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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO HEAL.

AMANDA VINICKY HAS A LIVE REPORT FROM TONIGHT'S VIGIL.

>> INFLATION REACHES A 40-YEAR HIGH.

WE HEAR FROM ECONOMISTS WHAT IT MEANS FOR CONSUMERS.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP TRIED TO CALL A WITNESS IN OUR INVESTIGATION.

>> ACCUSATIONS OF WITNESS TAMPERING AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WEIGHS IN.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE IN ILLINOIS.

A LOOK WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SURVIVORS.

>> A NEW ORDINANCE SEEKS TO CREATE MORE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE HOUSING IN CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS.

MORE THAN 100 NEW METEOR RIGHTS LAND AT THE FIELD MUSEUM HOW THEY OFFER A PEEK INTO THE SOLAR SYSTEM'S HISTORY.

AND CREATIVITY IS AT THE CENTERPIECE OF A NEW NATIVE-AMERICAN EXHIBITION IN CHICAGO.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A SUSPECT IS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING OF A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER IN WEST ENGLEWOOD FOLLOWING AN ATTEMPTED TRAFFIC STOP.

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS 28-YEAR-OLD JABARI EDWARDS WILL FACE TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MURDER STEMMING FROM THE JUNE 1 SHOOTING.

>> THIS ARREST IS A RESULT OF REALLY EXCEPTIONAL POLICE BOURQUE.

AND IT SHOULD SERVE AS A WARNING TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT YOU CANNOT RUN NOR CAN YOU HIDE FROM JUSTICE.

YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND YOU WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ACTIONS.

>> THE OFFICER SHOT WAS IDENTIFIED AS OFFICER FERNANDA BALLESTEROS.

SHE WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD BUT SURVIVED HER INJURIES.

>> THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL IS WARNING THAT SCAMMERS MAY BE LOOKING TO EXPLOIT THE TRAGEDY OF THE HIGHLAND PARK MASS SHOOTING.

FUNDRAISERS FOR VICTIMS HAVE COLLECTIVELY RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL IS WARNING POTENTIAL DONORS AND SURVIVING VICTIMS TO BE AN ALERT FOR SCAMS.

IN A STATEMENT TODAY KWAME RAOUL SAID QUOTE... >> AND IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING MAKING A DONATION YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR TIPS FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

>> INFLATION SURGED TO A NEW 40-YEAR HIGH IN JUNE.

ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX A BROAD MEASURE OF EVERYDAY COSTS AND SERVICES, ROSE THE FASTEST RATE SINCE 1981 DRIVE OF DRIVEN BY RISING FOOD, FUEL AND ENERGY PRICES AND WE'LL HAVE MORE HOW SURGING INFLATION IS IMPACTING THE ECONOMY LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

UP NEXT WE'RE LIVE IN HIGHLAND PARK AT A VIGIL FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE FOURTH OF JULY SHOOTINGS.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> IT'S BEEN A WEEK-AND-A-HALF SINCE HIGHLAND PARK TRAGICALLY JOINED THE RANKS OF UNITED STATES COMMUNITIES WRACKED BY A MASS SHOOTING.

TONIGHT THERE IS A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL OUTSIDE CITY HALL.

AMANDA VINICKY IS THERE NOW.

TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> SO THIS EVENT JUST BEGAN.

YOU CAN HEAR BAGPIPES PLAYING BEHIND ME, OF COURSE THAT SOLEMN SOUND.

RESIDENTS OR AT LEAST MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY STILL ARE WALKING IN.

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS SORT OF EVENT WAS FOR YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS PERHAPS A PICNIC A SINGALONG.

INSTEAD THIS IS A TIME OF DPREFFING A TIME OF MOURNING A TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.

WE RECENTLY JUST MOMENTS AGO HEARD FROM HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTERING WHO SAID THAT SHE DOES HAVE SOME WISHES COMING OUT OF THIS TRAGIC EVENT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST SHE SAYS SHE HOPES THERE IS A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

ALSO A GREATER AWARENESS OF THE RED FLAG LAW.

AND A HIGHLAND PARK RESIDENT I WILL BRING OVER RACHEL JACOBY HAS BEEN A VOLUNTEER.

YOU LIVE HERE IN HIGHLAND PARK.

AND I SEE YOU ARE WEARING THE HIGHLAND PARK STRONG T-SHIRT.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING IS THE CHANGE THAT COMES OUT OF THIS HORRIFIC ERENT SOMETHING YOU ARE BEHIND?

>> WE WANT TO SEE MORE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION INCLUDES THINGS LIKE AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, SAFE STORAGE LAWS.

BETTER ENFORCEMENT OF RED FLAGS.

AND WHAT HAPPENED IN HIGHLAND PARK DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANY COMMUNITY EVER AGAIN.

>> I KNOW I FEEL IT SEEMS SORT OF LIKE STEREOTYPICAL THING TO SAY, BUT WERE YOU AT THAT PARADE?

DID YOU EVER IMAGINE THIS COULD HAPPEN?

YOU'RE YOUNG AND I PRESUME YOU'VE HAD TO DO MASS SHOOTING DRILLS?

>> I WAS NOT AT THE PARADE.

BUT I WAS NOT SURPRISED.

WE'VE BECOMING ACCUSTOMED TO THIS.

I'VE BEEN TRAINING THIS AND THAT IS NOT KIDS SHOULD HAVE TO DO IN SCHOOL LEARNING HISTORY, ENGLISH AND MATH.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON STUDIES AND MAKING FRIENDS AND BE ABLE TO BE KIDS AND NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT OF GUN VIOLENCE >> AND YOU'RE PART OF THE GRASSROOTS EFFORT THAT IS TRYING TO GET LEGISLATORS TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE SO FAR?

NO, I'M NOT WILLING TO BAN MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS?

>> GENERALLY THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN POSITIVE AND CHANGE IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF WE DON'T DEMAND T WE ARE HAVING A HIGHLAND PARK MOBILIZATION DAY THIS SATURDAY TO CALL EVERY SINGLE STATE SENATOR IN ILLINOIS AND DEMAND THAT THEY PASS AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN NOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RACHEL AND I WILL ALLOW YOU TO REJOIN THE VIGIL WHICH IS GETTING UNDERWAY WITH AN INVOCATION.

ALSO, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE MAYOR SPEAKING AT THE EVENT.

THERE ARE RESIDENTS MANY OF WHOM ARE IN ATTENDANCE NOW.

THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED OTHER CEREMONIES, PERHAPS A FUNERAL FOR THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST ON THAT JULY 4TH PARADE DAY.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST CITY ORGANIZED EVENT SINCE THAT GUNMAN USED A MILITARY GRADE WEAPON TO SHOOT INTO THE CROWDS AT HIGHLAND PARK FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS.

THIS IS THE BLOODIEST EVENT IN HIGHLAND PARK'S HISTORY AND THE LATEST STATISTICS SHOW THERE WERE NO MURDERS IN HIGHLAND PARK.

NOW, JUST AS OF ABOUT A WEEK-AND-A-HALF AGO THAT SKYROCKETED TO SEVEN PEOPLE KILLED.

THEIR NAMES WILL BE READ AT THIS EVENT.

CAT... >> THEIR NAMES BEING READ, THE HUNDREDS OR SO WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE ARE GOING TO BE LIGHTING CANDLES IN THEIR MEMORY.

ROTORRING SAYING THE SHOOTING MAY HAVE STOPPED THE TRAUMA OF GUN VIOLENCE CONTINUES AND SHE SAYS THAT IS SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY IS NEED TO GOING TO COME TOGETHER TO NOT LET THIS DEFINE THEM BUT CARRY THE MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE SHOOTING WITH THEM FOREVER.

HIGHLAND PARK RESIDENTS SAY A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS LATELY HAVE BEGUN WITH THE QUESTION I POSED TO RACHEL AND THAT IS WHERE WERE YOU THAT FATEFUL MONDAY MORNING JULY 4TH?

WERE YOU AT THE PARADE?

I SPOKE WITH THE HIGHLAND PARK CITY MANAGER GHIDA NEUKRICH AND IN HER CASE GHIDA NEUKRICH SAID SHE HAD BEGAN BRIGHT AND EARLY THAT MORNING HERE JUST BEHIND ME AT CITY HALL WHERE THEY WERE GETTING UPSTAGING FOR THE EVENTS.

PACKING SEEDS THEY WERE TO PASS OUT AT THE PARADE.

AND SHE WAS WITH A COUPLE RELATIVES MARCHING.

THEY WERE BLOCKS AWAY JUST BEHIND THE MAYOR.

>> WHEN WE GOT TO THE POINT OF ABOUT CENTRAL AND GREEN BAY, AT ONE POINT, I LOOKED ACROSS THE STREET AND I SAW MY SON AND MY NEPHEW AND THEY WERE ACROSS THE STREET AND A LITTLE BIT AHEAD.

AND THEN IT SEEMED LIKE 30 SECONDS LATER, EVERYTHING HAPPENED.

AND THE GUNFIRE AND THE PEOPLE RUNNING.

AND I KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO RUN AWAY FROM THAT SOUND.

AND SO I TURNED AROUND AND I RAN INTO THE HOT ZONE BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO BE CIVILIANS THERE AND PEOPLE THAT NEEDED HELP AND OUR FIRST-RESPONDERS WOULD BE THERE.

AND I WANTED TO BE THERE TO DO WHATEVER I COULD.

>> SO I WENT THERE AND ONE OF OUR PARAMEDICS WAS HOLDING AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD SUSTAINED A GUNSHOT WOUND.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO GET HIS ATTENTION.

I SAID LET ME DO THAT I CAN PUT PRESSURE ON AND YOU GO AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU NEED TO.

AND AT THAT POINT I LOOKED UP, AND THE BRAVERY AND THE WORK OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO PEOPLE AND THE NUMEROUS CITIZENS THAT WERE HELPING EACH OTHER, IT WAS SO TRAGIC.

BUT EVERYONE WAS DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE.

>> MAY I ASK HOW THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU PERSONALLY HELPED DID HE [INAUDIBLE] >> YES, I BELIEVE SO.

>> COURAGEOUS TO RUN TOWARDS TRAGEDY AND EMERGENCY DISASTER SITUATION.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, RIGHT AS A CITY MANAGER BECAUSE I MEAN WE OPENED UP OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AFTER THAT AND I NEEDED TO BE IN THE COMMAND CENTER.

BUT EVERYTHING HAPPENED TO QUICKLY AND I NEEDED TO BE THERE BUT TRULY THE BRAVERY AND THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEERS IS IMMEASURABLE.

>> SHE SAYS SHE IS IN AWE OF THEIR BRAVERY NOT JUST FIRST-RESPONDERS MANY VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHERS HAVE STEPPED IN, STEPPED UP THAT DAY AND SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN FUNDRAISING DRIVES LIKE FOR AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SHOT AND PARALYZED AND IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE REMAINING IN THE HOSPITAL.

AND PETITIONS AND MARCHS AND MOVEMENTS INCLUDING ONE TODAY IN WASHINGTON D.C. WHERE PARENTS AND RESIDENTS OF HIGHLAND PARK ARE FIGHTING FOR CHANGE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND THEN THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN ASSISTANCE CENTER AT THE HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL BUT NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE MOVING TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND THAT FOCUS WILL BE MORE ON CASE MANAGEMENT.

CITY MANAGER GHIDA NEUKRICH SAYS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO HOW THEY CAN ACCESS COUNSELING AND QUESTIONS ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

>> WE ARE A STRONG COMMUNITY.

BUT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT STRONG RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THEY ARE DEALING WITH THIS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO WE JUST NEED TO BE COGNIZANT AND RECOGNIZE THAT TRAUMA HITS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

BUT THE LOVE AND SUPPORT AND KINDNESS IS HIGHLAND PARK.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING JUST THAT.

>> SO WHILE THERE ARE HIGHLAND PARK STRONG SIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE, SHE SAYS IT IS OK TO NOT BE STRONG, TO FEEL WEAK, TO FEEL SAD, TO FEEL MAD AND TO CRY AS I IMAGINE MANY OF THOSE BEHIND ME WILL THIS EVENING.

THERE WAS JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE HELD FOR THE VICTIMS.

WITH THAT, BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> INFLATION REACHED A 40-YEAR HIGH IN JUNE.

AND IT'S BEING FELT BY CONSUMER WITH PRICES SOARING 9.1% COMPARED TO A YEAR EARLIER.

COSTS OF NECESSITIES ARE RISING IN PARTICULAR GAS, WITH A NEARLY 60% INCREASE IN PRICE OVER THE PAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT.

JOINING US NOW ARE MORE ARE ARE HORACIO MENDEZ, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE WOODSTOCK INSTITUTE.

AND PETER ST. ONGE, AN ECONOMIST AT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PETER LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE, WHAT IS CAUSING THE ALARMING INFLATION RATES?

>> BROADLY SPEAKING INFLATION IS A QUESTION OF TOO MUCH MONEY CHASING TOO FEW GOODS.

SO THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TWO PARTS; ONE IS TOO MUCH MONEY CREATION AND THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY FEDERAL SPENDING, DEFICIT SPENDING.

AND THEN THE FEDERAL RESERVE CONVERTING THE DEFICITS TO CASH.

AND THE OTHER SIDE HAS BEEN TOO FEW GOODS.

PART WAS THE COVID AND LOCKDOWNS, BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT JUST BROADLY HAS BEEN THE WAR ON PRODUCTION.

POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN HARMFUL TO PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION, MANUFACTURING, SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO PUTTING THOSE TWO TOGETHER THIS HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW THIS HAS BEEN EVOLVING AND.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS GETTING BETTER, BUT BASED ON THE NUMBERS THIS MONTH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE GETTING WORSE.

>> HORACIO MENDEZ WHAT IS CAUSING THE INFLATION RATES?

>> IT IS A CONFLUENCE OF FACTORS IN ADDITION TO WHAT WAS MENTIONED.

THE SHUTDOWNS OF THE PANDEMIC THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CREATED DYSFUNCTIONS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WE'RE USED TO HAVING IMMEDIATELY.

THEN THE STIMULUS FUNDS PROVIDED EXTRA CASH IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS AND STAYING HOME ALLOWED PEOPLE TO SAVE MONEY.

WHEN THINGS STARTED LOOSENING UP DEMAND CAME BACK.

PEOPLE WANTED TO GO OUT, WANTED TO SHOP AND GO TO DINNER.

AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT WAS SUPPLIED TO BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WERE NOT ABLE TO CATCH UP FAST ENOUGH.

AS WAS SAID, THERE WAS A LOT OF DEMAND, THERE WAS LIMITED SUPPLY, PRICES STARTED GOING UP AND YOU HAVE A WAR IN EASTERN EUROPE WITH UKRAINE AND RUSSIA PUTTING TREMENDOUS STRAIN ON NOT ONLY ON NATURAL GAS AND OIL PRODUCTS NOW YOU HAVE FOOD SHORTAGES IN GRAIN, WHEAT, SUNFLOWER OIL.

YOU HAVE SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES AND THAT IMPACTS EVERYTHING NOT ONLY THE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN THEM BUT THE COST OF DELIVERING FOOD TO YOUR STORE, HAVING THAT AMAZON DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO COST MORE.

>> DO YOU SEE THIS REACHING ITS PEAK ANYTIME SOON?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, NO.

YOU KNOW SOME OF THE SORT OF TRANSITORY ISSUES THAT MORE RAY SHOW MENTIONED AND THAT WAS THE HOPE THEY WERE GOING AWAY.

LAST YEAR THERE WERE PEOPLE PREDICTING THAT INFLATION WAS GOING TO TAPER OFF BECAUSE THE DISRUPTIONS WERE EASING ESPECIALLY RELATED TO THE LOCKDOWNS.

BUT THEY ARE NOT COMING OFF.

AND YOU KNOW THERE'S NOT A LOT OF APPETITE IN WASHINGTON TO REDUCE SPENDING, OR TO CUT BACK ON REGULATIONS THAT ARE HARMING US ESPECIALLY ENERGY BUT ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO IS WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THE SAME FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT SEVERAL QUARTERS POSSIBLY LONGER.

>> WE KNOW THAT GAS PRICES OR GAS SEEMED TO BE THE LARGEST PRICE INCREASE AT ALMOST 60% THEN ELECTRICITY AT 14% AND AT HOME FOOD AT 12%.

HOW ARE THESE INCREASES IN GOODS AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH LOWER OR MODERATE INCOMES ESPECIALLY?

>> HORRIBLY SO.

YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF OVERALL TAKE-HOME PAY LOW AND MODERATE INCOME WORKERS PAY A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE FOR FOOD, HOUSING.

RENTAL INCREASES AND HOUSING INCREASES AS WELL IS A TREMENDOUS BURDEN.

AND ENERGY.

SO YOU HAVE A SITUATION RIGHT NOW WHERE THE TOP FIVE OIL COMPANIES, CHEF VON, SHELL, MOBILE AND CONOCO PHILLIPS BROUGHT IN 200% MORE IN PROFITS IN 2022 WHILE AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL UP THEIR TANK.

SOME FOLKS ARE UPSET THERE MIGHT BE PRICE GOWNING GOING ON.

PETROLEUM IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.

BUT INFLATION AND ANY UTILITY, GROCERY, HOUSING INFLATION IN PARTICULAR, DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS WORKING AMERICANS MUCH MORE SO THAN THOSE THAT ARE OUT IN THE UPPER LIMBS OF THE INCOME LADDER.

>> PETER, WHAT STEPS DO YOU THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD DO TO DEAL WITH THIS?

>> SOME OF WHAT I MENTIONED.

CUTTING DOWN ON THE MONEY CREATION.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE PAINTED ITSELF IN A CORNER.

AND YOU KNOW THE ONLY MODERATE WAY WE HAVE TO SOLVE THIS INFLATION COMES FROM THE 1970s AND IN THE 70s, THEY JACKED INTEREST RATES UP TO NEARLY 20%.

THAT IS DEVASTATING AS HORACIO MENDEZ MENTIONED INFLATION HITS THE POOR HARDEST AND IN MANY CASES THE IT HELPS THE RICH.

AND THE RICH GETS THE ENORMOUS LOANS.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE IT ON THE CHIN IN THIS NEAR DOUBLE-DIGIT INFLATION IS THE POOR.

BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE HAVE HAD DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS IN THE PAST WHO SORT OF STRAIGHTENED OUT.

WE HAD BILL CLINTON REDUCE SPENDING.

JIMMY CARTER WAS THE MOST INREGULATORY PRESIDENT SINCE WORLD WAR II AND J.F.K.

CUT TAX RATES.

THERE IS THIS ABILITY TO EASE OFF ON THE ECONOMIC DAMAGE AND TO CUT THE SPENDING, BUT UP UNTIL TODAY WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION YET.

>> HORACIO MENDEZ SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT S THERE ANY RELIEF IN SIGHT?

AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DO?

>> WELL THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ADMINISTRATION CAN DO.

ALL THE EGGS ARE IN THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S BASKET AND THE SAD REALITY AS WAS MENTIONED YOU HAVE TO BREAK THE ECONOMY A LITTLE BIT TO BE ABLE TO FIX INFLATION.

WHICH MEANS YOU NEED THE ECONOMY TO SLOW.

WHICH MEANS MAYBE PEOPLE WILL BE LOSING SOME JOBS.

AND I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IS THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A SOCIAL SAFETY NET SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS CREATED DURING THE PANDEMIC TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE LONG-TERM LOSSES ESPECIALLY FOR THE LOW AND AND MODERATE INCOME IN THE POPULATION THAT WILL TAKE LONGER TO RECOVER.

WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ECONOMY IS NOT BROKEN ENOUGH THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE US 10 YEARS FOR THOSE AT THE BOTTOM RUNG OF THE INCOME LADDER TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

WHATEVER THE FEDERAL RESERVE NEEDS TO DO.

>> NO EASY DECISIONS.

THANKS TO GUESTS HORACIO MENDEZ AND PETER ST. ONGE FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC IN 2021, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES SAW A SHARP INCREASE IN ILLINOIS.

A NEW REPORT SHOWS IN CHICAGO ALONE, ORDERS OF PROTECTION JUMPED 55% WHILE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS ROSE BY 64%.

IN THE SUBURBS CALLS TO THE DUPAGE COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE INCREASED BY 53% BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021.

THE NUMBERS COME FROM A REPORT RELEASED BY THE NET YORK R WORK AN ADVOCACY GROUP AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS ARE DARCI FLYNN, DIRECTOR OF POLICY FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND OLIVIA FARRELL, DIRECTOR OF POLICY, ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH FOR THE NETWORK ADVOCATING AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

THESE NUMBERS SEEM LIKE SIGNIFICANT LEAPS, HOW DID THE PANDEMIC AGGRAVATE THE PROBLEM IN ILLINOIS?

>> SO THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED GENDER BASED VIOLENCE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT REALLY EXACERBATED SOME OF THE ACTORS THAT PLAY A ROLE IN GENDER BASED VIOLENCE EVERYDAY.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF ISOLATION WITH FOLKS STAYING AT HOME.

AND DIFFERENT QUARANTINES.

ALSO THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN PUT A LOT OF STRESSORS ON FAMILIES.

OF AND COUPLES.

AND ALSO NONTRADITIONAL SUPPORTS THAT FOLKS MIGHT NOT NORMALLY HAVE WERE TAKEN AWAY.

IT WAS HARDER TO TURN TO A FRIEND OR FAMILY FOR SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY COVID THEMSELVES OR JUST BE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING SOMEONE IN THEIR HOME AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS THAT WOULD POSE >> THE STATE-WIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE RECEIVED 30,000 CALLS IN 2021.

THAT IS AN INCREASE OF 5%.

NOW, THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHOOTINGS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED IN CHICAGO AND THAT NUMBER IS LIKELY UNDER COUNTED BECAUSE SOME OF THE INCIDENTS ARE NOT ALWAYS IDENTIFIED AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

DARCI FLYNN HOW DOES C.P.D.

DETERMINE OR IDENTIFY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN IT'S ENCOUNTERED?

>> SURE.

SO WHEN THERE IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR A HOMICIDE OR NONFATAL SHOOTING THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND THE PERSON OR THE OFFENDER.

AND SO UNDER THE ILLINOIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT THERE ARE MANY CATEGORIES INCLUDING INTIMATE PARTNER, FAMILY MEMBER, IF YOU SHARE A HOUSEHOLD OR A CHILD.

THEY ARE LOOKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT RELATIONSHIP AND SOMETIMES THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS BETWEEN VICTIM AND ALLEGED OFFENDER.

>> WHAT DOES THE REPORT WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PARTICULARLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES BOTH THE RATES OF THEM BEING REPORTED AND THE RATES OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO ACCESS HELP?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND THAT REALLY DUE TO THE OPPRESSION THAT THE INDIVIDUALS FACE IN SOCIETY THAT GETS BROUGHT INTO RELATIONSHIPS AND CAN CREATE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES.

AND WE'VE SEEN AS OUTLINED IN THE REPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDES IN PARTICULAR, REALLY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK INDIVIDUALS PARTICULARLY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO IN 2021, APPROXIMATELY 86% OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED HOMICIDE VICTIMS WERE BLACK INDIVIDUALS AND THAT IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN CONSISTENTLY YEAR TO YEAR.

AND WE HAVE FOLKS REACHING OUT TO THE STATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE AT DISPOURING R PROPORTIONATE RATES WE HAVE MORE BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS CALLING THAN THEY ARE IN THE POPULATION.

SO WE'RE SEEING FOLKS NOT ONLY HAVE THAT INCREASED NEED BUT TURNING FOR SERVICES DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS ABLE TO ACCESS THE SERVICES AND MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES THEY MIGHT WANT.

>> IN 2021, ILLINOIS STATE POLICE REVOKED 11,000 FOID CARDS BUT ONLY 4200 PEOPLE ACTUALLY SURRENDERED THEIR WEAPONS.

AT A FEDERAL LEVEL THERE IS A MAJOR PUSH TO PREVENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS HAVING ACCESS TO GUNS.

HERE IS PRESIDENT BIDEN ON THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, IT CLOSES THE BOYFRIEND LOOPHOLE CONVICTED OF ASSAULT AGAINST YOUR GIRLFRIEND YOU CANNOT BUY A GUN.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY, 50% OF MASS SHOOTINGS, THE SHOOTER SHOT A FAMILY MEMBER OR A PARTNER.

IF WE KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF DOMESTIC ABUSERS WE CAN SAVE THE LIVES OF THEIR PARTNERS MANY AND WE CAN ALSO STOP MORE MASS SHOOTINGS >> IS THIS A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS SPOKE ESPECIALLY ON THIS ISSUE WE HAVE TO TAKE GUNS AWAY.

THERE'S DATA THAT THOSE SOMEONE WHO HAS ACCESS TO A GUN AND IS CAUSING HARM IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION IS 5% MORE LIKELY TO LEAD TO A FATAL SHOOTING IN THE CONTEXT OF THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATIONSHIP.

>> .

>> IS THIS A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE BOYFRIEND LOOPHOLE HAS BEEN A BIG CONCERN WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN RELATIONSHIPS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY MARRIED, STILL CAN OBVIOUSLY FACE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT WEREN'T BEING ACCOUNTED FOR WHEN SEEKING OUT FIREARMS.

SO HERE THE NEW LEGISLATION ADDRESSES THAT AND REALLY HELPS TAKE AN ADDITIONAL STEP IN REMOVING FIREARMS FROM THOSE WHO WOULD CAUSE HARM WITH THEM.

>> DARCY WHAT RESOURCES DOES SOMEONE HAVE IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

>> SURE.

I CAN SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT PRIORITIZED EXPANDING THE SAFETY NET FOR SURVIVORS.

AND WE'VE COME IN THE STATE WHERE THE BUDGET FOR GENDER BASED VIOLENCE WAS PREVIOUSLY SLASHED AND IT'S CONTINUING NOW TO GROW.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT INVESTED $25 MILLION IN PART OF HER CHICAGO RECOVERY PLAN TO BUILD OUT AND EXPAND THE SAFETY NET TO INSURE SURVIVORS HAVE RAPID REHOUSING AND LEGAL SERVICES SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND CONNECTIONS TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE WHICH OLIVIA CAN SPEAK MORE ABOUT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SURVIVORS HAVE OPTIONS TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE AND TO LEAVE UNSAFE SITUATIONS.

>> ONE SILVER LINING THERE IS A BIG INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELP SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND HOW THAT IS BEING USED?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

BOTH AT THE CITY AND STATE LEVELS WE SAW RECENT INVESTMENTS IN GENDER BASED VIOLENCE SERVICES WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT AND DARCY OUTLINED THAT $25 MILLION FROM THE CITY TO REALLY REINVEST IN THOSE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS.

SIMILARLY, THE STATE BUDGET RECENTLY INCREASED THE LINE ITEM FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES BY $50 MILLION.

ACROSS THE STATE WE'RE LOOKING TO REINVEST IN THE SERVICES AND AS THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THERE IS A LOT OF UNMET NEEDS.

HOPEFULLY WITH THE INCREASED INVESTMENTS, SERVICE PROVIDERS CAN EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY AND TO BE ABLE TO BETTER SERVE SURVIVORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> DARCI FLYNN AND OLIVIA FARRELL THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> >> THE UP NEXT, A NEW NATIVE-AMERICAN EXHIBITION AT A LOCAL MUSEUM.

STAY WITH US.

>> THE FIELD MUSEUM RENOVATED THE NATIVE NORTH AMERICA HALL AND DRASTICALLY SHIFTED ITS FOCUS.

THE NEW APPROACH EMPHASIZES STORYTELLING AND CONTEMPORARY ART AND HISTORICAL ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION.

THE EXHIBITION SPACE IS CALLED NATIVE TRUTHS OUR VOICES OUR STORIES.

MARC VITALI VISITED ON OPENING DAY.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> THERE IS A NEW FOCUS ON THE LAND... ON CONTEMPORARY ART... AND ON STORYTELLING.

THE NEW NATIVE NORTH AMERICA HALL HAS A VERY DIFFERENT VIBE THAN THE OLD, OUTDATED HALL.

IT MIGHT MAKE YOU LOOK AND THINK TWICE.

>> I AM FROM NEW MEXICO.

I'M AN ADVISORY COMMITTEEMEMBER AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS PROJECT.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE OTHER ADVISORIERS AND THE MUSEUM -- ADVISERS AND THE MUSEUM STAFF.

>> WE STARTED REACHING OUT TO DIFFERENT ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES AND SO IN THE END, WE WORKED WITH OVER 150 COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND CANADA.

IT'S THEIR STORY TO TELL.

OUR ROLE WAS BASICALLY TO FACILITATE TELLING THE STORY HELPING THEM SELECT THINGS FROM OUR COLLECTION OR TALKING ABOUT WHAT A VISITOR MIGHT FEEL.

LIKE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN US AND FOLKS BUT IT'S REALLY THEIR STORIES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR.

>> WE SEE EACH OF THESE ITEMS AS LIVING ITEMS.

THEY ARE CREATED THROUGH PRAYER AND SONG AND ROOTED IN A DEEP FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HISTORY AND CULTURE.

AND SO IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TELL OUR OWN STORIES IN OUR OWN VOICE.

NOT ONLY THE ADVISERS BUT ENGAGING OTHER OF OUR NATIVE-AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THIS PROCESS.

>> THE EXHIBITION IS PERMANENT WITH ONE SECTION DEVOTED TO THE NATIVE COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO.

SOME GALLERIES WILL ROTATE GIVING SPACE FOR THE DEPTH OF EXPERIENCES AND CREATIVITY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

ALL IS MEANT TO CORRECT THE OLD EXHIBIT WHICH OPENED IN THE 1950s.

>> AT THAT TIME, THE ANTHROPOLOGISTS THE CURATORS HAD THIS PERSPECTIVE THEIR CULTURES ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

SO WE BETTER ACCUMULATE EVERYTHING ALL THE MATERIAL CULTURE THAT WE CAN.

TO PRESERVE THAT WAY OF LIFE AND SHOWCASE IT IN OUR MUSEUM.

AND IT WAS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW STRONG AND RESILIENT NATIVE PEOPLES HAVE BEEN.

AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

THEY RESISTED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT OUTCOMES OF ALL THIS, IS TO LET AMERICA KNOW AND LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT NATIVE PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE.

YOU ARE ON NATIVE LAND.

WE ARE ON NATIVE LAND.

WE ARE ON THE LAND OF THE CREATOR.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

AND IT IS SACRED TO US.

THERE'S MORE WORK AHEAD.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE MUSEUM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH NATIVE COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE COLLECTIONS.

AND THEY CAN REPATRIATE THE ITEMS THAT NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR RESPECTIVE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT", THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> AGAIN, NATIVE TRUTHS IS A PERMANENT EXHIBITION AT THE FIELD MUSEUM.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... ALSO NEW AT THE FIELD MUSEUM, MORE THAN 100 METEOR RIGHTS WHAT THEY CAN TEACH US ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE POSSIBLE CRIMINAL LIABILITY OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS POLITICAL ASSOCIATES.

>> AND A NEW ORDINANCE AIMS TO CREATE MORE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE HOUSING OPTIONS TO RESIDENTS ACROSS ALL OF CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER SEEN ON VIDEO STRIKING ACTIVIST MIRACLE BOYD DURING A 2020 PROTEST HAS RESIGNED.

THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY CIVIL SAYS IT'S LEARNED NICHOLAS JOVANOVICH WHO WAS FACING A POSSIBLE TERMINATION INSTEAD CHOSE TO QUIT.

RELEASING THE FINDINGS, C.O.P.A.

SAYS QUOTE... >> C.O.P.A.

RECOMMENDED THE TWO OF NICHOLAS JOVANOVICH'S SUPERVISOR, SERGEANT KEVIN GLEESON AND LIEUTENANT GODFREY CRONIN BE FIRED BECAUSE OF MISCONDUCT RELATED TO THE INCIDENT.

>> R. KELLY IS BACK IN CHICAGO AHEAD OF HIS UP COMING FEDERAL TRIAL NEXT MONTH.

THE MOVE FOLLOWS KELLY'S CONVICTION AND SENTENCING IN NEW YORK TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON.

HE IS HELD IN A METROPOLITAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO.

IN THE CHICAGO TRIAL HE IS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING FIVE SEPARATE MINORS.

>> AND CHICAGO TOURCISM BOUNCING BACK BUT IT HAS A WAYS TO GO TO REACH PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

MESSAGE AS LEADERS GATHERED TO ENCOURAGE MORE BUSINESS AND TRAVELERS TO THE CITY.

>> THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS READY TO WELCOME EVERYBODY BACK HERE TO CHICAGO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WHEN TRAVELERS GET OUT AND DO WHAT THEY DO, ENJOY A PLACE LIKE CHICAGO, THEY TEND TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY AND CREATE JOBS.

EVERY $100 THAT IS SPENT FOR A HOTEL, ANOTHER $222 ARE SPENT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES.

>> AND LAST YEAR CHICAGO HAD UNDER 31 MILLION VISITORS AN 81% INCREASE OVER 2020 AND HALF OF PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> EARLIER IN THE SHOW WE GAVE YOU A TOUR OF THE OPENED NATIVE-AMERICAN EXHIBIT AT THE FIELD MUSEUM.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY NEW SIGHT TO BEHOLD.

MORE THAN 100 METEORITES.

>> >> WHAT WAS INSIDE?

>> IT WAS A GROWN-UP UNBOXING VIDEO.

IT WAS AS YOU MENTIONED 115 FOSSILIZED METEOR RISED THE RESULTS OF A COLLISION THAT HAPPENED IN MILLIONS OF YEAR AGO AND THEY RAINED DOWN ON EARTH.

A LOT OF THEM GOT OBLITERATED OR ERODED BUT THIS COLLECTION LANDED IN THE PERFECT SPOT IN WHAT IS NOW SWEDEN.

AND THEY WERE PERFECTLY PRESERVED AS FOSSILS THAT WERE ONLY UNCOVERED IN THE 1980s AT THIS LIMESTONE QUARRY IN SWEDEN WHEREWITHALLERS HAD -- WORKERS HAD PROBABLY UNWITTINGLY BEEN HAULING THESE OUT AND TURNING THEM INTO PEOPLE'S KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS OR STONE FLOORS WHAT, KNOWS.

>> FOLKS IN SWEDEN SHOULD CHECK THEIR COUNTERTOPS.

SO WHAT DO THE METEORITES TELL US ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM?

>> SCIENTISTS ARE SAYING THESE ARE A PEEK INTO WHAT WAS OUT THERE IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM 470 MILLION YEARS AGO.

YOU KNOW.

THINGS THAT ARE FALLING NOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS OUT THERE?

YOU KNOW, AND SINCE PEOPLE SAY THAT WE ARE ALL-STAR DUST MADE OF THE PARTICLES THAT CAME FROM SPACE, WHAT WAS OUT THERE?

WHAT'S IN THEM?

>> THE FIELD MUSEUM NOW AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE MUSEUM AND THE STAFF WITH THIS?

>> WELL, THEY HAVE TO CATALOG THEM AND STORE THEM.

BUT THEN STARTS THE FUN OF ACTUALLY STUDYING THEM.

AND SCIENTIST I SPOKE TO SAID SHE IS ESPECIALLY EXCITED AT THE POTENTIAL THE STUDY MICRO METEORITES WHICH COULD BE DUST FOSSILS.

IMAGINE TO STUDY A PARTICLE OF DUST PRESERVED FROM 470 MILLION YEARS AGO?

WE'VE NEVER HAD A LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THERE'S EXCITING POTENTIAL FOR NEW DISCOVERIES HERE.

>> SO COOL.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU FOR THE STORY.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> YOU CAN READ PATTY'S FULL STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WITH THE LATEST ON THE FIGHT FOR CHANGES TO GUN LAWS.

STAY WITH US.

>> AND TODAY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE HIGHLAND PARK FOURTH OF JULY SHOOTING WERE JOINED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE UVALDE, TEXAS SHOOTING.

AND WHETHER THE PRESSURE IS WORKING HERE WITH THAT AND MORE ARE AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE.

SO OF COURSE, STARTING WITH THAT MARCH ON WASHINGTON TODAY BY FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE HIGHLAND PARK PARADE SHOOTING, TAKE A LOOK... >> WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE.

BUT WE ARE.

>> TELL BUS THE MARCH AND ABOUT THE LOBBYING THE FAMILIES HAVE DONE ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, THEY ARE REALLY TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON ALL OF THE MEDIA ATTENTION AND THE OUTPOURING OF GRIEF AND ANGER TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH THROUGH MORE GUN LAWS.

AND WHILE THE CONGRESS JUST PASSED A NEW GUN CONTROL BILL, THIS WILL ALSO INCREASE PRESSURE ON PEOPLE LIKE GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND LAWMAKERS BACK HOME HERE IN ILLINOIS WHERE THERE ARE GROWING CALLS FOR STATE-WIDE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS LIKE THE ONE POLICE SAY WAS USED IN THE FOURTH OF JULY SHOOTING.

>> AMANDA YOU ARE STILL IN HIGHLAND PARK FOR THE VIGIL, IS TODAY MORE ABOUT GRIEF THAN IT IS ABOUT THE POLITICAL MESSAGE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS?

OR IS IT BOTH?

>> WELL, HERE IN HIGHLAND PARK THE VIGIL WAS CERTAINLY A TIME FOR MOURNING FOR REFLECTION, HEALING IF ANYBODY IS READY FOR THAT I'M NOT SURE THAT IS THE CASE.

IT LASTED HALF AN HOUR.

THE CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY A MOMENT OF SILENCE THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS WHO WERE MURDERED IN THAT SHOOTING WERE READ ALOUD AND RECOGNIZED.

THERE IS ALWAYS AN UNDER CURRENT OF ACTION.

I TALKED TO PEOPLE AND ASKED WHY ARE YOU HERE?

AND THE ANSWER WENT BACK TO GUN CONTROL.

SO WHILE THIS PARTICULAR EVENT IS ONE WHERE I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY MESSAGE OF POLITICS AT THE PODIUM.

RATHER YOU HEARD TAPS THE LOUDEST SOUND.

THERE IS BY NO MEANS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THINK BEING THE USE OF GUNS AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH SAY THAT SHOULD BE THE BIG TAKEAWAY.

>> HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTERING AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER THEY WERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE PRESIDENT'S BILL SIGNING OF THE SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

AND TO LOBBY PRESIDENT BIDEN PRIVATELY H IS THIS PREACHING TO THE CHOIR?

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THEY NEED TO GET ONBOARD?

WE KNOW BIDEN SUPPORTS A LOT OF WHAT THEY'RE CALLING FOR?

>> IN LARGE MEASURE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS UNITED ON THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WITHOUT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT THAT IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE IN THE SENATE.

WHICH MEANS AS I SAID BEFORE, I THINK THIS WILL HELP INCREASE THE PRESSURE HERE IN ILLINOIS WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HAS CAMPAIGNED AND SORT OF CENTERED THE BEGINNING OF HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN ON THE NEED FOR MORE GUN CONTROL.

WE REMEMBER HIS ANGRY STATEMENT ON JULY 4TH JUST HOURS AFTER THE MASSACRE.

AND THIS IS REALLY SETTING THE TERMS OF THOSE DEBATES USING THE HIGH PROFILE SPOTLIGHT THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS OFFERED THIS ISSUE.

>> AMANDA, WE KNOW ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS, ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS, SPECIFICALLY, OF COURSE, LAST WEEK CALLED FOR A SPECIAL SESSION FOR GUN LEGISLATION.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT?

>> WE HAVE NO DATES SCHEDULED.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING ALONG THOSE LINES BUT THERE IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE CALL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

WE SAW THAT ONE THAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN CALLED IN JULY PUSHED BACK FOR A DATE UNKNOWN TO DEAL WITH ABORTION ISSUES.

YES, IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMES BACK TO SPRINGFIELD TO TAKE UP THAT ISSUE THERE WILL BE CONVERSATIONS AND TALKS PERHAPS SOME GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

BUT TWO THINGS TO POINT OUT: DUE TO JUST SORT OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS, SPECIAL SESSION WILL YOU HAVE A HIGHER THRESHOLD OF VOTES IN ORDER FOR ANY MEASURE TO PASS IMMEDIATELY.

SO IN ORDER TO TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

IN A SENSE THERE IS PRESSURE TO GET SOMETHING DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BUT ALSO WHILE THERE IS MOMENTUM AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE DEADLINES THERE REALLY IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT SORT OF SENSE OF IMMEDIACY.

I THINK WE CAN SEE THAT BECAUSE ILLINOIS DOES NOT YET HAVE AN ASSAULT BAN DESPITE THE DEMOCRATIC SUPER MAJORITIES AND BEING SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE MAJORITY PARTY DO WANT, NOT ALL OF THEM, HENCE IT DOES NOT EXIST NOW.

>> SEPARATELY, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HEADING TO FLORIDA TO HEADLINE FLORIDA DEMOCRATS ANNUAL GALA.

AND MADE A STOP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHICH WE KNOW IS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY TERRITORY.

HEATHER IS THIS FUELING TALK OF A POTENTIAL PRITZKER FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN?

>> IT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO TAMP DOWN THAT CHATTER, CERTAINLY.

BUT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO RUN IN 2024.

HE SUPPORTS BIDEN 100%.

HE IS ONE OF TWO GOVERNORS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT AMID CONCERNS THAT BIDEN WOULD BE THE OLDEST PRESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES HISTORY WERE HE TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER, OF COURSE, HAS SORT OF CAPITALIZED ON ILLINOIS' UNIQUE STATUS IN THE MIDWEST AS BEING AN OASIS FOR ABORTION CARE AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND HE IS CAPITALIZING ON THAT.

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT PREDICT ANYTHING IN POLITICS.

ALTHOUGH MOST ILLINOIS MOST PEOPLE THINK HE WILL NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

BUT IT CANNOT HELP TO HAVE THAT NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT RUNNING FOR REELECTION AS SECOND TERM FOR GOVERNOR.

>> HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JULIANA STRATTON TESTIFIED THAT A SENATE HEARING SAYING ILLINOIS NEEDS HELP FOR THE INFLUX OF PATIENTS SEEKING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE HERE.

>> ILLINOIS AND OTHER STATES WITH LEGAL ABORTION NEED MORE ACCESS TO FEDERAL MONEY TO SUPPORT DEMAND.

>> WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL HELP COULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDE?

>> WELL, THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF WOMEN COMING TO ILLINOIS EVERY WEEK AND THAT WILL ONLY GROW AS BANS ON ABORTION.

THEY WANT FEDERAL HEPATITIS AING TO CARE FOR THE WOMEN, TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CARE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATE'S MEDICARE SYSTEM IS NOT OVERWHELMED BY THOSE PATIENTS.

SO THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT WAS GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION.

IT WAS DELAYED.

BUT THIS IS CLEARLY GOING TO TAX ILLINOIS' HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND WE HEARD THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HELP ON THAT.

>> ALDERMAN ED BURKE GOT A TRIAL DATE YEARS AFTER BEING INDICTED FOR CORRUPTION SHIFTING GEARS HERE A LITTLE BIT.

FIRST, THE LONGEST SERVING ALDERMAN, IS HE GOING TO FACE A REELECTION BEFORE FACING A JURY?

>> POTENTIALLY.

SO THE NEXT ROUND OF ALDERMANIC AND MAYORAL ELECTIONS IS FEBRUARY 2023.

HE IS NOT GOING TO FACE A JURY UNTIL NOVEMBER 2023.

WHICH MEANS THAT HE CAN RUN FOR REELECTION FOR WHAT WOULD BE A RECORD SHATTERING 14TH TERM.

HE HAS NOT SAID WHETHER HE PLANS TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

EVERYBODY IS WATCHING TO SEE WHAT HE DOES AND WHETHER HE COULD WIN DESPITE FACING 14 CHARGES OF RACKETEERING, EXTORTION AND BRIBERY.

HE HAS PLED NOT GUILTY.

>> FORMER CONGRESSMAN DAN LIPINSKI ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT CHALLENGE SEAN CASTEN AS AN INDEPENDENT.

COMPLICATIONS THERE.

HE SAYS HE WILL WORK ON AN INDEPENDENT PARTY MOVEMENT INSTEAD.

EXPLAIN THAT FOR US?

>> YES, SO IT TURNS OUT THAT HE COULDN'T HAVE RUN FOR THAT POSITION AS AN INDEPENDENT ANYWAY.

BECAUSE ILLINOIS HAS A LOT OF STIPULATIONS THAT LIPINSKI SAYS ARE MEANT TO BUILDUP THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SUCH AS IF YOU SIGN A PETITION TO GET SOMEBODY ON A BALLOT, WELL, IF YOU SIGN A PETITION TO GET A DEMOCRAT ON THE BALLOT THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO RUN AS A DEMOCRAT YOU ARE LOCKED IN.

HE COULD NOT HAVE SWITCHED TO BE AN INDEPENDENT BUT HE WANTS TO WORK WITH REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER WHO IS NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION TO TRY TO BRING POLITICS BACK TO THE MIDDLE.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT MONEY IS BEHIND THIS EFFORT OR HOW SUCCESSFUL HE WILL BE.

BUT IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT COMES UP A LOT IN POLITICS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POLARIZATION AND GERRYMANDERING AND HOW IT'S BROUGHT BOTH PARTIES TO THE EXTREMES.

>> THE TESTIMONY AT THE JANUARY 6TH HEARING YESTERDAY INCLUDED THE REVELATION THAT THE COMMITTEE REFERRED EVIDENCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR POSSIBLE WITNESS TAMPERING BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HERE IS WHAT DICK DURBIN SAID TODAY.

>> NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW.

AND THE THINGS WE'RE LEARNING FROM THE COMMITTEE ARE A REVELATION IN TERMS OF THE DESPERATION OF DONALD TRUMP WHEN HE REALIZED HE LOST THE ELECTION AND DECIDED TO PEDESTRIAN DELL THE LIE ACROSS AMERICA.

YES, HE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS CONDUCT.

>> COULD THE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP BE PROSECUTED FOR WITNESS TAMPERING, INTIMIDATION BY HAVING REACHED OUT TO A JANUARY 6TH HEARING WITNESS?

>> THAT IS CERTAINLY AN OPEN QUESTION AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE THRUST OF THE REMARKS WE HEARD AT THE END OF YESTERDAY'S HEARING BY WYOMING CONGRESSWOMAN LIZ CHENEY OPENING UP THAT POSSIBILITY AND ADDING A NEW DIMENSION TO THE LEGAL THREATS FACED BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF HIS CONDUCT BEFORE AND ON AND THROUGH TODAY.

>> AND WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING TO HEAR AT THE NEXT JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE HEARING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK IN PRIMETIME?

>> THIS IS REALLY THE LAST AT LEAST OF THIS SESSION OF HEARINGS.

WE EXPECT TO HEAR THE COMMITTEE WRAP UP WHAT THEY'VE DISCOVERED THUS FAR AND CONTINUE MAKING THEIR CASE MAKING IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ONLY MORALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6TH BUT HE IS LEGALLY CULPABLE AND IT WILL ONLY INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING HIM.

>> THAT IS SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

THANKS TO AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE.

>> .

>> UP NEXT, CREATING MORE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE HOUSING OPTIONS THAT A CONVERSATION THAT AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" WITH GUEST HOST MARISSA MAROIS.

PA RA.

S >> HERE IN CHICAGO MANY OF THE AREAS WITH THE MOST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS ARE ALSO THE MOST EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN A ACCORDING TO THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL, 90% OF TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT BUILT BETWEEN 2009 AND 2020 HAS BEEN CONCENTRATED ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THE PROPOSED CONNECTED COMMUNITIES ORDINANCE INTRODUCED TO CITY COUNCIL AIMS TO MAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE T PROPOSES REDUCING BARRIERS TO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, NEAR HIGH FREQUENCY BUS LINES AND TRAIN STATIONS.

>> FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON THIS NIGHT.

HOW DID THIS ORDINANCE COME ABOUT?

AND TELL ME ABOUT ITS GOALS?

>> THE ORDINANCE CAME ABOUT THROUGH ELEVATED CHICAGO WHICH I AM PROUD CO-CHAIR OF.

ELEVATED CHICAGO IS A COMMUNITY-BASED COALITION OF INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHERE WE REALLY FOCUS ON ADDRESSING RACIAL INEQUITIES THROUGH EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

WE STARTED OUR WORK IN 2017.

LOCATED IN MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS STATIONS.

AS YOUR NUMBERS SAID 90% OF TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT HAS HAPPENED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND COMPLETELY BYPASSED COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LATINO AND BLACK.

WHICH MEANS WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF THAT IDEAL 20-MINUTE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU CAN WALK TO A GROCERY STORE OR A CLINK, YOU CAN GET ON A TRAIN OR A BUS TO GO TO SCHOOL, TO GO TO HAVE RETAIL THERAPY TO GO TO WORK.

AND IT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO TO DISPLACEMENT AND DEPOPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO ELEVATED HAS BEEN WORKING HARD FIRST ON POLICY THAT THE CITY ADAPTED.

WE WORKED FOR THREE YEARS ON THAT AND 80 PARTNERS LOOKING HOW WE LOOK AT COMMUNITIES, HOW THEY ARE CREATED AND PLANNED, WHO GETS TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS VOICES UP FRONT AND NOT BROUGHT A PLAN AFTER IT'S DONE.

BUT THERE ARE WAYS FOR US TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE SEATS AT THE TABLE FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS WHERE IT STARTED.

AND NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ZONING ORDINANCES, GROWING UP I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A ZONING ORDINANCE WAS.

I HAD NO IDEA THERE WERE LAWS SAID THIS IS HOW YOU CAN BUILD IN A COMMUNITY AND IN THE CITY AND THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN BUILD.

AND WE ALL KNOW CHICAGO'S LEGACY OF SEGREGATION IS DEEP AND LONG.

AND INTENTIONAL.

AND SO WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL HOW WE UNDO SOME OF THAT LEGACY.

>> WHAT BARRIERS DOES THE ORDINANCE REMOVE FOR DEVELOPERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE HAVE THREE GOALS WITH THIS ORDINANCE: ONE IS MORE EQUITY.

ONE IS MORE TRANSIT ORIENTATION AND THE OTHER ONE IS MORE DEVELOPMENT.

SO FIRST, EXPANDING WHAT WE CONSIDER A TOD ZONE IS MOVE TO GO FROM A FOURTH OF A MILE TO A HALF I A MILE AROUND TRAIN STATIONS AND INCLUDING HIGH FREQUENCY BUS CORRIDORS.

WANTING TO INVITE DEVELOPERS IT COME NON-DEVELOP WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF DEVELOPMENT AROUND THOSE TRANSIT HUBS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WHETHER IT BE HOMES OR RETAIL, GROCERY STORES.

INCENTIVIZING THEM TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND BUILD THERE.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THE CTA IS STRUGGLING IS IT IN A POSITION TO INCREASE SERVICE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS IN YOUR OPINION?

>> SO THAT IS THE LOVELY CHICKEN BEFORE THE EGG CONVERSATION.

AND WHAT WE KNOW IS IF WE CAN HAVE MORE DENSE COMMUNITIES WHERE MORE PEOPLE ARE USING TRANSIT THAT THEY ARE BEING LESS CAREY LIE ANT THAT INCREASES VOLUME AND REVENUE FOR CTA AND WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO CONTINUE TO BEST SERVE CHICAGOANS.

THE ORDINANCE AIMS TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR CHICAGOANS TO WALK, ROLL, RIDE AND MAKE THE SURROUNDING AREA ANSWER TRANSIT SAFER TO GET TO.

THERE ARE TONS OF REALLY SAD STATISTICS.

IN 202183 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY CAR CRASHES WITHIN A HALF-MILE RADIUS AROUND RAIL STATIONS.

TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ZONING THAT HELPS THAT IS ONE WAY THAT WE CAN PROTECT CHICAGOANS.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE.

I'M CURIOUS HAVE THERE BEEN OBJECTIONS FROM RESIDENTS?

AND HOW HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING TO OVERCOME THAT?

>> THERE HAVE NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANT REJECTIONS FROM RESIDENTS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL CHICAGOANS.

IT IS NOT A HUGE ASK.

IT IS A SMALL ONE THAT WILL BE HUGELY IMPACTFUL ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO HAVE.

>> WANT TO GET THIS IN.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE ORDINANCE?

>> WHAT IS NEXT, A VOTE IN CITY HALL.

CALLED YOUR ALDERMAN.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU SHOULD, FOR THE CLIMATE, FOR YOURSELF, FOR SAFETY, FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS, FOR LEGACY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO GET BEHIND.

CALL YOUR ALDERMAN.

ALL YOUR ALDERWOMAN AND LET THEM KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO VOTE FOR.

PLEASE GET ON-LINE AND FOLLOW ELEVATED CHICAGO ON PLATFORMS WE ARE ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, IG AND LEGAL IN GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THE ORDINANCE AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND CAN YOU GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]