>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

Black voices.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

>> The right wing is going to have field day.

With this contract.

>> A live report at Chicago Teachers.

Union delegates vote on that new contract.

Changes are coming to Cook County's electronic monitoring program.

chief judge's office is preparing.

It's a verb and voters cast their ballots yesterday.

4 mayoral candidates and issues like tax increases.

>> Cook County Clerk Monica Morgan on turnout and much more.

>> The biggest thing is just for them to be just expired.

Alright nights, just one little piece of passion.

>> And a city event aimed at empowering young women.

>> First off tonight as we speak, the Chicago Teachers Union's 730 strong House of Delegates is preparing to vote on whether to approve a new four-year contract after nearly a year of contentious negotiations, the union's leaders and big bargaining team endorsed a contract that they say is a historic achievement.

Reporter Matt Masterson joins us now live from CTU headquarters with more.

Matt, give us a quick recap on the highlights of the deal with the delegates are revealing tonight.

>> Yeah, Brenda.

So those delegates are those 730 delegates are in this Chicago teachers union headquarters behind me poring over a four-year contract that Chicago public schools officials say is worth about 1.5 billion dollars.

Now that's going to include annual raises starting at 4% for teachers.

It includes more prep time for elementary school teachers in forcible class size limits.

It also increases funding for sports print programming and op includes new services and protections for the students who are most vulnerable throughout the Chicago Public School district.

It also adds first time provisions of academic freedom after Sisi to push for what it calls a force field in this contract against possible attacks from Trump administration.

Washington.

>> At where things stand with the vote?

For example, is it basically a done deal at that point and or is there a likelihood that the delegates could reject this deal?

>> Deliberations are ongoing, but there will be resolution later tonight.

There's going to be some dissension.

This is not a perfect contract, but in all likelihood, this is going to be an approval from the House of Delegates that will move this photon is there's been high confidence from union leaders.

They spoken in glowing terms about this deal and there have been previous tentative agreements in previous rounds of bargaining that have come after much more contentious negotiations with Chicago public schools that still lead to a contracting approval vote from the delegates.

So it's very, very likely that this is going to be approved tonight and moved on to the rank and file members from the Chicago teachers Union who will then need to approve this deal for it to be finalized from the union standpoint, the cargo board of Education will then need to finally approve this as well to make sure this deal is done later this month.

>> going forward, you know, what does this contract mean if and when it's approved?

What does it mean for, you know, students and educators, educators, but also the finances of the district.

>> Well, one of the biggest things is that it will not be a strike.

There will be a teacher strike.

This will be the first time in 15 years that the Chicago teachers Union has reached a new contract without taking a strike.

Vote course there were work stoppages back in 2019 and in 2012.

And as for the finances, Chicago Public Schools, CEO Pedro Martinez, expressed confidence that the district has the funds to cover the first year of this of this deal for sure.

But that's going to be more work to be done.

Going forward to cover things going for it.

Ctu officials and CPS officials have both said they need to petition state leaders for more state funding and he's going to be more work done to handle pension payments to make sure that CPS has the cost the funding to go forward with this.

After facing a significant structural deficit for years.

>> Okay.

Matt Masterson watching the vote for us that the CTU House of Delegates.

Thank you so much, Matt.

And for more on what is in the tentative contract, you can check out our Web site.

It is all at W T Tw Dot com Slash news.

>> Chicago tonight like is made possible in part by the support of these.

Don't use.

>> The Cook County Sheriff's Office is ending its decades old electronic monitoring program, giving the chief judge's office so responsibility for managing those cases.

Defendants ordered by a judge to be supervised with EM or GPS tracking will now be under the authority of the chief judge's adult probation department.

The change means the department will have to scale up its staff training and equipment.

But doesn't have enough support to do so.

Joining us to discuss the move is Timothy Evans, chief judge of the Cook County Circuit Court.

Judge, welcome back.

Thanks for joining us.

Thank you.

Grant us a pleasure to be here with So proponents, including Sheriff Dart Cook County Board, President Toni Preckwinkle, who we heard from last evening.

They've said that for years, the electronic monitoring program should be consolidated under the courts that the courts are better able to run it.

What are your concerns with taking on a bigger case load and how much bigger might that case will be?

>> Well, it is true that we have manage the system much better than the sheriff's office.

And we've been doing this for 14 years.

We actually manage more people on electronic monitoring now than the sheriff that S so we'll be ready when to SUP 8.

Ing to answer your question directly that we will need approximately 150 more people.

But we are scaling that up.

>> Over 4 different tracks.

And we expect that by August.

We will have completed the first track we will be able to see whether our numbers are projections are accurate.

We anticipating that in about 6 months, we will have about 900 more people to keep an eye on.

And that's on average about 5 per day and 150 per month.

The first day it was.

35.

So I think of judges want to see how the system is going to work.

But as time goes on, I think we will be able to manage it very well.

And we a dual balancing process.

We have to presume that the accused are innocent.

At the same time that we have to protect the public.

And so as we move forward with that kind of an approach, I think that we can do that and we will be able to keep the public safe and we'll be able to get people an opportunity to.

Support their family to prepare for the defense to be able to pay their rent, pay the mortgage, using the system that we've been using for the last 14 years.

And you said 900 more in about 6 months.

But it sounds like there's there's the chance that it could be more than And I also want to be clear.

>> To our viewers, there were 2 parallel programs, one that was operated out of your office.

One that was operating out of the sheriff's Department.

The sheriff's department is that one is being phased out and those folks will instead be sent to the one that your office is already because this change took effect yesterday.

How have you all been preparing for this shift since the sheriff announced that things out late last year?

We've been working on it on a day by day basis with the sheriff with others who part of the system.

The.

>> president's office, the state's attorney, the public defender, all of them have been involved in this.

The clerk as well, trying to keep them abreast of our plans.

We project that between now and the end of this fiscal year, which is the end of November of this year.

We will need about 75 more Ft ease those are time employees.

And then after that between December of this year and April of next year will need another 75.

And that's with 150 from it.

And I think we will be able to manage with that.

The problem is that nobody knows what the future holds.

Our judges and not clairvoyant.

All they can do is use the evidence that comes in before them to decide whether somebody should be detained.

Pre-trial or free into the community pretrial.

And this electronic monitoring that we're describing is in between those 2 systems.

They are still.

Free, quote, unquote.

Their liberty is And look, let's get into that because Illinois network for pretrial Justice said in in a release this week that many people on the sheriffs electronic monitoring program faced.

>> Quote, arbitrary restrictions that led to losing their jobs being prevented from accessing medical care, going to the grocery store in the laundromat.

What would you say?

The differences between the program being operated through your office and the sheriffs hours?

>> Has always been more humane.

We permitted people to keep their jobs.

In most instances we permitted people to go to their doctor's appointment.

We permitted people to go to the grocery store to go church.

We were far more humane in the way we approach that and we will continue to do that.

But the judge can decide whether to keep somebody 24 7 or whether to give them a schedule that permits them to keep these services that I'm talking about.

Most of the time I judges permit the flexibility.

But we want to keep the public safe at the same time that we provide this humanitarian approach know, speaking of safety year offices that have the same jurisdiction as the sheriff, which the sheriff's office can arrest people.

So how is >> your department going to handle violators?

Well, violators to handle in 2 ways.

One, it's typical violation.

They simply didn't follow the court's order.

In those instances, we take the matter to court and we get a court order.

We change the order that initially MIA been applicable to that particular defendant.

But if they attempt to cut that bracelet off.

Something like that, that's closer to an attempt to escape and we can work with the sheriff and the other law enforcement officials.

2 take action immediately to prevent that person from leaving interest fixtures.

Just call the sheriff's department and they can just go and arrest that person or does that have to go through a judge who would then issue warrant it to go through a judge?

And we will be working with all of the parties that are involved in this, including the sheriff to see if we can make certain that we can expedite that process because I was going to be my next question.

If it takes a while for that whole process to play out, what does that mean for public safety Well, for example, we're going to be working with the state's attorney.

We have a new state's attorney.

We'd like the state's attorney to be notified and alerted when there's a violation.

At the same time that our office has alerted that there's a violation that would give them an opportunity.

As the person who represents the victims to work expeditiously to protect the public and we hope they will work with us to do that.

And to be clear, we did get a statement from the sheriff's office saying, quote, the Sheriff's office is committed to supporting the office of the chief judge in the operation of Air Electronic monitoring program by providing any law enforcement services.

It may need to ensure public safety going forward.

>> Let's before we're going to be calling on them to exit.

I'm sure you will.

Because Asian does, it does happen on occasion.

It does.

It does.

When the Cook County budget was passed back in November 6.3 million dollars was moved out of the sheriff's office to the adult probation Department for electronic monitoring.

How much is this transition going to cost you an is 66.3 million dollars.

Is that enough to get you started know it's clearly not enough.

And we've told the president's office and all the commission is that that's clearly not enough.

And that projecting, as I said earlier, that we're going to need 150 more fte.

And so you can't pay 150 FT ease with that small amount of money.

But that'll be enough to kind of get things going.

One of the big prizes that will have to make an adjustment on with to find a place to house these additional FT. the space that we have now at.

26 in California bursting at the seams.

So we're told that to the president's office and the commissioners and that's the kind of thing that this money is used for.

It's not all for salaries, but as for vehicles that we're going to need is for phones that we're going to need is for desk and furniture and all those things.

We want to be ready.

Want to protect the public and we want to recognize that these people are still presumed to be innocent when they're at the pretrial stage.

All right.

We'll have to leave it there.

It sounds like you've got your work cut out for you.

Chief judge of County Circuit Court to Evans.

Thank you for joining Pleasure to be here.

Up next, efforts to double down on diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Cook County clerk joins us with that and more.

>> Voters in Chicago suburbs took to the polls yesterday casting their ballot for candidates as well as issues like ranked choice voting and raising the local sales tax on groceries.

Cook County Clerk, Monica important overseas suburban elections.

Last month.

She marked 100 days in office.

And in that time, she says she's seen an increase in requests for records like birth certificates and marriage licenses.

She's also noticed or she's also announcing a new dei position in her office.

Joining us now with more on all of that is Monica Gordon, Cook County Clerk.

Kirk Welcome.

Thank you for joining us.

Thank you for having me.

So as we mentioned, suburban Chicago elections were yesterday or suburban Cook County, I should say voter turnout was just under 17%.

So there are over a million registered voters in the county, but only a nearly 300,000 ballots were cast.

How does that compare to previous consolidated elections?

Well, honestly, it's a little higher.

I was Santa last 8 years.

It's a little is higher.

The highest it's been in about a year's.

But let me be honest.

>> That's still not acceptable.

The fact that we have 120% number 4 consolidated elections compared to a 70% for presidential and gubernatorial elections.

election, they're really impacts you.

impacts the everyday voter.

So we did a campaign.

We did have vote local campaign and >> what this tells us is we gotta continue to do these types of campaigns inning.

>> Also, we must conduct other voter engagement strategies to make sure we continue to increase vote.

But is still extremely low.

But surprisingly, it's higher than it's been in the last 8 years.

And I want to point out early voting is higher than it's been since pandemic year, which was 2021.

So we did see much larger increase in early voting.

But there's a lot of work to be done.

And I want do it a little bit higher.

You said still not enough, but it's little bit higher.

Mean, do you think there's been sort of a change on?

>> And folks, voters acknowledging the emphasis on local elections and the importance of Well, I think the change has we've been very diligent in making sure that we.

This this campaign is full local campaign.

We've utilized social media.

utilize local newspapers.

>> We also it has a lot for election judges.

We got a lot election judges this year.

It's so there's about 1430 precincts we simply need about 6,000 election judges and we hit that mark.

So it's just a lot of information getting out.

So the citizens given out to the voters, but there's just a lot more work to do.

>> A leading up to the election.

New data from the Cook County Treasurer's shows that predominantly white taxing districts showed greater participation with an average voter turnout rate in 2024.

Of 55.2% compared to 33.3 in black majority districts.

In 29.2 in districts with Latino majorities.

What voters need to know about the impact of local elections on their lives.

Your schools, your school boards, a library board to fire protection district's the local municipal offices.

This is all the fact that on this tape.

>> In April.

So I at we just implore people to learn more about get more engaged, get more engaged and it starts with also we have my office.

We want to do more with the youth.

We want to do more with civic engagement, with the youth, within the schools let people know about the importance of voting and voting.

Local is not just about voting for your president.

It's not just about voting for your governor.

>> But you need to vote for your local mayor, the small suburban areas, these villages and small cities.

>> With mention that your office is currently seeing a surge in requests for vital records, birth certificates and marriage licenses.

Why do you think that is?

>> I think it's a couple of reasons.

And let me be clear that we don't we do ask we don't record information, but this is just based on some of the feedback that I'm hearing in addition to the Real ID deadline for May, 7th people are saying now, can you just be that is I don't think it's just that when you think about person tickets, there's going to 22% increase for the first 2 months this year versus the first 2 months last year, marriage licenses, a civil union licenses.

37%.

There's a lot of fear and anxiety out there.

People are worried what's happening with the federal administration.

And we're hearing those concerns on They're there was an example of someone tell me about a family.

cup with a cane drove all the way from Texas.

So Kevin, civil union license because they were worried about what will happen in Texas.

So they drove our out all the way here and they're a lot of people who are worried about deportation.

So they want to provide proof of citizenship for their children.

>> As we also know, the current administration, the current presidential administration is targeting diversity, equity and inclusion measures on several public and private sectors have followed suit abandoning there are initiatives.

But your office, you're creating a new position for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Tell us about that.

And where you doubling down on dei in a time like this.

Well.

>> I strongly believe in principles of diversity, equity, inclusion.

And I think people just think about human capital with Dei.

But it's more than that.

And what learned that when I was previously a Cook County commissioner and I served under the leadership of President Toni Preckwinkle, we had a policy roadmap, those a five-year strategy plan and every piece of policy, every piece of legislation, every budget allocation was brewed in equity.

For instance, the district I have was a heavily under-resourced district but more infrastructure comments to my district because of that, that historical disinvestment.

So we want those principles to make sure that everybody feel sick, feel seen and heard at the clerk's office.

Everyone is treated respect and dignity.

>> Are you concerned about any retaliation for those efforts?

I am not.

She's not.

That's a very confident when we know that some folks are intentionally going after every dei opportunity that they get.

>> So when I took on this job, when I got it's a public service is might I move that it was my duty to do what's best for the constituents.

And I think this is best for the constituents.

We have a very diverse constituency.

A Cook county, and we need to reflect that.

We need to make sure that everybody feels a part of the clerk's office.

Everybody feels like the clerk's office works for them.

>> You hit 100 days in office just last month.

How would you describe those first 100 days?

And what's your main focus is as we head forward, the first 100 days are really busy.

I assembled a transition team, business labor, elected leaders.

>> across different sectors really looked at some operational, possibly policy changes within the office.

And also we decided create a new position and that position as deputy clerk of diversity, equity and inclusion.

And we're very excited about their.

We're excited about just the different things we wanted talked about.

The voter engagement strategies.

We want to make sure that we improve the clerk's office building upon the legacy that the late great carrying out left.

want build upon that.

And I know that she was a mentor to you.

You were the second black woman to hold that office.

She was, of course, the first.

>> May she rest in peace?

best of luck to you.

Cook County Clerk, Monica Gordon, thank you for joining Thank you.

Up next, an effort to empower teen girls.

Teenage girls, including some who've been impacted by the criminal justice system, received an infusion of hope this week.

It's part of an effort from the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, the Bold and brave celebration of girls was intended to inspire or and empower girls with a focus on advocacy and wellness are Joanna Hernandez has this exclusive look.

>> watched >> Nearly 50 teenagers filled a room at the Chicago Cultural Center for an event focused on celebrating being a girl.

for me, the biggest thing is just for them to be it's just ignites just one little piece of passion for them to even ask themselves as to what could I do?

>> Lisa Hampton works in the Services division at the Department of Family and Support Services.

She organized the event bold brave.

>> That's funded by a grant in an effort to bring more safe spaces for young women to express themselves.

biggest thing is being able to help them understand how to be able to get connected.

I think we're very lucky to have one of the largest councils that have a very like restarted regenerated.

Interesting like women and girls.

>> Girls Ages 14 to 18 participate in various workshops throughout the day and hear from speakers like city clerk Valencia and 11th Ward Alderwoman Nicole lead who spoke about being trailblazers in their positions.

>> I myself for years all want >> My experience matters.

I had topics included owning your narrative.

>> We have to empower girls to be constable, telling own stories from out on take experience because you may be able to repeat what I say, but you can't tell it like I can sell.

counts.

High school senior Whitney Young Alex and mean was among the participants.

seems like it was some kind of confidence epidemic.

It seems like a lot of teen girls don't gain confidence into later life and it's a little too late.

>> So it's nice to see how much confidence has been pushing to our young girls that we know separate from the self esteem issues that are high school senior.

Not enrolled list says events like this.

Help her build the confidence to continue advocating for issues she supports.

I've seen a lot of women don't feel that empowerment because they're not meal.

>> because they think that voices do matter.

And if I thought that way, I wouldn't be here right now.

>> The daughter of immigrants will be attending American University in Washington, D.C., this fall to pursue a degree in political science with the goal of becoming an elected official.

One she says having mentors and supportive spaces reminds her that she belongs.

>> I feel like it's really important for everybody because honestly, your voice matters.

It's an impact.

And if we're together as a community like we can make the change.

We are the change.

>> For Chicago tonight, black join of non this.

And best of luck to those young ladies.

>> This event was part of a larger initiative supported by the girls empowerment motivation, Grant that's provided through Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

Be sure to sign up for our free email newsletter.

The Daily Chicago at W T Tw Dot Com Slash newsletter and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 renewed calls to ban teams from downtown after 08:00PM.

That's after 2 high profile shootings in Streeterville.

Now for all of us here Chicago Brandis Friedman, thank you watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

>> And have a good night.

>> Closed caption was made possible by Robert a cliff and