>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE SURGING CORONAVIRUS IN ALABAMA.

WITH OUR VACCINATION RATE STILL ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY, THE MORE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DELTA VARIANT CONTINUES TO SPREAD, AND CONCERNS ARE MOUNTING.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS TELLS CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT A DIFFICULT COUPLE OF MONTHS COULD LIE AHEAD.

>> WE REALLY HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT JUMP IN OUR NUMBERS.

JUST THIS WEEK.

ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN TRENDING UP FOR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THAT.

THIS WEEK, EVERY DAY THIS WEEK WE HAVE HAD WELL OVER A THOUSAND NEW CASE'S PER DAY.

WE'RE PAST 1600 NEW CASES IN AING IS DAY YESTERDAY.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST WE HAVE SEEN IN SEVERAL MONTHS.

OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS NOW ARE AROUND 650 PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS AS OF LAST NIGHT.

THAT'S MORE THAN THREE TIMES WHERE WE WERE JUST ON THE JULY 4 WEEKEND.

SO IN ABOUT A TWO, TWO AND A HALF WEEK PERIOD WE HAVE MORE THAN TRIPLED THE NUMBER.

>> DR. HARRIS WILL JOIN US LATER TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

THE DISCOURAGING COVID STATISTICS HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS OVER WHETHER THE STATE SHOULD REINSTITUTE SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR, AND WHETHER MASKS SHOULD ONCE AGAIN BE REQUIRED.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SAYS THAT SHE HAS NO PLANS TO BRING BACK A MASK MANDATE.

AND DURING A VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM ON THURSDAY, IVEY DIDN'T MINCE WORDS ON OUR SURGING VIRUS NUMBERS.

>> LET'S BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND MEDIA I WANT YOU TO START REPORTING THE FACTS.

THE NEW CASES IN COVID ARE BECAUSE OF UNVACCINATED FOLKS.

ALMOST 100% OF THE NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE WITH UNVACCINATED FOLKS.

AND THE DEATHS CERTAINLY ARE OCCURRING WITH UNVACCINATED FOLKS.

THESE FOLKS ARE CHOOSING A HORRIBLE LIFESTYLE OF SELF CONFLICTED PAIN.

Y'ALL, WE'VE GOT TO GET FOLKS TO TAKE THE SHOT.

THE VACCINE IS THE GREATEST WEAPON WE ARE TO FIGHT COVID.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THE DATA PROVES IT.

I'VE TAKEN THE SHOT.

DON: THE GOVERNOR SAID SHE FELT THAT SHE HAD DONE ALL SHE COULD TO ENCOURAGE MORE ALABAMIANS TO GET VACCINATED AND AGAIN URGED STATE RESIDENTS TO EXERCISE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH AND FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OTHERS.

MEANTIME, AN ALABAMA PHYSICIAN THIS WEEK CAPTURED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION OVER WHAT SHE'S HEARD FROM DYING, UNVACCINATED PATIENTS.

DR. BRITNEY COBIA IS A HOSPITALIST AT GRANDVIEW MEDICAL CENTER IN BIRMINGHAM.

SHE WROTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: “I'M ADMITTING YOUNG HEALTHY PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH VERY SERIOUS COVID INFECTIONS.

ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THEY DO BEFORE THEY'RE INTUBATED IS BEG ME FOR THE VACCINE.

I HOLD THEIR HAND AND TELL THEM THAT I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S TOO LATE.” >> DON: U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE OF AUBURN SAYS ITS TIME FOR MORE ALABAMIANS TO GET VACCINATED.

WHILE RECOGNIZING THE CONCERNS OF MANY OVER THE VACCINE, SENATOR TUBERVILLE ALSO CONTENDS THAT IT HAS WORKED AND WILL WORK TO HELP CURB THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

DURING A HEARING IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK ON THE PANDEMIC, TUBERVILLE QUESTIONED DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR.

>> WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE OUTSIDE, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY STATE.

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A UNIFIED MESSAGE.

WE CAN'T BE BLAMING THIS OR THAT.

WE HAVE TO GO NORTH WITH THIS.

WE CAN'T IS IT GO SOUTH, THE OTHER DIRECTION.

SO DR. FAUCI CAN YOU UNDERSTAND, UNLESS THIS ADMINISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGES THE EFFORTS OF THE LAST ONE, A LARGE PART OF THE AMERICANS, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FEEL LIKE NOTHING'S POSITIVE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

>> I CAN TELL YOU NO DOUBT THAT THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION DESERVES A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR THE EFFORT THAT WAS PUT INTO OPERATION WARP SPEED THAT WAS ABLE TO ALLOW NOT ONLY THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING BUT ALSO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VACCINE.

>> DON: SENATOR TUBERVILLE SAID TODAY THAT HE FELT THAT THE NATION WAS IN A SITUATION NOW IN WHICH COVID WON'T GO AWAY UNLESS WE GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

DON: CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS ARE GROWING AMONG SOME PARENTS AS THEY GET READY TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL.

ALABAMA SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION DR. ERIC MACKEY SAYS THE STATE WILL NOT REQUIRE COVID SHOTS, BUT HE TOLD ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S ‘SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION' PROGRAM THAT HE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT PARENTS STRONGLY CONSIDER THE SHOTS FOR THEIR KIDS.

>> WITH ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN CAUTIONING PEOPLE ABOUT IS PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF VACCINATION.

WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON REQUIRING VACCINES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, CLEARLY THERE'S AN ADVANTAGE, FOLKS WHO ARE VACCINATED WHO BECOME A CLOSE CONTACT TO A PERSON WHO IS COVID-19 POSITIVE DON'T HAVE TO BE QUARANTINED.

SO I TELL YOU FROM MY POSITION, I WORRY WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO A SITUATION IN THE FALL WHERE FIVE KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO COVID.

THREE OF THEM HAVE BEEN VACCINATED SO THEY JUST COME BACK TO SCHOOL AND KEEP GOING.

THE OTHER TWO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AND THEY HAVE TO GO HOME ON QUARANTINE.

>> DR. MACKEY SAYS THE STATE WILL NOT REQUIRE MASKS IN SCHOOLS THIS FALL, THAT THOSE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

OFFICIALS HAVE REPORTED THAT THE NUMBER OF KIDS OVER 12 WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IS DISAPPOINTING.

THERE'S STILL NO SHOT APPROVED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12.

DON: IN THE WAKE OF A LOT OF LEARNING LOSS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING THE SUCCESS OF SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS.

IN OUR IN-DEPTH REPORT TONIGHT, CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT ONE SUCH INITIATIVE, MONTGOMERY'S LEAPS PROGRAM.

>> MONTGOMERY LEAPS IS ABOUT PROVING THE POSSIBLE THIS SUMMER AT A TIME WHEN WE DESPERATELY NEED TO BECAUSE OF THE COVID INTERRUPTION IN LEARNING.

WE WANT TO ALWAYS PROVE WHAT OUR CHILDREN CAN DO.

>> GIVEN ANY TIME WE CAN SUPPORT EDUCATION IN MONTGOMERY WE WILL DO THAT.

WE MADE THAT A PRIORITY FROM DAY ONE TO DO THAT IN ALL FORMS.

>> 147 KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE.

THE ONES WE SPOKE TO SAY THEY ENJOYED STUDYING TRADITIONAL SUBJECTS.

>> MATH AND -- SO, LIKE THE SUBJECTS, MATH AND PROBABLY ENGLISH.

>> ALONG WITH NONTRADITIONAL ONES.

IN THE ARTS THEY WERE TOLD TO DRAW PICTURES THEY WERE EXPRESSIONS OF THEMSELVES.

>> MY HOUSE, WALMART, MY SCHOOL, AND BURGER KING.

>> AND EACH DAY FOR SIX WEEKS THEY READ BOOKS ON AND STUDIED CIVIL RIGHTS.

>> I JUST LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED CHANGE THE WORLD.

>> ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS THAT DAY WERE BLACK PEOPLE, THEY HELPED PEOPLE.

>> MONTGOMERY'S BOOKER T. WASHINGTON CAPITAL HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE THE LOCATIONS.

>> CAPITOL HIGH SCHOOL IS THE FUNNEST PLACE IN THE WORLD.

>> SOMETIMES WE GO TO FIELD TRIPS EVERY DAY.

>> WE PROVIDE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE NONTRADITIONAL BECAUSE WANT TO EXPOSE THEM ON THINGS MAY HAVE MAYBE THEY DO NOT GET A CHANCE TO DO ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SOME OF THOSE INCLUDED HORSEBACK RIDING, ARCHERY, KAYAKING AND SWIMMING ACROSS WITH STEAM ACTIVITIES, ROBOTICS AND ARTS AND CRAFT AS WELL.

>> SINCE THE MONTGOMERY PROGRAM DEPENDS ON MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TOO ADMINISTER IT THE HOPE TO TO SPREAD IT TO OTHER ASSETS SUCH AS CHURCHES AND FOR IT TO TAKE PLACE YEAR AROUND.

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

>> DON: ANOTHER BILL HAS BEEN PRE-FILED FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD BAN THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS.

BUT THE NEW PROPOSAL BY REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DANNY CRAWFORD OF ATHENS WOULD GO A STEP FURTHER: IT WOULD ALSO MANDATE THAT TEACHERS WHO VIOLATE THE BAN BE FIRED.

WITH DEBATE OVER THE ISSUE GROWING, ONE DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKER CONTENDS THAT ALL OF THE LEGISLATION IS A ‘STEP TOO FAR.'.

REPRESENTATIVE MARY MOORE OF BIRMINGHAM SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> THIS IS IT.

THE PEOPLE PRESENTING THOSE BOILS ARE JUST TOTALLY IGNORANT.

THEY'RE IGNORANT.

I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CREATED THIS BOGEYMAN AND MAKING THESE PARENTS BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE TAUGHT IN THEIR CLASSROOM, WELL, THE PARENTS HAVE TO STEP BACK AND THINK, DID ANYBODY TEACH ME THIS WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL?

WHERE DID I EVEN COME ACROSS THIS PHILOSOPHY?

>> DON: REPRESENTATIVE MOORE, WHO WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST, SAYS SHE FEELS THE DEBATE OVER CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS DISTRACTING ATTENTION FROM MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES, LIKE PRISON REFORM, POVERTY AND MENTAL HEALTH.

STILL, THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE FEELS ITS AN ISSUE WORTH EXAMINING.

REPRESENTATIVE ED OLIVER IS ALSO SPONSORING CRITICAL RACE THEORY-RELATED LEGISLATION AND HE RECENTLY SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE TAKING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AND COMPLETELY DISCARDING AND IT WE'RE TRYING TO INVENT A PROBLEM WHERE WE NEVER HAD ONE.

YOU MIGHT HERE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE AISLE SAY THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

WHAT I'M REALLY TRYING TO DO IS SAY THERE'S NOT ONE RACE OR SEX THAT IS SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER.

SIMPLY PUT THAT'S THE CRUX OF MY BILL.

>> DON: REPRESENTATIVE OLIVER HAS PRE-FILED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXTEND RESTRICTIONS ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEYOND EDUCATION TO INCLUDE OTHER AREAS OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY GENERALLY HOLDS THAT RACISM IS SYSTEMIC IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND IN OUR INSTITUTIONS.

>> DON: THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD MAY BE READY AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH TO VOTE ON A PROPOSED RESOLUTION SURROUNDING CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT AGAIN REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT ON PREPARATIONS FOR THAT VOTE.

>> WE DON'T NEED JUST BELIEFS.

WE NEED MEAT, A STANCE THAT SAYS THIS IS WHAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION -- WHAT WE REQUIRE OF OUR TEACHERS TO DO AND PROTECT OUR KIDS.

>> THE ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTINUES ITS WORK OF MAYBING A CLEAR PATH IN THE BASIS BEHIND CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

BOARD MEMBERS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE ISSUE.

>> SOME OF THE BEST LESSONS THAT I SEE ARE TAUGHT BY EDUCATORS THAT FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT OF INQUIRY, OF DISCOVERY, WHERE THE TEACHER PRESENTS THE FACTS AND THEN ALLOWS THE STUDENTS THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE THOSE FACTS.

>> HATRED WAS NEVER A PART OF THE ORIGINAL THEORY AND WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT HATRED AND GUILTY.

I WISH WE WOULD LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL INTENT.

ULTIMATELY THE CONCEPT IS TAUGHT IN GRADUATE AND LAW SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

IT'S NOT EVEN TAUGHT IN K-12.

>> THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT SAID JULY 30 IS THE DEADLINE TO GATHER FEEDBACK FROM BOARD MEMBERS AND ALABAMA RESIDENTS GETTING THEIR THOUGHTS ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

>> WE TRY TO RESPOND TO EVERYBODY AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEIR VOICE IS BEING LISTENED TO.

>> DR. MACKEY SAYS TIMING WILL BE EVERYTHING.

>> SOME OF THEM WOULD RATHER NOT DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE IN AUGUST.

THEY WANT MORE TIME TO DISCUSS IT, MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT, MORE TIME TO TALK TO CONSTITUENTS AND IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT, WE WILL PUT IT OFF UNTIL THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE TO VOTE.

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

>> DON: THE ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY THIS WEEK CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF TARRANT CITY COUNCILMAN TOMMY BRYANT FOR USING A RACIAL EPITHET DURING A RECENT COUNCIL MEETING.

THE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY ALSO SAID IT WAS ‘DEEPLY DISTURBED' BY REPORTS OF THE EPITHET.

BRYANT SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO STEP DOWN AND THAT HE MIGHT CONSIDER RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF TARRANT.

WVTM TELEVISION IN BIRMINGHAM ASKED BRYANT THIS WEEK WHETHER HE CONSIDERED HIMSELF A RACIST.

>> A RACIST?

IT'S ACCORDING TO WHAT YOUR DEFINITION OF THE WORD RACIST IS.

WHAT THE PUBLIC -- WHAT A LOT OF THE PUBLIC'S DEFINITION IS, I MIGHT BE A RACIST.

BUT ACCORDING TO WHAT THE TRUE MEANING OF A RACIST IS, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> DON: BRYANT HAS CONTENDED THAT HE WAS REPEATING A RACIAL EPITHET THAT HE HAD HEARD TARRANT MAYOR WAYMAN NEWTON USE AGAINST ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER.

NEWTON, WHO IS THE CITY'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR, HAS DENIED DOING SO.

DON: THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF TESTIMONY IN THE CORRUPTION TRIAL OF TEN-TERM LIMESTONE COUNTY SHERIFF MIKE BLAKELY WOUND DOWN TODAY IN ATHENS.

BLAKELY'S CHARGED WITH ELEVEN COUNTS OF USING HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL GAIN, INCLUDING STEALING CAMPAIGN DONATIONS, TAKING PERSONAL LOANS FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE FUNDS WITHOUT PAYING INTEREST, AND SOLICITING MONEY FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMPLOYEES.

EARLY IN THE WEEK, THE JUDGE ORDERED A PAUSE IN THE TESTIMONY OF A PROSECUTION WITNESS AFTER LEARNING THAT HE WAS ALSO UNDER STATE INVESTIGATION.

TESTIMONY IN THE SHERIFF'S CASE WAS TO CONTINUE.

>> DON: THERE WAS MORE CAMPAIGN-RELATED NEWS THIS WEEK.

FORMER STATE SENATOR RUSTY GLOVER OF SEMMES ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL SEEK THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR STATE AUDITOR NEXT YEAR.

HE SERVED 12 YEARS IN THE STATE SENATE AND A SINGLE TERM IN THE HOUSE.

GLOVER, WHO IS A RETIRED EDUCATOR, ALSO RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN 2018.

MEANTIME, VETERAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE MERIKA COLEMAN OF PLEASANT GROVE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT SHE WOULD GIVE UP HER HOUSE SEAT TO RUN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE DISTRICT 19 NOMINATION NEXT YEAR.

THE FIVE-TERM LAWMAKER SERVES AS ASSISTANT HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BEHALF, HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US FROM THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> MR. LEADER WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST ONE SPECIAL SESSION LATER THUS YEAR ON REAPPORTIONMENT, MAYBE TWO, ON PRISONS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL A SPECIAL SESSION ON PRISONS IS CONCERNED?

IS IT LIKE LIKELY OR IMMINENT?

>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE.

IF THERE'S SOME COMPROMISE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR ZERO COMES TO SOME TYPE OF CONCLUSION, I THINK THERE'S A POSSIBILITY.

I MEAN, I DON'T RULE IT OUT FOR SURE, BUT I THINK WE'RE WAITING TO SEE -- IT'S GOING WELL, BUT SOME THINGS WE HAVE TO FIND OUT ABOUT ONE OF THEM IS AN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND SEEING IF WE CAN RECRUIT REVENUE THAT IS LOST BY THE STATE, AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, I THINK THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY WE COULD USE SOME OF THAT MONEY.

>> I KNOW THAT THE CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER IN THE LAST WEEK HAS WRITTEN A LETTER INQUIRING ALONG THOSE VERY LINES AND THAT KIND OF MONEY WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION.

>> IT WILL.

THE THING I'M HEARING BETWEEN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, IT COULD BE 500 TO $600 MILLION AND CERTAINLY THAT COULD GO A LONG WAY, IF IT'S TO REHAB A COUPLE OF PRISONS AND THE PERRY COUNTY FACILITY SAYS STILL ON THE TABLE, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT.

I THINK WE IF WE DO THOSE THINGS WITH THE PERRY COUNTY FACILITY IN PLAY WORKERS COULD DO AT THAT TIME SHORT-TERM PRETTY QUICK AND I THINK THAT WOULD HELP WITH US THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THAT WHAT I REMEMBER' ASKING US TO DO.

>> YOU'RE ALSO HOPEFUL GIVEN THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT, IF YOU TALK TO THE GOVERNMENT, THAT THEY MIGHT SEE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT MOVING FORWARD AND MAYBE THIS WOULDN'T NECESSITATE A SPECIAL SESSION AND IT COULD GO TO THE NEXT REGULAR SESSION OR IS THAT EVENING EVEN BEING DISCUSSED AT THUS POINT?

>> AT THIS TIME WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT DIRECTION TO GO INTO, WHETHER IT'S A REGULAR SESSION OR OR A SPECIAL SESSION WE HAVE TO HAVE BEEN CONSENSUS WITH THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PASS IT.

SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD IS THIS -- TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME TABLE AND SEE IF WE CAN WORK OUT A COMPROMISE BETWEEN BOTH CHAMBERS AND TRY TO MAKE IT WHERE IT'S PRODUCT FOR OUR STATE AND WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE TALKS BETWEEN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

SPEAKER MCCUTCHEON WAS ON THE SHOW RECENTLY AND CALLED THE TALKS PRODUCTIVE BUT THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT YET.

IS IS THAT THAT WHERE THINGS STILL STAND AS FAR AS YOU CAN TELL?

>> IT IS.

I THINK HEARING BACK FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE MONEY.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, TIPPING THE CONVERSATION WITH THE PERRY COUNTY FACILITY AND LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO ON CONSTRUCTION.

ALL OF THOSE ARE STILL ON THE TABLE, AND TALKS ARE STILL GOING ON.

BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN PRODUCTIVE, I'LL BE HONEST.

I FELT LIKE, AFTER THE CONVERSATION WE HAD LAST, THAT WE'RE MOVING IN A GOOD DIRECTION AND I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

WE HAVE BEEN TASKED THAT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S MANDATED THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE AND PROBABLY IF WE COULD DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

THOSE THINGS WOULD COME QUICKER THAN A BOND ISSUE TO BUILD NEW PRISONS.

SONIC THAT'S CERTAINLY WOULD HELP US WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY'S ORIGINAL PRIVATE LEASE DEAL PROPOSED BUILDING NEW REGIONAL FACILITIES TO REPLACE A CURRENT MEN'S PRISONS.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT I THINK THE DISCUSSIONS NOW ALSO INCLUDE THE WOMEN'S PRISON AS WELL?

>> YEAH.

ONE THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, IN THE BONDING ISSUE, AS YOU MAY RECALL, WHEN WE BONDED FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REHAB OF SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE, WE DID THAT BOND ISSUE, THERE WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PREMIUM IF THAT MONEY, AND BECAUSE OF THE MARKET BEING WHAT IT IS TODAY, AND RATES BEING SO LOW WE WERE ABLE TO GET ABOUT $300 MILLION BACK FROM 1.2 BILLION THAT WE BONDED.

SO THE THINGS IS, IF WE DO A BOND ON THIS, IT'S PROBABLY NOT AS STRONG TODAY AS IT WAS THEN BUT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE COULD GET ENOUGH PREMIUM BACK TO LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING WITH THE WOMENS PRISON WHICH I THINK IS POSITIVE FOR THE STATE.

>> SO WHERE A SPECIAL SESSION ON PRISONS IS CONCERNED WE'RE IN A WAIT-AND-SEE MODE.

>> WE ARE.

WE MET BEFORE THE SESSION STARTED WITH THE WHOLE CAUCUS AND GAVE THE SCENARIO WHAT THE LEASE WAS LOOKING LIKE AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THAT, WHAT A BOND WOULD LOOK LIKE.

THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT.

SO NOW IT'S JUST GETTING EVERYTHING PUT TOGETHER AND BRIEFING EVERYTHING EVERYBODY INTO MEET AND GOES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE BEST SOLUTION AND LEAST EXPENSIVE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE.

>> WE DO KNOW OF COURSE IT'S A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION IN THE FALL ON REAPPORTIONMENT.

YOU HAVE TO GET THAT DONE BEFORE THE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WHOSE TO SAY WE MIGHT NOT COULD PAIR THESEES TO.

IT COULD BE A CALL WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I DON'T KNOW THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S ALL KIND OF POSSIBILITIES AND I THINK ONCE WE COME UP WITH SOMETHING EVERYBODY CAN AGREE ON THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, AND IT COULD BE IN THAT CALL.

I MEAN WE COULD DO TWO WEEKS OR HOW MANY EVER DAYS THAT THE GOVERNOR SEES FIT, AND MIGHT COULD GET BOTH OF THOSE JOBS DONE, BEING THE REAPPORTIONMENT AND SOMETHING DONE WITH OUR PRISONS.

>> DO YOU THINK SO?

SOME HAVE SUGGESTED BOTH SUCH WEIGHTY ISSUES THAT PUTTING THEM TOGETHER MIGHT BE A TALL ORDER.

DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE?

>> WHAT WOULD I SEE, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD PUT THEM TOGETHER.

I THINK YOU WOULD TO ONE WEEK WHERE IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR PRISONS AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING IN THE CALL.

THEN YOU COME BACK THE NEXT WEEK OR A FOLLOWING WEEK AND DO ANOTHER ONE THAT WOULD BE ON REAPPORTIONMENT.

IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME CALL.

SHE COULD SPREAD THEM OUT SO IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME ONE AND THAT WAY YOU COULD WORK ON ONE AT A TIME.

>> SHE BEING GOV.

IVEY WHO WOULD ULTIMATELY CALL THIS SPECIAL SESSION.

BUT WHERE REAPPORTIONMENT IS CONCERNED, DO YOU THINK WE CAN GET THAT DONE IN A WEEK PERHAPS?

>> WELL, WE WILL SEE.

I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING DUE DILLIENCE AND START HAVING HEARINGS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE STARTING IN SEPTEMBER AND HAVE THOSE MEETINGS AND LOOK AND SEE WHERE THE LINES COULD BE DRAWN, BASED ON CENSUS.

AND SO THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO DO THAT.

BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE THEM SET UP AND READY TO GO.

I THINK THAT WAS WISE TO GO TO USING THE JUNIOR COLLEGE SYSTEM FOR MOST OF THEM AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS WISE.

THEY WILL DO THAT AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE SHOULD HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.

I THINK WE KNOW WHERE THE GROWTH AREAS ARE AND SOME OF RURAL ALABAMA'S LOSING NUMBERS.

WE HAVE HAVING TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN MADISON COUNTY AND MOBILE AND SHELBY COUNTY IS GROWING.

WE WILL LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE TO THAT ARE GROWING AND SEE HOW IT FACTORIES THE ONES LOSING NUMBERS IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> MR. LEADER, WHERE YOUR CAUCUS IS CONCERNED CONCERNED, MAJOR DEVELOPMENT LAST WEEK WHEN REPRESENT KENNETH PASCHELL WAS LOCATED AND BECOMES THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN REPUBLICAN ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 140 YEARS.

>> YEAH.

I REALLY DOE LIKE KENNETH.

HE AND I HAVE TALKED SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HIM SERVING AND I BELIEVE HE HAS A SERVICE SERVANT'S HEART.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM.

FOR KENNETH, HE WANTS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STATE AND HE HAS MADE THE STATEMENT, I THINK, THAT IT WASN'T A BLACK OR WHITE ISSUE, IT WAS JUST A GOOD CONSERVATIVE THAT'S GOT GOOD VALUES THAT PEOPLE VOTED FOR AND I THINK THAT'S IN ANY DISTRICT, THAT'S WHAT THEY LOOK FOR.

HE CERTAINLY IS COMING IN WITH A GREAT ATTITUDE AND I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW HIM AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A GOOD MEMBER.

>> REPRESENTATIVE PASCHELL WAS ON OUR SHOW LAST WEEK AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL TALKED ABOUT THAT I WANTED TO CAN YOU ABOUT, THAT IS, DO YOU SEE THIS AS THE BEGINNING OF MORE MINORITIES BECOMING PART OF YOUR CAUCUS?

>> I HOPE SO.

IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK MINORITIES ARE SEEING THAT WE WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STATE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT OUR STATE, AND WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE.

I MEAN WE ALWAYS -- THERE'S SOMETIMES WE HAVE DIFFERENCES OF AGREEMENT BUT I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS AN AVENUE FOR US TO WORKING WORK TOGETHER.

WE DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS AGREE.

WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE BUT WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS IN OUR STATE BY MOVING IT FORWARD AND I CERTAINLY THINK KENNETH CAN START A PROCESS OF SEEING THAT OUR CAUCUS IS WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR STATE A BETTER STATE.

>> THIS DOES SEEM TO BE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

WE HAVE HAD OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICANS RUN FOR AS REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS CONCERNED THERE WAS REALLY A GIANT STEP FORWARD, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> I DO.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

I DO.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE, AND I THINK HE WILL FIT IN VERY WELL WITH OUR CAUCUS.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE HIM TO EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE HAD ONE EVENT IN MY DISTRICT THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND HE WAS AROUND ALL OF OUR MEMBERS AND I THINK HE REALLY ENJOYED THAT AND I THINK HE ENJOYED -- THE MEMBERS ENJOYED BEING AROUND HIM.

I THINK THAT WAS HAD A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE TOGETHER THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY IN THE SETTINGS OF THE CHAMBER BUT IT WAS JUST AN EVENT I HAD IN MY DISTRICT AND HE JOINED US AND I WAS GLAD TO SEE HIM THERE, AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS WERE GLAD TO SEE HIM THERE.

>> SPEAKING OF YOUR CAUCUS YOUR ABOUT A RUSE A VALUABLE MEMBER IN REPRESENTATIVE BILL POOLE WHO WILL BE STEPPING DOWN IN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY TO BECOME THE NEW STATE FINANCE DIRECTOR.

>> HE DID A FANTASTIC JOB FOR ATF AND I SERVED WITH HIM ON THAT COMMITTEE.

BILL IS CERTAINLY A GOOD FRIEND, AND I TALK TO HIM JUST -- I GUESS THE KAY THAT IT WAS ANNOUNCED AND HE'S -- I THINK HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY.

I MEAN BILL IS ONE OF THOSE TYPE PEOPLE, WHATEVER HE DOES, WHEREVER HE DOES IT, HE'S GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB AND THERE'S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT SHE HAS DONE A YEOMAN'S WORK GETTING BILL TO TAKE THAT JOB AS FINANCE DIRECTOR AND CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORK WITH HIM.

>> CERTAINLY BIG SHOES TO FILL IN TERMS OF HIS LEADERSHIP OVER THE EDUCATION BIGOT IN THE HOUSE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>> IT IS.

BUT YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN IN THAT ROLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME NOW AND I THINK THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE COMMITTEE THAT'S WILLING TO FILL HIS SHOES AND IT WILL BE BIG SHOES TO FILL BUT I THINK WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY CAPABLE OF DOING SO.

AND TO SAY THAT, I MEAN, BILL HAS GOT BIG SHOES TO FELL.

KELLY DID A GREAT JOB.

>> KELLY BUTLER.

>> KELLY BUTLER.

AND WAS SOMEBODY I ADMIRED AND I THOUGHT HE DID A GREAT JOB.

BUT I THINK BILL IS THE TYPE OF PERP THEY WILL IT SHOW THAT WON'T MISS A LICK.

THEY WILL COME IN AND DO THE SAME THING.

NOT ONLY TO WE HAVE TO FILL SHOES ABOUT YOU THE GOVERNOR DID AND SHE DID A GREAT JOB PUTTING BILL IN THERE TO FILL THOSE SHOES.

>> WELL, FINAL SPEAKING OF BIG SHOES TO FILL, SPEAKER MCCUTCHEON ANNOUNCE HOOD SEA NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR, AND THE SPEAKER'S JOB WILL BE OPEN IN '23 AND YOU'VE ALREADY THROWN YOUR HAT IN THE RING.

>> YEAH.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

WE WORKED WOULD OUR CAUCUS AND BOTH CAUCUS, THE MINORITY ON DIFFERENT ISSUES, AND ON TOUGH ISSUES, TRYING TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND WE KIND OF HAVE IDEAS WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY AND I THINK MAX HAS TON A GREAT JOB.

I THINK WE ALL LOSE TRACK SOMETIMES OF WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM, YOU KNOW, THE DAY WHEN MACK TOOK OVER WE HAD TOUGH ISSUES IN OUR HOUSE CHAMBER, WITH THE PROBLEM WE HAD WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE MAJORITY LEADER AT THAT TIME.

SO WE'VE COME A LONG WAY AND I THINK IT'S DUE TO HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS TYPE OF LEADERSHIP AND I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR HIM AND I.

FEEL VERY FORTUNE TO HAVE WORKED WOULD HIM AS CLOSELY AS I I HAVE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND HE'S ADJUST DEAR, DEAR FRIEND.

>> IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A TIME OF TRANSITION IN THE LEGISLATURE OVER THE LAST YEAR.

OF COURSE DEL MARSH STEPPED DOWN AS SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM THIS YEAR AND HE IS SERVING OUT THE REMAINDER OF HIS SENATE TERM BUT HE IS NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION.

NOW, MAC MCCUTCHEON IS NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION BUT OLD ADAGE, "THE TIMES THEY ARE A'CHANGIN'" WE HAVE TO EMBRACE RIGHT?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK WE ALL WATCH THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THOSE POSITIONS AND WE TRY TO TAKE INTEREST THEM WHAT WE THINK IS GOING TO BE POSITIVE, AND CERTAINLY I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AND I KNOW THAT GREG DID -- GREG REED REED IN THE CITY SENATE, AND BEFORE HE TOOK THAT ROLE HE AND I WERE GOOD FRIENDS AND WORKED TOGETHER AND I THINK HE'S A FINE MAN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WOULD HIM.

>> AS FAR AS YOU PUTTING YOURSELF UP AS CONSIDERATION FOR SPEAKER IT'S A BIG JOB, A BIG COMMITMENT?

>> CongregationIT IS A BIG COMMITMENT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK THAT THE BEST DAYS FOR ALABAMA ARE AHEAD OF US, AND I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR CAUCUS THAT ARE WILLING TO STAND IN THE TRENCHES AND FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE, AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE GOT PEOPLE TO DO THAT, I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO TAKE CHARGE OF THAT AND THEN THEM AND BEING SUCCESSFUL IN OUR DISTRICTS AND BEING SUCCESSFUL FOR OUR STATE.

I MEAN WE HAVE ALL -- WE SHOULD ALL, IN MY MIND GO IN AS SERVANTS AND WE SHOULD SERVE THE PEOPLE.

I DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE THE WORD POLITICIAN, BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE IN THE HOUSE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND I THINK WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR STATE, AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO.

>> HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER, NATHANIEL LEDBETTER, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

>> YOU BET.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE MARY MOORE OF BIRMINGHAM IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> I ENJOY BEING HERE AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU INVITED ME.

>> IT'S OUR PLEASURE.

REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO START WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

IT'S A HOT TOPIC IN ALABAMA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD FOR INSTANCE IS CONSIDERING A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BE A POSITIONING STATEMENT SO TO SPEAK ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY THAT SAYS THAT NOTHING WOULD BE TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WOULD PUT ONE RACE OR ONE GENDER ABOVE THE OTHER.

THIS CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS NOT CURRENTLY TAUGHT IN OUR POOLS.

>> CORRECT.

>> BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME MOVES DESIGNED TO BE PREEMPTIVE STRIKES AGAINST THIS.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS?

>> FIRST OF ALL I HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION TO SAY THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WILL BE TAUGHT.

BUT HISTORY IS HISTORY.

AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK AT HISTORY, YOU KNOW CAN'T WIPE OUT WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND SAY THAT WE WON'T MENTION IT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND IT'S JUST ADJUST METHOD OF TAKING US OFF COURSE, OFF TASK.

WE WILL START SOMETHING NEW.

IF ONE THING DOESN'T WORK THEN WE WILL PUT THAT OUT.

AND WHAT IT DOES WHEN YOU TAKE ISSUES I LIKE ARE CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT WOULD TAKE US OFF TASK TO LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING, THEN IT HURTS US.

BECAUSE ONE THING THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IS THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS NEVER LIVED UP TO ITS TRUE POTENTIAL BECAUSE IT'S NEVER DEALT WITH ITS HISTORY.

IT'S HAD A LONG FRUITFUL HISTORY, THEN THERE'S A HISTORY THAT WAS NOT SO GOOD.

BUT LET'S DEAL WITH IT ALL AND LEARN FROM THE PAST AND WHAT MISTAKES WE MADE TO PREVENT THAT.

BUT THE COURSE THAT WE HAVE TAKEN IS NOT TALK ABOUT IT.

AND WE CANNOT NOT TALK ABOUT IT FOREVER.

I JUST THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THE MOST TO PUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY ON THE SCENE, THEY'RE DOING IT AS DIVERSION, AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS -- NOT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT IT'S TAUGHT ON A COLLEGIATE OR COLLEGE LEVEL, AND IT'S TAUGHT IN THOSE CLASSES WHERE IT DICTATES THAT WE DELVE DOWN INTO EVERY ASPECT OF WHATEVER SUBJECT WE'RE DEALING WITH, NOT NECESSARILY WITH HISTORY.

IT DONE A TOPIC DEALING WITH SOCIOLOGY OR PSYCHOLOGY OR IT COULD BE A TOPIC DEALING WITH LABOR.

CRITICAL THEORIES.

YOU COULD PUT RACE THERE.

YOU COULD PUT CRITICAL THEORY FOR LABOR.

CRITICAL THEORY FOR THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S ALL THAT IT'S ABOUT.

AND USUALLY IT'S ON A COLLEGE LEVEL WHERE THOSE PEOPLE MAJORING IN THOSE TYPES OF SUBJECTS WOULD DELVE DOWN INTO IT.

IT'S NOTHING THAT YOU WOULD GO IN AND TEACH AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILD.

WHAT YOU WOULD TEACH AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILD, IF IT'S HISTORY, IF IT'S ALABAMA HISTORY, YOU DELVE INTO ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF ALABAMA HISTORY.

YOU DON'T GO INTO WHY IT HAPPENED WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH CHILDREN OF A YOUNG AGE.

WHEN YOU DEAL WITH HISTORY, WHEN YOU GET TO HIGH SCHOOL, YOU DEAL WITH HISTORY OR WHATEVER SUBJECT ON THAT LEVEL.

SO WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF IT, THAT'S ON A COLLEGIATE LEVEL.

IT COULD BE UNDERGRADUATE.

IT GOES MORE "IN DEPTH" ON A GRADUATE LEVEL.

SO I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CREATED THIS BOGEYMAN AND MAKING THESE PARENTS BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE TAUGHT IN THEIR CLASSROOM, WELL, THE PARENTS HAVE TO STEP BACK AND THINK, WELL, DID ANYBODY TEACH ME THIS WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?

HIGH SCHOOL?

WHERE DID I EVEN COME ACROSS THIS PHILOSOPHY?

>> YOU SAID YOU THINK THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE RAISING SOME OF THE CONCERNS ARE DOING SO AS A DIVERSION.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> CongregationTHERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES GOING ON IN THIS STATE RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE VOTING RIGHTS ISSUES THAT CONGRESS IS DEALING WITH.

YOU HAVE THE PRESIDENT DEALING WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO INFRASTRUCTURE IT'S NOT JUST ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THE 2ND CENTURY.

INFER IN THE 2ND CENTURY COULD BE THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY, HOW DO WE UPGRADE ALL ASPECTS OF THE COUNTRY ON A COMPUTER SCIENCE AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THAT ABILITY TO USE IT?

SO IT'S ADJUST DIVERSION TO KEEP US FROM TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT, LIKE WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A PRISON -- PRISON REFORM.

THAT'S AN ISSUE WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT.

HOW DO WE PREVENT IT?

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH ONCE A PERSON IS INCARCERATED?

SO THERE ARE SO MANY MORE ISSUES, HUNGER, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS.

IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, I'M AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND THEY'RE HOMELESS.

SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE LIVING IN A SHELTER, BUT THERE ARE SOME LOOKS LIKE LIVING ON THE STREETS.

BUT THEY'RE GETTING NEWSPAPER WHATEVER SITUATION THEY'RE IN GOING TOAL 62.

THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.

MENTAL ILLNESS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE NEED EARLY DETECTION.

THAT WOULD HELP WITH THE PRISON AND THE CRIME SITUATION WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST A DISTRACTION TO KEEP US FROM TALKING ABOUT THIS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE AVERAGE PERSON YOU TALK TO ALREADY UNDERSTANDS THAT A CHILD IN K-12 WILL NOT BE EXPOSED TO CRITICAL RACE THINKING.

>> HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PREFILED FOR NEXT YEAR.

ONE DEALS WITH BANNING THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN COOLS AND THE OTHER WOULD RESTRICT IT THROUGHOUT STATE GOVERNMENT, NOT JUST IN EDUCATION.

>> THIS IS IT.

THE PEOPLE PRESENTING THE BILLS ARE JUST TOTALLY IGNORANT.

THEY'RE IGNORANT.

IT'S JUST LIKE SOME OF THE VOTING RIGHTS BILLS THAT WE INTRODUCE.

WELL, IN ALABAMA, AS LONG AS I'VE WORKED THE ELECTION I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GO INTO A POLLING PLACE AND BRING A BALLOT OUT TO A CAR FOR A PERSON TO CAST THEIR BALLOT, SO WHY DID WE PASS A BILL FOR SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I'VE NEVER SEEN A SITUATION LIKE THEY HAD IN TEXAS WHERE YOU COULD DRIVE BY AND VOTE, THEY HAVE A MAN FOR YOU TO VOTE.

WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT.

YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE WASTING OUR TIME ON THAT WHEN WE STILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HUNGER.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BETTER.

WHAT MAKES ALABAMA BETTER?

WHAT MAKES IT BETTER?

POVERTY AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS STATE SINCE THE STATE HAS BEEN A STATE.

HOW DO WE CLEAR IT UP AND MAKE THOSE PEOPLE QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER?

SO I THINK THAT'S PURE IGNORANCE.

IT'S A STALL ON WHAT YOU NEED TO BE DEALING WITH.

LET'S DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT ALABAMA'S CONSTITUTION SAYS WE OUGHT TO COME HERE AND DEAL WITH.

>> YOU MENTIONED PRISON REFORM EARLIER.

LET'S TALK FOR A MINUTE OR TWO.

IT'S WIDELY ASSUMED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO DEAL WITH OUR PRISONER PROBLEMS.

GOV.

IVEY AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE BEEN MEETING TALKING ABOUT A NEW PLAN THEY WANT TO PUT TOGETHER TO BUILD NEW PRISONS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION?

>> I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF SOME OF OUR PRISONS, WE NEED THEM.

BUT, BECAUSE OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CHARGING US WITH, A NEW BUILDING WILL NOT GET US OUT OF THE SITUATION WE'RE IN.

WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE GOT PRISON OVERCROWDING.

WE HAVE A SITUATION THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN THE CORRECTION BUSINESS, AND THEY USED TO SAY A CORRECTION INSTITUTION, WE'RE NOT CORRECTING ANYTHING IT SEEMS.

SO WHEN THESE PRISONERS SERVE THEIR TIME AND ARE RELEASED BACK INTO THE POPULATION, BECAUSE THEIR ACTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON HOW TO BE A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN.

I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

AND BUILDING A NEW BUILDING THAT IS BETTE BIGGER AND BETTER THAT WOULD HAVE MORE BIDS DOES NOT SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

WHAT WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT FIRST AND PRISON REFORM.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED THAT ARE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

MENTAL ILL PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE IN PRISON PER SE.

WE OUGHT TO HAVE ANOTHER INSTITUTION WHERE WE DEAL WITH THEIR ILLNESS.

WHEN YOU GO BEYOND MENTAL ILLNESS, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN INCARCERATED, THEY MAY HAVE HAD A LEARNING DISABILITY, AND WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT IN THE PRISON SYSTEM.

THE PRISON SYSTEM OUGHT NOT TO BE WHERE WE HOUSE AS MANY AS WE CAN HAVE.

AND LATELY THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THE 13TH AMENDMENT.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE 13TH AMENDMENT GIVING US LEVELS OF FREEDOM AS BLACK PEOPLE, THERE'S A SECTION IN THERE THAT ALLOWS FOSTER PRISONS, UNLESS THEY BREAK THE LAWS.

SO IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S BEEN A DESIGN.

IF PEOPLE LOOK BACK HISTORICALLY, AND I THINK HISTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR ACTIONS TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK HISTORICALLY, EVEN AFTER SLAVERY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY BLACKS INCARCERATED THAT WAS THE NEW SLAVERY.

AND I TELL PEOPLE, ALWAYS REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHER WHEN MY -- WE ARE ORIGINALLY FROM ELMORE COUNTY.

AND WHEN MY GRANDDADDY AND HIS BROTHERS WOULD COME BACK TO ELMORE COUNTY TO DO HUNTING, DURING THE HUNTING SEASON AND MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS SAID BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU GO THROUGH COLUMBIANA BECAUSE IF YOU GET STOPPED YOU COULD BE IN PRISON FOREVER FOR A MINOR INFRACTION.

>> JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN?

>> YES.

AND YOU KNOW THEY'VE DONE ENOUGH DOCUMENTARIES ON IT, ON -- YOU -- YOU HAVE A MINOR SITUATION, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE IN ALABAMA, THERE ONCE WAS TIME WHERE YOU HAD, AFTER 6:00 P.M. YOU COULDN'T WALK ON A RAILROAD TRACK EATING GOOBER BEANS.

SUPPOSE YOU GOT ARRESTED FOR THAT?

THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE ARRESTED HISTORICALLY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA FOR MINOR OFFENSES WHERE THE FINE MIGHT HAVE BEEN FIVE OR $10 BUT IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME YOU WERE INCARCERATED AND ALLOWED TO WORK IT OFF.

AND THERE'S EVIDENCE IN HISTORY TO SHOW THOSE PEOPLE, FOR A FIVE DOLLARS FINE COULD HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> IT'S THOSE KINDS OF THINGS YOU THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IN ASSOCIATION WITH PRISON REFORM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRISON RECONSTRUCTION WE NEED TO DO IT FROM A DESIGN WEAR.

WE HAVE SOME FACILITIES SET ASIDE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMMITTED SOME TYPE OF CRIME AND THEY HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS THAT WE DEAL WITH THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS RATHER THAN PUTTING THEM IN PRISON LIKE WE DO.

IF A PERSON IS A MURDERER, HE IS THROWN IN THERE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS MENTALLY ILL, WHO IS THROWN IN THERE FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR SELLING DRUGS OR SOMEONE THAT COMMITTED SOME OTHER MISDEMEANOR, BUT USUALLY ONLY PEOPLE WHO GET A CHANCE TO BE SEPARATED FROM THAT ARE WEALTHY PEOPLE.

THAT GO TO PRISON LIKE THEY HAD A RESORT.

BUT THESE PRISONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE TO PUT IN THERE A CORRECTION FACTOR.

IT USED TO BE YOU COULD GO TO PRISON WHEN THEY SAID A CORRECTION INSTITUTION, PEOPLE LENDER HOW TO DO WOODWORKING OR CARPENTRY OR THEY LEARNED HOW DO DO -- SOME PEOPLE BECAME LAWYERS.

SOME PEOPLE GOT THEIR COLLEGE DEGREES.

WELL, FOR PEOPLE WITH THE DIFFERENT TRAINING PROGRAMS WE MIGHT HAVE, ONCE THEY'RE RELEASED FROM PRISON, I DO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

SO IF I'M TRAINED AND I CAN GIVE THIS, ONE OF THE MINISTERS IN MY CHURCH WAS INCARCERATED FOR A WHILE.

HE LEARNED HOW TO DO CABINETRY.

HE DOES BEAUTIFUL WORK.

BUT WHEN HE GOT OUT OF PRISON, AT HIS TIME THEY HAD HIM SET UP WHERE THERE'S SOMEONE TO HIRE HIM.

NEVER TOOK A STEP BACK.

NOW HE DOES MINISTRY IN PRISONS.

HE TRIES -- NOT ONLY THAT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THEY GET OUT THAT HE KNOWS, HE TRIES TO TEACH THEM WHAT HE LEARNED.

>> YOU THINK WE NEED MORE A LOT.

>> A LOT MORE OF THAT.

WHY NOT MAKE THESE PEOPLE TAXPAYERS?

THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN INCARCERATED ON TAXPAYERS' MONEY SO LET'S MAKE THEM PROTECTIVE CITIZENS AND BECOME TAXPAYERS.

BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY COULD HELP PREVENT THIS BY DOING MENTORING PROGRAMS WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WHICH A LOT OF MEN, AND WOMEN, WE DON'T TALK MUCH ABOUT WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED.

THOSE THAT LEARN SOMETHING, THAT THAT WAS NOT THE WAY I SHOULD -- THE PATH I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON.

THIS IS A BETTER PATH.

AND MY INCARCERATION HAS HELPED ME EVEN GET MORE FOCUS ON WHAT MY CALLING OR -- LIKE SOME PEOPLE WENT FROM A RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE, WE SAY OUR CHARGE TO KEEP.

AND SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES BECAUSE WE LOOK AT PAUL.

PAUL WAS IN PRISON.

BUT YOU KNOW, IN THERE HE STILL DID HIS MINISTRY, AND OUTSIDE HE DID HIS MINISTRY TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE GET ON A BETTER PATH.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABOUT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MARY MOORE, A PLEASURE ZERO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> ANY TIME.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> FINALLY ON THE BROADCAST TONIGHT, IT'S OUR WEEKLY VISIT WITH STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THAT'S DON.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> DR. HARRIS, WE CONTINUE TO SEE OUR DAILY CORONAVIRUS CASE COUNTS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

LET'S BEGIN WHICH GIVING US AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE STAND.

>> WE REALLY HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT JUMP IN OUR NUMBERS.

JUST THIS WEEK, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN TRENDING UP A LITTLE BIT FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THAT, THIS WEEK EVERY DAY THIS WEEK WE HAVE HAD WELL OVER A THOUSAND NEW CASES PER DAY.

WE ARE PAST 1600 NEW CASES IN A SINGLE DAY YESTERDAY.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST WE HAVE SEEN IN SEVERAL MONTHS.

OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AROUND 650 PEOPLE IN ALABAMA HOSPITALS AS OF LAST NIGHT.

THAT'S MORE THAN 3 TIMES WHERE WE WERE JUST ON THE JULY 4 WEEKEND, SO IN ABOUT A TWO, TWO AND A HALF WEEK PERIOD WE MORE THAN TRIPLE THE NUN.

THE REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THESE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SEEING IS IS THAT THEY'RE VIRTUALLY EXCLUSIVELY UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, 99 PERCENT OF OUR PATIENTS ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE UNVACCINATED AND THE TRAGEDY THERE IS WE FEEL LIKE ALL OF THOSE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE PREVENTABLE IN MOST CASES THOSE COULD BE PREVENTIBLE.

>> HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU?

>> I'M WORRIED WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ROUGH MONTHS AHEAD, CERTAINLY IF WE DON'T PICK UP WITH THE VACCINATIONS.

THE DELTA VARIANT IS THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT IN THE COUNTRY NOW.

WE DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN ABOUT ALABAMA BUT UNDOUBTEDLY WE'RE NOT DIFFERENT FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.

I THINK IT'S THE REASON WE'RE SEEING SO MANY CASES.

IT'S VERY EASY TO SPREAD, ABOUT 10 TIMES AS EASY TO TRANSMIT AS THE ORIGINAL VIRUS WE SAW ONE 1/2 YEARS AGO.

SO AS LONG AS WE HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE CASES.

>> DR. HARRIS YOU HAVE SAID ON THE SHOW PREVIOUSLY THAT WHEN YOU'RE FACED WITH THE QUESTION WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED YOU TOLD US LAST WEEK THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD DONE ALL YOU COULD DO AND IT WAS A QUESTION THAT KEPT YOU UP AT NIGHT.

GOVERNOR IVEY WAS ASKED THIS QUESTION ON THURSDAY DURING A VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM, AND SHE WAS PRETTY FORTHCOMING, PRETTY FORTHRIGHT -- AS FORTHRIGHT AS I HAVE SEEN HER ON THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME, AND SHE WAS BASICALLY SAYING THE PROBLEM WE HAD NOW IS MOST PEOPLE IN ALABAMA ARE STILL NOT VACCINATED.

>> THAT'S A REAL DIFFERENT I.

DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

THE POINT IS NOT TO BE TUNE 55 OR MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BAD.

IT'S TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET VACCINATED.

I HAVE HEARD THE ARGUMENT WELL IF I'M UNVACCINATED BY MY CHOICE, EVEN IF I INFECT SOMEONE ELSE UNVACCINATED THAT'S THEIR CHOICE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT VACCINATED EITHER.

I ASK PEOPLE TO REMEMBER, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN'T BE VACCINATED -- ALL OF OUR CHILDREN UNDER 12 HAVE NO CHOICE ABOUT BEING VACCINATED AND WE DON'T WANT TO PUT THEM AS RISK.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE IMMUNE SYSTEM PROBLEMS LIKE ORGAN TRANSMIT PATIENTS, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE CAN TRY TO VACCINATE THEM BUT THE VACCINES DON'T WORK VERY WELL IN THOSE PATIENTS AND THOSE ARE REALLY VULNERABLE PATIENTS.

AGAIN OUR ACTIONS AFFECT EVERYONE ELSE AND THE PEEP THAT CHOOSE MOTT TO GET VACCINATED AREN'T JUST AFFECTING THEMSELVES OR PEOPLE WHO THINK THE SAME WAY AS THEM.

THEY'RE PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE'S LIFE AS RISK AS WELL.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY WAS PRESSED THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT ELSE SHE MIGHT COULD DO AS GOVERNOR TO ENCOURAGE THE TIDE TO CHANGE SO TO SPEAK.

SHE HAS REMAINED FIRM THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO GO BASKETBALL TO A STATEWIDE MASKING MANDATE AS HE IS IN CONTINUES TO PUSH PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DEVELOPING EXPRESSING A LOT OF FRUSTRATION ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE, I GUESS IN SOME FOLKS' VIEW, NOT BEING PERSONAL RESPONSIBLE.

>> IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING FOR ALL YOU HAVE US.

ALABAMIANS HAVE HAD SUCH A TOUGH YEAR AND A HALF, LIKE THE WHOLE COUNTRY HAS HAD.

HE WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO THE POINT WE HAVE A WAY TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE.

WE HAVE THREE VACCINES THAT ARE SAFE, EFFECTIVE AND WORK AGAINST.VARIANTS THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW AND YET WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS SET BACK.

I AGREE WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID COMPLETELY, THE STATE IS NOT GOING TO TAKE THE ROLE OF ORDERING PEOPLE AND TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO.

I DON'T THINK A MASK MANDATE IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN OR CERTAINLY NOTHING LIKE WE SAW LAST SPRING WITH THE SHUTDOWNS.

THAT'S NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE THESE HUGE NUMBERS OF PATIENTS THAT WE SAW.

JUST A MONTH AGO I DIDN'T FEEL THAT WAY.

I FELT LIKE WE WERE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS BUT NONE OF US UNDERSTOOD HOW EASY THE DELTA VARIANT SPREADS.

>> THOSE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE VACCINE IS IT YOUR PHILOSOPHY THEY'RE PRETTY DUG IN ON THEIR POSITION AND ARE NOT LIKE LIKELY TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

>> I DON'T WANT TO PAINT WITH TOO BROAD A BRUSH.

THERE ARE LOT OF GROUPS.

SOME PEOPLE STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY HAVE NOT HAD THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, PARTICULARLY IF THEY DON'T HAVE ROUTINE ACCESS TO CARE OR A FAMILY DOCTOR OR SOMEONE ASK QUESTIONS.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE OTHER TYPES OF OBJECTIONS I GUESS, THAT ARE PROBABLY ABLE TO BE SWAYED IF WE COULD REACH THEM WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION.

CLEARLY THOUGH THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST DECIDED THAT FOR THEIR OWN PARTISAN REASONS OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT GOING TO DO IT, AND I WOULD SAY WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE PUSHING OUR MESSAGE OUT BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACH THOSE PEOPLE.

>> JEFFERSON COUNTY'S HEALTH OFFICE, DR. MARK WILSON INDICATED THIS WEEK THAT HE WOULD ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY TO START TAKING SOME OF THE PRECAUTIONS THEY TOOK DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

HE IS NOT SUGGESTING THEY BE MANDATORY BUT HE WAS ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES TO THINK HARD ABOUT PROPERTYING MASKING OR SOCIAL DISTANCING WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF THEIR OWN BUILDINGS.

>> YEAH, I SAW THAT.

I AGREE WITH DR. WILSON COMPLETELY.

HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN HIS ROLE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

I WOULD SAY WE FEEL THE SAME WAY AT THE STATE LEVEL.

OUR GUIDANCE HAS NOT CHANGED.

IF YOU'RE NOT A VACCINATED PERSON YOU STILL OUGHT TO DO CONSIDER WEARING A MASK, PARTICULARLY IN INDOOR SETTINGS IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED AND YOU'RE VULNERABLE BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE OR HEALTH YOU REALLY NEED TO AVOID GATHERING.

SO FOR UNVACCINATED PEOPLE OUR GUIDANCE HAS NOT CHANGED A THE ALL.

>> DO YOU CONTINUE TO AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT BY THE HEAD OF THE CDC RECENTLY WHEN DR. ROBIN WALLENSKI CALLED THIS "A PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED."

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY SUPPORTED BY THE NUMBERS.

I WOULD NOTE THAT THE HOSPITALIZATIONS WE'RE SEEING ARE MORE THAN 99 PERCENT OCCURRING IN PEOPLE UNVACCINATED.

THE DEATHS ARE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN PEOPLE UNVACCINATED.

IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T SEE BREAK THROUGH INFECTIONS.

WE EXPECT THAT WITH A VACCINE THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY WHEN PERCENT PROTECTIVED BUT PEOPLE VACCINATED DON'T SEEM TO GET AS SICK IN MOST CASES SO BY IN LARGE IT'S THE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE DRIVING THIS.

>> IN THE MEANTIME SCHOOL IS ABOUT TO START AGAIN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK WILL BE READY TO UNVEIL ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO SCHOOLS FOR BEST HEALTH PRACTICES IN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

THESE ARE NOT MANDATES.

YOU'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT THE SAFEST PATH IS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AS THEY RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM.

BECAUSE ALL SCHOOLS WILL BE RETURNING TO IN PERSON LEARNING THIS FALL.

>> IS THAT RIGHT.

SO THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE OF THE SAME TOOLKIT WE HAD LAST YEAR.

WE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH SCHOOLS IN DEVELOPING THIS.

THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ANY MYSTERIES OR SURPRISES IN IN THE TOOLKIT.

WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW CDC'S GUIDANCE OPEN THAT.

ESSENTIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED, IT'S THE SAME GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME ADVANTAGES TO BEING VACCINATED IN TERMS OF NOT HAVING A QUARANTINE IF YOU'RE IN CLOSE CONTACT AND HAVING A MASK WEARING THAT IS OPTIONAL BUT AGAIN, AS YOU SAY, THESE ARE NOT MANDATES.

THESE ARE JUST OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE BEST PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE.

>> GIVEN THAT THE STATE HEALTH ORDERS SURROUNDING THE PANDEMIC HAVE ALL EXPIRED NOW, WHETHER OR NOT TO MASK UP IN SCHOOLS IS GOING TO BE A LOCAL DECISION THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES AND PARENTS FEEL DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOL BOARDS AND SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE THEIR -- YOU KNOW, BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR LOCAL SITUATION THAN WE DO AT THE STATE.

SO WE WERE GIVEN THE BEST INFORMATION WE CAN.

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY PLAYS INTO THAT, IF YOU'RE HAVING LARGE OUTBREAKS GOING ON IN YOUR CITY OR IN YOUR COULD YOU WANT HEY THAT WOULD BE A FACT TO CONSIDER.

IT WILL ULTIMATELY BE UP TO THE LOCAL OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS BEST.

>> AND ASIDE FROM THAT, THIS CAN ALSO BE AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION, PARENTS CAN DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHETHER THEY WANT TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO COOL WITH A MASK ON.

>> SURE.

TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THERE'S NO SCHOOL THAT OUT LAUD THE WEARING OF MASCOTS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S HAPPENED.

AGAIN, IT'S CERTAINLY A GOOD IDEA WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF DISEASE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE UNVACCINATED AND REMEMBER THERE ARE NO KIDS IN OUR STATE UNDER AGE 12 WHO ARE VACCINATED BECAUSE THE VACCINE IS JUST NOT AVAILABLE FOR THEM YET.

>> DESPITE ALL OF THIS, PARENTS HAVE, I SUPPOSE, LENGTH OF TIME FEARS BECAUSE OF THE UNKNOWN, WHAT WE -- WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET.

KIDS 12 AND UP ARE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE VACCINE BUT I BELIEVE YOU SAID THE NUMBERS OF KIDS 12 AND UP GETTING THE VACCINE ARE NOT WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE.

>> WE HAVEN'T HAD A TREMENDOUS UPTAKE IN THAT GROUP.

AS YOU KNOW, VACCINE UPTAKE VARIES BY AGE GROUP AND THE SENIORS ARE THE MOST VACCINATED GROUP NO OUR STATE.

AND THE PEOPLE IN THEIR 50S ARE A LITTLE LESS AND PEOPLE IN THEIR 40S AND 30S ARE EVEN LESS SO, SO PEOPLE IN THEIR 20S OR ADOLESCENTS ARE THE LEAST VACCINATED OF ALL.

YOU KNOW CAN, IT'S PEOPLE IN THEIR 20S AND 30S WHO ARE THE ONES WHO, FOR THE MOST PART, HAD HAVE SCHOOL AGE KIDS, SO I THINK THOSE CHILDREN PROBABLY DO WHATEVER THEIR PARENTS DO AND THEIR PARENTS ARE IN THAT GROUP THAT'S THE LEAST LIKELY TO BE VACCINATED SO WE JUST HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF UPTAKE AMONG THE SCHOOLKIDS EITHER.

>> FINALLY THERE'S NOT HAD A SHOT FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12, ALTHOUGH THERE'S SOME OPTIMISM THERE MIGHT BE LATER IN THE FALL.

>> WE THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN VERY SOON.

I THINK PROBABLY THE MODERNA PRODUCT MAY BE EXTENDED DOWN TO AGE 12.

RIGHT NOW IT'S 18 AND UP.

THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN PRETTY SOON.

THE PFIZER PRODUCT HAS ALREADY APPLIED FOR AN EUA TO BE GIVEN TO ALL CHILDREN OVER AGE 2.

WE KNOW THAT FDA'S EVALUATING THAT, WE THINK THAT PROBABLY WILL BE APPROVED VERY SOON BUT IT PROBABLY WON'T BE IN TIME FOR SCHOOL.

IT WILL BE SOMETIME EARLY THIS FALL.

>> THE SUMMER SURGE IS IN FULL FORCE IS IT NOT?

>> YEAH, IT'S LIKE LAST YEAR.

WE WERE SORT OF HOPEFUL A YEAR AGO WHEN DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER THAT WARM WEATHER WOULD MEAN WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF DISEASE TRANSMISSION.

I THINK LAST JULY DIS AVIEWED THAT NOTION AND THE SAME THING RIGHT NOW.

>> STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

B >> DON: AND THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, AND OUR GUESTS WILL HOPEFULLY INCLUDE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED OF JASPER TO DISCUSS THE PROSPECTS FOR POSSIBLE SPECIAL SESSIONS ON BOTH NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION AND REAPPORTIONMENT.

WE'RE ALSO SET TO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE PRINCE CHESTNUT OF SELMA, WHO WILL TALK WITH US ABOUT PRISON REFORM AND ABOUT HIS CONCERNS SURROUNDING THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY DEBATE.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL BE BACK WITH US TO TALK ABOUT MOUNTING CONCERNS OVER SURGING CORONAVIRUS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

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

I'M DON DAILEY.