>>> THANKS FOR JOINING, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

TRUMP IS INDICTED AGAIN.

THIS TIME FOR ALLEGED ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING6th.

>> AN INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING THE NORTHWESTERN SCHOOL'S HAZING SCANDAL.

>>> NEW EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TEMP WORKERS IN ILLINOIS AND MOVE THEM TO PERMANENT JOBS.

>> AND MORE THAN 100 TORNADOES THIS YEAR ALONE.

WHY ILLINOIS LEADS THE COUNTRY.

>>> THE TOP STORY, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS INDICTED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY ON FOUR FELONY COUNTS CONNECTED TO ATTEMPTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION THAT HE LOST.

FACING FEDERAL CRIMINAL CHARGES RELATED TO THE MAR-A-LAGO PROBE.

ALLEGED HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS IN NEW YORK.

AND POTENTIAL STATE ELECTION CHARGES IN GEORGIA.

HERE IS SPECIAL COUNCIL JACK SMITH MOMENTS AN ON THE HISTORIC INDICTMENT.

>> THE ATTACK ON THE NATION'S CAPITAL, JANUARY 6, 2021 WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED ASSAULT ON THE SEAT OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

FUELED BY LIES.

LIES BY THE DEFENDANT.

TARGETING AND INSTRUCTING A BEDROCK FUNCTION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING, COUNTING AND CERTIFYING THE RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

>> AND HERE TO BREAK DOWN THE BOMB SHELL NEWS THIS EVENING, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR RENATO MARIATI.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

TWO COUNTS OF TAMPERING WITH WITNESS VICTIM.

WHAT ARE THE GRAVITIES OF THESE CHARGES?

>> OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE INCREDIBLY SERIOUS.

ONE I WILL SAY IS THAT THE GRAVITY IN MY MIND GOES BEYOND ANY LEGAL ANALYSIS.

DONALD TRUMP IS ALREADY FACING SERIOUS FELONY CHARGES AND TWO DIFFERENT INDICTMENTS AND I THINK MY ANALYSIS WOULD BE THAT MAR-A-LAGO INDICTMENT IN MANY WAYS IS STRONGER AS A MATTER OF EVIDENCE.

CERTAINLY, HE MAY FACE MORE YEARS IN PRISON FROM THAT, BUT THIS HAS A HISTORIC MAGNITUDE AND GRAVITY THAT ALL THE OTHER CASES DO NOT MATCH.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS PROVING INTENT HERE?

COULD TRUMP DEFEND HIMSELF BY SAYING BUT I THOUGHT I WON THE ELECTION AND PEOPLE TOLD ME I WON THE ELECTION THOUGH THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF FOLKS SAID NO, THE ELECTION WAS CLEAR, YOU LOST AND THERE IS NO CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OTHERWISE?

>> YEAH.

THAT WILL BE I THINK CENTRAL TO TRUMP'S DEFENSE.

CENTRAL TO TRUMP'S DEFENSE IS THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS FRAUD IN THE ELECTION.

TRYING TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUES.

IF YOU READ THE INDICTMENT.

WHICH IS LONG.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING MY BEST TO READ THROUGH IT FOR THE PAST HOUR OR SO.

THE SPECIAL COUNCIL IS GOING TO GREAT LENGTHS TO SHOW ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS TRUMP ACTUALLY KNEW THIS WAS A FALSEHOOD.

FROM HIS OWN VICE PRESIDENT.

AND ONE OF THE NEW REVELATIONS IS TRUMP TOLD HIS VICE PRESIDENT YOU ARE TOO HONEST.

BUT ALSO, FROM HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OTHERS IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND MANY OTHER OFFICIALS WORKING FOR HIM AND WITH HIM.

>> INDEED, THAT'S A STANDOUT QUOTE, THAT ALLEGATION THAT HE TOLD THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT THAT HE IS TOO HONEST.

BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE IS AT LEAST OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD KNOW THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION.

THERE ARE SIX COCONSPIRATORS.

ARE THEY COOPERATORS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS CO-CONSPIRATOR NUMBER ONE IS RUDY GIULIANI.

I DON'T THINK HE IS COOPERATING AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK JACK SMITH MADE A CALCULATION THAT IN DC, HE MIGHT GET TO TRIAL IN A WAY AND WITH A SPEED HE IS NOT ABLE TO DO IN FLORIDA.

GIVEN THAT THE FLORIDA CASE, THE MAR-A-LAGO CASE IS SO MANY DOCUMENTS INVOLVED.

SO HE DECIDED THE MOST NARROW INDICTMENT POSSIBLE TO TRY TO SPEED HIS WAY TO THE TRIAL BEFORE THE ELECTION SEASON.

>> AND THAT IS WHAT HE SAID.

ATTEMPTING TO GO FOR A SPEEDY TRIAL.

TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS HAVE PUT FORTH THE MESSAGING THAT THIS IS QUOTE UNQUOTE ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

COMING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE ALLEGEDLY FOLKS WANT TO INTERFERE WITH HIM AND HIS FRONT RUNNER STATUS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BEYOND THE MESSAGING TACTICS DO YOU SEE ANY LEGAL DEFENSE STRATEGY FROM THE TRUMP TEAM EITHER IN THIS OR THE MAR-A-LAGO DOCUMENTS CASE TO THIS POINT?

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I THINK THE DEFENSE WILL TRY TO INJECT THAT INTO THE TRIAL.

WHAT I EXPECT IS THERE WILL BE MOTIONS THAT ARE FILED BEFORE THE TRIAL.

PROSECUTORS SAY THAT ARGUMENT AND DISCUSSION IS NOT RELEVANT TO ANYTHING AND DOESN'T ANYTHING MORE OR LESS TRUE IN TERMS OF THE CASE.

THE JUDGE MIGHT EXCLUDE THAT.

I EXPECT THE DEFENSE TO NONETHELESS FIND WAYS TO INJECT THAT INTO THE TRIAL.

THERE ARE LEGIT QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN SOONER.

THAT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION.

BUT I THINK I WOULD NOT CHARACTERIZE ALL OF THESE INDICTMENTS IN DIFFERENT JURISDICTION TO BE ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

THEY ARE WHAT APPEARS TO BE VERY SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS BACKED UP BY EVIDENCE.

>> IN FACT, THE WASHINGTON POST DID AN INVESTIGATION SHOW TAG THE DOJ DIDN'T SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATE TRUMP'S ROLE IN THESE ALLEGED SCHEMES UNTIL A YEAR AFTER JANUARY 6th CITING PERHAPS THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE POLITICAL IMPLY IMPLIATION.

DOES THAT HAMPER THINGS?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, JACK SMITH MAY HAVE MADE DECISIONS WITH THAT IN MIND.

WITH THE CALENDAR IN MIND.

SECONDLY, IT CREATES THIS ARGUMENT, THIS ISSUE THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN KNOWN IF THEY HAD STARTED EARLIER.

WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE TALKING ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

IF HE HAD BEEN INDICTED A YEAR AGO.

>> WE HAVE SEEN THAT TRUMP HAS USED THIS IN HIS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN AND IT IS CERTAINLY A MESSAGING STRATEGY THAT IS WORKING WITH HIS SUPPORTERS.

BUT YOU SEE TRUMP AS A DEFENDANT CALLING THE PROSECUTOR DERANGED.

HE HAS CALLED OTHERWISE SUPPORTERS TO QUOTE UNQUOTE DO SOMETHING.

WHAT CAN HE DO BEFORE IT IS A PROBLEM FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

IT DEPENDS ON THE JUDGE.

I THINK THE JUDGE IS GOING TO GIVE HIM SOME LATITUDE TO COMMENT ON CHARGES.

YOU KNOW.

AFTER ALL, HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE HAS THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SPEAK HIS MIND.

THE JUDGE MIGHT SORT OF, YOU KNOW, INTERJECT HERSELF INTO THAT IN A CERTAIN RESPECT.

AND TRY TO ADMONISH TRUMP AND HIS ATTORNEYS AND TAKE FURTHER STEPS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE PRETTY CAREFUL.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THAT AGAINST THE OTHER FACTORS.

>> ALWAYS A BALANCING ACT.

RENATO, GREAT TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS WITH MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>> AND PARIS, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IS BRINGING IN A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE HIS HANDLING OF THE WIDESPREAD SCANDAL.

LORETTA LYNCH WILL LOOK INTO EXISTING PROCESSING TO REPORTING MISCONDUCT IN THE PROGRAM.

LYNCH PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS OBAMA'S SECOND ATTORNEY GENERAL AND WAS IN CHARGE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO REFORM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SINCE THE.

SEVERAL COACHES HAVE BEEN FIRED.

REPRESENTATIVES QUESTIONED WHY THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION WHICH LED TO THE FIRING OF COACH PAT FITZGERALD WASN'T ENOUGH AND WHY IT HASMENT BEEN RELEASED.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A TIMELINE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

>>> AND, SOMETHING FISHY IS HAPPENING AT THE SHED AQUARIUM.

SHED LEADERS, DIGNITARY AND SOME OF THEIR RESIDENTS WERE ON HAND TO UNVEIL PLANS FOR THE EIGHT YEAR HALF A BILLION TRANSFORMATION PROJECT.

A REMODEL OF THE NEW ENTRANCE, NEW IMMERSIVE EXHIBITS AND NEW ANIMAL HABITATS AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

THEY HOPE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT IN PHASES BY 2030 IN TIME FOR ITS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

>> BY MODERNIZING AND ENHANCING THE AQUARIUM EXPERIENCE, THE SHEDD EXPECTS TO BRING TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE VISITORS TO OUR CITY EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT IS WHAT HELPS THE CITY INVEST IN ITS PEOPLE.

TO FURTHER OUR COMMITMENT, TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY ARE FULLY SUPPORTED.

>> AND WHILE THE NEW SIGN MAY BE TEMPORARY, THE NATIONAL MONUMENT DESIGNATION FOR ROBERTS TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST IS PERMANENT.

>> THERE IS ALSO A STORY WITHIN THE STORY.

A STORY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE NEED THERE OF.

THE THE STORY OF RACIAL CONCILIATION AND THE NEED THERE OF.

THE STORY OF THE NEED TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE FROM HATRED AND LYNCHING TO A NARRATIVE THAT CHALLENGES AMERICA TO CHANGE.

>> THE TILL FAMILY GATHERED ALONG WITH THE U.S. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND MULTIPLE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO UNVEIL THE SIGN AT THE CHURCH WHERE THOUSANDS OF MOURNERS VIEWED TILL'S MAIMED BODY AFTER HIS LYNCHING IN MISSISSIPPI IN 1955.

THERE ARE TWO OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE HIS BODY WAS FOUND AND WHERE THE KILLERS WERE TRIED BUT NOT CONVICTED.

>>> COMING UP, PROTECTING PROTECTIONS FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE JIM AND KAY MAYBEE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHER'S FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> AROUND 800,000 ILLINOISANS ARE WORKING IN TEMPORARY JOBS.

MORE THAN DOUBLE OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES.

THOSE TEMPS OFTEN DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WILL BE WORKING ONE DAY TO THE NEXT OR IF THEY WILL BE WORKING AND IT'S A GROUP OF WORKERS ADVOCATES SAY ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO HARASSMENT AND ABUSE INCLUDING SO-CALLED PERMA-TEMPING WHERE THEY ARE HELD BACK FROM GETTING HIRED FULL TIME.

AS NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS, A BILL AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AIMS TO CREATE PROTECTIONS FOR TEMPS.

JOSE SAYS TEMPORARY WORK IS JUST THAT.

TEMPORARY.

BUT MANY ILLINOIS COMPANIES HAVE CREATED WHAT ADVOCATES CALL PERMA-TEMPS.

>> A LOT OF THESE WORKERS ARE WORKING IN THESE COMPANIES FOR FIVE, 10, OVER 15 YEARS AS TEMP WORKERS.

>> Reporter: AT THE END OF THEIR TERM, THE WORKER GETS FIRED AND THEN PROMPTLY REHIRED, OFTEN INTO THE SAME ROLE TO ENSURE THEY REMAIN CLASSIFIED AS TEMPORARY.

>> NOW, IF AFTER 90 DAYS, TEMP WORKERS ARE GOING TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME PERMANENT WORKERS FOR THE COMPANY.

>> Reporter: WITH PAY AND BENEFITS EQUAL TO FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE COMPANIES TO HIRE THE TEMPS AND STAFF.

THAT'S JUST ONE PART OF A MEASURE LAWMAKERS IN SPRINGFIELD PASSED DURING THE SPRING SESSION, THE BILL MANDATES NEW SAFETY STANDARDS.

ADVOCATES SAY TEMP WORKERS OFTEN HAVE LITTLE OR NO TRAINING ON POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT IN WAREHOUSES AND FACTORIES.

>> THEY LEFT ME WORKING THREE MACHINES AT ONCE WITHOUT ANY TRAINING.

THEY DON'T TELL ME HOW TO TURN OFF THE MACHINERY OR IF IT GETS STUCK, WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

>> Reporter: AND FOR TEMP WORKER VENISA THAT CHAVEZ AND OTHERS THERE IS A LANGUAGE BARRIER.

>> MOST OF THE WORKERS THAT FILL UP THE TEMP WORK ENTRY, THEY ARE BLACK AND BROWN.

MANY OF THESE ESPECIALLY AMONG THE LATINO COMMUNITY TEND TO BE UNDOCUMENTED.

I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, IT IS CORPORATIONS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN DO, GET LABOR AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: WHILE INDUSTRY GROUPS ENDED UP NEUTRAL ON THE BILL, THE AMERICAN STAFFING ASSOCIATION SENT WTTW NEWS A LETTER IT WROTE TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER OUTLINING ITS CONCERN.

TO ENSURE THAT STAFFING AGENCIES UNDERSTAND THE CRITERIA THE STATE WILL USE IN IMPLEMENTS THE EQUAL PAY PROVISIONS, WE REQUIRE THEY STAY.

>> WE ARE ATTACKING PERMA-TEMPING.

>> Reporter: A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STAFFING SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS ECHOED THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE EQUAL PAY PROVISION AND SAYS ILLINOIS ALREADY HAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST LAWS IN THE COUNTRY PROTECTING STAFFING WORKERS.

SOMETHING OUR ORGANIZATIONS WORKED ON AND IMPLEMENTED.

THERE WERE VERY FEW COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST THE STATE WITH ANY OF OUR MEMBERS BUT WORKER ADVOCATES SAY AN UNDERSTAFFED DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CAN'T KEEP UP WITH ENFORCING EXISTING PROTECTIONS.

>> THEY WERE JUST SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED.

AND THAT FOR THE WHOLE STATE, THEY ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL OF INVESTIGATORS.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER KEY PROVISION OF THE BILL, ALLOWING WORKER CENTERS AND OTHER GROUPS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO MAKE ALLEGATIONS OF HARASSMENT, ABUSE, WAGE THEFT, OR DISCRIMINATION.

>> THEY ARE REALLY MISTREATING PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: NORMAN GREEN SAYS HE HAS BEEN WORKING AS A TEMP ALMOST 20 YEARS.

HE WAS PART OF THE LOBBYING EFFORT TO GET THE NEW PROTECTIONS FOR TEMPS PASSED.

>> THEY WILL SAY YOU NEED TO BE THERE EARLY.

SIGN YOUR NAME FIRST SO YOU GO OUT AND GET WORK AND DO THOSE THINGS AND STILL WASN'T GETTING WORK.

I HAVE EIGHT KIDS AT HOME.

>> Reporter: GREEN HOPES NEW PROTECTION AND MORE ROBUST ENFORCEMENTS WILL BE A BOON TO THE TEMPS LIKE HIM ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IF A PERSON COMES IN AND BUSTS THEIR BUTT IN WORK, LET THEM WORK.

DON'T JUDGE BY SKIN COLOR.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THAT ABUSE.

IT EVENTUALLY STARTS AFFECTING YOUR PERSONAL LIFE.

YOU START TO BRING ALL THAT WEIGHT HOME.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> AND THE BILL IS AWAITING GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S SIGNATURE.

IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME LAW ON AUGUST 15th UNLESS PRITZKER VETOES THE MEASURE.

>>> AND UP NEXT, WHY ILLINOIS IS LEADING THE COUNTRY WITH THE MOST TORNADOES.

BUT FIRST WE LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> ILLINOIS HAS SEEN 107 TORNADOES IN THE YEAR 2023.

THAT MAKES IT THE STATE WITH THE MOST TORNADOES THIS YEAR.

BUT SCIENTISTS CAUTION THE THOUGHT OF ADDING THE PRAIRIE STATE TO TORNADO ALLEY.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS, ARE COLBY HUNT.

FARM BUREAU PRESENT.

TRENT FORD, ILLINOIS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST AND PAUL SERACA, PROFESSOR OF METEOROLOGY.

WELCOME BACK GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PAUL, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO ILLINOIS LEADING THE COUNTRY WITH THE MOST TORNADOES SO FAR THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, BASED ON A LOT OF THINGS THIS YEAR, IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME.

ILLINOIS IS A STATE THAT GETS VARIETY OF NUMBERS OF TORNADOES.

SOME YEARS ARE VERY LEAN.

AND SOME ARE VERY ABUNDANT.

THIS HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THEM.

BUT THAT IS ALSO COUPLED WITH OTHER STATES THAT WE NORMALLY THINK OF AS TORNADO ALLEY STATES NOT GETTING MANY TORNADOES.

>> TRENT, WHY CAUTION, THOUGH, THE IDEA OF ILLINOIS BECOMING PART OF WHAT IS TYPICALLY THE STATES THAT ARE TYPICALLY CONSIDERED TORNADO ALLEY?

>> WELL, I MEAN FIRST OF ALL, THE IDEA OF TORNADO ALLEY IS A BIT ANTIQUATED ANYWAY.

MAYBE A BIT OF A MISNOMER.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE FREQUENCY OF TORNADOES, THE SOUTHEAST AND THE MIDWEST GET A LOT OF TORNADOES AS WELL.

AND ACTUALLY, WHEN WE LOOK AT INJURIES, FATALITIES, THE SOUTHEAST U.S., THINK ABOUT LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, UP TO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, LEAD AS FAR AS THE IMPACTS OF TORNADOES.

SO WHEN WE SPOKE TO TORNADO ALLEY, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, NEBRASKA.

THAT IS WHERE THE BIG WEDGE TORNADOES ARE.

BUT THEY ARE A HAZARD IN THE MIDWEST AS WELL.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY IS DRIVING THE NUMBER OF TORNADOES WE HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR, TRENT?

>> SO, THE LARGE NUMBER OF TORNADOES FIRST STARTED OFF IN THE WINTERTIME.

NOW I SAY WE DON'T HAVE A TORNADO SEASON IN ILLINOIS.

BUT PEAK FREQUENCY IS BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE.

BETWEEN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ARE OFF TIMES FOR TORNADO FREQUENCY.

BUT THIS YEAR WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT TORNADO OUTBREAK IN JANUARY.

PRETTY HIGH TORNADO FREQUENCY IN FEBRUARY.

AND A HUGE OUTBREAK IN MARCH.

ACTUALLY RECORD-BREAKING FOR MARCH AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF TORNADOES.

AND THAT JUST CATAPULTED US TO THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE SURPASSED OUR NORMAL AVERAGE RIGHT AROUND 54 TORNADOES.

IN APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE TODAY, AS WELL AS JULY, HAVE BEEN CLOSE IF NOT A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE THAN NORMAL.

THAT PUTS US UP IN THE TOP THREE TO FIVE AS FAR AS NUMBER OF TORNADOES.

>> YOUR FARM HAS BEEN HIT WITH HIGH WINDS AND STORMS.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, PLEASE.

>> YEAH, JUNE 29th, WE GOT HIT.

WE LOST SOME GRAIN BINS.

CORN WAS LAID OVER.

A LOT OF HOUSES DAMAGED.

OUR LITTLE TOWN LOST A LOT OF TREES.

IT WAS A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, LIKE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOSING GRAIN BINS, LIKE THAT, WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT?

WHAT'S THE HIT?

>> SO, TO REPLACE THE TWO GRAIN BINS WE LOST, I FIGURE OUR FARM SUSTAINED ABOUT $400,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TOTAL.

>> OKAY, PAUL, YOU HAVE ALSO SORT OF CAUTIONED ABOUT HOW WE COUNT A TORNADO.

AND WHAT, THE NUMBER OF TORNADOES THAT ARE SORT OF EF-0.

COUNTING TOWARD THAT TOTAL.

>> RIGHT.

IN THE PAST 15 YEARS, WE HAVE GOTTEN MUCH BETTER AT IDENTIFYING WHAT WE THINK ARE NOW THESE WEAKER TORNADOES.

ESPECIALLY TORNADOES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL ISOLATED STORMS LIKE WE MAY THINK OF IN THE PLAINS AS TRENT MENTIONED BUT LINES OF STORMS.

AS WE GO INTO JUNE AND JULY, WE START GETTING MORE FREQUENCY OF LINES OF STORMS THAT CREATE THESE, WHAT WE CALL QUASI LINEAR CONVECTIVE SYSTEM TORNADOES.

THEY ARE REALLY HARD TO IDENTIFY.

THEY SPIN UP REALLY QUICKLY.

USUALLY THE WINDS OF THE LINE ITSELF ARE STRONG.

THE TORNADO INCREASES A SMALL REGION OF DAMAGE.

>> OKAY.

TRENT, IS THIS PART OF A LARGER TREND IN THE FREQUENCY OF TORNADOES?

>> WELL IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

HISTORICALLY, IF WE GO BACK 40, 50 YEARS AGO, WE UNDERCOUNTED A LOT OF THE SMALLER TORNADOES.

JUST BECAUSE IF THEY WERE OFF SOMEWHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF POPULATION, WE MAY HAVE MISSED THEM.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL RECORD, WE CAN ONLY GO BACK TO MAYBE THE 1980s AND THE 1990s TO SEE ABOUT THE TORNADO FREQUENCY.

SO IT IS REALLY CHALLENGING TO SAY OKAY, WHAT WE ARE SEEING HIGHER FREQUENCY.

I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF WE GO INTO THE FUTURE, ARE WE GOING TO SEE HIGHER FREQUENCY, THE STATE OF THE ART RESEARCH DONE RIGHT HERE IN ILLINOIS ON THAT, IT DOES SUGGEST THAT WE MAY SEE AN INCREASED FREQUENCY OF AT LEAST TORNADO DAYS.

THESE OUTBREAK DAYS LIKE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SPOTS BUT IT IS REALLY UNCERTAIN.

YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF TORNADOES.

BUT AS OUR URBAN AREAS EXPAND, PHYSICALLY, GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT DOES PUT AREAS IN A HIGHER RISK OF BEING HIT BY A TORNADO WITH OR WITHOUT SOME INCREASING TREND.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE AS WELL.

>> COLBY, YOU MENTIONED THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE GRAIN BINS THAT YOU LOST AND SOME STRUCTURES LOST.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT COULD STORMS LIKE THIS IN THIS PARTICULAR STORM SEASON HAVE ON THE FARMER'S HARVEST?

>> YEAH.

WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH IN A TIME WHERE FARMERS COULD BUY MORE EQUIPMENT.

BUT IT IS TIGHT.

WE ARE STILL UNDER SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES LEFTOVER FROM COVID.

THE CASE MAY BE.

SO REPLACING THOSE STRUCTURES LIKE THE GRAIN BINS WE LOST, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DELIVERED IN SEPTEMBER.

IF THEY CAN BE PUT UP BY THE TIME THEY COMPLETE HARVEST, THAT IS YET TO BE SEEN.

SO JUST THE TIMING.

GETING THE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT IN IS KEY RIGHT NOW.

>> AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU?

WHAT'S THE END RESULT?

>> YOU CAN ALWAYS BORROW NEIGHBOR'S.

I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND IT.

IF THE BINS DON'T HAVE TO BE CONSTRUCTED, WE CAN DELIVER IT.

JUST, THERE IS SOME PRICING ISSUES WITH THAT.

OR WE'LL FIND A WAY.

>> OKAY.

AND TRENT, WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

WHAT ROLE DOES CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE IN THIS TORNADO PATTERN?

>> THIS IS THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT PROJECTIONS FORWARD.

IT IS REALLY UNCERTAIN.

THE RESEARCH DOES SUGGEST THAT CLIMATE CHANGE MAY AFFECT TORNADO FREQUENCY AND WE MAY SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TORNADO DAYS.

WHETHER THAT MEANS MORE INTENSE TORNADOES OR WEAKER TORNADOES IS STILL UNCLEAR.

BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE RESEARCH TO BE DONE.

TORNADOES ARE HARD TO OBSERVE.

LET ALONE MODEL WITH OUR GIANT GLOBAL MODEL SO THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AT WHAT RISK WE ARE SEEING WITH THESE INCREASED FREQUENCY AND WHAT RISK WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES IN WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

GENTLEMEN, I'M SURE YOU WILL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>>> AND WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UPRIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

WHERE ARE WE AT?

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

>> EVENTUALLY, TO BE ABLE TO HELP EVERYONE AND ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THROUGH ACADEMIC SUPPORT.

SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE.

>> THIS IS THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS AN ECO SYSTEM.

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

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE.

WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5: 30 AND 10:00.

THOUSANDS OF CPS STUDENTS WON'T HAVE A SCHOOL BUS AMID A NATIONWIDE DRIVER SHORTAGE.

>>> AND THE LOOP HAS THE SINKING FEELING.

WHAT NORTHWESTERN RESEARCHERS DISCOVERED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING BENEATH DOWNTOWN'S SURFACE.

>>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES.

A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM PLEASED TO GIVE BACK TO THE