>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT SENIORS WHO GET THE FLU SHOT COULD BE LESS LIKELY TO DEVELOP ALZHEIMER'S.

>>> HOW ARIZONA'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEMS COMPARE TO OTHER STATES AND IT'S THE TEND TENTH AND FINAL SEASON AT THE MUNOZ SYMPHONY.

>> THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRIENDS OF PBS.

THANK YOU.

>> I DID MY HOLIDAY SHOPPING ONLINE IN SECONDS AND THEN I GET IN WEIRD TEXT FROM THE SHIPPING COMPANY WITH A LINK ASKING ME TO CONFIRM MY PAYMENT INFORMATION.

>> RECOGNIZE FRAUD AND YOUR MONEY LIVES LONGER.

>> THAT HAD TO BE A PACKAGE SCAM.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE JUSTICE BILL MONTGOMERY IN AN UP COMING HIGH PROFILE ABORTION CASE SAYING THE COURT WILL DECIDE THE CASE WITH THE SIX REMAINING JUSTICES, WHICH MEANS THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF A 3-3 TIE.

IF THAT HAPPENS, A LOWER COURT RULING ALLOWING ABORTIONS WITH NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST WILL STAND.

THAT STATUTE WOULD BE FAR MORE PERMISSIVE THAN THE ALTERNATIVE LAW WHICH IS A NEAR TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION DATING BACK TO THE 19th CENTURY.

MONTGOMERY RECUSED HIMSELF FROM THE CASE AFTER PLANNED PARENTHOOD SAID MONTGOMERY, A VOCAL AND LONG-TIME OPPONENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD WAS TOO BIASED TOO PARTICIPATE.

MONTGOMERY WAS POSTED THAT IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GREATEST GENOCIDE KNOWN TO MAN.

ORAL ARGUMENTS ARE SET FOR NEXT TUESDAY.

>>> ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION PUSHES BACKING AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S CLOSING OF THE LUKEVILLE BORDER IN MEXICO.

THEY TOLD CNN THERE NEEDS TO BE A STRONGER FOCUS AT THE BORDER.

>> MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WE HAVE A THOUSAND MIGRANTS COMING TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER EVERY DAY NOW IN THE TUCSON SECTOR AND THE POLICY CHANGES THAT WE IMPLEMENTED SO FAR HASN'T HAD THE EFFECT THAT WE EXPECTED SO I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING THIS ADMINISTRATION TO DO MORE.

I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THE HEAD OF HOMELAND SECURITY A FEW DAYS AGO AND SAW HIM AT THE WHITE HOUSE THE OTHER DAY.

THIS IS NOT FAIR TO BORDER STATES.

>> Ted: CONGRESSMAN GREG STANTON AND JUAN CISCOMANI SENT A LETTER DEMANDING DHS PROVIDE A TIMELINE FOR REOPENING THAT PORT OF ENTRY.

>> THE ARIZONA KY COYOTES ARE FOCUSED ON NORTHEAST ARIZONA AND THEY REPORT THE NHL TEAM IS LOOKING TO BUY STATE LAND NORTH OF THE LOOP AND SCOTTSDALE ROAD.

THEY SAID THERE WERE PRELIMINARY MEETINGS AND THE KYE COYOTES ARE NOT READY TO CONFIRM THE SITE WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE PUT UP TO PUBLIC ACTION AND SOLD WITH REVENUE GOING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER STATE LAND DEVELOPMENT BENEFICIARIES.

>>> RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN SENIORS WHO RECEIVED A FLU SHOT WERE LESS LIKELY TO DEVELOP ALZHEIMER'S AND THE SAME GOES FOR THOSE WHO REVENUE RECEIVE PNEUMONIA HAVINGSES.

WE ARE JOINED BY DR. JESSE BRACAMONTE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GREAT TO SEE YOU BECAUSE THIS IS ENCOURAGING STUFF.

THERE'S A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLEW SHOTS AND THE DEVELOPMENTS OF APPROVED.

ALZHEIMER'S.

THERE IS.

RESEARCHERS DID A RETRO RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THOSE 65 AND OLDER WHO HAD THEIR FLU VACCINES TO THOSE THAT DIDN'T.

THOSE WHO RECEIVED SIX CONSECUTIVE FLU VACCINES HAD A LOWER RISK OF 20% REDUCTION OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER'S.

IF YOU HAD SIX VACCINES TOTAL OVER 65, YOUR RISK REDUCTION WAS 60% IN ALZHEIMER'S.

>> Ted: LOTS OF FLU SHOTS, A FLU SHOT EVERY YEAR, I SHOULD SAY, OVER A LOT OF YEARS IS BETTER.

>> ANOTHER TALKING POINT, YOU BET, TO TALK ABOUT DECREASING YOUR RISK OF DEMENTIA AS WE GET OLDER.

>> Ted: WHAT'S WITH THE CORRELATION?

>> MORE RESEARCH HAS TO BE DONE BUT WE THINK IT'S THE IMMUNE RESPONSE.

VIRUSES CAUSE THE BRAIN TO GET SOME SORT OF INFLAMMATION CAUSING NEURONS WHICH ARE THE BRAIN CELLS TO DEGENERATE AND WE THINK IF YOU GET THE FLU VACCINE, YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING AN INFECTION DECREASES AND THE SEVERITY DECREASES AND YOUR BODY'S IMMUNE REACTION TO CERTAIN INFLAMMATION DECREASES SUBSTANTIALLY AND NOT LEADING TO THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS OF LEADING TO ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA.

>> Ted: IF IT WORKS FOR VACCINATIONS, SHOULD PEOPLE GO OUT AND HAVE FLU PARTIES WHERE EVERYBODY IS INFLECTED WITH THE FLU TO AVOID ALZHEIMER'S?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY JUST A FLU VACCINE.

OTHERIT'S THE WAY YOUR BODY RESPONDS AND IT'S THE VACCINE'S WAY OF CHANGING THE DYNAMIC PATHWAY OF HOW YOUR BODY REACTS TO INFLAMMATION.

TOO MUCH OF AMALYOD PROTEINS DEVELOP AND WE THINK THAT AFFECTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM SO THEY DON'T FIGHT THESE GREENS TO PROTEINS.

THAT'S HOW WE THINK THE VACCINES WORK.

>> Ted: SO INTERESTING AND THE SAME GOES -- MORE SO FOR PNEUMONIA, UP TO A 40% RISK IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE RISK GENE AND EVEN WITH THE RISK GENE, IT GOES DOWN.

>> THEY LOOKED AT MORE VACCINES INCLUDING TETANUS AND THE SHINGLE'S VACCINE CAUSING THE HERPES TYPE OF REACTION WHEN YOU'RE 65.

GETTING VACCINATION AT 65 AND OLD PREVENTS THE CHANCE OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA AS YOU AGE.

>> Ted: IT SEEMS ODD A FLU VACCINE, PNEUMONIA, WOULD PROVIDE THE SAME PROTECTION AND YOU'RE SAYING AS LONG THE BODY RECOGNIZES AND REACTS IN A SIMILAR WAY?

>> YES.

BASICALLY, IT HAS TO DO WITH INFECTION.

AS WE GET OLDER, THE INFECTION MAY CLEAR, BUT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT INFECTION MAY LINGER AT THE BRAIN LEVEL CAUSING AN EFFECT FOR ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA.

THIS ALTERS THE PATHWAY AND WE'RE NOT HOW BUT WE THINK THAT'S A PART OF THE PATHWAY OF HOW YOU PREVENT THE DEMENTIA.

>> Ted: 65 TO 75 WAS LOOKED AT IN THE STUDY AND WHAT ABOUT YOUNGER FOLKS IN GETTING THESE VACCINES?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

A STUDY WAS DONE ON AN ADULT OVER 65 AND LOOKED TO SEE IF THOSE OVER 65 AND THOSE THAT GOT THE VACCINES AND THOSE THAT DID NOT.

OVERALL, IF YOU'RE 65 AND GOT THE FLU VACCINE, IT PREVENTED THAT AND ADULTS SHOULD HAD THE ADULT VACCINES UP TO DATE AND HELPED THEM TO PREVENT APPROVED DEMENTIA DOWNSTREAM.

>> Ted: COVID VACCINES, MRNA, DO WE KNOW IT AND DO THEY CORRELATE, AS WELL?

>> RESEARCH IS BEING DONE AND ONE WOULD SAY IN THEORY, POSSIBLY, BUT MORE RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE REGARDING THAT.

>> Ted: DO WE KNOW IF YOU HAVE A REACTION TO THE VACCINATION AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT WITH COVID.

PEOPLE HAD BAD REACTIONS AND SOME NONE AT ALL.

IS THERE A VARIABLE THERE?

>> THERE IS SOME VARIABILITY WITH THAT.

PEOPLE GET ARM SORENESS AND THAT'S THE IMMUNE RESPONSE AND YOUR BODY REACTED IN SOME FASHION.

WE HEARD ABOUT SEVERE CASES.

WHEN YOU GET AN IMMUNE REACTION, IT'S MILD AND NOT THAT SEVERE.

HOWEVER, IT DOES SHOW YOUR BODY DID HAVE AN IMMUNE REACTION TO MAJORITY OF THE VACCINES.

>> Ted: COULD IT BE A FACTOR PEOPLE WHO GET HAVINGSES VACCINATIONS TRY TO STAY IN BETTER SHAPE?

>> IT'S A CONFOUNDING FACTOR.

WHEN THEY DID THE STUDY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE 65 AND OLDER, THEY HAD TO TAKE UP CERTAIN VARIABILITIES AND LOOKED AT THE COHORTS OF STUDIES AND A LOT DEPENDS ON WHETHER IT WAS ENTERED IN THE CHART OR PAID CASH AND DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR COGNITIVE STATUS AND IF THEY WERE WORKING AND ALL OF THESE OTHER CONFOUNDING VARIABLES.

OVERALL, IT WAS SIGNIFICANT AND SHOWED IMPROVEMENT REGARDING RISK OF REDUCTION.

>> Ted: THE STUDY SHOWED FOR THOSE 65, 75, THAT IF THEY DO GET WHATEVER FLU OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, PNEUMONIA AND SHINGLES, THE MORTALITY RISK INCREASES QUITE A BIT?

>> OVERALL, YES.

WE KNOW THAT SIGNIFICANTLY SUCH AS PNEUMONIA OR A FLEW-TYPE PNEUMONIA, THE RISK IF YOU HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA, IT CAN EXACERBATE AND ELEVATES THE RISK IN GENERAL BECAUSE OF WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

>> Ted: WITH THE VACCINATION INFORMATION, IS THERE ENOUGH HERE TO USE VACCINATIONS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY?

>> I DO.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN PREVENT IT.

IT'S CHANGED MY DIALOGUE WITH PATIENTS AND PARTICULARLY IN AN ERA OF VACCINE HESITANCY.

YOU HAVE TO BRING THIS TO THE TABLE AND TALK TO YOUR SENIORS ABOUT THE VACCINE AND HAVE THAT HONEST, SHARED-DECISION MAKING ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.

>> Ted: IT TELLS YOU THERE'S MORE TO LEARN ABOUT THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS AND THIS COULD BE A BIG DEAL.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH TO KNOW ABOUT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND HOW IT WORKS, MUCH OF WHICH WE CAN'T EXPLAIN, THAT MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED AND WE KNOW IT HELPS.

>> Ted: DR. JESSE BRACAMONTE, ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A NEW REPORT LOOKS AT ARIZONA'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEMS.

♪♪ >> CHRISTMAS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.

THE REAL HIGHLIGHT IS THE FOOD.

WITH MY TIPS ON PLANNING, THAT'S YET ANOTHER JOB DONE AND WHAT TO COOK?

I PROMISE YOU IT WORKS AND TRUST ME.

THIS IS MY ULTIMATE DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS EVER.

>> FRIDAY NIGHT AT 9:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

♪♪ >> NEXT TIME ON PARADISE, A MAN IS KILLED CURING A SEANCE.

>> YOU KNOW THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

>> BUT HEM FRIDAYBUT HUMPHREY CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW IT AS POSSIBLE AND THE COMMISSIONER JOINS THE INVESTIGATION.

>> "DEATH IN PARADISE," SATURDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: ASU'S CHILDREN'S EQUITY PROJECT IS A CHILD POLICY CENTER DEDICATED TO ADVANCING EQUITY IN ALL SYSTEMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS IS CALLED "START WITH EQUITY ARIZONA" AND FOR MORE, WE WELCOME DR. SHANTELL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Ted: GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF A CHILDREN'S EQUITY PROJECT.

>> WE'RE A CENTER AT ASU FOCUSES ON THE ALL OF THE SYSTEMS THAT IMPACT THE LIVES OF KIDS AND FAMILIES, CHILD WELFARE, IMMIGRATION AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT AFFECTS FAMILIES.

>> Ted: THIS STARTS WITH EQUITY ARIZONA AND I TOOK THOSE EARLY WORDS.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> SO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE DID A DEEP DIVE INTO ARIZONA'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION LANDSCAPE.

WE LOOKED AT FUNDING.

WE LOOKED AT THE QUALITY OF THE SYSTEM.

WE LOOKED AT GOVERNANCE AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND THAT INCLUDES CHILDCARE AND PRE-K AND THAT INCLUDES PHYSICALLY ALL OF THE THE LEARNING THAT HAPPENS IN THE YEARS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN.

AND SO, IN THAT ANALYSIS ISN'T, WE PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE STATE TO APPROVE OUR STANDINGS ACROSS THE NATION.

>> Ted: HOW IS OUR STANDING ACROSS THE NATION?

>> NOT GREAT, NOT GREAT.

AND SO WE FOCUS ON THREE THINGS, AND THE FIRST PIECE IS ACCESS AND HOW IS FAMILY'S ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, TO EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION?

IT'S DIFFICULT AND NOT WORKING WITH FAMILIES.

WHAT WE FOUND, INSTANT TODDLER CHILDCARE IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IN-STATE TUITION.

TUITION IN THE STATE.

FAMILIES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME AFFORDING CARE.

THE SECOND PIECE, IT'S NOT WORKING FOR KIDS.

THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT'S HAPPENING IS SUB PARPAR AND A LOT OF STANDARDS TO WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM FALLS BELOW BEST PRACTICE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES IN THE NATION AND SO KIDS AREN'T GETTING THE RICH, LEARNING EXPERIENCES WE KNOW THEY NEED IN THE YEARS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN.

THE THIRD POINT, IT'S NOT WORKING FOR THE WORKERS WHO ARE THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND EARLY EDUCATORS.

THEY'RE MAKING NEAR POVERTY WAGES AND SO WAGES COMPENSATION, MENTAL HEALTH.

WE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF AREAS WITH THE FOLKS PROVIDING THE SERVICES TO KIDS AND FAMILIES AND FOUND IT'S NOT WORKING FOR THEM.

>> Ted: WHAT IS SEEN IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES?

THERE'S ALWAYS A DIFFERENCE AND I'M SURE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF OUR WORK FOCUSES ON KIDS AND FAMILIES FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED OF COLOR AND CHILDREN WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

WE LOOK ADD AT LOOKED AT THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE WITH THESE KIDS IN MIND AND ALL IMPACTS KIDS AND THESE KIDS MOST OF ALL.

IT IMPACTS BLACK CHILDREN, INDIGENOUS CHILDREN, LATINO AND WHATEVER THEIR HOME LANGUAGE IS, MOSTLY SPANISH AND NAVAJO IN THE STATE.

IT IMPACTS KIDS OF DISABILITIES A LOT.

AND SO WE SEE IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POLICY AREAS, THESE KIDS AND THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS ARE LEFT OUT OF POLICY ALL TOGETHER IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

SO THESE STOMACH SHORTFALLS IMPACT THESE KIDS THE MOST.

>> Ted: THIS HAS TO BE DIFFICULT TO CANVAS OUT THERE, I WOULD THINK.

>> I THINK A PART OF IT IS THIS IS A BIG AREA OF RESEARCH NATIONALLY AND SO WE TOOK THE ARIZONA CONTEXT.

WE TOOK ARIZONA DATA, DATA FROM KIDS AND FAMILIES AND PROGRAMS IN THE STATE AND LOOKED AT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER RESEARCH CENTERS THAT LOOK AND RANK STATES ON A NUMBER OF THESE DIFFERENT INDICATORS.

A CENTER OUT OF THE NEW JERSEY AT RUTGERS PUBLISHES A YEARBOOK AND ARIZONA IS 44th OUT OF 45th IN ACCESS TO PRE-K. ARIZONA IS IN THE BOTTOM 15% IN THE INDICATORS OR PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.

WE KNITTED THOSE PIECES TOGETHER.

>> Ted: THOSE ARE THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED THAT NEEDS TO BE.

THAT'S THE BAD.

AND IS ARIZONA DOING WELL IN ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES?

>> THERE ARE BRIGHT SPOTS, CERTAINLY, AND WE MAINTAIN THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATOR PROVIDERS AND THE FOLKS WORKING WITH KIDS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE AVAILABLE.

I WOULD SAY EARLY CHILD TO MENTAL HEALTH IS A BRIGHT SPOT FOR THE STATE AND THE STATE HAS INVESTED AND PRIORITIZED CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH TO AN EXTENT, BUT I WOULD SAY BROADLY, THERE ARE MORE SHORTFALLS THAN BRIGHT SPOTS, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT WITH THAT, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, LET'S SAY I'M A POLICY MAKER HERE.

WHAT IS THE OVERRIDING PRIORITY AND I'LL TELL YOU, CAN'T DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE.

>> YEAH.

>> Ted: GET ME ON THE RIGHT PATH.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS IS CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING OF THE SYSTEM, PERIOD.

SO YES, WE NEED MORE MONEY AND INVESTMENT AT A TIME WHEN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND MANY OTHER STATES INCREASED THEIR FUNDING, ARIZONA HAS DECREASED.

WE NEED TO GET BACK ON PATH IF WE WANT TO HAVE THE TYPES OF SYSTEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES EVERYBODY ELSE HAS.

THAT'S ONE.

AND TWO, NOT EVERYTHING COST MONEY.

A LOT IS POLICY AND ALIGNING POLICY.

DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN?

>> Ted: NO, I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, BUT I'M AROUND THEM A LOT.

>> GRANDCHILDREN, WORK WITH KIDS AND IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA, THE RATIOS, WE CALL ADULT-CHILD RATIOS ARE OFF.

YOU CAN HAVE ONE ADULTS WITH EIGHT 2-YEAR-OLDS.

IF YOU IMAGINE IF YOU KNOW A 2-YEAR-OLD, HOW MUCH TIME, ATTENTION, LOVE AND ENGAGEMENT THAT 2-YEAR-OLD NEEDS.

THERE'S LOTS OF GREAT SCIENCE THAT IS FOUND THAT THESE EARLY YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT, KIDS NEED INTERACTION, EVEN BEFORE THEY START TALKING.

THEY DO UTTERANCES AND NEED GESTURES.

THEY NEED THEIR BOTTLE AND AS THEY GROW, RIGHT, THEY NEED THAT INTERACTION TO DEVELOP AND GROW.

WHEN YOU'RE ONE PERSON WITH EIGHT 2-YEAR-OLDS, YOU'RE ABILITY TO DO THAT WELL IS DIFFICULT.

SO WE HAVE A SET OF NATIONAL STANDARDS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S HEAD-START HAS A ONE TO FOUR RATIO.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SIMILARLY HAS A ONE TO FOUR RATIO AND ARIZONA'S IS ONE TO EIGHT.

THAT'S ONE CLEAR EXAMPLE WHERE WE'RE NOT ALIGNED WITH BEST PRACTICE AND RESEARCH.

>> Ted: SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO START.

ASU'S CHILDREN'S EQUITY PROJECT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE HAVE STORIES TO TELL AND IF WE DON'T TELL THEM OURSELVES, THEY WON'T GET TOLD.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A FIRST FOR SCIENCE.

>> 33-2-1, ENGINE, IGNITION AND LIFTOFF.

>> STORY-TELLING IS HOW PEOPLE CONNECT.

>> WE WENT THROUGH AND MADE OUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES.

>> I CAN HEAR MY GRANDMOTHER SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE AND IT BRINGS ME HOME.

>> I'VE NEVER PERSONSED THIS EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE.

>> BEING ON THE SHOW HAS HELPED THE RESTAURANT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THAT CONNECTION TO SOMEBODY ELSE THAT NEEDS IT.

>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, LIZ CHENEY ON HER NEW BOOK AND HER WARNING TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

THAT'S AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: PHOENIX SYMPHONY DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR TITO MUNOZ IS COMPLETING HIS TENTH AND FINAL SEASON.

IN A STATE, THEY SAY MUNOZ LEAVES A LEGACY THAT HAS HELPED TO ADVANCE THE SYMPHONY POSITION.

WE WELCOME TITO MUNOZ BACK.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TENTH AND FINAL SEASON, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

>> A LOT OF WHAT I'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING.

I WON'T LEAVE THE SYMPHONY COMPLETELY AND I'LL BE THERE IN A LIMITED CAPACITY AS A LIMITED PARTNER.

IN TWO WEEKS, I'LL DO A SUBSCRIPTION CLASSIC'S WEEK AND I HELPED TO CONTINUE SPARE HEADING.

>> Ted: YOU'RE LEAVING TO TAKE A BREAK?

>> A BREAK AND AS FAR AS MUSIC DIRECTOR, YES.

FOR ME, IT'S A LOT OF GUEST CONDUCTING AND I DO QUITE A BIT.

>> Ted: YOU TOOK THE POSITION TEN YEARS AGO.

WHEN YOU TOOK THE POSITION, WHY DID YOU TAKE THIS POSITION AND WHAT TO DID YOU SEE?

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE SYMPHONY, THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH, AND WE DID ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND HOMELESS SHELTERS AND IN SCHOOLS, HOSPICE AND THIS IS SO ROBUST, THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION MORE THAN ANY OTHER ORCHESTRA.

THAT WAS ENTICING FOR ME.

THE LEVEL OF THE ORCHESTRA IS WONDERFUL CLASS AND WE'RE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.

AND WE JUST CONTINUED ON THAT PATH, WHICH HAS BEEN WONDERFUL AND FULFILLING.

>> Ted: I KNOW NEW MUSIC IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND INTRODUCING NEW MUSIC TO THE SYMPHONY.

TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESS.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING I TAKE EVERYWHERE IT'S NOT JUST IN PHOENIX, BUT GIVING COMPOSERS TO SHOWCASE THEIR ART.

PHOTO BAYBAYBEETHOVEN WAS ONCE NEW IS MY MOTTO.

WE HAVE A FESTIVAL WE DO AND I'LL DO THAT WITH THE ORCHESTRA.

>> Ted: THE ACCOMPLISHMENT, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BIG THING BUT SOMETHING THAT STICKS WITH YOU.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW GREAT PERFORMANCES ANDPERFORMANCES I HAVE GOOD MEMORIES OF.

WE DID WESTSIDE STORY, A FULL PRODUCTION AND STARTING REVERB -- NEW MUSIC IS A CHALLENGE FOR AUDIENCES WHO AREN'T USED TO NEW REPRESENT RPEPTOIRE.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE PANDEMIC IS WHEN YOU FIND OUT HOW USELESS A CONDUCTOR IS.

BUT THAT GALVANIZED US AND I THINK IT CREATED A MORE -- A BIGGER AND BETTER COMMUNITY WITHIN THE ORCHESTRA AND PEOPLE SAW WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THEY DID IT.

>> Ted: LEADING ORCHESTRA IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITH SO MUCH TECHNOLOGY AND SO MUCH GREEN ACTION EVERYWHERE YOU GO AND HOW IS THAT CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF WHAT YOU DO?

>> SOMETIMES WE EMBRACE IT.

I THINK HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR EXAMPLE, PUT AN INSTAGRAM STORY ON INSTAGRAM FROM A CONCERT, YOU KNOW.

WE STILL CAN'T RECORD.

THE RULES ARE RESTRICT AND WE ALLOW THE ' AUDIENCE TO DO THAT.

THE PANDEMIC HAS HELPED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH TECHNOLOGY.

WE EMBRACE IT AND TRY TO EMBRACE IT AND WE REMIND PEOPLE THAT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT.

PEOPLE COME BECAUSE THEY ARE SPEAKING THAT LIVE EXPERIENCE.

>> Ted: THIS FINAL SYSTEM, THIS BEGAN TEN YEARS AGO AND HOW SPECIAL IS THAT?

>> I GREAT.

I TOLD THE ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS AND THE LAST TIME I CONNECTED CONDUCTED WAS AT THAT TIME.

I MENTIONED YOUR FINIST ACCOMPLISHMENTS BECAUSE I'LL DO THIS SHOW AND THERE'S AN INTERVIEW PEOPLE WON'T THINK IS ALL THAT SPECIAL.

I REALLY ENJOYED IT AND IT WAS A PART OF THE SHOW.

WAS THERE A TUESDAY NIGHT IN NOVEMBER OF 2018 THAT YOU JUST THOUGHT EVERYBODY WAS ON.

IT WAS ON.

>> I MENTIONED THE WESTSIDE STORY AND THAT WAS THE ONE FOR ME.

THAT WESTSIDE STORY, THAT WAS SPECIAL BECAUSE IT BROUGHT IN A DRUMMER TO PLAY THE SHOW.

NOBODY KNEW.

IT'S DRUMS IN THE SHOW, BUT PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST DRUMMERS ALIVE WAS PLAYING IN OUR ORCHESTRA AND HE'S A PROFESSOR AT MY ALMA MATER AND HE WAS FREE AND COME PLAY DRUMS FOR ME.

HE WAS THERE AND THAT WAS SPECIAL.

>> Ted: YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER QUITE YOUNG.

>> YES.

>> Ted: OVER THE YEARS, WHEN YOU STARTED DO YOU SEE THAT YOU WOULD BE WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW?

[ Laughter ] >> NO.

I DON'T THINK AS A CONDUCTOR YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'LL BE EVEN A YEAR FROM NOW.

WHEN I GOT THIS JOB, IT WAS OPEN, I CAME IN AND CONDUCTED AS AN AUDITION AND MY PREVIOUS JOB WAS AN OPERA HOUSE IN FRANCE AND I WAS A GUEST CONDUCTOR A YEAR BEFORE AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR MUSIC AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CHEMISTRY WAS GREAT AND THAT WOULD BE MY JOB THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

YOU TAKE IT YEAR BY YEAR AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Ted: WE HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE FOR THE NEXT MUSIC CONDUCTOR?

>> EMBRACE WHAT YOU HAVE, LISTEN TO YOUR MUSICIANS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT I THINK THAT'S FOR ORCHESTRA.

I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE AND EMBRACE IT.

>> Ted: YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT GUESS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ALL THESE YEARS AND FINISHING OUT THE LAST SEASON.

TITO MUNOZ, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT IS FOR NOW.

I'M.

>> Ted: AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

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