>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES .

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN .

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF HER WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW, PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF CANNABIS LICENSING'S, UPDATES FOR THE PROCESS.

>>> PROPOSED RAIL EXPANSION IN INGLEWOOD DERAILED .

AN EVENT OFFERING FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS OF THE 1921 -- AND A MODERN PERSPECTIVE ON WHERE IT HAPPENED .

>>> A NONPROFIT HOSTING CLIMATE FROM THE TRANSPORTATION.

WHAT THE NEWEST DESIGNATION AT THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK MEANS FOR THE FUTURE.

>>> AND THE HEALING POWER OF ARTWORK MADE BY A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN.

ALL THAT COMING UP.

OUR FIRST STORY , ILLINOIS OPENS ITS NEXT ROUND FOR CANNABIS LICENSES.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> ASPIRING TENANTS ENTREPRENEURS GET YOUR KEYBOARD FINGERS READY, TIME TO APPLY FOR A LICENSE AS THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION RELEASED THE STATEMENT WHICH SAYS THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS AND THEY HAVE A GOAL OF IMPROVING THE SOCIAL EQUITY REGION .

APPLICATIONS OPEN ON JANUARY 30th.

55 CONDITIONAL CHEMIST -- LICENSES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS 17 REGIONS , THERE ARE $250 APPLICATION FEE AND THE APPLICATION TIME IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO STOP ON MARCH 3rd.

JOINING US NOW ARE AMBROSE JACKSON , CEO OF THE 1937 GROUP, THE CEO OF A FOREIGN, AND A BOARD MEMBER OF AND ASKED TO SEE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO THE PROCESS SINCE THE LAST ROUND.

GIVE US AN OUTLINE OF THOSE CHANGES AND WHAT PROMPTED THEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS THAT WE STREAMLINED IT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO RESPOND TO THE FEEDBACK WE GOT ON THE FIRST ROUND.

THIS ROUND OF APPLICATIONS WILL BE ONLINE.

THE APPLICATION TIME STARTS JANUARY 30th BUT RUNS UNTIL MARCH 3rd.

PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO APPLY IF THEY WISH TO.

THAT APPLICATIONS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE BEARABLE THAN THEY WERE THE LAST ROUND.

WE JUST MADE THE PRIMARY OWNERSHIP THE SAME .

MOST IMPORTANTLY , THE FEE HAS GONE DOWN TO $250 AS OPPOSED TO THE $2500 IT WAS IN THE LAST ROUND.

>> IT GOES UNTIL MARCH 3rd.

YOUR COMPANY RECEIVED A SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSE IN 2021 AND WHEN WE SPOKE IN AUGUST YOU WERE WORKING ON GETTING THINGS UP AND RUNNING.

YOU SAID RAISING CAPITAL WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

>> WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN RAISING A GOOD AMOUNT OF CAPITAL.

RIGHT NOW , OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS ON THE DISPENSARY SIDE, GETTING ZONING , WE GOT ONE OF TWO ZONING APPROVALS FROM THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL.

WE WILL BE GOING IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS LATER IN THE SPRING.

ALSO , WE ARE WAITING ON THE FINAL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR THE CULTIVATION FACILITY.

WE ARE WAITING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING , THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH TO GET OPERATIONAL.

>> YOU HAVE A SETBACK THIS WEEK, AMBROSE , WHAT HAPPENED ?

>> RIGHT NOW, THE FOLKS CLOSEST TO BECOMING OPERATIONAL ARE TRYING TO GO TO THE HURDLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

FOR ME, IN DANVILLE , THE MAYOR WAS AWARE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED A LICENSE FOR THE REGION.

I HAVE WORKED TO IDENTIFY A LOCATION WHICH THEY BELIEVE THE CITY WOULD APPROVE.

COMING IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL EARLIER THIS WEEK FOR A VOTE, THEY ISSUED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

AT A TIME WHEN WE WORKED SO LONG AND HARD AT GETTING AXIS , TO HAVE THE SETBACK IS FRUSTRATING.

>> ANYTHING THE STATE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT THAT?

>> I UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF THIS PROGRAM AND ROLLING OUT A NEW INDUSTRY.

I KNOW THAT , AT THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY LEVEL, WE HAVE SOME SORT OF STEAK AND WHAT GOES ON IN THEIR AREA.

WHAT THE STATE COULD'VE DONE DIFFERENTLY IN THIS CASE, I AM NOT SURE.

THE LICENSES WERE AWARDED AND CERTAIN CITIES AND AREAS DO NOT WANT DISPENSARIES IN THOSE AREAS WHICH CREATES AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF COMPLEXITY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HIS SITUATION?

IS THERE SOMETHING THEY COULD HAVE DONE, OR IS IT THE KIND OF PROBLEMS, GROWING PAINS , THAT GO ALONG WITH A NEW BUSINESS LIKE THIS?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES SOUND LIKE IT IS A LOCAL CONTROL ISSUE.

WHICH IS PART OF GROWING PAINS, UNFORTUNATELY.

PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO COME TO ME IN MY OFFICE AND HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS , AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO, WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP FACILITATE CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE DO NOT CONTROL WHAT THEY DO.

BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A DISCUSSION TO THOSE GROWING PAINS EASIER.

>> HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE STATE ON ITS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICATION PROCESS?

>> I LOVE THE NEW IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROCESS.

THEY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

CUTTING OUT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT JUST MADE MONEY FOR CONSULTANTS AND ATTORNEYS , ACCOUNTANTS , PEOPLE WHO ART SOCIAL EQUITY CONSCIOUS.

THIS IS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND IT ALSO AVOIDS SOME OF THE ISSUES GIVING RISE TO LITIGATION IN OTHER STATES .

EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT ROUND.

I THINK THE BIG CHALLENGE FOR THE STATE IS , STILL WORKING OUT THE FUNDING, SUPPORT FUNDING, OUR LOAN HAS BEEN APPROVED, THINGS LIKE THAT, THERE IS A LOT INVOLVED IN THAT.

IT IS WITH THE BANKS AS WELL.

STREAMLINING THAT HELPED A LOT.

>> YOU ARE PART OF THE 1937 GROUP, LAUNCHING A PROGRAM.

WHAT IS THAT AND WHAT GAP ARE YOU HOPING TO FILL?

>> BEING PART OF THE COHORT OF APPLICANTS THAT STARTED THIS PROCESS IN 2018, AND AS YET TO MAKE ANY MONEY WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS NEW AND IMPROVED PROCESS HAS MANY BENEFITS.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU RECEIVE A LICENSE, THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THAT WE FIND , THE LICENSE WINNERS DO NOT HAVE THAT THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM.

HAVING GONE THROUGH THESE PROCESSES , DRAWING UP CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS , GOING THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS, RAISING MONEY, HAVING GONE THROUGH MANY OF THESE THINGS SUCCESSFULLY, WE FEEL LIKE IT IS OUR JOB TO TRY TO HELP WHERE WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS STILL SOME GAPS.

>> AND PASS ALONG THE KNOWLEDGE.

TRANSPORTATION LICENSES, IS IT PART OF THE LICENSING PACKAGE , DOES THAT UNDERCUT THOSE WHO RECEIVE SEPARATE TRANSPORTATION LICENSES , WILL THERE BE ANY BUSINESS STILL FOR THEM?

>> THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING INTO.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPETITIVE AND USE THE LICENSES THEY HAVE.

WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE SCENARIO, WE REALLY JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FLAWS ARE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS BEING COMPETITIVE.

OBVIOUSLY, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE , WE WANT THIS PROGRAM TO BE ACCEPTABLE .

WE ARE THE FIRST SOCIAL EQUITY CANNABIS PROGRAM .

IT NEEDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER AND A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW.

>> 20 SECONDS LEFT, IS THE STATE HELPING TO GET THE LICENSEES GOING ?

>> YES, WE HAVE A TECHNICAL BUSINESS PROVIDER AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE , PRE-APPLICATION AND POST APPLICATION, SHOULD YOU OBTAIN A LICENSE.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE.

WE HAVE HEARD POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THEM.

>> BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF YOU .

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

>>> NEXT , EXPANSION PROJECT THAT HAS GONE OFF THE RAILS AND CITY COUNCIL.

STAY WITH US.

>>> A YEARS LONG EFFORT BY THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN WAY WAY TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF ITS STORAGE YARD IN INGLEWOOD FAILED TO GET SIGNAL CLEARANCE FROM CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL.

THAT IS AFTER 20th WARD OLDER WOMAN BLOCKED THE VOTE , SAYING HER COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN DISRESPECTED BY THE RAILROAD.

HEATHER SHARON JOINS IS THAT WITH DETAILS ON THE LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE.

NORFOLK SOUTHERN BEGAN TO EXPAND THE YARD NEAR 47th STREET ALL THE WAY BACK IN 2014.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE ?

>> Reporter: TO EXPAND IT, THEY NEEDED TO PURCHASE 500 LOTS WHICH DISPLACED ABOUT 400 FAMILIES.

THAT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME.

AS PART OF THAT EFFORT , THEY AGREED TO HIRE WORKERS FROM THE SOUTH SIDE AND TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTS.

THIS IS WHERE THE INGLEWOOD TRAIL IS SAID TO BE BUILT.

JEANETTE TAYLOR SAID SHE WAS NOT CONVINCED THOSE PROMISES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED AND PUT A BRICK ON THE MEASURE FOR FIVE MONTHS ONLY TO LEADED ADVANCE OUT OF COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS MONTH .

BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO CITY COUNCIL, THOSE CONCERNS WERE BACK.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL WAS SUPPOSED TO ADVANCE THE PROPOSAL AND IT HIT A BRICK WALL.

>> JEANETTE TAYLOR SAID SHE DID MORE PROMISES FROM NORFOLK SOUTHERN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA WILL BE ABLE TO WORK AT THIS YARD.

IT IS CRUCIAL , THE COMPANY SAYS, TO KEEP IT REAL RUNNING AND KEEP THE SUPPLY CHAIN HUMMING, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THIS MEASURE COULD COME BACK FOR A VOTE BUT JEANETTE TAYLOR WANTS ASSURANCES FIRST.

>> HOW DO PEOPLE FROM NORFOLK SOUTHERN RESPOND ?

>> THEY ARE FRUSTRATED.

THIS IS THE LAST PIECE THEY NEED TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE CITIES AND ALLEYS, TO PUT THIS PROJECT FULLY IN EFFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE LIVED UP TO THE PROMISES AND THEY ARE A GREAT PARTNER AND PROUD TO BE A COMPANY ON THE SOUTH SIDE, A POSITION THAT IS BACKED BY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WHO SUPPORTED THIS MEASURE AND SAID SHE WAS HOPEFUL IT WOULD GET A VOTE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

NOW , HE COULD COME BACK AS SOON AS FEBRUARY 1st WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL NEXT MEETS.

BUT THERE IS NO ASSURANCES THERE WILL BE 26 VOTES FOR IT.

JEANETTE TAYLOR SAYS SHE HAS THE BLACK CAUCUS AND 18 VOTES BEHIND HER.

>>> MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> WHEN WE THINK OF ARCHAEOLOGY, VINCE FROM 100 YEARS AGO ARE NOT NECESSARILY WHAT COMES TO MIND.

BUT RECENT EVENTS CAN BE A POWERFUL WAY TO REVEAL LOSS HISTORY .

AN ARCHAEOLOGIST IS UNCOVERING STORIES FROM THE GREENWOOD DISTRICT WHICH WAS THE SITE OF A VICIOUS RACIAL ATTACK.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE , A HISTORY OF RESILIENCE WILL BE PRESENTING SOME OF HER FINDINGS AND OFFERING A REFRESHING UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY.

>> THIS EVENT IS ABOUT RESILIENCE.

WE WANT TO FOCUS ON, NOT JUST THIS , BUT TO TALK ABOUT GREENWOOD AS A DISTRICT , AS A BLACK TOWN THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE OVER 100 YEARS .

THAT IS A MUCH LARGER STORY THAN ONE EVENT.

PEOPLE COME INTO THE SHOW, MAYBE THEY HAVE SEEN LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, THE THINGS ON COUNTRY, BUT THEN THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THE STORY FROM SURVIVORS.

WE WILL HAVE LIVED AUDIO FROM SURVIVORS TO TELL THE STORY THEMSELVES.

THIS IS A CHANCE FOR YOU TO HEAR THE STORY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT.

MYSELF , AS A DESCENDENT OF SURVIVORS, THIS IS A STORY YOU CANNOT GET ANYWHERE ELSE.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW A COMMUNITY BUILT ONE OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS BY COMMUNITIES TO EVER EXIST AND HOW IT CONTINUES TODAY.

WE ARE TELLING THIS STORY TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS MISNOMER IN OUR HISTORY.

LIKE WALL STREET WAS DESTROYED IN 1921 , THAT WAS THE END OF THE STORY WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO PUT THE NARRATIVE BACK INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO TELL THE STORY AND LIVING GREENWOOD , NOT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT OR LIVED IN OUR CITY.

IT IS WONDERFUL TO EXPAND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT GREENWOOD IS AND WAS .

HOW IT HAS CHANGED THROUGH TIME.

ALSO , THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OUT OF GREENWOOD THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF.

EVEN THE NEW ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT .

>> SOUNDS LIKE AN UP FOR TONIGHT, THAT IS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE, GREENWOOD , A CITY OF RESILIENCE, ON JANUARY , FIND MORE ON HER WEBSITE.

>>> IN 1960 , U.S. MARINE WAS WOUNDED AND EVACUATED FROM VIETNAM , HE RETURNED TO CHICAGO AND FOUND HIS CALLING MAKING ARTWORK IN A WAY THAT MAY BE CALLED OBSESSIVE.

HE LIVES IN LOUISIANA NOW AND CONTINUES TO CREATE.

WE MET HIM ON A RECENT VISIT BACK TO THE CITY TO OPEN A NEW SHOW AT THE NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM.

THERE ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE IN THE STORY THAT MAY BE UPSETTING.

>> THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE ART IS TO GUIDE THE FOCUS AND ATTENTION TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE SO THAT THE WORLD WILL KNOW THE UNDERSTANDING OF US AND THE PEOPLE FROM ITS VERY EARLY BEGINNINGS.

THAT IS WHY THE PIECES TELL THE STORY OF A TIME CAPTURED IN ART.

>> DR. CHARLES SMITH GAVE HIMSELF THE TITLE DOCTOR TO HONOR A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.

HE HAS MADE THOUSANDS OF THESE FIGURES FROM A BLEND OF CONCRETE, WOOD PULP, AND REBAR.

IN THE 1990s , HIS HOME IN AURORA, ILLINOIS BECAME A ROADSIDE ATTRACTION AND HE RUNS A HERITAGE MUSEUM NEAR NEW ORLEANS.

CALL ME .HE SAID, AND TOLD ME ABOUT HIS LIFE BEFORE HE WAS AN ARTIST.

>> IN MY LIFE, IN 1968 , WHEN I CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM, THERE WERE THE USE OF DRUGS AND MARIJUANA, PRIMARILY, VERY MUCH FULL OF HATE FOR THE KILLING I DID OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN , WATER BUFFALO.

VC, ANYTHING THAT DID NOT HAVE USMC ON THEM, I WAS KILLING THEM , YOU FEEL A CHANGE, TAKING OVER YOU , AFTER A WHILE YOU GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT.

THAT IS WHY THEY CALL IT PTSD.

AS YOU GET OLDER AND YOU COME OUT OF IT, I AM UNDER V.A.

CARE FOR PTSD AND SITUATIONS OF THAT WAR.

YOU NEVER GET OVER IT.

>> HE IS VOCAL ABOUT WHAT HE HAS NOT SEEN IN TERMS OF POLITICAL CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP .

>> I AM 82 NOW AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED .

OUR REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT TALK TO US .

THEY DO NOT INCLUDE US.

THEY DO NOT ASK FOR OUR OPINION.

WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS ?

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT A LEADER, MALCOLM X , MARTIN LUTHER KING, PEOPLE OF THE PAST, WHEN THEY LEAD , WE HAVE NOW FAILED WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND THEY DO NOT MEASURE UP.

>> Reporter: YEARS AGO , HE WAS A PASTOR IN TENNESSEE.

HE HAS NOT STOPPED PREACHING .

>> THE CALLING COMES FROM GOD BECAUSE GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE.

GOD WORKS WITH ME TO PUT A PLATFORM HE USES BEFORE .

THAT IS WHAT MY ART DOES.

IT CREATES CONVERSATIONS .

IT CREATES INFORMATION.

IT GIVES DIRECTION TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE AT EVERY LEVEL, POLITICALLY , SPIRITUALLY , PERSONALLY , COMMUNITY , A MESSAGE MUST CONTINUE TO GO OUT , IT MUST CONTINUE TO POUND ON WHAT IS WRONG.

I POUND ON ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS , PRINCIPLES , I AM LIKE THE RADIO , IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THE CHANNEL OR CUT IT OFF, I WILL KEEP GOING.

>>> THE EXHIBITION IS CALLED THE DOCTOR CHARLES SMITH, HOLDING THE DREAM IN MY HAND , AT THE NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE UNTIL JUNE 1st.

THERE IS MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, INCLUDING HIM MEETING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

IN CHICAGO.

>>> THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR AIR QUALITY , EXTREME TEMPERATURES , DISPROPORTIONALLY FELT IN PREDOMINATELY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

THROUGH THE MOBILITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, A NONPROFIT , THEY ARE HOPING TO CHARGE UP OPTIONS AND ADDRESS THOSE EFFECTS BY OFFERING CLIMATE FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION MODES TO QUALIFIED RESIDENTS.

>> THE MOBILITY OPPORTUNITY FUND WILL PROVIDE STIPENDS TO HELP LIMITED INCOME BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS FROM LAWNDALE FIND CLIMATE FROM THE TRANSPORTATION WHICH INCLUDE CONDITIONAL BICYCLES , CARGO BICYCLES , AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES .

THIS PROGRAM WILL ALSO INCLUDE EDUCATION TO THE RECIPIENTS OF THE STIPENDS, AS WELL AS LOW AND NO-COST REPAIRS FOR THE BICYCLES THEY CHOOSE TO PURCHASE.

IT PRIORITIZES THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND WILL PROVIDE PARITY OR INCENTIVES FOR TRANSPORTATION SUCH AS BICYCLES.

IT CREATES A PATHWAY TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY BY FINANCIALLY DELIVERING TRANSPORTATION TO RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS .

THERE ARE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE.

HOWEVER , PARENTS CAN APPLY ON BEHALF OF THEIR MINOR CHILDREN.

YOU MUST BE IN NORTH LAWNDALE, A RESIDENT, AND YOU DO HAVE INCOME LIMITS, THOSE ARE PROVIDED WITHIN OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

>> THERE ARE SOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS , TO FIND MORE ON THAT AND HOW TO APPLY, GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

>>> LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEADERS GATHERED TO MARK A CHANGE TO CHICAGO'S FIRST NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS.

COLEMAN NATIONAL MONUMENT IS NOT COLEMAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

THE CHANGES A LOT MORE THAN JUST SEMANTICS.

WE SPOKE WITH A REPORTER ABOUT THE DEVASTATION.

>> Reporter: THE DIFFERENCES , LIKE YOU SAID , MORE THAN JUST SEMANTICS .

NATIONAL MONUMENTS ARE CREATED TYPICALLY BY THE U.S. PRESIDENT USING THE ANTIQUITIES ACT.

BARACK OBAMA CREATED THE COLEMAN NATIONAL MONUMENT IN 2015.

THE CONCERN IS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS REPEALED OR GOING TO UNDO THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL MONUMENT, WHICH DID HAPPEN UNDER DONALD TRUMP WHO REPEALED A NATIONAL MONUMENT IN UTAH WHICH BARACK OBAMA ALSO CREATED .

NATIONAL PARKS ARE CREATED BY A PIECE OF LEGISLATION PASSED BY CONGRESS , THEY HAVE A LOT MORE PROTECTIONS ATTACHED TO THEM.

CHANGING IT TO A NATIONAL PARK , AS SENATOR DURBIN SAYS, ANYBODY WANTS TO COME AFTER PULLMAN, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH HIM AND THE REST OF CONGRESS.

>> THERE IS UNCOMMON COLLABORATION AT THE LOCAL, STATE , FEDERAL LEVEL.

THERE IS DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

>> THIS IS HUGE.

THE TRAJECTORY OF THIS PARK IN A SEVEN-YEAR TIME, THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE VERY OFTEN.

WE ENVISION THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE POTENTIALLY USING THIS AS A BLUEPRINT FOR HOW TO DO IT RIGHT, HOW CONGRESS , FOR PARTNERSHIP PARTS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY.

>> WHAT IS NEXT ?

>> Reporter: IT IS A PARTNERSHIP PARK.

YOU DO HAVE THE CITY OF CHICAGO, THEY WANT THE PARK , THEY ARE INVESTING MONEY.

METRO WANTS TO CREATE A SERVICE BETWEEN PULLMAN AND IN INDIANA PARK.

THEY WILL PUT TOGETHER A ROBUST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE PARK THAT WILL GUIDE PEOPLE INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF DECADES.

AND THEY WANT THE COMMUNITY TO REMAIN ENGAGED, WHICH , KNOWING THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS FOR SO LONG IN THE FIRST PLACE, I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM.

THEY WILL HAVE IT LOT TO SAY.

>> READ HER FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, AT WTTW.COM/NEWS .

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS, INCLUDING ON SATURDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LaTINA VOICES ON SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M., JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT AT A BRAND-NEW TIME, 10:00 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

FOR ALL OF US , I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US .

STAY SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION FOCUSED FREE CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION FOR LAWYERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.