>>> THINK YOU FOR JOINING US IN CHICAGO TONIGHT.

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> NO ONE WAS MOVED AS WE WENT TO LOLLAPALOOZA.

>> THE MAYOR DENIES MOVING HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS BEFORE THE 40 MUSIC FESTIVAL KICKS OFF TOMORROW.

>>> I WILL NEVER FORGET THE MISTREATMENT THAT I EXPERIENCED.

>>> A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST NORTHWESTERN IN CONNECTION WITH A HAZING SCANDAL.

>>> IN THIS CASE MY OFFICE WILL SEEK A SPEEDY TRIAL.

>>> OUR TEAM ON THE FORMER PRESIDENTS LATEST INDICTMENT.

20 THESE ARE ISSUES THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE LONG-TERM.

>> UNDERGROUND CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHY IT'S GIVING SOME A SINKING FEELING.

>>> WHY THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WILL NOT HAVE BUS SERVICE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

>> A 10th LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IN CONNECTION TO A HAZING SCANDAL.

FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER RAMON DIAZ HAS CLAIMS OF HAZING AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

THEY WROTE CINCO DE MAYO ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.

>> THERE WAS NEVER A DAY THAT HAS GONE BY SINCE I GRADUATED IN 2008 WHERE I HAD NOT FORGOTTEN WHAT HAPPENED.

I HAVEN'T SEEN A FOOTBALL GAME IN OVER 10 YEARS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

WHAT WOULD POSSESS ANYONE TO THINK THAT'S OKAY OR THAT WOULDN'T RUIN SOMEONE'S LIFE?

>> OUR NEWS REPORTER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE GROWING TIMELINE AND THE EVENTS IN THE WAKE OF THE HAZING SCANDAL AND JOINS US WITH MORE.

WHAT LIGHT HAS THIS LAWSUIT SHED ON THESE ACTIVITIES ALLEGEDLY AT NORTHWESTERN?

FOR IT FOLLOWS A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS THAT OTHER CASES HAD IN TERMS OF FORCED NUDITY, SEXUAL ABUSE, DIFFERENT TYPES OF HAZING.

THEY CLAIM THAT THE FORMER FOOTBALL COACH COULD HAVE STEPPED IN TO STOP IT DIDN'T.

RAMON DIAZ'S CASE ALLEGES HE FACED RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

WHAT STICKS OUT IS THAT HE'S INVOLVED , THE OLDEST ALLEGATION SO FAR.

WITH ALLEGATIONS GOING BACK AGAINST NORTHWESTERN OVER A DECADE.

THIS ONE GOES TO WHEN DIAZ WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL PROGRAM FROM 2005-2008.

THIS GIVES THE IDEA OF HOW LONG THIS COULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON.

>> THIS AFTER NORTHWESTERN SAYS THEY HIRED A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DO A INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE SCHOOL REPORTING PROCESS FOR THESE HAZING ALLEGATIONS.

>> THE INITIAL REVIEW HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC YET WITH THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND THE FULL FINDINGS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.

THE SCHOOL SAYS THEY WANT AN OUTSIDE LOOK AT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE MECHANISMS.

THERE WERE REPORTS AND WAS IT FLAWED IN ANY WAY WITH SEVERAL PLAYERS WHO HAVE FILED LAWSUITS RAISING SUCH QUESTIONS SAYING DID THIS GO FAR ENOUGH AND WAS THERE A NEED FOR THE OTHER INVESTIGATION.

>> SUGGESTING THAT THE SCHOOL HAS NOT RELEASED THE FULL TEXT OF THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION.

THIS IS A 10th LAWSUIT AND WE EXPECT MORE.

>> IT SEEMS THAT WAY.

THEY PLAN TO FILE DOZENS MORE, PERHAPS 30 OR MORE AND MAY NOT BE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO FOOT TALL, THIS COULD INVOLVE OTHER PROGRAMS AS WELL WITHIN NORTHWESTERN.

THERE WAS A WOMAN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER WHO FILED SUIT.

>> THEY MAY BE LOOKING AT THIS BREACH OF CONTRACT.

THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THIS.

>> YOU COULD VISIT THE FULL TIMELINE OF THE HAZING SCANDAL ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> WE HAVE MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>>> DOZENS OF MIGRANTS IN PARIS WHO HAVE BEEN STAYING IN THE POLICE DISTRICT STATION LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM GRANT PARK HAD BEEN MOVED INTO BROADWAY ARMORY IN EDGEWATER BUT THE MAYOR SAYS THIS IS NOT BECAUSE OF LOLLAPALOOZA , THE EVENT THAT HAPPENS THIS WEEKEND.

>> WE HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THE FAMILIES WHO WANT TO CALL THE CITY OF CHICAGO THEIR HOME.

WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE MANY MORE FACILITIES TO HELP THE FAMILIES TRANSITION.

NO ONE SHOULD BE LIVING IN POLICE STATIONS.

>> SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE PROTESTING THE END OF THE PARK DISTRICT PROGRAMMING THAT HAPPENED WITHIN THE ARMORY.

THEY TOLD US THAT SHE THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY WERE SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR AND IN THE AIRPORTS.

WE HAVE MORE ON THIS STORY ON OUR WEB PART WEBSITES.

>>> TODAY THE LAW REQUIRES SCHOOL BOARDS ESTABLISHING FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN STARTING IN THE 2027 AND 28 SCHOOL YEAR WHICH WILL CREATE A TAX COURSE TO AUDITED THE STATES EXISTING KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM INCLUDING DISTRICT CAPACITY TO MAKE THE SHIFT TO FULL DAY IF THEY DON'T OFFER THIS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL COST.

THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SAYS CHILDREN IN SCHOOL DAY CLASSES SHOW GREATER MATH AND READING ACHIEVEMENTS THAN THOSE IN HALF-DAY CLASSES.

>>> THE TREASURER'S OFFICE WANTS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL.

THE OFFICE RELEASING A GUIDE THAT THEY SAY EXPLAINS HOW THE TAXES WORK.

WHY THE TAXES ARE HIGH AND WHY PROPERTY OWNERS COULD SAVE MONEY.

THE TREASURER'S OFFICE POINTING OUT ILLINOIS HAD THE SECOND-HIGHEST MEDIA RESIDENTIAL TAX BILL IN OVER $4400 COMPARED TO $471 NATIONWIDE.

IF YOU'RE CURIOUS FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT OUR SERIES THAT EXPLAINS HOW THE COOK COUNTY POPULATION TAX BILL IS POPULATED.

>>> NEXT WE BREAK DOWN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S INITIAL INDICTMENT .

DON'T GO AWAY.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GYM AND K NAVY FAMILY , THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> DONALD TRUMP IS DUE IN COURT TOMORROW TO FACE THE LATEST AND I WENT, THE LATEST ON CHICAGO'S MIGRANT CRISIS IN TONIGHT'S SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

JOINING US THIS WEEK ARE THESE TWO CORRESPONDENCE.

HERE'S WHAT JACK SMITH SAID YESTERDAY ABOUT DONALD TRUMP'S LATEST INDICTMENT.

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

DESCRIBED THE INDICTMENT, IT WAS FILLED WITH LIES.

LIES BY THE DEFENDANT AND WAS TARGETED AT OBSTRUCTING A BEDROCK FUNCTION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

>> ARE THESE THE MYSTERIOUS CHARGES THAT TRUMP IS FACING?

>> SERIOUS IN THE WAY THE SPECIAL COUNSEL IS FRAMING THIS.

WHAT IT REPRESENTS, THE CONSPIRACIES REPRESENT EFFORTS TO HOLD ONTO POWER EVEN THOUGH THE VERDICT WAS RENDERED .

THEY ELECTED JOE BIDEN WITH EVIDENCE IN THE DOCUMENT THAT DONALD TRUMP KNEW THAT HE LOST WITH CREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON HIS TEAM TELLING HIM THAT HE LOST WITHOUT ANY OTHER CREDIBLE EVIDENCE TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION BUT THE CONSPIRACIES CONTINUED.

I WOULD SAY THE DOCUMENTS CASES BECAUSE OF THE PRESIDENTS ALLEGED OBSTRUCTION OF THE INVESTIGATION AND NOT TURNING OVER THE DOCUMENTS, HE IS IN LEGAL PERIL WITH THAT SPENDING MONEY ON LAWYERS.

HE WAS PAYING FOR VOTERS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES.

>> AND THE OTHER CASES THE HUSH MONEY CASE .

THAT'S A DIFFERENT CASE FROM WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH THESE ALLEGATIONS IN REGARDS TO JANUARY 6.

HE'S CALLING THIS A BIDEN WITCHHUNT.

OUR ELECTION LINES COVERED UNDER FREE SPEECH?

>> THIS WOULD BE A QUESTION ASKED AT THE HEART OF THE CASE .

THIS WOULD BE PART OF HIS SENTENCE.

DOES THE AMENDMENT COVER FREE SPEECH?

AS FAR AS I KNOW THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOESN'T COVER USING THE INACCURACY OR THE INFORMATION OR LIES TO SUBVERT THE U.S. ELECTION .

I THINK THAT'S THE STEPS THAT THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WILL FOCUS ON AND THE INTENT THAT DONALD TRUMP, THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAD KNOWLEDGE THAT THE INFORMATION WAS INACCURATE AND USED IT TO OVERTURN THE U.S. ELECTION.

>> HE'S LEADING THE OTHER GOP CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENTS.

WILL THIS MAKE A DENT OR BRING HIM DOWN AT ALL?

>> THESE THINGS HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT PERHAPS EVEN INCREASE HIS STANDINGS WITH HIS BASE OF VOTERS BECAUSE THIS NARRATIVE AND MESSAGING STRATEGY THAT THIS IS POLITICIZED, THIS RESONATES WITH THE VOTERS.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE AT THE LEGAL LEVEL THAT IT'S MORE THAN A PUBLIC OPINION.

THERE ARE REPUBLICAN STRATEGISTS WHO SAY IN A GENERAL ELECTION THIS MAY NOT BE GOOD BECAUSE IT MAKES A REFERENDUM ON HIM.

NOT A REFERENDUM ON THE FOUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WHICH IS WHAT THEY WANT.

>> THIS COMES DOWN TO IT HE COMES AWAY WITH THE NOMINATION HE'S RAISING MONEY ON THE INDICTMENTS BUT AS WAS MENTIONED, HIS REPORTS SHOW HE'S PUTTING A LOT INTO ATTORNEYS.

>> $40 MILLION FOR LEGAL FEES THAT ALSO THOSE WHO'VE BEEN WRAPPED UP IN THE LEGAL CASE.

HE'S OFFERED LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THERE IS SOME SORT OF ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE LOYALTY FROM TRUMP.

THESE ARE PAST CONTRIBUTIONS ARE SMALL DONATIONS FROM SUPPORTERS WHO ARE PAYING LEGAL FEES.

HE SAID THAT THIS IS TO HELP INNOCENT PEOPLE FROM UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IF HE'S FOUND GUILTY BEFORE THE 2020 ELECTION?

>> I REVIEWED THE CONSTITUTION AND I DON'T THINK THE SCENARIO HAD BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT.

GOING BACK TO THE GOVERNOR , PER STATE LAW WHEN HE WAS CONVICTED OF HIS FELONY HE COULD NOT RUN FOR STATE OFFICE .

HE'S JOKED ABOUT RUNNING FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH PROVISION ABOUT BEING CONVICTED OF A FELONY FOR FEDERAL OFFICE AND IF HE IS ELECTED AND IS CONVICTED AND HAS TO SERVE JAIL TIME THERE'S CERTAINLY NO REAL ANSWER TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS LIKELY THAT HE WOULD EITHER PARDON HIMSELF OR ORDER THE DOJ TO DROP THE INVESTIGATION.

>> NOTHING PRESENT WITHIN ANY OF THIS.

>>> SOME ARE SAYING THIS WAS DONE AHEAD OF LOLLAPALOOZA.

IT'S A POLITICAL MOVE?

>> MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON THE HEAVENLY DENIES THIS SAYING HIS OVERALL STRATEGY IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE TEMPORARY LOBBIES , SLEEPING ON THE FLOORS, 950 PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE POLICE STATION FLOORS AWAITING SHELTER.

SAYING THAT THE MIGRANTS WERE HAPPY TO BE MOVED AND MOVED INTO A SHELTER.

THAT SAID THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO REMAIN WHERE THEY ARE WHERE THEY ARE HAPPY WAITING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE POLICE STATIONS SO THIS IS HARD FOR US TO DECIPHER BUT YOU DO POSE A QUESTION WHETHER THIS IS A POLITICAL MOVE, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, THE CITY WANTS THEM TO LOOK GOOD AND SPEND TOURISM DOLLARS, THIS IS THE QUESTION IN 2024 WITH MAJOR EVENTS COMING TO CHICAGO.

LOCATIONS, SOME OF THEM REMAINING IN POLICE DISTRICT STATIONS THAT ARE NOT JUST DOWNTOWN.

DOES THE MAYOR ACTUALLY HAVE A PLAN?

>> IT'S A YEAR AWAY AT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE HAS BEEN A COHESIVE PLAN MADE YET.

THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO COME UP WITH OVERARCHING PLANS BECAUSE THE BUSES JUST KEEP COMING IN.

60 BUSLOADS SINCE HE TOOK OVER SO THEY HAVE TO GET NEW PLANS.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A GAUNTLET WITH EVERY COMMUNITY THEY GO TO THEY GET A PUSH BACK.

AND THIS YEAR WE REPORTED ON THE ABANDONED KMART, THAT SHOULDN'T GET PUSHED OUT BUT IT DID FROM A LOCAL OFFICIAL SO THEY CANCELED THOSE PLANS.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ANY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE THE REGION BUT THE CITY AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL HELP.

>> ARE THERE WAYS TO HELP MIGRANTS?

>> WE HAVE A RESOURCE WEBSITE, NONPROFITS ARE TAKING DONATIONS.

MONETARY DONATIONS AND NONMONETARY DONATIONS.

ITEMS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO DONATE.

CHICAGO.ORG/NEW ARRIVAL.

THOSE PROVIDE RESOURCES.

>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY, THAT'S SPOTLIGHT.

>>> EXPLORING THE PHENOMENON OF UNDERGROUND CLIMATE CHANGE, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY JOEL M FRIEDMAN PRESIDENT OF THE FAMILY FUND.

>>> JULY IS SHAPING UP TO BE THE WARMEST MONTH ON EARTH IN RECORDED HISTORY BUT THE HEAT HAS NOT ONLY IMPACT THE ATMOSPHERE BUT IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET.

RESEARCH FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY ILLUMINATED THE PHENOMENON OF UNDERGROUND CLIMATE CHANGE EDITS GIVING CHICAGO'S LOOP THAT SINKING FEELING.

>> IF YOU BLINK YOU WILL MISS THEM.

DOZENS OF TINY TEMPERATURE SENSORS SET UP UNDERGROUND IN THE MILLENNIUM PARK TRAIN STATION.

>> 25 DEGREES TRAIN STATION.

>> 25°C.

I COULD DO THE CONVERSION PROBABLY 85°F.

>> THE SENSORS RECORD THAT TEMPERATURE.

THIS PROFESSOR ANALYZES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF READINGS EVERY DAY .

THE DATA POINTS TO A PHENOMENON OCCURRING BELOW THE GROUND.

ABOVE THE GROUND THE CLIMATE IS WARMING AND BENEATH THE SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE RISING AS WELL.

SOME AREAS BY AS MUCH AS HALF A DEGREE CELSIUS FELT MOST ACUTELY IN SUBSURFACE HEAT ISLANDS LIKE IN THIS TRAIN STATION.

>> WHEN THE TRAINS BREAK THEY RELEASE HEAT.

LIGHTING SENSORS CREATE HEAT.

ALL OF THIS ADDS UP AND PRODUCES HEAT.

>> WHERE DOES THIS GO THEN?

>> INTO THE GROUND.

YOU COULD SEE AROUND ANY UNDERGROUND STRUCTURE, AS WELL AS THE AREAS UNKNOWN, YOU COULD CALL THIS A BUBBLE OF HEAT FORMING .

>> HE SAYS THE HEAT CAUSES THE SOIL AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TO DEFORM WHICH IS MAKING THE GROUND BENEATH THE AREA SINK BY A FEW MILLIMETERS EVERY YEAR BUT FEAR NOT, THEY DO NOT PREDICT CATASTROPHE JUST YET.

>> WE ARE CONVINCED THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL COLLAPSE OF THE STRUCTURE BUT POTENTIALLY , FUNCTIONING PROBLEMS.

ANGULAR DISTORTION OF THE TRACKS.

>> HE AND HIS TEAM SET UP 150 SUB SERVICE CENTERS AND ALL IT BUG IN BIG PUBLIC SPACES AND IN A PARKING GARAGE AS WELL AS IN THE BASEMENT OF 30 BUILDINGS WHERE BOILERS COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE SUBSURFACE TEMPERATURE.

HE SAYS THE RESEARCH OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ENGINEERS TO BUILD MORE EFFICIENTLY.

>> WE WILL ABSORB PART OF THE HEAT , WE CAN BRING IT INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURES AND USE IT FOR SPACE HEATING .

>> THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCTIONS IN A BUILDINGS HEATING BILL AND SAYS CHICAGO IS NOT ALONE.

LONDON, NEW YORK, AND ANY DENSELY BUILT URBAN AREA IS HAVING THE SAME PHENOMENON AND SAYS THE CITY SHOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS BEFORE IT BECOMES WORSE.

>> THE NORTHWESTERN STUDY PREDICTS UNDER GROUND TEMPERATURES WILL RISE BETWEEN .1 AND 2.5°C EVERY DECADE .

>>> WHAT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PLAN TO DO ABOUT THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE.

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WHAT WEATHER ABOVE THE GROUND.

>>> STUDENTS RETURN TO THE CLASS IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS IF THEY COULD GET TO SCHOOL.

THE DISTRICT SAYS THEY CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE HALF OF THE BUS DRIVERS THEY NEED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS QUALIFIED TO BE BUSED TO SCHOOL.

WHILE THEY HAVE A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVER SINCE THE PANDEMIC PARENTS SAY IT IS A PERENNIAL PROBLEM.

CHARLES MAYFIELD THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER , THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> MORE THAN 17,000 STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE BUSED TO SCHOOL AND AT THE MOMENT YOU ONLY HAVE TRANSPORTATION LINED UP FOR 7000 OF THEM .

ABOUT HALF OF THE 1300 DRIVERS THAT YOU NEED, WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR THE SHORTAGE OF DRIVERS?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WITH THE PARENTS, IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION WE NEEDED TO MAKE AND IT'S NOT ONLY IN CHICAGO ISSUE BUT THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF AMERICA.

IN THIS CASE WITH THE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE WE MADE CHANGES OVER TIME.

LAST YEAR WE OPTED TO CHANGE OUR BOARD POLICY WHERE WE WOULD PRIORITIZE OUR STUDENTS WHO NEED TRANSPORTATION WHO WERE THE MOST VULNERABLE , SOME OF OUR DIVERSE LEARNER STUDENTS AND STUDENTS ALSO IN TEMPORARY LIVING SITUATIONS.

SO IN THIS CASE IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE WHERE WE DECIDED WE COULD ONLY TRANSPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR STUDENTS DUE TO THE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

THE POPULATION IS MOSTLY RETIREES.

THAT POPULATION HAS NOT RETURNED TO THE MARKET IN THE POST-PANDEMIC TIME.

>> YOU SAID THE SCHEDULE IT SOUNDS LIKE ONE CHALLENGE WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS A MATTER OF PAY , NOT BEING ENOUGH TO ATTRACT DRIVERS?

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE?

>> THE SCHEDULE IS ANOTHER IN A SENSE WHERE THERE IS THE MORNING ROUTE AND NIGHT ROUTE AND SOME ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT ESPECIALLY WITH THE OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE DRIVING SERVICES AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS AS WELL AS THE PAY SO IT'S ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WE MADE WHERE WE INCREASED PAY.

THE AVERAGE PAY RATE WAS $20-$25 SINCE LAST YEAR AND WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR VENDORS TO PROMOTE MORE HIRING .

IN OUR CASE WE ARE COMPLETELY OUTSOURCED SO WE HAVE VENDORS FOR THE SERVICES.

NOT ONLY BUS SERVICES BUT FOR PARENTS TRANSFER SERVICES AND VEHICLES THAT TRANSPORT STUDENTS AND WE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND USING TAXES TO GET KIDS TO SCHOOL ON TIME SO THESE ARE THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE.

THIS IS STILL A CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT CONTINUES TO REQUIRE TOUGH DECISIONS AT THIS JUNCTURE.

>> WE SPOKE WITH ONE PARENT WHO HAS THREE CHILDREN AT THREE DIFFERENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TWO OF HER CHILDREN QUALIFY TO BE TAKEN TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY HAVE IEP'S, INDEPENDENT EDUCATION PLANS .

HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID.

>> BPS HAS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSPORTING KIDS AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE.

EVERY YEAR CPS COMES UP WITH A NEW WAY TO TRY TO GET SYMPATHY OR EMPATHY FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON WHY THEY CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN BUT REALLY, IT IS FOR PLANNING.

THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT.

THEY ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT HOW WE WILL GET OUR KIDS FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER.

EVERY YEAR THEY ACT LIKE THIS IS A SURPRISE.

>> THIS IS A TOUGH SPOT FOR YOU AND PARENTS SO HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO A FRUSTRATED PARENT WHO SAYS IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE DRIVER SHORTAGE AS MUCH IS THIS IS ABOUT THE DISTRICT NOT PLANNING FOR THIS ENOUGH IN ADVANCE?

>> I KNOW THAT A TOUGH DECISION WAS MADE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I SUPPOSE IT.

I KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME DEADLINES OUT THERE THAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET IN AS MANY TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS TO ASSESS THE MARKET.

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT KNOWING HOW MANY STUDENTS NEED TRANSPORTATION.

WE GOT THE DEADLINE IN MAY.

THIS WAY WE CAN TRY TO PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A DECISION .

WE EXTENDED THE DATE TO JULY 3.

WE ALSO HAD TRANSPORTATION TEAMS MAKING CALLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REQUEST WERE RECEIVED AND WHEN WE GOT TO A PLACE WHERE WE FELT LIKE THE POPULATION WAS ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION THEN WE HAD TO MAKE THESE TOUGH DECISIONS BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS TO TRANSPORT OUR STUDENTS.

KEEP IN MIND, THE DRIVER POPULATION FLUCTUATES.

WE HAVE DRIVERS THAT DO NOT COME BACK FOR SUMMER.

THEY DON'T COME BACK FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, WE WERE AT RIGHT ABOUT HALF AND THAT WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO TRANSPORT THE STUDENTS AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF THE INCREASES WE RECEIVED FOR THE DIVERSE MARKET POPULATION WHICH CONTINUES TO GROW FROM EVERY YEAR.

>> THEY ARE OFFERING A TRAVEL STIPEND UP TO 500 TRAVEL STIPEND UP TO $500 FOR THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY.

IS $500 ENOUGH, WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THE PARENTS?

>> THAT IS A GOOD OPTION WE OFFER TO PARENTS .

I'M GLAD YOU SHARED THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT.

$500 PER MONTH IF THEY CHOOSE .

$25 A DAY FOR ATTENDANCE .

THE OTHER OPTION THAT WE ARE OFFERING FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION OF FAMILIES IS THE PTA VENTURE CARD WHERE THEY WILL HAVE ONE FREE CARD FOR STUDENT AND THE PAST SO THEY COULD TRANSPORT THE TRANSPORTATION TO THE SCHOOL THAT THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO.

LASTLY, FOR THE DIVERSE LEARNER , THOSE WHO CHOOSE THE TRANSPORTATION , THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION FROM DAY ONE WE DID HAVE A CERTAIN CUTOFF DATE TO ROUTE TO THAT PARTICULAR POPULATION AND AS OF MONDAY IF WE DID NOT HAVE YOUR TRANSPORTATION REQUEST IN YOU WON'T BE THERE THE FIRST DAY BUT WE WILL PROVIDE YOU $25 PER DAY UNTIL YOU ARE ROUTED.

IT COULD TAKE UP TO TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TO GET ROUTED.

>> YOU REPORTED 3000 FAMILIES HAVE TAKEN YOU UP ON THE DISTRICT'S STIPEND OFFER .

MORE TO COME, WE WILL ALL WORK THAT OUT IN A FEW WEEKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> WE WILL RETURN TO WRAP THINGS UP AFTER THIS.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFINGS AND YOU COULD GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON VARIOUS PLATFORMS.

>> YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THE SHOW THROUGH PODCASTS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER SHOW TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10:00.

FROM ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING .

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.