♪ >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO CRONKITE NEWS.

I'M AIDAN BLANK.

>> AND I'M SARAH BO.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK HAS DIED.

KIRK WAS SHOT EARLIER TODAY AT A RALLY IN OREM, UTAH.

KIRK WAS THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF CONSERVATIVE FOUNDATION TURNING POINT USA BASED HERE IN PHOENIX.

AT THE TIME OF THIS RECORDING.

THE SUSPECT IS NOT IN CUSTODY.

KIRK WAS SHOT AT AN EVENT HOSTED AT UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, A FORMER UTAH CONGRESSMAN AT EVENT HEARD A SINGLE GUNSHOT, ANOTHER EYEWITNESS RECOUNTED WHAT THEY SAW DURING THE ATTACK.

>> I KNEW IT WAS A GUNSHOT, I TUCKED BEHIND THE CORNER AND SAW ALL THE CROWD RUNNING AS FAST AS THEY COULD, I WAS WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE TRAMPLING EACH OTHER.

TWO COLLEGE AGED GIRLS, ONE WAS HAVING A PANIC ATTACK.

I GRABBED BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE SHE WAS COLLAPSING AND RUSHED HER UNDER THE TUNNEL AND PUT HER IN MY CAR AND GOT AHOLD OF HER PARENTS.

>> THE GREAT AND EVEN LEGENDARY CHARLIE KIRK IS DEAD.

THE PRESIDENT SAID KIRK WAS LOVED BY ALL, ESPECIALLY TRUMP HIMSELF.

HE RALLIED ALONG THE PRESIDENT DURING HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

AS WE SAID, TURNING POINT USA IS HEADQUARTERED HERE IN PHOENIX.

CRONKITE NEWS REPORTER MACY MARKUM JOINS US WITH MORE ON THE REACTION TO KIRK'S DEATH.

>> STANDING IN PHOENIX OUTSIDE THE TURNING POINT USA HEADQUARTERS THAT CHARLIE KIRK FOUNDED.

FAIRLY QUIET, THERE ARE NEW CREWS AND TWO PEOPLE BRING FLOWERS INTO THE BUILDING.

KIRK HAD A MASSIVE IMPACT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ON THE ASU TEMPE CAMPUS LAST SEPTEMBER PRECEDING THE 2024 ELECTION.

ASU CHAPTER OF TURNING POINT USA HAD A MEETING FOR TODAY BUT IT HAS BEEN CANCELED.

>>> CHARLIE KIRK WAS 31 YEARS OLD.

ACCORDING TO THE "NEW YORK TIMES," PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERED ALL AMERICAN FLAGS TO BE LOWERED TO HALF-STAFF.

THE ORDER IS SET TO REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING.

>>> MANY ARE REACTING TO THE NEWS OF KIRK'S DEATH.

EMILY FOX JOINS US WITH MORE, EMILY?

>> Reporter: STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE REACTING AFTER LEARNING CHARLIE KIRK DIED AFTER BEING SHOT AT A RALLY IN UTAH.

WHILE KIRK WAS A POLARIZING FIGURE ACROSS COLLEGE CAMPUSES, HIS DEATH DEVASTATED MANY IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING REACTION FROM ARIZONA LEADERS.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ELI CRANE SAYING, QUOTE, PLEASE PRAY FOR CHARLIE KIRK, AND SENATOR MARK KELLY, A DEMOCRAT SHARED HIS FEELINGS THIS IS, QUOTE, AN EXAMPLE OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE THAT HAS NO PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE AND REPUBLICAN JUAN CISCOMANI SHARING PRAYERS FOR CHARLIE KIRK AND HIS FAMILY.

DAVID SCHWEIKERT, A REPUBLICAN SAID HE IS DEVASTATED TO HEAR THE NEWS.

YASSAMIN ANSARI SAID POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE.

THIS IS HORRIFIC.

JUST INTO THE NEWSROOM, GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS SHARED HER THOUGHTS IN A STATEMENT POSTED ON X CALLING THIS AN ASSASSINATION, ASKING WE STAND TOGETHER IN REJECTING VIOLENCE.

IN THE NEWSROOM, EMILY FOX MILIAN, CRONKITE NEWS.

>> EMILY, THANK YOU.

THIS IS AN ONGOING STORY, STAY WITH CRONKITE NEWS AS WE CONTINUE COVERAGE.

>>> NEW DATA SHOWS FEWER HEAT-RELATED DEATHS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

ACCORDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 97 DEATHS CONFIRMED SO FAR THIS YEAR AND OVER 400 DEATHS ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR, 177 DEATHS HAD ALREADY BEEN CONFIRMED WITH NEARLY THE SAME AMOUNT PENDING CASES.

WHILE EVERYBODY IS AFFECTED BY HEAT, OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE COOLING ARE HIT THE HARDEST.

>> SPEAKING OF THE HEAT, IT WAS WARM TODAY, BUT IS THERE ANY RELIEF IN OUR FUTURE?

EDWARD JOINS US FROM THE CRONKITE WEATHER CENTER WITH OUR FORECAST.

>> Reporter: WELCOME TO THE CRONKITE WEATHER CENTER, LET'S GET YOU SET FOR UPCOMING FORECAST.

WE'LL START YOU OFF WITH EVENING PLANNER AS WE WRAP UP WEDNESDAY HERE IN THE VALLEY.

STILL IN TRIPLE DIGITS AT THE 6:00 HOUR.

101 IS YOUR TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE.

SLIGHT BREEZE IN THE AIR, NOTHING TOO SERIOUS.

WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THE WINDS ALL WEEK LONG.

NONE OF WHICH ARE PLAYING A FACTOR FOR THIS EVENING.

93 IS THE TEMPERATURE IN THE 10:00 HOUR, CLOUD COVER IN THE AREA, BUT NOTHING GOING AS FAR AS PRECIPITATION CHANCES.

HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR TOMORROW ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

103 HERE IN PHOENIX.

DOWN IN TUCSON, JUST GETTING INTO THE TRIPLE DIGITS AT 100.

UP NORTH, MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES, 78 AT THE GRAND CANYON AND 72 IN FLAGSTAFF FOR YOUR THURSDAY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE WINDS NOT REALLY PLAYING A FACTOR IN THE 7:00 HOUR, JUST 9 MILES AN HOUR IN PHOENIX.

UP NORTH IN SEDONA, 6 MILES AN HOUR.

BUT THE AREA I'LL FOCUS IS NORTH TOWARDS THE KINGMAN AND GRAND CANYON AREA AS WE PLAY THIS MAP FORWARD, CASTING OUT TO THE EVENING TOMORROW.

4:30 IN THE AFTERNOON.

23 MILES AN HOUR IN KINGMAN.

24 IN THE GRAND CANYON.

IF YOU HAVE OUTDOOR PLANS IN THE AFTERNOON, TAKE NOTE OF THAT.

HERE'S YOUR EIGHT DAY FORECAST FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK.

COOLER TEMPERATURES MOVING INTO THE VALLEY.

DOUBLE DIGITS ON SATURDAY, 99 WITH LOWS IN THE MID 70s.

WELL BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, A PLEASANT WEEKEND FOR THOSE OF YOU PLANNING ON GOING OUTSIDE WITH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

THAT WILL DO IT FROM THE CRONKITE WEATHER CENTER.

>> HOPEFULLY IT COOLS DOWN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE FOLKS WILL BE SUNDAY TAILGATING AT STATE FARM STADIUM.

AFTER WEEK ONE'S WIN CAME DOWN TO A DEFENSIVE STAND IN NEW ORLEANS, WILL THERE BE MORE OF THE SAME FOR THE CARDS THIS SUNDAY?

DETAILS UP NEXT.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CRONKITE NEWS.

THE MERCURY WERE NOT PLAYING FOR MUCH IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE LAST NIGHT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AS THEY HAD PLAYOFF SEEDING LOCKED UP, STILL THE TEAM DIDN'T GET THE RESULT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

ALYSSA THOMAS BROKE ANOTHER RECORD.

THIS GAME RECORDING THE FASTEST TRIPLE-DOUBLE IN WNBA HISTORY.

A.T.'S PERFORMANCE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO LIFT THE MERCURY TO VICTORY AS THE HEAD COACH WENT TO RESERVES LATE IN THE GAME AND THE SPARKS CAME BACK TO WIN IT 87-83.

THE MERCURY HAVE LAST GAME AGAINST THE DALLAS WINGS, TIP-OFF IS SET FOR 5:00 P.M.

IN DALLAS.

>> WITH FIRST-ROUND OPPONENT LOCKED IN, THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES WITH THE NEW YORK LIBERTY, NONE BIGGER THAN LIBERTY HEAD COACH SANDY BRONDELLO WITH THE MERCURY FROM 2014 TO 2021 LEADING PHOENIX TO A WNBA CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE MERCURY LOOK TO START THE POSTSEASON OFF WITH A WIN AGAINST THE DEFENDING CHAMPS.

THE MERCURY HAD SUCCESS AGAINST THE LIBERTY DURING REGULAR SEASON TAKING THREE OF THE FOUR MEETINGS.

START TIME FOR THE GAME IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

>>> AS THE WNBA HEADS TO THE POSTSEASON, THEY'RE DEALING WITH A BATTLE OFF THE COURT AS THE CLOCK IS WINDING DOWN FOR THE DEADLINE ON THE UPCOMING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

>> THAT DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 31.

THERE ARE MANY ISSUES ON THE TABLE FROM LEAGUE EXPANSION TO REVENUE SHARING.

EVE McFARLAND OUTLINES THE LEAGUE'S CONCERNS.

>> Reporter: THE LEAGUE EXPANDING WITH FIVE NEW TEAMS BY 2030 RAISES QUESTIONS HOW THE NEW TEAMS FIT INTO THE LEAGUE'S CURRENT SCHEDULE OPERATING MODEL.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS A STICKING POINT.

HOW MANY GAMES ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY?

YOU'RE ADDING FIVE TEAMS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, YOU CAN'T PLAY 44.

YOU NEED MORE THAN THAT.

>> Reporter: THE DEMAND OF GAMES AND TRAVELING CAN WEAR DOWN THE BODY.

PLAYERS SAY THE LEAGUE NEEDS TO INVEST MORE IN STANDARD CARE.

>> I USED TO ORDER MY OWN PREGAME MEALS.

STARTS WITH THAT.

A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION BUT CENTERED OF INVESTMENT INTO TAKING CARE OF PLAYERS SO YOU ONLY HAVE TO PLAY.

IT GOES TO MEDICAL, TRAVEL.

>> Reporter: INCREASING SALARIES, REVENUE SHARING AND ROSTER SPOTS ARE UPCOMING POINTS FOR THE UPCOMING CBA.

>> TO BRING IN 2.2 BILLION COMING IN.

PLAYERS WANT A BIGGER PIECE OF THE PIE.

>> Reporter: THE NEWEST ADDITIONS OF CLEVELAND, DETROIT AND PHILADELPHIA WILL CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES, IT IS UNKNOWN HOW THE WNBA XAMGZ DRAFT WILL PLAY OUT.

ON A ROSTER LIMIT OF 12, CURRENT TEAMS CAN LOSE PLAYERS.

>> IT'S EXCITING FOR THE LEAGUE, IT'S DISAPPOINTING JUST FROM -- BECAUSE YOU LIKE YOUR GROUP, RIGHT?

YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT GROUP WITH THE EXPANSION DRAFT, THERE'S A CHANCE YOU MAY LOSE A PLAYER OR TWO THAT WE LIKE.

>> THE OTHER BIG ISSUE IS ALL THE FREE AGENTS, WHO ARE TEAMS PROTECTING?

YOU PROTECT SIX PLAYERS LAST YEAR, YOU MAY NOT HAVE SIX PLAYERS TO PROTECT BECAUSE EVERYONE IS A FREE AGENT, FIGURE OUT HOW THE RULES WORK.

>> Reporter: BEING STRAINED WITH INJURIES, PRACTICE FACILITIES FOR RECOVERIES ARE VITAL.

IT DREW IN PLAYERS AND THOSE INVESTMENTS MADE OTHERS ACROSS THE LEAGUE TO JOIN THEIR TEAMS.

>> SALARIES ARE IMPORTANT, AND REVENUE SHARING IS IMPORTANT IN THE CBA BUT SO IS PLAYER EXPERIENCE, AND KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES, SO TO SPEAK.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PRACTICE FACILITY AND THIS IS A HUGE YEAR FOR FREE AGENCY.

80% ARE FREE AGENTS AND THE OTHERS ARE ON ROOKIE CONTRACTS, PEOPLE ARE GOING WANT TO TO GO TO YOU.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE TOPICS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED, THE PLAYERS AND THE LEAGUE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

IN PHOENIX, EVE McFARLAND, CRONKITE NEWS.

>> WE WANT TO ISSUE A QUICK CORRECTION, THE FIRST GAME BETWEEN PHOENIX AND NEW YORK IS SUNDAY, NOT SATURDAY.

THE OCTOBER 31 DEADLINE FOR A NEW CBA IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING WITH LOCKOUT TALKS LOOMING, THAT COULD BE EXTRA MOTIVATION TO GET A DEAL DONE AS THE LEAGUE IS MORE POPULAR NOW THAN EVER.

>>> SWITCHING TO ANOTHER POSTSEASON, HOPEFUL FROM THE VALLEY, THE CARDINALS ARE GETTING READY FOR HOME OPENER THIS WEEKEND AGAINST THE CAROLINA PANTHERS.

THIS BATTLE OF NUMBER ONE PICKS IN A CERTAIN HOME COMING CAN MAKE FOR A CAN'T MIX MATCHUP.

THE CARDINALS LOOK TO MOVE TO 2-0 ON THE SEASON AS THEY COME BACK TO GLENDALE FOR THE HOME OPENER.

THE MATCHUP WILL PIT TWO FORMER NUMBER ONE OVERALL PICKS WITH KYLER MURRAY AND BRYCE YOUNG.

>> KYLER MURRAY AND THE TEAM WILL LOOK TO CONTINUE ROLLING.

MORE ON THE TEAM'S MOMENTUM TO START THE SEASON.

>> Reporter: IF YOU THINK ONE WIN IS NOTHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT, CONSIDER THIS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE CARDINALS WON A SEASON OPENER SINCE 2021 WHERE THEY STARTED OFF AT 7-0 AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A PLAYOFF APPEARANCE.

DEFENSIVE END CALAIS CAMPBELL BELIEVES THE TEAM IS TURNING A CORNER SPECIALLY WITH WILL JOHNSON.

>> HE PUT HIS SHOULDER TO HIS RIBS.

YOU CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT.

THAT'S ELITE FOOTBALL.

AND HE GETS EVERYBODY GOING.

YOU SEE THE CORNERS PLAYING WITH THAT PHYSICALITY AND THE D-LINEMAN, YOU GET EXCITED.

>> I KNOW THE ONE BIG HIT, WHAT WAS COOL ABOUT THAT, TAKING THE COACHING TO THE GRASS.

THE FORMATION RECOGNITION WITH HIM THERE IN THAT PARTICULAR CALL, JUST FREEDOM THAT WE GAVE HIM AND HE SAW IT AND APPLIED IT.

>> Reporter: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL, JONATHAN GANNON SAYS PASSING GAME WILL GO AS PLAYMAKERS GO INCLUDING MARVIN HARRISON JR. AND TREY McBRIDE.

BIRDS OPEN AT HOME ON SUNDAY AGAINST THE CAROLINA PANTHERS.

IN TEMPE, KIANA STOCKS, CRONKITE NEWS.

>> McMILLAN IN ROOKIE SEASON WITH THE PANTHERS.

COMING UP NEXT, ASU FOOTBALL PLAYING AT HOME THIS SATURDAY.

>> THE SUN DEVILS TAKE ON THE BOBCATS OF TEXAS STATE.

ASU WILL POTENTIALLY LOOK TO THREE PLAYERS AS THEY TRY TO REPLACE POWERHOUSE CAM SKATTEBO.

DETAILS HOW THAT COULD LOOK WHEN WE RETURN.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CRONKITE NEWS.

ASU FOOTBALL TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN THIS WEEKEND AS THEY TAKE ON TEXAS STATE AT HOME.

THE SUN DEVILS ARE TRYING TO FIND OFFENSIVE IDENTITY.

>> THEY LOST THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE RUN GAME FROM LAST YEAR AND ARE SEARCHING FOR THE NEW CAM SKATTEBO.

NATE MILLS JOINS US FROM THE NEWSROOM WITH MORE ON THE OFFENSE.

NATE, THOSE ARE BIG SHOES TO FILL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, FOR CONTEXT, CAM SKATTEBO BROKE MULTIPLE ASU SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS INCLUDING RUSHING YARDS, RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS AND TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS.

HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST ASU PLAYER TO GAIN OVER 2,000 ALL-PURPOSE YARDS IN A SINGLE SEASON.

NOW ASU IS DEVELOPING A THREE-HEADED MONSTER TO REPLACE ONE OF THEIR BEST OF ALL-TIME.

FORMER ASU RUNNING BACK CAM SKATTEBO RAN THE BALL, CAUGHT PASSES AND EVEN TOOK SNAPS AT QUARTERBACK, AS SUN DEVILS HUNT FOR ANOTHER CONFERENCE TITLE, THEY NEED ANOTHER BACK WHO CAN DO IT ALL.

>> THAT'S THE TYPE OF BACK WE NEED IN THIS OFFENSE, SIMILAR TO WHAT SKAT DID, THEY HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: AS THEY SEARCH FOR PLAY STYLE IN OFFENSE, MALIK BROWN LOOKS TO SETTLE INTO A ROLE.

>> USE ME ALL OVER THE FIELD AND JUST STAY FOCUSED ON THE RUN GAME.

I FEEL LIKE LIKE 21 PERSON.

THAT'S HOW THEY USE ME.

>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE WANTS TO LOOK BEYOND X'S AND O'S AND WHO IS THE MOST HARD NOSEED.

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND KNOW OUR IDENTITY AND OUR IDENTITY IS BEING PHYSICAL.

>> Reporter: CAM SKATTEBO WAS AN ALL-PURPOSE RUNNING BACK FOR ARIZONA STATE THE PAST TWO SEASONS.

WITH HIS ABSENCE THIS YEAR, THE SUN DEVILS HAVE TO GET CREATIVE AND DISPERSE HIS PRODUCTION INTO THREE RUNNING BACKS.

ALONG WITH BROWN, ASU TURNED TO KAISON BROWN, AND KANYE UDOH.

THE THREE COMBINED FOR 352 RUSHING YARDS AND TWO RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS IN TWO GAMES.

HE BRINGS A PORTION OF IT, AND KANYE BRINGS HIS ABILITY, AND YOU HAVE SIP, A COMBINATION OF THE GUYS, THE MENTALITY PART IS WHAT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IN THE PHYSICALITY PART.

>> Reporter: AS ASU GEARS UP AGAINST A TEXAS STATE TEAM THAT ALLOWED MORE THAN SEVEN YARDS PER CARRY LAST WEEK, EXPECT THE BACK FIELD TO LOWER SHOULDERS AND HUNT FOR THE END ZONE.

>> KEEP RUNNING HARD AND PLAYING FAST AND RUN THE BALL DOWNHILL AND KEEP WORKING HARD.

>> Reporter: KANYE UDOH IS GETTING THE MOST REPS AS KAISON BROWN BATTLED INJURY AND QUESTIONABLE AGAIN THIS WEEK.

WE'LL SEE HOW OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MARCUS ARROYO USES THEM IN THE COMING WEEKS.

NATE MILLS, CRONKITE NEWS.

>> THE DIAMONDBACKS ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT IN THE WILD-CARD RACE.

ARIZONA LOST TWO-GAME SERIES AGAINST SAN FRANCISCO 5-3.

THE D-BACKS ONLY HIT ONE HOME RUN IN THE SERIES WHILE THE GIANTS HIT SEVEN IN TWO GAMES, AND WITH THE TEAM STRUGGLING IN THE SERIES, ONE OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS HAS BEEN ZAC GALLEN, HE REACHED THE THIRD MOST STRIKEOUTS IN D-BACKS HISTORY AT 999, LEAVING ONLY RANDY JOHNSON AND BRANDON WEBB AHEAD OF HIM ON THE LIST.

>> THE DIAMONDBACKS WRAP UP THE THREE GAME SET AGAINST THE GIANTS AT ORACLE PARK IN SAN FRANCISCO BEFORE HEADING OFF FOR AN OFFDAY AS THEY HEAD TO MINNESOTA.

WHILE THE DIAMONDBACKS LOOK TO SALVAGE THE LAST GAME OF THE SERIES, THEY'RE SCHEDULED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON WON'T GET EASIER AS FOUR OF THE NEXT FIVE OPPONENTS ARE IN THE PLAYOFF RACE.

D-BACKS ARE IN PRIME SPOT TO EARN A WILD CARD SPOT, SIT AT 4 1/2 GAMES BACK IN THE WILD CARD STANDINGS WITH 16 GAMES TO GO.

>> COMING UP NEXT, FINDINGS FROM NASA PROVIDE THE CLEAREST EVIDENCE YET OF EXTRA TERRESTRIAL LIFE.

>> IT WAS FOUND IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM OF EARTH'S NEIGHBOR MARS.

>> THIS VERY WELL COULD BE THE CLEAREST SIGN OF LIFE WE'VE FOUND ON MARS, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING.

>> WHAT EXACTLY DID THEY FIND THAT LEADS THEM TO BELIEVE IN LIFE ON MARS?

FIND OUT NEXT ON CRONKITE NEWS.

>> WELCOME BACK FROM THE BREAK.

THE MAKER OF THE POPULAR WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS WEGOVY AND OZEMPIC IS CUTTING 9,000 JOBS WORLDWIDE.

>> IT MAKES UP ABOUT 11% OF THE WORKFORCE.

>> THE DANISH COMPANY HAS FACED STIFF COMPETITION FROM THE U.S.

IN GROWING OBESITY AND DIABETES DRUGS MARKET.

THE COMPANY SAYS THE CUTS SHOULD HELP SAVE NEARLY $1.3 BILLION BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> THE CDC DECLARED THAT THE KISSING BUG DISEASE IS A REGULARLY OCCURRING ILLNESS IN THE U.S.

THESE BUGS TRANSMIT THE CHAGAS DISEASE, A PARASITIC ILLNESS TRANSFERRED THROUGH BITES.

THE INSECTS TYPICALLY BITE PEOPLE'S FACES, HENCE THE KISSING BUG NAME.

>>> AND TONIGHT NASA SHARES AN EXCITING LOOK WHAT'S BEEN DUG UP ON MARS.

>> THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THEIR ROVER HAS DISCOVERED A ROCK CONTAINING MICROSCOPIC LIFE.

NASA RECEIVED SAMPLE FROM PERSEVERANCE ROVER IN 2025.

AFTER INSPECTION, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY SAYS IT COULD LEAD TO PROOF OF LIFE ON MARS.

NASA SAYS THAT THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE TO CONFIRM THESE IDEAS.

>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S EDITION OF CRONKITE NEWS.

I'M AIDAN BLANK.

>> AND I'M SARAH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.