>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> THE BUILDING IS SHAKING.

SHE IS SCREAMING THE BUILDING IS SHAKING.

>> WE CHECK IN WITH SOMEBODY FROM CHICAGO WHO IS LEADING A EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM FOLLOWING THE EARTHQUAKE.

>>> WE BREAK DOWN WHICH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR CHOICE FOR MAYOR.

>>> A LOOK AT HOW THE CANDIDATES DIFFER ON THEIR MESSAGES.

>>> SEEING THINGS YOU WOULDN'T OTHERWISE SEE.

>> A CHICAGO COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN A MODEL FOR FAMILY BUSINESS SINCE 1950.

>>> NOW TO TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE MAYOR SAYS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS OF IMPLEMENTING REFORMS ACCORDING TO A COALITION OF 26 COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.

THE GROUP INCLUDES METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES AMONG OTHERS SENT WHAT IT CALLS A URGENT LETTER TO THE CITY EXPRESSING CONCERN.

IT READS, THREE YEARS SINCE TAKING AFFECT, THE LATEST INDEPENDENT MONITOR REPORT SUGGESTS THAT THE CITIES AND THE CPD'S IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS ARE AT RISK OF SHIFTING COURSE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION TOWARD MORE HARM, MISTRUST, DELAYED JUSTICE AND VIOLENCE.

THEY ARE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS.

>>> A CHICAGO WOMAN IS RECEIVING A UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT WITH THE CITY.

JULIE WAS WORKING TO CLEAN UP DAMAGE AT THE FAMILY DOLLAR STORE IN THE WAKE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST.

BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWS ERIC TAYLOR USING PROFANE LANGUAGE AND SHOPPING HER BEFORE FALSELY ARRESTING HER.

SHE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY.

THOUGH THE DETAILS OF THE SETTLEMENT OR NOT PUBLIC, ANY AMOUNT HIGHER THAN 100,000 NEEDS TO BE APPROVED.

THE OFFICER IS NO LONGER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>>> NEIGHBORS COULD SEE SMOKE FOR MILES AFTER A HUGE FIRE SWEPT THROUGH A LARGE COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSE.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THE ALARM JUST BEFORE 6 AM AND HEADED EXTINGUISHED AROUND NOON.

THERE WERE HOUSE IS OWNED BY THE COMPANY MORGAN LEE WHICH MANUFACTURERS GRAPHICS.

THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT.

THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL TRY TO REBUILD.

>>> THE MAYOR ALONG WITH COMMUNITY BUSINESS LEADERS BROKE GROUND ON THE REGAL MILES STUDIOS CAMPUS 1.

IT IS A PRIVATELY FUNDED $100 MILLION MOVIE CAMPUS.

ONE OF THE PARTNERS IN THE PROJECT IS DEREK DUDLEY.

THEY HOPE TO HAVE THE FACILITY UP AND RUNNING BY THE FALL OF 2024.

>>> CHICAGO CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS ARE MOURNING THE DEATH OF THE CIVIC FEDERATION PRESIDENT.

THEY WERE REGARDED ONE OF THE CITY'S FOREMOST WATCHDOGS ON MUNICIPAL FINANCE AND BUDGETING.

HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT FOR 21 YEARS WHERE HE ROUTINELY ANALYZED THE BUDGETS OF EVERY GOVERNMENT AGENCY YOU CAN IMAGINE.

HE ALSO WORKED WITH POLITICAL LEADERS TO HELP SOLVE BUDGETS OR FALSE AND WAS VOCAL ABOUT FIXING THE CITY AND STATES UNDERFUNDED PENSION SYSTEMS.

HE DIED DUE TO COMPLICATIONS AFTER HEART SURGERY.

WE WILL HAVE A FEW MORE REFLECTIONS ON HIM LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>>> COMING UP, WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WHEN IT COMES TO MESSAGING IN THE RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

>>> FIRST A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY AND HOW A LOCAL RESIDENT IS HELPING EFFORTS OVERSEAS.

RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE POPE OTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> EMERGENCY RELIEF EFFORTS ARE IN FULL FORCE IN TURKEY AND SYRIA FOLLOWING A DEADLY EARTHQUAKE THAT HAS KILLED MORE THAN 3800.

JOANNA HAS MORE ABOUT A LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS ASSISTING PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN TURKEY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>> Reporter: THE DEATH TOLL IS RISING.

THE NEXT DAYS ARE CRUCIAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESCUE OPERATIONS.

WE SPOKE WITH A ORGANIZATION THAT IS LEADING A RESPONSE TEAM.

>> Reporter: HIS FAMILY SURVIVED BUT SAID THAT THE ROAD TO RECOVERY AS LONG AS THOUSANDS ARE LEFT HOMELESS.

>> IT IS SNOWING AND IT MAKES IT MORE CHALLENGING.

PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE CITY.

THE TRAFFIC IS TERRIBLE AS WELL.

THESE COMBINED MAKES IT A SERIOUS CHALLENGE AT THE MOMENT.

>> Reporter: HE RUNS A GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION OPERATING LOCALLY AND STATIONED IN TURKEY.

THE BUILDING THEY WORK FROM WAS DESTROYED BY THE EARTHQUAKE.

>> WE HAVE A TENT SO I KNOW WE REQUESTED COORDINATION WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT.

WE URGENTLY NEED WATER AND FOOD.

WE NEED HYGIENE KITS AND MILK FOR BABIES.

I KNOW THAT WE NEED BLANKETS BECAUSE IT IS VERY COLD AND PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE.

>> Reporter: RESCUE TEAMS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO TRY TO SAVE PEOPLE TRAPPED.

VIDEO SHOWS THE MOMENT A CHILD IS RESCUED FROM THE RUBBLE OF A COLLAPSED BUILDING.

THE POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE REGISTERED 7 .8.

DEVASTATING AFTERSHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

HE HAS SCHEDULED A FLIGHT TO TURKEY TONIGHT, THE PLANS ARE TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY CAN.

THE ORGANIZATION IS HOPING TO COLLECT DONATIONS FROM LOCALS IN CHICAGO.

>> IF THEY HAVE BLANKETS, STROLLERS, OR THINGS THEY MAY NOT NEED IN THEIR HOMES.

AT THIS STAGE WE ARE ONLY SEEKING FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LOGISTICS ON THE GROUND TO SEE HOW WE CAN RECEIVE CONTAINERS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE IMPACT AND TRAUMA OF SUCH A CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE CAN TAKE YEARS TO REPAIR.

>> A EARTHQUAKE IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO PAINFUL.

YOU ARE SO HELPLESS.

YOU KNOW THAT YOUR FAMILY IS UNDER THIS BUILDING BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO.

THAT IS EVEN MORE PAINFUL.

I HOPE OTHER FAMILIES SURVIVE AS WELL.

>> WE HEARD FROM THE TEAM IN TURKEY THAT THEY ARE RUNNING INTO TROUBLE BECAUSE OF WINTER CONDITIONS.

ROADS HAVE DEEP CRACKS ON TOP OF ICY ROADS WHICH IS LEADING TO ROAD CLOSURES.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY AFTERSHOCKS THE COUNTRY EXPERIENCED?

>> WE ARE TOLD OVER 100 AFTERSHOCKS AND WE ARE TOLD VICTIMS ARE NOW SEEKING SHELTERS.

SOME IN THEIR VEHICLES AND SOME ARE HAVING TO BEAR THE WINTER CONDITIONS UNTIL RESPONSE TEAMS CAN REACH THEM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> THE ELECTION FOR MAYOR IS THREE WEEKS AWAY AND COUNCILMEMBERS ARE STARTING TO PICK WHO THEY WANT TO WORK WITH DURING THE NEXT 4 YEARS.

THOSE THAT BACK TO EVENTUAL WINNER COULD BE IN POWERFUL POSITIONS THIS SPRING.

HEATHER JOINS US WITH MORE.

THERE IS A RACE FOR MAYOR AND ERASE FOR ENDORSEMENTS AND ENDORSEMENTS AMONG CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WHO LEADS?

>> Reporter: MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, SHE LOST THE BACKING OF HER CLOSEST ALLIES, THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUSHING HER AGENDA THROUGH CITY COUNCIL.

TWO CITY CHAIRS ENDORSED SOMEBODY ELSE LAST WEEK.

BRANDON JOHNSON AND THE ZONING COMMITTEE CHAIR BACKED PAUL.

THAT IS PUTTING MORE OF A SPOTLIGHT ON HER COMBATIVE APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> THESE WERE ALLIES THAT WENT BACK TO THE BEGINNING WITH LORI LIGHTFOOT.

NEARLY HALF OF ALL OF THEIR FOLKS HAVE NOT BACKED.

ARE THEY TRYING TO HEDGE THEIR BETS?

>> Reporter: SURE, WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE A RUNOFF IN APRIL AND THEN YOU CAN CHOOSE EITHER OR.

SOME OF THE OLDER PEOPLE ARE RETIRING AND RECEDING FROM THE STAGE BUT 4 OLDER PEOPLE APPOINTED RUNNING FOR THEIR FIRST FULL TERMS DECLINED TO ENDORSE THE MAYOR.

THE MAYOR SAYS THAT IS OKAY.

SHE THINKS THEY ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE JOB AND SHE HOPES THEY GET ELECTED EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT BACKING HER.

>> YOU WOULD THINK SHE WOULD HAVE MOST OF THEM IN HER POCKET.

DO THE ENDORSEMENTS MATTER?

>> Reporter: THEY MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTEERS OR MONEY OR BOTH.

THIS IS THE KIND OF ENDORSEMENT THAT CAN PROMPT VOTERS UNDECIDED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.

THAT IN A RACE THAT WILL BE DECIDED BY A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS CAN MAKE ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE.

>> IT WILL BE THREE EVENTFUL WEEKS.

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

>>> ANALYSIS ON THE MESSAGING IN THE MAYOR'S RACE.

STAY WITH US.

>>> MARK YOUR CALENDARS, TOMORROW NIGHT IS THE MAYORAL FORUM.

YOU CAN STREAM IT LIVE ONLINE OR WATCH IT AT 10 PM ON CHANNEL 11.

IT COMES AS THE ATTACK ADS ARE FLYING AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY THREE WEEKS AWAY.

JOINING US TO HELP US CUT THROUGH THE MESSAGING IS JASON, A POLITICAL SPEECHWRITER .

HE IS A SENIOR LECTURER AT THE NORTH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW.

ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU JASON.

IN A NINE CANDIDATE FIELD HOW DOES ONE USE MESSAGING TO STAND OUT?

>> YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH A MESSAGE IN THIS KIND OF RACE THAT IS CONTRASTING AND BELIEVABLE TO STAND OUT.

STANDOUT ON TELEVISION AND DEBATES.

THAT IS WHY YOU HEAR SO MANY THAT SAY I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT HAS EVER BLANK.

YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.

IT COMES DOWN TO MATH, MESSAGE AND MONEY.

YOU NEED TO HAVE A MESSAGE THAT IS CLEAR AND CONTRASTING AND BELIEVABLE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY TO GET BEHIND THE MESSAGE.

>> YOU HAS ACCOMPLISHED THAT SO FAR?

>> IF WE HAD TO RATE THE MESSAGING GETTING MONEY BEHIND IT IT IS RENT IN JOHNSON.

THEY HAVE BEEN SPEAKING CLEARLY ABOUT THEIR KEY MESSAGES.

YOU WANT THE MESSAGES TO GO ACROSS PLATFORMS.

THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THAT.

STICKING OUT THE CRIME ISSUE EARLY ON HAS WORKED FOR HIM AND IN THE DEBATE HE LAYERED THAT WITH SOME OF THE MORE ODD PARTS OF HIS PERSONALITY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND BULLET POINTS.

IT COMES OFF AS NOT FEAR MONGERING WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COALITION HE WANTS TO BUILD IN JOHNSON MISSING SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE ON THE STAGE.

HE GETS A QUESTION ABOUT POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT POLICE, HE IS TALKING MORE ABOUT INVESTMENT.

THAT IS HIS MESSAGE.

HE HAS BEEN QUITE ELOQUENT IN THE DEBATES.

>> STARK IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

I SAID THIS ALL ALONG.

IN A RACE LIKE THIS IN A GENERAL ELECTION IT COMES DOWN TO WHO CAN BUILD A COALITION.

NOT JUST ONE NARROW GROUP OF VOTERS BUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT GROUPS.

HOW DO YOU CREATE MESSAGING THAT GOES ACROSS A DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHIC.

>> PERSUASION IS NOT A ZERO-SUM GAME.

YOU CAN SPEAK TO DIFFERENT AUDIENCES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOUR MESSAGE.

SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT WATERS DOWN YOUR MESSAGE.

I WILL GIVE YOU ONE POSITIVE VIEW OF THIS.

ONE WAY A MESSAGE CAN CUT ACROSS.

THE ADS THAT ARE EARLY IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

TALKING DIRECT TO CAMERA AND COMES ACROSS WITH A HUMANITY.

THE MESSAGES THEMSELVES ARE ABOUT CRIME AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

THERE IS A LITTLE PIECE AT THE END OF THE INITIAL COMMERCIAL THAT TALKED ABOUT KEEPING SCHOOLS OPEN SO KIDS HAVE OTHER ACTIVITIES.

THAT SOUNDS DIFFERENT THAN THE NORMAL TOUGH ON CRIME MESSAGING.

SO HE IS BRANCHING ACROSS.

CONVERSELY WE LOOK AT SOMEBODY LIKE GARCIA.

HE TRIED TO SPEAK TO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT AUDIENCES.

HAS NOT PUT A LOT ON THE AIR YET AND ALSO IN DOING SO HIS MESSAGES GOT MUDDLED AS TO WHY HE IS RUNNING AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

>> HE HAS NOT BEEN ON THE AIR MUCH BUT THERE HAVE BEEN ATTACK ADS AGAINST HIM.

FOR EXAMPLE LIGHTFOOT HAS ATTACKED.

SHE HAS BROUGHT THAT UP IN THE DEBATES AS WELL.

DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE HAD RESIDENTS?

>> THEY HAVE, HE WAS LATE TO START, LATE GETTING BACK TO WASHINGTON AFTER THE KERFUFFLE ABOUT ELECTING THE NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

DID NOT PUT ANYTHING ON THE AIR AND THEN WAS ATTACKED IMMEDIATELY.

WE GO BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.

COALITION BUILDING.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HIS CAMPAIGN HE HAS STRONG LATINO SUPPORT THAT HE NEEDS TO WRENCH OUT INTO LAKEFRONT LIBERALS.

EVERYTHING THAT IS AGAINST HIM IS A SHOT AT THAT.

THAT IS TAKING VOTERS AWAY.

IF HE IS NOT SAYING ANYTHING POSITIVE, HE HAS TROUBLE BUILDING THE COALITION HE WILL NEED.

>> TURNING A POTENTIAL STRENGTH INTO A WEAKNESS.

HE HAS LIGHTFOOT AND GARCIA PAINTING HIM AS A REPUBLICAN, SOMEBODY WHO IS SQUISHY ON ABORTION RIGHTS.

DO THEY HAVE RESIDENTS?

>> HE HAS HAD THE ADVANTAGE SO FAR OF NOT BEING ATTACKED MUCH.

A LITTLE BIT IN DEBATES.

IT HAS COME UP A LITTLE BIT.

LIGHTFOOT WENT OUT THE OTHER DAY AND DID SOME PRESS CONFERENCES.

GARCIA HAS AS WELL.

ABOUT HIM BEING NOT SUFFICIENTLY PRO-CHOICE OR A DEMOCRAT.

THE CHALLENGE FOR HIM WILL BE IN THE CLOSING WEEKS.

NOW THAT SOME OF THESE CANDIDATE HAVE MORE MONEY.

WE WILL SEE A BUNCH OF ADS.

IN YOUR DEBATE TOMORROW NIGHT WE WILL SEE ATTACKS ON HIM REGARDING THE ENDORSEMENT FROM THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE AND NOW HE NEEDS TO STAND AND DEFEND AGAINST THOSE.

WHEN IT COMES UP IN DEBATES SO FAR HE HAS SHRUGGED IT OFF BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN IMPRESSED WITH HIS ABILITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT HIS POSITIONS ARE IN RELATIONSHIP TO SOME OF HIS ALLIES.

>> SO WE MENTIONED A FEW NAMES, THERE ARE OTHER NAMES, BUCKNER, KING, WILSON, SAWYER, ANYBODY STAND OUT ?

>> HAVING WATCHED SEVERAL DEBATES AND HAVING LISTENED TO THE RADIO DEBATES I THINK THE DEBATES HAVE HAD SUBSTANCE IN LEASE TELLING US WHAT THEY WILL DO OR SAY WHAT THEY WILL DO AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE CITY'S PROBLEMS.

THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE NOW IS TIME AND AIR.

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OXYGEN IN THESE DEBATES AND THEY ARE NOT FUNDED TO GET ON TELEVISION IN THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HERE, WE LOOK AT LIGHTFOOT IN 2019, SHE WAS AT 2% IN EARLY JANUARY BUT THERE WAS A CATALYZING EVENT THAT HELPED HER RISE AND THAT WAS ALL OF THE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT AND BURKE AND THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES THAT WERE IN THE PRIMARY THAT YEAR THAT HAD CONNECTION TO HIM WHETHER IT WAS DALY OR MENDOZA AND THAT PLUS HER STRONG PERFORMANCES ALLOWED HER TO RISE.

>> YOU WONDER IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.

BEFORE YOU GO I WANT QUICK THOUGHTS ON WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE STATE OF THE UNION TOMORROW.

>> I WOULD EXPECT WE WOULD NOT HAVE A VICTORY LAP REGARDING THE LAST MIDTERMS BUT HE WILL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THEM AND COUCH THAT IN TERMS OF THE SPEECH HE HAS BEEN GIVING THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS ABOUT THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY.

I WOULD IMAGINE IT WILL BE PHRASED IN THOSE TERMS.

MAYBE REFERENCES TO SOME ANTI-DEMOCRATIC FORCES THAT ARE STILL IN THE HOUSE AND CHARTING A COURSE FORWARD.

HIS EYES ARE ON NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE CANDIDATES RUN, THAT IS THE YEAR TO GET IN POSITION TO GET IN POSITION.

>> A LOT OF SPECULATION AS TO WHETHER AND WHEN HE WILL ANNOUNCE HIS CAMPAIGN.

YOU HAVE THE STATE OF THE UNION AT 8 PM AND 10 PM ON WTTW.

THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND SORTING ALL OF THIS OUT FOR US.

>>> NEXT, A FAMILY BUSINESS THAT WORKS ON A VERY SMALL SCALE.

>>> FIRST WE TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> THEY SAY SEEING IS BELIEVING AND THAT IS TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO MODEL MAKING.

MODELS CAN MAKE COMPLEX IDEAS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND AND MAKE HISTORY COME TO LIFE.

A LOCAL COMPANY HAS BEEN TURNING IDEAS INTO REALITY FOR OVER 70 YEARS AND YOU HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THEIR WORK IN SOME INSTITUTIONS.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> WE MADE THE PROTOTYPE FOR THE POCKET FISHERMAN.

>> Reporter: WHETHER IT IS TURNING A IDEA INTO REALITY -- OR SETTING A SCALED DOWN SCHOONER TO SEE.

>> YOUR CONVINCING THE PERSON LOOKING AT IT THAT IT IS THE REAL THING BUT SMALLER.

>> YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THEIR ORGANS.

THEY WOULD LIGHT UP.

>> THEY COULD NOT FIND THE ACTUAL PERSON TO DO THE SAME THING NO MATTER HOW HARD THEY TRIED.

>> Reporter: OR DEMYSTIFYING INDUSTRIES.

>> EVERY MUNICIPALITY THAT PURCHASED A WATER TOWER GOT A MODEL BUILDERS CUT OUT SO YOU CAN PUT IT IN THE FRONT OFFICE.

IT SHOWS HOW THE WATER TOWER WORKS.

>> Reporter: THE BUSINESS IS IN THE DETAILS.

THE CHICAGO-BASED COMPANY HAS CREATED MODELS AND PROTOTYPES SINCE 1950.

AS A TEENAGER BILL CREATED PRIZE-WINNING AIRCRAFT MODELS.

AT 21 HIS ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR A GLIDER SOLD THOUSANDS.

SINCE WORKING FOR INDUSTRIAL GIANTS LIKE CHRYSLER, HE SOON DEVELOPED FOR A REPUTATION OF PRECISION WORK.

HIS CHILDREN SAY THEIR FATHERS BOUNDLESS CURIOSITY WAS INTEGRAL TO HIS BUSINESS.

>> I KEEP THINKING OF HIM AS A RENAISSANCE MAN.

HE WAS NEVER NOT TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM IN SOME CREATIVE WAY.

>> Reporter: AS CHILDREN ALL THREE SPENT TIME IN THE SHOP WITH THEIR DAD.

>> I LOVED HANGING OUT IN THE SHOP.

THE SMELLS, THE MYSTERIES AND THE THINGS IN PROGRESS.

>> THE RULES WERE, DO NOT TURN ANYTHING ON.

HAMMERS AND NAILS AND SCRAPS THAT IS FINE.

>> Reporter: HOWELL OFFICIALLY JOINED THE BUSINESS IN 1982.

>> HOW HAS SOCIAL CONNECTION CAPABILITIES AND HE IS ABLE TO PROMOTE THE BUSINESS IN WAYS THAT DAD DID NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR.

>> Reporter: AFTER BILL DIED IN 84, HIS WORK CONTINUED.

A 43 FOOT EIFFEL TOWER BECAME A BIG PART OF THE BUSINESS BUT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

>> A GUY TRIPPED ON THE STAIRS WITH THE RAILINGS SO WE MADE THE FRONT 10 FEET OF IT SO THEY CAN USE IT IN THE COURT CASE.

>> Reporter: YOUR AVERAGE PERSON IS MOST LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER THEIR WORK AT PLACES LIKE THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY WHERE THEY DID RESTORATION WORK ON THE GREAT TRAIN STORY.

IN THE SHIPS GALLERY, THEY CREATED THE 1/24 SCALE MODEL BASED ON PHOTOGRAPHS.

>> IT WAS A SCOOTER WITH A SLEEKNESS AND NARROW.

I WORKED ON THAT PART OF IT FIRST AND THEN WE HAD TO TRANSLATE THAT INTO A WHOLE SHAPE.

>> IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO MAKE THINGS ACCURATE.

PART OF OUR CHALLENGES WITH THIS PROJECT WAS GETTING THE RIGHT DRAWINGS , THE ACTUAL MEASUREMENTS OF THE SHIP ITSELF WHICH DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE AS WELL AS DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS.

>> Reporter: NOW HOW IS WINDING DOWN THEIR WORK IN PREPARATION FOR HIS ON RETIREMENT.

LOOKING BACK AT THE BUSINESS THEIR FATHER BEGAN, THEY SAY HIS LEGACY REMAINS IN THE DETAILS.

>> AM THE PEOPLE COME THROUGH HERE TO LOOK AT THE SHIPS.

JUST GETTING A SENSE OF THINGS IN A IMAGINABLE SCALE AND IN OUR OWN BRAINS WE CAN PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE ON HOW IT WORKS IN REAL LIFE.

SEEING THINGS YOU WOULD NOT OTHERWISE SEE.

AS WELL AS WHAT IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE ON ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE.

>>> ONE LAST NOTE, THEY SAY WHILE THEIR FATHER BUILT THE BUSINESS IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE CONSIDERABLE EFFORT OF THEIR MOTHER ELLEN AT THE SHOP AND AT HOME.

>>> BEFORE WE GO, EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE NOTED THE PASSING OF CIVIC FEDERATION PRESIDENT LAWRENCE.

I WANT TO ADD A PERSONAL NOTE.

HE WAS ONE OF OUR GO TO SOURCES ON ALL THINGS RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE.

HE WAS A FRIEND TO MANY OF US IN MEDIA.

HIS FEEL FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT WAS MATCHED BY HIS KIND AND AFFABLE DEMEANOR.

WHETHER THEY AGREED OR DISAGREED, THEY KNEW THAT LAWRENCE GAVE IT TO THEM STRAIGHT.

HIS LIFE WAS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND CHICAGO IS THE BETTER FOR IT.

I WILL MISS OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLITICS, LIFE AND OUR MUTUAL ALMA MATER.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.

OVER THE YEARS HE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INTERVIEWED GUEST ON THIS SHOW.

>> I KNOW I CERTAINLY HAD TO TALK TO HIM QUITE A BIT WHEN COVERING CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THAT BUDGET.

HE WAS JUST A NICE GUY.

ALWAYS EASY TO WORK WITH.

IT IS VERY SADDENING.

>> EVERYBODY REMEMBERS THAT HE WAS SUCH A NICE GUY.

WHETHER YOU ARE LEFT OR RIGHT IT FELT LIKE HE WAS YOUR FRIEND.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW LIVE ONLINE AT 7 PM AND ON WTTW RIGHT HERE AT 10 PM.

>>> CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR TAKE ON CRITICAL ISSUES FACING THE CITY AT OUR FARM.

>> WE ARE LIVE FROM THE VENUE AS RESIDENTS POST QUESTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES.

>>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICE.

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