[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL US IN ON OF LOCAL US IN ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ARIZONA HORIZON: THE STATE SENATE'S REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS AND ITS PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF VOTER AND CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS.

SCHOOL GRADUATE TALKS ABOUT HER PLANS TO PAY FOR HER COLLEGE TUITION, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN: THE GLASS CLIFF AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN OF COLOR.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SENATE'S REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL AND U.S. SENATE VOTES IS BACK ON AT THE COLISEUM.

THE PROCESS TOOK A WEEK OFF TO MAKE ROOM FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONIES, BUT THE RECOUNT STARTED UP AGAIN TODAY.

ALSO OF NOTE, FORMER REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE, KEN BENNETT IS NO LONGER THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECOUNT.

THE NEW SPOKESPERSON IS FORMER STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIR RANDY PULLEN.

OTHER NEWS ARIZONA'S AMENDED AMENDED TRIBAL GAMING COMPACT WAS AMENDED TODAY.

IT WOULD ALLOW RETAIL AND ONLINE SPORTS GAMBLING.

NEXT UP.

SETTLING ON THINGS LIKE LICENSE FEES, AND TYPES OF WAGERS TO BE ALLOWED WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING EVERYTHING IN PLACE FOR THE TIME OF NFL FOOTBALL SEASON.

>>> AND U.S. INTELLIGENCE REPORTS SHOW SEVERAL RESEARCHERS AT A LAB IN WUHAN, CHINA WERE HOSPITALIZED AT LEAST A MONTH BEFORE COVID-19 WAS REPORTED.

>> AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN PRESSING FOR.

WE NEED THAT DATA.

AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO, IS LEAPING AHEAD OF AN ACTUAL INTERNATIONAL PROCESS.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA AND INFORMATION TO JUMP TO A CONCLUSION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>>> AND PFIZER HAS STARTED TESTING ITSELF COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT.

PFIZER IS COMBINING THIS THIRD DOSE WITH ANOTHER VACCINE THAT HELP PREVENT -- ILLNESSES LIKE PNEUMONIA.

>>> AMERICANS ARE FLYING AGAIN.

IT'S ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE PANDEMIC IS EASING IN THE U.S., BUT MORE PASSENGERS ARE VIOLATING MASK RULES.

>>> AND A NEW REPORT ON FAMILY SEPARATIONS AT THE BORDER.

HUNDREDS OF PARENTS WERE DEPORTED WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM.

ATTORNEYS ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THE PARENTS OF NEARLY 400 MIGRANT CHILDREN.

>>> THE STATE'S SENATE'S REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS CONTINUE TODAY.

THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WHAT IS GOING ON MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF THE U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH LOCAL ATTORNEY AND AUTHOR, ROBERT McWHIRTER.

ROBERT, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS TRYING TO BLOCK THE AUDIT AND IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE STATES ARE LIABLE FOR WRITING THEIR OWN ELECTION LAWS, IT IS SAY.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> WELL, THAT IS CORRECT.

THE STATES ARE LEFT TO DECIDE WHO GETS TO VOTE WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS PROVIDED BY AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, SO SHE IS RIGHT ON THAT.

IN TERMS OF WHAT STATES CAN DO AND WHAT FREEDOM THAT I HAVE TO DO IT, THAT IS RIGHT.

THE 15TH AMENDMENT SAYS YOU CANNOT DENY THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON RACE, CREED, OR CONDITION.

THIS IS WHY THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT SAID NO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS A ROLE IN ENSURING RACIAL EQUALITY IN VOTING.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS THE JIM CROW SOUTH THAT HAD THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ONE OF THE STATES THAT HAD BEEN UNDER SKRUZNY -- SCRUTINY IS ARIZONA.

AND THEY HAVE A PERFECT RIGHT TO COME IN AND LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON, AND THEY HAVE NOT STOPPING ANYTHING, BUT THIS WHOLE RECOUNT IS STILL GOING ON.

>> I THOUGHT THE WHOLE IDEA WAS REMOVED BY THE SUPREME COURT, THE WHOLE ASPECT OF WATCHING OVER WHAT ARIZONA DOES WAS REMOVED.

>> WELL, THE CASE WAS IN 2015, AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID AT THAT TIME, THE PROVISION WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BECAUSE IT WAS, QUOTE, NO LONGER NECESSARY, BUT IT DID NOT REMOVE THE ROLE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

AND IN FACT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE CONGRESS COULD CREATE A WHOLE DIFFERENT PRE-CLEARANCE FORMULA UNDER THOSE PROVISIONS.

>> SO BASICALLY WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WARNED THIS REVIEW, RECOUNTING, THIS AUDIT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, COULD VIOLATE VOTING LAWS AND CIVIL RIGHTS LAWINGS -- LAWS, AND THEY ARE SAYING THINGS ARE NOT BEING SAFEGUARDED, AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE SUCH ACTION IN >> ABSOLUTELY.

IT SAYS CONGRESS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE THIS BY APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION.

THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS A ROLE IN ENSURING RACIAL EQUALITY IN VOTING, AND WOMEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND 18 YEAR OLDS AREN'T DEPRIVED THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO CONGRESS WILL HAVE THE POWER.

>> THERE WAS A PLAN FOR A WHILE TO GO DOOR TO DOOR TO MAKE SURE REGISTRATIONS ARE ALL LINED UP.

AND THAT WOULD BE A BIG WARNING FLAG, WOULDN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, IT GREW OUT OF GROUPS LIKE THE KU KLUX KLAN VISITING BLACK FOLKS, AND REPUBLICANS IN THE SOUTH TO INTIMIDATE THEM AND KEEP THEM FROM VOTING.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE JUSTICES WALKING THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT WHEN IT COMES TO ARIZONA, DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS MOVE THEM FORWARD?

>> CERTAINLY, IF I WAS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND I WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, I WOULD BE THINKING ABOUT, HEY, WE BETTER START LOOKING AT ANOTHER FORMULA, JK AND THE STATUTES BEING PRODUCED NOW, THAT ARE THESE CRAZY VOTER SUPPRESSION STATUTES, THOSE STATUTES WOULD HAVE NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE HAVE BEEN PASSED BEFORE THE SHELBY CASE.

IT WAS ONLY BEFORE THAT, THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS TO GO FORWARD.

LOCAL ATTORNEY AND AUTHOR, ROBERT McWHIRTER GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

TED.

YOU TOO.

UP NEXT: WHY MORE ARIZONA SENIORS ARE PARTICIPATING IN FOOD-STAMP PROGRAMS.

>>> THE NUMBER OF OLDER ADULTS IN ARIZONA PARTICIPATING IN THE SNAP IS ON THE INCREASE, AND WAS RISING EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THE NUMBER OF ARIZONA SENIORS FACING FOOD INSECURITIES IS ALSO UP.

TO LEARN MORE WE SPOKE WITH ANGIE RODGERS, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ARIZONA FOOD BANK NETWORK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATED YOUR TIME ON THIS.

OLDER ARIZONANS AND SNAP, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE AMONG OLDER FOLKS.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> ED FOOD INSECURITY HAS INCREASED FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN INCREASE IN SENIORS, AND THAT HAS US CONCERNED.

>> YEAH, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> WE KNOW A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IN APRIL ABOUT 102000 ARIZONANS OVER THE AGE OF 60 WERE ENROLLED IN SNAP.

WE THINK THAT IS GREAT.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY ABOUT 2 -- ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF THEM ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND THE APPLICATION IS 30-SOME-PAGES LONG.

THAT HAS TO BE A BARRIER RIGHT THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT SEEMS EXCESSIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED BY OUTSIDE SOURCES.

AND THERE CAN BE OTHER INFORMATION THAT CAN BE COLLECTED ELSEWHERE THAT SEEMS TO REMAIN STEADY.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM ELIGIBLE FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME, SO THEY ARE NOT CONFUSED BY THINK PAPER PROCESS.

>> ALL OF THE COMPLICATIONS THERE, ALONG WITH THE 30-SOME PAGE APPLICATION HAS TO BE A PROBLEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS OR GETTING TO A SNAP OFFICE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID AND THE ISOLATION PERIODS WE HAVE.

>> YOU MENTIONED FOOD INSECURITIES.

WHY ARE OLDER ARIZONANS MORE AT RISK.

>> OUT CAN BE EXPERIENCED PERIODICALLY, JUST A ONETIME EVENT, OR AN ONGOING ISSUE.

>> YEAH, AND THAT COINCIDES WITH FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DURING THE PANDEMIC OR JUST IN GENERAL FOR OLDER FOLKS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK FOLKS MAYBE TAPPED INTO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT THEY HAD, BUT ARE NOW REALLY CHALLENGED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR BASIC NEEDS METS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE PROBLEM, TRYING TO GET THESE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.

>> YEAH, THEY CAN APPLY TO A SHORTER APPLICATION PROCESS, AND IN ADDITION, IT COULD SKIP OVER QUESTIONS THAT MAY NOT BE RELEVANT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ONLY HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

WE'RE HOPING WE CAN PERSON THIS FORWARD A LITTLE QUICKER.

THE RECOVERY PERIOD COULD BE A LONG WAYS OFF, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SENIORS HAVE ACCESS TO THIS TODAY.

>> AND WE'RE NOT POST PANDEMIC YET, BUT FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO, WHAT HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH?

>> HIGH PERIODS AND LOW PERIODS.

WE SAW IT RISE AGAIN DURING THE HOLIDAYS, AS WE ALWAYS DO.

WE'RE FEELING A LITTLE BIT OF A LOW WAVE NOW, BUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING A SLIGHT RISE AS WE ALWAYS SEE DURING THE HOT MONTHS.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS BACK YET.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE VOLUNTEERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ANGIE RODGERS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >>> MAKING A FIRST IMPRESSION MATTERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN PITCHING A BUSINESS.

THAT'S WHY THE WOMEN'S BIZ ENTERPRISE COUNSEL A HELPING ENTREPRENEURS TUNE THEIR MESSAGE.

WE SPOKE WITH PAMELA WILLIAMSON, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE COUNCIL -WEST.

DOCTOR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

NATIONAL BLACK BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS?

>> IT'S A OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES TO CONNECT WITH CORPORATIONS.

PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE STARTED GETTING A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR SOURCING, AND THEY WERE ASKING IF WE HAD ANY BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSED TO TEAM UP WITH THEM.

AND NOW WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DOING BUSINESS WITH CORPORATIONS, BUT ALSO HAS A COMPONENT .OF EDUCATION, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN SOME CASH.

>> YEAH, LIKE $10,000 WORTH OF CASH, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

NOW, AGAIN, THIS HELPS BUSINESS OWNERS PERFECT THEIR PRESENTATION AND YOU TURN IT INTO A PRESENTATION?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF COMPONENTS.

THE FIRST COMPONENT, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE HAVE A RESOURCE SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE, TO HELP BUSINESSES GO THROUGH THE STEPS OF PRODUCING A PITCH.

AND THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY HAS PUT TOGETHER A PROCESS TO HELP COMPANIES.

AND THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH ALL APPLICATIONS HAVE TO BE DONE BY JUNE 21ST, OR THE FIRST PHASE.

AND THE FIRST PHASE IS A 3-MINUTE VIDEO, AND THEN YOU WILL UP LOAD YOUR CAPABILITY STATEMENT, AND WE HAVE A GREAT VIDEO ON HOW TO MAKE A CAPABILITY STATEMENT, AND THEN OUT OF THE HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS WE HOPE TO RECEIVE, WE WILL NARROW IT DOWN FROM THE TOP 30.

>> AND THEN YOU GO AHEAD AND RECORD YOUR PITCH, AND GO FROM THERE?

>> YES, FROM THERE WE HAVE SEVEN TO EIGHT REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE AGREED TO BE MENTORS.

AND WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT THAT IS EVEN IF YOU DON'T WIN -- SO EVEN IN PHASE 1.

IN PHASE I IF YOU DON'T GET ACCEPTED INTO THE TOP 30, YOU ARE STILL A WINNER, BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE MULTIPLE CORPORATIONS LOOK AT YOUR VIDEO, AND WILL SAY I'M NOT MAYBE READY TO SEE THIS BUSINESS TODAY, BUT I'LL BRING THEM IN SO THEY CAN BE PREPARED TOMORROW, SO EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT SELECTED IN THE TOP 30, JUST GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, YOU ARE STILL A WINNER.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU ARE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS HERE.

>> AND THAT'S THE GOAL.

IT IS REALLY A LONG GAME.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKING YOUR COMPANY SUSTAINABLE.

SO IT'S A LONG-TERM PROCESS.

>> SO WHERE SHOULD PEOPLE GO AND TALK TO?

>> THE START IS GO TO NATIONALBLACKPITCH.COM.

AND IT HAS LOADS OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND REAL QUICKLY, AGAIN, COULD THE GOAL BE TO GIVE A NETWORKING THING UP AND OPERATIONAL MORE THAN EXISTS.

>> THAT IS OUR GOAL.

TO BUILD A NETWORK SO CORPORATIONS HAVE A PLACE THEY CAN GO TO CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DR. PAMELA WILLIAMSON, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE COUNCIL -WEST, CONGRATULATIONS.

GOOD LUCK WITH THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR TELLING US ABOUT THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

SO THANKS.

♪ >>> 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 HOW HIGHER GAS PRICES COULD BE HIGHER PRICES FOR GROCERY AND OTHER GOODS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN: THE GLASS CLIFF AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN OF COLOR.

♪ ♪