>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>>> I NEED TO KEEP BOTTLES OF WATER ON HAND, BECAUSE THE WATER ALWAYS GOES OUT.

>> OFFICIAL OF ROBBINS VILLAGE ARE CALLING FOR FEDERAL HEALTH TO REPLACE THEIR OUTDATED WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.

WE'RE LIVE FROM THE SOUTH SUBURB.

>>> PUTTING THE PUBLIC AT RISK .

>> A MONTH BEFORE ILLINOIS LETS GO OF CASH VAIL, THE LAW IS UNDERGOING BIG CHANGES.

THE LATEST FROM SPRINGFIELD.

>>> HOW HIGH WILL YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL BE?

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD YOU'RE IN.

WE'LL BREAK IT DOWN.

>>> A LOOK AT THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF AN EXPERIMENTAL ALZHEIMER'S DRUGS.

>>> WHERE DO BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS AND DISCOVERIES COME FROM?

>> A NEW SERIES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HIGHLIGHTS SOME INDIVIDUAL THAT IDEAS THAT CAN TRANSFORM OUR WORLD.

>>> IF WE WOULD WRITE A BOOK, IT WOULD BE, LIKE, COMPLETELY SCI-FI.

IT WOULD BE, LIKE, THERE'S NO WAY THIS THING COULD HAPPEN.

>> BUT IT DID.

THE BIG STORY OF HOW THESE LITTLE MIRACLES MADE IT HOME FROM WAR-TORN UKRAINE.

>>> IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES , THE MAYOR IS CALLING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING AFTER MULTIPLE WATER MAIN BREAKS THIS YEAR.

RESIDENTS ONCE IS ADDRESSED AFTER HAVING NO WATER ON THANKSGIVING.

WE'LL HAVE THAT AND MUCH MORE.

BUT FIRST, I SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, JOANNA.

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

THE FATE OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S STUDENT LOAN DEBT RELIEF PLAN WILL BE DECIDED BY THE SUPREME COURT.

THE HIGH COURT AGREED TO HEAR THE CASE AFTER AN APPELLATE COURT RULED AGAINST THE FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.

CASE IS SET TO GO BEFORE THE COURT IN FEBRUARY, WITH A RULING MOST LIKELY TO COME IN JUNE.

MEANWHILE, THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN TO REDUCE THE DEBT FOR UP TO $20,000 FOR MILLIONS OF QUALIFIED BORROWERS REMAINS IN LIMBO FOR NOW.

>>> THE SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS ITS SECOND BLACK WOMAN JUSTICE.

JOY CUNNINGHAM IS REPLACING FORMER JUSTICE AND BERKS , SEEN HERE HELPING JUSTICE CUNNINGHAM PUT ON HER ROBE.

CUNNINGHAM WAS AN APPELLATE COURT DRESSED AS WITH THE FIRST DISTRICT BEFORE SHE WAS APPOINTED TO FILL BERKS'S VACANCY.

JUSTICE HOLDER WHITE BECAME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE ON THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT WHEN SHE WAS SWORN IN THIS PAST JULY.

>>> ENCOURAGING SIGNS FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

RECRUITMENT IS UP.

THE DEPARTMENT REPORTS APPLICATIONS HAVE INCREASED ABOUT 20% IS 2021.

THAT'S AMID RETIREMENTS AND A STAFFING SHORTAGE.

CPD HAS HAD MORE THAN 8700 APPLICANTS THIS YEAR, COMPARED WITH 7200 LAST YEAR.

AND AS OF LATE NOVEMBER, THE DEPARTMENT SAID IT'S HIRED MORE THAN 770 OFFICERS.

CPD SAYS IT'S GOAL IS TO ADD 1000 NEW HIRES BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

IN PERSON EXAMS ARE BEING GIVEN AT THE HAROLD WASHINGTON LABORATORY ON FRIDAY.

ANYONE AGED 21 TO 39 IS ELIGIBLE , AND CAN REGISTER IN PERSON BEFORE THE TEST.

>>> COMING UP ON THE PROGRAM, KEEPING TRACK OF THE CHANGES TO A CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW.

>>> FIRST, WE'RE LIVE IN ROBBINS, WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH A STUBBORN'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND CANE MAY BE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THE VILLAGE OF ROBBINS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUBURBS IN CHICAGO, FOUNDED IN 1917.

AND OVER THANKSGIVING WEEK , HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS THERE WERE LEFT WITHOUT WATER.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ SPENT TIME IN THE SOUTH SUBURB THIS WEEK AS PART OF OUR CHICAGO TONIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES .

FOR MORE ON THE VILLAGE'S WATER SYSTEM CONCERNS, JOANNA JOINS US NOW FROM THE ROBBINS TOWN HALL, WHERE, UNFORTUNATELY, JOANNA, IT LOOKS LIKE A CHILLY NIGHT TONIGHT.

>> Reporter: NO, IT IS.

MY WEATHER APP SAYS IT IS 29 DEGREES OUT HERE.

IT IS A BETTER DAY, AND RESIDENTS SAY WHEN THE WEATHER IS LIKE THIS, THEY ARE PRONE FOR WATER MAIN BREAKS, AND SOMETIMES, THEY ARE JUST DEALING WITH NO WATER, OR JUST DROPLETS OF WATER.

>> IT'S SO REFRESHING.

I MEAN, EVEN TO TAKE A SHOWER, YOU KNOW, TO WASH YOUR BODY, YOU GOT TO GO TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE TO USE WATER TO GET IN THE SHOWER.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR MAIN THING.

WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE LIVING HERE.

IT'S HARD.

>> Reporter: SAMANTHA CONRAD MOVED INTO THE SUBURB OVER THE SUMMER, AND SAID SHE HAD NO IDEA SHE WOULD HAVE TO STORE WATER.

>> SOMETIMES, EVEN IN THE SUMMERTIME, TOO, YOU KNOW?

AND THIS IS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING TO BUY OUR FIRST HOME.

>> Reporter: LONGTIME RESIDENT SHELBY SAYS THE VILLAGE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH WATER ISSUES FOR AS LONG AS SHE REMEMBERS.

HER FAMILY MOVED TO ROBBINS IN THE 60s, AND SAYS SHE HAS MEMORY IS OF HER PARENTS STORING WATER, BOILING WATER, AND GOING WITHOUT WATER FOR DAYS.

>> SEEMS LIKE NOBODY'S TRYING TO RESOLVE IT.

THE MAYOR SAYING HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE, AND THEY PASSED OUT WATER AND EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S ONGOING.

SO, LIKE, IT'S NEVER GOING TO END.

>> IT'S HARD TO REALLY LIVE LIKE THIS.

WE ALMOST FORGET WE HAVE TO USE WATER EVERYDAY.

>> EVERYDAY.

EVERYDAY, YOU USE WATER, HAVE TO CATCH WATER, BOIL IT.

I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY COOKED A MEAL.

I THINK THIS MORNING I COOKED ME SOME BACON.

>> THE WATER'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> A LITTLE BETTER.

>> Reporter: SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, MAYOR DARREN BYRON SAYS ROBBINS HAS EXPERIENCED 23 WATER MAIN BREAKS .

MAYOR BRIAN SAYS HE IS TAKING ON THE ISSUE , AND PLEADING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO RECONSTRUCT THE MORE THAN 60-YEAR-OLD INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WE THOUGHT THAT ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS , NEEDS THE STATE AND FEDERAL HELP, YOU KNOW?

A TOWN LIKE ROBBINS, NOT EVEN ROBBINS, MOST OF THESE SUBURBAN TOWNS, UNLESS YOU AFFLUENT, CAN REALLY AFFORD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

>> Reporter: ROBBINS HAS A POPULATION OF AROUND 4600.

BACK IN 2021, THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CONDUCTED AN EXPECTION WHERE IT STATES, THE CITY OF CHICAGO SUPPLIES WATER TO THE VILLAGE, BUT ULTIMATELY, ROBBINS RESPONSE , IT'S ROBIN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN THE WATER SYSTEM.

IN THE REPORT, THE VILLAGE WAS HIT WITH A SLEW OF VIOLATIONS.

>> I DO WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD SAYING THIS, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE EPA IS OUR FRIEND, NOT OUR ENEMY, YOU KNOW?

THEY JUST LIFTED ABOUT 30 VIOLATIONS THAT WE KNOW WE DON'T GO AROUND SAYING WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO HOLD IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT'S NOT -- WE HAVEN'T NORMALLY NEGLECTED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE JUST NEVER HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR IT.

>> Reporter: CHICAGO HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST ROBBINS TO PAY UP TO $16 MILLION OWED TO THE CITY FOR PAST DUE WATER BALANCES AND LATE FEES.

ON TOP OF THAT, THEY'LL COUNT IMMENSITY PLUMBING $71,000 IN WATER MAIN REPAIR WORK.

THEY WERE BRIAN SAYS CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH IS LEADING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE LONG-STANDING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.

>> IT CAME DOWN, ONCE UPON A TIME , TO SYSTEMIC RACISM, YOU KNOW?

WHICH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR SOCIAL ECONOMIC CLAN WASN'T PRIVY TO SOME OF THE RESOURCES OR TO THE ATTENTION THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER AFFLUENT TOWNS WERE GIVEN.

IT'S NOT A DEMOCRAT-REPUBLICAN THING.

WE NEED HELP ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> Reporter: FOR RESIDENTS ON CAVELL AVENUE, STORING WATER, BY ENCASES OF WATER BOTTLES HAS BECOME A DAILY ROUTINE.

IT'S GOT SO FRUSTRATING FOR SOME THAT THEY ARE TAKING OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT US MOVING.

>> YES, I AM.

TRULY.

TAKING ABOUT GETTING OUT OF HERE.

>> NOT THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO.

THIS IS YOUR FAMILY.

>> KNOW.

>> THE THING THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME , YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING OUR WATER BILL.

WE'RE NOT GETTING WATER NOW.

HOW CAN YOU GO ABOUT OUR WATER BILL?

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR AND CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A SITDOWN WITH THE EPA IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR WATER SYSTEMS , AND COMING UP, WE STICK WITH THE MAYOR, DARREN BYRON, ABOUT HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

BUT FIRST, I SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> JOANNA, THANK YOU.

>>> AND NOW TO PARIS, CHANGES TO A CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW.

PARIS?

>> THANKS VERY MUCH.

>>> ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS MET TODAY FOR THE LAST TIME IN 2022.

THE FINAL ACTIONS INCLUDE PROTECTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS , TAX CREDITS , AND UPDATES TO THE LAW KNOWN AS THE SAFETY ACT.

JOINS US NOW WITH THE RUNDOWN.

AMANDA?

>> Reporter: YEAH, PEREZ , I'M GOING TO SPEND MOST OF MY TIME HERE TALKING ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BIG DEAL COME JANUARY, ILLINOIS WILL BECOME THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION WHERE THOSE ARRESTED FOR CRIMES WILL NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF PAYING BAIL.

INSTEAD, WHETHER SOMEONE STAYS IN JAIL WHILE THEY AWAIT TRIAL WILL DEPEND ON A SERIES OF METRICS.

LIKELY TYPE OF ALLEGED CRIME.

>> ILLINOIS, ON JANUARY 1, 2023, WILL MAKE HISTORY.

CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY.

ONE THAT ALL OF US CAN LOOK BACK AT WITH PRIDE.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS MY VERSION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THIS IS MY VERSION OF OBAMA CARE.

THIS IS WHAT I DID IN SPRINGFIELD , AND CHANGE THE FORTUNES FOR THOUSANDS OF WORKING-CLASS ILLINOISANS.

>> THE SAFE-T ACT ACTUALLY PASSED AS LAW TWO YEARS AGO, BUT THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ASPECT OF IT DEALING WITH NO CASH BAIL TAKES EFFECT NEXT MONTH, NEXT YEAR, TECHNICALLY.

ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS SPENT ALL DAY DEBATING AND MAKING CHANGES TO IT.

REPUBLICANS HAD BEEN OPPOSED TO THE SAFE-T ACT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THEY SAY THAT AFTER TWO YEARS OF BEING ACCUSED OF FEAR MONGERING, TODAY'S ACTIONS SHOW THAT THEY WERE RIGHT.

>> YOU'RE FEAR MONGERING WELL, GUESS WHAT?

WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE STUFF THAT WE WERE ACCUSED OF FEAR MONGERING ABOUT.

BECAUSE IT'S TRUE.

>> AND, AMANDA, WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEW UNDER THIS PLAN FROM WHAT IT WOULD'VE BEEN OTHERWISE?

>> WELL, PARIS, THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT, BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE KNOWN TO DEFEND THE SAFE-T ACT, SAY THAT THE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH ARE GOING TO STAY IN PLACE, AND THAT, THEY SAY, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

>> WE STARTED TO DO THE WORK TO ENJOY THAT JUSTICE UNDER LAW MEANS EXACTLY THAT.

THAT YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY BOND OUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WAD OF CASH IN THEIR POCKET, OR BECAUSE THEY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT, WHILE SOMEBODY ELSE IS IN JAIL SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE POOR.

>> BUT REPUBLICAN SENATOR JASON BARRICK SAYS THE CHANGES MADE TODAY ARE JUST MINOR TWEAKS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THAT.

>> THE ANTS THE ACTIONS OF THE SPONSOR AND THIS LEGISLATION ARE NO MERE CLARIFICATION.

THEY ARE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE BECAUSE OF THE HARM PUTTING THE PUBLIC AT RISK AS A RESULT OF THE SAFE-T ACT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO, GOVERNOR, WHY DID YOU SIGN THE LOFT IN THE FIRST PLACE AND PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK?

>> NOW, CRITICS SAY THAT THE CHANGES MADE TODAY ARE GOING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER IN JANUARY , BECAUSE, AGAIN, THAT PROPOSAL THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAD JUST FORWARDED TO THE GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER.

STILL, CRITICS SAY THE CHANGES DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.

>> SO ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ARE STILL THERE.

NOW, THINGS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED.

I'M NOT GOING TO DENY THAT.

BUT THEY'RE STILL THERE.

AND WE HAVE A SEVERE CRIME PROBLEM IN THE STATE.

>> NOW, STATE ATTORNEYS, BY THE WAY, ABOUT 60 OF THEM, ARE SUING TO STOP THIS LAW FROM TAKING A TYPE.

STILL HAVE UNRESOLVED CONCERNS, AND THEY WANT DEALS WITH THE SO-CALLED CONTENTIOUSNESS.

THE SAFE-T ACT SPELLED-OUT CRIME THAT ARE NONPROFESSIONAL, AND THE NEW VERSION DOES EXPAND THAT LIST.

BUT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY JULIA WRIGHT, SHE IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE STATEWIDE ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION, SAYS THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF BURGLARY ARE NOT ON THAT LIST, AND SHOULD BE.

>> CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORLD IS, IS FULL OF GRAY, YOU KNOW?

YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEBODY WHO THROWS A BREAKTHROUGH A WINDOW , AND THAT'S A CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, BUT THEY HAVE A MANIFESTO ON THEM, OR A LIST OF NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK FROM , FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL.

WE CAN'T DETAIN THEM BASED JUST ON THE OFFENSE OF CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

AND SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A CONCERN THAT WE WOULD HAVE.

>> PROSECUTORS CAN ALSO MOVE TO KEEP SOMEONE DETAINED IF THEY PROVE THAT THE DEFENDANT IS LIKELY TO PURPOSELY EVADE FUTURE COURT DATES.

THE NEW MEASURE DOES LOWER THE VERDICT FOR PROSECUTORS IN HAVING TO PROVE THAT RISK.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE MEASURE DOES ENSURE THAT THE DEFENDANT ISN'T GOING TO BE PUNISHED FOR MISSING A COURT DATE UNINTENTIONALLY, OR, SAY, ARRIVING LATE TO THE COURTHOUSE BECAUSE THEIR BUS WAS TARDY.

NOW, PARIS, THESE CHANGES LET PAST THE SENATE DID HAVE SOME BOATS TO SPARE, BUT HERE IN THE HOUSE, IT BARELY EKED BY.

IN FACT, THERE WAS A TENSE MOMENT WHILE THE LAST COUPLE OF VOTES THAT WERE NEEDED TO GET THIS TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S DESK GOT ON BOARD.

AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CRITICISMS, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE ORGANIZATION, VICTIMS RIGHTS GROUPS, THE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE ACLU, BUT SAY THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TODAY ARE GOING TO MAKE THINGS IN A GOOD PLACE FOR JANUARY, AND THAT WILL MAKE THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM MORE FAIR AND EQUITABLE.

THEY JUST RECEIVED A STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER, WHO, BY THE WAY, IS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

ATTENDING A STATE DINNER FOR THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE.

BUT PRITZKER SAYING THAT HE IS GLAD THAT THE TENANTS OF THE CASHLESS BELL SYSTEM ARE KEPT IN PLACE, REALLY ALLUDING TO THE FACT THAT C SEEMS HE'S GOING TO SIGN THIS MEASURE INTO LAW.

BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A MONTH BEFORE IT DOES TAKE EFFECT.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>>> AND NOW WE GO TO BRANDIS, AND A STORY WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING OVER THE PAST YEAR.

BRANDIS?

>> PEREZ, UKRAINIAN CITIZENS ARE RACING AGAINST THE WINTER AS TARGETED ATTACKS FROM RUSSIAN MISSILES HAVE DEPLETED THE COUNTRY'S POWER GRID.

WHEN THE WAR THERE FIRST ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO, WE BROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF A HIGHLAND PARK FAMILY SENT INTO A PANIC OVER THE INVASION BECAUSE THE UKRAINIAN SURROGATE WAS DUE TO DELIVER THEIR TWINS OVER THE SUMMER.

TODAY, A HAPPY ENDING DESPITE THE FIGHTING THAT CONTINUES FAR AWAY.

AT JUST SEVEN MONTHS OLD , THESE TWO CUTIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THEIR PARENTS FOR THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME.

>> IT REALLY DOESN'T COMPARE TO ANYTHING.

>> WE FIRST MET JEFF, LILAC, AND DAVID WHEN THEY WERE A FAMILY OF THREE.

IT WAS MARCH, AND THEY WERE EXPECTING TWINS VIA SURROGATE IN UKRAINE.

RUSSIA HAD JUST INVADED , AND THE SURROGATE NEEDED TO ESCAPE HER WAR-TORN COUNTRY.

>> WE'RE THANKFUL THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO GET UP, BECAUSE WITH THE WAR WITH RUSSIA , WE WERE HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE SUPPLIES.

WHAT WE'RE HEARING ON THE NEWS WAS REALLY SCARY.

>> BECAUSE UKRAINE IS THE SECOND MOST POPULAR COUNTRY FOR SURROGACY, MANY EXPECTANT PARENTS WERE IN THE SAME SITUATION, TRYING TO RESCUE SURROGATE AND EVEN NEWBORN BABIES FROM WAR ZONES.

JEFF AND LILACS SURROGATE, VICTORIA, FLED TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC JUST IN TIME, BECAUSE THEN?

>> THE GIRL IS DUE IN JULY?

>> RIGHT.

SO HAD SHE CARRIED THEM TO TERM, SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

>> SHE DELIVERED RETURNS EARLY, IT JUST 27 WEEKS IN A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE SURROGACY.

THE OBLIGATIONS BEGAN TO STACK UP.

>> WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH, YOU KNOW?

WE WERE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, THERE'S A LANGUAGE BARRIER, THERE WAS A TIME ZONE DIFFERENCE , THERE WERE LEGAL ISSUES THAT BASICALLY , ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, JEFF AND I ARE NOT SEEN AS THE PARENTS OF THE GIRLS.

>> LE, WITH THE DARK HAIR, AND NATANYA, WELL, WITH NO HAIR, SPENT 59 DAYS IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN PRAGUE.

>> THEY WERE ABLE TO BREATHE ON THEIR OWN.

HOWEVER, THEY DID, THEY DID HAVE THEM ON OXYGEN, JUST TO MAKE SURE, FOR THE SAKE OF IT.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO EAT ON THEIR OWN, BECAUSE THEY HAD A DIGESTIVE TUBE GOING OUT OF THE STOMACH.

IT TURNS OUT THAT BOTH OF OUR DAUGHTERS HAVE A HOLE IN THEIR HEARTS.

BETWEEN BOTH OF THE ATRIUMS.

BOTH OF THE OXYGENATED BLOOD CHAMBERS IN THE HEART, WHICH APPARENTLY IS A GREAT HOLE TO HAVE.

IT'S A GREAT LOCATION TO HAVE A HOLE IN YOUR HEART, SO WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT REGARD.

>> DOCTORS SAY THEY'LL NEED REGULAR MONITORING TO ENSURE THOSE HOLES SHRINK AS THE GIRLS GROW.

AS IF THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH, THE COUPLE HAD TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS AND WORK WITH THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW THEM TO BE LEGALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE TWIN'S PARENTS.

>> WE HAD A LOT OF TECHNICAL ISSUES, A LOT OF LOGISTICAL ISSUES, BECAUSE THE CZECH REPUBLIC WAS STILL ADJUSTING , AND THE U.S. EMBASSY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT , THE U.S. EMBASSY WAS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF ALL THESE PARENTS THAT ARE IN THE U.S. , THESE CHILDREN NOW HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED, OR ARE GOING TO BE BORN IN PRAGUE DUE TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN UKRAINE.

>> THROUGH IT ALL, THESE TWO ARE FINALLY HOME, AND ON THE ROAD TO A HEALTHY FUTURE.

LILAC AND JEFF SEE IT AS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FROM WHEN THEY BROUGHT THEIR SON, DAVID, HOME VIA A DIFFERENT SURROGATE, ALSO IN UKRAINE.

>> WE THOUGHT A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH DAVID, THAT WE ENTER THE TWILIGHT ZONE BY FLYING TO A, A FOREIGN COUNTRY DURING A PANDEMIC WHEN THERE WAS NO VACCINATION YET , THE TESTING WAS JUST STARTING, AND WE HAD TO GO TO A HOTEL.

AS SOON AS WE GOT OFF THE PLANE -- AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE TWINS AND UKRAINE AND RUSSIA , AND THE SURROGATE FLEEING TO GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY, THAT, TWO YEARS AGO WAS A VACATION COMPARED TO THE SPREAD >> DESPITE IT ALL, THE COUPLE BELIEVES THEY'RE LUCKY.

>> ALL YOU CAN THINK TO YOURSELF IS, MY GOD, ARE WE BLESSED, YOU KNOW?

DESPITE EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, IT'S NOTHING.

WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE.

>> DAVID HAS NICKNAMED HIS LITTLE SISTERS NINI AND YIYI AT MOM AND DAD: THEIR BIG LITTLE MIRACLES.

>> LILAC AND THE GIRLS HAVE BEEN HOME FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS NOW.

SHE FLEW TO PRAGUE WHEN THEY WERE JUST 53 DAYS OLD, AND SHE STAYED THERE FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AS THE BABIES GOT STRONGER, ENOUGH TO MAKE THAT LONG FLIGHT HOME.

LILAC REFERRED TO IT AS THEIR FIRST GIRLS TRIP.

>>> UP NEXT, BREAKING DOWN POVERTY TECH SECURITY.

STAY WITH US.

>> HOW DO WE FIND RESOURCES WE HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT?

>> THE COMMUNITY SEEMS TO WANT US TO BE IN THIS SPACE.

>> THERE'S PLENTY OF POTENTIAL TO KEEP IT OURS.

>>> OPEN UP THAT LATEST PROPERTY TAX INSTALLMENT, AND WHAT DO YOU SEE?

IF YOU'RE A HOMEOWNER IN CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE CITY, YOU'VE SEEN YOUR BILLS GO UP QUITE A BIT, AS MUCH AS 46% IN SOME AREAS.

A NEW STUDY FROM THE COOK COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE BREAKS THE NUMBERS DOWN AND EXPLAINED WHY EXACTLY THAT IS.

ESPECIALLY AS COOK COUNTY HAS SOUGHT TO SHIFT THE BURDEN AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL OWNERS AND ONTO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

AND JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR FRITZ.

WE SHOULD MENTON WE INVITED A REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE COOK COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE THAT AUTHORED THE STUDY TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, BUT THEY DECLINED OUR REQUEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH US.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE, PARIS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS STUDY FOUND THAT THE OVERALL TAX LEVY, MEANING THE PROPERTY TAX IS ALLOCATED TO THE CITY, CPS, WATER RECLAMATION, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, WENT UP IN COOK COUNTY ABOUT 4%.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER?

>> WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT OUR TAXING BODIES WHICH PAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR SECURITY, MUNICIPAL SERVICES, PARKS, LIBRARIES, THEY CONTINUE TO RAISE MONEY, WHICH AFFECTS EVERYONE'S PROPERTY TAXES.

IT WENT UP, THE TREASURER'S REPORT, SO THEY WENT UP A LITTLE BIT OVER 4% IN COOK COUNTY, BUT THEY WENT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE IN CHICAGO, ABOUT 7%.

AND THIS MEANS THAT EVEN IF ASSESSMENTS WERE HELD IN PLACE, EVERYONE'S TAXES WOULD GO UP.

>> AND LET'S LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN THERE.

SO THE AREAS OF THE CITY, CHICAGO, THAT WENT UP THE MOST.

THE NEAR WEST SIDE, THE NORTHWEST SIDE, LAKEFRONT AREAS, BUT ON NEAR WEST SIDE, LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHY WERE THESE THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE HIT THE HARDEST?

>> I THINK THE TREASURER'S REPORT, AND, BY THE WAY, I THINK THE TREASURER SHOULD BE DELETED FOR PUBLISHING THIS DATA THAT OFTEN TIMES DIDN'T DO IT IN THE PAST, SHE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT FACTORS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE RISING LEVIES THAT AFFECT EVERYONE, SO THEY WENT UP ABOUT 7% IN CHICAGO UP TO 7.6 BILLIONS.

SHE TALKED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF TENTS, WHICH RAISED EVERYONE'S TAXES BY A LITTLE BIT.

WE FOUND THAT THEY RAISED TAXES BY 11% ON THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER.

AND THEN SHE IDENTIFIED HOW SHIFTING CHANGES OF BURDEN, AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HOUSING PRICES HAVE AFFECTED MANY COMMUNITIES.

NOW, THERE WAS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF , BASICALLY , GENTRIFICATION HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY IN LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS.

SOUTHWEST SIDE, NORTHWEST SIDE AS WELL, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY THEY MIGHT HAVE MORE OF A SHARE OF THE BURDEN.

>> AND THAT'S WHERE IT WENT UP 46%.

>> RIGHT.

BUT WHAT THE TREASURER ALSO CALLED OUT WAS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS SUCH GIANT REDUCTIONS IN THE VALUES OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES DONE BY THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW THAT IT SHIFTED MORE BURDEN NOT ONLY ONTO LATINO COMMUNITIES, BUT ONTO EVERYONE.

>> AND I DO WANT TO GET INTO THIS.

IN THAT STUDY, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS THEY MENTIONED.

YOU WENT TO AN OFFICE SAYING, WE'RE GOING THE OTHER WAY, WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT THE BURDEN MORE UNCOMMERCIAL SO WE CAN RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON RESIDENTIAL.

BOARD OF REVIEW, YOU SAY, KIND OF REVERSE THAT BACK.

WHY DID THEY DO THAT?

>> WHAT THE TREASURER'S REPORT SAID IS THAT THE BOARD AND INCREASED THAT LEVY OF 7.6 IN CHICAGO.

ABOUT 6.6% OF THAT BURDEN WENT ON TO HOMEOWNERS AFTER OUR REASSESSMENT, SO OUR REASSESSMENT REDUCED HOMEOWNER SHARE OF THE BURDEN, BUT BECAUSE THE BOARD REVIEW MADE SUCH BIG CUTS TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, IT SHIFTED SO MUCH OF THE BURDEN BACK ON TO HOMEOWNERS.

SO 6.6% OF 7.6 BILLION, IT'S ABOUT HALF $1 BILLION, WHICH WAS SHIFTED ONTO EACH AND EVERY HOMEOWNER IN CHICAGO, AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD'VE TRANSLATED INTO ABOUT $600 FOR HOMES, WHETHER BILLS COULD'VE BEEN LOWER.

>> THIS IS FROM THE BOARD OF REVIEWS.

SOMEONE GETS THE ASSESSMENT, THEY DON'T LIKE IT, THEY CAN GO CHALLENGE IT.

THE BOARD OF REVIEW AND THE BOARD OF REVIEW IN THESE CASES RULED IN FAVOR OF MANY OF THESE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNER SPREAD >> RIGHT.

SO IN THE TREASURER'S REPORT, THEY CALLED OUT THE FACT THAT THESE GIANT REDUCTIONS ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES SHIFTED THAT BURDEN ON TO HOMEOWNERS ALL OVER THE CITY, AND MORE THAN HALF OF THAT INCREASE IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE HILSON ARE ACCOUNTED FOR BY THAT BURDEN.

>> ALSO FOUND ANOTHER FACTOR, THAT YOUR OFFICE REASSESSED, OR ASSESSED PROPERTIES DURING COVID A LITTLE BIT LOWER, EVEN THOUGH VALUES KEPT GOING UP.

WAS NOT A FACTOR HERE?

>> WELL, WHAT THE TREASURER'S REPORT TRIP WAS THAT WITH THE REASSESSMENT, HOMEOWNERS AFTER THOSE COVID ADJUSTMENTS WOULD'VE HAD A LOWER BURDEN BY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS.

SO THE BURDEN WOULD'VE BEEN LOWER UNDER OUR REASSESSMENT BY FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS ON THIS LEVY OF 7.6 BILLION.

SO THAT, TOO, WOULD'VE BEEN ABOUT HALF $1 BILLION LESS FALLING ON HOMEOWNERS.

BUT WHAT UNDID THAT WAS THE GIANT, THE 24% REDUCTION OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ON THE BIGGEST COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

>> OKAY, SO AGAIN, THAT REALLOCATED -- IT'S THE SAME SIZE, AND IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHO IS GOING TO GET WHAT PORTION OF IT.

>> RIGHT.

A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS OUT THERE, THEY'RE SAYING, I DON'T OWN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE FOR EVERY REDUCTION IN A BIG COMMERCIAL, IT PUTS MORE OF THE BURDEN ON ALL OF US, AND WE ALL HAVE TO PICK UP THE TAB.

HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESS.

>> EVERYONE HAS TO PICK UP THE TAB, AS YOU MENTIONED.

SO AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WHERE THESE SPECIAL ACCOUNTS SIPHON SOME MONEY FROM, FROM THE TAXING ROLES, WHICH MEANS, AGAIN, SOMEONE'S GOT TO MAKE UP FOR IT, HOW MUCH DID THAT COST TAXPAYERS?

>> THE TREASURER'S REPORT SAID IT INCREASED THE BURDENS ON PEOPLE IN CHICAGO BY ABOUT $130 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE INCREASE IN THE LEVY ON HOMEOWNERS IN CHICAGO.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S A DRAMATIC INCREASE.

THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT ON CITY COUNCIL.

SO THESE TIPS PUT A LOT OF BURDEN ON TO HOMEOWNERS, BECAUSE WHEN MONEY , WHEN INCREASED VALUE SET WOULD LOWER RATES FOR EVERYONE , THAT MEANS EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO, AGAIN, PICK UP THE TAB.

>> CONTROVERSIAL FOR A LONG TIME.

AGAIN, THEY BASICALLY ADDED TAX ON EVERY HOMEOWNER.

>> IT'S LIKE A BACKDOOR TAX ON EVERYONE.

YOU HAVE TO GO HOPE THAT THERE'S SOME BENEFIT THAT OFTEN SEPARATES AND SO IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, HOW CAN LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS THERE AVOID BEING PRICED OUT, GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE.

FIRST OF ALL, THE VOTERS, IN THEIR WISDOM, COULDN'T PLACE A NEW BOARD OF REVIEW.

EVERY BOARD OF REVIEW COMMISSIONER THAT WAS UP FOR RE-ELECTION WAS ELECTED OUT OF OFFICE.

SO THERE WAS A NEW BOARD OF REVIEW CAN CHANGE THAT FACT.

ONE OF THOSE NEW DISTRICTS HAS A MAJORITY LATINO REPRESENTATION, AND SO FOLKS WHO ARE FROM NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY SOME OF THE BIGGEST INCREASES, THEIR NEW BOARD OF REVIEW COMMISSIONER CAN CHANGE THIS PRACTICE, WHICH PUT BURDENS ON TO THEM.

SECOND OF ALL, WE THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT THESE REDUCTIONS THAT WERE DONE BY THE BOARD OF REVIEW, AND THE NEW BOARD OF REVIEW WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RELOOK AT THESE NUMBERS , AND THAT HAS A CHANCE TO TAKE SOME OF THE BURDEN OFF OF -- >> SO THEY CAN UNDO WHAT THE OLD BOARD OF REVIEW DID?

>> WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE, BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE NEW BOARD OF REVIEW LOOK AT THE VALUES ON THESE LARGEST COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

THEY'LL GET A CHANCE TO, TO DO WELL BY THE HOMEOWNERS.

AND, THIRD OF ALL, FOLKS WHO ARE RUNNING FOR MAYOR AND FOR ALDERMEN CAN SPEAK UP AND SAY THAT, HEY, THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND PRESENT ITS OWN EVIDENCE BEFORE THE BOARD OF REVIEW SO SAY, HEY, SOME OF THESE REDUCTIONS ARE EXCESSIVE, AND THEY'RE PUTTING MORE OF THE BURDEN ON EVERYONE ELSE.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC CAN DO.

AVERAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN MAKE SURE -- BUT THE MAYOR HAS ALWAYS HAD THE POWER TO GO TO THAT AND ALMOST NEVER DONE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

GOT TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> OKAY, THANKS, PARIS.

>>> AND NOW, BRENDA'S, WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

STILL TO COME ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, WE'RE ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE MAYOR OF ROBBINS, WHO SPENT HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WHILE FACING THE WATER SUPPLY CRIES.

EIGHT >>> A NEW ALL-TIME IS DRUG MAY BE .

>>> AND FROM BLACK HOLES TO THE ORIGIN OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

A NEW SERIES HIGHLIGHTS WORLD CHANGING IDEAS THAT HAVE COME FROM CHICAGO.

>>> AT FIRST , MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

IT'S WORLD A.I.D.S.

DAY TODAY, AND THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS RELEASING NEW DATA ON HIV DIAGNOSES.

CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS REVEAL NEW CASES OF HIV IN CHICAGO RESIDENTS ROSE BY ABOUT 2% IN 2021.

THAT INCREASE IN NEW DIAGNOSES BUCKS A DECADES LONG TREND OF DECREASING DIAGNOSIS IN THE CITY.

BLACK CHICAGOANS REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF NEW DIAGNOSES, AND CDP EIGHT REPORTS 70% OF CLIENTS SERVED THROUGH DEPARTMENT FUNDED PROGRAMS ARE BLACK AND LATINO.

>>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS ISSUING AN ADVISORY THAT THE U.S. REMAINS AT A HEIGHTENED TERRORISM THREAT LEVEL.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS RECENT ATTACKS , INCLUDING THE MASSACRE AT THE LGBTQ PLUS CLUB IN COLORADO, THE ATTACK ON SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI'S HUSBAND, AND AN INDIVIDUAL IN NEW JERSEY ARRESTED FOR SHARING AN ONLINE MANIFESTO THAT THREATENED ATTACKS ON SYNAGOGUES.

TARGETS OF POTENTIAL VIOLENCE INCLUDE FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS, THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY , RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, GOVERNMENT FACILITIES, AND OFFICIALS, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE MEDIA.

DHS WARNS THAT SEVERAL UPCOMING EVENTS COULD BE EXPLOITED.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON GATHERINGS, LARGE EVENTS, AND THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION.

>>> A LOCAL ECONOMIST WHO PREVIOUSLY SHOWED THE WHITE HOUSE'S COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS UNDER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA LANDS ANOTHER BIG JOB.

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE HAS BEEN NAMED OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO.

THE 53-YEAR-OLD IS AN ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO .

AS HEAD OF A REGIONAL FEDERAL BANK, HE WILL VOTE ON THE CENTRAL BANK'S INTEREST RATE DECISIONS, AND WILL TAKE THE HOME IN JANUARY, REPLACING THE RETIRING CHARLES EVANS.

>>> AND FINALLY , IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY OF BAD NEWS FOR AREA DRIVERS.

THE STATES GRACE.

TO RENEW YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE IS OVER.

THE PAUSE WAS OFFERED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, BUT ENDED TODAY.

MEANWHILE, HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS MISSED THE DUES OF CHICAGO'S WINTER OVERNIGHT PARKING BAN NOW IN EFFECT.

THE CITY TOWED 242 VEHICLES OVERNIGHT ON THE FIRST NIGHT , AND THAT DOESN'T COME CHEAP.

VIOLATORS ARE HIT WITH A MINIMUM $150 TOWING FEE , A $50 TICKET, AND A STORAGE FEE OF $25 A DAY.

THE OVERNIGHT BAN WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH APRIL 1st , ON CHICAGO'S MAIN STREET BETWEEN 3:00 A.M. AND 7:00 A.M. >>> AND NOW TO JoANNE HERNANDEZ, WHO SPENT THE DAY IN SOUTH SUBURBAN ROBBINS AS PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

JOANNA?

>> Reporter: THANKS, RANDY SPENT WE'RE NOW JOINT BY THE MAYOR OF ROBIN .

TIFFANY ROBINSON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> IT'S BEING AN HONOR.

>> I WANT TO START OFF, WE SPENT THE DAY TALKING TO RESIDENTS, AND ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS WAS OBVIOUSLY THE WATER MAIN BREAKS, AND THE ISSUE IS HOW IT IMPACTS THEIR DAILY LIVES.

WHAT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> WELL, THE FIRST SUSTAINABLE ISSUE IS TO KEEP THE WATER ON, RIGHT?

SO WHENEVER THE WATER MAIN BREAKS, WE CALL THE CITY PLUMBING TO COME OUT HERE AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.

THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION, THOUGH, NEEDS SOME HELP FROM THE CONGRESS AND FEDERAL, THE STATE HEALTH, AS FAR THE $40 MILLION PROJECTED PROJECT THAT CAN COMPLETELY REVAMP OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE , FROM THE WATER TOWER TO THE WATER METERS TO THE WATER PUMP.

SO IT'S A COMPLETE, TOTAL PROJECT.

>> Reporter: WE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE WATER BILL RISING.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE CONFUSED THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR?

>> YES.

SO CURRENTLY WE ARE IN COURTS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE CURRENTLY, SUPPOSEDLY, ONLY $15 MILLION WATER BILL THAT .

IN ORDER TO COMBAT THAT DEBT, THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A BURDEN CARRIED BY OUR CITIZENS WITH THE WATER BILLS.

THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANYTHING DIRECTLY WITH THE WATER BREAKS, BUT THE WATER BREAK UNDERNEATH THE GROUND IS PROBABLY WATER LOST THAT INCREASES OUR DEBT TO CHICAGO.

>> Reporter: AND, TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT RESIDENTS CAN DO?

>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME, ABSOLUTELY, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE CONTACTING OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS THE STATE SENATORS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE INADEQUACY OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE .

YOU KNOW, IT'S IN PRINCIPLE TO EVEN KNOW AND REMEMBER THAT , ON THIS THANKSGIVING, WE HAD RESIDENTS THAT HAD NO WATER .

THEY COULD NOT SHOWER, THEY COULD NOT FLUSH THE TOILET, THEY COULD NOT COOK THE FOOD, YOU KNOW?

AND SO WE'RE CALLING ON OUR CITIZENS TO HELP US CALL UPON OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, LEGISLATORS, AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS .

435 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS , WE HAVE 100 SENATORS.

WE NEED EVERYBODY.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN JUST A ROBBINS ISSUE.

WE NEED PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS THE MAYOR ALLUDED TO, AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL.

WE'RE >> Reporter: AND MAYOR, THERE IS GOING TO BE A MEETING WITH YOU AND BOBBY RUSH SOON.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET OUT OF THAT MEETING?

>> A PATHWAY TO REMEDY , WHICH IT ALL COMES DOWN TO MONEY, RIGHT?

SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME DOWN TO, WHERE CAN WE FIND THE RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S GRANT MONEY, WHETHER IT'S A FORGIVABLE LOAN.

BUT THAT MEETING IS ON DECEMBER 14th, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT.

>> Reporter: AND I HAVE TO ASK, YOU WERE ONE OF THE YOUNGEST SERVING AS MAYOR AND I MEAN, HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

YOU'RE 31 YEARS OLD.

>> WELL, IT'S A HONORABLE TASK.

IT'S A HEAVY LIFT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME STRONG LEADERS IN PLACE, INCLUDING MYSELF AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT WANT TO TURN THIS AROUND.

SO I'M HONORED TO BE A MEET THIS TOWN IN A TIME LIKE THIS.

>> WELL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, OKAY?

>> THANK YOU, MS. HERNANDEZ.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Reporter: AND COMING UP, WE SPEAK WITH THE OWNER OF THE ONLY DINING RESTAURANT IN THE VILLAGE.

FIRST, I SENT IT BACK TO YOU.

>> WELL, JOANNA, LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THAT.

IN SO MUCH.

YOU'RE AT NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK AT TREATMENTS FOR PATIENTS WITH ALL MY MOST OF THESE.

PARIS.

>>> BRANDIS, A NEW DRUG TO SLOW THE EFFECT OF ALZHEIMER'S HAS SOME PROMISING RESULTS.

THAT COMES WITH A SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL COST.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 6 MILLION AMERICANS OVER THE AGE OF 65 ARE SUFFERING FROM THE DEGENERATIVE BRAIN DISEASE, AND CLINICAL BREAKTHROUGHS TO TREAT IT HAVE BEEN RARE.

SO HAS THE RESEARCH FINALLY TURNED A CORNER?

JOINING US ARE DR. IAN GRANT, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, AND DELIA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAPTER OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.

IN BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SO, DR. GRANT, I'LL START WITH YOU.

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HAVE CONDUCTED TRIALS FOR THIS NEW DRUG , LECANEMAB.

TELL US HOW THIS DRUG PERFORMS TO TACKLE TIMERS.

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS A DRUG THAT'S AN ANTIBODY THAT'S DIRECTED AGAINST ONE OF THE PROTEINS THAT'S THOUGHT TO CAUSE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE , WHICH IS CALLED AMYLASE.

THE IDEA IS THAT THE ANTIBODIES CAN ATTACH TO SOMETHING CALLED AN AMYLOID, AND ALLOW THE BODY TO THEN REMOVE THE AMYLOID FROM THE BRAIN.

WE'RE THINKING, THEN, THAT IF YOU CAN REMOVE THE AMYLOID FROM THE BRAIN, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY ALTER THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE OF ALZHEIMER'S.

>> HOW PROMISING HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY BEEN?

>> WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE NEWS, AND WHAT IS VERY PROMISING FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE JOURNEY OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IS, IS REALLY GREAT NEWS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BRINGING HOPE, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING IN A PATIENT WITH ALZHEIMER'S IS EXTREMELY EXCITING.

>> AND I SHOULD BACK UP, CAN YOU JUST TELL US HOW MUCH THIS STUDY FOUND THE COGNITIVE DECLINE WENT DOWN IN THE GROUP THAT USED THE DRUG?

>> YEAH, THEY FOUND THAT OVER 18 MONTHS, ABOUT 27% OF THE PATIENTS THAT WERE ON, IN THE CLINICAL TRIAL FOR THE 27, THEY SOUGHT COGNITIVE DECLINE IN THAT MANY PATIENTS.

>> DR. IAN GRANT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN PRACTICALLY FOR FOLKS SUFFERING FROM ALZHEIMER'S?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

SO I, SO WHAT DELIA WAS REFERENCING IS A 27% REDUCTION IN DECLINE.

SO , YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE DIDN'T GET BETTER.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE DRUG CAN MAKE PEOPLE GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE.

BUT PEOPLE DECLINED AT A SLOWER RATE.

SO COMPARED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING PLACEBO, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THE ACTIVE DRUG DIDN'T SEE AS MUCH DETERIORATION IN THEIR COGNITIVE ABILITIES .

>> DELIA, AS WE MENTIONED AT THE TOP, THIS COULD COME AT A SIGNIFICANT COST.

THERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS HERE, INCLUDING BRAIN SWELLING , BRAIN BLEEDING.

HOW SERIOUS ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?

>> LIKE MANY OTHER MEDICATIONS, THERE ARE SOME SIDE EFFECTS TO THE MEDICATION .

IN THIS CASE, AS WELL.

HOWEVER, THE, AS WELL, IN THE PAST, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COSTS ARE AT THIS TIME, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT IN 15+ YEARS, THIS IS THE BIGGEST NEWS , AND THE MOST POSITIVE THING THAT WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF ONE MORE TREATMENT AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM THIS DISEASE .

AND WHILE THERE ARE SOME SIDE EFFECTS , THE GOOD OUTWEIGHS THE BAD AT THIS TIME , AND WILL PROVIDE HOPE TO FAMILIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS JOURNEY IS REALLY A POSITIVE THING.

>> AND GIVEN THAT, DR. IAN GRANT, THE FDA HAS TALKED ABOUT ACCELERATING APPROVAL OF LECANEMAB.

IS IT RISKY AT THIS POINT TO, TO GIVE A FULL ON APPROVAL, GIVEN NOT MUCH STILL IS KNOWN ABOUT IT AND THE SIDE EFFECTS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PARALLELS BETWEEN LECANEMAB AND A PREVIOUSLY USED DRUG , WITH ONE OF THE PARTICULAR DIFFERENCES BEING THAT LECANEMAB STUDY WAS A FULL STUDY THAT WAS CARRIED OUT.

SO THE DATA THAT IS KNOWN FROM THE DRUG IS MORE SOLID THAN THE DATE OF THE REGENERATED FROM THE EARLIER STUDY.

SO GIVEN THAT THAT WAS APPROVED ON THOSE GROUNDS, IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT LECANEMAB WOULD ALSO GET APPROVAL FOR THE SAME REASON.

NOW, I THINK THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER, TOO, IS WHAT DELIA WAS SAYING, AND THAT'S THIS IS AN WHERE THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH ELSE OUT THERE.

IT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

YOU KNOW, A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE .

IT'S GOING TO VARY FROM PATIENT TO PATIENT, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE MOVING THE WORLD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION PRINT >> AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, DELIA.

GIVEN THE FACT THAT THESE TWO DRUGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE BEEN CLINICALLY PROVEN TO HAVE ANY IMPACT, IS THAT IT OUT THERE FOR FOLKS AND THEIR FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM ALZHEIMER'S IN TERMS OF TREATMENTS OR THERAPIES?

>> CURRENTLY.

I MEAN, IN THE LAST YEAR, WE HAD THE RESULTS FROM THOSE TWO DRUGS, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE AN ADDITIONAL THREE THAT WERE EXPECTING TO HEAR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE PIPELINE, AND WE EXPECT READINGS FROM THOSE ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS TO COME OUT WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE RESULTS ARE GOING TO BE, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE ANOTHER 150+ MEDICATIONS THAT ARE IN CLINICAL TRIALS, THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT VERY CLOSELY.

SO WHAT IS EXCITING IS THAT NOW THAT WE ARE, ARE SEEING MUCH MORE FUNDING GOING TOWARDS ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH, WE ARE NOW SEEING THE RESULTS FROM PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO FUNDING, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WITHOUT RESEARCH, WE CAN'T FIND NEW TREATMENTS , AND WE CAN ULTIMATELY FIND A CURE.

SO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT , STARTING LAST YEAR, AND NOW WITH LECANEMAB , AND THEN, IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, WE'LL PROBABLY SEE SOME ADDITIONAL RESULTS FROM A COUPLE MORE STUDIES, AND THEN A FEW MORE IN THE FUTURE , IS EXCITING TIME.

THERE IS REALLY LOTS OF GOOD, POSITIVE USE COMING OUT FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS.

>> CERTAINLY A LOT OF PROMISE.

IT'S GOOD TO TAKE MULTIPLE BITES OF THE APPLE.

SO MANY PEOPLE DO WANT TO SOLVE THIS.

I HAVE TO BRING UP THE ISSUE OF GENETIC TESTING , BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT MADE OF THE ACTOR, CHRIS HEMSWORTH, PUBLICLY ANNOUNCING HE WAS POSITIVE FOR THE A BOAT YOU FORGING, WHICH OUR TRADITIONAL GENIC MARKERS FOR ALZHEIMER'S RISK.

HOW RELIABLE ARE THESE GENETIC TESTS, DR. GRANT?

>> YEAH.

SO, SO THE GENE IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A KNOWN RISK FACTOR FOR A WHILE NOW, SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE WITH THE E 4 FORM OF THE GENE.

EVERYBODY CARRIES TWO COPIES OF THIS GENE, AND PEOPLE WITH E 4 IS A FORM THAT SHOWS A HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE LATER IN LIFE.

IF YOU GOT ONE COPY, IT INCREASES THE RISK A LITTLE BIT.

IF YOU HAVE TWO COPIES, IT INCREASES THE RISK QUITE A LOT.

DEPENDING ON WHAT STUDY YOU LOOK AT, PEOPLE MIGHT SAY THAT IT'S ALMOST A CERTAIN THING.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE LARGEST RISK GENES, SO EVEN FOR PEOPLE FINDING THEY HAVE ONE COPY, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THEY DEFINITELY WILL HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WHEN THEY GET OLDER.

>> AND MR. HEMSWORTH, WE SHOULD MENTION, DID TEST POSITIVE FOR BOTH OF THOSE GENES, AND SAID HE'S GOING TO RETIRE FROM ACTING TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS FAMILY BECAUSE OF THE RISK FACTORS.

ALL RIGHT, FASCINATING CONVERSATION.

OUR THANKS TO DR. IAN GRANT AND DELIA.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US PRINT >> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS, AND A NEW VIDEO SERIES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

BRANDIS?

>>> PEREZ , WHERE DO DISCOVERIES AND WORLD CHANGING IDEAS COME FROM?

WELL, TURNS OUT THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THEM HAVE COME FROM HERE IN CHICAGO.

A NEW SERIES OF VIDEO SHORTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE ITS RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS TRANSFORMING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD.

THE SERIES IS CALLED THE DAY TOMORROW BEGAN.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE DANIEL HOLTZ , A PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO , AND PAUL RAND, THE UNIVERSITY'S VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS WHOSE TEAM CREATED THE VIDEO SERIES.

GENTLEMEN, WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US PRINT >> THANK YOU.

>> SO PAUL, LET'S START WITH YOU.

THE PREMISE OF THE SERIES IS TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IN THESE GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERIES.

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO WANT TO TELL THESE STORIES?

>> WELL, THE UNIVERSITY HAS ALMOST 100 NOBELS CONNECTED TO IT AT THIS POINT.

SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF HISTORY.

BUT INTERESTINGLY, IT'S A CHALLENGING TIME, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURES IN TERMS OF POLITICAL PRESSURES , IN TERMS OF NOT TOTALLY UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE.

STILL, YOU FIND THAT ALMOST 70% OF THE SURVEY WE DID OF AMERICANS SAY THEY ARE LOOKING TO THE UNIVERSITIES TO REALLY CREATE THE INNOVATIONS AND THE BREAKTHROUGHS AND TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS WORLD.

WE WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO HELP TELL THAT STORY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

>> OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU SAID, ALMOST 100 NOBEL PRIZES CHICAGO RESEARCHERS HAVE OBVIOUSLY DONE SOME INCREDIBLE WORK FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH STORIES ?

>> WELL, THE WHOLE CONCEPT BEHIND THIS, WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE DAY TOMORROW BEGAN, IT REALLY WAS LOOKING FOR THOSE IDEAS.

THERE WERE THOSE THAT WHEN THEY WERE DISCOVERED OR CREATED, CHANGE THE FIELD OR CHANGE THE DIRECTION THAT WAS GOING TO IMPACT SOCIETY IN THE BIGGEST WAY POSSIBLE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH BLACK HOLES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE WHAT'S COMING OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK ON QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT GLOBALLY, BUT ALSO HERE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> CONFUSING FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO GO WATCH THE FILM.

YOU MENTIONED BLACK HOLES, AND THE FIRST SHORT FILM IN THE SERIES FOCUSES ON THE WORK AND HOW HIS RESEARCH PAVE THE WAY FOR THE DISCOVERY OF BLACK HOLES.

HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

>> DISCOVERING AND UNDERSTANDING BLACK HOLES WOULD BECOME THE WORK OF THE GREATEST MIND OF THE 20th CENTURY.

ONE OF WHOM WAS UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCIENTIST SUPERMINI AND CHANDRA SAGER.

AT AGE 19, HE CALCULATED THAT SOME STARS WOULD VIOLENTLY COLLAPSE AT THE END OF THEIR LIVES.

HIS IDEA WAS RIDICULED BY SCIENTISTS AT THE TIME.

BUT HE WAS EVENTUALLY DRIVEN RIGHT.

>> JUST 19 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.

DANIEL, YOU KNOW, HE PROPOSED THAT STARS WERE DESTINED TO COLLAPSE.

WHY WOULD SUCH AN CONTROVERSIAL IDEA AT THE TIME?

>> WELL, THE THEORY OF GRAVITY.

THAT THERE PREDICTED THAT THERE WOULD BE THESE THINGS CALLED BLACK HOLES, AND BLACK HOLES ARE EXTREMELY RADICAL.

AND , SO PEOPLE THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE THE THEORY PREDICTS THAT THESE COULD EXIST, BUT MAYBE THEY DON'T REALLY EXIST.

AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BECAUSE NADER DOESN'T ACTUALLY MAKE BLACK HOLES.

AND WHAT CHANDRA DOES WAS SHOW THAT MAYBE NATURE DOES MAKE BLACK HOLES WHEN THEY FIRST COLLAPSE, AND THAT WAS SUPER RADICAL .

AT THE TIME, IT WAS SO SUPER RADICAL.

>> EXPLAIN HOW YOU AND OTHER RESEARCHERS BUILD ON THIS WORK.

>> SO AFTER CHANDRA , YOU KNOW, MANY YEARS AND A LOT OF WORK, NOW BLACK HOLES ARE WELL-ESTABLISHED IN THE FIELD.

WE HAVE IMAGED BLACK HOLES, WE LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF BLACK HOLES COLLIDING, BLACK HOLES ARE A MAJOR PART OF OUR PHYSICS.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF MYSTERIES AROUND BLACK HOLES, BUT THEY SORT OF PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE , NOT ONLY IN BASIC PHYSICS, BUT ALSO ASTROPHYSICS , AND SOMETHING WE'RE JUST COUNSELEE SINKING ABOUT AND WORKING ON, ESPECIALLY NOW .

THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RICH FOR BLACKHOLE SCIENCE.

>> SO THE SECOND VIDEO SHORT IN THE SERIES IS ABOUT THE WORK OF EAST CHICAGO SCHOLARS AT THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE IN CHANGING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROOTS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

HERE'S A BIT OF THAT.

>> IN 1919, EGYPTOLOGISTS JAMES HENRY BREASTED OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO EMBARKED UPON AN EPIC JOURNEY ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA.

THERE, HE VISITED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES DRIVEN BY A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA , THAT THE ROOTS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION WERE NOT IN ANCIENT GREECE OR ROME , AS THE SCHOLARS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, BUT IN A REGION OF THE MIDDLE EAST THAT HE COINED THE FERTILE CRESCENT.

>> PAUL, I UNDERSTAND SOME FOLKS SUGGEST THAT HE WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR INDIANA JONES.

>> A GOOD STORY BEHIND ALL OF THAT THERE'S SOME STRONG BELIEF THAT IT CAME TOGETHER .

>> SAID TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS, ABOUT JAMES HENRY.

>> HE REALLY WAS, WAS, EARLY ON IN HELPING TO FIND THE FIELD OF VOLCANOLOGY.

HE HAD THE IDEAL FOR THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE, AND WENT TO JOHN D ROCKEFELLER AT THE TIME, AND CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA, AND SAID HE HAD A BIG IDEA FOR REALLY HELPING REDEFINE WHERE CIVILIZATION BEGAN IN THIS AREA.

THE FILM SHOWS, IN THE FERTILE DELTA, FERTILE CRESCENT, RATHER.

AND SO HE MADE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS UNDERSTOOD ABOUT OUR GALAXY WHEN HE WAS THERE, AND HOW THEY APPROACH IT TODAY IS VERY DIFFERENT, BUT THE ALLY CONTINUES TO BUILD UPON ARCHAEOLOGY, AND SOME REALLY, REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE WAYS.

>> YOU MENTIONED QUANTUM SCIENCE IS THE ONE NEXT WEEK.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT?

>> ACTUALLY, REM SLEEP WAS DISCOVERED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

AND SO THAT'LL BE COMING UP SOON.

WE HAVE , OF COURSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE ON ECONOMICS COMING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE MIX.

THE FIRST SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WAS CREATED, SO WE'LL BE DOING SOMETHING ON THAT AS WELL.

SO REALLY, JUST, WE HAVE A SERIES OF NINE THAT ARE COMING, BUT ALL OF THEM ARE QUITE DISTINCT IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THEY ALL COME BACK TO, REALLY, REINFORCING THE IMPACT NOT ONLY OF THE UNIVERSITY, BUT HOW BREAKTHROUGHS REALLY HELP REDEFINE SOCIETY.

>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THE VIDEOS?

>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

MORE THAN ANYTHING, NUMBER ONE, IT'S A QUESTION OF APPRECIATION FOR THINGS COMING OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

NUMBER TWO IS THAT AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES, IS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL THEY ARE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE THE LABS OF THE WORLD ANYMORE , WHERE TRANSISTORS AND OTHER THINGS CAME FROM.

SO MUCH OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK IS COMING OUT OF UNIVERSITIES, AND WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP THAT GOING.

>> WE GOT JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

QUESTION TO YOU, DANIEL.

WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THESE VIDEOS?

>> WE'RE STILL LEARNING ABOUT THEM, AND, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY PLAY SUCH A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ASTROPHYSICS, AND, REALLY, WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY.

>> AND, OF COURSE -- THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR -- THANKS -- >> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> IN A SECOND WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ, REPORTING LIVE FROM ROBIN.

STAY WITH US.

>> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY JOEL AND FRIEDMAN , PRESIDENT OF THE ALVIN H BOHLMAN FAMILY FUND.

>> GROOVING ALONG TO SOME BETTER TEMPERATURES.

NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ, WHO SPENT THE DAY IN ROBIN, ILLINOIS, AS PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

JOANNA?

>> Reporter: PARIS, EARLIER TODAY, WE VISITED A RESTAURANT THAT'S BEEN OPEN FOR FIVE MONTHS.

WE SPOKE WITH THE OWNER .

HE'S A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ROBBINS.

HE SAYS THAT HIS DINER IS ONLY SITDOWN RESTAURANT IN THE VILLAGE, AND SAYS HE SERVES A MEAN PORK CHOP.

WE STARTED BY ASKING IN THE VISION FOR HIS PLACE.

>> REVISION WAS FOR, LIKE, COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND STUFF .

THAT WAY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND EAT PIZZA FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAME THROUGH , WHO CAN'T AFFORD UBER, THEY CAN WALK ACROSS THE STREET AND COME OVER.

>> SO YOU ARE NOTICING THAT, HEY, THERE'S NOT A DYER IN THE AREA ANYMORE.

YOU WANTED TO CREATE THAT.

>> YES.

THAT WAY, YOU STILL CAN HAVE -- IF YOU WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU CAN COME DOWN AND SIT.

>> AND HOW WAS IT WHEN YOU FIRST OPEN?

YOU SAID IT WAS PRETTY BUSY.

>> WHEN IT FIRST OPENED, IT WAS BANANAS.

IT WAS OFF THE CHAIN.

IT WAS, LIKE, MORE LIKE , LIKE, 45 MINUTES.

THE WEIGHT WAS, LIKE, 45 MINUTES.

>> WOW.

SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ROBBINS?

>> JUST AN UP-AND-COMING COMMUNITY.

WE'RE GETTING NEW BUILDING HOUSES, PEOPLE BUILDING HOUSES.

WE GOT A HIGH MARKET OF HOUSES NOW.

THE VILLAGE DIDN'T CHANGE A LOT.

STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A BIG PUSH TO REVITALIZE THE AREA.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THAT?

>> WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW ALL THAT WAS COMING, BUT, HEY , I OPENED UP AT THE RIGHT TIME.

I'M GOING TO ENJOY IT.

>> IS IT HARD FOR YOU?

>> OH, YEAH.

IT'S UP AND DOWNS WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COMMUNITY AND STUFF.

THERE'S NOT A -- I GOT TO SAY, LITTLE ECONOMICS AROUND HERE.

SO IT'S UPS AND DOWNS.

YOU GET SOME PEOPLE EVERY DAY, I HAVE MY REGULARS.

I HAVE ABOUT 230 PEOPLE THAT'S REGULARS.

THEY ALL JUST LOVELY.

>> YOU'RE HOPEFUL.

>> YES.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE NAME.

>> THE NAME AS MY NICKNAME, AND AS I GOT BIG , THAT'S WHEN THEY STARTED CALLING ME -- >> BECAUSE I GOT THE GRAY.

IT WAS KIND OF CATCHY.

IT'S BEEN WORKING.

>> SO YOU REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND JUST FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HOME.

>> YES.

I GOT TO SAY, LIKE, A HOMEY VIBE, FROM BACK IN THE DAY.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY MOST OF THE ELDERS COME, BECAUSE THEY JUST COME IN, THEY TALK, THEY SIT DOWN, TALK , THE TRADESMEN, THEY COME IN AND EAT BREAKFAST, AND TALK.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN BUSINESS.

>> YOU'RE HOPING TO GET THE YOUNGER CROWD?

>> IF I COULD GET A LITTLE BIT OF THE YOUNGER CROWD, IT WOULD BE OKAY.

>> WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW NEVER BEEN TO THIS PART OF TOWN ABOUT THE VILLAGE?

>> IT'S NOT LIKE THE PAST.

IT'S A NEW BEGINNING, A NEW MAYOR, MAYOR, WHICH IS YOUNG.

I THINK HE'S, LIKE, 30.

HE TURNING 31.

VILLAGE TRUSTEES BETWEEN 30 AND 40 YEARS OLD.

WE HAVE SOME ELDERS, SO IT'S JUST NEW BLOOD.

>> AND IT'S GENERATIONAL, TOM.

YOU SAID YOUR PARENTS LIVED HERE, THEIR PARENTS LIVED HERE.

>> YES, MY COUSIN HERE, UNCLES, EVERYONE.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

>> EVEN A COUPLE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM HERE, TOO.

>> AGAIN, THAT IS KOLODNY BLACKMAN.

HE TOLD US THAT HE DOES EVERYTHING FROM SERVING TO COOKING.

BRANDIS AND PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE WATER ISSUE IN ROBBINS TIED TO THE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.

THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ACROSS THE SOUTH SUBURBS, IS IT NOT?

>> AND, PARIS, AS YOU HEARD FROM THE MAYOR AND THE TRUSTEE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MANY OF THESE HEALTH SUBURBS HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

NOW, WE KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVES RUSS HAS SECURED $15 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO UPDATE MOORE'S WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOW, ROBBINS IS HOPING FOR THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.

>> ALREADY HAD SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

JOANNA, NICE JOB DOWN THERE TODAY.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GIN AND K FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW,COM/NEWS.

>> CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW.

AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THEY GET FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.