HOW LOCAL RELIGIOUS WHRADDERS AND CON DEGREE GRATIONS ARE CELEBRATING.

>> AND A VISIT WITH GUITARIST GEORGE FREEMAN WHO HAS GONE FROM JAZZ TO FUNK AND ALL THE PLACES IN-BETWEEN.

>> AND BRANDIS AND PARIS, I'M IN RIVER WEST AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

WE'LL HAVE COMMUNITY REACTION TO CHICAGO'S FINAL THREE CASINO PROPOSALS.

SOME PEOPLE FEAR A RISE IN CRIME AND OTHERS TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON SMALL BUSINESSES.

OTHERS ARE HOPEFUL IT COULD PROVIDE GOOD PAYING JOBS.

WE WILL HAVE THAT AND MORE BUT FIRST, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND TOP STORIES, THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE KOS LOOK LOPSIDED THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE VOTED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.

IN A STATEMENT RNC CHAIRWOMAN RONNA MCDANIEL SAYS QUOTE... >> McDANIEL SAYS REPUBLICANS WOULD QUOTE FIND NEWER BETTER DEBATE PLATFORMS FOR G.O.P.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

>> A YEAR AFTER 13-YEAR-OLD ADAM TOLEDO WAS KILLED BY A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER, THE AGENCY TASKED WITH REVIEWING THE SHOOTING SAID IT CONCLUDED ITS INVESTIGATION.

THE KILLING SPARKED PROTESTS AND CALLING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REVISE THE FOOT PURSUIT POLICY.

THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SAYS IT HAS DELIVERED THE TIME REPORT AND INVESTIGATIVE MATERIALS RELATED TO THE SHOOTING TO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

IN A STATEMENT COPA SAYS IT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE TOLEDO FAMILY AND ASK FOR PATIENCE AS THE INVESTIGATION MOVES THROUGH THE POST INVESTIGATION PROCESSES.

BROWN HAS UP TO 90 DAYS TO ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.

SUPERINTENDENT BROWN IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" THIS SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M. >> THE DOCTOR WHO LED THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS A NEW POSITION.

DR. NGOZI EZIKE HAS BEEN NAMED THE NEW PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF SINAI CHICAGO.

DESPITE MULTIPLE JOB OFFERS SINAI WAS THE RIGHT FIT.

>> MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY AND WORKING WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

AND FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS SINAI CHICAGO HAS DONE THE EXACT SAME THING.

>> DR. NGOZI EZIKE STEPPED DOWN LOST MONTH AND WILL TAKEOVER OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN JUNE SHE WILL BE REPLACING A WOMAN WHO LED THE SYSTEM FOR 15 YEARS.

>> PFIZER SAY A BOOSTER SHOT OF THE COVID VACCINE FOR KIDS GREATLY INCREASES THE NUMBER OF ANTIBODIES.

THE COMPANY SAYS A STUDY ON 140 CHILDREN 5-11 FOUND THE ANTIBODIES OF THE VIRUS WAS 36 TIMES HIGHER ONE MONTH AFTER THE BOOSTER SHOT WAS GIVEN.

THE COMPANIES PLAN TO REQUEST EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.

>> UP NEXT, OUR FIRST STOP AT ONE OF THE THREE PROPOSED CHICAGO CASINO SITES.

STAY WITH US.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS BETTING ON A CASINO FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO BY 2025.

THERE ARE THREE FINALISTS ON THE TABLE.

AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND PRODUCER ACASILLA HERNANDEZ VISITED SITES PROPOSED ABOUT HOW THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS FEEL.

AND THE FIRST SITE WE'LL FEATURE TONIGHT... >> THAT IS RIGHT.

FIRST I'M ALONG ERIE STREET NEXT TO THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" PRINTING PLANT.

THAT IS WHERE BALLY'S PROPOSED TO BUILD A CASINO AND RESORT.

THE $1.7 BILLION IS WILL INCLUDE 700 HOTEL ROOMS AND THEATRE AND EXTENSION OF THE RIVERWALK.

HERE IS DRONE FOOTAGE OF THE SPACE.

IT MEANS BALI WOULD BE TAKING OVER A TRIBUNE PRINT PUBLISHING PLANT WE SPOKE WITH BRIAN ISRAEL ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF A CASINO BEING BUILT IN HIS COMMUNITY'S BACKYARD.

>> BALLY'S THE AVERAGE POPULATION OF THE 13 TOWNS WHERE THEY HAVE CASINOS IN THE COUNTRY IS 110,000 PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE NEVER DONE A PROJECT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THIS SCOPE OR SCALE.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO COMPLETE SO THE PRICE TAG WILL GO UP THAT MEANS THEY TAKE ON DEBT OR RAISE CAPITAL.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THE FINANCING PLAN IS QUESTIONABLE WE WONDER WHAT IF THE PROJECT FAILS?

AND WHAT IF IT FAILS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ISRAEL SAYS THERE'S 27,000 RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND ACCORDING TO A SURVEY, ABOUT 80% OF RESIDENTS ARE AGAINST THE BALLY'S PROJECT.

CONCERNS ARE TRAFFIC AND THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.

HE QUESTIONED IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THAT DENSITY.

>> WE SHARE THE GOALS OF REVENUE GENERATION AND WE THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE INCREASED TOURISM AND INCREASED COMMERCE THAT IS ALL GOOD.

WE WANT TO CREATE JOBS AND WE WANT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT CASINOS TEND TO BE REGRESSIVE IN THEIR ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

THE EFFECT ON LOWER INCOME PEOPLE IS WORSE THAN THE EFFECT ON HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE.

>> WE SPOKE TO LOCALS WHO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THE CASINO WOULD HAVE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

ACCORDING TO BALLY'S THERE ARE PLANS TO BUILD A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CONNECTING THE CASINO TO WEST ERIE STREET SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT.

>> I DON'T LIKE ALL THE ACTIVITY IT BRINGS.

IT IS A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD SO I'M NOT CRAZY ABOUT IT.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE GAMBLING ISSUES.

JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> AND BALLY'S IS COMMITTING TO BRINGING TOGETHER AN ASSOCIATION MADE UP OF MINORITY DESIGN FIRMS TO WORK ON THE PROJECT.

UP NEXT WE BREAKDOWN WHAT HARD ROCK IS PROPOSING AT SOLDIER FIELD.

>> BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> CONTROVERSIAL PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES TOOK PRIORITY IN SPRINGFIELD AND WE KNOW THAT ILLINOIS HAS PASSED A BUDGET BUT A LOT OF CHANGES ARE COMING AS WELL.

THANKS TO STATE LAWMAKERS RUSH OF ACTIVITY.

AMANDA VINICKY IS HERE WITH A RUNDOWN.

>> YEAH, BRANDIS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF CHANGES COULD BE ON THE WAY.

LEGISLATORS PASSING MORE THAN 400 BILLS THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WITH GETTING MANY IN FACT GETTING ACROSS THAT FINISH LINE JUST THIS PAST WEEK.

SO FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MINUTES I WILL GIVE YOU THE CLIFF NOTES VERSION OF SOME HE HAVE THEM.

ONE, A EXTENSION OF A LAW THAT GOT ATTENTION THAT BANS SCHOOLS FROM PUNISHING STUDENTS FROM HAVING ETHNIC HAIR STYLES.

IT WOULD FORBID COMPANIES FOR DISCRIMINATING SOMEONE BECAUSE OF HAIR.

BLACK PEOPLE LOST OUT ON JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEIR HAIR STYLE DID NOT COP FORM WITH EURO CENTRIC STANDARDS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SIMPLY PROHIBITING HARM.

BUT IT IS A STATEMENT THAT FRANKLY NEEDS TO BE MADE AND THAT STATEMENT IS THAT BLACK WOMEN AND THE WAY THEY WEAR THEIR HAIR IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT.

>> FOR FAR TOO LONG MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE WORN NATURAL HAIR OR PROTECTIVE HAIR STYLES TOLD THEIR HAIR WAS UNPROFESSIONAL OR UNRULY.

>> OTHER MEASURES HEADING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK INCLUDE BILLS TO INSURE THAT GROCERY STORES SHOW THE ORIGINAL AND SALE PRICE WHEN YOU CHECK OUT.

BANNING STATE PARK VENDORS FROM USING PLASTICS.

REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO OFFER PLANT BASED OPTIONS TO STUDENTS AND ALLOWING TEACHERS TO TAKE MENTAL HEALTH DAYS.

OTHER MEASURES ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING AND THAT IS DRIVING.

MAKES IT CLEAR THAT SPEEDING IN A PARK WILL BE TREATED THE SAME AS IF YOU WERE PENALIZED FOR SPEEDING IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND THAT BRINGS A HEFTIER FINE THAN IF YOU ARE SPEEDING ELSEWHERE.

ANOTHER MEASURE MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO BLOCK TRAFFIC BY PERFORMING STUNTS ON STREETS OR CARS.

SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTATIVE LA SHAWN FORD HAS AN ISSUE IN CHICAGO.

>> THE GENESIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DETER SIDE CAR SUPPORTS ON HIGHWAYS.

>> -- STUNTS ON HIGHWAYS.

>> JULIAN ALVAREZ IS SPONSOR OF LEGISLATION BROUGHT TO HER BY A DUPAGE COUNTY TEENAGER CONCERNING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HIS ALWAYSTIES PARTICULAR TWIN BROTHER WERE TO BE STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER.

IN A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP.

THIS IS A MEASURE THAT CREATES A WAY TO REGISTER WITH THE STATE IF SOMEONE HAS A COMMUNICATIONS DISABILITY.

POLICE WOULD SEE THAT WHEN THEY RUN A PLATE.

SENATOR MORRISON SAYS THIS WILL MAKE THINGS GO SMOOTHER FOR THE DRIVER AND THE OFFICER.

>> NORMAL FOR THOSE PEOPLE UNDER STRESS.

BODY MOVEMENTS OR LANGUAGE, LACK OF EYE CONTACT.

LOOKING AWAY NOT SPEAKING.

IT'S NOT BEING DISRESPECTFUL.

IT'S JUST PART OF WHO THEY ARE.

AND THIS GIVES THE OFFICER A CHANCE BEFORE HE GETS OUT OF HIS SQUAD CAR TO UNDERSTAND WHO HE MAY BE APPROACHING.

>> NOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN CHICAGO MAY RECALL IN 2016 WHEN ILLINOIS CLOSED ALL VEHICLE EMISSIONS TESTING CENTERS IN THE CITY.

AND YOU'VE GOT LAWMAKERS FROM CHICAGO SAYING THAT IT'S MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS FORCING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THE TIME OFF TO HAVE TO TRAVEL TOO GREAT OF DISTANCES TO GET THAT DONE.

IN FACT WE HAVE A VIDEO FROM A LEGISLATOR FROM THE CITY WHO HAD TO TRAVEL TO THE SUBURBS TO GET HIS CAR TESTED AND HAD TO WAIT IN A LONG LINE.

HE SH ESTIMATED 100 CARS AND IS AMONG THE CHICAGO LEGISLATORS HELPED TO PASS A MEASURE TO BRING EMISSIONS TESTING BACK TO THE CITY.

MEANWHILE, AS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET THEIR COVID VACCINES OR BOOSTERS, A MEASURE PASSED TO EXPAND THE POOL OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN ADMINISTER THOSE SHOTS TO OPTOMETRISTS ALLOWED TO GIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE BUT ONLY TO ADULTS.

FINALLY, YES, IF YOU WERE I DON'T KNOW SLEEPING UNDER A ROCK IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR THIS YEAR.

THAT DOES INCLUDE CONTESTS FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT THAT ARE EXPECTED TO GET COMPETITIVE.

DEMOCRATS APPROVED A MEASURE THAT WILL LIMIT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS IN JUDICIAL CONTESTS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TO MAKING SURE THAT CIRCUIT JUDGE RACES, APPELLATE COURT AND SUPREME COURT JUDGE RACES ARE FREE OF THE POLITICS AND THE BIG MONEY SPENDING THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER IN OUR JUDICIAL RACES.

>> REPUBLICANS SAY THAT THE TRUE MOTIVATION NOT TO PROTECT THE JUDICIARY, BUT THE DEMOCRATS GIVE THEIR OWN PARTY A LEG UP.

>> I FIND IT INCREDIBLY RICH AND IMMENSELY HYPOCRITICAL TO HEAR THOSE WORDS.

LET'S REVIEW THE SERIES OF EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE ILLINOIS JUDICIARY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

EVERY TIME WE DO A ELECTION QUOTE REFORM IN THIS BODY IT'S TO BENEFIT ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING THINGS FAIR.

>> OUTSIDE EXPERTS HAVE QUESTIONS THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF SETTING THE CAMPAIGN LIMITS.

WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

THAT MEASURE CREATING A TASK FORCE THAT IS GOING TO LOOK INTO IN THE FUTURE CREATING PUBLICLY FINANCED CAMPAIGNS FOR JUDICIAL CONTESTS.

NONE OF THESE ARE LAW YET, BY THE WAY.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER STILL HAS TO ACT ON THEM IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

ON THESE AND SCORES MORE.

THE SPOTLIGHT YESTERDAY, I MENTIONED ONE OF THOSE AND THAT IS A PROPOSAL TO GET ILLINOIS A STATE ROCK IN CASE WERE YOU WONDERING.

IT WOULD BE DAHL MIGHT.

BACK TO YOU.

DOLL MIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COULD A MASK MANDATE MAKE A RETURN IN CHICAGO AND ACROSS THE STHAT?

WE GO TO PARIS FOR MORE.

>> THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS WARNING ABOUT A SLOW RISE IN COVID CASES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IT COMES AMID RISING CASES NATIONWIDE AND AFTER THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA ANNOUNCES IT WILL REINSTATE ITS OWN INDOOR MASK MANDATE.

CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SHOWS A STEADY RISE IN CASES HERE AS WELL.

WILL AN INDOOR MASK MANDATE RETURN?

AND IF SO, WHEN?

HERE TO TALK US US ABOUT THAT IS Dr. RACHEL RUBIN SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER AND COLEAD AT THE COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO TICK OFF THE LATEST CHICAGO STATS...

THE CURRENT DAILY COVID CASE LOAD IS 440 NEW CASES PER DAY.

THAT IS UP OVER 305 CASES PER DAY LAST WEEK.

THAT IS 44% INCREASE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE NUMBERS?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MY JURISDICTION IS SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY AND NOT THE CITY BUT OUR NUMBERS PARALLEL THE CITY QUITE CLOSELY.

SO TO MAKE SORT OF GENERAL STATEMENTS ABOUT THE CHICAGOLAND AREA, WE ARE SEEING A RISE IN CASES.

AND THEY ARE PREDOMINANTLY THIS BA.2 SUBVAURNT OF OMICRON IT IS NOT TO BE EXPECTED THAT WE ARE -- NOT TO BE UNEXPECTED WE ARE SEEING THE RISE IN CASES RIGHT NOW.

>> AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WAS ASKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF REINSTITUTING THE INDOOR MASK MANDATE LET'S LOOK WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> I THINK THE TOWN AND CITIES ACROSS ILLINOIS AND THE COUNTRY, SHOULD DO WHAT THEY FEEL IS NECESSARY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

I FEEL LIKE RIGHT NOW, IDPH AND OUR EXPERTS ON THE OUTSIDE THAT WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE.

>> GIVEN THE NUMBERS IN CHICAGO AND SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK A MASK MANDATE MIGHT BE USEFUL HERE?

>> WELL, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE NEWER C.D.C.

RUBIC TO DETERMINE COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION AND COMMUNITY RISK, LOOKING AT TOTAL NUMBERS OF CASES INCREASING IN AND OF ITSELF DOESN'T GIVE US ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER WE WOULD WANT TO PUT IN PLACE STRICTER MITIGATION AGAIN.

WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT HOSPITALIZATION RATES AND EMERGENCY ROOM UTILIZATION.

AND PUTTING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER TO SEE WHETHER THERE IS AN INCREASE IN SEEING SEVERELY ILL PEOPLE GETTING SEVERELY ILL CASES OF COVID.

AND IF THERE IS A IMPENDING STRAIN ON OUR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES.

AT THIS POINT WE DO NOT SEE THAT.

AND WE ARE STILL IN THIS WATCHFUL WAITING PERIOD AND HOPING THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO MANDATE INDOOR MASKING FOR EXAMPLE AT LEAST NOT AT THIS POINT.

>> WOULD YOU EXPECT TO SEE A CORRESPONDING RISE IN THE HOSPITALIZATION RATES?

OR IS THE SITUATION DIFFERENT NOW WITH VACCINATION AND WITH THE BA.2 VARIANT?

>> I THINK THAT OUR VACCINATION RATES ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS ARE QUITE GOOD.

IN TERMS OF FIRST DOSES AND COMPLETE SERIES.

WE NEED TO BE CATCHING UP ON THE BOOSTERS.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE GETTING OUT AND GETTING THEIR BOOSTERS IF THEY QUALIFY FOR THEM.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT EVEN WITH THAT, MANY PEOPLE GOT THE ORIGINAL OMICRON VARIANT AND LIKELY MAY STILL HAVE SOME LEVEL OF IMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT YET WANED FOR THIS SUBVARIANT OF OMICRON THIS BA.2.

THAT IS POTENTIALLY PROTECTIVE.

ALSO INDEED BECAUSE OF THE VACCINATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THAT WOULD BE PROTECTIVE.

SO I ANTICIPATE WE WILL BEGIN TO SEE IN A WEEK OR TWO, A RISE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

BUT THE HOPE IS THAT THAT RISE WON'T BE CERTAINLY SIGNIFICANT, CERTAINLY NOT CLOSE TO THE LEVELS WE HAD IN JANUARY.

BECAUSE WE WON'T BE SEEING AS MANY PEOPLE WITH SEVERE DISEASE REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION OR POTENTIALLY CREATING CAUSING DEATHS.

>> PERHAPS THE HIGH LEVEL OF IMMUNITY IF YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT NATURAL IMMUNITY AND VACCINATION.

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WANTS TO LEAVE IT UP TO LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.

IS THAT THE RIGHT APPROACH?

A PATCHWORK SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL FOR THE STATE?

>> AS WE CAN SEE IN THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE STATE THEY ALREADY ARE IN HIGHER TRANSMISSION LEVELS.

THE MODERATE OR HIGH TRANSMISSION LEVELS ACCORDING TO THE C.D.C.

GUIDANCE.

WHILE WE'RE NOT THAT WAY IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

I THINK TO HAVE A SOMEWHAT LOCALIZED APPROACH IS NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING.

I THINK IT'S OK FOR THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

I WOULD HOPE THAT THE STATE WOULD GIVE US APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP ON HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO THIS.

IN TERMS OF OUR DEPARTMENT IN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY WE TRY TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ONE BIG COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE SUBURBS WORK AND SHOP IN THE CITY.

AND VICE VERSA.

SO WE ARE ONE BIG LARGE COMMUNITY.

EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE POCKETS OF HIGHER, LOWER TRANSMISSION WITHIN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA.

TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE LOCAL DECISIONS AND THAT BEING SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNOR IS A WELCOME DISCUSSION ON HIS PART.

>> IN TERMS OF MASKING PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN OPINIONS ON THE EFFICACY.

THE DATA SEEMS TO SHOW THAT CLOTH MASKS DO NOT TEXAS WELL AS N95 OR N94.

>> AS PART OF A MASK MANDATE IT DOESN'T MEAN PUT ON ANY OLD MASK IT WOULD GO WITH IT APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE ON WHAT KIND OF MASKS.

AND IN FACT, THESE N95s ARE RESPIRATORS THEY LOOK LIKE A MASK YOU PUT THEM ON YOUR FACE BUT THEY HAVE A FILTER, THE MASK IS ACTUALLY A FILTER THAT IS WHY IT'S CALLED A RESPIRATOR THAT FILTERS OUT THE SMALL PARTICLE SIZES OF THE VIRUS.

SO AND ALSO THE THINGS ABOUT THESE RESPIRATOR MASKERS IS THAT THEY FIT VERY SECURELY AND TIGHTLY AROUND THE FACE.

IF THEY ARE FITTED APPROPRIATELY.

WHILE CLOTH MASKS ARE LEAKY.

THEY MIGHT PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF PROTECTION AND MIGHT PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE MORE THAN YOU BECAUSE THEY MIGHT PROTECT YOUR BREATH THAT MIGHT BE INFECTED WITH COVID FROM GETTING OUT INTO THE AIR BUT THE PARTICLES THAT OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT BE INFECTED ARE GOING TO GO AROUND THE EDGES OF THAT MASK OR THROUGH THE CLOTH MASK.

WE NEED TO BE GIVING THE APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE ABOUT MASKING AND THE APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE WHERE TO USE THEM AND WHEN.

PREDOMINANTLY BEING OUTDOORS IS MUCH SAFER THAN BEING INDOORS.

THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARMER, KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED SO PEOPLE SHOULD BE OUTSIDE.

INDOOR SPACES NOT WELL VENTILATE RED A PROBLEM.

>> AND WE'RE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE WEATHER WARMS UP.

HOUR THANKS TO Dr. RACHEL RUBIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

UP NEXT, COMMUNITY REACTION TO ANOTHER ONE OF THE PROPOSED CHICAGO CASINO SITES.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AND NOW CONTINUING OUR COVERAGE OF THE THREE PROPOSED SITES FOR CHICAGO'S CASINO.

EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE SHARED WITH YOU DETAILS ON BALLY'S PROPOSAL IN RIVER WEST NEXT TO THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" PRINTING PLANT.

NEXT UP WE HEAR COMMUNITY REACTION TO THE PROPOSED HARD ROCK CASINO LOCATED JUST WEST OF SOLDIER FIELD.

AND JOANNA HERNANDEZ JOINS US NOW AGAIN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT AREA STILL THE TRAIN TRACKS IS ACROSS SOLDIER FIELD IN THE McCORMICK PLACE THIS IS A 1.74 BILLION PROJECT AND IT HAS SIMILAR AMENITIES THAT BALLY'S PROPOSED WITH 500 HOTEL ROOMS A FOOD HALL, A PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HARD ROCK'S KEY PLAYERS ARE RELYING ON THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH ROC NATION A DIVISION OF TURNING THAT SECTION INTO A INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION FOR TOURISM.

JIM ALLEN THE CHAIRMAN OF HARD ROCK EMPHASIZES THE SUCCESS THEY HAVE HAD WITH CASINOS IN 70 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES.

LOCALS HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT A CASINO BEING THE ONLY WAY TO HELP CHICAGO'S ECONOMY.

>> MORE JOBS LIKE YOU SAID.

IT WOULD OFFER MORE JOBS.

BUT THAT IS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF JOBS.

YOU KNOW THEY COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE AS OPPOSED TO GAMBLING, THAT WOULD BE I THINK THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

>> CLAUDETTE BUNTON IS A SOUTH SIDE RESIDENT AND IS WORRIED ABOUT THE VIOLENCE QUESTIONING HOW A CASINO WOULD BENEFIT THE SOUTHWEST SIDE COMMUNITIES UNDERSERVED AREAS THAT HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN DEVELOPERS MOVE IN.

AND WE SPOKE TO A STUDENT NEAR THE LOOP AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS GAMBLING HAS HAD ON ECUADOR WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION.

>> WHERE I'M FROM WE DON'T HAVE CASINOS ANYMORE.

THEY PROHIBIT IT.

ILLEGAL -- PEOPLE DO IT, YEAH.

SOMETIMES THEY MIGHT CATCH PEOPLE DOING IT.

>> AND INVESTORS IN THE PROPOSAL HAVE PROMISED TO INVOLVE UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES IN THE PROCESS AND SEEMED OPEN TO TALKING TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO HELP UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.

THERE IS TALK ABOUT MAKING A JOB TRAINING CENTER TO TRAIN EMPLOYEES FOR THE CASINO.

BUT THAT STILL NOT ENOUGH FOR SOME CHICAGOANS WHO SAY CASINOS TARGET VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

>> REGARDLESS OF WHICHEVER ONE OF THE SITES GET THE LICENSE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED WITH BOTH THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THEM AND ALSO WITH OUR SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

THE SPECIFIC HISTORY OF CHINESE AMERICANS AND CHINATOWN THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE AND CONTINUE TO PUT PREVENTION PREVENTATIVE MEASURES IN PLACE HAVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM.

>> AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE KEPT HEARING ABOUT IS AN INCREASE ON HOW TO HANDLE GAMBLING ADDICTION.

COMING UP YOU WILL HEAR MORE FROM A CHINESE ORGANIZATION.

BUT FIRST, I SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> AND THANK YOU WE'LL SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", A CHICAGO'S COVID VACCINE DEADLINE PASSES NEW DATA REVEALS POLICE OFFICERS LEAD THE PACK IN EXEMPTIONS.

WE SHARE THE DETAILS.

>> THE CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE FAMILIES OF GEORGE FLOYD, JACOB BLAKE AND JOINS US TO TALK POLICE REFORM.

EASTER RAMADAN AND PASSOVER ARE COINCIDING THIS WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS.

HOW RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE CELEBRATING.

AND MEET THE LOCAL JAZZ GUITARIST WHO JAMMED WITH CHARLIE PARKER 70 YEARS AGO.

HE JUST TURNED 95 AND RELEASED A NEW ALBUM.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> MORE THAN 60% OF CORPORATIONS IN SEVEN STATES INCLUDING ILLINOIS PAYING NO STATE CORPORATE INCOME TAX.

THAT IS THE FINDING OF A REPORT RELEASED BY THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE A WASHINGTON D.C. BASED THINK TANK.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY INTO WHAT TAXES COULD CORPORATIONS AND WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS PAY.

>> TIME'S UP FOR CITY WORKER TO MEET CHICAGO'S COVID VACCINE DEADLINE.

DATA SHOWS THE DEADLINE DID NOT PREVENT WORKERS FROM REFUSING TO GET THE SHOT ESPECIALLY POLICE OFFICERS WHO LEAD THE PACK WHEN IT COMES TO EXEMPTIONS.

HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

REMIND US WHAT THE VACCINE DEADLINE REQUIRED AND WHY THERE WAS SO MUCH STRIFE AROUND IT.

>> THIS STARTED EIGHT MONTHS AGO WHEN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED ALL CITY EMPLOYEES WERE REQUIRED TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

THAT TRIGGERED A WAVE OF INTENSE REFUSAL AND OPPOSITION FROM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WEDNESDAY WAS THE TIME DEADLINE FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO GET THE FINAL COVID-19 SHOT IF THEY GOT THE PFIZER OR MODERNA VACCINE >> WHAT DO WE KNOW HOW MANY C.P.D.

OFFICERS ARE EXEMPT FROM GETTING THE SHOT?

>> MORE THAN 1400 OFFICERS REQUESTED AND RECEIVED EITHER RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS FROM THAT VACCINE REQUIREMENT.

NOW, THAT AMOUNTS TO 11.5% OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A VACCINE EXEMPTION LEVEL OF ABOUT 6%.

AND THE STREETS AND SANDS DEPARTMENT HAS A 5% VACCINATION RATE.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A VERY BIG ISSUE AMONG THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IT APPEARS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT INSTEAD OF SEEKING TO REJECT THESE VACCINE EXEMPTIONS, GRANTED THEM AND WILL NOT HAVE TO FIRE THOUSANDS OF OFFICERS FOR DEFYING HER ORDER.

>> AND TO BE CLEAR, SHE DIDN'T OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T RELEASE THE OFFICIAL REASONS FOR THE EXEMPTIONS SO WE ASSUME THEY ARE RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL?

>> THEY HAVE TO BE RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL UNDER STATE LAW.

THESE WERE VERY NARROW REASONS.

AND OF COURSE, THE CHICAGO ARCHDIOCESE SAID THAT THE ARCHDIOCESE WOULD NOT GRANT THOSE EXEMPTIONS SO IT IS NOT CLEAR WHY THOSE EXEMPTIONS WERE GRANTED.

INTERESTING THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS WITH A LOOK HOW SOME ARE CELEBRATING SPRINGTIME HOLIDAYS HIGH.

PARIS, THIS WEEK THREE MAJOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS ARE COINCIDING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 30 YEARS.

RAMADAN, EASTER AND PASSOVER.

AND THANKS TO COVID VACCINES AND A DROP IN CASES MANY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO OBSERVE THOSE HOLIDAYS IN-PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MORE ARE IMAM HASSAN ALY, WITH THE MECCA CENTER.

AND PASTOR ANNE JOLLY WITH ST. GREGORY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

AND RABBI EVAN MOFFIC WITH MAKOM SOLEL LAKESIDE IN LAKESIDE HIGHLAND PARK.

RABBI LET'S START WITH YOU, PASSOVER BEGINS TOMORROW.

HOW WILL YOU AND OTHERS AT YOUR SYNAGOGUE BE CELEBRATING?

>> WE WILL WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO MOSTLY BE CELEBRATING IN-PERSON AT OUR HOMES.

TOMORROW EVENING WITH THE SEDER.

FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS PEOPLE WILL HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ENJOYING PASSOVER MEALS.

PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE COMING IN TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

SOME PEOPLE WILL STILL HAVE VIRTUAL OPTIONS.

BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT TRAVELING.

BUT IT WILL BE MOSTLY IN-PERSON WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

>> PASTOR ANNE JOLLY WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO MEET IN-PERSON FOR EASTER?

>> FOR US EASTER IS SUCH A INCARNATIONAL THING.

SO BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER PHYSICALLY TOGETHER IN THE SAME SPACE IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF BEING ON-LINE ONLY.

TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER BRINGS THIS PARTICULAR HOLIDAY TO LIFE IN A WAY THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.

>> IMAM HASSAN ALY, YOUR MOSQUE IS HOSTING AN INTERFAITH BANQUET YOU ARE INCLUDING A RABBI AND A PASTOR AS WELL.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL OF THESE MAJOR HOLIDAYS COINCIDING?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO GOD TO BE BACK WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AGAIN ALL THREE RELIGIONS ESPECIALLY DURING OUR LAST TIME OF THE YEAR.

AND I WAS TALKING TO MY FRIENDS BEFORE THE RECORDING, AND THEY SAY IF GOD ALMIGHTY IS SAYING TO US HERE YOU ARE YOU HAVE TO START AGAIN FRESH TOGETHER THIS TIME.

AND SO WE MADE THE THEME OF THIS YEAR OF OUR INTERFAITH DINNER TOGETHER AGAIN.

AND WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE ALL OF US THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO BE OUT OF THIS TOGETHER AND STAY TOGETHER.

>> RABBI SAME QUESTION WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVERLAPPING THIS WAY?

>> I WAS STRUCK BY WHAT IMAM SAID ABOUT STARTING AGAIN.

REALLY RESONATED WITH ME BECAUSE PASSOVER IS A HOLIDAY OF REBIRTH.

IT WAS ABOUT THE REBIRTH OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE LEAVING EGYPT.

EASTER AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS ABOUT A REBIRTH OR A RESURRECTION.

AND IN MANY WAYS WE'RE ENTERING INTO A TIME OF SPRING.

REBIRTH OF NATURE.

AND SO I DO THINK THIS IS A TIME OF REBIRTH OF RENEWAL OF THIS HOPEFULLY TURNING A CORNER AND REINVIGORATING OUR LIVES IN COMMUNITY.

IN-PERSON WITH ALL THE GREAT BENEFITS WE'VE HAD FROM ZOOM AND FROM THE KIND OF CONNECTION WE CAN BUILD.

THAT'S BEEN WONDERFUL IN MANY WAYS FOR OUR SYNAGOGUE BUT WE NEED A RENEWAL AND THAT REBIRTH TO COME BACK TOGETHER AS A PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY.

>> PASTOR SAME QUESTION, DO YOU ALSO VIEW THIS AS SOMEWHAT SYMBOLIC THE HOLIDAYS ARE CONVERGING AT THE SAME TIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY AS MY COLLEAGUES SAID SO WELL, THIS IS A TIME TO BRING US TOGETHER FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAITH EASTER IS A TIME OF COMING OUT OF A PLACE OF FEAR AND SCARED AND ANXIOUS AND IN TO A TIME OF HOPE AND NEW LIFE AND NEW REACTIONS AND WHAT BETTER TIME.

WE ARE ALL COMING OUT OF A PLACE OF BEING REALLY SCARED AND ANXIOUS AND WORRIED AND INTO THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IS LAID BEFORE US THAT GOD ALMIGHTY MAY HAVE GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER IN A NEW WAY AND TO SET ASIDE OUR FEARS AND WORRIES AND ANXIETIES AND ANY DIFFERENCES WE SEE AND LIVE INTO LIFE IN A NEW WAY AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

>> RAMADAN HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO WEEKS.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE BEING ABLE TO GET TOGETHER IN-PERSON AND BREAK FAST WITH OTHER PEOPLE?

>> IT WAS VERY SAD AND DIFFICULT BUT UNIQUE WHEN WE ACTUALLY DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE RAMADAN IN 2020.

MY MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME WAS LET'S WELCOME RAMADAN INTO OUR HEARTS AND HOMES.

NOW, AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF PANDEMIC ERA AND COVID-19 INTERRUPTIONS WE ARE SO HAPPY AND EXCITED AND THANKFUL TO GOD ALMIGHTY THAT WE CAN REUNITE OURSELVES AGAIN WITH OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP AND NEIGHBORS AROUND US THIS YEAR CELEBRATING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN AND A COMMUNITY IN OUR MONTH.

MANY MOSQUES IN THE GREATER CHICAGO AREA WERE FILLED IN THE FIRST WEEK OF RAMADAN AND PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN TO PRAY SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THERE IS A GREAT FEELING AND EMOTION AND PRAYERS TO GOD TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE SO WE CAN CONTINUE INR ENJOYING BLESSING OF GOD.

PASTOR HOW HAS YOUR CHURCH BEEN CELEBRATING EASTER?

>> ON-LINE.

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WE'VE HAD ZOOM WORSHIP.

WE DID DRIVE-THRU COMMUNIONS.

PEOPLE DRIVE-THRU AND WE'D WAVE AT THEM THROUGH THE WINDOW.

AND THROW CONFETTI EGGS AT EACH OTHER FROM ACROSS THE SPACE.

BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT STUFF TOGETHER THIS TIME IS GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT.

WE'RE CELEBRATING WITH OTHER CONGREGATIONS PARTNERING WITH OTHER CHURCHES TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER THIS YEAR BECAUSE COMING TOGETHER SHOULDER TO SHOULDER IS SUCH A JOY FINALLY.

>> RABBI DO YOU SEE MORE PEOPLE DRAWN TO THE FAITH IN THESE QUESTIONABLE TIMES THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

>> YES.

I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER RABBI ABOUT THIS THAT WE ACTUALLY SAW A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP IN OUR SYNAGOGUE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

A YEAR AGO, TWO YEARS AGO I REMEMBER I WAS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT COVID WOULD DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER.

I WAS JUST VERY SCARED.

AND THEN WE REALLY SAW THIS RENEWAL.

WE HAD MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING.

MORE PEOPLE CALLING ME AND SEEKING COUNSEL AND GUIDANCE.

AND PEOPLE GRASPING ON TO ALMOST THE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF COMMUNITY OF LEARNING, OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP THAT SYNAGOGUE AND A CHURCH AND A MOSQUE REPRESENT.

AND I THINK PEOPLE HAVE LOST TRACK OF THAT.

AND I THINK COVID ALMOST RENEWED OUR APPRECIATION FOR IT.

WE MISS BEING IN-PERSON BUT THE KIND OF CONNECTION WE COULD HAVE VIRTUALLY I THINK TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> AND IMAM, TELL US A LITTLE BIT HOW YOUR MOSQUE HAS BEEN CELEBRATING IF THERE ARE LESSONS THAT YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THAT?

>> IN 2020 AGAIN WE WERE NOT ABLE TO CELEBRATE IN PERSON IN THE MOSQUE.

IT WAS SO DIFFICULT BUT AGAIN WE TRIED TO STATE TOGETHER VIRTUALLY.

THEN LAST RAMADAN WE HAD A LIMITED REOPENING OF THE MONTH OF RAMADAN WITH THE MOSQUE.

AND ALSO IT WAS NOT THAT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO REGISTER ON-LINE AND COME HAVING THE FACE MASK AND BRING IN THE PRAYER AND OTHER THINGS.

BUT ONE THING THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

AS BELIEVERS WE NEED TO REFLECT AND LEARN.

WE NOW SHOULD TAKE A STEP PACK AND LOOK AT HOW WE HAD BEEN LIVING LIFE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, DURING THE PANDEMIC AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

SEEING A FRIEND IN THE STREET OR IN THE PLACE OF WORSHIP AND APPROACHING THEM FOR A HUG IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD THAT TAKE FOR GRANTED.

TO JUST COME TO YOUR PRAISE OF WORSHIP KNOWING THAT THE SYNAGOGUE OR THE MOSQUE OR THE CHURCH ARE ALWAYS OPEN FOR YOU IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TAKE FOR GRANTED.

THE ONES LIVING AROUND YOU ARE NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD TAKE FOR GRANTED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

AND WISHING ALL OF YOU AND YOUR CONGREGATIONS THE BEST WITH YOUR CELEBRATIONS.

THANK YOU TO PASTOR ANNE JOLLY AND RABBI EVAN MOFFIC AND IMAM HASSAN ALY FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT WE CHECK IN WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE THIRD POSSIBLE SITE FOR CHICAGO'S FUTURE CASINO.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> AND NOW WE GO BACK TO JOANNA HERNANDEZ FOR OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" SHE HAS BEEN SHARING DETAILS ABOUT THE LOCATIONS OF THE FINALISTS FOR A CHICAGO CASINO.

WE HEARD ABOUT PROPOSALS FOR A CASINO BY BALLY'S AND HARD ROCK.

LAST UP TONIGHT THE RIVERS 78 CASINO PLAN BUILT NEAR CLARK STREET AND ROOSEVELT ROAD.

IT IS AN AREA THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE CHICAGO'S 78TH COMMUNITY AREA.

TELL US MORE ABOUT IT.

>> IT SURE IS.

WE HAVE 77 COMMUNITY AREAS IN CHICAGO AND THE 78TH IS SET TO BE COMPLETED BY 2030.

THE 62-ACRE SITE MAY COEXIST WITH THE RIVERS CASINO.

THE 1.62 BILLION PROPOSAL FROM RUSH STREET GAMING WOULD HAVE A 3 HAD BEEN HOTEL ROOM AN OBSERVATION TOWER AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL PLANS WERE TO BUILD HOMES, EVERYTHING A NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD NEED TO THRIVE.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE SOME OF THE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE WITH THE NEW PLAN FOR THE EMPTY LOT.

>> AND NOW THERE IS A CASINO MAKES IT A LOT LESS LIKE A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.

SO HOW DOES THAT WORK?

AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND UIC HAS AN ACADEMIC CENTER AND UIC'S ACADEMIC CENTER WILL BE ON THE SOUTH END AND THE CASINO WILL BE ON THE NORTH END.

HOW DO THE TWO THINGS FIT?

KEEP HAVING QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN ARGUMENTS FROM ALL THREE CASINO GROUPS THAT INSTEAD OF PEOPLE LEAVING THE CITY TO PLAY IN INDIANA THEY CAN DO IT AT HOME AND HELP THE ECONOMY.

DAVID WU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUI TAK CENTER SAID IT COMES WITH THE SOCIAL COST.

>> THE SOCIAL COST IS REAL.

LIKE IT IS A HARD ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.

BECAUSE NO ONE IS PROUD THEY ARE GOING TO GO BANKRUPT BECAUSE OF GAMBLING PROBLEMS.

WE'RE TRYING TO OUTREACH.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU CANNOT WORK WITH THE GAMBLER THEMSELVES.

BUT FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND COWORKERS REALIZE THE PROBLEM THAT IS A PROBLEM GAMBLER HAS.

PUI TAK CENTER AS WELL AS MIDWEST ASIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATION WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO REACH OUT TO MORE PEOPLE AND OVERCOME THE STIGMA THAT THERE'S HELP IF YOU REACH OUT.

>> WU TALKED ABOUT THE LONG HISTORY CHINATOWN HAS HAD WITH GAMBLING.

THE CENTER ONCE WAS A MERCHANT CENTER FOR THE CITY AND THE OWNERS LOST THE CENTER BECAUSE OF GAMBLING.

>> SOME OF THE BUSINESSES WERE HOPEFUL THAT MAYBE THERE'S SPILLOVER EFFECT.

BUT A CASINO'S JOB IS TO GET PEOPLE TO COME, SPEND ALL THEIR MONEY AND LEAVE.

SO NO ONE IS GOING TO GO TO THE CASINO FOR A FEW HOURS AND COME TO CHINATOWN FOR DINNER.

>> NOW, RUSH STREET GAMING SELLING POINT IS THEY WILL BE PARTNERING WITH RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE CITIES TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SPACE ALONG THE RIVERWALK.

ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES IS THE TAP IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

THE OWNER GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SAYS IF IT HELPS LIFT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES HE IS WILLING TO TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH.

>> I, MYSELF, HAVE MY RESERVES AND HESITATIONS OF THE CASINO IN THE COMMUNITIES ITSELF.

IF THEY ARE GOING TO OPEN IT UP I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MAKING SURE THAT THE REVENUE STREAM COMING IN THERE IS BEING UTILIZED BACK TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S ONE THING TO OPEN UP A BUSINESS.

BUT IS THAT BUSINESS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THE IT'S SERVING?

>> AND AS YOU HEARD THERE'S MANY MIXED OPINIONS ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

BUT CITY OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTING A CASINO TO GENERATE MILLIONS IN REVENUE.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

>> AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, THERE HAVE BEEN THE HEARINGS OVER THE LAST WEEK.

ANY RESPONSE FROM CITY OFFICIALS ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT YOU BRIEFED FOR US TODAY?

>> NO, WE DID REACH OUT TO THE CITY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOTHING FURTHER TO SAY AT THE MOMENT.

>> IF ONE OF THE PROPOSALS GETS A GREEN LIGHT ANY SENSE WHAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOPE THE DEVELOPER WOULD FOLLOW THROUGH ON TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS?

>> THE POINT HERE IS THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT TO BE HEARD THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE IF ONE OF THE CASINOS DO GET THE GREEN LIGHT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THEY LISTEN TO THEM AND THE PARTNERS, INVESTORS ARE REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THESE COMMUNITIES NEED.

WE KNOW YOU HEARD FROM THE CHINESE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION THEY ARE HOSTING A TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE END OF THE MONTH WHERE PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH RIVERS.

THEY WILL BE COMING IN THERE AND TALKING ABOUT THEIR PROPOSAL AND HEARING OUT THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS ECHOING HERE WITH WHAT WE HEARD THROUGHOUT ALL THREE PROPOSALS IS PEOPLE WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE JOBS FOR MINORITIES AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

>> UPHILL BATTLE FOR THE PROPOSALS TO ASWAGE SOME OF THE CONCERNS.

JOANNA THANK YOU >> NOW, TO BRANDIS WITH A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST PROMINENT CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEYS.

>> MICHIGAN POLICE RELEASED VIDEO YESTERDAY OF AN OFFICER'S ENCOUNTER THIS MONTH.

THE 26-YEAR-OLD WAS FATALLY SHOT IN THE HEAD BY AN OFFICER DURING A STRUGGLE AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP.

THE POLICE POWERS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND HE IS ON PAID LEAVE AS A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS CONDUCTED.

BEN CRUMP IS PUSHING FOR THE OFFICER TO BE FIRED AND CHARGED.

CRUMP HAS REPRESENTED THE FAMILIES OF MICHAEL BROWN, GEORGE FLOYD AND JACOB BLAKE.

CRUMP WAS IN CHICAGO LAST WEEK CALLING FOR FEDERAL POLICE REFORM AND WE SPOKE WITH HIM ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" AND ASKED WHAT TYPE OF REFORM HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM THAT WILL HOPEFULLY SLOW DOWN SOME OF THESE HASHTAGS THAT ARE HAPPENING FAR TOO MANY.

WE HAVE TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR BEING KILLED BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT AND SERVE THEM.

AND WE HAVE NOT HAD MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM SINCE PRESIDENT JOHNSON GREAT SOCIETY LEGISLATION.

WE SAW AFTER RODNEY KING WAS HORRIBLY BEATEN WE WOULD GET POLICE REFORM.

WE DIDN'T GET IT.

AND AFTER MICHAEL BROWN IN FERGUSON YOU REMEMBER HANDS UP DON'T SHOOT.

THEY WERE ALL TALKING TO IN THE OBAMA YEARS ABOUT POLICE REFORM.

WE DIDN'T GET IT.

AND THIS CERTAINLY AFTER WE WATCHED THE DOCUMENTARY OF GEORGE FLOYD BEING TORTURED TO DEATH BY THE POLICE, WE KNEW WE JUST BELIEVED IN OUR HEART THAT FINALLY WE WERE GOING TO GET MEANINGFUL POLICE FORM.

>> SO THAT POINT THE NATION WAS INCENSED AFTER WITNESSING THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD TWO YEARS AGO, THE BLIF MOVEMENT BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT WAS REIGNITED.

WHY HAS IT BEEN STALLED?

>> AS ATTORNEY TALKS ABOUT PARTISAN POLITICS.

WE ARE SO POLARIZED IN THIS NATION THAT COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION LIKE BANNING CHOKEHOLDS BIKE BANNING NO KNOCK WARRANTS THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR, HAVING A FEDERAL POLICE REGISTRY WHO THE POLICE ARE KILLING SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF IT.

THEY WON'T VOTE ON THAT.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ANYBODY FROM THE OTHER SIDE TO GET ANY CREDIT FROM DOING IMPORTANT WORK.

PASSING IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.

AND IT'S REALLY SAD IN AMERICA BUT THAT IS WHY ELECTIONS MATTER.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN A BETTER WORLD, A BETTER AMERICA.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE JOHN LEWIS RIGHT TO VOTE LEGISLATION, THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TRY TO BLOCK, IT IS FOR ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE ONLY I BELIEVE, AND THAT IS SO CONTINUE TO PARTISAN POLITICS IN THE GAMESMANSHIP.

>> AND Mr. CRUMP I HAVE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS BUT WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.

I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT YOU.

YOU'VE SPENT THE LAST DECADE OF YOUR CAREER FOCUSED ON FAMILIES IMPACTED BY POLICE BRUTALITY, EXCESSIVE FORCE.

WHAT CALLS YOU TO THESE CASES?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS IN THE GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, THEY BLESS [INAUDIBLE] AND I SAW THERE THEY HAD NEWER SCHOOLS, NEWER FACILITIES, NEWER TECHNOLOGY, NEW BOOKS.

I MEAN IT WAS JUST ASTONISHING.

AND I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY BEING ON THE SCHOOL BUS ONE DAY COMING HOME BACK ACROSS THE TRACKS TO THE BLACK STATION SEEING ALL OF THE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, SEEING THE CARS BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

SEEING MY FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH THE LEAD PAINT DETERIORATING.

AND I JUST REMEMBER THINKING TO MYSELF ON ONE SIDE OF THE TOWN PEOPLE HAVE IT SO GOOD BUT ON OUR SIDE OF TOWN PEOPLE HAVE IT SO CHALLENGING.

AND MY MOTHER TOLD ME THE REASON WE GOT TO GO TO THE NEW SCHOOL WITH THE BETTER TECHNOLOGY AND NEWER BOOKS WAS BECAUSE OF BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND A LAWYER NAMED THURGOOD MARSHALL.

AND FROM THAT DAY ON I SAID WHAT HE I GROW UP I'M GOING TO BECOME A LAWYER LIKE THURGOOD MARSHALL AND FIGHT FOR PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME TO HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY AT ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM.

>> FROM THAT DAY TO THIS ONE, I CONTINUE TO FIGHT.

>> AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

ATTORNEY BENJAMIN CRUMP THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>> IT WAS MY HONOR, THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THE FREEMAN'S OF BRONZEVILLE HAVE BEEN CALL THE FIRST FAMILY OF MUSIC.

HIS SON PLAYS ON AND SO SO DOES VON'S BROTHER.

WE MET GEORGE FREEMAN THE DAY BEFORE HIS 91TH BIRTHDAY.

HE JUST TURNED 95 AND HAS A NEW RECORD OUT.

WE LOOK BACK WHEN HE GAVE US A HISTORY LESSON HOW TO LEAD A LIFE IN JAZZ.

[♪♪♪] >> JAZZ LISTEN TO JAZZ THE SWING AND I WAS RIGHT THERE BE BOPPING.

GOING LOTS OF DIRECTION.

I DON'T CARE WHAT DIRECTION PEOPLE STILL WANT TO DANCE DOING IT.

THEY WANTED WRIST I AM THEY WANT SOUL THEY WANT FEELING.

YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO GET THEIR ATTENTION AND ONCE YOU GET THEIR ATTENTION YOU CAN EASE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

BUT YOU HAVE TO GET IT IF YOU DON'T GET IT YOU ARE IN A WORLD OF TROUBLE.

[LAUGHTER] [♪♪♪] >> IN OCTOBER 2000 WTTW CAMERAS ROLLED ON A RECORDING SESSION WITH GEORGE FREEMAN, VON FREEMAN AND A HOST OF YOUNG TALENT.

>> SOMETHING ABOUT GEORGE AND THE FREEMANS THE SENSE OF HUMOR IS CONTAGIOUS.

WHEN I FIRST SAW THEM PERFORM BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH IMPOSES VERY MUSCULAR PLAYERS YOU WOULD THINK THAT PERSON IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOFY OR TOO SERIOUS BUT THEY BRING THE HUMOR TO IMPROVISATION.

>> 50 YEARS EARLIER, IN OCTOBER 1950, GEORGE FREEMAN HAD THE CHANCE TO BACK UP THE GREAT SAXON CHARLIE PARKER AT A CHICAGO ENGAGEMENT.

THAT LIVE RECORDING WAS EVENTUALLY RELEASED.

GEORGE FREEMAN RECALLS PLAYING WITH THE MAN CALLED BIRD.

>> WHEN I MET CHARLIE PARKER I WAS MORE AMAZED THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

HE WAS JUST THE EPITOME OF WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

YOU WANT TO PLAY AND BE WITH THE GREATEST.

AND I REMEMBER HIM SAYING WHERE'S GEORGE.

I HAVE NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE.

>> IN THE 70s, GEORGE PLAYED FUNK AND SOUL JAZZ.

HE SPENT YEARS ON THE ROAD AND ALWAYS CAME BACK TO CHICAGO.

NOW, HE IS IN DEMAND AT JAZZ FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT IN THE 1990s, HE HAD NOT BEEN RECORDING IN YEARS.

UNTIL HE HOOKED UP WITH SOUTHPORT RECORDS.

>> HE HADN'T DONE RECORDINGS IN SOMETIME.

HE WAS IN CHICAGO.

HE WAS BASED WITH HIS FAMILY AND HIS MOM AT HOME.

HE LIVED WITH MOM AND THEY WERE ALTOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

>> AND THROUGH VON FREEMAN, MY BROTHER, I WAS ABLE TO MEET JOANIE PALLATTO AND NEXT THING I KNOW THEY RECORDED ME.

I'VE BEEN WITH THEM EVER SINCE.

>> GEORGE FREEMAN NEVER LIKED GUITAR PICKS SO HE USED COINS OR POCKET WATCHES OR WHEN WE VISITED HIM THE NOBODY FROM A DRESSER DRAWER.

THESE DAYS HE IS PHILOSOPHICAL ABOUT HIS LONG CAREER.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT GOD GIVES YOU.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH T HE GIVES YOU THE CREATIVITY, THE RHYTHM, THE SOUL, BUT YOU GOT TO HAVE THE CONCEPT.

>> HIS ADVICE FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS?

>> TAKE IT TO BED WITH YOU.

TAKE IT TO BED WITH YOU.

AND PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

TAKE IT TO BED.

PRACTICE.

>> THE FAMILY IS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE IN A WAY THEY ARE A CAPSULE OF THE LAST 100 YEARS EVOLUTION FROM BLUES TO SWING, TO BE BOP TO POP R&B.

>> WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES TO HAVE THEM IN OUR LIVES AND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MUSIC WITH THEM, TOO, IT'S GREAT.

>> IT IS AMAZING.

EVERYTHING IS FALLING INTO PLACE YOU KNOW.

A LOT OF WHAT I DO THAT IS NICE.

[LAUGHTER] COME ON.

>> LAST WEEK, GEORGE FREEMAN TURNED 95 YEARS OLD.

AND HE HAS A NEW RECORDING ON SOUTHPORT RECORDS CALLED EVERYBODY SAY YEAH.

THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

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 THURSDAY 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 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 AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PAIRS.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]