[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A MAJOR COURT RULING FINDS THAT THE STATE'S BAN ON MASK MANDATES IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

ON "CRONKITE NEWS," CONCERNS AGAINST INCREASING CASES OF WEST NILE VIRUS.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

A MARICOPA COUNTY COUNTY JUDGE TODAY RULED THAT ARIZONA'S BAN ON MASK MANDATES IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THE JUDGE RULE 245D THE BAN VIOLATES THE SINGLE SUBJECT RULE FOR LEGISLATION, BECAUSE IT WAS A NON-BUDGETS -- BUDGET ISSUE.

FOR NOW NONE OF THE LAWS WILL TAKE EFFECT AS SCHEDULED ON WEDNESDAY, WHICH MEANS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH MASK MANDATES CAN KEEP THEM IN PLACE, AND OTHER DISTRICTS ON THE FENCE CAN FOLLOW SUIT.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE IN JUST A MOMENT.

FALLOUT CONTINUES OVER THE STATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS.

THEY FOUND THE VOTE WAS NO RIGGED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

>> IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE BIG LIE.

CLEARLY THE FORMER PRESIDENT DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT, BUT OUR GOVERNOR SAID ON FRIDAY, THAT THE 2020 ELECTION IS DONE.

IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.

>> HE ADDED THAT MOVING ON IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.

>> THIS IS ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND SADLY, NEVER IN OUR HISTORY HAVE OUR INSTITUTIONS BEEN ATTACKED SO MUCH.

I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT 2022 FOR THE REPUBLICANS JUST GOING TO BE ATTACKING ELECTIONS OFFICIALS, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE PATH FORWARD.

IF WE DO THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO TEAR AT THE FOUNDATIONS OF THIS DEMOCRACY.

>>> TEMPE STREETCARS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UP AND OPERATIONAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS.

TEMPE IS STILL WAITING ON THREE OF THE SIX STREETCARS TO BE DELIVERED.

>>> AND PRESIDENT BIDEN RECEIVED HIS COVID BOOSTER SHOT TODAY.

THE PRESIDENT INVITED THE PRESS TO ATTEND THE VACCINATION AS A WAY TO URGE MORE AMERICANS TO GET THEIR FIRST SHOT.

HE RECEIVED THE THIRD SHOT DAYS AFTER REGULATORS GAVE THE OKAY FOR AMERICANS 65 AND OLDER.

>>> AS MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE RULED THAT THE BAN OWN MASK MANDATES IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

WE SPOKE TO ATTORNEY ROOPALI DESAI ON THE ISSUE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I KNOW IT WAS A VERY BUSY DAY FOR YOU.

WHAT DID THE JUDGE RULE TODAY?

>> WELL, IN A 17-PAGE RULING, JUDGE COOPER DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL A NUMBER OF DECISIONS THAT WE CHALLENGED, AND SHE DECLARED ONE BILL UNCONSTITUTIONAL ON SINGLE-SUBJECT RULE GROUNDS.

>> WHAT IS ARIZONA'S SINGLE-SUBJECT LAW REQUIREMENT?

>> YEAH, AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU KNOW, THIS RULING TODAY INDICATES THAT OUR CONSTITUTION IN ARIZONA MEANS SOMETHING.

THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION INCLUDES SEPARATE PROVISIONS.

THERE IS THE SINGLE-SUBJECT REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY BUILT SHALL INCLUDE BUT ONE SUBJECT, AND THEN THERE IS THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS A SEPARATE COMPONENT, AND THAT RULE REQUIRES THAT THE TITLE OF EACH BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE FAIRLY AND ACCURATELY REFLECTS WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE BILL.

MANY OF THE PROVISIONS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, AND THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THOSE ARE POLICY PROVISIONS THAT WERE STUFFED INTO THE RECONCILIATION BILL, BUT WERE NOT NOTICED IN THE TITLE.

SO THE TITLE IS CALLED BUDGET RECONCILIATION, BUT THE SUBSTANTIVE PROVISION RELATED, INSTEAD TO THINGS LIKE PROHIBITING MASK MANDATES AND OTHER COVID-19 MITIGATION POLICIES.

>> SO THE JUDGE DIDN'T RULE NECESSARILY ON PROHIBITING MASK MANDATES, JUST THAT YOU CAN'T STUFF IT INTO A BUDGET BILL AND NOT HAVE IT STAND ON ITS OWN, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE RULING DOESN'T SAY THAT MASK MANDATES WILL BE BLANKET ACROSS ARIZONA.

WHAT THE RULING SAYS THE VARIOUS PROVISIONS DIDN'T STAND, SO NOW THOSE DIFFERENT ENTITIES CAN MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AFTER ASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO ADOPT A MASK MANDATE.

THE JUDGE, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY THE STATE'S ARGUMENTS DON'T HOLD WATER, SO WE WERE TRYING TO CONVEY, THAT THE REASON THESE DIDN'T EFFECTUATE THE BUDGET, IS BECAUSE THEY HAD SPECIFIC POLICIES.

ONE THE JUDGE SAID WAS THAT SHE AGREED WITH US, AND THE STATE'S ARGUMENTS THAT SOMEHOW THESE RELATE BROADLY TO THE BUDGET IN ARIZONA JUST IS NOT -- IS NOT TRUE.

>> AND SOME OF THOSE CLAIMS THAT EVEN UNRELATED PROVISIONS ARE NECESSARY AS FAR AS IMPLEMENTING THE BUDGET.

DID THE JUDGE COMMENT ON THAT?

>> YES, I THINK THE JUDGE VERY DIRECTLY AND CONCISELY RULED -- SHE SAID LOOK, NOWHERE IN THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, NOWHERE IN THE RECORD DO WE HAVE REASONING -- LIKE THE STATE IS NOW PROVIDING IN THIS LITIGATION, AS A PRO-TALK EXCUSE FOR THIS BILL.

AS THEY COULDN'T GET THE LEGISLATURES TO VOTE FOR THIS WITHOUT TRADING AWAY SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

AND THE COURT RECOGNIZED THAT, AND PASSING IT THROUGH A BUDGET BILL IS NOT PROPER.

YOU NEED TO SEPARATE THESE PROVISIONS FROM ONE ANOTHER, SO LEGISLATURES CAN GIVE AN UP OR DATE VOTE ON THESE SPECIFIC ISSUES, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TRADE.

>> AND THIS IS HOW THE LEGISLATURE DOES A LOT OF BUSINESS DOWN AT THE CAPITOL, AND THIS RULING COULD CHANGE THAT DRAMATICALLY.

AT ONE POINT, THEY SAID, THIS IS HOW WE CAN ALWAYS DONE IT, AND THEY SAID CHANGING IT WOULD CREATE HAVOC.

DID SHE RESPOND TO THAT?

>> THIS IS NOT A WATERSHED MOMENT IN THE SENSE THAT WE ARE CHANGING THE LAW.

THE LEGISLATURE KNOW HE RULES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE ENVELOPE FURTHER AND FURTHER.

SO I THINK IF ANYTHING IT IS GOING TO TAKE THEM BACK TO WHERE THEY OUGHT TO BE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

>> EXPECTING AN APPEAL?

>> I HOPE NOT.

BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD WORD YET ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE AN APPEAL.

I THINK THE OPINION IS VERY WELL REASONED, AND FRANKLY PEOPLE OF ARIZONA CAN FEEL SAFE THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES CAN MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR THEM.

>> ATTORNEY ROOPALI DESAI THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK COUNTY RECORDER RESPONDS TO THE STATE SENATE'S REPORT ON MARICOPA COUNTY'S ELECTION RESULTS.

>>> LAST FRIDAY, THE STATE SENATE RELEASED A MUCH-ANTICIPATED REPORT ON WHAT IT FOUND ON THE MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION BALLOT AUDIT.

FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY IS ADRIAN FONTES GIVE US HIS THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> MY FIRST THOUGHT IS THANK GOODNESS IT IS OVER.

THE CYBER-NINJAS DIDN'T FIND ANY FRAUD.

NUMBER 1, IF THERE WAS NO FRAUD, THEN THERE WAS NO FRAUD.

AND NUMBER 2, IF THEY STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB.

IF THEY DID THEIR JOB, WHERE ARE STILL UNANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM THEM THAT THEY EVEN ADMIT COULD BE REASONABLY ANSWERED >> THAT BEING SAID, ANYTHING IN THE REPORT SURPRISE YOU?

>> SOME OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALREADY THINGS WE DO IN ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA.

SAYING WE COULD LOOK AT THE NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS.

WE ALREADY DO THAT BEFORE EVERY ELECTION.

BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE MAILING OUT THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WAS SURPRISING IS WAS THE GENERAL CONCEPT THAT THEY INDICATED OF CHECKING A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DATABASES TO HAVE A REALLY SOLID LOOK AT WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

THAT'S AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE POLITICAL SIDE HAS BEEN RAILING AGAINST FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

SO I GUESS I AGREE WITH THEM ON THAT POINT.

>> DID YOU SEE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL NEEDS TO INVESTIGATION?

>> NO.

I THINK THIS WHOLE THING AT THE END OF THE DAY IS REALLY JUST A WASTE OF TIME.

IN ONE WAY, YOU COULD SAY, WELL, THERE WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THESE SYSTEMS BETTER.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE OF US WHO KNOW THESE SYSTEMS ARE NOW SUPPORTED BY SOME FOLKS WHO USED TO CHALLENGE THEM.

THE CURRENT RECORDER CHALLENGED THE HECK OUT OF THE SYSTEM, AND NOW HE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS.

HE KNOWS WE PUT TOGETHER A GREAT SYSTEM.

AND NOW THEY ARE 100% BEHIND THIS SYSTEM.

SO WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AND REALLY, THIS OUGHT TO BE THE END OF IT.

>> AND SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN SAYS, QUOTE, BROKE EX-ELECTION PROCEDURES, AND THEY FAILED TO TAKE BASIC PRECAUTIONS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> I WOULD SAY, KAREN FANN, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO HIRE AN AUDITOR.

IF THE SENATE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY HAD A CONCERN, SHE SHOULD HAVE CALLED ME.

I NEVER GOT A CALL OR A TEXT.

NO ONE ASKED US ANY QUESTIONS.

IT WAS AUTOMATIC ACCUSATIONS, RACED ON INNUENDO AND RUMORS, AND AT THIS TIME, SHE IS STILL INDICATING A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS ARE WRONG.

AND SHE KNOWS THEY ARE NOT.

SO I THINK SHE OUGHT TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND ASK HERSELF WHETHER OR NOT SHE HAS ANY CREDIBILITY LEFT.

>> AND SIGNATURE VERIFICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS REQUIRES ADDITIONAL TESTING, AND VOTER TURNOUT BALLOTS, AND DOES SHE HAVE A POINT?

>> NO, SHE DOES NOT.

THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT THE CYBER-NINJAS THEMSELVES SAID, AND THAT IS SO MANY OF THESE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE WELL, BUT WE DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ASK THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THIS IS A LESS THAN HALF WAY-INFORMED AUDIT.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY CREDIBILITY.

THE ONLY GOOD THINGS THAT IS COMING OUT OF THIS, IS THERE ARE SOME INSURRECTIONISTS THAT ARE MAKING MONEY OFF OF THIS, AND NOW THIS WHOLE THING HAS TO STOP.

I HAVE BEEN AGAINST IT FROM THE BEGINNING.

I'M GLAD SOME PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POLITICAL AISLE HAVE JOINED ME, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN FAITH IN OUR ELECTIONS AS AMERICANS.

>> BUT A LOT OF FOLKS STILL BELIEVE -- AND AMONG THEM, CHRISTINA BOB OF THE OAN, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE AUDIT.

50,000 FRAUDULENT BALLOTS ARE STILL OUT THERE, SHE CLAIMS.

THIS IS BASED IN REALITY?

>> WE HAVE ELECTIONS IN AMERICA BECAUSE AMERICANS DISAGREE.

WE DON'T DISSOLVE OUR DISAGREEMENTS WITH FISTS OR WEAPONS.

ONE SIDE WINS, ONE SIDE LOSES, AND THERE IS A TINY PERCENT OF THE POPULATION THAT CANNOT ACCEPT THAT THEIR SIDE LOST.

>> AND 50,000 FRAUDULENT REPORTS, THEY FOUND GHOST AND LOST VOTES.

PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS.

SHOULD THEY BELIEVE THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND IT'S A TERRIBLE THING THAT WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO FIGHT THESE NONSENSICAL CLAIM WITH THE TRUTH.

THEY CREATED THE SINGLE-BEST ELECTION SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND IT HAS BECOME NOT ONLY THE MOST HIGHLY SCRUTINIZED ELECTION SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, BUT IT HAS ALSO WON EVERY TEST.

>> HERE IN ARIZONA, YOU LOSE A RACE, IS THE FIRST THING YOU ARE GOING TO DO IS SAY, IT'S RIGGED?

>> GOD, I HOPE NOT.

WE SHOULD COMPETE AND SHAKE HANDS AT THE END.

IT'S NOT JUST UN-AMERICAN, IT'S ANTI-AMERICAN, AND SOME OF US ARE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT.

>> ADRIAN FONTES THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS.

>>> THE LADIES IS A LOCAL COMEDY DUO.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM LEANNE SCHMIDT, THE FOUNDER OF THE LADIES AND PERFORMANCE ARTIST STEVE WILCOX.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

LEEANNE, BEFORE WE GET TO THE IDEA OF GOING NEW WAYS AND PLACES, YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH LADIES.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M ACTUALLY ONE OF THE LADIES.

THE LADIES PRODUCE IMMERSIVE, FUN, OFF THE WALL PERFORMANCES IN UNEXPECTED PLACES.

AND DURING LADIES IN THE HEADLIGHTS, WE HAD OUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS COME AND VIEW OUR SHOWS FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR SHOWS, AND INTERACTING WITH US BY USING THEIR HORNS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.

>> AND STEVE, THIS IS KIND OF -- IN THIS LOUNGE OF THE FILM BAR, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL WAY OF ENTERTAINING FOLKS.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> YEAH, IT INVOLVES AROUND CHARACTERS [ INAUDIBLE ] MAN, PERSONAL LOUNGE, AND FILM BAR, [ INAUDIBLE ] I WILL PERSONALLY [ INAUDIBLE ] PARTY.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO.

>> YEAH, THE TITLE HAS A LOT OF P'S IN THERE, BUT, STEVE, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF COVID, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO GET THAT LIVE AUDIENCE BACK AND FORTH?

>> OH, CERTAINLY.

THEY ARE TAKING THEIR WORK OUTSIDE.

AND TAKING PERFORMANCE INTO UNCONVENTIONAL SPACES, AND CREATING THESE EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN.

IT'S NOT A STAGE FRAMING.

IT'S A THEATER, AND IT'S REALLY INVITING THE AUDIENCE INTO THE PERFORMANCE.

>> AND LEEANNE, AGAIN, THIS IS A NEW WAY OF AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION, AND A NEW WAY OF PERFORMING IN TERMS OF LIVE THEATER.

LIVE ARTS.

IT IS THE KIND OF THING -- IS IT MOSTLY BECAUSE OF COVID?

>> WE HAVE BEEN PRODUCING WORK LIKE THIS SINCE 2016.

>> OH, WOW.

OKAY.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE FUN, IMMERSIVE, UNEXPECTED PERFORMANCES IN UNEXPECTED PLACES.

IT TRULY IS A ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE, AND WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO ENGAGE ARE OUR COMMUNITY BY TAKING THESE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES OUT AT HOTELS, AND BOOKSTORES.

>> WHAT KIND OF REACTION YOU GETTING?

>> IT'S A HOOT.

WE HAVE REALLY GONE AND BROKEN THE RULES OF THEATER.

WE ASK OUR AUDIENCE TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER DURING OUR PERFORMANCES.

WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO POST LIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING.

SO IT'S REALLY THIS OUT OF THE BOX EXPERIENCE FOR OUR AUDIENCES.

EVERYONE IS GROWING TO KNOW WHO WE ARE, AND WHAT WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND OUR GOAL IS TO PUT PHOENIX ON THE MAP FOR IMMERSIVE ART.

MUCH LIKE BUFFALO IS KNOWN FOR ITS CHICKEN WINGS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND STEVE, IS THIS OUT OF THE BOX FOR YOU?

>> YES, WITH MY FORM ER TRAINING, IS NOT NECESSARILY THE KIND OF WORK I TRAINED FOR.

BUT IT IS NOT NEST [ INAUDIBLE ] THE STAGES AND THEATERS.

THIS KIND OF WORK WHERE THE PERFORMER IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND PLAYING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IT IS NOT THAT FAR AFIELD OF WHAT A LOT OF DRAG ARTISTS DO, OR WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE AT A RENAISSANCE FAIR.

SO IT DOES SPEAK TO AN EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE WANT, IT'S ENGAGING, AND SOMETHING A LITTLE LESS PASSIVE.

THEY WANT TO HAVE A UNIQUE SINGULAR EXPERIENCE, BUT I THINK THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET.

>> AND STEVE, I ASKED JOANNE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID, DO YOU THINK THIS KIND OF FORMULA, IF YOU WILL, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COVID CAN ACCELERATE?

>> I THINK IT CERTAINLY [ INAUDIBLE ] PERFORMERS OF ALL STRETCHES HAS THEM THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW THEY CAN APPLY THEIR CRAFT.

AND IN THAT WAY, I THINK IT HAS BEEN EXCITING TO SEE HOW THESE ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE ANSWERED THAT CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME REALLY CREATIVE SUBMISSIONS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THESE THEATER COMPANIES AND PERFORMERS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE USING THESE LESS-CONVENTIONAL WAYS OF PRESENTING THEIR WORKS.

>> AND LEEANNE, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM OTHER ARTISTS?

>> THEY ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT AS WELL.

WE HAVE TRIED TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX.

IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO EXPAND OUR WORK AND PRACTICE, NOW IS THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU BOTH, AND BEST OF LUCK IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANKS, TED.

>> 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 IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, IS A KNEW A NEW MUSEUM HONORING INCLUSIVITY IN MOTION PICTURES OPENS ON LOS ANGELES.