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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> THIS ENTIRE WEEK IS VERY CRAZY AND CHAOTIC, BUT TODAY IS A LITTLE BIT MORE CRAZIER.

>> THE EXPECTED BLIZZARD IS WREAKING HAVOC IN GROCERY STORE AISLES ALREADY.

>>> WE'RE DEMANDING SUPERINTENDENT BROWN TO GIVE US A TOWN HALL MEETING SO HE CAN GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND OUR LOCAL STREET VENDORS.

>> STREET VENDORS CALL FOR MORE POLICE PRESENCE IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

>>> IF HOUSE BILL 58585 PASSES.

>> AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

>>> AND A NEW ADDITION ON FEBRUARY'S BALLOT, POLICE DISTRICT COUNCIL PLAYING A NEW ROLE.

>>> FIRST ON TODAY'S TOP STORIES, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY PLEAS WITH U.S. CONGRESS MEMBERS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING HIS COUNTRY IN THE FACE OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

ZELENSKYY WRAPPED UP HIS TRIP BY ADDRESSING A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS.

HE VISITED WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AT THE OVAL OFFICE.

CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING A BILL THAT CONTAINS $44 BILLION IN EMERGENCY AID FOR UKRAINE AND EARLIER TODAY BIDEN AND ZELENSKYY HELD A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE.

>> WHAT YOUR DOING, WHAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED, IS MASSIVE NOT ONLY FOR UKRAINE, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD AND TOGETHER I HAVE NO DOUBT WE'LL KEEP THE FLAME OF LIBERTY BURNING BRIGHT AND THE LIGHT WILL REMAIN AND PREVAIL OVER THE DARKNESS.

>> AND I WISH YOU TO SEE YOUR CHILDREN WELL AND TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN.

I THINK THAT IT'S DEMANDING WHAT I CAN WISH YOU AND, OF COURSE, TO BE TOGETHER WITH US JOINTLY BECAUSE WE REALLY FIGHT FOR OUR COMMON VICTORY AGAINST THIS TYRANNY.

>> CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING FOR THE FIRST WINTER STORM OF THE SEASON BRINGING DANGEROUSLY HIGH WINDS AND EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES.

>> ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IS THAT THE COMMUTE TIME FROM ANYTIME BEYOND NOON TOMORROW AFTERNOON GOING THROUGH OUR TRADITIONAL EVENING COMMUTE INTO THE EVENING HOURS IS EXPECTED TO BE DURING THE WORST CONDITIONS OF FALLING TEMPERATURES, INCREASING WINDS AND SNOWFALL.

>> FORECASTERS PREDICT 2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW BUT EXPECT BLOWING SNOW AND TEMPS TO FALL TO A LOW OF 5 DEGREES BELOW ZERO OVERNIGHT TOMORROW.

AMANDA VINICKY HAS MORE ON HOW FOLKS ARE PREPARING IN JUST A MINUTE.

>>> DRIVING MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IMPAIRED THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

METRO ANNOUNCES IT WILL RUN REDUCED SERVICE ACROSS ITS SYSTEM FRIDAY DUE TO THE WEATHER FORECAST AND ON THE ASSUMPTION MANY REGULAR COMMUTERS ARE ALREADY HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

THE SYSTEM IS PLANNING TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL TOMORROW BUT IS CAUTIONING RIDERS TO TAKE EXTRA TIME IN CASE THE WEATHER CAUSES DELAYS AND A LOT OF CLOSURES ANNOUNCED ALL ACROSS THE REGION ALREADY INCLUDING ALL CPS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND COOK COUNTY COURTHOUSES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BOND AND JUVENILE DETENTION COURT CLOSED FRIDAY.

>>> MORE MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES COULD BE IN THE WORKS FOR 2023 NOW THAT THE STATE ANNOUNCED A TIMELINE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF APPLICANTS.

THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 55 CONDITIONAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY LICENSES STARTING JANUARY 30th.

THE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT'S IMPROVED THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO ALLOW INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY THE COUNTRY'S SO-CALLED WAR ON DRUGS.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, A NEW OPTION ON BALLOTS, WE EXPLAIN.

>>> BUT FIRST THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING FRENZY AT GROCERY STORES AHEAD OF THE EXPECTED BLIZZARD, THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THE WEATHER FORECAST COULD PUT A KINK IN THE PLANS OF THOSE WHO PREFER TO DO SOME LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY SHOPPING.

FOR SOME THE HEAVY SNOW AND WINDS ON THE WAY HAS SPED UP THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE TIMELINE AND GROCERY STORES ARE GROUND ZERO.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

>> AS WE PREPARE FOR A WINTERY MIX AND I DON'T MEAN THE WEATHER, AT LEAST EXCLUSIVELY, WE DO HAVE THE FORECAST, OF COURSE, CALLING FOR BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS, BUT MIXED IN WITH THAT, THE HOLIDAYS.

IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY AND IT'S CAUSING CROWDED PARKING LOTS AND LONG AISLES AT GROCERY STORES AS FOLKS STOCK UP DEREK LOESCH IS CO-OWNER OF GENE'S SAUSAGE SHOP IN LINCOLN SQUARE AND HAS BEEN SO BUSY HE HASN'T LOOKED AT THE FORECAST TILL YESTERDAY WHEN CUSTOMERS WERE CALLING TO CHANGE ORDER.

>> I ASKED CAN I ASK YOU WHY YOU WANT IT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE 20th ORDER THAT CHANGED AND SHE SAID DIDN'T YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO SNOW THURSDAY AND I SAID DIDN'T YOU KNOW WE'RE IN CHICAGO AND IT SNOWS?

SHE SAID I'M FROM FLORIDA AND I SAID I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> SOME FOLKS ARE PICKING ORDERS UP EARLY, OTHERS CANCELED BUT HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY NEW ORDERS.

>> WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING IS MAYBE SOME PEOPLE ARE STAYING BACK HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, NOT TAKING THAT TRIP THAT THEY WERE PLANNING ON AND NOW NEED SOME FOOD.

>> NO PROBLEM FOR GENE'S HE IS SAYS.

THEY'RE OPEN THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS WITH PRIME RIB OFFERED THAT HAS BEEN DRY AGING SINCE THANKSGIVING AND OTHER SPECIALTIES.

>> FOR INSTANCE, OUR HOMEMADE SMOKED SAUSAGES THAT WE MAKE HERE OURSELVES, NOBODY ELSE DOES THAT, OUR PREPARED FOODS, POTATO PANCAKES, EIGHT DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF PIEROGI, HERRING MADE BY HAND MEANING THE HOMESTYLE, CREAMY, DILL, ALL THE EGG LIQUERES ORDERED FROM EUROPE.

>> SHIPPING ISSUES DURING THE PANDEMIC SHIFTED THE TIMELINE FOR GETTING THAT ALL STOCKED IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

>> WE USED TO HAVE TO ORDER OUR ITEMS THAT ARE COMING FROM OVERSEAS JULY 1st AND LAST YEAR WE HAD TO GET IN ALL OF OUR ORDERS BY MARCH 1st.

SO AS SOON AS YOU FINISH RECOVERING FROM THE HOLIDAYS HERE, YOU START TO GET INTO IT AGAIN AND START ORDERING YOUR ITEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THEM.

>> SOUNDS STRESSFUL, BUT THAT EARLY ORDERING DOES HAVE AN UPSIDE.

THERE IS NO WORRY THAT TRAVEL HAZARDS CAUSED BY THE WEATHER WILL DELAY SHIPMENTS OF ITEMS THEY NEED ON THE SHELVES FOR CHRISTMAS.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE LATELY IS HAVING ENOUGH STAFF WITH THE SNOW.

SHE DID MAKE SOME LAST MINUTE SHIFT CHANGES.

>> WE REALLY HEAVIED UP FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND NOW WE'VE KIND OF REELED THAT BACK IN AND GETTING MORE PEOPLE FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW BECAUSE I ASSUME IF THERE REALLY IS A STORM AS THEY ARE PREDICTING, THEN IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THOSE TWO DAYS BECAUSE IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL.

>> Reporter: SO WHAT'S NORMALLY YOUR BUSIEST DAYS HAVE MOVED UP.

IS TODAY UP THERE FOR ONE OF THE BUSIEST YOU'VE EXPERIENCED?

>> YEAH.

TRADITIONALLY THIS ENTIRE WEEK IS VERY CRAZY AND CHAOTIC, BUT TODAY IS A LITTLE BIT MORE CRAZIER THAN EXPECTED, YES.

>> IT WAS, IN FACT, NONSTOP THE WHOLE TIME THEY WERE THERE.

THAT WAS NO BOTHER FOR HEIDI ROMERO, THOUGH.

>> DOING SOME SHOPPING, GERMAN FOOD SHOPPING.

>> Reporter: WHY TODAY?

IS IT SOMETHING NORMALLY YOU WOULD SAVE UNTIL FRIDAY OR SATURDAY BUT HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE WEATHER FORECAST?

>> I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE WEATHER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

MY SON'S DRIVING MY BMW.

>> GET IT.

IF IT WASN'T OBVIOUS THERE, ROMERO IS GERMAN.

HER FAMILY WILL ENJOY BRATS FROM GENE'S OVER CHRISTMAS.

JAMES HERBECK DID HAVE AN EYE ON THE FORECAST AS HE INCLUDED GENE'S AMONG HIS DAILY ERRANDS.

>> Reporter: WHAT ARE YOU GETTING HERE?

>> SOME CHEESE, MEATS, SALAD AND MAYBE A BOTTLE OF WINE, YOU KNOW.

>> Reporter: I RECOMMEND SEVERAL IF YOU REALLY CAN'T LEAVE IT.

WARMS YOU UP, RIGHT?

>> I WILL.

I'LL TAKE YOUR ADVICE.

>> IMPORTANT PROVISIONS IF THE WEATHER KEEPS HIM SHUT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS PLANNED.

BRANDIS, SANTA GETS A LOT OF CREDIT THIS SEASON, BUT KUDOS TO GROCERS AND ALL THE OTHER RETAIL WORKERS.

DEREK SAYS HE HAS BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK AS IN AN 18 PLUS HOUR DAY YESTERDAY AND THEN THIS MORNING HE GOT TO GENE'S AT ABOUT 4:30 AND WITH ALL THOSE SWITCHED ORDERS THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LATE A NIGHT IT IS GOING TO BE FOR HIM.

SO TO ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS AND SORRY, BRENDA, I BELIEVE THAT INCLUDES YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, WHAT CAN VOTERS EXPECT ON THE BALLOT THIS UPCOMING ELECTION?

>>> BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

[ MUSIC ] >>> OUR CULTURE IS VIBRANT, RICH, FUN.

>> WE SAY LET ME TRY TO HELP YOU.

THIS IS WHAT CHICAGO IS.

THIS IS LITTLE VILLAGE.

>>> FEBRUARY'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE RACE FOR MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL, THERE ARE DOZENS OF CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR BRAND-NEW POSITIONS, POLICE DISTRICT COUNCILS.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE ON MEMBERS OF THE COUNCILS WHO WILL OVERSEE EACH OF THE CITY'S 22 POLICE DISTRICTS.

THEN THOSE DISTRICTS WILL NOMINATE SEVEN PEOPLE TO SERVE ON A COMMISSION TO OVERSEE THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT AND CITY.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE ANTHONY DRIVER, JR. PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DAMON SMITH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR DISTRICT COUNCILS WITH THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE REALLY HAVE TO CLARIFY THIS.

THESE TWO NEW POSITIONS HERE, LET'S START WITH THE POLICE DISTRICT COUNCIL.

DAMON, WHAT WILL THIS COUNCIL DO?

>> THIS COUNCIL WILL BE A LIAISON BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE LOCAL POLICE DISTRICT.

THERE ARE 22 POLICE DISTRICTS AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SCREAMING FOR YEARS WE WANT MORE DIRECT INPUT HOW POLICING IS DONE IN OUR DISTRICTS.

LET'S FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO DEAL WITH OUR DISTRICTS WHERE WE MAY NOT EVEN HAVE TO CALL POLICE AND PRESENT ALTERNATIVES FOR MINOR OFFENSES THAT COULD BE HANDLED WITH THE COMMUNITY SO SITUATIONS DO NOT GET ESCALATED AND CALL SITUATIONS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE OVERMISSED.

>> FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, BUT THEIR OTHER MAIN JOB, ANTHONY DRIVER, WILL BE TO SELECT COMMISSIONERS.

WHAT IS THAT COMMISSION GOING TO DO?

>> CURRENTLY I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE HAVE A BIG ROLE TO PLAY IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE HELP SELECT THE CHIEF, POLICE SUPERINTENDENT IF THERE'S A VACANCY, POLICY MAKING AND POLICY SIGHT AUTHORITY OVER COPA AND THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH THE MAYOR DOES HAVE POWER TO REJECT WHO THE COMMISSIONERS SEND HER OR HIM, BUT TWO-THIRDS OF CITY COUNCIL CAN VOTE TO OVERRIDE IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONVOLUTED RULES HERE OF THERE WAS BIG NEGOTIATION TO GET IN DONE.

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN THE POLICE BOARD THAT EXISTS CURRENTLY?

>> THIS IS A, IF YOU WILL, FULL ON WRAP-AROUND ASPECT OF POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO THE POLICE BOARD HAS INVESTIGATIVE POWERS.

WHAT WE DO AT THE CCPSA IS FRONT END ACCOUNTABILITY WORK.

WE'RE HERE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, TO BUILD RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE POLICING PROCESS BEFORE INCIDENTS HAPPEN OF MISCONDUCT, OF MISCHIEVOUSNESS, IF YOU WILL, SO THESE INCIDENTS DON'T HAPPEN AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

WE CAN DECREASE THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF MISCONDUCT BY BUILDING BETTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND POLICE DISTRICT AND LEADERSHIP.

>> FOCUSING ON THE FRONT END.

ANTHONY DRIVER, ULTIMATELY HOW DO YOU WANT THIS TO IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY HAVING THIS NEW COMMISSION?

IT.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANCE THING IS TO GET RESIDENTS INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE TRIED EVERY OTHER TYPE OF OVERSIGHT.

WE WENT FROM COPA TO GIVING MORE POWER TO THE POLICE BOARD.

WE TRIED EVERYTHING BUT GIVING THE COMMUNITY AN ACTUAL VOICE.

THIS COMMISSION EXISTS TO SERVE RESIDENTS AND RESIDENTS HAVE A DIRECT VOICE IN THAT THROUGH THEIR VOICE AT THE BALLOT AND ALSO HAVING A HYPER LOW PERFORMANCE GOVERNMENT IN THE DISTRICT COUNCILS.

>> COPA BEING THE OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT TOOK OVER FOR IPRA THAT GOT WIPED AWAY BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN PROGRAMATIC.

IT SEEMS CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS THE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE RUNNING THESE DISTRICTS ARE FOP-INFLUENCED POLICE SUPPORTERS OR FOLKS THAT ARE NOT SUPPORTERS OF THE POLICE.

IS THAT WHAT IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO, THOSE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOLKS ON THIS BOARD?

>> YES AND YES AND THAT IS OKAY BECAUSE WE WANT ALL REPRESENTATIVE AND ALL VOICES HERE AT THE TABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

POLICING IN CHICAGO IS A VERY CHALLENGING JOB.

COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS IS A VERY CHALLENGING JOB.

TO DO THAT WITH ONE VOICE OR A SILO OF VOICES INSTEAD OF EVERYONE AT THE TABLE HAVING AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THEIR MIND, THAT'S TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OF THE MAYOR AND SUPERINTENDENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL GIVE ALL VOICES ACCESS AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO INFLUENCE HOW POLICING IS DONE IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

>> ANTHONY, REMIND US OF PROCESS THAT BROUGHT THIS ABOUT.

THERE WAS LONG DEBATE FOR MANY YEARS AND WHY IT WAS SO CONTENTIOUS.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS FOR CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE THE ASSASSINATION OF CHAIRMAN -- WHEN I JOINED THIS, THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS COMPETING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER AND CAME TOGETHER TO FORM A COALITION THAT WAS OVER 17 LABOR UNIONS AND OVER 100 COMMUNITY AND FAITH ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THROUGH TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS OF STRUGGLE WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET THE SUPER MAJORITY REQUIRED AT CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THIS LAST JULY.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS THAT SAY THERE'S JUST TOO MANY GOVERNING BODIES HERE, ANOTHER POLITICIAN RUNNING FOR ANOTHER ELECTED POLITICIAN AND IT'S GOING TO BE LOSS IN A MESS OF BUREAUCRACY?

>> THIS IS DEMOCRACY, BUT THIS IS A TOTALLY INDEPENDENT DEMOCRACY.

AGAIN, IT CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED THAT THIS ARM OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, OF PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITY, IS 100% TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OF ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, ENTITY, OFFICE, TITLE, ET CETERA.

SO THIS IS TRULY THE COMMUNITY SPEAKS TO THE DISTRICT COUNCILS.

DISTRICT COUNCIL SPEAKS TO THE COMMISSION.

THEY MEET FOUR TIMES A YEAR, PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION, WHOMEVER THAT SHALL BE, AND THE ADMINISTRATION MUST SELECT FROM THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE SUPPLIED TO THEM TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> AGAIN, THE ADMINISTRATION CAN VETO THE SELECTION, BUT CITY COUNCIL CAN OVERRIDE IT, BUT THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> THOSE ARE APPROPRIATE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT EXIST IN OUR CONGRESS, GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CITY COUNCIL.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

BRANDIS, WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>>> PARIS, STREET VENDORS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO DEMAND MORE POLICE PRESENCE IN LITTLE VILLAGE FOLLOWING AN UPTICK IN ARMED ROBBERIES.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" JOANNA HERNANDEZ HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: ONE BY ONE STREET VENDORS WALK INTO CHICAGO POLICE HEADQUARTERS ON A MISSION TO GET HELP FOLLOWING RECENT ROBBERIES OF VOTE VENDORS ALONG 26th STREET.

>> TODAY WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS FAILED US AGAIN.

>> Reporter: THE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL HOSTED A RALLY DEMANDING MORE POLICE PROTECTION FOR VENDORS SELLING ON THE STREET.

AMONG THEM IS MARIA VELASQUEZ.

SHE SAYS SHE'S BEEN ROBBED AT GUNPOINT THREE TIMES IN 15 DAYS.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: VELASQUEZ SHOWS US SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF ONE OF THE ROBBERIES.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: IN THE VIDEO YOU SEE A CUSTOMER WALKING TO HIS VEHICLE WHEN HE IS AMBUSHED.

VELASQUEZ SAYS ONE OF THE ROBBERS JUMPS INTO OUR CAR AND MUGS HER AT GUNPOINT BEFORE RUNNING OFF.

SHE HAS FILED POLICE REPORTS BUT HAS YET TO GET ANY UPDATES.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: IN RECENT MONTHS LOCAL LEADERS SAY STREET VENDORS HAVE BECOME VICTIMS OF MULTIPLE ASSAULTS AND ROBBERIES.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZER CHRISTIAN AMENDARES SAYS HE'S WORKING WITH GROUPS TO PATROL THE 26th STREET CORRIDOR.

>> I'M RISKING MY OWN LIFE TO TRY TO KEEP OUR LOCAL STREET VENDOR SAFE.

JUST 20 MINUTES BEFORE CHECKING IN WITH A STREET VENDOR, I WENT TO CHECK ON ANOTHER STREET VENDOR AND HE GOT MUGGED.

IF I WOULD HAVE STOOD THERE, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MUGGED, TOO, OR WORSE.

>> Reporter: THE VENDORS WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET WITH SUPERINTENDENT BROWN BUT WERE PROMISED A MEETING IN THREE WEEKS.

>> I'M ASKING THE SUPERINTENDENT WALKS AT 3, 4 A.M. WITH US AND MEETS THE VENDORS SO HE CAN KNOW WHO HE'S PROTECTING.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME VENDORS LIKE VELASQUEZ SAY THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE TO WORK KNOWING THE SUSPECTS ARE STILL OUT THERE.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT," I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> WE DID REACH OUT TO THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY SAY THEY CANNOT COMMENT ON ANY PLAN OF ACTION INVOLVING THE STREET VENDORS.

ORGANIZERS SAY THEY ALSO SENT A LETTER TO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

>>> ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE POLITICIANS BY NAME, JESSE WHITE, IS PASSING THE BATON, ANOTHER OUTGOING POLITICIAN ALDERWOMAN CARRIE AUSTIN SAYS SHE'S UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL.

>>> AFTER REFERRING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ON CRIMINAL CHARGES, ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER IS POISED TO LEAVE CONGRESS.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ, WELCOME BACK.

LET'S START WITH CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER.

HE'S ABOUT TO LEAVE CONGRESS JUST DAYS AFTER HE REFERRED FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO THE DOJ, APPARENTLY WANTING TO STAY INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

AT THE MOMENT HE APPEARS TO BE A MAN WITHOUT A PARTY.

DIDN'T WE HEAR REPORTS YESTERDAY, PARIS, HE SOLD HIS HOME IN ILLINOIS.

WHAT MIGHT HIS FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

>> WE DID HEAR THOSE REPORTS.

THEN HE SAID HE WANTS TO STAY IN ILLINOIS.

IT DOES SEEM HIS IMMEDIATE FUTURE WILL BE AS A COMMENTATOR ON CABLE TELEVISION WHICH WOULD INDICATE MAYBE HE WANTS TO STAY OUT EAST, BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE REALLY IS NO HOME FOR HIM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, ESPECIALLY THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY.

YOU CANNOT WIN A PRIMARY ELECTION NOW WITH THE PARTY CONSTITUTED AS IT IS WHERE DONALD TRUMP IS THE MAJOR FIGURE OR TRUMP IS THIS MAGA BRAND POLITICS BECAUSE HE MADE SURE HE'S COMPLETELY AGAINST THAT AND HE WANTS TO TAKE THE PARTY AND COUNTRY IN A NEW DIRECTION.

HE'S WAITING FOR EITHER THE PARTY TO CHANGE OR AN INDEPENDENT MODERATE THIRD PARTY TO FORM OR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO REACH OUT TO MORE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS AND MAYBE THEN HE'LL RUN FOR SOME OTHER OFFICE, BUT IT DOES APPEAR IN ILLINOIS POLITICS IT'S PROBABLY OVER.

>> FOR NOW ANYWAY.

TWO LONG TIME CHICAGO POLITICIANS DECIDED TO CALL IT A DAY.

THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR DEPARTURE COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT, FIRST TALKING ABOUT OUTGOING SECRETARY OF STATE JESSE WHITE.

BEEN IN THAT POSITION SINCE 1998 AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO SCANDAL WHICH SAYS A LOT ABOUT ILLINOIS POLITICS, BUT HE'S GOING OUT WITHOUT SCANDAL.

AMANDA, HOW DO YOU SEE HIS LEGACY?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT IS A VAST CONTRAST TO OTHERS, PARTICULARLY LOOKING AT FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN, BEEN AROUND EVEN LONGER, SERVED IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE WITH WHITE.

HE IS THE JESSE WHITE TUMBLERS, BUT THERE'S A REASON HE SERVED THIS POSITION FOR SO LONG AND THAT'S BECAUSE HE WAS A HUGE GO GETTER FOR DEMOCRATS.

SO DEMOCRATIC LEADERS PLEADED WITH HIM SEVERAL TIMES PLEASE RUN AGAIN, PLEASE RUN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER TERM.

THAT IS HIS MAJOR LEGACY IS THAT OF POPULARITY, A POLITICIAN WHO PEOPLE TRULY LIKED.

>> CARRIE AUSTIN IS STEPPING DOWN MARCH 1st SAYING SHE'S TOO ILL TO STAND TRIAL ON BRIBERY CHARGES.

I DO WANT TO PLAY THIS SOUNDBITE BECAUSE SHE REFERENCED HER HEALTH WHEN SHE WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE RED LINE EXTENSION AT CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK.

>> I'LL SHORTLY LIMIT MY SPEECH.

I DON'T WANT TO RUN OUT OF OXYGEN.

>> FEDERAL PROSECUTORS DON'T SEEM TO THINK SHE IS AS SICK AS SHE CLAIMS TO BE.

ARE HER CLAIMS OF ILL HEALTH GOING TO DELAY OR PREVENT THIS TRIAL?

>> WE WON'T KNOW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION.

SHE'S NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

SHE TOLD US, FEDERAL PROSECUTORS, THAT IF SHE WAS FORCED TO STAND TRIAL ON CHARGES OF BRIBERY AND LYING TO FBI, IT WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO A DEATH SENTENCE.

THE FBI SURVEILLED HER FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN MID-NOVEMBER AND CAUGHT HER GOING TO THE HAIR SALON FOR SEVERAL HOURS, GOING OUT TO DINNER AND WALKING UNASSISTED.

SINCE SHE HAS BEEN BACK AT CITY COUNCIL FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, SHE'S BEEN USING SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN THERAPY AND SHE HAS NOT SORT OF BEEN AN ACTIVE PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT THE FBI SAYS LOOK, IF SHE'S ABLE TO REPRESENT NEARLY 50,000 RESIDENTS IN THE FAR SOUTH SIDE, SHE IS CAPABLE OF STANDING TRIAL.

THAT WILL BE, OF COURSE, UP TO A JUDGE.

THEY SAY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOMEBODY LIKE ALDERMAN AUSTIN WHO HAS BEEN IN OFFICE THE SECOND LONGEST OF ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ALLEGED CRIMES.

SHE, OF COURSE, PLED NOT GUILTY.

>> WHO WOULD THAT BE WHO HAS BEEN IN OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL LONGER?

>>> PIVOTING A LITTLE BIT, ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS HELD HEARINGS THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE BAN ON CERTAIN ASSAULT RIFLES.

SUPPORTERS OF ASSAULT RIFLES SAID THEY ARE PREPARED TO TAKE THIS TO COURT.

AMANDA, GUN ADVOCATES INDICATING ALREADY THIS LEGAL CHALLENGE.

ARE THEY CONFIDENT IT WILL WITHSTAND A CHALLENGE?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY CAN BE.

THERE IS SOME PRETTY SOLID EVIDENCE ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO FAVOR GUN RIGHTS THAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT MIGHT VERY WELL BE ON THEIR SIDE, BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT THERE IS SUCH POLITICAL PRESSURE AND SUCH DESIRE.

IT IS BOTH AT THE SAME TIME PRESSURE FOR THEM TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS PASSED, BUT ALSO PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF HIGHLAND PARK AND MASS SHOOTINGS IN THIS CITY, THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

>> AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN NATIONWIDE IN OTHER STATES THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE LEGAL CHALLENGE BEING SUCCESSFUL, BUT THE SUPREME COURT, WE DON'T KNOW.

>> WE'LL FIND OUT IN 2023 MAYBE.

THAT IS SPOTLIGHT FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS, TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

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

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION, THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00, WE CAN GET HERE.

>>> NORTH PARK RESIDENTS AND LEADERS ARE BRACING FOR THE ANTICIPATED CHICAGO BLIZZARD.

WE HAVE A LIVE REPORT.

>>> AND THE MANY FACES OF SANTA CLAUS SEEN IN A VINTAGE CARD COLLECTION AT THE LIBRARY.

>>> FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY WARM.

>> STAY SAFE.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES WISHING ALL A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON!