TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON ARIZONA HORIZON: STATE SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN JOINS US FOR A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, TWO ARIZONA MAYORS TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS TO BORDER ISSUES.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN: DOCTOR BURNOUT AND THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

TED: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY TODAY PRAISED ARIZONA SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA FOR VOTING AGAINST A CHANGE TO THE SENATE'S FILIBUSTER RULE.

SINEMA AND FELLOW DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOE MANCHIN BOTH JOINED SENATE REPUBLICANS IN VOTING AGAINST THE CHANGE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEFEAT OF A FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS PACKAGE.

THE ARIZONA MIRROR REPORTS THAT THE GOVERNOR TODAY TOLD REPORTERS THAT, QUOTE, "I WANT TO GIVE SENATOR SIMENA CREDIT FOR STANDING UP AND PROTECTING A SENATE RULE THAT SHE BELIEVES IN," ADDING, "AND I'M GLAD THAT SHE'S TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER."

SINEMA HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION BUT NOT FOR CHANGING THE FILIBUSTER RULES TO GET IT PASSED.

OTHER NEWS, TODAY MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE THE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 WAS CONFIRMED IN THE U.S. THAT FIRST CASE WAS REPORTED IN WASHINGTON STATE.

IT CAME JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED IN CHINA.

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 855,000 COVID-RELATED FATALITIES IN THE U.S., ALONG WITH 68.5MILLION POSITIVE TESTS.

ARIZONA TODAY SAW AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 17,000 CASES OF COVID-19.

THE STATE ALSO RECORDED 13 NEW COVID-RELATED FATALITIES.

THAT PUTS THE STATE'S 7- DAY COVID DEATH-RATE AT 11TH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 3300 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID IN ARIZONA.

THAT CONTINUES AN UPWARD TREND, WITH AVAILABLE ICU BEDS NOW AT 94 STATEWIDE.

A NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDY BY THE WORLD HEART ASSOCIATION SUGGESTS THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CARDIO- VASCULAR PROBLEMS, INCLUDING HEART ATTACK AND STROKE.

THE FINDINGS THAT NO AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS SAFE, ARE IN CONTRAST TO THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S POSITION THAT MODERATION IS KEY WHEN IT COMES TO BOOZE.

THE GROUP CONDUCTING THE STUDY IS MADE UP OF HUNDREDS OF HEART ASSOCIATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

#*#*#*STOP#*#*#* THE ARIZONA LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS IN ITS SECOND WEEK AND THINGS ARE ALREADY HEATING UP AT THE CAPITOL.

EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE TO SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN.

LOTES ATTACK BACK THE SESSION HERE.

IMPACT OF COVID ON THE SESSION SO FAR.

WHAT IS HAPPENING DOWN THERE?

>> WELL, SO FAR, SO GOOD.

YOU KNOW.

WE GOT A FEW THAT ARE OVER IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK I HAVE ONE OR TWO IN SENATE, BUT WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE DO NOT COME DOWN IF YOU DON'T FEEL WELL.

IF YOU DO COME DOWN.

IF YOU WANT TO WEAR MASK.

THAT IS FINE.

THAT IS GREAT.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, THAT IS FINE.

WE ARE ASKING IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TOT WEAR MASK.

PLEASE BE COURTEOUS OF OTHERS AND THOSE WHO DO AND TRY GET THE WORK DONE AS QUICKLY AND HOPEFULLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> LAWMAKERS HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT TO VOTE AND THEN GAIN IF YOU MENTION HEARING TESTIMONY HAS TO BE LIVE.

WHY IS THAT THE CASE ESPECIALLY SINCE OMICRON IS STILL OUT THERE RAGING?

>> BECAUSE OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE DETERMINED IN THE CONSTITUTION, IT REQUIRES THAT TO BE HERE PHYSICALLY ON THE CAMPUS TO VOTE.

AND SO, THEREFORE, THAT IS WHY WE SAID, YOU GOT TO BE HERE.

BUT THE DOCTOR'S PERMIT.

EXCUSE.

YOU COULD HE BE IN YOUR OFFICE SECLUDED AND VOTE FROM YOUR OFFICE.

WE BELIEVE THAT STRETCHING THE CONSTITUTION A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT IT IS A SAFETY MEASURE WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE CHANCE ON.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED, THOUGH, THAT THE SESSION, I KNOW, SOME FOLK AS YOU MENTIONED AND HEARD REPORTS THAT SOME FOLKS ARE SICK AND NOT MANY, BUT SOME.

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THESE ACTIONS COULD FACILITATE THE SPREAD OF COVID?

>> NO.

BECAUSE IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MEMBERS EVEN THE ONES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WEARING MASKS SOMETIMES, NOT SOMETIMES, BUT I SEE THEM OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING, I SEE THEM OUT THERE AT THE GROCERY STORES.

I SEE THEM AT RESTAURANTS, SO YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE FINALLY AT A POINT WHERE, WHERE THEY KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, THEN WE HAVE VACCINES.

WE HAVE BOOSTERS FOR THESE WANT TO TAKE THEM.

THEN, I THINK, THAT IS JUST SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START LIVING WITH FROM HERE OUT.

THEN WHATS THE NEXT VERSION GOING TO BE?

WE CANNOT KEEP AMERICA SHUTDOWN INDEFINITELY.

WE NEED TO ADJUST.

WE NEED TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

WE NEED TO RESPECT EACH OTHER'S OPINIONS AND THEIR SPACE.

>> AS FAR AS ISSUES ARE CONCERNED THE EDUCATION SPENDING CAP, WILL IT BE ADDRESSED?

HAS IT BEEN ADDRESSED MOOD WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING THAT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE WAITING ADVICE FROM THE ATTORNEY AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED HERE.

I THINK ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, TO MAKE SURE YOUR VICAR KNEE, THAT WHICH IS NOT BEING SAID, IS THAT IN 1980, IT'S THE VOTER'S THAT VOTED INTO OUR CONSTITUTION A SPENDING CAP.

AND ALLOWED FOR INFLATION.

AND THE REASON WHY THAT WAS DONE IN THE '38'S BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS CHECK-IN BALANCE IN HOW MUCH BUREAUCRACY AND MONEY WAS GOING INTO IN THIS CASE EDUCATION.

WE DO THAT IN A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES AS WELL.

THE REASON WHY WE ARE AT THIS POINT, THE MAIN REASONS IS BECAUSE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SINCE GOVERNOR DUCEY HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.

THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE BODY WE HAVE PUT IN OVER 3BILLION OF NEW MONEY INTO EDUCATION THEN RECENTLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST PUT IN ADDITIONAL$4BILLION AND FROM COVID MONEY AND SO CONSEQUENTLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY WE ARE, WE ARE OVER THAT GAP IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO EDUCATION.

>> BUT SINCE 19880 WE HAVE BEEN OVER THE CAP A COUPLE OF OTHER TIMES THEN THOSE, THOSE TIMES WE HAVE SEEN THAT OVERRIDDEN, AND THIS CAN'T BE, THIS CAN'T BE THAT MUCH OF A DIVISIVE ISSUE DOWN THERE AND CAN'T SEE CHARTERS LOSING$1BILLION.

I AM NOT ALLOWED TO COMMENT AND DETAIL ON THIS BECAUSE OF ADVICE OF OUR ATTORNEYS THEN OTHER ISSUES GOING ON AND THEN WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, THOUGH, IS HIGH TIME WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT DO WE NEED TO RESET THAT FLOOR AND THE REASON BEING BECAUSE IN 19880 FLOWS BEFORE THE BOOK AND BEFORE THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE.

NOW I GET.

SUPPORT 100% THAT WE HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCE SYSTEMS BUT I THINK IN THE 80 AS WE DID THE INFLATION, NOBODY REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT HOW EDUCATION AND THE TECHNOLOGY WOULD CHANGE THAT IT DOES COST A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY TO BUY THOSE BOOKS TO MAKE SURE AND THEN COVID BECAUSE OF ALL THE BROADBAND AND I WOULD TO LOVE SIT DOWN TO GET TO A POSITION WHERE WE CAN SAY, MAYBE WE HOLD TO RESET THIS FLOOR JUST BECAUSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED THEN THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO EVERY 10 TO 20 YEARS.

WE HAVE MARCH1 I THINK IS A DEADLINE.

WELL THE DEADLINE IS SET ON THE SENSE THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO GIVE TEACHER'S NOTICES AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO RENEW THEIR CONTRACT OR NOT.

SO THEN ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IS AWARE THERE ARE STILL IT A LOFT KIDS THAT ARE NOT BACK IN SCHOOL AGAIN AND PARENTS ARE STILL CHOOSING TO KEEP THEM AT HOME OR THEY ARE HOMESCHOOLING NOW OR TAKEN TO OTHER SCHOOLS THAT IS NEGOTIATE SHOE WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ONCE AGAIN WANTING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL OF THAT MONEY FOR STUDENTS AND THAT ARE NOT THERE ANY MORE AND THAT IS ANOTHER PART OF THIS EQUATION THAT WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT BECAUSE NO YOU CANNOT VAT THE MONEY OVER HERE, THEN, WE KNOW THAT THE KID IS OVER AT DIFFERENT AREA GETTING MONEY.

IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

>> AS FAR AS ISSUES ARE CONCERNED, MARICOPA COUNTY VOTE OVER THE SUMMER.

HOW MUCH DO YOU SEE THIS AND HOPE TOP SEE THIS FACTORS INTO LEGISLATION.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MANY ELECTIONS REFORM BILLS THAT ARE BEING INTRODUCED THEN SOME ARE A LITTLE THROUGHOUT AND THERES A LOT OF GOOD ONCE.

THEN YOU KNOW WHAT I SAID.

I AM ENCOURAGED ABOUT AND IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE, THAT RICHARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE NOW COME OUT AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, YEAH, WE DO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS.

THEN, THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS AN ENTIRE BATCH OF 50 VOTES THAT WERE DOUBLE COUNTED THEN NOT INTENTIONALLY, I AM SURE.

THEN, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, WE COULD DO BET WE'RE CHAIN OF CUSTODY.

SO MANY THINGS, PROCESSING THOSE DUPLICATES WHERE WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 2500 OF THEM, THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE DUPLICATES OR NOT.

MY POINT IS HERE.

IF THAT IS WHAT IT TOOK BECAUSE THIS IS ALL WE WANTED TO BEGIN WITH IS POINT OUT WE HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEN FIXED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

WE WANT TO KNOW THAT IT IS SAFE AND SECURE AND THE MACHINES ARE WORKING RIGHT.

THAT IS ALL WE WANTED.

>> BUT AT LEAST WE GOT TOT THAT POINT.

ICE?

IT.

>> IS IT FIRE SAY YOU GET POINT THEY AGREE WITH YOU.

WHEN THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU ON EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED WITH THIS AUDIT.

I MEAN, IS TO IT FAIR TO SAY THEY ARE ONBOARD WITH YOU AND WHEN THEY FOUND FAULT WITH NINE OUT OF TEN THINGS THAT WERE DONE OVER THE SUMMER.

>> NO.

FIRST AND FOREMOST.

LET ME SAY, I DID NOT SAY THEY AGREED WITH THIS.

WHAT I SAID IS THAT IT IS NICE IT SEE THEY AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT.

WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

THEY ARE NOW SUGGESTING WAYS TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS.

AND SECOND OF ALL YEAH I KNOW THEY DON'T AGREE.

THEY DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO TRASH US.

AND HOWEVER THIS MEDIA AND THEY NEVER DID AND ADMITTED THEY DID DELETE FILES OFF THE SERVERS THE DAY BEFORE THEY TURNED THEM OVER TO THE SENATE AND YET NOBODY IS REPORTING THAT TO THE PUBLIC.

>> DO YOU A DEGREE WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ALL YEAR LONG.

RIGHT.

DO YOU AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CYBER NINJAS WAS SUM PLY THE WRONG COMPANY TO RUN THIS ELECTION REVIEW AND NOT A COMPANY ANY MORE AND FACING FINDS THEN YOU ARE HAVING YOUR PROBLEMS GETTING THEM TOLL RELEASE AND THEN IT WAS EMBARRASSMENT TO THE STATE THEN DO YOU AGREE THAT A BETTER COMPANY WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAN BETTER JOB?

FIRST OF ALL OF IF IT IS YOUR OPINION THAT THEY ARE EMBARRASSMENT.

DO I THINK IN THAT HINDSIGHT, COULD WE HAVE DEAN BETTER JOB?

YEAH.

I THINK WE COULD HAVE.

PLEASE REMEMBER FIRST AND FOREMOST.

WE WERE COMPLAINING WE DID NOT FIND.

WE DID NOT HIRE A CERTIFIED AUDITOR.

THERE ARE NO CERTIFIED AUDITORS IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

SO WE HAD TO GO OUT TO GET PROPOSITIONS OR RFB FREE PEOPLE WHO WOULD PUT TOGETHER THE TEAM TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

A THROUGH Z.

THERE IS NO CERTIFIED AUDITORS.

A BEING SAID, AND SINCE WE WERE THE FIRST ONE IN THE ENTIRE NATION TO DO AN ELECTION AUDIT OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND YOU KNOW, WE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE FRONT AND CENTER.

YEAH.

WE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB IN SOME WAYS.

WE FOUND WAYS WE COULD HAVE DONE IT.

THERE WAS MORE WAYS WE COULD HAVE SAVED A LITTLE MONEY WE HAD DONE THINK IT WAY INSTEAD OF THAT WAY.

HEY IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS BEING DONE NOW WE ARE ABLE TO ADVICE THE OTHER STATE US WHAT THE BEST PATH FORWARD TO GET THAT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WELL, REMEMBER, I ASKED YOU THIS THE LAST TIME TALKED.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REGRETS AT THE TIME AND CHOSEN TO RUN THIS OPERATION.

DO YOU REGRET NOW HAVING CYBER NINJAS IN CHARGE THIS IS NO AT COMPANY ANY MORE.

NO I DO NOT REGRET AS I SAID, I COULD HAVE PICKED SOMEBODY ELSE AND THE RESULT WAS HAVE BEEN THE SAME.

PLEASE REMEMBER, ALSO, YOU ASKED WHY NOT A BUSINESS ANY MORE.

WELL, IT IS BECAUSE PRIMARILY BECAUSE MARICOPA COUNTY AND THE LIBERAL MEDIA TRASHED FROM DAY ONE.

BEFORE WE KICKED AUDIT COMPANY.

THEY IMMEDIATELY TRAPPED BECAUSE IT WAS, IT WAS TWISTED AROUND.

IT SHOULD HAVE EVERYBODY IN BEEN POLITICAL.

AND THE MEDIA TWISTED IT TO THIS IS CERTIFIED THE LIKERS.

ITS ALL ABOUT GETTING TRUMP IN.

IT WAS NEVER ABOUT TRUMP.

WAS NEVER ABOUT DECERTIFYING IT WAS ABOUT 5% OF OUR VOTERS IN ARIZONA PULLED BACK THEY DO NOT HAVE OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

THIS IS ABOUT US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHO HAVE OBLIGATION TO ANSWER OUR CONSTITUENT QUESTIONS THEN IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING ALLEGED THEN I TOLD THE SUPERVISORS.

AND IT IS NOT TRUE.

LET'S ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.

THEN IF WE FIND MISTAKES.

IF WE FIND THAT WE COULD HAVE DEAN BETTER JOIN OUR ELECTIONS THIS THEN LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

LET'S FIX IT.

THAT IS ALL IT HAS BEEN FROM DAY ONE.

NOTHING MORE THAN.

LAST QUESTION ON THIS.

AS FAR AS LEGISLATION, THAT COMES FROM LAWMAKERS, THAT IS BASED ON SOMETHING THAT CYBER NINJAS DID OVER THE SUMMER, THAT IS DISCREDITED BY MARICOPA COUNTY.

THE ENTIRE COUNTY LEADERSHIP IS DISCREDITING THIS.

ARE YOU, HOW SECURE ARE YOU INFLOWING THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS COMING FROM A FAIR PLACE?

>> SO THAT IS YOUR FIRST, YOUR NEXT ASSUMPTION YOU HAVE MADE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION ALMOST ALL THE NEW LEGISLATIVE BILLS REGARDING THE ELECTION INTEGRITY IT IS NOT COMING FROM CYBER NINJAS.

>> NO.

I DIDN'T SAY THEY WERE COMING.

I AM SAYING IF THEY COME.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

>> WELL, I CAN TELL, THEY ARE NOT COMING.

I HAVE SEEN ALL THE BILLS.

THE THINGS THAT WE ARE K LOOKING AT IS THINGS WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO OTHER STATES ABOUT BEST PRACTICES AND FOR SECURITY.

BEST PRACTICES FOR THOSE SIGNATURES ON THE BALLOT.

BEST PRACTICES FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR VOTES ARE SAFE AND SECURE.

SO NO.

>> OK. LAST QUESTION BEFORE WE GO.

THANK YOU GAIN FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS HERE.

FOR THOSE WHO SAY, THAT ALL OF THESE BILLS AND YOU SAID SOME ARE THROUGHOUT.

THEY ARE WITH BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND FINGERPRINTS BEING INVOLVED HER AND UNIQUE VOTER REGISTRATION.

ALL OF THIS STUFF FLYING AROUND HERE.

HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

HOW DO YOU ASSURE PEOPLE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, THAT THIS IS NOT AN EFFORT AT VOTER SUPPRESSION.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE KEEP HEARING AND FROM A DISTANCE, SURE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> OK. WELL.

WE HEARING IT IS VOTER SUPPRESSION FROM THE LEFT.

BUT THE VOTER SUPPRESSION COMES FROM, OH FRESH WE ASKED THEM FOR I.D., OR TO ACTUALLY SIGN THEIR BALLOT LIKE THE LAW REQUIRES, AND WE ARE BEING TOLD, THAT ITS VOTER SUPPRESSION.

THAT IS NOT VOTER SUPPRESSION.

ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN YOUR CHECK WENT YOU PAY UTILITY BILL IF YOU DON'T SIGN THE CHECK, GUESS WHAT.

THEY ARE RETURN IT AND SAY, YOU ARE PAST DUE NOW.

NOW YOU OWE PENALTIES AND END INTEREST.

SAME THING WITH THE TAXES SO SHOWING I.D.

SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED AS VOTER SUPPRESSION.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT GOING OVER THE VOTER ROLLS TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS AND EVEN THOUSANDS.

AND THAT SHOULD SOMETHING THAT IS COMMON SENSE BUT THE LEFT IS CALLING THAT AS VOTER SUPPRESSION.

OK. YOU ARE ASSURING FOLKS RIGHT NOW THIS MYRIAD OF BILLS AND DOZENS THROUGHOUT THEY DO NOT CONSTITUTE VOTER SUPPRESSION.

THAT BASE YOU ARE SAYING.

>> I BELIEVE THAT THE BILLS THAT WILL GET PASSED AFTER THE YEAR SHOULD BE BILLS THAT ARE THEY SHOULD BE BIPARTISAN AND THEY ARE GOOD COMMON SENSE ONES AND THERE IS A COUPLE OUT THERE THAT MAYBE ARE MORE CONTROVERSIAL I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU GET REPUBLICANS TO VOTE ON THOSE EITHER.

INTERESTING.

>> YOU PROBABLY WON'T GET OUT OF COMMITTEE.

S THAT YOU HOW IT WORKS.

SENATE KAREN F FANN.

THANKS.

>> ANY TIME, TIM.

THANK YOU.

TIM: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE'LL HEAR FROM A TEACHER WHO TURNED TO ART AFTER SHE LOST HER JOB DURING THE PANDEMIC.

TED: MANY PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN MOVED TO FIND NEW WORK IN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SECTORS.

HORIZONTE HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE WITH EILEEN MARTINEZ, A TEACHER, WHO TURNED TO "ART" WHEN SHE LOST HER JOB DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> YOU WERE ARTIST THEN TEACH THEN YOU DECIDED TO FOCUS FULL-TIME ON THE ART AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

KNOW ONE THING THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, WELL, DRAWING IS A LEARNED ACTIVITY.

>> YES.

>> WHY IT IS A LEARNED SKILL.

CITY THIS THAT THERE IS A BIG MISCONSENSUAL THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS THAT YOU ARE BORN WITH.

DOW BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE NATURAL TALENT AND DON'T KEEP ON CULL STRAIGHTING YOU STAY STUCK AT THAT STAGE.

SO I KNOW THAT, THAT IS TRUE FACT BECAUSE I OFTEN DO NOT AND HAVE BEEN DRAWING TEN YEARS NOW.

IT IS JUST KIND OF LIKE SKILL AND SUPPORT OR STUDENT.

>> WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

>> I ALWAYS USED TO KIND OF LIKE DRAW BY MY SEVERAL AND DIDN'T UNTIL I WENT TO COLLEGE AND SCHOOL SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY IN TENNESSEE THEN I STUDIED ART THERAPY THERE AND PART OF THE PROGRAM I HAD TO TAKE DRAWING THEN DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND IT WAS DIFFICULT AT FIRST.

DIDN'T ENJOY IT UNTIL I BROKE THROUGH THAT MENTALITY OF THINGS HAVING TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY.

AND I HAVE BEEN DRAWING EVER SINCE.

THEN IT WAS PANDEMIC THAT LED TO M DIRECTLY FULL-TIME ART.

YES.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO FULL-TIME ART BUZZ NEVER THOUGHT I WAS SOMETHING THAT I COULD DO.

THE IDEA WAS ALWAYS LINGERING.

IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS.

THEN SO THE PANDEMIC I WAS WORKING PART TIME OUT OF SCHOOL BUT I STOPPED GOING IN PERSON AND SO, I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THE TIME THIN STARTED MORE TIME MINE ARTWORK THEN FROM THERE THE LADY AT THE CHURCH HER NAME IS HANNAH AND INVITED ME FOR A MARKET BACK THROUGH LAST NOVEMBER THEN FROM THERE STARTED CREATING MORE WORK AND IT IS JUST GOING ON EVER SINCE.

>> YOUR ART HAS PARTICULAR FOCUS AND BUILDING HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

>> WELL, BUILDING.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF ILLUSTRATING THE CITY, IT IS A NEW PLACE I GREW UP.

EVERY TIME I WOULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE.

I WOULD HAVE A SKETCH BOOK AND SO, I THOUGHT, WELL, WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOWCASE WHAT PHOENIX HAS TO OF FENN THAN THROUGH ILLUSTRATING IT AND SO BUT THE IDEA, I THINK IT KIND OF ALSO GOES DOWN AS THE FACT I AM NOSTALGIC PERSON.

I LOVE THIS GOOD MEMORY, SIGNED STARTED GOING TO DIFFERENT SPOTS THAT WERE FOND TON ME AND DRAWING ON LOCATION THEN FROM THERE, PEOPLE HAVE REQUESTED CERTAIN PLACES TO BE DRAWN AND I KIND OF, I WANT TO BALANCE THE FACT THAT I STILL WANT TO DO THING THAT IS ENJOY.

I DON'T WANT TO JUST, YOU KNOW, DO THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING KNOW DO, SO IT IS TO BALANCE, YOU I DON'T WANT TO GET BURNED OUT, YOU KNOW?

>> WELL, SO, YOU DO DRAWINGS OF ICONIC BUILDINGS.

I SAW YOUR RETURNING AS PHOENIX SUNS ARENA.

YES.

>> BUT YOU ALSO DO SMALLER, SOMETIMES HISTORIC BUILDINGS BUT ALSO HOMES.

>> I DO.

DOW A LOT OF DRAWING.

THAT STARTED OUT EARLIER THIS YEAR AND I HAD A FRIEND WHOSE GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY FROM COVID AND WANTED TO HAVE HER HOUSE DRAWN IN TEMPE AND POSTCARDS TO LENDERS AND FAMILY OF HER GRANDMOTHER SO I WENT OUT AND THEN, THEN, AND FROM THERE, PEOPLE LIKE THE IDEA OF HOME DRAWING SO I HAVE BEEN DOING THOSE.

I GET A LOT OF REQUEST FOR THOSE.

I THINK HOMES ARE THE PLACE YOU SPEND THE MOST TIME AT, RIGHT?

ESPECIALLY LAST YEAR WHEN IT WAS DURING QUARANTINE, PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE THIS, I US SOMETHING SPECIAL.

SO I HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF FOLKS.

TALK ABOUT YOUR TECH TECHNIQUE.

TECH ABOUT YOUR TECH TEAK.

YEAH.

PEN NEVER PENCIL.

DOW USE PENCIL WHEN I HAVE TO DRAW LIKE THE NAME OR THE SMALL DIALS THEN I DON'T SO I THINK WHEN I FIRST STARTED I WOULD KIND OF FIXATE IN HAVING THINGS TO BE A CERTAIN WAY THEN YOU HAVE THE OPTION.

OK. MORE FOR GIVING THAN THE PEN WITH THE PENCIL YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING WITH IT.

OTHERWISE I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT WHAT I AM PLAQUING AND HAVE TO KEEP GOING.

YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AGE THERE IS A MEANING THERE.

YEAH.

IS THERE.

AND IT IS IN THERE SOMETHING THAT KIND OF PLAYS INTO MY WORKS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST GENERATION.

I DIDN'T SEE IT A LOFT REPRESENTATION OF WHAT I AM DOING NOW, LOOK I NEVER REALLY SAW THAT.

I NEVER REALLY HAD ANYONE TO LOOK UP TO, AND I WOULD LIKE OTHER PEOPLE OTHER LATINOS TO SEE THAT, IT IS POS THAT YOUR ARTWORK AND KEEP GOING AT IT AND CAN BE A WAY TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF AND SUPPORT YOURSELF FUNCTIONALLY SO IT IS ALSO SOMETHING I THINK THAT WAS BENDED IN MYSELF AND IN A SENSE THAT I SAW HER BEING VERY DRIVE AND WORKING VERY HARD IN LIFE AND THAT WAS INSTALLED IN ME.

THEN I ALSO, I DO WANT TO WORK HARD BUT ENJOY LIFE AND HAVE THAT MAY BALANCE.

IN YORE WORK AND WE CANNOT ENVY WITHOUT MENTIONING THAT YOU GOT A CALENDAR COMING OUT.

A 2022 CALENDAR.

I DO.

IT IS A COMBINATION OF MY WORK THIS YEAR AND I AM JUST GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT I HAD OF PEOPLE BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS OTHERWISE.

BUT A LOT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LAND MARKS HERE IN PHOENIX.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BUY.

THEY CAN DO THAT.

THEY CAN GONE TO THE INSTAGRAM AND MY WEBSITE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LOOKS LIKE A GREAT PIECE OF WORK AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON ARIZONA HORIZON: STATE SENATE ON BREAK IT DOWN HOW THE PANDEMIC INCREASED PHYSICIAN BURNOUT.