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

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

AS ALWAYS, TOO MANY TOPICS, TOO LITTLE TIME.

LET'S GET TO THE INTRODUCTIONS, AND THEN GET ROLLING STARTING WITH THE MEDIA VETERAN HERSELF, WENDY WIESE.

WE WELCOME BACK BILL MCCLELLAN FROM VACATION.

IT'S WITH TL.COM AND POST DISPATCH.

SARAH FENSKE FROM THE PODCAST.

AND WE WELCOME FROM ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, ALVIN REID.

>> DON'T TELL THEM YET.

IS NO, START.

>> LET'S START THIS PROGRAM, SHALL WE?

BILL, YOU GREW UP IN THE LAND OF LINCOLN.

THIS WEEK I THOUGHT IT WAS A RATHER EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

HE WAS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW HAS PRESIDENTIAL IMPLICATIONS BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST OF THE NATION PRIMARY, AND THERE IS GOVERNOR PRITZKER TELLING DEMOCRATS HEY, YOU HAVE GOT TO GET INVOLVED, BUT JUST NOT INVOLVED.

YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE IN MASS PROTEST, AND YOU HAVE TO DISRUPT AND GET OUT THE MEGAPHONES, AND YOU CAN'T GIVE REPUBLICANS A MOMENT OF PEACE.

GIVEN WHAT DONALD TRUMP SAID ON JANUARY THE SIXTH A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO EXHORTING PEOPLE TO ACTION, DON'T YOU THINK THIS WAS KIND OF RECKLESS ON THE PART OF GOVERNOR PRITZKER?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS RECKLESS.

I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH IT.

I THINK IF DONALD TRUMP IS TAKING THE COUNTRY OFF A CLIFF, THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD LET HIM GO OFF THE CLIFF.

AS FAR AS GOVERNOR PRITZKER, I THINK HE'S JUST TRYING TO MAKE A NAME AND HOPING THAT HE CAN RUN IN 2028.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT -- I THINK WE WOULD ELECT A WOMAN BEFORE WE WOULD ELECT A MAN OVERWEIGHT.

LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WITH CHRIS CHRISTIE.

I'M LOOKING AT POOR GOVERNOR PRITZKER HAS TO DO SOMETHING.

>> THIS EXACT TIME LAST WEEK WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS.

I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

HE MUST HAVE HAD THAT SPEECH IN HIS POCKET WHILE WE WERE TALKING BECAUSE HE UNLEASHED THIS ON SUNDAY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, I WOULD VOTE FOR THAT GUY.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE, I'M TAKING PERSONALLY.

THE MAN HAS BASICALLY, I THINK, DECLARED WAR ON A LOT OF AMERICANS.

>> TRUMP, NOT PRITZKER.

AS A RESULT, HEY, I'M KIND OF LIKE LOOK, ALL BETS ARE OFF, OKAY?

YEAH, PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO DO WHAT THEY FEEL IS NECESSARY TO DO TO STOP THIS.

I'M WITH HIM.

NOW, BY MASS PROTEST HE MEANS LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.

>> WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY DISRUPT?

DISRUPTION COULD SIMPLY MEAN GO TO YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OR WHATEVER MEETING AND SAY HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW?

WHERE IS ANN WAGNER?

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

GO TO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD AND SAY I'M GOING TO TALK AND USE THE WHOLE FIVE MINUTES.

>> COULD MEAN JANUARY 6, TOO.

>> COULD MEAN A LOT OF THINGS.

>> THAT'S WHY I THINK HE SHOULD BE SPECIFIC, HE'S A LEADER.

HE'S KIND OF PUSHING IT OFF, ALVIN ON TO OTHERS.

WHY AREN'T LEADERS LIKE PRITZKER AND THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS STEPPING UP AND WORKING?

>> BECAUSE ONLY WE THE PEOPLE CAN STOP THIS MESS.

THIS IS NOT A GOVERNMENTAL LEADER.

>> THERE IS A VACUUM IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THERE IS CLEARLY A VACUUM IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

GO AHEAD AND THRILL ME WITH THOSE TWO WORDS THAT YOU SAID EARLIER WHEN YOU HEARD WHAT HE WAS DOING.

YOU SAID WHAT?

>> I SAID I WOULD VOTE FOR HIM.

>> BEFORE THAT, YOU SAID WENDY WAS RIGHT, BECAUSE LAST WEEK I BEGGED CHARLIE TO MAKE A NOTE, A MENTAL NOTE, THAT I THINK I THINK THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP, BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THAT THE CONSTITUTION IS A FLEXIBLE DOCUMENT, HE HAS BEEN ROLLING OUT MERCHANDISE, TRUMP 2028. WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BRING, EVEN THOUGH HE IS CONSTITUTIONALLY PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM.

>> THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD YOU HAVE PEOPLE DISRUPTING?

LET'S SAY YOU AGREE WITH THEM, OKAY?

IS THAT THE WAY TO DO IT?

IS IT GOOD TO EXHORT PEOPLE TO DISRUPT THE COUNTRY?

>> I THINK SO MANY PEOPLE WERE TIRED OF ALL THE PROTESTS AND PEOPLE WANTED AN END TO IT AND WENT INTO THE SECOND TRUMP TERM AND SAY OKAY.

LET'S NOT DO WHAT WE DID LAST TIME AND WEAR THE PINK HATS AND WALK ON WASHINGTON AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

HOW IT'S GOING IS TERRIBLY.

HE'S IGNORING JUDICIAL ORDERS.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE PRESIDENT IS SPECULATING HE DOESN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAYS.

IF THERE'S EVER A TIME FOR PROTEST, THAT'S THE TIME FOR PROTEST.

>> IF YOU DON'T LIKE TRUMP AND OF COURSE I DON'T LIKE TRUMP, WHAT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO GET THE REPUBLICANS OUT?

I DON'T THINK IT IS DISRUPTING THINGS RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IT'S LETTING THEM CONTINUE TO MESS THINGS UP.

I MEAN, WHEN PEOPLE START GETTING THEIR 401K NOTICES IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND SEE HOW THEIR RETIREMENT FUNDS ARE LOOKING, I THINK THAT'S A WAKE-UP CALL.

>> I AGREE, BUT THAT'S ALSO AN EXPENSIVE WAKE-UP CALL.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE RETIREMENT FUNDS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK HE'S DOING SO POORLY.

>> I THINK TO GET MEGAPHONES OUT IS SO YESTERDAY IN THE SENSE THAT HOW DID THE REPUBLICANS CHANGE THE FEDERAL BENCH?

THEY DIDN'T GO IN THE STREETS WITH MEGAPHONES.

THEY WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE FEDERAL SOCIETY.

HOW DO WE HAVE ALL OF THESE GUN LAWS THAT PEOPLE DON'T AGREE WITH?

THE NRA DOESN'T MARCH IN THE STREET.

>> I WILL TELL YOU HOW THEY DID IT?

>> THEY PUT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN IT.

THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY.

>> THEY SURE DO THAT KIND OF MONEY.

DEMOCRATS CAN OUT-RAISE REPUBLICANS.

>> I AGREE THEY HAVE THAT MONEY.

THE PROBLEM IS THIS IS NOT A 20-YEAR PLAN TO TAKE OVER THE SUPREME COURT.

THIS IS A MORE URGENT PROBLEM.

>> FIRST YOU'VE GOT TO VOTE.

IN THE LAST ELECTION ONLY 62% OF PEOPLE DID.

>> THAT'S WHAT PRITZKER HAS GOT TO DO.

HE HAS TO TELL PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

>> HIS OWN STATE WENT FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

ILLINOIS DOESN'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE.

>> ILLINOIS IS AS BLUE AS BLUE.

>> DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS 98% TURNOUT OR 62% TURNOUT.

>> IN GENERAL, ON MANY ISSUES, IF YOU DON'T GET PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WIN.

>> IT IS POLITICAL THEATER IN TERMS OF HOW FAR PEOPLE DECIDE TO GO WHEN HE'S CALLING FOR DISRUPTIONS.

>> THE MESSAGE RIGHT NOW IS DON'T GIVE UP.

DON'T BE SAD.

>> LET'S MOVE ON.

SARAH, I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT A WEEK THIS WAS.

NOT A GOOD ONE ON THE STREETS OF ST. LOUIS.

FIRST OF ALL, THERE WAS A TRAGIC DEATH OF A GIRL WHO WAS DANCING ON A CADILLAC ESCALADE ON COMPTON.

SHE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK BY AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE.

SHE DIED.

COINCIDENTLY TRAILNET RELEASED A BOARD INDICATED THAT PEDESTRIAN DEATHS ARE UP IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND WE ARE NOT DOING THAT WELL WHEN IT COMES TO BICYCLE ACCIDENTS OR CAR ACCIDENTS EITHER.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THIS AREA?

>> LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR OR LOOKING FROM 2023 TO 2024.

THESE TRAFFIC DEATHS INCREASED 187% IN THE CITY.

NOW, THEY HAD A PRETTY QUIET YEAR THE YEAR BEFORE THAT.

SO IT LOOKS BIGGER THAN IT WAS.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST YEAR ON RECORD.

THEY HAVE BEEN TRACKING THESE GOING BACK TO 2010.

THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE GOT MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS.

THEY BROKE DOWN THIS REPORT.

TRAILNET DID A GREAT JOB SHOWING WHERE THE ACCIDENTS ARE TAKING PLACE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING A LOT, PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON USING THE BUS SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE CROSSWALKS.

SO THEY ARE CROSSING IN AREAS WHERE CARS ARE GOING WAY TOO FAST, AND PEOPLE SPEED ON OVERLY WIDE ARTERIAL STREETS.

THAT'S WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING.

WE NEED TO REDESIGN SOME OF THESE PROBLEM CORRIDORS.

>> I THINK THE NEW MAYOR HAS BEEN SAYING AGAIN AND AGAIN THERE'S A LOT OF RECKLESS DRIVING, AND THE POLICE HAVE NOT BEEN ENFORCING IT, NOT ON THE HIGHWAYS, NOT ON THE CITY STREETS.

IN THE CASE OF THE KIDS DANCING ON CARS, THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME WE LOST A GIRL DANCING ON A VEHICLE.

IT HAPPENED IN 2020 ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.

HOW MANY WAKE-UP CALLS DO WE HAVE TO HAVE?

WE HAD THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER KILLED OUTSIDE THE DRAKE CONCERT.

YOU NEVER SEE THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY BEING PULLED OVER BY POLICE OFFICERS.

>> POLICE ARE SAYING THEY ARE DOING THIS.

IN THE LAST YEAR THEY HAVE SAID WE PULLED OVER THIS MANY PEOPLE HERE.

THEY HAVE THE NUMBERS TO SHOW FOR IT.

I THINK THE DRIVING GOT SO OUT OF CONTROL AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND THERE'S A SELFLESS RECKLESSNESS THAT PERMEATED THE CITY THAT'S HARD TO CLAW BACK.

>> THE OVER-WIDE OR THE WIDE STREETS, THE STREETS BEING WIDE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH PEOPLE BEING RECKLESS.

WHEN WE TRY TO NARROW THE STREETS OR PUT THOSE LITTLE WHATEVER YOU CALL BUMP HOUSE, I THINK IF WE TICKETED MORE PEOPLE AND SLOWED PEOPLE DOWN THAT WAY, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO NARROW THE STREETS OR PUT BUMP-OUTS ON.

>> I THINK EVERY PEDESTRIAN DEATH, ESPECIALLY, HAS TO BE EXAMINED.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT SOMEBODY OUT THERE WHO IT WAS NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN THAT THEY STRUCK SOMEBODY WITH THEIR VEHICLE, VEHICULAR VIOLENCE.

IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE YOU WERE AT FAULT ABSOLUTELY EVERY TIME SOMEBODY IS HIT BY A CAR, THE MOTORIST IS, AND THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE CALLOUS, BUT IT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME BECAUSE SOMEBODY WALKED OUT IN FRONT OF THEIR CAR.

>> SOMETHING HAS CHANGED IN OUR WIRING.

SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER THE EAR BUDS.

WE USED TO BE MORE ALERT, BUT WE ARE INSULATED.

WE ARE IN OUR OWN WORLDS.

WE HAVE THOSE PHONES.

THEY ARE OUR NORTH STAR.

I THINK TO THE EXCLUSION OF EVERYTHING ELSE, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NEXT TO A TRAFFICWAY, IT'S REALLY KIND OF ALARMING TO SEE THE WAY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING, TO SEE THE WAY PEOPLE REACT, YOU KNOW, DOWN IN GRAND CENTER.

WE SEE PEOPLE JAYWALKING ALL THE TIME.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

>> I SEE THE EAR PODS ENFORCED.

PEOPLE WALKING ALONG IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD AND YOU HAVE TO CROSS STREETS IN FOREST PARK.

>> YOU CAN'T HERE HORNS.

>> YOU MENTIONED GRAND CENTER.

GRAND IS THE WORST STREET FOLLOWED BY KINGSHIGHWAY.

IT'S A FASCINATING REPORT.

ACTUALLY FORSYTHE WAS ONE OF THE WORST STREETS WHEN IT CAME TO BICYCLES, WHICH SURPRISED ME.

I DON'T GET IT.

IT'S NOT GOOD.

>> THOSE BIKE PATHS IN CLAYTON WHERE YOU HAVE THE CURVE AND THEN THE BIKE PATH AND THEN PARKING, PEOPLE OPEN THEIR DOOR AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THEY GET OUT AND THE BICYCLIST ARE STRUCK.

>> WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY MADE THEM PROTECTED BIKE LANES.

IF WE ARE GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BICYCLE, WHICH I 100% THINK WE SHOULD, WE NEED TO BUILD BETTER BIKE LANES.

BUT WE LIKE TO BUY THINGS ON THE CHEAP.

>> SECOND WEEK IN A ROW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A FARM.

I UNDERSTAND AS A DOCTOR THAT PEOPLE NEED HEALTHY FOOD.

HOWEVER, THE AWARD OF 3.2 MILLION TO THE RUSTIC ROOTS FARM IN SPANISH LAKE VIOLATED BOTH THE COUNTY CHARTER AND THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

AMONG OTHER THINGS THERE WAS NO OPEN BIDDING.

WILL THERE BE OR SHOULD THERE BEEN SOME SORT OF FARM PROGRAM IN SPANISH LAKE?

ICON TEND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE PROVIDING FOOD TO PEOPLE THAT ARE CHALLENGED IN THAT AREA.

THERE'S A FRONT PAGE STORY OF PROVIDING FOOD TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY.

>> GOOD INTENTIONS PAVE THE ROAD TO YOU KNOW WHERE.

THIS WAS A GOOD INTENTION, BUT IT JUST WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY.

I THINK YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF BIDDING PROCESS.

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS EXACTLY CORRECT IN THAT ALL WE ARE DOING IS LEADING OURSELVES DOWN A LAWSUIT PATH.

IT'S JUST KIND OF ILLEGAL THE WAY IT WAS DONE.

I HAD MY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

MAYBE YOU COULD COME BACK, TRY TO DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY AND GET THE JOB DONE.

BUT IT JUST SEEMED UNSETTLING TO ME.

LET'S JUST PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> WE HAD A STORY IN ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE THAT SEED THE REASONS FORMER LEGISLATIVE A THE COUNCILWOMAN WHO WAS PUSHING THIS, LOOKS LIKE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS, TRAVELING TO MEXICO, REFUSES MESSAGES IN PUBLIC WITH THE WOMAN WHO WAS GETTING THIS MONEY.

MAKES YOU WONDER, DID SOMEBODY SAY I KNOW THIS PERSON.

LET'S GIVE THEM $3 MILLION OF COUNTY MONEY.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE HOW IT WORKS.

>> IT'S SO SAD.

I REMEMBER WHEN IT HAPPENED.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, THIS KIND OF KUMBAYA, COUNTY COUNCIL VOTING AS ONE, FOOD, FRESH PRODUCE FOR THE POOR PEOPLE.

IT'S SO DISHEARTENING TO SEE SHALONDA WEBB'S FORMER AIDE IS GOOD FRIENDS WITH THIS PERSON AND THREE OTHER FARMS THAT WERE PART OF THIS SAID THEY WERE BACKING OUT OF IT.

>> IT WAS THOSE THREE OTHER FARMS.

SHALONDA WEBB'S HIRE IS MISPLACED IF IT'S ON DR.

PAGE OR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME I'VE AGREED WITH DR.

PAGE.

NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT HERE.

BECAUSE HE DID SEEM TO BE SAYING LET'S HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON.

HE'S GOING TO REEVALUATE.

IF THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO BUILD THE MOUSETRAP, THEN THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT WAS THE THREE HEROIC OTHER FARM ORGANIZATIONS THAT SAID WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS WAS SOLD TO US AS A DIFFERENT THING.

>> ONE OF THEM TESTIFIED IN FAVOR OF THE BILL AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IT WAS ALL HELD ON THE SAME DAY.

I THOUGHT YOUR STORY ON SHANTAY HARMON YOUNG WAS GREAT.

SHE VACATIONED WITH JANETTE LEWIS IN MEXICO AND HAD NICE PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH IS A PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD THE OPEN BIDDING.

THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

THEY SHOULD HAVE SAID HEY IN SPANISH LAKE, SURROUNDING AREA, WE HAVE X NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

WE NEED SOME VENDOR TO PROVIDE FRESH FOOD TO THESE X NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

WHO CAN DO IT?

IF COULD HAVE BEEN MERCY HOSPITAL.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN OPERATION FOOD SEARCH, URBAN LEAGUE OR RUSTIC ROOTS.

WE DO WANT SOME TYPE OF PROGRAM WHERE FOOD IS GROWN FRESH AND WE CAN GET YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED AND ALL OF THAT.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT HAS TO BE RUSTIC ROOTS THAT DOLES OUT THE MONEY.

>> YOUR COUNTY IS $42 MILLION IN DEBT.

WE WANT TO GET YOU TO THE FARMING BUSINESS.

>> I SAID I THINK IT'S AN IDEA WORTH SAVING.

I DIDN'T SAY IT IS AN IDEA WORTH SAVING.

>> WENDY WIESE, HOW ABOUT THIS.

A DEPUTY IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ACCORDING TO CHRIS HAYS OF FOX 2 HAS BEEN PROVIDING SERVICE FOR THE TWO CHILDREN OF THE ST. LOUIS SHERIFF IN A CITY MARKED VEHICLE, HAVE I OWNED VEHICLE, SHERIFF'S SQUAD CAR, I GUESS IT IS.

THE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, AND THEY ARE PICKED UP ON COMPANY TIME.

SHOULD SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES BE PROVIDING CHAUFFEUR SERVICE FOR THE SHERIFF'S KIDS?

>> IF NERVOUS ONE AND DONE, IF THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE ABSOLUTELY EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, I WOULD LET IT GO.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS SORT OF A -- CONSIDERED A PERK FOR THE JOB IT LENDS MORE CREDENCE TO THOSE THAT ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR NEW SHERIFF.

>> COUNT ME IN ON THAT NUMBER.

I THINK THAT THE NEW SHERIFF THINKS HE'S LIKE A RURAL COUNTY SHERIFF WHO'S REALLY IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTY, SORT OF A KING LIKE BUCK BERGER USED TO BE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, HAVING DEPUTIES TAKE YOUR KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL, WHEN HE WENT TO THE JAIL AND WANTED TO TALK TO ONE OF THE INMATES.

SIR, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY.

SO HE ARRESTED THE PERSON.

THE SHERIFF SAYS THE WRONG IMPRESSION OF HOW IMPORTANT HE IS.

>> HE'S NOT AN EMPEROR.

>> I HATE TO DEFEND THE SHERIFF.

IT'S A VERY HARD POSITION BY STANDING UP AND WALKING THE PLANK HERE.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS SAYING THIS PERSON WAS OFF DUTY WHEN THEY DID THIS WORK.

I'M NOT SURE WHO TO BELIEVE IN THIS.

IT FEELS LIKE IT NEEDS FURTHER SORTING OUT.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS A PATRONAGE POSITION WHERE THE SHERIFF GETS IN AND HIRES ITS OWN PEOPLE.

I CAN SEE IT MAKES SENSE THE SHERIFF HIRES A TRUSTED PERSON THAT GETS OFF AT 2:00 P.M. AND HAPPENS TO BE THE PERSON HE GETS AT 3:00 P.M.

I THINK SOMEBODY NEEDS TO FIND OUT WAS THIS PERSON ON THE CLOCK OR OFF THE CLOCK?

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION FOR ME.

THE OTHER THING IS I GET THAT HE'S NOT THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE.

I ALSO GET THAT MAN, IT'S SO DISRUPTIVE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

THE FACT THAT THE SHERIFF CAN KEEP WORKING AND SOMEONE ELSE IS RUNNING THIS ERRAND FOR HIM AS OPPOSED TO HIM LEAVING HIS DESK, THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT WISHES I WAS THERE.

>> YOU ARE VERY NICE AND UNDERSTANDING.

>> I SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

I HONESTLY THINK THAT THIS ACTUALLY DID HAPPEN, THAT ANDY ASKED BARNEY TO RUN.

>> SEEMS TO BE A DAILY TERM.

>> THIS IS PROBLEMATIC.

I WILL SAY THIS: I THINK OUR FRIEND WAS QUOTED IN THERE.

I DON'T THINK THE MAN SHOULD BE SUMMARILY FIRED FOR THIS.

>> TO ME, IT DOESN'T GO TO THE FIRE LEVEL.

>> HAVEN'T THERE BEEN MOVIES, SPEAKING OF ENTERTAINMENT, WHERE, LIKE, THE BOSS HAS THE UNDERLINGS BABY-SIT THE KIDS?

IT'S HORRIBLE.

I KNEW OF A WASH-U PROFESSOR THAT HAD RESEARCHERS BABYSITTING KIDS.

HOW DOES THE EMPLOYEE THEN SAY TO THE BOSS, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO DRIVE YOUR KID TO SCHOOL.

I'M A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY.

I'M BEING PAID BY THE CITY, AND IT'S NOT DRIVING KIDS.

>> WHAT IF HE WERE PAYING HER TO DRIVE HIM TO SCHOOL?

>> THERE'S STILL THE USE OF THE VEHICLE.

>> IRRESPECTIVE IF HE WERE PAYING HER, HE WOULD HAVE ALREADY USED THAT AS A DEFENSE.

>> THIS IS THE SHERIFF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THERE'S A MEASURE IN JEFFERSON CITY THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS CONSIDERING, AND THAT IS TO ALLOW KIDS THAT ARE HOMESCHOOLED AND THERE ARE 61,000 OF THEM IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, TO PARTICIPATE IN AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AT THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I GUESS IT COULD BE THE THEATER DEPARTMENT, OR IT COULD BE THE BASKETBALL TEAM, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

SHOULD HOMESCHOOL KIDS BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE?

>> IF YOU ARE BEING HOMESCHOOLED SOCIALIZATION IS WHAT YOU ARE MISSING WHEN YOU TAKE THAT ROUTE FOR EDUCATION.

HOWEVER, I KNOW ATHLETICS.

THIS WILL BE A DODGE FOR THE KID WHO WAS ACADEMICALLY INELIGIBLE.

HEY, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT.

HE CAN'T MAKE HIS GRADE, HE'S AND GREAT PLAYER, SO LET'S HOMESCHOOL HIM.

THERE IS NO REAL ACADEMIC RECORD ON HOMESCHOOL.

BUT I CAN NOW PLAY THE SPORT IN MY HOMETOWN OR MAYBE THE NEXT TOWN OVER.

WHO KNOWS.

LOOK.

YOU HAVE TO PLAY WHERE YOU LIVE, BUT ALSO THIS WILL BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

>> I'M SORRY, BILL, GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ALVIN HOW MANY GREAT ATHLETES IN HIGH SCHOOL DO YOU THINK ARE FAILING AND CAN'T PLAY THE SPORT?

I ASK THAT SERIOUSLY.

>> THERE USED TO BE MORE.

THE ACADEMIC PLAY USED TO BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, BUT IT STILL EXISTS, AND THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL PROBABLY -- ESPECIALLY IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THAT AREN'T PLAYING A SPORT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

>> WHOEVER THE STATE LEGISLATOR FROM COLUMBIA WAS WHO WAS QUOTED IN THE STORY TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE'S NO WAY TO CHECK UP ON YOUR GRADES, THE HOMESCHOOLERS' GRADES ARE RARELY AN ISSUE.

THEY OUT SCORE MANY OF THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTERPARTS, MAYBE NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT JUST IN TERMS OF THE SAT, AC T. THEY ARE NOT HOMESCHOOLED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T CUT IT.

>> I'M NOT SAYING I DISAGREE.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT COLUMBIA.

>> WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE KID THAT'S ALREADY INELIGIBLE, THE KID THAT HAS GOT STRAIGHT FS SUDDENLY WILL BE HOMESCHOOLED.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS: WHEN YOU WERE GOING TO KIRKWOOD HIGH AND AN ACTOR, DID THEY CHECK YOUR REPORT CARD?

>> MET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.

YOU COULDN'T BE ON ACADEMIC PROBATION.

ANY ACTIVITY EVEN AT ANOTHER SCHOOL, THERE'S SOME STANDARD.

>> PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO DROP OUT OF THE CAST OF PLAYS, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

MY HIGH SCHOOL WAS CONFIDANTLY STRUGGLING WITH IT.

>> YOUR NATHAN, DETROIT WAS A TRIUMPH.

>> I THINK OVER ALL THE HOMESCHOOL KIDS' PARENTS PAY TAXES.

>> I AGREE.

THE ONE PLACE IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM IS THERE.

>> THE OTHER PLACE IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM IS THE YEARBOOK.

HOW COULD THE KIDS BE PART OF A HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK IF THEY DON'T GO TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I THINK WE CAN SURVIVE THAT.

>> I THINK WE WILL WORK ON IT.

>> HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS, I THINK, IN MANY PLACES DO ATTEND THAT HIGH SCHOOL'S PROM IN SMALLER TOWNS.

THEY ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY DO GO TO THE PROM, EACH IF THEY COULDN'T PLAY A SPORT.

I DO THINK THAT DOES HAPPEN.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS HOW MANY TOWNS OVER CAN THE KIDS PLAY?

LET'S SAY HE OR SHE GROWS UP KIRKWOOD, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD THAT PERSON BE ABLE TO PLAY AT MASHAWN?

>> IF IT'S NOT WRITTEN LIKE THAT, OH, YEAH, THEY WILL BE PLAYING IN CINCINNATI.

>> WHAT WOULD DEION SANDERS HAVE TO SAY?

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THE FIRST HALF.

WE HAVE LAST CALL ON YOUTUBE.

WE WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.

FIRST HOW ABOUT THOSE LETTERS.

STARTING WITH GARY.

HE'S IN COLLINSVILLE AND WROTE THREE WOMEN LAST WEEK ON THE PANEL, WAY TO GO DONNYBROOK.

THANK YOU, GARY.

WE ARE HEARD FROM KAREN OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

THE ISSUE WITH CITIZEN JOURNALISM IS YOU CAN HAVE MORE FOLLOWERS THAN INFLUENCE BUT YOU NEED CREDIBILITY AND FACTS FIRST.

THE MEASURE SHOULD BE INTEGRITY OVER POPULARITY.

THANK YOU, KAREN.

YOU CAN WRITE US IN CARE OF NINE PBS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108.

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MAY I REMIND YOU THAT THEY ARE DEBATING THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC MEDIA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

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WE THINK IT'S VERY WORTHWHILE FOR THE IMPORTANT PROGRAMMING YOU GET AT NINE PBS.

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED BY GOING TO NINE PBS.ORG/WHY NINE OR VISIT PROTECT MY PUBLIC MEDIA.ORG.

WELL, IF YOU ARE A KAHOK.

IT'S A PROGRAM WE CALL LAST CALL.

WHEN WE GET TO SOME OF THE TOPICS WE COULDN'T BROACH IN THE FIRST 27 MINUTES AND 48 SECONDS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WELCOME BACK, BILL MCCLELLAN, AND WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY AGAIN NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME.

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