>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES.

WE HEAR YOU ALL LOUD AND CLEAR.

>> CHICAGOANS SOUND OFF ON THE NEXT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> I HAD A MISSION AND AN AGENDA THAT I WANTED TO ACHIEVE.

I FEEL I HAVE DONE THAT.

>>> KIM FOX WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION.

WE WILL LOOK AT HER RECORD.

>>> THOUSANDS IN ILLINOIS COULD LOSE THEIR MEDICARE COVERAGE.

>>> A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR RESIDENTS RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION.

>>> AND EXCITEMENT BUILDS FOR A FOSSIL-HUNTING EXPEDITION IN THE ARCTIC.

>>> NOW TO OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT.

A DEFIANT KIM FOX ANNOUNCED THAT AFTER A GRUELING EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE, SHE WILL NOT SEEK A THIRD TERM AS COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

HEATHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SURPRISE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IS JUST NINE MONTHS AWAY.

LET'S LISTEN TO HOW FOX BROKE THE NEWS.

>> I DID NOT SET OUT TO BE A CAREER POLITICIAN.

WHEN I CAME STATE'S ATTORNEY, I KNEW THAT I HAD A MISSION AND AN AGENDA THAT I WANTED TO ACHIEVE, WHICH IS FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND A. I FEEL THAT I HAVE DONE THAT.

>> FOX SAID SHE WAS LEAVING BY HER CHOICE.

WHY NOT RUN FOR A THIRD TERM?

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT THE PAST EIGHT YEARS HAVE BEEN BRUISING POLITICALLY.

SHE HAS BEEN A LIGHTNING ROD FOR CONTROVERSY LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

THAT WAS REALLY APPARENT DURING HER SPEECH TODAY.

SHE WANTED TO GO OUT ON HER OWN TERMS.

AS YOU HEARD HER SAY, SHE FELT LIKE SHE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT SHE SET OUT TO DO IN 2016.

>> SHE DELIVERED A FIERCE DEFENSE OF A RECORD DURING HER SPEECH, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TRIGGERED A SURGE OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE THAT HAS YET TO FULLY RECEIVE.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> I REFUTE THE SUPPOSITION THAT THE RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME COINCIDES WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND IS SOMEHOW THE RESULT OF THE COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE.

IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.

TO SUGGEST THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR A RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME IS DISINGENUOUS AND A LIE.

>> SO WHAT DOES A RECORD SHOW?

>> HER FIRST THREE YEARS IN OFFICE, CRIME AND VIOLENCE DROPPED EACH OF THOSE YEARS ONLY TO SEE THE PROGRESS ROLLBACK AS THE PANDEMIC GRIPPED CHICAGO.

SO SHE IS NOT WRONG.

IT IS NOT FAIR TO PUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN TERMS OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE ON HER OFFICE.

IT IS OF COURSE A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IF SHE DID SEEK A THIRD TERM IN OFFICE SHE WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THAT INCREASE JUST AS WE SAW MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT VULNERABLE ON THOSE ISSUES IN THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

>> SO FOX WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE AS THE COUNTY'S TOP PROSECUTOR, AND SHE VOTED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR NONVIOLENT CRIMES JAIL BEFORE THEIR TRIALS.

>> WITH THAT APOLOGY, MY EFFORTS ON BAIL REFORM WERE CENTERED IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.

>> HER WORK IN COOK COUNTY, HEATHER, WAS A CATALYST FOR STATEWIDE CHANGES.

WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

>> WE ARE WAITING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT ARGUMENTS ON WHETHER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO END THE CASH BAIL STATEWIDE.

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE LAW NEVER WOULD HAVE PASSED IF IT WEREN'T FOR KIM FOX ALONG WITH COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT PUSHING THROUGH THESE CHANGES AND GIVING THE STATE A MODEL FOR HOW IT COULD WORK.

>> OF COURSE HER WORK WITH THE JESSE SMALL IT CASE OVERSHADOWED MUCH OF HER WORK.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE MAKES ME MAD!

>> WHAT WOULD SHE BE REMEMBERED FOR?

>> IT IS CLEAR THAT SHE DID MISHANDLE THAT , AND EVEN THOUGH THE INVESTIGATION CLEARED HER OF WRONGDOING, SHE WOULD MUCH RATHER BE REMEMBERED FOR OVERTURNING MORE THAN 200 WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND FREEING PEOPLE WHO WERE WRONGLY INCARCERATED BECAUSE, SHE SAID, OF MISCONDUCT BY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT IS WHY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNION MADE HER PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE FOR MUCH OF HER TIME IN OFFICE.

>> KIM FOX ANNOUNCING SHE WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA.

>> YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> NOW TO MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYS HE WANTS TO FINISH THE JOB.

HE RELEASED A VIDEO THIS MORNING ANNOUNCING HIS RE-ELECTION BID FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

>> LET'S FINISH THIS JOB.

I KNOW WE CAN.

THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING WE CANNOT DO IF WE WORK TOGETHER.

>> IN THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN WILL BE SOME FAMILIAR ILLINOIS FACES.

SAMMY DUCKWORTH AND QUENTIN VAUX WILL SERVE AS DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER.

>>> CITY OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB BREAK GROUND ON A CONTROVERSIAL TRAINING FACILITY.

THE SOCCER TEAM IS BUILDING A NEW 53,000 SQUARE FOOT CENTER ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE ON LAND FORMERLY USED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.

THE FACILITY HAS DRAWN CRITICISM FROM NEIGHBORS, HOUSING ADVOCATES AND OLDER PEOPLE WHO SAY THE SITE SHOULD INSTEAD BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY DEMOLISHED MOST OF THE UNITS AFTER SAYING THAT IT WOULD BUILD NEARLY 2500 NEW UNITS.

WTTW NEWS AND PROPUBLICA REPORT THAT ONLY 700 HAVE BEEN BILLED.

THIS YEAR'S MAYORAL RUNOFF RECEIVED THE MOST BALLOTS, MORE THAN ANY OTHER ELECTION SINCE 1999.

CITYWIDE TURNOUT CAME OUT TO A LITTLE OVER 38% AND VOTERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FANFARE WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS CASTING A BALLOT IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY.

>>> UP NEXT ON THE PROGRAM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAY WHAT THEY WANT IN THE CITY'S NEXT POLICE CHIEF.

WE HAVE THAT STORY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND KAY NAVY FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> BACKING FROM THE RANK-AND-FILE, MOVING MARGINALIZED OFFICERS, PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES OF CHICAGOANS SAY THEY HAVE FOR THE NEXT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT.

NICK BLUMBERG WAS LISTENING IN AND JOINS US NOW.

REMIND US WHAT THESE REFORMS ARE.

>> BRANDIS, THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS FOR CHOOSING CHICAGO'S TOP COP .

THIS WAS PART OF A FORUM WHERE CHICAGOANS HIGHLIGHT THEIR PRIORITIES AND SUGGEST CANDIDATES.

THIS VIRTUAL FORUM, AS WITH THE OTHERS, WAS HOSTED BY THE COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS IS THE BODY THAT IS CHARGED WITH COMING UP WITH THREE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON TO CHOOSE FROM AFTER HE TAKES OFFICE.

COMMISSION MEMBERS SAY THEY WILL USE PUBLIC INPUT AS THE INTERVIEW AND NARROW DOWN APPLICANTS.

AT TONIGHT'S FORM, RESIDENTS HAD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE CANDIDATES, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE SEARCH PROCESS ITSELF.

>> I THINK IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT ONE OF THE MAIN CRITERIA THAT IS CONSIDERED IS THAT THE CANDIDATE HAS THE CONFIDENCE OF RANK-AND-FILE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> WE NEED TO TEACH OUR KIDS NOT TO HATE AND FEAR POLICE.

THIS IS WHAT I HEAR ALL THE TIME.

THIS PROGRAM , THIS WILL NOT WORK IF WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER.

>> WE ARE IN A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDST OF THIS CRISIS IS A DISTRUST TOWARDS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> I RESEARCHED WHITE SUPREMACY IN POLICING IN OUR COUNTRY.

I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE 14 KNOWN OFFICERS WITH TIES TO HATE GROUPS IN THE CPD.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THERE ARE MORE OF THESE FORMS, BUT AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF THEM NEED TO BE PRIMARILY SPANISH.

LANGUAGE TRANSLATION SERVICES ARE GREAT, BUT THOSE CAN BE TEDIOUS TO APPLY FOR OR OBTAIN.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHO WAS IN THE RUNNING FOR THE JOB?

>> IT IS A NATIONWIDE SEARCH, BUT A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST AT THESE FORMS IN HIRING SOMEONE LOCAL, SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CPD ARE IN CPD .

AMONG THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ARE SEVERAL CURRENT COMMANDERS AND FORMER CPD CHIEFS .

AT A FORUM LAST WEEKEND AT THE EVENT TONIGHT WE HEARD A LOT OF NAMES SUGGESTED, BUT MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON WILL ALSO HAVE TO WORK QUICKLY TO FIND AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, GIVEN THAT THE CURRENT INTERIM ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS STEPPING DOWN EFFECTIVE MAY 15th, JOHNSON SAID INAUGURATION DAY.

>> WHAT WAS THE TIMELINE LIKE FOR FINDING A PERMANENT CANDIDATE?

>> THE COMMISSION PUTTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS TOGETHER HAS UNTIL JULY 15th TO SEND CANDIDATES TO THEN MAYOR JOHNSON WHO HAS A MONTH TO CHOOSE ONE OR ASK FOR ANOTHER.

SHE SAID THEY HAVE SEEN AN OUTPOURING OF INTEREST FROM RESIDENTS IN THIS PROCESS.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS OVER 50 YEARS OR SO IN THE MAKING.

I THINK WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE FRUITS OF THAT, LIKE HOW INVOLVED AND HOW ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY IS.

ALSO, WE HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FORGE WITH VARIOUS POLICING AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCED TONIGHT THAT THEY ARE HAVING TO MORE CANDIDATE SEARCH FORMS.

THEY ARE SET FOR MAY 4th, 10th AND 22nd , AND THE COMMISSION ALSO HAS ITS REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING ON THURSDAY.

I WILL HAVE THE DETAILS ABOUT ALL OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC INPUT THAT CHICAGOANS APPRECIATE SO MUCH.

NICK, THANK YOU.

>>> THERE IS MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT JUST AHEAD.

STAY WITH US.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ILLINOISANS WHO GET HEALTH CARE THROUGH MEDICAID ARE NOW AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR COVERAGE.

THAT IS BECAUSE EMERGENCY MEASURES DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE DID NOT LOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ARE NOW BEING PHASED OUT.

THOSE MEASURES SUSPENDED THE REQUIREMENT THAT PEOPLE PROVE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT-BACKED INSURANCE PROGRAM EACH YEAR, BUT NOW THOSE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE BACK.

JOINING US TO TELL US MORE IS SAMANTHA FRY, A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION OF MEDICAID PROVIDERS IN ILLINOIS.

SAMANTHA, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WHAT KIND OF ELIGIBILITY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO PROVE NOW?

>> SO MEDICAID IS AN INCOME-BASED PROGRAM.

WHAT FOLKS HAVE TO PROVE IS THAT FIRST, THEY LIVE IN ILLINOIS , AND THAT THEIR INCOME MAKES THEM ELIGIBLE FOR THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

>> OKAY.

SO OF COURSE THIS COULD IMPACT AS MANY AS 700,000 ILLINOISANS.

DOES EVERYONE WHO CURRENTLY RECEIVES MEDICAID, DO THEY ALL HAVE TO PROVE THAT ELIGIBILITY?

>> SO THIS IS A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 3.7 MILLION FOLKS, OVER A QUARTER OF OUR STATE POPULATION, RELYING ON THE STATE MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES ALL STATES TO REVIEW ELIGIBILITY ANNUALLY, SEPARATE AND APART FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, OF COURSE.

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HAS A PROCESS WHERE THEY CAN VERIFY 30 TO 40% OF MEDICAID MEMBERS ESSENTIALLY AUTOMATICALLY WITH INFORMATION THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AND PAYROLL, RECEIPTS AND OTHER THINGS.

BUT THE 60% OF ALL HAVE TO SEND IN PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN COVERAGE.

WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS, AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS TIMELINE, IT IS NOT ALL HAPPENING AT ONCE.

IT WILL HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS STARTING MAY 1st.

>> ON WHAT GROUNDS MIGHT SOMEONE LOSE COVERAGE?

>> SO THERE ARE AREAS WHERE FOLKS HAVE JUST RECEIVED RAISES, THEY HAVE HAD PROMOTIONS, THEY ARE WORKING MORE HOURS.

AS WE KNOW, THE ECONOMY LOOKS DIFFERENT NOW THAN IT DID IN APRIL 2020, THANKFULLY.

SO THERE ARE DEFINITELY PEOPLE WHO JUST HAVE HIGHER INCOMES AND THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE ON THE EXCHANGE, OR THEY MIGHT HAVE EVEN HAD AN EMPLOYER THAT OFFERS HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THOSE FOLKS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LOSE COVERAGE BUT TRANSITION COVERAGE.

THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ALL THEIR HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.

OUR CONCERN, WHERE WE ARE MOST FOCUSED IS SIMPLY ON PEOPLE WHO LOSE COVERAGE NOT BECAUSE OF ELIGIBILITY, BUT BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK.

WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND LOSE MUCH-NEEDED HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.

>> TO THAT POINT, SAMANTHA, WHAT IS BEING DONE TO MAKE FOLKS AWARE THAT THIS REQUIREMENT IS RETURNING?

>> SO THAT MEDICAID HEALTH PLAN IS REACHING OUT TO THEIR MEMBERS BASED ON WHEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REDETERMINATION.

IF MEMBERS AREN'T ELIGIBLE UNTIL NEXT FEBRUARY WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM WHEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE BY TEXTING, CALLING AND LETTING THEIR PROVIDERS KNOW AND PHARMACY NO.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO WORKS WITH CVS AND WALGREENS.

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HAS ROLLED OUT AN A MILLION-DOLLAR CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND THEN OF COURSE THERE ARE FOLKS LIKE ME COMING ON HERE TO TALK TO YOU AND TO TALK TO YOUR VIEWERS, AND OF COURSE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HOMELESS SHELTERS, FOOD BANKS, SCHOOLS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS COMING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JOIN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM SINCE MARCH 2020 HAVE NEVER EVEN GONE THROUGH THIS.

THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THIS PROCESS.

I THINK THAT IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO NOT LIKE PAPERWORK, SO REALLY IT IS OUR GOAL TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS COMING, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT ADDRESS, AND RETURN PAPERWORK WHEN IT IS THEIR TURN.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT, SAMANTHA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HELP PRISONERS RELEASED FROM PRISON REINTEGRATE INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

STAY WITH US.

FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE FORMERLY INCARCERATED , BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON BRINGS A NEW SET OF CHALLENGES.

MANY OF THEM FACE HOUSING INSECURITY, DIFFICULTY FINDING A JOB AND STRUGGLING TO REINTEGRATE.

MINISTRIES WERE FOUNDED IN 1954 AS A HALFWAY HOUSE FOR MEN RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION.

SINCE THEN, THE JOB HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR RE-ENTERING MEN AND WOMEN.

BUT THEY SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY OFFER RESIDENTS IS TIME TO HEAL.

OUR PRODUCER ERIKA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> I WEAR MANY HATS HERE.

SOMETIMES I AM A COUNSELOR.

SOMETIMES I AM JUST AN EAR FOR SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO.

>> AS A HOUSING MINISTER, DAVID HELPS PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION ENTER THEIR COMMUNITIES.

HE SAYS HE KNOWS THEY CAN DO IT BECAUSE HE HAS DONE IT HIMSELF.

>> I ENTERED THE PROGRAM IN 1996 MYSELF.

I HAVE AND THROUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

WHAT I DID IS I CHOSE TO CHANGE MY LIFE FOR EDUCATING MYSELF AND THEN GIVING IT BACK.

NOW IT IS LIKE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR.

>> Reporter: IN THE NEARLY 70 YEARS, ST. LEONARD HAS MAINTAINED ITS PRESENCE ON THE WESTSIDE.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS THE NONPROFIT HAS GROWN FAR BEYOND THE ORIGINAL MISSION OF PROVIDING HOUSING FOR MEN EXITING INCARCERATION.

>> WE ARE NOT JUST A HOUSING PROVIDER, WE ARE NOT JUST A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDER, WE ARE NOT JUST A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER, WE ARE NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL HEALTH PROVIDER AND WE ARE NOT JUST A SUBSTANCE-ABUSE SUPPORT PROVIDER.

WE ARE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

THERE ARE SO MANY OBSTACLES THAT GET PUT IN THE WAY OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN AS THEY BECOME RETURNING RESIDENTS.

SO WE PROVIDE ALL OF OUR SERVICES FROM HOUSING TO ALL OF OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, FREE OF CHARGE.

>> Reporter: THOUGH ST. LEONARD'S OFFERS MANY KINDS OF SUPPORT, IT BEGINS WITH HOUSING, BOTH TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT.

DAVID SAYS THE 42 FURNISHED UNITS AT SAINT ANDREWS COURT ALLOW RESIDENTS TO EASE AND INDEPENDENCE AT THEIR OWN PACE.

>> IT ALSO ESTABLISHES THE FACT THAT IF THEY HAVE IN HERE OVER A YEAR WITH US AND HAVE BEEN PAYING RENT, IT HELPS IN REGARDS TO WHEN THEY GO OUT AND APPLY FOR AN APARTMENT.

THEY CAN USE THE REFERENCE TO GET HERE.

OR THEY CAN COME IN AND FEEL THAT THEY ARE HOME.

THAT IS WHAT THE WHOLE THING WAS ABOUT.

>> JOB TRAINING IS JUST STEPS AWAY AT THE BARLOW CENTER.

CHEF INSTRUCTOR GORDON MOORE LEFT A CAREER IN FINE DINING TO TEACH A COMPREHENSIVE CULINARY SKILLS COURSE AT ST. LEONARD.

>> IN ADDITION TO US LEARNING ABOUT FOOD WE ALSO LEARNED HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL, HOW TO RESPECT EACH OTHER, HOW TO ENCOURAGE AND ROOT FOR EACH OTHER.

SOMETIMES YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A PERSON IS DEALING WITH OR WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS.

SO WE ARE MORE LIKE A FAMILY HERE.

>> Reporter: THE COURSE, CAUGHT BY JONATHAN WILSON, TEACHES APPRENTICES FOR INDUSTRY JOBS.

>> WE LEARN HOW TO FRAME A HOUSE FROM THE GROUND UP, PLUMBING, ROOFING .

THEY CAN WORK FOR HOUSING MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO BECOME HANDYMEN.

THERE ARE A WIDE RANGE OF WAYS THEY CAN GO.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY RECIDIVISM RATES ARE A FRACTION OF THE STATE AVERAGE.

>> THERE IS A GROWING RECOGNITION THAT SOCIETY IS BETTER IF WE FIGURE OUT BETTER WAYS TO WELCOME AND ENCOURAGE RETURNING RESIDENTS.

>> WE ARE HERE TO HELP PEOPLE BE SUCCESSFUL ON OUR JOURNEY.

>> SOMEBODY SAID THIS AT THE LAST GRADUATION.

HE SAID THAT HE WAS BROKEN WHEN HE CAME HERE.

I KNOW WHAT HE MEANS.

YOU CAN BE BROKEN, BUT THEN YOU GOT A PLACE TO HEAL.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS ERIKA GUNDERSON.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE ON ALL THAT ST. LEONARD HAS TO OFFER ON OUR WEBSITE, AND YOU CAN SEE MUCH MORE ABOUT LIFE AFTER PRISON AT WTTW.COM /FIRST-HAND.

>>> UP NEXT, INTO THE LAB WITH PALEONTOLOGIST NEIL SHUBIN.

>> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY JOEL M. FREEMAN.

>> UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PALEONTOLOGIST NEIL SHUBIN IS GEARING UP FOR HIS LATEST EXHIBITION.

THE PANDEMIC DELAY TRIP IS A RETURN BY SHUBIN TO THE CANADIAN ARCTIC, A PLACE WHERE HE MADE A DISCOVERY.

IN 2004, HE AND HIS TEAM FOUND A SO-CALLED MISSING LINK FOSSIL OF ONE OF THE FIRST CREATURES TO EMERGE FROM THE WATER ONTO LAND.

CHICAGO TONIGHT PRODUCER PAUL KING RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH SHUBIN AND BEGAN BY ASKING HIM WHERE HIS PASSION FOR PALEONTOLOGY CAME FROM.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> I WAS ALWAYS A SCIENCE NERD.

I LOVED ASTRONOMY, GEOLOGY, ARCHAEOLOGY.

MY PARENTS FOSTERED MY INTERESTS.

THEY BOUGHT ME A TELESCOPE WHEN I WAS A KID.

THEY PUT UP WITH EVERY HOBBY I HAD.

WHEN I GOT TO COLLEGE I WENT TO ONE OF THE GREAT MUSEUMS OF OUR COUNTRY, WHICH IS THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, AND I VOLUNTEERED THERE AND MET PALEONTOLOGIST.

I SAW THESE PEOPLE GOING ALL OVER THE WORLD AND COMING BACK WITH THESE TREASURES THAT TOLD US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LIFE.

I SAID TO MYSELF, I KIND OF WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DO THAT.

THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO FIND PLACES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE ROCKS OF THE RIGHT AGE AND TYPE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.

IN THIS CASE, THE QUESTION I WAS INTERESTED IN WAS THE TRANSITION FROM FISH TO LIVING ANIMAL.

THIS IS A LITTLE CREATURE THAT WE FOUND IN ANTARCTICA IN 2019.

YOU SEE ALL THIS WHITE HERE?

THAT IS BONE.

SO THESE ARE REALLY COOL.

THESE ARE GEOLOGICAL MAPS THAT ARE COLOR-CODED TO SHOW WHAT KIND OF ROCKS ARE AWARE, RIGHT?

SO THIS IS WHERE WE FIND THE RIGHT PLACES TO WORK.

WE DISCOVERED THIS RIGHT HERE IN 2004.

THESE ARE ROCKS THAT ARE 375 MILLION YEARS OLD.

IT IS A LONG TIME TO FIND THINGS IN THE PLACES I WORK.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THESE FOSSILS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL AND ANTARCTICA IS A HUGE PLACE.

ONE OF THE JOYS BUT DOING THIS RESEARCH IS GOING TO PLACES WHERE NOBODY HAS GONE BEFORE.

SO WE FIND LITTLE EVIDENCE OF HUMAN IMPACT, WHICH MAKES IT SPECIAL.

FOR ME, THE ABSOLUTE MOST EXCITING PART IS DROPPING IN ON A NEW PLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME, SEEING THE ROCKS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE TREASURE IS GOING TO BE.

FOR ME THAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING.

THIS SUMMER WE WANT TO GO DOWN HERE.

WE KNOW THERE ARE FOSSILS IN THESE AREAS.

THESE ROCKS ARE TOO GOOD NOT TO HOLD FOSSILS.

I WANTED TO BE HERE IN 2020, BUT IT WAS CANCELED.

2021, THAT WAS CANCELED.

2022, THAT WAS CANCELED.

2023, LET'S DO THIS.

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.

SO HERE IN THIS PART OF THE LAB AS OPPOSED TO THE FOSSIL PART, WE LOOK AT DNA.

WE LOOK AT EMBRYOS.

WE ASK, HOW DOES A LIVING FISH, A TROUT, A SALMON, HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM A LIVING LAND ANIMAL LIKE A FROG OR A MOUSE OR A BIRD OR HUMAN?

ONE ANSWER IS BY TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD AND FINDING FOSSILS THAT TELL US ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENED, THE SEQUENCE OF EVOLUTIONARY CHANGES FROM FISH TO LAND ANIMAL.

THE APPROACH IN THIS PART OF THE LAB IS TO ASK THE QUESTION GENETICALLY.

HOW DO THE GENES THAT BUILD THE FIN OF A FISH DIFFER FROM THE GENES THAT BUILD THE ARM OF HUMAN OR THE WING OF A BIRD?

THOSE TWO APPROACHES TOGETHER REALLY GIVE US A MUCH MORE COMPLETE ANSWER THAN OTHER ONE ALONE.

ONE OF THE OTHER INTERESTING DISCOVERIES IS THAT MANY OF THE GENES THAT WERE ACTIVE TO BUILD OUR OWN HANDS AND FEET ARE ACTIVE IN THE FINS OF FISH, MAKING THE TERMINAL ENDS OF THEIR FINS.

SO PART OF THE EVOLUTION FROM LIMBS TO FINS DID NOT INVOLVE THE ORIGIN OF NEW GENES.

WE HAVE THE SAME DNA.

IT IS REALLY USING OLD DNA IN NEW WAYS AND REPURPOSE SING AT THE GENETIC LEVEL, WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF PROFOUND.

>> VERY COOL AS ALWAYS.

NEIL SHUBIN LEAVES ON HIS ARCTIC ADVENTURE IN JULY AND WILL BE THERE FOR A MONTH.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT HIS TRIP ON OUR WEBSITE.

ONE NOTE BEFORE WE GO.

STARTING MONDAY, MAY 1st YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH CHICAGO TONIGHT HERE ON WTTW AND STREAMING LIVE AT 5: 30 P.M. THAT IS IN ADDITION TO OUR 10:00 P.M. BROADCAST.

SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND TUNE IN AT 5: 30 ON MONDAY, MAY 1st.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US A CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN , AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.