[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTIONS BALLOTS A DAY AFTER THE COUNTY CALLED THE ENTIRE PROCESS A SHAM.

ARIZONA SCHOOLS, DOWN, THE DIFFERENCE IN PAY BETWEEN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SPORTS ALMOST 50 YEARS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF TITLE IX.

IT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SENATE TODAY HELD A LIVE STREAMED UPDATE OF ITS REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL AND U.S. SENATE VOTES FROM THE LAST ELECTION.

THE SENATE ALSO RESPONDED TO COUNTY OFFICIALS WHO YESTERDAY DESCRIBED WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE COLISEUM, AS GRIFT, A SHAM AND AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE STATE.

>> THIS IS NOT PERSONAL.

I'M SO DISAPPOINTED AND SADDENED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS YESTERDAY -- SOME OF THE HURTFUL COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE.

WHICH IS SAD.

THIS IS NOT PERSONAL.

THIS IS ABOUT OUR JOBS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.

IT'S OUR JOB THAT WE HAVE TO ANSWER TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE TAXPAYERS.

THERE IS SOMETHING VERY HURTFUL THAT WAS SAID ABOUT THE SENATE WASTING MONEY ON THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK THERE IS EVER A WASTE OF MONEY IF WE ARE ENSURING OUR ELECTIONS ARE GOOD, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE GOOD, OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE BEING RUN EFFICIENTLY.

THAT'S ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MARICOPA COUNTY HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO ME VERBALLY AND BY EMAIL THAT THEY WILL NOT INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH THE AUDITORS, WHICH I FEEL IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE AUDITORS CAN'T POSE THESE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY.

>> I'M HOPEFUL FROM HERE ON OUT, THEY WILL WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS, AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA ARE DONE RIGHT, DONE CORRECTLY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM.

>> BUT MANY STATE LAWMAKERS BEHIND THE AUDIT, NO BETTER.

>> MANY OF THESE POLITICIANS WHO CLAIM THERE IS WIDE-SPREAD FRAUD ARE SIGNING UP TO RUN FOR REELECTION IN 2022, OR SIGNING UP TO RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE, AND YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS.

SO STOP PEDALLING THESE LIES JUST FOR DONATIONS.

>> AND FOR SUPERVISOR BILL GATES THE QUESTION IS A SIMPLE MATTER OF RIGHT AND WRONG.

>> WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS THESE ALLEGATIONS WHICH ARE BEING MADE BY KNOWN PARTISANS, THE CYBER-NINJAS, AND THEIR OTHER SUBCONTRACTORS ARE SIMPLY NOT TRUE, AND THEY ARE MAKING THESE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT GOOD PEOPLE.

ELECTIONS WORKERS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS IN OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

THEY DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA, OTHER THAN MAKING SURE THIS ELECTION IS DONE PROPERLY, BUT THEY HAVE MADE THESE ACCUSATIONS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> COUNTY SUPERVISOR STEVE CHUCRI WILL JOIN US TOMORROW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS APPARENT STANDOFF.

>>> AND THE LEADING PANEL FOR MEDICAL GUIDE ANSZ TODAY LOWERED THE RECOMMENDED AGE TO START COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENINGS FROM 50 TO 45.

THE GUIDANCE MEANS MOST COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENINGS FOR 45 TO 75 YEAR OLDS WILL BE COVERED BY MOST INSURANCE PLANS WITH NO CO-PAY.

>>> CINDY McCAIN IS WITHOUT WITH A NEW BOOK TITLED "STRONGER," IT'S SUBTITLE IS "COURAGE, HOPE AND HUMOR IN MY LIFE WITH JOHN McCAIN."

EARLIER WE SPOKE WITH CINDY McCAIN ABOUT HER BOOK AND HER THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF POLITICS.

CINDY McCAIN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS BOOK WITH THIS FOCUS AT THIS TIME?

>> YOU KNOW, AFTER MY HUSBAND DIED, I REALLY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO JUST EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT MY LIFE WITH HIM, AND KIND OF THE JOURNEY I WENT THROUGH.

OBVIOUSLY THE NAME OF IT "STRONGER" IS A LARGE PART OF WHAT IT IS ABOUT, AND IT WAS REALLY JUST ABOUT ME BEING ABLE TO TELL THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH IS NOT A DIFFERENT SIDE, BUT A MORE IN-DEPTH SIDE OF OUR -- NOT JUST OUR RELATIONSHIP, BUT OUR LIVES TOGETHER.

OUR LIVES APART.

YOU KNOW, ALL THAT TOOK PLACE, AND I ENJOYED IT.

IT WAS VERY CATHARTIC TO WRITE, BECAUSE I WROTE IT DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND REALLY DIDN'T TAKE TIME TO GRIEVE UNTIL THEN, AND ALL OF IT WAS REALLY GOOD FOR ME TO DO, NOT JUST WRITING IT, BUT TAKING THE TIME TO GET A SENSE OF THE NEW NORMAL.

>> YEAH, AT ONE POINT YOU WROTE AS JOHN BECAME A FAMILIAR FIGURE AROUND THE WORLD, I HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHO I WAS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT WHO YOU ARE?

>> I THINK -- YES, I HAVE.

IN THIS RESPECT -- I MEAN I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE WHO WORKED ON ISSUES THAT I FELT WERE IMPORTANT TO THE WORLD AND IMPORTANT TO MY OWN COMMUNITY, AND THOSE HAVE BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO ME NOW, AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING I WORK ON CONTINUALLY, AND I CONTINUE TO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, SO THOSE THINGS WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND ANYONE WHO KNOWS MES KNOWS HOW MUCH A PART OF ME IT IS AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT ME ALSO.

>> THE THEME IS STRENGTH IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING STRENGTH AS A MOM.

TALK ABOUT ALLOWING YOUR SONS TO ENLIST.

TALK ABOUT BRIDGET, AND HOW SHE WAS MEANT TO BE YOUR CHILD.

>> YEAH, SHE REALLY WAS.

I'LL START WITH BRIDGET, BECAUSE I DISCOVERED HER IN AN ORPHANAGE IN BANGLADESH, AND OF COURSE THROUGH THE WEEK I HAD BEEN THIS, I WAS DOING DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WOULD GO BACK EVERY DAY TO TAKE SOME DOCTORS IN.

AND DURING THE COURSE OF THAT WEEK, I CAME TO BECOME VERY FOND OF HER, BUT THE TRUTH OF IT WAS, SHE PICKED ME.

SHE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS, AND I KNEW I COULD GET HER MEDICAL CARE AT HOME, AND WHEN WE DECIDED TO BRING HER BACK TO ARIZONA, I REALIZED ON BOARD THE FLIGHT, I COULDN'T GIVE HER UP, BECAUSE SHE HAD CHOSEN ME.

MY HUSBAND DIDN'T KNOW HER EITHER.

I INTRODUCED HER TO HIM AT THE AIRPORT WHEN HE MET US.

BUT SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL PART OF OUR LIVES.

SHE IS 30-YEAR-OLDS OLD, SO SHE IS DOING VERY WELL.

MY ONE SON -- EVERY MOTHER HAS A PATH, AND I WAS NO DIFFERENT.

9/11 CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR US, AND SO OUR OLDER SON WENT TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY, AND WENT THROUGH THE MILITARY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN OUR YOUNGER SON WHO WAS 17, AND ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS, AND HE WAS IN CAM BAT BY THE TIME HE WAS 18.

IT CERTAINLY CHANGED WHO I WAS.

I BECAME MUCH MORE -- IT DEEPENED ME.

TO HAVE A CHILD IN COMBAT -- TWO THINGS WERE GOING ON.

I HAD A CHILD IN COMBAT, AND JOHN WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AT THE SAME TIME.

SO WE NEVER EVEN TALKED ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE LIVED IN FEAR THAT SOMEONE WOULD FIND OUT WHERE HE WAS AND ENDANGER HIS PLATOON, AND OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, BUT IT WAS HARD FOR ME, AND THEN THE ULTIMATE STRESS OF HAVING A CHILD IN DANGER.

>> YEAH, AND OBVIOUSLY STRENGTH INVOLVED THERE.

STRENGTH AS WELL INVOLVING SARAH PAILINBING ON THE TICKET.

YOU SAY JOHN WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT IF IT WASN'T FOR HER.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> I DON'T MEAN TO BE CRITICAL OF HER AS A PERSON, BUT I FELT LIKE THE COMMITMENT WAS TO HERSELF, AND OF COURSE I WAS CLEARLY ALL TEAM McCAIN, AND I UNDERSTOOD THE DEPTH OF WHAT IT TOOK TO DO THIS, AND IT WAS DIFFERENT FOR HER, AND I JUST THINK HER PERSPECTIVE WAS DIFFERENT FROM JOHN.

WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

AND THEN THE OF COURSE THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT OF THE MARKET, AND THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OCCURRED, SO THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, BUT I THINK SHE HAD AN IMPACT, I DO.

>> SPEAKING OF POLITICS, YOU MENTIONED BRIDGET, YOU WRIGHT AS WELL, MAYBE THE WORST ASPECT OF POLITICS WERE THE ATTACKS ON BRIDGET.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO DEAL WITH THIS AT ALL.

>> YEAH.

>> THIS IS JUST TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE STUFF.

>> YEAH, IT WAS TERRIBLE.

THEY PUT FLYERS OUT AND MADE PHONE CALLS SAYING DID YOU KNOW JOHN McCAIN HAS A BLACK CHILD?

AND IT WAS TRUE.

WE DO HAVE A BLACK CHILD, BUT IT WAS MADE TO SOUND RACIST AND THAT SHE WAS A ILLEGITIMATE CHILD.

JOHN AND I BOTH NEW WE WERE FAIR GAME, BUT TO HAVE A CHILD PICKED ON, AND OF COURSE SHE WAS TOO YOUNG TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT SOME YEARS LATER SHE GOOGLED HERSELF AND FOUND ALL OF THIS OUT.

AND CAME INTO MY ROOM CRYING AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY PRESIDENT BUSH DIDN'T LIKE HER AND IF IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS BLACK.

AND TRYING TO MAKE HER UNDERSTAND IT WAS NOT PERSONAL.

BUT SHE HAS NEVER REALLY GOTTEN OVER THAT.

IT WAS A DEEP HURT THAT SHE WILL PROBABLY FEEL THE REST OF HER LIFE.

>> YOU HAVE NOT COMMENTED MUCH ABOUT DONALD TRUMP IN PUBLIC, BUT YOU DO NOT HOLD BACK IN THE BOOK.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH YOUR REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I -- I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE STILL IN THIS SITUATION, AND I'LL USE ARIZONA AS AN EXAMPLE THAT SOMEHOW PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS -- THIS ELECTION WAS STOLEN, AND IT SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE.

WE HAVE PROVED IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND ALSO CERTIFIED THESE ELECTIONS, SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE SOMEHOW DRAGGING MY HOME STATE AND OTHER STATES ARE DOING SOME OF THE SAME THINGS TOO -- THROUGH THIS QUAGMIRE IS LUDICROUS AND CRUEL.

HE LOST THE BALLOT, AND ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND I -- I'M ASSUMING THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS PROBABLY GINNING UP A LOT OF THIS STUFF, AND KEEPING HIS BASE RILED UP, WHICH HE DOES REALLY WELL.

WE SAW THAT ON JANUARY 6TH.

I HOPE AS TIME GOES ON, PEOPLE WILL DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE CRUEL SPEECH AND RANKER THAT WAS PART OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

I BELIEVE IN THE GOOD FAITH OF PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE A PENDULUM, AND I THINK THINGS WILL SWING BACK TO A SOCIETY AND A CONGRESS THAT IS CIVIL TO EACH OTHER, AND IS ABOUT DOING THINGS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY, NOT FOR THE GOOD OF THEMSELVES, AND ALSO BEING CERTAIN THAT WHAT YOU DO -- IF IN YOUR MIND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT BEING ABLE TO DISAGREE, OR TO COMPROMISE.

AND THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

AND I SAW THE CONGRESS DONNA WITH JOE BIDEN, AND TED KENNEDY AND OTHERS, AND DISAGREEING, AND WALKING OFF OF THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND KNOWING THEY WERE FRIENDS FIRST.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT.

>> CINDY I WANT TO END IT WITH THE WAY YOU STARTED THE BOOK, AND THAT IS THE DEATH OF YOUR HUSBAND.

YOU REALLY NEED STRENGTH IN THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE.

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT THROUGH THAT -- HOW YOU ARE GETTING THROUGH THAT?

>> JOHN TAUGHT ALL OF US MANY THINGS.

HE CERTAINLY TAUGHT US HOW TO LIVE AS GREAT AMERICANS, BUT HE ALSO TAUGHT US HOW TO DIE, AND HE DID THAT WITH GREAT DIGNITY AND GREAT GRACE, AND HE LIVED HIS LIFE HIS OWN WAY.

HE DID IT TO HIS TUNE.

I TALK ABOUT THE SONG PLAYING ON HIS PLAY LIST AT THE TIME HE DIED.

AND WHAT HE WANTED AND TOLD ME TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS NOT JUST TO BE STRONG BUT CONTINUE TO LIVE AND DO THE THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO ME AND CONTINUE, SO I TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT HE ASKED ME TO DO PRIOR TO HIS DEATH, AND HOPEFULLY LIVE UP TO WHAT HE FELT WAS -- WAS -- WAS BEING A McCAIN IS ALL ABOUT, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO DO, AND HIS LEGACY, OF COURSE, IS A LARGE PART OF THAT.

>> YOU CERTAINLY DO IT WITH THIS BOOK.

THE BOOK IS "STRONGER."

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A NEW LOCAL FACILITY TO HELP PEOPLE WITH AUTISM.

>>> PRECISIONISTS IS A COMPANY THAT HELPS FIND JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM.

PRECISIONISTS HAS JUST OPENED A NEW FACILITY HERE IN ARIZONA.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM ERNIE DIANA-STASIS, THE COMPANY'S CEO.

ERNIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THIS.

LET'S START WITH DEFINING TERMS, WHAT IS THE PRECISIONISTS?

>>> THE PRECISIONISTS IS AN IT AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMPANY THAT PERFORM A LOT OF PROJECTS FOR MAJOR COMPANIES, AND -- BUT WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING AND UNIQUE ABOUT US IS THAT DESIGN -- PART OF OUR WORKFORCE DESIGN IS THAT WE UTILIZE AND ENGAGE A NUMBER OF NEURODIVERGENT RESOURCES IN OUR COMPANY, AND WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH NEUROTYPICAL TALENTS TO PERFORM THE WORK FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

>> SO IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH YOUR FOCUS IS WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, CORRECT?

DO I GET THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE DIVERGENT WORKFORCE, YES.

>> AND WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT FINING JOBS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FINDING MEANINGFUL JOBS.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, UP UNTIL NOW AND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, 75 TO 80% OF -- OF PEOPLE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM HAVE BEEN UNDER OR UNEMPLOYED AND EITHER WORKING ODD JOBS THAT DON'T COME ANYWHERE NEAR USING THEIR TALENTS, OR THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY UNEMPLOYED AND HAD GIVEN UP HOPE, AND WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE WONDERFUL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO REALLY BUILD A LONG-TERM CAREER.

>> AND TO THAT END, NOW, YOU OPENED A NEW FACILITY IN PHOENIX?

>> WE HAVE.

YEAH, IT'S OUR THIRD ONE.

WE ALSO HAVE THESE CENTERS IN -- WE HAVE ONE IN WELINGTON, DELAWARE, AND ONE IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND PHOENIX IS THE LATEST ONE THAT WE JUST OPENED.

>> AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT -- WHAT DOES THIS FACILITY DO IN TERMS OF HELPING THESE FOLKS?

>> WELL, IT PLAYS A COUPLE OF ROLES.

ONE, WHEN WE FIND A TALENT THAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN BRING ON BOARD TO DO THE TYPES OF JOBS WE DO, WE HAVE TO FIRST GET THEM WORKFORCE READY, AND SO WE -- IN THIS FACILITY, WE DO AN ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TYPICALLY RUNS THREE TO FOUR WEEKS LONG, WHEREBY, WE'RE SHOWING THEM THE TECHNICAL SKILLS THAT THEY WILL NEED, AND ALSO WE TEACH THEM IMPORTANT SKILLS AROUND PROFESSIONALISM, AND WORKING IN A CORPORATE WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND, AGAIN, THANKS THAT THEY NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO LEARN BEFORE, LIKE WORKING ON TEAMS, MAKING PRESENTATIONS, EMAIL ETIQUETTE, THE DOS AND DON'TS OF BEING IN A PROFESSIONAL WORK ENVIRONMENT, ALL THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AS THEY LAUNCH A CAREER.

THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENS IN THIS FACILITY IS THAT WE DO PROJECTS FOR CUSTOMERS, AND SO THE INITIAL PROJECT THAT WE'RE -- THAT WE'RE DOING NOW, AND -- THAT HELPED US LAUNCH THE CENTER IS A PROJECT WE'RE DOING WITH SALT RIVER PROJECT.

THEY HAVE BEEN A TERRIFIC PARTNER AROUND NEURODIVERSE EMPLOYMENT WITH US, AND WE'RE DOING ONE OF THE PROJECTS WITH THEM OUT OF OUR FACILITY, AND THE OTHER PART OF THIS FACILITY IS TO DO LIVE PROJECTS FOR CUSTOMERS.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

THE MAYOR OF PHOENIX SAYS THAT PHOENIX IS THE MOST AUTISM FRIENDLY CITY IN THE WORLD.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT QUOTE ACTUALLY CAME FROM PBS A FEW YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF THEIR SHOWS, AND THEY DID A -- THEY WERE DOING A PROGRAM, AND TALKED ABOUT PHOENIX IS THE NUMBER 1 AUTISM FRIENDLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE WORLD, AND I BELIEVE IT.

AFTER HAVING SPENT A LOT -- WE DO A LOT OF HOME WORK BEFORE WE ENTER A NEW MARKET, AND WE REALLY -- NOT ONLY DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A GREAT WORKFORCE POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE, A GOOD BASE OF COMPANIES, A VIBRANT ECONOMY, AND PHOENIX CHECKS OFF ALL OF THOSE BOXES, BUT THE OTHER PIECE THAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT IS THE COMMUNITY HAS TO BE A STRONG ONE, AND ONE THAT IS PASSIONATE AND COMMITTED TO NEURO DIVERSITY AND AUTISM AND CREATING SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE, AND PHOENIX ABSOLUTELY MET THOSE CRITERIA.

>> ERNIE CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WORK THAT YOU DO, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW TECHNOLOGY CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANKS.

♪♪ >>> LITTLE FREE LIBRARY IS A NON-PROFIT AIMED AND HELPING SHARE FREE BOOKS TO COMMUNITIES THROUGH LITTLE LIBRARY BOXES THAT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE FRONT YARDS OF HOMES.

BOOKMANS ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE HAS TEAMED UP WITH LITTLE FREE LIBRARY TO KEEP THOSE BOXES STOPPED.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM TODD WETHINGTON OF BOOKMANS.

TODD, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT LITTLE FREE LIBRARY.

WE HAVE SOME OF THESE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THEY ARE.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY WAS STARTED ORIGINALLY BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDED ACCESS TO BOOKS TO INDIVIDUALS THAT DIDN'T NORMALLY HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS.

WE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF MESA, AND OTHERS, AND BUILT 14 LITTLE LIBRARIES IN FRONT OF OUR STORE AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.

>> WOW.

SO BASICALLY THESE ARE -- THEY ARE -- HOW DO THEY WORK?

BECAUSE I SEE THEM IN THE FRONT YARD OF FOLKS AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN OPEN-DOOR CONCEPT, BOOKS ARE THERE AND THEN BOOKS ARE GONE.

>> IT'S LIKE A MAILBOX FOR BOOKS.

YOU TAKE BOOKS, YOU LEAVE BOOKS AND IT'S A CONSTANT CHANGEUP.

>> THIS ISN'T A KIDS' THING AT ALL, IS IT?

>> NO, WE PROVIDE ADULT BOOKS, TEENAGER BOOKS, KID BOOKS, WHATEVER BOOKS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, WE HAVE THEM.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH BOOKS ARE PROVIDED TO WHICH FOLKS?

>> ALL OF THE BOOKS ARE DONATED BY OUR CUSTOMERS, SO IT ALLOWS ME TO TAKE THEM AND DISTRIBUTE THEM THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

>> IF SOMEONE WANTS TO PUT ONE IN THEIR FRONT YARD, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IT?

>> GO ONLINE, AND CHECK WITH YOUR CITY AND SEE WHAT THEIR GUIDELINES ARE.

>> NOW -- AND YOU -- IS THERE A REGISTRATION PROCESS THAT IS INVOLVED AS WELL?

>> YEAH, ONCE YOU GET YOUR LITTLE LIBRARY IN YOUR YARD, YOU WANT TO GO ONLINE AND REGISTER IT.

AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN A STEWARD NUMBER, AND THEN YOU CAN COME IN AND SIGN IN WITH YOUR STEWARD NUMBER, AND I WILL GIVE YOU 20 BOOKS FROM A PRE-SORTED SELECTION.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH BOOKS?

>> SOMETIMES IT'S JUST -- FOR INSTANCE, LIKE FOR A HARRY POTTER BOOK, IF WE HAVE 12 COPIES AND WE DON'T NEED 12 COPIES, I'LL PUT IT INTO A BOX FOR THE LITTLE READER.

>> IS IT MORE A SUPPLY AND TITLE SITUATION?

>> IT'S A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.

WE ALSO FILL FIVE LITTLE LIBRARIES IN DOWNTOWN MESA, SO I'M WORKING FROM ONE POT, BUT IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

>> BOOKMANS, YOU ARE PLANNING TO EXPAND WITH THIS, WITH THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY?

>> WE HAVE.

THE PHOENIX, AND OUR FLAGSTAFF LOCATION -- OUR FLAGSTAFF LOCATION IS STARTING TO INSTALL A LITTLE LIBRARY AT NAU, AND I HOPE TO SEE IT EXPAND DOWN TO OUR TUCSON STORES.

>> IF YOU TAKE A BOOK, ARE YOU EXPECTED TO BRING IT BACK?

WHAT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT?

>> THEN THAT BOOK IS YOURS.

>> BEFORE WE GO, I HAVE TO ASK HOW THE STORE IS DURING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> WE ARE DOING WONDERFUL.

I THINK LIKE EVERYBODY, WE ARE JUST TAKING IT DAY BY DAY, AND WE HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL CUSTOMERS, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE THEM BACK INTO THE STORE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, TODD WETHINGTON OF BOOKMANS, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

TAKE CARE NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>>> 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 OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, IT'S CALLED UP CYCLING, SOME TIPS AND TRICKS FROM THOSE WHO TURN THRIFTING INTO A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS.

AND DIFFERENCE IN PAY BETWEEN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SPORTS ALMOST 50 YEARS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF TITLE IX.