>> TONIGHT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL," WE'RE JOINED BY SENATE MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO, WHO'LL DISCUSS OUR PRISON PROBLEMS AND HIS DISMAY THAT ALABAMA'S FEDERAL COVID UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WERE ENDING THIS WEEKEND.

WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS OF DECATUR, THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE, WHO‘LL TALK WITH US ABOUT THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER TO TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND THE LOOMING IMPLEMENTATION OF A MANDATE SHE CHAMPIONED THAT WILL HOLD 3RD GRADERS BACK IF THEY CAN'T READ AT GRADE LEVEL.

REPRESENTATIVE SHANE STRINGER OF CITRONELLE WILL BE WITH US TO DISCUSS HIS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR SHERIFF IN MOBILE COUNTY, AFTER HE LOST HIS JOB WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OVER HIS SUPPORT OF CERTAIN GUN LEGISLATION.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT HIS FEARS THAT THE COVID VARIANT COULD POSSIBLY BECOME DOMINANT IN ALABAMA.

IT'S ALL NEXT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, ALABAMA'S FEDERAL COVID UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WERE ENDING THIS WEEKEND, AFTER THE STATE IN MAY OPTED OUT OF THE PROGRAM THAT GAVE JOBLESS ALABAMA RESIDENTS AN EXTRA $300 IN FEDERAL AID.

THE REASONING WAS THAT THE BENEFIT WAS KEEPING SOME FROM RE-ENTERING THE JOB MARKET.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SAID THIS WEEK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS AVAILABLE AND THAT WAGES IN THE STATE ARE UP.

>> PEOPLE CAN MAKE MORE MONEY WITH A JOB BECAUSE WAGES HAVE INCREASED HIGHER THAN THEY CAN JUST ROLLING UNEMPLOYMENT.

IT'S REAL IMPORTANT FOR OUR PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO WORK.

>> THE EXPIRATION OF THE ALABAMA FEDERAL COVID UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COMES AS FEWER AND FEWER STATE RESIDENTS ARE FILING FOR JOBLESS CLAIMS.

THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REPORTED TODAY THAT THE STATE'S MAY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED TO 3.4%, A NEW RECORD LOW POST-PANDEMIC FIGURE.

IT ALSO REPORTED NEW RECORD HIGH WAGES, WITH AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS FOR BUSINESS RISING TO $968 IN APRIL, UP MORE THAN $67 OVER THE YEAR.

STILL, SOME ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS WEEKEND'S END OF THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN ALABAMA.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT HE FEELS THE STATE'S WAGE LEVELS COULD STILL STAND SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT.

>> WHILE I UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNOR IN THIS COMMUNITY IS LOOKING AT PEOPLE COMING BACK TO WORK -- THEY CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO WORK.

I THINK THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY LOOK NEEDS TO LOOK AT PEOPLE CAN COME TO WORK FOR YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR.

>> SENATOR SINGLETON WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS WAGE INEQUITIES AND THE IMPACT OF ENDING THE FEDERAL COVID UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN THE STATE.

>> THE JOBLESS DEVELOPMENTS COME AS OFFICIALS FROM BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION GATHERED IN MONTGOMERY THIS WEEK WITH A COMMON GOAL OF FINDING WAYS TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S WORKFORCE AND TO BOOST OUR ECONOMY.

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

>> WITH SOCIETY REOPENING FROM THE STRAINS OF COVID-19, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING INTO THE WORK OF GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

SOME OF IT IS HAPPENING HERE.

>> IT IS A TRUE INDICATION OF WHAT WE ALL NEED TO TRY TO DO AND THAT IS TO WORK TOGETHER IN A TEAM EFFORT TO GET THESE PROGRAMS UP AND RUNNING.

>> THIS ALABAMA WORKFORCE COUNCIL'S MEETING IS BRINGING IDEAS, ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRANSITION TO HASH OUT PLANS TO FILL JOB OPENINGS.

>> PROGRAMS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TODAY FOR WORKFORCE, IN DEVELOPING THE WORKFORCE, CREATING THE WORKFORCE, GETTING THE WORKFORCE WE CURRENTLY HAVE SKILLED TO THE LEVELS WE NEED THEM SKILLED IS OUR TOP PRIORITY.

>> PARTICIPANTS IN THIS WORKSHOP SAY UNOFFICIALLY THE THEME FOR IT IS TEAM WORK, FINDING WAYS TO GET STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE WORLDS OF POLITICS, EDUCATION AND BUSINESS TO GET TOGETHER AND HELP FIND PEOPLE TO FIND JOBS AND TO FIND WAYS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY.

IT'S AN EFFORT THAT'S CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF STATE LEADERS FROM MANY DIFFERENT AREAS.

>> I NEVER WALK INTO A BUSINESS OR BY A BUSINESS THEY DON'T SEE A HELP WANTED SIGN.

I'M HOPING TOWARD THE END OF THE MONTH WE WILL GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, LOOKING AT OUR WORKFORCE, MOVING FORWARD, LOOKING AT SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THERE'S A DEFINITE NEED.

>> EMPLOYERS ARE STARVING FOR PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

THEY DESPERATELY NEED PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE, BUT A SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIFIC SKILL SETS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INCREASING WAGES AND EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TODAY.

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

>> THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS THIS WEEK ASKED A FEDERAL JUDGE TO DISMISS PART OF A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM.

SPECIFICALLY, IT'S SEEKING TO HAVE THROWN OUT FEDERAL CLAIMS OF UNSAFE AND UNSANITARY PRISON CONDITIONS AND OF A SHORTAGE OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.

THE STATE CONTENDS THAT PRISON CONDITIONS AREN'T SERIOUS ENOUGH TO VIOLATE INMATES' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AS ALLEGED.

AND IT BELIEVES THAT THE COURT SHOULD DISMISS THE DOJ'S CLAIMS ABOUT A SHORTAGE OF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS BECAUSE THE PRISON SYSTEM IS ALREADY UNDER A FEDERAL COURT ORDER TO INCREASE STAFFING.

A SPECIAL SESSION ON WHETHER TO BUILD NEW PRISONS IS WIDELY EXPECTED THIS YEAR, BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PROSPECT THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WAS NON-COMMITTAL.

>> A SPECIAL SESSION IS PROBABLY VERY LIKELY.

PRISONS IS NOT SO MUCH -- WE ARE WORKING THROUGH OPTIONS ON THAT AND UNTIL EVERYBODY AGREES WITH A PLAN YOU DON'T BRING THEM INTO A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> IVEY HAS MET WITH LEADERS ABOUT A BOND ISSUE TO BUILD PRISONS AFTER A PRIVATE LEASE DEAL FELL THROUGH AND THOSE WILL CONTINUE.

LAWMAKERS WILL COME BACK AND WORK ON REDRAWING THE DISTRICT LINES.

THEY HAVE BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

NEXT YEAR'S RACE FOR STATE AUDITOR GOT COMPETITIVE THIS WEEK.

REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW SORRELL OF MUSCLE SHOALS LAUNCHED A SOCIAL MEDIA SITE FOR HIS REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN FOR THE OFFICE AND IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT NEXT WEEK.

MEANTIME, JEFFERSON COUNTY PASTOR STAN COOKE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD AGAIN SEEK THE GOP AUDITOR'S NOMINATION, AFTER RUNNING UNSUCCESSFULLY IN 2018.

CURRENT STATE AUDITOR JIM ZEIGLER IS TERM LIMITED AND CAN'T RUN AGAIN BUT HIS WIFE, STATE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER JACKIE ZEIGLER, IS SAID TO BE CONSIDERING ENTERING THE RACE.

JIM ZEIGLER HAS SAID THAT HE MIGHT EXPLORE A POSSIBLE RUN FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR.

>> THE MAN WHO LEADS DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE SENATE IS WEIGHING IN ON THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER TO TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS.

IT'S THE CONCEPT THAT HOLDS THAT RACISM GOES BEYOND INDIVIDUAL PREJUDICES TO INCLUDE SYSTEMIC BIAS.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT HE FIRMLY BELIEVES IN THAT CONCEPT AND CONTENDS THAT IT EXISTS AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> I CAN WALK IN A ROOM WITH NINE WHITE MEN AND NO ONE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING SOMEONE BLACK ON A COMMITTEE.

THAT HAPPENS AROUND HERE ALL THE TIME.

SO, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS INHERENTLY BAKED IN.

I AGREE THEY NEVER THINK ABOUT IT.

>> THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON A CRITICAL RACE THEORY RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION NEXT MONTH.

AND REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE OF MOBILE HAS PRE-FILED A BILL FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD BAN IT'S TEACHING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS OF DECATUR CHAIRS THE HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY CONSIDER THAT BILL.

SHE TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT IT COULD BE A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

>> I THINK BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A CLEAR SET DEFINITION THAT IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE MEANING SOMETHING ELSE WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, AND THAT WILL MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY DEBATE, AS WELL AS FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION OF HER ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

THE ACT CONTAINS A MANDATE THAT THIRD GRADERS WHO CAN'T READ AT GRADE LEVEL BE HELD BACK, A MANDATE THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT AFTER GOVERNOR KAY IVEY VETOED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE DELAYED IT FOR TWO YEARS.

THAT BILL BY SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN OF BIRMINGHAM CITED LEARNING LOSS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND SMITHERMAN ALSO QUESTIONED WHETHER TEACHERS HAD ALL THE TOOLS THEY NEEDED TO HELP STUDENTS WITH READING DEFICIENCIES.

IN PART TWO OF HER SERIES ON THE LITERACY ACT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH TAKES A CLOSER LOOK TONIGHT AT WHAT'S BEING DONE TO PROPERLY EQUIP TEACHERS.

>> GET OUR TEACHERS A CHANCE TO GET CERTIFIED, DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO AND TO GIVE OUR KIDS A CHANCE TO LEARN BEFORE WE ACTUALLY THRUST THEM INTO THIS TEST.

>> WE'RE LETTING IT BE KNOWN THAT THE SCIENCE OF READING IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO GETTING OUR KIDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE -- AND WITH THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING OUT OF THE SCIENCE OF READING THE GOLD STANDARD IS LETTERS.

>> IT IS VERY INTENSE AND IT'S NOT JUST A SHORT SPOON-FED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A LONG-RANGE, BUILT ON, AGAIN, RESEARCH-BASED COMPONENTS.

SO, IT'S NOT JUST YOU TAKE THEM AND TAKE IT FOR AN HOUR OR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND YOU ARE DONE WITH IT.

>> LETTERS IS 24 HOURS OF TRAINING TO BE COMPLETED IN ONE YEAR.

LETTERS 3-E IS 48 HOURS TO BE COMPLETED IN TWO.

JACKIE ZEIGLER IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND IS AMONG 13,000 ALABAMA EDUCATORS WHO HAVE TAKEN OR IS TAKING THE TRAINING.

SHE FOUND IT IS A CROWD FAVORITE.

>> I WENT TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND AREAS TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T JUST GETTING ONE, YOU KNOW, ONE INSTRUCTOR'S POINT OF VIEW, WHAT BUT WHAT I WAS HEARING IS THE SAME INFORMATION NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE STATE I WAS IN AND I WAS SO THRILLED THAT IT WAS AND THE TEACHERS WERE ENTHRALLED.

>> SHE SAID THIS ABOUT THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

>> WHETHER YOU LOVE OR HATE IT OR WHATEVER, IT DOES GIVE US MORE OF A PLATFORM OR A DESIGNATED BEGINNING AND END POINT SO THAT WE ARE AT LEAST ALL ON THE SAME ROAD.

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

>> STATE EMPLOYEES GOT TODAY OFF TO OBSERVE THE NEW FEDERAL JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY LATE THURSDAY ISSUED A PROCLAMATION TO THAT EFFECT, AFTER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED INTO LAW LEGISLATION DESIGNATING JUNE 19TH AS JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY.

THE BILL PASSED THE U.S SENATE WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT AND WAS APPROVED IN THE HOUSE BY A VOTE OF 415-14.

ALL OF THE NO VOTES WERE BY REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING ALABAMA CONGRESSMEN MO BROOKS AND MIKE ROGERS.

JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATES THE DAY THE LAST ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS LEARNED THAT THEY WERE FREE.

>> ALABAMA HAVING ONE OF THE LOWEST COVID-19 VACCINATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY BROUGHT THE NATION'S SECOND GENTLEMAN TO THE STATE THIS WEEK.

DOUG EMHOFF SPOKE IN BIRMINGHAM ABOUT THE NEED FOR STATE RESIDENTS TO GET THE SHOTS AND WAS JOINED BY U.S. VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY DENIS MCDONOUGH, WHO ALSO SPOKE IN MONTGOMERY.

>> PRESIDENT THREW DOWN A TARGET OF 70% BY JULY 4th AND HERE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL GOT VACCINATED HERE BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT, LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN INTO THE COMMUNITIES, AND TALK ABOUT WHY.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO GET VACCINATED?

>> NOT ONLY DOES IT PROTECT YOURSELF, IT PROTECTS THOSE LOVED ONES AROUND YOU.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT IS PASSING THE VIRUS UNKNOWINGLY TO SOMEONE, INCLUDING ONE OF OUR GREAT HEROS, OUR VETS.

>> ALABAMA IS RANKED SECOND TO LAST IN THE NATION FOR CORONAVIRUS VACCINATIONS WITH A RATE OF LESS THAN 30% FOR THOSE FULLY VACCINATED.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

AND THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE FREE MOBILE APP.

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 IS HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, SHANE STRINGER IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU MADE HEADLINES A MONTH WHO AGO WHEN YOU LOST YOUR JOB OVER YOUR SUPPORT OF A PARTICULAR GUN BILL.

IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL.

IT SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A PERMIT TO CARRY A GUN IN THE STATE.

IT'S BEEN SOMEWHAT DIVISIVE IN SOME SECTORS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.

THE SHERIFF DISAGREED WITH YOUR POSITION OVER THIS LEGISLATION AND IT ULTIMATELY COST YOU YOUR JOB.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOW BEING PUSHED BY SOME TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR SHERIFF DOWN THERE.

>> GETTING A LOT OF REQUESTS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME TO RUN FOR SHERIFF NOW THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE.

A LOT OF THAT COMES DOWN TO MY STANCE ON THE CONSTITUTION AND MY REPUTATION IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY IN MOBILE COUNTY.

>> OUTSIDE OF THAT, HAVE YOU DECIDED WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO LAND NEXT?

IS ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT JOB IN YOUR NEAR FUTURE?

>> IT COULD BE.

I HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

BASICALLY TRYING TO LOOK AT WHAT IS BEST FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

WE WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE A DECISION ON THAT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>> THE LEGISLATION THAT WE SPEAK OF, THE CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL, YOU FELT STRONG ENOUGH ABOUT, EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T GET OUT OF THIS YEAR'S SPECIAL LEGISLATION YOU PRE-FILED THE SAME BILL FOR NEXT YEAR, RIGHT?

>> YES, SIR.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE DONE BEFORE CONSIDERING TO FILE THINK BILL IS I LOOKED TO OTHER STATES THAT HAVE CONSTITUTION CARRY AND REACHED OUT TO SHERIFFS IN THOSE AREAS AND BASICALLY THEY SAID THE CRIME DIDN'T GO UP.

THE PISTOL PERMIT SALES ONLY FELL A LITTLE BIT AND NOTHING ELSE CHANGED.

THE CONSTITUTION IS THE CONSTITUTION.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS ARE THE ONLY ONES BUYING THE PERMITS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

A $20 PIECE OF PLASTIC ISN'T GOING TO STOP AN EVIL-HEARTED PERSON OR CRIMINAL TO FROM DOING HARM TO ME, YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE.

THIS IS STRICTLY ABOUT THE MONEY WITH THE SHERIFFS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH OTHER WAYS TO FUND THOSE AREAS OF THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT BESIDES OFF THE BACKS OF LAWFUL GUN OWNERS.

>> THEY SAY THIS IS ABOUT THE SHERIFFS AND THE GUN OWNERS.

THEY RECOGNIZE MONEY FROM FEES BUT IN YOUR CONVERSATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU HEARD BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DIVIDED OVER THE ISSUE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER MY TERMINATION WITH THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS MOBILE COUNTY AND THE STATE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

THE OFFICERS ARE REACHING OUT AND TELLING ME THE SAME THING, THE PISTOL PERMIT DOES NOT MAKE ANYTHING SAFER FOR THEM, DOES NOT MAKE THEM FEEL SAFER AND DOES NOTHING FOR THEM.

OFFICERS UNDERSTAND THAT CRIMINALS DON'T ADHERE TO LAWS.

LAWS ARE FOR LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.

THE SYSTEMS THE SHERIFFS HAVE IN PLACE NOW IS NOT WORKING.

IT'S NOT PRODUCTIVE FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

IF AN OFFICER STOPS A PERSON AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND THEY SHOW A PERMIT FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTY ACROSS THE STATE, THAT OFFICER HAS NO WAY TO VALIDATE TO KNOW IF THAT PERMIT IS EVEN LEGIT OR A GOOD PERMIT.

SO I THINK THE PROHIBITIVE PERSON DATABASE THAT ROBERTSON INTRODUCED WILL HELP MORE THAN ANYTHING WHICH WILL ALLOW WHENEVER A CAR IS PULLED OVER IT WILL TELL THEM IF THE PERSON IS PROHIBITED, WHICH IS WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW.

THEY NEED TO KNOW WHO IS PROHIBITED VERSUS WHICH LAWFUL CITIZENS HAVE GUNS.

>> YOU THINK A YEAR'S WORTH OF DISCUSSION AND YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ISSUE MIGHT MEAN BETTER THINGS FOR IT NEXT YEAR IN.

>> I THINK SO.

YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR A LOT OF LEGISLATORS.

ALMOST EVERY SINGLE LEGISLATOR IN THE HOUSE HAS REACHED OUT TO ME IN SUPPORT OF THIS AND IT HAS BEEN AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE.

INSTEAD OF JUST TAKING THE WORDS OF CERTAIN PEOPLE, THEY ARE DOING THEIR HOMEWORK AND LOOKING INTO IT AND SEEING THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.

THIS IS A MONEY ISSUE.

>> IT WAS CERTAINLY EYE OPENING FOR SOME PEOPLE TO LEARN THAT A STATE LAWMAKER HAD LOST HIS JOB OVER THE ISSUE.

YOU DON'T SEE THAT EVERY DAY BUT THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN STRONG IN HIS POSITION, AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

STRONG ENOUGH THAT IT MADE NATIONAL NEWS.

I AM RECEIVING CALLS FROM LEGISLATORS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, FROM CITIZENS AND SUPPORTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST ALABAMA BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

IT'S SAD THAT THE SHERIFF AND I COUNTIES AGREE ON ONE ISSUE WITHOUT IT COMING TO TERMINATION.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE DISAGREED ON SOME THINGS WITHOUT IT LEADING TO A TERMINATION, BUT IT DID NOT.

>> BRIEFLY LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BILL YOU CARRIED THIS YEAR AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU WILL TRY AGAIN AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH DOXING IS.

FIRST OF ALL, EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS.

>> DOXING IS SOMETHING DONE TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS.

BASICALLY, WHAT THEY DO IS TAKE THE PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE NORMALLY PRIVATE OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER, POLITICIAN, JUDGE, A D.A.

AND THEY ARE PUBLISHING THAT INFORMATION WITH INTENT TO CAUSE THEM HARM.

IN NEW JERSEY, THERE WAS A JUDGE -- HER HUSBAND AND SON WERE SHOT AND KILLED BY SOMEONE THAT HAD DOXED HIM AND SOMEONE CAME TO THEIR HOUSE AND SHOT HER HUSBAND AND SON.

IN CALIFORNIA A JUDGE WAS KILLED.

SOMEONE DOXED HIM AND GAVE UP HIS ADDRESS AND IT IS ADDRESSING THE NEW AGE METHODS TO COME AFTER LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> IF SOMEONE HAS A BEEF WITH SOMEONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR A FIRST RESPONDER, THEY CAN TAKE IT OUT IN THE FORM OF DOXING, POSTING THIS PERSONAL INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WITH THE INTENT TO DO THEM HARM.

>> YEAH.

IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS PUTTING OUT WHERE THEIR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL, WHAT VEHICLES THEIR CHILDREN OR WIFE DRIVES.

IT COULD BE PUTTING OUT WITH A PARTICULAR OFFICER IS SITTING AT A CERTAIN TIME WHICH IS BROUGHT MY ATTENTION TO THIS.

WE HAD A SITUATION IN BALDWIN COUNTY WHERE A PERSON PUT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THERE WAS A DEPUTY SITTING AT THE CORNER OF AN INTERSECTION IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.

GET TO LOOKING INTO THIS AND THIS PERSON WAS A RADICAL.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT HIS INTENTION WAS TO HAVE SOMEONE GO AND HARM THAT DEPUTY.

>> WILL YOU TRY AGAIN?

>> YES, SIR.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING IT FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY QUESTION CAN GET SOMETHING DONE WITH IT.

>> LET'S SPEND THE LAST FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT A CONTINUING ROAD ISSUE IN YOUR DISTRICT.

YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE SHOW A COUPLE OF TIMES AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT YOU CONSIDER LONG OVERDUE WORK ON 45.

IT IS A DEADLY STRETCH OF ROAD IN YOUR DISTRICT AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AND CONTINUES TO BE DEADLY ACCIDENTS ALONG THIS STRETCH.

YOU RECENTLY MET WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AGAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

WHERE DO THINGS STAND?

>> AT THIS POINT, I'M ATTEMPTING TO GET THEM TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT DOING THIS ROAD AND PROJECT IN SEGMENTS.

IT IS 60 MILES LONG AND THAT'S A LOT OF ROAD TO TRY TO FOUR LANE AT ONE TIME.

I'M HOPING WE CAN CONVINCE THEM TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND LOOK AT MAYBE DOING IT IN TEN OR 20-MILE SEGMENTS AND ADDRESS IT AS MORE LESS THE PAY AS YOU GO PROGRAM THAT A LOT OF COUNTIES USE.

THEY ARE, THE GOVERNOR AND AL DOT SEEM TO BE OPEN AND LISTENING.

I KNOW THAT ALDOT IS IN THE AREA OF 45 THIS WEEK DOING SOME MINOR STUFF TO TRY TO HELP WITH SAFETY AT SOME OF THE INTERSECTIONS AND JUST CLEARING TREES BACK AND ADDING SOME THINGS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT WILL HELP BUT IT HAS TO HAVE SOME FOUR LANE AND WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME HELP.

>> IS IT AN ISSUE MORE OR LESS OF CAPACITY THAN THE ROAD CAN HANDLE RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THE RESIDENTS FROM OUT OF STATE COMING TO OUR BEACHES.

IT'S NOTHING FOR IT TO BE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER FOR TEN MILES.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> THE PROBLEM, AS YOU SEE IT, AND AS YOU STATED ON OUR PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY, THIS IS A LONG, EXISTING PROBLEM THAT'S NOT BEEN ADDRESSED PROPERLY.

>> THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON, I KNOW OF, OVER 40 YEARS.

I KNOW I'M TOLD NINE GOVERNORS HAVE FAILED TO ACT.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON.

IT IS TIME THAT WE ACT.

THERE'S TIME THAT WE DO SOMETHING.

NOW WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY COMING IN, THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO ADDRESS IT EVEN IF WE HAVE TO DO IT IN SEGMENT.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE GETTING ENCOURAGED TO RUN FOR SHERIFF IN MOBILE COUNTY AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU WILL CONSIDER.

AMONG THOSE CONSIDERATIONS IS YOU WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR LEGISLATIVE SEAT BECAUSE IT IS ALSO UP FOR RE-ELECTION ON THE SAME BATTLE ON WHICH THE MOBILE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE'S OFFICE.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF CONSIDERATION TO TAKE IN THIS DECISION.

MY WIFE AND FAMILY, WE'RE PRAYING AND SEEING WHICH WAY GOD SENDS US.

IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH DECISION BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE MY LEGISLATIVE SEAT.

I LOVE TO HELP IN MONTGOMERY.

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GETTING THINGS ACCOMPLISHED AND THERE'S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE UP HERE TO HELP ME WITH THAT.

IT WILL BE A TOUGH DECISION.

>> WE WILL STAY TUNED.

>> THANK YOU.

>> REPRESENTATIVE SHANE STRINGER, OF CITRONELLE.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ >> NEXT UP TERRI COLLINS OF DECATUR IS BACK IN THE STUDIO.

WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS.

>> YOU SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE AND IT SEEMS ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WILL BE TAKING UP NEXT YEAR IS THE ISSUE OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THERE'S BEEN A BILL PRE-FILED NEXT YEAR BY OUR COLLEAGUE, CHRIS PRINGLE OF MOBILE AND IT SEEKS TO BAN CRITICAL RACE THEORY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I WONDER WHERE YOU WEIGH IN ON THIS GROWING ISSUE.

>> IT HAS BEEN BECOME QUITE A MEDIA AND POLITICAL ISSUE.

I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING A BIT, I GUESS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD ISSUE BECAUSE THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ONE SET DEFINITION.

IT SEEMS TO ME WHOEVER IS SAYING IT MEANS.

TO DO LEGISLATION FOR THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE CONCERNS ON ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SIDES.

IT SEEMED A LOT TO ME AS I HAVE READ THINGS.

THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME INTENT FOR ONE SIDE TO UNSCRAMBLE THE SCRAMBLED EGGS, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE CAN BE DONE.

I THINK YOU STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND YOU MOVE FORWARD THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.

THAT'S MY OPINION ABOUT THAT.

THEN, ON THE OTHER SIDE, I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO LIMIT DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES.

I THINK UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING HOW AND WHY OUR HISTORY HAPPENED HELPS US FROM REPEATING THAT HISTORY.

SO REPRESENTATIVE PRINGLE CALLED ME WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT IS A NEW POLITICAL BUZZ WORD OR FOOTBALL OR WHATEVER.

I SAID, FILE THE BILL AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

I KNOW I HAVE HAD THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD CALL ME AND SEVERAL MEMBERS AND TOLD ME THEY WERE WORKING ON THAT.

I WILL BE ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW IT GOES.

I THINK BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A CLEAR, SET DEFINITION THAT IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.

EVERYBODY WILL BE MEANING SOMETHING ELSE WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND THAT WILL MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

I ALSO WANT TO END BY SAYING, WE HAVE REAL IMPORTANT ISSUES IN ALABAMA.

WE NEED OUR CHILDREN TO READ.

WE NEED OUR MATH TO IMPROVE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WE NEED OUR SCIENCE AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ALL OF OR CORE CURRICULUM TO BE STRENGTHENED AND TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

I WOULD NOT WANT US TO SEE OUR FOCUS TAKEN OFF OF THOSE PRIORITY ISSUES FOR OUR STUDENTS' SUCCESS ON JUST WHAT COULD BE A POLITICAL FOOTBALL.

IF WE GET SOME DEFINITIONS AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT, AND WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING, THEN I THINK WE CAN MAKE CLEAR-CUT DECISIONS.

THAT'S WHAT I SAID TO REPRESENTATIVE PRINGLE.

I SAID LET'S KEEP SETTING THE ISSUE.

FILE WHATEVER YOU ARE THINKING AND HE SEEMED WILLING TO WORK WITH IT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

>> I'LL REMIND OUR VIEWERS THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS DEFINED BY SOME, AT THE BASIC LEVEL, OF GOING BEYOND INDIVIDUAL PREJUDICES AND BIAS WHERE RACE IS CONCERNED.

IT CONTENDS THAT RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IS BAKED INTO SOME OF OUR LAWS AND POLICIES.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS NOT CURRENTLY TAUGHT IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE'S NOT BEEN A MOVE TO HAVE IT TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> I DON'T SEE THAT COMING BUT IT IS TIME WE ARE WORKING ON OUR HISTORY CORE.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO AND MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I SUPPORT THAT COMPLETELY.

SOME SAY THIS IS WHAT IT IS AND IT HAS BEEN BAKED INTO THAT BUT I HAVE ALSO SEEN EXTREMES ON BOTH SIDES.

A LOT OF THAT IS BASED ON FEAR, AGENDA AND I DON'T SUPPORT EITHER OF THOSE THINGS -- FEAR OR AGENDA.

I SUPPORT LET'S DO OUR BEST JOB EDUCATING THE CHILDREN OF ALABAMA AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE PREPARED FOR A VERY SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD CONTACTED YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE.

I WILL REMIND FOLKS THAT YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE AND IT WILL COME BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE.

THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSED THE ISSUE AND SAID A RESOLUTION IS COMING.

IT IS WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON A RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE BOARD NEXT MONTH.

>> AUGUST, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE HEARD.

>> I THINK THEY WILL PRESENT IT NEXT MONTH.

THAT'S THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT.

>> IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE A POSITION STATEMENT?

>> I HEARD IT WAS BASED ON THE RESOLUTION THAT GEORGIA HAD DONE.

I KNOW SOME OF THE EDUCATION PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.

WE DO HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS THAT I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT LIMITS OUR FIRST AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE OUR TEACHERS CAN TEACH.

I ALSO DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE FORCED OR COERCED TO TEACH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRUE OR COMPLETELY ACCURATE OR NOT THE FEELINGS AND CULTURE OF OUR STATE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DON'T WANT OUR PRIORITY OF IMPROVING OUR READING AND MATH SCORES.

>> I'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT THE FOCUS.

>> TO BE SIDELINED BY THE ISSUE.

I KNOW THAT'S A CORE ISSUE OF YOURS AND OTHER EDUCATION ADVOCATES ESPECIALLY THROUGH YOUR LITERACY ACT THAT YOU GOT PASSED IN 2019 AND WHICH IS PREPARING TO BE IMPLEMENTED THIS FALL.

>> IT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

WE STARTED SOME EVEN BEFORE IT PASSED.

IT STARTED WITH THE SUMMER BEFORE THAT YEAR'S SESSION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

300 WERE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SCIENCE OF READING, WHICH IS WHAT THE LITERACY ACT IS BASED ON.

I WOULD SAY THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE STRONGLY BEEN IMPLEMENTING.

THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR WE WOULD BE CONTINUING THE IMPLEMENTATION.

SO, I'VE SEEN ALL OF OUR GRADES, PRE-K BUT K-3 WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE TEACHERS ARE PREPARED TO TEACH REEDING AND THE CHILDREN ARE READY TO LEARN AND THE PARENTS ARE SUDDENLY INFORMED OF WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE READY.

I HOPE WE WILL BE READY.

IN A PERFECT WORLD I THINK WE WOULD HAVE BEEN READY BY NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT PERFECT WORLD.

WE HAVE 93% OF OUR STUDENTS THAT TOOK THE TESTING LAST YEAR FOR OUR BASELINE.

SO, ONCE WE GET THAT DATA, THAT'S WHEN I BELIEVE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO, OKAY, LET'S LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PLAN TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND THEN LET'S IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN, WHICH IS A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING NOW FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

>> WORKING UP TO THIS POINT AND I SAY IMPLEMENTATION MEANING ONE OF THE MORE HIGH PROFILE ACTS OF SAYS THIRD GRADERS WOULD BE HELD BACK IF THEY ARE NOT ON READING LEVEL.

WE'RE GETTING TO THAT POINT NOW.

>> NEXT SPRING AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR 2021/22 IS WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN.

I WAS ANXIOUS.

THE REASON THAT IS IN THERE IS THAT IS THE REASON THAT WE BASED THIS A LOT ON MISSISSIPPI WHO HAVE HAD PHENOMENAL LEARNING GAINS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY ARE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR WITH OUR STUDENTS GEOGRAPHICALLY.

ANYWAY, THEY HAVE HAD SUCH SUCCESS AND WE WANTED TO MIRROR IT AND THE SENSE OF URGENCY CAUSED EVERYBODY TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE MAY MAKE SOME CHANGES NEXT SESSION, BUT TO ME, KEEPING THE SENSE OF URGENCY AND ALL THE MOMENTUM THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FOR THE LITERACY ACT MOVING FORWARD.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO MAINTAIN.

>> OF COURSE, GOVERNOR IVEY VETOED A BILL THAT PASSED THE LEGISLATURE THIS BILL THAT SOUGHT TO DELAY THE HOLD BACK MANDATE FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF LEARNING LOSS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE MAY STILL EXAMINE THAT AT SOME POINT, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

IT ALREADY HAS ONE MORE YEAR.

IT HAD OVER A YEAR WHEN THE SESSION ENDED.

AND THEN TO ADD TWO MORE ON TOP OF THAT ONE YEAR WAS NEVER WHAT I WAS INTENDING.

I HAD AN AMENDMENT.

IT WAS THE LAST NIGHT OF THE SESSION.

WE HAVE END TO AT MIDNIGHT.

IT IS LIKE AFTER 10:30.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE WERE ABLE TO GET REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION.

I WILL ALWAYS BE VERY THANKFUL TO THE GOVERNOR FOR VETOING THAT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DELAY IT AND GIVE US TIME TO LOOK AT THE DATA, MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND THEN BE READY IN JANUARY.

>> ARE WE READY?

I KNOW TEACHER TRAINING AND EXTRA EDUCATION WHERE READING IS CONCERNED, HAD THAT BEEN ONGOING, ARE WE READY, DO YOU THINK?

>> IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, I THINK THERE ARE POCKETS THAT ARE EXTREMELY READY.

AND THEN THERE WILL BE POCKETS OF OUR STATE, THOSE STUDENTS WEREN'T IN SCHOOL AS MUCH AS OTHERS THIS LAST YEAR.

AREAS THAT DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND AND THE VIRTUAL LEARNING AND THE QUALITY THEY NEEDED.

THE ONLY WAY WE WILL KNOW IS TO LOOK AT THE DATA.

WHEN WE SEE THAT WE CAN MAKE GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT.

I THINK THERE WILL BE AREAS THAT ARE READY BUT WE NEED EVERYBODY TO BE READY AND WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CHILDREN.

I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT I KNOW ALL OF THE TEACHERS AND THE READING COACHES AND THE -- EVEN THE PRINCIPALS.

IT'S BEEN A TEAM EFFORT IN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THAT.

>> QUICKLY, BEFORE WE CLOSE, STATE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER JACKIE ZEIGLER PUT IT THIS WAY AND I THINK IT IS WELL SAID, KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADE YOU LEARN TO READ AND FROM THIRD GRADE ON YOU READ TO LEARN.

THAT'S HOW CRITICAL IT IS.

I HAVE HEARD IT SAID UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB OF TRACKING THAT PROGRESS IN K-2nd GRADE.

>> WE ARE.

WE HAVE TRAINING TO FIND OUT IF A CHILD HAS A DYSLEXIA OR LEARNING DISABILITY EVEN AS EARLY AS THE FIRST GRADE.

WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER NOW AND THAT WILL HELP US BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE ARE ALREADY MAKING GAINS.

I'M THINKING THAT THE DATA WILL SHOW WE HAVE GAINS AROUND THE STATE.

MAYBE NOT THE GAINS WE NEED BUT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I KNOW WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAVE COME IN, WE ARE OPENING THE LETTERS, TRAINING COURSES TO ANY TEACHER RITE NOW.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME OPENINGS.

WE HAVE STARTED ANOTHER COHORT.

WE KNOW THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE SCIENCE OF READING METHODS TEACH CHILDREN TO READ.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT OUR TEACHERS GOT WHEN THEY WERE TRAINED.

I HOPE IT IS PART OF OUR HIGHER EDUCATION PERHAPS.

BUT GETTING EVERYBODY PREPARE SOD THEY CAN TEACH IT AND OUR CHILDREN ARE READY IS WHAT WE WANT.

>> TERRI COLLINS OF DECATUR.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, SENATE MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON IS BACK ON THE PROGRAM.

>> I WANT TO BEGIN WITH PRISONS.

IT IS THE HOT TOPIC AT THE STATEHOUSE RIGHT NOW.

GOVERNOR IVEY IS MEETING WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS.

HOPEFULLY A STATE BOND ISSUE WILL COME OUT OF THE TALKS TO BUILD THREE NEW PRISONS AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S PRIVATE LEASE DEAL FELL THROUGH.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS?

>> I WAS NOT INVITED TO THAT MEETING OF LEADERS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD.

SO RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THERE IS AN IDEA FOR A BOND DEAL.

I SUPPORT A BOND DEAL BUT I NEED TO LOOK AT THE CAPACITY IN WHICH WE ARE USING THE BONDS AND HOW MANY FACILITIES WE ARE USING.

I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT -- UNTIL WE GET EVERYTHING OUT IN THE OPEN, BECAUSE WE HAVE FACILITIES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN IF WE BUILD THESE THREE NEW MEGA PRISONS.

I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT CHOOSING ONE THAT ARE SEEN AS LOSERS AS MY COLLEAGUES ARE LOOKING TO DO AND IF YOU LOOK AT RENOVATING SOME FACILITIES BECAUSE BUILDING THREE DOESN'T GIVE US THE CAPACITY WE NEED.

WE ARE STILL OVERCROWD READY.

IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH THE OVERCROWDING PROBLEM.

WE WILL HAVE TO RENOVATE FACILITIES AND WHAT OTHER FACILITIES THOSE WILL BE I'M NOT CERTAIN RIGHT NOW.

I'M OKAY WITH LOOKING AT A BOND ISSUE AND SEEING HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

NOW, MIND YOU, I DO UNDERSTAND THERE IS A NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THEY ARE WELL OVERDUE FOR MAINTENANCE AND WELL OVERDUE TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES.

>> WHERE DO YOU STAND -- ONE OF THE BONES OF CONTENTION IN THIS DEBATE HAS BEEN WHERE TO BUILD THEM.

SHOULD WE BUILD THEM ON CURRENT STATE-OWNED PROPERTY OR OTHER LOCATIONS AS PROPOSED UNDER THE PRIVATE LEASE DEAL?

>> TO ME IT MAKES SENSE TO DO IT ON STATE-OWNED PROPERTY.

THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY NEW PROPERTY.

WE ALREADY HAVE STATE-OWNED LANDS AND I THINK THE BOND WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

UNDER THE PRIVATE ISSUES, WE HAVE PROBLEM WITH UNDER THE CONSTITUTION TO DO A PRIVATE DEAL ON STATE LAND.

I THINK WE CAN DO IT ON STATE LAND.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF PROPERTY WE COULD DO IT ON.

I THINK NEAR SHELBY THERE HAS BEEN KICK BACK FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES NOT WANTING IT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

WHAT YOU HAVE IN BEALE COUNTY ALREADY PROBABLY 40 TO 50 ACRES THEY COULD BUILD A NEW FACILITY THERE ON STATE-OWNED PROPERTY.

I'M FOR BUILDING IT ON STATE-OWNED PROPERTY.

>> WHERE DO YOU WEIGH IN ON THE NEED FOR NEW FACILITIES VERSUS THE NEED FOR MORE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SENTENCING REFORMS?

IT'S A BALANCING ACT HERE.

YOU SAY YOU DON'T ARGUE THE POINT THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE IN DIRE NEED, BUT SOME WOULD ARGUE THE NEED IS GREATER FOR THOSE REFORMS.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, DON.

I THINK THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO BALANCE IT HAND IN HAND.

WE WENT THROUGH SOME CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM THIS SESSION.

WE SAW SOME GOOD BILLS AND I THINK MORE WILL COME UP.

I HAD A BILL THAT DIDN'T GET THROUGH THE HOUSE THAT WILL LOOK AT WHAT DOES A PERSON DO AFTER THEY GET OUT OF PRISON?

KEEPING THE REVOLVING DOOR FROM REVOLVING BACK IN.

CAN WE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE JOBS AND SOFT SKILLS AND HOW TO CREATE JOBS AND LOOK FOR JOBS BASED ON CERTIFICATES THEY HAVE EARNED WHILE INSIDE OF THE SYSTEM.

THOSE PROGRAMS NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT DRUG COURTS, HOW TO SIT UP THOSE COURTS INSTEAD OF INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE TO GO TO PRISON, PUTTING THEM IN PRISON AND WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO GO TO OTHER PROGRAMS, DRUG TREATMENT, MENTAL HEALTH.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, ALSO.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO AND I THINK THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

>> DO YOU THINK IF A DEAL CAN BE STRUCK BETWEEN THE LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR THIS MERITS A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

GET IT OUT IN THE OPEN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THERE AND HOW TO GET IT DONE.

I THINK WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GET IT DONE AT ONE TIME.

IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT IN PHASES.

WE MAY NEED TO BUILD ONE OR TWO FACILITIES AND A THIRD ONE DOWN THE ROAD AS WE CAN SEE.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT PACKAGING AND HOW WE PACKAGE IT UP.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVEN ON A BOND ISSUE, THAT'S GOING TO COST OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

THE BIG ISSUE WITH THAT IS THE MAINTENANCE.

HOW DO WE MAINTAIN IT?

RIGHT NOW MAINTENANCE OUR PROBLEM.

HOW WILL WE MAINTAIN THE NEW ONES?

HOW HAVE WE MAINTAINED THESE THE LAST 50 YEARS.

THE DEAL THE GOVERNOR HAD, THERE WAS A MAINTENANCE PACKAGE IN THAT FOR THE NEXT 30 TO 50 YEARS.

WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAINTAIN THE FACILITIES.

IF WE BUILD THREE MORE TOMORROW, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THEM AND WHAT IS THE COST FOR THE MAINTENANCE FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS?

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR A MOMENT.

THE STATE OPTED OUT OF THE FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.

IT WAS FELT THAT IN SOME WAYS IT WAS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM COMING BACK TO WORK BECAUSE THE BENEFITS THEY WERE RECEIVING OUTWEIGHED ANY SALARY THEY MIGHT HAVE EARNED PREVIOUSLY.

WHERE DID YOU FALL ON THIS ISSUE?

I KNOW YOU HAD CONCERNS WITH US OPTING OUT.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS LOOKING, THEY CAN'T GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

THEY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE PAYING PEOPLE, LIVABLE WAGE, WHETHER YOU ARE GIVING PEOPLE ADEQUATE INSURANCE, WHETHER PEOPLE CAN COME TO AFFORD TO WORK FOR YOU FOR WHAT THEY ARE WORKING FOR.

THE OTHER SIDE TO THAT IS THAT WE LOOKED AT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN.

A LOT OF OUR WORKING MOTHERS HAD TO GO HOME.

THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET ANY OTHER KIND OF RESOURCES OR INCOME OUTSIDE OF EMPLOYMENT.

TO THIS DAY, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A SAFE SCHOOL OPENING PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK IN THE FALL.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOL WILL BE BUT WE ARE TAKING AWAY THE DOLLARS.

THE STATEMENT MOTHERS ARE STAYING HOME WITH THEIR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER BECAUSE THERE ARE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS GOING ON VIRTUALLY AND PARENTS ARE STILL HAVING TO STAY HOME.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO BACK TO WORK.

SO, WHAT WE DID IS TOOK AWAY THE RESOURCES FOR MOTHERS AT HOME, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN GOT AN EDUCATION, WHO HAD JOBS, WHO WERE WORKING MOTHERS, NOT JUST MOTHERS SITTING AT HOME OR FATHERS SITTING AT HOME DOING ANYTHING.

WE NOW NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

I THINK WE PULLED THE PLUG A LITTLE FAST WITHOUT LOOKING INTO THE PROCESS.

>> THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HEAR YOU SAY, A BETTER WAGE.

>> A BETTER WAGE LEVEL.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE WANTS TO COME TO WORK FOR 7.35 WITH NO BENEFITS, IT IS HARD AFTER THEY HAVE GOTTEN $800 A WEEK.

YOU CAN'T FAULT THAT PERSON.

NOW THIS PANDEMIC EXPOSED US TO A LOT OF ILLS GOING ON THE STATE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OTHER EXPOSURES.

NOW IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO WORK, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT CREATING A WORKING POOR CLASS OF PEOPLE.

>>> I WANT TO CLOSE WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

IT'S ANOTHER HOT TOPIC IN ALABAMA AND IN STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS FROM DECATUR WHO CHAIRS EDUCATION POLICY IN THE HOUSE.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY HOLDS THAT RACIST VIEWS, RACISM GOES BEYOND JUST PERSONAL PREJUDICES.

THAT IT SOMEHOW IS BAKED INTO OUR SYSTEMS, OUR POLICIES AND OUR LAWS.

THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> SYSTEMIC RACISM IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME.

IT IS NOT JUST NOW HAPPENING.

I WILL AGREE IT IS BAKED INTO OUR SYSTEM.

WE LOOK AT -- A LOT OF TIMES -- IF YOU LOOK AT COMMITTEES AROUND HERE.

I COULD SAY TOMORROW THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A COMMITTEE AND WE WANT MINORITIES ON IT.

WELL, IF YOU GIVE THE GOVERNOR, THE PRO-TEM AND WHOEVER ELSE THE RIGHT TO APPOINT, I COULD WALK IN A ROOM WITH NINE WHITE MEN AND NO ONE EVER THOUGHT OF PUTTING SOMEONE BLACK ON A COMMITTEE.

THAT HAPPENS AROUND HERE ALL THE TIME.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS INHERENTLY BAKED IN.

I AGREE THEY NEVER THINK ABOUT IT.

AND EVERYONE SAYS, OH, I'M SORRY, WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.

I THOUGHT SOMEONE ELSE WAS GOING TO DO IT.

SO, NO ONE THINKS ABOUT BEING FAIR AND MAKING SURE THERE IS DIVERSITY AT EVERY LEVEL, EVEN THOUGH WE AS MINORITIES CRY ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME IT NEVER HAPPENS UNTIL WE CONTINUE TO PUT OUR FOOT ON IT.

WITH THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS CRITICAL RACE ISSUES IN THIS STATE.

I'VE OFFERED MY COLLEAGUES, LET'S SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT IT.

I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE, DON, IS THERE WAS A COMMITTEE BETWEEN HOUSE MEMBERS AND I GIVE THIS TO THE HOUSE.

IT WAS HOUSE MEMBERS FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

AND THEY CAME TOGETHER.

THEY MET OFF CAMPUS.

THEY MET IN TUSCALOOSA, BIRMINGHAM AND OTHERS.

AND THEY SAT DOWN AND TALKED ABOUT CRITICAL RACE ISSUES.

AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS NATION AND WHAT WE FEEL ABOUT IT, WHAT'S OUR UPBRINGING AND OUR THOUGHTS, HOW WE WERE BROUGHT UP, WHAT WE WERE BROUGHT UP BEING TAUGHT.

I THINK THAT WE START TO SEE THEM GEL TOGETHER A LITTLE MORE IN THE HOUSE WHEN THEY START TO TALK ABOUT THOSE CRITICAL RACE ISSUES.

I THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE HAD ACROSS THE STATE.

>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON, ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> YOU BET.

>> "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 E-MAIL.

>> FINALLY, OUR WEEKLY VISIT TO THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER, DR. SCOTT HARRIS.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> IT SEEMS WE PASSED THE MEMORIAL DAY STRESS TEST IN ALABAMA WHERE COVID IS CONCERNED AND BY THAT, I MEAN FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAY WHERE THERE WERE LARGE GATHERINGS OF PEOPLE, WE DIDN'T SEE A SEVERE UPTICK IN CASES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAN FACT.

BY THE TIME WE GOT TO MEMORIAL DAY, WE HAD 1.5 MILLION VACCINATED.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A LARGER NUMBER THAN THAT PERHAPS WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED AND PROBABLY HAVE SOME NATURAL IMMUNITY ON BOARD.

I THINK ALL OF THOSE THING HELPED A LOT AND OVERALL WE ARE PLEASED WE AREN'T SEEING THE NUMBERS GOING THE WRONG WAY.

WE HAVE SEEN, THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, IT'S REALLY AROUND TEN DAYS TO TWO WEEKS AFTER A SPREADING EVENT, OR A LARGE-SCALE EVENT THAT WE BEGIN TO SEE THE NUMBERS GO UP.

A WEEK OR TWO LATER IS WHEN WE SEE HOSPITALIZATIONS GO UP.

WE ARE NOW A COUPLE OF WEEKS PAST MEMORIAL DAY AND HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL.

OUR HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS ARE A GOOD AS THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> CAN WE ATTRIBUTE THAT TO VACCINATIONS AND TO IMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN SICK?

>> I THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT IS GOING ON AND THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERVENTION RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE.

THERE AREN'T OTHER HEALTH ORDERS IN PLACE.

IT MAYBE THAT INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED THEIR BEHAVIOR A BIT OR MAYBE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW CLOSELY THEY PACK PEOPLE TOGETHER AND FOR HOW LONG.

IT COULD BE SOME SEMI PERMANENT CHANGES THAT AFFECT THOSE RATES BUT OVERALL IT IS RELATED TO VACCINATION.

>> DR. HARRIS, OUR DAILY COVID RATE COMES UNDER A LOT OF SCRUTINY BECAUSE WE ARE AMONG THE STATES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RANKINGS NATIONALLY FOR OUR VACCINATION RATE.

OBVIOUSLY, OUR NUMBERS GET HOOKED AT CLOSELY.

COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING OUR DAILY COVID RATES ARE THE LOWEST THEY HAVE BEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IF THERE IS ANY SLIGHT UPTICK IT IS NOTICED MORE THAN IT MIGHT BECAUSE OF WHERE WE RANK ON VACCINATIONS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE BELIEVE OUR NUMBERS ARE HEADING THE RIGHT WAY.

A FEW CASES HERE AND THERE WHEN YOU HAVE ONLY 150 CASES A DAY CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE CHANGE.

OVERALL WE ARE DOING WELL.

THE PAST TWO-WEEK PERIOD WE HAVE HAD LESS THAN 2,000 CASES TOTAL.

130, 140 CASES A DAY ON AVERAGE.

WE ARE -- WE'D LIKE IT TO BE LOWER, OF COURSE, BUT THAT'S AS GOOD AS WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> DATA DUMPS HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT.

A LAG OF CASES THAT GETS TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE NUMBERS WERE SO HIGH IT WASN'T AS SERIOUS AN ISSUE OR CONSIDERED AS SERIOUS AS IT MIGHT BE NOW WHEN OUR NUMBERS ARE SO LOW.

THE CDC THIS WEEK, I BELIEVE YOU RECEIVED WORD, CAN NOW START CALCULATING THESE NUMBERS MORE ACCURATELY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT DATA DUMPS THAT MAY BE SEVERAL WEEKS OLD.

>> THE CDC HAS ALWAYS KEPT TRACK OF OUR NUMBERS.

WE REPORT THOSE NATIONALLY, LIKE ALL STATES DO.

CDC TAKES THE REPORT DATE OF THE CASES WE SEND AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE DAILY NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE IF YOU GO TO THE CDC WEBSITE.

WE ALL REALIZE AND THE CDC REALIZES THAT IS NOT THE MOST ACCURATE THING YOU CAN DO BECAUSE IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE DATE SOMEONE WAS INFECTED.

WHEN WE HAVE A LAB THAT REPORTS 100 CASES DIAGNOSED SIX MONTHS AGO WE DON'T WANT THAT TO REFLECT OUR NUMBERS TODAY.

IT IS A BIT OF A TRADEOFF.

ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHANGE YOUR DAYS IN THE PAST.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE HOW MANY CASES YOU GOT SIX MONTHS AGO BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEW DATA THAT SHOWS UP.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOU HAVE DATA DUMPS IT CAN DISTORT WHAT YOUR NEW CASE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE.

WE TRY TO REPORT IT ON THE WEBSITE TO EXPLAIN THAT SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHEN WE HAVE A DATA DUMP.

>> OF COURSE WE REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT OUR LOW VACCINATION RATE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

I KNOW STEPS ARE BEING MADE, IN A LOT OF ARENAS TO TRY TO GET AS MANY SHOTS IN THE ARMS AS WE CAN.

AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, WHAT ARE WE WORRIED ABOUT NOW WHERE THAT IS CONCERNED?

I GUESS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THIS VARIANT, THE DELTA VARIANT, WHICH ORIGINATED IN INDIA, WHICH IS THE DOMINANT VARIANT IN THE U.K. AND IT IS WORRISOME IT MIGHT BE DOMINANT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ALABAMA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.

AND IF IT DOES, THE LARGE NUMBER OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE COULD BE AT SERIOUS RISK, COULD IT NOT?

BECAUSE THE DELTA VARIANT IS INFECTIOUS AND CAN CAUSE MORE SERIOUS ILLNESS.

>> IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO CAUSE MORE SERIOUS ILLNESS.

ANY VARIANT THAT SPREADS IS THE DOMINANT VARIANT.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED 12 CASES OF THE DELTA VARIANT, THE INDIA STRAIN HERE IN ALABAMA.

I WOULD SAY SOMEWHAT WORRISOMELY, WE HAVE HAD 12 CASES.

THEY ARE THROUGHOUT EACH OF THE DISTRICTS THAT HAS ONE OR TWO.

WE THINK IT IS LIKELY WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THE CURRENT VACCINES WORK WELL TO PROTECT YOU AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT, VACCINATION IS THE WAY TO PROTECT THAT.

FOR UNVACCINATED PEOPLE THEY WILL BE AT RISK AND MORE LIKELY TO TRANSMIT IT TO MORE PEOPLE THAN THEY WOULD HAVE WITH THE ORIGINAL TYPE.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IT MAY BE BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> I HEARD THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION THIS WEEK REPORTED EVEN THOUGH OUR NUMBERS ARE LOWER THAN EVER BEEN, LESS THAN 200 AROUND THE STATE, 94% OF THOSE WERE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

SO THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS RARE BUT INCREASINGLY PREDOMINANT, AT LEAST IN THE NEWS HEADLINES, COMPLICATION FOR ADOLESCENTS WHO RECEIVE COVID VACCINES.

IT IS A HEART PROBLEM.

I BELIEVE IT IS CALLED MYOCARDITIS.

>> IT IS INFLAMMATION OF THE MUSCLE OF THE HEART.

IT OCCURS WITH A LOT OF INFECTIONS, INCLUDING MANY VIRAL INFECTIONS AND THE FLU.

IT OCCURS FOR NO APPARENT REASON SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT OCCURS WITH COVID INFECTION.

BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE A LINK TO THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES, THE MRNA VACCINES.

IT IS VERY RARE.

IT IS MORE LIKELY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM CATCHING COVID THAN ANY PROBLEMS FROM MYOCARDITIS.

THE CASES RESOLVED WITHOUT SPECIFIC TREATMENT BUT IT IS ANOTHER THING THAT WILL GO ON A WARNING LABEL SO EVERYONE IS AWARE BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

>> I THINK I HEARD THERE ARE ONLY 300 RECORDED CASES NATIONALLY.

>> THE NUMBER I HEARD WAS CLOSER TO 250.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF REPORTS BUT THE CDC TO INVESTIGATE THE REPORTS AND THEY HAVE ONLY IDENTIFIED 250 CASES.

REMEMBER, WE VACCINATED 170 MILLION AMERICANS.

SO, IT IS A VERY, VERY RARE COMPLICATION.

AGAIN, IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT A REASON TO AVOID GETTING VACCINATED.

>> HAVE THEY REPORTED A CASE IN ALABAMA TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE?

>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

THERE WAS A CASE REPORTED TO CDC BY SOMEONE IN ALABAMA.

IT WAS SELF REPORTED BY A CITIZEN.

WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT CASE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY TRUTH TO THAT.

WE KNOW THE PERSON, WHO SUPPOSEDLY REPORTED THE CONDITION IS WELL AND DOING FINE AND NO COMPLICATIONS BUT WE WILL STUDY IT AND SEE.

>> DR. HARRIS, PLEASE SURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> 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 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 IS HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> 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 ARE SCHEDULED TO INCLUDE SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER OF CULLMAN, WHO WILL DISCUSS THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SPECIAL SESSION ON PRISONS AND HIS CARRYING IN THE SENATE THE SUCCESSFUL BILL THAT BANS TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM TAKING PART IN FEMALE SPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY GRAY OF OPELIKA, WHO'LL DISCUSS STATE SCHOOLS BEING ABLE TO OFFER YOGA TO STUDENTS STARTING THIS FALL, THANKS TO LEGISLATION HE GOT PASSED THIS YEAR.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL BE BACK TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ON COVID VACCINATIONS.

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

I'M DON DAILEY.