[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS THAT DEMOCRATS AREN'T GIVING REPUBLICS ENOUGH CREDIT FOR INCREASES IN EDUCATION FUNDING.

AND ON "CRONKITE NEWS," AN ARIZONA DREAMER'S LIFE STORY IS HEADED TO BROADWAY.

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

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ANOTHER DAY OF ENCOURAGING COVID CASES IN ARIZONA.

JUST OVER 1200 NEW CASES REPORTED.

JUST A MONTH AGO THERE WERE 23,000 NEW CASES ON RECORD.

COVID-RELATED FATALITIES ARE STILL UP THERE, BUT HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE A DOWNWARD TREND, AND ICU BED AVAILABLE IS GEN OVER 10% STATEWIDE.

THIS COMES AS A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT PEOPLE WHO AT THE TIMED POSITIVE FOR THE COVID-19 FACE A GREATER RISK OF HEART PROBLEMS.

THAT'S A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL "NATURE MEDICINE."

THEY FOUND AN INCREASE IN CASES OF STROKE, CLOTTING AND HEART ATTACKS COMPARED TO THOSE NOT INFECTED.

>>> OTHER NEWS.

TODAY'S RAIN AND SNOW UP NORTH, PART OF A WINTER SNOW THAT IS HITTING MUCH OF THE COUNTRY AND MAKING A MESS OF AIR TRAVEL.

AMERICAN AIRLINES IS THE HARDEST HIT.

ABOUT A THURSDAY OF ALL AMERICAN SCHEDULED DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS IN DALLAS TODAY WERE SCRAPPED.

AAA SAID TODAY THAT THE GROWING PROBLEMS IN UKRAINE ARE EFFECTING THE GLOBAL OIL MARKET.

PRICES ARE ALREADY ON THE INCREASE, BUT SEVERE FINANCIAL SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA WOULD LIKELY LEAD THE KREMLIN TO WITHHOLD OIL FROM THE WORLD MARKET.

RUSSIA TRAILS ONLY THE U.S. AND SAUDI ARABIA IN OIL PRODUCTION.

>>> AND CONVOYS ARE HEADED TO WASHINGTON TO TRY TO SHUT DOWN THE BELTWAY THIS WEEKEND.

THIS COMING AFTER A TRUCKER BLOCKADE IN CANADA CAUSED ALL SORTS OF ECONOMIC DISRUPTIONS.

IT IS UNCLEAR HOW LONG THE PROTESTS WILL LAST OR HOW MANY TRUCKERS WILL BE INVOLVED.

>>> THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE'S RECENT LIFTING ON AN EDUCATION SPENDING CAP WAS ACHIEVED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME ACRIMONY, INCLUDING ONE SENATOR REFERRING TO IT AS QUOTE, EDUCATIONAL TERRORISTS.

WE TALKED TO SENATE MINORITY LEADER REBECCA RIOS ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE EDUCATION SPENDING CAP.

THE PROCESS AND JUST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS THING.

AT LEAST A ONETIME OVERRIDE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE FINALLY PASSED THIS AGATE EXPENDITURE LIMIT ON ISSUES THAT WE KNEW -- BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN LOOMING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

WE FINALLY PASSED IT YESTERDAY WITH JUST FIVE DAYS TO SPARE.

AND REALLY PUT A LOT OF TEACHERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS INTO A LOT OF ANXIETY THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE, BUT AT THEN OF THE DAY, WE FINALLY GOT IT PASSED.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR IT, AND SOME REPUBLICANS VOTED IT, BUT THERE WERE SOME REPUBLICANS THAT WERE JUST DOWN RIGHT ANGRY.

WE HAD ONE REFER TO THE GALLERY OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS AS EDUCATIONAL TERRORISTS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF ANGER AND RESENTMENT THROWN AT TEACHERS.

IT WAS SAD TO SEE.

THIS IS MONEY THAT HAS BEEN IN THEIR BUDGET, THAT THEY JUST NEEDED THE LEGAL OKAY TO SPEND IT.

BUT WE HAVE ONLY OKAYED IT FOR THE 2022 SCHOOL YEAR, SO WE NEED TO EITHER CONTINUE TO DO THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, OR HOPEFULLY COME UP WITH A MORE LONG-TERM FIX >> YEAH, THIS IS A 1980 SITUATION HERE.

IT DID NOT ALLOW FOR THINGS LIKE COMPUTERS -- THE ENTIRE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FORESEEN IN 1980S.

IS THERE THE POLITICAL WILL TO ADDRESS THIS SOON?

>> NO.

THERE IS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

THERE IS NOT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND THAT GOES BACK TO PROP 208, AND THE REPUBLICANS CONTENTION THAT THEY HAVE SPENT MORE THAN A ENOUGH ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AS WE ALL KNOW THEY WERE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO PROP 208 ON THE SURCHARGE TO THE UPPER WEALTHY TO HELP PAY FOR EDUCATION.

SO THEY WERE PLAYING A GAME OF CHICKEN.

WELL, CLEARLY, THEY WERE NEVER GOING TO WIN THAT.

SO THE JUDGE STILL HASN'T RULED.

THEY I BELIEVE ARE RELUCTANT TO DO A LONG-TERM FIX, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT PROP 208, THAT STLOETERS PASSED, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ALL UNDER THIS EXPENDITURE LIMIT, THEREBY ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO GATHER THAT REVENUE, BECAUSE WHICH EAR BUMPING UP AGAIN, THIS ANTIQUATED FORMULA.

>> KAREN FANN SAID SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE; THAT THIS CAN'T GO ON YEAR AFTER YEAR.

DO YOU THINK SHE HAS THE WILL?

WE HAD 6 NO-VOTES FOR LIFTING THE SPENDING CAP.

ARE YOU HEARING THE ARGUMENT FROM LIKE A HALF A DOZEN REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES OR A LOT OF REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES?

>> I THINK THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS ARE RESISTANT TO DOING ANYTHING LONG TERM, WITHOUT KNOWING THAT PROP 208 MONEYS ARE NOT GOING TO BE EXEMPTED FROM THIS LIMIT.

THIS WAS, AGAIN, A CRISIS OF THEIR OWN MAKING THEY HAD TO ADDRESS, BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES WERE STARTING TO GET VERY, VERY UP SET.

WE COULD EASILY DO A NUMBER OF THINGS, RIGHT?

AND EVERY OPTION WE HAVE WOULD GO TO THE VOTERS, ULTIMATELY TO DECIDE.

WE WOULD REPEAL THE EXPENDITURE ALL TOGETHER, WE WOULD REBASE IT SO IT IS BASED ON 2022 NUMBERS AND NOT 1980 NUMBERS, SO YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ADDITIONAL COST OF TECHNOLOGY, OF S.T.E.M.

CLASSES, OF TEACHER VACANCIES, OR WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS OVERRIDE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHICH I THINK IS IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY QUICK MOVEMENT ON FIXING THIS.

I HOPE WE GET SOMETHING BY THE END OF SESSION, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE CAN IS KICKED DOWN THE ROAD.

>> LAST POINT ON THIS REAL QUICKLY.

YOU MENTIONED TO THE CENTER REFERRING TO EDUCATIONAL TERRORISTS.

THOSE WHO VOTED NO, SAY THE EDUCATION SPECIALISTS ARE UNGRATEFUL, AND THAT REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH CREDIT.

IS THAT A VALID AR -- DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF WHINING.

IT WAS ALMOST 'EMBARRASSED.

THEY WERE LITERALLY STANDING UP SAYING WE'RE NOT GETTING CREDIT FOR THIS MONEY.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THEY ARE REWRITING HISTORY.

THAT 20% INCREASE IS NOT THE BRAIN CHILD OF REPUBLICANS.

THAT WAS THE RESULT OF 70,000 PARENTS, TEACHERS AND ALLIES DE DESCENDING ON THE CAPITOL TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

THEY FEEL UP SET, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE GIVEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT THAT ARE NOT GETTING ACCOLADES FOR IT.

BUT ONE SENATOR SAID THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE, AND IF YOU WANT A ONE AND DONE FIX, YOU ARE IN THE WRONG LINE OF BUSINESS, SO, AGAIN, THEY DO THE MINIMAL.

THEY DO IT ONLY UNDER DURESS AND EXTREME PRESSURE, BUT THEN THEY WANT TO BE CONGRATULATED.

IT'S IT'S LUDICROUS.

>>> THERE IS A MOVE REGARDING SPLITTING MARICOPA COUNTY INTO FOUR COUNTIES.

REPUBLICANS SAY NOW THIS ACCOUNTS FOR MORE REPRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE GROWING AREAS, AND IT WOULD HELP COUNTIES SERVE THEIR CONSTITUENTS MUCH MORE THAN THE MASSIVE MARICOPA COUNTY DOES RIGHT NOW.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> IT'S LUDICROUS.

AND I WILL TELL YOU FOR ONE REASON -- THERE ARE MANY REASONS.

MARICOPA COUNTY DOES HAVE 4 MILLION PEOPLE.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE, 93% OF THEM ARE BEING SERVED BY 25 CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, AND THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE GET THE MAJORITY OF THEIR SERVICES, WHERE THEY ASK FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR NEWSENSE ABATEMENT.

SO I WOULD ARGUE THEY HAVE MUCH BETTER REPRESENTATION JUST BASED ON THE NUMBERS.

IF YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST -- AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE WE RECEIVED A FISCAL NOTE -- I THINK TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REALIZE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE THREE MORE BOARD OF SUPERVISSUPERVISO SUPERINTENDENTS, AND EACH OF THOSE COUNTIES HAVE TO BUILD NEW JAIL, NEW COURTHOUSES, NEW BUILDINGS FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES IS LARGELY ONLY WHAT THE LEGISLATURE GIVES THEM AUTHORITY TO DO.

THEY RUN THESE DEPARTMENTS, AND WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICE FOR CONSTITUENTS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $350,000, DIVIDED BY FIVE REPORTS OF SUPERVISORS.

THAT IS HECK OF A RATIO, WHEN YOU CONSIDER ONE IS REPRESENTING 350,000 PEOPLE.

MANY THINK THIS IS RETALIATION, BECAUSE THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL IS A DIE-HARD TRUMP FAN, AND HE WAS BANNED FROM FACEBOOK OR TWITTER OR HIS COMPANY WAS BECAUSE OF THE TROLL FARM HE CREATED.

SO HE IS EXTREMELY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, SO IT CALLS INTO QUESTION WHY THIS BILL IS EVEN BEING INTRODUCED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO STOP YOUR RIGHT THERE.

SENATOR RIOS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOCAL ARTIST WHOSE MURALS ARE ON DISPLAY AROUND THE VALLEY.

>>> ASHLEY MACIAS IS A LOCAL ARTIST AND MURALIST KNOWN FOR HER LARGE-SCALE SURREALISTIC WORKS THAT CAN BE SPOTTED IN PLACES LIKE THE ROOF TOP DECK OF THE CAMBRIA HOTEL.

JOSE CARDENAS, THE HOST OF THE ARIZONA PBS SHOW "HORIZONTE," SPOKE WITH ASHLEY MACIAS ABOUT HER ART.

>> ASHLEY MACIAS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "HORIZONTE."

YOU ARE A SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST.

>> YES.

>> WHAT LEAD YOU TO YOUR PASSION FOR ART?

>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO CREATE, AND AS I GOT OLDER, I REALIZED THAT WAS SOMETHING I COULD ACTUALLY DO AND SHARE WITH POOM POOM -- PEOPLE.

SIT ALWAYS SOMETHING I HAVE WANTED TO DO AND CREATE AND PAINT IN SOME WAY.

>> SO WHAT HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST INFLUENCES?

THERE IS A STILL TO YOUR ART, BUT WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR ART THE MOST?

>> I THINK MY WORK IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

MY WORK DOES FALL MORE ON A SURREAL OR ABSTRACT TENDENCIES.

BUT IT'S A DEEPER CONSCIOUS, LIKE JUST TRYING TO LOOK DEEPER WITHIN MYSELF AND MY SURROUNDINGS.

I LIKE TO CONNECT MY WORK WITH NATURE AND THE METAPHYSICS OF, YOU KNOW, HUMANITY, AND THE DEEPER IDEAS OF OUR HUMAN CONSTRUCT, OUR HUMAN PSYCHE.

SO I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO PORTRAY THOSE DIFFERENT NATURAL ELEMENTS, BUT ALSO PORTRAY THEM IN A WAY THAT MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE, I SUPPOSE.

>> AND YOU HAVE DONE A SMALL SCALE AND LARGE SCALE.

YOU HAVE DONE MURALS >> YEAH, I DEFINITELY WANT TO GO BIGGER, JUST TO REACH A GREATER AUDIENCE IS AND SHOW A LARGER SCALE.

>> YOU TEND TO DO SURREALISTIC ART.

>> YES.

>> I SAW YOUR WEBSITE DESCRIBE IT AS TRIPPY.

>> YES.

IT CAN SOMETIMES FALL UNDER PSYCHEDELIC, OR -- YOU KNOW.

IT IS A FORM OF SURREALISM.

IT IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

BUT MY WORK IS DEFINITELY MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.

>> AND A LOT OF USE OF COLOR.

>> YES, A LOT OF VIBRANCY IN MY WORK.

I LIKE TO PULL IN THE COLORS OF NATURE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, CREATE MORE VIVID DIMENSIONS TO THE WORK THAT, I.E., ELABORATE ON.

>> YOUR INVOLVE IN THE BIG MURAL THAT WAS DEDICATED TO THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

A LITTLE BIT OF A DEPARTURE FROM THE TRIPPY STUFF?

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, AND DURING THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER JUST FOR VOICES TO BE HEARD, AND AT THAT TIME, IT TOOK A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ME AND OTHER AMAZING ARTISTS TO COME TOGETHER TO USE ART AS A VOICE TO PROTEST IN OUR OWN WAY.

SOME PEOPLE TAKE TO THE STREETS.

WE TAKE TO THE WALLS.

IT WAS JUST A WAY TO COPE WITH OUR INJUSTICES, AND TRY TO GIVE A VOICE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

>> SO ARE THERE OTHER MESSAGES IN OUR ART?

I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE BIG HURALES IS IT -- >> THE CAMBRIA HOTEL.

>> YES.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO CONVEY WITH THOSE?

>> I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW LIKE JUST THIS MORE METAPHYSICAL, KIND OF WEIRD VIVID PORTRAYAL OF OUR HUMAN SHELLS.

LIKE A LOT OF THE IMAGES I PORTRAY ARE NOT GENDER BASED.

SO I REALLY LIKE TO PORTRAY, YOU KNOW, EYES TO CONVEY A DEEPER MEANS AND DEEPER INCITE TO OUR, YOU KNOW, MORALITY AND ALSO ENCOMPASS NATURE WITHIN THAT, AND HOW CONNECTED THOSE TWO ARE.

AND LIKE NATURE BLOOMS LIKE WE BLOOM WITH THAT, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY GROWING AND CHANGES.

WE'RE COMPLEX.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR FAMILY ROOTS ARE IN MEXICO?

>> YES.

>> WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST REPRESENTATION OF THE STUFF YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR THAT REPRESENT THAT?

>> LATELY, I HAVE BEEN USING MORE TEXTILE AND CONTURE IMAGERY IN MY WORK.

I THINK A GOOD PIECE WOULD PROBABLY BE THE GOLDEN MARGARITA.

>> WITH THE MYSTICAL CREATURES?

>> YES, I WAS VERY INSPIRED BY THAT.

IT JUST LOVE THE IDEA OF PORTRAYING THINGS IN MULTIPLE CONTEXTS OF, YOU KNOW, PATTERNS AND, YOU KNOW, LIFE, I SUPPOSE.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION, ANY BIG PROJECTS COMING UP, EITHER BIG MURALS OR A PARTICULAR AREA OF FOCUS?

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN MEXICO LATELY.

>> YES, I HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS COMING UP.

ONE PARTICULARLY IS WITH X PHOENIX, AND IT'S A LARGE BUILDING GOING UP -- IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO HAVE VENUES AND BARS, BUT IT IS ALSO A CONDOMINIUM.

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE MY LARGEST MURAL TO DATE.

>> AND WE'LL SEE IT SOON, I HOPE.

>> YES, HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT, SO I'M TRYING TO PACE MYSELF.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> CAREY PENA IS A LOCAL TV NEWS ANCHOR WHO LEFT HER JOB REPORTING ON CRIME AND OTHER HARD NERDS TO START A MEDIA COMPANY WITH THE GOAL OF INSPIRING PEOPLE THROUGH STORIES.

WE SPOKE WITH CAREY PENA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER VENTURE, WHICH IS CALLED INSPIRED MEDIA 360.

CAREY PENA WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN >> IT'S GOOD TOO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> WE WORKED TOGETHER ON A TOWNHALL, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO.

A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

FOR YOU ESPECIALLY.

WHAT IS INSPIRED MEDIA 360?

>> IT IS A MEDIA COMPANY THAT IS BUILT OUT OF MY DEEP LOVE OF JOURNALISM, AND I WANTED TO TELL MORE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES.

FOR FOLKS HERE IN THE VALLEY, THEY MAY HAVE SEEN ME ON LOCAL TV.

I WAS VERY BLESSED TO BE AN ANCHOR ON 3 TV FOR YEARS.

I WENT TO THE WALTER CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, AND I KEPT GOING OUT TO THESE NEWS STORIES AND INTERVIEW PEOPLE IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY, FIRES AND FLOODS, AND TERRORISM ATTACKS.

AND WHAT WAS INTRIGUING TO ME, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

WHEN WE GO THROUGH SOMETHING, HOW DO WE GO ON IN LIFE?

AND I WAS JUST ALWAYS MOTIVATED BY THAT PART OF THE STORY, AND SO I WANTED TO LAUNCH MY OWN MEDIA FIRM, WHICH STARTED WITH PODCASTS, AND EVOLVED INTO DOCUSERIES, DIGITAL TELEVISION ALL BASED ON INSPIRATIONAL FORRY TELLING.

>> WAS THERE AN AH-HA MOMENT?

WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT SAID THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I'M GOING TO START THIS NOW.

>> I BELIEVE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MEDIA RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE WE ARE.

AND I REMEMBER DOING A STORY FOR THE 10:00 NEWS.

I DID A STORY ABOUT A FOUR YEAR OLD WHO PASSED AWAY, AND THE PARENTS SIGNED UP IMMEDIATELY TO DONATE THE CHILD'S ORGANS, AND SAVED A LITTLE CHILD'S LIFE IN MINNESOTA.

I WAS INVITED TO SHARE THE STORY WHEN THE TWO FAMILIES MET.

WHAT WAS INTRIGUING TO ME, IS WHEN THAT STORY WENT ONLINE, IT WENT VIRAL, SO I WAS STUDYING THE DATA ON HOW PEOPLE CONNECT ONLINE, AND SHARING THESE STORIES OF INSPIRATION AND TRIUMPH AND LOVE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND I WANTED MORE OF THAT.

I THOUGHT HOW DO I USE THIS FOR THE GREATER GOOD?

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT STORIES TO COVER?

>> THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE I GET A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REACH OUT TO ME.

I HAVE DONE STORIES -- WE DID A VIDEO LOG WHERE WE FOLLOWED ALONG WITH A GAL THAT REACHED OUT TO ME, 31 YEARS OLD, AND SHE WAS DIEING FROM CANCER, AND SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO BE SEEN AS STRONG NOT SCARED.

I TOOK THAT STORY, AND I DO A LOT OF VETERAN STORIES.

I COVER STORIES THAT I THINK NEED MORE ATTENTION.

STORIES WITHIN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

I LIKE STORIES ABOUT WHAT THE RESEARCHERS ARE DOING THAT WE DON'T HEAR ENOUGH ABOUT, THAT COULD QUITE LITERALLY SAVE LIVES.

>> RIGHT.

AND THESE WOULD BE BROADCAST OR DISTRIBUTED HOW?

>> MY WORK IS ALL DIGITALED FOCUSED, AND FACING.

I HAVE TWO TELEVISION PRODUCTION FACILITIES, AND WE'RE JUST OPENING A NEW ONE, AND IT'S A COLLABORATIVE SPACE.

WE SHOOT EVERYTHING TELEVISION FRIENDLY, IF YOU WILL, BUT I REVERSED SORT OF THE WAY THAT WE ENGINEER THESE PIECES.

SO IT'S SHOT HD.

SO WE CAN PUT IT ON TELEVISION, AND HAS THE HAPPENED, BUT MY FOCUS IS AGAIN MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, AND MOST FOLKS ARE GETTING THEIR NEWS ONLINE.

>> RIGHT.

SO THERE ARE AVENUES AND PLATFORMS THERE.

ER YOU MENTIONED A NEW FACILITY.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS.

>> I CAME ACROSS THIS BUILDING WITH MY FRIEND WHO IS THE PUBLISHER OF "FRONT DOORS" MAGAZINE, AND "THE RED BOOK," AND THERE WAS A BUILDING ON 12TH CENTURY, AND I WOKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ONE NIGHT, AND THOUGHT WITH THIS EXPANDED SPACE, COULD WE BRING MORE PEOPLE TO TELL MORE INSPIRATION STORIES.

NOT JUST TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS, BUT HOW DO WE FIND SOLUTIONS.

SO ANDREA AND I CAME TOGETHER, AND I HAVE A 2,000 SQUARE FOOT STUDIO SPACE IN THERE, AND THEN MY FRIENDS WHO WAS THE FORMER ANCHOR OF CBS 5, HE WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE LOCAL NEWS AT THAT TIME, AND START DOING ART THERAPY IN CONTENT CREATION IN A SIMILAR WAY THAT I'M DOING IT.

SO HE IS DOING HIS ART THERAPY, AND WE HAVE TWO MAGAZINE PRODUCTIONS, AND I'M RUNNING MY PROJECT.

>> AND THIS IS NOT JUST GOOD-NEWS STUFF, THOUGH, RIGHT?

PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT THAT, BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THAT.

THIS SOUNDS DIFFERENT.

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU RAISED THAT POINT.

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S ABOUT FEATURE NEWS OR GOOD NEWS.

IT'S ABOUT REAL LIFE STORIES.

SUFFERING, RECOVERING FROM CANCER, HELPING A LOVED ONE, BEING A CARE GIVER, BEING A SINGLE MOM WHO IS RAISING KIDS AND TRYING TO FIND A JOB.

AND I'M WORKING A LOT -- MY FOCUS HAS BEEN SQUARELY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH -- WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME AS THE MENTAL HEALTH TSUNAMI AS WE SLOWLY CRAWL OUT OF COVID, AND WE'RE IN TALKS TOGETHER WITH SOME MAJOR HEALTHCARE COMPANIES TO UNDERWRITE THE SERIES THAT WILL STREAM LIVE IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE, BUT, AGAIN, TED, IT IS MUCH LIKE WHAT YOU FOCUS ON, SOLUTIONS.

I WANT TO PUT THOSE EXPERTS ON THE STAGE AND TALK ABOUT -- THE ADDICTION RATES ARE SPIKING.

THE SUICIDE RATE IS -- WILL BREAK YOUR HEART.

AN EXPERT TOLD ME IT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH RIGHT NOW FOR 19 YEAR OLDS.

SO MORE THAN PUTTING UP A HOT LINE, WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO AS WE COME OUT OF THIS HORRIBLE TIME?

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO YOU.

IT GOT YOU OUT OF TV NEWS AND INTO SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IS A LITTLE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND BETTER FOR SOCIETY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS?

>> EVERYONE CAN FIND ME ALL OVER ONLINE, BUT YOU CAN GO TO INSPIREDMEDIA360.COM, CENTERFOR POSITIVEMEDIA.COM.

I GET HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MESSAGES OF PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO ME.

AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE LOVE I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THIS COMMUNITY, AND TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THAT GIFT, AND THAT BRINGS ME A LOT OF JOY.

>> WELL, THAT IS GOOD TO HEAR.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, MEET THE EMBRY-RIDDLE GOLDEN EAGLES COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPS IN A COMPETITION YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF.

♪