ARIZONA 360

Episode 104

Government Shutdown Impact – Discussion – Dr. B. Milward, director of the UA School of Government and Public Policy joins Lorraine in studio to discuss the short-term spending bills that have become the go-to solution for funding the federal government. Temporary Protected Status – Package – An estimated 200,000 immigrants from El Salvador have until September 2019 to leave the U. S. or face deportation after the Trump Administration decided to end the program that gave them Temporary Protected Status. We profile Juan Carlos Pineda, who has been in Arizona for over a decade and received TPS in 2001. Juan must now decide where he will go next and how that will affect his two American-born children. Chip Funding – Package – the same measure that ended the shutdown, produced a long-term solution to the Children’s Health Insurance Program known as CHIP. It was reauthorized for another 6 years after funds expired in September. Christopher Conover has more about what that means for healthcare providers in Tucson. Opioid Epidemic Bill – Package – A special session at the State Legislature to address Arizona’s opioid crisis began this week. Gov. Doug Ducey also revealed details about the bipartisan legislation he wants passed. The UA’s Dr. Daniel Derksen oversees the University’ s Center for Rural Health. He was at the governor’s announcement and explains how the proposals begin to deal with the opioid epidemic. Port of Entry NAFTA – Package – Lorraine Rivera gets an inside look at the role NAFTA plays at the Ports of Entry in Nogales, which are the busiest in Arizona. This comes as renegotiations over the trade deal are in their sixth round in Montreal. Arizona NAFTA outlook – Discussion – Juan Ciscomani, a senior adviser to Gov. Ducey on regional and international affairs, joins Lorraine in and shares what Arizona has done to create inroads with Mexican leaders intended to boost economic growth in the state.