>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WE'LL LOOK AT HOW CONGRESS IS REACTING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S UNPRECEDENTED FLEXING OF EXECUTIVE POWER... ALSO TONIGHT: WHY CANCER IS STRIKING YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS AND WOMEN MORE FREQUENTLY... AND PITCHERS AND CATCHERS ARE REPORTING FOR SPRING TRAINING.

WE'LL HAVE A CACTUS LEAGUE FORECAST.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

CHECK OF HEADLINES: INFLATION IS UP.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ROSE 3.0% FROM LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME.

THE MONTHLY INDEX WAS UP HALF-A-PERCENT FROM DECEMBER THE BIGGEST MONTHLY INCREASE SINCE AUGUST OF 2023.

REACTION FROM FED CHAIR JEROME POWELL ON TODAY'S NUMBERS: >> WE'RE CLOSE, BUT NOT THERE ON INFLATION.

AND YOU DID SEE TODAY'S INFLATION PRINT, WHICH SAYS THE SAME THING.

I MEAN, WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS TOWARD 2%.

LAST YEAR INFLATION WAS 2.6%.

SO GREAT PROGRESS, BUT WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET.

>> INDEED, ECONOMISTS EXPECT TODAY'S INFLATION REPORT TO FURTHER PUSH THE FEDS WHO HOLD OFF ON INTEREST RATE CUTS.

>>> THE U.S. SENATE TODAY CONFIRMS TULSI GABBARD AS THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

THAT DESPITE CONCERNS OVER HER DEFENSE OF FORMER SYRIAN DICTATOR BASHAR AL-ASSAD, HER SYMPATHY TOWARD RUSSIAN LEADER VLADIMIR PUTIN AND HER PAST SUPPORT FOR INTELLIGENCE LEAKER EDWARD SNOWDEN.

IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ARIZONA SENATORS MARK KELLY AND RUBEN GALLEGO, WHO BOTH VOTED NO.

IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCONNEL, TOO, BUT HE WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN TO VOTE AGAINST GABBARD.

KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON MADE IT OFFICIAL TODAY.

SHE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

ROBSON, A REPUBLICAN BUSINESSWOMAN, WAS ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP IN DECEMBER.

SHE SAID TODAY THAT SHE WANTS TO WORK WITH THE PRESIDENT TO, QUOTE, "SECURE OUR BORDER AND MAKE ARIZONA SAFE AGAIN."

OF NOTE, ROBSON EITHER MENTIONED OR SHOWED THE PRESIDENT NUMEROUS TIMES IN HER VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENT.

SHE DID NOT MENTION REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ANDY BIGGS, WHO ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR LAST MONTH.

AND A HEALTH NOTE: A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT OZEMPIC CAN HELP REDUCE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.

IT'S THE FIRST TRIAL OF THE DIABETES AND WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG FOR ALCOHOL-USE DISORDER.

THE STUDY FOUND REDUCTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THAT STUDY PARTICIPANTS DRANK, ALONG WITH GREATER REDUCTIONS IN CRAVINGS FOR ALCOHOL, ALL COMPARED TO A PLACEBO.

OF NOTE: THIS WAS A FIRST TRIAL AND WAS RELATIVELY SMALL AND LIMITED IN DURATION.

AS WE ARE MENTIONED, ONLY ONE REPUBLICAN TODAY VOTED AGAINST TULSI GABBARD FOR DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

AND ROBERT F KENNEDY JR'S EQUALLY CONTENTIOUS NOMINATION TO LEAD HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS ALSO LIKELY TO RECEIVE ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR CONFIRMATION.

THIS AS THE PRESIDENT CIRCUMVENTS CONGRESS WITH A FLURRY OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND CONSTITUTIONALLY QUESTIONABLE EDICTS.

ALL OF WHICH RAISES THE QUESTION: IS CONGRESS CAPITULATING TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

JOINING US NOW: POLITICAL CONSULTANTS KARL GENTLES OF THE GENTLES AGENCY, AND CHUCK COUGHLIN, OF HIGHGROUND.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

OUR GO-TO GUYS ON POLITICAL TYPES.

KARL, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.

IS CONGRESS CAPITULATING TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH?

>> IT CERTAINLY APPEARS THAT WAY.

TRUMP HAS PUT THROUGH A FLURRY OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, AND HE IS WELL ON HIS WAY TO GETTING HIS WAY, AND THE THING THAT HE SAID HE'S GOING TO DO DURING THE CAMPAIGN, HE'S DOING THEM ALL BASICALLY BY EXECUTIVE ORDER RIGHT NOW.

SO THE CHALLENGE THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE IS, THEY REALLY ARE SEARCHING FOR MECHANISMS TO STOP ALL OF THIS, RIGHT.

AND THE ONLY MECHANISM THEY HAVE AT THIS POINT APPEARS TO BE THE COURTS.

BUT THAT IS DEPENDENT UPON WHERE THAT LAWSUIT LANDS, RIGHT, AND WHICH JURISDICTION, WHO THE JUDGE IS.

SO THAT MIGHT MAY NOT EVEN BE THE ANSWER FOR THEM.

SO IT'S A VERY TOUGH ROAD FOR DEMOCRATS AT THE MOMENT.

>> CHUCK, WHAT HAPPENED TO CONGRESS?

WHERE'S CONGRESS?

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME, THIS ISN'T A NEW THING.

THEY DIDN'T WORK REALLY WELL DURING THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION OR PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IT HAS BEEN LOCKED UP IN DEEPLY PARTISAN BEHAVIOR EVER SINCE OBAMA, EVER SINCE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.

AND THE SIMPLE REASON FOR THAT IS, IS BECAUSE NONE OF THEM CAN WIN A PRIMARY WITHOUT ABIDING BY THEIR PARTY HE'S A LEADER.

AND DONALD TRUMP IN THIS INSTANCE, HE'S UNDOUBTEDLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADER.

MITCH MCCONNELL IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

SO HE'S A FREE CONSCIENCE MAN.

BUT EVERYBODY ELSE, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE PRIMARIED BY A TRUMP REPUBLICAN.

>> AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON BY THE ADMINISTRATION, TRUMP AND HIS TEAM, ON -- AND CONGRESS, RIGHT, ON PEOPLE THAT ARE POTENTIALLY ON THE FENCE ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS START SAYING LOOK, YOU'RE UP FOR ELECTION IN TWO YEARS.

WE CAN PRIMARY YOU, WE WILL PUT ALL THE FORCE BEHIND YOU.

AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THE CONGRESSIONAL FOLKS ARE DEALING WITH NOW.

ESPECIALLY ON A REPUBLICAN SIDE, THAT ARE WANTING TO UPHOLD THEM, BUT KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THEY OPPOSE HIM.

>> YOU'RE SEEING PEOPLE -- SUSAN COLLINS AND THESE TYPE OF FOLKS, WHO ARE EXPRESSING DISMAY OVER THIS AND STILL VOTING YES.

>> 80% OF THE CONGRESS IS ELECTED IN A PRIMARY AND HAVE NO COMPETITIVE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE SENATE IS EITHER A REPUBLICAN STATE OR A DEMOCRATIC STATE.

AND WITH WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, WE'RE BEING ONE OF THEM HERE IN ARIZONA.

VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS TO THAT RULE.

AND SO THAT'S -- IT'S RIGGED.

IT'S BROKEN.

THE POLITICAL SYSTEM TODAY IS BROKEN BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE COMPETITIVE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

>> ARE DEMOCRATS, THEN, POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?

DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SOME LEVERS THAT THEY CAN PULL, BUT THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU DON'T NEED -- THE REPUBLICANS DON'T NEED ANY DEMOCRATS TO PASS ANYTHING.

SO REALLY WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO DEMOCRATS IS REALLY WHAT CAN WE DO TODAY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET SOMETHING WE NEED DOWN THE ROAD.

IS REALLY THE ART OF COMPROMISE RIGHT NOW AND THE ART OF -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY BUT THE ART OF THE DEAL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, YOU CAN EITHER SIT ON THE SIDELINES FOR FOUR YEARS OR YOU CAN WORK IN A BIPARTISAN POTENTIALLY COMPROMISED MANNER TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.

NOW, WHETHER OR NOT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION WITH DEMOCRATS, DIFFERENT STORY.

>> ARE REPUBLICANS GOING TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION?

>> NO.

NO.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO AT THIS POINT.

>> THE DEMOCRATS ARE JUST HOPING THAT THIS GOES TOO FAR AND TRUMP FALLS ON HIS FACE, RIGHT.

THAT THERE'S SOME BACKLASH TO THIS.

THAT THIS FLURRY OF ACTIVITY ENDS NEW A BLIZZARD OF NOWHERE, THAT YOU'RE LOST AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COUNTRY'S GOING, THAT JEROME POWELL TODAY SAID THE ECONOMY IS SOFT.

BUSINESSES LIKE CERTAINTY.

THEY LIKE CERTAINTY TO PLAN.

THIS ENVIRONMENT IS NOT GREAT FOR BUSINESS CERTAINTY.

>> YEAH, BUSINESS CERTAINTY.

WE'VE TALK CHANGED ABOUT ALL WEEK WITH TARIFFS GOING ON, THREATS OF TARIFFS, PULLING BACK TARIFFS, I MEAN, GOODNESS GRACIOUS, THE OPPOSITE OF CERTAINTY.

>> THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR COMPANIES THAT REALLY DEPEND ON THE CERTAINTY OF PRICING, RIGHT, AND WHETHER IT'S STEEL OR OTHER GOODS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE COUNTRY OR IN FACT THE GOODS THAT WE'RE SHIPPING OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

THAT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR UNITED STATES.

>> BUT HE'S GOT THIS MANTRA OF -- WE ALL KNOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BLOATED, IT'S BEEN THERE FOREVER, AND SO IT'S SO POPULAR TO GO AFTER IT WITH A MEAT CLEAVER AND SAY, THIS HAS GOTTA STOP, AND EXPOSE ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE.

BECAUSE CONGRESS -- AGAIN -- HAS NOT BEEN DOING ITS JOB.

CONGRESS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT OVERSIGHT AGENCY, AND IT HAS BEEN AWOL AT LEAST SINCE 2010.

>> TRYING TO CUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND DOWNSIZE THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I WAS BORN AND IF NOT LONGER.

SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME, AND WHAT ARE THEY GONNA BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> AND LET'S ALSO ASK THIS QUESTION ABOUT HOW AMERICA OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY IS TAKING ALL THIS.

IS EVERYONE JUST BASICALLY LIKE, WELL, JUST -- JUST SITTING BACK IN THEIR CHAIR AND BRACING THEMSELVES.

>> IN THE COUNTRY, THERE'S VERY LITTLE DEFENDERS OF THE BUREAUCRACY, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE I THINK PRETTY ENTHUSED.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM ABOUT WHAT HE'S DONE ON THE BORDER, WHAT HE'S DOING ON IMMIGRATION, WHAT HE'S DOING TO CUT THE BUREAUCRACY.

A LOT OF THOSE TALKING POINTS ARE FAIRLY WELL-HAMMERED OUT, AND WE'LL SEE.

BUT NOBODY'S GONNA JUMP IN FRONT OF HIS TRAIN RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHY THE DEMOCRATS FEEL OUT TO SEA... >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THINGS -- THAT PEOPLE ARE ENTHUSED AT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

I THINK THERE IS A REAL CONCERN AROUND, PARTICULARLY -- LET ME START SHUTTING -- WHEN YOU START SHUTTING DOWN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN COMMUNITIES THAT REALLY DEPEND ON THOSE DETRIMENT JOBS.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AS THOSE AGENCIES ARE DRAWN DOWN, AND WHAT IS THE ACTUAL BYPRODUCT OF ALL THAT OCCURRING, AND HOW IS THAT GONNA MATERIALLY IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY, THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN FOR A WHILE, BUT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I MEAN, THE HORSE HAS ALREADY LEFT THE BARN.

>> PROBABLY.

AND ON TO THE NEXT EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>> RIGHT.

IS ANY OF THIS TRICKLING DOWN TO STATE AND LOCAL RACES HERE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> WELL, WE SAW THAT IN THIS LAST CYCLE.

WE SAW THAT PARTISAN BEHAVIOR TRICKLE DOWN INTO MAYORAL ELECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.

>> BUT I MEAN THE EXECUTIVE OVERFLOW, THIS AVALANCHE OF ACTIVITY.

IS THIS TRICKING DOWN?

>> I THINK WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE DOING -- BOB ROB WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY -- THAT, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY YOU OVERREAD AN ELECTION.

YOU ASCRIBE TOO MUCH AUTHORITY TO YOUR LATEST VICTORY.

HE'S CLEARLY DOING THAT, AND RUNNING OUT AHEAD OF THE TRAIN, HOPING TO KEEP IT GOING.

MY GUESS IS, THE MIDTERMS ARE GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING TIME.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEAUTY HERE.

THE MIDTERMS ARE KIND OF THE BACKSTOP, AND TYPICALLY MIDTERMS CHANGE PARTIES EACH ELECTION, AND SO DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS -- AND I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE SUCH A BACKLASH POTENTIALLY, THAT THE MIDTERMS ARE GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPETITIVE THAN WE ALL THOUGHT, PREVIOUSLY NOW, YOU KNOW, THE TRUMP TEAM WON PRETTY DECISIVELY, BUT I THINK THE MIDTERMS ARE GOING TO PRODUCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> TELL ME WHAT A DEMOCRAT STANDS FOR, AND I'LL GIVE YOU MY ODDS ON HOW LOW -- >> WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TELL YOU WHAT DEMOCRATS STAND FOR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE, GOOD HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY SAYS MORE AMERICANS ARE SURVIVING CANCER BUT THE DISEASE IS STRIKING YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS AND WOMEN MORE FREQUENTLY.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME DR. RICK BOLE -- RICK BOLD, SITE DIRECTOR FOR MAYO CLINIC'S COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER HERE IN ARIZONA.

>> CANCER IS INCREASING.

WHY?

>> THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE CANCER BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT CAUSES FOR EACH CANCER.

FOR EXAMPLE, LUNG CANCER WE KNOW THE CAUSE.

SMOKING IS REALLY THE PRIMARY CAUSE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT LUNG CANCER, AND WITH ALL OF THE EFFORTS AROUND SMOKING CESSATION, WE SAW THAT DECREASE.

BUT WE'RE SEEING OTHER CANCER INCREASE, AND DON'T HAVE THAT SAME CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP.

WE'RE SEEING UTERINE CANCER, BREAST CANCER, COLON CANCER.

WE REALLY CAN'T PINPOINT IT TO ONE SPECIFIC THING.

>> WHAT ABOUT BETTER TESTING AND EARLIER TESTING?

>> THOSE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OUR KEYS TO REALLY CURING MORE PEOPLE AND DECREASING THE BURDEN OF CANCER.

AND THAT BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING POINT.

DURING COVID WE SAW DECREASE INSIDE OUR SCREENING ACTIVITIES.

WE SAW FEWER WOMEN GETTING PAP SMEARS.

WE SAW FEWER PEOPLE GETTING COLONOSCOPIES.

SO MAYBE THIS IS PART OF IT BUT PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

>> IT WOULD SUGGEST IN PREVIOUS YEARS THESE FOLKS REALLY DID HAVE CANCER AND NEVER KNEW IT AND DEVELOPED LATER ON IN LIFE.

PERHAPS THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> PERHAPS.

SOMETIMES WE FIND THINGS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE COLON CANCER.

IF WE FIND A POLYP WE REMOVE IT DURING THE COLONOSCOPY AND IT NEVER DEVELOPS INTO CANCER.

SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE GETTING THEIR COLONOSCOPY, NOT ONLY IS IT SCREENING BUT PREVENTING SUBSEQUENT CANCER.

>> SO CANCER HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A DISEASE OF AGING.

IS THAT CHANGING?

>> THAT'S CHANGING.

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO CANCER THAT WE REALLY HADN'T CLEARLY IDENTIFIED, BUT NOW SEE MORE CLEARLY.

FOR EXAMPLE, HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS, HPV, CONTRIBUTES TO HEAD AND NECK CANCER, CERVICAL CANCER, ANAL CANCER AND WITH THE INCIDENTS OF THE VIRUS, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THOSE CANCERS.

>> AFRICAN-AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN, CANCER PATIENTS, DYING AT 2 TO 3 TIMES HIGHER RATES.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> A GREAT QUESTION.

SOME OF IT IS SCREENING.

WE KNOW THERE ARE DISPARITIES IN TERMS OF UTILITY OF THE SCREENING MANEUVERS, MAMMOGRAMS FOR BREAST CANCER, COLONOSCOPY FOR COLON CANCER AND SOME OF THESE POPULATIONS DON'T HAVE ACCESS OR DON'T PURSUE THOSE.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONTRIBUTING THINGS.

ENVIRONMENTAL, FOOD, OBESITY, ACTIVITY.

ALL OF THESE THINGS REALLY ADD TOGETHER.

>> WHEN YOU SAY TWO TO THREE TIMES HIGHER RATE, IS IT A TWO TO THREE TIMES HIGHER RATE THAN IN THE PAST, I WOULD SAY OVER WHITE PATIENTS, BUT OVER THE PAST OR IS IT INCREASING THERE, AS WELL?

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS SHOWING THERE?

>> IT'S INCREASING AS WELL AS HIGHER PATIENTS.

SO BOTH CONTRIBUTING TO THE BURDEN OF CANCER DEATHS.

>> WHAT ABOUT -- WE'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS, IT SOUNDS LIKE CANCER IN YOUNGER WOMEN, MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN, OLDER MEN NOT SO MUCH.

>> YEAH, PART OF THAT IS THE SMOKING CESSATION EFFORTS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

PART OF IT IS THINGS LIKE SCREENING, MANY MENU TEENLY NOW GET PSA CHECKS FOR PROSTATE CANCER.

EARLY DETECTION IS REALLY THE WAY TO DO IT.

THE PEN TRACE THOSE SCREENING ACTIVITIES, THE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS THAT A SCREENING CAN ACTUALLY SAVE MY LIFE HASN'T REALLY GONE IN DEEPLY INTO THE YOUNGER POPULATION.

>> AND YET, AGAIN, SIX OF THE 10 MOST COMMON CANCERS ARE ON THE RISE.

GOTTA THINK THAT JUST THE TESTING PARADIGM THERE IS AT PLAY.

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THAT.

SO UTILIZING COLONOSCOPY FOR COLON CANCER, A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE WHAT'S CALLED ONE-OFFS.

PAP SMEAR FOR CERVICAL CANCER.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DEVELOP BLOOD TESTS THAT COVER A SPECTRUM OF CANCER SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET TESTED WITH ONE SAMPLE AND ACTUALLY BE SCREENED FOR 10 CANCERS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

>> THOSE BLOOD TESTS, THAT'S INTERESTING.

DO THEY LOOK AT GENOMES, DNA?

HOW ARE BLOOD TESTS NOW BEING USED IN CANCER DETECTION?

>> THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS.

THERE'S GOTTA BE 50 COMPANIES TRYING TO FIND THE BEST BLOOD TESTS.

SOME OF THEM USE DNA THAT'S SHED BY A CANCER CELL THAT'S DETECTABLE IN THE BLOOD STREAM.

SOME OF THEM ARE USING PROTEINS.

THEY'RE ALL TRYING TO FIND THE MAGIC WAY TO SEE THAT RECIPIENT CANCER CELL IN A BODY MANIFEST IN A BLOOD TEST.

>> NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CANCER RATES AGAIN RISING IN WOMEN 50 TO 64.

THE RATES ARE RISING.

WHAT ABOUT SURVIVAL RATES AND WHAT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST THE YEARS OF SURVIVAL, WHAT ABOUT TREATMENT?

>> THAT'S A REALLY DEEP COMPLEX QUESTION.

SO IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, SURVIVAL RATES ARE ACTUALLY IMPROVING.

SO WE'RE SEEING BETTER SURVIVAL FOR LUNG CANCER, FOR BREAST CANCER, FOR PROSTATE CANCER, COLON CANCER.

BUT WITH ALL OF THAT, SOME OF IT IS SCREENING.

SOME OF IT IS TREATMENT.

WE'RE GETTING A NEW SET OF TOOLS IN OUR TOOL BOX TO TREAT CANCER.

WE'RE USING IMMUNE SYSTEMS TO TREAT CANCER.

WE'RE DOING SPECIALIZED RADIATION.

WE'RE DOING SURGERY THAT REALLY WASN'T ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

SO WE'RE BOTH INCREASING THE TOOLS TO CATCH CANCER EARLY AND THEN BETTER TREAT IT TO INCREASE QUALITY AND LENGTH OF LIFE.

>> AND THAT IS WORK HEARING?

YES.

>> SO THAT'S SOMETHING ENCOURAGING THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT IS DISCOURAGING TO SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOW HAVING DECREASING RATES AS FAR AS CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM ALL OF THESE FACTS AND FIGURES.

>> AGAIN, A GOOD QUESTION AND I THINK A REALLY BALANCED APPROACH.

YES, THE OVERALL INCIDENTS IS INCREASING.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE 2 MILLION AMERICANS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER THIS YEAR.

OVER 40,000 HERE IN ARIZONA.

SO THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WITH CANCER.

BUT WITH SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION, WE'RE ACHIEVING MORE CARE, DEVELOPING BETTER TREATMENT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE LONGER.

>> WITH EVERY CURE, WITH EVERY TREATMENT, THERE'S RESEARCH INVOLVED THERE, TOO, ISN'T IT?

THERE'S MORE KNOWLEDGE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT EARLIER DIAGNOSIS, I WAS SAYING WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING RESEARCH.

ONCE WE KNOW THE CAUSE, THEN QUESTION INTERSECT AND CHANGE THAT CAUSE YOUAL RELATIONSHIP AND PREVENT CANCER EVEN BEFORE IT BEGINS.

>> DR. RICK BOLD, MAYO CLINIC CANCER CENTER, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR: THE CACTUS LEAGUE IS BACK.

SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL BEGAN WITH PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORTING THIS WEEK AND GAMES SET TO START NEXT WEEK.

FOR A CACTUS LEAGUE PREVIEW, WE WELCOME THE CACTUS LEAGUE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BRIDGET BINSBACHER.

WELCOME BACK TO ARIZONA.

WE HAVE YOU HERE EVERY SPRING.

>> YOU DO.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALL RIGHT, PITCHERS AND CATCHERS, THEY'RE ALREADY THROWING AND CATCHING, RIGHT?

>> THEY'RE ALREADY HERE.

WE'RE FEELING THE ENERGY.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE CUBS KIND OF GOT HERE MAYBE A LITTLE EARLIER THAN USUAL BECAUSE THEY GOT SOMETHING GOING IN JAPAN LATER, RIGHT?

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> WELL, SO THE DODGERS AND THE CUBS WILL BE WRAPPING UP ON THE 11th OUR SO OF MARCH TO HEAD TO JAPAN TO START THE REGULAR SEASON.

AND THEN THE CUBS WILL BE BACK FOR FIVE GAMES LATER IN THE SEASON TO FINISH IT OUT.

THE DODGE LETTERS NOT.

SO THEY'RE DONE.

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF THEY WANT TO SEE THE DODGERS, THEY NEED TO NOT WAIT TO GET THOSE TICKETS.

>> AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE, NOT JUST THE DODGERS, BUT A WORLD SERIES CHAMPION IN SPRING TRAINING.

>> WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

HISTORICALLY COMING OFF THE REGULAR SEASON LIKE THAT WITH THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP, EVEN SHOWING, HONESTLY, A GAME CHANGER, COMING INTO THE SEASON.

HISTORICALLY THE NUMBERS GO UP ATTENDANCE IS IMPACTED BY THAT, NOT TO MENTION THE EXCITEMENT AND ENERGY COMING INTO THE REGULAR SEASON.

AND THIS ONE PROBABLY MORE SO FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE THEY SPEND MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THEIR TEAM.

>> THERE'S THAT.

>> DO I SOUND BITTER?

SPEAKING OF THE DIAMONDBACKS... THEIR SPRING TRAINING STARTS -- EVERYONE KIND OF STARTS THE 20th, RIGHT?

>> THE 20th IS JUST THE DODGERS AND THE CUBS AT CAMELBACK RANCH GLENDALE, AND THEN THE OTHERS START TO COME IN ON THE 21st.

>> AND THE D-BACKS ARE PLAYING THE ROCKIES, SO WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE PLAYING BECAUSE THEY SHARE THE SAME STADIUM.

>> YES.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING APPRECIABLABLY DIFFERENT ABOUT THE CACTUS LEAGUE THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO SEE -- THE CACTUS LEAGUE IS WHAT IT IS, WE'RE CONTINUING TO INCREASE OUR ATTENDANCE AND MAKE GREAT MEMORIES.

WE'RE COMING OFF OF A WORLD SERIES, WE'VE GOT OHTANI WHO IS A DRIVER OF TOURISM ALL ON HIS OWN BY BRINGING IN SO MUCH GLOBAL ATTENTION, THE JAPANESE MEDIA, FANS, THEY'VE SET UP AN AUXILLARY TENT JUST FOR THE MEDIA ALONE.

THAT'S A HUGE DEAL.

SO IT'S GONNA LOOK AND FEEL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THERE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE AUTOMATED STRIKE ZONE TECHNOLOGY, THAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HAS BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH THAT IN THE MINOR LEAGUES FOR SOME TIME.

WE HAD IT IN SOME OF OUR FACILITIES DURING THE FALL LEAGUE, AND NOW FIVE OF OUR FACILITIES WILL BE USING THAT TECHNOLOGY DURING SPRING TRAINING?

REALLY.

>> YES.

>> OH, BOY.

>> SO THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.

>> VERY EXCITING FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE SITTING AT HOME GOING, HOW COULD THEY MISS THAT CALL.

WILL THEY DO IT FOR EVERY GAME, EVERY PITCH OR JUST CERTAIN GAMES.

>> WELL, IT'S ONLY FIVE OF OUR FACILITIES.

SALT RIVER FIELDS, CAMELBACK RANCH, PEORIA SPORTS COMPLEX... >> OKAY.

>> GOODYEAR, AND I BELIEVE SURPRISE.

>> WOW.

>> HOPEFULLY I GOT THAT RIGHT.

>> SALT RIVER FIELDS AND CAMELBACK RANCH ARE THE TWO BIGGIES FOR THE DIAMONDBACKS AND THE DODGERS.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO PIQUE A LOT OF INTEREST WITH OUR FANS AND, YOU KNOW, SPRING TRAINING AND BASEBALL LIKE NOWHERE ELSE.

YOU GET UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL AND SO THE FANS WILL BE ABLE TO GET A CLOSE-UP PREVIEW OF THIS TECHNOLOGY AND HOW IT WORKS.

BEFORE IT HITS, YOU KNOW, THE REGULAR SEASON.

>> THAT WILL BE FASCINATING.

YOU MENTIONED OHTANI AND, YOU KNOW, THE INTEREST -- THE GLOBAL INTEREST IN HIM, THE TYPICAL CACTUS LEAGUE VISITOR FROM OUT OF TOWN.

WHO ARE THEY?

>> OH, GOSH.

THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

A LOT OF FOLKS FROM THE MIDWEST, NORTHWEST.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ON AVERAGE -- LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, 1.6 MILLION FANS COMING THROUGH OUR GATES.

WE KNOW FROM THE SERVICE THAT WE'VE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ASU THAT 6 OF 10 ARE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WOW.

>> SO THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON TOURISM ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE CONSIDERED A MEGA EVENT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

>> IS THERE INFORMATION ON WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY'RE HERE BESIDES GOING TO BASEBALL GAMES?

>> YES.

AND WE DO VERY THOROUGH SURVEYS OF, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE AROUND 4,000 FANS AT EVERY FACILITY ACROSS THE LEAGUE.

WE KNOW SPRING TRAINING IS BRINGING THEM HERE.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE COMING HERE.

THEY'RE STAYING TWO OR THREE DAYS, THREE OR FOUR NIGHTS, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WHAT HAPPENS ARE OUT IN ARIZONA.

SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING ALL WE HAVE TO OFFER FROM TOMBSTONE TO THE GRAND CANYON.

>> WOW.

AND AGAIN, TRAVEL IS A BIG DEAL.

FOR THE LOCAL FANS, FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE, DO WE GO TO SPRING TRAINING GAMES?

>> WE DO GO TO SPRING TRAINING GAMES, BUT SOMETIMES WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GRANTED, AND FOLKS, YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY DON'T REALIZE, THIS ONLY HAPPENS TWO PLACES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ARIZONA TO REALLY JUST BE ABLE TO DRIVE TOURISM THE WAY WE DO AS A DESTINATION STATE.

WE WANT TO ALWAYS ENCOURAGE OUR FANS, THOUGH, GET THERE EARLY.

THAT'S WHEN THE BEST TICKET PRICING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE, SEATING IS AVAILABLE BEFORE ALL OF THE TOURISTS, YOU KNOW, START TO FLOOD OUR STATE AND OUR STADIUM.

>> YEAH, REAL QUICKLY BEFORE YOU GO, OBVIOUSLY THE VALLEY IS THE FOCUS HERE.

ARE OTHER CITIES EVEN BEING CONSIDERED NOW, OR IS THIS PRETTY MUCH SET IN STONE?

>> OH, GOSH.

NOTHING IS SET IN STONE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF RUMORS AND WE CAN'T REALLY SPECULATE, BUT SO MUCH WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS RUMORS ABOUT EXPANSION, AND WE HAVE A GREAT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE 15 TEAMS IN FLORIDA AND 15 TEAMS IN ARIZONA.

I THINK THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THAT.

>> AS LONG AS THEY'RE HAPPY, WE'RE HAPPY.

>> BRIDGET, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> YOU TOO, THANKS.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.