>>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS EVENING OFF.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>>> QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT A SHOOTING AT A RECENT WHITE SOX GAME.

WHAT WE KNOW AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE STRANGE INCIDENT.

>>> WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE.

IT REQUIRES ALL OF US .

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON A PUSH TO EXPAND WORK PERMITS FOR MIGRANTS.

>>> NEW SCHOOL YEAR, NEW TECHNOLOGY.

HOW SCHOOLS ARE HANDLING CHAT GPD.

>>> THE IDEA BEHIND THIS PROJECT IS THAT THIS CREATOR FOR OUR VETERANS .

>> AND A NEW PORT RICHEY RACE THAT CHICAGO'S AIRPORTS HONORS LOCAL VETERANS.

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

LOCAL LAWMAKERS TURNED OUT IN FORCE TO PREP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GRANT MIGRANT AUTHORIZATION TO WORK.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON WERE JOINED BY SENATOR VIC DURBIN, NUMBERS OF CONGRESS, OLDER PEOPLE, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TODAY.

THEY PUSHED PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO USE HIS LEGAL AUTHORITY TO EXPAND AND STREAMLINE WORK AUTHORIZATIONS FOR LEGAL ASYLUM-SEEKERS TO HELP ADDRESS THE LABOR SHORTAGE.

>> IF, AFTER THESE MANY MONTHS, ASYLUM-SEEKERS STILL ARE NOT BEING GIVEN PERMISSION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES WITH A PLETHORA OF AVAILABLE JOBS , WELL, FRANKLY, THIS MOVES FROM A SHORT-TERM HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO A LONG-TERM CRISIS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE READY TO HELP, AND WE SHOULD GIVE THEM THAT CHANCE.

I JOINED WITH THE GOVERNOR, THE MAYOR, AND THE OTHERS WHO SAY TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, GIVE US THE AUTHORITY, AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD TO FIND JOBS THAT WILL NOT TAKE JOBS AWAY FROM AMERICANS, BUT CREATE A BETTER AMERICA IN THE FUTURE.

>> AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS COMING UP IN TONIGHT SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>>> AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE.

MORE THAN 99% VOTED FOR THE STRIKE AUTHORIZATION AS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS INSTALL OVERPAY.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AT AMERICAN SAY THEY'VE NOT RECEIVED RAISES SINCE 2019.

AMERICANS PILOTS RATIFIED A CONTRACT EARLIER THIS MONTH RAISING PAY BY AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 40% OVER FOUR YEARS.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE DOES NOT MEAN THAT A STRIKE IS IMMINENT.

FEDERAL MEDIATORS WILL GET INVOLVED FIRST.

AMERICAN IS THAT THE ONLY AIRLINE DEALING WITH UNION CONTRACT ISSUES, THOUGH.

LIGHT ATTENDANCE AT UNITED AIRLINES PLAN TO PICKET AT AIRPORTS TOMORROW , AND PILOTS AT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ARE ALSO PUSHING FOR A NEW CONTRACT.

>>> PETE BUTTIGIEG LANDED IN HIS HOME STATE OF INDIANA TODAY.

THE U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY STOP AT THE GARY, CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO TOUR AND POUT $6 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT TO THE AIRPORT.

>> WE BELIEVE IN THIS AIRPORT , IN THE CITY OF GARY , IN LAKE COUNTY, IN THE REGION AND IN THE FUTURE OF INDIANA, WHICH IS PART OF WHY WE'RE HERE.

>> AND FIRST LADY DR. JILL BIDEN HIT CHICAGO TODAY AHEAD OF LABOR DAY.

>> I AM THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES, AND I AM A PROUD , CARD-CARRYING UNION MEMBER!

>> DR. BIDEN JOINED CHICAGO'S FEDERATION OF LABOR TODAY TO ON YOUR UNION LABOR IN ILLINOIS AND AMERICA FOR THEIR WORK.

SHE SAYS CHICAGO IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE, QUOTE, UNION STRONG.

>>> UP NEXT, WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SHOOTING AT THE WHITE SOX GAME LAST WEEK.

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

THE JIN AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING ONE OF THE WOMEN SHOT AT A RECENT WHITE SOX GAME SAYS HIS CLIENTS INJURIES WERE NOT FROM A SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT .

WTTW NEWS REPORTED MATT MASTERSON HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE BIZARRE INCIDENT, AND JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

SO, MATT, THE INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING FRIDAY'S GAME AGAINST THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS.

STILL, DETAILS ABOUT THE INCIDENT ARE A LITTLE BIT SCARCE.

RECAP FOR US WHAT WE DO KNOW.

>> WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE FOURTH INNING OF THAT GAME, AND THAT TWO WOMEN WERE INJURED.

IT WAS A 42-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WAS SHOT IN THE LEG AND HOSPITALIZED, AND A 26-YEAR-OLD WHO SUFFERED A WOOD GRAZE WOUND TO HER ABDOMEN THAT HAPPENED DURING THE GAME, WHICH WAS COMPLETED AS PLANNED AT THE CPD INVESTIGATION GOT UNDERWAY.

SUPERINTENDENT, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FRED WALLER SO THAT THERE HAD BEEN A REQUEST TO HALT THE GAME, BUT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON AN ACTIVE SHOOTER STRIKE, AND AT THEIR INVESTIGATION GOT UNDERWAY, THE GAME ENDED AS IT WAS, SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO END THIS PREMATURELY WHILE THEY WERE INVESTIGATING.

>> SO THE ATTORNEY FOR ONE OF THE VICTIMS, A 42-YEAR-OLD SEASON-TICKET HOLDER AND VOID CARDHOLDER, THAT'S HER WOUNDS WERE NOT SELF-INFLICTED .

WHAT EVIDENCE IS THE ATTORNEY POINTING TO WHAT THEY >> HER ATTORNEY PUT OUT A STATEMENT TODAY THAT THEY WERE GOOD PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE AND EXTRA EVIDENCE OF HER INJURIES, AND THEY'VE CROSSCONNECT THIS INFORMATION WITH FIREARMS EXPERTS, WITH MEDICAL EXPERTS, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE TOP OF THAT, THIS WASN'T THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM THAT WAS ON HER BODY OR ON HER PERSON AS THIS HAPPEN.

THIS STATEMENT, OF COURSE, IS COMING FROM AN ATTORNEY REVISITING THIS WOMAN.

THE CPD IN ANY SORT OF PUBLIC DETERMINATION THAT THIS IS OR IS NOT THE CASE YET.

THIS IS THE FIRST WE'VE HEARD FROM ONE OF THE VICTIMS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD FIREARMS ON THEM, AND THAT COULD'VE LED TO WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

>> A LOT OF CHANGING STORIES ABOUT WHERE THE GUNSHOTS CAME FROM.

ANY INDICATION ABOUT THAT?

>> SO WALLER HAD SAID EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THEY HAD JUST ABOUT RULED OUT SHOTS HAD NOT COME FROM OUTSIDE THE STADIUM, WHICH MAKES SENSE.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT POLICE LEADERS ARE RECONSIDERING THIS, THAT THEY'RE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT WHETHER THE BULLETS COULD'VE COME FROM SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE THE STADIUM.

BUT IF THEY DID COME FROM INSIDE THE STADIUM, THERE ARE, OBVIOUSLY, METAL DETECTORS THAT FANS HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET TO THE GAME, SO IT'S UNCLEAR HOW SOMEBODY COULD'VE SNUCK A FIREARM INTO THE STADIUM.

AND AGAIN, THE WOMAN, WHO WAS A VOID CARDHOLDER , IS DENYING THAT SHE EVER HAD A FIREARM ON HER AT THE GAME, THAT SHE COULD'VE FIRED ANYWAY.

>> AND WE KNOW THE SECOND VICTIM OF THE SHOOTING, 26-YEAR-OLD CPS TEACHER.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HER CONDITION?

>> SO IT WAS A GRAZE WOUND THAT SHE SUFFERED TO HER ABDOMEN.

SHE DECLINED MEDICAL ATTENTION.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

CPS CONFIRMED THAT SHE IS A TEACHER AT A SCHOOL IN THE CITY, AND THAT THERE WILL BE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO HER AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY .

>> STRAINS INCIDENT THAT I'LL BE LOOKING OUT FOR ANSWERS THERE.

MATT MASTERSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> AND YOU CAN READ MATT'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> COLLEGE STUDENTS JUGGLING MULTIPLE RESPONSE ABILITIES MIGHT FIND A SHORTCUT THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPS LIKE JIM AND KAY MABIE .

BUT THERE'S ALSO CONCERN THAT SHORTCUTS SHEET STUDENTS OUT OF A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.

THIS TECHNOLOGY TEACHERS HAVE HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH AS CHATGPT HAS BECOME A FLASHPOINT FOR SOME SCHOOLS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE HANDLING IT IN THEIR CLASSROOM ARE NINA WE , ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF INSTRUCTION AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, AND RUSSELL JOHNSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE UNDERGRADUATE RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

NINA, YOU'VE ALLOWED YOUR STUDENTS TO USE CHATGPT.

WHY?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS OF CHATGPT , AND PROVIDE THEM WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE DISCOVERING WHAT THOSE LIMITATIONS ARE.

I HAVE FOUND THAT MY STUDENTS ARE DISCOURAGED BY THE PROMINENCE OF CHATGPT FOR PROFESSIONALS, CEOS, AND ACADEMIC FIELDS, AND THEY SOMETIMES DOUBT THEIR OWN MARKET ABILITY.

SO I FIND IT ENCOURAGING TO ALLOW THEM TO CRITIQUE WHAT CHATGPT PRODUCES COMPARED TO THE ROLE INSIDE, AND WALK AWAY WITH A REAFFIRMED CONFIDENCE THAT THEY STILL HAVE THINGS TO CONTRIBUTE.

>> HOW HAVE THEY BEEN USING IT?

>> I DESIGN ASSIGNMENTS WHERE THEY REQUEST THAT CHATGPT CREATE A SHORT ESSAY, AND THEN I PROVIDE THEM WITH A VERY DETAILED LIST OF GUIDELINES ACCORDING TO WHICH THEY CRITIQUE THE ESSAY.

THEY CRITIQUE IT FOR FLUENCE, INCLUSIVITY, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER CRITERIA .

AND THEN I ASK THEM TO GRADE THE ASSIGNMENT.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO READ WHAT STUDENTS COME UP WITH, AND I THINK THEY WALK AWAY ENCOURAGED , AND SEEING THAT THEY STILL CAN OUTPERFORM CHATGPT , EVEN THOUGH IT IS, QUITE FRIENDLY, A POWERFUL TOOL.

>> IT IS.

RUSSELL JOHNSON, YOU WROTE A COLUMN SAYING CHATGPT IS CALLING A, QUOTE, CRISIS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

IS ALLOWING CHATGPT THE CORRECT WAY TO GO ABOUT ALLEVIATING, YOU KNOW, STUDENT SCHEDULES IF THEY ARE USING THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH TO DO?

>> I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ALLOWING CHATGPT IS THE BEST RESPONSE TO THAT PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT WE SHOULD BE RESPONDING TO.

IN PART BECAUSE WHAT STUDENTS ARE DOING IF THEY'RE USING CHATGPT TO WRITE THE PAPERS WHEN IT'S NOT AN ASSIGNMENT THAT INVOLVES CHATGPT IS THEY'RE, THEY'RE SHORTCUTTING THE LEARNING PROCESS THAT COMES FROM WRITING ITSELF.

WE ASSIGN STUDENTS TO WRITE SHORT PAPERS NOT BECAUSE THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF ESSAYS IN THE WORLD AND WE NEED MORE OF THEM, BUT BECAUSE THE PRACTICE INVOLVED IN FORMULATING AN INTERPRETATION , COMING UP WITH AN ARGUMENT, DEFENDING IT , PERSUADING SOMEONE WHO MIGHT NOT ALREADY AGREE WITH YOUR POSITION, THAT'S THE KIND OF WORK THAT STUDENTS WILL NEED TO DO FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT WRITING, YOU KNOW, FIVE PAGE PAPERS.

>> DO YOU HAVE A CLASSROOM POLICY ON IT, LIKE, RIGHT THIS PAPER AND DON'T USE CHATGPT?

>> I TELL THEM NOT TO DO IT, BUT FOR ME, I TRY AND NOT SO MUCH THREATEN PUNISHMENT ABOUT IT.

LIKE, LET THEM KNOW THAT , HERE'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT .

HERE'S WHY I THINK IT MATTERS , WHY I'M HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO COMPLETE THIS, WHY I THINK IT'S VALUABLE, AND ALSO HUMANIZING IN THE SENSE OF REMINDING THEM THAT I HAVE TO GRADE THESE PAPERS.

AND SO I'M GOING TO BE SPENDING A HALF HOUR OF MY LIFE TRYING TO GIVE YOU CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK ON SOMETHING THAT YOU WROTE, BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES MORE CLEARLY.

AND SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WRITTEN BY A ALGORITHM , NOW, YOU'RE WASTING MY TIME, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS RECOGNIZE ABOUT THE WRITING PROCESS.

>> WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF HIGHER ED AS WELL, AND IF YOU ARE PAYING TO BE AT A SCHOOL TO LEARN, THEN CHATGPT, YOU'RE CHEATING YOURSELF OUT OF THAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.

NINA, HOW DO YOU THINK IT CAN BE USEFUL TO LEARN, BUT NOT PLAGIARIZING?

>> IT IS TEMPTING TO USE CHATGPT AS A SHORTCUT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE OVERBOOKED.

THEY'RE SO AMBITIOUS.

THEY PURSUE SO MANY THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF THAT AS AN EDUCATOR , AND REDESIGN THE WAY WE TEACH IN ORDER TO HELP STUDENTS CONTINUE LEARNING AND AVOID THE TEMPTATION TO TAKE A SHORTCUT AND JUST USE CHATGPT TO CREATE AN ASSIGNMENT.

I DO A LOT MORE THINGS IN CLASS, IN REAL TIME , DURING SMALL GROUP WORK .

STUDENTS RESPOND TO EACH OTHER'S WRITING .

EYEBROWS A VARIETY OF TRAINING SOURCES TO FIND TECHNIQUES THAT ALLOW ME TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN , EVEN WHILE THERE IS AN IS A SHORTCUT AVAILABLE.

>> SOME TEACHERS USE CHATGPT HIMSELF, RIGHT, TO MAYBE CREATE A PROMPT , OR THEY COULD USE IT TO CREATE A PROMPT, AND I KIND OF DECIDE, YOU KNOW, IS CHATGPT BESTING ME ON THIS ONE?

IS IT EVER BENEFICIAL FOR YOU?

>> I HAVE ATTENDED A LOT OF TRAINING SESSIONS WHERE IT'S RECOMMENDED, AND THE WAY TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN OF EXPENSIVE TEACHING.

I PERSONALLY DO NOT ENJOY USING CHATGPT.

I LIKE WRITING , LEARNING TO WRITE WELL.

I FIND IT EASIER TO WRITE A GOOD PROMPT MYSELF .

BUT I HAVE PLAYED AROUND WITH IT.

IT IS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S , IT'S BETTER THAN MY OWN PROMPTS, BUT I CAN SEE THE, THE POWER OF THE TOOL.

>> RUSSELL, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL BE USED IN THE FUTURE?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE USED -- SO WHAT IT'S VERY GOOD AT HIS RESULTS.

AND SOMETIMES, IT CAN COME UP WITH WRITING THAT IS , IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NECESSARILY PARTICULARLY CREATIVE OR PARTICULARLY ORIGINAL.

SO I GET EMAILS, YOU KNOW, SAYING, HEY, COME TO L.L.

BEAN.COM AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW FALL FASHIONS, AND THAT'S NOT THE SORT OF EMAIL THAT A HUMAN BEING NEEDS TO KEEP WRITING EVERY WEEK.

THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, THE RESULTS, THEY'RE ALREADY THERE.

WE JUST NEED TO CONVEY THE INFORMATION AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE.

WHERE IT'S GOING TO FALL SHORT, AMONG HIS OTHER LIMITATIONS, IS WHEN THE PROCESS MATTERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WRITING A POEM, WRITING AN ARGUMENT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE THE PROCESS OF GIVING OUT WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU BELIEVE, AND MAKING THAT CLEAR, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CHATGPT CAN'T REPLACE, BUT IT ALREADY IS, FOR INSTANCE, IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, HELPING PEOPLE GET TO THE RESULTS QUICKER WHEN THAT'S ALL THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, AND THAT'S FINE.

>> WE GOT ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT, NINA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF CHATGPT USE WILL BE?

>> IT WILL BECOME A HOUSEHOLD ITEM , JUST LIKE A GOOGLING OR A CALCULATOR .

>> WOW, OKAY.

SHE SAID IT HERE FIRST, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE, NINA WIEDA AND RUSSELL JOHNSON.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING IN.

>>> UP NEXT, THE FIGHT OVER WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR MIGRANTS.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> ILLINOIS POLITICAL LEADERS DEMAND HELP FROM WASHINGTON TO TACKLE A BURGEONING MIGRANT CRISIS.

CDA CHIEF JARELL CARTER, UNDER PRESSURE OVER LACKLUSTER SERVICE, AND A PLAN TO HIKE TAXES ON LUXURY PROPERTY SALE TO FUND SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS.

HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, HEATHER CHERONE, SPECIAL GUEST NICK BLUMBERG.

HEY, GANG.

SO THIS WEEK MARKS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF MIGRANTS BEING BUSSED FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER FROM TEXAS, SPECIFICALLY, BY THE GOVERNOR THERE, GREG ABBOTT.

MORE THAN 13,500 ARRIVALS TOTAL IN THAT YEAR .

HEATHER, OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THAT ABBOTT CREATED A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

WHERE DO THE EFFORTS TO ALLEVIATE THAT SPAN?

>> IT IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY, AS BUS AFTER BUS COMES, AND THERE IS SIMPLY NO WHERE THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAS TO HOUSE THESE PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY OFTEN ONLY HAVE THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS AND MAYBE A FEW BELONGINGS.

SO WHEN THEY ARE LORI LIGHTFOOT, FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY IN CHICAGO SIX DAYS BEFORE SHE LEFT OFFICE, THERE WERE 450 PEOPLE LIVING IN CHICAGO POLICE STATION .

NOW, THERE ARE ALMOST 2000 PEOPLE IN POLICE STATIONS AND AT O'HARE, WHICH GIVES YOU THE SCOPE OF THE CRISIS CONFRONTING MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

>> MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON WAS ONE OF A HOST OF ILLINOIS POLITICIANS TODAY CALLING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FAST-TRACK WITH AUTHORIZATIONS FOR NONCITIZENS.

>> THE CITY OF CHICAGO CANNOT GO ON WELCOMING NEW ARRIVALS SAFELY AND CAPABLY WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT AND IMMIGRATION POLICY CHANGES.

>> HEATHER, IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL ACTUALLY FAST-TRACK WORK AUTHORIZATION PERMITS , AND HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE WILL THAT MAKE?

>> WELL, THEY'RE HOPING THAT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, IN A LETTER THAT WAS SENT BY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND JOHNSON, AS WELL AS CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN CITY OFFICIALS AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS, WILL SORT OF, WILL PROMPT PRESIDENT BIDEN TO ACT.

AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY THEY WANT HIM TO DO IS TO ALLOW ILLINOIS TO ISSUE WORK PERMITS FOR MIGRANTS IN INDUSTRIES THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM A SHORTAGE.

SO FOOD SERVICE, LAWN CARE , SOME HOSPITAL POSITIONS ARE REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME BEING FILLED, AND WITH THAT CHANGE , WHICH THE PRESIDENT CAN AUTHORIZE, THEY COULD FILL THOSE POSITIONS, AND THAT WOULD ENABLE PEOPLE LIVING IN SHELTERS TO MAYBE GET AN APARTMENT AND SORT OF MOVE ON IN THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA, WHETHER THE PRESIDENT WILL DO THAT IS VERY MUCH IN QUESTION.

HE, OF COURSE, IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YEAR-ROUND IN THIS CRISIS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FROM ADVOCATES FOR THESE ASYLUM-SEEKERS THAT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN USE THE WORD FAST-TRACK.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NO LONGER A BRAND-NEW CRISIS THAT THE CITY, AND THAT MANY OTHER, YOU KNOW, PLACES AROUND THE U.S. ARE DEALING WITH.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF HUNGER FOR THIS NECESSARY ACTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO CREATE THIS AUTHORIZATION.

>> HEATHER, WHAT MORE IS THE CITY ASKING FOR BY WAY OF SUPPORT?

>> COLD, HARD CASH.

THE CITY'S MAYOR JOHNSON SAID TODAY SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $100 MILLION TO CARE FOR THESE MIGRANTS.

THE CITY, OR THE STATE, HAS SPENT AN ADDITIONAL $250 MILLION.

THEY WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO NOT ONLY REIMBURSE THEM FOR SOME OF THOSE COSTS, BUT TO SEND THE MORE MONEY ALONG THE WAY TO CARE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE, AND THOSE WHO WERE ON THEIR WAY AS WE SPEAK.

>> WELL, AND WE KNOW THE CITY HAS BEEN BALANCING THE NEED TO CARE FOR THIS INFLUX OF NEW ARRIVALS WITH ALL OF THE LONG-STANDING NEEDS OF CITY RESIDENTS, AND THAT'S CAUSED SOME TENSION IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE'VE ALL DOCUMENTED IT.

HOW WAS THE MAYOR MANAGING THAT?

>> WELL, HE SAYS THAT THE CITY HAS AN OBLIGATION AS A SANCTUARY CITY, AS A WELCOMING CITY, TO WELCOME THESE NEW ARRIVALS AND TO HELP THEM FIND THEIR WAY.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IF YOU TALK TO SOMEBODY LIKE ALDER WOMAN JEANETTE TAYLOR IN THE 20th WARD, SHE WILL TELL YOU THAT THE SHELTER THAT THEY OPENED IN WOODLAWN BECOMES A NUISANCE, AND THAT IS A MAGNET FOR CRIME AND OTHER UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ONLY SORT OF EXACERBATING THAT TENSION BETWEEN BLACK RESIDENTS , WHO SEE HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS LIVING IN A SCHOOL THAT THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY FORCED OUT OF 10 YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S BECOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S DRAGGING DOWN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE ASKING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN THIS DRASTIC EXPANSION IN THE NUMBER OF SHELTERS THAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAS WHEN WE HAVE, FOR YEARS, SEEN, YOU KNOW, TENTING COMMENTS UNDER OVERPASSES AND IN PUBLIC PARKS.

SO I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS ARE ASKING, WHERE WAS THIS URGENT ACTION TO CREATE MORE SHELTER BEDS BEFORE THIS CRISIS OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS ARRIVING?

>> NO EASY ANSWERS.

LET'S SEND IT TO CPA BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

TOUTING IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW HIRES AT A BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY, BUT HE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED CHALLENGES.

>> WE CERTAINLY, DESPITE BOTH ISSUES, WILL CONTINUE TO WORK EVERY DAY TO IMPROVE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

I RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE BY THE CTA ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> NICK, YOU'VE COVERED A LOT OF CTA STRUGGLES IN RECENT YEARS.

A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES, SOME POLITICIANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CHANGE AT THE TOP.

COULD THIS BE THE END OF THE LINE?

>> WELL, HE CERTAINLY DID NOT SOUND LIKE A MAN LOOKING FOR THE EXIT AT YESTERDAY'S BOARD MEETING.

HE TOUTED THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIG CTA STRATEGIC PLAN TO TRY TO TURN THINGS AROUND AT ALL THE SERVICE AND STAFFING SHORTFALLS THAT THEY'VE HAD , OPTIMIZING THEIR SCHEDULE FOR THE STAFF THEY ACTUALLY DO HAVE, A BIG RECRUITMENT EFFORT, BUT CERTAINLY A LOT OF DAY-TO-DAY COMMUTERS , TRANSIT ADVOCATES, ALL THEIR PEOPLE ARE NO FANS.

HE HAS LOST A LOT OF SUPPORT IN RECENT YEARS.

SO FAR, MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, AT LEAST PUBLICLY, HAS BEEN NONCOMMITTAL ABOUT WHETHER HE SUPPORTS CARTER AS THE LEADER OF THE CTA.

>> ON THAT FRONT, IF THERE IS A CHANGE, WHO GETS TO DECIDE?

>> THAT'S WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE BIT TRICKY, BECAUSE THE MAYOR IS THE PERSON WHO APPOINTS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CTA, BUT THE CTA IS NOT A CITY DEPARTMENT LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH OR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, SO WELL CARTER WAS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO, HE ANSWERS TO THE CTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE DHA, WHERE IT'S THIS QUASIGOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.

SO UNLESS HE DECIDES THAT HE WISHES TO STEP DOWN, WHICH IT SURE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HE WANTS TO, THAT'S WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE BIT HAIRY.

>> THE SECOND, NICK.

WHAT ARE SOME OF HIS FAILINGS, ACCORDING TO HIS CRICKETS ?

>> FOLKS HAVE LONG COMPLAINED ABOUT GHOST BUSES AND TRAINS THAT SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP ON THE TRACK, AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP.

CERTAINLY SAFETY AND CLEANLINESS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE.

BUT IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO RELIABILITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE CHICAGO AREA DON'T DRIVE A CAR, AND THEY RELY ON THE CTA FOR THEIR ESSENTIAL TRIPS, AND THEY SAY THEY SIMPLY CAN'T RELY ON IT THE WAY THAT THEY ONCE COULD.

>> OKAY.

HEATHER CHERONE, NICK BLUMBERG, THANKS, GANG.

>>> AND THERE'S MORE WTTW JUST AHEAD, BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

THERE THERE >>> BETWEEN GETTING THROUGH SECURITY, CHANGING GATES, AND CHASING KIDS, AIRPORTS CAN BE BUSY PLACES.

BUT YOU MAY WANT TO BUILD IN A LITTLE MORE TRAVEL TIME THE NEXT TIME YOU VISIT O'HARE OR MIDWAY TO ENJOY AN ART EXHIBITION.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT AGE ALITO HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: SO YOU'RE HEADED ON YOUR NEXT GETAWAY, AND JUST AS YOU TURN TO YOUR GATE AT THE AIRPORT, YOU'RE GREETED BY SOME OF AMERICA'S UNSUNG HEROES, OUR VETERANS.

>> THOSE THINGS BRING BACK MEMORIES .

SAD MEMORIES.

I STILL REMEMBER THEM ALL THESE YEARS .

THEN TO BE PICKED TO GO TO O'HARE WAS A GREAT HONOR.

>> Reporter: FEATURED ON A WALL OF PORTRAITS ARE TWO LOCAL VETERANS .

101-YEAR-OLD WORLD WAR II VETERAN , AND KOREAN WAR VETERAN RICHARD NELSON.

>> THEY TALK ABOUT US AS THE VETERANS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND THE KOREAN WAR , AND THE OTHER ONE.

BUT HE HAS MORE THAN JUST SERVICE.

YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE AWARDS AND PLAQUES.

>> Reporter: THESE IMAGES WERE CAPTURED BY PHOTOGRAPHER THOMAS SANDERS.

HE'S MADE IT HIS LIFE MISSION TO SHARE THE STORIES OF VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> I THINK EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED OR RELATED TO A VETERAN .

WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS SOMETIMES, SOME OF THESE VETERANS HAVE NEVER EVEN TOLD THESE STORIES TO THE KIDS.

>> Reporter: IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BELMONT VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING , A STANDARD CONNECTED WITH VETERANS LIKE THESE ACROSS THE GLOBE.

>> I PHOTOGRAPHED MYRON, AND THEN WE MADE THIS SHORT TWO MINUTE FILM ON HIM , AND IT'S JUST SO TRAGIC, YOU KNOW, STILL , 100 YEARS OLD, HE STILL HAS TRAUMA.

>> THEY PICKED A LOT OF THE FELLOWS ALPHABETICALLY, A, B, C, AND THEN THEY STOPPED NEAR HIS NAME.

AND THEY ALL WENT ON THE ONE SHIP, AND THEN THEY CONTINUED ON WITH THE REST OF IT.

HE WENT ON THE SHIP BEHIND IT.

AND THE SHIP IN FRONT OF THEM SUNK .

GOT TORPEDOED, RIGHT?

AND HE WAS SAVED BY WHERE HE WAS IN THE ALPHABET, YOU KNOW?

YEAH.

>> THEY HIT A MINE , AND 31 OF MY BIRD BUDDIES.

>> IT WASN'T UNTIL THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION THAT PORTRAITS WERE ABLE TO BE DISPLAYED AT MIDWAY AND O'HARE AIRPORT.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT THE EXHIBITION AT CHICAGO MIDWAY AND O'HARE IS THAT THERE'S JUST PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING AND WALKING THROUGH THE HALLWAYS, AND HERE'S REAL AMERICAN LIVING HISTORY THAT THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

THE BIGGEST LONGEVITY TIPS I'VE LEARNED IS THAT YOU NEED A LOT OF SLEEP, YOU NEED EXERCISE , AND YOU NEED TO SOCIALIZE.

AND MOST PEOPLE , I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT IF YOU GET DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S, IT'S GENETIC, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY VERY, VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF, OF INDIVIDUALS LET, THAT GET DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO IN YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT TO, TO AGE WELL.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, ANY SORT OF ADVICE , YOU KNOW, WITH VETERANS , I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU SEE A VETERAN OUT AND ABOUT , NO MATTER WHAT THEIR AGES, THAT YOU GO UP TO THEM AND JUST TELL THEM THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

BECAUSE I, I DO THINK THEY, THEY DEEPLY APPRECIATE THAT.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M ANGEL ITO.

>> YOU CAN FIND THE EXHIBITION, AMERICAN HEROES: PORTRAITS OF SERVICE AT BOTH MIDWAY AND O'HARE AIRPORTS.

>>> AND THAT OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

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

ONE ON ONE WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CEO PEDRO MARTINEZ ON THE RETURN TO SCHOOL.

>>> AND ANOTHER SHELTER FOR MIGRANTS OPENING AT THE CHICAGO LAKESHORE HOTEL.

HOW RESIDENTS NEARBY ARE RESPONDING.

>>> NOW, FOR ALL OF US HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND THE CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES , A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM, AND PROUD SPONSOR OF PROGRAMMING TO ENHANCE THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF LEGAL PRACTITIONERS.