This week on Capital Journal.

The runoff elections are in the books.

We'll take you on the campaig trail to hear from the winners of Tuesday's contest.

Voter turnout was disappointingly, but unsurprisingly, low.

Randy Scott takes a look into some of the reasons why the state has launched a major crackdown of kratom, a dru sometimes sold at gas stations.

Jeff Sanders has that story.

Alabama Senator Tomm Tuberville is playing a key role in the debate ove how to reform college athletics in the era of Nil and the transfer portal.

Alex Engl has that story from Washington.

Joining us in studio this week Doctor Richard Bailey discusses the history of Juneteenth, bot nationally and here in Alabama.

Sallie Smith of the Alabama Association of School Boards looks back at her 40 years of education advocacy upon her retirement, and Melanie Poole and Natali Steed from the American Village join us to preview the upcoming big 4th of July event coming up in just a few weeks.

That's all next on Capitol Journal.

From APT Studios in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacey.

Welcome to Capital Journal.

It has been a long primar election season here in Alabama.

From candidate qualifying court rulings on congressional districts.

A special session to set new districts and, of course, a deluge of political ads on the airwaves, in the mailbox and even on our cell phones.

But all that ended this week with the runoff elections on Tuesday.

We'll start in the big race for the United States Senate.

In that race, it was Congressman Barry More prevailing with 55% of the vote to Jared Hudson's 45%.

Moore addressed supporters Tuesday nigh in his hometown of enterprise, which also happens to be the hometown of Alabama Senator Katie Britt.

In his victory speech, Moore thanked God for the outcome and credited President Donald Trump's endorsement as a key factor in the race.

And i was a spirited race, for sure.

And the Lord, you know, Romans 828, he says, I think all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purposes.

And Jeremiah 2911 says I know the plans I have for you, the plans to prosper you, not to do harm.

And so for me, these races, I've lost some, I want some, but I can always see literally journe call my former primary opponent was putting more stickers on people weeks ago because we run a race of character, and that's the kind of thing I think it's beginning of.

You should never let your with damage or wind or vice versa.

You win that a witness when the president called me he said Barrett because he got you to talk to me.

I'm going to endorse you eve though 30 points in the polls.

And so I'm I'm 204 and zero anything, you know.

And so he told us, he said, don't mess this up.

And some people in Alabama that just left and said, but this kind of in the first person in the nation to endorse him.

August 21st, 201 a lot of people stand for that full circle moment to come o January 17th, when he called me and said, I'm in this with you we're going to win this thing.

You know, for our family, for our team.

That was a great night because I think he's the greatest president in my lifetime.

And having endorsed him when he didn't have a chanc when I was 17, in the primary, for him to come out early for us and get in a fight for us.

That was a full circle moment.

Brooklyn on the Democratic side, Attorney Everett West won the nomination for U.S.

Senate with 55% of the vote, defeating civil rights advocate Dakari Lariat, who won 45% of the vote.

So Barrymore and Everett West will face off in November in the race for attorney general.

Kathryn Robertson prevailed in the Republican runoff, winning 55% of the vote to Jay Mitchell's 45%.

Robertson thanked supporters in Birmingham, saying she started the race as an underdog.

12 months ago, I entered this race as the underdog, the spoiler or the unknown, depending on who you ask.

All I knew is tha I wanted to outwork and outclass my opponents and offe Alabamians something different, not somebody who saw themselves as the next for next rightful anything.

Just somebody regular who cared enough to give it a shot.

There have been times on this campaign where it felt like it was me against the world, like the next attorney general had already been chosen, and I didn't even have a right to run at all.

But I have been underestimated my entire career, and that comes with advantages.

I never see you coming.

Woo woo!

The harder I work to share my vision for the state that my famil has called home for 208 years, the more things started to change.

And here I stand tonight, a girl from Dallas County, Alabama who let's go pro is family.

Barely made ends meet.

Growing cotton and running the local post office with a chanc to become Alabama's first lady attorney general.

However, everything in my power to serve my state with honor and integrity and to make my fellow Alabamians proud.

Thank you all for being here tonight, and may God bless the greatest state in the greatest nation on earth.

Robertson will go on to face Democratic nominee Jeff McLaughlin in the November election in the race for lieutenant governor.

Former Republican Party chairman John Wall defeated Secretary of State West.

Alan Wall wo 57% of the vote to Allen's 43%.

Wall says he entered the race as an outsider and plans to continue that approach in the months ahead.

We still have the general election, and I don't want to take that for grante because I want to get out there and I want to earn people's vote.

It doesn't matter whether you're a Republican, Democrat or independent.

I want to talk about the values I believe in and how I think they make the most sense for helping people have a better life because at the end of the day, it shouldn't matter or background.

It shouldn't matter or political affiliation.

It's about the people of the state.

And so that's going to be my philosophy.

I want to I want to bring down the cost of living.

You know, there's so many families that are struggling just to make ends meet.

Elderly, not fixe incomes with with drug prices, with the spikes in property taxes.

And so I want to be a voice for those who are, who are struggling.

And then education, you know, making sure that our children get a good education, that we get some of the, you know, political agendas out of our classroom and get back to teaching, reading, writing and arithmetic and putting parents back in control of the children's education.

So many other issues.

Election integrity, standing up for the rule of la and just keeping our community safe from crime.

There's just so many things that I want to do to help the state of Alabama do better.

And wall will face Democratic nominee Philip Ensler in November.

Here's a look at some of the other runoff election results in the race for Commissione of Agriculture and Industries.

Corey Hill won the Republican nomination with 50% 53% of the vote, defeating Kristina Warner McInnis, who got 47%.

Hill will go on to face Democratic nominee Ron Sparks in November for the Public Service Commission.

Jim Ziegler won the Republica nomination with 51% of the vote, defeating incumbent Chris Baker, who got 49%.

Ziegler will go on to face Democrat Sheila McNeal in November for State Board of Education District eight.

That's the Huntsville area.

Emily Jones won the Republica nomination with 54% of the vote, defeating William Matthews, who got 47%.

Jones will face Democrat Shakira Armstrong in November.

Moore developments this week on the challenge to Tommy Tuberville candidacy for governor based on his residency status.

Earlier this week the Alabama Republican Party's executive committee held a closed door hearing on a challenge from top rules opponent in the gubernatorial primary.

Ken McCarthy, who claim the former Auburn coach doesn't meet the seven year residency requirement in the Alabama Constitution.

After hearing testimon from both sides, the committee voted unanimously to dismiss that challenge.

But then on Thursday, a new challenge to privilege residency was filed, this time in state court.

The lawsuit, brought by two Alabama residents, demands a trial by jury and echoes several of the specific arguments made during his various challenges.

They say that in the Senate, Tuberville frequently travel to Florida, where his beach home is, rather than Auburn, wher he claims his primary residence.

Turrell's campaign has scoffed at this latest challenge as just a campaign ploy from Democrats, calling it a, quote, residency hoax.

We'll take a quick break and be back with more Capitol Journal.

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

App tv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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

Launched in retaliatio for the attack on Creek warriors by territorial militia at Burnt Corn Creek on August 30th, 1813, a force of about 700 Creek Indians destroyed Fort Mims in the first major battl of the Creek War of 1813 to 14.

The massacre of civilians rally U.S.

armies under the cry Remembe Fort Mims and the ensuing Creek War culminated in the Creek Nation.

Subsequent session of over 21 million acres of land.

Welcome back.

As I mentioned at the top, voter turnou this week was historically low.

Capitol Journal's Randy Scott looks into some of those reasons why.

You hear the same questions every time the polls open in Alabama.

How will voter turnout be during this race?

Tuesday's elections gained a lot of attention across the country, but will it encourage citizens to vote?

So I thought it makes sense to show up and see some of our constituents and just kind of watch the night unfold.

Lee Hulse isn't just a concerned citizen at this Birmingham election watch party.

She's also a member of the Alabama House of Representatives.

She says making sure the people have their voices heard is a priority.

I think that's the most important thing, is that we never lose sight of that.

Right?

Like we're doing that not for any one individual, but the people that we serve in our local communities.

And I think this is a great way to connect, to get out and see those that are already engaged in the process and get to hear from them.

And what they're thinking about things.

She's not the only perso keeping an eye on voter turnout.

Republican Senate candidate Jared Hutson, aside from watchin his campaign, was also keeping a close ey on how the voters were reacting.

I always hear the amount of money that's been spent on the other side, but, I mean, this is a fight against corruption.

You can see Jerry Hutchinson now on the stage with him and Jared Hudson of Alabama.

That's the important thing.

I want to know about it.

And I think that that is what sets the difference, and that's the difference.

Hudson says the thousands of voters who came out this day wer because of the scores of miles he's traveled and interactions he's had with people to encourage them to the polls to vote.

Thousands of volunteers who help drive are likely to take the lead in some areas that the, you know, the first $100 checks, which was like, say, hey, I know you asked.

That means more than you know.

Representative Hulsey agrees.

I think really, what has been the most interesting thing this time?

Watching in the runoff particularly, is the grassroots grassroot effort should have taken place.

And that, to me, is where it's at.

When you've got your local people really getting involved and helping.

It just means so much more.

This position must belong to those people.

They're the people that are al that people there wants to hear about.

So that's one of the for we ask our other.

And so we have that in Hoover.

Randy Scott Capitol Journal.

Thank you Randy.

State law enforcement officials say a sweeping crackdown on illegal kratom products has led to raids across the state and the seizure of tens of thousands of items from stores and warehouses.

The operatio involved the attorney general's office, Aleah, and local law enforcement agencies.

Capita Journal's Jeff Sanders reports.

Most peopl don't expect to find an illegal, controlled substance sitting on the shelf of their local convenience store.

But state officials say that's exactly what's been happening across Alabama, where products containing kratom have been making a comeback despite being banned by state law since 2016.

Kathryn Robertson with the Alabama Attorney General' office, says those products pose a serious threat to public health.

This stuff is highly addictive.

It has opioid like effects and despite the label, it is not made from natural kratom or wha people think is natural kratom.

Undercover agents purchased products across Alabama and had them tested by th Department of Forensic Sciences.

After issuing cease and desist letters in March.

State officials launched Operation Southern Shield in May to target businesses that continued selling them.

83 search warrants have been executed.

Statewide.

About 64,000 bottles of products containing kratom have been seized, and about 59,000 doses.

State Bureau of Investigation chief Shaun Lockridge says public complaints helped launch the investigation.

That's a problem we're seeing through some of our local law enforcement partners across the state.

We're getting complaints about how some of the teenagers are going and getting these products and becoming addictive and spending so much money over and over getting this stuff.

Lockridge says investigators ultimately uncovered a distribution network supplyin products from outside Alabama.

We've got local distributors all across the state, but like I said, we just hit a big two distributors here in Montgomery County last week to warehouses.

And then also these places are getting shipped from other distributors out of state.

And I'm sure the attorney General's office is coordinating with the other attorney General's office in our neighboring states doing this where the manufacturing and shipping is coming from.

State official say the investigation is ongoing and warned that businesses selling kratom products could face prosecution.

Reporting from Montgomery.

I'm Jeff Sanders for Capitol Journal.

Thank you Jeff.

Turning now to Washington, where legislation overhauling college sport is moving ahead in the Senate.

But US Senator Tommy Tuberville, who spent decades coaching college football, is opposed to the measure and is offering his own plan.

Alex Angle reports from Capitol Hill.

College sports is in trouble.

That's a sentiment shared by lawmakers in Washington on both sides of the aisle.

But what they don't agree on is how to fix it.

On Thursday, the Senate Commerce Committee advanced the Protect College Sports Act to regulate pay for players, limit transfers and restrict coaches from switching jobs during a season.

Athletes get real and ill certainty medical protections, academic and scholarship protections.

Schools get enforceable rules and stability.

Fans get stronger protections for rivalries, access to game and fair competition.

While the bipartisan measure has the support of the NFL and former Alabama football coach Nick Saban, the SEC Big Ten and Senator Tommy Tuberville oppose it.

I'm afraid that legislation would do too much harm.

More than it would be good.

It gives way too much power to the federal government.

That's we don't need that.

Tuberville has introduced his own bill that is limited in scope, focusing on eligibility and the transfer portal.

Our role should be limiting to setting clear rules for eligibility, transfers and scholarships so student athletes and families, coaches and schools know what the rules are and can plan accordingly.

But this week, Democrati Senator Maria Cantwell objected to Tuberville passing his bill by unanimous consent, arguing it doesn't do enough to set a national framework.

It does nothing to addres these larger issues of athletes rights of women's and Olympic sports and the need for revenue.

The House's versio of a college sports bill, dubbed the Score Act, has also advanced out of committee, but is yet to get a floor vote.

The Senate Protect College Sports Act now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Reporting in Washington, Alex Engle, Capital Journal.

Thank you Alex.

Back here to Alabama.

As medicine continues to evolve, more surgeries and medical procedures are being performed outsid traditional hospital settings, often in physicians offices and outpatient facilities.

State regulators say Alabama is not facing an epidemic of safety problems, but they want to stay ahead of the curve as that trend continues.

The Alabama Boar of Medical Examiners has adopted updated standards for office based surgeries, including new accreditation requirements for certain procedure performed outside the hospital.

Board member Docto Jay Suggs says the rules cover a wide range of procedures.

These are all procedures that require some heavy level of either I.V.

sedation or general anesthesia.

We're not talking about minor procedures like lumps and bumps in the office that don't require sedation.

These seizures may be something as little invasive as an endoscopy or a colonoscopy, or it may be something that's higher risk, say, setting up some sort of, dialysis catheter.

Or it may b something like plastic surgery that's not under general surgery.

So there's a variety or an a range of levels of invasiveness and even risk involved with this.

The other thing is we feel that by enablin physicians and enabling surgeons to practice better and safer that is also helping the public.

So that really is our mission.

And we'll take a quick break an be back with tonight's guests.

Stay with us.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

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Access to free curriculum line videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Medi 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.

Hugo Black served in the US Senate and on the US Supreme Court for 34 years.

He was appointed and confirmed to the Court in August 1937.

Shortly after his appointment, he survived a national uproar over his prior brief membership in the Ku Klux Klan.

Black explained that he abhorred racial and religious intolerance, even though he had once been a member.

He went on to be the earliest proponent of the judicial revolution that established a national bill of rights for all person subject to the US Constitution, and in 1954, black joined in the Supreme Court's unanimous opinion outlawing racial segregation in public educatio in Brown v Board of Education.

In effect destroying the legal basis of segregated America.

Today, Justice Black is remembered as one of the nation's foremost champions of the First Amendment and, in his words, the rights of the weak, helpless, and outnumbered.

Welcome back to Capital Journal.

This week marks Juneteenth.

The day we celebrate the ultimate end of slavery in the United States.

And joining me next to talk about it is historian Doctor Richard Bailey.

Doctor Bailey thanks for coming on the show.

And thank you for having me.

Absolutely.

Well you've been on the show before, and I've always appreciated your explanation and histor and storytelling of Juneteenth.

So I was hoping that you could do that again.

Tell us how Juneteenth came about the history there in Galveston.

Right.

Yes.

We talking about Galveston, Texas.

And it's a wonderful story.

And I love telling this story how on June 19th, 1865, General Gordon drank Granger.

Post it around Galveston, General order number three.

And, he also delivered copies to African-Americans enslavers, letting them know about the Emancipation Proclamation effect that these slaves are, in fact, on this day, free.

The events leading up to that, June 19th, they also interesting.

General Granger arrived in Galveston on June 18th.

And it just so happened that on, June the 2nd, General Edmund Kirby Smith had surrendered to General Edward, can't be in Galveston.

And that set the stage for Juneteenth.

In other words, when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln on January the 1st, 1863, although it sai all slaves were in effect free, it had no authority over areas that were not under Union control.

Sure.

So as of June 19th, 1865, Galveston, Texas was then under Union control.

In 1860, there were about 1000 enslaved person in the Galveston and Houston area.

By 1865, there were 250,000 African-Americans in the state of Texas.

Because what had happened, those slaveholders from some of the states east of Texa had taken their property taxes because you had just out distance the Union Army.

Okay.

And you could continue to hold them enslaved.

And the point of the matter is, we want to emphasize this one point.

Those persons were not free until the Union Army arrived.

So we began to establish a precedent here that African-Americans dependent on federal protection to enforce certain laws and regulations.

Yeah, certainly wasn't the end of that, was it?

No, not at all.

Well, talk about the evolution of the holiday because it's only been recently, in recent years that here in Alabama it's recognized as an official state holiday.

Well, it was recognized as an official state holiday, starting in May of 2025.

Last year, when, it became an official, state holiday.

But it became a state holiday first in Texas in 1980, courtesy of Representative Al Edwards.

But if we go back to 1865, we'll find that the next year, 1866, was the first occasion for the celebration of Juneteenth.

And believe it or not, certain peopl did not welcome that celebration because the parks in Housto and Galveston were segregated.

So African-Americans had to purchase land to actually celebrate Juneteenth.

And we are so happy those persons persevered.

And as, black people began to move out of Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, you name it, and later to California, they took that fervor that magnificent fervor regarding Juneteenth with them.

So Juneteenth began to spread.

And when the, civil rights movemen came, that whole new generation became energize by the memories of Juneteenth.

And then, our good friend, excuse me, Lula Burks Galloway of Saginaw, Michigan, began to spread the word nationwide regarding, excuse me, Juneteenth in 1997, Barbar Rose Collins of Representative, Michigan, was responsible for a joint Senate resolution recognizing Juneteenth.

And then, from Fort Worth, Texas.

Oprah Lee, this lady nearl single handedly was responsible for taking what Miss Gallowa had done to a whole new level.

And that's how we got what we today called Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Because what Miss Galloway had started and what miss Lee continued, this lady in 2016, 89 years of age, left Fort Worth, Texas, walking to Washington, D.C.

to deliver 1.6 million signatures to President Barack Obama to let him know.

My people want it.

Juneteenth recognized.

It just so happened it didn't happen during Obama's administration, but it did happen during President Joe Biden's administration on June 17th of, 2023, I believe it was, talk about 2021.

Yes, it under Biden, right.

When it was federally designated and a couple of years later in Alabama, talk about emancipation in Alabama.

How did that work?

That was it earlier than than 65?

I'm glad you asked a question, because here's here's the rest of this story.

We might want to say the Civil War ends officially in Alabama at Citronella on May 4th, 1865, when General Richard Taylor surrendered to Gerald can be it citronella and Montgomery surrendered on April 12th, 1865, four years to the day of the firing on Fort Sumter and mobile surrendered with General Granger on that same day.

But the point of the matter is to really delve into your question, even thoug there may have been a surrender, you need someone to enforce it.

Right?

So we have many horror stories of, plantation owners who did their very best to ensure that their slave population learned nothing about the Emancipation Proclamation, learn nothing about Appomattox County Courthouse, learned nothing about what had happened to citronella.

And that's one of the real horror stories that, if it were not for the protection given by the Union Army, those person would remain enslaved much longer than they were.

So it took months, maybe even years.

Yes.

In fact, to use one good example, Henry Lovelace, who was born right right outside of Union Springs around 1856.

He had to actually escape from that plantation because that plantation owner had no intention at all of, man, you meeting him or releasing him because the Civil War was over.

But one thing that we might want to emphasize here is simply this slavery was meant to be permanent.

So every one who had slave property, I think I can basically say would go out of his or her way to make certain that slavery did remain permanent was not tug of war.

Well, we're comin up here on the 4th of July.

Yes.

And we're marking it here on APT.

Looking forward to a great event up there at the American Village.

But I was going to ask you about that because I was, giving a talk up at Jacksonville State the other day, and they're going over all of these founding documents and great documents of the founding and and continuing, one of those, obviously, the declaration one of those was the Gettysburg Address.

One of those was also Frederick Douglass.

What to a slave as the 4th of July.

Talk about the evolution of this holiday to African Americans.

I'm thinking about Frederick Douglass, of course, that preceded the Civil War that preceded emancipation.

Then you've got the Gettysburg Address.

You've also got Martin Luther King.

I have a dream, which absolutely talks about the those founding principles.

Talk about the evolution of the 4th of July to the African-American community.

Well, when, Frederick Douglass, Read that speech Frederick Douglass was trying to say to America, not just his people, that we have a dichotomy here.

The dichotomy her is simply this we say one thing and we do something totally different.

You mentioned the Declaration of Independence.

We go back to Thomas Jefferson, and we look at that declaration of independence.

Independence and look at that clause in there.

Originally, there had spoke to the issue of slavery.

And then by the time of that Declaration of Independence adoption, it took i that clause had been taken out.

And the point of the matter is this country has done is very best to make certain that for people all over the world, this country becomes a nation that personifies liberty and justice for all.

And what this country would hope that everybody would not notice that right over there.

There are some African-Americans who don't enjoy these liberties right over there.

There are some people who call themselves females who don't enjoy these liberties right over there.

There are some people who may be persecuted for religious reasons.

This country has made it a policy of trying to ensure that stories, discussions, books about those kind of, occurrences, minimiz when people begin to talk about this land of liberty.

Right.

And it's a, it's a reminder that it's it's a constant rebirth.

And, and King himself was talking about let's live up to those founding principles.

It's our you know, we have to they wrote it all down, but we've got to we've got to actually live up to that promissory note.

That's right.

And see, that's one of the reasons I'm so happy that you mentioned Frederick Douglass because when he died in February 1895, Frederick Douglass said, let it be known that as long as he was alive, he was going to make certain that people understood it, that his motto was agitate, agitate, agitate because he knew about the horrors of slavery, because he had been a slave himself.

Right.

And he knew that if this countr were to live up to its ideals, African-Americans must continue to agitate, agitate, agitate.

And what Doctor King was doing in that magnificent speech was to remind this country of that promissory note that when it was cash, it came back, marked insufficient funds.

And what we want to do is to let people know that we want you to reissue that check, and we want protection for voting rights.

We want to ensur that African-Americans and other people enjoy economic rights and freedoms in this country.

Also, in the list is very long, but the likes of, Martin Luther King and, Frederick Douglass and many others are only asking that this country issues a check that does have merit.

Absolutely Well, look, we're out of time.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming on it and explaining some of this.

And happy Juneteenth.

Thank you.

Same to you.

We'll be right back.

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

App tv.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.

This July 4th, join Alabam Public Television for Sweet Home 250, a live celebration from here at American Village in the heart of Alabama.

It's once in a generation opportunity to honor our nation's founding, and we're doing it here, wher history comes to life every day.

The celebration starts at 630 with musi from the Blind Boys of Alabama, and ends with an incredible fireworks displa that Saturday, July 4th here on.

You're watching Alabama Public Television.

And you.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is Sally Smith, executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards.

Sally thanks for coming on the show.

Love to be here.

Well, we're talking to you because you are retiring after a long career of advocacy for the association.

Sure.

We can't talk you out of it.

Nope.

Not a chance.

Well, congratulations.

Obviously, you deserve it.

And it marks.

You know, it's quite a milestone.

I was hoping to ask you, in your career as executive director with the school boards in your career advocating in education.

Talk about ways it has evolved.

Obviously, education now is not the way it was when you started.

So talk about the ways education has evolve during your career of advocacy.

Oh, wow.

There have been so many changes, particularly when you look at the state House, because at the Association, we work as the state legislative voice for school boards, and that has been incredible changes.

When I started my career 40 years ago and that was my sign to retire, I had a member of our board o directors who wasn't even born.

Well, as long as I've been at the association.

So that was that was my sign, maybe.

And you want to go out when you think you'r still on the top of your game?

Now, there are people here that may disagree, but when I started working, this was a democratic governance state, and it was really education wise, what the Alabama Education Association, in particular Pau Hubbard, wanted to have happen.

That's how it went.

You know, Doctor Hubbard was known for saying it's nice to have the governor.

He needs to have the state House.

And so he would pick the House, a chair, the Senate, a chair.

And it was really a defense game for as long as, you know, we worked unti the change in the state House.

But 2010.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

So so that started a period of various reforms.

You had some tenure reforms.

You've had, school choice, different iterations from charter schools.

Now it's the voucher system or choose Act and all that kind of thing.

So I'm curious how the school boards have have rolled with those punches.

Right.

Because you all not only have to figure out the advocacy advocacy side in the state House, you got to implement some of the stuff at the local level.

So I'm curious how that has gone as policies have changed over the years.

Well, I will say the big victory we had, it was in, 2012 was the students first act.

Back in the day when I was first hired, teacher tenure was the issue and everybody campaign.

In fact, the business community was working with School Boards Association.

That was issue number one, is that we needed to change the ten year law.

Well, the ten year law was changed when Governo Riley was in his administration.

Those of us may remember amendment one, which was that ill fated, what, $2.3 billion tax package?

But as part of that, there was some legislative changes that were going to be implemented if that passed.

Well it didn't pass, but Paul Hubbard and AA came back and wanted to change the ten year law.

Now here's the issue.

If the guy whose job it is to protect teachers jobs says it's a good process and the school boards are saying this is not any good.

There's a problem there.

But there was a promise made.

And so that legislatio we passed from the ten year law, where we won about 80 of the cases and lost about 20%.

The issue was there probably weren't enough cases being brought to a system of binding arbitration, and the binding arbitration was horrible.

We ended up losing about 80% of the cases.

There weren't any more brought and it was really a problem.

To his credit.

Governor Rile admitted that it was a problem.

So that was like issue number one when the Republicans took over was to change tenure.

Doctor Hubbard was still in, the head of the association at that point.

And so that was one of our biggest battles to change tenure.

And I know there ar a lot of people who flies back.

The students first act right now.

And and it is not perfect.

You know, I like to consider it my baby.

And don't tell me my baby doesn't have some ugly birthmarks.

But we can now effectively remove teachers, principals, others custodians who aren't doing their job.

And that was a game changer.

Problem is, it happened so long ago, most people don't really remember that, but that was a huge change and a significant victory.

Oh yeah, I remember and it took some pretty egregious cases that were very public in nature for it to come to the fore.

I mean, it really did.

I mean, the Washington County case, as an example.

Well, let me ask you, I mean, representing school board members.

You know, we hear a lot about teachers.

We hear a lot from superintend This, but talk about the unique role that school board members play in their communities, because, you know, I always think about how, you know, if you really want to get involved and, be a leader in your community, run for school board, get involved at a local level.

But it's a challenge because those are very local, very personal decisions you gotta make.

Oh man, keep up that advocacy because we need good people serving on school boards.

We do have some great, community representatives.

School board members are no really supposed to be educators.

They are supposed to be the communities voice on the board of education.

That link between the professional educator, the superintendent, and hi or her staff and the community.

And so they are parents.

They are business owners.

Some have childre or grandchildren in the schools, but they're really meant to be that linkage and represent the community's, voice in those education decisions.

Now, I will say one of the changes you asked me about, fewer of those decisions are being made at the local level.

We have seen a real shift in the last 20 years to see policy issues being decided at the state level, and not the local level, but school board members are extraordinary people.

You know, when it works great, it really works well.

Now we have our hiccups from time to time, just like any other form of government.

You've got folks who may not have run for the right reason or understand their role, but what is unique about school boards is that they need to work with the team, with the superintendent.

There's very little a school board can do without the superintendents recommendation, but by the same factor, there's very little a superintendent can do without board approval.

And so working together a a team is extremely important.

And I will say in this day and age, it's harder to get folks to function that way.

It feels like we need to you know, go out on social media or you're you want to be the gadfly as oppose to working together as a team.

But teamwork and diplomacy still work really well.

And you will.

It would be very hard to fin a high functioning school board that doesn't have good public schools, and the reverse is probably true, too.

Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah, a lot of gadfly is out there at every level of government these days.

Well, look what's what's next.

You talk you talked about how it's evolved and the role of school boards.

But as you look back upon your retirement, what would you say are a couple of things that are aspirational?

What should Alabama what are a few policies that Alabama should pursue?

In terms of the next ste in improving public education?

Well, the first is commitment the belief that public schools are the future.

An overwhelming majority of people still want to choos public schools as their choice based on a recent poll data that we've seen.

So we're excited about that.

Most of our student will be going to public schools.

So our commitment to publi schools with funding and policy and actuall it's almost a non policy issue.

We need to pump the brakes on the number of initiatives that are going on.

We'v had some very good initiatives.

But right now there's a little bit of initiative overload.

You know let's let the reading initiative work.

Let's let the numeracy Act work.

Let's continue to implement some of these strategies and allow the creativity of our teachers back into the curriculum an let them make those decisions.

So I think we probably have had a little bi of overregulation over control.

And I'd like to see that pump on the brakes.

Let's see what's work.

Also retain that commitment.

And oh everybody talks about funding.

But we can't fund two systems of public education.

And while choice is a very popular issue, and I do appreciate that our choice options are somewhat limited, I think there are attempts to be made to cap the amount of money and what can be used for.

I'm concerned about the future, about where those, initiatives go.

Is there going to be a process to increase the amount of money in the choose act?

You know, to lift the level on home schoolers?

I think that that would work against funding public education.

Even the wonderful news, right, Razak, that we hav that gives us additional funds for students in high needs areas, needs to be increased.

But even the study that resulted in that showed that we've not made up time for the Great Recession.

There are still infrastructure needs.

There are still basi school needs like school busses that need to be paid.

So we've got to be careful about how we direct resources in the future, particularly if the economy is going to flatten out.

So maintaining a high level of commitment to public educatio I think is extremely important.

And then secondly, accountabilit for those choose act students.

Again, the survey data that I'm looking at, the public wants some accountability.

If you're going to take $7,000 and give it to a private school, let's see some testing data.

Let's have some minimum time requirements.

Let's se some other type of information.

So accountability for those choose Act funds I think would be very important going forward.

Very interesting.

You know there's going to be a new governor.

There's going to be a lot of a new legislature, many new, lawmakers.

So is that some of the advice that you would give, for them when they come in?

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Well, that's that's very well, sir.

Well, look, congratulations again on your retirement.

Thanks so much for making the time.

But I hope you'll stick aroun because we need we need voices like yours, you know, in Alabama and especially in the education space.

So, again, congratulations And thank you.

Okay.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

The Carver Theater was erected in 1935 on the corner of fourth Avenue North and 17th Street North in Birmingham.

The Carver was one of several theaters in the Fourth Avenue area offering first round movies to African-Americans.

Today called the Carver Theater for the Performing Arts.

The space has been the home of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame since 1993, and it serves as a museum and performance venue.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next are Natalie Steed and Melanie Poole from the American Village in Montevallo.

Ladies thanks for coming on the show.

Thanks for having us.

Absolutely.

Well, we're coming up on July 4th, the 250th Sweet Home 250, as you're titled it.

We're excited because we're going to be broadcasting live from there at the American Village.

So I wanted to ask you, first, Melanie, what all can we expect from.

It's not just July 4th.

It's a whole festival.

What can we expect?

Absolutely.

So this is milestone birthday for America.

One historic event.

Two incredible days at American Village, July 3rd and fourth.

We wanted to focus on Alabama for this festival.

So you'll see 18 Alabama musical artists.

You'll see dozens of Alabam authors and state attractions.

You will see a wonderful children's area where they'll learn about our founding era.

And just so much more.

We've got the ballot.

Concord bridge.

We have the Independence Day ball.

Of course, John and Abigail Adams, George and Martha Washington, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, all the people that you've know and loved in American Village.

That's right.

Well, I mean, America Village is a spectacular time.

Any time, but just even more so this time around.

Well, Natalie, talk about y'all have been preparing for this for years.

So talk about the preparation that has gone into making this sweet home to 50.

Is that a success?

Yes.

So the Alabama, USA Cimarron Centennial Commission began about three years ago, and we have been planning statewide activities.

And American Village is the official state celebration capital for the Cimarron Centennial.

So all signature events are hosted there at American Village.

We have had several over the past few years, and this is the big one.

So we've been planning for three years.

How can we make sure that we amplify what Alabama for this, event?

So as Melanie mentioned, it's all things Alabama.

We wanted to make sure w included something for everyone.

Absolutely.

Well, how might folks attend?

I know we're going to be broadcasting it.

And so wil you encourage folks to watch the if you can't make it.

But I mean, there on the grounds that's the place to be.

That's where they see the fireworks and everything.

So how would folks, go about attending?

It is.

Tickets are available now.

The website is Sweet Home two 50.com.

Just go online.

You can purchase your tickets there.

We will have walkup tickets available, but if you want to make sure you get yours for yourself and your family, go ahead and reserve them today.

Absolutely.

Well, and I encourage folks to do that because there's no no better place to be than right there.

And it's unique this time around because normally, for a team, they would be broadcasting, Capitol Fourth, but because of the mix up in the schedules, that's actually on the third.

And so the fourth, we'v we're the only game in town that we're going to be broadcasting for three hours, 630 to 930.

Finishing with this fireworks display.

Talk about the fireworks for a minute, because I'm really looking forward to that.

Yes.

American Village host the absolute number one best up close and personal fireworks in the state of Alabama, bar none.

And this year, they will be presented behind our replica of Independence Hall, which is new for us.

It's the signature building on campus.

And of course, it wa the birthplace of our country.

Yeah, absolutely.

What I wanted to ask you about that because we visited the other day.

I've been up a few times over the years.

And the growth of American Village has just been remarkable to see from that first, I guess, Mount Vernon, building to now, there's, there's, there's so much including this fantastic Independence Hal with all the interactive stuff.

So talk about how that's gone.

You know, with that vision from Tom Walker, who we miss, growing into what it's become today.

Tom Walker, our founder, envisioned the American village.

He drew it on a Burger King napkin, fully formed.

He wanted a place where Alabama's children could come and learn American history by practicing painting.

Not just sitting in a classroom, reading a book, listening to a lecture but being a part of our history.

So when you come to American Village, you're thrust right into the middle o the scenes of American history.

You marched with Washington's Continental Army.

You debate the Declaration of Independence.

You meet founding fathers and founding mothers who lead you through this course of education and fun, we call it.

And you tainment at American Village.

Because, yes, you'll walk away learning something about American history that you didn't know, but you're going to have fun while you're doing it.

Now I talk about the the opportunity that this 250th brings.

Because, look, the 4th of July is always remarkable.

It's always my favorite holiday, actually.

But this is a unique opportunity maybe to bring in folks to that history, to that, really special meaning of our founding and things like that.

Do you think that that this, this two 50th maybe brings more people to a better understanding of our founding and why it matters?

I think it's definitely put a new highlight on it.

And through our Cimarron Centennial Schools effort, we were able to really focus on that civics founding era history.

Socia studies and government classes.

And we tied in the messaging throughout the whole schoo year, throughout the school day.

So students were getting messages in their core subjects, but also character education.

Driver's ed, P.E., anything you can think of throughout the day, they were getting those messages, and it was really building u some excitement to this event.

And also working with communities around the state, we've really been able to go in and make sure that while they're planning and getting excited about programing events, that we're just putting a emphasis on founding era history and what that means today and what it means for us going forward in the future.

That's right.

Y'all are working with communities across the state because everybody has a, you know, 4th of July parade.

I grew up in Prattville.

They have a parade every yea with big fireworks and all that.

So it's not just that the centerpiece American Village, that's been working across the state.

And because I love a small town, 4th of July.

Yes.

And there are several planned.

So you can visit our website at America 250 a L dawg.

There's an events map.

You can click on the county and see what's happening in your local communities.

And it's amazing to see the growth.

Over the past several months, we have been planning for three years, and the excitement is building now because the events are happening.

The programing is being implemented, and we're excited to see that statewide.

So if you're not able to make it to American Village, we highly recommend that.

But there are local activities happening in every county across the state.

Absolutely.

I love it and I do appreciate this opportunity.

I'm glad you brought up civics education.

I was actually up a Jacksonville State the other day where teachers have been gathered.

They've gotten a federal grant where they're focusing on civics education marking to 250, but using this as an opportunity to re-emphasize civics education, to make sure our students are getting those foundational principles and everything, exposing them to those founding documents and everything, and how lucky we are in Alabama to have the American village as a destination.

Talk about that, because it's not just the 4th of July year round.

Y'all are, inviting students and classrooms to to come to the American Village to see it for themselves.

Absolutely.

Since our founding in 1999, we've welcomed over a million schoolchildren to the American village.

We have more than 2 historically inspired buildings, everything from the president's Oval Office to Bruton Parish Church, Concord Bridge, Mount Vernon and now Independence Hall.

But the buildings act as a backdrop for what we really do best, and that is our historical interpretation that firsthand learning with our very talented staff.

Absolutely.

Well, congratulations for what y'all have been able to bill.

And good luck.

We're so looking forward to this.

And I agree it's an opportunity to share and pass on to the next generation.

Just the the true meaning of the founding, the ideals that have endured in this nation and will binds us together as Americans.

Absolutely.

We're looking forward to it.

And so happy that you'll be able to live stream the culminating ceremony on July the 4th.

Absolutely.

Tune in July 4th on apt.

We'll be right back.

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

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Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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That's our show for this week.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back next week with more Capitol Journal at the same time, right here on Alabama Public Television for our Capital Journal team, I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.

And.

You.