[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ARIZONA HORIZON, THE FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER TALKS ABOUT THE CURRENT REVIEW OF LAST YEAR'S COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, A CLOSER LOOK AT MARICOPA COUNTY'S REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH SUBPOENAS REGARDING THE SENATE RECOUNT, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW TELENOVELAS ARE INSPIRING THE MEDIA INDUSTRY.

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

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ANOTHER ARIZONA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS REQUIRING FACE COVERS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, DEFYING AN ARIZONA LAW THAT BANS MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS.

THE DISTRICT SAID IT WAS, QUOTE, USING SCIENCE AND FOLLOWING GUIDELINES FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY HEALTH EXPERTS.

THE MEN TRY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO FOLLOWING THE PHOENIX UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH ANNOUNCED SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS LAST WEEK.

THE GOVERNOR CALLED THAT POLLTY, QUOTE, UNENFORCEABLE, AND A TEACHER FILED A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE MASK MANDATE.

IT ALLEGES THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ITS GOVERNING BOARD LACKED THE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE MASKS.

AN EMERGENCY COURT HEARING ON THE MATTER IS SET FOR TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00.

>>> THIS ALL COMES AS THE STATE TODAY SAW CLOSE TO 2000 NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

THE DELTA VARIANT CONTINUES TO SPREAD AMONG THE UNVACCINATED.

THE STATE REPORTED 30 NEW COVID-RELATED FATALITIES.

AND HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO CLIMB.

MORE THAN 1200 NOW HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID, THE MOST WE HAVE SEEN SINCE LATE FEBRUARY.

>>> A JUDGE ORDERED THAT THE ARIZONA SENATE MUST TURN OVER RECORDS AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SENATE AND CYBER-NINJAS.

IS THE JUDGE RULED THAT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SENATE AND CYBER-NINJAS IS SUBJECT TO RECORDS LAW.

THE JUDGE SAYS THE DOCUMENTS ARE NOT PROVIDED BY LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY.

THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO APPEAL.

>>> FALLOUT FROM YESTERDAY'S DECISION BY MARICOPA COUNTY AND DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS TO DEFY THE SUBPOENAS.

SENATE MAJORITY WHIP SONNY BORRELLI RELEASED A STATEMENT CALLING ON ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH TO INVESTIGATE FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE SUBPOENAS.

HE SAID, QUOTE: THE REQUEST CAME NOT LONG AFTER SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN TODAY TWEETED, QUOTE, BUILD THE CASE, SET THE TRAP, AND BOOM, MARICOPA LIES WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT THEM.

THERE IS NO PRECURSOR TO WHAT THIS MEANS.

>>> THE CDC THIS AFTERNOON ISSUED WITH NEW MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS.

THIS WILL LAST UNTIL OCTOBER 3RDRD.

THEY SAID EVICTIONS AT THIS TIME WOULD BE HARMFUL TO PUBLIC HEALTH WITH THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

>>> AND NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO BROKE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS BY SEXUALLY HARASSING MULTIPLE WOMEN AND RETALIATING AGAINST ONE FOR GOING PUBLIC WITH HER COMPLAINTS.

CUOMO'S RESPONSE?

>> I WANT YOU TO KNOW DIRECTLY FROM ME, THAT I NEVER TOUCHED ANYONE INAPPROPRIATELY, OR MADE INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL ADVANCES.

BY ATTORNEY HAS DONE A RESPONSE TO EACH ALLEGATION, AND THE FACTS ARE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAS BEEN PORTRAYED.

>> THE INVESTIGATION'S FINDINGS ARE LEADING TO CALLS FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND OTHER TOP OFFICIALS FOR CUOMO TO RESIGN.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED, IT HAS BEEN A BUSY DAY REGARDING WHAT THE STATE SENATE REFERS TO AS ITS FORENSIC AUDIT OF ELECTION RESULTS.

EARLIER WE SPOKE WITH FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER ADRIAN FONTES TO GET HIS RESPONSE.

ADRIAN FONTES, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK HERE.

>> I WANT TO GET YOUR RESPONSE TO THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE TO THE SENATE SUBPOENAING A NUMBER OF ITEMS, BALLOT ENVELOPES, ROUTERS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE?

>> I THINK IT IS PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE.

I THINK FANN FOLLIE AS I LIKE TO CALL IT, HAS GONE TOO FAR.

THEY HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE EXPERTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY ARE DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT A PROCESS THAT WAS CLEAN, FAIR, SOLID AND WELL EXECUTED, AND I THINK THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH, AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.

>> KAREN FANN SAYS THIS INDICATES THE SENATE WILL GET COPIES OF ALL MAIL-IN BALLOT ENVELOPES.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND, THEY ALREADY HAD THE COPIES OF ALL OF THE IMAGES, AND THEY HAVE GIVEN EVERYTHING ELSE BACK.

THEY ALSO INDICATED THEY WANTED THE KEYS FOR SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THEY ALREADY SENT BACK.

THE WHOLE THING IS A DISASTER FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ARIZONA SENATE, AND IT REALLY ISN'T THE SENATE, BECAUSE REMEMBER THE ENTIRE ARIZONA STATE SENATE HAS NOT VOTED ON THIS.

IT IS TWO SENATORS -- IT IS THEIR ADVENTURE.

IT IS JUST THESE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE ABUSING THEIR POWER.

>> ROUTERS SEEM TO BE A RECURRING THEME HERE.

WHY CAN'T THE COUNTY GIVE ACCESS TO CYBER-NINJAS TO PERFORM THIS REVIEW.

>> WELL, THEY CAN'T, AND THEY SHOULDN'T, IT'S A SECURITY BREECH.

THESE FOLKS HAVE ALREADY SENT A LOT OF VOTER INFORMATION OUT OF STATE TO WHAT TURNS OUT TO BE SOME GUY'S CABIN, AND THEY CAN'T BE TRUSTED.

THE SHERIFF OBJECTED, AND AGENCIES THAT WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY HAVE OBJECTED.

IT'S REALLY PROBLEMATIC.

>> SO, YES, OR NO, WAS THE COUNTY'S VOTER RECOMMEND RECOMMEND -- REGISTRATION BREACHED?

>> THERE WAS A SMALL BREACH, OF WHAT COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUBLIC INFORMATION.

SO IT REALLY WAS A PROCESS BREECH.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT ALREADY PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND IT WAS A MINOR BREACH?

>> COULD IT HAVE CHANGED VOTES?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THIS IS A QUESTION OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THE ELECTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND THESE ARE TWO VERY SEPARATE THINGS, AND IF YOU ARE CONFLATING THE TWO, YOU ARE DOING IT FOR THE WRONG POLITICAL REASONS.

>> I WANT TO PREFACE THIS THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN-PARTY SPONSORED NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT ARE REPORTING, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT TAKE WHAT THEY SAY SERIOUSLY.

THEY ARE SAYING 3900 REGISTERED AFTER THE CUTOFF DATE.

TRUE?

>> THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PROCESSED AFTER THE CUT-OFF DATE, AND ANYONE WHO KNOWS ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS, KNOWS IF YOU GET IT IN BEFORE THE DEADLINE, YOU COULD STILL HAVE TIME TO GET IN MORE DOCUMENTS, AND YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

SO THERE'S NO REASON FOR ANYONE TO THINK THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT NUMBER.

THEY ARE A JUST THROWING STUFF OUT THERE AS RED MEAT FOR THEIR CROWD.

>> THAT'S A DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND 11,000 VOTED THAT WERE NOT ON VOTER ROLLS.

TRUE?

>> WELL, AS FAR AS THE WAY THAT THEY CHARACTERIZE -- I COULD SAY MISCHARACTERIZE ACTUAL FACTS, YOU CAN NEVER TELL IF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS TRUE OR NOT.

IT'S HARD TO DEBUNK THESE MYTHOLOGIES.

NOTHING THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MAKES ANY SENSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, BECAUSE IT IS NOT REAL.

WHAT THEY HAVE DONE HERE IS INTERESTING.

TED, THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE BURDEN.

THEY HAVE NOW SAID, LISTEN, YOU THE ACCUSED HAVE TO PROVE EVERYTHING WENT WELL.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY REAL EVIDENCE OF ISSUES.

THEY ARE THROWING STUFF AGAINST THE WALL AND HOPING THEIR CROWD BUYS IT.

>> PEOPLE ARE BUYING IT, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE BELIEVING IT.

THE 74,000 RETURN MAIL-IN BALLOTS, THEY WERE NEVER SENT OUT, YET MAILED IN.

>> 74,000 BALLOTS THAT WERE VOTED EARLY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL ELECTION DAY TO VOTE, SO THEY CAME OUT EARLY AND VOTED.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS PEOPLE CAME IN AND VOTED EARLY.

THEY GOT A BALLOT.

THEY GOT AN ENVELOPE, AND THEN IT GOT SENT IN.

WE NEVER MAILED IT TO THEM, AND IF THESE PEOPLE NEW ANYTHING ABOUT ELECTION SYSTEMS GENERALLY, THEY WOULD HAVE ASKED THESE QUESTIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEN HONESTLY MOVE FOR-WORD, BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE THROWING HIS ALLEGATIONS OUT THERE, AND IT IS NOT JUST IRRESPONSIBLE, IT IS ANTI-AMERICAN WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AND IT'S BAD.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN IS SAYING THAT VOTER CONFIDENCE IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE SET OUT TO ACHIEVE IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>> NOT AT ALL.

THIS IS NOTHING BUT GRIFT, AND KAREN FANN IS HELPING FOLKS MAKE MONEY ON THE DOUBT.

I WENT THROUGH THE ELECTION -- I WAS EVEN A CANDIDATE IN THIS ELECTION, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH IT, SO MUCH SO, WHATEVER THE RESULTS WERE, I BELIEVED IN AND BACKED UP.

>> DO YOU TAKE THIS PERSONALLY, BECAUSE THE SENATE IS CLAIMING AND LOOKING FOR IRREGULARITIES, AND CYBER-NINJAS CLAIMS IRREGULARITIES.

DO YOU TAKE IT PERSONALLY?

>> OF COURSE I DO.

WE SHOULD HAVE ARE FAITH IN THE AMERICANS WHO RAN THIS ELECTION AND THOSE WHO DID ALL OF THE WORK, AND FOR THESE FOLKS TO BE ABSOLUTELY FORCIBLY TRYING TO ERODE CONFIDENCE IN THESE ELECTIONS IS A SHAME, AND IT'S A STAIN ON ARIZONA, AND IT HURTS ME PERSONALLY, AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THOSE WHO DID THE WORK IN THIS ELECTION.

THEY ARE BEING BLAMED FOR THIS.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO WILL BEING BLOWN ASUNDER WITH THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> UN NEXT, A LOOK AT EFFORTS TO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HEAT-RELATED DEATHS.

>>> THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DECLARED A HEAT WARNING FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW IN THE PHOENIX AREA, AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX CLOSED POPULAR HIKING TRAILS.

THE MARICOPA COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TO PREVENT HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS AND DEATH WE LEARNED MORE FROM NICKY STEVENS, WITH MSHS AG AND DR. REBECCA SUNEN -- SHINE WITH THE MARICOPA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TALK TO US ABOUT MAG'S-HEAT RELATED HELP.

>> IT IS PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET OUT OF THE HEAT TO COOL OFF.

THEY ALSO HAVE DONATION STATIONS WHERE PEOPLE CAN DONATE WATER AND IT IS COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.

IN THE CITY OF TEMPE THERE IS A COOLING STATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO IN AND GET SERVICES, WATER, SNACKS, SUN PROTECTION, TO ENSURE THEY ARE STAYING SAFE OUT OF THE HEAT.

PEOPLE WHOSE AIR CONDITIONERS WENT OUT, THEY CAN COME IN AND COOL OFF.

SO THE COOLING STATIONS ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET COOL, GET WATER, AND GET OUT OF THE HEAT DURING THE HOTTEST TIMES OF THE DAY.

>> AND DOCTOR, HEAT-RELATED DEATHS IN THE VALLEY.

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

WHAT IT IS LIKE OUT THERE?

>> ACTUALLY, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF HEAT-ASSOCIATED DEATHS COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

RIGHT NOW WE CONFIRMED 41 HEAT-ASSOCIATED DEATHS, AND 159 UNDER INVESTIGATION.

WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE HAD ONLY 8 CONFIRMED.

SO WE'RE ALREADY FOUR TIMES AS HIGH AS WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR, AND MOST PEOPLE KNOW, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT LAST YEAR WAS A RECORD YEAR WITH 323 DEATHS, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN, AND 62% HIGHER THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

WE JUST KEEP SEEING YEAR AFTER YEAR RECORD NUMBERS OF HEAT-ASSOCIATED DEATHS, AND THAT'S WHY THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO COOLED AIR SPACE WHERE THEY CAN TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS IN THE SHADE OR COLD-AIR SPACE AND GET HYDRATION AND STAY SAFE.

>> WOW, THIS COULD REALLY SKYROCKET.

THE PANDEMIC, DOCTOR, HOW IS THIS EFFECTING THESE NUMBERS?

>> WELL, IT'S MORE OF AN INDIRECT EFFECT.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT CAN LEAD SOMEONE TO EITHER NOT HAVE A HOUSE, OR TO NOT BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR AIR CONDITIONING BILL OR NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THEIR AIR CONDITIONER, SO WE SEE WHEN PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOBS OR DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THEIR AC, WE SEE MORE HEAT-RELATED DEATHS.

AND TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED LAST YEAR WERE HOMELESS.

SO ALL OF THOSE FACTORS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN A FUNCTIONING AIR CONDITIONING, AND WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO AVOID CROWDING AND DISEASE SPREAD, IT LIMITS THE NUMBER OF SPACES AVAILABLE IN SHELTERS, SO THAT'S WHY WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS TO EXPAND SHELTER SPACE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A PLACE.

>> AND NICKY BACK TO MAG, AND THIS NETWORK, TO GET ALL MUNICIPALITIES TOGETHER -- EVERYONE HAS TO BAND TOGETHER, CORRECT?

>> YES, LAST YEAR WE SAW A HUGE REDUCTION OF HEAT-RELIEF PLACES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A HUGE -- HUGE -- INCREASES IN PLACES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE NETWORK, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.

AND WE SPOKE EARLIER, JUST TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE LIKE WE DO, OF HOW DURING THE HOTTEST TIMES OF THE DAY, TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT, TO STAY HYDRATED, IF THEY ARE FEELING DIZZY TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS GO TO THE LIBRARIES TO COOL DOWN, AND A LOT OF THOSE WERE CLOSED DOWN.

IT WAS DOWNTOWN WE HAD THE HUGE CONVENTION CENTER THAT WAS OPENED UP, AND THIS YEAR THAT IS NOT HAPPENING, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT MORE HEAT-RELIEF NETWORK SPONSORS AND PLACES ALL ACROSS THE VALLEY THAT PEOPLE CAN GO.

YOU CAN GO TO MAG'S WEBSITE TO LOCATE THOSE AS WELL.

>> AND LAST QUESTION, DOCTOR, WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE?

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WHAT WAS JUST SAID.

WE REALLY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.

INDIVIDUALS NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT -- TRY AVOID EXERCISING AT THE HOTTEST TIMES OF THE DAY.

MAKE SURE THEY HYDRATE, AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE ON HEATAZ.GOV, AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

CHECK ON OUR NEIGHBORS.

ABOUT HALF OF IN DOOR HEAT-RELATED DEATHS WITH DISCOVERED ON WELFARE CHECKS.

AND WE REALLY NEED TO USE SOME OF THESE FUNDS THAT HAVE COME IN FROM THE PANDEMIC, MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, OR WHO AREN'T ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR AIR CONDITIONING, AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

>> YEAH, GREAT INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY CHECKING ON ELDERLY NEIGHBORS.

THANK YOU BOTH, GOOD CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THE NFL'S NEW COVID POLICIES GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO GET PLAYERS TO GET VACCINATED, WITH SOME PLAYERS SAYING THEY HAVE GONE TOO FAR.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH KEN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WHAT ARE YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS HERE?

DID THE NFL DO THE RIGHT THING?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK THE CONCERN BY THOSE THAT ARE CRITICAL OF IT IS THAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO THE PLAYER'S INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, BUT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IS FIRST THESE ARE EMPLOYEES OF A BUSINESS, AND MUCH LIKE SOME OF THE LARGER BUSINESSES WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS COVID, THAT'S WHAT THE NFL IS DOING.

AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS, I THINK, TO THEIR BELIEF IN THE POWER OF THE VACCINATION.

>> INDEED.

AND THE NFL IS NOT REQUIRING THE PLAYERS TO GET VACCINATED, BUT NO RESCHEDULING OF GAMES, KEN.

IF YOUR TEAM CAUSES A PROBLEM, THIS GAME CAN'T BE PLAYED.

YOUR TEAM LOSES.

>> RIGHT.

SO IF THE ULTIMATE CURRENCY OF WINS AND LOSSES.

THIS CAN COST YOU NOT JUST MONEY, BUT ALSO A GAME.

THE OTHER CURRENCY THAT WE SOMETIMES SEE WHEN THEY ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT TRYING TO GET ENTERPRISES TO MOVE IN THE NFL ARE DRAFT PICKS, SO THIS IS REALLY AT THE PEAK OF THIS.

YOU CAN LOSE A GAME IF YOU DON'T FIND A WAY TO GET GREATER COMPLIANCE WITH THIS.

>> AND WE SHOULD MENTIONED UNVACCINATED PLAYERS WILL BE TESTED DAILY.

THEY HAVE TO WEAR MASKS AT ALL TIMES.

PHYSICAL DISTANCE FROM TEAMMATES.

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

AND YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE HOTEL, I GUESS, WHEN -- I MEAN, IS WHAT THE LEAGUE IS DOING HERE IS PILING UP ENOUGH TO WHERE IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO GET A VACCINATION?

>> I THINK SO.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION OVERALL, ABOUT WE CAN'T COMPEL YOU TO GET THE VACCINATION FOR WHATEVER REASONS, LEGALLY, SOCIALLY, WHATEVER THE THOUGHTS ARE, BUT WE CAN TELL YOU ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO DO, WHICH MAY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THE VACCINE.

AND THE NFL HAS REASONS FOR THIS.

IF THE VIRUS RUNS RAMPANT THROUGH THE LEAGUE, THEY CAN'T MAKE MONEY AND DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THIS BUSINESS NEEDS TO DO.

SO THOSE ARE THE REASONS BEHIND IT.

I WAS THINKING TODAY, I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY COACHES -- OR WHAT DIRECTIVE COACHES WERE GIVEN TO NOT GIVE A DIRECT MANDATE.

THIS IS GENERALLY THE KIND OF THINGS THAT A COACH WILL GET ON PLAYERS ABOUT.

DON'T DRINK.

DON'T GO OUT.

GET THE VACCINATION.

BUT THERE IS STILL SOME LIMITATIONS OF WHAT EVEN COACHES CAN EXPRESS.

>> AND YOU HAVE GOT TO THINK, PLAYERS THAT SOME MARGINAL PLAYERS CAN LOSE THEIR JOBS.

PLAYER A IS VACCINATED, PLAYER B ISN'T, EASY DECISION TO MAKE, RIGHT?

>> WELL, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, MAYBE YOU WILL GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE OR FIND WAYS TO HELP THEM PRACTICE THE PROTOCOLS PROPERLY.

BUT IF YOU ARE A THIRD STRING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, AND YOU DON'T PLAY MUCH ANYWAY, THAT COULD CAUSE YOU TO LOSE YOUR PAYCHECK.

>>> AS FAR AS WHAT WE ALL LIKE TO DO ON SUNDAYS, WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

>> WELL, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER CASE WHERE SPORT IS A MICROCOSM OF SOCIETY.

AND THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS HOW DO WE GET BACK NORMALLY.

AND THE LEADERS HAVE DECIDED THAT PATH IS THROUGH VACCINATIONS, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE ANY LONGER IN THE LEAGUE, OR WE'RE PART OF SOCIETY RACING TO GET TO THAT POINT.

>> YEAH, AND AS FAR AS THE FORFEITURE OF GAMES, SOUNDS LIKE THE LEAGUE -- LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T MISS A GAME, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, AND THE LEAGUE DOES WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT ANYMORE.

>> NO, AND I THINK THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

IN TERMS OF THE LOSS OF REVENUES, CERTAINLY, THE IDEA OF RESCHEDULING GAMES IS NOT A POSITIVE REVENUE SOURCE, SO THE IDEA OF SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS AGAIN, CERTAINLY RELATES TO REVENUE AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KEN, GREAT CONVERSATION AS ALWAYS.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> 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, LEARN WHAT DRIVES BUGS OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND INTO OURS, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW TELENOVELAS ARE INSPIRING THE MEDIA INDUSTRY.

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