[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER TALKS ABOUT HIS CRITICISM OF FELLOW REPUBLICANS WHO CLAIM THAT THE LAST ELECTION WAS SOMEHOW STOLEN.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW MUCH ELECTION AUDITS ARE COSTING TAXPAYERS, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, RACE AND GENDER EQUALITY ISSUES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT MILE PER HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

THE PFIZER COVID VACCINE WAS GIVEN PUBLIC APPROVAL.

THIS COMES AFTER 200 MILLION DOSES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADMINISTERED.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS IT ALL ADDS UP TO SOLID EVIDENCE THAT THE SHOTS ARE SAFE.

>> THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING SHOULD GET YOUR SHOTS NOW.

>> THE MODERNA VACCINE IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE SIMILAR APPROVAL SHORTLY.

THE PENTAGON TODAY SAID A VACCINE VACCINE IS MANDATORY IS IMMANENT.

>>> TODAY'S ARIZONA'S NUMBER, MORE THAN 2600 CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY.

AND THERE IS STILL LESS THAN HALF OF PEAK NUMBERS THAT WERE UP IN JANUARY.

>>> THE STATE SENATE WAS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE A REPORT OF VACCINE.

THERE IS NO WORD ON WHEN A FINAL NUMBER WILL BE RE LEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

>>> AND A HOUSE PANEL IN WASHINGTON GAVE UNTIL FRIDAY TO TURN OVER THE REVIEW FOR AN AUDIT.

CYBER-NINJAS HAS ONLY RELEASED INFORMATION THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE PUBLIC INFORMATION.

CLAIMING ALL OTHER INFORMATION IS PROTECTED.

>>> MARICOPA COUNTY RECOREDER STEPHEN RICHER WROTE A LETTER TO THE PUBLIC RECENTLY.

WE SPOKE TO STEPHEN RICHER EARLIER TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> LET'S START WITH THIS REPORT DRAFT REPORT, THIS INITIAL REPORT, THEY KIND OF GOT IT TODAY, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE FULL REPORT, WHAT DO YOU TAKE OF ALL OF THIS.

>> WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS, WHAT EIGHT WEEKS AGO, TEN WEEKS AGO, AND YOU COULDN'T MAKE THIS UP.

COVID IS A TERRIBLE THING, BUT HERE WE ARE AGAIN NOW.

>> DO YOU TRUST THE SENATE, ITS TEAM, WHOEVER THAT TEAM IS MADE UP OF, DO YOU TRUST THEM TO LOOK AT THAT REPORT AND FIND THESE THINGS.

>> I DOSHT -- DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO IS PART OF THIS TEAM.

I CAN'T TELL YOU IF I TRUST THEM OR NOT.

I DO PUT A LOT OF TRUST IN THE PROFESSIONALISM OF COREY.

AND GOING BACK TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IT WAS HE WHO WAS ALLEGINGEINGEINGEINGEING -- ALLEGES THERE IS NO WIDE-SPREAD FRAUD.

>> WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DETAIL EVERYTHING IN A LETTER LIKE THIS.

>> JUST BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING MY, AND ANYONE WHO WANTED TO DIG INTO THIS HAD ONE PLACE TO GO.

AND I HOPE I'M A FAIR AND FRIENDLY BROKEN.

I LAID OUT THE FACT THAT I CAMPAIGNED FOR DONALD TRUMP AND I SUPPORTED DONALD TRUMP AND I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING I COULD SAY, BUT IT IS NOT THERE, AND WE NEED TO ACCEPT REALITY AND FACTS.

>> KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW, WOULD YOU WANT TO GET MORE VOTES FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS CLAIMED FRAUD AT EVERY STEPS?

>> YES.

OBVIOUSLY NOT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PERFECT WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> BUT AT THE COST OF PERHAPS DEMOCRACY OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT IS HAPPEN AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE LETTER STARTS WITH YOUR BONAFIED, BUT DO YOU FEEL SOMEWHAT ALIEN IN YOUR PARTY?

>> WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE WRITE TO ME AND SAY THANK YOU TO MUCH FOR SAYING THIS, AND MAYBE SOME OF THEM JUST NEED MORE INFORMATION.

SO THAT'S IS WHAT MY HOPE IS HERE.

CERTAINLY A LOT OF REPUBLICANS FEEL THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, BUT I BELIEVE IF YOU BELIEVE IN FACTS AND LOGIC, THEN YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THIS IS VALID.

>> SO YOU ARE SAYING ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE DONALD TRUMP AND ALL OF THIS BUSINESS OF A RIGGED ELECTION -- YOU ARE NOT BUYING THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A REPUBLICAN, AND WILL STAY A REPUBLICAN, AND THE DEMOCRATS DO THIS TOO, I SAW A LETTER GO OUT RECENTLY ON THE EARLY VOTING A LIST, AND IF THAT TYPE OF MISDIRECTION, I'M TRYING TO COMBAT HERE.

>> INDEED.

BUT IN SAYING WHAT YOU AND OTHERS WERE SAYING WAS AN UP AND UP ELECTION, WAS SOMEWHAT RIGGED, IS FRAUD?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THIS IS COUNT THINK RECORDERS, THIS IS OUR GOVERNOR, OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE FORMER UNITED STATES GENERAL, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND HAVE ALL SAID IT, SO I'M JUST SAYING IN A SOMEWHAT LENGTHY REPORT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE INFORMATION IS, AND AGAIN, IF YOU BELIEVE IN FACTS AND LOGIC, THEN YOU HAVE BELIEVE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE IT IS WIDESPREAD FRAUD.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN ATTACKED EVERYTHING FROM YOUR APPEARANCE TO DEATH THREATS, THAT HAS TO GIVE YOU PAUSE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR PARTY.

>> YES.

BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AVERAGE REPUBLICAN.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT, THOUGH?

>> NO YES THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SCREAMING, I BELIEVE THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION.

>> YOU CALLED CYBER-NINJAS, CONSPIRACY DRIVEN AND PARTISAN.

SENATE REPUBLICANS THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA OF PUTTING THESE PEOPLE IN CHARGE?

>> I HAVE INSISTED, I AM NOT ANTI-AUDIT.

I AM ANTI-A GROUP WHO STATED THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, A GROUP THAT IS FUNDED BY STOP THE STEAL REPUBLICANS, AND A GROUP THAT INDULGES WILD-EYED CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

IT IS NOT JUST A REPUBLICANS.

>> WITH THAT SAID, ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC MOVING FORWARD FROM HERE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO DO ON OUR DARNEST.

AND I'M HOPEFUL.

>> WOULD YOU LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OVER ANYTHING OVER ANYTHING OVER THIS.

>> NO THIS IS THEIS PARTY THAT I AM.

LET'S STOP TALKING ABOUT BAMBOO FIBERS, AND START TALKING ABOUT SECURING THE BORDER.

>> THANK YOU >>> UP NEXT, WHAT THE LAW SAYS REGARDING PRIVATE BUSINESSES INSTITUTING EMPLOYEE VACCINATION MANDATES.

IFF.

>>> ARIZONA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL RECENTLY SAID IN HIS OPINION ARIZONA BUSINESSES CAN LEGALLY REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED WE EKED TALK TO JESSICA POST ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

JESSICA POST, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS COME OUT AND SAID ARIZONA BUSINESSES CAN MANDATE VACCINE VACCINES, HUH?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT CONFIRMS THAT WHAT THEY CAN DO IS ACCEPTABLE, IF THAT MAKE SENSES.

THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO VACCINE REQUIREMENTS IN OTHER STATES, AND I VIEW THE OPINION AS ESSENTIALLY VALIDATING THE POSITION THAT EMPLOYERS CAN REGULATE A REQUIRE VACCINE.

>> THERE WAS A CASE, I BELIEVE, IN TEXAS THAT SAID YOU CAN REFUSE TO GET A VACCINE, BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK SOME WHERE ELSE, BUT WERE THERE OTHER CASES.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CASES PARTICULARLY AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL.

IN INDIANA THEY PUT IN A REQUIREMENT FOR VACCINATION, AND SOME STUDENTS CHALLENGED THAT.

AND THAT COURT ALSO REACHED THE SAME CONFUSION WHICH SAID, HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET A VACCINE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND WORKERS CAN HAVE LIMITATIONS, ONE FOR A MEDICAL REASON, OR A RELIGIOUS REASON.

BUT FOR THOSE TWO REASONS THEY ARE REQUIRE A VACCINATION.

>> AND THEN I IMAGINE EMPLOYERS CAN ASK PLEASE IF THEY ARE VACCINATED.

>> YES.

THE COMMISSION HAS SAID IF THERE IS A STATUS, AND IF YOU GIVE THAT INFORMATION, THEN WE HAVE TO KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL.

>> AND HOW MUCH NOTICE DO YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOUR STAFF.

>> I WOULD RECOMMEND SIX WEEKS.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I THINK GIVING LESS THAN AT LEAST SIX WEEKS A LITTLE BIT HARSH, RIGHT?

AND SO YOU WOULD WANT TO GIVE THEM TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

AND THE NOTIFICATIONS I HAVE SEEN SO FAR HAVE BEEN GIVING A DATE OUT IN THE FUTURE.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT GOVERNMENT WORKERS?

HOW DOES THAT DYNAMIC PLAY?

WE SEE WHAT IS PLAYING OUT IN THE SCHOOLS HERE.

>> YES, THE VACCINE MANDATE APPLIES TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

AT THE STATE LEVEL THERE IS STILL NOT A VACCINATION REQUIREMENT, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE -- THERE CANNOT BE A VACCINE MAN VACCINE MANDATE FOR EMPLOYEES.

FOR SOME REASON THIS HAS BECOME SOMEWHAT OF A POLITICAL ISSUE.

SO I'M EXPECTING LEGISLATURE OR GOVERNOR CHANGE THEIR POSITION.

>> HAS THAT LINE BLURRED AS OF TODAY?

>> NOT AS OF TODAY, BE MY RECOLLECTION FOR SCHOOL USE IS THAT WE MIGHT FALL INTO A [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR VACCINATIONS.

AND THERE ARE RULES WHEN A PARENT CAN OPT OUT.

>> AND TODAY WAS PFIZER, AND MODERNA HAS NOT YET RECEIVED THE FULL APPROVAL.

GOOD INFORMATION.

JESSICA POST, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>>> FULL-TIME WORKERS ARE INCREASINGLY DITCHING THEIR 9:00 TO 5:00 JOBS FOR A FREELANCE LIFESTYLE.

WAYNE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, AGAIN.

WE'RE TALKING FULL-TIME TO FREELANCE.

THIS IS A REAL THING HAPPENING OUT THERE, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IN MARCH OF 2020, EVERYBODY SHUT DOWN, AND EVERYBODY STARTED THINKING ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING, AND WE WENT THROUGH SOME REAL LIFE CHANGES.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE FLEXIBILITY IS A BIG REASON FOLKS ARE MAKING THIS CHANGE.

>> YEAH, AS YOU KNOW PEOPLE STARTED WORKING AT HOME, AND THEY GOT USED TO IT.

THEY WEREN'T FIGHTING TRAFFIC, THEY SPENT MORE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND ALSO STARTED THINKING ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.

I HAVE GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS LIKE WORK FOR ONE COMPANY FOR 20 AND 30 YEARS, AND THEN RETIRED.

AND NOW WE'RE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD.

SO WHEN THE VIRUS CAME AMONG, AND THE COUNTRY GOT SHUT DOWN, PEOPLE STARTED THINKING WHERE AM I GOING, AND EMPLOYERERS STARTED THINKING, WELL, MAYBE I CAN GET BY ON 7 EMPLOYEES AND CAN KEEP THEM A INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.

>> WOULD WE HAVE SEEN THOSE SHIFTS SHIFTS SHIFTS WITHOUT THE PANDEMIC?

>> WE HAVE SEEN A SHIFT AS A RESULT OF THE INTERNET AND THE SMARTPHONE, BUT I THINK THAT REALLY ACCELERATED AS THE RESULT OF THE VIRUS.

YOU ARE MARRIED, YOU HAVE THREE KIDS, YOU ARE SITTING AT HOME, AND YOUR KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL, IF YOU HAVE TEENAGERS IN COLLEGE THAT ARE COMING BACK HOME, AND YOU START THINKING ABOUT WHERE AM I GOING IN LIFE?

MAYBE I SHOULD START THAT HOME-BASED BUSINESS, SO I THINK THE WHOLE TRANSITION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP REALLY ACCELERATED AS THE RESULT OF THE VIRUS.

>> AND BETWEEN WORKPLACE, EMPLOYER, AND EMPLOYEES, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE THINKING OF THEMSELVES, AND WHERE THEY WANT TO GO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M A BINGE "SHARK TANK "WATCHER.

YOU WATCH THAT PROGRAM, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, GET ON AND TALK ABOUT A SERVICE OR PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED, AND IT REALLY OPENS YOUR EYES TO THE WORLD OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP TODAY, AND REALLY, WHAT THE INTERNET HAS DONE.

HOW MANY CONTESTANTS HAVE AN INTERNET BUSINESS?

THEY WILL SAY, WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR BUSINESS?

AND THEY SAY, IT ALL COMES FROM FACEBOOK.

SO WE'RE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD.

MY DAUGHTER IS A SENIOR AT ASU NOW, AND SHE IS TAKING LAW CLOSSES, AND ALREADY HAS OUR BUSINESS ONLINE OF SELLING JEWELRY ON FACEBOOK.

SO THIS GENERATION IS REALLY RETHINKING HOW THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A CAREER MUCH DIFFERENT THAN I HAVE, OR MY PARENTSOR PARENT -- PARENTS OR GRAND PARENTS.

AND I THINKEL -- THINK HAS CHANGED THINGS THE WAY THINKS ARE PROCEEDING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

COMING UP ON ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW MUCH ELECTION AUDITS ARE COSTING TAXPAYERS, AND ON AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, RACE AND GENDER EQUALITY ISSUES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.