MONTGOMERY — Talk 99.5’s “Matt & Val Show” broadcast live from inside the Alabama State Capitol on Thursday morning, interviewing Governor Kay Ivey, members of her cabinet and prominent state legislators.

The interview came ahead of the third day of the legislature’s 2021 regular session and two days after Ivey’s annual State of the State Address.

The lineup of guests was packed, starting with Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell at 7:00 a.m. She was followed by State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and Attorney General Steve Marshall, respectively, before Ivey’s interview.

The governor was asked by co-host Matt Murphy if delivering the State of the State this week virtually rather than to a crowd of legislators was different for her.

“Oh, it sure was,” Ivey responded, jokingly adding, “It was dark up there. Plain lonesome. I mean it was quiet as a mouse.”

“I missed the applause,” she quipped shortly thereafter.

The governor then emphasized the importance of three pieces of legislation that are priority bills for her and the legislative leadership. All three measures subsequently passed their respective chamber of origin on Thursday and could receive final passage as soon as Thursday of the coming week.

Ivey also discussed her plan for the State of Alabama to lease three new men’s prisons to be constructed by two groups of private companies. The prisons would be privately owned but publicly run.

The governor was followed by Department of Finance Director Kelly Butler; Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R–Jasper); Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Director Cam Ward; State Rep. Connie Rowe (R–Jasper) and State Rep. Pebblin Warren (D–Tuskegee) in one joint interview; Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R–Guntersville) and Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D–Greensboro) in another joint interview; and former Congressman Jo Bonner (AL-01), Ivey’s chief of staff.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn