AUDIO: Laws targeting transgender rights, banning abortion after 15 weeks are signed into law

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: CN2GO
  • Runtime: 5:51
  • Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

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THIS IS YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2GO BRIEFING.

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I’M    THALIA LOPEZ            (  go to story ) 

HEADLINE 1 – New Arizona Laws Target Transgender Rights, Ban Abortions at 15 Weeks

ARIZONA’S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SIGNED A SERIES OF BILLS TARGETING ABORTION AND TRANSGENDER RIGHTS WEDNESDAY. GOV. DOUG DUCEY’S SIGNATURE PUTS ARIZONA ON A GROWING LIST OF GOP-LED STATES PURSUING A CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL AGENDA. ONE  NEW LAW  OUTLAWS ABORTION AFTER 15 WEEKS IF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ALLOWS IT. ANOTHER NEW LAW BANS GENDER CONFIRMATION SURGERY FOR MINORS AND STOPS  TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PLAYING ON GIRLS SPORTS TEAMS. DUCEY HAS SIGNED EVERY PIECE OF ANTI-ABORTION LEGISLATION THAT HAS REACHED HIS DESK SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE IN 2015. LAST YEAR, HE SAID THAT HE HOPED THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS THE ROE V. WADE DECISION THAT PROTECTS WOMEN’S  RIGHT TO ABORTION.

HEADLINE 2 – Biden Administration considering to lift Asylum Limits 

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MAY GET RID OF ASYLUM LIMITS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

ACCORDING TO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANS, THE LIMITS MAY END AS EARLY AS MAY 23-RD. THE UNITED STATES USED PUBLIC HEALTH POWERS TO AVOID LEGAL OBLIGATIONS THAT CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT PEOPLE SEEKING SAFE HAVEN FROM PERSECUTION.

AS OF MONDAY, U.S. AUTHORITIES TALLIED ABOUT 7,100 MIGRANTS WHO ARE STOPPED DAILY AT THE BORDER OF MEXICO, MARKING A SHARP INCREASE FROM LAST MONTH. 

HEADLINE 3 – Phoenix Home Prices See Largest Annual Gain

NATIONALLY, HOUSING PRICES SAW A RISE TO START OFF THE YEAR … AND HERE IN ARIZONA, ONE CITY SAW THE LARGEST ANNUAL GAIN IN THE COUNTRY. ACCORDING TO THE S AND P CORELOGIC CASE-SHILLER INDEX, PHOENIX LEAD THE WAY WITH THE HIGHEST ANNUAL GAIN OF MORE THAN 32 PERCENT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY TAMPA WITH A CLOSE TO 31 PERCENT INCREASE … AND MIAMI WITH JUST OVER 28 PERCENT INCREASE. IN COMPARISON, HOME PRICES NATIONALLY ROSE JUST OVER 19 PERCENT OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS.

ACCORDING TO REALTOR-DOT-COM … THE MEDIAN HOME LISTING PRICE IN PHOENIX IS 4-HUNDRED-FIFTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS. 

MARK STAPP IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT ASU’S MASTERS OF REAL ESTATE PROGRAM. HE TALKS ABOUT TWO KEY FACTORS THAT MAKE PHOENIX ATTRACTIVE TO BUYERS.

<sot MARK STAPP/EXEC. DIR, MRED>

“we’re still cheaper than most of the gateway cities. we’re still less expensive than southern california, and in that regard considered to be a bargain. i think there are two effects, one of them is a potential economic development effect. the other, and i think equally if not more important, is the social effect because wages have not grown to the same rate.”

SIXTEEN OUT OF THE TWENTY LISTED CITIES IN THE REPORT HAD AN INCREASE IN HOUSING PRICES.

Arizona Coyotes seek gambling law change for ASU arena

THE ARIZONA COYOTES WANT TO KEEP THEIR GAMBLING OPERATION ALIVE WHEN THEY MOVE TO A TEMPORARY HOME AT ARIZONA STATE NEXT SEASON. 

SO THEY ASKED LAWMAKERS TO CHANGE THE STATE LAW ON SPORTS BETTING. 

THE COYOTES SAY THE CHANGE IS NEEDED BECAUSE ASU’S ARENA ONLY HOLDS 5,000 PEOPLE. THE LAW REQUIRES SPORTS VENUES TO SEAT AT LEAST 10,000 PEOPLE IN ORDER TO RUN RETAIL SPORTS BOOKS AND MOBILE GAMBLING OPERATIONS. THE ARIZONA INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION AND MULTIPLE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES OPPOSE THE REQUEST. THEY ARGUE THAT THE 2021 SPORTS BETTING LAW WAS PART OF A COMPLEX DEAL THEY NEGOTIATED WITH GOVERNOR DUCEY AND SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED WITHOUT CONSULTING THE TRIBES. AN ARIZONA SENATE COMMITTEE ALREADY SIGNED OFF ON THE CHANGES TUESDAY.

Lifeguard Shortage

HOST INTRO

WITH SUMMER QUICKLY APPROACHING… PHOENIX  STILL NEEDS HUNDREDS OF LIFEGUARDS. LAST SUMMER THE CITY  COULDN’T OPEN ALL OF ITS POOLS BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS … CRONKITE NEWS’S MOLLY HUDSON EXPLAINS WHAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO DO TO GET LIFEGUARDS TRAINED..  

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<sot BECKY HULETT/AQUATICS SUPERVISOR, CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS AND RECREATION/runs :07 hits xx-xx >

“Being a lifeguard is a job that you look back on and say… that was the best job I ever had.”

THAT’S BECKY HULETT, WHO USED TO BE A LIFEGUARD. NOW SHE’S  THE AQUATICS SUPERVISOR FOR THE CITY OF PHOENIX… SHE SAYS HAVING THE CITIES 29 POOLS OPEN FOR THE SUMMER ENSURES ACCESS TO SWIM LESSONS AND WATER SAFETY EDUCATION. 

<sot BECKY HULETT/AQUATICS SUPERVISOR, CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS AND RECREATION/runs :07 hits xx-xx >

“One of our missions in the City of Phoenix, is to reduce that drowning rate, so that impact will be felt across the community.” 

THE CITY WANTS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO POOLS CLOSE TO HOME…  SO HULETT SAYS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO GET LIFEGUARDS TRAINED AND CERTIFIED. 

<sot BECKY HULETT/AQUATICS SUPERVISOR, CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS AND RECREATION/runs :07 hits xx-xx >

“You have to get certified in a lifeguard certification which includes the lifeguard skills portion of it as well as CPR, AED for the professional rescuer which is basic life support, it also includes first aid and bloodborne pathogen certification.” 

IN ADDITION TO THE HOURLY PAY… OF JUST OVER 14 DOLLARS AN HOUR… THE CITY ANNOUNCED A 25 HUNDRED DOLLAR INCENTIVE TO REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR THE COST AND TIME OF LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION. THIS MAKES THE HOURLY PAY ABOUT TWENTY ONE DOLLARS AND HOUR. AGAIN, HERE’S  HULETT. 

<sot BECKY HULETT/AQUATICS SUPERVISOR, CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS AND RECREATION/runs :07 hits xx-xx >

“We are offering certification courses at a reduced rate of twenty dollars for the class instead of 85 dollars.” 

CERTIFICATION IS A SERIES OF FIVE CLASSES… CANDIDATES MUST PASS THE FIRST CLASS BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE OTHERS.       

THE INITIAL CLASS REQUIRES 300 YARDS OF CONTINUOUS SWIMMING. TREADING WATER FOR ONE MINUTE WITHOUT USING YOUR HANDS AND RETRIEVING A 10 POUND BRICK FROM THE BOTTOM OF A 12 FOOT POOL. 

MOLLY HUDSON, CRONKITE NEWS.

HOST OUTRO

YOU MUST BE 15 YEARS OLD TO BECOME A LIFEGUARD… FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY VISIT PHOENIX -DOT- GOV SLASH LIFEGUARD. 

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WE HAD HELP TODAY FROM   MOLLY HUDSON    AND THANKS TO MASON MILLER WHO PRODUCED THE SHOW. 

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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   THALIA LOPEZ               . 

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