[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ WILL JOIN US LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> TODAY IS THE DAY TO START SAVING LIVES.

>> WHY THE MAYOR OF HIGHLAND PARK SAYS WHAT SHE HEARD AT A FEDERAL HEARING ON MASS SHOOTINGS WAS AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE.

>> DON'T GO FOR IT'S ABOUT SAFETY BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

>> DESPITE VOCAL OPPOSITION CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO REJECT AN EFFORT TO ROLLBACK THE SPEED CAMERA LAW.

>> IT IS UNACCEPTABLE, UNAMERICAN.

>> GUNS ABORTION AND THE PRIMETIME JANUARY 6TH HEARINGS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM JOINS US TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN.

>> [♪♪♪] >> CONTENTION OVER SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS IN CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND IMPACT ON LOCAL RESIDENTS.

>> A TEAM OF UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCIENTISTS DISCOVER A STUNNING ANY FOSSIL LEFT IN STORAGE FOR YEARS.

>> I DON'T WANT THE SHOW TO BE A BLACK SHOW.

THIS IS AN AMERICAN SHOW.

>> AND COMMEMORATING 400 YEARS OF BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY IN A NEW MUSICAL.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A MEASURE TO EXPAND TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES PASSED CITY COUNCIL TODAY.

THE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES ORDINANCE IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WHILE INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING BUILT NEAR TRAIN STATIONS AND ALONG BUS ROUTES.

>> ONE OF THE AREAS IN ENGLEWOOD FROM 59TH AND ASHLAND AND 69TH AND DAY MON WHICH HAS 20 VACANT LOTS IF NOT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF 70% ARE CITY-OWNED VACANT LOTS.

THIS IS WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE WITH HOPES AND COMMITMENTS THAT THAT STRETCH OF LAND WILL BE TAKEN A LOOK AT SO RESIDENTS OF ENGLEWOOD ARE NOT IGNORED BUT YET HELPED BY THIS ORDINANCE.

>> SINCE 2013, THE CITY HAS ALAWED LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEXES TO BE BUILT ALONGSIDE TRAIN STATIONS, 90% HAVE BEEN ON THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST SIDES, DOWNTOWN AND AROUND THE WEST LOOP.

>> ANOTHER MEASURE PASSED CITY COUNCIL ALLOWS POLICE TO IMPOUND CARS PARKED ON CITY STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN DRAG RACES BY USING VIDEO E6D.

THIS AFTER A VIDEOS HAVE GONE VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF INCIDENTS LIKE THESE CROWDS OF PEOPLE WATCHING CARS DO DOUGHNUTS IN INTERSECTIONS.

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT FINING PEOPLE AND TAKING THEIR CARS FROM THEM.

THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY.

AND SO OUR HOPE IS THAT WITH AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT ON THE FRONT END, WE CAN MAKE HIGH PROFILE EXAMPLES OF FOLKS WHO ARE ORGANIZING THIS AND DOING THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN SOMEONE HAS TO PAY $5,000 TO GET THEIR CAR OUT OF THE POUND, THAT SHOULD MAKE AN IMPRESSION.

>> AND BEFORE A CAR IS TOWED THE OWNER WOULD BE WARNED WITH A LETTER OUTLINING EVIDENCE THAT A CAR WAS USED IN THE INCIDENT.

THE OWNER WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTEST THE IMPOUND.

MORE FROM CITY HALL LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> ALDERPEOPLE AND ORGANIZERS ARE CALLING FOR MOVEMENT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO NAME THE INTERIM COMMISSION FOR CHICAGO'S NEW POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS DESIGNED TO GIVE RESIDENTS CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN AND AN EFFORT TO END MISCONDUCT.

THE ORDINANCE CALLED TO FOR THE MAYOR TO APPOINT MEMBERS BY JANUARY FIRST.

>> HERE WE ARE TODAY AND THE CIVILIAN COMMISSION HAS NOT YET BEEN APPOINTED.

HERE WE ARE TODAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO STILL DO NOT HAVE A MEANINGFUL VOICE-OVER THE DIRECTION OF POLICING THAT IMPACTS THEIR COMMUNITYS.

IN MAY THE CITY COUNCIL RULES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED 14 CHICAGOANS TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION.

THE MAYOR SELECTS SEVEN FROM THAT LIST TO SERVE.

>> UP NEXT, A FEDERAL HEARING ON GUNS HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLAND PARK AND CHICAGO.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> A CONTENTIONS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM LAKE COUNTY WERE IN WASHINGTON AS THE HORRIFIC EVENTS OF THE JULY 4TH PARADE MASS SHOOTING TOOK CENTER STAGE AT A SENATE HEARING.

THE HIGHLAND PARK TRAGEDY REENERGIZED CALLS FOR THE BAN ON GUNS LIKE THE KIND THE SHOOTER USED.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

>> BRANDIS, SINCE THE MASSACRE IN HIGHLAND PARK ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, THERE HAVE BEEN 47 MORE MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES.

MEANING THAT SO FAR THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN 356 SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN WHICH FOUR OR MORE PEOPLE WERE SHOT.

>> THIS IS A CRUSHING NUMBER WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT'S A REFLECTION ON LIFE IN AMERICA.

AND IT IS DISGRACEFUL THAT WE HAVE SO LITTLE TO STOP IT.

>> WE WHAT CAN OR SHOULD BE DONE?

HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTERING SAYS RESIDENTS OF HER HOMETOWN WILL TAKE A LONGTIME TO HAVE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS LIKE HOW THEY CAN MAKE CHILDREN FEEL SAFE AGAIN ESPECIALLY AS KIDS ARE PREPARING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT MONTH.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENTING FUTURE MASS SHOOTINGS HER ANSWER IS DEFINITIVE.

>> BOTTOM LINE WE KNOW THAT MOVING FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY AS A NATION, WE NEED TO GET COMBAT WEAPONS OUT OF CIVILIAN HANDS.

I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.

IT'S STILL A NEW JOURNEY FOR ALL OF US IT WILL BE A LONG JOURNEY RIGHT NOW WE NEED THESE WEAPONS OUT OF CIVIL YAB HANDS.

>> WELL SAID.

>> [APPLAUSE] >> CLAPPING COMING FROM OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE AUDIENCE AND FROM DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WHO WANT TO BAN SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

WEAPONS THAT VETERANS AND ILLINOIS SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH SAYS BENEFIT TROOPS ON THE BATTLEFIELD BUT SHOULDN'T BE FOR CIVILIAN USE.

>> EVERY SENATOR ON THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD STUDY WHAT HAPPENS TO A BODY WHEN STRUCK PIE A ROUND TRAVELING AT A SPEED GREATER THAN 3,000 FEET PER SECOND AS THAT ROOM ROOM DOCTOR SAID IT LIQUIFIES YOUR ORGANS.

YOU HAVE NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

YOU SHOULD SEEK OUT EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS WHO CAN SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A ROUND PENETRATES A AHUMAN BODY AND TRUMBELLS AROUND EXPLODING TISSUES AND DESTROYING THE VITAL WEAPONS.

>> THERE ARE MORE THAN 14 TIMES MORE INJURIES AND TWICE AS MANY DEATHS THAN WHEN ANY OTHER TYPE OF WEAPON IS USED.

IT'S BECAUSE THE WEAPONS WERE DESIGNED TO KILL AS MANY PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> BUT THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN GUN ASSOCIATION SAYS FOR A LONGTIME BLACK [INAUDIBLE] MADE IT ILLEGAL FOR BLACK PEOPLE TO USE GUNS LEAVING THEM VULNERABLE AND A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS WOULD HAVE THE SAME EFFECT.

MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE BUYING GUNS AND HE SAYS THAT BLACK AMERICANS NEED ACCESS TO AR-15'S WHICH IS WHAT HE USES TO PROTECT HIS HOME AND HIS FAMILY.

>> IF YOU IMPLEMENT A LOT OF THESE PROPOSALS THAT I'M HEARING TODAY, LOTS AND LOTS OF BLACK SINGLE WOMEN, AND LOTS OF BLACK MEN TRYING TO GET PROTECTION IN THESE TOUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT THAT IS WHY IT'S DISCRIMINATORY ON OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M OPPOSED TO ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

>> CONGRESS DID RECENTLY PASS A GUN CONTROL PACKAGE THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES THAT IT HAD TAKEN SUCH ACTION IN THE WAKE OF THE UVALDE MASS SHOOTING.

ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS OF THAT PACKAGE REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN CORN INOF TEXAS HAS TAKEN HEAT FROM MEMBERS OF THE G.O.P.

FOR THAT.

HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT LAW WILL SAVE LIVES AND HE SAYS IT DOES SO WHILE PROTECTING SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>> ONE THING I'M UNWILLING TO DO IS TO ERODE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WORRY ABOUT IS THE FOCUS ON THE FIREARM THAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR DEFLECTS OUR ATTENTION FROM OTHER PLACES WHERE I THINK WE COULD MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE.

THINGS LIKE FOCUSING ON THE CRIMINALS THAT COMMITTED 836 HOMICIDES LAST YEAR IN CHICAGO ALONE.

>> HE AND OTHERS ALSO STRESS THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO PUT MORE FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU HEARD IT THERE THROUGHOUT THE CHICAGO THERE WERE VARIOUS REFERENCES MADE TO CRIME IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AS WELL AS TO LAWS IN HIGHLAND PARK AND IN ILLINOIS.

>> IF THE OBJECTIVE IS STOP MASS MURDERS, GUN CONTROL DOESN'T WORK.

ILLINOIS HAS AMONG THE STRICTER GUN LAWS OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

HIGHLAND PARK HAS EVEN STRICTER GUN CONTROL LAWS THAN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

CONSISTENTLY IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT THE JURISDICTIONS WITH THE STRICTEST GUN CONTROL LAWS ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST CRIME RATES AND THE HIGHEST MURDER RATES.

>> AFTER THE HEARINGS, HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTERING SAYS HEARING COMMENTS LIKE THOSE FROM THE SENATORS FROM TEXAS WAS LIKE HAVING AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE.

HIGHLAND PARK DID AND STILL DOES LOCALLY BAN ASSAULT GRADE WEAPONS.

BUT NANCY ROTERING SAYS HER COMMUNITY IS NOT AN ISLAND FOR IT TO BE TRULY EFFECTIVE THERE HAS TO BE A NATIONAL LAW.

WE ARE EXPECTING SOME SORT OF GUN CONTROL ACTION FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TOMORROW.

WITH THAT, BACK TO YOU, BRANDIS.

>> WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

AND WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN LATER IN THE PROGRAM FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

THANK YOU.

>> AN EFFORT TO ROLLBACK INCREASED SPEED CAMERA FINES GETS A RED LIGHT ONE OF THE OUTCOMES FROM TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

ALDERPEOPLE VOTED TO REJECT A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD DO AWAY WITH $35 TICKETS FOR DRIVERS GOING PAST PARKS AND SCHOOLS.

HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US WITH MORE.

REMIND US WHAT THIS PROPOSAL CALLED FOR?

>> WELL, IT WOULD HAVE ONLY APPLIED TO DRIVERS THAT ARE CAUGHT GOING BETWEEN 6-9 MILES OVER THE LIMIT NEAR CERTAIN PARKS AND SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO THAT ARE MONITORED BY SPEED CAMERAS.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE THAT IF YOU WERE CAUGHT GOING 10-MILES-PER-HOUR OVER THE LIMIT YOU GOT A $35 TICKET AND 11-MILES-PER-HOUR OVER THE LIMIT YOU GET A $100 TICKET.

AFTER THE VOTE TODAY THAT SCENARIO WILL STAY THE SAME DESPITE CONCERTED CRITICISMS.

>> THE MAYOR AND OTHERS CITED THAT THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC CRASHES IS ONE REASON THE TICKETS SHOULD STAY.

HERE SHE IS.

>> WHEN I SAW THE DATA FROM LAST YEAR, SHOWING THAT 174 PEOPLE ALL OVER OUR CITY HAD BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF SPEED AND DISTRACTED DRIVING.

AND THEN LAYERING ON THE SMALL LIKELIHOOD OF SURVIVAL AT THE SPEEDS THAT ARE PROPOSED BY THIS ORDINANCE.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE GUT PUNCH MOMENTS FOR ME.

IT'S SURREAL TO ME I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.

>> SO THE MAYOR TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS.

WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE HERE?

>> WELL, THESE TICKETS GENERATE BETWEEN 40-45 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR THE CITY.

AND THE CITY USES THAT MONEY ON A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS INCLUDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

AND THE MAYOR WAS NOT WILLING TO BLOW NEARLY $80 MILLION BUDGET IN BOTH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND HAD PROMISED TO VETO THIS MEASURE IF IT HAD PASSED BUT IT DIDN'T COME TO THAT.

>> ALDERMAN ANTHONY BEALE SPOKE ABOUT THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE.

HERE HE IS.

>> MY PEOPLE CANNOT KEEP AFFORDING TO PAY THESE FINES AND FEES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

JUST FOR GOING TO THE DAYCARE AND DROPPING YOUR KID OFF.

GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE.

YOU GET A TICKET GOING AND COMING.

DON'T GO FOR THE OKIE DOK ABOUT IT'S ABOUT SAFETY.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

>> DOES HE HAVE A POINT.

DO THE TICKETS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES?

>> THEY DO.

AND ANAL SIS FOUND THAT BLACK AND LATINO HOUSEHOLDS IN CHICAGO ARE TWICE AS LIKELY THAN WHITE HOUSE HOLDS TO RECEIVE THE TICKETS AND THAT IS WHAT DREW ALDERMAN BEALE'S IRE AND HOME RUN WHO VOTED WITH HIM TODAY.

>> SOME BACKED THE MAYOR AFTER BEING AT ODDS WITH HER.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AFTER READING THE LIST OF NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN KILLED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES IN RECENT MONTHS.

>> WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE TO HAVE SAVED THEIR LIVES?

CAN WE BE MORE EQUITABLE WITH WHERE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS WITH WHERE OUR CAMERAS ARE?

SURE.

I CAN'T STAND HERE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE AND CAST A VOTE THAT I KNOW LEADS TO MORE NAMES ON THAT LIST.

MORE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES.

>> NOW, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST CAUCUS WAS HE JOINED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS IN KEEPING THE FINES THE SAME?

>> HE WAS JOINED BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ BY WHO SAID IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION BY HIM.

BUT TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS, CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA AND SANCHEZ DID NOT VOTE ON THE MEASURE SAYING IT PRESENTED A FALSE CHOICE BETWEEN REVENUE FOR THE CITY AND SAFETY FOR ITS RESIDENTS AND THEY URGED THAT THE CITY NOW TURN THE FOCUS TO IMPROVING THE STREETS INFRASTRUCTURE IN CHICAGO TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR EVERYONE TO GET AROUND AUTO TOWN.

>> IN OTHER ACTION CITY COUNCIL DID PASS THE ETHICS REFORM PACKAGE.

REMIND US WHAT THAT OVERALL LOOKING LIKE?

>> IT'S GOING TO COAST ELECTED OFFICIALS IN CHICAGO $20,000 IF THEY ARE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED THE ETHIC ORDINANCE AND EXPANDS THE CITY'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST RULES IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT ALDERPEOPLE FROM USING THEIR ELECTED OFFICE TO BENEFIT THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN PRETTY EVEN HERE IN -- OFTEN HERE IN CHICAGO.

>> 20,000 IN FEES.

THANKS AND WE'LL SEE YOU LATER FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS AS WELL.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> UP NEXT, THE FIGHT OVER WHERE MUSIC FESTIVALS SHOULD BE HELD IN THE CITY.

STAY WITH US.

>> THIS SUMMER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSIC LOVERS WILL DESCEND ON THE CITY FOR THE FEFL OF FESTIVALS.

LOLLAPALOOZA MAYBE THE BIGGEST BUT TENS OF THOUSANDS GO AROUND THE CITY.

AND THAT IMPACT ON PUBLIC LAND IS A POINT OF CONTENTION FOR SOME NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE NEAR THE PARKS.

JOINING US NOW ARE LESLIE RECHT OF THE GRANT PARK VARYBZ COUNCIL.

AND ANTON ADKINS FROM FRIENDS OF DOUGLASS PARK.

WE INVITED A ROPT FROM THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT THEY DID SEND US A STATEMENT WHICH WE WILL HAVE FOR YOU SHORTLY.

ANTON, YOU LIVE ACROSS FROM DOUGLASS PARK WHICH HAS HAD TWO OF THREE MUSIC FESTIVALS ALREADY THIS SUMMER.

WHAT IS THAT IMPACT BEEN LIKE ON RESIDENTS?

>> YES.

THE IMPACT IS SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TO THINK WITH THE FIVE SENSES SOMETHING WE CAN SEE, SMELL, HEAR, TASTE, AND TOUCH.

WE CAN SEE THE CROWDS AND HEAR THE MUSIC.

WHETHER IT'S IN FRONT OF US ON OUR PORCH WAITING FOR AN UBER.

PASSED OUT IN OUR YARDS.

OUR JUST WALKING BY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SEE AS FAR AS TRASH LITTERED ACROSS OUR PERSONAL YARDS AND EVEN THE PARK ACROSS THE STREET.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY INCONVENIENT FOR THE WAY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE HERE AS PRIVATE CITIZENS FOR ABOUT THREE TO FOUR DAYS.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE AT THE FESTIVAL WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT.

BUT DOES IT LIMIT YOUR ACCESS TO WHAT IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK?

>> YES.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE PUT ON HOLD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE WHETHER THE SOCCER FIELDS ARE JUST TARNISHED OR JUST SUSPENDED UNTIL THE GATES OR THE STAGES ARE TAKEN DOWN.

DURING THE FESTIVALS, PARKING IS LIMITED.

WHERE EVEN THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PARKS ARE TAKEN AWAY DUE TO FESTIVAL GOERS.

AND IT LIMITS US.

IT HINDERS US FROM DOING WHAT WE NORMALLY DO FROM DAY-TO-DAY.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT HAPPENS TO THE PARKS THERE.

LESLIE WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO LESSEN THE IMPACT OF LOLLAPALOOZA IN GRANT PARK?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE'VE ASKED FOR.

ALDERMAN KING HAD A HEARING PUBLIC ZOOM HEARING ON LOLLAPALOOZA ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

SO THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THE PARK WHO MADE REQUESTS MANY AND WE SUMMARIZED ALL WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

ONE THING WE ASKED THEM TO DO WAS LIMIT THE DECIBEL LEVEL OF THE STAGES WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACTS THEY HAVE WITH LOLLAPALOOZA.

WE ASKED THEM TO CLEAN UP EVERYDAY, BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE CONCERNED WITH 100,000 PEOPLE A DAY FOR FOUR DAYS, THROWING UP, DEFECATING, URNIATING, DOING ALL KINDS OF THINGS AND WE ASKED THAT THE CITY CLEAN UP AFTER EVERYDAY.

WE ASKED THEM TO HAVE BETTER TENTS AND PROTECTIONS FOR MOSTLY YOUNG PEOPLE COMING WHO HAVE HEALTH ISSUES AND NEED HELP THEY OBVIOUSLY NEED HELP.

MORE PORTA-POTTIES, BETTER ACCESS TO THE PARK FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THE PARK IS CLOSED FOR A LONGTIME BOTH BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER LOLLAPALOOZA.

AND DAMAGE.

TREMENDOUS DAMAGE TO THE PARK.

WE FEEL THAT LOLLAPALOOZA IS NOT PAYING FOR THE DAMAGE THEY ARE DOING TO THE PARK.

AND THAT'S TRUE ACROSS ALL OF THE FESTS.

I THINK ANTON CAN TELL YOU THAT DOUGLASS PARK IS NO DIFFERENT THAN GRANT PARK EXCEPT THE SCOPE, THE SCALE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> LESLIE, ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS FOR EXAMPLE, THE IMPACT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SOME FESTIVALS HIRE OR CONTRIBUTE TO FOR EXAMPLE SPORTS GEAR FOR LOCAL TEAMS IN THE CASE OF DOUGLASS PARK.

DO YOU SEE ANY BENEFITS TO THE FESTIVALS?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A BENEFIT.

THE REVENUE THAT THE CITY AND THE PARK DISTRICT GET FROM EVENTS LIKE LOLLAPALOOZA HAS BEEN SPREAD AROUND.

THE CONCERN WE'VE ALWAYS HAD IS THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO CAPITAL PROGRAM TO REPAIR DAMAGE TO GRANT PARK NOT ONLY FROM LOLLAPALOOZA BUT A LOT OF THE OTHER EVENTS.

SO WE'RE NOT DENYING THERE IS A BENEFIT A MONETARY BENEFIT TO SOME OF THESE EVENTS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IT IS NOT A FAIR BALANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO USE THE PARK FOR THE REVENUE THAT IS COMING IN.

IF YOU THINK THE REVENUE FROM 100,000 PEOPLE A DAY IS BEING FAIRLY SPREAD AROUND, OUR CONCERN IS THE ANSWER IS NO.

THEY ARE PARKING SEMIS ON THE TENNIS COURTS AND DAMAGING THEM.

THEY HAVE SEMIS THAT DRIVE ON SIDEWALKS AND PULVERIZING THOSE.

THERE ARE SO MANY NEGATIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE FESTS THAT AREN'T BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

>> THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICTS WE DID INVITE SOMEONE TO JOIN US AND THEY RESPOND WITH A STATEMENT... ANTON DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO YOUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE KNOW WHERE DOUGLASS PARK IS ASIDE FROM THE FESTIVAL?

OR DO YOU THINK THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO INTEGRATE THE FESTS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> DEFINITELY, SOME OF THE THINGS LESLIE WAS SAYING I CONCUR WITH.

OF COURSE THERE IS A MONETARY ASPECT TO THIS THAT HELPS THE CITY THAT HELPS THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT.

BUT I THINK IN A MORE CLOSER MORE LOCAL ASPECT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH BENEFIT.

WE SEE AN INFLUX OF THOUSANDS OF FESTIVAL GOERS THAT ATTEND THESE DIFFERENT FESTIVALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO TO HAVE PEOPLE TO COME TO NORTH LAWNDALE WITH CRIME AND HERE AND TO HAVE PEOPLE SEE THE BEAUTY OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN.

BUT IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN THERE IS NO ECONOMIC IMPACT WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT SPENDING MONEY BEYOND COMING TO THE PARK.

OR JUST USING CTA.

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS HERE FOR US COMMUNITY MEMBERS BESIDES THE LITERAL REPRESENTATION OF THE FESTS WE SEE.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS A PART OF IT THEN MAYBE IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

>> AND THERE'S BEEN THE IDEA OF HAVING ONE DEDICATED PLACE FOR FESTIVALS, LESLIE 10 SECONDS LEFT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

BUT, AGAIN, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PROTECTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED.

AND THE ADVISORY COUNCIL WASN'T INCLUDED, THE PUBLIC HASN'T BEEN INCLUDED.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THAT KIND OF DECISION SHOULD BE MADE.

>> OK.

SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK WOULD NEED TO BE DONE.

THANKS TO THE TWO OF YOU FOR JOINING US, LESLIE RECHT AND ANTON ADKINS.

>> THANK YOU.

MY PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN GETTING THE ISSUES OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT, A MUSICAL COMMEMORATING 400 YEARS OF BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER...

THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE SHOW INCLUDING THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW FOSSIL.

FIRST THE THEATRE IN WEST TOWN IS COMMEMORATING 400 YEARS OF BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY.

ANGEL IDOWU BROUGHT US THE STORY.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

[♪♪♪] >> THE STRUGGLES WE FACE ARE ALL OF AMERICA'S STRUGGLES.

AND WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> I DON'T WANT THE SHOW TO BE A BLACK SHOW.

>> THIS IS AN AMERICAN SHOW.

>> A LOCAL PRODUCTION A CELEBRATING THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1619 ALBEIT THREE YEARS LATER.

>> 1619 IS NOT A TRADITIONAL PLAY, MUSICAL.

IT'S MORE OF LIKE VIGNETTES THAT TAKE THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE LIVES OF OUR ANCESTORS.

>> WHAT I'M HOPING TO DO IS TO GIVE CONTEXT TO THE STRUGGLES THAT WE'RE FACING IN THIS COUNTRY.

TO GIVE BACKGROUND.

TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PART OF A BIGGER STORY.

AND SO IT BEHOOVES AS AS AMERICANS TO FIND OUT WHERE WE COME FROM AND WHERE WE'RE GOING COLLECTIVELY.

[♪♪♪] >> IT STARTS OUT WITH THE AFRICAN DIASPORA WITH THE ENSLAVED PEOPLE COMING OVER AND TALKS ABOUT THE FIRST 20 THAT ARRIVED HERE IN THE AMERICAS.

AND IT MOVES ALL THE WAY THROUGH WHERE WE ARE NOW.

LITTLE OVER 400 YEARS LATER.

AND DESPITE THE PAIN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS.

DESPITE THE STRUGGLE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS.

>> CELEBRATE OUR MOVEMENT FROM BEING ENSLAVED PEOPLE TO BEING AMERICANS.

AND IT ASKS WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN?

>> COMPRISED THE EIGHT ORIGINAL SONGS SPOKEN WORD AND DANCE, MARCELLI LEE SAYS ALL MEDIUMS ARE NECESSARY TO TELL A STORY ONLY WORDS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO.

>> IT'S BEEN THE VOICE FOR OUR VOICE FOR 400 YEARS.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU CAN'T SPEAK YOU CAN MOVE.

I TRY MY BEST TO COMBINE THE STYLES WHAT I FEEL LIKE 400 YEARS WE CONNECT WITH OUTSIDE OF AFRICAN MOVEMENT HAS BEEN JAZZ, MODERN, IT'S BEEN HIP-HOP.

THE EVOLUTION OF MOVEMENT.

>> FROM RACISM TO COLORISM TO HOW THE U.S.

ADAPTED AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN.

PLAYWRIGHT TED WILLIAMS SAYS HE THOUGHT ART TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO START THESE NECESSARY CONVERSATIONS.

>> WE HAVE A NATION FULL OF GUN VIOLENCE, A NATION FULL OF INEQUALITY, A NATION FULL OF RACISM AND DESTRUCTIVE THINGS THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO SURVIVE WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK TO DO THIS.

>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE HEALED OVERNIGHT.

>> BUT THIS PLAY OPENS UP THE DOOR TO CONVERSATION.

BECAUSE IT CHALLENGES.

IT ALSO REAFFIRMS, IT HEALS.

IT CREATES DISCUSSION AND DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS.

AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE SOME PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

BUT THAT IS OK.

IT ALSO REALLY, REALLY GIVES A LOT OF JOY AND AFFIRMATION TO THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.

>> WHILE THE MUSICAL LOOKS AT PAST HARDSHIPS, ITS PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.

>> AMERICA IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE IN SOME CERTAIN WAYS.

IT'S THAT BEEN EXTENDED TO EVERYONE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO TEAR DOWN AMERICA.

I'M TRYING TO MAKE AMERICA WORK FOR EVERYONE AND THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

>> SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN A BOOK AND READ ABOUT IT, BUT IF THEY CAN SEE IT ON STAGE IT WILL PLANT THEIR SEED.

ART IS A WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN TAKE A SENSITIVE SUBJECT, PUT IT ON STAGE AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO LAUGH, CRY...

ALLOW THEM TO FEEL WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO CONVEY, AND IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND "1619: THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE A MUSICAL PREMIERED LAST MONTH BUT WILL HAVE AN ENCORE PERFORMANCE ON JULY 30TH.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", A STUNNING NEW FOSSIL DISCOVERY FROM NEIL SHUBIN AND HIS TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

>> IT IS INEXCUSABLE, UNACCEPTABLE, UNAMERICAN.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON GUNS, ABORTION AND THE UPCOMING PRIMETIME JANUARY 6TH HEARING.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> LOCAL PEDIATRICIANS ARE URGING PARENTS TO GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED FOR COVID-19 AS THE SCHOOL YEAR QUICKLY APPROACHES.

SINCE THE FINAL AGE GROUP BECAME ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE SHOT, 6.6% OF CHILDREN UNDERAGE 5 IN CHICAGO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

A LOCAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SAYS THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS FOR CHILDREN ARE MORE CONCERNING THAN THE MILD EFFECTS OF THE VACCINE.

FOR THOSE WHO PRESUME THEIR CHILD WILL BE RELATIVELY UNAFFECTED BY GETTING COVID-19.

NO, ALTHOUGH CHILDREN WHO CONTRACT IT TEND TO BE EXPERIENCE LESS SEVERE SYMPTOMS THEY COULD DEVELOP MISC AND BECOME EXTREMELY SICK.

VACCINATING YOUR CHILD WILL GREATLY REDUCE YOUR CHANCE FOR SEVERE ILLNESS.

WHEN IT COMES TO SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE VACCINE THE MOST COMMON IN ALL AGES ARE MILD.

>> DOCTORS STRESSED GETTING KIDS SIGNED UP BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR DEPENDING WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE VACCINE THEY WILL BE FULLY IMMUNOCOMPRISED BETWEEN SIX TO 13 WEEKS.

THE SKY IS LOOKING FOR A REPEAT BECOMING THE FIRST WNBA TEAM TO CLINCH A PLAYOFF BERTH AFTER A VICTORY TODAY OVER THE SEATTLE STORM.

IT'S THE SKY'S FASTEST ROUTE TO 20 WINS SINCE 2013.

THE WNBA PLAYOFFS BEGIN AUGUST 17?

>> AND THE BROOKFIELD ZOO IS WELCOMING AN ADDITION TO THE ADDAX ANTELOPES.

THE BIRTH IS A RESULT OF A SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN A POPULATION MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM THAT THE ZOO PARTICIPATES IN.

FEWER THAN 100 OF THE ANIMALS ARE ESTIMATED TO EXIST IN THE WILD.

>> IN 2004, IN THE CANADIAN ARCTICS UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PALEONTOLOGIST NEIL SHUBIN AND HIS TEAM MADE AN AMAZING DISCOVERY.

A FOSSIL ICED FIBBIAN AMONGED TO BE THE FIRST FISH VENTURED OUT OF SEA ON TO LAND 375 MILLION YEARS AGO.

NOW THE TEAM SAYS ANOTHER FOSSIL FOUND AT THE SAME TIME AND FOR YEARS LARGELY IGNORED COULD SHED MORE LIGHT ON THAT PIVOTAL TIME IN THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE.

AND JOINING US IS NEIL SHUBIN TO TELL US MORE.

WELCOME BACK, NEIL.

THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE DISCOVERY.

YOU FOUND THIS FOSSIL IN 2004 IN A PLACE CALLED IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS AREA TO GO FOSSIL HUNTING AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

>> WE HAD IDENTIFIED THIS PART OF THE CANADIAN ARCTIC, THE ROCKS LIE ADJACENT TO THE ICE.

AND PERFECT TO FIND THE CREATURES.

THE ROCKS WERE FORMED IN STREAMS AND RIVERS.

AND THE ROCKS ARE 375 MILLION YEARS OLD TOLD US WE WERE IN THE RIGHT TIME-FRAME, RIGHT ROCK, IT WAS A MATTER OF CRACKING ENOUGH ROCK TO FIND THE FOSSILS.

IT TOOK US SIX YEARS.

WE FOUND IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF A SET OF EXPEDITIONS.

>> THE FOSSIL SAT IN A DRAWER FOR 15 YEARS.

WHAT PROMPTED YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK?

>> WE FOUND THIS FOSSIL ALMOST A WEEK BEFORE WE FOUND THE FAMOUS FOSSIL AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS TIKTOK PULLED THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE ROOM AND IT TOOK YEARS TO GET ALL THE SCIENTIFIC PAPERS ON.

WE PUBLISHED THE FIRST PAPERS IN 2006 AND PAPERS CAME OUT IN 2008, 2014 AND THE LAST OF THE PAPERS CAME OUT ONLY LAST YEAR.

SO WE WERE SPENDING MUCH OF OUR TIME WORKING WITH THIS AND IT WAS SITTING IN A DRAWER.

AS SOON AS WE FINISHED THE WORK, THE TWO POST DOCS IN MY LABORATORY WHO DID THE WORK WHO SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS ON THIS.

WE HAD A NEW CT SCANNER X-RAY BASEMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO THAT HAD HIGH ENOUGH ENERGY IT COULD BLAST THROUGH THE ROCKS.

THEY TOOK ONE OF THE ROCKS WE COLLECTED WHICH DIDN'T HAVE MUCH ON IT OTHER THAN A SCALE AND PUT IT INTO THE CF SCAN AND THEY FOUND AN ENTIRE FIN IN THAT ROCK.

>> WHEN YOU SAW SCANS RIGHT?

THAT LEAPT OUT AT YOU AND HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS NOT ANOTHER INFORMATION I WILL?

>> YEAH, GOOD QUESTION.

THE SCANS ARE BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE WHEN YOU CT SCAN YOU CAN DIGITALLY REMOVE THE ROCK AND SEE THE BONES IN THREE DIMENSIONS.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS WAS THE SKULL THE FRONT OF THE SKULL WAS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST.

TIKTOKIC IS FOUR FEET LONG.

ED BONES WERE IDENTICAL THE WAY THEY FIT TOGETHER WERE IDENTICAL.

IT WAS WHEN WE SAW THE FIN THAT NEW STUFF CAME ABOUT.

THE FIN IS DIFFERENT.

IT HAD THE SAME BONEY PATTERN AS TIKTOKIC UPPER ARM BONE AND BONES THAT CORRESPOND TO WRISTS T HAD A SHOULDER AND ELBOW, BUT WAS WHAT WAS DIFFERENT WAS THE UPPER ARM BONE KNOWN THE HUMOROUS.

IT WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

IT GOES TO SHOW THIS IS CLEARLY A DIFFERENT CRITTER.

>> TIKTOKIC THERE IS EVIDENCE WHEN IT CAME OUT OF THE WATER IT WAS ABLE TO WALK ON FOUR?

>> AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT BONES LIKE THE HUMOROUS, THE UPPER ARM BONE THERE ARE CRESTS OR RIDGES THAT LION THE BONE AND TIKTOKIC HAS A PECTORAL MUSCLE AND WHAT DO WE USE THEM FOR?

PUSH-UPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

PARTICULAR TO TOXIC HAD BIG PECTORAL MUSCLES BECAUSE OF THE SHELLS ON THE UPPER ARM BONE.

BUT THE NEW CREATURE KNOWN AS KA TANYA IT DID NOT HAVE MASSIVE PECTORAL MUSCLES.

SO NOT ONLY WAS IT DIFFERENT FROM TIKTOKIC BUT IT FUNCTIONED DIFFERENT.

IT COULDN'T WALK ABOUT.

>> HOW CAN YOU TELL FROM LOOKING AT KA TANYA THAT THIS CREATURE WAS EVOLVING TO RETURN TO THE SEA AS OPPOSED TO EMERGING FROM IT WHICH WE BELIEVE TIKTOKIC DID.

>> THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT SURPRISED US.

WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE KA CAN YEAH CONSTITUENTS WE FOUND THE ANCESTORS OF KA TANYA ALREADY HAD THOSE CRESTS AND RIDGES THAT I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT THAT HAD BIG PECTORAL MUSCLES THAT COULD WALK AROUND.

SO THE ANCESTORS ON THE TREE, THE AN SESSER OF KA TANYA WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES WERE FINS.

WE SEE KA TANYA IS A CREATURE THAT RETURNS TO THE WATER FROM ANCESTORS THAT WERE MAKING A COMMITMENT TO WALK ON THEIR FINS.

>> FOR US NON-PALEONTOLOGISTS IT'S EASY FOR US TO THINK OF EVOLUTION AS A LINEAR PROCESS BUT IT MAY NOT BE THE CASE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK PROMPTED KA TANYA TO RETURN TO THE WATER?

WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME?

>> IT SHOWS THIS TRANSITION FROM LIFE ON WATER TO LIFE ON LAND, WENT BOTH WAYS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ON LAND.

THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WATER WERE GREAT FOR A CREATURE LIKE KA TANYA BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FOOD IN THE WATER AND THE TEETH HAD HAD FANGS AND POINTY TEETH IT WAS A CARNIVORE.

BUT ONE THING KA TANYA HAD WHEN IT TURNED TO THE WATER IT HAD A SKULL LIKE TIKTOKIC AND IT HAD A SKULL WHERE IT COULD BITE AND DO SUCTION FEEDING.

KA TANYA RETURNED TO THE WATER A SMALL NEW FEEDING APPARATUS AND THAT GAME IT ITS AUTOMOBILE OF TO SKIED IN THE WATER.

>> AND THE MEME FROM DURING THE PANDEMIC OF TIKTOKIC.

>> THERE'S LIKE THROW THE FISH BACK BECAUSE THEY ARE BLAME TO GO FOR THE PROBLEMS OF HUMANKIND WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSING IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

SO FUNNY TO WATCH ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ALL THE MEMES ABOUT DON'T LET THE FISH LEAVE THE WATER.

AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE FISH THAT RETURNED TO THE WATER.

HOPEFULLY THEY WILL STOP THE HATERS.

>> WE HAVE 30 SECONDS NEIL, WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM?

>> WHAT IS NEXT IS EXCITING ABOUT KA TANYA IT'S SHOWING US THERE IS AN ENORMOUS UNKNOWN DIVERSITY OF THESE CREATURES OF THE TRANSITION BETWEEN LIFE ON WATER OR LIFE ON LAND.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PEOPLE IS THERE'S MORE TO DISCOVER.

WE ARE EXCITED POSSIBLY TO GET OUT TO THE ROCKS AGAIN AND GET OUT TO THE ARCTIC TO LOOK AROUND THE WORLD AT COLLECTIONS PEOPLE MADE TO SEE WHAT DIVERSITY EXISTS BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD TO DISCOVER.

>> COOL SCIENCE WITH NEIL SHUBIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM PREVIEWS TOMORROW'S PRIMETIME JANUARY 6TH CONGRESSIONAL HEARING.

STAY WITH US.

POLITICAL BATTLES OVER GUNS, ABORTION, SPEED CAMERASES AND MORE.

SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

JOINING US ARE AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

WELCOME BACK, GANG.

LET'S START WITH NATIONAL POLITICS.

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER SET TO LEAD TOMORROW'S PRIMETIME JANUARY 6TH HEARING.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID ABOUT IT.

>> THE REALITY IS I WILL GIVE YOU THIS, THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T DO VERY MUCH BUT GLEEFULLY WATCHED TELEVISION DURING THIS TIME-FRAME.

WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

>> TELL US WHAT VIEWERS SHOULD EXPECT TOMORROW NIGHT?

>> TOMORROW'S HEARING IN PRIMETIME AND IS THOUGHT TO BE THE FINAL OF THE SERIES OF HEARINGS WILL FOCUS ON 187 MINUTES.

THAT IS THE TIME BETWEEN 1:10 P.M. ON JANUARY 6TH WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD THE CROWD THAT GATHERED ON CAPITOL HILL TO MARCH TO THE CAPITAL AND HE WOULD JOIN THEM.

UNTIL 4:15 P.M.

WHEN HE POSTED A VIDEO ON TWITTER TELLING THE CROWD THAT HAD RANSACKED THE CAPITOL AND STOPPED THE CERTIFICATION OF THE 2020 ELECTION TO GO HOME.

THE COMMITTEE YOU HEARD THE REPRESENTATIVES SAY IT'S GOING TO SAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DIDN'T DO VERY MUCH TO STOP THAT AND THE COMMITTEE HAS EVIDENCE THAT DETAILS EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> AMANDA, TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SECRET SERVICE TEXTS THAT CAN CORROBORATE THE TESTIMONY THAT TRUMP TRIED TO STEER HIS VEHICLE TOWARDS THE CAPITOL THAT DAY?

>> STEER HIS VEHICLE FROM THE SECRET SERVICE MEMBERS THERE TO PROTECT HIM.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TEXTS COULD SHOW BECAUSE IN FACT, THE SECRET SERVICE DOESN'T HAVE THEM.

JUST ONE TEXT PROVIDED TO THE COMMITTEE DESPITE REPORTING THAT THE COMMITTEE IS NOT AS IF THIS IS A RECENT REQUEST AND THE SECRET SERVICE CAN SAY AUTOPSIES WE DID NOT REALIZE YOU WOULD WANT THIS.

RATHER A REQUEST MADE 10 DAYS AFTER THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL.

SO BACK IN JANUARY OF 2021 MADE KNOWN THAT THE MATERIAL EVIDENCE FROM CELLPHONES OF SECRET SERVICE MEMBERS WOULD BE WANTED AND REQUESTED.

WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THAT WILL SHOW THE SECRET SERVICE SAYING THERE IS NOTHING INTENTIONAL AWRY.

IT WAS A PLANNED MIGRATION OF SELL PHONE SERVICES AND THRU YOU THAT DISRUPTION NOT ALL TEXTS WERE BACKED UP.

BUT CERTAINLY HAS RAISED SUSPENSIONS AND -- SUSPICIONS AND FRUSTRATIONINGS WITH A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE SAYING I SMELL A RAT.

>> PARIS DO YOU EXPECT WE'LL SEE CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AS AN OUTCOME OF THE HEARINGS?

>> IT'S CLEAR THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE INCLUDING ADAM KINZINGER AND CHENEY DO BELIEVE THEY HAVE LAID OUT A COMPELLING CASE OF A CONSPIRACY HERE TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES.

A LOT OF PARTS AND A LOT OF ACTORS BUT THE RINGLEADER BEING DONALD TRUMP THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

THE QUESTION IS: WILL THE DOJ SEE THE SAME THING?

AND WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE HERE IN ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DOESN'T BRING CRIMINAL CASES UNLESS THEY HAVE A 99.9% OF WINNING THOSE CASES.

DO THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A SMOKING GUN?

AND WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THERE HAS TO BE THE SMOKEYEST GUN CAN YOU FIND.

IF THEY ARE GOING TO BRING THE CHARGES THEY HAD BETTER WIN THAT CASE.

THE REPORTING INDICATES RIGHT NOW THAT PROSECUTORS AREN'T SOLD YET ON TANGIBLE CRIMES THEY CAN CHARGE THE FORMER PRESIDENT WITH BUT HE FACES PERIL AT THE STATE LEVEL YOU SEE THE CASE IN GEORGIA MOVING ALONG WITH PLANS TO INTERVIEW RUDY GIULIANI AND FOLKS IN TRUMP'S CIRCLE BELIEVES THERE IS A CHANCE THAT TRUMP COULD BE INDICTED IN ONE OF THE CASES ON STATE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>> AND PARIS, WELCOME BACK.

AND WE WILL HAVE MORE COVERAGE ON THE HEARING THAT HAPPENS TOMORROW TOMORROW NIGHT AT 9:00 P.M. FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" SPECIAL TIME.

MEANWHILE WE ALSO HEARD ON CAPITOL HILL HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTERING TESTIFYING BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE ON BANNING ASSAULT WEAPONS.

TAKE A LOOK WHAT SENATOR DICK DURBIN SAID ABOUT THE HEARING.

>> AMERICA MUST DO BETTER.

IT IS INEXCUSABLE, UN'ABLE, UNAMERICAN FOR US TO SELL COMBAT WEAPONS TO A MAN LIKE THE SHOOTER IN HIGHLAND PARK.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE.

THERE IS NO SECOND AMENDMENT EXCUSE TO ALLOW THAT SORT OF THING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND AMANDA YOU COVERED THIS HEARING FOR US TODAY.

THIS IS THE 10TH HEAR BEING THIS.

IS THE POLITICAL SHIFT BEGINNING TO HAPPEN?

>> I THINK THERE WAS A SHIFT AFTER UVALDE WHICH IS WHERE YOU SAW SOME REPUBLICANS SIGNING ON TO THIS BIPARTISAN GUN PACKAGE THAT DID INSTITUTE GUN CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE DECADES.

INCLUDING ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR AND CHECKS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS OF THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 LOOKING TO PURCHASE A FIREARM.

HAS THERE BEEN A SHIFT SINCE UVALDE AND PART OF MY POST UVALDE AND SINCE HIGHLAND PARK?

I'M NOT SURE THERE HAS BEEN.

WE HEARD FROM EVEN THOSE WHO WERE SIGNATORIES TO THE BIPARTISAN PACKAGE THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED OR BELIEVERS IN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

AGAIN, HIGHLAND PARK CERTAINLY ONBOARD WITH THIS AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATED, ANGRY RESIDENTS, PARENTS, WHO ARE POLITICALLY GOING TO BE VERY ACTIVE.

I THINK IN WASHINGTON D.C. AS WELL AS ON THE STATE LEVEL.

BUT I'M NOT SURE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A CHANGE OUT OF WASHINGTON AT LEAST FROM CONGRESS.

>> PARIS, WE KNOW THERE WAS AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT LAPSED IN THE MID-EARLY 2000S ARE ACTIVISTS ASKING FOR THE SAME RESTRICTIONS?

>> IT APPEARS THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE SAME RESTRICTIONS WE SAW IN THE 90s.

A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S MOMENTUM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THERE'S REPORTING IN THE HOUSE HOUSE DEMOCRATS MIGHT PUT UP A BILL.

THERE DOES APPEAR MOMENTUM AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR STATE LAWMAKERS TO GET TOGETHER FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS STATE-WIDE.

THE PROBLEM IS IT WOULD NOT BAN WEAPONS ALREADY IN THE HANDS OF CIVILIANS.

AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION COMES UP THERE IS A RUN ON GUN STORES TO BUY ALL THESE GUNS.

HOW EFFECTIVE WOULD A STATE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS WOULD BE WHEN SO MANY FOLKS OWN THEM AND THERE IS NO NATIONAL BAN AND SO MANY GUNS THAT WINDUP IN CHICAGO COME FROM THE SURROUNDING STATES LIKE WISCONSIN AND INDIANA THAT HAVE VERY LAX GUN LAWS.

>> THERE WAS A POLITICAL PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT, CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SHAKOWSKY BEING ARRESTED IN THE WAKE OF THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNING ROE.

THEY PASSED BILLS PROTECTED ACCESS TO BENEFICIAL CONTROL AND ABORTION BUT THOSE BILLS ARE LIKELY HEEDED FOR -- HEADED TO DEFEAT IN THE SENATE.

WHAT ARE THE VOTES ABOUT?

TO GET THE RECORDS IN ADVANCE TO THE MIDTERM?

>> AND NO DOUBT THAT THE ARRESTS WERE POLITICAL THEATRE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY ALL OF THE CAMERAS ALL OF THE CONGRESS PEOPLE BEING HAULED AWAY BY MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THOSE IMAGES ARE DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE IN STATES LIKE ILLINOIS WHERE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY WITH THE SUPREME COURT DECISION.

AND OF COURSE, I'M SURE CONGRESSWOMAN SHACK KAWASAKI HOPES THAT WILL TRANSLATE INTO HIGHER TURNOUT IN THIS NOVEMBER GENERAL'S ELECTION IN THE MIDTERMS.

WHETHER THAT WILL HAPPEN REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, THE FACT IS A BILL TO CODIFY ROE VS. WADE OR INSURE A FEDERAL RIGHT TO ABORTION CARE NATIONALLY, APPEARED DEAD ON ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

>> SOME OF THE SAME CULTURE ISSUES, GUNS ABORTION BEING HOTLY DEBATED BY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND REPUBLICAN OPPONENT FOR GOVERNOR DARREN BAILEY.

PARIS, THESE TWO MEN ARE POLAR OPPOSITES.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY, GUN RIGHTS, ABORTION.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A BELLWETHER ELECTION A RACE TO WATCH FOR A PREVIEW IN THE 2024 NATIONAL?

>> A PREVIEW OF WHAT THE 2024 NATIONAL CAMPAIGN MIGHT LOOK LIKE BUT THE RESULTS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL WHEN YOU TAKE INTO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VERSUS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HAS A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE FOR HIS ARGUMENTS HERE IN THE SO-CALLED CULTURE WAR ISSUES OVER DARREN BAILEY.

AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT DARREN BAILEY IS GOING TO RIDE THE HORSE THAT BROUGHT HIM HERE BEING AGAINST ABORTION AND AGAINST ANY RESTRICTIONS FOR GUNS OR GUN OWNERSHIP.

THOSE WOULD NOT APPEAR TO PLAY WELL IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

YOU'VE SEEN THE NATIONAL STRATEGY BY DEMOCRATS TO HELP SECRETLY HELP THESE MEGA FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS IN STATES WIN THEIR PRIMARIES THINKING THAT IT WILL BE A CAKE WALK IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

BAILEY WHO PRITZKER WANTED TO FACE.

THE QUESTION IS COULD THAT BACKFIRE?

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE FOUR, FIVE MONTHS FROM NOW AND WHERE THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD INDEPENDENT VOTERS WILL BE ON THE ISSUES AND MAYBE THEY WON'T BE SO TURNED OFF BY A SUPER FAR RIGHT MAGA CANDIDATE IF GAS PRICES ARE REALLY HIGH OR INFLATION IS BAD.

THIS IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.

DID THE DEMOCRATS OVERPLAY THEIR HAND HELPING BOOST THESE KIND OF SEEMINGLY UNPALATABLE FAR RIGHT CAMPAIGNS.

>> BAILEY'S CAMPAIGN COFFERS IS RUNNING LOW?

DO WE THINK THE G.O.P.

WILL BACK HIM THE WAY THEY DID IN THE PRIMARY?

>> THAT IS A REALLY BIG QUESTION THAT WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE RACE UNTIL NOVEMBER.

I THINK THAT THE ISSUE IS WHETHER DARREN BAILEY CAN CONTINUE TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK.

HE IS VERY GOOD AT DOING THOSE FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEOS TO HIGHLIGHT HIS ISSUES AND REACH HIS BASE.

WHETHER HE CAN TAKE THAT STRATEGY AND USE IT TO WIN STATE-WIDE RATHER THAN JUST IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER A BILLIONAIRE AND WHO HAS SAID HE IS PREPARED TO SPEND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN REELECTION HE IS GOING TO HAVE A MONETARY ADVANTAGE.

THE QUESTION IS CAN BAILEY USE OTHER STRENGTHS THAT HE HAS TO COMBAT THAT.

AND THAT IT IS A CLICHE BUT THE $64,000 QUESTION.

>> I WANT TO JUMP IN.

YOU MENTIONED 2024 WE CANNOT MENTION GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER GOING TO FLORIDA AND GIVING THAT SPEECH AND GETTING COVID.

GOING TO PARTS OF COUNTRY AND TRYING TO RAISE HIS NATIONAL PROFILE IT APPEARS LIKE HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT POTENTIALLY WAGING A CAMPAIGN IN 2024.

SHOULD BIDEN NOT RUN.

HE HAS ONE HURDLE TO GET OVER HERE THE ELECTION IN ILLINOIS.

BUT THAT REALLY MERITS A LOT OF WATCHING.

SEEMS TO HAVE RAMMED UP HIS EFFORTS TO BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER AMONG NATIONAL DEMOCRATS.

IN CITY NEWS ALDERPEOPLE UNANIMOUSLY AAPPROVING A LONG FOUGHT ETHICS DEBATE.

DOES THIS HAVE TEETH IS THIS GOING TO CURTAIL SOME OF THE CORRUPTION THAT WE'VE SEEN AT CITY HALL?

>> IF YOU LISTEN TO STEVE BERLIN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ETHICS IT WILL PUT CHICAGO AT THE VANGUARD OF ETHICS REFORM FOR CITIES AND THAT IS NO SMALL FEAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES BACK ROOM NEGOTIATIONS OVER THIS BILL.

AND IT CULMINATED WITH A PUBLIC CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THAT BOARD OF ETHICS.

SHE IS SAYING THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT THEY GO AFTER ELECTED OFFICIALS BELIEVED TO HAVE VIOLATED THE ETHICS RULES AND THE MEASURE THAT PASSED TODAY CHANGED HOW THAT WILL HAPPEN AND IT WILL GIVE THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO ANY CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS BEFORE WE IN THE NEWS MEDIA OR THE PUBLIC CAN EVEN GET A WHIFF THAT SOMETHING IS BEING INVESTIGATED.

THAT WILL BE A BIG CHANGE.

WHETHER IT HELPS REDUCE CORRUPTION?

I LEFT MY CRYSTAL BALL IN THE AFTERNOON.

>> YOUR MAGIC 8 BALL?

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO NASCAR RACING DOWNTOWN.

AMANDA SHOULD SHE HAVE CONSULTED WITH THE ALDERPEOPLE WHOSE WARDS WOULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED?

>> I'M NOT SURE YOU DON'T ASK THE QUESTION THAT YOU THINK IF YOU WILL GET THE ANSWER YOU DON'T WANT.

THIS IS A BIG THING FOR CHICAGO THAT WILL PRESUMABLY DELIGHT SOME FANS BUT ALSO BE A MONSTER INCONVENIENCE FOR BUSINESSES POTENTIALLY, FOR RESIDENTS OF THOSE AREAS, SO, YES, YOU CONSULT THE LOCAL ALDERPEOPLE WHOSE WARDS THIS WILL AFFECT.

WE HAVE FOR EXAMPLE ALDERMAN HOPKINS HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR MAYOR HIMSELF, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT IT.

AND LET'S HIT THE BRAKES WHILE THIS EVENT IS DIFFERENT IT IS SANCTIONED YOU HAVE TO FIGURE NASCAR IS GOING TO PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN.

AND MAYBE FILL POTHOLES AND PEOPLE WILL NOT MIND NASCAR COMING IN THAT IS COMPLETED.

BUT IT COMES AS THE OTHER CHANGES IN TERMS OF DEBATE ABOUT SPEED CAMERAS AND ABOUT DRAG RACING AND SO CERTAINLY THERE'S QUITE THE JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN THESE TWO EVENTS WELCOMING SPEEDERS, PROFESSIONAL ONES.

>> AND THE OPTICS AT THE SAME TIME TODAY THE CITY IS APPROVING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR DRAG RACING.

HEATHER IS THIS BAD OPTICS WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT'S A COINCIDENCE, TO CRACKDOWN ON THE ILLEGAL SIDE SHOWS WHICH ARE TRULY BECOMING VIDEO VIRAL EVENTS AND INVITING NASCAR TO NOT ONLY COME TO CHICAGO BUT TO RUN A RACE ON CITY STREETS AND TO SHUTDOWN MUCH OF THE DOWNTOWN DURING THE RACE AND BEFORE AND AFTER, IS A HUGE CHANGE.

AND IT WAS ONE THAT WAS MADE AT LEAST WITHOUT THE FULL CONSULTATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE LINGERING BAD FEELINGS ABOUT THAT.

ALDERMAN BRENDAN REILLY TOOK TO TWITTER TO SAY THAT THE MAYOR WAS PLAYING SEMANTICS BY SAYING SHE TOLD THEM ABOUT IT.

YEAH, SHE LET US KNOW IT WAS A DONE DEAL.

>> OBVIOUSLY IT'S A FUN DAY AT CITY HALL.

HEATHER CHERONE THANK YOU FOR COVERING THAT FOR US AND AMANDA VINICKY AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

>> AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT A SPECIAL TIME 9:00 P.M. THAT AFTER THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS.

WE'LL HAVE ANALYSIS OF THE HEARINGS RETURN TO PRIMETIME THIS TIME FOCUSING ON THEN PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP INACTION AS THE MOB STORMED THE CAPITOL.

AND WE SIT DOWN WITH TAYLOR BENNETT AHEAD OF HIS FREE CONCERT AT LINCOLN HALL.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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