>>> HELLO, THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>>> HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE AT LEAST 700 PEOPLE THIS YEAR.

>> HEAR HOW THE CTA IS TACKLING THAT GOAL AND WHAT MAYOR-ELECT HAD TO SAY ABOUT LEADERSHIP.

>>> WE ARE AWARE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH.

WE ARE ALSO KNOW THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO SAY WE HAVE DONE TOO MUCH.

>>> MORE MIGRANTS COULD ARRIVE IN CHICAGO.

HOW CITY LEADERS PLAN TO DEAL WITH THE INFLUX.. >>> STILL WONDERING WHY AND HOW CAN IT HAPPEN KNOWING I WAS INNOCENT.

>>> 11 MEN WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF MURDER DUE TO POLICE MISCONDUCT FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY.

>>> WITH THE 10th PICK IN THE 2023 NFL DRAFT.

THE CHICAGO BEARS SELECT DARNELL RICE.

>> BACK TO BREAK DOWN THE BEARS MOVES IN THE NFL DRAFT.

>>> A TREE THAT IS BORN WITNESS TO GENERATIONS OF CHICAGO HISTORY IS COMING DOWN.

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

ILLINOIS'S ASSAULT WEAPON'S BAN CAN NOT BE ENFORCED FOR AN HOUR FROM A FEDERAL JUDGE IN ILLINOIS'S SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

THE JUDGE SIDED WITH FIREARMS DEALERS WHO SAY IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT PROHIBITS THE SALE OF POPULAR GUNS.

TODAY'S OPINION IS OPPOSITE IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT.

AN APPEALS DISTRICT TAKES UP THE MATTER NEXT.

THE LAW PASSED IN THE WAKE OF THE JULY 4th MASSACRE IT FORBIDS THE SALE OF GUNS.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE HAVE 23 NEW TROOP REARS TODAY.

IT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TROOPERS ADDED IN 2019.

IT IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN THE AGENT'S HISTORY ALLOWING FOR 300 TROOPERS.

THEY WILL BE ASSIGNED TO TROOPS AROUND THE STATE WITH 18 OF THEM ASSIGNED IN DEPLAINS.

>>> A LOCAL CIVIL RIGHTS ICON IS RECEIVING A MEMORIAL IN HER HOMETOWN.

SCHOOL LEADERS WILL UNVEIL A BRONZE STATUE OF MOTHER OF EMMITT TILL.

THE BOY LYNCHED IN 1955, GALVANIZING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THERE WILL A PODIUM WITH THE BARN THAT HE WAS KILLED AND THE FUNERAL WHERE THOUSANDS MOURNED HIM.

AT THE STATUE.

SHE ATTENDED THE HIGH SCHOOL AS A TEENAGER.

>>> UP NEXT.

CHICAGO IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE AN INFLUX OF MIGRANTS.

WE WILL HAVE THAT STORY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> THE JIM AND KAY FAMILY AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> CHICAGO IS FACING A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS BECAUSE OF A NEW SURGE OF MIGRANTS ALONG THE SOUTHERN STATE.

IMMIGRANTS BEGAN ARRIVING IN CHICAGO IN AUGUST AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE FALL.

HERE IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TODAY.

>> WE AIM TO SHOW IT IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

IT REQUIRES ACTION.

MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND COMPASSION.

>> HEATHER, WHY HAS IT REACHED A CRISIS LEVEL NOW?

>> WELL, MORE MIGRANTS STARTED ARRIVING ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO.

EVEN THOUGH IT REALLY HAS RECEDED FROM THE HEADLINES THE CITY SHELTER HAS BEEN AT CAPACITY SINCE THE SURGE IN THE FALL.

SO, WHEN THE NEW MIGRANTS STARTED ARRIVING THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO AND THEY WERE STARTING TO BE FORCED TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR IN POLICE STATIONS >> THEY RECEIVED $20 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING.

HOW MUCH MORE DOES THE CITY NEED?

>> SIGNIFICANTLY MORE.

IT WILL COST THE CITY MORE THAN $150 MILLION DOLLARS AND THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE POTENTIALLY MORE IF MORE ARRIVE.

SO, THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE HEARING WAS THE FIRST THAT LEARNED THAT THEY WILL BE ASKED TO EARMARK $53 MILLION FROM THE CITY'S SURPRISE SURPLUS TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS BECAUSE MONEY FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN COMING.

>> OKAY.

ALDERMAN LOPEZ WAS ONE OF THE MANY WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS TO HELP THESE IMMIGRANTS.

>> WE HAVE, AGAIN, MINORS IN THESE LOCATIONS.

IN A PLACE THAT IS INTIMATE.

WHAT IS A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HOUSING?

>> ON THE FLOOR OF POLICE STATIONS, AS YOU SAID, IS THERE A PLAN TO HELP THE IMMIGRANTS?

>> THERE IS NOT A PLAN.

THE CITY'S SHELTER IS AT CAPACITY.

THERE ARE 3,000 BEDS SET ASIDE FOR IMMIGRANTS ON TOP OF THE CITY'S REGULAR SHELTER SYSTEM THAT HAS 3,000 BEDS.

AS OF THIS MORNING THERE WERE FIVE BEDS AVAILABLE FOR MEN, SIX AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN AND NO BEDS AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES WHICH IS WHY THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE POLICE STATIONS ARE PRIMARILY FAMILIES WHO LITERALLY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO AND NOTHING MORE THAN THE CLOTHS ON THEIR BACKS THAT THEY TRAVELED HERE, SOMETIMES FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES.

>> HEATHER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU CAN READ HER FULL STORY ON OUR WEB SITE.

>>> UP NEXT.

THE CTA IS LOOKING TO HIRE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

WE WILL TELL YOU HOW THAT GOAL IS COMING ALONG, RIGHT AFTER THIS [MUSIC] >>> WITH THE CTA BATTLING BACK FROM A STAFFING SHORT FALL AND MAJOR SERVICE PROBLEM, MAYOR-ELECT JOHNSON IS KEEPING MUM ON THE FUTURE OF AGENCY LEADERSHIP.

THE CTA IS STILL SHORT 600 FULL TIME BUS AND RAIL OPERATORS, 350 JOB SEEKERS FILLED CTA HEADQUARTERS THIS MORNING FOR THE FIFTH JOB FAIR OF THE YEAR.

THE AGENCY IS LOOKING FOR BUS DRIVERS, MECHANICS, RAIL FLAGGERS WHO CAN ONE DAY MOVE UP TO TRAIN OPERATORS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT REPORTS, THE CTA'S PRESIDENT IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE PACE OF HIRING.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME-OUT OF YOUR DAY TO COME DOWN HERE.

>> Reporter: AS THE CTA TRIES TO REVERSE SERVICE AND STAFFING LOSSES, IT HAS BEEN PUTTING A BIG FOCUS ON HIRING.

THIS JOB FAIR IS GIVING APPLICANTS A CHANCE TO HEAR ABOUT OPEN POSITIONS, TAKE TESTS AND DO INTERVIEWS AND GET ON THE PATH TO A CTA CAREER.

>> I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I NEED ALL OF YOU.

>> Reporter: THE CTA STAFFING SHORT FALL PREDATED THE PANDEMIC AS WE HAVE REPORTED BUT COVID-19 MADE IT WORSE.

>> WE LOST A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO RETIREMENT AND RESIGNATION.

SO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO START TO REBUILD OUR WORKFORCE.

>> Reporter: CARTER SAYS THE AGENCY'S CURRENT COMPLEMENT OF BUS AND RAIL OPERATORS IS ABOUT 85% OF THE WORKFORCE IN ITS BUDGET.

>> WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING, LITERALLY, MONTHLY JOB FAIRS, THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK AT THIS JOB FAIR WE HAD 1,000 PEOPLE SIGN UP.

>> IN ADDITION TO HIRING, THE CTA IS CHANGING THE BUS AND RAIL SCHEDULES TO REFLECT THE RUNS THAT IT CAN PROVIDE, GOOD EVENING ITS WORKFORCE.

>> ACTUAL RUNS EVERY DAY IS LOWER THAN WHAT WE SAW A YEAR AGO.

IT IS MORE RELIABLE.

>> Reporter: BRANDON IS WITH THE TRANSIT ADVOUCHACE GROUP ADVOCACY.

HE ANALYZES SYSTEM-WIDE DATA SAYING THE CTA IS NOW DELIVERING 85%-90% OF PROMISED SERVICE EVERY DAY >> IT IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE SAW, YOU KNOW, BACK IN JUNE AND JULY OF 2022 AND MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT.

>> Reporter: HE IS GLAD TO SEE THE FOCUS RAIL FLAGGER JOBS?

THE MOST RECENT FAIR SINCE THAT IS THE NECESSARY ENTRY LEVEL BEFORE SOMEONE CAN BE A TRAIN OPERATOR.

>> WE ARE SEE EGG TREND DOWNWARDS IN THE NUMBER OF RAIL OPERATORS AND MORE OR LESS THE SAME NUMBER OF BUS OPERATORS IN THE NETWORK.

>> THE STAFFING CHALLENGES THAT THE CTA IS FACING ARE AN INDUSTRYWIDE PROBLEM.

THE AGENCY IS FACING ANOTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT CLEANLINESS SECURITY AND ISSUES OF HOMELESS.

>> FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASON IT IS TOUGH ENVIRONMENT.

WE CONTACTED WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND INCREASED THE PRESENCE OF SECURITY PERSONNEL AND MORE EYES AND EARS ON THE SYSTEM TO HELP REPORT CRIME AND ADDRESS ISSUES BEFORE THEY ARE MORE OF A PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: HE HAS TAKEN HIS FAIR SHARE OF HITS FROM PASSENGERS AND POLITICIANS, ASKED IN A NEWS INTERVIEW EARLIER THIS MONTH IF HE WOULD KEEP CARTER IN THE JOB, MAYOR-ELECT JOHNSON SAID.

>> I WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, WITH HIM.

I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE A PARTICULAR VISION.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO SURROUNDED MY CANDIDANCY ON MY VISION AND I WILL HEAR HIM OUT FOR HIS EXPERTISE IN THIS ROLE.

FROM THAT CONVERSATION WE WILL MAKE A DETERMINATION ON WHAT THE BEST PATHWAY FORWARD IS FOR CTA.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE RECENT DATA, CTA SAYS THEY HAVE 715 OF 839 BUDGETED FULL TIME TRAIN OPERATORS AND 3,220 OF 3,707 BUDGED FULL TIME BUS DRIVERS >> WE ARE AHEAD OF TARGET ON OUR GOAL.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE PEOPLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, BACK TO YOU.

>> SO FAR IN 2023 THE AGENCY SAYS THEY HIRED 225 NEW BUS DRIVERS AGAINST A GOAL OF 700 BY YEAR'S END.

>>> UP NEXT, BEARS FIRST DRAFT ROUND CHOICE.

STAY WITH US.

>>> THE BEARS ARE THINKING BIG IN THE NFL DRAFT.

LAST NIGHT AFTER TRADING DOWN ONE SPOT THE BEARS USED THE NUMBER 10 PICK IN THE FIRST ROUND TO DRAFT TENNESSEE 6'6, 335 POUND TACKLE DARNELL WRIGHT.

AND HERE IS JAMES WHO ALSO PLAYED OFFENSIVE TACKLE FOR THE BEARS.

ABOUT 6'6 AS WELL, I THINK.

>> I AM CLOSE.

I AM CLOSE.

YOU PLAYED FOR THE BEARS AND HOSTS A SPORTS PODCAST.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BEARS PICKING WRIGHT?

>> I LIKE IT.

I THINK THAT THERE WERE THREE TACKLES AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

JONES, THE KID FROM OHIO STATE WENT OFF THE BOARD FIRST TO ARIZONA.

AND THEN IT WAS BETWEEN THE LOCAL KID AND WRIGHT.

AND I THINK FOR WHAT THEY WANTED HE WAS THEIR GUY.

>> OKAY.

BEARS TRADED DOWN ONE SPOT, SWAPPING WITH THE EAGLES.

THE EAGLES PICKED JAYLEN CARTER WHO A FEW MONTHS AGO THOUGHT WAS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE DRAFT.

ARE YOU SURPRISED THEY DID NOT PICK CARTER?

>> NO.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THE LOCKER ROOM AND THE ORGANIZATION IS READY FOR THAT PLAYER YET.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOCKER ROOM THAT IS YOUNG.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A PLAYER LIKE THAT COMING IN AND THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT HIS MOTIVATION, CONCERNS ABOUT HIS OFF THE FIELD ANTICS, YOU NEED A LOCKER ROOM THAT IS SOLID.

THE BEARS ARE JUST STARTING TO TRY TO PUT THAT TOGETHER NOW.

SO I THINK GOING TO PHILADELPHIA WAS NOT ONLY THE BEST THING FOR PHILADELPHIA BUT IT WAS THE BEST THING FOR CARTER.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THE BEARS WANTED DARNELL WRIGHT THAN ANY OTHER PLAYER IN THE DRAFT?

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT WRIGHT?

>> HE FILLS THE NEED.

YOUR TWO BIGGEST NEEDS WERE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE LINE.

BEING ABLE TO FILL THAT RIGHT TACKLE POSITION WITH A PLAYER THAT COULD PROBABLY COME IN AND START FOR YOU RIGHT AWAY.

HE HAS A LOT OF LEARNING TO DO.

THERE ARE TECHNIQUE THINGS HE WILL HAVE TO WORK ON.

BUT IF YOU CAN GET HIM AND START GIVING HIM GAME EXPERIENCE EARLY I THINK IT WILL BENEFIT THEM IN THE LONG RUN.

>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRANSITION FROM COLLEGE TO NFL.

HOW BIG OF A LEAP IS IT AND HOW LONG UNTIL THEY GET THEIR FEET UNDER THEM.

>> THE BIGGEST THING IS COLLEGE, YOU ARE PLAYING AGAINST A GOOD PLAYER MAYBE ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES A YEAR.

NFL, YOU GOT A GUY ACROSS FROM YOU AT ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

YOU HAVE TO BE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY PREPARED TO DO WHAT YOU DID MAYBE ONE OR TWO, OR ONE OR TWO OR THREE TIMES DURING THE SEASON IN A COLLEGE SEASON, NOW YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO DO IT 17 WEEKS IN A ROW.

>> IS IT ALL ABOUT PROTECTING JUSTIN?

>> THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS ACROSS THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

YES, YOU HAVE A NICE YOUNG RIGHT TACKLE, YOU HAVE JONES WHO PLAYED WELL FOR YOU AT LEFT TACKLE LAST YEAR.

YOU BROUGHT IN DAVIS TO PLAY RIGHT GUARD.

YOUR CENTER AND YOUR LEFT GUARD POSITION ARE STILL UP IN THE AIR.

YOU HAVE CODY WHITEHAIR WHO WAS A CENTER, MOVED TO GUARD AND NOW HE IS BACK TO CENTER.

YOU HAVE TO SEE HOW ALL OF THESE THINGS PLAY OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THE LEFT GUARD SPOT?

SO, THEY STILL HAVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER BUT I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK IT OUT.

TRYING TO PUT PIECES IN PLACE SO THAT THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED SIX OR SEVEN GUYS.

YOU NEED, YOU NEED TWO GOOD BACK UPS TO GO WITH YOUR FIVE STARTERS AND THEY ARE TRYING TO PUT ALL OF THE PIECES IN PLACE.

>> SO, YOU TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THE BEARS NEEDING AN UPGRADE IN A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

THEY STILL HAVE NINE PICKS, WHAT DO YOU THINK THEIR PRIORITIES WILL BE?

>> YOU ARE STILL GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT THE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE LINE.

YOU HAVE EDMONDS AND EDWARD TO PLAY LINEBACKER.

YOU KNOW, LINEBACKER IT IS SOLID.

ONCE AGAIN, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED BACK UP PLAYERS.

NOT ONLY ARE THESE BACK UP PLAYERS GOING TO BE LINEBACKERS BUT SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS ALSO.

YOU STILL NEED ANOTHER GUY ON THE SECONDARY.

IF IT IS A CORN OR A SAFETY.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF PIECES THAT YOU STILL NEED.

YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO, FOR THE PIECES THAT YOU GOT YOU NEED BACK UPS FOR.

SO, I MEAN, THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH ALL OF THE FIXES THEY HAVE COMING UP TODAY.

>> WE HAVE 30 SECONDS HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THE BEARS AT THIS POINT?

>> I SAID AFTER THE SEASON I THOUGHT THEY WERE STILL TWO YEARS AWAY.

DEPENDING ON WHO THEY ARE ABLE TO PICK UP AND HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM THEIR FIRST YEAR, I STILL THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE ANOTHER YEAR AWAY.

I DON'T THINK THEY ARE A THREE-YEAR TEAM.

I DON'T THINK THEY WILL WIN MORE THAN THAT.

I EXPECT THE JUMP TO BE NEXT YEAR.

THE YEAR AFTER NEXT.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, YOU SAID IT.

YEAR AFTER NEXT THAT IS WHEN IT IS COMING FOR US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THERE IS MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT JUST AHEAD.

STICK AROUND [MUSIC] >>> CHICAGO POLICE DETECTIVE GAVARA WAS A PRESENCE ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE.

MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF FRAMING THEM FOR MURDERS.

COERCING FALSE CONFESSIONS AND OTHER MISCONDUCT FROM THE 1980s TO THE EARLY 200 s. SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL THROWN OUT.

WE TALK TO THREE MEN EXONERATED AND RELEASED FROM PRISON.

>> YOU SPENT 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A CRIME YOU DID NOT COMMIT.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW YOUR STORY?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WAS GRABBED AS A JUVENILE WHEN HE KIDNAPPED ME, BASICALLY.

AND, IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I REMEMBER BEING CRYING IN THE DARK CELL BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE WAS ALLOWED TO USE HIS POWER.

I WAS WONDERING WHY AND HOW CAN IT HAPPEN KNOWING I WAS INNOCENT.

SO, I JUST KNOW THERE COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE THAT IS GOING THROUGH THAT SAME THING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE IS NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT DID SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SO WE HAVE TO BRING LIGHT TO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

>> HOW OLD WERE YOU AGAIN?

>> 15 YEARS OLD.

>> JACK, YOU WON YOUR LAWSUIT, RIGHT?

AGAINST HIM AND OTHER OFFICERS OF BURYING EVIDENCE AND PRESSURING WITNESSES INTO FALSE IDENTIFICATIONS IN 2018.

HOW DID THAT HELP YOU MOVE FORWARD?

>> IT HELPED ME ESTABLISH MYSELF ON LIVING.

I HAD THREE KIDS AT THE TIME.

THEY WERE 5, 7 AND SIX MONTHS OLD.

NOW THAT THEY ARE GROWN I CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM, GIVE TO THEM WHAT THEY MISSED OUT ON.

I CAN NOT GIVE THEM BACK ME.

ALL OF THOSE YEARS THEY MISSED OUT ON.

BUT I CAN HELP THEM FINANCIALLY.

>> JOHNNY?

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE DETECTIVE IF YOU COULD LOOK HIM IN THE FACE?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHY HE CHOSE ME.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY HE CHOSE ME.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY HE CHOSE ME TO PIN A MURDER THAT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

SOMETHING HAD TO, SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING HAD TO, YOU KNOW, INSPIRE HIM OR TO SINGLE ME OUT.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT.

THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

>> TO YOU, SAME QUESTION?

>> THAT IS A POWERFUL QUESTION.

I WENT THROUGH SO MUCH.

HMM.

TO ME HE IS LIKE THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.

THAT IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD SAY TO HIM.

>> OKAY.

WE WILL END WITH THE SAME QUESTION.

>> I WOULD TELL HIM I FORGIVE HIM.

PART OF MY FAITH IS TO FORGIVE OTHERS WHO WRONGED ME.

BUT I ALSO LIKE TO TELL HIM, JUST DON'T CARRY THAT BIBLE EVERY TIME HE GOES TO COURT, START READING IT.

>>> YOU CAN SEE THAT ENTIRE RIVETTING CONVERSATION TOMORROW AT 6:00 P.M. >>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER [MUSIC] >>> LATE LAST YEAR WE TOLD YOU ABOUT A CENTURY'S OLD ATTRACTION THAT IS COMING TO AN END.

HERE IS WTTW TV NEWS WITH ANOTHER LOOK >> Reporter: RHINOS, APES, LIONS, THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT TO SE .

BUT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT GO OVERLOOKED.

>> THERE IS ONE TREE IN PARTICULAR THAT IS WORTH A LITTLE EXTRA ATTENTION.

IT IS A BURR OAK?

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS TREE?

WELL, LET'S JUST SAY IT HAS MORE THAN A FEW RINGS ON ITS TRUNK.

IT IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 250 AND 300 YEARS OLD MAKING IT THE ZOO'S OLDEST RESIDENT.

>> IT IS AMAZING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

PREDATES THE INCORPORATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> Reporter: THAT MEANS THE TREE WITNESSED A LOT OF HISTORY.

IT LIVED THROUGH THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE, THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, CHICAGO'S FIRST SKYSCRAPERS.

>> AS THE CALL LETTERS IMPLY.

IT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

>> Reporter: AND THE TREE MIGHT EVEN TUNED INTO ONE OF WTTW'S FIRST BROADCASTS.

>> MILLIONS OF PEOPLE PASSED THE TREE AND MAYBE NOT EVEN UNDER STOOD WHAT THEY WERE WALKING NEXT TO, IT IS AMAZING.

THINK OF IF THE TREE COULD TALK WHAT IT WOULD TELL US, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

>> Reporter: SHE HAS GOT SOME BAD NEWS TO SHARE.

THE BURR OAK'S DAYS ARE NUMBERED.

>> WE WERE SLIGHTLY JOKING THAT THE TEAM MIGHT NEED THE DAY OFF WHEN THE TREE COMES DOWN IT IS SAD FOR US TO SEE SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL REMOVED.

>> Reporter: ONE EVER THE FIRST WARNING SIGNS THAT THE OAK WAS IN DECLINE, TWO YEARS AGO THE TREE PREMATURELY DROPPED ALL OF ITS LEAVES IN AUGUST.

THEY TRIED TO SAVE THE TREE BUT AFTER HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF WEATHER CHANGES, FOOT TRAFFIC AND WILDLIFE, SHE SAYS IT WAS JUST TIME.

>> IT WAS NEARING A NATURAL END OF LIFE IN AN URBAN SETTING.

>> Reporter: A TREE COMING INTO A NATURAL END IS AN EXCELLENT REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROCESS CALLED SUCCESSION PLANTING.

THAT REQUIRES HER AND HER TEAM TO PLAN AND PLANT YOUNGER TREES ABOUT 50 YEARS OUT.

ALL IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE ZOO'S TREE CANOPY HEALTHY AND EVOLVING OVER TIME.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT SPECIES TO CREATE A NICE CANOPY.

IT HELPS US WITH INSECT PRESSURE.

IF YOU HAVE AN INSECT THAT WILL COME IN AND SAY WIPE OUT THE MAPLES IF WE ONLY HAVE MAPLES THEN ALL OF OUR TREES ARE GONE.

>> Reporter: BUT TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE SMALLER PICTURE.

ACORNS.

>> I START TO COLLECT THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE GROWING THEM ON AND REPLANT THEM BACK SOME PLACE IN THE ZOO AND PLAN FOR SUCCESSION.

IT MIGHT BE EVERY COUPLE YEARS WE ARE PLANTING MORE AND MORE OAKS, THE CANOPY WILL CONTINUE TO BE AGING AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE TREES CONSISTENTLY OVER THE YEARS.

>> Reporter: AND HAVING TREES IS A GREAT THING, SHE SAYS, NOT ONLY DO THEY CONTRIBUTE TO HUMAN HEALTH BY PROVIDING OXYGEN BUT CREATE HOME FOR WILDLIFE AND ZOO LIFE.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING VISITORS CONSIDER WHEN SPOTTING ANIMALS IN THEIR MAN-MADE HABITATS >> WE MIGHT PUT THE PLANTS IN AN EXHIBIT AND KNOW IT IS ENRICHMENT FOR THE ANIMAL.

WE PLANTED WILLOWS AND THEY USE THEM FOR FUN AND THEY ARE DESTROYED.

THAT IS PART OF IT.

THAT IS HOW WE GIVE THEM ENRICHMENT IN THAT SENSE.

>> Reporter: BACK TO THE OLD BURR OAK.

THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT SOME OF THE ACORNS THAT THEY ARE HOPING WILL SPROUT.

BUT THE TREE HAD A SUCCESSION PLAN OF ITS OWN.

SOME POPPED UP NEARBY ALL BY THEMSELVES.

A COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW IMAGINE THE STORIES THEY WILL HAVE.

>> WTTW TV NEWS REPORTER WITH THAT STORY.

AND THEY SAY THE TREE WILL BE REMOVED EARLY NEXT WEEK.

SO, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY, MAKE SURE YOU SAY YOUR GOOD-BYES OVER THE WEEKEND.

>>> ONE NOTE BEFORE WE GO.

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

TUNE IN AT 5:30 THIS COMING MONDAY.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND GET IT STREAMED ON OUR WEB SITE.

YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND VIDEO APP.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES AND AT 6:30 TOMORROW ON CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

FOR ALL OF US HERE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[MUSIC] >>> CLOSED CAPTIONS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFARD LAW OFFICES.

PROUD TO SERVE ITS COMMUNITIES THROUGH PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES.