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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THIS IS A 100% THE WRONG WAY TO GO.

>> THE DESPITE DEAD-END WARNING SIGNS FROM SOME ALDERPEOPLE CITY COUNCIL PASSES THE MAYOR'S PREPAID GAS AND CTA PLAN.

>> YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A HEDGE IN THE MONEY.

>> ComEd CUSTOMERS ARE ABOUT TO SEE BILLS GO DOWN AS THE UTILITY IS SEEKING TO RAISE RATES.

WE'LL EXPLAIN.

>> WE SEND THE BUDGET CUTS TO INVEST IN OUR SCHOOL.

>> THE HEAD OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESPONDS TO CRITICISMS OVER PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS.

A CITY EMPLOYEE HIRED BY JIM GARDINER IS FACING AN ILLEGAL GUN SALE CHARGE.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WHY THAT IS SO INTRIGUING AND MORE.

>> COULD COMMUNITIES BE DOING MORE TO SUPPORT PARENTS?

A PEDIATRIC SURGEON MAKES THE CASE.

>> MUSIC IS FEELING AT ITS BEST.

>> AND WE PREVIEW THE JOFFREY BALLET'S MICE AND MEN'S PRODUCTION.

>> CHICAGO HAS A FULL-TIME INSPECTOR GENERAL AGAIN.

CITY COUNCIL TODAY UNANIMOUSLY CONFIRMED THE MAYOR'S PICK OF FORMER DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR POLICE DEBORAH WITZBURG TO TAKEOVER THE TOP SPOT.

THE CONFIRMATION COMES 194 DAYS AFTER THE INSPECTOR GENERAL JOSEPH FERGUSON LEFT THE POST.

WILLIAM MARBECK WAS INTERIM INSPECTOR GENERAL.

>> 11TH WARD ALDERWOMAN NICOLE LEE WILL SUPPORT THAT MAP OVER THE ONE BACKED BY THE LATINO CAUCUS.

>> THE TWO MAPS UP FOR REFERENDUM ARE THE CHICAGO UNITED MAP AND THE LATINO CAUCUS MAP OF THOSE TWO, ONE IS STRONGER THAN THE OTHER AND THAT IS THE CHICAGO UNITED MAP.

IF IT COMES TO REFERENDUM THAT IS THE ONE I'M GOING TO SUPPORT.

>> LEE IS THE NEWLY APPOINTED IN THAT WARD UNDER BOTH PROPOSALS WOULD HAVE A MAJORITY ASIAN-AMERICAN POPULATION.

>> UP NEXT A RUNDOWN FROM TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> THE ROAD HAS BEEN CLEARED FOR THE MAYOR'S PREPAID GAS AND TRANSIT CARD PLAN.

ALDERPEOPLE VOTE IN DPAFER BUT JUST BARELY.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US WITH MORE NOW.

REMIND US WHAT THE GAS GIVEAWAY CARD PLAN ENTAILS?

>> IT WILL COST THE STATE $12.5 MILLION AND SEND 50,000 PREPAID CARDS THAT WILL COVER $150 WORTH OF GAS TO CHICAGOANS AND 100,000 CTA PASSES WILL HAVE $50 OF CTA RIDES.

THE PLAN HAS HAD ITS CONTROVERSY SINCE THE BEGINNING.

LET'S HEAR A CONTENTIOUS EXCHANGE.

>> WHEN WE'RE GIVING $3 MILLION TO THE FOOD DEPUTY AND $12 MILLION FOR GAS CARDS SOMETHING IS OFF WHEN WE ARE NOT FUNDING ANTIVIOLENCE, VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS, VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS.

AT THE SAME RATE WE'RE FOR GAS CARDS.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

>> IN THIS CITY, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BARELY HAVE A COUPLE DOLLARS IN THEIR POCKET AND NOW THEY CANNOT MEET A BASIC NEED WHICH IS THE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION.

YES, OF COURSE, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE TOWARDS LOWERING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO THAT AS A CITY.

MEANWHILE, BACK ON PLANET REALITY, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE TO DRIVE.

>> WE HEARD FROM ALDERWOMAN HARRISON WHAT WERE THE OTHER CONTENTIOUS ISSUES THAT ALDERPEOPLE BROUGHT UP?

>> THE OBJECTIONS RAN THE GAMUT.

FROM ALDERPEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT CITY TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SUBSIDIZE FOSSIL FUELS TO THOSE WHO FELT THE MAYOR WAS USING THIS MONEY AS ESSENTIALLY A REELECTION GIMMICK.

SHE FACES THE VOTERS WE EXPECT FOR A SECOND TERM IN JUST ABOUT 10 MONTHS.

AND THERE WERE OTHERS FRUSTRATED THIS MONEY WASN'T BEING USED TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON THE CTA TO ENCOURAGE RIDERSHIP TO GET BACK TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

ULTIMATELY WHAT MADE THE DECISION WAS THE MAYOR'S DECISION AT THE LAST-MINUTE TO GIVE RESIDENTS OF THREE WARDS PRIORITY TO GET MORE OF THESE CARDS TO FLIP THREE VOTES ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS DEBRA SILVERSTEIN AND CURTIS AND GILBERT VILLEGAS.

>> CAN THE MAYOR UNILATERALLY CHANGE THE PLAN WITHOUT IT BEING HEARD IN A COMMITTEE HEARING?

>> THAT IS A QUESTION FOR OPEN MEETINGS ACT EXPERT BUT IT WAS A LAST-MINUTE CHANGE THAT WILL NO DOUBT RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MAYOR'S COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY.

SHE RAN AND THAT PLATFORM IN 2019.

>> AND WASN'T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE A SHOWDOWN OVER THE TWO ALDERMANIC WARD MAPS TODAY?

>> THE LATINO CAUCUS WAS HOPING TO GET A VOTE ON ONE OF THE WARD MAPS WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO REVISE THE MAP SET TO GO TO VOTERS IN JUNE.

THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN.

IF YOU VOTES YOU VOTE.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE VOTES SOMETIMES YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

>> AND NOT MANY MORE DAYS LEFT BEFORE THAT DEPOSE GO TO REFERENDUM.

>> TWO PROPOSALS YOU WROTE ABOUT.

ONE NEW ETHICS REGULATIONS FOR ALDERPEOPLE AND A RESTART OF THE WATER METER INSTALLATION PROGRAM.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THOSE?

>> BOTH FAILED TO ADVANCE.

RODERICK SAWYER PREVENTED THE ETHICS PACKAGE FROM MOVING FORWARD AND HE TOLD ME HE HAD QUESTIONS WHAT WAS IN THAT PROPOSAL.

MICHELLE SMITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WOULD WORK WITH HIM TO ADVANCE THE PROPOSAL.

ALSO BLOCKED WAS THE MAYOR'S WATER METER INSTALLATION RESTART BLOCKED BY PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL LIKE ALDERMAN RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ WHO IS FRUSTRATED THAT MEASURE INCLUDED AN END TO WATER SHUTOFFS WHEN SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PLANS TO ADDRESS THAT THAT WOULD BE SHORT CIRCUITED BY THE MAYOR'S EFFORT.

>> AETHICS RULES WOULD INCREASE FINES FROM 5,000 TO 20,000.

MAYBE THEY ARE HESITANT FOR THAT TO GO THROUGH JUST RIGHT THIS MOMENT.

HEATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE'LL SEE YOU LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

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

>> AND NOW BRANDIS, WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ENERGY MARKETS AND PRICES ARE BY NATURE MER CURIAL.

THROW IN A WAR, A CORRUPTION CASE, A NEW LAW AND MARKET TRENDS MOVING AWAY FROM CARBON ENERGY SOURCES AND THINGS ARE VOLATILE.

ALL THAT WILL SET WHAT YOU PAY TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS AND RUN THE AC.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US TO EXPLAIN.

>> YES, BRANDIS AS COMPLICATED AND VOLATILE ENERGY MARKETS ARE, MOST PEOPLE CARE THAT THEIR LIGHTS TURN ON AND WHEN THE BILL COMES, HOW MUCH IT COSTS.

IN ILLINOIS YOU HAVE SKEPTICISM GIVEN YOU HAD IN 2020 ComEd ADMITTING TO FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IT SPENT A DECADE USING BRIBERY TO GET LAWS PASSED IN SPRINGFIELD THAT WOULD BE FAVORABLE TO THE UTILITIES BOTTOM LINE.

THAT INCLUDES A LAW THAT GIVES STATE REGULATORS VERY LITTLE LEEWAY WHEN ComEd SEEKS TO INCREASE THE RATES IT CHARGES TO DELIVER ELECTRICITY TO OUR HOMES.

LIKE ComEd IS TRYING TO DO NOW.

COMMON HEAD THIS MONTH FILED TO INCREASE RATES BY 199 MILLION DOLLARS.

THE COMPANY SAYS THAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENTS.

AND CITIZENS UTILITY BOARD DIRECTOR DAVID KOLATA SAYS THEREFORE THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.

WE WILL BE SCRUTINIZING THIS CAREFULLY.

I DO THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY BECAUSE IF THE PAST IS ANY GUIDE BECAUSE OF THIS FORMULA RATE, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ZERO OUT OF THIS RATE INCREASE.

>> THAT IS THE BAD NEWS FOR ComEd CUSTOMERS WHO, LIKE REALLY ALL OVER THE PLACE, ARE ALSO CONTENDING WITH HIGH ENERGY PRICES IN GENERAL IN LARGE PART DUE TO RUSSIA AND ITS WAR IN UKRAINE.

NOW, THERE IS GOOD NEWS AND THIS IS NOT WITH THE PIES OF DELIVERING ELECTRICITY BUT THE COST OF ELECTRICITY ITSELF.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS THE PROJECTIONS ARE STARTING IN JUNE THAT ComEd CUSTOMERS WILL SEE AN OVERALL BILL REDUCTION THAT WILL AVERAGE ABOUT $10 A MONTH FOR THE TYPICAL CUSTOMER.

>> THAT IS DUE TO THE CONSUMER ENERGY JOBS ACT THAT SAMES TO PUT ILLINOIS ON THE PATH TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2050.

CLEAN ENERGY JOBS ACT.

PART OF THAT CLAW IS INSURING NUCLEAR PLANTS WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE BY REQUIRING CUSTOMERS PAY A SUBSIDY TO KEEP THEM RUNNING.

DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS CHRISTIAN MITCHELL LED NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION.

>> WE ALSO WAS WE CREATED A HATCH SO IF ELECTRICITY PRICES SPIKES THERE WOULD BE PROTECTION FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE ComEd ZONE.

THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENED.

BETWEEN THE PERFECT STORM BETWEEN THE SUPPLY CRUNCH OF COVID-19 AND RUSSIA IN UKRAINE THE WHOLESALE PRICES HAVE GONE UP.

ComEd FAMILIES WILL SEE $200 RETURNED TO THEM IN ENERGY CREDITS.

>> NUCLEAR PLANTS HAD FOUGHT FOR THIS LAW AND FOR THAT SUBSIDY BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY NEEDED A GUARANTEE IN ORDER TO BE PROFITABLE WITH THE HIGH ENERGY PRICES THEY ARE MORE THAN MAKING THAT PROFIT.

SO THAT KICKS IN A PROVISION OF THE LAW AND INSTEAD OF CONSUMERS HAVING TO PAY A SUBSIDY, CUSTOMERS HERE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS WILL RECEIVE A MONTHLY REBATE OR CREDIT STARTING IN JUNE.

>> THAT WILL BE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL.

IN THE FIRST YEAR $18 A MONTH ON AVERAGE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL SEE $18 EVERY MONTH AND EVERY CUSTOMER WILL GET THE SAME BUT IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT FOR CONSUMERS.

>> IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY DOWN STATE WHERE A COMPANY USING A DIFFERENT GRID AND THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.

DAVID KOLATA SAYS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BUSINESSES WILL BE FACING A WHAMMY ON SEVERAL FRONTS.

THE GRID WARNED OF INCREASED RISK OF TEMPORARY CONTROLLED OUTAGES.

THE RISK OF BROWNOUTS.

AM RIT OPTED OUT OF THAT NUCLEAR SUBSIDY PLAN THE CARBON MITIGATION PROGRAM SO THEIR CUSTOMERS NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ANY REBATE.

AND THEN ALSO THERE IS THAT SPIKE IN ENERGY AND CAPACITY PRICES.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE BAD.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY BAD.

WE HAVE NOT DONE THE MATH COMPLETELY BUT IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT CAN BE AROUND $40 A MONTH INCREASE.

CLOSE TO $500 MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MOREOVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

IT'S VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT.

>> WE ARE SEEING ENERGY ISSUES POP-UP IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR.

YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP SAYING THAT MAJOR LAW SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE TO EARLIER RETURN TO REGULATORS THEIR ABILITY TO KEEP DOWN RATES.

ALSO YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS ACCUSING GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE SPIKE IN COSTS BY GIVING GAS AND COAL POWERED -- COAL POWERED PLANTS DEADLINES TO SHUTTER.

MITCHELL SAYS THAT COAL PLANTS HAD BEEN PHASING OUT LONG BEFORE THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY LAW.

>> WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ENERGY OF THE FUTURE AND MY HOPE IS MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS SOME OF WHOM VOTE FOR THE BILL WILL BE ENCOURAGING DEVELOPERS TO START PLANNING FOR THAT.

>> IT WILL TAKE A LONGTIME FOR SOME OF THESE LARGE SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS TO COME ONBOARD.

AND SO IN THE INTERIM, YES, DOWN STATE HIGH ENERGY PRICES ARE EXPECTED AND YOU CAN, HOWEVER, ANTICIPATE IN THE SHORT-TERM FOR LAWMAKERS AND UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATES TO BE FIGHTING FOR EFFORTS TO BRING SOME RELIEF TO CONSUMERS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

WITH THAT, BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE HEAD OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE CRITICIZING BUDGET CUTS.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNVEILED THE BUDGET PROPOSAL WHICH DOES INCLUDE CUTS AT 40% OF SCHOOLS.

C.P.S.

SAYS THE CUTS ARE A RESULT OF STEEP ENROLLMENT DECLINES.

AND JOINING US IS C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ESPECIALLY AFTER A LONG BOARD MEETING TODAY.

WITH RESPECT TO SOME OF THOSE BUDGET CUTS THE ARGUMENTS FROM THE C.T.U.

IS C.P.S.

IS AWASH IN COVID RELIEF MONEY WHY NOT USE SOME OF THAT MONEY TO OFFSET CUTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ENROLLMENT HAS GONE DOWN?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

WE DID SEE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO SCHOOLS.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS, 60% BUDGETS WENT UP.

AND 90% ON A PER PUPIL SPENDING WENT UP.

THE ADJUSTMENTS WERE RELATED TO ENROLLMENT DECLINES, SIGNIFICANT DECLINES.

AND WITHIN THAT EVEN WE MADE A LOT OF RESTORATIONS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION BECAUSE I WILL TALK ABOUT THE PRIORITIES WE SET IN THE BUDGET.

WE SAW CUTS THAT REDUCTIONS WE HAD TO MAINTAIN WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR PROGRAMS IN PRESCHOOL AND DIVERSE LEARNER'S.

WHAT WE SAW THIS YEAR WAS SCHOOLS THAT -- THE WAY WE FUNDED SCHOOLS WE'VE FUNDED THEM ON THE PRIOR YEAR THE NUMBER FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

WE COULD HAVE A SCHOOL THIS YEAR HAD A REDUCTION IN THE DIVERSE LEARNER CLASSROOMS WE DON'T REDUCE THE TEACHERS DURING THE YEAR.

WHAT THAT CREATES DOWN IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD YOU COULD HAVE A SCHOOL WHO HAS MORE DIVERSE LEARNERS AND PRESCHOOLERS AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND TEACHERS.

WE MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT AT THE END OF THE YEAR SO WE CAN BE EQUITABLE.

THIS IS WHAT WE DID THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN IN THE PAST.

EVERY SCHOOL WE ADDED $290 MILLION SO EVERY SCHOOL HAS ENOUGH RESOURCES TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE INTERVENTION TEACHERS.

PARENTS ASKED ME SUPERINTENDENT C.E.O.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN MY CHILD IS STRUGGLING THERE WILL BE SUPPORT AT EVERY SCHOOL.

>> SO YOU'RE BEEFING UP THE FUNDING FOR THOSE PROGRAMS.

AND SOME CRITICS ARE SAYING IS THE PER PUPIL FUNDING METHOD THE BEST WAY TO GO?

IF ENROLLMENT DROPS SHOULD SCHOOLS AUTOMATICALLY LOSE MONEY?

>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SLOWLY SHIFTING AWAY FROM DOING SO MUCH ON A PER PUPIL BASIS.

IT'S LESS THAN HALF OF OUR BUDGET.

FOR US IT WAS A BIG STEP INVESTING THIS 290 MILLION THAT ENSURES THAT EVERY SCHOOL HAS INTERVENTION TEACHERS.

THE BIGGER THE SCHOOL THE MORE THEY HAVE AND EVERYBODY HAS THEM.

EVERYBODY HAS TEACHERS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE ARTS.

WE HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE REASONABLE CLASS SIZES.

IN THE 20s OR LESS.

AS WELL AS HAVING NO SPLIT CLASSROOMS.

WE HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.

NOW THOSE RESOURCES WILL BE IN EVERY SCHOOL.

IN ADDITION WE'VE ADDED RESORTS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

WE ARE MAKING SURE WE HAVE RESOURCES FOR THE DEVICES FOR EVERY CHILD.

THESE RESOURCES USED TO BE AN A PER PUPIL BASIS AND THE SCHOOLS WERE IN CHARGE.

WE SAID NO.

WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING DIRECTLY.

WHAT IS CONFUSING FOR AS WE HEAR SOME OF THE STORIES IS A SCHOOL MIGHT SAY I'M STILL LOSING THREE TEACHERS.

YES.

THAT IS BECAUSE MAYBE YOU WERE FUNDED FOR EIGHT TEACHERS WITH DIVERSE LEARNER'S AND WHEN WE LOOK AND ON THE PRIOR YEAR ENROLLMENT AND THIS YEAR YOU HAVE HAVE ENOUGH KIDS FOR FIVE CLASSROOMS AND WE HAVE A SCHOOL DOWN THE STREET WITH MORE DIVERSE LEARNER'S AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND THE TEACHERS.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAME UP, YOU ARE DOING AWAY WITH THE OLD SCHOOL RATING SYSTEM.

IF A SCHOOL GETS A BAD PERFORMANCE RATE TO GO CAN LEAD TO A TURNAROUND OR CLOSURE.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM?

>> WHAT WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARENTS AND STAFF IT WAS A PUNITIVE SYSTEM.

IT WAS ALMOST OVERSIMPLIFIED HAVING ONE MEASURE SO THEY YOU ARE A ONE SCHOOL, ONE PLUS OR TWO PLUS.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION FROM OUR FAMILIES TO KNOW HOW THE SCHOOL IS DOING ACADEMICALLY.

WHAT RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS ARE AT THE SCHOOLS?

DO THEY HAVE ARTS EDUCATION?

AND NOW WE KNOW WITH THE BUDGET EVERYBODY WILL HAVE AN INTERVENTION TEACHER.

HAVING A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO LOOKING AT IT SO FAMILIES CAN KNOW HERE IS WHAT EXISTS IN THIS SCHOOL AND IT'S ACADEMIC OUTCOMES AND WHAT PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AT THE SCHOOL.

>> BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A NEW SYSTEM SETUP YOU ARE WORKING ON THAT?

>> YES.

BECAUSE WHAT WE DISTRICT DID WE FIRST TOOK MOST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO GATHER FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDERS AND STAFF TO MAKE SH YOUR THAT WE REALLY HAD A VISION FOR WHAT THE SYSTEM WILL LOOK LIKE.

NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT IN THIS RESOLUTION OVERTIME NEXT FEW MONTHS WE WILL BRING THE GROUP TOGETHER AGAIN AND PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER TO PROPOSE TO THE BOARD.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT RETHINKING THE SCHOOL SAFETY PROCESS AS SEVERAL SCHOOLS HAVE VOTED TO DO AWAY WITH RESOURCE OFFICERS OR C.P.D.

OFFICERS THAT PATROL SCHOOLS.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT THAT SYSTEM?

>> AND IT'S HAPPENING, WHICH IS SCHOOLS ARE DECIDING INSTEAD OF USING POLICE OFFICERS FROM C.P.D.

WHO ARE GREAT PARTNERS OF OURS TO REKISS BEAUTY THE RESOURCES FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR COUNSELORS AND IT IS A DIFFERENT WAY TO APPROACH DISCIPLINE.

TODAY WE WERE CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT IS WELL UNDERWAY AND HAPPENING ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.

>> I WANT TO DEAL WITH COVID WE ARE SEE A RISE IN CASES.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT HOTSPOTS IN C.P.S.

SCHOOLS?

>> PARIS, THE GOOD NEWS IS EVEN THOUGH CASES ARE RISING IN THE CITY AND IT STARTS IN THE CITY AND FALLS INTO THE SCHOOLS WE ARE SEEING LOCATIONS.

OUR POSITIVITY RATES ARE LOW AND WE'RE SEEING MILD CONDITIONS.

SO ANY OF OUR STAFF OR STUDENTS, IT'S MORE LIKE A MILD COLD.

THEY ARE IN QUARANTINE FOR FIVE DAYS.

IF THEY ARE A CLOSE CONTACT WE BRING THEM IN BY THE SIXTH DAY.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL GIVE US ALARM.

WE KEEP WATCHING WE ARE AT A LOW RISK IN THE CITY.

WE ENCOURAGE VACCINATIONS WE HAVE SCHOOLS WITH LOW VACCINATION RATES AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE EVENTS TARGETED AT THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> AND SCHOOLS HAVE GONE MASK OPTIONAL AND IT DREW THE IRE OF C.T.U.

THERE HAD TO BE AGREEMENT BEFORE MASKS WENT AWAY AND THEY FILED A LABOR COMPLAINT.

DID IT VIOLATE THAT AGREEMENT?

>> PARIS, WHAT SAID WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY INDIVIDUALS GOING MASK OPTIONAL YOU MIGHT BE VACCINATED YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF COMFORT.

AND SO WHAT I'VE SEEN IN OUR SCHOOLS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS CONTINUE TO WEAR THE MASK.

LET'S RESPECT THEIR CHOICE.

AND OUR VACCINATION RATES ARE EXCEEDING THE NATIONAL AVERAGES ACROSS 5-11 AND AND 12 AND UP.

AND WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE UNVACCINATED.

AGAIN WE ARE GIVING THE OPTIONS TO FAMILIES.

WE FEEL RIGHT NOW THAT IS WHERE THE SCIENCE IS AT.

AND WE WANT TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

>> A LOT TO JUGGLE AND PEDRO MARTINEZ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> UP NEXT, A JOFFREY BALLET'S REMIX OF A CLASSIC AMERICAN NOVEL.

WE SHARE A PREVIEW RIGHT AFTER THIS.

AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM AND THEIR TAKE ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>> FIRST, A NEW TAKE ON A CLASSIC PIECE OF LITERATURE.

THE JOFFREY BALLET IS FOCUSING ON JOHN STEINBECK'S "OF MICE AND MEN" IT IS A STORY THAT ENDS IN TRAGEDY BUT THE ARTISTS HOPE TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU HAS THE STORY.

>> I GUESS IT'S FEELING.

YOU KNOW AND MUSIC IS FEELING AT ITS BEST.

>> AMONG THOSE FEELINGS SITS SMALL BITS OF UNCERTAINTY FOR COMPOSER THOMAS NEWMAN AS HE TAKES ON THE ROLE COMPOSING MUSIC FOR THE JOFFREY BALLET'S "OF MICE AND MEN".

>> THIS NARRATIVE BALLET WHICH I NEVER PONDERED WHAT IS IT TO TELL A STORY WITH MUSIC AND BODY MOVEMENT AND WHAT IS NECESSARY IN MUSIC TO TELL THE STORY.

>> IT WAS IN COLLABORATION WITH CHOREOGRAPHER CATHY MARSTON THEY FOUND THEMSELVES MINDING THE INTERPRETATIONS BY AUTHOR JOHN STEINBECK.

THIS STORY BEGINS AT THE END.

>> DOUBLE GEORGE SO THEY ARE TWO GEORGES ONE WHO IS THE ONE REMEMBERING AND WISHING HE COULD CHANGE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

AND THEN THERE'S THE GEORGE THAT IS LIVING WHAT HAPPENED.

THE CHALLENGE WAS TO MAKE THAT READABLE IN DANCE.

BUT YOU CAN DO IT IN DANCE WHERE I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT INrd WORDS N DANCE YOU CAN SAY MULTIPLE THINGS AT THE SAME TIME AND WORDS IT'S ONE THING AT A TIME.

>> XAVIER NUNEZ WHO PLAYS GEORGE SAYS THROUGH MARCH TON'S MOVEMENT HE CONVEYED A MESSAGE FROM THE BOOK.

>> WHAT I TOOK AWAY WAS THE TRAGEDY AND THIS TIME AROUND IT'S BEEN MORE ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GEORGE AND LENNY AND THE FACT THAT GEORGE IS HIS CARETAKER MIGHT FEEL HE HAS A BURDEN BUT IN THE END HE LIKE STILL DOESN'T GIVE UP ON LENNY.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WITH LENNY.

HE STICKS WITH HIM.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE END, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT'S OUT OF LOVE.

>> WHEN ASKED HOW HE FELT HIS STYLE HAD BEEN CONVEYED IN THIS ADAPTATION, NEWMAN RECALLS ONE OF THE FAVORITE MOMENTS IN THE BALLET.

>> MOMENTS I FEEL LIKE I'M EXPRESSING SOMETHING THAT HAS DRAMATIC ACUITY AND GETS SOMEPLACE OR ADVANCES DRAMA IT IS AN EXCITING FEELING.

MUSIC JUST DELIGHTS ME.

THE ENVIRONMENT OF IT.

THE WHIMSY OF IT OF WORKING WITH MUSICIANS AND DANCERS IT'S REMARKABLE.

>> THE SCENE IS CALLED FAT OF THE LAND LENNY AND GEORGE'S WISH FOR A HOME.

I LIKE THAT THEME.

I LIKE HOW IT ROLLS FORWARD.

AND THAT IT HAS TENDERNESS AND A SENSE OF ROLLING FORWARD.

>> IT'S THIS MOMENTUM THAT MARSTON SAYS ALLOWED HER TO PROPEL THE STORY'S TAKEAWAY, THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP.

>> THE END WHICH IS THE TRIO BETWEEN THE TWO GEORGES OF LENNY ONE SIDE OF GEORGE WANTS TO SAVE HIS FRIEND BY KILLING HIM.

AND THE OTHER SIDE WANTS TO SAVE HIS FRIEND BY NOT KILLING HIM.

THAT DREADFUL DILEMMA THAT WAS THE EMOTIONAL CLIMAX OF THE BALLET AND THE STORY.

I PUSHED THOMAS TO BREAK MY HEART EVEN MORE.

>> SEEING ALL THE LONELY ALIENATED CHARACTERS AND SEEING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN LENNY AND GEORGE THE STORY IS HEARTBREAKING BUT THE RELATIONSHIP IS HEARTWARMING AND I HOPE PEOPLE GO AWAY WITH BOTH OF THOSE FEELINGS ALIVE FEELING WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN AND PERHAPS FEELING A LITTLE BIT MORE EMPATHETIC.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND "OF MICE AND MEN" PREMIERS TONIGHT AT LYRIC OPERA AND RUNS THROUGH MAY 8.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AND ITS IMPACT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.

A PEDIATRIC SURGEON WEIGHS IN.

>> AND A CITY EMPLOYEE HIRED BY JIM GARDINER IS ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY SELLING A MACHINE GUN WHILE ON THE JOB.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> MORE THAN 90,000 CHICAGOANS APPLIED TO BE PART OF THE INCOME PILOT PROGRAM DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS OF APPLICATIONS BEING OPENED.

THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDED 31 MILLION TO SEND 5,000 CHICAGO FAMILIES $500 A MONTH FOR A YEAR.

TO BE ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS MUST LIVE IN CHICAGO BE 18 YEARS OLD, HAVE EXPERIENCED HARDSHIP DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND LIVE IN A HOUSEHOLD THAT EARNS NO MORE THAN 250% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE MAY 13TH.

COOK COUNTY HAS LAUNCHED A CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BIGGER THAN THE CITY'S AT $42 MILLION.

YOU CAN READ MORE OF WHAT THE MAYOR HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE CITY'S PROGRAM ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> EFFORTS TO STILL THE STATE'S TEACHER SHORTAGE ARE GETTING ANOTHER BOOST THIS WEEK.

>> AS WE LOOK FORWARD, WE MUST CONTINUE TO ROOT OUR EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE TEACHING PROFESSION AND EQUITY BECAUSE NOT ALL SCHOOLS AND NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING TEACHER STAFFING ISSUES IN THE SAME WAY.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING THE PIPELINE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND BILINGUAL EDUCATION.

SUPPORTING EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE FEWEST RESOURCES.

AND BUILDING LOCAL PIPELINES OF TALENT AND HIGH NEED AREAS.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER SIGNED.

>> LAW A SERIES OF BILLS AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE TEACHER SHORTAGE THEY INCLUDE REDUCING THE PENALTY FEE TO REINSTATE A LAPSED TEACHING LICENSE FROM $500 TO $50 WHICH SUPPORTERS SAY WOULD ALLOW RETIRED TEACHERS TO RENEW AND RETURN TO CLASSROOMS.

ANOTHER ALLOWS CURRENTLY ENROLLED TEAMING STUDENTS TO GET A SUBSTITUTE TEACHING LICENSE.

ONE OF THE BILLS ALLOWS SHORT-TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS TO SPEND 15 DAYS IN THE SAME CLASSROOM INSTEAD OF THE FIVE DAYS.

AND A FOURTH BILL REDUCE MINIMUM AGE FROM 19 TO 18 YEARS OLD.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE SAY IT'S INSTALLING MORE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS ON CHICAGO AREA EXPRESSWAYS TO AID IN INVESTIGATIONS AND ARRESTS IN COOK COUNTY.

IN THIS SECOND PHASE OF A $12 MILLION GRANT, THE 56 LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE GOING UP ON INTERSTATES 90, 290, 55 AND 57.

ISP SAYS THERE ARE ALREADY 99 COVERING THE DAN RYAN EXPRESS WAKES.

AS OF LAST WEEK THERE WERE 55 EXPRESSWAY SHOOTINGS REPORTED IN COOK COUNTY DOWN FROM 66 DURING THIS SAME TIME PERIOD IN 2021.

>> A PATCHWORK CHILDCARE SYSTEM, AND STRESSED PARENTS A BOOK ARGUES THE MODEL OF RAISING CHILDREN IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST FOR KIDS' BRAIN DEVELOP MANY.

THE AUTHOR WRITES SOCIETY SHOULD GIVE ALL PARENTS MORE TIME AND TOOLS TO OPTIMIZE THE GROWTH OF YOUNG MINDS.

THE BOOK IS CALLED "PARENT NATION" UNLOOKING EVERY CHILD'S POTENTIAL FULFILLING SOCIETY'S PROMISE AND WE ARE JOINED BY THE AUTHOR Dr. DANA SUSKIND THE FOUNDER AND CODIRECTOR OF TMW CENTER FOR EARLY LEARNING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND A PEDIATRIC SURGEON.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW DID YOU GET FROM THE WORK THAT DO YOU AT TMW CENTER AND WRITING 30 MILLION WORDS TO WRITING THIS BOOK, PARENT NATION?

>> IT WAS VERY MUCH A NATURAL EXTENSION.

30 MILLION WORDS BY FIRST BOOK EXPLORED THROUGH THE LENS OF LANGUAGE HOW EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS AND HOW POWERFUL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ARE FOR BUILDING A CHILD'S BRAIN.

I WROTE THIS BOOK HOPING SEEING THE PARENTS EMBRACED IT AND HOPING SOCIETY WOULD TAKE NOTICE AND PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES.

BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THIS BOOK TAKES THE SAME BRAIN SCIENCE AND INSTEAD OF SAYING WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL BROADENS THE LENS AND SAYS IF WE KNOW ALL THIS TO BE TRUE WHAT CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE HEALTHY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT PARENTS NEED IN TERMS OF SUPPORT WHAT DOES A SOCIETY LOOK LIKE THAT IS CENTERED ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THEIR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND YOU WRITE THAT IDEA THAT NOTION OF SORT OF CENTRALIZING HEALTHY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN SHOULD BE A NORTH STAR THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOWARDS WHAT SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS EXIST WITHIN SOCIETY THAT CREATE THE OBSTACLES FOR PARENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IF ANYTHING COVID SHINED A LIGHT JUST ON HOW BROKEN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE TODAY.

OBVIOUSLY FAMILIES FROM LOW INCOME BACKGROUNDS WOULD MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PARENT.

I SAY ALMOST EVERY PARENT I'VE SPOKEN TO, PARENTS ESPECIALLY OF YOUNG CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

BECAUSE WE ALMOST INVEST NOTHING IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SPACE AND IT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

>> TO THAT POINT, YOU WRITE ABOUT HOW IN THE 60s, 1968 WAS A PIVOTAL TIME WITH THE COUNTRY FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, MADE LOTS OF ADVANCEMENTS DID NOT HAPPEN FOR PARENTS.

IT ALMOST DID AND YOU WRITE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

HOW IS RIGHT NOW TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC, THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOUR BOOK AND FOR SOCIETY TO RETHINK THE SUPPORTS THAT PARENTS HAVE?

>> YEAH, NO DOUBT WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS.

AS I MENTIONED, COVID SHINED A LIGHT.

WE HAVE ALL WOKEN UP TO THE FACT THAT NONE OF US PARENT ALONE.

ONLY PARENTS PARENT THEIR CHILDREN BUT WE DON'T DO IT IN A VACUUM.

AND SOCIETAL AND COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS ARE CRITICAL TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

THIS MOMENT IN TIME IS NOT NOW WHEN?

BUT WE NEED TO PUSH FORWARD AND GET UNSTUCK BECAUSE CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT THIS NOTION OF AMERICAN NOTION OF INDIVIDUALITY AND FREEDOM OF CHOICE TO MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES OF COURSE AS PARENTS BUT HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE SUPPORT THAT PARENTS THAT YOU WRITE PARENTS NEED?

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW IN THIS COUNTRY, THE IDEA OF PARENTAL CHOICE IS SACK ROW SAINT AS IT SHOULD BE.

PARENTS DESERVE THE CHOICE IN HOW THEY WANT TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN.

IN THIS COUNTRY WE GIVE PARENTS NO CHOICE WHETHER THEY WANT TO STAY HOME OR WHETHER THEY WANT TO WORK OUR SOCIETAL STRUCTURES HAVE MADE IT AN IMPOSSIBILITY SO OFTEN FOR PARENTS TO PARENT THE WAY THEY WANT.

AND THIS IS A -- WE ARE A REAL OUTLIER.

ALMOST ANY OTHER COUNTRY THE FACT THAT HAS MORE SOCIETAL INVESTMENT IN FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, I THINK AS OPPOSED TO 38 DEVELOPED NATIONS IS THE BEST INDICATORS THAT WE DON'T INVEST.

>> WHAT ARE SUPPORTS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE, YOU MENTIONED PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE WHAT ARE OTHER SUPPORTS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE THAT WE DON'T?

>> OTHER THAN PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, IN OTHER COUNTRIES THE AVERAGE OF NUMBER OF DEVELOPED NATIONS IS ABOUT 14,000 DOLLARS INVESTED PER YEAR IN CHILDCARE FOR TODDLERS.

THIS IS NOT EVEN NORWAY WHICH IS 29,000.

IN OUR COUNTRY WE COME IN AT $500 PER YEAR.

WE DON'T INVEST IN THOSE EARLY YEARS.

THERE ARE I CAN GO ON AND ON.

BUT AT EVERY POINT WE HAVE VERY LITTLE INVESTMENT.

>> AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS IF PARENTS GET THIS SUPPORT?

BECAUSE SOME MIGHT SAY YOU GET THE CHILDCARE YOU CAN AFFORD WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THIS INVESTMENT?

>> WELL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW.

SO ANCHORING ON CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN OF TODAY THEY ARE HEALTHY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT THEIR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM INDIVIDUALLY BUT OUR SOCIETY IS GOING TO BE MADE OF THESE CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE CITIZENS WHO CONTINUE ON THE OUR PATH.

BUT EVEN FOR TODAY IT'S CLEAR THAT THE LACK OF HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE, THE LACK OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON OUR ECONOMY.

THE GREAT RESIGNATION IS WOMEN LEADING THE WAY CHILDCARE IS A HUGE ISSUE.

THE LACK OF HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE.

I COULD GO ON.

FERTILITY RATES ARE FALLING.

WE ARE NOT REPLACING OURSELVES.

BECAUSE OF THE LACK ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS IS THE LACK OF SOCIETAL SUPPORT FOR YOUNG FAMILIES.

SO IF WE WANT OUR CIVILIZATION TO GO ON WE NEED TO INVEST.

>> DANA HOW DOES YOUR PERSON STORY FACTOR INTO THIS BOOK?

>> WELL THERE'S THE STORY OF ME AS A PHYSICIAN AND WANTING TO DO RIGHT BY ALL MY CHILDREN AND MY FAMILIES THAT I CARE FOR.

AND JUST SEEING THAT YOU CAN BE A PHYSICIAN AND TAKE CARE OF FAMILIES, BUT WHEN SOCIETY MAKES IT SO HARD ON PARENTS TO DO WHAT THEY ALL WANT TO DO, IT IS YOUR CALLING AS A PHYSICIAN TO CONTINUE ON THAT JOURNEY.

FOR ME AS A MOTHER AND A CONCERNED CITIZEN AND SOMEONE WHO HAS DEALT WITH SEEING HOW DIFFICULT LOSS CAN BE.

I LOST MY FIRST HUSBAND WHEN MY CHILD WERE RELATIVELY YOUNG.

AND SEEING HOW IMPORTANT COMMUNITY AND SOCIETAL SUPPORT IS TO ALLOW ALL OF US TO PARENT THE WAY WE ALL WANT TO PARENT HELPED SORT OF PUSH ME FORWARD IN WRITING THIS BOOK AS WELL.

>> YOU ALSO PROVIDE RESOURCES IN THIS BOOK FOR PARENTS IF THEY WANT TO RISE UP AND ASK FOR SOMETHING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I SAY PARENT NATION IS A LOVE LETTER TO PARENTS TO GIVE THEMSELVES GRACE.

BUT I ALSO ONE OF MY HOPES AND DREAMS FROM THIS BOOK AND THE IDEAS IN THE BOOK IS THAT THEY WILL NOT ONLY SEE THAT NONE OF US PARENT ALONE BUT THAT WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WE REALIZE.

AND WHAT IS PUT OUT IN THE MEDIA.

THE LOVE OF OUR CHILDREN AND WANTING THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN IT IS A UNIVERSAL.

IF WE FIND THAT IS THE COMMONALITY AND COME TONIGHT AND START ALIGNING OUR SOCIETAL VALUES WITH WHAT WE DO IT CAN BE A GAME-CHANGER.

ON OUR WEBSITE OF PARENT NATION.ORG THERE ARE DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES TO ALLOW GROUPS OF PARENTS TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR JUST FIND COMMUNITY.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED FOR PEOPLE TO GO ON THERE AND USE ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT MY INCREDIBLE COLLEAGUES CREATED WITH ME.

>> AND CONGRATS ON THE BOOK AGAIN THANK YOU Dr. DANA SUSKIND FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS.

>> THE BOOK IS CALLED PARENT NATION UNLOCKING EVERY CHILD'S POTENTIAL FULFILLING SOCIETY'S PROMISE.

AND YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE.

UP NEXT OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> A WARD SUPERINTENDENT IS ARRESTED FOR AN ALLEGEDLY ILLEGAL GUN SALE.

THE FINALISTS FOR A CITY CASINO ARE ASKED TO PUT UP BIG MONEY UP FRONT.

ALL THAT AND MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

WELCOME BACK TO AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS 45TH WARD SUPERINTENDENT ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SELLING A MACHINE GUN.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS STORY.

>> HE IS CHARLES SIKANICH THE RIGHT HAND MAN OF JIM GARDINER AND CHARGED WITH POSSESSING THIS WEAPON AND TRYING TO SELL THIS MACHINE GUN ON CITY TIME.

NOW, WHILE CHARLES SIKANICH WILL SAY IN HIS DEFENSE IS THAT THIS WAS AN ANTIQUE AND BELONGED TO HIS GRANDFATHER AND TRIED TO SELL IT AS AN ANTIQUE.

BUT IT WAS EASILY CONVERTIBLE TO BE ABLE TO BE USED.

FROM WHAT WE REPORTED HIS HOUSE WAS RAIDED BY FEDERAL AGENTS AND THEY RECOVERED MULTIPLE WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION AND THIS IS INTRIGUING BECAUSE WE AND THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" REPORTED THAT ALDERMAN GARDINER IS UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.

WHAT THAT SAYS IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT GETTING CHARLES SIKANICH TO COOPERATE IN THAT INVESTIGATION.

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT BROUGHT THE CHARGES THE FEDS ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THIS CASE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT GARDINER HIMSELF SPENT $75,000 IN CAMPAIGN MONEY OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS TO A LAW FIRM LOEB AND LOEB AND AN ATTORNEY JOE DUFFY AND THAT ATTORNEY IS WORKING ON THE CASE OF ED BURKE.

IN HIS OWN CORRUPTION CASE.

GETTING BACK TO CHARLES SIKANICH THE CHARGES HE IS FACING POSSIBLE JAIL TIME AND THAT IS A WAY FOR FEDERAL AGENTS TO TURN UP THE PRESSURE TO COOPERATE IN WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING INTO WITH REGARD TO GARDINER.

>> AND SAY THAT ALDERMAN GARDINER CAME LATE TO TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND LEFT EARLY WHICH DID NOT GIVE ME A CHANCE TO ASK HIM FOR A RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THE FORMER INSPECTOR GENERAL JOSEPH FERGUSON SAYS IT'S INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE ALDERPEOPLE TO HIRE THE SUPERINTENDENTS.

AND IT'S WORTH MENTIONING CHARLES SIKANICH STILL ON THE CITY'S PAYROLL MAKING MORE THAN $100,000 EVERY YEAR.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND GARDINER AND CHARLES SIKANICH ARE FACING A LAWSUIT FROM A FORMER RESIDENT.

GARDINER'S LEGAL BILLS ARE MOUNTING UP.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> THIS LAWSUIT FROM THAT FORMER RESIDENT ALLEGES THAT CHARLES SIKANICH WITH THE BLESSING OF GARDINER FILED A FALSE POLICE REPORT AGAINST HIM.

WHAT HE SAYS THAT HE FOUND HIS CELLPHONE AT THE CONVENIENCE WITH THE INTENT TO RETURN IT AND FIND THE OWNER.

CHARLES SIKANICH CLAIMED THE PHONE WAS STOLEN AND ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, THEY FILED THIS FALSE POLICE REPORT AND THEY WENT IN TO HIS HOUSE AND KIND OF TRIED TO MESS WITH HIM.

SO THAT FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT RELATED TO WHAT THE FEDS ARE LOOKING INTO HERE.

WITH RESPECT TO CHARLES SIKANICH IT'S THE POSSESSION OF THE WEAPONS AND THE ALLEGED TRYING TO SELL THIS WEAPON AND WITH RESPECT TO GARDINER, IT'S UNRELATED TO WEAPONS.

IT'S ABOUT POSSIBLE BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION ISSUES IN THE 45TH WARD.

AS WE MENTIONED LEGAL BILLS MOUNTING AND IT'S UNUSUAL TO SEE PUBLIC OFFICIALS SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY ON LEGAL BILLS WHEN THERE IS NOT AN INDICTMENT THAT WE KNOW OF.

>> AND HEATHER WE HEARD ABOUT THE WARD REMAP PROCESS AND BASED ON WHAT JASON ERVIN TOLD US HERE ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IT SEEMS A DEAL BETWEEN THE BLACK AND LATINO CAUCUSES REMAINS ELUSIVE.

>> I'M HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE DO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND COME TO A RATIONAL CONCLUSION.

THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE CITY WILL NOT LIVE ON ITS KNEES.

SUPPORTERS OF THE MAP BACKED BY THE LATINO CAUCUS PLANNED TO TURN THE MEETING INTO A SHOWDOWN THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

WHAT DID, WHY NOT?

>> WELL, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES.

AND I THINK ALDERMAN ERVIN'S COMMENTS LEAVE US IN THE SAME PLACE WE WERE IN DECEMBER, THE SAME PLACE WE WERE IN OCTOBER.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU SIMPLY DO NOT CREATE A WARD MAP IN CHICAGO BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORY OF SEGDATION THAT HAS -- SEGREGATION WITH 16 MAJORITY BLACK VOTERS AND 16 WITH LATINO VOTERS IT IS NOT BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THE MASS AND GEOGRAPHY.

AND THAT IS WHAT WILL BE PUT TO THE VOTERS IN FAY CAN'T COME TO A COMPROMISE IN THE NEXT 20 DAYS.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY FRAUGHT, HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE WORRIED WILL PROVE RACIALLY DIVISIVE AND POLARIZING.

>> DOES IT MEAN A COMPROMISE THAT WOULD AVERT A REFERENDUM IS LESS LIKELY?

>> IT DOES.

AND I THINK WE GOT A GLIMPSE WITH ALDERMAN NICOLE LEE SHE BACKED THE MAP SUPPORTED BY THE BLACK CAUCUS.

THOSE MAPS THE MAP SUPPORTED BY THE LATINO CAUCUS AND THE BLACK CAUCUS WOULD TURN THE 11TH WARD INTO CHICAGO'S FIRST WARD WITH THE MAJORITY OF ASIAN-AMERICAN VOTERS.

SHE HAS NOT SAID IF SHE WILL SEEK A FULL TERM.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE.

THAT TELLS YOU WHERE PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS BATTLE IS GOING.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON TO PICK A SIDE IF YOU THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A COMPROMISE.

>> MOVING TO ETHICS ALDERPERSON MICHELLE SMITH INTRODUCED AN ETHICS ORDINANCE WHAT WOULD IT DO AND DOES IT HAVE THE SUPPORT IT NEEDS TO PASS?

>> IT INCREASES FINES FOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS FOR ALDERPEOPLE FROM $5,000 TO $20,000.

AND PROVIDES MONEY FOR THE TO DO ITS JOB AND BASED ON THE ALDERPEOPLE THEY SAID WELL, THEY LIKE THE PRINCIPLE OF THIS, I LIKE THE IDEA BUT, LET'S SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

IT SAYS TO ME THEY ARE IN NO HURRY TO MOVE ON IT.

$20,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF THEIR CAMPAIGN COFFERS BECAUSE THEY CAN USE CAMPAIGN MONEY TO PAY THEIR LEGAL BILLS.

AND HEATHER WAS THERE TODAY.

DIDN'T SEEM TO GO ANYWHERE?

>> IT DIDN'T.

IT DIDN'T ADVANCE AND THAT WAS A SURPRISE TO ALDERMAN SMITH.

IT SHOWS YOU LIKE THE CLICHE IS CHICAGO READY FOR REFORM?

MAYBE.

MAYBE NOT.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE MAYOR'S POSITION ON THIS?

>> WHEN I SPOKE WITH ALDERMAN SMITH I ASKED DO YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR AND SHE SAYS SHE DID.

IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS SO THOSE ARE TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO HAVE.

WHETHER THE MAYOR WILL LAUNCH A PUSH FOR THIS ORDINANCE WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT NEED THAT IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

BECAUSE WE ARE IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

NONE OF THESE QUESTIONS OR ISSUES ARE EASY AND ALL WILL COST CAPITAL IN THIS YEAR.

>> OF COURSE ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR HER TO WANT SOMETHING PASSED LIKE THIS.

ETHICS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN RUN ON PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSPARENT, CRIMES, WHAT ELSE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AENGLISHED TO SAY LOOK I STRENGTHENED ETHICS ORDINANCES.

>> THE BRAND IS BEATING UP ALDERPEOPLE AND WHAT A BETTER WAY TO DO THAT BY INCREASING MONEY THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR DOING WRONG.

>> THERE'S THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO GO AFTER GANG PROFITS.

IT IS STILL STALLED.

WHAT IS HOLDING THIS UP?

>> THERE'S JUST NOT 26 VOTES.

AND THIS HAS BEEN ON THE TABLE FOR NEARLY SEVEN MONTHS AT THIS POINT.

AND NOBODY IS QUITE SURE WHAT THE MAYOR CAN DO TO GET IT TO PASS THE CITY COUNCIL.

I THINK THE FACT THAT HER GAS CARD AND CTA PASS GIVEAWAY PASSED BY ONE VOTE TODAY SHOWS YOU JUST HOW STRONGLY THE MAYOR IS STRUGGLING WITH WINNING SUPPORT ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

MANY PEOPLE I TALKED TO TODAY SAY IT'S DEAD.

I SHOULD NOTE I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT THOUGHT ABOUT TODAY'S MEETING.

SHE LEFT HALFWAY THROUGH THE MEETING TO GO TO WASHINGTON D.C. FOR A MEETING WITH OTHER MAYORS.

SHE DID NOT HOLD HER PRESS CONFERENCE.

YOU GUYS WILL HAVE TO STAY TUNED.

>> UNTIL THE NEXT ONE.

LAST WEEKEND THE MER KURE HIT THE 80s AND THE MOST VIOLENT WEEKEND OF THE YEAR ENSUED.

PARIS, HOW SECURE IS SUPERINTENDENT BROWN IN HIS POSITION RIGHT NOW?

>> GOING BACK TO THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR IS UP FOR REELECTION AND THE BROWN IS TIED TO BROWN, HE WAS HER CHOICE.

I WOULD ASSUME IT IS SAFE BARRING A DISASTER.

IF YOU SPEAK TO ALDERPEOPLE THEY ARE NONE TOO HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS HAVE GONE.

LAST WEEKEND THEY PLANT WANT A PLAN FOR THE WARMER MONTHS.

THE VIOLENCE AND GROUPS OF FOLKS CAUSING TROUBLE ON MICHIGAN AVENUE ON STATE STREET.

IF THAT HAPPENS OVER THE SUMMER THAT IS GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF ALDERPEOPLE UPSET.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S TENSION WHERE THERE IS A DEMAND FOR ACTION FOR CHANGE, FOR SOMETHING, OF COURSE, PEOPLE WANT THE CRIME STOPPED AND ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME CALLS FOR CHANGE THERE'S A CRITICISM THAT BROWN HAS TOO QUICKLY AND TOO OFTEN CHANGED THE PLANS.

AND THAT BY CONSTANTLY DECIDE MOVING OFFICERS FROM ONE TACTIC TO ANOTHER TO FIGHT CRIME THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY SORT OF LASTING OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GO AT IT SEE WHAT WORKS AND SEE WHAT ISN'T AND THAT IS A FRUSTRATION FOR OFFICERS AS WELL.

>> WHAT ABOUT ALDERPEOPLE?

DOES BROWN HAVE THEIR SUPPORT?

>> IT'S HARD TO TELL.

NOBODY IS CALLING FOR HIS FIRING.

ALTHOUGH ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE MAYOR SAID THE FIRST THING HE WOULD DO IS TO FIRE BROWN AND THE SUPPORT FOR BROWN ON THE COUNCIL IS RELATIVELY SHALLOW BECAUSE THESE ALDERPEOPLE KNOW THAT THEIR REELECTION HINGES ON THE SUMMER REMAINING PEACEFUL AND NOT AS VIOLENT IN YEARS PAST.

ONE NOTE WE ARE APPROACHING CREATING A NEW CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR THE POLICE.

WE GOT NOMINEES TODAY AND THAT BOARD WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO ISSUE A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE SUPERINTENDENT WHICH I THINK WILL CHANGE THE DYNAMIC AT CITY HALL.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CASINO BEFORE WE MOVE ON.

WE HEARD THAT THE MAYOR IS ASKING THE THREE FINALISTS BIDDING TO GET THE CASINO LICENSE TO PAY AS MUCH AS $75 MILLION UP FRONT.

WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE FOR?

>> THE MAYOR WANTS TO BE ABLE TO SAY LOOK, I BROUGHT A CASINO TO CHICAGO.

IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS IN THE WORKS.

I GOT IT DONE AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT THEY ARE PAYING US HANDSOMELY FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE SO WE CAN BANK THAT MONEY AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE CITY'S BUDGET IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR BUT IF IT IS DRENCHED RED INK IT CAN HELP DEFRAY THE FIRE AND POLICE PENSIONS THE CITY WILL BE STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIFETIMES.

>> BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION WITH ALDERMEN LAST NIGHT, IT SEEMS THERE IS A LOT OF OPPOSITION.

TACK A LOOK.

>> THIS IS A UNION TOWN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKING FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE WORKING AT THIS PROJECTS AND IF IT IS NOT UNION IT IS A NO GO FOR ME.

>> ABOUT 80% OF THE RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED.

IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE.

I CANNOT SWIM SUCH A TIDE OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M NOT GOING TO.

>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER TWO ON THE TABLE BUT THE HARD ROCK IN MY COMMUNITY, IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

>> PARIS S. THERE A PLAN HERE THAT WOULD SECURE A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT?

>> I AM NOT A BETTING BETTER, THERE WILL BE A WINNER BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF COUNCILMEMBERS SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A CASINO IN CHICAGO THEY DON'T WANT IT IN THEIR BACK.

IT MEANS ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE WILL NOT BE A THING.

AND IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE SWEETENERS.

LABOR FLEXED ITS MUSCLE MAKE THESE UNION JOBS MAKE THEM GOOD PAYING UNION JOBS.

THE PROPOSAL THAT DOES THAT WILL SAY WE HAVE 200 UNION CARD THAT DO THE BLACK JACK -- ALDERPEOPLE LISTEN TO LABOR AND THAT MIGHT GET A LOT OF PEOPLE ONBOARD.

I WOULD PREDICT SOMETHING WILL WIN THE DAY.

EVEN OVER THE OPPOSITION OF THAT AREA'S ALDERPERSON.

>> THE FEDS THEY ARE INSISTING ON A JURY TRIAL FOR FOUR PEOPLE CONSPIRING TO BRIBE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN WHO IS ON TRIAL AND WHY ARE PROSECUTORS INSISTING ON A JURY TRIAL?

>> MOST SIGNIFICANTLY ON TRIAL IS MADIGAN'S BEST BUDDY DATING BACK TO DAYS IN THE HOUSE AND THAT IS MIKE McCLAIN, A LOBBIEST FOR ComEd AND MOST SIGNIFICANTLY ComEd'S FORMER AND WENT ON TO SERVE AS EXELON'S LEADER THAT IS IN THE MAJORITY.

THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE TRIAL THAT EVENTUALLY MICHAEL MADIGAN HIMSELF WILL BE ON THE FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER BUT IT IS CERTAINLY RELATED THIS BRIBERY SCHEME WHICH THEY ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONSPIRED TO REALLY USE THEIR RESOURCES BE IT BOARD POSITIONS OR OTHER JOBS INCLUDING SOMEWHERE NOBODY HAD TO SHOW UP IN ORDER TO CURRY FAVOR WITH MADIGAN WHILE HE WAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BOOST ComEd'S PROFITS.

YOU HAD THEIR ATTORNEYS REQUESTING A BENCH TRIAL YOU DO NOT SEE A LOT OF.

AND THAT SAYS THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE HEADLINES.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE LOVE ComEd THEIR UTILITY YOU THINK OF PAYING YOUR ELECTRIC BILL AND THE NOTION OF A LOBBYIST THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SITS WELL WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND ENERGY STUFF IS COMPLICATED.

WHY YOU HAD THE DEFENDANTS SEEKING A TRIAL INSTEAD DETERMINED BY A JUDGE RATHER THAN JURORS.

BUT YOU HAD PROSECUTORS SAY, NO, WE WANT TO TAKE THIS AND LEAVE THIS WITH THE PEOPLE.

>> THE ISSUES OF ETHICS HAVE BEEN RAISED IN THE COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR'S RACE WITH FRITZ KAEGI BLASTING HIS MAIN OPPONENT 30 SECONDS WHAT IS THE ISSUE?

>> SO THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES IN THIS RACE.

FRITZ KAEGI IS FACING CRITICISM FOR LATE PROPERTY BILLS GOING OUT LATE AS WELL AS JUST SKYROCKETING PROPERTY BILLS.

HE LOOKS TO REDO THIS.

THE OPPONENT LEADS METROPOLITIAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT HER HUSBAND IS A LOBBIEST FOR A REAL ESTATE GROUP.

SHE SAYS HER HUSBAND WILL NOT EVER LONEBY THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WERE SHE TO WIN BUT IT'S DRAWING SKEPTICISM GIVEN PREVIOUS ETHICS ISSUES WITH THAT OFFICE THAT LEAD TO FRITZ KAEGI.

>> THANKS TO HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING U AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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