>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE WILL DISMUKES OF PRATTVILLE HAS BEEN INDICTED ON A FELONY THEFT CHARGE.

THE FIRST TERM LAWMAKER IS ACCUSED OF TAKING OVER 25-HUNDRED DOLLARS' WORTH OF FLOORING AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FROM HIS FORMER EMPLOYER, WEISS FLOORING IN MONTGOMERY.

OFFICIALS SAY THE ALLEGED THEFT OCCURRED BEFORE DISMUKES WAS ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 2018.

REPRESENTATIVE DISMUKES REPORTEDLY SAID TODAY THAT HE FEELS HE WILL ULTIMATELY BE EXONERATED WHEN HE GETS TO TELL HIS SIDE OF THE STORY.

HE WAS ARRESTED ON THEFT CHARGES LAST SUMMER AND RELEASED ON BOND.

DISMUKES, WHOSE LEGISLATIVE SEAT WILL BE UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR, SAYS HE PLANS TO RUN AGAIN AND THAT HE WON'T RESIGN FROM THE OFFICE.

>> DON: WILL DISMUKES ALSO REFUSED TO STEP DOWN FROM HIS DISTRICT 88 SEAT LAST YEAR AMIDST CRITICISM OVER HIS CONFEDERATE AFFILIATIONS.

HE ALSO MADE HEADLINES EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN HE WAS TAKEN FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR ON A STRETCHER, AFTER EXPERIENCING AN IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT.

DISMUKES WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL.

>> DON: FORMER ALABAMA FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN SONNY CALLAHAN OF MOBILE HAS DIED.

A STATEMENT TODAY FROM GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SAID THAT HE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY IN HIS SLEEP ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR CALLED CALLAHAN'S SERVICE TO ALABAMA UNRIVALED.

>> DON: CALLAHAN WAS FIRST ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 1984 AND WAS EVENTUALLY RE-ELECTED TO EIGHT SUCCEEDING TERMS BEFORE RETIRING IN 2003.

BEFORE HIS SERVICE IN WASHINGTON, CALLAHAN SERVED 12 YEARS IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, FROM 1971 TO 1983.

HE SPENT EIGHT YEARS IN THE STATE HOUSE AND FOUR IN THE SENATE.

CALLAHAN WAS ALSO A VETERAN OF THE U.S. NAVY.

>> DON: IN A STATEMENT TODAY, CURRENT FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JERRY CARL OF MOBILE CALLED CALLAHAN A TRUE STATESMAN WHO HE WAS GRATEFUL TO KNOW BOTH AS A FRIEND AND A MENTOR.

SONNY CALLAHAN WAS 88 YEARS OLD.

DON: ALABAMA THIS WEEK WAS ALSO MOURNING 14 LIVES THAT WERE LOST IN OUR STATE AS A RESULT OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION CLAUDETTE.

A FATHER AND SON WERE KILLED WHEN A TREE FELL ON THEIR HOME IN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY LAST WEEKEND, A MAN WAS SWEPT AWAY IN FLOOD WATERS IN BIRMINGHAM, A WOMAN DROWNED AFTER HER CAR WENT INTO A CREEK IN FORT PAYNE.

>> DON: AND 10 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A HORRIFIC 18-VEHICLE WRECK ON I-65 IN BUTLER COUNTY ATTRIBUTED TO HEAVY RAINS.

THAT WRECK CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 8 CHILDREN ON AN ALABAMA SHERIFF'S YOUTH RANCH BUS FROM TALLAPOOSA COUNTY, IN ADDITION TO A FATHER AND BABY IN ANOTHER CAR.

U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE OF AUBURN REMEMBERED THOSE VICTIMS ON THE SENATE FLOOR THIS WEEK.

.

>> THERE'S NO WORDS THAT CAN BRING COMFORT TO THIS FAMILIES OR THESE CHILDREN.

BUT MY FAMILY, MY STAFF AND THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA ARE PRAYING FOR PEACE FOR ALL OF THESE AFFECTED DURING THIS UNIMAGINABLE TIME.

DON: THE TROPICAL DEPRESSION ALSO SPAWNED AN ALABAMA TORNADO THAT DIDN'T RESULT IN ANY DEATHS, BUT DID LEAVE A PATH OF DESTRUCTION THROUGH THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY TOWN OF EAST BREWTON.

SOME 70 PROPERTIES THERE WERE SAID TO HAVE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE LAST SATURDAY.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY JOINED STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS IN EAST BREWTON ON WEDNESDAY FOR A TOUR OF THE DAMAGE AND SHE DESCRIBED IT THIS WAY.

.

>> AMAZEMENT.

I MEAN, HOW MUCH DAMAGE CAN THIS BE?

IT OCCURRED IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

I MEAN, JUST SHORT -- IT WASN'T ON THE GROUND THAT LONG.

WE'RE GRATEFUL NO LIVES WERE LOST THAT WE SNOW OF YET, IN THE HOSPITAL THAT WE SNOW OF AND THAT'S A BLESSING, TOO, BECAUSE IT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO TREES IN THE AREA.

DON: THE GOVERNOR SAID THE STATE WAS DOING ALL IT COULD TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE EAST BREWTON TORNADO AND THAT AN ASSESSMENT WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER THE STORM DAMAGE THERE MIGHT QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

>> DON: GOVERNOR IVEY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT WESTWATER RESOURCES WILL BUILD ITS FIRST U.S. GRAPHITE PROCESSING PLANT IN COOSA COUNTY.

.

>> NOT ONLY HAS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DECLARED GRAPHITE AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO OUR NATION'S ECONOMY AND NATIONAL SECURITY BUT THIS PLANT WILL MAKE ALABAMA THE NATIONAL LEADER IN GRAPHITE PRODUCTION.

ALABAMA GRAPHITE PRODUCT'S WILL ENCOURAGE THE STABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDE THE CITIZENS MUCH ALABAMA ALABASTER CITY WITH ABOUT A HUNDRED WELL PAYING JOBS.

>> DON: GRAPHITE IS AN ESSENTIAL MATERIAL IN BATTERIES THAT POWER ELECTRICAL VEHICLES, ELECTRONICS AND OTHER GREEN ENERGY PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT.

>> DON: THE FIELD WAS SET THIS WEEK FOR THIS FALL'S SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION FOR A VACANT STATE HOUSE SEAT.

KENYATTE HASSELL OF MONTGOMERY DEFEATED DONALD WILLIAMS IN A DEMOCRATIC RUNOFF ON TUESDAY NIGHT, 65 TO 35-PERCENT IN UNOFFICIAL RETURNS, TO WIN THE PARTY'S NOMINATION FOR THE DISTRICT 78 SEAT.

HE'LL GO ON TO FACE REPUBLICAN LORETTA GRANT ON SEPTEMBER 7TH.

THE HOUSE VACANCY WAS CREATED WHEN KIRK HATCHER WAS ELECTED TO THE ALABAMA SENATE.

>> DON: STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW SORRELL OF MUSCLE SHOALS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT HE WILL BE RUNNING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR STATE AUDITOR NEXT YEAR.

SORRELL WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP HIS LEGISLATIVE SEAT TO SEEK THE OFFICE.

HE SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

.

>> THAT WAS A VERY HARD DECISION, MY WIFE AND I THOUGHT AND PRAYED ABOUT THIS A LOT OF MONTHS TRYING TO DECIDE IF I SHOULD TAKE THIS POSITION.

BUT WE FEEL THE TIME IS RIGHT.

JIM ZIEGLER HAS TERMED OUT.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW THAT I CARRIED IN THE HOUSE JUST LAST MONTH SO IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION BUT I'M EXCITED FOR THIS STUDENT TO RUN DECIDE WIDE FOR STATE AUDITOR.

>> DON: SORRELL JOINS JEFFERSON COUNTY PASTOR STAN COOKE IN SEEKING THE GOP AUDITOR'S NOMINATION NEXT YEAR.

COOKE, WHO RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR THE POST IN 2018, RELEASED A CAMPAIGN VIDEO THIS WEEK IN WHICH HE PROMISED TO CLAMP DOWN ON WASTEFUL STATE SPENDING.

.

>> NO SOMEONE EVER HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AS YOUR STATE AUDITOR, THAT STOPS IMMEDIATELY.

WE ARE PUTTING AN END TO WASTEFUL SPENDING ON DAY ONE.

WE WILL HOLD POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS ACCOUNTABLE.

>> DON: CURRENT STATE AUDITOR JIM ZEIGLER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAD FORMED A COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE WHETHER HE MIGHT RUN FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR.

>> DON: A NEW NATIONAL ANALYSIS RELEASED THIS WEEK FOUND THAT THE WELL-BEING OF ALABAMA'S CHILDREN WAS GENERALLY IMPROVING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BUT THAT OUR PROGRESS WASN'T KEEPING PACE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

THE 2021 KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK RANKS STATES BASED ON ISSUES LIKE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND ECONOMICS.

JUDD HARWOOD IS WITH THE GROUP VOICES FOR ALABAMA'S CHILDREN AND HE SAYS HE'S AFRAID THAT THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE DESTROYED ANY GAINS THE STATE HAD MADE.

.

>> ONCE WE HAVE THE DATA FROM 2020 WHICH WILL MEASURE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE STATE'S CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WHAT WE WILL SEE IS ALL OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE LARGELY WIPED OUT.

THAT'S OUR CONCERN.

WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA TO SUPPORT THAT YET BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY A CONCERN.

>> DON: VOICES FOR ALABAMA'S CHILDREN IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT THAT WORKS TO ENSURE THE WELL BEING OF OUR KIDS THROUGH ADVOCACY, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC AWARENESS.

>> DON: THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT AS OF LAST MONTH, THE YEARLY TOTAL OF ONLINE JOB ADS WAS UP 130-PERCENT FROM MAY OF 2020.

THE DRAMATIC INCREASE, OF COURSE, REFLECTS THE BUSINESS SHUTDOWN PERIOD DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THIS, AS OFFICIALS WORK TO HELP PEOPLE RETURN TO THE WORKFORCE.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

.

>> ACCORDING TO SOME BUSINESS LEADERS, OF THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVING BUT THERE'S STILL WORK TO DO.

THEY'RE ENCOURAGED IN USING THAT ATTITUDE TO HELP PEOPLE GET HIRED AND INCREASE BUSINESS OUTPUT.

>> WE'RE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY.

WE'RE ON A REPEATING BASIS BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNOR'S FOUNDATION AND LOTS OF MAJOR THINK TANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE GOOD AT A LOT OF THINGS IN ALABAMA AND PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE US AND ONE OF THE THINGS WEIRD GOOD SAT JOB DEVELOPMENT.

>> COVID-19 CHANGED HOW MANY LOOK FOR JOBS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LESS RESILIENT INDUSTRIES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT THOSE INDUSTRIES SHUTDOWN, EVEN THOUGH 134 ARE COMING BACK THE INDIVIDUALS DECIDED THEY WANT TO BE IN A MORE RESILIENT INDUSTRY SO IF THE ECONOMY TAKES A TURN THEY'RE NOT SO VULNERABLE.

>> THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM SAYS THEY'RE READY TO HELP THOSE REINVENTING THEMSELVES DURING JOB SEARCHES.

>> THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO PARTNER WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY -- BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY CAN HIRE THOSE STUDENTS.

THEY GET REAL LIFE JOB EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, LEARNING THE CLASS AND APPLYING AT WORK.

>> KEITH FIELDS SAYS FINDING NEW REVENUE HAS BECOME THE NORM.

>> WE HAVE A STAFF OF INDIVIDUALS THAT THE CARE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS AND WE WORK WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND THE IDEA OF AN INDIVIDUAL COMING, IN HOW DO WE MAKE THAT CONNECTION.

WE WANT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AT THE TABLE AND WE WANT OUR STUDENTS AT THE TABLE AGAIN.

THAT'S HOW WE MAKE THE CONNECTIONS.

>> I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> DON: THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 27TH, IS NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY.

MORE THAN 15,000 ALABAMIANS ARE SAID TO BE LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS, BUT IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ONE IN FIVE STATE RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW THEY ARE INFECTED.

IN OUR IN-DEPTH REPORT TONIGHT, CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE ALABAMIANS TO MAKE HIV TESTING A KEY PART OF THEIR WELLNESS JOURNEY.

.

>> CDC RECOMMENDS PEOPLE GET TESTED ANNUALLY.

HOWEVER IT WORKS IF YOU FALL WITHIN OUR HIGH RISK CATEGORY IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU GOT TESTED AT LEAST THREE TO SIX TIMES DURING THE YEAR.

>> THOSE WITH MULTIPLE SIX PARTNERS AND THOSE WHO INJECT DRUGS ARE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK.

BUT ABOUT TEN ISES AND CONDEMNS REDUCE THE RISK OF RIF I. HIV YOU INFECTION BUT THERE'S A BIOMEDICAL INTERVENTION THAT HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE EXCITED ABOUT.

>> IT IS CALLED PREP.

PREP IS THE USE OF A MEDICATION THAT A PERSON CAN TAKE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THEM FROM RECEIVING HIV OR GETTING HIV.

>> AND WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VALUABLE MEDICAL TOOL THAT IS BEING USED NOW, TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY.

>> ANOTHER VALUABLE MEDICAL TOOL IS TESTING, HENCE, SUNDAY'S NATIONAL TESTING DAY.

THE CAMPAIGN IS: MY TEST, MY WAY.

>> THE WAY I THINK OF "MY TEST, MY WAY" IS THAT YOU CAN BECOME A PARTNER IN YOUR WELLNESS AND HEALTH CARE JOURNEY.

>> SHE SAYS ALABAMA TYPICALLY USES TWO TESTS.

>> ORASURE TEST, IT IS A SWANN SWAB IN THE MOUTH.

VERY EASY TO US.

AND THE RESULT IS RECEIVED WITHIN 20 MINUTES.

ALSO THERE'S A TEST THAT WE USE CALLED INSTI.

AND THAT IS A VERY ACCESSIBLE TEST AND YOU GET THE RESULTS IN ONE MINUTE.

>> FOR A LIST OF FLEE TESTING SITES GOING TO ALABAMAHEALTH.GOV AND CLICK ON HIV TESTING AND SERVICES OR CALL 1-800-228-0469.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

♪ ♪.

>> NEXT UP, SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN WEATHER WEATHERING A PUBLIC CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING YOUR PERSONAL LIFE.

YOU ADMITTED TO AN AFFAIR.

YOU WITHDREW FROM THE U.S. SENATE RACE.

IN FACT YOU SAID YOU WILL NOT SEEK ANY PUBLIC OFFICE NEXT YEAR.

HOW ARE YOU DOING.

>> WE'RE DOING ALL WE K A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL ASK YOU WHEN YOU GO THROUGH SOMETHING THAT'S SO DISRUPTIVE HOW ARE YOU DOING, AND THE RESPONSE IS TYPICALLY, WELL, WE'RE TAKING IT ONE DAY AT A TIME.

THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE FOR ME.

FOR ME I'M TAKING IT EVERY 15 MINUTES AT A TIME AND I'M RELYING ON THE LORD'S GUIDANCE AND HIS STRENGTH AND HIS SUPPORT TO HELP ME MAKE SURE THAT I MAKE EVERY NEXT RIGHT DECISION THAT I NEED TO MAKE AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> YOU HAVE RESUME ADD PUNTA GORDA SPEAKING SCHEDULE.

YOU HAVE BEEN GOING OUT ON THE ROAD SPEAKING TO GROUPS.

AND I KNOW YOU SAID RECENTLY AT ONE OF THOSE ENGAGEMENTS YOU WERE 59 A REHAB OVER THIS ISSUED.

>> YES.

ACTUALLY AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED -- AND OF COURSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE KNOWN IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL ENDED IN OCTOBER OF 2020.

IT'S SOMETHING CINDY AND I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THROUGH FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

AND THE INDIVIDUAL DECIDED TO MAKE IT PUBLIC IN APRIL.

WHEN THAT HAPPENED, OF COURSE, WE CONTACTED ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHERE WE WERE SCHEDULED TO GO AND TO ENGAGE IN SPEAKING APPEARANCES IN APRIL AND IN MAY.

AND THEN IN THE MIDDLE MIDDLE OF APRIL, I ACTUALLY LEFT OUR STATE AND WENT TO A FAITH-BASED REHABILITATION FACILITY TO CONCENTRATE ON MAKING SURE I WAS DOING WHAT I NEEDED TO DO IN MAKING RIGHT CHOICES AND FOLLOWING THE LORD'S LEADERSHIP OF MY LIFE.

I ALREADY REPENTED OF MY IN INDISCRETION AND ADULTEROUS BEHAVIOR AND ASKED FOR THE LORD TO RESTORE ME IN FAITH WITH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

>> DUVAL YOU'RE BACK ON A GOOD PATH NOW?

>> WELL, WITH HIS HELP AND HIS GUIDANCE, I NEED TO BE, AS I MAKE MAKE A GOOD CHOICE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AND I CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THIS, DON.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, WELL, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE?

AND I THINK THERE'S A SONG BY ZACK WILLIAMS A CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ARTIST THAT THE VERSION THAT I REALLY LOVE IS ONE BY THE TRIUMPHANT QUARTET TO A SONG CALLED CHAIN BREAKERED.

AND THE SONG SAYS: IF YOU ARE -- IT GOES OVER SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS BUT IF YOU HAVE PAIN, HE IS THE PAIN TAKER.

IF YOU'RE LOST HE IS THE WAY MAKE I.

IF YOU'RE IN NEED OF FREEDOM, OR SAVING, HE IS THE PRISON-SHAKING SAVIOR.

AND IF YOU'VE GOT CHANGE HE'S THE CHANGE BREAKER AND PLEASE LORD GOD ALL GOD ALMIGHTY HE IS THE CHAIN BREAKER FOR ME.

>> YOU SAID YOU BELIEVED THIS STORY GOING PUBLIC WAS VERY, VERY MUCH POLITICAL BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU TOOK PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND YOU SAID THIS COMES DOWN TO YOU AND POOR CHOICES.

>> IT DOES.

I MADE POOR CHOICES.

IF I HAD NOT MADE THOSE CHOICES IT WOULD NOT MATTER IF IT WAS ORCHESTRATED OR WHO WAS INVOLVED ANYTIME.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT I CHOSE TO MAKE THE POOR DECISIONS THAT PUT ME IN A VULNERABLE DECISION TO EMBARRASS MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND TO PUT US IN A POSITION THAT WAS NOT ONE THAT ANYBODY WOULD EVER CHOOSE TO BE IN.

SO AT THAT POINT I'M THE ONE THAT'S ULTIMATELY INVOLVED.

>> IS YOUR FAMILY OKAY?

>> WELL, WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THAT I SAY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE.

AND I KNOW THAT WITH THE LORD'S GUIDANCE AND HIS HELP AND SUPPORT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

>> ONE THING THAT WANT YOU MADE CLEAR FROM THE GET GO WAS THAT YOU DO NOT PLAN TO STEP DOWN AS ALABAMA'S SECRETARY OF STATE AND YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED THROUGH THAT I SAY CONTROVERSY COMPROMISED YOUR POSITION AT ALL.

>> WELL, IT DIDN'T.

AS YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO LEAD THE STATE IN EFFICIENCIES, AND EFFECTIVENESS IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

ON FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK WE CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS OF SAME DAY REGISTRATION FOR BILLS FILINGS, AND THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS OFFICE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO OVERCOME, SEVEN TO NINE KNOWS OF BEING BEHIND.

WHEN I CAME TO THIS POSITION, SOME SIX YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS AND NOW SEVEN DAYS AGO.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO BREAK EVERY RECORD IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE FOR VOTER REGIME STRANGE AND VOTER PARTICIPATION WITH THE RECORD NUMBERS.

AND PEOPLE ARE VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE PROVIDED IN THIS POSITION AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE JOB THAT WE WERE HIRED TO DO.

>> LET'S TALK AUNT THE WE THE PEOPLE AGENT.

IT WAS A SUBJECTIVE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK AND IT PROPOSED SWEEPING VOTING REFORMS, EXPANDED EARLY VOTING FOR INSTANCE, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS.

THERE WAS TALK OF A LABELING ELECTION DAY AS NATIONAL HOV LANE DAY, EXPANDING MAIL IN VOTING.

VERY CONTROVERSIAL OBVIOUSLY.

>> VERY CONTROVERSIAL FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

BUT THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT IT DOES AND THAT CAUSES US TO BE OPPOSED TO TO THAT BILL IS THAT IT TAKES AWAY THE OPTION FOR THE STATE TO EXERCISE EMPOWERMENT 5689 THE STATE LEVEL.

AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THAT THAT EACH AND EVERY STATE SHOULD MAKE THE DECISIONS AND THE CHOICE ISES THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THAT STATE WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.

AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT BREAKING EXISTING LAW.

UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW THAT TOOK PLACE DURING A THE PANDEMIC, SOME OF OUR DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED STATES "AND DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED LEGISLATIVE BODIES HAVE CHOSEN TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY MAKE IT ALL ENCOMPASSING TO SAY THAT FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND STATE ELECTIONS AND LOCAL ELECTIONS ALL NEED TO BE GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WE DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

>> SUPPORTERS OBVIOUSLY SAY THIS IS AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT EASIER 20 VOTE AND THAT REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING BACK ON THAT ESPECIALLY FROM STATES THAT PASSED SOME BILLS THIS YEAR THAT WERE SEEN LARGELY BY THE OTHER SIDE AS REGRESS I HAVE IN NATURE.

>> ;RIGHT.

THEY'RE ENTITLED THAT THEIR OWN OPINION BUT THEY'RE NOT ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN FACTS.

AND THE FACT THAT ALABAMA HAS VOTER ID, THE FACT THAT ALABAMA HAS 9 SAFESTEST AND SECURIST ELECTIONS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE, WE WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THE 2020 CYCLE AS BEING THE MOST EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS IN THE ENTIRE NATION SHOWS THAT WHEN WE CONTINUE TO BREAK RECORDS FOR PARTICIPATES AND REGISTRATION, THAT WE'RE JUST MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE AND HARDER TO CHOOSE IN ALABAMA.

>> 101ST ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE FEDERAL BILL WAS A POST ELECTION AUDIT.

I KNOW THERE WAS A BILL TO THAT EFFECT THAT CAME OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

I KNOW YOU WEREN'T TOTALLY THRILLED WITH IT BUT IT WAS A START.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WE WANTED TO PASS THAT IN 2020 SO THAT IS WE WOULD HAVE IT IN EFFECT FORWARD THE 2020 CYCLE.

WE GOT IT PASSED THIS SEX SESSION.

AND THE MAIN THING IS THAT THIS IS A PILOT AND IT'S SUN SET -- SO AFTER THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE IT WILL GO OFF THE BOOKS.

SO THE NEXT SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE LEGISLATORS THAT COME INTO OFFICE IN 2022 WILL HAVE TO PASS ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A POST ELECTION AUDIT IN PLACE.

THE MAIN THING IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR VOTERS THAT HE KNOW THAT WE STAVE AND SECURE ELECTIONELS.

>> YOU'RE SECURE THE POSITION WAS ONLY ONE YEAR.

YOU WANT IT TO BE MADE PERMANENT.

>> WE WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE AND THAT'S SO TO TRANSPARENCY WITH ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION IF THE MEMBERS FEEL LIKE IT ACCOMPLISHES THAT GOAL THEN AT THAT POINT IN WORKING WITH THE PROBATE JUDGE QUESTIONS AND OTHER ELECTION OFFICIALS AROUND THE STATE, THEY COULDN'T ADOPT THE SAME BILL OR START OVER OR DO WHATEVER THINK THINK IS BEST ARE THE STATE.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF LEGISLATION THAT CAME OUT OF THE SESSION THIS IS YEAR NOT THE LEFT LEAST OF WHICH DENIED CURBSIDE VOTING.

>> WE DRAFTED THAT LEGISLATION.

WE ASKED WES ALLEN TO CARRY IT FOR US AND HE DID A NICE JO HOUSE THANKS TO THE SUPPORT HE RECEIVED FROM MATT SIMPSON FROM DOWN NEW TESTAMENT MOBILE COUNTY AREA AND THEN DNA RAN EARTH^ TAKING CARE OF IT IN THE SENATE FOR SURE US AND IT'S NOW A ALLOW.

>> AND NOW THERE'S A BAFFIN DOUBLE LAW THAT YOU CAN'T VOTE IN ANOTHER STATE'S PRIMARY AND THEN VOTE IN ALABAMA.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

THAT WAS NOT ON THE BOOKS AND WE HAD SEEN EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE THAT VIOLATED THE TRUST AND THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PROCESS BY DOING SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY IN THE ORANGE BEACH, GULF SHORES AREA WHEN IT CAME TO TAX VOTES OR MUNICIPAL CONTEST AND THIS CORRECTS THAT AND THEY CANNOT CONTINUE CAN THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> EARLIER IN THE SESSION YOU MADE HEADLINES OVER A BILL THAT PROPOSED MAKING IN PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING PERMANENT THAT YOU HAD SUPPORTED IT AND THEN WITHDREW YOUR SUPPORT?

>> WELL, IT WASN'T IN PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING.

THE CONCERN WAS ABOUT NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, DON, WAS HAVE A CONVERSATION IN IN THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT ALABAMIANS WANTED TO ADVANCE THIS AS A CONCEPT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

GREY NEWCOME, WHO IS MY LEGISLATIVE LIAISE AN ON DID A TREMENDOUS JOB IN INTRODUCTION THE BILL 20689 CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS TO MAKE ILLUSTRATE CLEAR THAT THE PRESENT PRACTICE THAT IS IN PLACE IS NOT AS SOLID AND AS STRONG AS IT SHOULD BE.

AND BECAUSE WE HAD JUST HAD 331,000 APPLICATIONS AND 305,000 PEOPLE SUCCESSFULLY VOTE ABSENTEE IN THE 2020 CYCLE WE THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO DO HAVE THE DISCUSSION, BECAUSE EVERYBODY USED THE SAME EXCUSE WHEN THEY WENT TO VOTE IN 2020 BUT IT BECAME VERY CLEAR VERY QUICKLY THERE WERE A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS AND OTHER LEGISLATION OFFICIAL AND I SAY OTHER CONCERNED COMMUNITY FOLKS THAT WERE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE POLITICAL HEY AND SAY ALABAMA IS TRYING TO LESSEN THE STRENGTH OF OUR POLITICAL LAWS AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

WE TALKED TO LAURA HAL WHO WAS THE LEGISLATOR THAT CARRIED IT FOR US.

WE ADDED THREE TIMMS ITEMS TO THE GILL TO MAKE SURE IT WAS AS EFFECTIVE ACID CONCLUDING AND NOT LIMITED TO REDUCING THE TIME THAT IT IS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL AND REMOVE REMOVING THE LONG OUTDATED POSTMARK ALLOWED THERE AND ALLOWING THE MANAGER TO OPEN BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY.

SO WHEN WE REALIZED THIS WAS GOING TO BE A POLITICAL CONVERSATION INSTEAD OF A CONSTITUTIONAL OR LEGISLATIVE CONVERSATION, WE REMOVED OUR SUPPORT OF THAT LEGISLATION AND WE ASKED ALAN BAKER TO CARRY THAT FOR UNITED STATES, AND GARLAN GUDGER CARRIED THAT BILL FOR AND YOU SAY THEY PASSED IT AND IT WAS ENACTED AND IT WOULD BE IN PLACE IN THE 2022 CYCLE.

>> JOHN MERRILL, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NOT THAT I CAN THINK, REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY GRAVE OPELIKA IS BACK WITH US: WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> I'M PROUD TO BE BACK.

>> YOU HAVE MADE A LOT OF HEADLINES THIS IN THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION BECAUSE YOU FINALLY GOT YOUR YOGA BILL OUT AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF TRYING.

LET'S GIVE FOLKS A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE YOGA BAN ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF ITS TIES TO EASTERN RELIGIONS.

YOU COME AT THIS FROM A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.

YOU ARE AN ATHLETE.

YOU PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND WENT TON 20 PLAY PRO BALL.

YOU PRACTICE YOGA.

YOU HAVE BEEN A YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND YOU WANTED YOGA TO BE OFFERED TO KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE LEGISLATION FINALLY GOT OUT THIS YEAR AND GOV.

IVEY SIGNED IT INTO LAW.

IT GOES INTO EFFECT AUGUST FIRST AND IT'S UP TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO OFFER YOGA IN SCHOOL BUT SOME ARE PROBABLY MAKING THOSE DECISION ABOUT NOW.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN LIKE 28 YEARS SINCE 93 AND BRINGING IT FULL CIRCLE FOR MY TERM, LIKE MY REGIME IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE LAST THREE YEARS, I BROUGHT IT IN 2019 AND IT DIDN'T GET ANY TRACTION.

IT GOT THE WRONG KIND OF TRACTION AND IT WAS LABBED DOWN.

COMING INTO 2020 WITH THE COVID-19 AND THE PANDEMIC AND THEN IN 2021 I WOULD CALL IT PERFECT TIMING.

BUT FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF BASIC LIVE DOING YOGA THROUGHOUT MY LIFE WHETHER IT WAS SPORTS OR IN I HAD LEISURE LIFE OR AS AN INSTRUCTOR, I JUST REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE BENEFITS OF IT.

I THINK THAT YOGA WAS ONE OF THOSE TOPICS THAT IF YOU DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR YOU WEREN'T VERSED OR EDUCATED IN IT IT WOULD BE HARD TO PASS SO I WAS KIND OF GRATEFUL TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE I ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD YOGA IN ITSES SENSE, THE BREATHING AND THE MENTAL AND THE PHYSICAL PART!

YOU MENTIONED THAT LOT IT HAS BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD OVER THE YEARS.

I TALKED ABOUT ITS START IN THE EASTERN RELIGIONS AND FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT'S WHERE IT STOPPED BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY THOUGHT OF YOGA.

BUT YOU THINK OF IT MORE AS A STRETCHING AND EXERCISE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE COULD BENEFICIAL FROM.

>> IN THE '60S YOGA WAS BROUGHT FROM INDIA TO AMERICA AND IT'S REALLY FOR HIGH END, WEALTHY PEOPLE TO USE FOR TREATS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THEN AS THE YEARS EVOLVED AND IT BECAME MORE AMERICANIZED, IT WAS ALLOWED IN JIMS AND SPORTS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND AT CHURCHES AS WELL^.

SO IT REALLY HAD -- FROM THE DATA, IT HAD AFFECTS THAT HELP EVERYONE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT STRESS, ANXIETY, ALIGNMENT, FLEXIBILITY, CORE, STABILITY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO FOR ME IT WAS LIKE WHY WAIT UNTIL YOU GET OLD AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GOT ALL OF THIS TRAUMA, WHY DID I START AS AT AN EARLY AGE WHERE YOU CAN FLUSH OUT ALL OF THESE ANCHORING THAT YOU HAVE AND ANXIETY AND FRUSTRATION THAT IS, YOU KNOW, JUST GOOD EVENING ADOLESCENT AND GOING INTO YOUR TEENAGE YEARS, WHY NOT HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD TAKE WITH YOU.

>> AS A FORMER YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND PRACTITIONER OF YOGA -- I DON'T BELIEVE YOU STALE PRACTICE.

>> I DO.

>> HAS IT EVER BEEN ABOUT CHANTING AND MEDITATION WHICH HAS BEEN PART OF YOGA IN SOME CULTURES?

IN THE UNITED STATES IT SEEMS TO BE MORE ABOUT THE PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS VERSUS THE CHANTING AND MEDITATION OR IS THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I LEARNED THROUGH SPORTS.

SO EXISTENTIALLY THROUGH SPORTS IT WAS JUST EXERCISE.

IT WAS STRETCHING FOR ME AND MORE ABOUT KEEPING LONGEVITY WITH MY BODY.

NOTHING REALLY FROM THE MENTAL ASPECT BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT TO THAT LEVEL.

IT WAS JUST MORE PHYSICAL FOR ME.

FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

YOU GO TO A HOT YOGA CLASS OR DO HAVE YOGA FLOW OR POWER STRENGTH YOGA AND IT'S MORE ANT EXERCISE OR A CHALLENGE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DEFEAT.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE COMPONENTS OF CHANTING BUT I THINK PEOPLE WILL KIND OF GETTING THE CHANTING WRONG.

THE CHANTING IS BASICALLY LIKE JUST BEING HARMONIZED WITH YOUR BODY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING SPIRITUALLY OR RELIGIOUS.

IT'S JUST A WAY LIKE IN OTHER PLACES, WE TALK, RIGHT, WELL, IN OTHER PLACES THEY MAKE NOISE.

THEY MAKE EYE CONTACT.

IT'S A VERBAL COMMUNICATION BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME WAY.

SO I JUST THINK IT WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION, A MISEDUCATION THERE WHEN IT CAME TO JUST THE CHANCE.

AND THEN.

HAND SIGNALS ARE -- YOU KNOW, LIKE ANYTHING.

IF I WAS PLAYING BASEBALL AND I DID HAND SIGNALS WITH MY COACH, WE WOULDN'T SAY THAT'S A RELIGION.

NO.

IT'S JUST PART OF THE CULTURE.

AND THEN LAST WAS NAMASTE AND THAT'S JUST BOWING OUT.

A LOT OF TIMES IN YOGA YOU SAY MAY THE LIGHT IN ME SEE THE LIGHT IN YOU AND THAT'S SIMPLE, THAT WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER AS ONE.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT IS.

I THINK WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW AND YOU'RE KIND OF -- YOU ARE MISEDUCATED ON IT, THINGS CAN SEEM MUCH SCARIER THAN THEY REALLY ARE BUT IT'S NOT THAT.

BECAUSE, LIKE I WOULD SAY, IF IT WAS CONVERTING PEOPLE, WE WOULD HAVE MORE PEOPLE PRACTICING THE HINDU RELIGION.

BUT WE KNOW THAT CHRISTIANITY REIGNS OVER ALL RELIGION IN ALABAMA.

>> NAMASTE WHICH IS WHAT FOLKS WHO PRACTICE YOGA SAY AT THE END OF THEIR SESSION AND THEY BASICALLY CROSS THEIR ARMS OVER THEM AND SAY IT SHOW OR THEIR THAT NEEDS AND SAY THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS IS I BOW TO YOU.

YOU YOU CANNOT SAY THAT UNDER THE RULES OF THERE HE GOES IN SCHOOLS.

YOU HAD TO SAY SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THAT YOU WERE NOT HAPPY WITH BUT YOU TOOK THEM TO GET THE BILL OUT AND SAID THAT YOU MAY TWEAK THE LEGISLATION IN THE FUTURE.

NAMASTE WILL NOT BE REPEATED AFTER YOGA CLASSES IN SCHOOLS, CHANTING AND MEDITATION WILL ALSO NOT ABOUT PART OF SCHOOL CURRICULUM OR -- >> THE MEDITATION PART IS THE CONFUSING PART.

IF YOU READ THE MEDITATION DEFINITION, IT BASICALLY SAYS YOU CAN'T MEDITATE IN THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT BUT MAY DO IT IN A REFLECTIVE OR SECULAR WAY SO THAT MEANS YOU CAN MEDITATE.

ESSENTIALLY, I CAN'T DETERMINE IF YOU'RE MEDITATING IN THE PHYSICAL, THE MENTAL, THE SPIRITUAL, WHATEVER -- YOU'RE JUST CLOVES CLOSING YOUR EYES AND BREATHING.

SO THE HYPNOSIS IS NOT NEEDED.

THE IMAGERY PART I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU PREDICT A PERSON'S THOUGHT.

WHAT IF I'M JUST TELLING YOU TO COUNT BACKWARDS FROM ONE TO 10.

I DIDN'T LIKE THE WAIVER PART WHERE THEY'RE ACCREDITED TO HINDU RELIGION TRYING TO SCARE OF THE PARENTS FORECLOSURES YOU KNOW, ALLOWING THEIR KIDS TO TAKE PART OF IN THIS.

BUT MOST SCHOOLS BEFORE THIS BILL WAS BROUGHT DIDN'T KNOW YOGA WAS BAND IN K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO MANY HAVE BEEN PRACTICING MINDFULNESS OR YOGA OTHER MEDITATION FOR YEARS NOW.

SO THIS BILL JUST ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE IT TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN DO IT AND NO ONE IS GOING TO BOTHER THEM.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO IT.

IT IT WASN'T PERFECT.

I DON'T LIKE THE BILL OR MABEL I WOULD HAVE KILLED THE BILL BUT IT WAS BIGGER THAN ME.

IT WAS LIKE WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP OF GETTING THIS YOGA BILL OUT AND YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU WANT ALWAYS IN POLITICS.

>> BUT YOU WILL SEE THE EFFECT OF THE BILL IN AUGUST.

>> YEAH.

A AND TWO LIKE TO THANK KAY IVEY BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE TO SIGN IT INTO LAW.

SHE COULD HAVE VETOED IT.

SHE SIGNED IT IMMEDIATELY.

SO HE IS EVEN MADE IS A STATEMENT ABOUT IT MOVING ALABAMA FORWARD.

JUST HAVING THAT BIPARTISANSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR WAS BIG BECAUSE I HAD SO MANY CHALLENGES GETTING IT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THEN IT GETS TO THE LAST BASIS AND SHE BASICALLY SAYS I LOVE THIS GILL AS WELL, AND KUDOS TO HER.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, REPRESENTATIVE, I WOULD LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS QUICKLY ON THE TOPIC IN ITS HOTTEST IN THE HALLS OF THE STATEHOUSE AND THAT'S PRISONS.

IT APPEARS LIKELY THERE MAY BE A SPECIAL LEGISLATION SESSION TO DEAL WITH OUR PRISON PROBLEM.

DO YOU THINK IT MERITS A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> IT DOES.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE GOVERNOR OR THE LEGISLATURE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S OUR JOB TO ACTUALLY DEBATE AND COME UP WITH GOOD LEGISLATION.

BUT FOR ME I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT BILLS AND PRISONS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA AND RETRO ACTIVATING THE DRACONIAN DRUG LAWS AND THE LAWS AROUND THEFT.

THIRD DEGREE BURGLARY IS A FELONY OR COULD BE VIEWED AS A FELONY AND THAT'S ONLY $500.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE REFORM FIRST AND THEN, IF THE PRISON THING COMES SECOND, THEN THAT'S FINE WITH ME BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT GETTING PEOPLE OUT.

JAIL IS NOT MEANT FOR YOU TO STAY FOREVER.

IT'S JUST A DESTINATION.

SO WE TRIES TO DO A BETTER JOB OF RECIDIVISM RATE AND WE HAVE TO CUT THAT DOWN AND HAVE RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS AND THEY CAN BE PRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS AND MOST IS HEALTH AND DRUG DRIVEN.

>> DO YOU EVER SEE A DAY ALABAMA MIGHT DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK I EVER WOULD HAVE SEEN THE DAY WE WOULD HAVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

ESPECIALLY BEING 37 STATES.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE.

MAYBE I DON'T SEE IT NOW BUT I THINK THAT WE REALLY LOOK AT IT, DRUG -- JAIL IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CRIMINALS, VIOLENT OFFENSES.

IT'S NOT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL ISSUES OR MENTAL HEALTH OR DRUG ISSUES.

THAT'S REHAB THING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU REHAB AND THAT'S A CONDITION, A CRISES.

SO YOU DON'T TREAT THAT WITH JAIL.

YOU TREAT THAT WITH RESOURCES.

>> JEREMY GRAY OF OPELIKA, A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP, SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER OF CULLMAN IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

FACE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME GUEST ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT.

>> LET'S CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON PRISONS FOR A MOMENT.

GOVERNOR IVEY HAS NOT CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION ON THIS ISSUE YET.

THERE'S SATISFIED TO BE A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS OVER A POSSIBLE STATE BOND ISSUE TO BUILD STATE PRISONS, FURTHERRERING HER MISSION TO BUILD NEW PRISONS AFTER HER PRIVATE LEASE DEAL FELL THROUGH.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKED ME ABOUT THIS.

MY RESPONSE IS THAT GOVERNOR IVEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE OF US BEING UNDER A HAUTE FRAT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SHOWED WE NEEDED TO MOVE AND MAKE PROGRESS.

SHE DID THAT AND IT WAS THE BUSINESS DEAL.

I WOULD SAY, NO, LOOKING AT WHAT IS LEAKED OUT AS FAR AS THE LEAST, I PREFER A BOND SO I'M THANKFUL WHAT HAS HAPPENED HAS HAPPENED.

BUT I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO ACT AND COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM, THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE AND SHOW TO THE PEOPLE IN ALABAMA AND TO 9 TAXPAYERS THAT IS WE'RE READY TOO HANDLE THIS AND GO FORWARD WITH IT SO I'M THANKFUL THAT WE'RE COMING TOGETHER TO APPROACH THIS SITUATION AND TO FINALLY MAKE HEADWAY.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY IS NOT COMMITTED TO CALLING A SPECIAL SPECIAL SESSION.

SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO HAVE WAN WAY GREED UPON DEAL BEFORE SHE DOES THAT.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS WISE?

>> I THINK THAT'SED RIGHT MOVE TO MAKE OUR SURE THAT MOST OF THE TRACKS ARE LAID BEFORE THE TRAIN GETS SHEER.

BUT IT'S TAME TOO DO THAT AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS WILLING TO WORK WITH HER AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S WILLING TO WORK WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE AND NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

>> THAT WILLING WAS CRUCIAL BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT YOU REMEMBER IN THE PAST WHEN THE LEGISLATURE HAS TACKLED BUILDING NEW PRISONS IT HAS NEVER GONE VERY FAR.

>> THERE'S 144 PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT OPINION SO IT'S TOUGH TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS IT ON THE SAME PAGE.

I REALIZE THAT BUT I THINK PEOPLE ARE COMING TOGETHER SO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE SAN ISSUE.

IT'S PASTIME TO HANDLE THIS AND BEING PEOPLE ARE READY TO TO MAKE IS A CHANGE.

>> ON THE ASPECT OF BUILDING NEW PRISONS NOT BUILD THE BEING THE ANSWER TO ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS DO YOU GO DO YOU AGREE THAT IT IS A GOOD STARTING PLACE?

>> I DO.

TO BEGIN WITH WE HAVE TO HANDLE THIS.

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A LAWSUIT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND SHOW THEM THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AS AT STATE OF ALABAMA.

WE NEED TO REDUCE THE PROPOSITION THAT IS ALREADY IN OUR PRISONS.

DOWN IT'S DOWN 150 OR 160 PERCENT.

WE HAVE TO BRING THAT DOWN.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY CONCERNS AND FACTORS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

SAFETY SAN ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO HANDLE SAUL OF THOSE PASS WE GO FORWARD.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU LAY OUT STEP BY STEP.

I THINK THIS IS OUR FIRST STEP BRINGING THE LEGISLATURE IN AND WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WHICH IS WHAT SHE'S DOING.

>> WHERE REFORMS WERE CONCERNED WE HAVE SHOULD CONTINUE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SENTENCING REFORMS SOME OF WHICH GOT OUT IN THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

DO YOU THINK WE WILL CONTINUE DOWN THAT ROAD.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO.

I THINK TIMES ARE CHANGING AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT MIND SETS TO DISH MISDEMEANORS AND I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

DO YOU THINK WE WANT TO BE EASY ON CRIMINALS OR BE EASY ON VIOLENT CRIMES?

NOT NOT ALL.

BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND LOOK AT REFORM AS WE ARE GOING FORWARD AND I THINK THAT IS PART OF STEP ONE.

IF WE COULD SAY 1B, BUT 1A IS FOCUSING ON THE SENTENCE REFORM ISSUES.

>> LET'S TURN TO GAMBLING.

THAT WAS NOT VIDEO SOLVED THIS SO HE GOES.

THERE'S EVERY INDICATION IT WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR AND EVEN FALK IT MIGHT MATTER IS A SPECIAL SESSION IN THE SPECIAL SESSION.

BUT I BRING IT UP BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT A LOTTERY BILL, ONE OF A COUPLE.

DO YOU THINK THIS STILL THINK IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND GO TO THE PEOPLE FOR A VOTE.

>> I THINK THE PEOPLE HAVE MADE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR TOWELS THAT THEY WANT AN OPTION TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON LOTTERY AND IF THEY WANT A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON IT AND GIVE THE VOTE BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO MY VOTE WOULD BE TO GO FORWARD APPROXIMATE WITH THE LOTTERY TO DO THAT.

THIS LAST TIME WE H. A KOCH HENCE I HAVE BILL AND IT AT THE BOTTOM OUT OF THE SENATE AND TO THE HOUSE WHERE IT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP.

THERE'S SPECULATION ON A LOT OF REASONS WHY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

>> AGAIN THIS IS FOR THE PEOPLE.

THEY WANT THE RIGHT TOO OF THE VOTE.

IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT FINALLY GET TO HAVE THAT VOTE, AND I'M FOR THAT.

>> DID YOU VOTE FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

>> THE FIRST ONE NO.

AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE AMENDMENTS AND I COULD PUT MY FINGERPRINT ON THOSE AMENDMENTS AND MAKE SURE IT WAS THE RIGHT BILL FOR THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE BILL THEN DID I VOTE YES.

>> THE SENSE OF URGENCY SURROUNDING THIS ISSUE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH NEXT YEAR BEING AN ELECTION YEAR AND IF THE LEGISLATURE WERE TO PASS A GAMBLING BILL EARLY NEXT YEAR THAT IT WOULD BE IN TIME DOOR FOR IT TO GET OWN THE NOVEMBER 2022 BALLOT.

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE LEGISLATURE OR ANYONE ELSE BUT TO THERE'S A POSITIVE THING IN MY TICKET PEOPLE COMING TO ME AT EVERY EVENT AND SAYING WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE LOTTERY.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S A SEPARATION OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

IF YOU'RE JUST ON WITH THE GENERAL POPULATION AND THEY'RE LIKE YOU DID THAT AND I SAID, NO, WE PASSED IT OUT OF THE SENATE.

IT WENT STOTT HOUSE AND IT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP BUT IT WAS STILL IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE WHICH I HAVE IS ME.

MY VOTE WOULD BE TO HAVE THAT OUT SO THEY CAN VOTE ON IT.

IT'S ALWAYS AN INTERESTING TIME DURING THOSE TIMES AT THE WELL, WHEN PEOPLE WILL ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICT AND WHY THEY'RE FOR IT OFFER AGAINST IT.

IN THE END I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH VOTES IN THE SENATE TO GET IT OUT.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.

>> SENATOR YOU CARRY OF THE THIS BILL THAT BANS TRANS FEMALE ATHLETES FROM PARTICIPATING IN FEMALE SPORTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE FAIRLY CONTROVERSIAL.

I BRING IT UP BECAUSE THE U.S.

DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION LOOKED AT STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION LOOKING BACK TO TITLE NINE AND SAYING BILLS LIKE THIS MIGHT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST TRANS ATHLETES.

IT'S UNKNOWN WHAT, IF ANY, AFFECT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WORDS AND ACTIONS ON THIS ISSUE MIGHT HAVE ON THE ALABAMA BILL BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.

>> FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, I THINK IT'S A CONTRADICTION.

SCIENCE WE HAVE TITLE NINE TO PROTECT PROTECT OUR DAUGHTERS AND FEMALES.

SINCE 1972.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

MEN ARE BUILT BIOLOGICALLY DIFFERENT FROM FEMALES AS A COLLEGE ATHLETE AND COMING FROM A GENERATION MANY SPORTS ATHLETE IN COLLEGE, MEN'S DENSITY OF BONES ARE STRONGER.

THEIR LUNG CAPACITY IS ABLE TO OXYGENATE MORE OXYGEN AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT AND STRONGER MUSCLES.

THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SIGNS THAT MALES ARE DIFFERENT FROM FAMILIES.

I THINK IT IS FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR DAUGHTERS AND FEMALES IN SPORTS, THAT'S WHAT TITLE NINE HAS BEEN USED FOR, FINDING OUT WHAT YOU TOLD ME RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S CONSTRICTS ITSELF AND YOU'RE SAYING WE HAVE MADE ALL OF THIS HEADWAY SINCE 1972 AND NOW WE'RE GOING BACK 1250 CHANGE HAD THAT AND NOW WE'RE ALLOWING BIOLOGICAL MALES TO PLAY IN FEMALE SPORTS.

I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

AND NOR OF THE SPOKESPERSON, CAITLIN JENNER, SHE WAS ON OUR SIDE ON THIS BY.

THERE'S A LOT OF OPINIONS OUT THERE AND THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

BUT HOW IT AFFECTS THOSE FEMALES AND ESPECIALLY FOR ONE EXAMPLE THE FEMALE THAT GOT HER SKULL CRUSHED IN BY WRESTLING A BIOLOGICAL MALE I THINK HER PARENTS WOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF THIS BILL.

>> WE TALKED SEVERAL TIMES ABILITY THIS BILL AND IT'S NEVER BEN ABOUT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST TRANS PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT FAIRNESS IN FEMALE ATHLETICS.

>> I THINK ABOUT THAT.

GOD GAVE US A RIGHT WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRANS INTO A DIFFERENT IDENTITY.

THAT'S THEIR OPINION.

DO I AGREE WITH THAT?

NO.

BUT IT IS THEIR OPINION.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THEY'RE 18 TO MAKE A LIFE ATERING DECISION.

I CAN'T IMAGINE MAKING LIFE DECISION BEFORE BEING 18 BUT LOOK BACK WHERE I AM THERE'S A MATURITY THAT COMES WITH AGE AND AN EXPERIENCE THAT COMES WITH AGE AND I THINK THIS BILL BECAUSE THE RIGHT THING BUT I MADE SURE IT WAS IN THE BILL THAT IT DID NOT SAY TRANSGENDER ONE TIME IN THE WHOLE BILL AND I WANT TO SAY THAT AND KEPT THE ISSUE SEPARATE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT TRANSGENDER.

IT'S ABOUT PROTECTION OF FEMALE ATHLETES.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE AND FOLLOWING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE HAVE A NEW STATE VEGETABLE.

>> WE DO.

>> THE SWEET POTATO.

>> YOU GOT THAT BILL OUT.

>> I WAS EXCITED.

THIS CAME FROM A HOMESCHOOL CLASS IN HARVEST ALABAMA.

THE TEACHER WAS CHRISTIAN SMITH.

TWO YEARS AGO THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THE BICENTENNIAL AND REALIZE REALIZED WE DID NOT HAVE A STATE VEGETABLE.

THEY TOOK IT TO OF SENATOR BUTLER AND ORR.

COVID HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND I HAVE TOLD THEM HOW PERSON SWEET TOMATOES WERE IN OUR HISTORY.

THIS IS THE 25TH YEAR WE'RE HAVING A SWEET POTATO FESTIVAL THIS YEAR.

FROM THAT THE THEY SAID WHY DON'T YOU CARRY THE BILL.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE JUMPED ON.

I WAS ALREADY ON THE FLOOR WHEN THOSE PARTICULAR BILLS CAME UP SO IT DIDN'T TAKE MORE TIME AND IT REALLY HELPED SHOW THE YOUTH THAT IF YOU COME MANY UP WITH AN IDEA AND FOLLOW IT THROUGH AND TALK SO HOW THIS CAN BECOME LAW, THEY FOLLOW THIS FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENTAL APPROACH AND NOW THEIR IDEA THAT HE IS -- AND THE THANKS TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR GOING FORWARD WITH IT.

>> AND WHO DON'T LOVE A SWEET POTATO?

>> RIGHT.

>> SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER, THANK YOU.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> FINALLY ON THE BROADCAST TONIGHT OUR WEEKLY VISIT WITH STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARASS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK ALONE THE PROGRAM.

>> NICE TO SHAKE YOUR HANDEN.

>> INDEED IT IS.

I I HOPE IT SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO FOLKS HOW FAR WE HAVE COME IN THIS PANDEMIC.

BUT AS FAR AS WE HAVE COME WE STILL HAVE THINGS TO MONITOR CLOSELY NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE DELTA VARIANT GOING AROUND NOW.

I KNOW THAT FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAID THEY EXPECT IT TO BE THE DOMINANT VARIANT IN OUR COUNTRY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>> THAT'S VERY LIKELY.

ALL VIRUSES ARE GOING TO MUTATE SO THE FACT WE HAVE THE DIFFERENT VARIANT SO HE IS NOT SURPRISING.

THE DELTA VARIANT IT WAS THE ONE FIRST SEEN IN INDIA.

IT'S NOT CLEAR IF IT CAUSES WORST DISEASE BUT IT'S MUCH EASIER TO TRANSMIT SO IT HAS BECOME THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN EUROPE AND IN INDIA AS I MENTIONED AND WE'RE BEGINNING TO SAY IT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN THIS COUNTRY.

MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF THE NEW CASES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN THIS DELTA I VARIANT SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF IT I THINK.

>> STILL ONLY HAND NFL ALABAMA.

>> THAT WE KNOW ABOUT.

THE WAY YOU TELL THAT VARIANT YOU HAVE IS A FAIRLY SCOTCH INDICATED LABORATORY HE TEST CALLED GENOMIC SEQUENCING.

WE OF THAT AVAILABLE IN THE STATE BUT 234509 LOT OF IT.

IT'S APPROXIMATE REMINISCENT OF WHERE WE WERE?

2020 AND GETTING OUR TESTING UP.

WE HAD LESS THAN 20 DAYS THAT WE HAVE FOUND BUT IT HAS OCCURRED ALL OVER IT STATE, NOT ANY ONE PLEDE, AND YOU AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THE DELTA VARIANCE BECOMING DOMINANT WILL HAVE AN OUR CASE COUNTS HERE.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE HISTORICALLY LOW IN TERMS OF THE PANDEMIC, EVEN WITH US HAVING ONE OF THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

WE WERE DISPLAYED THAT WE HAD ONE OF THE LOWEST BUT EVEN SO OUR NUMBERS REMAIN STABLE BUT THAT COULD CHANGE WITH THIS VARIANT.

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY COULD.

THERE ARE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE SEEING NUMBERS THAT CREEPING UP A LITTLE BIT.

MISSOURI IS THE ONE THAT MADE THE NEWS THIS WEEK.

THE ICU AND HOSPITALS ARE FILLING UP IN SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI AND I THINK OVER THE BOREDDENER ARC ARCHITECT.

ALMOST ALL OF THE PATIENTS THEY'RE SEEING ARE UNIVERSITY VACCINATED PATIENTS.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE SURPRISED BY THAT.

THIS IS A DISEASE THAT IS JUST LIKE THE DISEASE WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF EXCEPT IT IS PREDOMINANTLY AFFECTING UNVACCINATED PEOPLE SO WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.NUMBERS WE COULD SEE.

HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A WAY TO PREVENT IT.

WE KNOW THAT THE VACCINATIONS ARE EFFECTIVE TO PREVENT SERIOUS DIES WITH THE DELTA VARIANT SO WE JUST HOPE PEOPLE WILL HEAR THAT MESSAGE AND GET VACCINATED.

>> SPEAKING OF THE UNVACCINATED THERE WAS AN ANALYSIS DONE BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, AND THEIR FINDINGS WERE THAT MOST U.S. COVID-19 HE DEATHS NOW ARE AMONG UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT YOU DIDN'T HAVEY SO THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION THEY DID BUT IF GPS DOES THAT SOUND REASONABLE NOW.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE.

ONLINE ABILITY ALABAMA YET BUT IT MAKES SEVER PERFECT SENSE.

WHAT WE HAVE ALSO ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THESE VACCINES THEY PROTECT AGAINST INFECTION VERY WELL, BUT EVEN IF PEOPLE GET INFECTED THEY PROTECT AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS AND THEREBY PREVENT DEATHS SO EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE THEY GET INFECTED AFTER BEING VACCINATED THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SERIOUS ISSUES.

>> IT'S ALSO BEEN FOUND THAT A LOFT THOSE UNVAX THEY WANT REASONABLE DOUBT YOUNGER PEOPLE AND I'M TALKING ABILITY THE ADULTS, MAYBE IN THEIR NORMALLY THIRD 30S AND TWENTIES AND YOUNGER AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY CONCERNING AMONG THE TEENAGERS PRONE TO THIS COMPLICATION; RIGHT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB IN ALABAMA PROTECTING OUR SENIORS.

I DISTINGUISH WE WERE DOING A BETTER JOB, BETWEEN 75 AND 80 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE THE STATE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED BUT YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING VACCINGATED AT THE SAME RATE AT ALL AND DON'T HAVE THE SAME SENSE OF URGENCY ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED EVEN IF THEY'RE KNOT OUT RIGHT OPPOSED TO IT, THEY DON'T MAKE IT A PRIORITY.

SO AS WE GET CASES, WHICH WE WILL WITH THE MORE DANGEROUS VARIANTS THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN YOUNGER PEOPLE.

YOUNG ADULTS, ADOLESCENTS, AND YOUNG ADULTS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG MEN WILL SOMETIMES REPORTING MYO CARDITIS FROM THE VACCINE, HOWEVER THAT MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE A PROBLEM THAN GETTING COVID ITS ASSIST, THE COMPLICATION ELSE OF COVID IN YOUNG HEALTHY PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR FROM ANY PROBLEM IN THE VACCINATION.

>> HOW ARE WE DOING WITH VACCINATIONS AMONG MINORITIES ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS?

THAT WAS A CONCERN EARLY ON.

>> WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

WE COULD BE DOING A BETTER JOB.

WE HAVE VAX ASSASSINATED SOMEWHERE JUST UNDER A THIRD OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE STATE, JUST LIKE WE VACCINATED UNDER A THIRD OF CAUCASIAN PEOPLE IN THE STATE 10 THE RATES OF EACH RACE ARE ABOUT THE SAME.

ONE SOME OF OUR PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUNTIES ARE RATE THE TOP OF THE LIST WITH THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED.

MANY IN THE BLACK BELT OVER 40 TO 45 PERSIAN VACCINATION SO WE HAVE REACHED MANY PEOPLE.

IT'S POSH TO REMEMBER THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH THAN EAR RACES.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE DISPARITIES THAT WE SEE SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO PRIORITIZE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ALABAMIANS.

>> DR. WELL ENSEE RATE THE CDC CALLED THIS A VARIANT OF CONCERN.

DR. FAUCI SAID THIS WEEK THAT IT WAS OF GREAT CONCERN, A GREAT THREAT SO TO SPEAK, AND AGAIN WE GO BACK TOO ITS SO MUCH MORE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE CDC HAS A NOMENCLATURE SYSTEM OF VARIANTS THAT THEY CONSIDER VARIANTS OF INTEREST OR CONCERN OR REALLY SERIOUS VARIANTS.

THE TRUE ULTIMATE SERIOUS ONES WE HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED SO FAR.

THESE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU THINK ABOUT, THE SCIENCE FICTION MOVES WHERE YOU HAVE TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPENING QUICK LIP AND THE VARIANTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND TALKED ABOUT ARE SO-CALLED VARIANTS OF CONCERN AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TRAITS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL VIRUS THAT WE HAVE WERE SEEING LAST YEAR.

THEY'RE MORE INFECTIOUS OUR IN SOME CASES COULD CAUSE MORE SERIOUS DISEASE.

>> BEFORE BEFORE WE CLOSE, THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR PASSED A BILL THAT SETS UP A COMMISSION FAR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, A PANDEMIC COMMISSION, WHERE THESE OFFICIALS APPOINTED BY THE THE LEGISLATURE, ALONG WITH YOU AND OTHER HEALTH OFFICIAL ILLS WOULD GARY AND TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

THE FIRST MEETING SET UP IS NEXT WEEK.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY; RIGHT.

THIS WAS A JOINT RESOLUTION SPONSORED BY A SENATOR AND WE APPRECIATE BEING PART OF THAT.

LIT INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP AND OTHERS AS WELL AS PEOPLE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND SOME OF THE SORRY CABINET AGENCIES AND THEN ALSO ADPH AND IT'S A WAY SO LOOK RATE THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS WE'RE LEARNING FROM WHAT WE HAVE DONE, TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT MISTAKES WE HAVE MADE AND WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING.

>> WE CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT.

>> WE HAVE.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS A TRIAL BY ERROR THINGS IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHEN YOU DEAL WITH A VIRUS HERETOFORE UNKNOWN AND SOME CRITICS WOULD LOOK BACK AND STAY YOU DID THIS AND THIS EARLY ON AND NOW YOU'RE DOING THESE THINGS IT'S ALL PART OF THE LEARNING CONSERVE.

>> THAT'S WHAT LEARNING IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT CHANGING YOUR INFORMATION.

I WOULD SAY WE ALWAYS FELT LIKE WE WERE ACTING THE BEST WAY WE COULD WITH THE INFORMATION WE HAD AND WE LEARNED A LOT AS THINGS MOVED ALONG.

>> DR. SCOTT HARASS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

BECAUSE OF THE LONG JULY 4TH HOLIDAY WEEKEND, OUR PROGRAM WILL NOT BE SEEN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT, JULY 2ND.

CAPITOL JOURNAL WILL RETURN WITH A NEW EPISODE THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY, JULY 9TH, WHEN OUR GUESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE OF MOBILE, WHO WILL DISCUSS HIS PRE-FILED BILL THAT SEEKS TO BAN TEACHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL BE BACK WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THE LATEST ON THE CORONAVIRUS IN ALABAMA AND OUR VACCINATION EFFORTS.

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

SINCE WE WON'T SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE INDEPENDENCE DAY.