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

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "DONNYBROOK."

LOTS OF TOPICS AND NEW ART.

LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS.

STARTING WITH WENDY WIESE FROM THE BIG 550.

BILL McCLELLAN FROM STL TODAY.COM.

AND THE ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH.

RAY HARTMANN FROM RAY HARTMANN'S ST. LOUIS INSIDER.

AND MR. ALVIN REID FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN.

WE LIKE TO THANK MISSY CASTRO FOR LENDING US SOME OF HER BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK, WHICH IS NOW ABOVE THE MANTLE HERE ON OUR SET AT "DONNYBROOK."

IF YOU ARE A LOCAL ARTIST, YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOURS, CONTACT US HERE AT 9 PBS.

BILL, YOU HAVE ART.

SEND IT OUR WAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, I'M GOING TO PASS ON THAT.

>> IF YOU LIKE TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR YOUR RESUME, BECAUSE YOU LIKE TO BE THE NEXT CIRCUIT ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, DEADLINE IS NOON ON MONDAY.

GOVERNOR MIKE PARSONS IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FILL THE ROLES.

SHE LEAVES JUNE 1st.

WHAT ABOUT THE SUCCESSOR?

ANY IDEAS?

>> WELL, OUT OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED, SOME HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED.

MY FAVORITE IS PAULA BRYANT.

I KNEW PAULA WHEN SHE WAS A PROSECUTOR YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS VERY GOOD.

SHE BECAME A JUDGE I THOUGHT SHE WAS A VERY GOOD JUDGE.

SHE'LL BE A GOOD CIRCUIT ATTORNEY.

SHE WAS AN CIRCUIT ATTORNEY, PROSECUTOR, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WHOEVER TAKES OVER THAT OFFICE IS GOING TO BE NO TIME FOR LEARNING CURVE.

THE OFFICE IS IN A STATE OF CHAOS.

THERE'S NO OLDER VETERANS AROUND.

I THINK THAT PAULA BRYANT SOUNDS GOOD FOR THE JOB.

>> WE WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT THE SITUATION WHERE WHO WILL APPOINT.

I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS AN APPLICATION PROCESS.

IT WOULDN'T CHANGED HOW I FELT ABOUT IT IF KIM GARDNER HAD LEFT OFFICE.

I DO FIND IT INTERESTING THAT YOU DO HAVE TO DECLAIRE -- DECLARE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THE JOB.

THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THE JOB.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

I'M NOT SURE WHICH DIRECTION THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING IN.

JUST FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE IS SOME BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO THAT THEY ARE COLLABORATING AS TO WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR THE JOB.

NOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN TIM LOMAR GETS THE JOB -- >> I WAS ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR SAY OUR GREAT CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

I APPRECIATED THE OUR.

I KIND OF LIKE THE SYMMETRY OF JUDGE MICHAEL NOBLE OF THE 27th CIRCUIT BECAUSE OF THE SHIFT OF CHAOS, WHICH HAS BECOME PART OF OUR LOCAL LEXICON THESE DAYS.

I THINK THAT KIND OF SHIFTED THINGS.

IT SHIFTED SOMETHING.

MADE HER DEPARTURE ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

I THINK THAT HE COULD -- I THINK HE COULD PROBABLY ASSEMBLE A TERRIFIC TEAM.

I FELT GOOD ABOUT THAT -- >> I HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT JUDGE THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW HIM.

WEST POINT GRADUATE.

AGAIN, AS FAR AS THE EXPERIENCE GOES, JUDGE NOBLE WAS NEVER A PROSECUTOR.

>> I WOULD SAY THIS -- >> I MEAN TO SIT ON THE BENCH -- >> I DON'T WANT TO ENDORSE ANYBODY, THAT WILL SINK IT.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] FIRST OF ALL, NORMALLY, IN JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS, THE GOVERNMENT CHOOSES FROM A PANEL OF THREE.

IN THIS CASE, BILL GAVE HIM A PANEL OF TWO.

PAUL WAS ONE OF THEM.

HE REALLY SHOULDN'T LOOK NO FURTHER THAN BILL'S PANEL.

THAT'S THE WAY IT OUGHT TO GO.

HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.

I WILL SAY THAT HAVING SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN IN THE FRAY OF THE CONTROVERSY AS THE LAST THING WE NEED.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS, IT'S A POLITICAL JOB.

IN THE SENSE THAT, THIS PERSON IS GOING THEORETICALLY COULD STAND FOR REELECTION.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO POLITICAL JOB.

THIS IS AN 18-MONTH JOB.

I THINK YOU NEED AN ADMINISTRATOR.

I THINK IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WANTED TO STEP IN THAT RUNS ONE OF THE MAJOR LAW FIRMS HERE OR IN KANSAS CITY OR SOMETHING, I CAN GET WITH THAT.

IT NEEDS TO BE RUN LIKE A LAW OFFICE.

THIS PERSON MAY NOT DO LOT OF COURTROOM WORK FOR WHATEVER THAT MAJOR FIRM HE WORKS FOR OR SHE WORKS FOR.

BUT THEY RUN THE OFFICE.

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO JUST RUN THE OFFICE.

>> I THINK HAVING PROSECUTOR IS NICE TO HAVE.

ONLY OTHER TIME WE HAD WAS IN '92 WHEN GEORGE PEACH RESIGNED OVER SEX AND ALSO TAKING THE MONEY FROM -- HE RESIGNED IN DISGRACE.

ON A PERSONAL BASIS.

JOHN ASHCROFT WAS GOVERNOR AT THE TIME, APPOINTED RICHARD SWATEK WHO WAS THE CHALLENGE THAT WOULD CHANNEL.

IT WASN'T CONTROVERSIAL I REMEMBER AT THE TIME.

HE PICKED A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR CIRCUIT ATTORNEY WHO WAS FINE GUY.

HE WAS A LAME DUCK.

HE GOT CRUSHED BY GEORGE PEACH'S TOP ASSISTANT, WHO OBVIOUSLY, THIS WASN'T AN ISSUE ABOUT THE OFFICE ITSELF.

SHE BECAME PROSECUTOR FOR EIGHT YEARS.

IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO.

>> YOU KNOW WHY IT'S SO DIFFERENT -- I THINK JUDGE NOBLE DID A GREAT JOB COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IN COURT.

I HEAR GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.

I DON'T THINK IT LOOKS GOOD IF HE LED TO HER RESIGNATION AND HE PROFITS FROM HER DEPARTURE.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY PROFITING.

>> THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.

APPARENTLY, THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS NOT BEEN ENTERING DATA CALLED PBK.

IT'S A MICROSOFT PROGRAM WHERE YOU PUT DATA IN SO YOU KNOW THE FILES.

SHE DIDN'T WANT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO GET THEM.

THERE ARE NO FILES NOW BECAUSE THE PROSECUTORS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO FEED THE COMPUTER.

THEN, BECAUSE LOT OF THESE CASES HAVE BEEN LANGUISHING THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS, WITNESSES MOVE, THEY DIE OR GET INCARCERATED.

A NEW GUY WILL COME IN THERE, THEY WILL HAVE A HECK OF TIME TRYING TO PUT THE CASE TOGETHER.

>> EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS.

>> IT'S DISASTER.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

>> JUDGE IS A SHE AND NOT A HE.

>> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO WENDY.

THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR SOME REASON REFUSED CHARGES OF A ST. LOUIS POST CINCO de MAYO SHOOTER.

TWO ST. LOUISAN, A MAN AND WOMAN FIRED IN THE CROWD.

THE POLICE TOOK THE PHOTO.

THE WOMAN WAS IDENTIFIED.

THEY SENT THE CHARGES UP TO THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY.

SHE REFUSED THE CHARGES.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

IS SHE TRYING TO ALLOW DISORDER TO TAKE OVER?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE TO ASK HER.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

GIVING UP TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

33-YEAR-OLD DARRION BENTON, HE IS BEHIND BARS.

HE IS BEING HELD.

THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH IS FREE.

SHE WAS THE ONE THAT APPARENTLY THE WITNESS WHO WERE ALL OVER TELEVISION NEWS SAYING THEY WERE SO DISHEARTENED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

DON'T SENSE HIS TAKING.

PHOTOGRAPH YOU CAN SEE EVERY DETAIL OF THE WOMAN'S FACE.

HOW CAN YOU SAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE AND McGRAW MADE THE POINT THIS MORNING THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HESITATION.

WHEN IT CAME TO THE McCLOSKEYS WHO WAS IN THE CENTRAL WEST END BRANDISHING A GUN.

SHE WENT AFTER THEM.

WE HAVE TO ASK KIM GARDNER WHAT THE REASONING IS.

>> THERE'S NO EXPLANATION.

IN THESE TIMES WHERE PEOPLE HAVING TOUGH TIME COMING UP WITH BAIL AND NOT GETTING BAIL.

IF YOU CAN CHARGE THIS WOMAN WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, I'M SURE YOU CAN THROW TOGETHER FOUR OR FIVE CHARGES.

SHE'D BE OFF THE STREET.

>> IF I CAN COME UP WITH THAT, THEN SOMETHING REALLY IS WRONG.

>> THINGS ARE WRONG.

WE HAD TWO SHOOTINGS TWO DAYS IN A ROW AT THE CINCO de MAYO FESTIVAL.

THERE WERE SHOOTINGS IN THE MARIOT GARAGE.

OVER THE WEEKEND, SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED, 15 OTHERS SHOT IN ST. LOUIS.

ANDY BANKER REPORTED THAT BEDLUM IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS WAS CRAZY WITH WRECKLESS DRIVING.

THE PASSENGERS REFUSED TO GET OFF.

MAJOR RYAN COUSINS DID ADMIT THIS.

HE SAID THERE WEREN'T POLICE OFFICERS IN DOWNTOWN OVER THE WEEKEND.

AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, LOOKING AT WHAT WAS GOING ON, THE MAYOR WAS NOT THERE.

NO PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, NO POLICE CHIEF.

SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE BEEN THERE?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY -- YOU CAN'T ASSUME THE MAYOR IS GOING TO GO TO EVERY POLICE PRESS CONFERENCE.

I KNOW IT'S A ROUGH WEEKEND.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE MURDER RATE WAS DOWN.

I CAUTION PEOPLE NOT TO GET TOO CAUGHT UP ON STATISTICS.

I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING DYNAMIC IS THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT DOWNTOWN -- HE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE SPEAKING OUT LOUDLY ON BEHALF OF HIS FELLOW CONDO OWNERS DOWNTOWN.

ALL THE DOWNTOWNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN BASICALLY PREACH THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING AROUND RESIDENTS.

I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH NOT NECESSARILY EVERY DETAIL.

I THINK THE CONDO OWNERS ARE NOT GETTING LISTENED TO ENOUGH IN GENERAL DOWNTOWN.

YOU CAN'T SAY WE NEED THEM TO BUILD AROUND, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S TENSIONS IT BETWEEN THEM AND THE CITY.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THIS KIND OF TRIPAR TIED -- >> EVEN THE BUSINESSES TALK ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL DOWNTOWN.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WORK.

SANDBURG PHOENIX MOVING FROM WASHINGTON AVENUE.

THEY THINK THAT'S NO LONGER SAFE.

THEY ARE MOVING THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS SOUTH.

IT ISN'T JUST THE CONDO OWNERS.

THIS IS CRAZY.

>> WE LOST TWO 18-YEAR-OLD GIRLS OVER THE WEEKEND.

IT WAS PAGE 2 ON THE MONDAY POST DISPATCH.

I THINK THE MAYOR SHOULD BE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE LIKE THAT.

I RAN INTO A GUY, I HAD LUMP -- LUNCH WITH HIM ON WEDNESDAY.

HIS DAUGHTER GOT MARRIED IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

HE HAD TO HIRE TWO OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICERS TO WALK THE WEDDING GUESTS FROM THE BALLROOM TO THE PARKING GARAGE AND BACK-AND-FORTH.

>> HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

HE DID DO IT.

>> THE FATHER OF THE GROOM WITNESSED THE MURDER AT 7th AND MARKET.

HE WAS VISUALLY SHAKEN.

>> OKAY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

THE WHOLE WEDDING WAS LIKE FREAKING OUT IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

JUST LIKE THE BECKY THATCHER PASSENGERS.

WHAT KIND OF STORIES HE'S GOING BACK TO DALLAS WITH.

>> HE CAN TAKE A THOUSAND STORIES FROM THE NORTH SIDE.

>> THE POINT WELL TAKEN.

THOSE GIRLS WHO DIED WERE IN HYDE PARK.

THE-- WE'RE ABOUT 200 OFFICERS SHORT.

WE WANT TO HEAR THAT WE'RE HIRING MORE OFFICERS.

>> IF WE HIRED A THOUSAND MORE OFFICERS THAT WILL BE GREAT.

I GROW WEARY OF IT'S CRAZY, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE SAY EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> ON THE 17th THERE'S A CRIME SUMMIT.

THEY'RE BRINGING IN THOMAS ABT BACK.

WE HAD HIM IN THE CRIME SUMMIT THREE YEARS AGO.

LEWIS REED WAS THERE AND CHIEF OF POLICE WAS THERE.

>> HE DID SO WELL.

THEY NEVER HIRED HIM.

THEY LISTENED TO HIM AND DID NOTHING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION.

PRINCIPLELY, OAKLAND, BOSTON AND SOME OTHER CITIES.

IT'S CALLED FOCUSED DETERRENCE.

THAT'S THE NAME OF HIS PROGRAM.

WE WENT WITH PURE VIOLENCE INSTEAD.

AS RAY SAID, HOMICIDES ARE DOWN THIS YEAR.

KNOCK ON WOOD, THEY'LL CONTINUE.

>> ALVIN MAKES A GREAT POINT.

WE TEND TO, WE THE MEDIA, HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES AND GET WORKED UP WHEN SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

>> THIS WAS CHEROKEE AND HYDE PARK.

>> WHATEVER.

THE POINT BEING, IN TERMS OF THEY COULD EASILY HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE PRETTY MUCH EVERYDAY.

>> EVERY HOUR.

>> TO TALK ABOUT NORTH ST. LOUIS.

IT'S A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY TO LOSE ANYBODY.

WE'RE LOSING LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET THAT ATTENTION.

>> I DON'T THINK THOSE 18-YEAR-OLD GIRLS GOT ENOUGH ATTENTION.

>> I AGREE.

I'M NOT ARGUING.

I'M SAYING WE SEEM TO BE DESENSITIZED TO THE 18-YEAR-OLD GIRLS IN NORTH ST. LOUIS THAT ARE DYING.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FINGER POINTING.

YOU DON'T SEE ANYBODY OUT FRONT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS -- THAT IS WHY THE PERCEPTION IT'S REALITY NOW.

>> YOU SAID WE NEED A CRIME CZAR.

I SAID THAT.

I THINK THE CRIME EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY.

>> WE HAD ONE AND IT WAS MORA SHANKER.

WHO WAS THE ATTORNEY IN THE EARLY 1970s.

>> I REMEMBER WRITING IN 2000, MORA SHANKER WAS THE MAN OF THE MILLENNIAL.

>> DEFINITELY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> CERTAINLY THE MAN OF THE CENTURY.

>> I AM A BELIEVER THAT WHEN ORGANIZED CRIME GOT DISORGANIZED, IT LED TO ALL OF THIS.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT TOD ROBBERSON THE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR THAT ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT FROM ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH.

DEFINITELY, THE EDITORIALS WERE A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE, RECENTLY COMPARED TO TEN YEARS AGO.

FOR EXAMPLE.

OVERALL -- >> I THOUGHT IT WAS OF CRIME THAT HE HAD SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT ST. LOUIS AND DIDN'T LIVE IN ST. LOUIS.

I THINK ALSO, I HAVE WORKED AT THE CINCINNATI INQUIRER.

I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH HIM ON A TELEPHONE CALL.

WHICH I WOULD ASK HIM ABOUT IF I EVER SAW HIM PERSONALLY.

I THINK THE POST DISPATCH AND THE REGION IS IN BETTER SHAPE NOW.

IT'S NOT A PLACE FOR VIN DEBT AS -- VENDETTAS IT'S A PLACE OF OPINION.

I DIDN'T LIKE HIM.

>> HE REJECTED ONE OF HIS COLUMNS.

HE SAID NEVER SEND ME ANOTHER COLUMN, EVER.

I WILL SAY, WHEN THEY REDID THE EVERYDAY SECTION OF THE POST DISPATCH.

HE PRINTED -- REMEMBER THEY GOT RID OF THE COMICS -- THEY DID PRINT TO THE POST CREDIT, ONE ANGRY LETTER AFTER ANOTHER FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS.

WHICH IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.

>> I THINK THAT TOD HAD SOME INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS.

BEING RUDE TO PEOPLE IS INEXCUSABLE WHEN YOU'RE A NEWSPAPER EXECUTIVE.

I THOUGHT THE EDITORIALS WERE PRETTY GOOD.

THEY DID TAKE A MORE CONSERVATIVE BALANCE TONE.

I THINK THAT THE GOOD NEWS IS KEVIN McDERMOTT WHO WRITE THE SUNDAY COLUMN.

KEVIN IS GOOD LIBERAL AND A SENSIBLE OLD TRADITION OF LIBERALISM.

I THINK THE PAPER EDITORIAL PAGES IN VERY GOOD HANDS.

>> I LIKE KEVIN A LOT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW DID WE ARRIVE IN A PLACE WHERE THAT IS TOLERABLE FOR A MAJOR DAILY NEWSPAPER TO HAVE AN EDITOR, EDITING FROM CONNECTICUT?

>> HE'S A MAN OF OUR TIMES.

>> BUT NOT A NEWSPAPER.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD A LOCAL COLUMN WHO MOVED TO FLORIDA.

ELAINE CONTINUED TO BE A LOCAL COLUMNIST FROM FLORIDA.

>> I THINK THAT'S STILL A STRETCH.

THAT'S NOT AN EDITOR.

>> THE PAPER IS EDITED OUT OF INDIANA.

>> WE HAD FOSTER DAVIS WHO WAS THE OVERALL EDITOR.

FOSTER LOVED NORTH CAROLINA SO MUCH, WE'D HAVE AN OVER/UNDER BET ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON WHETHER FOSTER WILL BE GONE BY 3:00 OR 5:00.

FRIDAY IS OUR BUSIEST DAY YOU PUTTING OUT THE SATURDAY PAPER AND THE SUNDAY PAPER.

>> I DON'T THINK AN EDITOR SHOULD HAVE TO READ THE PAPER TO FIND OUT WHAT HE'LL WRITE ABOUT IN THE PAPER.

EVERYBODY IS OUT DOING THE NEWS.

IF YOU'RE IN THE NEWSROOM, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WITHIN FIVE MINUTES YOU KNOW BUNCH OF STUFF HAPPENING.

>> ARE YOU IN FLORIDA?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THOUGHT IT WAS ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION.

I WOULD SAY, ONE OF THE SAD THINGS, WE'RE TALKING, THIS IS THE MOST ATTENTION ITS GOTTEN THE POST EDITORIAL PAGE GOTTEN IN TEN YEARS.

IT'S JUST NOT WHAT IT WAS IN TERMS OF RELEVANCE.

I DON'T AGREE THAT THE EDITORIALS HAVE GREAT.

I HAD THIS THEORY, YOU CAN DROP CIRCLES AROUND THE POST DISPATCH, THE FURTHER IT GETS AWAY FROM HOME, THE MORE LIBERAL IT GETS.

ON INTERNATIONAL POLICY MORE LIBERAL.

WHEN YOU GET STATE ISSUES, IT GETS MORE CONSERVATIVE.

WHEN YOU GET TO LOCAL ISSUES IT'S FLAT OUT RIGHT WING.

>> GOOD LORD!

>> BIG ISSUE OUT OF JEFF CITY WHERE THE LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, BOTH PASSED A BILL GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

IT'S GOING TO NOT ALLOW GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR THE MINORS IN STATE OF MISSOURI.

NO MORE PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONE THERAPY.

>> IT'S HEARTLESS.

IT'S STUPID.

IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO THE PARENTS OF THESE KIDS.

I HAPPEN TO BE -- I'M A PROUD GODFATHER OF A GOD DAUGHTER WHO USED TO BE A GODSON.

WE SHOULD RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS AND THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF A VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION OF I PREFER TO CALL THEM TRANS-MISSOURIIANS.

WE'RE DESCRIBING THEM AS OTHERS.

THE FACT IS, PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSGENDER HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE NEEDS AND THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BUT OUT AND FRANKLY, IT AFFECTS SO FEW PEOPLE.

ALL THIS IS JUST REPUBLICAN-TRUMP-BASED POLITICS.

IT'S DISGUSTING.

>> WHEN DR. KEN HOWARD WAS OUR SPECIAL GUEST SEVERAL WEEK AGO, WE HAD A TREMENDOUS RESPONSE.

WHEN IT COMES TO WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES FROM TODAY LOOKING BACK ON THE '80s, SO MANY REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS REGRET THAT THERE WAS MORE FEET DRAGGING THAN ACTING AGGRESSIVELY WHEN IT CAMES TO THE AIDS CRISIS.

I THINK THAT ANY TIME YOU LOOK BACK YOU WANT TO HAVE BEEN YOUR MOST COMPASSIONATE.

THIS MIGHT NOT AFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT WITH THE STATISTICS INVOLVING SUICIDE, THE RATE OF SUICIDE FOR THESE PEOPLE, I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO REALLY REGRET THIS DECISION.

>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE GAYS.

WHEN I STARTED WORKING HERE ON THE NEWSPAPER, WE STILL PUBLISHED LISTS OF MEN CAUGHT IN PUBLIC PARKS BY THE VICE SQUAD POSING AS HOMOSEXUALS.

WE JUST PUBLISHED THOSE LIST LIKE NOTHING.

THEN GAY MARRIAGE CAME ALONG.

PEOPLE LIKE ME, THOUGHT CIVIL UNION IS A GOOD COMPROMISE.

NOW I THINK WHY DIDN'T I JUST REALIZE GAY MARRIAGE WAS A FINE THING ALL ALONG.

IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR PEOPLE TO GET USED TO THESE THINGS.

I THINK THIS WILL BE THAT KIND OF AN ISSUE.

>> I AGREE.

>> DOWN TO THE FINAL HOURS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE PASSED ANY BILL OF IMPORTANCE TO MISSOURI?

WHEN YOU START TAKING OVER THE POLICE AND TRYING TO GET RID OF KIM GARDNER AND TRANSGENDER AND ON AND ON -- >> TAX CUTS FOR SENIORS ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

[ LAUGHTER ] WHAT A WASTE -- JUST BLOWING ANOTHER LARGER HOLE IN THE STATE BUDGET SO WE'LL HAVE LESS MONEY TO PAY TROOPERS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> BULLET TRAIN.

HYPERLOOP.

>> YOU CAN LOOK AT WHAT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE DOING.

WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF.

FREE TUITION FOR COLLEGE KIDS THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE.

>> RAY, SORRY TO SAY, OUR TIME IS UP.

IT'S TIME TO SEE WHAT THE VIEWERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT LAST PROGRAM.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM PAUL OWENS WHO WROTE, HOW ABOUT CLARENCE THOMAS TO REPLACE KIM GARDNER.

SIMON BARKER OF CLARKSVILLE, MISSOURI, SHARED, THIS, PLEASE DISCUSS RECYCLING IN ST. LOUIS AGAIN WHEN ALL HAVE MORE BACKGROUND INTO THE ISSUE.

I WAS APPALLED LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY.

THANK YOU, MR. BARKER.

LISTEN TO DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US FOR DONNY BASH FOR JUNE 15th.

DON'T GO AWAY, IN JUST A MOMENT, ALVIN AND RAY WILL TALK TO THE MAN WHO'S THE VOICE OF KERMIT THE FROG AND BIG BIRD.

HOW ABOUT THAT.

NEXT ON "NEXT UP."

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