From our state house studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacy.

Welcome to Capitol journal.

Alabama's congressiona delegation is reacting to this weekend's attacks on Ira by the United States and Israel.

President Donald Trump confirmed again today that the two countries work together to target Iran's top leadership and military capabilities, and said the strikes could continue for weeks.

Here's what Alabama senator and representatives have to say.

U.S.

Senator Katie Britt said, quote, President Trump took decisive, necessary action against the world's leading sponsor of terrorism.

Unfortunately, du to the previous administration's open border policies, Iran's terror proxy groups pose a serious threat to our homeland.

Bran also emphasized the need to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, as Congress still hasn't come to an agreement on that for the last two weeks.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell said, quote, Iran has oppressed their people and supported terrorism in the region for decades.

This fact does not change the president's obligations under the Constitution to work with Congress on military actions that put troops, put our troops in harm's way, and could drag our country into another prolonged war in the Middle East.

U.S.

Senator Tommy Tuberville said, quote, Iran has been waging wa on the United States for years.

MAGA doesn't mean isolationism.

It's about standing up to the terrorists who chant Death to America.

And Congressman Mike Rogers, who chairs the Armed Services Committee, says, I commend President Trump for taking decisive actio to confront the serious threat posed by the Iranian terrorist regime.

President Trump made clear that he preferred diplomacy and a peaceful resolution, but Iran refused to change its course.

Look for more debate in Congress this week.

As the military action in the Middle East continues.

Back here to the state House.

We are now in the second hal of the 2026 legislative session, and the pace has been brisk to say the least, in the Senate, where the flow of legislation has stalled in years past, lawmakers say they have been working more closely across the aisle, moving bills efficiently and handling much of the debate off the floor.

But that could change her in the second half of session, Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger spoke about what to expect in the weeks ahead as lawmakers address thornier issues.

I think the Senate's running about as smooth as it's ever around.

I'm thankful that I get to work with my colleague, Majority Leader Steve Livingston.

We're working hand in hand on everything that we do with the rules chairman and all of our Chairmans to make sure that the Senate is doing what we need to do to handle and be as efficient as we need to for the people of Alabama.

Having said that, we've been jogging, making sure that we're making the right decisions.

A lot of the communication that we normally have as far as debate, we're handling that off the floor, which is great.

When we get to the floor, we can move through the, the calendar like you saw today.

But I do think that pace is going to be moving up with a little bit faster run, in the next few weeks, I think you'll see more day that we're going to be having, and I think you'll see a little bit faster pace.

And as my good friend Chris Elliott says from Baldwin County, the senator says it might be a little bit spicier.

But, we do have to handle the issues in front of us Over in the house.

One issue.

Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter is anticipating in the second half of session potentially closing primary elections.

Right now, any voter can vote in either party's primary.

The only crossover restriction applies in runoffs.

For example, if you vote in the Democrati primary, you were disqualified from voting in the Republican runoff.

But Alabama doesn' have voters register by party.

Ledbetter sai it could be time to change that.

There's probably three different bills.

Just one.

Our understanding, and certainl we'll have a chance to look to the sponsors of those bills all together and go, come at what they think would be the best.

And appreciate Senator Ted Cruz talked about it today and being engaged to him on the process.

I think it's he's going to be our next governo in certainly, mindful of that.

And, so we'll look at thos different pieces of legislation and see how they are.

And, you know, we'll try to come up with something that, that everybody can agree on.

I mean, I attended, that's what it's going to take.

I mean, it's you have all kind of legislations, but you can't get enough votes.

It doesn't matter.

So we've got to find something we can ge everybody on the same page with.

Representative Yarborough is proposing a bill for closed primaries.

And you have any thoughts on that or whether that has a chance to pass or.

Yeah.

I mean, I think it's, you know, I think I think he's got a chance.

I think it's like all bills.

I mean, we've got to kind of look and say, all right, what we can do, and get conversation.

You know, I no and that's a step for our state.

And, I think it's one that lot of people would like to see.

Speaker Ledbetter also addressed the recent change in the Republican House caucus.

That's all.

State Representative Paul Lee, elected majority leader and state Representative Jeff Sorrells replace him as chairman of the House Health Committee.

All that was triggered by State Representative Scott Stadthagen stepping down as majority leader.

People change their mind o what they want to be different, you know, different places and resigning from positions that they're not interested in anymore.

And I want to look at different things.

So that's just part of the process.

I mean, you look at our chamber, we've got five members has come in this session.

You know, that's unusual.

That's very unusual.

But I think it's just things change and that's, you know, you have to go forward.

When people make decisions I will go a different direction.

You respect that.

And and you try to, you know fill in the void where you can.

And I think, you know, certainly Jeff Sorrells is going to do a great job as chairman.

And I think, later, Lee is taking that post and the members voted him in.

That's that's the decision that they made.

And so I think, you know, it happens.

I mean, it's just a process.

It's what we do.

And, we see change all the time.

I think we've had more members.

This quadrennial has lef than any I've been involved in.

So, you know, we're just it's, it's kind of like the next guy up.

It's kind of like football team.

Somebody moves out.

It goes a different directio today with the transfer portal.

But more than anything, you know, it's just the next guy moves up.

So that's kind of where we're at this week is Read Across America Week, which will see efforts to encourage young people to read more books and to learn and develop their literacy skills.

Governor Kay Ivey is challenging Alabama's students to embrace this week, saying every dream begins with learning, and learning begins with reading, Alabama Steve Adams.

If you're Governor Kay Ivey, happy read Across America week here in my office at Alabama State Capitol, I am reminded that every big dream begins with learning.

Learning begins with reading.

As Doctor Seuss said, the more you read the more things you will know.

The more you learn, the more places you'll go.

Take it for me, a love of learning, a good education, and hard work can take you farther than you ever imagined.

And as we look ahead to America's 250th birthday, I encourage you to read about our nation's history, the freedoms we cherish, an the leaders who helped shape it.

So what are you waiting for?

Let's get reading.

We'll be right back with tonight's guests.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Free professional development for educators and childcare providers with access to free, curriculum aligned videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Media and all the PBS kids programs, parents know and trust.

Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP tv.org/education to learn more.

The Kahala Lily, name for the Harbor River, is an aquatic plant native to the major river systems of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina and Alabama.

Its best known natural habitat is the shoals of the Cahaba River.

Lily is known for the striking beauty of its three inch wide white flowers.

Each flower, six petals, surround a thin corona which connects the lower portions and the stamens.

Lily.

Scientific name Nicholas corn area, translated as beautiful crown like membrane, accurately depicts these characteristics.

The lily requires a very specialized habitat of swift flowing wate over rocks and an open canopy.

The plants, bulbs and seeds spend the winter buried in the rocky riverbed.

Leaves began to emerge above the water line in mid-April.

Flowering commences in mid-May, reaching its peak in late May and early June.

The showy flower attract a variety of pollinators as well as large numbers of canoers and kayakers during the spring blooming period.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is Steve Murray, director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Steve thanks for coming on the show.

Good to be with you, Todd.

Thank you.

Yeah, it's been a while.

We've got a lot to talk about, but I didn't even realize before having you on, before just talking just now that it's the anniversary of the department.

The 120th, is that right?

125th, 125th anniversary of the Alabama Department of Archives and History to day to day.

It's a special day for us.

Back in 1901, on February 27th, Governor Sanford signed the, legislation into law, creating the very first stat institution dedicated archives in history work in the United States.

Alabama was the first state to do that.

Then on March 2nd, the Board of Trustees had its very first meeting in the governor's office, and, we've been at work, collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Alabamians ever since.

I love that we were the first.

And I know that there were some reasons why, in terms of congressional suppor and all that kind of stuff and, and obviously the the wonderful building, that is still there today has been added on to and everything, but what a legacy.

What a, you know, prioritizing that, like you said, documenting and sharing that history.

Absolutely.

You know, in our very first home was actually in the old House and Senate chambers in the Capitol.

There was no dedicated space for the agency in the first few years.

So when the legislature wasn't in session, they would turn the chambers over.

And that was really the first place where Alabamians got to come and surround themselve with these fantastic artifacts and records that they could use to learn about their family's history and understand the history of state government in Alabama.

Absolutely.

Want to get to more of that later in the show?

But I know that we are all preparing you all, especially for America's two 50th.

And, I understand that our our replica Liberty Bell has been shipped of and is under repair right now, so it can be fully on display back here in July.

Yeah, this is a fascinating story.

Back in 1950.

So this is in the years right after World War two.

The federal government was trying to encourage the public to invest in savings bonds, and they had just done so much during the war years to support that effort through war bonds.

And so the country transitioned to peacetime.

There was a big push to sell and to convince the publi to purchase independence bonds.

And so as part of that effort, in 1950, the U.S.

Treasury Department, gave a replica of the Liberty Bell that sits in Philadelphia to every state and territory in the United States.

And it was sponsored by several big metals manufacturing companies around the state.

And so they, these bells were on a tour of the country in 1950, including in Alabama at rode around the back of a flatbed truck around the state, came to the state Capitol eventually, and was accepted by Governor Folsom.

And, the director of the archives at the time stayed in our building for a while.

But then for the U.S.

Bicentennial in 1976 is when it went over to the Avenue of Flags.

And it's been there ever since.

And untold thousands of youn Alabamians have gone and taken their picture, in front of that bell, on field trips.

So fast forward to 2026 to 50th of the nation, and we got to thinking about some ways that we could commemorate that here in Montgomery.

And the bill needed some TLC.

It's been sitting outside for for 50 years now.

And so we worked with a company that specializes in restoration of historic bills and fabrication of new ones, and it's getting some updates.

A whole new yoke is being built.

That wooden piece in the middle hangs from and all of the metal components are being cleaned and freshened up.

That will come back to us this summer.

And we are looking at, rededicating that bill during a special event in July, we all associate July 4th was with the, the big day that the declaration was officially adopted by the Continental Congress.

But but the public did not know much about what was in that document until four days later on July 8th, which is when the first public reading of the declaration was held and Philadelphia.

So we're going to mark that day.

And the bell was wrong and the bell was wrong.

We're going to we're going to mark that day here in Montgomery by having a public reading of the declaration of Independence on July 8th and rapid rededication of the bell into that.

So more plans to be announced, but help folks will put, July 8th on their calendar.

I certainly will I will be there for that reading and that dedication.

And again, it's so cool right there in the Avenue of Flags, on prominent display.

Lots of schoolchildren walk over there every day.

And, I'm so glad that's happening.

We'll be sure to have you back on to, promote the tour.

Will, you had a really cool event recently, a part of your food for thought lunch time series where you really invite folks from all around, but especially here around the capital to come sit for lunch, talk about different topics every different time.

But a recent one focused on the Montgomery Bus boycott which is 70 years old this year.

It's kind of crazy to think about, of course, Doctor Ed Bridges you got your predecessor.

Yep.

You got to preside over this as he did 30 years ago.

Or I'm sorry, 40 years ago for the 30th anniversary of the bus boycott.

So I thought that was really interesting.

It was fun to see those old clips of a young.

Yeah.

That's right.

But what a special program.

I mean, and I was disappointed that I didn't get to go, but seeing it online, I'm glad y'all share these things online.

I mean, what a great topic.

And how was turnout?

How was the feedback from this event?

We had a great, room full of, really enthusiastic audience there who I think would have stayed for a second hour if we'd had the opportunity to do that back in 1986.

This is kind of an indication of how, what Ed's vision was like.

This is 30 years after the bus boycott.

So it's still pretty recent history at the time.

But he organized, with some, collaborators.

What we, as far as we know, was the first real scholarly and public symposium about the Montgomery bus boycott, seen as one of the precipitating events of the modern civil rights movement, changed.

Montgomery helped to change the country, and he brought together, participants who were still living E.D.

Nixon, Claudette Colvin, Joe Asmall, who covered the, boycot for the Montgomery Advertiser.

At the time, Virginia Dur was was a panelist there, others who were all part of that and also brought in scholars.

Fred Gray was one of the speakers.

John Pat, governor former Governor John Patterson, was there and participated.

And it was really a terrific opportunity to hav an early kind of commemorative look at what had unfolde in Montgomery in 1955 and 1956.

So as we're coming up on the anniversary this year, got to thinking about, you know, a lot of time has passed.

They were only 30 years removed from the boycott.

We're now 40 years removed from this great event that they had in 1986.

And so, Ed was really enthusiastic about putting together a retrospective.

And we brought in, one of the other participants who was there at the time, Mills Thornton, but also David Asbell, whos dad had been on that panel, and, Richard Bailey, who's who was, in Montgomery at the time, I think was there, and put together some clips from that 1986 program.

And they had a really wonderful conversation thinking about what that was like just 30 years removed from the bus boycott to be having, conversations about the origins of the movement, how it took shape, and then how that fit into the larger political landscape in, in Alabama at the time.

And there were conversations that were not entirely comfortable.

You know, you had people who had been on the opposite sides of these issues just 30 years before who were there.

And, people like John Patterson, who was very generously given of his tim and it was the subject of some barbed comments you know, during that program, but very, wanted to be engaged in dealing with all of that history in a very forthright way.

And as he put it, thinking about how do we use our knowledge of mistakes in the past to help make a better future for ourselves?

I'm glad you said that, because we actually have a clip of Governor John Patterson at this 1986 symposium talking about that, talking about kind of how politics plays into to to this, this, this movement.

Let's just show that clip.

They would have been a wonderful thing, wasn't it?

30 years ago, you know, all of us involved in this matter going to sit dow around a table in the governor's office and said, all right, now let's settle this, but let's settle this thing.

Let's do what's right and work this thing out.

Wouldn't that have been a wonderful thing?

Would have been we'd have been, we'd have been, wouldn't had all the turmoil and all the trouble, but it was politically impossibl at the time to do that, you see.

And we have to live through these things.

Apparently, until we maybe someday can work up a syste that will work better than that.

It is remarkable, though, that we can gather here 30 years later.

They antagonists to some extent in this thin and sit down around the table, and discuss it openly and frankly, recognize the accomplishments, recognize the mistakes, and maybe draw some lessons for the future.

Thank you very much.

It's fascinating.

He's talking about, like, as you said, with those other participants in the room who you named.

I mean, he he called them antagonists, you know, both everybody, abou just the political reality of it and maybe, you know retrospectively, 30 years later, you know maybe we can use it for change.

Before I get that reaction, I have another clip.

This is from Fred Gray, obviously, the famed attorney who worked on so many civil rights issues, talking again, a same kind of, topic about political reality, political expediency.

Let's air that clip.

To some of you.

The listening to those events is just an event in history.

But to many of us, our very lives were involved in it and our futures were involved.

And those persons who were races then, acted as if they were racists.

Cause many people to have many problems.

And while I recognize the fact that it was politically expedient to do those things and that politicians will do what is politically expedient without real consideration to what really happens to individuals.

Talking about what is what is politically expedient and understanding that.

Yeah, it's a mr.

gray is reminding us that, you know, it's one thing to cognitively understand that sometimes in the realm of politics, decisions get made that maybe not our, driven by entirely discriminatory, notions, but are in reaction to perceived political realities.

He's he's acknowledging that, but he's also saying it's also essential that we remember that real people pay the real price for those calculations and kind of bowing to political expediency at the time.

And so that's what makes this history so fascinating, Todd, is that it involves real people and people like Governor Patterson and Mr.

Gray, who went on to develop a friendship.

But it but but there are, hard decisions that were made at the time that had hard consequences for for for people in Alabama and, that's that's the part of, history that helps us to understand what the cost of some of those bad decisions are sometimes.

And I think is a great example and kind of an inspiration for us to think about.

How do we come together as fellow Alabamians and have conversation about other topics in our past, and think about how do we use that understanding to move forward?

Absolutely.

Well said.

And I mean, you talk about some some tough issues back then.

Hard to think, you know, the issues we deal with that toda or are nearly as tough as those.

We're almost out of time.

But I wanted to give you an opportunity.

Look, I just think the department and the the museum there is a gem for our state.

I want to ask you to let ou viewers know how they can visit.

I know you've got some really newly renovated exhibits that are fantastic.

What if how do I, if I'm a viewer out there, how do I sign up?

How do I take my child?

What all do you have to offer at the at the museum?

The essentials ar that the museum is open Monday through Saturday, 830 to 430, and it is always free.

We do not charge admission.

What you can find there these days are some really wonderful improvements that were part of our 125t anniversary, as well as the two 50th of the nation that include a brand new children's gallery that is just getting rave reviews from our visitors.

That is a space where we try to create an environment where our youngest visitors can engage with the good foundation of social studies, understanding where we live what makes this place special, and why should we want to develop, special, affection for the state that we call hom and be invested in its future?

It's also just a lot of fun.

It's a place where kids go in and just right off the bat, they're having a great time.

We have a brand new galler called Alabama military stories that honors the service of Alabamians in the militar and not only those in uniform, but also their families, members of their communities, and others who have made sacrifices.

Fantastic space.

That's there every day that we're open.

And we did some nice update to the Alabama Voices Gallery.

We've got one more in the works.

The First Peoples of Alabam is an exhibit on Native American history and culture that will open this fall.

And we're going to be plannin a really special symposium on, native American history and culture for the public in conjunction with that.

So it'll be, we hope, just as, long lasting and memorable as that 1986 program.

Yeah.

I've always found the Native American history, especially interesting.

Steve, we're out of time.

Thank you for your time an everything you do for the state.

Thank you.

Todd, we'll be right back.

The Alabama Department of Archive and History was founded in 1901, becoming the nation's first publicly funded independent state archives agency.

The archives identifies, preserves, and makes accessible records and artifacts of enduring historical value to the state.

Thomas owned, founded the agency and served as its first director.

He was succeeded by his wife, Marie Banchero, who headed the archives for 35 years and was the second woman to lead a state agency.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Free professional development for educators and childcare providers with access to free, curriculum aligned videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Media and all the PBS kids programs, parents know and trust.

Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP tv.org/education to learn more.

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

aptv.. org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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

That's our show for tonight.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back tomorrow night at the same time, with more coverage of the Alabama legislature right here on apt for our Capital Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacy.

We'll see you next time.