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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

LEADING THE NEWS THIS WEEK, SOME GOOD NEWS FOR ALABAMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE STATEWIDE REPORT CARD WAS RELEASED THIS WEEK FROM THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

IT SHOWS THAT ALABAMA SCHOOLS IMPROVED OVERALL BY TWO POINTS, FROM 83 TO 85 FOR A B GRADE.

THERE WERE SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD ON THE DIFFERENT METRICS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IMPROVED BY MORE THAN TWO POINTS, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM DECREASED BY MORE THAN THREE POINTS.

COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IMPROVED BY FIVE POINTS, THE GRADUATION RATE IMPROVED BY ALMOST TWO POINTS AND PROGRESS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY WAS WAY UP BY MORE THAN 30 POINTS.

THAT LAST ONE MEASURES STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

ALSO ON THE EDUCATION FRONT, A GROUP OF STATE LAWMAKERS MET THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF MODERNIZING THE WAY ALABAMA FUNDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MANY BELIEVE THE CURRENT FOUNDATION PROGRAM DEVELOPED IN THE 1990S IS OUT OF DATE AND DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INCREASED COSTS OF EDUCATING SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, THOSE IN POVERTY OR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

IT'S SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE COULD DISCUSS NEXT SESSION, WHICH IS WHY THEY ARE FLESHING OUT IDEAS.

>> WE'RE COMMITTED TO LOOKING AT THIS FUNDING FORMULA THAT 45 OTHER STATES USE AND DETERMINING SHOULD ALABAMA ADOPT SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE COST OF EDUCATING A SPECIAL ED CHILD IS A LOT MORE THAN EDUCATING A DIFFERENT CHILD OR A CHILD IN THE REGULAR CLASSES OR A CHILD THAT MAY NOT HAVE THOSE SAME TYPE NEEDS.

>> THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK TO HEAR DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR UPDATING THE STATE'S SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM.

THE DRAFT PLAN WOULD HAVE STUDENTS LEARNING MORE ABOUT U.S. HISTORY AND ALABAMA HISTORY.

BOARD MEMBER TONYA CHESTNUTT SAID SHE ORIGINALLY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT BLACK HISTORY BEING SHORTCHANGED GIVEN ALL THE POLITICS OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT THE DRAFT PLAN HITS THE MARK.

>> THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I'VE HAD PEOPLE EVERYWHERE I'VE DONE THAT HAVE COMPRESSED THEIR CONCERN THAT BLACK HISTORY WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM.

AS I SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW, I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW MYSELF.

BUT WHEN I GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE DRAFT, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

I FELT LIKE ALL ETHNIC GROUPS WERE REPRESENTED FAIRLY, AND I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, AND, SO, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE, REALLY, IN WHAT WAS PRESENTED NOT JUST FOR BLACK HISTORY BUT ACKNOWLEDGING ALL PEOPLE, AND THAT'S FAIR.

THAT'S MORE THAN FAIR.

THIS COMMITTEE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN MAKING SURE THAT NOT ONLY WAS -- NOT ONLY -- HOW CAN I PUT IT -- THEY MADE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS REPRESENTED, AND THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW.

AND WE WANT TO COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR WORK AND THEIR EFFORT.

I THINK THE TEACHERS WILL BE REAL PLEASED.

IT IS VERY TEACHER FRIENDLY.

AS FAR AS THE LAYOUT IS CONCERNED, YOU CAN SEE THE SYSTEMIC APPROACH THEY USED TO TIE EVERYTHING IN.

SO, I AM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED.

>> AS THE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION CONTINUES APACE IN WASHINGTON, THERE IS SOME TALK OF PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP TAKING SOME DRASTIC STEPS ON EDUCATION, INCLUDING ELIMINATING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SENDING THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE STATES.

STATE SUPERINTENDENT ERIC MACKEY THIS WEEK ADDRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

>> EVEN THOUGH THERE'S TALK IN WASHINGTON ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CLOSING OR REORGANIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE FEDERAL ROLE IN EDUCATION EXISTED DECADES BEFORE THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SO THE OLD PUBLIC LAW 142-92 WHICH ESTABLISHED PUBLIC EDUCATION STARTED IN THE '70S BEFORE THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THE REHABILITATION ACT 1973, SCHOOLS WERE ENFORCING REGULATIONS ON THAT WELL BEFORE THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD NEW LAWS, LIKE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GETS INVOLVED IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF.

SO THOSE THINGS WOULD CONTINUE.

WE DON'T THINK THERE WOULD BE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN TITLE 1 PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, OUR OTHER TITLE PROGRAMS, 2, 3, 4, TITLE 9 ENFORCEMENT OR CERTAINLY SPECIAL EDUCATION.

>> THAT WAS A LOT OF EDUCATION NEWS.

LIKE A MINI SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION.

THANK YOU TO EDUCATION REPORTER TRISH CRAIN FOR ALL THOSE STORIES.

NEWS ON STATE PRISONS THIS WEEK.

THE ALABAMA CORRECTIONS INSTITUTION FINANCE AUTHORITY MET WEDNESDAY AND VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SECOND MAJOR MEN'S PRISON.

HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT AN IDENTIFIED SOURCE OF FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE ESTIMATED BILLION DOLLAR COST.

CONSTRUCTION ON THE MEGA PRISON IN ELMORE COUNTY IS WELL UNDERWAY AS YOU CAN SEE IN THESE PHOTOS.

TO COME UP WITH THE FUNDS FOR IT, THE STATE SOLD $500 MILLION IN BONDS, DEDICATED $400 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS AND DEDICATED $150 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

THE STATE OF THE ART PRISON WILL INCLUDE A HOSPITAL, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY, AND TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAM.

IT'S EXPECTED TO BE OPEN BY 2026.

THE ALABAMA RE-ENTRY COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

BENNET WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA SENTENCING COMMISSION, SAID THE STATE NEEDS BETTER DATA ON CRIME AND REPEAT OFFENDERS TO PRODUCE BETTER POLICIES AND REDUCE PRISON OVERCROWDING.

>> SO WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO MEASURE WHAT WE ANTICIPATE ALABAMA'S PRISON POPULATION WILL BE A YEAR OUT, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS OUT BASED ON DIFFERENT POLICY SCENARIOS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR DIFFERENT POLICY-MAKERS TO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD DEGREE OF PREDICTABILITY IN WHERE THE INMATE POPULATION WILL BE IN ORDER TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S BUILDING NEW PRISONS, WHETHER IT'S MEDICAL COSTS, WHETHER IT'S DELIVERY OF SERVICES, ET CETERA.

JUST TO GIVE POLICIES AN IDEA GIVEN WHERE WE THINK THE PRISON POPULATION WILL GO GIVEN A FEW DIFFERENT POLICY OPTIONS.

>> YOU MAY HAVE READ OR HEARD ABOUT THE TRAGIC SHOOTING EARLY SUNDAY MORNING ON THE CAMPUS OF TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY AFTER THE HOMECOMING GAME THAT KILLED ONE PERSON AND INJURED AT LEAST 16 MORE.

THE MAN BEING CHARGED WITH THE SHOOTING WAS USING A HANDGUN MODIFIED TO SPRAY BULLETS LIKE A MACHINE GUN.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN DEBATING MAKING SUCH GLOCK SWITCH DEVICES ILLEGAL, AND THIS WEEK HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAID THEY WILL PRIORITIZE THAT BILL IN THE NEXT SESSION.

>> AS ALABAMA LEGISLATORS, WE MUST REVISE OUR LAWS REGULATING GUN OWNERSHIP AND SAFETY.

WE HAVE CITIZENS WALKING AROUND DISPLAYING ALL TYPES OF GUNS AND WEAPONS.

RANDOM PUBLIC SHOOTINGS HAVE INCREASED ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE HAVE WITNESSED INNOCENT VICTIMS BEING SHOT DURING THESE RANDOM SHOOTINGS.

A STRAY BULLET HAS NO NAME ON IT.

SADLY, THE YOUNG MAN ARRESTED IN TUSKEGEE HAD TO ALSO BE CHARGED FEDERALLY BECAUSE ALABAMA LAWS DON'T ADDRESS LEGAL GUN MODIFICATIONS.

>> WE KNOW LAWS AREN'T GOING TO STOP EVERY ACT OF GUN VIOLENCE, BUT WE KNOW WE WERE ELECTED TO TAKE ACTION.

SO WE ARE ADVOCATING, AS MY COLLEAGUES SAID, FOR LAWS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND CAN SAVE SOME LIVES.

AS WAS MENTIONED, THE GLOCK SWITCHES ARE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

WHEN SOMEONE PULLS A TRIGGER ON A GUN THAT HAS ONE OF THOSE, THE BULLETS CAN SPRAY IN EVERY WHICH DIRECTION.

EVEN IN THE ACCOUNT, THE MAN SAID HE DIDN'T AIM AT ANYONE BUT WE KNOW THE BULLET SPRAYED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WHICH CREATED CHAOS AND HAVOC AND CAN INJURE ANYBODY THAT'S NEARBY.

WE ALSO KNOW CONFLICT RESOLUTION IS SOMETHING THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY LAST YEAR IN OUR BUDGET WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM MONTGOMERY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA TO HAVE THAT IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO WORKING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, TEACHING THEM AT A YOUNG AGE, TRYING TO DEESCALATE IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR.

AGAIN, AS THIS WAS SAID, THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN ISSUE, IT'S A HUMAN ISSUE.

SO LET'S CONTINUE TO FIND COMMON GROUND AND WORK TOGETHER.

THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY MATTER, AND EVERYBODY COULD AND SHOULD RALLY BEHIND THAT.

>> SOME CONCERNING NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH THIS WEEK.

ALABAMA'S INFANT MORTALITY RATE HAS CLIMBED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2016.

THE NEW DATA SHOWS THAT FOR 2023, ALABAMA'S INFANT MORTALITY RATE WAS 7.8 INFANT DEATHS PER 1,000 BIRTHS.

ALSO CONCERNING IS THE MORTALITY AMONG BLACK INFANTS AT 13 PER 1,000 BIRTHS, WHICH IS TWICE AS HIGH AS THE RATE FOR WHITE INFANTS.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER SCOTT HARRIS SAID THE MAIN CAUSES ARE POVERTY AND LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE THIS WEEK IN THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CARE.

ANOTHER CRISIS CENTER GOING UP, THIS TIME IN A RURAL PART OF THE STATE.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

>> THIS PLOT OF LAND WILL BE THE HOME OF A NEW MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTER IN BRANTLEY, ALABAMA.

THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THIS RURAL REGION HAS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

>> WE ESTIMATE THAT OVER 75% OF THE PATIENTS THAT I SEE IN BOTH MY OFFICE AND IN THE HOSPITAL EITHER PRIMARILY OR PREDOMINANTLY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS.

>> DR. CHARLES TOMPKINS GREW UP IN THE BRANTLEY COMMUNITY AND HAS PRACTICED MEDICINE HERE FOR YEARS.

HE KNOWS WHAT A GAME CHANGER A CRISIS CENTER WILL BE HERE.

SO DOES CRENSHAW COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE WILL TATE, ANOTHER BRANTLEY NATIVE.

>> MENTAL HEALTH IS BIG TO ME BECAUSE I PRESIDE OVER MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENTS.

SO WE SEE THIS ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

>> IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, THIS AREA IN BRANTLEY WILL SERVE AS THE HOME OF A NEW MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY AIMED AT GIVING HELP TO THOSE IN THIS REGION WHO NEED ASSISTANCE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO SERVE ANOTHER PURPOSE, TO BE THE BLUEPRINT OF A SYSTEM OF BUILDINGS AROUND THE STATE THAT WOULD DO THE SAME THINGS THROUGHOUT ALABAMA.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT STEP, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY -- IT HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR SO LONG.

MENTAL ILLNESS IS A REAL ILLNESS, AND IT AFFECTS SO IN.

IT AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT PEOPLE ALL AROUND THEM INCLUDING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> SINCE DAY ONE, THE IVEY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH CARE, ENSURING NO ALABAMIANS FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS WHEN IT COMES TO RECEIVING TIMELY, CRITICAL SUPPORT.

>> FEDERAL SUPPORT CAME BY THE WAY OF A SOUTHEAST CRESCENT REGIONAL COMMISSION.

>> OUR MAIN FOCUS AS A GRANT-MAKING AGENCY IS TO INVEST IN PROJECTS THAT WILL BENEFIT COMMUNITIES SUCH AS BRANTLEY.

AND HERE IN BRANTLEY, WE ARE ABLE, TODAY, TO FILL THAT VOID.

>> A VOID SOME WANT TO SEE FIXED SOON.

>> IT'S NOT JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE LOCAL, BUT ALSO OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

IT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED DESPERATELY AS WELL AS WE DO.

>> I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTAIN THE CARE THAT THEY NEEDED BECAUSE OF LIMITED RESOURCES, AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE CAN CHANGE THAT WITH THE CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTER.

>> IN BRANTLEY, RANDY SCOTT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> ALABAMA MARKED VETERANS DAY THIS WEEK.

THE CAPITAL CITY HOSTED ITS FIRST PARADE IN YEARS.

OUR OWN JEFF SANDERS WAS THERE TO CAPTURE THE PRIDE AND EMOTION OF THE DAY, AS VETERANS, FAMILIES, AND CITY LEADERS REFLECTED ON WHAT THIS EVENT MEANS IN A TIME MARKED BY SO MUCH DIVISION.

[ BAND PLAYING ] WITH THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF MARCHING BANDS AND SOLDIERS STEPPING IN UNISON, THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY HOSTED ITS FIRST VETERANS DAY PARADE IN YEARS ALONG HISTORIC DEXTER AVENUE.

THE EVENT DREW ALL AGES GATHERING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR NATION'S ME ROWS.

>> TO BE A PART OF THESE MEANS A LOT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY THAT'S MILITARY.

UNCLES, HUSBAND IS EX-MILITARY, MOTHER-IN-LAW.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

>> ARMY VETERAN CHARLES HARRIS SPENT 17 YEARS SERVING HISS COUNTRY AND SAYS EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS HIS PASSION FOR HIS MILITARY FAMILY REMAINS STRONG.

>> OH, MAP, I'M JUST OUT HERE TO REPRESENT WHO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, THE PRIDE THAT I HAVE IN MY COUNTRY AND IN MY MILITARY.

WE'RE JUST LIKE A BIG FAMILY.

I LOVE IT.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY LOVE IT.

>> FOR MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEPHEN REED, REVIVING THE VETERANS DAY PARADE WAS SIGNIFICANT ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY IS OFTEN MARKED BY DIVISION.

>> AND WITH SO MUCH GOING ON RIGHT NOW, SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING GLOBALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THANKS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW THAT APPRECIATION AND THAT RECOGNITION FOR THOSE WHO SERVED AND ARE SERVING NOW AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES.

♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE... ♪ >> AFTER THE PARADE, A SOMBER CEREMONY IN RIVER WALK STADIUM.

THE COMMANDER OF THE 42ND AIR FORCE WING AT MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE ADDRESSED THE CROWD SAYING HONORING THE SACRIFICES OF VETERANS STRENGTHENS THE ENTIRE NATION.

>> WE SHARE AN IDENTITY THAT TRANSCENDS ANY DIFFERENCES THAT WE MAY HAVE IN HONOR OF THE OATH THAT WE HAVE ALL TAKEN, TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE ARE BOUND IN OUR DUTY, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE TO OUR GREAT NATION.

>> AND HONORING THOSE WHO WORE THE UNIFORM TO DEFEND THE STATE AND NATION ON VETERANS DAY CAN BE AT LEAST ONE THING THAT UNITS US ALL.

>> HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

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

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

COLUMNIST STEVE FLOWERS RECENTLY PUBLISHED A BOOK ABOUT LIFE AND CAREER OF LONG TIME STATE SENATOR JABO WAGGONER.

BOTH JOIN ME AT THE DESK NOW.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> I'M EXCITED TO READ THE BOOK.

PUBLISHED JABO WAGGONER AN ALABAMA POLITICAL LEGEND.

NO ONE CAN DOUBT THAT.

HOW DID THIS BOOK COME OUT, STEVE?

>> A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT JABO.

I SAID -- I WALKED BY HIS OFFICE ONE DAY AND THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS 30, 40 YEARS SERVING THE HOUSE TOGETHER, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M WALKING BY A POLITICAL LEGEND'S OFFICE.

ALL THE PEOPLE WERE CONGREGATING IN THERE, AND BEING IN CHAMBER, RULES, ALL THE LOBBYISTS TRYING TO GET THE BILLS ON THE COUNTER.

I KNEW JABO HAD LONGEVITY OF HISTORY FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT IT AND, IN THE COLUMN, I SAID THIS WORDING, I SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S DONE SO MUCH, I CAN'T DO RIGHT BY HIM IN THIS COLUMN, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT.

SOME OF HIS FRIENDS GOT WITH ME AND ASKED ME TO WRITE A BOOK, SAID, FLOWERS, WHY DON'T YOU WRITE A BOOK ABOUT JABO?

LEGENDARY HISTORY WILL VEAL HE IS THE BIGGEST IN HISTORY.

WE'RE LIVING IN TIME WHEN PEOPLE IN LAST GENERATIONS ARE LEGENDS, BUT PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING.

51 YEARS IS HISTORY.

34 IN THE SENATE, 17 IN THE HOUSE, AND NOBODY MAY EVER REACH THAT RECORD SO HE HAS A RECORD FOR LONGEVITY AND HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE FOR 51 YEARS.

>> I KNOW IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE TO BE PRAISED.

WHAT'S IT BOOK TO HAVE A BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT YOU WHILE YOU'RE STILL SERVING?

>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

STEVE CALLED ME PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND SAID, I WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT YOU.

I SAID, EXCUSE ME?

WHY ME?

AND THEN HE GOES INTO A LOT OF THE REASONS WHY.

HE'S A VERY TALENTED WRITER.

I READ HIS BOOK ABOUT GEORGE WALLACE, WHICH IS THE ONLY OTHER BOOK HE'S EVER WRITTEN, AND IT WAS REALLY A GOOD BOOK.

SO, HE FINALLY TALKED ME INTO IT BECAUSE IT WAS A SLOW DECISION FOR ME TO HAVE A BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT ME.

IN MY WILDEST DREAMS, I NEVER THOUGHT ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO, BUT HE CONVINCED ME IT WAS WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO AND THAT I NEEDED TO AGREE TO IT.

SO, I FINALLY AGREED TO IT, AND I HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWING WITH HIM OFF AND ON FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO ABOUT THE BOOK AND ABOUT MY HISTORY AND MY GROWING UP YEARS AND MY FAMILY, AND THIS IS THE RESULT.

>> SO A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS, NOT JUST POLITICS.

>> OH, SURE.

WHAT TOUCHED ME MORE ABOUT THE BOOK WAS THE TRIBUTES IN HERE.

HE INTERVIEWED HOUSE MEMBERS, SENATE MEMBERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND IT WAS JUST SO MOVING FOR ME TO READ WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT ME, OR THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID WHETHER THEY REALLY THOUGHT IT OR NOT, OKAY.

[LAUGHTER] BUT THERE ARE SO MANY TRIBUTES IN HERE THAT I'VE HAD SOME TEARY MOMENTS READING SOME OF THIS STUFF.

I LOOKED AT IT AGAIN LAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON, READING SOME OF THE TRIBUTES.

AND HE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD ON THIS BOOK.

AND THE TRIBUTES ARE WHAT REALLY TOUCHED ME.

>> I CAN IMAGINE SO.

I KNOW IT'S FULL OF ANECDOTES AND STORIES.

STEVE, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE STORIES THAT STUCK OUT TO YOU AS THE AUTHOR OF SOME OF THE MORE INTERESTING AND MEANINGFUL THINGS IN HIS CAREER?

>> WELL, I ENJOYED LEARNING HIS EARLY LIFE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET TO STUDYING SOMEONE'S LIFE, YOU UNDERSTAND.

HIS STORY, AND WHEN I TRY TO INTERTWINE THE BOOK, TODD, IS IF YOU LOOK WHEN JABO WAGGONER CAME TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 1966, BIRMINGHAM WAS STILL A BLUE-COLLAR CITY, A BIG CITY BUILT ON STEEL.

IT HAS TRANSFORMED INTO AN UPSCALE, MIDDLE WHITE-COLLAR CITY MEDICAL MECCA, AND THE LAND -- HE PASSED LEGISLATION IN 1975, TODD JOSEPH WALKER WAS PRESENT AND READ HIM IN AS A SECOND OR THIRD-TERM HOUSE MEMBER, HE PASSED LEGISLATION WHICH BOUGHT 45 BLOCKS OF DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM.

AS YOU WERE SAYING PRIOR TO THE SHOW, THAT'S WHERE UAB IS NOW.

HE COULD NOT HAVE BECOME THE NUMBER ONE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF ALABAMA SO HE'S THE FATHER OF UAB.

NO QUESTION HE'S THE GREATEST SENATOR IN ALABAMA HISTORY AND JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORY.

EVEN THOUGH JEFFERSON COUNTY IS THE BIGGEST COUNTY SO FAR IN THE STATE, IT HAS NOT HAD THE LEADER OF THE LEGISLATURE HISTORICALLY.

THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.

HE HAS DONE MORE FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY -- IF YOU READ THE BOOK, I MEAN, THINGS LIKE PROTECTIVE STADIUM.

ALL THE RESEARCH, THE SOUTHERN RESEARCH YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, HE WAS INVOLVED IN IT.

IN RECENT YEARS, THE SEAT BELT THINGS, I MEAN, FROM A STATEWIDE PERCEPTION.

>> RIGHT.

>> JUST LIKE I SAID IN MY COLUMN, THE REASON I INSTIGATED THE BOOK WAS THERE NEEDS TO BE A BOOK, BUT WHEN YOU START READING AND WRITING IT, YOU REALIZE THIS GUY REALLY HAS DONE A LOT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIS HOME COUNTY.

HE EPITOMIZING JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> I REMEMBER YOU TALKING ABOUT THE STORY OF THE UAB LAND BECAUSE YOU WERE A YOUNG LAWMAKER, TO GET IT DONE.

IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING STORY.

THIS WEEK WE HAD AN APT BOARD MEETING IN BIRMINGHAM AND TO GET TO OUR HEADQUARTERS FROM THE INTERSTATE YOU HAVE TO PASS BY SOUTHERN RESEARCH ON RICHARD ERRINGTON, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A WHOLE LOT FOR THEM AND RIGHT THROUGH UAB'S CAM BUS.

I THOUGHT THIS IS APROPOS BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON THAT.

MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW YOU'RE A YOUNG LAWMAKER, YOU KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR UAB, BUT I BET YOU CAN'T IMAGINE JUST THAT ONE APPROPRIATION, DECADES LATER, HOW IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE ONLY EXAMPLE.

>> THAT OCCURRED IN 1975.

I WAS IN MY THIRD TERM IN THE ALABAMA HOUSE.

THEY HAD A LOBBYIST CALLED DR. RUDOLPH DAVIDSON, AND HE CAME TO ME ONE DAY IN MONTGOMERY AND SAYS, DR. VULKER WANTS TO MEET WITH YOU, THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF UAB.

I SAID, WHAT ABOUT?

HE SAID, HE HAS LEGISLATION HE WANTS YOU TO SPONSOR.

SO, WE HAD A MEETING WITH DR. VULKER IN HIS OFFICE AS UAB, AND DR. VULKER HANDED ME THIS BILL.

HE SAID, THIS IS AN $8.5 MILLION APPROPRIATION TO BUY, I BELIEVE, 40 SQUARE BLOCKS IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF BIRMINGHAM.

EVERY BLOCK WEST OF 18TH STREET BETWEEN 5TH AND 10TH AVENUE SOUTH, 40 SQUARE BLOCKS OR 45 IS A LOT OF LAND.

IT WAS URBAN RENEWAL LAND, FIXING TO GO ON THE OPEN MARKET, AND IT WAS NOT GOOD PROPERTY.

I MEAN, YOU COULD IMAGINE OVER ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHO LIVED THERE, AND IT WAS NOT GOOD LAND.

I INTRODUCED THE BILL AFTER HE TALKED ME INTO IT, AND IT TOOK A WHILE.

I SAID, WHY ME?

YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE YOUNG GUY, THIRD TERM.

HE SAID, NO, YOU'RE GOING TO SPONSOR IT.

SO I SPONSORED THE BILL, AND ONE DAY WE WERE PLAYING WHAT WE CALL BASEBALL BACK THEN, EVERY HOUSE MEMBER HAD HIS TIME AT BAT TO BRING UP HIS FAVORITE BILL.

SO I BROUGHT MY BILL UP, AND LO AND BEHOLD IT PASSED ON A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

I WAS SURPRISED, BUT IT DID.

SO, IT WENT OVER TO THE SENATE.

I THINK JOE FINE WAS GOING TO HANDLE THE BILL OVER THERE, BUT RICHARD SHELBY IN HIS SECOND TERM IN THE ALABAMA SENATE STARTED FILIBUSTERING THE BILL.

HE WANTED THE MONEY TO GO TO TUSCALOOSA INSTEAD OF BIRMINGHAM.

>> SURE.

>> WELL, HE GOT A CALL FROM SOMEBODY IN TUSCALOOSA AND HE WENT OFF THE FLOOR AND TOLD WHOEVER WAS ON THE OTHER LINE, YOU SIT DOWN, WE WANT THIS BILL TO PASS.

SO, HE CAME BACK ON THE FLOOR, AND JOE FINE GOT UP AND PASSED THE BILL IN THE SENATE, AND THAT'S HOW THAT LAND BECAME PROPERTY OF UAB, 40 SQUARE BLOCKS, WHICH I THINK AT THE TIME UAB WAS MAYBE 15 SQUARE BLOCKS, AND TODAY IT'S ABOUT 115.

>> YEAH, AND AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE WHOLE STATE.

I'M CURIOUS, GIVEN YOUR CAREER -- AND, AGAIN, I HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK, I'M EAGER TO READ IT, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BUY IT LATER.

I'M CURIOUS WHAT ADVICE YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR YOUNG LAWMAKERS IN THEIR FIRST OR SECOND TERM OR EVEN THOSE SEEKING TO BECOME LAWMAKERS OF HOW TO GO ABOUT THEIR CAREERS IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN HAVE THAT IMPACT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE HERALDED IN A BOOK.

>> YOU KNOW, I WAS A YOUNG GUY BACK THEN AND NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR LEGISLATION TO COME MY WAY.

YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T ASK ME TO HANDLE BIG BILLS.

BUT, WHEN DR. VULKER, THE PRESIDENT OF UAB, CALLED ME INTO HIS OFFICE, THERE WERE OVER, YOU KNOW, 20 HOUSE MEMBERS FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY, OKAY, AND HE CHOSE ME TO SPONSOR THE BILL.

AND I ASKED HIM, WHY ME?

BUT YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE A YOUNG LAWMAKER, WHAT DIFFERENCE YOU CAN MAKE.

YOU KNOW, YES, I HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME, AND I HANDLE MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION, BUT, BACK THEN, IT WAS HUGE TO ME, AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE CHOSE ME, BUT HE DID.

I PRODUCED FOR HIM AND UAB, AND IT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE NOT ONLY FOR UAB BUT FOR THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

YOU KNOW, WHERE WOULD UAB BE TODAY WITHOUT THAT PROPERTY?

AND IT WAS URBAN RENEWAL LAND, AS I SAY, AND IT WAS FIXING TO GO ON THE OPEN MARKET, AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD TO ANYBODY.

BUT UAB GOT THAT LAND BECAUSE OF THAT BILL THAT WE PASSED IN 1975.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

WELL, STEVE, WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND THIS BOOK -- AMAZON, BOOK STORES, WHERE?

>> JUST AMAZON, AND ALSO THERE'S GOING TO BE IN BIRMINGHAM, A BOOK SIGNING, THREE BIG ONES BEING PLANNED, A BIG ONE, HALL OF FAME AND BIRMINGHAM.

THIS DAY IS GOING TO HAVE A BIG ONE AND THE BIGGEST ONE IS HERE IN MONTGOMERY ON FEBRUARY 12.

CLOSELY TO THIS TIME WE'LL START.

EVERYBODY IN THE LEGISLATURE WILL START COMING OVER THERE.

BACK TO WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT IN DOING RESEARCH AND PRIOR TO THAT KNOWING THIS FACT, I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY -- AND THIS IS UNUSUAL BEING IN POLITICS 50 YEARS -- SAY ONE BAD WORD ABOUT THIS GUY HE MENTORED SO MANY STATE NEW START AND THEY SAY THIS IN THE BOOK, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER, CLYDE AND WILL, SOME OF THE CURRENT ONES, HE'S MENTORED A LOT OF THEM AND MEANT A LOT TO PEOPLE.

THIS BOOK HONORED HIM LAST SEPTEMBER ANDS WAS DONE BY A FAMOUS ARTIST.

THEY COMMISSIONED HE AND MARILYN ON THE BACK.

HOW MUCH THEY LOVE EACH OTHER AND HOW MUCH HE'S MEANT TO HIM.

I CAPTURED THAT IN THE BOOK.

HE'S NOT JUST A POLITICAL PERSON.

I THINK IF YOU GOT DOWN TO IT, JABO MIGHT LIKE SPORTS BETTER THAN POLITICS.

THAT'S UNUSUAL TO SAY THAT BUT HE'S A REAL APT TO BE ONE OF THE FOUNDERS TO HAVE THE SPORTS HALL OF FAME.

AS HE LEAVES HER HE'S GOT TO DO A BOARD MEETING ON THE PHONE AS WE DRIVE HIM BACK TO BIRMINGHAM.

>> WASN'T BUT A COUPLE OF YEARS I SAW YOU ON THE SOFTBALL FIELD BEATING OUT THE THROW TO FIRST.

HE'S STILL GOT IT.

>> THAT PICTURE'S IN THE BOOK.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PICTURES IN THE BOOK INCLUDING ONE OF YOU AND RONALD REAGAN GOING BACK TO 1984.

WE'LL SHOW SOME OF THE PICTURES AS WELL.

LOOK, CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU ON, YOU KNOW, AS THE AUTHOR AND SUBJECT OF A BOOK THAT I KNOW ALABAMA POLITICOS ARE GOING TO BE EAGER TO READ AND WILL OBVIOUSLY SHARE AND INFORMATION ABOUT THAT BOOK SIGNING COME FEBRUARY.

SO THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE BOOK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THE ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL IS OPENING A NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR IN QUIN GRESHAM.

QUIN GRESHAM AND TODD SCHMIDT JOINS US HOW.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

CONGRATULATIONS, BY THE WAY.

WELCOME.

IT WAS LOVELY TO MEET YOU AND YOUR WIFE LAST NIGHT AT THAT BOARD GATHERING.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT AN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DOES.

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND IT VARIES FROM ONE ORGANIZATION TO THE NEXT.

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BASIC PLOT POINTS HERE, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LARGELY IS THE VISION KEEPER FOR THE ORGANIZATION, PROGRAMMING MORE OFTEN THAN NOT FALLS IN THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S BASKET OF DUTIES IN COLLABORATION, OF COURSE, WITH THE INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT ALREADY WORKS AT THE THEATER.

AND THEN, BEYOND THAT, REALLY JUST SUPERVISING THE ARTISTIC QUALITY OF THE ORGANIZATION, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS PLAYING AT OUR A GAME, THAT ALL OF THE DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CREATIVE TEAM ARE COLLABORATING WELL TOGETHER AND PRODUCING THE VERY BEST WORK POSSIBLE ON OUR STAGES.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR WIFE ACTUALLY WAS STAGE MANAGER FOR JOSEPH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> DREAM COAT, RECENTLY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WHEN I WAS HERE AUDITIONING FOR THE JOB, JOSEPH WAS ON STAGE, SO THAT WORKED OUT NICELY THAT SHE WAS ALREADY HERE AND I GOT TO SEE THAT TERRIFIC PRODUCTION.

>> IT REALLY WAS PERFECT.

>> I'M LUCKY BECAUSE I GREW UP HERE AND WAS ABLE TO GO TO SHOWS.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST FOR MONTGOMERY.

IT'S FOR THE WHOLE STATE.

REALLY A TREASURE THAT YOU HAVE.

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A TOUGH TIME GOING THROUGH COVID.

A PANDEMIC HAS SPECIAL CHALLENGES FOR A THEATER.

SO TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WAS, HOW YOU'VE EMERGED THROUGH IT, HOW THINGS ARE NOW AT ASF.

>> TODD, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING FEW YEARS.

I MEAN, NOBODY ANTICIPATED COVID IN ANY BUSINESS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE A BUSINESS THAT DEALS WITH THE PUBLIC AND BEING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND HAVING ACTORS ON STAGE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER, COVID REALLY DECIMATED THE WORK, NOT JUST AT THE ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL BUT EVERY THEATER ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE WERE REALLY SHUT DOWN FOR ALMOST TWO SEASONS.

IT HAPPENED DURING A COUPLE OF SHOWS THAT THINGS STARTED ESCALATING WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH ACTORS BEING SICK, CREW MEMBERS BEING SICK, AND THEN IT JUST SNOWBALLED AND BECAME A POINT WHERE THE GOVERNOR AND YOU KNOW I THINK IN A WISE DECISION SHUT DOWN KIND OF PUBLIC AREAS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS THAT WERE SERVING THE PUBLIC.

SO, SINCE THAT TIME, IT'S KIND OF LIKE STARTING OVER, REALLY.

IT'S LIKE REBUILDING.

YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU HAVE THESE MAJOR CATASTROPHIC EVENTS THAT HAPPEN WITH ANYTHING, BASEBALL STRIKES, ALL THOSE THINGS, IT TAKES TIME TO REBUILD.

AND, SO, WE ARE SLOWLY REBUILDING OUR AUDIENCES.

LUCKILY, WE'VE HAD GREAT SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA, FROM THE STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND BUSINESSES ALL OVER THE STATE, SO THAT WAS HELPFUL TO KEEP THE CONTRIBUTED REVENUE PART OF OUR BUSINESS.

BEING A NOT-FOR-PROFIT WE RELY ON THE GENEROSITY OF STRANGERS AND FRIENDS, SO THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.

SOME WEEKS OUR PAYROLL WILL BE 150 PEOPLE WHEN YOU ADD IN ALL THE ACTORS AND CREW MEMBERS AND DESIGNERS AND DIRECTORS AND EVERYBODY ELSE, AND, SO, WE WENT DOWN TO COVID TO A SKELETON CREW OF TEN PEOPLE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.

AND THEN WE SLOWLY ADDED OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, OUR PRODUCTION DEPARTMENTS BACK AND THEN STARTED PRODUCING WORK.

IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL, BUT THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THINGS WENT WELL LAST YEAR.

I THINK WE'VE EMERGED FROM THAT KIND OF CRAZY PANDEMIC TIME, ALTHOUGH COVID IS STILL POPPING UP AROUND US.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO -- YOU KNOW, WON'T SHUT US DOWN AGAIN.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE CROWDS ARE COMING BACK, AND THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE, RIGHT?

PEOPLE IN THE SEATS.

WELL, I KNOW ASF ALSO PLAYS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN EDUCATION.

IT'S NOT JUST A THEATER, IT'S A LEARNING LAB, AND SO MANY SCHOOL GROUPS FROM AROUND THE STATE, I KNOW, COME TO NOT JUST WATCH THE SHOWS BUT PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF YOUR EDUCATION PROGRAMMING.

CAN Y'ALL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT, LIKE THE EDUCATION COMPONENT OF ASF?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT'S REALLY CORE TO OUR MISSION AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO WHICH IS EDUCATE ALL AGE GROUPS CERTAINLY THROUGH OUR PERFORMANCES BUT DIRECTLY THROUGH WHAT WE DO WITH SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENT MATINEE SERIES.

I GREW UP IN ALABAMA, AND I'M OLD ENOUGH THAT I REMEMBER WHEN ASF WAS BACK IN ANNISTON, ALABAMA, AND WOULD GO THERE AS A YOUNG KID IN COLLEGE TO SEE SHOWS IN ANNISTON.

AND THEN WHEN IT MOVED TO MONTGOMERY IN '85.

SO THAT EDUCATION PART WAS HUGE IN MY CAREER CHOICE AND WHAT I'VE DONE ANY ENTIRE CAREER SINCE I GRADUATED FROM AUBURN IS MANAGED AND DIRECTED AT THEATERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM ANYBODY EXPOSED TO THEATER AT A YOUNG AGE, IT JUST OPENS THEIR EYES TO A WHOLE WORLD THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO.

AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE KIDS AND SCHOOL GROUPS THAT COME IN FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE'LL SERVE BETWEEN 20,000 AND 40,000 STUDENTS IN A YEAR WHO COME TO OUR STUDENT MATINEES.

A LOT OF THOSE WILL COME FOR SHAKESPEARE BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY CORE TO THE CURRICULUMS AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS AND THE CHANCE TO SEE PROFESSIONAL SHAKESPEARE DONE BY THE, YOU KNOW, INCREDIBLE ARTISTS, IT'S JUST -- AND THOSE KIDS GO CRAZY.

I MEAN, LANGUAGE IS NOT A BARRIER WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING SHAKESPEARE AND SEE IT DONE WELL.

AND THE STUDENT MATINEE AUDIENCES FOR SHAKESPEARE AND OTHER THINGS WE DO, CHRISTMAS CAROL WE OPENER NEXT WEEK WILL HAVE BIG STUDENT AUDIENCES AS WELL, THEY ARE SOME OF THE BIG AUDIENCES.

>> QUIN, WAS THAT A BIG APPEAL IN THE EDUCATION COMPONENT.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE IN THE WHOLE PROCESS, CONSIDERING THE POSITION HERE, THAT WAS REALLY PRIMARY, AND I THINK IT WAS MY FIRST OFFICIAL DAY ON THE JOB, THAT WAS THE FIRST MEETING WE HAD WAS TO DISCUSS THAT.

I FEEL VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE KIND OF PROGRAMS.

WHEN I GOT DOWN HERE, THE VERY FIRST DAY, I WAS THERE FOR THE FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE FALL FESTIVAL OF SHAKESPEARE SHOWS, THREE CUT-DOWN VERSIONS OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLACE, I GOT THERE IN TIME TO SEE TWELFTH NIGHT.

TO SEE THE THING I PERSONALLY KNOW BUT ALSO HAVE SEEN IN ACTION, KIDS HAVING THE COURAGE TO GET UP IN FRONT OF THEIR PEERS AND DO THAT SORT OF THING, TO EXPERIENCE TEAMWORK WHERE MAYBE THEY'RE NOT ATHLETES, I BET YOU WERE AN ATHLETE.

>> I WAS NOT AN ATHLETE.

>> SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT.

I WAS DEFINITELY NOT AN ATHLETE.

>> I DID BOTH, FOOTBALL AND THEATER.

>> I REALLY HAD NEVER FELT LIKE I WAS A PART OF ANY SORT OF TEAM UNTIL I STARTED DOING THIS WORK.

>> WELL, AND YOU MENTIONED FALL FESTIVAL OF SHAKESPEARE.

IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM WE STARTED, PILOTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

WE WORK WITH THREE LOCAL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE SEARCH TEACHING ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOL.

THEY SPEND NINE WEEKS WITH KIDS IN THE SCHOOL DEVELOPING THIS ABBREVIATED VERSION OF SHAKESPEARE, AND IT BRINGS TOGETHER ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF KIDS IN THE SCHOOL.

WE'VE DONE IT A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW WITH ONE SCHOOL IN PARTICULAR, WITH BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, AND, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS ARE FANTASTIC.

WE DID IT WITH ANOTHER SCHOOL.

FIRST YEAR, TEN KIDS AUDITIONED.

THIS YEAR 40 KIDS AUDITIONED.

SO IT'S GROWING AND ONCE THE KIDS SEE THE VALUE OF IT AND HOW MUCH FUN IT IS AND HOW MUCH THEY LEARN, AND THEN THEY COME TOGETHER AT THE THEATER AND DO ALL THREE SHOWS FROM THOSE THREE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE MONTGOMERY AREA, AND IT'S JUST A BLAST.

>> AND WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO PURSUE PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN THE THEATER OR NOT, THEY DEVELOP SKILLS IN THAT MOMENT THAT WILL SERVE THEM IN WHATEVER THEY DO.

WHEN I WAS A KID, I COULD BARELY SPEAK TO ANYONE, AND IT REALLY WASN'T UNTIL I STARTED DOING THEATER THAT I BECAME A BLABBER MOUTH LIKE I AM TODAY.

IT TRULY HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND I LOVE SEEING IT TRANSFORM KIDS.

>> BEYOND THE EDUCATION, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, TALK ABOUT JUST FOR ADULTS, FOR SOCIETY AT LARGE, THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INSTITUTION LIKE ASF, THE IMPORTANCE OF ART, OF THEATER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR STATE.

I THINK MAYBE SOMETIMES WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

>> WELL, IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC NUTS AND BOLTS FIRST, THERE IS NOT A COMMUNITY WITH A THRIVING ARTS SCENE THAT CAN'T CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE IMPROVED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BY THEIR VERY EXISTENCE.

IT IS ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE COMING TO TOWN, AND MONTGOMERY HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER BETWEEN EJI AND WHAT THE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL IS DOING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS TO COME TO MONTGOMERY.

IMAGINE, THOUGH, IF THAT WEREN'T HERE, WHAT A LOSS THAT WOULD BE.

THEN, YOU KNOW, THE MORE ARTISTIC THOUGHT HERE IS THAT, IF WE PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SIT IN THE THEATER, WHICH IS KIND OF AN EMPATHY MACHINE, RIGHT, YOU SIT OUT THERE AND YOU WATCH SOMEBODY ELSE LIVE OUT THEIR LIFE AND MAKE MISTAKES, HAVE SUCCESSES, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BENEFIT FROM IMAGINING HOW OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT LIVE, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT, POWERFUL THINGS WE OFFER.

ADDITIONALLY, IT'S NOT A SECRET.

I MEAN, WE'RE IN THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERING OPINIONS IN THE WORLD.

>> SURE.

>> AND PARTICULARLY IN OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT AN AMAZING THING TO BE ABLE TO SAY, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ALL GOING TO GET TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF HOW WE FEEL ABOUT ANYTHING, WE'RE GOING TO TURN OFF OUR LIGHTS AND EXIST AS ONE UNIT.

AND I JUST CAN'T OVERSTATE HOW IMPORTANT I THINK THAT IS IN THE WORLD THAT WE'RE LIVING TODAY.

>> WELL, AND MONTGOMERY IS FORTUNATE -- WE'RE BLESSED TO BE HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US AND THE ENTIRE STATE, WE'RE THE ONLY FULLY PROFESSIONAL THEATER IN THE STATE, WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST THEATERS IN THE SOUTHEAST, AND TO HAVE THIS RESOURCE IN ALABAMA AND IN MONTGOMERY IS, YOU KNOW, JUST AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE STATE, FOR THIS REGION.

NOT MANY -- YOU KNOW, MISSISSIPPI DOESN'T HAVE THIS, TENNESSEE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THIS.

YOU CAN GO AROUND THE SOUTH, LOUISIANA DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THIS.

GEORGIA HAS THE ALLIANCE THEATER IN ATLANTA, THERE ARE SOME IN FLORIDA.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A MAJOR -- WE ARE A MAJOR THEATER, YOU KNOW, FOR WHERE THEATERS USUALLY LIVE, WE'RE IN A RELATIVELY SMALL DOWN IN PRIMARILY A RURAL STATE.

SO IT'S AN AMAZING THING TO HAVE HERE, AND SO NECESSARY, I THINK, TO EXPOSE EVERYONE, CHILDREN ESPECIALLY, TO THE POWER OF LIVE THEATER AND THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE OFFER THAT AS WE KNOW ARE BEING CUT BACK IN SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S A BIG REASON I WANTED TO HAVE Y'ALL ON, TO REMIND FOLKS WHAT A TREASURE IT IS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON.

YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT SHOWS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, A LOT OF SOUTHERN PLAYWRIGHTS AND SOUTHERN STORIES.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

>> A CHRISTMAS CAROL WILL OPEN NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE ALMOST READY TO RETURN TO THIS YEAR'S PRODUCTION.

THOSE FOLKS WHO SAW IT LAST YEAR CAN EXPECT A NICE STEP FORWARD IN WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEE ON THE STAGE.

AS TERRIFIC, FAITHFUL ADAPTATION AND HAS GROWN IN ITS QUALITY, I THINK, EVEN SINCE LAST YEAR.

>> AND RICK, OUR FORMER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR IS BACK TO DIRECT IT.

SO IT'S HIS PRODUCTION, HE DID THE ADAPTATION AND MOST OF THE CAST IS THE SAME.

SO WE'RE LUCKY TO GET THE SAME SCROOGE AS LAST YEAR, PAUL SLAYED SMITH, WORKED ON BROADWAY AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY PLAYING SCROOGE, AND THE REST OF THE CAST IS PROBABLY 80% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.

>> AND A LOT OF THE MUSIC INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION MAYBE YOU WOULDN'T ASSOCIATE WITH THE TYPICAL TELLING OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

SO I THINK THE AUDIENCE CAN EXPECT THE STORY THEY KNOW BUT ALSO A LOT OF GREAT SURPRISES, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I CAN'T WAIT.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.

BEYOND CHRISTMAS CAROL, WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT?

>> IN FEBRUARY THE STAGE ADAPTATION OF THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM, WHICH IS A TERRIFIC PLAY ABOUT AN HORRIFIC MOMENT IN SOUTHERN AND AMERICAN HISTORY IN 1963 IN BIRMINGHAM.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

BUT WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THE PLAY ITSELF IS THAT IT IS -- THAT IS CERTAINLY THE WORLD IN WHICH THIS FAMILY EXISTS AS THEY TRAVEL FROM FLINT, MICHIGAN, DOWN TO BIRMINGHAM.

BUT WHAT I THINK IS REALLY THRILLING ABOUT IT IS IT'S A VERY HONEST AND FUNNY TELLING OF A FAMILY ROAD TRIP.

I KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN ON THEM AND SQUABBLED WITH OUR SIBLINGS ALONG THE WAY, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

I REALLY, REALLY VALUE THIS PLAY, ONE IN HOW IT PRESENTS HISTORY, BUT HOW IT PRESENTS HISTORY IN AN INCREDIBLY HUMAN WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY CONNECT TO.

WE LAUGH, CRY, IT'S ALL THERE.

>> AND IT'S A BOOK THAT'S STUDIED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN ALABAMA IN THE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE.

IT ALSO TIES INTO THAT SCHOOL CURRICULUM SO THAT STUDENTS WILL ALSO COME SEE IT IN THE STUDENT MATINEE SERIES.

>> ROUND OUT THE SEASON.

WHAT ELSE HAVE WE GOT?

>> AFTER THAT, WE HAVE I WOULD SAY THE GREATEST ENGLISH LANGUAGE PLAY THAT EXISTS, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S HAMLET.

>> DID SUCH A GREAT MACBETH, I'M EAGER TO SEE HAMLET.

>> IT IS A TERRIFIC CAST.

WE DON'T WANT TO SPOIL TOO MUCH ABOUT THE ASF FAVORITES THAT ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF THE PRODUCTION BUT YOU CAN EXPECT MANY OF THEM.

WELL, I THINK YOU COULD MENTION GREAT GRETA LAMBERT WILL BE BACK IN A MAJOR ROLE IN HAMLET.

PLAYING ALONGSIDE AND AT ONE WEEKEND YOU CAN SEE BOTH SHOWS AT THE SAME TIME IS A NEW VERSION OF THE ROBIN HOOD STORY CALLED SHERWOOD BY KEN LUDWIG.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY A COMEDY AND AN INTERACTIVE COMEDY, SO THE AUDIENCE CAN EXPECT TO BE VERY ENGAGED WITH THE PRODUCTION.

IT IS SOMETIMES ERROL FLYNN SWASH BUCKLING, THAT'S DEFINITELY A PART OF IT, BUT THEN ALSO OTHER TIMES MEL BROOKS IN TIGHTS.

IT'S A GREAT COMBINATION BECAUSE THE CAST OF SHERWOOD, THAT ENTIRE CAST WHICH STARTS RIGHT FIRST GOES INTO HAMLET AND THEY JOIN THE OTHER ACTORS IN THE HAMLET CAST AND THEY WILL BOTH PLAY THE FINAL WEEKEND.

YOU CAN SEE SHERWOOD, HAMLET, THEY PLAY TOGETHER ON A WEEKEND.

>> INTERESTING.

A BIG CHALLENGE FOR AN ACTOR.

THAT'S VERY GOOD.

WELL, LOOK, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND SHARING WITH OUR AUDIENCE HOW IMPORTANT ASF IS, THE EXCITING PLAYS.

YOU HAVEN'T MENTIONED THE WIZARD OF OZ.

>> WIZARD OF OZ WILL PLAY OUT THE SEASON.

GET READY.

THEY HAVE THE MONKEYS.

>> TODD WAS IN A PRODUCTION OF WIZARD OF OZ.

>> FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL.

DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT TO CLOSE OUT THE SEASON.

BEEN A PLEASURE.

GOOD LUCK AS THE SEASON BEGINS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

BIRMINGHAM PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID GRAVES RECENTLY PUBLISHED LATEST BOOK ALABAMA FAITH, CHURCHES AND STAINED GLASS.

DAVID JOINS ME NOW.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

WHAT AN HONOR, GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> THIS IS A FASCINATING BOOK.

A COFFEE TABLE BOOK?

>> IT IS FOR SURE.

>> PHOTOGRAPHS FROM ALABAMA CHURCHES AND ESPECIALLY THE STAINED GLASS IN ALABAMA.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY.

TELL ME WHAT REALLY INSPIRED YOU TO COME UP WITH THIS IDEA TO TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE AND PHOTOGRAPH STAINED GLASS?

>> YEAH.

I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN, THOMASVILLE, ALABAMA, AND THERE WAS A SUNDAY WHERE I THINK IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE OR DAY THE CHURCH MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON SUNDAY MORNING WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE CHURCH TONIGHT, BE HOME WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND MY DAD WAS NOT A FAN OF THAT.

WE LIVED CLOSE TO THE CHURCH, SO HE DECIDED THAT EVENING, HE HAD A KEY, WE WERE GOING TO THE CHURCH.

HE LEFT THE LIGHTS OFF, AND HE READ THE CHRISTMAS STORY, HAD ME STAND UP AND SING, AND I SANG SILENT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS OFF AND SAW THE LIGHT COMING THROUGH AND JUST FANNING ACROSS THESE PEWS.

AND I REMEMBER THAT BEING SUCH A CORE MEMORY.

AND WHEN I GOT INTO PHOTOGRAPHY SEVEN YEARS AGO, I KNEW THIS WAS SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD I WANTED TO KIND OF PURSUE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND, SO, HOW MANY DIFFERENT CHURCHES ARE FEATURED IN THIS BOOK?

>> SO THERE'S 75 CHURCHES, 150 PICTURES.

IT SPANS METHODIST, CATHOLIC, EPISCOPAL, PRESBYTERIAN, BAPTIST, AND UNITED METHODIST.

SO WE GO ACROSS THE SPECTRUM TO SEE COMPRESSIVELY HOW EACH CHURCH WENT ABOUT TELLING THE STORY OF HOPE TO THEIR CONGREGATION ACROSS ALABAMA.

>> AND STAINED GLASS TELLS DIFFERENT STORIES, NOT JUST ONE SINGLE THING.

THEY'RE USUALLY DEPICTING SOMETHING FROM THE BIBLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WAS TALKING TO A BAPTIST CHURCH TODAY, YOU SEE JESUS AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

IN OTHER CHURCH YOU SEE THE PROPHETS OR DEPICTIONS OF THE STORIES IN THE OLD ESSENTIAL.

ALABAMA, MAYBE IN THE MID 1800S, SOME CONGREGANTS COULDN'T READ.

SO, THIS WAS ANOTHER WAY THE PASTOR OR THE PRIEST TELLS THE STORY OF HOPE THAT IT RESONATES WITH THEIR MEMBERS OF THE STORY THEY'RE TELLING, THEY CAN VISUALLY SEE IT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON TO HAVE THESE DEPICTIONS IN THE WINDOWS.

>> THAT'S SO INTERESTING.

I COULD SEE THAT ALSO WORKING IN TO THE MEDIEVAL ORIGINS OF THE STAINED GLASSES IN CHURCHES BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM COULDN'T READ EITHER.

YOU'RE DEPICTING THAT.

YOU LEARNED A LOT ABOUT STAINED GLASS FROM YOUR WORK IS THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, THERE ARE TIFFANY WINDOWS IN ALABAMA BETWEEN 1870 AND 1920, ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

>> THE TIFFANY DEPARTMENT STORE.

>> TIFFANY IN NEW YORK WAS A GLASS COMPANY SO THERE WAS A EXECUTIVE TIME PERIOD OF THOSE WINDOWS.

IT'S FASCINATING TO SEE HOW UNIQUE EACH CHURCH IS IN THE BOOK AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONGREGANTS AND JUST TO SHOW HOW THE HEIGHT WOULD SHINE ACROSS THOSE PEWS BECAUSE, NO MATTER WHAT THE DENOMINATION, THE STORY OF HOPE AND THE HISTORY OF ALABAMA, IT'S ALL THE SAME.

IT'S WEEK AFTER WEEK, GENERATION AFTER GENERATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME IN TIRED AND WEARY AND, BECAUSE OF THE STORY, THEY LEAVE WITH HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT, AND IT'S ALL ACROSS THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE.

>> WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING LOOKING THROUGH THE BOOK IS YOU HAVE GIANT CHURCHES.

HERE'S FIRST BAPTIST MONTGOMERY RIGHT HERE.

>> YES.

>> CHURCHES OF ALL SIZES.

SOME TINY CHURCHES AND SOME MEGA CHURCHES.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT SPANS A WHOLE SPECTRUM.

>> ONE OF THE STORIES I WAS GOING FROM TUSCALOOSA DOWN TO DEMOPOLIS AND THERE WAS A CHURCH I DIDN'T PLAN ON STOPPING AT BUT UTAH BAPTIST.

IT IS JUST A SMALL CHURCH.

THANKFULLY, SOMEBODY WAS THERE.

I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, TOLD THEM WHAT I WAS DOING.

THEY GAVE ME ACCESS.

THE STORY OF HOPE IS STILL THE SAME, WHETHER YOU HAVE TEN PEOPLE IN THE CONGREGATION OR 2,500.

WE SOMETIMES FORGET TO PAUSE AT THE BACK OF THE SANCTUARIES AND THINK ABOUT ALL THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE OF THESE STORIES OF HOPE AND THE WINDOWS THAT REFLECT THAT STORY, AND LIVES BEING CHANGED EVERY DAY, WHETHER MONTGOMERY, HUNTSVILLE, FORT PAYNE, TUSCALOOSA, MOBILE, GROVEVILLE, THOMASVILLE, IT JUST SPANS THE WHOLE STATE AND CONTINUES TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WEEK AFTER WEEK.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, FIRST BAPTIST MONTGOMERY IS A PRETTY NEWISH CHURCH, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT STAINED GLASS, WHICH YOU THINK ABOUT IS MEDIEVAL ORIGINS AND OLDER, DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GOING OUT OF STYLE THIS IS AN ART FORM THAT HAS ENDURED.

ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE IT'S A CREATIVE EXPRESSION TO -- WHETHER IT BE OUR GRANDFATHER'S FATHERS, THIS WAS THEIR OFFERING TO SAY WE WANT TO MAKE MUCH OF THIS STORY OF HOPE.

SOME PEOPLE DO IT JUST IN THE FORM OF A BUILDING.

THEY WANT TO BRING AS MANY PEOPLE THERE, THAT'S THEIR EXPRESSION OF HOPE.

BUT OTHERS SEE THIS CREATIVE PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO SAY PAUSE, REFLECT, LOOK AT THIS WILL MESSAGE THAT RESONATES.

THIS IS ONLY A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

75 CHURCHES DOESN'T EVEN TOUCH THE PALE OF THE BUTTE OF THE STAIN CLASSES AROUND THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

I COULD PROBABLY DO FIVE MORE BOOKS AND STILL NOT TOUCH ALL THE CHURCHES IN ALABAMA.

>> WELL IT'S SUPER INTERESTING.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, HOW DID YOU GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE BEGINNING?

>> A FRIEND OF MINE ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE SAT ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER AND HE SAID, HEY, I KNOW YOU WORK HARD, BUT YOU REALLY DON'T TAKE TIME AWAY TO REST AND THE BEST VERSION OF YOU NEEDS REST.

AND I STARTED TO BEGIN TO PLAN VACATIONS AND TAKE LONGER TRIPS, AND I KNEW, WHEN I WANTED TO TAKE THOSE TRIPS, I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE WHAT MY EYE ACTUALLY SAW, WHETHER SUNSET, IRELAND, ICELAND, SCOTLAND, AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE PICTURES THAT CAUSED PEOPLE TO LEAN IN WITH CURIOSITY, WHETHER STAINED GLASS, A SUNRISE, I WANT PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE MOMENT I EXPERIENCED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

SO, I BEGAN TO LEARN PHOTOGRAPHY, TOOK A LOT OF PICTURES, FAILED A LOT, A LOT OF BLURRY PICTURES, A LOT OF NOT HIGH QUALITY.

OVER THE YEARS, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, IT BEGAN TO TAKE OFF AND I WAS SO BLESSED AND FORTUNATE NOW TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A STYLE OR A VIEW, A LENS THAT ALLOWS ME TO PORTRAY THAT TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN KIND OF LEAN IN AND UNDERSTAND THE MOMENT.

>> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S BEAUTIFUL WORK.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S CAPTURING BEAUTIFUL ART, BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL ART UNTO ITSELF.

YOU'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB HERE.

LET'S SELL BOOKS.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE GET THIS ALABAMA FAITH CHURCHES AND STAINED GLASS COFFEE TABLE BOOK?

>> WE CAN SHARE THE LINK.

IF THEY GO TO AMAZON AND TYPE IN ALABAMA FAITH, IT WILL POP UP AS THE BOOK, AND THEY CAN FIND IT THERE.

IF CHURCHES ARE INTERESTED IN PLACING A BULK ORDER, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO ME.

IT'S ALABAMAFAITHBOOK@GMAIL.

IT MAKES A GREAT CORPORATE CHRISTMAS GIFT OR CORPORATE GIFT.

THE CORPORATIONS WANT TO BUY THE BOOKS, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO ME AT THAT ALABAMAFAITHBOOK@GMAIL.COM.

>> WE'LL LINK TO THAT.

WE LOVE ALABAMA STORIES AND CAPTURING UNIQUE ALABAMA STORIES AND YOU HAVE.

DAVID, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BACK THE SAME TIME NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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