>> HEY THERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

INSTANCE, GROUNDBREAKING REPARATIONS PROGRAM IS FACING A LEGAL CHALLENGE.

STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A HOMICIDE OFTEN SUFFER IN THE CLASSROOM.

AFTERWARDS, HOW SCHOOLS CAN MITIGATE THE IMPACT.

AND IN A HISTORIC MOVE, LEAGUE STATS ARE OFFICIALLY PART OF MAJOR BASEBALL RECORDS.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER TOUTED SOME FISCAL SUCCESSES TODAY WHILE SIGNING THE STATE'S NEW 53 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET INTO LAW.

>> THE RAINY DAY FUND THAT WAS ONCE NEAR 0.

WE'LL SEE A NEARLY 10% INCREASE IN IS NOW ON TRACK TO REACH A RECORD.

2.3 BILLION DOLLARS.

OUR STATE'S PENSION FUNDED RATIO IS HEADED FOR ANOTHER POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT.

THE STATE'S ACCOUNTS PAYABLE IS NEAR A 21ST CENTURY LOW.

AND NEARLY ALL OF OUR SHORT-TERM DEBT HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.

>> PRITZKER WAS JOINED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SIGN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

THE SPENDING PLAN INCLUDES FUNDING INCREASES FOR EDUCATION AND CREATE A NEW DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD.

IT ALSO HAS MORE MONEY FOR HOMELESSNESS, SAFETY NET HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES.

REPUBLICANS, THOUGH, DECLARED THE STATE'S LARGEST EVER BUDGET LOADED FOR MORE BUDGET REACTION AND WHAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE SPENDING PLAN CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE.

FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE WAS BACK IN FEDERAL COURT TODAY.

THIS TIME TO ASK A JUDGE TO TOSS OUT HIS RACKETEERING CONVICTION FROM DECEMBER.

THE ONCE POWERFUL CHAIR OF THE CITY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS CONVICTED BY A JURY ON 13 OF 14 COUNTS OF RACKETEERING, BRIBERY AND ATTEMPTED EXTORTION.

BUT IN COURT TODAY, HIS ATTORNEYS ARGUED THAT THE JURY WAS, QUOTE, CARRY THE WEIGHT AND FOCUSED ON 3 OF THE 4 CRIMINAL SCHEMES.

BUT BURKE WAS CONVICTED OF ORCHESTRATING U.S. DISTRICT COURT.

JUDGE VIRGINIA KENDALL SAID SHE DID ISSUE A WRITTEN ORDER SHORTLY.

THE WNBA TODAY IS REPORTEDLY RESCINDING A CONTROVERSIAL CALL IN LAST NIGHT'S CHICAGO SKY GAME.

THE SKY WERE TRAILING THE NEW YORK LIBERTY IN THE 4TH QUARTER WHEN ROOKIE STAR ANGEL REESE WAS CALLED FOR A PERSONAL FOUL AND THEN EJECTED.

WE'VE BEEN PLAYERS AND FANS CONFUSED AFTER THE GAME.

THE LEAD OFFICIAL SAID REESE RECEIVED 2 TECHNICAL FILE 1000 TRIGGERING AN EJECTION.

THE FIRST HE SAID WAS FOR, QUOTE, DISRESPECTFULLY, ADDRESSING THE OFFICIAL AND THE SECOND WAS FOR WAVING OFF THE OFFICIAL IN RESENTMENT TO THE CALL.

THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES REPORTS THE WNBA RESCINDED THE SECOND TECHNICAL DROPPING REESE'S FINE FROM $400 TO 200.

UP NEXT, WHY A GROUNDBREAKING REPARATIONS PROGRAM IS FACING A COURT CHALLENGE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> EVANSTON IS GROUNDBREAKING REPARATIONS PROGRAM IS NOW FACING A LEGAL CHALLENGE.

THE PROGRAM IS AIMED AT ADDRESSING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND SEGREGATION THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE NORTHERN SUBURB FROM 1919, TO 1969, THE CITY'S ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO ELIGIBLE BLACK HOUSEHOLDS IN THE FORM $25,000 PAYMENTS FOR HOME REPAIRS DOWN PAYMENTS OR INTEREST OR LATE PENALTIES OWED TO THE CITY.

THE MEASURE HAS SINCE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS THAT CAN BE USED AT RECIPIENTS DISCRETION.

PROGRAM IS NOW UNDER FIRE AS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS CHALLENGING THE CITY'S USE OF RACE AS AN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE LAWSUIT ATTORNEY CHRISTINE STENSON.

AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM, JUSTIN HANSFORD, A LAW PROFESSOR AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

WE SHOULD MENTION WE DID INVITE THE CITY OF EVANSTON, BUT THEY DECLINED TO JOIN BUT SAID IN A STATEMENT, QUOTE, WE WILL VEHEMENTLY DEFEND ANY LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST OUR CITIES REPARATIONS PROGRAM.

I THINK THE 2 OF YOU, CHRISTINE AND JUSTIN, FOR JOINING US.

CHRISTINE SENSE OF LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL ARGUMENT AGAINST THE REPARATIONS PROGRAM?

SO FIRST OF ALL, FAIRNESS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I HOST I'M SORRY.

I FILED THIS LAWSUIT IN CONJUNCTION WITH JUDICIAL WATCH INC, WHICH IS A GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY LAW FIRM BASED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE EVILS OF SLAVERY AND MORE RECENTLY THE EVILS OF REDLINING ARE TERRIBLE THINGS AND THEY'RE EXTREMELY I UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY OF EVANSTON DID THIS TO ADDRESS THOSE WRONGS.

HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS, BUT THE CITY OF EVANSTON, HE'S NOW PUT THEMSELVES IN THE BUSINESS OF CHOOSING WINNERS AND LOSERS BECAUSE THEY ARE USING RACE AS A PROXY TO MAKE GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS.

AND THAT IS VIOLATIVE OF THE 14 PEOPLE PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

NOW, ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, YOU ALL SAY REMEDYING SOCIETAL DISCRIMINATION IS NOT A COMPELLING GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS STATED SO DEFINITIVE DEFINITIVELY END A RICHMOND VERSUS KROESE.

AND THAT WAS I BELIEVE IN 1989 THE CONSIDERED IT'S NOT THIS EXACT ISSUE, BASICALLY OF COURSE, IS GOING TO BE VISITED WITH THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASE.

STUDENTS FREE ADMISSIONS CASE RECENTLY WAS HANDED DOWN.

THAT DECISION WAS HANDED DOWN LAST YEAR.

AND SUPREME COURT HAS REPEATEDLY SAID, BUT THEY ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS RENTING A SOCIETAL DISCRIMINATION.

JUSTIN HANSFORD WANT TO GET YOU IN HERE.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS LAWSUIT AND TO PARTS OF CHRISTINE'S ARGUMENT?

>> SURE.

SO YOU KNOW THIS.

THIS IS A BIGGER CONVERSATION AROUND THE MEANING OF THE 14TH THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT WAS A LIE.

9TH 18 68 WHEN THE 14TH AMENDMENT WAS PASSED, THAT THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC EFFORT TO TRY TO USE THAT 14TH AMENDMENT.

DO INTEGRATE FORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE INTO AMERICAN SOCIETY WHERE ADVOCATE FOR END OF RACIAL INJUSTICE, SPECIFICALLY BY IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY RACISM AND PROVIDING A REMEDY FOR THAT.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT INSTEAD THE 14TH AMENDMENT SAID SUPPOSE ARISE AND BE BLIND TO RAISE.

AND THAT'S THAT'S A BIG MISTAKE.

AND IN TERMS READING THE 14TH AMENDMENT HERE WE SEE OF THE MISTAKE THAT CONTINUES.

ARE ROTTEN THIS IDEA THAT YOU COULD NOT PROVIDE A PARTICULAR REMEDY FOR META BRIDE SOCIETAL HARM, ABSTRACT WAY.

IT BUT PEOPLE ARE SAYING HAPPENED AND AT THIS BUT WE HAVE A VERY PARTICULAR AISD CONCRETE.

BY THE CITY OF EVANSTON EXPLICITLY ARTICULATING HOW THIS POLICY, WHICH BETWEEN 1919, IN 1969, WAS AT HARMING BLACK CITIZENS IN PARTICULAR AS CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE ONGOING WEALTH GAP AND THE CITY OF EVANSTON.

THIS IS POLICY, OF COURSE, THAT WE SAW HAPPENING ALL THE KINDS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE 20TH CENTURY'S AND THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS BETTER NATIONAL YOU.

BUT I THINK THAT 2 MISTAKES THANKING OUR NUMBER THE MISTAKE FEELING THAT THE 14TH AMENDMENT IS ASKING WIND OURSELVES TO REALITY AND PRETEND THAT RACISM CANNOT CAN BE ADDRESSED.

KOLR BLINDNESS.

AND I THINK THAT IS NOT VISION AND OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

SECONDLY, I THINK THE MISTAKE IS FEELING THAT THIS.

PARTICULAR PROGRAM TO ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS FOR REPAIR FOR COULD SAY CUELLAR.

SPECIFIC HARMS THAT WERE OUTLINED IN DETAIL ARE THE EQUIVALENT OF ABSTRACT SOCIETAL APPROACHES TO TRY TO THE DISCRIMINATION TENSION LARGE.

I THINK SO KRISTIN PARKER CHRISTINE'S, HE'S PART OF YOUR SUIT ARGUES THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPARATIONS PAYMENTS.

>> ONLY HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA AS FAR AS WHEN THEIR ANCESTORS MAY HAVE LIVED IN EVANSTON, AND THEIR THEIR CURRENT AGE TODAY.

>> BUT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEY OR THEIR EVANSTON ANCESTORS WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

SHOULD THAT BE NECESSARY THAT THAT THERE IS THE PROOF THAT THEY WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST SOMEHOW PARTICULARLY IN THE REALM OF HOUSING'S.

THAT IS FIRST SECTION OF THE CITY'S PROGRAM.

SO IT SHOULD BE.

AND U.S. SUPREME COURT JURISPRUDENCE HAS STATED AS SUCH.

AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER PRONG INVOLVED HERE, WHICH IS THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY MUST THERE BE A COMPELLING GOVERNMENT INTEREST, BUT ALSO THAT IT MUST THAT INTEREST MUST BE IN A NARROWLY TAILORED FASHION.

AND IN THIS INSTANCE, CORRECT, THE THE PROGRAM DOES NOT LIMIT ELIGIBILITY.

2 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY DISCRIMINATION.

IN ADDITION MORE RACE-NEUTRAL MEANS COULD HAVE BEEN UTILIZED BY THE CITY OF EVANSTON INSOFAR THEY COULD HAVE ASKED FOR.

PEOPLE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND THEY DID NOT.

SO IT'S OVERLY BROAD.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SWORD AND SHOULD HAVE MUCH MORE NARROWLY TAILORED TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

JUSTIN.

DOES IT SEEM TO YOU, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INVOLVED IN PUTTING SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS WERE YOU ALL PREPARED AND EXPECT IN THESE LAWSUITS AND >> DO YOU SEE THIS ONE SORT OF AN OUTGROWTH SEVERAL LAWSUITS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN A POST FROM OF ACTION.

REALITY.

I KNOW I DO.

I DO NOT SEE THIS AS AN OUTGROWTH >> LOSSES THAT TARGET AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BECAUSE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS COMPLETELY FROM OF ACTION.

IT'S ABOUT PROMOTING DIVERSITY.

AND IT COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING A REMEDY FOR A PARTICULAR HARM.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS REALLY QUICKLY, LET'S ONE QUICK REALITY CHECK.

AFRICAN AMERICAN IN 1919, WANTED TO GET A MORTGAGE IN THE CITY OF EVANSTON AND THE CITY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAD LISTS.

IT AGREEMENTS TO NOT GIVE YOU THAT MORTGAGE.

SO HOW HOW ARE WE BRINGING A LAWSUIT 2024?

SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO AS DESCENDANT OF THAT BLACK PERSON AS YOU WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST SOON WE HAVE A STARTING POINT, ASSUMING THAT YOU WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN 1919, AS A BLACK PERSON IN THE CITY OF EVANSTON IN THIS CITY IS BASICALLY TELL YOU IN ITS REPORT THAT NO, WE SPECIFICALLY SAID ALL BLACKS ARE BARRED FROM HAVING HOMES IN THIS PARTICULAR REGION OF OUR TOWN PERIOD.

SO IT'S A IN PRICE HARD.

IT IS HARD FOR US TO REALLY.

TAKE THE COLOR BLINDNESS CONCEPT AND APPLY IT TO BE BECAUSE THE CAUSE FOR SUCH AS STRETCHING.

SO WHAT REAL?

AND I DIDN'T REALLY SAY EVEN THE CITY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WAS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST BLACK FOR A TIME PERIOD.

>> WELL, WELL, AFTER SLAVERY CHRISTINE, DO YOU THINK GOVERNMENTS CAN DO ANYTHING?

CAN THEY MAKE UP FOR PAST RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES WITHOUT TAKING RACE INTO ACCOUNT?

NO, I MEAN, THEY CAN'T.

AND I WOULD ALSO I MIGHT DISAGREE WITH MY FRIEND BECAUSE I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT IT WAS THE CITY OF EVANSTON THAT DISCRIMINATED.

>> AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

ONE COULD ARGUE THAT IT WAS THE BANKS ARE THAT IT WAS THE MORTGAGE LENDERS AND PERHAPS GOVERNMENT.

BUT THE FEDERAL, FHA, PERHAPS THEY THEY SHOULD CONSIDER LAWSUITS AGAINST THEM.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE CAUSAL CAUSATION ISSUES SUING THE CITY OF EVANSTON.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT ONE TALKS ABOUT INJUSTICE, BUT HOW IS IT JUST FOR THE TAXPAYER OF EVANSTON, SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED THERE FOR 10 YEARS.

BUT SOMEONE CAME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY WHY IS IT JUST FOR THEM TO REMEDY THESE WRONGS?

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR ANCESTORS WEREN'T EVEN THERE.

SO NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE WRONGS TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THE EVANSTON TAXPAYER, IT'S PAID FOR WITH HOMEWORLD TAXPAYER DOLLARS DIRECTLY COMING OUT OF THOSE EVAN STONE IAN'S THAT LIVE THERE RIGHT NOW.

JUST WE'VE GOT 30 SECONDS LEFT TO LET YOU RESPOND TO THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, MY MY FIRST REACTION IS I'M GLAD IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE BANKS IN THE MORTGAGE COMPANIES AND THE FHA ARE ALSO AT FAULT HERE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT MY FRIEND CONCEDES THAT THERE IS MULTIPLE POSSIBILITIES IN TERMS OF PROVIDING REDRESS FOR THIS FROM.

AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MY TAX DOLLARS HAVE PAYING EVERYTHING RECOVERY FROM HURRICANES IN FLORIDA THAT I DIDN'T CALL HIGHS.

YOU KNOW, MY TAX DOLLARS GO.

GREY NIGHT IN CARS THAT CONFLICT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS.

MY TAX DOLLARS GO TO TO SOLVE IN THE WORLD THAT I DIDN'T CAUSE.

I THINK THAT'S MISUNDERSTANDING OF HOW OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS.

TRYING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT IN THIS SOCIETY AND TRYING TO WERE RIGHTEOUS AND BE ON THE GOOD SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.

THAT WERE PART OF HIS POSITIVES THAT MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT UNDERGRAD AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MORE TO COME.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

MY THANKS TO CHRISTINE STENSON AND JUSTIN HANSFORD FOR JOINING ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UP NEXT, THE IMPACT VIOLENCE HAS ON STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR CHICAGO'S PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

AND WHILE SUMMER BREAK, IS IT TIME TO REBOOT AND REFRESH?

THAT'S ALSO WHEN VIOLENCE TYPICALLY SPIKES IN THE CITY.

A NEW STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SAYS CPS STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A HOMICIDE OFTEN SUFFER IN THE CLASSROOM.

AFTERWARDS.

BUT THE STUDY ALSO EXAMINES WAYS SCHOOLS CAN MITIGATE THE IMPACT THAT VIOLENCE HAS ON KIDS.

WDW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

MATT, WHAT DID THE STUDY FIND ABOUT HOW MANY STUDENTS THIS IS IMPACTING?

YES.

SO THE STUDY LOOKED AT THE SCHOOL YEARS BETWEEN 2010, 11 2018, 19.

AND IT FOUND THAT DURING THAT TIME ABOUT ONE IN 5 CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO LIVED WITHIN 0.2 MILES OR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS OF A HOMICIDE DURING THAT TIME FRAME.

>> 6% OF STUDENTS DURING THAT TIME ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE HOMICIDES WITHIN A SINGLE YEAR.

IT WAS STUDENTS WHO LIVED IN THE LOWEST ECONOMIC AREAS OF THE CITY WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A HOMICIDE.

REPORT ALSO FOUND THAT WAS BLACK STUDENTS WERE MORE LIKELY THAN THEIR PEERS TO LIVE WITHIN THAT SHORT DISTANCE OF A OF A SHOOTING OR HOMES HAVE 6% EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE HOMICIDES IN A SINGLE WHAT WAS THE IMPACT IN THE CLASSROOM FOUND THAT STUDENTS WHO DID LIVE WITHIN THAT VERY TIGHT PROXIMITY ON AVERAGE.

LOWER ATTENDANCE RATES.

STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AND LOWER GPA AFTER THAT HOMICIDE COMPARED TO HOW THEY WERE DOING IN SCHOOL BEFORE HAND.

IT ALSO BECAME MORE LIKELY THAT THESE PARTICULAR STUDENTS, WE HAVE SOME SORT OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES SCHOOL LIKE A SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION FOLLOWING A HOMICIDE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT THIS TO HAPPEN TO EVERYONE AND STUDENTS WHO DID LIVE WITH BEEN THIS CLOSE PROXIMITY.

THEY DID EXPERIENCE THE EXACT WAY AND THAT'S WHERE THIS SCHOOL COMES INTO EFFECT.

THAT'S WHAT THE REPORT FOUND THAT THE SCHOOL HAD MORE OF AN IMPACT HELPING SOME STUDENTS AND THAT OTHERS BASED ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE AND WHAT CAN SCHOOLS DO TO ADDRESS WAS ACTUALLY SEVERAL THINGS STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOLS THAT HAD STRONGER CLIMATES, STRONGER CULTURES WERE LESS LIKELY TO SEE THESE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES BUILDING TRUST AMONG STUDENTS AMONG THEMSELVES AND AMONG STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS AND STAFF AT THE SCHOOL ALSO LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES.

I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE STUDY AUTHORS DAVID JOHNSON, WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NO SILVER BULLET STRATEGY TO FIXING ALL THIS, BUT SCHOOLS THAT HAD WELL COORDINATED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, THE HEAD THINGS LIKE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAMS WERE LESS LIKELY TO SEE NEGATIVE INCOME IN NEGATIVE IMPACTS AFTER SHOOTING CPS, OF COURSE, IS IN THE PROCESS OF REWRITING IT HOLDS SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS THIS SUMMER.

FOCUSING ON A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH, CENTERED ON THINGS LIKE EMOTIONAL SAFETY AND RELATIONAL TRUST BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF.

JOHNSON TOLD ME HE BELIEVES THAT THIS STUDY THAT THE JUST PUBLISHED THIS WEEK HELP SUPPORT DISTRICT'S APPROACH IN REGARDS.

MATT MASTERSON, THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS, FRIENDS.

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

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

THOUSANDS OF LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE FINALLY GETTING THEIR DUE.

77 YEARS AFTER THE LEGENDARY JACKIE ROBINSON INTEGRATED MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LAST WEEKEND WILL BE ANNOUNCED.

IT WOULD ADD STATS FROM THE LEAGUES TO ITS RECORDS TO, QUOTE, CORRECT A LONGTIME ERROR AS A RESULT.

35 PLAYERS FROM THE LEADER NOW PART OF THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME AND JOINING US NOW WITH MORE, OUR FRED MICHEL VETERAN SPORTS REPORTER AND JOURNALISM PROFESSOR AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY.

AND ON ZOOM, WE HAVE BOB KENDRICK PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUES, BASEBALL MUSEUM LOCATED IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING KENDRICK, STARTING WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING NOW?

WHAT TOOK SO LONG?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW THAT IN 1969.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HAVE A SPECIAL COMMISSION.

LOOKED AT THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE THAT OPERATED IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND OF COURSE, THE LEAGUES HAVE BEEN BLATANTLY DISREGARDED AND IN 2020 DECEMBER 2020 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COMMISSIONER ROB MANFRED MADE THE HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT.

BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WOULD RECOGNIZE THE LEAGUE TO BE QUITE FUN.

WHAT WE ALREADY DO IT TO BE A MAJOR AND THAT IT WITH WE'RE TO ROLL IN DISTANCE FROM THEM TO BELIEVE INTO THE ANNALS OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S RECORD BOOKS.

LAST WEEK AFTER SOME DILIGENT WORK BY WHAT I CALL DREAM TEAM.

REALLY HISTORIANS AND RESEARCHERS THAT QUANTITATIVE DATA WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AND OFFICIALLY ENTERED INTO THE RECORD BOOKS OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND AND >> YEAH, IT'S BEEN IT'S MADE SOME CHANGES TO.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT A FRED, IF YOU REMIND US BRIEFLY HOW THE LEAGUES FORMED.

>> WELL, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, MINORITIES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY IN THE MAJOR LOVE FOR THE GAME OF BASEBALL.

KIND OF OVERLOOKED.

THAT FACT AND SUCH A PARTNER GAME AND AMERICA'S PASTIME.

HERE IN CHICAGO FOR IN STUDIO KAMINSKY.

PART.

THEY WOULD DRAW LIKE 50,000 FANS FOR GRILL ALL-STAR GAME SINCE MARCH.

YOU FORTUNATELY, I GUESS YOU'D SAY ARE WE ARE ABLE TO SEE.

FORMER LEAGUE PLAYERS LIKE ERNIE BANKS, HANK AARON AND WILLIE MAYS, ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE NAMES OF PEOPLE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.

START IN THE NEWSROOM SUN AND SOME PEOPLE GOT A GLIMPSE OF THE QUALITY OF PLAY IN LEAGUES BECAUSE KNOW WHO ARE THE BANKS WILLIE MAYS.

I CARE WHAT THEY DID.

SO THIS IS OUR ONE LONG, LONG OVERDUE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE GREAT PLAYERS AND THAT AND THEY WERE REALLY AS YOU SAID, I'M BOB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SAYS THAT GETTING TO THIS POINT WAS A BIT COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF THE DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED.

>> BY THE 2 DIFFERENT LEAGUES, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT DATA, NOT QUITE APPLES TO APPLES.

EXPLAIN FOR US WHAT SOME OF THOSE COMPLICATIONS WERE AND BRIEFLY, HOW THEY WORKED OUT.

>> WERE YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ANECDOTALLY, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT FINDING INFORMATION WERE THE EQUIVALENT OF FINDING THE MIDLAND HAS THAT.

BUT IT WORK.

AND THAT'S WHY I COMMEND KNOWS HIS STORY IS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS DECADES.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH FOR DECADES.

IT WAS THE LAST 3 YEARS THAT THEY WERE ASKED TO PULL TOGETHER.

THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND THIS MAN GOING THROUGH FINDING BOX SCORES.

THE NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS PRIMARILY THROUGH THOSE LIKE A BIRD THAT WAS SO PREVALENT DURING THAT TIME.

THEY WERE THE BOYS.

BEEN A REALLY FUN TO BE HONEST.

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE BLACK FOR WE WOULD KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT HIS BUT THIS MAY GOING BACK BECAUSE THESE RECORDS GO FROM 1920, 1948.

SO HE SENT TO A YEAR AFTER INTEGRATION AND THERE'S STILL WORK LEFT TO BE DONE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE TIME THAT TIME SPAN EXPANDS SLIGHTLY AS WELL AS THEY CONTINUE DILIGENT WORK 100 MISINFORMATION.

BUT TIP MY CAP TO THAT TEAM BECAUSE THEY DID YEOMAN'S DUTY TO PULL THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO BE PRETTY GOOD MATH, I CHANGES.

THEY ALSO MEAN SOME HISTORICAL AS WE MENTIONED.

SO NOW JOSH GIBSON IS THE LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME LEADER IN BATTING AVERAGE SURPASSING TY COBB SLUGGING PERCENTAGE ALL-TIME LEADER IN SLUGGING PERCENTAGE SURPASSING BABE RUTH AND ON BASE SLUGGING PERCENTAGE.

SO WHAT OTHER REVELATIONS ARE CHANGES?

IS THE SORT OF INTEGRATION CREATE.

>> YOU KNOW, IT EMBRACED BY A LOT AND THEN JEERED BY ZONE BECAUSE THE FACT THAT GIBSON AND FALL A NUMBER OF MAJOR, THE TYPICAL CATEGORY.

HERE FOR 66 IN 1943.

THAT IS A SINGLE SEASON.

ALL-TIME BATTING RECORD.

HIS LIFETIME BATTING AVERAGE THAT YOU MENTIONED 3, 7, 2, MOVE AHEAD OF TIME.

COM AND IN THE MINDS OF MANY.

WHO ENDURED TO THIS BELIEF THAT BECAUSE REALLY WAS BLACK THAT HAD TO BE A TO THE LEAD THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY IN.

IT IS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.

BUT I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE ALONG THAT THE GUY THAT THE NEW BUILDINGS AS MY FRIEND, THE LATE GREAT BUCK >> WHO SPENT MANY YEARS THERE CARGO AS A COACH AS A SCOUT.

AND THEN AS THE FIRST BLACK COACH IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AS TO ITS WORK ON A AS HE SAYING, WE COULD PLAY.

COULD.

NO, SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED BY THESE NUMBERS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO POKE HOLES IN THEM.

BUT THESE NUMBERS ARE VERY VALID.

>> PUTTING IT VERY SIMPLY WE COULD PLAY, FRED, THE WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE LEAGUE PLAYERS AND HOW THEY STACK UP TO THE MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS AND IF THEY WERE LEFT OUT OF THESE THESE CALCULATIONS ALL THESE YEARS, WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU ABOUT THE PLAYERS IN THE TEENS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, IS KIND OF PERSONAL STORY FOR ME.

I TOO PLAYED.

ONE PLAYED SOME WITH CHICAGO AMERICAN GIANTS.

ASKED HIM SEND ANOTHER OUR CLASS 2 CHARTS AND PLAYING A LOT OF BARNSTORMING GAMES.

GOT TO HIT OFF DIZZY DEAN THE CHICAGO, INDIANA.

MY FATHER PLAYED ON SOME SEMI-PRO TEAMS ALL-BLACK TEAMS THAT PLAYED AGAINST SOME OF THESE LEAGUE START.

SO I WOULD HEAR GROWING ALL THESE YEARS.

HOW GREAT THESE GUYS WERE.

ALL YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS GUY PLAY WITH JOSH GIBSON WITH USING THE GREATEST 2 IS ALL, YOU KNOW, ANECDOTAL AT THAT TIME.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO TELEVISION.

YOU COULD WATCH THEM.

THERE WAS VERY LITTLE FOOTAGE OF THAT.

SO NOW THIS IS FINALLY ANNOUNCEMENT YES, THEY PLAYED.

YES, THEY WERE GREAT.

ALL RIGHT.

YES, THEY THEY DID WHAT THEY DID DESERVE ALL THE ACCOLADES THAT THEY HAD.

AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S YOU KNOW, LEARNING BANKS, WILLIE MAYS AND HANK AARON AND HOW WELL THEY PERFORMED IN BOTH >> SO ON JUNE 20 AT THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS WILL PLAY THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS AT RICKWOOD FIELD.

THAT IS A HISTORIC LEAGUES SITES IN ALABAMA.

I BELIEVE FIRST.

ARE YOU GUYS TAKING ANY BETS?

>> I'M THIS ONE TO YOU.

FIRST, THOUGH, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO SEE THE FIELD HONORED THIS WAY?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER MILESTONE MOMENT BECAUSE RICKWOOD FIELD, AS YOU JUST ALLUDED TO SO MUCH HISTORY WAS MADE HERE.

IT WAS HOME TO BOTH THE BIRMINGHAM BARONS, THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL TEAM.

AND THE BIRMINGHAM BLACK BARONS.

THE ONLY FOR FEW.

AND THEN IN BULL, CONNOR SEGREGATING DEEPLY SEGREGATED BIRMINGHAM.

BLACK BARONS WERE THE TOAST OF THE TOWN.

>> YEAH.

THEY GOT GOING THERE.

THE GENTLEMEN, WE KNOW THERE SURE THEY WERE.

BUT I WENT THERE.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS ALL DAY.

I WISH I COULD, BUT I HAVE TO LEAVE IT MY THANKS TO BOB KENDRICK AND FRED MICHEL FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES MEET THE FIRST MEXICAN BORN WOMAN TO TRAVEL TO SPACE IN HERE ABOUT HER NEW MISSION, INSPIRING GIRLS AND PRIDE MONTH IS OFFICIALLY HERE.

WE EXPLORE HOW LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE CELEBRATING.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK BRANDIS FRIEDMAN STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTION USE MAY BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, WHICH IS PROUD TO HONOR FOUNDER AND SENIOR PARTNER ROBERT CLIFF, WHO HAS