From the Alabama Public Televisio Studios in downtown Montgomery.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

I'm Jeff Sanders in for Todd Stacey this week.

Well, this week marks 61 years since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law.

The anniversary comes as recent U.S.

Supreme Court decisions have changed how ke provisions of the landmark law are applied, including Alabama's ongoing congressional line battles.

This week, the Southern Poverty Law Center announced its We Decide Alabama campaign, which the organization say is aimed at registering voters and encouraging participation ahead of the 2026 general election.

At a news conference this week, Splc officials discuss the campaign and its goals.

So today, we're out here to commemorate the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

But in addition to commemorating the significance of where we come from, we're also realizing the moment that we're in.

And with the continued roll back of the barriers that are being created for Alabamians, we are also here to say that we are still here, standing in this space with allies and partners in the movement for justice so that we can, work through and ensure that the ballot box is open to all people who are eligible and registered to vote.

The main message is we want people to remember history and to remember that it was the voice of the people that gained us access to the voting box, and that it is Alabamians who will decide the issues that are on the ballot box.

So there's so many issues tha Alabamians are grappling with, whether that's housing, education, environmental protections, rising costs, those things are decided at the local level.

And it's so important for us to have representation from Alabama who are our neighbors.

In 2023, a court ruled that Alabama had racially gerrymandered maps, and they overrule that and said that the state had to draw new maps so that we could have fair representation.

The Supreme Court came back and said that those those illegal maps could be used for this year's election while the case continues.

And so there' a lot of confusion with voters.

And so we want to clear up that confusion.

We want to remind peopl to exercise their right to vote.

And we want to remind people to stand with us so that we can ensure that black Alabamians and black political power is at the forefront of this movement, because without it, we do not have a multiracial democracy.

And that' what people fought for in 1968.

I don't think anyone can predict where we're going in the future, but what we can't predict is that we're here in this moment to continue fighting against the rollbacks and the barriers.

And just as they did in 196 with the mobilization in Selma after the murder of Jimmie Jackson, they knew what they were fighting for, but they could determine when it would happen.

They knew it would happen, but they couldn't determine the width.

And so we can't predict the future.

But what I can say is tha Splc is connected to the people, and we are going to continue working to champion and advance voting rights for all people.

And speaking of elections, Alabama has yet one more special electio before voters make their final say so in the general election this November.

Next Tuesday, voters in parts of Alabama will head back to the poll for a special primary election.

That election is the latest chapter in Alabama's long running legal battle over congressional district lines.

After the 2020 census, the federal Court rejected the congressional ma drawn by the Alabama Legislature and ordered new district lines that were used in recent elections.

Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama to return to the legislature's original map, changing the boundarie of four congressional districts and requiring new primary elections.

Those races are in congressional districts one, two, six, and seven.

State Senate districts 25 and 26 were also affected by the ruling, but there are no contested primaries in those races.

One of the most closel watched contest is in Alabama's second congressional district.

Incumbent Democrat Shamari figures is running unopposed in his primary, but with a redrawn district likely favoring Republicans, plenty of candidates are lining up to challenge his seat in Congress.

Here is a list of those Republicans on the ballot.

Of the six candidates, one current state representative, Brett Marcus, has secured the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

There will be no runoff with whomever receives the most votes declared the winner.

This biggest concern or one of the biggest concerns, will be turnout, according to some analysts, saying it could hover in the 5 to 8% range.

And a reminder.

Polls open next Tuesday at seven in the morning and close at 7:00 that night, and we will have a complete rundown and reaction of the results from that special electio on next week's Capitol Journal.

Plus, a little later in the show, we're joined by political analyst flower for his insights on the election and the current state of politics in Alabama.

Well, speaking of politics, the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce's breakfas brief had a very special guest this week U.S.

Senator and Republican nomine for governor, Tommy Tuberville.

Capital journal's Randy Scot was there and has this report.

There was a movie made in 1939 titled Mr.

Smith Goes to Washington on Monday in Montgomery.

It was a case of Mr.

Tuberville comes to Montgomery.

Senator Tommy Tuberville is in town to speak to the Chamber of Commerce on items such as tariffs.

Tariffs are hard.

They are.

They cause prices to go up.

But they're a necessity.

The initial we don't need the federal government, you know, messing around with college sports because that's our lifeblood in the state to building submarines in Alabama.

We are now building submarines that will last 75 years, at least 75 years in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Who in the heck would ever thought would make a submarine in Muscle Shoals, Alabama?

Just components of submarine will be built in North Alabama.

The senator want to make a point.

Alabama is moving forward, but to do so, other areas need to make changes to entice a bigger workforce.

I could pick Montgomery, but I couldn't get people to move to Montgomery.

And why is that?

Because your streets aren't safe enough.

President Trump even knows that.

Here's a guy that's leading the free world and he knows that we're having problems here.

We have to straighten this town out when it comes to neighborhoods and streets of people being safe.

Because if you don't have that nothing's going to happen here.

We're going to continue to decline.

Also in the audience i Montgomery Mayor Stephen Reed.

The mayor says, believe it or not, he and the senator want the same thing.

What's best for Montgomery and the state?

And mayor Reed says he's actually doing something about it.

I think, coach wants to see Montgomery grow, and that's what we want to do.

That's why we presented, this bond issue.

It's a pro-growth investment in the city of Montgomery with regional impact to grow our tourism, to grow our neighborhood investments, and our infrastructure, as well as public safety.

Both men say increasing public safety assets must be a big part of that.

If we're going to do sales and we're going to do growth, you got to have safety.

You got to have peopl that they're going to move here from other cities or other states.

They're not going to come unless they know that the education and have got safe streets.

I mean, that' the number one thing to look at.

So I think, his message resonates with the mind about making sure the streets are safe and making sure we're growing the city and we're growing the economy, growing the population and bringing people here, that really, really can see what Montgomery and central Alabama have to offer.

One is the mayor.

The other has his goals on being governor.

Both men say bluntly, it's all about making things better for Alabama citizens.

And so I've talked to the mayor about it.

I talked to the, the sheriff.

We've got a good relationship.

We're going to hit it.

Hit the ground running.

And again, I want people to be safe.

I want to be able to walk the streets with my granddaughter, my kids, and and, and instead of, you know, having to worry about something happening, and it's about making sure that our residents benefit from that.

The affordability crisis is real.

When people can't pay their power bills, their gas bill, their grocery bills, those things are real.

So we have to make sure tha we're bringing in a high income jobs, and we're preparing our residents for those opportunities that benefits everybody.

Around the city, around the region and in the state as a whole in Montgomery.

Randy Scott, Capital Journal.

The U.S.

Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance a long overdue far bill on Thursday of this week.

Republicans and Democrats clashed over a proposed delay of the new cost sharing requirements for food assistance.

Alabama Senator Katie Britt was a key player in the negotiations that woul have a big impact on the state.

Alex Angle break it all down from Capitol Hill.

Senate Democrats rejected a new farm bill during a committee vote on Thursday, in what is usually a bypass Partizan bill.

At issue is debate over whe state should become responsible for paying a share of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits based on a state's payment error rate.

Under current law, states will start paying for Sna benefits on October 1st, 2027.

Democrats want a two year delay before they support a farm bill, while Republicans say one year is their best offer.

We've worked very har to provide a one year extension in return.

We've gotten it's two years or nothing.

And by the way, we don't want to even discuss the farm bill until you give us two years.

How's that taking care of hard working families trying to make a living in farm country?

Katie Berg, with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, say states need more than one year to adjust to the changes made in the One Big Beautiful Bill act, or else they could have to cut Snap benefits.

82,000 Alabamians have lost foo assistance over the past year.

If states can't fully cover those costs by raising taxes or cutting elsewher in their budgets because states have to balance their budgets each year, they may need to withdraw from the program entirely.

Alabam has warned of that possibility.

Under its most recent payment error rate, the state could be on the hook for about $174 million.

I want us to get to a bipartisan agreement that first and foremost, that includes addressing this ridiculous situation.

But nutrition is just one part of the farm bill.

It also extends agricultural program and provides relief for farmers.

Senator Tommy Tuberville, a member of the committee, highlighted some parts that will benefit Alabama producers.

Additionally, the farm bil includes my bill to reauthorize the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot program for another three years to help our farmers who have lost billions in crop damages to wild hogs.

The Senate Farm bill also would expan the Talladega National Forest.

The Agriculture Committee plans to reconsider the farm bill after its August recess.

The House has passed its own farm bill, but it does not include an delay of that snap cost share.

Both chambers will have to pass the same farm bill before it becomes law.

The current farm bill extension runs out at the end of September.

Reporting in Washington Alex Engle, Capital Journal.

Governor Ivey's name is now permanently par of the Alabama Capitol Complex.

Earlier this year, lawmakers officially renamed the office buildings that housed the Alabama Attorney General's offic as the Kay Ivey Office Building.

This week, workers put the letters in place on the building.

Ivey became governor in Apri of 2017, and is now the longest continuously serving governor in Alabama history.

The designation follows a joint resolution approved by the legislature and continues a long standing tradition of naming Capitol Complex buildings after Alabama governor, joining structures honoring Gordon Persons Jim Fulton and Lurleen Wallace.

And a programing not next week's edition of Capitol Journal will come to you from the Business Council of Alabama's Government Affairs Conference at the Grand Hotel and point Clear.

The annual conference brings together many of Alabama's top business and political leaders to discuss the issues shaping the state's future.

Governor Kay Ivey, US Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, along with the state leaders and industry, are all scheduled to speak.

Todd Stacey will be back leading our special coverage and interview and analysis from Point Clear.

That's next week.

Be sure to tune in.

But coming up on this week's Capitol Journal, we discuss the upcoming high school football season with Heath Harmon from the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

And later find out why tourism in the state' black belt is hotter than ever.

But after the break, we sit down with political analyst Steve Flowers to discuss the upcoming election cycle in Alabama and what voters can expect.

Stay with us.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online anytime at Alabama Public Television's website.

App tv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes on Capital Journal's Facebook page.

What other governments inspired the US Constitution?

The democratic ideas within the US Constitution were not inspired by Europe.

So where did they come from?

Long before Europeans discovered America, tribal nations had been governing themselves for centuries.

The founders were familiar with the democratic policies of the tribal nation they negotiated treaties with.

Like the six tribe Iroquoi Confederacy in upstate New York.

The ideas of veto power personal freedoms, and the value of debate when creating law mirrored the Iroquois practices.

The Iroquois also may have introduced the founders to the concept of federalism, which today is why our federal government presides over our state governments.

Along with letters and other evidence, some scholars believe these ideas helped the founders form the US Constitution.

And welcome back to Capitol Journal.

I'm joined now by political analyst Steve Flowers.

Our discussion today, the upcoming August 11th special primary in Alabama.

And a whole lot more happening.

And what has become a very busy political season.

Steve thanks so much for joining us.

Good to be here.

Let's start with this.

It's a primary.

It's in August.

Most people are like, what's going on?

We see the ads on TV.

This kind of started back, when the redistricting with the state, especially when it comes to district two and the southern part of the state where Shamari figures is currently serving.

Now a Democrat, he, along with Terry, sa the other Democrat in the state that's pretty much a Republican.

State Supreme Court sided pretty much with Alabama and and kind of having these lines drawn from a few years ago back into place was changes that district.

I say all that to say that that sounds confusing because it is confusing to voters.

Jeff, probably one of the mos confusing things I've ever seen.

And I know there i voter has been perplexed by it because I've been around this stuff over 60 years.

I've been following since I was a little boy.

But, you know, it is very complex and very complicated but what basically has happened for our viewers to kno is that, as you and I both know and most of our viewers know, Alabama's congressional lines have been pretty much similar for the last 3 or 4 decades, going back to the first Voting Rights Act implementation legislation in the 70s and 80s that it made for congressional districts to be automatically designed to be Democratic minority districts, under the Voting Rights Act.

About two or 3 or 4 years ago, the, the courts of Alabama the district courts in Alabama, ruled that Alabama need a second minority Democratic district.

We've had six Republicans and one Democrat district, for 3 or 4 decades under the old Voting Rights Act bill.

But having said that, now they have the courts, lower courts, a middle court, a northern district of Alabama ruled that Alabama need a second district and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in that regard.

And they drew a second district, which included Montgomery and parts of the of the Black Belt, which Shamari figures won two years ago.

It was designed to be a Democratic district and it was elected a Democrat.

In the meantime the United States Supreme Court, the omnibus ran court, is beginning to implement a decision that the Voting Rights Act is archaic and fiction overthre it and ruled unconstitutional.

So they've done the chipping away for a number of years, been chipping away, but they made it clear early this year in the Louisiana decision that the Voting Rights Act is dead.

And that means that the 4 or 5 Deep South state that have been under the thumb and the other just around the Voting Rights Act, are free to draw their lines like they won't do, like other states can.

And so the legislatur of Alabama, took note of that.

There's a case still pendin that decides this definitively, but they are living a preliminary decision by saying you can go ahead with this amputation.

So they this legislature has passed a law that says we're getting back to where we were and basically the major district that's been altered.

And all this, moving around is this old second district, which wa combined in the first district, which put the Wiregrass in with mobile for the Shimari figures district he sits in now, Montgomery and the Wiregrass and Mobile.

There's a moat.

It's a weird district.

It's gerrymandered, obviously, to make a Democrat district, but the legislature has put it back to where it was for 3 or 4 decades.

And the old Bill Dickerson, Terry Everett, Martha Roby district, if you will.

And and and recently Barry more district, which means Montgomery and the Wiregrass are back in the old second district.

Mobile and Baldwin in a district by themselves in the first district.

So this new election is coming up next week is a special election to elect primary candidates for first, second, sixth and seventh district.

Barry Moore, obviously, is running for the Senate will be the Republican nominee and in all likelihood will be the next senator, from the state of Alabama.

So he's kind of not in that race.

Rhett Marcus is in the race.

He has a, endorsement from President Trump.

Smar figures on the Democratic side.

Is there any chance that Shamari keeps this seat?

I mean, I mean, it's a Republican.

It's a Republican district, but it's not as heavily Republican as some other districts.

I would say this Jeff, is about the same equation that whether Kathleen Dobson could win as a Republican, but they've changed it.

So the nation and Alabama both vote party now, they don't vote for Jeff Sand and Steve Flowers.

They vote for the Democrati nominee, the Republican nominee.

So they know in Washington they have made this a Republican district.

So the chances of of Shamari figures winning this seat is about the same odds that where the Carolyn Dobbs could beat him two years ago, which a lot of people thought she had a chance on election night.

It really didn't come as close as they thought.

It's about 5543, but I think Vegas is going to make a really good race because the Democrats have put this on the board in Washington as a toss up or winnable seat.

And he has such Washington connections having worked than the Obama administration.

He actually lived and worked in Washington for all of his adult life.

He, he is on the inner circle of the Democratic leadership in Iowa and Washington.

So they're going to spin.

And then on the amount of money on this district.

So bottom line is a television station is going to make a lot of money.

And the Henry and Montgomery and Dothan and and the Wiregrass.

But bottom line i when all the votes are counted, I would put odds on whoever wins this Republican nomination on August 11th will be you congressman for this district.

Let's talk about the Democrats for a second of the state.

There is a couple of things we'll discuss.

Let's start with Tabitha Eisner, the vice chair of the Democratic Party in the state.

There's divisions within the Democratic Party.

I'll talk about that in a second.

But she's encouraging, Democrats in some of those races that don't have a Democrat on the ballot to cross over to the Republican side.

That's lega as long as you don't double dip.

And that would not be the case, I believe, in this primary.

Talk about that, because it goes back to the fact in this past session, there were a lot of Republicans pushing for closed primaries that would require Alabama voters to either register as a Democrat or Republican to vote in the primary and not have the open primaries as we have them now.

Does that strengthen their case?

I would say thi I think Miss Eisner is a pretty smart political person.

I follow her for years.

She she has a lot of political savvy and knowledge, and I think she's a good Democratic leader.

And then the Democratic Party and she.

What the virtue of the point she is making would make it very a virtuou point for a Democrat to do that, to make it, to pick the weaker candidate.

The that would be a less likely to win.

And that's not been unheard of in the past.

People have done that in the primaries.

I don't it's very hard to pull off.

But if you did do it this is the election to do it.

Because, yeah, I think to be very, very, very few people voting next Tuesday.

We're talking about what turnout you were thinking five, six, 7%.

Mayb that's all you're going to have.

I think the primary itself like in the fall in the spring, only gone to 10% turnout.

Yeah, that's for a full slate of historically low numbers.

And why is that?

Well, it's not so bad in that you think about Republican primaries have started to dwindle.

People vote in the general election a higher percentage.

But this special election nex year, you got to picture this.

The hottest time of the year, August 11th.

One race, you know and you don't know, you already voted five times for this congressional race I mean, it's been on the ballot.

Several people are not clueless but are, are confused, as we say at the schoo just starting at the exact same they're getting back to school, like coming back from the beach, like they're doing.

It goes back to the old argument for a Saturday primary, what it might, but I just thin it's going to be a low turnout.

So therefore, if she were able to pull off, pulling Democratic voters in there at oh one, they would it make a difference?

And if you look back, that's how the anomaly of Doug Jones winning a Democrat winning, as you see it was a general election.

No Democrat would have won a general election.

No Democrat can win a general election.

Alabama all 23 of our officeholders in the state are a Republican and it'll be that way come fall.

A Democrat cannot win a statewide race in a general election.

So many people vote straight ticket votes.

But when you have to make a choice and you have to put your thought into it, it's more like a special election like that was it makes it a little bit easier.

So it makes it easy to cast a party late.

What does not become accentuated like it did.

That's why the more and more Doug Jones thing occurred, the average voter who showed up in the middle of the summer election, they didn't know.

Or the more Jones or Democrat or Republican, he was a special election.

So this is the same scenario that you have only hardcore people voting.

And if someone were to pull their eye to one of the Republican candidates in the primary, here in Montgomery the day said, he said, what should I do?

I said, well, you're from Montgomery.

You got 6 or 7 siblings.

If you get your family ou to vote, you're liable to win.

You know, there's going to be point voting, you know.

So let's go back to I want to touch this.

Put a button on this one time.

Do you think we'll se another push again in the next, legislative sessio to see those closed primaries?

I think you're going to see a push forward.

And the hard core right wing Republican Party leadership, people like that concept.

But your average intelligent, successful Alabama state senator knows that's the kiss of death.

You don't want to.

There is voter state.

There's not one identify themselves by party.

They may know they're Republican and they may vote Republican every time, but they may own a corner, drugstore in Scottsboro.

And they don't want to tell everybody in Jackson County, I'm a Republican.

You know, they want to vote Republican, but they don't want to have to say i that most people in the country are envious of us in Alabama having nonpartisan primaries.

You don't have to.

You had a registered Republican or a Democrat.

There is voter does not like that.

They like being independent, you know, but they want to vote Republican.

Let's move on to that general election coming up in November, just a few months away.

Now, Tommy Tuberville running for governor, Republican nominee versus Doug Jones.

Tuberville is basically running as if the election has been decided.

He understands how the numbers work in the state.

Putting together a transitio team already, talk about that.

And, what can we expect?

I think we all agree the chances are he will be victorious in November.

If you just look at how the state leans Republican, as we've been saying, big, big surprise is a big shock if he becomes governor and moves on to the, to the governor's mansion.

Not that he will be elected in November because of what we just pray what he talked about.

The state is a Republican state and close to bottom line.

It's been the last 20 years.

It's 6040.

The Republicans will get 60%.

The Democrat will get 40%.

That' probably what it'll amount to.

However, for the Democratic Party in the state, this year has really fielded a successful and very qualified field of candidates better than in previous years.

Will they given up having even fielded candidates last 20 years for statewide office like governor?

But having said that, this year there was a concerted effort.

I think it was led by Doug Jones.

He's a well organized politico.

But he organized a slate of candidates who are who are qualified.

Ron Sparks is qualified.

Two time commissioner of Air Commissioners Jeff McCloughan is one of the finest lawyers in the state served.

Time is running for attorney general.

Is full of a full slate of qualified candidates.

Just somebody put the name on the ballot as a Democratic nominee.

Having said that I think they may break the 40% threshold in November, but I don't think they get to 45.

I'm not says 50, but I thin you do see a concerted effort.

I think you will see some of the candidates below.

Jones on the Democrat ticket yet a higher percentage of him because he actually has a voting record in Washington, the Senator Bernie Sanders.

And that'll be exploited b the large Warchest, will have.

So Jones will get his 40%.

But you may have people lik sparks and McLoughlin below him who have no bad baggage get more than him typically August moving into September.

Will we see those TV spot start airing a little bit more for the general election?

I want to go back to the Democratic Party.

Bobby Singleton, minority leader in the Alabama Senate, announcing that he is going to run for chair of the party.

Joe Reed kind of runs the party now, a lot of discourse, to say the least, in the Democratic Party in recent years, even Tabitha ized are having some infighting with some of her, fellow Democrats, you know, a the office here in Montgomery.

Where do you see that heading?

Do you think Democrats get their act together?

More?

So you mentione some of the qualified candidates they have for this year.

Well, I say this in this regard.

You know, we hit on this a while ago.

My observation, I've always said this in my columns, in commentary that I use the old adage coined by tip O'Neill, that all politics is local.

It is O'Neill, former speaker of the House.

For those of yo who don't know out there.

Okay.

And he, he and Reagan were close.

He was speaker of the House in Massachusetts, and he coined the phrase all of us have used for years.

All politics is local.

Like, you know, I'll vote for you guys.

You'll fix my road.

You know, he will come home to Massachusetts.

He knew where all light bulbs were out and fix the paved pothole.

Having said that, in my most recent times, I have thrown that in the place basket.

All politics is national now.

And so therefore, the average voter votes, either Democrat or Republican from president and sheriff.

I mean, a guy can't even run a sheriff now in a rural county in Alabama.

And people know he's not for gay rights or transgender ism or everybody being on drugs or whatever the Democrats believe in.

You know, it's like, you know, it's, they identify him with the National Democratic Party with some left wing socialism or what they believe the party stands for, or some sources in New York at the time of that.

So anyway, having said that, the, you know, I don't know if I just think party that now is, is prevalent.

I think people vote for the party rather than the person.

And so it doesn't matter who the chairman of the Democratic Party is in Alabama.

And they all I get letters saying, oh, if the Democratic Part would get themselves together, my my answer to them when they write me, I said, it doesn't matter if Mickey Mouse is chairman of the Democratic Party in Alabama, it doesn't matter whether Donald Duck's chairman of the Republican Party, who is chairman or who runs th Republican Party is irrelevant.

In Alabama, they vote for the national ticket.

They can make you chairman of the Republican Part and make me a Democratic party.

We're not going to do any more than what they're doing now.

Steve, we've got about a minute left here.

Quickly.

I want to jump ahead.

We mentioned that Shamari figures seat could go back to the Republicans.

Giving only one Democrat in the state.

There are calls for legislators to draw out Terri Sewell.

For the next time we come up in two years.

Do you think that's a possibility that we'll just have, a clea Republican slate in the state?

There are Democratic states, by the way, that have nothing but Democrats from there a congressional representative.

There are a good man Republicans in well, being, one, that would like to go to seven.

And oh and other states have done that.

If you think about we get castigated for being a racist state.

We throw out all the Democratic it Tennessee's done that.

South Carolina has done that.

I think it'd be a mistak on the part of the legislature in the state of Alabama for the state of Alabama is good to do that.

For this reason, let's take a scenario where the Democrats take control of Congress, which is very, very likely.

I would say the odds are better that Democrats take control of Congress, especially in the House.

In the House of Representatives, we take we have one representative Terri Sewell, who's a Democrat.

She's our only conduit to the white House, to the leadership in Congress.

You know, we've got basis that nee protecting here in this state.

Maxwell.

Governor Rucker Redstone and committee chairs carry a lot of power.

They do.

If you don't want to not have any Democrats and your colleagues, and I don't know how you make a state look with 25% population African-American, how you corral everyone in one district.

Well, Steve, those are nuanced political thoughts.

And unfortunately, we live in a time where a lot of nuanc is lost in the political world.

Steve I appreciate your time so much.

And we'll definitely we'll talk to you more before the general election coming up in November.

Appreciate your time.

Thank you so much.

And we'll be right back with more Capitol Journal.

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Who were the Daughters of Liberty?

Unlike their more violent Sons of Liberty counterpart, the Daughters of Libert were a group of colonial women supporting nonviolent resistance to British tyranny.

From 1766 into the 1770s.

They used their purchasing power to boycott British goods, turning homespun clothing, locally crafted tea, and a lack of British luxury items into political action.

Both the Sons and Daughters of Liberty helped plan the Bosto Tea Party, including co-founder Sarah Bradley Fulton, also known as the Mother of the Boston Tea Party.

Later, during the Revolutionary War, she carried crucial messages to officials like General Washington.

The daughters organized during a time when women weren't allowed to take office or contribute to American policy.

Even so, they found agency and success within the confines of their gender roles.

Transforming women's impact on local and global economies into political power.

You're watching Alabama Public Television.

And you.

And welcome back to Capital Journal.

Alabama is a very diverse state, from the Gulf Coast to the mountains of northeast Alabama and everything in between.

The Black Belt region of the state is also a very diverse area and is now becoming a tourism attraction of its own And there's so much to explore.

Joining us today is Pam Swaner.

She's executive director of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association.

It's a long title, but man, it covers so much.

Pam, first of all, thanks for being with us and let's talk about what you all do and kind of how you promote the Black Belt area.

Well, you know, we're a fairl young organization, destination marketing organization, an we represent a 23 county region that stretches from Mississippi to Georgia.

So it's a huge two thirds of the state.

Yes, counties.

And, but, you know, this region that we work with is so rich and diverse and its history.

The artisans, the craftsmen, the food and the hunting and the fishing, which is a very big part of the economic development tool for the region which is what this organization, you know, our beginnings with.

We were focused on the hunting and fishing because of it being such a strong economic development tool.

But since then, and with my background in tourism for all these many decades and I won't tell you how many, we have expanded our representation to include all tourism assets, as I mentioned, the cultural heritage, the food, the arts and the soft adventure recreation, like, parking and hiking and camping, those type of activities.

Let's talk about the black belt for a second.

A lot of folks may not know exactly what that infers.

And you mentione kind of like from east to west.

Talk about that strip of Alabama that that really is just so important to those topics you talked about.

Well, it's, defined by the, geological, section that at one time, many, many millions of years ago was under water.

And it was kind of like a fault line.

And the sediments that that settle in and the dirt, once the water receded, made this land so very, very rich and, as you know, very fertile in a far great fertile land.

And, you know, at one time it was in the cotton industry now as the timber industry.

But, along with that is that diverse natural habitat that we have that is supported by that rich soil.

Now, your organization promotes tourism as an economic driver for the Black Belt area.

You all have come out with a brand new black belt travel guide.

I know it' something you're very proud of to really kind of showcase that whole area.

This was a long time coming.

Of course.

And as we expand in our representation include all of tourism assets.

We determined that we definitel needed a guide to travel guide to help people through the black belt traveling through the black belt.

What do you do?

What do you say?

Where do you stay?

Where are the locals?

And so all of that is absolutely, you know, included in this business guide.

We've got a bucket list of things to do.

We even got a playlis that you can download and listen to the black belt musician as you travel to the back roads.

So it's a really great resource.

You can go to our website.

You can download a digital copy, and you can also order a hard copy that we'll put in email.

Well, let's talk about some of your favorites.

Obviously something you're very versed in now.

What are some of your favorite attractions things to do in parts of the Black Belt?

You know, I have a tendency to be interested in the outdoor recreation, the cultural heritage and the arts.

And, that is very, very strong.

In the Black Belt region, we, work very closely with the jazz band quilters.

We are actually, launching, and no one knows this yet.

You're the first.

We are launching soon.

The makers trail for the Black Belt.

And that will include some hyper curated, experiences that you can't get anywhere else except in the black belt.

And we're talking about a quilting, session with the the quilters of just being, a pottery class, which Anthony is going to be doin something over in the sale area.

Many of you all know him.

He's well known throughout the nation.

Biscuit making with Scott Peacock.

A textile artist.

Aaron Santos, head over in Greensboro.

There's a lot of different things that we have put together that will give people a real immersive experience in the Black Belt region, because you know, we think about what where are we going to go on holiday?

How about a weekend trip?

And you really don't have to drive that far.

You can stay within the state and really see a whole lot.

I know I tell people who come to Alabama.

People who I've worked with in the past from, you know, from other states, they go, what can we do here?

And I'm like, well, do you have about 20 minutes?

We'll sit down.

I'll draw out a list for you.

And having a guide like this, I know really helps people discover more of a state they think they know, but maybe not know as well.

That's true.

And we have this map.

We've got the region divide because it is such an expansive area of the state.

We have it divided up into three different zones, if you will.

And that wa you can plan your weekend jobs.

Platteville.

So we're talking about, if you look at this here like we're talking about fro Tuscaloosa all the way down to, moving into the Butler County, Monroeville, back up to Montgomery Redding Springs, Phoenix City.

You follow that whole area?

Yes.

So we've got everything the literary history, the civil rights history of honey and the fishing, again, as I mentioned, and, lots of great, talented people within the black belt.

Let's talk about this.

I'm reading of the birding festival has been named your first black belt signature event.

I know that' something you're proud of, too.

We are.

And it's something that the, organization just recently launched.

And, the birding festiva was this past weekend, and we, recognized it as the first ever, signature event for the black belt.

We'll be doing the same thing for other events that take place throughout the, the year.

There is a set of criteria that you have to meet.

And it does come with a financial commitment from our organization to help build that festival and to continue the momentum that they have going forward.

This, this particular one was awarded to the Alabama Audubon Society, who are with the organization that that sponsors and, implements the black belt boarding festival.

But this festival has, I think, this past weekend.

They don't have all the numbers out yet.

It was another sold out.

They have every year they continue to sell out.

They continue to add, tour on the Black Belt Birding Trail, festival.

And, they bring in people from, I think, or 17 states this year.

Wow.

Yeah.

So that is a huge economic impact on the black belt region, communities, those rural communities.

It brings in the new dollars that we need so desperately to sustain our communities.

As I get older, I enjo birding a little bit more, and I maybe that's something I used to make fun of when I was a little bit younger, but I do appreciate it as I get a little bit older.

We talk about hunting in the black belt.

Fishing is such a huge thing as well and it's such a fisherman state, Alabama.

Let's talk about the the recent, I believe you had the big catfish contest.

Is that what it was called?

It was.

And let me tell you about the catfish.

We have several, photo contest that we conduct throughout the year and we have a big buck contest.

Like photo contest.

We have a big gobbler photo contest, and we've always had the big fish.

But, this year we named it specifically for the catfish.

And the reason was the stat tourism Department lace and tail lodge, the year of the Catfish Trail for the Alabama.

And so it was a perfec opportunity for us to showcase not only the recreational side of catfishing in our Black Belt region, but also the commercial side of the catfish industry.

That is so important in that region.

It is such a really a fascinating thing to think about.

The black belt on everything we mentioned the hunting, fishing, birding.

You mentioned the quilters of Gee's Bend.

There's so much you all have going on.

Remind us once again where they can fin more information about you all that would be on our website.

Alabama Black Belt adventures.org.

Pam, we really appreciate having you on today.

I know there's so much going on and there's a lot left in the year and so much more to come.

The camera.

Yes.

Talk about one more thing here.

Yes, I have to talk about thi coffee table book, which is a, hot seller for us and has been for a number of years.

We're in our fourth printing.

It makes a wonderful gift.

And it's about the hunt, the heritage and traditions of huntin and fishing in the Black Belt.

So important.

Yeah.

And it really jus you learn more about the state and it's a great conversation piece.

Yes, I do come over.

Yes, Pam.

Really appreciate it so much.

Wish you the best.

We'll see you next time.

Thank you.

Stick around.

There's more Capitol Journal right after this.

The World War Two era Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American pilots in U.S.

military service.

Because Tuskegee was the only training facility for black pilots in the United States during World War II.

Potential pilot came from all over the country.

The first African-American flying unit was the 99th Fighter Squadron, which deployed in the spring of 1943.

The 99th earned a Distinguished Unit Citation, flying missions against enemy targets over Italy.

The second flying unit, the 332nd fighter Group, flew several successful bomber escort missions throughout the war.

Its P-51 fighters ha distinctively painted red tails, earning the unit and its planes the nickname Red tails.

In 1948, Presiden Truman issued an executive order mandating the racial integration of all military services.

The way was paved by the Tuskegee Airmen of Worl War Two, and in 2007, President Bush collectively awarded them a Congressional Gold Medal.

And welcome back to Capital Journal.

Well it's almost that time.

We're talking high school football.

It's only a few weeks away on August 20th.

And that means moms, dads, sisters, brothers, students, bands, you nam it are going to be packing out high school stadiums throughout the state.

Joining me now to discuss the season and a partnershi with Alabama Public Television, is the executive director of the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Heath Harmon, h thanks for being with us today.

Thanks for having me.

Okay.

Some big changes this year.

Let's start off a football season.

We said we'll get to some of the scheduling here in a moment, but the classification system has drastically changed this year.

We are we are.

We have a every two years we reclassify.

And so this classification we went from seven overall classifications to we have eight, we have si public school classifications.

And then we have tw private school classifications.

So on the, on the on the public school side used to having seven.

Right.

And now that's back to six.

And when I played long long time ago it was six.

So, how does that shift a lot around.

And what kind of what was the big reasoning behind as far as just the population basi of these, of these communities?

Yeah So we go on enrollment numbers.

And so what happened was with six, classifications, that that largest classification, which was seven, eight.

Now A68 is still the largest, 32 largest school.

So, then you have roughly, you know, around 64 schools per classification.

That go to one through five, eight.

All right.

So you're a former coach.

So you know what it's like getting out there.

We're in a nice air conditioned studio right now, but, it is hot out there this time of the year.

What's happening on these campuses right now is they're getting ready for the fall.

Well, the great thing about, high school athletics and really school, is that you always get to have a start and an end.

So you have the star to a school year, start to your, you know, fall sports, and then you have an end to the year.

So you can always start strong, you know, finish strong.

And, and that's always really neat.

And these athletic programs, offer a great way, to begin those years because, you know, it's an opportunity for the community to come together, the fans to rally around the students.

And there's a lot of school pride.

So always an exciting tim of year to get things started.

And some of these smaller communities I remember I attended a was a for a school at the time.

I think they're like 2 or 3 eight now.

And, you know, the whole town showed up on Friday night and, and that that atmosphere really hasn't changed throughout the years.

No, it's a really big deal.

You know, it's important and it's great for those kids to feel that importance.

And, you know, you have all the different, people that come togethe and are able to kind of showcase what they've been working on.

And, and I think the key is you know, it's all based on that educational mission of the school.

So, it helps to, support those programs as well.

And, and put a positive light on what the what the schoo and what the community is doing.

Well as I mentioned earlier, Alabama Public Television, very proud to kind of be a part of that.

This year, we're broadcasting our game of the week, which will be on Thursday nights this year on APT.

And the first game is August 20th in that central Phenix City.

And that's a girls flag game between Montgomery Catholic and the defending, large school champ central.

Phoenix City.

Now that's followed by centra hosting the reigning state champ Thompson and the boys game, if I'm correct here, lot of excitement this year.

I want to go back to flag football.

It's something that has bee growing a lot in recent years.

Talk about the growth here in Alabama.

Well, yeah, that's probably our fastest growing sport.

You know, and the thing about flag football is, we have a lot of girls acros the state that love to compete.

And I think that what we're seeing is with it being a new sport, a lot of our schools, their coaches, are cooperating so that the girls have the opportunity.

Maybe they were volleyball players in addition to, you know, basketball and different things.

And the coaches are working together to give them the opportunity to play that sport as well.

So I think that's been, encouraging.

And then, really, if you watch the games, if you haven't, any of our peopl haven't had a chance to go out and watch, it's really high quality, football and especially the quarterback play.

The quarterback play really is something that is that is impressive.

And, the two teams that you'll see kick us off this year, both of them are really good programs.

Had a lot of success.

And, like I said, it's one of the fastest growing sports.

And I think that's because it gives them an opportunity to, to compete in a, in a sport that a lot of people in our state understand.

A lot of people understand football and, and, giving them a chance to, to, to play and, and they're enjoying it.

I know I watched some of the games last year because there was a championship with that, just like there is and tackle football.

And I noticed from the professional standpoint, the National Football League has been pushing this the last several years to becoming an Olympic sport.

I guess when we think about a lot of different sports, you know, you can play basketball in high school and pickup games the rest of your life, and you can play golf until you're, you know, way up in life.

But football has always been one of those sports.

You have a narrow window to really play it.

It's hard to if you can't really play competitively.

When you say become our age, but flag football really allows that chance.

So we talk about obviously being a girl sport, but it really is a chance for anyone to kind of participate in a slightly adjusted game of football.

Yeah I do think you're exactly right.

And I think that's that's why we're seeing that it's so popular.

Well, let's, let's talk about, moving on now and, some big changes this year.

The championships every yea there's, there's a central site, where the flag and the tackle football games are played.

It's moving this year down to the Gulf Coast, Mobile and Hancock Whitney Stadium.

Talk about the reasoning behind that and what you expect.

Yeah.

So a couple of years ago, we, needed to adjust where we were going for our championships because of the way the college football landscape had changed, not being able to go to Tuscaloosa or to Auburn.

And so we did, request for proposals and, made sense to try to do a four year rotation.

So two years in Birmingham two years in mobile.

Of course.

We've been in Birmingham and they're awesome.

That's an awesome place.

To have the event.

Mobile was very interested, and made a proposal and, it's a really big to them, you know, high school athletics and and football.

So, it's a it's a key, championship.

It's a statewide event.

And I think having it in a different city, helps to showcase that city as well as create an elite experience, for the schools and, and, and the team.

So I think we'll see mobile really, really put on a show and, and I think it's going to be, a really great even and we'll be there, this year.

Then we'll be back in Birmingham, and then the following year back in mobile and we'll be doing, RFP moving forward, to see what other sites might be interested for the future.

But right now we're, in mobile this year, Birmingham after that, and then back in mobile.

But both stadiums whether it's Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Hancock Whitney at the University of South Alabama campus are amazing venues.

I've see football games in both places.

So that has to be exciting, not just for the fans, but for the players for for especially some of these smaller school to play in search of an arena.

Yeah.

Both of those arenas.

I think the size of those arenas really good.

They're really nice modern venues.

And I think the other thing i you give an opportunity for them to have the experience of the people, because that's really what makes it the volunteers of the support groups that really make sure that the teams have what they need, and that it's a good experience in Birmingham, in mobile, certainly we'll offer, but all for that.

Before we go, worth noting that I know that volleyball, cross-country, swimming all have begun their seasons.

Part of a a sponsoring or featuring 13 boy sports and 14 sports for girls.

Kind of talk about that so far this year.

And really the athletic atmosphere and the way that's organized in the state of Alabama has continued to just strengthen over the years.

Yeah.

And so the kids have lots of great opportunities.

You talk about some of the other fall sports, that you just mentioned.

You know, in additio to football and flag football, with cross country, swi and dive, you know, volleyball, it's just a lot of opportunities for, kids to get out there and compete.

And, I would encourage anyone that, may be interested it maybe have it.

If you haven't been to a cross country meet, you know, go to one, I think.

I think you'll be surprised.

And, any time you get to see kids compete, coaches coaching, communitie turning out to support the kids, it's just a really good thing.

So I would encourage people to find your local team, find find what they're participating in and go support them as a former coach and obviously being in charge of the organization when you travel around the state, can I watch tha feeling that you're getting from from fans, from parents, from students.

When you talk about the athletic atmosphere or the way athletics have become such a huge part of our lives, because it's more about it's about more than just playing sports.

We are, and I would hope in the best of us, developing better adults down the road, no doubt.

We have an educational mission.

You know, we are education based athletics.

It it's an extension of a classroom.

So it gives an opportunity for our schools, to carry on, you know, their educational mission through those athletics.

Best part of my job, by far, is to travel around and meet the people across our state, our young people, our athletes our coaches, our administrator.

We have some phenomenal people in this state, that really pour into these young people through athletic programs.

And, and so, anytime I get a chance to ge out and meet those people and, and really just tell them thank you for what you do and just let them know that the HSA is here to support them in their educational mission.

And obviously, us here at Alabama Public Television happy to be a part of all that this year.

And, looking forward to another great Thursday nights with some fantastic football coming up this year.

Yes, we are very thankful for the partnership, with Alabama Public Television.

You know, we we are always talkin about the power of partnership.

You can have, a produc that you can, you know, consume.

You can be a consumer, you can pay for a product, but you're really looking for, partnerships.

And we have a great partnershi with Alabama Public Television and just the, reach that it has, with these young people being able to be, showcased.

We have a great product.

And I think when people see that, it encourages them to, to support schools, support communities and, and, and see the good that we have going on with our young people.

So we're very thankful for apt and very thankful for the partnership.

And I know from our standpoint, talking some of our folks up in Birmingham, I mean, when when those games are on, we get audience engagement, you know, and, it really doe peak for these athletic events.

And I know when we air the, you know, the super six, supe seven, I guess super six again, we really do see that spike.

So we're very happy to be a part of that with you all this year.

Thank you for wha y'all do appreciate it so much.

I know you got a lot going on in the next few weeks.

Appreciate you.

Take some time.

Come back.

Talk to us today.

Thank you.

As we said, the season will start here with our first Thursday night game that will be on August 20th.

That is a flag football game with central Phenix City between them and Montgomery Catholic.

And then the first boys gam will be Central Phenix City at followed by central I should say, hosting the state reigning Champ Thompson.

And that's all right here in Alabama public television.

So tune in this year for high school football and we'll be right back with more Capital Journal right after this.

Russell Cave i located in northeast Alabama in Jackson County.

It is a significant archeological site with deep deposits that are a result of frequent use by Native Americans for thousands of years and offer a glimpse of lifeways from the archaic to the historic period.

Russell Cave was named a National monument in 1961.

Today, the cave is part of the National Park system.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online anytime at Alabama Public Television's website.

App tv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes on Capital Journal's Facebook page.

And that's our show this week.

Make sure to tune in next wee as Capitol Journal travels down to Point clear for the Business Counci of Alabama's annual conference.

Todd will be back here in front of the camera, and we will hear from all of the state's top political leaders, including Governor Kay Ivey and the brightest business minds in the state.

That's next week.

But for now, thanks fo joining us for Capitol Journal.

I'm Jeff Sanders, for all of us here at Alabama Public Television.

So long for now.