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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

HAPPENING RIGHT NOW JUST BLOCKS AWAY HERE IN DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS SPEAKING TO A CROWD OF MORE THAN 2,700 GATHERED FOR THE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY'S SUMMER DINNER.

THE EVENT WAS PLANNED MONTHS IN ADVANCE.

BUT AUSPICIOUSLY COMES THE DAY AFTER TRUMP PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES RELATED TO HIS EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION.

THIS, THE THIRD INDICTMENT AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT SEEMS NOT TO HAVE DAMPENED ENTHUSIASM AMONGST HIS BASE HERE IN ALABAMA.

TO THE CONTRARY, HIS CAMPAIGN TEAMS HAVE PICKED UP STEAM TODAY.

EACH OF ALABAMA'S SIX CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS TODAY ANNOUNCED THEIR ENDORSEMENT OF TRUMP AS HE AGAIN SEEKS THE PRESIDENCY.

REPRESENTATIVES ARE ALL SUPPORTING TRUMP IN THE GOP PRIMARY.

GOP TOMMY TUBERVILLE ENDORSED TRUMP BACK IN NOVEMBER AND INTRODUCED HIM AT TONIGHT'S EVENT.

DISAPPOINTING NEWS THIS WEEK FOR ALABAMA ON THE STATE'S MILITARY FOOTPRINT.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS OFFICIALLY REVERSING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO PERMANENTLY LOCATE U.S. SPACE COMMAND IN HUNTSVILLE.

HE'S DECIDED TO KEEP IT AT ITS TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS.

THE DECISION SPARKED INSTANT OUTRAGE FROM ALABAMA LEADERS, FROM THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

MOST POINTED TO AN AIR FORCE EVALUATION THAT SHOWED HUNTSVILLE RANKED 1ST MONK POSSIBLE LOCATIONS FOR THE SPACE COMMAND.

U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT CALLED THE DECISION, HANDING THE GOLD MEDAL TO THE FIFTH PLACE FINISHER.

IN REFERENCE TO COLORADO'S RANKING IN THE EVALUATION.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE ROGERS WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE SAID THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER.

AND "COLORADO SPRINGS WILL NOT BE THE PERMANENT LOCATION OF U.S. SPACE COMMAND."

CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL WAS ALSO OUTSPOKEN AGAINST THE DECISION.

SHE SAID SHE EXPECTED MORE OF THE PRESIDENT.

BUT ALSO CAST BLAME ON U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE, WHO HAS BATTLED THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PENTAGON WITH HIS HOLD ON MILITARY PROMOTIONS IN PROTEST OF THE PENTAGON'S NEW ABORTION TRAVEL POLICIES.

>> I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I EXPECTED MORE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, I HAD HOPED THAT FOR ALABAMA'S SAKE POLITICS WOULD NOT WIN OUT.

I DID NOT AGREE WITH THE REVERSAL.

BUT I CERTAINLY YOU SAID THE FEELINGS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO REWARD RECKLESS ANTICS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.

IT IS CLEAR TO ME SENATOR TUBERVILLE'S RECKLESS HOLD ON OUR 200 MILITARY PROMOTIONS AND STATE'S WAR ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND VOTING RIGHTS WERE MAJOR FACTORS WHY WE LOST THIS ELECTION.

>> TUBERVILLE ANSWERED THOSE CRITICISMS DIRECTLY, SAYING HIS HOLD ON MILITARY PROMOTIONS HAD NOTHING DO WITH THE SPACE COMMAND DECISION.

AND THAT THE FIGHT WILL GO ON TO BRING THE PROGRAM TO HUNTSVILLE.

>> WELL EVEN PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID MILITARY HOLD HAD NOTHING TO DO IT.

WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS THREE YEARS.

AND WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE UPHILL BATTLE TO KEEP SPACE COMMAND IN HUNTSVILLE BECAUSE THIS WAS A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.

AND HE WAS LOOKING FOR A DEMOCRATIC STATE TO SEND IT TO.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS THE FOURTH DOWN THE ROAD.

DIDN'T THINK ABOUT NEBRASKA IN SECOND.

AND SAN ANTONIO IN TEXAS WHO WAS THIRD.

THEY PUT IT IN COLORADO.

WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR SPACE COMMAND.

BECAUSE THE BEST PLACE FOR IT IS HUNTSVILLE.

NOW, IF IT WASN'T THE BEST PLACE, WE WOULD JUST SAY HEY, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE BEST PLACE.

SPACE COMMAND AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN SPACE ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY IT.

SHOULD BE IN THE BEST PLACE FOR THE FUTURE AND FOR THE GROWTH OF SPACE COMMAND.

AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

BUT WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THIS YET.

>> I'LL SPEAK WITH CONGRESSMAN ROBERT ADERHOLT ABOUT THE SPACE COMMAND ISSUE IN MORE DETAIL LATER IN THE SHOW.

CONGRESS BEGAN ITS AUGUST RECESS THIS WEEK.

THE ANNUAL BREAK IN THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR.

ALLOWING LAWMAKERS TO SPEND EXTENDED TIME BACK HOME VISITING WITH CONSTITUENTS.

SENATOR TUBERVILLE TOOK PART IN LISTENING SESSIONS ON THE FARM BILL HOSTED BY STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RICK PATE.

WE AUTHORIZED EVERY FIVE YEARS, THE FARM BILL INCLUDES FARMING SUBSIDIES, CROP INSURANCE AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, FORMALLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS.

TUBERVILLE SAID HE AND HIS STAFF WANT TO COMMUNICATE ALABAMA'S PRIORITIES IN WASHINGTON.

>> WE WANT A BETTER FARM BILL IF QUESTION MAKE IT BETTER.

LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO ACROSS THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.

THEY WERE VERY HIGH ON THE FORMER FARM BILL, THE FARM BILL WAS $867 BILLION, THIS ONE IS A LITTLE MORE.

IT IS $1.5 TRILLION.

AS GOVERNMENT DOES, IT GROWS.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEAD BROKE AS A COUNTRY.

$32 TRILLION IN DEBT.

WE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO START CUTTING MONEY.

BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FARM BILL.

WE NEED TO HELP FARMERS.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GET NUTRITIONAL VALUE OUT OF THIS FARM BILL, WHICH IS A LOT.

SNAP FOOD STAMPS AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PAID THROUGH THIS.

BUT THE BIG THING WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM YOU TODAY.

JUST GIVE US YOUR CONCERNS.

WE'LL TAKE THEM BACK TO DC.

BECAUSE WE REPRESENT YOU.

>> ALSO HOME IS CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL.

SHE HOSTED HER ANNUAL JOB FAIR AT CRAMTON BOWL HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

AN EVENT THAT'S GROWN EACH YEAR IN POPULARITY.

SEWELL SAID IT IS NOT JUST FOR THOSE WITHOUT A JOB, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A BETTER JOB.

>> I HOST THESE JOBS FAIRS EVERY YEAR, AS YOU WILL RECALL.

EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

TO CONNECT JOB SEEKERS IN MY DISTRICT WITH EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE STATE.

TODAY WE EXPECT TO WELCOME HUNDREDES OF JOB SEEKERS.

IN FACT BEFORE THE DOORS OPEN TODAY AT 10:00, WE HAD THE LINE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE VENUE.

IS IT.

>> U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT SHE WAS BRIEFLY HOSPITALIZED OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER EXPERIENCING NUMBNESS IN HER FACE.

DOCTORS TOLD HER IT WAS RESULT OF NERVE SWELLING, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY A POSTVIRAL INFECTION.

THE SENATOR IS NOW RESTING AT HOME WHERE RECOVERY COULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS.

SHE SAID," I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL PROVIDING EXCELLENT CARE.

AND MY FAMILY AND I ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS."

AND A SCARE OVER THE WEEKEND IN KOREA FOR STATE SENATOR TIM MELSON.

HE SUFFERED A CARDIAC EVENT ON A DELEGATION TRIP AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED IN THE ICU.

HE IS NOW RECOVERING.

AND HIS SON TYLER SAYS THE SENATOR IS OFF THE VENTILATOR, ALERT AND TALKING.

THANK HEAVENS BOTH U.S.

SENATOR BRITT AND STATE SENATOR MELSON ARE FRIENDS OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND WE WANT TO EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES FOR A FULL RECOVERY REAL SOON.

>>> THIS WEEK MARKED NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENT THAT PROMOTES RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLICE AND THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS NEIGHBORHOOD CAMARADERIE.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH REPORTS FROM ONE SUCH EVENT.

>> NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS A TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT UNITY, SAFETY AND AWARENESS.

IT IS ALSO A TIME FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CONNECT WITH RESIDENTS UNDER POSITIVE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHICH MEANT FOOD AND GAMES FOR FAMILIES AND THE ADVENTUROUS TIME.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF CUNNINGHAM EXPLAINS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT'S PURPOSE.

>> A RECOGNIZED DAY NATIONALLY, WHERE PEOPLE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, ENTITIES COME OUT AND WE TRY TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY AND LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND HOW TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.

AND THERE IS A TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TALK WITH THEM, TO LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE OUR EYES AND EARS.

>> THE AMONG RECOUNTY THERE HAVE'S DEPARTMENT EVENT WAS MENAGERIE.

AMONG THE MANY PARTICIPANTS.

THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA WAS ALSO THERE BECAUSE OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

>> TO MAKE SURE THAT CRIMES ARE REPORTED.

TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS KNOW WHERE TO GO IF THEY FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME.

WE REACH OUT TO TRY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE SUFFERED INCIDENTS THAT IF THEY ARE NOT CRIMINAL, THEY MIGHT BE.

>> AMONG THE MANY RESOURCES THEY SHARE WAS ONE ASKING STUDENTS COMMITS TO NON VIOLENCE.

>> NOT RESORTING TO VIOLENCE.

COMING ONE CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES.

>> SHERIFF CUNNINGHAM ASKED A ANOTHER PURPOSE IS TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A POSITIVE PERCEPTION OF POLICE.

NAVIA ROBERTS.

>> THEY ARE SUPER NICE, AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE A HAPPY TIME.

AND WHEN THEY'RE SAVING PEOPLE, THEY ARE BEING GOOD PEOPLE.

>> NAVIA SAYS WHEN SHE SEES POLICE LIGHTS AND HEARS SIRENS.

>> I THINK IT IS TROUBLE.

I THINK THEY SAVED A WHOLE NEW PERSON'S LIFE AND INSPIRED THEM TO BE A SAVER LIKE THEM.

>> AND THAT IS WHY SHE WANTS TO BE A NURSE OR DOCTOR.

MORE THAN 38 MILLION PEOPLE IN FIFTY STATES PARTICIPATED IN THIS ANNUAL EVENT.

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

>>> LAST WEEK RANDY SCOTT REPORTED ON THE OBSERVANCE OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DESEGREGATION OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.

IN PART TWO OF HIS SERIES, RANDY TALKS TO ONE PERSON WITH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THAT MILESTONE.

>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT TWO CHAPTERS OF HISTORY, ON THE RIGHT YOU HAVE CONDITIONAL ARI SMITSER.

THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE COMMANDER OF THE AIR FORCE BASE IN MONTGOMERY.

AND ON THE LEFT, AT 103 YEARS OLD, A U.S. ARMY VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II.

BOTH ARE HERE IN MONTGOMERY TO CELEBRATE IS IT 75TH VERSE RIGHT OF WAY ORDERED 9981, THE RULE ISSUED BY PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN DESEGREGATING THE U.S. MILITARY.

THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY IS USED TO BE A PART OF HISTORY.

WELL, ADD A NEW CHAPTER AS THEY HONOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF AN ACT THAT CHANGED THE AMERICAN MILITARY.

AND THAT STORY HAS A MONTGOMERY TWIST TO IT.

ROME DAVIS JOINED THE ARMY TO SERVE HER COUNTRY.

INSTEAD OF FIGHTING ON THE FRONT, SHE AND HER BATTALION, THE 6888 WERE ASSIGNED ANOTHER TASK, TO FIX THE MILITARY MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR II.

THERE WAS NO TEXTING OR E-MAIL BACK THEN.

SO MANY TIMES MAIL WAS THE ONLY FORM OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AMERICA AND THOSE SERVING OVERSEAS.

AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE DAVIS AND HER GROUP COULD NOT DO THIS JOB.

>> IF PEOPLE HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET SETTLED FOR VERY LONG TIME BEFORE WE GET THERE.

WE DID THE JOB.

THE WOMEN OF 6888 GOT THE MAIL TO THE MEN IN HALF OF THE TIME EXPECTED.

>> THEIR SUCCESS RESULTED IN THE LADIES RECEIVING THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

>> I WAS STUNNED.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD GET A MEDAL.

I JUST DIDN'T EXPECT IT.

WHAT A SHOCK THAT I RECEIVED THAT IT WAS GIVEN TO US.

>> SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION -- >> THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE WE KNOW BETTER.

AND WE SHOULD STAND, AS SO MANY LIKE MS. DAVIS AND SO MANY OTHERS THAT WERE LISTED HERE AND SO MANY MORE THAT WERE NOT.

IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGE TO PROGRESS.

>> PERSEVERANCE AND OPPORTUNITY ARE CONCEPTS.

AND THOSE SIMPLE WORDS ACTUALLY LAY OUT A STRATEGY, A PLAN AND RULES AND RESPONSIBILITY.

PERSEVERANCE IS ON US, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY.

THAT IS WHAT YOU DO.

YOU PERSEVERE.

THAT IS WHAT MS. ROMAINE DID.

AND SUCH A DELIGHTFUL STORY.

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

>>> THIS WEEK IN THE STATE HOUSE, THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE MET FOR ITS MONTHLY OVERSIGHT MEETING ON VARIOUS AGREEMENTS AGENCIES ARE ENTERING INTO.

THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER TO NULLIFY CONTRACTS, BUT IT CAN DELAY THEM.

THIS WEEK SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT TOOK ISSUE WITH A CONTRACT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO CONSTRUCT A SCULPTURE OF AN OSPREY OUTSIDE ITS MOBILE FIELD OFFICE.

>> CONTRACT BEFORE YOU IS A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE A STRUCTURE OF OSPREY, PART OF THE DECOR OUR NEW FIELD OFFICE.

IT IS MEANT TO TIE INTO NATURAL BEAUTY THERE OF THE COASTLINE.

>> $116,700 FOR A SCULPTURE?

>> YES, SIR.

>> WOW.

>> IT'S STAIN SEALED.

IT IS OUTSIDE.

SO IT IS DESIGNED TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

IT IS ABOUT NOT QUITE 1% OF THE OVERALL PROJECT.

IT IS MEANT TO ALLOW THE BUILDING TO BE MORE INVITING, LITTLE MORE ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICALLY.

>> DON'T DO THIS.

PLEASE, DON'T COME BEFORE US WITH THIS KIND OF STUFF.

WE ARE HERE REPRESENTING THE TAXPAYERS.

I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO BE THE ONE TO STAND HERE AND PRESENT THIS.

I HOPE YOU TAKE THE MESSAGE BACK.

>> YES, SIR.

>> THAT THIS -- THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

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

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO.APT.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."

♪ >>> JOINING ME NEXT IS CONGRESSMAN ROBERT ADERHOLT FROM ALABAMA'S FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

CONGRESSMAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TODD.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPACE COMMAND.

THAT'S BEEN THE BIG NEWS OF THE WEEK.

I KNOW YOU EXPRESSED SERIOUS DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S DECISION TO BASICALLY REVERSE PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S EARLIER DECISION TO LOCATE SPACE COMMAND IN HUNTSVILLE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO KEEP IT WHERE ITS CURRENT LOCATION IS IN COLORADO.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS DECISION.

>> FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED -- MY UNDERSTANDING HE ANNOUNCED COUPLE, TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, THAT SPACE COMMAND WOULD BE IN HUNTSVILLE.

BUT IT WASN'T HIS DECISION.

THIS IS A DECISION THAT WAS MADE BY AN INDEPENDENT WORKING GROUP.

THERE WAS A GROUP THAT WAS SELECTED TO DECIDE WHERE WAS THE BEST PLACE TO PUT SPACE COMMAND.

AND THEY WERE -- THERE WERE SEVERAL STATES THAT WERE IN THE MIX FROM FLORIDA TO NEBRASKA TO OF COURSE COLORADO, ALABAMA.

AND THIS GROUP THAT MET, MY UNDERSTANDING THROUGH THE MILITARY, LOOKED AT ALL DIFFERENT OPTIONS OF WHAT WOULD BE BETTER, COST OF LIVING, THE ACTUAL LAND SPACE.

WHEN I SAY "SPACE," I MEAN THE ACTUAL LAND THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

AND JUST, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WHAT COMPANIES ARE IN THE AREA THAT COULD HELP FACILITATE.

WORKFORCE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND NORTH ALABAMA CAME OUT NUMBER 1.

AND THAT'S I THINK -- SO WHILE TRUMP DID ANNOUNCE IT, IT WAS UNDER HIS WATCH THAT THAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE.

IS THAT, AND MY UNDERSTANDING THEY MET -- THEY ACTUALLY DID A RE-DO AFTER BIDEN CAME INTO OFFICE.

AND STILL HUNTSVILLE CAME OUT NUMBER 1.

>> -- INSPECTOR GENERAL.

SECOND INSPECTOR GENERAL BASICALLY.

>> RIGHT.

THE HUNTSVILLE CAME NUMBER 1.

COLORADO WAS ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS 5TH.

I KNOW IT WAS AT LEAST 4TH.

BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS 5TH.

AND SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT IT WAS VERY, YOU KNOW, DISCOURAGING TO SEE THAT THIS INDEPENDENT GROUP -- AND I CALL IT INDEPENDENT GROUP.

IT WAS WITH THE MILITARY.

AND WHEN I SAY INDEPENDENT, I MEAN IT WAS POLITICAL.

IT WAS WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE SPACE COMMAND IN GENERAL.

AND THEY LOOKED AT SEVERAL OPTIONS AND HUNTSVILLE CAME OUT NUMBER 1.

AND THAT IS WHY I THINK THIS IS SO DISCOURAGING TO LOT OF ALABAMANS IS NOW IT SEEMS LIKE PLAYING POLITICS WITH IT.

>> ABOUT EVERY STORY YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, IN THAT STORY HAS BEEN ABORTION POLITICS.

FROM A COUPLE OF ANGLES.

NUMBER 1 IS ALABAMA'S LAW THAT BECAME EFFECTIVE AFTER THE DOBBS DECISION, ROE V. WADE BEING OVERTURNED.

WHICH IS ONE OF THE STRICTEST ABORTION LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.

PLUS SENATOR TUBERVILLE'S CONTINUED HOLD ON MILITARY PROMOTIONS.

AND SORT OF THAT BATTLE WITH THE PENTAGON OVER ITS ABORTION POLICY.

IT IS IN EVERY STORY.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT IS NOT PART OF IT.

SENATOR TUBERVILLE SAYS THAT IS NOT PART OF IT.

BUT IS ABORTION POLITICS IN YOUR MEASURE INSERTED AT ALL INTO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION HERE?

>> WELL, I HOPE NOT.

LET ME JUST SAY THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO START DECIDING WHERE OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ARE GOING TO BE BASED ON ON ABORTION AND ON POLITICAL ASPECTS LIKE, THAT THEN I THINK IT IS A DANGEROUS ROAD TO GO DOWN.

AND SO THAT IS WHY I'M, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DID NOT LIKE THE DOBBS DECISION.

BUT IT WAS THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH WAS NOT ANYTHING DO WITH CONGRESS OR WITH EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

AND SO IF IT IS THAT, THEN THIS IS REALLY A BAD SIGN FOR THE WAY THAT THIS COUNTRY IS HEADED MILITARILY DECIDING WHAT STATES WILL GET WHAT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE GOT TO LOOK ON THE OTHER SIDE.

SO DOES THAT MEAN WHEN THERE IS A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, DOES THAT MEAN THEY WILL LOOK AT PUTTING THINGS IN MORE RED STATES?

SO I REALLY HOPE THAT THAT IS NOT IT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS THAT QUESTION THAT IS LINGERING OUT THERE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT I KEEP HEARING FROM THE OTHER SIDE, AND REALLY FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ABOUT, WELL, LOOK, THIS SPACE COMMAND HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY HEAD QUARTERED IN COLORADO FOR A LONG TIME.

COST A LOT OF MONEY, LOT OF TIME TO MOVE IT TO HUNTSVILLE FOR PERMANENT.

SO WHY NOT KEEP IT WHERE IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BUILT UP OVER TIME AND BECAUSE OF THE TIME AND THE EXPENSE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT ARGUMENT?

>> NUMBER ONE, WHY WAS THAT NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THEY FIRST DECIDED AND PUT COLORADO AT NUMBER 5?

OBVIOUSLY THEY KNEW IT COULD POSSIBLY BE MOVED SOMEWHERE.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY HEAD QUARTERS THERE IN COLORADO ANYWAY.

AND ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD IT WAS GOING MOVE SOMEWHERE.

POSSIBLY COULD HAVE STAYED IN COLORADO.

BUT IT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO STAY IN COLORADO.

AND THAT IS WHAT THIS MAKES THIS SO CONFUSING IS THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD THINK THAT THIS ARGUMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE THEY EVER DID THE SELECTION PROCESS.

>> WELL, LOOKING FORWARD WHAT RECOURSE DO YOU THINK ALABAMA -- THE DELEGATION MIGHT HAVE IN THIS?

I MEAN, YOU ARE ON APPROPRIATIONS.

YOU ARE A VETERAN APPROPRIATOR.

CONGRESSMAN ROGERS THERE.

AND ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE DELEGATION.

LOOKING FORWARD IS THERE ANY KIND OF RECOURSE THAT ALABAMA HAS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATION?

WHETHER IT IS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS SIDE OF IT OR THE AUTHORIZATIONS SIDE OF IT?

>> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT I THINK DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

I DO THINK APPROPRIATIONS COULD BE ONE AVENUE.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE SPACE COMMAND HAS TO BE BUILT.

AND SO THERE HAS TO BE A REASON THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FUNDING THIS.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY ITSELF.

IT HAS TO BE DONE BY THE CONGRESS ALLOCATING THE MONEY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN CONGRESS THAT WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A POLITICAL DECISION.

WE WANT THIS TO BE DONE ON THE MERITS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE FUNDING THIS FACILITY.

SO THE ADMINISTRATION HAS GOT TO COME TO CONGRESS FOR THE FUNDING FOR THIS.

NOW OBVIOUSLY ALABAMA DELEGATION IN THE OVERALL SCHEME IS A SMALL DELEGATION.

BUT THE SAME TIME, I THINK WHAT RINGS TRUE IS THE ARGUMENT THAT WE DON'T WANT POLITICS BEING THE DECIDING FACTOR IN WHERE OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS WILL GO IN THIS COUNTRY AND DECIDE YOU KNOW WHAT DIRECTION OUR MILITARY IS GOING TO GO IN.

>> YOU KIND OF REFERENCED THAT EARLIER.

TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT PLUGGED INTO CONGRESS AND PLUGGED INTO ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DECISIONS.

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A BIG ONE.

BUT IT JUST KIND OF SEEMS LIKE THAT.

OKAY.

THERE IS A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.

IT IS GOING TO A DEMOCRATIC STATE.

AT LEAST A PURPLE STATE.

REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, IT GOES TO A REPUBLICAN STATE.

I KNOW IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE, BUT IT SORT OF SEEMS THAT WAY.

HOW DO YOU GET AROUND THAT?

LET'S JUST SAY THAT A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT IS ELECTED NEXT TIME AROUND, WHICH IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY.

AND HE REVERSE -- HE OR SHE REVERSES THIS DECISION.

YOU KNOW, DOES THAT SET UP A BAD PRECEDENT FOR JUST, YOU KNOW, COMMANDS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE MILITARY BEING THAT POLITICAL FOOTBALL?

>> WELL NO, I THINK THAT, AGAIN, THAT'S NOT HOW OUR MILITARY'S EVER OPERATED.

AND QUITE HONESTLY NOT HOW I VIEWED OR ANY OF OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE OPERATED BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SEEN IT GO DOWN THAT PATH IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE FBI, THE CIA, ALL THE MILITARY MAKES DECISIONS ON WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY AND WHAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT AND NOT ON, YOU KNOW, POLITICALLY MOTIVATED WHATSOEVER.

AND I THINK IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PATH, AS I MENTIONED, TO GO DOWN A PATH WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO -- OR WHERE WE WOULD BE DECIDING WINNERS AND LOSERS BASED ON THEIR POLITICS.

AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IF A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT GETS ELECTED, THEN THEY MAY WANT TO MOVE TO IT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STATE.

SO I JUST -- I THINK THAT'S THE DANGER OF ALL THIS.

>> WELL CONGRESSMAN, WHILE I HAVE YOU, I REALLY WANTED TO GET A PREVIEW OF WHAT IS TO COME ON THE APPROPRIATION SIDE.

AS I MENTIONED, YOU ARE A VETERAN PROPRIETOR, A SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN.

AND I KNOW IT IS RECESS RIGHT NOW BUT Y'ALL WILL BE BACK IN A FEW WEEKS THERE IN CONGRESS.

REALLY BEFORE -- WITH ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

LOTS OF WORK TO DO ON THE APPROPRIATIONS SIDE.

IS THERE ANY -- CAN THE HOUSE AND SENATE FIND SOME COMMON GROUND?

IS THERE A LEGITIMATE SPENDING DEAL TO BE MADE?

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT WHEN CONGRESS RETURNS IN TERMS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS?

>> WELL THE MAGIC DATE IS SEPTEMBER 30TH.

YOU KNOW, OCTOBER 1ST IS WHEN WE START A NEW FISCAL YEAR.

AND FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE 12 APPROPRIATION BILLS PASSED BY THAT TIME.

NOW OF COURSE AS YOU KNOW AND I'M SURE YOUR LISTENERS KNOW, THOSE 12 APPROPRIATION BILLS ARE THE ONLY 12 BILLS THAT HAVE TO BE PASSED EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THEY FUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THEREFORE THAT IS WHY AS YOU ARE REFERRING TO, IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

SO WE HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER THE 30TH TO DO THAT.

RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS THE HOUSE GOES, WE HAVE PASSED ONE OF THOSE APPROPRIATION BILLS OUT OF THE HOUSE.

FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WE HAVE TWO MORE FOR A FULL COMMITTEE THAT HAS TO BE PASSED.

AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT -- I DON'T KNOW IF THE SENATE HAS PASSED ANY ON THE FLOOR YET.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

AND SO WE -- WHAT WE USUALLY DO, THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL THAT WE COME TO THIS JUNCTURE BECAUSE OF THE AUGUST RECESS WHEN CONGRESS, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE GO BACK TO THEIR HOME DISTRICTS.

IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO BE IN THIS SITUATION WHEN WE GET BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE HAVE A STOPGAP MEASURE WE CAN DO AND DO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION.

AND HISTORICALLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS GIVEN SAY BRIDGE, 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THESE APPROPRIATION BILLS.

SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT WAS WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND WHAT WE'LL SEE TAKE PLACE TILL WE FINISH THOSE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE'LL HAVE 'EM ALL PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND TO THE PRESIDENT AND HIM SIGNED EVERY ONE TO LAW BY THAT SEPTEMBER 30TH DEADLINE.

>> WELL, LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TODD.

LOOK FORWARD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ >>> JOINING ME NEXT IS ED CASTILLE, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND EXECUTE DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW AND WE'RE TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE.

WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

YOUR ADVERTISING OF COURSE.

THE WORKS LOGO.

THE MADE IN ALABAMA LOGO.

>> YES.

>> I APPRECIATE THE BRANDING YOU KNOW.

BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT COMMERCE, ALABAMA WORKS AND ESPECIALLY AIDT AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE EFFORTS.

>> SURE.

HAPPY TO.

THE AIDT, ALABAMA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1971.

THERE'S BEEN TWO DIRECTORS FULL-TIME.

I'M THE SECOND AND I'M IN MY 30TH YEAR.

>> WOW.

>> AND ITS BEEN, AS YOU KNOW, SINCE 1993 WHEN MERCEDES LANDED, ITS BEEN QUITE A RIDE FOR US IN THE STATE.

BUT AIDT'S JOB IS TO HELP NOT ONLY BRING THE COMPANIES IN, AS AN INCENTIVE.

AND THE INCENTIVE IS IF YOU BRING YOUR BUSINESS TO ALABAMA, THE STATE WILL ASSIST YOU WITH RECRUITING, SCREENING AND TRAINING YOUR EMPLOYEES AT NO COST.

INCENTIVE OBVIOUSLY.

SO SINCE WE STARTED WE'VE CONTINUED TO IMPROVE OUR PROGRAM AND HELP MANY COMPANIES, MANY NAMED COMPANIES AS YOU KNOW.

NOT EVERY COMPANY USES AIDT, BUT MOST OF THE ONES THE GOVERNOR BRINGS IN.

GREG CANFIELD, SECRETARY CANFIELD BRINGS IN AND THOSE BEFORE HIM.

THEY -- YOU KNOW, WE TYPICALLY ARE PART OF THE INCENTIVE PART AND HELP THEM.

SO THAT IS OUR MAIN ROLE.

SO WE REALLY ARE TAKING INDIVIDUALS AND MATCHING THEM UP TO THE JOB AND THEN TRAINING THEM IN SOME AREAS THAT MAYBE THEY ARE LACKING IN SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL ON THE JOB.

AND THEN THE COMPANY THEN, OF COURSE, BE SUCCESSFUL AS THEY GROW.

COMMERCE GENERALLY -- OF COURSE THE WORKFORCE PART OF COMMERCE INCLUDES AIDT, WHICH IS THE LARGER OF THE PROGRAMS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS OPPORTUNITY ACT, FEDERAL PROGRAM.

A S.T.E.M.

COUNSEL, ALABAMA OFFICE OF APPRENTICESHIP.

RESOURCE COUNSEL, SEVERAL OF THOSE.

AND ALABAMA WORKFORCE COUNCIL.

SO SEVERAL THINGS LINED UP IN COMMERCE TO HELP KEEP IT ALL ALIGNED SO AS WE FOCUS ON THOSE SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED AND THE JOBS THAT AIDT MAY BE WORKING ON, THAT THESE PROGRAMS WILL HELP THEM AS WELL.

>> WE WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN GOVERNOR IVEY'S OP ED LAST WEEK.

IT REALLY SOUGHT TO SHIFT THE PUBLIC'S FOCUS FROM, YOU KNOW, JUST THE MONTHLY UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS THAT WE SEE TO THE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVERY MONTH WE REPORT ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY GOOD NEWS FOR A REALLY.

>> IT IS.

>> -- HISTORIC LOWS, 2.2%.

SO I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT SHE WAS INTENTIONAL ABOUT THIS.

SAYING LOOK, WHILE THAT IS VERY GOOD NEWS WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THIS LESS GOOD NEWS.

THE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE WHICH IS I THINK.

>> 57.4%.

>> ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY.

TALK ABOUT CONVERSATIONS AND WHY FOCUSING THAT NUMBER TO IMPROVE IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> WELL, SHE'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE.

SO WHEN WE'RE AT 10% UNEMPLOYMENT OR HIGHER, THAT IS OUT OF BALANCE.

SO YOU ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE YOU GET ENOUGH JOBS FOR THE PEOPLE.

BECAUSE YOU GOT LESS JOBS THAN YOU HAVE PEOPLE.

>> SURE.

>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT, OBVIOUSLY.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT SOME INCREDIBLE INVESTMENTS IN THE STATE, OF COURSE.

IN HER TIME, GOVERNOR IVEY'S TIME.

SO WHERE WE ARE NOW IS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS WORKFORCE FOLKS WANT TO BE.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS SPOT.

BUT TO MOVE FORWARD NOW WE HAVE TO SHIFT OUR THINKING.

BECAUSE NOW WE NEED TO WORK ON GETTING MORE PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE.

SO WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO FILL THE JOBS.

SO LABOR FORCE, PARTICIPATION RATE BECOMES REALLY, FOLKS LIKE ME AND COLLEGE FOLKS AND EVERYBODY IN EDUCATION WORKFORCE, REALLY HAS TO BE OUR FOCUS.

WE'VE DONE ONE BIG JOB.

AND THAT IS GET OUR UNEMPLOYMENT TO A GREAT SPOT.

AND WE LIKE THAT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE NECESSARILY TO FILL 'EM.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ALL FOCUSED ON NOW SPECIFICALLY.

WE'RE NEVER GONNA TAKE OUR EYE OFF OF CONTINUING TO GROW ENOUGH JOBS.

BECAUSE WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS A LOT.

BUT ON BACK PAGES OF THE SAME PRESS, WE HAVE CLOSURES TOO.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS JUST ALWAYS GOT TO BE THAT BALANCE.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE REALLY GOOD ON JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND WE JUST GOT NOW TO WORK ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH PARTICIPANTS IN THAT LABOR FORCE PERCENTAGE TO MEET THE NEEDS.

>> BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS FOLKS THAT ARE OF AGE, ABLE TO WORK, CHOOSING NOT TO FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.

AND I IMAGINE THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS WHO FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER ARE NOT GOING TO.

I IMAGINE YOU ALL DID SOME RESEARCH NOT TOO LONG AGO TALKING ABOUT BARRIERS TO THE WORKFORCE.

WHY AREN'T YOU PARTICIPATING?

THERE WERE THINGS LISTED LIKE TRANSPORTATION.

LOT OF US TAKE TRANSPORTATION FOR GRANTED, BUT THAT IS A REAL BARER FOR SOME PEOPLE.

CHILD CARE AND ELDERLY CARE.

CARING FOR AN ELDERLY PARENT.

THAT WAS BIG ONE.

IF YOU COMBINE THE TWO IT IS A REALLY BIG ONE.

>> SURE IS.

>> TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THAT SURVEY AND HOW THE STATE -- AND MAYBE SOME PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS, CAN HELP BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS.

>> SURE.

WELL I GOT TO SAY THERE IS A LOT OF, WHEN YOU ARE IN THE SITUATION WE'RE IN, AND THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY SHINED THE LIGHT ON A LOT OF THESE ISSUES RAPIDLY.

WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE ANYWAY TO WHERE WE'RE AT.

BUT PANDEMIC JUST ESCALATED THAT ISSUE.

SO BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, THERE ARE BARRIERS.

AND YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TODAY HAVE LITTLE TO NO BARRIERS.

BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT LABOR PARTICIPATION RATE, WE'VE GOT TO REMOVE AS MANY OF THE BARRIERS THAT IS KEEPING -- THAT ARE KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.

SO YOU MENTIONED TRANSPORTATION.

THE THING I LEARNED, I THOUGHT CHILD CARE WOULD HAVE BEEN NUMBER 1 OR CHILD CARE, ELDER CARE.

MAYBE IF YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER THEY WOULD BE.

BUT TRANSPORTATION WINDS UP ON TOP.

AND FIRST THING I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY TO ME.

EVERYBODY GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GET.

I MEAN, NOBODY HAS TROUBLE ANYMORE.

THIS IS 2023.

HOW CAN THAT BE?

WELL THEY MIGHT GET UNCLE JOE TO TAKE THEM TO THE DOCTOR OR MIGHT GET SOMEBODY TO GET THEM TO THE GROCERY STORE AND BACK.

BUT CAN THEY DO THAT CONSISTENTLY FIVE, SIX DAYS A WEEK AT 6:37 A.M.

IN THE MORNING?

>> EVERY DAY.

>> EVERY DAY.

EVERY WEEK.

SO THERE IT IS.

AND WE ARE -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE A RURAL STATE.

AND WE HAVE THOSE KIND OF BARRIERS.

AND THEN CHILD CARE AND SO FORTH.

SO JUST KIND OF HIT THAT AND CREDENTIALING, OR SKILLS.

LACK OF SKILLS IS A BIG ONE.

NOW I'VE GOT TO SAY, OF COURSE, JUST ABOUT ALL OF OUR WORKFORCE RESOURCES, EDUCATION RESOURCES ARE FOCUSED ON THAT VERY THING.

THEY HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON THAT.

BUT MORE SO NOW THAN EVER.

MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THEY FINISH SCHOOL, FINISH HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THEY ARE READING AT THE GRADE LEVELS WE NEED THEM TO BE.

AT THE MATH LEVELS WE NEED TO HAVE THEM AND SO FORTH.

AND THEN THE PROGRAMS AT THE TWO-YEAR COLLEGES, IF THEY WIND UP THERE, OF COURSE THEY JUST KEEP WORKING IN EVERY DAY APPLICATIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE SKILLS THAT WE NEED.

AND THEN OUR PROGRAMS IN COMMERCE, NOT JUST AIDT, BUT THE OTHER PROGRAM.

ESPECIALLY THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, WILA IS FOCUSED ON THOSE KIND OF THINGS, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME SPECIAL ISSUES.

AND THERE IS SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS, THOSE SPECIAL ISSUES PROBABLY RESULT FROM.

AND SO ALL OF US ARE FOCUSED ON THOSE.

AND MAKING SURE WE CAN GET THOSE SKILLS.

BACK ON THE, LIKE CHILD CARE.

SEVERAL PRIVATE COMPANIES IN HUNTSVILLE, I'LL USE AN EXAMPLE.

AND THERE ARE MANY MORE OF THESE.

BUT IN HUNTSVILLE, THE HUNTSVILLE CHAMBER WORKING WITH MANY OF THEIR INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES AND LABOR SHED IN THE MSA.

THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH A COMPANY CALLED TOOTRIS THAT HELPS COMPANIES LIKE MAZDA, TOYOTA HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES FIND THE CHILD CARE SERVICE NEEDED FOR THEM SPECIFICALLY.

AND THEN THEY ALSO HELP INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED SET UP A BUSINESS AS A CHILD CARE PROVIDER.

IT IS REALLY A VERY INTERESTING AND INNOVATIVE WAY TO WORK ON THIS PROBLEM.

AND MAZDA TOYOTA IS HEAVILY INVESTED IN ASSISTING WITH THAT.

ALONG WITH MANY OF THEIR SUPPLIERS AND I'M SURE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPANIES IN THE HUNTSVILLE AREA.

AND I KNOW THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR LARGER PLACES LIKE MONTGOMERY OR MOBILE.

THE TUSCALOOSA AREA.

TUSCALOOSA, THE WEST ALABAMA CHAMBER FOR EXAMPLE, WORKING ON MINI TRANSPORTATION PILOTS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO SERVE THAT PROBLEM OR HELP THAT PROBLEM.

AND SAME WITH CHILD CARE.

AND SO FORTH.

THEY ARE ALSO WORKING ON SPECIAL PROGRAMS WITH PRISON REENTRY AND SUCH.

YOU KNOW, REALLY THERE IS NO ROCK THAT IS NOT BEING LOOKED UNDER THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE OF ASSISTANCE TO US.

BUT PRIVATE, THE COMPANIES ARE PUTTING THEIR RESOURCES INTO THIS JUST AS STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES.

SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE COMPANIES IN OUR STATE THAT CAN SEE THEY NEED TO BE PART OF THIS SOLUTION, NOT JUST ON THE SIDE LINES TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT HELPING US WITH THE SOLUTION.

>> YEAH.

I REMEMBER WE HAD NEIL WADE, YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, HERE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TALK ABOUT HIS NEW FOUNDATION.

DOING JUST THAT, WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO SAY, OKAY, CAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HELP WITH BREAKING DOWN SOME OF THESE BARRIERS TO THE WORKFORCE.

I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT IT IS NOT JUST A STATE THING THAT.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS THERE TOO.

WHILE I'VE GOT YOU REAL QUICK, I KNOW YOU ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RECRUITMENT.

I'M CURIOUS NOW THAT IT'S CHANGED FINALLY THAT WE CAN SAY IT IS POSTCOVID.

I HAVE TO THINK THAT WORKFORCE ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT.

ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT UP THERE.

SECRETARY CANFIELD HIMSELF SAID IT IS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN INCENTIVES IN TERMS OF RECRUITING COMPANIES.

BUT POSTCOVID, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHEN Y'ALL ARE RECRUITING COMPANIES, ARE THEY ASKING COMPANIES ABOUT THE WORKFORCE AND WHAT AIDT AND OTHERS CAN DO FOR DEVELOPING THAT WORKFORCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEY REALLY ARE, AS YOU SAID, THAT IS THEIR TYPICALLY THEIR FIRST OR SECOND.

MOST OF TIME, FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD ISSUE AND WORKFORCE OR LABOR.

SO YES.

AND THE QUESTIONS THEY ARE ASKING.

YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE YOU IN S.T.E.M.

EDUCATION IN THE STATE?

IN THE AREA THEY ARE LOOKING AT FOR EXAMPLE.

MAYBE THE SITE.

WHERE ARE WE IN S.T.E.M.

PROGRAMS IN K-12.

THEY WANT TO KNOW THOSE THINGS.

>> THAT IS VERY SPECIFIC.

>> THAT IS VERY SPECIFIC.

OBVIOUSLY TOO, AS WE ENTER A DIGITAL WORLD AND THE INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURING, I DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN IN A CAR PLANT IN OUR STATE OR ANY OF OUR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

I MEAN, THIS IS A DIGITAL, SMART FACTORY WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN.

SO THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE MORE THAN JUST REMOTELY TRAINED.

THEY HAVE TO BE SKILLED IN THESE AREAS.

AND IT IS VERY TECHNICAL.

BECAUSE OF CLOUD-BASED TECHNOLOGY AND ON AND ON.

START NAMING EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, THE INSIDE OF A CAR PLANT'S CHANGING ABOUT AS FAST AS THE TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR PHONE.

IT IS THAT QUICK.

AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE WORKFORCE TO MEET THAT NEED.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYWHERE.

ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT IS THE SAME.

WELL, WE IN ALABAMA ARE VERY FOCUSED ON THAT.

AND OUR SECRET SAUCE, OPINION.

YOU DIDN'T ASK BUT IN MY OPINION.

IS THAT WE DO TALK AND LISTEN AND WORK WITH THE COMPANIES DIRECTLY.

AND SO WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE CUSTOMER AND THEN FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THAT NEED, FOR THAT ISSUE, THEN YOU WIN.

AND THAT IS WHERE I THINK WE'RE REALLY DOING A VERY GOOD JOB WITH IT.

BUT IT IS.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL POINTS.

AND IF THEY CAN'T GET THE WORKFORCE OR THEY THINK THEY CAN'T GET IT, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING WIN AS A STATE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY TIME IN MANY YEARS IN ALABAMA, I THINK WE HAVE ALL OF OUR LEADERSHIP FOCUSED ON THIS.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OBVIOUSLY.

THEY HAVE CREATED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION.

THAT NICK MOORE HEADS UP.

FOCUSED ON TAKING CARE OF PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN COMMERCE, THAT THE AIDT IS LINED UP AND LOOKING AT THE REAL DATA THAT HELPS US KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEED IS WHAT WE DO TO CREATE AND INNOVATE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.

>> WELL, LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS A CONVERSATION THAT IS JUST GETTING STARTED.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT A LOT MORE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR COME ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU MY FRIEND.

>> YES, SIR.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

CLICK ON THE ONLINE TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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

>>> JOINING ME NEXT IS SERGEANT JEREMY BRICKETT FROM THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING I.

>> I WAS EAGER TO HAVE YOU ON AFTER WE GOT Y'ALL'S NEWS RELEASE EARLIER THIS WEEK OR LAST WEEK ABOUT TROOPER CHARLES MAY.

>> YES, SIR.

>> WHO WAS EXPOSED TO THIS SUBSTANCE.

YOU ARE CALLING IT "TRANK."

A MIX OF FENTANYL AND XYLAZINE?

I'M HOPING I GOT THAT RIGHT.

SOUNDS LIKE A DANGEROUS COCKTAIL OF A DRUG.

>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY NEW TO.

IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BECAUSE BASICALLY XYLAZINE IS A HORSE TRANQUILIZER.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD USE TO POTENTIALLY TRANQUILIZE A 1200-POUND ANIMAL.

AND NOW YOU ARE MIXING IT WITH FENTANYL, WHICH IS AGAIN A VERY DANGEROUS DRUG.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT TWO THINGS, THE PUBLIC TO YOU SAID.

BUT ALSO FOR US AS LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW CHALLENGE.

HEY, HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THIS FROM AN OFFICER SAFETY STANDPOINT?

AND THEN EVEN JUST AS YOU SAID, WE HAD ONE OF OUR OWN POTENTIALLY HAD AN EXPOSURE TO IT.

THIS HAS CAUSED HIM A LOT OF ISSUES.

AND THAT IS ONE THING WE DO WANT TO SHARE AND HIGHLIGHT.

WE JUST CONTINUE TO ASK EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR CHARLES MAY AND HIS FAMILY.

BECAUSE THIS HAS CAUSED HIM SOME HEALTH ISSUES SINCE THIS INCIDENT.

>> AND I READ THAT -- BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN OPIOID, IT MAY NOT RESPOND TO THE SAME NALOXONE.

>> WELL NARCAN.

SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TALK ABOUT.

AND WE ABSOLUTELY ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE TO GO AHEAD AND USE IT.

BECAUSE AGAIN WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW, RIGHT?

SOMEBODY -- IT WILL BE ONCE THESE DRUGS ARE TAKEN IN, WE WOULD SEND THEM TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE.

AND THEY WOULD RUN A TEST AND BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH EXACTLY WHAT SOME OF THESE CHEMICALS ARE.

BECAUSE THEY CAN BE MIXED.

BUT ABSOLUTELY, IF YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE SOMEBODY'S HAD A POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO ONE OF THESE SUBSTANCES, GIVER THEM NARCAN.

BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST GOING TO BE SO MUCH BETTER OFF TO DO THAT.

BECAUSE FENTANYL AND XYLAZINE FROM THE HUMAN STANDPOINT WOULD CREATE A LOT OF THE SAME REACTIONS.

AGAIN, THEY CALL IT TRANK, ALSO NOBODY AS THE ZOMBIE DRUG.

AND THEY REFER TO THESE THINGS, THEY WILL SAY, HEY, THAT PERSON IS ON THE NOD.

BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU VERY LETHARGIC.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HEAR AND SEE THINGS.

BUT THE INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO RESPOND, YOU KNOW.

SO IT WILL BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A SEIZURE.

OR THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIVE.

SO IF YOU WERE TO ENCOUNTER SOMEBODY IN THAT CONDITION, AND YOU'VE GOT NARCAN AVAILABLE?

ADMINISTER IT.

AND EVEN FOR US AS LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND THAT IS KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH TROOPER MAY IN THE SITUATION.

HE EXECUTED CUSTODIAL ARREST FOR SOMEONE THAT WAS IMPAIRED.

THAT INDIVIDUAL FELL ILL. AND HE WAS ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF ADMINISTERING NARCAN AND DURING THE PROCESS MAY IS HAVE BECOME EXPOSED.

AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO HAVE NARCAN ADMINISTERED TO HIM.

AND BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL AND TROOPER MAY HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> IT IS ALSO JUST A REMINDER OF WHAT YOU GUYS FACE OUT IN THE FIELD EVERY SINGLE DAY.

YOU KNOW, NEW THREATS, EVEN EMERGING.

AND I KNOW HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE THEY PASSED A LAW LAST YEAR ABOUT EXPOSURE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE UPDATED NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF SOME PAPERWORK ISSUES.

BUT MAYBE THIS NEW TRANK THING WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND WHATEVER FUTURE DRUGS.

THIS IS NEW TO ME.

>> YES, SIR.

AND AGAIN -- AND IT IS NOT THAT NECESSARILY -- AND WE LOVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS.

AND WE REALIZE THAT XYLAZINE MAY NOT BE NEW.

BUT THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY HAS TAKEN THIS CHEMICAL AND THEN MIXING IT WITH FENTANYL TO REALLY CREATE THIS VERY POTENT AND DANGEROUS STREET DRUG IS NEW.

AND BECAUSE IT IS SO STRONG.

AND WE GO BACK TO FENTANYL.

JUST REMEMBER PRESCRIPTION FENTANYL.

AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

THIS IS SOMETHING MADE ILLEGALLY.

GOING TO BE FULLY SYNTHETIC AND MAYBE MANUFACTURED IN A PILL MILL OR SOME LAB WHERE THEY ARE NOT REALLY MAKING SURE WHAT GOES INTO IT.

BUT PRESCRIPTION FENTANYL IS 50 OR 100 TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SYNTHETIC MIXED WITH A HORSE TRANQUILIZER.

SO EVEN IF YOUR SKIN COMES IN CONTACT, YOU COULD ABSORB IT.

AND DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, YOUR TOLERANCE OR YOUR CHEMICAL MAKEUP OF THE INDIVIDUAL, YOU COULD HAVE A SEVERE REACTION TO THESE THINGS.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT'S REALLY SO DANGEROUS YOU KNOW FROM AN OFFICER SAFETY STANDPOINT.

WE GOT MAKE SURE OFFICERS HAVE GLOVES ON.

AND THEY ARE TAKING THOSE PRECAUTIONS.

SO ONCE THEY SEE THESE THINGS, WE'RE HAVING TO KIND OF CHANGE OUR TACTICS AND PROCEDURES FOR EVEN HOW WE DEAL WITH IT.

BECAUSE EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN IT.

WE WEREN'T EQUIPPED WITH NARCAN.

WHERE AS NOW THAT'S STANDARD.

EVERY ARRESTING OFFICER WITH ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS EQUIPPED WITH NARCAN NOW.

>> WOW.

SCARY STUFF.

I WANTED TO WHILE I HAVE YOU TALK ABOUT DADEVILLE.

>> YES, SIR.

>> THIS BECAME THE DADEVILLE SHOOTING BECAME NOT JUST A STATEWIDE ISSUE, A NATIONAL ISSUE WITH THIS MAN HUNT THAT ENSUED.

SO I WANT TO -- I KNOW THERE IS PLENTY YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE CASE AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE COURTROOM AND ALL THAT.

THE EVIDENCE.

BUT WALK US -- TAKE US INSIDE A LITTLE BIT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN INTO ALLIYAH AS THIS IS GOING ON.

THIS BECOMES A MAN HUNT.

THIS BECOMES A HUGELY INTENSE SITUATION.

WHAT IS IT LIKE?

AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND INSIDE THE AGENCY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR US -- FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, -- AND TUNNEL VISION IS NOT THE RIGHT TERM.

BUT WHEN THESE SITUATIONS HAPPEN FOR US, BECAUSE WE DO SOME OF THESE THINGS EVERY DAY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SOMETIMES THAT MAY BE MISSED.

E WE HAVE INVESTIGATORS THAT WORK THESE TYPE OF CASES.

NOT THIS MAGNITUDE.

NOT THIS LEVEL.

>> SCRUTINY.

>> CORRECT.

NOT TO THE SAME LEVEL OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE INJURED.

INDIVIDUALS THAT LOST THEIR LIVES.

BUT THEY ARE USED TO DOING THESE TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS.

SO FOR ARRESTING OFFICERS.

AND AGAIN THIS IS ALL HANDS ON DECK.

SO YOU HAVE GOT EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS CASE WHEN IT COMES FROM THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

SO AGAIN LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

YOU HAVE ALL YOUR INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON AND THEY ARE KIND OF COMPARTMENTALIZED, TASK AND PURPOSE.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, EVEN ME IN A PUBLIC AFFAIRS STANDPOINT.

WE'RE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED AND WE'VE GOT LOT OF THINGS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

BUT THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE LOCALS, WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, THE FEDERAL PARTNERS THE ATF, THE FBI.

AND ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY.

AND I WILL SAY WE'RE FORTUNATE IN STATE OF ALABAMA TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

AND WE TEND TO GET REALLY LASER FOCUSED ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT THAT -- I DON'T MEAN THIS TO SOUND CAVALIER.

BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY CONSIDER ALL THOSE THINGS, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE FACTS SO WE CAN BRING JUSTICE TO BEAR FOR THE FAMILIES.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS FOR US.

YOU GET TO MEET THE FAMILIES AND SEE THE FAMILIES AND LOOK IN THEIR EYES AND FACES AND SEE THAT DEVASTATION.

SO IT TENDS TO REALLY MOTIVATE US TO MAKE SURE JUSTICE IS BROUGHT TO BEAR.

BUT THE THING ABOUT IT, AND I KNOW PEOPLE MAY CRITIQUE IT.

WE MAY HAVE BEEN SLOW TO SHARE INFORMATION.

BUT THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON FOR US TO UNDERSTAND.

AND THIS IS THE WAY I LOVE TO SHARE IT.

YOU KNOW ESPECIALLY WITH OUR FUSION CENTER AND DIFFERENT PARTNERS.

WE WERE TAKING IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION.

AND WE'RE HAVING TO SORT THROUGH THAT INFORMATION.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE INFORMATION.

BUT FOR US IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'VE GOT TO GET IT TO THAT INTELLIGENCE.

WE CALL IT THAT INTELLIGENCE BUCKET.

AND THEN THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN USE.

AND THEN AT SOME POINT WE'VE GOT TO INTRODUCE IT INTO A CASE OF LAW WHERE EVERYBODY, BECAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION THE, WHICH IS A GREAT THING, AND WE ALL REALLY APPRECIATE, HAS GOT TO BE PALATABLE TO GO THROUGH A COURT OF LAW.

AND THERE ARE PROCEDURES THAT FALL IN LINE WITH THAT.

SO WE DON'T EVER WANT TO PUT OUT ANY INFORMATION TOO EARLY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RISK A CRIMINAL PROSECUTION THAT MAY ULTIMATELY NOT EVEN HAPPEN 6, 12 OR 18 MONTHS FROM NOW.

SO THAT IS THE PLACE WE'RE IN.

WE'RE LIVING IN THAT MOMENT THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAY HAPPEN 6, 12, 18 MONTHS FROM NOW.

SO WE'RE HAVING TO CONSIDER THOSE THINGS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY, HEY WEAVE GOT INDIVIDUALS, JUST AS YOU SAID.

THERE IS A MAN HUNT GOING ON.

SO WE'VE GOT TO GET HIM AS QUICK AS WE CAN.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO PUT OUT ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USED.

BECAUSE IT IS ALL ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND EVEN WHILE I'M HERE AND I DO JUST TO LET EVERYBODY REALIZE.

IF WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS AB IMMINENT THREAT.

SO IF WE HAVE CREDIBLE INFORMATION THERE IS A IMMINENT THREAT OR THE PUBLIC IS IN DANGER.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT.

WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IS IF WE HAVE INFORMATION WHERE WE HAVE SUSPECTS THAT MAY BE AT LARGE.

WE'RE NOT GOING PUT OUT INFORMATION.

>> DON'T TELL THEM THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

>> CORRECT.

THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAN USE TO EVENTUALLY EVADE CAPTURE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

>> I GET IT.

AND TALK ABOUT CRITICISM OR FRUSTRATION.

WE'RE IN THE AGE OF TWITTER.

>> OH YEAH, SIR.

>> LIVE TV.

THINK ABOUT DECADES AGO.

FOLKS WOULD HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THIS IN THE NEWSPAPER, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT DAY.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT BALANCE.

WE'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS CARLY RUSSELL SITUATION.

THIS ABDUCTION ALERT THAT ENDED UP BEING A HOAX.

NOT TO GET INTO THE CASE AT ALL.

BUT I KNOW Y'ALL WORK WITH ALERTS A LOT.

CONSIDERING HOW IT ENDED UP WORKING OUT.

AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

SPECIFICALLY ON THE ALERTS, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THE SITUATION IN TERMS OF THE AMBER ALERTS SILVER ALERTS AND ABDUCTION ALERTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> STILL VIEW THEM AS CREDIBLE AS THEY WERE BEFORE.

AND I THINK THIS DOES GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY.

EVEN NOW THAT YOU ASK THIS QUESTION.

FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SAY THERE IS A REASON THAT SOMETIMES WHEN THESE ALERTS HAPPEN OR THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU SEE -- AND IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A DELAY.

BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE TERM I WANT TO USE.

BUT THERE IS A PROCESS FOR THAT ALERT TO BE ISSUED.

WHERE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKS WITH ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FUSION CENTER AND MAKES SURE THAT THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE OR THE THINGS THAT ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE GONE ON ACTUALLY WENT ON.

SO ONE, WE MAINTAIN A CREDIBLE STANDARD FOR THESE ALERTS.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW TWO THINGS.

ONE, WHEN THEY SEE THESE ALERTS, THEY ARE 100% CREDIBLE.

WE WANT THEM TO BELIEVE THAT INFORMATION IS ACCURATE SO WHEN THEY SEE IT, READ IT AND THEY PROVIDE INFORMATION BACK TOO US.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED THAT INFORMATION BACK SO AGAIN WE CAN GET INTO THAT INTELLIGENCE BUCKET.

>> BUT WE ALSO WANT PEOPLE TO JUST UNDERSTAND AND REALIZE THERE IS A REASON THERE MAY BE TIME BUILT INTO THAT PROCESS FOR THOSE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO, AGAIN, TAKE IN THAT INFORMATION AND VET IT.

WE'VE GOT -- THERE'S GOT TO BE A VETTING PROCESS SO WE CAN MAINTAIN A STANDARD OF CREDIBILITY AS IT RELATES TO THESE ALERTS.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

SERGEANT BURKETT.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> YES, SIR, THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ >>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME WITH MORE "CAPITOL JOURNAL" RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.