>>>ANNOUNCER: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF 9 PBS.

>>> OH, IT IS COLD OUTSIDE.

BUT WE HAVE GOT SOME HOT TOPICS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

LET MEET THOSE WHO ARE AROUND THE TABLE FOR THIS NIGHT'S BROADCAST.

STARTING WITH AMY MARXKORS, COHOST ON KMOX, SITTING IN FOR WENDY WIESE WHO IS TAKING THE WEEK OFF.

>> BILL MCCLELLAN, AND THE POST DISPATCH.

>> RAY HARTMANN FROM RIVER FRONT TIMES AND KT RS, 9-11 HE IS THE HOST.

>> AND ALVIN REID.

WHERE HE IS THE SPORTS EDITOR AND COLUMNIST AND TOMORROW YOU WILL BE A BELL-RINGER.

WE WILL BE RINGING FROM 4:30-6:30.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

WE HAVE NOT GOT TO DO IT.

IT IS GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> COME AND SUPPORT THE SALVATION ARMY.

>>> I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE POLICE CHIEF OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, WAS ANNOUNCED TO BE THE NEWEST POLICE CHIEF FOR ST. LOUIS.

HE WILL TAKE OVER JANUARY 9.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE GONE OUTSIDE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A NEW CHIEF.

THIS IS A HISTORIC DECISION.

>> WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON CHIEF TRACY?

>> IT WAS NOT LIKE, OH, WHEN HE WALKED IN.

IT WAS LIKE, HEY, WE THOUGHT -- >> LARRY BOONE.

>> -- LARRY BOONE WILL BE HIRED.

YOU FAVORED THIS GUY BECAUSE I WENT TO THE TOWN HALL TOO AND WATCHED THEM SPEAK.

I LIKE TRACY BECAUSE HE IS HAS BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

HE WAS IN THE CITY WHERE CRIME WAS PRODUCED.

I LIKE HIS BACKGROUND.

IT PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHY WAS I SURPRISED THAT, YOU KNOW, HE GOT THE JOB?

I THINK IT IS A GOOD HIRE.

I THINK -- I HAVE THOUGHT THE LAST TWO HIRES THAT WE SHOULD GET A POLICE CHIEF THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT ST. LOUIS.

I THINK IT WILL WORK OUT WELL.

>> I WISH CHIEF TRACY WELL.

I WONDER ABOUT THIS SEARCH PANEL THAT GOT THE FOUR FINALS, THOUGH.

THE ONE, KELLY, FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO WOULDN'T EVEN COME TO ST. LOUIS AND THEN DROPPED OUT.

AND THEN BOONE WHO LEFT HIS JOB AN ABURPT RESIGNATION.

MAKES ME THING SOMETHING IS GOING ON.

AND TRACY, I HOPE HE DOES WELL.

I THOUGHT WE SHOULD HIRE FROM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

I WAS ROOTING FOR SHAUN.

SO, GOOD LUCK TO TRACY.

>> WE HAVE AN OPENING IN WILMINGTON HE CAN APPLY FOR.

[LAUGHTER.]

I'M NOT MAKING LIGHT OF IT.

>> WHAT KIND OF SEARCH TEAMS COME UP WITH THESE GUYS?

>> LET'S FACE IT, IT IS NOT THE -- IT IS A TOUGH CITY.

NOT ONLY YOU HAVE TOUGH CITY AND INTERNAL FIGHTING WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE FRATERNAL OF POLICE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

THIS IS MISSOURI.

THE POLICE CHIEF QUIT WHERE THE LOCALS CAN'T ENFORCE FEDERAL LAWS OTHERWISE WE CAN GET FINED AND JAIL.

AND THERE ARE NO GUN LAWS.

HOW CAN YOU REDUCE THE VIOLENCE WHEN EVERYONE CAN CARRY.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH POLITICAL FIGHTING.

WE TALK ABOUT THINGS DON'T GET DONE BECAUSE IT TURNS INTO ARGUMENTS AND TURNS INTO PERSONAL ISSUES AND YOU HAVE SOMEONE COME IN AND SAYS GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.

I THINK ST. LOUIS THINKS WE ARE SPECIAL.

CHICAGO HAS CRIME, NEW YORK HAS CRIME.

BRING IN SOMEONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCE.

>> I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN THIS TO THEM.

BILL AND I HAVE BEEN ARGUING ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE.

IF THINGS WERE GOING SWIMMINGLY, I UNDERSTAND.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY HIRE FROM SOMEONE OUTSIDE.

I THINK CALVIN ADAMS WHO CAME FROM OUT OF TOWN.

>> THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

>> HE WAS FROM OUT OF TOWN.

>> HE CAME BACK.

>> HE WAS NOT FROM THE DEPARTMENT.

>> I AGREE THAT OUT OF TOWNERS ADD A LOT.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

I CAME FROM PHOENIX AND BORN IN CHICAGO.

WHEN YOU GET A NEW PERSON TO RUN A PLACE, WE HAVE SEEN IT AT THE NEWSPAPER, YOU HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHO TO TRUST.

THERE'S A CERTAIN BENEFIT TO WHO KNOWS THE PLAYERS.

>> I AGREE THAT FRESH LOAD IS NECESSARY.

DO YOU FIND IT UNUSUAL THAT THE MAN IS GOING TO FIGHT HOMICIDE, BUT WILMINGTON, DELAWARE HAD MORE HOMICIDES THAN IN THEIR HISTORY.

>> HOMICIDE RATES ARE NOT GOING TO BE RAISED OR LOWER BY A POLICE CHIEF.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT HE SAID.

>> RACE IS A BIG DEAL IN POLICING.

I WAS SURPRISED THEY WENT WITH A WHITE GUY.

SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE WHITE.

THE TWO PEOPLE THAT I TRUST ARE DAN AND JONES.

IT DEPENDS ON YOUR BIAS.

THEY HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

THEY ARE STILL THE BOSSES.

THE IDEA OF STARTING FRESH WITH SOMEONE THAT IS NOT THERE THAT DOES SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF QUALIFICATIONS.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO YOU, BILL, LAMAR JOHNSON WAS QUICKED FOR 19 -- CONVICTED FOR A 1994 MURDER.

HE SINCE THEN SPENT TIME BEHIND BARS.

THIS WEEK, HE IS IN THE COURT OF DAVID MASON, BECAUSE OF A CHARGE IN MISSOURI LAW, THEY ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE CONVICTION IN 1994 AND THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY, KIM GARDNER IS TRYING TO FREE HIM.

AFTER ALL, THE ONLY WITNESS TO THE MURDER SAYS HE WAS FORCED TO GIVE TESTIMONY THAT HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH.

AND ANOTHER GUY, JAMES HOWAR HOWARD SAYS I COMMITTED THE MURDER.

THE MURDER WAS COMMITTED BY MEN IN SKI MASKS.

WITH HE KNOW HOW HUMAN MEMORY AND HOW BAD EYEWITNESSS CAN BE WHEN A PERSON ISN'T WEARING A SKI MASK.

OVERALL, DO YOU BELIEVE JOHNSON SHOULD BE FREED?

>> I WROTE BEFORE THE FIRST HEARING ON THIS WITH KIM GARDNER'S INTEGRITY UNIT APPEARED IN COURT.

I FEEL LIKE I REPRESENT THE 20TH CENTURY.

I FEEL LIKE HE SHOULD BE LET GO.

THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM WAS SO TERRIBLY SKETCHY AND THE WITNESSES' RECANTATION.

IT IS A WEIRD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TERRIFIED WITNESS AND THE HOMICIDE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE ONLY -- I THINK JUDGE MASON IS GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND LET LAMAR JOHNSON GO.

I THINK HE SHOULD LET GO, BUT I -- I AM NOT ON BOARD WITH THIS INNOCENCE THING.

I THAT LAMAR JOHNSON'S ALIBI WAS A TERRIBLE ONE.

HIS GIRLFRIEND, GIRLFRIENDS WILL SAY I WAS WITH HIM ALL NIGHT.

SHE COULDN'T BECAUSE THEY WERE VISITING FRIENDS NEARBY, THREE MILES AWAY.

AND RIGHT BEFORE THE TIME OF THE MURDER HE LEFT.

HE WAS GOING TO DO A DRUG DEAL.

HE WAS ONLY GONE FIVE MINUTES.

YOU CAN'T COMMIT A MURDER THREE MILES AND COME BACK IN 5 MINUTES.

YOU CAN IN 10 MINUTES.

I THOUGHT THAT MR. HOWARD'S TESTIMONY -- THE PLAN WAS TO ROB, BOYD, THE VICTIM, MARCUS BOYD.

IF YOU DO BELIEVE THE WITNESS, AND I DO, THE TWO GUYS THAT CAME BY AND BLASTED AWAY AT MARCUS BOYD DOESN'T SOUND LIKE AN ATTEMPTED ROBBERY.

I THINK LAMAR JOHNSON SHOULD BE SET FREE AND I THINK JUDGE MASON WILL DO SO.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE COURTROOM AND I BASICALLY READ WHAT IS COMING OUT EACH DAY.

I BELIEVE -- THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WERE BAD PEOPLE.

BUT, I BELIEVE HOWARD.

HOW EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN LINED UP AND I WILL ADD THIS, PEOPLE GET REMORSEFUL FOR THINGS, MAYBE, OVER YEARS, THE FACT THIS THEY ARE ALREADY SAYING, HEY, MAN I JAMMED YOU UP.

BUT I THINK YOU WILL BE ALL RIGHT WITHIN DAYS OF THE MURDER.

TELLS ME NO, THEY ARE TELLING THE TRUTH.

I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY REALIZED, LIKE, HE IS GOING TO GO TO PRISON FOR A LONG TIME.

THEN THEY REALIZED HE IS GOING TO GO TO PRISON FOR A LONG TIME.

HE DOESN'T DESERVE THAT.

SO, I BELIEVE HIM.

>> IT MAY BE.

WHEN I WROTE THAT A LONG TIME AGO, I SAID LAMAR JOHNSON PROBABLY DIDN'T DO IT.

I SAID MIGHT NOT HAVE DONE IT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

>> AND THE PERSON WHO RECANTED HIS TESTIMONY IN A LETTER TO HIS MINISTER.

IT TOOK 20 YEARS TO CORRECT THIS?

>> A LOT OF THIS, WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THE FACTS AND ARE NOT THERE, YOU RELY ON WHAT YOU THINK.

IT IS DEFINITELY BIAS.

YOU RELY ON WHOSE -- THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW THAT ARE THERE.

I THINK THE JUDGE -- I HAPPENED TO KNOW DAVID MASON IS A WONDERFUL GUY.

I'M ASSUMES HE IS A GOOD JUDGE AND A GOOD PERSON.

I'M WITH YOU.

I WILL TRUST THAT.

AND YOU HAVE ERICK SCHMITT.

>> HE IS REPRESENTING THE 20TH CENTURY.

>> HE IS REPRESENTING A LIE.

>> I DON'T THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

>> [ALL TALKING AT ONCE].

>> THIS IS LINK KIM GARDNER'S FINALIST HOUR.

I DON'T SAY THAT OFTEN ABOUT THIS CROOKED ATTORNEY.

>> REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT KIM, THE PROJECT DOES AMAZING WORK.

AND THE OTHER THING I THOUGHT IF THEY WORE A SKI MASKS, DID THEY WEAR A SKI MASK IN THE LINE-UP?

>> THROUGH THE EYES.

>> [ALL TALKING AT ONCE].

>> HE SAID HE RECOGNIZED THE EYES.

>> OH, COME ON.

>> THAT'S NOT BIASED?

>> IT IS A BIAS?

>> I AM A FRIEND OF DWIGHT, THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DETECTIVES.

>> DWIGHT WARREN I LIKE.

HE DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

HE WAS PAYING OFF THE PARKING TICKETS OF THE EYEWITNESS AND HE DIDN'T TELL THE DEFENSE.

BOTH ACTIONS WERE BAD.

>> AMY MARXKORS, IT WAS DAN, THAT -- DANNY MAC RESIGNED.

HE WANTS MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.

BUT, IF HE PAYS A PENALTY, IT IS CONTRITE AND PAYS HIS PENALTY, DO YOU THINK HE WILL BE BEHIND A MIC?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

NOT WITH THE CARDINALS.

IT IS A THIRD TIME.

HE IS A PERSISTENT OFFENDER.

IT IS SO SAD FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE.

THANK GOODNESS NO ONE GOT HURT OR KILLED.

HOW TRAGIC THAT IS.

IT IS SO EASY NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE.

IT IS EASIER THAN EVER.

YOU CAN'T IGNORE THAT FACT.

SO, AS A MAN, AS A HUSBAND, AS A DAD, IT IS SAD THAT HE HAS ISSUES AND HE NEEDS TO DEAL WITH.

AND HE MADE THIS HORRIFIC DECISIONS.

THE CARDINALS, IT WAS ASTOUNDING THAT THEY ALLOWED HIM BACK AFTER TWO.

THAT WAS A DECADE AGO.

IN ST. LOUIS, I WOULD BE SURPRISED BECAUSE WHAT I THINK IS HIS LEVEL OF TALENT AND SKILL AS A BROADCASTER, HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A POSITION IN ST. LOUIS THAT IS BELOW THAT IF THAT MAKES SENSE AND IF HE WANTS A HIGHER POSITION, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE IN A DIFFERENT CITY.

THINK IT IS TOUGH TO GET THE CAREER BACK.

NOT HERE.

>> I THINK THE CARDINALS HAVE -- THERE'S AN IMAGE WITH THE CARDINALS.

CARDINAL NATION.

IT GETS ON MY NERVE.

>> THE CARDINAL WAY.

>> YES.

IT IS HOLIER THAN THOU.

BASEBALL HEAVEN.

I HAVE THOUGHT LIKE YOU, AFTER NUMBER 2, WELL, HE IS WITH US.

ARE REST OF THE WORLD IS SAYING MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH YOU UNDER THIS CARDINAL UMBRELLA, IF THIS WAS THEIR BEHAVIOR, THEY WOULD NOT BE ON THE RADIO, NOT BE ON, YOU KNOW, TV, RADIO, WHATEVER.

MAYBE WORKING AT A NEWSPAPER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A SPECIAL THING FOR HIM.

AND NOW THAT IT IS NUMBER THREE, THERE'S NO WAY.

I DON'T SEE HIM HAVING A PROMINENT POSITION ON TV.

>> IT WOULD LOOK BAD AND SEND A HORRIBLE MESSAGE.

>> AND -- HAD A RADIO SHOW.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN RADIO TALK SHOW HOSTS WERE THE BAD.

[LAUGHTER.]

>> IT IS STILL LIKE THAT.

[LAUGHTER.]

>> IN THE INDUSTRY -- >> RADIO HOSTS -- >> THE MOTLEY CREWS.

[LAUGHTER.]

>> I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT HIM.

IN TERMS OF GETTING A POSITION, I NEVER SAY NEVER ABOUT PEOPLE COMING BACK IN THIS MARKET.

THERE'S A LOT OF EXAMPLES SAYING THEY WILL NEVER COME BACK.

THEY COME BACK.

THEY COME BACK AGAIN.

>> TO YOUR POINT THAT IS IMPORTANT, IF HE WANTS TO COME BACK AT THE LEVEL OF HIS TALENT AND IS CONSIDERABLE, HE MAY BE BETTER OFF TO GET A FRESH START IN A NEW MARKET.

IT IS NOT LIKE IT WON'T BE KNOWN.

IT WON'T BE TOP OF MINE.

I SAID LAST WEEK, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED OR I WOULDN'T HOLD IT AGAINST THE CARDINALS.

I DON'T -- THE CARDINALS JUST GOING TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CARDINALS.

>> THE CARDINALS DO A LOT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE BEST FOR THEMSELVES.

>> NO, THEY HAVE -- >> WHY NOT SAY THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING?

>> BECAUSE -- I-THINK THIS -- >> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT VICKY HARTZLER THE RETIRING HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM MISSOURI.

LAST WEEK, SHE SPOKE PASSIONALLY ABOUT THE LAW THAT WAS LATER PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT TO PROTECT SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND RACIAL MARRIAGE.

SHE CAME TO TEARS.

YOU TAKE HER ON AND ACCUSING HER ON BIGOTRY.

>> IF SHE WAS LOOKING FOR ATTENTION THEY GOT IT.

SHE LEAD THE WAY WHEN THE MISSOURI PASSED A CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE.

TODAY, IT IS THE REVERSE OF THAT.

TIMES CHANGE.

THERE IS SOMETHING RATHER SPECIAL ABOUT SOMEONE BEING MOVED TO TEARS AT OTHER PEOPLE'S HAPPINESS.

IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT SHE HAS A GAY NEPHEW THAT IS SLAMMING HER.

IT IS HARD TO RESPECT FOR SOMEONE WHO IS CAUGHT UP IN BIGOTRY THEY ARE THAT UPSET AND PLEADING WITH THEIR COLLEGES, UNDO THIS TERRIBLE WRONG IT IS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME RIGHTS.

IT IS SAD.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, RAY.IF VICKY HARTZLER DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR SENATE, I'M SURE SHE WOULD WIN EASILY.

>> OH SURE.

SURE.

>> THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, 2013, THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE DEFENSIVE MARRIAGE ACT.

DICK DUR BAN VOTED FOR IT, BIDEN VOTED FOR IT.

DID YOU CALL THEM ALL BIGOTS?

OBAMA RAN AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE.

MAYBE SHE IS BEHIND 10, 20, 30 YEARS.

CAN YOU GIVE HER CREDIT?

>> NO.

SHE IS ENTITLED TO HER OPINIONS?

>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT EVERYONE WAS AGAINST SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS A BIGOT.

70 PERCENT OF STATE IS AGAINST IT.

EVERYONE HAS MOVED ON.

>> BUT WHAT IS THE POINT?

>> YOU ARE HARDER ON HER THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

>> ANNE WAGNER GOT IT RIGHT, ROY BLUNT GOT IT RIGHT.

A BUNCH OF REPUBLICANS DID.

THE POINT IT IS ONE THING TO CLING TO WHAT IS NOW IS A BIGOT.

TO BE EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT.

IT SHOWS HOW AUTHENTIC SHE IS, PEOPLE SAY.

IT IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF.

>> MAYBE HER TEARS ARE MISPLACED.

MAYBE SHE IS UPSET THE STATE OF MARRIAGE AND MARRIAGE THAT IS NOT GOING SWIMMINGLY.

AND A PRESIDENT THAT LOVED MARRIAGE SO MUCH THAT HE HAD THREE OF THEM AND -- >> SHE LOVED DONALD TRUMP.

>> AND WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIVIL MARRIAGE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HOLY MARRIAGE.

IF WE HAVE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND YOU SAY THAT MARRIAGE IS DEFINED AS YOUR HOLY SCRIPTURE, WE SHOULD GRANT HER THE RIGHT THAT MARRIAGE IS IN THE EYES OF GUY THAT IS A MAN AND WOMAN.

WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY AND THE LAWS REPRESENT THE VALUES OF OUR COUNTRY.

IN HER CHURCH IT COULD BE DEFINED IN THAT SENSE.

IN THE DEMOCRACDEMOCRACY, IT IS AS THE SUPREME COURT SAYS, GAY MARRIAGE IS LEGAL.

>> I -- YOU WANT TO GET A STRANGE LOOK, YOU DO REALIZED WE ARE -- YOU GOT YOUR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE AND YOU SIGNED IT, YOU WERE MARRIED?

IT IS ALL -- YOU WERE MARRIED.

OKAY?

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A CEREMONY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE ANYTHING.

THE STATE RECOGNIZED THAT.

I AM WITH YOU.

>> AND SOME OF THE HORRIFIC THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS COUNTRY AND IF THAT DIDN'T MOVE HER TO TEARS.

I AM SUSPECT.

>> WITH HER NEPHEW BEING GAY.

I WONDER WHAT FAMILY GATHERINGS ARE LIKE.

>> HE SAID THEY ARE NOT CLOSE.

>> LET'S MOVE ON BECAUSE OF TIME.

>> AMY MARXKORS, TEST SCORES IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI ARE DOWN.

LOWER THAN THERE WERE PRE-PANDEMIC.

THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE READING AND MATH SCORES FOR 4 AND 8TH GRADERS THAT CAME OUT.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST STORY, SHOULD BE, THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

MAYBE WE SHOULD -- I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS -- SENIORS THEN SPEND TIME WITH THE YOUNGER STUDENTS READING, APPARENTLY KIDS ARE NOT READING.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

IN TEXAS, EVERY KID WHO DOESN'T MEET THE STANDARDS IS ENTITLED TO 30 HOURS OF TUTORING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO?

>> YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON THIS, WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE COVID-19 YEARS, IT IS THE KIDS, WE FAILED THE KIDS ON SO MANY LEVELS.

WE WERE ALL TRYING TO FIND OUR WAY IN THE DARK WITH THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE WERE DOING THE BEST THEY COULD, REMOTE SCHOOLING, VIRTUAL LEARNING.

THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU HAVE 30-40 KIDS ON A ZOOM SCHOOL.

IT HURT THE KIDS THAT HAD THE FEWEST RESOURCES.

MAYBE YOU ARE A TWO-PARENT HOUSEHOLD AND YOU CAN STAY HOME AND TUTOR OR YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET A TUTOR.

IF YOU WERE DOING OKAY, YOU COULD KEEP GOING.

IT HIT THE UNDER-PRIVILEGED KIDS THE HARDEST.

MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE THE DEVICES OR WIFI.

WE SHOULD CHANNEL FUNDS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STAFF THE SCHOOLS WITH TEACHERS, MAKING TUTORING AVAILABLE, AND HAVING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WHERE THEY CAN VOLUNTEER, WE HAVE ONE HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS TO READ WITH KIDS.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT TIME.

>> I LOVE IT.

>> IT WILL TAKE ONE-ON-ONE.

>> REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE OF THE ISSUE YOU ARE ON, IMAGINE THE DEBATE ON READING AND YOU HAVE BOOKS THAT THE KIDS CAN'T READ.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

AT SOME POINT, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE READING, CAN YOU COMPREHEND WHAT YOU JUST READ?

IT CAN TURN AROUND THE PROBLEMS.

WE'LL GET TO MATH AND SCIENCE.

IF YOU ARE GOOD AT READING -- >> I REMEMBER WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS A TEACHER IN RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA.

SHE SAID THE PROBLEM, SHE WAS A SCIENCE TEACHER, THE KIDS CAN'T READ.

THEY TAKE THESE STATE TESTS IN SCIENCE, EVEN IF THEY UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE, THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS.

I LIKED YOUR IDEA OF TAKING SOME OF THIS MONEY, KROENKE MONEY, AND HAVING SMALLER CLASSROOMS.

SMALLER CLASS SIZES.

>> ALL OF THESE ARE GREAT IDEAS.

>> I WOULD ADD -- PEOPLE CAN THINK IT IS POLITICAL -- THE STATE OF MISSOURI HAS TO PUT THE MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS.

IT IS GREAT IDEAS.

TEACHER SALARIES.

THE FOLKS RUNNING THE STATE OF MISSOURI TALK THE TALK AND WILL NOT PUT THE MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS AND IT HAS TO CHANGE.

>> AND THE MINIMUM SALARY FOR A TEACHER IS 25 THOUSAND AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO FOUR-DAY WEEKS.

THEY SHOULD GO TO 6-DAY WEEKS.

>> I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH DANNY MAC.

IT IS NOT TIME FOR JUDGMENT BUT COMPASSION FOR DAN AND HIS FAMILY AS THEY FACE THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

>> AND WE HEARD FROM LARRY OF CHESTERFIELD.

>> BEFORE ST. LOUIS CITY SPENT SPENDS MONEY, THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THE WELL-DESERVED IMAGE AS A CRIME INFESTED PLACE.

>> YOUR SHOW IS APPOINTMENT TV FOR MY WIFE AND ME.

HOWEVER, I HAVE TO ASK; IS THERE A RULE THAT THERE CAN'T BE TWO WOMEN ON THE PANEL AT THE SAME TIME?

YOU CAN WRITE US 9 PBS.

DON'T FORGET THE E-MAIL, DONNYBROOK AT 9 PBS.ORG.

>> USE THE HASH TAG DONNYBROOK ST L. CALL THE 9-LINE AND LISTENING TO US ON YOUR PODCAST.

APPLE SPOTIFY, GOOGLE, AND TUNE IN.

>> THANK YOU FOR AMY MARXKORS WHO SAT IN FOR WENDY WIESE.

>> DON'T TOUCH THE DIAL.

WE WILL TALK TO JOHN LETTER, WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF A NETFLIX 4-PART SERIES AND IN THE TOP 10.

IT IS NEXT UP.

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