• Slug: CN2GO
• Runtime: 5:11
• 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 EMMA VANDENEINDE. (  go to story ) 

Sen. Mark Kelly says lowering prescription drug prices is “long overdue”

SUMMARY: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly met with advocates and patients to hear about how they have been impacted by rising prescription drug costs.

ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY SAT DOWN WITH PATIENTS AND ADVOCATES YESTERDAY TO TALK ABOUT LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS.

ONE OF THOSE PATIENTS WAS JUDY WILSON. SHE LIVES WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS [sklr·ow·suhs] WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED HER ABILITY TO USE HER BODY.

“I’ve lost much of my hearing. Have no sense of smell. My eyesight is compromised. My gait is off.” (9 SECONDS, MONO 10)

SHE TRIED CERTAIN TREATMENTS, BUT THEY WERE NOT WORKING, SO HER DOCTOR PRESCRIBED COPAXONE (kuh-PAX-un). SHE RELIED ON A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION TO HELP PAY FOR IT, BUT IN 2021, THE MONEY RAN OUT, AND SHE HAD A DIFFICULT DECISION TO FACE.

“After discussions with my doctor, I decided to go off my medications…But I want to emphasize that the decision to stop my medication was based on money. Not medicine.” (13 SECONDS, MONO 10)

THIS IS COMMON FOR MANY SENIORS IN ARIZONA. DANA KENNEDY, THE STATE DIRECTOR FOR A-A-R-P ARIZONA SAYS PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES HAVE DWARFED EVEN THE HIGHEST RATES OF GENERAL INFLATION.

“If consumer prices had risen as fast as drug prices over the last 15 years, gas would now cost $12 and 20 cents a gallon.” (9 SECONDS, MONO 6)

TO FIX THESE INCREASES, KELLY COSPONSORED LEGISLATION TO GIVE MEDICARE A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO SETTING PRICES FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR ELDERLY AMERICANS, ACCORDING TO KELLY.

“We’re talking about medications that people need to survive. Arizona families and seniors are facing choices that nobody should ever have to make.” (10 SECONDS, MONO 5)

THIS IMPACTS MORE THAN JUST WILSON. SUGANYA KARUPPANA [suh-GUNNA CARE-ah-PUN-ah], THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR VALLE DEL SOL COMMUNITY HEALTH, SAYS THESE POLICIES AFFECT EVERYONE. 

“You don’t need a physician to tell you that none of us escapes the aging process.” (5 SECONDS, MONO 7)

THE BILL WAS MOVED TO THE COMMITTEE OF FINANCE LAST MONTH, SO IT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE IT IS PASSED IN THE SENATE. YET, KELLY SAYS THIS LEGISLATION IS LONG OVERDUE AND NEEDS TO GET PASSED NOW.

Why the Coolidge Generating Plant won’t be expanding

SUMMARY: The Arizona Corporation Commission rejected a plan to double the size of the Coolidge Generating Plant, a plan that had many Randolph residents concerned.

THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION REJECTED A PLAN TUESDAY TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE COOLIDGE GENERATING PLANT. 

THE SALT RIVER PROJECT PLANNED TO EXPAND THE PLANT NEAR THE SMALL COMMUNITY OF RANDOLPH. RESIDENTS FROM THE RANDOLPH COMMUNITY RAISED CONCERNS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BEFORE THE COMMISSION MEETING. MARY TURNER WAS AMONG THEM. 

<sot Mary Turner, Randolph Resident/hits xx-xx >

“We all know that this is a health hazard. We are asking the commission to remember that first and foremost, we are human beings.”

S-R-P’S  PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE APPROVED 16 GAS TURBINES TO BE INSTALLED TO CREATE MORE ELECTRICITY. JEFF JORDAN LIVES IN RANDOLPH AND WAS WORRIED ABOUT AIR POLLUTION. 

<sot Jeff Jordan, Randolph Resident/hits xx-xx >

“Residents have been forced from their homes because of dangerous air pollution leaving their homes for days to avoid vapors, odors, particulates, bright lights and noise.”

THERE ARE ALREADY 12 TURBINES AT THE PLANT.

THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THAT S-R-P COME UP WITH ANOTHER WAY TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT IS LESS COSTLY AND WITHOUT THE  EFFECTS TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. 

SRP ELECTION MELTDOWN

SUMMARY: SRP election has its first-ever ballot recount. A malfunction on election day has prevented the announcement of who the official winners are. SRP will conduct their first ever recount. 

MEANWHILE A SALT RIVER PROJECT ELECTION NIGHT MALFUNCTION IS CAUSING A RECOUNT OF BALLOTS FOR SRP’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. BALLOTS WERE SCANNED IN LAST TUESDAY, BUT THE SOFTWARE REACHED ITS LIMIT OF SIX THOUSAND WITH LESS THAN 100 BALLOTS LEFT TO GO. A SRP PRESS RELEASE SAID THE VOTE COUNT WAS NOT IMPACTED. 

THIS DELAYED THE OFFICIAL VOTE COUNT. THE BOARD VOTED YESTERDAY TO RESCAN THE BALLOTS AND RECOUNT THE VOTES TO CONFIRM THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. 

THE PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED THIS WEEK WITH THE  RESULTS BEING PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.

Waste Management Open Champ Scottie Scheffler wins at Masters Tournament
SUMMARY: Scottie Scheffler won the Masters this past weekend making it his fourth pga tour win since February.

JUST LAST FEBRUARY, SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER [CHEF-ler] TOOK HOME FIRST PLACE AT THE W-M OPEN IN SCOTTSDALE AND IT LOOKS AS IF THE ARIZONA HEAT HAS STAYED WITH HIM. 

SCHEFFLER WENT ON TO WIN HIS NEXT THREE PGA TOUR TOURNAMENT EVENTS INCLUDING LAST WEEKEND’S MASTERS TOURNAMENT IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. THE FIRST TIME MASTER WINNER WENT INTO THE FINAL DAY OF PLAY WITH A THREE STROKE LEAD OVER THE COMPETITION. 

BOTH RORY MCLLROY [ROAR-ee MAC-ul-roy] AND CAMERON SMITH TRIED TO BEAT SCHEFFLER OUT. BUT NEITHER WERE ABLE TO.

SCHEFFLER FOUR PUTTED HIS WAY TO VICTORY ON THE 18TH HOLE, LOCKING UP THE WIN AND EARNING HIS OWN GREEN JACKET AND NEARLY 3 MILLION DOLLARS. 

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER NOW JOINS SOME ELITE COMPANY LIKE TIGER WOODS AND PHIL MICKELSON WHO HAVE WON THE MASTERS IN YEARS PAST. 

(bring up music under very last track and post up in the clear for a couple of seconds and duck below)

WE HAD HELP TODAY FROM FAITH ABERCROMBIE AND ALEXANDRA MORA MEDINA. ALSO, THANKS TO JUSTIN TORRES FOR PRODUCING TODAY’S SHOW.

(Bring up music and duck below)

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 EMMA VANDENEINDE. 

(Music out)