Terry Lundgren graduated from the University of Arizona in 1974 and now heads one of the country's biggest retail operations, Macy's Inc.
Lundgren and fellow retailing executives will be in Tucson this week for the University of Arizona's Global Retailing Conference, looking at innovation in retailing.
We will speak with Lundgren and others for Friday's Arizona Week to get updates on the status of retailing in the United States. Among our questions:
What's the balance between brick-and-mortar stores and online shopping?
What are the traditional department stores such as Macy's doing to compete in the cyber shopping world?
How big a part of the business is it expected to become?
What are the innovations coming that will make the shopper's experience -- whether in the store or online -- more satisfying, both for the shopper and the retailer?
Will the American consumer return with the same force she had before the Great Recession?
What are the permanent changes in retailing as a result of the recession?
Are global markets more important than ever, with emerging middle classes now in many countries?
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, a Republican running for Arizona's new Congressional District 4, released his first ad today.
In an email to supporters, he says the ad will be airing district-wide. The district covers vast territory in Arizona, stretching from the San Tan Valley in northern Pinal County, wrapping north of the Phoenix metro area, east to the Arizona-California state line, and north to the Arizona-Utah state line. (View the district maps here.)
In the ad, Babeu says he stands up for border security and fiscal conservativeness. He appears to be responding to recent news stories questioning the Pinal County Sheriff's office, but he doesn't reference anything directly, saying "a lot has been said about me lately, but I want you to hear it from me." Then he lists his legislative priorities.
Thanks to the outstanding support of people like you, Arizona Public Media completed another successful PBS-HD 6 membership campaign, exceeding its goal of $300,000 from 2,048 dedicated supporters! We now transition to showing similar support for NPR 89.1 FM and Classical 90.5 FM for the upcoming radio pledge campaign, “It’s Up To Us” airing for one week--April 21st through the 28th. Our goal this spring is to raise $250,000. When you become a first-time member or renew your membership through either radio or TV (or online), you help continue funding the award-winning, informative, and entertaining local and national programming from PBS and NPR that you love. Your member dollars are also reinvested right back into this organization and help make possible our commitment to increase local and national news coverage and special programs all year long.
The AZPM’s “Your Vote 2012” election coverage is underway on PBS-HD 6, NPR 89.1FM and online at azpm.org. A large part of our programming this year will be dedicated to providing you with the most in-depth, local, regional and national political news coverage for the upcoming campaign season. Locally-produced programs, Arizona Week, Arizona Illustrated, Arizona Illustrated Political Roundtable, Arizona Spotlight, plus the national television and radio news and public affairs shows will keep you up to date on the latest political news and campaign developments. Also, the PBS-HD 6 Sunday morning public affairs line-up just got better! Starting April 1st at 9 a.m., Bill Moyers & Company joins Washington Week at 10 a.m. and Arizona Week at 10:30 a.m.
For those of you who prefer to escape the rigors of politics, PBS-HD 6 is your source for entertaining and educational programs. This month we launch Exploration Wednesdays with the addition of a brand new series America Revealed with host and guide Yul Kwon, winner of “Survivor: Cook Islands.” This new series airs at 10 p.m. and joins popular series Nature, at 8 p.m. and NOVA at 9 p.m. A new season of Finding Your Roots with Louis Gates, Jr. returns on Sundays at 6 p.m. with new episodes including “Barbara Walters and Geoffrey Canada” beginning on April 1st.
On Earth Day, Sunday, April 22nd at 6 p.m. PBS-HD 6 will premiere “Seeking Water From the Sun.” This locally-produced special 30-minute documentary looks at the drama of science and the reality of life on the Navajo Nation and the lack of usable water. It explores the trials and tribulations faced by UA scientists designing and building a solar powered water distillation prototype, the first step of a plan to purify ground water for easier access to areas of the Navajo people and their livestock. This program will air on public stations throughout the west and then nationally in the fall.
The popular Hollywood at Home film series continues on Saturdays at 9 p.m. with a great line up of classic films: “Bus Stop” on April 7th, “Arsenic and Old Lace” April 14th, “The Great Train Robbery” April 21st, and “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” on April 28th.
Ready TV’s featured chef of the month in April is Lidia Bastianich, known as the “First Lady of Italian cuisine and restaurants in the U.S.”. Tune in to Lydia’s Italy Kitchen throughout the month on Cox 82, Comcast 201 and Broadcast 6-3.
On behalf of all of us at AZPM, thank you for your viewership, listenership, and continued support.
Arizona legislators are not yet in scramble mode, but they are approaching the time of year when, in the past, marathon floor sessions have dominated their days, and nights.
Senate President Steve Pierce has said all along that he wants to hit the same time frame as last year's session, which ended on its 101st day. The 101st day this year will be April 17.
Can they make it? We'll ask for this Friday's Arizona Week broadcast, 8:30 p.m. MST on PBS-HD6.
It could be a heavy lift. The Legislature still has the budget to deal with, and indications this week are that they may not be very far along in crafting an agreement with Gov. Jan Brewer on it.
They also must complete work on the governor's major piece of legislation for this session, state personnel reform.
Scheduled for the program so far:
-- State Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs.
-- State Senate Assistant MInority Leader Leah Landrum Taylor.
-- Arizona Public Media political correspondents Andrea Kelly and Christopher Conover.
We are also seeking an interview with a Republican leader in the state House.
Arizona LegislatureGov Jan BrewerSen Andy BiggsSen Leah Landrum Taylor,
Democrat Andrei Cherny is running for Congress in Arizona's Congressional District 9, and he pulled out a creative streak in his request for fundraising as last month's deadline loomed.
Nearly every candidate for federal office routinely points out that a fundraising deadline is near and asks for a last-minute donation.
But Cherny took it one step further in creativity. The email subject line is, "I didn't loose my passport."
The body of the fundraising request goes on:
"I did not lose my passport in some foreign country. I am not a Nigerian finance minister. But I do need your help. Today is the last day of the most important fundraising deadline of our campaign for Congress."
For a comparison, here are some examples of the usual email requests that land in our inboxes.
Republican Paul Babeu, running in Arizona CD4: "I wanted to drop you a quick note before the weekend gets underway... Tomorrow my campaign will report on our first quarter fundraising. I'd love to be able to count you as a supporter."
Republican Martha McSally, running in the special election for Arizona CD8: "Time Is Running Out! Early ballots are out. Campaign finance reports are due in a few days. And we have less than three weeks left until election day."
Democrat Nancy Pelosi, requesting money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: "We’re close to an incredible milestone in our campaign to stop endless Republican extremism. As of this moment, we are just 121 donations short of the most contributions we've ever had on a single day. Only a few short hours remain before the midnight Federal Election Commission deadline. Will you put us over the top?"
When it comes to big money Super PACs Citizens United is one of the top names in the category. Remember, it was a US Supreme Court ruling on behalf of Citizens United that opened up the checkbook for so-called Super PACs. So it is of note that the group is backing Rep. David Schweikert, R-CD 6, in his bid for a second term in Congress. Politico is reporting Citizens United giving Schweikert $ 10,000 for the primary and general election.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the newly drawn CD 6 pits two Republican incumbents against each other. Rep. Ben Quayle is also running in that race. Citizens United is not giving Quayle any backing.
In March, the Club for Growth, a powerful, conservative PAC sent a letter out to House Republican leaders telling them to stay out of the CD 6 race. They also threatened to back Schweikert if House leaders backed Quayle.
Citizens United also endorsed CD 8 Republican candidate Jesse Kelly. They also gave him the maximum $10,000 for his race.
