUT PEOPLE DEALING WITH MENTAL STRESS, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY IMMIGRATION OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTED STATUS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

>> OKAY.

IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED FOR YEARS THAT THERE IS A TYPE OF TRAUMA CALLED IMMIGRATION TRAUMA, AND IT DERIVES -- IT'S RAMPANT IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND COMES FROM A NUMBER OF REASONS.

NUMBER THE IMMIGRATION POLICY, THE UNCERTAINTY OF IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

NUMBER 2, FEARS BY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN MIXED-STATUS FAMILIES, WHICH IS TO SAY SOME MEMBERS MAY OR MAY NOT BE DOCUMENTED, SOME ARE, SOME AREN'T.

THERE IS A CONCERN THAT A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM CHILDREN.

THAT CAUSES ANOTHER KIND OF PROBABLY.

AND SENE PHOBIC RHETORIC, AND A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT THAT CAUSE WHAT WE CALL IMMIGRATION TRAUMA, AND IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT AS MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED TO LEAVE HOME BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL UNREST OR CLIMATE CHANGE FLOCK TO THE NATION'S BORDERS.

>> AND IT HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A WHILE.

>> YES.

>> AND YOUR ARTICLE TALKED ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE USING SOCIAL ACTIVISM AS A WAY OF DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> OKAY.

WELL, HAVING -- HAVING COVERED IMMIGRATION AND GOTTEN TO KNOW SO MANY WONDERFUL YOUNG PEOPLE IN MY CAREER, AND HAVING WATCHED THEM DEVELOP, I GOT TO KNOW [ INAUDIBLE ] >> CARDENAS.

>> I KNOW I SAID IT WRONG.

I APOLOGIZE TO YOU BOTH.

>> HE IS A FINE YOUNG MAN AND HE IS NOW A PROFESSOR.

>> YES.

AND HIS SPECIALTY IS THE PSYCHOLOGY OF IMMIGRANTS AND HE HAS PRODUCED A RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THE DIFFICULTIES.

>> AND HE HIMSELF WAS AN IMMIGRANT, UNDOCUMENTED FROM VENEZUELA.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ] MONTOYA, WHO HAD A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT APPROACH, BUT ALSO DEALT WITH THE TRAUMA.

>> HE STARTED A NON-PROFIT THAT SHE STARTED THAT IN MANY WAYS HELPS IMMIGRANTS COPE WITH TRAUMA AND RESHAPE TRAUMA.

AND HER FATHER WAS PICKED UP FOR DEPORTATION.

HE WAS PICKED UP AND DETAINED AND FOUGHT DEPORTATION FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND ULTIMATELY ADJUSTED HIS STATUS.

AND DURING THE TIME THAT HER DAD WAS INCARCERATED, SHE WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE YOUNG IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, AND FOR HER -- AND AGAIN, I'M JUST TELLING YOU ABOUT OUR CONVERSATIONS -- SHE WANTED A GENTLER, KINDER SPACE IN WHICH TO HEAL, AND SHE GOT A SCHOLARSHIP AND OPENED UP HER PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES CULTURALLY COMPETENT THERAPISTS, WHO UNDERSTAND THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF TRAUMA, AND KNOW HOW TO TREAT IT.

SGHFRNLS AND >>> AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE THIRD PERSON YOU TALK ABOUT.

>> YEAH, SHE HAS BEEN AN ACTIVIST SINCE SHE WAS A TEENAGER, I BELIEVE, AND SHE, LIKE MANY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, HER FAMILY WAS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS.

HER FATHER WAS QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT -- >> SOMETHING YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT.

>> YES, IN TWO BOOKS.

>> I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT PEOPLE CAN FIND YOU -- >> IT'S ON THE GUARDIAN.

>> SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON.

>> IT'S SO GREAT TO BE HERE, JOSE, GRACIAS.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE TRADITION OF LUMINARYIAS, AND THE BEST PLACES TO SEE THESE HOLIDAY DISPLAYS, AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," A CONVERSATION ABOUT PERCEPTIONS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

♪♪