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

>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOKS ABOUT GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND THIS IS THE PROGRAM JUST BEFORE THE FOURTH OF JULY AND WE'LL CHECK OUT THE JULY 4th REGALIA IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT A QUICK PREVIEW ON NEXT UP.

DAVE MURRAY, WHO FIRST STARTED SHARING WEATHER INFORMATION ON LOCAL AIRWAYS IN 1976 AT THE OLD KSD TV IS GOING TO BE WITH US ON NEXT UP AND ANSWER OUR WEATHER-RELATED QUESTIONS.

IT'S BEEN CRAZY.

HEY, WE WELCOME BACK THE BIRTHDAY GIRL HERSELF, WENDY WIESE, WHO TOOK LAST WEEK OFF TO CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WENDY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WENDY, OF COURSE, WITH THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW ON KTRS WHERE SHE'S ALSO THE NEWS DIRECTOR.

THERE HE IS WEARING A TIE THIS TIME AROUND, MR. BILL McCLELLAN.

>> IT'S A STAR SPANGLED TIE, CHARLIE.

>> AND BILL McCLELLAN IS A COLUMNIST FOR THE ST. LOUIS TOUCHDOWN AND ONE OF OUR PROGRAM'S FOUNDERS.

ANOTHER FOUNDER IS MR. RAY HARTMANN WITH RAWSTORY.COM, THE RIVERFRONT TIMES, KTRS AND OTHER PATRIOTIC PUBLICATIONS.

>> I GOT THE BLUE SHIRD.

>> AND WITH IN ALVIN REID FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN.

THERE EASY.

THAT HAT WAS BORROWED FROM APOLLO CREED IN THE MOVIE ROCKY III, I THINK.

>> YEAH, HE DIED IN III, BUT A CLASSIC JAMES BROWN THEME.

I LOVE APOLLO CREED.

>> WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU, BILL.

THIS WEEK, ALONG WITH SCIENCE, MISSOURI IN ITS WISDOM, WILL NOT REVEAL THE NAMES OR ADDRESSES OF LOTTERY WINNERS UNLESS THOSE LOTTERY WINNERS GIVE PERMISSION, AND IN FACT, IF YOU VIOLATE THAT, IT'S A MISDEMEANOR CRIME.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WIN A LOT OF MONEY AND NO ONE HAS TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

MAYBE NOT EVEN YOUR KIDS AND YOUR EX-WIFE AND ANYBODY ELSE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S CRAZY.

I MEAN, IT MAKES ME THINK THAT A LEGISLATOR JUST WON THE LOTTERY OR DREAMS THAT HE WILL.

THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE LOTTERY IS TO MAKE MONEY FOR THE STATE, AND THE STATE HAS ALWAYS ALLOWED THESE GAMBLING MACHINES IN BECAUSE IT'S POLITICALLY CONNECTED, AND NOW THIS -- THE BEST WAY TO ADVERTISE THE LOTTERY IS TO SHOW WINNERS AND TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, BILLY JOE ROBERTS, YOU KNOW, SLIPPERY ROCK IN SOUTHERN MISSOURI, WON A MILLION DOLLARS, AND PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT AND GO, HEY, IT COULD HAPPEN TO ME.

WHEN YOU TAKE THAT AWAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ADVERTISE THE LOTTERY AND I FEEL BAD FOR THE HEAD OF THE LOTTERY TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY TICKETS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, OUT OF NOWHERE WITH SEEMINGLY NO DISCUSSION, THEY'VE COME UP WITH THIS IDEA OF YOU CAN'T PUBLICIZE IT WHEN SOMEBODY WINS.

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

>> WELL, BILL, AS A FUTURE LOTTERY WINNER MYSELF, WITH MR. REED, I WOULD LIKE TO -- I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE EXCEPTION.

SEE, I THINK IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF AIRPLANES THAT LAND EVERY DAY IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, CARRIED OUT ON A FLOAT OUT OF A CASINO SAYING THIS GUY WON.

IT'S JUST THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT'S THERE, AND I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS A TERRIFIC IDEA BECAUSE IF WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ROBO-CALLS NOW, CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE WHEN YOU WIN THE LOTTERY AND EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER KNOWS HOW TO FIND YOU, AND IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THINGS A SECRET FROM, OH I DON'T KNOW, SAY YOUR FELLOW PANELISTS ON A TALK SHOW ON NINE PBS, THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND MOST STATES HAVE ALREADY -- WELL, SOME STATES NEVER PUT OUT WHO WON, OKAY?

AND THEN MOST STATES NOW DON'T DO THAT EITHER.

YOU KNOW, MAKE THE STATE -- IF YOU WON A SIZEABLE POT AND YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR NAME OUT THERE, HAVE THEM PAY YOU A LITTLE BIT FOR IT, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT A FREE ENTERPRISE THINGS BECAUSE I -- IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP IT A SECRET, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.

AND WENDY, YOU PUT IT -- BOY, YOU JUST TOOK MY WIND AWAY BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE, BOY, SHE WAS SO MUCH SMARTER THAN I WAS ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

LIKE OH MAN, THE ROBO-CALLS AND ALL THAT, IT'S JUST -- >> NO, I'M WITH BILL ON THIS.

I HAVE TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, ALVIN, I THINK IT'S ONLY 11 STATES THAT ALLOW YOU TO SAY OR NOT.

I COULD BE WRONG.

IT'S NOT THE MAJORITY.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MAJORITY.

OKAY, I STAND CORRECTED.

>> I COULD BE WRONG.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO FACTS, BUT THE -- I THINK IT'S A MINORITY AND, YOU KNOW, THERE -- WHEN YOU ENTER THE LOTTERY, IT'S PUBLIC DOLLARS, IT'S A PUBLIC THING, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR NOT KNOWING IF IT'S A LEGISLATOR OR WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, TO ME IT'S PUBLIC AND I KNOW THERE'S STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WIN THE BIG LOTTO HAVE FOLKS LINING UP AND THEY BESIEGED WITH OFFERS AND INVESTMENT COUNSELORS AND SO FORTH, BUT I THINK IT'S PART OF BEING IN A PUBLIC SITUATION.

>> AND WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO KNOW, ALVIN, IF STEVE TILLEY, THE LOBBYIST, WON THE LOTTERY THREE WEEKS IN A ROW?

I MEAN, WOULDN'T YOU THINK, GEE, THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING.

>> NO, BUT WAIT -- NO, NO -- WAIT A MINUTE.

IT'S REGULATED.

BILL, IT IS REGULATED.

I MEAN, YOU DON'T JUST HAVE TO MAKE THE PUBLIC.

>> THE LOTTERY COMMISSION IS NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> IT'S NOT BINGO IN THE BASEMENT AT CHURCH.

>> I THINK ONE OF OUR DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS HERE, BILL AND RAY, IT'S PUBLIC MONEY AND IT'S PUBLIC -- IT'S GAMBLING.

THIS IS GAMBLING.

IT'S PLAYING THE NUMBERS AND IF YOU PLAY THE NUMBERS AND THE WIN, THE WORLD DOESN'T HAVE TO KNOW BUT IT HAS TO BE REGULATED.

>> I THINK WITH PUBLIC MONEY, THE WORLD HAS A RIGHT, THE TAXPAYERS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHO WON, PLAUS THE OTHER THING I DON'T -- >> WHAT ABOUT THE PUBLIC PERSON -- >> IT CRIMINALIZING STATE EMPLOYEES.

ACE MISDEMEANOR.

ANYTIME THEY DO BILLS FOR THE STATE EMPLOYEES -- >> POINT OF ORDER.

I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.

WHAT IF A GUY DOES OWE MONEY, YOU KNOW, TO HIS KIDS AND HIS EX-WIFE AND HE'S BEHIND?

IS THERE A WAY FOR THAT TO CATCH UP IF, FOR EXAMPLE, HE WINS THE LOTTERY?

>> YES.

>> I'M SURE.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

IF YOU OWE MONEY AND PEOPLE ARE AFTER YOU FOR MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW THE SECOND YOU DUMP DOWN $87 MILLION IN YOUR ACCOUNT.

I MEAN -- >> OKAY, PERHAPS YOU'RE RIGHT -- >> I'M SURE THE IRS IS GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH DID NOTHING FOR THE POOREST WHEN IT CAME TO EXPANDING MEDICAID, DID FIND TIME IN ITS HEART TO COME TO THE AID OF THE MILLIONAIRE LOTTERY WINNERS IN THIS GENERAL SESSION AND GOVERNOR PARSON TOO.

OKAY, HOW ABOUT THE COUNTY COUNCIL, HOWEVER, WENDY WIESE, WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY?

MAY NOT BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT KIND OF CLOSE.

WE DO KNOW THAT AS A STATE, WE'RE WAY BEHIND THE REST OF THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING VACCINATED, AND SO TO IMPROVE THINGS, THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS GOING TO BUY $875,000 WORTH OF GIFT CARDS AT RESTAURANTS AND THEN HAND THEM OUT IN 50 AND $100 INCREMENTS TO PEOPLE SO THEY'LL GET VACCINATED.

AND AT THIS POINT, I'M JUST THINKING, OKAY, WHAT'S $875,000?

SURE, OF COURSE, SPEND IT ON GIFT CARDS OF ALL THINGS.

I THINK THE CHICKENS ARE GOING TO COME HOME TO ROOST, BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS, MS. WIESE?

>> WELL, I'M TROUBLED WHEN YOU HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO DO THE BEST POSSIBLE THING FOR THEIR HEALTH, FOR THEIR SURVIVAL, FOR THE SURVIVAL AND PHYSICAL, MEDICAL ENHANCEMENT OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE DESPERATE MEASURES TO DO ANYTHING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE, BUT I THINK ONCE YOU CONDITION PEOPLE, ANYBODY, TO EXPECT TO BE PAID BEFORE THEY DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THEMSELVES, I JUST THINK THAT'S KIND OF NOT THE RIGHT MESSAGE.

>> ACTUALLY, THAT'S THE MESSAGE WE SEND TO COMPANIES EVERY DAY WHEN WE PAY THEM OUT OF FUTURE TAX REVENUES TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY CREATING JOBS.

I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

>> APPLES AND ORANGES, RAY.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE THERE'S NO PRICE YOU CAN PUT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF -- AND I AGREE WITH YOU.

IT'S A SAD COMMENTARY, BUT IT'S REAL.

WE STILL ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS ON THE PANDEMIC, AS MUCH AS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK WE ARE, AND WE NEED TO GET -- AND I SAY "WE," ALL OF US, INCLUDING THOSE OF US WHO ARE VACCINATED, NEED PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED SO THAT THESE VARIANTS DON'T BRING BACK THE BAD OL' DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE NEED THIS AS A COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO TRY TO GET MORE PEOPLE OVER THE HURDLE, WHATEVER REASONS THEY ARE, OF BEING -- >> PAYING THEM?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING REASONABLE IN OUR POWER TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> I AGREE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE -- OKAY, THE VACCINE HESITANT, OKAY, LET'S JUST GET DOWN TO IT.

YOU'RE HESITANT FOR POLITICAL REASONS OR, YOU KNOW, PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS.

YOU'RE HESITANT BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST DOCTORS AND PAST CRAZINESS AND ALL THAT, OKAY?

HOW DO WE ELIMINATE THAT?

UNFORTUNATELY, IN AMERICA, WE'VE KNOWN THIS AS RAY SAID FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

YOU PUT A LITTLE SOMETHING BEHIND IT.

THAT END CENTIVE WOULD BE THAT BUSINESS -- INCENTIVE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M KIND OF FEARFUL, BUT IF THEY WERE JUST DRIVING DOWN YOUR BLOCK, HEY ANYBODY GETS VACCINATED, HERE'S A 100-DOLLAR BILL, WE'D BE 80% LIKE THAT.

I'M SORRY IT COMES TO THAT, BUT THE RESULT WOULD BE EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED, WHICH WOULD BE RETURNING TO THE LIFE WE HAD TWO YEARS AGO.

>> BUT IT'S LIKE -- DON'T YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE STOOPING DOWN SO LOW BECAUSE A HUMAN BEING IS SAYING I WON'T TAKE A LIFE-SAVING JAB -- OH, YOU'RE OFFERING ME DINNER AT OLD COUNTRY BUFFET?

WELL, NOW WE'RE TALKING.

GIVE ME THE APPLEBEE'S GIFT CARD.

NOW I'LL TAKE THE JAB.

>> CHARLIE, CHARLIE -- >> CHARLIE, I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR HOUSEWARES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I DID.

>> CHARLIE, YOU BETTER HOPE THAT OLD COUNTRY BUFFET ISN'T A NINE -- >> I HOPE THEY ARE SOON.

I'M GETTING HUNGRY.

>> CHARLIE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE STARTED DOING LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR STUFF RIGHT AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, SO I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE STANDARD WAS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HIGH AND ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE EARLY '80s, I SAID, LIKE, MAN, THE STANDARD IS WAY LOWER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS.

SO NOW WE'RE JUST AT A POINT THAT I'M NOT EMBARRASSED TO SAY THAT, HEY, IF I GAVE OUR $50 AND A GIFT CARD, WOULD YOU GET VACCINATED AND THE PERSON SAID YES, AND THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF GETTING VACCINATED, THAT'S A VICTORY FOR MANKIND.

I'M SORRY.

>> IT'S A VICTORY FOR THE RESTAURANT OR THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT'S SELLING THE GIFT CARDS, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> BUT HOW OPPOSED COULD THEY POSSIBLY BE -- GO AHEAD, BILL.

>> I'M SAYING, YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE AS THEY ARE AND PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS ACT IN THE -- FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

>> OR THEIR OWN.

>> AND YOU'RE RIGHT TO GET ALL THOSE BOYS TO STORM THE BEACH OF NORMANDY IN JUNE OF 1944, WE HAD TO HAND OUT GIFT CARDS.

>> BUY GIFT CARDS.

>> TALK ABOUT APPLES AND ORANGES.

>> YEAH.

>> NO, I'M JUST -- >> CHARLIE -- >> WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS NATION, THAT'S ALL.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

NOBODY IS IN THE MILITARY FOR FREE, OKAY?

THIS IS NOT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, RIGHT?

HEY, I NEED ALL THE VOLUNTEERS I CAN GET TO GO FIGHT A WAR -- >> THAT'S RIGHT, WASHINGTON IN VALLEY FORGE, IN THE WINTER IN VALLEY FORGE, HE HANDED OUT GIFT CARDS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT INTERCONTINENTAL STRETCH.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU, RAY -- >> MY GOSH.

>> SPEAKING OF INCENTIVE, J.B. PRITZKER, GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS, THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER ONE, HE THINKS THAT ATHLETES ARE GOING TO GO TO SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE THERE IN THE LAND OF LINCOLN HAS SAID THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE ATHLETES NOW, THANKS TO THE SUPREME COURT DECISION AND NOW STATE LAW, WILL BE ABLE TO MARKET THEMSELVES, MAKE MONEY FROM ENDORSEMENTS AND MORE, IF THEY ATTEND, YOU KNOW, BILL'S ALMA MATER, THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS OR MAYBE SIUC, WHICH BY THE WAY SENT TWO HAMMER THROWERS TO THE OLYMPICS LAST WEEK, SO HOW ABOUT THAT?

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

SIUE, DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THAT STUDENTS AROUND THE NATION WILL SAY, YEAH, I'M GO TO TIL MAYBE FOR THE MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES AS AN ATHLETE?

>> IT'S A LITTLE LIKE THE LOTTERY OR THE CASINOS WHERE IT'S GOING TO -- I THOUGHT MISSOURI, DIDN'T WE DO SOMETHING ON THAT?

>> YES, WE'RE THERE.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THE CASINOS WHERE IF YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE OR THERE WAS ONLY A FEW STATES THAT ALLOWED IT, BUT THE NCAA PRETTY MUCH CAVED IN NATIONALLY AND IT'S -- I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GIVE ILLINOIS ANY PARTICULAR ADVANTAGE.

I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE TAKEN THE COLLEGE OUT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS A LONG TIME AGO AND IT IS SUCH A -- IT'S SO MUCH ABOUT MONEY, THAT THIS IS REALLY JUST ABOUT THE ATHLETES GETTING A SMALL PIECE OF THE ACTION AND UNLESS AND UNTIL YOU PUT SALARY CAPS FOR COACHES AND MAKE THIS NOT A GIANT PILE OF MONEY, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS -- AND I'M A BIG FAN.

I'M A BOOMIZZOU BOOSTER, BUT NOTIFY PROBLEM WITH THE ATHLETES GETTING SOMETHING.

>> KU HAS BEEN DOING THAT FOR YEARS, HAVEN'T THEY, ALVIN?

>> KANSAS IS ONE STATE OUT OF A FEW THAT HASN'T PASSED THIS YET BECAUSE WE'D BE DOLING OUT THE DOUGH STRAIGHT OFF THE TOP.

>> YOU BUY CONDOS AND -- >> THE UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT PAYING THIS MONEY, BUT THE KIDS CAN DO IT ON THEIR OWN FOR MARKETING OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART, CHARLIE, IN THAT ALVIN, THE FOOTBALL MANAGER, GOT PAID THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY, BUT I WAS FREE TO TAKE OTHER JOBS, WHICH I DID.

I WORKED FOR AUDIO READER NETWORK AND GOT PAID.

YOU CAN DO OTHER THINGS, OKAY?

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP -- OKAY?

-- THAT PLAY THE CELL LO, THE FLUTE, WHATEVER, IN THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, BUT THEY CAN DO THINGS ON THE SIDE EVEN THOUGH THEIR ROOM AND BOARD IS PAID FOR JUST LIKE AN ATHLETE.

IT'S JUST THE, YOU KNOW, THE SPORTS SIDE OF IT THAT THEY JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN TAKE WHAT IS GIVEN TO THEM.

AND IT'S A LOT, BUT IT NEEDS TO CHANGE, AND I DON'T MEAN TO HOG THE TIME, BUT I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE.

EVERYBODY IMMEDIATELY FIXATES ON THE BIG TIME ATHLETE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS WILL DO IS, LET'S JUST SAY I'M -- YOU KNOW, OUR TOWN, SOUTH DAKOTA, WHATEVER, IS A HUGE, YOU KNOW, DIVISION 2 SCHOOL OR WHATEVER.

NOW, I MIGHT GO THERE RATHER THAN SIT THE BENCH AT A SEC SCHOOL.

WHY?

BECAUSE I'M NOW THE STAR QUARTERBACK OF A GOOD TEAM IN DIVISION 1-AA AND I GET TO DO ALL THE COMMERCIALS TO COME TO WH WHAT-A-BURGER OR WHATEVER.

IT WILL DRAW PEOPLE TO YOUR STATE NOT NECESSARILY TO BE THE BIG HUGE STAR ATHLETE, BUT TO BE THE, LIKE, HEY, I'M THE KING OF QUINCY OR WHATEVER.

I GET PAID.

>> ALVIN, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF GEOGRAPHY THERE.

I KNOW THE FACT CHECKERS ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT-A-BURGERS IN SOUTH DAKOTA AS WE SPEAK.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING.

DON'T YOU THINK -- I MEAN, IT'S SAID AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT THESE ATHLETES ARE EXPLOITED, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT -- SAY, BILL, YOUR ALMA MATER, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHAIN URBANA -- >> POINT OF ORDER.

LET ME STOP YOU FOR A SECOND.

MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM ILLINOIS.

IT'S NOT MY ALMA MATER.

>> BUT YOU ATTENDED CLASSES THERE, DIDN'T YOU?

>> I ATTENDED ILLINOIS.

>> BUT THE POINT IS, IT'S BETWEEN 50 AND $60,000 A YEAR FOR TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD IF YOU'RE PAYING FULL FREIGHT LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE AND SOME OF THE OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS, BUT TO GET 50 OR $60,000, YOU HAVE TO MAKE 80 OR 90 BECAUSE THAT'S BEFORE TAXES.

IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT GI BY FOUR A STUDENT AT LEAST ON A FULL RIDE IS GETTING CLOSE TO $300,000.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S EXPLOITATION, I'M SORRY.

>> CHARLIE, HERE'S THE DEAL.

IT'S BACK TO THE ORIGINAL THING.

IF YOUR TEAM -- IF YOU ARE GOOD AND YOU GO TO A SCHOOL LIKE MIZZOU, WE'VE GOT REALLY -- >> AND HOW MANY OF THEM REALLY ARE, RAY?

>> WELL, NO, I'M SAYING IF YOUR TEAM IS GOOD, HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES MAKE A KILLING FROM BEING PART OF THE CIRCLE OF ALL THE MONIES, THE BROADCAST REVENUES AND THE ATTENDANCE, ALL THE MONIES THAT JUST POUR IN BY THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS -- ACTUALLY BILLIONS COLLECTIVELY, TO INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, UNTIL WE HAVE A SOMEHOW THAT IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO EDUCATION INSTEAD OF THE ENRICHMENT OF NOT ONLY COACHES AND POTENTIALLY ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, BUT ALSO THE BOOSTERS AND ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT MAKE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY OFF OF A TEAM BEING GOOD, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE A LITTLES THAT THE ATHLETES ARE GETTING AND BY YOUR THEORY -- >> $300,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> BY YOUR THEORY, CHARLIE, THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS WOULD BE THE ONES GETTING THE BEST ATHLETES BECAUSE THE TUITION DEAL AND THAT'S REALLY NOT THE CASE, I DON'T THINK.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

ALL I KNOW IS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE UNIVERSITIES, LET'S SAY NOTRE DAME OR MIZZOU TO SOME EXTENT, THEY HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED BY VIRTUE OF BIG DONATIONS FROM THE ALUMS AND BUSINESSES YOU MENTIONED A VERY BIG PLATFORM THAT THOSE ATHLETE PLAY ON.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE ENTREPRENEURS MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH, SO I JUST -- I THINK THE ATHLETES ENJOY MORE THAN PEOPLE ARE MENTIONING THESE DAYS.

BILL, DO YOU AGREE OR -- >> NO, I'M WITH THE OTHERS.

I THINK A LOT OF ATHLETES AT THE BIG POWER SCHOOLS AREN'T REALLY THERE TO GET AN EDUCATION AS MUCH AS THEY'RE THERE LOOKING TO GET INTO THE PROFESSION -- PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES.

>> IF THEY ARE -- >> IT ISN'T LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WHERE IN 1920 OR SOMETHING WHERE IT'S LIKE A CLUB SPORT.

I MEAN, THIS IS BIG TIME BUSINESS AND THOSE KIDS -- >> BUT IF SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK, IF THEY ARE INJURED, HEAVEN FORBID, IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT FOR THEM, AT LEAST THEY HAVE A DEGREE TO FALL BACK ON.

IF THEY HAVE MADE WHAT THEY CAN OF IT, AND I REALIZE THAT IS -- I'M GETTING SOME PRETTY CYNICAL GLANCES, BUT -- >> NO, NO, I AGREE.

>> IN A PERFECT WORLD -- >> IF CONFERENCES BASED, LIKE WHAT YOU GOT A LITTLE THE END OF THE YEAR FROM THE CONFERENCE SHARE ON HOW MANY ATHLETES YOU GRADUATED, ESPECIALLY IN FOOTBALL, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT, THAT WOULD CHANGE THINGS, OKAY?

A LITTLE BIT.

BUT DON'T -- IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND LASTLY, I GOT MORE FINANCIALLY FROM WORKING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR FOUR YEARS THAN ANY FOOTBALL PLAYER ON THAT TEAM BECAUSE, I MEAN, WHEN WE WERE DOING TWO-A-DAYS, I GOT OVERTIME AND THE TIME SPENT ON FIELD, I GOT PAID FOR LIKE DURING THE SEASON THROUGH STIPEND AND WHEN WE TRAVELED, I GOT MONEY.

AND THEY GOT NONE OF THIS, OKAY?

AND THE RESIDUAL WAS I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF CASH MONEY IN MY POCKET AND THEY DID NOT.

AND I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH A SCHOLARSHIP WAS FOR, YOU ARE BEING EXPLOITED IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY IN YOUR POCKET.

AND THAT'S -- HOPEFULLY THIS WILL CHANGE.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> ALVIN, I FORGOT THE TRAINERS GET RICH TOO.

I FORGOT THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY -- AND BY THE WAY, WENDY, THESE ARE ZOOM LOOKS.

THEY'RE NOT CYNICAL LOOKS.

>> WHAT'S A ZOOM LOOK?

>> LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT BEING CYNICAL.

ALVIN REID, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT CRANE'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS, A PUBLICATION LIKE OUR BUSINESS JOURNALS HAD AN EDITORIAL TAKING A LOOK AT ST. LOUIS AND OTHER CITIES AND HYPERLOOP, POINTING OUT THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WAS PASSED LAST WEEK IN WASHINGTON, D.C., DOESN'T REALLY INCLUDE MONEY FOR HYPERLOOP, BUT CLEVELAND IS EXPLORING AT LEAST IN THEORY A POSSIBILITY OF HAVING HYPERLOOP, WHICH WOULD BE TRAVELING IN PODS WITH NO FRICTION BETWEEN CITIES AT 700 MILES AN HOUR SO THAT YOU CAN GET FROM HERE TO KANSAS CITY IN 350 MINUTES OR NO HOO -- IN 30 MINUTES OR WHO KNOWS HOW FAST FROM CHICAGO TO CLEVELAND.

AND YOU THINK THEY'VE GOT A POINT, DO YOU?

>> I DO AND THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO MENTION THE ST. LOUIS TO KANSAS CITY POSSIBLE ROUTE AND BY DOING THAT, AT LEAST WHEN I READ IT, I SAID LIKE THEY'RE SERIOUS AND WE KIND OF LAUGH AT IT HERE, BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE OF ST. LOUIS'S CHANCES TO REALLY GO ALL IN ON SOMETHING SPECTACULAR THAT CAN ACTUALLY WORK.

NOW, MAYBE IT'S PIE IN THE SKY, BUT I REALLY THINK WE'RE GOING TO MISS OUT IF WE REALLY DON'T REALLY, REALLY TRY TO DO THIS.

>> BUT I ADMIT THAT I WOULD HAVE MADE FUN OF THE WRIGHTS BROTHERS.

A FLYING MACHINE, REALLY?

I ADMIT THAT, BUT THIS THING ABOUT CLIMBING INTO SOME LITTLE -- >> POD.

>> -- POD AND GETTING TO KANSAS CITY IN 30 MINUTES, IT JUST DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT.

>> AND I'M SORRY, I KNOW THIS ISN'T A POPULAR QUESTION THESE DAYS, BUT WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM?

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK THERE'S A BETTER CHANCE OF, LIKE, THE STAR TREK -- I ACTUALLY, I'M WITH YOU IN SPIRIT, ALVIN, BUT I'D RATHER FOCUS -- NO, I AM.

I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING CONCEPTUALLY, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT COULD COME BEFORE THIS LIKE THE BULLET TRAINS OR NOW THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS PUTTING DOUGH HOPEFULLY INTO AMTRAK, THERE'S SOME LEGITIMATE THINGS WE COULD DO TO IMPROVE THE SPEED OF AMTRAK AND I LOVED IT WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS TALKING ABOUT BULLET TRAINS.

TO ME, THAT'S GOT SOME REALISTIC APPLICATION.

I'M WITH BILL, JUST DON'T SEE THE HYPERLOOP.

I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING OVERALL, ALVIN, I JUST -- >> NO, I THINK -- ALL THAT'S GREAT, RAY, AND I'M WITH YOU ON THAT, TOO, BUT MAN, ST. LOUIS, THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, HYPERBOLIC TUBE, WE'RE IN KANSAS CITY -- I MEAN, WE SHOULD GO FOR IT.

AND YOUR THINKING IS WHY DISNEY WORLD IS IN FLORIDA.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> NOT ST. LOUIS.

>> I ALWAYS SUPPORT THINGS THAT I MIGHT BE ALIVE TO SEE.

>> IF SERVE BOOZE ON IT, MAYBE ST. LOUIS WILL DO IT.

ALVIN, I ALSO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THESE INTENTIONAL ENCAMPMENTS FOR THE HOMELESS AND ST. LOUIS MAYOR TISHAURA JONES HAS PROPOSED AREAS OF THE CITY BE SET ASIDE FOR CONTROLLED AND ADMINISTERED HOMELESS CAMPS, BUT UNTIL LAST FRIDAY, NOBODY KNOWS OR KNEW WHAT SHE WAS THINKING IN TERMS OF LOCATION.

IT WAS KIND OF LEAKED SOMEHOW THAT HER ADMINISTRATION IS THINKING ABOUT USING VACANT SCHOOLS FOR THESE INTENTIONAL ENCAMPMENTS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

IF THERE WAS A VACANT SCHOOL IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WOULD YOU WANT A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT THERE?

>> WELL, THE WORST PLAN IS NO PLAN AND SO IT'S AN IDEA.

NOW, HOW YOU REALISTICALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN, I'M NOT SURE, BUT T YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, I'VE GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM HERE WITH VACANT SCHOOLS, I GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM THERE, HOMELESS, LET'S TRY TO MERGE THE TWO AND TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE IN, I DOUBT THAT THEY'LL BE IN, YOU KNOW, HOLLY HILLS, SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS IN PART -- LOOK, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT AS COMMUNITIES, WHERE THESE SCHOOLS ARE, AND IF YOU HELP, THEN MAYBE HELP COMES TO YOU.

>> A MINUTE TO GO.

ANYBODY ELSE?

>> I'M CONCERNED FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

I MEAN, THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE QUOTED IN THE STORIES WERE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES, CHILDREN'S SAFETY, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO IT'S -- >> UNLESS SOMEBODY'S GOT A BETTER IDEA, I'M FINE WITH IT.

>> I TALKED TO ANTOINETTE TRIPLET WHO USED TO BE IN HOMELESS SERVICES IN THE CITY AND NOW SHE RUNS HOMELESS SERVICES IN TAMPA AND SHE THINKS THERE WILL BE CRIME AND DRUGS INEVITABLY IN THESE LOCATIONS.

SHE RECOMMENDS TWO THINGS.

ONE, ALTERNATIVE USE OF EXISTING PROPERTY.

LET'S SAY YOU GOT A DETACHED GARAGE, WHY NOT CHANGE THE ZONING SO THAT CAN BE TURNED INTO A MINI-RESIDENTIAL UNIT AND SHE ALSO THINKS THAT PEOPLE OF LOW MEANS SHOULD BE PAIRED TOGETHER LIKE OSCAR AND FELIX, THE ODD COUPLE, SO THEY SHARE RENTAL UNITS AND DIVIDE THE COST.

>> I WOULD SAY THIS, THE BEST ANSWER LONG-TERM, AND I KNOW IT'S IDEALISTIC, IS FOR THE CITY LIKE OTHERS HAVE TO TRY TO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING FOR THE UNHOUSED.

THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SECOND-GUESS SOMEBODY UNTIL I GOT A BETTER IDEA FOR WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO WITH A CRITICAL SITUATION.

>> THANK YOU, RAY.

YOUR WORDS WILL BE THE LAST ONES UNTIL DAVE MURRAY JOINS US.

THAT'S THE FIRST HALF OF THE SHOW.

ON THE SECOND HALF WHICH WE CALL DONNYBROOK NEXT UP, DAVE MURRAY WHO STARTED PREDICTING THE WEATHER BACK IN 1976 IN ST. LOUIS, 45 YEARS AGO, IS GOING TO BE WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THE RAINY WEATHER WE'VE HAD HERE AND THE HEAT IN THE NORTHWEST.

THAT'S NEXT.

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

>> HEY, THANKS ON FOR JOINING US FOR THE SECOND HALF WE CALL DONNYBROOK NEXT UP WHERE WE TALK TO COMMUNITY LEADERS, NEWS MAKERS, AND THIS NEXT GUY STARTED BROADCASTING IN ST. LOUIS IN 1976 FOR THE OLD KSD TELEVISION.

HE IS A MEDIA HALL-OF-FAMER, I THINK I'M LOOKING AT SOME EMMYS BEHIND HIM.

DAVE MURRAY, WHOSE NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH GREAT WEATHER FORECASTING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON NINE PBS.

MAYBE IT'S YOUR FIRST.

>> NO, NO, BECAUSE WE WERE BACK IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN -- THAT WAS THE AUCTION DAYS.

>> YES.

>> WE WERE INVOLVED IN THAT ALL THE TIME.

EVERY STATION I WORKED FOR WAS ALWAYS INVOLVED WITH IT FOR A WHILE.

>> OH, WELL THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS SHOW AND OTHERS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AMAZING THE GREAT CAREER YOU'VE HAD HERE.

IS IT 37 YEARS IN ST. LOUIS?

>> IT WAS 42 ALTOGETHER ON TV AND WE WERE AWAY FOR SIX.

>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS SUMMER WITH 115 DEGREES IN EUGENE, OREGON, 110 IN SEATTLE AND HERE IN ST. LOUIS, AS IT TURNED OUT, ON SOME DAYS WE ENDED UP BEING ONE THE COOLER PARTS OF THE NATION AND WE'VE HAD A TON OF RAIN HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON?

>> HAVE I SEEN IT BEFORE?

SURE.

WE'VE SEEN THESE PATTERNS BEFORE.

IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THEY WON'T DON'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, BUT EVERYTHING IS LINKED TOGETHER.

THERE WAS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM BASICALLY IN THE BERING SEA OF ALASKA, A LITTLE WEIRD THIS TIME OF YEAR, AND THERE WAS A LOW PRESSURE, AN ELONGATED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE HUDSON BAY IN CANADA, SO YOU FOLLOW THE JET STREAM AROUND AND THAT ALLOWED A HIGH PRESSURE TO LOCK IN OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND A HIGH PRESSURE TO LOCK IN OVER THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THERE WAS NOTHING PUSHING THEM.

THEY WERE STUCK.

THERE WAS NO WAVE COMING DOWN THE PIKE WEST TO EAST TO KICK THEM OUT OF THE WAY.

THE OTHER THING THAT WAS HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, IS THE SOIL IS EXTREMELY DRY.

IT'S BEEN A DRY WINTER, ACTUALLY LAST FALL WAS ALSO DRY.

SO THE DRIER THE SOIL, THE SINKING MOTION IN THE ATMOSPHERE, FULL SUNSHINE, ALLOWS THE TEMPERATURE TO JUST GO NUTS AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING IN THE NORTHEAST EXCEPT A LITTLE DIFFERENT SITUATION IN THAT THE NORTHEAST DOESN'T HEAT UP WITH AN OCEAN FLOW.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

IT HAS TO BE A NORTHWEST FLOW THAT COMES IN AND DRIVES THE WARMER TEMPERATURES IN FROM THE WEST, REALLY.

CHARLIE, YOU KNOW THAT FROM BEING IN BOSTON FOR A WHILE.

AND SO EVERYTHING IS STUCK.

THERE WAS THIS LITTLE TROPICAL STORM THAT CAME INTO THE CAROLINAS, SOUTH CAROLINA IN PARTICULAR, IT WASN'T MUCH OF A SYSTEM, BUT IT GAVE JUST ENOUGH OF A NUDGE TO GET THINGS MOVING.

THAT'S WHY OUR PATTERN IS BREAKING JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND ALSO IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THAT HIGH IS SHIFTING UP INTO CANADA AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES IN WESTERN CANADA QUITE A WHILE THERE.

EXCUSE ME THERE.

>> WEATHER ALERT.

>> AND SO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, SEATTLE, PORTLAND, THEY'RE ALREADY EASING, BUT THEY'RE STILL IN THE 90s.

THAT'S NOT THAT UNUSUAL.

BUT 117, I THINK SEATTLE WAS -- NOT SEATTLE, BUT INTERIOR PORTIONS OF WASHINGTON STATE OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS WERE HOTTER THAN HOT SPRINGS.

>> WOW.

>> THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING.

>> RAY.

>> YEAH, I LIKE THE SOUND EFFECT.

IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A WEATHER BULLETIN COMING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, BULLETIN, BREAKING WEATHER.

>> GOOD AMBIENCE.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK -- OBVIOUSLY CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BECOME A VERY POLITICAL TOPIC.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A METEOROLOGIST, HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE ABOUT IT AND HOW MUCH -- YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE GONE BACK, YOU GO BACK FURTHER THAN ME.

YOU GO BACK -- YOU'RE YOUNGER THAN ME, BUT YOU GO BACK FURTHER.

>> BUT I GO BACK FURTHER.

>> WHICH IS SAYING SOMETHING, BUT HOW MUCH SHOULD -- HOW MUCH IS, YEAH, I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND HOW MUCH SHOULD WE BE REALLY CONCERNED?

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU DO HAVE TO TAKE CLIMATE CHANGE OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT AND TAKE THE POLITICAL SIDE COMPLETELY OUT OF IT.

YOU CAN'T GO OVER THERE.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SCIENCE ASPECTS OF IT, AND SO WHAT I DO, I'M A CYCLE GUY IN PARTICULAR.

I THINK THINGS GO IN CYCLES.

WE'VE SEEN THAT, JUST TAKE ST. LOUIS.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS A GLOBAL PICTURE.

YOU CAN'T LOOK AT ONE EVENT IN THE FIELD OF WEATHER LIKE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SAY, OH, THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS A MUCH BROADER TOPIC.

NOW, THAT'S NOT TO SAY WHAT MAN IS DOING TO THE ATMOSPHERE ISN'T DOING SOMETHING.

I MEAN, WE'RE DUMPING A LOT OF STUFF IN IT.

IT'S NOT JUST US, IT'S CHINA, INDIA, COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND DO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

PROBABLY.

WE PROBABLY NEED TO CLEAN UP THE ATMOSPHERE A LITTLE BIT.

WE CERTAINLY NEED TO CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONES DOING IT.

IF WE'RE THE ONLY ONES DOING IT, IT'S NOTHING, A DROP IN THE BUCKET IF THE OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD DON'T -- THEY MAY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT, BUT IF THEY DON'T DO IT, WE'RE SUNK.

WE'RE GOING TO BE SURNG IN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT AGAIN, SEPARATE POLITICAL WITH THE SCIENCE AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE MUCH BETTER OFF.

>> DAVE, I THINK THE WEATHER HALLMARK OF ST. LOUIS IS NOT THE THREAT OF TORNADOES, IT'S NOT THE HEAT.

I THINK IT IS THE HUMIDITY.

WHY IS OUR AREA SO HUMID?

>> A COUPLE OF REASONS.

ONE, WE HAVE TWO -- THREE, REALLY, MAJOR RIVERS THAT COME INTO PLAY.

WE SINK DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THOSE RIVERS, BUT WE'RE NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO, SO WHEN THE GULF OF MEXICO OPENS UP, WHICH IT DOES ALL THE TIME HERE, THAT HUMID JUST COMES RIGHT UP.

THERE'S BEEN SOME TIMES WHERE YOU CAN ALMOST SENSE THAT YOU COULD SMELL SOME SALT AIR COMING FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET WRAPPED UP IN THE REMAINS OF A TROPICAL SYSTEM, BUT IT'S JUST THE GULF OF MEXICO.

THAT'S IT, AND WEATHER PATTERNS DO TEND TO KIND OF GATHER AROUND US.

SO WE GET THESE BOUNDARY LINES JUST LIKE WE'VE BEEN IN THE LAST EIGHT DAYS OR SO.

WE HAD A BOUNDARY LINE WAVING OVER US AND IMPULSES COMING ALONG IT AND PLENTY OF HUMIDITY COMING UP FROM THE SOUTH, SO YOU GET THESE TROPICAL DOWNPOURS OF TREMENDOUS RAINFALL AMOUNTS.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THINGS LIKE THE HUMIDITY AND THE OTHER ASPECTS OF ST. LOUIS WEATHER ARE DIFFERENT TODAY IN 2021 THAN THEY WERE IN 1976?

>> NO, I REALLY DON'T, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU THAT THE SEASONS ARE CHANGING A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK OUR HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR USED TO ABSOLUTELY BE JULY.

NOW IT'S -- YOU COULD MAKE A CASE THAT IT'S MORE AUGUST THAN JULY.

YOU COULD MAKE A CASE THAT WINTER IS NOT SETTING IN AS QUICKLY AS IT USED TO.

BUT THE LENGTH OF WINTER IS ABOUT THE SAME.

SO IT'S -- AND YOU KIND OF SEE THAT ALL OVER THE GLOBE, THAT THE SEASONS HAVE FLIPPED AROUND JUST A LITTLE BIT.

NOT A LOT, BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO NOTICE.

>> BOY, IN THESE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, WE'VE HAD SO MUCH RAIN IN THIS AREA.

I THINK THAT THAT IS ONE ASPECT OF LIFE IN ST. LOUIS THAT IS COMPLETELY UNDERRATED AND WE TAKE FOR IT GRANTED, THE AMOUNT OF WATER HERE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THE SOUTHWEST IN PARTICULAR, WHERE WATER IS REALLY AT A PREMIUM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IN PLACES LIKE CALIFORNIA, IT'S GETTING MUCH BETTER.

UNLESS YOU KNOW SOMETHING THAT I DON'T.

WHAT THE DROUGHT LIKE IN CALIFORNIA THESE DAYS?

>> THE DROUGHT IS EXTREME, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE WATER SUPPLY OF CALIFORNIA IS COMING FROM OFF IN OTHER STATES AND THERE'S THIS NOW BATTLE.

THERE'S BEEN A BATTLE OF WATER IN THE WEST, MAN, EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER OF FARMERS BATTLING, LOCATION OF WHERE THE WATER GOES BATTLING, THE URBAN AREAS BATTLING.

SO YES, THERE IS A SERIOUS DROUGHT, BUT THE OTHER THING YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IS THE POPULATION HAS JUST EXPLODED IN THE WEST AND I'M NOT TALKING, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA.

THE DESERT SOUTHWEST HAS BECOME THE HUB OF PEOPLE WANTING TO BE THERE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

BUT IT'S -- THE RESERVOIRS ARE DRYING UP VERY QUICKLY AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH DEMAND.

MAYBE EVEN MORE SO THAN THE DROUGHT.

THE RESERVOIRS JUST ARE NOT GETTING REPLENISHED YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE THE -- PEOPLE ARE JUST SUCKING THE WATER UP.

>> LET ME GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID.

YOU LEFT HERE, YOU SORT OF MENTIONED YOU LEFT.

YOU ACTUALLY WERE ON THE BIG STAGE AS I REMEMBER, IN THE '80s, CORRECT?

>> YES, IN -- >> WAS IT GOOD MORNING -- >> IT WAS GOOD MORNING AMERICA.

>> YOU DID -- YOU WERE BIG TIME, AND -- YOU ARE BIG TIME, BUT YOU WERE IN THE NATIONAL SCENE.

YET YOU DECIDED TO COME BACK.

WHAT -- A COUPLE QUESTIONS COME TO MIND.

ONE IS, WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT FROM -- IN YOUR ROLE AS A WEATHERCASTER AND THEN WHAT BROUGHT YOU BACK?

>> I WAS UP IN NEW YORK WITH GOOD MORNING AMERICA, WORLD NEWS THIS MORNING, DID SOME STUFF FOR ABC RADIO, DID SOME STUFF FOR WORLD NEWS TONIGHT DEPENDING ON WHAT WAS GOING ON.

IT WAS THE DAVID HARTMAN YEARS, JOAN LONDON, STEVE BELL, KATHLEEN SULLIVAN, THAT GROUP, GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IT IS THE PINNACLE OF WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING, SO IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THAT POINT.

THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH IT IS THAT IT WAS BORING.

I'M NOT -- I'M NOT AN ENTERTAINMENT, PER SE.

I HAVE A PERSONALITY TO SOME STEN, BUT I'M A WEATHER GUY.

I LOVE TO FORECAST THE WEATHER.

I LOVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CHANGING SEASONS AND THE CHANGING ATMOSPHERE, AND IT WAS -- IT JUST GOT TO BE BORING.

AND IT WAS LIKIE INING , OKAY, IT'S DOING THIS HERE, DOING THAT THERE, DOING THIS OVER HERE AND NOW HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AND WE THROW TO THE LOCAL STATION.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS WERE EXPLODING IN THE NORTHWEST OR DROUGHT GOING ON, THIS WAS KIND OF BEFORE THE NATIONAL NEWS HAS LATCHED ON TO WHAT WEATHER IS ALL ABOUT NOW AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO TALK THEM INTO IT AT THAT PHRASE.

OUR WEATHER IS NOT IMPORTANT UNLESS IT'S HAPPENING IN NEW YORK AND THEN IT'S IMPORTANT.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, IT WAS -- I WANTED THE ACTION.

I WANTED THE ACTION.

I WANTED TO BE IN IT, I WANTED TO FORECAST IT.

>> I'M SURE YOU DON'T REMEMBER IT, BUT BACK IN THE DAY, AROUND 1985, '86 -- >> I DO REMEMBER.

I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE HEADED WITH IT.

>> RAY, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS ONE.

I WAS IN A PLACE IN NEWTON, MASS, IN A HOUSE AND DAVE AT THE TIME WAS THE TOP METEOROLOGIST AT WBZ TELEVISION, HUGE STATION AT THE TIME, AND HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DROP BY FOR AN INTERVIEW AND THAT'S HOW I FIRST MET YOU.

I STILL HAVE A PHOTO OF THAT AND YOU WERE SO KIND BECAUSE THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH, BUT I WAS COMPLETELY A NOBODY BACK THEN T AND YOU WERE -- >> YOU CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE.

I THOUGHT THE STATION WAS A LOT BIGGER THAN IT WAS.

>> WE PROBABLY LIED.

WHERE WERE YOU IN '78?

THERE WAS A BIG STORM HERE, I THINK, IN ST. LOUIS AND THERE WAS ALSO A BIG ONE IN THE NORTHEAST.

>> YEAH, I STARTED AT CHANNEL 5 IN '76 AND I WORKED THERE FOR ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS BEFORE WE WENT TO NEW YORK FOR GOOD MORNING AMERICA.

SO '78 WAS THE BIG BLIZZARD BACK IN NEW ENGLAND, ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND, AND I LIVED THROUGH A COUPLE OF THOSE.

I PRIMARILY GREW UP IN THE NORTHEAST AND IN BOSTON AND IN PROVIDENC PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, SO I WAS THUNDER SNOWS AND THE BIG NOR'EASTERS COMING UP THE COAST.

FASCINATING, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE NORTHEAST, NEW ENGLAND, THERE'S TWO SEASONS.

THE NOR'EASTER AND THEN WE DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE UNLESS THE RARE HURRICANE CAME UP THERE.

ST. LOUIS IS THE HUB.

ST. LOUIS IS THE HUB OF WEATHER IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHANGING ALL THE TIME.

IT'S VERY GITEING.

I DON'T LIKE -- VERY EXCITING.

I DON'T LIKE THE DESTRUCTION THAT COMES WITH IT, BUT I LOVE THE FORECASTING OF IT.

>> SPEAKING OF EXCITEMENT, THERE'S A CERTAIN EXCITEMENT ABOUT WEATHER FORECASTING BECAUSE IT IS, I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE, AN INEXACT SCIENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND I'M SURE YOU GET QUESTIONS ABOUT -- I THINK THERE'S A PERCEPTION OUT THERE ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE FACT THAT A LOT OF US THINK THAT, WELL, SOMEBODY PREDICTS, YOU KNOW, A TORNADO AND THEN IT TURNS OUT TO BE SUNNY, WE EXPECT THEM TO COME OUT THE NEXT DAY -- I MEAN, IF YOU GET -- DO YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTS OR LOWLIGHTS THAT YOU THINK BACK IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU REALLY GOT SOMETHING RIGHT THAT OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE COMING OR CONVERSELY, YOU GOT SOMETHING WRONG THAT -- >> YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS, ALWAYS MOMENTS LIKE THAT, AND ONE THING THAT I THINK MADE ME A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN MY CAREER IS THAT IF I WAS WRONG, I CAME OUT AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I STUNK THAT ONE UP.

AND HERE'S THE REASON WHY.

HERE'S WHAT WENT WRONG.

THE BLIZZARD OF '82 WAS A FASCINATING THING.

IT KIND OF -- I FEEL GOOD AND BAD ABOUT THAT FORECAST BECAUSE I WAS -- THE WEATHER SERVICE HAD MAYBE A DUSTING OF SNOW.

EVERYBODY ELSE IN TOWN WAS GOING A DUSTING OF SNOW.

I WENT TWO TO FOUR INCHES OR THREE TO FIVE INCHES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WAS WAY, WAY OUT THERE WITH THE FORECAST.

IT TURNED OUT THAT WAS A BUST, TOO, BUT I FELT GOOD, I AT LEAST HAD SOME ACCUMULATING NOTICE, BUT THAT WAS A RARITY.

THE BLIZZARD OF '82 FOR TRAINING THUNDERSTORMS.

THIS IS ST. LOUIS RIGHT HERE, THUNDERSTORM AFTER THUNDERSTORM ROLLING ACROSS THE SAME PLACE AND IT WAS COLD ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SNOW.

IN CONTRAST, COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, NOTHING.

MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS, NOTHING.

BUT EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, 25 INCHES OF SNOW.

OFFICIALLY IT WAS 13.5.

I THINK THEY HAD SOME SARAN WRAP ON THE SNOWBOARD THERE, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE HAD 25 INCHES.

>> CHARLIE, CAN I FOLLOW UP ON THAT BECAUSE I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.

IS THERE A CHANCE, NOW THAT YOU'RE NOT ON THE FRONT LINES DAY-TO-DAY AS YOU WERE -- >> WELL, I CAN'T WATCH RADIO ON 97.1?

>> YOU'RE STILL THERE, BUT THE POINT IS, IS THERE A TENSION IN THE COMMERCIAL METEOROLOGY WORLD, COMMERCIAL TELEVISION WORLD, I SHOULD SAY, BETWEEN BEING WILLING TO STAND UP THE NEXT DAY AND SAY, HEY, IT DIDN'T COME OUT QUITE LIKE WE SAID, WHICH I THINK YOU WERE KNOWN FOR, BUT BETWEEN THAT AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE CALLING ATTENTION TO IT, I'M JUST CURIOUS, THAT IS ATTENTION THAT YOU HAD A DEAL WITH?

YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST DAY IN AND DAY -- IT'S HARD TO BE PERFECT.

>> RIGHT, EXACTLY.

>> SO THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU -- WAS THERE -- YEAH, A TENSION BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, OWNING UP AND JUST KIND OF NOT WANTING TO -- >> LUCKILY THE BIG MISTAKES DIDN'T HAPPEN A LOT.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO IT WASN'T LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY I WAS GOING, OH MAN, THAT WAS WRONG TOO.

IT HAPPENS.

IT DOES HAPPEN.

I ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF YOU'RE A PLUMBER AND YOU GO TO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE TO FIX A DRAIN PROBLEM AND YOU SAY, OKAY, I THINK I GOT IT FIXED AND THEN YOU PUT THE FAUCET BACK ON, IT'S NOT FIXED.

THE PLUMBER HAS TO COME BACK.

EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK -- I WAS SENSING THERE'S MORE OF A PUSHBACK, ESPECIALLY BIT AUDIENCE.

MAYBE NOT BY MANAGEMENT, BUT THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU DON'T 'FESS UP TO THE MISTAKES YOU MADE WITH A FORECAST, THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE RESPECT FOR YOU AND ST. LOUIS KNOWS WEATHER.

IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT IN ST. LOUIS THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW WHY -- NOT ONLY WHY IS THE WEATHER GOING ON AND WHAT'S MAKING THIS HAPPEN, BUT IF YOU DO GET A WRONG FORECAST, WHY?

WHY DID THAT NOT WORK OUT?

I WANT TO KNOW WHY.

AND I -- MAN, IT GOES INTO HIS HEAD NEVER TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE PRECIPITATION RECENTLY?

IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD SEE SOME SERIOUS FLOODING, MAYBE EVEN APPROACHING THE '93 LEVELS, HERE IN THIS AREA?

>> NO, I DON'T SEE THAT BECAUSE THE '93 EVENT, WE HAVE TO KIND OF GO BACK TO THAT, THAT WAS AN 11-MONTH EVENT THAT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY AND MOST OF THE RAIN WAS NOT OVER ST. LOUIS.

IT WAS UP ACROSS IOWA AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF ILLINOIS.

RAIN AFTER RAIN.

I MEAN, TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF RAIN AND THEN ALL THAT CAME DOWN.

NOW, WE HAD SOME WILD WEATHER THERE.

WE HAD WILD THUNDERSTORMS, OBVIOUSLY RIVER LEVELS, ALL KIND OF RECORDS SET.

WE LUCKED OUT IN THIS LAST EIGHT- TO NINE-DAY EVENT.

PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MISSOURI PICKED UP A FOOT OF RAIN.

ST. LOUIS, NOWHERE NEAR THAT AMOUNT OF RAIN AND NOWHERE NEAR THAT AMOUNT OF RAIN TO OUR NORTH, WHICH IS CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO FLOODING.

SO THE MISSOURI POPPED UP AND IT POPPED INTO SOME MODERATE FLOOD.

THERE'S A LITTLE BACKWASH WATER ON THE MISSISSIPPI COMING INTO THE MERAMEC, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DRAINING THE PORTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS AND ALSO PORTIONS OF THE MISSOURI RIVER, BUT OVERALL, THE RIVERS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

NOW WE'VE GOTTEN INTO A DRY PERIOD, BUT I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH THE '93 FLOOD IS YOU GO BACK TO NOVEMBER OF 1992, THAT'S WHEN THAT FLOOD EVENT STARTED, THE SCENARIO OF IT.

THAT WAS BIG TIME.

I THINK I WORKED -- FIGURED IT OUT ONE DAY.

I THINK I WORKED 49 DAYS STRAIGHT, 16, 17-HOUR DAYS, AND I JUST -- ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I ALWAYS REMEMBER.

REMEMBER WHEN CHESTERFIELD VALLEY FLOODED?

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT WAS TOWARDS THE END OF THE FLOOD EVENT AND WE WERE DOING AN HOUR NEWS 10:00 TO 11:00, AND EVERYBODY STARTED DOING THAT AND THE OTHER TWO STATIONS SAID -- I WAS WORKING AT CHANNEL 2 AT THE TIME AND THE OTHER STATIONS SAID WE'RE DONE, THIS FLOOD IS OVER WITH.

AND OUR NEWS DIRECTOR CAME IN, HUDDLED US ALL TOGETHER AND SAID, IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT.

WE KNOW YOU'RE TIRED, WE KNOW YOU ALL WANT TO GO HOME, BUT WHY NOT DO AN HOUR?

AND EVERYBODY SAID, LET'S DO AN HOUR.

LET'S DO IT.

I FINISHED DOING A WEATHER REPORT AND DICK FORD WAS THE GUY FOR ME, AND HE HANDED ME -- I COME BACK TO THE DESK.

HE HANDS ME A PRINTOUT FROM ONE OF THE PRINTERS AND HE GOES, DAVE, YOU NEED TO READ THIS.

AND IT WAS THE BREAK OF THE MONARCH LEVEE AND WE WERE THERE.

WE WERE ALL OVER THAT THING WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE HAD TO SCRAMBLE AND IT WAS -- THAT WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER WHEN THAT THING -- IT WAS LIKE A BATHTUB FILLING UP.

INCREDIBLE, JUST INCREDIBLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE DIDN'T REALIZE -- I WAS -- I SANDBAGGED A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I ACTUALLY SANDBAGGED ON THE -- LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IS ST. LOUIS UNUSUAL IN YOUR MIND AS A PLACE THAT WILL ACTUALLY CLOSE SCHOOLS BASED ON A WEATHER FORECAST?

>> OH, THAT'S -- THAT WAS -- I GOT THAT QUESTION ALL THE TIME WHEN SNOW WAS IN THE FORECAST.

IT WAS LIKE, ARE SCHOOLS GOING TO CLOSE?

>> NOT ORIGINALLY.

>> AND IT'S WAY, WAY, WAY OUT OF MY PAY SCALE JUST TO DO THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO CLOSING SCHOOLS AND IT'S JUST NOT THE WEATHER FORECAST.

IT'S THE BUSES, IT'S THE ROADS, IT'S HOW THE ROAD CREWS HANDLE STUFF.

THERE'S A LOT INVOLVED.

DO I THINK THEY JUMP THE GUN FROM TIME TO TIME?

YES, BUT I -- YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE IT WAS LIKE -- IF YOU GOT SNOW, IT WAS, OKAY, IF YOU GOT SNOW, YOU KIND OF DEAL WITH IT.

ALL RIGHT, I WALK FIVE MILES UPHILL TO SCHOOL AND I WALK BACK HOME EVERY DAY.

A LITTLE BIT WEATHER JOKE.

>> HOW ABOUT TORNADOES?

FIRST OF ALL, DO DID WE KIND OF ESCAPE A TORNADO SEASON THIS YEAR?

THAT'S A, AND B, WHY ARE TORNADOES GENERALLY IN RURAL AMERICA AND NOT THE CITIES?

>> I THINK -- GOING TO THE SECOND PART OF THAT, I THINK PEOPLE MAY BE NOTICE TORNADOES MORE IN THE RURAL AREAS.

ABSOLUTELY THE CITIES HAVE NO EFFECT ON THUNDERSTORMS AND PRODUCING TORNADOES.

NOW, THERE IS AN URBAN EFFECT ON THUNDERSTORMS, BUT SOME OF OUR -- YOU GO LOOKING BACK IN ST. LOUIS HISTORY, WE'VE HAD THREE OR FOUR MAJOR, MAJOR TORNADO EVENTS AND SO HAS NASHVILLE, SO HAS DALLAS, SO HAS DENVER, SO HAS DES MOINES, SO HAS CHICAGO.

CHICAGO HAD AN OUTBREAK THIS YEAR WHERE IT DID SOME TREMENDOUS DAMAGE.

IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT I THINK IN THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND -- AND I WAS INVOLVED IN THIS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL IN ST. LOUIS -- IS THAT STORMS COME MARCHING IN WITH A COLD FRONT AND THOSE STORMS ARE FEEDING ON AIR ABOUT 50 MILES OUT AHEAD OF THAT STORM.

SO IT COULD BE BLOWING LIKE CRAZY IN CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI AND YOU'RE THINKING, OH, THIS LINE IS COMING, IT'S COMING FAST, AND BOW IT'S GOING TO GET US.

AND I LEARNED VERY QUICKLY THAT NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, THAT COLD FRONT IS GOING TO START SUCKING THE DRY HOT AIR OF THE CITY INTO IT AND IT KILLS IT.

AND THEN AS THE LINE GETS OVER ST. LOUIS, IT'S NOT VERY STRONG, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF VARIETY.

WHEN IT STARTS FEEDING ON THE FARMLAND 50 MILES OUT IN ILLINOIS.

THAT'S STILL HOT, BUT IT'S MOIST.

IT'S BRINGING IN A LOT OF MOISTURE AND THE THUNDERSTORMS JUST GO VOOM, WHICH IS WHY YOU CAN GET THE SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS LIKE OUT IN HERMAN OR COLUMBIA OR JEFF CITY UP TO QUINCY AND THEN NOT MUCH IN THE CORE ST. LOUIS AREA AND THEN YOU GET PAST BELLEVILLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS START COMING BACK IN AGAIN.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE STORMS.

IT WAS ALWAYS A JOY FOR ME TO WATCH NEW FORECASTERS COME INTO ST. LOUIS AND NOT KNOW THAT.

AND YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT WITHOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING THESE COLD FRONTS TIME IN, TIME OUT.

AND THAT'S SOMETIMES CALL THE ARCH EFFECT, BUT IT'S THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

>> SPEAKING OF NEW FORECASTERS COMING INTO TOWN, YOU WERE OBVIOUSLY IN A VERY HIGH-PACED, COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY.

>> SURE.

>> IT'S A BIG DEAL AND, OF COURSE, THE COMMERCIALS -- THE WORLD OF COMMERCIAL TV HAS CHANGED.

>> YOU THINK?

>> A LITTLE.

BUT -- JUST A LITTLE.

BUT I KIND OF WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT DO YOU METEOROLOGISTS TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU GATHER AMONGST YOURSELVES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW MUCH DID YOU KEEP TRACK OF EACH OTHER -- I MEAN, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY FOCUSED ON YOUR OWN JOB.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHEN YOU WEREN'T WORKING 19-HOUR DAYS AND WHATEVER THEY WERE, BUT HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR ACCURACY VERSUS YOUR COMPETITORS?

>> TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, METEOROLOGISTS WITHIN A CITY, COMPETITORS, RARELY, RARELY MEET.

THEY RARELY SEE EACH OTHER, BUT WHEN WE DO GATHER LIKE WITH THE AMS OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION, GEE, WE TALK ABOUT WEATHER.

AND WE TALK ABOUT -- AND WE TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS, BUT I PAID NO ATTENTION TO ANYBODY ELSE'S FORECASTS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT IT TO GET IN HERE.

YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHATTURE YOU'RE FORECASTING AND WHY YOU'RE FORECASTING THAT AND IF YOU START LISTENING TO OUTSIDE SOURCES, IT PLAYS MIND TRICKS ON YOU AND IT'S NOT WORTH IT.

BECAUSE I HONESTLY BELIEVE EVERY FORECAST I PUT OUT IS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AGAIN, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT POSITIVITY TO GO AFTER A FORECAST AND REALLY BELIEVE IN WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S JUST USING THE COMPUTER MODELS AND SAY, OH, THE COMPUTER MODEL SAYS THIS AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING WITH.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FORECASTING TODAY IS FORECASTERS -- AND I USE THAT TERM LOOSELY, IS THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE PRINTOUT THE COMPUTER MODEL AND SAYING THAT'S THE FORECAST.

WELL, THAT'S NOT A FORECAST.

IT'S GUIDANCE.

THAT'S ALL IT IS.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND DO THE HARD WORK OF FORECASTING.

YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THE PHYSICS OF WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN YOU COME UP WITH AORECAST AND THEN YOU GO LOOK AT THE MODEL.

NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY.

SO NOBODY IS WILLING TO TAKE A STAB AT THEIR EXPERIENCE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND SAYING THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE MODELS -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE 50-50, MORE POWER TO THEM.

>> IS THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW WHAT OUR WEATHER AROUND HERE GENERALLY WILL BE LIKE IN JULY AND AUGUST?

>> AS FAR AS A LONG-TERM THING?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE DO THE -- I STILL DO THE QUARTERLY FORECAST, THE SEASONAL FORECAST THING.

I DO THINK THAT AUGUST IS GOING TO BE THE HOTTEST MONTH OF THE SUMMER.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A BRUTAL SUMMER BY ANY MEANS.

I THINK THESE TEMPERATURE SWINGS THAT WE'VE STARTED SEEING BACK IN APRIL, EVEN BEFORE THAT, THOSE SWINGS WILL CONTINUE, SO WE'LL HAVE -- AND THIS WEEKEND IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

WE HAD OPPRESSIVE HUMIDITY AND LOTS OF RAIN AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL BE SPECTACULAR.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE DURING THE SUMMERTIME, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE END OF IT, WE'RE GOING TO GO, HEY YOU KNOW WHAT?

YEAH, WE HAD SOME CRUMMY WEATHER AND WE HAD A LOT OF HUMIDITY, BUT THAT WASN'T TOO BAD.

THAT WASN'T TOO BAD FOR ST. LOUIS.

>> WELL, FROM YOUR LIPS TO GOD'S EARS.

AWARD-WINNING METEOROLOGIST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1976.

THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE RUN.

CONGRATULATIONS AND OUR BEST TO YOU AND JANICE AND HOPE TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN SOONER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING DONNYBROOK DURING YOUR DINNER BREAK FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME ON AND WHENEVER YOU WANT TO TALK WEATHER, THAT'S REALLY ALL I KNOW ABOUT, I'M WILLING TO COME ON.

>> WELL, WE SURE APPRECIATE IT.

I THINK YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT GOLF, TOO, DON'T YOU?

>> A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GOLF AND DOGS AND GARDENING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WEATHER IS MY LIFE.

>> FANTASTIC.

THANKS, DAVE.

THANKS, RAY.

EVERYBODY, WE'LL TOUCH BASES AGAIN NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME.

THANKS FOR KEEPING ON IT NINE PBS.

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