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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE A VACCINE MANDATE.

>> BUT CHICAGO'S POLICE UNION PRESIDENT HAS A FOUL MOUTHED RESPONSE TO THE MAYOR'S MANDATE OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS BREAKS IT DOWN.

>> IT IS NOT GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

>> AMBULANCE COMPANIES SAY DELAYED PAYMENTS ARE MAKING THE TOUGH JOB OF RECRUITING PARAMEDICS EVEN HARDER.

>> WHY SOME MAJOR GAMING OPERATORS ARE NOT YET READY TO PLACE A BET ON A CHICAGO CASINO.

>> THOSE HISTORIES TELL ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> THE VISITORS CENTER OF CHICAGO'S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONAL MONUMENT OPENS LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

WE HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK.

>> FROM A PUBLIC POOL TO A SKYSCRAPER A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS IN THE THOMPSON CENTER DESIGN COMPETITION.

>> DANCE FOR LIFE RETURNS FOR THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY.

HEDY WEISS TELLS US WHAT IS NEW AND WHO TO LOOK OUT FOR.

>> AND TALK ABOUT A CAREER CHANGE?

MEET A LOCAL WOMAN WHO LEFT HER TEACHING JOB TO HELP BREAK THE STIGMA SURROUNDING PITBULLS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO CITY EMPLOYEES ARE NOW REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

CHICAGO OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THE VACCINE WILL BE MANDATORY FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES WILL REVIEW MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

EMPLOYEES HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 15TH TO COMPLY BUT THE UNION REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY WORKERS DISAGREES WITH THE MANDATE OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WILL BREAK THAT DOWN LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THE COMPANY THAT OWNS WHAT USED TO BE GENERAL IRON WILL PAY A $500,000 FINE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SAYS SELLER INDUSTRIES VIOLATED THE CLEAN AIR ACT BY NOT HAVING THE PROPER PERMIT AND SHREDDING METAL WITHOUT THE EQUIPMENT TO CAPTURE VOLATILE EMISSIONS.

GENERAL IRON'S LINCOLN PARK FACILITY CLOSED AS THE COMPANY SEEKS PERMISSION TO OPERATE ON THE CITY'S SOUTHEAST SIDE AND MORE OF THAT STORY AND 0 OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE DAYS FROM RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM AND C.E.O.

JOSE TORRES SAYS THE DISTRICT AND THE TEACHERS' UNION ARE CLOSE TO AN AGREEMENT.

THEY HAVE BEEN AT ODDS OVER THE SPECIFICS OF REOPENING SCHOOLS SUCH AS SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES IN CLASSROOMS AND UPDATED THE PARENT GUIDANCE WILL HOLD REMOTE LEARNING CLASSES WHO ARE FORCED TO QUARANTINE DUE TO A POSITIVE COVID TESTS.

>> AMBULANCE COMPANIES SOUND THE ALARM ON THE LACK OF PARAMEDICS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER MAY SOON MAKE THE RARE MOVE OF VETOING A BILL THAT PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY.

HOW PRIVATE AMBULANCE COMPANIES ARE REIMBURSED WHEN THEY TRANSPORT MEDICAID PATIENTS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE ON THIS.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS BEFORE WE GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, A QUICK LESSON IN HOW THE AMBULANCE SYSTEM WORKS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW UNTIL THEY NEED IT.

EVERYBODY THINKS YOU CALL 9-1-1 AND AN AMBULANCE SHOWS UP AND SOMETHING HAPPENS AND YOU GET TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> BY AND LARGE, 9-1-1 CALLS ARE ANSWERED BY EMT'S WHO WORK FOR THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT THEY TAKE PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL BUT THE MAJORITY OF AMBULANCES ARE RUN BY PRIVATE COMPANIES AND THEY DO OTHER TRANSPORTS SAY FROM ONE HOSPITAL TO ANOTHER OR MAYBE FROM A HOSPITAL TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM.

MEDICAL NECESSITIES BUT NOT THE SAME 9-1-1 STYLE EMERGENCIES.

AND THESE ARE THE TRANSPORTS THAT ARE THE FOCUS OF THE LEGISLATION WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT.

PARAMEDIC DEMEL FOUNTAIN SAYS HIS COMPANY WAS REALLY BUSY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE WERE ON THE FRONTLINES TRANSPORTING THE PEOPLE WE HAD COVID TRANSPORTING FROM HOSPITAL TO HOSPITAL.

MOVING PEOPLE TO ICU'S SO WE DID DO IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC WE WERE TRANSPORTING A LOT OF COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS.

SO RISK LEVEL WAS HIGH.

>> HE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.

HE HAS BEEN WITH SUPERIOR FOR 19 YEARS NOW AND IS ACTUALLY THE OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR FOR THE REGION THAT STRETCHES FROM SOUTH PART OF THE CITY TO CANADAKY.

AND THERE IS A PROBLEM NOW.

COWORKERS ARE LEAVING FOR LESS STRESSFUL AND LESS DANGEROUS JOBS THAT PAY THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS BEING A PARAMEDIC.

>> I'VE HAD PEOPLE LEAVE TO GO WORK FOR WALMART AND PEOPLE LEAVE TO GO WORK FOR AMAZON.

AND WE HAD ONE PERSON LEAVE TO GO BE A MANAGER FOR CHICK-FIL-A.

>> THERE ARE VARIOUS REASONS BEHIND THE STAFFING SHORTAGE NOT SINGULAR TO ILLINOIS.

AMONG THEM PRIVATE AMBULANCE COMPANIES HERE SAY THEY ARE NOT GETTING REIMBURSED ON TIME OR IN CASES AT ALL FOR THE NONEMERGENCY TRIPS THEY GIVE TO MEDICAID RECIPIENTS.

RIGHT NOW, THEY FILE A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT LIKE FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM, TO SOMETHING CALLED A MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION.

THESE MCO'S ARE CONTRACTED BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO COORDINATE CARE FOR MEDICAID PATIENTS AND ALSO WITH THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS THAT GIVE SERVICE TO THESE PATIENTS LIKE AMBULANCE RIDES.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION SAYS THE FIVE LARGEST PRIVATE AMBULANCE COMPANIES WERE SURVEYED BY HIS GROUP THIS MONTH AND THEY REPORTED DOING 80,000 TRANSPORTS OF MCO MEDICAID PATIENTS IN 2020.

HE SAYS EARLY AUGUST, 15,000 OF THOSE TRIPS HAD NOT BEEN REIMBURSED.

>> WHILE THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS MAY BE SMALL IN THE WORLD WHERE THEY ARE PAID BILLIONS AND BILLIONS A YEAR THAT $2.5 MILLION IS ESSENTIAL AND CRITICAL TO MAKING SURE THERE ARE AMBULANCE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

YOU KNOW, 15,000 TRANSPORTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PAID.

THAT IS JUST A STAGGERING NUMBER OF UNPAID TRIPS.

>> NOW, THIS BILL IS THEIR SOLUTION.

THE COMPANIES WANT TO BE ABLE TO AVOID DEALING WITH MCO'S TO GET THOSE REIMBURSEMENTS AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND PAID FOR A FEE FOR SERVICE MODELS.

SAMANTHA OLDS FREY LEADS THE STATE ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS THOSE MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND SAYS HER NUMBERS DO NOT ALIGN WITH THOSE 80,000, 15,000.

SHE SAYS HOWEVER, MCO'S HAVE AND WILL WORK WITH AMBULANCE COMPANIES AND ANY OTHER PROVIDER EXPERIENCING ISSUES.

HFS SAYING THAT SOME CLAIMS HAVE NOT BEEN PAID BECAUSE AMBULANCE COMPANIES EITHER DIDN'T PROVE THAT THE RIDES WERE MEDICALLY NECESSARY OR ALSO THEY SAY ONE COMPANY JUST TODAY SUBMITTED 3,000 CLAIMS SOME WERE TWO YEARS OLD.

SAMANTHA OLDS FREY SAYS THAT IF THIS MEASURE BECOMES LAW, THE AMBULANCES PLAN COULD BACKFIRE.

MCO'S DECLINE THE CLAIMS AT A LESSER RATE AT 10-15%.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FACTOR DENIAL RATE FOR THE SAME SERVICES NONEMERGENCY AMBULANCES THE DENIAL RATES ARE 40%.

SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT THE MEDICAID HEALTH PLANS ARE SEEING.

SO WE WORRIED THIS BILL IS GOING TO EXACERBATE THE CHALLENGE THAT THE AMBULANCE INDUSTRY IS SAYING THEY ARE TRYING TO SOLVE.

>> SHE ALLEGES THAT THIS CHANGE COULD HARM VULNERABLE MEDICAID PATIENTS.

THE COMPANIES NOW ARE CONTRACTUALLY BOUND TO PROVIDE THE TRIPS VIA THE CONTRACT WITH MCO'S AND WITHOUT THAT, SHE SAYS, PRIVATE COMPANIES COULD PUT THESE TRIPS ON THE BACK BURNER.

>> WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO PUT A BARRIER BETWEEN THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS GETTING TO DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS, GETTING TO SCHEDULED TREATMENTS LIKE DIALYSIS OR TO NONURGENT SURGERIES.

THAT IS WHY WE'RE SO OPPOSED THE IMPACT ON THE TWO MILLION MEDICAID MEMBERS THAT WE SERVE AND AGAIN IT'S GOING TO BE OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE AT RISK.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S OFFICE IS TAKING A SIMILAR STANCE ISSUING A STATEMENT THAT SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS CONCERNED THIS LEGISLATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DISRUPT CARE AND REDUCE THE QUALITY OF PROVIDED SERVICES TO SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE ILLINOISIANS.

I DID, BY THE WAY, SPEAK WITH THE DIRECTOR OF HFS WHO HAD SIMILAR CONCERNS SAYING THIS WOULD JEOPARDIZE CARE AND BE CONFUSING FOR MEDICAID PATIENTS AS THEY TRY TO GET THE RIDES.

THE AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION SAYS MEDICALLY VULNERABLE PEOPLE ARE HARMED BY THE STATUS QUO.

>> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT PATIENTS BEING IN DANGER.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS ENDANGERS PATIENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE AMBULANCE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED THEM.

TALKING ABOUT THE DIALYSIS PATIENTS IF WE'RE NOT BEING PAID BY THE MANAGED CARE WE DON'T HAVE THE AMBULANCES THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO PICK THAT PATIENT UP AND TAKE THAT PATIENT TO A RADIATION APPOINTMENT AND THE REAL OF SENSES, TAKING THE PATIENT THAT IS HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY TO A HOSPITAL.

>> NOW, WHILE THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT EXPLICITLY SAID HE IS GOING TO REJECT THE MEASURE IT LOOKS LIKE A VETO IS COMING.

AND AGAIN, THAT IS A RARITY, I BELIEVE, HOWEVER, AGAIN THIS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS ONLY OVERRID ESPECIALLY A PRITZKER VETO ONCE.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK AT HOW PLANS FOR CHICAGO'S CASINO ARE COMING ALONG.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, THE ODDS OF A CHICAGO CASINO GETTING BUILT RELY ON WHETHER OR NOT OPERATORS WANT TO TAKE A BET ONCOMING TO THE CITY.

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE WEEK WHEN THE LONG AWAITED CHICAGO CASINO PROJECT FINALLY GOT UP AND RUNNING.

MONDAY WAS THE INITIAL DEADLINE TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT.

AFTER FEW BIDDERS APPEARED INTERESTED THE CITY PUSHED THE DEADLINE BACK TO OCTOBER.

TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ARE RICHARD VELOTTA ASSISTANT EDITOR AT THE VAGUE LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL IS OWNED BY THE FAMILY OF Dr. ALDLE SON THE SHAREHOLDER OF SANDS CORP. AND BRENDAN BUSSMAN PARTNER AND DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR LAS VEGAS BASED GLOBAL MARKET ADVISERS A GAMING SPORTS AND HOSPITALITY CONSULTING FIRM.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> SO THE CITY OUT THE REQUEST FORBIDS A WHILE AGO AND SO ANY OPERATOR THAT WANTS TO WIN THIS BID THEY HAVE TO ADHERE TO A FEW THINGS.

IT'S ONE CASINO LICENSE TO INCLUDE SLOTS AT O'HARE AND MIDWAY AIRPORTS A RESORT WITH 500 ROOMS AND INCLUDE BARS, RESTAURANTS AND HAVE AN ARCHITECT ALI SIGNIFICANT DESIGN.

RICHARD VELOTTA WHY WAS THIS DEADLINE PUSHED BACK?

AND WHY THE INTEREST SO LOW AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE REASON WHY IT WAS PUSHED BACK WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH QUALIFIED BIDDERS THAT CAME TO THE TABLE.

AND I KNOW THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID SHE WANTED TO HAVE SOME INTEREST FROM SOME OF THE LAS VEGAS COMPANIES.

AND AS MANY PEOPLE RECOGNIZE, SOME OF THE LAS VEGAS COMPANIES HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONGTIME AND THEY DO IT VERY WELL.

>> AND IT APPEARS THE BIG LAS VEGAS COMPANIES HAVE NOT THUS FAR BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS.

BRENDAN BUSSMAN DO WE KNOW WHAT COMPANIES ARE INTERESTED?

AND ARE THINKING ABOUT SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

TO SOME EXTENT.

I KNOW THAT RUSS TRADE HAS BEEN RUMORED TO BE IN ON IT.

>> NEIL BLOOM'S COMPANY OPERATES THE RIVERS CASINO?

>> THAT OPERATES RIVERS.

AND I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN REGIONAL PLAYER INTERESTS.

BUT AS RICK MENTIONED, WYNN, MGM, SAID THEY WERE NOT SUBMITTING AND CAESAR'S SAID THEY WERE BOWING OUT AS WELL.

>> RICHARD VELOTTA WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THEY ARE CONSIDERING WHEN THEY WEIGH OPTIONS AND SAY MAYBE NOT A GOOD BET?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS CHICAGO OPPORTUNITY PROVIDES IS THIS HIGH TAX RATE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ALREADY LOWERED ONCE BY THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.

IT WAS AT AN ACTUAL TAX RATE OF ABOUT 70% AT ONE POINT IN TIME.

AND THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 40% APPROXIMATELY.

ONCE YOU GET TO THE 40% LEVEL, THOUGH, THE PROFITABILITY FOR THE CASINO TAKES A BIG HIT.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE MAIN REASON WHY MOST OF THESE OTHER LAS VEGAS COMPANIES ARE TAKING A PASS.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER LOCATIONS JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, 6.75% IS WHAT THE GAMING TAX HERE IS IN NEVADA.

40% IS A BIG LEAD.

>> WOW.

THAT IS MUCH LOWER THAN CHICAGO'S TAX RATE.

BRENDAN BUSSMAN IS IT JUST THE TAX RATE?

OR ARE THERE OTHER FACTORS THAT MAKE CHICAGO A RISKY BET FOR THE OPERATORS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY THREE THINGS.

WE TOUCHED ON THE TAX RATE BUT ALSO AS YOU HIGHLIGHTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS THERE IS A LAUNDRY LIST OF REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING THE 500 KEYS FOR THE HOTEL, BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT, ICONIC FACILITY, BEING ONE AND THE REQUIREMENTS BUT YOU HAVE AN UNKNOWN MARKET STILL.

YOU HAVE A CASINO TO THE NORTH IN WALK BEGAN THAT HAS NOT BEEN NAMED BY THE GAMING BOARD AND ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

YOU HAVE A MARKET IN FLUX WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL DOLLARS.

>> AND NOT TO MENTION THERE IS A HARD ROCK CASINO THAT OPENED IN INDIANA.

RICHARD VELOTTA IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER CHANGING ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO ATTRACT MORBIDDERS?

YOU MENTIONED IT TWEAKED THE PROPOSAL ONCE?

>> YES, I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE'S MEETING SCHEDULE IS.

>> THIS IS NOT ON THEIR AGENDA AT THIS POINT.

>> I THINK THE BIG DEAL KILLER RIGHT NOW IS THAT TAX RATE.

WE SEE TAX RATES THAT RANGE FROM 10, 20, 25% IN A LOT OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

AND IN McCAUL THEY HAVE A RATE OF 39%.

THAT IS LIKE TOUCHING CLOSE TO WHERE CHICAGO WANTS TO BE BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHICAGO AND McCAUL IS THAT THEY HAVE VOLUME THEY HAVE A LARGE MARKET TO ALL OF MAINLAND CHINA AND A LOT OF THE OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES THAT ARE NEARBY AND WITHIN AN EASY FLIGHT TO GET TO, TO THE WHAT IS NOW THE LARGEST GAMING MARKET IN THE WORLD.

>> AND McCAW MY PRODUCER WAS TELLING ME IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT CAN GAMBLE IN THE COUNTRY OF CHINA.

A GIANT MARKET.

BRENDAN BUSSMAN, WHAT IS IS THIS PUSHING BACK OF THE DEADLINE TO THE END OF OCTOBER GOING TO ACCOMPLISH?

YOU THINK MORE PEOPLE MIGHT APPLY BECAUSE OF THIS DELAY?

>> I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS THAT THE MAY SHOW INTEREST.

THE PARAMETERS DID NOT CHANGE IT GAVE BIDDERS AN EXTRA 60 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY WANT TO JUMP INTO THIS.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT HEY, CHICAGO IS ON THE HORIZON AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL SEE MORE THAN ONE OR TWO MAYBE JUMPING INTO THAT AND I DON'T SEE ANYBODY THAT HAS BOWED OUT HAVING A SECOND THOUGHT.

>> AND RICHARD VELOTTA GOING BACK YEARS OF DEBATE OVER THE CASINO IT COULD BE USED, THE PROFITS FROM IT COULD BE USED TO HELP SUPPORT PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSIONS WHICH ARE UNDERFUNDED.

WHAT IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO HOW MUCH TAX MONEY COULD COME IN FROM A CHICAGO CASINO?

>> I THINK BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MANY MARKETS INFLUENCES ON ALL THE CASINOS IN INDIANA, AND NEARBY AND THE ONES THAT BRENDAN MENTIONED IN TERMS OF WHAT COULD BE COMING TO THE MARKET IS HARD TO SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH REVENUE COULD BE GENERATED.

OBVIOUSLY WITH A HIGHER TAX RATE YOU ARE WISHING THAT YOU WOULD GET MORE.

BUT THE FACT IS THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE A REALLY SOLID OPERATOR IN THERE, IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAYBE BRENDAN KNOWS THE ANSWER HOW MUCH IS ANTICIPATED.

BUT THAT IS A FIGURE THAT THERE IS ELUSIVE.

>> BRENDAN LAY DOWN THE ODDS OF THE CITY GETTING A COUPLE BIDDERS HERE AND GETTING A PROJECT UP AND RUNNING.

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO SETTING THE ODDS OFF OF THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY I'M WEIGHING BETS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

THE CITY HAS TO SIT AND SAY WHO SUBMITS AT THE END AND SHOWS UP TO THE GAME AT THAT POINT YOU FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS A HORSE THERE TO PLAY OR NOT.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY HERE TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN MEET THE THRESHOLDS THAT ARE THERE.

>> LOOKS LIKE WE'VE EXHAUSTED THE GAMBLING CLICHES.

AND OUR THANKS TO RICHARD VELOTTA AND BRENDAN BUSSMAN THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS FOR A LOOK AT CHICAGO'S ONLY NATIONAL MONUMENT.

BRANDIS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SOME SAY WALKING THROUGH CHICAGO'S PULLMAN NEIGHBORHOOD IS LIKE TRAVELING BACK IN TIME NOW A NEW VISITORS CENTER IN THE CLOCK TOWER BUILDING WILL TELL THE STORY OF HISTORIC TOWN.

GEOFFREY BAER VISITED PULLMAN TO GET A LOOK AT THE EXHIBIT OPENING LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

>> DOES THIS LOOK LIKE PART OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE?

THERE ARE NO MOUNTAINS, CANYONS OR FORESTS IN PULLMAN ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE BUT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A NATIONAL MONUMENT.

AND WHAT IT LACKS IN SCENERY IT MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR IN HISTORY.

>> THIS IS AMERICA'S FIRST PLANNED INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY.

AND SO THERE IS A LOT TO BE LEARNED HERE.

>> GEORGE PULLMAN, THE 19TH CENTURY INDUSTRIALIST REVOLUTIONIZED RAIL TRAVEL WITH THE PULLMAN PALACE CAR.

HE OPENED A FACTORY SOUTH OF CHICAGO AND RIGHT NEXT DOOR HE BUILT A COMPANY TOWN WHICH HE NAMED FOR HIMSELF.

>> IT WAS ENVISIONED AS A WORKERS UTOPIA.

>> HERE YOU HAVE INDOOR PLUMBING, YOU HAVE TRASH PICK UP.

EVERYTHING THAT A COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE.

BUILT FOR THE WORKER.

>> WORKERS AND MANAGERS PAID RENT TO PULLMAN FOR THEIR HOMES IN THE TOWN WHICH HAD ALL THE AMENITIES MOST WORKING PEOPLE COULD ONLY DREAM OF.

ARCHITECTURE, MANICURED LANDSCAPING AND PARKS, A LIBRARY AND CHURCH AND THEATRE.

ALL OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY THE PULLMAN COMPANY.

>> THIS WAS THE EPICENTER OF THE FACTORY AND COMPANY TOWN WAS THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

AND ON LABOR DAY, IT WILL BECOME AN EPICENTER OF A DIFFERENT KIND, THE VISITORS CENTER FOR CHICAGO'S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONAL MONUMENT.

INSIDE, YOU BOARD A NEARLY FULL SIZED MODEL OF A PULLMAN SLEEPER CAR.

ALL ABOARD.

THIS WAS NOTHING LIKE WHAT PEOPLE HAD EXPERIENCED IN TRAIN TRAVEL.

>> PRIOR TO THE PULLMAN LUXURY SLEEPING CARS TRAVEL BY RAIL WAS VERY, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE UNPLEASANT.

>> THE CAR IS A GATEWAY TO A PERMANENT EXHIBIT ABOUT PULLMAN.

THE MAN, THE COMPANY AND THE TOWN.

AND ALSO PULLMAN'S IMPORTANT AND UNINTENDED ROLE IN AMERICA'S CIVIL RIGHTS AND LABOR MOVEMENTS.

>> THE ECONOMIC RECESSION OCCURRED IN 1894 AND THE ORDERS DROPPED OFF FOR THE PULLMAN CARS.

HE REDUCED HOURS AND WAGES BUT HE REFUSED TO REAUTO DOUCE THEIR RENT.

>> SOME WORKERS BARELY HAD ENOUGH TO CENTER FIELD THEIR FAMILIES.

PULLMAN EMPLOYEES WALKED OUT AND THE CONFLICT ESCALATED INTO A NATIONAL RAILROAD STRIKE.

PRESIDENT GLOVER CLEVELAND SENT FEDERAL TROOPS TO BREAK THE STRIKE RESULTING IN ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT LABOR CONFLICTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> AT THE TIME THE RAILROADS IN THE UNITED STATES WERE NOT TRYING TO ARBITRATOR NEGOTIATE WITH EMPLOYEES.

>> IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STRIKE, PULLMAN'S COMPANY WAS FORCED TO SELL-OFF THE TOWN LATER ANNEXED TO CHICAGO.

AND PRESIDENT CLEVELAND MADE LABOR DAY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

>> PERHAPS A BIT OF AN APPEASE.

FOR THE WORKERS BECAUSE THE STRIKE DID NOT MEETLY RESULT IN THE KIND OF LABOR CHANGES THAT THEY WOULD HOPED FOR.

>> BLACK HISTORY IS A BIG PART OF THE PULLMAN STORY, TOO.

THE COMPANY HIRED FORMER ENSLAVED PEOPLE AS PULLMAN PORTERS WHO CARRIED PASSENGERS' LUGGAGE AND SERVED MEALS AND SHINED THEIR SHOES.

>> ON ONE END IT COULD BE LOOKED AT AS A TERRIBLE JOB AND THE OTHER END IT COULD BE LOOKED AS A FOOT STOOL FOR SELF DEVELOPMENT FOR CARVING OUT THE MIDDLE CLASS.

>> PORTERS WORKED UP TO 20 HOURS A SHIFT MOSTLY JUST FOR TIPS AND HAD TO SLEEP ON SEATS IN THE SMOKING CAR.

AND THEY FACED PREJUDICE AND RACISM FROM PASSENGERS WHO NICKNAMED THEM AFTER Mr. PULLMAN HIMSELF.

HARKENING BACK TO A SLAVERY PRACTICE.

>> IMAGINE YOUR NAME IS TOM AND SOMEBODY DISRESPECTFULLY CALLS YOU GEORGE.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY BOY COME HERE.

>> BUT THE PORTERS COULD EAVESDROP ON CONVERSATIONS OF TRALLING BUSINESSMEN.

>> THROUGH OSMOSIS THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THAT CONCEPT AND START BUSINESSES.

>> THE PORTERS QUIETLY DISTRIBUTED BLACK NEWSPAPERS LIKE THE CHICAGO DEFENDER AND PITTSBURGH COURIER ACROSS THE SOUTH SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NORTH.

>> THEY WERE UNOFFICIAL USHERS OF THE GREAT MIGRATION.

>> ABOUT THREE DECADES AFTER THE PULLMAN STRIKE AND THE DEATH OF GEORGE PULLMAN, THE PORTERS OVERCAME STRONG COMPANY RESISTANCE TO FORM AMERICA'S FIRST MAJOR UNION OF BLACK WORKERS THE BROTHERHOOD OF SLEEPING CARPORTERS, LED BY A PHILLIP RANDOLPH.

PULLMAN CLOSED THE FACTORY IN 1958.

AND LIKE MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES, THIS ONE HAS FACED SIGNIFICANT DISINVESTMENT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.

BUILDINGS FROM THE 19TH CENTURY DETERIORATED AND A FIRE DEVASTATED THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN 1998.

BUT ALL ALONG, NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL NONPROFITS FOUGHT TO PRESERVE PULLMAN AND ITS HISTORY.

THE STATE REBUILT THE CLOCK TOWER IN 2005.

AND IN 2015 NEIGHBORS SCORED A HUGE VICTORY WHEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA DECLARED PULLMAN A NATIONAL MONUMENT FOR THE SIGNIFICANCE PAST AND PRESENT.

>> NOT A WEEK GOES BY THAT THERE IS NOT A HEADLINE WHERE I HEAR A PART OF THE STORY OF TODAY HARKEN BARK TO THE ISSUES OF RACE, IMMIGRATION, LABOR, CAPITALISM, GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, GENDER EQUITY.

YOU NAME IT, WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT STORY.

>> IN RECENT YEARS, COMPANIES LIKE METHOD, WHOLE FOODS AND AMAZON HAVE COME TO THE AREA.

>> IN A FEW SHORT YEARS WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> SOME LEADERS SAY THE COMMUNITY ONCE THOUGHT TO BE A MODEL FOR COMPANY TOWNS MAYBE A MODEL FOR REVITALIZATION WITH TOURISTS AS A DRIVING FORCE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM A PLACE TO SHOP, SLEEP, AND A PLACE TO EAT AND KEEP THOSE TAX DOLLARS FLOWING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> ALDERMAN ANTHONY BEALE SAYS PRESERVATION EFFORTS ARE FAR FROM OVER THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF NONPROFIT VICE-PRESIDENTER CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVES AND THE HISTORIC PULLMAN FOUNDATION AND CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.

>> TO BE ABLE TO SEE AN AREA LIKE THIS BE ABLE TO REBOUND AND COME BACK, THROUGH TOURISM NOT THROUGH SOME KIND OF QUICK FIX METHOD BUT THROUGH TOURISM, AND HISTORY, YOU KNOW IS AN IMPORTANT THING AND THAT IS THE BLUEPRINT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO OTHER AREAS OF THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M GEOFFREY BAER.

>> AND GUIDED TOURS OF HOTEL FLORENCE AND RAIL CARS WILL BE AVAILABLE LABOR DAY WEEKEND ONLY.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH A PREVIEW OF CHICAGO'S DANCE FOR LIFE EVENT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

STAY WITH US.

>> DANCE FOR LIFE IS AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON CHICAGO DANCE COMPANIES.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS 30-YEAR HISTORY IT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THIS YEAR.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS OUR ARTS CRITIC HEDY WEISS.

WELCOME BACK IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME.

>> IT HAS.

DANCE FOR LIFE FEATURES MANY DANCE COMPANIES FROM CHICAGO BUT LET'S START WITH THE CITY'S MORE FAMILIAR MUST COMPANY THE JOFFREY.

WHAT ARE THEY CONTRIBUTING?

>> THE JOFFREY BALLET IS DOING SOMETHING CALLED THE TIMES THEY ARE RACING AND THEY SUBTITLE IT A SNEAKER BALLET.

IT WAS CREATED BY JUSTIN PEP FROM THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET WHO HAS DONE THE CHOREOGRAPHY FOR THE NEW VERSION OF WEST SIDE STORY.

>> COOL.

>> AND IT'S VERY, HIP AND FUN AND IT'S SNEAKERS.

>> WHICH WE DON'T GET TO SEE PROFESSIONAL BALLET DANCERS IN.

AND QUICK, WHY DID DANCE FOR LIFE START 30 YEARS AGO?

>> WELL, IT STARTED WITH ANOTHER PANDEMIC ACTUALLY.

IT STARTED WITH AIDS.

AND BECAUSE DANCERS GET POOR SALARIES AND PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH HEALTH INSURANCE AT THE TIME, THEY REALLY NEEDED HELP THAT WAY AND THIS WAS A FUNDRAISER FOR PROVIDING WELLNESS AND HEALTHCARE.

AND NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER PANDEMIC AND HERE IT IS AND IT'S DOING THE SAME THING.

BUT IT MORPHED AND PROVIDED HEALTHCARE FOR ALL KINDS OF INJURIES AND SICKNESSES AND WHATEVER THE DANCE COMMUNITY HELPED IN THAT WAY.

>> A COMPANY NEW TO US, AT LEAST WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT PARAMARCH DANCE?

>> THE MAR IN THE TITLE IS A WONDERFUL CHOREOGRAPHER THAT WORKED FOR A LOT OF CHICAGO COMPANIES AND THEY ARE PRESENTING A PIECE CALLED KISS WHICH THEY ACTUALLY PERFORMED OUTSIDE AND SO IT REALLY GIVES A SENSE OF WHAT THEY LOT WAS DONE VIRTUALLY EITHER OUTSIDE OR SOLO IN THE STUDIO OR WITH MASKS WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE FOR DANCERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BREATHE.

SO IT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF A FEEL FOR THE TIMES.

>> AND DANCE FOR LIFE TYPICALLY BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT, DANCE FOR LIFE IS TYPICALLY PERFORMED INSIDE, AND THIS YEAR A NEW LOCATION, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC?

>> YES.

IT OBVIOUSLY IS.

AND IT'S FREE THIS YEAR WHICH IS OF COURSE, NOT USUAL.

BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY SUPPORTERS OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT ARE STILL CONTRIBUTING AND FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT SEATS THERE IS A TICKET PRICE AND IT'S MORE OF A DONATION THAN A TICKET PRICE.

THE OTHER THING IS IT'S HEALTHIER TO BE OUTSIDE.

AND I THINK ALSO IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REDRESS AUDIENCES THAT MAY NOT GO TO SEE ANY OF THE DANCE COMPANIES.

>> SO IT MAKES IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO LOTS OF AUDIENCES.

HUBBARD STREET HAS A UNIQUE WORK THEY ARE PRESENTING.

TELL US IT IS A DANCE CALLED THIS THAT AND THE THIRD.

>> AND IT IS ABOUT CODE SWITCHING.

AND IT INVOLVES A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BECAUSE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY EITHER HAVE LEARNED OR SPEAK AT LEAST ENOUGH TO GET BY IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

AND IT'S ABOUT COMMUNICATION IN A TIME WHEN THAT MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE IN SOME WAYS OR AT LEAST IN THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY OF PERSON TO PERSON.

AND THIS THAT AND THE THIRD IS SORT OF A RESPONSE TO THAT.

BUT ACTUALLY IT WAS CREATED JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

SO THEY HAVE DANCED THIS AT THE HARRIS THEATRE AND NOW THEY ARE DANCING AND IT TAKES ON NEW MEANING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NEXT UP IS SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATRE WHAT ARE THEY OFFERING?

THEY ARE DOING A PIECE CALLED ARCHITECTS OF THE GREEN AND SET TO WORDS AND THE WORDS ARE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S FAMOUS I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH.

AND IT'S FASCINATING TO WATCH MOVEMENTS SET TO SPEECH IN A WAY THAT IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF SPEECH AND I THINK IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.

>> AND FINALLY, MOVEMENT REVOLUTION DANCE CREW THEY PROVE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT CLASSICAL BALLET.

WHAT DO THEY BRING TO THE TABLE?

>> THEY ARE DOING DEDICATED TO THE ORIGINATORS.

AND HIP-HOP DANCE REALLY GOT A LOT OF ITS START BOTH IN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO.

AND THIS IS AN HOE IMAGE TO THE PEOPLE WHO -- WHO -- IMAGE TO PEOPLE WHO STARTED THE REVOLUTION.

THEY HAVE ALL THE MOVES AND IT'S FUN AND PROBABLY GOING TO BE A BIG HIT WITH OUTDOOR AUDIENCES.

>> THEY ROUND IT OUT WELL SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

OUTDOOR AUDIENCES, THIS IS TRADITIONALLY A CROWD PLEASING SHOW, CORRECT?

>> OH, IT IS.

AND IT'S ALSO ON THIS KIND OF GRAND REUNION FOR DANCERS THEY ARE TOURING ALL THE TIME OR WORKING OR REHEARSING AND THEY DON'T GET TO SEE EACH OTHER ALTHOUGH THEY ARE IN THE SAME CLOSE-KNIT DANCE WORLD.

THEY ALL ARE BACKSTAGE THEY ARE PROBABLY CAREFULLY DISTANCED TONIGHT BUT THEY ARE BACKSTAGE AND IT IS A REUNION AND THAT IS THE FINAL PIECE WHICH IS CHOREOGRAPHED EVERY YEAR BY RANDY DUNCAN.

AND HE TAKES DANCERS FROM ALL DIFFERENT COMPANIES AND FREELANCERS MAY NOT BE IN COMPANIES AND CREATES THE WORK.

>> IT SHOULD BE A FANTASTIC SHOW.

HEDY WEISS GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> OH, THANKS BRANDIS.

>> AND NOW PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> I WILL SIT THAT OUT NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THAT FOR ME.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" HOW ABOUT THE THOMPSON SCRAPER OR INDOOR WATER PARK?

THE PROPOSALS IN THE DESIGN CHALLENGE.

>> WE HAVE THREE SITTING ALDERMEN INDICTED.

THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING FOR OUR CITY.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM LOOKS AT ONE OF THOSE INDICTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HER COMMITTEE MOVE AS CHAIR.

>> AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO IS MAKING IT HER MISSION TO BREAK THE STIGMA SURROUNDING PITBULLS.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> ORGANIZED LABOR GROUPS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A CITY WORKER VACCINE MANDATE.

THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR SAID IT SUPPORTED ITS MEMBERS BEING VACCINATED BUT IT AGAINST A MANDATE.

THE GROUP SAYS QUOTE... >> THIS AS THE HEAD OF CHICAGO'S POLICE UNION HAS VOCIFEROUSLY VOICED HIS OBJECTION.

LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED THE 30,000 CITY WORKERS MUST BE VACCINATED BY OCTOBER 15TH BUT ALL SIDES SAY THE DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT.

AND WE WILL HAVE MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> AND THE STATE REPORTS MORE THAN 4400 NEW COVID CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

WITH 40 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THIS COMES AS ALL ILLINOIS COUNTIES ARE SHOWING SUBSTANTIAL TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19.

MEANWHILE, 83% OF ICU BEDS ARE OCCUPIED IN THE CHICAGO REGION WITH HIGHER PERCENTAGES IN MANY DOWN STATE AREAS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAID HE SUPPORTS LOCAL VACCINE MANDATES LIKE CHICAGO'S BUT STOPS SHORT OF STAYING THERE WOULD BE A MANDATE FOR ALL STATE-WIDE EMPLOYEES.

>> LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD PURSUE AS THEY BELIEVE APPROPRIATE GETTING VACCINES INTO THE ARMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THEIR LOCAL OR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE NEED TO DO AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ACCEPTS THE RESIGNATION OF LONG TIME 34TH WARD ALDERMAN CARRIE AUSTIN FROM HER POST AS CHAIR OF CITY COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE ON CONTRACTING, OVERSIGHT AND EQUITY.

AUSTIN WHO HAS PLEADED NOT GILL IT I TO FEDERAL BRIBERY CHARGES ANNOUNCED HER RESIGNATION FROM THE PANEL YESTERDAY AFTER WTTW NEWS EXAMINED THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD SPENT WHILE ONLY HOLDING THREE MEETINGS AND FAILING TO ADVANCE ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

AUSTIN REMAINS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE AND WE WILL HAVE MORE IN OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS IN JUST A BIT.

>> THERE'S NOTHING TRADITIONAL ABOUT THE THOMPSON CENTER IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT ONE OF THE FINISH FINALISTS OF THE BUILDING PROPOSED AN INDOOR WATER PARK.

PATTY WETLI JOINS US WITH MORE DETAILS.

PATTY MAKING A SPLASH HERE WITH THE DESIGN.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS DESIGN COMPETITION, REMIND US?

>> YOU STOLE MY PUN SO THANKS.

BUT IT'S SPONSORED BY THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER AND THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURAL CLUB AND THEY ARE TRYING TO GENERATE INTEREST IN THE BUILDING WHICH IS UP FOR SALE AND PRESERVATIONISTS ARE WORRIED IT COULD WINDUP BEING DEMOLISHED BY WHO THE BUYER IS.

>> HOW DID THE FINALISTS ENVISION REPURPOSING THE THOMPSON CENTER INCLUDING THAT WATER PARK?

>> YES.

AS YOU MENTIONED THE FUN ONE IS THE WATER PARK WHICH ACTUALLY THERE WOULD BE A HOTEL WRAPPED AROUND ALL OF IT.

SOME OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS PLAY A LOT MORE WITH THE FACADE WHERE THEY HAVE THINGS LIKE VIDEO AND DIGITAL PROJECTIONS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.

OTHERS RECOMMEND POSSIBLY A SCHOOL.

THERE'S URBAN FARMS THAT WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CTA STATION TO USE THAT TO TRANSPORT THE PRODUCE AROUND THE CITY.

A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO MAYBE DO PRODUCTIONS AND HAVE OFFICE SPACE IN THERE.

THERE IS LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY HERE IF THE BUILDING SURVIVES.

>> AND WHEN WILL THE WINNER BE ANNOUNCED?

>> THEY ARE GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER SEPTEMBER 14TH AT THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER AND ALL OF THE FINALISTS AND THE WINNERS THEIR PROPOSALS WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH OCTOBER THERE AT THE CENTER.

>> I THINK WE ALL KNOW IF IT TURNED INTO A WATER PARK IT WOULD BE THE WORLD'S GREATEST INDOOR WATER PARK.

>> WE WANT THAT COME ON.

>> IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR PART OF THE CITY.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DESIGNS ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WITH A LOOK AT THE MAYOR'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR CITY WORKERS.

SO STAY WITH US.

>> CHICAGO'S VACCINE MANDATE IS CAUSING A COMMOTION WITH UNIONS AND ONE INDICTED ALDERPERSON LOOSENS HER GRASP ON POWER THAT AND MORE WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

WELCOME BACK AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

WE HAVE THE WHOLE TEAM.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT MADE GOOD ON HER PROMISE THIS WEEK ON MANDATING VACCINATIONS FOR CITY WORKERS.

TAKE A LOOK... >> WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE A VACCINE MANDATE.

IT'S FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL INVOLVED PARTICULARLY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE INTERACTING WITH CITY EMPLOYEES ON A DAILY BASIS.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COLLEAGUES TO ALSO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A WORKPLACE THAT IS SAFE.

>> AND IN RESPONSE, ACCORDING TO THE "CHICAGO-SUN TIMES", FOP PRESIDENT JOHN CATANZARA SAID IN PART QUOTE... THAT IS A QUOTE FROM THE "CHICAGO-SUN TIMES".

>> IF HE HAD NOT PULLED OUT OF OUR SHOW HE COULD HAVE SAID THAT ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> HEATHER TENSIONS ARE HIGH AROUND THIS VACCINE MANDATE THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED IT VIA A PRESS RELEASE BUT AREN'T NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNIONS ONGOING?

>> THEY ARE.

AND TYPICALLY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO UNIONS NOT THE POLICE UNION BUT THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR, IT RECENTLY STOOD WITH HER AT COVID-19 RELATED EVENTS AND PRAISED HER LEADERSHIP.

THEY DID NOT DO THAT TODAY.

THEY PUSHED BACK ON THE VACCINE MANDATE WHICH COMES WITHOUT A BARGAINED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE UNION REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES WHICH IS WHAT IS CAUSING A LOT OF THIS CONTROVERSY.

IT CLEARLY SHOWS THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT FELT THE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY, COVID CASES HAVE AT LEAST FLATTENED A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS BUT HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE STILL VERY HIGH AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT SHE FELT THIS WAS THE TIME TO ACT.

COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE ANNOUNCED A VACCINE MANDATE FOR HER EMPLOYEES FRIDAY.

AND THIS IS CLEARLY A TREND WE'RE SEEING IN BIG CITIES LIKE NEW YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO AND ST. LOUIS.

>> AND AMANDA, THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR SAY THAT MANDATES COULD BACKFIRE.

WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY THAT?

>> I THINK THAT THEY MEAN THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO BE SUPER FRUSTRATED THAT THEY SEE THIS AS A PUNITIVE MEASURE AND WE MIGHT SEE, I THINK, LEGAL ACTION ON THE STATE LEVEL AND THE CITY LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO THE MANDATES BECAUSE BARGAINING IS REQUIRED.

THE NOTION WOULD BE THAT OPPOSITION TO THE VACCINE MIGHT HARDEN THEY ARE SAYING VERSUS MEMBERS SAYING OH, GOSH, WE WANT TO SAVE OUR JOBS SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THE SHOT.

INSTEAD THEY WILL COUNT ON THE PROTECTION OF THEIR UNION AND TRUST THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IN THE END AND WILL HOLD OFF ON ACTUALLY DOING WHAT THE MAYOR WANTS AND THAT IS TO BE VACCINATED.

>> IF I COULD JUMP IN FOR A MINUTE.

THIS IS A RARE INSTANCE WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ON THE SAME PAGE.

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IS THE ONLY CITY UNION THAT IS NOT OPPOSED TO A VACCINE MANDATE ANNOUNCED WAY BACK ON AUGUST 13TH.

SO I THINK THAT SHOWS YOU THE POLITICS OF THIS ISSUE ISN'T FALLING ALONG THE USUAL LINES.

AS A RESULT, OF COURSE, THE FOP IS THE FOP.

>> SPEAKING OF THE FOP AND THAT IS A GOOD POINT THAT YOU SAID.

FOP THE CHICAGO'S RANK-AND-FILE POLICE UNION VOWS TO FIGHT THE MANDATES 100%.

AND THE OTHER POLICE UNIONS WE ARE HEARING THEY ARE AGAINST IT AS WELL.

PARIS, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE FOP?

>> WHAT THEY'VE SAID THEY MET WITH THE CITY WITH THE UNIONS THAT REPRESENT POLICE CAPTAINS AND SERGEANTS AND THEY SAY ALL OF THE GROUPS ARE UNIFIED IN SAYING THEY OPPOSE VACCINE MANDATES BUT THEY DON'T HAVE SPECIFICS FROM THE CITY.

ALL THEY KNOW IS WHAT THE MAYOR SAID.

THEY EXPECT SOME SPECIFIC PROPOSAL IN THE COMING DAYS AND THEN THEY WILL REACT WHETHER THAT MEANS TAKING THE CITY TO COURT OR I COULD ENVISION A SCENARIO WHERE THEY HAMMER SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT OUT WHERE THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS GIVEN THE WORDS FROM Mr. CATANZARA TODAY IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY THAT THEY ARE IN A NEGOTIATING OR COMPROMISING MOOD.

BUT, AGAIN, WHAT THEY SAY IS THEY DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFICS OF IT.

BUT YOU JUST SEE ALL THE HYPERBOLE OUT IN THE MEDIA.

>> STRONG WORDS ALREADY.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HAS SOUNDED THE WARNING BELLS ABOUT A POSSIBLE RETURN OF RESTRICTIONS IF HOSPITAL BEDS CONTINUE TO FILL.

>> IF THE HOSPITAL BEDS AND ICU'S GET FULL LIKE THEY ARE IN KENTUCKY, THAT'S JUST NEXT DOOR TO ILLINOIS, IF THAT HAPPENS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPOSE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER MITIGATIONS.

>> SO AMANDA, THE GOVERNOR'S DIRE WARNINGS ARE RINGING OUT BUT WE'RE HEARING THAT AFSCME IS PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE MANDATES.

>> WE HAVE TWO THINGS, ANY SORT OF MITIGATIONS THAT WOULD APPLY TO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THE GOVERNOR TALKS ABOUT HAVING A MENU OF OPTIONS ON THE TABLE BUT HE HAS SAID THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WHEN WE SAW RESTRICTIONS THAT REQUIRED BUSINESSES TO CLOSE OR TO HAVE NARROW EVENTS BECAUSE NOW A VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.

AND SO WE DON'T YET KNOW WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE.

MIGHT IT BE TESTING MEASURES?

OR VACCINE REQUIREMENTS OR WHAT?

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MEASURES HE IS LOOKING AT.

AND SECONDLY, THE STATE RIGHT NOW DOES HAVE A VACCINE MANDATE THAT REQUIRES WORKERS WHO ARE IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS LIKE PRISONS AND VETERANS HOMES EMPLOYEES THERE NEED TO HAVE THE VACCINE BY OCTOBER 4TH AS THE STATE'S LARGEST PUBLIC EMPLOYEES UNION IS BARGAINING WITH THE STATE.

AFSCME OUT WITH A NOTE TO MEMBERSHIP SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO OPPOSE THIS RIGID MANDATE.

THEY WANT THINGS LIKE IF SOMEBODY GETS COVID TO THEY GET PAID TIME OFF.

AND THEY SAY THEY ARE ENCOURAGING MEMBERS TO GET THE VACCINE BUT THEY DO NOT WANT THE STATE TO REQUIRE IT.

SO THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE CITY.

I COULD FORESEE LEGAL ACTION COMING AND THIS IS A CASE FOR VERY STRANGE BED FELLOWS BECAUSE TYPICALLY THE GOVERNOR IS IN TANDEM WITH UNIONS PARTICULARLY WITH AFSCME.

BUT AFSCME BY THE WAY, REPRESENTING A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THOSE WORKING AT STATE PRISONS AND THAT IS A DIFFERENT POLITICAL AUDIENCE THAN ONE THAT IS PRITZKER IS CLOSE WITH AND ALIGNED TO.

>> AND CITY POLITICS A LITTLE BIT... INDICTED ALDERPERSON CARRIE AUSTIN STEPPING DOWN AS CHAIR OF THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE.

PARIS REMIND US WHO SHE IS AND HER TENURE AND WHAT SHE HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR.

>> SHE'S BEEN THERE A LONGTIME TOOK OVER FOR HER LATE HUSBAND.

SHE WAS THE FORMER CHAIR OF CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET COMMITTEE ALIED WITH MAYORS RAHM EMANUEL AND DALEY AND LIGHTFOOT.

SHE IS CHARGED WITH GETTING NICE HOME IMPROVES, GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, SUMP PUMPS FOR HER HOUSE FROM A DEVELOPER IN HER WARD WHO SHE HELPED STEER TAXPAYER MONEY TO.

SHE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THESE CHARGES AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU KNOW THE MAYOR WORKED OUT THIS COMPROMISE WITH CARRIE AUSTIN.

SHE WAS CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WHICH IS A PLUM JOB LIGHTFOOT KNEW THAT AUSTIN WAS UNDER FEDERAL SCRUTINY INSTEAD OF GET HER OUT OF COMMITTEES ALDERMEN LOVE TO BE THE CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE IT MEANS MORE JOBS MORE RESPONSIBILITY.

AND ANYWAY SHE MADE THIS OTHER COMMITTEE THAT CARRIE AUSTIN WAS THE CHAIRPERSON OF.

CARRIE AUSTIN THEN STEPPED DOWN YESTERDAY.

>> AND HEATHER LET'S GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT.

WAS THIS EXPECTED THAT SHE WOULD STEP DOWN FROM THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP AFTER CHARGED?

DID THE MAYOR HAVE TO PUSH HER?

>> WELL IT IS A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR TO ME.

BECAUSE THE MAYOR SAID ON MONDAY, THAT SHE WAS TALKING TO ALDERMAN AUSTIN BUT STOPPED FAR SHORT OF DEMANDING AUSTIN'S RESIGNATION AND WE KNOW WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT TELLS SOMEBODY TO RESIGN BECAUSE SHE HAS DONE IT WITH ALDERMAN ED BURKE WHO IS UNDER FEDERAL INDICTMENT AND SHE DID NOT DO THAT WITH ALDERMAN AUSTIN WHO HAS BEEN A RELIABLE VOTE FOR HER BUDGET AND PROGRAMS AND THE MAYOR HAS A NARROW COUNCIL MAJORITY TO WORK WITH.

IT WAS A LOT OF DELICATE BACK ROOM NEGOTIATIONS.

I DON'T THINK AUSTIN RELISHED RESIGNING AS PARIS SAID SHE HAS BEEN A POWERPLAYER AT CITY HALL FOR DECADES.

AND THIS IS SORT OF A SIGN THAT PERHAPS SHE IS LOSING HER GRIPS ON POWER.

BUT HER RECORD WITH THIS CONTRACTING OVERSIGHT AND EQUITY COMMITTEE RAISED SOME QUESTIONS.

THE COMMITTEE SPENT $191,000 AND MET THREE TIMES IN 2020 AND MET YESTERDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME OF JULY OF 2020 AND A VERY CRUCIAL EFFORT TO EXTEND A PROGRAM THAT INSURES THAT BUSINESSES OWNED BY BLACK, LATINO, ASIAN AND WOMEN IN CHICAGO GET THEIR FAIR SHARE OF CHICAGO CONTRACTS HAD BEEN STALLED BECAUSE OF THAT LACK OF MEETING.

THERE WAS CLEARLY COMING TO A BOILING POINT ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES.

>> AND THERE IS A LOT OF INTRIGUE AROUND WHO IS IN AND OUT OF THE REDRAWING THE OF THE STATE'S POLITICAL MAPS.

LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A JUDGE TO CORRECT THE MAPS USING THE LATEST CENSUS DATA.

THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HEAD BACK TO SPRINGFIELD ON TUESDAY TO WORK ON THE MAPS.

ONE CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS SAYS AN OFFICIAL DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT BUT 0 COULD A MAP AFTER TUESDAY LEAVE HIM OUT?

>> HE MIGHT BE LEFT OUT OR AT LEAST IN A DIFFICULT POSITION TO TRY TO RETAIN HIS SEAT AND WHATEVER HIS NEW DISTRICT LOOKS LIKE.

HE IS STILL GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AS DOES HIS OPPONENT THAT IS A FORMER ADVISER TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER, NIKKI BUDZINSKI THAT MAP IS NOT GOING TO BE REDONE TUESDAY.

PEOPLE LOOKING TO GO TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO REPRESENT ILLINOIS IN CONGRESS WELL THEY HAVE TO WAIT THE STATE HAS -- THE DEMOCRATS WHO CONTROL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE NOT TOUCHING THAT YET.

INSTEAD THEY ARE APPEAR TO BE TAKING VERY CLOSELY THIS WARNING FROM A FEDERAL JUDGE WHO SAYS HEY, WAIT, YOU ERRED IN THE MAP THAT RELIES ON SURVEY DATA INSTEAD OF CENSUS RESULTS.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHATEVER HAPPENS TUESDAY AND THIS WILL BE A MAP DRAWN BY DEMOCRATS THEY ARE HOLDING HEARINGS STARTING TOMORROW WHERE THEY WANT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH-IN WHICH IS SORT OF A SILLY EXERCISE.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE LONG MADE THEIR DEMANDS.

DEMOCRATS DREW THE MAPS REGARD BUILDING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEW DISTRICTS WILL LOOK LIKE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THE PUBLIC IS SUPPOSED TO WEIGH-IN ON.

>> AND ADAM KINZINGER MAYBE IN TROUBLE COULD HE BE LEFT OUT?

>> HE IS SAYING HE THINKS HE WILL BE LEFT OUT.

DEMOCRATS WANT TO DRAW MAPS THAT FAVOR THEM THAT GIVE THEM MORE CHANCES AT MORE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS IN ILLINOIS AND HE REPRESENTS SOME OF THE SOUTH SUBURBS AND THEN IT CUTS UP TO THE WISCONSIN BORDER.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE IF DEMOCRATS WANT A FAVORABLE DISTRICT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO CUT HIM OUT AND THAT IS WHAT HE IS SAYING LIKE HE IS A PIECE.

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

HE WILL CONTINUE HIS CRUSADE TO FIX WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE G.O.P.

AND THEIR DRIFT TOWARD TRUMP.

THERE'S TALK HE MIGHT RUN FOR SENATE AND THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE HE IS NOT POPULAR AMONG REPUBLICANS.

IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR HIM AND IF HE RUNS FOR GOVERNOR SO IT'S WIDE OPEN.

>> AND HEATHER WE KNOW THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE CITY RELEASING A REPORT CRITICIZING THE CITY'S USE OF THE SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY AND THAT IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS TAKEN CRITICISM.

>> NO IT IS THE LATEST IN A STRING OF POINTED AUDITS PERFORMED BY THE INSPECT GENERALLER WHO WILL LEAVE OFFICE IN OCTOBER.

HE FOUND THE SHOTSPOTTER SYSTEM IS NOT WORTH WHAT THE CITY IS PAYING IT.

VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S GANG DATABASE STILL UP AND RUNNING AND HE SAYS IS NOT WORTH HAVING BECAUSE IT'S FILLED WITH ERRONEOUS DATA THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETS BLACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS.

>> MORE TO COME.

THANKS TO OUR TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... [♪♪♪] >> A WOMAN IS ON A MISSION TO BREAK THE STIGMA SURROUNDING PITBULLS SHE IS HOPING HER LINE OF DOG APPARELL CAN HELP CHANGE PEOPLE'S MINDSET ABOUT THE BREED.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ HAS THE STORY.

>> MEET DOUGIE.

HE IS A SIX YEAR OLD BROWN RESCUE PITBULL WITH TONS OF ENERGY.

ERIN CROWLEY IS DOUGIE'S OWNER AND BEFORE HE CAME INTO THE PICTURE ERIN CROWLEY AND HER BOYFRIEND ADOPTED DUNCAN.

>> I WANTED TO GET CLOTHES TO MATCH DUNCAN BECAUSE I WAS OBSESSED WITH HIM.

I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING.

I COULD PURCHASE THINGS BUT USUALLY IT WOULD BE COMING OFF OF HIS CHEST BECAUSE PITTIES HAVE WIDE CHESTS.

>> SHE REALIZED PEOPLE REACTING DIFFERENTLY TO DUNCAN THAN OTHER DOUGS.

>> PEOPLE WOULD WAIT TO TAKE THE NEXTEL VACCINATOR THAT IS HOW SCARED THEY WERE AND I FELT BAD FOR HIM BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT A GOOD DOG HE WAS.

>> AT TWO DUNCAN DIED OF A RARE CANCER.

>> AFTER HIS PASSING I WAS MORE DETERMINED TO START A LINE TO HELP PEOPLE SEE THE DOGS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.

>> SHE WENT TO FACEBOOK TO SHARE THEIR IDEA AND ME HAD HUNDREDS OF RESPONSES.

CROWLEY DECIDED TO LEAVE HER TEACHING JOB AND FOLLOW HER HEART TO START PITTIE CLOTHING COMPANY.

>> IT'S HARD WHEN YOU ARE ONE PERSON AND I FUND THIS WITH MY TEACHER SALARY MONEY.

SLOWLY ADDING ON NEW SIZES FOR KIDS AND THE HUMANS.

>> ERIN IS HOPING WITH THE PAJAMAS THEY WOULD HELP PEOPLE COMFORTABLE APPROACHING PITBULLS.

>> NOW THEY ASK CAN I PET YOUR DOG AND IT IS A PITTIE DOG AND IT IS A GOOD CONVERSATION STARTER.

>> PART OF IT IS JUST ABOUT THE YOU KNOW, CHANGING THE MINDS OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEE AN 85 POUND PITBULL MIX WALKING DOWN THE STREET IT'S FOR MY OWN PLEASURE BECAUSE I THINK THEY LOOK ADORABLE.

>> SHE RUNS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT THAT WORKS WITH SHELTER INCLUDING THE CITY'S ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL WHERE SHE DONATES DOG ITEMS AND ASSISTS WITH ADOPTIONS HOW SHE AN CROWLEY STARTED A FRIENDSHIP.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE ERIN A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR GIVING BACK TO THE RESCUE COMMUNITY.

>> CROWLEY DONATES THE PJ'S LOOKING FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES AND WORKS WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO DONATE SOME PROCEEDS TO RESCUES.

>> I DO DIFFERENT PROJECTS WITH RESCUES.

THIS SUGAR SKULL THEME WHEN WE PARTNER WITH PITBULL OF AMERICA ON THIS AS WELL AS A RESCUE IN PORTLAND, OREGON AND THEY GO TO MEXICO AND DO SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS.

>> IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE SHE STARTED PITTIE CLOTHING COMPANY AND IS EXCITED TO DESIGNING AND SENSE THAT HUMANS AND PITS CAN ENJOY WEARING.

>> DO NOT ASSUME IF YOU SEE A PITTIE ALL THE THINGS YOU HEAR.

A LOT OF THEM LOVE TO SNUGGLE AND WE CALL THEM EDVETTE JONES TY HIPPOS THEY ARE WONDERFUL HOUSEHOLD FAMILY DOGS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> THEY ALL LOOK LIKE GOOD DOGS.

AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CROWLEY'S BRAND AND MISSION HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE.

AND 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.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> A COMMUNITY WITH MANY FIRST RESPONDERS AND HOME TO MIDWAY AIRPORT.

WE VISIT GARFIELD RIDGE AS THE STOP IN OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND WHY NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY ENGINEERS DEVELOPED A 3D SIMULATION OF A RAT'S WHISKERS.

>> PITBULLS AND RAT WHISKERS.

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

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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