CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M AMANDA FINICKY.

RENT IS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING SAFETY ADVOCATES PUSH TO LOWER THE CITYWIDE SPEED LIMIT.

BUT WILL IT CHANGE DRIVER BEHAVIOR?

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS FOR BROOKFIELD ZOO'S REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IN PREPARATION FOR ITS CENTENNIAL AND CREWS.

THE CHICAGO RIVER WHILE LEARNING ABOUT EFFORTS TO TAKE CARE OF AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, A 3 MONTH-OLD BOY IS HOSPITALIZED AFTER BEING SHOT OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE SHOOTING HAPPENED ON WEST 26TH STREET IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

POLICE SAY THE BOY WAS INSIDE A CAR WITH A 21 YEAR-OLD MAN WHEN THEY WERE APPROACHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.

2 MEN EXITED AND OPENED FIRE.

THE BOY WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST.

THE MAN WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES.

THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES REPORTS THE BOY IS UNDERGOING SURGERY TODAY.

BAD NEWS BEARS, GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER SAYS ILLINOIS APPROVING MONEY THIS FALL FOR THE TEAM'S PLAN FOR A NEW STADIUM IN THE CITY WILL BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE.

HE SAYS HE TOLD THE BEARS THAT DURING A RECENT PRIVATE MEETING, THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE EARLIEST LAWMAKERS WOULD EVEN CONSIDER A BEAR SEAL WOULD BE SPRING.

BUT IN REALITY, THERE ISN'T A PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO ANYONE THAT I KNOW IN THE LEGISLATURE.

INSURERS IN ILLINOIS WILL HAVE TO COVER HOME BIRTHS TO LESS AND MIDWIVES.

NO GOVERNMENT SHOULD DECIDE WHEN OR IF A FAMILY GROWS AND ENSURE IS THAT WHEN FAMILIES DO EXPAND BOTH MOM AND BABY HAVE ACCESS TO THE CARE THEY NEED TO GET HOME SAFELY YET.

THE LAW PRITZKER SIGNED TODAY ALSO SAYS INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN NOT CHARGE DEDUCTIBLES OR COINSURANCE FOR ABORTIONS.

LACTATION CONSULTANTS AND OTHER POSTPARTUM SERVICES MUST BE COVERED FOR UP TO A YEAR AFTER A BABY'S FIRST.

IT'S PART OF A BROADER STATE INVESTMENT IN MATERNAL CARE LIKE FUNDING FOR THE FIRST BIRTHING CENTER ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN A SMALL PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE POOR FAMILIES WITH DIAPERS.

THE LAW TAKES EFFECT IN JUNE.

COOK COUNTY PROPERTY TAX BILLS ARE DUE THURSDAY, BUT IF YOU CAN'T PAY IN FULL, THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION STARTING FRIDAY CODE TO THE COOK COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE WEBSITE WHERE THERE'S AN OPTION FOR ONLINE PAYMENT PLAN PAYING INSTALLMENTS CAN HELP DELINQUENT COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS FROM LOSING THEIR BUILDINGS AND HOMES.

IT'S FOR EVERYONE.

LET'S SAY BY SOME, YOU KNOW, GREAT IMAGINATION.

YOU OWN SEARS TOWER IN THE BILLS.

13 MILLION.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO ONLINE AND SET UP A PAYMENT PLAN FOR SEARS TOWER.

IF YOU'RE IN A BUNGALOW IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS AND $2000, YOU CAN SET UP A PAYMENT PLAN THAT WAY.

UP NEXT, AN EFFORT TO LOWER THE CITYWIDE SPEED LIMIT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT THESE SOME CITY OFFICIALS WANT US ALL TO SLOW DOWN.

ALDERMAN DANIEL, A SPOT IS SPONSORING AN ORDINANCE TO REDUCE CHICAGO CITYWIDE SPEED LIMIT FROM 30 MILES PER HOUR TO 25 ADVOCATES SAY IT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY CURB THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC INJURIES AND FATALITIES.

BUT CRITICS ARE RAISING CONCERNS OVER ENFORCEMENT, PRACTICALITY AND ECONOMIC DRAWBACKS AND QUESTION WHETHER THE MEASURE IS REALLY AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE REVENUE FOR THE CITY THROUGH INCREASED TRAFFIC FINES.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE, OUR AUDREY WINNICK SENIOR DIRECTOR OF THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL AND W ROBERT SCHULTZ, THE 3RD IN CAMPAIGN ORGANIZER AT THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO SOME OPPONENTS OF THIS PLAN.

THEY WERE, HOWEVER, UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING.

WE ARE APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU BOTH ARE.

HOWEVER, AUDREY, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH YOU.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD SLOW DOWN 5 MILES AN HOUR.

WHY WOULD SUCH A SMALL CHANGE MAKE A BIG IMPACT?

IT'S REALLY QUITE AMAZING.

I MEAN, DRIVING 5 MILES AN HOUR.

LAST MEANS YOU HAVE SHORTER STOPPING DISTANCE.

DRIVERS RIGHT NOW THEY NEED ABOUT 120 FEET TO STOP AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

AND THEY ONLY NEED ABOUT 85 FEET.

SO IT REALLY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF PHYSICS IN TERMS OF I'VE SEEING STRANDS PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET, THE VIEW YOU HAVE IS ARE REALLY WIDE AND A LOT WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN AND THE CHANCE OF A PERSON DYING IS ABOUT 50%.

LAST CAR KITS HITS A PEDESTRIAN.

SO THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER BECAUSE THE CAR'S GOING SO MUCH SLOWER, THE FORCE THAT YOU HIT SOMEBODY WEST TO YEAH.

THE PHYSICS OF IT NOW THERE ARE, HOWEVER, OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE, PRESUMABLY TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY OTHER THAN CHANGING THE SPEED LIMIT AND THINKING ABOUT ROAD SIZE, ADDING BIKE LANES, THOSE THOSE ISLANDS WHERE IT STARTED BUT RAISED CROSSWALK AREN'T.

THERE ARE OTHER MEASURES THE CITY COULD TAKE.

AND THEY THE CITY IS DOING AND I THINK THE POINT HERE IS THAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE IT OBVIOUSLY OF A LOT OF MILES OF ROAD IN THIS CITY AND SIDEWALK.

AND IT TAKES TIME.

SO THE CITY IS DOING THAT.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGING THEIR SPEEDS.

AND SO IF THEY CHANGE SPEED LIMIT, THEY NEED TO CHANGE ALL THE SIGNS.

AND SO JUST HAVING THE SIGNAGE ALONE WOULD A MASSIVE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

AND SO THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO PEOPLE'S TO BEHAVIOR.

WE WOULD HELP.

AND WE'VE SEEN OTHER CITIES ARE SAYING BASICALLY PEOPLE WOULD NOTICE THE SIGNS CHANGING, SAY, GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

YEAH, EXACTLY.

NOT ONE ABOUT YOU, ROBERT.

YOU'RE ON BOARD WITH THIS PLAN.

HOW COME?

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE REASONS SAYS BY SAYING GO DEFAULT, SPEED LIMIT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR SPEED LIMIT IS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE SCHOOL ZONES AND OTHER ZONES WHERE YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE IN THAT ZONE AND YOU HAVE SLOW DOWN.

AND SO YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU GET IT TAKEN, RIGHT, RIGHT.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO IT WITH THE LOWER SPEED LIMIT.

THERE'S NO MORE GUESSING AND IT MAKES IT SAFE FOR PEOPLE BOTH INSIDE THE CAR AND OUTSIDE THE CAR AND THEN HIT A COUPLE TIMES.

YOU CAN HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IN FACT, I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER THAT OVER THE WEEKEND AND FUN.

EVEN IMPACT CAN CAUSE IN CASE OF MY NEPHEW, UNLIKE CONCUSSION.

WHEN I GOT HIT, I VERY BRUISED.

THAT STAYED WITH ME FOR SEVERAL AND IT WAS LIKE A SUV WITH THE HOOD LIKE RIGHT HERE.

AND I'M A TALL PERSON.

AND, YOU KNOW, CARS ARE GETTING EVERY YEAR AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE RECKLESS WITH THEIR DRIVING BEHAVIOR GOT TO GET TOO MUCH INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

BUT IS IT SOMETHING WHERE YOU THINK 5 MILES AN HOUR WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE?

WAS THAT A CAR GOING AT A SLOW SPEED?

ALL THEY DID WAS TURN AROUND THE CORNER, BUT THEY WEREN'T OBSERVANT THAT I WAS IN THE CROSSWALK AND I HAD THE WAY TO CROSS THE STREET THEY HIT TO SLOW SPEED.

BUT EVEN AT A SLOW SPEED WITH A MASSIVE SUV THAT CAUSED A SEVERE BRUISE IN.

SO THAT IS PART OF THIS, RIGHT, AUDREY, THAT OUR CARS ARE CHANGING TRAFFIC BEHAVIOR IS CHANGING ABOUT ON THE PART OF DRIVERS WHO ARE, I DON'T KNOW.

ARE THEY BUSY LOOKING AT THEIR PHONES?

IS THAT MAYBE SOMETHING IT AGAIN NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED?

WELL, DESTRUCTION IS CERTAINLY PART OF THE PROBLEM.

BUT WE'VE SEEN CRASHES AND FATALITIES INCREASED A LOT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE 10 YEARS OR SO.

AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF PEOPLE BEING MORE RECKLESS AND SPEEDING.

WE'VE SEEN BEHAVIOR GET A LOT WORSE DURING COVID AND IT STAYED WORSE.

THERE'S A LOT ROAD WE SEE THAT 40% OF ALL THE FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES IN OUR REGION ARE REALLY 2 SPEEDING AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING.

SO WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN CUT DOWN ON PEOPLE SPEED IN AND HELP THEM DRIVE IN A VERY PARTISAN MANNER OF WHAT'S AROUND THEM.

ROBERT, YOU SUPPORT THIS, BUT YOU DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO EQUITY.

THIS IS SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT IT SORT OF ENFORCEMENT AND YOU'RE CONCERNED THAT BE TARGETED.

YES, ON A WHOLE TABLE.

I'VE BEEN WORKING ISSUES RELATED TO PRETEXTUAL TRAFFIC STOPS AND RACIAL PROFILING.

AND THEN ALSO WE'RE WORKING ON THE ISSUE OF EQUITABLE FINES, A FINE FOR LOW INCOME PERSON IS ECONOMICALLY BURDENSOME.

WHERE IS FOR SOMEONE WITH MORE MEANS OF FINE.

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE FLY ON ON THE RIGHT.

SO AS WE BEGIN TO REEXAMINE HOW WE HAVE OUR STREETS WITH WHAT THE SPEED LIMITS ARE, WHAT ARE THE FINES, HOW WE RECONSTRUCT OR STREETS?

I USED TO LIVE NEAR CICERO AND IT'S EXPRESSWAY THE WAY PEOPLE DRIVE ON IT BECAUSE THE LANES ARE WIDE.

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THIS SOMEWHAT INFORCEMENT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS LOOK LIKE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

NOT A MONETARY PENALTY.

IF SOMEBODY WERE GO PAST A LOWER SPEED LIMIT.

I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLORE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR ALDERMAN.

BUT CERTAINLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FINDS TELL PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR.

BUT WE DON'T WANT FINES TO BE ECONOMIC BURDENS SUCH THAT THEY'RE DRIVEN INTO DEBT.

ISN'T SOMETHING OUT.

JUST THEY PASSED A RESOLUTION INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION AT THE SAME TIME AS THIS ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD SET UP AN INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP THAT WOULD HAVE ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE ORDINANCE WOULD GO INTO EFFECT TO FIGURE OUT THE STUFF OUT BECAUSE IT WASN'T EVEN POSSIBLE.

OTHER OPTIONS.

BUT YOU YEAH.

I MEAN, IF YOU PASS IT ALONG AND YOU DON'T ENFORCE IT, WHAT'S THE POINT, RIGHT?

SO YOU DO NEED TO ENFORCE BUT YOU CAN DO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO PHASED IN WARNINGS YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PRICING OF THE DAY THE TICKET IS.

YOUR CONGRATULATED PRICE?

EXACTLY.

YOU COULD HAVE GRADUATED PRICING BASED ON INCOME THERE.

THERE ARE STRATEGIES YOU CAN TAKE TO TRY TO MAKE IT.

YOU WANT TO MAKE THE THE IMPACT REASONABLE.

BUT ALSO HAVE IT HAVE AN IMPACT.

SO PEOPLE NOTICE IT AND THEY WANT TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR.

AND WITH THIS ENDORSEMENT, THE MOSTLY UP TO SPEED CAMERAS BECAUSE POLICE OR OTHERWISE ARE OVERBURDENED AS IT IS OR WELL SPEAKING A PART OF CERTAIN WE HAVE TO BE CAMERAS HERE.

IT WOULD BE PROBABLY A COMBINATION.

YOU KNOW THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED ONCE THEY GET LOWER THAT SPEED LIMIT.

WE TALK ABOUT UNLOCKING THE POSSIBILITY OF REDESIGNING THE STREETS TO SUPPORTS LOWER SPEED LIMIT.

BUT UNTIL YOU LOWER YOU DON'T GET THAT UNLOCKING THE FACT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO THAT THERE IS?

OF COURSE, THE CONCERN THAT THIS IS A MONEY GRAB, BUT MAYBE ALSO PEOPLE WHO JUST SAY I'M ALREADY GOING CRAZY BEING STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

IF YOU LOWER THE SPEED, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME EVEN MORE.

THIS IS JUST GOING UP BY ROAD RAGE.

WELL, IT'S I MEAN, PEOPLE THINK THAT.

BUT YOU'RE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH, YOU KNOW, CHICAGO IS, YOU'RE GOING FROM SPEED LET THIS TRAFFIC LIGHT TRAFFIC LATE AND STOP SIGN TO STOP SIGN.

SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST GUNNING IN BETWEEN TRAFFIC LIGHTS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PREVENT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO SAVE HER OR ANY MORE TIME BECAUSE GOING TO BE STUCK AT THOSE LIGHTS.

YEAH, NOT REALLY.

I MEAN, 5 MILES AN HOUR IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR TRAVEL TIME.

MUCH IT.

I THINK WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10 SECONDS.

LAST WORD GOES TO YOU, ROBERT CHA GOING TO BE THE FIRST WE WANT TO KIND BE SAFE FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU'RE INSIDE A CAR OR OUTSIDE THE CAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE WITH US TO EACH OF YOU, AUDREY AND PROPER.

UP NEXT, BROOKFIELD ZOO UNVEILS ITS WILD RENOVATION PLANS GET A PEEK RIGHT AFTER THIS.

BROOKFIELD ZOO'S GOING WILD WITH ITS LATEST EXPANSION PLANS.

THE CHANGES ARE DETAILED IN THE ZOO'S 500 MILLION DOLLARS NEXT CENTURY PLAN.

THAT'S IN ANTICIPATION OF BROOKFIELD ZOO'S ONE 100TH ANNIVERSARY.

THAT'S COMING UP IN 2034 MORE THAN 100 ACRES OF THE ZOO'S GROUNDS ARE SET TO UNDERGO RENOVATION OR DEVELOPMENT IN A 4 PHASE PLAN CALLS FOR TRANSFORMING TRADITIONAL EXHIBIT SPACES INTO ECO REGIONS.

ALLOWED DIFFERENT SPECIES TO ROAM BETWEEN VARIOUS HABITATS.

NOW JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT NEXT CENTURY PLAN IS DOCTOR MICHAEL ATKINSON, THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF BROOKFIELD ZOO.

EXTENSIVE.

WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND ALL OF IT?

WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS PLAN.

WE'VE BEEN HARD AT WORK ON IT FOR THE LAST AND ARE REALLY LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 100 BIRTHDAY HERE.

COMING UP IN 2034 TO REALLY RESHAPE THE ZOO OVER THE NEXT DECADE LEADING UP TO THAT CENTENNIAL AND THEN BEYOND WHAT IS ECO REGION.

SO ENCOURAGE INS ARE JUST DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AROUND THE GLOBE.

AND WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE OUR GUESTS ON A JOURNEY WHERE THEY'RE NOT JUST EXPERIENCING ONE IN AN ENVIRONMENT, BUT THEY'RE REALLY EXPERIENCING THAT WHOLE ECOSYSTEM.

SO THEY'RE SEEING HOW ANIMALS WOULD BE IN THE WITH MIXED SPECIES.

HABITATS FOR THERE'S DIFFERENT ANIMALS TOGETHER IN AN IMMERSIVE LANDSCAPE WHERE THEY REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER PART OF THE AS A CHANCE TO SEE ANIMALS AS THEY WOULD IN A WHILE.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GO TO AFRICA FOR SAFARI SAY, BUT I CAN GO TO BROOKFIELD.

FEEL LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

EXACTLY.

WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET THE CHANCE TO GO ON A SAFARI.

THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO TREK THROUGH THE JUNGLE, LOOKING FOR A TIGER SCUBA DIVE WITH DOLPHINS.

BUT WE CAN REPLICATE THOSE EXPERIENCES THAT THE ZOO AS A WAY OF REALLY CAPTURING OUR GUESTS INTO THAT JOURNEY OF CONSERVATION AND BEING ABLE TO TELL THOSE STORIES ABOUT THE THREATS FACING THESE ANIMALS IN THE WILD AND ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE TO HELP PROTECT THE ANIMALS AS WELL AS THE WILD SPACES THEY LIVE.

SINCE WE CAN'T QUITE VISIT YET TO GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE, WHAT SORT OF SPECIES MIGHT BE PAIRED TOGETHER AND WHAT WITH THIS BEFORE IT MEAN FOR A VISITOR THAT WANTS TO TAKE AGAINST SURE.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF TROPICAL FOREST, WHICH IS A NEW 66 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT FOR GORILLAS AND ORANGUTANS AND MONKEYS THAT WILL BE OPENING NEXT YEAR.

BUT FOLLOWING THAT, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AHEAD TO AN AUSTRALIAN EXPANSION A GATEWAY TO AFRICA AREA AND THAT GATEWAY TO AFRICA AS CONCEIVED AROUND THE IDEA OF LARGE HERDS OF DIFFERENT AMLO TOGETHER.

MACY RHINOS AND GIRAFFES TOGETHER IN A SAVANNAH HABITAT.

YOU MAY SEE ELEPHANTS MIXED IN WITH RHINOS IN THE FOREST HABITAT AND JUST THAT CONSTANT CHANGING OF ANIMALS IN THEIR SPACES.

IT'S NOT JUST ENRICHING FOR THE ANIMALS, BUT IT'S ALSO MAKES FOR MORE EXCITING JOURNEY FOR GAS IS YOU MAY NOT SEE THE SAME THING IN THE SAME SPACE EVERY TIME YOU COME.

SO WE'LL GET HIM BACK COMING MORE.

YEAH.

THIS IS PART OF ANIMAL ROTATION.

I UNDERSTAND.

SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT SOME WILL HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW OR IS IT JUST THAT THEY ARE GOING TO ROAMING BECAUSE THERE'S A BIGGER SPACE FOR THEM TO DO SO IT'S IT'S THE LATTER.

SO AS WE LOOK AT GATEWAY TO AFRICA, WE'RE LOOKING AT 35 ACRES WORTH OF SPACE THERE WITHIN THE ZOO.

SET ASIDE FOR THESE DIFFERENT HABITATS AND THE ABILITY TO JUST LET ANIMALS MOVE GET IN THAT ACTIVITY.

AND THAT EXERCISE AS THEY WOULD IN THE WILD MOVING BETWEEN DIFFERENT SPACES.

IS THIS THAT MORE VISITOR FOCUSED OR MORE FOR THE ANIMALS?

AND JUST BOTH, IT'S REALLY A COMBINATION OF BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

SO OUR OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS ALWAYS WHAT'S BEST FOR ANIMALS WERE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE WELLNESS AND WELLBEING OF ALL THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.

BUT WE ALSO WANT OUR GUESTS TO HAVE THAT REALLY EXCITING EXPERIENCES.

THEY COME TO THE ZOO BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE CORE OF OUR MISSION IS TO SAVE WILDLIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE THEM.

WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT THEM.

WE HAVE TO GET THEM TO WANT TO COME ALONG ON THAT JOURNEY WITH US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN DO IN THEIR DAILY LIVES TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR WILDLIFE AROUND THE WORLD.

AND WHAT BENEFITS ARE THERE FOR THE ANIMALS SPACE YOU HAVE.

SO THE SPACES BUT ALSO JUST THAT CHANGING OF THE DAILY ROUTINE SO TO SPEAK SO THAT THE ANIMALS ARE THE CHALLENGE TO SORT OF INTELLECTUALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHERE THEY'RE GOING ON GIVEN DAY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, DIFFERENT ANIMALS TO INTERACT STIMULATED FOR OKAY.

IT THIS IS MORE THAN JUST TRANSFORMING THE PHYSICAL ZOO CAMPUS.

CORRECT?

CORRECT?

YES.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS NEXT CENTURY PLAN WAS NOT JUST TO CREATE A PHYSICAL MAP FOR THE ZOO, BUT REALLY TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENT AS WELL FOR THIS PLAN A FRAMEWORK FOR A CONSERVATION STRATEGY, CRUISER, EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMING.

THAT INCLUDES OUR COMMITMENT TO FOR ALL, WHICH IS ALL OF OUR INCLUSIVITY OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY MAKE THE ZOO WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.

IT INCLUDES ARE GRIEVING BEFORE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS ACCESSIBILITY?

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE FOR A I DON'T KNOW, FOLKS WHO ARE WHEELCHAIR-BOUND OR IS THIS MORE OF AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY?

IT'S BOTH.

IT'S IT'S REALLY MAKING SURE THAT ALL AUDIENCES FEEL WELCOME.

SO THOSE THAT HAVE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THOSE MENTAL OR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES.

BUT IT'S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE WELCOMING TO PEOPLE THROUGHOUT COOK COUNTY IN CHICAGO LAND REGION AND THAT WE'RE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO MAKE IT TO THE ZOO AND ACTUALLY COME HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS GETTING OUR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY STAFF OUT INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE SCIENCE-BASED EDUCATION.

WE CAN PROVIDE CONSERVATION INFORMATION.

WE CAN REALLY GET OUT AND PARTNER LOCALLY.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MONEY.

YES, IT'S COSTING.

AND WHO'S PAYING FOR IT?

YES.

THE NEXT CENTURY PLAN, AS WE CAN SEE THERE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE MAKING A $500 COMMITMENT TOWARDS THIS 15 YEAR PLAN.

THIS PLAN IS REALLY GOT A 30 YEAR VISION TO IT.

SO THAT HAS OVER YEARS.

YEAH.

OF 100 MILLION OF THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR AN ENDOWMENT TO REALLY HELPS ASSURE ENSURE OUR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY LONG TERM.

AND THEN THE 400 MILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE CAPITAL WERE ABOUT HALFWAY THERE HAVING THAT IS COMMITTED OR PLEDGED FUNDS REFUNDS IN HAND.

SO THIS MEAN, SO LOOKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE.

BUT DOES THIS ALSO MEAN MAYBE TICKET PRICES GOING SO WE'RE NOT CONTEMPLATING ANY TICKET PRICE INCREASES RIGHT NOW.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ANIMALS TO FEED.

THERE'S A LOT CARE COSTS CONSIDERED IN THAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY DECISIONS AROUND RISING TICKET PRICES.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR FOLKS WHO MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN TO BROOKFIELD ZOO IN A WHILE AND IF THEY DO COME, THEY GET EXCITED.

SEE THE SEGMENT.

PERHAPS.

YEAH.

ARE THEY GOING TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE ANY ANIMALS WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY?

AS WE PROGRESS, THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE TIMES FOR CERTAIN ANIMALS MAY NOT BE VISIBLE ON THIS JUST INEVITABLE AS WE WORK UPDATING 100 YEAR OLD BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE ZOO WILL BE OPEN AND WILL BE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCES THAT COMPLEMENT THOSE THAT ARE OFFLINE RIGHT NOW, THOSE THAT COME ARE GOING TO SEE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 66 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, WHICH IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO SEE IT COMING TO LIFE.

SO I'M DEFINITELY WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO BE READY TO COME NEXT SUMMER AS WE OPEN THIS NEW TROPICAL FOREST HABITAT UP, IT'S GOING TO BE A A PREVIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT'S TO COME DOWN THE ROAD.

AND ALREADY I KNOW THAT DOLPHINS HAVE A NEW HOME WITH AND YOU'VE GOT SOME KOALAS.

WHAT AND WILLIMON BRUMBY RUGBY.

HOW ARE THEY THEY ARE GREAT.

THEY HAVE SETTLED IN.

SO WHILE THERE ARE HUGE HIT WITH OUR GUESTS, I'M IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN OUR 90 YEAR HISTORY THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD KOALAS AT BROOKFIELD ZOO.

IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN'T.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THE DOLPHINS 10 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN THEIR FACILITY TO BRING FORWARD A NUMBER OF NEW FEATURES IN THERE FOR THE WELLNESS OF THOSE ANIMALS IN JUST A UPDATE, THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES OTHER NEW EXCITING CHANGES IN THE NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE.

A WITH SANDHILL CRANES IN PRAIRIE CHICKENS.

I'M JUST A LOT GOING ON.

WATER FIREHOUSE IN AMPITHEATER SO MUCH COMING.

WE'RE TALK ABOUT THAT PHYSICAL PART IN OUR LAST 30 SECONDS OR SO.

THERE'S AN APP AND AN AI COMPONENT AS WELL.

YES, SO WE'VE LAUNCHED A NEW APP THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR US TO PUSH INFORMATION TO OUR GUESTS AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE PARKS AND THAT AS THEY'RE LOOKING AT AN ANIMAL, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE CONSERVATION STORY ABOUT THAT ANIMAL.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEM THE DETAILS OF THAT ANIMAL AND ITS FAMILY.

AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT A VERY INTERACTIVE PROCESS AS PEOPLE MOVE THROUGH THE ZOO.

WELL, YOU ARE ROARING AHEAD.

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY YOU.

THAT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING SO MUCH.

AND UP NEXT, ENJOY THE CHICAGO RIVER WHILE LEARNING ABOUT EFFORTS TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE CITY RUSH?

WELL, THE SHEDD AQUARIUM IS OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE TRANQUIL BEAUTY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER WHILE LEARNING ABOUT EFFORTS TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

CHICAGO, TONIGHT'S JOANNA HERNANDEZ BROUGHT US THIS STORY EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK.

WHEN WE LIKE TURN THE CORNER HERE, YOU'LL SEE LIKE SEARS TOWER AND LIKE IS THAT YOUR DOT COM.

SO YOU WANT YOUR POUTY FACE NEW LIKE THIS.

THE WHOLE TIME MEET MAGGIE COOPER, ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE CONSERVATION ACTION DEPARTMENT AT THE SHEDD AQUARIUM AND YOUR HIPS.

JUST MOVE IF YOU'RE BUT KIND OF DOING YOUR BEST TO CURE.

AND PRESTON TODAY, MAKING SURE THOSE DON'T LIE.

KEEP THOSE YET TO BE OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE NATURE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT I LOVE THE MOST IS THAT I GET TO TAKE OTHER PEOPLE ITS COOPER'S FIRST PANEL OF THE SEASON AS THE SHEDD AQUARIUM KICKS OFF ITS 5TH YEAR OF KAYAKING FOR CONSERVATION TOURS.

WE TAKE PEOPLE OUT ALL SUMMER LONG TO EXPLORE THE CHICAGO RIVER IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE ARE MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY FAMILIAR WITH ALONG THE WAY YOU'LL SPOT DUCKS, BIRDS AND EVEN BEAVERS.

AROUND, LIKE 74 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FISH IN THE RIVER NOW, WHICH IS AWESOME.

AND LIKE 25 OF THOSE ABOUT ARE LIKE RESIDENT SPECIES.

COOPER SAYS IT'S AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE RIVER WILDLIFE AND HOW THEY'RE BEING CARED FOR.

HERE.

WE'VE JUST KIND FOUND SOME OF THE INVASIVE PLANTS THAT WERE OVERHANGING THE RIVER AND DROPPED HIM SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PROVIDES GREAT HABITAT FOR TURTLES.

ONE OF THE STOPS ALONG THE WAY IS THE WETLANDS INSTALLATIONS LOCATED IN THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE RIVER.

THEY ARE WILDLIFE AREAS WITH A VARIETY OF NATIVE PLANTS.

THESE ARE PROVIDING REALLY AMAZING CRITICAL HABITAT RIGHT HERE ON THE CHICAGO RIVER THAT OTHERWISE WE DO HAVE IF WE LOOK BEYOND THESE ISLANDS, WE WILL SEE THE STEEL WAS KIND OF RIGHT ALONG THE WAY HERE.

AND IF YOU CAN KIND OF PICTURE, THIS IS A FISH.

HAVE A FLAT BOTTOM SEAL WAS SORT OF JUST A HIGHWAY COMING THROUGH HERE.

NOWHERE REST.

HANG OUT.

SO IT'S PROVIDING HABITAT BELOW THE WATER'S THESE PLANTS.

THEIR ROOTS ARE COMING RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF IT OF THESE MAPS AND THEIR ROOT SYSTEMS ARE PROVIDING HABITAT FOR FISH AND THE PROVIDING HABITAT FOR BIRDS.

AND YES, HE'S SURE CAN.

IT'S A COLLABORATION.

STARTED WITH THE NON-FOR-PROFIT URBAN RIVERS CALLED THE WILD MILES.

CHICAGO.

IT'S THE CITY'S FIRST FLOATING ECO PARK.

THE PROJECT HAS CREATED FLOATING ISLANDS AIMED AT IMPROVING WATER QUALITY.

YOU KNOW THAT THESE PLANTS WILL DRAFT OPTIONS AND OTHER STUFF OUT OF THE LOT OF THAT MAYBE SHOULDN'T BE THERE.

SO THER THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE WAYS THAT THEY'RE HELPING EVER.

AND IT'S EASY TO FORGET.

YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF NATURE.

CHICAGO RIVER IS A SPACE FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY IT'S EASY TO JUST GO OVER THE RIVER ON YOUR CAR, WALKING OVER A BRIDGE DOWNTOWN AND LOOKING AT AND SEE LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S COOL.

THAT'S SOMETHING THERE.

BUT IT'S NOT REALLY FOR ME.

I WANT EVERYONE KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET OUT TO PROGRAMS LIKE FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

THE SHEDD AQUARIUM OFFERS THESE TOURS ON A PAY.

WHAT YOU CAN BASIS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPERATION DAYS.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

LOOKS LIKE FUN TO THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 AND AT 10 WE'VE GOT 3 WEEKS OUT FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

ONE WILL HARRIS ANNOUNCED HER RUNNING MATE AND A HIGH NUMBER OF TORNADOES HAVE HIT ILLINOIS ALREADY THIS YEAR.

A LOOK AT THE ROLE CLIMATE CHANGE MAY PLAY.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M AMANDA VINNIE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF A PERSONAL INJURY LAW