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

Black voices, I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Survivors testify at the sentencing hearing for the gunman in Highland Park parade shooting.

Applications are open for Chicago's reparations task force.

The city's chief equity officer on what you should know.

>> And singer Jamelia Woods on the healing power of music.

>> And now to some of today's top stories, U.S.

Senator Durbin has made it official.

He will not be seeking re-election.

The number 2 Democrat in the Senate made the announcement with a video posted on social media.

>> The people of Illinois have honored me with this responsibility longer than anyone elected to the Senate in our state's history.

I'm truly grateful.

Right now.

The challenges facing our country are historic and unprecedented.

The threats to our democracy and way of life are very real.

And I can assure you all do everything in my power to fight for Illinois and the future of our country.

Every day of my remaining time in the were presented, the 80 year-old will end his political career after serving 14 years in the House and 30 years in the Senate.

>> He says he struggled with whether to retire but says he knows it's time to pass the torch.

His announcement sets off a scramble of Illinois.

Democrats preparing to run for the rare open seat.

Illinois Republicans also say they'll attempt to win back a Senate seat for the first time in 10 years.

For more on Durbin's political career and what's next?

Check out our Web site.

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky shares on social media that she has not made a decision about plans for reelection.

This despite several reports that she's planning to retire.

She Koski says she will make that decision in the coming weeks and announced on May 5th.

The Chicago Fire Department is today mourning the loss of one of their own.

Captain David Meyer died while fighting a structure fire in the Austin neighborhood.

He was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries this morning.

Meyer was a 29 year veteran of the fire department.

He leaves behind his wife, 3 daughters and a son.

Chicago's Catholic community is honoring the late Pope Francis in a memorial Mass held today at Holy Name Cathedral.

Cardinal Blase Cupich a stronger a strong supporter of Francis will be traveling to Rome at the end of the week where he'll play a role in determining who the next pope will >> It's a shared responsibility is not in isolation.

another part to and that's why we have to listen.

We think important.

>> This will be pitches first time taking part in the voting process after being elevated to cardinal of the Chicago Archdiocese by Pope Francis in 2016 Francis's funeral will be held at 10:00AM local time Saturday outside in Saint Peter's Square.

Governor JB Pritzker is taking action against Al Salvador in response to the country's role in the Trump administration's deportations.

In a statement today, the governor's office says it's reviewing pension funds, state contracts and trade imports for investments in companies that are managed or owned by the government of El Salvador.

The action comes as the Trump administration is resisting a judge's order to return.

Maryland resident Jill Meagher a Garcia back to the United States despite saying he was mistakenly deported to a Salvadoran prison.

The case is kicked off a constitutional firestorm over the administration's push to deport immigrants under the Alien enemies act of 17.

98.

What a green day.

The beach boys and weird Al Yankovic all have in common.

They're all performing at Riot Fest.

20th anniversary in Douglas Park this summer.

The three-day Rock festival announced its lineup today with headliners, including Blink, One 82 Weezer and Jack White.

>> Over 90 bands will perform between September 19th and 21st and tickets are already on sale.

Ryan says has faced ongoing criticism from community members over park damage, noise and access.

But it has secured an agreement with the Chicago Park district to remain there through at least 2027 with more money being generated for the park.

Up next, an emotional day at the sentencing hearing of the Highland Park parade shooter or Matt Masterson shares details right after this.

>> Chicago tonight, he's made possible in part by the support of these don't use.

>> Nearly 3 years after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Illinois history.

Victims from the Highland Park parade shooting hopes to finally get the opportunity to confront the man responsible.

Instead, the self-confessed killer was a no show to his own sentencing hearing last month.

24 year-old Robert Crimo.

The 3rd pleaded guilty to killing 7 people and wounding 48 others at the 4th of July parade in 2022, his sentencing hearing began in the Lake County courthouse this at Masterson has been following this story.

He joins us now with more.

Matt, what is the latest at Lee County courthouse?

So the sensing he's still been going on, it's been going on all day.

It's been several hours of really gut-wrenching testimony.

But despite all the evidence and testimony, the sentence is essentially set already.

>> Robert Crimo, the 3rd will be spending the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole ever since he entered that guilty plea last month, the 69 counts, including 21 counts of first-degree murder.

It was all but set that he would be spending the rest of his life in prison and or Illinois state law.

When you are convicted of killing more than 2 people, that is the automatic sentence life life in prison without the possibility of parole.

What did we hear from the victims in court today said it really was gut wrenching.

Testimony victims spoke for hours and hours.

They called Crimo Terrace.

They called him a coward.

The said shooting was nothing more than a violent tantrum that he took out on people and they expressed a desire that he never know any sort of peace the rest of his life.

The family of one of the victims who was killed, Jacqueline, some time.

They said they hope Crema lives a very long life and that he is uncomfortable for the rest of it while he's in prison every single day and knowing that he'll never be free again.

Parents described shielding their children running for their lives during this parade.

We heard from the doctor who treated 8 year-old Cooper Roberts, who was the youngest of the shooting victims.

He survived but was left paralyzed from the shooting victims who are going to describe their physical pain and others who were wounded.

But we're in the president be described emotional pain that they still go through through nightmares, PTSD just a fear of going to a lot large events are going outside in public ever since the shooting took place.

Difficult for all of them to recount.

I'm sure.

But why wasn't crimo in attendance?

He didn't give any specific reason.

But ultimately he didn't have to be there.

He skipped out on some pretrial hearings.

He skipped out on portions of jury selection before he ultimately pleaded guilty and he was reminded repeatedly by the judge that he didn't have to be there and that the case would move forward in his presence or without it.

So he does not have to be there for him to be sentenced to life in prison and has no bearing on that whatsoever.

So he is free to spend the day in his jail cell while this is all settled and it ultimately will not affect anything.

>> What else we learn about how he planned the shooting?

Yeah.

So for the first time we heard portions of Crimo's confession his his interview with police from the day he was arrested later on July 4th 2022.

>> About how you plan.

He said he plans for years.

Brian Bodden, the Highland Park police detective who was running this interview said that Crimo had mapped out the downtown area gone there multiple times.

He was recording police response times to emergencies in the area.

He really thought this all out and he apparently had planned to do this earlier at a parade in 2020 to make believe that parade was, of course, canceled due to COVID but Crimo never denied he was responsible.

He his demeanor was relaxed.

detective said during this year's joking and laughing with investigators in this and he never expressed any sort of remorse for for shooting all these people.

of course, that information is coming out because it was not used at the trial.

That never happened because deal t Matt Masterson, thank you so much.

A sprint.

>> And you can read Matt's full story on our website.

That's at W T Tw Dot com Slash news.

The long stalled push for reparations in Chicago is now moving forward.

Residents can apply to join the city's reparations task force, which will determine whether and how the city should pay reparations to descendants of enslaved African Americans.

The application opens almost a year after Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Juneteenth creating that task force.

Joining us now with more on the effort is Carla Cook Pay Chicago's chief Equity Officer.

Carla, Welcome Chicago tonight voices say just looking at So first, let's start with the goal.

What's the vision for the task force so that the that the task for the task force will be basically to study rights and issue recommendations.

So what we want this test was to accomplish is to.

>> With a look at first of all, you know, the find what reparations means for Chicago, right?

We want to really make sure that this based on what Chicago believes it is consensus about that.

And then also again, looking at areas of harm that need address and then from their recommendations to address those.

When does the work gets started?

So I hope is to seat of the task by the end of June.

And then as the executive order calls for after the first meeting, they will have 12 months to then issued a report with recommendations.

So has mentions.

You know, we were just watching video of the mayor's signing that executive signing that order He launched this task force about a year ago.

>> Applications just now opening up.

What's been the hold-up?

>> I it.

What was the whole appear was basically a lengthier budget process than we anticipated.

So why is as you recall the budget and that really settle in tow mid December?

And what my team is past was the Office of Equity Racial Justice.

One of our responsibilities is to help us see the Parkland's to anchor equity into, you know, service provision, resource distribution and so forth.

And so we had to really be with them during budget kind deliberations.

And so we were basically held up that budget was settled in December.

So the minutes he came into this year, you know, we had a lot of time to really look at strategy and in partnership with the Chicago, all the men black caucus.

And so now we have a great map and a OK?

So now you're getting started because it's it's been a few months.

I'm sure that you probably would have preferred to start sooner but had work.

You need to do.

>> The executive order calls for a framework and selection process for the task force within 90 days Task supposed to issued a public report within a year.

And as you say, we're hoping for for to get started at the end of June.

What is the timeline after that?

When can we see the delivery of the report?

And then hopefully, you know, some right?

So the based on that timeline in the report will be due June 2026.

But before we hit that that go basically, you know what, that will be some public engagement, public education.

We will also that that's will also be holding public hearings in order to collect, lived experiences and that a total testimonies.

So obviously this progress, though, it's coming at a time when the current presidential administration is making it very difficult for anyone to employee diversity, equity and inclusion programming, which something like this could be looked at under that same sort of scrutiny.

Are you in this environment that your job might be even more difficult.

Concerned.

but if anything, welcome Because at the end of the day, you know, whatever we call it, the equity.

>> It's really, but they it right.

And then so, you know, Mayor Johnson repeatedly said that, you know, he will not.

I think that this can this administration is committed.

It to its values.

And and one of those is, you know, to take care and protect our communities that live feed that live learn work here.

So will it be harder possibly week me?

I mean, we'll see how things unfold, but we will stay committed to seeing this through.

>> The mayor's office has mentioned obviously several barriers.

And I think a lot of us know about these barriers that black Chicagoans face as a result of the legacy of slavery and the Jim Crow era shorter lifespans higher unemployment rates.

More likely to be incarcerated you know, once year-old get going, how do you think the task force's work can address these disparities?

So what we hope put the past what to do is to really look at the debt that has already been, you know, collected by many organizations that have done this fall while So we recreate the wheel in that regard.

>> But what what is going to be very key here is to then link those outcomes, those those those results, 2 city policies and practices wet because again, at the end of the day, you know, that's how in the framework preparations me that anywhere and even internationally, that's what's look that I like.

How how has the government played a role in either creating or maintaining these times?

And so that is really going to be the at the crux of the task responsibility.

Evanston launched a reparations program in 2019 to address housing discrimination.

That effort is now facing legal challenges.

But >> will the task force study the example that Evanston has set its going to be Evans than any other that we have, you know, >> Cities and states, you know, from the West Coast to the East Coast that all engaging in study such as this one.

So, yes, we were up.

Absolutely.

Look at that.

You know, it's lessons learned and see, you know how and if apply here again, we want to make sure that we come up with resolution that solutions for Chicago.

So yes, learned and what we hear from folks from the from other distinctions other cities.

Absolutely.

And then again coming to that, the focus coming back to Chicago and how will the task force be made up to 40 people?

Then what 40 people going to be I guess they So we will have 25 folks will be nominees.

And again, that woman mayor and the and equip list, correct.

So so we are reviewing this right now and then we will have to foot and the 15 folks who will you know, kind of through this public.

>> Half and both groups will be on that the folks who are submitting their applications.

>> Through these 2 pathways be looked at and then again, we will put us up with the other man, a black caucus, seat those 40 people.

What are you going to be looking for in those applicants?

So far?

polls obviously the need to be residents of the city.

But we'll also look at, you know, what their life experience has been there.

That live expanse have been here especially for those nominees because we out of time to make sure that we have different disciplines, you know, that that will be on this task from law to housing to artists and media.

2 new black advocacy.

So we want to make sure that we have a great diverse and robust panel here so that we can look at these you know, the data points come up with the best recommendations.

Are you surprised at all by the progress that the topic of reparations has even made?

Just because 5, 6, years ago, it was a nonstarter in political conversations yet made to.

I think I think what that indicates is a shift by the and the and and the heightened awareness of.

>> Really looking forward especially in this particular very crucial moment.

You know, we all have to ask myself the question of, you know, once we navigate through these initial moments here, what do we want at the end of the day, right then?

How do we want everybody's dignity, respected and protected?

And so I think that is why we see more conversation and current staff.

The conversation about this, OK, you've been in the job for not quite a Congrats and good luck to you.

Carla Cafe at the city's chief equity officer.

Thank you so much for joining So much force.

Up next, a sound healing experience is coming to Chicago.

We'll explain right after this.

>> What's known as a sound healing experience is being held at the West Sides.

Karen Center for the Arts this Sunday, the event called the listening field is presented by decomposed a black Chamber music collective in collaboration with singer, songwriter, poet Jane of All Arts G Woods.

Its goal is to explore themes of rest, introspection and liberation.

Joining us now with more, our singer, songwriter, poet and Chicago's South Side native Jamila Woods and Corey Coleman, founder and executive and artistic director of Decompose.

Ladies, Welcome to Chicago in a black boy says Ledger Thank you for having route tell you guys work together Corey, let's start with you.

The listening field, first of its kind event.

>> Why was this important to bring sort of the healing and meditative experience to the Austin neighborhood?

>> So the reason it's so important, as we know right now, more than ever, people just need a space to just be to just exist.

And I feel like when we think about the healing powers of sound healing, it allows you just release those emotions that you might be feeling in a safe and comfortable space.

So that's why we wanted to bring it to the Austin neighborhood.

But often time when we think about engaging communities.

I think the Southside get so much love.

So we want to show love to West side and be able to bring that experience there as well.

What is sound healing so sound healing to me?

I think oftentimes we think about it, we might think of it as singing bowls or times.

But I like to think that ashes allowing music to allow yourself to just reflect, look inward and kind of look within yourself.

So I feel like this experience is providing the many interpretations of what sound healing could be.

Jamila talk, if you would, please a little bit about the concept of rest in the black community, especially right now.

There's been a lot more conversation rest as resistance.

>> Yes, more.

>> Definitely.

Yes.

I think it's really important to consider, especially for black folks to consider rest sake, not only to refuel us to go out there and do more work, but to really think about the ways that our ancestors weren't allowed.

That as a luxury and to reclaim that for ourselves as a time to really go into ourselves, going word to really allow ourselves to heal.

>> Corey, I think you over this was inspired by Zora Neale hurston's.

Their eyes were watching God.

Yes.

Tell me how.

>> Yeah.

So with the K minus enter their starting this year is called our nature and they're having a collective kind of community reading project around Zora Neale hurston's.

Their eyes were watching God.

So what we've done is we've taken inspiration from some of those themes that you would see within the tax and really kind of providing our own interpretation through poetry as well as the music of black composer.

So where kicking off the series hoping it kind of inspires the new way to look at the tax when the community begins to read it on gym Ealier first studio album came out nearly a decade ago and from heaven to most recent project, water made us.

>> You've been unapologetically and probably black, which we obviously celebrate here on black voices.

Tell me how you use music sort of as a tool to heal yourself and others.

>> Yes, I think about growing up in my grandmother's church in the church choir, too, performing in the Chicago Children's Choir now known as Uniting Voices and really understanding the healing power of music from a very young age.

I would see people and church trends muting heavy emotions.

I would see.

my choir director telling us stories of Martin Luther King Junior always, you know, requesting certain gospel songs that would help him him the energy to keep going.

And so I really think about my work as an artist has already been very much sound healing.

I love transforming a room with my music and I definitely feel like I've transmitted a lot of my own traumas and stories through music that I write as well.

So I think about being an artist as really a reciprocal relationship.

It's not only about what the music is doing for me, but what I can also show up for my community because so much of why became an artist because of the community programs and I attended and, you know, my church and things like that as well.

And sounds like this event is obviously an extension of that.

Yes, for All Corey black musicians typically aren't parts the chamber.

Classical music conversation.

Tell us how you also center of the black experience.

>> Through your music to your musicians, but also the music, the composer's.

Yeah.

So everything that decomposed eyes, we only exclusively feature the works.

A black composers.

>> And we do that because oftentimes when people are thinking of classical music, they aren't thinking about the contributions of black classical musicians and black composers.

So our goal is to really kind of redefine and re.

Imagine that narrative and imagine a future where classical music is very black.

>> So everything that we do is celebrating that experience.

But it's also recognizing that our audiences are a monolith.

They come from different backgrounds, different experiences.

And we just want to show that back to us.

black culture and everything it is that we And some of that involves some playing, you know, modern musicians like a little Beyonce, projections, Nile.

But before they were doing great Exactly.

okay.

So this isn't the first time as we discovered.

This is not the first time that the 2 of you collaborated because you speak in unison.

Sometimes here's a moment from a performance that you 2 had together back in 2021.

On the Stephen Colbert show.

>> How did this partnership formed between 2 of you a welcome to First?

>> Yes, I heard a lot about the work of decomposed and and I reached out to them to really make the songs that's inspired by Toni Morrison's novel of the same name.

Just really make a special version of the song.

And it turned out that that day we were just talking about news days where your story might get pushed to And so that day was January so they ended up not pushing it out, but rather like using it kind like this bomb at the end of a very heavy moment.

>> So I I think it's just speaking to the power of music to kind of soothing also allow folks time to process things that might be happening.

This what I hope they can do at our event.

Yeah.

Before let the 2 of you go because it's also a there's a waitlist already.

hopefully have recommendations for people who are unable to make it all.

But Corey, what's next for you?

What's next for decomposed?

>> I think what's next for decomposes you're going to see is continuing to amplify the works.

A black composers rain continued.

It brought in all the artists that we work with and just really extending our impact, even be on Chicago.

>> But you'll always be able to see us here right in the city.

Amplify this work.

10 seconds to me.

Listen, question to If I hope to continue to do more collaboration with the composer also more events with sound healing.

>> We're going to really transform the space and I hope people enjoy it.

So folks in at this time and hopefully there will be another opportunity Okay.

Awesome.

A pleasure to have you both here to Woods and Corey Coleman, thank you so much.

Thank you for having us.

>> And that is our show for this Wednesday night.

You can stream Chicago tonight on our W T Tw YouTube Channel every evening.

>> And catch up any new programs you might have missed and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

What's at stake as the Trump administration freezes millions of dollars in federal funding for university research.

>> Now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, Black Voices, I'm greatest Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff and