>>> HELLO, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT," I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL CHIEF ON THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE BUS SHORTAGE, AND MAKING SAFE FOR MIGRANT STUDENTS.

ONE YEAR SINCE THE FIRST BUS OF MIGRANTS ARRIVED IN CHICAGO.

HOW THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS DEVELOPED AND WHAT HAPPENS NOW.

>>> PLUS, LOCAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS CALL FOR WORK PERMITS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS.

>>> AND CUBS OUTFIELDER IAN HAPP TEAMS UP WITH AN ARTIST TO CAPTURE THE VIEW FROM THE FIELD.

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

ACTIVISTS AND OFFICIALS ARE CALLING ATTENTION TO THE SKYROCKETING OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATH RATE IN COOK COUNTY AS PART OF INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY.

THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS WHEN A DETAINEE RETURNS TO THE COMMUNITY FROM JAIL, THEIR RISK OF FATAL OVERDOSE INCREASES TENFOLD.

>> SINCE 2016 WE HAVE GIVEN OUT 7,000 NARCAN KITS TO PATIENTS BEING DISCHARGED FROM OUR CARE.

WE HOPE THAT PROVIDING THE OPIOID ANTI DOTE TO PATIENTS LEAVING THE JAIL WE CAN HELP SAVE THEIR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF SOMEONE ELSE IN DANGER.

>> OFFICIALS SAY CERMAK HEALTH SERVICES OFFERS THE ONLY CERTIFIED OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN ILLINOIS, BUT ACTIVISTS WITH THE COALITION TO END MONEY BONDS SAY THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

POINTING TO THE TEN PEOPLE WHO THEY SAY HAVE DIED IN COOK COUNTY JAIL BECAUSE OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE.

THEY'VE ISSUED A LIST OF DEMANDS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

>>> WORKERS AT 11 CHICAGO-AREA NURSING HOMES ARE SET TO WALK OFF THE JOB ON LABOR DAY IF THEY CAN'T REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF INFINITY NURSING HOMES.

>> UNDER THESE CONDITIONS TWO CNAs WORKING A FLOOR, AT TIMES THEY ARE LAYING IN THEIR URINE, FECES UNTIL THE NEXT SHIFT COMES.

SO THEY WANT TO TELL US, OH, LOW BUDGET, LOW CENSUS, COME ON.

AIN'T NO LOW BUDGET OR LOW CENSUS, TWO CNAs, DURING MORNING SHIFTS AND P.M.

SHIFTS, HOW MANY, FOUR, FIVE CNAs, COME ON.

>> THEY SAY STAFF ARE PAID SUBSTANDARD WAGES, LEADING TO A NEARLY 80% TURNOVER RATE THAT RISKS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF BOTH RESIDENTS AND WORKERS.

THE UNION SAYS THE POOR CARE HAS BROUGHT THE NURSING HOMES UNDER INTENSE REGULATORY SCRUTINY.

>>> IT DIDN'T TAKE THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX LONG TO ANNOUNCE NEW LEADERSHIP.

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER FIRING GENERAL MANAGER RICK HAHN AND PRESIDENT OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS WILLIAMS, DOFR HAS HIRED CHRIS GET TO ROUGHER THE BALL CLUB.

HE HAS SERVED THE TEAM GOING BACK TO 2016.

AS A PLAYER, HE WAS DRAFTED BY THE SOX AND SPENT TWO OF HIS SEVEN MAJOR LEAGUE SEASONS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

TWO OTHER TAKEAWAYS FROM HIS INTRODUCTORY NEWS CONFERENCE, ONE, THE MANAGER WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR.

AND WITH REGARD TO THE GENERAL MANAGER SEARCH, REINSDORF SAYS HE DID NOT INTERVIEW ANY OTHER CANDIDATES BEFORE MAKING HIS CHOICE.

>>> YOUR WAIT AT THE DMV COULD BE SHORTER THE NEXT TIME YOU VISIT.

TOMORROW, THE SKIP THE LINE PROGRAM AT THE STATE'S 44 BUSIEST LOCATIONS.

>> IN THE PAST, WHEN A CUSTOMER HAD TO VISIT A DMV, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW LONG THEY WOULD BE STUCK WAITING IN LINE.

THEY WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER IF THEY SHOULD TAKE TIME OFF WORK, GET A BABYSITTER, OR EVEN HOW MUCH COFFEE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO STAY AWAKE DURING THEIR WAIT.

THAT'S A TAX ON OUR MOST VALUABLE COMMODITY, TIME.

>> SKIPPING THE LINE MEANS THAT IF YOUR VIS TILT REQUIRES YOU TO BE IN PERSON, YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS HIS OFFICE IS ENCOURAGING CUSTOMERS TO DO MORE THROUGH THE WEBSITE, SUCH AS RENEWING YOUR DRIVER ICE LICENSE OR REPLACING YOUR LICENSE PLATE STICKER.

AND FOR VEHICLE-RELATED SERVICES, NO APPOINTMENT IS NEEDED.

SKIP THE LINE IS LAUNCHING AT ALL OF THE CHICAGO AND SUBURBAN LOCATIONS.

>>> UP NEXT, ONE ON ONE WITH THE HEAD OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROS. FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS KICKED OFF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR LAST WEEK AMID A WAVE OF MIGRANT STUDENTS AND A SWELTERING HEAT WAVE.

THEY'RE ALSO FEELING THE HEAT OVER SHORTAGES OF TEACHERS AND BUS DRIVERS.

NOW IN THE HOT SEAT IS SCHOOL CEO PEDRO MARTINEZ, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, BRANDIS.

>> YOU ENROLL 2,000 ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS ON AVERAGE EVERY YEAR THIS.

YEAR YOU ALSO HAD THE ADDITION OF AT LEAST 2,000 MIGRANT STUDENTS.

HOW ARE YOU MEETING THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE NEEDS BUT ALSO THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THESE NEW ARRIVALS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, BRANDIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M VERY PROUD OF IS JUST THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE'VE BUILT IN THE DISTRICT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.

EVERY YEAR WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE EMBRACED 2,000 TO 3,000 NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN OUR SYSTEM.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGE NEST THE COUNTRY WITH OVER 70,000 STUDENTS.

WE HAVE ALMOST -- WE ACTUALLY HAVE 3,000 CERTIFIED BILINGUAL TEACHERS.

WE HAVE OVER 2,000 ACTUALLY CLASSROOMS WITH TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL PROGRAMS AND ANOTHER 3,000 ESL CERTIFIED TEACHERS SO.

THE CHALLENGE FOR US REALLY IS THAT MIGRANTS ARE COMING ALL OVER THE CITY.

WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY.

SOMETIMES WE SEE CHILDREN THAT SHOW UP IN NEIGHBORHOODS OR SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THESE PROGRAMS.

AND SO THAT'S THE BIGGER CHALLENGE, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE FEEL CONFIDENT WE CAN SERVE THE CHILDREN.

OF COURSE, AS YOU SAID, ACADEMICS IS JUST ONE CHALLENGE THAT THESE FAMILIES HAVE.

SO PARTNERING WITH THE CITY TO GET THEM OTHER SUPPORTS, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTHCARE, OF COURSE, OUR FAMILIES ARE VERY TRANSIENT, SO THEY MOVE FROM PRESHELTER TO SHELTERS, SOMETIMES TO OTHER TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

SO THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, OUR TEACHERS HAVE EMBRACED THESE FAMILIES.

AND WHAT'S GREAT IS I'M SEEING PARENTS ENROLL IN THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THEMSELVES, TAKING ESL CLASSES.

>> WHEN THAT IS THE CASE, MAYBE SOME SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MULTICULTURAL, MULTILINGUAL STAFF AND TEACHERS TO WORK WITH THOSE STUDENTS, ARE THOSE FAMILIES REDIRECTED TO A SCHOOL THAT DOES HAVE THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED?

>> YEAH, SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE PROGRAMS IN THE CITY FOR US TO SERVE THOSE FAMILIES.

SOMETIMES THE FAMILIES GET ATTACHED TO A SCHOOL.

SO THAT IS A TOUGH CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THE FAMILY.

AND OF COURSE, THE FAMILY SOMETIMES HAS TO MOVE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE MOVING FROM ONE HOUSING UNIT TO ANOTHER.

AND SO THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE ARE HAVING WITH FAMILIES NOW, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE VERY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE A DISTRICT THAT HAS SUCH A LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SO EVEN AS FAMILIES ARE MOVING, WE CAN FIND SCHOOLS THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS.

>> ON THE SUBJECT OF THE TEACHER SHORTAGE THAT SO MANY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE EXPERIENCING, YOU WROTE THAT CPS IS STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH HISTORICALLY HIGH LEVELS OF STAFFING.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OR QUANTIFY YOUR TEACHER SHORTAGE NOW?

>> YEAH, SO OUR VACANCY RATE, BRANDIS, NOW IS GOING TO BE HITTING JUST CLOSE TO 4%.

ONE OF THE LOWEST WE'VE HAD IN SEVERAL YEARS.

WE'VE ALSO ADDED MANY MORE TEACHING POSITIONS, EVEN AS OUR ENROLLMENT DECLINED OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, FOUR TO FIVE YEARS SO.

WHAT I'M SEEING IS SMALLER CLASS SIZES IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHEST POVERTY NEIGHBORHOODS.

ESPECIALLY NOW WITH OUR ASYLUM SEEKERS, WE MADE SURE WE HAD ENOUGH CAPACITY FOR THOSE CHILDREN AS WELL.

COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE DISTRICTS, THEY'RE FARING VERY WELL.

WE HAVE IN OUR CLASSROOMS TODAY 500 MORE TEACHERS TODAY THAN WE EVER HAD.

COMPARED TO LAST YEAR AND PREVIOUS YEARS, WITH SLIGHTLY LESS STUDENTS.

SO I BELIEVE WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE NOW.

THERE WILL BE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS THAT SOMETIMES WE WILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, HIGHER VACANCY RATES.

WE DO A LOT OF HAND HOLDING WITH THOSE SCHOOLS, PROVIDING LONG-TERM, YOU KNOW, OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP THEM AS WE FIND TEACHERS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU DID TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT RATE DOWN TO 4%, SO LOW.

>> YEAH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M PROUD OF, BRANDIS, IS THAT WE HAVE, FIRST OF ALL, SOME OF THE HIGHEST STARTING SALARY IN THE NATION FOR TEACHERS, IN THE LOW 60s.

AND OUR AVERAGE SALARIES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

I SAY THAT UNAPOLOGETICALLY BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS DESERVE TO BE WELL COMPENSATED.

THEY ARE WORKING REALLY HARD.

AND WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS LAST YEAR WE PUT SO MANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS THAT NOT ONLY SUPPORTED OUR CHILDREN BUT ALSO OUR TEACHERS.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

EVERY SCHOOL NOW HAS FREED UP INTERVENTION TEACHERS.

BEFORE THIS, TEACHERS WHO HAD CHILDREN BELOW GRADE LEVEL THAT WERE STRUGGLING, THEY HAD TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES BY THEMSELVES.

NOW WE HAVE INTERVENTION TEACHERS.

WE HAVE ACADEMIC COACHES IN OUR HIGHEST POVERTY SCHOOLS.

THESE ARE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE NEWER TEACHERS THAT NEED MORE SUPPORT.

EVERY SCHOOL NOW HAS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

SOMETIMES THE TEACHERS THEMSELVES OR WITH PARTNERS.

WE'RE CREATING A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR TEACHES TO BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS.

WE'RE SEEING HIGHER MORALE, RETENTION RATE, AND WE'RE ATTRACTING MORE TEACHERS TO WANT TO JOIN OUR SYSTEM.

>> SO AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES, OBVIOUSLY, HUNDREDS OF CHICAGO STUDENTS, IT'S REPORTED, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES ARE STILL WAITING FOR BUS ROUTES, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR DISTRICTS NOT JUST THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR AS WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS?

>> YEAH, SO YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE MADE THE DECISION TO TRY TO TRANSPORT EVERYBODY.

AND SO WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THAT, WE HAD OVER 3,000 STUDENTS THAT WERE ON ROUTES THAT WERE AN HOUR OR LONGER EACH WAY.

AND THAT WAS EXTREMELY -- INCLUDING MANY THAT WERE OVER 90 MINUTES.

WE HAD THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THAT WE COULDN'T TRANSPORT RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE HAVE SO MANY STUDENTS.

THE BOARD MADE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, THEY CHANGED THE POLICY A YEAR AGO.

WE GAVE WARNING TO ALL OUR FAMILIES THIS POLICY WAS PRIORITIZING OUR DIVERSE LEARNERS AND STUDENTS THAT WERE HOMELESS.

WE MADE THE TOUGH DECISION TO START WITH THEM FIRST.

SO WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESULT, WE ARE NOW ABLE TO TRANSPORT ALL OF OUR DIVERSE LEARNERS, NEW REQUESTS THAT WE GET -- AND WE GET REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR -- WE GET THEM WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

AVERAGE ROUTE TIME NOW IS 28 MINUTES, AND THE MAJORITY THAT -- AND THEN THE FEW STUDENTS THAT ARE OVER 60 MINUTES, IT'S 60 TO 65 MINUTES.

SO WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING, BRANDIS, WE'RE HAVING HIRING FIRST, AND WE'RE INCREASING SALARIES, WAGES FOR OUR BUS DRIVERS.

WHEN I STARTED IT WAS $15 TO $20 AN HOUR, NOW IT'S $20 TO $25, AND NOW IT'S $22 TO $27.

WHAT THAT'S RESULTING IN IS WE'RE NOT LOSING BUS DRIVERS.

WE'RE STARTING TO GAIN BUS DRIVERS.

THE CHALLENGES, THOUGH, I HAVE MORE CHILDREN THAN EVER WITH IEPs REQUESTING TRANSPORTATION.

>> YOU'RE SPENDING FOR YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR BUS DRIVERS, BUT THERE COULD BE A LOOMING FISCAL CLIFF ONCE THE PANDEMIC FUNDS DRY UP.

YOU'VE EXPANDED SUMMER SCHOOL, OBVIOUSLY, INCREASING STAFF AND SOCIAL WORKERS.

SOMEWHAT IS THE PLAN?

>> I DID ASK MY FORMER BOARD TO GIVE ME A THREE-YEAR RUNWAY, AND BRANDIS, YEAR ONE WAS LAST YEAR.

AND OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, WE HAD AMAZING, WE HAD STRONG ACADEMIC RESULTS.

WE'RE GOING TO SHOW A START OF A STRONG RECOVERY.

YEAR TWO IS THIS YEAR, AND REALLY WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE REALLY WORK HARD TO REALLY HAVE A STABLE YEAR FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO AFTER NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE THAT LARGE CLIFF.

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE GIVE OUR MAYOR, MYSELF, OUR PARTNERS THE TIME TO ADVOCATE WITH SPRINGFIELD, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW THE SHORTFALL WE HAVE FROM THE STATE WOULD MORE THAN OFFSET THE LOSSES WE HAVE FROM THE FEDERAL FUNDING SO.

REALLY FOR US IT'S A REVENUE ISSUE AND IT'S A STATE ISSUE.

BUT I ALSO KNOW SPRINGFIELD, YOU KNOW, THEY INHERITED THIS.

THEY DIDN'T CREATE THIS.

THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TIME ALSO TO HELP US FIND SOLUTIONS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO, GIVE US THAT TIME.

>> COUPLE SECONDS LEFT, HAVE YOU HEARD FROM OR ASKED FROM MAYOR ONSON A COMMITMENT ABOUT JOB SECURITY?

>> WE'RE DEVELOPING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

I WOULD SAY THIS, WE'RE ALIGNED IN VISION AND WHAT WE WANT FOR THE DISTRICT.

HE BELIEVES IN WELL FUNDED SCHOOLS.

I HAVE A CONTRACT, SO IT REALLY IS BOTH OF OUR CHOICES, RIGHT, ABOUT WHAT OUR RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO EVOLVE TO.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT HIS VISION FOR FUNDING SCHOOLS, AND AGAIN, WE'RE DEVELOPING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

>> YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST, PEDRO MARTINEZ.

>>> UP NEXT A CLOSER LOOK AT CHICAGO'S MIGRANT CRISIS ONE YEAR LATER.

STAY WITH US.

>>> ONE YEAR AGO TODAY THE FIRST BUS SENT TO CHICAGO BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT ROLLED INTO CHICAGO'S UNION STATION CARRYING 75 ASYLUM SEEKERS.

A YEAR LATER, MORE THAN 13,000 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN HAVE ARRIVED, STRAINING THE CITY'S SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND AT TIMES EXACERBATING TENSION BETWEEN CHICAGO'S BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH A LOOK AT HOW THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS CURRENTLY FACING THE CITY DEVELOPED AND WHAT HAPPENS NOW.

HEATHER, TAKE US BACK TO AUGUST 31st OF LAST YEAR.

HOW DID THIS ALL BEGIN?

>> Reporter: WELL, IT BEGAN WITH A BUS OF NEARLY 75 PEOPLE WHO ROLLED INTO UNION STATION WITH REALLY NOT MUCH MORE THAN THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK AND MAYBE A FEW PRECIOUS BELONGINGS.

THEY ARRIVED OVERNIGHT WITH NO WARNING TO CITY OFFICIALS, SENDING THEM SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO FIND SOME PLACE FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO STAY AND FEARING THAT IT WAS THE START OF A VERY BIG PROBLEM.

NOW, THIS WAS PART OF A STRATEGY BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT TO EMBARRASS MAYORS OF DEMOCRATIC CITIES WHERE IMMIGRANTS ARE PROTECTED FROM FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS AND TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO CHANGE THE COUNTRY'S IMMIGRATION RULES.

>> NOW, THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS SOMEWHAT RECEDED FROM VIEW WHEN THE COLD WEATHER SET IN, ONLY TO REEMERGE AS A FULL BROWN HUMANITARIAN CRUNCH IN APRIL.

HOW DID CITY OFFICIALS RESPOND?

>> Reporter: THEY RESPONDED REALLY WITH PANIC AND SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS TO WHAT HAS PROVEN TO BE A LONG-TERM CRISIS.

WHEN THOSE SECOND WAVE OF MIGRANTS ARRIVED, THE CITY SHELTERS WERE STILL FULL FROM PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED BEFORE THE COLD WEATHER SET IN, WHICH MEANT WHEN THOSE NEW ARRIVALS CAME, THE CITY HAD NOWHERE TO PUT THEM.

THAT STARTED THE PROCESS OF SENDING THESE PEOPLE TO POLICE STATIONS WHERE THEY WERE FORCED TO LIVE ON FLOORS WITHOUT BEDS, SHOWERS, OR ANY SORT OF FACILITY TO GET FOOD AND TO BE SEEN AND TAKEN CARE OF MEDICALLY.

NOW, DAYS BEFORE SHE LEFT OFFICE, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY, BUT IT WAS BASICALLY UP TO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO COPE WITH THE REST AND IT VERY QUICKLY WHAT WAS A PROBLEM TURNED INTO A VERY, VERY SERIOUS CRISIS.

>> YEAH, CERTAINLY A CRISIS I THINK MANY OF US HAVE SEEN IF YOU PASS BY ANY POLICE STATIONS IN TOWN.

YOU MENTIONED MAYOR JOHNSON.

HE TOOK OFFICE ON MAY THE 15th.

HOW HAS HIS APPROACH DIFFERED FROM THE FORMER MAYOR?

>> Reporter: WELL, HE HAS TAKEN A MUCH LESS COMBATIVE APPROACH TO NOT JUST TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT BUT FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN ILLINOIS.

HE AND GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER HAVE TAKEN GREAT PAINS TO SHOW THE NEWS MEDIA THAT THEY ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.

THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT EVEN AS THE STATE HAS SPENT $250 MILLION CARING FOR THE MIGRANTS AND THE CITY ANOTHER $100 MILLION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REALLY YET TO STEP UP TO HELP EITHER GOVERNMENT CARE FOR THESE MIGRANTS, AND THAT IS WHAT PART PART OF WHAT HAS CREATED POLITICAL PROBLEMS.

>> A UNIFIED FRONT IN A WAY WE DIDN'T SEE IN THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.

BREAK IT DOWN FOR US, HOW MANY ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE STILL AWAITING SHELTER.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE MORE THAN 6,700 PEOPLE LIVING IN CHICAGO SHELTERS, AND THAT INCLUDES TEN NEW SHELTERS OPENED BY BRANDON JOHNSON SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE.

BUT STILL MORE THAN 2,000 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN ARE LIVING OUT OF CHICAGO'S POLICE STATIONS AND CHICAGO'S O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

AND THAT HAS INCREASED NEARLY 60% IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS AS MORE BUSES, MANY WITH AS MANY AS 50 PEOPLE ON BOARD, ARRIVE EVERY DAY IN CHICAGO.

>> IS THERE ANY RELIEF IN SIGHT FOR THOSE FOLKS LIVING IN POLICE STATIONS AND AT THE AIRPORT?

WHERE DOES THIS GO NEXT?

>> Reporter: WELL, JOHNSON IS WORKING TO OPEN EVEN MORE SHELTERS, INCLUDING AT A FORMER MARINE CORPS BASE ALONG THE CHICAGO RIVER IN NORTH PARK.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO AGREE TO SPEND $1.5 MILLION TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY.

AND IN ABOUT A MONTH, IT COULD HOUSE AS MANY AS 550 PEOPLE.

HOWEVER, THE CITY NEEDS LOTS MORE SHELTERS AND A PROPOSAL TO OPEN A SHELTER AT A HYDE PARK HOTEL DREW CONDEMNATION AND PROTESTS THIS WEEK AS RESIDENTS OF HYDE PARK SAID THEY WEREN'T CONSULTED ABOUT THE PLAN AND ARE CONCERNED THAT THE SHELTER WILL ATTRACT CRIME AND OTHER NUISANCES.

>> CERTAINLY A LOT OF HEATED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

HEATHER CHERONE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS, NICK.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL COVERAGE OF THIS ISSUE ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS.

NOW BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> NICK, THANK YOU.

>>> AS WE JUST HEARD, THE GROWING MIGRANT POPULATION IN CHICAGO IS FACING A HOST OF ROADBLOCKS TO SHELTER, FOOD, HEALTHCARE, AND WORK.

WE TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE ISSUE TOMORROW AND SATURDAY ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LATINO VOICES.

IN SEEKING SANCTUARY, ONE YEAR LATER, WE TALK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO HELP MIGRANTS AND LOCAL LEADERS ABOUT WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE, SPECIFICALLY ON WORK AUTHORIZATION EFFORTS.

HERE'S A PREVIEW WITH HOST ALEX HERNANDEZ OF UNIVISION CHICAGO.

>> IF GRANTED, STATES WOULD BE THE ONES ACTUALLY SPONSORING ASYLUM SEEKERS FOR EMPLOYMENT, WHAT IS ILLINOIS HEARING FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?

>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.

THERE ISN'T ANYTHING CONCRETE.

THE REALITY IS WE HAVE A CONGRESS THAT'S KIND OF IN A DEADLOCK ON A MILLION DIFFERENT ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MOVEMENT ON IMMIGRATION-RELATED ISSUES SO.

RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A CONSTANT CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING BUT ALSO AN URGING ON OUR BEHALF TO SAY WE NEED ACTION ON THIS, WE NEED TO SEE SOMETHING.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY GOING TO BE IN THE SAME CYCLE WITH NO ANSWERS.

>> THEY'VE JUST BEEN KICKING THE CAN, IN A WAY.

>> YEAH.

IT'S BEEN, AGAIN, A BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATION, BUT NO DEFINITIVE RESOLUTION AS TO IF WORK PERMITS ARE GOING TO COME, IF THERE'S TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE IS DOING WHAT THEY CAN, BUT THE REALITY IS WITHOUT A CONGRESS THAT IS ACTUALLY COMMITTED TO DOING SOMETHING, WE'RE ALL STUCK IN LIMBO.

>> DO YOU SEE THESE FASTER WORK PERMITS BEING THE SOLUTION TO WORK FORCE SHORTAGE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S NOT A SILVER BULLET, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS WE HAVE SHORTAGES IN MANY SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY.

AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT IF WE HAD AN INCREASE IN WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT BY OFFERING OUR ASYLUM SEEKERS A WORK PERMIT.

>> HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE ARGUMENT THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO CARE FIRST FOR ITS RESIDENTS, ITS CITIZENS BEFORE TAKING CARE OF THE NEWEST ARRIVALS?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK PART OF THE SITUATION AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING IN A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVEN'T HAD THAT INVESTMENT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES A SHELTER, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHY THAT SENTIMENT IS BEING VOICED.

TO THOSE WHO SAY, THEY'RE BEING PRIORITIZED, THE CHALLENGE IS WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF ALL.

IT'S WHY WORK AUTHORIZATION IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK WHERE I WOULD DIFFER A LITTLE IS I THINK IT IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE'S PURVIEW TO CHANGE IT.

KNOWING CONGRESS IS NOT GOING TO MOVE, IT'S ABOUT A PRESIDENT THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER MAKING THE NECESSARY CHANGES.

IF WE DON'T HAVE WORK AUTHORIZATIONS NOW, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE BUSES AND MORE NEW ARRIVALS THAT SCALE UP EXPONENTIALLY.

THEY'RE GOING TO LABEL CHICAGO A DISASTER, THE PARTY A DISASTER, AND THE PRESIDENT A DISASTER.

IT'S IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST TO ACT QUICKLY.

>> AGAIN, THAT WAS ALEX HERNANDEZ SPEAKING WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS IN A SNEAK PEEK OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LATINO VOICES.

YOU CAN CATCH THE SPECIAL EDITION SEEKING SANCTUARY ONE YEAR LATER TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND SATURDAY AT 6:00.

>>> AN UNUSUAL FRIENDSHIP IS RESULTING IN SOME ARTWORK WITH A HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE.

CHICAGO CUBS OUTFIELDER IAN HAPP COMMISSIONED AN ARTIST TO CAPTURE THE GAME FROM A PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVE.

BUT THE ARTIST, AN ENGLISHMAN, DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT BASEBALL, SO HAPP INTRODUCED HIS FRIEND TO THE WORKPLACE.

HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK.

>> IN THE AIR, PRETTY WELL HIT, DEEP LEFT CENTER.

GOT A CHANCE.

GONE.

>> I HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WHERE I WOULD BRING PEOPLE DOWN ON THE FIELD THAT HAD BEEN TO 10, 20, 1200 GAMES AT WRIGLEY FIELD, AND THEY WOULD GET ON THE FIELD AND LOOK BACK UP AND HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE OR THIS MOMENT OF AWE.

AND TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT WE GET OF WRIGLEY FIELD AS PLAYERS THAT THE FANS DON'T GET.

THE FIRST WAS FROM THE DUGOUT LOOKING OUT AS THE FANS EXPERIENCE IT FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW.

SO THAT'S HOW IT START, AND THEN WE CAPTURED THE BATTER'S BOX VIEW AND THEN THAT KIND OF ROUNDING THIRD AFTER A HOME RUN.

>> Reporter: THE ARTIST IAN HAPP HIRED, PATRICK VEIL, ALSO MADE CITY SCAPES AND PORTRAITS OF FANS HE'S MET.

VEIL WAS BORN IN BRISTOL, ENGLAND, AND LIVES IN BROOKLYN.

>> I WENT TO A METS GAME, AND I DI -- I'M ALWAYS DRAWING WHEREVER I GO.

AND I DID A SKETCH IN MY SKETCHBOOK.

I THINK YOU SAW THAT AND WERE LIKE, WE NEED TO GET YOU TO WRIGLEY.

>> Reporter: VEIL MET HAPP THROUGH A MUTUAL FRIEND.

HE UNDERSTOOD CRICKET BUT NOT BASEBALL.

>> YEAH, I HAVEN'T GOT THE FOGGIEST.

OR I DIDN'T.

I'M LEARNING.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M STILL -- IT'S A FIELD.

I THINK TO START WITH I WOULD CALL IT A PITCH AND IAN WOULD PICK ME UP ON THE LITTLE THINGS.

>> Reporter: THEIR FIVE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP RESULTED IN A GALLERY SHOW CALLED SEE WHAT I SEE.

>> WE LOVE ARTWORK THAT HAS A STORY BEHIND IT.

THIS KIND OF COLLABORATION HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

>> Reporter: HAPP HIT A PAIR OF HOME RUNS AT THE FIRST CUBS GAME IN LONDON, BUT TO THIS PRODUCT OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HIS ADOPTED HOME AND A BALLPARK STEEPED IN HISTORY THAT STRIKES HIM IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WAYS IS THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PLAYED HERE BEFORE US, YOU KNOW, THE ERNIE BANKS, RON SANTOS, BABE RUTH CALLED A SHOT HERE.

YOU KNOW, TO CONCEPTUALIZE THAT, THE HISTORY, THE 100 PLUS YEARS OF HISTORY AT THIS FIELD AND TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT ON TO WHERE THE CUBS UNIFORM IS REALLY SPECIAL AS A PLAYER.

AND THEN THE ENERGY THAT YOU GET FROM THE FAN BASE, THEY'RE ALWAYS HERE.

THEY'RE ALWAYS ROOTING FOR YOU AND THEY'RE SUCH A POSITIVE FAN BASE, WHICH IS SO IMPRESSIVE.

>> Reporter: HE'S GLAD TO SHARE WRIGLEY WITH HIS FRIEND, BUT THE ARTIST HAS YET TO TAKE BATTING PRACTICE.

>> HAVE YOU TAUGHT HIM TO HIT A FASTBALL?

>> I THINK NO.

>> NO, WE HAVEN'T GOT HIM OUT TO TAKE BP YET.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO DO.

>> Reporter: AND WHILE NEITHER THE BALL PLAYER OR ARTIST IS FROM CHIPG, EACH HAS FOUND THE CITY WELCOMING.

>> IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

I'M STARTING TO EXPLORE THE CITY MYSELF NOW THROUGH THE LENS OF BASEBALL AND PEOPLE THAT I MEET AND INTERVIEW WITH THE CUBS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M A BIT OF A DETECTIVE OF SORTS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO LEARN THOSE STORIES ABOUT WHY PEOPLE LOVE THIS CLUB SO MUCH AND THE CITY.

>> AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE PEOPLE THAT WATCH US AND CHEER FOR US EVERY DAY A LOOK INTO HOW IT IS FOR US.

WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT", THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> THE ART SHOW IS AT GALLERY VICTOR IN NORTH.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SHOW ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAM ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "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