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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ REPORTING FROM CHICAGO'S GREATER ENGLEWOOD AREA.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THIS IS AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD CHICAGO'S FIRST CASINO.

>> THE MAYOR BEGINS A BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE CITY'S FIRST CASINO WHAT SHE WANTS DEVELOPERS TO KEEP IN MIND.

>> SUCH A LONG WAY TO GO FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

>> MOST CARS AND BUSES ON THE ROADS ARE POWERED BY GAS AND DIESEL BUT NEW POLICIES ARE GIVING A GREEN LIGHT TO ELECTRIC SICK VEHICLES.

>> AND AS CHICAGO ENTERS WHAT COULD BE A THIRD WAVE COVID VACCINATIONS IN THE ENGLEWOOD AREA LAG BEHIND THE CITY.

>> THIS IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HISTORY AND ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS EMMETT TILL.

>> HOW GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH AND THE MURDER TRIAL THAT FOLLOWED SPARKED A REVISITING THE EMMETT TILL'S STORY.

SCIENTISTS INJECT MONKEY EMBRYOS WITH HUMAN STEM CELLS SPARKING FEARS OF HUMAN-MONKEY HYBRIDS.

WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE.

HOW A TRAIN BRIDGE TELLS THE STORY OF A SOUTH SIDE'S DEVELOPMENT IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> THEY GIVE NEW VISION TO CULTURE.

>> AND A GREEKTOWN ART EXHIBIT COMBINES MYTHOLOGY AND CURRENT EVENTS.

>> AND I'M IN ENGLEWOOD ON THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS LAGGED BEHIND THE CITY AVERAGE IN TERMS OF VACCINATION RATES AND COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN HIT HARD OVER THE LAST YEAR BY COVID.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON EXACTLY WHY THAT IS AND WHAT LOCAL AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE DOING TO CHANGE IT.

BUT FIRST, BRANDIS, WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

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

A TURNING POINT IN THE RACE TO ACCESS THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> FOUR MONTHS WE'VE BEEN SAYING IT'S COPE COMING.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND A VACCINE IF YOU WANT A VACCINE BUT OUR SUPPLY HAS NOT BEEN UP TO SNUFF.

AS OF NOW WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE.

YAY!

>> DURING HER WEEKLY SEGMENT, CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS DESPITE THE PAUSE IN THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, THE CITY HAS ENOUGH DOSES TO VACCINATE ANY CHICAGOAN 16 YEARS OLD AND OVER.

AND STARTING TOMORROW CITY-RUN SITE ALSO BEGIN ACCEPTING WALK-INS.

APPOINTMENTS CAN BE FOUND USING ZocDoc.

FOR MORE ON ACCESSING THE VACCINE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> MEANWHILE, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY ANOTHER 3100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS AND 33 HAVE DIED.

A TOTAL OF 1.312 MILLION HAVE TESTED POSITIVE AND 21,755 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

28% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

>> THE CITY IS DOUBLING DOWN ON ITS PLANS TO ESTABLISH A CASINO IN CHICAGO.

OFFICIALLY SOLICITING PROPOSALS FOR NOT JUST A CASINO BUT A CASINO RESORT.

IT MUST INCLUDE PLANS FOR A 500 ROOM HOTEL, MEETING SPACE, RESTAURANTS, BARS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.

CITY PROJECTIONS ESTIMATE THE CASINO WILL RING UP $200 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE EARMARKED FOR THE CHICAGO'S UNDERFUNDED POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUNDS.

THE CASINO WOULDN'T OPEN UNTIL 2025 AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS PROPOSAL COMING UP LATER ON IN THE BROADCAST.

>> TO THIS POINT, CHICAGO OFFICIALS REPORT NEARLY HALF OF ALL RESIDENTS RECEIVING A FIRST DOSE VACCINE AND AROUND A QUARTER FULLY VACCINATED.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE FASTER AS THE CITY ANNOUNCED THE WALK IN APPOINTMENTS.

HOWEVER SOME COMMUNITIES LAGGED BEHIND IN THEIR VACCINATION RATES.

ONE OF THOSE IS ENGLEWOOD ON THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE.

IT HAS ALSO STRUGGLED WITH A HIGH RATE OF COVID AND WITH HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT AND VIOLENCE.

PARIS SCHUTZ AND PRODUCER MARISSA NELSON HAVE BEEN REPORTING IN ENGLEWOOD AS PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

PARIS JOINS US OUTSIDE KENNEDY-KING COLLEGE.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, THE WALK IN APPOINTMENTS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THAT IS WELCOME NEWS IN ENGLEWOOD AS IT IS ACROSS THE CITY BUT IT MEANS THERE WILL BE MORE VACCINES SHIPPED TO ENGLEWOOD AND OTHER AREAS.

AS YOU MENTIONED, ENGLEWOOD LAGGED BEHIND IN VACCINATION RATE AND THERE IS A MYRIAD OF REINS FOR THAT.

-- REASONS FOR THAT.

22% OF THE POPULATION IN THIS ZIP CODE RECEIVED ITS FIRST DOSE.

14% FULLY VACCINATED WHY THE PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS PROGRAM HAS COME IN HERE TO DO THINGS LIKE MOBILE VACCINATION UNITS, OUTREACH AND DISTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

THE DEPUTY MAYOR SYBIL MADISON SAYS THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP A FIFTH SINCE FEBRUARY 6TH.

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE IT SUPER CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

WE'RE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT WALK UPS INSTEAD OF REQUIRING APPOINTMENTS NOW THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH SUPPLY.

TRYING TO BRING THE VACCINE TO PEOPLE.

SO WE'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK WITH THE VACCINE BUS AND BRING TO GO THROUGH ENGLEWOOD.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO TRY NEW STRATEGIES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE VACCINE AVAILABLE IN THAT MOMENT THAT SOMEONE DECIDES THAT THEY WANT TO GET VACCINATED >> PART OF THE STRATEGY ALL ALONG IS TO DISTRIBUTE IT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS LIKE MILES SQUARE OPERATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HOSPITALS.

DOCTORS WILL COMPLETE THEIR 4,000TH VACCINATION IN THE COMMUNITY THIS WEEK BUT THEY SAY IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE TO REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS MANY WITHOUT ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY MAINLY BECAUSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAY COVID IS A CHALLENGE BUT NOT AS GREAT A CHALLENGE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE FACE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

>> ON THE STREET THEY ARE MORE AFRAID OF GETTING SHOT THAN GETTING COVID.

AND SO WHAT IS FRONT OF MIND IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND AS TO WHAT IS THE VALUE ADD AND WHAT IS THE INCENTIVE OR THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING THE DISEASE GETTING A VACCINE, WHEN FOR SOME PEOPLE IT MAY BE PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.

>> AND WE'VE HEARD THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THE KEY IS TO HAVE TRUSTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS DOING THE OUTREACH, DOING THE VACCINATION THEMSELVES WHERE I GROW CHICAGO COMES IN.

A MULTIFACETED ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A COMMUNITY GARDEN IT TREATS TRAUMATIZED YOUTH AND THEY ARE ADMINISTERING THEIR OWN CLINICS BECAUSE FOLKS KNOW AND TRUST THEM ON THE BLOCK AND IN THE BLOCKS SURROUNDING IT AND THE OTHER CHALLENGE THEY HELP SOLVE IS ACCESS SINCE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FIND IT HARD TO HOP ON PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GO TO ONE OF THE MASS VACCINATION SITES AT THE UNITED CENTER OR CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> THEY ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THIS BEING OFFERED HERE.

ONE LADY SAID I DIDN'T THINK I WAS EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS VACCINE BECAUSE SHE CAN'T TRAVEL DOWNTOWN SHE CAN'T TRAVEL OTHER PLACES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS.

THIS IS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR THEM TO COME HERE, GO IN, AND GET THE VACCINE, AND MAKE THEMSELVES SAFE.

>> ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH BY THE MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE I GROW, AND IT'S BEEN AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH IN ENGLEWOOD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO DEAL WITH DISINVESTMENT, OF POVERTY OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE OF VIOLENCE.

AND THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TEAMWORK ENGLEWOOD ON THE GROUND TRYING TO DEVELOP WHAT THEY CALL THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT IS THE COMMUNITY'S YOUTH.

>> WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE FOCUS ON NOT TO SEE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CRIMINALIZING OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BUT TO HAVE A RESTORE THE HUMAN APPROACH TO HELPING THEM.

WE NEED THE RESOURCES NOT JUST SPORTS ACTIVITIES BUT WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE INTELLECTUAL COMPONENT.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE TECHNOLOGICAL COMPONENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND GIVING THEM CULTURE AWARENESS.

>> AND WE'RE GET TO GET MORE INTO THE ISSUES OF COMMUNITY AND POLICING AND TRUST IN POLICE.

BUT AGAIN THOSE WALK IN APPOINTMENTS THOSE ARE GOING TO BE VALUABLE IN ENGLEWOOD AS OFFICIALS HOPE TO GET THAT RIGHT UP HERE AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH THE AREA'S ALDERMAN TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MORE.

BRANDIS NOW WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

>> IT'S EARTH DAY AND IN WASHINGTON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN PLEDGED TO WORLD LEADERS THAT THE U.S. WILL CUT THE NATION'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN HALF BY 2030.

PART OF THAT RELIES ON A TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

>> ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL PROMISE BIDEN VIE VIA EXECUTIVE ORDER WANTS THE NATION'S FLEETS LIKE MAIL TRUCKS TO BE CLEAN AND GREEN.

IT'S NOT JUST THE WHITE HOUSE THAT IS LOOKING TO REDUCE GAS GUZZLERS ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT REQUIRES FUTURE STATE LEASING AND PURCHASING OF VEHICLES BE FOR LOW OR ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES.

ELECTRIC CARS ARE NOT THE DEFAULT YET.

>> IS IT HAPPENING TODAY?

NO.

BUT WE SEE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING GROWING.

WE SEE MORE AND MORE MODELS INTRODUCED AND WE SEE A LOT OF POLICIES SUPPORT TO GO LIKE STATES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS AND CALIFORNIA BANNED THE SALE OF ENGINES AFTER 2025.

AND GENERAL MOTORS SAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MANUFACTURE ANY ININTERNAL COUPLE BUGS ENGINES THERE IS A TREND TOWARDS THAT.

>> RIGHT NOW, HOWEVER, THERE ARE BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CITY'S SUSAN MADD SAYS SOME OF THAT WILL CLEAR UP AS ELECTRIC CARS ARE NORMALIZED.

>> WE'RE ALL USED TO DRIVING TO GAS STATIONS BUT PEOPLE AREN'T USED TO THINK ABOUT PLUGGING IN THEIR CAR OVERNIGHT IN THEIR GARAGE OR IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE OR IN FRONT OF THEIR APARTMENT BUILDING.

AS MORE OF THESE ARE LITERALLY SEEN, PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT REALLY SUCH A HUGE, HUGE CHANGE.

>> IT IS A CHANGE, BUT SHE SAYS A MINOR ONE AND ONE WAY TO CLEAR THE COAST FOR THAT, MORE CHARGES STATIONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS A PROMISE THERE.

PROMISING A HALF MILLION CHARGING STATIONS GOING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THIS WILL BOTH ALLOW DRIVERS TO PLUG IN BUT IT ALSO WILL RELIEVE ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES WHICH IS RANGE ANXIETY.

PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID PEOPLE WHO WANT OR OWN A VEHICLE THEY ARE NOT SURE THEY CAN GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO BECAUSE AT THE OTHER END OF THE TRIP THERE WILL BE A PLACE TO CHARGE THE CAR.

>> WE MET MEGHA LAKHCHURA AND THAT IS WHAT THE COMPANY EV BOX DOES.

IT MAKES CHARGING STATIONS AND THEY ARE MANUFACTURED IN THE NETHERLANDS BUT ALSO IN SUBURBAN LIBERTYVILLE.

I ASKED ARE THE CHARGES STATIONS USED IN ILLINOIS?

>> WE HOPE SO.

WE HOPE MORE OF THE CHARGERS ARE USED IN ILLINOIS.

WE ARE BRINGING STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY HERE WE'RE MANUFACTURING SUPER FAST CHARGERS 350 KILOWATT CHARGERS.

ILLINOIS CURRENTLY HAS ALMOST 2,000 CHARGING PORTS.

SO IT NEEDS TO MAYBE INSTALL A LOT MORE.

>> A WHOLE LOT MORE IN ORDER TO MAKE GOOD ON THE 2030 GOALS.

OF THE 4.5 MILLION TOTAL CARS DRIVE ESPECIALLY IN ILLINOIS, 27,000 ARE ELECTRIC BUT THE GOAL TO HAVE 750,000 ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN ILLINOIS BY 2030 AND THAT MEANS ILLINOIS WOULD NEED ABOUT 98,000 MORE CHARGING PORTS WITHIN THE DECADE.

DANIEL HORTON IS FOCUSED ON SOLUTION ORIENTED PROBLEMS IN WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> 17% OF THE U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS COME FROM THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR THE NATURAL REMEDY WOULD STOP EMITTING CO2 WHILE WE GET AROUND VIA VEHICLES.

>> ONE OF THE MODELS THAT HE DID SHOW THAT IF A QUARTER OF DRIVERS OF LIGHT DUTIES OF THE NORMAL CARS CONVERTED TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE U.S. WOULD SAVE 250 GIGA TONS OF CARBON EMISSIONS.

THE ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS A NO-BRAINER.

>> IF WE ADOPT ELECTRIC VEHICLES, OUR CARBON EMISSIONS WILL GO DOWN.

THEY'LL STILL EXIST IN THE FORM OF FOSSIL FUEL-BASED ELECTRICITY GENERATION BUT IT WILL BE MUCH LESSER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL VEHICLES THAT PEOPLE DRIVE TODAY.

>> BUT THERE IS ANOTHER BENEFIT, TOO.

>> SO IN ADDITION TO EMITTING CO2 YOUR ENGINE VEHICLE CAN EMIT PARTICULATE MATTER OR OTHER POLLUTANTS THAT EVENTUALLY CAN BE HARMFUL TO BREATHING.

AND SO THE REMOVAL OF THOSE POLLUTANTS FROM THE TAILPIPES OF YOUR VEHICLE CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH BENEFITS TO SOCIETY.

>> AND SO WE HAVE FOCUSED ON PERSONAL CARS EFFORTS ARE ON AFOOT FOR THE TRANSITION IN THE PUBLIC TRANSIT ARENA.

THIS MONTH, THE CTA DEBUTED NEW ELECTRIC BUSES AND SUSAN MADD SAYS THESE ARE QUIETER AND CLEANER AND THEY HAVE THE BUSES GOING ON THE CHICAGO AVENUE ROUTE 66 FROM NAVY PIER TO THE WEST SIDE.

>> IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE MORE AIR POLLUTION AND MORE HEALTH PROBLEMS AND MORE HISTORIC IMPACT FROM AIR POLLUTION >> NOW, MEANWHILE, ILLINOIS DOES HAVE MONEY THAT IS SET ASIDE FROM THE FEW YEARS BACK THAT VOKES WEGAN SETTLEMENT USED TO PURCHASE THE MORE EXPENSIVE ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES.

SO FAR ONLY A HANDFUL HAVE BEEN PURCHASED.

YOU HAVE THREE USED IN THE CHICAGO AREA BUT SUSAN MADD SAYS $10 MILLION THAT CAN BE USED TOWARDS SOMETHING ALONG THESE LINES IS SITTING ITEMLE IDLE IN A FUND AND THEY ARE FRUSTRATED THEY HAVE NOT SPENT THAT MONEY TO BUY MORE ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES.

I REACHED OUT AND GOT NO ANSWER AS TO WHY THAT HAS STALLED.

BY THE WAY, THIS TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS WE NOTED THERE IS LEGISLATION BEFORE THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND NOT EVERYBODY IS ONBOARD WITH THAT.

NO SURPRISE.

GAS STATION OWNERS HAVE CONCERNS.

BUT ALSO ONE OF THE MEASURES WOULD REQUIRE CHARGING PORTS IN NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION BUILDINGS AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS IS AGAINST.

SO, BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE AND NEW SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH RAISING ETHICAL CONCERNS.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME SCIENTISTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BEEN ABLE TO GROW MONKEY EMBRYOS CONTAINING HUMAN CELLS.

RESEARCHERS AT THE SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN CALIFORNIA WORKING WITH CHINESE SCIENTISTS GREW THE EMBRYOS IN A DISH WITH SOME SURVIVING UP TO 20 DAYS.

THEY PUBLISHED THE RESEARCH IMMEDIATELY IGNITING DEBATE OVER THE ETHICS OF SUCH RESEARCH AND SPARKING FEARS OF HUMAN-MONKEY HYBRIDS.

JOINING US TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE REALITY BEHIND THE UNSETTLING HEADLINES IS INSOO HYUN PROFESSOR OF BIOETHICS AT CASE UNIVERSITY IN OHIO.

AND IS DEVELOPING GUIDELINES TO HELP IN THIS RESEARCH.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD OR A BAD THING, EXPLAIN MECHANICALLY WHAT THE SCIENTISTS DID?

>> SO THEY TOOK SPERM AND EGGS FROM MONKEYS.

MIXED THEM IN A DISH TO MAKE MONKEY EMBRYOS AND THE EMBRYOS HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A MONKEY'S BODY THEY WERE CREATED IN A LAB IN A DISH.

ONCE THE MONKEY EMBRYOS GOT TO A FEW DAYS OLD THEY TRANSFERRED 25 HUMAN STEM CELLS INJECTED THEM INTO THE EMBRYOS AND WATCHED HOW THE STEM CELLS INTERACTED WITH THE MONKEY CELLS FOR 20 DAYS.

>> WE ARE LOOK AT AN IMAGE AND THE RED DOTS ARE THE HUMAN GENETIC MATERIAL THAT IS IN THE EMBRYO.

PLEASE CONTINUE.

>> RIGHT.

I'M GLAD YOU ARE SHING THIS.

MANY PEOPLE WHEN THEY HEARD OF THIS HAD PROJECTS OF PLANET OF THE APES.

THEY HAD IMAGES OF HUMAN-MONKEY HYBRIDS THAT ARE VISUALLY A MIXTURE OF THE TWO.

BUT WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THE EMBRYOS THEY LOOK LIKE MINI DISCO BALLS THEY LOOK NOTHING LIKE AN ANIMAL.

THIS IS BECAUSE THE EMBRYOS AT A PREIMPLANTATION CHANGE BEFORE THEY FORM STRUCTURES LIKE LIMBS OR ORGANS.

WHY DID THEY DO THIS?

MANY CURIOUS ARE WHY SCIENCE WOULD DO SUCH A RADICAL THING.

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF THIS KIND OF EXPERIMENT.

>> WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE?

>> THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE IS TO LEARN HOW TO BETTER GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN GROW TRANSPLANTABLE HUMAN ORGANS IN LIVESTOCK ANIMALS LIKE SHEEP OR PIGS.

THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANTATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLDWIDE.

IN THE UNITED STATES 18 PEOPLE EVERYDAY DIE WHILE WAITING FOR AN ORGAN ON THE WAIT LIST.

SO THERE HAS TO BE RADICAL STRATEGIES TO EASE THAT SHORTAGE AND HELP SAVE AMERICAN LIVES.

SO THIS STRATEGY OF GROWING HUMAN ORGANS IN LIVESTOCK ANIMAL EVOLUTIONARY VERY DISTANT FROM HUMAN PIGS AND SHEEP ARE UNLIKE HUMAN BEINGS THAT STRATEGY HAS NOT WORKED BECAUSE INJECTING HUMAN STEM CELLS INTO A PIG OR SHEEP EMBRYO THAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN OREGON WHICH THE HUMAN STEM CELLS WILL SURVIVE THE STEM CELLS HAVE NOT SURVIVED LONG IN THAT FOREIGN HOST ENVIRONMENT.

RESEARCHERS HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING HOW TO OVERCOME THE XENO BARRIER BETWEEN HUMAN SPECIES AND NOT HUMAN SPECIES AND LEARN WE HAVE TO WORK WITH A SPECIES THAT IS CLOSER TO HUMAN BEINGS WHICH WOULD BE THE MONKEY.

TO LEARN ABOUT HOW HUMAN CELLS CAN INTERACT WITH NONHUMAN CELLS AT AN EARLY STAGE BEFORE IMPLANTATION.

>> THE EMBRYOS WITH THE MONKEY EMBRYOS WITH THE INJECTED HUMAN MATERIAL ONLY LASTED 20 DAYS.

IF IT LASTS, IS IT THE GOAL TORE IT TO LAST LONGER?

AND AT THAT POINT MIGHT NOT SOCIETY GET INTO MORE TROUBLING ASPECTS THAN JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CELLS TALK TO EACH OTHER TO PROMOTE TRANSPLANTATION?

>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

THE REASON WHY THEY TRACKED THE EMBRYOS FOR 20 DAYS THAT IS THE MAXIMUM LIMIT HOW LONG YOU CAN KEEP MONKEY EMBRYOS ALIVE IN A DISH THAT HAS NOT BEEN IN A MONKEY BODY.

WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO IS TO IMPLANT THE EMBRYO INTO A UTERUS OF A MONKEY.

NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT AT THIS POINT.

>> MIGHT THAT HAPPEN, THOUGH?

IT SEEMS AS THIS MIGHT BE A STEP FOR THE IMPLANTATION OF THAT EMBRYO INTO A MACAQUE MONKEY WHICH IS THE MATERIAL THAT THE MACAQUE MONKEY IS PROVIDING THIS MATERIAL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU ARE CORRECT THAT IF THE GOAL IS TO GROW HUMAN ORGANS AND SHEEP AND PIGS THOSE SHEEP AND PIG EMBRYOS WOULD BE TRANSPLANTED INTO A UTERUS AND BROUGHT TO FULL TERM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LIVING ADULT ANIMAL.

BUT FOR THE MONKEY WORK, NOBODY WANTS TO GROW HUMAN ORGANS IN A MONKEY.

THAT HUMAN ORGAN WOULD BE TOO SMALL.

THERE IS NO POINT IN JESSTATEING THE MONKEY EMBRYO YOU WANT TO STUDY CELL TO CELL COMMUNICATION AND YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITHOUT IMPLANTATION.

I WOULD DRAW THE LINE RIGHT NOW AT IMPLANTATION.

YOU CAN STUDY THE EMBRYO IN THE DISH IN THAT DISCO BALL FORMAT.

BUT IMPLANTATION AND PREGNANCY OF A MONKEY EMBRYO WITH HUMAN CELL THAT IS A LOT MORE TROUBLING AND NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT THAT IS NOT SCIENTIFICALLY JUSTIFIED FOR THE PURPOSE OF GROWING ORGANS IN SHEEPS AND PIGS.

>> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME SCIENTIST MIGHT GO ROGUE AND DO SOMETHING THAT COULD RESULT IN A CREATURE THAT HAS SOME COMPONENT OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A CONCERN FOR EVERYBODY.

AND THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES.

EVEN IF WE HAVE STRICT RULES AND LAWS PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS BREAK THEM.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BREAK RULES IN SCIENCE.

BUT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THERE IS A RIGOROUS STRUCTURE IN PRAISE BOTH FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH FULL STOP AND ALSO FOR RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN STEM CELLS.

AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.

IF THE SALK TEAMWORKED WITH RESEARCHNERS CHINESE WHICH HAVE EXPERTISE IN MAKING MONKEY EMBRYOS, BOTH TEAMS HAD TO GET INSTITUTIONAL APPROVAL AT THEIR CHINESE AND CALIFORNIA INSTITUTIONS BUT ALSO HAD TO FOLLOW INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND RULES FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH ON THE ONE HAND AND THE INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH.

THERE REALLY IS ALL EFFORTS MADE TO HAVE CLEAR GUIDANCE ON THIS WORK.

UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF CONTROVERSY IN THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH.

BUT ANYTIME YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF LAW, LAWS DO NOT ACTUALLY 100% PREVENT BAD BEHAVIOR.

REGARDING THE SCIENTISTS THAT MIGHT GO ROGUE AND DO THIS, WE DON'T CALL THEM SCIENTISTS BUT THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC REASON TO JESS GUESSTATE IN A MONKEY MODEL WITHOUT A PLAN AS TO WHAT THE BENEFIT TO SOCIETY IS.

>> PROFESS E. INSOO HYUN THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

FASCINATING STORY.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND UP NEXT THE PUSH TO ROLL OUT COVID VACCINES.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AND NOW WE GO BACK TO PARIS SCHUTZ WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN ENGLEWOOD AS PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

PARIS?

>> YEAH, BRANDIS WE ARE BACK WITH 20TH WARD ALDERMAN JEANETTE TAYLOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> WE WERE TALKING TO PROVIDERS ABOUT TRYING TO GET THE VACCINATION RATE UP.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAY IS FOLKS THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS MAYBE COVID IS NOT TOP OF MIND.

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE EFFORTS TO GET THAT RATE UP?

>> NO.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

THE TEXTING WAS NOT GREAT -- TESTING WAS NOT GREAT IN THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SAYING THAT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON NOW HAS PROBLEMS AND I GOT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PEOPLE ARE SCARED.

THERE'S ALWAYS A THING IN OUR COMMUNITIES ABOUT TRUSTING THE GOVERNMENT.

WE DON'T TRUST GOVERNMENT WE KNOW THEY HAVE TESTED IT ON BLACK FOLKS BEFORE.

THEY HAVE TO CLEAR UP THOSE THINGS AND THEY GOT TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE.

USING OUR COLLEGES AND THE CHURCHES IT NEEDS TO BE SO IN-YOUR-FACE YOU TAKE THE TIME I WILL GET TESTED OR GET THE VACCINATION.

>> YOU DON'T THINK THAT HAPPENING YET?

ENOUGH RESIDENTS ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE GOT TO GO OLD SCHOOL DOOR KNOCKING AND USE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

WE KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH.

WE KNOW THE YOUNG LADY ON THE CORNER SELLING WATER AND THE CHILDREN THAT RUN BACK AND FORTH IT'S HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH FAMILY IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ONE PERSON TO GET VACCINATED OR WEAR YOUR MOSQUE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT PEOPLE'S LIVING CONDITIONS.

WE GOT FOLKS WHO LIVE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF HOMELESS YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY THAT 16 GROUP WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE WHO THEY RESPECT AND LISTEN TO TO DO THAT.

IF THAT SNAPCHAT AND INSTAGRAM WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE WHO THEY LISTEN TO AND THE PEERS TO SAY GET VACCINATED.

AND LIKE LETTING THEM DECIDE.

I'M NOT PUSHING MY 16-YEAR-OLD TO GET VACCINATED HE IS NOT GOING TO THE SCHOOL.

THEY DID NOT KEEP THE SCHOOL CLEAN BEFORE COVID.

>> I WANT TO MOVE ON.

POLICE OVERSIGHT THERE'S THE GAP PAN C PACT ORDINANCE THAT MERGED TO HAVE A CIVILIAN POLICE BOARD.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PROPOSAL?

>> WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRESSIVE MAYOR.

THE CHAIR OF THE CITY COUNCIL SAFETY COMMITTEE IS NOT PROGRESSIVE.

>> THAT IS ALDERMAN TYLER FARRO.

WE CONTINUE TO NOT WANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE NOT MOVING.

EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY WHO HAS HAD POLICE VIOLENCE THEY HAVE DONE ORDINANCES TO MOVE FORWARD AND CHICAGO IS STILL SITTING ON IT.

>> WHY?

>> BECAUSE THE POLICE RUN THE CITY.

WHAT DID LORI DO BEFORE SHE GOT THIS JOB?

SHE WAS A COP.

>> SHE WAS ON THE POLICE REFORM COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER.

>> THE POLICE THE POLICE THE POLICE.

IT HAS NOT WORKED AND THE COMMUNITY OF COLOR IT'S HORRIBLE WE CANNOT CONTINUE NOT TO DO ANYTHING.

>> BUT THE MAJORITY HAS MAJORITY SUPPORT HOW COME IT'S NOT CALLED FOR A VOTE?

>> WE WANT TO CALL LORI AND ASK HER?

CALL TYLER AND ASK HIM AS WELL.

WE WANT TO HAVE THIS CHANGED THIS IS LONG OVERDUE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT POLICE OVERSIGHT FOREVER.

>> HAVE THE POWER TO HIRE AND FIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> DEFINITELY.

WHY HAVE MAD RESPECT FOR SUPERINTENDENT BROWN HE FROM TEXAS HE NOT FROM CHICAGO.

YOU HAVE TO BORN AND BRED HERE TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF CHICAGO AND UNDERSTAND NEIGHBORHOODS AND RELATIONSHIPS.

HE DOESN'T.

>> ALDERMAN TAYLOR THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.

AND BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> NOT ONE TO MINCE WORDS IS SHE?

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", THE CITY IS ACCEPTING DESIGN PROPOSALS FOR CHICAGO'S FIRST EVER CASINO.

DETAILS ON WHAT THE PLANS MUST INCLUDE.

A KELL ACTIVE OF EMMETT TILL -- A RELATIVE OF EMMETT TILL GIVES HIS PERSPECTIVE ON GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH.

GEOFFREY BAER ON A SOARING SOUTH SIDE BRIDGE THAT CARRIES THE GREEN LINE IN TONIGHT'S ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

AND YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE AN OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT IN GREEKTOWN THAT COMBINES MYTHOLOGY AND CURRENT EVENTS.

>> BUT FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR ON THE JOB FOR CHICAGO'S TOP COP DAVID BROWN.

HE TOOK QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS ADDRESSING THE CITY'S CRIME, POLICE SHOOTINGS AND LOOKING BACK ON THE YEAR.

HE IS DETERMINED AND COMMITTED TO CONTINUE DOING HIS JOB AND SAYS THE TWO THINGS THAT KEEP HIM UP ARE THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELLS WELLNESS OF HIS OFFICERS.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE OFFICERS WHO ARE WELL TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB IN THE WAYS THE CITY DESERVES.

OFFICERS THAT YOU KNOW, HAVE HIGH RATES OF SUICIDE IN THIS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF BEING SHOT AT OR SHOT THE LAST TWO YEARS.

IT IS HISTORIC.

UNPRECEDENTED BEYOND ANY YEAR ON RECORD.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE ON BROWN'S JOB HIS FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> THE FAMILY OF DAUNTE WRIGHT LAID THE 20-YEAR-OLD TO REST.

WRIGHT WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY A BROOKLYN CENTER POLICE OFFICER OUTSIDE MINNEAPOLIS ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO.

>> WHEN HE WALKED IN THE ROOM HE LIT UP THE ROOM.

HE WAS A BROTHER, A JOKESTER, AND HE WAS LOVED BY SO MANY.

HE IS GOING TO BE SO MISSED.

>> THE WRIGHT FAMILY WAS JOINED BY FAMILY MEMBERS OF OTHER BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED BY POLICE INCLUDING GEORGE FLOYD AND ERIC GARNER AND BREONNA TAYLOR.

THE FORMER OFFICER WHO SHOT THE FATHER OF ONE IS FACING SECOND DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES.

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN THE BIDDING PROCESS FOR CHICAGO'S FIRST CASINO.

SHE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN A VIDEO TODAY, TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A WORLD CLASS, INTEGRATED CASINO-RESORT THAT WILL COMPLIMENT CHICAGO'S ALREADY BOOMING, THRIVING ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURAL SCENE.

>> KEYWORDS THERE, CASINO-RESORT.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE DETAILS.

THE MAYOR IS NOW ACCEPTING DESIGN PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY'S FIRST EVER CASINO WHAT DOES THE MAYOR WANT TO SEE IN THESE DESIGNS?

>> WELL, THIS CASINO IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE THAN SLOT MACHINES AS THE WAY THE MAYOR IS ENVISIONING IT.

IT WILL NOT ONLY INCLUDE A HOTEL OF 500 ROOMS, BUT IT SHOULD INCLUDE RESTAURANTS, IT SHOULD INCLUDE BARS, IT SHOULD INCLUDE EVENT SPACE, SHOULD INCLUDE A CONCERT HALL.

THE MAYOR SEES THIS AS A WAY TO JUMP START THE CITY'S RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHILE AT THE SAME TIME RAISING ABOUT $200 MILLION ANNUALLY THAT IS ALREADY EARMARKED FOR THE CITY'S POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS.

>> WHEN ARE THE PROPOSALS DUE?

AND WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED?

>> THEY ARE DUE IN AUGUST.

A WINNER IS UNLIKELY TO BE ANNOUNCED BY 2022 AND WHATEVER FIRM IS THE MAYOR'S PICK WILL HAVE TO MEET A HOST OF REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING SETTING ASIDE A PORTION OF THE CONTRACTS FOR FIRMS OWNED BY BLACK AND LATINO BUSINESS OWNERS AND WOMEN.

BUT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT A TEMPORARY CASINO COULD OPEN IN THE MEANTIME SO WE'LL ALL BE ABLE TO GET OUR SLOT MACHINE TIME IN CLOSER TO HOME.

>> WE'RE ALL TAKING BETS WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

HEATHER CHERONE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 65 YEARS SINCE 14-YEAR-OLD EMMETT TILL, A BLACK CHICAGOAN VISITING FAMILY IN MISSISSIPPI WAS KIDNAPPED, TORTURED AND MURDERED BY TWO WHITE MEN WOULD WENT UNPUNISHED.

THE BRUTAL NATURE OF TILL'S DEATH EXPOSED BY HIS MOTHER'S DECISION FOR AN OPEN CASKET FUNERAL IN 1955 HELPED GALVANIZE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THIS WEEK GEORGE FLOYD'S BROTHER INVOKED EMMETT TILL'S NAME.

>> EMMETT TILL WAS THE FIRST GEORGE FLOYD.

IT JUST WASN'T ANY CAMERAS AROUND.

THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGED THE CAMERAS THE TECHNOLOGY IT HELPED OPEN UP DOORS.

WITHOUT THAT MY BROTHER WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER PERSON ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LEFT TO DIE.

>> AND JOINING US TO PROVIDE HIS PERSPECTIVE IS EMMETT TILL'S COUSIN AND THE LAST SURVIVING WITNESS OF TILL'S ABDUCTION.

REVEREND WHEELER PARKER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN THE VERDICT WAS READ IN DEREK CHAUVIN'S TRIAL?

>> IF I HAD TO USE ONE WORD UNBELIEVABLE.

>> WHY UNBELIEVABLE?

>> WHEN YOU LIVE IN A SYSTEM AND YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE SPIRIT OF THE COUNTRY IS, AND FOR THIS TO COME OUT LIKE THAT, IT JUST LIKE I SAID IT'S TWO LAWS ONE FOR THE BLACKS AND WHITES.

AND THERE'S TWO BOOKS AS WE SAY.

AND FOR THE JURY TO COME FORTHWITH GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES IT WAS ABOUT AS UNBELIEVABLE AS LAST YEAR WHEN THEY HAD THE DIVERSIFYING IN THE PROTESTS THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE AS WELL.

THINGS ARE REALLY CHANGING FAST FOR THE OLD MAN.

I'M NOT ACCUSTOMED TO THINGS CHANGING AND HAPPEN THAT FAST UNDER THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE BUT THEY GRIND SLOW.

>> WHAT DOES IT SAY TO YOU THAT SO MANY BLACK PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED BY THE VERDICT?

>> IT TELLS ME THAT IT REALLY SHOWS HOW MUCH PROGRESS WE'VE MADE.

AND WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

THE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN'T SEE IT AND DON'T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T LIVE IN THE SOUTH IN THE 50s AND THE 40s, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

SO THEY CAN'T SEE A BIG CHANGE BECAUSE THEY SEE THE SPIRIT THAT WAS JUST MAGNIFIED DURING THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL AND LAST FEW YEARS.

AND THEY SAID WE HAVE NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH BUT WE'VE CHANGED.

IT SAYS TO ME THERE'S HOPE.

>> GEORGE FLOYD'S BROTHER HIS IMMEDIATE REACTION FOLLOWING THE VERDICT WAS TO INVOKE YOUR COUSIN EMMETT TILL.

CALLING HIM THE FIRST GEORGE FLOYD.

SOME MIGHT SAY THERE HAVE BEEN MANY IN-BETWEEN.

HOW DO YOU SEE IT?

>> I SEE IT I COULD CONCUR WITH HIM BECAUSE OF COURSE WHEN I HEARD AND SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM I THOUGHT ABOUT EMMETT TILL RIGHT AWAY.

THE SPIRIT OF THE COUNTRY THAT SPIRIT IS STILL OUT THERE.

IT HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

AND I CONCUR WITH HIM.

EMMITT'S STORY HE WAS NOT FIRST ONE BUT HIS STORY WAS THE FIRST THAT WENT VIRAL.

IT WENT ALL OVER THE WORLD.

LIKE AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME.

AND SEEMED LIKE GOD USED THAT TIME TO HELP HASTEN THINGS OR TO START PEOPLE TO THINKING AND STANDING UP AND MOVING IN THE RIGHT WAY.

IT DEFINITELY HAD A BOOST DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> IN THE CASE OF EMMETT TILL, THE TWO WHITE MEN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIM THEY WENT UNPUNISHED THOUGH THEY ADMITTED TO IT IN LIFE MAGAZINE AFTER HIS DEATH AND THIS INSTANCE THE ACCUSED KILLER HAS BEEN CONVICTED.

DO YOU SEE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO CASES?

>> LIKE I SAID WE'VE MADE PROGRESS.

AND THE EMMETT TILL CASE ONE THING YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, TOO, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT A WHITE PERSON WAS PUT ON TRIAL FOR DOING SOMETHING TO A BLACK PERSON.

THAT WAS PROGRESS AT THAT TIME 65 YEARS AGO.

BUT THAT WAS PROGRESS THEY HAD A TRIAL.

AND THEN HERE IN GEORGE FLOYD'S CASE, WE GOT A CONVICTION.

AND WE SURPRISEDDED BY THAT.

AND THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PEOPLE OF DIVERSITY WHEN PLAQUES MADE PROGRESS THERE WERE ALWAYS PEOPLE OF THE DIVERSITY THEY HAD THE FIRE IN THEIR BELLY TO STAND UP AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKING IT FORWARD TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE STANDING EMMETT TILL SAID PEOPLE STOOD UP THAT NEVER STOOD UP BEFORE.

>> HOW DID HIS MOTHER HOW DID SHE CHANNEL HER ENERGY AFTER EMMETT TILL DIED?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

BUT SHE WAS HURT AND BITTER AND ANGER BUT SHE TOOK THAT LEMON AND MADE LEMONADE.

SHE DID ALL SHE COULD THEN SHE STARTED HELPING PEOPLE.

SHE GOT BUSY SERVING HUMANITY.

SHE FORMED EMMETT TILL PLAYERS WITH HER MOTHER AND SHE TAUGHT DEVELOPED THE SKILLS BY HAVING THEM QUOTING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

SPEECHES AND SHE WENT ALL OVERDOING THAT.

A BUSY LADY.

THERE WAS A DOCUMENTARY BACK IN 1985.

IF YOU LISTEN TO HER, SHE HAD PITY FOR THOSE WHO KILLED HER SON.

SHE DIDN'T CARRY HATE BECAUSE HATE DESTROYS THE HATER.

SHE TOOK THAT HATE AND SHE TRANSFORMED IT INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE.

BECAUSE I TELL PEOPLE WHERE I GO HATE -- I CANNOT AFFORD HATE.

>> AND REVEREND PARKER, THIS VERDICT DOES NOT PUT AN END TO RACIAL INJUSTICE HOW DO YOU THINK THE MOVEMENT AGAINST INJUSTICE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD?

>> I THINK ALWAYS TELL ME HOW DID WE GET TO WHERE WE ARE?

LOOK HOW WE GOT HERE AND THE THINGS WE DID.

LET'S BE PATIENT AND LET'S KEEP DOING THE SAME THING.

IF YOU ARE GET IMPATIENT YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS AND THAT IS WHAT SOME PEOPLE DO YOU ARE GOING TO BE A LOSER.

A FRIEND OF MINE SAID HIS DADDY TOLD HIS SON HIS SON WAS GOING TO PLEAD A CASE SOMEONE HAD TAKEN AND MISUSED DISRESPECTED HER.

HE SAID I'M GOING TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT.

HE SAYS SON IT'S GOING TO CHANGE.

BUT WHAT YOU ARE FIXING TO DO YOU WILL NOT BE HERE TO SEE THE CHANGE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANT TO YOU GET VIOLENT SO THEY CAN GET VIOLENT WITH YOU AND YOU WILL BE A LOSER.

>> IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU RESPOND TO THE SITUATION THAT YOU ARE IN AS WE'VE DISCUSSED.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU REVEREND WHEELER PARKER.

>> HAVE A GREAT DAY AND WISH YOU THE BEST.

>> WE CHECK IN WITH PARIS SCHUTZ WHO IS LIVE FROM THE GREATER ENGLEWOOD AREA BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> AND NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH PARIS SCHUTZ WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN THE GREATER ENGLEWOOD AREA AND HE IS THERE NOW WITH A COMMUNITY LEADER.

PARIS?

>> YEAH, WE ARE HERE WITH ASIAHA BUTLER HEAD OF THE RESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF GREATER ENGLEWOOD.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

YOU HEARD ALDERMAN TAYLOR SAYING TO GET THE VACCINATION RATES YOU NEED TRUSTED COMMUNITY PEOPLE, CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS?

>> IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT EVEN FOR RAGE.

WE HAVE A MIX OF RESIDENTS AND SO EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT FEELINGS ABOUT THE VACCINATION.

SOME PEOPLE ARE GUNG HO READY TO GET IT AND SOME PEOPLE ARE HESSTANT.

AS AN ORGANIZATION WE COULDN'T TAKE AN OFFICIAL STAND BUT WE DEFINITELY PROMOTE WHEN WE KNOW THE VACCINATIONS ARE HAPPENING IN ENGLEWOOD.

>> AND WITH COVID AND THE OTHER ISSUES THAT COMPOUND IN ENGLEWOOD LIKE RENT THERE IS EVICTION MORATORIUM RIGHT NOW.

IF THAT GETS LIFTED HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT RESIDENTS?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER TODAY.

WE ONLY HAVE 25% OF HOMEOWNERS HERE IN ENGLEWOOD.

SO A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS.

AND SO IF LANDLORD DECIDES TO PULL THE PLUG OR A PROPERTY MANAGERS DECIDE TO TAKE ACTION THAT CAN AFFECT A HUGE POPULATION OF OUR COMMUNITY WHICH IS WHY WE DO A LOT OF WORK AROUND TRYING TO GET RENTERS TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS SO THEY CAN HAVE MORE CONTROL.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE EVICTION PROCESS OR WITH THE MORATORIUM BEING LIFTED AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S UNCERTAINTY.

AND EVERYTHING IN LAST YEAR HAS BEEN UNCERTAINTY.

>> DO YOU THINK RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE AID THAT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR RENT TO TRY TO KEEP UP?

>> YES, THEY HAVE.

WE SEND IT OUT ANYTIME WE GET INFORMATION BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THERE IS A DIGITAL DIVIDE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE INEQUITIES OF CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THE HEALTH INEQUITY, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT ON-LINE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET ON-LINE AND FILL OUT AN AAPPLICATION.

YOU HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE WHY OUR ALDERMEN AND LOCAL GROUPS ARE IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT SAVVY ON THE NET AND OUR BAND WITNESS IS NOT BANDWITH IS NOT THE BEST.

>> AND 25% HOMEOWNERS.

AND YOU OWN A PROPERTY >> YES.

>> IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING RENT HOW ABOUT THE PROPERTY OWNERS IS THAT HURTING THEM?

>> IT'S TOUGH.

I HAD TWO TENANTS WHO FELL BEHIND ON RENT AND BEING A PRIVATE LANDLORD WE CAN TALK AND COME TO A RESOLUTION AND DO PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND I CAN OFFER RENTAL ASSISTANCE AT THAT TIME I KNOW ABOUT.

EVERY LANDLORD IS NOT LIKE MYSELF.

SOME ARE MANAGED BY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES WHO THEY ARE READY FOR EVICTIONS THE MINUTE THAT YOU NOT PAY RENT ON THE FIRST.

I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN BEING IN COURT WHERE PEOPLE ARE AGGRESSIVE.

AND ENGLEWOOD IS VULNERABLE.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS A VULNERABLE TIME AND OUR RENTERS AND RESIDENTS ARE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF VULNERABILITY AND SOME PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

>> BEFORE WE GO, IN A BIT, GEOFFREY BAER IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT GO GREEN ON RACINE, A PROJECT THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN.

>> GO GREEN ON RACINE, A GRASSROOTS, COMPREHENSIVE CORRIDOR REVITALIZATION PROJECT.

IT'S LOOKING AT A VACANT SCHOOL IN RACINE AN ABANDONED TRAIN STOP AND THE REST OF THE ABANDONMENT THAT IS IT IN THAT CORRIDOR THAT THE CITY AND EVERYBODY ELSE SEEMS TO IGNORE WE ARE NOT IGNORING IT WE ARE BREATHING LIFE INTO IT AND TRYING TO GET A GREEN LIGHT ON THE GREEN LINE ON RACINE.

>> WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT FROM GEOFFREY BAER NOW THAT WRAPS UP OUR WORK IN ENGLEWOOD.

BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> AS ALWAYS MY BEST TO MRS. ENGLEWOOD WHO YOU HAVE WITH YOU.

>> UP NEXT, DETAILS ON A CTA TRAIN BRIDGE IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

STAY WITH US.

>> ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE, THERE IS A A BRIDGE SPANNING THE DAN RYAN THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE A DISNEYWORLD MONORAIL THAN PART OF A CTA TRAIN LINE.

GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE WITH THE BRIDGE'S HISTORY AND WHAT IT CAN TELL US ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

HEY THERE, GEOFFREY.

>> HI, BRANDIS.

>> THIS QUESTION IS: >> OK. AT FIRST THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE AN OBSCURE QUESTION JUST FOR L TRAIN NERDS LIKE ME.

BUT IF YOU'VE DRIVEN ON THE DAN RYAN IT'S LIKELY YOU KNOW WHAT OUR VIEWER IS ASKING ABOUT.

AT ABOUT 59TH STREET NORTH OF WHERE THE SKYWAY SPLITS OFF FROM THE RYAN YOU PASS BENEATH A BRIDGE THAT CARRIES THE GREEN LINE L, WAY, WAY UP IN THE AIR.

IF YOU ARE RIDING ON THE GREEN LINE TRAIN AND YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE RYAN YOU ALMOST FEEL LIKE YOU ARE FLYING IN AN AIRPLANE.

WHAT IS THE STORY?

LET'S GO BACK TO WHEN THE BRANCH WASSABILITY.

THEN THE EXPRESSWAY DID NOT EXIST WHEN CONSTRUCTION STARTED ON THE DAN RYAN THE QUESTION WAS HOW DO YOU KEEP THE TRAIN RUNNING WHILE DIGGING A WIDE, DEEP, TRENCH UNDERNEATH THAT STRUCTURE FOR THE THE FUTURE HIGHWAY WHICH WAS GOING TO BE BELOW GRADE.

THE CTA CONSTRUCTED A SECOND BRIDGE AND PUT THE L STRUCTURE ON TOP OF IT THE 1907 TRACKS SO THE CREW COULD EXCAVATE BELOW THAT AND IT WAS A BRIDGE ON TOP OF A BRIDGE AND REMNANTS OF THAT CAN BE SEEN.

AND THE TRAIN DID NOT HAVE TO BE HALTED AND NEITHER DID CONSTRUCTION.

AGAIN, THIS IS PART OF WHAT IS KNOWN TODAY AS THE ENGLEWOOD OR ASHLAND BRANCH OF THE GREEN LINE.

USED TO CALL THE ENGLEWOOD AND THE SOUTH SIDE ELEVATED.

THE BRANCH'S CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1905 AS AN EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH SIDE ELEVATE WHD OPENED IN 1892.

THAT WAS LONG BEFORE THE CITY'S ELEVATED TRAINS WERE CONSOLIDATED IN WHAT WE CALL THE CTA.

THAT OLD SOUTH SIDE ELEVATED IS TODAY'S GREEN LINE IS THE OLDEST LINE IN THE CITY.

NOW MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY LATER, THE CITY USED EMINENT DOMAIN AND BULL DOTZED A STRIP OF HOMES AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS ON THE SOUTH SIDE TO BUILD THE DAN RYAN MANY WERE OWNED OR RENDED BY BLACK CHICAGOANS AND THE GAP CREATED A 14-LANE DIVIDE BETWEEN MOSTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE BRIDGEPORT TO THE WEST AND CHICAGO'S BLACK BELT TO THE EAST.

BUT I SHOULD NOTE BEFORE THE RYAN WAS CONSTRUCTED THE ENGLEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY WEST OF THE RYAN AND SERVED BY THAT BRANCH OF THE L WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WAS ALREADY CHANGING FROM NEARLY 100% WHITE TO NEARLY ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN AS PART OF WHITE FLIGHT.

>> THE CITY MANAGED TO KEEP THE TRAPES RUNNING DURING CONSTRUCTION BUT YOU SAID THAT WAS THE CITY'S OLDEST L LINE SO IT'S HAD TO BE REFURBISHED?

>> IT HAS.

THAT HAPPENED IN THE MID-1990s.

THE LINE WAS ALMOST TOTALLY REBUILT AND THE CTA DID NOT KEEP THE TRAINS RUNNING.

TO DO THE JOB, THE ENTIRE LINE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE ALL THE WAY WEST TO OAK PARK WAS SHUTDOWN FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS.

AND THE DECISION WAS FELT FOR YEARS AFTER THAT.

SEVERAL STOPS WERE CLOSED PERMANENTLY AND THIS WAS ON TOP OF OTHER CLOSURES IN YEARS PRIOR.

AND THIS PHOTO YOU CAN SEE THE OLD WENTWORTH STATION AT THE TRAIN BRIDGE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT WAS SHUTTERED IN 1992.

THE MOST RECENT UPGRADES HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THE ONGOING RED PURPLE LINE MODERNIZATION PROJECT HAS CLOSED TRACKS FOR BRIEF PERIODS BUT IT'S NEVER SUSPENDED SERVICE ENTIRELY.

AND NEXT MONTH THE CTA IS GOING TO OPEN TEMPORARY STATIONS IN EDGEWATER AND UPTOWN WHILE FOUR STATIONS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION >> AND TODAY, THERE ARE LIKE ONGOING EFFORTS TO REOPEN ONE OF THOSE CLOSED GREEN LINE STATIONS, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ADVOCATING TO REOPEN THE SHUTTERED GREEN LINE STATION AT RACINE AND 63TH IN THE MIDDLE OF ENGLEWOOD.

IT'S PART OF THE GO GREEN ON RACINE DEVELOPMENT.

ON THE PROJECT IS WORKING TO REVITALIZE THE ENTIRE INTERSECTION IN THE HEART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY ARE CONVERTING A CORNER STORE INTO A FRESH PRODUCE MARKET.

THEY ARE TURNING A SHUTTERED CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL INTO HOUSING AND RESOURCE CENTER.

FOR PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION.

AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE RAGE ENGLEWOOD AND THE INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK ENVISION THE REOPENED L STATION AS A WAY TO IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOOD WALKSABILITY, ANCHOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND REBUILD THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> GO GREEN ON RACINE.

I GET IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SURE THING.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE BRIDGE OVER THE DAN RYAN AND WHILE YOU WILL THERE SUBMIT YOUR OWN QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

>> AMID THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT, CHICAGO'S GREEKTOWN IS FINDING NEW WAYS TO BRING FOOT TRAFFIC TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS AN OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT DESIGNED TO BRIGHTEN THE STREETS AND HELP INCREASE BUSINESS FOR LOCAL RESTAURANTS.

PARIS SCHUTZ RECENTLY BROUGHT US THE STORY.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> FROM VAN BUREN TO MONROE, A DOZEN FIVE-FOOT FISH SCULPTURES LINE GREEKTOWN'S HALSTED STREET PART OF THE COMMUNITY'S FISH OUTDOOR EXHIBIT CREATED WITH FAMILIES IN MIND.

EVE MORAN IS CHAIR OF THE GREEKTOWN ARTS COMMITTEE AND SAYS FISH CREATIONS WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE CHILDREN COULD IDENTIFY THEM.

>> FISH WERE ALSO PART OF THE ANCIENT DIET IN GREECE.

BECAUSE GREECE IS A COUNTRY SURROUNDED BY WATERS.

>> EVERY WINTER, GREEKTOWN'S SPECIAL SERVICE AREA INSTALLS AN OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.

THIS YEAR AMID THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC THE EXHIBIT HAS NEW MEANING.

>> I THINK IT HAD A LOT OF RELEVANCE BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD NOT GO TO ART GALLERIES AND PEOPLE COULD NOT GO TO MUSEUMS.

EVERYTHING WAS SPORADIC AND EBBS AND FLOWS OF WHAT WAS OPEN.

AND HERE WAS A SAFE OUTDOOR WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE ART AND BE UPLIFTED.

>> PROFESSIONAL AND EMERGING CHICAGO ARTISTS PAINTED THE SCULPTURES.

IT IS A PROCESS THAT BEGAN LAST SPRING DURING THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER.

LOGAN SQUARE CART ACTIVITY JUAN CANO USED HIS SHATTERED GLASS TECHNIQUE ON ONE SIDE OF HIS SCULPTURE.

>> I HAVE POSEIDON AND HE IS OVERLOOKING A CHURCH.

>> ON THE OTHER SIDE, JUAN CANO DID A PAINTING OF GREECE AND SAYS CREATING THE ART PIECE PROVIDED THE ESCAPE OF THE UNCERTAINLY OF THE SPRING.

>> IT GIVES YOU AN OUTLET TO GET AWAY AND DISTRACT YOURSELF FROM THE SITUATION WHICH WAS THE BEGINNING OF COVID, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS, UNCERTAINTY.

>> SOME ARTISTS CENTERED THEIR WORKS AROUND GREEK MYTHOLOGY AND OTHERS PULLED FROM CURRENT ISSUES LIKE WATER CONSERVATION OR THE PANDEMIC.

>> MY GREEK SCHOOL WE DO IT AT AT SCHOOL BUT BECAUSE OF COVID WE COULDN'T ALL BE TOGETHER.

SO I WAS SELECTED TO PAINT IT.

>> NIKOLETTA RENTZELOS IS A SEVENTH GRADER AND PAINTED THE WORD LOVE IN MORE THAN TWO DOZEN LANGUAGES ON THE SCULPTURE.

>> I REALLY WANTED TO SPREAD A MESSAGE OF LOVE AND NOW IN QUARANTINE IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER AND TO FIND JOY IN STUFF.

>> MANY OF THE SCULPTURES SIT OUTSIDE RESTAURANTS, ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES IN GREEKTOWN THAT HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC.

ESPECIALLY WITHOUT TOURISM TO THE AREA.

ARTISTS HOPE THE EXHIBIT CAN BRING MORE PATRONS.

>> I WANT TO SEE MORE PEOPLE COMING BACK TO GREEKTOWN AND JOINING US AND ORDERING TAKE OUT.

>> YIANNI THEOHARIS IS THE OWNER OF 9 MUSES MELI CAFE.

HE SAYS HE WELCOMES THE HART WORK AND HE TOO, OPENS THE EXHIBIT WILL BRING MORE FOOT TRAFFIC AND BUSINESS TO THE AREA.

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

DON'T FORGET GREEKS INTRODUCED THE ART.

WE SUFFER A LOT.

THE RESTAURANTS EVERYWHERE NOT ONLY IN ILLINOIS EVERYWHERE.

SO WE APPRECIATE WHATEVER CAN BE DONE TO BRING MORE PEOPLE DOWN.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> ANDED EXHIBIT RUNS THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH.

AND THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

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 GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" >> NOW, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ OUTSIDE KENNEDY-KING COLLEGE HERE.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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