AUDIO: Why Arizona’s governor won’t run for the U.S. Senate

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: CN2GO
  • Runtime: 5:32
  • Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

(Music) 

THIS IS YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2GO BRIEFING.

(Bring up music briefly and duck below and out )

I’M ALEXANDRA MORA MEDINA. (  go to story ) 

HEADLINE:  Arizona Gov. Ducey backs out of Senate race, loss to Republican party

SUMMARY:  Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is one of several Republican governors who will not run for a Senate position this fall.

ARIZONA GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY TOLD REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL TUESDAY HE WON’T RUN FOR THE ARIZONA SENATE THIS FALL. DUCEY SAID QUOTE “I HAVE THE JOB I WANT.”

MANY REPUBLICANS HOPED DUCEY WOULD ENTER THE RACE TO DEFEAT DEMOCRATIC SENATOR MARK KELLY.

THIS COMES AFTER REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MARYLAND ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD NOT RUN FOR SENATE POSITIONS.

DUCEY PLANS TO HELP THE STATE LOOK FOR A DIFFERENT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

HEADLINE: Landmarks in Arizona glow in support for Ukraine

SUMMARY: Landmarks in Arizona will be lit with Ukraine colors to show support.

LANDMARKS AROUND ARIZONA ARE GLOWING IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE. THAT’S AS THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST RUSSIA’S INVASION. THE FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOOT STREAM OF WATER FROM THE FOUNTAIN AT FOUNTAIN HILLS WILL BE LIT BLUE AND YELLOW EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MARCH. THAT’S ACCORDING TO TOWN OFFICIALS.

THE GILBERT TOWER SHOWED ITS SUPPORT LAST WEEK, LIGHTING THE WATER TOWER WITH THE COLORS OF UKRAINE’S FLAG. MEANWHILE  THE STATE CAPITOL WILL SHINE BLUE AND YELLOW LIGHTS THIS WEEK. AND THE MAYOR OF PHOENIX, KATE  GALLEGO SAYS CITY HALL WILL ALSO BE LIT UP IN SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

HEADLINE: Congressman calls on White House to improve delivery of COVID tests to tribal nations

SUMMARY: President Joe Biden announced in his State of the Union address that families will soon be able to order another round of free at-home COVID tests, but across the country, some have had problems getting their first tests, especially in tribal communities.

FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE AGAIN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THIS TIME, FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN MORE RURAL SETTINGS OR TRIBAL AREAS. THAT’S WHERE, GETTING ACCESS TO THESE TESTS HAS BECOME DIFFICULT.

THIS IS BECAUSE NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES SHARE P-O BOXES WHICH MEANS THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE, INCLUDING EXTENDED FAMILY CAN SHARE A SINGLE MAILBOX.

<sot U.S. REP. TOM O’HALLERAN/(D) ARIZONA DIST. 1/RUNS :07 hits :14-:21>

“Rural America is not set up the same way as urban areas are, and tribal areas are definitely not set up that way. multiple families living in one location, no delivery service, drug stores may be 10 miles away, may be 50 miles away.”

THAT’S ARIZONA CONGRESSMAN TOM O’HALLERAN–A DEMOCRAT. HE SENT A LETTER TO WHITE HOUSE ASKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO DISTRIBUTE THE TESTS.

THE WHITE HOUSE COVID RESPONSE COORDINATOR HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ON THE TEST DELIVERY PROGRAM, PRAISING IT FOR QUICKLY SHIPPING A LARGE QUANTITY OF TESTS.

HEADLINE: A local school garden teaching healthy habits young

SUMMARY: Childhood obesity rates are up across the country, but to stay healthy students at Garfield Elementary School are exposed to healthy eating habits from a young age.

THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION RELEASED NATIONAL DATA IN OCTOBER THAT FOUND 1 IN 6 YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 17 HAVE OBESITY. CRONKITE NEWS’S MOLLY HUDSON  WENT TO A LOCAL SCHOOL GARDEN THAT ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO LEARN ABOUT FOOD AND HEALTHY HABITS FROM AN EARLY AGE. 

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GARFIELD’S GARDEN ON THE CORNER… 

*NAT POP* 

A PLACE GROWING HEALTHY EATING HABITS. 

<sot PAIGE MOLLEN/PRESIDENT, MOLLEN FOUNDATION/runs :07 hits xx-xx >

 “It’s a way of instilling habits young rather than more modification and having to work on those habits later.”

THAT’S PAIGE MOLLEN, PRESIDENT OF THE MOLLEN FOUNDATION. SHE SAYS STUDENTS AT GARFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEARN FROM PLANTING SEEDS TO WASHING VEGETABLES  HOW FOOD GROWS, HOW TO COOK WITH IT AND ULTIMATELY GET TO EAT IT. 

<sot PAIGE MOLLEN/PRESIDENT, MOLLEN FOUNDATION/runs :07 hits xx-xx >

“They actually get to see it in the school cafeteria, on the menu, which is really exciting and it also promotes just local food, healthy soil, and that just creates more nourishment for the students.” 

MOLLEN STARTED THE MOLLEN FOUNDATION  IN 2008 BECAUSE SHE  SAW CHILDHOOD OBESITY TURNING INTO A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. … 

<sot PAIGE MOLLEN/PRESIDENT, MOLLEN FOUNDATION/runs :07 hits xx-xx >

At the same time schools were eliminating funding for physical education. And so there was an elimination of PE and recess. And so initially, we started by getting kids moving. And then we integrated some nutrition education. 

JAMIE BUSSEL {BUS-CELL} WITH THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION SAYS LIKE SO MANY THINGS COVID-19 HAS IMPACTED CHILDHOOD OBESITY.

<sot – JAMIE BUSSEL/SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION/ runs :07 hits xx-xx>

“In many ways the childhood obesity epidemic and the covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated one another, and that childhood obesity really is a symptom of all the larger challenges that families face in their communities, and it is a sign that our policies are failing our kids.”

BUSSEL SAYS COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL DATA… ARIZONA STATISTICS ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER.

<standup – MOLLY HUDSON/REPORTER, CRONKITE NEWS/runs :10 hits xx-xx >

“Nationally more than 16 percent of children are considered obese. But Arizona’s rate is just over 10 percent. That’s 6 percent lower than the national rate. Bussel says Arizona is doing something right.” 

<sot – JAMIE BUSSEL/SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION/ runs :07 hits xx-xx>

“Arizona should certainly celebrate; Arizona is 50 out of 51 in terms of doing the best.” 

BUSSEL SAYS THERE IS STILL A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE IN BOTH POLICY AND PRACTICE… BUT SHE SAYS IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO START HEALTHY BEHAVIORS YOUNG. 

<sot – JAMIE BUSSEL/SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION/ runs :07 hits xx-xx>

“I think we need to be thinking bigger and bolder about lasting solutions to ensure that every child in America has a fair and just shot at growing up as healthy as possible.”

AND FOR THE YOUNG KIDS AT GARFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MOLLEN SAYS THEY ARE EXCITED… TO WORK TOGETHER…  AND APPLY WHAT THEY LEARN.

<sot PAIGE MOLLEN/PRESIDENT, MOLLEN FOUNDATION/runs :07 hits xx-xx >

“ When you see them sharing that with somebody else and kind of mentoring somebody else that is really beautiful to see.”

NOT ENOUGH ACTIVITY AND TOO MANY CALORIES FROM FOOD AND DRINKS ARE SAID TO BE THE MAIN CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY. LIMITING SCREEN TIME TO TWO HOURS PER DAY AND REPLACING SODA WITH WATER ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES OF HEALTHY HABITS. 

MOLLY HUDSON, CRONKITE NEWS. 

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WE HAD HELP TODAY FROM EMMA VANDENEINDE, JUSTIN TORRES, MOLLY HUDSON AND ANNA STANSFIELD. OUR SHOW WAS PRODUCED BY KIRSTEN DORMAN.

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YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORIES YOU HEARD IN TODAY’S NEWS UPDATE, BY GOING TO CRONKITENEWS-DOT-AZPBS-DOT-ORG. 

THAT’S ALL FOR YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2 GO. I’M ALEXANDRA MORA MEDINA . 

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