Shooting Deaths Of Young Children On The Rise In St. Louis, Missouri; Benefit Concert For Mass Shooting Victims In Dayton, Ohio; Remembering One Year After John McCain's Death.
MARQUARDT: St. Louis has consistently ranked as one of America's most dangerous cities and this summer, there is growing outrage over the number of children who have been fatally shot simply for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The city is now offering $100,000 in rewards for information about these shootings. The latest victim was an 8-year-old girl. She was shot and killed Friday night at a high school event. She was the fifth child, less than 10 years old to be involved in a deadly shooting in St. Louis since April. Authorities are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in four of these cases. The city's m3ayor says it needs the help because conventional policing tactics are not enough. The offer stands through September 1st. Officials are hoping that the deadline will spur anyone with information to come forward and act immediately. Meantime, another mid western city continues to grapple with its collective trauma. It's been three weeks since the Oregon district shootings in Dayton, Ohio. And right now, as you can see there, thousands are gathering at a benefit concert organized by long-time Ohio resident and comedian Dave Chappelle. List of celebrities on the performance list include Stevie Wonder and Kanye West, and that's just for starters. The tickets are free but organizers are hoping that people will be generous with donations -- the proceeds benefitting the families and survivors of the August 4th shootings. And on the ground there, we find our CNN Correspondent, Polo Sandoval. He is there with the latest. Polo, what are people saying about that remarkable event today? 3</s>POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alex, I certainly hope that you'll be able to hear me because it is certainly electrifying in downtown Dayton. Just three weeks ago I stood on this very spot, reporting to you and the rest of CNN viewers what had just happened in the early morning hours of that day when nine people's lives were cut short when that gunman walked through downtown Oregon District as its known, this arts and entertainment district. Here we are though, three days later and this massive concert as you put it, put together by Ohio's adoptive son, Dave Chappelle, who took the stage just a while ago, not only meant to revitalize this section, but is to live through a serious nightmare, but also for many of the victims of mass shootings across the country which he said as he took the stage only moments ago.</s>CHAPPELLE: Today we're going to show the world that nothing will get us 3down. Dayton, Ohio, no matter what's going on, no matter how tough these times get, we hold our heads up high, because we know we're from</s>O-H! UNIDENTIFIED MALE/FEMALE:  I-O. CHAPPELLE: Shout out to Kanye West for being here this morning. I've got friends that flew in from all over this country to be here today. They didn't ask for a dime or a dollar, just here to tell the city that they love you. And we're not just doing this for our city. We're doing this for every victim of every mass shooting in our country.</s>SANDOVAL: American singer, musician Thundercat wrapping up on stage, Alex. It is a long and fascinating lineup for the next several hours here. But again, what you keep hearing from people here, it's about this tribute not only to the victims, the families of those nine people who died, but also the survivors who are still struggling with the emotional and those physical wounds. And again, as you heard it today, Dave Chappelle essentially bringing this together. You and I may know him as a comedian and an actor. Many of these people know him as a neighbor.</s>MARQUARDT: All right, our thanks to Polo Sandoval. Hopefully a little bit of joy and levity after so much sadness and tragedy in that city. Our thanks to him. And we'll be right back.</s>MARQUARDT: It was one year ago today that the country said good-bye to Senator John McCain. The fighter pilot, father, war hero, and maverick, who in life, as in death, was also looked to as an symbol of integrity and basic human decency. This morning, his wife of 38 years, Cindy McCain, spoke about her life without him.</s>CINDY MCCAIN, WIFE OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: Oh, there are so many things I miss about him. I think most of all was his voice of reason.</s>BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: I wonder for you, you got married when you were 25 years old. And you were with John McCain for almost four decades, and I wonder, what have you learned about yourself in this year since he passed away?</s>MCCAIN: Well, I think the first lesson is that I can survive. You know, losing any loved one is always traumatic, but he was such a force of nature. I've had to learn that not only will I survive, but that I can move forward. If we can convey anything that John McCain stood for on this one-year anniversary, that would be acts of civility. He was the guy on the floor that would cross the aisle. He would work with others, you know. He was very passionate about what he did. And I would like to remind people of those qualities and offer the opportunity for people to do just the same. Go seek someone who perhaps you disagree with vehemently or maybe someone that you, you know, that you've never really liked. But go talk to them. Maybe agree to disagree.</s>KEILAR: What do you think he would say if he saw the current state of American politics right now?</s>MCCAIN: I think he would be very disappointed. In fact, I know he would be. He would be saddened by the digression that these conversations and these debates have taken, and also saddened that we're so disoriented within the world right now. You know, we had time to talk before he died and he was very frustrated with what was going then and I think now he would be even more frustrated.</s>MARQUARDT: Before John McCain's death from brain cancer, he wrote a letter, expressing his hopes for the future. Here is part of what he said, "We have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country we will get through these challenges times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do. Do not despair of our president -- our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history." Some of John McCain's final words. I'm Alex Marquardt. Don't go anywhere. It is time for back-to-back live CNN presidential halls with Montana Governor Steve Bullock followed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at 7 p.m. It all starts right now.