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

INTEREST'S PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> CONSUMERS NOW CAN HAVE A CHOICE AT THE PUMPS.

>> CORN FARMERS CELEBRATE A NEW ETHANOL RULE AND WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS FOR CONSUMERS.

>> YOU LEARN FROM EACH TIME YOU GO AROUND.

>> ANOTHER GO AROUND RUNNING FOR MAYOR WILLIE WILSON OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MUCH MORE.

>> MEET CHICAGO'S NEWEST CITY COUNCIL MEMBER NICOLE LEE.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES ARE ON THE RISE BUT CONGRESS IS CUTTING FUNDING.

WE TALK WITH A DOCTOR ON THE FRONTLINES.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT THE CITY HAS THE FASTEST CARGO AIRPORT IN THE WORLD?

>> HERE IN ILLINOIS.

>> BUT DO ENVIRONMENTALISTS AGREE, THE CONTROVERSY BEHIND A RECENT AD FOR PRITZKER'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

>> I'M ANG ACT WE ARE OFFERING THE RECAP OF THIS YEAR'S EXPO CHICAGO.

>> DISGRACED FORMER ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS HAD A COURT HEARING TODAY.

THE ONCE POWERFUL CHAIR OF THE ZONING COMMITTEE TURNED GOVERNMENT INFORMANT WORE A WIRE DURING A PROBE OF MICHAEL MADIGAN AND ED BURKE.

TODAY HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF BRIBERY.

THE HEARING WAS EXPECTED TO BE A FORMALITY SINCE HE ADMITTED HE DEMANDED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A COMPANY THAT NEEDED HIS SUPPORT TO BUILD AN APARTMENT ON LAND.

BUT THE SESSION CAME TO A HALT WHEN AN ASSISTANCE U.S. ATTORNEY ON THE CASE TOLD THE JUDGE THAT ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE FEDS.

THE CITY NOTIFIED THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THIS MORNING THAT CITY OFFICIALS CONSIDER CHICAGO TO BE A VICTIM OF SOLIS' CRIME AND WANT TO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD AS PART OF THE CASE.

THE JUDGE AGREED TO SUSPEND THE HEARING TO GIVE ATTORNEYS A CHANCE TO WEIGH-IN BEFORE THE CASE MOVES FORWARD.

>> A GRAND OPENING FOR A NEW 102-BEDROOM GROUP HOME FOR SENIORS IN ENGLEWOOD.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS ON HAND FOR THE OPENING OF THE SEVEN STORY DEVELOPMENT FOR RESIDENTS 62 AND OLDER.

THE GROUP HOME INCLUDES 14 ACCESSIBLE UNITS AND THREE DESIGNED FOR THE SENSORY IMPAIRED.

AMENITIES INCLUDE COMMUNITY AREAS, A FITNESS CENTER, LIBRARY, COMPUTER LAB AND BEAUTY SALON.

THE $26 MILLION DEVELOPMENT IS PART OF THE CITY'S INVEST SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE.

>> OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR FAR TOO LONG.

OUR PEOPLE NEED THE SECURITY OF BEING IN A NICE PLACE TO LIVE.

>> CHICAGO'S MUSEUM OF CONTRARY ART IS SET TO RECEIVE A MAJOR DONATION OF AROUND 100 ARTWORKS.

ART COLLECTOR IS GIFTING MORE THAN 350 WORKS TO ART INSTITUTIONS IN CHICAGO, NEW YORK, ATHENS AND LONDON.

THE DIRECTOR DESCRIBED THE GIFT AS QUOTE ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL DONATIONS TO THE COLLECTION IN ITS ENTIRE HISTORY.

THE DONOR SAYS HE WAS MOTIVATED TO MAKE THE GIFT TO INSURE THE WORKS WERE CARED FOR AND PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE TO A BROAD AUDIENCE.

>> UP NEXT, THE LATEST EFFORT TO LOWER SOARING GAS PRICES.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> THERE'S BEEN MUCH ADO ABOUT HIGH GASOLINE PRICES AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

THE LATEST TOAST INCH DOWN COSTS RELIES ON ETHANOL.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE ON WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES.

>> THERE WERE STORMS IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS, NOT IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR GETTING SEEDS IN THE GROUND BUT IT DID MEAN THAT MARTY MARR HAD TIME TO TALK WITH ME.

MARTY MARR FARM SOYBEANS AND CORN.

>> WE ARE GETTING READY TO PLANT CORN RIGHT NOW.

OUR SEASON HAS BEEN DELAYED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

IT'S BEEN RAINY AND WET.

WE PLANTED A FEW ACRES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY TO GO.

BUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY A BIG DEAL FOR US.

>> HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE ETHANOL ANNOUNCEMENT THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MADE YESTERDAY AND NEIGHBORING STATE POLITICALLY IMPORTANT STATE OF IOWA.

AND THAT IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALLOW FUEL WITH A 15% ETHANOL BLEND TO CONTINUE TO BE SOLD ACROSS AMERICA.

>> IT'S 10 CENTS A GALLON CHEAPER.

AND SOME GAS STATIONS OFFER A BIGGER DISCOUNT THAN THAT.

BUT MANY OF THE GAS STATIONS THAT SELL IT HERE IN IOWA AND ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN AND PENNSYLVANIA ARE REQUIRED TO STOP SELLING IT IN THE SUMMER.

WITH THIS WAIVER ON JUNE 1 YOU WILL NOT SHOW UP AT YOUR LOCAL GAS STATION AND SEE A BAG OVER THE PUMP WITH THE CHEAPEST GAS.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP FEELING UP WITH E15 AND IT WILL SOLVE A PROBLEM.

>> ETHANOL IS A CORN-BASED SOLVE VENT THAT GETS BLENDED WITH GASOLINE AS THE PRESIDENT ELUDED TO.

WHEN YOU BUY GAS IT IS GOING TO BE SOLD WITH A 10% ETHANOL MIX BUT THE FEDS ALLOWED IT TO 15%.

EXCEPT DURING SUMMER MONTHS OUT OF CONCERN FOR SMOG.

THE BIDEN WAIVER WILL LIFT THAT RESTRICTION.

AND THE ILLINOIS CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CONSUMERS HAVE ACCESS TO E15?

>> THIS IS A CONSUMER ISSUE.

I THINK ETHANOL IS 80 CENTS A GALLON CHEAPER THAN GASOLINE.

IF CONSUMERS ARE OFFERED E15 THAT MEANS A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE SAVING FIVE TO 10 CENTS A GALLON FOR GASOLINE.

AND THAT IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW AS WE'VE SEEN GASOLINE PRICES GO EXTREMELY HIGH.

WE'RE SEEING OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN SOURCES OF OIL, THERE IS A REAL CONCERN ON ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AGAIN.

>> BUT HOW BIG A DIFFERENCE MARGINAL SAYS BRIAN BATTLE THE DIRECTOR AT TRADING AT PERFORMANCE TRUST.

>> WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE A CORNFIELD 99% IS FIELD CORN AND 40% OF THAT CORN GOES TO MAKE ETHANOL NATIONWIDE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DIVERTING SOME OF THAT CORN AND SWITCHING THAT TO PRODUCING ETHANOL.

THERE IS A COST.

THERE WILL BE WINNERS AND LOSERS.

THE COST OF CORN WILL GO UP THERE WILL BE MORE DEMAND FOR T AND THE COST OF OTHER THINGS, LIVESTOCK, PLASTICS COULD RISE.

SO WHY THEN THIS FOCUS ON ETHANOL AND LOWERING GAS PRICES?

>> BECAUSE A, POLITICALLY EVERYONE USES GASOLINE EVERYONE WILL RECOGNIZE THE PRICE CHANGED.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT DRIVES THE U.S. ECONOMY IF THE PRICE OF ENERGY GOES UP, THAT WILL AFFECT THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING ELSE BECAUSE IF YOU MAKE WIDGETS YOU HAVE TO USE GASOLINE TO DRIVE IT TO THE STORE.

IT WILL BE THE PRICE BAKED IN ALL THE GOODS WE USE BECAUSE THE GASOLINE PRICES ARE HIGHER.

>> THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE ROAD AS FAR AS CORN GROWERS ARE CONCERNED.

FUEL ADVOCATES LIKE THE FARMERS BACK A MEASURE INTRODUCED BY SHERRY BUSTOS OF ILLINOIS THAT NEXT GENERATION FUEL ACT TO ALLOW FOR MORE ETHANOL BLENDING IN THE FUTURE.

HIGHER PERCENTAGES.

BIOFUELS ARE A RENEWABLE PARALLEL PATH THAT THE NATION SHOULD GO DOWN AS IT MOVES TOWARDS ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> ILLINOIS RIGHT NOW HAS THE CAPACITY TO PRODUCE ABOUT 1.6, 1.8 MILLION GALLONS OF ETHANOL PER YEAR WITHIN ILLINOIS FROM CORN GROWN IN ILLINOIS.

AND ACTUALLY WE COULD PRODUCE -- SUBSTITUTE 40% OF OUR GASOLINE WITH THE ETHANOL PRODUCED RIGHT HERE IN ILLINOIS.

>> ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ARE WARY OF ANYTHING THAT PROPS FOSSIL FUELS AND COULD TAKE ACTION TO STOP BIDEN FROM IMPLEMENTING THIS E15 WAIVER.

BY THE WAY, YOU WILL FIND E15 AT GAS STATIONS AROUND CHICAGO.

A SMOG REDUCTION REQUIRES THAT GAS IN THE REGION BE REFORMULATE SOD IT BURNS MORE CLEANLY.

NOT ALL GAS STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE EQUIPPED AND HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER E15.

BUT, BACKERS OF BIOFUELS SAY THIS WILL PUT THEM ON THE PATH TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN THAT EQUIPMENT AND THERE IS MORE COMMENT PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS ACROSS THE MIDWEST AND OTHER AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES.

WITH THAT PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, AMMAN DAVMENT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMED THE CITY'S NEWEST ALDERPERSON TAKING OVER FOR PAT INDUSTRY DALEY THOMPSON WHO WAS CONVICTED OF FEDERAL TAX FRAUD.

AND JOINING US IS THE NEW ALDERWOMAN, NICOLE LEE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NOW, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR THREE WEEKS TAKING OVER IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART OF THIS TRANSITION?

>> PARIS, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

THE HARDEST PART OF THE TRANSITION HAS JUST BEEN TRYING TO GET MY ARMS AROUND ALL THAT THE JOB ENTAILS AND I'M LEARNING SOMETHING NEW SEVEN NEW THINGS A DAY.

>> THAT IS A BIG LEARNING CURVE.

ARE THERE HUGE BACKLOG OF REQUESTS FROM 11TH WARD RESIDENTS?

>> I DON'T HAVE A POINT OF REFERENCE FOR WHAT HUGE IS.

BUT THERE'S A BACKLOG OF THINGS.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ONLY THE ALDERPERSON CAN APPROVE.

SO THE STAFF THAT WE'RE STILL IN THE OFFICE FOLLOWING MY PREDECESSOR'S CONVICTION, DID A GREAT JOB WHAT THEY CAN DO TO KEEP THINGS MOVING.

BUT THERE WERE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD UP.

THAT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THEM RIGHT NOW.

>> ALL THE DIRTY WORK OF EVERY ALDERPERSON, THE PERMITS AND THE TREE TRIMMING.

ALL THAT FUN STUFF.

ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

A WELL DOCUMENTED RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIME THROUGHOUT COVID.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ON CITY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> I THINK THE RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE THING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND OBVIOUSLY IN PARTICULAR HERE IT HITS HOME FOR THE CHICAGO RESIDENTS AND I LIVE IN CHINATOWN AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN A RISE ON THAT FRONT AS WELL.

I THINK THAT BEING A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL IS LIKE THE FIRST STEP IN REALLY PUTTING A FACE AND HUMANIZING US IN A WAY THAT MAYBE RESIDENTS HAVE NOT SEEN US BEFORE.

AND JUST SEEING US AS REGULAR PEOPLE JUST LIKE THEM AND NOT SOME OTHER GROUP.

>> AND YOU ARE THE LONE ASIAN-AMERICAN ALDERPERSON ON CITY COUNCIL THERE WAS ONE RECENTLY WHO IS NO LONGER THERE.

LOTS OF CITY BUSINESS TO GET TO.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS GOING TO MAKE HER PICK ON A CITY CASINO ONE OF THE POSSIBLE LOCATIONS IS THE 78 RIGHT NEAR CHINATOWN.

ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF A CASINO PROPOSAL SO CLOSE TO YOUR WARD?

>> YOU KNOW PARIS?

I'M DOING A LOT OF LISTENING RIGHT NOW.

MY FOCUS IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAS BEEN GETTING MY ARMS AROUND ALL WHAT THE RESIDENTS NEED AND THE BACKLOG.

I PARTICIPATED IN THE 78 PRESENTATION TOWN HALL LAST WEEK.

GOING TO BE CO-HOSTING A COSPONSORING A TOWN HALL WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS SPECIFICALLY IN CHINATOWN AND GET FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE 78 PROJECT.

I WILL BE DOING A LOT OF LISTENING.

>> WHAT HAVE YOUR RESIDENTS SAID SO FAR?

>> WHAT I'VE HEARD, ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.

A LOT OF CONCERN FOR WHETHER OR NOT A NEW CASINO WILL BRING CRIME, SAFETY AND TRAFFIC CONCERNS OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO GET BACK AND FORTH REASONABLY WELL.

AND THEN ALSO THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING ADDICTION IN THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

AND WORRIES AND CONCERNS THAT OUR COMMUNITY WHRB PREYED UPON.

AND I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM BUSINESS OWNERS, TOO, ABOUT LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE BUSINESS TO COME TO CHINATOWN AND THE SOUTH LOOP AND BRIDGEPORT AS WELL.

I THINK THERE ARE CONCERNS ON BOTH SIDES.

THE CASINO IS COMING TO CHICAGO.

WE'VE GOT A LOT TO WEIGH AND I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO LISTENING A LITTLE BIT MORE AND HEARING FROM RESIDENTS MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE THE BAD STUFF, IF YOU WILL AND TO MAKE THE BEST OF ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY.

>> THERE MIGHT BE A SPILLOVER I IMPACT ON THE BUSINESSES IN CHINATOWN.

FOLKS GOING TO A CASINO.

THE 11TH WARD IS SET TO BE REDRAWN.

THERE ARE TWO COMPETING MAPS.

ONE BACKED BY THE BRACK CAUCUS AND ONE BACKED BY THE LATINO CAUCUS AND BOTH MAPS WOULD CREATE A ASIAN-AMERICAN MAJORITY IN THE 11TH WARD.

IS THERE ANY MAP THAT LOOKS BETTER IN YOUR EYES?

>> I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT EITHER MAP VERY CLOSELY YET.

RIGHT NOW I'M REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS OF TODAY'S 11TH WARD AND I'M GOING TO REVIEW BOTH MAPS WITH THOSE RESIDENTS AND THEIR CONCERNS IN MIND.

>> AND IF THERE IS NOT A DEAL AMONG ALDERPEOPLE WILL GO TO A PUBLIC REFERENDUM FOLKS SAID THEY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IT COULD LEAD TO A RACIAL FIGHT.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THIS GOING TO A REFERENDUM WOULD YOU PREFER IT GETS SOLVED BY CITY COUNCIL?

>> I THINK IT WOULD ALWAYS BE BETTER TO BE RESOLVED BY CITY COUNCIL.

WHAT WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM PAST HISTORY WHEN THESE HAVE GONE TO REFERENDUM IT BECOMES A VERY EXPENSIVE BILL FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO TO PAY FOR ULTIMATELY.

WHAT I'M HOPING FOR IS THAT SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION BE MADE.

ULTIMATELY, IF THAT COMES TO A REFERENDUM THE PEOPLE WILL DECIDE.

>> WHAT OTHER TOP OF MIND ISSUES THAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS?

>> SAFETY.

YOU KNOW.

I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT PREVIOUSLY AS I'VE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC.

MY TOP PRIORITY AND TOP CONCERN OF RESIDENTS IS SAFETY.

JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT IN THE WARD WHERE UNFORTUNATELY, VERY TRAGICLY A YOUNG LADY LOST HER LIFE.

THERE WAS A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF A CAR CHASE THAT CAME IN FROM OUTSIDE THE WARD AND ENDED ACROSS THE STREET FROM A PARK WHERE A LOT OF CHILDREN WERE PLAYING ON THE FIRST WARM DAY OF THE SPRING SEASON.

IT IS AT THE TOP OF MY MIND AND THE TOP OF EVERYBODY'S MIND IN THE CITY ESPECIALLY LEADERS RIGHT NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN A YEAR AND ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR WILL BE UP FOR REELECTION.

YOU'VE SAID YOU HAVE NOT DECIDED WHETHER YOU WANT TO RUN FOR A FULL TERM.

HAVE YOU DECIDED YET?

AND IF NOT WHAT IS YOUR TIME-FRAME?

>> I HAVE NOT DECIDED YET.

I'M INTO THE THIRD WEEK OF THE JOB AND I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS IS A JOB THAT I CAN DO AND DO WELL BEFORE I ASK THE RESIDENTS OF THE 11TH WARD TO CONSIDER ME SOMEBODY THAT COULD REPRESENT THEM LONG-TERM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL WATCH FOR THAT.

ALDERWOMAN NICOLE LEE CONGRATULATIONS ON THE JOB AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS PARIS, HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

>> YOU AS WELL.

>> AND BRANDIS, WITH THE LOOK AT THE ALARMING RISE OF STD'S HERE AND IN THE U.S. >> ACROSS THE COUNTRY, STATES HAVE BEEN SEEING AN INCREASE IN SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION CASES OF GONORRHEA INCREASED 45% SINCE 2016.

CASES OF SYPHILIS JUMPED 50% OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD AND CONGENITAL SYPHILIS HAS SEEN AN INCREASE OF 235%.

JOINING US IS Dr. ANU HAZARA.

HE IS PART OF THE CHICAGO CENTER FOR HIV ELIMINATION AND A MEMBER OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S TASK FORCE TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF STD'S.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO SOME OF THESE NUMBERS SEEING THIS INCREASE OVER THE LAST PSYCH, SEVEN YEARS -- SIX, SEVEN YEARS?

>> FROM THE REPORT PUBLISHED IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

LIKE YOU MENTIONED THE INCREASES ARE NOT NEW.

NOT JUST RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

THESE ARE STEADY INCREASES WE'VE SEEN ACROSS ALL INFECTIONS.

FOR NEARLY A DECADE NOW REACHING A SEVEN-YEAR ALL TIME HIGH.

IT INVIGORATES US TO TAKE ACTION AND INNOVATIVE ACTION TO HELP CHANGE THE CURVE THAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> WE CITED NATIONAL NUMBERS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE STATE OF STD'S IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS?

>> I THINK THE RISES ARE PARALLEL IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

I THINK THE TERNE ONES ARE CONCERNING LIKE CONGENITAL SYPHILIS THEY ARE NOT AS STEEP AS OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

AND IT HAS TO DO WITH INVESTMENTS THAT LARGE CITIES DO TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE REALM OF HIV AND STD CONTROL.

BUT NO MEANS IS CHICAGO PERFECT THERE IS A WAYS TO GO.

IN SOME WAYS, IN SOMEWHAT BETTER SHAPE THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

>> IT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC YOU'VE BEEN NOTICING THIS INCREASE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

WHAT IS CAUSING THIS INCREASE IN STD'S?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S MULTIFACTORIAL.

I LIKE TO SEPARATE THINGS ON INDIVIDUAL LEVEL ISSUES.

ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL AS A WHOLE OF THE NATION WE DON'T HAVE GREAT SEX EDUCATION OR MORE LIKE NOT MUCH EMPOWERMENT AROUND SEX EDUCATION.

AND THAT GOES BEYOND JUST BIRDS AND THE BEES AND TALKING ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH AND WE HAVE WAYS TO EVOLVE TEACHING FROM ADOLESCENTS ON TO YOUNG ADULTHOOD.

I THINK AT AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL FOLKS HAVE HARD TIME ACCESSING SEXUAL HEALTHCARE OR WHAT IT MEANS.

AND THIS PLAYS INTO THE MORE STRUCTURAL LEVEL ISSUES THAT GO AROUND IN TERMS OF LACK OF ACCESS TO CARE IN GENERAL WHETHER THEY BE INSURANCE OR OTHERWISE AND STIGMATIZATION AROUND THE WORD SEX AND ACT OF SEX AND INFECTIONS RELATED TO SEX.

AS A COUNTRY WE HAVE A LOT TO DO TO DISMANTLING THE STIGMA AROUND ALL HIV AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> WHAT IMPACT HAS THE PANDEMIC HAD ON WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT STI INFECTIONS?

>> IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE CITY'S REPORT YOU SEE THAT THE NUMBERS ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE THEY DECREASED IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR 2020.

AND THAT IS PROBABLY AN ARTIFICIAL DECREASE.

LIKELY MORE RELATED TO THE LACK OF TESTING.

COVID TAUGHT US ANYTHING IF IF WE DON'T TEST FOR A DISEASE WE DON'T SEE IT.

BUT HOWEVER, WHAT WE SEE BY THE END OF THE YEAR WE MATCHED IF NOT ABOVE THE CASES THAN IN YEARS PRIOR.

THAT IS WHERE THE PANDEMIC PLAYED THE LARGEST ROLE.

AND THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A DESTRUCT TORE IN THE REALM HOW WE DELIVER SEXUAL HEALTH.

CLOSING DOWN STI CLINICS AND PEOPLE WERE STILL HAVING SEX IT IS NOT LIKE STI'S TAKE A PAUSE THAT KEEPS GOING.

>> HOW HAS CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL FUNDING CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS?

AND WHAT IMPACT HAS THAT HAD ON THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF STI?

>> THERE'S BEEN INVESTMENTS ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OF HIV AS IT FALLS IN LINE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S HIV INITIATIVE AND A LOT OF THAT IS THE FEDERAL LEVEL DOWN TO STATE AND CITY LEVELS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO INITIATE INITIATIVES TO GET TO ENDING HIV IN OUR COUNTRY.

A LOT OF TIES HAND IN HAND WITH STI'S CONTROL.

A LOT OF THIS FUNDING THAT IS COMING FROM THE NATIONAL LEVEL EARMARKED FOR HIV WE ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE FOR SEXUAL HEALTH IN GENERAL BECAUSE THE TWO ARE LINKED.

>> AND DOCTOR, HAVE YOU SEEN A DISPROPORTION AT IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, FOLKS LOW INCOME WITH REGARDS TO THE HIGHER RATES OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS?

>> LIKE ALL DISEASES FROM COVID ONWARDS YOU SEE THEM ON THE RACIAL LINES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

AND IT HAS TO COME DOWN TO THE HAVE'S AND HAVE NOT'S.

WHO HAVE ACCESS TO CARE AND EDUCATION AND RESOURCES AND THOSE WHO DO NOT.

AND THAT IS A STRUCTURAL ISSUE BASED AROUND STRUCTURAL RACISM AND GENDER INEQUALITY WE HAVE.

IT IS NOT -- IT IS NOT SURPRISING TO SEE THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS, LATINX INDIVIDUALS FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE STI'S IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> INNOVATIVE ACTION AROUND THE PREVENTION.

IN 2019 MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CREATED A TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS THE INCREASE IN STD'S.

TELL US THE WORK THAT GROUP DOES.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE ANY WORK HAS TO BE COMMUNITY INFORMED AND IT CANNOT COME FROM IVORY TOWERS WE NEED FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WHAT WILL WORK ON THE GROUND.

THE TASK FORCE THAT WE'RE PART OF IS A GREAT AMALGAMATION OF ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXPERTS, CLINICAL EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZERS ACROSS THE SOUTH AND AND WEST SIDES WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPACTED ZIP CODES TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO THINK ABOUT STI CONTROL AMONGST THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITYS.

WHAT MORE COULD LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND GOVERNMENTS BE DOING IN THE FACE OF RISING NUMBERS, CHANGES IN CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL FUNDING?

>> I THINK AS A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE YOUR PATIENTS ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SEX THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT HAVING SEX.

TRYING TO DISMANTLE THE STIGMA AROUND SEX AND STI'S MAKING NORMALIZING GETTING STI TESTING DONE AND TREATED FOR STI'S AND UNDERSTANDING THAT SEX IS PART OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND IF WE ARE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS EASIER FOR US TO MANAGE.

AND THEN FROM THE GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT THINKING ABOUT, AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE YOU'RE PRIORITIZING ENDING HIV EPIDEMIC IT HAS TO BE IN CONCERT WITH THE STI CONTROL.

THE TWO CANNOT LIVE APART.

THEY ALL PLAY HAND IN HAND.

>> A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

Dr. ANU HAZARA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" JUST AHEAD.

SO STAY WITH US.

THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING WHY SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE UPSET ABOUT A RECENT AD FROM GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

FIRST, THIS YEAR'S EXPO CHICAGO MAY HAVE COME TO AN END BUT ARTISTS SAY THE SUPPORT SHOULD NOT END THERE THEY NEED IT ALL THE TIME.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US TO NAVY PIER FOR A LOOK BACK AT THIS WEEKEND'S GLOBAL ART FAIR AND SHARES HOW CHICAGO'S ARTS COMMUNITY CAN SUPPORT ARTISTS YEAR-ROUND.

>> IT'S UNIQUE TO BE STANDING HERE TODAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT A TYPICAL VIEW OF THIS ART FAIR.

>> THE WALLS THAT ONCE HOUSED THE INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OF CONTEMPORARY AND MODERN ART ARE COMING DOWN AFTER THE 9TH EDITION.

HELD AT NAVY PIER, NEARLY 30,000 ART LOVERS, COLLECTORS AND ARTISTS TRAVELED FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE TO TAKE PART IN THE ART FAIR.

>> IN 1980 A SHOW BEGAN YOU KNOW OUR CITY'S JOURNEY AS A HOST.

AND WE WERE BUILT ON THAT TRADITION.

BUT FOR ALMOST 28 YEARS THERE WAS ONE FAIR IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA AND IT WAS IN OUR CITY.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT TRADITION IS WHAT EXPO CHICAGO IS BUILT ON.

>> FROM CAPETOWN TO NEW YORK TO DETROIT THIS YEAR'S EXPO CHICAGO FEATURED MORE THAN 3,000 ARTISTS AS WELL AS MORE THAN 100 GALLERIES FROM 25 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

>> THREE OF THEM WERE RUN BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO FOR THE FIRST TIME RICHARD BEAVER'S GALLERY CAME IN FROM BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AND HE SOLD A PIECE BY MELVIN NESBITT JR. AND IT'S CALLED THE GREAT ICE CREAM CAKE AND AT THE 21C HOTEL IN CHICAGO.

THAT PIECE WILL BE HERE.

AND MIRIAM WHO HAS BEEN IN CHICAGO AND HAS A GALLERY IN PARIS SHE SIGNS HER FIRST CHICAGO BASED ARTIST.

>> THAT IS CARMEN NEELEY.

A MULTIMEDIA PLATFORM THAT PROMOTES ARTISTS OF COLOR SAY NEELEY'S STYLE OFFERS A FORM OF SENSE USALITY THROUGH ABSTRACT PAINTINGS.

THE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR INCLUDED ABSTRACT PAINTINGS.

>> AND THAT OUR NEXT SHOW IS BY HER.

SHE IS A PAINTER WHO IS MAGIC REALISTIC WHO LIVES IN WISCONSIN AND PAINTS IN WISCONSIN.

AND SHE IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL PAINTER.

HER WORK OFTEN COMES OUT OF LITERATURE.

AND HAS ALL SORTS OF LITTLE RATHER ILLUSIONS.

AND WHILE THE CITY'S INSTITUTIONS BIG AND SMALL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE CHICAGO BASED ARTISTS CORBET SAYS THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

ONE OF THOSE ELEMENTS IS ARTS COVERAGE TO ENCOURAGE ARTISTS AND ART LOVERS TO ENGAGE, EXPLORE AND CONTINUE THE WORK.

THE OTHER...

YOUNGER COLLECTORS.

>> IF WE HAD THOSE THINGS THEN THE COMMERCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE COULD GROW MORE THAN IT CAN.

IT CAN'T REALLY RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE WE -- WHAT IS GOING TO SUPPORT IT?

AND SO YOU CAN'T SAY WELL, NEED IS MORE GALLERIES WHICH WE DO.

WITHOUT HAVING MORE ON THE GROUND PEOPLE AROUND HERE WHO WERE GOING OUT AND NOT NECESSARILY BUYING BLUE CHIP ESTABLISHED ART BUT WERE TAKING A CHANCE ON YOUNGER ARTISTS AND THAT IS ESSENTIAL.

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

>> AND IF YOU MISSED EXPO CHICAGO BUT ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING THE ARTISTS THE CITY'S NEXT ART FAIR CALLED THE OTHER ART FAIR IS TAKING PLACE LATER THIS MONTH IN FULTON MARKET AND YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PIGMENT INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER ARTISTS.

WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... AN AD FROM THE GOVERNOR'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN IS UPSETTING SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

WE SHARE THE DETAILS.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU GUYS DONE WITH THIS HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE CRIME WAVE THAT IS COMING TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS?

>> AND TENSIONS FLAIR DURING LAST-MINUTE LEGISLATING BEFORE THE END OF SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WEIGHS IN ON THAT AND MORE.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> TWO POTENTIALLY HISTORIC NOMINATIONS TO THE FEDERAL BENCH IN ILLINOIS.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN NOPE NATALLED JOHN LEE SO SERVE OR THE 7TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS AND NANCY MALDONADO TO FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS.

LEE WOULD BECOME THE FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN TO SERVE ON THE APPELLATE COURT AND NANCY MALDONADO WILL BE THE FIRST HISPANIC TO BECOME A FEDERAL DISTRICT JUNG IN ILLINOIS.

>> TODAY IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT CHICAGO FLOOD OF 1992.

IT OCCURRED AFTER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SINKING BRIDGE PILINGS AT KENZIE STREET BREACHED AN OLD TUNNEL RUNNING UNDER THE RIVER.

IT ALLOWED A QUARTER OF MILLION LONES OF RIVER WATER TO FILL FREIGHT TUNNELS AND THE BASEMENTS OF MANY DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS.

IT FORCED THE CLOSURE OF OFFICES AND MUCH OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO FOR WEEKS AND CAUSED $2 BILLION IN DAMAGE.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS STORY AND HOW THE FREIGHT TUNNELS CAME TO BE.

>> AND THE BULLS PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE IS OUT.

THE BUCS HAVE HAD THE BULLS NUMBER AND THEY WILL BE THE FIRST OPPONENT SUNDAY.

IT WILL MARK THE BULLS RETURN TO THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS.

THE NBA CHAMPION BUCS ARE FAVORED TO WIN THE SERIES.

SUNDAY'S TIP-OFF IS SET FOR 5:30 IN MILWAUKEE.

GAME TWO A WEEK FROM TONIGHT WILL BE IN MILWAUKEE BEFORE THE BULLS RETURN TO THE UNITED CENTER FOR GAME THREE.

>> BRANDIS, WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

A NEW AD FROM GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN TOUTS THE SUCCESSES OF AN AIRPORT IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

TAKE A LOOK... >> YOU KNOW WHAT CITY HAS THE FASTEST GROWING CARGO AIRPORT IN THE WORLD?

IT'S RIGHT HERE IN ILLINOIS.

>> AND IT'S GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> THE AD GOES ON TO SHOW ROCKFORD'S AIRPORT AS AN IMPORTANT ENGINE FOR THE STATE BUT THE AD NEGLECTS ONE ELEMENT THE AIRPORT'S THREAT TO A PATCH OF ANCIENT PRAIRIE.

SO THEY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO GET THE MESSAGING ACROSS.

>> THE CITY HAS THE FASTEST GROWING CARGO AIRPORT IN THE WORLD IS RIGHT HERE IN ILLINOIS.

>> AND IT'S GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> AND WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THIS STORY.

THE REVISED AD IS OF COURSE REFERRING TO THE BELL BOWL PRAIRIE.

REMIND US WHY THAT IS CONSIDERED A SACRED PIECE OF LAND AND WHAT IS THE THREAT IT'S FACING?

>> YES.

SO BELL BOWL PRAIRIE IS A HANDFUL OF ACRES TUCKED INSIDE OF THE AIRPORT'S 3,000-ACRE PROPERTY.

AND IT IS A PRAIRIE REMNANT.

ILLINOIS, THE PRAIRIE STATE USED TO BE COVERED IN PRAIRIE HABITAT NOW THERE IS A FRACTION OF A PERCENT LEFT AND BELL BOWL HAPPENS TO REPRESENT A VERY SMALL PORTION OF A VERY IMPORTANT TYPE OF PRAIRIE KNOWN AS A GRAVEL PRAIRIE.

IT'S 8,000 YEARS OLD.

NEVER BEEN PLOWED.

IT'S EXTREMELY RARE.

SOME PEOPLE SAID THAT PRAIRIE POTENTIALLY IS RARER THAN HABITATS MORE ENDANGERED THAN THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL FOR THE STATE.

>> YOU SPOKE TO ADVOCATES ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN AD WHAT IS THEIR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> THEY WERE FRANKLY STUNNED BECAUSE TO THEM THE EXPLICIT SUPPORT FOR THE AIRPORT'S EXPANSION WHICH WILL BULLDOZE THROUGH BELL BOWL PRAIRIE TO THEM IS AN IMPLICIT SUPPORT FOR THE BULLDOZING OF THAT PRAIRIE FROM A GOVERNOR WHO HAS TRIED TO PITCH HIMSELF AS BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OR WHO HAS SAID WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE EITHER OR WE CAN HAVE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS.

BUT THIS SEEMS HEAVILY WEIGHTED TOWARDS THE AIRPORT'S ARGUMENT.

>> HAS THE GOVERNOR RESPONDED TO THEIR CONCERNS?

>> HE HAS NOT.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A MEETING OR A CONVERSATION WITH HIM OR HIS STAFF.

THEY REFERRED TO HIS OFFICE AS IMPENETRABLE AND WE DID NOT GET A RESPONSE EITHER FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

ALTHOUGH HIS CAMPAIGN FOLKS DID TELL US THE AD DOES NOT SIGNAL HIM TAKING A SIDE.

THOUGH THE FOLKS IN SUPPORT OF SAVING THE PRAIRIE WOULD ARGUE OTHERWISE.

>> PATTY WETLI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM BREAKS DOWN CHICAGO'S MAYORAL RACE.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> ANOTHER CANDIDATE THROWS HIS HAT IN THE RING TO CHALLENGE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT FOR THEIR JOB IN AN ELECTION THAT IS JUST 10-AND-A-HALF MONTHS AWAY.

PLUS, SOME END OF SESSION ACTION FROM SPRINGFIELD WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

WELCOME BACK AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

SO LET'S START WITH THIS... FORMER ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO A FEDERAL BRIBERY CHARGE.

HEATHER TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY AND ABOUT THAT AGREEMENT THAT SOLIS HAD WITH THE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS?

>> THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A VERY PRO FORM AHEARING SUPPOSED TO START THE CLOCK TICKING ON THIS DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT WHICH AT THE END PROMISES DANNY SOLIS WILL NOT DO A SINGLE DAY IN JAIL OR LOSE HIS CITY PENSION THOUGH HE HAS ADMITTED TAKING BRIBES WHILE HE SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S ZONING COMMITTEE.

THAT WAS WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND IT CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT WHEN AN ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY TOLD THE JUDGE, HEY, THE CITY WANTS TO INTERVENE BECAUSE THEY CONTEND THAT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY AND THE CITY ITSELF WAS A VICTIM OF DANNY SOLIS' CRIME.

SO THE JUDGE BASICALLY DELAYED EVERYTHING FOR A WEEK TO GIVE THE CITY A CHANCE TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT.

IN A STATEMENT AFTER THE HEARING MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT SHE PLANNED TO DO AND THAT SOLIS DESERVES TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS CRIMES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO.

AND SHE WAS DETERMINED TO ASK THE FEDERAL COURT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WHAT THAT MEANS, WE'RE NOT SURE.

>> PARIS, WHAT COULD THE CITY BE HOPING TO GAIN FROM INTERVENING IN THIS CASE?

>> WELL, THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC THAT SHE FILED THIS VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT.

AND THERE IS SOME PRESSURE AMONG MORE PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING HERE THEY DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT SOLIS HAS THIS AGREEMENT WILL GET OFF AT THE END.

BUT THE VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS COME INTO PLAY DURING TRIAL OR SENTENCING.

CLAIMING THAT THE CITY WAS VICTIMIZED BY SOLIS ALLEGEDLY TAKING BRIBES.

JUDGING BY THE PROSECUTOR'S STATEMENT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE CASE.

PROSECUTORS ARE HAPPY WITH THE RETURN THEY GOT FROM SOLIS.

WEARING A WIRE AND BEING A CENTRAL PART OF TWO MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS THAT OF ComEd AND MICHAEL MADIGAN AND ED BURKE.

I THINK THEY BELIEVE THAT SOLIS NOT GOING TO JAIL GETTING THE CHARGES DROPPED, PROBABLY WORTHWHILE FOR THE SERVICE THAT HE HAS RENDERED AS AN AGENT OF THE GOVERNMENT HERE.

THE CITY WILL MAKE ITS CASE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT CASE IS.

>> IS THAT NOT A LITTLE STRANGE?

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE CITY INTERVENE IN ANY OTHER CORRUPTION CASES FOR CITY REPRESENTATIVES?

>> IT IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE SEEN BEFORE.

LIKE I MENTIONED THERE IS SOME POLITICAL PRESSURE.

THE ALDERMEN THAT -- ALDERMAN, BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ HAS BEEN VOCAL THAT SOLIS FACE MORE PUNISHMENT FOR THE ALLEGED CRIMES.

PERHAPS THE MAYOR IS MAKING A POLITICAL NOD TO THE MORE PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

SAYING MY BRAND HERE IS TRANSPARENCY CLEANING UP CORRUPTION AND ENDING ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE WHICH IS A BIG PART WHAT GOT SOLIS IN TROUBLE BEING ON THE ZONING COMMITTEE.

>> THE BRIBERY CHARGE DATES BACK TO MONEY HE RECEIVED FROM A DEVELOPER IN 2015.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> SO BRIEFLY, STEPPING BACK, I HAVE TO SAY THE MOVE BY THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU GOT TO FIGURE THAT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE WAIT WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU ASKED IT RIGHT THERE.

THIS IS CONDUCT DATING BACK TO 2015.

HE WORE A WIRE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WITH BURKE AND MADIGAN.

SAYING STOP MESSING UP OUR CASE LIGHTFOOT YOU SHOULD KNOW YOU ARE A FORMER PROSECUTOR.

YOU KNOW HOW THESE THINGS WORK HAVE YOUR PRESS CONFERENCES DO NOT INTERFERE.

WHAT HAPPENED AND THE CONDUCT IN THE DEFERRED PROSECUTION IS A SINGULAR COUNT WHERE ALLEGEDLY SOLIS USED HIS POWER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE POWERFUL ZONING COMMITTEE TO GET CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AS THE ZONING COMMITTEE GAVE APPROVAL SEEKING THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS RIGHT THERE AND THEN DESPITE WARNINGS FROM THE STAFF, THAT MIGHT BE A BIT BRAZEN.

YOU WANT TO MAYBE DISGUISE THIS A LITTLE BIT.

AND THIS IS FOR A DEVELOPMENT COMPANY CONNECTED TO THE OWNER WHITE SOX AND THE BULLS.

BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE "THE SUN TIMES" UNCOVERED A FEDERAL AFFIDAVIT WHERE SOLIS DID MORE HE WAS SOLICITING VIAGRA, MASSAGES.

STAYED AT A LUXURY FARM BY A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTOR.

THERE IS A LOT MORE.

>> BUSINESSMAN WILLIE WILSON ANNOUNCED HE IS ONCE AGAIN RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

WILLSON EXPECTS TO HAVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

HERE HE IS THIS WEEK DISCUSSING CHICAGO'S CRIME RATE AND POLICE MORALE.

>> CRIME IS HIGH.

CRIME USED TO BE PRIOR TO THREE YEARS AGO IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

NOW IT WENT THROUGHOUT WHOLE CHICAGO AND SUBURBIA AS WELL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO IT'S ALL OUR PROBLEM WE HAVE TO GET IN AND FIX IT.

AND POLICE, MORALE IS VERY LOW.

AND THOSE MEN AND WOMEN PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE OUT THERE FOR US.

>> HEATHER HOW DOES WILLIE WILSON'S ENTRY INTO THE RACE SHAPE THE ELECTION?

>> I THINK IT DOES TWO THINGS: ONE, IT REMFTZS THE FACT THAT EVERYONE THINKS THAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS VULNERABLE IF SHE DOES RUN FOR REELECTION AS WE ALL EXPECT HER TO.

AND THE SECOND THING IT SETS UP AN INTERESTING CONTEST IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO.

WILLIE WILSON WON 13 OF 18 WARDS WHERE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE VOTERS ARE BLACK AND HE WAS A KING MAKER IN THE 2019 ELECTION WHERE HIS ENFORCEMENT OF LORI LIGHTFOOT OPENLY LESBIAN MARRIED TO A WATER AND HAD A -- WOMAN AND HAD A DAUGHTER HE IS KNOWN IN THE CHRISTIAN BLACK COMMUNITY AND HIS ENDORSEMENT SERVED AS A WAY INTO THAT COMMUNITY FOR HER.

NOW HE IS GOING AROUND TELLING PEOPLE THAT HE MADE A MISTAKE HE REGRETS THAT ENDORSEMENT THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT AND COULD MAKE IT HONESTLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR LIGHTFOOT TO GET TO 50% OF THE VOTE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING WHICH IS SET FOR FEBRUARY 23 OF NEXT YEAR.

IT COULD HAVE WIDE RANGING IMPACTS.

BUT LIKE YOU SAID WE ARE 10 MONTHS AWAY.

A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET IN THE RACE.

AND IT IS JUST GOING TO BE, AGAIN, A FREE-FOR-ALL.

>> WE'VE SAID 10-AND-A-HALF MONTHS AWAY BUT THAT IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY FOR SOME OF US.

I WANT TO KEEP IT MOVING AND GET TO SPRINGFIELD.

IN THE TIME DAYS OF THE SPRING SESSION LAWMAKERS PUSHED THROUGH SEVERAL BILLS INCLUDING ONE WAIVING VIOLATIONS AND TICKETS RELATED TO CARJACKINGS.

JIM DURKIN REFERENCED A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WAS A VICTIM OF A CARJACKING.

>> MY NIECE WAS CARJACKED AT 2:00 P.M. OUTSIDE OF HER APARTMENT IN LINCOLN SQUARE.

WHEN I SEE HER OVER THE HOLIDAYS SHE HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZED LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZED SUCH A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE THROUGH NO CONTRIBUTION ON HER OWN.

SHE IS GOING TO ASK WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THIS HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE CRIME WAVE THAT IS COMING TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> AMANDA, REMIND US ABOUT THE BILLS THAT PASSED IN SPRINGFIELD BEFORE THE END OF SESSION.

>> THERE WERE SOMETHING LIKE 408 BILLS THAT PASSED AND ILLINOIS PRESUMING THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THESE IS SET TO GET A NEW ROCK, A NEW STATE REPTILE.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIG ONES THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THE ECONOMY/PASSING A BUDGET, TAX RELIEF AND CRIME.

THE ISSUE BEING THAT WHILE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DEMOCRATS SELLING THIS AND SAYING HEY, WE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS, WE PASSED MEASURES THAT ARE GOING TO ADDRESS CRIME, FINDING A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT GET TO THE ROOT OF CRIME, VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS A TASK FORCE REFERENCED ALLOWING POLICE TO COOPERATE AND THERE WERE MAJOR BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS.

THOSE THAT COOK COUNTY SHERIFF HAS SAID ARE CENTRAL TO BEING ABLE TO CRACKDOWN ON CARJACKINGS BEING ABLE TO TRACE CARJACKED CARS THROUGH THE HELP OF AUTO MANUFACTURERS AND REPUBLICANS CALLING FOR STIFFER PENALTIES AND GREATER DEBATE THIS GOES BACK TO A 2021 MAJOR CRIME OVERHAUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

BEFORE THAT MAYOR'S RACE WE HAVE THE GUBERNATORIAL ONE.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER STILL NEEDS TO SIGN THESE BILLS INTO LAW.

PARIS, ARE ALL OF THESE GOING TO PASS HIS DESK WITH HIS SIGNATURE?

IS HE GOING TO LET A FEW GO?

>> PICKING UP FROM WHERE AMANDA LEFT OFF, NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE WEEKS OF PRESS CONFERENCES BY THE GOVERNOR AND SIGNING CEREMONIES FOR THE BILLS.

>> PEP RALLIES.

>> AND HE HAS AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

AND I THINK WITH THE CRIME BILLS I THINK HE WILL SIGN THE ONES THAT DID PASS.

CLEARLY HE WILL.

BECAUSE DEMOCRATS POLITICALLY ARE SCARED OF THE CRIME ISSUE IN THE POLITICAL RACES.

REPUBLICANS ARE MAKING THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THE CRIME WAVE AND TOUTING THEIR BELIEF THAT DEMOCRATS ARE SOFT ON CRIME.

PRITZKER IS GOING TO NEED EVENTS THAT MAKE THE NEWS AND SHOW DEMOCRATS TAKING ACTION ON CRIME, CARJACKING AND RETAIL THEFT.

HE WILL SIGN THOSE AND HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES THAT WILL LOOK LIKE PEP RALLIES AND HOPE THEY MAKE THE NEWS SO VOTERS TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

>> A REPORT FROM THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR OVERSEEING THE CONSENT DECREE BINDING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REFORM INDICATES THE DEPARTMENT IS STILL FALLING BEHIND IN SOME CAPACITIES.

HEATHER BRING US UP TO SPEED WHAT THE REPORT SAYS ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT C.P.D.

IS MAKING?

>> THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

AND WHILE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS TOWARDS FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS, IT'S STILL BEHIND ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM FOUND SEVERAL AREAS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ESSENTIALLY NEEDS TO WORK ON IMMEDIATELY, INCLUDING THE FOOT CHASE POLICY AND PLAN TO ENCOURAGE WHAT THE DEPARTMENT CALLS POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THE REPORT WAS VERY CRITICAL OF THE DEPARTMENT ON BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES.

AND I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE ARE NOW FAR ENOUGH INTO THE AGREEMENT THAT NOT ONLY IS THE DEPARTMENT NOT IN FULL COMPLIANCE BUT NEW PROBLEMS ARE POPPING UP.

AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL POSE A REAL PROBLEM FOR THE DEPARTMENT AS IT ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE OR CREATE TRUST IN CHICAGO'S COMMUNITY WHERE, OF COURSE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF REPEATED MISCONDUCT IN EVERY ASPECT OF POLICING.

>> AMANDA, HOW DOES THIS STATUS REPORT COMPARE TO WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS STATUS REPORTS?

>> IN TERMS OF A PROGRESS REPORT THERE WAS ACTUAL PROGRESS.

20% JUMP FROM THE LAST ONE AND 70% COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE WHICH IS WELL ABOVE AS I INDICATED THERE WHAT PRIOR REPORTS HAD SHOWN.

>> AND HEATHER, THERE IS A BIT OF NEWS WITH REGARD TO THE VACCINATION MANDATE FOR CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS.

WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE?

>> WELL, TODAY WAS THE DAY FOR OFFICERS TO GET THEIR SECOND AND TIME SHOT IF THEY GOT THE TWO-DOSE PFIZER OR MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE AND NOW THE BALL IS REALLY IN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S COURT.

HOW SHE WILL DISCIPLINE THE OFFICERS WHO HAVE REFUSED TO GET VACCINATED.

AND IT'S CLEAR THAT PART OF THE SOLUTION HAS BEEN GRANTING A HUGE NUMBER OF EXEMPTIONS BASED ON RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL ISSUES TO MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE GOTTEN THOSE EXEMPTIONS WHICH LEAVES ABOUT 700 OFFICERS OR A LITTLE BIT MORE AT RISK OF BEING DISCIPLINED OR TERMINATED BECAUSE OF THEIR REFUSAL TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> CHICAGO CITY CLERK ANNA VALENCIA RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE SHE IS FACING ALLEGATIONS OF STEERING CONTRACTUAL WORK TOWARDS HER HUSBAND.

PARIS WHAT IS THE CRITICISM SHE IS FACING?

>> HER HUSBAND IS A LOBBYIST WHO LOBBIED THE CITY AND THE STATE AND THE POLICY ACHIEVEMENT AS CLERK WAS THE CITY CARD ID CARD THAT WENT OUT TO EVERYBODY.

IT TURNS OUT ACCORDING TO THE REPORTING THAT HER LOBBYIST HUSBAND IS A PARTNER IN THE COMPANY THAT GOT THAT CONTRACT.

GOT MONEY FROM THAT.

AND TURNS OUT THAT VALENCIA LOBBIED MAYOR LIGHTFOOT FOR A KIOSK PROGRAM TO BE PUT IN THE ILLINOIS MEDICAL DISTRICT.

IT TURNS OUT ACCORDING TO THE REPORTING THAT HER HUSBAND WOULD HAVE BENEFITED FINANCIALLY FROM THAT AS WELL.

THIS IS A VERY TRICKY ISSUE FOR VALENCIA ONE OF THE JOBS AS SECRETARY OF STATE IS TO OVERSEE THE TRANSPARENCY RULES FOR THE STATE.

VOTERS WILL BE LOOKING AT HER RECORD AND SHE HAS VOWED HER HUSBAND WILL NOT LOBBY THE STATE OR STATE AGENCIES IF SHE WINS THAT THE OFFICE.

SHE IS RUNNING AGAINST ALEXI GIANNOULIAS AND DAVID MOORE IN THE PRIMARY.

WE'LL SEE IF IT WILL BE ENOUGH TO ASAGE THE CONCERNS WITH THE LOBBYING/PUBLIC OFFICIAL ARRANGEMENT.

>> NEW JOINT ANALYSIS LOOKS INTO CITY COUNCIL MEETING ATTENDANCE RATES BY ALDERPEOPLE DATING BACK TO 2019.

WHAT DID THIS FIND IN THE WAY OF THE AVERAGE ALDERMANIC ATTENDANCE WHAT DID IT TELL US?

>> THE MOST VETERAN ALDERPEOPLE ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO ACTUALLY SHOW UP TO DO THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.

AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE A LOT OF EXCUSES ABOUT WHY THEY HAVE NOT MADE THOSE MEETINGS.

WHAT IS INTERESTING, THOUGH, THANKS TO THE PANDEMIC, THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE ALL STILL VIRTUAL AND THAT BOOSTED THE ATTENDANCE FROM 60% BACK IN 2019 TO ABOUT 80% NOW.

WE ALL KNOW IT'S EASIER TO ROLL OUT OF BED AND THROW ON A TOP THAN TO MAKE IT TO CITY HALL.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THE COMMITTEES STAY VIRTUAL BECAUSE MORE ALDERPEOPLE HAPPEN TO BE ATTENDING THAT.

>> THAT IS SPOTLIGHT POLITICS THANKS TO HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> UP NEXT, REMEMBERING THE GREAT CHICAGO FLOOD 30 YEARS LATER.

STAY WITH US.

>> AS MENTIONED, TODAY MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE STORIES IN CHICAGO HISTORY.

THE GREAT LOOP FLOOD BEGAN ON APRIL 13TH, 1992.

SOME DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS MYSTERIOUSLY BEGAN FLOODING, FISH WERE FOUND SWIMMING AROUND IN THE BASEMENTS.

THE FLOODING LED TO A HALT IN SUBWAY SERVICE, A SHUTDOWN OF THE BOARD OF TRADE AND MASS EVACUATIONS.

THE CITY SEARCHED FOR ANSWERS IN A TUNNEL SYSTEM.

HERE IS A CLIP FROM THE WTTW PRODUCTION CHICAGO STORIES DOWNTOWN DISASTERS.

>> OVER AT CITY HALL, THEY SCRAMBLED TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

>> THERE WERE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAN USUAL IN THE CITY HALL PRESSROOM.

EVERYONE WAS BUZZING WITH WHAT IS GOING ON?

I KEPT ASKING MY NEWS DIRECTOR YOU MEAN THE RIVER IS FLOODING ITS BANKS?

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE.

HE SAID NO IT'S FLOODING UNDERGROUND.

AND AGAIN I WAS LIKE HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> CHICAGO'S RESIDENT TRANSIT HISTORIAN HAD A HUNCH.

LISTENING TO THE NEWS FROM HIS DESK AT THE MERCHANDISE MART BRUCE MOFFETT PIECED TOGETHER THE CLUES.

>> I THOUGHT INSTANTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE THE FREIGHT TUNNELS.

>> ALL THE BUILDINGS HAD ONE THING IN COMMON THEY WERE CONNECTED TO THE FREIGHT TUNNELLESS.

I THINK THE FREIGHT TUNNEL SYSTEM IN CHICAGO IS SORT OF A SURPRISE TO MOST PEOPLE.

THE FREIGHT TUNNEL SYSTEM WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AS A WAY TO BRING TELEPHONE WIRES TO DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS.

EARLY 20TH CENTURY.

SO A SMALL COMPANY DECIDES TO BUILD THIS TUNNEL SYSTEM.

>> START AS ILLINOIS TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH AND THEY DID BUILD A TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

>> BUT THE COMPANY HAD ANOTHER PLAN.

IT SECRETLY BUILT TUNNELS BIG ENOUGH TO OPERATE A SMALL RAILROAD.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER ABOUT CHICAGO AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY IT WAS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES ON EARTH.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT IT WAS CONGESTED.

>> THE REASON FOR FREIGHT UNDERGROUND WAS SIMPLY TO AVOID DOWNTOWN LOOP CONGESTION.

>> WHILE ILLINOIS TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH DID HAVE A LICENSE TO INSTALL WIRES DOWN THERE, IT DID NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO BUILD A RAILROAD.

>> THE ALDERMAN AND THE MAYOR WERE SHOCKED THIS WAS GOING ON.

THE ALDERMEN WERE MORE SHOCKED THEY WERE MISSING OUT ON A REVENUE-GENERATING OPPORTUNITY FOR THEMSELVES.

>> THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS THE COMPANY GAVE 21 ALDERMEN $110,000 IN THE BACK OF A BAR.

AND IN 1906, CHICAGO'S FREIGHT TUNNEL SYSTEM OPENED FOR BUSINESS.

SITTING 40 FEET BELOW THE LOOP IT WAS THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN THE WORLD.

>> IT WAS CONSIDERED AN ENGINEERING MARVEL.

IT WOULD MAKE IT TO 62 MILES OF TUNNEL.

UNDER EVERY STREET DOWNTOWN AND A BIT BEYOND.

>> THE FREIGHT TUNNELS WERE USED SPECIFICALLY FOR BRINGING IN COAL, FOR HEATING AND HOT WATER, THE REMOVAL OF ASH AND PACKAGE EXPRESS.

>> BUT BY THE LATE 1920s, THE TUNNELS STARTED LOSING THEIR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

>> PART OF THE REASON WAS THE ADVENT OF THE MOTOR TRUCK AND THEIR ABILITY TO HANDLE LARGER LOADS AND GO GREATER DISTANCES.

>> BY 1959, THE FREIGHT TUNNELS WERE CLOSED AND LARGELY FORGOTTEN.

>> THEY DID MINIMAL INSPECTIONS BUT IT WAS REALLY OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND.

HAS NO IMPACT ON DAY-TO-DAY LIFE UNTIL THINGS GET DISRUPTED.

>> THE TUNNELS MOST CERTAINLY BEEN DISRUPTED.

>> YOU WILL HAVE TO WATCH TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

THE GREAT LOOP FLOOD OF 1992 WAS A $2 BILLION DISASTER AND IT STARTED 30 YEARS AGO TODAY.

TO WATCH MORE OF CHICAGO STORIES DOWNTOWN DISASTERS HEAD TO WTTW.COM/NEWS/CHICAGO STORIES AND CATCH THE LATEST EPISODE MAD MEN OF CHICAGO DETAILING THE CITY'S RICH HISTORY AS A LEADER IN THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY THAT PREMIERS FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. ON WTTW AND ON-LINE.

>> 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.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND 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 7:00 P.M.

HEAR FROM COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ON CHICAGO'S THREE CASINO PROPOSALS AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND ONE-ON-ONE WITH TOP CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY BEN CRUMP.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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