>>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

TEXAS CONGRESSMAN BETO O'ROURKE ON VOTING RIGHTS AND HIS TIME IN CONGRESS.

>>> THE WIDE-OPEN STATE'S ATTORNEY'S RACE AFTER KIM FOX ANNOUNCED SHE WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON HER LEGACY.

>>> A RECENT SIGHTING GIVES CONSERVATIONISTS A GLIMMER OF HOPE.

>>> AND A FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT MASTERPIECE.

>>> NOT TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

MAJOR CHANGE IS COMING TO HOW CHICAGO EVALUATES SCHOOLS.

THE CHICAGO SCHOOL BOARD IS LOOKING TO JUNK A SCHOOL RATING SYSTEM CRITICIZED FOR BEING OVER RELIANT ON STANDARD TEXT.

IN ITS PLACE, THE BOARD IS AIMING TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT HELPS RATHER THAN PUNISHES STRUGGLING SCHOOLS.

UNDER THE SYSTEM, THE DISTRICT SAYS THAT IT WILL COLLECT MULTIPLE METRICS TO COLLECT SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND THEN PRESENT THOSE FINDINGS TO THE PUBLIC.

A DATA DASHBOARD WITH THAT INFORMATION IS EXPECTED TO BE RUNNING FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR.

>>> NO VERDICT YET.

A JURY DELIBERATED THE HIGH-PROFILE BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION TRIAL FOR THE SECOND DAY TODAY.

THE CASE FOCUSES ON CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CON ED, LOBBYISTS AND FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

CHARGED WAS J DOHERTY, JOHN HOOKER, AND MIKE McLEAN.

HEARINGS ARE SCHEDULED TO RESUME TOMORROW MORNING.

>>> AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM HAS BEEN HIRED TO HELP CHICAGO FIND ITS NEXT POLICE CHIEF.

THE COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.

THE COMMISSION SAID THAT IT IS HIRING THE FIRM PUBLIC SECTOR SEARCH WHICH WORKS EXCLUSIVELY TO HELP IDENTIFY CANDIDATES FOR EXECUTIVE ROLES.

THE COMMISSIONERS SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT THE FIRM, QUOTE, HAS A TRACK RECORD FOR ATTRACTING OUTSTANDING POLICE CHIEF LEADERS WHICH ENGAGES PERFECTLY WITH THE CITY VALUES.

>>> A BAN ON ALL FLAVORED NICOTINE PRODUCTS COULD SOON BE COMING TO COOK COUNTY.

COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER DONNA MILLER SAYS SHE WILL INTRODUCE IT TOMORROW.

>> FLAVORED CIGARETTES ARE HOOKING A NEW GENERATION ON NICOTINE AND PUTTING MILLIONS OF KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS AT RISK AND THREATENING DECADES OF PROGRESS IN REDUCING TOBACCO USE.

>> IF THE PROPOSAL HAPPENS, IT WILL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND ALLOW OFFICERS TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS ON RETAILERS SELLING THESE PRODUCTS.

>>> SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS WILL BE GETTING BETTER ACCESS TO A BRAND-NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS ON HAND ALONG WITH OTHERS TO OPEN THE 43 FOOT PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER SOUTH LAKESHORE DRIVE.

SHE IS COMMENTED ON UNEQUAL ACCESS TO LAKESHORE IN THE PAST.

>> AS RECENTLY AS TWO DECADES AGO, CHICAGO HAD A SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL LAKEFRONT.

RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTHSIDE, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING NEAR BURNHAM PARK, HAD BARRIERS.

OUR LAKEFRONT IS AN AMENITY THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS FROM ALL NEIGHBORHOODS OF CHICAGO AT ALL TIMES , AND WITH TODAY 'S ANNOUNCEMENT, IT IS.

>>> UP NEXT, CHECKING IN WITH FORMER TEXAS CONGRESSMAN AND NOW AUTHOR THAT O'ROURKE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE GYM AND KAY NAVY FOUNDATION.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> HE HAS RUN FOR PRESIDENT, SENATE AND GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.

IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, FORMER CONGRESSMAN BETO O'ROURKE HAD SPENT TIME IN CHICAGO AS A FELLOW.

HIS FULL-TIME JOB IS RUNNING AND POWERED BY PEOPLE, A TEXAS-BASED VOTING RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.

IN HIS FREE TIME HE HAS WRITTEN A BOOK CALLED WE HAVE GOT TO TRY, HOW THE FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS MAKES EVERYTHING ELSE POSSIBLE.

SATURDAY HE WILL JOIN ME IN A CONVERSATION, BUT FIRST HE JOINS US NOW.

BETO O'ROURKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT!

>> BRANDIS, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> SO FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS AND THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL.

HOW FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY ARE YOU THAT IT HAS BEEN INSTALLED THE WAY THAT IT HAS?

>> YOU KNOW, IN TEXAS, CHICAGO, AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, WE COULD BE VIEWED AS A NONVOTING STATE.

MANY REGISTERED TEXANS DID NOT CAST A BALLOT IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE LAST NOVEMBER.

SOME OF THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CHOICES THEY DIDN'T LIKE, BUT A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE VOTER SUPPRESSION AND VOTER INTIMIDATION, MORE SO THAN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

IN FACT, TEXAS IS THE TOUGHEST STATE IN THE NATION TO CAST A BALLOT AND REGISTER TO VOTE.

THOSE EFFORTS ARE NOT AIMED AT PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME.

THEY ARE AIMED AT THE VERY YOUNGEST, AT BLACK AND BROWN VOTERS, AND AT THOSE WHO HAVE A HARD TIME PASSING THE OBSTACLES THAT ARE IN THEIR PATH IN ORDER TO CAST A BALLOT.

WHAT WE NEED IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW, DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS ALIKE IS THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THOSE WHO WILL REPRESENT US.

WE NEED NEW VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT WILL PROTECT THAT SACRED RIGHT TO VOTE SO THAT WE CAN CHOOSE THE GOVERNMENT THAT REALLY REFLECTS AND REPRESENTS OUR INTERESTS, OUR VALUES AND OUR ASPIRATIONS.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT DONE DURING HIS FIRST TWO YEARS IN OFFICE WHEN DEMOCRATS STILL HAVE THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE?

>> YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN REALLY BELIEVES IN VOTING RIGHTS AND EXTENDING THE FRANCHISE TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD IT EFFECTIVELY REMOVED IN STATES LIKE TEXAS, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA AND SO MUCH OF THE DEEP SOUTH.

HE HAS MADE PRETTY GOOD SPEECHES ON THIS, BUT WHEN HE HAD A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE, WHEN HE HAD THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT BEFORE HIM, HE AND HIS FELLOW DEMOCRATS COULD NOT CLOSE THE DEAL AND IT LEFT TEXAS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TEXAS VOTERS AND VOTERS IN MANY PARTS OF THE FORMER CONFEDERACY IN THE LURCH, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO FREELY AND FAIRLY CHOOSE THEIR GOVERNMENT.

SO I HOPE THAT SHOULD PRESIDENT BIDEN BE ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM, I HOPE THAT HE WILL PRIORITIZE VOTING RIGHTS AGAIN, PROTECTING THE DEMOCRACY AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL ELIGIBLE CITIZENS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRACY THAT WE ARE PROUD OF.

>> YOUR BOOK IS TITLED WE'VE GOT TO TRY, AND THAT IS A REFERENCE TO SOMETHING THAT A REAL-LIFE CHARACTER IN THE BOOK SAID IN THE 1900s, REFERRING TO HIS OWN EFFORTS.

WE HAVE GOT TO TRY.

TEXAS CLOSE 750 POLLING PLACES OVER THE PAST DECADE.

LAWMAKERS HAVE TRIED TO BAN THINGS LIKE VOTING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

WHAT IS TRYING LOOK LIKE TODAY?

>> THIS STORY THAT I TELL HIM WE HAVE GOT TO TRY IS VERY IMPORTANT, EVEN JUST FOR ME PERSONALLY, TO REJECT THE TEMPTATION TO DESPAIR OR GIVE UP IN THE FACE OF THE OBSTACLES YOU JUST MENTIONED AND THIS CONCERTED ATTACK ON OUR DEMOCRACY, WHETHER IT WAS JANUARY 6, 2021 OR THE EFFECTS THAT WE SEE TODAY.

ONE MAN IN EL PASO, TEXAS WAS BARRED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTION BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN.

IN 1923, TEXAS PASSED WHITE PRIMARY LOSS.

NEVERTHELESS, HE TRIED TO VOTE BUT WAS REJECTED AT THE POLLING PLACE.

HE SAID I KNOW YOU CAN'T ALLOW ME, BUT I HAVE GOT TO TRY.

THROUGH HIS EFFORTS, HE WON THREE SUPREME COURT VICTORIES AND BY 1944 HAD HELPED TO INTEGRATE OUR ELECTIONS IN TEXAS AND REALLY SET THE PATH FOR ANOTHER TEXAN, LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON, TO SIGN INTO LAW THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.

SO TEXAS HAS REALLY BEEN THE SOURCE OF SOME OF THE WORST ATTACKS ON OUR DEMOCRACY, BUT IT HAS ALSO BEEN THE PLACE WHERE WE LOOK FOR HEROES TO RISE UP AND OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES AND DO SO NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS, BUT REALLY, AS WE SAW FROM THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

SO THIS BOOK, I HOPE, GIVES US A STORY TO INSPIRE AND ENERGIZE US AND REMIND US THAT THIS FIGHT IS NOT AN EASY ONE .

WE WILL HAVE TO BE AT THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

BUT IF WE DO, NOT ONLY DO WE WIN THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY, BUT WE ARE ABLE TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE SEEMINGLY INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS LIKE GUN VIOLENCE OR ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IN STATES LIKE TEXAS, OR THE FACT THAT WE HAVE YET TO EFFECTIVELY THWART CLIMATE CHANGE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

ALL THESE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN WE HAVE A DEMOCRACY THAT REALLY WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

>> WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON TIME, BETO, BUT YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS.

YOU HAVE SERVED A FELLOWSHIP.

YOU HAVE WROTE A BOOK.

WHAT IS NEXT?

>> I AM GOING TO STAY FOCUSED ON THIS FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT.

THAT RIGHT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE PRECARIOUS THAN IT IS NOW, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE TEXAS.

THAT IS WHY I THINK THAT SO MANY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS THINK THAT WE CAN DO THE MOST GOOD.

THROUGH DOING THAT I THINK THAT WE WILL SEE REALLY GOOD OUTCOMES AND RESULTS.

IT WON'T BE EASY.

IT IS NOT A QUICK PROCESS, BUT IT IS THE RIGHT WORK TO DO AND THE RIGHT ANSWER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!

SEE YOU SOON.

>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED WE HAVE GOT TO TRY, HOW THE FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS MAKES EVERYTHING ELSE POSSIBLE.

YOU CAN JOIN US THIS SATURDAY AT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AS PART OF THE CHICAGO HUMANITIES FESTIVAL.

DETAILS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> UP NEXT FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS, KIM FOX AND HER BIG ANNOUNCEMENT AND MUCH MORE.

♪ ♪ COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOX IS NOT RUNNING FOR ELECTION IN 2024.

THE OUTCOME OF THE SO-CALLED CONRAD TRIAL AND SOME OTHER FAMILIAR FACES ARE WORKING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

JOINING US ARE SOME FACES OF OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

SO KIM FOX IS NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

WHAT IS SHE OPERATING IN?

>> SHE SAID SHE HAS DONE WHAT SHE SET OUT TO DO.

SHE RAN IN 2016 ON A PROMISE TO REMAKE THE COOK COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MAKE IT MORE MODERN AND TO ADDRESS WHAT SHE SAID WAS A BACKLOG OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, AND SHE HAS DONE THAT.

SHE SAYS THERE IS NO NEED FOR A THIRD TERM.

WHAT SHE DIDN'T SAY, BY THE WAY, IS THAT SHE HAS COME UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE AND SCRUTINY.

SO I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE FORGET THE HUMAN SIDE OF THINGS, AND THAT IS THAT IT SURELY TOOK A TOLL TO CONSTANTLY BE THE PERSON WHO IS IN THE HEADLINES, OFTEN IN A NEGATIVE FASHION, AND FURTHER THAT SHE COULD HAVE HAD A TOUGH BATTLE THIS TIME.

PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT LAST TIME AND SHE SUCCEEDED.

STILL, THERE IS ALWAYS THAT CHANCE.

>> THAT IS GOING TO COME ALONG WITH ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL, CERTAINLY IN CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY.

BUT AT HER SPEECH YESTERDAY , KIM FOX DEFENDED HER RECORD.

>> I REFUSE THE SUPPOSITION THAT WHERE WE SEE OURSELVES TODAY WITH THE RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME THAT COINCIDES WITH THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME PANDEMIC IS SOMEHOW THE RESULT OF COOK COUNTY.

IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK SHE WILL BE REMEMBERED?

>> SHE WILL CERTAINLY BE CELEBRATED BY THOSE WHO APPLAUD HER FOR, AS HEATHER DESCRIBED IT, REALLY REMAKING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN COOK COUNTY .

SHE IS REALLY A HERO WHO ACCOMPLISHED WHAT SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO DO AND STUCK BY IT.

TO OTHERS THOUGH, YES, SHE IS VERY MUCH AT FAULT FOR BEING TWO LACKS ON CRIME, BE IT SHOPLIFTING OR GUN CRIMES THAT DON'T INVOLVE MURDER.

THEY SAY THAT HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR AN UPSWING DURING COVID AND THAT YES, HER APPROACH HAS LED TO AN INCREASE IN CRIME IN CHICAGO.

>> SWITCHING OVER TO ENTRENCHED LEGAL BATTLES FOR A CONSULTANT THAT THEY HIRED FOR A WHOPPING $700,000, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> PAUL VALLAS SAYS THAT HIS CAMPAIGN WAS ESSENTIALLY DEFRAUDED.

THEY SIGNED A CONTRACT TO TAKEDOWN DEFACED LAWN SIGNS, AND FOR THAT HE WAS PAID A TOTAL OF $680,000.

SO VALLAS IS SUING TO RECOVER THAT MONEY, SAYING THAT ESSENTIALLY HE DIDN'T PERFORM ANYTHING FOR THAT MONEY.

THE OPPOSITION SAYS THAT IT IS 100% NOT TRUE AND THAT HE CONTRACTED FOR THAT SERVICE, PERFORM THAT SERVICE AND WAS PAID FOR THAT SERVICE.

SO NOW IT IS GOING TO BE IN THE HANDS OF A JUDGE TO STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT.

NOW VALLAS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HIS CAMPAIGN HAS WRITTEN CHECKS TO OTHER CONTRACTORS THAT ARE BOUNCING BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ANTICIPATE THESE FUNDS BEING WITHDRAWN FROM HIS ELECTION ACCOUNT, WHICH HAS LEFT A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY UPSET.

SOMEBODY WHO DID GET PAID BACK, THOUGH?

PAUL VALLAS LOANED HIS CAMPAIGN $100,000 BELOW THE CAP.

HE PAID THAT LOAN BACK TO HIMSELF ON MARCH 20th, JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER MAKING IT.

>> OKAY.

I AM SURE WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT MORE.

BUT $700,000?

IS THAT A TYPICAL AMOUNT?

>> NOT FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK.

IF YOU LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SCRUTINY OFF OF RUNNING ELECTIONS THAT WERE VERY UNSUCCESSFUL.

SO TO SAY THAT IT IS COMPLETELY UNCERTAIN, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF THINGS!

WHEN THEY COULD MAKE $700,000 WHEN THEY ARE NOT THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER, WHEN THEY WERE JUST SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING DOWN YARD SIGNS, NO.

THAT IS ASTRONOMICAL.

>> LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

OKAY.

THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS BEFORE TRIAL, AMANDA.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING TO KNOW.

WE FELT THAT THE JURY HAD ONE QUESTION AND THAT ANOTHER JURY IS SET TO GO ON VACATION MAY 1st.

THAT MIGHT BE SOME OTHER AMOUNT OF PRESSURE.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT.

WHAT WE DID HEAR FROM WAS BOTH SIDES.

THAT WAS THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR PERSONALITIES AS WELL AS THEIR CONDUCT, YOU COULD SAY THAT IF YOU WERE ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS, THIS WAS ALL ON THE UP AND UP AND THAT THIS IS A WITCHHUNT REALLY GOING AFTER FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

IF YOU ARE THE PROSECUTION, THE GOVERNMENT SIDE, YOU SAY NO, NO, NO.

THIS IS NOT REGULAR BEHAVIOR.

YOU HAVE WHISPERS, NICKNAMES, PLOTS LIKE THIS.

YOU DON'T PAY PEOPLE ON A GHOST PAYROLL FOR A UTILITY COMPANY THAT -- IT IS ALL VERY, VERY ILLEGAL, BASICALLY.

>> NOT ONLY WILL THE DEFENDANTS BE WAITING, BUT I IMAGINE THAT MICHAEL MADIGAN IS ALSO VERY EAGER TO LEARN WHAT A JURY IS GOING TO DO.

THE OUTCOME OF THIS TRIAL WILL PLAY NO SMALL PART IN HIS TRIAL.

>> THAT'S SPOTLIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, HEATHER AND AMANDA.

>>> UP NEXT A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

♪ ♪ >>> CHICAGO IS HOME TO A NUMBER OF CELEBRITIES, BUT IT IS THE PAPARAZZI OF LAKE MICHIGAN, AND IT MIGHT BE PIPING PLOVER IN MENNY.

GOOD NEWS FOR FANS, HE WAS SPOTTED AT MONTROSE BEACH.

THE BIG QUESTION ON EVERYBODY'S MIND IS WILL HE SPEND THE SUMMER IN CHICAGO AND WILL THERE BE SOME OF ROMANCE?

PATTY WHITLEY JOINS US NOW WITH SOME INSIGHT.

IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT IMANI WILL SPEND THE SUMMER IN CHICAGO?

>> SINCE OTHER PLOVERS ARE STILL MIGRATING THROUGH, HE IS SENDING OUT PLOVER SIGNALS.

IF THERE IS A FEMALE PLOVER FLYING OVER, SHE MIGHT LAND AND STICK AROUND!

>> YOU WILL SEE IF HE CAN LAND THAT GIRL!

WHAT IS WORKING IN HIS FAVOR?

>> A COUPLE THINGS ARE WORKING IN HIS FAVOR.

AS I MENTIONED, HE GOT HERE EARLIER.

LAST YEAR HE WASN'T HERE UNTIL THE END OF MAY WHEN A LOT OF MIGRATIONS HAD ENDED.

HE HAD THE CHANCE THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME OF THOSE FEMALE PLOVERS FLYING OVERHEAD.

ALSO, IT WAS A RECORD-SETTING YEAR FOR NEW CHECKS BEING BORN IN 2022, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE ARE A LOT MORE FIRST-YEAR CHECKS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND AND WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY LANDED SOMEWHERE FURTHER UP THE GREAT LAKES.

>> I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IS HOW THE STATEMENT GOES.

SO WHEN YOU WENT TO MONTROSE BEACH AND SAW A NUMBER OF PAPARAZZI, WHY ARE BIRDERS AND CONSERVATIONISTS EXPECTED?

>> ONE, EVERYBODY IS STILL KIND OF MORNING THE LOSS OF ROSE LAST YEAR.

TO HAVE IMANI BRINGS BACK THAT HOPE AND JOY, BUT THESE PLOVERS KEEP COMING BACK TO MONTROSE BEACH BECAUSE THE HABITAT IN CHICAGO EXISTS THAT CAN HELP THIS ENDANGERED BIRD TO SUCCEED AND MULTIPLY.

IT IS A GREAT STORY FOR CHICAGO AND URBAN CONSERVATION IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IT IS JUST A JOY TO HAVE THIS BIRD COME BACK HOME .

>> HE IS ADORABLE!

>> TAKE YOUR BINOCULARS, THOUGH.

THEY ARE VERY TINY.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS!

>> OF COURSE.

YOU CAN READ PATTY'S FULL WEBSITE ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE AFTER THIS.

IT IS AN ONCOMING PAIRING OF ARCHITECTURE AND DANCE.

BUT A FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT MASTERPIECE IN OAK PARK SET THE STAGE FOR A PERFORMANCE.

OUR PRODUCER MARK VITELLI VISITED UNION TEMPLE TO FIND OUT WHAT MADE THESE DANCERS MOVE.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THERE IS CHOREOGRAPHY IN THIS SANCTUARY.

AT UNITY TEMPLE, DANCERS REHEARSE AT WHAT IS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.

>> I THINK IT IS AWESOME THAT WHEN THEY COME INTO THIS SPACE THEY REALLY NOT TO NATURE AND TO LIGHT THAT FRANK WOULD WRITE PUT INTO THIS SPACE.

THIS SPACE IS VERY ORDERED, VERY LINEAR, AND IT IS VERY INSPIRING.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO SEE THE DANCE FRAMED BY THE SPACE BUT ALSO LOVELY TO SEE THE SPACE WITH THE HUMAN FOUR-MINUTE.

>> IT IS A SPECIFIC DANCE UNIQUE TO THE SETTING.

THE PERFORMANCE IS TITLED THE LIGHT RETURNS.

>> THAT IS A REFERENCE TO FRANK WOULD WRITE'S UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF LIGHT AND THE WAY THAT HE MADE IT HAPPEN WITHIN UNITY TEMPLE.

IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE LIGHT THAT IS SLOWLY ENTERING BACK INTO OUR LIVES AFTER A FEW YEARS OF, I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SAY WHAT IT IS, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH THIS SPACE AND ALSO COLLABORATING WITH HUMANS THAT WORK HERE.

>> THE MISSION OF THE UNITY TEMPLE RESTORATION FOUNDATION IS TO PRESERVE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S UNITY TEMPLE AND ALSO TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE STRUCTURE AND THE ARTS.

>> Reporter: THE STRUCTURE'S PRIMARY MATERIAL IS REINFORCED CONCRETE, A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY.

>> THIS IS PART OF A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, SO WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO THE BUILDING RESPECTS THE SPACE AND KEEPS IT SAFE.

>> Reporter: THE PERFORMANCE REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A FORMER DANCER WHO IS NOW A GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER.

>> IT IS NICE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE ART IN SPACES THAT ARE NOT CREATED FOR ART.

IT IS NICE TO HAVE ART IN PLACES WHERE IT IS NOT USUALLY PRESENTED.

I'M HAVING FUN!

I AM DOING THESE THINGS HERE IN THIS SPACE THAT I HAVE NOT DONE PREVIOUSLY.

THE SET UP HAS INSPIRED ME AND FORCED ME TO DO THINGS THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO DO.

>> WILL SELECT PERFORMING TRADITIONAL THEATERS, BUT I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY, AND WE TAKE IT AS OFTEN AS WE CAN, THE CHANCE FOR MOVEMENT IN THIS SPACE.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE CREATING A NEW ART FORM BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT THE DANCE, NOT ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE AND NOT ABOUT THE MUSIC.

IT IS ABOUT THE COMBINATION OF THOSE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS MARK VITELLI.

>> DANCERS WILL BE BACK AT UNITY TEMPLE NEXT WEEK WITH THEIR LATEST PERFORMANCE.

THERE WILL BE TWO SHOWS MAY 5th AND SIXTH.

FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM.

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

MARK YOUR CALENDARS.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET THAT YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEBSITE , WTTW.COM/NEWS.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 10:00 .

FOR ALL OF US A CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING , STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT!