[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," REACTION TO LAST WEEK'S COURT DECISION.

AND ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW MAJOR LEAGUE IS PREPARING FOR A SHORTENED CACTUS LEAGUE SEASON.

>>> GOOD MORNING.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE MORGAN RADFORD ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WITH FORCED TO DROP CASES.

THESE WERE MOSTLY MISDEMEANOR CASES.

THE REPUBLIC REPORTS THAT A SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR FAILED TO ASSIGN AN ATTORNEY.

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLISTER ADEL HAS THIS TO SAY: >>> OTHER NEWS OIL PRICES ARE FALLING THEY DROPPED TO OVER $100 A BARREL.

ANALYSTS SAY THE SELL-OFF MAY EASE CONCERNS OF AN ENERGY PRODUCTION SORTAGE.

>>> CLOSE TO 3 MILLION UKRAINIANS HAVE NOW LEFT THEIR HOME DUE TO THE WAR.

>>> WESTERN SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIAN CONTINUES TO MOUNT.

HALF OF THEIR RESERVES HAVE BEEN FROZEN.

ANALYSTS SAY THAT RUSSIA HAS THE MONEY TO SERVICE ITS DEBT, BUT CAN'T ACCESS IT.

>>> HEALTH NEWS, COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE IN EUROPE.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO JOHN'S HOP TINS UNIVERSITY.

THE U.K. HAS SEEN A 27% INCREASE OF COVID CASES.

AND CASES ARE RISING AS FAST AS THEY WERE FALLING TWO WEEKS AGO.

>>> A NEW STUDY FROM THE VA SHOWS THE MOST PHYSICALLY FIT YOU ARE, THE LESS LIKELY YOU ARE TO GET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

>>> EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STAND FOR CHILDREN.

REBECCA, YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS?

>> WHEN YOU READ THE ACTUAL RULING, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, AND SORT OF BITTERSWEET IN A WAY.

THE SUPREME COURT WAS KIND OF OUT OF LINE.

HE EXPLAINED IN HIS RULING THAT THE SUPREME COURT FORCED HIM TO RULE IN FAVOR OF THE POLL POLL -- POLITICIANS.

AND HE IDENTIFIED THE REAL ISSUES IN THE CASE.

SO HE DID OPEN THE DOOR AND TOLD US WE WERE FREE TO APPEAL.

>> YEAH, INDEAD.

IT DID SOUND AS THOUGH HE WAS RELUCTANT TO TAKE THAT DECISION.

>> YEAH.

IT IS A TOUGH DECISION THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND WE KNOW THIS COURT HAS NO PROBLEM WALKING INTO THIS DECISION.

BUT WE OWE IT TO THE 1.7 MILLION VOTERS WHO PASSED THIS FUNDING FOR EDUCATION TO TAKE THIS AS FAR AS IT CAN GO.

WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

>> THE IMPACT OF NOT HAVING THIS PARTICULAR TAX, THE IMPACT ON TEACHER'S SALARIES AND CLASSROOMS.

IT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND YET, ARIZONA SEEMS TO BE AT OR NEAR THE BOTTOM IN EDUCATION FUNDING.

>> YEAH.

THE DATA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF LIST, AND WE HAVE THE CLASS SIZE IN THE NATION.

SO IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS, THOSE ARE HUMAN CAPITAL ISSUES THAT REQUIRE HUMANING HUMANINGS.

AND SCHOOLS REALLY NEED TO FIND WAYS TO ENCOURAGE AND PAY PEOPLE TO COME TO ARIZONA AND TAKE ON THESE ROLES, AND IT'S A RIG DEAL, AND IT'S SOMETHING THE LEGISLATE COULD DO RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE STILL HAVE A BILLION DOLLARS IN SURPLUS FUNDING FOR THE STATE THIS YEAR.

AND THAT SHOULD AND COULD BE USED FOR EDUCATION.

THE LEGISLATURE COULD DO ITS JOB.

>> BUT THAT WOULD MEAN -- WAS THERE EVEN AN APAIRNESS THAT THAT SPENDING CAPEX -- CAP EX CYSTED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE LITERALLY USED LANGUAGE THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY VOTERS, THAT WAS NEVER AT QUESTION.

BUT IT HAS BEEN PASSED AND APPROVED BY VOTERS INITIALLY.

SO IT REALLY WAS A NON-ISSUE.

AND THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED TO EXPLOIT IT.

>> THE GOVERNOR, AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN GENERAL CALLED THIS A WIN FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> WELL, IF TAXPAYERS WANT THIS SITUATION, I DON'T THINK THEY THAT IS A WIN.

POLITICAL SPIN DOCTORING.

>> REBECCA, THANK YOU MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> UP NEXT, DETAILS ON A NEW GLOBAL INITIATIVE.

FR >>> ASU'S SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT IS FOCUSING ON EDUCATING 100,000 PEOPLE GLOBALLY.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM FRANCIS, AND THE DEAN OF THE THUNDERSTORM SCHOOL ON MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

FRANCIS, I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU FIRST.

$25 MILLION GRANT.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO MAKE THIS DONATION.

>> WELL, AS AN IMMIGRANT, I SAW WHAT EDUCATION DID FOR ME IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND BUSINESS SKILLS, AND OFTENTIMES IN THE WESTERN WORLD, IN PARTICULAR, ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD, WE TAKE EDUCATION FOR GRANTED.

SO I WAS ALWAYS OBSESSED ABOUT CAN WE DO SOMETHING TO PROVIDE AT THE MINIMUM BUSINESS SKILLS ON A WORLDWIDE SCHEDULE.

>> YEAH.

AND HOW DID THIS PROGRAM DREAM BECOME REALITY.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK FRANCIS FOR THEIR GIFTS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD AND WE SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE'RE ENTERING THE 21ST CENTURY, WHERE ALMOST 2 BILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

SO IF WE CAN REACH MORE PEOPLE, ANOTHER NO COST TO THE LEARNER, THAT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THIS DONATION.

>> AND FRANCIS WHO WOULD BE THE PERSON YOU SEE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> WELL, AS HE EXPLAINED, THIS EFFORT HAS TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS.

THE BASIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEN COLLEGE LEVEL.

SO THESE COURSES ARE GOING TO BE OFFERED AT THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS, SO THAT IS WHAT IS SO POWERFUL.

AT YOUR LANGUAGE, IF YOU HAVE THE READING AND WRITING ABILITY, YOU CAN TAKE IT TO A ANOTHER LEVEL >> YES.

YES.

WHO DO YOU WANT TO SEE TAKING THESE CLASSES?

>> EVER FROM INDIVIDUALS -- WE HAVE TRAINED 200,000-PLUS WOMEN.

THIS IS THE GLOBAL MAJORITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE SKILL SETS OF FIRST ENTRY.

BUT BEYOND THAT, THEY ARE INCREASINGLY BEING DISPLACED.

AND SO AS YOU GO UP THAT LADDER TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS, THOSE WITH MORE FORMAL EDUCATION.

>> AND THERE IS A THREAT OF BEING LEFT BEHIND IN >> YES, EVEN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES PEOPLE ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND.

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE TO LET THESE PEOPLE BE ABLE TO KEEP UP.

>> YES, INDEED.

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IS UNDERSTOOD HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> LOOK, AROUND THE WORLD PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH UNDERSTANDING BASIC BUSINESS SKILLS, BASIC FPS FINANCIAL SKILLS, BASIC TRANSFORMATION THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.

AND THESE ARE LITERALLY FOREIGN LANGUAGES, SO, REALLY, LOOK DO YOU WANT TOO FEED SOMEONE OR TEACH THEM HOW TO FISH AT A BASIC LEVEL OR LET THEM FISH AT A LOCAL LAKE ON A GLOBAL LAKE?

>> UH-HUH.

>> SO THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE BASIC BUSINESS SKILLS, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES YOU HAVE TO REALLY SPEAK IN THEIR OWN LOCAL LANGUAGE.

>> APRIL 8TH, WE LAUNCHED THE FIRST COARSE.

AND THE BASIC BUSINESS SCHOOLS, AND THEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE BUILT UP ALL OF THE LANGUAGES, AND THEN IN 23 AND 24 WE GET BUILD ON THAT.

AND REALLY, OUR GOAL IS TO BE COMPLETELY GLOBAL.

>> WELL, -- CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> MY PLEASURE.

I'LL VERY THANKFUL TO THE DOCTORS FOR WANTING TO DO THIS.

>> VERY GOOD.

THANK THANK YOU BOTH.

>>> THE JAMES BEARD AWARDS RECOGNIZE CULINARY PROFESSIONALS IN THE U.S. AND WE HAVE TWO CHEFS THAT ARE NOMINATED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I LOVE GOOD FOOD, AND YOU GUYS ARE THE EPITOME OF GOOD FOOD.

HOW DID YOU TAKE THE NEWS?

>> IT WAS HUMBLING AND AN ON FOR.

>> THAT'S GOOD STUFF.

BEST UP AND COMING CHEF WAS YOUR NOMINATION.

>> UP AND COMING.

YEAH, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU WERE NOMINATED FOR THIS AWARD?

>> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY.

BUT I HOPE THEY SAW THE CONSISTENCY OF LOVE OF FOOD.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ALL AT ONCE.

YOU CAN TAKE THINGS SLOW, AND YOU CAN HAVE AN ADVENTURE.

AND IT WAS HOW YOU EAT FOODS WITHOUT FEELING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO DIFFERENT TOO NOW.

>> YES.

AND WHY DO YOU THINK THEY SAW BEST MORNING CHEF -- EMERGING CHEF IN YOU.

WHEN YOU WERE A KID, DID YOU HANG AROUND THE KITCHEN OR DID YOU GROW IN THIS?

>> I SAW ANNED A FOR CULINARY SCHOOL.

>> WHEN YOU WERE IN THE KITCHEN DID IT FEEL RIGHT?

>> IT FELT RIGHT AT THE TIME.

>> I SEE.

AND LAURA, TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

>> MY FATHER WAS A COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE FARMER HERE FOR YEARS.

AND IT IS TRULY THE LOVE OF FOOD.

THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY ABOUT IT.

AND YOU HOPE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ENJOY YOUR FOOD AS WELL.

I WAS ON A VERY DIFFERENT PATH FOR A LONG TIME.

>> AND YOU COULD HAVE GONE INTO FARMING, VEGETABLES, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> CORRECT.

>> DONALD, WHAT MAKES A GOOD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN SOMEONE'S HOME.

AND THE COMMUNETY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, LAURA?

>> THE SAME.

THE COMPANY YOU HAVE, THE PEOPLE YOU ENJOY, THE THANK -- THICKS YOU LOVE TOGETHER.

>>> HOW MUCH IS ART?

HOW MUCH IS CRAFT?

>> I THINK THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT WITH DIFFERENT CHEFS.

OUR FOOD IS NOT FANCY.

THERE IS ART BEHIND IT.

YOU WANT YOUR PLATES TO BE APPEALING.

YOU WANT DINERS TO TAKE ON THE COLORS AND ANYTHING THEY MIGHT SEE THAT IS TAN TALIZING TO THEM.

FOR ME IT'S SIMPLE AND WITH DONALD IT'S SIMPLE.

>> FOR ME -- I HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CRAFT FOR ME THIS FOR ME, CROOKING IS A CRAFT.

>> AND LAST QUESTION, HOW KIND OF RESPONSE ARE YOU GETTING FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> MY FAMILY IS ECSTATIC ABOUT IT.

>> AND YOUR FAMILY?

>> FOR MY FAMILY, YOU DON'T COOK FOR AWARDS AND NOMINATION.

BUT THEY ARE VERY EXITED.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M TED SIMONS.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.