>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" DETAILS ON EFFORTS TO ADDRESS FUNDING ISSUES WHILE PARTS OF U.S. 60 AND 17.

LATER IN THE HOUR I WILL BREAK DOWN CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN EDUCATION.

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

THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION, THANK YOU.

>>> "ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROU SUPPORT OF THE FAMILY FOUNDATION .

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

I AM TED SIMONS.

THE NEW YORK TIMES TIMES TODAY REPORTED THAT ATTORNEYS WORKING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN ARIZONA AN OTHER STATES NEW THAT THEIR EFFORTS WERE NOT LEGAL, BUT WEN AHEAD ANYWAY WITH PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR OWN SLATE OF PRO TRUMP FAKE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORS IN BATTLEGROUND STATES THAT TRUMP HAD LOST.

THE TIMES REPORTS IN AN E-MAIL FROM THE PHOENIX LAWYER WHO READS IN PART, QUOTE, WE WOULD JUST BE SENDING HIM FAKE ELECTORAL VOTES SO THAT SOMEONE IN CONGRESS CAN MAKE AN OBJECTION WHEN THEY START COUNTING VOTES AND START ARGUIN THAT THE FAKE VOTES SHOULD BE COUNTED.

AND THE E-MAIL HE SAID HE FOUND NO HARM IN THE PLAN CALLING IT QUOTE, KIND OF WILD AND CREATIVE .

HE ADDED THAT, QUOTE, ALTERNATIVE VOTES IS PROBABLY A BETTER TERM THEN FAKE VOTES FOLLOWED BY A SMILEY FACE EMOJI.

>>> TODAY IS THE LAST RECOMMENDED DAY TO MAIL IN YOUR BALLOT FOR THE 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION.

U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE RECOMMENDS GETTING INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS IN THE MAIL TO ENSURE THEY ARRIVE AT THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IN TIME FOR NEXT TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION.

EARLY BALLOTS CAN STILL BE DROPPED OFF AT VOTING CENTERS O BALLOT DROP BOXES OR IN PERSON AT ANY VOTING CENTER ON ELECTIO DAY.

BOTTOM LINE, ALL BALLOTS HAVE T RECEIVE BY 7:00 P.M. NEXT TUESDAY.

>>> THE RUSSIAN DRUG STYLE TRIA OF BRITTNEY GRINER CONTINUE TODAY.

THE DEFENSE TEAM SUGGESTING THA THE CANNABIS OIL FOUND IN HER LUGGAGE WAS INTENDED TO BE USED FOR MEDICINAL AND NOT RECREATIONAL PURPOSES AND THAT CANNABIS IS A POPULAR TREATMENT AMONG ATHLETES IN MANY COUNTRIE OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA.

HER DEFENSE TEAM SAID THAT BRITTNEY GRINER WILL TESTIFY IN HER OWN DEFENSE AT THE TRIAL TOMORROW.

>>> ECONOMIC NEWS, CONSUMER CONFIDENCE FLIPPED FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT MONTH ACCORDING TO THE CONFERENCE BOARD AND A SURVEY O CONSUMER ATTITUDES AND EXPECTATIONS.

RESEARCH GROUP SAY THE DECLINE IS DRIVEN BY CONSUMERS SOURING ON THE STATE OF CURRENT BUSINES CONDITIONS ALONG WITH EXPECTATIONS AT THE RISK OF A RECESSION WILL PERSIST.

>>> CNN REPORTS THAT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS PRIVATELY LOBBIED FELLOW JUSTICES AMY CONEY BARRETT AND ESPECIALLY BRETT KAVANAUGH TO NOT OVERTURN ROE V. WADE.

THE CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING SINCE ROBERTS HAD CONVINCED JUSTICES WHO CHANGE THEIR VOTES IN THE PAST.

BUT WHEN THE LEAKED DRAFT OF TH OPINION GOT OUT THEY REPORTEDLY WORSENED EXISTING STRAINS AMONG THE JUSTICES AND THE CLERK AND THAT WAS ENOUGH TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE.

>>> THE U.S. 60 FLOODED TWICE CAUSING MAJOR HEADACHES FOR DRIVERS.

THERE HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT FLOODING PROBLEMS ALONG PARTS O I-17 ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST ALONG GREENLAY ROAD.

JOINING US NOW TO UPDATE EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE THESE ISSUES IS TH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HEAR.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH U.S. 60.

GIVE US AN UPDATE.

>> THE SITUATION RECENTLY WE HA TWO SIGNIFICANT STORMS ON U.S. 60.

THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT 10 DAYS OR SO AGO AND WE HAD PUMPS THAT HAD JUST BEEN REFURBISHED AT GILBERT ROAD.

THERE WAS A SETTINGS ISSUE ON ONE OF THOSE.

ONES THAT WAS CORRECTED THE PUM STARTED WORKING APPROPRIATELY.

AT BELLA VISTA THERE WAS ANOTHE MINOR EQUIPMENT ISSUE THAT WAS HANDLED BY STAFF.

THOSE WE'RE RECHARGED AND THE PUMPING RESUMED.

IS NOT A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.

IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF MAKING SURE THE PUMPS WERE WORKING PROPERLY.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE STAFF ON CAL TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

A FEW DAYS LATER ON A SUNDAY NIGHT THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS STORM OUT THERE THAT JUST DROPPED A LOT OF RAIN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

THAT DIDN'T CAUSE A FULL CLOSURE .

THERE WERE SOME RESTRICTIONS.

THE PUMPS WERE OPERATING PROPERLY AND IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF THE GOOD LORD SENDING A LOT OF RAIN AND A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> THESE MECHANICAL ISSUES IN TERMS OF OPERATION.

OR THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES INVOLVED?

>> IN GETTING SOME OF THE REFURBISHING ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR GILBERT, BUT THA HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

IN BOTH CASES SOME MECHANICAL SETTINGS DIDN'T TRIP THE WAY THEY SHOULD HAVE.

WE GOT STAFF OUT THERE WHICH IS WHAT THEY DO 24/7 TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AND I WAS.

IT IS NOT A SYSTEMIC EFFORT.

>> STICKING WITH U.S. 60, HOW D THOSE PUMPS WORK?

>> THERE IS USUALLY THREE OR FOUR PUMPS PER INTERCHANGE, IF YOU WILL.

THEY DRAW ABOUT 12,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MINUTE.

THAT CAN IN MOST EXTREME CASES WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH RAIN, THAT CAN OVERWHELM A PERFECTLY OPERATING ROBUST SYSTEM.

THE ISSUE HERE AS IT IS WITH ANYWHERE IS DEBRIS THAT GETS INTO THE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE GOT GRATES AND DRAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT ESPECIALLY IF IT HASN'T RAINED IN A WHILE AND YOU HAVE LITTER AND OTHER DEBRIS ON THE ROADWAY THAT WILL BE PUSHED DOWN BY WATER.

THAT WILL CAUSE THE DRAINS.

IT'S A REMINDER TO FOLKS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT NOT THROWING DEBRIS ONTO THE FREEWAY.

THE ISSUE IS IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S A BIGGER CHALLENGE THEN THE ACTUAL PUMPS THEMSELVES.

>> INTERESTING.

LET'S GO TO I-17.

I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE PUMP AND DRAINS SYSTEMS ARE BEING REFURBISHED AND SOME OF THE OLD DRAINAGE PUMPS HAVE BEEN RETIRED .

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S A MAJOR PROJECT GOING ON FOR SOME TIME AT CACTUS FURY GREENWAY AND THUNDERBIRD.

THE PUMPS THERE WERE OBSOLETE.

THEY HAVE BEEN THERE MANY YEARS.

RATHER THAN JUST REPLACING NEW PUMPS, THERE IS A NEW GRAVITY FED SYSTEM WHERE THE WATER IS GOING TO FLOW TO WHERE ITS LOWEST POINT IS GO TO THE AC DC CHANNEL WHICH IS A HUGE NORMALL DRY CHANNEL NEAR THE METRO CENTER AREA.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S A HUGE CHANNEL WHERE FLOODWATERS GO.

GREENLEE AND THUNDERBIRD WE ARE WORKING ON THOSE.

THE SAME SITUATION.

THE PUMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

A GRAVITY SYSTEM BY NEXT MONTH.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS IT'S A VERY BIG JOB AND WE HAVE TO TUNNEL UNDER THE FREEWAY WHILE IT'S STILL OPERATING.

>> TUNNELING UNDER THE FREEWAY OBVIOUSLY POINTS OUT THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE UNDERPASSES ALONG I-17.

IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH RAIN, I DON' CARE WHAT KIND OF GRAVITY SYSTE YOU HAVE GOT, THAT'S A LOT OF WATER.

>> WHEN MOTHER NATURE BRINGS IT THESE MONSOONS IF ANYBODY HAS LIVED HERE FOR MORE THAN A FEW YEARS KNOWS SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE A DELUGE AT ONE PART OF A COMMUNITY OR ONE PART OF THE CITY AND IT'S DRY AS CAN BE VER CLOSE BY.

IF YOU GET ONE, TWO OR 3 INCHES OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE MOST ROBUST SYSTEM CANNOT HANDLE ALL OF THAT WATER.

>> AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE LIKE TUCSON, DO YOU SEE THE SAM KIND OF THINGS?

ARE THEIR SIMILAR UNDERPASSES AND SIMILAR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN OPERATION?

>> TUCSON IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

WE DON'T HAVE PUMPS DOWN THERE.

IT'S A DIFFERENT DESIGN.

TYPICALLY YOU HAVE AREAS WHERE YOU NEED PUMPS WHERE YOU HAVE BELOW GRADE FREEWAYS.

TUCSON DOES HAVE SOME OF THAT.

THERE IS NO PUMPS DOWN THERE BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE O TOPOGRAPHY AND IT WORKS DIFFERENTLY.

>> FOLKS STRUGGLING THROUGH I-1 NOW HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION TO GET DONE AND TH SUN WILL COME OUT AGAIN?

>> THE ROADWAY ITSELF IS OPERATING PRETTY MUCH NORMALLY.

ONCE WE GET EVERYTHING DONE UNDERNEATH IT WILL BE BETTER FO THOSE TWO GREENWAYS.

>> GOOD INFORMATION.

THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A NEW SURVEY ASKS VOTERS ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AS THE STATES MOST IMPORTANT EDUCATION ISSUES.

>>> A NEW SURVEY FROM EDUCATION BOWLERS ASKS VOTERS AROUND THE STATE ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AS ARIZONA'S MOST IMPORTANT EDUCATION CONCERNS.

HERE TO DISCUSS THE SURVEY RESULTS IS EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

THE CENTER FREE FUTURE OF ARIZONA IS AN EDUCATION SURVEY OF VOTERS AND WHAT THEY WANT.

HOW DOES THIS DIFFER?

>> WE PARTNER WITH THE CENTER FOR THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA.

THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT VOTERS AROUND THE STATE ARE INTERESTED IN IN GENERAL.

EDUCATION, OF COURSE, WAS ONE O THE TOP THREE ISSUES THAT VOTER CAME AWAY WITH.

KNOWING THAT WE REALLY DUG IN DEEPER TO SEE WHAT VOTERS WERE ACTUALLY WANTING THE CANDIDATES TO PRIORITIZE AND TALK ABOUT AN OFFER SOLUTIONS TO WHEN IT COME TO EDUCATION.

>> WHAT DID VOTERS SAY THEY WAN CANDIDATES TO FOCUS ON?

WHAT WERE THE ISSUES OF MOST IMPORTANCE?

>> I THINK WHAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE IN EDUCATION IS THAT ARIZON AND ARIZONA VOTERS LIKE TEACHER AND THEY LIKE THEM A LOT.

THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF TEACHERS PROBABLY MORE THAN EVER ESPECIALLY SINCE WE WENT THROUGH COVID.

BY OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF SUPPORT WE SAW THAT FOLKS WANT TO PAY TEACHERS WELL AND THEY WANT TO WORK ON STRATEGIES AND HELP WITH RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEACHERS.

WE ALSO CONTINUE TO SEE VERY STRONG ACROSS THE BOARD SUPPORT FOR FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS WELL AN OFFERING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS THAT ARE SERVING HIGH AMOUNTS OF THOSE WHO MAY BE FRO LOW INCOME BACKGROUNDS OR SERVING THOSE WHO MAY HAVE A CERTAIN DISABILITY OR LEARNING DISABILITY, ET CETERA.

>> 78% IS CONCERNED THAT TEACHERS ARE UNDERPAID AND SCHOOLS ARE UNDERFUNDED.

WHAT ABOUT TECHNICAL TRAINING?

>> CAREER AND TECHNICAL TRAININ CONTINUES TO SEE AN UPWARD TREN AMONGST A VOTERS.

WE SEE PEOPLE WANTING CANDIDATE TO THINK ABOUT AND TRY TO SOLVE HOW DO WE GET MORE AND BETTER INFORMATION INTO THE HANDS OF STUDENTS ABOUT CAREER AND TECHNICAL TRAINING EARLIER IN THE PROCESS.

THAT CONTINUES TO TREND UPWARD.

>> OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE FUNDING WHICH ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE IN ARIZONA AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE IT'S IN FITS AND STARTS AS FAR AS GETTING THAT DONE.

OTHER ASPECTS, LOW INCOME STUDENTS AND HELPING THEM WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

ANY OF THIS SURPRISE YOU?

>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF IT SURPRISES US.

WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A REAL INCENTIVE TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS.

IF WE REACH THE HIGH MARKS THAT IT HAS A MASSIVE BENEFIT TO THE ECONOMY.

WE SAW THAT VOTERS ARE PRIORITIZING EDUCATION REALLY OVER THIS PUBLICITY, IF YOU WILL .

AND THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING THI CONNECTION BETWEEN EDUCATION ATTAINMENT AND THE ECONOMY.

IT WASN'T A SURPRISE FOR US, BU MAY BE WHAT FOLKS DIDN'T SUPPORT .

>> WHAT DID THEY NOT SUPPORT?

>> ROUNDLY, VOTERS DID NOT WANT CANDIDATES TO BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE HEADLINE GRABBERS.

WE SEE THESE OFTEN.

HE READ A SIGN OR LISTEN TO COMMERCIALS, YOU PROBABLY THINK THAT VOTERS MIGHT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ONE THING.

THEY CLEARLY SAID TO US THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT ABANDONING CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING IDEAS ABOUT GENDER ISSUES AND SEX ED CLASSES.

THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT CLOSING FAILING SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

ON THE OTHER HAND THEY WANTED T HELP THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY ARE FOR OR AGAINST THESE ISSUES.

THEY JUST FIGURED THESE AREN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES RIGHT NOW?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

EDUCATION PRIORITIES OVER THE PUBLICITY STATEMENTS.

>> HOW DO YOU TAKE THIS INFORMATION AND PRESENTED TO LAWMAKERS THAT CAN'T WAIT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE DIVISIVE ISSUES?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES IN SOME WAYS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE ONE ELECTION BASED ON INFORMATION THEY GOT FROM THEIR CONSULTANTS OVER TIME.

THE MEDIA CERTAINLY LIKES TO COVER THESE TOPICS THAT CALL FO CONFLICT ONCE IN A WHILE.

WHAT WE THINK AND CANDIDATES CA WIN BY TALKING ABOUT SENSITIVE ISSUES AND PRIORITIZING THOSE.

WE ASKED THE VOTERS.

2/3 VOTERS SAID THEY WOULD VOTE FOR CANDIDATES TO TALK ABOUT REAL POLICIES AND HOW THEY WOUL SOLVE THINGS.

INSTEAD OF JUST THESE HEADLINE GRABBING MONSTERS THAT WE CONTINUE WITH.

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE VOTERS SAY THAT AND YET IT'S LIKE THE POLITICAL ADVERTISING.

PEOPLE SAY I HATE NEGATIVE ADDS.

I JUST CAN'T STAND THEM, BUT THEY WORK.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE YOU CAN GET SCHOOL FUNDING, TEACHER PAY, CAREER AND TECHNICAL TRAINING AND THESE ISSUES ABOVE SOME OF THE NOISY ISSUES?

PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR THEM, YET THOSE THINGS DECIDE ELECTIONS.

>> I THINK WE AS A PUBLIC NEED TO HOLD OUR CANDIDATES ACCOUNTABLE BY ASKING THEM GOOD QUESTIONS, NUMBER ONE.

SOME THINGS WE HAVE DONE ON OUR WEBSITE IS WE USE THIS SURVEY AND THIS DATA THAT WE SAW TO PU TOGETHER A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT FOLKS CAN ASK THEIR CANDIDATES.

IF WE ASK THEM OVER AND OVER TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT SOLV ISSUES AND HOW TO PRIORITIZE TH EDUCATION POLICY, THEN THEY WIL BE FORCED TO ANSWER.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T REALLY HOLD THOSE CANDIDATES ACCOUNTABLE ACROSS THE PUBLIC OR THE MEDIA.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S VERY MUC SOLUTIONS BASED IS THE EFFORT HERE OR AT LEAST THE GOAL?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VOTERS UNDERSTAND THE BETTER EDUCATED ARIZONA MEANS A BETTER ECONOMY AND BETTER FUTURE FOR US .

WITH THAT, THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THESE CORE ISSUES THAT WILL CAUSE BETTER STUDENT OUTCOMES AND HELP US REACH OUR PROGRESS METER GOALS AND ACHIEVE ATTAINMENT GOALS.

THE VOTERS GET THIS LINK AND WH IT'S IMPORTANT AND THEY ARE HUNGRY FOR SOLUTIONS.

>> TALK ABOUT THE ATTAINMENT GOAL.

>> WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT IF WE CAN GET TO 60% ATTAINMENT AND THAT WOULD MEAN 60% OF THOSE USED IN OUR STATE WHO HOLD SOME TYPE OF HIGH-VALUE CREDENTIAL, DEGREE, A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE , THEN IT WILL BRING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

$7.4 BILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR STATE.

IF WE CAN REACH THOSE NUMBERS W WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE TAKING ALL THESE GREAT JOBS THAT ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE ARE BRINGING IN.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A GAP OF SKILLED WORKERS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THESE GREAT JOBS WE HAVE COMING OF ABOUT 22,000 FOLKS.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GETTING OUR STUDENTS WHERE WE NEED THEM TO BE TO REALLY HAVE THESE HIGH SKILLED WILL PLAYED CONDITIONS.

>> ARE WE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION?

>> I THINK WE ARE MOVING IN THA DIRECTION.

EVEN AS YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, THERE WERE SOME GOOD K-12 PROGRESS MADE.

WE MISSED SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PART OF THAT AND ALSO THE POST SECONDARY.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ATTENTION BEING PAID TO EDUCATION.

THE VOTERS, I THINK, GET IT.

WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS.

>> YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE SPENDING CAP LIFTED OR ELSE ALL THE MONEY SITS THERE AND SAYS HELLO.

>> THERE ARE TWO THINGS WE WOUL SAY.

THE SPENDING CAP DID NOT GET TAKEN CARE OF AND IT'S CLEARLY GOING TO BE LEVERAGED IN THE POLITICAL POND IF YOU WILL ON ITS OWN.

BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT WE DID THIS BUDGET, REALLY IN A DEAL THAT ALLOWED UNIVERSAL EXPANSIO OF THE VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONCERNING TO US.

WE DON'T REALLY THANK THERE'S ENOUGH ACCOUNTABILITY BUILT INT THE SYSTEM.

A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

WE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY A RISK HERE WITHOUT HAVING A GREA UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS CAN TURN OUT OR EVEN HOW IT WILL IMPACT THE STUDENTS.

>> RICH NICHOL, EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

INTERESTING SURVEY AND INTERESTING RESULTS.

THANKS FOR SHARING.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> IT SUMMER AND THE READING I EASY OR AT LEAST IT IS FOR LIGHTER OFFERINGS TO TAKE ON VACATION.

SUMMER READING CAN INCLUDE ALL SORTS OF BOOKS FOR ALL SORTS OF READERS.

HERE TO OFFER SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS SUMMER IS CINDY BASH CO-OWNER OF CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SUMMER READING.

IS IT ALL THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SEE THE REST OF THE YEAR?

>> IT IS.

AND ALSO IT'S JUST THAT BOOKS KEEP GETTING BETTER.

THERE'S MORE DIVERSE AUTHORS AN MORE STORIES.

I HONESTLY THINK WRITERS ARE GETTING BETTER.

>> INTERESTING.

BOOKSTORE SALES, DO YOU SEE MOR SALES.

YOU CANNOT SEE MORE SALES IN TH SUMMER, CAN YOU?

>> WE DO.

AND THE WAY THERE IS LESS CUSTOMERS BUT BUYING MORE BOOKS.

THEY ARE BUYING BOOKS STACKS TO TAKE WITH THEM ON VACATION.

>> DOES IT FEEL LIKE PHOENIX AS PART OF THE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES.

THE KNICKS ANY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER STORES WITH THE SAME KIND OF THING?

>> OUR SALES ARE UP SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE WATCHING A LOT OF MINISERIES COMING FROM BOOKS.

THAT IS DRIVING PEOPLE TO READ BOOKS.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS GOING ON.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME BOOKS.

YOU HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM YOUR STAFF.

WE WILL START WITH A PITCHER BOOK.

THIS IS A PITCHER BOOK FOR LITTLE FOLKS, LITTLE READERS.

IT IS CALLED BARRY'S SONG.

>> SHE'S A WINNER FOR HER ILLUSTRATIONS AND SHE WROTE AND ILLUSTRATED A BOOK.

IT'S A FAVORITE.

IT'S A CHILD AND GRANDMOTHER BERRY PICKING AND ALL THE STORIES THAT GO WITH EACH BERRY.

IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND FRUIT.

>> LIKE A GIRL AND HER GRANDMOTHER AND FRUIT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MANY PITCHER BOOKS ARE COFFEE-TABLE BOOKS AND MORE AFFORDABLE.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.

>> THAT IS THE KIDS IN THE MIDDLE GRADES WITH THE GRAPHIC NOVEL.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> GRAPHIC NOVELS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR BUT THEY ARE MORE POPULAR WITH SERIES.

THEY ARE GREAT FOR RELUCTANT READERS.

THIS IS SLIGHTLY MAGICAL REALISM .

BOYS IN A BAND, A BAKERY THAT HAS MAGIC PRINCIPLES IN ITS FOO AND YOU CAN'T PUT IT DOWN.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE FOR YOUNGER READERS THAT IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> EVERYONE WANTS A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC.

>> GRAPHIC NOVEL?

ARE YOU SEEING MORE GRAPHIC NOVELS?

>> WE ARE.

SOME SERIES AND TELEVISION SHOW HAVE BEEN BASED ON THEM.

IT ALSO APPEALS TO THE RELUCTAN READER.

JUST TO HAVE THE WORDS AND PICTURE'S TOGETHER.

IT'S ANOTHER LEVEL OF STORYTELLING.

>> ALRIGHT, FOR YOUNG ADULTS, THE BOOK YOU SUGGEST IS ANSWERS IN THE PAGES.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> THIS BOOK IS REMARKABLE.

THREE STORIES INTERWEAVE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

IT TELLS THE STORY ABOUT BANNIN BOOKS IN SCHOOLS.

WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT THE BOOK I THAT IT PRESENTS BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE IN A WAY THAT TEACHES YOU WHAT IS GOING ON AND THE HISTORY BEHIND IT.

THE STORY IS MAGICAL WEAR MAIN CHARACTERS IN ONE STORY LATER TURNED UP IN ONE OF THE OTHER TWO STORIES.

COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.

>> A LITTLE MAGIC GOING ON HERE AS WELL.

THIS IS YOUNG ADULT.

SOMETIMES THESE YOUNG ADULT BOOKS ARE PRETTY DOGGONE GOOD.

IN OLDER ADULTS READ THEM?

>> THE SECTION IS FLOODED WITH 20 AND 30 -YEAR-OLDS.

>> OUR NEXT SECTION IS FOR MEMOIR, THE MAN WHO COULD MOVE CLOUDS.

>> SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.

THIS IS THEIR SECOND BOOK.

I HAVE A THEME WITH MAGICAL REALISM.

SHE TALKS ABOUT HER FAMILY AND CERTAIN MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY HAVE MAGICAL POWERS WHETHER IT BE INTUITION OR ABLE TO READ CLOUDS.

SHE ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT THIS.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK OF THE YEAR.

I HAVE PREDICTED TO BE A HUGE AWARD WINNER.

THE WAY SHE TALKS ABOUT HER FAMILY AND THEIR POWERS AND HOW SPECIAL IT IS.

IT'S A MEMOIR BOOK READS LIKE A NOVEL.

>> MEMOIRS AT ONE POINT WERE TH HOTTEST THINGS AROUND.

HAVE THEY TAILED OFF A LITTLE BIT?

>> THEY HAVE TAILED OFF A LITTL BIT BUT THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE NEW STORIES WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN THE MEMOIR SECTION.

NOT AS POPULAR AS THEY WERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT VERY STRONG.

I SINCE THEY WILL HAVE A NEW RESURGENCE WITH NEW VOICES COMING TO THE TABLE.

>> EVERYONE IS ONLINE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

HOPEFULLY THEY STILL HAVE INTERESTING THINGS TO SAY AND RIGHT ABOUT IT.

>> LET'S GET TO NOVELS.

WE MEASURE THE EARTH WITH OUR BODY.

THESE TITLES ARE FANTASTIC.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

>> I HAVE TO TAKE A PEEK AT THI TO REMEMBER.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BOOK WITH DIFFERENT STORIES INTERTWINING.

LANDSCAPE FAMILIES, PORTRAIT.

>> A TIBETAN FAMILY WITH A 50 YEAR JOURNEY THROUGH EXILE.

HOLY SMOKES.

>> IT IS A FAMILY THAT HAS TO ESCAPE TO GO INTO CHINA AND THAT'S THE STORY OF SISTERS AND HOW THEY COME THROUGH IT.

YOU ARE LEARNING ABOUT HISTORY AND A TIME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT.

>> SUMMER USED TO BE READING WHERE I DON'T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.

DON'T TEACH ME ANYTHING.

THAT HAS CHANGED.

>> IT HAS CHANGED IN PART BECAUSE THE WRITERS HAVE BECOME SO GOOD AND THEY ENTERTAIN YOU AND EDUCATE YOU AT THE SAME TIME .

>> THE WORLD IS FLAT AND A VARIETY OF WAYS.

WE ARE GETTING LOTS OF BOOKS.

AT THE BET AND FAMILY, HOLY SMOKES.

THAT'S NOT AROUND THE CORNER.

>> IT'S AN IMMIGRANT STORY.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

ONE OF YOUR STORIES AS WELL IS COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES.

THE ANGEL OF ROME AND OTHER STORIES.

I LOVE SHORT STORIES.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE STILL DOES.

SHORT STORIES, TALK ABOUT MAGICAL.

>> THEY ARE A HARD SELL.

OFTEN WE SEE SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS WHERE THEY INTERTWINE.

EACH STORY IS ABOUT A MOMENT WHERE THERE WAS A CHANGE OF LIGHT OR IT CHANGED SOMEBODY'S EXPERIENCE AND THEIR OUTLOOK ON THE WORLD.

THAT'S THE THREAD BETWEEN THE STORY.

IT'S NOT THE CHARACTERS OR PLACES BUT HOW A MOMENT CAN CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN THE WORLD.

>> THAT IS INTERESTING.

AND THE OLD DAYS SHORT STORIES WERE VERY DIFFERENT.

THE COLLECTION DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PREVIOU OR FOLLOWING STORY.

THAT HAS CHANGED.

>> IT HAS CHANGED.

IT'S A NEW MODEL AND A THEME VERSUS A CHARACTER OR PLACE THA CONTINUES THROUGH.

>> THE SHORT STORIES SELL WELL?

THEY DIDN'T USE TO.

>> THEY ARE NOT AT THE TOP.

THEY ARE NOT THE TOP SELLERS, BUT WHEN YOU GET SOMEONE WHO HA WRITTEN SO MANY NOVELS DOING IT HE WILL BRING IT BACK.

>> FOR NONFICTION WE HAVE RIVER OF THE GODS.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A HOOT.

LOOK AT THE START OF THE NILE.

>> THIS IS AMAZING BECAUSE IT READS LIKE A MYSTERY THRILLER.

IT'S A PAGE TURNER.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

YOU HAVE TO REMIND YOURSELF IT' A TRUE STORY.

IT'S AN EXPEDITION ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THE NILE.

OF A HUNTER, AN EXPEDITION, LEADER, BACKSTABBING.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL TURN OUT.

BUT IT IS A TRUE STORY.

>> IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU SEE ON PBS WHERE IT'S A HISTORICAL THING WITH AL SORTS OF THINGS GOING ON.

>> THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS PHENOMENAL IN THIS BOOK.

YOU CANNOT PUT IT DOWN.

>> PANDEMIC.

HOW DID IT AFFECT CHANGING HAND AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT THINGS NOW?

>> IT WAS HARD.

THERE WERE LOTS OF TEARS AND WE KEPT PIVOTING WHICH WAS THE BIG WORD TO CURBSIDE AND ONLINE.

PEOPLE FELL IN LOVE WITH BOOKS AND PUZZLES AND WE ARE SELLING LOT OF THOSE.

NOTHING INFORMS A COMMUNITY LIK A LOCAL BUSINESS MATTERS AND THEN SHUTTING ITS DOORS FOR FOU MONTHS.

OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TO RALLY AND KEEP US HERE.

WE ARE GRATEFUL.

>> WE ARE GRATEFUL YOU ARE HERE IN TEMPE AND PHOENIX.

CINDY DASH, CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS FOR ALL THE SUGGESTIONS.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I AM TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING