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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE A FAIR SHOT.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES A STUDENT LOAN DEBT RELIEF PLAN.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR BORROWERS AND WILL THE PLAN ADDRESS TRILLION DOLLAR STUDENT DEBT LOAN CRISIS.

>> A CONSERVATIVE GROUP'S POLITICAL AD DARKENS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S SKIN.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM SHARES MORE.

>> HISTORICALLY 79TH STREET AND HALSTED WERE THE DOWNTOWN OF AUBURN GRESHAM.

>> CHICAGO'S PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER ON TODAY'S INVEST SOUTHWEST GROUNDBREAKING.

>> BUSING ISSUES AT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SOME RIDES ARE AS LONG AS 90 MINUTESES TO AND FROM SCHOOL.

WHAT IS DRIVING THE PROBLEM?

>> THE CHICAGO SKY ARE MOVING ON TO THE SEMIFINALS!

>> THE DEFENDING WNBA CHAMPS ADVANCE IN THE PLAYOFFS.

WE GET A FORECAST FOR THE CHICAGO SKY'S CHANCES.

>> THERE ARE INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS LIKE MENDEZ IS JUST GREAT.

>> WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CHICAGO BAND ASI ASI.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING NEAR A NORTHWEST SIDE HIGH SCHOOL LEAVES FOUR PEOPLE WOUNDED.

POLICE SAY THE VICTIMS WERE BETWEEN 15 AND 18 YEARS OLD AND WERE INJURED IN THE INCIDENT OUTSIDE CARL SCHURZ HIGH SCHOOL THIS AFTERNOON.

THE DEPUTY CHIEF BELIEVES ALL FOUR VICTIMS ARE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

>> WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW IS THAT A DARK S.U.V.

PULLED UP ON ADDISON AVENUE AND WE POSSIBLY BELIEVE SHOTS WERE FIRED FROM THAT DARK S.U.V., STRIKING OUR VICTIMS.

THAT VEHICLE THEN FLED EASTBOUND ON ADDISON AVENUE.

OUR VICTIMS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND ARE CURRENTLY BEING TREATED.

>> AND ACCORDING TO POLICE, A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE AND IS CURRENTLY IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

ANOTHER 15-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS HIT IN THE BACK HE IS LISTED IN GOOD CONDITION AS IS A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO SUSTAINED A GRAZE WOUND TO HIS LEG.

AN 18-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS ALSO STRUCK IN THE LEG.

>> .

>> THREE DAYS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR AND 1200 STUDENTS DO NOT YET HAVE BUSTOS GET THEM TO SCHOOL.

HUNDREDS OF OTHER STUDENTS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH BUS RIDES OF MORE THAN AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF EACH WAY.

IN THE FIRST BOARD MEETING, C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ SAYS THE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION IS IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR BUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED ONGOING PROBLEMS.

AND WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS STORY COMING UP IN JUST A BIT.

>> GROUNDBREAKING IN ABU IBRAHIM AL-HASHIMI AL-QUARAYSHI ON THE FIRST -- AUBURN GRESHAM TIED TO THE SELF SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE.

THE APARTMENTS WILL BE A TWO BUILDING COMPLEX WITH 58 UNITS RENTING FROM 925 A MONTH AND SHOPPING CENTER AND DINING OPTIONS.

THE DEVELOPMENT IS SUPPORTED WITH $18 MILLION IN TAX INCREMENT FINANCING AND $18 MILLION IN LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS ON HAND FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING.

ONE SHE PROMISED WAS THE FIRST OF MANY.

>> THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR WE ARE EXPECTING TO BREAK GROUND ON INVEST SOUTHWEST INVESTMENTS IN ENGLEWOOD, IN AUSTIN, NORTH LAWNDALE AND MORE.

BUT THIS ONE WILL BE SWEET AND SPECIAL BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST.

>> WE WILL HAVE MORE ON INVEST SOUTHWEST IN A FEW MINUTES.

UP NEXT WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT'S STUDENT LOAN RELIEF PLAN MEAN FOR AMERICANS AND THE ECONOMY?

THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> RELIEF IS ON THE WAY FOR THOSE STRUGGLING TO PAY OFF COLLEGE DEBT.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS OUT WITH A PLAN THAT CANCELS UP TO $10,000 IN FEDERAL LOANS FOR THOSE MAKING LESS THAN $125,000 A YEAR.

LOW INCOME STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED PELL GRANTS WILL SEE THEIR BALANCE DECLINE DOUBLE THAT UP TO $20,000.

THE WHITE HOUSE ESTIMATES THE RELIEF PLAN WILL IMPACT MORE THAN 40 MILLION BORROWERS NATIONWIDE.

BIDEN SAYS IT WILL HELP PEOPLE TO GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES.

>> THE BURDEN IS SO HEAVY EVEN IF YOU GRADUATE YOU MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS LIFE THAT THE COLLEGE DEGREE ONCE PROVIDED.

MANY PEOPLE CAN'T QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE TO BUY A HOME BECAUSE OF THE DEBT THEY CONTINUE TO CARRY.

YOU KNOW, THEY CARRY IT'S TOO HIGH THEY CAN'T COME UP WITH THE DOWN PAYMENT ANYWAY.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE PUTTING OFF STARTING FAMILIES BECAUSE OF THE COST.

>> JOINING US TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE STUDENT LOAN DEBT RELIEF PLAN ARE LYNNE BAKER MANAGING DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THE ILLINOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION.

CONSTANTINE YANNELIS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FINANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

AND HORACIO MENDEZ PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

AT THE WOODSTOCK INSTITUTE.

CONSTANTINE YANNELIS LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE TO LIVE UP TO THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND DELIVER SOME STUDENT LOAN RELIEF.

BUT LET'S NOT GO TO THE POLITICS YET.

PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

IS THE STUDENT LOAN DEBT AT THE POINT THAT IT IS A CRISIS THAT NEEDS TO BE TACKLED?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF BORROWERS STRUGGLING.

AND A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE VERY HIGH BALANCES AND LOW EARNINGS AND NEED RELIEF.

GETTING THE RELIEF TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST WITHOUT SPENDING HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OR TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON UPPER INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

>> HOW DID THIS GET TO BE SUCH A PROBLEM, BRIEFLY?

>> IT'S BEEN DECADES IN THE MAKING.

BUT ESSENTIALLY, THE GOVERNMENT JUST ALLOWING ANYONE TO BORROW A LOAN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY CAN AFFORD IT.

AND PREDATORY SCHOOLS HIKING TUITION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE HIGH LOAN LIMITS.

>> HORACIO MENDEZ WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS PLAN?

DOES $10,000 GO FAR ENOUGH?

WE HAVE HAD SOME PEOPLE CALLING FOR LOANS TO BE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE WAY MORE THAN 10K IN STUDENT LOAN DWET?

>> WELL -- DEBT.

>> WELL, WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW THERE WAS A LOT OF PROMISE WE WERE HOPING WOULD COME FROM SOME OF THE EFFORTS TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS DOESN'T GET THERE I THINK $10,000 IN RELIEF IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

BUT THE 125,000 INCOME CAP THAT MEANS ONE THING IN SAN FRANCISCO AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN ILLINOIS.

SO IT'S STILL NOT AS NEEDS BASED AS WE THINK IT COULD BE.

IT'S GREAT THAT THE PELL GRANT PROGRAM IS GOING TO TARGET THOSE WHO WERE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME WHEN THEY WENT INTO COLLEGE BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT WAS A GOOD SCHOOL AND DEGREE THAT THEY ARE NOT MAKING 125,000 OUT OF SCHOOL.

AND THEY ACTUALLY NEED THE HELP.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS BEING MADE HERE.

$10,000 WHEN YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE AVERAGE IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE IN TERMS OF DEBT WILL HELP.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY SURE IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE INTENDED EFFECT IN THE LONG RUN BUT IN THE SHORT RUN IT'S GOING TO BE WELCOME HELP FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> LYNN, THIS MEASURE DOES CALL FOR OTHER CHANGES AS WELL.

NAMELY THAT IT PUTS A CAP ON HOW MUCH BORROWERS WILL OWE ON THEIR DEBT.

IT CAPS IT AT 5% OF DISCRETIONARY INCOME AGAIN FOR THOSE AT THE LOWER INCOME LEVEL.

EXPLAIN MORE HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK?

>> SO, THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW IS THAT IT FOR THE INCOME-BASED REPAYMENT PROGRAM THAT THE PRESIDENT IS PROPOSING.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION YET ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.

SO BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT AT LEAST OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WOULD BE FOR THAT PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR.

THAT 5%.

>> LYNN ANYTHING ELSE THAT THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THAT STICKS OUT TO YOU?

>> WELL, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE PRESIDENT ALSO EXTENDED THE PAUSE ON STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT UNTIL DECEMBER.

SO.

DECEMBER 31.

AND SO THAT IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.

AND SO THE STUDENT NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE LAST EXTENSION AND GET THEMSELVES PREPARED FOR HAVING TO REPAY THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TALKING TO THEIR LENDER AND MAKING SURE THEIR LENDER HAS THEIR INFORMATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION.

>> GET PREPARED TO START MAKING THOSE AGAIN THIS IS SORT OF RELIEF THAT BEGAN UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO YEARS AND TIME RUNNING OUT.

TO THAT END, THAT MEANS THAT BORROWERS WILL HAVE TO BEGIN TO PAY -- MAKING PAYMENTS AGAIN ON THE LOANS COME JANUARY, OH, WAIT THAT IS SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTIONS.

IS THIS TIMING POLITICAL?

>> KONSTANTINE?

>> I'M AN ECONOMIST NOT A POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

BUT I THINK THE TIMING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF LIKELY IS.

>> VERY LIKELY.

ALL RIGHT.

LYNN, YOU SORT OF TALKED ABOUT THIS ALREADY IN TERMS OF WHAT BORROWERS NEED TO KEEP IN MIND AS THEY BEGIN TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD THEY BE THINKING OF?

IS THIS SURE RELIEF?

ARE THERE OTHER FINANCIAL CALCULATIONS THAT THOSE WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT NEED TO BEGIN TO MAKE?

>> FIRST OF ALL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR BORROWERS TO UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS WE KNOW THIS IS A ONE-TIME DEBT CANCELLATION.

SO IT'S FOR LOANS DISPERSED PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2022.

SO IF YOU ARE A STUDENT IN SCHOOL NOW, YOU ARE ABOUT TO TAKE OUT MORE LOANS OR TAKE OUT YOUR FIRST SET OF LOANS, YOU SHOULDN'T RELY ON THE FACT THAT THOSE LOANS WILL BE SUBJECT TO ANY DEBT CANCELLATION.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE THE CASE.

SO KNOWING THAT, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS ON THE FRONT END TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO MINIMIZE THEIR STUDENT LOAN DEBT GOING IN.

>> RIGHT.

IMPORTANT HELP THERE.

HORACIO MENDEZ WE TALKED ABOUT SOME CRITICS SAY THIS IS NOT ENOUGH RELIEF.

BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO SAY THIS IS UNFAIR TO THOSE WHO BUDGETED, PAID OFF THEIR LOANS OR THOSE WHO CHOSE NOT TO GO TO COLLEGE SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE ON THE DEBTS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF TAX MONEY AND PARTICULARLY STILL OR BENEFIT PAYMENTS LIKE THIS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE WINNERS AND LOSERS.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET THE RULES RIGHT.

AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE RESTRICTIONS UPON WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOT RELIEF FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE PREYED UPON BY THE HIGH COST COLLEGES OR SOME OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT REALLY HAVE HELPED CREATE THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP A LOOK WITH REGARD TO THE REGULATIONS THAT GET IMPLEMENTED AND HOW WELL THE GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO TARGET THE MONEY TOWARDS NEEDED MOST.

THE DEVIL WILL BE IN THE DETAILS.

LIKE YOU SAID, NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GET HELPED.

AND VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT LYNN AND BUILDUP WHAT LYNN MENTIONED, THIS IS A ONE-TIME FIX.

THIS IS A BAND-AID IT IS NOT GOING TO PREVENT US BEING IN ANOTHER CRISIS LIKE THIS IN ANOTHER FEW YEARS.

THERE'S SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

AND UNFORTUNATELY LOOKING TO AGREES TO FIX SYSTEMIC ISSUES IS NOT A PRODUCTIVE THING TO DO.

>> AMONG THOSE SYSTEMIC ISSUES IS THE COST OF ATTENDING AND GETTING A HIGHER EDUCATION WITH TUITION AND FEES SKYROCKETING AS WELL.

SHOULD THAT BE PART OF IT HORACIO MENDEZ?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK TO A CERTAIN DEGREE WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE FOR-PROFIT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THERE ARE SO MANY WINS ACROSS SOCIETY AND THE ECONOMY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A WELL-EDUCATED WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE ACROSS THE GAMUT OF INCOME, RACE, ETHNICITY AND SEX.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ALWAYS KNOWN.

THIS IS NOT JUST A RACIAL EQUITY ISSUE WITH REGARD TO REPAYMENT AND DEBT RELIEF.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH GENDER.

OUR STUDIES HAVE SHOWN OVER TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE WITH STUDENT DEBT ARE WOMEN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS SO MUCH OF THE FOUNDATION FROM WHICH OUR ECONOMY RELIES AND THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO BE PAYING ACTIVELY INTO THE TAX SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS EVERYTHING FROM OUR MEDICAL CARE TO SOCIAL SECURITY BUT IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO FIND A WAY TO MAXIMIZE THE EDUCATION LEVEL OF OUR WORKERS SO WE ALL BENEFIT.

AND RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT WORKING THAT WAY BECAUSE IT IS A SITUATION THAT BENEFITS THOSE THAT HAVE THE MOST MONEY AND CAN AFFORD THOSE COSTS OR GO INTO DEBT IN THE HOPE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO WORK THEIR WAY UP THE INCOME LADDER.

>> REALIZING THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE.

AND AMONG THE OTHER CRITICISMS OR SORT OF THOUGHTS ON THIS PARTICULAR PLAN, WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN FOR INFLATION, YOU HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS.

WHAT WOULD YOUR PRESCRIPTION BE IF YOU WERE ABLE TO GET CONGRESS TO DO WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE HAPPEN?

>> OH, MY DEAR, LORD.

WHAT A QUESTION TO ASK.

FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STILL CHECK.

I THINK THE AVERAGE PAYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH STUDENT LOPES IS $300 A MONTH.

I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE THAT RIGHT, LYNN MAY CORRECT ME.

THAT'S PUTTING POCKET MONEY BACK INTO THE SYSTEM WHICH IT IS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER THAT IS INFLATION AREA IT IS NOT GOING TO BE DISINFLATION AREA.

THE MAGIC WAND WITH REGARD TO IF I HAD ONE WISH REALISTIC AND I WILL FOCUS ON THAT WORD REALISTIC WOULD BE MAKE THE TARGETING OF THIS RELIEF BASED UPON A PERCENTAGE OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

SOMEBODY IN AN AREA THAT HAS A GOOD JOB AND A DEGREE BUT STRUGGLING UNDER STUDENT DEBT THEIR RELIEF SHOULD BE BASED ON THE COST OF LIVING WHERE THEY LIVE AS OPPOSED TO $125,000 CAP.

>> AND 30 SECONDS LEFT, LYNN I WILL TO YOU IT IS NOT JUST FEDERALLY THERE'S CHANGES ON ILLINOIS' FRONT REGARDS TO THAT MONETARY AWARD PROGRAM.

>> SO THERE IS A BIG INCREASE IN THE MAP FUNDING THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S $ 60000 MILLION IT IS A HUGE, HUGE INCREASE IN MAP.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

>> MORE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR LOW INCOME ILLINOISANS TO GET A HIGHER EDUCATION.

WE LOST HIM OUR APPRECIATE TO CONSTANTINE YANNELIS AND ALSO TO LYNNE BAKER AND HORACIO MENDEZ.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NOW, TO PARIS FOR DETAILS ON A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMING TO CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE.

PARIS?

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT MADE A SPLASH TODAY BREAKING GROUND ON A 43 MILLION DOLLAR DEVELOPMENT IN THE AUBURN GRESHAM NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THE MIXED-USE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT WILL BE BUILT AT 79TH AND HALSTED PART OF THE CITY'S INVEST SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO BRING NEW LIFE TO THE CITY'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRST PROJECT AND THE INITIATIVE IS CHICAGO'S PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER MAURICE COX.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

THE RUNDOWN ON THIS DEVELOPMENT $43 MILLION, CITY LAND DONATED $18 MILLION IN TIF FUNDS AND $18 MILLION IN LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS.

HOW DID THIS PROJECT BECOME TO BE SELECTED AS PART OF THIS INVEST SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THIS IS THE FIRST OF 10 COMMISSIONS THAT WERE DONE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE REQUEST FOR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.

WE ANNOUNCED THIS IN OCTOBER OF 2019.

WE HAD OUR FIRST COMMUNITY KICKOFF IN FEBRUARY 2020.

AND WE ANNOUNCED THE WINNERS LAST YEAR IN MARCH.

SO IT WAS AN AMAZING DISPLAY OF BRINGING EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT TO THESE 10 COMMUNITY AREAS THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS TARGETED FOR, REINVESTMENT.

>> AND AS I UNDERSTAND WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT IT WILL BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOU HAVE COMMERCIAL SPACE AND A GROCERY STORE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

IT'S A MIXED-USE.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO BUILDINGS.

ONE WITH 30 UNITS AND ANOTHER WITH 28.

EACH OF THEM HAVE A GROUND FLOOR PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED LOCAL AMENITIES.

IF THERE IS A WEST AFRICAN FOODS GROUP THAT IS MOVING INTO THE GROUND FLOOR OF ONE.

THERE IS A PARK SUMMER CLUB AND RESTAURANT IN ANOTHER.

SO THESE ARE THE LOCALLY SERVING AMENITIES THAT WE ALL WANT AND ENJOY IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THEY ARE FINALLY COMING TO AUBURN GRESHAM.

>> AND RESIDENTS WANT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AT THAT CORNER ONCE A THRIVING HUB.

THERE WERE COMMUNITY MEETINGS LAST YEAR WHERE MANY OF THE RESIDENTS PUSHED BACK ON HAVING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

WERE THEIR CONCERNS LISTENED TO?

>> IN FACT WE AWARDED THE COMMISSION TO EVERGREEN IMAGINE A JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP AND IT WAS FIVE STORY BUILDING ALL 58 UNITS WERE LOCATED ON ONE SITE.

AND THE COMMUNITY FELT THAT IT WAS OUT OF CONTEXT TOO DENSE FOR ONE SITE.

SO WE STARTED OVER AGAIN.

AND BASICALLY, WORKED SHOPPED WITH THE ARCHITECTS AND DEVELOPERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THREE MONTHS TO COME TO A CONCLUSION WHICH ACTUALLY IS BETTER FOR EVERYONE, TWO BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF A 21 MILLION INVESTMENT IT DOUBLED AND BECAME A $43 MILLION INVESTMENT.

IT CREATES ORIGINAL SITE WILL HAVE A THREE STOREY BUILDING AND THE CORNER OF HALSTED AND 79TH STREET WILL HAVE A FIVE STOREY BUILDING AND THAT WILL BRING YOU CLOSER TO THE NEW METRA STATION.

THIS BECOMES AN ETOD, EQUITABLE TRANSIENT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND THAT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY'S INSIGHTS AS TO WHAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THAT SITE.

>> A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF 10 PROJECTS IN THIS $250 MILLION INVEST SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE.

YOU HAVE ONE COMING UP IN ENGLEWOOD AND AUSTIN AT THE OLD LARAME BANK BUILDING.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE?

>> SURE.

THE ENGLEWOOD SQUARE THERE WAS A WONDERFUL FIREHOUSE THAT HAS LONG SINCE BEEN VACANT.

AND THE COMMUNITY ASKED US TO REIMAGINE WHAT IT COULD BE.

WE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY PUT OUT VISIONS TO SOLICIT DEVELOPERS' INTEREST.

WE HAD CONSIDERABLE INTEREST.

AND WE CHOSE ENGLEWOOD CONNECT, WHICH IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN McLAREN DEVELOPMENT AND BAR COIN.

AND THEY ARE REIMAGINING THE FIREHOUSE AS A CULINARY HUB WITH COMMERCIAL KITCHENSK WITH EVENT SPACE, AND ULTIMATELY A PLACE WHERE RESTAURANTS WILL BE CREATED THAT WILL THEN POPULATE THE ENGLEWOOD.

>> YOU HAVE KENNEDY-KING COLLEGE THERE WHICH SPECIALIZES IN TRAINING FOLKS FOR CULINARY CAREERS.

I WANTED TO JUMP IN WITH ENGLEWOOD, THE WHOLE FOODS HAD ANNOUNCED IT WILL CLOSE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO GO IN THERE AFTER IT?

WHAT MIGHT REPLACE IT?

>> I KNOW THE DEVELOPER CO3 LEONE WALKER IS CURRENTLY SOLICITING OTHER GROCERS TO MOVE INTO THAT SPACE.

IT IS A KEY PART OF THE ECOKE SYSTEM OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE.

WE'RE GOING TO HELP BY MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE RESIDENTS WITHIN A WALKABLE DISTANCE TO PATRONIZE THAT GROCERY STORE.

LEONE WALKER WHO COMPETED FOR AN INVEST SOUTHWEST COMMISSION, RECENTLY HAS BEEN AWARDED A TAX CREDIT TO BUILD 60 UNITS OF HOUSING ON 63rd AND HALSTED RIGHT NEXT TO THE BOX FOR THE GROCERY STORE.

THIS WILL BE FAMILIES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO WALK TO A GROCERY STORE.

AND WE'VE ALWAYS SAID YOU HAVE TO BUILD A ROOFTOPS IN ORDER TO HOLD THOSE ANCHOR AMENITIES LIKE A GROCERY STORE.

I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT.

HE SAYS THE SITE IS HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER AND THE MOMENTUM THAT IS HAPPENING AROUND HIM IS HELPING HIM TO MARKET THAT SITE.

>> I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN CRITICAL IN THE PAST OF THAT DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT IS MORE OF A CAR ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND YOU WANT PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS THERE.

I GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT GOOGLE MOVING INTO THE THOMPSON CENTER.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS A CATALYST FOR THE LOOP?

>> OH, IT IS AN AMAZING ANCHOR FOR THE REIMAGINING OF LASALLE.

YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE CTA STOP AND TO HAVE A CROSSROADS TO HAVE AN AMAZING PUBLIC SPACE, AND TO HAVE 2,000 NEW JOBS THAT ANCHOR THAT END OF LASALLE, I THINK IS A PERFECT SEND OFF FOR OUR EFFORT TO REIMAGINE THE FUTURE OF LASALLE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

>> AND SPEAKING OF DIRECTIONS NORTH THE MAGNIFICENT MILE IS STRUGGLING WITH VACANCY, OVER 20%.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION TO REHABILITATE SOME OF THE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST THERE?

>> WELL, WE'VE WORKED WITH ULI CAME IN AND DID ONE OF THEIR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS AND BROUGHT AMAZING IDEAS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTABLE THEY ARE INCREMENTAL BRINGING FOOD AND BEVERAGE TO THE STREET.

ANIMATING SOME OF THE SIDE STREETS THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO CLEARLY SEE WHERE THE LAKE IS.

MAKING CONNECTIONS OFF THE STREETS.

AND THEN YOU KNOW IN THE SHORT-TERM, A MORE TAXABLE APPROACH TO GETTING NEW RETAIL, POP-UP RETAIL IN THOSE VACANT SPACES.

SO WHILE WE THINK LONG-TERM ABOUT WHAT OUR THE NEW TENANTS THAT ARE NEEDED IN ANCHOR SPACES THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO TO ANIMATE AND ACTIVATE STOREFRONT ACTIVITY.

>> AND A LOT HAS YOU MENTIONED ANIMATED AND ACTIVATED IN AUBURN AND GRESHAM AND IN AUSTIN.

COMMISSIONER MAURICE COX THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TORE HAVING ME.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT C.P.S.

IS DOING ABOUT BUSING ISSUES FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AS WE MENTIONED MORE THAN 1200 STUDENTS DON'T HAVE BUS TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO SCHOOL.

THIS AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER STUDENTS ARE SITTING ON MORE THAN 90-MINUTE RIDES TO AND FROM SCHOOL EACH DAY.

C.P.S.

CHIEF PEDRO MARTINEZ SPOKE AT THE FIRST BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING AT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND HE SAYS HE CAN RELATE.

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LONG ROUTES BECAUSE IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE 355 FAMILIES IT'S YOUR CHILD I GET IT I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AT C.P.S.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE FIXED FOR YOUR CHILD.

I GET IT.

>> AND WTTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

BEFORE WE GET TO THE SCHOOL BUS ISSUE, C.P.S.

PUT OUT A STATEMENT THIS EVENING ON THAT SHOOTING AT SCHURZ HIGH SCHOOL THAT WOUNDED FOUR KIDS AT THIS POINT.

WHAT DID IT SAY?

>> THE DISTRICT SAID THE SCHOOL WENT INTO A LOCKDOWN WHILE C.P.D.

RESPONDED TO THE SHOOTING THAT OCCURRED OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL.

THEY WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY LATER AND THEY WANTED TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS WERE WITH THE FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE INJURED IN THE SHOOTING.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS HOLDING HER BREATH HOPING THEY ARE OK. ON TO THE SCHOOL BUS ISSUE.

MARTINEZ SAYS THE DISTRICT'S TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY HAS IMPROVED OVER LAST YEAR BUT STILL THE AVERAGE BUS TRIP IS 39 MINUTES MORE THAN 80% ARE UNDER AN HOUR BUT 365 DIVERSE LEARNERS IT'S MORE THAN 90 MINUTES EACH DAY.

HOW DID IT GET TO THIS POINT?

>> THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS ACROSS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MARTINEZ SAID IT IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

HE'S POINTED TO A NATIONWIDE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE IS BEING THE ROOT OF THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUES THE CITY HAD.

AND WHILE C.P.S.

MAYBE IN A BETTER SPOT THAN LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF ROUTEING KIDS ON THE BUSES IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR SEVERAL PARENTS AND FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT.

>> AND MARTINEZ WAS ON THIS PROGRAM MONDAY TALKING ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

DID HE REVEAL A PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS?

>> C.P.S.

SAID THAT OF THOSE THERE IS ABOUT 1200 STUDENTS WHO HAVE NO BUS RIDE AND HE SAID HALF THOSE KIDS WILL HAVE A BUS ROUTE BY THIS TIME NEXT WEEK.

THE OTHER HALF SHOULD HAVE A ROUTE BY LABOR DAY WEEK, THE WEEK FOLLOWING THAT.

FOR NOW, C.P.S.

IS PROVIDING A MONTHLY STIPEND PAYMENT TO FAMILIES TO HELP COVER TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

FOR GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS THEY CAN GET FREE CTA BUS PASSES AS WELL.

AND MARTINEZ SAID THE DISTRICT UPPED THE HOURLY PAY UP TO $20 AN HOUR TO HIRE MORE BUS DRIVERS SO IT CAN FILL THE VACANCIES THAT THEY HAVE.

>> WITH A PLAN IN THE WORKS, MATT, MARTINEZ TOLD PARENTS AT THE BOARD MEETING THEY SHOULD BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE SITUATION.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> I WANT TO BE REALISTIC.

I DON'T SEE US GETTING 100% OF OUR ROUTES UNDER AN HOUR.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY.

>> WHAT IS THE RESPONSE FROM PARENTS TO THOSE COMMENTS?

>> PARENTS HAVE BEEN UPSET BY THAT THE FACT THEY DON'T HAVE BUS ROUTES IT DID LAST LONGER IN THE SCHOOL YEAR LAST YEAR.

THE FACT IT IS THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL AND KIDS DON'T HAVE A GUARANTEED ROUTE IT IS A PROBLEM.

THE TEACHERS' UNION OFFICIAL SPOKE TODAY AND SAID IT'S WRONG THAT KIDS DON'T HAVE ROUTES OR ARE SITTING ON BUSES FOR AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF CLOSE TO TWO HOURS.

AND WHILE THE INCREASED PAY FOR DRIVERS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

>> YOU CAN READ MATT'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> NOW, AMANDA WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", THE CITY SKY IS HEADING TO THE WNBA SEMIFINALS.

PLUS, JAMES WADE SIGNS A CONTRACT EXTENSION.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON WHO AND WHAT IS BEHIND THE POLITICAL AD THAT DARKENED MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S SKIN.

PLUS A MEXICO CITY NATIVE TALKS ABOUT HIS MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH HIS BAND IN CHICAGO AND HOW HE ADDS TEXTURE TO HIS MUSIC.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> MORE ON THE DRIVE BY SHOOTING NEAR CARL SCHURZ HIGH SCHOOL OFFER CHICAGO'S NORTHWEST SIDE THIS AFTERNOON.

DEPUTY CHIEF SAYS HE BELIEVES ALL FOUR VICTIMS AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 18 ARE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

>> ONE VICTIM IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

TWO VICTIMS ARE IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

AND ONE VICTIM IS IN GOOD CONDITION.

CURRENTLY THE DETECTIVES AND OUR OFFICERS ARE INVESTIGATING IN THE AREA.

THEY ARE SEEKING VIDEO AND ANY OTHER TYPE OF EVIDENCE AND SPEAKING TO INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT WE ASK FROM THE COMMUNITY IS IF THEY HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR IF IN MY OPINION WAS IN THE AREA AND MIGHT HAVE OBSERVED ANYTHING IF THEY CAN PLEASE CONTACT THE AREA 5 DETECTIVE DIVISION 312-746-6554.

>> HE SAYS THERE WILL BE AN ENHANCED POLICE PRESENCE AROUND THE SCHOOL BEGINNING TOMORROW MORNING.

>> HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY GATHERED IN DALEY PLAZA TO COMMEMORATE UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE ON THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION TODAY'S EVENT CELEBRATED UKRAINIAN CULTURE AND UKRAINE'S RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE SIX MONTHS AFTER RUSSIA'S BRUTAL INVASION.

THE CONSUL GENERAL EXPRESSED HIS CONFIDENCE THAT RUSSIA WILL BE DEFEATED.

>> MY COUNTRY FACE NOW I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL WIN OUR STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.

DEMOCRACY AND EUROPEAN.

UKRAINE WILL ALWAYS BE FREE, SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT STATE WITH OPEN HEART TO ALL PEACEFUL NATIONS.

>> THE HOPE OF BEING REPEAT CHAMPIONS IS LIVE FOR THE CHICAGO SKY THEY TOOK DOWN THE NEW YORK LIBERTY 90-72 LAST NIGHT WINNING THE SECOND STRAIGHT ELIMINATION GAME THAT PUSHES THE SKY INTO DOUBLE WNBA SEMI FINALS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SKY IS SHAKEIA TAYLOR.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO LAST NIGHT'S WIN?

>> LAST NIGHT'S WIN WAS AMAZING.

IF YOU ARE A SKY FAN IT WAS A SUPER FUN GAME TO WATCH.

JUST WATCHING THE TEAM DOMINATE THE LIBERTY AND AFTER GAME ONE, NO ONE KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT GAME TWO, THEY CAME OUT AND THEY ABSOLUTELY THROTTLED THEM AND GAME THREE WE GOT MORE OF THE SAME DOMINANT BASKETBALL FROM THE SKY.

BEING ABLE TO STIFLE ALL OF THE TALENTED PLAYERS ON THE LIBERTY IS HUGE.

>> AND IT GOT CLOSE BEFORE THEY REALLY SLAMMED IN THE END.

NOW, THE SKY'S MVP IS RELATIVELY NEW TO THE TEAM BUT NOT AT ALL TO CHICAGO.

TALK ABOUT CANDACE PARKER.

HOW IS SHE PLAYING?

>> CANDACE PARKER IS PLAYING OUT OF THIS WORLD THIS EVENING.

I SAID ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH THE SEASON THAT I FELT LIKE SHE WAS ON A REVENGE TOUR.

SHE IS CONSTANTLY SETTING RECORDS AND PUTTING HERSELF IN THE TOP 10 AND TOP FIVE AND HISTORY MAKING POSITIONS WITH THE W THIS SEASON.

AND HER STAT LINE IS INCREDIBLE.

YOU WILL GET A GOOD 25, 30 MINUTES OUT OF CP WITH 14 POINTS AND SHE IS CONSTANTLY GOING FOR DOUBLE-DOUBLES.

IT'S BEEN A STELLAR SEASON FOR CANDACE PARKER.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER PLAYERS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAME?

>> SOME OF THE OTHER PLAYERS I THINK THAT ARE STANDING OUT.

OBVIOUSLY COURTNEY, ALLEY QUIGLEY GOES BACK-TO-BACK [INAUDIBLE] SILENCED ALL OF NEW YORK AND IF YOU ARE A CHICAGO FAN YOU LOVE TO SEE A NEW YORK CROWD GO QUIET.

>> TRUE.

>> EMMA, I MEAN WAS AN AABSOLUTE AMAZING ADDITION.

WADE, REBECCA GARDINER, I MADE A JOKE LAST NIGHT ON TWITTER THAT LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, REBECCA GARDINER IS ALWAYS THERE.

HER DEFENSE WAS JUST, I MEAN SHE WAS INCREDIBLE COMING OFF THE BENCH.

AND YOU HAVE STEVENS WHO IS ANOTHER BIG SHE PLAYS CENTER FORWARD LIKE CANDACE PARKER.

BUT HAVING HER OUT ON THE COURT SHE IS COMING OFF THE BENCH AND PUTTING UP 15 POINTS.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

AND A FULL TEAM EFFORT FROM THE SKY.

IT'S NOT JUST CP IT'S EVERYBODY.

>> YOU'RE CLEARLY KEYED INTO THIS I WATCHED SOME OF THE GAME BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T OR THEY DON'T WANT TO WATCH ANY WOMEN'S SPORTS WHY SHOULD THEY?

CONVINCE THEM.

WHY TURN ON A SKY GAME?

>> MY FIRST THING WITH THE SKY IS WINNING.

WHO DOESN'T WANT TO WATCH A WINNING TEAM.

I USED TO MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY JOINED BAND WAGONS AND MY FRIEND IS LIKE EVERYBODY LIKES A WINNER.

AND DON'T WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE IN THE FINALS WHERE THE CITY CAN CLAIM SOMETHING.

SUPPORT THEM NOW.

THE SKY I WILL SAY THEY ARE -- I WON'T SAY THEY ARE LACK IN SUPPORT THEY ARE AVERAGING 7,000 FANS PER HOME GAME SO PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP.

BUT I THINK THE CITY SHOULD GET BEHIND THEM.

THEY ARE A FUN TEAM THEY ARE PLAYING GOOD BASKETBALL AND THEY ARE THE MOST COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

NO ONE WANTS TO SAY IT BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE MEN'S PRO TEAM BUT WE HAVE THE WOMEN'S TEAM THAT IS ABSOLUTELY BALLING.

THE CITY SHOULD BUY IN RIGHT NOW.

>> THE SKY IN FACT SO BALLING THAT THEY COULD BE THE FIRST REPEAT CHAMPIONS SINCE 2002.

AND YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE SKY HASN'T GOTTEN AS MUCH LOVE AS THE LOCAL PRO MEN'S TEAMS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> PEOPLE HAVE THEIR NOTIONS ABOUT WOMEN'S BALL.

FIRST OF ALL IT'S THAT IT'S WOMEN.

THAT'S JUST STRAIGHTFORWARD.

PEOPLE MEN SPECIFICALLY SOMETIMES WILL SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO WATCH WOMEN PLAY.

THE OTHER PART IS I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE LEVEL OF BASKETBALL THAT IS BEING PLAYED.

YOU OFTEN SEE PEOPLE SAY LIKE THEIR 12-YEAR-OLD COULD BE A WNBA PLAYER AND IT'S LIKE NO YOU COULD NOT.

YOU ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT.

THESE WOMEN WOULD BEAT ANY OF US AND WOULDN'T BREAK A SWEAT.

PEOPLE WHO AREN'T WATCHING I THINK THEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO BE THOROUGHLY, TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE SHINE THAT THE TEAM DESERVES.

THERE IS NO GOOD REASON TO NOT WATCH OTHER THAN YOU BEING A HATER.

>> I CANNOT IMAGINE HAVING A 10TH OF THE ATHLETICISM THOSE ATHLETES AND PLAYERS HAVE.

NOW, COACH AND GM SUCCESS STORY JAMES WADE SIGNING A CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH THE 2025 SEASON.

IS THAT A GOOD MOVE FOR THE TEAM?

>> I THINK SO.

COACH WADE HAS TAKEN THE TEAM TO THE PLAYOFFS CONSECUTIVE SEASONS.

HE HAS MADE SOME VERY SMART DECISIONS AS A GM.

REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HIS END GAME DECISIONS FROM GAME TO GAME HE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

THE PLAYERS OBVIOUSLY BUY IN THEY ARE WINNING.

HE WAS ABLE TO BRING BACK MUCH OF LAST YEAR'S TEAM.

AND I THINK THE TEAM HAS STABILITY WHEN YOU KNOW WHO THE COACH IS.

LIKE WHEN YOU KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE THERE, PLAYERS ARE WILLING TO BUY INTO THE COACHING PHILOSOPHY.

>> AND THE HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE OF ANY SKY COACH.

LAST QUESTION, LOOKING FORWARD TO SUNDAY'S GAME WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT TONIGHT WHETHER IT IS GOING TO BE THE CONNECTICUT SUN OR THE DALLAS WINGS.

SHORT ANSWER, WHO WOULD YOU RATHER THE SKY BE UP AGAINST?

>> I RATHER THEY GO UP AGAINST THE SUN.

BECAUSE THEY BEAT THE SUN EVERY TIME THEY MATCHED UP AGAINST THEM IN THE REGULAR SEASON.

>> GOOD REASON.

GO SKY!

AND WE KNOW YOU WILL BE WATCHING.

OUR THANKS TO SHAKEIA TAYLOR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE PRESIDENT'S STUDENT LOAN RELIEF PLAN.

STAY WITH US.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN UNVEILS HIS STUDENT DEBT RELIEF PLAN.

ALL THAT AND MUCH MORE IN OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS SEGMENT.

AND WE WELCOME BACK IN AMANDA VINICKY AND OUR OWN HEATHER CHERONE.

GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

IN A SPEECH BIDEN TOOK AIM AT THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE CRITICAL OF HIS PLAN.

>> I WILL NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR HELPING AMERICANS WORKING AMERICANS AND MIDDLE CLASS.

ESPECIALLY NOT TO THE SAME FOLKS WHO VOTED FOR A $2 TRILLION TAX CUT THAT MAINLY BENEFITED THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS AND THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

REMIND US WHO THIS BENEFITS?

>> WELL, IT BENEFITS PEOPLE WHO MAKE LESS THAN $125,000 A YEAR OR $250,000 A YEAR IF YOU ARE MARRIED AND FILING JOINTLY.

IF YOU DID NOT GET A PELL GRANT YOU COULD GET ABOUT $10,000 IN RELIEF.

BUT IF YOU DID GET A PELL GRANT YOU WILL GET $20,000 IN RELIEF AND THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE WHO WERE MOST IN NEED OF AID WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE SINCE PELL GRANTS ARE GIVEN BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED.

>> AND AMANDA, REPUBLICANS ALMOST UNIVERSALLY OPPOSED AND DEMOCRATS ARE NOT UNIVERSALLY SUPPORT IT.

>> IT IS NOT UNIVERSAL SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS.

MANY SAYING WE WANT ALL CANCELLATIONS TOTAL FORGIVENESS THAT THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH.

THAT SAID DOES THAT HELP IN THE MIDTERMS?

SURE.

PEOPLE AREN'T READY TO SAY NO TO GETTING THAT MONEY BACK.

DOES THAT MOTIVATE DEMOCRATS TO GET TO THE POLLS?

PERHAPS IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ADVANTAGED.

I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO FOLKS WHO SAY THIS IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A DENT IN WHAT I OWE AND THERE'S FRUSTRATION.

BUT I THINK VOTERS PARTICULARLY WE'VE SEEN IN PRIMARIES THAT PLAYED OUT YESTERDAY, ABORTION IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE BRINGING FOLKS TO THE POLLS FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> AND PRESERVATION OF DEMOCRACY AS WELL ACCORDING TO A POLL THAT CAME OUT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO STATE NEWS.

PLRL SLAMS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT APPEARS TO -- THE AD'S CREATOR RADIO HOST DAN PROFT DENIED THE CLAIM AND SAYS THIS IS AN INSANE ASSERTION AND PAR FOR THE COURSE OF RACE HUSTLERS LIKE LIGHTFOOT AND PRITZKER.

DO WE KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER THEY PURPOSELY DARKENED THE PIGMENTATION IN THE AD?

>> WELL, IN A STATEMENT DAN PROFT SENT HE SAID HE DID NOT.

AND IT WAS JUST A TERRIBLE ALLEGATION.

BUT THE MAYOR SEEMED FULLY CONVINCED THAT THIS WAS DONE TO NOT ONLY SORT OF JIN UP CONCERN ABOUT CRIME IN CHICAGO AND IT WAS ONE OF THE OLDEST TRICKS IN THE BOOK WHEN YOU ARE ATTACKING A BLACK POLITICIAN AND THAT SHE SAID SHE WASN'T GOING TO STAND FOR IT R5RDLESS OF WHAT DAN PROFT SAYS.

>> AND THE G.O.P.

NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR DARREN BAILEY SAID HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AD.

THIS IS A PACT THAT IS SPENDING MONEY AGAINST J.B. PRITZKER BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR DARREN BAILEY.

SO REMIND US THIS PACT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM, DAN PROFT AND CONSERVATIVE BILLIONAIRE DICK USE LINE.

>> THIS IS MONEY THAT USE LINE HAS UIHLEIN TO PROFT'S PACT AND HE HAS GIVEN $15 MILLION SINCE THE PRIMARY.

SO YOU DID HAVE DARREN BAILEY RECEIVE MONEY FROM UIHLEIN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LEADING UP TO THE PRIMARY BUT NOT SINCE.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY A MATTER OF CONSTERNATION FROM BAILEY SUPPORTERS WHO ARE WONDERING THERE WAS A POST ON A CONSERVATIVE ILLINOIS WEBSITE WHERE IS DICK UIHLEIN WHY ISN'T HE COMING THROUGH FOR DARREN BAILEY?

AND WHAT IS GOING ON?

INSTEAD IT SEEMS AS YOU DESCRIBED IT, THAT THE MONEY IS GOING THROUGH PROFT WHO IS HAS A CONSERVATIVE RADIO AM SHOW WITH A POLITICAL CONSULTANT.

AND BY THE WAY, RAN FOR GOVERNOR UNSUCCESSFULLY HIMSELF SOME YEARS BACK.

FUNNELING THROUGH THIS PACT AND AS YOU NOTED IT'S MORE ANTI-PRITZKER THAN IT IS GETTING OUT THE VOTE FOR BAILEY.

PARTICULARLY WITH THAT AD WHERE A QUOTE FROM IT IS STOP CHICAGO VIOLENCE FROM COMING TO YOUR TOWN.

AND BLAMING PRITZKER FOR THAT.

>> AND Mr. USE LEB HAS GIVEN TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES THROUGH Mr. PROFT THEY HAVE HAD THIS RELATIONSHIP FOR MANY YEARS.

THAT IS A NICE INCOME STREAM FOR Mr. PROFT HAVING THIS RELATIONSHIP.

>> UIHLEIN CAN AFFORD IT.

>> I'M SAYING IT'S NICE FOR PROFT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HE POURS $5.5 MILLION INTO THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

A COINCIDENCE THIS HAPPENS AFTER HIS PREFERRED PICK BECOMES THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SUPPLANTING ROBIN KELLY WHOM HE DID NOT WANT IN THERE?

>> NO, NOT A COINCIDENCE AT ALL.

THIS IS HIS MONEY AND IT IS NOW HIS CHAIR IN THAT POSITION.

HE ALSO GAVE MONEY, BY THE WAY, TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

BUT NOWHERE NEAR AS MUCH MONEY.

HE WAITED UNTIL KELLY WAS OUT AND HERNANDEZ WAS IN THAT POSITION.

YOU WOULD TALK TO FOLKS AND THEY SAY THIS IS NOTHING PERM AGAINST KELLY RATHER IT IS BECAUSE SHE IS A FEDERAL OFFICE HOLDER THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT HER ABILITY TO FUNDRAISE.

AND HE DID NOT WANT TO GET TANGLED INTO THAT.

THIS SURE FEELS PERSONAL TO KELLY AND, YES, MAKE NOTE OF THAT TIMING.

>> AND LET'S MOVE TO CITY POLITICS.

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE IN THE TRIBUNE 40% OF CHICAGO VOTING PRECINCTS ARE ELIMINATED WITH THE NEW MAP HOW COME AND COULD THAT HURT VOTER TURNOUT?

>> IT CERTAINLY COULD.

AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

BUT THIS IS MORE OF A RETHREKION ACCORDING TO THE CHICAGO OF BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS THE WAY PEOPLE ARE VOTING HAS CHANGED.

VOTE-BY-MAIL IS POPULAR THROUGHOUT CHICAGO AND IN ILLINOIS SO THAT THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE VOTING IN-PERSON ON ELECTION DAY.

SO THERE'S FEWER POLLING PLACES NEEDED.

IT'S ALSO BECOME REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ELECTIONS OPERATORS TO RECRUIT ELECTION WORKERS.

POLL JUDGES AND PRECINCT TO WORK AT THE PRECINCTS.

THIS THEY HOPE WILL HELP CONSOLIDATE EFFORTS AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY AND THERE'S EARLY VOTING WHICH MEANS THAT REALLY 40 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY, ANYONE CAN VOTE AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO THIS, I THINK, IS MORE A SIGN OF THE TIMES THAN ANY SORT OF INDICATION THAT IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER TO VOTE IN CHICAGO.

>> MORE CONFUSING.

PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DO AN EXTRA CHECK BEFORE THEY GO TO THE POLLING PLACE.

THAT MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR PEOPLE.

>> AND IT'S IMPORTANT THEY GET THIS SETTLED BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ONE BUT TWO MAJOR ELECTIONS IN CHICAGO COMING UP THE MIDTERMS AND A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THAT, THE MAYORAL ELECTION, THE CIVIC ELECTION AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RUNNING FOR CHICAGO MAYOR IS NEARING DOUBLE-DIGITS.

LET'S START WITH WHO IS NOT RUNNING THAT IS STACY DAVIS GATES, SHE SAYS SHE IS OUT.

TAKE A LOOK WHAT SHE SAID.

>> WHY AREN'T YOU RUNNING FOR MAYOR?

>> BECAUSE I LIKE MY JOB.

>> SHE SAYS SHE LIKES HER JOB.

BUT THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IS A BIG PLAYER IN CHICAGO POLITICS.

CLEARLY THEY WANT A INDICATE THAT THEY CAN -- CANDIDATE THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT.

MIGHT THERE BE ANOTHER ONE?

>> I FULLY EXPECT THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE.

STACY DAVIS GATES WAS JUST ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

SHE HAD LITTLE APPETITE TO WIN THAT POST WHICH SHE HAS SOUGHT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND THEN TURN AROUND AND TAKE ON A NEW CHALLENGE.

NOW, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION WANTS TO SEE A NEW MAYOR IN 2023.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRANDON JOHNSON DOES.

HE IS CLOSE WITH C.T.U.

AND HE IS WEIGHING A MAYORAL RUN.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE IF HE WILL PULL THE TRIGGER.

>> IN FACT HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK AND HE WAS STAYING MUM ON THAT THAT LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT HE MIGHT BE THE CANDIDATE THAT THEY WANT TO SUPPORT.

HE HAS BEEN CLOSE WITH THEM.

AMANDA SO MANY QUESTIONS WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE NOT IN THIS PICTURE YET THAT ARE GOING TO DECLARE?

WHO IS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY GOING TO SUPPORT?

DO WE ANSWERS TO ANY OF THESE?

>> WE DON'T YET BUT WE EXPECT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR DECLARATIONS DECISIONS SOONER THAN LATER.

LOOK FOR THIS THE FIELD TO BE MORE FINALIZED BY LABOR DAY OR IN TERMS OF WHO IS ENTERING.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THERE WILL BE FOLKS DROPOUT ONCE POLLING MAKES CLEAR THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE OR FUNDRAISING.

PERHAPS YOU MIGHT SEE THAT BUT LABOR DAY AND JOHNSON IS A NAME WE CONTINUALLY HEAR.

YOU ALSO HAVE JUDY FRIEDLAND AND PAT QUINN.

HAS SORT OF SAID, YEAH I'M INTERESTED I WANT THE JOB.

LET'S SEE WHO ELSE ENTERS.

>> AND NOW AND THEN, A NEW CAMPAIGN POPS UP ON THE CAMPAIGN WEBSITE OF THE ILLINOIS ELECTIONS WEBSITE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT PERSON WAS RUNNING.

SURPRISING ALL AROUND.

>> NOT AS MANY AS THE LAST MAYORAL ELECTION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S VIOLENCE A BIG ISSUE.

AND THE PLACEMENT OF CHICAGO'S STATUES THAT HAS BECOME AN ISSUE.

THREE CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS STATUES THE COMMISSION CAME OUT WITH THE REPORT THEY WANT TO TAKE DOWN THE STATUES PERMANENTLY.

THIS REPORT HAS BEEN -- THE MAYOR SAT ON THIS AND SHE DOES NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING DOES THAT MEAN THE CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS STATUES MIGHT GO BACK UP?

>> I ASKED HER THAT DIRECTLY AND SHE SIDESTEPPED THE QUESTION SAYING SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN ERASING HISTORY AND EQUATED PERMANENTLY REMOVING THE STATUES WITH DOING THAT.

BUT SHE SAID THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A SAFETY PLAN IN PLACE FOR THE COLUMBUS STATUES TO GO BACK UP AND SHE HAS YET TO SEE ANY PLAN THAT WOULD PREVENT POLICE OFFICERS FROM PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK TO PROTECT THOSE STATUES.

SHE SAID THAT WAS SOMETHING SHE WAS NOT WILLING TO ASK THEM TO DO.

WHICH LEAVES THE STATUES AND 10 OTHER MONUMENTS THAT ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT WHITE SUPREMACY AND HONOR RACISTS IN LIMBO WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AFTER MAYOR LIGHTFOOT VOWED TO SORT OF TAKE THE ENERGY THAT SURROUNDED THE OUTRAGE OVER THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND TURN THAT INTO A RACIAL RECKONING AND HEALING PROJECT.

WE ARE NO CLOSER TO ANY SORT OF HEALING THAN WE WERE TWO YEARS AGO.

>> RIGHT.

THE MAYOR PUT THIS COMMISSION TOGETHER.

THEY COME OUT WITH THE REPORT CLEAR RECOMMENDATION ON 13 STATUES THAT THEY BELIEVE SHOULD BE PERMANENTLY REMOVED AND THE MAYOR SAID WELL, I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE BUT I WILL NOT TELL YOU WHAT I DON'T AGREE WITH.

DO YOU THINK SHE WANTS THIS ISSUE TO MAYBE DISAPPEAR BEFORE THE ELECTION?

AND MAYBE NOT HAVE TO TAKE A STRONG STAND ON IT?

>> SHE CERTAINLY IS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

WHATEVER SHE DOES IS GOING TO MAKE A CERTAIN GROUP IN CHICAGO VERY, VERY ANGRY.

AND NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE ANYONE ANGRY JUST AS PETITIONS FOR THAT MAYORAL RACE ARE STARTING TO HIT THE STREETS ON TUESDAY IN FACT.

>> I KNOW THE ITALIAN/AMERICANS SOME GROUPS HAVE VERY STRONG OPINIONS ON THIS.

AND THEY CAN GET POLITICALLY ACTIVE AS MANY OTHER GROUPS.

BEFORE WE GO HERE, VERY OBSCURE CHICAGO BILLIONAIRE GIVES $1.6 BILLION TO A CONSERVATIVE GROUP RUN BY LEONARD LEO HE GUIDED MANY OF THE CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT PICKS.

WHO IS THIS PERSON AND WHAT DOES THE BIG CONTRIBUTION MEAN?

>> REMARKABLE TO BE AN OBSCURE BILLIONAIRE ESPECIALLY IN CHICAGO.

BUT YOU THINK YOU WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM.

HIS NAME IS BAR SIDE AND HE IS OWNER OF A CAME TO BE GROW HIS LARGE ASSETS THROUGH A SURGE PROTECTER COMPANY THAT AMASSED A LOT OF WEALTH.

YOU HAD DATA CENTERS.

THIS IS HUGE BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST POLITICAL DONATION TO A POLITICAL ADVOCACY GROUP REPORTING ON IT SAYING EVEN IN THIS MONEY DRENCHED WORLD, PAST CITIZENS UNITED A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT POWERS THE CONSERVATIVE BASE.

>> BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN POLITICS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

WE MOVE TO THE SPOTLIGHT I SHOULD SAY TO A CHICAGO SINGER AND SONGWRITER BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER...

BUT THE ONLY LANGUAGE THEY SHARE WITH HIM IS THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC.

FERNANDO DIAZ MOVED TO CHICAGO FROM MEXICO CITY A DECADE AGO THAT DISCONNECT ADDS TEXTURE TO THEIR MUSIC WITH LAYERS PSYCHEDELIC, ELECTRONIC AND SURF SOUNDS TO CREATE A MOOD OF INDY BLEND TO ROCK.

[♪♪♪] >> I HEARD THIS SOMEWHERE AND IT RESONATED WITH ME.

99% OF WRITING MUSIC IS LIKE FAILING UNTIL THE 1% WHERE YOU DON'T.

[♪♪♪] WHEN I WAS WRITING SOME MUSIC I TRIED THE EXERCISES LIKE SITTING IN A ROOM FOR 12 HOURS STRAIGHT AND WRITING AS MANY SONGS AS YOU CAN.

12 SONGS OR WHATEVER AND MOST OF IT WAS ABSOLUTE TRASH.

BUT THE SEED FOR THIS ONE SONG CAME OUT.

[♪♪♪] THE SONG MEANS LIKE DISCOVERIES.

I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC LIKE STORY OR IDEA BEHIND IT.

IT'S MORE LIKE A FEELING OF IT LIKE THE MOMENTS WHERE YOU ARE LIKE YOU SPEAK TOO SOON KIND OF A THING.

SO THE LYRICS REFLECT THAT IDEA.

WE WORKED REMOTELY A LOT ON THIS PARTICULAR SONG.

WE WOULD SIT DOWN ON ZOOM SHARING AUDIO AND RECORD THE DEMO AND BUILD IT UP AND DO DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS.

THEN WHEN WE CAME HERE TO THE STUDIO TO RECORD IT, IT WENT FROM BEING A THING RECORDED IN SEGMENTS OR ZOOM, IN BEDROOMS TO LIKE THE FULL BAND AND NOW IT HAS A MUCH MORE LUSH SOUND BECAUSE OF THAT.

[♪♪♪] >> I'M ORIGINALLY FROM MEXICO CITY BUT I MOVED TO CHICAGO 10 YEARS AGO.

I LEARNED TO WRITE SONGS IN SPANISH I'VE TRIED TO WRITE IN ENGLISH AND IT'S TERRIBLE LIKE REALLY BAD.

AND THEN ALSO YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE WRITING THIS RECORD AND WHEN ASI ASI STARTED PLAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S PATH ADMINISTRATION THINGS CHANGED BUT IT WAS AN ACTIVE LIKE VOICE AGAINST DIVERSITY.

AND I THINK WE ALSO TOOK A STANCE OF NO, ACTUALLY IT IS OKAY TO SING IN SPANISH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEAK SPANISH IN THE WORLD AND THIS COUNTRY.

SING IT IN SPANISH BECAUSE WHY NOT?

[♪♪♪] >> ASI ASI'S DEBUT ALBUM WAS RELEASED THIS PAST WEEK.

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.

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THE ROAD TO SAFER BIKE LANES AND CROSSROADS IN NORTH CENTER FOLLOWING DEATHS AND INJURIES.

WE HAVE A LIVE REPORT AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND AS UKRAINIAN CELEBRATE 31 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE THE WAR WITH RUSSIA HITS THE SIX MONTH MARK.

AND WE LEAVE YOU MORE FROM THE BAND, ASI ASI.

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND ENJOY THE TUNES.

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