>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

TIME AND BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> IF THEY SEE A WOMAN, A KICK NEXT REPORTING.

>> HEAR FROM THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER ABOUT COOK COUNTY'S DAY DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING LOVED ONES OF MISSING PERSONS.

WE LOOK AT A PROGRAM THAT'S HELPING SHORTEN THE WAY FOR PARENTS AND KIDS LOOKING FOR AUTISM EVALUATIONS.

AND EXPLORING CHICAGO GOSPEL MUSIC AHEAD OF THE W T TW SPECIAL EVENT.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

A YOUNG GIRL IS AMONG 7 PEOPLE SHOT AND KILLED OVER THE WEEKEND IN CHICAGO THAT 9 YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT DURING A FAMILY GATHERING IN THE BACK OF THE YARDS NEIGHBORHOOD IN AN ATTACK THAT POLICE BELIEVE WAS GANG-RELATED.

WE'VE GOT MORE DETAILS ABOUT ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST VIOLENT WEEKEND SO FAR THIS YEAR ON OUR WEBSITE.

TRAVELERS BOOKED TO FLY OUT OF CHICAGO MAY HAVE GOTTEN HELD UP ON THE FIRST LEG OF THEIR TRIP GETTING TO THE AIRPORT.

DEMONSTRATORS BLOCKED THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO O'HARE.

AIRPORT LEADERS SENT A WARNING OVER SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE DISRUPTION.

ROADS LATER REOPENED.

GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER SAYS HE RESPECTS PROTESTERS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BUT NOT LIKE THIS.

>> CONVINCED LAW ENFORCEMENT OUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE BYWAYS AND HIGHWAYS ARE OPEN FOR PEOPLE AND AND AND STILL BE RESPECTFUL OF THOSE PROTESTS.

>> A REPUBLICAN STATE LEGISLATOR SAYS BLOCKING HIGHWAYS ISN'T JUST DISRUPTIVE.

IT'S DANGEROUS AND CAN DELAY FIRST RESPONDERS.

HE'S INTRODUCING A BILL TO CRIMINALIZE PROTESTERS WHO BLOCK FREEWAYS.

CHINATOWN HAS ITS FIRST VEHICLE SERVICES FACILITY.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS IT'S ALSO CHICAGO'S FIRST ONE STOP SHOP DMV.

CLIENTS CAN APPLY FOR REAL ID RENEWAL, LICENSE OR VEHICLE REGISTRATION OR REGISTER TO VOTE.

THE LOCAL ALDERWOMAN SAYS THE COMMUNITY HAS WANTED A DMV FOR A LONG TIME.

>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLE SIGNAL TO OUR COMMUNITY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR GROWING COMMUNITY.

WE'RE THE ONLY GROWING A CHINATOWN NATIONWIDE ASIAN AMERICANS REPRESENT THE FASTEST-GROWING MINORITY GROUP IN ILLINOIS AND ACROSS UNITED STATES.

>> THE JUST-OPENED FACILITY AT 20 TO 50 SOUTH CANAL STREET IS FOR WALK-INS.

MOST OTHERS IN THE CITY ARE APPOINTMENT ONLY.

SOME 340,000 LOW-INCOME ILLINOIS RESIDENTS COULD SEE THEIR MEDICAL DEBT ELIMINATED.

THE GOVERNOR'S PUSHING FOR THE STATE TO SPEND 10 MILLION DOLLARS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THE STATE WOULD BUY THE DEBT FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR, MEANING 8 BILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT WOULD BE ERASED.

>> THE STRESS AND STRAIN OF MOUNTING MEDICAL DEBT TOP OF A HEALTH CARE CHALLENGE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY AND ADVERSELY AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S OVERALL FINANCIAL WELL-BEING, INCREASING THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF BANKRUPTCY AND EVEN MAKE THEM RECONSIDER SEEKING FUTURE MEDICAL CARE.

>> A NEW STUDY CASTS DOUBT ON THE IMPACT HEALTH CARE DEBT RELIEF HAS ON HELPING TO IMPROVE FINANCES AND MENTAL HEALTH PRITZKER SAYS TIMES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THAT STUDY WAS DONE.

IT LARGELY FOCUSED ON CASES BETWEEN 2018 2020.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS 14% OF ILLINOIS INS HAVE MEDICAL DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

COOK COUNTY HAS ALREADY PARTNERED WITH A NONPROFIT TO ABOLISH 350 MILLION DOLLARS OF MEDICAL BILLS.

UP NEXT, HOW COOK COUNTY IS WORKING TO HELP FAMILIES OF MISSING PERSONS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE IS SET TO HOST ITS 4TH MISSING PERSONS DAY THIS SATURDAY.

IT'S AN EVENT DEDICATED TO PROVIDING RESOURCES TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF MISSING INDIVIDUALS.

ATTENDEES CAN FIND INFORMATION TO AID THEIR SEARCH AND THEY CAN CONNECT WITH GRIEF.

COUNSELORS IN THE EVENT INCLUDES OTHER ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE LIKE THAT NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN.

THE UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS SYSTEM AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE EVENT IS DOCTOR UPON ER ROOM KAMAR THAT CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER FOR COOK COUNTY.

NOW, THIS THE 4TH SUCH EVENT, BUT LET'S GO BACK IN TIME A LITTLE BIT SOFTER.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR OFFICE TO CREATE THIS EVENT?

>> THIS IS AN EVENT OF THAT HELPS FAMILIES BRING CLOSURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE MISSING PEOPLE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH.

SO THESE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO FILE POLICE REPORTS AT OUR OFFICE.

THEY'RE ABLE TO ENTER THE INFORMATION INTO THE NATIONAL DATABASE.

THE NATIONAL UNIDENTIFIED IN MISSING PERSONS SYSTEM DATABASE.

THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MISSING PEOPLE IN SUBMIT THAT INTO THE NATIONAL DATABASE, WHICH IS LOOKED AT BY EVERY OTHER AGENCY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO ON THIS DAY PROVIDE BUCKLE SWAB CHEEK SWABS THAT CAN GET MATCHED TO ON POSSIBLE MISSING PERSON.

THAT IS IN THE DATABASE.

THEY'RE ABLE TO GET SERVICES FROM COUNSELORS FROM GRIEF COUNSELORS AT OFFICE.

SO THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO HELP FIND THEIR MISSING PERSON, NOT JUST FILE MISSING PERSONS REPORT.

CAN BRING THESE REPORTS TO OUR OFFICE ON THAT DAY, BUT THEY CAN DO OTHER THINGS.

IN ADDITION LIKE SUBMITTING THE DNA SWABS, WHICH WOULD BE A FINAL STEP THAT THEY CAN TAKE IN HELPING FIND IF I HAD A LOVED ONE WHO WAS MISSING.

>> IS JUST PART OF REGULAR PROTOCOL THAT PERHAPS POLICE DO AFTER?

I DON'T KNOW THE I-24 HOURS OR SOMETHING HAS GONE BY AND IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT SOMEBODY ISN'T JUST PARTY THERE ACTUALLY MISSING.

ISN'T THAT JUST REGULAR PROTOCOL?

SO THE REGULAR PROTOCOL IS THAT THEY JUST FILE A MISSING PERSONS REPORT.

>> THAT COULD GO INTO THE NATIONAL DATABASE DEPENDING ON HOW BUSY THAT POLICE AGENCY IS.

IT CAN BE A MONTH THAT CAN BE LONGER, BUT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TAKE DNA FROM THESE FAMILIES AND SUBMIT THEM INTO THE NATIONAL ON IDENTIFIED IN MISSING PERSON, PULL A SYSTEM.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE AT OUR OFFICE BECAUSE WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM NAME WHICH IS THAT NATIONAL MISSING UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS SYSTEM.

>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD DO ANY OTHER DAY?

AND THIS JUST BRINGS ADDITIONAL ATTENTION TO IT OR IS THIS REALLY THE DAY DEVOTED TO IT THAT OTHERWISE INDIVIDUALS WOULD HAVE GO OUT OF THEIR WAY, MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS INDIVIDUALLY AND NOT DO IT AT YOUR OFFICE CORRECT.

THIS ONE DAY THIS SATURDAY BETWEEN 11:00AM AND 03:00PM.

>> WE OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO TAKE ALL THE STEPS THAT ARE NEEDED.

ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE WORK WITH MULTIPLE POLICE AGENCIES WERE WORKING WITH NAME WHICH IS THAT NATIONAL DATABASE TO GET ALL THE RESOURCES TOGETHER TO HELP FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

SO I WOULD ASK IF THEY'VE BEEN MISSING SOMEBODY FOR MORE THAN A MONTH IF THEY HAVE NOT FILED A POLICE REPORT, THE CAN JUST COME TO OUR OFFICE WITH INFORMATION LIKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MISSING PERSON IN THE HOSPITAL.

WRECK AIDS, DENTAL RECORDS THEY HAVE IN THE DRIVER'S LICENSE INFORMATION.

ANYTHING THAT CAN THAT THE CAN BRING TO HELP INTO THAT INTO THE MISSING PERSONS REPORT AND INTO THE NATIONAL DATABASE.

AND IF THEY HAVE CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS TO BRING THEM SO THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT CHEEK SWABS INTO THE NATIONAL DATABASE, THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

MY CHEEK SWAB VERSUS SAY MY BROTHERS ARE MY MOTHER'S COULD HELP.

DON'T KNOW EVERY CHEEK SWAB HELPS PRO TEND LEAD TO MORE OF A CONNECTION.

YES, CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS BRING THAT CONNECTION.

BRADY ME, DISTANT FAMILY MEMBERS LIKE HALF-SIBLINGS.

CAN BE A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT BUT CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD BE A WOULD PROVIDE A MATCH MUCH AND THEN THIS IS IN PARTICULAR FOR ANYBODY WHO IS MISSING OR LONG-TERM MISSING PERSONS AND THEN WHO QUALIFIES UNDER THAT DISTINCTION.

SO ANYBODY MISSING FOR MORE THAN A WHICH WE SUGGEST WOULD GET THE MOST HELP COMING TO OUR OFFICE ON SATURDAY.

YOU WERE THE MEDICAL EXAMINER WHEN THIS EVENT WAS CREATED, I BELIEVE THERE A SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT PROMPTED TO OR >> WASN'T A SPECIFIC EVENT.

IT WAS A WAY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO FAMILIES.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEASED WHO ARE UNIDENTIFIED.

AND SO WE WORK ON THOSE CASES TRYING TO GET DNA AND FINGERPRINTS TO HELP IDENTIFY THESE PEOPLE.

WE AWARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ABOUT 97,000 ACTIVE MISSING PERSONS REPORTS AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CLOSURE.

SO THIS IS A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE FEEL WE CAN PROVIDE ONCE A YEAR TO HELP THESE FAMILIES.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS YOU UNFORTUNATELY WHO ARE DECEASED AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR OFFICE WITH THE YEARS WE HAVE 35 DISSIDENTS WHO ARE UNIDENTIFIED.

BUT EVERY YEAR WE GET ABOUT 10 TO 12 DECEIT, WERE UNKNOWN.

AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

WE HAVE THEM POSTED LIKE THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE UNIQUE.

CLOTHING ITEMS ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT NOT EVERYONE GOES TO THAT WEBSITE AND WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP IDENTIFY THEM AND ALSO TO PROVIDE CLOSURE EVENT HAS LED TO SUCCESS LEAST ONCE.

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT THAT?

SO, YES, THERE WAS A FAMILY THAT CAME TO OUR OFFICE.

THE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE UNKNOWNS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR OFFICE.

WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ON A BINDER AND OF THE LOOKED HIM AND WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEIR LOVED ONE.

YOU KNOW, RELIEVED THAT THEY GOT THEY WERE SPANISH SPEAKING.

SO IT WAS HARD FOR THEM TO LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE.

BUT WE HAVE INFORMATION TRANSLATED IN SPANISH.

WE ALSO HAVE CONS OF SPANISH CONSULATE.

THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO HELP FAMILIES.

AND SO YOU KNOW, THAT HE WAS THAT FAMILY WAS ABLE TO GET CLOSE.

NOT THE RESULT THEY WANTED PER SE, BUT STILL, YOU KNOW, IN OUR IN OUR LAST 30 SECONDS OR SO.

I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO I GUESS WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED THROUGH TAKING ON THIS ROLE, PARTICULARLY AFTER VERY TOUGH YEARS.

YOU'VE BEEN MEDICAL EXAMINER THROUGH COVID HAVING TO DO WITH MORE 10,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES SINCE PANDEMIC.

SO IT IS A MISSION OF FOR OFFICE TO TREAT OUR EDEN'S WITH RESPECT.

AND WE WANT TO IN A PROGRESSIVE DO MORE THAN THAT MISSION TO HELP FAMILIES GET CLOSURE ON DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAD CLOSE TO 3 TIMES USUAL CASE LOAD.

THANKFUL TO OUR STAFF, TOO HELP WITH, YOU KNOW, THE STORAGE OF TO DECEIVE DUNST, HELP THE FAMILIES GET CLOSURE THROUGH, GIVING CAUSE OF DEATH THIS WE HAVE THE LAST POSITIONS FOR THESE DISSIDENTS AND WE TAKE THIS AS A TO THE SUCH CARE AND I'M SURE REALLY MAKES YOU GET A GIVEN A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR LIFE.

SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TIME WITH US.

AND BEST OF LUCK ON SATURDAY TO YOU AND THE FAMILIES.

ONCE AGAIN MISSING PERSONS DAY DOES TAKE PLACE THIS SATURDAY.

IT STARTS AT 11:00AM AND THAT'S AT THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

>> UP NEXT, IMPROVING ACCESS TO AUTISM DIAGNOSES.

STAY WITH US.

APRIL IS NATIONAL AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH?

ACCORDING TO RESEARCHERS WITH THE CDC, THERE ARE NEARLY 300,000 AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS IN ILLINOIS.

>> NAVIGATING NEURODIVERGENT VARIES GREATLY FROM CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADULTHOOD, BUT A TIMELY DIAGNOSIS IS KEY TO GETTING EARLY SUPPORT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WT TW NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY MIDDLE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM STUDENTS INTRODUCE US TO FAMILIES, ADVOCATES AND RESEARCHERS WORKING ON CREATING ACTIONABLE STEPS.

WHEN KAY LONNY WAS TO MARKET KINDS BEGAN NOTICING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KAY LONNY AND HER OTHER CHILDREN.

>> I HAD CONCERNS I JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR THE DOCTOR WAS THAT.

>> OH, SHE'S YOUNG TOOBIN NEED.

AND THE MOTHER, I AM.

AND THE TEACHER MIZE SAID, I'M LIKE, NO, SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT.

BECAUSE MY CHILDREN TALK AT 2.

>> AS A TEACHER FOR YOUNG KIDS KINDS WAS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS IN CHILDREN.

IT WAS THROUGH A COLLEAGUE THAT SHE FOUND THE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PROGRAM CALLED REDUCE THE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.

>> WITH THEY'RE CONSTANTLY IN CONTACT WITH ME EVEN AFTER LIKE WE'VE HAD VALUATION PERE FOR MANY FAMILIES GETTING THIS KIND OF HELP IS DIFFICULT.

>> EVALUATION WAIT.

TIMES ARE MAJOR BARRIER IN ILLINOIS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WAIT TIMES FOR CHILD ALTARS OF EVALUATIONS.

TRIPLE FROM 6 MONTHS TO 18 MONTHS.

THE TIME DROPPED TO ONE MONTH.

THANKS TO REDUCE THE WAY WITH 3 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING.

RESEARCHERS STUDY HOW TO EXPAND THE TYPES OF PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN ISSUE A DIAGNOSIS.

CURRENTLY IN ILLINOIS, ONLY PHYSICIANS AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST CAN DO THE WAY TO REDUCE THE BOTTLENECK WOULD BE TO SAY, IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL IN WHICH WE CAN BRING PROFESSIONS IN 2?

>> THE FOLD AND CHANGE WHO CAN DIAGNOSE AUTISM.

ROBERTS ISSUES INSURANCE RECOGNIZE DIAGNOSES TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES.

COULD WE SEE IF SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS ARE AS ACCURATE AS WHAT WE CALL OUR CURRENT EXPERTS, WHICH OUR PHYSICIANS AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST.

>> EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM IN YOUNG CHILDREN INCLUDE DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING OTHER PEOPLE'S FEELINGS, HIGHLY RESTRICTED INTERESTS GETTING UPSET BY MINOR CHANGES IN ROUTINE OR SURROUNDINGS AND DOING REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS LIKE ROCKING.

31 YEAR-OLD AND A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST WITH THE REDUCED THE WEIGHT PROGRAM SAYS SHE STRUGGLED WITH SEEING AUTISM TRAITS IN HERSELF.

HER PSYCHIATRIST RECOMMENDED SHE GET AN EVALUATION AT 17.

>> I WAS KIND OF FIGHTING AGAINST HIM AND SAYING THAT I DIDN'T THINK THAT THE DIAGNOSIS FIT ME.

AND THEN HE EVENTUALLY AGREED WITH ME AND YOU'RE CHARMING TO BE AUTISTIC, WHICH ANYONE?

I THINK THAT WOULD COST PEOPLE ROLL THEIR EYES TO HEAR BECAUSE ARTISTIC CHARMING ARE NOT.

USUALLY IT'S SAID, OF COURSE, BY THE PROJECTS REDUCE THE WAIT WILL HAVE WORKED WITH MORE THAN 1000 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGE 3 OR UNDER.

>> 40% OF THESE FAMILIES ARE BLACK AND ANOTHER 30% IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC LATINO.

LICENSED PSYCHOTHERAPIST, MARRIED HONOR, SAYS THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> AUTISM SIDES HAVE BEEN STUDIED IN WHITE MALE CHILDREN.

ONLY WHICH IS WHY SERVING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> IS IMPORTANT.

>> PEOPLE ARE NOT YOUNG WHITE BOYS OFTEN AUTISM DIAGNOSIS FAR LATER IN LIFE.

THE DIAGNOSIS USUALLY COMES WHEN A CHILD HAS BEEN THROUGH A FEW SERIES OF BURNOUTS.

SO BY THE TIME PEOPLE GET TO THAT POINT, THEY COULD HAVE HAD DIFFERENT ACCOMMODATIONS THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THAT WHOLE SORT BREAKDOWN.

>> 36 YEAR-OLD TJ GORDON WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AS A CHILD.

AND THEN AGAIN IN 2015, 3 YEARS LATER, HE CO-FOUNDED THE CHICAGO LAND, DISABLED PEOPLE OF COLOR COALITION TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT AUTISM, ACCEPTANCE.

I A SIZE BECAUSE THE WAY I SPEAK.

MAY BE DIFFERENT.

>> I'VE BEEN PROFESSOR FOREIGN BECAUSE THE WAY AND THAT'S WHAT WORDS I'M LEARNING.

HOW TO BE MIGHT SAYS STEALTH.

NOW, BUT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN MASTERFUL SO LONG.

>> CAN BE AS AUTISTIC HAS SOME OUT TO PEOPLE WANT ME TO ACCUSED OF BEING RUDE.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES ARE FLOODED WITH ADULTS WHO ADVOCATING AUTISM CHANGING ADVICE ABOUT MASKING AND DISCUSSING THE VALIDITY OF SELF YEARS.

RECENT U.S. TICKETS.

SOME EXPERTS SAY THE AVERAGE COST OF AN EVALUATION WITHOUT INSURANCE RANGES FROM MORE THAN 1000 TO $5,000.

GORDON, WHO IS A RESEARCHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO SAYS EVEN WITH INSURANCE, NOT ALL PROVIDERS FULLY COVER EVALUATIONS THAT CUT DOWN ON.

>> THE WHITE TIMES 4.

GET IN DEPARTMENT TO DIAGNOSED.

I THINK THOSE ARE MAIN BATTLES WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT.

>> EARLIER DIAGNOSES COULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN HOW ADULTS WITH AUTISM MANAGE AND SEE THEMSELVES FOR FAMILIES LIKE HEY, LONNIE'S GETTING HELP EARLY WAS KEY TO SETTING HER UP FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.

>> I FEEL LIKE ONCE YOU GET THE HELP EARLY AND YOU KNOW, GET THE SUPPORT RESOURCES USE THEM.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE CHILDREN DO BETTER AND THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKE A BETTER LIFE.

>> FOR WTW NEWS AND NORTHWESTERN'S MEDILL SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

I'M AVA THOMPSON GREENWELL.

>> YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE NORTHWESTERN PROGRAM ON OUR WEB SITE.

UP NEXT, A CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL MUSIC IN CHICAGO.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

CHICAGO IS KNOWN AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF GOSPEL.

MANY OF THE GENRES PIONEERS LIKE THOMAS DORSEY AND MAHALIA JACKSON CALLED THE CITY HOME.

TODAY, THE MUSIC CELEBRATED WORLDWIDE FAR BEYOND THE BLACK CHURCHES WERE DORSEY AND JACKSON GOT THEIR STARTS.

SOME OF GOSPELS BIGGEST STARS ARE COMING TOGETHER FOR A NIGHT OF PERFORMANCES IN THE CITY WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.

THE SOS RIGHT HERE AT W T TW A WEEK FROM TOMORROW.

THAT'S ON TUESDAY.

APRIL 23RD.

WE'LL TELL YOU HOW TO BE A PART OF THE CROWD IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.

BUT FIRST JOINING US IS THE HOST OF THIS LIVE IN PERSON W T TW EVENT.

PASTOR JOHN BOSTON FROM SHILOH, 7TH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, PARTICULARLY TIMELY TITLE TO BECAUSE OF CASH HOT.

YOU ARE ALSO THE HOST OF THE GOSPEL FOR STARTERS.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT GOSPEL MUSIC?

GOSPEL MUSIC IS THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE.

I LOVE THAT.

NO MATTER WHERE I GO IN THE WORLD.

>> I HEAR REMIT ELEMENTS THAT RESONATE WITH WHAT GOSPEL MUSIC IT'S ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT DIFFICULTY.

IT'S SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT MUSIC TO PLAY IN THE WORLD.

AND SO WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE MAKE IT EASY, IT KIND OF GIVES YOU A MOMENT TO BREATHE AND SAY MATTER HOW BAD THINGS GET, I'M GOING MAKE IT.

>> GUSTS WILL LITERALLY MEANS GOOD IT DOES.

SO WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT TO PLAY HOUSE AT SOME OF THE HARDEST MUSIC?

WELL, THERE THERE'S SO MANY NUANCES TO TO MAKE THIS OUT SOMETIMES IN A SONG CAN BE DONE CALL THE RESPONSE STYLE.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE PARTS THAT HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME.

YOU THINK ABOUT ALL SONG LIKE SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT.

YOU'VE GOT SOPRANO SINGING ONE PART OUT HOLES, ANOTHER DIVORCE, THE LYRICS.

ALL OF THESE FEATURES.

>> IT BECAUSE IT'S BORN FROM PAIN AND DESIGNED TO BRING GREAT JOY TO ME ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY IT IS BORN FROM PAIN?

SOME OF THE FOUND FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS OF GOSPEL MUSIC ARE ROOTED WHERE AMERICA HAS COME FROM, WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE COME FROM, WHERE PEOPLE OF POVERTY HAVE COME FROM.

AND I THINK INTERWOVEN INTO THE AMERICAN STORY IS THE SOUND OF GOSPEL BECAUSE IT REFLECTS THE POWER OF COMMUNITY TO SAY WE HAVE FACED DIFFICULT TRYING ADVERSITY THAT WE HAVE OVERCOME.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SPECIAL TO EVERYONE.

IT'S NOT RELEGATED ONLY TO THE CHURCH.

IT'S FOR EVERYONE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE ROLE THAT CHICAGO PLACE IN THAT STORY IS THE SOUNDTRACK OF YOUR BUT PARALLELS SO MUCH WITH THE STORY OF CHICAGO.

I THINK WHAT'S SO POWERFUL ABOUT CHICAGO, CHICAGO'S GREAT IN EVERY RESPECT.

OKAY.

BUT I THINK WHAT MAKES IT EXTRAORDINARY IS THAT YOU'VE GOT THIS GREAT MIGRATION FROM THE SOUTH COMING TO A WARM, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR INDUSTRY AND DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND THE SOUND OF THAT TRANSITION WAS GOSPEL MUSIC.

IT WAS AN EVOLUTION OF MOVING FROM COTTON FIELDS INTO CHURCHES BUILT BY OUR OWN HANDS AND IT TRANSFORMED THE LANDSCAPE NEWS.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT GOSPEL MUSIC LITERALLY DID IT TO BE CONSIDERED A GOSPEL VERSUS A REGULAR WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT GOSPEL AND PARTICULARLY INTRIGUING FIGHT?

YEAH.

THE CALLER RESPONSE PORTION IT IT PULLS ON THE LIVED.

EXPERIENCE OF THOSE SEEKING GOOD.

AND SO TO COME OUT TO A GOSPEL SHOWCASE AND EXPERIENCE A GOSPEL CONCERT WITH THE GREATEST VOICES, SOME OF THE GREATEST VOICES OF OUR TIME.

>> IS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY.

AND WHAT MAKES IT SO UNIQUE IS THE NATURE OF WHAT GOSPEL MUSIC REPRESENTS.

A REPRESENTS NOT JUST A PERFORMER, BUT AN EXPERIENCE.

SO PEOPLE IF THEY ATTEND, HE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO SING A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, FOR THAT FAMILY THAT FEELING BE ABLE TO RESIST IS NOT JUST ABOUT MOVING.

YOUR IS GOING I'VE GOT TO STAND AND BE A PART OF THIS.

>> WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE SOCIAL REFORMERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE HERE AT W T TW NEXT WEEK?

JOINING YOU, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, SMOKING SMOKING OR FULL IS NOT ONLY A GAS PARTIES, BUT A MUSICIAN AND A VERY CELEBRATED ONE.

>> HE IS EPITOME OF TRANS THE NUANCES OF JAZZ AND GOSPEL RNB AND GAS.

BY KNOW, HE'LL HATE THAT.

I'VE SAID THIS, BUT I THINK HE REPRESENTS A WHOLE NEW SOUND IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

GOSPEL MUSIC IS AND I THINK IS EXTRAORDINARY THAT NOT ONLY IS HE HERE IN CHICAGO, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE HERE FOR THE BEFORE WE GET ANOTHER PERFORMER.

HOW HAS GOSPEL EVOLVED?

>> GOSPEL EVOLVED IN THE SENSE THAT YOU STILL HAVE THAT THAT SYNCOPATION IN SOUND THAT RIVARD, THAT THAT BACK AND FORTH.

BUT IT'S EVOLVED TO INSTEAD INFLUENCING OTHER MUSIC.

NOW GOSPEL IS DRAWING ON ITS CHILDREN.

JAZZ IS A CHILD OF GOSPEL R AND B IS A CHILD OF GOSPEL.

AND NOW THE NEW SOUNDS OF R AND B AND JAZZ ARE NOW REVERBERATING BACK.

EVEN HIP-HOP.

THESE ARE INFLUENCED BY GOSPEL MUSIC.

>> WHAT ABOUT LAMAR CAMPBELL, LAMAR AT A TIME WERE GOSPEL MUSIC WAS ABOUT EVERYONE SINKING AND TRANSITION TO A CHOIR SINGING LAMAR CAMPBELL PROBABLY REPRESENTS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

SOMEONE WHO WHAT WE DID HAVE A WHOLE CHOIR, WHICH IS BROKEN TO SMALL PARTS AND EVOLUTION THAT WE NOW CALL PRAY STEEN.

I'M NOT GOING TO CREDIT HIM ONLY, BUT I THINK HE'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST TO USE THE CRAZE TEAMS.

I LOVE THAT.

WHAT ABOUT YOU SORT OF TOUCHED ON THIS?

>> VIEWERS AREN'T RELIGIOUS.

WHAT IS ALLURE FOR FOR THOSE WHO MAYBE AREN'T CHRISTIAN EVEN IS THERE'S STILL IT ROOM FOR APPRECIATION OF GOSPEL.

I THINK GOSPEL THIS SHOWCASE UNIQUELY WILL PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL NOT LIKELY BE FORGOTTEN.

THIS IS WINE TRIP VISIT THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE HAVE WAITED FOR.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING FOR FROM THE THE WOMEN, SOCIAL CLUB, SENIOR GROUPS, YOUTH GROUPS, NOT JUST CHURCH GROUPS, BUSINESS GATHERINGS.

THIS IS SOMETHING EVEN FOR TEAM BUILDING TO SAY WASN'T THAT SOMETHING THAT MADE OUR HEARTS BURN WITHIN IN THE LAST 30 SECONDS THAT WE HAVE IT.

WE TALKED ABOUT ORIGINS OF GOSPEL ROOTED IN CHICAGO.

WHAT ABOUT NOW?

WHAT IS CHICAGO'S GOSPEL SEEN?

LIKE?

I THINK CHICAGO IS STILL PRODUCING SOME OF THE GREATEST MUSICIANS OF OUR TIME, PARTICULARLY IN GOSPEL MUSIC.

GUY.

YOU HAVE ART IS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE SHOWCASING AROUND THE WORLD.

IT WAS ON BOARD HERE, BUT THEY WERE INFLUENCED BY WHAT WAS BORN HERE.

>> AND YOU CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN EVEN MORE A WEEK FROM TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FASTER.

JOHN BOSTON AND AGAIN, BOSTON IS GOING TO BE HOSTED THAT GOSPEL SHOWCASE THAT IS TAKING PLACE HERE AT W T TW TUESDAY.

APRIL 23RD AT 06:30PM.

YOU CAN GET TICKETS AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH COSTS WILL SHOWCASE OR BY SCANNING THAT QR CODE YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 AND AT 10 MAYOR JOHNSON'S PUSH FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NEW ARRIVALS FUNDING AND MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS AND FROM CEMETERY SECRETS TO FLYING SAUCERS.

WE HAVE A PREVIEW OF JEFFREY BEARS, NEW TOUR OF CHICAGO MYSTERIES.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M AMANDA THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT.

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