[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE STATE SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS A RULING THAT THE LEGISLATURE ILLEGALLY PASSED ITS BAN ON MASK MANDATES.

AND ON "CRONKITE NEWS," WHY FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF COVID-19, AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," THE COUNTRY'S RACIAL GAP WHEN IT COMES TO CEO'S.

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

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

THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A LOWER COURT RULING, THAT THE STATE LITERATURE ILLEGALLY PASSED A MASK MANDATE.

AND NOW SCHOOLS CAN NOW CONTINUE TO REQUIRE MASKS.

THIS CAME JUST TWO HOURS AFTER JUSTICES HEARD ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE IN JUST A MOMENT.

>>> CDC ADVISORS TODAY UNANIMOUS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED, VACCINES FOR SEEN 5 TO 11.

AND VACCINATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO START WITHIN THE WEEK.

>>> ALSO IN WASHINGTON AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED ON INCLUDING LOWER-COST PRESCRIPTIONS PRESCRIPTIONS.

IT WOULD ALLOW MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES, AND CAP OUT OF POCKET COSTS AT $2,000 A YEAR FOR SENIORS.

>>> AND THIS IS ELECTION DAY ACROSS ARIZONA.

SCOTTSDALE RESIDENTS WILL DECIDE ON AN UPDATED GENERAL PLAN, SURPRISE AT A WATER DECISION ON THE BALLOT, AND GILBERT ASKING TO APPROVE HALF A BILLION DOLLARS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT TODAY APPROVED A LOWER COURT RULING THAT MASK MANDATES WERE ENACTED ILLEGALLY.

ROOPALI DESAI REPRESENTED THE GROUPS WHO SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED THE BAN, AND JOINS US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SUPREME COURT DECISION TODAY.

>> TED, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT HAS BEEN A BUSY DAY, BUT IT HAS BEEN ONE THAT HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING.

I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THIS DECISION, AND I'M HAPPY FOR THE CITIZENS OF ARIZONA WHO CAN KNOW THE LIMITATIONS WILL BE UPHELD.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED THE DECISION HAPPENED SO QUICKLY?

>> I AM, ALTHOUGH THE STATE HAS ACCEPTED THAT THE A RULING WOULD COME INTO EFFECT VERY QUICKLY.

SO IT WAS A [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT HAD BEEN MADE, BUT IT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A SUPREME COURT TO ISSUE A RULING ON THE SAME DAY.

>> YEAH, AND THIS TOOK JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS.

AND THE COURT HELD A CAUCUS AMONG THE JUSTICES BEFORE HEARING ARGUMENTS OR BEFORE REACHING A DECISION?

>> YEAH.

THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT HAS A PRACTICE OF CONFERENCING CASES BEFORE ORAL ARGUMENTS.

BUT TODAY WHEN WE ENTERED THE COURTROOM AT 9:30, THE CHIEF JUSTICE ANNOUNCED THAT THE COURT HAS CONFERENCED THIS CASE PRIOR TO ORAL ARGUMENT, AND THEY HAD CONFERENCED THE CASE, AND HAD A IF I SPECIFIC ISSUES, AND ALSO INDICATED THAT THE COURT HAS REACHED ALMOST [ INAUDIBLE ] ON THE SUBJECT.

SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE ARGUING BEFORE THE COURT, WE HAD AN IDEA WHAT THEY HAD CONFERENCED.

>> INTERESTING.

AND WHAT THE JUSTICES LOOKED AT WAS NOT SO MUCH THE BAN ON MASK MANDATES, IT WAS HOW IT WAS UNACTED, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS INSTEAD THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE LEGISLATURE HAD ENACTED THESE LAWS, AND THE VARIOUS PRO VARIOUS PROVISIONS.

>> AND THE ATTORNEYS ARGUED, YEAH, BUT THIS IS HOW WE DO THINGS, AND THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY BASICALLY SAID, OKAY, I GET WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.

WE WANT DO IT AGAIN?

IS THAT BALLPARK HERE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE STATE HAS CHANGED ITS ARGUMENT SEVERAL TIMES.

I THINK PARTLY BECAUSE THEY ENGAGED IN SUCH EGREGIOUS PRACTICES THAT THEY WERE THROWING EVERYTHING ON THE WALL HOPING SOMETHING WOULD STICK.

BUT THEY WERE HOPING IF WE SAY IT IS A BUDGET ISSUE, THEN IT IS.

AND WHEN THE COURT INDICATED THAT, LOOK, WE HAVE A LONG LINE OF CASES NOT JUST IN ARIZONA, BUT IN THE WHOLE CHECKS AND BALANCES, THEY WEREN'T BUYING THIS ARGUMENT, SO THEY PIVOTED TO SAY IF YOU ARE GOING TO HOLD US TO ACCOUNT, THEN AT LEAST WE'LL INTERPRET THIS MUCH BROADER.

>> AND THE COURT DIDN'T BUY IT?

>> NO, AND THEY SHOULDN'T.

THIS SESSION THEY -- THEY HAD A ONE-VOTE MAJORITY, AND THEY JUST SHOVED THE BUDGET BILL FULL OF POLICY PROVISIONS THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROVISION.

>> AND THEY ARE BASICALLY SAYING THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN CHAOS AT THE CAPITOL, AND EVERYTHING WILL BE ANARCHY DOWN THERE.

FOR YEARS THIS HAS HELD, RIGHT?

>> I AGREE WITH YOU.

THE ONLY WATERSHED MOMENT WAS WHEN THE LEGISLATE'S DECISION TO THROW THE CONSTITUTION OUT THE WINDOW.

LOOK THERE ARE POLITICAL REASONS, BUT THE LEGISLATURE KNOWS THE TRUTH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

TAKE CARE.

>>> UP NEXT, AN UPDATE ON A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT REGARDING CARE FOR THOSE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.

>>> THIS YEAR IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WHICH FOCUSED ON CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND AMY SILVERMAN SOUGHT MORE ANSWERS TODAY.

AMY SILVERMAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATIVE PIECE YOU DID.

I REMEMBER DOING A LOT OF STORIES ON THIS LAWSUIT OVER THE YEARS.

GIVE US A BASIC BACKGROUND OF WHAT THIS CASE IS ABOUT.

>> YES.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE PHOENIX AREA FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU CAN REMEMBER IT VERY WELL.

SO IN 1981, A MAN NAMED CHICK ARNOLD WORKED WITH PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS ILLNESSES.

AND A MAN CAME TO HIM ONE DAY, AND SAID, I HEAR THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING BETTER, AND WHERE SHOULD I GO.

AND CHICK BASICALLY -- AND IT IS AN UNUSUAL LAW FOR ARIZONA, THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THE CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES HAVE TO HAVE MENDAL HEALTH ISSUES PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

>> AND YET -- AND THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OFFICIAL AGREEMENT IN 2014, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

AND IN 2012 THE STATE WAS IN DIRE FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE COURT BACKED OFF OF THE AND AGREEMENT, BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY ONEROUS COST WISE.

AND GOVERNOR JAN BREWER WAS INSTRUMENTAL ON WORKING TOWARDS THESE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND NOW IT SAYS YOU SHOULD PROVIDE SERVICES, YOU MAY PROVIDE SERVICES, NOT YOU WILL.

SO THAT'S -- THAT'S EFFECTED THINGS.

AS WELL AS THE EFFECT THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE CARE THEY NEEDED.

>> YEAH, AND THIS HAPPENED IN 2014, AND YOU LOOKED AT THESE THINGS, AND THEY HAVE NOT HAPPENED AS AGGRESSIVELY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, AS A JOURNALIST I FELT KIND OF GUILTY THAT I WASN'T PAYING AS CLOSE OF ATTENTION TO THIS.

AND CHICK ARNOLD SAID YEAH, THIS DIDN'T WORK OUT THE WAY I WANTED IT TO.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT NEED AN EXTRA LEVEL OF CARE, THE SICKEST PEOPLE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY NEED.

>> YEAH, AND YOU WROTE ABOUT SEVERAL PROBLEMS, ABUSE, YOUR STORY WENT INTO DEPTH QUITE A BIT HERE.

AND THIS SITUATION ALMOST CALLS FOR, OH, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT POPULATION TO TREAT, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE.

THE PEOPLE I INTERVIEWED HAVE SAID COULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SUCH AS INCREASING THE LENGTH OF HOSPITAL STAYS RATHER THAN PUTTING OUT ON THE STREET AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS.

IT WOULD REINSTITUTIONALIZE ARIZONA FOR THE MOST PART.

>> YES.

>> SO THERE IS A LOT OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS GOING ON.

THERE WAS A MAN THAT WASN'T GIVEN ANY UTENSILS, HE HAD TO EAT WITH HIS HANDS, SO IT IS TOUGH.

>> SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO READ THE FULL REPORT, WHERE CAN THEY GO?

>> TO THE ARIZONA PRINTER WEBSITE, AND I HAVE TO MENTION THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FUND FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM.

>> AMY SILVERMAN GREAT JOB.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> THE OLD ADAGE WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW HAS PAID OFF FOR CHRISTINA ESTES ESTES.

SHE JOINED US TO DISCUSS HER AWARD-WINNING NOVEL.

CHRISTINA ESTES GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS NOVEL THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING.

>> IT IS.

AND THANK YOU.

AND HIS SERIES FEATURES THE NAVAJO NATION POLICE OFFICERS WHICH WAS CONSIDERED THE FIRST REGIONAL MYSTERIES.

>> YES, AND YOU ARE A NEW AUTHOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M STILL PINCHING MYSELF.

>> HAVE YOU ACTUALLY HELD THE BOOK IN YOUR HAND YET?

>> NOT YET.

BUT I HAVE HELD THE PAGES.

IT WILL BE IN 2023.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

BUT AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT INVOLVES BROADCASTERS AND JOURNALISTS AND ALL OF THAT, HUH?

>> YEAH, IT IS A KIND OF A LOVE LETTER TO PHOENIX.

I MOVED HERE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO TO WORK FOR A LOCAL NEWS STATION.

AND I MOVED HERE IN THE SUMMER, WHICH WAS A MISTAKE.

SO THIS IS ABOUT A JOURNALISM WHO IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE AND HER JOB.

>> SO DID SOMETHING SPARK THIS PARTICULAR STORY?

>> NOT THIS PARTICULAR STORY, BUT THE CHARACTER AND THE SETTING.

>> AH.

>> SO THERE IS A SAYING WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW, AND WRITE THE KIND OF BOOK YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ, AND I WANT TO READ ABOUT PHOENIX.

THIS IS MY HOME, AND THAT IS MY GOAL.

>> DID THE CHARACTER DRIVE THE STORY, OR DID YOU HAVE THE CHARACTERS AND THE STORY FIT IN?

>> BOTH.

MY CHARACTER, I WROTE ABOUT MY PERSONAL STORY, AND I STRUGGLED WITH RESPECTING HER AND OTHER CHILDREN AND ACKNOWLEDGING HER SITUATION.

AND THAT'S IS WHAT OF WHO SHE IS, WHAT SHE DOESN'T REALIZE IS THAT DRIVE PLAYS INTO HER BACKGROUND.

>> AND THAT IS A FASCINATING CHARACTER.

AND WHY IS THIS IS MYSTERY?

>> BECAUSE I'M A DORK, AND I LOVE MYSTERIES.

I HAVE ARE ALWAYS LOVED MYSTERIES.

THAT'S WHERE I GO TO.

THAT'S MY ESCAPE.

I STARTED AND STOPPED, STARTED AND STOPPED WRITING THIS, AND THEN I DECIDED TO GET SERIOUS.

>> DID YOU SET A SCHEDULE?

>> I DID.

AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY I NEED TO WRITE EVERY DAY, AND SOMETIMES THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL BAD.

SOMETIMES IT WOULD RUIN THE PLEASURE, BUT THAT TO ME IS BEING PART OF THE WRITING PROCESS AND WHETHER THAT'S PUTTING WORDS ON PAPER OR THINKING OR LEARNING WORDS OF THE CRAFT.

>> WRITING CAN BE A GRUELLING PROCESS.

WAS IT GRUELLING FOR YOU?

>> SURE, IT WAS.

I WAS VERY NAIVE WHEN I FIRST HAD THE IDEA THAT I COULD WRITE.

I'M A REPORTER, HOW HARD CAN A NOVEL BE?

BUT IT IS HARD.

>> SURE.

>> AND COME UP WITH 70, 80, 90,000 WORDS?

THAT'S A LOT.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO READ?

>> MYSTERIES.

YES, THE WRITING COMMUNITY IS REALLY GENEROUS.

LIKE, I'M SURE THERE ARE JERKS, BUT THE WRITING COMMUNITY IS REALLY NICE, AND I WILL NEVER BASH TWITTER, BECAUSE I MET SOME GREAT AUTHORS OUT THERE.

>> OKAY.

SO IT HITS THE SHELVES, 2023?

>> YEAH.

>> ANY BITES FROM HOLLYWOOD.

>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE A BOOK YET, BUT WHAT IS FUNNY IS, YES, WHEN YOU WIN AN AWARD YOU GET A LITTLE MORE RECOGNITION, SO I'M VERY HONORED WITH THAT.

BUT I WANT PHOENIX TO SEE THAT IT IS RECOGNIZED AND GIVE IT AN INSIDE VIEW ON JOURNALISM.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER NOVEL BREWING HERE?

>> I HOPE SO.

>> INTERESTING.

OKAY.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE PHOENIX GET -- AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TED.

>> YOU BET.

>>> 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 ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS WHY RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS FOR COVID-19 VACCINES ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON.

AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," THE COUNTRY'S RACIAL GAP WHEN IT COMES TO CEO'S.