[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WAS ELECTING A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SO HE COULD BE SPEAKER.

>> MICHAEL MADIGAN MAKES FOR THE EXITS HE RESIGNS FROM HIS SEAT AFTER 50 YEARS IN OFFICE.

WE HAVE FULL REACTION.

>> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FAILED THE PUBLIC AND IT FAILED ITS MEMBERS.

>> A SPECIAL EDITION OF SPOTLIGHT POLITICS DIGS INTO A DAMNING REPORT HOW POLICE HANDLED RACIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS LAST YEAR.

>> THEY STILL HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO US AT ALL.

>> 15 DAYS INTO A HUNGER STRIKE PROTESTORS ARE CALLING ON THE CITY TO DENY A PERMIT FOR A METAL SCRAPPING PLANT ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

>> A HEDGE FUND DEAL TO BUY TRIBUNE PUBLISHING WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE".

>> VOLUNTEERING IN THE AGE OF COVID.

CAN IT BE DONE SAFELY?

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER ON HOW THIS WEEK'S STORM COMPARES TO CHICAGO'S MOST INFAMOUS BLIZZARDS IN WINTERS IN AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED, AMANDA VINICKY HERE, I AM IN SOUTH DEERING FOR OUR LATEST "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES THE SOUTHEAST SIDE COMMUNITY AS AN INDUSTRIAL PAST AND IN THE NEWS BECAUSE OF THE METAL SCRAPPING PLANT YOU MENTIONED SET TO OPEN LATER THIS YEAR.

AND ALSO SOUTH DEERING HAS LARGE AREAS OF GREENSPACE AND THEY ARE UNDERGOING MASSIVE IMPROVEMENTS BUT THEY ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS AND HELP THEM RETURN MORE TO THEIR NATURAL STATE.

FIRST, BACK TO YOU GUYS IN THE STUDIO.

>> AMANDA.

THANK YOU.

FIRST TOP STORIES...

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FAIL ON SEVERAL FRONTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS AND UNREST SPARKED BY THE DEFENDANT GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS.

ACCORDING TO A SCATHING NEW REPORT FROM THE CITY'S WATCHDOG.

THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS THE DEPARTMENT WAS UNDER PREPARED AND ILL EQUIPPED POORLY DOCUMENTING USE-OF-FORCE AND WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO ARREST LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

THE REPORT SAYS AS A RESULT, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DESTROYED CITY PROPERTY AND LOOTED STORES WILL NEVER BE CHARGED AND OFFICERS WHO BEAT PROTESTORS WILL NEVER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

IN A WRITTEN RESPONSE DAVID BROWN ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEPARTMENT STRUGGLED WITH ASPECTS OF THE RESPONSE AND WILL USE THE REPORT TO SELF EVALUATE.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WILL HAVE MORE OF THIS STORY LATER IN THE BROADCAST.

>> THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS MORE THAN 1900 PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS SINCE YESTERDAY INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 72 DEATHS.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES IS MORE THAN 1.168 MILLION INCLUDING 20,029 DEATHS.

THE WEATHER SYSTEM [INAUDIBLE] BUT OFFICIALS ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE CDC AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO SEE WHAT THE STATE CAN DO IF ANYTHING TO EXPEDITE RECEIVING MORE DOSES.

AND POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR THE DRIVER OF A HIT-AND-RUN THAT SEVERELY INJURED A MEMBER OF THE WTTW FAMILY.

31-YEAR-OLD ALEX BESSLE WHO WORKS ON OUR DEVELOPMENT TEAM HERE AT WTTW WAS RIDING HER BIKE AT KIMBEL AND ADDISON STREET WHEN POLICE SAY A DARK S.U.V.

MADE AN ILLEGAL TURN AND RAN HER OVER.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST WEDNESDAY AT 2:20 IN THE AFTERNOON LEAVING ALEC IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

SHE SUSTAINED MULTIPLE LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES AND IS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ON A VENTILATOR.

POLICE RELEASED THE PHOTO OF A SUSPECTED VEHICLE... LICENSE PLATE AZ27854.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL POLICE.

ALEC IS AN AVID BICYCLIST AND WAS WEARING A HELMET AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND ALL OF US HERE AT WTTW WISH HER A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

>> 50 YEARS AGO A YOUNG POLITICIAN WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

TODAY MICHAEL MADIGAN ANNOUNCES HE HAS RESIGNED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A CAREER AS THE LONGEST SERVING HOUSE SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY.

IN THOSE 50 YEARS, MADIGAN AMASSED UNPARALLELED POLITICAL POWER AS HIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOMINATED THE STATE BUT THE TENURE BROUGHT GRIDLOCK TO STATE GOVERNMENT SORING BUDGET PROBLEMS AND ALLEGATIONS OF PAY TO PLAY.

PARIS SCHUTZ JOINS US WITH THE LATEST?

>> THIS RESIGNATION DOES NOT SURPRISE MOST ONLOOKERS GIVEN THAT MADIGAN LOST THE ELECTION FOR HOUSE SPEAKER WHEN CHRIS WELCH TOOK OVER AND THAT RENDERED MADIGAN AS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SOUTHWEST SIDE HOW HE STARTED HIS CAREER 50 YEARS AGO.

AND TODAY IT ENDS AS MADIGAN ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION.

IN A STATEMENT SAYING... >> THE SON OF A POLICE OFFICER AND A PROTEGE OF RICHARD J. DALEY MICHAEL MADIGAN WAS THE MOST POWERFUL POLITICIAN IN THE STATE BUILDING THAT MACHINE TO WHERE HE HAD UNIVERSAL CONTROL OVER WHAT LEGISLATION PASSED AND WHAT DIDN'T.

IT DID SEEM LIKE HE WAS NEAR INVINCIBLE FOR SO MANY YEARS.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE N1994, HE BRIEFLY LOST HIS PERCH AS HOUSE SPEAKER WHEN REPUBLICANS GAINED CONTROL OF THE STATE.

>> THE LOSS IN MY JUDGMENT WAS CAUSED BY A NATIONAL TREND IN FAVOR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR WHATEVER REASONS.

AND BECAUSE OF THE WEAK STATE PARTY TICKET PUT OUT BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> AND MADIGAN WAS BITTER OVER THAT BUT HE WON BACK IN 96 AND HE DID NOT RELINQUISH IT UNTIL THIS YEAR.

HE BELIEVED IN CONSOLIDATING POLITICAL POWER MAKING GOVERNING THE STATE THAT MUCH HARDER FOR THE NINE LUCKY OR UNLUCKY GENTLEMEN THAT HAD TO WORK WITH HIM.

HE BATTLED BITTERLY WITH CONVICTED AND COMMUTED FORMER GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH SAVE FOR THIS MOMENT WHERE THE TWO CAST ASIDE DIFFERENCES FOR A WARM EMBRACE AND THE RELATIONSHIP WAS NOT EASIER WITH BLAGOJEVICH'S SUCCESSOR PAT QUINN WHO GOT OFF TO A TERRIBLE START WITH MADIGAN EARLY IN THEIR CAREERS WHEN PAT QUINN PUSHED FORWARD A REFERENDUM IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT AFFECTED WHEN LAWMAKERS COULD GET PAID SOMETHING THAT ENRAGED MICHAEL MADIGAN.

>> MICHAEL MADIGAN LED TO BOOING AND ONE OF THE LEGISLATORS COMPLAINED AND SAID YOU ARE BOOING A FELLOW IRISH MAN AND MICHAEL MADIGAN SAYS HE IS NOT WORTHY OF BEING CALLED AN IRISH MAN.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES I INTERACTED WITH MICHAEL MADIGAN.

>> AND QUINN SAYS THE RELATIONSHIP IMPROVED SOMEWHAT WHEN HE TOOK OVER AS GOVERNOR IN 2009 THAT TENURE WAS MARKED BY BUDGET BATTLES AND OVERTIME SESSIONS.

QUINN SAYS THE TWO WERE ABLE TO PUT ASIDE DIFFERENTS AND GET SOME THINGS DONE BY PENSION REFORM FOR FUTURE EMPLOYEES, A TAX HIKE, ABOLISHING THE DEW POINT AND MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT THE MORE SOCIALLY MODERATE MADIGAN CAME AROUND ON QUOTING POPE FRANCIS WHEN THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.

>> IF SOMEONE IS GAY AND HE SEARCHES FOR THE LORD, AND HE HAS GOODWILL, WHO AM I TO JUDGE?

>> BUT QUIP SAYS THERE WERE MANY THINGS THAT THEY OPPOSED EACH OTHER ON NAMELY WHEN MADIGAN SUPPORTED THE 2011 ComEd SMART GRID BILL WHICH GIFTED THE UTILITY AUTOMATIC RATE INCREASES.

>> AND THEN I VETOED IT I SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS EVER FOR CONSUMERS IN ILLINOIS.

AND MAD GAL BEGAN LED THE DRIVE TO OVERRIDE THAT VETO AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE THAT HE MADE.

AND IT'S HARMED CONSUMERS IN ILLINOIS AND LED TO SCANDAL.

AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT I'M SURE HE WISHES HE HAD BACK I SURE HOPE HE DOES.

>> AND MADIGAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ComEd IS HEAVY UNDER THE FEDERAL MICROSCOPE.

>> AND MORE RECENT MEMORY THAT GRIDLOCK IN SPRINGFIELD DIDN'T IMPROVE MUCH UNDER BRUCE RAUNER.

>> NO, IT MADE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH PAT QUINN LOOK LIKE A HONEYMOON WHEN BRUCE RAUNER TOOK OVER THERE WAS A TWO-YEAR BUDGET BATTLE MADIGAN REFUSED TO GIVE INTO RAUNER'S DEMANDS TO CURB THE POWER OF UNIONS AND THE STATE WENT WITHOUT A BUDGET CAUSING A BILL BACKLOG AND DEFICITS TO A STATE DROWNING IN RED INK.

AND RED INK IN THE EMPLOYEE PENSION SYSTEM IS A MAJOR LEGACY OF MADIGAN'S TENURE.

MORE THAN 140 BILLION DOLLARS UNDERFUNDED.

MADIGAN IS NOT THE ONLY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIST CAT MISMANAGEMENT AND PART OF HIS LEGACY THE POLITICAL POWER HE WIELDED ACROSS THE STATE IN AGENCIES LIKE METRA WHERE THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE PRESSURED LEADERS THERE TO HIRE LOYALISTS.

AND TODAY IN A STATEMENT HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER JIM DURKIN SAID REPRESENTATIVE MADIGAN'S AUTOCRATIC RULE HAS NOT MADE ILLINOIS A MORE COMPETITIVE STATE OUR STATE IS IN SHAMBLES FINANCIALLY, STRUCTURALLY AND ETHICALLY.

IT IS A BIT MORE ROSIE OF AN ASSESSMENT FROM MADIGAN'S LONG TIME NUMBER TWO IN THE STATE HOUSE BARBARA FLYNN CURRIE A FORMER STATE REP FROM HYDE PARK WHO SAYS HIS LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS WILL STAND OUT.

>> HE WAS VERY STRONG ON THINGS LIKE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, IMPROVING AND PROTECTING IT.

ETHICS REFORMS, END THE PAY TO PLAY POLITICS.

EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

HE ALSO DID THINGS ON THE SOCIAL AGENDA.

FOR EXAMPLE WITHOUT HIS LEADERSHIP, ILLINOIS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN A STATE THAT APPROVED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT SAID WE HAD TO.

>> BUT THIS DAY WAS NOT INEVITABLE HIS FALL FROM POWER STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO?

>> ABOUT 2018.

THE WHEELS REALLY BEGAN TO COME OFF WHEN A YOUNG FORMER POLITICAL STAFFER ELENA HAMPTON CAME FORWARD ALLEGING SEXUAL HARASSMENT FROM A SUPERVISOR AND MADIGAN DID NOTHING ABOUT IT AND HIS ORGANIZATION RETALIATED AGAINST HER FOR COMING FORWARD AND IT LED TO MORE STORIES COMING OUT.

CALLING INTO QUESTION THE ETHICS OF THE 13TH WARD POLITICAL ORGANIZATION THAT HE LED.

AND LAST YEAR WITH REVELATIONS HE WAS PUBLIC OFFICIAL A IN THE GRAND SWEEPING INDICTMENTS AGAINST ComEd AND AGAINST OTHER MADIGAN-CONNECTED OFFICIALS.

ALLEGING BRIBERY SCHEMES, PAY TO PLAY.

MADIGAN HIMSELF HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED AND THOSE THE CAREER COMES TO AN END.

HE IS STILL THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS AND HE HAS THE HEAVIEST WEIGHTED VOTES THIS WEEKEND IN CHOOSING HIS SUCCESSOR.

MADIGAN'S CAMPAIGN FUND HAS ABOUT $13.5 MILLION IN IT.

AND BECAUSE OF A GRANDFATHER LAW HE CAN CONVERT SOME OF THAT TO PERSONAL USE.

ALTHOUGH HE HAS BEEN USING A LOT OF THAT FOR HEAVY LEGAL FEES.

AND WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS WITH AMANDA AND HEATHER LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU.

THERE HAVE BEEN 7,000 CONFIRMED CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN THE 60617 ZIP CODE THE PRIMARY ZIP CODE FOR CHICAGO'S LARGEST COMMUNITY AREA SOUTH DEERING.

THE SOUTHEAST SIDE AREA HAS LONG BEEN A HOTBED FOR INDUSTRY AND SOME RESIDENTS HAVE HAD ENOUGH CITING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

AMANDA VINICKY AND MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY IN SOUTH FOR THIS WEEK'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

AMANDA JOINS US FROM INSIDE L AND G FAMILY RESTAURANT OR TORRANCE AVENUE.

>> AS YOU CAN SEE, L AND G IS NOT SERVING CUSTOMERS.

BUMPER FOR ME BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHOCOLATE PANCAKES THAT LOOK DELICIOUS.

THEY ARE OPEN FOR INDOOR DINING.

JUST THAT THE RESTAURANT CLOSES AT 3:00 P.M. WE DO THANK THEM FOR LETTING US IN FROM THE COLD.

IT IS UNINTENTIONALLY IRONIC THAT WE ARE DOING THE STORY FROM A RESTAURANT.

A MAJOR REASON WE WANTED TO COME TO SOUTH DEERING FOR THIS WEEK'S IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO CHECK IN WITH RESIDENTS ON A HUNGER STRIKE THE POINT OF CONTENTION: A METAL SCRAPPING PLANT GENERAL IRON CLOSED ON THE NORTH SIDE IN JANUARY.

AND THEN PENDING THE CITY'S SIGNING OFF, PLANS TO EXPAND AND OPEN A BIGGER PLANT HERE IN SOUTH DEERING.

BIOLOGY TEACHER CHUCK STARK SAYS THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM.

>> TAKING A KNOWN POLLUTER FROM AN AFTER FUNT PART OF THE CITY AND MOVING IT TO A PREDOMINANTLY LATINX AND BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND WHETHER IT'S INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL STILL YOU HAVE THIS COMMUNITY THAT IS PAYING THE COST OF SOMETHING THAT OTHER PEOPLE GET TO BENEFIT FROM.

>> STARK IS ON DAY 15 OF FASTING AFTER HE SAYS THAT TRANSITION ROUTES LIKE WRITING LETTERS AND ATTENDING MEETINGS DID NOT GET OFFICIALS' ATTENTION.

HE SAYS GOING WITHOUT EATING HIS ENERGY IS RISING AND FAG AND WHILE THE CITY HAS NOT DIRECTLY RESPONDED TO THE HUNGER STRIKERS HE KNOWS THAT CHICAGO OFFICIALS ARE LISTENING.

THE PARENT COMPANY FOR THE SOUTH SIDE RECYCLING FACILITY DECLINED AN INVITATION FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT A SPOKESPERSON DID JOIN "CHICAGO TONIGHT" JUST LAST WEEK AND TOLD US THAT THE COMPANY HAD TAKEN EXTRA STEPS TO CONTROL POLLUTION.

>> CAPTURE AND CONTROL SYSTEM, FILTER, A THERMAL OXIDIZER THAT BURNS OFF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, EXPLOSIVE PREVENTION DEVICES AND WET SCRUBBER AT THAT TIME REMOVES HARMFUL PARTICULATE MATTER AND COMPOUNDS FROM THE EMISSIONS STREAM.

>> NEARBY AT THE EASTSIDE HEALTH CENTER Dr. RONALD HICKOMBOTTOM SAYS HIS CONCERN IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PATIENTS.

THOSE WHO ARE ENERGETIC ABOUT GETTING IT AND THE OTHERS HE HAS TO TRY TO CONVINCE.

>> THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE ARE HEAR SOMETHING THAT THEY JUST DON'T TRUST THE VACCINE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S TOO NEW.

IT COULD HAVE SIDE EFFECTS.

AND YOU KNOW, I TRY TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S BASICALLY SIMILAR TO THE FLU VACCINE.

YOU CAN GET A MINOR SIDE EFFECT.

AND LET THEM KNOW I'VE HAD THE VACCINE AND I'M HERE AND TALKING AND TRYING TO TREAT PATIENTS.

>> THE JUXTAPOSITION OR RATHER THE EVOLUTION FROM INDUSTRY TO ECORECREATION IS EVIDENT IN SOUTH DEERING'S BIG MARSH PARK.

IT USED TO BE A RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DUMPING SITE.

>> LOTS OF SLAG WHICH IS A BYPRODUCT OF STEEL MAKING INDUSTRY WAS DUMPED OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL DECADES.

WHEN THE PARK DISTRICT COMES IN AFTER THEY ASSESS WHAT TYPES OF DEBRIS ARE STILL THERE, THEY CLEAN UP THE SITE.

SOMETIMES WE NEED TO CAP CERTAIN SPACES TO MAKE THEM SAFER FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR NATURE TO RETURN AND WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF ACTUALLY INTRODUCING NATIVE PLANTS, TREES.

>> HE SAYS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR REINTRODUCTION OF BIRDS.

WE COULD HEAR THEM TWEETING IN THE BACKGROUND.

YOU CAN'T SEE MUCH OF BIG MARSH PARK THAT IS.

OUR CAMERA EQUIPMENT WASN'T MUCH OF A MATCH FOR THE MOUNDS OF SNOW.

BUT THE PARK IS STILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM DUSK TO DAWN NO MATTER THE WIND-CHILL.

WE HAVE VIDEO FROM WARMER DAYS AT THE PARK.

PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE A NATURE CENTER CAMPING SITE AND BUILDING UP A HILL FOR MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS OR NEXT WINTER BRINGS MORE SNOW PERHAPS A SLEDDING HILL.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE PARK FEATURES A 31,000-FOOT PUMP TRACK ASPHALT PUMP TRACK FOR BIKERS, ROLLERBLADERS AND SKATERS THAT IS FRIENDS OF MARSH PARK IS WORKING TO FOSTER YOUTH EXCITEMENT ABOUT RECREATIONAL CYCLING AND TWO WHEELS WITH A JOINT PROGRAM WITH AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS THIS IS BIKE AMBASSADORS AND PARTICIPANTS LEARN HOW TO RIDE, REPAIR AND BUILD BIKES.

>> DOWN THE WAY THAT THE BIG MARSH I SAW TRUCKS COMING FROM THAT SIDE.

WHEN WE WENT DOWN THERE IT WAS LIKE, THIS BIG OLD SPACE DOWN THERE THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING TO AND HAVING FUN WITH MY FRIENDS.

>> THAT WAS 17 MARIA TENNYSON WHO SAYS THAT BEFORE JOINING SHE DIDN'T LIKE BIKING OR KNOW THERE WAS A GREENSPACE IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE CANNOT END THIS WITHOUT MENTION OF SOUTH DEERING'S MOST FAME FAMILIAR MUST INDUSTRIES WHICH IS CAL USE MUTT FISHERIES.

CAL MUTT CALUMET MILITIARIES.

CALUMET FISHERIES.

>> IT STARTED OUT AS A BUSINESS THAT TWO BROTHER-IN-LAWS BOTH IN 1942.

THEY HAVE CONTINUED THE SAME BUSINESS SMOKING FISH AS AN OPEN FLAME SMOKE HOUSE NEXT DOOR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO DO IT AND WE GOT GRANDFATHERED IN.

OUR WAY OF SMOKING IS THE HISTORICAL WAY.

THE WAY THEY USED TO DO IT BACK THEN >> NOW, CALUMET FISHERIES HAS BEEN TAKE OUT AND THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED TOO MUCH DURING COVID BUT THEY TAKE THE VIRUS SERIOUSLY ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS MANAGER CARLOS ROSA DID PASS AWAY IN JULY FROM IT.

ON THAT SAD NOTE I WILL TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THAT IS SAD TO HEAR.

THANK YOU.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.

>> NOW, TO PHIL PONCE FOR DETAILS ON A HEDGE FUND PURCHASING TRIBUNE PUBLISHING.

>> TRIBUNE PUBLISHING WHICH PUBLISHES THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" AND OTHER MAJOR NEWSPAPERS SAYS IT HAS AGREED TO A DEAL TO BE BOUGHT BY HEDGE FUNDAMENTAL DEN GLOBAL CAPITAL.

ALREADY, THE COMPANY'S LARGEST SHAREHOLDER.

THE DEAL VALUES THE COMPANY AT $630 MILLION.

BUT SOME TRIBUNE JOURNALISTS FEAR ALDEN'S HISTORY OF DEEP CUTS MEANS AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC VOICE COULD BE DIMINISHED.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE DEAL ARE BRIAN HIEGGELKE, HE IS EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF NEW CITY WHICH HAS WRITTEN AT LENGTH ABOUT THE DECLINE OF THE TRIBUNE.

AND CHARLES WHITAKER PROFESSOR AT THE MEDILL SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND GREGORY PRATT PRESIDENT OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" GUILD AND A POLITICS REPORTER AT THE TRIBUNE.

AND WE DID INVITE TRIBUNE PUBLISHING TO JOIN AND THEY DECLINED.

WE WERE UNABLE TO REACH ALDEN GLOBAL AND THEIR WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE COMPANY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND CHARLES WHITAKER, ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL WHICH OWNS A THIRD OF THE TRIBUNE PUBLISHING SHARES AGREED TO BUY THE REST OF IT.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ALDEN GLOBAL AND WHAT THEIR TRACK RECORD IS WITH OTHER NEWSPAPERS THEY OWN?

>> WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BOUGHT AND OWN HUNDREDS OF PAPERS FROM DENVER TO BOSTON AND WE KNOW THAT FOR THE MOST PART THEIR REPUTATION HAS BEEN AS A PRETTY THEY HAVE HALLOWED OUT THE PAPERS AND SQUEEZING OUT MAXIMUM PROFITS THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY AND NOT NECESSARILY IN THE BUSINESS OF PRODUCING GREAT JOURNALISM.

>> AS WE MENTIONED WE COULD NOT REACH ALDEN CAPITAL BUT A STATEMENT THAT ALDEN CAPITAL ISSUED TO THE TRIBUNE READS IN PART... >> GREGORY PRATT WHAT DO YOU THINK THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE"'S FUTURE LOOKS LIKE UNDER AN ALDEN OWNERSHIP IF THE DEAL GOES THROUGH?

>> WE ARE FACING DARK DAYS.

THE TRIBUNE HAS LOST A LOT OF EMPLOYEES IN THE LAST YEAR IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

WE WERE AT 168 IN 2018 AND WE ARE AT 118 NOW.

WE'RE NOW FACING A COMPANY THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT JOURNALISM DESPITE WHAT IT MAY PURPORT TO BELIEVE IN IN STATEMENTS IT GIVES TO THE PRESS.

THEIR TRACK RECORD IS HORRIBLE AND WE ARE FACING A FUTURE WHERE THE COMPANY FOCUSES ON WRINGING OUT SHORT-TERM PROFITS INSTEAD OF SERVING DEMOCRACY AND SERVING THE CITIZENS AND SERVING PEOPLE BY HOLDING POWERFUL PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

>> AND GREGORY, WE DID RECEIVE WELL, TRIBUNE PUBLISHING DID ISSUE A STATEMENT THE BOARD CHAIR PHILLIP FRANKLIN RELEASED THE STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART... BRIAN YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE TRIBUNE IN TERMS OF ITS HISTORY.

PUT THIS IN CONTEXT?

>> WELL, THE INTERESTING THING IS THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER WAS JUST AN ABSOLUTE DOMINANT MEDIA COMPANY IN CHICAGO AND IN THE COUNTRY WITH A DPLOWSH RISHING BROADCASTING BUSINESS, A CHAIN OF MAJOR NEWSPAPERS, ANCHORED BY "CHICAGO TRIBUNE", THEY BOUGHT THE CHICAGO CUBS AND OWNED IT.

THEY WERE A LORD OF CHICAGO AND THEY USED TO HAVE A REPUTATION IN THE BUSINESS WORLD OF BEING A WELL RUN COMPANY.

IF YOU TOOK AWAY THE JOURNALISM CONVERSATION AS A CORPORATE OPERATOR THEY WERE CONSIDERED VERY GOOD.

THEY STUMBLED AND FELL IN THE EARN 2,000'S WHEN THEY BOUGHT THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" WHICH STRATEGICALLY ON THE FACE WAS A ATTRACTIVE ACQUISITION FOR THEM BUT TIMING WAS TERRIBLE AND THE PRICE WAS WAY TOO HIGH AND IT PUT THEM INTO A BAD POSITION AND THEY FELL INTO A RUN OF REALLY BAD OWNERSHIP AND THIS IS THE THIRD AND HOPEFULLY NOT FINAL BUT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE IT COULD BE SOMEWHAT OF A FINAL STRIKE OF BAD OWNERS FOR THEM.

>> CHARLES WHITAKER, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT NEWSPAPERS ARE STRUGGLING.

THERE'S BEEN EVERYTHING IS WHAT IS GOING ON ON-LINE AND SO FORTH.

HOW MUCH OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TRIBUNE'S MAKING POOR DECISIONS AND HOW MUCH OF IT HAS TO DO WITH CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL NEWSPAPERS?

>> THE ENVIRONMENT IS CHALLENGING FOR ALL NEWSPAPERS IF THIS WERE SIMPLY A QUESTION OF THE TRIBUNE LEADERSHIP MAKING BAD DECISIONS.

AND THERE WAS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY WHICH IS WHY THE INDUSTRY IS SUFFERING.

SO EVERYONE GOT DRUNK ON THE CASH THAT HAD OBTAINED THROUGH PUBLIC STOCK OPTIONS THAT MADE THEM BE HUGE BATTLESHIPS THAT WERE DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN THE DIGITAL AGE CAME ON AND SLOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MODEL THAT WAS BUILT ON THE ADVERTISING WAS BROKEN.

THEY WERE HOPE TOO LONG HOLD ON TO THAT FOR A VERY LONG TIME BUT THEY COULDN'T.

THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT READERS IN THE WAY THAT YOU CAN DIGITALLY.

THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT THOSE EYEBALLS HAD BROKEN THAT BUSINESS MODEL.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A LOT THAT TRIBUNE MANAGERS COULD HAVE DONE BUT THEY MADE BAD DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY.

>> GREGORY PRATT WHAT DO YOU SEE IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO?

>> WELL, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" CONTINUES TO EXIST AS A SORT OF ZOMBIE PAPER AND GUTTED OUT AND PRODUCES STUFF AND RUNS A LOT OF WIRE STUFF AND ESSENTIALLY DOESN'T DO ANYTHING THAT IS SPECIAL OR REMARKABLE.

AND THINK IT'S MORE LIKELY THAN THEM COMPLETELY KILLING THE PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS BUT THAT'S A TREMENDOUSLY CONCERNING SCENARIO NOT JUST FOR THE NEWSPAPER AND NOT JUST FOR THE JOURNALISTS.

I SPEAK AS A CITIZEN AND A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WHERE THE VALUE OF THE TRIBUNE IS IN WHAT IT PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> CHARLES WHITAKER, THE BALTIMORE SUN WAS PURCHASED BY A LOCAL GROUP.

IS THERE ANY POTENTIAL THAT SOMEBODY WITH DEEP POCKETS TO AT THIS POINT BUY THE TRIBUNE AND KEEP IT RUNNING AS AN INSTITUTION THAT DOES HAVE THAT LOCAL CONNECTION, DOES HAVE THAT LOCAL COMMITMENT?

>> I THINK THAT CERTAINLY IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE HOPING FOR.

THAT IS A HAIL MARY AND I'M NOT SURE -- THERE ARE A LOT OF RICH PEOPLE IN CHICAGO AND ONE WOULD HOPE ARE AS CIVIC BEHINDED THEY WOULD WANT TO MAINTAIN THE GLORIOUS INSTITUTION VITAL TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE DEMOCRACY AND BEING A WATCHDOG OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

ONE HOPES THAT IS THE CASE BUT I'M NOT SURE.

I HOPE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU LOSE WHEN YOU LOSE LOCAL NEWS ANDS AN INSTITUTION THAT IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE TRIBUNE AND THEY WILL COME TOGETHER THE WAY SOME WEALTHY CIVIC MINDED INDIVIDUALS IN BALTIMORE DID.

THE WAY JEFF BEZOS DID IN SAVING THE "WASHINGTON POST".

>> GREGORY PRATT HOW ABOUT IT?

HAS YOUR GROUP, HAVE THE EMPLOYEES REACHED OUT TO POTENTIAL DONORS AS PART OF A QUOTE HAIL MARY PASS?

>> WELL, GOOD NEWS-BAD NEWS.

THE TRIBUNE HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON ITS BEHALF AND INCLUDING REPORTERS DAVID JACKSON AND GARY MARKS IN PARTICULAR REACH OUT TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MEANS TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO SAVE THE TRIBUNE AND THEY HAVE SO FAR NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

>> CHARLES WHITAKER, GREGORY PRATT AND BRIAN HIEGGELKE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

AND UP NEXT HOW A VOLUNTEER EXPO THAT DRAWS HUNDREDS HAS BEEN REIMAGINED FOR THE PANDEMIC.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

THE MUSEUM FOUND A WAY.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW MORE WITH SOME DETAILS.

SO, PATTY, IS THIS VOLUNTEER EXPO GOING TO TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR?

>> YES, IT IS IT'S GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE WHERE EVERYTHING TAKES PLACE ON ZOOM.

SO THEY FIGURED OUT A WAY TO INSTEAD OF HAVE VOLUNTEERS GOING FROM BOOTH TO BOOTH YOU WILL GO FROM ZOOM BREAK OUT ROOM TO ZOOM BREAK OUT ROOM TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE THAN 75 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS.

>> I'M SHOCKED IT'S TAKING PLACE VIA ZOOM LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.

DID THE MUSEUM CONSIDER CANCELING THIS IMPORTANT EVENT ALTOGETHER?

>> YOU KNOW THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED THEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION THAT THEY ASKED THEMSELVES DO WE NEED TO DO THIS?

AND THEY SAID THEY SURVEYED HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE PAST AND THE RESPONSE THAT THEY GOT WAS YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO STILL HAVE A NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM HAVE PIVOTED LIKE THE REST OF US AND THEY HAVE FOUND WAYS TO KEEP VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED WHETHER IT'S IN-PERSON OR ON-LINE.

>> AND CERTAINLY A LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS VERY CRUCIAL NOW BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" HOW THE SOUTHEAST SIDE IS COPING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS WE TALK WITH 10TH WARD ALDERMAN SUSAN SADLOWSKI GARZA.

>> THERE WAS CONFUSION THROUGHOUT THE COMMAND STAFF WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT.

>> A SPECIAL EDITION OF SPOTLIGHT POLITICS LOOKS HOW POLICE HANDLED LAST YEAR'S RACIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS PLUS MORE ON THE MADIGAN RESIGNATION.

AND GEOFFREY BAER ON HOW THIS WEEK'S SNOWFALL RANKS AGAINST CHICAGO'S BIGGEST WINTER STORMS IN AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

SOME ALDERMEN AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE BLASTING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR USING $281.5 MILLION OF COVID-19 FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS TO PAY SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> THE SAME ANGER WE HAD ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS ON A CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL USING CARES ACT MONEY TO BOOST UP THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS THE SAME ANGER WE SHOULD FEEL HERE ON A MUNICIPAL LEVEL THAT THE RESOURCES THAT WERE DESPERATELY NEEDED WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE HAVE BEEN PUT IN OUR OVERFUNDED POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> ALDERMEN WERE NOT PROVIDED WITH A COUNT HOW THE RELIEF FUNDS WOULD BE SPENT.

NINE VOTED AGAINST THE PLAN AT THE TIME.

THE GROUPS SAY THE MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS.

BUDGET OFFICIALS SAY HAD THEY NOT USED THE CARES ACT FUNDING THE BURDEN WOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED ON TO TAXPAYERS.

YOU CAN READ WHY THE CITY SAID IT NEEDED TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> FAMED CHICAGO COMEDY CLUB THE SECOND CITY HAS A NEW OWNER.

IT'S ONLY THE SECOND TIME THE CLUB HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE HISTORY.

ZMC ANNOUNCES IT PURCHASED THE COMPANY FOR AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT.

THE FIRM MANAGED MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS ENTERPRISES.

THE COMEDY AND EDUCATION VENUE IS KNOWN FOR LAUNCHING THE CAREERS OF COMEDY GREATS FROM DAN ACKROYD TO TINA FEY.

AND TO PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW LET'S CHECK BACK IN WITH AMANDA VINICKY WHO SPENT THE DAY IN SOUTH DEERING AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> EARLIER TODAY I SPOKE WITH ALDER WOMAN SUSAN SADLOWSKI GARZA AND I BEGAN BY ASKING HER ABOUT THAT HUNGER STRIKE.

>> I'M HUMBLED BY WHAT THESE FOLKS ARE DOING.

AND PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS ACTION WAS GENERATED BECAUSE PEOPLE FELT LIKE THEY ARE NOT BEING HEARD, RIGHT?

AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO STARVE TO BE HEARD.

AND THEY BROUGHT MORE ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE WHICH THEY ARE SUCCEEDING IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

I'M HUMBLED BY THE MOVEMENT.

BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME, BECAUSE I HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY.

AND THERE IS A FEDERAL LAWSUIT THERE IS A HUD COMPLAINT WHICH I'M NAMED IN IT AND NOW I CAN'T TALK ABOUT ANY OF THIS WHICH IT'S HARD FOR ME.

IT IS A BAD SITUATION TO BE IN.

>> WERE YOU TOLD OR CAN YOU ELABORATE WHY YOU WERE INCLUDED IN THAT COMPLAINT?

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHY I WAS NAMED AND I'M ACTUALLY TO SAY THAT I DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE WHEN I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE TRYING TO FIGHT FOR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES LITERALLY MY WHOLE LIFE.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S WRONG.

AND IT'S PUT A HUGE WEDGE BETWEEN ME AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY AND IT'S UNJUSTIFIED.

>> IS THAT GOING TO HINDER THEIR EFFORTS IN THE LONG RUN TO PREVENT THIS METAL SCRAPPING FACILITY?

>> HERE IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW.

RMG HAS BEEN IN MY WARD FOR 29 YEARS IT'S NOT MOVING FROM ANYWHERE IT'S BEEN HERE.

YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ALWAYS GETTING WE ARE NOT GETTING BEAUTIFUL SKYSCRAPERS OR THINGS LIKE THAT WE ARE GETTING INDUSTRY AND THERE HAS TO BE JOBS IF YOU ARE NOT PUTTING FOOD ON YOUR TABLE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT ANYTHING.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE CLEAN JOBS AND JOBS THAT DON'T MAKE PEOPLE SICK.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT JOBS COMING TO THE AREA, THE WARD'S INDUSTRIAL PAST AND FUTURE HOW HAS THAT BEEN COMPLICATED BY COVID?

ON BOTH ENDS FROM A HEALTH ONE AND RECRUITING JOBS AND KEEPING JOBS?

>> SO FOR US, WHEN I WAS A KID WE HAD 134,000 STEELWORKER JOBS IN THE 10TH WARD.

WE HAD NINE STEEL MILLS THOSE JOBS LEFT AND THE GROCERY STORES AND THE RESIDUAL EFFECT WAS LIKE DOMINOES.

DURING COVID WE ARE LUCKY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING.

FORD EXPANDED.

PUT 500 MORE PEOPLE TO WORK.

PEOPLE I'M LOOKING AT FACILITIES ON AVENUE O FOR RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS.

I'M FEELING VERY POSITIVE WITH ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE.

AND THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON BECAUSE OUR WARD HAS THINGS THAT NO WARD HAS AND THERE ARE WONDERFUL AMENITIES HERE, TOO.

>> ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALDERWOMAN SUSAN SADLOWSKI GARZA OF THE 10TH WARD AND COMING UP WE WILL HAVE AN OPPONENT TO THAT METAL SCRAPPING FACILITY.

FOR NOW, BACK TO YOU.

>> A HOT TOPIC IN THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

>> AND BACK TO BRANDIS FOR AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> THANK YOU.

>> A COLLECTIVE GROAN MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HEARD AROUND CHICAGO WHEN THE CITY AWOKE TO FIND IT WAS SNOWING AGAIN.

GEOFFREY BAER JOINS US WITH MORE HOW THIS RECENT BLAST OF SNOWY WEATHER STACKS UP AGAINST CHICAGO'S MOST INFAMOUS WINTER STORMS IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

AND WELCOME BACK.

AND THIS WEEK'S QUESTION IS: >> WELL, BRANDIS, YOU LOOK OUT MY BACK WINDOW THERE'S SNOW PLACE LIKE CHICAGO.

>> I SEE WHAT YOU DID.

YOU THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS.

>> THIS IS SNOW LAUGHING MATTER.

BEFORE WE LOSE OUR AUDIENCE WITH THE HORRIBLE PUNS, DEPENDING WHERE YOU WERE IN THE REGION THIS WEEK'S SNOW BROUGHT IN ANYWHERE FROM 7.5 TO ALMOST 19 INCHES OF WHITE STUFF MAKING THE PAST THREE WEEKS CHICAGO'S SNOWIEST IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO OFFICE.

SO FAR ABOUT 45 INCHES OF SNOW HAVE BEEN RECORDED THIS WINTER AND THAT IS WELL ABOVE THE 36 INCHES WE USUALLY AVERAGE.

AND THE OFFICIAL MEASUREMENT TAKEN AT O'HARE AND IT'S ONLY FEBRUARY.

THIS WEEK WE SAW A COMBINATION OF A REGULAR STORM SYSTEM WITH SOMETHING CALLED LAKE-EFFECT SNOW WHICH OCCURS WHEN COLD AIR MOVES OVER WARMER WATER LEADING TO SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SNOWFALL IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND SUBURBS NEAR THE LAKEFRONT.

WE'RE FAR SHORT OF THE ALL TIME RECORD FOR A SINGLE WINTER WHEN 90 CUMULATIVE INCHES FELL IN 1978 AND 79.

NOR HAVE WE SEEN THE BIGGEST SNOWSTORM IN OUR HISTORY IN 1967, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT MORE OF BOTH OF THOSE IN A MINUTE.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE EVERY GENERATION OF CHICAGOANS GETS ITS OWN MAMMOTH BLIZZARD.

THERE WERE HUGE SNOWFALLS IN THE LATE 1920s AND EARLY 30s WHEN THE CITY HAD NEAR RECORD SNOW.

THREE YEARS IN A ROW.

BUT NONE OF THEM QUITE COMPARES TO THE STORM OF JANUARY 1967.

I'M SURE SOME OF OUR VIEWERS REMEMBER IT.

IT SNOWED FOR 30 STRAIGHT HOURS?

CHICAGO LEAVING 23 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION.

THAT IS THE MOST EVER FROM A SINGLE WEATHER EVENT IN CHICAGO.

THAT SURPRISE BLIZZARD LEFT 20,000 CARS AND MORE THAN A THOUSAND BUSES STRANDED ON CITY STREETS AND EXPRESSWAYS.

WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 50-MILES-PER-HOUR CREATED SNOWDRIFTS AS HIGH AS SIX FEET.

THE FLIP SIDE WAS AN OUTPOURING OF NEIGHBORLINESS AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT.

PEOPLE HELPED SHOVEL SIDEWALKS AND PUSH OUT CARS AND SOMETHING LIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE RECENT WEEKS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THAT.

GEOFFREY THIS BEING CHICAGO OF COURSE SNOWSTORMS OVER THE YEARS THEY CAN CAUSE A STORM OF POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS, RIGHT?

>> OH, YEAH.

SO LET'S FLASH FORWARD TO THE HUGE STORM IN 1979 WHICH LEFT BEHIND 20 INCHES AND BROUGHT THE REGION TO A STAND STILL N THAT STORM CITY HALL'S RESPONSE WAS BUNGLED BECAUSE MAYOR MICHAEL BILANDIC TOOK THE BLAME WITH THE STREETS CLOGGED FOR DAYS AND THE L TRAINS WERE OVERCROWDED AND IN RESPONSE THE CITY CLOSED A SERIES OF L STATIONS TEMPORARILY.

MOST WERE IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

THAT POLITICAL BACKLASH WAS IMMEDIATE AND UNDERDOG MAYORAL CANDIDATE JANE BYRNE TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT HERE IS A BIT OF AN AD FROM HER 1979 CAMPAIGN.

>> NO ONE COULD STOP THE SNOW BUT GOOD PLANNING CAN PREVENT THE COLLAPSE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND CLEAN UP THE CITY.

I'M JANE BYRNE COMMISSIONER OF ASSUMER SALES.

HE TAUGHT ME ABOUT PLANNING AND TAUGHT ME ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND TAUGHT ME ABOUT PEOPLE.

>> AND, OF COURSE, JANE BYRNE WOULD GO ON TO WIN THE ELECTION AND BECAME CHICAGO'S FIRST FEMALE MAYOR.

>> AND GEOFFREY, BEYOND THIS WEEK'S SNOW WE HAVE HAD INTENSE WINTERS IN RECENT YEARS, TOO.

>> YEAH.

IN RECENT MEMORY.

YOU WILL PROBABLY REMEMBER THE 2011 GROUND-HOG DAY BLIZZARD WHICH SOME PEOPLE CALLED SNOW GED DON.

21 INCHES WERE RECORDED, TWO INCHES SHY OF THE ALL TIME RECORD AND THE SNOW CAME QUICKLY AND STRANDED HUNDREDS OF CARS ON LAKE SHORE DRIVE TRAPPING PEOPLE FOR HOURS.

IN THE AFTERMATH, THE CITY INSTALLED REMOVABLE BARRIERS ON THE DRIVE WHICH ALLOW PEOPLE TO TURN AROUND AND EXIT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN EMERGENCIES AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ACTIVATED THOSE BARRIERS EARLIER THIS WEEK AS A PRECAUTION.

AND IN 20 NINETEEN CAME THE POLAR VORTEX WHEN THE CITY DIPPED TO -23° THE COLD HE HAVE TEMPERATURE IN 34 YEARS.

SO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS A VIDEO THAT I TOOK TWO YEARS AGO IN 2019 OF MY DAUGHTER AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE LIQUID IN THIS BUBBLE WAND FREEZE RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES.

NOW WHILE WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN AS COLD THIS FEBRUARY, OR I SHOULD SAY IT HAS BEEN VERY COLD THIS FEBRUARY AND WE HAVE NOT COME CLOSE TO THAT RECORD.

OR ANY RECORD REALLY.

THE TITLE BELONGS TO FEBRUARY 1895 WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS A CHILLY $4.7 4.7° FOR THE MONTH.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO AND THINK SNOW WAY.

I HAD TO GET ONE LAST ONE IN.

>> GOOD JOB.

>> THANK YOU GEOFFREY BAER.

AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT CHICAGO'S MOST INFAMOUS SNOWSTORMS AND SUBMIT YOUR OWN QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER... >> UP NEXT, HOW SOME SOUTH DEERING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE FIGHTING GENERAL IRON'S BID TO OPEN A NEW FACILITY.

>> NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH AMANDA VINICKY WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH DEERING NEIGHBORHOOD AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

AMANDA, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

>> PARIS HAD A MOMENT TO ADJUST MY MASK BEFORE BEING JOINED BY PEGGY SALAZAR OF THE SOUTHEAST ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE AND WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS NEW METAL SCRAPPING FACILITY TRYING TO EXPAND OR COME HERE.

BUT ALREADY THERE IS A LOT OF INDUSTRY.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE IMPACT IT HAS ON SOUTH DEERING AND RESIDENTS?

>> WELL, HERE IS THE IMPACT IT HAS.

WE KEEP SAYING THAT THE INDUSTRY THAT'S HERE IS POLLUTING INDUSTRY.

WE ARE ZONED FOR DIRTY INDUSTRY.

DIRTY INDUSTRY EQUATES TO POLLUTING INDUSTRY.

EVERY TIME THEY ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT IS ALREADY HERE, THAT IT JUST INTENSIFIES THOSE EFFECTS AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE.

WE LOOK AT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF ALL THIS INDUSTRY AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE REGULATING INDUSTRIES TEND TO LOOK AT THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

SO THEY PERMIT EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY BUT THAT IS NOT HOW THEY OPERATE BECAUSE THEY OPERATE TOGETHER AT ONE TIME.

THIS IS WHY WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE.

>> IS IT THAT PART OF THIS A LOT OF THIS CRITICISM STEMMING FROM THE SHUTTING DOWN OF OPERATIONS IN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA WHILE LOOKING TO EXPAND HERE.

IS THAT IT?

OR IS THERE NO ROOM FOR ANY FACILITY LIKE THIS IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY SUPPORT RECYCLING.

RECYCLING IS AN IMPORTANT OPERATION.

WE SUPPORT IT.

BUT WE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES AND LINCOLN PARK THE COMMUNITY IN LINCOLN PARK SAYS THIS DOES NOT BELONG THIS BUSINESS DOES NOT BELONG IN 18 RESIDENTIAL AREA IT IS A DETRIMENT.

SO WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A LONGTIME.

CERTAIN BUSINESSES SHOULD NOT BE OPERATING IN THE BACKYARDS OF COMMUNITIES.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN REPEATING FOR A WHILE AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT CHANGED.

>> REPRESENTATIVES OF RESERVE MANAGEMENT GROUP HAVE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ISN'T A MAJOR POLLUTER AND THAT THESE ARE MISSED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY.

>> MY RESPONSE IS THIS...

IF YOU NEED A PERMIT FROM THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY YOU ARE A POLLUTING INDUSTRY.

IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

THAT IS WHY YOU NEED A PERMIT BECAUSE YOU WILL BE EMITTING SOMETHING INTO THE AIR THE WATER OR THE GROUND.

>> AND WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT WITH THAT CAN YOU PLEASE ADDRESS ON THE ISSUE OF PERMITTING THIS IS BEFORE WE KNOW THERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION WHAT RULE DO YOU HOPE THAT WILL PLAY BEFORE THE CITY MAKES A DECISION?

>> WE ARE HOPING THAT SOMEBODY WILL STAND UP FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HOPING WE'RE HOPING SOMEONE WILL PUT A STOP TO THE CONTINUED PRACTICE OF DUMPING INTO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LITTLE VOICE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR WHY WE FILED FOR THESE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE WE'RE SAYING ENOUGH, ENOUGH ALREADY.

THIS IS CLEAR DISCRIMINATION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO PEGGY SALAZAR SHE IS WITH THE SOUTHEAST ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE.

AND NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU IN A MERE SECONDS UP NEXT DETAILS OF MICHAEL MADIGAN EXIT FROM ILLINOIS POLITICS IN A SPECIAL EDITION OF SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

STICK AROUND.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT MISHANDLED ALMOST EVERY FACET OF ITS RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS TOUCHED OFF BY THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD LAST YEAR THE DAMNING FINDING FROM THE CITY INSPECTORS GENERAL AND IT COMES ON THE SAME DAY THAT FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN ANNOUNCES HE IS RESIGNING HIS SEAT IN SPRINGFIELD.

WE ARE DIGGING INTO BOTH OF THOSE MAJOR STORIES IN A SPECIAL EDITION OF SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

WELCOMING BACK THE TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

GUYS WE SPOKE WITH DEPUTY IG DEBORAH WITZBURG TODAY ABOUT THE REPORT WHO SAID THAT POLICE FAILED TO KEEP A CLEAR RECORD OF THEIR ACTIONS.

>> THAT IS A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF THE PURSUIT OF INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY WHERE INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT.

I THINK THAT MAYBE A PROBLEM THAT THE CITY FACES IN LITIGATION AND IN A VARIETY OF OTHER SETTINGS.

THERE ARE ALSO SORT OF PHILOSOPHICAL CONSEQUENCES AND RELATIONAL ONES AND I THINK THERE IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE FAILURES OF LEADERSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENT ENDANGERED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THEY REPRESENTED A FAILURE OF MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

>> HEATHER YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE, NOW DESPITE THE MUDDLED RECORD THE IG'S OFFICE FOUND FAILURES IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE RESPONSE, LONG-TERM PLANNING, COORDINATION, TRAINING, GO ON?

>> AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT THEY DID NOT DOCUMENT WHEN OFFICERS USED FORCE AND ANYBODY WHO WAS OUT ON THE STREETS DURING THE PROTESTS OR WERE WATCHING "CHICAGO TONIGHT" WHILE WE'RE SHOWING A LOT OF INSTANCES WHERE OFFICERS WERE USING FORCE INCLUDING BATON STRIKES AS WELL AS OC SPRAY NONE OF THAT WAS PROPERLY DOCUMENTED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND AND THE REPORT SAID THAT THAT WILL HAVE POTENTIALLY PROFOUND CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO REBUILD THE TRUST THAT IT LOST OVER A SERIES OF YEARS IF NOT DECADES IN HOW IT POLICED CHICAGO'S COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY THOSE ON THE SOUTH AND THE WEST SIDE.

WE CAN'T FORGET THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDER A FEDERAL COURT ORDER TO REFORM BECAUSE OF AN INVESTIGATION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 2017 FOUND IT UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VIOLATED THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF BLACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS AND THIS WILL ADD TO THAT THOSE CONCERNS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT MADE ENOUGH CHANGES WHEN ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES.

>> PARIS, IS IT SURPRISING TO SEE THE IG RELEASE SUCH A SCATHING REPORT?

>> I WOULDN'T THINK IT WAS SURPRISING TO ANYONE THERE OR WATCHED THE EVENTS UNFOLD NOT ONLY IN THE LOOP BUT OTHER AREAS OF RIVER NORTH AND ALL ACROSS THE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS WERE ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED AND MOST OBSERVERS SAY THEY HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT SINCE CIVIL UNREST BACK IN THE 60s.

THAT DEVASTATION.

AND SO NO, I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS SURPRISED AND THIS IS ALSO AS THERE WAS TURNOVER AT THE TOP OF C.P.D.

THE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN HAD BASICALLY, HE HAD ONLY BEEN IN THE JOB A FEW MONTHS THERE WAS AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND BEFORE THAT EDDIE JOHNSON RESIGNED IN SCANDAL.

THERE'S ALWAYS SO MUCH TURNOVER AT C.P.D.

AND I WONDER HOW MUCH THAT PLAYS INTO ALL THE PROBLEMS THE DEPARTMENT HAS.

THERE CAN NEVER BE STEADY LONG-TERM LEADERSHIP AND YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE OFFICERS WERE NOT TRAINED ON A MASS ARREST SCENARIO AND YOU HAD FOLKS THAT WERE CAUSING PROBLEMS GET AWAY AND YOU HAD FOLKS THAT WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING GET ARRESTED.

>> THIS REPORT BACKS UP A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT DEMONSTRATORS AND SUPPORTERS MADE AT THE TIME ABOUT POOR POLICING.

BUT AS HEATHER MENTIONED GETTING REFORM PASSED CAN BE VERY THORNY.

DOES THIS PROVIDE REFORM ADVOCATES WITH USEFUL EVIDENCE?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

NOT THAT THEY WOULD SAY THAT THEY NEEDED ANYMORE PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH GEORGE FLOYD LET ALONE WHAT HAPPENED TO LAQUAN McDONALD AND I THINK THEY WOULD SAY THERE'S BEEN PLENTY THAT SHOWS THE NEED FOR REFORM.

YES, IT BUTTRESSES THEIR ARGUMENT THERE AND PERHAPS MAY ALSO CONVINCE THOSE WHO WERE NOT AS MUCH ON THAT SIDE TO GIVE FURTHER CREDENCE TO IT.

AGAIN THERE IS ALREADY A CONSENT CONSENT DECREE BUT THE C.P.D.

HAS FALLEN BEHIND IN GETTING THAT ENACTED.

I WOULD ALSO ADD, HOWEVER THAT PERHAPS THERE MIGHT BE PRESSURE AS WELL FROM OFFICERS WHO OUT ON THE STREETS THERE AND WHEN YOU READ THIS REPORT THE DANGER THAT THEY WERE IN AND THEIR LIVES BEING COMPROMISED BY THE LACK OF PREPARATION IN THIS SITUATION.

>> HEATHER SHOULD WE EXPECT THE MAYOR OR THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION OUT OF THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT IN RECENT MONTHS TO DO MUCH MORE THAN TO HOLD A HEARING ON INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO WATCH IS THE REPORT COMING FROM THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM WHICH IS CHARGED WITH HELPING THE FEDERAL JUDGE IMPLEMENT THE CONSENT DECREE.

THEY ALSO CONDUCTED A PROBE AND INVESTIGATION OF THE CONDUCT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING THE PROTESTS AND THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO GO TO THE FEDERAL JUDGE AND SAY HERE IS WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID AND HERE IS WHAT WE THINK SHOULD BE FORCED TO CHANGE.

THAT IS WHERE THE TEETH WILL COME INTO PLAY.

BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE MAYOR IS GOING TO FACE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN'S HANDLING OF THE PROTESTS.

AND ALSO HER OWN WHICH COMES IF FOR PRETTY TOUGH CRITICISM FROM THE WATCHDOG.

>> SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT AS WE REPORTED ANOTHER BIG POLITICAL STORY AS YOU KNOW, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN AS WE'VE REPORTED SOON TO BE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL MADIGAN.

AMANDA, DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD SEE A DAY WHEN HE WOULD CHOOSE TO LEAVE HIS OFFICE?

>> NO.

IN SHORT, ANSWER, NO.

IN PART BECAUSE HE CLEARLY LOVED THE JOB.

SURE HE PROBABLY LOVED THE POWER.

BUT YOU COULD SEE EVIDENCE OF THAT IN THE STATEMENT WE GOT FROM MADIGAN TODAY.

IT WAS THE THIRD PARAGRAPH WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT USING THE LEGISLATURE'S MANDATORY VETO POWER HE CITED AS ONE OF HIS PRIMA ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THAT SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH OF A STUDENT OF ILLINOIS POLITICS AS WELL AS SOME WOULD SAY THE TEACHER FOR DEMOCRATS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

NO, I'M CERTAINLY VERY SURPRISED AND FURTHER PARTICULARLY BECAUSE HE WAS REALLY FORCED OUT WHEN HE LOST THE SPEAKERSHIP THAT WAS THE BIG DOWNFALL BUT AT THIS TIME WHILE HE IS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR THE ComEd CORRUPTION SCANDAL HE HAS SAID HE IS INNOCENT AND HE HAS NOT FACED ANY CHARGES THAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD FORCE A LEGISLATOR OUT.

>> NOW, IN THE STATEMENT HE RELEASED ANNOUNCING HIS RESIGNATION IT CONTAINS NOTES OF DEFIANCE TOUTING HIS SUPPORT FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION, ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS AND SAID QUOTE... PARIS, WE HAVE 60 SECONDS IS IT IN KEEPING WITH MADIGAN'S CHARACTER TO REMAIN DEFINT?

>> SURE HE HAS BLAMED THE MEDIA FOR EVERYTHING FROM THE LAST 25 YEARS.

JOURNALISTS STARTED LOOKING INTO THE SPRAWLING POLITICAL ORGANIZATION THAT TOUCHES ALL REACHES OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

SO IT IS IN UP WITH OTHER SURPRISING NOTE ABOUT THIS TODAY WHEN HE SENT HIS STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO RESIGN AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

FAST FORWARD TO THE EVENING HE SAID HIS RESIGNATION IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS ABOUT.

ALTHOUGH THERE'S GOING TO BE A COMMITTEE VOTE FOR HIS REPLACEMENT WHERE ONCE AGAIN AS WE SAW, THE VOTERS ARE NOT CHOOSING.

POLITICAL INSIDERS ARE CHOOSING THE REPLACEMENT AND THE POLITICAL INSIDER WITH THE WEIGHTED VOTE IS MICHAEL MADIGAN.

AND THERE IS A NAME FLOATED OUT THERE AS TO WHO THE POLITICAL ONLOOKERS BELIEVE WILL BE THE SUCCESSOR AND IT WILL BE THE 13TH WARD SUPERINTENDENT.

>> AND ALL OF US LEARNED OUR LESSON WITH LAST TIME.

THE PERSON EVERYBODY PREDICTED WASN'T THE ONE YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME.

WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT TIME.

THANKS TO AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ OF COURSE.

AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE STORIES DISCUSSED WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND WHILE ARE YOU THERE READ OUR PIECE ABOUT THE CITY'S CLOSING OF AN OLD TOWN RESTAURANT FOR VIOLATING COVID GUIDELINES ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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