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

Black voices.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Is that his start conviction.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan joins the long list of local politicians convicted on corruption charges.

We have reaction to today's bombshell in court.

What proposed federal funding cuts could mean for early childhood education programs in Illinois.

>> I will miss the advice, but I will always hear her voice in my heart and my head.

And remembering a pioneer of early education.

First off tonight, the verdict is in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has been convicted of federal corruption charges.

>> The jury reached a verdict on the 11th day of deliberations while dead locking on other charges.

Madigan at one time was the state's most powerful politician.

Now he joins a long list of politicians locally who have been convicted of corruption reporter is Matt Masterson and Amanda joining us now with more.

Matt, you've been watching this since it began.

The jury came to a unanimous decision on 17 counts, but not on the remaining 12.

What did they convict him of in what was left unsettled?

So he's convicted on 10 charges, bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud.

10 counts of those how he was acquitted on 7 others in the jury failed to reach a verdict and 6 others related to him.

>> Prosecutors that outlined 5 separate corruption street schemes.

That Madigan was pledge to have orchestrated.

He was only convicted on charges related to 2 of those, though, including the largest one of them with the comment bribery scheme.

But there is no guilty verdict or he was not acquitted 3 of the schemes, including the top count of racketeering, rocket racketeering, conspiracy or RICO charge which allege that as part of operation was essentially this criminal enterprise.

But perhaps the most surprising was this union West game, one of which Danny Solis, the former Chicago alderman acting as an undercover mall recorded a conversation with Matt.

Again, we're specifically referring to a quid pro quo or great arrangement with property developer.

Madigan said, yeah, OK, he said that he was essentially agreeing to Prosecutors said the show that his mindset was that he understood wanted to enter into this is a legal arrangement.

But Madigan himself testified that he was simply trying to move this conversation a law.

He was just saying, yeah, OK, such as that and the jury obviously agreed with what he had to say in this because they acquitted him on all charges related to this, which was a bit of a surprise.

This with some of the prosecutors, most hard evidence that they had him on this and that it didn't lead to a conviction.

Can we expect a retrial on some of those counts that that a jury couldn't reach a decision on?

It's not yet clear acting U.S. attorney Morris Press called didn't rule it out.

He said that they want to explore all their options and moving forward on this.

They very well could.

But it's not clear yet if they will, but it could another try on this going forward.

Some point.

>> Amanda Madigan was the longest serving leader of any state or federal legislative body.

You covered him a lot as well.

Historically, what does this conviction This is huge.

It certainly did not get the attention nationally that say former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich or even George Ryan before him did.

He wasn't governor.

He governor.

He's not a big national name, but he was such a powerhouse in Illinois politics that this is I think, massive locally thinking again of Blagojevich.

I mean, he didn't last 2 terms.

He wasn't first Curly strong governor didn't have a lot of tight allegiances.

Even whereas met again, still does even through all of this.

He has allies.

He has loyalists.

He was in power still for 6 months after the combat deferred prosecution agreement became public and it sort of became clear that he was tied into it.

So I think that this really is sort of earth shattering when it comes to Illinois politics, particularly because the long-running notion had Ben, that he was too smart for this, that he played chess, that he wrote the rules so that he could navigate around them and wouldn't have to do anything legally.

Matt Madigan's co-defendant, longtime confidant Michael McClain also on trial with him.

What we know of his charges as soldier and sir, again, for the trial, his very close friend.

>> He said his head was spinning when the jury did not return a verdict on any of the 6 charges that he was facing.

Prosecutors have painted him as basically carrying Americans dirty work so adding it didn't have to get his fingers.

His fingerprints on any of the bribery schemes.

But as Patrick Cotter, his defense attorney said afterwards that McLean was leaving court as he entered it, which was an innocent man.

He wasn't convicted anything today, but it is important to note that he was previously convicted of the common for bribery On the other side of this conspiring to and again on those those charges, he has already been convicted.

That said, look, it's not quite in a separate.

and in response to mannequins a verdict, Illinois House Republicans, they held an ethics reform meeting today.

What we hear from So really this is actually just, you know, press conference and they're talking about what changes they want to be made.

They said that they've been frustrated.

>> By the slow reaction that Democrats have had, despite as I described, this is really sort of it's shattering.

And Ernie says the Capitol Dome.

>> They said there hasn't enough done to try to route something out it to root out sense of corruption in title meant that the lifting up of legislative leaders that made them so all powerful, powerful.

There was some legislation that was enacted previously, but even reform groups you're talking about change, Illinois, common cause reform for Illinois, they say is that those were relatively toothless.

And so the only reaction that they say the General Assembly has taken is is not enough.

And that's something that Republicans really holds from 2.

And they also point out and Democrats are still in power.

This did not do anything to really punish Democrats at the ballot box.

So Deputy Illinois House leader Ryan Spain had a bit to say about changing the way Illinois State government currently operates areas.

>> So today it's clear with this verdict, we have to change the way we do business in the state of Illinois.

We have to throw out Mike Madigan playbook and do away with this culture of corruption that continues to persist in our state house.

>> Amanda, what is throwing out the Michael Madigan playbook?

Look like?

So this is sort of what I was getting at it and things such empowering the legislative inspector general, something that they say was never done and therefore you couldn't file an ethics complaint against.

>> again or anybody else that was perceived to have been doing something unethical or wrong within the General Assembly.

we did that that that's part of the toothless notion legislators are able to.

There is some limit now, but not really.

There's like a crack in the real fault and took But still that they say that there needs to be done more to close it.

They also point to the current Illinois House speaker who they say was, you know, handpicked by Matt again.

>> That might not be exactly the word that I would use, but it certainly true that Welch was close with Matt again.

And they say that with they're still using by and large, the same house rules, the very same house rules.

That is part of this case.

We heard Madigan was able to use his power to hold up legislation, the speaker and frankly over in the Senate, the president institutionally can still do Matt, we you know, we you mention the comment case for the jury failed to reach a verdict on a TNT case.

What's what's the issue there seem general scheme that he was legislative action for a job for his legislative lie.

Yes, do.

>> The feds have run into trouble with this already.

They had already former 18 ti, Illinois President Paul.

That's got to for soliciting.

These are conspiring to bribe mad again.

That led to no verdict.

This now also today, no verdict against Paddack reclaim one of the top witnesses that the prosecutors had planned to call a former 18 t executive.

He and the last guest.

The trial said that he wasn't aware of any sort of arrangement between U.S. legislative action and this contract for Acevedo.

He was actually called mannequins defense in this trial and said the same thing.

And that helped lead to a no verdict for pair of them.

Madigan McLean today.

Okay.

busy courthouse a busy a bunch of reporters who are covering this.

Matt Masterson Amanda thank you.

>> And you can read the full story on our Web site, including lots of reaction coming in.

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

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

>> And now to some more of today's top stories.

And after new Lowell in snowfall for the Chicago area is expected to pick back up this evening.

The National Weather Service says accumulating snow is expected to redevelop between 6 and 10 o'clock.

Tonight.

Forecasts show and additional one to 2 inches.

So if you're on your drive home, be prepared to slow down.

Relatives of Sonya Massey are speaking out today after the saying I'm in County board approves a 10 million dollar settlement to her family after her death last summer.

Massie is believed to have been in a mental health crisis last July when she was called or when she called 9-1-1 about a potential prowler outside her home.

She was shot and killed by responding police sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson in her kitchen prior to saying I'm in county, Grayson is believed to have worked at 6 other law enforcement agencies in 4 years and have personal DUI convictions since Massey's death.

Springfield lawmakers have introduced legislation to strengthen background checks as well as work and personal history sharing between departments father today says he thanks Springfield for its work on this.

>> I can't say the thing thing in the county.

Because they were responsible for that report.

And Logan County and Kincaid.

And the other departments that this guy was that.

When they should have taken certification to be a law enforcement officer.

In a little.

And again should have never been higher.

>> Today would have been Massey's 37th birthday.

The video of City Hall's suddenly well-known gift room is raising more questions than answers according to the city watchdog.

That's after Mayor Brandon Johnson's office released this short video showing the room that holds the gifts.

The mayor's team except on behalf of the city.

Gifts include coffee, mugs, shoes, baseball caps, T-shirts, wards books as well as designer handbags and cuff links.

Johnson recently came under fire by the city inspector general after an audit revealed his office accepted pricey items on behalf of the city without properly reporting them as required.

Neither the IG or members of news media, including Wbtw news have been allowed to inspect the room as the IG says is required by city ordinance.

President Donald Trump says he wants to do away with the Department of Education immediately.

Here's a little of what he said just this afternoon.

>> I'd like it to be closed to media day.

Look, the Department of Education's a big con were ranked so they rank the top 40 countries in the world where rank number 40th but were ranked number one in one department costs per people.

>> Meanwhile, funding for programs such as Head Start which provides wraparound services for low-income families and children are also under threat.

Joining us now to look at the potential impact of cuts to early-childhood education in Illinois are Michaela Collins, a former head start parents and now member of the board of directors at the Illinois Head Start Association and Shawna Edge, a senior vice president for programs at Illinois Action for Children.

Thanks to you both for joining us.

So in recent years, we know that early-childhood education, it's been through some bumps.

Sean, I want to start with you, please.

How would you describe the state of early education and childcare and Illinois right now.

>> You know, right now, I think from a state perspective, we have a lot of support.

Governor Pritzker has started his smart start program and we're doing wonderful things for children and families statewide.

The threat to us, though, is on the federal level, the federal government help support our child Care Assistance Program, which really supports low-income families who need access to quality child care with covering that and very, very huge expense for their families.

In addition, I head start programs throughout the country are really struggling with having access to funding that's already been appropriated to them.

That's already been granted to them on an ongoing basis.

And so we did have a them a week or 2 ago where we couldn't access the payment entry system at all.

And then right now, it seems every day or every other day it is being shut down for maintenance.

And we have a few programs in our state that have been unable to access the funding they need to pay their staff.

>> Would have been some of the challenges are what are some of the challenges Mike?

He left for families in getting access to early childhood education.

>> So start present wide range programs and services for children and their families.

I'm only a role in its targeting lonely, not only the child with the families as well.

So children are liking on mental health services, nutrition services, social services, anything that offer support for children and moves.

Shawna, same question to you.

What it would have.

Some families have to one of the barriers what they have to go through and making sure that they can >> afford and find a early learning opportunities for kids.

>> We already know that in the state of from the Illinois, we have deserts.

We have some locations within our state where they're actually Arnold services.

And so the state has worked really hard to try to infuse funding and to some of those locations.

So that families can access.

We know that without access families can't work, they can't could pursue training.

They can't go to school, cetera.

And so our goal is accessible, quality child care for statewide.

The situation with losing head start, which is a really huge component of some of the services that are offered to families in the state of Illinois would be devastating.

It would leave such a gap in services, particularly for low-income families that need that additional support of that 2 generation program.

>> And Shawna, you mentioned the governor Smart start program last year.

Governor Pritzker also created the state's first ever Department of Early childhood.

Shawna, how will that be helpful to parents as well as providers?

>> So, you know, we are really excited about the New Department.

We believe that once programs that are all serving early childhood from the various different agencies right now will be able to provide a seamless system for families that's far less complex than what it is at the current moment.

And so we've worked together.

I think as all early childhood providers in the state to figure out kind of what the challenges are to families, accessing services and it can be everything from a lack of knowledge.

It can also be the fact that they live in a childcare desert.

But often it's families don't realize what they're eligible for.

And we feel like having everything within one state agency will allow the burden to be on the agency as opposed to the burden of finding the quality care being on the parent, figuring out what they can apply for what they're eligible for, except >> I'm You mentioned, you know, last month the Trump administration placed a freeze on federal funds that they say were not intended to impact.

Programs like head start like Medicare.

But I think a lot of agencies report that it actually did a micayla, you know, as the on the Board of Illinois Head Start Association, what do you know about what the impact actually was that day and what it's been?

>> so a lot of our program were not able to pulled from the system to even add, says funds broad areas on and not being able to pay bills, not being able to pay employees.

And some senators had to close.

It's people because they could not pay them.

with that system going up and down like in city, it's a challenge every day.

They're feeling like, is it going to be differing?

We're not able to hire new employees because they're scared that they want >> I'd like to get a sense a little bit if we could have how early education is funded because it actually comes from several buckets between the state and the federal government.

So to give us a brief understanding of that, please.

>> Sure thing.

So the Office of Head Start funds programs nationwide directly from the Office of Head Start to local communities and that programming is based on need.

That programming is offered free to families.

It's for folks that are expecting a baby all the way through the age of 5.

In most instances and it really is a program that's to generational supporting that expected family, that new family all the way through that child getting into really the K through 12 system with the goal of supporting them toward self-sufficiency.

Then we have state programming.

fun.

Department will primarily through the Illinois Department of Human Services.

We get the Child Care Development Block Grant, which is a grant that comes from the federal government boat load of money comes into the Illinois Department of Human Services and that funds or child Care Assistance Program, which are also for families that are are working that are low-income or in school.

And that really was designed as a work support for families so that the kids who could self-sufficiency and be able to afford quality care for their children.

Thank you for invitation for all.

>> Well, just want to we're almost at a time and I wanted to give Michaela back in here one more time because you're also a former head start.

Mom, how would you get a that those services are beneficial to you and your family in about 20 seconds?

>> My children, both are very ahead of their time in in their grade level.

They're super smart and I was able to receive services that I would not have been able to receive doing where it's.

>> That's what we'll have to leave it.

Thanks to you both for joining us.

Best of luck to you.

Shauna Ajay and McKayla Collins.

Thank you.

Up next, remembering a founding mother in the field of early education and mother to another well-known Chicago.

One.

Now a tribute to a pioneering Chicago one who died late last year.

Not only is she the mother of another familiar Chicago and Valerie Jarrett, but Barbara Taylor Bowman also descended from history makers like her grandfather, who was the first African-American to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

So it's no wonder she, too, would forge her own path in a different direction, creating and nurturing the field of early education.

Here's a look at the life of Barbara Taylor Bowman.

>> This is my parents wedding album.

They were married in 1950, here in Chicago.

The Bowman wedding album just one volume of a family history that spans generations can tell that the test of time.

This is my grandfather, Robert Taylor, after whom the Robert Taylor.

>> Holmes was named.

>> Taylor's daughter Barbara Taylor.

Bowman is among those history makers, as is her own daughter, Valerie Jarrett.

>> My mother had an extraordinary life and she has been my role model since I was born.

She managed to do the mighty jungle as I call it extraordinary in the field early childhood education, but also making time for her first priority, which is her family.

>> Born in 1928, Barbara Taylor grew up under the unwritten laws of Jim Crow.

She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1950, and the University of Chicago in 1952.

With a master's in education.

She married Jarrett's father, Dr. James Bowman, who would later become the first black tenured position at the University of Chicago in the beginning, though, he struggled to find work as a doctor in the U.S.

So the young couple moved to Iran.

How crazy was that for them to move to Iran in the mid-fifties to didn't know the language they've never been.

>> Further than one trip to Europe, they didn't know anything about the culture.

was offering my father an opportunity that was not available to them here in the United States.

And they both had this kind of.

Curious spirit and adventuresome spirit.

And he said, let's go.

She said absolutely.

>> Later after their daughter was born, the couple would return to the states.

And Barbara Bowman would pursue her passion.

>> She loves young children.

There isn't a young comes within 20 feet of my mom who is going to have that child grabbed him, put in her lap and holder clothes.

She just marvel at them.

>> With her experience as a preschool teacher.

She was inspired to co-found the Erikson Institute in 1966. along with 3 others.

Psychologist Murray appears social worker, Lorraine Wallach and businessman Irving Harris.

The group recognize that most preschool teachers weren't prepared to meet the needs of children from under-resourced communities.

>> And this institution was founded with the idea of making sure that the most does invested communities, children and families have high quality teachers who understood child development.

How children develop social, mostly how children develop cognitively help children develop in terms of language.

>> Bowman remained a teacher and mentor Erickson until the end.

>> Barber was always very hopeful, but also very action-oriented.

She had very high expectations for herself and very high expectations for everyone else.

One of the things that I appreciate about her is that she praise publicly and critique privately.

>> Soto Manning describes Bowman as a fierce advocate for what she believed in.

>> I remember Valerie talking about how there was an event that their home.

And President Barack Obama was going to be there and how she bagged Barbara and not to ask him for early childhood funding and she opens this study door and she was there with President Barack Obama insisting on more funding for early childhood education.

So that's what I mean.

The 2 was relentless shown.

Some of that influence landed with Governor JB Pritzker who started the state's first department early education in 2024.

>> He's a personal hero of mine.

And that's the great Barbara Bowman.

>> As you know, she is one of the co-founders of Erickson and a giant in the field of early childhood education.

And you have no doubt spent the past few years of your life poring over some of her work and soaking in an infinite number of lessons that she has left us.

>> And those lessons were sought-after until the day she died.

My mom was 96 when she died.

The morning that she died.

A colleague from Ericsson came over to get advice.

>> And I remember standing in the kitchen, listening to my mother go through like 4003002001.5 of what the colleagues should do and she died a few hours later.

>> For as much as Bowman was the guiding light for Ericsson.

She also was for her family.

My mom became the matriarch of this family we came together because she called us together and certainly for her daughter, Valerie.

And she certainly lived this, by example.

The question isn't, you know, do have it all in the first chapter.

The question is chapters of the book in life and up to a home.

When you look back.

And you know, did you love?

people love to you?

Did you make strong relationships?

Did you follow your passion you make an impact, she often tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear.

And I will miss that.

But I'm hoping that that voice just stays in my head because by now, I know if she think the right thing to do.

And just that that the mine And impactful life, she did have.

>> And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, I'm Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed caption is made possible by Robert a and Clifford law, Chicago, personal injury and wrongful