[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, BAN ON MASK MANDATES.

ON "CRONKITE NEWS," HOW COVID RELIEF FUNDS ARE BEING USED TO ADDRESS THE INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS IN MARICOPA COUNTY, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, WHAT THE NCAA'S NEW NAME-IMAGE-LIKENESS POLICY MEANS FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES.

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

>> THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF PBS.

THANK YOU.

>>> MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLISTER ADEL ANNOUNCEMENT LAST FRIDAY THAT SHE WAS UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOL AND ANXIETY ISSUES CAME AFTER COUNTY SHERIFF PAUL PENZONE TOLD HER STAFF THAT SHE NEEDED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE TREATMENT.

AND EXPRESSED BOTH, QUOTE, BOTH SUPPORT AND CONCERN, BUT ALSO QUESTIONED WHY SHE WAS STILL TRYING TO RUN THE OFFICE.

INDEED ADEL HAS STILL NOT TAKEN A LEAVE OF ABSENCE, AND SAYS SHE CONTINUES TO HAVE CONTACT WITH HER TEAM AS SHE CONTINUES HER TREATMENT.

THIS FOLLOWS ADEL UNDERGOING EMERGENCY SURGERY FOR A BRAIN INJURY AFTER A FALL.

DEMONSTRATORS HAVE NOW FILED A $119 MILLION NOTICE OF CLAIM AGAINST THE COUNTY.

>>> OTHER NEWS THE STATE SUPREME COURT TODAY DECIDED AGAINST HEARING SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN'S APPEAL.

THE SENATE ARGUED THAT IT WASN'T IN POSSESSION OF THE AUDIT RECORDS, AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT WAS NOT CONVINCED.

SO THE CLAIM WAS RESOLVED, AND THE RECORDS ARE NOW PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

>>> AND ATTORNEY GENERA AND US SENATE CANDIDATE MARK RINNOVI FILED A ACTION AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MASK MANDATES, ADDING THAT ARIZONA WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS ASSAULT ON OUR SOVEREIGNTY.

>>> A STARTED LING NUMBER OF COVID-19-RELATED FATALITIES TODAY.

THE NUMBER OF NEW COVID CASES FOR THE DAY CAME IN AT A LITTLE OVER 2600, AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE STILL AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE FEBRUARY.

>>> THE STATE'S INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE RELEASED THEIR NEW MAPS.

THEY ARE LITTLE MORE THAN A SKELETAL VERSION OF WHAT WILL BE NEW DISTRICTS.

THE FINAL MAP SHOULD BE READY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THE GOAL IS TO AVOID GERRYMANDERING.

>>> AND IN CALIFORNIA TODAY, VOTERS ARE DECIDING IF GOVERNOR NEWSOME SHOULD WILL RECALLED.

>> I DO BELIEVE IN DUE PROCESS, AND I THINK GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS FAILED OUR STATE, AND I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, AND THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN ATROCIOUS WITH THE SCHOOLS AND THE LOCKDOWNS AND THE HOMELESS, AND IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.

AND PEOPLE NEED TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> I JUST DON'T SUPPORT HIM BEING RECALLED.

I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE OTHER ONES AS VIABLE CANDIDATES.

>> MANY REPUBLICANS ON THE BALL LET, INCLUDING LARRY ELDER REDUCE TO SAY IF THEY WILL ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.

THEY ARE ALREADY CLAIMING FRAUD AND RIGGED VOTES >>> A HEARING WAS HELD YESTERDAY ON THE BAN ON VACCINES.

HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES WAS COVERING THIS STORY.

HOWIE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

DESCRIBE THE CASE, AND WHAT WAS HEARD YESTERDAY IN COURT?

>> WELL, THE PLAINTIFFS ARE EDUCATORS AND CHILD WELFARE ADVOCATES AND SOME OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO SAY, LOOK, WE UNDERSTAND THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE POWER TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILLS.

IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE BUDGET SAYS WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS MUCH MONEY INTO NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS, THE RECONCILIATION BILL CAN SAY HOW MUCH SQUARE FEET YOU CAN HAVE.

WHAT YOU CANNOT DO IS TAKE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET AND TOSS IT IN THERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BAN ON MASK MANDATES, THE QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU ARE TEACH SO-CALLED CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THEY SAY NONE OF THAT BELONGS IN THE BUDGET, SO THEREFORE IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A BILL WITH THIS TITLE, WOULD YOU KNOW THAT DEALT WITH MASKS?

>> INDEED.

AND CORE HERE IS ARIZONA'S SINGLE SUBJECT LAW.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT SAYS THAT EVERY BILL HAS TO HAVE NO MORE THAN ONE SUBJECT, SO ONE OF THE BILLS BEING CHALLENGED IS FILLED WITH EVERYTHING FROM NEW VOTING LAWS TO WHETHER YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE, TO STRIPPING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S POWERS, SO THEY ARE SAYING BECAUSE OF THAT, THE WHOLE BILL DISAPPEARS.

AND THEN THERE IS THE TITLE PROVISION, AND THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE TITLE SHALL REFLECT WHAT IS IN THE BILL, AND IF IT DOES NOT, ANYTHING THAT IS NOT IN THE TITLE OF THE BILL IS STRIPPED OUT, SO THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE JUDGE TO SAY ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET, THEY HAVE TO GO.

>> AND THE DEFENDANTS ARE SAYING, THIS ISN'T STRICTLY ENFORCED ANYWAY?

>> WELL, THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT THE CONSTITUTION IS WRONG.

THEY ARE SORT OF SUGGESTING THAT, WELL, THE LEGISLATURE GETS TO DECIDE WHAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL AND WHAT IS IN THE RECONCILIATION BILL, BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A REAL BIG PROBLEM WITH THE COURTS SAYING THAT LEGISLATURES DON'T HAVE TO OBEY THE CONSTITUTION.

THE OTHER PART CAME DOWN TO, WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

AND DEFENDANTS ARE ALSO SAYING THAT EVEN UNRELATED PROVISIONS DO EFFECT THE BUDGET.

IS THAT GOING TO FLY?

>> NO.

THE QUESTION OF IF WE HAD A LAW THAT SAID, YOU HAVE TO WEAR UNDERWEAR ON YOUR HEAD ON MONDAYS.

WELL, YOU CAN SAY IT EFFECTS THE BUDGET, BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MIGHT HAVE TO PROSECUTE THESE PEOPLE, SO YOU NEED MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET.

>> WHAT ABOUT STANDINGS, HOWIE, STANDINGS ALWAYS BECOME AN ISSUE.

WITH THE DEFENDANTS STAYING THE PLAINTIFFS HAVE NO STANDING HERE.

>> THE DEFENDANTS CAN SAY AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE TITLE, THEY ARE CHALLENGING THE STANDING ON THE SINGLE-SUBJECT RULE, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE TRICKIER TO THEM TO FIGURE OUT.

SO THE QUESTION IS, SO WHO DOES HAVE STANDING TO DECIDE WHO CAN BE IN A BILL?

OR AS PERHAPS PATRICK IRVINE HAS SUGGESTED, MAYBE YOU CAN'T SUE THE LEGISLATURE FOR DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT.

>> HOWIE WHAT KIND OF TIMETABLE DO WE HAVE HERE NOW?

>> I THINK WHAT SHE DOES, BECAUSE THE LAW TAKES EFFECT ON THE 29TH, UNLESS IT IS ENJOINED, I'M GUESSING SHE WANTS TO DO IT EARLIER THAN THAT, BECAUSE WHOEVER LOSES, THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE MARK BRNOVICH HAS FILED A LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE VACCINE TESTING.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

>> IF YOU LOOK ANOTHER THE LAWSUIT, IT DOESN'T FILE SUIT AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR THE VACCINE MANDATE, SO WHAT HE HAS DONE IS HE HAS SAID, WELL, YOU HAVE GOT A RULE THAT APPLIES TO WORKERS, BUT IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EFFORT BY MARK BRNOVICH TO GET SOME HEADLINES.

HE KNOWS IT APPEALS TO THE RED MEAT AND THE REPUBLICAN BASE, AND SHE IS JUST LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ISSUE TO DO THIS.

THIS LAWSUIT IS NOT FILED AGAINST OSHA, IT IS FILED AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SO YOU TELL ME WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT IS THE FIRST ONE IN THE NATION.

HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES, THANK YOU, SIR, APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>>> UP NEXT, A TEXAS ABORTION BAN AND SIMILARITIES IN ARIZONA.

>>> TEXAS RECENTLY PASSED A BAN ON APPORTIONS AFTER SIX WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST.

WHAT DOES THE NEW LAW MEAN TO THE ABORTION DEBATE IN GENERAL, AND PARTICULARLY HERE IN ARIZONA, WHERE ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVISTS ARE ALREADY LOOKS AT THE LAW AS A TEMPLATE FOR NEW LEGISLATION.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH SWAPNA REDDY, FROM ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TEXAS ABORTION LAW, THIS NOW -- WHAT ARE THE EARLY SIGNS AS FAR AS IMPLEMENTATION DOWN THERE?

WHAT IS GOING ON IN TEXAS?

>> YEAH, TEXAS IS MY HOME STATE AND THERE IS ALWAYS NEWS FROM TEXAS.

I THINK WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT THIS TEXAS ABORTION BAN, AND REALLY WHAT IT SAYS, BRIEFLY, IS THAT WOMEN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RECEIVE AN ABORTION AFTER SIX WEEKS, WHICH IS THE EARLIEST ABORTION BAN IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD, AND THIS BAN IS NOT BEING ENFORCED BY THE STATE, BUT BY CITIZENS.

SO INDIVIDUALS CAN SUE EITHER THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS OR UBER DRIVERS, OR ANYONE WHO AIDS AND ABETS AN ABORTION AFTER SIX WEEKS.

SO THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON.

THE SUPREME COURT TURNED DOWN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE CASE, SO ALL CYLINDERS FULL AHEAD IN TEXAS.

>> AND WE SHOULD MENTION, NO EXCEPTIONS AS FAR AS RAPE OR INCEST IN THIS CASE, TRUE?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS, AND THIS BAN IS REALLY FASCINATING AND UNPRECEDENTED IN THE STATE IS NOT TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENFORCING IT, AND IT IS REALLY LEAVING IT IN THE HANDS OF PRIVATE CITIZENS, WHO NOT ONLY CAN SUE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AIDING AND ABETTING THESE WOMEN, BUT ALSO CAN ACCRUE LEGAL FEES, AND WIN A SORT OF PAYMENT IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THIS IS CREATING KIND OF A VIGILANTLY-TYPE OF APPROACH, AND INTIMIDATING WOMEN.

>> AND WE SHOULD MENTION, WE TALKED ABOUT THE LEGALS A -- ASPECTS WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT, AND UNTIL SOMEONE GOES AGAINST THEM AND TAKES IT TO COURT, THE SUPREME COURT ACTS LIKE IT IS NOT GOING TO BE ALL THAT INTERESTED UNTIL SOME SORT OF ACTION IS TAKEN.

THAT BEING SAYING, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE?

>> YEAH, THE LEGAL DISCUSSION IS FINE.

WHICH AS YOU MENTIONED IS FASCINATING.

BUT WE HAVE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE POPULATION'S HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, ESPECIALLY HOW IT IS IMPACTING WOMEN AND FAMILIES.

TEXAS ALREADY HAS QUITE A BIT OF RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS TO LEGAL ABORTION.

IT HAS BEEN THE FIGHT OF MANY LEGAL CASES IN TERMS OF LEGAL ABORTION, ACCESS TO LEGAL PROVIDERS AND ACCESS TO CLINICS.

AND WHO HAS IT IMPACTED THE MOST?

LOW-INCOME WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, AND RURAL WOMEN.

EVERY TIME A VERY RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BILL IS PASSED, THAT IS WHO IS PREDICTED TO BE THE MOST EFFECTED IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

AND IT IMPACTS THEIR FAMILIES AND THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND THIS IS NOT THE LAW IN MOST STATES.

SO WOMEN IN TEXAS ARE EXPERIENCING SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

>> AND YET IT COULD BE THE LAW IN MANY OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING ARIZONA, WHERE SOME LAWMAKERS ARE VERY ANTI-ABORTION, AND THEY ARE SAYING THIS COULD BE A TEMPLATE FOR ARIZONA.

>> YEAH, AND WE HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD THIS NARRATIVE.

THIS COULD BE A TEMPLATE.

LAST YEAR, WAS ACTUALLY AN EXTREMELY HOT BILL FOR RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BILLS ACROSS LOTS OF CONSERVATIVE STATES.

ARIZONA PASSED A BILL THAT MADE IT ILLEGAL FOR WOMEN TO RECEIVE AN ABORTION IF THEY DID SO BASED ON GENETIC ABNORMALITIES, SO WE'RE ALREADY SEEING MOVEMENT IN THIS STATE -- IN CERTAIN STATES, AND I THINK WHAT THIS SHOWS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE SUPREME COURT SHOWS THAT WHAT THIS WILL RESULT IN, IS, REALLY, OTHER STATES BEING EMBOLDED TO BRING UP SIMILAR LEGISLATION THAT WHAT TEXAS RIGHT UP.

AND AGAIN, IT'S WOMEN, AND FAMILIES AND ESPECIALLY THOSE OF COLOR, LOW-INCOME, AND RURAL WOMEN AND FAMILIES THAT WILL BE BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS LACK OF ACCESS AND LACK OF CERTAINTY.

>> DR. SWAPNA REDDY, FROM ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪ >>> THURSDAY IS MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, AND ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AN ASU ART MUSEUM IS HOLDING A SPECIAL EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION.

THE DOCTOR OF THE MUSEUM, MIKI GARCIA SPEAKS WITH "HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS ABOUT THE EVENT.

>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

SOME SPECIAL EVENTS COMING UP IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS THE THIRD ANNUAL MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION.

IT IS CELEBRATED ON SEPTEMBER 16TH.

WE'RE HAVING OURS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, A DAY EARLY, BUT WE ARE CELEBRATING IN VERY TRADITION ALWAYS, INCLUDING A VERY TRADITION -- A TRADITION THAT ALL MEXICANS KNOW ABOUT, AND MANY MEXICAN AMERICANS KNOW ABOUT, AND IT'S THE CRY OF INDEPENDENCE, OR THE CRY OF FREEDOM THAT HAPPENED IN 1810 WHEN MEXICO DECLARED INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN.

MANY PEOPLE THINK OUR INDEPENDENCE SAY IS CINCO DE MAYO AND IT IS NOT, AND OUR GOAL IS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE TRADITIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA AND MEXICAN HERITAGE IS DEFINITELY A PART OF THAT.

>> AND THE MUSEUM HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHY DID THE MUSEUM BEGIN DOING THIS THREE YEARS AGO?

>> WELL, THIS MUSEUM SEES ITSELF AS A CHAMPION OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT MUSEUMS IN GENERAL HAVE DONE A POOR JOB OF BEING INCLUSIVE, AND WE OFTEN FIND THAT MANY POPULATIONS REALLY DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN ART MUSEUMS, AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE DO THAT IS TO CELEBRATE CULTURE, AND ESPECIALLY THE CREATIVE CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE HERE -- HERE IN ARIZONA AND THE TRADITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THESE LANDS FOR SO LONG, SO WE THOUGHT IT ONLY RIGHT TO HAVE A DAY THAT IS CELEBRATED DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND AT ASU.

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU CLARIFIED THAT IT IS NOT CINCO DE MAYO THAT IS MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY.

WHAT MAKES THIS DAY SO IMPORTANT, YOU MENTIONED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, BUT WHAT ELSE ARE YOU ALL DOING THAT IS SIGNIFICANT TO THIS HOLIDAY.

>> WE HAVE HAD GUEST PEOPLE GIVE LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY.

THIS YEAR, WE'LL HAVE DANCE LESSONS, AND FEATURE MEXICAN ARTISTS.

WE'LL HAVE A FOOD TRUCK, AND MUSIC.

IT IS ALL GOING TO BE OUTSIDE TOO IN OUR COURTYARDS AND PAVILIONS TO ENSURE WE'RE COVID SAFE, AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO HAVE THOSE OF US WHO GREW UP IN THE UNITED STATES, AND MAYBE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO OUR CULTURE TO BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CULTURE, AND BE PROUD IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND CELEBRATE COLLECTIVELY, AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A MEXICAN CULTURE, TO LEARN ABOUT IT.

>> YOU ARE ALSO COLLABORATING AS I UNDERSTAND IT WITH THE MEXICAN CONSULATE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY HAVE BEEN OUR PARTNERS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND THEY ARE LEADING SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES, AND INVITING MANY PEOPLE TO THIS FESTIVAL, AND REALLY ALL OF THE PROGRAMS WE DO AT ASU MUSEUM ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

WE SEE OURSELVES AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE SCHOLARS, ARTS, AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THE MUSEUM IS OFFERING.

GIVE US A PREVIEW OF WHAT IS COMING UP.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A GREAT EXHIBITION ABOUT INCARCERATION THAT IS TAKING UP OUR MAIN MUSEUM AREA.

AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT EXHIBIT, AND WE ARE ASKING THE ARTISTS TO RELEASE NEW POSSIBILITIES.

AND WE HAVE AN EXHIBITION CALLED DINNERWARE, AND IT IS QUESTIONING THINGS LIKE FOOD INSECURITY, AND HUNGER, AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE ART.

IT'S ABOUT THE THEMES THAT RELATE TO EVERY ONE OF US IN OUR DAILY LIVES, AND HOW ART CAN HELP US THINK ABOUT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

>> SO A LOT TO SEE AND THINK ABOUT, MIKI GARCIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> 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, COVID VACCINES ARE MAKING ALL OF THE HEADLINES, BUT IT IS ALSO TIME TO START SCHEDULING FLU SHOTS.

NCAA'S NEW NAME-IMAGE-LIKENESS POLICY MEANS FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES.

♪