>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

ALABAMA'S CHILDREN ARE GETTING THE GIFT OF READING FROM THE ONE AND ONLY DOLLY PARTON.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY THIS WEEK KICKED OFF A STATEWIDE EXPANSION OF THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY, THE LEGENDARY SINGER'S PROJECT TO PROVIDE FREE BOOKS TO CHILDREN EVERY MONTH FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE.

THE IDEA IS TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO READ TO THEIR CHILDREN AND SET THEM ON A PATH TO LEARNING READING SKILLS THEMSELVES.

IVEY JOINED EDUCATORS AND PARENTS TO KICK OFF THE EXPANSION SAYING IT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN'S LIVES.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT OUR PARENTS START READING TO OUR CHILDREN WHILE THEY'RE JUST BABIES.

AND WE MUST ENCOURAGE OUR CHILDREN TO OPEN BOOKS DURING THEIR EARLIEST DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE TODAY STATEWIDE EXPANSION OF DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINARY CHILD BOOK GIFTING PROGRAM.

THIS STATE HELP AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT WILL EVENTUALLY ENSURE EVERY CHILD IN ALABAMA CAN RECEIVE BOOKS DIRECTLY TO THEIR HOMES EACH MONTH AFTER THEY'RE BORN UNTIL THEY'RE FIVE YEARS OF AGE.

>> AND I 1ST WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR IVEY.

THANK YOU FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND GIVING PARENTS LIKE ME AND HELPING US TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR INTELLECTUAL GROWTH SO EARLY SO WHEN THEY GET INTO SCHOOL THEY'RE READY TO LEARN AND THAT TEACHERS CAN CONTINUE ON WITH THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'RE ALREADY DOING.

SO GOVERNOR IVEY, THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> I'LL SPEAK IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT THIS PROJECT WITH DR. JAN HUME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE ALABAMA MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK TO RE-ISSUE LICENSES FOR COMPANIES VYING TO BE A PART OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS IN ALABAMA.

REMEMBER THAT THE COMMISSION ORIGINALLY AWARDED LICENSE BACK IN JUNE, BUT THAT DECISION WAS PUT ON HOLD AFTER SCORING INCONSISTENCIES WERE DISCOVERED AND MULTIPLE LAWSUITS WERE FILED.

REX VAUGHN, THE COMMISSION'S NEW CHAIRMAN, SAID HE IS CONFIDENT THE PROCESS HAS WORKED PROPERLY THIS TIME AND THAT POTENTIAL MISTAKES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.

>> WE THOUGHT WE HAD SOME WARD BUT WE HAD ERROR AND HE SAYS HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND SEE WHERE WE FELL SHORT.

THE EVALUATORS THAT PROVIDED THE INFORMATION TO ASSESS AND TABULATE IN THE SCORING GOT OFF BASE.

THERE WERE SOME -- A FEW CHANGES.

AND WE KNEW THAT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO COME BECAUSE WE KNEW AHEAD OF TIME BASED ON THE MISSED SCORING THAT THERE WAS SOME OFF BASE, THERE WOULD BE SOME REPLACEMENT, RERANKING AND IT WAS MINOR, AS YOU SAID, BUT WE ARE HAPPY WITH WHERE WE ARE NOW >> FOR A FULL LIST OF THOSE COMPANIES AWARDED LICENSES, VISIT THE COMMISSION'S WEBSITE AT AAMC.ALABAMA.GOV.

BY NOW MOST EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE VIRAL VIDEOS OF THE BRAWL THAT TOOK PLACE LAST WEEKEND ON THE ALABAMA RIVERFRONT.

TWO WHITE MEN ATTACKED A BLACK DOCK WORKER AFTER ARGUMENTS OVER MOVING THEIR PONTOON BOAT OUT OF THE CITY'S RIVERBOAT DOCKING AREA.

WHAT ENSUED WAS A CHILLING MELEE THAT BROKE DOWN ON RACIAL LINES.

THREE MEN AND A WOMAN HAVE BEEN ARRESTED SINCE THE INCIDENT AND POLICE SAY MORE ARE BEING SOUGHT.

THE EVENT BROUGHT UNWANTED NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE CAPITAL CITY, BUT MAYOR STEVEN REED SAID HE DOESN'T WANT ONE INCIDENT TO DEFINE THE CITY.

>> I DON'T THINK YOU JUDGE ANY COMMUNITY BY ONE INCIDENT.

AS THE CHIEF SAID BEFORE THIS IS NOT INDICATIVE OF WHO WE ARE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE PEOPLE ON THE PONTOON BOAT ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF MONTGOMERY, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ADDRESS THIS AS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, ONE THAT WAS AVOIDABLE AND BROUGHT ON BY INDIVIDUALS WHO CHOSE THE WRONG PATH OF?

>> FROM THE TIME THEY WERE NOTIFIED THAT THEY WERE IN THE VICINITY WHERE THE HARRIET PARKS TO HOW THEY WERE GIVEN THE SECOND NOTICE OF THAT.

SO THIS IS NOT INDICATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY AT ALL AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL VIEW THIS AS THE ACTIONS OF A FEW INDIVIDUALS AND NOT CHARACTERIZE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> A GROUP OF MIDWIVES AND DOCTORS HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE SAYING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS CREATED UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE LEGAL STATUS OF BIRTH CENTERS THAT PROVIDE MIDWIFE-LED CARE.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS THE STORY.

>> PREGNANT WOMEN IN RURAL ALABAMA HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

>> THERE'S A HEALTH CARE CENTER IN SUMNER COUNTY IN MY AREA ABOUT 25 MILES AWAY.

PEOPLE CAN RECEIVE A PREGNANCY TEST THERE.

THEY CAN FIND OUT THEY'RE PREGNANT AND THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS.

THEN THEY MUST TRAVEL TO MARENGO COUNTY OR TUSCALOOSA OR MISSISSIPPI.

THAT IS ABOUT AS DEFINITIVELY ACCURATE OF A HEALTH CARE DESERT AS WE CAN GET.

>> THAT IS WHY DR. STEPHANIE MITCHELL ESTABLISHED SUMTER COUNTY'S BIRTH SANCTUARY WHERE MIDWIVES CAN PROVIDE PATIENT CENTERED CARE.

BUT SHE AND TWO OF HER COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE ALSO ESTABLISHED BIRTH CENTERS SAY AN ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REGULATION HAS HALTED THEIR WORK AND THEY'VE TAKEN LEGAL ACTION.

ATTORNEY WHITNEY WHITE.

>> OUR CLIENTS FILED THIS LAWSUIT BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT IS REFUSING TO ALLOW BIRTH CENTERS TO OPERATE IN ALABAMA WITHOUT HAVING A HOSPITAL LICENSE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEPARTMENT IS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY BIRTH CENTER TO EVEN APPLY FOR SUCH A LICENSE, EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO SHUT DOWN ONE BIRTH CENTER THAT HAD A PERFECT RECORD OF PATIENT SAFETY.

>> THAT CENTER WAS FOUNDED BY DR. HEATHER SKANES.

>> WE WERE THE ONLY BIRTH CENTER OPERATING IN ALABAMA AT THE TIME.

EVERY SINGLE BIRTH THAT HAPPENED WAS SUCCESSFUL, WITH NO COMPLICATIONS AND THE MOMS AND BABIES ARE DOING WELL TODAY.

>> AND DR. ROBINSON SAID THE ROADBLOCK IMPOSED BY PUBLIC HEALTH STOPPED THE CONSTRUCTION OF HER BIRTH CENTER.

>> FOR YEARS I HAVE POURED MY HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS PROJECT, ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY, STARTING PLANNINGS AND CONSTRUCTION, AND RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS.

>> AND THE ACLU OF ALABAMA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADS THAT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN ALABAMA IS NOT A PRIORITY.

>> LAWMAKERS HAVE STOOD IDLY BY AS HOSPITALS HAVE CLOSED AND DRESS HAVE MOVED AWAY.

THEY LOOKED OTHER WAY AS PATIENTS TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES ACROSS COUNTIES AND EVEN STATE LINES TO RECEIVE BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE ADEQUATE CARE DOES NOT EXIST.

>> PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS JUST RECENTLY LEARNED OF A FILING OF THIS LAWSUIT AND IS NOT IT SHOW HAS NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT FULLY.

ADPH DOES NOT COMMENT ON ACTIVE LITIGATION.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME AND THAT MEANS KIDS AND TEACHERS OFTEN COMING BACK HOME WITH A COLD.

PLUS THERE'S ANOTHER ROUND OF COVID GOING AROUND.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT CAUGHT UP THE STATE HEALTH OFFICE DR. SCOTT HARRIS ABOUT THE BEST WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY.. >> IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR.

SCHOOL IS BACK.

FOOTBALL IS BACK.

AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ARE ALSO BACK.

IT'S A BIG REASON WHY AUGUST IS NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION MONTH.

>> IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT THE MONTH CHOSEN FOR THAT IS AUGUST WHEN KIDS ARE GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

THAT'S WHEN WE START TO SEE THE EMERGENCE OF THIEVES FALL INFECTIONS THAT CYCLE EVERY YEAR AND THAT'S WHEN YOU GET KIDS BACK TOGETHER IN A CLASSROOM REAL CLOSE TOGETHER AND THEY'RE EATING AND DRINKING AND SHARING MEALS TOGETHER AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME INDOORS.

SO THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE WANT MOMS AND DADS TO BE THINKING ABOUT GETTING THEIR KIDS UP TO AT A TIME.

>> STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS SAYS RECENT ISSUES WITH ILLNESSES HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL ON CITIZENS.

>> EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE FALL, IT IS SCHOOL TIME AGAIN AND KIDS NEED FOB UPDATED.

WE SAW A LOT OF KIDS GET BEHIND IN THE IMMUNIZATIONS THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE HAD.

THERE WERE SO MANY DISRUPTIONS GOING ON.

THE NUN OF NUMBERS ARE GETTING A LITTLE BETTER.

ALABAMA PARENTS ARE BRINGING THEIR KIDS BACK TO GET SHOTS BUT THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF KIDS BEHIND.

>> DR.

HAIR LIST SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SHOTS.

>> THE ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THOSE AND PLENTY OF VACCINE AVAILABLE.

FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE A PEDIATRICIAN THAT'S THE BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR HEALTH CARE AND YOUR INFORMATION.

WE ALSO HAVE VAX SCENES AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO LOW INCOME KIDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE.

>> AND ADULTS ARE ALSO COVERED, SAYS DR. HARRIS.

>> WE'RE STILL AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF FLU SHOTS EVERYWHERE BECAUSE THOSE AREN'T QUITE OUT YET.

WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW VACCINE FOR RSV FOR SENIORS AS YOU KNOW AND A NEW FORMULATION OF COVID VACCINE SO THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET.

>> AS MUCH AS PEOPLE WANT COVID GONE IT'S STILL AROUND SAYS DR. HARRIS.

THAT MEANS A NEW BOOSTER TO COMBAT THAT INFECTION AND OTHERS INCLUDING RSV.

>> WE DO EXPECT THE BOOSTER TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

AS FALL GETS HERE WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THE RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS THAT WE SEE.

COVID IS ONE PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT BUT WE WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT FLU AS WELL.

FLU HAS NEVER GONE ANYWHERE.

IT'S STILL WITH US.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> JOINING US ME NEXT ARE DR. NEIL LAMB PRESIDENT OF THE HUDSON INSTITUTE AND MARK ALIVEA.

DOTHAN.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WE WERE TALK ABOUT HUDSON ALPHA IN THE WIREGRASS AND BEFORE WE START I WANT TO AIR THIS CLIP FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION ABOUT HUDSON ALPHA IN THE WIREGRASS.

SO ENJOY.

>> HUDSON ALPHA WIREGRASS IS TRANSFORMING THE WAY DNA RESEARCH IS USED TO FACE THE CHALLENGING PROBLEMS.

>> IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE BECAUSE IT TAKES THE POWER OF DNA AND TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGIES AND IT PUTS IT IN THE HANDS OF FARMERS AND STUDENTS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN THE WIREGRASS REGION.

>> OUR NEW HOME WILL BE IN DOWNTOWN DOTHAN.

>> WELL, THAT TELL US AN INTERESTING STORY.

SO I'M GLAD WE GOT SORT OF A REFRESHER.

DR. LAMB I THOUGHT I WOULD START WITH YOU JUST TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT HUDSON ALPHA, UP THERE IN HUNTSVILLE, WITH THE IDEA WHERE IT CAME FROM AND WHERE IT HAS DEVELOPED NOW THAT IT'S 15 YEARS SINCE THE FOUNDING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO HUDSON ALPHA IS A NONPROFIT RESERVE INSTITUTE FOCUSED AROUND GENOMICS AND THE POWER OF DNA AND HOW WE CAN USE GENOMICS TO IMPROVE HUMAN LIVE IN HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY.

SO THE INSTITUTE IS THEMED AROUND THREE BROAD PARTS OF OUR MISSION.

THE FIRST IS USING GENOMICS IN RESEARCH.

SO HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND CHANGES IN DNA IMPACT HUMAN HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND IMPACT ISSUES AROUND AGRICULTURE AND HOW YOU CAN HELP PLANTS GROW AND PRODUCE MORE IN CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.

THEN THERE'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT IN ADDITION TO THE NONPROFIT RESEARCH.

THERE ARE 50 BIOTECH COMPANIES ON OUR CAMPUS TAKING IDEAS AND TURNING THEM INTO PRODUCTS.

IT IS REALLY AN INTENTIONAL ECONOMIC DRIVER OF THE STATE.

IN THE LAST 15 YEARS IT'S PROVIDED $4.2 BILLION IN CHECK IN BENEFIT TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND THEN THE 3RD COMPONENT IS EDUCATION WHICH IS REALLY HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT GENOMICS IS, HOW IT'S USED IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND HOW DO WE TRAIN THE WORKFORCE FOR THE PEOPLE AT THAT TIME WILL STEP INTO THESE CAREERS ON THE HUDSON ALPHA CAMPUS, AROUND ALABAMA OR THE WORLD.

SO THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE THREE-FOLD MISSION OF HUDSON ALPHA HUDSON ALPHA WIREGRASS BRINGS ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS INTO THE WIREGRASS WITH FOCUS AROUND AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION.

>> MAYOR, IT MUST HAVE BEEN EXCITING WHEN THE IDEA WAS FORMED TO HAVE AN INSTITUTION LIKE HUDSON ALPHA COMING TO THE WIREGRASS RIGHT FROM IN THE STIFF DOTHAN.

TALK ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, IT WAS AN EXCITING THING.

AND WHEN WE 1ST MET DR. LAMB AND SOME OF HIS TEAM IN THE DOTHAN AREA, IT WASN'T AT THE TOP OF MIND THAT THEY COULD BE A PARTNER OF OURS IN THE WIRE GRASS AREA BUT THE MORE WE HEARD ABOUT WHAT HUDSON ALPHA DOES, ESPECIALLY IN THE RESERVE WITH AGRICULTURE, AND AGRICULTURE IS SUCH A BIG PART IN OUR ECONOMY IN THE SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND THE WIREGRASS.

YOU KNOW THAT'S OUR BACKYARD IS HIS LABORATORY.

FOR AGRICULTURE.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE CROPS OF PEANUTS AND THE FOCUS ON PEANUTS THAT IT SEEMED LIKE SUCH A NATURAL FIT FOR US AND BUILDING A NEW ECOSYSTEM ON AN ALREADY STRONG ASSET IN OTHER AREA LIKE AGRICULTURE.

>> WHEN FOLKS HEAR THE WORD "RESEARCH" IT MAY CONJURE UP DIFFERENT IMAGES.

I'M NOT AS VERSED IN THIS STUFF AS Y'ALL ARE BUT IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, PLACES LIKE HUNTSVILLE.

IS AND WHERE THESE RESEARCH PARKERS ARE, IT COMES WITH THE ECONOMIC COMPONENT.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN.

HOW DOES RESEARCH GET TRANSLATED INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A PLACE LIKE DOTHAN?

>> WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT WE START WITH IN HUDSON ALPHA WIREGRASS IS, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THE PEANUT.

SO ONE OF THE INCREDIBLE THINGS ABOUT PLANTS IS PLANTS FIGURED OUT HOW TO GROW IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES AND HOW TO SURVIVE IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT CONDITIONS BY CHANGING THEIR DNA.

THERE HAVE BEEN MUTATIONS OR AT RACERATIONS IN THE DNA THAT GIVE THAT PLANT AN ADVANTAGE.

WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT LOOKING ACROSS THE NATURAL VARIATION THAT IS PRESENTED ACROSS MULTIPLE VARIETIES OF PEANUT AND THEN THINK ABOUT HOW WE USE THAT TO CREATE A PEANUT THAT WILL THRIVE SPECIFICALLY IN THE WIREGRASS WITH THE SOIL TYPE AND THE CLIMBED -- THE CLIMATE OF THE WIREGRASS AND USE GENETICS TO HELP US DRIVE WHAT THAT BREEDING SCHEME LOOKS LIKE.

SO NOW YOU HAVE A PRODUCT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BUY.

SO NOW YOU'RE HELPING CREATE AN ENGINE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

BUT AS YOU HAD THAT KIND OF SET OF TOOLS, THE ABILITY TO SEQUENCE THROUGH THE DNA OF PLANTS, THE COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS TO MINE THAT INFORMATION, NOW YOU'RE BEGINNING TO BUILD A CRITICAL MASS WHERE OTHER COMPANIES WHO ARE INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE, MAYBE THEY USE GENOMICS DIRECTLY OR LIKE THE TOOLS WITH THAT.

SEE THE WIREGRASS AS A PLACE FOR THEM TO BUILD THEIR ENOUGH COMPANY OR TO RELOCATE INTO THAT AREA.

SO YOU REALLY HAVE THIS GRAVITATIONAL PULL THAT BRINGS ALL OF THESE PEOPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE INTO THE TABLE.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S VALUABLE -- IT'S VALUABLE TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO INVEST.

AND YOU LIKE FOLKS COMING TO INVEST IN AND AROUND YOUR CITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION AND WHAT IMPACT HUDSON ALPHA CAN HAVE ON THE EDUCATION FRONT, K-12 AND HIGHER ED.

>> YOU KNOW IT'S GREAT, THE 1ST INITIATIVE THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE HUDSON ALPHA WIREGRASS HAS BEEN FOCUSED A LOT ON EDUCATION.

SO THEY CAME INTO FOUR OF OUR SCHOOLS, OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

SOME CITY AND COUNTY SO THIS IS NOT JUST A CITY OF DOTHAN.

THIS IS A HOUSTON COUNTY AND THE WIREGRASS AREA AS WELL.

AND SO BRINGING IN THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE GENOMICS AND PUTTING IT IN THE HANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH HAS BEEN EXTREMELY EXCITING.

AND THE RECEPTION THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THOSE KIDS HAS BEEN GREAT AND I'M SURE DR. LAMPKIN CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> THE MAYOR DOES A GREAT JOB OF LAYING THAT OUT THAT PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A BETTER MEANS.

WE ARE GATHERING OUR RESOURCES WITH THE EDUCATION TEAM AND STUDENTS.

STUDENTS ARE DOING THAT WORK THAT TRADITIONALLY THAT YOU WOULD FIND AS A UNIVERSITY.

SO IT'S INTRODUCING THEM TO A WHOLE NEW SAID OF SKILLS BUT THERE'S AN AMAZING RELEVANCE BECAUSE THIS A PRODUCT THAT THEY, THEM OF THEIR FAMILIES OR PEOPLE THEY KNOW EVERY YEAR.

>> SURE.

IT'S A COMMUNITY REGIONAL THING RIGHT.

>> EXACTLY.

SO YOU ARE HAVINGS STUDENTS HELP CREATE A NEW PEANUT FOR THE WIREGRASS.

THEY'RE ACTIVELY A PART OF THAT.

IT ENGAGES THEM WHETHER THEY'RE INTERESTED IN AGRICULTURE OR IF THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND GENETICS AND COMPONENTS AND MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS BEHIND THAT SO YOU HAVE NOW BEGUN TO BUILD THIS HANDS ON PROJECTS THAT STUDENTS CAN PLUG INTO FOR MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ANGLES AND AVENUES AND THEN YOU CAN BEGIN TO TRAIN THE TEACHERS OFTEN THAT AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT, ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE CREATED THIS VARIETY OF PEANUT, HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT OTHER VARIETIES OR OTHER CROPS THAT WE CAN CONNECT TO.

AND THEN THERE ARE EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ACROSS THE WIRE GRASS AND ULTIMATELY THERE WILL BE SUMMER CAMPS AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS SO YOU CAN BUILD THIS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL, THIS PATHWAY OF PROGRAMS THAT STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY CAN BEGIN TO ENGAGE IN.

>> I KNOW THAT THAT COMPONENT IN THE SCHOOLS WITH THE WORKSHOPS AND THE TEACHERS HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE FOUNDING OF HUDSON ALPHA.

>> AND YOU HIT ON IT.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE FUTURE OF RESEARCH, FOR THE FUTURE OF SINCE, FOR THAT INTEREST IN SCIENCE, FROM EVEN A YOUNG AGE, AND TO HAVE OUR TEACHERS COME AND BE HANDS ON AND SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE SO THEY CAN BRING THAT BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS.

IS IT OPINION TO HAVE THAT PIPELINE OF STUDENTS THERE BECOMING FAST OF FASCINATED WITH SCIENCE?

>> I THINK THIS CRITICAL NOT ONLY TO HUDSON ALPHA WIREGRASS AND HUDSON ALPHA IN GENERAL BUT TO THE MISSION OF OUR COUNTRY.

WE ARE ALWAYS ONLY ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM NO LONGER SITTING AT THE LEAD IN FIELDS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MATH.

SO WE ARE ALWAYS DEPENDENT ON ENGAGING THAT NEXT GENERATION, PROVIDING THEM THE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS THEY NEED AND ALSO EXCITING THEM, HAVING THEIR EYES LIGHT UP ABOUT, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR THEM AND HOW DO WE HELP THEM GET THERE FROM WHERE THEY CURRENTLY SIT.

>> IT ALLOWS THEM, TOO, IF THEY'RE A SECOND GENERATION, 3RD GENERATION FARMER, THAT IT'S NOT JUST OWNING A PIECE OF THE LAND AND FARMING BUT THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

AND IT'S OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIREGRASS THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE HAD BEFORE, AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY EXCITING TO ME.

BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOBS OF THE FUTURE IN GENOMICS AND SCIENCE.

SO WATCHING THOSE KIDS -- I HAVE BEEN TO THE CLASSROOMS AND WATCHING THEM HAVE FUN.

AND THEY'RE DOING WORK THAT SOMETIMES YOU WOULDN'T HAVE DONE UNTIL YOU HAVE GOTTEN INTO COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, EXTRACTING THE DNA FROM A PEANUT PLANT AND HELPING TO DECIDE WHICH TRAITS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE BEST PEANUT.

THAT OPENS UP AND SPARKS INTEREST IN THEIR MINDS THAT WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE BEFORE.

>> WELL, WHEN I HEAR I COULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT I CAN SEE THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT DOTHAN, ABOUT THE WIREGRASS BY THE SEEMS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REPLICATED IN OUR REGIONS OF THE STATE AND MAYBE EVEN OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE.

MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER MAYORS OR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR OTHERS THAT SOUGHT A SIMILAR KIND OF PARTNERSHIP AND IS THAT POSSIBLE?

DO YOU SEE OTHER REGIONAL EFFORTS FOR HUDSON ALPHA IN THE FUTURE?

>> WELL, I WILL SPEAK TO THE 1ST PART.

>> WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE MAYORS?

>> WELL, I THINK ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT IS WORTH HIS SALT IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THAT ONE THING THAT CAN SPAN ACROSS MULTIPLE PIECES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE RESEARCH AND THE EDUCATION AND FIN VOICE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PROVIDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

IT JUST MADE SO MUCH SENSE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE MODEL THAT I THINK THAT REALLY HAS TO BE REPLICATED ON MY PART IS THAT WHEN YOU FIND SOMEONE THAT IS GENUINELY CONCERNED WITH DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, AND NOT NECESSARILY BUILT ON ANYTHING ELSE, THAT'S WHAT REALLY EXCITED ME IS THAT I KNEW AND I COULD SEE THE GENUINENESS IN DR. LAMB AND OTHERS THAT I MET WITH HUDSON ALPHA IN HUNTSVILLE.

THAT TO ME WAS -- THAT'S HOW YOU BUILD REGIONALISM AND THAT'S HOW YOU BUILD UP COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT'S THE KEY TO DOING THAT ACROSS OUR STATE NO MATTER WHAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN WHETHER IT'S IN SCIENCE OR PARTNERSHIP, WITH THE MUNICIPALITY.

>> YEAH.

I WOULD AGREE.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HUDSON ALPHA WIREGRASS IS EVEN IN EXISTENCE IS BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE GENOMICS EXPERTISE OF HUDSON ALPHA AND THE AGRICULTURAL STRENGTHS OF THE WIREGRASS BUT IT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT AS THE MAYOR SAID.

THERE REALLY IS AN AUTHENTIC DESIRE TO LOOK FOR HOW DO WE CREATE SOMETHING THAT REALLY BENEFITS EVERYONE, THAT MAY SOUND VERY IDEALISTIC BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WOE ARE WORKING FOR THE SAME GOALS AND THERE ARE THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH THOSE HE TOGETHER.

I THINK AS YOU THINKS ABOUT THESE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE STATE OR IN OTHER PLACES IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS THAT YOU THAT'S RIGHT HAVE AND WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF THE ECOSYSTEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE TABLE AND WHO ACTUALLY HAS THAT SET OF SKILLS AND HOW DO YOU GO OUT AND IDENTIFY THOSE PARTNERS.

BUT A SIGNIFICANT PIECE IS THE INNER ACTION BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE TEAMS THAT YOU EACH ENCOUNTER.

>> SURE.

IT'S JUST SUCH A FASCINATING THING.

I MEAN WATCHING HUDSON ALPHA THROUGH THE YEARS, JUST AMAZING THINGS YOU'RE DOING NOW HUDSON ALPHA WIREGRASS WE LOVE HIGHLIGHTING THINGS THAT ARE POINTS OF PRIDE FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA CAN THIS IS IT REALLY ONE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK.

WE WANT TO COME DOWN.

WE WANT TO COME DOWN WITH OUR CAMERAS AND SEE FOR OURSELVES IN THE WIREGRASS AND HUNTSVILLE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ARRANGE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> WE WOULD LOVE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME IS KENT DAVIS COMMISSIONER OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> GREAT TO BE BACK.

>> WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR DEPARTMENTS EVIDENCE ON THE ISSUE OF RESILIENCE.

WE HAVE ONE THE MONTGOMERY AND ANOTHER IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA ABOUT HELPING FOLKS WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF HELPING THIS AREA LEARN RESILIENCE, LEARN ABOUT RESILIENCE.

BUT BECAME INTERESTING AND VERY PERSONAL IS THAT YOU WERE NOT ONLY LEADING THIS AREAS A DEPARTMENT BUT YOU BECAME PART OF THE RESILIENCE STORY WITH YOUR OWN STRUGGLE WITH LYMPHOMA.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT HAS THAT TAUGHT YOU ABOUT RESILIENCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS A COINCIDENCE.

WE HAD BEEN HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE WITH THE VETERAN COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF REACTIVE.

WE HAD BEEN WAITING UNTIL THERE WAS A CRISES AND RESPONDING TO I.

AND WE THOUGHT MAYBE WE SHOULD TEACH LIFE SKILLS SO VETERANS AND 1ST RESPONDERS AVOID THOSE CRISES BY LEARNING TO GET THROUGH DIFFICULTY MOMENTS THROUGH RESILIENCE.

AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED AS WE WERE KICKING THAT IDEA AROUND AND I GOT DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE III LYMPHOMA CANCER SO I CAN SPEAK WITH EMPATHY ABOUT GETTING THROUGH A TOUGH SITUATION.

>> WOW.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT?

WHAT WAS THAT DIAGNOSIS LIKE?

>> IT WAS REALLY WEIRD.

THIS IS A LESSON LEARNED FOR SURE BUT ESPECIALLY MEN.

DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM CHECKING OUT HEALTH PROBLEMS.

I WAS LITERALLY SHAVING ONE DAY AND FOUND A LUMP IN MY NECK.

I CALLED MY DOCTOR.

AT 1ST WE BOTH THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT BUT IT KEPT GROWING.

I GOT ANOTHER LUMP ON MY SHOULDER SO IT GOT REFERRED TO A SPECIALIST HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND IT TURNED OUT I WAS AT STAGE 3 WITH LYMPHOMA CANCER.

>> BUT YOU WENT TO THE DOCTOR -- I MEAN THANK GOD YOU DID WHEN YOU DID BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE GROWN EVEN FURTHER.

>> APPARENTLY I WAS ON BORDERLINE STAGE 4.

IT HAD NOT SPREAD TO MY BONE MARROW.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.

BECAUSE I WAS SO ADVANCED AT THAT POINT, AND MIND YOU I HAD REALLY NO SYMPTOMS.

IT HAPPENED VERY FAST.

BUT I IMMEDIATELY STARTED CHEMOTHERAPY.

I HAD SIX ROUNDS OF EIGHT HOURS APIECE OF CHEMOTHERAPY HERE AT THE MONTGOMERY CANCER CENTER.

THEY WERE WONDERFUL.

GOT THROUGH FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS OF THAT AND INITIAL REPORTS ARE THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND C I'M STARTING TO FEEL BETTER EVERY DAY.

BUT THANK GOD I WENT TO THE DOCTOR.

>> YOU LOOK GREAT.

I WAS FOLLOWING YOUR JOURNEY ON FACEBOOK AND, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT HAIR.

>> YOU SAW ME ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO I WAS COMPLETELY BALD AND I'M THANKFUL MY HAIR IS COMING BACK AND I WILL HAVE A FULL HEAD ONE DAY.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT EIGHT HOUR ROUNDS OF CHEMO, THAT'S GOT TO BE JUST PHYSICALLY TAXING BUT ALSO PSYCHOLOGICALLY.

AND FROM GETTING THAT DIAGNOSIS WHAT THE PSYCHOLOGY LIKE, THAT MENTAL FEELING?

BECAUSE I'M GETTING TO THE POINT OF THAT RESILIENCE CHALLENGE?

>> IT'S AMAZING.

SOME OF OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RESILIENCE ACTUALLY HELPED ME GET THROUGH THAT.

SOME OF THE LESSONS LEARNED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS REALLY HELPED ME.

SO I KEPT COMING TO WORK.

I WEPT INTO WORK BECAUSE IT KEPT ME CONNECTED, WITH COWORKERS AND CLIENT QUESTIONS AND I FELT THERE WAS A PURPOSE THERE FOR GETTING UP EVERY DAY DESPITE HOW I FELT.

I ALSO TRIED TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE.

IT'S SO EASY TODAY IN THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN ON A WORLD WITH MANY WOES.

I THINK ABOUT FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND OUR MISSION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.

FOCUSING ON THOSE WAS IMPORTANT.

I TALKED ABOUT PUMP.

THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

FAITH PLAYED A PART IN THAT.

YOU PERSONAL FAITH CAN DRIVE YOUR PURPOSE IF LIFE AND I THINK THOSE THREE THINGS, PURPOSE, POSITIVITY AND SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN SUPPORT YOU WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE TEACH THAT IN THE RESILIENCE TRAINING.

>> SO AS YOU SHARED THAT, AT THESE EVENTS, I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN, BOTH IN PERSON, MAYBE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> IT IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH WE'RE TAKING INSTEAD OF JUST REACTING TO VETERANS IN CRISES, WE'RE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE PROBLEMS AND WE HAVE GOTTEN SOME POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

AND WE HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW VETERANS APPROACH US.

SOMETIMES THEY APPROACH US AT THE EVENTS.

SOMETIMES AFTERWARDS SAYING THANK YOU.

YOU LET ME KNOW SOME ASSETS I WASN'T AWARE WERE OUT THERE AND I'M GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE.

EVEN IF WE BECAUSE TURN AROUND ONE VETERAN OR FAMILY MEMBER OTHER 1ST RESPONDER ON OR ANY MEMBER OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO CAN FIND THE ASSETS THEY NEED AND THE STRENGTH THEY NEED TO GET THROUGH MINIATURE CRISES OR BEFORE CRISES WE HAVE CON OUR JOB.

>> AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORD RESILIENCE AND IN CONTEXT WITH VETERANS, YOUR TOUGH PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF TRAINING TO BE TOUGH AND IT SEEMS TO ME, YOU KNOW, RESILIENCE DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN GRIN AND BEAR IT.

THERE ARE RESOURCES AND WAYS TO TALK THROUGH THINGS.

>> DON'T JUST KEEP IT INSIDE OF YOU.

IT'S DANGEROUS.

IT BUILDS UP.

MOST VETERANS ARE TOUGH AND THEY FACE COMBAT SITUATIONS.

SOMETIMES MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS DON'T MANIFEST UNTIL YEARS LATER.

WE STILL SEE KOREAN WAR VETERANS AND VIETNAM VETERANS THAT ARE JUST NOW HAUNTED BY THE MEMORY RYALS OF WAR AND THEN THEY FACE PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES AT THAT TIME ARE TOUGH TO GET THROUGH.

IT'S NOT GOOD TO KEEL KEEP THAT BOTTLED UP.

>> NOW IT'S A GREAT IDEA, A GREAT PROGRAM YOU'RE PUTTING ON AND IT'S NOT FINISHED.

IT'S GOING FORWARD.

>> THIS IS JUST BEGINNING.

WE HAVE DONE EVENTS IN MONTGOMERY AND HOOVER.

WONDERFUL EVENTS.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HERE IN MONTGOMERY WAS THE HOST FOR ONE.

THE CITY OF HOOVER WAS ANOTHER HOST.

THEY WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS.

WE GOT THEIR 1ST RESPONDER COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL.

SIMILAR ISSUES WITH MILITARY AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AS WELL SO THAT'S BEEN VERY HEARTENING TO INCORPORATE THEM IN OUR DISCUSSIONS.

THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING.

WE'RE ALREADY PUTTING TOGETHER A SCHEDULE FOR FOLLOW ON.

>> I MEANT.

>> A LOT OF LIVES COULD BE SAVED BECAUSE OF THAT.

I WANTED TO SWITCH GEARS AND TALK ABOUT TWO PROJECTS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON.

ONE IS THE ENTERPRISE VETERANS.

LAST TIME THAT YOU WERE HERE YOU TALKED ABOUT IT AND IT WAS GROUNDBREAKING BACK THEN.

HOW IS THE PROGRESS SO FAR?

>> YOU WOULD BE MAZED.

WE'RE 65 PERCENT COMPLETE WITH CONSTRUCTION.

I WAS THERE THE LAST FEW DAYS AND I WAS AMAZED.

THE STRUCTURE IS DONE AND THEY'RE STARTING A LOT OF THE INTERIOR WORK NOW.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT IT IS ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET FOR AN OPENING SUMMER OF 2024.

AND THAT'S DUE TO TOUGH CONSTRUCTION TIMES.

WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE SUPPLY PIPELINE ISSUES AND THE AFTERMATH OF COVID AND ALL OF THAT AND WE KEPT IT ON TRACK.

LIKE I SAID WE LOOK TO HAVING A RIBBON CUTTING SUMMER OR FALL OF 2024.

AND IT WILL HELP VETERANS.

WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE A WAITING LIST TO GET INTO OUR STATE VETERANS HOMES.

IT'S QUITE LARGE.

>> WHO IS THE CANDIDATE FOR A HE FACILITATE LIKE THIS?

>> SO WE CATER TO ELDERLY AND DISABLED VETERANS WOULD NEED LONG-TERM CARE.

THE RANGE OF OUR SYSTEM OF SERVICES IS EVERYTHING FROM ASSISTED LIVING CARE, TRADITIONAL NURSING CARE AND EVEN MEMORY CARE UNITS WHICH TAKE CARE OF ALZHEIMER'S AND -- DEMENTIA PATIENTS.

OUR CLIENTS RANGE FROM YOUNGER DISABLED VETERANS TO A LOT OF -- WE HAD A LOT OF WORLD WAR II VETERANS THAT STILL CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AT HOME ANYMORE.

>> WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THE WIREGRASS AREA IS SUCH A MILITARY AND VETERAN FOOTPRINT DOWN THERE.

>> FORT NOVACELL HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND THE COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN ENTERPRISE AND COFFEE COUNTY AREA.

IT'S HEARTWARMING TO SEE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE BUILT ACROSS THE STATE, ESPECIALLY ON THIS PROJECT.

>> AND YOU HAVE ALSO GOT THE EXPANSION OF THE CEMETERY THERE IN SPANISH FORT.

HOW IS THAT GOING.

>> WE DO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF IRONS IN THE FIRE THESE DAYS.

WE OPENED OUR STATE CEMETERY ABOUT 11 YEARS TAKING AND FRANKLY WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF SPACE.

WITH THE VETERAN CEMETERY YOU HAVE TO PLAN WELL IN ADVANCE AND YOU HAVE TO BUILD OUT BURIAL FIELDS IN THE CEMETERY FOR VETERANS SO WE APPLIED FOR A GRANT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE GOT IT, $5 MILLION AND WE HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS OF ADDING ABOUT 4,000 BURIAL PLOTS WHICH WILL GET US THROUGH THE NEXT 10 YEARS OF GROWTH.

THE DEMAND FOR FAT FACILITY OUT PACED OUR ORIGINAL INVESTMENT.

WE WILL DEVELOP QUITE A FEW MORE ACRES THERE AND PUTTING IN PLACE THE BURIAL VAULTS NOW AND SEVERAL ACRES AND WE'RE ADDING CREMATED REMAIN SPACES AS WELL IN THE FACILITY AND IT WILL CARRY US TRUE ABOUT THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

>> AND IF VIEWERS HAVEN'T ACTUALLY BEEN DOWN TO SEE IT, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.

SO MUCH OBVIOUSLY HAS GONE INTO PLANNING IT.

IT JUST -- IT TAKES YOU TO ALLERGY TORCH REALLY THE WAY IT'S LAID OUT IN DESIGN.

>> IT DOES.

IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE ARTICLE ARTICLING SON.

WE SAY WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR VETERANS FROM THE TIME THEY TAKE ON THE UNIFORM UNTIL DUTY.

AND IT'S AN HONORED PLACE FOR THE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO COME BACK AND VISIT THEIR LOVED ONES.

>> A SPECIAL WAY TO HONOR VETS.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

COMMISSIONER THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE BACK IN GREAT HEALTH AND JUST THANK GOD FOR YOUR RECOVERY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,ED TO AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S KIND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

REPORTER: JOIN ME IS JAN HUME DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CHILDHOOD EARLY EDUCATION.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT WITH DOLLY PARTON AND HER IMAGINATION LIBRARY COMING TO ALABAMA AND I WANTED TO AIR THIS CLIP THAT DOLLY SENT HERE TO ALABAMA.

LET'S SHOW THE CLIP.

>> WELL, HELLO ALABAMA!

IT'S DOLLY.

AND I AM SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MY IMAGINATION LIBRARY IS COMING TO ALABAMA.

THAT'S WONDERFUL, DON'T YOU THINK?

A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE HAVE WORKED TO MAKE OUR IMAGINATION LIBRARY DREAM FOR ALABAMA A REALITY.

BUT I WANT TO SEND MY VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO GOVERNOR KAY IVEY FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF WORK AHEAD AND I'M THRILLED THAT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO ENSURE THAT EVERY YOUNG CHILD IN ALABAMA HAS ACCESS TO BOOKS EARLY IN LIFE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ALABAMA!

HAPPY READING!

AND REMEMBER THAT I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU ♪ ♪ >> I MEAN DOLLY PARTON IS ONE OF A KIND.

THAT HAS TO BE SPECIAL TO HAVE THAT MESSAGE AND SHE NAME CHECKED YOUR DEPARTMENT.

THAT HAS TO BE EXCITING TO YOU.

>> IT IS SO EXCITING.

OUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING GREAT THINGS FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND THIS ADS TO THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AND THE WAYS THAT WE CAN SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE STATE.

>> WELL, WALK ME THROUGH HOW THIS WORKS IT'S A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY BAY THE ORGANIZATION.

IT IS USUALLY DONE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WE ARE COMING IN TO PROVIDE SEED MONEY AND PROGRAMS SO ALL CHILDREN CAN BE SERVED.

WE HAVE A FEW COUNTIES IN ALABAMA THAT ARE NOT SERVED AT ALL.

WE HAVE YOU SOME COUNTIES WITH PARTIAL SERVICE AND THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE EVERY ZIP CODE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAS COVERAGE SO WE RECRUIT PARTNERS AND THEY WORKS WITH THE DOLLY WOOD FOUNDATION.

ONCE THEY'RE ONLINE PARENTS CAN SIGN UP THEIR CHILDREN IN THOSE AREAS.

>> SO I WILL UNDERSTAND IN BACKING UP A LITTLE BIT THIS IS PROVIDING BOOKS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO ARE CHILDREN WHAT PAGE?

>> AGES BIRTH TO FIVE.

UP TO UNTIL THEIR 5THND.

IT'S NEVER TOO YOUNG TO START READING TO CHILDREN.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE READ TO WAY BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO READ THEMSELVES.

THE BEAUTY OF THE MANTLE NATION LIBRARY IS THAT IT PUTS BOOKS IN THE HANDS OF APPARENTS AND THEY CAN GET CHILDREN USED TO PLAYING WITH BOOKS, LOVING BOOKS, LOOKING AT THE PICTURES, YOU KNOW, OPENING AND CLOSING BOOKS, ALL OF THE THINGS.

IT'S MUCH MORE THAN JUST ABOUT READING.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING THEM READY AND LOVING TO READ.

>> AND TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.

AND REALLY, A CAREER IN THE WRITTEN WORD; RIGHT?

AND SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE READING THEMSELVES AT FOUR YEARS OLD.

IT'S HEARING THE BOOKS AND READING AND EXPERIENCING THAT AND TALK ABOUT HOW THAT ADDS TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

>> 1 OF THE THINGS THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IS TALKING TO CHILDREN AND HAVING THAT EXCHANGE, THAT BACK AND FORTH.

EVEN BEFORE THEY CAN TALK.

THE OKAY COOING AND THE NOISES AND FOCUSING ON YOU AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS.

REALLY THAT INTERACTION IS WHERE WE START.

AND THEN WE GET INTO LIKE THE BOOKS ARE REALLY A VEHICLE.

AND HELPING CHILDREN AND ADULTS TALK TO EACH OTHER AND IT TURNS INTO THINGS AND BUILD THEIR LANGUAGE AND VOCABULARY AND THEIR LOVE OF LEARNING.

>> SEEMS TO ME THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE MAY TAKE FOR GRANTED THE AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS.

I CAN GO TO THE LIBRARY AND GO TO THE BOOK STORE BUT SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE BOOKS SO THIS COMES AND REALLY FILLS THAT GAP.

>> IT DOES.

>> AND THE RESEARCH THAT THE DOLLY WOOD FOUNDATION PUTS OUT, THEY SHOWED THAT 60 PERCENT OF FAMILIES AND HOMES OR 60 PERCENT OF HOMES IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S THE HIGHEST POVERTY, THEY DON'T HAVE BOOKS IN THEIR HOME.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERY FAMILY HAS BOOKS.

AND THE BEAUTY OF THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY IS THE THAT BOOKS ARE MAILED TO THE CHILD'S HOME AND THEY'RE GETTING A PACKAGE EVERY MONTH.

SO THEY HAVE A PACKAGE, A BOOK COMING TO THEM EVERY MONTH FROM THE TIME THEY'RE BORN UNTIL THEY TURN FIVE.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

IT'S JUST A SPECIAL PROGRAM.

IT CAN BE -- THE LITTLE THINGS YOU KNOW.

BUT THEY MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE.

WELL, WALK ME THROUGH HOW THIS WORKS.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT GETTING BUY IN IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ALABAMA THAT AREN'T SERVED?

>> SO A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE TALKED TO THAT DON'T HAVE SERVICE IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.

SO THIS PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS TO US START THEM OFF AND GET THEM THE FUNDING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND THEN THEY RAISE -- EVENTUALLY THEY WILL RAISE 50 PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE PROGRAM.

BUT THE GEARS TWO FUNDS AND THE STATE ETF DOLLARS WILL HELP US PROVIDE THAT SEED MONEY, AND THEN ALSO IN AREAS WHERE WE HAVE PROVIDERS, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO COVER ALL CHILDREN.

AND SO WE CAN HELP THOSE EXISTING PROVIDERS BY ADDING TO THEIR FUNDS SO THEY CAN SIGN UP AND SERVE MORE CHILDREN.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

AND WHO BETTER THAN DOLLY PARTON, OUR NATIONAL TREASURE, TO BE SPEARHEADING THIS.

>> RIGHT?

>> MAYBE WE WILL GET ALONE IN PERSON VERSE OF VISIT ONE DAY.

>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE PROGRAM.

>> OH, REALLY?

>> THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN.

IF WE GET EVERY ZIP CODE COVERED, SHE WILL COME DO ALABAMA.

>> THAT'S SOME INCENTIVE.

>> AND WE WILL BE THERE LET'S TALK BE AT AWARD-WINNING PRE-K PROGRAM THAT WE'RE PROUD OF.

IT'S TOPS FOR QUALITY AND THE ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ACCESS, GETTING MORE AND MORE 4-YEAR-OLDS ACCESS TO PRE-K.

I KNOW THE MOST RECENT BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED THIS IS YEAR, INCREASE OF $8 MILLION INCREASED THE REGULAR BUDGET, AND 4 MILLION IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

IT'S HISTORIC FUNDING.

WHERE DOES THAT GET US IN TERMS OF CLASSROOMS COMING ONLINE AND EXPANDING THAT ACCESS?

>> SO THE LINE ITEM IN THE ETF, AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE GROWN 1ST CLASS PRE-K INCREMENTALLY BECAUSE WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE A TIME WHERE WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE WORKFORCE.

IF WE FULLY FUNDED IT LIKE SOME OTHER STATES DID IMMEDIATELY IN ONE YEAR, THEY STRUGGLE WITH QUALITY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HIGH QUALITY, THERE ARE 10 BENCHMARKS.

FIVE OF THOSE BENCHMARKS HAVE TO DO WITH THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOMS.

SO WORKFORCE IS A KEY PART OF THAT.

BUT WHAT THIS FUNDING DOES IS IT KEEPS THAT INCREMENTAL GROWTH PLAN GOING, AND WE SHOULD -- WE HAVE SEATS FOR ABOUT 47 PERCENT, BETWEEN 45 AND 47 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S 4-YEAR-OLD POPULATION WITH THIS INCREASE IN FUNDING.

>> AND I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS LAID OUT A GOAL OF 70 PERCENT; RIGHT?

>> TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT NUMBER MEANS.

BECAUSE YOU THINK 70, WELL WHY NOT A HUNDRED?

IS THAT WHERE WE THINK KIND OF THE CAPACITY IS OR THE INTEREST WOULD BE.

>> YEAH.

SO A LOT -- ESPECIALLY FOR 4-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN A LOT OF FAMILIES CHOOSE TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME.

WE HAVE GOT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HOMESCHOOLING IN K12.

WE THINK 70 PERCENT IS THE TAKE OUT RATE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT THE WILL WANT THEIR CHILD IN A PUBLICLY FUNDED PUBLIC PRE-K PROGRAM.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT THE BENEFIT IN EVERYONE EARLY GRADES, A JUMP-START.

TALK ABOUT THE LATEST RESEARCH AND WHAT IT'S SHOWING IN TERMS OF THE HEAD START THAT YOU GET.

WE HAVE PAM SPECIFIC DATA ABOUT OUR PROGRAM MODEL.

AND WHAT WE, THOUGH, IS THAT CHILDREN WHO ATTEND 1ST CLASS PRE-K ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY 3RD GRADE.

THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO BE CHRONICALLY ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN YOU LOOK AT ACHIEVEMENT IN ALL OF THE BENCHMARKS THAT WE SET IN K12.

THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO BE REFERRED FOR DISCIPLINARY ISSUES.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO REDUCE GREAT TENERNESS SO WE'RE NOT HOLDING CHILDREN BACK BECAUSE OF THE GAP IN ACHIEVEMENT.

, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN POVERTY AND OUT PERFORMING THEIR PEERS.

>> AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LITERACY, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR STATE IS FOCUSED ON.

AND THAT -- THE LITERACY ACT IS COMING INTO FULL EFFECT THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF THAT RETENTION.

SO YEAH, IF THAT'S THE POINT WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE KIDS TO READ ON GREAT LEVEL IT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER BUT EXPANDING THAT ACCESS IS SO IMPORTANT.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT RELATED -- I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS HAD AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FOCUSSING ON AREAS OF GREAT NEED, HIGH POVERTY AND PLACES LIKE THAT.

HOW ARE WE DOING IN TAKING THOSE FUNDS AND FOCUSING ON AREAS OF HIGH NEED?

REALLY FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM WE HAVE HIGH LEVEL AREAS.

WHAT THAT MEMO DID WAS REALLY HELP US PRIORITIZE.

NOW THAT WE HAVE GOT ACCESS IN SO MANY PLACES WHERE ARE THE POCKS WHERE WE'RE STILL NOT SERVING CHILDREN?

IT'S SETTING THOSE BENCHMARKS.

WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE 70 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN IN THOSE AREAS 1ST.

SO IT'S A WITH COUNTY WITH HIGHER THAN 20 PERCENT POVERTY WE'RE FOCUSING ON FINDING THOSE PROVIDERS, FINDING WHO WE CAN PARTNER WITH LOCALLY, JUST LIKE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY.

IT REALLY IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A LOCAL PROVIDER AND OUR AGENCY.

>> YEAH, THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

I KNOW THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LARGE AND WHAT THE BUDGET SAID AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

IS THAT GOING TO WORK OUT OKAY?

ARE WE ABLE TO TRANSLATE THOSE DOLLARS AND MAKE IT HAPPEN ANYWAY.

>> YES.

WE HAVE LANGUAGE ABOUT REDUCING WAITING LIFTS.

SOME OF THAT WAS IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS AND SOME OF IT ABOUT SERVING THE HIGH POVERTY AREAS.

THEIR' NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

SO WHAT IT HAS DONE, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE HIGH POVERTY AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST WAIT LIST AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE STARTING WITH 1ST.

LET'S MAKE SURE IN THE WE GET RID OF ANY WAIT LIST IN THE HIGH ED NEED AREAS.

THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS ALSO HELPS US DO THINGS LIKE FUND TRANSPORTATION.

WE CAN'T JUST PUT A 4-YEAR-OLD ON ON A BUS WITHOUT PROPER RESTRAINTS AND IT'S HELPING US WITH THESE PARTICULARLY SOME RURAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT THE CHILDREN DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET TO PRE-K.

IT'S NOT PART OF THE K12 SYSTEM SO HE THEY'RE NOT A PART OF TRANSPORTATION.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE BUSES WITH THE CORRECT HARNESSES AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS BECAUSE THEY'RE ONE TIME FUNDS.

IS.

>> WHEN YOU SAY WAIT LIST.

>> IT'S ACTUAL CHILDREN ON THE WAIT LIST.

>> I COULDN'T TALK ABOUT RETAINING THAT QUALITY AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT QUALITY HAS BEEN TO GROW INK PERSONALLY, NEVER LOSING THAT QUALITY.

HOW IMPORTANT -- HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT THAT, AND ESPECIALLY YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THIS HUGE INTERRUPTION DURING COVID.

CAN YOU SAY WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS WITH THAT IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT AND HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT -- HOW DID THE DEPARTMENT GO ABOUT RETAINING THAT IN SUCH A CHALLENGING TIME WHEN I'M SURE YOUR WORKFORCE WAS VERY DISRUPTED?

>> WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT.

NO, WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.

WE ARE SEEING CHILDREN COMING INTO PRE-K WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ANYWHERE EXCEPT HOME FOR HALF THEIR LIVES.

THEY ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING COVID AND CHILDREN ARE COMING IN WITH WE BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES, TRAUMA, WE HAVE GOT CHILDREN WITH LOTS OF ISSUES BIGGER THAN JUST LEARNING AND YOU'RE SEEING IN K12 AS WELL, WE'RE SEEING THESE BABIES COMING IN.

AND THEY'RE SO BEHIND DEVELOPMENTALLY AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.

I THINK WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'RE WORKING ON EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION SO WE CAN HAVE SPECIFIC RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN WHO HAVE REALLY GONE THROUGH A HARD TIME.

>> IF YOU JUST DO THE MATH AND IF YOU WERE BORN, YOU KNOW, AROUND 2018, 2019, 2020, YOU'RE COMING UP IN A VERY -- YOU KNOW, THAT TIME WHEN WE WERE ALL IN A VERY STRANGE PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THAT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTAL SO MAYBE WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

>> SO MUCH OF THE BREAK'S DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS BEFORE THEY TURN FIVE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE JUST IN AND OUT FOUR YEARS OLD, HOW MUCH OF THEIR LIVES WAS SPENT IN THIS TIME OF TURMOIL.

>> WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM, ESPECIALLY THE EDUCATORS THERE IN THE CLASSROOM WHO ARE JUST DEDICATED TO CATCHING THOSE KIDS UP AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

CONGRATULATIONS ON DOLLY PARTON AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING HER.

>> THANK YOU YES.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK, A SPECIAL EPISODE OF CAPITAL JOURNAL.

WE'LL BE ATTENDING THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA'S GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS CONFERENCE IN POINT CLEAR.

IT'S THE LARGEST GATHERING OF THE STATE'S MOST PROMINENT POLITICAL AND BUSINESS LEADERS, AND CAPITOL JOURNAL WILL HAVE UNIQUE ACCESS.

AND IF YOU'RE AT BCA AND SEE OUR SET THERE IN THE LOBBY, COME SAY HELLO!

.

JOIN US FOR THAT SHOW NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:30 AND SUNDAY AT NOON.

FOR OUR CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.