>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF "DONNYBROOK."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US, AND THANKS FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY.

WE HAVE IRREGULAR TIME ON THIS THURSDAY, THANKS TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

WE WILL NOT HAVE "NEXT UP" BECAUSE OF THIS SCHEDULE, WHICH IS TOO BAD BECAUSE WE HAD SCHEDULED MEGHAN AND HARRY, BUT WE'LL GIVE THEM A RAIN CHECK AND THEY'LL JOIN US FOR ANOTHER INTERVIEW IN THE FUTURE.

IF WE CAN FIND ROOM ON THE KEJ, THAT IS.

LET'S MEET THOSE WHO ARE ASSEMBLED AROUND THEIR COMPUTER MONITORS FOR THIS EDITION OF "DONNYBROOK," STARTING WITH THE NEWS DIRECTOR OF THE KTRS AND COHOST OF THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW, WENDY WIESE.

ALONG WITH ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS, HE WAS THERE IN 1987, MR. BILL MCCLELLAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH.

ANOTHER FOUNDER, BACK THERE IN '87, HE IS RAY HARTMANN, NOW OF THE RIVER FRONT TIMES AND THE BIG 550, KTRS.

AND THE GUY WHO DID A GREAT JOB, MAYBE TOO GREAT A JOB HOSTING LAST WEEK'S SHOW, ALVIN REID FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, 590 AND 97.1.

COULDN'T YOU HAVE SLIPPED UP A LITTLE BIT, COME ON.

BILL MCCLELLAN, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK AND THAT IS THAT THE SENIOR CENTER -- >> I CALL GREAT PRICE DAVID PRICE.

>> YES, BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE REFERRING TO THE FORMER CLEVELAND CAVALIER OR THE OWNER OF BIG E'S RESTAURANT.

>> THE DODGERS PITCHER.

>> WELL, IT WAS A GREAT SHOW LAST WEEK AND I ENJOYED WATCHING IT ON KETC.ORG, WHICH ALL OF OUR VIEWERS CAN, AS YOU KNOW.

OKAY, BILL.

ROY BLUNT, THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM MISSOURI HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, DO YOU THINK WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE AND HISTORIANS HAVE THEIR DAY THAT THIS MAN WILL GO DOWN AS A GREAT U.S.

SENATOR?

>> CERTAINLY A VERY GOOD U.S.

SENATOR, CHARLIE.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GREAT.

BUT I THOUGHT THAT THE COMBINATION OF ROY BLUNT AND CLAIRE MCCASKILL WAS ON A PAR WITH EAGLETON AND DANFORTH.

AND I LIKED ROY BLUNT.

TONY MESSENGER HAD A COLUMN THE OTHER DAY ABOUT HOW BLUNT WILL CALL PEOPLE AND TALK TO PEOPLE, AND HE WOULD.

AND HE WORKED BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND I THINK HE'LL BE REMEMBERED WELL, AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW, I VOTED FOR HIM.

SO, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.

>> I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A MOUNT RUSHMORE IN MISSOURI IT'S KIT BOND, JACK DANFORTH, JOHN ASHCROFT AND ROY BLUNT.

THAT'S IF YOU'RE OF A PHILOSOPHY THAT DISAGREES WITH WHAT THEY STAND FOR, IT'S HARD TO CALL THEM GREAT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, ROY BLUNT HAD AN AMAZING CAREER, HE WAS 14-0 IN GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE ONLY TIME HE LOST AN ELECTION WAS WHEN THE GUY WENT TO PRISON, AND ROY WAS A REALLY SOLID CONSTITUENT SENATOR.

MEANING THE NGA PROBABLY DOESN'T HAPPEN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN CREDIT HIM FOR.

I WAS PRETTY DISAPPOINTED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WITH HIM UNDER DONALD TRUMP.

AND THAT KIND OF TARNISHED IT FOR ME A BIT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF HIS CAREER -- >> I WOULD SAY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIS CAREER, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS MAJOR LEGISLATION WITH HIS NAME ON IT.

AFTER ALL THE TERRIBLE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTRY LIKE WE HAVEN'T HAD, AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THOSE.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE NGA.

I FEEL KIND OF LUKE WARM ABOUT THAT, RAY, BECAUSE THE NGA IS LIKE THE RENOVATION OF THE ARCH.

WE HAD TO PAY FOR THAT.

DO YOU KNOW THAT WHEN THE NGA WAS PROPOSED, IT WAS ONLY BY TAKING THE EARNINGS TAXES OF 3,000 EMPLOYEES THAT ORDINARILY WOULD GO TO THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AND THEY PUT THAT FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND WHEN IT CAME TO REDOING THE ST. LOUIS ARCH WE HAD TO RAISE OUR OWN CITY TAXES, SALES TAXES, FOR $90 MILLION FOR THAT.

SO I JUST FEEL THAT HE GETS CREDIT FOR SOME OF THESE BIG PROJECTS, BUT THEY'RE PAID FOR LOCALLY.

>> WELL, I THINK ALSO KIND OF TARNISHED, THESE LAST FOUR YEARS?

I MEAN WHAT VOTES DID BLUNT MAKE, FORGET FOUR YEARS, THE EIGHT YEARS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND THE 12, WHAT VOTES DID HE DO THAT WOULD MAKE YOU THINK THAT THIS IS BIPARTISAN, OR THAT HE'S TRYING TO DO THE BEST FOR ALL MISSOURIANS, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY YEARS HE WAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE SENATE, BUT IF YOU TOOK AND GAVE HIM A B PLUS, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THE YEARS UP TO THE LAST FOUR, AND THEN HE GOT STRAIGHT F'S, 0.00.

THAT DRAGS THE G.P.A.

DOWN WAY PAST GREAT.

VERY DISAPPOINTED -- >> I THINK, I THINK COMPARED TO WHAT'S COMING, WE'RE ALL GOING TO LOOK BACK VERY FONDLY, AND I LIKE ROY BLUNT VERY MUCH.

WHAT I FOUND REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THE EDITORIALS ON SENATOR BLUNT THIS WEEK AFTER HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, WAS THEY SEEM TO BE JUST AS COMMITTED TO IMPLORING THEIR READERSHIP NOT TO SEND ERIC GREITENS TO THE SENATE, AND ALSO IN INFORMING THEIR READERS THAT HE IS THE FIFTH REPUBLICAN SENATOR TO ANNOUNCE IN THE WAKE OF DONALD TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS, THAT HE WILL NOT BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AND HAS INSTEAD CHOSE EBB RETIREMENT.

THE "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLED HIM A BIPARTISAN DEAL MAKER.

>> LET'S GO TO RAY NOW, FOR THE SECOND WENT PART OF THIS, AND THAT IS WHO WILL REPLACE HIM, ANY PREDICTIONS, ANY INSIGHTS?

>> IT'S HARD TO SEGUE TO WHAT WENDY WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS PART OF A BIGGER NATIONAL STORY, YOU'VE GOT FIVE OF THE 20 REPUBLICANS WHO ARE UP NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION AND THEY ARE NOT EXTREMISTS, ANY OF THEM.

LIKE THE PORTMANS AND SO FORTH.

ERIC SCHMITT HAS ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY, I THOUGHT, WHICH I WAS NO SURPRISE.

I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED JAY ASHCROFT DIDN'T GET INTO THE RACE, BUT HE'S NOT.

AND I WOULD NOT, I THINK THE, SO PROVERBIAL ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM NOW IS WHETHER ERIC GREITENS WILL GO FOR IT.

>> HOW ABOUT DEMOCRATS?

>> DON'T FORGET ANN WAGNER IS A POSSIBILITY FOR THIS, TOO, SO I WOULDN'T RULE HER OUT.

>> HOW ABOUT MIKE KEHOE?

JASON SMITH.

>> A DEMOCRATIC, SCOTT SIMPSON IS ALREADY IN THE RACE, FORMER STATE SENATOR FROM ST. LOUIS.

THERE'S ALSO TALK QUENTIN LUCAS IS THINKING ABOUT IT, THE MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY, WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN STATEWIDE OFFICE HOLDER.

>> THERE'S EASE I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

KEVIN O'LEARY, OUT THERE, THIS IS YOUR BOY ALVIN.

CALL JOHN GOODMAN ON THE PHONE AND TELL HIM RUN FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE COULD BE A SENATOR.

I AM NOT KIDDING AROUND.

>> I THINK HE COULD RAIN, TOO.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT JAY ASHCROFT AND WHY IT WAS SURPRISING WHEN HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU HAVE TO THINK OF WHAT A SENATE RUN COSTS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT HE HAS AT THIS MOMENT IF HE HAS THE APPETITE FOR THAT KIND OF THING, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN ODDS ON FAVORITE, WHEN PARSONS IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO RUN AGAIN IN 2024.

FOR GOVERNOR.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT IT ALSO SAYS, MUCH LIKE THE ROY BLUNT STORY ISN'T REALLY ABOUT ROY BLUNT, IT'S ABOUT HOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS JUST, IS NOT RECOGNIZABLE TO SO MANY PEOPLE, HERE'S THE U.S. SENATE, WHICH IS ARGUABLY A FAIRLY PRESTIGIOUS GOOD JOB, YOU WOULD THINK, AND ALMOST ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE CANDIDATES WASTED NO TIME, CLAIRE MCCASKILL, JASON, EVERYBODY SAID NO NO NO.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE, NOT THAT, AND OBVIOUSLY ROY BLUNT DOESN'T WANT IT.

IT'S INTERESTING HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE ON THE SHORT LIST OF THE TWO PARTIES WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROCESS ANY MORE.

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG STATEMENT.

>> MCCASKILL IS NOT GOING TO -- >> I UNDERSTAND, I'M SAYING NOBODY REALLY WANTS IT THAT BAD.

>> THE ONLY ONE THAT SURPRISED ME WAS JAY ASHCROFT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS BEEN EXPECTING THIS HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE BETWEEN SCHMITT AND ASHCROFT, AND I THOUGHT THAT, WELL, MAYBE ONE WILL BACK OFF, BUT I THOUGHT ASHCROFT WOULD WANT TO BE THE SENATOR, AND SCHMITT THE GOVERNOR.

SO I'M -- >> WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT, OKAY, LET'S MOVE ONTO ANOTHER TOPIC HERE.

REALLY GRIM STATISTICS, ALVIN REID, FROM THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE EIGHT KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 17 WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY GUNFIRE THIS YEAR.

THE RIVER FRONT TIMES DID A GREAT JOB CHRONICLING THE CARNAGE, AND IT'S JUST TERRIBLE.

WE HAD 17 KIDS KILLED LAST YEAR, 13 THE YEAR BEFORE, THAT'S 30 IN TWO YEARS.

NOT ONE OF THESE MURDERERS HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED.

AND WE HAD 150 KIDS TREATED FOR PEDIATRIC GUNSHOT WOUNDS LAST YEAR AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

THAT'S A RECORD THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS FROM 2008 WHEN ABOUT HALF OF THAT, AND THOSE DON'T EVEN INCLUDE THE GUNSHOTS BEING TAKEN CARE OF AT CARDINAL GLENON.

SO IT'S A TERRIBLE THING GOING ON.

CHRISTINE BUYERS OF KSDK TALKED TO JOHN HAYDEN, THE POLICE CHIEF IN ST. LOUIS, HE SAYS HE'S GOT THREE THINGS GOING, HE'S GOING TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING HE CALLS ZONES OR HOT SPOT POLICING.

THAT'S NOT EXCEPTIONALLY NEW IN ST. LOUIS.

HE ALSO WANTS TO INCREASE THE MONEY FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION AND RELOCATION, SO THAT WITNESSES CAN COME FORWARD, AND HE'S GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE ARRESTS AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR CHARGES TO BE ANNOUNCED.

SO HE'S GOING TO SAY ONCE WE ARREST PEOPLE THAT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC AND THEN IF THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY WANTS TO TAKE IT, FINE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS, ALVIN REID, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT CAN WE POSSIBLY DO?

>> JUST REAL QUICK LET ME SAY THAT OUR HOMICIDE RATE OVERALL IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR WAS HORRIBLE.

AND ALSO REMEMBER WE TOOK ABOUT A TWO-MONTH HIATUS ON THE MURDER RATE IN ST. LOUIS BECAUSE I GUESS MURDERERS STAYED INSIDE BECAUSE OF PROTOCOL FOR COVID, SO IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.

BUT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

I LIKE ALL THREE OF HIS IDEAS.

I WOULD SAY ALONG WITH THAT COMPENSATION FOR WITNESSES, HOW ABOUT YOU SAY I'M TAKING 200 OF MY BEST AND WE'RE GOING UP TO NORTH, YOU KNOW, ST. LOUIS AND WE'RE GOING TO WALK BEATS AND DO OUR THING, AND OH BY THE WAY YOU GET SOME EXTRA COMPENSATION FOR EVERY HOUR THAT YOU WORK UP HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO JUST STAY IN HOLLY HILL, YOU STAY DOWN THERE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GETTING THIS EXTRA MONEY.

I MEAN, I THINK ALL ARE GOOD IDEAS.

I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF JUST ANNOUNCING THE ARRESTS, I REALLY DO.

PUT IT OUT THERE.

WE ARE ARRESTING PEOPLE AND CHARGING THEM WITH MURDER.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER NOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT MY JOB IS TO ARREST PEOPLE AND SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT.

>> AND THAT PLACES THE ONUS ON KIM GARDNER, CORRECT, ALVIN?

>> WELL, NOBODY TESTIFIES, WHAT CAN YOU DO.

BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING.

I'M DOING A LOT.

I'M ARRESTING PEOPLE WE SUSPECT, AND WE FEEL WE CAN PROVE COMMITTED MURDER.

THAT'S MY JOB, I'M DOING MY JOB.

>> YOU KNOW, TO THROW A LITTLE COLD WATER ON IT, T. JONES AND K. SPENCER BOTH MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WANT TO GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, SO CHIEF HAYDEN'S PLANS, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE CHIEF HAYDEN WILL BE AROUND TO CARRY OUT ANY PLANS.

>> I AGREE WITH BILL.

IT REMINDED ME OF WHEN SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO WAS TALKING IN DECEMBER ABOUT HIS PLANS FOR THE SECOND TERM OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND EVERYBODY JUST SORT OF ROLLED THEIR EYES.

I DON'T THINK MR. HAYDEN IS GOING TO BE AROUND.

AND I DON'T AGREE WITH ALVIN, I THINK THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO, WE AS A CITY AND AUTHORITIES, DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TODAY BRING A CHARGE, JUST THE ARREST, I DON'T THINK IS REALLY OWED >> I'M WITH ALVIN.

IF YOU'VE GOT A PROSECUTOR AND A HISTORY OF THAT, TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE AN ARREST, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> BALKING -- >> AND WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT IS THE PERCEPTION.

SO I THINK THAT, THAT'S BECOME THE REALITY, BUT THE FACT IS IF WE HAD THESE KINDS OF NUMBERS, IF THESE KIDS WERE DYING OF COVID, I MEAN, THERE WOULD BE A FULL STOP, PEOPLE WOULD, THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF FOCUSED EFFORT, AND IT WOULD BE FUNDED SOMEHOW, AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS.

THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.

>> YEAH, JOHN TUCKER DID A GREAT JOB FOR YOUR PAPER, RAY, AT THE RIVERFRONT TIMES.

I DON'T KNOW HIM WELL, BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THE C.D.C.

SAYS OF ALL THE COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND OF COURSE ST. LOUIS CITY IS A COUNTY IN AND OF ITSELF, IT HAS RANKED NUMBER ONE IN PEDIATRIC HOMICIDES, EVERY YEAR SINCE 2012.

AND OUR ST. LOUIS COUNTY CAN'T GET SMUG, BECAUSE LAST YEAR IT RANKED NUMBER 12 OUT OF WHAT, THE THOUSANDS OF COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, EVERY OTHER ISSUE SHOULD BE ON THE BACK BURNER, AND -- >> I AGREE, AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD JOURNALISM BY THE PAPER.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE GETTING CREDIT FOR IT.

>> THAT'S NOT THE POINT.

HEY, CHARLIE, THIS IS NOT AN ASIDE, BECAUSE THIS IS SERIOUS TOO.

WE'VE HAD TO, ESPECIALLY IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, WHEN MANIAC PARENTS KILL THEIR OWN KIDS AND THEY'RE GETTING DIVORCED AND IT'S LIKE DOMESTIC MURDER, I MEAN, WHAT CAN THE POLICE DO ABOUT THAT?

I AM NOT SAYING THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE COUNTED OR IT'S NOT HORRIBLE.

BUT ST. LOUIS COUNTY ESPECIALLY I THINK LAST YEAR, I THINK THERE WERE LIKE EIGHT OF THOSE IN THE COUNTY LAST YEAR.

SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT SOME OF THIS IS NOT RANDOM BULLETS FLYING AND GANG VIOLENCE.

SOME OF IT IS JUST -- >> THE COPS ARE GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE ARREST, THEN HAIB THEY SHOULD ANNOUNCE WHO IS THE ARRESTING OFFICER WHO LIED ON THE WITNESS STAND AND WON'T BE ABLE TO PROVE THE CASE.

>> WELL, THEY DO.

>> IF HAYDEN IS GOING TO SAY HERE'S OUR ARREST, HE'S NOT GOING TO MENTION THAT OH BY THE WAY THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY PROBABLY CAN'T BRING THESE CHARGES BECAUSE THE ARRESTING OFFICER ISN'T CREDIBLE, YOU KNOW.

>> JUST TO THINK OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID, CHARLIE, AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE USING THE WORDS PEDIATRIC AND HOMICIDE TOGETHER, WHEN WE THINK OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY OR PEDIATRIC CARDIAC CARE.

PEDIATRIC HOMICIDE SHOULD BE SUCH AN OFFENSE TO EVERYBODY LISTENING TO THIS PROGRAM, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, SHOULD BE PRIORITY ONE.

>> AGREE.

>> OKAY, WENDY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A REPORT FROM THE JAIL COMMISSION.

MAYOR KREWSON ASSEMBLED A GROUP OF ST. LOUISIANS TO LOOK AT CONDITIONS IN THE JAIL, AND ONE OF THEIR EARLY FINDINGS IS THAT THE INMATES OR RESIDENTS THERE NEED MORE RECREATION TIME.

AND I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH THAT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM GET SOME OUTDOOR RECREATION TIME.

BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL OVERALL WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THE REPORT SAYS THAT THERE IS MORE RECREATION NEEDED FOR THOSE WHO ARE INCARCERATED IN THE JAIL IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I ABSOLUTELY COMMEND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH AND ADVOCATING, THEY ARE ACTING AS ADVOCATES FOR THE PRISON POPULATION.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

BUT IN TERMS OF RECREATION, I THINK JACOB LONG SAID FROM MAYOR KREWSON'S OFFICE THAT AT THIS MOMENT THEY ARE FOLLOWING C.D.C.

GUIDELINES.

AND UNTIL INSTRUCTED OR INFORMED OTHERWISE BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, THEY'RE GOING TO STICK TO THAT.

ONE OF THESE SOCIAL WORKERS OR ONE OF THE SPOKES PEOPLE INVOLVED SAID THAT THEY WANT TWO HOURS TWICE A DAY.

THAT TO ME SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF RECREATION TIME.

THERE ARE PRISONERS WHO SOMEHOW MANAGE TO MAKE THEIR OWN RECREATION TIME IN THEIR CELLS OR IN THEIR COMMON AREAS.

BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WITH CHILDREN AND ELDERLY CITIZENS STRUGGLING, IT IS NOT MY TOP PRIORITY, BUT I DO COMMEND THOSE FOR WHOM IT IS.

>> HOW ABOUT MORE BREAK TIME FOR THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE WHO AREN'T IN JAIL?

MAYBE TWO HOURS A DAY REC TIME FOR THEM, AT SCHOOL.

AS I SAID A FEW WEEKS AGO, TIME, ENERGY, EMOTION, HOW ABOUT WE TRY TO START TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T IN JAIL AND PUTTING THAT MUCH FOCUS ON THEM.

AND THEN ONE OTHER THING, BASKETBALL!

>> I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THAT, ALVIN.

BUT WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN IN JAIL BECAUSE THE FOOD IS NOT GOOD, YOU'RE LOCKED UP, EASY TO SEE.

BUT OUR JAIL DOES SEEM TO BE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF CONTROL.

ROBERT PATRICK HAD A STORY IN THE PAPER ABOUT A LAWSUIT INVOLVING A PAR APLOAJIC WHO COULDN'T EVEN GET A SHOWER.

>> I AGREE.

LISTEN, I HEAR YOU, BILL, JAIL IS HORRIBLE, OKAY.

WE START BREAKING DOWN POUND BY POINT, AND -- POINT BY POINT, AND -- >> THESE GUYS ARE INNOCENT, EXCEPT -- >> LAST NIGHT, THE CASE OF ANTHONY TILLMAN, WHAT IT SPEAKS TO, WHICH IS BROADER, IS WE HAVE A FACILITY THAT WAS BUILT IN 2002, ELEVEN YEARS AFTER A.D.A.

WAS PASSED AND IT'S BASICALLY NOT A.D.A.

COMPLY AMOUNT, WHICH -- COMPLIANT.

WHICH IS NOT A SMALL THING.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE MIND THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED, BUT MOST PEOPLE COME BACK OUT OF THE PRISON SYSTEM AND IF WE WANT TO REDUCE RESID VIS IM, AS MUCH AS NOBODY WANTS TO HAVE A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE THAT -- >> HANG ON A SECOND.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A.D.A.

COMPLIANCE IN A JAIL THAT DOESN'T HAVE WORKING LOCKS.

>> WELL, BUT A.D.A.

COMPLIANCE IS A BIG DEAL, AND FOR A CITY TO BUILD A FACILITY IN 2002 THAT ISN'T A.D.A., I AGREE.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, RAY, BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU SOMETHING.

ANOTHER ERROR IS THAT, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE COUNTY JAIL, THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTDOOR EXERCISE.

WAZ JURN JUST A "WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAID TWO HOURS OUTDOORS EVERY DAY IS KEY, HELPS THE BODY AND ALL THAT.

DON'T FORGET, MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE ACCUSED, BUT THEY'RE NOT CONVICTED YET, SO THEY HAVEN'T HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT.

WHILE WE WANT TO CLOSE THE MEDIUM SECURITY WORK HOUSE, THAT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY SOFTBALL OR RUN AROUND A TRACK OR WHATEVER, LIKE THEY DO IN THE CLINT EASTWOOD MOVIES.

BUT YOU CAN BE IN THE COUNTY JAIL FOR FIVE YEARS AND NEVER SEE SUNSHINE, THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE CITY JAIL IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

>> THAT REALLY GOES TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE HOLDING PEOPLE IN JAIL TOO LONG -- >> RIGHT.

>> PART OF THAT IS COVID AND PART IS JUST NOT A SPEEDY TRIAL.

BUT THE JAILS ARE NOT LIKE PRISONS, YOU'RE NOT PREPARING PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND GIVE THEM A TRADE, YOU'RE HOLDING THEM UNTIL THEIR TRIAL.

>> WELL, YEAH, BUT THAT HOLDING IS SO LONG -- >> THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE REALLY.

>> I AGREE.

>> IF JIMMY EDWARDS CALLED THESE GUYS THE MOST VIOLENT OFFENDERS -- >> THEY'RE ACCUSED OF THAT FOR SURE.

WENDY, LET ME MOVE ON, ACTUALLY, RAY IT'S YOUR TURN HERE.

THERE'S A MESHER IN JEFF CITY WHICH WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE WITH CONCEAL CARRY PERMITS TO CARRY FIREARMS ON BUSSES AND METRO LINK OPERATED BY BI-STATE.

DO THEY HAVE YOUR VOTE?

>> NO.

KEVIN SCOTT WHO IS THE SECURITY DIRECTOR, WHO WAS BALDWIN'S POLICE CHIEF AND PRETTY RESPECTED AS I UNDERSTAND IT FOR DECADES, HE WAS ON, I THINK IT WAS KMOV AND HE MADE AN INTERESTING POINT WHICH IS YOU DO NOT HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OR REASONABLE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY YOUR FIREARMS ANY MORE THAN YOU WOULD AT A STADIUM, OKAY.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO MAKE ANYONE ANY SAFER, AND I THINK IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR POLICE.

I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT IF ANYONE, INCLUDING SOMEBODY THAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE NOT A GREAT MODEL CITIZEN, HAS A GUN, IT'S A LOT EASIER FOR POLICE TO APPREHEND THEM AND KEEP THEM FROM DOING SOMETHING BAD ONCE YOU HAVE THIS PASSED YOU CAN HAVE A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL WHO ISN'T GOING TO HAVE HIS GUN TAKEN AWAY, OR HERS, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, OKAY -- >> I THINK IT'S LIKE WHEN CONCEAL CARRY CAME UP YEARS AGO, I WAS ON YOUR SIDE THAT, OH, THERE'S GOING TO BE SHOOTOUTS AND I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A BANK WHEN SOMEBODY TRIES TO ROB IT.

BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT WILL HAPPEN ON METRO LINK AND THE BUSSES.

MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WILL BE CARRYING, BUT THESE ARE THE LAW ABIDING PEOPLE AND WE WON'T, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE AS IT STANDS NOW, WHERE IT'S THE ONLY PEOPLE CARRYING WEAPONS ON METRO LINK ARE THE CRIMINALS.

>> I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA, BECAUSE THIS PERSON WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO GET ON IT, GETS ON AND APPROACHES SOMEBODY WITH BODY CAM, CAN YOU, WITH BUDDY, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME, AND BLOWS HIS HEAD OFF.

I HEAR YOU, BILL, BUT IT'S TOO CLOSE TO CONTACT, IT'S JUST -- IF YOU HAD ARMED GUARDS ON THE TRAINS ALL THE TIME, LIKE WE'VE SUGGESTED, SOME OF US HAVE FOR MANY YEARS, THEN I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE WOULD EVEN BE WILLING TO GO THIS ROUTE.

IF PEOPLE SAID, HEY, PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED.

WASHINGTON D.C., THEY DON'T ALLOW IT THERE BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT POLICE OFFICERS ON THE CARS.

>> DON'T FORGET, ALVIN, THIS WOULD BE FOR PEOPLE WITH CONCEAL CARRY PERMITS, THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE FOUR-HOUR COURSE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR BACKGROUNDS CHECKED AND WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED PROFICIENCY WITH A FIREARM, SO THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO JUMPED THROUGH THOSE HOOPS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO IS GOING TO FIRE AT SOMEONE ASKING FOR MONEY.

DO YOU?

>> I BET YOU 75 PEOPLE GOT ARRESTED ON SOME CRAZY CHARGE TODAY THAT HAVE A LEGAL GUN PERMIT, THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

AND THAT'S LIKE, THAT'S A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE.

>> TWO MINUTES TO GO.

TODAY IS THE 41st ANNIVERSARY OF MCDONALD'S ON THE RIVERFRONT, WENDY WIESE.

AND TODAY THERE'S NOT A MCDONALD'S THERE, BUT OF COURSE IT'S OUR LANDMARK NATURAL RESOURCE, THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI.

AND IN FACT THERE'S A GREAT EXHIBIT SPONSORED BY BANK OF AMERICA AT THE HISTORY MUSEUM THROUGH JUNE 6, IT'S CALLED MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI.

BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE A LOT OF LOCALS KIND OF AVOID THE RIVERFRONT IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A TIME WHEN THAT RIVERFRONT ATTRACTS VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE?

>> AS SOON AS THE CRIME IS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK OUT OF TOWN VISITORS, THEY AREN'T QUITE AS AWARE, KEENLY AWARE OF THINGS DOWNTOWN AS THE REST OF US, SO I THINK THEY WILL ALWAYS INCOME DOWN -- FLOCK DOWN THERE.

I THINK IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A WHILE, BUT I SURE HOPE SO.

>> I MISS THAT MCDONALD'S.

>> I LIKED IT.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A NICE THING ON THE RIVER.

>> AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.

I THINK IT WILL AT SOME POINT.

EVERYTHING IS DOWN RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF COVID TRAFFIC AT THE ARCH.

I THINK ST. LOUISIANS UNDERESTIMATE -- >> WE WENT TO, MY FAMILY -- >> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH TO BUILD, FOR BUSINESSES TO THRIVE LIKE DOWN THERE, FROM THE ARCH TRAFFIC, BUT I THINK THEY'LL EVENTUALLY, I THINK THEY'RE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD THAT.

>> 20 SECONDS, ALVIN.

FINAL WORD?

HE FROZE ON US.

THAT HAPPENS.

HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY, FOR JOINING US.

TELL YOU WHAT, WE HAVE A LOT OF TOPICS THIS WEEK THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO, SO WE'LL GET THEM NEXT WEEK AT OUR REGULAR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON NINE PBS.

>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.