[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON STATE OF THE STATE'S CHILDCARE SYSTEM, AND ON "CRONKITE NEWS," A VALLEY HOTEL WILL SOON BECOME A HOMELESS SHELTER FOR THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 55.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

CONCESSION WORKERS AND SKY HARBOR BEGAN A STRIKE TODAY AGAINST A RESTAURANT COMPANY.

THE ACTION WAS APPROVED BY WORKERS LAST WEEK AS PART OF A UNION EFFORT TO IMPROVE WAGES, HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND REPLANS.

THE STRIKE WILL LAST THROUGH THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AND PERHAPS BEYOND.

>>> ARIZONA TODAY REPORTED OVER 3,000 NEW CASES OF COVID-19, ALONG WITH TWO NEW FATALITIES.

THAT SAID, THEY BOTH CONTINUE AN UPWARD TREND.

STATE VACCINATION NUMBERS ARE TRENDING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAID TODAY MORE THAN 90% OF FEDERAL WORKERS ARE NOW VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

EDUCATION AND COUNSELING WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE WORKERS WHO HAVE YET TO BE COMPLYING WITH THE MANDATE.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TODAY FORMALLY DECLARED THE WORD SQUAW AS A SLUR.

ARIZONA TOOK SIMILAR ACTION IN CHANGING THE SAME OF WHAT WAS SQUAW PEAK IN PHOENIX IN HONOR OF THE FIRST-KNOWN NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN TO DIE IN COMBAT IN THE MILITARY.

>>> AND FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED CLOSE TO 50 OTHERS INJURED WITH 18 OTHERS HOSPITALIZEIZED IN WASHINGTON.

THE SUSPECT, A 39-YEAR-OLD MAN IS IN CUSTODY.

HE WAS INVOLVED IN A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE FOR THE INCIDENT.

>> LAST NIGHT, THE PEOPLE OF WAUKESHA WERE GATHERED TO CELEBRATE A SEASON OF HOPE AND THANKSGIVING.

THIS MORNING ALL OF US PRAY THAT THIS SAME SPIRIT IS GOING TO EMBRACE AND LIFT UP ALL OF THE VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY.

>> ARIZONA CARDINAL LINEMAN, J.J. WATT, TWEETED HIS HOPE THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE OKAY, AND TO THOSE NOT INVOLVED ARE NOW SAFE AND HIS THANKS TO THOSE WHO RUSHED TO HELP THE WOUNDED.

>>> ARIZONA'S CHILD CARE SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN CRITICISM FOR HEARS.

MARIA POLLETTA OF THE ARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TELLS US MORE.

THE STATE OF ARIZONA'S CHILD CARE SYSTEM, BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, YOU LOOKED INTO THE ARIZONA'S CHILD CARE SYSTEM.

WHY?

>> I SAW THAT MOST OPERATORS HAD EITHER REDUCED THEIR HOURS OR CLOSED TEMPORARILY, AND THE VAST MAJORITY SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REOPEN WITHOUT HELP.

AND NOW THAT WE'RE NOT AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH PANIC, I WONDERED DID THOSE PROVIDERS ACTUALLY CLOSE?

SO THAT'S WHAT GOT ME STARTED.

>> AND WHERE DO THINGS STAND?

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR, WHICH IS KIND OF A LOW BAR.

BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE SYSTEM.

THERE IS THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT HAS ALLOWED THE STATE TO RAISE PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT RATES, AND WE ARE STILL SEEING QUITE A FEW PERMANENT CLOSURES.

AND THERE WERE THREE-PLUS KIDS NEEDING CARE FOR A AVAILABLE SPOT, SO WE'RE STILL IN A POSITION WHERE PROVIDERS ARE INSTRUCTING TO HIGHER AND RETAIN STAFF, AND YOU CAN ONLY ACCEPT AND ENROLL SO MANY KIDS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STAFF YOU HAVE.

>> AND IN TERMS OF FUNDING, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE STATE HAS BEEN THING LENTFUL FOR YEARS, AND WHEN THERE WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO GET FEDERAL FUNDING, OFTEN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE MISHANDLED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DURING THE RECESSION FUNDING GOT CUT AND CUT AND CUT.

AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAD FUNDING, OR ARIZONA GOT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY FROM OTHER FUNDS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DEDICATE TO A FUNDING STREAM.

WELL, OUR STATE OF -- OFFICIALS DID NOT DO THAT.

SO WE LOST OUT AS WELL.

>> SO WHEN THINGS ARE GOOD, YOU HAVE GOT TO WHAT, CONCENTRATE ON TAX CUTS AND OTHER THINGS AS OPPOSED TO THIS ISSUE?

>> IS THAT HOW IT WOULD SEEM.

WE HAD BETTER THAN EXPECTED REVENUES THIS YEAR, AND OUR STATE LEADERS DID CHOOSE TO PUSH THROUGH A TAX CUT.

AND WHILE THE FEDERAL FUNDING AMOUNT THAT WE GOT TOWARDS CHILD CARE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS HUGE, IT IS TEMPORARY.

IT IS GOING TO RUN OUT.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF OFFICIALS TALKING UP WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND AT THE CORE OF ALL OF THIS IS THESE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND THE WORKERS, IN SOME CASES ARE GOING TO LUNCH AND NOT COMING BACK.

>> WELL, THIS IS A LOW-PAYING INDUSTRY, AND PART OF IT IS BECAUSE OPERATORS HAVE SUCH SLIM OPERATING MARGINS.

AND THEY ARE SAYING, WE CAN'T PAY OUR PEOPLE WHAT THEY DESERVE.

THEY ARE GETTING PAID LESS IN SOME CASES THAN FAST-FOOD WORKERS.

AND PEOPLE TAKES CARE OF OUR UP AND COMING GENERATION, THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PRIORITIZED.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD ABOUT ONE FIFTH LIVING IN POVERTY, AND ONE THE PANDEMIC HIT, THAT FEAR WAS ADDED IN AND THEY STARTED LEAVING, AND NOT COMING BACK, WALKING OUT, AND SAYING THIS ISN'T WORTH IT.

I LOVE THIS JOB AND CAREER, BUT I CAN'T MAKE A LIVING OFF OF THIS WORK.

>> ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AREAS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MUCH OF THE STATE DIDN'T HAVE THE ACCESS THAT WAS NEEDED.

AND I TALKED TO A PROVIDER IN FLAGSTAFF, WHO SAID, HERE IT IS PRETTY GOOD, BUT YOU MOVE CLOSER TO THE BORDER LIKE PAGE, AND IT IS BAD.

>> ANY INDICATION THIS MIND SET WILL CHANGE?

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN ALMOST SURMISE THAT CHILD CARE IS NOT PRIORITIZED IN ARIZONA.

>> IT IS NOT PRIORITIZED BY THE REPUBLICANS.

OF COURSE WE HAVE SEVERAL VACANCYIES THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE FILLED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INDICATION THAT THERE IS A SHIFTING PERSPECTIVE.

>> INTERESTING.

WE'LL GET A LINK OVER TO THAT STORY.

GREAT WORK.

AND LET'S HOPE SOMETHING CHANGES HERE.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> YEAH.

THANKS, MARIA.

>>> NEXT INNOCENT.

-- UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE WHISTLEBLOWER WHO HELPED EXPOSE A MASSIVE SCANDAL AT V.A.

HOSPITALS.

>>> PAULA PEDENE BECAME A WHISTLEBLOWER WHILE WORKING IN AT THE VA HOSPITAL.

SHE IS NOW WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE ENTITLED "A SACRED DUTY."

PAULA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.

GIVE US A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF YOUR SITUATION.

>> WELL, WE HAD A LEADER THAT WAS DELAYING CARE FOR PATIENTS BECAUSE HE WANTED A SECOND MRI, AND THE FALSE DELAY THERE, AND HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS STAFF MADE ME A WHISTLEBLOWEREN HIM.

>> AND THE PROBLEM HERE WAS GAMING THE SYSTEM, AS FAR AS SAYING -- 14 DAYS WAS WHAT VETERANS WERE GETTING AS A WAIT TIME, AND THEY WERE GAINING THE SYSTEM TO GET STATUS.

>> YES.

THERE WAS A NATIONAL PERFORMANCE MATRIX TO GET PATIENTS IN, SO IF YOU GOT THEM IN, YOU WOULD GET THESE GREAT, BIG PERFORMANCE OPTIONS.

AND SO THEY HAD AN OFF THE BOOKS LIST THAT WAS ON PAPER.

>> WAS THERE A LAST-STRAW INCIDENT THAT PUSHED YOU TO BE A WHISTLEBLOWER?

>> I THINK THEY WERE THREATENED BY ME.

AND THEY TOOK ME OUT OF MY JOB FOR A MINOR INFRICTIONEK FRACTION -- INFRACTION, AND AFTER THAT, I BECAME ANONYMOUS, AND I KEPT ASKING DR. FRED TO COME ON IN, AND HE IS LIKE, THEY ARE JUST BEING REALLY MEAN TO YOU, AND HE STARTED CHECKING, AND THAT'S WHEN THE PATIENTS STARTED TELLING HIM.

AND HE KNEW WHILE ALL THE WHILE THEY WERE SAYING 14 DAYS, AND 30 DAYS, SO HE KNEW IT WAS FALSE.

>> SO YOU ARE DISCIPLINED, AND IT WOUND UP WITH YOU WORKING IN THE BASEMENT IN THE LIBRARY.

>> YEAH.

WITH THEM I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT, AND WHEN SAM CAME ON BOARD AND HE SAID PAULA, I NEED TO RETIRE TO BLOWN THIS WIDE OPEN, AND I SAID I WILL HELP YOU.

>> YOU HAD A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO HELP YOU BE THE WHISTLEBLOWER THAT YOU ARE.

>> YEAH, I NEVER WOULD HAVE DONE THIS, BUT IN THE BIBLE IT OUTLINES EVERYONE.

THEY HAVE WARRIORS ON STAFF.

I AM PAYING FOR ALL OF MY LAWYERS.

AND THE SADDEST PART OF IT ALL, TED, IS THE TRAVESTY FOR ALL OF OUR VETERANS.

AND HOW DO YOU MAKE THEM DELAY THEIR CARE?

>> YEAH, THE DOUBLE SET OF APPOINTMENT BOOKS IS HARD TO FIGURE OUT.

YOU WON YOUR CASE THOUGH.

>> YEAH.

>> AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THIS SITUATION HELPED EXPOSE A LOT OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> YEAH, MY WHISTLEBLOWER CASE OPENED THE FLOOD BOX.

TO THIS DAY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN'S AFFAIRS HAS THE MOST NUMBER OF CASES, AND THIS HELPED EXPOSE THEM.

AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT OUR NATION'S JOURNALISTS.

WE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

>> HOW MUCH OF AN EMOTIONAL TOLL DID THIS TAKE ON YOU?

>> YEAH, I WAS COMPLETELY STRESSED.

IT PERFECTED ME, MY HUSBAND, AND OUR SONS, AND THEY WERE REALLY AFFECTED.

DEPRESSION IS A REAL THING.

PEOPLE NEED TO GET HELP FOR IT.

I DID.

AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE WHAT YOU DID HAS HELPED IMPROVE THE LIVES OF VETS?

>> I DO.

AND I'M REALLY THE VESSEL FOR THE STORY.

BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE NOTHING I ASKED FOR, NOTHING I VOLUNTEERED FOR, AND, YOU KNOW, THE BOOK IS REALLY JUST -- IT'S A GOOD STORY OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION.

>> YEAH.

PAULA PEDENE, THE BOOK IS "A SACRED DUTY."

CONGREGATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

NVRZ >>> IS THERE IS A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM IN PHOENIX.

IT'S CALLED TREASURES: LEGEND DER MARE CALL INSTRUMENTS, AND WE LEARNED MORE GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

HOW MANY INSTRUMENTS HAVE YOU GOT OUT THERE, AND WHAT IS THE FOCUS?

FOCUS?

>> WE HAVE JUST OVER 80 OBJECTS IN THE GALLERY, AND THE POINT OF IT WAS REALLY TO TRY TO DRAW TOGETHER SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST SIGNIFICANT INSTRUMENTS OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

AND IT IS SORT OF THE BEST POSSIBLE ITERATION OF MIM'S CORE MISSION.

>> HOW ARE THESE INSTRUMENTS SELECTED?

>> WELL, WE OPENED IN 2010, AND SINCE THAT TIME THE COLLECTION HAS MATURED AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE INSTRUMENTS WE HAVE ACQUIRED.

A NUMBER OF THEM HAVE BEEN SLOWLY ACQUIRED, AND DONATED, AND PURCHASED, AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A NUMBER OF PARTNERS WHO HAVE AN EXTRORDANAIRE NUMBER OF INSTRUMENTS IN THEIR COLLECTION.

>> LET'S START WITH A RABOB.

>> THIS IS FROM NORTH AFRICA, AND IT IS AN SPECIAL INSTANCE OF AN INSTRUMENT THAT CAME THROUGH INTO SPAIN AND HAS BEEN A TRADITIONAL PART OF MUSIC MAKING, OFTEN REPLACED BY A TRADITIONAL VIOLIN.

BUT THIS IS REALLY DECORATIVE AND BEAUTIFUL AND HELP US REPRESENT THESE TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

>> AND THE APACHE FIDDLE.

TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> THESE ARE FAMOUS MAKERS OF ALL TYPES.

THE APACHE NAME TRANSLATES TO WOOD STALK.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW INDIGENOUS AMERICAN VIOLIN-STYLE, FIDDLE-STYLE INSTRUMENT THAT WE KNOW.

>> HOW OLD ARE THESE INSTRUMENTS INSTRUMENTS?

>> WELL, THIS GOES BACK TO THE 20TH CENTURY.

>> AND NEXT WE HAVE THIS INSTRUMENT.

>> YES, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THESE DIVERSE INSTRUMENTS FROM REMOTE PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THIS IS FROM ALASKA, AND IT'S A GORGEOUS EXAMPLE, AND AGAIN, LIKE MANY OF THE OBJECTS ON DISPLAY, THERE ARE CARVED FACES ON DISPLAY.

AND ON THESE PEOPLE IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, SO THERE'S A LOT WE CAN LEARN BY LOOKING AT THE SURFACES OF THESE INSTRUMENTS.

>> PLAYED LIKE A GUITAR?

>> IT HAS A VERY RUSTIC -- JUST A COUPLE OF THREATS, BASICALLY.

THE WORD REFERS TO A LOT OF STRINGED-OBJECTS.

>> SPEAKING OF GUITARS, WE HAVE A BAROQUE GUITAR AS WELL.

>> YES, THIS IS CONSIDERED THE OLDEST-FULL-SIZED GUITAR.

SO THIS WAS MADE IN ABOUT 1590, AND IT'S EXTRAORDINARY, BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO SEE IT CAN SEE THE ROOTS OF THE GUITAR IN THIS REALLY BEAUTIFUL -- IT WAS WHAT THE GUITAR WAS AT THE INCEPTION OF THE INSTRUMENT.

>> WHOEVER DESIGNED THAT GUITAR THAT HAS A FENDER WAS COMING UP IN A NEW YEARS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY OF THESE INSTRUMENTS, YOU CAN GO BACK IF NOT CENTURY'S OLD, AND SEE HOW FAR THEY HAVE EITHER DEVELOPED OR STAYED STABLE.

I MEAN WE HAVE ONE OF THE EARLIEST VIOLINS ON EARTH.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE VIOLINS WE SEE TODAY.

AND YET YOU GET A CHANCE TO SEE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THAT STORY FROM THE 1500S.

BEFORE THAT TIME THERE WAS NO VIOLIN.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF VIE LISTEN.

SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE SOME OF THE VERY BEGINNINGS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

>> HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

>> PEOPLE CAN SEE THIS GALLERY THROUGH NEXT SEPTEMBER.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> TAKE YOU SO MUCH.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT MIM.

>> 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 ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, A HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE'S TURNS THE LOVE FOR ROLLER DERBY INTO A LOVE FOR FOOTBALL.

♪♪