Capitol Journal

Talking tourism, a transition for the 187th Fighter Wing, and medical marijuana licenses. Guests include Sen. Will Barfoot, Rep. Chris Pringle, Jane Adams of Cover Alabama, and Brandon Burroughs of Boeing Space.

STATE AND SCHOOL LEADERS ARE LOOKING AT THE SUCCESS OF STEM PROGRAMS HELPING STUDENTS IN ALABAMA FIND MORE SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM.  

ALSO,GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ADDRESSES RUMORS OF HER LACK OF APPEARANCES AND HEALTH STATUS.  

ONE MAJOR ALABAMA CITY IS LOOKING AT BRINGING NEW ECONOMIC AND RESIDENTIAL PROGRESS TO IT'S AREA BY REVITALIZING PORTIONS OF IT'S REGION.  

WE'LL BE JOINED IN STUDIO BY CHANCELLOR JIMMY BAKER OF THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SECRETARY FITZGERALD WASHINGTON, ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT SECRETARY HAL TAYLOR, AND ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. SCOTT HARRIS FOR THE LATEST ACTIVITIES WITH THEIR AGENCIES.  

We're covering the latest economic news -- from the latest unemployment report to the budget surplus and possible revisions to the state's incentives law. Guests are Rep. Danny Garrett, Kirk Fulford, Michael Staley and Chad Pilcher.

A busy week at the State House as lawmakers gather for budget updates. We’ll take you inside the meetings. The state’s cannabis commission adopts final rules for medical marijuana. Director John McMillan explains. Cam Ward of the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles explains electronic monitoring and preventing opioid deaths. State Senator Greg Albritton discusses the challenging situation in Alabama’s prisons; House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels discusses the state’s use of ARPA money as his party’s electoral performance. And Steve Murray of the Department of Archives and History explains how the state is reuniting Native American tribes with sensitive artifacts. 

A new statue unveiled at Tuskegee University marking the Polio Eradication Project. We’ll take you there and speak to Graham Champion who helped organize the event. Randy Scott reports on how COVID and monkeypox continue to strain the state’s medical community. State Treasurer Young Boozer discusses the state’s financial situation and explains how historic inflation came about. And political columnist Steve Flowers offers analysis on this election cycle and walks us down memory lane with stories from the old days of Alabama politics.

Alabama’s new unemployment numbers are out. We’ll break them down. Summer learning is happening all over the state. Karen Goldsmith highlights a local program and Randy Scott catches up with Superintendent Eric Mackey about how schools are catching students up to speed. And a focus on cities tonight with mayors of some of Alabama’s largest. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed will each join us.

Budget hearings at the State House reveal how inflation is impacting state agencies. We’ll take you inside. The World Games are underway in Birmingham. Capitol Journal’s Randy Scott was at the opening ceremonies. State Senator Bobby Singleton is in studio discussing legislative issues; Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl talks about the dramatic last few weeks of election controversies. And Tiffany Davis, the PBS Newshour Gwen Ifill fellow joins us to discuss her program and ask a few questions of her own.

There’s finally a resolution in the contested Senate District 27 race between incumbent Tom Whatley and Challenger Jay Hovey. The state is moving forward with its prison construction project despite a bond sale coming up short. We’ll hear from State Finance Director Bill Poole. Jimmy Parnell of the Alabama Farmers Federation will join us to discuss how high fuel prices and inflation are impacting the state’s farmers. And effects of the Supreme Court’s overturning Roe versus Wade continue. We’ll talk to those on both sides of the issue: State Representative Terri Collins and Stephen Stetson of Planned Parenthood Alabama. 

The primary runoffs are over and the ballot is set for November. We’ll recap the election. State Senator Greg Albritton joins us to discuss the state’s financial situation amid rising inflation. Dr. Julia Booth of the Medical Association of Alabama discusses the prospects of Medicaid expansion. And Brian Lyman of the Montgomery Advertiser offers his take on this week’s elections and their implications. Randy Scott reports on still rising gas prices and how we can hope to save. Karen Goldsmith reports on a major gun trafficking crackdown in Central Alabama.

We're covering the legislative budget hearings from this week. Secretary of State candidates Rep. Wes Allen and Jim Zeigler are in studio to make their final pitches, plus Rep. Chris Pringle discusses the redistricting case.