• Slug: CN2GO
• Runtime:  3:49
• Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download

COVID-19 CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS CONTINUE TO DROP IN THE U-S INCLUDING IN ARIZONA. BUT TOP HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY VACCINATION AND BOOSTERS WILL BE CRITICAL TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING. MEGAN RANNEY IS AN ASSOCIATE DEAN OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT BROWN UNIVERSITY. SHE SAYS A 4TH DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE MIGHT BE RECOMMENDED THIS FALL 

Dr. Megan Ranney, Associate Dean of Public Health, Brown University// “Many of us expect that in the years to come we will have yearly doses of Covid vaccine, the same way we do for the flu vaccine.”

COUNTRIES LIKE ISRAEL AND SWEDEN ARE ALREADY OFFERING A 4TH SHOT OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE FOR OLDER ADULTS.  IN THE U-S, THE C-D-C HAS NO RECOMMENDATIONS ON FOURTH DOSES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. BUT THEIR UPDATED GUIDELINES SUGGEST IT’S A GOOD IDEA FOR SOME WHO HAVE WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS..

RIGHT NOW — ABOUT 65-PERCENT OF THE U-S POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED. 28-PERCENT HAVE GOTTEN A BOOSTER BUT THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS IS THE SLOWEST IT’S EVER BEEN. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONTINUED FOCUS ON RAISING THOSE NUMBERS.

EXPECTATIONS FOR STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS 

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN GIVES HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS NEXT TUESDAY. AND AHEAD OF THAT ARIZONA LAWMAKERS ARE LAYING OUT THEIR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS  MADE LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG  COSTS AND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE A TOP PRIORITY AND IS PART OF HIS PROPOSED  BUILD BACK BETTER ACT. BUT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY ARIZONA CONGRESSMAN RUBEN GALLEGO SAID THERE IS MORE THAT CAN BE DONE. 

RC: “ It’s ridiculous that we are one of the richest countries in the world and there are people rationing their insulin right, there are people trying to decide between getting their prescription or paying their rent or mortgage.” 

THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT WOULD PROVIDE A $35 CAP ON THE COST OF INSULIN PER VIAL AND A $2,000 CAP FOR SENIORS ON MEDICARE PER YEAR. THE LEGISLATION PASSED THE U-S HOUSE LAST NOVEMBER BUT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN UP IN THE SENATE. GALLEGO SAYS BRINGING DOWN DRUG COSTS AND MAKING HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE ULTIMATELY MAKES ARIZONA A HEALTHIER STATE. 

Parental Bill of Rights

THE ARIZONA HOUSE HAS GIVEN INITIAL APPROVAL TO A REPUBLICAN-BACKED BILL THAT BOOSTS THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND ALLOWS THEM TO PUSH FOR PENALTIES FOR TEACHERS. THE PENALTY PROVISIONS IN THE BROAD EXPANSION OF THE STATE’S PARENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS, DEBATED TUESDAY, COULD LEAD TO FINES, SUSPENSIONS OR DISMISSAL OF TEACHERS. IT ALSO ALLOWS PARENTS TO SUE IF THEY’RE NOT SATISFIED WITH HOW THE SCHOOL HANDLED THEIR COMPLAINT. PHOENIX REPUBLICAN  REPRESENTATIVE STEVE KAISER IS SPONSORING THE BILL. HE SAYS IT’S NEEDED BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE KEEPING INFORMATION FROM PARENTS. DEMOCRATS CALL IT UNNEEDED LEGISLATION THAT PUTS PARENTS AND TEACHERS IN AN AD-VER-Ser-RIAL RELATIONSHIP WHEN THEY SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER.

NASCAR Mural for Black History Month 

ON MONDAY NASCAR MADE ITS PRESENCE FELT IN THE VALLEY AS IT TEAMED UP WITH THE BLACK HISTORY MURAL PROJECT…

THE GROUP UNVEILED A NEW DESIGN OF  A MURAL DEPICTING WENDELL SCOTT… THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO WIN A RACE IN THE GRAND NATIONAL SERIES…. WHICH WAS NASCAR’S HIGHEST LEVEL AT THE TIME.

THE PAINTING SHARES A WALL WITH A MURAL OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR. SCOTT WAS A TRAILBLAZER IN THE SPORT AND HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE BLACK DRIVERS.

(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 MASON MILLER WHO PRODUCED THE SHOW. (list everyone who contributed for the show including the producer credit as well) 

(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 THALIA LOPEZ. 

(Music out)