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

I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

PARIS SCHUTZ AND BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAVE THE EVENING OFF.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> AND I THINK WITH LIKE THE VACCINE CARDS AND GETTING THE TEST BEFORE IT SHOULD BE SAFE.

>> AMID RISING COVID CASES, LOLLAPALOOZA IS BACK.

WE TALK WITH MUSIC FANS AND ARTISTS ABOUT THE EVENT'S CONTROVERSIAL RETURN.

>> A GLOBAL SHORTAGE OF COMPUTER CHIPS IS DRIVING UP THE PRICE OF CARS AND COULD HIT SMARTPHONES AND OTHER DEVICES.

>> SAVING CHICAGO'S TREES.

WE HEAR HOW A NEWLY CREATED ADVISORY BOARD COULD HELP RESTORE THE CITY'S URBAN CANOPY.

GEOFFREY BAER ON THE STATUS OF THE CZECH RESTAURANT IN CICERO IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> THE DETAILS WE HAVE SOFT FABRICS.

>> A LOCAL DESIGNER INSPIRED BY HER DAUGHTER'S SENSORY DISORDERS CREATES A SPECIAL CLOTHING BRAND.

>> THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

>> AND RON POPEIL, THE INVENTOR AND TV PITCHMAN BEHIND THE POCKET DIES AT 86.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> COOK COUNTY IS NOW SEEING SUBSTANTIAL SPREAD OF COVID-19 THAT WAS THE WORD FROM THE CDC THIS AFTERNOON WHICH NOW RECOMMENDS EVERYONE IN COOK COUNTY WEAR MASKS INDOORS.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

OTHER CHICAGO AREA COUNTIES UNDER THAT WARNING ARE DUPAGE, McRENRY.

EVERYONE MUST WEAR FACE COVERINGS IN STATE FACILITIES REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.

AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED THE BILL CREATING AN ELECTED BOARD TO OVERSEE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IT WILL CREASE THE SEVEN MEMBER BODY TO A 21-MEMBER ELECTED BOARD OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THE MEASURE PASSED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WHO PUSHED FOR A HYBRID MODEL.

IN A STATEMENT THE GOVERNOR SAID QUOTE... >> THE CITY SLAPS TWO COMPANIES WITH NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS IN BACK PAY AND FINES FOR VIOLATING CHICAGO'S SICK LEAVE LAW.

CITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL WHICH MAKES OREO COOKIES AND RITZ CRACK CUSTOMERS WILL PAY $475,000 IN RESTITUTION TO EMPLOYEES PLUS $95,000 FINE.

TRI CITY FOODS WILL PAY 460,000 IN RESTITUTION AND A $100,000 FINE.

THAT COMPANY IS ALSO INVOLVED IN ALDERMAN ED BURKE'S CORRUPTION SCANDAL.

WE HAVE MORE ABOUT THAT ANGLE AND THE REST OF THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER SIGNS LEGISLATION AIMED AT BOOSTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS ILLINOIS.

THE LAW DIRECTION FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDING TOWARD BUILDING AND REHABING AS MANY AS 3500 AFFORDABLE UNITS AND CREATES TAX CREDITS AND INCENTIVES AIMED AT PRESERVING AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS AND HOMES.

>> TOGETHER, THESE ARE CRITICAL TOOLS NOT ONLY TO ADDRESS THE NEED OF MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALSO TO ADDRESS MANY OF ITS ROOT CAUSES.

HOMELESSNESS, SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS COMMUNITY, SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS, AND OTHERS WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.

>> LOLLAPALOOZA KICKS OFF TODAY AFTER SKIPPING CELEBRATIONS LAST YEAR.

THE FOUR-DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL TAKING PLACE IN GRANT PARK IS EXPECTED TO DRAW MORE THAN 100,000 PER DAY AND IT RETURNS DESPITE RISING COVID CASES.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU SPENT THE DAY THERE AND GIVES US A LOOK INSIDE.

[♪♪♪] >> AS YOU CAN SEE LOLLAPALOOZA IS IN FULL FORCE IN GRANT PARK AND DESPITE COVID NUMBERS ON THE RISE ATTENDEES SAY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE RISKS.

>> COMING TO A MUSIC FESTIVAL EVERYONE WHO CAME KNEW THE RISK AND KNOWS WHAT THEIR SITUATION IS AND WHEN THEY GO HOME TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

WHEN YOU GET HOME MONITOR YOURSELF AND IT'S UP TO THE COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY.

UP TO THEIR ONOING WHEN THEY GO HOME THEY NEED TO DO TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

IT'S ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE.

>> THEY ARE REQUIRED TO SHOW VACCINATION CARDS OR A NEGATIVE COVID TEST AND IN RETURN RECEIVE A WRISTBAND.

>> THANK YOU TO PRITZKER FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

I KNOW ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE DELTA STRAIN RISING I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT IT REALLY MEANS A LOT AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN AND IT'S GREAT TO GET A SENSE OF NORMALCY AGAIN.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME I'VE ALREADY HAD IT AND IT'S RARE FOR ME TO GET IT AGAIN.

I'M NOT SAYING I CAN'T GET IT.

BEING VACCINATED MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> WHO ARE YOU HERE TO SEE?

ANY CHICAGO ARTISTS.

MILEY CYRUS!

>> AS FOR THE ARTISTS PERFORMING THEY ARE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THE ENERGY OF A LIVE AUDIENCE AGAIN.

>> WE ARE EQUALLY EXCITED AS WE ARE YOU KNOW, EQUALLY CON YENIOUS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE WORLD AS FAR AS COVID GOES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD LIVE WITH OURSELVES IF YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T COME BACK TO PLAYING LIVE MUSIC.

I FEEL LIKE MUSIC IS SOMETHING OF A CONNECTOR SOMETHING OF A GLUE AS FAR AS CULTURES.

YEAH, THIS MUST BE.

SO I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT OF WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE.

>> I LOVE LOLLAPALOOZA.

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

>> MUSIC IS A GLUE.

MORE FROM LOLLAPALOOZA LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE GLOBAL CHIP SHORTAGE THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> ONE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN THE DISRUPTION OF GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS AND MANUFACTURING.

MANUFACTURERS OF COMPUTER CHIPS IN ASIA HAVE BEEN HARD HIT AND COMPANIES ARE FEELING THE PINCH.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT U.S. AUTOMAKERS ALONE WILL MAKE ONE MILLION FEWER CARS THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO SOURCE THE COMPUTER CHIPS THEY NEED AND THAT HAS DRIVEN UP PRICES OF USED CARS AND OTHERS ARE STARTING TO BE IMPACTED WITH APPLE SAYING THE CHIP SHORTAGE COULD AFFECT iPHONE PRODUCTION.

JOINING US TO GIVE US THEIR TAKE WHEN THE SHORTAGES MIGHT END ARE SEDA MEMIK PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

AND ROBERT SLOAN HEAD OF THE COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO.

WE WELCOME EACH OF YOU AND SEDA MEMIK, COULD YOU GIVE US THE MAIN REASONS FOR THIS SHORTAGE WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW?

IS THE ENTIRE DISRUPTION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC?

>> TO A LARGE EXTENT.

AND A FEW THINGS COINCIDED DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE WAS ALREADY AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, INTERNET BASED AND CLOUD BASED SERVICES WHICH RELY ON ELECTRONICS.

HOWEVER WITH THE PANDEMIC THE WAY WE WORK, THE WAY EDUCATION HAS BEEN RUNNING, EVERYTHING GOT CHANGED SO QUICKLY AND WE HAVE STARTED RELYING MORE AND MORE ON THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES TO WORK AT HOME, TO REMOTE LEARNING AND FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

AND THAT HAS DRIVEN SKYROCKETING DEMAND ON ELECTRONICS.

AT THE SAME TIME SOME INDUSTRIES THE AUTO INDUSTRY, HAS TRIED TO BRACE ITSELF FOR CLOSURE OF PLANTS, REDUCTION IN DEMAND BY REDUCING THEIR PRODUCTION.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY HAVE REDUCED THEIR DEMAND FROM THE CHIP MANUFACTURERS.

YES, AT THE SAME TIME, OTHER PRODUCTS PRODUCER ELECTRONICS PRODUCERS MOVED IN AND SCOOPED THAT SLACK AND THAT RESERVE PRODUCTION FROM THE CHIP MANUFACTURERS.

ALL IN ALL THIS HAS CREATED A SIGNIFICANT MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN WHAT THE CHIP MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATING RESOURCES FOR AND WHAT ELECTRONIC PRODUCERS OR PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A PARTICULAR DEBITOR OF THIS WHEN IT COMES TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND AT THE SAME TIME NOT THE OTHERS AND YET THIS DISRUPTION IS MORE WIDESPREAD.

WE NOTED APPLE.

ROBERT SLOAN CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW BROADLY IS THIS BEING FELT AND WHAT INDUSTRIES ARE IMPACTED AT THIS POINT?

>> AT THIS VERY MOMENT THE WORST PROBLEMS ARE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY IN SOME WAYS BROUGHT ON BY THEMSELVES AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THEY SLASHED ORDERS FOR CHIPS SO THEY GET REARRANGED.

BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS RIGHT ON THE CUSP AND ANY GIVEN MONTH, PHONES, LAPTOPS AND PRINTERS.

THE ONE THING THAT IS IN SHORT SUPPLY BESIDES AUTOS ARE GAMING CONSOLES.

IF YOUR TEENAGER WANTS AN XBOX THEY WILL HAVE TO WAIT A WHILE.

>> MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY DEVASTATING IMPACTS UNLESS YOU ARE 12 OR 13 AND REALLY BORED AND WANTING TO PLAY.

>> OR NEED A CAR OR IN ANOTHER FEW MONTHS ANY ELECTRONIC GADGET THERE ARE GOOD CHANCES THIS WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

>> YIKES.

ONE OF THOSE THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL LIKE I'M WITHOUT A LIMB IF I DON'T HAVE MY PHONE ALONGSIDE ME AND APPLE'S SHARE PRICE TAKING A HIT OVER FEARS THE CHIP SHORTAGE IS GOING TO HIT THEM AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS OF OUR DEVICES.

SO WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH US ABOUT THAT DATA?

KEEP THOSE CURRENT PHONES RUNNING AS LONG AS POSSIBLE?

>> THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION FOR SURE.

AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR APPLIANCES I MIGHT ADD.

APPLIANCES WILL BE ANOTHER SECTOR OF PRODUCTS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A SEVERE HIT.

DUE TO SUCH SHORTAGES.

>> WHAT SORT OF APPLIANCES?

>> TELEVISION SETS, WASHERS, DRYERS, EVERYTHING IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS ANY TYPE OF INTELLIGENCE IN IT.

AS WELL AS MEDIUM TO SMALL SCALE MANUFACTURERS OF PERSONAL LAPTOP COMPUTERS AND PC DESKTOP PC'S.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN, ROBERT, MORE ABOUT WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MAYBE AUTO MANUFACTURERS MADE A BAD BET WHEN THEY SCALED BACK THE CHIPS THEY WERE ORDERING.

WHY IS THIS NOW HITTING OTHER SECTORS?

AND AT THIS POINT?

WHY IS THIS SO PROLONGED?

>> BECAUSE CHIPS ARE A VERY SLOW-MOVING BUSINESS.

I'VE SEEN ESTIMATES THAT COST 10 BILLION WITH A B DOLLARS TO STAND UP A NEW CHIP MANUFACTURING PLANT.

SO IT'S NOT THAT IF THERE IS A SURGE IN DEMAND TODAY THAT NEXT MONTH OR SIX MONTHS FROM NOW THERE'S A RESPONSIVE SURGE IN SUPPLY.

THERE IS A VERY BIG TIME LAG IN CHIPS BECAUSE OF THE COST AND DIFFICULTY OF ESTABLISHING MANUFACTURING PLANTS.

>> ROBERT, PRESUMABLY WE ARE SEEING MANUFACTURING THE PLACES THAT MAKE THESE CHIPS THEY ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING PRODUCTION OR TRYING IS THAT HAPPENING?

>> YES.

BUT THE COMING BACK ON-LINE IS SLOW AND FOR SPECIFICALLY THE AUTO INDUSTRY HAS SAID SOME OF THE ORDERS THEY GAVE UP OTHER INDUSTRY PLAYERS CAPTURED AND AREN'T AVAILABLE TO THE CARMAKERS RIGHT NOW.

>> DRIVING UP THE PRICE FOR NEW CARS AND ALSO THEN PRESSURE DRIVING UP THE PRICE FOR USED CARS AS WELL.

RENTAL CARS EVERYWHERE.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO FORCE COMPANIES TO RETHINK THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS IN THE FUTURE?

>> A COUPLE THINGS: ONE IS INCREASE -- A LOT OF COMPANIES THEY WILL BE MORE WILLING TO LOBBY ENHANCED AND INCREASED PRODUCTION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

AND MORE LARGER INVESTMENTS INTO ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION PLANTS.

EVERYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD.

THAT'S ONE ASPECT.

AND ANOTHER ASPECT IS MORE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT SECTORS.

EARLIER THE AUTO INDUSTRY WASN'T REALLY COORDINATING AND WATCHING AND TALKING TO OTHER SECTORS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT OR PLAN AHEAD IN TERMS OF HOW TO FORECAST THINGS.

THAT COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED AND PROBABLY THEY WILL BE WORKING MORE ON THAT.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO COMMUNICATION.

THANK YOU FOR COMMUNICATING TO OUR AUDIENCE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.

OUR THANKS TO SEDA MEMIK AND ROBERT SLOAN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" PRODUCER MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY NEAR LOLLAPALOOZA.

SHE SPOKE WITH KIANA DISTASI FROM THE CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE AND BEGAN BY ASKING HER HOW BUSINESSES IN THE LOOP HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN TOUGH ON EVERYONE BUT FOLKS IN THE LOOP, YOU KNOW, THE LOOP IS A LARGE MAJORITY WORKER POPULATION WHEN PEOPLE WERE NOT WORKING IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME GETTING PEOPLE BACK AND PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO THE OFFICE AND DOWNTOWN.

SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR THAT TO KEEP ACCELERATING.

>> HOW ARE BUSINESSES FAIRING SINCE THE REOPENING?

ARE YOU SEEING TYPICAL LEVELS?

>> WE ARE NOT QUITE AT TYPICAL LEVELS BUT IT'S BUILDING MORE AND MORE AND SOME FOLKS ARE DOING GREAT AND GETTING CLOSER TO CAPACITY BUT THERE'S ROOM TO GO.

>> AND WE'RE HEAR FOR LOLLAPALOOZA.

AND WHAT IMPACT DOES THE FESTIVAL HAVE ON BUSINESSES IN THE AREA?

AND IS IT A WELCOME BOOST AFTER THE YEAR IT'S BEEN?

>> LOLLAPALOOZA HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN ONE OF THE HIGHEST WEEKS AND WEEKENDS FOR PEDESTRIANS SPECIFICALLY IN THE LOOP AND ON STATE STREET.

EVERY YEAR 2019 FOR EXAMPLE, WE SAW THE HIGHEST PEDESTRIAN NUMBERS ON STATE STREET FOR THE YEAR DURING THE WEEK OF LOLLAPALOOZA UP 7% FROM THE WEEK PREVIOUSLY DURING 2019 AND WE EXPECT THAT BUMP IN TERMS OF PEDESTRIANS.

>> AND WITH THE FESTIVAL THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, THE DELTA VARIANT.

ARE BUSINESS OWNERS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE RISING COVID CASES COULD MEAN FOR BUSINESSES?

>> I THINK FOLKS ARE LEAVING UP TO THE PEOPLE THROWING THE EVENT AND OUR CITY OFFICIALS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.

AND IN TERMS OF BUSINESS OWNERS FOLKS ARE EXCITED TO HAVE PEOPLE BACK IN THE LOOP AND SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE LOOP SOME IN MONTHS.

MAYBE A YEAR.

AND WAYS THAT THEY NORMALLY WOULD.

THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE CITY AND REMEMBER WHAT THEY MISSED ABOUT IT.

>> ANOTHER EVENT DOWNTOWN SUNDAYS ON STATE.

A NEW PROGRAM THE ALLIANCE STARTED WHAT CAN YOU TELL BUS THAT EVENT AND HOW IT'S BEEN GOING?

>> SUNDAYS ON STATE HAS BEEN GOING WELL.

THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE OF LOLLAPALOOZA WE ARE NOT HAVING SUNDAYS ON STATE.

AUGUST 8 AND WE ARE NOT HAVING ONE AUGUST 15TH AND AFTER THAT WE WILL BE HAVING THEM THROUGH SEPTEMBER 12.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK DOWN IN THE LOOP AND EXPERIENCE THE CITY YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.

THERE'S ARTS AND CULTURE, LOCAL ATTRACTIONS, RETAIL, ACTIVE RECREATION AND PEOPLE DOING CRAZY STUFF ON THE STREET.

IT IS A GOOD TIME TO EXPERIENCE THE CITY.

>> AND WE TALKED ABOUT SORT OF HAVING FEWER PEOPLE WORKING DOWNTOWN AND THE IMPACT ON BUSINESSES.

ARE THERE CONCERNS WHERE OWNERS ARE THINKING WAYS THEY MIGHT HAVE TO PIVOT WITH COMPANIES GOING HYBRID OR STAYING REMOTE?

>> I THINK FOLKS AFTER THE YEAR WE'VE HAD ARE READY FOR ANYTHING AND PEOPLE ARE REBUILDING IN TERMS OF BUSINESSES HOW THEY NEED TO CHANGE THINGS AND HOW PEOPLE ARE IN THE OFFICE IS CHANGING.

THE LOOP AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT BUSINESS DISTRICTS IN THE WORLD AND WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE PIVOTS NECESSARY TO KEEP IT THAT VIBRANT PLACE.

>> AND LATER IN THE PROGRAM, MARISSA WILL HAVE MORE ON LOLLAPALOOZA INCLUDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MUSIC FESTIVAL AND CHICAGO'S INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES.

>> FORMER REAL ESTATE AGENT DINA LEWIS MOVED FROM NEW YORK CITY TO CHICAGO IN 2018.

SOON AFTER, SHE DECIDED TO PURSUE A PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVOR THAT WAS PERSONAL TO HER.

DESIGNING CLOTHING FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL SENSORY NEEDS.

EVAN GARCIA VISITED THE DESIGN STUDIO OF MINOR DETAILS CLOTHING BRAND TO LEARN MORE.

>> NINE-YEAR-OLD HANNAH LEWIS LIVES WITH SENSORY PROCESS DISORDER THAT CAN AFFECT HOW YOU FEEL THROUGH TOUCH, SIGHT AND SOUND.

HANNAH'S MOM, DINA LEWIS NOTICED CHANGES AROUND AGE 3.

>> SHE COULDN'T HANDLE LOUD SOUNDS AND BRIGHT LIGHTS AND CLOTHING BECAME A CHALLENGE.

TO SAY THE LEAST.

WE HAD MELTDOWNS EVERY MORNING.

TRANSITIONING INTO ANY SEASON THAT INVOLVED SLEEVES BECAME AGONIZING AND I REALIZED SHE DID NOT LIKE THE FEELING OF CLOTHING AGAINST HER SKIN.

>> WHILE LOOKING FOR CLOTHING TO FIT HANNAH'S NEEDS DINA DID NOT FIND ANYTHING INSPIRING.

>> THE OPTIONS WERE HORRIFIC.

A LOCAL OF SOLIDS AND BASIC.

AS SHE GOT OLDER I WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING MORE FUN AND STYLISH THAT SHE WOULD WANT TO WEAR.

>> IN 2019, WITH THE HELP OF DESIGNER LAUREN MARK, DINA LEWIS LAUNCHED MINOR DETAILS A LINE OF CLOTHING DESIGNED TO GIVE COMFORT TO KIDS WITH SENSORY NEEDS.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE SENSORY PROCESSING ISSUES SOME KIDS WANT MORE THEY WANT TO FEEL THINGS MORE.

THEY WANT TIGHTER CLOTHES AND FEEL LIKE A HUG.

AND OTHER KIDS WANT LESS INPUT.

THEY WANT CLOTHES THAT DON'T TOUCH THEIR SKIN.

WE HAVE CREATED THESE WHICH IS A BERMUDA SHORT.

DROP CROTCH, VERY, VERY SOFT FABRICS.

WE DID OUR ZOOMS SO THEY ARE -- SEAMS, SO THEY ARE LOW IMPACT AGAINST THE SKIN.

WE DID NOT DO ANY TAGS ON THE CLOTHING.

>> LIKE SOME ADULTS THAT FIND WEIGHTED BLANKETS THERAPEUTIC THIS IS DESIGNED FOR WEIGHTS.

>> WHEN YOU OPEN IT, YOU HAVE YOU FIND SMALL POCKETS THROUGHOUT THE JACKET THESE CAN ACCOMMODATE WEIGHTS.

THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE RAISINS FOR KIDS THAT DON'T.

>> AT THE DELICIOUS DESIGN LEAGUE WHERE KIDS MAKE GRAPHICS FOR MINOR DETAILS HANNAH PROMOTES HER MOTHER'S BRAND.

>> WHAT I LIKE IS HOW COMFORTABLE THEY ARE AND HOW IT'S SOFT AND IT SOLVES MY DISORDER.

>> KAREN DIFFER SAYS FOR SOME CHILDREN COMFORTABLE CLOTHING CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> SO MANY OF THE KIDS THAT I WORK WITH IN MY PRACTICE ARE JUST REALLY SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN IS THEY HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME JUST BEING HAPPY, FUNCTIONAL KIDS WHEN THEIR CLOTHES FOOL TOO SCRATCHY OR ITCHY 0.

>> FOR NOW PEOPLE CAN FINE MINOR DETAILS ON-LINE AND DINA PLANS TO MAKE HER CLOTHING MORE INCLUSIVE.

FOR CHILDREN WITH BRACES OR PORTS THEY NEED TO ACCOMMODATE TO BRING THE CLOTHING TO A POINT WHERE IT CAN SERVE AS MANY KIDS AS NEEDED.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M EVAN GARCIA.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERING OPINIONS ON SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER WITHIN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

SOME DOCTORS BELIEVE IT IS A STAND ALONE CONDITION AND OTHERS THINK IT IS A SYMPTOM OF DISORDERS LIKE AUTISM AND SOME BELIEVE CERTAIN CHILDREN ARE SENSITIVE TO STIMULI.

AND IT HAS AN ADULT LINE.

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" SAVING CHICAGO'S TREES.

WE HEAR HOW A NEWLY CREATED ADVISORY BOARD COULD HELP RESTORE THE URBAN CANOPY.

>> WE GO BACK TO LOLLAPALOOZA TO HEAR ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FESTIVAL AND THE CITY'S INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES.

>> GEOFFREY BAER ON THE PAST, PRESENT AND POTENTIAL FUTURE OF CICERO'S KLAS RESTAURANT.

AND INVENTOR RON POPEIL DIES AT 86 WE DIP INTO THE ARCHIVES BEHIND THE MAN.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... FIRST.

>> A MAN FACING MURDER CHARGES IN A SHOOTING DURING A PUERTO RICAN DAY CELEBRATION HAS BEEN EXTRADITED TO CHICAGO.

CHICAGO POLICE SAY 34-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY LORENZI WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AT O'HARE TUESDAY NIGHT AFTER BEING EXTRADITED FROM SAN DIEGO.

HE IS CHARGED IN THE MURDER OF ARZUAGA PEREZ -- GENNADI GORDEJEV WHOSE GIRLFRIEND ARZUAGA PEREZ WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

HE IS EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN BOND COURT TOMORROW.

>> IF YOU ARE ALONG THE LAKEFRONT TODAY OR TOMORROW WATCH OUT FOR DANGEROUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS THE WORD FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WHICH ISSUED A BEACH HAZARD STATEMENT FOR CHICAGOLAND.

THE WEATHER AGENCY WARNS OF FOUR TO SEVEN FOOT WAVES AND STRONG CURRENTS UNTIL 7:00 P.M.

TOMORROW.

>> SOME OF CHICAGO'S MOST FAMOUS OFFSPRING ARE ABOUT TO BE KNOWN BY NAME.

TWO OF THE PIPING PLOVER CHICKS HATCHED BY THE PARENTS, MONTY AND ROSE, ARE SET TO HAVE THEIR NAMES REVEALED IN A LIVE STREAMED CEREMONY TOMORROW AT 5:00 P.M.

THE CHICAGO PIPING PLOVERS TEAM THAT WATCHES OUT FOR THE BIRDS TOOK SUGGESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC TO NAME THE LITTLE ONES ASKING FOR MONIKERS THAT REFLECTS THE CHICAGO'S CULTURE, DIVERSITY AND HISTORY.

WE HAVE A LINK TO THE REVEAL ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> UP NEXT, DETAILS INTO A NEW ADVISORY BOARD WORKING TO SAVE CHICAGO'S TREES.

STAY WITH US.

>> CHICAGO HAS BEEN LOSING AN ALLY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING: TREES.

THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE AN URBAN FORESTRY ADVISORY BOARD CHARGED WITH STRATEGICALLY CARING FOR CHICAGO'S URBAN ANNE CANOPY.

ADVOCATES ARE CALLING IT A BIG WIN FOR THE CITY'S TREES.

AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE STATE ARE DANIELLA PEREIRA, SHE IS VICE-PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AT OPEN LANDS.

AND RAED MANSOUR.

WE APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU JOINING US.

DANIELLA PEREIRA LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHY DOES CHICAGO NEED AN ADVISORY BOARD OVERSEEING THE CITY'S TREE POPULATION?

>> YOU KNOW, THE FORMATION OF THIS BOARD IS REALLY CRUCIAL STEP IN MANAGING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR TOO MANY BENEFITS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM TREES.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT OVER THE LAST DECADE WE HAVE REDUCED THAT FROM 19% TO 16% TREE CANOPY.

AND WE'RE MORE ALIGNED WITH A DESERT CITY THAN WE ARE WITH A GRASS LAND CITY WHICH SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM CANOPY OF 20%.

EMPOWERING THE BOARD TO TAKE IMPORTANT COMMUNITY POLICY DECISIONS YOU KNOW, UTILIZING THE CITIZEN ADVISERS, FORESTRY EXPERTS AND ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS FROM THE CITY AGENCIES.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT POLICY SOLUTIONS, POTENTIAL WORK ON BEST PRACTICES WORKING TOGETHER AND THEN PERHAPS EVEN LOOKING FOR NEW AND DIVERSE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THEIR AGENCIES AND WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> AGENCIES ALSO IN THE COUNTY, SO RAED MANSOUR, WHAT ROLE DO YOU ENVISION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH?

>> WELL, WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE NEW BOARD AND WE WANT TO BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST IN ANYWAY THAT ACCOMPLISHES THEIR MISSION.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE BROUGHT INTO THE CONVERSATION WITH OPEN LANDS WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND THE CHICAGO REGION TREES INITIATIVE IS HOW DO YOU BRING IN PUBLIC HEALTH INTO THE TREE EQUITY WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN LONG DOING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO THERE IS A NATURAL INTERSECTION BETWEEN HEALTH EQUITY AND TREE EQUITY AND THAT IS WHERE WE STARTED OUR CONVERSATION.

AND IT DEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING GREAT RELATIONSHIPS IN HOW WE CAN BETTER ADDRESS TREE EQUITY USING A PUBLIC HELENS.

>> AND WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT IN A BIT.

FIRST, I WANT TO GET INTO WHY WE ARE FOCUSING ON THIS.

CHICAGO IS DOWN TO 16% I BELIEVE THAT ACCORDING TO A SURVEY, IT SHOULD BE 20%.

HOW LONG MIGHT IT TAKE FOR CHICAGO TO GET THERE?

CAN YOU IN GENERAL, DANIELLA PEREIRA, DESCRIBE TO US THE STATE OF TREES IN CHICAGO?

WE KNOW WE'VE LOST A LOT TO WHAT?

EMERALD ASH BORE BORE.

>> RIGHT NOW, THERE'S LIMITED PROTECTION FOR TREES IN GENERAL.

SO EVEN HEALTHY TREES CAN BE REMOVED IF SAY THAT YOU HAVE A WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT OR EVEN WITH LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT.

ALDERMEN HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE DOWN ANY TREE THAT THEY WANT FOR ANY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

AND OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE FOUND MORE THAN 10,000 TREES PER YEAR ARE REMOVED AND THIS IS LIKE A NET NUMBER ARE REMOVED FROM OUR STREETS.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PARKS, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SCHOOL GROUNDS AND PRIVATE PROPERTY.

AND IT'S HARD TO ENVISION WHAT 10,000 STREET TREES LOOK LIKE BUT TO GIVE YOU A QUICK IDEA IF YOU HAVE ABOUT 15 TREES ON A REGISTRY BLOCK YOU WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE ALL THE TREES FROM HOWARD STREET IN UP NORTH IN ROGERS PARK IMAGINE WESTERN COMING DOWN WESTERN ALL THE WAY TO 95TH STREET IN BEVERLY.

AND THEN COMING UP ANOTHER 20 MILES AGAIN TO THE NORTH SIDE.

THAT IS 40 LINEAR MILES OF STREET TREES THAT COME OUT EVERY YEAR IN CHICAGO.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE AMENDS ON WE'RE NOT PLANTING THAT MANY TREES HOW DO WE GET TO A POSITIVE NUMBER IN MAKING SURE WE ARE CARING FOR THE TREES IN THE LONG-TERM.

>> THAT IS QUITE A LARGE SWATH.

AND WE'RE SEEING THIS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY THAN OTHERS.

YOU HAVE DONE RESEARCH INTO TREE EQUITY WHAT ARE YOUR FINDINGS?

>> IT DEPENDS ON LOCATION.

AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IT CITYWIDE AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IT WITHIN THE CENSUS TRACKS AND DRILLING DOWN TO THAT LEVEL NOT ZIP CODE OR COMMUNITY AREA AND IT DEPENDS ON THE DATA YOU USE.

AACQUIRING THE TREE DATA THE CRTI'S LIGHT OUR TREE CENSUS DATA AND ADDING IT TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES WE STARTED SEEING CORRELATIONS DEPENDING ON HOW YOU WEIGH EACH ONE.

AND WE FOUND THE STRONGEST CORRELATIONS WITH ASTHMA, WITH SOCIAL VULNERABILITY, WITH ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, WITH TRAFFIC, WITH PARTICULATE MATTER, WITH SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND FLOODING.

WHEN YOU TAKE ALL THESE TOGETHER NOW YOU CAN START GETTING A PICTURE HOW WE CAN BETTER ACHIEVE TREE EQUITY AND HEALTH EQUITY TOGETHER WHEN WE MIX THE VARIABLES INTO ONE PLATFORM.

THESE DATA ARE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY.

BUT IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

SOME ARE IN THE CHICAGO HEALTH SOME ARE WITH NASA.

I THINK IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING IT ALTOGETHER ON ONE PLATFORM.

>> TREES ARE DOING SO MUCH.

ABSORBING POLLUTANTS AND PROVIDING SHADE.

DANIELLA CAN YOU GIVE AN ENVISION WHAT THIS BOARD WILL DO?

ARE THERE PARTICULAR POLICIES YOU EXPECT TO RECOMMEND FOR EXAMPLE, REQUIREMENT FOR DEVELOPERS ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES?

>> WELL, COMING TO A POINT ON VALUATION OF TREES THAT HAVE TO BE REMOVED DURING DEVELOPMENT.

RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A ONE TO ONE TREE REPLACEMENT.

IF YOU TAKE DOWN A TREE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING BIG THAT YOU WANT AND REPLACE IT WITH A TWO INCH TREE WELL THAT IS NOT GOING TO GIVE US THE ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS THAT TREE THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED LEAVES US WITH.

COMING UP WITH A BETTER METHODOLOGY AROUND HOW MANY TREES DO WE NEED TO PLANT WHEN WE'RE REMOVING HEALTHY LIVE TREES?

BECAUSE TREES ARE AN APPRECIATING ASSET.

AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE ONLY APPRECIATING ASSETS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.

AND TO THINK ABOUT REMOVING THOSE I MEAN THAT IS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR THAT WE'RE LOSING IN TERMS OF A LOT OF THOSE BENEFICIAL IMPACTS THAT RAED MENTIONED.

>> AND THE ADVISORY BOARD WILL BE ATTACHED WITH FIGHTING THAT MISSION FOR THE TREES AND ON BEHALF OF CHICAGO'S RESIDENTS WE HAVE TO UPROOT OUR DISCUSSION THERE.

OUR THANKS SO MUCH TO DANIELLA PEREIRA AND RAED MANSOUR.

>> TAKE CARE.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" PRODUCER MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY NEAR LOLLAPALOOZA.

SHE SPOKE WITH CHRIS BAUMAN FROM THE CHICAGO INDEPENDENT VENUE LEAGUE AND ASKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOLLAPALOOZA AND THE CITY'S INDEPENDENT CONCERT VENUES.

>> LOLLAPALOOZA IS A CELEBRATION OF CHICAGO MUSIC AND THE FANS WE HAVE IN THE CITY.

IT IS THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD.

EVERY YEAR WE ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND LOLLAPALOOZA COMES TO TOWN AND SOME OF THE GREATEST TALENT IN THE WORLD ARE ON STAGE.

>> AND WHAT IMPACT DOES LOLLAPALOOZA HAVE ON CHICAGO'S INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES?

>> LOLLAPALOOZA IS COOL BECAUSE AFTER LOLLAPALOOZA, THE AFTER SHOWS ARE ALL FEATURED AT CHICAGO'S INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES.

WHICH IS NEAT.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST TALENT IS PUT ON THE STAGES CHICAGO STAGES VERY SMALL ROOMS COMPARED TO THE LARGE 70,000 STAGES THAT YOU WILL SEE AT LOLLAPALOOZA YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE BANDS ON THE INDEPENDENT STAGES IN SMALL INTIMATE SETTINGS.

>> AND PEOPLE TALKING TO TODAY SAID THIS IS THE FIRST MUSIC EVENT SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE LOLLAPALOOZA BACK THIS YEAR?

>> IT MEANS A LOT.

IT IS A REBIRTH.

IT IS A CELEBRATION WE'RE BACK IT'S BEEN A LONG TWO YEARS.

I THINK EVERYONE COMING BACK TO MUSIC, EVERYONE GETTING BACK TOGETHER AND CELEBRATING SUMMERTIME CHI IN CHICAGO FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.

>> FIRST TO CLOSE AND LAST TO OPEN.

A LOT OVER THE PAST YEAR ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO THE MUSIC SCENE.

HOW ARE VENUES FARING NOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REOPEN?

>> I THINK THE JURY IS STILL OUT.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH VARIANTS AND THE DELTA VARIANT IS CONCERNING.

SOCIAL DISTANCING MEANS WE'RE SHUTDOWN.

WHEREAS OTHER BUSINESSES IT MIGHT BE A MANDATE TO BE SHUTDOWN IF WE HAVE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE SOME GENRES DO NOT WORK.

SOME GENRES DON'T WORK SEATED.

ANY SORT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING MEANS THAT THE VENUES ARE ESSENTIALLY SHUTDOWN AGAIN.

IT'S OUR HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD WE ARE ABLE TO BREAK THIS.

PEOPLE NEED TO GET VACCINATED THAT IS THE TICKET FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION IT IS YOUR TICKET TO DO MORE LOLLAPALOOZAS AND COMING OUT TO THE MUSIC VENUES.

PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC IS THE BEST WAY TO SAY IT RIGHT NOW.

>> ARE VENUE OWNERS CONCERNED WE SEE COVID RISING AND LOLLAPALOOZA WHICH SOME CONCERNS THAT IT COULD PERHAPS SPREAD THE VIRUS.

>> THERE IS CONCERN THERE IS CONCERN BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE FINDING THAT COVID SPREADS EVEN TO VACCINATED PEOPLE.

SO IT'S LOOKING MORE LIKE THIS IS A FLU THAT IS HERE TO STAY TYPE THING AND PEOPLE NEED TO GET VACCINATED TO NOT DIE FROM THE DISEASE AND TO PREVENT SERIOUS ILLNESS.

AND THAT IS THE KEY.

WE'RE VERY AGAIN CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AND HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD.

WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE STANDING AND HERE AT LOLLAPALOOZA CELEBRATING CHICAGO MUSIC.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE RESTRICTIONS.

WOULD INDEPENDENT VENUES BE ABLE TO SURVIVE IF THOSE WERE TO RETURN?

>> WE WOULD NOT.

IT WOULD BE VERY HARD.

IT WAS A VERY LONG STRUGGLE TO GET THE FUNDS WE NEEDED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUR CONGRESSMAN IN CHICAGO STEPPED UP OUR SENATORS.

DURBIN AND DUCKWORTH STEPPED UP AND WE GOT THE FUNDING THROUGH SAVE OUR STAGES THROUGH THE INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION AND CIVIL, THE CHICAGO INDEPENDENT VENUE LEAGUE BUT TO DO THAT AGAIN IT WOULD BE EXTINCTION.

WE ARE HOPING THAT EVERYONE GETS VACCINATED AND IT WILL PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY ILL AND WE CAN GO BACK TO NOR MALL.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE POSSIBLE EXTINCTION HERE IN CHICAGO WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR CHICAGO'S MUSIC SCENE?

>> IT'S LOOKED AT BY THE REST OF THE WORLD AS THE EPICENTER OF INDEPENDENT MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR OUR LEADERSHIP.

AND THE BUSINESSES THRIVE ON OUR MUSIC VENUES.

THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON A CHICAGO INDEPENDENT TICKET $12 IS GENERATED FROM RESTAURANTS AND PARKING AND YOU NAME IT.

BARS IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

SO ASIDE FROM ECONOMIC DAMAGE CULTURAL DAMAGE WE ARE KNOWN AS A CULTURAL DESTINATION WE ARE ARTS AND MUSIC CULTURE IN CHICAGO.

IT WOULD BE TRAGIC.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE SAVE OUR STAGES CAMPAIGN AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES IS THERE MORE SUPPORT THAT INDEPENDENT VENUES NEED TO SURVIVE?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS IT IS NOT OVER.

SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT BECAUSE WE ARE AT CUBS GAMES OR LOLLAPALOOZA THAT IT'S OVER BUT WE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD.

WE ARE CELEBRATING WE ARE HERE RIGHT NOW BUT WE NEED TO DEFEAT THIS VIRUS AND GET BACK TO NORMALCY.

>> UP NEXT, THE POTENTIAL FUTURE OF CICERO'S KLAS RESTAURANT IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

[♪♪♪] >> THE OLD WORLD MEETS THE NEW AT A LEGENDARY CICERO RESTAURANT THAT SERVED AS AN ANCHOR FOR CHICAGO'S CZECH COMMUNITY AND NOW ITS LEGACY IS UNDER THREAT.

GEOFFREY BAER JOINS US WITH THE STORY OF THE KLAS RESTAURANT IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

WELCOME BACK GEOFFREY, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, TOO, AMANDA.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE HUNGRY TO ANSWER IT THE QUESTION.

THE VIEWER ASKS... >> RIGHT.

UNIQUE THAT IS TRULY THE RIGHT WORD TO DESCRIBE THE KLAS RESTAURANT.

YOU WILL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN A MINUTE.

IT IS STILL STANDING AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT IN WEST IS YOUR BAN CICERO ON CERMAK ROAD.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE.

IF YOU ARE HUNGRY YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK IT IS A SHUTTERED RESTAURANT.

YOU CANNOT MISS THE BUILDING'S GABLED ROOF AND OLD WORLD CHARACTER.

NOTICE THE COATS OF ARMS AND BELLS AND STATUES ON THE PHENOMENA SAID IT -- FACADE LIKE YOU A EUROPE VILLAGE.

AND A SIGNATURE HIGHLIGHT ARE THE MURALS IN ROOMS WHICH DEPICT DIFFERENT STORIES AND THEMES.

SOME LOST BUT OTHERS SURVIVE UNDER LAYERS OF VARNISH.

LIKE THESE FROM THE RUSSIAN ROOM PAINTED BY A LOCAL ARTIST GENNADI GORDEJEV DURING THE DEPRESSION.

AND THE RESTAURANT IS BOARDED UP.

BUT WE GOT THE PHOTOS FROM THE ARTIST'S GRANDDAUGHTER.

THE RESTAURANT'S ORIGINS DATE BACK TO 1922 WHEN A CZECH IMMIGRANT NAMED ADOLF KLAS OPENED A TINY OPERATION ON THE SITE SIX TABLES 18 LUNCH COUNTER.

KLAS SERVED CZECH STAPLES LIKE CHICKEN PAPRIKASH AND DUMPLINGS AND THAT CZECH BEER.

OVER THE DECADES THE BUSINESS AND THE BUILDING GREW.

EVENTUALLY HOLDING AS MANY AS 350 PEOPLE IN THE BANQUET ROOMS AND BARS.

AFTER Mr. KLAS DIED IN 1962, VARIOUS OWNERS KEPT THE BUSINESS GOING AND THE RESTAURANT BECAME A MUST VISIT FOR CZECH AND CHECK-AMERICAN CELEBRITIES, DIGNITARIES LIKE FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND A WIDE RANGE OF MUSICIANS WHO WOULD PERFORM THERE.

KLAS CLOSED IN 2016 MOSTLY FOR FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL REASONS.

ALTHOUGH MANY HOPE THE DOORS ARE NOT CLOSED FOR THE LAST TIME AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

>> I THINK I KNOW SOMEBODY WHO VISITED AND PARTIED IN ONE OF THOSE BANQUET ROOMS MY BEST FRIEND'S GRANDFATHER CELEBRATED A BIRTHDAY ONCE AND CHICAGO HAS A RICH HISTORY OF CZECH COMMUNITIES CALLING CHICAGO HOME?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE FIRST WAVE OF CZECH OR BOHEMIAN IMMIGRANTS STARTED OUT SETTLING IN PILSEN ON CHICAGO'S LOWER WEST SIDE.

THIS IS BEFORE IT WAS A MEXICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD THIS WAS IN THE LATE 1800'S AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD GETS ITS NAME FROM THE CZECH CITY OF PLZEN WHERE PILSNER BEER ORIGINATED.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE THAT THE CZECH RESIDENTS BUILT OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN LAWNDALE.

EVENTLY MANY WHO COULD AFFORD TO LEAVE THE CITY MOVED WEST TO CICERO AND BERWYN.

A DRAW TO CICERO WAS THE HAWTHORNE WORKS WESTERN ELECTRIC PLANT WHICH EMPLOYED MANY CZECH IMMIGRANTS AND FAMILIES WHO MADE AMERICA'S FIRST TELEPHONE TELEPHONES A CONNECTING LINE LITERALLY THAT RUNS THROUGH ALL THE COMMUNITIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS 22nd STREET WHICH NOW IS KNOWN AS SURMAC ROAD.

AND IT'S NAMED FOR MAYOR ANTON SURMAC CERMAK, WHO WAS A CZECH IMMIGRANT.

HE SERVED TWO YEARS IN OFFICE IN THE EARLY 1930s BECAUSE OF HIS UNTIMELY DEATH.

CERMAK WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA WHILE APPEARING WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT AND THE ASSASSIN WAS AIMING FOR FDR BUT MISSED.

HE SUPPOSEDLY SAID TO ROOSEVELT I'M GLAD IT WAS ME INSTEAD OF YOU IS THE QUOTE.

THE VERACITY OF QUOTE HAS BEEN QUESTIONED BUT IT'S INSCRIBED ON THE WALL OF CERMAK'S CRYPT IN THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.

>> ANYTIME WE CAN GET CHICAGO POLITICAL HISTORY WORKED INTO THIS.

BACK TO THE KLAS RESTAURANT, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT IS CURRENTLY UNOCCUPIED NOT IN GREAT SHAPE AND NOT SERVING UP CZECH FOODS.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE?

>> I DIGRESS GETTING BACK TO THE QUESTION SINCE ITS CLOSURE IN 2016, THE RESTAURANT HAS UNFORTUNATELY FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR.

BUT A COALITION OF CZECH RESIDENTS AND CZECH GROUPS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS STATED THEY HAVE A TENTATIVE DEAL TO BUY AND RESTORE THE BUILDING HERE IS THE CATCH...

THEY HAVE TO RAISE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BY OCTOBER AND THEN QUITE A BIT MORE FOR THE RESTORATION WHICH THEY ARE TRYING TO RAISE THROUGH A "GOFUNDME" PAGE CAMPAIGN.

THE GOAL IS TO TURN THE BUILDING INTO A MUSEUM OF CZECH HISTORY AS WELL AS A BAR WHERE YOU CAN GET THAT CZECH BEER AND EVENT SPACE.

THEY ALSO HOPE TO USE IT AS A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE LARGELY LATINO COMMUNITY IN CICERO.

ONE ORGANIZER HOPES THEY CAN HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE LEGAL AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND LANGUAGE SERVICES AND OTHER THINGS BUT IT ALL DEPENDS WHETHER THAT MONEY CAN BE RAISED.

>> TRUE.

POTENTIAL BOHEMIAN VIBE GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE KLAS RESTAURANT AND THEIR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.

DON'T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

>> UP NEXT, THE KING OF TV PITCHMAN IN A 2005 THROW BACK, FIRST A LOOK AT EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.

>> RON POPEIL HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS AN INCESSANT INVENTOR AND PITCHMAN OF LATE NIGHT TELEVISION.

THE VEG OWEMATIC, THE POCKET FISHERMAN AND MORE, RON POPEIL MARKETED AND INVENTED A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS THAT MADE HIM RICH AND FAMOUS.

BORN IN NEW YORK HE MOVED TO CHICAGO AS A TEEN AND LATER ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

RON POPEIL DIED YESTERDAY AT THE AGE OF 86.

BACK IN 2005, JOHN CALLAWAY BROUGHT US THIS LOOK AT THE MASTER SALESMAN AND HIS LIFE'S WORK.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE GREATEST KITCHEN APPLIANCE EVER MADE CALLED CHOP OWEMATIC.

>> IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT YOU HAVE TO SELL IT AND FOR YEARS RON POPEIL HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MASTERS.

>> YOU WILL RECEIVE WITH YOUR CHOP-O-MATIC OUR VALUABLE RECIPE BOOK COULD BE R CONTAINING 50 RECIPES BY WORLD FAMOUS CHEFS.

>> BUT THE RON POPEIL STORY BEGINS WITH RON'S FATHER SAMUEL AND UNCLE RAYMOND.

THEIR MOTHER WAS FROM THE MORRIS FAMILY OF NEW JERSEY.

THE MORRISES WERE PITCH MEN SALES MEN WHO SOLD THEIR HOUSEHOLD GADGETSES IN STREET DEMONSTRATIONS.

BY THE 1940s, THE BROTHERS HAD BEEN PITCH MEN THEMSELVES AND HEADED FOR CHICAGO.

>> AND THEY START MAKING THEIR OWN GADGETS.

THEY CONCENTRATE ON MAKING GADGETS THAT YOU COULD WHOLESALE TO OTHER PITCH MEN.

SO THEY BECAME ONE OF THE LEADING SUPPLIERS OF PITCH MEN PRODUCTS.

>> HERE IS ANOTHER GREAT PRODUCT.

>> RON POPEIL GREW UP WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS IN FLORIDA.

AND BARELY KNEW HIS FATHER WHEN HE ARRIVED IN CHICAGO AS A TEENAGER IN THE 1950s.

BUT RON DID NOT LEARN TO SELL FROM HIS FATHER OR UNCLE.

>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL.

HOW MUCH ARE THEY $2 FOR ONE.

>> HIS ROLE MODELS WERE THE MAXWELL STREET PITCH MEN WHO SOLD PRODUCTS.

>> YOU WANT TO PROTECT IT.

THIS IS THE ONE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WASH IT.

>> BY THE TIME HE WAS 15, RON POPEIL WAS A PRO.

>> I KEPT MY STUFF IN A FISH STORE AND I WOULD SETUP ON THE STREET AND SELL MY PRODUCT DURING THE DAY AND HAVE A COUPLE COCA-COLA BOXES I WOULD BE STANDING ON AND GIVE A DEMONSTRATION EVERY SIX MINUTES.

TAKE FOUR MINUTES TO COLLECT THE MONEY AND DO THAT ALL DAY LONG UNTIL MIDAFTERNOON, AT WHICH TIME I WOULD FOLD UP EVERYTHING AND PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN THE FISH STORE AND GO HOME AND COUNT THE MONEY.

>> HE WOULD GET THE BIGGEST CROWDS AND PITCH AT WOOLWORTH'S DURING THE WEEK DOWN AT STATE AND WASHINGTON STREET AND PEOPLE WOULD COME AND WATCH ALL LUNCHTIME LONG AND WATCH HIM DEMONSTRATE.

>> BUT IT WASN'T THE POCKET FISHERMAN THAT MADE THEM FAMOUS, IT WAS TELEVISION.

IN THE 1950s, THE NEW MEDIUM NEEDED A NEW KIND OF ADVERTISING.

>> EVERYONE LIKES COLESLAW EVERYONE EXCEPT MOTHER AND THE REASON SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT BECAUSE SHE HAS TO MAKE IT ON THE GRATER AND THE SCRAPES.

>> TV STATIONS NEEDED THE PITCHMAN AS MUCH AS THE PITCHMAN NEEDED TV.

PEOPLE KNEW HOW TO SELL BY SIGHT.

SOON, TV WAS JUST FILLED WITH FORMER MAXWELL STREET COUNTY FAIR PITCH MEN.

>> THE ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEMS IS IN THIS BOTTLE.

>> OF COURSE, THEY DID NOT INVENT THIS KIND OF ADVERTISING IT WAS SO COMMON IN THE EARLY DAYS OF TELEVISION THAT LUCILLE BALL WAS SPOOF TO GO FOUR YEARS BEFORE RON POPEIL FIRST BROUGHT THE CHOP-O-MATIC INTO OUR LIVING ROOMS.

>> IF IT DOESN'T DO EVERYTHING I TOLD YOU IT WOULD.

>> THAT COMMERCIAL LASTED FOUR MINUTES.

TV COMMERCIALS HAD TO BE UNDER TWO MINUTES.

THE SOLUTION... TALK FASTER.

>> LOOK HOW EASY VEG OMATIC MAKES MANY SLICES AT ONCE YOU CAN SLICE A WHOLE CAN OF PREPARED MEAT AT ONE TIME.

ISN'T THAT AMAZING.

>> IN THE 1960s, RON POPEIL ADS WERE EVERYWHERE.

AND WHILE WE MAY HAVE FOUND THE COMMERCIALS HUMOROUS OR ANNOYING WE STILL BOUGHT THE PRODUCTS.

AND MADE THE BROTHERS MILLIONAIRES.

>> MANY PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT TV ADVERTISED PRODUCTS AND ASSOCIATE THEM WITH SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK AND IT'S CHEAP.

BUT NOT IN THE RON POPEIL PRODUCTS.

I HAVE SOME REALLY EARLY RON POPEIL PRODUCTS AND THEY ARE IN MY KITCHEN NOT AS DECORATION BUT WE USE THEM.

>> AFTER A WHILE RON POPEIL WAS NOT SATISFIED MARKETING PRODUCTS FOR HIS FATHER AND UNCLE IN 1964 HE AND A PARTNER STARTED THEIR OWN COMPANY.

RON CO. >> ARE YOU A NONSMOKER BOTHERED BY SOMEONE ELSE'S SMOKE?

WITH THE AMAZING SMOKELESS ASHTRAY.

>> RON DID NOT MANUFACTURE THE PRODUCTS LIKE THE BROTHERS, HE DEVOTED HIS ENERGY TO MARKETING.

HIS FIRST PRODUCT.

THE.

THE RON CO-SPRAY GUN.

>> THE SPRAY GUN COMES WITH ENOUGH FERTILIZER, WEED KILLER TO DO A SMALL GARDEN.

>> THE COMMERCIAL COST $550 TO MAKE.

RON USED HIS OWN VOICE AND A FRIEND'S CAR AND SOLD A MILLION SPRAY GUNS.

RON RELEASED A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ARRAY OF PRODUCTS SOMETIMES THEY MARKETED PRODUCTS LIKE THE SEAL-A-MEAL.

THE RECORD VAX CONSUME AND OF COURSE, Mr.

MICROPHONE.

>> THEY GOOD LOOKING WE WILL BE BACK TO PICK YOU UP LATER.

>> WHILE MOST OF THE PRODUCTS WERE BATTERY OPERATED YOU WOULD NEVER HERE THEM UTTER THOSE WORDS.

INSTEAD THEY WOULD CORDLESS ELECTRIC.

>> AND REMEMBER, IT'S ONLY 9.98.

>> AFTER A WHILE, THE SUCCESS WAS NOT ONLY MAKING THEM RICH IT WAS MAKING THEM CELEBRITIES.

>> HOW MANY TIMES HAS THIS HAPPENED TO YOU?

YOU HAVE A BASS YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND A NEW WAY TO PREPARE IT FOR DINNER.

>> AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY LIKED IT, THE FAMILY CELEBRITY GOT A BOOST IN A 1976 DAN ACKROYD BIT ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE".

>> HERE IS HOW IT WORKS.

CATCH YOUR BASS REMOVE THE HOOK AND DROP THE BASS THAT IS THE WHOLE BASS INTO THE WAS HO-MATIC.

>> I GET SERIOUS WHEN I CREATE A PRODUCT AND WHEN "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" IS DOING STUFF ABOUT ME OR MY FAMILY OR PRODUCTS THAT I HAVE, I WAS FEARFUL THAT PEOPLE WOULD STOP BUYING OUR PRODUCTS THINKING THAT THEY WERE JUST COMICAL GADGETS OR JOKES OF SOME KIND AND NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

>> THE BASS-O-MATIC SPOOF SECURED THEIR PLACE AS POP CULTURE ICONS.

>> I AM YOUR HOST RON POPEIL.

>> AND RON POPEIL DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND A BIT.

A 1999 EPISODE OF FUTURE -ORAMA FEATURED HIM AS A TALKING HEAD IN A JAR.

KEPT ALIVE BY HIS OWN TECHNOLOGY.

>> BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.

>> AND RON POPEIL PROVIDED HIS VOICE FOR THE EPISODE.

>> UP-AND-COMING YOUNG STAR.

>> BY THE LATE 1970s RON'S FATHER SAMUEL'S HEALTH WAS DECLINING AND SO WAS THE BUSINESS.

IN 1979, THE COMPANY WAS OLD SOLD AND WITHIN TWO YEARS IT WAS GONE.

IN THE MID-80s, RON CO-WAS GOING STRONG BUT WENT BANKRUPT WHEN THE BANK RECALLED A LOAN.

FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, RON WAS BACK AT COUNTY FAIRS SELLING TO LIVE AUDIENCES.

>> I ENDED UP BUYING ALL THE INVENTORY OF THE COMPANY MYSELF PERSONALLY AND THE FASTEST PLACE TO LIQUIDATE IT WAS AT THE COUNTY FAIRS.

HERE I HAVE A PIECE OF SWISS CHEESE.

>> BY THE EARLY 90s RON CO-WAS FLYING HIGH THANKS TO THE INFO COMMERCIAL.

NO LONGER LIMITED TO 30 SECONDS RON WAS BACK TO HIS ROOTS AS A PITCHMAN SELLING KITCHEN KNIVES, FOOD DEHIDE DRATTERS AND THE ROTISSERIE.

>> YOU SET IT AND.

>> FORGET IT.

>> YOU KNOW IT TAKES ONE DAY TO SHOOT AN INFO COMMERCIAL AND I DO THE EDITING AND IT TAKES THREE WEEKS TO DO THAT AND MY WORKLOAD FOR THAT PRODUCT IS OVER WITH.

>> RON POPEIL HAS SOLD MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF SHOWTIME ROTISSERIES MORE THAN ALL THE OTHER PRODUCTS COMBINED.

WHETHER YOU SELL ON MAXWELL STREET, SEG IS SELLING IS SELLING.

AND FORTUNATELY I HAD PRODUCTS THAT PEOPLE LIKED.

>> REMEMBER, YOU RECEIVE ALL ITEMS THE CHOP-O-MATIC AND THE RECIPE BOOK FOR 2.98.

>> AGAIN, THAT WAS A 2005 EPISODE OF CHICAGO STORIES ON RON POPEIL WHO DIED YESTERDAY AT 86.

>> WAIT THERE'S MORE.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

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

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT", I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]