COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: WE'LL HEAR ABOUT AN ALARMING INCREASE IN NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS ESPECIALLY AMONG CHILDREN.

ALSO AHEAD, TWO MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS MERGE TO HELP INCREASE THE IMPACT OF NON-PROFITS IN ARIZONA.

AND BASEBALL IS BACK, WITH CACTUS LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING GAMES STARTING AROUND THE VALLEY THIS WEEK.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Announcer: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

TED: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

CHECK OF HEADLINES: GOVERNOR HOBBS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SHE'S GIVING $5 HO HUP THOUSAND TO A NEW POLITICAL OPERATION DESIGNED TO FLIP THE ARIZONA HOUSE AND SENATE TO DEMOCRATIC CONTROL IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

AXIOS PHOENIX REPORTS THAT THE MONEY DOES "NOT" COME FROM THE GOVERNOR'S INAUGURAL FUND, BUT INSTEAD, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN TEAM, IT WAS RAISED IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS TO QUOTE, "HOLD EXTREMIST LEGISLATORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR BEING UNCOMPROMISING OBSTRUCTIONISTS."

THE PHOENIX MERCURY TODAY ANNOUNCED IT WAS RE-SIGNING BRITTNEY GRINER TO A ONE-YEAR DEAL.

THIS COMES TWO MONTHS AFTER GRINER WAS RELEASED IN A PRISONER SWAP WITH RUSSIA, WHERE SHE WAS DETAINED AND JAILED FOR EIGHT MONTHS ON A DRUG CHARGE.

IN A STATEMENT THE MERCURY'S GENERAL MANAGER SAID THAT SIGNING GRINER WAS QUOTE, "SPECIAL," AND THAT THE TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HER ON AND OFF THE COURT.

THE MERCURY'S HOME OPENER IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE NEW ASYLUM RESTRICTIONS AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.

THE NEW RULE WOULD BAR MIGRANTS WHO TRAVEL THROUGH OTHER COUNTRIES EN ROUTE TO THE U.S. TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM "IN" THE U.S.

THE NEW REGULATIONS WOULD AFFECT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND MARKS A DEPARTURE FROM DECADES-LONG PROTOCOL, THOUGH IT "DOES" RESEMBLE A POLICY THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO ENACT, BUT WAS BLOCKED BY FEDERAL COURTS.

ECONOMIC NOTE: WALL STREET TOOK A TUMBLE TODAY ON NEWS THAT BUSINESS ACTIVITY HAS REBOUNDED TO THE POINT THAT INVESTORS ARE WORRIED THAT THE FED MIGHT RAISE INTEREST RATES BY MORE THAN EXPECTED TO TRY TO CONTROL INFLATION.

THE DOW WAS DOWN CLOSE TO 700-POINTS, OR MORE THAN 2- PERCENT, WITH THE S-AND-P ALSO OFF 2-PERCENT, FALLING BELOW THE 4- THOUSAND MARK.

AND A NEW STUDY OUT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM SHOWS THAT MEN WHO TOOK PART IN A 4-DAY WORK-WEEK TRIAL WOUND UP SPENDING MUCH MORE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

THE STUDY LOOKED AT MEN WHO AGREED TO WORK 80-PERCENT OF THEIR USUAL HOURS IN EXCHANGE FOR PROMISING TO DELIVER 100-PERCENT OF THEIR USUAL WORK.

AMONG THE RESULTS OF THE SHORTER WORK-WEEK: MEN SPENT 27 PERCENT MORE TIME LOOKING AFTER THEIR CHILDREN, WITH 60 PERCENT SAYING THAT IT WAS EASIER TO COMBINE THEIR JOBS WITH CHILD CARE.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 50 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH MYOPIA OR NEARSIGHTEDNESS BY 2050, WITH INCREASES ESPECIALLY HIGH AMONG CHILDREN.

WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH NEAR- SIGHTEDNESS, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?

FOR THAT WE WELCOME OPTOMETRIST, DR. STEPHEN COHEN TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

SHORT SIGHTEDNESS ON THE RISE.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

WELL, WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANGE IN OUR EVOLUTIONARY CHANGE, BUT WE HAD LIFE-STYLE CHANGE.

IN THE PAST WE WERE HUNTERS AND FARMERS WHO WOULD WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND GO OUT TOT GET FOOD TO FARM AND NOW WE SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME ENGAGED IN ACTIVES WITHIN TWO OR THREE FEET.

WE HAVE BECOME COMPUTERISTS SO AS A RESULT, WITH ALL OF THAT TIME BEING SPENT UPCLOSE AND HORIZON SAYING TO US.

WELL IF PI AM SPENDING ALL MY TIME LOOKING HERE WHY DON'T I SET MAY EYES TO BE CLEAR HERE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DISTANCE FISSION VISION AS YOU SAD ID.

IS ESTIMATED 250 CONSIDERED TAILLY BECOMING AN EPIDEMIC OF 50% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION 37% OF AMERICANS EXPECTED TO BE AND THE PROBLEM IT STARTS WHEN ARE YOUNG AND NOW CHILDREN SPENDING SO MUCH TAME ON DEVICES THEY ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE ARE TATTING TO SEE THAT IS GOING TO GO FORWARD.

I WITH A WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE NUMBERS ARE ON THE RISE FOR WHY EVERY ONE EVERYWHERE BUT KIDS ESPECIALLY AND YOUNG KIDDINGS, TOO, IS IT SUM PLY A MATTER OF TOO MUCH COME POOTER WATCHING, TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH EDUCATION.

PLEASE DON'T DID HE TELL MES THAT THE CASE.

NO, ITS GREAT WE HAVE THESE OPTIONS AVAILABLE BUT IT IS TRUE AND ALL THINGS IS THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO THE PRICE TAG TO IT.

SO WITH CHILDREN, THEY ARE SPENDING MUCH TIME ENGAGED TIP THAT AND USED TO BE YOU WOULD SEN THE CHILD TO THE ARE RAM AND THE BEDROOM AND TELL THEM TO GET OUT OF THE BEDROOM THEN GET AWAY FROM THE DEVICES AND WE ARE NOT DESIGNED TO DO THIS AND PHYSICIAN WE WERE WE WOULD HAVE ONE EYEBALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREHEHEAD AND NOT DESIGNED TO SPEND ALL OF THIS TIME ENGAGE HER AND WHAT LIFE HAS P.M. FOR CHILDREN SO IT IS, THE CHANGE IN LIFE SOMETIME HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE AND AT LEAST NOW WE CAN FINALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WELL, AGAIN, LOOKING INTO THIS I FOUND THAT OUTDOOR LIGHT IS BEING OUTDOORS MAKES SENSE BECAUSE RARLY ARE YOU OUTDOORS DOING THIS WITH COMPUTERS ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE ARE.

BEING OUTDOORS MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

WHY?

WELL, WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND IS THAT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PAR TKLY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN IS CRITICAL WAY TO PREVENT THE ON SITE OF NEARSIGHTEDNESS SO STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE THAT HAVE BEEN REVIEWED THAT SAYS 2.5 HOURS A DAY OR MORE SPENT OUTDOORS DECREASES THE CHANCE OF THE CHILD BECOMING NEARSIGHTED NOW CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT GENET EK AND TWO NEARSIGHTED PARENTS AND A GOOD CHANCE AND MITIGATING FACTORS WE CAN LOOK AT SO TWO AND A HALF HOURS A DAY.

MORE CROUT DOORS TO DECRASS THE CHANCE OF BECOMING NEARSIGHTED THEN HOW MUCH TIME WE ACCEPT ON DEVOICES THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE MACHINE WHEN YOU OUTDOORS YOU CONTINUED TO WHAT?

LOOK OFF IN THE DISTANCE?

YOU ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE THIS WHATEVER THE MAGIC ZONE ESSER AND LOOKING OFF US THERE SOMETHING TO DO WE IT LOO IF YOU SIT YOUR DOSES AND DO THIS.

DOESETTE MAKE DID REPS. YEAH THE KEY IS TO BE EDGE FAKED IN OUTDOOR TO NOT TAKE THE I PHONE OR I PAD OUTDOORS TO LOOK AT THIS AND ENGAGEMENT OF LOOKING AT THINGS FAR AWAY THEN YOU KNOW, NOTHING.

YOU COULD CONDITION IN A LARGE ROOM AND NOT THE SAME AS BEING OUTDOORS AND BEEN FOUND IF YOU SPEND THE TIME OUTDOORS AND ENGAGED THEN AREA EYES FOCUSED FAR AWAY AND LESS LIKELY TO CREATE THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT, THAT LEADS TO A CHANGE.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDOOR LIGHT AND OUTDOOR LIGHT, THOUGH DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

IT IS INTERESTING YOU BRIDGE THAT UP BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE AND ONE FACTORS WE ARE DEALING WITH NOWS THE FACT THAT INDOORS NOW EXPECTED TO HIGH LEVELS OF BLUE LIGHT AS WELL IN THE WHERE ABOUT WHETHER BLUE LIGHT IS INEX TO ULTRAVIOLENT AN HIGH ENERGY WAVE LENGTH WHAN HAS BEEN FOUND IN THE SAME WAY UV CAN INCREASE THE SHORT TERM WOULD BE SUNBURN, LONG TERM IS SKIN DAMAGE WITH BLUE LIGHT SHORT TERM AND EYESTRAIN, HEADACHES THEN, THEN, SLEEP, INTERFERENCE SLEEP CYCLES THEN LONG TERM MAY CON BE THERE BUT TO MACULAR DEGENERES ANONOW EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS INDOORS BETWEEN FLORES SENT LIGHTING THEN AL THE DEVICES WE USE AMID HIGHER LEVELS OF BLEW AND THEN, ALL OF THESE KIDS AND I READ SOMETHING THAT IN SINGAPORE, 80% OF THE KIDS THERE EITHER HAVE OR WILL HAVE MY OPIOID AND NEED CLASS OR CORRECTION.

LATE EVERY IN LIFE ARE THEY GOING TO BE DEALING MORE OFTEN WITH SEES SORT OF THINGS?

>> ITS A GREAT Y.

THIS BECAUSE FAN I, I HAVE BIN PRACTICE FOR 37 YERS.

IN YEARS PAST, A CHILD WOULD COME, THEIR ICE MAY CHANGE AND WE UPA DEBT THE GLASS OR CONTACT LENSES.

I FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT THE CHANGES NOW THERE ARE FOUR TO FIVE DIFFERENT TECH NEBS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVE THAN WILL SLOWDOWN THE ROW PRESSION ANYWHERE FROM 25 TO 50% SO WE DO HAVE WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IMPERATIVE WE DO THE YOUNG CHILDREN BECAUSE WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND IS THE AMOUNT NEAR TIGHTEDNESS EXCEEDS A CERTAIN LEVEL THEN WE SEEN CREASE IN MACULAR DEGENERATION CATARACTS GLI COMB A, RECEIPT NELL DETACHP AND ALL THINGS WE CAN DO SOMETHING AND PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING THEN ACTUALLY HELPING LONG TERM HEALTH OF THE EYES Z WITH.

THERE RUNNINGS THIS YOU CAN T. GIVE US AN EX ALE APPROXIMATELY.

OK. A COUPLE OF THINGS THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPES OF PROIVE BIFOELE AS WHICH PEOPLE THINK BIFOCAL AND THOSES HAVE BEEN FOUND PAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE DEN.

>> ED THEY DOE CREASE THE DESIRE OF THE EYE TO STRETCH WHICH CAUSES THE NEARSIGHTEDNESS AND CERTAIN CONTACT LENSES THAT WILL RESHAPE THE EYES THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND TO SLOW DOWN THEN EVEN EYEDROP WE USUALLY USES TO DIE LATE THE PUPILS IN LOWER DOSE GIVE TON CHILDREN AT BEDTIME DOESN'T INTERFERE BUT FOUND TO SLOW DOWN THAT PROGRESSION BY AS MUCH AS 50%.

>> SO IF YOU CAN LITERALLY RESHAPE THE EYEBALL WITH AM SO OF THESE TECH NEBS YES.

YES.

YES.

SO COMMONLY, IT IS IT IS LENS LIKE RETAINER WOULD BE IN TO KEEP THINGS TOGETHER AND CONTACT LENS THAT IS PUT ON AT BED TOMORROW THE CHILD WEARS IT OVERNIGHT AND THEY CAN SEE ALL DAY AND LONG TERM IT HAS BEEN FOUND TO SLOW DONE THE ROW GRESS.

WHAT THE IDEA WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER.

KNOW THE ANSWER.

WILL ASK YOU ANY WHICH.

THE IDEA OF 2020 RULE WHERE YOU ARE DOING THIS FOR 20 MACHINE MS WHAT YOU LOOK AWAY FOR 20 SECOND THEN CAN WHAT?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

VISUAL HYGIENE THINGS WE CAN DO AND CHECKING WHERE MONITOR IS.

THE HONER TO SHOULD BE ANGLED A LITTLE BIT AWAY AND SHOULD BE ABOUT 90 TO 15 BELOW THE LINE OF SIGHT THEN MANTRA WE USE.

THE WHICH OF THIS 20-20 VISION WHICH MOST PEOPLE ARE FA IL M WHICH ARE THAT.

EVERY 2MEN M ON COME POOHER TAKE A 20 SECOND BREAK AND LOOK AT SOMETHING 20 GET AWAY SO IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO LOOK OUT WINDOW, DO SO.

IF NO CLOSE THE EYE FOR 20 CONTINUEDS AND EN HAVE IS LOOKING TO THE HOR RYE FOP.

CLOSE THE ICE CAN WORK AS.

YEAH.

THIS IS FASCINATING STUFF.

AND, AND, WE ARE TALK A LOT ABOUT KIDS LAST QUESTION HERE.

ADULT, ARE WE SEEING MUCH MORE OF THIS IN A ADULT THEN SEEING THEIR VISION GET WORSE AT A FAST ARE RATE.

YEAH THEY CAN GIVE YOU EXAMPLE.

I AM IDENTICAL TWIN.

HIS EYES WHEN HE IS THREE YEARS OF LAW SCHOOL IN THE FIRST TWO YEAS OF PRACS THE PRESCRIPTION WENT UP TRA MATLEY AND MADE SOMETHING ABOUT HOW LITTLE I STUDIED I DOE DON'T KNOW.

HE IS FAR MORE NEARSIGHTED THAN I AM AND HAD TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF WORK HE DID DIDN'T LAW CYCLE AND AFTER YARDS SO IT COULD IMPACT ADULT WITH THEIR ICE WILL CHANGE THEN, MUS PLUS ALL THE OTHER SHORES INCLUDING WE HAVE TO GET TO THE WHOLE THNG NOW WE SEE INCREASE INDRY EYES WHICH IS PROGRESSIVE CONDITION THAT CAN AFFECT VISION AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND INCREASES BECAUSE WE ARE ON DEROSA WE DON'T BLINK AS MUCH AND BLINKS THAT RECOAT THE EYES WITH NEW TEARS?

P WOW INTERESTING.

TV, TOO.

TV WE CANNOT, DRIVING LONG DISTANCE, TV AND DEA VICES THE BLINK RATE DECREASES WITHIN THING I WILL SAY FOR PARENTS, TWO AND A HALF HOURS A DAY OR MORE ON A DEVICE INCREASES THE PROGRESSION OF NEAR TIGHT SIGHTEDNESS AND MOMS AND DADS AND GRANDPARENT THINK GET OF THE EYE PAD OR SOMETHING THEY ARE RIGHT.

YES.

HEAL THY SELF.

RIGHT.

YEAH.

DOCTOR GREAT CONVERSATION GOODED TO YOU HAVE.

THANKS.

YOU BET.

YOU NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON A MERGER DESIGNED TO IN CRASS THE IMPACT OF NONPROFITS IN THE STATE.

ARIZONA GRANTMAKERS FORUM AND THE ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA NON- PROFITS RECENTLY MERGED TO GIVE NON-PROFITS A STRONGER AND MORE UNIFIED VOICE IN ARIZONA.

FOR MORE ON THE MERGER WE WELCOME KRISTEN MERRIFIELD AND LAURIE LILES OF THE NEWLY CONFIGURED ARIZONA ALLIANCE OF NON-PROFITS.

THANK YOU SOP FOR JOININGS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

LAURIE, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

WHY WAS IT NECESSARY INSOMETHING WE HAD BEEN THINKING BEEN A TALKING ABOUT FOR QUITE AWHILE.

YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

NONPROFITS GRANT MAKERS THAT SUPPORT THEM AND INVESTIGATE IN THEIR WORK THEY ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN.

BOTH SERVING THE SAME CONSTITUENTS THE SAME COME CONTINUITIES.

AND FOR A LOT OF REASONS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD TIME THEY BE UNDER ONE ROOF.

GIVE US REASONS.

WHY WAS IT A GOOD IDEA?

YOU KNOW, TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN YOU HAVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DID HE SIR TO SERVE THROUGH INVEST PRESIDENT AND DOLLARS AND GRANTS AND THEMON PROFITS WHO ARE DOING THE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY BUT THE RELATIONSHIP WAS TRANSACTION 8:00.

WE NED A GRANT LET'S GO TO UNFERS TO HAVE MACHINE MY AND THEY WILL GIVE MONEY AND INSTEAD OF APPROACHING IT COULD LAB BRA OFLY AND PUT THE GROUPS TECT AROUND THE SAME TABLE AND LIKE WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION TODAY AND FOCUS ON WHAT WE WANT TO SOLVE TOGETHER.

THEN GRANTSP AND MONEY ARE A PIECE OF THAT AND NOT THE WHOLE BUZZLE SOL BREAK DONE THE WALLS INWEN AND MAKE IT MORE TRANSFORMATIONAL.

YEAH.

MORE EFFICIENT I WOULD IMAGINE.

YEAH P. WE HOPE SO.

MORE AND ALSO AS PERSON SAID MORE TRANSFORMATIONAL TYPE.

LESS TRANS ABS A.M.

FEWER TRANSACTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

HOPE NY START TO BREAK DONE THE PARRIERS THE POWER DIE NAMS THAT EXIST BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE THE RESOURCE AND THOSE WHO NEED THE RESOURCE.

TALK ABOUT THAT DYNAMIC.

WHATS WITH A ITIC LOO OUT THERE AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING NEEDED TO CHANGE.

IT COULD BE VERY IN TESTIMONY DATING IF YOU WERE A NONPROFIT LEADER TO APPROACH A FOUNDATION AND THERE IS, THERE IS A MYSTERY THERE AND I THINK THERE IS, I THINK THEY ARE E THIS HAVE A LOT OF QUESTION THEN SORT OF AFRAID TO ASK THE QUESTIONS OF THE PEOPLE WITH THE MONEY THAN THE POWER AND STARTING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND IT IS REALLY, REALLY ON WONDERFUL TO SEE THOSE WALLS STARTING TO COME DOESN'T AND PEOPLE REALLY OPENING UP AND GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND BUILDING THAT TRUST.

SOUNDS LOOIC A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP IN THE PAST I WOULD HAJJ PHYSICIAN AMERGER OF THIS STATURE AND GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

YEAH.

WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE MIDST OF COVID.

WAS AT THIS TIME SITTING AT MY DINING ROOM TABLE AND LAURIE CALLED ME UP.

YEAH.

THIS SOUNDS GREAT.

SO IT GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE TOLL SHOW WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER AND WE CAN BE COLLABORATIVE AND LAURIE AND I WERE BOTH LEADING TWO ORGIZATIONS AND IMMEDIATELY SAID WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

SO OUR ORG OIZATIONS ARE BOARDS AND TEAMS WILL BE A ABLE TO DO THIS AND ADVOCATE FOR NON-ROV IF IS WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM THE LEGISLATURE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

WHAT THREAT GEAR NEEDS YEAH.

THATS BEEN A CRITICAL PART OF BOTH DID WASSED A RECAN AND A LOT OF THIS IS WITH REDOING WITH WERE THE SAM AND DOING THEM SEPARATE ROOMS AND SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS SO THE BEAUTIFUL THING WAS WE DID GET TO BRING THE KEY PUBLIC POLICY OFFICER AND HIT THE GROUND RUN SOG LET HER TALK.

Y.

SURE.

PLEASE.

THE FIRST PGS THIS IS TO INTEGRATE TWO PREVIOUSLY SEPARATE PUBLIC POM SIS BODIES OF MEMBERS THAT WERES WITH A LOT OF ALIGN BETWEEN A LOT OF THE PUBLIC POLICY AGENDAS BUT WE HAD TO BRING THOSE GROUPS TOGETHER AND REALLY ANALYZE ONE OF THE GREAT MAKERS WANT TO HE AND WHAN ARE THE NONPROFITS AND WHAT IS THE HE COMMON GROUND SO WE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING A LOT OF IN A END ARE GO I THAT.

PROTECTING THE YUN ARE LYING PUR PURPOSE OF NON-PROVE IF IS AND RETEX ITSELF T. YEAH.

SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY DID AND NON-PROVE IF IS HAVE BEEN A SAFE PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY SO THEY ARE NOT POLITICAL AND THEY ARE NOT ON WITHIN SIDE OR THE OTHER AND SAFE PLACES THAT VISITED CANS GO TO GET SERVICES THEY NED AND MODEL THAT AND REFLECT IT AND OURS THE SAFE PLACE WHERE WE ARE LOOING OUT FOR THE NONPROFIT AND LOOKING OUT FOR THE PEOPLE THEY SERVED.

CAN YOU LOOK OUT FOR THE NON-PROVES IF AND STAY NONPOLITICAL AND STEAL DEAL IN A POLITICAL WORLD?

ABSOLUTELY.

ITS ESSENTIAL WE DO THIS AND WORK WITH BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS.

SO ONE THING WE HOPES EMERGED ORGANIZATION THEN THE MEMBERS CAN BE A UNIFYING FORCE IN A DIVISIVE TIME.

YEAH.

YEAH.

BECOME, OPERATING UNDER THE ALLIANCE NAME ANY PARTICULAR REASONNEN?

YEAH YOU KNOW IT?

WAS JUST EASIER THING DECISION THAT WAS MADE BUT DECISION WAS ALSO MADE THIS WOULD BE A RETEAM IN AND REBRAND SO REREFLECT THE GRANT MAKE EARN THE NONPROFIT AND SO AGAIN LEADING BAY EXAMPLE AND BECOMING ONE SO A NEW NAME AND A NEW BRAND ARE COMING HERE IN A FEW MONTHSES SO WATCH OUT FOR KNIT.

WATCH OUT FOR IT.

EM HEEES ARE OK AND NOT SOME SORT OFS A KERR GOING ON.

NO.

IT IS REALLY IT IS REALLY GRATIFYING TO SEE THE TEAMS COMING TOGETHER AND I I LOT OF WORK ON TOP OF THE WORK THAT RE THEY WERE ALREADY DOING SO WE ARE ALL FEELING THAT.

WE ARE HOPING IT WILL, YOU NO, PEOPLE WILL FEEL STRONGER AND MORE UNIFIED WHEN WE FINISH THE INTEGRATION PHASE.

LAST QUESTION.

REACTION.

SO FAR.

WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED WE HEARD SUCH GREAT THINGS FROM BOARD MEMBER AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THEN THE COMMUNITY AND MEMBERS ARE ALL EXCITE AND CURIOUS HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK SO AGAIN WE WANT TOP SHOW WE CAN WORK TECT AND BREAK THOSE WALLS DOWN TOGETHER TOO.

YOUR LAST QUESTION.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE NOW.

I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS THAT SORT OF DOUBLE WORKLOAD.

YOU KNOW?

THAT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE.

THEN I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS WE THINK PUBLIC POLICY.

ALOFT NEW LEGISLATURES TOETTE TOT KNOW.

AT NEW GOVERNOR WHO DOES THOM COME AND EXCITED TO WORK WITH HER AND HER TEAM AND EX GOD TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW LEGISLATURE AND HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY SEE A BUDGET COME TOGETHER AND THEN, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE A POSITIVE FORCE FOR GOOD.

WELL, ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA NON-PROVE IF IS LONG LIB THE ALLIANCE THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL IS BACK, WITH CACTUS LEAGUE GAMES SET TO BEGIN THIS WEEK AT BALLPARKS AROUND THE VALLEY.

JOINING US NOW IS THE CACTUS LEAGUE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRIDGET BINSBACHER.

>> THANK YOU.

IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE.

THANKS.

>> 15 TEAMS NOW IN THIS HE VALLEY NOW.

15 TEAMS.

WHEN DO THE GAMES START FEBRUARY IFth.

HOW LONG DO THEY GO?

>> TO MARCH 28th?MENT A LONG TIME.

IT IS.

>> YEAH.

I IS A LONG TIME BUT A BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS THE FOURTH YEAR.

YEAH THE YES.

SINCE REGULAR SINCE NORMAL SEASON.

TALK TO US.

WHAT HAPPENED.

WELL, GOSH.

HE WENT INTO IF 020 THINKING EVERYTHING WAS OK AND THERE WAS VIRUS FLOATING AROUND AND MARCH 12th YOU NO THE SEASON CAME TO INABRUPT END AND ONE OF OS THINGS WHERE YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE.

BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO LEAVE.

THAT IT STOPPED.

SO QUICKLY.

AND SO, SO THEN IN 2021, WE HAD REDUCED CAPACITY.

WE HAD PUTTING TO TAX FORCES TO CREATE BASE PLAN TO WELCOME FANS BACK TOOK THE FACILITIES AT REDUCED CAPACITY WITH VERY PAIVE SICK POLICY CHANGES ROW SEE ARE CHALLENGES TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND FORTUNATE BECAUSE THEY ARE OUTDOORS.

>> YEAH.

WE WERE ABLE TOLL DO THAT.

YAW.

THEN YOU HADED A WORK STOPPAGE.

THEN WE HAD THE LOCKOUT.

YEAH.

YES.

SO THAT WAS JUSTS A WAIT AND SEE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS SO WE DIDN'T KNOW YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHAT DATE, WHAT DATE IS GOING TO BE OPENING DAY.

THAT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE.

SO IT WAS PUSHED BACK.

WE HAD TO ROLL WITH IT AND MAKE THE BEST OF THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAD WHICH WAS LIMITED IN COMPARISON.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING.

A BIG CROWD EXCITED PEOPLE.

PEOPLE EXCITED TO GET BACK END TO ENJOY PACE BALL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN FOR YEAR AND YEARS WITHOUT THE RESTRICTIONS AND THE MODIFICATIONS AND THEN ALL OF THAT.

SO WE PEEKED THE LAST U YEARS.

YEAH.

YEAH.

YOU TALKED ABOUT IT.

NOTHING AS FAR AS THE GAMES ARE CONCERNED BUT THE GAMS ARE BEING PLAYED AND LOTS OF CHANGES AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE PROGRAM.

AND RULES CHANGED AND A LOT OF IN THISES TO GET USED TO OUT THERE YEAH.

YEAH.

SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WE'LL SEE THAT GOING TO THE REGULAR SEASON.

FOR SPRING TRAINING IT IS ABOUT AN EXPERIENCE AND MAKING MEMORIES I THINK, BE THERE ARE YOUR AVID FANS WHO WANT TO GET UP CLOSE AND HE WERE P EARN TESTIMONY TO WATCH BASEBALL CLOSELY AND INT AT THERE I LOOK YOU CAN.

BUT TRULY, PEOPLE ARE COMING TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AND MAKE MEMORIES AND WE KNOW FROM OUR ECONOMIC IMPACTTIES THEY ARE AM COMING FOR SPRING TRAINING BUT GOING TO VISIT OTHER PLACES FROM ONE END OF ARIZONA TO THE OTHER SO IT IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN EVEN JUST THE GAME.

YEAH.

YEAH.

TALK ABOUT THOSE STUD DID YOU IN THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OVERALL.

WELL, OK.

SO OUR LAST NORMAL SEASON, NORMAL STUDY IN THE NORMAL SEASON WAS 2018 THEN WE HAD 644 MILLION DIRECT IMPACT.

TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

THE, AND WE KNOW THAT AT THIS TIME, OUR ATTENDANCE WAS JUST SHY OF 1.8 MILLION.

SIX OF TEN OF THOSE FANS ARE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY THEN SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD AND COMING TO ARIZONA.

AND, AND, 26 PERCENT SAY THAT, SPRUNG STRAINING IS WHY THEY ARE HERE.

YEAH.

AS A ULT ARE OF THAT.

THEY ARE SAYING FOUR NIGHTS.

THEY ARE SAYING MULTIPLE FACILITIES IN DIFFERENT CITIES THEN THEY ARE EXPERIENCING ARIZONA FROM ONE END TO THE OVER.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU THAT.

TYPICAL OUT OF TOWN CACTUS LEAGUE VITTOR.

WHO IS IT?

DESCRIBE THIS PERSON.

OH MY GOSH.

IT IS EVERYONE.

YOU INHE ALL AGES ALL GENERATIONS.

THEY ROOM COOING HERE.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE COMING FROM COLDER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY BECAUSE TO BE ABLE TO SIT OUTSIDE AND TO GET IN MARCH.

IT IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE COLD FOR OPENING DAY THIS YEAR.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK THEN YOU KNOW, THE SUN WILL COME OUT.

WILL JUST IN AMAZING FOR SO MANY EM PO.

THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY ON HOSPITALITY AND SPEND THEIR MONEY IN TRAVEL AND SEE DIRECT IM PAABILITY THERE.

ABSOLUTELY.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND ALL ALL EXPERIENCES AND LODGING TRANSPORTATION, THEN, WE SAW THE IMPACT AND HU IT HURT THE ECONOMY IN A PARTIAL STUDY FROM 2021 WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE DOING AND DONE TO 362 OR 9 MILLION IM PA K FOR A PARTIAL SEASON.

YEAH.

YEAH.

WE COMPLETED IT BECAUSE WE FELT IT WAS STILL IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS TO SHARE.

DO YOU BOX THE MEM DRO MAV HES TO CHANGE ALL THAT MUCH FROM FROM PRECOVID AND THE COVID YEARS IN THIS HE LOCKOUT THAT IS JUST WEIRDNESS AND NOT GOING TO MATTER HERE IN TERMS OF COMPARISON AND THE DEMO GRAPHIC THEN I MEAN, ANYTHING CHANGED YOU KNOW?

I THINK KIND OF LAST REPORTS WAS YOU KNOW, THE INDIVIDUAL SEASON TICKET SALES WERE GREAT BUT SEEING MORE GROUP IS SO AM ANTICIPATING THAT GROUPS ARE COMING TOWING AND AGAIN TO CREATE EXPERIENCES AND OR MAYBE MORE CORPORATE TRAVEL AND WE'LL SEE.

STAY TUNED BASS WE ARE DOING ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY FOR THE 2023 SEASON STARTING RIGHT AWAY AND THEN, AL HE REPORT ON THAT LEADING TO THE SUMMER MONTHS.

THERE IS, THEN GY WAY BACK WE CACTUS LEAD.

WAY BACK THEN CACTUS LED AND GRAPE FUT LEAGUE WAS COMPETITIVE.

MO WANTS TO GO TOKERRER AN ARIZONA WAS, THAT IS STILL A COMPETITION NOW.

IT IS GRATEFUL LEGG AS FAR A AS THIS KANG US LEAD CONFERRED A DI OS.

YOU KNOW, THERE ISES A SPIRIT OF COMPETITION AND SPORTS.

ALWAYS.

ALWAYS.

AMONG FACILITY THEN AMONG TYPE THEN THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS AND KEEPS IT INTERESTING.

BUT I THINK YOU KNOW.

LIKE ANYTHING.

AND MATE MAKES THE WORLD GO IN A. CACTUS LEAGUE DIRECTOR.

A BUSY TIME OF YEAR THANK YOU FOR SHARING TIME.

THANKS.

YOU PET.

THAT IS FIT TO ARE NOW.

I AM TED SIMONS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOININGS.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ ♪ ♪