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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

ALL EYES ARE ON WASHINGTON THIS WEEK, INCLUDING THOSE OF STATE LEADERS WHO ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE SENATE WILL DO WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S BUDGET BILL, OFFICIALLY TITLED THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT.

REPUBLICANS ARE EAGER TO GET THE LEGISLATION OVER THE FINISH LINE TO ENSURE THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT OF 2017 DOESN'T EXPIRE.

BUT TO PAY FOR THOSE TAX CUTS, THE HOUSE PASSED BILL MAKES SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO FEDERAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MEDICAID.

ADVOCATES GATHERED IN THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THOSE CUTS SAYING THEY COULD DEVASTATE HOSPITALS AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> PASSING THESE CUTS LEAVE OUR LOW-INCOME, WORKING FAMILIES WITH UNSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGES TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, CHALLENGES THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MEET.

IF CUTS NEED TO BE MADE, THEN WE URGE CONGRESS TO GO BACK AND BE MORE RESPONSIBLE.

WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RECEIVING THE BENEFITS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE LEAST HARMFUL IMPACT THAT THESE CUTS WOULD DO.

COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN, A MORE REASONABLE PLAN THAT WON'T PULL THE RUG OUT FROM SOME OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN AND WON'T BURDEN OUR STATE BY SLASHING THE ECONOMY AND JOBS.

>> IT'S WRONG TO HURT PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING JUST TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY FAR AHEAD.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE SENATE IS DEBATING RIGHT NOW IN D.C.

THE BUDGET MOVING THROUGH CONGRESS IS NOT ONLY A MORAL FAILURE, IT'S A BAD POLICY AND IT IS A REALLY BAD DEAL FOR OUR STATE.

THIS CRUEL BUDGET IS GOING TO TAKE AWAY FOOD ASSISTANCE, HEALTH COVERAGE AND OTHER VITAL SERVICES FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO AFFORD BASIC NEEDS AND SERVICES.

AT THE SAME TIME, GROCERY PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE, AND OUR STATE HAS BEEN WORKING TO HELP FAMILIES AFFORD GROCERIES.

THIS BILL IS GOING TO ROLL BACK ALL OF THAT PROGRESS.

>> THERE ARE STILL MANY MOVING PARTS TO THE BIG BUDGET BILL AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE SENATE.

GOP LEADERSHIP IS HOPING TO HAVE A FINAL VOTE AS SOON AS THIS WEEKEND TO MEET THEIR GOAL OF FINAL PASSAGE BEFORE THE FOURTH OF JULY.

BUT HERE'S A KEY UPDATE.

THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN THIS WEEK ADVISED SENATORS THAT SOME OF THOSE MEDICAID PROVISIONS IN THE BILL WERE OUT OF LINE WITH SENATE RULES FOR BUDGET RECONCILIATION.

SPECIFICALLY, THE BILL SOUGHT TO REDUCING THE MEDICAID PROVIDER TAX THAT MOST STATES USE TO HELP FUND THEIR MEDICAID PROGRAMS.

THAT MEANS SENATE LEADERS ARE LIKELY TO NIX THAT PROVISION FROM THE BILL, BUT NO WORD YET ON WHAT MIGHT REPLACE IT.

THAT'S NOT ALL THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL.

APT WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT ALEX ANGLE REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL ON WHAT ALABAMA'S DELEGATION HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS WEEK.

>> WE ARE MAKING GOOD HEADWAY ON THE RECONCILIATION BILL, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS THE LEGISLATION THAT WE BELIEVE IMPLEMENTS THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA.

>> THOUGH A LOT OF THE FOCUS AT THE U.S. CAPITOL IS ON TRUMP'S MEGA BILL TO CUT TAXES AND SLASH SPENDING THIS WEEK, ALABAMA SENATORS ARE ALSO TOUTING THE STATE'S CAPABILITIES WITH THE GOLDEN DOME.

SENATORS TOMMY TUBERVILLE AND KATIE BRIT THREW THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND NEW LEGISLATION TO SECURE FUNDS FOR THE MISSILE DEFENSE SHIELD.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO HELP DESIGN THIS AND BUILD AND OPERATE THAN IN MY HOME STATE.

>> THE GOLDEN DOME ACT WOULD AUTHORIZE MORE THAN $23 BILLION TO ENHANCE AND BUILD UPON EXISTING MISSILE DEFENSE INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVEST IN SPACE-BASED INTERCEPTERS.

THE BUDGET BILL CONTAINS $25 BILLION FOR THE INITIATIVE.

>> THAT'S WHY GETTING THE PRESIDENT'S ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL PASSED IS CRITICAL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.

COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN ARE OPENLY CHANTING "DEATH TO AMERICA," AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

>> THIS SENATE IS ALSO CONSIDERING THE WHITE HOUSE'S REQUEST TO RESCIND $9.4 BILLION IN FUNDING FOR FOREIGN AID AND PUBLIC MEDIA.

SENATOR BRITT, WHO SITS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY QUESTION THE WHITE HOUSE'S BUDGET DIRECTOR RUSS VOUGHT, DURING A HEARING WEDNESDAY.

>> IT IS MY BELIEF THAT AMERICANS HAVE A DEEP DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THIS GLOBE, HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE EXPECTS US TO HAVE AN IDEOLOGY THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN INTO THESE DOLLARS.

>> BRITT SAYS SHE WANT TO ENSURE THE U.S. CAN MAINTAIN ITS SOFT POWER AROUND THE WORLD WHILE ROOTING OUT "LIBERAL IDEOLOGY."

CONGRESS HAS UNTIL JULY 18 TO APPROVE THE RECISION' PACKAGE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAPITOL -- >> THE BILL IS PASSED.

>> -- THE U.S.

PASSED CONGRESSMAN BARRY MOORE'S BILL THURSDAY.

IT WOULD MAKE NON-CITIZENS WHO DRIVE DRUNK OR IMPAIRED ELIGIBLE FOR DEPORTATION.

>> TODAY WE CONSIDER A SIMPLE COMMON SENSE BILL THAT SAYS IF YOU ARE A GUEST IN OUR COUNTRY AND YOU DRIVE DRUNK YOU SHOULD, IN FACT, BE DEPORTED.

>> DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL AND 36 OF HER COLLEAGUES JOINED REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR IT.

CONGRESSMAN SHOMARI FIGURES OPPOSED IT.

THE BILL HEADS TO THE SENATE.

REPORTING ON CAPITOL HILL, ALEX ANGLE, "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, ALEX.

ANOTHER MAJOR CANDIDATE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.

CAROLEENE DOBSON HAS ANNOUNCED HER CANDIDACY FOR ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE.

DOBSON LAST YEAR RAN FOR CONGRESS AND WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR THE 2ND DISTRICT.

SHE THEN WENT ON TO NARROWLY LOSE TO DEMOCRAT SHOMARI FIGURES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR THE REDRAWN DISTRICT.

ALABAMA'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE ON MAY 19, 2026.

SUMMER IS A POPULAR TIME FOR FAMILIES TO VISIT ONE OF ALABAMA'S MANY BEAUTIFUL STATE PARKS.

AND THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ARE TEAMING UP TO ENHANCE ALABAMA'S STATE PARKS.

THE STATE HAS PARTNERED WITH DIPRA, THE DUCTILE IRON PIPE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION TO REPLACE AND MODERNIZE WATER LINES AT STATE PARKS, OFFERING VISITORS ACCESS TO CLEAR DRINKING WATER AND IMPROVED FACILITIES.

LEADERS MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM LAKEPOINT STATE PARK IN EUFAULA.

>> WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS AT OUR PARK AND AROUND THE STATE ARE SO NEEDED SO WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO UPGRADE OUR UTILITIES AT OUR PARKS AND TO BRING US INTO THE 21ST CENTURY IN SOME OF THESE FACILITIES.

YOU KNOW, BY HAVING QUALITY DRINKING WATER IMPROVEMENTS AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PARKS, IT REALLY ALLOWS US TO EXPAND OUR CAMPGROUNDS, OUR LODGES, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE PARKS TO BETTER SERVE OUR PEOPLE.

>> THIS IS A TREMENDOUS WIN FOR U.S.

PIPE AND FOR OUR INDUSTRY, FOR THAT MATTER.

OUR INDUSTRY IS 126 YEARS OLD, OUR COMPANY IS, ANYWAY, AND FOR THIS PIPE TO BE PUT IN THE GROUND, IT'S GOING TO LAST FOR GENERATIONS.

THIS PIPE WILL BE IN THE GROUND MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

TO TAKE ALABAMA PEOPLE AND EMPLOYEES AND MAKE A PRODUCT IN ALABAMA AND PUT IT IN THE GROUND IN ALABAMA IS A TREMENDOUS WIN.

IT ALLOWS FOLKS IN OUR INDUSTRY TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY TO MODERNIZE THEIR PLANTS.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCE TO SPECIFY THIS ALABAMA MADE DUCTAL IRON PIPE.

>> THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND IS JUST A WEEK AWAY -- AND THAT MEANS BUSY HIGHWAYS AND CROWDED WATERWAYS ACROSS ALABAMA.

FOR MANY, THE HOLIDAY IS A CHANCE TO GET OUT ON THE WATER, AND THIS YEAR, ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT IS STEPPING UP ITS EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE BOATERS STAY SAFE.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S JEFF SANDERS HAS MORE.

>> WITH THE FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY WEEKEND FAST APPROACHING, ALABAMA'S LAKES AND WATERWAYS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PACKED.

THAT'S WHY THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS ALREADY STEPPING UP ITS PRESENCE ON THE WATER.

>> NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT DURING MEMORIAL DAY, NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT DURING THE FOURTH OF JULY, BUT ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE AN INEXPERIENCED VOTER, YOU NEED TO DO YOUR RESEARCH.

WHAT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE PEOPLE TO DO IS IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ON THE WATERWAY AND PURCHASED A VESSEL AND GOING OUT DURING ONE OF THESE LARGE, EXTENDED HOLIDAY PERIODS, TAKE AN EXPERIENCED BOATER WITH YOU THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH THAT BODY OF WATER.

>> CAPTAIN BURKETT SPOKE AT A DESTINATION TO SEE WHAT MARINES ARE DOING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, SAYING IT STARTS WITH KNOWING THE RULES OF THE WATER.

>> THERE'S REASONS TO KNOW THESE THINGS, TO HAVE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, TO HAVE THE AUTOMOBILE DEVICE.

IT GOES BACK TO SAFETY, RIGHT.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BOAT OPERATOR.

LIFE JACKETS COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH IN AN EMERGENCY.

>> ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN THAT ARE YOUNGER THAN EIGHT YEARS OLD, THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT U.S. COAST GUARD APPROVED PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE ON AT ALL TIMES, PADS, PADDLE BOARDS.

IF YOU'RE ON ONE OF THOSE VESSELS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE.

>> TROOPERS ARE WATCHING CLOSELY FOR ANYONE BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, AND BURKETT SAYS IT'S NOT JUST ALCOHOL AND WATER THAT DON'T MIX.

>> IF YOU TAKE A SUBSTANCE THAT IMPAIRS YOUR ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE THAT VESSEL, YOU'RE BUI, BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

NUMBER ONE, IF YOU GET STOPPED BY A TROOPER WITH MARINE PATROL, YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL.

OUT ON THE WATER, TROOPER JOHNNY WALKER KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE BOATERS HE MEETS.

>> FOR THE MOST PART, VIOLATIONS OF PEOPLE SITTING UP ON THE GUNNEL, OPERATING OUTSIDE THE GUNNEL, PEOPLE OPERATING THE BOAT GET UP AND WALK AWAY FROM THE OPERATING STATION.

>> WITH THOUSANDS TAKING TO LAKES AND RESERVOIRS, THE MESSAGE FROM AALIYAH IS CLEAR, HAVE FUN BUT FOLLOW THE LAW AND PUT SAFETY FIRST.

>> THAT'S TO KEEP YOU AND THE PEOPLE IN THE VESSEL IN CONJUNCTION WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND YOU SAFE.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST THE WATERWAYS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WILL BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO.

OF COURSE, IT'S THE HIGHWAYS AS WELL.

WHETHER YOU'RE A BOATER OR A DRIVER, THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY SAFE THIS UPCOMING FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

REPORTING FROM LAKE MARTIN IN TALLAPOOSA COUNTY, JEFF SANDERS FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

IT MAY BE SUMMER, BUT EDUCATORS ARE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

THIS YEAR MARKS THE INTRODUCTION OF WORKFORCE PATHWAYS DIPLOMAS, WHICH OFFER STUDENTS AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE TO GRADUATION.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

>> SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE SUMMER BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF SCHOOL WORK HAPPENING.

NOT JUST IN SUMMER SCHOOL, BUT STATE LEADERS MAKING CHANGES TO HOW HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN CREATE NEW CAREER GOALS AFTER GRADUATION.

>> VERY SOON, WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT THE NEW WHAT WE CALL DIPLOMA OPTION B.

ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO REMIND PARENTS WE HAVE ONE DIPLOMA, TWO PATHWAYS.

>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT DR. ERIC MACKEY SAYS IT'S AN EFFORT TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS OF HOW STUDENTS EARN THEIR DIPLOMAS, ALLOWING THEM TO DECIDE SOME COURSES THEY WANT TO STUDY UNDER THE NEW WORKFORCE PATHWAY SYSTEM.

>> BUT WE'VE CREATED A NEW WAY WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND OUR STATE BOARD TO GET THE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AND IT'S A WORKFORCE PATHWAY.

>> STUDENTS HAVE A CHANCE TO FOCUS ON MORE TRADE-TYPE CLASSES, GET MORE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, AND EARN WORKPLACE PATHWAY DIPLOMAS.

>> STUDENTS CAN EARN THE DIPLOMAS BY MAKING MOST OF THE REGULAR TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC COURSES, BUT THEY CAN WAIVE TWO TO FOUR MATH AND SCIENCE COURSES IN HIGH SCHOOL AND REPLACE THOSE WITH A CAREER-TECH PATHWAY.

>> CREATING A NEW PROGRAM, DR. MACKEY SAYS, OPENS MORE DOORS FOR STUDENTS.

>> A STUDENT THEN CAN, SAY, GO INTO A TECHNICAL FIELD LIKE ELECTRICITY OR CARPENTRY OR ANOTHER TRADE, AND THEY COULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF TRADITIONAL SCIENCE COURSES I TAKE BECAUSE I WANT TO FOCUS ON THIS TRADE, AND I NEED TIME IN MY SCHEDULE TO DO THAT.

>> THERE WILL BE NEW GUIDELINES AND RULES TO LEARN.

>> SO, LET'S SAY THEY ARE ON A CAREER TECH PATH TO BECOME A NURSE.

THEY'VE GOT TO STILL TAKE CHEMISTRY.

WE CAN'T WAIVE THE CHEMISTRY CREDIT FOR THAT NURSE.

SO, IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE EACH AND EVERY CHILD BUILDING A UNIQUE SCHEDULE FOR THAT CHILD.

>> A PLAN FOR WHICH THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS BEHIND.

>> I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS WE'VE DONE IN K-12 IN A LONG TIME TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO INDIVIDUALIZE THE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN A WAY WE HAVE NEVER BEFORE AND WE'RE GOING TO VALUE OUR CAREER TECH OPTIONS JUST LIKE WE VALUE OUR ACADEMIC OPTIONS.

>> AND DR. MACKEY SAYS THOSE OPTIONS WILL BE WIDE OPEN FOR STUDENTS.

>> YOU KNOW, IF I HAD MY WAY, EVERY CHILD WOULD TAKE A CAREER TECH COURSE.

I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE, WHETHER THAT'S A TRADE OR MIGHT BE A ROBOTICS PROGRAM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY CAREER TECH COURSE WHAT I MEAN.

SO, YEAH, WE DO HAVE THE TRADITIONAL COURSES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE AUTO REPAIR OR DIESEL MECHANIC, THE KINDS OF HANDS-ON THINGS THAT PEOPLE MAYBE THINKING ABOUT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT ROBOTICS COURSES.

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

>> THANK YOU, RANDY.

AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL TO TALK ABOUT HIS BID FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

AFTER THAT, AMI BROOKS JOINS ME HER STUDIO.

SHE'S THE NEW SECRETARY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN CHARGE OF THE STATE'S FIRST CLASS PRE-K PROGRAM.

AND AFTER THAT, TODD SCHMIDT AND QUIN GRESHAM OF THE ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW SEASON AT ALABAMA'S STATE THEATRE, INCLUDING THE UPCOMING PRODUCTION OF THE WIZARD OF OZ.

WON'T WANT TO MISS THAT.

STAY WITH US.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STEVE MARSHALL ALABAMA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL AND NOW CANDIDATE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

MR. MARSHALL, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> LAST TIME YOU WERE ON, YOU WERE NOT YET A CANDIDATE.

WE WERE THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE TUBERVILLE HAD NOT ANNOUNCED YET FOR GOVERNOR, BUT NOW YOU ARE.

YOU'VE PUT YOUR NAME OUT THERE, A CANDIDATE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU THE MOST BASIC QUESTION, WHY YOU ARE RUNNING OR, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, YOU BROKE THE STORY THAT REALLY WE THOUGHT DONE WITH RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN ALABAMA BECAUSE GOVERNOR JUST WASN'T SOMETHING THAT INTERESTED ME, WE MADE THAT DECISION LAST FALL, BUT SENATE'S DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUES AND THE AREAS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AND SAY, GEE, THERE'S TREMENDOUS OVERLAP IN WHAT A UNITED STATES SENATOR DOES ALONG WITH WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES TO PROTECT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

I WAS MEETING WITH ONE OF MY FORMER COLLEAGUES NOW IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND SHE WAS SHARING THE WORK OF THE A.G. IS.

A GREAT TRAINING GROUND FOR THE ISSUES YOU FACE IN THE SENATE.

WHEN COACH TUBERVILLE DECIDED TO COME HOME AND HE WANTED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AS OPPOSED TO REELECTION, VERY MUCH PIQUED MY INTEREST WAS SOMETHING THAT, WHEN TAMMY AND I TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO NEXT, THAT THAT MADE SENSE, THE STATION OF LIFE WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET ACROSS THE STATE AND SHARE A VISION FOR WHAT I THINK I CAN PROVIDE, WITH I IS STRONG, CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE.

WE'VE TAKEN ON THE TOUGH ISSUES IN ALABAMA, WE'VE NOT STOOD DOWN.

IN FACT, WE HAVE BEEN FORTHRIGHT IN FIGHTING FOR THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE AND BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

>> LET'S GET DEEPER INTO THAT.

WHAT ISSUES DO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON?

WELL, IT'S KIND OF A TWO-PART?

WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU GOING TO FOCUS ON IN THE CAMPAIGN BUT WHAT ACTUALLY TRANSLATES INTO BEING UNITED STATES SENATE, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT, SOME OF THE ISSUES OVERLAP WITH YOUR TIME AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WHAT ISSUES DO YOU THINK REALLY MATTER THAT YOU WANT TO IMPRESS THE VOTERS, HEY, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO, WHEN I BECOME A UNITED STATES SENATOR.

>> ONE, WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA.

BEING IN D.C. FOR THE TWO YEARS WE COMPLETE THE TRUMP TERM, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ISSUES HE IS ADVANCING.

IMMIGRATION IS A VERY MUCH IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR US, A SECURE BORDER MATTERS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO SECURE THE BORDER PHYSICALLY, AND PROVIDE THE AGENTS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB.

IF YOU DON'T SECURE YOUR BORDER FIRST, THEN YOU CAN'T SOLVE THE REMAINING IMMIGRATION ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THE ONE THING WE KNOW IS THE CARTEL HAS BEEN ABLE TO USE THE POROUS SOUTHERN BORDER TO NOT ON THE BRING FENTANYL INTO OUR STATE, A SIGNIFICANT LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE CAUSING A LOSS OF LIFE AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO WE'VE SEEN THE CARTELS INVOLVED IN LABOR AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE STOP IT ON THE FRONT END.

WE TALK ABOUT THE LIMITED POWERS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT HELPS TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE SENATE TO REMIND COLLEAGUES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A VERY DEFINED AND SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN THE ISSUES WE ENGAGE IN AND THE MATTERS WE SHOULD DEBATE OUGHT TO RELATE TO THE CORE PRINCIPLES OUR FOUNDERS GOT TOGETHER.

I'M A PROSECUTOR AT HEART, CARE ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE ME ENGAGED IN WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> YOU BROUGHT UP IMMIGRATION.

I WANTED TO GET TO THAT.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES GOING ON NOW.

A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE I.C.E.

RAIDS IN LOS ANGELES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND NOW IN ALABAMA.

IN YOUR VIEW, IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOING ABOUT THIS THE RIGHT WAY?

THERE ARE CONSTITUTIONAL AND DUE PROCESS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW I.C.E.

IS GOING ABOUT IT.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH HOW D.O.J.

AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND I.C.E.

IS GOING ABOUT THIS?

>> OBVIOUSLY MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN LITIGATED.

WE ARE ENGAGED WITH THE TRUMP EFFORTS FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD BEING BROUGHT OUT IN CALIFORNIA TO STOP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE RIOTS AND BEING ABLE TO PROTECT FEDERAL BUILDINGS.

WHEN WE SEE THE NUMBER THAT COME ACROSS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE CLEARLY VIOLATIVE OF THE LAW, I BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO HELP I.C.E.

AND PROSECUTE THOSE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS, THOSE WHO HAVE VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW AND PROVEN THEY CAN'T ABIDE BY THE LAWS AND STATE AND COUNTRY, WE NEED TO REMOVE THOSE, AND WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT LAWS.

DO YOU HAVE A VALID DEPORTATION ORDER, THOSE NEED TO BE EXECUTED, AND IF SOMEONE IS HERE ON A PAROL TYPE AND THE TIME PERIOD EXPIRED, THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEED TO BE REMOVED.

>> IF YOU'RE ELECTED TO THE SENATE, THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE YOU VOTE ON.

AS YOU'VE SAID, THE BORDER SITUATION HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED, ENFORCEMENT HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED JUST BECAUSE TO HAVE THE CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION.

THAT'S WORTH STATING.

BUT THE LAW HASN'T CHANGED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING THE QUESTION SHOULD IT CHANGE.

I WAS LISTENING TO TOM HOLMAN, THE BORDER CZAR, AND HE SAYS WE'RE TRYING TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT EXIST, IF CONGRESS WANTS TO CHANGE THEM, AND MAYBE THEY SHOULD.

ONCE WE GET PAST THE ENFORCEMENT SITUATION, CAN WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE ESTABLISH AN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT WORKS IN TERMS OF FOLKS THAT NEED TO COME HERE CAN AND THERE'S A BORDER THAT WORKS AND ALL THAT, IS LEGITIMATE IMMIGRATION REFORM POSSIBLE IN THIS POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S POSSIBLE UNTIL WE SECURE THE BORDER FULLY.

UNTIL YOU DO THAT THERE'S NO ABILITY TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING ON THE PACK SIDE.

WHAT WE'VE FACED AS A RESULT OF THE POLICIES OF THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION IS IMMENSE VOLUMES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENTER THE COUNTRY THAT ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS AND UNTIL YOU ADDRESS THAT ISSUE I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET TO THE QUESTION OF LOOKING AT THE ISSUE OF REFORM BECAUSE, UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS FULLY, I DON'T THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO THE NEXT STEP.

IS A MEMBER OF THE BODY WILLING TO ENGAGE AND BE ABLE TO IMPACT THE POLICIES OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA?

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GLOBALLY MY FOCUS IN THE SENATE, IT WILL BE WHAT CAN I DO TO ENHANCE THE INTERESTS OF ALABAMA, WHETHER ON THE CULTURAL SECTION, THE MANUFACTURING SIDE, AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE POCKETBOOKS OF ALABAMA THAT ARE IMPACTED BY WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES.

IMMIGRATION CAN HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M SECURING THE INTEREST OF OUR STATE WHEN WE HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SENATORS, AND ALABAMA'S HAD ITS VARIETY OVER THE YEARS.

THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE QUIETER, SOME THAT ARE KIND OF BEHIND THE SCENES, SOME MORE OUT FRONT AND EVERYTHING.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO BE, WHAT KIND OF SENATOR YOU WANT TO BE, UNDERSTANDING KATIE BRITT IS UP THERE AND ESTABLISHING HERSELF ON THE APPROPRIATIONS SIDE, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT COMMITTEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I KNOW IT'S VERY EARLY IN THE RACE BUT HAVE YOU GIVEN THOUGHT TO WHAT KIND OF SENATOR YOU WANT TO BE IN THE STATE?

>> VERY INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE ALABAMA COMMITTEE, ARMED SERVICES, THOSE ARE TWO FUNDAMENTAL AREAS FOR OUR STATE IN WAYS THAT WE NEED TO BE ENGAGED.

WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT SENATOR BRITT HAS ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING HER TIME AND MAKE SURE THERE'S THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT ALLOWS US TO COLLECTIVELY BE ABLE TO ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE RICHARD SHELBY, JEFF SESSIONS, KATIE BRITT, I'M GOING TO BE STEVE MARSHALL.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS THE STATE HAS HAD EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS AND WILL HAVE HAD TEN BY THE TIME I'M DONE TO SEE THE KIND OF PUBLIC SERVANT I AM.

I PUT MY HEAD DOWN AND GETS RESULTS.

THAT'S THE SAME THING I WOULD DO AS UNITED STATES SENATOR.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT HOW MUCH I WOULD STAND IN THE ROTUNDA AND SEE MY FACE ON TV, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT HOW ACTIVE I CAN BE ON TWITTER.

WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS DELIVERING RESULTS TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

THERE'S A LOT I CAN LEARN FROM THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED BEFORE ME, A LOT I CAN LEARN FROM KATIE BRITT.

THE ABILITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT ROLE LOOKS LIKE WILL BE SOMETHING I GROW INTO THE JOB LIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE I WASN'T LIKE BILL PRYOR, LUTHER STRANGE OR JEFF SESSIONS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I HAVE BEEN AN INDIVIDUAL THAT CHARTS THEIR OWN COURSE, I CAN THINK INDEPENDENTLY ABOUT THE ISSUES IN FRONT OF ME, AND I WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE BUT UNDERSTAND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT'S THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA THAT PUT ME THERE AND I NEED TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THEIR INTEREST.

>> I'M GOING TO GET YOU TO PUT YOUR A.G. HAT BACK ON.

WE HAD THIS RULING LAST WEEK FROM THE SUPREME COURT, HAVING TO DO WITH TENNESSEE'S TRANSGENDER TREATMENT LAW FOR MINORS, UPHOLDING TENNESSEE'S LAW.

ALABAMA HAS A VERY SIMILAR LAW THAT WAS ALREADY ADJUDICATED AND EVERYTHING, BUT THIS IS A REALLY SIGNIFICANT RULING, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, UPHOLDING, DECIDING IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL WHAT TENNESSEE DID.

IN ESSENCE, DECIDING WHAT ALABAMA DID IS CONSTITUTIONAL IN TERMS OF RESTRICTING OR BANNING TRANSGENDER TREATMENTS FOR MINORS.

TALK ABOUT THIS RULING, HOW DID THE COURT REACH ITS CONCLUSION BASED ON YOUR RULING?

>> YEAH, GREAT DECISION TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT KIDS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND IN ESSENCE VALIDATED THE 27 STATES INCLUDING ALABAMA THAT HAVE ALREADY ACTED PROACTIVELY TO BAN CROSS-SEX HORMONES, PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND SURGERIES ON KIDS THAT SEEMINGLY SERVE FROM GENDER DYSPHORIA.

THE COURT WAS CONFRONTED WITH A DISCRETE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION WHICH IS, WHEN THESE LAWS ARE REVIEWED, WHAT STANDARD OF REVIEW AND DOES THE COURT OF GIVE THE LEVEL TO THE STATE TO DETERMINE THE LAWS, WHAT IS THE LOWEST LEVEL, RATIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO.

ALABAMA, WAS TO GIVE FACTUAL ON TEXT TO THE COURT AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS BEING SAID BY THE PROPONENTS, BY THOSE ADVANCING THE TRANSGENDER AGENDA BUZZ NOT ACCURATE.

WE GOT INTO AN UNDERBELLY OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED W-PATH AND SHOW THEIR STANDARDS OF CARE REALLY WEREN'T RESEARCH BASED BUT MORE POLITICALLY DRIVEN.

WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE LAWYERS WERE HAVING AN INFLUENCE ON THOSE STANDARDS OF CARE TO FIT THEIR NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR LITIGATION AS TO POSED TO THE NEEDS OF KIDS.

MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPTS WITHIN OUR MEDICAL ETHICS IS INFORMED CONSENT AND WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THOSE DOCTORS WHO WERE ADVOCATES OF THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT SAID WE CAN'T EXPLAIN THIS TO KIDS AND WE CAN'T EXPLAIN IT TO PARENTS.

MAYBE THE LAST THING IS WE WERE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE SO-CALLED SCIENCE THEY WERE ADVANCING WASN'T BASED IN STUDIES THAT WERE VALIDATED OR REPLICATED IN MULTIPLE LEVELS BUT, IN FACT, THE SYSTEMIC REVIEW OF THESE STUDIES SHOWED THAT IT'S VERY UNSETTLED ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS TRULY HELPING KIDS AT ALL AND, IN FACT, MAY BE HARMING KIDS LONG-TERM IN WAYS NOBODY HAS DISCLOSED.

>> I WAS ABLE AS THE COURT CASE WAS REPORTED OUT AND EVERYTHING, I WAS LISTENING TO SOME OF THE -- I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY THE PROPONENTS OF TRANSGENDER KIDS AND EVERYTHING, SOME PARENTS THAT WERE SAYING, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A CHILD WHO HAS KNOWN AND DEMONSTRATED FROM VERY EARLY OPEN THAT THEY WANTED TO BE A DIFFERENT SEX, A DIFFERENT GENDER, AND, SO, RESTRICTING THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE THOSE HORMONES, PUBERTY BLOCKERS, WHATEVER, REALLY HARMS THEIR CHILD BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO ADVANCE PAST, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT AND EVERYTHING.

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT ARGUMENT THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT CHILD IS GOING TO HAVE, THEY WOULD SAY, IRREVERSIBLE THINGS FOR DEVELOPING THOSE SEX PARTS.

>> I WOULD TELL THOSE PARENTS THEY WERE LIED TO.

WHAT MANY PARENTS HEARD FROM PHYSICIANS AND OTHERS ADVOCATING THIS TREATMENT IS IF YOU IN FACT DON'T ENGAGE IN GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, YOUR CHILD IS AT EXTREME RISK OF SUICIDE.

WHAT WE LEARNED AS A RESULT OF WHAT ALABAMA DID AND WHAT WAS ULTIMATELY ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE CASE IS THERE IS NO INCREASED RISK OF SUICIDE FOR KIDS THAT DON'T RECEIVE GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE.

IN FACT, IT'S OPPOSITE.

THE OTHER THING IS THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO TREAT GENDER DYSPHORIA.

HISTORICALLY THE SMALL NUMBER OF KIDS THAT HAD THE CONDITION WERE ABLE TO GO TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO ADDRESS THE CONFUSION OF THEIR GENDER.

IT'S AN EFFECTIVE WAY WITHOUT MEDICAL INTERVENTION OR LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THERE ARE SAD STORIES TO LISTEN TO DE-TRANSITIONERS NOW THAT DESCRIBE THE ADVERSE MEDICAL IMPACT THAT OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF WHAT WAS DONE TO THEM AND FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR DECISION.

IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR PARENTS AND I SUPPORTED THAT, BUT ALABAMA DEMONSTRATED PARENTS WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THE FULL PICTURE, NOT ONLY IN THE SHORT-TERM OF WHAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED TO ASSIST THEIR KIDS, BUT IN THE LONG TERM OF THE KIDS WHO FACED THE CONSEQUENCES.

PROUD OF ALABAMA IS INTERESTING.

COMMENTATORS HAVE SAID, AND I'M PROUD OF THIS, THE GREATEST MISTAKE OF THE GARLAND ADMINISTRATION OF D.O.J.

WAS SUING ALABAMA IN THIS CASE BECAUSE WE EXPOSED THE FRAUD FOR WHAT IT WAS AND NOW THE NATION IS BETTER OFF FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE.

>> SO OUR LAW IS AFFIRMED.

>> OUR LAW IS AFFIRMED.

IN FACT, THE PLAINTIFFS A LITTLE OAF A MONTH AGO VOLUNTARILY DISMISSED THEIR CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT EVER RULED, AND I THINK THE REASON IS NUMBER ONE THEY SAW THE LAW AND MOVED AGAINST THEM BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FACTS WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP IN THE RECORD SHOWED NOT ONLY DID ALABAMA HAVE A RATIONAL BASIS TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT KIDS FROM THIS TYPE OF CARE BUT UNIVERSITY WE HAD A COMPELLING INTEREST TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS WERE NOT THE SUBJECT OF EXPERIMENTATION.

>> APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION.

GOOD LUCK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

WE'LL TALK AGAIN.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS AMI BROOKS, SECRETARY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE NOT USED TO HEARING THAT.

>> NO, FUNNY JOKE IN MY HOUSE IS THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS EVEN BEFORE WE KNEW THIS WOULD TRANSPIRE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I WAS HOPING YOU COULD SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE SOME OF YOUR BACKGROUND, WHAT LED YOU TO THE ROLE.

>> I WAS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AROUND CHILDREN, GREW UP IN PRATTVILLE AT THE Y UNDER MY FATHER TEACHING CHILDREN LOTS OF GROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMENTS, WENT TO AUM AND SPENT 19 YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF THOSE 19 WERE ACTUALLY IN A FIRST CLASS PRE-K CLASSROOM.

ALTHOUGH I HAD BEEN IN 15 YEARS BEFORE THAT AND WHEN I WALKED IN A FIRST CLASS PRE-K CLASSROOM, I THOUGHT THIS IS WHAT I WAS BORN FOR.

WHAT TEACHERS OFFERED, THE MATERIALS, ENVIRONMENT, THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT.

NEVER SAW MYSELF LEAVING BECAUSE I HAD FOUND MY HAPPY PLACE.

YOU KNOW, LO AND BEHOLD, I ENDED UP AT THE DEPARTMENT IN 2019 SERVING AS WHAT WE CALL A COACH FACILITATOR.

SO ALL OF OUR CLASSROOMS THAT ARE STATE FUNDED THAT OUR FIRST CLASS PRE-K CLASSROOMS RECEIVE COACHING SUPPORT AND THOSE COACHES ARE EMPLOYED BY OUR DEPARTMENT TO MY ROLE WAS TO SUPPORT THE FIRST CLASS PRE-K COACHES THAT WERE GOING OUT AMONG REGIONS.

SO I WALKED IN THAT ROLE FOR THREE YEARS, THOUGHT I FOUND ANOTHER SWEET SPOT AND,LOW AND BEHOLD, FOUND MYSELF WORKING WITH OUR PRE-K TO THIRD GRADE INITIATIVE, STRAITING ALL THE FUNDING AND GRANTS FOR THE PROGRAM AS PART OF GOVERNOR IVY'S STRONG START FINISH AND WORKING WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT TOOL WE USE WHICH IS TEACHING STRATEGIES GOALS.

WAS ROCKING AND ROLLING IN THAT, AND THEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME IN FRONT OF ME, AND IT WAS -- ALTHOUGH IT WAS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, KNEE-SHAKING, WHEN YOU JUST KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS RIGHT, YOU JUST KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS RIGHT.

CHILDREN ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL THAT I DO, AND WILL BE MY NORTH STAR IN EVERY DECISION THAT I MAKE, AND I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE CHARGE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE I FEEL LIKE I'VE JUST KIND OF COME UP THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT STARTING AS A TEACHER AND THEN THE VARIOUS ROLES THAT HAVE ALLOWED ME ACCESS TO WORK WITH MANY PROGRAMS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

>> I DO THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS, INCLUDING THE CLASSROOM.

I THINK THAT IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT IN YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE OF HAVING ALL THOSE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOW, YOU KNOW, ASKING PEOPLE TO GO AND DO THAT ROLE AND YOU HAVE BEEN THERE.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

DEFINITELY, I THINK, HELPS HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN IN THAT SEAT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK INTO WHAT ARE WE ASKING TEACHERS TO DO BECAUSE WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR CHILDREN BUT ALSO KNOWING WHAT'S BEST FOR CHILDREN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR TEACHERS ARE SUPPORTED AND WALKING THIS OUT, AND, SO, REALLY HAVING THAT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ARE WE ASKING OUR TEACHERS, HOW ARE WE LIFTING THEM UP, HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING THE WORKFORCE SO THEY CAN CARRY OUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO, AND THEN JUST BEING ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MAGIC THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AND BE ABLE TO HELP SHARE THAT NARRATIVE ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT WHAT IS OCCURRING IN THESE CLASSROOMS IS A GOOD THING.

>> MAGIC.

I LIKE THAT.

I WANT TO GET MORE TO THAT.

YOU MENTIONED THE P-3 INITIATIVE.

THIS IS THE NEXT LEVEL FROM WHAT WE REALLY TRADITIONALLY THINK OF AS FIRST CLASS PRE-K AND EARLY CHILDHOOD.

SO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS INITIATIVE IS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> CERTAINLY.

THIS INITIATIVE WAS A GRASSROOTS EFFORT IN 2017, ONE OF OUR FIRST CLASS PRE-K SITES SAID WHAT WE'RE DOING IN PRE-K IS REALLY WORKING, WHY ARE WE STOPPING IT?

WHY ARE WE NOT CONTINUING BUILDING ON THIS BRIDGE INTO KINDERGARTEN?

SO, VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS CAME TOGETHER, AND THE FIRST P-3 CLASSROOM WAS STARTED IN 2017 IN COFFEE COUNTY AND THAT YEAR WE HAD 35 CLASSROOMS, AND I HAVE TO A BRAIDING OF FUNDING AS THE PROGRAM GOT ESTABLISHED.

AND HERE WE ARE IN 2025 WITH 450 CLASSROOMS STATEWIDE IN OUR PRE-K TO THIRD GRADE INITIATIVE AND WE ALSO ARE FULLY STATE FUNDED NOW THROUGH THE STRONG START, STRONG FINISH.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE CAN VARY FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE A FIRST CLASS PIQUE CLASSROOM BECAUSE THAT'S THE BRIDGE WE'RE BUILDING UPON AND TYPICALLY THEY CAN BRIDGE INTO KINDERGARTEN AND CAN GET FIRST, DECKED AND THIRD GRADE.

WE'LL HAVE ABOUT 15 THIRD GRADE CLASSROOMS THIS YEAR WHICH IS EXCITING.

TAKING THAT FOUNDATION OF BEST PRACTICE, STUDENT' LED OPPORTUNITY, INVESTIGATIVE LEARNING, AND WORKING ALONGSIDE THE TEACHER, STATE EXPECTATIONS, ALSO, AND HELPING THEM IMPLEMENT THESE PRACTICES IN THEIR CLASSROOMS IN THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN.

THE GRANT IS A $20,000 GRANT.

MOST OF THAT GOES TO FUNDING THE ENVIRONMENT, SETTING IT UP WHERE THERE'S LEARNING AREAS RATHER THAN ROWS OF DESKS, HANDS-ON INITIATIVES AND WITH THE TEACHER.

OUR PRE-K CLASSROOMS ALSO RECEIVE COACHING SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO REPLICATE FAR AND WIDE.

>> YES.

>> SPEAKING OF EXPANDING, ITSELF IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, THEY SOUGHT INCREASES FOR FIRST CLASS PRE-K FUNDING, BASICALLY WANTING TO ADD IT TO MORE STUDENTS.

>> YES.

>> I SAW A NUMBER OF NEW CLASSROOMS IN A PRESS RELEASE.

TALK ABOUT EXPANSION OF FIRST CLASS PRE-K TO MORE CLASSROOMS AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THAT.

>> YES.

AND 55 IS RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS SOME SHIFTING OF CLASSROOMS ALSO.

WE RECEIVED FUNDING FOR 30 BRAND-NEW CLASSROOMS, AND WE GRANTED 35.

ONE THING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS YEAR, I'LL SPEAK MORE IN JUST A MINUTE ABOUT A STUDY THAT WE DID WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, BUT THROUGH THE RESULTS, WE GAINED A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE ALSO ABOUT HOW SOMETIMES IT CAN BE COSTLY TO ADMINISTER FIRST CLASS PRE-K ESPECIALLY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINING THE QUALITY AND THE LEVEL OF TEACHING DEGREES THAT WE REQUIRE.

SO, WE WERE ABLE TO UP OUR GRANT AMOUNTS, ALSO, TO HELP SUPPORT THAT.

AND, SO, THAT EFFORT, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE, WILL, INC. MEANY ALLOW MORE SCHOOLS TO APPLY THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD CLOSE TO 1,500 CLASSROOMS, SO, YOU KNOW, THE NEW 55 WILL GET US OVER THAT.

AND -- >> WELL, I THINK PART OF THAT, ALSO, IS, IN TERMS OF EXPANSION, WE SAY A LOT.

WE LIKE TO TOOT OUR HORN ABOUT HAVING THE HIGHEST QUALITY PRE-K IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, FOR QUALITY, BUT PART OF EXPANSION, IT'S BEEN KIND OF A SLOW ROLL BECAUSE YOU COULD GO EXPAND IT TO EVERY CLASSROOM IN THE STATE NOW BUT MAYBE WE WOULD LOSE THAT QUALITY.

IS THAT KIND OF PART OF YOUR STRATEGY?

>> YES, THAT IS PART OF OUR STRATEGY.

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR EARLY EDUCATION RESEARCH, THE RATING, WE'VE RECEIVED THAT RATING FOR 19 YEARS IN A ROW AND THAT HELPS US MEASURE QUALITY LOOKING AT MAKING SURE WORKFORCE IS DEVELOPED, LEAD TEACHER CREDENTIALS AS WELL AS AUXILIARY TEACHERS PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THEM, ALSO LOOKING AT CLASS SIZE, TEACHER-CHILD RATIO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR GUIDELINES AND OUR EXPECTATIONS IF YOU ARE FUNDED ONE OF THESE CLASSROOMS.

AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EXPANSION, WE DO HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, INTENTIONAL AND INCREMENTAL IN OUR GROWTH, AND PART OF THAT ACCESS AND CALL STUDY THAT I'VE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER.

>> YEAH, TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT REVEALED TO US THAT IT HELPED US IDENTIFY, SO WE COULD BE MORE INTENTIONAL, 20 COUNTIES THAT HAD HIGH WAIT LISTS BUT LOW ACCESS.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, GOT US CURIOUS WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN ON A WAIT LIST, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T THERE PLACES FOR THEM TO GO.

>> SO THAT BECOMES A TARGET FOR YOU?

>> YES, YES, AND THE STUDY IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE BARRIERS WERE, YOU KNOW, HAVING SPACING.

IF WE THINK ABOUT 75% OF OUR CLASSROOMS LAST YEAR WERE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

SO, THAT WAS ABOUT 1,100, I THINK, OF OUR 1,500.

SO, DO THEY HAVE SPACES IN THEIR BUILDINGS TO ADD ON MORE PRE-K, EVEN IF THERE IS A DEMAND.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT THE STUDY SHARED WAS TRANSPORTATION -- YOU KNOW, IT IS HARD TO GET THE CHILDREN TO AND FROM THESE PLACES, ESPECIALLY WITH WORK SCHEDULES OF PARENTS, AND DRIVING CHILDREN TO OTHER LOCATIONS, AND THEN AFTER-SCHOOL CARE.

SO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP PROVIDE AND PARTNER IN AREAS WHERE WE MIGHT NOT HAVE PARTNERED BEFORE TO THINK ABOUT BREAKING DOWN THOSE BARRIERS.

AND, SPECIFICALLY, IN THOSE 20 COUNTIES FIRST BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO LOWER THOSE WAIT LISTS, YOU KNOW, AS BEST THAT WE CAN SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE ON THIS PATH OF GROWTH.

>> MM-HMM.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS -- WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THEY JUST PASSED A CELL PHONE BAN FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, RIGHT?

IT STRIKES ME BECAUSE WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT ANXIETY AMONGST CHILDREN AND EVERYTHING AND MAYBE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY THAN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION, BUT STRIKES ME THIS COULD START AS EARLY AS PRE-K IN TERMS OF THEIR EMOTIONAL WELL BEING AND HOW IT COULD, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD STAND TO BENEFIT FROM PRE-K.

SO TALK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUNGSTERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, ONE THING THAT WE ARE -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY LOCKING ARMS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND REALLY COMING TO THE TABLE ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SUPPORTS CAN WE PUT IN PLACE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND TEACHERS BECAUSE IT IS ALSO A HARDSHIP ON TEACHERS AS THEY ARE SUPPORTING CHILDREN THAT MIGHT BE COMING IN THE CLASSROOM WITH ANXIETY AND THINGS WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE DUE TO THE USE OF SCREENS AND VARIOUS OTHER REASONS.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO IN EVERY CLASSROOM, OUR ASSESSMENT TOOL WE USE STATEWIDE LOOKS AT THE WHOLE CHILD AND ONE PIECE OF THAT IS THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD.

SO, TEACHERS ARE HELPING CHILDREN MANAGE THEIR FEELINGS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MANAGE THEIR FEELS, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIDN'T GET THE SNACK THAT I WANT?

OR WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE TO WAIT MY TURN?

YOU KNOW, HOW DO I LEARN TO SHARE?

A LOT OF THESE THINGS WE THINK CHILDREN ARE GOING TO COME IN THE CLASSROOM, KNOW HOW TO SHARE, KNOW HOW TO STAND IN LINE AND WAIT THEIR TURN, AND THOSE ARE THINGS AND SKILLS THAT HAVE TO BE TAUGHT.

SO THIS ASSESSMENT TOOL HELPS THEM SEE BIRTH TO AGE EIGHT, WHERE ARE THEY IN THESE WIDELY-HELD EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT'S THE RIGHT NEXT STEP TO TAKE?

YOU WILL SEE THAT IN THE BLOCK CENTER, A LOT OF NEGOTIATION AND IT'S MY BLOCK, CAN I HAVE A TURN, CAN I WAIT MY TURN, YOU KNOCKED OVER MY TOWER, SPEAKING OF BOUNDARIES, YOU KNOW, I'M BUILDING HERE, CAN YOU BUILD OVER HERE, THOSE THINGS ARE GOING ON IN OUR PLAYFUL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DAY.

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE IN THE LEARNING AREAS HELPING THEM PERSIST RATHER THAN GIVING UP, CHALLENGE THEMSELVES, GET EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING NEW THINGS AND SETTING A PLAN AND WHAT STEPS FOR THE PLAN AND HELPING MY ACCOMPLISH LIKE, TODAY, I WANT TO GO TO THE ART CENTER, PAINT A PICTURE OF MY MOM AND PUT IT IN MY CUBBY.

YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS THAT TRANSLATE INTO WHERE WE ARE AS ADULTS.

>> IT'S LITTLE THINGS BUT SO FOUNDATIONAL.

>> YES, ALL OF OUR CLASSROOMS USE THE TOOL AS WELL AS OUR P-3 CLASSROOMS, ALSO.

>> FASCINATING STUFF.

I COULD TALK ABOUT IT ALL DAY.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ROLE AS SECRETARY.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE REALLY MEANT FOR THE JOB.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT FIRST CLASS.

IT'S SUCH A MEANINGFUL PROGRAM FOR THE STATE.

IT'S REALLY A GEM FOR THE STATE.

I HOPE YOU WILL SHARE SOME OF THE PROGRESS AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> MM-HMM.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THE ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED THE 2025-2026 THEATER SEASON.

JOINING ME IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TODD SCHMIDT AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR QUIN GRESHAM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> PLEASURE.

>> WE'LL GET TO THE "WIZARD OF OZ", BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE SEASON.

WE'VE GOT AGATHA CHRISTY'S "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS", DISNEY'S "FROZEN," THE BROADWAY MUSICAL WILL BE A HUGE HIT, "THE LEHMAN TRILOGY," "UNFORGETTABLE" WITH NAT KING COLE MUSIC, "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING", "CHICKEN & BISCUITS," "BEAUTIFUL," THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, A PACKED SEASON OF SHOWS, AND BUSY GETTING TO WORK.

FIRST, WE ASK WHAT GOES INTO MAKING THE CHOICES OF WHAT, IN TERMS OF WHAT TO PRODUCE AT THE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL.

>> WE WANT TO SERVE AS IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE AND, TWO, THINKING ABOUT OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY IN TO THE ENTIRETY OF THE SEASON, WE WANT YOU TO HAVE VARIETY AROUND EVERY TURN AND, SO, WE HAVE COMEDY, WE HAVE MYSTERY, WE HAVE DRAMA, WE HAVE HISTORY, WE HAVE MUSIC, DANCING, IT'S A ALL IN THERE, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SEEMS ACTUALLY PRETTY AMBITIOUS.

IS THAT A GOOD WORD TO DESCRIBE A PRETTY INTERESTING LIST OF SHOWS?

>> I THINK, YES, IT IS AN AMBITIOUS SEASON.

IT'S QUIN'S FIRST SEASON HE'S PROGRAMMED.

IT'S EXCITING.

I THINK THE STUFF HE'S CHOSEN AS YOU SAID IS FANTASTIC AND WILL HAVE BROAD APPEAL.

THERE ARE KNOWN TITLES.

THERE ARE NEW WORKS.

ONE OF THE WORKS WE COMMISSIONED IS PART OF OUR NEW SOUTHERN CANNON RECONSTRUCTION BY TONY AND PULITZER PRIZE WINNER ROBERT SCHENKKAN.

SO IT'S A REALLY AMBITIOUS SEASON, THAT'S THE WORD.

>> AMBITIOUS.

WE LIKE TO SEE THAT.

THAT'S GREAT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WIZARD.

WE TALKED ABOUT "WIZARD OF OZ".

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE YOU REVEALED THE NEWS YOU WERE GOING TO DO IT.

YOU'RE IN PREPRODUCTION REHEARSALS FOR WIZARD.

STARTING ON JULY 89, SO IT'S TIME TO GET TICKETS.

>> YES.

>> IT'S AN ICONIC SHOW, AN EXCITING SHOW IN AN EXCITING TIME WITH ALL THE CRAZE AROUND "WICKED," RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

I KEEP SAYING IT'S THE MUCH ANTICIPATED SEQUEL OF "WICKED," FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WICKED WITCH OF DOROTHY.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT SHOW SEWN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR LIVES.

WE ALL GREW UP WATCHING THIS MOVIE.

WE WERE ALL OF AN AGE WHERE WE KNEW IT WOULD BE BROADCAST EVERY SINGLE YEAR ON TV.

>> YEAH.

>> THE TRICK THERE, OF COURSE, IS EVERYBODY KNOWS IT, AND HAVE THOSE ICONIC IMAGES BURNED INTO THEIR MEMORIES.

>> IS THAT THE CHALLENGE TO PUT ON A SHOW EVERYBODY KNOWS AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT NEW AND FRESH.

>> YOU DO, BUT YOU HAVE TO HONOR THE ORIGINAL EVERYONE IS ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING.

I THINK THE REAL TRICK THERE IS, ONE, YOU'RE BREATHING THE SAME AIR AS THE SCARECROW, LION AND TIN MAN AND DOROTHY, AND THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WATCHING IT ON THE SCREEN.

YOU KNOW YOUR PARTICIPATION AS AN AUDIENCE MEMBER HAS AN EFFECT ON THE WORK IN FRONT OF YOU.

ALSO, TOO, THESE ARE DIFFERENT ACTORS.

THIS IS NOT JUDY GARLAND.

BY VIRTUE OF A DIFFERENT ACTOR PLAYING THE ROLL IT COMES TO LIFE IN NEW AND INTERESTING WAYS.

OUR DIRECTOR HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB IN GUIDING THE CAST TO HONOR THE MOVIE BUT ALSO BE TRUE TO THEMSELVES AS ACTORS.

>> ONE SHOW I REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO WAS "SOUND OF MUSIC," ANOTHER ICONIC SHOW EVERYBODY HAS SEEN, AND WHAT Y'ALL DID, YOUR CHOICES WITH STAGING WERE SO INTERESTING THAT IT DID JUST KIND OF TAKE YOU OUT OF THAT, YOU KNOW, JULIE ANDREWS THING, IT REALLY WAS ITS OWN SHOW, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STAGING CHOICES THAT YOU HAVE FOR "WIZARD."

>> MUCH LIKE "SOUND OF MUSIC," IN SOME WAYS, WE HAVE, WHAT, ELEVEN LOCAL KIDS IN THE SHOW PLAYING MUNCHKINS, AND THAT'S ALWAYS FUN.

IN SOUND OF MUSIC, YOU'VE GOT THE YOUNG KIDS IN THE "SOUND OF MUSIC."

SAME THING IN THIS SHOW.

EVERY GENERATION IS REPRESENTED ON STAGE IN THIS CAST FROM THE LITTLE KIDS THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE SENIOR AND ADULT ACTORS INCLUDING GRETA LAMBERT PLAYING THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST.

>> THAT'S EXCITING.

SHE'S COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT, RIGHT?

>> WE BASHED RETIREMENT.

THAT'S OVER.

HAMLET, PLAYED POLONIAS, A TYPICAL MALE ROLE.

SHE RETIRED FROM OUR STAFF BUT LIVES IN MONTGOMERY AND IS AVAILABLE TO ACT WHEN APPROPRIATE AND IF IT'S SOMETHING SHE'S INTERESTED DOING.

>> WHAT BETTER ROLE THAN THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST.

FANTASTIC.

I HAVE A FRIEND OF THE SHOW, HIS SON GRIFF IS IN THE SHOW.

>> GRIFF AND A NUMBER OF THE OTHER CHILDREN ARE RUNNING THE RISK OF STEALING THE SHOW COMPLETELY.

>> HERE WE GO.

>> THE MUNCHKIN SCENE, I THEY ARE HOW GREAT IT IS EVERY DAY.

>> I CAN'T WAIT.

ALSO, WE'VE GOT IMAGES.

YOU'VE GOT TOTO, A REAL, LIVE DOG.

THAT'S AN AMBITIOUS CHOICE.

>> WILLIAM BERLONI IS THE GREAT ANIMAL TRAINING OF THE INDUSTRY, BEGAN IN THE '70S WITH THE FIRST PRODUCTION OF "ANNIE," AND DEVELOPED HIS COTTAGE INDUSTRY OF HIS ANIMAL THEATER TRAINING FOR THEATER AND FILM.

WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE BILL WITH US IN GETTINGS THINGS SET TO MAKE SURE THE ANIMALS WERE DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

THE DOGS LIVE WITH GLENDA.

SHE WORKS FOR BILL AS WELL AS BEING AN ACTOR.

>> INTERESTING.

>> THESE DOGS, I MEAN, THEY TRULY ARE SOME OF THE MOST DISCIPLINED ACTORS I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND.

>> VERY TRUE.

>> THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.

AND YOU WILL BELIEVE WHEN ALEXIS KENNY AS DOROTHY SINGS "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW" THAT TOTO IS LISTENING WITH RAPT ATTENTION.

IT'S SOMETHING TO SEE.

>> I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

THAT SONG ALONE IS ICONIC UNTO ITSELF.

WHAT CAN AUDIENCES EXPECT?

I'M THINKING OF THE MOVIE.

I DID A PRODUCTION IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE MOVIE.

HOW CLOSELY HEWN IS IT TO THE MOVIE?

I'M GUESSING A LOT OF THE SAME NUMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THIS VERSION IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE FILM.

THE ONLY DEPARTURE IS GOING TO BE A SONG THAT WAS ACTUALLY CUT FROM THE FILM.

THEY DID FILM IT, THE JITTERBUG, WHICH IS ANOTHER OF THE BEASTS THAT THE WICKED WITCH SENDS TO THWART DOROTHY.

THE JITTER BUGS, ONE, THEY HAVE FANTASTIC COSTUMES BUT THE CHOREOGRAPHY IS FANTASTIC, TOO.

>> I AM TESTIMONY WITH THE JITTERBUG.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SEE THE WIZARD THIS SEASON.

IT'S AMBITIOUS AND EXCITING.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT ASF AS AN INSTITUTION.

YES, IT'S BASED HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY BUT THIS IS AN INSTITUTION THAT SERVES THE STATEWIDE MISSION OF PROMOTING THE ARTS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> AT THE ARE THE STATE THEATER OF ALABAMA.

WE HAVE BEEN THAT SINCE IN THE '70S I THINK THAT DESIGNATION HAPPENED.

WHEN THE THEATER WAS STILL IN ANNISTON, ALABAMA.

MOVED TO MONTGOMERY 40 YEARS AGO, RIGHT NOW, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST BEEN HERE AND PART OF THIS REGION BUT REALLY THE WHOLE STATE.

AS YOU SAY, WE REACH OUT PRIMARILY THROUGH THE WORK WE DO THROUGH EDUCATION.

OUR SCHOOL FEST, KIND OF A STUDENT MATINEE SERIES, ATTRACTS KIDS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THIS STATE AND SOME EVEN FROM OUT OF S.A.T., GEORGIA, FLORIDA AND MISSISSIPPI.

OF THE 67 COUNTIES IN ALABAMA, 60 OF THEM HAVE BEEN TO THE THEATER IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.

>> WOW.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S 20,000 STUDENTS A YEAR THAT COME THROUGH THERE JUST SEEING THESE BROUGHT IN BY THEIR SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE GREAT MATERIALS THAT GO TO THE SCHOOLS AHEAD OF TIME TO HELP THEM PREPARE.

WE DO POSTSHOW DISCUSSIONS AND FOLLOW UP WITH ALL THE STUDENTS.

IT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST STATE-WIDE IMPACT.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE VISITORS THAT COME FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE AND OUT OF THE STATE, BEING THE REALLY ONLY TRULY FULLY PROFESSIONAL THEATER IN THE STATE AND, YOU KNOW, UNUSUAL TO HAVE A THEATER WITH THIS REPUTATION AND THIS SIZE, YOU KNOW, IN A STATE LIKE ALABAMA, REALLY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOT A STATE LIKE THIS OR THEATER LIKE THIS IN MISSISSIPPI IS A TESTAMENT TO THE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS THEATER SINCE ITS EARLY DAYS IN ANNISTON AND MOVING TO ALABAMA IN 1985.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN I BROUGHT OUT-OF-STATE FAMILY AND EVERYTHING TO SHOWS, THEY CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

THIS GEM IS RIGHT HERE IN YOUR HOMETOWN RIGHT HERE IN ALABAMA.

YEAH, THEY'RE A LITTLE SURPRISED BUT JEALOUS.

I THINK A LOT OF STATES WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YES.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THAT AND THE MISSION.

AGAIN, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY.

WHERE CAN WE GET TICKETS?

ASF.NET?

>> A GREAT PLACE TO GO.

>> MAYBE BUY A PACKAGE.

>> TICKETS ON SALE RIGHT NOW FOR THE "WIZARD OF OZ", AND OUR NEW SEASON, SUBSCRIBERS TICKETS ARE OR SALE NOW.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN A PANEL OF SEEING SEVEN SHOWS, THERE'S A FIVE-SHOW OR SEVEN-SHOW PANEL, IT'S THE MOST AFFORDABLE WAY TO SEE THEATER HERE, AN IT'S A GREAT THING.

YOU GET A WIDE VARIETY OF SHOWS, AND, I MEAN, I ALWAYS TALK TO SUBSCRIBERS WHO SURPRISE THEMSELVES AND SAY, HEY, I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THAT SHOW, IT WAS PART OF MY PACKAGE, BUT THAT WAS MY FAVORITE SHOW OF THE SEASON.

YOU NEVER SHOW, YOU CAN SURPRISE YOURSELF.

OUR TICKETS START AT $30, SO THEY'RE AFFORDABLE AS WELL.

>> AFFORDABLE AND GREAT TO SUPPORT, AS YOU SAID, THE STATE THEATER OF ALABAMA.

>> YES.

>> GENTLEMEN, GOOD LUCK ON THIS SEASON.

AGAIN, IT'S AMBITIOUS BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.

>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WON'T BE ON THE AIR NEXT WEEK FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY, BUT WE WILL RETURN THE FOLLOWING WEEK RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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