>> DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

OUR LAST FOR 2025.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

BUT THIS EDITION HAS A LOT OF TOP TOPICS.

THEY.. WE WILL DISCUSS THOSE IN JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS STARTING WITH THE MEDIA VETERAN HERSELF, WENDY WIESE, BILL MCCLELLAN WHO AT THE END OF THE YEAR WILL HAVE COMPLETED 38 YEARS ON NINE PBS, ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS FROM JANUARY 1987.

WE WELCOME HIM.

WE HAVE JOE HOLLEMAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH AND STL TODAY.COM AND FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN WE SAY HELLO TO ALVIN REID.

..

ALTHOUGH A NOD OF THOSE THAT CAME OUT TO THE SCHNUCKS RICHMOND HEIGHTS LAST FRIDAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE SALVATION ARMY AND RAY REID AND FROM I HEART RADIO ROY ANDERSON, AND WE RAISED MONEY FOR THE SALVATION ARMY.

I HA.. >> IT WAS MY FIRST TIME RINGING THE BELL FOR THE SALVATION ARMY BUCKET.

>> IT'S REALLY T.. BELL RINGERS.

YOU GO CRAZY WITH IT EVERY YEAR.

YOU GO CRAZY WITH IT.

>> I HAD MY GRANDKIDS OUT THERE.

>> JOE, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

.. ATTORNEY HAS GOT ANOTHER WEEK OR SO ON-THE-JOB BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE OUR NEW CONGRESS PERSON FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

HE FILED TO REMOVE ONCE AGAIN DENNIS HANCOCK, A MEMBER OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY COUNCIL FROM HIS SEAT BECAUSE FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO IN AUGUST MR. HANCOCK HAD HIRED A RELATIVE TO ACT AS AN ASSISTANT UNAWARE APPARENTLY THAT STATE LAW PROHIBITS THAT.

THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY HAS GONE AFTER HANCOCK FOR THE SECOND TIME.

IS IT ..

SUCCEED?

>.. ANY OF IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

SO THEY WENT TO COURT TO GET HIM REMOVED.

TH.. A HEARING.

THE JUDGE SAID NO, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HEARING.

BELL'S OFFICE WITHDREW THAT MOVE AND NOW COMES BACK WITH ANOTHER MOVE SAYING OKAY WE WANT TO TRY TO REMOVE HIM AGAIN.

WHILE THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THAT INTERIM WESLEY BELL'S OFFICE WENT TO A GRAND JURY TO PURSUE AN INDICTMENT AGAINST DIANE VALENTI, THE CLERK TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND SHE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH FORGERY -- FELONY FORGERY AND SEVERAL OTHER MISDEMEANORS IN WHAT THEY ARE SAYING WAS AN ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD BUT BASICALLY CHANGING INFORMATION IN THE COUNTY'S COMPUTER SYSTEM.

SO WE ARE SPENDING TWO HOURS AND TWO ATTORNEYS WORTH OF TIME TO GET A CHARGE LEVIED AGAINST A CLERK, A STAFFER, WHICH HAS GOTTEN SOME PEOPLE IF NOT UP IN ARMS AT LEAST UPSET WITH BELL'S OFFICE BEHAVIOR THERE.

NOW WE ARE TRYING TO GO TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER JUDGE WHO WILL INDEED REMOVE HANCOCK FROM OFFICE AND BOTH CASES ARE KIND OF TIED TOGETHER, AND THE QUESTION THAT I KEEP HEARING FROM THE SOURCES IN THE COURTHOUSE IS EVERYONE IS WONDERING WHY WESLEY BELL, WHO LITERALLY HAS 8 DAYS LEFT, WHY HE IS PRESSING SO HARD ON THIS CASE.

NOT AS IF DENNIS HANCOCK'S STEPDAUGHTER IS THE ONLY RELATIVE EMPLOYED IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

THE QUESTION BEGS WHY SO..

THIS ONE?

>> ONE EXAMPLE IS CUNNINGHAM WHO IS THE HEALTH DIRECTOR WHO HIRED HER OWN DAUGHTER AND GAVE HER A PAY RAISE, AND THERE'S NO LEGAL ACTION.

>> IS WHAT S.. LAW?

>> YES.

>.. LEAVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS.

I DON'T KN..

THE COUNTY, THE CITY, AMERICA, BUT JUST KIND OF -- HOW YOU FRAYED IT AND I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S GOING AFTER THE MONEY.

ALL SHE DID WAS GET INTO THE IMPUTER SYSTEM AND CHANGE SOME STUFF.

TH.. A, SHE SHOULD BE TERMINATED AND B, IF SOMEBODY FILED CHARGES AGAINST HER.

>> I THINK REACTIONAL JUDGMENT IN THIS IS WHEN MR. HANCOCK SAID IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO HIRE A STEPDAUGHTER, AND AS SOON AS THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS, SHE WITHDRAW.

NO..

I DON'T SEE THE POINT.

>> WAS IT FALSIFYING, OR WAS IT UPDATING?

SENT A REGIS.. >> IT WAS A CORRECTION.

>> IT WASN'T A COVER-UP BECAUSE MR. HANCOCK WAS INTRODUCING HER TO EVERYBODY IN THE OFFICE AS HER RELATIVE.

>> DIDN'T CARE UNTIL HE GOT BUSTED.

>..

EVIDENCE HE DIDN'T CARE.

I THINK THERE'S FAR MORE EVIDENCE HE DIDN'T KNOW.

>> THERE'S A TAPE RECORDING THAT THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY RELEASED BETWEEN DANA REDWING WHO IS THE COUNTY COUNSELOR AND CALLS UP DENNIS HANCOCK AND CLEAR AS DAY IN THE RECORDING.

HE HAS NO IDEA HE STEPPED ON ANY TOES.

A WEEK.. TO THE COUNTY SAYING I DON'T WANT TO GET PAID.

THEY PAY HER ANYWAY AFTER THAT.

SHE WANTS TO WALK AWAY.

>> I HAVE TO TRY TO BE CONSISTENT.

IF THI.. GARDNER'S WATCH, I WOULD HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE.

THE LAW IS THE LAW.

WESLEY BELL SAID THAT THE MINUTE THAT THIS CAME TO LIGHT AND THAT HE WOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE.

AND ABSOLUTELY LOVELY WOMAN.

WHEN SOMEONE ASKED HER TO GO INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND CHANGE THE INFORMATION, THIS ISN'T A CLOTHING STORE ON NORTH GORE.

THIS IS THE COUNTY G.. >> I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING, THOUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEW VIEW OF PROSECUTORS, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT FOUR, SIX YEARS AGO PEOPLE WERE HIRING PROSECUTORS SAYING NOT JUST LOOK AT THE LETTER OF THE LAW BUT LOOK AT INTENT, FIND DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE.

LET'S NOT WRITE TICKETS FOR NOT HAVING LICENSE PLATES OR CAR INSURANCE.

USE ..

IT'S THE TOOL OF THOUGHT HERE THAT THE JUDGMENT IS DENNIS HANCOCK, AND HE WENT BASICALLY YEAH, I SCREWED UP.

I DIDN'T KNOW.

>> THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.

SO HE SAID THAT.

SO YOU JUST BELIEVE THAT.

OKAY.

I HOPE E.. SOMETHING -.

>> THE VOTERS ELECTED THE GUY.

IT'S OVER BOARD TO SAY THIS IS THE REACTION WHICH DEPENDENT LAST LONG, DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, AND WE ARE GOING TO CANCEL THE ELECTION AND THROW HIM OUT OF OFFICE FOR THAT.

>> SO IF I STEAL $10, THAT WAS BAD.

BUT IF I STEAL 1,000, I SHOULD BE FIRED.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

GOVERNOR NIXON TRIED TO REMOVE A SHERIFF BACK IN THE 19 NAINTS OR EARLY 2000S AND THE SUPREME COURT RULED YOU COULD ONLY DO SO IF YOU COULD PROVE THAT THE PERPETRATOR DID THE DEED WILLFULLY.

I DO..

IT.

>> WHY ISN'T SHE BEING LET GO?

>> IF YOU WANT TO ASK WESLEY BELL THAT, ASK WESLEY BELL THAT.

>> AND NOT THAT BIG A DEAL AND WHAT NOT.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.

IS DOUBTING DENNIS HANCOCK LOOKS AT THE FACT WE HAVE A DEMOCRAT COUNTY PROSECUTOR.

>> THE LAW IS THE LAW.

IF HE HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING WRONG, I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD SHOW UP ONE DAY.

>> WHAT THE JUDGE SAID WAS LET'S HAVE A HEARING ON IT.

IT'S CALLED DUE PROCESS.

>> AND THE DUE PROCESS HAS SHOAND THAT THERE WAS SOME SHENANIGANS GOING ON, AND THAT'S NOT DUE PROCESS, IT'S AN ALLEGATION BY A PROSECUTOR.

>> THE COUNTY EXECUTOR HIMSELF WAS WORKING OUTSIDE THE CONFINES OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE, AND APPARENTLY THAT'S AGAINST THE CHARTER.

>> THIS IS THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION.

>> IT'S LIKE WHY ARE WE FINDING EXCUSES FOR THIS PERSON AND CAN FIND NO EXCUSE FOR SOME PEOPLE?

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT T.. BILL, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK, AND YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING "LAW AND ORDER" FOR A LONG TIME.

I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER IN THE 19 NAINT191990 AS WHEN THEY SHOT AND KILLED A SECURITY GUARD.

THOSE TWO MIN ARE ONE OF INMATES ON DEATH ROW AND TWO OF 37 THAT THE PRESIDENT COMMUTED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAID THEY WILL NOT FACE THE DEATH PENALTY OR AT LEAST SOMEONE IN BIDEN'S OFFICE DETERMINED THAT.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THE PRESIDENT IS DOING THIS KIND OF WORK.

THESE TWO GUYS SHOT AND KILLED A SECURITY GUARD IN 1987 WILL FACE LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE PAROLE.

I DISAGREE WITH THE .. PENALTY, SO I SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT ON THIS.

>> I AM AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY ITSELF, BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT ON THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, WE JUST HAD AN ELECTION, AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ELECTION.

THE PEOPLE ELECTED SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES IN THE DEATH PENALTY.

FURTHERMORE, I THINK IF YOU'RE REALLY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY ON MORAL GROUNDS, YOU HAVE TO COMMUTE ALL THE SENTENCES.

THERE WERE 40 PEOPLE, THREE, THE BOSTON MARATHON KILLER, DYLAN ROOF, SYNAGOGUE SHOOTER AND ROBERT BOWERS, THE AME CHURCH SHOOTER.

.. DEATH PENALTY IMPOSED.

IF YOU REALLY ARE AGAINST IT, I THINK YOU COMMUTE EVERYBODY OR DON'T COMMUTE ANYBODY.

I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THIS HAPPENED.

IT DOESN'T FEEL RI.. >> IT SPEAKS TO THE POWER OF PRESIDENCY.

AND WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, THESE ARE CONSEQUENCES THEY HAVE.

THERE'S JOY .. UNTOLD REGARDING THIS DECISION.

I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT, BUT I CERTAINLY -- I MEAN, THEY ARE STILL IN PRISON.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY ARE.

>> NOT AT THE BEACH.

>> EXACTLY.

>> IT'S RIDICULOUS.

THE GOVERNOR COMMUTED THE SENTENCE OF A POLICE OFFICER DUADULY CONVICTED OF KILLING AN INNOCENT MAN IN KANSAS CITY.

HE'S HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

45 PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW, HOWEVER IT WAS, ARE NOW NOT GOING TO FACE THE DEATH PENALTY.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PROSECUTOR IN THE TOWN.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE JURY THAT ACTUALLY HUNG THIS DECISION.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYBODY I'M GOING TO LET THEM OUT.

>> HE LETS ALL THE CRIMINALS GO, AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE MAD AT THAT.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE MAD?

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

I DON'T LIKE HIM SO I WANT HER TO PAY.

WHAT ARE ATTORNEYS SAYING?

I DON'T CARE WHAT PARTY YOU ARE IN.

..

HERE?

.. >> A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY ED DO YODOWD AGREE WITH YOU.

>> IF YOU WERE OPPOSED TO THE DEATH PENALTY, THEN DO THEM ALL.

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE SENTENCES ARE COMMUTED WHERE THERE ARE QUESTIONS.

THER.. THAT DID THEY REALLY DO IT OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION.

ESPECIALLY ONE OF THE SHOOTERS.

NOT ONLY DID THEY SHOOT THE GUARD, WENT OVER TO THE GUARD AS HE WAS DOWN ON THE GROUND AND SHOT HIM WHILE HE WAS LAYING THERE.

SO THE BAR BARE BARBARIC OF THE CRIME, AND BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO LET THEM GO MAKES NO SENSE.

EITHER DON'T DO ANY OF THEM BUT DO ALL OF THEM.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO KIRKWOOD, MISSOURI.

KIRKWOOD IS ON.. GREAT CITIES, GOT THE FARMER'S MARKET, TRAIN STATION, PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE ALONG WITH KIRKWOOD AVENUE WITH ALL SORTS OF SHOPS, REALLY CHARMING.

BUT THE BUSINESS JOURNAL HAD A PRETTY LENGTHY STORY TAKING A LOOK AT HOW DEVELOPERS ARE SENDING THEIR PROPOSALS TO CITY HALL.

APARTMENTS AND HOTELS.

THERE'S SOME ASSIST ENT.

THE MAYOR OF KIRKWOOD, LIZ GIBBONS IS QUOTED AS SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME CLAYTON WITH BIG BUILDINGS AND NO CHARM.

THAT KIND OF STRUCK A CHORD.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN KIRKWOOD?

IS I.. >> THERE ARE PROBLEMS.

GROWING UP THERE AND BEING GONE FOR 20 YEARS AND MOVING BACK IN THE MID-90s, THE KIRKWOOD I MOVED BACK TO WAS LIKE THE KIRKWOOD I HAD LEFT.

THERE WAS A BIG TO DO ABOUT WAL-MART BEING BUILT AND THAT THING OUT THERE, AND SOME CONDOS WERE BUILT NOT SO MUCH AFTER THAT DOWNTOWN.

SOME OTHER ZONING ..

THINGS GOT CHANGED AND BIG APARTMENT COMPLEX DOWNTOWN AND SLOWLY BUT SURELY ENOUGH PEOPLE IN KIRKWOOD SAID WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE, AND FINALLY DISCUSSION IS REALLY TAKING PLACE LIKE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE?

..

DOWNTOWN KIRKWOOD BUT I THINK THAT DISCUSSION IS REALLY BEING HAD IN MANY HOUSEHOLDS BECAUSE EVERY TIME A SMALL HOUSE GOES AWAY, A MINI MANSION REPLACES IT.

I THINK ..

FAMILIES, PRICING OUT PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

I THINK IT'S A DISCUSSION THAT'S WORTH HAVING.

I GUESS OTHER PLACES..

IT.

.. FAR.

KIRKWOOD THINK IT'S ALREADY OUT OF CONTROL.

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT SMALL KIRKWOOD PREVAILS BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE LAST PASTIAN PASTIANS OF THINK OF KIRKWOOD.

THAT'S THE SAD PART OF POPULARITY AND THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY, SO MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO IN THE METRO AREA, THAT'S THEIR DREAM.

THE DEVELOPER AND HAD BIG PLANS AND THERE WERE GOING TO BE CONDOS AND THIS AND THAT.

AND THE COUNCIL OR THE PEOPLE SAID NO.

>> I WOULD BE REMISS, YOU CALLED IT KIRKWOOD AVENUE, SO IF I DON'T CORRECT YOU AND SAY KIRKWOOD ROAD.

>> TALKING ABOUT LYN LINDBERGH?

>> BEWARE OF THE COUNT DO CONDOS, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF RICH PEOPLE THAT WILL GET THEM.

THEY WILL GO THEM BECAUSE KIRKWOOD IS SO WALKABLE.

THE PROBLEM IS A LOT OF THE RICH WHO GET THE CONDOS IN THE APARTMENTS HAVE CONDOS IN MICHIGAN IN THE SUMMER, AND THEY ARE NOT REALLY AROUND AND DON'T REALLY FORM A GREAT COMMUNITY.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE DOWNSIDE.

>> CLAYTON NEEDS TO BE A QUAINT, QUIRKY DOWNTOWN, AND IT'S ALMOST GONE.

YOU .. >> BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE SKATING RINK.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE FARMERS MARKET.

YO..

THE MOVIE THEATER.

>> IT'S THE FACT THAT BIG MONEY TURNS PEOPLE'S HEADS AND DEVELOPERS COME WALKING IN WITH BAGS FULL OF MONEY SAYING YOU WILL GET THIS.

YOU WILL GET THIS.

YOU WILL GET THAT.

>> OF ALL THE PROBLEMS, THE ONE BEAUTY OF IT IS IS THAT THEY OF ALL PEOPLE, THE ELECTED FOLKS OF KIRKWOOD, WHICH I'M SURE ALVIN ONE DAY WILL BE, THEY SHOULD BE IN TUNE WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE OF KIRKWOOD WANT.

THE FOLKS IN WEBSTER.. OF KIRKWOOD, SMALL COMMUNITY, REPRESENTATIVES CAN REACT TO WHAT THEIR PEOPLE ARE TELLING THEM, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE EVERY DAY, NOT THE FOLKS LIVING THERE FOUR MONTHS A YEAR, SIX MONTHS A YEAR.

THEY ARE KIRKWOOD RESIDENTS AND WILL LISTEN TO THEM.

>> IS THAT HAPPENING IN ST. LOUIS WHEREIN 2022 OUTSIDE TED DREWES TOURIST ATTRACTION, GREAT PLACE SINCE 1927, WE HAD TWO PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON CHIPPEWA OUTSIDE TED DREWES 2022.

THERE WERE ALL SWORDS OF TALK, WE WILL PUT UP SIGNAL AND A CROSSWALK AND SECURITY CAMERAS, AND THIS PAST WEEKEND, 19-YEAR-OLD DROVE INTO A CROWD AND SAID HE WAS TRYING TO AVOID SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT DETERMINED.

6 PE.. HOSPITAL, 38-YEAR-OLD OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

THAN.. NOW.

WHERE IS THE SECURIT.. >> OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS ON THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR, IT WAS HORRIFYING BUT ONE OF THE BYSTANDERS OR ONE OF THE OFFICIALS SAID THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THE YOUNG MAN WHO PANICKED, THE YOUNG MAN WHO PANICKED, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT -- AND I'M SORRY, I WILL GET BACK TO THE QUESTION AT HAND.

CUSTOMERS THAT CLOSE TO THE ROADWAY MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT DOES NEED TO BE REEXAMINED, BECAUSE MAYBE IN 1967 OR 1980 OR WHAT HAVE YOU, IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD.

PEOPLE DON'T DRIVE T.. THAT THOUGHTFULLY.

THE TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN THAT MAYOR JONES HAD IN 2022 AFTER WHAT WAS IT 78 FATALITIES THAT WE HAD IN THE CITY, DIDN'T PAN OUT, AND YOU READ ABOUT SHIPPING DELAYS.

WHAT THEY NEED SHOULD BE IN THE ST. LOUIS CITY GARAGE, YOU WOULD THINK.

SO I DON..

EXCUSE FOR THE SITUATION TO HAVING BEEN REMEDIED AT THIS POINT.

>>..

DIFFERENT VOICES, BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE DRAMATICALLY SAID I'M JUST GOING TO DO IT.

I KNOW THAT THE FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS, IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

I WOULD .. WHATEVER CALL THOSE THINGS.

I PUT THEM OUT THERE MYSELF AND THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THEM AWAY.

..

THEY WILL BE RIGHT THERE BY THE CURB.

UP TO THAT POI.. RUN OVER, IF YOU ARE ON THE SIDEWALK.

I DON'T .. BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING HIT BETWEEN THE OWNERS, BETWEEN THE CITY, BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BETWEEN GOOD HEARTED PEOPLE LIKE JOE AND SARAH WHO LIVE IN THE CITY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED.

>> I REMEMBER TALKING TO TED'S SON-IN-LAW WHO RUNS THE PLACE NOW ABOUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE A TRAFFIC RIGHT OUT HERE, AND HE SAID WELL, IT TAKES A WHILE.

YOU NEED APPROVAL OF THIS.

YOU NEED APPROVAL OF THAT.

I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU DO, BUT IN THE CHICAGO I GREW UP IN, IF THE MAYOR SAID I'M GOING TO FIX THIS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A STOPLIGHT OUT THERE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A STOPLIGHT AND WORKING THE NEXT DAY ON IT.

>> I HAVE GOT TO GO WITH BILL ON THAT.

FI.. CARS HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN 66 THERE SINCE 1967.

MAYBE WE SHOULD START BY DOING A BETTER JOB OF ENFORCING SPEED LIMITS.

THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO IT.

PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TOO FAST.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE STANDING TOO CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK OR TOO CLOSE TO THE ROAD.

THEY ARE ON THE SIDEWALK.

YOU CAN'T DRIVE ON SIDEWALKS.

THAT'S NEVER ACCEPTABLE.

BUT I AGREE WITH YOU.

SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN, AND THE ALDERMEN NEEDS TO SCREAM BLOODY MURDER, POUND THEIR SHOE ON THE TABLE.

CITY WANT TO GET RID OF THEM, GO AHEAD.

I DROVE BY.. MINUTES BEFORE THAT ACCIDENT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

I REMEMBER REMARKING TO MY SISTER WHO I WAS DRIVING HOME, BOY, IT'S REALLY DARK HERE.

THAT WAS IT.

I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.

I FIND OUT WHEN I GET HOME THAT THERE WAS THIS ACCIDENT THERE.

BUT FIX IT.

JUST FIX IT.

DON'T TELL ME ABOUT I HAD TO REQUEST LIGHTS THROUGH THIS DEPARTMENT.

MAKE.. >> FINALLY, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT SCREENS HAVE CAUSED SOME ISSUES WITH KIDS, BILL MCCLELLAN.

AND THE NORMANDY SCHOOLS DECIDED TO ELIMINATE PHONES IN ALL SCHOOLS, AND INCLUDING SCHOOL PROPERTY, CAN'T BRING THEM AND PUT THEM IN A BAG OR ANYTHING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> I GIVE NORMANDY SCHOOL DISTRICT A LOT OF CREDIT.

THEY WENT AND GOT TEACHERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH PHONES.

THEY S..

ALLOW PHONES IN.

WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL WORK, I DON'T KNOW.

I ME.. AS THEY CALL THEM, BUT GOOD FOR NORMANDY FOR TRYING SOMETHING.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY CAN SET THAT POLICY.

IF THE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AND PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE AREN'T REALLY, REALLY UPSET ABOUT IT, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE.

>> THEY WERE CONCERNED AT A MEETING, WHICH IS ON YOUTUBE, AND YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT, THEY SAY LOOK, WE LIKE TO KNOW WHERE OUR KIDS ARE, AND IF WE ARE DOING OKAY, THEY LIKE TO TRACK THEM AS THEY GO TO SCHOOL AND COME BACK, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

.. YEAH, MY PHONE IS STILL -- PUT IT IN THE LOCKER.

>> YOU CAN'T HAVE IT IN THE BUILDING.

>> OKAY.

IS.

>> WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING TO SCHOOL, THEY SAY HE'S AT XYZ STREET OR HEAR OF SOMETHING HAPPENING, AND I'M FINE, NO PROBLEM.

AND WHAT..

IT USED TO BE WHEN MY FOLKS DROPPED ME OFF AT GRADE SCHOOL, THEY DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF ME.

SO THIS IDEA WELL, I HAVE GOT TO KNOW IF MY KID IS OKAY.

IF YOU TAKE YOUR KID TO A SCHOOL AND YOU ARE AFRAID YOUR KID IS NOT OKAY AT THE SCHOOL, THAT'S A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.

>> I AGREE WITH BILL, TOO.

GOOD FOR NORMANDY, AND I HOPE MORE PEOPLE ADOPT.

>> I HOPE IT WORKS.

>> IF YOU ARE AFRAID FOR YOUR CHILD DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, THEN MAYBE THEY ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE.

&g.. ONLINE SHOP IN CLASS?

LET'S GO TO THE OLD MAILBAG AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM.

MANY COUNTRIES IN EUROPE REQUIRE THE USE OF SUPPRESSERS AND HUNTING AND TARGET SHOOTING TO REDUCE THE NOISE AFFECTING THE AREA WIT WHERE THE FIREARMS ARE IN USE, AND THE USE OF SUPPRESSORS IN THE COMMISSION OF CRIME IS SO LOW THE STAT ISN'T EVEN QUANTIFIABLE.

THAT'S FROM TROY, .. WRITE US CARE OF NINE PBS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DONNYBROOK AT NINE PBS.ORG AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA USE HASHTAG DONNYBROOK STL.

(314)512-9094.

LEAVE A ..

LISTEN TO US ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST SOURCE, AND WATCH US ON THE NINE PBS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

WE CALL IT LAST CALL.

THIS WEEK WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT OUR 2025 PREDICTIONS.

DON'T MISS THAT ONE.

THAT'S OF COURSE ON THE NINE PBS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YEAR.

>> DONNYBROOK IS M.. BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.