[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," TEMPE EXPANDS ITS PROGRAM TO HELP FIND JOBS FOR THE HOMELESS.

AND ON "CRONKITE NEWS," MEET THE BARRIER-BREAKING HEAD COACH OF A VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN A LOOK AT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF FEMALE COACHES IN MALE-DOMINATED SPORTS.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

TODAY'S COVID REPORT SHOWS A STARTLING 203 NEW COVID-RELATED FATALITIES.

THAT PUTS ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY DEATH RATE AT FOURTH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND HOSPITALS ARE REPORTING THAT THERE ARE NOW 91 ICU BEDS AVAILABLE STATEWIDE.

>>> THERE IS SOME ENCOURAGING COVID NEWS.

PFIZER SAYS IT'S EXPERIMENTAL PILL CUTS DEATH AND HOSPITALIZE HOSPITALIZATIONABLY BY 80%.

PFIZER HAS ASKED THE FDA FOR EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION FOR THE PILL.

>>> AND THE OMICRON VARIANT APPEARS TO CAUSE LESS SEVERE ATTACKS OF THE COVID VIRUS.

THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONDED TO IN INFORMATION, GET YOUR BOOSTER.

>> OMICRON IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE, BECAUSE IT SPREADS VERY RAPIDLY, AND THE VACCINES WE USE, THE REGULAR TWO-DOSE MRA DON'T DO VERY WELL ITSELF, BUT IF YOU GET THE BOOST IT IS PRETTY GOOD.

>>> CLIMATE CHANGE HAS DESTABILIZED THE EARTH'S POLES.

RESEARCH PREVENTED THAT RIPPLE EFFECTS WILL IMPACT THE REST OF THE PLANET BY WAY OF RISING SEA LEVELS, SHIFTING WEATHER PATTERNS AND SHIFTING ECOSYSTEMS.

>>> TEMPE IS EXPANDING ITS WORKS PROGRAM TO BETTER PROVIDE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE IN NEED.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM TEMPE VICE MAYOR RANDY KEATING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS EXPANDING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF.

>> YEAH, TEMPE WORKS IS A VERSION OF A HOMELESS PROGRAM.

WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE, THOUGH.

IN MOST CITIES YOU COME IN AND WORK YOUR DAY SHIFT, GET YOUR CASH OR PRE-PAID GIFT CARD, AND THEN YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY.

WE PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO HOUSING AND SERVICES AS WELL.

SO IT'S NOT JUST PUTTING A BAND-AID ON A SEVERE CUT.

>> NOW HOW IS IT EXPANDING?

>> WE RECENTLY HIRED A PART-TIME COORDINATOR.

AND LAST MONTH, WE DECIDED TO MAKE THAT FULL-TIME.

>> OKAY.

AND AGAIN THIS PROVIDES JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE IN NEED.

ACCESS TO HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES, AND HOW EXACTLY DOES IT WORK.

>> WE PARTNERED WITH TEMPE COMMUNITY ACCESS AGENCY, AND THEY GET EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE CITY OF A JOB BANK, AND THEN THEY END UP GETTING POSITIONS WITHIN THE CITY OR SOMETIMES THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

>> I SAW WALMART AND ASU AS WELL.

THESE ARE PART-TIME JOBS?

>> IT IS A JOBS PROGRAM, BUT IT IS NOT JUST HEY, YOU ARE WORKING YOUR EIGHT HOURS, HERE IS YOUR MONEY, MAYBE WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.

IT IS A FULL-TIME JOB MOST OF THE TIME, BUT NOT ALWAYS.

>> IS IT PART OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT?

>> CORRECT.

>> HOW FAR DOES THE CASE MANAGEMENT GO?

>> WE LIKE TO SAY YOU GRADUATE AFTER SIX MONTHS IF YOU ARE HOUSED AND IN SERVICES AND SHOWING UP TO WORK EVERY DAY, AND AFTER SIX MONTHS WE DIAL IT BACK A LITTLE BIT.

BUT A LOT OF FOLKS WILL BE THERE FOR SIX MONTHS AND THEN HAVE HOUSING, MONEY IN THE BANK AND CLOTHING AVAILABLE, AND THEY WILL LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM THREE YEARS AGO, AND 41 PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

>> AND WHAT KIND OF SUCCESS RATE ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT?

>> IT'S ABOUT 50%.

SO IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE HAD 19 PEOPLE GRADUATE.

THAT IS GO SIX MONTHS IN THE PROGRAM, AND THEN MOVE ON TO PRIVATE SECTOR, AND QUESTION HAVE HOUSED 22.

>> AND THIS HELPS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INCREASE THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND THAT IS KEY, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN'T FORCE ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING, PARTICULARLY IN THIS SORT OF PROGRAM.

WE TRY TO OFFER A CLEAR PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

IF YOU ARE HOMELESS, AND YOU ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM, AND YOU SHOW UP FOR WORK EVERY DAY, YOU WILL NOT FALL BACK INTO HOMELESSNESS.

WE RELY ON OUR PARTNERS TO HELP PUT THE WORD OUT, AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU IF YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE IT.

>> AND THIS IS A TIME OF YEAR, WHERE THE PARKS START TO SEE AN INFLUX.

SO HOW DO YOU BEST ADDRESS THIS?

>> THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE OVER THE YEARS.

AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE THE DECISION THAT THE PROBLEM IS PUT ON THE CITIES, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WAY TEMPE HAS APPROACHED TEMPE WORKS AND OTHER SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> ARE YOU SEEING RESULTS?

>> WE ARE.

WE'RE SEEING MORE INDIVIDUALS.

LESS COMPLAINTS FROM CITIZENS.

WE'RE SEEINGLESS POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTACTS.

WE'RE SEEING NOT SO MANY PEOPLE ON MILL AVENUE AND IN OUR PARKS.

>> WE HAD THE MARICOPA CITY OF SERVICES ON HERE, AND THERE IS AN ACTION PLAN TO GET TOGETHER FOR A SOLID WAY TO APPROACH THIS ISSUE.

IS TEMPE INVOLVED AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IDEA?

>> YES, WE ARE INVOLVED.

WE HAVE BEEN SAYING WE NEED A REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP.

>> AS FAR AS THE TEMPE WORKS PROGRAM, WAS THE TEMPE WORKS PROGRAM -- WAS IT MODELED AFTER OTHER CITIES, AND WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> SURE.

I GOT THE IDEA THERE ALBUQUERQUE.

I WAS LISTENING TO NPR ONE DAY, AND I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT THING FOR THE CITY TO DO, BUT ONCE I GOT IN THERE, I SAW THERE REALLY WASN'T AN ENCOMPASSING SOLUTION.

AND THAT'S NOT -- WHILE IT IS HELPFUL, IT IS NOT ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS.

>> REAL QUICKLY, COST TO THE CITY.

WHAT DO YOU FIGURE?

>> RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT $60,000, AND WE JUST APPROVED A COORDINATOR AS WELL, AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.

>> TEMPE VICE MAYOR RANDY KEATING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> UP NEXT, HOW BEST TO MANAGE HOLIDAY STRESS .

>>> THE HOLIDAY SEASON CAN BE A STRESSFUL TIME FOR YEAR, AND ONE WAY TO MANAGE YOUR STRESS IS TO ADJUST YOUR DIET.

DR. LOREENA RYDER WITH THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS GROUP JOINED US FOR MORE INFORMATION.

WHY ARE THE HOLIDAYS SO STRESSFUL?

>> I WISH I HAD THE ANSWER FOR THAT?

WE JUST TRY TO FIT SO MUCH INTO OUR LIFE -- FROM THE TIME WE WAKE UM, TO THE TIME WE GO TO BED, WE HAVE A HUGE CHECKLIST, AND IT STRESSING OUR BODIES.

>> WHAT WAS EATING CLEAN MEAN?

>> WELL, TED, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WHAT YOU REMOVE FROM YOUR DIET IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU ADD IN.

SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO REMOVE ONE THING FROM YOUR HOLIDAY DIET, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT BE SUGAR.

SUGAR REEKS HAVOC ON OUR BODIES, IT CAUSES INFLAMMATION, WHICH CAUSES PAIN.

IT CAN LEAD TO BRAIN FOG AND JUST FATIGUE, SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SWEET SNACK, I WOULD SUGGEST TRYING FRUIT.

FRUIT INCLUDES FIBER, WHICH HELPS THAT SLOW RELEASE INTO THE BLOODSTREAM.

IF YOU ARE NOT A SWEET PERSON, I WOULD SUGGEST A SALTY SNACK LIKE NUTS.

NUTS HAVE OMEGA-3S, AND TRYPTOPHAN, AND THERE IS MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO EAT CLEAN.

I KNOW IT MIGHT BE A HARD SELL, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST TRADING YOUR CANDY FOR KALE, AND WE DO FOOD SENSITIVITY TESTING >> CAN YOU PUT A BOWL OF KALE ON A COFFEE TABLE?

>> WELL, I LOVE KALE CHIPS.

YOU CAN MAKE THEMSELVES YOURSELF OR BUY THEM AT THE STORE, AND THEY ARE MORE OF A SALTY SAVORY SNACK.

BUT, YES, YOU CAN.

>> OKAY.

ANOTHER WAY TO MANAGE STRESS IS EXERCISE.

>> YES.

EXERCISE HELPED YOUR METABOLISM, AND IMPROVES YOUR MOOD.

REDUCES ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, AND GIVES YOU MORE ENERGY.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUSH PAST THAT NOTION WHENEVER YOU ARE DRIVING HOME, AND YOU LOOK ANOTHER THE GYM, AND YOU SAY, I JUST WANT TO GO HOME.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST PULL IN AND WORKOUT, AND IT WILL INCREASE YOUR ENERGY AND IMPROVE YOUR THOUGHT PROCESSES.

>> AND THERE IS THIS HIIT TRAINING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, WHERE YOU GO REAL HARD AND THEN CALM DOWN.

IS THAT BETTER THAN JUST LIKE A JOG AROUND THE PARK?

>> IN MY OPINION, DO WHAT YOUR BODY TELLS YOU TO DO.

SOME PEOPLE ENJOY THE HIIT TRAINING.

HAH OTHER PEOPLE IT IS JUST OKAY TO DO A NICE WALK AROUND THE PARK.

I SUGGEST AT LEAST 15 TO 20 MINUTES OF MOVEMENT EVERY DAY.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST TAYLOR MOVEMENT TO OUR OWN BODIES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MINDFULNESS IS ANOTHER WAY TO STRAY AWAY FROM STRESS.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE MINDFULNESS.

>> IT'S A MOMENT TO MOMENT AWARENESS OF OUR THOUGHTS WITHOUT ANY JUDGMENT.

SO IF WE'RE HAVING LUNCH, TAKE A BITE OF YOUR LUNCH, PUT THE FORK DOWN AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT THAT MOMENT.

WHAT IS THE TEXTURE LIKE IN YOUR FOOD, AND THAT TAKES YOU TO THE PRESENT AND AWAY FROM THE PAST AND THE FUTURE AND ALL OF THE STRESS IN YOUR DAY, AND IT REDUCES ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, AND HEART DISEASE, AND GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS.

>> AND SLEEP IS ANOTHER FACTOR, AND I THINK THAT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.

BUT WHAT IF YOU GET STRESSED OUT, TRYING TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT?

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT?

>> THE BREATHING IS GOOD.

THE SLEEP IS GOOD.

TRY AIMING FOR AN HOUR PRIOR TO WHEN YOU NORMALLY GO TO BED, AND JUST BE MINDFUL IN THAT MOMENT.

>> AND DON'T GET STRESSED OUT ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO TO KEEP FROM GETTING STRESSED OUT, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DR. LOREENA RYDER WITH THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS GROUP.

THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> OF COURSE.

CAN >>> ANIMAL SHELTERS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PET ADOPTIONS.

THE ASPCA SAYS ONE IN FIVE HOMES HAVE ADOPTED A PET IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS.

PRODUCER SHANA FISCHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER RUDY ROMO PAID A VISIT TO THE SHELTER.

>> AS A CHILD, SHE DREAMED OF BEING A VETERINARIAN.

SHE IS NOW FINISHING HER FIRST YEAR OF RUNNING THE ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE.

>> THESE ARE ANIMALS THAT ARE REALLY GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

>> IT HAS ITS BEGINNINGS IN HOLLYWOOD.

AMANDA BLAKE STARTED THE ORGANIZATION IN 1971.

ANIMALS LIVE AT THE FACILITY AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO FIND THEM A HOME.

THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE 330 CATS AND DOGS AT A TIME.

ANIMALS IN NEED OF MORE URGENT CARE ARE SEEN IN THE MEDICAL CLINIC.

ON ANY GIVEN DAY, THEY HAVE THEIR HANDFULS WITH EMERGENCY SURGERIES.

>> WE DO ABOUT 3,000 SURGERIES A YEAR.

>> AND JUST LIKE WITH HUMANS, THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON ANIMALS.

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE LESS ACCESS TO VETERINARIAN CARE, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT, OR VETERINARIANS WERE JUST SO OVERWHELMED OVERWHELMED, PETS ARE HAVING MORE OF THOSE DISEASES BECAUSE THEY ARE MISSING THEIR VACCINES.

>> ONCE A CAT OR DOG IS READY FOR ADOPTION, AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS STEP IN.

>> WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS WHO REALLY SPECIALIZE IN BEHAVIOR TO HELP THE ANIMALS OVERCOME THEIR SHYNESS OR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS.

AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GET THEM TO THAT NEXT LEVEL SO THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

>> AAWL, ALSO HELPS OUTLYING AREAS.

>> THEY HAVE VERY, VERY HIGH EUTHANIZATION RATES, BECAUSE THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE CAPACITY.

>> IN SOME CASES THEY TAKE THE ANIMALS BACK TO PHOENIX BEFORE ADOPTING THEM OUT.

SHE IS IMMENSELY PROUD OF HER TEAM.

>> THAT'S WHAT MOTIVATES ME EVERY DAY, SO HELP ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS AND HELP PEOPLE ULTIMATELY FIND A RESCUE PET.

>>> AAWL ALSO OFFERS A LOW-COST MEDICAL AND VACCINE CLINIC.

>>> 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, AN ARIZONA COACH CARVES A NEW PATH FOR HER TEAM.