>>> HELLO, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ WILL JOIN US SHORTLY.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>>> IT PRESENTS TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE CHICAGO.

>>> ALTAR PEOPLE WEIGH IN ON NASCAR STREET RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR.

>>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON WHAT'S NEXT.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP POST-ARRAIGNMENT.

>>> TWO BIG SUMMER FESTIVALS GET THE GO-AHEAD DESPITE SOME RESIDENT PUSHBACK.

>> PEOPLE LOVE THAT .

>>> GET READY FOR FLAG DAY WITH CHICAGO'S OLDEST FLAG BUSINESS.

>>> AND MARVEL CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE IN PAINTINGS BY LOCAL ARTIST WHO IS A MASTER OF THE MEDIUM.

>>> FIRST, WE GO TO PARIS FOR OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT.

>> Reporter: THANKS, BRANDIS.

TODAY WAS THE FIRST CHANCE FOR SOME OLDER PEOPLE TO PRESS NASCAR OFFICIALS AND CITY LEADERS ABOUT SAFETY AND TRAFFIC CONCERNS AROUND THE UPCOMING STREET RACE, WHICH WILL TURN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO INTO A RACETRACK IN JUST TWO WEEKS.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINT IS NOW WITH THE LATEST ON THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS FIRST OF ITS KIND RACE.

A LOT OF BUZZ ABOUT THIS, HEATHER, AND TODAY, PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MAN DANIEL ESPADA SET THE STAGE UP FOR THE HEARING THAT LASTED ABOUT TWO HOURS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE RACES THAT ARE COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN CHICAGO CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS EXCITED .

THEY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS CONFUSED , FRUSTRATED , ANGRY , AND WE ARE NOT HERE TO DISPEL ALL OF THOSE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS.

WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT .

>> HEATHER, THIS AGREEMENT WAS STRUCK SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

WHY THE HEARING NOW?

>> WELL, UNTIL MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT LEFT OFFICE, SHE HAD BLOCKED THESE HEARINGS, BECAUSE SHE WAS REBUFFING THE CRITICISM THAT SHE SHOULD'VE ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ITS APPROVAL BEFORE AGREEING TO BASICALLY TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN CHICAGO INTO A NASCAR RACETRACK.

AND AS YOU HEARD FROM ALDERMAN ESPADA THERE, MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE DEEPLY OPPOSED TO THE RACE FOR NOT ONLY THE INCONVENIENCE THAT IT'S GOING TO POSE FOR CHICAGOANS, BUT ALSO THE SENSE THAT WE'RE RENTING CITY FACILITIES AND PUBLIC LAND TO A PRIVATE CORPORATION.

>> AND DOWNTOWN ALDERMAN BRENDAN RILEY HAD SOME WORDS TO THAT EFFECT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HE SAID.

>> THE GREATEST FRUSTRATION THAT I HAD WITH THIS EVENT COMING TO CHICAGO IS IN THE WAY THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HIT IT.

THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENCY.

AND I COULD TELL YOU , SPEAKING WITH NASCAR OFFICIALS AFTER THE FACT, THEY WOULD'VE MUCH PREFERRED TO HAVE COME AND SAT WITH US MONTHS IN ADVANCE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THIS EVENT.

AND SO THE NEGATIVE VALIDITY AROUND THIS, A LOT OF IT WAS DRIVEN BY THE HAM HANDEDNESS OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND THE REFUSAL TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> REMEMBER, THIS WAS ANNOUNCED OUT OF THE BLUE, HEATHER.

NO HEARINGS, NO FORESIGHT ON IT.

WHAT WERE OLDER PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT?

>> THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC, OF COURSE.

IT'S GOING TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AROUND DOWNTOWN CHICAGO.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY.

NOT JUST FOR THE 50,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO ATTEND THE RACE EACH DAY, BUT FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THEIR HOUSES ON THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.

WE HEARD FROM DEPUTY CHIEF DAN O'CONNOR OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO SAID THAT OFFICERS WILL HAVE THEIR REGULAR DAYS OFF CANCELED, BECAUSE OFFICERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WORK VOLUNTARY OVERTIME, THERE WILL BE AMPLE STAFFING THROUGHOUT THE CITY .

>> A LOT OF RESOURCES NEEDED.

LET'S LISTEN TO NASCAR'S PERSPECTIVE.

JULIE GATES FROM NASCAR ATTEMPTED TO REASSURE THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO BE AN OPEN AND ASSESSABLE AS POSSIBLE, AND IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING FLAGGED IN DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

>> 50,000 TICKETS SOLD FOR THIS RACE .

CONCERTS TAKE PLACE, CLOSURES .

THE CITY READY?

>> WELL, THEY SAY THEY'RE READY.

IT WASN'T JUST NASCAR OFFICIALS ON THE HOT SEAT TODAY.

IT WAS ALSO POLICE, IT WAS ALSO CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS, AND IT WAS REALLY THE FIRST CHANCE THAT ALDERPEOPLE GOT TO SAY, LOOK, THE TEST TO WORK, AND IF IT DOESN'T, YOU GUYS ARE ALL IN THE HOT SEAT.

>> WILL BE VERY INTERESTING.

I TOOK A LITTLE SPIN AROUND THAT TRACK IN A CADILLAC TOWN CAR, AND IT WAS, IT WAS WEIRD ENOUGH GOING AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING OVER 100 MILES AN HOUR.

SOME OF THESE ARE FULL 90 DEGREE ANGLE TURNS.

WE'RE GOING TO WAIT TO SEE.

THANKS VERY MUCH, AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS, AND WE'LL SEE YOU, HEATHER, IN THE PROGRAM FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

FIRST TO BRANDIS , AND MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

BRANDIS?

>>> PARIS, A NEW REPORT IS NOT ON THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT USE OF CONTROVERSIAL STOP AND FRISK.

THE REPORT, ISSUED BY FEDERAL POLICE MONITOR MEGAN HICKEY, SAYS THE USE OF STOP AND FRISK HAS COME DOWN IN RECENT YEARS, BUT BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS ARE STILL FAR LIKELIER TO BE STOPPED THAN WHITE RESIDENTS.

IN FACT, THE DATA FOUND ONE IN EIGHT BLACK RESIDENTS HAD BEEN STOPPED AT LEAST ONCE.

THE CITY HAD BEEN IN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ACLU TO PERFORM THE POLICY, BUT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT AGREEMENT WOULD END, AND HICKEY'S OFFICE WOULD ASSUME OVERSIGHT AS PART OF A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE.

>>> TWO BIG SUMMER FESTIVALS IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE OFFICIALLY A GO.

THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT FOR TODAY VOTED TO APPROVE RIOT FEST.

IT'S A MASSIVE EVENT TAKING PLACE IN DOUGLAS PARK IN SEPTEMBER, AND THE RESET FESTIVAL IN READ PART STARTING NEXT FRIDAY.

THE APPROVAL COMES DESPITE SIGNIFICANT PUSHBACK FROM RESIDENTS AROUND MOST PARKS.

BOTH FESTIVALS HAD ALREADY FINALIZED PLANS AND TICKETS FOR GETTING THE FINAL APPROVAL.

PART DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT ROSA ADMITTED TO THOSE FACTORS MADE APPROVAL AN IMPERFECT PROCESS.

>>> AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ON TRACK TO OPEN BY JUNE 23rd.

THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT HAS HAD A TOUGH TIME FINDING ENOUGH LIFEGUARDS TO STOP THE POOLS IN RECENT YEARS, BUT TODAY SAID IT HAD A RECENT SURGE IN HIRING.

MORE THAN 300 STAFFERS ARE BEING TRAINED CURRENTLY.

LAST YEAR, ONLY ABOUT HALF OF OUTDOOR POOLS WERE OPEN FOR THE SUMMER.

>>> TONS OF WASTE GENERATED FROM CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY HAVE LIKELY BEEN SENT TO LANDFILLS RATHER THAN BEING REUSED OR RECYCLED.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO AN AUDIT FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL.

THE OIG SAYS THAT'S BECAUSE THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS FAILED TO ENFORCE THE CITY LAW REQUIRING HALF OF THAT WASTE, INCLUDING CONCRETE, WOOD, METAL, AND GLASS, BE RECYCLED.

THE REPORT SAYS CHICAGOANS GENERATED MORE THAN 4 MILLION TONS OF WASTE IN 2020, AND 1 MILLION OF THOSE TIMES MORE LIKELY CONSTRUCTION AND DEBRIS WASTE.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MUCH CDPH OFFICIALS HAVEN'T ATTRACTED FOR MORE ON HOW THE CITY IS RESPONDING, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>>> AND YOUR NEXT FOOD ARRIVED MIGHT BE SMOOTHER NOW THAT DISNEY HAS LAUNCHED ITS LATEST DOC SCOOTER SYSTEM.

>> THE DOCKING STATIONS PROVIDE A REALLY PREDICABLE EXPERIENCE FOR WRITERS.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET A BIKE OR A SCOOTER WHEREVER YOU FIND A STATION, AND IT ALSO HELPS KEEP OUR SIDEWALKS CLEAR OF CLUTTER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER USERS DOWNTOWN.

>> LIFT CO., WHICH OPERATES THE SYSTEM, THAT THE NEW SCOOTERS HAVE TURN SIGNALS, DUAL HAND BRAKES, IMPROVED SUSPENSION AND TIRES, AS WELL AS A PHONE FOLDER FOR HELP FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION LAST YEAR BECAME THE FIRST BIKE-SHARE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY TO INCORPORATE DR. SCOOTERS , AND THE SYSTEM IS HITTING 1 MILLION RIDES THIS MONTH.

>>> STILL TO COME, WHAT'S NEXT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP POST-ARRAIGNMENT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> WHAT'S NEXT AFTER A WHIRLWIND DAY FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHO WAS INDICTED ON 37 COUNTS, INCLUDING VIOLATING THE ESPIONAGE ACT?

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON HIS POST-ARRAIGNMENT FUNDRAISER , AND MUCH MORE.

JOINING US NOW, OUR HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY, AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

WELCOME BACK, TEAM.

TRUMP WAS DEFIANT AFTER HIS HISTORIC ARRAIGNMENT.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HE SAID AT HIS FUNDRAISER LAST NIGHT.

>> TODAY WE WIN THIS , THE MOST EVIL AND HEINOUS ABUSE OF POWER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

A SAD THING TO WATCH.

A CORRUPT SITTING PRESIDENT HAD HIS TOP POLITICAL OPPONENT ARRESTED ON FAKE AND FABRICATED CHARGES, OF WHICH HE AND NUMEROUS OTHER PRESIDENTS WOULD BE GUILTY .

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION .

>> OKAY, SO MUCH TO SAY HERE.

PARIS, DEMOCRATS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN, THOUGH, ARE NOT COMMENTING.

IS THAT A SMART POLITICAL STRATEGY?

>> I THINK WE HAD TO STIPULATE THAT ALMOST NOTHING THAT WE HEARD IN THAT STATEMENT BEARS MUCH OF A RESEMBLANCE TO REALITY, BUT YES, THE CURRENT PRESIDENT MUST STAY OUT OF IT, MUST NOT UNDER ANY WORD.

THE APPEARANCE HAD TO BE THAT IT'S TOTALLY INDEPENDENT.

AND PARTIALLY BECAUSE THE COORDINATED REPUBLICAN MESSAGING STRATEGY, WITH A FEW NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS, HAS BEEN TO, LIKE DONALD TRUMP, CALL IT A WITCH HUNT, SAY IT'S A BIDEN AND DEMOCRAT DOJ THAT'S JUST TRYING TO PUT THEIR BIGGEST OPPONENT AWAY IN JAIL , WHEN IT'S EASY TO JUST -- NOT FALL APART RIGHT AWAY.

IT WAS A GRAND JURY OF CITIZENS IN MIAMI.

THEY RETURNED THE VERDICT.

A SPECIAL COUNSEL HAS BEEN GIVEN FREE REIGN TO INVESTIGATE AND BRING CHARGES BY THE U.S. ATTORNEY, MERRICK GARLAND.

AND WE SHOULD MENTION, THE FBI, THAT'S CONDUCTED BY THE INVESTIGATION, CHRISTOPHER WRAY.

SO LIKE WITH SOME OF THE QUOTE UNQUOTE STOLEN ELECTION CASES, THERE WAS REALLY NEVER ANY LEGAL STRATEGY.

IT WAS A PR STRATEGY.

THAT'S THE STRATEGY HERE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDICTMENT, WE'VE ALL SEEN LOTS OF POLITICAL INDICTMENTS .

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN ANYONE WHERE THE EVIDENCE IS AS CUT AND DRY AS THIS.

USUALLY, THIS KIND OF INDICTMENT ARE VERY COLLOCATED.

THEY'RE COMPLEX.

YOU HAD TO TAKE A JURY THROUGH SOME REALLY COMPLEX THINGS.

THIS ONE, NOT SO MUCH BETWEEN ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU ALSO DON'T SEE A LOT IS, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT HE RAISED MORE THAN $2 MILLION RIGHT AFTER HIS ARRAIGNMENT.

HE HEADED TO NEW JERSEY FOR A FUNDRAISER.

AMANDA?

>> YEAH.

HEADED TO A FUNDRAISER.

I'VE GOT TO SAY, POLITICIANS, RIGHT?

RIGHT AWAY, HE'S BEEN TRYING TO GET MONEY OFF OF THIS.

AND SUCCEEDING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WORKS WITH HIS CROWD, PLAYING THE VICTIM.

IT DEFINITELY, I THINK, PART OF ALSO HIS STRATEGY, AS PARIS NOTED, IT'S NOT JUST IN THE COURTROOM, IT IS OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM.

IT IS TRYING TO WIN OVER PUBLIC SENTIMENT, MAKE SURE HIS BASES ON HIS SIDE, KEEPING AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OF THE OTHER GOP CONTENDERS, BY THE WAY, FROM SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THEM, WHICH THUS FAR, MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN.

CAREFUL NOT TO DO.

NOT BY MUCH.

>> SOME OF THE OPPONENTS -- >> SOME HAVE, YEAH.

>> THIS IS A SERIOUS -- BUT NIKKI HALEY HAS STARTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENT, BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE REALLY SORT OF BEING CAREFUL, HE REMAINS THE FRONT-RUNNER.

ALSO, WANT TO QUICKLY ADD, IT'S EASY FOR HIM TO DO THIS AT THIS POINT, IS, BECAUSE CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE JOURNALISTS THINK IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR US.

THERE IS NO AUDIO, THERE'S NO VIDEO OF HIS BEHAVIOR, AND AT THIS POINT, THERE WON'T BE , AT LEAST FOR A JUDGES RULING.

>> WHATEVER THEY SAY IN COURT, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY RESEMBLANCE TO WHAT TRUMP IS SAYING PUBLICLY.

>> AND THERE ARE SOME REPORTERS IN THE COURTROOM.

VERY LIMITED.

BUT WE'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM THEM.

HEATHER, MOST REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THE CHARGES ARE ALL POLITICAL.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP COULD GET OUT OF THIS, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION?

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT LONGER THAN THE ELECTION WILL PUT >> SURE.

IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT HE WILL STAND TRIAL BEFORE THE MEMBER 2024 ELECTION, WHICH MEANS THAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT ELECTION WILL ESSENTIALLY DETERMINE WHETHER HE STANDS TRIAL AT ALL, BECAUSE AS PRESIDENT, HE WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT ANYMORE, AND JUST WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN.

WHICH I THINK GIVES YOU A SENSE OF JUST HOW MUCH WILL BE AT STAKE FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND FOR DEMOCRACY IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE IT MIGHT HELP HIM RAISE MONEY AND SORT OF, YOU KNOW, BOOST HIM IN THE POLLS IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS A WINNING STRATEGY WITH INDEPENDENTS OR MODERATES OR DEMOCRATS , AND AS WE ALL KNOW, HE LOST THE 2020 ELECTION, AND THAT WAS BEFORE HE WAS ACCUSED OF FOMENTING AN INSURRECTION AND STEALING CLASSIFIED NUCLEAR SECRETS AND, OH YES, BEING CHARGED FOR PAYING OFF A, ADULT FILM STAR.

SO NO SMALL AMOUNT OF NEWS.

>> ALL OF THIS REFERRING TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

AMANDA, BRIEFLY BEFORE WE MOVE ON, FORMER GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DAN BAILEY HAS BEEN THE FUND ROLE .

WHAT YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE I ALSO SAW BAILEY WHEN RON DESANTIS WAS IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS.

BAILEY MADE THAT TRIP.

BUT HE SAID EVEN THEN, NO, I'M STANDING BEHIND TRUMP.

TRUMP, OF COURSE, ENDORSED BAILEY IN THE GOP PRIMARY AND IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WHAT I MAKE OF THAT, NOT QUITE SURE WHY HE WAS THERE AND DOWN IN FLORIDA, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT BAILEY IS TRYING TO UP HIS CREDENTIALS, IS BONA FIDE -- THERE WE GO.

TRYING TO UP HIS BONA FIDES WITH THE CONSERVATIVE BASE THAT HE ALREADY HAS PRETTY MUCH A RING ON AS HE LOOKS TO RUN AGAINST AN INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN IN CONGRESS, MIKE BOSSE.

HE'S TRYING TO OUT CONSERVATIVE BOSS, AND IT APPEARS, RUN FOR CONGRESS.

>> RIGHT.

SEE WHAT I DID THERE?

LET'S QUICKLY TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF THE UPCOMING NASCAR RACE.

HEATHER, ENORMOUS PUBLIC EVENT LIKE THIS, ARE THESE NIGHTMARES FOR POLITICIANS BECAUSE OF ALL THE HEADACHES THAT WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO CAUSE THE >> SO IT IS HIGH RISK AND HIGH REWARD, BECAUSE IT ALL GOES AS PLANNED, AS WE WERE ASSURED TODAY THAT IT WILL, CHICAGO WILL GET TWO DAYS IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT, AND THERE WILL BE GREAT SHOTS OF GRANT PARK AND THE SKYLINE , AND EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE CHICAGO IS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER.

HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS, IF THERE ARE INCIDENTS, IF THE TRACK DOES NOT WORK AS THEY EXPECT, THAT -- YEAH.

THAT IS A REALLY HIGH RISK.

NOT JUST FOR THE CITY, BUT ALSO FOR NASCAR, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS REALLY SORT OF ON TRIAL, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HOST THIS RACE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, BUT IF THIS ONE DOESN'T GO WELL, I IMAGINE THAT BRANDON JOHNSON, THE MAYOR, WILL THINK VERY CLOSELY ABOUT FIGHTING THEM BACK FOR THE NEXT TWO.

>> I FEEL LIKE, AND NOT, I DON'T NEED TO, LIKE -- I WENT ON THE TRACK, AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, AND I MET FOR NASCAR PEOPLE, AND I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL AT FIRST, AND I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CITY DOES NEED BIG EVENTS, BECAUSE TOURISM IS A HUGE PART OF THE ECONOMY.

WE NEED EVENTS TO DRAW TOURISM.

WE'RE NOT NEW YORK, WE'RE NOT L.A. WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO GET ALL THE PEOPLE HERE WITHOUT SOMETHING TO COME SEE LIKE LOLLAPALOOZA.

SO THERE HAS TO BE ENCUMBRANCE OF DISCUSSION AMONG CITY COUNSEL ON HOW TO BRING THE VENT HERE, HOW TO STAGE THEM, AND BALANCE THE INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS, AS THESE THINGS KEEP HAPPENING HAPHAZARDLY, LIKE WE MENTIONED EARLIER.

THIS POPPED UP OUT OF NOWHERE.

SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF COMP PLAN.

>> NOT THAT WE'LL SEE HOW ALL OF THIS GOES DOWN AND WHETHER OR NOT FORMER MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS A HERO COMING OUT OF THIS, OR NOT SO MUCH.

IT'S, IT'S -- TRAFFIC IS RUIN FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE.

WE CAN COUNT ON TRAFFIC.

ALL RIGHT, HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY, PARIS SCHUTZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY.

>>> UP NEXT, MARVEL CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE.

STAY WITH US.

THERE >>> HE IS A HERO TO FANS OF COMIC BOOK ART AND GRAPHIC NOVELS.

THE SUPERPOWERS CREATING ALMOST PHOTOREALISTIC DEPICTIONS OF CLASSIC SUPERHEROES.

FOR 30 YEARS FROM HIS HOME NEAR CHICAGO, ALEX ROSS HAS BEEN THE GO TO ARTIST FOR REVITALIZING BELOVED CHARACTERS FROM SPIDER-MAN AND SUPERMAN TO IRONMAN AND THE FANTASTIC FOUR.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S MARC VITALI MET UP WITH ROSS TO TALK ABOUT A RARE SHOW OF HIS WORK.

>> Reporter: CALLED MORE VELOCITY, THE SHOW FOCUSES ON THE HEROES, SHE AROSE, AND VILLAINS OF THE MARVEL COMICS MYTHOLOGY.

WHERE THE GOOD GUYS OFTEN HAVE FLAWS, AND SO-CALLED FEET OF CLAY.

>> IN A WAY, THE FEET OF CLAY IDEA FOR MARVEL CHARACTERS IS THE SELLING POINT, THE RELATED ABILITY, WHERE YOU SEE AN ASPECT OF YOURSELF, YOUR OWN FLAWED HUMANITY, REFLECTED BACK AT YOU THROUGH THEM.

THERE'S A UNIQUE ASPECT OF MARVEL STORIES THAT MUCH OF THE CHARACTERS ACTIONS ARE ABOUT REDEMPTION FOR HAVING LIVED A SORT OF FLAWED, OR A VERY SELF-IMPORTANT LIFE.

BEFORE THEY HAVE AN EPIPHANY OF HOW THEY BETTER USE THEIR ABILITIES TO BENEFIT OTHERS AND SEE BEYOND THEMSELVES.

>> Reporter: ALEX ROSS'S ART AND STORY BEGAN WHEN, AS A KID, HE FIRST SAW SPIDER-MAN EVICTED ON THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ON PBS.

HE GREW UP IN TEXAS AND MOVED TO CHICAGO TO STUDY AT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ART.

THAT'S WHERE HE LEARNED TO DRAW FROM LIVE MODELS.

>> FROM MY FIRST WEEKEND OF SCHOOL, DRAWING FROM A LIVE MODEL WAS JUST AN EYE-OPENING THING, BECAUSE I HAD CERTAINLY DRAWN OCCASIONALLY FROM LIVE MODELS IN SMALLER CLASSES BEFORE, BUT THIS WAS NOW A HARD-CORE INTENSIVE SESSION OF REALLY FOCUSING ON IT AND REALIZING JUST WHAT MY CAPACITY WAS , TO BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME TO THE PAGE.

I'VE BEEN EITHER CURSED OR BLESSED WITH A SENSE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE OF THINKING THAT I HAD WHATEVER IT TOOK MY WHOLE LIFE, SO I KIND OF CAME INTO THE BUSINESS WITH A , A SENSE OF, LIKE, OKAY, I'VE GOT TO JUST DELIVER THIS THING THAT I GOT IN ME.

PLUS I HAD THE CONFIDENCE COMING FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY AND THINKING, I GOT A WORLD OF ILLUSTRATION HISTORY CHANNELING THROUGH ME.

I'VE JUST GOT TO FIND THE ABILITY TO GET THE JOBS THAT WILL THEN SHOW OFF WHAT I'VE BEEN TRAINED TO DO.

>> THE SHOW AT THE EL HURST ART MUSEUM INCLUDES SKETCHES, A COLLECTION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL BUSTS, AND STUNNING ARTWORK THAT HE PAINTS WITH SQUASH, A KIND OF OPAQUE WATERCOLOR.

>> WHEN I'M PLANNING ANY COMPOSITION, A COVER, OR STORYTELLING PAGES, I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE GRAPHIC IMPACT THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE LIGHTING .

AND SINCE WE ARE SKETCHING SOMETHING OUT, WE'RE NOT THINKING OF COLOR YET.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW HEAVY YOUR SHADOW IS, WHERE YOUR LIGHT SOURCE IS GOING TO BE , INFORMING THE SUBJECT, BECAUSE THAT WILL CREATE MOOD AND A SENSE OF PLACE AND TIME, AND THAT'S GOT TO BE FRONT OF MIND FOR ME, BECAUSE THAT'S THE REASON PAINTINGS AS OPPOSED TO PEN AND INK.

>> Reporter: ONE THING HE DOES NOT USE TO CREATE HIS WORK?

A COMPUTER.

>> I AM A LUDDITE, AS THAT TERM GOES.

I DO NOT USE COMPUTER WHATSOEVER.

I CAN OPEN AN EMAIL ON AN iPAD TO READ IT, BUT I DO NOT TYPE , SO I HAVE TO THEN DICTATE WHAT MY RESPONSE IS FOR MY WIFE TO SEND.

I WANT TO MAKE IT TO MY GRAVE WITHOUT HAVING LEARNED A SINGLE THING ABOUT CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGY.

>> Reporter: ALEX ROSS HAS BEEN DEPICTED AS SOMEWHAT RECLUSIVE , BUT HE DISAGREES.

>> I AM NOT ELUSIVE.

I GET CALLED OUT FOR THIS, APPARENTLY, IN NEWS MEDIA.

IT'S LIKE, OH, HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW WHERE HE IS, OR HE'S NOT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE.

LIKE, I MAKEWORK ALL THE TIME.

WHAT ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

I THINK THE ONLY IMPORTANT THING I EVER WANTED FROM THE, THE SKILLED PEOPLE I'VE FOLLOWED MY WHOLE LIFE WAS JUST FOR THEM TO MAKE MORE.

I LOVED WHAT THEY DID, AND I WANTED TO ALWAYS FOLLOW THEM WITH WHATEVER THEY COULD MAKE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASPIRE TO AS A PROFESSIONAL.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> IT'S CALLED MORE VELOCITY: THE ART OF ALEX ROSS, AND IT'S AT THE ELMHURST ART MUSEUM THROUGH AUGUST 20th.

AND NOW, BRANDIS, WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU, AND >>> HAPPY FLAG DAY.

TODAY IS ONE THE NATION ANNUALLY COMMEMORATES THE BIRTHDAY OF THE STARS & STRIPES AND ALL THEY SYMBOLIZE.

FROM ONE CHICAGO MAN, LEGS OF ALL STRIPES CARRY SIGNIFICANT EVERY DAY.

THAT'S BECAUSE HIS COMPANY MAKES THEM.

AMANDA VINICKY HAS THE STORY OF A MULTIGENERATIONA L BUSINESS THAT PRODUCES FLAGS ON THE CITY'S SOUTHSIDE.

>> Reporter: WHEN A CHICAGO AND HERE'S THE LETTERS WGN, THEY PROBABLY PICK OF THE BROADCASTING STATION.

CARL GUS PORTER THE THIRD CAN SET THEM STRAIGHT.

>> WE WERE HERE LONG BEFORE TV.

WE WERE HERE LONG BEFORE RADIO.

SO WGN FLAGON DECORATING COMPANY SINCE 1916.

I LOVE THEM, BUT WE WERE HERE FIRST.

>> WGN, IN THIS CASE, STANDS FOR WILLIAM GEORGE NUBILE.

>> THE COMPANY ACTUALLY STARTED BY MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER PURCHASING A STICK FLAG FROM A STREET MERCHANT, WALKING DOWN THE STREET, AND SELLING IT FOR TWICE WHAT HE PAID FOR IT.

>> Reporter: 108 YEARS LATER, THE FLAGS COMPANIES STILL SOARING, HIGH AND PROUD AS THE FLAGS THAT SHOWS HIMSELF.

FOR OVER A CENTURY, THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE SAME BUILDING BY SEAMSTRESSES LIKE STELLA PARA, WHO, IN HER TIME AT WGN, HAS BECOME A FLAG MAKING PRO.

>> WOW, OKAY.

COULD YOU DO THIS NOW IN YOUR SLEEP?

>> Reporter: MAKING A FLAG FOR THE BLACKHAWKS IS STILL CHALLENGING.

GETTING THE MEASUREMENTS RIGHT, THE DETAIL OF THE FEATHERS AND FACE .

BUT THAT THEIR HANDIWORK FLYING HIGH IN THE RAFTERS.

>> WE'VE ALSO DONE ALL OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS THAT HANG IN THE UNITED CENTER.

SO ALL OF THE BULLS, THE BLACKHAWKS, EVERY DYNASTY IN CHICAGO ENDS UP COMING BACK HERE.

>> PICK A HALLMARK EVENT IN THE PAST CENTURY OR SO.

CHANCES ARE, WGN HAS MADE A FLAG OR BANNER FOR IT.

V-J DAY IN 1945, THE PASSING OF POLITICIANS LIKE MAYOR HAROLD WASHINGTON.

>> MY FATHER GOT A CALL THANKSGIVING MORNING AND HE HAD TO LEAVE THANKSGIVING DINNER TO COME DOWNTOWN AND START PUTTING DRAPES UP THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> Reporter: AND QUEEN ELIZABETH'S HISTORIC VISIT IN 1959.

PORTER HIMSELF IS ROYALTY, TOO, AT LEAST AMONG FRIENDS.

>> I'VE GOT TO BE THE FLAG KING OF CHICAGO.

>> >> Reporter: IF HE'S THE KING, THAT APRIL 4th IS HIS BIG DAY.

CHICAGO FLAG DAY MARKS THE DATE IN 1917, A YEAR AFTER WGN'S FOUNDING, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE NOW ICONIC CHICAGO FLAG.

>> YOU CAN GO TO ANY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY , THAT FLAG IS STILL GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KNOW WHAT IT IS , AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT MEANS, OH, THESE GUYS MUST BE CHICAGOANS.

>> Reporter: PORTER SAYS THE CITYSIDE RESONATES, BECAUSE IT'S DESIGN IS SO SIMPLE, AND YET EVERY ELEMENT HAS MEANING.

>> WHAT DO EACH OF THESE FOUR STARS MEAN?

POP QUIZ, CAN YOU DO IT?

>> I THINK I CAN COME ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE DEARBORN.

WILL BE THE FIRST STAR.

SECOND STAR IS GOING TO BE THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE.

THEN WE HAVE THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION AND THE CENTURY OF PROGRESS.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT EVERYBODY FORGETS.

>> Reporter: THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT ADDING A FIFTH STAR.

PORTER SAYS, IN 1976, HIS GREAT-GRANDFATHER OVERHEARD CITY INSIDERS TALKING ABOUT HONORING THE LATE MAYOR RICHARD J. DALEY WITH ONE , SO WGN RUSHED TO GET AHEAD AND PRODUCE THEM.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED, BUT THE COMPANY HAS A FEW OF THE VINTAGE FIVE-STAR FLAGS.

WGN FLAGON DECORATING COMPANY KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT DURABILITY AND SURVIVAL , AND THE MIGHTY POWER OF THE FLAG.

>> PEOPLE ABSORB IT IT IT BECOMES PART OF THEIR SOUL, LIKE THE U.S.

FLAG DOES.

THAT CITY OF CHICAGO STAR IN THOSE STRIPES, TO SOME PEOPLE, THAT IS THEIR LIFE.

THAT IS, LIKE WE SAID, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT TATTOOED ON THEM.

AND WHILE I DON'T HAVE THAT PERSONALLY TATTOOED ON MYSELF, I CAN'T SAY I BLAME THEM.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

>> NO TATTOOS FOR PARIS.

THE ILLINOIS FLAG LIKES THE ICONIC STATUS OF THE CHICAGO ONE, AND SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

A MEASURE APPROVED LAST MONTH AND AWAITING ACTION FROM THE GOVERNOR WOULD CREATE A COMMISSION.

IT'S TASK?

TO EXPLORE THE CREATION OF A NEW STATE FLAG.

MEANWHILE, IF YOU WANT A FLAG OF THEIR OWN, WGN CAN PRODUCE NEAR ANY VARIATION.

THE COMPANY HAS SWAPPED THE CHICAGO STARS FOR APPLES , LAWNMOWERS, YOU NAME IT.

AND WHILE WGN SELLS AMERICAN FLAGS, IT DOES NOT MAKE THEM.

>> THAT IS AN ICONIC FLAG.

THERE IS NO FLAG LIKE IT.

BE THE ONLY ONE THAT COMES CLOSE IS THE NEW ORLEANS CITY FLAG.

THE FLORIDA LEASE.

>> OBVIOUSLY.

OH MY GOSH.

>> ANYWAYS, NO, GREAT FLAG, GREAT STORY.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10:00.

>>> IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE THE DOORS PERMANENTLY CLOSE FOR SCHOOLS.

WE'RE LIVE FROM BOSTON AND ENGLEWOOD WITH A LOOK AT THE IMPACT.

>>> AND SCOUTING OUT CHICAGO LOCATIONS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY ATTRACT A NEW BEARS STADIUM.

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

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND