>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

Brandis Friedman has the evening off.

Here's what we're looking at.

Air quality alerts are in effect as wildfire smoke clouds, Chicago Sky's what you should know.

Chicago public school officials announced their plans to close the district's massive budget shortfall.

Welcome groups reflect on Larry SNELLINGS leadership of the Chicago Police Department and share what they want to see from the city's next top cop.

It's very significant because the only one.

>> Here in Chicago on the West side.

historic Frank.

Lloyd Wright designed home in Austin back to life.

First off tonight, dangerously bad air ality as wildfire smoke blankets the Chicago area.

>> The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued a red forecast error, pollution action day and extended it through tomorrow night.

The agency says Chicago is air quality has reached very unhealthy levels and urging all Chicagoans to stay indoors.

Joining us to discuss this is Scott Collison, atmospheric scientist at Argonne National Laboratory.

Welcome back to the program.

Thank you, Nick.

So not the most fun circumstances.

You know, Chicago wake up to the city just covered in smoke.

Where is it all coming from?

It's coming from Canada and on the border with Minnesota.

There's a series of wildfires burning through the state of province of Ontario and the mayor and conditions are just right to give us a nortterly wind, which is moving all that wildfire smoke down over a area.

And we mentioned, you know, the various warnings that are going out, just how bad is this air quality?

It's bad.

It's bad as it can get.

The pay is now extended the equality, a lead which I know a cold.

The used to watches and warnings in the language around tornadoes.

That sounds fairly minor.

It's not mine.

And it extended that through tomorrow evening.

This is about as bad as it gets various scales as you go through quality alerts, this is blowing through the highest level which is has a dist and is way beyond Folks should be avoiding any strenuous activity outside.

If they have the privilege to be able to do that, you know, what are the health risks here and who's most vulnerable from those risks, folks with respect treat illnesses and underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure, asthma and so forth.

the air is full of what we call particulate matter PM 2.5, which is the mask all particles but a smaller than 2.5 million of to the reason we use PM 2.5 it's really, really high today.

It is just the right size to get into your lungs and into your bloodstream.

So has, but Showtime effects, including coughing U.S.

hope, but long-term effects, including increased risks of things like cancer.

So, folks, you know, even if they have to maybe spend some time outside, it would say, you know, as little as possible is is the guidance there?

Yeah, it was possible.

And 95 will do a good job.

I know way back to wearing masks and so forth.

Today is the day to skip that that that evening jogging that morning jog tomorrow morning because it will do you more and then good.

And folks should really avoid doing any strenuous exercise outdoors.

Folks who have a conditioning run that fan all night long.

Even if you want to cool down on that final night long that the filtration system in your system will really help reduce those PM 2.5 levels indoors to a more reasonable level.

you know, when can we expect to see some of the smoke clear out to pass that question?

There's actually a lake breeze is propagating across the region right now.

That is setting up a couple of storms around Naperville right now.

Wade is a stone.

The good news is that watch and temporarily reduce that particulate matter.

But the northwesterly winds will come back in tomorrow and making the equality worse.

We'll get another series of storms and a warm front tomorrow.

Winds will switch to the south with that means we'll have the hot, humid day instead of the smoky air.

And, you know, certainly with these, you know, these fires burning, it could take some, you know, some time you know, for those to be contained for those to be out.

So.

>> Potential for for more of this in the future, 100% as the winds turn back to the Northwest.

This is a lodge fire complex that will bring that U.S.

>> So keep an eye on the forecasts.

Keep an eye on whether Gov and you'll be able to see with futurists smoke is focused.

All right.

Well, here's hoping for for clear skies that last.

Scott College, thanks very much.

We appreciate you, Nick, happy to come in and a bit of circumstances in the future looking forward to and we can actually see sky last.

Thank you.

Up next, we unpack how Chicago public schools plans to close its massive deficit.

Stay with us.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexander and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> School's out for summer.

But when students and staff return, they may find it different from when they left yesterday, Chicago Public schools announced layoffs, furlough days and a mid-year spending freeze as part of an almost 10 billion dollar budget proposal.

The plan comes the CPS tries to close at 732 million dollar budget gap just a declining student enrollment.

Our Matt Masterson joins us now with more.

at the budget includes several cuts that are going to affect teachers and other staff.

What CT use reaction to this?

Well, Nick was not great.

Union president Stacy Davis, Gates called his proposal dead on arrival.

The Union decried the hundreds of staff layoffs in the 5 furlough days that are included as part of this proposed spending plan.

>> They say this will have a devastating effect on schools communities across the city.

They've repeatedly called on state officials to come through with funding that they say CPS has told under the state's own evidence based funding formula, they'll continue to make those calls and put pressure on Springfield to try to get that fund to make sure that some of these cuts and again in this proposal can be avoided.

Yeah, they've been ringing that bell for quite a while.

What is Mayor Johnson have to say about the budget?

Mayor Johnson, of course, is a former union organizer and like to see to you, he called this proposal disappointing.

He said balancing the budget on the backs of working class people and the students in the classrooms is not only unhealthy for the school district.

It's also unsustainable.

Moving forward like the union like CPS officials.

He is also calling on Springfield to come through with this extra funding so that changes can be made.

>> Cps is counting on some 200 million dollars in tax increment financing.

Money coming from the city.

>> How reliable is that plan?

Well, that's about.

Twice as much as the district initially was going to assume from the city.

They were initially going to call for 100 million dollars.

So they're doubling that out.

But this still marks a significant decline from what they actually got from the city last year.

Still, this is a risk of the city's not going to announce its TIF surplus until later this fall.

And there could be pushed back from the city council that's going to want to spend the money these dollars in other areas apart from Chicago public school.

So they're banking on this, but it's not 100% going to be there for them.

And if CPS can get that TIF money, do expect laid-off employees could be rehired.

Cps says that they typically re-hire about 75% of those who are laid off anyway.

They said yesterday district officials said that if they do get extra money, the first thing that's going to be back on the table is these furlough days.

They want to cut those out and try to make sure that people are in school on all the days that they're supposed to be.

And before we let you go, we should mention that the district isn't just making cuts.

They're also increasing funding for schools, including special education teachers.

Tell us about that.

So despite all the cuts, despite the layoffs, CPS says that school allocated funding is actually up 143 million dollars in this budget compared to last year.

Much of this is due to special education costs.

The number of special education students in CPS has risen steadily over the years.

And there are the sickest, adding around 950 new special education teachers in classrooms staff as part of this budget.

Again, this is a proposal that school board still has to vote on this, which they're set to do later this month.

All right.

A lot of moving parts.

Matt Masterson, thanks very much.

A stick.

And you can read Matt's full story on our website.

That's all it.

W t Tw dot com slash news.

>> Education reporting on Chicago tonight is brought to you in part by press forward.

Chicago.

>> After nearly 3 years as Chicago's top cop Superintendent Larry Snellings time leading the country's second largest police department is now over.

The South side native is leaving his position with a mostly controversy.

Freeh tenure still his legacy has some mixed reviews.

Well, the city saw historic drop in violent crime last year.

There's still concern over the progress of the consent decree as well as CPS involvement with federal immigration agents.

Joining us to talk more about snellings leadership and to look ahead are John Escalante who spent more than 30 years with the Chicago Police Department and served as interim superintendent from December 2015 to March 2016 Archie's Thomas deputy director of Live Free, Illinois, a nonprofit dedicated to reforming public safety and the criminal justice system.

Don McGill, who represents the 7th police district on the community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and Baltasar and wreak as president of the Little Village Community Council.

Thank you all for being here.

We appreciate your time.

Dan, if I could start with you, please, you know, is that police district councilor you've met with the superintendent several times before to extensively with the department under his leadership.

How would you rate his tenure?

You know what?

I don't think it's my job to rate his tenure.

I think he came into an extremely difficult job.

>> I think we have to give credit where credit is due sickly.

We're seeing kind of like it's the safest period of time in Chicago that we see none recent memory, but also I think other his tenure, the progress of the cause under the consent decree, my opinion, the means of many were slow.

I think we kind of have to weigh those things out.

Rank good and bad.

Yeah.

I want to come back to the consent decree.

you know, John Escalante, what was your take on Superintendent Snellings time?

>> I think superintendents that superintendent we did a very good job.

I when I left the department, he was actually a certain.

So he had a quick rise through the ranks.

After I had left, I knew him didn't know him well.

But Newman as his time as a sergeant.

From his time in the training academy headquarters.

He was always very squared away.

I was very sharp and I during the time that he was a Super 10, I think he did a very good job, difficult position to be but I think he did the best he could.

Well.

to that point, I think a lot of folks, you know, they they know that the superintendent leads the department, but >> maybe don't necessarily know what all that the roles and responsibilities are.

What's what's the day-to-day like for a police superintendent Chicago?

>> So its mix, but the superintendent, obviously he is the face of the apartment.

He's the face and the voice of the department and the superintendent has to rely on that top command staff.

The first deputy and the bureau chiefs to really run the day-to-day parts of the operation of daily operations on the superintendent.

He's out there.

He has to be out in the community has to be meeting with the different community groups being at City Hall meeting with the mayor meeting with politicians going down state down to Springfield, taking those trips when he has to to DC he is the face of apartment who has the final authority on any decision but concerns department.

But he has to rely on first deputy in the bureau chiefs to do the day-to-day stuff.

>> You know, our 2 news, Thomas, you and your colleagues at live free work in collaboration with Chicago police.

You know, a lot community police relations involved there.

Did you see those, you know, and improving under superintendents, knowing what was your take on on his time leading the Absolutely.

So live Free, Illinois.

We are leading the charge.

And when it comes to bell ringing around clearance rates and 2024, we had over 150 community conversations specifically around that.

>> Where we came up with some collective recommendations and with recommendations, we did see some of them come into fruition.

Superintendent Snelling has been in this position to some positive momentum on the priorities organization buffs are Henry cause of what's your take on Superintendent Snellings time leading the department.

>> Are you know, superintendents was very unique.

pair to other superintendents.

But makes is the way that things were done.

He stop investigation of misconduct of police officers continue.

Stopping the community for knowing from getting the truth when it was calm that happen.

So the community also saw that we're wasting millions of dollars when it comes to the misconduct.

Both officers that we as taxpayers have to pay.

So it cost of millions of dollars that we could use CPS that suffering, during Midway Blitz, we saw liberation of CPD working with arms of something that is not problem to not You'll hear in no one.

We interfere or or or MP what we did was alert the community because these individuals were not going after criminals.

They're going after street vendors, landscapers roofers, the father taking his kids to school.

So that's what they were going after innocent people.

And we seen just in the past weeks of the U.S.

estimated people.

So you know what's wrong is wrong.

So when police department is defending wrong, they're on the wrong side of the fence.

They should be with because that's their job to protect the community.

And what we've some seem during weight bench.

And it was very, very confusing to see that they would be even though police report when there was and incident with eyes.

And that's why we couldn't get special prosecutor because there was no reports, though, it so we'll see, be collaborating and or covering up for them.

And was really the reason that we didn't see it in been a great job.

>> And I do want to come back to the issue of immigration enforcement.

But before we get there, you know, John, it's going to win us.

Knowing took over the police department had fully complied with 6% of the consent decree.

That's the federal court order designed to reform the department.

It's now at 25% full compliance review.

The progress that the department's made.

Well, if you remember the Department of Justice actually alive during my time as the interim superintendent and we were letting people know back then that.

>> The agreement that the city would entering with the Department of Justice was not going to happen overnight.

If you look at all the other major cities that have gone through a consent decree, it's 8, 9, 10 year process.

I mean, it's its unfortunate that it takes that long.

But when you look at city of Chicago, the police department, 12,000 sworn officers who work 24 7, 3, 65 trainings.

That may vary from a one-day training to a week or more.

It's hard to stay on track.

It's hard to stay schedule.

It's not that they don't want to.

It is a real challenge to keep on track and so 25%.

I'm not surprise.

That's where the department is right going use to express some frustration at the at the pace of reform.

But >> you know, what's your reaction to that?

That Chicago is is somewhat in line with other cities that have been under a consent decree?

Well, I did.

I know there was a large jump from 7% to 25% we've seen.

But initially we're seeing like a one percent per year progress.

>> That makes no sense to me in community.

talking to community members.

It makes no sense to them.

And we have to remember like the consent decree is the floor.

We're not talking like we're going to be the epitome of the best police department in the in the nation.

This is like the ground floor for how you should be operating.

And so if you're having like 10, 12, 15 years to reach the ground floor like that.

Just seems odd to me.

And I think one of the issues with the process is the transparency of it and the communications like a lot of people don't even know were under consent decree or even what that means.

And that's problematic as well.

Oh, yeah.

Archie's.

I mean, didn't mention sort of that.

The community aspect of this.

How important is the consent decree to?

>> To the folks in the community that you work with.

>> Our communities are very concerned about the progress on the consent decree.

Oftentimes we are hosting listening Sessions town halls teach ins when it comes to police accountability, working clearance rates, right work overall and they asked, well, what's up with that?

Where at with that?

How do we know when we're when we've won?

And so there are tons of conversation where folks are wondering what's going on live Free.

Illinois has our clearance rates.

Strategy team has worked alongside are with impact for equity.

Who is helping committee members make sure that their understanding with the consent decree means what how it impacts to communities as well.

>> certainly cause you mentioned, you know, the disagreements that you had with the department during that the midway blitz, immigration enforcement, you know, some advocates say that in immigration arrests are up again in the Chicago area.

You know, briefly, what you hope to see from CPD under the interim Superintendent Waller in and the next permanent superintendent.

>> What we look like to see the police department to because there's no relationship between the community and the police department at all.

And we've seen here in a little village, people are not calling 9-1-1 anymore because they're afraid that if they do call it, they might get arrested, miedo or even rate.

We saw 2 of serving a bad day and he got killed So what we would love to see.

Also it.

>> There is immigration raids and they see, you know, ages.

Killing people, if they are killing people.

Not because Perry R danger because they're just trigger happy.

So we have seen that happened many times in a lot of agents are proud boys, races, individuals that are now part of >> ICE.

we have also seen that they're within the CBD and we to investigate those individuals.

If they're still part of CVB.

So we would love to see more transparency.

And I would love to see also a superintendent.

They couldn't walk the streets coach of the neighborhoods that right.

Alright, prime what we've built a re a ship between the police department and the community where we can say I can trust calling 9-1-1 because meant a great neighborhood of comfort.

They build it.

>> like the Vizio program, which is a great program that we have here.

We should see that the SEAL program bureau because they're more about community.

They don't come in full uniform.

And, you know, it's easy to talk to the seal because >> they're more community-based initial program.

The UIC started and stood front the oceans program, rubble.

>> A different relationship.

before we run out of time.

You know, Dan Magill, the you know, has has a role you know, coming up with with candidates for the mayor to choose from.

What are you hoping to see from the city's next superintendent?

>> that's easy.

I want to see someone who has or open door policy specifics specifically with the district councils.

I know going to had a great relationship to Ccps 8, but with the other like hyper local district councils, I had you know, 3 for conversations with him over the past 3 years about to see more of that.

I would like to see a superintendent who is excited finding U.S.

100% and the consent decree compliance and also someone who has a better relationship with Copa.

Then what I felt Superintendent just briefly about 15 seconds.

John is going to.

>> I it's gonna be interesting to see who applies their strong internal candidates.

It's going to be interesting to see who applies externally.

I am concerned right before the election that may impact people's minds about whether they want to apply for a job that they might get in a few months after they get into the position.

The next mayor says, I want my OK, I Thomas.

Just a few words on this play.

last thoughts I think we're looking for someone with accessible were also wanting someone who knows that we can not only police our way out of this issue.

How do we work alongside city agencies, community organizations?

>> And make sure that everyone at the table can be heard when it comes to everyone's public safety.

All right.

We appreciate your time.

But that's all the time that we have for this our tummies Thomas Dion McGill and Baltasar Henry Cause.

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we should know we have an invitation out to former Superintendent Larry Snelling and open invitation to join us on this program.

Up next, a tour inside a west side jam.

>> W t Tw News coverage of policing and police reform is supported by the Joyce Foundation.

>> You may not know it, but there's a frank Lloyd Wright designed home tucked away on Chicago's West side now a local organization is working to bring the 120 year-old city landmark back to life.

Join Hernandez takes us inside the historic walls or house to hear about its next chapter.

>> On Central Avenue sits a home that if its walls could talk would have more than a century of stories to tell.

>> Just behind us is the JJ will also house.

This is house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the world famous architect.

It's one of 5 surviving stand-alone Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the city of Chicago.

>> It was built in 19.

0, 3 and showcases Wright's prairie style design featuring a low pitched roof.

Overhanging eaves and an open floor plan.

>> This is like one of his first representation like the Prairie style.

This open concept that you see here where you literally have the separate spaces, but you can stand from one end of the home and just see through, you know, the living room, dining room all the way to the backyard.

And, you know, it's just really couldn't for the time.

But more than 120 years later, time is taking its toll.

>> After years of uncertainty following the death of its longtime owner, the organization Austin, coming together recently purchased the city landmark.

>> Back in the 70's, they were believe one of the 4 four-fifths toward of the home.

>> they had the home from the 1970's all the way up until it transferring over to us.

Ford are now shield.

The home isn't just about saving architecture.

>> It's about investing in the community.

He grew up in.

It's not just about restoring the asset, right?

It's.

>> How's this acid actually going to work for the folks that live here?

How's it point to create some betterment that they can be proud of?

>> Walking through the home.

It's easy to imagine what it once This seems that some of same year probably breakfast.

Yeah, this it.

And when this was first designed this area was actually opened patio.

So it wasn't original design.

This is actually addition.

Despite years of wear and tear nearly everywhere, you look pieces of Wright's original vision remain.

>> Coming into this home and seeing this fireplace and harder still intact with the original bricks.

These breaks a very difficult to find a made in the 1900's.

>> The road map to revitalize this home is going to take time.

Shield says the organization's first priority is to stabilize the property before winter.

>> It's gonna take tremendous amount of fundraising effort to be able to bring this project.

>> You know, full realization.

>> The restoration won't come cheap shield estimates.

It will take close to 3 million dollars in fundraising to restore it.

>> It can actually serve a purpose community as a center.

What we can gather, we can take part in different types of events or forums or educational seminars and things like that.

>> Working on a project of this scale isn't new for shields.

He was one of many who worked on turning the shuttered school across the street into the Spire Center in Austin with community programs and resources for its residents.

He hopes this home can become another source of pride for the neighborhood.

>> I want them to feel the beauty of something majestic that is And that is here for them to experience and take part in and that they can brag about like, hey, that's in my neighborhood.

I live on that clock.

We have a frank Lloyd Wright.

People come from all over the world to see something in my community.

>> For Chicago join of non this.

And also coming together has a campaign to support the project to learn more about it.

You can head to our Web site.

>> Back to wrap things up right after this.

>> Reflecting the people and perspectives that make a buck This story is part of Chicago tonight.

Black Voice.

>> And that's our show for this Thursday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5.37, for the week in review.

Now for all of us here in Chicago tonight, I'm Nick Lumber.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford a personal injury law firm, working to