>> GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE WORSENING SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS DELTA VARIANT IN ALABAMA.

A FEDERAL TEAM OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IS DEPLOYING TO A SOUTH ALABAMA HOSPITAL AMID A SURGE OF COVID PATIENTS THERE.

HOSPITALS AROUND THE STATE ARE OUT OF ICU BEDS AND ARE TREATING CRITICAL PATIENTS IN ALTERNATE AREAS.

ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DR. DON WILLIAMSON TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT STATE HOSPITALIZATIONS WERE ACTUALLY DOWN OVERALL IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, FROM AROUND 2760 TO 2702.

BUT HE WARNS THAT WE SHOULDN'T CELEBRATE JUST YET.

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND SEVERAL THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, WHILE IT IS 2702, WE STILL HAD 50 PEDIATRIC CASES, WHICH TIES FOR THE MOST PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WE HAVE EVER HAD IN THE HOSPITAL.

NUMBER TWO, DURING THE SPIKE IN JANUARY, WE ALSO SAW PERIODS WHERE THE CURVE APPEARED TO DECLINE ONLY THE SPIKE UP.

>> WHERE CHILDREN AND COVID ARE CONCERNED, THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER IS ALSO EXPRESSING A LOT OF WORRY.

DR. SCOTT HARRIS TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT THE NUMBER OF PEDIATRIC HOSPITALIZATIONS IS UNSETTLING ENOUGH, BUT THAT HE HAS GROWING FEARS ABOUT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN BEING DIAGNOSED WITH THE MORE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DELTA VARIANT.

>> OUR TEAM PULLED TOGETHER SOME STATS THAT SHOWED IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF AUGUST LAST YEAR, IN OUR SCHOOL-AGED KIDS IN ALABAMA WE HAD 1800 CASES OF COVID WE FOUND.

A LOT OF KIDS WERE NOT BACK IN SCHOOL.

THEY WERE MEETING VIRTUALLY AT THE TIME.

AND IN THE SAME PERIOD WE HAVE HAD 5,000 CASES IN THE SAME GROUP.

>> DR. HARRIS AND DR. WILLIAMSON BOTH ARE URGING SCHOOL AGE KIDS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED, TO WEAR MASKS AND TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

THE DOCTORS WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

>> THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS OVER A PLAN TO BUILD NEW STATE PRISONS HAVE REACHED A NEW PHASE.

LEGISLATION HAS NOW BEEN DRAFTED.

THE PROPOSED BILL RECOMMENDS, OTHER THINGS, ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE PRISON ON STATE-OWNED LAND IN ELMORE COUNTY; A SECOND MALE PRISON IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY - WITH THE OPTION OF BUILDING A THIRD MALE PRISON IF NECESSARY.

GOVERNOR IVEY SAID THIS WEEK THAT SHE WAS PLEASED WITH THE WORK BEING DONE.

>> WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

I'M PROUD TO SAY WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

WE DON'T HAVE A FINAL DRAFT OF LEGISLATION, BUT THEY ARE WORKING HARD AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM.

WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AND WE'RE GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

>> ALABAMA IS, OF COURSE, UNDER A FEDERAL COURT ORDER TO FIX A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS IN OUR CORRECTIONS SYSTEM.

>> A GROUP TASKED WITH HELPING RELEASED STATE INMATES FROM RETURNING TO PRISON MET AT THE STATEHOUSE THIS WEEK.

IN OUR IN-DEPTH REPORT TONIGHT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EFFORTS.

>> THE ALABAMA REENTRY COMMISSION SPENT THE BULK OF HIS ONE-HOUR MEETING TO DISCUSS CREATING AN ALABAMA DEFINITION FOR RECIDIVISM.

>> IN THE EVIDENCE FROM MEETINGS WE HAVE DISCUSSED A NEED FOR A UNIFIED RECIDIVISM DEFINITION AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A GRADUATED DEFINITION, THE POSSIBLE OF THAT.

>> TO ME, RECIDIVISM IS IF THEY END UP BACK IN PRISON OR FOR CHILDREN IT IF THE CHILD ENDS UP BARK IN FOSTER CHILD.

WE MAY LIKE TO KNOW THIS OR THAT BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT RECIDIVISM IS TO ME AND THE AVERAGE LAYPERSON OUT THERE.

>> THERE ARE OTHER STRATEGIC THINGS THAT HAPPEN BETWEEN AN ARREST AND PRISON THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT.

I DO NOT THINK I -- I THINK WE NEED A DEFINITION WE ALL AGREE ON, EVEN IF THEY DO NOT AGREE IN OTHER STATES.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE REENTRY COMMISSION HAS A WAY TO GO BEFORE THEY MAKE A DECISION, THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT.

THE SUCCESS OF PEOPLE NOT RETURNING TO PRISON HAVE BEEN BASED ON THE STRENGTH OF THE SERVICES THEY OFFER.

THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMMISSIONER SAID THEY OFFER A LOT OF SERVICES AND JOBS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT -- >> WE AS AN AGENCY HAVE TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT THESE AVAILABLE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE.

WE CAN GET MORE FOLKS IN THE JOB MARKET, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WILL DECLINE AND EVERYBODY WINS.

IT IS A GAME CHANGER.

IN A LOT OF CASES, IT'S A GENERATIONAL CHANGE FOR FAMILIES.

>> THE IMPORTANT THING AND FITZGERALD AND I HAVE THIS CONVERSATION A LOT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HOLD THEIR HAND, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GUIDE THEM.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PICK THEM UP WHEN THEY FALL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FAMILY SUPPORT.

THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY AROUND THIS TABLE SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> ALABAMA'S REPUBLICAN DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK WAS LARGELY EXPRESSING GRAVE CONCERNS OVER THE CHAOS IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE COUNTRY FELL TO THE TALIBAN IN THE LAST WEEK, AFTER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN PULLED AMERICAN TROOPS OUT.

BIDEN HAS SAID THAT HE AND HIS MILITARY ADVISERS DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE AFGHAN ARMY FALLING SO QUICKLY.

BUT CONGRESSMAN GARY PALMER OF HOOVER TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT HE BEGS TO DIFFER.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT.

WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND WE WERE HEARING -- AS FAR BACK AS JUNE AND JULY, THAT THE FALL OF AFGHANISTAN WOULD BE VERY RAPID.

WE TOOK NOTE OF THE FACT THAT WHEN THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED A DATE CERTAIN FOR THE PULLOUT THAT THE TALIBAN FORCES IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO TAKE OVER PROVINCES.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN MOVING THIS WEEK TO SAFELY EVACUATE AMERICANS FROM AFGHANISTAN AND AFGHANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HELPED THE U.S. DURING THE 20-YEAR WAR THERE.

THIS AS LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE ARE CALLING FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO OUR MILITARY PULLOUT.

CONGRESSMAN PALMER WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

>> ALABAMA CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL OF SELMA THIS WEEK INTRODUCED A BILL THAT SEEKS TO RESTORE A KEY PROVISION OF THE LANDMARK VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

IT WOULD COMPEL STATES LIKE ALABAMA WITH A HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION TO UNDERGO A FEDERAL REVIEW OF ANY CHANGES TO VOTING AND ELECTIONS.

THE LEGISLATION IS CALLED THE JOHN R. LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT, NAMED AFTER THE LATE GEORGIA CONGRESSMAN.

SEWELL ANNOUNCED THE BILL TUESDAY AT THE FOOT OF THE HISTORIC EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE IS SELMA, WHERE LEWIS AND OTHER VOTING RIGHTS MARCHERS WERE BEATEN IN 1965.

SHE SAID AS STATES HAVE MOVED TO ENACT WHAT SHE CALLED MORE RESTRICTIVE VOTING LAWS, THE TIME FOR HER LEGISLATION IS NOW.

>> IT WILL FULLY RESTORE THE PROTECTIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND ENFORCEABILITY AND ONCE AGAIN PROVIDE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, WHICH IS ONLY NEEDED WHEN STATES GO AMOK.

WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW IS A CONCERTED EFFORT BY MANY STATE LEGISLATORS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY TO IMPOSE MORE RESTRICTIVE LAWS.

>> U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI HAS PLEDGED TO MOVE QUICKLY ON SEWELL'S BILL.

IT'S EXPECTED TO HAVE A TOUGHER CHALLENGE IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>>> TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE EXPECTED TO BE IN CULLMAN THIS WEEKEND FOR A RALLY AT WHICH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

THE RALLY WAS SET ON THE HEELS OF THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY HOLDING ITS SUMMER MEETING IN CULLMAN AND GOP CHAIRMAN JOHN WAHL TOLD "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FROM CULLMAN THAT MOMENTUM WAS HIGH.

>> SO, I SPOKE WITH DONALD TRUMP'S TEAM JUST RECENTLY.

THEY TOLD ME HOW EXCITED HE WAS TO BE COMING BACK TO ALABAMA.

THIS IS HIS FIRST VISIT BACK IN FOUR YEARS.

SO, IT'S A VERY EXCITING RALLY.

IT'S A VERY EXCITING THING FOR BOTH ALABAMA AND DONALD TRUMP.

HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING AND I EXPECT A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC SPEECH AND CROWD.

>> STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS THIS WEEK WERE EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRUMP RALLY BEING A COVID SUPER-SPREADER EVENT.

DEMOCRATS PROMISED TO HAVE BILLBOARDS UP IN CULLMAN INDICATING THEIR DISPLEASURE WITH TRUMP'S RECORD.

>>> THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER OR NOT TO TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN ALABAMA CONTINUES, EVEN AFTER THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD LAST WEEK APPROVED A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS ANY CURRICULUM THAT PROMOTES ONE RACE OR GENDER ABOVE ANOTHER WON'T BE ALLOWED IN OUR SCHOOLS.

CITIZENS REMAIN DIVIDED.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

>> THE ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS NEVER INCLUDED APPLICABLE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY COURSE IN ITS SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

>> THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS WORKED ON A CRITICAL RACE THEORY FOR WEEKS.

>> IT IS TAUGHT IN TODAY'S SCHOOLS.

ALTHOUGH IT MAY NOT BE A TITLE PAGE IN A BOOK OR LINE IN THE TABLE OF CONTENTS THAT STATES CRITICAL RACE THEORY, THE TENETS ARE BEING TAUGHT.

>> THE RESOLUTION DOES NOTHING TO SUPPORT INTELLECTUAL OR ACADEMIC FREEDOM ON BEHALF OF ALABAMA'S TEACHERS.

SPECIFICALLY THERE'S NOTHING THAT SUPPORTS A TEACHER THAT ENGAGES IN HONEST DIALOGUE WITH STUDENTS ABOUT RACISM OR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

>> WE NEED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN NOT HIDE FROM THESE ISSUES.

SO OUR TEACHERS WILL HANDLE APPROPRIATELY THESE CONVERSATIONS AND IF AND WHEN A WHITE STUDENT IS UNCOMFORTABLE, THAN THAT CONVERSATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN SO THE CHILD WILL UNDERSTAND.

YOU ARE NOT BEING ACCUSED OF ANYTHING.

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TRUTH AND OUR HISTORY.

>> SOME STATE OFFICIALS HAVE HAD THEIR SAY ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY THROUGH A VOTE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> RACE HAS TO BE CAUGHT IN HIGH SCHOOL SO THAT STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW -- WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ONE RACE AS SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER BUT HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE UNITED STATES.

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

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE, AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING, OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

♪ KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

♪ NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD FROM ATHENS IS IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, DON.

>> WHAT YOU MADE HEADLINES WHEN YOU PREFILED A BILL FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE TEACHERS FIRED WHO VIOLATE PROHIBITIONS ON TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE STATE.

SINCE YOU FILED THE BOARD THEY APPROVED A RESOLUTION AGAINST TEACHING THEORIES THAT PROMOTE ONE RACE OR ONE GENDER ABOVE THE OTHER AND WITHIN THAT WAS A STIPULATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE CODE THAT SAID ACTION COULD BE TAKEN AGAINST TEACHERS WHO VIOLATE THE NEW POLICY.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT AND DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO GO FURTHER WITH YOUR BILL?

>> I THINK THAT WAS GREAT THAT THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD TOOK SOME ACTION AND SAW THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT OUR SITUATION IS.

MY BILL DEALS WITH HIGHER ED AS WELL AS K-12.

I THINK THAT LEAVING IT UP TO THE STATE SCHOOL BOARDS, LIKE THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO DETERMINE THAT -- I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PUT IT IN LAW AS TO WHAT WE CONSIDER A VIOLATION OF THIS.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BAN SOMETHING, AND THEN SOMEONE CHOOSES TO TEACH IT, THAN THAT IS A SERIOUS OFFENSE.

THE CODE THAT ALABAMA DEALS WITH TENURED AND NON-TENURED TEACHERS AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE, IT IS INSUBORDINATION, FAILURE TO PERFORM DUTIES?

WHAT IS IT?

IF WE MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW IT IS A TERMINATION OFFENSE, THAN I THINK THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN DEAL WITH IT, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE IT IN LAW.

>> TO TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER BEYOND JUST A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD DECISION?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WHEN WE SAY "TAKE ACTION AGAINST A TEACHER" THAT COULD MEAN MANY THINGS.

IT COULD NOT NECESSARILY MEAN TERMINATION BUT DISCIPLINE OR SUSPENSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO BE RATCHETED UP TO TERMINATION IF IT MERITS IT?

>> THE CODES DEAL WITH WHAT IS -- WHAT ARE THE TYPE OF OFFENSES THAT DEAL WITH TERMINATION.

I THINK IT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT WHY WOULD SOMEONE IGNORE WHAT THE STATE LAW IS AND DO SOMETHING?

IT HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF ACTION THAT WOULD REQUIRE TERMINATION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE THE APPEAL RIGHTS, JUST LIKE THE 16226 CODE THE STATE CALLS FOR.

SO THEY HAVE DUE PROCESS BUT IT SHOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COULD BE TERMINATED FOR.

>> HAVE YOU HEARD FROM ANY TEACHERS OR TEACHERS GROUPS ABOUT YOUR PROPOSED LEGISLATION?

>> I HAVE.

I HAVE HEARD QUITE A FEW LOCAL TEACHERS IN MY AREA ARE REAL THRILLED THAT WE ARE HAVING -- THEY DON'T WANT TO BE FORCED INTO TEACHING ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I THINK PARENTS AREN'T SURE SOMETIMES IF THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR STUDENT, AS WE SEE WITH MASKS AND UNMASKED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOLKS REACHING OUT ONCE I FILED IT IN SUPPORT OF IT.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT YOUR LEGISLATION ALSO INVOLVES HIGHER ED, IN ADDITION TO K-12 SCHOOLS.

THAT SEEMS TO BE A SOMEWHAT DIVISIVE ISSUE.

SOME SAY LET'S NOT DO IT K-12 BUT LEAVE IT TO THE DISCRETION OF HIGHER ED AND YOU DON'T THINK IT BELONGS EITHER PLACE.

>> FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT IS BEING TAUGHT -- YOU KNOW, DISCUSSING, A FREE, OPEN DISCUSSION OF THEORIES ARE GREAT, BUT FOR SOMEONE TO TEACH THAT TENET AS A TRUTH AND THEN HOLD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE, LIKE A STUDENT THAT YOU WILL BELIEVE THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE TRUTH IS WRONG.

SO, I THINK IF YOU ARE GOING TO DISCUSS ANY THEORY, DISCUSS IT FREE, OPEN, LET FOLKS FORM THEIR OWN OPINION BUT NOT TEACH IT AS THIS IS A TRUTH BECAUSE IT'S A THEORY.

>> IN PUTTING THIS INTO LAW AND NOT LEAVING IT UP TO LOCAL SYSTEMS, IN IS YOUR PREMISE THAT WE MAY END UP WITH A PATCHWORK OF POLICIES VERSUS ONE CLEAR STATE POLICY.

>> THERE COULD BE DIFFERENT ACTIONS AROUND THE STATE FOR THE SAME OFFENSE.

WE JUST DON'T WANT IT -- IF THE LEGISLATURE CHOOSES TO PASS IT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH.

IF YOU LOOK AT CRITICAL RACE THEORY, NOT ONLY THAT, IN MY BILL IT TALKS ABOUT GENDER AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE THINK EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BASED ON THEIR WORK ETHIC AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TO ACHIEVE AND NOT BE STARTING OUT AT A LESSER POINT THAN ANYONE ELSE.

SO, JUST TEACH -- WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH MATH AND SCIENCE IN ALABAMA.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE SPEND OUR TIME THERE AND NOT TRYING TO TEACH SOME THEORY THAT IS DIVISIVE AND FLAME RACIAL TENSIONS.

>> TIME IS SHORT, REPRESENTATIVE BUT BEFORE WE CLOSE DO YOU THINK THE STATE BOARD'S RESOLUTION ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY WENT FAR ENOUGH?

IT CITED THAT COURSES OF STUDY WON'T BE TAUGHT TO PUT ONE RACE OR GENDER ABOVE THE OTHER, BUT OTHERS HOLD THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS MORE ABOUT SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS.

THAT RACISM IS SYSTEMIC IN OUR LAWS AND POLICIES.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE MOVEMENT AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT'S MOVING TOWARD SOME TYPE OF EQUITY.

EQUALITY IS GREAT.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK -- MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WE DO, THAT EVERYBODY HAS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S A DIFFICULT THING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DO.

YOU KNOW, THEY CAME UP WITH A RESOLUTION THEY THINK IS PRETTY STRONG AND I THINK IT'S PRETTY STRONG TOO, BUT A RESOLUTION SOMETIMES DOESN'T CARRY AS MUCH EMPHASIS AS A LAW DOES.

SO IF WE MAKE IT A LAW, THAN THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN -- THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD CAN DETERMINE HOW THEY WANT TO TRAIN THEIR STUDENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

OUR TEACHERS, I DON'T THINK OUR TEACHERS SHOULD BE TAUGHT ANYTHING IN HIGHER ED THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH, I THINK, LIBERAL PROFESSORS IN HIGHER ED.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE TEACHING A THEORY THAT A TEACHER MAY COME BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND SHARE IT WITH THE STUDENT THAT'S NOT A TRUTH.

>> THE DEBATE SHALL CONTINUE.

>> IT WILL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD FROM ATHENS, THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

>>> NEXT UP REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT FROM TRUSSVILLE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS BUDGET COMMITTEE.

WITH THE DEPARTURE OF BILL POOLE YOU WILL HEAD PUTTING TOGETHER THE EDUCATION BUDGET IN THE HOUSE EVERY YEAR.

DAUNTING TASK, READY FOR THE CHALLENGE?

>> IT IS A DAUNTING TASK AND THERE ARE BIG SHOES TO FILL.

CHAIRMAN POOLE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

HE HAS PUT IN GOOD PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES I HOPE TO CONTINUE.

HE'S BEEN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT, VERY DELIBERATE AND DILIGENT AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT.

AS A VICE CHAIR, I WORKED WITH HIM AND HAVE BEEN PREPPED BUT WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES FROM HERE.

THIS IS MY WHEEL HOUSE.

I WAS A CAREER IF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

NEVER DEALT WITH BUDGETS THIS BIG BUT IT IS MY COMFORT ZONE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE.

>> IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING TASK THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC AND YET AND STILL WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS RECORD EDUCATION BUDGETS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE DELIBERATE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE GONE ON THE LAST SEVERAL SESSIONS GOING BACK TO BUDGET REFORM TASK FORCE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF FUNDAMENTAL THINGS WE ADOPTED IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

CHAIRMAN POOLE, SENATOR ORR HAVE DONE FISCAL DISCIPLINE IN THE PROCESS.

THE ACT HELPED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD ADEQUATE RESERVES.

AND I THINK WORKING WITH THE GENERAL FUND, REPRESENTATIVE CLOUSE AND SENATOR ALBRITTON ON HOW WE POSITIONED SOME OF THE MONEY, THE INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX, WHERE THAT GOES TO HELP THE GENERAL FUND, THE INTERNET SALES TAX, THINGS LIKE THAT HAS BEEN HUGE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

I THINK WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT FUNDAMENTALLY WE HAVE MADE REALLY GOOD FUNDAMENTAL, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS AND THAT IS PAYING OFF IN THE CURRENT SITUATION.

GOING INTO THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE RANKED BY MOODY'S, THE STATE OF ALABAMA AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN STATES TO WEATHER A FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE MOVED UP TO NUMBER FIVE IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL STRENGTH.

SO WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GIVE TEACHER PAY RAISES AND UP THE ANTE WHERE PRE-K EXPANSION IS CONCERNED AND THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK WE CAN'T CONTINUE THAT TREND?

>> I THINK SO.

WE HAVE PUT A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE SCHOOLS AND THAT IS IMPORTANT IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR THAT.

WE HAVE ALSO CONTINUED TO LOOK AT BROADBAND AND OF COURSE WE HAD A BROADBAND BILL LAST SESSION THAT WILL HELP THAT EFFORT BY TRYING TO GET INTERNET CONNECTIVITY.

SCHOOL SAFETY IS IMPORTANT.

IN THE RECENT SESSION WE PUT SOME ADDITIONAL STUDIES TRYING TO GET RESOURCES INTO THE AREAS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND UNDER PERFORMING.

GETTING STIPEND OR ADDITIONAL MONEY TO TEACHERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE MATH AND SCIENCE GOING INTO AREAS THAT NEED THAT.

SOME AREAS DON'T HAVE CERTIFIED TEACHERS.

THESE ARE THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO.

THEY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL PAY OFF DOWN THE ROAD.

>> OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SEEN A GREAT INFUSION OF FEDERAL MONEY INTO OUR SCHOOLS TO HELP US DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC.

I KNOW THAT WAS A BIG HELP TO SAY THE LEAST.

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

THE, YOU KNOW, ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE, WE LIKE TO BE INDEPENDENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT DURING THIS PAST YEAR WE HAVE BEEN BENEFITED FROM THE RESOURCES WE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STIMULUS PAYMENTS, CARES ACT MONEY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE DON'T BECOME DEPENDENT ON THAT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS HELP TO GET THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME.

GOING FORWARD WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DISCIPLINE TO CARRY ON.

WE CERTAINLY BENEFITED.

AND THERE'S MORE FEDERAL MONEY COMING DOWN.

DIRECTOR POOLE WILL BE HELPING US TO DETERMINE WHERE WE NEED TO DO THAT.

ONE THING YOU WANT TO DO IN THINK BUDGET PROCESS IS YOU WANT TO, BEST YOU CAN, BUDGET BASED ON PRIORITY.

THAT'S DIFFICULT TO DO IN OUR STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH EARMARKING.

THAT YOU CAN SORT OF BUDGET -- SO, I THINK GOING FORWARD WITH THIS FEDERAL MONEY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRIORITIZE OUR NEEDS AND RATE THE FUNDING THERE AND WE LOOK TO WORKING WITH DIRECTOR POOLE IN THOSE AREAS.

>> I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION.

A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS AND CROSSED RACIAL LINES AND DESIGNED TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON IMPORTANT THINGS.

I PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN THE REGULAR SESSION THIS YEAR AND YOU CONTINUED TO MEET IN THE OFF SEASON.

I KNOW YOU ARE HOPING THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATIVENESS WILL CONTINUE INTO A SPECIAL SESSION AND THE REGULAR SESSION NEXT YEAR.

>> YEAH, A YEAR AGO WE SAW A LOT OF RACIAL UNREST THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

OF COURSE THAT WAS HAPPENING IN ALABAMA, AS WELL.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE, THERE WAS A LOT OF HEAD SCRATCHING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE REACTIONS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THINGS, HELP MAKE THINGS BETTER?

REALLY WE JUST TOOK A RISK AND SAT DOWN UNDER THE RADAR.

WE DIDN'T WANT THE MEDIA TO BE INVOLVED BUT A DISCUSSION WHERE WE EXCHANGED IDEAS AND WE HAD SEVEN OR EIGHT WHITE HOUSE MEMBERS AND SEVEN OR EIGHT BLACK HOUSE MEMBERS THAT MET INITIALLY AND WE HAD A LISTENING SESSION.

ON OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE WE LISTENED AND LEARNED QUITE A BIT AND WE RECIPROCATE.

IT ALLOWED US TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHERE PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM.

OFTEN WE TALK PAST ONE ANOTHER AND WE REALIZED HOW TO COMMUNICATE BETTER.

IN THAT PROCESS, WE DEVELOPED SOME PRETTY DEEP FRIENDSHIPS AND WE CHALLENGED EACH OTHER TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO BRING FORTH SOME LEGISLATION IN THE LAST SESSION AND WE EXCEEDED WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO.

HOPEFULLY YOU WILL CARRY ON.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED WITH WHAT YOU HEARD OR LEARNED?

>> YOU SEE CABLE NEWS AND THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE AND WHAT WE HEARD WHEN WE STARTED LISTENING IS OUR MEMBERS, IN THE MINORITY CAUCUS WERE INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION.

THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED IN CHANGING THE SYSTEM OR DEFUNDING THE POLICE OR A LOT OF THINGS YOU SEE IN THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE.

THEY REALLY WANTED TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AND PLAY -- BE ABLE TO DO WHAT EVERYBODY DOES, FAIRLY.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION WE PASSED.

SO, YEAH, WE WERE SURPRISED WHAT WE HEARD.

I THINK SOME OF THEM WERE SURPRISED WE REALLY CARED TO FIX THIS STUFF.

BUT MOVING FORWARD I HOPE WE WORK TOGETHER AND CONTINUE TO DO SO.

I HOPE THAT GROUP GROWS AND EXPANDS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT OF TRUSSVILLE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> YOU BET.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE ROLANDA HOLLIS OF BIRMINGHAM IS IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU TOO, DON.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

I WANT TO BEGIN WHERE REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT AND I JUST LEFT OFF.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A GROUP OF LEGISLATORS THAT CAME DURING THE LEGISLATION IN A SPIRIT OF WORKING TOGETHER IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THE RACIAL TENSIONS THAT HAVE REMARKED THE LAST YEAR WHEN THE SESSION WAS JUST GETTING UNDER WAY.

YOU WERE PART OF THAT GROUP.

DO YOU LOOK AT IT THE WAY THAT REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT DOES THAT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP?

>> I THINK IT WAS A PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP.

BECAUSE IN THE -- WELL, DANNY CALLED ME AND HE ASKED ME HOW I WAS DOING.

DANNY IS A FRIEND OF MINE, BY THE WAY.

AND HE ASKED HOW I WAS DOING AND JUST SMALL TALK IN THE BEGINNING AND I WAS LIKE, DANNY, ARE YOU OKAY?

>> HE WAS BEING TOO SERIOUS?

>> YEAH.

I SAID ARE YOU SICK?

NO, I SAID ARE YOU DYING?

NO.

I WOULD COME AND GET YOU IF YOU ARE DYING.

HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE GROUP FORMING AND IT WAS A VARIETY OF DEMS, REPUBLICANS, BLACK, WHITE, MALE, FEMALE AND IN THE BEGINNING WE KNEW TOO LEAVE OUR FEELINGS AT THE DOOR AND WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE HEART-TO-HEART DISCUSSION AND MADE A PACT THAT NO ONE WOULD BE UPSET WITH THE OTHER.

IN THOSE MEETINGS, WE HAD SOME VERY GOOD, HEART-TO-HEART DISCUSSIONS.

DON, REALLY WHAT I LEARNED IS THAT DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, BLACK, WHITE, WE REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY WANTED THE SAME THINGS.

WHEN WE DEALT WITH THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DEALING WITH HEALTH, DEALING WITH EDUCATION, DEALING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES.

I THINK THERE WAS A FOURTH ONE.

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MORE OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY A LOT OF TENSION.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

BECAUSE WE DO KNOW WHAT'S IN EACH OTHER'S HEART AT THE TIME OF A POLICY OR ISSUE THAT'S COMING UP.

>> DO YOU THINK -- DO YOU HOPE THAT THAT SPIRIT OF COOPERATIVENESS CAN CARRY FORWARD INTO THE BIG ISSUES AHEAD OF YOU, TALKING NOW ABOUT REAPPORTIONMENT AND NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION?

>> I HOPE SO.

IN DEALING WITH THE PRISONS, RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.

RIGHT NOW I WANT TO SEE REFORM AND REHABILITATION.

BECAUSE IN WATCHING AND LOOKING, PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE SKILLS SO WHEN THEY COME OUT THEY ARE ABLE TO WORK AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND ONCE A PERSON DO THEIR TIME IT'S DONE.

>> THEY DON'T BECOME REPEAT OFFENDERS.

>> RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS KIND OF UPSETTING WHEN YOU GO DEEPER INTO IT BECAUSE, TO ME, WE NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITHIN.

PEOPLE ARE DENIED PARDONS AND PAROLES -- PARDONS ONCE THEY GET OUT.

FROM FISCAL YEAR TO DATE YOU HAD 2295 DECISIONS MADE AND OUT OF THAT 2295, ONLY 443 WAS GRANTED, WHICH MEANS 1852 WAS DENIED.

IT'S SAD.

I KNOW A PERSON WHO WAS INCARCERATED, GOT OUT, BEEN WORKING A GOOD JOB FOR OVER 25 YEARS, NEVER HAD A TRAFFIC TICKET.

HAS A BEAUTIFUL HOME, BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND WHEN HE TRIED TO GET IT HE WAS DENIED AND NEVER GOT INTO ANYMORE TROUBLE.

SO, IT'S STILL LIKE -- SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING THEY HAVE DONE THE TIME FOR.

>> YOU THINK WE NEED TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE MOVING TO CONSTRUCTION?

>> WE NEED TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

WE NEED TO GET -- THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION IN NEW YORK THAT STARTED TEACHING CODING TO PRISONERS SO WHEN THEY GO OUT THEY CAN WORK FOR PLACES LIKE GOOGLE AND AMAZON.

AND I'M TALKING BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE.

SO WHEN THEY DO GET OUT THEY ARE ABLE TO BE AMONGST OTHER WORKING PEOPLE AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY BECAUSE YOU GOT PEOPLE NOW THAT MAY HAVE HAD A MARIJUANA CIGARETTE.

SO, I THINK WE NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHIN AND THEN LET'S MOVE ON TO THIS OTHER STUFF.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, PBS IS GOING TO BE AIRING A SPECIAL THIS FALL ON THE LIFE OF HELEN KELLER.

I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE WE ARE ENDEAVORING IN THE MEANTIME TOO BRING UP LEGISLATION THAT PASSED IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT HELEN KELLER WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN ADVOCATES FOR.

YOU PASSED A BILL IN 2019, I BELIEVE HOUSE BILL 4 -- >> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE HOUSE BILL WAS.

>> IT DEALT WITH PARENTAL RIGHTS AND THE BLIND.

>> IT WAS A BILL MOTIVATED BY A LADY NAMED NATALIE OLIVER AND THE BLIND FEDERATION.

I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP THE NAME.

THEY GAVE ME A LESSON AND I THINK WHEN WE WENT TO COMMITTEE, THEY GAVE THE COMMITTEE A LESSON AND IT WAS A BILL FOR BLIND INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING, KIDS WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

AND WHAT WE MISS, AS A PEOPLE, IS WHEN WE LOSE ONE SENSE, OUR OTHER SENSES GET STRONGER.

THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT WE WAS SHOWN BECAUSE THEY PUT MAYBE BELLS ON THEIR KIDS OR OTHER TOOLS THEY PUT ON THEIR KID AND THEY WOULD GET TO THEIR KIDS FASTER THAN WE COULD.

SHE WAS LIKE, JUST TURN OFF THE LIGHTS IN YOUR HOME.

AND THEN -- IN YOUR HOME, WHERE YOU LIVE THAT YOU GO EVERY DAY AND WALK THROUGH THAT HOUSE WITHOUT BUMPING INTO ANYTHING.

>> SO THE CRUX OF IT WAS BLINDNESS SHOULD NOT BE A HINDRANCE?

>> RIGHT ABSOLUTELY.

AND NATALIE HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN BLIND BUT SHE HAD SOMETHING GOING ON AND BECAME BLIND BUT SHE RAISED HER KIDS STILL, WHICH ARE SUCCESSFUL KIDS TODAY.

SO THEY CAN DO THE SAME THING WE CAN DO, BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS WHEN WE LOSE ONE SENSE, YOUR OTHER SENSES BECOME STRONGER.

>> YOU THINK WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THAT BILL PASSED?

>> I DO.

AREA EVERY TIME I SEE HER WE CRY.

SHE CRIED AND I'M CRYING.

AND IT IS A GOOD CRY.

IT WAS AN EXCITING TIME FOR ME.

JUST TO LEARN AND BECOME EDUCATED ABOUT THE OTHER SENSES AND HOW STRONG THE OTHER SENSES ARE AND HOW THEY CAN DO A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN DO AND WE HAVE ALL OF OURS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE ROLANDA HOLLIS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>> YOU TOO, DON.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> STAY IN TOUCH WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE, ON FACEBOOK AND ON TWITTER.

YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT US BY E-MAIL AT DDAILEY@APTV.ORG OR BY MAIL.

♪ NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, CONGRESSMAN GARY PALMER IS WITH US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

IT HAS BEEN A WEEK SINCE WE WATCHED THE CHAOS UNFOLD IN AFGHANISTAN.

WE SAW THE RAMPING UP OF EVACUATION FLIGHTS, THE U.S. MILITARY GETTING AMERICAN CITIZENS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND A LOT OF AFGHANS, AS WELL, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED DURING THE LONG WAR.

HOW DO YOU ASSESS WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO?

>> WELL, I THINK WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS THE MIDDLE OF A CATASTROPHE.

THIS WAS POORLY DONE, POORLY EXECUTED AND I'M VERY CONCERNED WHAT YOU ARE SEEING NOW IS PRETTY MUCH IMAGES IN AND AROUND KABUL AND IT'S NOT REFLECTIVE OF WHERE ALL OF THE AMERICANS ARE.

THEY ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION BASICALLY SAID IT'S UP TO THEM TO GET TO THE AIRPORT, THAT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, DON.

YOU ARE ASKING AMERICAN CITIZENS TO GET THROUGH MULTIPLE LAYERS OF TALIBAN SOLDIERS, FIGHTERS AND GET THROUGH THESE CHECKPOINTS AND WE OUGHT TO DO WHAT GREAT BRITAIN AND THE U.K. IS DOING, THEY ARE SENDING OUT BRITISH COMMANDOS TO EXTRACT THEIR PEOPLE AND BRING THEM TO THE AIRPORT TO GET THEM ON THESE EVACUATION FLIGHTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.

I'M VERY CONCERNED.

THERE ARE PROBABLY 15,000 AMERICANS THAT THEY HAVE ASKED TO SHELTER IN PLACE AND THEN TRY TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE AIRPORT.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO DO THIS.

I THINK IT IS ALSO TRUE OF THE AFGHAN NATIONALS WHO ASSISTED US IN OUR EFFORTS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> CONGRESSMAN, THE DECISION TO LEAVE AFGHANISTAN AND THEN THE TALIBAN SO QUICKLY TAKING CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SAID THAT HE AND HIS ADVISORS DID NOT SEE THAT COMING AS QUICKLY AS IT DID.

DO YOU THINK, THOUGH, IT WAS INEVITABLE?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT.

WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE WERE HEARING AS FAR BACK AS JUNE AND JULY THAT THE FALL OF AFGHANISTAN WOULD BE VERY RAPID.

WE TOOK NOTE OF THE FACT THAT WHEN THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED A DATE CERTAIN FOR THE PULLOUT THAT TALIBAN FORCES IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO TAKEOVER PROVINCES, AND THEY DID IT IN A VERY RAPID SUCCESSION.

IT WAS LIKE DOMINOES FALLING.

NOW, I WILL ADMIT I'M SURPRISED THEY WERE ABLE TO BE TAKE THE CAPITAL CITY IN ONE DAY.

BUT I'M NOT AT ALL SURPRISED THAT THIS HAPPENED RAPIDLY AND THAT WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR IT.

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE EVACUATED OUR SOLDIERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND LEFT -- NOT ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENS BEHIND AND AFGHAN NATIONALS BEHIND -- BUT LEFT OUR EQUIPMENT BEHIND.

WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER ABANDONED OUR BAGRAM AIR FORCE BASE.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MUCH MORE ORGANIZED MANNER AND WE HAVE ALWAYS OPERATED UNDER THE MANTRA THAT WE LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.

BEFORE WE PULLED OUT ANY OF OUR FORCES, WE SHOULD HAVE MADE SURE WE GOT THESE OTHER PEOPLE OUT FIRST AND THEN GOTTEN OUR EQUIPMENT OUT FIRST AND WE SHOULD HAVE INSISTED THAT THE CONDITIONS THAT THE TALIBAN AGREE TO WERE ALL MET, WHICH THEY WEREN'T.

>> NOW THAT THE EVACUATIONS ARE UNDER WAY AND THERE'S HOPE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO RAMP UP, THAT THE EVACUATIONS CONTINUE TO RAMP UP, THERE'S A REFUGEE CRISIS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS NOW.

THERE'S BEEN TALK HERE IN AMERICA, FOR INSTANCE, THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO EXTEND SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS TO AFGHAN NATIONALS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT PROSPECT?

>> I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER MASSIVE FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

IF THE EVACUATION EFFORT AND THIS WITHDRAWAL EFFORT HAD BEEN ORCHESTRATED IN A MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY VET ALL OF THESE PEOPLE.

BUT NOW WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE IF WE TRY TO DELAY THIS AND GO THROUGH THE VETTING PROCESS MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE KILLED.

WE HAVE INTELLIGENCE THAT INDICATES THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN EXECUTING SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER TIED TO THE AFGHAN SPECIAL FORCES OR THAT THEY KNOW WERE AFFILIATED WITH US.

WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT SAYS THAT THEY ARE IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO HAVE RELATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES ALREADY AND SAYING IF THOSE PEOPLE DO NOT LEAVE THE UNITED STATES AND COME BACK TO AFGHANISTAN TO FACE TALIBAN JUSTICE THEY ARE GOING TO KILL THEIR FAMILIES.

IF WE -- WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED THIS EXTRACTION PROCESS MONTHS AGO AND TAKEN THE -- MADE SURE WE DID THE DUE DILIGENCE TO VET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOW, DON.

>> PART OF OUR MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN OVER THE LONG HAUL HAS BEEN TO HELP TO BUILD AN AFGHAN ARMY, TO TRAIN THEM, TO TRAIN AFGHAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS.

AND NOW, IN HINDSIGHT, AS WE LOOK AT THE CHAOS THAT UNFOLDED IN THE LAST WEEK, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE SAYING WE REALLY DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB THERE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WELL, THE PRESIDENT SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIGHT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE EITHER.

THEY ESTIMATE NORTH OF 50,000 AFGHAN SOLDIERS GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

WE KNOW THE TRAINING OPERATION WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE SO MANY AFGHAN SOLDIERS COULDN'T READ AND WRITE.

IT WASES A DIFFICULT TASK BUT WHEN PROPERLY LED AND LED BY AMERICAN LEADERSHIP, THEY FOUGHT AND THEY FOUGHT WELL.

THE THING, WITH ME, IS I FELT LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED THERE, WITH A SMALL FORCE, MAYBE 2500, 3,000, MAINTAIN THAT BASE BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO OUR ADVERSARIES AND ENEMIES ARE.

I CONSIDER CHINA AN ENEMY AND AFGHANISTAN IS ON THE SOUTHWESTERN BORDER OF CHINA.

RUSSIA IS AN ADVERSARY, MAYBE EVEN AN ENEMY.

WE'RE ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF RUSSIA.

IRAN IS AN ENEMY.

WE HAD WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE NORTHERN BORDER OF IRAN AND WE'RE GIVING ALL OF THAT UP.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WE SHOULDN'T BE FIGHTING FOREIGN WARS.

WE'RE NOT FIGHTING A WAR.

WE'RE ACTING IN A BUFFER OPERATION, JUST LIKE WE DID IN SOUTH KOREA.

I SAID, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT KOREA WOULD LOOK LIKE TODAY IF 20 YEARS AFTER THE KOREAN WAR WE DECIDED TO LEAVE THAT COUNTRY?

PEOPLE NEED TO STUDY HISTORY.

IN THE 1970s, SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT WAS ALMOST A DICTATORSHIP.

IT WAS VERY CORRUPT.

THEY FINALLY GOT TIRED OF IT.

GOT RID OF THE PRESIDENT.

PUT HIM IN PRESIDENT PRISON AND ELECTED A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT WITH A LITTLE D. YOU LOOK AT SOUTH KOREA NOW AND SEOUL IS ONE OF THE MOST MODERN CITIES IN THE WORLD.

IT TOOK 70 YEARS.

WE COULDN'T LEAVE EUROPE AFTER WORLD WAR II, IT WAS A BUFFER AGAINST THE SOVIET UNION AND HAD WE LEFT I BELIEVE THE SOVIETS WOULD HAVE HAD NOMINAL IF NOT TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE WESTERN EUROPEAN NATIONS.

IT IS A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE TO ACT IN A BUFFER OPERATION AGAINST POTENTIAL AGGRESSORS THAN IT IS TO FIGHT A WAR WITH THEM.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> TIME IS SHORT, CONGRESSMAN, DO YOU THINK THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HANDLING OF THIS SITUATION?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD.

I THINK THIS IS A MASSIVE FAILURE THROUGHOUT THE ADMINISTRATION.

HONESTLY, IT STARTS AT THE TOP.

THE PRESIDENT SAID HIMSELF, THE BUCK STOPS WITH HIM AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE HIM UP ON THAT.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO ALL OF THIS.

WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR EVALUATION OF THE INTELLIGENCE THAT WE BELIEVE HE HAD THAT WE HAD, MUCH OF THIS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE IN A CLASSIFIED SETTING, BUT THE BIGGEST THING THAT I THINK WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW IS THAT CHINA IS WORKING 24/7 TRYING TO UNDERMINE OUR ALLIES FOR US.

I'M CONCERNED WITH WHAT THEY MAY DO IN TAIWAN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD THAT LOOKED AT THE UNITED STATES AS A NATION THAT KEPT ITS WORD.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS I HOPE THEY SEE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT FAILED TO KEEP THEIR WORD BUT DON'T TRUE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND THE REST OF AMERICANS AS PEOPLE THEY CAN'T RELY ON.

>> SOME OF THE CALLS FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> IT IS ENCOURAGING.

CERTAIN THINGS SHOULD BE BEYOND POLITICS.

IF THIS WERE A REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION I WOULD BE SAYING THE SAME THING.

THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE HERE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND HOW THAT'S BEEN COMPROMISED AND THE FACT THERE ARE KNOWN TERRORISTS THAT HAVE BEEN PICKED UP AND THE TOTAL NUMBER IS CLASSIFIED BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO HAS GOTTEN IN, BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN AFGHANISTAN, I THINK IT HAS CREATED A SITUATION THAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY RISK.

I THINK POLITICS SHOULDN'T BE A PART OF THAT.

>> CONGRESS CONGRESSMAN PALMER.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> FINALLY ON THE BROADCAST TONIGHT IT IS THE WEEKLY VISIT WITH STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND JOINED BY ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DR. WILLIAMSON.

WELCOME BACK.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE ARE OUT OF ICU BEDS IN THE STATE.

TELL US ABOUT THE SITUATION.

>> THE REALITY IS THAT HOSPITALS ARE ABLE TO CREATE ICU BEDS IN PREVIOUSLY NON-ICU CARE SPACES.

VICTIM AS A RESULT WE HAVE HOSPITALS TAKING CARE OF 15 TO 20 MORE ICU PATIENTS THAN THEY HAVE ICU BEDS.

THEY ARE PROVIDING ICU-LEVEL CARE IN NONTRADITIONAL SPACES.

THAT CREATES A NEGATIVE NUMBER.

WHEN YOU SUM THAT AGAINST ALL OF THE ICU BEDS IN THE STATE IT COMES OUT NEGATIVE.

MEANING WE HAVE TODAY ABOUT 19 MORE PATIENTS GETTING ICU-LEVEL CARE THAN WE HAVE ICU BEDS.

WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS -- IT'S NOT THE ABSOLUTE NUMBER, IT'S THE DIRECTION.

WHETHER YOU HAVE TEN BEDS OR NEGATIVE TEN BEDS, THE WAY YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS THAT IN ALABAMA ICU BEDS ARE NOT ROUTINELY AVAILABLE.

SO, A HOSPITAL MAY SHOW THEY HAVE FIVE ICU BEDS WHEN THEY FILL OUT THE SURVEY IN THE MORNING.

BY LUNCHTIME THEY MAY WELL HAVE NONE OR WE MAY FIND ONE HERE, TWO HERE THAT ARE PRE-COMMITTED FOR SURGERY THAT'S ONGOING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WHERE WE ARE NOW, WE ARE IN A CRITICAL SITUATION WHERE WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE HOUSED IN THE ER, OR IN SOME CASES DAYS GETTING ICU-LEVEL CARE BECAUSE WE CAN'T PUT YOU IN A FORMAL ICU BED IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> BECAUSE HOSPITALS ARE STRESSED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING RISE OF COVID CASES IN THE STATE, IS GOVERNOR IVEY'S EMERGENCY ORDER SHE ISSUED LAST WEEK GIVING MORE FLEXIBILITY TO THE HOSPITALS HELPING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT HAS DONE SEVERAL THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, IT'S ALLOWED US TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES IN WHERE WE PUT BEDS, WHAT WE DO WITH SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE HOSPITAL.

WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A VERY FORMAL RULE PROCESS, STATE GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S ONE HELP.

THE OTHER REAL THING IT DOES IS ALLOWS US TO MOVE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, PA's, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, AROUND IN THE HOSPITAL TO MEET THE NEEDS AS THEY EMERGE.

AND DOESN'T TIE US TO ONLY USING THEM IN ONLY ONE PART OF THE FACILITY.

SO IT HAS BEEN ON THAT FRONT EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE SEEN IS SKYROCKETING HOSPITALIZATION RATES THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT HAD ENCOURAGING NEWS TODAY, DID WE NOT?

>> WELL, WE DID.

THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WE LEVELED OFF AT 2700 PLUS OR MINUS NUMBER.

TODAY WAS 2702.

IT HAD BEEN UP TO 2760 YESTERDAY.

I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND SEVERAL THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, WHILE IT IS 2702, WE STILL HAD 50 PEDIATRIC CASES, WHICH TIES FOR THE MOST PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WE HAVE EVER HAD IN THE HOSPITAL.

NUMBER TWO, DURING THE SPIKE IN JANUARY, WE ALSO SAW PERIODS WHERE THE CURVE APPEARED TO DECLINE ONLY THEN TO SPIKE BACK UP.

SO, I WOULDN'T ASSUME, AT THIS POINT, THAT WE PLATEAUED AND THAT IT WON'T GET MUCH WORSE.

I FEAR IT WILL BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE CHILDREN RETURNING TO SCHOOL WHO ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE OUR PEDIATRIC NUMBERS INCREASE AND LIKELY OUR ADULT NUMBERS INCREASE.

>> DR. HARRIS, HOW ARE WE DOING OVERALL WITH DAILY CASE COUNTS?

>> DAILY CASE COUNTS ARE VERY, VERY HIGH.

WE HAD SEVERAL DAYS WITH OVER 4,000 CASES REPORTED TO US.

THE LAST DAY OR SO IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE UNDER 4,000 BUT THOSE ARE STILL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE HIGHER THAN WE WERE EVEN SEEING IN THE BEGINNING OF JULY.

I SAW OUR TEAM PULL TOGETHER SOME STATS THAT SHOWED IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF AUGUST IN SCHOOL-AGED KIDS IN ALABAMA WE HAD 1800 CASES OF COVID WE FOUND LAST YEAR.

REMEMBER, A LOT OF KIDS WERE MAYBE NOT BACK IN SCHOOL AND MEETING VIRTUALLY AT THAT TIME.

THIS YEAR IN THE SAME THREE-WEEK PERIOD WE HAVE HAD 8,000 CASES IN THE 5 TO 17-YEAR-OLD AGE GROUP.

THOSE CASE NUMBERS ARE 3 1/2 TO 4 TIMES WHAT WE SAW A YEAR AGO.

AGAIN, THOSE AREN'T NECESSARILY REPORTS COMING FROM SCHOOLS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY GOT INFECTED IN SCHOOL OR OUTBREAKS WERE IN SCHOOL BUT IT MEANS IN THAT AGE GROUP WE ARE SEEING FOUR TIMES AS MANY AS A YEAR AGO.

>> STILL, YOU HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT OUTBREAKS IN SCHOOLS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE HAD MANY SCHOOLS THAT REPORTED THEM ALREADY SOME SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE GOING VIRTUAL AFTER A FEW DAYS OF MEETING IN PERSON.

WE HAVE.

WANT KIDS TO BE IN SCHOOL IN PERSON BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DO IT SAFE LIVE.

THE WAY WE DO THAT IS WE VACCINATE ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE.

ANYONE 12 AND UP AND MAKE SURE KIDS CONSISTENTLY WEAR MASKS AND STAYING SIX FEET APART AND MAKE SURE SCHOOLS TO SEND HOME CASES AND CONTACTS WHEN THEY ARE IDENTIFIED.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THEM OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

>> WE MENTIONED THE 50 PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL ASSOCIATIONS RELATED TO COVID.

>> THE NUMBERS ARE VERY HIGH.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF -- TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF KIDS AMONG OUR HOSPITALIZED PARENTS, I THINK DR. WILLIAMSON MAY KNOW, 1 1/2, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT BUT KIDS DON'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL THAT MUCH UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

THIS IS A DISEASE THAT HAS PUT A LOT OF CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL AND CERTAINLY MORE WITH COVID THAN EVER BEFORE.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS DISEASE IS WORSE IN KIDS THAN THE STRAINS WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE BUT THE DELTA VARIANT CLEARLY SPREADS TO A LOT MORE PEOPLE MORE QUICKLY AND THE SHEER NUMBERS RESULTING IN THE HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS WE ARE SEEING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT VACCINATIONS FOR JUST A MOMENT.

YOU AND DR. WILLIAMSON MET THIS WEEK WITH THE WHITE HOUSE VACCINATIONS COORDINATOR WHO WAS IN MONTGOMERY AND MET WITH SEVERAL OFFICIALS WHILE HE WAS HERE AND HE EXPRESSED OPTIMISM WHERE VACCINATION REALLIES CONCERNED.

HE SAID ALABAMA HAD SEEN AN UPTICK OF 55,000 FIRST-TIME SHOTS, WHICH WAS GOOD.

WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO HIM TODAY AND LET'S HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> I AM ENCOURAGED AND SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE REALIZING THAT THIS PANDEMIC ISN'T OVER, LIKE THE DELTA VARIANT IS CONTAGIOUS AND WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE SEEING AN UPTICK IN VACCINATION IN STATES THAT HAVE HAD INCREASE IN CASES.

WE WILL SEE INCREASES IN ARKANSAS, MISSOURI, LOUISIANA ALMOST FOUR-FOLD INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GETTING THEIR FIRST SHOTS AND FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS IN A ROW WE HAVE HIT OVER 1 MILLION MARK OF SHOTS IN ARMS YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE.

THAT'S AN ENCOURAGING SIGN.

WE STILL HAVE 85 MILLION PEOPLE OR SO WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN VACCINATED YET.

I DO THINK THAT PEOPLE NOW ARE REALIZING THAT GETTING VACCINATED IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, PARTICULARLY IN PLACES WHERE THEY ARE SEEING THERE ARE NO MORE ICU BEDS AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE 50 KIDS IN THE HOSPITAL.

THERE ARE PREGNANT WOMEN ENDING UP IN ICU AND HAVING PRE-TERM BIRTHS AND THAT'S THE SILVER LINING IF YOU WANT THE SURGE THAT WE ARE SEEING.

>> THAT'S THE WHITE HOUSE VACCINATION COORDINATOR SPEAKING TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" EARLIER TODAY.

AS WE CLOSE, DR. WILLIAMSON, HOW ARE HOSPITALS HOLDING UP UNDER THE STRAIN?

>> THEY ARE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE HIGH-LEVEL CARE TO CITIZENS IN THE STATE.

THEY ARE STRESSED.

THEY ARE OVERWHELMED.

WE ARE SHORT OF STAFF.

OUR ICUS ARE OF COURSE ARE SLAMMED.

PATIENTS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF, WHETHER IT IS IN ERs OR HALLWAYS OR NON-TRADITIONAL PARTS OF THE HOSPITAL.

WE ARE GETTING THROUGH IT BUT WE DESPERATELY NEED PEOPLE TO DO TWO THINGS -- WEAR MASKS AND GET VACCINATED, AND IF THEY GET ILL, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THEIR PHYSICIAN TO GET MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

>> THOSE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES CAN TURN CASES AROUND, PEOPLE WILL FEELING LOUSY.

>> IF YOU ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR SERIOUS DISEASE, PLEASE GET A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY IF YOU ARE INFECTED OR EVEN EXPOSED.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND GET THEM QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> THEY ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE IF YOU REQUEST THEM.

>> OVER 130 LOCATIONS IN THE STATE AND HOPING TO PUT OUT MORE.

HOPE TO HAVE A DEDICATED CENTER OPEN UP IN MOBILE COUNTY IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS SO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU THINK YOU ARE A CANDIDATE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WHEN THE SOVIET UNION SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED SPUTNIK IN OCTOBER 1957, THE UNITED STATES NEEDED TO QUICKLY JOIN THE SPACE READ RACE.

THEY SUGGESTED USING A MODIFIED RED STONE ROCKET TO PRESIDENT EISENHOWER.

JUNEAU LAUNCHED EXPLORER ONE, AMERICA'S FIRST SATELLITE INTO ORBIT ON JANUARY 31, 1958.

IT ARE REMAINED IN SPACE UNTIL 1970.

>> AND THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

AND OUR GUESTS WILL INCLUDE STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS, WHO'LL TALK WITH ABOUT THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND WITH TALKS OVER A POSSIBLE PLAN TO BUILD NEW PRISONS ESCALATING, OUR GUESTS ARE ALSO SET TO INCLUDE CARLA CROWDER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA APPLESEED CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE, WHICH HAS DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH INTO OUR PRISON ISSUES.

FOR ALL OF US AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL," THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.