Capitol Journal

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and Alabama Hospital Association President Dr. Don Williamson join us to discuss surging COVID cases and ICU beds running out. Congressman Gary Palmer of Hoover will talk with us about the crisis in Afghanistan. Rep. Danny Garrett of Trussville will discuss his being named the House education budget chair. Rep. Danny Crawford of Athens will talk with us about his bill to fire teachers who violate prohibitions on teaching critical race theory. And Rep. Rolanda Hollis of Birmingham will join us to discuss our prison problems and the prospect of a special session.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris talks with us about surging COVID case counts and hospitalizations approaching record levels. Alabama Board of Education member Jackie Zeigler joins us to discuss the vote to approve a ban on teaching Critical Race Theory in state schools. Rep. Andrew Sorrell of Muscle Shoals will be with us to talk about his bill that would prohibit schools from requiring mask-wearing. Rep. Neil Rafferty of Birmingham will join us to discuss his opposition to a new bill that would prohibit certain medical treatments for transgender minors. And Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell will talk with us about cutting the ribbon on another state mental health crisis center.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and Alabama Hospital Association President Dr. Don Williamson join us to discuss the continued alarming rise of COVID cases and hospitalizations. Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey will talk with us about masking and COVID concerns as kids go back to school. Attorney General Steve Marshall joins us to clarify the state’s new law that bans so-called "vaccine passports." Rep. Kelvin Lawrence of Hayneville will be with us to talk about Lowndes County being the only one in Alabama with a partial vaccination rate of more than 50%. And Bureau of Pardons and Parole Director Cam Ward joins us to discuss prison reform and his being named a formal member of the governor’s cabinet.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris joins us to discuss worsening COVID statistics and masking recommendations for schools. We’re also joined by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed of Jasper, who will discuss vaccination urgency and special session prospects. Rep. Prince Chestnut of Selma will be with us to talk about African American vaccine hesitancy and his push for prison reform. And Sen. Chris Elliott joins us to discuss reapportionment and new toll bridge talk in Mobile.

We’re joined by State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, who will discuss a doubling of our virus case counts and a tripling of our hospitalization rate. House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter is also with us to discuss special session prospects and his running for House Speaker in 2023. And Rep. Mary Moore joins us to discuss how she feels the debate over Critical Race Theory is distracting attention from more important issues like prison reform.

Our state's brand new representative, Rep. Kenneth Paschal of Pelham, joins us to discuss being the first African American elected as a Republican to the legislature in more than 140 years. We will also be joined by new senator, Sen. April Weaver of Brierfield, who will discuss being the only female Republican currently serving in the Senate. Rep. Ed Oliver of Dadeville will be with us to talk about his pre-filed bill addressing Critical Race Theory. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will join us to discuss a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, a surge believed to be due to the virus variant.

Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon joins us to discuss a potential special session on prisons and his decision not to seek re-election next year. Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison of Birmingham will talk with us about how she believes more criminal justice reform needs to be part of the solution to the state’s prison problems. Rep. Andrew Sorrell of Muscle Shoals will be with us to discuss both his support of the embattled UNA SGA president and giving up his legislative seat to run for State Auditor. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris joins us to talk about his fears of possible summer outbreaks of the COVID-19 variant in certain areas. 

Secretary of State John Merrill joins us to discuss his recent affair controversy and the voting rights debate this week in Washington. Sen. Garlan Gudger will be with us to talk about our prison problems and about his bill to ban transgender girls from taking part in female school sports. Rep. Jeremy Gray joins us to discuss state schools being able to offer yoga starting this fall, thanks to his legislation. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris talks with us about virus variant concerns and next week’s first meeting of a legislative pandemic commission.

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton of Greensboro joins us to discuss our prison problems and his dismay that Alabama’s federal COVID unemployment benefits were ending this weekend. Rep. Terri Collins of Decatur, chair of the House Education Policy Committee, is with us to talk about the debate over whether to teach Critical Race Theory and further implementation of her Alabama Literacy Act. Rep. Shane Stringer of Citronelle joins us to discuss his considering running for sheriff in Mobile County, after his losing his job in the department over his support of certain gun legislation. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk about his fears that a COVID variant could become dominant in Alabama.

Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield discuss the effort to put together a new prison construction plan. Sen. Jim McClendon also is with us to talk about an expected fall special session on redistricting. Rep. Merika Coleman joins us to discuss putting together a commission to work on removing racist language from the state constitution. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk with us about mounting concerns over our low COVID vaccination rate.