>> HEY THERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

I WISH WE HAD BIG SURPLUSES TO WORK WITH THIS YEAR.

WHO WINS AND WHO LOSES UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL.

>> I DON'T LIKE GETTING I DON'T LIKE IT MIGHT CHANGE >> THE CRACKDOWN DOLLAR STORES IN CHICAGO.

COLLEGE-GOING STUDENTS ARE STILL FEELING SETBACKS AS THE NEW FEDERAL STUDENT AID APPLICATION ROLLS OUT.

AND RAPPER IN CHICAGO NATIVE VIC MENSA ON HIS EFFORT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF BETTER THAN EXPECTED FINANCIAL SITUATION.

ILLINOIS IS HAVING TO SCALE BACK WITH A NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER'S AIDES DESCRIBE AS LAST YEAR, REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S ANYTHING BUT REPORTER AMANDA BENNETT JOINS US LIVE FROM SPRINGFIELD WITH MORE.

AMANDA, WHAT'S THE GOVERNOR PROPOSING?

>> BRING US THE TOP LINE FOR MANY FOLKS IS ARE MY TAXES GOING TO GO UP IN THE ANSWER?

THERE IS NO.

THAT IS UNLESS YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO PLACE BETS ON SPORTS IN WHICH CASE THE ANSWER IS YES.

GOING INTO THE DAY, GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT IS HAD PREDICTED A SHORTFALL OF NEARLY 1 BILLION DOLLARS NOW PREFERS OFFICE SAYS THE PICTURE ISN'T ACTUALLY THAT LEAK BECAUSE >> REVENUES ARE DOING BETTER THAN HAD IT BEEN EXPECTED.

BUT STILL THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HOLE AND HE IS LOOKING TO FILL IT TAXES ON CORPORATIONS AND ALSO BY INCREASING THE TAX PUT ON WAGERS PLACED AT SPORTSBOOKS GOING UP FROM 15% TO 35%.

IN THOUGH PRITZKER'S BUDGET IS BALANCED ON THE BACKS OF THOSE CHANGES.

HE DID NOT MENTION THEM AT ALL DURING HIS ADDRESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMANDA, WHAT DID HE MENTION >> PRITZKER SAYS THAT THIS IS A PLAN THAT HAS TO MAKE SOME HARD CHOICES.

HE SAYS IT LIVES UP TO ILLINOIS'S COMMITMENT TO BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, STILL MAKES NEEDED INVESTMENT SOME CERTAIN AREAS.

AND AMONG THOSE PRIORITIES FOR HIM THAT THEREFORE WILL BE RECEIVING SOME ADDITIONAL EDUCATION NOW, ESPECIALLY EARLY CHILDHOOD THAT SMART START PROGRAM LOOKING TO CREATE ANOTHER 5,000 SPOTS IN DAYCARES.

ALSO A NEW PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL GIVE FAMILIES DIE FIRST AND THEN A SMALL CHILD TAX CREDIT.

THIS WOULD GO TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BUT HAVE BABIES, 2 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER.

THERE'S ALSO, OF COURSE, THAT 182 MILLION DOLLARS MUST FOR THE MIGRANT RESPONSE.

>> MAYBE SOME OF YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST SAY THIS IS NOT OUR PROBLEM AND THAT WE SHOULD LET THE MIGRANT FAMILY STARVE OR FREEZE TO DEATH.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT DECENT MIDWESTERNERS DO.

THAT'S NOT WHAT LEADERS DO.

WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS MANUFACTURED CRISIS, BUT WE MUST DEAL WITH IT OF THE SAME.

>> REPUBLICANS, HOWEVER, ARE REALLY FIRED UP ABOUT THIS.

THEY SAY THAT ILLINOIS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HE'S SPENT MORE THAN 2 BILLION DOLLARS ON NON-CITIZENS AND THEY SAY THAT THAT'S MONEY THAT RESIDENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN STRUGGLING RURAL AREAS OF ILLINOIS, COULD USE FOR SCHOOLS FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE.

>> THIS IDEA OF HELPING PEOPLE WHO FORCED THEIR WAY INTO THIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO SHAME AS AS SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT CHRISTIAN OR NOT, WHICH VERY OFFENSIVE TO I >> I HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT I HAVE A DUTY TO REPRESENT AND THEIR TAXPAYERS AND THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE RAISED AT THEIR COST.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE, HOWEVER, ON BOARD WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THE ONE PERCENT TAX ON GROCERIES.

THAT SAID THAT'S MONEY THAT DOESN'T GO TO THE STATE.

SO ESSENTIALLY THAT'S A CUT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT OTHERWISE DEPEND ON PROPERTY TAXES.

US BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

AND YOU CAN READ AMANDA'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL A W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> THERE WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER A FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED 42 TO 7 TODAY TO CRACK DOWN ON DOLLAR STORES ACROSS CHICAGO.

SUPPORTERS OF THE MEASURE SAY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF STORES HAS CREATED A NUISANCE IN MANY SOUTH AND WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE LOPSIDED VOTE CAME AFTER AN IMPASSIONED PLEA FROM ALDERMAN MATT O'SHEA.

>> DRIVE PAST ANY ONE OF THOSE 149 STORES TODAY?

AND YOU'LL LIKELY SEE OVERFLOWING DUMPSTERS.

BROKEN FENCES, BROKEN EXTERIOR LIGHTS, BUILDINGS IN DISREPAIR, SHOPPING CARTS.

OVERTURNED ON THE SIDEWALK OR IN THE PARKING LOT.

YEAH, IT'S FUNNY WHEN I DRIVE JUST 5 OR 10 MINUTES OUTSIDE MY COMMUNITY IN A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SUBURB.

I DON'T SEE THAT.

>> WTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE HEADER.

TELL US WHAT THE NEW RULES WILL MEAN FOR DOLLAR STORES.

WELL, IT ESSENTIALLY MEANS THAT NEW DOLLAR STORES CANNOT OPEN WITHIN A MILE OF ANOTHER DOLLAR STORE OPERATED BY THE SAME FIRM.

AND THERE'S ALSO A REQUIREMENT FOR EVERY STORE IN CHICAGO TO POST A PLACARD SAYING, HEY, IF YOU'VE GOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE STORE, HERE'S WHO YOU SHOULD CALL.

AND THAT IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT WE JUST HEARD FROM ALDERMAN O'SHEA, WHO HAS BEEN DEEPLY FRUSTRATED FOR YEARS THAT HE CAN'T GET ANYONE TO ADDRESS THESE VERY SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE STORES.

>> AND HE WAS INFURIATED TODAY THAT PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO AFFECT DOLLAR STORES ON THE NORTH SIDE OR SO THIS BUT WAS DELAYED FOR ABOUT A MONTH BECAUSE OF INTENSE OPPOSITION FROM BUSINESS GROUPS AND DOLLAR TREE, WHICH OPERATES MOST OF THE 150 STORES IN CHICAGO.

>> WHY DID THEY FIND WELL, THESE STORIES ARE INCREDIBLY LUCRATIVE FOR THIS FIRM AND IT FILLS A NICHE IN MANY SOUTH AND WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE'VE SEEN BIG BOX STORES LIKE TARGET AND WALMART CLOSE AND BE REPLACED BY THESE NOW SO-CALLED SMALL BOX STORES THAT SELL MANY OF THE SAME GOODS BUT PERHAPS LOWER QUALITY AND NOT ANYWHERE NEAR AS MUCH FRESH FOOD OR VEGETABLES.

AND THAT ALDERMAN O'SHEA SAID AGAIN TODAY HELPS CONTRIBUTE TO CHICAGO'S PROBLEM WITH FOOD DESERTS.

SO HE'S HOPING.

>> HE CAN KILL MULTIPLE BIRDS WITH THIS ONE STONE AND CERTAINLY AS THE NAME INDICATES A LOWER COST ALSO TODAY A BRANDON JOHNSON INTRODUCED A PROPOSAL TO BORROW 1.2 5 BILLION DOLLARS BILLION WITH A B OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS.

>> WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THAT?

MONEY OF CITY COUNCIL AGREES?

WELL, MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON WANTS TO USE THIS MONEY TO REALLY TRANSFORM THE WAY THE CITY ADDRESSES ISSUES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

RIGHT NOW THE CITY USES WHAT'S CALLED TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICTS TO FUND MANY PROJECTS DESIGNED TO ERADICATE BLIGHT AND ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

HE SAID TODAY THAT THAT EFFORT HAS JUST NOT BEEN AFFECTED AND THIS WILL GIVE THE CITY A POOL OF MONEY TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.

>> WITHOUT RESULTING IN A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE ITS A REMINDER.

ALSO WHY TIPS TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICTS ARE SO CONTROVERSIAL.

WELL, ESSENTIALLY, IT MEANS THAT THE WEALTHY ARE SOME PARTS OF THE CITY GETS GET WEALTHIER.

SO IF YOU'RE DOWNTOWN, YOU WILL SEE PROPERTY TAX SORT OF GROWTH IN THE WAY TIPS WORK IS THAT THEY TAKE THAT GROWTH AND THEN CAN CLOUD INTO NEW AMENITIES.

NEW ROADWORK, NEW SCHOOLS, SCHOOL ADDITIONS AND IMPROVED PARKS.

BUT IF YOU'RE IN A PART OF THE CITY LIKE ON THE SOUTH AND THE WEST SIDE WHERE PROPERTY TAXES BEEN STAGNANT FOR DECADES BECAUSE OF DISINVESTMENT IN THE COLLECT.

YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE RESORTS.

THIS IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THOSE INEQUITIES, BUT I THINK IT'S PAST FORWARD IN THE CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME.

IS A HUGE CHANGE FOR HOW THE CITY OPERATES, RIGHT?

HAD A SHARON, AS ALWAYS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS, BRANDIS.

AND YOU CAN HIS FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

>> THE >> FIRST MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID FORM SINCE THE REAGAN ERA WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE PROCESS SIMPLER CALLED THE BETTER SOME SAY NOT BETTER YET.

THE NEW PROCESS HAS BEEN RIDDLED WITH THE WAYS THAT HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SCRAMBLING FOR A FIX AND THAT CONGRESSIONAL CRITICISM AND LEAVING MANY COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS IN LIMBO.

JOINING US NOW, OUR ABATES MANAGING DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE ACCESS AT CHICAGO SCHOLARS, WHICH HELPS FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS NAVIGATE THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.

SAVANNAH PHILLIPS, A SENIOR GWENDOLYN BROOKS HIGH SCHOOL AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM, RICH HAYS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO.

WELCOME BACK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M RICK JAMES, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

BECAUSE WE SPOKE IN DECEMBER, IT WAS A BIG CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THIS FORM.

READY AND ONLINE READY TO GO AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

THAT WAS IN DECEMBER.

THEY DID MAKE THE DEADLINE.

BUT THERE STILL SOME SETBACKS, TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY IT'S BEEN GOING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

IT'S CRAZY FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE NOT A GREAT TIME TO BE A FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATOR.

>> BUT WALKING MUCH TOGETHER OUT OUT SAY BUT YES, WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GET THAT PASSED?

WE CAME OUT DECEMBER 31ST.

IT WAS RIDDLED WITH SPORADIC WITHIN THE WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET ON.

WE GET PAST THAT ONE HURDLE AND WE GOT HIT WITH MORE DELAYS BECAUSE IT WAS A THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GET FASTER DATA FROM STUDENTS AT THE END OF JANUARY.

DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND NOW WE'RE GETTING VERY VAGUE STATEMENTS FROM DEPARTMENT OF ON WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO GET THAT DATA HELP OUR STUDENTS OUT.

OK, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR KEEPING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, RICH, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU?

I SEE STUDENTS FUTURE STUDENTS.

>> SO THAT THE VERY STUDENTS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING OTHER ONES WHO ARE IN JEOPARDY OF OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON WHICH SCHOOL THEY WANT TO GO TO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FINANCIALLY NOTIFICATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT GOT THE FAST, THE DATA THEY'RE TELLING US MEET MARCH.

THEY'RE NOT GIVING US A SPECIFIC DATE THERE SAY MID-MARCH, BUT HEARING THAT IT COULD BE LATER.

I WILL SAY THAT.

BELIEVE THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY HELP STUDENTS.

BUT RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S JUST BEEN RIDDLED WITH A HORRIBLE ROLLOUT.

AND I THINK THAT THEY JUST NEEDED MORE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT SO FAR, I SEE WHERE WE'RE ALREADY DOING CONTINGENCY PLANNING TO MAKE SURE A STUDENT, A HOME.

>> OKAY.

MAKE A BASE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO WORKS LARGELY WITH STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE A POTENTIALLY A FIRST GENERATION GROWING COLLEGE-GOING STUDENTS.

WHAT HAS THIS BEEN LIKE FOR THEM?

>> IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO SAY THE BUT I THINK FOR THEM RIGHT NOW AS RICH MENTIONED, THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOW IN THE AWARD LETTER PHASE, AT LEAST LETS THEM KNOW THAT THE PROCESS IS MOVING ALONG.

SO FROM THAT VANTAGE POINT, WE ARE THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED TO GET THEIR ACCEPTANCES.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

AND THAT ALWAYS KEEP IT TO OF.

BUT THE FACT THAT NOW THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO MAKE DECISION, WHICH IS OUR BIG NEXT THING IS DECISION DAY VETS.

THE ANXIETY I GO RIGHT AND MAY FIRST IS THAT DEADLINE BY WHICH NEED TO SAVANNAH, YOU'RE A SENIOR AND WOODLAND BROOKS COLLEGE PREP AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN NAVIGATING.

>> THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS.

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE FROM YOUR I DEFINITELY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH AND THE COMMUNITY WITH THIS PROCESS.

MY DESTROYING MULTIPLE GROUPS HAD TEXT CHAIR >> WHERE THEY HELP EACH OTHER KIND OF GET THROUGH IT FOR ME PERSONALLY.

IT'S DEFINITELY MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE ANXIOUS ABOUT DECIDING WHERE I'M GOING GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WILL BE FINANCIALLY SAFE FOR YOUR FAMILY, ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT WANT TO PURSUE ONE PLACE, IT JUST MAY NOT BE THAT'S WHY THE IS SUPPOSED TO HELP US IN RECENTLY >> HAVE FEELING THAT I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THOUGH WARD LETTER PART.

I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT THERE'S NEW THINGS COMING FOR ME AND THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF MY BIGGEST WORRY IS WHERE I'M GOING GO TO COLLEGE, NOT IF I'M GOING TO GO.

I THINK I HAVE A PRETTY SOMEWHERE.

WHERE WAS THE HOW IS THIS FINANCIALLY BEING SO DELAYED?

HASN'T SET BACK THAT DECISION MAKING SO RECENTLY?

WELL, BUT I DECIDED TO APPLY TO THESE COLLEGE IS A MAJORITY OF THEM WERE HBC USE AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.

>> SO WITH THE DELAY IN THE FEST, BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY A LITTLE BIT OF A WRENCH IN LIFE LIVES BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE SARA LEE BE ABLE FOR A STIR >> BUT AS A FAMILY, WE'VE DECIDED THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL THE FASTEST WAY TO TRY OUR BEST TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE'VE DEFINITELY RIPPED APART OUR CAN CONTROL HOW WE HOW MANY WE APPLIED TO.

BUT WE CAN'T CONTROL HOW THAT HOW MANY NOT MAKE IT WILL THESE DELAYS.

HOW MIGHT THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM LOWER-INCOME BACKGROUNDS?

I MEAN, ARE MOST OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FIRST GENERATION AND LOW INCOME.

SO IT WILL IMPACT MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOLARS, PARTICULARLY.

>> WE DO OUR WORK THROUGH A MATCH, FIT FINANCIAL FEET.

SO YES, WE WANT DARST STUDENTS TO GO TO THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ALL THE CLUBS AND THEIR MAJORS, BUT NEED TO BE ABLE TO 48.

SO THAT DELAY IS REALLY THE MAJOR, IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS FOR RICH, THERE BEEN CONCERNS OVER THE FINANCIAL AID INFO BEING SHARED WITH THE IRS AND REQUIRING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS FOR ALL CONTRIBUTORS ON THE FORM AND THE CONCERN THERE HAS BEEN WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD STUDENTS WHOSE PARENTS DON'T HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS.

THOSE WHOSE PARENTS >> MIGHT BE UNDOCUMENTED AND HAS.

HAS THAT BECOME A CONCERN FOR THE STUDENTS THAT YOU WORK WITH?

>> MOST PART OF A FAST WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN FLOODED WITH PARENTS WITHOUT SUCH A CUTE MEMBERS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY AROUND HOW TO COMPLETE THE FASTBALL RIGHT IN DEPARTMENT PUT OUT SOME GUIDANCE YESTERDAY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHAT PARENTS CAN DO AND WHAT THEY'RE URGING STUDENTS TO DO RIGHT NOW IS TO EITHER WAIT FOR THEM TO MAKE THE FIX OR THEY CREATED.

AND THAT STEP WORK AROUND.

THAT MORE CONFUSING AND LESS IMPLICIT THERE.

THEN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD AND SO STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH PARENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE SECURITY NUMBERS ARE KIND OF AT A STANDSTILL UNTIL THEY CAN GET THAT FIXED ALSO WANT TO I WANT TO SAY THAT OUR WE PUSHED ARE GETTING BACK TO JUNE FIRST INSTEAD OF MAY FIRST.

SO WE WANT TO STATE SCHOOLS TO DO THAT.

BUT YEAH, THAT WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THIS WITH OUR AND PARENTS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WITHOUT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN TO HELP.

>> WOW, OK, SO YOU'VE ALREADY MOVED BACK THAT THAT THAT ADMISSION REQUIREMENT DATE TO JUNE FIRST BY A MONTH, WHICH A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT.

I IMAGINE WHAT WHAT'S BEEN YOUR ADVICE?

SIMPLE, 9 STEP WORK AROUND.

THERE'S ALSO THE OPTION OF THE PAPER FORM FOR STUDENTS.

BUT RICH, WHAT'S BEEN YOUR ADVICE TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ABOUT THAT?

THEY PERFORM.

>> SO WITH A PAPER EVEN IF A STUDENT ASKING TO PAY SOME STUDENTS HAVE DECIDED TO GO THAT ROUTE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT A PAPER UNTIL THEY START SENDING OUT ONLINE FASTER.

SO THE TIMELINE IS STILL GOING TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME.

IT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE IT UP IS NOT GOING TO GETTING FASTER.

AND SO WE'RE THAT IN A PARIS DECIDE KIND OF WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO GO, WHETHER THEY WANT TO THEY WANT TO SUBMIT A PAPER FASTBALL.

WHAT WE'RE DOING ON OUR SIDE IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP STUDENTS IN FORM.

AND SO I CAST NOW THAT STUDENTS KNOW WHAT SAY.

IT'S HAPPENING TO EVERYBODY.

IT'S NOT JUST WANT A GOOD WAY ACROSS.

YEAH, TO MAKE YEAH.

HOW WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO STUDENTS ABOUT HANDLING THE STRESS AND THE ANXIETY IN A COUPLE OF SECONDS.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO CONTINUE TO RESEARCH THE SCHOOL'S RIGHT.

JUST FINANCIAL THING IS NOT THE ONLY DISSENT PART OF THE DECISIONS.

SO USE THIS TIME TO LOOK AT THE OTHER THINGS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR STUDENTS.

ALL RIGHT, SAVANNAH, YOU SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, CONTROL WHAT CAN CONTROL.

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING ON STUDYING AND HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THAT THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS?

SO I PLANNED A MAJOR AND WHATEVER SCHOOL I ATTEND IN THE FALL.

>> SORRY.

WAS I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK AND SEE IN THE DEBATES AND CIA'S.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M GLAD WE CAN STILL LAUGH ABOUT IT.

>> POSTED.

NEXT, A WELL-KNOWN CHICAGO NATIVE ON HIS ART AND HIS ACTIVISM.

CHICAGO NATIVE VIC MENSA HAS TAKEN ON MANY DIFFERENT ROLES OVER THE YEARS.

RAPPER ORGANIZER, ACTOR AND MORE MOST RECENTLY HE PARTNERED WITH RESTAURANTS.

ELDRIDGE WILLIAMS FOR HIS FEET.

THE BLOCK WARM THE BLOCK INITIATIVE TO BRING FOOD AND CLOTHING TO THE CITY'S UNHOUSED POPULATION.

AND JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT HEAT, ALL THAT HE'S GOT 2 IN CHICAGO IS VIC MENSA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THANK SO LET'S TALK ABOUT FIRST.

OBVIOUSLY THAT FEED THE BLOCK WHERE THE BLOCK INITIATIVE WAS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO >> FOUND HIM A CANNABIS COMPANY, BOYS.

ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND FROM THE ONSET, I KNEW THAT TO BE DOING IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN USED TO STEAL FREEDOM FROM SO MANY THAT.

IT WAS IN MY HEART SAID THE COMPANY HAD TO BE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM AND TO GIVE BACK.

AND SO AS THE FIRST BLACK CANNABIS BRAND TO BE IN JUST STARTED OFF ON THAT FOOT AND MOST RECENTLY, THE INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE BEEN RUNNING WITH FEET, THE BLOCK ON THE BLOCK DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THE CHICAGO BECAUSE IT IS BONE CHILLINGLY COLD.

HOW CAN PEOPLE SURVIVE YOU KNOW, AND SO MANY OF THE NIGHT THAT BASIC HUMAN RIGHT SHELTER NO FOOD.

SO TEAMED UP WITH THE DELTA TO PROVIDE HAVE JOINED A PARTNERING WITH THE DELTA.

AND HE'S EVEN AND DELTA'S FIRE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST FLY LIKE A DJ.

THERE ARE A LOT A LOT OF MY FRIENDS, 2 PARTIES AND HE'S A GOOD DUDE WHO SHARES OUR VALUES.

AND WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH US TO PROVIDE OVER 1000 MEALS.

SO FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.

>> L, OF COURSE, ELDRIDGE WILLIAMS, OWNER OF THE DELTA.

ACTUALLY SHOWED RAGE.

YES, THAT'S THE WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE INITIATIVE?

HOW DO YOU PLAN CONTINUING THE WORK?

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A FEW MORE.

WE'VE BEEN MAINLY FOCUSED ON THE SOUTH SIDE IT WAS TAKEN TO THE WEST SIDE.

I THINK THAT THE FUND 9, 3, BOYS IN GENERAL, THOSE.

COMMITTED TO LIKE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROBLEMS FACED THE PEOPLE CHICAGO.

SO IT MIGHT NOT BE FEED THE BLOOD ON THE BLOC, PARTICULARLY THAT WE DO IN THE SPRING.

YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT TRANSITION TO WHERE THE NEED POSSESSES.

SO.

>> YOUR LATEST ALBUM, VICTOR, YOU COVER A LOT OF INCLUDING THE SOUTH SIDE OF HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP, YOUR HOMETOWN?

>> I LOVE IT.

CARGOS.

GIVEN ME.

SO MUCH AND ME SO MUCH OF WHAT I KNOW.

INFORMS WORLD, YOU SO MANY WAYS.

SO MY HEART IS ALWAYS WAS >> THAT IS THE KIND OF SHOW UP IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

>> I MEAN, I THINK THE THINGS THAT I'M DOING WITH 93 WAS DEFINITELY DIRECTLY SPEAK TO THAT.

YOU KNOW, SO MANY COMMUNITIES OF CHICAGO.

KEEPING THAT FOCUS ON HOME WHEN OFTEN TIMES.

NOTORIETY AND YOU KNOW, BEEN OTHER PLACES, BUT ALWAYS COME BACK HOME.

YOU KNOW?

>> ALSO YOUR RECORD BLUE EYES.

IT IS UP FOR AN NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING HIP-HOP RAP SONG.

PRODUCED BIG YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

ALTHOUGH THE AWARDS ARE NOT UNTIL MARCH, CORRECT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A LITTLE BIT OF IT NOW BECAUSE YOU PRODUCED A 6 MINUTE SHORT FILM ON THE THAT SONG IS IT'S DEEPLY TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> SOME BLUE INSPIRED EXPENSES OF MY WEST AFRICANS FROM AND SKIN BLEACHING IS JUST WISH I TRAVELING AND THE BLACK WORLD AT LARGE, DEFINITELY IN SO THAT INSPIRED ME TO KIND OF SPEAK MY LIFE AND ADDED SOME OF THOSE OF MY FAMILY FOR THE LIVES.

>> IN THE SONG YOU TALK ABOUT AND AND WHO DIE FROM SKIN CANCER FROM USING A THAT SKIN BLEACHING CREAM.

>> COULDN'T HELPED.

YOU YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY HEART.

FAMILY.

SO ULTIMATELY.

I WANTED TO TELL A STORY AT ONCE.

EXPLAINED MY PERSPECTIVE AND SHED LIGHT ON AN ISSUE THAT MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW IS A YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY COLORS AND RACES.

AND WE WIDELY UNDERSTAND THAT TO A DEGREE.

BUT LIKE I WASN'T THAT FAMILIAR WITH SKIN BLEACHING, YOU KNOW, START SPENDING TIME OUT THERE AND THE CARIBBEAN REALIZE LIKE, THE 7 SKIN BLEACHING CREAM IN THE GAS STATION LIKE HOW WE GOT CARMEN ITS WATER.

YOU KNOW ME LIKE EVERY GAS STATION AND HAVE IT IN AMERICA.

SOME PLACES FIND THE SONG FOR YOU.

IF YOU TALK, THOUGH, IT'S ALSO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SORT >> YOUR OWN BIRACIAL AND YOU KNOW, SELF IDENTITY AND SELF LOVE.

WHEN YOU STRUGGLE WITH WITH YOUR IDENTITY.

>> AND YOU KNOW, MY GIRL BEEN TELLING ME I CAN ONLY CELEBRATE HALF OF BLACK HISTORY HAVE ENDED ON THE 15TH.

SO.

YOU GUYS TO KEEP HAVE THE I HAD TO OUT AFTER THE 15TH.

WE'RE APPRECIATIVE TO THE OTHER BIRACIAL AND WHAT WE'RE DOING A BLACK HISTORY MONTH OVER HIT YOU BEFORE WE HAVE TO LET YOU LOOKING AHEAD ALSO JOINING SEASON 3 BEL AIR ON PEACOCK.

>> WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

>> I ACTUALLY SAW THE FIRST EPISODE.

I THINK.

LAST WEEK, 2 WEEKS AGO.

SO THEY DO YOU KNOW ME, GREAT CAST.

RIGHT IN AND GOOD ENERGY.

I'M HAVING A GREAT TIME WITH THAT BRIDGE WHEN IT JOINED PROJECT.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO IT LOVE THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, A LOOK AT HIS AS SAYS IN A FINE OF.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING UP FRONT STEPS.

WANT TO KEEP READING WITH THAT NARRATIVE BECAUSE SO I'M SURE HE'LL WANT TO BE THROWN OFF, KNOW, NOBODY DOES.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

ACTOR RAPPER ORGANIZER ENTREPRENEUR MEANT I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

FOR COURSE.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

STATE LAWMAKERS WEIGH IN ON GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S BUDGET ADDRESS.

AND AN EXHIBIT AT THE NATIONAL PUBLIC HOUSING MUSEUM AIMS TO BRING HOME THE IMPACT OF EVICTIONS ON LOW-INCOME RENTERS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES BRANDS.

FRIEDMAN STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW CHICAGO, PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH THAT SUPPORTS FREE