Reference PHP JSON Data in Columns.Render directly from data object?

I have a pretty straightforward table that is fed with object JSON data from PHP using

echo json_encode(array('data' => $arr_deliveries));

I can't figure out how to reference the data directly in the columns.render.

Here is a sample of data:

{"data":[
{"event_id":"44","company_id":"5","description":"test2","trucktype":"Cement","gc_pointperson":"-1","site_description":"Bravo","oversizeload":"0","badgeddriver":"0","numberoftrucks":"","multipletrucks":"0","truckHeight":"","truckLength":"","truckWidth":"","truckweight":"","status":"0","expediteddelivery":"0","date_start":"2018-11-22","time_start":"12:30:00","time_end":"13:00:00","create_date":"2019-11-11 16:24:24","review_comments":null,"review_date":null,"deliveredstamp":"2019-11-15 10:55:59","ponumber":"","dotpermit":"0","title":"","co_name":"GL Plumbing","gc_pointpersonFN":null,"gc_pointpersonLN":null,"original_filename":null,"filename":null,"file_extension":null,"reviewed_byFN":null,"reviewed_byLN":null,"received_byFN":"Michael","received_byLN":"Flynn","requested_byFN":"Jane","requested_byLN":"HVAC","pointpersonFN":"Flynn","requirebadge":"Y","project_id":"1"},
{"event_id":"1","company_id":"3","description":"deliverry","trucktype":"Box Truck","gc_pointperson":"-1","site_description":"Alpha","oversizeload":"0","badgeddriver":"0","numberoftrucks":"","multipletrucks":"0","truckHeight":"","truckLength":"","truckWidth":"","truckweight":"","status":"1","expediteddelivery":"0","date_start":"2019-10-17","time_start":"14:30:00","time_end":"15:00:00","create_date":"2019-10-16 14:03:25","review_comments":"you can do it","review_date":"2019-11-10 07:02:14","deliveredstamp":"2019-11-11 16:05:48","ponumber":"","dotpermit":"0","title":"","co_name":"14Fathoms, LLC","gc_pointpersonFN":null,"gc_pointpersonLN":null,"original_filename":null,"filename":null,"file_extension":null,"reviewed_byFN":"Michael","reviewed_byLN":"Flynn","received_byFN":"Gate","received_byLN":"User","requested_byFN":"Michael","requested_byLN":"Flynn","pointpersonFN":"Flynn","requirebadge":"Y","project_id":"1"}
]}

What I've been doing is making an array of data before the render like "data: {status: 'status', event_id: 'event_id'}", which works but doesn't seem right. I thought I could use data.event_id or data['status'] directly from the primary data from PHP, but neither work.

Also, if I add data:data in the datatable object it gives an "data is not defined error" so I've comment out.

Is this the right way to go about it? Or am I making a simple mistake?

var tblstatus = $('#tbldeliverystatus').DataTable({
        ajax: "./command/homepage_events.php?action=deliverystatus",
        deferRender: true,
        stateSave: true,
       // data: data,
        columns: [
            {
                data: {status: 'status', event_id: 'event_id'},
                render: function (data, type) {
                    if (type === 'display' || type === 'filter') {
                        var statusword = '';
                        var statusclass = '';

                        switch (data['status']) {
                            case '-1':
                                statusword = 'Denied';
                                statusclass = 'important';
                                break;
                            case '0':
                                statusword = 'Pending';
                                statusclass = 'warning';
                                break;
                            case '1':
                                statusword = 'Approved';
                                statusclass = 'success';
                                break;
                        }
                        if (isadmin) {
                            return '<span class="m-4"><input type="checkbox" class="pendingChk" value="' + data['event_id'] + '">&nbsp&nbsp<span class = "lblstatus label label-' + statusclass + '">' + statusword + '</span></span>';
                        } else {
                            return '<td><span id="statusword" class = "label label-' + statusclass + '">' + statusword + '</span></td>';
                        }
                    }
                    return data;
                }
            },
            {
                data: {
                    co_name: 'co_name',
                    id: 'event_id',
                    requested_byFN: 'requested_byFN',
                    requested_byLN: 'requested_byLN'
                },
                render: function (data, type) {
                    if (type === 'display' || type === 'filter') {

                        return '<td>' + data['co_name'] + '<br><span class="muted">' + data['requested_byLN'] + ', ' + data['requested_byFN'].substring(0, 1) + '</span><br>[D' + data['event_id'] + ']</td>';
                    }
                    return data;
                }
            },
            {
                data: 'date_start',
                render: $.fn.dataTable.render.moment('MM/DD/YY ddd') // 10/16/20 Fri
            },
            {data: 'time_start', render: $.fn.dataTable.render.moment('HH:mm:ss', 'h:mm a')},
            {data: 'time_end', render: $.fn.dataTable.render.moment('HH:mm:ss', 'h:mm a')},
            {data: 'description'},
            {data: 'trucktype'},
            {data: 'gc_pointpersonFN'},
            {data: 'site_description'},
            {data: 'oversizeload'},
            {data: 'expediteddelivery'},
            {data: 'badgeddriver'},
            {data: 'create_date'},
            {
                data: 'review_date',
                render: $.fn.dataTable.render.moment('YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss', 'MM/DD/YY')
            },
            {data: 'deliveredstamp', render: $.fn.dataTable.render.moment('YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss', 'MM/DD/YY')},
            {data: null},//action buttons
        ],
        columnDefs: [{
            targets: -1,
            data: null,
            defaultContent: "<button>Click!</button>"
        }],

    });

Debugger code (debug.datatables.net): uyaguh
Error messages shown: none
Description of problem: see above

Thank in advance.