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

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WHAT'S GOING TO BE A SPECTACULAR DONNYBROOK, JUST A COUPLE DAYS AWAY FROM HALLOWEEN, WHICH IS NOW APAIRGEG THE ONLY DAY ON THE CALENDAR WHERE IT'S NO LONGER CONTROVERSIAL TO WEAR A MASK.

JENNY WENDT, RECYCLING GURU, JOINS US FOR THE SECOND HALF.

THAT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING WITH RAY AND ALVIN AT ABOUT 7:30, BUT FIRST, LENS MEET THE PANELISTS JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION, STARTING WITH CHRISTINE BYERS FROM 5 ON YOUR SIDE, KSDK, SITTING IN FOR WENDY WIESE.

HELLO, CHRISTINE.

FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, MR. JOE HOLLEMAN SITTING IN FOR BILL McCLELLAN, TAKING THE WEEK OFF.

FROM RAWSTORY.COM, RIVERFRONT TIMES, THE BIG 550 KTRS, RAY HARTMANN, ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS, AND FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, THERE EASY, MR. ALVIN REID.

HE'S THE SPORTS ED TOWARD AND SPORTS COLUMNIST AND NEWS EDITOR THERE.

SPEAKING OF SPORTS, WHAT A WEEK AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL BARCLAYS HOTEL IN MINUTE HAT STAND -- WHERE MANHATTAN WHERE, CHRISTINE, TUESDAY NFL OWNERS WERE MEETING AND IT WAS CRAZY.

IT WAS A DONNYBROOK BECAUSE I GUESS JERRY JONES AND STAN KROENKE WERE ARGUING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER OWNERS ASSEMBLED THERE FOR THE NFL MEETING, BUT I GUESS THE SUM AND SUBSTANCE IS MR. KROENKE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, DOESN'T WANT TO PAY WHAT HE APPARENTLY OWES.

IN OTHER WORDS, HE PROMISED WHEN HE MOVED THE RAMS FROM ST. LOUIS TO L.A. TO INDEMNIFY THE LEAGUE REGARDING LEGAL COSTS AND MAYBE A JUDGMENT AND NOW APPARENTLY ACCORDING TO PUBLISH REPORTS, HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT AND THERE ARE SOME SPECULATING THIS IS REALLY GOOD FOR ST. LOUIS WHICH HAS THIS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NFL.

THIS CONSTERNATION WITHIN THE OWNERSHIP GROUP, DOESN'T FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL FREE VEIL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON HERE?

>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING ABOUT HOW THIS CAME OUT.

APPARENTLY THEY SOUGHT OUT TRUSTED REPORTERS TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC, SO IT WAS QUITE A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW HERE TOWARD THE KROENKE CAMP FROM -- HE'S LOST ST. LOUIS AND NOW HE'S LOST THE ROOM FOR THE NFL OWNERS.

>> I GOT TO SAY, THE ESPN STORY WAS AMAZING.

IT READ LIKE A TRANSCRIPT FROM THE MEETING, NOT EVEN MINUTES AND THE BAR FROM ONE OF THE COMMENTS IS WHEN ARE WE GOING TO END THIS BILLIONAIRE ON BILLIONAIRE VIOLENCE.

SO UNBELIEVABLE.

I HAVE TO SAY, HONESTLY, I PREDICTED THE RAMS LEAVE AND ALL THAT STUFF.

I THINK ANYBODY THAT'S TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS JUST STAYING A WILD GUESS.

IT'S A FREE FOR ALL.

YOU DON'T SEE STUFF LIKE THIS WITH ALL THESE BILLIONAIRES AND I STILL THINK IT'S UNLIKELY AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD GET THEIR HOPES UP ABOUT AN EXPANSION FRANCHISE, BUT AT THIS POINT, I HAVE TO SAY, ALL BETS ARE OFF.

>> I JUST FEEL LIKE, OKAY, EVEN ONE BILLION WITH A B, WHETHER YOU PUT A 2 IN FRONT OF IT, I'D BE THINKING LIKE HEY, HEY, WE MIGHT WANT TO GET THIS WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD BEFORE -- WHILE EVERYBODY IS MAD AND THEY MIGHT BE TELLING THEM RIGHT NOW, GIVE THOSE PEOPLE $2 BILLION TO THIS GOES AWAY BECAUSE I'M NOT COMING TO ST. LOUIS TO TESTIFY AND I'M NOT GIVING MY PERSONAL FORTUNE RECORD.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BUT LIKE RAY WAS SAYING, SOMEBODY CAME OUT THAT ROOM AND -- OR YOU, CHRISTINE, SOMEBODY CAME OUT THAT ROOM AND DROPPED DIME.

I MEAN, THEY WALKED OUT AND SAID, YEAH, WE WILL SEE MR. KROENKE -- >> WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE WAS A CLERK AT CITY COUNCIL -- AND THEN WILSON FROM BUFFALO SAID AND THEN MARTIN DAVIS FROM OAKLAND -- >> AND NO ONE REFUTED ANY OF IT.

>> A STENOGRAPHER.

>> NOT ONE WORD WAS REFUTED OF ANYTHING AND USUALLY YOU CAN'T GET THESE GUYS TO SAY ANYTHING.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TONED, I AGREE WITH RAY, BUT IT'S ONE THING FOR KROENKE TO THINK HE CAN OUTWEASEL A CITY FULL OF GOOD AND DECENT PEOPLE AND TO THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GO IN WITH 31 OTHER NFL OWNERS AND WEASEL YOUR WAY OUT OF LEGAL FEES, HE HAS ANOTHER THINK COMING.

>> LET'S SAY THE REGION PREVAILS IN THE LAWSUIT.

DO WE THINK THAT THE NFL WOULD ACTUALLY IN LIEU OF DOLLARS GIVE US AN EXPANSION TEAM TO A REGION THAT SUED THE NFL TWICE IN THE LAST 25 YEARS?

>> WELL, THEY SUED THEM NINE WAYS TO SUNDAY AND HIS SON OWNS THE TEAM NOW, BUT HERE'S THE THINGS WITH THE EXPANSION TEAM.

LET'S SAY ST. LOUIS WON AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHATEVER THE DAMAGES ARE.

THE OWNERS MIGHT JUST SAY, LOOK, STAN KROENKE, FIRST OF ALL, WE HATE YOU NOW IF WE DIDN'T ALREADY, BUT TWO, I'M NOT PAYING IT.

SO HOW DO WE NOT PAY?

WELL, LET'S WORK OUT SOME DEAL SIX YEARS FROM NOW, WHATEVER, THEY GET A TEAM AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU WON'T BE OWNERS ANYMORE, SOME OF YOU WHO ARE UPSET, DON'T WANT TO -- SELL YOUR TEAM AND MAKE $14 BILLION, BUT I COULD SEE WHERE SOME THE OWNERS BE LIKE, JUST GIVE THEM A TEAM.

I'M NOT -- I'M NOT COMING OFF $6 BILLION, I'M NOT COMING OFF WHATEVER THESE LEGAL FEES ARE, I'M NOT DOING IT.

>> I HEAR YOU, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO SET THE PRECEDENT OF TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS GI GIVING OUT FRANCHISE.

>> AND BUT THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

>> YEAH, IT'S UNPRECEDENTED, BUT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT MEXICO CITY.

THEY'RE TALKING INTERNATIONAL STUFF.

THAT -- AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, YOU SAY YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE MONEY OUT.

EVERY TIME THOSE -- THIS IS A CARTEL.

IF THEY GO FROM 32 TO 34, 36, THEY ARE GIVING MONEY OUT.

THEY ARE DILUTING THEIR PIECE OF THE TV PIE AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, WE -- I'M AS BIG A SPORTS FAN AS ANYONE AND I LOVE US TO HAVE A TEAM, BUT I DON'T -- WE MIGHT BE LIKE THE DOGS OF THE CAR BECAUSE WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE -- AS MUCH AS THIS MAY BE UNPOPULAR TO SAY IT, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS BASE TO SUPPORT THREE FULL FRANCHISES.

>> ON, RAY -- >> I'D LOVE TO SEE IT SENTIMENT TALE, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

>> AND WE MAY NOT HAVE A LOOP TROLLEY BECAUSE TODAY THE EAST-WEST GATEWAY COUNCIL GOVERNMENT -- OR WAS IT YESTERDAY?

-- VOTED NOT TO GIVE 1.26 MILLION FEDERAL DOLLARS TO KIND OF RESURRECT THE TROLLEY, WHICH HAS BEEN IN MOTH BALLS THE PAST YEAR OR SO.

NEVER WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL AND POPULAR.

DO YOU THINK IT'S TIME TO WRITE THE OBITUARY FOR THE LOOP TROLLEY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT -- FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T DISAGREE.

THEY CAN'T GET ANY MORE TAX DOLLARS FOR THE LOOP TROLLEY.

THAT'S AT ANY LEVEL, BUT NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO WRITE THE OBITUARY.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE TDD, THE TAXING DISTRICT, WHICH IS JUST SALES TAX DOLLARS IN THE LOOP, SO IT DOESN'T AFFECT ANYBODY THAT ISN'T SHOPPING THERE, BUT -- >> THEY'RE GETTING ALMOST $900,000 A YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE TROLLEY AND THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO STAFF CERTAIN POSITIONS BECAUSE IT'S TRANSIT, EVEN THOUGH IT -- YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.

BUT THE ANSWER IS, AS MUCH AS IT'S POPULAR TO BEAT UP ON IT, JOE EDWARDS, SAY WHAT YOU WILL, HAD ALL THE BEST INTENTIONS.

HE'S DONE AN AMAZING THING -- AMAZING THINGS THERE.

I THINK THEY HAVE TO BACK -- WORK BACKWARDS FROM THE $900,000 PIE.

IN OTHER WORDS, UNLESS THEY GET PRIVATE MONEY OR ADVERTISING DOLLARS, THEY HAVE TO GO BACKWARDS FROM THAT.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF IT WAS, LIKE I SAY A WEEKEND THING, THAT THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO WORK AT THAT LEVEL AND I DON'T SEE WHY EVERYBODY HAS TO BE SNARKY ABOUT IT IF THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT'S NOT HURTING ANYBODY ELSE.

NO, I DIDN'T DO WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO GUR RI IT.

>> I JUST -- TO BURY IT.

>> I JUST THINK IT WAS -- I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN SAY THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED FROM FINANCING TO THE TRACKS THEMSELVES TO THE -- NOBODY WANTS TO RIDE IT TO THIS -- I THINK THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE AGAINST IT THAT I DON'T -- I JUST DON'T THINK IT WOULD WORK, EVEN IF IT'S JUST ON THE WEEKENDS AND BE A FUN THING YOU CAN JUMP ON.

I JUST THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT IS THERE THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE REALLY CARED ABOUT.

>> IT'S ALREADY PROVEN TO BE A FAILURE.

THERE WAS NO RIDERS, HARDLY ANY RIDERSHIP, SO IF IT'S NOT SERVING THE PURPOSE, WHY ARE WE STILL THROWING MONEY AT IT?

>> I THINK WORKING AGAINST IT, TOO, IT'S LIKE A RESTAURANT OR A LOCATION WHERE YOU JUST KIND OF GET A LABEL HUNG ON YOU AND THAT'S HOW PEOPLE LOOK AT IT.

SO IN THE BEGINNING, THE TROLLEY, HEY, GOOD IDEA, MAYBE THIS COULD BE GREAT AND THEN IT'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TROLLEY.

NOW, IT'S THE TROLLEY?

AND EVERYBODY CHUCKLES.

AND THAT DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE FUTURE OF IT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT RESURRECTING SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY LOOKING AT AS ALREADY A FAILURE, AS CHRISTINE POINTED OUT.

>>O, WHAT WERE YOUR OPINIONS ON ERIC SCHMITT, THE MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WENT TO THE BORDER AND THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WHO PAID FOR THE TRIP.

I WENT THERE ASKING THAT A WALL BE ERECTED TO STEM THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS COMING HERE ILLEGALLY AND AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI, KIND OF AN INTERESTING PERSON TO BE DOING THAT.

MAYBE NOT THE FIRST PERSON YOU WOULD THINK, BUT THERE'S QUESTIONS AS TO WHO SHOULD BE PAYING FOR HIS TRIP.

TURNS OUT I BELIEVE THE CAMPAIGN PAID FOR HIS AND THEN HE HAD SOME AIDS.

THE STATE PAID FOR THAT.

OVERALL, DO YOU THINK HE HAD A LEGITIMATE REASON OR PURPOSE TO GO TO THE BORDER IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> I THINK YOU CAN CONCOCT ONE.

I THINK IT WAS BASICALLY, BY AND LARGE, A POLITICAL STUNT.

I'VE NEVER ACCUSED ANY PERSON OF ANY PARTY PLAYING POLITICS, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

IF THE CAMPAIGN PAID FOR IT, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

AS FAR AS THE $820 THAT IT COST TO SEND THE AIDS, I THINK THE CAMPAIGN SHOULD WRITE A CHECK FOR $820, SEND IT TO THE STATE, AND LET'S BE DONE WITH IT.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW HE VIOLATED SOME SACRED PUBLIC TRUST OR COMMITTED SOME HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, I THINK IT'S GOTTEN OUT OF HAND AND IT'S BASICALLY PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT ERIC SCHMITT TO BE THE NEXT U.S.

SENATOR ARE GOING TO KEEP SAYING ANYTHING BAD ABOUT HIM THAT THEY CAN.

SO ERIC, WRITE A CHECK FOR 820 BUCKS, WE KNOW IT'S A POLITICAL MANEUVER, CUT THE CHECK AND MOVE ON.

>> THOSE ARE THE KIND OF WORDS YOU WILL NEVER SEE ON ERIC SCHMITT'S TWITTER ACCOUNT.

IF IT WAS A LIBERAL PERSON WHO DID THIS -- HAVE YOU READ IT?

HE HAS LIKE TRUMP TOURETTE'S ON HIS TWITTER ACCOUNT.

OF COURSE HIS CAMPAIGN SHOULD PAY FOR IT, BUT I GUESS THIS IS A DRY RUN FOR WHEN HE'S GOING TO CHINA TO SERVE XI WITH HIS LAWSUIT.

TO ME, YES, IT'S A COMPLETE -- FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A -- THERE IS NO VALID MISSOURI-BASED REASON FOR OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BE DEALING WITH ANY BORDER PATH LIKE MAYBE ARKANSAS AND IOWA, AND THE IDEA THAT HE'S WASTING STAFF RESOURCES BY AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT ON EVERY ONE OF THESE TRUMPY THINGS IS A VIOLATION OF HIS TRUST, AND YET, EVERY MINUTE HE SPENT, WE DON'T NEED HIM GOING TO THE BORDER UNLESS HE'S GOING TO THE ARKANSAS BORDER.

>> OVERALL, I AGREE WITH YOU.

I WANT MORE IMMIGRANTS COMING ACROSS THE BORDER TO TAKE SOME OF THE JOBS OPEN RIGHT NOW, SO I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF A WALL, BUT I WAS LISTENING TO NRF A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE OPIOID CRISIS AND I WAS OFF THE CHARTS.

ABOUT 100000 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE FROM OPIOID OVERDOSES AND A LOT OF THAT IS DRUGS LACED WITH FENTANYL FROM, ACCORDING TO NPR, FROM MEXICO.

IF HE'S PROSECUTING DRUG CRIMES IN MISSOURI, HE DOES HAVE A LEGITIMATE REASON TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BORDER.

WHETHER THE WALL IS THE ANSWER, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THAT, YEAH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM MISSOURI SHOULD BE CONCERN ABOUT WHAT'S COMING ACROSS THE BORDER.

>> BUT I'M THINKING BACK TO THE POINT THAT RAY APPARENTLY HAS READ REASONABLE STATEMENTS TO TWITTER FROM ANYBODY.

>> ERIC SCHMITT IS THE -- >> THAT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.

I THINK YOU CAN CONCOCT REASONS TO GO DOWN THERE, JUST CUT THE CHECK.

BUT WHAT I SAID BEFORE WAS ERIC SCHMITT IN GOING ON ABOUT THIS, IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT ERIC SCHMITT TO BE THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR SENATOR, SO ANYBODY WHO'S GOING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IS GOING AFTER HIM -- >> LIKE YOU SAID, HE WENT DOWN THERE FOR ONE REASON, SO NOW YOU'RE FAIR GAME, THEY'RE COMING AFTER YOU.

ANYTIME GREITENS GOES OFF ON THAT IT'S CRAZY LIBERALS STUFF, LIBERALS DID NOT COST HIM HIS JOB.

THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY DID NOT COST HIM HIS JOB.

REPUBLICANS IN JEFFERSON CITY IS WHO COST HIM HIS JOB, SO THEY'RE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

THEY'VE FED THAT INFORMATION, AND LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM.

MY DEAL IS THIS AND THIS IS THE PART THAT MAKES ME MAD.

SOME OF THEM APPARENTLY HAD TO STAY AT THE LA QUINTA AND A TAXPAYER HAD TO GO TO THE SUPER 8.

>> CAN I SAY ONE THING TO WHAT YOU SAID?

THIS IS A DRUG PROBLEM, MOSTLY DRIVEN BY DEMAND IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE DRUG PROBLEM, WHETHER IT'S FROM MEXICO OR COLOMBIA OR WHEREVER IT IS, IS 100 -- YOU CAN MAKE A GREAT CASE THIS IS A DISASTER AT THE BORDER, FOR QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THAT PARTICULAR CRISIS AT THE BORDER HAS ZERO TO DO WITH THE DRUG ISSUE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THEIR -- WHETHER THERE IS OR ISN'T -- >> I DON'T KNOW, RAY.

IT'S COMING ACROSS.

>> THESE ARE NOT -- IT PAINTS THIS TRUMPIAN VIEW THAT -- >> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> IT'S THIS TRUMPIAN VIEW -- >> EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE BORDER ISN'T IN A CRISIS.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

NEWS FLASH, DOPE HAS BEEN COMING INTO INTO COUNTRY OVER THE MEXICAN BORDER AND INTO FLORIDA BEFORE, SINCE WE'VE HAD A COUNTRY.

>> BUT THE SITUATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE.

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT, CHARLIE.

[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> ACCORDING TO NPR, THE OPIOID CRISIS, WE'RE OFF THE CHARTS.

>> IT'S BECAUSE OF FENTANYL AND WHO'S DYING, FOLKS BEEN DYING FROM OVERDOSING FOR 500 YEARS AND I'M NOT MAKING LIGHT OF THAT, I'M -- >> I KNOW YOU'RE NOT MAKING LIGHT.

[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> ALVIN, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SAM PAGE.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE, ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

HE GOES TO A BLUES GAME.

HE'S BEEN TELLING EVERYBODY, SCHOOL CHILDREN AND BUSINESSES AND YOU NAME TO IT WEAR MASKS AND HE'S PHOTOGRAPHED SITTING WATCHING THE GAME WITHOUT A MASK ON.

WE'RE TOLD BY HIS AIDS THAT HE DID WEAR A MASK IN THE HALLWAYS, WENT FROM THE ENTRANCE TO THE LUXURY SUITE OR THE OWNER'S SUITE WITH A MASK ON, BUT THEN HE TOOK IT OFF SO HE COULD DRINK BEER OR SOMETHING.

BUT WHEN YOU GO ON AN AIRPLANE, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT THE MASK ON BETWEEN SIPS AND YOU WOULD THINK A LEADER, ESPECIALLY SAM PAGE TELLING EVERYONE ELSE TO WEAR A MASK, SHOULD BE WEARING A MASK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WHEN I WENT TO THE SYMPHONY LAST FRIDAY, BEATLES SHOW, ACTUALLY, WHEN I WASN'T ACTUALLY DRINK MY DRINK, I LITERALLY HELD IT NEXT TO MY FACE LIKE THIS.

NOW, I'M NOT A SCOFF LAW OR WHATEVER, BUT BAD JUDGMENT BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

HE KNOWS PEOPLE ARE JUST LAYING IN WAIT FOR HIM AND YOU GOT TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ASTUTE TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU.

>> I THINK AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTICE ABOUT ANY CRITICISM OF A PUBLIC FIGURE IS HOW THEY REACT TO THAT CRITICISM AND IN HIS STATEMENT, HE DOUBLED DOWN ON WHAT HE DID.

I MEAN, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO RECOGNITION OF WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WRONG WITH THIS.

>> TWO WORDS: BAD OPTICS.

MAYBE THREE WORDS: REALLY BAD OPTICS.

FOUR WORDS: REALLY REALLY BAD OPTICS.

IT WAS TERRIBLE OPTICS.

I THINK HE'S RIGHT TO HAVE WHAT IS REALLY A MASK GUIDANCE.

WHEN YOU CALL IT A MASK MANDATE, WHICH IT NEVER HAS BEEN, THEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

I THINK IT HELPS FOR ALL THE NONSENSE OUT THERE, MASKS DO HELP FIGHT THIS VIRUS.

THEY DO.

THEY MAY NOT BE THE CURE.

VACCINES ARE A BETTER, MORE DIRECT CURE, BUT THE FACT IS, THEY HELP.

WHEN YOU CALL THEM MANDATES WHEN THEY'RE REALLY NOT MANDATES, TO BORROW A PHRASE FROM SOMEBODY EARLIER, YOU LOSE THE ROOM.

YOU GET PEOPLE MAD AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I WANT HELPS BUSINESSES IF THERE'S -- IT HELPS BUSINESS.

THERE'S A NICE GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNTY SAYING YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MASK TO ENTER THEIR BUSINESS, THEY CAN THEN ASK PEOPLE NOT TO COME IN.

AND IT HELPS GIVE THEM COVER TO DO SO.

NO ONE IS GOING TO ARREST PEOPLE, BUT FOR HIM TO BE SITTING THERE -- >> JOE, LET ME GO TO YOU ON ANOTHER TOPIC BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE AND THAT WOULD BE, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS STILL HAS NOT SENT OUT THOSE $500 CHECKS WHICH CAME WITH FEDERAL PANDEMIC MONEY.

THE MAYOR HAD INSISTED THAT THE BOARD OF ALDER MEN HAD TO APPROVE IT IN JUNE AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN DID IT IN JULY, WHICH WAS JUST TOO LATE AS FAR AS THE MAYOR WAS CONCERNED, BUT NOW HERE WE ARE ALMOST NOVEMBER AND HER OFFICE HASN'T SENT THE CHECKS OUT TO THE 10,000 NEEDIEST ST. LOUISANS.

>> YEAH, BIG HURRY, RUSH.

PUT A RUSH ON THIS, YOU HAVE THE SIZZLE PART NOW.

NOW YOU HAVE TO DELIVER THE SPACE.

GETTING A BILL THAT PROMISES PEOPLE $500 PAYS NOBODY'S ELECTRIC BILL, PAYS NOBODY'S HEATING BILL.

IF IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT WHEN ALDERMEN WERE SAYING, SLOW DOWN, NO, NO, WE CAN'T SLOW DOWN, WE CAN'T SLOW DOWN, ANYONE WHO ATTRIBUTES ANY BIT OF LOGIC OR PROFICIENCY TO ANY SEPARATION FIGURES, OKAY, YOU HAVE A PLAN ON HOW TO GET THIS OUT.

APPARENTLY THEY DON'T.

GET THE CHECKS OUT.

YOU PROMISED, YOU NEEDED THEM RIGHT AWAY, HURRY UP.

>> FROM WHAT I REMEMBER FROM WHAT THE ALDERMEN WERE SAYING, THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT HOW IS THIS MONEY GOING TO BE ADMINISTERED, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THERE'S CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE SO IT DOESN'T GET ABUSED AND IT GOES TO PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY NEED IT AND THERE WAS THIS BIG RUSH TO GET THIS GOING.

>> WELL, I WAS DEFEND THAT ACTION IN THAT, ESPECIALLY IF I WAS NEWLY ELECTED TO SOME OFFICE, EVERYTHING WOULD BE A RUSH.

IF WE DON'T GET IT DONE, IT WILL BE THE SAME OL' SAME OL' AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A YEAR.

I THINK WHEN THE PEOPLE GET THEIR CHECKS, I THINK IT WILL HAVE GOTTEN TO THEM QUICKER THAN IF WE WENT THROUGH THIS WHOLE ALDERMANIC AND GETTING RUSHED.

NOW, HAS IT BEEN TOO LONG BETWEEN JULY AND NOW?

YES, BUT JUST IN MY MIND, I BET YOU IT WOULD BE 2022 BEFORE THEY GOT THEIR MONEY.

>> THE TWO ARE NOT RELATED.

THERE WAS A RUSH AND A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR WHICH DOES NOT MOVE QUICKLY IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND YOU CAN HAVE BOTH THINGS.

YOU CAN HAVE THE RUSH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS AND SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF, IT TAKES -- NOW, I HAVE TO SAY, GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVEL IS JUST MADDENING ABOUT HOW SLOW THESE PROGRAMS WORK AND THAT, I THINK, IS RIDICULOUS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT PROVES THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE RUSHED THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS BECAUSE I THINK THEY DID NEED TO EXPEDITE IT.

THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN WAITING MONTHS AND MONTHS IF THEY HADN'T EXPEDITED.

SO I -- LET'S SEE AT THE END HOW THIS TURNS OUT.

>> CHRISTINE BYERS, YOU HAVE A SEGMENT TONIGHT AT 10:00 ON CHANNEL 5 THAT LOOKS AT THE MORGUE A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE HALLOWEEN AND UNIDENTIFIED BODIES THERE.

>> YEAH, SO WHAT WE FOUND BASICALLY WAS THAT THERE ARE SEVEN UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS AT THE CITY'S MORGUE AND IT'S THE MOST THAT THERE'S EVER BEEN AT ONE TIME THERE.

SO WE KIND OF LOOKED AT WHAT'S BEING DONE TO TRY TO GET THEM IDENTIFIED.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING THAT.

MEANWHILE, THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS'S POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE THESE TRAFFIC STOPS NOW.

THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT, I'VE SEEN THEM ALL OVER, THEY'RE ENFORCING SPEED, BUT MICHELLE WOODLING, A SPOKESPERSON INCORPORATE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THE EXPIRATION OF TEMPORARY STAGS OR WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE -- TEMPORARY TAGS OR WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE DRIVING OUT INSURANCE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THE MISSION HERE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

IF THE MISSION HERE IS TO CRACK DOWN ON SPEEDING DRIVERS AND HAZARDOUS MOVING VIOLATIONS, THEN THAT'S COMPLETELY SEPARATE THAN TAG AND LICENSE PLATE AND TAIL LIGHT ENFORCEMENT.

AND SO I MEAN, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE POLICE OFFICERS GOING AFTER THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING 100 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE STREET THAN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TICKETING SOMEBODY FOR EXPIRED TAGS.

>> I'LL AGREE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

I THINK, THOUGH, THERE COMES A POINT WHERE SOMEBODY'S RESPECT FOR THE LAW ENOUGH TO OPERATE A VEHICLE IN A SAFE MANNER.

IF YOU'RE RIDING AROUND WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS OR BRAKE LIGHTS THAT DON'T WORK, IT SHOWS KIND OF A DISREGARD FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND I THINK THOSE PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE SPEEDING JUST AS WELL.

IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO OBEY THAT, THAT I IMMEDIATE TO HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T RUN INTO ME AND I DON'T CAUSE A WRECK, I NEED TO HAVE TURN SIGNALS, THAT'S TRAFFIC SAFETY.

THAT'S NOT ADMINISTRATIVE LAW.

THAT'S ACTUALLY OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE, AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE COME IN AND GO, OH, I'LL OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE DANGEROUSLY UP TO THIS POINT, BUT I'LL GO SPEED THROUGH THERE.

I THINK THE IDEA WHERE YOU SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THESE LAWS, IT JUST GIVES PEOPLE AN ATTITUDE OF, WELL, THEN HOW HARD ARE THEY GOING TO ENFORCE THESE LAWS?

>> BUT JOE, THAT'S QUITE A LEAP NOW.

YOU'RE SAYING MY TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK AND THAT'S A GATEWAY TO JUST DRIVING 100 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE HIGHWAY?

THOSE TWO AREN'T ANYTHING ALIKE.

>> YOU JUST COMPLETELY CONVOLUTED WHAT I SAID.

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S ABSOLUTELY, COMPARISON THAT DID NOT EXIST.

>> WELL, YOU SAID IF THOSE THINGS WERE HAPPENING, THAT BASICALLY THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE MORE APT TO SPEED.

IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID?

>> YES, I AM.

>> THAT'S THE SAME THING.

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

>> I THINK IT LEADS TO LAWLESSNESS, BUT THERE'S LAWLESSNESS ALL OVER.

>> IT'S A GATEWAY DRUG.

A GATEWAY DRUG.

>> FORMER GOVERNOR ERIC GREITENS, ACCORDING TO ONE ORGANIZATION, FORMER GOVERNOR OERTION APPARENTLY HAS MISUSED CAMPAIGN MONEY.

HE USED STATE MONEY FOR MISS FEDERAL CAMPAIGN TO RUN FOR U.S. SENATE AND THAT'S AGAINST THE RULES.

YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO HURT HIM WHEN HE RUNS THAT PRIMARY NEXT YEAR?

>> IT WILL HELP HIM IN THE PRIMARY.

HE ALREADY USED IT.

HE'S ALREADY MENTALING, PROBABLY FUNDRAISING OFF -- ALREADY MESSAGING, PROBABLY FUNDRAISING OFF IT.

HE CAME OUT, HIS RESPONSE TO BEING FOUND -- AGAIN, KEEP IN MIND, HE PAID ONE OF THE HIGHEST CIVIL PENALTIES FOR NONSENSE INVOLVING HIS CAMPAIGNS EVER IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

EVERYBODY SAID, OH, HE'S EXONERATED.

IT WAS LIKE 200 GRAND, THEY NEVER GIVE PENALTIES THAT SIZE, WHILE HE WAS WITH HIS GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN AND HE'S ALREADY ON THE BOARD SAYING IT'S LIBERALS DOING THE SAME THING THEY DO TO DONALD TRUMP.

HE BROUGHT TRUMP INTO THE CONVERSATION.

HE WILL RUN ON IT AND FUNDRAISE ON ON IT, SO THE ANSWER IS IT WON'T HURT HIM IN THE PRIMARY.

>> HE'S TAKING THE ANYWAY BOOK FROM THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY.

YOU KNOW SHE WAS DINGED ALSO WITH CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION VIOLATIONS, 25-PAGE REPORT, SHE WAS FINED $63,000.

IT WAS RICH WITH IRONY BECAUSE SHE HAD GONE AFTER GRIERNT FOR CAMPAIGN VIOLATIONS AND SHE IMD BLAMED REPUBLICANS.

>> CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

OH MY GOD.

>> I DIDN'T MEAN GREITENS.

I SAID GREITENS, BUT I MEANT -- >> GOTCHA.

>> THIS WALL THING IS LIKE, HEY, RIGHT NOW, WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT YOU WITH ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, LIKE DUDE, THAT'S WHO STABBED YOU IN THE BACK.

SO I MAY HAVE SAID GREITENS, BUT BOTH OF THEM ARE -- THEY'RE IN PARALLEL.

IT'S THE OTHER SIDE, RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR SIDE.

>> I THINK CAMPAIGN FINANCE IS TOO COMPLICATED AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN UNDERSTAND IT.

>> GREITENS WENT FIRST, ASKED QUESTIONS LATER.

>> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE GO THIS SHOW.

DON'T FORGET JENNY WENDT IS GOING TO BE ON THE SECOND HALF.

SHE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT RECYCLING.

SHE'S WITH THE RIVER CITIES AND TOWNS INITIATIVE AND ALVIN AND RAY WILL BE POSING THE QUESTIONS.

LET'S CHECK THE MAIL BAG.

I THINK ALVIN REID SHOULD RUN FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

THANKS FOR BEING A REASONABLE VOICE.

THAT FROM DENISE.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM @EMORYCOX4 ON TWITTER.

IF PEOPLE IN THE CHARTER SCHOOLS CAN DO SOMETHING, WHY CAN'T THEY JUST DO IT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CYNICAL MEANS WONDERS IF IT'S JUST A CIRCUMVENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

YOU CAN WRITE US CARE OF DONNYBROOK, KETC, 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108.

WE LOVE THE EMAILS, LETTS@KETC.ORG AND ON TWITTER AT #DONNYBROOKSTL.

WE WANT TO THANK JOE HOLLEMAN AND CHRISTINE BYERS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND A WONDERFUL HALLOWEEN.

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

>> HEY, ALVIN REID, RAY HARTMANN, WITH YOU FOR NEXT UP, AND WE'RE JOINED BY JENNIFER WENDT, MISSOURI RIVERS CITIES AND TOWNS INITIATIVE AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ALL THINGS RECYCLING AND HOW TO MAKE THIS A BETTER WORLD.

HOW ARE YOU DOING TONIGHT?

>> THANK YOU, I'M GREAT.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE HAVE A VIDEO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US.

CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE LEAD-IN ON IT?

>> YES, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVE, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK MOST ABOUT TONIGHT, BUT IN APRIL 2020, WE HAD -- I'M SORRY, 2021, WE HAD A LAUNCH EVENT IN ST. LOUIS AREA FOR THE INITIATIVE TO TRY TO -- WE WANT TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY AND WE HAD IT AT NORTH RIVERFRONT PARK AND BROO, ONE OF YOUR REPORTERS CAME OUT, AND DID A STORY ON IT.

WE'RE GOING TO START THAT OFF TO INTRODUCE THE INITIATIVE.

>> OKAY, HERE WE GO.

>> EVERY MINUTE A DUMP TRUCK WORTH OF PLASTIC ENTERS OUR OCEAN.

THAT'S A VERY CONCERNING STATISTIC, BUT WHEN WE HEAR STATISTICS LIKE THIS ABOUT WATER POLLUTION, THE TENDENCY IS FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL REMOVED, LIKE THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING FAR AWAY.

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINS ABOUT 40% OF THE UNITED STATES WATERS INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

ST. LOUIS IS THE CONNECTING POINT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER, A TRIBUTARY TO THE MISSISSIPPI THAT COMBINED IN LENGTH RANKS FOURTH WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER WORLD RIVERS.

SO NO PRESSURE, BUT ST. LOUIS TENDS TO STAND OUT WHEN CONSIDERING THE CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS OF WATER POLLUTION.

>> TODAY WE ARE LAUNCHING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE HERE IN ST. LOUIS.

>> LED BY THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CITIES AND TOWNS INITIATIVE, ST. LOUIS IS ONE OF THREE CITIES INVOLVED IN THE PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE THAT, UNLIKE SIMILAR PROJECTS, RELIES HEAVILY ON COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

>> THIS IS TRULY A RIVER-WIDE EFFORT TO CLEAN UP, CATALOG AND CONTROL ALL THE PLASTIC WASTE THAT IS CHOKING OUR WATERWAYS, CHOKING OUR HE CAN KOSHLTION AND HAVING A -- ECOLOGY, AND HAVING A TERRIBLE EFFECT ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING WE USE THIS GREAT RESOURCE FOR.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A HEFTY RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT IN THE HANDS OF THE AVERAGE CITIZEN AND A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAN A COMMUNITY CLEANUP EVENT WILL SOLVE.

SO HOW EXACTLY ARE THEY PLANNING TO TACKLE THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, CLEANUPS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 35 YEARS IN MANY CASES, AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE JUST THINKING THIS IS HOW WE NEED TO MANAGE THIS MATERIAL.

>> DR. JENNA JAMBACH IS A PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

AROUND 2010, SHE HAD THE IDEA FOR HER STUDENTS TO COLLECT THE EXACT GPS POINTS ON LITTER THEY FIND.

>> IF WE COLLECT DATA ON WHAT WE'RE FINDING, YOU CAN THINK MORE AND MORE UPSTREAM ABOUT WHY IS THIS PLASTIC BAG HERE?

IS THERE NOT INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE ARE NOT TRASH FOR PEOPLE TO USE OR IS THERE SOME SORT OF ACTIVITY AROUND HERE THAT PRODUCES THIS KIND OF LITTER MORE?

>> WHEN SMARTPHONES BECAME MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE, JENNA AND HER TEAM CREATED THE MARINE DEBRIS TRACKER APP THAT ALLOWS ANYONE TO UPLOAD THE DATA OF WHAT THE LITTER ITEM IS AND WHERE IT WAS FOUND.

>> THE LITTER ON THE GROUND IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE DOING, AND ONE REALLY STRIKING EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE PPE THAT WE HAVE STARTED BEARING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND ESPECIALLY RIGHT AWAY A LOT OF DISPOSABLE MASKS, WIPES AND GLOVES THAT WERE BEING USED, ARE PARTICIPATORY SENSING THAT WORKED WITH THE TRACKING SHOWED THAT WAS ENTERING THE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN A WEEK.

>> GI A SHOW OF HANDS, WHO HAS AT LEAST DOWNLOADED THE MARINE DEBRIS TRACKER APP?

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

>> THIS CLEANUP EVENT IN MADISON COUNTY WAS ONE OF THE MANY EVENTS THAT UTILIZED THE MARINE DEBRIS TRACKER APP AS PART OF THE PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE.

THE APP WILL CREATE A PLASTIC POLLUTION MAP WHICH IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO SEE AND WILL IDEALLY BE USED TO CREATE SOLUTIONS.

>> IT WAS KIND OF THE BREAKTHROUGH WHEN WE REALIZED THAT WE COULD DO THIS BY ENLISTING ORDINARY PEOPLE AS SCIENTISTS.

>> BARBARA HENDRY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTH AMERICAN OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM, WHO IS A LEADING PARTNER OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE.

>> THIS WILL BE, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DATA MAP OF PLASTIC POLLUTION ALONG THE RIVER.

WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO A BRAND OF IT, TO UNDERSTAND ARE THERE PARTICULAR KINDS OF PLASTIC THAT ARE SHOWING UP MORE THAN OTHERS, AND WITH THAT DATA, WE HOPE THEN THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THROUGH OUR CITIZENS GROUPS TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THAT'S THE POINT OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO TRY TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC THAT'S FLOWING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI INTO THE GULF AND INTO OUR OCEANS.

>> ALTHOUGH KEEPING PLASTIC OUT OF OUR WATERS IS THE OBVIOUS OBJECTIVE TO THIS INITIATIVE, JENNA AND THE PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE TEAM INTENTIONALLY PLACED A PARTICULAR PIECE OF PLASTIC DIRECTLY INTO THE MISSISSIPPI.

EQUIPPED WITH A GPS TRACKER, THIS BOTTLE TAG WILL PROVIDE MORE DATA TO SUPPORT WHAT IS ALREADY BEING COLLECTED FROM THE DEBRIS TRACKER APP.

>> SO IN 2015, I WORKED TO DEVELOP A MODEL OF HOW MUCH PLASTIC WAS ENTERING OUR OCEANS GLOBALLY, AND THAT NUMBER AT THE TIME WAS EIGHT MILLION METRIC TONS.

BUT THIS WAS AN ESTIMATE AND A MODEL THAT WE BUILT BASED UPON SOME AVAILABLE DATA.

SO THIS TRACKER IS GOING TO PROVIDE REAL DATA OF HOW FAR A PLASTIC ITEM THAT MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE RIVER COULD ACTUALLY TRAVEL.

>> WE HAVE A MASSIVE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS.

THE PROBLEM IS OF A HUGE MAGNITUDE, BUT ACTUALLY, EVERY INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN SCIENTIST WHO GOES OUT CAN ADD UP TO A CUMULATIVE IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM.

IT IS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO CHANGE THINGS.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT BOTTLE.

>> OKAY, THAT BOTTLE ACTUALLY ENDED UP IN BATON ROUGE ON THE SHORE.

A GENTLEMAN FOUND IT WHILE HE WAS FISHING AND THERE WAS A REWARD ON IT AND HE CALLED IT.

SO WE KNEW THAT BOTTLE TRAVELED FROM ST. LOUIS TO BATON ROUGE AND ENDED UP ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER.

>> HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO MAKE THE TRIP?

>> I WAS AFRAID YOU WERE GOING TO ASK THAT.

I'M NOT SURE.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> IT MADE ITS WAY.

>> A FEW WEEKS PROBABLY I THINK.

>> WELL, I HAVE MY OWN BOTTLE HERE.

>> I SEE THAT.

>> IN BOTTLE HERE, WHAT IS MY USUAL JOURNEY, BUT WHAT IS MY BEST JOURNEY?

IS IT, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THE MOST PART, FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD?

BUT IF IT WAS THE BEST JOURNEY, WHERE WOULD I GO AND WHERE WOULD I GO FROM THERE?

>> WELL, THAT BOTTLE IS PET AND THAT PET IS A PLASTIC THAT IS RECYCLABLE AND IT SHOULD BE RECYCLED.

THESE BOTTLES RIGHT HERE, THE MARKETS A PET ARE VERY HIGH RIGHT NOW, SO WE WANT THAT MATERIAL TO END UP IN THE RECYCLE BIN SO WE CAN GET IT RECYCLED AND TURNED INTO NEW PLASTIC BOTTLES.

>> OKAY.

>> NICE MOVIE, FIRST OF ALL.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER HAD A MOVIE ON DONNYBROOK.

THAT WAS VERY COOL.

PEOPLE WONDERING WHY THEY'RE COMING BACK TO US.

BUT JENNIFER, WITH THE MISSOURI RIVER CITIES AND TOWNS INITIATIVE, YOU HAD SOMEBODY FROM THE U.N. ON, HOW WOULD THIS FIT IN -- SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A FAIRLY UNUSUAL INITIATIVE NATIONALLY.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> OKAY.

SO IN -- THE MISSISSIPPI RIVERS CITIES AND TOWNS INITIATIVE IS AN ORGANIZATION OF MAYORS.

SO IT'S AN ASSOCIATION OF 101 MAYORS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

IN 2018, THE MAYORS CAME TOGETHER AND AGREED THAT THEY WANTED TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CORRIDOR BECAUSE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINS 40% OF THIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, A PLASTIC BOTTLE IN COLORADO COULD EASILY GO -- TRAVEL THROUGH A STORM DRAIN, TO A TRIBUTARY, TO ANOTHER TRIBUTARY RIVER, TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE GLUFRL TO THE OCEAN AND -- TO THE GULF, TO THE MOTION, AND THAT'S IT.

SO WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CITIES, BECAUSE EVERYTHING DRAINS THERE, IT EITHER CONTINUES ON TO THE MOTION OR IT ENDS UP ON THE BANKS IN THESE CITIES.

SO THEY CREATED, CAME UP WITH THIS AGREEMENT THAT THEY WANTED TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE.

SO WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON IT, AND THIS WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM OF NORTH AMERICA.

SO THEY PARTNERED WITH NRCTI AND -- MRCTI AND WE REALLY TRIED TO DETERMINE HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT THIS.

IT'S A BIG TASK.

SO WE REACH OUT TO INDUSTRIES, A LOT OF THEM HAVE GOALS TO REDUCE THEIR WASTE, THE PACKAGING.

THE SINGLE USE PACKAGING IS THE MAIN THING WE'RE FINDING IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DATA.

SO THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM INTRODUCED US TO DR. JENNA JAMBECK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA AND SHE HAD THIS APP.

WE SAID, HOW ABOUT WE HAVE PEOPLE COLLECT DATA SO WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT, WHERE, AND HOW PLASTIC MAKES ITS WAY TO THE RIVER AND ENDS UP IN OUR ENVIRONMENT HAND WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP IT.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO THREE CITIES.

ONE IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI, ONE ST. LOUIS IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEN BATON ROUGE IN THE LOWER AND THOSE MAYORS MADE A COMMITMENT TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE AND HAVE US COME IN AND REALLY WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO GET BOOTS ON THE GROUND COLLECTING DATA, CLEANING UP TRASH, AND TO SEE WHAT WE'RE FINDING IN THOSE CITIES.

AND THAT WAS IN APRIL 2021.

>> OKAY, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I'M THINKING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE THINKING, WHAT AN OVERWHELMING TASK.

IT'S JUST SO MUCH.

BUT IT CAN BE DONE?

YOU FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, WITH THIS STRATEGY, WE CAN TAKE A SIZEABLE PERCENTAGE OF THIS STUFF OFF OF THE BANKS AND OFF OF THE -- YOU KNOW, AROUND THE RIVER SO IT DOESN'T END UP IN THE RIVER, BUT IT'S A DOABLE TASK?

>> IT IS A DOABLE TASK, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE BLAME THE MANUFACTURERS, WHICH THERE'S -- I'M NOT LEAVING THEN OUT OF THE BLAME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE BLAME THE RETAILERS OR THE VENDORS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE BLAME THE CITIZENS, BUT REALLY, IT'S ALL OF US AND WE NEED TO ALL WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AND THERE'S SOME STRATEGIES WE'RE WORKING ON NOW THAT WE HAVE SOME DATA FROM THAT FIRST ROUND WHERE WE FOUND OUT WHAT THE TOP ITEMS ARE.

AND THOSE TOP ITEMS WERE CIGARETTE BUTTS, AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT.

SO IT'S PLASTIC, IT NEVER GOES AWAY.

PLASTIC BOTTLES, FOAM FRAGMENTS, PLASTIC BAGS, FOOD WRAPPERS ARE THE MAIN FIVE AND THEN THERE'S HARD PLASTIC FRAGMENTS AND MANY OTHER THINGS THAT COME DOWN.

SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THAT LIST, CIGARETTE BUTTS ARE TOUGH AND THAT'S A TOUGH INDUSTRY TO GET IN AND TALK TO TO SAY, HEY, DO YOU THINK YOU COULD MAKE YOUR FILTERS OUT OF SOMETHING ELSE, OR HIGH, WHY DON'T YOU JUST QUIT SMOKING?

THOSE THE THINGS PEOPLE SAY.

WELL, THAT'S A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES, LIKE THAT, THAT'S MADE OF A PLASTIC THAT CAN BE USED IN -- TO MAKE NEW PLASTIC BOTTLES.

AND A LOT OF THE BOTTLING COMPANIES, BEVERAGE COMPANIES, WANT TO MAKE -- THEY HAVE GOALS.

THEY HAVE MADE COMMITMENTS TO INCREASE THE RECYCLED CONTENT IN THEIR BOTTLES.

NOW WE NEED TO FIND OUT, WITH THIS DATA -- I DID NOT REALIZE HOW MANY PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES WERE FOUND IN THE ENVIRONMENT, AND TO ME, YOU KNOW, I'M A MASTER RECYCLER, I JUST -- TO ME, IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART THINKING THAT THAT MATERIAL THAT'S ACTUALLY WORTH MONEY IS JUST BREAKING DOWN AND THEN, YOU KNOW, DAMAGING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

SO THAT'S A BIG ONE RIGHT THERE.

>> I HAVE TO SAY THAT KEITH HALES FROM KIRKWOOD AND SO DO I, WE HAVE A NICE RECYCLING PROGRAM.

>> YES, THEY DO.

>> SORRY, I HAD TO THROW THAT IN.

>> OF COURSE YOU DID.

FIRST OF ALL, GOOD LUCK APPEALING TO THE BETTER ANGELS OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY FM I'M SURE THAT WILL GO GREAT.

YOU MENTIONED 101 MAYORS.

THAT'S THE FULL RANGE -- EVEN MISSOURI'S PART OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, THE NAME, IT'S THE -- >> IT'S THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CITIZENS INITIATIVE.

>> OH, WE HAVE MISSOURI RIVER.

>> OH, I READ THAT WRONG, I APOLOGIZE.

>> WE HAD IT UP THERE WRONG.

>> I SAW MISSOURI AND I WAS LIKE, YES, I KNOW.

>> I APOLOGIZE.

YEAH, MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

>> IN ANY CASE, IT'S 101 CITIES, THE FULL RANGING -- FROM BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, TO NEW ORLEANS.

>> BUT IT'S NOT A GUT -- YOUR INITIATIVE IS NOT -- SO IT WAS MAYORS THAT SET UP A NOT-FOR-PROFIT BASICALLY?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND I KNOW EXACTLY HOW EVERYTHING CAME ABOUT, BUT I DO KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE CITIES ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, WE HAVE MEMPHIS AND ST. LOUIS AND ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, BUT THEN WE HAVE AREAS WITH 200 PEOPLE.

SO THERE WAS NO COMMON VOICE.

AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS HUGE FOR US AND INTERNATIONALLY, OUR ECONOMY, OUR FOOD SOURCE, YOU KNOW, AGRICULTURE IS REALLY BIG.

OUR HISTORY, CULTURAL HISTORY, THERE'S SO MANY IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

SO THAT ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED BY THE MAYORS SAYING, YES, OKAY, LET'S TRY TO HAVE A -- ONE COMMON VOICE FOR THE RIVER SYSTEM.

>> BUT I MENTION THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT.

CAN PEOPLE -- THIS IS A FREE AD.

CAN PEOPLE SUPPORT -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> HOW DO PEOPLE GO ABOUT SUPPORTING WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> MRCTI.ORG AND YOU CAN DONATE TO MRCTI DEFINITELY.

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR FUNDS AND THAT PARTICULAR INITIATIVE, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE, WAS BROUGHT TOGETHER BY THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM OF NORTH AMERICA.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A HIGHLY FUNDED THING BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT WORKS WITH NONPROFITS.

YOU JUST GET A LITTLE MONEY AND THERE'S SOME PEOPLE IN THERE THAT REALLY WANT TO DO GOOD AND YOU TRY YOUR HARDEST.

BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> WELL, AS WE -- YOU KNOW, AS THE RIVER FLOWS, AS THEY SAY, IT'S AROUND A LOT MORE RURAL AREAS THAN IT IS URBAN AREAS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> OKAY?

AND GOING BACK AS A KID, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THE FIRST RECYCLING THINGS I EVER HEARD OF WERE IN SMALL TOWNS.

THEY WEREN'T AROUND CITIES.

SO THIS THING THAT PEOPLE IN THE CITY RECYCLE AND NOBODY ELSE DOES, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE, IS IT?

>> NO, AND ACTUALLY, I GREW UP IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, AND MY MOM WAS PART OF THE CREATION THE FIRST NEWSPAPER RECYCLING PLANT IN SPRINGFIELD.

AND I REMEMBER DOING THE -- CRUSHING THE CANS, TAKING THEM TO THE RECYCLING AND RETURNING BOTTLES, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT BOTTLE RETURN, WHETHER IT'S THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF STATES HAVE RETURNS ON PLASTIC BOTTLES OR GLASS BOTTLES, WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE IN MISSOURI.

>> IT'S A SHAME, TOO.

>> YES, AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF PROGRAMS WORK.

AND THAT'S HOW -- BECAUSE THERE'S AN INCENTIVE IN THOSE RURAL AREAS TO RECYCLE BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE A FEW BUCKS, YOU KNOW.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO, I THINK, WORK TOWARDS IS THAT INCENTIVE TO GET THAT MATERIAL BACK TO THE PLANTS, RECYCLING PLANTS SO WE CAN GET IT RECOVERED AND PUT BACK INTO BOTTLES.

>> YEAH, WE LIVED AND WORKED IN MICHIGAN FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING.

YOU DIDN'T SEE A PLASTIC BOTTLE.

YOU DIDN'T SEE A GLASS BOTTLE.

THEY WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

>> NO.

IN FACT, DR. JENNA JAMBECK, WHO WAS ON THE VIDEO, SHE DID THIS INITIATIVE IN INDIA AND WHEN THEY WERE THERE, THEY FOUND VERY FEW PLASTIC BOTTLES BECAUSE THERE, THAT MATERIAL IS -- HAS VALUE.

AND SO PEOPLE ON THE STREET CAN -- PICKERS CAN GO AND COLLECT THAT MATERIAL AND TAKE IT AND SELL IT.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF SYSTEM HERE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO IMPLEMENT IS SOME KIND OF INCENTIVE SYSTEM ON GETTING THOSE MATERIALS RECYCLED.

>> I DROVE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI, DIDN'T LOOK ALTOGETHER GREAT THIS WEEKEND, BUT IN GENERAL, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE THAT -- ARE WE GETTING ANY BETTER ABOUT THIS?

I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED CIGARETTE BUTTS WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM.

FEWER PEOPLE, SOMEWHAT, ARE SMOKING AS TIME GOES ON, BUT THERE IS ANY REASON -- IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IS THERE AN OVERALL SENSE OFS ON TI MINCH THAT WE'RE MAKING THAT HE -- OPTIMISM THAT WE'RE MAKING ANY PROGRESS?

BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON A WHILE.

>> YES, IT HAS BEEN GOING ON A WHILE, BUT I'VE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THROUGH THE YEARS, ENVIRONMENTALLY, AND I FEEL LIKE THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM AND THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA AND THESE CITIES THAT HAVE THE SUPPORT, AND REALLY, I THINK, I DON'T THINK THIS IS BEING -- ENVIRONMENTALLY, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S LEFT OR RIGHT, RED OR BLUE, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

IT'S REALLY PEOPLE WANT CLEAN CITIES.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE THE TERSE ON THE GROUND AND PEOPLE WANT TO RECYCLE.

WHETHER THEY'RE BLACK, WHITE, RED, BLUE, IT DOESN'T MATTER, PEOPLE WANT TO DO BETTER.

>> SO IN THIS POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT OF OURS, YOU'RE NOT -- IF SOMEBODY SAID THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE GREEN NEW DEAL, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> IT ISN'T, AND THE REASON IT ISN'T IS, YOU KNOW -- THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS IT ISN'T, BUT I THINK THE ONE BIG ONE IS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER MAYORS, THERE'S 101 OF THEM, THEY'RE IN RED AND BLUE STATES AND CITIES ALL UP AND DOWN.

I'VE NEVER TALKED TO ONE MAYOR THAT SAID THIS SOUNDS LIKE A LIBERAL DEAL OR THIS SOUNDS -- NOT AT ALL BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS THAT ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S THE RURAL AREAS, THE KEBISTS, THE PEOPLE THAT -- THE CONSERVATIONISTS, THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HUNT AND FISH, THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE THE TRASH WHEN THEY GO OUT AND ABOUT, SO IT IS AN INITIATIVE THAT WE CAN GET A LOT OF BACKING.

IT'S ONE THAT IS -- I MEAN, IT'S NOT EASY.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

THERE AREN'T NIGHTS WHEN I'M LIKE, WHAT AM I DOING, BUT I THINK THAT -- I THINK, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, THIS -- ALL THE CORPORATE -- A LOT OF CORPORATIONS HAVE THESE COMMITMENTS AND PARTICULARLY THE BEVERAGE -- AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION, COKE, DOCTOR PEPPER AND PEPSI HAVE THIS EVERY BOTTLE BACK PROGRAM THEY STARTED BECAUSE THEY WANT MORE RECYCLED CONTENT IN THEIR PLASTIC BOTTLES BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CONSUMER PRESSURE.

SO THEY HAVE THIS INITIATIVE, AND INSTEAD OF TRYING TO -- WE HAVE SOME BREAKTHROUGH PLASTIC ACTS, RIGHT NOW IT HASN'T BEEN VOTED ON, I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS IS WORKING, IT'S FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO GET MORE DEPOSITS BACK, WORK ON THE PLASTIC BAG ISSUE, EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY.

WHAT THAT IS IS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A PLASTIC BOTTLE, YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT PLASTIC BOTTLE IS GOING TO END UP WHEN YOU MAKE IT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS IN EUROPE AND IT'S IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

WE DON'T HAVE IT HERE.

THE STATE OF MAINE JUST RECENTLY PASSED THAT, BUT THAT'S -- THAT IS A REGULATION.

THAT'S A FUTURE REGULATION.

>> THAT'S IN FRONT OF CONGRESS NOW?

>> IT IS SOMEWHERE AND YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN I DO BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND I UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS IS.

>> WELL, IF IT'S IN FRONT OF CONGRESS, YOU MAY KNOW THAT THEY ARE AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS CONSTANTLY AND THAT'S JUST THE DEMOCRATS.

BUT -- >> THERE'S HOPE, OKAY.

>> YES.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> OKAY.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THOUGH, IS NOT POLICY OR REGULATIONS.

I'D LIKE TO START WITH WORKING WITH THE BEVERAGE -- BECAUSE THOSE BEVERAGE COMPANIES, THEY WANT TO ADD MORE RECYCLED CONTENT.

WE JUST NEED TO FIND A WAY TO GET THAT TO THEM, TO INCENTIVIZE THE MATERIALS TO GET TO THE RIGHT PLACE SO WE CAN REDUCE OUR USE.

IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO REDUCING OUR USE.

>> WE GET TWO TRUCKS COME AND ONE EMPTIES THE GREEN RECEPTACLE WHICH IS RECYCLING, AND THE BLACK ONE IS GARBAGE.

I'VE NEVER FOLLOWED EITHER TRUCK TO WHERE IT GOES.

NAYSAYERS AROUND KIRKWOOD AND THROUGHOUT PROBABLY THE WORLD, SAY IT ALL GOES TO THE SAME PLACE, THE LANDFILL.

PLEASE TELL ME THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> IT IS NOT TRUE AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY CITY FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF TIME AND WITH THE SANITATION DIVISION.

LOOK, NO CITY IS GOING TO RUN TWO ROUTES AND HAVE TWO SETS OF STAFF AND GO AROUND WITH THAT TYPE -- IT IS A HUGE COST JUST TO TAKE IT TO THE SAME PLACE AS THE TRASH.

IT JUST -- I MEAN, OH, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO SNOW ALL THEIR CITIZENS?

LET'S SPEND AN EXTRA $5 MILLION JUST TO PRETEND WE'RE RECYCLING.

THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT HAPPENS.

>> THAT'S HOW I KNOW MAN WALKED ON THE MOON.

OKAY, 600,000 PEOPLE KEPT A SECRET.

OH YEAH.

>> WELL, GOOD FOR YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO LIVED TWO DECADES IN THE CITY, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE WE DID SEPARATE THINGS AND YOU HAVE THE GREAT RECYCLING -- WE HAVE A GREAT RECYCLING CENTER.

NOT EVERYBODY HAS.

>> YES.

>> OKAY, I GOT TO BE A TROUBLEMAKER BECAUSE YOU SAID -- WHEN YOU SAID REDUCE PLASTIC CONSUMPTION, THERE ARE PEOPLE, AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THE -- IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ONE OF THE ENTITIES, ONE OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT MAKES A LOT OF MONEY ON MAKING A LOT OF PLASTIC IS THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, THE OIL INDUSTRY.

AND SO DO YOU GET SOME -- AND I KNOW YOU'RE SO GREAT -- I LOVE THE FACT THAT IT'S ABOUT CONSENSUS AND BRINGING US TOGETHER, WHICH IS REALLY IS SOMETHING WE NEED IN A LOT OF WAYS, CERTAINLY, IN PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT DO YOU GET -- ARE PEOPLE LIKE THE OIL INDUSTRY, ARE THEY HELPFUL IN THIS?

>> I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO ANYBODY IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY.

THEY, OF COURSE, THEY'RE ABOUT PROFIT AND THE PLASTICS MAKE -- LAST I HEARD, AND EVERYBODY CAN CHECK THIS, BUT ABOUT 20% OF THEIR REVENUE COMES FROM PLASTICS.

>> REALLY?

>> YES, AND NEW PLASTICS, SO IT IS A GREAT REVENUE STREAM FOR SOMEBODY TO USE SOMETHING ONE TIME, BUY ANOTHER ONE, THROW IT AWAY, BUY ANOTHER ONE.

SO YEAH, BUT I -- YES.

THAT'S TOUGH.

THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW CIGARETTE FILTERS WERE MOSTLY PLASTIC.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE PAPER.

I THOUGHT SOONER OR LATER THEY HAD DISAPPEAR.

>> RIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT -- I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT.

>> WELL, OKAY, THERE'S ONE THING.

YOU CAN AT LEAST GET THAT WORD OUT THERE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

I CONSIDER TO BE A FAIRLY INTELLIGENT PERSON, I HAD NO IDEA.

BUT I'VE NEVER SMOKED EITHER.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> NOW, IF I WANT TO HELP OUT, GET OUT ON THE BANK, PUT SOME GLOVES ON, PICK UP BOTTLES AND DO ALL THAT, DO YOU ANNOUNCE WHERE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ON THAT WEBSITE OR HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT -- >> SO, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE STREAM TEAM, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STREAM TEAM.

THE RIVER DES PERES CLEANUP.

THAT IS MAYBE GOING ON RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT SURE.

THE CONFLUENCE TRASH BASH.

MSC HAS A LOT OF CHECKUPS, OPEN STAYS COUNCIL.

EARTH-BASED 365.

WHAT WE WERE DOING REALLY IS WE'RE NOT TRYING TO FOCUS AS MUCH ON CLEANUP AS -- BECAUSE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS DO THAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE REDUCTION, PREVENTION, AND THE CAN'T TEMPERATURE BEFORE IT GETS -- CAPTURE BEFORE IT GETS TO THE RIVER AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

FOR YOU TO HELP, FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HELP IS, YOU KNOW, STOP USING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, WHICH WE ALL DO.

I DEFINITELY HAVE GRABBED A PLASTIC FORK AND -- BUT A LOT OF TIMES, WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY OPTIONS AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH THOSE RETAILERS AND VENDORS.

I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP AND MY DAUGHTER WAS REALLY THIRSTY, WE WERE DRIVING HOME.

WE HAD OUR WATER BOTTLES, THEY WERE EMPTY.

WE WENT INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE, THERE WAS NOWHERE TO FILL THAT WATER BOTTLE.

ALL YOU CAN DO IS BUY A PLASTIC BOTTLE.

WHY?

WHY WHEN YOU HAVE A SODA MACHINE, THAT LITTLE BUTTON THAT -- THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY'RE EASY.

REUSABLE PLASTIC BAGS.

BY THE WAY, IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, WE HAVE A BAN ON ANY PLASTIC BAG BAN OR PLASTIC BAG FEE FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

SO WE COULDN'T DO THAT EVEN IF WE WANTED TO AS ANY COMMUNITY.

A STORE COULD DO IT, BUT TARGET IS NOT GOING TO DO IT, SCHNUCKS IS NOT GOING TO DO IT AND WALMART IS NOT GOING TO.

IT COMES BACK TO THE SAME CIRCLE.

BUT FOR YOU INDIVIDUALLY, THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION STREAM TEAMS, THEY ALWAYS HAVE CHECKUPS AND THERE ARE SOME GREAT FOLKS ON THERE THAT CAN REALLY WORK WITH THAT.

BUT INDIVIDUALLY, WE DO NEED DATA.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT BRANDS OF DATA.

WE COLLECTED A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE TYPES, BUT WE WANT TO KNOW THE BRANDS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S A STYROFOAM CUP, IS IT FROM -- WHERE IS IT FROM?

AND WE CAN FIND OUT HOW THAT'S MAKING ITS WAY TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

JENNIFER WENDT, MISSISSIPPI RIVER CITIES AND TOWNS INITIATIVE AND IF I SEE A BOTTLE FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER WITH AN ANTENNA ON, LEAVE IT ALONE, RIGHT?

THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON DONNYBROOK AND DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

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