>> HELLO, WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

I'M RANDY SCOTT.

TODD STACY HAS THE DAY OFF.

COMING UP, NEWS ON CRIME FIGHTING IN ONE MAJOR ALABAMA CITY.

ALSO, GOOD NEWS FOR THE STATE'S WORKFORCE, CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND KEEPING AN EYE ON HEALTHCARE.

BUT FIRST, TODAY'S NEWS: MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED IS TAKING STEPS TO FIGHT CRIME IN THE CAPITOL CITY.

HE ANNOUNCED THE SELECTION OF A NEW INTERIM POLICE CHIEF AND NEW SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR.

ONE TIME MONTGOMERY POLICEMAN AND FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE FOR ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY JAMES GRABOYS IS IN THAT POST.

FORMER MOBILE CHIEF OF POLICE LAWRENCE BATTISTE THE IV WILL BE THE SPECIAL ADVISIOR.

BE.

>> BEFORE HIS TENURE AT ASU, HE WAS A 20-YEAR VETERAN OF THE MONTGOMERY POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE HE HELD SEVERAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITHIN PATROL, JUVENILE AND COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING DIVISIONS RECEIVING BOTH THE MEDAL OF VALOR AND THE MEDAL OF MERIT.

HE WILL BEGIN HIS DUTIES ON JULY 15, 2024.

>> MONTGOMERY IS A WONDERFUL TOWN.

I LOVE THIS TOWN.

I LOVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE MEN AND THE WOMEN THERE, EVER SINCE I FIRST STARTED, HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO SACRIFICE AND WORK FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.

THEY ARE A PART OF THIS CITY.

THEY ARE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER AND EVERYTHING WITHIN MY ABILITY TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED TO MARSHAL EVERY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO GO AFTER THESE OFFENDERS, TO GO AFTER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE YOU UNSAFE, AND TO CREATE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO HAVE US WORK TOGETHER.

>> IT IS INDEED AN HONOR TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME SERVE IN THIS CITY IN THE CAPACITY THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SERVE IN.

I DON'T BRING WITH ME A SILVER BULLET, BUT WHAT I DO BRING WITH ME IS THE WISDOM AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF KNOWING THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE A PART OF YOUR TEAM ARE YOUR GREATEST ASSETS, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED IN PART OF THE PROCESS, AND AS WELL AS GETTING THEM ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY.

WORKING TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE OUR TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR TRUST WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.

>> MAYOR REED SAYS A SEARCH FOR A FULL TIME POLICE CHIEF CONTINUES.

THE BIG DEBATE BETWEEN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN & FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DREW BIG NUMBERS TO HEAR WHAT BOTH MEN THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR VOTERS.

ONE ITEM, JOBS AND THE ECONOMY DID TAKE CENTER STAGE.

BUT HERE IN ALABAMA GOOD NEWS ON THE JOB FRONT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

SECRETARY FITZGERALD WASHINGTON OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR UNVEILED THE GOOD NEWS: LE.

>> WE ANNOUNCED THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DEVELOPED 3%, THAT'S .01% OF THE MONTH WHILE THE LABOR RATE REMAINED UNCHANGED.

RIGHT NOW IS A GAD TIME IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

>> LAWMAKERS PASSED KEY EDUCATION PROPOSALS DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

TWO BILLS DEALING WITH 2% PAY RAISES FOR TEACHER AND THE CHOOSE ACT GIVING PARENTS UP TO $7000 TO PAY FOR PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SCHOOLING ARE GAINING MOMENTUM.

>> IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY EVERYTHING IS ABOUT CUSTOMIZATION AND FLEXIBILITY, YET WE WANT TO HAVE THE SAME EDUCATION MODEL WE'VE HAD IN PLACE OVER 100 YEARS, AND THAT'S -- THE EDUCATION MODEL IS CHANGING AND PARENTS ARE DEMANDING MORE AND ARE EXPECTING.

AND THIS WOULD GIVE THE PARENT THE ABILITY TO TAKE THEIR CHILD AND PUT THEM INTO A SCHOOL SITUATION THAT MIGHT BE BETTER FOR THAT CHILD.

THIS PAST SESSION WE MADE ALABAMA STARTING TEACHER PAY THE HIGHEST OF THE SURROUNDING STATES.

IF YOU LOOK AT ANY MODEL THAT COMPARES TEACHERS SALARIES AROUND THE SOUTHEAST, WE ARE AT THE TOP.

>> I SAW IT AFFECT MY STAFF IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE WAS JUST THE VALIDATION FROM THAT BODY TO KNOW THAT THEY WANTED TO EMPOWER TEACHERS MORE AND SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION.

THAT WASN'T LOST ON ANY OF THE TEACHERS.

THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS A WEEK AWAY, AND IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO HIT THE STATE'S ROADWAYS, PREPARING FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC IS A MUST.

THERE ARE PLANS IN PLACE TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE COMING YEARS.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S JEFF SANDERS HAS THIS STORY.

>> IF YOU ARE A REGULAR TRAVELER ALONG ALABAMA'S INTERSTATES, THEN YOU'RE AWARE THAT CONGESTION CAN CAUSE A QUICK TRIP TO TURN INTO HOURS OF BEING STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR PARTS OF INTERSTATE 65.

>> THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 8 MILLION VISITORS COMING TO OUR, YOU KNOW, COASTAL BEACHES EVERY YEAR AND PLUS THE FACT OUR STATE IS GROWING AND IT'S OUR MAIN CORRIDOR, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING NORTH ALABAMA TO SOUTH ALABAMA -- >> LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH MADE EXPANSION OF I-65 A TOP REPORT, REPEATEDLY POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE TRAFFIC HE HAS EXPERIENCED WHEN RETURNING HOME TO NORTH ALABAMA.

>> I THINK WHAT GOT US IN THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT HAVING A PLAN IN THE PAST AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- YOU KNOW, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS HAVE A PLAN AND WE'RE PUTTING IT TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS WHERE, HOPEFULLY, IN EIGHT TO TEN YEARS, WE'LL HAVE 65 COMPLETELY THREE LANES FROM THE STATE LINE TO THE COAST AND MAYBE IN SOME AREAS IT MAY NEED TO BE FOUR LANES.

>> ACCOMPLISHING THAT GOAL FALLS TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

TONY HARRIS CREDITS THE PASSAGE OF REBUILD ALABAMA ACT IN 2019 TO ADDING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO NEW PROJECTS.

>> WE'RE ABLE TO NOW TO FOCUS ON ADDING ADDITIONAL ROADWAY MILES IN RURAL AREAS TO REDUCE CONGESTION ON INTERSTATES, IN URBAN AREAS TO REDUCE CONGESTION.

>> HARRIS SAYS REDUCING CONGESTION, ESPECIALLY ALONG I-65, IS PARAMOUNT DURING HOLIDAYS LIKE THE UPCOMING FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.

>> ON 65, SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL HAVE COMPLETED A SECTION OF WIDENING FROM ALABASTER TO PELHAM, AND THE NEXT SECTION SOUTH OF ALABASTER DOWN TO TOLERA THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AND, FRANKLY, IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE SHORT DURATION OF WIDENING PROJECTS IN STATE HISTORY.

>> REPORTING FROM MONTGOMERY, JEFF SANDERS FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THURSDAY JUNE 27TH IS OBSERVED AS NATIONAL H.I.V.

TESTING DAY.

OFFICIALS ARE RAISING AWARENESS OF THIS DISEASE AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO KNOW THEIR STATUS BY GETTING TESTED.

>> HIV AND AIDS IS STILL RELEVANT WITHIN AMERICA.

ACCORDING TO CDC IN 2021, ESTIMATED 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE HIV POSITIVE WITH ABOUT 13% OF THOSE NOT BEING AWARE OF THEIR STATUS.

NEW INFECTIONS ARE DIAGNOSED IN THE SOUTH.

OUR MESSAGE FOR PEOPLE IS TO, FIRST OF ALL, KNOW YOUR STATUS TO GET DIAGNOSED.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE POSITIVE, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET TREATMENT.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT POSITIVE, WE ENCOURAGE PREVENTATIVE INTERVENTION SUCH AS PREP, WHICH IS A DAILY PILL OR INJECTION THAT PREVENTS THE SPREAD OF HIV.

>> ALABAMA COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE RICK PATE HELD THE 21ST ANNUAL TOMATO SANDWICH LUNCH ON WEDNESDAY.

THE IDEA IS TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL GROWN STATE PRODUCTS AND THE SUPPORT THESE ITEMS BRING TO ALABAMA FARMERS.

>> JUST A CELEBRATION OF HOMEGROWN TOMATOES, HOME GROPE EVERYTHING.

WE'VE GOT SWEET CORN HERE, ALL THE OTHER STUFF IS DONATED, WHETHER BLUE BELL OF MILOS OR GOLDEN FLAKE, ALL OUR ALABAMA COMPANIES ARE JUST STEPPING UP AND SUPPORTING US, BUT, YEAH, WE'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP THAT MESSAGE ACROSS.

WE BUY LOCAL.

EVERY FOOD THAT COMES FROM MEXICO, CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, BEEN ON THE TRUCK 17, 18 DAYS, PROBABLY RIPENED WHILE IN TRANSPORT.

THIS IS SO MUCH TASTIER AND BETTER FOR YOU AND HELPS OUR LOCAL FARMERS.

ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BUY LOCAL.

>> SWEET GROWN ALABAMA IS OUR PROGRAM.

AN ONLINE SEARCHABLE DATABASE WHERE CONSUMERS CAN FIND PRODUCTS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

LIKE TOMATOES AND CORN THEY'RE SERVING IN THERE, ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS ARE GROWN IN OUR STATE OF ALABAMA.

SO WE SERVE THOSE AND HAVE TONS OF FARMERS OUT HERE AT OUR POP-UP FARMERS MARKET JUST TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT TO HAVE THE CONSUMER, TELLING THEM WE HAVE THESE WOLF THINGS IN OUR STATE.

>> I AM A FARMER BY TRADE, SENATOR SECONDHAND, I RECKON, AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE I'LL ANNOUNCE I'M RUNNING FOR AG COMMISSIONER.

WE HAVE BEEN TRAVELING THE STATE, ALREADY, GOING ALL OVER IT.

WE'LL BE IN NORTH ALABAMA TOMORROW NIGHT.

WE HAVE TWO OR THREE EVENTS EVERY WEEK.

WE SUPPORT ALL THIS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE WITH FARMERS.

>> COMING UP, JOINING US IN THE STUDIO WILL BE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF DERRICK CUNNINGHAM, MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRTICT ATTORNEY DARYL BAILEY, SECRETARY FITZGERALD WASHINGTON OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND DR. SCOTT HARRIS THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER.

STAY TUNED.

>> FIGHTING CRIME IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND VARIOUS CITIES HAS TAKEN AN UPTICK LATELY.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF AGENCIES FIGHTING CRIME, ONE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT DEALING WITH PROSECUTION, AND THEN THERE ARE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THEMSELVES.

JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS THE LEADER OF ONE SUCH AGENCY HERE IN MONTGOMERY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF DERRICK CUNNINGHAM.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, RANDY.

THANKS FOR INVITING ME.

THIS IS GREAT.

ANYTIME WE'RE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, IT MEANS THE WORLD.

>> LET'S FACE IT BECAUSE, AS OF LATE, YOUR JOB, THE MONTGOMERY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, YOUR JOB HASN'T BEEN EASY AT ALL.

>> NO, NOT RIGHT NOW.

FROM DOMESTIC TO DRUGS, I MEAN, SO, OUR JOB IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> HAVE YOU, IN YOUR CAREER OF BEING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE NOW, SIR?

>> NO.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT'S SO SHOCKING, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 35-PLUS YEARS AND, NOW, YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD, LIKE, FOR REAL?

THAT REALLY HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT HERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

RIGHT HERE IN OUR STATE?

SO, NOW, I CAN LITERALLY SAY THAT NOTHING REALLY SHOCKS ME AS IT RELATES TO CRIME AND AS IT RELATES TO THE THINGS THAT WE WITNESS ON OUR JOBS.

>> AND I'M SURE THAT YOU WITNESS A LOT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN CASES OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO, YOU HAD A MASS SHOOTING IN MONTGOMERY, YOU'VE HAD OTHER SHOOTINGS AROUND THE CITY AND COUNTY AS WELL, TOO.

IT KEEPS YOU AND YOUR STAFF, YOUR DEPUTIES ON THEIR TOES.

>> QUITE A BIT.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE GET FROM RESIDENTS SAYING THEY HEARD GUNSHOTS, THEY HEARD SHOTS FIRED AND, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, OUT IN THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, IT'S LEGAL, PEOPLE SHOOT GUNS OUT IN THE COUNTY IN THE RURAL PARTS, BUT NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I GUESS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IT'S ALL RIGHT TO DO, AND THEY DON'T REALIZE WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN, AND WHAT COPS OUT THE END OF THAT -- COMES OUT THE END OF THAT BARREL, YOU CAN'T WISH OR HOPE IT BACK, IT'S GONE, AND WHEN IT HITS IT HITS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE A HUGE NUMBER OF WEAPONS, FIREARMS, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY NOW, DARE I SAY MORE THAN THERE HAS BEEN IN RECENT HISTORY.

THAT HAS TO BE, ALSO, A PART OF THE PROBLEM AS WELL.

>> WELL, IT'S GETTING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER.

BACK IN THE DAY, IF YOU STOP A CAR OR A PERSON WALKING, YOU MAY RUN ACROSS A FIREARM EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT, NOW, I MEAN, JUST ABOUT EVERY STOP, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND THAT THAT PERSON IS GOING TO BE ARMED WITH A FIREARM.

>> YOU LEAD A BIG DEPARTMENT OF MEN AND WOMEN ON THE DEPARTMENT'S FORCE.

ARE THEY TELLING YOU ANYTHING OF THEIR CONCERNS OF WHAT THEY SEE, WHAT THEY HEAR WHILE THEY'RE OUT DOING THEIR PATROLS?

>> WELL, NORMALLY, EVERY TIME THEY GO OUT AND MAKE A STOP, AN ARREST OF A PERSON WHO'S ARMED AND THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ARMED, NORMALLY, THOSE ARE ONES YOU'RE ALWAYS SCARED OF BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HE OR SHE IS GOING TO DO.

THEY KNOW FOR A FACT THEY AIN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE A WEAPON AND THEY KNOW IF YOU DISCOVER THAT WEAPON ON THEM WHILE DOING YOUR INTERVIEW OR WHILE YOU'RE TALKING WITH THAT PERSON, THEN THAT SITUATION MAY GET DEADLY.

SO, THOSE INCIDENTS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH MORE ALARMING.

YOU KNOW, LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, THEY'VE GOT A WEAPON, SAY, OFFICER, I'VE GOT A GUN ON ME, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT SITUATION AND YOU FEEL MORE AT EASE.

BUT THOSE THAT SAY, I AIN'T GOT NOTHING, THEN COME TO FIND OUT THE PERSON HAS A WARRANT, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO DETAIN THE PERSON AND DISCOVER A WEAPON ON THE PERSON, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE YOUR SCARED MOMENTS AND THE ONES THAT MAKES YOU THINK TWICE ABOUT MAKE SURE YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING THERE THINKING, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU STILL HAD A GUN BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE STOPPING THAT PERSON, YOU'RE DOING AN EYE SEARCH, WATCHING FOR BULGES AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE, BUT A NOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T KNOW.

I'VE SEEN INSTANCES WHERE A PERSON WHO WAS HEAVY WEIGHT HAD A WEAPON HIDDEN.

HE WAS SO HEAVY THAT HE HAD A WAY OF HIDING THE WEAPON ON HIM, AND YOU COULDN'T DISCOVER IT.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL, AND YOU'VE GOT TO ALWAYS CONTINUE TO WATCH THEIR HANDS AND ALWAYS TELL THEM, HEY, KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM, DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS, DON'T DO THIS, JUST KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT SO WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER AND WE'RE ALL RIGHT.

>> WE COVER, OF COURSE, THE LEGISLATURE HERE, AND I'VE SEEN YOURSELF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, OTHER SHERIFFS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO TALK TO LAW,.

>> I'M PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ALABAMA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION.

>> MEANING YOU HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM TO TALK ABOUT VARIOUS ISSUES.

IF I RECALL, ONE OF THOSE ISSUES ONE DEALT WITH THE PISTOL MOTION.

SINCE IT'S PASSED, NOW I'VE GOTTEN MORE TO MAKING SURE I'M EDUCATING MY PEOPLE ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND ON HOW TO BE SAFE.

THE LEGISLATION IS HERE, NOW WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE OUR PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED.

I'VE ALSO WENT TO THE EFFECT OF WHEN WE PURCHASED WAND HANDHELD DETECTORS, ISSUED THEM TO SOME OF MY PATROL PEOPLE, MY WARRANT CARS, THINGS OF THIS NATURE, SO IT'S NOT JUST A PAT-DOWN, YOU CAN USE THE WAND ACROSS THEIR BODY TO GET AN INDICATION IF THEY HAVE METAL ON THEM.

WE AS LEADERS HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER TOOLS CAN WE ARM OUR PEOPLE WITH TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND THAT THE PERSON THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH IS NOT ARMED AT THE TIME.

SO WE LOOKED AT THOSE MEASURES AND WE HAD TO IMPLEMENT SOME THINGS.

>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT MORE AND MORE GUNS ARE OUT THERE AND MORE AND MORE ARE FINDING THEIR WAYS TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

IS THERE A MESSAGE FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE SUPPLY YOUNG FOLKS WITH GUNS OR SELL THEM GUNS OR JUST TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT YOUNGER GENERATION WHO MAY HAVE GUNS, MAY NOT BE READY TO USE THEM, THAT MAY NEED TO BE TUTORED, SERVICED OR TOLD ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS.

LIKE YOU SAY, ONCE THE BULLET COMES OUT, CAN'T PUT IT BACK.

>> THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAD TO DO.

WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE OL' DAYS OF COMMUNITY POLICING WHERE YOU HAD THE EDDIE EAGLES AND LILT MASCOTS GOING AROUND TELLING OUR YOUNG KIDS DON'T PLAY WITH GUNS.

IF YOU FIND A GUN LAYING IN THE BUSHES, THE RULE OF STOP, DON'T TOUCH, LEAVE THE AREA, TELL AN ADULT, WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS WEAPONS ARE DANGEROUS.

JUST SEEING THREE-YEAR-OLDS PICK UP WEAPONS FAMILY MEMBERS HAD IN THEIR HOUSES AND PLAYING WITH IT, WE'RE LOSING IT.

THEY'RE SHOOTING THEMSELVES PLAYING WITH A GUN.

WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE OLD SCHOOL DAYS, TELL PARENTS IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A WEAPON ON YOUR POSSESSION OR HOUSE, PUT A LOCK ON IT, KEEP IT SAFE, KEEP IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF YOUR KIDS.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUNG JUVENILES LIVING WITH YOU, TEENS, KEEP THEM AWAY FROM IT.

RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THINK IT'S COOL TO CARRY A GUN.

I GO TO SCHOOLS AND THE FIRST THING YOU TALK ABOUT GUNS IS EVERYBODY IS STRAPPED.

YOU BETTER BE STRAPPED BECAUSE SOMEBODY MIGHT DO SOMETHING TO YOU.

BUT THAT'S THE TALK OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SIT STILL, BE QUIET, LISTEN BECAUSE YOU LEARN A LOT.

BACK IN THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD PEER PRESSURE.

PEOPLE CALL YOU NAMES, PEOPLE WANT TO BULLY YOU.

NOW, BULLYING AND PEER PRESSURE REALLY TURNED TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PICKING UP FIREARMS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

ONE OF THE WORST THINGS YOU CAN DO IS HAVE A SCARED PERSON ARMING THEMSELVES WITH NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT A FIREARM AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM POSSIBLE BULLIES, AND THEY CAN'T DEAL WITH THE PEER PRESSURE.

SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THOSE CLOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR KIDS.

AND IT TAKES US IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL.

I GO TO SCHOOLS ALL THE TIME WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE DANGERS OF FIREARMS.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THE SAME CONVERSATION HAVE TO BE CARRIED OVER TO THE HOMES AND PARENTS HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL BECAUSE WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IS YOUR CHILD TO BE SO SCARED OF PEOPLE AT SCHOOL OR TO WALK HOME FROM SCHOOL THAT HE OR SHE IS TRYING TO ARM THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEN YOU START COMING UP WITH FIREARMS THAT ARE MISSING OUT OF THE HOUSE.

NOW YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE A WIDE RANGE OF CARS BEING BROKEN INTO BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS PEOPLE HAVE GUNS AND THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE THEIR WEAPON IN THEIR CAR, WHICH IS A NO-NO.

AND, HOPEFULLY, PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS LARGE RASH OF CAR BURGLARIES AND THEY'RE STARTING TO RE-THINK THAT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CARRY A WEAPON, TAKE IT IN YOUR HOUSE AT NIGHT.

WHY LEAVE IT IN YOUR CAR?

WHY LEAVE YOUR CAR UNLOCKED, KNOWING THAT YOU'VE GOT A WEAPON IN YOUR CAR?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW ALL THEY DO IS GO AROUND AND CHECK DOORKNOBS.

THEY GO AROUND EVERY NIGHT, POP DOORS TILL THEY FIND ONE OPEN.

LOOK THROUGH THE GLOVE BOX, UNDER THE SEAT, AND HIDDEN COMPARTMENTS YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT HID AND ARE GETTING THESE WEAPONS OUT.

SO WE'VE GOT TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DOING, WHY THEY ARE ARMING THEMSELVES AND BE THERE SO WE CAN HELP THEM.

>> SHERIFF, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A CONTINUING STORY GOING ON, ESPECIALLY HERE IN MONTGOMERY, BUT AROUND THE CITIES AND THE COUNTIES AS WELL AND THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

>> YEAH.

>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING BY AND JOINING US, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, AS ALWAYS, DO BE CAREFUL.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY ARE CONCERNED WITH VARIOUS THINGS LEADING INTO THIS ELECTION -- CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, HEALTHCARE AND THE ELECTIONS THEMSELVES.

BUT IT'S CRIME THAT HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PRESS LATELY AND HERE IN MONTGOMERY IS NO EXCEPTION.

JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S BEING DONE TO FIGHT CRIME IS DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARYL BAILEY OF THE 15TH CIRCUIT HERE IN ALABAMA.

MR. BAILEY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, SIR.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE CLIMATE THE WAY IT IS NOW, SIR?

>> YOU KNOW, I REALLY HAVEN'T.

SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE, BUT WHAT REALLY ALARMS ME IS THAT THE PERPETRATORS ARE GETTING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER AND THAT'S WHAT I'M NOTICING MORE OF.

>> VERY TROUBLING, WOULD YOU SAY?

>> OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND IT'S ALSO THE FACT THAT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE YOUTH WHO COME IN FROM OTHER AREAS INTO MONTGOMERY AND VICE VERSA AND COMMIT THESE INCIDENTS.

>> YEAH.

WE'VE SEEN SOME RECENT EXAMPLES OF THAT IN SOME OF THE CASES THAT WE'VE HAD.

WE'VE HAD SOME COME IN FROM PRATTVILLE AND SOME FROM DALLAS COUNTY.

SO, YEAH, MONTGOMERY IS NOT THE ONLY JURISDICTION THAT IS FIGHTING THIS BATTLE.

OTHER COUNTIES AND CITIES ARE DOING THE SAME.

>> WOULD YOU SAY IT'S A MATTER OF SUMMERTIME AND THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS UNOCCUPIED, LOOKING FOR STUFF TO DO?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS THAT LEAD TO THE CRIME THAT WE ARE SEEING.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MAIM FACTORS, I BELIEVE, THAT'S HAPPENING IS WE DON'T HAVE PARENTS WHO ARE PARENTING ANYMORE.

I'M NOT BLAMING IT ALL ON PARENTS.

THERE ARE PARENTS WHO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN, THERE ARE SOME SINGLE PARENTS OUT THERE WHO DO A WORLD JOB AND THEIR KIDS JUST TURN OUT BAD, I GET THAT.

BUT WHAT I'M SEEING ARE A LOT OF PARENTS WHO ARE NOT PUTTING IN THE EFFORT TO PARENT THEIR KIDS.

MAYBE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW.

MAYBE THEY WEREN'T TAUGHT.

I DON'T KNOW THE REASON.

BUT IT'S VERY EASY SOMETIMES TO SEE WHY A CHILD HAS TURNED OUT THE WAY THEY HAVE.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DO ON A CRIME SCENE WHEN I GO OUT TO A HOMICIDE IS, WHEN I FIND OUT THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN KILLED AND THE NAME OF THE PERSON THEY SUSPECT THAT DID IT, I ALWAYS PULL UP THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE KNOWS THESE PEOPLE WERE DECEASED OR ACCUSED OF A CRIME.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED WHEN I PULL UP THE SOCIAL MEDIA IS THAT, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE PERPETRATORS, YOU WILL SEE THEM FLASHING GANG SIGNS OR PICTURES WITH GUNS AND, YOU KNOW, DOING THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING AND THAT IF THEIR PARENTS WOULD JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY'D KNOW THAT THEIR CHILD IS INTO THINGS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE INTO.

YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE PARENTS NOT LOOKING THROUGH THEIR CHILD'S THINGS IN THEIR ROOMS AND LOOKING FOR GUNS AND DRUGS, MAKING SURE YOU KNOW WHO YOUR CHILDREN ARE HANGING OUT WITH, THOSE THINGS ARE NOT HAPPENING AS THEY ONCE WERE.

I SEE SO MANY PARENTS WHO RESPOND TO A CRIME SCENE OR COME INTO COURT AND THEY'RE ADJUSTER TO UP, THEY'RE DEVASTATED, CRYING, BEGGING FOR MERCY.

I LOOK AND SHAKE MY HEAD AND SAY IT'S WAY TOO LATE AT THAT POINT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOUR CHILD IS DECEASED, IT'S OBVIOUSLY TOO LATE FOR THEM.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO PRISON THE REST OF THEIR LIFE, IT'S TOO LATE FOR THEM.

THE TIME YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AND CARED WAS YEARS EARLIER.

THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES IN MONTGOMERY, RESOURCES ALL ACROSS OUR STATE, THAT PARENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, PARENTS AREN'T DOING THAT.

THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.

I THINK THE LEGISLATURE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IS ALSO PART OF THE PROBLEM.

THERE'S SOME GOOD, COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VEHEAD A GUN BILL UP BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT WILL NOT COME OUT AND IT'S DEALING WITH CREATING MANDATORY TIME FOR THOSE WHO USE GUNS AND VIOLENT OFFENSES.

I THINK EVERYBODY CAN GET BEHIND THAT BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T GET THAT PASSED.

THERE ARE SOME FEDERAL LAWS THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE FEDS DO VERY LITTLE TO HELP US IN ALABAMA TO PROSECUTE THESE CASES.

THEY TAKE SOME CASES BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING A MAJORITY OF THE CASES THAT NEED TO BE PROSECUTED.

SO THAT LEAVES IT TO STATE PROSECUTORS.

THEN THE THIRD THING IS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED JUDGES TO ACTUALLY PUT THESE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND BARS WHEN WE DO CONVICT THEM OF THESE VIOLENT OFFENSES.

ONE THING THAT IS HAPPENING AT LEAST IN MONTGOMERY IS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION BEING PAID TO THE CRIME AND THE RISING CRIME AND A LOT OF OUR STATE OFFICIALS LIVE IN MONTGOMERY OR AT LEAST ARE HERE A MINORITY OF THE TIME IS THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE SAY WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP, WHAT RESOURCES CAN WE PROVIDE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT TIME BECAUSE, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, I POINT OUT THAT THE CRIMINALS HAVE BECOME YOUNGER, THE CRIME PROBLEM HAS BEEN FESTERING FOR A LONG TIME.

I MEAN, YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY COMMENTS TEN YEARS AGO.

I TOLD PEOPLE MONTGOMERY WAS UNDER SIEGE WITH VIOLENT CRIME.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH.

>> WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS -- POLICE, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT -- WHO HAVE OFFICERS ON THE STREET WHO ARE HANDLING THAT ASPECT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM THAT ASPECT, BUT THOSE WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, LIKE YOUR OFFICE, IT'S TOUGH FOR YOU AS WELL, IS IT NOT?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY TOUGH BECAUSE WE ARE JUST SIMILAR TO POLICE OFFICERS, WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE IN THE PROSECUTION ARENA.

THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF LAWYERS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AND LAW SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO STEER PEOPLE AWAY FROM BEING PROSECUTORS.

YOU KNOW, REALLY, LAW SCHOOLS, EVEN IN OUR STATE, ARE STEERING PEOPLE MORE TO DOING PUBLIC DEFENDER WORK OR DOING SOME OTHER TYPE OF WORK AS OPPOSED TO BEING PROSECUTORS, AND THAT'S A SHAME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, EACH ONE OF MY PROSECUTORS, YOU KNOW, CARRY ANYWHERE FROM 200 TO 300, SOME OF THEM JUST BECAUSE OF SHORTAGES HAVE UP TO 600 CASES, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD AT ALL.

WE'VE FORMED A VIOLENT CRIME UNIT IN MONTGOMERY.

THE IDEA WAS WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THEM HANDLE ANY VIOLENT CRIME.

I QUICKLY REALIZED WHEN WE HAD FIVE PEOPLE JUST DOING THAT, THAT IT WAS TOO MUCH.

NOW ALL THEY HANDLE IS MURDERS, AND EACH ONE OF THEM HAS -- WE HAVE A HUGE BACKLOG IN MONTGOMERY RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE 300 MURDER CASES PENDING IN OUR CIRCUIT, WAITING TO GO TO TRIAL, WAITING TO GO TO COURT, 300.

YOU KNOW, COVID AND THE SHUTDOWN OF OUR COURT SYSTEM WHICH I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT FOR AS LONG AS WE SHUT IT DOWN, BUT, NEVERTHELESS, IT HAPPENED, THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT.

WE WERE ALREADY BACKLOGGED BEFORE COVID BUT, YOU KNOW, AFTER COVID WE WERE REALLY BACKLOGGED, AND IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH UP.

WE CAN TRY TWO OF THREE CASES DURING A JURY TRIAL WEEK WHICH TAKES A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF PREPARATION, A LOT OF RESOURCES, BUT, ONCE WE DO THAT AT THE END OF THE WEEK, WE MAY HAVE HAD THREE HOMICIDES THAT WEEK.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE HAVING MORE MURDERS THAN WE'RE HAVING JURY TRIAL WEEKS.

IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO CATCH UP.

WE HAVE SOME PLANS IN PLACE FOR THAT.

WE'VE ASKED THE SUPREME COURT AND THEY ARE HELPING US OUT BY GIVING US FIVE ADDITIONAL JUDGES ON A TEMPORARY BASIS TO HELP DEAL WITH THE BACKLOG.

I HAVE A REQUEST BEFORE A MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMISSION NEXT WEEK ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL PROSECUTORS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THOSE NEW JUDGES COMING IN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME ARGUMENT OVER THAT SO WE'LL SEE NEXT WEEK IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET THOSE RESOURCES OR NOT.

IT'S ALL AROUND A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR PROSECUTORS AND, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS TO PUT UP WITH THIS VIOLENT CRIME.

>> ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT A LIGHT, AS THEY SAY, AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, SIR?

>> NOT YET, BUT IT WILL COME.

I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF CALLS FROM A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, STATE OFFICIALS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE GOTTEN CALLS ANYWHERE FROM THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU, WHAT WE DO.

I'VE GOTTEN CALLS EVEN FROM THE SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN THE SUPREME COURT DO TO HELP YOU OR WHAT CAN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM DO TO HELP YOU, RATHER.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON NOW IN MONTGOMERY, FINALLY.

YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE OUR NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS.

>> HAVE YOU ALSO WORKED WITH OTHER D.A.S IN ALABAMA ABOUT HOW TO HELP EACH OTHER WITH PROBLEMS THAT YOU MAY HAVE?

>> OH, YEAH, WE TALK ALL THE TIME.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE WERE MEETING LAST WEEK.

WE TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES.

WE'RE NOT ALONE.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF RURAL PLACES IN ALABAMA THAT DON'T HAVE THE CRIME PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, AND A LOT OF THEM, YOU KNOW, DON'T IDENTIFY WITH WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

BUT, I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT OTHER FOLKS LIKE IN MADISON COUNTY, TUSCALOOSA, MOBILE, JEFFERSON COUNTY MY GOOD FRIEND DANNY CAR IS THE D.A.

THERE, WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION AND I MEET WITH D.A.S ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES.

SO WE LOOK FOR BEST PRACTICES AND WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER AND DO A BETTER JOB IN REPRESENTING OUR CONSTITUENTS AND MAKING OUR CIRCUITS SAFER.

SO THAT HELPS, AND IT DOES HELP YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE, THAT YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT'S FACING THESE TYPE OF STRUGGLES.

>> ONE MORE THING BEFORE YOU GO, YOU HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE AND I SAW YOU TALKING TO OTHER PRESS MEDIA ABOUT A STERN MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO DO COMMIT CRIMES IN THIS AREA.

THAT MESSAGE WOULD BE WHAT, SIR?

>> YEAH, SO I'M EXTREMELY SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

IF YOU COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME IN MONTGOMERY, MY GOAL IS TO TAKE YOU OFF THE STREETS FOREVER.

YOU NEED TO BE SEPARATED FROM SOCIETY.

YOU HAVE SHOWN US, YOU HAVE PROVEN TO US THAT YOU CANNOT OPERATE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, THAT YOU CANNOT LIVE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

IF YOU COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME, YOU NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS.

I TELL THESE GANG MEMBERS IN MONTGOMERY, THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOOTING AND KILLING AND ROBBING, KEEP MESSING WITH ME AND I'LL KEEP SENDING YOU TO PRISON THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN YOUR LISTENING AUDIENCE KNOWS THAT'S NOT THE COMPLETE ANSWER.

THAT IS PART OF IT.

WE'VE GOT TO DO THAT AGGRESSIVE PROSECUTION, BUT THE ANSWER REALLY LIES IN BEING PROACT I ON THE FRONT END AND MAKING SURE THESE INDIVIDUALS DON'T EVEN COME INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE WE'VE POURED RESOURCES INTO HELPING THEM STAY OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED, TAKES A LOT MORE WORK BECAUSE GOVERNMENT CAN'T REALLY TELL PEOPLE HOW TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN, BUT WE NEED TO AT LEAST TRY TO GET TO YOUNG KIDS WITH MENTORS AND, YOU KNOW, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND THINGS TO DO.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION IS SOMETHING WE'RE MISSING BIG RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED TO TEACH KIDS CONFLICT RESOLUTION.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY DERRICK CUNNINGHAM OF THE 15TH CIRCUIT DISTRICT COURT HERE IN ALABAMA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE YOU AND BE SAFE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL CONTINUE.

>> JOBS, ALWAYS A HOT TOPIC IN ALABAMA WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING IN REVENUE AND BUSINESSES TO THE STATE, AND IT'S A HOT TOPIC NATIONALLY, UPCOMING ELECTIONS, JOBS ARE A HOT TOPIC WITH THE CANDIDATES.

LEGISLATORS HERE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING IN MORE JOBS TO HELP PEOPLE IN ALABAMA STATE WORK.

SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT JOBS, FITSGERALD WASHINGTON, SECRETARY OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, IS JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THIS CONVERSATION, THERE'S NEWS THAT CAME OUT FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT DEALING WITH A CERTAIN STATUS IN ALABAMA.

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT.

>> THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED TO 3%, ONE-TENTH PERCENT OVER THE MONTH WHILE THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 57.7%.

RIGHT NOW IS A GOOD TIME IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

>> AS I SAID, PEOPLE ARE WATCHING ROARS LIKE THIS LIKE A HAWK BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW ARE THERE JOBS, WHAT IS ALABAMA DOING, IS THIS GOING TO ADVERSELY AFFECT THE STATE?

BECAUSE IF THE STATE ISN'T WORKING, THEY'RE NOT MAKING FORWARD PROGRESS.

BUT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.

>> THERE'S NOT A WEEK THAT GOES BY WHERE THERE'S NOT A JOB ANNOUNCEMENT, 50 JOBS, 100 JOBS, 600 JOBS COMING TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THESE COMPANIES WOULD NOT RELOCATE IN THE STATE IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE HAD THE WORKFORCE TO SATISFY THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS, SO ALABAMA IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW.

>> AND WORD GETS AROUND BECAUSE THE COMPANIES THAT DO COME HERE, SOME OF THEIR COMPETITORS ARE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN ALABAMA AND FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, WANT TO GET A SLICE OF THAT PIE, AREN'T THEY?

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

OUR WORKFORCE, ECONOMY IS STRONG.

I GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO GOVERNOR IVEY FOR HAVING A STRONG VISION IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE RETOOL OUR WORKFORCE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US.

>> FROM GETTING THE WORKFORCE READY, FROM CHILDREN IN HIGH SCHOOL WHO WANT TO GO INTO HANDS-ON JOBS AS SOON AS THEY GRADUATE, THERE'S WORK BEING DONE ON ALL LEVELS -- EDUCATION, THE PROFESSIONAL JOB FORCE, MILITARY EVEN ARE GETTING INVOLVED.

DO YOU THINK ALABAMA IS WELL ROUNDED AND EVEN GETTING MORE WELL ROUNDED IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE PREPARED TO BE A PART OF THAT WORKFORCE IS THIS.

>> NO QUESTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESOURCES IN OUR SHOP AT THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, IF FOLKS HAVE A BARRIER OR A DISCONNECT IN TERMS OF HOW THEY CAN RETOOL THEMSELVES AND GET INTO THE WORKFORCE, WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES FOR THEM.

AGAIN, RIGHT NOW, THE STATE IS IN WHAT I CALL RARE AIR, IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING TO GET INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE BEEN CREATIVE WITH IDENTIFYING CERTAIN SECTORS THAT TRADITIONALLY FACED BARRIERS TO GET INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WE IDENTIFY WHAT THE BARRIERS ARE, KNOCK THE BARRIERS DOWN AND INCREASE THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION.

>> AND YOU EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR, HOW TO LOOK OUT FOR AND HOW TO GET INTO CONTACT WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT IF NEED BE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE MANAGE 67 LABOR FORCES STATEWIDE.

WE CAN HELP PEOPLE TRYING TO GET INTO THE WORKFORCE AS FAR AS TRAINING.

>> THERE'S A LOT COVERING THE ENTIRE STATE.

YOU FIND OUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED THAT THEY HAVE THIS TYPE OF HELP AROUND THEM AND ACCESS TO IT, SIR?

>> NO QUESTION.

WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN RULE ALABAMA BECAUSE SOMETIMES FOLKS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN OUR TOOLBOX NOR HAVE ACCESS TO GET TO THE TOOLBOX AND, SO, WE TRY TO TAKE STATE GOVERNMENT FOR WHERE WE THINK THE GREATEST NEED IS.

>> WILL THERE BE ANY EXPANDING OF THOSE OFFICES AROUND THE STATE OR ARE YOU GOING STICK AT 57 NOW.

>> ANYWHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE SERVICES CONVENIENT FOR IS JOB SEEKER, WE'LL CERTAINLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT IT.

WE KNOW ALL THE MAJOR SECTORS IN OUR WORKFORCE HAVE REBOUNDED REALLY REALLY WELL SINCE THE PANDEMIC, BUT THERE'S ALSO A COUPLE OF SECTORS STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND HELP AND, SO, THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN.

WE MAKE SURE WE EDUCATE BOTH THE EMPLOYER AND THE JOB SEEKERS ON WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND THAT CREATES A REALLY STROKE, HEALTHY WORKFORCE ENVIRONMENT.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE IT REALLY CHANGED THE WAY PEOPLE LOOK AT A LOT OF THINGS FROM GOING SHOPPING TO GOING TO SCHOOL TO TRAVELING, FINDING WORK, FINDING JOBS.

ANOTHER THING THAT HAS CHANGED OR MORPHED OVER THE FAST FEW YEARS AS WELL BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC GOT PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR FOCUS ON HOW THEY APPROACH THINGS.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

WE FEEL LIKE THE PANDEMIC CAUSED A CHANGE IN HOW PEOPLE LOOK FOR WORK O.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE FLEXIBLE HOURS AS ONE EXAMPLE.

BUT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY HERE.

ALABAMA IS RIPE FOR ANYONE LOOKING NOT JUST TO GET A JOB BUT HAVE A REWARDING CAREER.

>> FROM THE COAST TO THE MIDSECTION, FROM THE EAST SIDE OF ALABAMA TO THE WEST SIDE OF ALABAMA, TO THE NORTHERN PART OF ALABAMA, THERE ARE VARIOUS PROJECTS COMING TO THIS STATE, SOME RELATED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, SOME RELATED TO TECH.

BUT, AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT ALABAMA AS A PRIME PLACE TO SET UP SHOP TO DO BUSINESS, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE IN VARIOUS PARTS FOR VARIOUS THINGS TO DO.

DO YOU THINK THAT OTHER STATES ARE ALSO WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ALABAMA AND MAYBE GOING UNDER A MICROSCOPE TO SEE WHAT ARE THEY DOING, HOW CAN WE COPY THAT?

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT ALABAMA IS SORT OF THE ENVY OF A LOT OF STATES IN TERMS OF HOW WE PUT OUR PLAN OF ATTACK ON HOW WE IMPROVE OUR WORKFORCE.

AND, SO, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STRONG PROGRAMS.

AGAIN, WE IDENTIFY THEIRS TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THE WORKFORCE.

RIGHT NOW, I WOULD CONSIDER THIS IS A JOB SEEKERS MARKET.

WE REPORT THERE'S TWO JOBS FOR EVERY ONE PERSON THAT WE REPORT IS UNEMPLOYED.

WE KNOW THERE'S STILL CHALLENGES BUT ALSO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE.

>> TWO JOBS FOR EVERY ONE PERSON.

THAT IS JUST TO ME MIND BOGGLING THAT, FOR EVERY ONE PERSON LOOKING FOR WORK, YOU HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND EMPLOYMENT.

SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW.

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

AGAIN, WE'RE SO EXCITED AND SO PLEADS WITH THE TRAJECTORY, WITH OUR WORKFORCE IN OUR ECONOMY.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE JOBS RIGHT NOW, THE HIGHEST EVER IN STATE'S HISTORY, SO THAT'S REALLY A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT HOW WE PERFORMED AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER LAWMAKERS, WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND, VERY SPEARHEADING VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO HELP TRIGGER THAT.

BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REACH PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL, TO START THEM THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT IN THEIR FUTURE BECAUSE THE FUTURE THE IS SOMETIMES RIGHT NOW AND THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED.

>> MM-HMM.

WE COLLABORATE WITH THE WORKFORCE SECTOR AND THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT CURRICULUM IN THE K-12 SECTOR TO SATISFY THE ENTRY INTO WORKFORCE.

>> DO OUTSIDE BUSINESSES COMING INTO THE STATE, DO THEY EVER CONTACT YOUR OFFICE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO HERE IN ALABAMA OR ARE THERE ANY SPOTS THAT MAY FIT OUR LIKING FOR WHAT WE WANT TO SET UP HERE IN THE STATE?

>> YES, WE HEAR THOSE QUESTIONS A LOT FROM ALL EMPLOYERS, BOTH CURRENT EMPLOYERS AND ALSO EMPLOYERS LOOKING TO RELOCATE INTO THE STATE, SO THERE'S A SERIES OF QUESTIONS THEY ASK BUT THE MAIN QUESTION THEY ASK, DO WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT CAN SATISFY THE JOBS COMING INTO THE STATE?

SO I'M CONFIDENT IN OUR RESPONSE WHEN THAT QUESTION COMES UP THAT WE DO.

>> NOW, JUST MENTIONED A SECOND AGO STATES AROUND US WATCHING WHAT ALABAMA DOES, AND NOT JUST IN FOOTBALL, BUT THEY'RE WATCHING WHAT ALABAMA DOES IN RECRUITMENT OF JOBS, IN RECRUITMENT OF PEOPLE TO GET TO WORK IN THE WORKFORCE.

IT'S BEEN A CHANGE BECAUSE WITH GEORGIA TO THE EAST, FLORIDA TO THE SOUTH OF US, MISSISSIPPI, EVEN LOUISIANA, YOU KNOW OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN DOING WHAT THEY CAN OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BE AT THE TOP TO HAVE THE FOOD CHAIN IN TERMS OF FINDING NEW BUSINESSES TO COME TO TOWN AND GETTING FOLKS IN THOSE BUSINESSES TO WORK IN THE STATE FOR IT.

HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING OTHER STATES TO SEE WHAT THEIR APPROACH IS AND HOW THEIR APPROACHES HAVE CHANGED IN VIEW OF WHAT ALABAMA IS DOING, SIR?

>> CERTAINLY, WE LOOK AND MONITOR WHAT OTHER STATES DO BECAUSE WE CAN BORROW THEIR BEST PRACTICES AND BRINGING AND INCORPORATING THOSE TO ENSURE IT FITS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

I'M EXCITED WE'RE SINGING OFF THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC WITH THE GOVERNOR LEADING CHARGE, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE SATISFY WHAT THE GREATEST NEEDS ARE.

>> THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER VARIOUS PLANS TO HELP WITH THAT.

AND FROM, AGAIN, THE TOP OF ALABAMA DOWN TO THE COAST, AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN, DIFFERENT SECTIONS CALL FOR DIFFERENT IDEAS WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYMENT AND WHAT'S NEEDED.

FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU GO DOWN TO MOBILE, YOU HAVE A PORT THAT IS BEING IMPROVED, AND WITH ALL THE NEWS OF PORTS LATELY, THAT'S BIG BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST PORTS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THAT'S DOWN SOUTH ON THE COAST.

UP NORTH, AROUND HUNTSVILLE, YOU HAVE TECHNOLOGY PRINCIPALS HAVE COME IN SETTING UP NEAR AND AROUND NASA, AND IN BETWEEN ALL KIND OF THINGS FROM AGRICULTURE, FARMING AND OTHER BUSINESSES.

IT HAS TO MAKE YOU LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF ALABAMA AND THINK, HEY, WORKING WITH LAWMAKERS AND THEN WORKING WITH US, WE CAN DEFINITELY PUT A BIG BOW ON THIS PACKAGE.

>> MM-HMM.

I HAVE TO APPLAUD THE LEGISLATORS AND ALSO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A SERIES OF BILLS THAT'S GOING TO HELP US IMPROVE THE STATE'S WORKFORCE, WORKING FOR ALABAMA, WHICH HAS THE WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION ACT IN IT WHICH TALKS ABILITY HOW WE ALIGN OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE PUTTING OUR FOOT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO IMPROVE THE STATE WORKFORCE SYSTEM.

AND, SO, WE ARE CERTAINLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> IF PEOPLE WANT TO CONTACT YOU, THEY CAN DO SO ONLINE.

>> YES, SIR, LABOR.ALABAMA.GOV.

>> WE'LL BE SURE TO GET THAT OUT FOR YOU.

SECRETARY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

HOPE ALL CONTINUES TO GO WELL, SIR, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.

>> YES, SIR.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> MANY PEOPLE ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTIONS ON VACATIONS AND GETAWAYS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE TO STAY COGNIZANT OF STAYING HEALTHY BECAUSE MANY THINGS ARE STILL OUT THERE WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

TO TALK ABOUT THAT, JOINING US NOW IS DR. SCOTT HARRIS, DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, RANDY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO, YES, WE ARE HERE, SUMMERTIME, THOUGH IT'S BEEN FEELING LIKE SUMMER FOR A FEW DAYS, NOW, ALREADY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> PEOPLE ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTIONS ON THE GETAWAY, GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL, RESTING, RELAXING, LETTING OFF STEAM.

STILL GOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS OUT THERE, SO YOU DON'T GET SICK.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO GET SICK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO HAPPEN ALL YEAR AROUND.

HERE IN ALABAMA, WE HAVE THINGS THAT ARE PARTICULAR TO THE SUMMER MONTHS, AND WE LIVE IN THE SOUTH, WE LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL STATE, A LOT OF GREAT THINGS YOU CAN DO OUTDOORS.

YOU JUST MENTIONED THE HEAT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE SEEING HEAT EARLIER IN THE SEASON THAN WE'RE USED TO SEEING RIGHT NOW.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO PLEASE REMEMBER TO STAY HYDRATED, STAY COOL.

PLEASE CHECK ON THOSE FOLKS WHO MAYBE CAN'T DO THAT FOR THEMSELVES.

YOU KNOW, SMALL CHILDREN, OLDER PEOPLE MAYBE WHO LIVE ALONE, THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT REALIZE THEY'RE GETTING DEHI TRADE.

DON'T FORGET TO LOOK OUT AFTER THE PETS, THEY HAVE A HARD TIME WITH HEAT AS WELL.

HEAT IS A BIG ISSUE AND WE WANT THAT TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUTDOORS.

>> BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE REPORTS NATIONALLY AT A SERIOUS HEAT ADVISORY OR DARE I SAY HEAT WARNING ON THE MAJORITY TO HAVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A HEAT DOME, AS THEY'RE SAYING, IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM FOR A GOOD THREE-FOURTHS OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S HITTING THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE FROM ALABAMA, YOU THINK, WELL, WE'RE USED TO HEAT.

WE LIVE HERE, WE KNOW WHAT HEAT'S LIKE, BUT I'M NOT SURE WE KNOW WHAT THIS KIND OF HEAT IS LIKE.

WE'VE HAD DAYS AROUND 100 FOR THE PAST WEEKENDS, NOT COMMON FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

WE HAVE A WEEK BEFORE SUMMER STARTS WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE MOSTLY OVER 90, 95 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

WE NO MEME MANY TIMES WANT TO GET IN THE WATER, COOL DOWN, THEY ENGAGE IN WATER SPORTS AND SWIMMING AND BOATING AND SO ON.

JUST REMEMBER NORMAL WATER SAFETY AS WELL.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO WEAR A LIFE JACKET IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN A WATERCRAFT.

REMEMBER, ALCOHOL AND BOATING DON'T GO TOGETHER VERY WELL.

MAKE SURE KID ARE ATTENDING IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE SWIMMING.

IF YOU SWAM LAST SUMMER AND STOPPED DOING THAT SPORT OVER THE WINTER MONTHS, YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SWIM QUITE AS FAR HERE THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF JUNE AS YOU DID AT THE END OF LAST SUMMER.

SO REMEMBER DON'T JUMP IN AND ASSUME THAT YOU'RE JUST AS ABLE TO SWIM AS YOU WERE AT THE END OF LAST SUMMER.

>> GO SLOW ABOUT GOING SWIMMING INSTEAD OF JUMPING LITERALLY IN HEAD FIRST.

>> IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE, BUT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO HAVE FUN AND DON'T WANT TO THINK OF THOSE THINGS SOMETIMES.

WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE COMMON SENSE.

>> YOU MENTIONED NOT WANTING TO THINK ABOUT THINGS SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH.

AREN'T ALLERGIES STILL SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH AND GIVING PEOPLE HEADACHES, TOO?

>> SURE, ALLERGIES ARE SOMETHING WE EXPERIENCE WHEN WE LIVE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE GREAT FAWNA AND WATERWAYS AND THOSE ARE WONDERFUL BUT THOSE COMBINE TO PRODUCE A LOT OF ALLERGENS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AGAIN, BE COGNIZANT OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SOME PEOPLE USE OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINE, SOME PEOPLE NEED A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

THE MORE YOU WILL BE OUTSIDE THE MORE YOU'RE LIKELY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM IF IT'S A PROBLEM FOR YOU.

>> YOU MENTIONED BEING OUTSIDE, SOMETHING YOU TALKED WITH ME JUST A SECOND AGO BEFORE WE STARTED THIS INTERVIEW IS A PROGRAM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS WORKING ON DEALING WITH OUTDOOR INSECTS, IF YOU WILL, PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE SPREAD BY BUG BITES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> SURE, THAT'S RIGHT.

THE ALABAMA SENATE THIS YEAR HAD A JOINT RESOLUTION THAT IDENTIFIED JUNE AS TICK-BORN ILLNESS AWARENESS MONTH.

A RESOLUTION SPONSORED BY SENATOR NELSON.

TICKS ARE A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE WHEN YOU LIVE IN ALABAMA.

THAT'S TRUE ALL YEAR AROUND BUT PEOPLE SPEND LONGER PERIODS OF OUTDOORS IN THE SUMMER, SO WE SEE AN INCREASE THIS A LOT OF TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS THAT HAPPEN IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, THINGS PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ABOUT LIKE LIME DISEASE, ROCKY MOUNTED SPOTTED FEVER OR THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPEN ROUTINELY.

THERE ARE OTHER DISEASES THAT ARE NOT SO EASILY RECOGNIZABLE, BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER TICK-BORNE DISEASES HERE COMMONLY.

REMEMBER IF YOU'RE CAMPING, HIKING, IN WOODED AREAS, PARTICULARLY EVEN IF YOU'RE GOLFING AND SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE ROUGH LIKE I DO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO TICKS.

LOOK CAREFULLY, TRY TO REMOVE THOSE IN A CLEAN FASHION.

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS AT ALL ABOUT THAT, THEN TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.

>> THERE ARE SOME STEPS, SOME PRECAUTIONS YOU CAN TAKE IF YOU WILL BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT OR AREAS LIKE THAT THAT YOU COULD BE EXPOSED TO.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE SIMPLEST THINGS TO DO IS JUST BE AWARE OF THE CLOTHING THAT YOU'RE WEARING.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND TIME IN WOODED AREAS, YOU KNOW, TRY TO COVER YOUR LEGS, IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, TUCK YOUR PANTS LEGS INTO YOUR SOCKS IF YOU WILL BE HIKING OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS AND THEN LOOK CAREFULLY FOR TICKS WHEN YOU UNDRESS AND CHANGE CLOTHES.

CERTAINLY A GOOD IDEA TO LOOK INTO THAT FOR TICKS AND MOSQUITOES.

WE HAVE A FEW MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES IN ALABAMA, BUT GENERALLY THEY'RE JUST A NUISANCE AND CAN REALLY RUIN YOUR TRIP IF YOU SPENDING A LOT OF TIME OUTDOORS.

>> I WAS ABOUT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE OTHER DAY I WAS MOVING POTTED PLANTS FROM MY MOTHER AROUND AND BOMBARDED BY MOSQUITOES WHICH TOOK MEOFF GUARD BECAUSE I WAS THINKING IS IT THIS TIME OF YEAR, ALREADY?

YES, IT IS.

>> IT REALLY IS.

AS WE GET THE SUMMERS THAT ARE HOTTER WITH HEAT LASTING LONGER, YOU HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR MOSQUITOES TO BREATHE.

IF YOU HAVE STANDING WATER LIKE IN A POTTED PLANT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IN A POOL THAT YOU'RE NOT USING OR ANYTHING THAT CAN CONTAIN WATER, MOSQUITOES ARE GOING TO FIND THAT IF YOU LIVE IN ALABAMA.

THEY LAY THEIR EGGS THERE.

THOSE WILL HATCH OUT.

MOSQUITOES USUALLY NEVER TRAVEL MORE THAN A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS FROM WHEREVER THEY HATCH IN THEIR LIFE SPAN.

SO YOUR MOSQUITOES ON YOUR PROPERTY, THEY'RE PROBABLY YOUR FAULT.

THEY'RE PROBABLY YOUR PROBLEM.

SO JUST BE COGNIZANT OF THAT.

THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH MOSQUITOES IS JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE STANDING WATER.

>> SOMEONE OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT LIVES IN ALABAMA ALONG WITH US HUMANS ARE ANIMALS, I.E.

CATTLE AND OTHER FARM ANIMALS PEOPLE MAKE THEIR LIVING WITH BECAUSE AGRICULTURE IS HUGE IN ALABAMA.

THERE ARE CONCERNS THERE ARE ISSUES THAT COULD BE HAPPENING WITH LIVESTOCK, ARE THERE NOT, SIR?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE SPENDING A GOOD DEAL OF TIME NOW THINKING ABOUT BIRD FLU OR WHAT WE CALL HIGH PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA, AN ILLNESS TRANSMITTED FROM WILD BIRDS JUST LIKE HUMANS HAVE THEIR OWN STRAIN OF THE FLU.

MANY TIMES, THESE WILD BIRDS CAN FLY, LAND ON A PROPERTY SOMEWHERE AND COMMONLY INFECT POULTRY.

POULTRY FARMERS HAVE BEEN AWARE OF BIRD FLU FOR A LONG TIME.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT CAN BE DEVASTATING MANY TIMES TO PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.

A WHOLE FLOCK SOMETIMES HAVE TO BE PUT DOWN BECAUSE OF INFECTION.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED RECENTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IS THAT DAIRY CATTLE IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE BECOME INFECTED WITH BIRD FLU AS WELL.

THAT VIRUS HAS MADE A JUMP INTO A STRAIN OF ANIMALS WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

WE'VE KNOWN BEFORE IT CAN SPREADO OTHER BIRD, EVEN TO SOME MARINE MAMMAL.

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'VE SEEN IT IN CATTLE.

WE'VE NOT SEEN IT IN ALABAMA TO THIS POINT, BUT PROBABLY THINK IT'S INEVITABLE.

WE DON'T THINK THERE'S A HIGH RISK TO THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC, WE'RE NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO BE ALARMED OR WORRIED.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE MONITORING.

THERE HAVE BEEN THREE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, ONE IN TEXAS AND TWO IN MICHIGAN, WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH BIRD FLU FROM TAKING CARE OF CATTLE.

THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CATTLE BUSINESS, AND THEY'VE DONE WELL.

THEY'VE DONE FINE.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF POTENTIAL REASONS THAT THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE.

THESE VIRUSES MUTATE AND MUTATE QUICKLY.

WE WOULD HATE TO HAVE A BIRD FLU VIRUS THAT SUDDENLY BEGINS SPREADING THE WAY HUMAN INFLUENZA SPREADS.

THAT COULD BE A BIG ISSUE.

WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH COMMISSIONER IN THE DEW POINT OF AGRICULTURE TO MAKE SURE FARMERS IN ALABAMA KNOW ABOUT THIS AND ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE'RE RIGHT NOW JUST DOING TRACKING AND SORT OF SURVEILLANCE AND TRYING TO MONITOR TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES.

SO FAR, SO GOOD IN OUR STATE.

IT'S NOT A REAL CONCERN FOR MOST PEOPLE, BUT IT POTENTIALLY COULD BE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK IN THE BACKGROUND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PREPARED IN CASE SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN.

>> DR. SCOTT HARRIS, DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BE SURE TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME TODD STACY WILL BE IN THIS CHAIR.

FROM ALL OF US AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.