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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>>> THERE ARE 46 DAYS BETWEEN NOW AND THE NOVEMBER 8TH GENERAL ELECTION, AND CANDIDATES ARE HITTING THEIR STRIDE IN THEIR RUNS FOR OFFICE.

EVERY LEGISLATIVE SEAT IS UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS THE EXECUTIVE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY IS IN FULL CAMPAIGN MODE, JUDGING BY THE MANY APPEARANCES SHE'S MAKING THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY, IVEY LAID OUT HER VISION A FULL SECOND TERM AS SHE RUNS FOR REELECTION.

SHE SAID IMPROVING EDUCATION IS AT THE TOP OF HER AGENDA.

>> A STATE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IN TOWN, WE TOOK AN IMPORTANT VOTE TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN OUR GRADUATION RATE AND THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS RATE.

LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

FOR THE CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021, THE GRADUATION RATE WAS 92%.

BUT THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS RATE WAS 76%.

THAT'S A 16 PERCENTAGE POINT GAP.

WE'VE GOT TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS AND WORKERS FOR THE JOBS OF TOMORROW, AND HERE IN ALABAMA, WE ARE LASER FOCUSED ON THE CURRICULUM OF READING, WRITING, MATH, SCIENCE AND SO ON.

WE'RE TAKING CONCRETE STEPS TO ENSURE PROFICIENCY IN BOTH LITERACY AND NUMERACY.

WE ARE TRANSFORMING HOW WE LOOK AT THE BASICS OF EDUCATION.

>> IT'S NO SECRET THAT ALABAMA HAS VOTED HEAVILY REPUBLICAN IN RECENT YEARS.

STILL, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR YOLANDA FLOWERS IS UNDETERRED, WORKING TO MAKE THE CRISSCROSSING THE STATE HERSELF.

IN A RECENT CANDIDATE FORUM PUT ON BY THE ALABAMA RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, FLOWERS SAID SHE WOULD FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND MEDICAID EXPANSION AS GOVERNOR.

>> WE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF CHANGE.

WE'RE IN DIRE NEED THAT IT IS BETTER FOR ALL CITIZENS, YOUNG AND OLD.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO -- OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING HARD CANNOT AFFORD MEDICAL ATTENTION, TRYING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.

HARD-WORKING POOR.

WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THEM, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT TO WHERE EVERYONE ENJOYS LIFE, ENJOYS THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A LITTLE PIECE OF THE PIE.

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE WHOLE PIE BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN GET A LITTLE PIECE OF THE PIE.

I AM PUSHING FOR A BETTER EDUCATION SYSTEM, TO RECONSTRUCT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

TO RECONSTRUCT HEALTHCARE WE NEED EXPANSION MEDICAID FOR A EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

>> ALABAMA OFFICIALS CALLED OFF A SCHEDULED EXECUTION THURSDAY OVER TIME CONCERNS AND TROUBLE LOCATING THE INMATE'S VEINS FOR A LETHAL INJECTION.

ALAN MILLER WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF KILLING TERRY JARVIS, LEE HOLDBROOKS AND SCOTT YANCY IN A WORKPLACE RAMPAGE.

ALABAMA CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER JOHN HAMM SAID OFFICERS DETERMINED THEY COULD NOT GET THE LETHAL INJECTION UNDERWAY BEFORE A MIDNIGHT DEADLINE.

THAT DECISION WAS MADE AT ABOUT 11:30 P.M.

THE LAST-MINUTE MOVE CAME NEARLY THREE HOURS AFTER THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAD CLEARED THE WAY FOR THE EXECUTION TO BEGIN.

THE STATE WILL NOW HAVE TO ASK THE STATE SUPREME COURT FOR A NEW DEATH WARRANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXECUTION.

THIS SCHEDULED EXECUTION AND OTHER RECENT ONES HAVE MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ALABAMA'S DEATH PENALTY AND HOW IT IS CARRIED OUT.

SOME RECENTLY GATHERED IN MONTGOMERY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT WAS THERE.

>> A TOWN HALL MEETING IS TAKING PLACE IN DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY.

THE TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION CENTERS AROUND THE DEATH PENALTY.

GARY DRINKARD FROM DECATUR, ALABAMA HAS A CERTAIN POSITION ON THIS ISSUE.

>> I WAS AN INNOCENT MAN ON ALABAMA'S DEATH ROW.

I WAS ON DEATH ROW FOR FIVE YEARS AT HOLMAN PRISON TO BE EXECUTED IN AN ELECTRIC CHAIR.

>> HE SAID HE WAS CHARGED WITH A CRIME HE DIDN'T COMMIT.

UNTIL HE WAS FREED FROM THOSE CHARGES HE HAD TO SERVE TIME ON DEATH ROW AT HOLMAN PRISON.

>> WHEN YOU ARE IN THERE 20, 30 YEARS YOU WILL CHANGE.

IT MESSED WITH MY HEAD BAD.

>> HE GIVINGS SPEECHES WITH ORGANIZATIONS TALKING ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY TO GET A NATIONAL CONVERSATION GOING ON ABOUT THIS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

>> I'M AN ADVISOR ON A BOARD TO ABOLISH THE PENALTY, WHICH IS ANTI--DEATH PENALTY ORGANIZATION.

I'M SECRETARY ON THE BOARD OF WITNESSED INNOCENCE.

IT IS A GROUP OF EXONERATED DEATH ROW PRISONERS AND THEIR LOVED ONES GOING ALL OVER THE WORLD SPEAKING AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> THERE ARE OVER 20 ALABAMA ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAME TOGETHER AND ORGANIZED SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS WE DELIVERED TODAY.

THERE WERE THREE PETITIONS, ONE ABOUT NOT HAVING A GAS CHAMBER HERE IN ALABAMA AS A FORM OF EXECUTION, ONE ABOUT THE FACT THEY ARE TRYING TO EXECUTE TOMORROW AND THE THIRD ABOUT PULLING BACK THE CURTAINS THAT THEY PUT UP BEFORE THE WITNESSES CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> THOSE IN ATTENDANCE PRESENT CONCERNS DURING THE DISCUSSION.

ONE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS FINDING WAYS TO IMPROVE THINGS IN ALABAMA.

>> THERE ARE MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN DEATH ROW.

THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY SO WE, THE PUBLIC, CAN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

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

> > AS MANY AS ONE IN SIX BILLS INTRODUCED THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION DEALT WITH PENALTIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY FROM THE ALABAMA CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF ALABAMA, WHICH EXAMINED THE BILLS IN A NEW 25-PAGE REPORT.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS THAT STORY.

>> THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF ALABAMA RELEASED THE STATEHOUSE TO PRISON PIPELINE REPORT.

THE ORGANIZATION REVIEWED ALL 873 BILLS INTRODUCED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THEY SAY 148 FUELED THE PRISON PIPELINE BY DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS, SUCH AS CRIMINALIZING A BEHAVIOR OR INCREASING PENALTIES FOR A SPECIFIC ACTION.

>> WE LOOK AT THOSE BILLS TO ASSESS HOW OUR LEGISLATORS ARE PRIORITIZING CRIMINALIZATION AND THE INCARCERATION SYSTEM OVER OTHER NEEDS WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT TO ALABAMIANS, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE ALSO LOOK AT OUR STATE BUDGET, OUR DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BUDGET AS IT RELATES TO OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS IN OUR STATE THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND ADDRESS THE SERIOUS NEEDS AND CHALLENGES WE ALL HAVE.

>> WES ALLEN, WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE HAD TWO BILLS FEATURED IN THE REPORT.

ONE IS HB-194, WHICH STOPS VOTER EDUCATION GROUPS FROM PROVIDING FUNDS TO LOCAL ELECTION OFFICES.

>> PRIVATE DOLLARS SHOULD NOT BE FLOWING INTO THE OFFICE THAT ADMINISTERS OUR ELECTIONS.

THAT'S A CORE FUNCTION OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND TRANSPARENT.

WE STAND BY THAT.

>> HE SAID GET OUT THE VOTE AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP THAT VIOLATE THE LAW WOULD BE GUILTY OF MISDEMEANOR AND FACE FINES UP TO $3,000.

>> WE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR VOTERS TO ACCESS THE BALLOT.

WE HAVE SEEN POLLING PLACES CLOSING AND WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL LOSING ITS TEETH.

WE DON'T HAVE THE MEASURES IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY HAVING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS UPHELD AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACLU, GO TO ACLUALABAMA.ORG.

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

>>> TWO ALABAMIANS WHO WERE CAPTURED BY RUSSIAN FORCES IN UKRAINE ARE BACK IN THE UNITED STATES.

ANDY HUYNH AND ALEX DRUEKE ARE U.S. MILITARY VETERANS WHO VOLUNTARILY TRAVELED TO UKRAINE TO FIGHT OFF THE RUSSIAN INVASION.

THE TWO WERE CAPTURED THREE MONTHS AGO BY RUSSIAN FORCES AND WERE RELEASED THIS WEEK AS PART OF A PRISONER EXCHANGE MEDIATED BY SAUDI ARABIA.

THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE BACK HOME IN ALABAMA ON SATURDAY.

>>> AN UPDATE ON ALABAMA'S ECONOMIC SITUATION.

THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HELD AT 2.6% IN AUGUST, A RECORD LOW FOR THE STATE'S JOBLESS RATING.

THAT RATE REPRESENTS 58,958 UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE COMPARED TO 2,293,627 COUNTED AS EMPLOYED.

WAGE AND SALARY EMPLOYMENT GREW BY 1,500 JOBS IN AUGUST.

A YEAR PRIOR, ALABAMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 3.3%.

A FULL 67,881 ALABAMIANS HAVE BECOME EMPLOYED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

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

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

CHECK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE PAGE AND YOU CAN CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY KENT DAVIS, COMMISSIONER OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> TODD, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> TELL US MORE ABOUT THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HAVE BEEN AFFAIRS, WHAT IT DOES AND YOUR ROLE AS COMMISSIONER.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

WE HAVE 71 FACILITIES AROUND THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

IF YOU ADD UP ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, 1200 CONTRACT AND CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ALL OVER THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THE MAJOR SERVICES WE PROVIDE, VETERANS SERVICE OFFICES IN 61 OUT OF 67 COUNTIES IN ALABAMA TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON SERVICES TO VETERANS.

WE OPERATE A SERIES OF STATE VETERANS HOMES AROUND THE STATE.

WE HAVE A DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WE MANAGE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND A CEMETERY IN SPANISH FORTH THAT PROVIDES BURIAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS.

OUR LATEST MISSION IS A VETERAN'S WELL BEING PROGRAM TO GIVE VETERANS THAT ARE A SPECIAL NEED A LITTLE HAND UP.

>> WE SHOULD CLARIFY FOR OUR VIEWERS THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF FEDERAL AFFAIRS, THE EXPANSIVE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT AND THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE FEDERAL V.A.

IS THE SECOND LARGEST FEDERAL DEPARTMENT.

EVERYTHING WE DO IS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE FEDERAL V.A.

RULE.

THERE'S NO OVERLAP.

GOOD RELATIONSHIP IN ALABAMA.

OUR ROLE IS BASICALLY TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THE 400,000 VETERANS IN ALABAMA, OFTENTIMES BEFORE THE FEDERAL V.A.

>> TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND OF SERVICE YOURSELF, INCLUDING MILITARY SERVICE.

>> I'M HAPPY.

I'VE COME HOME.

I WAS BORN HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND MY FAMILY IS ALL FROM ALABAMA.

I SPENT 31 YEARS IN UNIFORM.

I WAS ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMY AND NAVY BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

PEOPLE HEAR I WAS RETIRED NAVY AND ASSUME I SPENT ALL THE TIME IN THE NAVY.

FIVE COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS, DEPLOYED IN 2012 TO AFGHANISTAN.

MET A LOT OF INTERESTING PEOPLE AND WORKED FOR A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE.

REALLY HAPPY TO BE BACK IN MY HOME STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> WHO DO YOU CHEER FOR IN THE ARMY-NAVY GAME?

>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

I TRY TO BE EQUAL LIKE WITH ALABAMA AND AUBURN BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS THAT WENT TO BOTH.

>> THAT'S QUITE THE DIPLOMATIC MISSION THERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SUICIDE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NO SECRET THAT IT'S HIGH PREVALENCY AMONG VETERANS, MAYBE NOT AS HIGH AS IT HAS BEEN GOING BACK TO 2016, 2015, BUT TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTS WITH THOSE WHO RETURN FROM WAR WITH THE WOUNDS WE CANNOT SEE AND EFFORTS TO TRY TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE.

>> IT'S A REAL PROBLEM, TODD.

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CRISES ALL THE TIME.

THERE'S NO WAY TO SUGAR COAT, WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM IN ALABAMA WITH VETERAN SUICIDE AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, AS WELL AND WE WORK WITH THEM.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE AVERAGED 140 TO 150 DEATHS BY SUICIDE AMONGST VETERANS PER YEAR IN ALABAMA BY VETERANS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA RATES IN THE UNITED STATES FOR VETERAN SUICIDES.

WE KNOW SOME OF THE ANTIDOTAL REASONS IN ALABAMA FOR THAT AND WE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY VETERANS WHO MIGHT BE IN CRISIS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY MATCH THEM WITH THE ASSETS THAT CAN GET THEM THE HELP THEY NEED.

WE ARE REALLY PUSHING THIS MONTH, IN SEPTEMBER, WITH THAT EFFORT.

>> SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH.

>> IT IS.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE HAVE HAD A SERIES OF EVENTS AROUND THE STATE.

WE STARTED OPERATION WE REMEMBER WITH A LOT OF COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

WE PUT 152 AMERICAN FLAGS IN PUBLIC SPOTS.

WE DID THAT IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL HERE TO REMIND PEOPLE IN 2020, THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE ACCURATE STATISTICS, 152 ALABAMA VETERANS TOOK THEIR OWN LIVES.

>> LAST WEEK WE HAD THIS WHOLE SPECIAL ON OPIOID ADDICTION, PREVENTION, TREATMENT.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT VETERANS, FOLKS WHO SERVED COMING HOME FROM WAR AND THE PREVALENCE THERE TO MAYBE GET INTO SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

IS THAT AN ISSUE YOU ALL SEE?

>> IT IS.

IT IS TIED INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

UNFORTUNATELY, VETERANS HAVE SOMETIMES BEEN OVERPRESCRIBED OPIOIDS AND THEY GET HOOKED ON THEM FOR PHYSICAL AND EVEN MENTAL WOUNDS.

THE FEDERAL V.A.

IS AWARE OF THAT.

WE'RE CERTAINLY AWARE OF THAT AND INCORPORATE IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAMS.

>> I WAS AT THE IRON BOWL LAST YEAR.

I THINK THE ONE THING THAT BOTH AUBURN AND ALABAMA FANS CHEERED -- THE ONLY THING, WAS THE OPERATION IRON RUCK.

THEY HAD A GREAT VIDEO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT VETERAN SUICIDE.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT IS AND IS THERE A PLAN TO DO IT THIS YEAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY DO IT EVERY YEAR.

THERE ARE GREAT STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AT AUBURN AND ALABAMA.

EVERY YEAR THEY DO A 151-MILE RUCK MARCH BETWEEN THE TWO STADIUMS.

>> WHAT'S A RUCK MARCH?

>> A RUCK IS A SACK YOU CARRY ON YOUR BACK.

IT HAS ALL OF YOUR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.

SO YOU GO ON A MARCH AND CARRY THE RUCK SACKS FOR 152 MILES BETWEEN THE TWO STADIUMS.

UP USUALLY DO TEN MILES.

AT MY AGE THAT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN HANDLE.

BUT IT IS INCREDIBLE TO SEE THEM MAKE THE MARCH BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPUSES FOR THE IRON BOWL.

TALK ABOUT SETTING ASIDE THE COMPETITION DURING IRON WEEK FOR A WORTHY CAUSE, IT IS REALLY HEART WARMING AND RAISES THE ISSUE OF VETERAN SUICIDE ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IS IT THE IDEA THAT CARRYING THAT WEIGHT IS SYMBOLIC IN TERMS OF RAISING AWARENESS FOR VETERAN SUICIDE.

>> THEY TRADITIONALLY PUT 22 POUNDS OF WEIGHT IN THE RUCK SACKS.

STATISTICS HAVE CHANGED.

IT USED TO BE NATIONWIDE WE HAD 22 VETERANS PER DAY, SO THAT'S WHY THEY SETTLED ON 22 POUNDS BUT YEAH, IT'S SYMBOLIC.

>> SWITCHING GEARS REAL QUICK.

I WANT TO GET AN UPDATE.

THE STATE IS BUILDING A VETERANS HOME IN ENTERPRISE.

THERE WAS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT SOMETIME BACK.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THE PROGRESS?

>> WE ARE THREE YEARS INTO THE PROCESS.

AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW THEY ARE POURING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FACILITY.

WE EXPECT IT TO OPEN IN MID 2024.

IT IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF FT. RUCKER.

WE STARTED THE PROCESS ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WITH A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT SHOWED WE HAD A DEMAND FOR ANOTHER HOME IN ALABAMA AND THAT STUDY SHOWED THE REGION NEEDED A NEW HOME.

WE WENT THROUGH THE ARCHITECTURAL PROCESS, PICKING A SITE COMPETITIVELY, PICKED A NAME FOR THE FACILITY.

IT WILL BE CALLED THE COMMAND SERGEANT GENERAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT.

A WORTHY NAME FOR IT.

WE PICKED A GENERAL CONTRACT RAYBURN OUT OF ALABAMA.

WE DID A GROUND BREAKING AND THEY ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

FOR A GOVERNMENT PROJECT THAT'S GOOD.

A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF OF THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION WORK BUT IT WILL PROVIDE A NEEDED SERVICE IN ALABAMA.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE STATE AND THE AREA HAVING DEMAND.

TELL ME ABOUT THE TYPE OF VETERAN THAT MIGHT NEED -- MIGHT BE A CANDIDATE FOR A VETERAN'S HOME.

>> WE FEDERAL V.A.

IS LARGELY IN CHARGE OF SHORT-TERM NEEDS THROUGH HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND THE STATES ARE IN CHARGE OF LONG-TERM CARE.

TYPICALLY ELDERLY OR DISABLED VETERANS THAT NEED LONG-TERM CARE.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS, UP TO 10% OF THE VETERANS IN OUR HOMES ARE WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

WE WILL CELEBRATED THE BIRTHDAY OF A 103-YEAR-OLD WORLD WAR II VETERAN IN ONE OF OUR HOMES THE OTHER DAY.

THE REST OF THE MIX ARE VIETNAM AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS.

WE RECENTLY ADMITTED A 39-YEAR-OLD VETERAN WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES INTO OUR HOMES.

THESE PEOPLE ARE IN NEED OF LONG-TERM CARE AND IT RANGES FROM ASSISTED LIVING THROUGH MEMORY CARE FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER FACILITIES IN THE STATE, AS WELL.

WHERE ARE THOSE?

>> WE ARE ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE HAVE 71 FACILITIES.

61 SERVICES ARE COUNTY BASED.

THEY PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND ASSISTANCE TO ANY VETERAN FREE OF CHARGE IN FILING CLAIMS, SEEKING BENEFITS.

WE ACT AS A REFERRAL SERVICE TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR AND OPERATE A CEMETERY AT SPANISH FORT, ALABAMA.

GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL V.A.

SO WE PROVIDE A DIGNIFIED BURIAL FOR VETERANS.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PLANS OF EXPANSION AT THE CEMETERY IN SPANISH FORT.

>> WE OPENED THE FACILITY IN 2012.

WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE AN EXPANSION.

THE DEMAND HAS OUTPACED ORIGINAL ESTIMATES.

THIS PAST FALL WE APPLIED AND GOT A FEDERAL GRANT OF $5 MILLION TO EXPAND THE CEMETERY.

WE SHOULD BE PICKING A GENERAL CONTRACTOR IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND ANNOUNCING TO EXPAND AND ADD OVER 2,000 BURIAL PLOTS TO THE FACILITY.

A VETERANS CEMETERY HAS TO BE CAREFULLY PLANNED.

THE DIGNITY INVOLVED, HEAD STONES, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE IN ALIGNMENT.

YOU HAVE TO PLAN TEN YEARS IN ADVANCE AND BUILD OUT THE BURIAL FIELDS.

SO THAT'S THE PROCESS WE ARE GOING THROUGH.

IT WILL TAKE US THROUGH THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

>> I HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE.

IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE ARLINGTON IN TERMS OF THE WAY THE HEAD STONES ARE.

I GUESS THAT'S BY DESIGN.

>> IT IS.

BALDWIN COUNTY IS THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY AND A LOT OF RETIREES ARE GOING TO THAT AREA.

SO IT IS A DIGNIFIED BURIAL PLACE AT THE END OF LIFE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE ALABAMA G.I.

DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

THIS IS ADDITIONAL THAN A TYPICAL GI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

TELL ME ABOUT IT.

>> ANOTHER REASON I LOVE MY HOME STATE OF ALABAMA.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE GI BILL WHICH I USED TO GO BACK FOR GRADUATE WORK AND THAT IS FOR VETERANS THEMSELVES.

ALABAMA, FOR ABOUT 75 YEARS, HAS HAD A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT PAYS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION OF DEPENDENTS OF SELECTED DISABLED VETERANS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 16,000 STUDENTS IN ALABAMA ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND IT ALLOWS THEM TO GO TO COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND IT HAS ALLOWED A LOT OF KIDS IN ALABAMA TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION.

ALABAMIANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM.

IT IS RATHER UNIQUE AMONGST THE STATES.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

A LOT GOING ON AT THE DEPARTMENT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND SHARING WITH OUR AUDIENCE SOME OF THIS.

WE WILL ALSO SHARE THE WEBSITE, VA.ALABAMA.GOV IF THEY WANT MORE INFORMATION.

>> OUTSTANDING.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ NEXT, I'M JOINED BY CHRIS BLANKENSHIP, COMMISSIONER OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> NOW, YOU TESTIFIED AT THE BUDGET HEARING THE OTHER DAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS -- ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS I HAD IS THAT I WAS SURPRISED AT THE SCOPE OF YOUR AGENCY AND JUST HOW MUCH YOU ALL ARE INVOLVED IN.

WAS MORE THAN I EXPECTED.

I IMAGINE LAWMAKERS MAY HAVE LEARNED SOME OF THAT, TOO.

>> I THINK SO.

I GOT GOOD CALLS OR COMMENTS AFTERWARDS.

OUR AGENCY IS PRETTY DEEP IN THE THINGS WE HANDLE.

MOST EVERYBODY THINKS OF US AS DOING HUNTING AND FISHING, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO, BUT BESIDES THE HUNTING AND FISHING WE HAVE THE SALT WATER, COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING WE MANAGE, ALL OF THE BIOLOGY AND ENFORCEMENT DOWN THERE AND 21 STATE PARTS, THE FOREVER WILD PROGRAM, OFF SHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING IS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT, PIPELINE RIGHT OF WAYS AND PERMITS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

ON THE HUNTING AND FISHING SIDE 23 LAKES, 12 SHOOTING RANGES, 40 WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS AND ALL TOGETHER 1 MILLION ACRES OF LAND THAT WE MANAGE FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR PUBLIC HUNTING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION.

IT IS A PRETTY BIG AGENCY.

WE HAVE 1100 EMPLOYEES AND THEY WORK HARD AND HAVE A PASSION FOR WHAT THEY DO.

>> DID YOU FIND THAT BUDGET HEARING HELPFUL IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING WITH LAWMAKERS WHAT YOUR BUDGET SITUATION IS, THE NEEDS GOING FORWARD AND HAVING AN OPEN DIALOGUE?

>> I DID.

THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST TIME IN I HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONER THAT WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE DON'T GET MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

WE ARE FUNDED BY THE PEOPLE AT THE STATE PARKS OR BUYING FISHING AND HUNTING LICENSES BUT IT GAVE ME A CHANCE TO SHARE WHAT WE DO AND HOW THE THINGS WE DO IMPACT THEM AND THEIR DISTRICTS AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

I THANK SENATOR ALBRITTON AND CLOUSE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE COMMITTEE AND SHARE THAT WITH THEM.

>> THIS PAST ELECTION, THE MAY ELECTION, VOTERS APPROVED AN $80 MILLION BOND PLAN FOR UPGRADING STATE PARKS.

A REALLY BIG WIN.

WHAT ARE THE UPGRADES PEOPLE CAN EXPECT AT OUR STATE PARKS?

>> LET ME SAY HOW APPRECIATIVE I WAS OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR SUPPORTING THE BOND AND THE LEGISLATURE FOR PASSING THAT.

IT WAS ON THE BALLOT IN MAY AND PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY, OVER 70% WHICH WAS A BIG -- SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT PARKS ARE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION ARE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE.

AND A LOT OF THE CITIZENS HAVE BEEN TO OUR PARKS AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEEDED SOME CAPITAL INFUSION TO BRING OUR PARKS UP TO THE STANDARD THAT I THINK ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THAT WORK OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AS WE HAVE HAD INCREASED PARTICIPATION, PUTTING THAT MONEY INTO THE PARKS, BUT A LOT OF CAMPGROUNDS WERE BUILT WHEN CAMPING WAS A POP-UP CAMPER OR TENT.

AND NOW WE HAVE MILLION DOLLAR MOTOR HOMES WITH THREE AIR CONDITIONERS THAT PEOPLE ARE RUNNING BUSINESSES OUT OF AS THEY TRAVEL AND IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORLD.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS.

WE WILL DO A LOT OF UPGRADES ON OUR CAMPGROUNDS TO TAKE THEM FROM 30 TO 50 AMP SERVICE WITH LARGER PADS AND SOME CAMPGROUNDS NEED SEWER ADDED AND WI-FI ADDED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE FOLKS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE CABINS, REALLY NICE CABINS AT GOLF AND LAKE POINT AND WE NEED TO ADD THOSE IN OTHER PARKS, AS WELL.

SO PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A TENT OR CAMPERS, THEY WANT THAT TYPE OF RECREATION.

AND THEN UPDATE OUR DAY USE AREAS AND PLAYGROUNDS TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL CITIZENS WITH ADA COMPLIANT PLAYGROUNDS AND BRING ADVENTURE TO THE DAY USE AREAS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE PARK.

I HAVE A HUGE LIST.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR US TO GET STARTED ON THOSE PROJECTS LATER THIS YEAR.

>> WHAT WILL THE TIMING LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THE -- GETTING THE BOND ISSUE, SEEING SOME OF THE MONEY BEING USED.

>> WE ARE DOING SOME OF THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN NOW ON PROJECTS THAT WE KNEW WE WANTED TO DO WHETHER THE BOND PASSED OR NOT.

SOME UPGRADES THAT WE NEEDED IN OUR CAMPGROUND AND OUR LONG-RANGE PLAN.

WE HOPE TO HAVE THE BONDS SOLD AND SECURED AROUND THANKSGIVING AND BID THEM BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND CERTAINLY BY THE FIRST OF NEXT YEAR AND WORK DOWN THE LIST OF PRIORITIES THAT WE WILL BE HAVING MULTIPLE PROJECTS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME TO MAKE THESE UPGRADES.

>> GOING BACK TO THE VOTE.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT WHICH I THOUGHT WAS SIGNATURE.

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WITH FISCAL MATTERS AND EVERYTHING, WITH OVER 70%, WHAT DOES IT TELL YOU ABOUT ALABAMIANS' SUPPORT FOR STATE PARKS.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT 2012 AND 80% VOTED FOR THAT AND THE STATE BOND 70%.

IT SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC LANDS AND ACCESS ARE TO CITIZENS.

HOW PEOPLE VALUE THAT.

I WAS THANKFUL FOR THAT SUPPORT.

I GOT A LOT OF E-MAILS LEADING UP TO THAT FROM PEOPLE THAT WERE OPPOSED TO THE BOND OR SOME NEGATIVE E-MAILS.

SO I TOOK TIME AND RESPONDED TO ALL OF THOSE.

ASKED PEOPLE TO -- THEN PEOPLE WOULD RESPOND TO ME, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

I HAD A MISPERCEPTION OF WHAT THE MONEY WAS GOING TO BE SHARED FOR AND I ASKED THEM TO SHARE THAT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WITH THE GROUPS YOU WORK WITH TO TRY TO PROVIDE GOOD INFORMATION ON WHAT THE MONEY WAS GOING TO BE USED FOR AND HOW AS AN AGENCY WE ARE FUNDED.

I THINK THAT, ALONG WITH JUST THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC LANDS AND PUBLIC ACCESS LED TO THAT.

IT'S ENCOURAGING.

IT MAKES US REALLY WANT TO ENSURE WE MAKE GOOD USE OF THE FUNDS SO THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED THAT REAP THOSE BENEFITS BECAUSE THAT'S WHO IT IS FOR.

>> SPEAKING OF STATE PARKS, YOU ARE OFFERING FREE ADMISSION FOR SATURDAY, JUST IN TIME FOR FALL.

IT FEELS GREAT OUTSIDE.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY DESIGNATED THIS SATURDAY AS PUBLIC LANDS DAY AND IN RECOGNITION WE ARE OFFERING FREE ADMISSION TO STATE PARKS ON SEPTEMBER 24th AND HOPE PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TO A PARK LATE TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE THEIR PARKS AND ENJOY TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND OUTDOORS.

I THINK IT WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT COVID.

I REMEMBER BACK DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE WERE ALL LOCKED UP, WE WERE ALL STUCK INSIDE.

I HAD A GROUP OF FRIENDS.

WE WENT TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND IT WAS GREAT.

JUST PICNICKED, HIKED AND I WONDERED IF THAT WAS A TREND.

DID YOU SEE AN UPTICK DURING THE PANDEMIC OF FOLKS REDISCOVERING PARKS?

>> WE DID.

AND I THINK PARKS AND RECREATION OVERALL, IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS YOU COULD DO DURING COVID.

BEING OUTSIDE PEOPLE FELT SAFE.

SO WE SAW 20% INCREASE OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE PARKS IN 2020.

WE KEPT A LOT OF THAT 20% IN 2021 THAT REDISCOVERED THE PARKS THAT KEPT COMING BACK.

OUR GOAL NOW IS TO MAINTAIN AND RETAIN THOSE NEW PEOPLE COMING TO THE PARKS AND CONTINUE TO GROW THAT.

BUT WE SAW THAT NOT ONLY ON THE PARK SIDE BUT IN HUNTING AND FISHING.

A LOT MORE PEOPLE TURKEY HUNTED IN 2020 BECAUSE SO MANY BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED AND PEOPLE WERE HOME THAT THEY COULD HUNT IN THE MIDDLE OF WEEK IN APRIL THEY HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE AND BOATING TRAFFIC ON THE WATER WAS A LOT HIGHER.

A LOT OF BAD THINGS CAME OUT OF COVID BUT ONE THING IS A LOT OF PEOPLE DID REDISCOVER THE OUTDOORS AND WHAT A MAGNIFICENT STATE WE HAVE.

PEOPLE TAKING THEIR FAMILIES OUT AND THAT IS GOOD FOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND GOOD FOR US.

>> IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STATE.

WE HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES.

SOMETIMES WE CAN TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

I KNOW THIS INNOVATION CORPORATION, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS USING OUTDOOR RECREATION OR PARKS, RESOURCES, ALL THAT ALABAMA HAS TO OFFER, AS AN ASSET, MAYBE A RECRUITING OR RETENTION EFFORT TO SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VALUABLE THAT WE CAN BOAST ABOUT AND TOUT NATIONWIDE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN I SAW THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT FROM THE INNOVATION COMMISSION THAT TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE ALL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION KNOW IS HOW SPECIAL OUR STATE IS WE HAVE ONE OF THE WETTEST STATES IN THE UNION WITH THE RIVERS, LAKES, CREEKS AND THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE MOUNTAINS IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE STATE THROUGH THE BLACK BELT AND TO THE GULF COAST.

IT IS A SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL STATE.

VERY WELL FORESTED WITH THE FOREVER WILD PROGRAM.

AS WE TRY TO DIFFERENTIATE OUR STATE TO ATTRACT CAPITAL OR TALENT, THE REPORT REALLY SHOWED THAT WE CAN USE OUTDOOR RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF OUR STATE AS A DIFFERENTIATOR FOR US AND USE IT TO ATTRACT TALENT.

WE ALREADY HAD A GOOD PLAN THAT WE WERE WORKING ON AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION OUTDOOR RECREATION GOAL TO EXPAND BOATING ACCESS AND TRAILS AND AMENITIES ACCESS AND GROW OTHER PARTS OF THE OUTDOOR REC SECTOR.

THIS GIVES US NEW SUPPORTERS FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND INDUSTRY TO SEE WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUTDOOR RECREATION AND USE IT AS A REAL TOOL TO GET COMPANIES OR WORKERS TO EITHER STAY HERE AFTER COLLEGE OR COME HERE TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY THAT WE HAVE.

>> IT IS ALMOST DEER HUNTING SEASON.

I KNOW THE ISSUE OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE HAS COME UP A LOT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT IS CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE AND WHAT'S THE LATEST FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA?

>> CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE OR CWD IS AN ILLNESS IN DEER AND IT'S FATAL FOR DEER.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD, OVER MANY YEARS, TO TRY TO KEEP IT OUT OF OUR STATE AND HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL UNTIL THIS PAST JANUARY WHEN WE HAD TWO CASES IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY, IN FAR NORTHWEST ALABAMA.

WE BECAME THE 27th STATE TO HAVE CWD.

IT IS NOT, BY ANY MEANS, CRIPPLING THE HUNTING INDUSTRY OR THE PEOPLE THERE.

YOU CAN STILL HUNT AND ENJOY THAT BUT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER TO HAVE DEER TESTED BEFORE THEY CONSUME IT.

WE ARE WORKING TO KEEP THAT FROM SPREADING ANY FURTHER SOUTH BY LIMITING WHERE PEOPLE CAN TRANSPORT DEER.

IF YOU HARVEST IT IN THE CWD ZONE, YOU NEED TO HAVE IT PROCESSED THERE AND NOT TAKE IT AND TRY TO CONTAIN IT THE BEST WE CAN.

DON'T WANT ANYONE TO STOP DEER HUNTING OR ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS BUT WE DO HAVE TESTING FACILITIES IN EVERY COUNTY WHERE YOU CAN DROP OFF A DEER AND YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION ON OUR OUTDOOR ALABAMA WEBSITE.

JUST BE SAFE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE GOOD.

>> WELL, IF SOMEONE OUT THERE IS THINKING, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DO NEED TO GET OUTDOORS AND MAYBE ENJOY OUTDOOR RECREATION, GO FISHING OR HUNTING BUT HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE, WHERE DO THEY START?

CAN THEY GO TO YOUR WEBSITE, THINGS LIKE THAT FOR RESOURCES ON HOW TO GET STARTED?

>> SURE.

ON THE OUTDOORALABAMA WEBSITE, WE HAVE A SECTION CALLED GO FISH, GO HUNT, GET OUTDOORS AND IT IS FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE DIDN'T GROW UP HUNTING AND FISHING.

THERE IS A WHOLE SEGMENT OF POPULATION THAT DIDN'T GET TO ENJOY THAT BUT NOW THEY WANT TO OR ARE A LITTLE BIT INTIMIDATED OR DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

SO WE MOVED TO ADULT FISHING AND HUNTING PROGRAMS TO GET THOSE WHO WANT TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS BE MORE COMFORTABLE.

WE HAVE HUNTING, SHOOTING 101, FISHING 101 VIDEOS AND SEGMENTS YOU CAN SEE ON THE WEBSITE AND CLASSES THAT WE DO THROUGHOUT THE STATE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR PEOPLE TO DIP THEIR KNOW IT AND SEE IF THEY LIKE IT UNTIL THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE DOING THOSE ACTIVITIES AND I ALWAYS WANT TO ENCOURAGE FRIENDS THAT HUNT AND FISH, TAKE SOMEBODY WITH YOU.

ASK SOMEBODY AT WORK, SOMEBODY THAT YOU SHOW PICTURES OF YOUR DEER OR FISH THAT ALWAYS HAS AN INTEREST, TAKE THEM WITH YOU SOMETIME.

REALLY MENTOR SOMEBODY ELSE SO THEY CAN ENJOY THE LIFETIME OF BENEFITS THAT MAY HAVE YOU HAVE ENJOYED.

>> I'M PLANNING TO GO DUCK HUNTING FOR THE FIRST TIME LATER THIS YEAR.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

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

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

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

♪ >>> THIS WEEK, PBS IS FEATURING THE LATEST DOCUMENTARY PROJECT FROM KEN BURNS, "THE U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST."

THE SERIES EXAMINES THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ROLE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE HOLOCAUST.

HERE'S A CLIP.

♪ >> WE TELL OURSELVES STORIES AS A NATION.

♪ ONE OF THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES IS WE ARE A LAND OF IMMIGRANTS, BUT IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS IT IS HARD FOR US TO LIVE UP TO THOSE STORIES.

♪ >> THE HOLOCAUST WAS BEYOND BELIEF.

PEOPLE JUST DISAPPEARED.

>> THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO GET TO THE UNITED STATES.

♪ >> BUT THE GOLDEN DOOR WAS NOT WIDE OPEN.

♪ >> WE ARE CHALLENGED, AS AMERICANS, TO THINK OF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE, WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE, WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE.

>> IN OUR BETTER MOMENTS, WE ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THERE IS TO THIS STORY.

♪ >> JOINING ME NEXT IS DR. DAN PUCKETT, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT TROY UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

PLEASED TO BE HERE.

>> WELL, I'M NOT FINISHED WITH THE SERIES YET.

I'M ONLY ONE EPISODE IN.

I'M HOPING TO FINISH OVER THE WEEKEND BUT IT REALLY IS A FASCINATING DOCUMENTARY PROJECT ON THE HOLOCAUST.

REALLY LEARNING A LOT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ROLE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE HOLOCAUST.

>> IT'S -- THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

THIS IS A WELL-NEEDED PROJECT, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH THE AMERICAN RESPONSE TO THE HOLOCAUST.

THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTARIES DONE ON SOME ASPECT OF THE HOLOCAUST BUT VERY FEW ON THE AMERICAN RESPONSE AND NOW THAT KEN BURNS HAS DONE IT -- AND KEN BURNS COMMANDS ATTENTION WHEN HE DOES SOMETHING.

SO, WITH HIS NEW PROJECT ON AMERICANS AND THE HOLOCAUST, WHICH GOES ALONG WITH THE U.S.

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM'S NEW EXHIBIT ON AMERICANS IN THE HOLOCAUST, THIS HAS NOW I THINK CAPTURED THE ATTENTION OF THE NATION.

REALLY, FOR THOSE WHO STUDY THIS AND WRITE ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND ESPECIALLY AMERICA'S RESPONSE TO IT, THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY NEW INFORMATION BUT FOR MOST AMERICANS THIS IS BRAND NEW.

IT IS FASCINATING.

IT IS DONE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

>> BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, CAN I ASK YOU JUST ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS A PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT TROY, PARTICULARLY AS IT CONCERNS THE HOLOCAUST AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK?

>> YEAH.

I TEACH MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY AT TROY, PARTICULARLY ON THE HOLOCAUST, WORLD WAR II AND I HAVE TAUGHT THERE 18 YEARS, THIS IS MY 18th AND I WROTE A BOOK ON ALABAMA'S JEWS AND THE HOLOCAUST AND LOOKS AT HOW ALABAMA'S JEWS RESPONDED TO WHAT WAS GOING ON IN NAZI GERMANY FROM 1833 ALL THE WAY TO THE POST-WAR PERIOD AND HOW THEY DEALT WITH THE DISPLACED PERSONS, THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND THOSE WHO ULTIMATELY CAME TO ALABAMA TO SETTLE.

>> SO, I ASSUME THE HOLOCAUST IS A BIG PART OF YOUR CURRICULUM?

>> IT IS.

AT LEAST FOR ME, NOW -- WE HAVE 13 PROFESSORS OF HISTORY AT TROY.

I TEACH 20TH CENTURY EUROPE.

MOSTLY WORLD WAR II AND THE HOLOCAUST.

FOR ME, THIS IS WHAT I TEACH, WHAT I WRITE ON.

THIS IS REALLY WHAT I DO.

IT'S EXCITING THAT WE NOW HAVE KEN BURNS DOCUMENTARY TO GO ALONG WITH IT.

>> WELL, TELL ME WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, FOR REALLY ALL AMERICANS TO GROW UP AND UNDERSTAND AND LEARN ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST?

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TEACH IT?

>> WELL, IF WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN GERMANY IN 1933 WITH ADOLF HITLER COMING INTO POWER, GERMANY HAD THE MOST LIBERAL, THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CONSTITUTION OF ALL OF GERMANY.

TO HAVE THE NAZI AND HITLER AND THE NAZIS TAKE POWER IN GERMANY AND TRANSFORM IT INTO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS DOCUMENTARY REALIZE IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

YOU KNOW, OUR INSTITUTIONS, OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, AREN'T ETERNAL.

OUR VALUES AREN'T ETERNAL.

IF IT COULD HAPPEN IN GERMANY, IT REALLY COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

SO WE HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY COGNIZANT OF THAT FACT.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS -- IF WE LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS MADE CHOICES, ORGANIZATIONS MADE CHOICES, GOVERNMENTS MADE CHOICES THAT PROMOTED PREJUDICE AND ULTIMATELY LED TO MASS MURDER OF THE HOLOCAUST.

IT IS NOT SAYING THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN HERE, BUT WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS FOR HOLOCAUST EDUCATION TO TAKE PLACE, THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO REALIZE YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF ALL OF THIS.

>> SURE.

ONE OF THE PARTS OF THE DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS SO HOW FAR IT WENT BACK TO THE 1800s TO EXAMINE HOW AMERICANS FELT TOWARD JEWISH IMMIGRANTS.

REALLY ALL IMMIGRANTS BUT ESPECIALLY JEWISH IMMIGRANTS LEADING UP TO THE HOLOCAUST.

ONE REASON I FOUND IT FASCINATING IS I'M DESCENDANT OF A GERMAN JEW WHO IMMIGRATED HERE MID 1800s AND HE ACTUALLY CHANGED HIS NAME FROM ZIMMERMAN TO TIMMERMAN TO SOUND LESS JEWISH AND BASICALLY ACT NOT JEWISH.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SORT OF A PART OF OUR FAMILY HISTORY.

KNOWING HE CHANGED HIS NAME TO NOT SOUND JEWISH BUT TO SEE IT ON THE SCREEN IN BLACK AND WHITE, THE PICTURE OF THE DISCRIMINATORY ENVIRONMENT REALLY PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT HISTORY OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS?

>> ANTI-SEMITISM, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS COVERED, EXCEEDINGLY WELL IN THE DOCUMENTARY HAS BEEN PART OF AMERICAN LIFE SINCE THE BEGINNING.

IN FACT, IT'S BEEN PART OF WESTERN CULTURE EVER SINCE THE MIDDLE AGES.

YOU KNOW, YOUR FAMILY, WHO IMMIGRATED IN THE MID 19th CENTURY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO IMMIGRATED BEFORE 1880 WERE FROM CENTRAL EUROPE, FROM GERMANY PRIMARILY AND THEY ACULTURATED AND ASSIMILATED INTO AMERICAN SOCIETY EXCEEDINGLY WELL.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THERE WAS NO ANTI-SEMITISM.

CERTAINLY THERE WAS BUT AFTER 1880 THERE IS A NEW WAVE OF IMMIGRATION, FROM EASTERN AND SOUTHERN EUROPE.

THOSE FROM EASTERN EUROPE, FROM POLAND, FROM THE UKRAINE, FROM RUSSIA, THOSE AREAS, MANY JEWISH IMMIGRANTS CAME WHOSE CULTURE WAS DIFFERENT, WHOSE LANGUAGE WAS DIFFERENT, WHO DID NOT ACULTURATE INTO AMERICAN SOCIETY THE WAY THE EARLIER GERMAN JEWS HAD.

>> THEY PROBABLY LOOKED DIFFERENT.

>> THEY LOOKED DIFFERENT, SOUNDED AND ACTED DIFFERENT.

THEY REMAINED -- YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THIS -- PRIOR TO THE 1880s, MOST AMERICAN-JEWS ACTUALLY LIVED OUTSIDE OF THE NORTHEAST.

MANY IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH.

AFTER 1880, THE BULK OF AMERICAN-JEWS, THAT IS IMMIGRANT JEWS, REMAINED IN THE NORTHEAST IN AND AROUND THE NEW YORK AREA.

SO, WENT WE OFTEN THINK OF JEWS TODAY AND JEWISH CULTURE TODAY WE THINK OF NEW YORK AND THE NORTHEAST.

THAT WAS ONLY IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, NOT THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY AND EVEN BACK TO THE 18TH CENTURY.

THIS PRODUCED GREATER AND GREATER ANTI-SEMITISM OR REACTION.

THAT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE.

SO, IT'S PART AND PARCEL OF -- IF WE LOOK AT JEWISH CULTURE, JEWISH CULTURE HAS SHAPED AMERICAN CULTURE IN WAYS THAT WE CAN'T REALLY APPRECIATE BUT AMERICAN ANTI-SEMITISM HAS BEEN JUST AS RIFE AS EUROPEAN ANTI-SEMITISM.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY ON THE HOLOCAUST, YOU HEAR ABOUT THOSE -- THERE ARE THOSE WHO DENY THE HOLOCAUST EVER HAPPENED, OR MAYBE IN A DIET VERSION OF THAT IS THEY HEDGE A LITTLE BIT AND SAY IT WAS GROCERY EXAGGERATED.

IT WASN'T AS BAD AS HISTORIANS SAY.

THESE FOLKS CAN FIND ENCLAVES ONLINE ON THE INTERNET TO FESTER THIS STUFF.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO COMBAT THAT DANGEROUS THINKING?

>> EDUCATION, FIRST AND FOREMOST H. EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION.

THERE WERE -- IN FACT, EVEN AFTER -- RIGHT AFTER THE WAR, THERE WERE MANY WHO DENIED WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SO YOU ALWAYS HAVE THIS SEGMENT HERE THAT HAVE DENIED THAT THE TRAGEDY WAS AS BAD AS IT WAS.

AND THANKS TO THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA IT HAS EXPLODED.

THE WAY TO COMBAT THIS -- THE HOLOCAUST IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL-DOCUMENTED STRATEGIES IN HISTORY.

SO THERE'S AMPLE EVIDENCE THAT THIS TOOK PLACE.

IN FACT, YOU MENTIONED THE MINIMIZATION.

THAT'S THE DANGER, IT IS NOT OUTRIGHT DENIAL BUT THE MINIMIZATION OF THE HOLOCAUST.

OH, IT WASN'T AS BAD AS WE THOUGHT.

RESEARCH INTO THE KILLING SITES IN EASTERN EUROPE, NOT THE EXTERMINATION CAMPS BUT THE KILLING SITES SUGGEST IT MIGHT BE WORSE THAN WE INITIALLY THOUGHT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 6 MILLION JEWS WHO DIED.

THE NUMBER MAYBE A LITTLE HIGHER.

AND ALL OF THIS WAS LAID OUT IN THE DOCUMENTARY, WELL DOCUMENTED BY SOURCES.

SO, I THINK, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S EDUCATION.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A RECENT ARTICLE, I THINK BACK IN 2017, THAT SURVEYED HOLOCAUST EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

ONE OF ITS CONCLUSIONS IS THAT STUDENTS WHO LEARNED ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST IN SCHOOL HAVE A GREATER TENDENCY OF EMBRACING CIVIC VALUES.

THAT IT PROMOTES THAT CIVIC EDUCATION.

THE APPRECIATION OF OUR INSTITUTIONS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO MAINTAIN THOSE.

I THINK THAT'S ESSENTIAL.

>> UH-HUH.

YOU MENTIONED THE CAMPS.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE -- MOST FOLKS HAVE SEEN EITHER SOME OF THESE WAR MOVIES.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING OF "BAND OF BROTHERS" AND THE IMAGES THAT YOU NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD.

AND OF COURSE "SCHINDLER'S LIST."

TAKE ME BACK -- IN OUR MIND THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVER THE HOLOCAUST BUT TAKE ME BACK TO THE 1930s WHEN THIS IS GOING ON, EVEN IN THE '40s DURING THE WAR.

HOW MUCH DID AMERICANS KNOW?

HOW MUCH DID ALABAMIANS KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN EUROPE WITH THE EXTERMINATION OF JEWS?

>> AMERICANS -- AND I WOULD SAY ALABAMIANS.

ALABAMIANS WERE AS COSMOPOLITAN AS ANYONE ELSE.

WE KNEW THE SAME THING THAT OTHER AMERICANS NEWELS WHERE.

IF YOU READ THE NEWSPAPER, LISTENED TO THE RADIO YOU KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN GERMANY.

FROM THE TIME THAT HITLER CAME TO POWER IN 1933, NEWSPAPERS WERE FILLED WITH THE DOINGS OF NAZI, GERMANY.

WITH THE INITIAL PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS IN 1933 UP UNTIL THE WAR.

NOW, WHEN DID WE KNOW THAT JEWS WERE BEING ROUNDED UP AND TARGETED FOR EXTERMINATION?

IN FACT, THIS IS ACTUALLY IN THE SECOND EPISODE OF THE DOCUMENTARY.

IT'S NOVEMBER OF 1942 IN WHICH THE STATE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY CONFIRMS THAT THE JEWS ARE BEING EXTERMINATED IN EUROPE.

THIS WAS PUBLISHED THROUGHOUT THE NATION IN NEWSPAPERS.

SO, IF YOU COULD READ, IF YOU COULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO, THE STORIES WERE THERE.

WE WERE AT WAR BUT WE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

NOW, KNOWING AND BELIEVING ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THIS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- AT LEAST KEN BURNS AND OTHERS ARE INTIMATING IS THAT WE DIDN'T FULLY BELIEVE BECAUSE THESE WERE TERMED TO BE WAR RUMORS, THINGS -- IF WE LOOK BACK TO WORLD WAR I AND A LOT OF THE ATROCITIES THAT CAME OUT FROM THE BRITISH AND THE GERMAN AND SO FORTH TO HELP TO DRAG THE UNITED STATES IN, MANY DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT, BUT THE INFORMATION WAS THERE.

THOSE WHO HAD BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF TRYING TO HELP EUROPEAN JEWS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN ALABAMA, THEY CERTAINLY BELIEVED THIS.

JEWISH ALABAMIANS AND JEWISH AMERICANS CERTAINLY BELIEVED THIS.

>> ALSO JUST AN AMAZING THING TO BELIEVE.

INCREDIBLE INFORMATION.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE, I REALLY WANT YOU TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK WITH THE ALABAMA HOLOCAUST COMMISSION.

>> OKAY.

WE ARE A GOVERNMENT COMMISSION.

WE HAVE -- AT THIS POINT, 20 MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION 11 ARE APPOINTED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND OTHER ENTITIES AROUND THE STATE AND OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

WE CONDUCT A COMMEMORATION OF THE HOLOCAUST.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT AT THE STATEHOUSE SINCE AS FAR BACK AS THE WALLACE ADMINISTRATION IN THE EARLY '80s.

JUST THIS LAST YEAR, BECAUSE OF SPACE LIMITATIONS AND SO FORTH, WE MOVED THE COMMEMORATION ACROSS TO THE ARCHIVES AND HISTORY AUDITORIUM.

WE'RE NOW EMPLOYING ZOOM AND OTHER WAYS TO REACH OUT, BUT WE COMMEMORATE THE VICTIMS AND CELEBRATE THE SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST.

THE OTHER PART IS PROMOTING EDUCATION.

WHAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO SUPPORT OUR TWO EDUCATION CENTERS IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE THE ALABAMA HOLOCAUST EDUCATION CENTER IN BIRMINGHAM AND THE GULF COAST CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION WHICH IS IN MOBILE.

SO, IT'S BOTH OF THESE CENTERS THAT CONDUCT TEACHING TRAINER TO CARRY IT OUT INTO SCHOOLS.

>> IS THERE A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMISSION?

>> YES, ALABAMAHOLOCAUSTCOMMISSION.ORG.

>> WE WILL PUT THAT UP ON THE SCREEN.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT I HAVE ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATION AND IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

>>> THE GEORGE C. MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE HAS BEEN THE HEART OF THE SPACE PROGRAM SINCE THE '50s.

IT WAS DESIGNATED AS THE PROPULSION CENTER DEVELOPING ROCKETS THAT WOULD LAUNCH NASA'S MISSIONS TO SPACE.

MARSHALL HELPED TO MAKE HISTORY IN '61 WHEN THE RED STONE ROCKET WENT INTO SUB ORBITAL FLIGHT.

THE MAJOR TASK WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SATURN ROCKETS USED IN THE APOLLO MOON MISSIONS.

THEY AIMED TO FULFILL KENNEDY'S CHALLENGE TO NASA TO EXECUTE A MOON LANDING BY THE END OF THE DECADE.

MARSHALL ALSO DEVELOPED A PROPULSION FOR THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM AND IS INTEGRAL TO THE SCIENCE AND LIFE CENTERS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND THE LEAD FOR THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT 7:30 AND FRIDAY NIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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