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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... FORMER POLICE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE CONVICTED OF KILLING LAQUAN McDONALD IS RELEASED FROM PRISON.

ACTIVISTS ARE CALLING FOR FEDERAL CHARGES.

>> I HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT EVERYDAY NOT SEEING MY GRANDSON NOT HEARING HIS VOICE.

>> PLUS WE ARE IN NORTH LAWNDALE THE COMMUNITY WHERE McDONALD GREW UP.

WE TALK WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS ABOUT VAN DYKE'S RELEASE.

>> WE ARE DOWN 19% IN HOMICIDES SO FAR THIS YEAR.

>> CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN ON THE LATEST CRIME STATS AND THE STATUS TO REFORM THE DEPARTMENT.

>> ANY MOVE ON NATO IS GOING TO BE RESISTED.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH ABOUT A POSSIBLE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE, THE PRESIDENT'S SUPREME COURT NOMINEE AND MORE.

>> ART CAN REALLY BE THE ACTIVE WAY OF ENGAGING ABOUT THE YOUR MIND AND ALSO YOUR HEART.

>> A NEW EXHIBIT EXPLORES THE INTERSECTION OF VIOLENCE AND ART.

>> AND AN OWL IS RECOVERING AT A LOCAL WILDLIFE CENTER AFTER FALLING VICTIM TO RAT POISON.

THE IMPACT OF THE POISON ON BIRD POPULATIONS.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED I'M IN NORTH LAWNDALE AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

LOCATED ON THE CITY'S WEST SIDE IT IS A HISTORIC COMMUNITY, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ONCE LIVED HERE WHEN HE WAS HERE IN CHICAGO.

LAWNDALE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE LAQUAN McDONALD GREW UP.

WE TALK WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT THE REACTION TO FORMER CHRIS POLICE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON AND WHAT THEY HOPE HAPPENS NEXT.

BUT FIRST I SEND IT BACK TO YOU, BRANDIS.

>> THANK YOU, SEE YOU SOON.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> ORGANIZERS RALLIED OUTSIDE THE FEDERAL BUILDING TO PROTEST THE RELEASE OF FORMER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE WHO MURDERED TEENAGER LAQUAN McDONALD BACK IN 2014.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT RESPONDED IN A STATEMENT BY CALLING HIS 81-MONTH SENTENCE A QUOTE SUPREME DISAPPOINTMENT.

QUOTE, I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CONTINUES TO FEEL LIKE A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE WHEN MANY BLACK AND BROWN MEN GET SENTENCED TO SO MUCH MORE PRISON TIME FOR HAVING COMMITTED FAR LESSER CRIMES LIGHTFOOT SAYS.

IT'S THESE DISTORTIONS THAT MADE IT SO HARD TO BUILD TRUST.

DESPITE HER ISSUES WITH HIS SENTENCE, THE MAYOR SAID THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION MARKED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AS HE BECAME THE FIRST CHICAGO OFFICER TO BE CONVICTED MURDER FOR AN ON DUTY SHOOTING IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

WE WILL BE COVERING THIS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM THIS EVENING.

>> CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION PRESIDENT JESSE SHARKEY SPOKE TODAY ABOUT HIS DECISION TO NOT RUN FOR REELECTION AFTER ANNOUNCING THE NEWS WEDNESDAY.

SHARKEY SAYS IT'S FOR BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REASONS.

>> PERSONALLY, THIS IS A HARD JOB.

CERTAINLY IT'S TAKEN ITS TOLL AND I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONGTIME.

I'VE NEVER VIEWED THE GOAL OF BEING IN OFFICE AS TO ACCUMULATE INFLUENCE OR POWER AND HOLD ON TO IT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T THINK OF IT AS A PERMANENT JOB, NEVER HAVE.

>> SHARKEY HAS BEEN WITH THE UNION FOR TWO DECADES AND PLANS TO RETURN TO TEACHING AFTER JUNE 30TH.

AND TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR OUR ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH JESSE SHARKEY WE MAY BE SUFFERING THROUGH THE SEASON A BIGGEST SNOW THE CITY WILL HAVE FESTIVALS THIS SUMMER AFTER SO MANY WERE SCALED BACK OR CANCELED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE BLUES FESTIVAL AND THE JAZZ FESTIVAL AND THE AIR AND WATER SHOW WILL RETURN AT PREPANDEMIC SIZE AND SCOPE.

HOWEVER, ONLY A BITE SIZED VERSION OF A TASTE OF CHICAGO WILL BE HAPPENING AT GRANT PARK WITH POP-UPS RETURNING TO MANY CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS.

CAN YOU FIND MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> UP NEXT WE BEGIN OUR COVERAGE OF THE RELEASE OF JASON VAN DYKE FROM PRISON.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AFTER SERVING HALF OF HIS SENTENCE, JASON VAN DYKE LEFT PRISON TODAY.

THE FORMER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER RECEIVED AN 81-MONTH SENTENCE IN 2019 FOR KILLING BLACK TEEN LAQUAN McDONALD.

WTTW NUTS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US WITH MORE.

MATT, REMIND US WHAT WERE THE CHARGES THAT VAN DYKE WENT TO PRISON FOR.

>> JASON VAN DYKE WENT TO TRIAL ON CHARGE OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND 16 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY ONE FOR EACH SHOT THAT HE FIRED AT LAQUAN McDONALD.

AND WHILE HE IS CONVICTED ON THE AGGRAVATED BATTERY CHARGES THE JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER A LESSER CHARGE.

THAT MEANT THE JURY FOUND THAT VAN DYKE'S SHOOTING WHILE HE WAS DOING THAT THE JURY BELIEVED THAT VAN DYKE BELIEVED HE WAS WARRANTED BUT THAT BELIEF WAS NOT REASONABLE.

>> AND WHY IS HE BEING RELEASED NOW?

>> WELL, AFTER THE CONVICTION, THE JUDGE OPTED TO SENTENCE VAN DYKE ON THE SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE WHICH CARRIED A POSSIBLE SENTENCE FROM PROBATION TO UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.

VAN DYKE AVOIDED POSSIBLE SIX YEAR SENTENCES ON EACH ONE OF THE AGGRAVATED BATTERY COUNTS.

AND BECAUSE SECONDARY MURDER IS A LESSER OFFENSE THAN FIRST DEGREE MURDER VAN DYKE WAS ALLOWED TO SERVE HALF OF HIS SENTENCE WHICH IS WHY HE IS OUT NOW AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

>> EXPLAIN THE POSSIBLE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES AND WHO IS PUSHING FOR THOSE?

>> SO, THERE'S PLENTY OF ACTIVISTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF LAQUAN McDONALD'S FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN PRESSURING THE FEDS TO BRING ABOUT THESE CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES AGAINST VAN DYKE IN FEDERAL COURT.

THERE IS JUST A PROTEST DOWNTOWN THIS AFTERNOON AFTER VAN DYKE'S RELEASE.

AND THEY ARE UPSET THAT THEY FEEL THAT VAN DYKE'S SENTENCE DID NOT MATCH THE CRIME.

HE IS OUT AFTER JUST THREE YEARS.

SOME HAVE CITED THE CASE OF DERRICK CHAUVIN, THE MINNEAPOLIS OFFICER CONVICTED OF KILLING GEORGE FLOYD HE WAS CHARGED IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURT AND HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OR PLEADED GUILTY IN BOTH CASES.

BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN THE CASE.

THE FEDS HAVE HAD THIS ENTIRE TIME TO CONSIDER ADDITIONAL CHARGES AND THE FACTS OF THE CASE HAVE NOT CHANGED AT ALL DURING THIS TIME.

SO THE FEDS HAVE BEEN SILENT WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL HAPPEN.

BUT GIVEN HE IS OUT OF JAIL AND HAD TIME TO CONSIDER THIS IT MAY BE UNLIKELY THAT CHARGES WILL BE COMING.

>> MATT MASTERSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ MATT'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND AS WE'VE SAID IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE TEENAGER LAQUAN McDONALD WAS FATALLY SHOT BY JASON VAN DYKE.

McDONALD'S FAMILY MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS ARE OUTRAGED OVER THE FORMER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER'S EARLY PRISON RELEASE.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY IN NORTH LAWNDALE THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT McDONALD GREW UP IN AND SPOKE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT VAN DYKE'S RELEASE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

JOANNA HERNANDEZ JOINS US NOW.

JOANNA?

>> BRANDIS, LAQUAN McDONALD WOULD HAVE BEEN 25 THIS YEAR.

HIS GRANDMOTHER TELLS US THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN.

AND SHE IS TORN ABOUT THE EARLY RELEASE OF FORMER OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE.

>> IT IS A VERY HARD FEELING BECAUSE THAT MAN DID NOT SERVE HIS TIME.

THAT MAN TOOK MY FIRSTBORN GRANDCHILD FROM ME.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL RIGHT IF THEY TASED HIM.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL RIGHT IF THEY HAD TO BEAT HIM UP BUT HE WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN ALIVE.

>> I CANNOT HEAR.

TRACY HUNTER IS HANGING ON TO MEMORIES SHE HAS OF HER GRANDSON AND SHARES PEOPLE CALLED THEM BONBON.

HIS FAMILY STILL DEALING WITH THE LOSS.

>> IT WASN'T EASY BUT IT WENT BAD.

IT WENT BAD.

YOU KNOW, AND HE PLAYED SPORTS, HE GOT TROPHIES, YOU DON'T KNOW THE PAIN THAT I HAVE TO LIVE WITH EVERYDAY NOT SEEING MY GRANDSON.

NOT HEARING HIS VOICE.

NOT TALKING TO HIM.

>> McDONALD WAS KILLED IN OCTOBER 2014 WHEN THEN POLICE OFFICER VAN DYKE SHOT THE TEENAGER 16 TIMES AS McDONALD IS SEEN ON DASH-CAM VIDEO TRYING TO WALK AWAY FROM OFFICERS.

THE VIDEO WAS NOT RELEASED UNTIL A YEAR LATER WHICH FUELED PROTESTS ACROSS THE CITY CALLING FOR MAJOR CHANGES WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS MORE DETAILS STARTED TO SURFACE OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

A COVER UP THAT RETIRED OFFICER RICHARD WOOTEN DOES NOT REFLECT WHAT HE STOOD FOR WHEN HE WAS IN THE FORCE.

>> I SAW ANOTHER SIDE OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT COVERED UP SOMETHING THEY KNEW WAS WRONG.

THE VERY THING WE WERE SWORN TO UPHOLD WAS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.

PETTY THEFT.

NOT MURDER.

>> AND IN 2018 VAN DYKE WAS CONVICTED OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER.

THE JUDGE SENTENCED HIM TO 81 MONTHS IN PRISON AFTER SERVING A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE YEARS VAN DYKE IS A FREE MAN AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS DO NOT STAND BY.

>> I WANT THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO AND ACROSS THE NATION TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST RAISING ALARMS ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS NOT NEW FOR US.

THE MOMENT HE WAS SENTENCED TO 81 MONTHS IN PRISON, WE RANG THE ALARM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

WE DEMANDED THAT HE BE CHARGED ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> TODAY COMMUNITY MEMBERS JOINED SOME MEMBERS OF THE McDONALD FAMILY IN FRONT OF THE PLAZA FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE AND RALLY AND HOPES THE U.S.

HEARS PLEAS TO PRESS CIVIL CHARGES AGAINST VAN DYKE A RESIDENT OF LAWNDALE SHARES IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> IT'S THE POINT HOW MANY TIMES HE SHOT THAT BOY.

NOW SHOOT SOMEBODY 16 TIMES THEY GIVE US 60, 70 YEARS BUT HIM HE GOT SIX YEARS AND HE DIDN'T DO THE WHOLE SIX YEARS.

SO I FIGURE THEY SHOULD KEEP GOING.

IT'S NOT FAIR.

>> HOWEVER REVEREND MARVIN HUNTER ALSO THE GREAT UNCLE OF McDONALD DOES NOT THINK FEDERAL CHARGES IS THE RIGHT MOVE AT THIS POINT.

>> TIME AND THE PLACE TO FIGHT THIS MATTER IS IN THE COURTS.

AND IN SPRINGFIELD WHERE THE LAWS THAT GOVERN IT IS AT.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR US.

LISTEN, IF JASON VAN DYKE GETS A THOUSAND YEARS, IT WILL NOT STOP ME AS A BLACK MAN FROM BEING MISTREATED BY POLICE OFFICERS THAT HAVE BIASES AGAINST ME BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN.

IN ORDER TO CHANGE THAT I MUST CHANGE THE LAWS THAT EMBOLDEN TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> A POLITICAL NAMES LIKE JESSE JACKSON AND BOBBY RUSH SUPPORTED THE FAMILY BUT REVEREND HUNTER WARNS FILING FEDERAL CHARGES COULD SET A DANGEROUS EXAMPLE.

>> CHICAGO IS THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED IN THIS CITY THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLD.

IF THEY SET THIS PRECEDENT CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING IN PRISON AND BEING A BLACK MAN IN THIS COUNTRY AND TRYING TO GET OUT AFTER SERVING YOUR TIME?

AND SOME PROSECUTOR SAYS, OH, HE WAS NOT A NICE GUY WHEN HE WAS A KID SO I WANT TO RETRY HIM FEDERALLY TO GET HIM MORE TIME.

YOU GET IT?

THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THEY ARE SETTING.

>> McDONALD'S GRANDMOTHER SEEKS FURTHER JUSTICE FOR THE DEATH OF HER GRANDSON.

>> WHY CAN'T I GET JUSTICE FOR MY GRANDSON?

I MY VOICE BE HEARD UNTIL CHARGES COME AGAINST JASON VAN DYKE.

>> NOW, WE KNOW ILLINOIS SENATORS WROTE A LETTER TO ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND ASKING FOR AN UPDATE ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO VAN DYKE AND NOW BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN IS APPROACHING NEARLY TWO YEARS IN COMMAND AND IT'S BEEN A ROUGH RIDE.

HIS TENURE HAS BEEN RACKED WITH A SOARING HOMICIDE RATE AND WEEKS OF CIVIL UNREST IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFORM A POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THAT AND MORE IS CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

SUPERINTENDENT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO FIRST, AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW AS WE WILL BE DISCUSSING ALL EVENING, JASON VAN DYKE FORMER POLICE OFFICER RELEASED FROM PRISON TODAY, AFTER SERVING JUST HALF OF HIS 81-MONTH SENTENCE FOR MURDERING LAQUAN McDONALD, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WEIGHED IN CALLING THIS A QUOTE SUPREME DISAPPOINTMENT, MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING THE HEAD OF THE N.A.A.C.P.

ARE CALLING FOR FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

DO YOU SUPPORT THOSE CALLS FOR FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST JASON VAN DYKE?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I CAN DO RELATED TO THE ISSUE IS FOCUS ON WHAT CAME OUT OF THE JASON VAN DYKE-LAQUAN McDONALD TRAGEDY.

IS THIS DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO REFORM.

THE CULTURE NEEDS TO CHANGE.

AND LOOKING FORWARD, WHAT CAN I DO AS SUPERINTENDENT TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO SEES THIS DEPARTMENT IN A WAY THAT IS RESPECTED, THAT THEY ARE PROUD OF AND REFORM THROUGH THE CONSENT DECREE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO CONVEY TO THE AUDIENCE IS MY FOCUS.

I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SHARE ABOUT THAT.

BUT I WILL KICK IT BACK TO YOU FOR FOLLOW-UP.

>> TO THAT END, WHEN YOU WERE HIRED YOU TALKED ABOUT A LOT ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY TRUST IN ORDER TO REDUCE CRIME.

DO YOU THINK CASES LIKE VAN DYKE BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON DOES THAT INHIBIT BUILDING THAT COMMUNITY TRUST WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY CHICAGO COMMUNITY MEMBERS BLACK AND BROWN IN THE COOK COUNTY JAIL STILL AWAITING THEIR DAY IN COURT?

>> YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS BELIEVE IS THAT TRUST IS SO FRAGILE AND THAT IT'S ALWAYS WITH THE BACKDROP OF HISTORY.

SO THIS IS REALLY RECENT HISTORY BUT THERE'S MORE HISTORY OF REALLY BROKEN TRUST HERE WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.

SO LOOKING BACK, OBVIOUSLY GIVES US THE CONTEXT WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO FOCUS ON IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

BUT LOOKING FORWARD ON REFORMING THE CONSENT DECREE AND CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE OVER THE LAST TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN THE CONSENT DECREE REPORTING PERIOD IN THE WAY THE CONSENT DECREE IS STRUCTURED IS MY FOCUS AND NOT JUST CHANGING THE CULTURE ABSTRACT BUT HOW CAN WE HAVE POLICIES THAT ARE BEST PRACTICE, HOW CAN WE TRAIN OUR OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE TREATING THE PUBLIC WITH THE RESPECT.

HOW CAN WE DEESCALATE SITUATIONS AND DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH CALLS MUCH BETTER WHERE WE HAVE OUTCOMES THAT ARE NOT TRAGIC.

HOW CAN WE, AGAIN, LIAISON WITH ALL THE ADVISORIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE -- VARIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY SO WE CAN BUILD TRUST AND HAVE THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE COMING TO US REPORTING THINGS THEY ARE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY SO WE CAN OBVIOUSLY PREVENT CRIME BUT ALSO SOLVE CRIME THAT DOES HAPPEN.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REFORMS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEARLY TWO YEARS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH REDUCING CRIME?

>> SO THE CONTEXT OF THE PROGRESS IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE CONSENT DECREE.

IT'S IN REPORTING PERIODS AND THE REPORTING PERIODS ARE EVERY SIX MONTHS.

I WALKED IN THE DOOR IN APRIL OF 2020 TOWARD THE END OF APRIL, AND WE'VE HAD TWO REPORTING PERIODS.

THE FIRST BEING 11% COMPLIANCE AND THE SECOND BEING 23% COMPLIANCE.

SO THE THIRD PERIOD WAS A COUPLE MONTHS IN THE MAKING AS I WALKED IN THE DOOR.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE DEFICIENCIES WERE AND MOVE THE NEEDLE VERY LITTLE WHERE WE END UP WITH A 48% COMPLIANCE WITH THE PARAGRAPHS.

THE FOLLOWING SIX MONTHS, THE REPORTING PERIOD WE IMPROVED TO 52% COMPLIANCE.

WHICH TOOK A LOT OF WORK AND CHANGED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP SEATS TO GET TO THAT POINT.

AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING NEAR 70% COMPLIANCE IN THE REPORTING PERIOD THAT WE JUST ENDED IN DECEMBER OF 2021.

SO NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

WE WANT TO BE 100% BUT WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE 11% COMPLIANCE IN THE WAY WE STARTED.

SO THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE CULTURE.

THE PROCESS ITSELF IS ABOUT POLICIES, TRAINING, BUT THE OPERATIONAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE IS ABOUT CHANGING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR OFFICERS THROUGH THE MUSCLE MEMORY OF TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING AND IMPROVING POLICIES ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS TO WHERE IT REALLY IS PART OF THE MUSCLE MEMORY OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

>> SUPERINTENDENT, IN 2020 WHEN YOU DID COME ON TO THE JOB YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR GOAL OF GETTING THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES LESS THAN 300.

LAST YEAR WE SAW 800 WHICH IS FAR FROM THE MOON.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT STRATEGY TO ATTACK THOSE NUMBERS?

>> SO LET ME MAKE SURE THAT WE SET HISTORY RIGHT ON ASPIRATIONAL GOALS OF LESS THAN 300.

NEW YORK AND LA HAVE LESS THAN 300 EVERY YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT BEYOND THE PALE THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT AS CHICAGOANS A SAFER CITY IN COMPARISON WITH THE OTHER BIG CITIES.

BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THIS... PEOPLE HAVE JUST SNICKERED AT THAT GOAL.

YOU DON'T HAVE TIMES WE TRY TO GO TO THE MOON BEFORE WE MADE IT TO THE MOON.

HOW MANY FAILURES HOW MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE WE WOULD NEVER MAKE IT TO THE MOON.

THE RACE TO THE MOON DURING JOHN F. KENNEDY'S TENURE WAS SNICKERED AT BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AT NASA.

WE HAD SO MANY LAUNCHES THAT JUST FIZZLED.

SO ASPIRATIONAL GOALS LIKE GOING TO THE MOON THE IDEA OF A MOONSHOT CAME FROM THE BOOK MOONSHOT ABOUT OUR STRUGGLE TO GET TO THE MOON BUT ULTIMATELY MEETING THAT CHALLENGE.

IS SIMILAR TO MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS ASPIRATION OF WHY CAN'T CHICAGO BE AS SAFE AS NEW YORK AND LA?

OR EVEN SAFER?

WHO WANTS TO HIRE A COACH FOR CHICAGO BEARS THAT SAYS WE CANNOT WIN A SUPER BOWL.

WE WOULDN'T WANT TO HIRE THAT COACH.

THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THING THAN GAMES WE PLAY ON A FOOTBALL FIELD.

THIS IS LIFE AND DEATH.

SO, YES, WE NEED TO REMAIN ASPIRATIONAL AND HAVE THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR CITY SO THAT AGAIN, WE WON'T FALL SHORT AND BE SATISFIED WITH LESS THAN WHAT I BELIEVE CHICAGO DESERVES.

>> WHEN YOU AGAIN, WHEN YOU TOOK OVER IN 2020 YOU CREATED CITYWIDE CRIME FIGHTING TEAMS.

THIS WEEK NEARLY 300 OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THAT TEAM HAVE BEEN SENT BACK TO PATROL WHERE THEY ARE RESPONDING TO 9-1-1 CALLS.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAID THE TEAMS WERE SERIOUSLY UNDERPERFORMING.

WAS IT RIGHT TO CREATE THOSE TEAMS TO BEGIN WITH?

AND WHY DID THEY FAIL?

>> SO THEY DIDN'T FAIL.

ONE OF THE THINGS IF YOU GO BACK TO WHEN THESE TEAMS WERE CREATED WE WERE IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 AND AS YOU RECALL, THE SUMMER OF 2020 WAS RIOTS, PROTESTS, LOOTINGS, BUT ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT HAPPENED THAT SUMMER THAT REALLY GAVE ME THE IDEA OF WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS IN A MUCH LARGER RESPONSIVE WAY IS THE COLUMBUS STATUE PLANNED PROTEST THAT INJURED OUR OFFICERS WHERE PEOPLE ATTACKED OUR OFFICERS.

WE WERE OUTNUMBERED.

PEOPLE IN THE CROWD STABBED OUR OFFICERS WITH PVC PIPE.

THEY PUMMELED OUR OFFICERS WITH ROCKS AND BOTTLES.

THEY PUT OUT ONE OF THE OFFICER'S EYES.

THEY THREW FIRECRACKERS AT OUR OFFICERS FACES.

OFFICERS HAD BROKEN LIMBS.

IT JUST ALL CAUGHT ON VIDEO THAT WE PLAY AND IT WAS PLAYED ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THIS LOOP OF VIDEO.

WE CANNOT PUT OUR OFFICERS IN A POSITION TO BE OUT NUMBERED AND HARMED BECAUSE WE CAN'T SPIN UP A BIG ENOUGH GROUP TO PUSHBACK AND PROTECT THE CITY.

AND PROTECT OUR OFFICERS.

SO THAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THAT LARGE GROUP.

IT WAS A CRISIS MOMENT.

THAT CRISIS IF YOU RECALL CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER INTO EARLY FALL.

>> YOU ARE SAYING -- >> SOON AFTER THAT CRISIS ENDED WE WERE IN ANOTHER CRISIS OF SMASH AND GRABS.

WE HAD TRIALS OF OFFICERS WHO WERE CONVICTED IN MINNEAPOLIS HAPPENING WHERE LARGE PROTESTS HAPPENED.

SO.

>> THE TEAMS ARE NOT NECESSARY THE SAME WAY THEY WERE?

>> NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE CITY AND PROTECT OUR OFFICERS AND AS WE'RE UNWINDING THOSE LARGE WORK GROUPS, WE'RE GETTING BACK TO THE DAY-TO-DAY NUTS AND BOLTS, BLOCKING AND TACKLING OF BEAT PATROL OF POLICING.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT WRITTEN AND A LOT RUMORED AND GOSSIPPED ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO A LARGE TEAM.

HOW WE GOT TO A LARGE TEAM WAS BECAUSE OF A CRISIS OF CIVIL UNREST AND LOOTING.

HOW WE ARE UNWINDING THAT TEAM WE ARE DOING IT AS RESPECTFULLY AS WE CAN TO WORK SCHEDULES BUT THE BEAT POLICING MODEL IS THE MODEL FOR PROTECTING THE PUBLIC THAT'S BEEN THE BEST PRACTICE IN POLICING FOR GENERATIONS.

>> OK.

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WISH I HAD MORE TIME.

YOU HAVE TO INVITE ME BACK.

>> WE PLAN TO.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US.

TAKE CARE.

>> THERE'S MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AHEAD SO STICK AROUND.

>> AND NOW TO JOANNA WHO SPENT THE DAY IN NORTH LAWNDALE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> WE ARE NOW HERE WITH CHRISTA HAMILTON, THE C.E.O.

AND PRESIDENT OF UCAN AND ORGANIZATION BASED IN LAWNDALE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START OFF ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE HERE IS BECAUSE OF THE RELEASE OF VAN DYKE AND LAQUAN McDONALD WAS RAISED HERE.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU: WHAT IS THAT FEELING LIKE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT TODAY ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE SERVICES THAT ARE HERE THEY REALLY FOCUS ON TRAUMA.

>> YES, YOU KNOW, MY FIRST THOUGHT IS WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

BUT THEN MY SECOND THOUGHT IS I'M GLAD AND PROUD TO BE HERE.

YOU CAN BE AN ANCHOR IN THE NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO DEALING WITH FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH TRAUMA.

WE ARE A TRAUMA-INFORMED AGENCY ALL OF OUR PRACTICES LEAN INTO THAT.

SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO TO HELP MOVE OUR YOUTH AND OUR FAMILIES ALONG THE SPECTRUM AS THEY PROCESS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TODAY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LOTS OF PEACEFUL PRACTICES THAT WE USE.

SO WE'LL BE HAVING MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS AND SESSIONS WITH OUR FAMILIES AND OUR YOUTH TO PROCESS HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS.

>> AND TALKING ABOUT THAT, UCAN HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 152 YEARS AND MOVED TO LAWNDALE IN 2016.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK.

YOU STARTED TELLING US A LITTLE BIT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO I'M NEWEST TO THE UCAN.

I STARTED BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND I'M SO INSPIRED BY THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

UCAN IS 153 YEARS OLD.

WE STARTED AS AN ORPHANAGE FOR YOUTH DISCONNECTED FROM THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

AND STILL TODAY, THAT IS STILL OUR MISSION.

WE WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES TO HELP KIDS AS THEY ARE PUT INTO THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

CURRENTLY WE SERVE 20,000 FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR VISION AHEAD OF US WHICH IS YOUTH THAT HAVE SUFFERED TRAUMA CAN BE OUR NEXT FUTURE LEADERS.

>> AND I DO WANT TO ASK HOW HAS COVID IMPACTED THE YOUTH IN YOUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM?

THE FOSTER SYSTEM AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, RIGHT HERE ON OUR NORTH LAWNDALE CAMPUS WE CAN HOUSE 70 YOUTH IN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM THIS IS HOME FOR THEM 24 HOURS A DAY.

IMAGINE THEY ARE DISCONNECTED FROM A NORMAL LIFE.

COVID WE WERE SHUTDOWN FOR OVER A YEAR.

AND THEY WERE STUCK HERE.

NO SCHOOL, NOT EVEN THE SMALL THINGS THAT KEPT THEM NORMAL.

SO WE HAD TO PIVOT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ACROSS THE CITY.

WE ARE COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE ORGANIZATION.

WHICH MEANS WE HAD TO DO WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

WE STARTED DELIVERING FOOD BOXES.

WE STARTED GIVING OUT EMERGENCY FUNDS.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE HAD TO DO INSTEAD OF OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING JUST TO INSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS SAFE.

>> AND YOU SAID YOU'RE FAIRLY NEW.

AND I NEED TO ASK YOU WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROGRAM THAT YOU WANT TO WORK ON WHEN YOU DECIDED TO TAKE ON THIS TASK?

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAME TO MIND THAT YOU WANTED TO DO FOR UCAN?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

MY PRIMARY FOCUS IS VIOLENCE REDUCTION IN.

NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY WE PARTNER CLOSELY WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO REDUCE THE VIOLENCE IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS SEVERAL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED AND WE WANT TO STOP THAT.

>> WOULD YOU SAY IT'S PERSONAL?

I SAW YOUR LITTLE ONE RUNNING AROUND HERE?

>> IT IS PERSONAL.

I STARTEDTH IS WORK IN 2014 AND MY NEPHEW WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE ENGLEWOOD COMMUNITY.

SO I KNOW PERSONALLY WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GRIEVE AND TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO LOSE A LOVED ONE.

IT IS PERSONAL FOR ME.

EACH AND EVERYDAY THAT I COME TO WORK.

I DON'T WANT ANOTHER FAMILY TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH.

>> YOU ARE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS HOME FOR YOU?

>> YOUR EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW POSITION.

I WANT TO ASK YOU YOU WILL HOLD A MARCH IN JANUARY POSTPONED UNTIL APRIL CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> I'M EXCITED THIS WILL BE MY FIRST POLAR PEACE MARCH APRIL 10TH WE PARTNER WITH ST. PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH.

COME ON OUT AND FEEL FREE TO JOIN US.

YOU CAN REGISTER AT POLAR PEACE MARCH.ORG AND WE WILL BE OUT THERE 1.4 MILE MARCH WE DO IT IN HONOR OF Dr. KING'S LEGACY AND WE PUSHED IT OFF FOR COVID THIS YEAR.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT WE TALK TO ANOTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATION AND FIRST BACK TO YOU.

>> THE POLAR PEACE MARCH WILL BE WARMER IN APRIL HOPEFULLY.

SEE YOU SOON.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH PRESSES THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR AN UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO JASON VAN DYKE ONE-ON-ONE ABOUT THAT AND MORE.

>> ART CAN REALLY BE THIS ACTIVE WAY OF ENGAGING BOTH YOUR MIND AND ALSO YOUR HEART.

>> A NEW EXHIBIT AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY EXPLORES THE INTERSECTION OF ANTIBLACK VIOLENCE AND ART.

>> AND A SNOWY WHOLE BECOMES THE LATEST VICTIM OF RAT POISON WEEKS AFTER A BALD EAGLE WAS FOUND HURT.

A LOOK AT THE ISSUE FOR LOCAL BIRDS.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE ANNOUNCES ITS PLAN TO BUILD A 633 MILLION DOLLAR, 500,000 SQUARE-FOOT CANCER HOSPITAL IN HYDE PARK.

THE AIM IS TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND FREEING UP BEDS IN THE SYSTEM.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS THE FACILITY WOULD BE THE CITY'S FIRST FREE STANDING CANCER CENTER HANDING 200,000 OUTPATIENT VISITS AND 5,000 INPATIENTS VISITS PER YEAR.

IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN IT WOULD OPEN IN 2026.

>> LESS THAN HALF OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDED CLASS YESTERDAY AMID THE SNOWSTORM.

C.P.S.

REPORTS 49.9% OF PRE-K-12 STUDENTS IN DISTRICT OPERATED SCHOOLS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR ON WEDNESDAY.

82% OF TEACHERS WERE PRESENT FOR WORK JUST OVER 44% OF HIGH SCHOOLERS AND 52% OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOWED UP.

CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION LEADERS CRITICIZE THE DECISION TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN WEDNESDAY SAYING THE DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE MOVED TO REMOTE LEARNING FOR THE DAY.

>> CHICAGO'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS IF COVID NUMBERS DROP LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN IT WON'T BELONG UNTIL THE VACCINE MANDATE FOR RESTAURANTS BARS AND GYMS GETS LIFTED.

A SLIGHT JUMP IN NEW COVID CASES ACROSS ILLINOIS WITH OVER 9400 CONFIRMED.

INSTATE HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 89 COVID RELATED DEATHS.

AS NUMBERS GO DOWN HOSPITAL BED AVAILABILITY IS INCREASING.

14% OF ICU BEDS ARE AVAILABLE.

21% OF ICU BEDS ARE OCCUPIED BY COVID-19 PATIENTS.

>> AS ACTIVISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS RALLY AGAINST THE RELEASE OF JASON VAN DYKE, ILLINOIS' TWO U.S.

SENATORS ARE PRESSING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ON A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION INTO THE FORMER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER.

SENATORS DICK DURBIN AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH SAY THE FACTS OF THE CASE ARE QUOTE SHOCKING AND UPSETTING AND ARE ASKING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR AN UPDATE INTO THE PROBE.

IT COMES AMID A BUSY TIME IN WASHINGTON WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN GEARING UP TO NOMINATE A NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICE AND FEARS OVER RUSSIAN MILITARY ACTION IN UKRAINE.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS ALL THOSE ISSUE AND MORE IS SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH.

SENATOR WELCOME BACK THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE ON THANK YOU.

>> HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SINCE YOUR LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THIS WEEK?

>> I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

THEY HAVE NOT INDICATED WHETHER HE RECEIVED A RESPONSE IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND WE'RE BOTH EXTREMELY CONCERNED.

>> BASED ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE CASE WHICH HAVE BEEN WIDELY REPORTED DO THE FACTS SUPPORT CHARGES JASON VAN DYKE WITH A FEDERAL CRIME?

>> WELL, THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION DONE.

BUT FRANKLY THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION.

AND THAT IS WHY WE WROTE THE LETTER THAT WE DID AND WE'RE SAYING LOOK, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NEEDS TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO LAQUAN McDONALD'S MURDER SEVEN YEARS AGO.

AND THE DOJ HAS DECLINED TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

I THINK AND I KNOW CHICAGOANS DESERVE ANSWERS, AND I THINK THAT THE DOJ NEEDS TO EXAMINE AND PURSUE ANY WELL FOUNDED CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.

AND THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T KNOW THE FACTS BECAUSE THE DOJ HAS NOT SHARED THE INFORMATION.

>> SHIFTING TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS RUSSIA MOVED AN ESTIMATED 100,000 TROOPS TO THE BORDER WITH UKRAINE THERE ARE SERIOUS DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO DIFFUSE THAT SITUATION.

HERE IS WHAT JOHN KIRBY SAID ABOUT RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN YESTERDAY.

>> WE STILL DON'T BELIEVE HE HAS MADE A DECISION TO FURTHER INVADE USE CORROBORATE.

AND IF HE DOES FURTHER INVADE UKRAINE THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT BUT HE HAS MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO HIM AS TO HOW HE MIGHT DO THAT.

AND WE DON'T KNOW.

WE WANT TO SNAKE SURE THAT HE KNOWS ANY MOVE ON NATO IS GOING TO BE RESISTED.

>> SENATOR, ARE WE ABLE TO PREVENT THEIR CHANCE TO PREVENT A WAR HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS A CHANCE TO PREVENT A WAR AND THAT IS WHY NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING.

BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO VLADIMIR PUTIN THAT THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES SHOULD HE DECIDE TO INVADE UKRAINE.

HE CAN INVADE IF MANY WAYS.

HE CAN TRY TO SEIZE THE KYIV.

WHATEVER IT IS NONE IS ACCEPTABLE.

AND THAT NATO IS UNITED TO OPPOSE HIM AND WE IN THE U.S. CONGRESS ARE UNITED TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS SHOULD THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.

>> IF RUSSIA DOES INVADE UKRAINE SHOULD THE U.S. TAKE MILITARY ACTION?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION NOT NECESSARILY WITH UKRAINE BOUGHT WE ARE PARTY TO THE NATO ALLIANCE AND ARTICLE 5 OF THE ALLIANCE SAYS ALL NATO COUNTRIES MUST SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

IF RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE THE FIRST NATION NATO NATION WOULD BE POLAND WHICH IS IT AN ARTICLE 5 NATO MEMBER.

WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE U.S.

TROOPS IN PLACES AND WE'VE MOVED SOME INTO BELARUS AND TO -- POLAND AND BE THERE TO HELP PROTECT NATO.

WE'RE GOING ANGELA TOVAR MILITARY ACTION.

WHERNT WE GO INTO UKRAINE IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

BUT WE WILL BE THERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR ALLIES LIKE POLAND.

>> THE KREMLIN REPORTEDLY TAKEN STEPS TO INSULATE ITSELF AGAINST ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS A WAY TO EFFECTIVELY SANCTION RUSSIA IN CASE OF AN -- INSTEAD OF AN INNOVATION?

>> VERY MUCH SO AND WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR TO GERMANY SHOULD RUSSIA INVADE THEN DEFINITELY THE NORTH PIPELINE NEEDS TO BE SHUTOFF AND THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN DELAYED.

RUSSIA IS NOT IN AN ECONOMIC POSITION IS HEALTHY ONE RIGHT NOW ALREADY.

AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ESPECIALLY ONE UPHELD ACROSS NATO CAN SIGNIFICANTLY NEGATIVELY AFFECT RUSSIA.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE NOW THAT JUSTICE BREYER ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RETIRE.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO SEE FROM THE PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK ANY ONE OF THE FRONTRUNNER MENTIONED WOULD BE GREAT.

I JUST SPOKE WITH VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS ABOUT LESS THAN AN HOUR AGO SHE CALLED TO GET MY OPINION ON IT.

I SAID LISTEN ANY OF THE FRONTRUNNERS WHOSE NAMES YOU'VE SEEN WILL BE GREAT.

I PUT IN MY TWO CENTS FOR OUR HOMETOWN GIRL OUR HOMETOWN JUSTICE HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND SHE WOULD BE GREAT BUT ANYONE OF THE JUSTICES WOULD BE GREAT.

THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO PLACING A BLACK WOMAN ON THE SUPREME COURT IS LONG OVERDUE.

AND I'M SO GLAD HE MADE THAT COMMITMENT.

>> SENATOR, IF A 50/50 SENATE THE DEMOCRATS CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE VOTES DO YOU FORESEE DIFFICULTY WITH GETTING A NOMINEE CONFIRMED?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'LL HAVE A BETTER SHOT IF WE HAVE A NOMINEE WHO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE SAME SENATE.

JUSTICE IS ONE OF THOSE JUSTICES WHO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.

AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE NAMES AMONG THE FRONTRUNNERS CONFIRMED WITH REPUBLICAN VOTES AND BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS STILL IN THE SENATE.

I THINK THERE IS A PATH FORWARD AND I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT BOTH DICK DURBIN WHO IS OUR CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND CHUCK GRASSLEY HAVE BEEN MEETING ON THIS.

>> WHEN YOU SAY CONFIRMED YOU MEAN THEIR CURRENT BENCHES IN CIRCUIT AND FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOU APPEARED VIRTUALLY AT A RALLY SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ANTI-ASIAN-AMERICAN HATE CRIMES WHICH HAVE RISEN DRAMATICALLY AND WORKED ON LEGISLATION ON THIS ISSUE SIGNED INTO LAW LAST YEAR.

WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM?

>> WELL, WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE PORTIONS OF THE LAW SIGNED INTO LAW TO INCLUDE TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS AND TRAINING OF POLICE FORCES TO RECOGNIZE VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS.

A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THERE'S VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS IT IS NOT REPORTED AS A RACE CRIME BUT AS A BURGLARY, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT NOT AS A HATE CRIME.

WE HAVE TO TEACH TO RECOGNIZE IF SOMEBODY IS PICKED TO BE THE VICTIM BECAUSE THEY ARE ASIAN THAT IS A HATE CRIME.

AND WE DO HAVE TO ELEVATE AND THE ISSUE AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF ASIAN-AMERICANS AS OFTEN BEING THE VICTIMS OF CRIMES.

YET ASIAN WOMEN AND ELDERLY ASIAN WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN TARGETED OVER THE PAST YEARS AND ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.

>> THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BUDGETED MORE THAN $200 MILLION FOR THE WATERWAY BARRIER IN ILLINOIS TO KEEP INVASIVE CARP OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES.

SOME REGIONAL ELECTED OFFICIALS INCLUDING GOVERNOR PRITZKER WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE FULL PROJECT RATHER THAN HAVING ILLINOIS CHIP IN PART OF THE COST.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS A POSSIBILITY?

>> I WILL TRY HARD TO MAKE IT A POSSIBILITY.

I'M PLEASED THAT AFTER LOTS OF PRESSURE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DID COME THROUGH WITH THE MONEY THANKS TO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL AND I PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE THIS PAST YEAR.

I BECAME CHAIRWOMAN OF THE AIR LAND SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE AND THAT IS IN CHARGE OF THE ARMY.

I WAS ABLE TO PUT PRESSURE ON THEM.

I'M GLAD WE WILL GET THE PROJECT MOVING WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATE IS REIMBURSED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS A REGIONAL ISSUE.

WE'RE KEEPING THESE FISH FROM GETTING INTO THE GREAT LAKES WHICH IS GOING TO COST TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS TO COMMERCIAL FISHING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION ACROSS NOT JUST ALL THE STATES ON THE GREAT LAKES BUT ALSO TWO PROVINCES IN CANADA.

AND ILLINOIS SHOULD NOT BE STUCK FOOTING THE BILL BY ITSELF.

>> THE PRESIDENT SIGNED AN CORD MAKING SEXUAL HARASSMENT A CRIME IN THE MILITARY UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF JUSTICE.

WHAT WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO INSURE THAT HARASSMENT AND ABUSE ARE NOT TOLERATED IN THE MILITARY?

>> WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE LAW I VOTED FOR THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND HELPED TO CRAFT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T TOLERATE SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MILITARY.

THE KEY THING IS WE'RE MOVING THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF THE CRIMES OUT OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, SOMETHING THAT ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR, FOR A LONGTIME.

BUT WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE WORKING ON WHEN WE BRING IN NEW RECRUITS FROM DAY ONE THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND WE WILL PROVIDE OVERSIGHT ON THIS.

THERE IS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF FEMALE SENATORS THAT ARE WATCHING THIS IN THE SENATE.

I PARTNERED WITH THE REPUBLICAN FROM AN ARMY VETERAN LIKE ME AND WE WORKED CLOSELY ON THIS.

>> SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> UP NEXT, WE CHECK BACK IN WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ WHO IS REPORTING LIVE FROM CHICAGO'S NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... AND NOW WE BACK IN WITH JOANNA AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> THANKS.

WE NOW HERE WITH PASTOR JAMES BROOKS.

HE IS NAMED C.E.O.

OF LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> I WANT TO START OFF YOU GREW UP IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

DID LAQUAN McDONALD WHAT ARE YOU THINK BEING TODAY AS A FORMER OFFICER VAN DYKE IS RELEASED TODAY?

>> FIRST OF ALL WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THE FAMILY.

THIS MUST BE HORRIFIC TIME FOR THEM.

AS WELL AS THE SECOND THINGS AS A COMMUNITY, AS FAITH LEADERS, AS ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND WE UNDERSTAND AND WE SEE OBVIOUSLY THAT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS NOT JUST.

AND WE MUST COME TOGETHER AND CHANGE THE SYSTEM.

>> NOW, YOU ARE THE NEWLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT C.E.O.

OF LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION?

>> YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WE HAVE 75,000 PATIENTS THAT CALL US HOME FOR THEIR PRIMARY CARE.

WE'RE LOCATED IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

OUR MISSION IS TO SHOW AND SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS BY PROMOTING WELLNESS AND PROVIDING QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE TO LAWNDALE AND OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

>> NOW, I DO WANT TO ASK THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN WORKING TO MAKE HEALTHCARE MORE ACCESSIBLE SINCE THE 80s.

HAS THERE BEEN AN ADVANCEMENT IN THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WONDER SOMETIMES IF WE WEREN'T THERE HOW OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE SURVIVING.

ONE OF OUR VALUES IS PROXIMITY OR RELOCATION.

BEING AMONG THE PEOPLE.

SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

YOU WHETHER NEVER SEE US ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY.

ALL OF OUR CLINICS ARE INVESTED IN WALKING DISTANCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND GET THE HEALTHCARE THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> AND WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION?

WHAT DROVE YOUR PASSION?

>> EXACTLY THAT.

YOU KNOW I WITNESSED THE ORGANIZATION GROW.

IT WAS BIRTHED OUT OF LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH IN 1984.

WAYNE GORDON IS THE PASTOR.

AND I WATCHED IT GROW.

I WATCHED MORE AND MORE THE DEEPER IMPACT THAT IT WAS HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITY.

AND NOW FOR ME TO BE THE C.E.O.

OF THE ORGANIZATION, I AM SO BLESSED AND I'M SO ENCOURAGED THAT I CAN HAVE PLAY MY ROLE IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU THERE BEFORE YOU GOT THIS ROLE?

>> I'VE BEEN AT LAWNDALE FOR NINE YEARS NOW.

>> YOU SAW A LOT OF CHANGES.

>> NINE YEARS.

>> THE WEST SIDE FACED SIGNIFICANT DISINVESTMENT AND HEALTH DISPARITIES WHICH THE PANDEMIC EXAGGERATED THAT.

DO YOU THINK MOVING FORWARD THIS WILL MEAN FOLKS PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THIS ONCE THE PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US?

>> I HOPE SO.

IT IS OUR GOAL AS A HEALTH CENTER.

FIRST LET ME DEFINE WHAT WE FEEL IS HEALTH.

HEALTH IS COMMUNITY.

WE BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN'T REALLY BE HEALTHY UNTIL THEIR COMMUNITY IS HEALTHY.

SO IN ORDER TO HAVE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

WHICH MEANS WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOT US DOING IT BUT PARTNERING BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LINKING ARMS AND SAYING LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER.

>> AND WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TOLD YOU THE PEOPLE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION?

>> OF COURSE, WE FOR VIOLENCE IS REAL IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND QUALITY HEALTHCARE.

WE WANT TO PLAY A ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR HEALTH CENTERS ARE ACCESSIBLE.

MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL SPACES IF OUR PARTNERS NEED A PLACE TO MEET, WE HAVE SPACE AND WE WILL BE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM OR BETTER YET WE'LL GO WHERE THEY ARE.

JUST BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND LAST QUESTION YOU WERE RAISED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO BRING ALL THE CHANGES?

>> BECAUSE I KNOW THE POSITION THAT I HOLD RIGHT NOW, I HAD A MOTHER COME UP TO ME NOT LONG AGO AND SAID, HEY, CAN I MY TWO SONS COME AND MEET YOU?

AND THAT REALLY TOUCHED ME.

BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE HEY HE LOOKS LIKE ME.

AND THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

SO OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY IS TO BRING HEALTH.

AND HEALTH IN PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND SHOWING AND SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

>> AND YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE WITH SOMEONE WHO LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> BRANDIS.

>> AND COVID-19 IS A BIG DEAL FOR ANY HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND I THINK YOU ASKED HIM ABOUT IT.

AS CASES DECLINE DOES THE HEALTH CENTER HOPE TO OPEN UP MORE SERVICES?

>> NO, PASTOR BROOKS MENTIONED THAT AND SAID ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THEY WANT TO OPEN A SENIOR CENTER.

THE SENIORS WERE A POPULATION IMPACTED THE MOST.

THEY WERE HIT HARD.

HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CENTER TO REOPEN THAT WAY THEY COULD BRING MEMBERS BACK INSIDE AND GET THEM WITHOUT BEING ISOLATED INSIDE THEIR HOMES HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SENIOR CENTER BEING OPEN.

SO THAT SHOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

BRANDIS THAT IS ALL WE HAVE HERE FROM NORTH LAWNDALE BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A NEW ART EXHIBITION CAPTURING MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

STAY WITH US.

>> A NEW EXHIBIT IS EXPLORING RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA DATING BACK TO THE 1800'S.

THE EXHIBIT SPOTLIGHTS THE COUNTRY'S RACISM IN A VISUAL HISTORY LESSON SHOWCASING VIOLENCE AND ART WHILE ALSO ENCOURAGING REFLECTION.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU SHARES A LOOK AT A SIGHT OF STRUGGLE, AMERICAN ART AGAINST ANTIBLACK VIOLENCE.

AND A WARNING SOME OF THE IMAGES ARE GRAPHIC.

>> BLACK ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF HOW HISTORY HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED.

>> A NEW EXHIBIT AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S BLOCK MUSEUM IS REFLECTING ON THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY OF RACE RELATIONS.

>> WHAT THE EXHIBITION SEEKS TO PRESENT ARE THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT ARTISTS USED TO ENGAGE THIS TOPIC.

WHETHER IT'S USING DIRECT DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE OR USING ABSTRACTION TO AVOID LITERAL REPRESENTATIONS OF VIOLENCE.

WE WANT TO SHOWCASE THE RANGE OF THE APPROACH ARTISTS HAVE TAKEN TO THE TOPIC.

>> COMPRISED THE 60 WORKS, THE EXHIBIT TAKES VISITORS THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY STARTING IN THE 1890s AND ENDING IN 2013 AT THE START OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

LESLIE HARRIS SAYS ART HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT.

>> THE EARLIEST ANTI-LAYOFFRY ACTIVITIES THEY HIRED ARTISTS TO DEPICT THE CUTAWAY OF THE SHIP THAT THE MIDDLE PASSAGE SHIP FROM A VERY EARLY TIME IN THAT STRUGGLE JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE, ARTISTS WERE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN THE POLITICS OF MAKING IT KNOWN THERE WAS AN INJUSTICE THAT WAS HAPPENING.

THAT WAS AT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD LOWER LITERACY RATES.

SO PEOPLE HAD TO RELY ON THE VISUAL TO REACH AUDIENCES NOT EVERYONE WAS READING THE PAPER.

>> FROM LYNCHING TO EXPLORING THE REALITY OF LIVING IN THE JIM CROW ERA, THE EXHIBIT FEATURES WORKS THAT WHILE GRAPHIC ENGAGE IN THE POLITICS OF BRINGING RACIAL INJUSTICES TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> ONE OF THE OLDEST OBJECTS IN THE EXHIBITION IS ACTUALLY AN ACTIVIST PAMPHLET FROM 1895 WRITTEN BY IDA B.

WELLS THAT WAS BASED HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND SHE IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST ACTIVISTS TO APPROPRIATE LYNCHING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTESTING LYNCHING AND MAKING IT A WIDER AWARENESS ABOUT THIS AS A PRACTICE THAT NEEDED TORE IRRADICATED.

>> WITH TWO-THIRDS OF ARTISTS BEING OF COLOR AND ONE-THIRD NOT, BOTH VIEWPOINTS ARE ARE IMPERATIVE TO TELLING THE COMPLETE STORY.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE THIS HISTORY OF SOLIDARITY THAT.

.

WHITE ARTISTS IN THE 20s AND THE 30s WHO LENGTH THEIR ARTWORK TO SUPPORT ACTIVISM BY THE N.A.A.C.P.

FOR EXAMPLE.

SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THIS JEANOLOGY OF SOLIDARITY.

>> IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO HAVE THIS EXHIBITION OPENING IN TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

WE CAN CELEBRATE.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH BECAUSE OF RACISM AND WHAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO THIS EXHIBITION REALLY DEMONSTRATES THAT BUT MORE SO IT DEMONSTRATES HOW ARTISTS HAVE CHOSEN TO USE THEIR TOOLS AND GIFTS TO REACH LARGER AUDIENCES ON THESE ISSUES AND TO HAVE US ALL ENGAGE WITH THEM.

AND WE CAN TAKE FROM THEIR EXAMPLE HOW WE SHOULD EACH IN OUR LIVES THINK ABOUT WHAT TOOLS DO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THESE HISTORIES POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AND HOW DO WE TALK TO OUR FAMILIES TO OUR COMMUNITIES ABOUT THEM.

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

>> AND YOU CAN SEE A SIGHT OF STRUGGLE AMERICAN ART AGAINST ANTIBLACK VIOLENCE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S BLOCK MUSEUM THROUGH JULY 10TH.

WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[♪♪♪] >> A SNOWY OWL IS RECUPERATING AFTER COMING ACROSS POISON MEANT FOR RATS AND MICE.

THE SECOND VICTIM OF RAT POISON TO HAVE ARRIVED AT WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER THIS YEAR.

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

SO, PATTY, VOLUNTEERS WITH THE CHICAGO BIRD COLLISION MONITORING FOUND A SNOWY OWL GLADDED WITH BLOODY LEGS AND FEET THIS WEEK WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT TREATMENT IS THE OWL GETTING NOW?

>> YES, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER WHICH IS A GREAT OPERATION THERE.

AND THEY FOUND THAT THE BIRD HAD A SMALL CUT ON ONE OF ITS FEET THAT WAS BLEEDING PROFUSELY AND THEY RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS AND WERE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN AFTER RUNNING TESTS THAT THE BIRD'S BLOOD WAS NOT CLOTTING AND RED BLOOD CELL COUNT WAS REALLY LOW WHICH IS A CLASSIC CASE OF THE BIRD HAVING FALLEN VICTIM TO A SPECIFIC KIND OF RODENT SIDE WHICH CAUSES ANTI-COAGULATION AND THE BIRD WAS JUST GOING TO BLEED AND BLEED AND BLEED.

>> ANY MINOR CUT COULD NOT BE CLOTTED.

EXACTLY.

>> THE SECOND TIME IN RECENT WEEKS THAT A BIRD HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE WILDLIFE CENTER FOR RAT POISON TREATMENT.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT RAT POISON AND BIRDS?

>> YES.

WELL, EARLIER THIS YEAR, A BALD EAGLE WAS BROUGHT IN SAME ISSUE, BLEEDING PROFUSELY.

AND THE PROBLEM IS THESE VERY POWERFUL POTENT RODENT POISONS YOU KNOW, THE RODENTS EAT THEM THEN THE BIRDS PREY ON THE RODENTS.

AND THE POISONS ARE SO POWERFUL THEY END UP IN THE BIRD'S SYSTEM AS WELL.

AND WE MIGHT WHAT NT TO GET RID OF RATS BUT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO GET RID OF BALD EAGLES WE NEED TO RE[INAUDIBLE] AND NOT USE THINGS WITH ANTICOAGULANTS IN THEM FOR STARTERS.

>> I'M SURE THERE'S MORE.

GOOD TO KNOW.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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