>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

LOOKING BACK AT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

>> I'M PAYING THE COST OF I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP.

25 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS.

>> AFTER 25 YEARS IN PRISON, ONE MAN SAYS HE FIGHTING TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE.

AND 3 CHICAGO JOURNALIST TALK ABOUT THEIR PULITZER PRIZE WINNING STORIES.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION ARE TEAMING UP HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS TRAVELED TO SPRINGFIELD TODAY TO PERSUADE STATE LAWMAKERS FOR MORE MONEY.

THEY SAY THE STATE OCPS AT LEAST A BILLION DOLLARS MORE A YEAR.

THEY DON'T.

I KNOW SCHOOL YEAR WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY OUR BUDDY WILL STUDENTS.

YOU I BROWN STUDENTS.

NEXT TO WE WILL NEED.

>> ONE OF THE OF THE PATIENTS.

>> ITS VERY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, MEANWHILE, SAY IT'S INAPPROPRIATE FOR CTU MEMBERS TO GET A PAID DAY OFF FOR WHAT THEY CALLED, QUOTE, SHAMELESS MONEY GRUBBING.

THEY SAY CPS ALREADY RECEIVES A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF STATE FUNDING.

TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS ACROSS CHICAGO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND CONSISTENT WORK.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

CHICAGO.

THE REPORT FINDS YOUTH JOBLESSNESS RATES IN CHICAGO OUTPACED THE REST OF ILLINOIS AND THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE FOR BLACK CHICAGOANS AGES 20 TO 24.

THE JOBLESS RATE IS AROUND 30% COMPARED TO 15% FOR LATINO RESIDENTS AND 8% FOR WHITE CHICAGOANS.

THIS FRIDAY MARKS 70 YEARS SINCE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT'S HISTORIC BROWN VERSUS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DECISION STRIKING DOWN SEGREGATION IN SCHOOLS AT THE TIME.

NO ONE OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE HEARD THE CASE.

BUT A FORMER NORTHWESTERN PROFESSOR PARTNERED WITH THE UNIVERSITY TO USE VOICE CLONING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A SENSE OF JUST HOW ATTORNEY THURGOOD MARSHALL SOUNDED WHEN MAKING HIS CASE.

>> AGAIN BE IS AN INHERENT DETERMINATION THE PEOPLE WHO FORMALLY SLAVERY REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING JUMPING CAMPOS NEAR THAT STAGE POSSIBLE.

AND NOW IS THE TIME WE SUBMIT.

BUT THIS SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NOT WITHOUT A CONSTITUTION STANDS FOR.

>> THURGOOD MARSHALL, OF COURSE, WE GO ON TO BECOME A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

THE PROJECT IS CALLED BROWN REVISITED FREE LAW PROJECT.

THAT ARCHIVES MULTIMEDIA FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

THE TECHNOLOGY MELDS AUDIO SAMPLES OF THE PRINCIPALS IN THIS CASE WITH ACTORS READING THE HISTORICAL TRANSCRIPTS TO MAKE IT SOUND AS IF THEY'RE SPEAKING A NEW.

UP NEXT, AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT MAYOR JOHNSON'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

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

>> ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, BRANDON JOHNSON BECAME THE 57TH MAYOR OF CHICAGO.

HE USED HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS TO PAINT A VIBRANTLY, OPTIMISTIC PICTURE OF THE CITY'S FUTURE, CLAIMING A MANDATE TO MAKE THE CITY A MORE EQUITABLE PLACE TO LIVE.

>> TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A BETTER, STRONGER, SAFER.

CHICAGO.

WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK TO INTO THE SOUL CHICAGO.

ALTHOUGH CHICAGO.

>> OR MORGAN PARK OR MCKINLEY PARK OR GAGE PARK OR IN HUMBLE PARK.

TALKING ABOUT A REVIVAL IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOR THE SOUL OF CHICAGO.

>> REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH AN ANALYSIS OF JOHNSON'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

HEADER, YOU WROTE THAT JOHNSON FACING ENORMOUS OBSTACLES DURING HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE THAT COMPLICATED HIS EFFORTS TO CREATE THAT CHICAGO FOR ALL THAT HE TALKS A LOT ABOUT THAT PRESSURE COME FROM.

WELL, FROM THE LEFT, HE WAS ELECTED BY A PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL MOVEMENT WHO WANTED HIM TO USE HIS POWER IMMEDIATELY.

>> TO ADDRESS THE RAVAGES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AN INCREASE IN HOME, HOMELESSNESS.

A SURGE IN CRIME AND INCREASING INEQUITY ACROSS THE SOUTH AND THE WEST SIDE.

BUT FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, HE ALSO FACE ENTRENCHED CONSERVATIVE AND MODERATE POWER BROKERS WHO FOUND THEMSELVES LOCKED OUT OF CITY HALL AND WHO WERE ANGRY ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR THEIR ACCESS TO POWER AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR THE CITY.

AT THE SAME TIME HE FACED AN ESCALATING CRISIS WITH THE ARRIVAL OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

MANY ON BUSES PAID FOR BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT AND HE HAD TO GET HIS HANDS AROUND THAT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

OF COURSE, IN DURING HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, JOHNSON VOWED TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS CLAIMING THAT THERE WAS ROOM FOR EVERYONE IN CHICAGO.

DID HE FULFILLED THAT PROMISE?

WELL, IF YOU ASK HIM, HE SAYS HE BROUGHT ORDER AND STRUCTURE TO A CHAOTIC CRISIS.

BUT IT'S CLEAR HE STRUGGLED FOR MONTHS TO CLEAR THE POLICE STATIONS AND AIRPORTS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

AND ONCE HE WAS ABLE TO OPEN UP MANY NEW SHELTERS, THE CONDITIONS IN THOSE SHELTERS WORK GRIM.

AND OF COURSE, A 5 YEAR-OLD BOY.

>> CAUGHT A VIRUS AND DIED LIVING THERE AT THE SAME TIME HE FACED REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT.

CARING FOR SO MANY NEW ARRIVALS SO MANY CHICAGOANS WERE STRUGGLING TO JUST KEEP THEIR HEADS ABOVE REMEMBER A VERY FRAUGHT SITUATION.

HEATHER, YOUR ANALYSIS ALSO PINPOINTED SEVERAL UNFORCED ERRORS COMMITTED BY THE MAYOR, INCLUDING HIS DECISION.

>> TO ANNOUNCE PLANS TO LIMIT MIGRANTS TO NO MORE THAN 60 DAYS IN CHICAGO.

SHELTERS AT WHAT WAS EXPECTED TO BE A NEWS CONFERENCE CELEBRATING THE PASSAGE OF HIS FIRST BUDGET.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT JOHN SUNSET.

A REPEAT.

A PROMISE.

>> TO NEVER SACRIFICE THE NEEDS OF CHICAGOANS IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO WISH TO BECOME CHICAGOANS.

CHICAGO.

I HEARD YOU.

AND I HEAR YOU.

>> HEATHER, WHY DID THAT MAKE THE MAYOR'S TASK HARDER?

WELL, IT COST HIM SUPPORT BY BOTH WITH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RECRUITS FROM HIS PROGRESSIVE ALLIES WHO SAID THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED TO SEE HIM CAST OF THE STRUGGLE TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS.

0 SUM GAME THAT SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO WIN AND SOMEONE WAS GOING TO LOSE AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS HIS MOST EXPLICIT ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT PLAQUE CHICAGOANS WERE FURIOUS WITH THE CITIES.

FULL FORCE OF GOVERNMENT REPORTS TO CARE FOR THE NEWEST ARRIVALS IN CHICAGO WHEN THEY HAD LIVED IN COMMUNITIES OF RIFE WITH THIS INVESTMENT FOR DECADES.

JOHNSON HAS YET TO TRULY FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATING THOSE 2 COMPETING PRESSURES.

AND OF COURSE, NO ISSUE DOMINATED THE 2023 MAYORAL LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE UNION WARNING THAT BLOOD WOULD RUN IN THE STREETS OF JOHNSON WAS ELECTED.

>> WHAT HAPPENED?

WELL, NOT BLOOD IN THE STREETS, ALTHOUGH CRIME AND VIOLENCE, OF COURSE, REMAIN PERSISTENTLY HIGH, ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

>> BUT IN FACT, HOMICIDES DROPPED 15% IN JOHNSON'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

BY COMPARISON, HOMICIDES DROPPED 6% DURING LORI LIGHTFOOT'S FIRST YEAR AS MAYOR AND MURDERS ROSE 21% THE FIRST YEAR RAHM EMANUEL WAS IN OFFICE.

NOW, JOHNSON SAYS THERE'S MUCH MORE TO DO AND HE INTENDS TO USE THE 1.2 5 BILLION DOLLARS.

THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED HIM TO BORROW OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS TO START MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS IN THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME THAT HE SAYS WILL PAY REAL DIVIDENDS.

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, JOHNSON TOLD YOU THAT HE'S EVEN MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CITY'S FUTURE A YEAR AFTER TAKING OFFICE.

HOW LONG?

>> OR HOW WILL HE APPROACHED THE BIG CHALLENGES THAT ARE LOOMING ON THE HORIZON?

WELL, OF COURSE, NO BIGGER CHALLENGE LOOMS THAN THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

I WILL ALSO BE WATCHING TO SEE IF ADJUST TO STYLE AS MAYOR.

HE DOESN'T LIKE GROUND BREAKINGS.

HE TOLD ME HE LIKES RIBBON COMING CUTTINGS.

BUT SOMETIMES IF YOU DON'T CELEBRATE THE GROUNDBREAKING.

>> YOU DON'T GET TO THE RIBBON CUTTING.

AND THAT'S WHERE I'VE HEARD SOME FRUSTRATION FROM HIS SUPPORTERS.

OK, THAT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT IN THE NEXT YEAR.

HEATHER SHARON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS.

BRAND U.S. >> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS AND WE DID INVITE MAYOR JOHNSON TO JOIN US ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

BUT HE DECLINED.

HE'S WELCOME TO JOIN US, WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

OF THE NEARLY 30,000 MEN AND WOMEN SERVING SENTENCES IN ILLINOIS PRISONS.

THERE ARE SOME WHO PROCLAIM THEIR INNOCENCE.

>> IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THE STATE HAS RELEASED A SPATE OF MOSTLY MEN WHO WERE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED SOME AFTER TORTURED CONFESSIONS.

IN FACT, THE STATE FACED SO MANY CLAIMS OF TORTURE.

IT CREATED THE TORTURE RELIEF AND INQUIRY COMMISSION OR TURK IN 2009.

BUT FOR ONE MAN IN STATESVILLE PRISON, A FORMER MARINE.

THE LAW HASN'T PROVIDED RELIEF BUT ONLY RAISED QUESTIONS LIKE WHO IS THE LAST 4?

>> WHEN I FIRST MET DARRYL FAIR, HE WAS JOGGING ON THE YARD AT STATE BILL CORRECTIONAL WHILE I WAS THERE ON ANOTHER STORY.

>> WE KEPT IN TOUCH AND HE SHARED THE STORY OF HOW HE CAME TO PRESENT MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO.

25 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AND THEN DAYS.

>> IS FAIR?

AND HIS ATTORNEY SAY HE WAS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF A MURDER THAT HAPPENED IN CHICAGO IN MAN WAS SHOT TO DEATH OUTSIDE A IT'S COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT MISTER FERRER WAS UNDENIABLY PRESENT AT THE TIME THAT THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED.

THEY SAY WHILE HE WAS AT THE CLUB, HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRIME BUT FAILED WAS CONVICTED AND HE BELIEVES IT'S BECAUSE OF HIS CONFESSION, WHICH HE SAYS WAS COERCED AT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S AREA TO STATION AT 100 11TH AND ELLIS.

AND EXPLOSION HAPPENED ALL MY LORE LET LEFT RIGHT BELOW THE KNEECAP AND HE KICKED ME AFTER HIS FIRST INITIAL KICK.

HE CAN MAYBE LIKE MAYBE 7, 8, MORE TIMES.

BUT I WAS ABLE TO DEFLECT SOME OF TO BLOWS.

WITH MY FREE HAND AND ALL THE HE HAS HIS RIGHT HAND.

>> RESTING ON HIS SERVICE KNOW REVOLVER AND HE'S TRYING TO BAIT ME AND, YOU KNOW, GO FOR GO FOR MAKE A MOVE.

JUST GIVE ME DEFINITE REASON FEAR.

AND HIS ATTORNEYS AT THE EXONERATION PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.

>> SAY OVER THE COURSE OF 30 HOURS, HE WAS THREATENED, DENIED FOOD, ASTHMA MEDICATION.

>> AND HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL.

BY THE TIME FAIR AGREED TO THE CONFESSION.

HE SAYS HE WAS DESPERATE.

>> I WAS EXHAUSTED.

THEY TELL ME I WAS GOING GOAL TO JAIL.

FAIR OVER.

HEY, WE JUST NEED YOU TO SAY IT AND YOU CAN GO HOME.

IT WAS JUST TERRIFYING, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE.

YOU KNOW, IT ALL WAS A BLUR.

AND I THINK, OKAY, WELL, LISTEN, I'M JUST BY ME SAYING I KNOW I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

OKAY.

SAY, YOU KNOW, FACT ME AND 83 HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S ALWAYS TO ME, JUST GO AHEAD AND SAY HIS CURRENT ATTORNEYS DEAD LOVI AND RUSSELL AINSWORTH'S 8 FAIR, NEVER SIGNED THE CONFESSION THAT WAS USED IN COURT.

>> WHAT'S MORE?

THEY SAY THERE'S BEEN NO DENIAL IN COURT OF THE TORTURE FAIR SUFFERED AND NONE OF THE WITNESSES EVER IDENTIFIED HIM AS THE SHOOTER.

THE MOVIE EVEN ARGUED THE CASE BEFORE THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT LAST SUMMER BY THE PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE IN A FEBRUARY RULING, JUSTICES MADE 2 DECISIONS.

THE FIRST YES, IN FACT, THE COURT MUST CONSIDER THE TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN A TORTURE CASE.

>> THAT'S WHY THIS THE PEN USE FOR IMPORTANT.

IT'S RECOGNIZING THE TORTURE COMES IN FORMS, NOT JUST THE CLASSIC, KNIFE TO THE OR OR THE THREATENED TO KILL YOUR MOTHER.

IT ALSO COMES IN THE FORM OF AGAINST THE PREPARATION OF DEPRIVING SOMEONE OF MEDICINE.

I'M NOT ALLOWING THEM TO SPEAK TO YOUR ATTORNEY.

THIS SORT OF.

EVENTS THAT GO ON AND ON AND BUILD UPON EACH OTHER.

THAT MAY ACTUALLY COURSE SOMEONES WILL.

AND FORCED THEM TO SIGN A CONFESSION FALSELY.

>> BUT THE COURT ALSO UPHELD A LOWER COURT RULING THAT FAIR WAS, QUOTE, A HOLY INCREDIBLE WITNESS.

QUOTE, WE NOTE THE CIRCUIT COURT SPECIFICALLY FOUND PETITIONER WAS NOT CREDIBLE IN TESTIFYING ABOUT THE ALLEGED ATTACK ITSELF.

THINK WE PUT THE LOWER COURT BECAUSE OF WITNESS CREDIBILITY.

AND THIS IS A VERY FOX SITUATION BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO DETERMINED CRITICALLY WITNESSES.

25 YEARS, YOU KNOW.

PREVIOUSLY AND NONE OF THE COPS THAT WERE INVOLVED TESTIFIED.

ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN OTHER ACTS OF OF TORTURE.

>> INSTEAD, JUDGES FOUND THE ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY WHO TOOK FAIRS AND SIGNED CONFESSION MORE CREDIBLE THAN FAIR HIMSELF.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO SO FAR HAVE SHARED NO COMMENT.

>> ON THE OTHER HAND ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY WHO WAS THERE, DID TESTIFY AFTER FACT, EVEN THOUGH HE WASN'T THERE DURING THIS TORTURE THE LEAST THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT AGREED WITH THE ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY AND FOUND THAT MISTER FAIR COMPARISON WAS INCREDIBLE BECAUSE HIS STORY HAD OVER THE YEARS.

AND IT'S THIS PART OF THE RULING THAT HIS ATTORNEYS DISAGREE WITH.

>> FACT OF THE MATTER IS HE'S ALWAYS MADE THE SAME ALLEGATIONS.

HE'S BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE CAN'T REMEMBER.

>> YOU KNOW, WHICH POINT THIS HAPPENED OR THAT HAPPENED, I THINK THAT IS A TRIBUTE WILL TO HOW MUCH TIME HAS GONE BY AND ALSO THE SEVERE TRAUMA THAT HE ENDURED.

>> IN FACT, IN 2013, THE STATE'S OWN TORTURE COMMISSION FOUND THAT FAIR HAD A CREDIBLE CLAIM OF TORTURE.

>> STATE DID NOT PRESENT ANYBODY TO REBUT THE CLAIMS OF TORTURE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE 30 HOURS OF INTERROGATION.

AND SO BASED ON THE UNDERBODY TESTIMONY FROM MISTER FAIR, HE WAS ENTITLED TO RELIEF UNDER THE ACT.

I MEAN, A STATUTE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO ARE ABUSED TO GET RELIEF IS BEING USED AGAINST MISTER FAIR WHERE HE CAN'T GET HIS DAY IN COURT.

>> THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION MEANS FAIR WILL NOT RECEIVE A NEW TRIAL AND A CHANCE TO BE EXONERATED AND RELEASED.

IT WAS A GUT PUNCH.

YOU KNOW.

>> FIELD DEFLATED.

I'M ALONG.

>> WHILE MAINTAINING HIS INNOCENCE PAIR HAS GRADUATED FROM NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AND IS WORKING TOWARD HIS MASTER'S AT NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY.

>> ALL WHILE BEHIND BARS.

HE'S ALSO BECOME QUITE AN ARTIST.

HIS WORK EVEN GRACING THE COVER POETRY MAGAZINE.

IT'S HELPED TO MAINTAIN HOPE, DESPITE HIS MANY LEGAL SETBACKS.

>> I DON'T WANT TO LET THE PASS.

SO TO FIND ME, BUT I'M TRYING TO SAVE FUTURE TO THE BEST OF MY CHINA MAY EMBRACE LIFE.

WHAT HAVE LEFT HERE ON HIS R EMBRACE HUMANITY AND THEN YOU HAVE TO KIND OF LIVE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD AND NOT BEHIND.

>> AGAIN, WE REACHED OUT TO THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY AND ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS SO FAR THEY'VE SHARED NO COMMENT.

LILLIAN AINSWORTH'S ARE HOPEFUL THAT KIM FOXX CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT WILL EXAMINE THE CASE IF NOT A SEPARATE OPTION THEY'RE CONSIDERING IS FILING A SUCCESSIVE POST CONVICTION PETITION WHICH CAN BE MORE CHALLENGING AS IT REQUIRES THE COURT'S PERMISSION TO BE FILED.

THE ILLINOIS TORTURE INQUIRY AND RELIEF COMMISSION SAYS AS OF MARCH FIRST, THERE WERE STILL 414 REMAINING TORTURE CLAIMS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

THE STORIES OF DOZENS OF MISSING BLACK WOMEN IN CHICAGO ALONG WITH IN 1997 HATE CRIME ON THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE HAVE EARNED 3 CHICAGO JOURNALIST, THE COVETED PULITZER PRIZE.

AND BOTH STORIES CAME FROM THE SAME NEWSROOM.

THE INVISIBLE INSTITUTE.

HERE'S A LOOK AT ONE OF THEM.

THE SERIES MISSING IN CHICAGO, WHICH WON THE PULITZER FOR LOCAL REPORTING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY BUREAU.

POLICE DEPARTMENT FAIL ME.

CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FAIL ME.

>> IT'S NOT JUST HURTING THE MOTHER AND THE FATHER IS HER SO STUNNED THE BROTHER NIECES.

OR NO WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY.

YOU DESTROYS YOU BECAUSE, >> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S WONDERING WAS GOING AND THEY DON'T GET WHAT HAPPENED TO SEAN SAGE U.S.?

>> IT BROKE MY FAMILY.

>> ANOTHER CHICAGO WINNER WAS THE PODCAST SERIES.

YOU DIDN'T SEE NOTHING WHICH WON THE PULITZER FOR AUDIO REPORTING.

>> BLACK LIFE IS A SERIES OF NEGOTIATIONS.

THEY FORCE US TO EVALUATE WHAT OUR LIFE WORTH.

SOME DAYS.

I'M STILL MAD AT THESE PLAYFUL.

SO SAD.

IT WAS A LITTLE FRANKIE AND HIS FOB.

AND OTHER DAYS.

I'M LIKE.

>> THEY VICTIMS TOO.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

THEY MADE CHOICES.

CHOSE TO ROCK WITH POWERFUL WHITE OVER IN US.

A LITTLE BLACK BOY.

>> BUT WHY DO WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY?

WILL BLY FOLES GOT TO MAKE THESE CALCULATIONS?

>> AND JOURNALIST SARAH CONWAY, TRINA REYNOLDS TYLER AND JOHAN SLICK OR ALL JOIN US NOW.

WELCOME BACK.

TEAM.

CONGRATS TO ALL OF YOU.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING AND BUSY TIME OF COURSE YOU HAVE START WITH YOU.

PLEASE REMIND US WHAT YOU DIDN'T SEE.

NOTHING IS ABOUT.

>> YOU SEE NOTHING IS ABOUT A HATE CRIME TOOK PLACE.

97 LITTLE BOY NAMED CLARKE AND HIS FRIEND WERE LIVING IF THEY WAIGAND AND THEY WOUND UP IN BRIDGEPORT WAS LOOKING FOR.

THEY ARE FOR THE ACTUALLY COST LESS IN BRIDGEPORT THAN IT DID IN THE PROJECT NOT THEY WERE ATTACKED WITH MARK LOT WAS BEATEN WITHIN INCHES OF HIS LIFE.

AND I INVESTIGATE THIS STORY.

AND 97 FOR THE PUCK ME TAKING A LOOK BACK AT THAT STORY THROUGH THE LENS OF OF MY MY MY INVESTIGATION AS IT TOOK PLACE OKAY.

WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT PHOTOS AND IMAGES OF LAMAR CLARK AT THE TIME.

YOU ARE A JOURNALIST AT THE TIME.

>> OF COURSE, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU REVISITED LATER ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE STORY HAS GOTTEN MORE NATIONWIDE ATTENTION RECENTLY.

>> WELL, I MEAN, AS THE STORY ITSELF HAS SO A LOT OF ACCOLADES AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REALLY MOVED >> BY A BALL THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW.

A LOT OF FOLKS IN CHICAGO LIKE YOU ARE REMEMBER BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE COVER WAS THAT THE BIDEN KNOW THESE FOLKS SIDED WITH THOSE SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT DOES ADD A LOT OF CONTACT, A LOT OF DETAIL TO WAS KIND OF A FORGOTTEN STORE.

>> HAS WAS THE PROCESS?

THE STORYTELLING WASN'T HEALING FOR YOU AT ALL BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF YOUR OWN STORY.

IT IS THREADED THROUGH THE NARRATIVE AS WELL.

>> YEAH, IT WAS.

IT WAS THEIR APPEAL JOE WOOD UP OR BOTH OF BILL.

HEALY, IN PARTICULAR, A LOT OF TIME THE BOAT AS SARAH ALL OF THE ROOFTOP AND TALK TO A PART ME, FELT THEM BILL HEALY GUYS HERE IS UP AND TALK DANA BROS. THOSE ALLISON FLOWER WAS JAMIE CABIN.

COULD HAVE WITHOUT THEM.

LIKE AMAZING RIGHT?

AND SO WAS THERE A BECAUSE THE STORY.

BUT WE FOUND MORE AND MORE RIGHT FROM FROM ALL OF RESEARCH.

AND THEY PRIDE IN ME PUSH ME AND MAYBE THINK ABOUT QUESTIONS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHAT?

BECAUSE IT IS PART MEMOIR.

I HAD 2 COUNTIES THAT ON MYSELF AND SO IT WAS THAT GOOD.

>> US AIR AND LET'S LET'S TALK ABOUT MISSING IN GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT, SARAH, LET'S START WITH YOU.

PLEASE.

>> WELL MISSING IN CHICAGO'S INVESTIGATION THAT IS BASED OFF OF CONNECTING WITH IMPACTED FAMILIES.

WE EXAMINED OVER A MILLION PUBLIC FROM POLICE RECORDS TO COUNTY TO STATE TO SEE THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT'S MISSING PERSONS PIPELINE AND SPECIFICALLY HOW IT IMPACTS BLACK FAMILIES.

WE KNOW THAT BLACK PEOPLE IN CHICAGO MAKE UP ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF MISSING PERSONS CASES AND HAVE FOR DECADES AND IN PARTICULAR, BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS MAKE UP DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT AS WELL.

WE'LL LOOK AT BLACK GIRLS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 TO 20 TO MAKE UP 2% OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION.

BUT ABOUT 30% OF ALL MISSING PERSONS CASES.

SO IN OUR STORY, WE REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW NEGLECT AND THE MISHANDLING OF MISSING PERSONS CASES IMPACTS FAMILIES.

I'M IN A SYSTEMIC MANNER.

>> TRINA, WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST ONCE YOU STARTED YOUR INVESTIGATION?

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAME UP THAT WE'RE REALLY CONNECTED.

IMPACT OF IMPACT NEGLECT ON LIKE HOMICIDES.

THE MOST SHOCKING THING WAS A PREMATURE CLOSURE OF 2 CASES GONE UP THERE.

THAT'S WHERE ROBINSON, 2 BLACK TEENAGE GIRLS WHOSE CASES WERE CLOSED BEFORE THEY WERE ACTUALLY FOUND AT THE TIME OF DESIREE ROBINSON'S CASE CLOSURE.

SHE WAS BEING TRAFFICKED.

SPOKE WITH HER FAMILY.

THEY SIT YOU KNOW, WE THAT'S RIGHT.

NEVER CAME HOME.

THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT TRUE.

FOR DAYS AFTER HER CASE WAS CLOSED, SHE WAS FOUND MURDERED.

AND SO IT IT CALLS TO QUESTION WAS CHICAGO POLICE LOOKING FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE AND COULD THEY HAVE SAVED HER LIFE?

THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME TANGIBLE RESULTS SINCE YOU'RE REPORTING FIRST CAME OUT SEROTONIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT SHARE.

RESOLUTION WAS IN LATE APRIL TO CALL FOR A MAYOR IS TASK FORCE ON MISSING WOMEN IN CHICAGO.

>> IT PARALLELS A STATE TASK FORCE THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW ON THE STATE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE.

THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO REPORTED PRITZKER AT THE END OF 2024.

SO WE SAW WE BELIEVE THAT IN JUNE IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR DEBATE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE CHICAGO INSPECTOR GENERAL AND, YOU KNOW, THEY LAID OUT THEIR PRIORITIES FOR 2024, THEY PUT ANY ONE PRIORITY IS INVESTIGATING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT MISSING PERSONS PIPELINE AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE TANGIBLE IMPACT TO YOU KNOW, WHICH IS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE A JOURNALIST AND YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPACTED BY SOMETHING.

SOMETIMES YOU GO IN AND YOU SEE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN A LOT OF PAIN.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY SURE IF THEY WANT TO TRUST MEDIA AND AND SEEING THE FAMILIES REALLY HAVE MORE AND MORE COMFORT LIKE STEPPING INTO THEIR OWN POWER.

SPEAKING FOR YOU KNOW, YOU PUT IT IN THEIR VOICES TO ADVOCATE FOR FOR LOVED ONE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THERE'S AND IT STARTED TO JUMP IN.

BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SORT OF A BIGGER PICTURE.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOU WERE TELLING STORIES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE AND THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN CHICAGO >> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT SAYS HANS, YOU KNOW THAT STORIES LIKE THIS ARE GETTING THE ATTENTION OF OF THE PULITZER PRIZE ATTENTION.

I THINK >> I MEAN, LOOK, I THINK AS WE DOING A GOOD JOB BECAUSE THE STORIES PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE TELL ME STORIES FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT NOW YOU'VE GOT OUTFITS LIKE AND THE ONES YOU GOT OUTFIT LIKE THE CITY BUREAU WHO ARE ALLOWING FOLKS WHO REALLY LIVE IN THESE STORIES TO TELL THE STORIES OF THEM LIKELY A MALE VOICES, RIGHT?

ARE JUST AMERICAN STORIES YOU'RE TALKING WHEN I THINK ABOUT STORY AND POLICE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY CLOSING CASES BEFORE PEOPLE HAVE FOUND.

IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE POLICE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING THE OTHER WAY WHEN YOU KNOW BUDDIES ARE IN THE BODIES SHIELD AN Q BEATING BLACK IS THAT THAT AND PEOPLE PEOPLE TELL THE STORIES.

AND BUT IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE MORE ACCESS, TOOK THE PEOPLE'S EARS NOW THAT THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I GET FROM TRAIN.

A SIMILAR QUESTION TO YOU.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT, YOU KNOW, BLACK STORIES FROM CHICAGO, WE'RE GETTING THAT THIS KIND OF ATTENTION NOW.

I MEAN, IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, RIGHT?

WE SEE YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA GLOBALLY BEING DESCRIBED AS THE AND THEN OUT TODAY, RIGHT?

WE'RE SEEING YOUR REPORTING ON EVEN >> THAT YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING JOBLESSNESS, RIGHT?

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DCFS HAS BEEN HUGE IN THE MEDIA, RIGHT?

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT MISSING A CHICAGO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REPORTED MISSING ARE BLACK CHILDREN.

AND SO IT REALLY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO THE ROOT, RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING BEFORE SOMEONE DIES BY HOMICIDE.

WHAT'S YOU KNOW?

HOMICIDES ARE DOWN, RIGHT?

BUT WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?

HOW RECORDS BEING COLLECTED AND HOW DO USE INFORMATION?

PUBLIC INFORMATION TOO, HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH IMPACTED PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR LIVES, THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST SOME REALITY THAT PEOPLE CREATE SOME PERSPECTIVE, PEOPLE CREATE MINES.

SARAH, JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS LEFT.

BUT WHAT WILL YOU KNOW?

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS RECOGNITION WILL HELP TO KIND OF CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE BY NONPROFIT SMALLER NEWSROOMS LIKE YOURS LIKE BOTH OF YOURS.

I THINK SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT A PARADIGM I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY POWERFUL ABOUT PODCAST UNDER >> WE ARE LOOKING AT ISSUES, AS YOU HAD SAID, HAVE BEEN COVERED FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING OUT AT THEM AT THE ROUTE.

WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE AS COMPLEX.

>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT CONTROL THEIR OWN AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE THREE-PEAT CONGRATS AGAIN AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THERE.

CONWAY, TRINA REYNOLDS TYLER AND YOU HAVE THE COURT THANK AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

>> AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTION HE'S MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH AND PROUD SPONSOR OF PROGRAMMING THAT OFFERS ADVICE AND STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE