>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN .

>> I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> MAYOR JOHNSON IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY GRADES, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TAXES IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE.

>>> GUILTY VERDICT .

>>> A HISTORY OF OUR SYSTEM IS IN THIS ROOM.

>> A WAREHOUSE HOLDING NEARLY EVERY COURT DOCUMENT IN COOK COUNTY DATING BACK TO THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE.

>>> THE TOP STORIES , RELIEF IS IN SIGHT AFTER TWO DAYS OF AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING AS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THE REGION NEARLY BROKE A RECORD FOR THE TEMPERATURE AND THE HEAT INDEX.

THE TEMPERATURE AT O'HARE AIRPORT WAS THE FIRST 100 REMARK SINCE JULY WITH THE HIGHEST HEAT INDEX WAS 118 IN 1995.

TODAY, ONLY 116.

THIS PICTURE SHOWS SOME PEOPLE TRY TO BEAT THE HEAT .

TOMORROW , PARTLY SUNNY AND 80s.

THAT QUOTE UNQUOTE COLD FRONT WILL START TONIGHT .

>> THE POLAR VORTEX IS ON ITS WAY.

>>> GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES IN THE FEDERAL TRIAL OF TIM MAPES, FOUND GUILTY OF LYING TO A GRAND JURY AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE, LYING ABOUT MADDIE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MIKE MacLEAN AND THE GRAND JURY WAS INVESTIGATING THEM.

THIS WAS AFTER HOURS DELIBERATING.

THIS IS AFTER THE THREE-WEEK TRIAL.

MAPES FACES 20 YEARS IN PRISON .

>>> CHICAGO IS SUING KIA AND HYUNDAI , CLAIMING THE RISE IN CAR THEFTS.

WE REPORTED ON MONDAY ABOUT THE ASTRONOMICAL RISE IN CAR THEFTS BETWEEN 2019 AND NOW.

MAYOR JOHNSON SAYS THEY HAD IMMOBILIZES IN MODELS THAT MADE THEM RIGHT FOR STEALING AS THEY SAY THAT CARMAKERS DECEIVED CUSTOMERS MAKING THEM SEEM LIKE THEY WERE SAFE.

>>> OPEN UP YOUR MAILBOX, YOU MAY FIND A CHECK OF AS MUCH AS $5000.

IF YOU HAVE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY WITH THE STATE.

THE TREASURER ANNOUNCED A NEW MONEY MATCH PROGRAM WHICH IS OFFICE WILL GO FIND RESIDENTS WITH UNCLAIMED PROPERTY AND SEND IT TO THEM IN THE MAIL.

RESIDENTS NO LONGER HAVE TO FILE THE CLAIM WITH THE TREASURER.

>> I AM CHECKING MY MAILBOX FOR THAT.

>>> COMING UP, THE GUILTY VERDICT FOR TIM MAPES.

>> FIRST, WE SPOKE TO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ABOUT HIS FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE .

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

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> THIS WEEK IS 100 DAYS SINCE MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TOOK OFFICE.

>> HE HAS HAD A LOT ON HIS PLATE, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIME, VIOLENCE .

>> WHILE A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, FINDING SHELTERS FOR THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS BEING SENT FROM SOUTHERN BORDER.

JOINING US NOW IS MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TONIGHT .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US .

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT IS AN HONOR.

>> IT HAS BEEN 100 DAYS, WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR ADMINISTRATION?

>> AS A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FULL RUBRIC.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER .

THAT IS WHEN I CAMPAIGNED ON AND PROMISED.

THAT COLLABORATIVE DYNAMIC IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING THEIR EXCITEMENT ABOUT IS A STRONG FOUNDATION TO BUILD A STRONGER AND SAFER CHICAGO.

WE BROUGHT TOGETHER ENTITIES THAT HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN SEPARATED.

THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS UNION COMING TOGETHER TO BUILD A COMMITTEE AROUND -- WHETHER ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS , SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT COOPERATION HARDLY EVER.

THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO WE HAD A DEPUTY MAYOR DEVOTED TO COMMUNITY SAFETY IN WHICH 24,000 YOUNG PEOPLE PRESENTED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

NEIGHBORS WERE FLOODED, YOU SAW THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SANITATION, FIRE, THESE ENTITIES COMING TOGETHER TO RESPOND TO THE CRISIS.

AT THE VERY LEAST, IN TERMS OF STYLE, I WOULD VOTE A A-.

>> SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE TEACHER.

ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES WAS THE MIGRANT CRISIS, ABOUT 1000 MIGRANTS STILL IN CITY SHELTERS RIGHT NOW WITH MORE BUSES COMING EVERY WEEK.

WHAT IS YOUR LONG-TERM PLAN AND WHAT IS THE TIMETABLE TO GET THEM INTO MORE PERMANENT HOUSING?

>> THERE IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT HAS BROKEN OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND A GLOBAL DYNAMIC.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UNDER OPPRESSIVE RULE.

AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR WASHINGTON UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CLAIMANT CHICAGO A SANCTUARY CITY , THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WE ARE LIVING OUT THE EXPECTATIONS AND ASPIRATIONS THAT MADE MY ELECTION POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE HAD 95+ BUSES ARRIVE AND STARTED 10 MORE SHELTERS SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE.

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IN THIS MOMENT IS WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT CHICAGO THAT HAVE STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE MUTUAL AID AND SUPPORT FOR OUR MIGRANTS.

WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH EVERY GOVERNMENT , PROVIDING HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND TRANSPORTATION, THE STATE HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE WITH RESOURCES.

WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO CHALLENGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP SUPPORT THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WHILE ADDRESSING THE DYNAMICS THAT HAVE LEFT MANY OF OUR FAMILIES IN ECONOMIC DESPAIR.

IT IS A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH WHERE WE SUPPORT THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING FOR SOME TIME IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO BECAUSE OF THE SHATTERING OF PUBLIC HOUSING.

WHILE MAKING SURE WE ARE EMBRACING THE MIGRANTS AND THE FAMILIES WHO WISH TO CALL THE CITY OF CHICAGO THEIR HOME.

IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US TO PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT NEEDED .

>> IS THERE A TIMETABLE TO GET THE REMAINING MIGRANTS INTO SOME KIND OF HOUSING?

WILL THAT ENCOMPASS NEW SHELTERS OPENING UP?

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT MORE SPACES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE COME TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

I AM FULLY AWARE OF WHAT I INHERITED.

YES , WE HAVE STARTED 10 MORE SHELTERS.

WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT .

I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN , THE VICE PRESIDENT, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH WE ARE TAKING AS A STATE TO PUSH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WHO WISH TO CALL CHICAGO THEIR HOME.

>> IN YOUR APPROVAL FOR A REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX, OWNERS OF PROPERTIES BELOW $1 MILLION WOULD SEE THEIR TRANSFER TAXES DROP FROM 26%, FROM THE CURRENT RATE OF -- HOME SELLING BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $1.5 MILLION WOULD SEE THE TAX BILL UP TO 2% 2.5 TIMES THE CURRENT RATE WHILE HOUSE IS ABOUT $1.5 MILLION WOULD SEE A 3% TRANSFER TAX, FOUR TIMES THE CURRENT RATE.

WHY IS THE STRUCTURE THE CORRECT FIT TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS ?

>> 65,000 FAMILIES PLUS THAT ARE NOT HOUSED IN CHICAGO, OF WHICH WE KNOW 20,000 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO CHALLENGE A CHILD AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS WITH SOME REAL DIALOGUE IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN THEY ARE ECONOMICALLY UNSTABLE.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING , BETTER, STRONGER , SAFER CHICAGO.

THEY CAME TO THE TABLE TO COME UP WITH A REASONABLE COMPROMISE.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS THAT TRANSFER THE PROPERTY WILL SEE A REDUCTION BECAUSE PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF WORKING PEOPLE IS A TOP 40 FOR ME.

AND MAKING SURE WE GROW THE INDUSTRY.

THIS PROGRESSIVE RESPONSE TO HOW WE DEAL WITH THE UNHOUSED IS THE SPIRIT IN WHICH PEOPLE ELECTED ME, BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER , MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING JUST TO LAY THEIR HEADS DOWN.

THAT THE COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE UNHOUSED IS A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE.

I AM REALLY GRATEFUL THAT SO MANY DIFFERENT ADVOCATES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE A PART OF THE CITY, WHO REPRESENT THESE VARIOUS PEOPLE , OUR CITY COUNCIL , HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A PATHWAY THAT CAN ADDRESS A CRITICAL NEED .

>> HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THOSE IN REAL ESTATE WHO FEEL LIKE THIS COULD SLOW DOWN THE MARKET?

PARTICULARLY THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET.

>> THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS EXPERIENCING A LEVEL OF GROWTH.

LET'S TAKE GOOGLE, A $1 BILLION TRANSACTION, A DEVELOPER CONNECTED TO THIS OPERATION, THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS REVENUE STREAM .

I HAVE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY OF CHICAGO, EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE A BETTER AND STRONGER CHICAGO.

EVERYONE KNOWS THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD.

HOWEVER , TO BE THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ADDRESS THE UNHOUSED.

THE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH I HAVE BROUGHT , WE ARE DOING THAT, I HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO WE WILL ADDRESS AND WORK TO ELIMINATE HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

I AM GRATEFUL SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO RESPOND TO THAT COMMITMENT .

>> WE AGREED THAT THIS IS THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD.

ON THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU ELECTED LARRY SNELLING TO BE THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT .

HE HAS BEEN WITH CPD FOR DECADES, HOW DID HE SELL YOU ON HIS ABILITY TO MAKE PROGRESS IN TERMS OF CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING?

>> EXPERIENCE.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY DECISION-MAKING.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO COMPETENT, COLLABORATIVE , AND COMPASSIONATE.

CHIEF SNELLING HAS ALL OF THOSE CHARACTERISTICS.

HE IS THE -- IT IS A TESTAMENT TO WHY WE ARE THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD , WHAT I MOST IMPRESSED BY HIS HIS WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE.

HE ALSO KNOWS THAT POLICING ALONE WILL NOT BUILD A BETTER AND STRONGER AND SAFER CHICAGO.

HE IS COMMITTED TO TREATMENT AND NOT TRAUMA.

THAT INCLUDES SUPPORTING OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING ON THE FRONT LINES .

THEY DEDICATE THEMSELVES EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BUILDING A BETTER AND STRONGER AND SAFER CHICAGO.

HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, PREVENTION WORKERS , THE FAITH COMMUNITY, THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY , ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND INTEREST RECOGNIZE THAT THE CHIEF POSSESSES THE TYPE OF SOUL THE CITY OF CHICAGO WAS FOUNDED ON AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS LEADERSHIP.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES HE FACES, YOU GOT PUSHED BACK FOR REFERRING TO SOME OF THE GATHERINGS THAT GET OUT OF HAND, OR ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO DEMONIZE THE KIDS OR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT GET INVOLVED.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO PEOPLE IN CHICAGO WHO WANT YOU TO MORE FORCEFULLY CONDEMN THESE LARGE GATHERINGS WHEN THEY GET OUT OF HAND AND LEAD TO PROPERTY OR PERSONAL CRIME?

>> I REPEATEDLY SAID THAT I DO NOT CONDONE ROAD BEHAVIOR.

I SAID THAT MULTIPLE TIMES.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR THAT HAS MORE INCENTIVE FOR CHICAGO TO BE BETTER, STRONGER, SAFER , THEN SOMEBODY RAISING A FAMILY ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN MIRED BY INVESTMENT AND TRAUMA HAS SET IN.

OFTENTIMES -- I DO NOT CONDONE THAT BEHAVIOR.

I HAVE ALSO SAID THAT, IF WE ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, IT DOES NOT DO US ANY SERVICE TO DEMONIZE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY LIVING IN CONDITIONS THEY DID NOT CREATE.

I DO NOT CONDONE NEGATIVE OR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR .

I HAVE SAID THAT REPEATEDLY.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE SOMEONE RAISING A FAMILY , THE FATHER OF TWO BLACK BOYS AND A BLACK DAUGHTER, I WANT MY CHILDREN TO GO THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN A SAFEWAY AND WANT THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE FAMILY WE CAN DO THAT BY COLLABORATING AND COMING TOGETHER.

BY PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO, UNFORTUNATELY , HAS BEEN RESISTANT TO AND DID NOT WANT TO DO.

THAT IS NOT WHO I AM AS A LEADER .

I WANT TO INVEST IN PEOPLE, THE SUREST WAY TO BUILD A BETTER, STRONGER, SAFER CHICAGO INVEST IN PEOPLE AND PROVIDE THE STRUCTURE THAT CAN LEAD TO A VIBRANT AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY.

>> YOU HAVE USED COLLABORATION AND COLLABORATE A LOT .

YOUR PREDECESSOR WAS CRITICIZED TO NOT BUILDING ENOUGH OF A COALITION.

YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU PLAN TO GOVERN DIFFERENTLY.

AT WHAT POINT , AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE , DO YOU FEEL THAT COLLABORATION -- >> AS A RESULT OF OUR COLLABORATION, WE HAD COOPERATIONS INVESTING IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING IN THE SUMMER.

FROM THE TIME THAT SCHOOL WAS DISMISSED AND PARK DISTRICTS OPENED, WE HAD MANY BUSINESSES PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH THE GAP.

WHEN PARK DISTRICT PROGRAMS ENDED BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED, OPERATIONS CAME TOGETHER , THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION HAVE COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THOSE TYPE OF SUPPORT MECHANISMS OUR STUDENTS NEED .

YOU SAW COLLABORATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION , STREETS AND SANITATION, RAPID COMMUNITIES , TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES SUFFERING LOSS AND DEVASTATION BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING.

WHEREVER I HAVE GONE THROUGHOUT CHICAGO PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME ONE QUESTION, WHAT CAN I WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?

THIS DYNAMIC THAT HAS EXISTED IN CHICAGO FOR SO LONG, MEANT TO HELP -- TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN RELIABLE.

YOU HAVE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN BUILT AROUND CARE AND THE SAME TIRED POLITICS THAT WE HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM , THAT IS WHAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS EMBRACING.

YES, I HAVE TO MAKE FINAL DECISIONS .

YES, I GET TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO FIND A FINAL DECISION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE AND BUILD A CONSISTENCE TO BUILD A BETTER, STRONGER , SAFER CHICAGO.

THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DESERVE AND THAT IS WHAT I'M GIVING THEM AS MAYOR OF CHICAGO.

>> WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE WILL TAKE YOU UP YOUR OFFER TO COME DOWN TO THE FIFTH FLOOR.

>> PLEASE DO THAT.

>> THERE IS AN HGTV SPECIAL AROUND HERE.

>>> NEXT, GUILTY VERDICT FOR TIM MAPES.

>> WE SHARE THE DETAILS NEXT , SO STICK AROUND.

♪ >>> A SECOND MEMBER OF FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN'S INNER CIRCLE HAS BEEN CONVICTED IN FEDERAL COURT FOLLOWING A NEARLY THREE-WEEK TRIAL.

HIS LONGTIME CHIEF OF STAFF , TIM MAPES, HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY ON TWO CHARGES .

WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE CASE AND GO NOW FOR MORE.

WHAT HAS HE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF?

>> Reporter: MAKING FALSE DECLARATIONS AND ATTEMPTED OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

JURORS WERE CAST WITH FIGURING OUT WHICH OF THESE LIES WITH PROSECUTORS ALLEGED , HE WAS GUILTY OF IT ADMITTED AND NO -- THEY FELT HE LIED REPEATEDLY BEYOND THE TWO CHARGES.

THIS 2021 GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING MICHAEL MADIGAN IN RELATION TO THIS BRIBERY CASE.

THEY SAID HE WAS TRYING TO MINIMIZE HIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO MEN.

THE WORK THEY WERE DOING IN AN EFFORT TO STALL.

>> THIS IS HIS INNER CIRCLE , A POWER PLAYER, HE WAS IN THE TIGHT INNER CIRCLE WITH MICHAEL MADIGAN , THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS.

THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN THE STATE WHEN HE WAS IN POWER.

>> WHAT KIND OF SENTENCING?

>> UP TO 20 YEARS ON THE OBSTRUCTION CHARGE AND FIVE YEARS ON THE OTHER CHARGE.

NOBODY EXPECTS HIM TO GET 25 YEARS WITH NO BACKGROUND CRIMINALLY.

LIKELY HE WILL GET MUCH LOWER.

>> WHEN THE SENTENCING TAKE PLACE?

>> JANUARY 10th.

THE JUDGE SAYS THERE MAY BE WIGGLE ROOM BUT ONE DAY BEFORE MICHAEL McCLAIN WILL BE SENTENCED IN THE BRIBERY CASE.

>> THERE IS MORE TO COME.

>>> READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS .

>>> CRIMINAL HISTORY IN COOK COUNTY IS LONG AND SORDID.

FROM AL CAPONE , TO JOHN LYNN CASEY, HISTORICAL FIGURES MAY BE LONG GONE BUT THE PHYSICAL DOCUMENTS AND EVIDENCE PERTAINING TO THE CASES ARE STILL AROUND, AS ARE THOSE IN NEARLY EVERY CRIMINAL CASE GOING BACK TO THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE.

WE GOT AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE THE COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT CLERK'S MASSIVE RECORD STORAGE FACILITY LOCATED IN A WAREHOUSE.

THIS WAREHOUSE MAY NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH AT FIRST GLANCE , BUT LOOK INSIDE AND YOU ARE TRANSPORTED TO A WORLD OF CRIMINALS , COURT CASES , AND THE DARK SIDE OF COOK COUNTY HISTORY.

DOCUMENTS AND EXISTED TELL THE STORIES OF NEARLY EVERY CASE THAT HAS COME BEFORE A JUDGE SINCE AROUND THE CHICAGO FIRE.

>> I COULD NOT TELL YOU THE NUMBER .

>> 260,000 SQUARE FEET OF STORAGE, BOXES PILED DOZENS HIGH ALL IN NEED OF DIGITIZING.

LET'S NOT FORGET THE RECENT HISTORY OF THIS OFFICE, UNDER THE FORMER CLERK BROWN, RECORDS WOULD BE MISSING.

DIGITALIZATION WAS MOVING AT A STALEMATE.

THEY SAY THE TASK OF SCANNING TENS OF MILLIONS OF PIECES OF PAPER INTO A COMPUTER SERVER MAY TAKE A WHILE.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO DIGITIZE EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY.

>> THE OFFICE MUCH -- MUST KEEP PAPER BACKUPS, DIVORCE CASES, RECORDS ARE MOVING BACK AND FORTH TO THE COURT AS OLD DOCUMENTS MAY NEED TO -- NOT JUST PAPER FILES , IN THIS WING OF THE BUILDING, A COLLECTION OF ITEMS USED AS EVIDENCE.

TV SETS, BICYCLES, HERE IS EVIDENCE IN WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A FIREARM CASE.

BULLET HOLES, THIS HAD TO REPRESENT SHOOTING AT A COP.

>> THAT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WE STORE EVERY EVIDENCE .

>> Reporter: ON THE SHELF A TRAPDOOR TO A CRAWLSPACE WERE A NOTORIOUS SERIAL KILLER, JOHN WAYNE GACY TOOK MURDER VICTIMS .

>> THAT IS WHERE HE DISPOSED OF THE BODIES.

I GOT GOOSEBUMPS.

>> Reporter: GO TO THE OLD CASE FILES, HANDWRITTEN, THIS REPRESENTS AN INDICTMENT OF A CASE THAT WAS BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY, LEOPOLD AND LOEB.

LOOK AT PAGE 596 AND THE CASE OF A CHICAGO RESIDENT NAME MARY LINCOLN, ORDERED LEGALLY INSANE AT THE BEHEST OF HER SON ROBERT AND COMMITTED TO WHAT WE WILL NOW CALL A MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION.

ONE MAY IMAGINE DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN'S , LIVING HISTORY PRESERVED IN ONE BOOK .

A TREASURE TROVE OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS LIVING IN A WAREHOUSE IN CICERO, ILLINOIS.

PERHAPS THE COUNTY'S MOST NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL EVER.

THE CLERK SAYS THEY OPEN THE WAREHOUSE AROUND 2012 TO CONSOLIDATE RECORDS FROM MULTIPLE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT COOK COUNTY .

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT, SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND GET CHICAGO'S TONIGHT ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE , AND OUR WEBSITE , WTTW.COM/NEWS .

>> JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 FOR TRAN02: LATINO VOICES.

FOR ALL OF US AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND STAY SAFE .

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM AND PROUD SPONSOR OF PROGRAMMING THAT OFFERS STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL