>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>>> AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT IN U.S. HISTORY AS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ENTERS FEDERAL CHARGES.

>>> BACKING THAT ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE UPCOMING NASCAR CHICAGO STREET RACE.

>> I WOULD LIKE THEM TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

>>> RESIDENTS REACT TO A NEW DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT COULD REMAKE THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS.

>>> A.M. RADIO IS STILL EXTREMELY RELEVANT .

>> WHY THE FUTURE OF A.M. RADIO HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

>>> WHEN WE TELL THEM, NO, YOU CAN LIVE YOUR NORMAL, REGULAR LIFE , DONATE, AFTER DONATING YOUR KIDNEY, THEY'RE VERY SURPRISED.

>>> AND BRIDGING THE ORGAN DONATION GAP IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

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

HISTORY IS MADE IN A MIAMI COURTROOM TODAY AS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO MISHANDLING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS.

TRUMP IS THE FIRST FORMER PRESIDENT TO FACE FEDERAL CRIMINAL CHARGES.

HE'S FACING 37 COUNTS, INCLUDING OBSTRUCTION AND UNLAWFUL RETENTION OF DEFENSE INFORMATION.

ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT UNSEALED LAST WEEK, TRUMP IS ALLEGED TO HAVE STORED NUCLEAR SECRETS AND OTHER SENSITIVE MATERIAL IN UNSECURE LOCATIONS AT HIS FLORIDA HOME.

AFTER THE HEARING, TRUMP FLEW TO THE CAMPAIGN EVENT IN NEW JERSEY.

>>> WAUKEGAN IS APPARENTLY THE LATEST SUBURB LOOKING TO HOST THE CHICAGO BEARS.

MAYER AND TAYLOR PITCHED THE CITY TO BEARS PRESIDENT KEVIN WARREN IN A LETTER.

THIS LETTER WAS FIRST REPORTED BY WTTW NEWS.

TAYLOR'S PITCH INCLUDES, QUOTE, MULTIPLE LARGE PARCELS, INCLUDING LAKEFRONT PROPERTIES WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF THE PNC HALAS HALL THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED INTO BOTH A STATE-OF-THE-ART STADIUM AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

THE TEAM HAS PUBLICLY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN BUILDING.

WAUKEGAN'S APPROACH COMES AFTER THE BEARS SAID LAST WEEK THAT ARLINGTON HEIGHTS WAS NO LONGER THE SINGULAR FOCUS FOR A NEW STADIUM.

THAT'S DESPITE THE START OF DEMOLITION OF THE OLD RACETRACK THERE.

SINCE THEN, NAPERVILLE HAS PITCHED ITSELF TO THE BEARS, AS WELL AS THE BEARS HAVE RESUMED TALKS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>>> AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE ARE INJURED AFTER A SCHOOL BUS OVERTURNS ON THE DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY.

THE CRASH OCCURRED THIS AFTERNOON ON THE INBOUND DAN RYAN NEAR 38th STREET.

THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS ALL THE VICTIMS WERE TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL HOSPITALS WITH NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

THE BUS DRIVER REFUSED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

>>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PLANS TO SPEND NEARLY $1000 MORE PER STUDENT NEXT YEAR.

THE DISTRICT RELEASED ITS $9.4 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL , AND SAYS IT'S ADDING $240 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL SCHOOL LEVEL FUNDING.

WHILE FEWER SCHOOLS WILL FACE BUDGET CUTS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST, ONE IN 10 WILL STILL SLEEP DECREASED FUNDING.

UNDER A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL , BUDGET PROPOSAL RELEASED IN APRIL, CPS HAD PROJECTED NEARLY 20% OF ITS SCHOOLS WOULD SEE THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS FLATLINE OR DROP IN THE FALL.

THE DISTRICT NOW EXPECTS NOT TO BE AROUND 10%.

>>> UP NEXT, DETAILS OF UPCOMING ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE NASCAR CHICAGO STREET RACE.

IT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS .

>>> CITY OFFICIALS ARE UNVEILING THEIR LATEST PLAN FOR THE NASCAR RACE EVENT HAPPENING JULY 1st AND SECOND.

THEIR MAIN MESSAGE?

PLAN AHEAD AND TAKE EXTRA TIME GETTING AROUND DOWNTOWN THIS SUMMER.

WTTW NEWS REPORTED PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

PATTY, THE COURSES ON A FEW STREETS, BUT SEVERAL STREETS BEYOND THAT WILL BE CLOSED, AND THAT'S STARTING SATURDAY, JUNE 18th.

WHICH STREETS WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE ROAD CLOSURES?

>> I MEAN, THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS GOING TO BE ON DUSABLE LAKESHORE DRIVE, AND THEN THAT'S JUST GOING TO RIPPLE TO EVERY SIDE STREET AN ALTERNATE ROUTE, STARTING JUNE 28th , SOUTH BOUND, YOU'RE GOING TO START FILLING IN PACKS AT NORTH AVENUE.

IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSED AT RANDOLPH.

NORTHBOUND , AS OF JULY 1st, YOU KNOW, GOOD LUCK GETTING PAST THE MUSEUM CAMPUS, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET TO SOME OF OUR BEST TOURIST DESTINATIONS.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE GRIDLOCKED.

>> IT GIVES ME A HEADACHE JUST THINKING ABOUT IT, PATTY.

BECAUSE THERE'S THE KENNEDY AND ALL THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

ANY IDEA IF WE WILL GET ANY RELIEF FROM THAT?

>> WE WILL NOT GET ANY RELIEF.

I ASKED IDOT AND THEY RESPONDED BACK AND SAID THAT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE TYPE OF WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, EVEN THOUGH, A LOT OF TIMES, THEY'LL TAKE A BREAK FROM CONSTRUCTION DURING HOLIDAY WEEKENDS, NOT POSSIBLE WITH THE KENNEDY.

SO THOSE LANE CLOSURES WILL REMAIN IN PLACE.

SO EVEN THOUGH THAT'S KIND OF BEING PROMOTED AS AN ALTERNATE ROUTE TO LAKESHORE DRIVE , THE LOCALS ARE GOING TO KNOW THAT'S NOT REALLY AN OPTION EITHER.

NO.

>> WHERE CAN CHICAGOANS GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ABOUT THE ROAD CLOSURES?

>> SO NASCAR DOES HAVE, LIKE, A LOCAL INFORMATION PORTION TO ITS STREET WASTE WEBSITE, AND THEY'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT PEOPLE GET THE OEM AT, WHICH IS THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATING THINGS TO THE MINUTE.

WE HAVE THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO LINK TO THOSE IN THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> OKAY, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'LL BE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING OR TO STAY AT HOME BUT >> I GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT THAT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE, HERE'S SOME MORE HEADLINES TO CHECK OUT.

>>> HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF VACANT LAND IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS COULD BE IN LINE FOR A MAJOR MAKEOVER.

IT'S LAND THAT CROWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS LONG OWNED, AND NOW WANTS TO USE FOR HOUSING, CIVIC SPACE, RETAIL, AND DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSES.

THOSE WAREHOUSES HAVE BEEN SPROUTING UP ACROSS CHICAGOLAND, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT EXPLOSION OF ONLINE SHOPPING.

AS CHICAGO TONIGHT'S NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS, COMEDY OFFICIALS SAY THE GROWTH WELL-BALANCED PLAN, BUT SOME NEIGHBORS WANT TO SEE IT BLOCKED.

>> Reporter: WHEN CROWN FIRST CAME TO SUGAR GROVE, JENNIFER CONAN WASN'T INTERESTED.

>> I RAN FOR OFFICE IN 2019 OH POST TO THAT PLAN.

>> Reporter: CONAN NOW SERVES AS SUGAR GROVE'S VILLAGE PRESIDENT.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN SHE RAN AGAINST WOULD'VE BROUGHT MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET OF DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSES TO TOWN.

>> 8 MILLION SQUARE FEET, FOR ME, WAS GOING TO DEFINE THE VILLAGE IN A WAY THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO DEFINE.

WE'RE COMING BACK IN NOW WITH WHAT WE THINK IS A TERRIFIC PLAN THAT'S VERY BALANCED , THAT INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT RESIDENTIAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AS WELL AS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF DISTRIBUTION THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED ON THE NORTH SIDE BY 56%.

>> Reporter: CROWNS NEW PROPOSAL STILL CALLS FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS SPACE, INCLUDING WAREHOUSES ALONG ROUTE 47, NORTH OF INTERSTATE 88, ON LAND THAT'S CURRENTLY JUST TREES AND UNUSED FARMLAND.

SOUTH OF I 88, A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL, RETAIL, AND CIVIC SPACE, WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A TOWN CENTER.

>> THAT INCLUDES A STAGE WHERE WE'LL HAVE OUTDOOR CONCERTS IN THE SUMMERTIME, AS WELL AS A SKATING RINK IN THE WINTERTIME AND A FISHING PIER, A BEER GARDEN, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A BEER GARDEN OUT THERE, AS WELL AS A FARMERS MARKET.

>> Reporter: SUGAR GROVE'S CONAN THE NEW PROPOSAL, AND BETTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FROM CROWN, HAS HELPED WIN HER OVER.

>> WE AS A VILLAGE NEED MORE RESIDENTS.

WE NEED MORE COMMERCIAL AND THINGS TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE NEED A LARGER TAX BASE.

WE CAN'T PUT THAT BURDEN SOLELY ON HOMEOWNERS.

SO THIS OFFERS, IT OFFERS ALL OF IT, WHICH IS WHY I LIKE IT.

>> Reporter: THE PLAN CALLS FOR SUGAR GROVE TO ANNEX THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAKE THE PROPERTY A PART OF THE VILLAGE.

SOME RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON UNINCORPORATED LAND NEARBY SAY THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING A VOICE IN THE PROCESS.

>> THIS AREA ACROSS THE ROAD HERE, THIS IS ALL SET FOR WAREHOUSES, AND IT'S CLOSE TO THE ROAD HERE.

THEY'VE GOT SOME, LIKE, SMALL OFFICES.

>> Reporter: DALE AND LISA HAVE LIVED ON SEVERAL ACRES IN UNINCORPORATED BLACKBERRY TOWNSHIP JUST NORTH OF THE VILLAGE FOR THREE DECADES.

THE THREE OTHER CORNERS OF THE INTERSECTION WHERE THEIR PROPERTIES THAT ARE PART OF THE WAREHOUSE PORTION OF CROWNS PROPOSAL.

>> AND THEN ACROSS THE ROAD HERE TO THE SOUTH IS THE FUELING STATION THAT THEY'RE NOT CALLING US TRUCK STOP.

>> Reporter: PART OF THE DEAL INVOLVES.

BUT THE SLINGS SAY THAT TAX BREAK COULD PUT A BURDEN ON VILLAGE RESIDENTS DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEY ARGUE TIPS SHOULD BE FOR LAND THAT'S BLIGHTED AND NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED.

>> IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FOR 30 YEARS.

IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DEVELOPED.

CROWN WATCHED THEM DEVELOP IT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CROWN BUILDING HOUSES.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY FITS IN IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT.

>> I WOULD LIKE THEM TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

I WOULD LIKE THEM TO LISTEN TO AND OUR CONCERNS AS FAR AS WAREHOUSES INCREASING THE TRUCK TRAFFIC, POLLUTION, LIGHT, NOISE, AND I WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: MOLLY REIMER IS ANOTHER NAME ARE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT.

SHE ALSO LIVES ON UNINCORPORATED LAND, RELYING ON WELL WATER AND A SEPTIC SYSTEM.

REIMER SAYS SHE AND HER HUSBAND GREW UP IN A TOWN WHOSE WATER SUPPLY WAS TAINTED AND THE DANGEROUS INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL TRICHLOROETHYLENE.

>> THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS OUR WATER , AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US, MAKING SURE THAT STATES SAFE AND CLEAN AND HEALTHY FOR EVERYBODY THAT LIVES THERE.

>> Reporter: BUT CROWN OFFICIALS SAY THE PRODUCT WILL GO THROUGH EXTENSIVE REVIEW TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND PROPER TRAFFIC FLOW.

JENNIFER COWAN SAYS THE COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING NEIGHBORS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY LIVE IN THE VILLAGE OF SUGAR GROVE.

>> WE LISTENED TO THE COMMITTEE.

WE'VE HEARD THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE MODIFIED THE PLANS ACCORDINGLY, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DELIVERING SIGNIFICANT AMENITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY.

>> Reporter: FOR RESIDENTS, OTHER WORRIES ARE LESS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT AND MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF SMALL-TOWN LIFE.

>> RURAL AMERICA DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY TIME THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S AN OPEN FARM FIELD, WE GOT TO THINK OF ANOTHER USE FOR IT.

>> Reporter: BUT SUGAR GROVE'S CONAN SAYS DEVELOPMENT AND A NEW TOWN CENTER CAN HELP CREATE AN ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ITS RESIDENTS.

>> BILL SHOP, THEY'LL DINE, THEY'LL GO FOR A WALK, BILLFISH, THEY'LL ENJOY LIFE HERE IN SUGAR GROVE, AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT PLACE TODAY.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> CROWN SAYS AFTER LAST WEEK'S MEETING, THEY HEARD FROM MULTIPLE RESIDENTS SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDING SOME WHO CAME IN SKEPTICAL.

BUT OPPONENTS HAVE VOWED TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT, AND WE SHOULD NOTE THAT A SENIOR CROWN EMPLOYEE AND A FAMILY MEMBER SERVED AS WTTW TRUSTEES.

>>> MORE THAN 40% OF ALL RADIO LISTENING IS DONE IN CARS.

SO IN MOST OF THE COMPANIES MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC VEHICLES STARTED DROPPING A H.A.M.

RADIO, IT WAS MAJOR PUSHBACK.

NOW, THERE'S AN EFFORT IN CONGRESS TO SAVE A H.A.M.

RADIO , AND FORD RECENTLY REVERSED COURSE AND IS ISSUING THE SOFTWARE UPDATE TO ITS LEXUS MODEL SO ITS CUSTOMERS CAN STILL LISTEN TO A.M. STATIONS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF A.M. RADIO ARE MARY SANDBERG BOYLE, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER AT WGN RADIO 7:20 A.M. , RUFUS WILLIAMS, THE MORNING HOST ON WCL AND RADIO 16.90 A.M., AND ARIANNA NETTLES, DIRECTOR OF AUDIO JOURNALISM PROGRAMMING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MARY, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KEEP A.M. RADIO AVAILABLE?

>> IT'S VERY POPULAR.

IT IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ISSUE, AND A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

IT IS THE WAY TO, WHEN CELL TOWERS ARE DOWN AND THE INTERNET IS DOWN, A.M. RADIO CAN STILL REACH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, AND SO THAT MAKES IT, THAT RIGHT THERE IS IMPORTANT.

>> CERTAINLY IN THOSE DISASTERS AS WELL, THE IMPORTANCE OF RADIO.

>> SURE.

>> OF COURSE, SERVES AS CHICAGO'S BLACK COMMUNITY, WAS STARTED 60 YEARS AGO BY MELODY VAN COOPER'S FATHER.

SHE NOW RUNS BOTH THAT STATION AND THE LATINO STATION, WR LL A.M., UNDER THE MIDWAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION MANOR.

WE ALSO SPOKE WITH HER EARLIER TODAY.

>> I'M HEADING TO D.C.

RIGHT AFTER THIS CALL TO LOBBY CONGRESS TOMORROW.

I'M SITTING WITH SEVEN OR EIGHT CONGRESSPEOPLE , TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BAND .

AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE DELIVER TO CONSTITUENCIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY .

NOT JUST BLACK, NOT JUST LATINO.

>> RUFUS, YOU'RE, OF COURSE, MORNING HOST ON WCL AND.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR AUDIENCE WOULD LOSE, WHAT WCL AND LISTENERS WOULD LOSE, WITHOUT ACCESS TO A.M. RADIO.

>> CONTENT, GOOD STORIES, AND RADIO IS HIGHLY LOCALIZED, AND ALL NATIONAL STORIES BEGIN SOMEPLACE.

THEY BEGIN LOCAL.

THIS IS WHERE IT IS.

THE NEED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REACH PEOPLE, NOT ONLY ON WZON IN CHICAGO, BUT A RURAL STATION SOMEPLACE ELSE, A.M. RADIO, A.M. STATIONS, ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

WE GIVE INFORMATION WITH HOW PEOPLE GET THROUGH THEIR DAY, IT HELPS PEOPLE GET THROUGH THEIR TRAFFIC, IT HELPS PEOPLE GET THROUGH EVERYTHING.

AND WE WOULD TALK RADIO, WHICH IS MOSTLY ON A.M. RADIO, CAN REALLY DELVE INTO ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR PEOPLE, IMPORTANT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, WHOEVER AND WHEREVER THEY ARE.

IT'S THE WHOLE COMMUNITY ASPECT OF WHAT A.M. RADIO DOES.

IT MAKES IT WORK FOR EVERYONE.

>> WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHY THE CAR COMPANIES TRIED TO DROP A.M. RADIO?

>> SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY THAT POWERS THE MOTOR IN THESE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, IT CAUSES AN INTERFERENCE , A VERY LOUD NOISE THAT MAKES IT SO THAT YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THOSE A.M. STATIONS.

BUT INSTEAD OF, PERHAPS, FIXING IT, COMPANIES LIKE TESLA DECIDED TO JUST NOT INCLUDE A.M. RADIO AS AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE BUYING THOSE CARS, AND THEN OTHER ELECTRIC VEHICLE MAKERS JUST FOLLOWED SUIT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY DO THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES, A LOT OF OUR MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES ARE SOMETIMES IN A BUBBLE, AND THEY REALIZE THAT MAYBE PEOPLE IN THEIR CIRCLE , AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY TALK TO, MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE DIFFERENT LISTENING HABITS, BUT THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE IN TOUCH WITH THE ENTIRE OF OUR SOCIETY.

AND WE KNOW THAT A.M. IS SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, EVEN IN CHICAGO .

HAVE OF OUR RADIO LISTENERS STILL LISTEN TO A.M., OF COURSE.

BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, IN RURAL AREAS, WERE ABLE TO , WHERE THAT'S REALLY THE MAIN SIGNAL THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GET, BECAUSE A.M. IS TECHNOLOGICALLY EASIER TO TRANSMIT TO THEM.

>> THE CHALLENGE IS THE SENSIBILITY, TO THINK THAT THOSE WHO CAN MAKE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE A.M. RADIO IN THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLE, SO THERE MUST BE SOMETHING MORE, USUALLY SOMETHING CAPITALISTIC AND COMPETITIVE, TO THEM NOT HAVING IT THERE, IS TO THINK THAT WHAT WE CAN DO, LOOK, WE CAN GO TO MARS AND ALL THESE OTHER PLACES, NOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A.M. RADIO.

>> YOU THINK THEY'D BE ABLE TO DO BOTH.

>> YES, THEY ACTUALLY DID CREATE IT, UNTIL FORD, WHEN THEY WENT BACKWARDS, AND BACKTRACKED.

THEY SAID, YOU KNOW -- BUT WE'VE GOT THE SOFTWARE FOR.

OH, LOOK, WE FOUND A FIX, EVERYBODY.

SO THERE IS A BIPARTISAN BILL IN CONGRESS IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, MARY.

COULD THAT SAVE A.M. RADIO, AND DO YOU THINK THAT A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, OR COULD IT SAVE A.M. FOR LIFE?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO SAVE IT FOR LIFE, IN THAT THEY VIOLATION OF THE NC STATE TO NOT HAVE THE A AND TRANSMITTING IN THE VEHICLE, AND THEY'RE HAVING TO THINK LONG-TERM ON THIS, BECAUSE FOR EVERY ONE A.M. TRANSMITTER , IT WOULD TAKE 14 FULL FM POWERED STATIONS TO COVER THE SAME COVERAGE, AND EVEN MORE CELL TOWERS.

SO THE EFFICIENCY OF A.M. BROADCAST , YOU KNOW, IS, IT'S MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE TO HAVE THAT IN THE VEHICLE THAN IT IS TO THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE UP FOR IT WITH CELL TOWERS.

>> AND TO THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, RUFUS, DO YOU THINK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, COULD YOUR AUDIENCE, COULD YOU REACH THE SAME AUDIENCE WITH YOUR SHOW, YOU KNOW, VIA INTERNET OR PODCAST COMPARED TO ON A.M. RADIO?

>> I THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LISTEN TO MY SHOW, AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS WHICH THE JUST THAT , VERY OFTEN, WHAT THEY USE AND HOW THEY GET INFORMATION IS HOW THEY GET INFORMATION.

THE OLDER SET IS NOT REALLY LOOKING TO FIND NEW WAYS OF GETTING INFORMATION.

I HAVE ONE LISTENER IN PARTICULAR WHO TALKS ABOUT THAT HE GOES AROUND AND LISTENS TO SO HE CAN LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AS MARY MENTIONED EARLIER, THE SAFETY ISSUE IS REALLY ONE THAT CANNOT BE DISREGARDED.

IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW PEOPLE GET INFORMATION , AND SO OFTEN, WHEN THE FM FREQUENCY GOES OUT, WHEN THESE DISASTERS HIT, IT IS A.M. RADIO THAT'S ABLE TO STILL GET THROUGH , TO GET THROUGH WALLS, TO GET TO OTHER PLACES, TO REALLY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SIGNAL.

SO WHETHER IT'S JUST LISTENING TO THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING THAT WE DO ON THE MORNING SHOW ON WZON, OR WHETHER IT'S REALLY GETTING THINGS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO YOUR SAFETY , A.M. RADIO HAS, IT'S CRITICAL IN THIS PROCESS.

>> AND JOURNALISTS COVERING DISASTERS, I THINK WE ALL KNOW, LIKE WHEN THE CELL TOWERS GO DOWN, I COVERED HURRICANE KATRINA, CELL TOWERS WERE DOWN.

RADIO WAS ALL THAT WE HAD AT THE TIME.

>> WELL, AND AS RUFUS SAID EARLIER, IT HELPS GIVE YOU CONTACTS.

YOU CAN GET ALERTS ON YOUR PHONE THAT IS THERE IS A DISASTER AND THERE'S A SHOOTING IN HIGHLAND PARK ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, AND THEN PEOPLE TURN TO THE RADIO TO ACTUALLY GET WHAT IS UNFOLDING HERE, WHAT SHOULD WE AVOID, ARE THEY FINDING THE PERSON, YOU KNOW, THE CONTEXT.

YOU CAN'T GET THAT FROM OTHER -- BUT ARIANNA, A LOT OF NICHE TALK PROGRAMMING.

A LOT OF IT IS INTERNET-BASED, SATELLITE RADIO.

YOU THINK THIS IS JUST PART OF THE EVOLUTION OF RADIOACTIVE WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, EIGHT TRACK PLAYERS IN OUR CARS ANYMORE EITHER.

>> I THINK, CONVERSELY, UNLIKE THOSE WHERE PERHAPS WE JUST REPLACED THEM WITH STREAMING SERVICES , I DON'T THINK THAT RADIO CAN BE REPLACED.

AND YES, IT'S TRUE THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE DOING PODCASTS AND ON-DEMAND RADIO LISTENING, FOR AT LEAST SOME OF THEIR NEWS, ABOUT 25%.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE IDEA OF , RIGHT NOW, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, YOU STILL PUT ON YOUR RADIO.

AND THAT'S REALLY TRUE FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETIMES A LACK OF REALIZING EQUITY OF IT ALL THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE LOST.

AND MAKING SURE THAT SAFETY AND INFORMATION AND NEWS IS FAIRLY DISTRIBUTED TO EVERYONE.

>> MARY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST HIT ON A MINUTE AGO, BUT I A.M. RADIO WERE TO GO AWAY, COULD WBO AND OR ANY RADIO STATION, FOR THAT MATTER, FIND A SPOT ON THE FM DIAL ?

HOW WOULD THAT EVEN WORK?

>> WELL, THEIR REACH IS JUST SO MUCH SMALLER, SO YOU COULD GET A SPOT.

ALSO, YOU CAN, YOU CAN STREAM RADIO.

YOU CAN ACCESS IT DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY OF GETTING IT THAT WAY IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S IN A VEHICLE THAT TAKES A A.M. SIGNAL FROM A TRANSMITTER.

ALSO, IT'S CUMBERSOME , RIGHT NOW, TO GET TO THOSE STREAMING PLATFORMS WHILE YOU'RE IN A VEHICLE, JUST LIKE ON TV AT HOME, IT'S -- TO GO TO THE DIFFERENT PLATFORMS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOU.

SO IF THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE, IF I WANT TO BE ABLE TO JUST LISTEN TO THE RADIO, I NEED TO HAVE THE RADIO IN THE CAR.

I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE STEPS TO GO TO AN APP AND LISTEN THAT WAY.

>> OKAY.

SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE ALL OF YOU WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON.

I KNOW THAT WE CERTAINLY AS WILL AS WELL.

THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, BRIDGING THE ORGAN DONATION GAP IN THE BROWN AND BLACK COMMUNITIES.

>>> BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> HISTORICALLY, THE MEDICAL MISTREATMENT PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE RESULTED IN THE DISTRUST OF A SYSTEM INTENDED TO SAVE LIVES.

BUT HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND KIDNEY DISEASE ON THE RISE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ HELP US HAVE A GROUP OF PHYSICIANS IS WORKING TO RESTORE TRUST IN THE ORGAN DONATION PROCESS.

>> Reporter: MEET THE TEAM WORKING TO BREAK DOWN LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

AT YOU WHY HEALTH, THE SPANISH-SPEAKING CLINIC IS HELPING PATIENTS THROUGH THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PROCESS.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: 52-YEAR-OLD HAS HAD TWO KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SURGERIES.

HE IS IN TODAY FOR A CHECKUP.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: THE CLINIC IS PART OF THE UI HEALTH KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE DOCTORS WHO SPEARHEADED THE INITIATIVE.

>> WE STARTED A SPANISH-SPEAKING CLINIC TO TRY TO MAKE MORE INTERVIEWS WITH THE PEOPLE, TRY TO CLARIFY ALL THE DOUBT, AND IN THAT WAY, ALSO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

AND DR. ALVAREZ SAYS HIS VISION FOR THE CLINIC IS TO BRIDGE THE INFORMATION GAP IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME CULTURAL BARRIERS ABOUT THE SURGERY .

THERE IS SOMETHING COMPLICATED , TOO DANGEROUS.

WHICH NOW THEY SEE IS NOT LIKE IN THE PAST.

>> Reporter: ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO IN THE CHATHAM NEIGHBORHOOD, TERRY WILKINS IS ON A SIMILAR MISSION.

>> NATIONALLY, THERE'S OVER 106,000 PEOPLE WAITING FOR AN ORGAN.

MOST OF THOSE ARE KIDNEYS, AND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, 60% OF THOSE, ARE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THE DISPARITIES ARE BECAUSE THOSE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE KIDNEY FAILURE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: THE FORMER INDEPENDENT BANK OF CHICAGO IS BEING TRANSFORMED INTO AN EDUCATION HUB.

>> IN THE BLACK COMMUNITIES, THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, THERE'S A HISTORICAL MISTRUST OF HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL.

>> >> Reporter: WILKINS GREW UP IN THE CHATHAM NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAME A TRAUMA SURGEON, AND IS NOW THE CEO OF GIFT OF HOPE, AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING ORGAN AND TISSUE SERVICES.

>> ONLY WAY WE CAN REALLY ADDRESS THAT IS THROUGH EDUCATION.

>> Reporter: IS THIS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE?

ANDY NOW.

>> YES, IT'S EMPTY NOW.

IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

BUT ONE OF THE THING IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER HERE.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THERE BEING 7.4 MILLION REGISTERED DONORS IN ILLINOIS, THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR LIVING DONORS.

PATIENT DAVID RODRIGUEZ AT UI'S HEALTH SAYS HIS JOURNEY TO FIND A DONOR IN HIS FAMILY WAS DIFFICULT.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: THE TEAM AT UI HEALTH SAY MYTHS ABOUT DONATION OFTEN STEER PEOPLE AWAY FROM WANTING TO DONATE.

>> PEOPLE THINK THAT AFTER DONATING A KIDNEY, THEY WILL BE ON MEDICATION , THAT NOW THEY'RE MISSING AN ORGAN THAT THEY NEED .

>> Reporter: AT SOME POINT, WE'VE ALL HEARD THE MYTH THAT DOCTORS WON'T WORK AS HARD TO SAVE YOUR LIFE IF YOU'RE A REGISTERED DONOR.

WILKINS SAYS THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> IF YOU REGISTER YOUR INTENT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR, THEN YOU BECOME A DONOR UPON YOUR DEATH.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE GIFT OF HOPE AND PHYSICIANS AT UI HEALTH ARE WORKING TO RESTORE HEALTH BETWEEN COMMUNITIES BY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

>> PATIENTS CAN FEEL THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM, WHERE THEY CAN COME AND BE SEEN IN THEIR OWN NATIVE LANGUAGE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> SINCE THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE CLINIC OPENED, MORE THAN 160 PATIENTS HAVE SIGNED UP WITH THE CLINIC, AND THE GIFT OF HOPE HOME IN CHATHAM IS EXPECTED TO BE OPEN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>>> AND THAT OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND JOYOUS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10:00.

CITY COUNCILS FIRST-EVER DISCUSSION ON NASCAR'S STREET RACE AS PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND STREET CLOSURES BEGIN.

>>> PLUS, MARVEL CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE IN PAINTINGS BY LOCAL ARTIST WAS A MASTER OF THE MEDIUM.

>>> NOW, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M FRIEDMAN.

TAKE YOU FOR WATCHING, AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW, A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY,