>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT," I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> I AM LIVING PROOF OF ILLINOIS MAKING GOOD ON ITS PROMISE.

>> I'LL CHECK IN ON WHETHER ILLINOIS IS LIVING UP TO ITS PLEDGE TO BRING SOCIAL EQUITY TO THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

>>> I CAMPAIGNED ON CLARIFICATIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE TO THE SAFETY ACT.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON WHY THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THOSE CHANGES QUIETLY.

>>> THE ARTS COMMUNITY REACT TO A.I.

GENERATED PORTRAITS THAT ARE TAKING OVER SOCIAL MEDIA BY STORM.

>>> THE MOON IS ABOUT TO MAKE MARS DISAPPEAR.

NO, IT'S NOT A MAGIC ACT.

WE EXPLAIN HOW AND WHETHER YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

>>> I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A PART OF YOUR MOTIVATION.

>> WE TAKE YOU INSIDE A BOXING CLUB IN LITTLE VILLAGE TEACHING KIDS SKILLS IN AND OUT OF THE RING.

>> YOU'RE LIKE GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME.

>> CHICAGO COMEDIAN PAT MCGANN PLAYING IN THE ICONIC CHICAGO THEATRE.

>>> COME AS YOU ARE.

YOU DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND MUSIC.

>> MEET THE NEWEST GUEST CONDUCTOR WITH THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

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

AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY IN THE DEATH OF A 21-YEAR-OLD PULLED FROM LAKE MICHIGAN EARLIER TODAY.

THE BODY WAS IDENTIFIED AS POLAND NATIVE CHRISTOFF SHUEBERT.

HIS COWORKERS SAW HIM HOWL AT THE MOON ON RIVER NORTH BEFORE SHOWING UP UNRESPONSIVE ONTIC ESTREAT BEACH TODAY.

THOUGH THE CAUSE REMAINS UNKNOWN, THERE HAVE BEEN 43 LAKE MICHIGAN DROWNINGS SO FAR THIS YEAR.

15 OF THEM OFF CHICAGO'S SHORELINES.

>>> THE SURPRISED ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CHICAGO'S BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SENDHIL REVULURI SAYS HE'S STEPPING DOWN FROM THE POSITION AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

REVULURI WAS APPOINTED TO THE POSITION IN 2019 BY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

REVULURI IS THE FOURTH PERSON TO LEAVE THE BOARD THIS YEAR.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN THE LONE DISTRICT IN ILLINOIS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR.

THE BOARD OF ED WILL TRANSITION INTO AN ELECTED BOARD BEGINNING IN 2024.

>>> A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE SWORN IN AS U.S. CITIZENS TODAY AT WIN TRUST ARENA.

THERE WERE NEARLY 2,000 PEOPLE REPRESENTING 120 COUNTRIES ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT MAKING IT THE LARGEST NATURALIZATION CEREMONY HELD AT WIN TRUST.

MEANWHILE RECORDS WERE BROKEN ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL.

THE U.S. REPORTED MORE THAN ONE MILLION NATIONALIZATIONS FOR THE 2022 FISCAL CAL YEAR.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST ANNUAL NUMBER OF CITIZENS ANNUALIZED SINCE 2008.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES.

>>> COMING UP ON THE PROGRAM, CONTROVERSY OVER ART MADE BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>>> BUT FIRST IS THE STATE BRINGING SOCIAL EQUITY TO THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?

WE CHECK IN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> A BLACK-OWNED CANNABIS DISPENSARY IS OPEN IN CHICAGO, BUT NEARLY 200 OTHER SHOPS THAT WON LICENSE TO OPERATE HAVE YET TO OPEN THEIR DOORS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH A LOOK AT WHETHER ILLINOIS IS FOLLOWING THROUGH ON PROMISES TO USE LEGAL MARIJUANA TO LIFT COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY PUNISHED BY ANTI-POT LAWS.

>> Reporter: WELL PARIS, IT HAS BEEN NEARLY THREE YEARS SINCE ILLINOIS LEGALIZED MARIJUANA AND ONLY JUST NOW ARE BLACK AND BROWN OWNED BUSINESSES OPENING LIKE IVY HALL IN BUCKTOWN.

THE CO-OWNER SAID BEING THE FIRST TO OPEN IN ILLINOIS IS MOMENTOUS.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING.

>> I AM LIVING PROOF OF ILLINOIS MAKING GOOD ON ITS PROMISE TO CARVE OUT A MORE EQUITABLE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

YET AGAIN ILLINOIS IS OUT AHEAD OF THE PACK.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS IVY HALL IS EVIDENCE OF ILLINOIS FOLLOWING THROUGH ON ITS PLEDGE OF USING THE STATE'S AUTHORITY TO PRIORITIZE HELPING THOSE PREVIOUSLY PERSECUTED IN THE WAR ON DRUGS.

>> AS WE'VE PROMISED FROM DAY ONE, ILLINOIS HAS THE MOST ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN THE NATION.

EVEN WITH ITS HICCUPS OR LEGAL OBSTACLES.

THE FIRST OF 192 SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSES TO LAUNCH.

IVY HALL IS PAVING THE WAY FOR EVEN MORE SUCCESS IN THIS NEW INDUSTRY.

>> Reporter: EXCEPT ANDREW JACKSON DOESN'T THINK THAT IS HOW IT WILL GO.

HE WON A LICENSE TO OPEN A DISPENSARY, BUT EXPECTS IT WON'T OPEN UNTIL NEXT SUMMER.

JACKSON SAYS THERE IS GRATIFICATION AMONG THE 192 SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSES.

THE COUPLE THAT ARE OPENING LIKELY HAD A LOT OF CAPITAL AND CONNECTIONS, HE SAYS.

THEN THERE'S THE TIER OF BUSINESSES LIKE HIS.

HE SAYS WITH OWNERS THAT HAVE THE NO HOW, BUT ARE HAVING TO GO SLOWER BECAUSE AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS, THEY DON'T HAVE THE CASH.

THEN COME THOSE HE PREDICTS WILL NEVER OPEN.

>> WHAT I SEE IS THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY THE MAJORITY OF LICENSE WINNERS ARE NOT GOING TO BECOME OPERATIONAL.

IT'S DISINGENUINE FOR THE STATE, FOR THE GOVERNOR TO HERALD SUCCESS BASED OFF OF WHO INITIALLY WON THESE LICENSES WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE THEY ACTUALLY STAND UP AND THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES.

>> I ASKED THE GOVERNOR TODAY WHETHER HE EXPECTS ALL THE GROUPS THAT WON THOSE COVETED AND EXPENSIVE SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSES TO OPEN.

>> I'M HOPEFUL THAT'S THE CASE.

WE'RE CERTAINLY DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN PROVIDING LOANS TO FOLKS WHO NEED THEM, FORGIVABLE LOANS, MAKING SURE WE'RE HELPING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS AS BEST WE CAN.

I'M HOPEFUL WE'RE GOING TO SEE NEARLY ALL.

I MEAN I KNOW SMALL BUSINESSES ARE VERY HARD TO START.

>> THE MAIN REASON THESE LICENSES HAVE BEEN TIED UP FOR YEARS IS BECAUSE OF LAWSUITS.

NOW REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE THOUGH, JACKSON SAYS THE WAIT CAUSED HUGE FINANCIAL HARM TO SOCIAL EQUITY ENTREPRENEURS.

IN THAT TIME SOME LOST PARTNERS, REAL ESTATE, AND INVESTORS THAT WENT TO OTHER BUSINESSES AND OTHER STATES.

WITH COVID, LEADING TO STOCK SHARE AND POT COMPANIES FOLLOWING.

THE MARKET HE SAYS IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS BACK IN 2020.

>> 100% THE STATE HAS NOT FOLD THROUGH ON THEIR PLANS OR PROMISE AS IT RELATES TO SOCIAL EQUITY IN THIS INDUSTRY.

>> JACKSON SAYS THE STATE COULD BE DOING MORE TO HELP.

FOR EXAMPLE ALLOWING THOSE THAT WON CRAFT GROW LICENSES TO BE ALLOWED TO OPEN LARGER CULTIVATION CENTERS BECAUSE HE SAYS IT'S A CHALLENGE TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THE RELATIVELY SMALL SPACE ALLOWED BY LAW.

ANOTHER OPTION, REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT CULTIVATION CENTERS BE DISTANCED FAR APART AND THAT WAY THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER.

BUT HE SAYS THOSE REQUESTS TO STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.

>> HOWEVER, BLACK IS BLACK.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS DECIDED TIME AND TIME AGAIN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO VETO SESSIONS AND LAME-DUCK SESSIONS, AND LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE ON ANY LEGISLATION THAT HELPS WINNERS GET UP AND RUNNING AND BECOME SUCCESSFUL.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR TODAY SAYS HE WILL WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THAT CULTIVATION ISSUE, BUT AGAIN THAT HAS BEEN A REQUEST FOR MANY MONTHS AND HASN'T ADVANCED AT ALL.

THE STATE DID LAST MONTH MAKE AVAILABLE NEARLY $9 MILLION IN FORGIVABLE LOANS TO HELP SOCIAL EQUITY BUSINESSES THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING OFF THE GROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMANDA, WHAT'S NEXT THEN?

>> Reporter: NEW LEGISLATOR WILL BE SEATED IN JANUARY.

WE'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHETHER THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM.

ANOTHER 65 SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSES ARE YET TO BE AWARDED.

OFFICIALS TODAY OFFER NO FIRM TIMELINE FOR WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN.

SOME BUSINESSES ARE PRESSING FOR ILLINOIS TO DO OTHER THINGS LIKE ALLOWING THE DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA LIKE YOU CAN GET A PIZZA DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR.

THE GOVERNOR TODAY SIGNALED AN OPENNESS TO THAT IDEA, BUT HE DID NOT OUTRIGHT EMBRACE IT AS A PRIORITY.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMANDA VINICKY, WE'LL SEE YOU IN JUST A BIT FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>>> AND UP NEXT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MEETS THE ART WORLD.

SOME SAY THE RESULTS ISN'T PRETTY.

STAY WITH US.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE IS A RETHINKING?

>> I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF AND MY CAREER THAT EVERY YEAR I WOULD MAKE A PIECE OF ART DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY.

GETTING INTO THE ZONE OF MENTORS, CHILDREN.

SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ELEVATE EACH OTHER.

>> I'M USING MY PATH TO PUSH FORWARD TO CREATE THE WORLD THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE.

>>> YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN PEOPLE POSTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR A.I.

GENERATED SELF-PORTRAITS ON SOCIAL MEDIA RECENTLY INCLUDING ME.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE.

IT'S ALL DONE THROUGH THE LENSA A.I.

APP.

PEOPLE CAN SUBMIT PHOTOS OF THEMSELVES THAT THE APP WILL USE TO GENERATE MULTIPLE SELF-PORTRAITS IN DIFFERENT ART STYLES.

IT ALSO REIGNITED CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ART.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS IT KENNEDY FREEMAN, STUDENT IN FINE ARTS AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE AND FOUNDER OF THE BLACK ART COLLECTIVE HOUR 9.

JENNIFER E DEWINTER DEAN OF ILLINOIS TECH.

AND JASON SALISAN, PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND CONTEMPORARY FINE ARTIST WHOSE ART DEALS HEAVILY WITH A.I., LARGE DATA, AND ALGORITHMS.

THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

KENNEDY, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION WHEN YOU SAW PEOPLE POSTING THESE PORTRAITS ONLINE?

>> A LITTLE BIT SCARY BECAUSE I KNOW A.I.

FROM MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.

IT'S ARTISTS WHO HAVE MADE ART.

IT'S KIND OF STOLEN ART FROM THE INTERNET.

AS A YOUNG ARTIST TRYING TO MAKE IT OUT HERE, TRYING TO HAVE THE PRESSURE OF PUTTING MY ART ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THERE'S A FEAR MY ART IS GOING TO GET STOLEN FOR THESE A.I.

GENERATORS.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT HAS PLAYED OUT AND THEY ARE A.I.

GENERATED PORTRAITS.

>> YOU SPOKE OUT ON THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.

WHAT DID YOU SAY AND WHAT MADE YOU SPEAK UP?

>> I FELT LIKE AT THE MOMENT IT WAS A BIT SCARY FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ART WORLD HOW ALREADY TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE CORPORATE ART WORLD IS A BIT HARD.

SO THERE IS A WAY PEOPLE CAN PAY $8 TO GET SO MANY PICTURES OF THINGS YOU CAN PAY AN ARTIST AND ETHICALLY AND NOT HAVE IT STOLEN FROM THE INTERNET.

SO I WAS A BIT TALKING ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE MASS CONSUMPTION.

PEOPLE WANT THINGS CHEAP AND FAST.

HOW THAT TRANSLATES INTO THE ART WORLD WAS A BIT SCARY FOR ME TO SEE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY STOLEN FROM THE INTERNET, REAL HUMAN ARTISTS HAVE COMPLETED THAT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AND AVAILABLE TO SEE.

JENNIFER, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW AN APP LIKE LENSA CAN USE A.I.

TO GENERATE PORTRAITS?

>> SURE, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE ALGORITHMS ARE GOING INTO THESE LARGE DATA SETS IN THESE CASES GOING INTO ART AND ONLINE WORK LIKE TWITTER.

IT'S BEGINNING TO CODIFY THROUGH FORMAL LANGUAGES WHAT IT'S SEEING, RIGHT?

AND TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT HUMAN LANGUAGE.

AND SO WHEN I THEN SEND MY INFORMATION INTO AN APP LIKE LENSA, WHAT IT DOES IS A SIMILAR SORT OF DECODING PROCESS WHERE IT GOES THAT'S A NOSE AND THAT'S AN EYE, IT'S BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMPOSITE PART OF THE PICTURE ARE.

THEN USING A TRANSLATOR, IT TRANSLATES WHAT IT SEES FROM ME AND WHAT IT SEES FROM THE INTERNET, AND IT STARTS GENERATING BOTH THE IMAGE AND THE TEXTURES, RIGHT?

THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT LAYERS THAT IT WILL BRING TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S WHY IN THE DIFFERENT STYLES YOU'RE SHOWING, YOU SEE SIMILAR TYPES OF IMAGES, BUT DIFFERENT TEXTURES OR TECHNIQUES SHOWING UP.

>> IS THIS A COPYRIGHT ISSUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE THIS CHALLENGE IS COMING UP.

IT HASN'T BECOME A COPYRIGHT ISSUE YET BECAUSE THE QUESTION IS WHO IS REALLY STEALING IT?

UNDER OLD COPYRIGHT LAWS, I HAVE AN IMAGE.

IF I WERE TO REPRODUCE THAT IMAGE OR SOMETHING IN AN ESSENCE OF AN ARTIST, THERE'S A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PARTS OF IT TO CHANGE.

NOW YOU HAVE THIS IMAGE THAT GOES OUT INTO THE WORLD AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY IN THE STYLE OF AN ONLINE ARTIST WHO HAS POSTED THEIR WORK.

>> THE QUESTION BECOMES WHO HAS STOLEN IT?

THE PERSON WHO MADE IT.

>> IS IT I OR THE PERSON WHO MADE THE GENERATOR, IS IT ART WHO COLLECTED ALL THE WORK ENTOZOAN L PLACE TO THEN BE READ?

IS IT THE COMPANY WHO OWNS IT OR THE PERSON WHO PRINTED IT?

IT'S A PROBLEM OF A GIANT DIFFUSE SYSTEM OF MULTIPLE ACTORS.

>> JASON, YOU'VE BEEN USING LARGE DATA AND ALGORITHMS IN YOUR ARTWORK SINCE THE 90s.

IT'S BEEN SOME TIME.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF A.I.

BEING MORE WIDESPREAD IN THE WORLD LIKE THIS?

>> I THINK WE ARE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF A.I.

EMPLOYED FOR CULTURE.

AND I THINK IF THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL, JUST WAIT UNTIL WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIPE.

IT IS A CASE THESE MODELS THEY ALSO ADJUST IMAGES FROM EVERY PHOTOGRAPHIC SOURCE IN THE WORLD.

THESE MODELS ARE INHUMANLY SCALED.

IT'S IN THE BILLIONS.

AND SO THEIR CAPABILITIES -- AND LEVERAGE IS JUST A SMALL LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND WHAT'S COMING.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ART, IT'S ABOUT PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHY, IMAGES IN GENERAL, AND TECH IN GENERAL, AND THE ABILITY OF THESE AI MODELS TO SYNTHESIZE NEW SAMPLES THAT FEEL LIKE SOMETHING FAMILIAR.

BUT IT'S A NOVEL IN ITS OWN WAY.

>> JASON, WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED OR SUGGESTING IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE?

AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WIDE RANGING IMPACTS?

>> SO IT'S BOTH EXCITING AND SCARY.

HAVING BEEN IN THIS SPACE FOR SO LONG, I'M TRULY SORT OF EXCITED TO SEE THINGS REALLY, REALLY REACHING A THRESHOLD THAT FEELS QUANTITATIVELY DIFFERENT THAN SORT OF MY EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

BUT I CAN SEE, I HAVE A 7-YEAR-OLD CHILD, AND I THINK ABOUT HER GROWING UP IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE TARGET ADS ARE SYNTHESIZED SPECIFICALLY FOR HER.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HAND ADVERTISEMENTS THAT ARE CUT AND PACED TOGETHER.

I'M TALKING ABOUT AN IMAGE THAT'S MADE SPECIFICALLY BASED ON THE COOKIES IN HER BROWSER AND HER OWN SORT OF BEHAVIOR ONLINE.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS START TO FEEL A LITTLE MUCH, AND AT THE SAME TIME I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION AND VIDEO GAMES AND FINE ARTS.

ABOUT THE WAY AI WILL IMPACT CULTURE.

>> KENNEDY, DO YOU THINK THIS IS AN EVOLUTION?

>> I'M A LITTLE SKEPTICAL ABOUT IT.

AND SOMEBODY, SOME RANDOM ARTIST TAKES AND STEALS IT.

LIKE WHAT LAWS, WHAT THINGS ARE IN PLACE, SO MY WORK IS PROTECTED AND AGAINST MY WISHES.

AND JUST IN GENERAL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE SMALL ARTIST, THE PEOPLE WORKING HARD TO LIKE PUT TOGETHER A COMMUNITY OF GENUINE AUTHENTIC ART.

AND SO IT'S LIKE I, AT THE MOMENT, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING COOL AND FASCINATING, BUT DOWN THE LINE, HOW FAR ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THIS?

HOW CAN OTHER ARTISTS BE EXPLOITED AND TO PROTECT THEM?

>> JENNIFER, AS WE MENTIONED EARLY ON, I UPLOADED A FEW OF MY PICTURES AND SHOWED THOSE TO YOU BEFORE WE STARTED THE SEGMENT.

THERE WAS ONE OR A FEW IN PARTICULAR, I THINK IT WAS THE FAIRY TALE WHERE MY SKIN IS NOTICEABLY LIGHTER.

>> WHITE.

>> YES, DARE I SAY IT.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> SURE, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DATA SETS WE'RE PULLING FROM.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH FAIRY TALES TEND TO GET PERPETUATED IN WESTERN SOCIETY.

HERE IT IS, RIGHT?

THEY'RE OFTEN WHITE, BEAUTIFUL, VERY SKINNY PEOPLE, RIGHT?

IN ORDER TO BUILD THE DATA SET OF WHAT IT MIGHT TRANSLATE IT INTO, THERE'S NO DATA SETS OF BLACK FAIRIES THAT'S SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO BE TRANSLATED OUT BACK INTO THIS IMAGE OF YOURSELF.

>> OKAY.

>> BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, VERY BRIEFLY IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

PRIVACY ISSUES HERE.

>> SURE.

>> IS THERE A BOT OF ME IN CHINA BASED ON ME GIVING AWAY MY IMAGE?

>> THERE IS NO MISTAKE AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DEEP FAKES, RIGHT?

THERE IS NO MISTAKE THIS IS COMING UP RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT BIOMETRIC DATA.

AND THAT WE CAN CHANGE A PASSWORD, BUT IF SOMEONE HACKS MY FACE IN ORDER TO START ACCESSING MY iPHONE OR WHATEVER, I CAN'T CHANGE MY FACE.

AND SO ALL OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES, THE ANXIETY THAT ARE ARISING AROUND THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT ABOUT THIS IN PARTICULAR ALTHOUGH OF COURSE, IT'S CONCERNING FOR ARTISTS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THIS IN PARTICULAR, BUT ABOUT IT WITHIN THIS DYSTOPIA.

>> KENNEDY, JENNIFER, AND JASON, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NOW TO PARIS AND DETAILS ON A DISAPPEARING PLANET.

PARIS?

>> Reporter: BRANDIS, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPOT A RARE-ISH SIGHTING IN THE NIGHT SKY.

THE MOON WILL COVER MARS, BUT THE RED PLANET IS BRIGHT ENOUGH TO PEEP THROUGH AND PRESENT QUITE A SHOW.

PATRICK PATTY, I JUST LEARNED A NEW WORD, OCCULTATION.

>> GOOD JOB.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DON'T ASK ME TO SPELL IT.

HOW RARE ARE THEY AND WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

>> I WAS SPEAKING TO MICHELLE NICHOLS AT THE ADLER PLANETARIUM.

SHE SAYS IN PLAIN SPEAK, OCCULTATION IS WHEN ONE THING IN THE SKY PASSES IN FRONT OF ANOTHER AND OBSCURES ITS VIEW.

SO IMAGINE THE MOON PASSING IN FRONT OF MARS AND OBSCURING IT.

KIND OF LIKE AN ECLIPSE.

>> YES, I WAS GOING TO SAY WE HAVE A WORD FOR THAT, IT'S CALLED ECLIPSE.

SO THEY'RE COMMON, BUT WHY IS TONIGHT SUCH A BIG DEAL?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE MOON PASSES IN FRONT OF THINGS ALL THE TIME AND OBSCURES THE STARS.

WE JUST DON'T SEE THEM.

MARS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS IN THE NIGHT SKY THAT'S BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR US TO SEE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO FEW PLANETS FOR THE MOON TO GO IN FRONT OF THE PLANET.

AND FOR THE PLANET ITSELF TO BE BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR US TO SEE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

MUCH LESS IT BEING OBSCURED IS WHAT IS SO UNUSUAL.

YOU HAVE MARS, VENUS, JUPITER.

THOSE ARE THE PLANETS THAT WE CAN SEE WITH OUR NAKED EYE.

>> WHY ARE WE HEARING ABOUT THIS NOW?

>> WELL LIKE MICHELLE NICHOLS SAID AT THE ADLER, YOU KNOW, THE TELESCOPE SALES WENT THROUGH THE ROOF DURING COVID IN THE PANDEMIC.

A LOT MORE PEOPLE BECAME INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY COULD DO, WHICH WAS LOOK UP AT THE SKY VERSES WHAT THEY COULDN'T DO.

AND SO THAT HAS KIND OF A RESIDUAL AFFECT OF COVID.

PEOPLE STARTED PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO NATURE AND MORE ATTENTION TO WEIRD THINGS LIKE OCCULTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE ALL ALONG.

WE ARE JUST NOTICING THEM NOW.

>> IT'S NEW TO US.

WELL LET'S HOPE THIS GRAY OVERCAST SKY LIFTS TONIGHT.

>> YOU CAN WAIT TWO MORE YEARS.

WE CAN'T SEE IT TONIGHT.

JANUARY 2025, MARK YOUR CALENDAR.

CROSS OUR FINGERS, AND PRAY TO THE WEATHER GODS.

>> ALL RIGHT, FOR A BUNCH OF OTHER REASONS, LET'S GET THIS OVERCAST OUT OF HERE.

IT'S BEEN WAY TOO OVERCAST.

ALL RIGHT, OCCULTATION HAPPENING TONIGHT AND THEN IN TWO YEARS.

>> IT'S HAPPENING WHETHER WE SEE IT OR NOT.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS.

YOU CAN READ HER FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> UP NEXT, WE'LL TAKE YOU INSIDE A LITTLE VILLAGE CHURCH TO SHOW YOU A BOXING CLUB FOR KIDS, SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLY IN PART BY JOEL M. FREEDMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE ALVIN H.BON FAMILY FUND.

>>> THERE IS MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR LOOKING TO BUMP EACH OTHER OFF THE BALLOT.

SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WEIGHS IN.

>>> BUT FIRST A BOXING GYM IN THE BASEMENT OF A LOCAL CHURCH IS ON A MISSION TO PROVIDE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" JOANNA HERNANDEZ TELLS US MORE FROM LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> Reporter: IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT AND COACH GABRIEL NOVARRO IS HOSTING AN AMATEUR BOXING TOURNAMENT.

BOXING CLUBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY GO HEAD TO HEAD.

>> I LOVE SEEING THE KIDS WIN THEIR TROPHIES OR THEIR BELTS.

I JUST LOVE THE SMILE AND THE FACE.

>> Reporter: NOVARRO IS A FORMER PROFESSIONAL BOXER WHO IS HEAD COACH AT CHICAGO YOUTH BOXING CLUB.

>> I LIKE TO TEACH WHAT I'VE LEARNED.

HALF OF MY COACHES, THEY WERE FIGHTERS HERE FIRST AND NOW THEY'RE COACHES.

>> Reporter: DURING THE WEEK, THE GYM IS A PACKED HOUSE FOR PRACTICE.

STUDENTS LIKE ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ COME AFTER SCHOOL.

>> WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BEING HERE IS THAT YOU COME HERE, YOU HAVE A FAMILY, YOU SUPPORT EACH OTHER WHEN SPARRING.

IT LETS YOU TAKE OUT YOUR ANGER.

>> Reporter: MOST OF THE YOUTH PARTICIPATING ARE FROM THE LITTLE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD.

15-YEAR-OLD BRANDON SAYS HE HAS LOST 80 POUNDS SINCE JOINING THE BOXING CLUB.

>> I USED TO GET BULLIED A LOT.

I DIDN'T LIKE THAT.

I ALSO THOUGHT I COULDN'T DO THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DO, SO I DECIDED TO COME BACK HERE AND LOSE ALL THE WEIGHT.

>> Reporter: NAVARRO SAYS THE PROGRAM HELPS KIDS GET CONFIDENCE IN AND OUT OF THE RING.

>> HE WOULD NEVER STEP IN THE RING LIKE A YEAR AGO.

>> REALLY, NEVER?

>> HE SAID HE WOULD NEVER DO IT, HE'S TOO FAT, THIS AND THAT.

HE COULD DO IT AND LOOK AT HIM NOW.

>> Reporter: CHICAGO YOUTH BOXING CLUB STARTED IN 2006 AFTER REFUGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SEEKING A POSITIVE OUTLET.

PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WHEN HE WAS A KID AND NOW COACHES OTHERS.

>> I GREW UP IN THE STREET, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO WERE IN GAMES.

FRIENDS WHO WERE DOING BAD STUFF.

FRIENDS DOING GOOD STUFF.

IT WAS AMAZING.

AND THIS BOXING REALLY HELPED ME GUIDE MYSELF.

>> Reporter: THE BOXING CLUB IS IN THE BASEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY CHURCH IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

NOAH PITKINS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SAYS HE HAS BIG PLANS FOR THE BOXING CENTER.

>> IT REALLY FOCUSES A LOT ON BOXING AND THE SPORT ITSELF.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE A PIECE OF OUR PROGRAMMING THAT'S NUTRITION AND HEALTH, RIGHT?

ON THE THIRD SIDE IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH.

>> Reporter: THE TEAM SAYS ITS GETTING READY TO REVAMP PROGRAMMING BEYOND THE RINK.

MENTOR ALEXIS IS LEADING THE TUTORING PROGRAM.

>> THE PROGRAM IS TO BE ABLE TO HELP ANYONE AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH ACADEMIC SUPPORT, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, OR PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE.

>> Reporter: AND SOME COULD COMPETE IN TOURNAMENTS LIKE THIS AND HOPE TO BE GOOD ENOUGH TO GO PRO.

>> A LOT OF THEM, YOU KNOW, COME IN AND THEY'RE NATIONALLY RANKED OR THEY ARE HOPING TO GET NATIONALLY RANKED.

ALL THAT OPENS THE DOORS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT IT IS WHETHER IT'S IN BOXING OR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> THE BOXING CENTER IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 3:00 TO 9:00 P.M. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLUB YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT," WHO'S IN AND WHO COULD BE KNOCKED OFF THE BALLOT IN A CROWDED RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

>>> COMEDIAN AND SOUTH SIDER PAT MCGANN UNFORGING A CAREER IN STANDUP AND HIS UPCOMING GIG OF THE ICONIC CHICAGO THEATRE.

>>> AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE NEWEST GUEST CONDUCTOR FOR THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

>>> BUT FIRST SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE VOICING THEIR CONCERNS OVER THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED NEW GANG DATA BASE SYSTEM.

THE COMMUNITY COMMISSIONED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS QUESTIONING, "THE PURPOSE IN NEED FOR IT."

THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE TYPE OF INFORMATION IS COLLECTED, WHO CAN ACCESS AND USE THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION, AND TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED, SO THEY CAN CONTEST THAT DECISION IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

THIS COMES THREE AND A HALF YEARS AFTER WARNING THE RECORD WAS RIDDLED WITH ERRORS AND TARGETED BACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS.

>>> U.S.

SENATOR TAMMY DUCK WORTH TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

DUCKWORTH SAYS SHE WILL REMAIN IN ISOLATION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

IN A STATEMENT, THE SENATOR SAYS, "MY SYMPTOMS REMAIN MILD.

I CANNOT ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW AMERICANS MORE STRONGLY TO GET VACCINATED AND CONTINUE GETTING YOUR BOOSTERS AS ADVISED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE GLOBE."

>>> MORE MONEY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN ILLINOIS.

THE STATE IS SET TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $350 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES AS A PART OF THE AMERICAN REFUGE PLAN.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE GOAL IS TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS ATTRACT MORE CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND EXPAND OR LAUNCH BUSINESS OPERATIONS.

ILLINOIS WILL BE DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY THROUGH FOUR DIFFERENT EQUITY AND LOW INTEREST LOAN PROGRAMS IN THE COMING MONTHS.

PARIS?

>>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

OUR NEXT GUEST IS A FORMER RETAIL PACKAGING SALESPERSON FROM THE SOUTH SIDE WHO VENTURED INTO THE WORLD OF STANDUP AT THE TENDER AGE OF 31 YEARS OLD.

SINCE THEN PAT MCGANN'S CAREER HAS TAKEN HIM FROM COMEDY CLUBS TO THEATRES TO AN iTUNE SPECIAL.

IN A FEW MONTHS HE'LL BE MAKING HIS HEADLINING DEBUT AT THE CHICAGO THEATRE.

HERE IS A BRIEF CLIP FROM HIS APPEARANCE ON THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT.

>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

IT'S GOOD TO BE OUT.

IT'S GOOD TO BE OUT.

GOT KIDS AT HOME.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE THREE.

THREE UNDER FOUR.

YEAH, THAT'S HOW PEOPLE REACT.

SOME PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT IT'S LIKE.

HERE IS A FAST FACT.

75% OF WHAT I WIPE AREN'T MINE.

>> GOOD THINKING.

JOINING US IS COMEDIAN PAT MCGANN.

PAT, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I LOVE THE INTRO.

THAT'S HOW I'M BROUGHT ON STAGE ALL THE TIME.

>> THIS IS HOW WE'RE SETTING YOU UP.

I'M WONDERING WHEN YOU'RE CHANGING DIAPERS, FEEDING YOUR KIDS, YOU'RE PUTTING THEM TO BED, IS YOUR MIND CONSTANTLY THINKING THIS IS IT?

HOW DO I MAKE A BED OUT OF THIS?

>> ANYTHING THAT BOTHERS ME USUALLY BECOMES A BIT.

ANYTHING THAT'S ANNOYING OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT USUALLY THINGS YOU REALLY LOVE OR REALLY HATE THAT YOU END UP WRITING ABOUT.

SO IT'S ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE REALLY.

>> WHAT ARE THE SITUATIONS WITH YOUR KIDS, WITH YOUR FAMILY THAT SORT OF PROVIDE THE MOST MATERIAL FOR YOU?

>> RIGHT NOW, I'M TALKING A LOT ABOUT SPORTS AND HOW IT'S BEEN RUINED BY ALL THESE DADS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

IT'S LIKE WHY DON'T YOU GUYS JUST CALM DOWN.

>> BECAUSE THEY LIVE BICURIOUSLY THROUGH YOUR KIDS.

>> CAN WE CALM DOWN A LITTLE BIT WITH THE 80-GAME SCHEDULES, GOING OUT OF STATE.

>> WHAT'S THE WORST OFFENSE YOU'VE SEEN FROM SOME OF THESE DADS?

>> THEY JUST ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER.

IT'S LIKE HOW OLD IS THIS KID?

IT IS THE SUSPICIOUS LOOKING KID.

WHO IS DRAGO HERE?

WHERE IS THE PAPERWORK ON THIS KID.

>> SO TO TAKE IT TOTALLY SERIOUSLY HERE WHEN IT'S THEIR KID.

THEY'RE SUPPOSE TO BE HAVING FUN.

YOU'RE THE FUN DAD THEN?

>> I'M NOT THE FUN DAD.

>> BUT YOU'RE LIKE THAT TOO?

>> I'M NOT SUPER INTENSE, BUT I HAVE A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE.

I LIKE TO OBSERVE IT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I SEE MY KIDS AND I TELL THEM THE GAME IS CANCELED, AND THEY'RE LIKE AWE.

NO GAME TONIGHT.

LIKE THEY'RE ALL HAPPY ABOUT IT.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE ABSURDITY OF IT.

>> WHAT'S YOUR PROCESS FROM BEING IN THESE SITUATIONS TO HAVING A FINALLY CRAFTED MATERIAL?

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK IT'S REPETITION OF LIVING IT AND THEN TRYING IT ON STAGE.

THAT'S WHEN YOU GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE AUDIENCE AND SHAPE IT, RIGHT?

I WAS TRYING A NEW BIT ABOUT SHOPPING FOR OLD PEOPLE.

I'M TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR MY PARENTS.

WHAT DO YOU GET OLD PEOPLE?

AND YOU KNOW IT'S OVER WHEN YOU START GETTING FOOD FOR A GIFT.

THE LAST FEW CHRISTMASES, SHE WAS GETTING LOBSTER BISQUE.

>> OR TONS OF PASTRIES OR SWEETS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> HER PRESENT IS IN THE FRIDGE AND YOU'VE GOT TO GO GET IT, DRAG IT IN THE LIVING ROOM.

AND JUST KIND OF LIVE IT, REPORT IT.

>> SPEAKING OF LIVING IT, YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP YOU WERE WORKING IN RETAIL PACKAGING SALES UNTIL 31, UNTIL YOU DECIDED TO TAKE A STAB AT THIS CAREER.

HOW DAUNTING WAS IT TO ENTER THIS AT THE AGE OF 31?

>> IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BECOME A CAREER TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO.

I LIKE TO WRITE.

I WAS ALWAYS FILLING OUT NOTEBOOKS, COMING UP WITH IDEAS.

NEVER WAS A STAGE GUY THOUGH.

I WAS PLAYING SPORTS AS A KID.

I WASN'T ON -- I WASN'T IN THEATRE OR ON STAGE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

THAT WAS THE DAUNTING PART.

I WENT TO OPEN MICS IN CHICAGO.

IT'S A VERY VIBRANT SCENE IN CHICAGO.

KNOWN FOR IMPROV.

BUT THE STANDUP SCENE IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

ANY NIGHT YOU CAN GO OUT TO AN OPEN MIC, GET THE VIBE, CHECK IT OUT, AND JUST BEING THERE MAKES IT MORE REAL, MAKES IT SEEM A LITTLE BIT MORE APPROACHABLE, YOU KNOW?

>> I WOULD IMAGINE YOU JUST ABSORB A WHOLE TON WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE.

RECENTLY YOU'RE PROBABLY ABSORBING A LOT FROM SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO, THE LOCAL ARLINGTON HEIGHTS NATIVE THAT IS NOW A GIANT CELEBRITY.

HE PRODUCED A STANDUP SPECIAL OF YOURS ON ITUNES.

YOU'VE BEEN TOURING WITH HIM.

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE?

>> IT'S BEEN INSANE.

I SAW IT ALL BEHIND IT.

THAT'S WHERE I MET SEBASTIAN.

AND WHERE MY CAREER KIND OF TOOK OFF.

I WAS THE HOUSE MC THERE, WORKING THERE A TON.

AND BEING IN HIS ORBIT, TOOK ME OUT OF THE CLUB ATMOSPHERE WHERE I WAS DOING CROWD WORK AND WORKING ON MY PERSONA.

WHEN I WENT WITH HIM, I STARTED TO BUILD MATERIAL BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY DO CROWD WORK IN HIS VENUES.

HE'S DOING THE CHICAGO THEATRE IN EVERY TOWN.

HE'S DOING THESE BIG THEATRE ARENAS NOW.

IT'S BEEN AN INSANE EXPERIENCE.

IT'S BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.

HE HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT AND JUST BY EXAMPLE TOO.

HE'S WILLING TO LISTEN AND TALK AND JUST WATCHING HIM HASSLE ARE HELPED A LOT.

>> SPEAKING OF INSANE PLACES, WE SHOWED YOU THE CLIP ON COLBERT.

YOU DID LETTERMAN.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE BEFORE YOUR NAME IS CALLED AND YOU GO OUT THERE IN FRONT OF THE STUDIO AUDIENCE, IN FRONT OF MILLIONS WATCHING ON TV?

>> THE FIRST TIME I DID LETTERMAN, IT WAS AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE.

I WAS SUPER NERVOUS, JITTERS.

THE GUY BACKSTAGE WAS LIKE HEY, THIS IS WHERE THE BEATLES MADE THEIR DEBUT WHEN THEY CAME TO AMERICA.

HAVE A GOOD TIME.

I SAW THEM IN THEATER.

THAT WAS THE BIG THING I HAD EVER DONE.

LETTERMAN WAS A PIPE DREAM FOR ME, BUT THAT WAS A GOAL, YOU KNOW, TO BE ON HIS SHOW.

SO DEFINITELY NERVOUS.

THEN WHEN YOU GET OUT THERE, YOU GET THE FIRST LAUGH, IT RELAXES YOU.

AND THEN IT BECOMES OBVIOUS THAT IT'S JUST STANDUP.

REALLY LIKE YOU COULD TALK YOURSELF INTO IT WHEN YOU'RE OFF STAGE AND OUT OF THAT MOMENT.

LIKE WHAT ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT?

PEOPLE JUST WANT TO LAUGH.

THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO BOMB.

THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO STRUGGLE.

THEY'RE ALL ON YOUR SIDE.

AND THEY'RE NERVOUS FOR YOU A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S LIKE GET THEM TO RELAX.

THE TV AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, WHEN DAVID LETTERMAN IS INTRODUCING YOU OR YOU HAVE THE CLIP FROM COLBERT.

THAT GREASES THE WHEEL TOO.

YOU KIND OF HAVE THEIR, YOU KNOW, STAMP OF APPROVAL.

CHECK THIS GUY OUT, LISTEN TO HIM FOR A FEW MINUTES.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD SITUATION.

>> YOU STILL LIVE IN CHICAGO ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR DEBUT AT THE CHICAGO THEATRE AS THE HEADLINER IN APRIL.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE PLAYING IN THIS ICONIC THEATRE IN YOUR HOMETOWN?

>> IT STILL DOESN'T SEEM VERY REAL TO ME.

COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED.

I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE, OPENED FOR SEBASTIAN AT THE THEATRE.

I DID AN EVENT FOR THE WHITE SOX.

>> I WAS AT THAT SHOW WHEN YOU OPENED FOR SEBASTIAN, YOU WERE TERRIFIC.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

I APPRECIATE IT, BUDDY.

>> I'M EXCITED.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MARQUEES IN THE COUNTRY.

I'VE SEEN OTHER COMICS THERE.

BEEN THERE AS, YOU KNOW, A CONSUMER.

TO BE OUT THERE, TO GET TO PERFORM, I'M FIRED UP.

>> DO YOU HAVE THE MATERIAL CRAFTED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT NIGHT?

>> NO.

>> YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO?

>> NOT REALLY.

I MEAN I DO HAVE AN IDEA.

LIKE I HAVE SOME CHUNKS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE LAST YEAR THAT ARE NEW, BUT I HAVE SOME NEWER IDEAS AS WELL.

AND THINGS GOING ON IN MY LIFE THAT I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT WILL BE IN A FEW MONTHS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IT WILL BE GOOD THOUGH.

>> WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.

TED LEWIS SAYS HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE WILL TALK ABOUT WHEN HE GOES ON.

HE'S COMPLETELY NERVOUS.

I SUPPOSE YOU HAVE A GAME PLAN?

>> I INTRODUCED RICHARD LEWIS AT ANNIE'S ONE NIGHT.

HE PARKS IN FRONT OF THE CLUB ON WELLS.

AND YOU'RE TOLD TO GO UP AND INTRODUCE SOMEONE AND THE CAR IS OUT FRONT.

HE WALKS INTO THE CLUB AND RIGHT ON TO THE STAGE.

AND YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING OTHER THAN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, RICHARD LEWIS.

>> SO AS SOON AS YOU HEAR THE CAR LIKE TURN OFF OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, HE'S THERE.

AND THEN YOU BRING HIM RIGHT UP.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL GREAT SEEING YOU AGAIN.

ALL THE BEST.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT SHOW.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

AGAIN, YOU CAN CATCH PAT MCGANN IN APRIL.

>>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WITH THE LATEST IN THE RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR, SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> IT'S HIGH STAKES SEASON IN POLITICS AS CAMPAIGNS TRY TO KNOCK CANDIDATES OFF THE BALLOTS.

>>> PLUS WHAT THE SAFE-T ACT BILL ACTUALLY DOES.

ALL THAT MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

PARIS SCHUTZ, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE.

SO WE KNOW FIVE CANDIDATES ARE FACING BALLOT CHALLENGES IN THE MAYORAL RACE.

HEATHER, IS IT ACTUALLY POSSIBLE SOME OF THE CANDIDATES MIGHT BE KNOCKED OFF?

>> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY YEAR AT LEAST ONE CANDIDATE GETS KNOCKED OFF THE BALLOT.

I THINK THE CANDIDATE MOST IN DANGER IS PROBABLY ALDERMAN RODERICK SAWYER, WHO DID NOT TELL REPORTERS HOW MANY SIGNATURES HE HAS SUBMITTED, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED IT HAD BEEN ROUGH.

HE DEALT WITH A BACK INJURY DURING THE PETITION GATHERING PERIOD.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER HE WITHSTANDS THE CHALLENGE FILED BY WILLIE WILSON.

AND JA'MAL GREEN WHO GOT THAT SPOT ON THE BALLOT.

IF HE'S REMOVED, ALDERMAN SOPHIA KING WILL MOVE UP TO THE TOP SPOT.

>> AND JA'MAL GREEN WAS THE ONE KNOCKED OFF THE BALLOT LAST YEAR.

I WONDER HOW MANY WILL START A LOTTERY TO SEE WHO DOES NOT MAKE THE BALLOT.

AMANDA, FORMER STATE SENATOR RICKY HINDON PRETTY HOT.

HE POSTED HIS DISPLEASURE ON FACEBOOK.

>> Reporter: THAT HE DID.

THIS IS AN ONGOING FEUD BETWEEN JA'MAL GREEN AND WILLIE.

VERY FLAMBOYANT, CALLS HIMSELF HOLLYWOOD HINDON.

>> WHO DO YOU THINK CHECKS THE WALL IN >> HE'S AN INTERESTING GUY.

BUT HE'S WORKING FOR THE WILLIE WILSON CAMPAIGN, AND HE PREVIOUSLY, AS YOU NOTED, BRANDIS, SUCCEEDED GETTING JA'MAL GREEN KNOCKED OFF THE BALLOT ON GREEN'S FIRST RUN FOR MAYOR ON CHICAGO.

AND SO THERE IS THIS FACEBOOK POST WHERE HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE AFFECT OF GREEN WILL NOT MAKE THE BALLOT, SO THERE.

IT GETS -- I GUESS IT FEELS IN THE WAY SOMEWHAT CHILDISH AND YET I ALSO THINK MAYBE IS THERE SOMETHING SORT OF JUST HUMAN ABOUT THIS.

WE TALK ABOUT THESE FIGURES, THEY'RE POLITICIANS.

AND IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE ABOUT POLICIES.

BUT YOU SEE EACH OTHER.

THIS DOES GET PERSONAL.

>> IT HAPPENED FOUR YEARS AGO, WILLIE WILSON'S CAMPAIGN AND JA'MAL GREEN.

IN FACT THEY WERE IN THE HALL JAWING AT EACH OTHER.

IT'S PERSONAL.

>> SO WE KNOW HE GOT THE TOP SPOT, JA'MAL GREEN FACING PETITION CHALLENGES.

I THINK HE GOT KNOCKED OFF LAST YEAR.

FEELS LIKE EVERY YEAR.

IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.

BUT DOES BALLOT POSITION MATTER A LITTLE OR A LOT, PARIS?

YOU WOULD THINK IN A CROWDED FIELD, YOU TAKE EVERY ADVANTAGE YOU CAN GET?

>> SURE, YOU DO.

BUT I WOULD HAVE TO THINK IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE IT WILL BE A LOW TURNOUT ELECTION.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE, YOU'VE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK HERE.

YOU'RE THERE FOR ONE REASON REALLY TO VOTE FOR THE NEXT EXECUTIVE OF THE CITY AND THE NEXT ALDER PERSON.

SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN WHO IS THAT NAME AT THE TOP?

YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

WHAT MATTERS MORE IS NAME RECOGNITION.

THAT'LL COME DOWN TO WHO HAS THE MONEY TO GET ON TV OR SOCIAL MEDIA.

RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE CHUY GARCIA WITH THAT UNION ENDORSEMENT.

AND THEN LORI LIGHTFOOT WHO IS REPORTEDLY IN SAN FRANCISCO RIGHT NOW RAISING MONEY.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER THING CALLED EARNED MEDIA WHERE IT'S LIKE YOU'RE ON THE NEWS OR YOU HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> ON THE SHOW LIKE CHICAGO.

>> I REMEMBER FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS LIKE WHAT GOT THE BALL ROLLING FOR HER ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WAS THIS ONE PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE PRECKWINKLE SENT A SURROGATE OR PRECKWINKLE WAS THERE.

SO LIGHTFOOT WENT BACK AND STARTED POINTING IN HIS FACE.

THAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT WENT VIRAL, IT WENT ALL OVER THE NEWS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT REALLY GETS YOUR NAME OUT THERE.

YOU'VE GOT ONLY THREE MONTHS TO DO IT.

>> I'M SURE SOME FOLKS WILL BE LOOKING TO CREATE MOMENTS.

LORI LIGHTFOOT DIDN'T JOCKEY FOR THE BALLOT POSITION IN THIS CROWDED FIELD.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

>> Reporter: IT MEANS SHE AGREES WITH PARIS THAT SHE'S GOT THE NAME RECOGNITION AND SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T NEED TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, WORRY ABOUT WHETHER SHE WAS FIRST ON THE BALLOT OR LAST ON THE BALLOT, THAT SHE WAS CONFIDENT HER SUPPORTERS WERE GOING TO FIND HER ON THE BALLOT AND VOTE FOR HER.

I SHOULD ALSO MENTION I THINK BRANDON JOHNSON WOULD ALSO HAVE THE MONEY AND THE VOLUNTEERS TO COMPETE WITH THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION AND THE SCIU, LOCAL 73, AND SCIU HEALTHCARE ILLINOIS.

THOSE ARE SORT OF I THINK THE CANDIDATES WHO WILL BE FIRST UP ON AIR WHILE THE OTHER CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO MAKE THOSE MOMENTS JUST SORT OF RISE OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK.

>> AND LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

AS YOU SAID, CHUY GARCIA GETS A PLEDGE OF $1 MILLION FROM ONE UNION.

BESIDES THE RIGHTS, GARCIA HAS THE MONEY RIGHT NOW.

IS THAT THE MAIN PRIZE WITH UNION ENDORSEMENT?

IS IT THE CASH?

>> WELL BRANDIS, CASH DOESN'T VOTE, BUT IT DOES TALK OR AT LEAST HELP TO AMPLIFY YOUR MESSAGE.

SO IT IS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS.

YOU ALSO, OF COURSE, ARE LOOKING FOR ESPECIALLY WITH UNIONS, THEY HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS.

AND SO IF YOU HAVE ALL THOSE MEMBERS THAT YOU BELIEVE ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU.

THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SORT OF FOLLOW THE WISHES OF UNION LEADERSHIPS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE CAMPAIGN BOOSTERS WHO WILL DO THE HARD WORK OF GOING DOOR TO DOOR AND ASKING THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU.

SO THAT IS ALSO A BUG PART OF IT.

IT IS TWOFOLD.

YOU WANT THE CASH AND YOU WANT THE BODIES.

>> GET THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

>> MEANWHILE THE GOVERNOR SIGNING THE SAFE-T ACT CLEANUP BILL.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

>> BECAUSE JANUARY 1 IS A DATE THAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE SAFE-T ACT, EVERY DAY BEFORE THAT, THAT WE CAN GET IT SIGNED AND INTO LAW AND CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, AS WE -- AS THE JUDGES AND THE STATES ATTORNEY SEE IT IS GOOD FOR THEM.

>> SO AMANDA, DOES THIS JIVE WITH HIM SIGNING IT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS OR IS IT MORE DIFFICULT?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE THE MOTIVE TO THE POLITICIAN.

WE DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY ASK HIM WHY HE SIGNED IT AND THAT WAS HIS ANSWER.

I MEAN IN A WAY YES, IT MAKES SENSE.

YOU WANT TO GET THE BILL SIGNED INTO LAW RIGHT AWAY.

BUT ALSO THE STATES ATTORNEYS ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS SITUATION.

THEY CAN READ.

THEY KNOW HE WASN'T GOING TO USE HIS VETO PEN TO MAKE ANY SORT OF CHANGES TO IT.

SO IN A WAY MAYBE THAT'S A BIT.

IT KIND OF SOUNDED LIKE HE HAD A COLD THERE.

MAYBE HE WAS JUST UNDER THE WEATHER OR BUSY OR THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO ANSWER A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR SOMETHING HE TOOK A LOT OF SLACK FOR DURING THE CAMPAIGN WHERE CLEARLY ANY DEFENDERS OF THE STATE WILL TELL YOU THEY BELIEVE VOTERS DIDN'T BUY.

THAT'S WHY YOU SAW PRITZKER EASILY REELECTED AS WELL AS DEMOCRATS.

AND READ INTO IT WHAT YOU WILL.

BY THE WAY, THERE IS STILL A COURT CASE THAT'S GOING TO BE HEARD MID THIS MONTH.

THAT WILL PERHAPS SAY MORE ABOUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE SAFE-T ACT AND THESE MAJOR CHANGES IN ILLINOIS.

>> HEATHER, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THIS AMENDMENT IS CLEARING UP?

>> WELL, IT WILL GIVE JUDGES CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ON SORT OF WHAT OFFENSES MAKES SOMEBODY ELIGIBLE TO BE HELD WITHOUT BAIL THAT IT COULD BE PEOPLE WHO POSE A DANGER TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY.

BUT THE ORIGINAL BILL WILL POSE A SPECIFIC THREAT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT GAINED A LOT OF CRITICISM.

IT ALSO ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SURE THERE AREN'T ANY -- THERE ISN'T CONFUSION BETWEEN DECEMBER 31 AND JANUARY 1 WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE NEW LAW GOES INTO EFFECT AND WILL SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE CAN APPLY TO GET OUT OF JAIL AFTER THEY'RE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

I THINK AMANDA IS RIGHT.

I THINK WE'RE SORT OF RIGHT NOW IN A HOLDING PATTERN TO SEE WHAT THE COURTS DO.

OF COURSE, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS CHANGES THE CLEANUP BILL OR IF IT WILL RESOLVE THE CONTROVERSY EVEN THOUGH IT PROVED TO BE A NON-FACTOR IN THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

>> AND AMANDA AS WE SAW EARLIER IN ON YOUR REPORT, THE MINORITY POT LICENSES TODAY, WHAT TOOK SO LONG FOR THE SOCIAL EQUITY POT SHOPS TO OPEN?

>> AND SO LONG AND THE BULK OF IT IS LAWSUITS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT DID NOT WIN A LICENSE OR EVEN THOSE THAT WON THE LICENSE AND WANTED MORE.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT DEGRADING PROCESS FOR THE APPLICATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

CERTAINLY CRITICS THAT SAY ILLINOIS MESSED UP HOW THE LAW WAS WRITTEN THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE CALIBRATED DIFFERENTLY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

PARTICULARLY BY, FOR EXAMPLE, ALLOWING TO BE A FACTOR IN SOCIAL EQUITY.

THE HIRING OF PEOPLE FOR SAY A CANNABIS DISPENSARY WHO HAD BEEN IN PRISON OR WERE A RELATIVE OF SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN PUNISHED FOR PROPERTY CRIMES.

OR THEY ARE SAYING THAT'S NOT TRUE, SOCIAL EQUITY.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS STILL SURROUNDING THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT IN PART BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING ILLINOIS CONTINUES TO SAY HEY LOOK AT US.

WE ARE ON THE FOREFRONT WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THE STATES BEGIN TO ECLIPSE ILLINOIS FOR NOT JUST HOW THEY'RE DOING WITH MARIJUANA, BUT ALSO HOW THEY'RE DOING IN TERMS OF SOCIAL EQUITY.

>> PARIS, I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.

BUT WEIGHING WEED DELIVERY NEXT?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> TIP YOUR DRIVERS, I GUESS.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THEY SAID WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE SAYING YES, WE WANT TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

A FEW STATES HAVE DONE THIS.

CAN THEY MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT?

DOES IT EAT INTO THE ILLICIT MARKET?

THAT'S WHAT THEY WILL LOOK AT.

BUT I HAVE TO SAY, THIS WHOLE INDUSTRY IS JUST EXPLODING THE WAY THEY HAVE NOT ONLY GOTTEN LEGALIZATION IN ALL THESE STATES, BUT GOTTEN LEGISLATURES TO APPROVE THESE OTHER THINGS LIKE DELIVERY AND HOME GROW AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF.

THEN I HAVE TO WONDER -- >> MONEY TALKS.

THEY ARE SEEING A LOT OF REVENUE.

THE MONEY HAS BEEN HANDY FOR THE STATE.

>> BUT SEE, SPEAKING OF THE MONEY TALKS.

HOW MANY OF THESE SOCIAL EQUITY MOM AND POP POT SHOPS WILL THERE BE IN THREE TO FOUR YEARS?

THE WAY THEY'RE GOING, THESE BIG GIANT COMPANIES ARE EATING UP.

IF YOU'RE A MOM AND POP SHOP, IT'S TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE HEADACHE OF RUNNING THE BUSINESS.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU DO IT?

VERY QUICKLY THIS INDUSTRY IS TURNING INTO HOLISTIC.

AND LET'S JUST SAY IT -- >> THAT IS A BIG WORD THERE.

>> WHERE WAL-MART AND TARGET AND ALL THAT.

IT IS GOING THAT WAY.

>> AND YES, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER.

>> AND SO HOW MANY MORE AND WHEN WILL WE SEE THEM IN CHICAGO?

>> AND SO THAT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

ONCE YOU GET THE LICENSE, YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE PERMITTING PROCESS.

THAT INVOLVES GOING BEFORE SOMETHING CALLED THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, WHICH CAN TAKE A LONG TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

YOU HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN DISTANCE AWAY FROM SCHOOLS AND THE OTHER SENSITIVE USES.

SO THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY PROCESS TO ACTUALLY GET OPEN IN CHICAGO, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WHY YOU ARE SEEING SOME OF THESE SMALLER, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS WHO WON THESE LICENSES SORT OF SELLING THEM OFF BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT AND SO EXPENSIVE TO GET THOSE DOORS OPEN.

SURE, YOU'RE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY ONCE THOSE DOORS OPEN, BUT IT'S NOT BEEN BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION SMOOTH OR A SMOOTH ROAD TO GET TO THAT POINT.

>> AND SO THE ILLINOIS HOUSE WE KNOW IS WEIGHING LEGISLATION, RESTRICTING ASSAULT WEAPONS.

AMANDA, THEY GO BACK INTO SESSION IN JANUARY BEFORE THE NEW LEGISLATURE IS SWORN IN.

IS THERE NEW SUPPORT?

>> YOU HAVE SOME REPUBLICANS EVEN ENDORSE THE FIELD.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FORMER HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER JIM DURKAN TALKED ABOUT CALLING FOR ASSAULT WEAPON.

THIS BILL, HOWEVER, DOES MORE THAN JUST THAT INCLUDING RAISING THE AGE OF THE AGE THAT YOU COULD GET A STATE LICENSE TO OWN AND TO PURCHASE A GUN.

SO I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF HEAVY NEGOTIATING AND SOME DEMOCRATS IN THE TERRITORIES.

THERE AREN'T TOO MANY LEFT WHO WILL HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THIS.

BUT I DO EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL GET PUSHED, GOES FORWARD BECAUSE PRITZKER NEEDS IT TO CAMPAIGN ON THIS.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE SPOTLIGHT PREVIOUSLY ABOUT HIM HAVING HIS SIGHTS SET HIGHER ON THE POSITION.

HE'S CAMPAIGNED ON THIS NATIONALLY AS WELL.

HE MADE THIS A DEAL.

SO HE NEEDS IT TO HAPPEN.

>> THERE IS MOMENTUM, BUT IT'S A HUGE FEATHER IN YOUR CAP IF YOU ARE INDEED THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN THAT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

>> AND THE DEMOCRATS WHO ADD TO THE SUPER MAJORITY IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE, ARE THEY LIKELY TO HAVE BETTER THINGS THERE?

>> THEY WOULD HAVE BETTER LUCK AND THERE IS MOMENTUM AND TYPICALLY IT'S NOT BEEN A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT THING, BUT UPSTATE VERSES DOWN STATE.

DOWN STATE DEMOCRATS IN THE PAST ARE GUN OWNERS AND THEY DON'T WANT THESE RESTRICTIONS.

BUT AS AMANDA MENTIONED, THEY'RE UPSTATE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE FOR THIS.

SO IT DOES SEEM LIKE THEY DO HAVE MOMENTUM IN NUMBERS TO POTENTIALLY GET IT DONE, BUT WE SHOULDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

>> LEGAL CHALLENGES, EVEN IF IT GETS PASSED.

>> THE GUN LOBBYISTS WILL HAVE A LOT OF REASONS TO DO THAT.

THE NATURAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

>> WE CAN COUNT ON IT FOR SURE.

HEATHER, A LITTLE NATIONAL NEWS.

CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS WERE HANDED OUT DURING THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION.

BUT ONE FAMILY SNUBBED GOP LEADERS AT THAT EVENT.

TELL IT US WHAT HAPPENED?

>> Reporter: WELL IT HAD IS THE FAMILY OF OFFICER BRIAN SICKNICK WHO DIED 24 HOURS AFTER THE INSURRECTION.

AND HIS FAMILY WAS AWARDED THE GOLD MEDAL.

AND AFTER SHAKING THE HANDS OF CHUCK SCHUMER AND HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, THEY DID NOT SHAKE HANDS WITH SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL AND POTENTIALLY SOON-TO-BE HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AND REPUBLICANS HAVE THE MAJORITY.

YOU KNOW, SAYING THEY WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THEY THOUGHT THE REPUBLICANS HAD REALLY THIS WARTED THWARTED ANY POSSIBILITY BY CONTINUING TO EMBRACE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WHO, OF COURSE, HIS SUPPORTERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT VIOLENCE.

>> PARIS, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

MAKING CRIMINAL REFERRALS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

COULD THE FORMER PRESIDENT BE NAMED?

>> I WOULD ASSUME THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS AND THAT STORYLINE HAS COMMUTE O FROM THE HEARING THAT THERE WAS ONE RING LEADER AND THAT'S DONALD TRUMP WITH ALL THESE PLAYERS THAT WERE A PART OF THE ALLEGED SCHEME.

BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT DONALD TRUMP WHO ALSO FACES ALL THESE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, FEDERAL AND STATE.

NOW THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WHO IS LOOKING INTO ALL OF THAT.

SO THIS WILL, PERHAPS, BECOME A PART OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR'S CASE.

>> OKAY, JUST DYING TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THAT.

PARIS SCHUTZ, HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR SPOTLIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A BIG DEBUT AT THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> WITH THE COMPETITION SHE SAYS REFLECTS HER LOVE FOR THE CRAFT.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT ANGEL IDOWU INTRODUCES US TO THE NEWEST GUEST CONDUCTOR.

>> DAHLIA HAS LOVED MUSIC SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD.

IT WASN'T UNTIL HER INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL MUSIC BY A TEACHER AT 12 YEARS OLD THAT SHE REALIZED SHE DISCOVERED A LIFELONG PASSION.

>> SHE GAVE ME A CD WITH OPERA IT BLEW MY MIND.

IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

EVER SINCE I BECAME LIKE REALLY ADDICTED TO ORCHESTRA MUSIC AND TO OPERA, I STARTED TO PLAY, FOR EXAMPLE, BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES.

AND THE SOUND THEY PUT IN.

>> STASEVSKA'S LOVE HAS TAKEN HER AROUND THE WORLD.

FROM CHAMBER ORCHESTRAS TO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRAS.

NO MATTER THE NUMBER OF MUSICIANS, SHE'S ALWAYS FOLLOWED HER LOVE FOR MUSIC.

>> I'VE BEEN ALWAYS A VERY SOCIAL PERSON.

I ENJOYED A LOT OF PLAYING TOGETHER AND JUST MEETING YOUR FRIENDS AND SHARING GREAT TIMES TOGETHER.

AND ALSO THAT IT'S NOT ONLY ME DOING THE SOUND, BUT EVERYBODY HAS LIKE THEIR OWN FUNCTION.

IT'S LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE.

>> Reporter: SHE'S TAKING THAT THRILL TO THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA THIS WEEKEND IN A THREE NIGHT ONLY CONCERT AS A GUEST CONDUCTOR.

>> I WANTED TO TAKE THE MAIN WORK WHAT IS REALLY DEAR TO ME.

I THINK I'M QUITE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO HUNGARIAN MUSIC.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL REALLY AT HOME CONDUCTING.

I'M IMMENSELY GRATEFUL TO CONDUCT HERE.

I CAN BE MYSELF BECAUSE OF THEM.

AND OF COURSE, I WANTED TO MAKE IT EVEN EASIER FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND I WANT GIRLS TO SEE THIS IS BECOMING A CONDUCTOR.

IT'S A CAREER.

>> HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR LOVE FOR MUSIC WILL RESONATE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE THAT YOU'RE PLAYING FOR?

>> EVERY TIME I COME TO AN ORCHESTRA, I'M JUST MYSELF.

I HOPE THIS ALSO SHINES TO THE AUDIENCES THAT ARE COMING TO WATCH THE CONCERTS.

MY LOVE FOR MUSIC AND WHAT I WANT TO SHARE THROUGH MUSIC.

AND IT'S THE SAME THING FOR THE AUDIENCES.

JUST COME AS YOU ARE, YOU KNOW.

YOU DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND MUSIC.

YOU KNOW, JUST LET IT COME TO YOU.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> YOU CAN SEE DALIA STASEVSKA TOMORROW THROUGH SATURDAY AT THE CHICAGO ORCHESTRA.

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

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

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

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

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US FOR 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 AND ON THE APP.

JOIN US LIVE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00.

U.S. ATTORNEY JOSH LAUSCH TALKS RECENT CASES, CONVICTIONS, AND WHAT'S NEXT.

>>> PLUS HOW ONE RESIDENT IS BRINGING HOLIDAY CHEER TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE A LIVE REPORT.

>>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT," I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD EVENING.