>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THEM ON THE SHOW TONIGHT -- >> YOUR JUDGMENT .

STATEMENT MANY BUS AND TRAIN CONNECTIONS ARE PAID FOR AS MUCH AS AN 80 HOUR WORK WEEK.

>> THE URGENCY OF THIS IS SOMETHING I LIVE WITH LITERALLY EVERY DAY.

>>> GUN RIGHT GROUPS ARE READY TO FIRE BACK ON A BILL TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS.

>>> A NEW REPORT SHOWS DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEATHS ARE ON THE RISE AMONG OLDER AMERICANS.

HOW COME AND WHAT CAN BE DONE.

>>> THERE ARE TRAVEL COMMUNITIES AT RISK OF BEING WASHED AWAY.

>> MORE SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES FACING THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT AND MORE IN A NEW WTTW NEWS COLUMN.

>>> THIS MEANS A LOT TO MYSELF, BUT I THINK IT MEANS A LOT TO THE SPORT.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IS CELEBRATING ITS FIRST NCAA SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP LED BY THE FIRST WOMAN TO COACH A MEN'S TITLE TEAM.

WE TALKED TO HER ON THE BIG WIN.

>>> LET ME GET A APRICOT.

>> NOBODY DRINKS THIS.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] WE SIT WITH ONE OF THE CO-CREATORS AND LEAD ACTORS OF A SITCOM, CALLED SOUTHSIDE.

>>> PEOPLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME REALLY RETURN TO THE FAMILIAR.

>> AND THE NEW CONCERT PART SERIES DRIPPING IN THE HOLIDAYS WITH 17th CENTURY MEXICAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

>>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

SOME CHICAGO RESTAURANTS ARE GETTING A BIG PAYOUT FROM UBER.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO REACHED A $10 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH THE ONLINE FOOD DELIVERY PLATFORM OVER CLAIMS OF DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.

THE SETTLEMENT IS RESOLVING CLAIMS THAT THE COMPANY WAS LISTING RESTAURANTS ON THE PLATFORM WITHOUT CONSENT AND VIOLATING THE CITY'S EMERGENCY FEE CAP ORDINANCE.

THE ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SAID THAT THERE RESTAURANTS WILL RECEIVE IMMEDIATE BENEFITS FROM THE SETTLEMENT.

A REPRESENTATIVE OF UBER SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THEY ARE COOL, COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING RESTAURANT PARTNERS IN CHICAGO AND ARE PLEASED TO PUT THIS MATTER BEHIND THEM.

>>> A FORMER CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY CLERK HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH STEALING $350,000 FROM THE AGENCY'S RETIREMENT FUND.

SHE WAS INDICTED ON FIVE COUNTS OF WIRE FRAUD.

SHE ALLEGEDLY CREATED DOZENS OF FALSE PENSION BENEFIT REQUESTS OVER TWO YEARS, MONEY THAT WAS A ENDED.

SHE IS DUE IN COURT FOR AN ARRAIGNMENT ON THURSDAY.

>>> NO NEED TO RUSH FOR THAT REAL I.D.

JUST YET.

THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ONCE AGAIN DELAYED THE NATIONWIDE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES AND OTHER IDENTIFICATION CITING THE LINGERING IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AS THE RECENT.

ORIGINALLY THE REQUIREMENTS WAS SET TO START THIS SPRING, NOW THE DEADLINE IS TO GET THAT UPDATED I.D., THAT IS MAY 2025.

ONCE A GOES INTO EFFECT, U.S. TRAVELERS 18 OR OLDER TAKING DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS WILL NEED THE ENHANCED I.D.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BRINGS HOME ITS FIRST NCAA SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP WE'LL TALK WITH A GROUNDBREAKING COACH.

>>> FOR, DOZENS OF PDA OPERATORS ARE WORKING 80 HOUR WEEKS.

WTTW NEWS INVESTIGATES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF DONORS.

>>> THE CTA IS UNDER FIRE WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT LONG WAITS AND SO-CALLED GHOST BUSES AND TRAINS.

MANY OF THOSE PROBLEMS ARE DRIVEN BY A SEVERE STAFFING SHORTAGE.

LAST MONTH THE PRESIDENT SAID THE AGENCY HAD 6 TO 700 OPEN BUS DRIVER JOBS AND 100 TO 200 OPEN POSITIONS FOR TRAIN OPERATORS.

AS A RESULT, MANY OPERATORS ARE WORKING OVERTIME, BUT CAN HAVE BIG CONSEQUENCES FOR SAFETY AND THE BOTTOM LINE.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER NICK BLUMBERG HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE AND JOINS US NOW.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> Reporter: COVID FALLOUT AND THE SO-CALLED GREAT RESIGNATION REALLY HAVE TAKEN A BIG TOLL ON THE AGENCY'S WORKFORCE.

THE CTA'S USE OF OVERTIME IS LIMITED IN RESPONSE TO A RECORDS REQUEST, WTTW NEWS OBTAINED BUS AND TRAIN OPERATOR WORK RECORDS FROM 2015 TO 2021.

THEY SHOW HOW MANY HOURS EVERY ONE OF THOSE THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES WAS PAID FOR EVERY YEAR AND WE FOCUSED OUR ANALYSES ON THE EMPLOYEES PUTTING IN THE MOST TIME.

IN 2015, LESS THAN 5% OF THE WORKFORCE WAS PAID FOR AN AVERAGE OF 50 OR MORE HOURS A WEEK.

BY 2021, THAT NUMBER JUMPED TO NEARLY 14%.

33 OF THOSE OPERATORS WERE PAID FOR AVERAGE WEEKS OF 80 HOURS , DOUBLE THE STANDARD 40 HOUR WEEK.

THREE OF THOSE OPERATORS WERE PAID FOR AN AVERAGE WEEK OF MORE THAN 100 HOURS.

>> THERE IS A DISTINCTION HERE IN TERMS OF WORK HOURS PAID VERSUS HOURS.

WHY THAT DISTINCTION?

>> Reporter: THE RECORDS SHOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WERE PAID FOR.

THAT INCLUDES PAID TIME OFF AND AUTHORIZED BREAKS.

CTA DECLINED TO DO AN ON CAMERA INTERVIEW, BUT IN WRITTEN COMMENTS SAID IT HAD A STRONG SAFETY RECORD IN LINE WITH TRANSIT AGENCIES AROUND THE REST, AND SAYS THE NUMBER OF MAJOR SAFETY EVENTS HAVE DECLINED STEADILY SINCE 2019.

THEY ALSO OUTLINED THE WORK RULES IN PLACE AND I KEEPING EMPLOYEES AND PASSENGERS SAFE, WHICH WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT.

SLEEP EXPERTS SAY EVEN WITH SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE, LONG HOURS CAN HAVE DAMAGING EFFECTS.

>> IN 2014, A BLUE LINE OPERATOR PULLING INTO O'HARE FELL ASLEEP AT THE CONTROLS, SLAMMING INTO A POST AND LANDING ON AN ESCALATOR.

33 PASSENGERS WERE HURT.

>> BOOM, I WAS THROWN FROM MY SEAT TO THE OTHER SEAT AND THAT'S WHERE I TWISTED MY ANKLE HERE!

THAT'S WHEN I JUST SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE SCREAMING AND EVERYTHING >> THAT OPERATOR HAD WORKED 12 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AND HAD REGULARLY REQUESTED OVERTIME.

DR. KENNETH LEE IS MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE SLEEP CENTER.

HE SAYS LONG HOURS AND NOT ENOUGH TIME OFF ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE SOME DEGREE OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION.

>> EVEN IF YOU'RE GETTING SOME SLEEP AT NIGHT, YOUR JUDGMENT IS JUST SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIRED.

>> AFTER THE CRASH, THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD CALLED ON THE CTA TO MAKE BIG CHANGES TO ITS POLICIES ON HOW LONG AND HOW OFTEN OPERATORS CAN WORK.

AT THE TIME, THE AGENCY ONLY REQUIRED EMPLOYEES TO HAVE EIGHT HOURS OFF BETWEEN SHIFTS.

THE NTSB'S REPORT SAYS QUOTE, CTAS PRACTICE DOES NOT GIVE THE EMPLOYEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE ENOUGH UNINTERRUPTED SLEEP TO BE FULLY ALERT AND OPERATE SAFELY.

>> ESPECIALLY IN OVERNIGHT SHIFTS.

YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY WITH THINGS SUCH AS SEVERAL THINGS, ALL OF THOSE HAPPENED ON OVERNIGHT SHIFTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE BOTTOM LINE BEING IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING OPTIMAL SLEEP IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN YOUR PEAK PERFORMANCE.

>> THE CTA TRIED TO EXTEND THE MANDATORY BREAK TO 10 HOURS, BUT IN A STATEMENT THE AGENCY SAID QUOTE, A COURT RULING FORCED THE CTA TO PURSUE THIS DESIRED CHANGE VIA UNION NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH IT DID AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

THE UNIONS DID NOT AGREE TO THE CHANGE.

ONE UNION DID RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT, THE OTHER WOULDN'T DISCUSS OVERTIME.

>> SHORT-TERM, MIGHT THROW THE PATIENT OFF A LITTLE BIT.

IF THEY ARE DOING IT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME IT COULD CAUSE BURNOUT.

>> THIS DOCTOR SAYS MANY OF HIS PATIENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING LONGER HOURS AND TAKING ON MORE SHIFTS.

THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND BLOOD SUGAR, AND HURT SOMEONE'S MENTAL HEALTH.

>> IT'S A GRADUAL ONSET.

STRESSFUL AT FIRST.

POSSIBLY GO TO ANXIETY.

THEN, TO DEPRESSION.

ALSO, FAMILY TIME.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANOTHER FOCUS.

PART OF THE MENTAL ASPECT.

>> THE CTA TOLD WTTW NEWS THAT IN ADDITION TO A MINIMUM OF EIGHT HOURS BETWEEN SHIFTS, OPERATORS CANNOT WORK LONGER THAN 5 1/2 HOURS WITHOUT TAKING A 30 TO 60 MINUTE BREAK FOR ITS UNION CONTRACT, OPERATORS CANNOT WORK LONGER THAN 13 HOURS PER SHIFT LEFT MANAGER ASKED THEM TO IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS THAT OPERATOR DOESN'T SHOW SIGNS OF FATIGUE.

>> EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT ATTENTION SPANS.

ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF MACHINERY.

DRIVERS, THAT KIND OF THING.

>> IN THE YEARS SINCE THE O'HARE CRASH, THE AGENCY'S WORKFORCE HAS DWINDLED FROM 5124 BUS AND RAIL OPERATORS IN 2019, TO A LOW OF 4580 LAST YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF OPERATORS BEING PAID FOR SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER THAN 40 HOURS A WEEK HAS RISEN STEADILY.

AMONG THE 48 EMPLOYEES PAID OUT FOR AVERAGE WORK WEEKS OF 80 HOURS OR MORE, MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THEM LOGGED AT LEAST ONE CRASH OR SAFETY VIOLATION BETWEEN 2015 AND 2021.

FOUR OF THEM INVOLVED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR INJURY.

>> THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT ALL DRIVERS THAT ARE ON OVERTIME ARE GOING TO HAVE ACCIDENTS, BUT IF YOU'RE DRIVING 80 HOURS A WEEK YOU MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT THEN IF YOU ARE DRIVING 40 HOURS A WEEK.

>> THE CTA SAID THAT QUOTE, SAFETY VIOLATIONS COMPRISE A WIDE RANGE OF POTENTIAL ISSUES, GIVING THE AGENCY ABOUT THE VESS EXTENSIVE LIST OF SAFETY RULES AND PROCEDURES.

FOR EXAMPLE, AN EMPLOYEE CAN BE ISSUED A SAFETY VIOLATION FOR FAILING TO REPORT DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT , FAILING TO WEAR OR USE PROPER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

>> ONE WEEKDAY MORNING IN JUNE OF 2019 A CYCLIST WAS GOING SOUTH HERE ON WELLS APPROACHING HUBBARD.

HE WAS STRUCK AND RUN OVER BY A CTA BUS AND RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE BUS DRIVER WHO STRUCK THE CYCLIST WAS ON OVERTIME.

HE TWICE RANKED AMONG THE DRIVERS PAID FOR THE MOST HOURS IN A YEAR, HITTING THE CYCLIST WAS HIS SECOND ON-THE-JOB CRASH.

HE WAS FIRED AFTER AN INVESTIGATION THE CTA LATER SETTLED A LAWSUIT THE CYCLIST FILED FOR $1.75 MILLION.

IN MARCH OF 2019 A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING WASHINGTON WAS STRUCK BY A CTA BUS.

SHE ALSO SUED THE CTA ACCUSING THE DRIVER OF NEGLIGENCE.

THE AGENCY SETTLED THAT SUIT FOR AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT.

THE DRIVER WHO STRUCK THAT PEDESTRIAN HAS REGULARLY BEEN AMONG OPERATORS PAID OUT FOR THE MOST HOURS.

AFTER THE CRASH, HE ADMITTED BEING DISTRACTED AND TOOK FULL RESPONSIBILITY.

RECORDS SHOW HE TOLD HIS MANAGER THAT GOING FORWARD HE WOULD WORK LESS OVERTIME, BUT HE DIDN'T, OR COULDN'T.

IN 2019, THE YEAR OF THAT CRASH, THAT DRIVER WAS PAID FOR AN AVERAGE OF 66 HOURS A WEEK.

IN 2020, HE WAS PAID FOR AN AVERAGE OF 85 HOURS A WEEK.

THEN, AN AVERAGE OF 89 HOURS A WEEK LAST YEAR.

>> ANECDOTALLY WE HEAR A LOT OF STORIES FROM OPERATORS ABOUT HOW BURNED-OUT THEY GET.

OPERATORS REALLY WANT TO HAVE DOWNTIME LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

WHEN THEY FINISH THEIR JOB THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO HOME AND SEE THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF SAFETY, NOT JUST THE COST OF PAYING OUT SETTLEMENTS AFTER CRASHES.

OVERTIME FOR CTA BUS AND TRAIN OPERATORS MEANS BIG BUCKS.

THEIR HOURLY PAY DURING THIS TIME PERIOD TOPPED OUT AT $36.

OVERTIME PAYS OUT AT TIME AND A HALF.

LAST YEAR THE AGENCY' IS HIGHEST-PAID OPERATOR EARNED MORE THAN $200,000.

NEARLY 3 TIMES THE BASE SALARY.

>> OVERTIME IS BUILT INTO THE OPERATIONS OF TRANSIT.

THERE IS ABSENTEES OF.

THERE IS TIME OFF FOR VACATIONS AND SO FORTH.

IT MAKES SENSE TO FILL THAT THROUGH OVERTIME RATHER THAN HIRING NEW PEOPLE.

THE CHALLENGE IS NOW OF COURSE IS THAT THIS IS ON TOP OF A VERY DIFFICULT TIME OF HAVING LESS DRIVERS AND LESS REVENUE.

SO, THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING TO INCUR MORE OVERTIME I THINK TAKES ON ADDED SIGNIFICANCE.

>> THE CTA HAS GONE OVER BUDGET ON BUS AND TRAIN OPERATOR OVERTIME EVERY YEAR SINCE 2015.

MOST OF THAT COMES FROM BUS DRIVERS, DRIVING FROM $7.7 MILLION IN OVERTIME COSTS IN 2015 TO $13.1 MILLION LAST YEAR.

>> NOT ONLY DOES THAT MAKE US PAY MORE FOR LESS EMPLOYEES, BUT IT ALSO MEANS IN TERMS OF PENSION PLAN, EMPLOYEES HAVE A LOT OF OVERTIME, THAT CAN ALSO BE COUNTED TOWARDS THEIR FINAL YEARS OF PAY.

SO, THEN THE CTA'S PENSION PLAN IS PAYING OUT THAT MONEY OVER THE LONG TERM.

>> COUNTING OVERTIME TOWARD PENSIONS IS UNIQUE IN ILLINOIS FOR CTA EMPLOYEES.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE CTAS PENSION PLAN WAS 55% FUNDED.

IN GENERAL, 80% IS CONSIDERED A REASONABLE NUMBER TO BE FUNDED.

BY LAW, THE PLAN HAS TO GET TO 60% IN 10 YEARS AND 90% BY 2059.

IT'S ADMINISTRATOR TOLD WTTW NEWS IT'S ON TRACK TO EXCEED THOSE REQUIREMENTS QUOTE, NOT ALL EMPLOYEES ARE EARNING HIGH OVERTIME, AND THE RETIREMENT PLAN USES THE AVERAGE OF AN EMPLOYEES' FOUR HIGHEST YEARS WHEN CALCULATING BENEFITS, WHICH BLUNTS THE IMPACT OF A SINGLE HIGH YOUR.

BOTH EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENCY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLAN.

THIS YEAR THE CTA WAS PROJECTED TO MAKE $136 MILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> NOT TO SAY THE EMPLOYEES DON'T DESERVE OVERTIME, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A LONG-TERM COST FOR THE CTA.

A LOT OF OVERTIME NOW MIGHT SOLVE THE SHORT-TERM CRISIS OF WE NEED OPERATORS , AND CERTAINLY WE DO.

BUT, IT COULD CREATE A LONGER-TERM BUDGET IMPLICATION .

>> IN A STATEMENT THE CTA SAID QUOTE, EVEN AS THE CTA TAKES STEPS TO OVERCOME INDUSTRYWIDE HIRING AND RETENTION CHALLENGES, PROVIDING SAFE OPERATIONS AND SAFE SERVICE ARE AND HAVE BEEN CTAS TOP PRIORITIES.

CTA WORKPLACE RULES, WHICH ARE IN KEEPING WITH LABOR CONTRACTS AND INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT CTA RAIL AND BUS OPERATORS CAN SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES WHILE STILL ALLOWING THEM TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTRA INCOME.

THE AGENCY ALSO SAID EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE TRAINING ON FATIGUE AND SLEEP APNEA.

AND THE CTA NOTED THAT THERE AREN'T ANY FEDERAL OR STATE RULES REGARDING HOURS ON THE JOB THAT APPLY HERE, THOUGH THE AGENCY SAID IT HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THOSE RULES TO INCREASE ITS ABILITY TO PREVENT ANY SORT OF FATIGUE OR POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES.

>> JUST TO REITERATE, WITH THESE LONG HOURS ARE PER INDIVIDUAL WORK WEEK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, LAST YEAR NEARLY 14% OF BUS AND TRAIN OPERATORS WERE PAID FOR AVERAGE WEEKS OF 50 HOURS OR MORE.

WITH DOZENS FOR DOUBLE THE STANDARD 40 HOUR A WEEK OR MORE.

THOUGH AS WE NOTED, THAT ALSO INCLUDES PAID TIME OFF AND AUTHORIZED BREAKS.

SO, IT ISN'T ALL HOURS WORKED, STILL SOME VERY LONG SHIFTS THAT CERTAIN EMPLOYEES ARE PUTTING IN.

IN PART THAT IS DRIVEN BY A STAFFING SHORTAGE AND TOMORROW WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THE CTA IS DOING TO CLOSE THAT GAP, AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES THAT IT AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE FACING.

>> ALONG FESTERING CHALLENGE.

GOOD WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS ARE ON BREAK RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE IS ALREADY MAJOR LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH WHEN THEY RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD IN JANUARY.

A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD BAN SO-CALLED ASSAULT WEAPONS.

IT IS SPURRED IN PART BY THE MASS SHOOTING THIS SUMMER IN HIGHLAND PARK.

AMANDA JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

WHAT WOULD THIS BILL DO?

>> THE CONTROVERSIAL GUN MEASURE BEFORE LEGISLATORS IS WIDE-RANGING.

IT WOULD DO SEVERAL THINGS FIRST, ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE STRIKE TEAM TO COMBAT GUNS ILLEGALLY COMBAT.

IT SEEKS TO EXPAND THE RED FLAG LAW BY EXTENDING HOW LONG POLICE TO KEEP A GUN FROM SOMEONE WHO IS DEEMED DANGEROUS BY A COURT.

IT ALSO INCREASES TO 21 YEARS OLD THE AGE SOMEONE CAN HAVE A FIREARM OWNERS IDENTIFICATION CARD.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS THEM TO OWN AND TO BUY GUNS.

THEN, ALSO, THIS IS THE MAIN THRUST.

IT PREVENTS THE FUTURE SALE OF WHAT THE MEASURE DESCRIBES AS ASSAULT GRADE WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

>> AT THE STATE LEVEL WE CAN REGULATE THESE 20, 30, EVEN 40 BULLET MAGAZINES REALLY JUST ON ITS FACE IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS INVESTED IN AND SHOULD HAVE A ROLE IN.

WE ARE SEEING THESE EXTENDED CLIPS USED NOT JUST IN THE HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTING WHERE THE SHOOTER HAD A -- MULTIPLE 30 MAGAZINES.

30 BULLET MAGAZINES.

BUT FROM ACROSS THE STREET WHERE THERE ARE MASS SHOOTING, YOU ARE SEEING THESE HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES CLIPS BEING USED.

>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE BOB MORGAN WAS MARCHING IN THE JULY 4th PARADE WHEN A 21-YEAR-OLD HIGHLAND PARK RESIDENT ALLEGEDLY USED AN AR 15 STYLE SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLE TO OPEN FIRE, KILLING SEVEN PEOPLE.

MORGAN SAYS HE HAD BEEN IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE PREVIOUSLY AND WAS INTERESTED IN THE PURSUIT OF WHAT HE CALLS COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION.

THE HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTING IS AMONG THE INCIDENTS THAT HAS BROUGHT RENEWED URGENCY TO TAKING ACTION.

>> I DON'T WANT TO WAIT BECAUSE EVERY DAY THAT WE WAIT IS JUST ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING.

THAT IS INCREDIBLY REAL AND POIGNANT REMINDER OF THE URGENCY BEHIND THIS WORK.

>> THE ILLINOIS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION'S LOBBYIST SAYS WHAT MORGAN IS TRYING TO DO AS AN OVERREACH.

ESPECIALLY HE SAYS IN LIGHT OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT' IS REALLY DECISION ISSUED IN JUNE.

GUN RIGHTS GROUPS ARE ALREADY PREPARING LAWSUITS IN CASE THIS MEASURE PASSES.

>> THESE ARE COMMONLY USED FIREARMS.

THINK ABOUT THE MAGNUM -- THE LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES BAND THAT IS PART OF THIS BILL.

MOST OF THE HANDGUNS , SEMI AUTOMATIC HANDGUNS YOU BUY TODAY COME WITH MAGAZINE CAPACITIES GREATER THAN 10.

SO, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING PEOPLE IS YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY OUR PROPERTY.

>> I ALSO TODAY SPOKE WITH DAN ELDRIDGE WHO OWNS A GUN SHOP AND SHOOTING RANGE IN DES PLAINES.

IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE STATE FIREARMS DEALERS ASSOCIATION.

HE SAYS WHAT MORGAN IS TRYING TO DO IS A CLEAR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION.

HE SAYS IT WOULD MAKE CRIMINALS OUT OF LAW-ABIDING RESIDENTS.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT AN ARGUMENT OFTEN MADE BY THOSE SEEKING TO LIMIT AMMUNITION.

HE SAYS THERE IS NO REASON FOR SOMEONE TO NEED HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

>> IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WHAT YOU NEED, IT'S A QUESTION OF WHAT YOU WANT.

WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO USE AS A LAW-ABIDING PERSON TO DEFEND YOURSELF IN A JUSTIFIED MATTER.

JUSTIFIED USE OF DEADLY FORCE.

SPORT, TARGET, WHATEVER.

IT'S IRRELEVANT HOW MANY ROUNDS ARE IN THE MAGAZINE.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IN HIGHLAND PARK IS HORRIFYING .

>> THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THOSE OF US THAT HAVE GROWN UP IN A CULTURE WHERE FIREARMS AND HUNTING ARE PART OF OUR IDENTITY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BRIDGE THAT GAP >> AMANDA, WE'VE HEARD FROM BOTH SIDES.

WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THIS COULD BECOME LAW?

WHAT'S THE TIMELINE?

>> THE LEGISLATURE IS BACK FOR WHAT'S CALLED THE LAME-DUCK SESSION IN JANUARY.

THAT IS A BRIEF WINDOW WHEN LEGISLATORS WHO ARE EITHER RETIRING OR LOSS OF SEATS ARE GOING TO STAY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY JUST BEFORE YOU LAWMAKERS TAKE THEIR PLACE.

MORGAN SAYS HE IS HOPING TO MOVE THIS PROPOSAL THEN.

DEMOCRATS HOLD SUPER MAJORITIES NOW.

THEY WILL ALSO DURING THAT NEW SESSION AND THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR.

MORGAN SAYS WITH THAT THOUGH, HE IS HOPING FOR BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT FOR MANY YEARS THE IDEA OF PASSING THESE COMMONSENSE REFORMS WAS JUST ANTITHETICAL TO THE POLITICAL WELL.

WHO IS GOING TO HAVE THE POLITICAL COURAGE TO DO IT.

THAT HAS CHANGED.

>> A SERIES OF HEARINGS WILL BE HELD ON THIS MEASURE IN DECEMBER.

THE FIRST OF THOSE IS SCHEDULED FOR THE 12th.

GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES SAY THEY KNOW THIS IS AN UPHILL BATTLE, BUT EVEN IF IT DOES PASS THEY SAY THEY HAVE THE FEDERAL LAW ON THEIR SIDE.

AGAIN, THEY ARE READY WITH LEGAL ACTION.

>> AMANDA, YOU MENTIONED THE AGE CHANGE.

THE HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTER WAS 21, RIGHT?

>> HE WAS 21 ON JULY 4th, BUT HE HAD GOTTEN HIS CARD PREVIOUSLY.

HOW ILLINOIS DOES THIS IS WHEN YOU'RE 18, 19, OR 20 YOU NEED TO HAVE A SPONSOR.

A PARENT OR GUARDIAN WHO SIGNS OFF.

WHAT GUN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY IS THAT THE SUSPECT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAD A GUN IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE HE HAD ALREADY HAD SOME ENCOUNTERS WITH THE POLICE.

A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER REPORT HAD BEEN FILED.

HE SAID AT THE STATE POLICE HAD DONE THEIR JOB AND HELD ONTO THAT REPORT AND FILED IT, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A CARD.

BUT REPRESENTATIVE MORGAN SAYS THAT IT IS TOO YOUNG.

YOU CAN SERVE IN THE MILITARY WHEN YOU'RE 18.

OF COURSE THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO USE GUNS, BUT IT IS AN EXCEPTION AND A CARVEOUT FOR THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE MILITARY.

THIS WOULD DO AWAY WITH HAVING THAT PARENTAL SPONSORSHIP WHEN YOU'RE 18 THROUGH 20 YEARS OLD.

PEOPLE WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO USE A GUN SAFE TO GO HUNTING.

AS A LOT OF FOLKS DO WITH THEIR PARENTS OR FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHEN THEY ARE THERE.

SO THIS OLDER AGE LIMIT WOULD MEAN THAT NOBODY IN THAT AGE BRACKET WOULD BE ABLE TO BUY A GUN.

>> OF COURSE MORE TO COME ON THIS AS THE HEARING START NEXT WEEK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, MEET THE GROUNDBREAKING SOCCER COACH THAT JUST MET THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S MAN'S SOCCER TEAM TO AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP.

STAY WITH US.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE HAS BEEN A RETHINKING OF HOW THOSE EVENTS HAPPEN TO >> I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF AND CAREER THAT EVERY YEAR I WOULD MAKE A PIECE OF ART DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY.

>> GOT INTO A ZONE OF MENTOR TO CHILDREN.

>> SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO KIND OF ELEVATE EACH OTHER.

>> USING OUR PAST TO PUSH FORWARD TO BUILD A MOVEMENT TO CREATE THE WORLD THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MAN'S SOCCER TEAM HAS BROUGHT HOME THE NCAA DIVISION III SOCCER TITLE.

THAT'S NOTABLE FOR A SCHOOL THAT IS BETTER KNOWN FOR BRINGING HOME NOBEL PRIZES.

THE TEAM'S COACH ALSO MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST WOMAN TO COACH A MEN'S SOCCER TEAM TO AN NCAA TITLE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THAT AND MORE IS ILLINOIS NATIVE AND UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MAN'S SOCCER COACH JULIANNE FITCH.

SHE BROUGHT SOMETHING WITH HER.

[ LAUGHTER ] CONGRATULATIONS.

HOW DOES IT FEEL?

>> THANK YOU, IT FEELS GREAT.

>> THIS IS YOUR FIRST YEAR COACHING THE MEN'S SOCCER TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

DID YOU GO IN FEELING KIND OF CONFIDENT THAT THIS WAS A TEAM THAT COULD GO ALL THE WAY?

>> I KNEW IN THE PAST THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

KNOWING THE FORMER COACH AND WHAT THE FOUNDATION THAT THE PREVIOUS STAFF HAS LAID IN THE TEAM HAS LED, THEY HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE.

THEY WERE EAGER, THEY WERE HUNGRY, THEY WANTED TO BE BACK INTO THIS POSITION AND HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GO FOR THE TITLE.

>> YOU ARE THE FIRST WOMAN TO COACH A MEN'S SOCCER TEAM TO AN NCAA TITLE.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

>> I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT HONESTLY EVERYONE THAT HAS COME BEFORE ME, AND ESPECIALLY THE FORMER COACH FOR THROWING MY NAME FORWARD AND FOR THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TO TAKE A CHANCE TO HIRE A FEMALE TO COACH A MEN'S TEAM.

I THINK THIS IS JUST A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT WHERE FOR MY WHOLE LIFE, DREAMING TO TRY TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER, THE PEOPLE I LOOKED UP TO WOMEN.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND I PLAYED ON AN ALL BOYS TEAM WHEN I WAS FIVE THROUGH SEVEN OR EIGHT.

HAD A LOT OF MALE COACHES IN MY LIFE THAT I VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR.

JUST BEING ABLE TO NOT REALLY UNTIL 1999 WHEN THEY WON THE WORLD CUP IS REALLY WHEN I COULD DREAM AND BELIEVE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER THAT I HAVE ALWAYS DREAMED OF.

I THINK THIS MOMENT IS JUST GREAT FOR WOMEN ACROSS THE BOARD AND FOR YOUNG BOYS.

YOU CAN SEE IT, BELIEVE IT, DREAMING.

IT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ASPIRE TO BE.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN BREAKING GLASS CEILINGS SINCE YOU WERE NUMBER FIVE.

WHEN YOU WERE THE ONLY GIRL ON THE SOCCER TEAM.

YOU BROKE THE CEILING FOR NCAA MEN'S SOCCER.

WAS IS A FIRST FOR YOUR PLAYERS AS WELL TO HAVE HAD A WOMAN AS THE COACH?

>> YES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME I BELIEVE FOR ALL OF THEM THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD A FEMALE COACH.

THEY EMBRACED ME ON DAY ONE, AND FOR THAT I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL.

>> ANY PUSHBACK, SKEPTICS WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK THAT JOB?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

DEFINITELY NOT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OR THE PLAYERS.

ALSO THE ASSISTANT COACH AS WELL.

FIRST TIME WORKING WITH A FEMALE.

I HAD NOTHING BUT ABSOLUTE JUST LIKE CONFIDENCE FROM ALL OF THEM.

BELIEVE IN ALL OF THEM.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

>> YOU HAVE PLAYED AND COACHED AT THE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL WITH THE CHICAGO RED STARS.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO OBVIOUSLY YOU HAD BEEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BEFORE.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU BACK TO THIS TEAM BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY IS MORE KNOWN FOR NOBEL PRIZES IN ECONOMICS AND PHYSICS.

>> I ACTUALLY LOVED MY TIME.

YOU ARE WORKING WITH JUST GRITTY RESILIENT STUDENT ATHLETES.

THEY HAVE WORKED HARD THEIR WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.

THEY WANT TO BE AT THEIR BEST BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I TRULY JUST LOVE DURING MY TIME.

THE STUDENT ATHLETES INSPIRED ME.

FOR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THEY DO AND BEING AT A RIGOROUS UNIVERSITY LIKE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, BUT THEY STEP ON THE FEE AND THEY GIVE THEIR INTO THEIR TEENAGE.

THEY GIVE EVERYTHING TO THE STAFF, THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I JUST WAS TRULY INSPIRED BY WHEN I WAS WORKING THERE AND I WANTED TO BE BACK TO BE PART OF THAT.

>> THERE IS A WOMAN MANAGING A YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM.

TWO WOMEN RUNNING THE MIAMI MARLINS AS PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER.

WHAT YOU THINK IT WOULD TAKE TO SEE MORE WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS QUITE >> I THINK IT TAKES SOMEONE TO HIRE THESE WOMEN AND TO PROVIDE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN.

AGAIN, THAT'S WHY FOR MYSELF I'M VERY FORTUNATE THAT ANGIE DID TAKE A RISK TO HIRE ME.

I THINK THAT IS THE NEXT STEP.

PEOPLE IN THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES CREATING THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THEREFORE WOMEN ARE REALLY FOR ANYONE WHO IS QUALIFIED AND CAN STEP INTO THESE ROLES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE, PEOPLE TO STEP OUT AND TO DO IT.

>> OF COURSE I HAVE TO ASK, WHEN YOUR PLAYERS ARE RUNNING TOWARDS YOU, YOU WON THE GAME.

YOU ACTUALLY STOPPED TO GET THE DOUSING OF THE BLUE GATORADE OR POWERADE.

YOU ARE A FORMER PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAY.

YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING.

YOU COULD HAVE RUN.

>> I COULD HAVE RUN, YES.

>> PRETTY FAST AT THAT.

YOU TOOK IT ANYWAY.

WHY?

>> I DID.

WHAT A MOMENT.

FOR THEM THAT THEY WENT AND GRABBED THE COOLER.

I JUST WAS RUNNING OUT AND WHEN I SAW THEM OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE I WAS LIKE I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS.

IT WAS GREAT.

>> FINE, HIT ME.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEXT SEASON.

ARE YOU FEELING GOOD ABOUT A REPEAT?

YOU ARE LOSING ABOUT 16 YEARS.

>> SIX SENIORS AND TWO INCREDIBLE LEADERS THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO STEP INTO THIS PROGRAM AND HELP LEAD THIS TEAM TO THIS NATIONAL TITLE.

WE ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH.

I THINK AGAIN THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN THERE IN A COUPLE YEARS IN THE PAST.

WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE TEAM.

>> -YEAR-OLD TEAM, CHICAGO RED STARS IS BEING PUT UP FOR SALE.

AFTER A SCATHING REPORT ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THE SALE IN WAKE OF THAT REPORT?

>> THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

I SPENT A VAST MAJORITY OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER WITH THE CHICAGO RED STARS.

THEY GAVE ME A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HERE.

IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME.

>> ANY POSSIBILITY THAT THE RED STARS MIGHT NOT STAY IN CHICAGO?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO DO WHAT YOU DO?

>> I THINK JUST FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG BOYS IN GENERAL, I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT MY PARENTS EVER INSTILLED IN ME WAS JUST TO DREAM BIG.

DREAM BIG, GO AFTER IT.

ALWAYS WORKED HARD.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONE.

A LOT OF TIMES NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BELIEVE IN YOU.

NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO THINK YOU CAN GO OUT AND DO THAT.

HAVING THAT SELF BELIEF WITHIN YOURSELF AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO AND GO AFTER.

>> HOW HEAVY IS THIS?

>> IS A LITTLE HEAVY.

>> IT'S A LITTLE HEAVY, YOU KNOW MY CONGRATS AGAIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> BACK TO YOU.

>> HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COACH AND TO THE MARINES.

>>> STILL TO COME, MORE SUPPORT FOR TRAVEL COMMUNITIES FACING THE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT AND MORE AS WE DEBUT A NEW WTTW NEWS COLUMN.

NEW DATA SHOWED DRUG AND ALCOHOL OVERDOSES ARE ON THE RISE AMONG OLDER AMERICANS.

WE EXAMINE WHY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE.

WE CHAT WITH THE COCREATOR AND STAR OF HBO'S SOUTHSIDE WITH A NEW SEASON SET TO DEBUT THIS WEEK.

>>> PEOPLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME REALLY RETURN TO THE FAMILIAR.

>> AND THE NEWBERRY CONSORT PARTNERS WITH TWO CHICAGO ENSEMBLES TO BRING IN THE HOLIDAYS WITH MEXICAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

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

CHALLENGES FOR THE 2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTION ARE YOU.

SOME CANDIDATES SEEK TO REMOVE OTHER CANDIDATES FOR INSUFFICIENT PETITION SIGNATURES.

SOME OF THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES BEING CHALLENGED ARE A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND AN ALDERMAN.

ARE BOTH BEING CHALLENGED BY A FORMER STATE SENATOR WHO IS A TOP ADVISER TO ANOTHER MAYORAL CANDIDATE.

WILSON IS BEING CHALLENGED BY A REPORTED ALLY OF ANOTHER ONE.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

>>> UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-CHICAGO FACULTY UNION SAYS IT IS SET TO STRIKE ON JANUARY 17th.

THEY SAY IN A STATEMENT THAT THEY QUOTE, WORK ONE SEMESTER WITHOUT A CONTRACT AND THEY WON'T WORK ANOTHER.

THE UNION SAYS JOB SECURITY AND EXPANDED MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR STUDENTS ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES AT STAKE.

IN A RECENT STATEMENT, THE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP SAID IT IS QUOTE, CONFIDENT THAT MUCH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH CONTINUED BARGAINING.

>>> NO NEED TO RUSH FOR THAT REAL I.D.

JUST YET.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ONCE AGAIN DELAYING THE NATIONWIDE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES AND OTHER IDENTIFICATION.

SAVING THE LINGERING IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AS THE REASON.

ORIGINALLY THE REQUIREMENTS WERE EXPECTED TO START THIS SPRING.

NOT, THE DEADLINE TO GET THAT UPDATED I.D.

IS MAY 2025.

ONCE A GOES INTO EFFECT, U.S. TRAVELERS 18 OR OLDER TAKEN DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS WILL NEED THAT ENHANCED I.D.

>>> WAVED GOODBYE TO SUE, THE T-REX, OR AT LEAST HER RIGHT ARM.

THE DINOSAUR' HIS ARM WAS TEMPORARILY REMOVED BY THE FIELD MUSEUM TODAY SO IT COULD BE C.A.T.

SCAN AND PHOTOGRAPHED FOR FURTHER STUDY.

IT'S PART OF THE MUSEUM'S DINO DECEMBER.

THEY ARE ALSO OFFERING STORYTELLING EVENTS AND VIRTUAL TOURS FOR CLASSROOMS.

>>> SOME TRIBAL COMMUNITIES VULNERABLE TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE GETTING SOME SUPPORT.

NEW RESEARCH GIVES US A LOOK INTO WHAT MAKES GREAT GRAY OWL'S SO GREAT.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE STORIES FEATURED ON OUR NEW NEWS COLUMN CALLED THIS WEEK IN NATURE.

IT'S WRITTEN BY OUR VERY OWN, YOU GUESSED IT, WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WHITLEY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

THIS WEEK IN NATURE, BRAND-NEW COLUMN.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE GET OUT OF THIS QUEST THIS IS GOING TO BE EVERY WEEK, RIGHT?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE WEEKLY.

>> THIS WEEK IN NATURE.

BEEN MET EXACTLY.

SELF-EXPLANATORY SORT OF.

WELL, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH A LOT OF THE LITTLE FASCINATING CONTENT THAT I COME ACROSS.

IN THE COURSE OF A WEEK, THAT SIMPLY DOESN'T FIT INTO THE PARAMETER OF SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT REPORT ON OR WRITE AN ARTICLE FOR WTTW I THOUGHT THIS STUFF IS REALLY TOO GOOD TO NOT SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

THIS IS A WAY TO JUST GET MORE INTERESTING , SOMETIMES EVEN FUNNY , INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

CLIMATE CHANGE.

WILDLIFE.

NATURE.

TO OUR AUDIENCE AND JUST THINGS I'VE COME ACROSS IN THE WEEK THAT HAS SORT OF CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

>> YOUR FIRST COLUMN APPEARED FRIDAY.

LET'S GET INTO ONE OF THE STORIES YOU HIGHLIGHTED.

SOME TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. ARE FACING IMMEDIATE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THEY ARE GOING TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GIVING EACH OF THREE TRIBES $25 MILLION EACH.

THERE TWO TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN ALASKA AND ONE IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

THAT MONEY WILL GO TOWARD ASSISTING THEM WITH RELOCATION.

THESE ARE COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY LOSING THEIR LAND TO RISING SEA LEVELS, EROSION, AND THIS WILL PARTLY GIVE THEM THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND OR FURTHER INLAND.

THERE'S ANOTHER EIGHT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE RECEIVING $5 MILLION EACH TO FURTHER STUDY AND CREATE A RELOCATION PLAN.

THIS BEING THOUGHT OF AS SORT OF A WAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT SORT OF A TRIAL OF HOW THESE KINDS OF RELOCATIONS MIGHT WORK.

EVEN SO, THIS MONEY IS GOING TOWARD TRAVEL COMMUNITIES, IT IS NOT HARD TO THINK THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF COMMUNITIES IN THE COASTAL U.S. THAT MIGHT THINK ABOUT RELOCATION IN THE FUTURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY COULD AFFECT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

THIS ONE IS A LITTLE MORE FUN STORY.

GRAY OWLS, THERE'S SOME NEW RESEARCH.

WHAT ARE WE LEARNING?

>> WE ARE LEARNING WHAT FANTASTIC PREDATORS THEY ARE.

THERE IS SOME RESEARCH COMING OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-RIVERSIDE.

THAT STUDIED HOW FAR UNDERNEATH SNOW THESE OWLS CAN ACTUALLY SINCE THEIR PREY.

SPECIFICALLY IN THE FORM OF BULLS.

THEY HAVE THESE VERY WIDE, FLAT BASES THAT WORK KIND OF LIKE RADAR.

THEIR WINGS HAVE THESE SOUND DAMPENING QUALITIES SO THAT IT BLOCKS OUT ALL OTHER NOISE.

THEY CAN ACTUALLY SENSE THESE TWO FEET UNDER SNOW.

EVEN THOUGH THE SNOW KIND OF DISTORTS SOUNDS , THE OWLS WILL LIKE COVER RIGHT ABOVE TO ZONE IN SO THAT RADAR ZONES AND EXACTLY AND THEY CAN SWOOP IN ON PREY THAT IS TWO FEET BELOW SNOW.

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

PAYMENT THAT'S A VERY EVIL LOOK.

>> I THINK THEY ARE COOL.

>> I DIDN'T SAY THEY WEREN'T.

THIS KIND OF EVIL LOOKING.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

WE'LL READ THIS ONLINE AND YOU CAN READ HER COLUMN ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE WEEKLY UPDATES EVERY FRIDAY.

IT IS ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> NOW A LOOK AT SOME NEW ALARMING DATA FROM THE CDC.

>> MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 IN THE U.S.

BUT, WE ARE STILL FINDING OUT HOW THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE IMPACTED COUNTLESS OTHER LIVES.

CONTRIBUTING TO MANY ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

A NEW CDC REPORT SHOWS DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED DEATHS AMONG OLDER AMERICANS SURGED IN 2020 WITH A 53% INCREASE IN DEATHS FROM OPIOIDS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

ALCOHOL IN SENIORS, 18%.

THE HIGHEST RATES OF DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS WERE AMONG BLACK MEN AND WOMEN, AND THERE WAS A 31% INCREASE IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS FOR BLACK MEN AGES 65 TO 74 YEARS OLD.

HERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS DISTURBING DATA AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR SENIORS ARE LORI AND PAUL, BUEHLER PROFESSOR FOR AGING AND DIRECTOR FOR THE BUEHLER CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY AND ECONOMICS AT THE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

AND CRAIG LAMB, CLINICAL DIRECTOR AT GATEWAY FOUNDATION, A NETWORK OF ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE BE DRIVING THIS?

>> I THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC OF COURSE IS AFFECTING EVERYBODY.

PEOPLE ARE LEFT MORE ALONG.

OLDER ADULTS ARE WAY MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM SOCIAL ISOLATION.

DEPRESSION.

MORE LIKELY TO HAVE MULTIPLE PRESCRIPTIONS THAT MIGHT INTERACT THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF.

THEN, THE OTHER THING IS THEY ARE STILL USING.

IT IS MIRRORING THE PATTERN OF INCREASE IN YOUNGER ADULTS.

THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING WITH OLDER ADULTS SO WE SHOULDN'T THINK JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL THAT THEY ARE NOT OUT THERE USING RECREATIONAL DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT'S BEHIND THIS INCREASED OVERDOSE RATE.

>> I AGREE THAT COVID PANDEMIC DID CREATE MORE ISOLATION FOR PEOPLE.

OLDER ADULTS ALSO SOME OF THEM SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC PAIN MAY BE USING OPIATES AS PRESCRIBED.

THERE MAY BECOME PROBLEMS WHICH LEADS TO GREATER RISK.

ALSO THERE IS INCREASE IN FENTANYL USE.

MAYBE EVEN NOT INTENTIONALLY.

PEOPLE MAY BE TAKING THEIR OPIATE MEDICATION AND IT MAY BE LACED WITH THAT NO.

>> COULD RETIREMENT SOMETIMES TRIGGER INCREASED USE IN DRUGS OR ALCOHOL FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPORT TO WORK THE NEXT DAY?

MAYBE YOU ARE NOT AS CAREFUL WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

>> CERTAINLY ANY LIFE CHANGES GOING TO EXACERBATE THE RISK.

YOU HAVE A NEW LEISURE A MAY BE MORE FREE TIME LIKE YOU SAID.

LESS STRUCTURE, LESS ACCOUNTABILITY OR MORE STRESS.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW AL WE AGE OUR BODIES METABOLIZE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL DEFINITELY.

>> THE OLDER WE GET THE LESS LIKELY OUR BODIES CAN METABOLIZE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.

YOU COULD BE USING THE SAME DOSE THAT YOU HAVE A WHOLE LIFETIME, AND THEN WHEN YOU GET OLDER YOUR BODY CAN NO LONGER TAKE THAT.

IT JUST WEARS OUT AND YOU CAN OVERDOSE.

>> A GLASS OF WINE FOR EXAMPLE IS MORE THAN JUST A GLASS OF WINE.

>> THERE IS GOOD GUIDELINES FOR HOW MUCH ALCOHOL PEOPLE SHOULD USE.

AS WE AGE, THAT NUMBER DROPS DOWN QUITE A BIT.

>> ARE SENIORS AT INCREASED RISK OF FALLING OR INCURRING DEADLY INJURIES WHEN THEY USE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL?

>> ABSOLUTELY OLDER ADULTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE FALLS IN YOUNGER ADULTS.

WHEN PEOPLE FALL, THEY BREAK THEIR HIPS.

BREAK OTHER THINGS AND THAT CAN LEAD TO DEATH.

>> OF COURSE WHILE WE ARE SEEING THIS INCREASED, DATA STILL SHOWS THAT ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEATHS ARE FAR LESS, STILL IN SENIORS THAN OTHER AGE GROUPS.

BUT OUR REHAB FACILITIES, THEY OFTEN MORE TAILORED TOWARD YOUNGER POPULATIONS?

>> THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE TAILORED TO YOUNGER PATIENTS, BUT AT GATEWAY FOUNDATION WE TREAT ALL ADULTS 18 AND UP.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE OLDER ADULTS IN OUR PROGRAMS.

THAT INCLUDES RESIDENTIAL OR OUTPATIENT, EVEN VIRTUAL SERVICES AT THIS POINT.

LIKE WE TALK ABOUT THE ISOLATION, SOME PEOPLE ESPECIALLY OLDER ADULTS, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT INTO TREATMENT.

THEY MAY BE AT HOME AND WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE TREATMENT THEY NEED.

TO ADDRESS THE SUBSTANCE USE ISSUE.

>> IS THE APPROACH TO RECOVERY FOR THE OLDER AGE GROUP, COULD IT BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN FOR YOUNGER?

>> THERE MIGHT BE SOME DIFFERENCES BUT I THINK GENERALLY WE ARE USING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES.

WE ARE GOING TO GO WHERE THE DAILY IS YOU AND USE WHAT'S AFFECTED.

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC DID YOU NOTICE MORE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN IN RECOVERY RELAPSING BECAUSE OF THEIR REDUCED ACCESS TO SERVICES?

>> CERTAINLY.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC A LOT OF THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WERE SHOT OFF OR CLOSED DOWN.

EVENTUALLY THEY DID COME BACK ONLINE AND A LOT OF SERVICES CAME BACK VIRTUALLY.

WHICH DID HELP.

THERE WAS AN INCREASE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THIS EARLIER.

JUST ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THIS IS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

WE ALREADY HAVE DATA SHOWING THAT ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATHS WERE UP 25%.

IN 2020 COMPARED WITH 2019.

SO, DO YOU THINK THIS NEW DATA ABOUT OLDER AMERICANS SPECIFICALLY, IS IT MIRRORING WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE YOUNGER POPULATION?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY MIRRORING.

I THINK IT IS A LITTLE BIT HIDDEN.

IS AN ESCALATION OF CASES OF OPIOID USE AND OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS THAT BEGAN ABOUT MID-2018.

IT ESCALATED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT, AND THEN THE PANDEMIC ONLY MADE IT WORSE.

>> OKAY.

DO YOU THINK THINGS HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL AT ALL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN RECOVERY, OR WHAT OF A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESUME RECOVERY AFTER THE PANDEMIC?

>> I THINK A LOT OF THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS HAVE COME BACK ONLINE.

I WOULD WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THERE IS HELP OUT THERE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT OPIATE USE.

THERE IS MEDICATIONS AVAILABLE NOW I THINK.

EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT WITH MEDICATION BASED TREATMENT IS NOW THE STANDARD.

>> HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME WHEN PEOPLE MIGHT FEEL ISOLATED OR DEPRESSED.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR ANYBODY WHO MAY INCREASINGLY THINK ABOUT TURNING TO SUBSTANCES?

>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REACH OUT AND GET HELP.

I THINK ABOUT THE WAY WE LOOK AT PHYSICAL HEALTH.

YOU GO TO A GYM AND TALK ABOUT A DIET.

ESPECIALLY HOLIDAYS, BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, PEOPLE START MAKING COMMITMENTS.

I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE SAME WAY.

I SHOULD GO AS A BUDDY.

GO SEE MY DOCTOR.

>> IN THE YESTER -- A LOT OF ALARMS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND THE LOOMING CRISIS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW SOME PEOPLE USE SUBSTANCES, ALCOHOL OR DRUGS , TO DIG THEIR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE AND THE GROWING USE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> I DEFINITELY HAVE CONCERNS.

ALSO WE ARE SEEING IN THIS RECENT WAVE OF ESCALATION, WHICH INCLUDES FENTANYL, ALSO WITH STIMULANTS.

WE ARE SEEING THIS WITH OLDER ADULTS TOO, INCLUDING METHAMPHETAMINES AND COCAINE USE.

>> DISTURBING INFORMATION.

DISTURBING DATA.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THERE IS MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT AHEAD, BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> IT'S A COMEDY SHOW FOR SOUTH SOLDERS MATT BISE OUTSIDERS AND IT'S CALLED INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SOUTHSIDE.

OUR NEXT GUEST COCREATED THE PROGRAM.

AT THE RENT-TO-OWN FURNITURE SHOP.

A STORE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THE SHOW AIRS ON HBO MAX AND WILL SOON DEBUT ITS THIRD SEASON.

THE COCREATOR AND STAR OF SOUTHSIDE JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> YOU WERE HOSTING THE MIDWEST EMMYS ON SATURDAY.

THIS SHOW DEALS WITH SOME SERIOUS ISSUES BUT YOU GOT HILARIOUS CHARACTERS AND SITUATIONS HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT MINING COMEDY FROM LIFE ON THE SOUTH SIDE?

>> I THINK IT STARTS IN THE WRITING ROOM.

A LOT OF THE WRITERS ARE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE.

LIKE LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE FUNNIEST MOMENTS YOU'VE EVER HAD.

THAT HIM IT STARTS AND FROM THERE WE JUST RIP AND KEEP GOING AND BE ABLE TO -- THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE MATERIAL COMES FROM.

>> FOR THE VIEWERS, GIVE US THE PREMISE.

>> BASICALLY MYSELF PLAYING SIMON JAMES AND MY FRIEND KAREEM.

WE ARE TWO REGULAR BLUE-COLLAR GUYS WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE OUR WAY WHILE STILL WORKING AT A RENT-A-CENTER STORE.

BUT WE KEEP TRYING ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT TRY TO LIFT OUR SPIRITS AND MAKE US RICH.

AS YOU KNOW, THAT USUALLY DOESN'T WORK.

>> YOU ARE FROM CHICAGO ORIGINALLY.

SOUTH SHORE.

A LOT OF THE CAST IS FROM CHICAGO.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO COME HERE?

YOU'RE FILMING ON LOCATION LIKE EVERYWHERE.

>> I LOVE CHICAGO.

IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO DISPLAY THE CITY TO PEOPLE THROUGH OUR SHOW.

IT'S ALSO ANOTHER THING WHEN THE PEOPLE FROM THE CITY AND YOU SHOW UP AND YOU ARE DOING YOUR SHOW AND THEY ARE LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON?

IS THIS ANOTHER DRAMA, COMEDY, WHAT'S IT.

THEY FIND OUT IT'S SOUTHSIDE.

THEY SAY HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT THE SHOW NEEDS, ME.

THAT'S THE EXPERIENCE.

>> YOU DROP SO MANY LOCAL REFERENCES.

LIKE NEWSCASTER NAMES AND ONE OF THE EPISODES.

I WAS WATCHING, WHAT WOULD YOUR LIFE LIKE GOING OUT?

DO YOU HAVE SOME EXPERIENCES YOU'VE TAKEN OVER TO YOUR WRITING AND TO THIS CHARACTER?

>> YES, A LOT OF EXPERIENCES THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL JUST PLAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BASKETBALL.

IN SEASON TWO WE STARTED OFF PLAYING SOFTBALL.

I GREW UP PLAYING BASEBALL.

ALL THE TIME AS A KID.

I PLAYED FOR WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT ORGANIZATION?

THE KIDS.

>> JACKIE ROBINSON.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I PLAYED FOR JACKIE ROBINSON WEST.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE USED.

IT GOES BACK TO ORGANIC STORIES THAT COME BACK FROM ALL OF OUR EXPENSES THAT WE JUST FILL UP IT'S NOT JUST ME, IT'S ALL THE OTHER WRITERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES AS WELL GROWING UP IN CHICAGO.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT CHICAGO, AND PARTICULARLY THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET ACROSS WITH THIS SHOW?

>> WHAT WE WANT TO GET ACROSS IS THE FACT THAT NOT ALL OF CHICAGO IS BAD.

NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO DIE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN FOR YOUR LIFE EVERY FIVE SECONDS.

WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE IS THIS IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COME TO LAUGH AND LIVE AND GROW.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY DO THAT.

IT CAN BE CHALLENGING AT TIMES BUT I THINK THAT'S ANYWHERE IN AMERICA.

OUR GOAL IS TO ALLOW THE VIEWER TO COME IN AND LET THEIR HAIR DOWN.

KICKED THEIR FEET UP, TAKE THE JACKET OFF, RELAX AND SPEND SOME WONDERFUL TIME WITH US LAUGHING VERSUS ALL THE OTHER THINGS.

>> IT'S FUN TO SPEND TIME.

WE SEE TWO POLICE OFFICERS.

>> GOODNIGHT INTERNA.

>> THIS REMINDS ME OF A STYLE OF CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.

IT IS EVERY BIT AS FUNNY.

HOW MUCH OF THIS IS IMPROVISED VERSUS SCRIPTED?

>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

BECAUSE WE ARE BLESSED WITH SO MANY TALENTED ACTORS ON OUR SHOW, AND 20 PEOPLE THAT -- 98% SCRIPTED AND 2% IMPROV.

EVERYBODY HAS TO HIT THEIR LINES.

THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE STORY STAYS ON TRACK AND TO HAVE A GOOD STORY.

A COMPELLING STORY.

A LOT OF OUR ACTORS ARE JUST NATURALLY FUNNY AND VERY TALENTED.

SOMETIMES THEY WILL GO OFF THE RAILS.

THEY WILL GET ALL THEIR LIVES BUT DROPPED SOMETHING IN THE FRONT.

SOMETHING TO SEE IN THE MIDDLE AND SOMETHING AT THE END.

WE GOT MAGIC.

QUITE A BIT OF IT.

>> IN THE FIRST SEASON, SOME OF THE FUNNY SITUATIONS COME FROM YOU WORKING AT THE RENT-TO-OWN.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T PAY WHAT THEY OWE SO YOU HAVE TO GO IN AND GET THE FURNITURE BACK.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS A BUSINESS MODEL THAT HAS BEEN SET UP.

YEAH.

>> YOU GET SOME COMEDY OUT OF THAT.

>> I MEAN, YOU GET A LOT OF COMEDY OUT OF THAT.

THAT'S HOW THE SHOW ACTUALLY STARTED.

MY FRIEND QUINCY ACTUALLY WORKED AT RENT-A-CENTER FOR LIKE 15 YEARS.

THE ORIGIN STORY IS BASICALLY WE WERE BEHIND MY MOM'S HOUSE TALKING.

HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT ALL THE ADVENTURES HE WAS HAVING.

I SAID DUDE, THIS IS A SHOW.

WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

>> NOW YOU HAVE SEASON THREE COMING UP.

YOU WERE ON COMEDY CENTRAL.

NOW HBO MAX.

IS IT ANY DIFFERENT WORKING FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT NETWORKS?

>> HUGE DIFFERENCE.

THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS EXPOSURE.

HBO MAX JUST HAS A MUCH BIGGER AUDIENCE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE STREAMING VERSUS COMEDY CENTRAL WHICH IS STILL KIND OF LIKE CABLE AND OLDER SYSTEMS.

ONCE WE MADE THE JUMP FROM HBO -- I'M SORRY FROM COMEDY CENTRAL TO HBO MAX.

I IMMEDIATELY FELT THE IMPACT BECAUSE I STARTED GETTING PEOPLE ON INSTAGRAM.

PEOPLE LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SHOW EXISTED.

WHERE HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN?

WE PREMIERED ON HBO MAX WITH SEASON TWO.

IT WAS LIKE SEASON ONE WAS HAVING A NEW PREMIERING AGAIN.

PEOPLE HADN'T EVEN KNOWN THAT WE WERE EXISTING.

THEY GOT A 2 FOR ONE WHEN WE WENT TO HBO MAX.

>> WHEN IS THE PREMIER DATE?

>> DECEMBER 8th.

THIS WEEK.

>> YOU WERE HERE IN TOWN THIS WEEKEND WE MENTIONED HOSTING THE MIDWESTERN EMMYS.

I WAS WORKING BACKSTAGE SO I DIDN'T GET TO SEE A LOT OF YOUR MONOLOGUE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?

IT WAS HARD TO TELL BECAUSE ONE THING YOU WANT TO BE AS MAKE SURE YOU DELIVER FOR THE ACADEMY AND MAKE SURE YOU DO YOUR JOB WELL.

FOR THE MOST PART AS LONG AS THEY APPROVE IT I HAVE NO PROBLEM DELIVERING IT.

WE HAD A GOOD TIME.

YOU PROBABLY COULDN'T HEAR THIS BUT I HAD SOME REALLY, REALLY GOOD REACTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.

THAT FELT REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

I HAD A GOOD TIME, I HAD A BLAST.

>> YOUR FIRST JOKE WAS GETTING EVERYONE TO PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME CORRECTLY.

>> IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE MY WHOLE LIFE.

>> IT WAS A FUN NIGHT.

IT WAS GOOD TO MEET YOU ON SATURDAY AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

BEST OF LUCK, CONGRATULATIONS.

SEASON THREE.

ALL RIGHT.

>>> NOW, BACK TO YOU.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO CATCHING.

>>> THE NEWBERRY CONCERT IS CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH AN ANNUAL CONCERT EXPLORED 17th CENTURY MEXICAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

WE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE FEATURED CHOIRS SET TO TAKE LISTENERS BACK IN TIME.

>> COMPRISED OF SOUND BY TWO DIFFERENT ENSEMBLES.

A MEXICAN CHRISTMAS CONCERT HOPE TO TRANSPORT LISTENERS BACK TO 17th CENTURY MEXICO CITY.

>> I THOUGHT WHY NOT HAVE A CONVENT CHOIR THAT WE MIGHT HAVE HEARD IN MEXICO CITY IN THE 17th CENTURY.

YOU WOULD ONLY HEAR IT OVER THE CONSTANT WALLS, BUT YOU COULD HEAR IT IN THE STREETS OUTSIDE.

PEOPLE WOULD GATHER TO HEAR THESE ANGELIC VOICES MAKING THIS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.

BUT THERE WOULD ALSO BE STREET WITH INSTRUMENTS AND SINGERS AND DANCERS DOING THEIR VERY LIVELY FOLK MUSIC IN THE STREETS.

WE WANTED TO PUT THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND WE THOUGHT WHY NOT?

LET'S JUST DO THEM IN ALTERNATION JUST LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD IF YOU WERE STANDING IN THAT PLAZA.

>> CHRISTMAS IS BIG IN LATIN AMERICA.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS A VERY INTERESTING COMBINATION OF CONTRASTING PIECES OF MUSIC THAT ARE COMPOSED FOR THE SAME SEASON, RIGHT?

SO FROM THE CONVENT ENSEMBLE YOU WILL HEAR SOME CELESTIAL SOUNDS.

WHAT YOU WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH -- THEN, THE OTHER ENSEMBLE PROVIDES A REALLY NICE CONTRAST WITH FESTIVE MUSIC , UPBEAT, WE HAVE VOICES, INSTRUMENTS.

EVERYTHING IS RELIGIOUS.

>> WITH ALTERNATING SONGS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH, THE CONCERT FEATURES MUSICAL NUMBERS DERIVED FROM MEXICAN CHOIR BOOKS.

CURRENTLY HOUSED AT THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY.

BUT SOUNDS OF BOTH OLD AND NEW, THIS WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND SAY THEY HOPE TO RESTORE NEW INTEREST IN OLD TRADITIONS.

>> IT'S STILL THE LARGE PRESENCE OF DIFFERENT THINGS AT ONE MOMENT SO LONG AGO.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE CALLS ARE IN ENGLISH.

WE BASICALLY REFER TO AFRICAN PEOPLE LIVING IN MEXICO AT THE TIME.

THEY MAKE LIKE SPANISH WITH SOME DIALECT DRUMS THAT CAME AT THAT TIME.

WITH THE AFRICAN PEOPLE.

NOBODY THINKS THAT MEXICAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC, IS GOING TO HAVE THAT.

THERE IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF MUSIC INSTRUMENTS.

VIOLINS, HARPS, GUITAR AND ALSO OTHER INSTRUMENTS, PERCUSSION LIKE [ INDISCERNIBLE ].

WE ARE GOING TO USE MUSIC FROM MEXICO CITY .

>> THE DIRECTORS SAY THEIR SHARED WORD RELIEF FAMILIAR WITH A TUNE OR TWO AS WELL AS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THIS FUSION OF SOUND IS NECESSARY.

>> DOING A CONCERT OF MUSIC THAT MAYBE SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE UNFAMILIAR WAS A BIT OF A GAMBLE.

BUT, THERE ARE TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT.

ONE IS IT IS NOT AS UNFAMILIAR AS PEOPLE MIGHT THINK.

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY THE SOUNDS OF MEXICAN CULTURE IN THIS COUNTRY IN GENERAL, BUT CERTAINLY IN CHICAGO.

THIS MUSIC WILL JUST CHECK A LOT OF BOXES FOR PEOPLE.

A LOT OF MEMORY BOXES.

I HOPE THEY LEARN WHAT A RICH HIGH ART CULTURE EXISTED , AND STILL EXISTS, IN MEXICO AND SOUTH AMERICA.

I THINK WE HEAR A LOT OF POPULAR MUSIC AND WE DON'T HEAR A LOT OF THE MORE CLASSICAL MUSIC.

IT'S INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND VERY, VERY BEAUTIFUL AND VERY MEANINGFUL.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT -- >>> YOU CAN SEE AND MEXICAN CHRISTMAS CONCERT DECEMBER 9th THROUGH THE 11th AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>>> WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

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

>> THERE IS PLENTY OF POTENTIAL TO KEEP IT HOURS.

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

THE JIM AND KAY MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

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

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

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

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00.

>>> HOW THE CTA IS TRYING TO TACKLE A HUGE STAFFING SHORTFALL AND MAKE SERVICE MORE RELIABLE.

>>> PLUS, MEET CHICAGO'S GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE NOT UP FOR ANOTHER GRAMMY.

THE FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT -- >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE IN PART BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD