JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THIS IS AN ACCENT.

VIOLENT HOLIDAY WEEKEND IN CHICAGO HAS OFFICIALS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS?

PROJECT PROTECTING THE GREAT LAKES FROM INVASIVE CARP MOVES FORWARD.

CLEANUP BEGINS FOLLOWING THE NASCAR STREET RACE.

BUT CRITICS SAY THE RISKS OUTWEIGH WILL BE THE CITY'S 27 TIME HOSTING A NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTION.

IT'S TOUGH TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE AND WITH THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION A WEEK AWAY, WE LOOK AT CHICAGO'S HISTORY OF POLITICAL CONVENTIONS.

NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS KILLED IN 2 BOEING PLANE CRASHES ARE PUSHING BACK ON THE SETTLEMENT.

THE COMPANY REACHED WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

DOJ OFFICIALS SAY THE COMPANY HAS AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO A CRIMINAL FRAUD CHARGE STEMMING FROM THE 2, 7, 37 MAX CRASHES THAT KILLED 346 PEOPLE UNDER THE DEAL.

BOEING WOULD FACE FINES UP TO 487 MILLION DOLLARS.

A FRACTION OF THE NEARLY 25 BILLION THAT FAMILIES, ONE OF THE AIRCRAFT MAKER TO PAY OUT TO ATTORNEYS FOR THE FAMILIES ARE FILING AN OBJECTION TO THE SETTLEMENT.

IN A STATEMENT, THEY SAY, QUOTE, MUCH MORE EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PRESENTED OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS.

THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE CULTURE OF BOEING PUTTING PROFITS OVER SAFETY HASN'T CHANGED THE PLEA AGREEMENT ONLY FURTHERS THAT SKEWED CORPORATE OBJECTIVE AND IN FULL DISCLOSURE, CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES IS A SUPPORTER OF WT TW.

ILLINOIS STATE.

POLICE SAY SHOOTINGS ON CHICAGO AREA EXPRESSWAYS ARE DOWN FOR THE 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR.

NOW, HALFWAY THROUGH 2024, ISP REPORTS A 36% DECREASE COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

AND A 65% DECREASE FROM 2021.

THE AGENCY SAYS PART OF THE REASON FOR THE REDUCTION IS THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY LIKE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS AS WELL AS SPECIAL AGENTS PURSUING LEADS AMONG THE CHALLENGES, THOUGH, VICTIMS AND WITNESSES ARE INCREASINGLY REPORTING ROAD RAGE BEING INVOLVED IN EXPRESSWAY SHOOTINGS.

AND MEANWHILE, WHETHER YOU'RE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY OR NOT, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS 2 WORDS FOR DRIVERS SLOW DOWN.

SPEEDING IS STRESSFUL AND INCONSIDERATE TO OTHER DRIVERS.

AND IT MAKES YOU A DANGER TO YOURSELF YOUR PASSENGERS AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE GROUND.

WE'RE ALL SCARED THE ROAD.

SO SLOW DOWN.

ENJOY THE RIDE GET TO YOUR DESTINATION SAFELY.

NAVY PIER TODAY.

THE AGENCY ALSO KNOWN AS NITSA LAUNCHED A 9.5 MILLION DOLLAR CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH, REMINDING MOTORISTS TO EASE OFF THE GAS AS THE SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON IS IN FULL SWING.

OFFICIALS ALSO RELEASED DATA SHOWING THAT WHILE SPEED-RELATED CRASHES FELL SLIGHTLY IN 2022.

SPEED WAS STILL A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN ALMOST A 3RD OF ALL TRAFFIC FATALITIES.

AND IT DOESN'T ONLY HAPPEN ON HIGHWAYS.

87 1% OF ALL SPEED-RELATED TRAFFIC FATALITIES OCCURRED ON NON INTERSTATE ROADS.

UP NEXT, CALLS FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT AFTER A VIOLENT HOLIDAY WEEKEND IN CHICAGO.

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 OF THESE DO THIS.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON IS PROMISING CONSEQUENCES AFTER A VIOLENT HOLIDAY WEEKEND IN CHICAGO.

MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND 19 WERE KILLED ACROSS THE CITY.

IT MARKS A SIGNIFICANT JUMP OVER THE SAME WEEKEND LAST YEAR WHEN 11 PEOPLE WERE FATALLY SHOT.

THE MAYOR AND CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE EARLIER TODAY CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS IS ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PAIN AND TRAUMA AND THE TORMENT THAT THEY'VE CAUSED IN THIS CITY.

THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.

THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE VIOLENCE.

WILL NOT LET CRIMINAL ACTIVITY RULING AND HARM OUR CITY.

WBTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW.

MATT, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM TODAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE?

THE MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT HOW THIS VIOLENCE STRUCK HIM ON A PERSONAL PERSONAL LEVEL.

HE SAID HE WAS HEARTBROKEN BY WHAT HAPPENED.

AND AS WE HEARD, HE CALLED FOR CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO HE SAID WERE MAKING THE CHOICE TO FIRE THESE WEAPONS AND ENDANGER PEOPLE OR KILL PEOPLE AROUND THEM.

HE SAID LAST MONTH HE CALLED ON HIS FEDERAL PARTNERS FOR MORE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND TO RESPOND TO MASS SHOOTINGS IN CHICAGO.

THE WAY THAT FEDERAL PARTNERS RESPOND TO THEM AND OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HE SAID THE CITY NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE AND DECRIED THE FACT THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE FAR TOO EASY TO ACCESS.

LEGAL WEAPONS IN CHICAGO WANTS TO SEE MORE WORK DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO HELP KEEP THOSE WEAPONS OUT OF THE CITY.

DID OFFICIALS SAY WHETHER ANY POLICING ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND?

YEAH.

SO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING SAID HIS DEPARTMENT HAS TO BE FLEXIBLE.

TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT OVER LARGE SCALE WEEKENDS LIKE THIS IN THE PAST, BUT THEY NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE AS CRIME PATTERNS CHANGING SHIFT EVEN THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF A SINGLE DAY.

SO IF THERE'S A SHOOTING OR MASS SHOOTING IN AN AREA WHERE OFFICERS SENT TO THEIR TO PROCESS THE SCENE HANDLE VICTIMS AND ALSO PREVENT RETALIATORY VIOLENCE.

THAT COULD HAPPEN LATER ON.

AS FOR RESOURCES.

THE CPD TOMORROW AND TUESDAY IS HOSTING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CENTER ON SOUTH RACINE FOR TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ASSISTANCE SERVICES SERVICES, NOT ONLY FOR VICTIMS OF CRIMES FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND OR THIS YEAR, BUT ANYONE IN THE PAST WAS EVER NEEDED THE SORT OF RESOURCE IN THE PAST CAN GO AND GET THOSE TOMORROW.

SO AT TODAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE, POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNOW AND COLD ON COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS TO COME FORWARD.

WE NEED EVERY SINGLE PERSON TO STEP UP.

PLEASE GIVE US INFORMATION.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, MOST OF THE CASES WHERE WE'VE BEEN TO SOLVE FAIRLY QUICKLY IS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD OUTREACH FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND ADDITIONALLY, MADAM, MAYOR JOHNSON, GIVE ANY AT TODAY'S EVENT ABOUT WHETHER HE'S RECONSIDERING GETTING RID OF THE GUNSHOT DETECTION TECHNOLOGY, SHOTSPOTTER CITIES NOT HAVING ANY SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT, OF COURSE THE CITY IS SET DO SHOT SPOTTER IN SEPTEMBER AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

BUT THE TECHNOLOGY WAS CITED BY POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER THIS WEEKEND IS ACTUALLY HAVING ALERTED THEM TO SOME OF THESE FATAL SHOOTINGS.

AND AS WE KNOW, SOME ALL THE PERSONS IN THE CITY OF PUSH TO KEEP KEEP THIS TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

MAYOR JOHNSON SAID THAT THE VIOLENCE OVER THIS WEEKEND HAS NOT SWAYED TO CHANGE HIS MIND ON THAT FRONT.

SO WE'RE ABOUT 6 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE DNC IN CHICAGO, AS HE MENTIONED IN OFFICIAL SHOW ANY OVER THE POLICE'S ABILITY TO HANDLE THESE LARGE SCALE EVENTS IN THE WAKE OF THIS WEEKEND'S RIGHT THEY DID NOT.

SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNOWING AGAIN SAID THAT THE VIOLENCE OVER THE WEEKEND WASN'T A POLICE ISSUE OR PREPARATION ISSUE.

BUT MORE OF A SOCIETAL ISSUE AGAIN POINTING TO IT.

MAYOR JOHNSON HAD SAID ABOUT A LACK OF RESOURCES OR THE EASE OF FIRED ILLEGAL FIREARMS IN THE CITY.

OFFICERS IN CHICAGO PREPARE BEEN PREPARING FOR MONTHS AND FOR MASS PROTESTS TO MASS GATHERINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SPECIFIC TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND IS REALLY GOING TO AFFECT THEM OR CHANGE THEIR PLANS GOING FORWARD FOR DNC WHEN IT COMES HERE NEXT MONTH, OK?

AND THAT'S JUST SOMETHING SO MUCH EXPERIENCE.

AND YOU CAN READ MATT'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

CHICAGO.

TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE SULEY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

ILLINOIS IS SIGNING ON TO A PROJECT TO STOP INVASIVE CARP FROM ENTERING THE GREAT LAKES.

THIS COMES MONTHS AFTER AFTER MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER WHO WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR THE BILL ADVOCATES ARE APPLAUDING THE STATE FOR JOINING IN SAYING BRANDON ROAD IN OR BASIN PROJECT IS THE LAST CHANCE TO PROTECT WATERWAYS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS MOLLY FLANAGAN, THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS AT THE ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES.

MOLLY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING SO REMIND US WHAT MAKES CART SO PROBLEMATIC FIRST?

YEAH.

THERE ARE 2 THINGS.

2 BIG REASONS.

WE DON'T WANT CARBON.

THE GREAT LAKES.

ONE IS THAT THEY DESTROY THE ECOLOGY OF THE LAKES.

THEY EAT THE SAME FOOD NATIVE FISH EAT.

AND THEY ALSO LIVE IN THE SAME HABITATS.

SO YOU GET CARP.

THEY EAT THE FOOD.

THEY OCCUPY THE HABITATS, YOU LOSE NATIVE SPECIES.

THE SECOND IS THAT THEY HARM THE ECONOMY THAT COULD HARM THE ECONOMY OF THE GREAT LAKES.

SILVER CARP JUMP OUT OF THE WATER WHEN BOTHERED.

SO THINK ABOUT KAYAK, PADDLE OR BOAT MOTOR AND HAVING 30 40, 50 POUND FISH FLYING INTO MOVING PEOPLE CAN BE REALLY HARMFUL.

AND SO IT'S A IT'S A BAD 1, 2, PUNCH WITH HARMING ECOLOGY AND THE ECONOMY OF THE LAKES.

WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THE ECOSYSTEM?

SHOULD THEY REACH THE GREAT LAKES?

WE'VE SEEN PLACES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE INVASIVE CARP MAKEUP UP TO 90% OF THE BIOMASS IN RIVERS.

WE DON'T WANT THAT IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION.

WE DON'T WANT IT IN RIVERS THAT FEED THE GREAT LAKES.

WE DON'T WANT IT IN THE GREAT LAKES THEMSELVES.

AND SO IT'S CRITICAL TO KEEP THEM OUT.

NOW, THIS THIS IS ONE OF THOSE IN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.

IF THEY GIVE WE CAN'T GET HIM OUT, CAN STOP.

AND THEY ALSO SEEM TO BE PLENTIFUL.

YES, THEY ARE THEY'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL BREEDING FISH.

AND SO IT ALLOWS THEM TO REALLY TAKEOVER WATERWAYS RAPIDLY TO LOTS OF THEM ON CAN HAVE AN IMPACT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ON FISHING, OTHER INDUSTRIES, BUT AT RECREATION AS WELL.

YOU MENTIONS KAYAKING, FOR EXAMPLE.

SURE.

BOATING FISHING.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ENJOYS SPENDING TIME ON THE LAKE IF THEY DON'T ENJOY SPENDING TIME ON THE LAKE THAT HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS FOR COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GREAT LAKES THAT DEPEND ON THAT TOURISM INDUSTRY FOR DOLLARS.

PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT IS THE STATUS CURRENTLY?

YES, SO WE'RE WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO BREAKING AFTER ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIGNED THE AGREEMENT LAST WEEK.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'LL BE ABLE TO BREAK GROUND AT BRANDON ROAD IN JANUARY OF 2025.

AND BRANDON ROAD IS A NEAR JOLIET.

THAT'S CORRECT.

SO EXPLAINS FOR US WHAT SOME OF THE DETERRENCE THAT THE BRANDON ROAD IN A BASIN USES TO STOP THE FISH FROM GETTING INTO THE GREAT LAKES.

SURE, YOU CAN THINK OF BRANDON ROADS, OFFICIAL GAUNTLET.

SO IT HAS TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN ORDER TO GET TO THE GREAT LAKES, WHICH WE HOPE NEVER HAPPENS.

THEIR BUBBLE BARRIERS.

THERE ARE SOUND BARRIERS.

THE FISH DON'T LIKE THESE THINGS.

WHEN THEY GET INTO THEM, THEY SWIM AWAY.

THERE ARE ELECTRIC BARRIERS.

SO WHEN THEY GET TO ELECTRIC BARRIER, THEY ESSENTIALLY GET SHOCKED AND SWIM AWAY.

THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE FLUSHING WALK SO THAT IF YOU GET PEGS OR FISH LARVA IN THE ACTUAL LOCK THAT ALL GETS FLUSHED OUT AND BACK DOWNSTREAM BEFORE A BARGE GOES IN AND CAN GO THROUGH.

RIGHT.

AND THAT BARGE WOULD POTENTIALLY CARRY.

TO THE EGGS WITH.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS DESIGNED TO NOT HAVE AND OBVIOUSLY THAT, LOOK, WE MENTION THAT THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SOME TIME, BUT NOTHING HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DONE AS FAR AS CONSTRUCTION EVALUATED SITE OR ANY THAT.

SO FAR WHERE THERE'S BEEN THAT DESIGN ENGINEERING FOR THE PROJECT IS DONE THERE'S 274 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING.

READY TO GO.

THAT'S ENOUGH MONEY TO COMPLETE THE FIRST INCREMENT OF THE PROJECT.

THERE'S 114 MILLION DOLLARS IN NON-FEDERAL FUNDING BETWEEN ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN.

THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

WE NOW HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM AND WE HOPE WE CAN KEEP THAT MOVING FORWARD TO STOP AND VINCENT PART FOR MOVING FORWARD.

HOW MUCH SIGNIFICANT OR EFFICIENT IS THIS PROJECT GOING TO BE AT STOPPING THE CART COMPARED TO WHAT'S WHAT'S PREVIOUSLY BEEN DONE?

YES.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEPENDING ON HARVESTING AND MONITORING AND SOME GOOD LUCK TO KEEP THE FISH ARE MOVING FORWARD TO LAKE MICHIGAN.

THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE PROTECTIVE AND HAD SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LAYERS OF PROTECTION THAT WE HOPE WILL KEEP.

IT MAKES A CARVE OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES IN PERPETUITY.

WHY IS THIS AT BRANDON ROAD?

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

WAS THAT CRUCIAL?

SO IT'S A CHOKE POINT IN THE RIVER.

THE FISH HAVEN'T MADE IT THAT FAR YET.

AND THERE'S A LOCK AND DAM.

SO IF YOU HAVE CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT THE WALK TO KEEP FISH FROM FROM MOVING, THEY CAN'T GET OVER THE DAM.

AND SO WE HAVE A GOOD PLACE WHERE THE FISH WE CAN BASICALLY IMPEDE THE FISHES MOVEMENTS EVERYWHERE, OK?

SO THEY'LL PROBABLY GET RIGHT AND THEN FLUSHED BACK YOU SAID, OF COURSE, MANY TIMES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME ON THIS ISSUE.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE TIMELINE LOOKS LIKE FOR THIS GOING FORWARD NOW THAT WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR AT LEAST BREAKING GROUND?

YEAH.

I MEAN, I HOPE THE TIMELINE DOESN'T SHIFT AT ALL.

THE CORPS HAS SAID IF ALL THE FEDERAL FUNDING GETS INTO PLACE, THIS PROJECT COULD BE DONE.

AND 68 YEARS.

THAT MEANS EVERYTHING NEEDS SMOOTHLY.

THAT MEANS WE REALLY NEED TO SEE THIS PROJECT STARTED IN JANUARY.

AS LONG AS THE FISH DON'T SPEED UP.

YES.

AS LONG AS WE DON'T SEE FISH AND I DON'T THINK WE WILL.

THERE'S A LOT OF PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO MONITOR FOR THOSE FISH AND TAKE ACTION.

THERE ARE ANY SPOTTED IN THE WATER WAYS.

OKAY.

BEST OF LUCK TO TO THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS WHO WORKING ON THIS, MAKING SURE THAT THE FISH DON'T MAKE IT TO THE GREAT LAKES.

MOLLY FLANAGAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

OF COURSE.

UP NEXT, NASCAR IS DRIVING OUT OF CHICAGO, BUT NOT WITHOUT LEAVING BEHIND SOME SKID MARKS.

A LOOK AT THAT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

DOWNTOWN ROADWAYS ARE STARTING TO REOPEN.

NOW THAT THE WEEKEND'S NASCAR FESTIVITIES ARE DONE.

THE RACE RETURN TO THE WINDY CITY FOR THE SECOND YEAR AFTER ADDING 109 MILLION DOLLARS TO CHICAGO'S ECONOMY LAST SUMMER.

BUT SOME DON'T THINK THE ATTRACTION IS WORTH THE DAMAGE THAT IT CAUSES TO THE STREETS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE, OUR LESLIE WRECKED PRESIDENT OF THE GRANT PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL.

AND CATHERINE CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO ENVIRONMENTALIST, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

LESLIE WRECK STARTING WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO MAYOR JOHNSON WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT NASCAR WOULD BE RETURNING?

THE ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS RAISED SOME ISSUES ABOUT JUST WHAT NASCAR IS CONTRIBUTING TO BOTH THE PARK DISTRICT IN THE CITY AND OUR MAIN CONCERN WAS, FIRST OF ALL, THE PERMIT FEES THAT THEY'RE PAYING ARE MUCH SMALLER.

THEN THE PERMIT FEES BEING PAID, FOR INSTANCE, BY LOLLAPALOOZA SWAYING HOUSE.

THEY PAY ABOUT 12 MILLION LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, THE INCREASE AND THE PERMIT FEE WENT FROM 500,000 TO 550,000 FOR NASCAR.

SO WE DON'T FEEL THEY'RE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE, BUT ALSO THEY'RE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE PARK IN TERMS OF THEY THEY DO FIX A LOT OF THE DAMAGE THAT THEY DO, BUT THEY DON'T FIX IT ALL.

AND LOLLAPALOOZA HAS SHOWN THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PUT AN INVESTMENT INTO GRANT PARK LIKE THE $500,000 THEY DONATED FOR THE NEW PICKLEBALL AND TENNIS COURTS.

GRANT PARK, AS YOU MENTIONED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A SCENE OF A LOT OF EVENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER LOLLAPALOOZA BEING A VERY BIG ONE.

OF COURSE, THE SWING IS FESTIVAL AS WELL.

BUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE PARK AS WELL AS NEARBY RESIDENTS OF SO MUCH IN A COUPLE, YOU KNOW, COME BACK TO OUT OF TIME.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN MORE AND MORE LARGE EVENTS IN GRANT PARK AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 110,000 RESIDENTS WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN, WHO LOOK AT GRAND PARK US A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

AND SO THE IMPACT THE RESIDENCE.

IT'S ON THE BUSINESSES.

IT'S ON THE MUSEUM'S PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO AND FROM.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPACTS WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVENT LIKE NASCAR AND THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT SUFFICIENTLY.

CATHERINE, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE RETURN OF NASCAR?

YEAH.

I THINK THAT WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT NASCAR IS NOT CHICAGO'S ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.

NASCAR IS NOT ITS PRIMARY SOURCE OF EMISSIONS.

AND AS ONE BRITAIN'S THAT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I THINK THAT I CAN SPEAK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHIN CHICAGO.

ENVIRONMENTAL US WHEN I SAY THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TONE THAT IT SETS FOR THE CITY AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT THE DIRECTION WE'RE AS A WHOLE WE'RE IN A CLIMATE CRISIS.

WE SEE THE EFFECTS OF THAT EVERY DAY ON THE NEWS.

WE HAVE RECORD BREAKING HEAT.

WE HAVE SEVERE STORMS THEY'RE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY THAN EVER.

WE HAVE DROUGHT.

I WISH I COULD GO ON BUT WE'RE SEEING THOSE EFFECTS EVERY DAY.

SO WHY IS OR CITY LEADERSHIP CHOOSING TO REINFORCE A CULTURE THAT SAYS THAT BURNING FOSSIL FUELS FOR ENTERTAINMENT IS ACCEPTABLE.

WHY ARE WE PROMOTING THAT WOMAN?

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER MORE SUSTAINABLE OF OPTIONS LIKE CAN BRING AS MUCH OR MORE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CITY.

NOW, SOME SCIENTISTS HAVE THAT THOSE BECAUSE IT'S IN A LIMITED A LIMITED TIME EVENTS AREN'T CONTRIBUTING QUITE AS MUCH GASES IN FUMES AND DIMINISHING THE QUALITY OF THE AIR ON.

AND BECAUSE THOSE ROADWAYS ARE BLOCKED OFF, THERE'S A BUNCH OF CARS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN OFF THE ROAD FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN FROM THIS RACE, RIGHT?

SO I THINK IT IS A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING A PERSON WHO IS IS SEEING A BROADER IMPACT.

THE AIR QUALITY AFFECTS EVERYONE THAT WE ARE A CITY THAT STRUGGLED WITH AIR QUALITY ISSUES FOR A LONG TIME THAT SOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS ALREADY STRUGGLE TO BREATHE THAT HAVE HIGH RATES OF ASTHMA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY ISSUES.

AND WE ARE CHOOSING TO POLLUTE OUR AIR INTENTIONALLY FOR THE SAKE OF A TOURIST EVENT.

FOR THE SAKE OF ENTERTAINING AND WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE IF WE HAD A SEVERE DROUGHT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BARELY GETTING ACCESS TO WATER.

WOULD WE BUILD A TEMPORARY WATER PARK DOWNTOWN FOR TOURIST ATTRACTION?

WHAT WE DO THAT LESLIE, LAST YEAR, TAXPAYERS 3 AND A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS IN OVERTIME FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

REPAIRS FOR THE CITY ROADWAYS.

WILL THAT BE THE SAME THIS YEAR?

NO.

THAT'S ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT THERE JOHNSON HAS MADE THIS YEAR.

THAT AMOUNT IS GOING TO BE PAID BY BY NASCAR.

BUT OF COURSE, THE STREETS WERE ALREADY PAVED THE PAVING OF THE STREETS WAS SOMETHING THAT NASCAR DIDN'T PAY FOR LAST YEAR.

THE OVERTIME POLICE, OF COURSE, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR ALL ALONG.

SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT THEY ARE THEY ARE TAKING ON THIS YEAR.

YOU CAN'T RUN YOUR RECENTLY SHARED A POLE AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE NASCAR RACE.

ASKING IF PEOPLE THINK THAT THE EVENT IS A GOOD THING FOR CHICAGO.

WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME WAS A REACTION?

YEAH.

SO I MEAN, VERY UNIVERSALLY NEGATIVE AMONGST PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR GROUP, WHICH ARE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

IT WAS I THINK 95% SAID THAT THEY DID NOT THINK IT WAS A GOOD THING FOR THE CITY.

AND ADDITIONALLY, CHICAGOANS NOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE CONSULTED THIS DECISION WAS MADE BY OUR PREVIOUS MAYOR.

SO WE REALLY DID NOT GET CHANCE TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE IT STARTED HAPPENING.

WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND YEAR OF A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT.

BUT BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW, IF NASCAR SHOULD BECOME A REGULAR CHICAGO EVENT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR REACTION TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND HOW MIGHT YOU ARGUE AGAINST THE CITY LESLIE?

I'LL START WITH YOU.

WELL, I THINK THERE ARE DEFINITELY PROS AND CONS.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ARE OF ONE MIND.

AND SO SOME SOME THINK THAT IT IS A POSITIVE HIM BIG ISSUES WITH THAT.

I THINK THE KEY TO ME IS WHAT IS NASCAR BRINGING BACK TO GRANT PARK TO THE CITY.

THEY NEED TO PAY MORE.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THEY HAVE TV CONTRACTS THAT ARE WORTH SOMEWHERE AROUND 10 BILLION DOLLARS FOR 10 YEARS FOR ALL OF THE RACES.

AND THEY WERE ARGUING THAT THEY WANTED MORE MONEY BECAUSE THEY CAME TO CHICAGO BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING MORE VIEWERSHIP.

THEY'RE GETTING MORE MONEY.

THEY'RE NOT SHARING IT WITH EVEN CHICAGO WHERE THE PARK DISTRICT COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.

CATHERINE, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

YES, SO I WOULD SAY WE DO NOT.

I WOULD SAY THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT IN WITHIN OUR GROUP OF THIS RACE CONTINUING.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY AMONGST VIEWERS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, REACH OUT TO YOUR ALDERMAN.

GET LOUD ABOUT WHY YOU DON'T WANT THIS RACE TO CONTINUE BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST AS THE CITY, OK?

I WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

CAPTAIN, TELL US A LESSON WRECKED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UP NEXT, WBTW NEWS.

EXPLAIN CHICAGO'S STORIED POLITICAL CONVENTION HISTORY.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE IS A WEEK AWAY.

THAT MEANS THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO IS ALSO RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

AMANDA VICKI HAS THE SCOOP ON CHICAGO'S LONG HISTORY WITH NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTIONS.

IN OUR LATEST EDITION OF WT TW NEWS EXPLAINS.

CHICAGO IS SET TO HOST THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION THIS SUMMER.

AND THAT WILL BE THE CITY'S 27 TIME HOSTING A NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTION.

IT'S TOUGH TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE EVENT, PERHAPS BECAUSE CHICAGO CONVENTIONS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE ROCKETS AND CONSEQUENTIAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

TAKE THE FOR CHICAGO CONVENTION IN 18, 60 REPUBLICANS CHOSE A YOUNG ILLINOIS LAWYER NAMED ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO BE THEIR STANDARD BEARER.

EVEN THOUGH LINCOLN DIDN'T EVEN ATTEND CONVENTION ITSELF.

THAT WAS 1912, WHERE THE SCENE AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION WAS SO TENSE OUR PLAYERS AROUND THE EVENT IT WAS PRESIDENT TEDDY ROOSEVELT VERSUS A SUCCESSOR INCUMBENT WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT.

AND WHILE ROOSEVELT WON MOST OF THE PRIMARIES, PARTY LEADERS PICKED TAFT ANYWAY.

THE NEXT ROSE ABOUT SUPPORTERS FORM A NEW PROGRESSIVE PARTY.

AND 6 WEEKS LATER POSTED THEIR OWN CONVENTION IN THE SAME BUILDING, MEANING TEDDY, THEIR NOMINEE.

IN 1932.

DURING THE DEPTHS OF THE DEPRESSION, CHICAGO HOSTED BOTH THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS.

REPUBLICANS NOMINATED HERBERT HOOVER FOR REELECTION.

WHILE THE DEMOCRATS CHOSE FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT WHO INTRODUCED A LANDMARK PROPOSAL FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

LOVE THE AMERICAN FATE.

THE 1952 CONVENTIONS WERE THE FIRST TO BE TELEVISED LIVE COAST TO COAST HELD CHICAGO AGAIN WITH DEMOCRATS NOMINATING ILLINOIS GOVERNOR AT STEVENSON, EVEN THOUGH HE EXPLICITLY SAID HE DID NOT WANT THE JOB, HE WENT ON TO LOSE IN A LANDSLIDE.

REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, DWIGHT EISENHOWER, LIKE FAST FORWARD TO THE INFAMOUS 1968 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION WHICH DESCENDED INTO VIOLENCE CHICAGO.

POLICE NATIONAL GUARDSMEN LAST THOUSANDS ANTIWAR PROTESTERS GRANT PARK WITH MAYOR DALEY DEFENDING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WALKED AWAY HAVING NOMINATED HUBERT HUMPHREY AND THE PARTY DIVISIONS HIGHLIGHTED CHICAGO, HELP RICHARD NIXON BEAT HUMPHREY THAT CALL.

IT WAS 28 YEARS BEFORE CHICAGO GOT A RETURN ENGAGEMENT AND PERHAPS THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS THING THAT HAPPENED IN 1996, WAS DELEGATES DANCING THE MACARENA AHEAD PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HIS RENOMINATION.

SO WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 2024?

WE'LL SOON FIND OUT.

WE'LL FIND OUT SOON.

AND YOU CAN FIND MORE OF OUR EMMY AWARD-WINNING SERIES WBTW NEWS EXPLAINS ON OUR WEBSITE AND MAKE CHICAGO TONIGHT.

YOUR HOME FOR THE RNC NEXT WEEK.

JOIN US LIVE AT 5, 30 10 EACH CONVENTION NIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE FROM MILWAUKEE AND ANALYSIS BEFORE AND AFTER PBS NEWS HOUR.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED MERGER OF CTA, METRA AND PACE.

PLUS, A LOOK AT THE YEARS LONG PUSH TO MAKE CITY COUNCIL MORE INDEPENDENT FROM THE MAYOR.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A AND CLIFFORD CONGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH THAT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS FOUNDER AND SENIOR PARK ROBERT, WHO RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS BY