>> Ted: COMING UP ON NEXT HOUR ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

ON ARIZONA HORIZON: THE CDC TAKES A LONG, HARD LOOK AT THE WAY IT'S HANDLED COVID INFORMATION.

AND LATER IN THE HOUR, ON BREAK IT DOWN, A DISCUSSION ON WHY ARIZONA CONTINUES TO HAVE A TEACHER SHORTAGE.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Announcer: "ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF FOUNDATION.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY ADDRESSED THE GROWING CONCERN OVER CRIME AND GUN VIOLENCE IN THE U.S.

THE PRESIDENT SPOKE IN FRONT OF A CROWD IN PENNSYLVANIA.

HE CALLED OUT REPUBLICANS FOR OPPOSING HIS PLAN TO RESTORE A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND LATER, EMPHASIZED HIS SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS NATION, THE ANSWER IS NOT DEFUND THE POLICE.

IT'S FUND THE POLICE.

[ APPLAUSE ] GIVE THEM -- WE EXPECT THEM TO DO EVERYTHING.

WE EXPECT THEM TO BE PROTECTORS, TO BE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND TO BE SOCIOLOGIST.

>> Ted: THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL TRAVEL TO PHILADELPHIA, WHERE HE'LL DELIVER A PRIME-TIME ADDRESS ON THURSDAY THAT WILL FOCUS ON, QUOTE, "THE CONTINUED BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE NATION.

OTHER NEWS, FORMER SOVIET PRESIDENT MICHAIL GORBACHEV HAS DIED.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO RUSSIAN NEW AGENCIES, WHICH REPORT THAT GORBACHEV DIED TODAY AT THE AGE OF 91.

GORBCHEV WAS THE LAST LEADER OF THE SOVIET UNION.

HE ATTEMPTED BOLD REFORMS AND SOUGHT TO MODERNIZE THE SOVIET ECONOMY AND LIBERALIZE SOCIETY, ALONG WITH IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH THE WEST.

HE WAS ALSO PRESIDENT WHEN THE SOVIET BLOCK AND LATER THE USSR COLLAPSED.

MICKHAIL GORBACHEV, DEAD, AT 91.

THE ARIZONA INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION IS CONSIDERING THE FILING OF AN AMICUS BRIEF IN DEFENDING A COURT ORDER IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT APPOINTED A COMMISSION TO DRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS AFTER RULING THAT NORTH CAROLINA'S REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE HAD ILLEGALLY GERRY- MANDERED THOSE DISTRICTS.

A SUPREME COURT RULING AGAINST THAT COURT ORDER COULD POTENTIALLY ABOLISH THE ARIZONA COMMISSION'S AUTHORITY TO DRAW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

THE ARIZONA MIRROR REPORTS THAT ARIZONA COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET TOMORROW TO DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CASE.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL DECIDE TOMORROW ON AN APPEAL OF A LOWER COURT RULING THAT THE STATE SENATE MUST RELEASE MORE THAN 1100 RECORDS RELATED TO THE SENATE'S SELF-STYLED AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY'S 2020 ELECTION RESULTS.

THE SENATE REFUSED TO TURN OVER THE DOCUMENTS, CITING LEGISLATIVE PRIVILEGE.

TWO PREVIOUS COURT RULINGS DISAGREED WITH THE SENATE'S APPLICATION OF LEGISLATIVE PRIVILEGE, WHICH IS HOW THE CASE WOUND UP IN FRONT OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

AN OPINION IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED TOMORROW MORNING.

THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TODAY REPORTED THAT THERE WERE ROUGHLY 11 MILLION JOBS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. LAST MONTH.

THAT'S A SLIGHT INCREASE FROM JUNE.

ANALYSTS SAY THAT THE NUMBERS WORK OUT TO TWO JOBS PER ONE JOB-SEEKER, AND THAT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE FED WANTS TO SEE AS IT FIGHTS TO LOWER INFLATION.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE JOB OPENINGS ARE SENDING WAGES HIGHER, WHICH USUALLY ACCELERATES INFLATION.

AND NASA TODAY RELEASED NEW IMAGES OF WHAT IS CALLED THE PHANTOM GALAXY.

THE GALAXY IS A SPIRAL OF SOLAR SYSTEMS 32 MILLION LIGHT YEARS FROM EARTH.

THE COMBINED IMAGES FROM THE HUBBLE AND JAMES WEBB TELESCOPES SHOW THE GALAXY'S WELL-DEFINED ARMS, WHICH CONTAIN GAS AND DUST, WHILE THE CENTER IS A NUCLEAR STAR CLUSTER.

ALL OF WHICH, AGAIN, IS 32 MILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY.

THE HEAD OF THE CDC RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WANTED THE AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE THE WAY IT'S HANDLED GETTING INFORMATION OUT ABOUT COVID-19.

HERE TO DISCUSS THAT, AND, TO LOOK AT HOW SOME OF ARIZONA'S BALLOT INITIATIVES COULD IMPACT HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE, WE WELCOME WILL HUMBLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

LET'S GET TO CDC FIRST.

SELF-EVALUATION YOU'RE LOOKING INSIDE SAYING WE'RE NOT DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB?

>> IT'S A REALLY GOOD BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE.

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU'RE THE CDC IT'S POINT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IT MAKES LOT OF SENSE TO TAKE IT, YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID.

WHAT WORKED WELL AND WHAT DIDN'T WORK WELL, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO IMPROVE NEXT TIME.

IT WAS A REALLY BIG STRESS TEST FOR THE CDC'S FUNCTION AND DIRECTOR WALENSKY TO HER CREDIT, RECOGNIZES THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO THE AGENCY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO BETTER, WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T.

IMPORTANTLY, HOW TO FIX IT.

SHE DIDN'T SAY WHAT THAT IS.

IT'S REORG SOME SORT.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS WHAT THEY DID DO AND DIDN'T DO SWELL.

WHAT DID YOU SEE?

>> I THOUGHT THEY DID ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD JOB GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY FACED.

ONE OF THE BIG CRITICISMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE IS CDC GUIDANCE KEPT CHANGING.

GUESS WHAT, OUR UNDERSTANDING OF COVID-19 KEPT CHANGING.

OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE VIRUS SPREAD, WHAT INTERVENTIONS WORKED AND DIDN'T WORK.

AS THE SCIENCE PROGRESSED, WE LEARNED MORE.

THE GUIDANCE CHANGED.

IN SOME RESPECTS THE CRITICISM IS UNWARRANTED.

IN OTHER RESPECTS, THEY DO HAVE A REPUTATION HONESTLY OF BEING WHERE THINGS TAKE TOO LONG TO GET OUT.

SHE MENTIONED THINGS WERE TAKING TOO LONG.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING WHEN YOU'RE IN A PANDEMIC.

>> Ted: CONTRADICTSCRITICS SAY CDC RESPONSE WAS SLOW, CONFUSION AND INEFFECTIVE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

SHE HAS TO OWN PART OF THIS TOO AND THE PREDECESSOR.

THERE WERE LOT OF MISTAKES IN TERMS OF THE DELIVERY OF THE GUIDANCE.

THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, WHICH YOU HAVE TO HONESTLY OWN SOME OF THAT.

>> Ted: LAST POINT ON THIS.

WAS THE CDC PREPARED ENOUGH TO HANDLE COVID?

IS IT NOW PREPARED ENOUGH TO HANDLE COVID?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> Ted: IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION, GETTING GUIDANCE AND GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT.

>> THEY'RE GETTING BETTER.

I DO AGREE WITH HER, THEY NEED TO DO MORE PREPRINT.

SHE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

GETTING SOMETHING OUT TIMELY WITH THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU DO KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT THE STATES AND COUNT HEALTH DEPARTMENTS RELY ON.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING IN A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, IT'S NOT AS CRITICAL.

YOU CAN SEE DOWN.

YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TIME.

WHEN YOU'RE IN THIS KIND OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY THING NEED TO CHANGE.

>> Ted: LET'S GET TO THE ARIZONA BALLOT MEASURES.

YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT.

WE'LL START WITH PROP 209.

THIS IS PREDATORY DEBT COLLECTION.

HOW IS HEALTH INVOLVED?

>> LOT OF THE BALLOT INITIATIVES THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE ON THE BALLOT.

THIS PROBABLY HAS -- THEY ALL LINK TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

THIS ONE HAS A REAL DIRECT LINK TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

THAT IS THIS IS A PREDATORY DEBT COLLECTION PROTECTION ACT.

ARIZONA'S LAW WHEN IT COMES TO COLLECTING DEBT FROM PEOPLE ARE PRETTY PRIMITIVE.

IT'S NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

THE BANKS AND THE PEOPLE WHO OWNS THAT OWED THAT CREDIT HAVE REALLY CALLING ALL THE SHOTS.

THIS LEVEL OF THE PLAYING FIELD, IT DOESN'T RELIEVE THE DEBT BURDEN.

IT MAKES IT MORE FAIR AND LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS IN THAT ACT IS LIMITS INTEREST RATE TO 3%.

A PRIMARY DETERMINANT OF A FAMILY'S HEALTH STATUS IS THEIR ABILITY TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY.

IT'S RENT.

IT'S INCOME.

IT'S ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD.

IT'S REDUCING STRESS.

IF YOU CAN IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS OF A FAMILY BY RELIEVING SOME OF THE BURDEN OF THAT PREDATORY DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE.

I'M ALL FOR THAT.

>> Ted: ANOTHER ONE PROP 310, STATE SALES TAX TO HELP WITH RURAL EM Ts.

>> RIGHT.

NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS ONE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE WAY -- WHEN YOU GO THROUGH RURAL ARIZONA, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARE COVERED BY RURAL FIRE DISTRICTS.

LOT OF THEM ARE VOLUNTEERS.

NEXT TIME YOU DRIVE AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT, YOU'LL SEE THESE FIRE STATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THEY ARE FUNDED WITH LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE CAPPED AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.

BOTTOM LINE IS, WE GOT TWO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEMS IN ARIZONA.

ONE FOR URBAN PEOPLE AND ONE FAR LESS EFFECTIVE IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

THIS IS A 0.1% SALES TAX STATEWIDE THAT WOULD GO TO THESE RURAL FIRE DISTRICTS TO HELP SUBSIDIZE THEIR FUNCTIONS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOT A FREE LUNCH FOR THE RURAL FIRE DISTRICTS.

IT WILL HELP PROFESSIONALIZE THAT RURAL PART OF THE STATE.

YOU EXPECT PARAMEDICS TO ARRIVE AT YOUR ACCIDENT TO BE WELL TRAINED AND RESOURCED.

>> Ted: THIS WOULD HELP THAT SITUATION?

>> YES.

>> Ted: PROP 308, INSTATE COLLEGE TUITION FOR DREAMERS.

>> AGAIN, PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY.

THE MORE EDUCATION YOU GET, THE MORE YOU LIKE THE FIELD THAT YOU END UP IN, THE BETTER YOU'RE BEGINNING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HEALTHIER LIFE AND YOUR KIDS WILL TOO.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ONE.

IT AFFECTS ABOUT 2000 STUDENTS IN ARIZONA.

YOU CALLED DREAMERS.

THEY GRADUATE FROM ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOLS.

UNDER THE CURRENT LAW, THEY CAN'T COMPETE FOR GRANTS.

THEY HAVE TO PAY OUT OF STATE TUITION.

REALLY MAKES NOT JUST UNIVERSITY EDUCATION BUT COMMUNITY COLLEGES UNAFFORDABLE.

THIS WOULD TREAT THEM LIKE ALL THEIR OTHER CLASSMATES THAT GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

>> Ted: LET'S GET TO ONE MORE HERE.

210, THIS IS DARK MONEY AND POLITICAL SPENDING.

YOU ARE SUGGESTING YES ON THIS BECAUSE -- >> I LIKE THIS ONE TOO, BECAUSE IT IS TRANSPARENCY IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

MAY BE NOT SOMETIMES IN NATIONAL SECURITY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF DISCOURSE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO IS EVERY DONATION THAT COMES TO A CANDIDATE IN MORE THAN $5000 IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DECLARED.

THERE'S GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DONATE AND PAY FOR ADS THAT ARE UNTRUE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO OWN IT.

RIGHT NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO OWN IT.

IT'S DARK MONEY.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S SAYING THAT.

YOU CAN'T HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

THE VOTERS DON'T KNOW WHO'S SAYING THAT.

MY GRANDMOTHERRED USES USE USED TO SAY ACCORDING TO WHOM.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT.

>> Ted: LAST ONE HERE, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE YOU SUGGEST NO ON.

THIS IS PROP 132.

WITH THE 60% THRESHOLD NEEDED ON VOTER INITIATIVES THAT INVOLVE TAXES.

>> THE EXAMPLE I USE IS, EVERY ONE -- ALMOST EVERYBODY LOVES THE SMOKE FREE ARIZONA ACT.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT SMOKE OUT OF BARS, RESTAURANTS AND NIGHT CLUBS.

THAT WAS A VOTER INITIATIVE THAT PASSED 55-45.

IF THIS INITIATIVE WAS IN PLACE, THEY PROBABLY STILL BE SMOKING IN RESTAURANTS.

YOU'D HAVE TO GET 60% IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BECOME LAW.

IT HAS 2-CENT PER PACK TAX.

I'M USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE WHY SHOULD WE NEED A SUPER MAJORITY.

BY THE WAY, THE LEGISLATURE CAN PASS ANYTHING THEY WANT.

JUST ONE VOTE OVER 50ERS.

>> Ted: THAT'S DIFFERENT, WILL.

WILL HUMBLE, ARIZONA HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE SIERRA CLUB ISSUES ITS ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARDS TO STATE LAWMAKERS.

>> IT WAS IN THIS BUILDING, TWO YOUNG PRINCESS WERE LAST SEEN ALIVE.

>> Ted: THE SIERRA CLUB HAS RELEASED ITS ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARDS FOR THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE GRADES FOR LAWMAKERS, OVERALL, WERE NOT SO GOOD.

HERE WITH MORE IS SANDY BAHR, DIRECTOR OF THE SIERRA CLUB'S GRAND CANYON CHAPTER.

THESE GRADES ARE NEVER GOOD.

>> YES, IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

WE HOPE THAT THE LAWMAKERS WILL LOOK AT THESE ISSUES AND UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER, CLEANING UP OUR AIR AND YEAR AFTER YEAR, THEY IGNORE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES AND.

>> Ted: YOU GAVE THE GOVERNOR AN F GRADE?

WHY?

>> THAT'S BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT.

HE'S SHOWN NO LEADERSHIP ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND EVEN ON SOMETHING LIKE WATER.

HIS BIG ISSUE WAS LET'S GET A BUNCH OF MONEY APPROVED FOR DESALINATION, WHICH IS JUST LUDICROUS.

EXPENSIVE, ENERGY INTENSIVE INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO CONSERVE HERE IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: WAS FOCUSING ON WATER AUGMENTATION IS IN NECESSARILY A BAD IDEA?

>> I THINK IT IS WHAT IT DOES, IT SAYS WE CAN CONTINUE BUSINESS AS USUAL.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE PROMOTED IS, WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

WE DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT LIMITING GROUND WATER PUMPING.

WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE WASTING WATER.

LET'S LOOK AT WHERE WE CAN GET MORE WATER AND KEEP INVITING WATER INTENSIVE INDUSTRY HERE.

KEEP LETTING THE MINES HAVE THE WATER EXEMPTION.

>> Ted: DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANTED, IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.

YOU DISAGREE?

>> YES.

THEY DID GET SOME CONSERVATION FUNDING.

THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.

THERE'S SOME ASSESSMENT LANGUAGE BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S ALL OVERSHADOWED BY THIS AUGMENTATION AND THE DOLLARS ALLOCATED FOR AUGMENTATION.

THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED.

THE REST IS LIKE WINDOW DRESSING.

>> Ted: YOU GOT 33 LAWMAKERS AND LEGISLATURE GOT F GRADE.

NO ONE GOT AN A PLUS.

WERE THE GRADES GOOD AND BAD FOR ACTION OR FOR LACK OF ACTION?

>> WELL, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO GRADE THEM ON INACTION.

WE CALLED THAT OUT IN THE NARRATIVE.

THEY DID HAVE BILLS FOR ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE RESILIENCY.

WE'RE FEELING IT.

WE CALLED OUT THAT WAY.

WE ALSO GRADED THEM ON THE DEMOCRACY BILLS.

THEY PASSED WEAK PROGRAMS FOR REGULATION OF COAL.

THERE WERE SOME VERY BAD WATER BILLS THAT PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE.

LUCKILY, WE'RE STOPPED IN IT SENATE.

WE GRADED THOSE.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS THE IDEA THAT WE ALL SHOULD HAVE CLEAN AIR CLEAN WATER AND THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR GENERALLY HAVE LESS.

THEY HAVE MORE POLLUTED AIR AND WATER AND LIVE IN MORE POLLUTED NEIGHBORHOODS.

THERE WAS LEGISLATION INTRODUCED AGAIN TO HELP ADDRESS THAT.

YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT IN PERMITTING, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.

YOU CAN PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITIES.

YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS THAT.

THESE ALSO THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED DISPROPORTIONATELY BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION HERE.

WHEN YOU CALL LONG UNPRODUCTIVE SESSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

DO YOU SENSE A CHANGE?

ARE THINGS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS FAR AS YOU SEE THEM?

>> WELL, IT'S TOO SOON TO TELL.

LOT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER.

WE WILL HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR.

THAT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS THE AGENCY HEADS AND CAN PROVIDE NEW DIRECTION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR EXAMPLE.

DO MORE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR THAT AND THEN A LOT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> Ted: WELL, WE'LL AWAIT YOUR GRADES FOR THE NEXT SESSION AS THEY COME IN THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪ ♪ >> Ted: AN ASU RESEARCHER IS LOOKING AT HOW MUCH TIME PEOPLE SPEND STARING AT SCREENS ON THEIR SMART PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES.

THE RESEARCH LOOKS TO MONITOR THAT BEHAVIOR AND HELP THOSE LOOKING TO REPLACE SCREEN TIME WITH HEALTHIER ACTIVITY.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT HIS RESEARCH IS MATTHEW BUMAN OF ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT -- HOW LONG DO PEOPLE LOOK AT THEIR SCREENS AND DEVICES EACH DAY?

>> THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SPENDS ABOUT THREE AND A HALF HOURS OF SCREEN TIME EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE TIME THEY SPENT IN THEIR OCCUPATION.

JUST SPENDING TIME ON A TRADITIONAL TELEVISION OR STREAMING DEVICES OBVIOUSLY ARE QUITE POPULAR THESE DAYS.

>> Ted: THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE WORK?

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: IT DOES INCLUDE TV?

>> IT'S TV AND TIME ON YOUR SMARTPHONE AND TIME PARTICIPATING IN STREAMING SERVICES.

>> Ted: I GUESS THE IMPACT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS WHETHER IT'S TV OR SMARTPHONE.

THEY'RE NOT MOVING AROUND TOO MUCH WHEN YOU STARING AT THE SCREEN?

>> THERE'S LOTS OF EVIDENCE THAT SUGGEST THAT TOO MUCH SITTING TIME PARTICULARLY WHILE WATCHING A SCREEN, TENDS TO BE REALLY BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH WHETHER IT'S DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND EARLY MORTALITY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS.

IT TENDS TO BE WORSE THAN OTHER FORMS OF SITTING LIKE AT WORK.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY.

THAT'S PART OF THE THINGS WE'RE STUDYING.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF IDEAS WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.

>> Ted: COULD IT BE STRESS?

>> IT COULD BE STRESS AS WELL AS KIND OF THE NEGATIVE EXPOSURE THAT THEY ARE EXPOSED TO ON A ROUTINE BASIS.

WHEN WE SIT IN FRONT OF A TELEVISION, WE TEND TO SNACK ON HIGHER FAT, UNHEALTHIER FOODS.

ALSO IT COULD BE THE BLUE LIGHT EXPOSED FROM THE TELEVISION THAT COULD DISRUPT OUR SLEEP.

IT COULD BE WHEN WE SIT IN FRONT OF A TELEVISION, WE SIT FOR A LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

BINGE WATCHING TV CAN BE HARMFUL.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH HERE AND PROVIDING TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO FOLKS TO MONITOR THE BEHAVIOR AND TRY TO REDUCE THAT SCREEN TIME.

>> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WE'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOOLS IT AND STRATEGIES.

JUST TO HELP PEOPLE.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS THAT LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH LESS SCREENS.

THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE ARE CONDUCTING A CLINICAL TRIAL NOW THAT'S TESTING DIFFERENT BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES TO GIVE PEOPLE ENCOURAGEMENT AND STRATEGIES TO HELP THEM REDUCE IT.

>> Ted: HOW WOULD AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND REMINDER WORK?

>> I THINK MANY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH ON THEIR SMARTPHONEINGS, THERE MAY BE RHYMERS THAT -- REMINDERS THAT TELL THEM THIS IS HOW MUCH TIME I SPENT ON THE SCREEN TODAY.

WE TRY TO BUILD BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE INTO THOSE MESSAGES.

>> ANYONE HAS AN APPLE WATCH, TIME TO STAND UP AND SIT DOWN.

>> LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE TRYING TO BE LITTLE BIT SMARTER ABOUT IT.

WE GIVE PEOPLE MESSAGES WHEN THEY NEED THEM AND NOT MESSAGES WHEN THEY DON'T.

>> Ted: RIGHT.

I NOTED THE IRONY THAT YOU HAVE AN APP FOR THIS PROGRAM.

>> YES, THE IRONY HAS NOT BEEN LOST.

WE TRY TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

THEY ARE ON THEIR PHONES THESE DAYS.

THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GIVE THEM THAT REMINDER SINCE WE KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE ON THEIR PHONES.

>> Ted: IDEA IS, THREE AND A HALF HOURS APART FROM WORK YOU STARING AT A SCREEN, FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO DO.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S REALLY AN INTERESTING ASPECT OF THIS.

IF WE CAN REDUCE THAT BY AN HOUR A DAY, WHAT MIGHT PEOPLE DO WITH THAT EXTRA HOUR IN THEIR DAY.

MAY BE THEY'LL SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY OR GO TO SLEEP EARLIER, AND BE ACTIVE.

WE'RE INTERESTED TO SEE, IF WE CAN REDUCE THAT TIME, WHAT WILL THEY REPLACE IT WITH.

>> Ted: YOU DONE RESEARCH ON SITTING AND THINGS AS WELL.

IT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE HEALTH WISE.

>> IT DOES.

EVEN ABOVE AND BEYOND HOW MUCH TIME WE SPEND BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND EXERCISING.

HOW WE SPEND THE REST OF OUR DAY AND NIGHT IN TERMS OF BEING ACTIVE AND MOVING MORE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NOT BEING SECOND THEIR ALL -- SEDENTARY.

>> Ted: YOU CAN JUST GO OUT AND BE A CHAMPION WITH YOUR EXERCISE EARLY IN THE DAY.

IF YOU SIT FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, IT DOESN'T DO MUCH GOOD.

>> WITH THIS SCREEN TIME WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WE'RE TRYING TO TARGET THE REST OF THAT 24 HOUR PERIOD.

THE TIME OUTSIDE OF EXERCISE WHEN WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE EITHER REALLY SEDENTARY OR LIGHT ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

IT DOES MAKE AN IMPACT ON HEALTH.

>> Ted: FROM THE PEOPLE YOU DONE THE RESEARCH WITH.

WHAT KIND OF REACTION YOU GETTING?

THERE WE'RE >> WE'RE GETTING INTERESTING REACTION LIKE A RECOGNITION, OH MY GOODNESS I DIDN'T REALIZE I SPEND THIS MUCH TIME IN FRONT OF A TELEVISION.

THEN RECOGNITION OF THAT STRATEGY WAS HELPFUL OR I RATHER FIND SOME ADDITIONAL WAYS AND REMINDERS.

THE THIRD IS THAT OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

OTHER PEOPLE AROUND US MAKE A BIG INFLUENCE.

WE'RE ALSO CONSIDERING HOW THIS WOULD WORK FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY UNIT.

>> Ted: YOU TALKING HABIT AND PSYCHOLOGY AS WELL.

USING AN APP TO GET PEOPLE TO STOP LOOKING AT APPS.

YOU GOT THAT ONE THROUGH.

THANKS FOR THIS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪