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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE MUST MAKE THE MOST OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE OUR SCHOOL BOARD.

>> BIG ACTION IN SPRINGFIELD ON AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAD.

>> SPIKING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE MAYOR'S REACTION AND MORE.

>> IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

IN MOSTLY GOOD WAYS.

>> AUTHOR GEORGE R.R.

MARTIN ON THE "GAME OF THRONES" PHENOMENON AND HIS TIME AT NORTHWESTERN.

>> HOW LOCAL GROUPS ARE DOCUMENTING THE EXPERIENCES OF TRANSGENDER CHICAGOANS.

>> A STUDY SHOWS AN ALARMING TREND IN CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN SICK WITH COVID-19.

>> BEING CONNECTED TO ONE'S VISION, IT'S JUST EXTREMELY CRUCIAL.

>> AND AN ARTIST LOOKS BACK AT HIS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH IN A NEW EXHIBIT.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE VICTIM OF A CHICAGO POLICE RAID GONE WRONG SAYS THE MAYOR AND HER LAW DEPARTMENT HAVE DONE LITTLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUES THAT LED TO THE BOTCHED RAID.

SOCIALER WORKER KIMBERLY JUNG SAYS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S LAW DEPARTMENT IS THREATENING TO FILE A MOTION TO DISMISS YOUNG'S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY.

YOUNG MET WITH THE MAYOR THIS YEAR AFTER VIDEO REVEALED POLICE STORMED HER APARTMENT AND HANDCUFFED HER WHILE NAKED.

IN A STATEMENT, THE CITY'S LAW DEPARTMENT SAYS YOUNG'S ATTORNEY QUOTE... >> THERE'S MORE OF THAT STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> THOSE WHO PURCHASE GUNS FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T LEGALLY ALLOWED TO POSSESS THEM ARE IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THIS SUMMER.

THE OFFICE IS PARTNERING WITH U.S.

ATTORNEYS IN BOTH NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA TO ROLL OUT A CAMPAIGN DISCOURAGING THOSE SO-CALLED STRAW PURCHASES.

>> WE ARE PUTTING FIREARMS IN THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE THEM.

PEOPLE WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE ORDERS OF PROTECTION AGAINST THEM.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING FIREARMS INTO THEIR HANDS.

>> PEOPLE WHO MAKE PURCHASE FOR OTHERS AND LIE ABOUT IT CAN FACE UP TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

OFFICIALS SAY THIS SUMMER'S DON'T LIE FOR THE OTHER GUY CAMPAIGN WILL BE ROLLED OUT ON BILLBOARDS, AND SOCIAL IMMEDIATE.

>> JUNETEENTH IS OFFICIALLY A STATE HOLIDAY IN ILLINOIS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED THE LEGISLATION TODAY MAKING JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY IN ILLINOIS.

THE STATE'S FIRST BLACK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, JULIANA STRATTON, THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT A DAY LIKE TODAY WOULD HAVE MEANT FOR HER ENSLAVED ANCESTORS.

>> I THINK ABOUT HOW THEY MUST HAVE PRAYED FOR OUR FREEDOM.

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN DAYS THEY NEVER IMAGINE TO DO FOR THEMSELVES BUT THEY PRAYED THAT THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND THOSE OF US STANDING HERE TODAY THAT WE WOULD ONE DAY BE FREE.

>> THIS SATURDAY ALL FLAGS WILL BE LOWERED TO HALF-STAFF.

A JUNETEENTH FLAG WILL FLYOVER THE STATE CAPITOL IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> THE FIRST PAID JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY FOR STATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION WORKERS WILL BE IN 2023.

>> IT'S DAY TWO OF A SPECIAL SUMMER SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD AND LEGISLATORS ACTIONS COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON CHICAGO.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

>> BRANDIS, POLITICIANS PULLED THE PLUG IF YOU WILL ON THE BIG ENERGY LEGISLATION BUT THEY DID MUSTER THE ENERGY TO MOVE FORWARD ON A CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL: CREATING AN ELECTED BOARD OF EDUCATION TO GOVERN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> WHAT THIS IS, IS A DOWN PAYMENT ON DEMOCRACY.

THIS IS A PRACTICAL, COMMON SENSE BILL.

THIS IS NOT REVOLUTION.

THIS IS REFORM.

WE KNOW ABOUT THE SORDID PAST OF THE YOU CAN SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT I AM A PRODUCT OF AND WE KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY FROM WILLIS TO THE MASS CLOSINGS OF 50 SCHOOLS WHO WOULD GIVE ANYBODY IN THIS CHAMBER PAUSE.

>> THAT SCHOOL MEASURE PASSED THE HOUSE HALF AN HOUR AGO 70-41.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WILL NEED TO SIGN IT IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BE LAW BUT HE HAS INDICATED THAT HE IS IN FAVOR OF AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD AND IS NOT BOUND TO GO BACK ON HIS WORD ON THIS ONE.

C.P.S.

WILL GET THAT BOARD IN PLACE.

AND SOME MEMBERS ELECTED AND OTHERS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION.

AND NO MORE SCHOOL CLOSURES UNTIL THAT ELECTED BOARD CAN BE SEATED.

THIS HOUSE VOTE CAME DESPITE LEG IS SLAYTORS SAYING THIS -- LEGISLATORS SAY THIS PLAN WAS NOT READY FOR PRIMETIME AND THIS IS A DEFEAT FOR MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT BECAUSE IT CAME DESPITE A LAST-MINUTE PUSH FROM LORI LIGHTFOOT TO TRY TO KILL THE BILL WITH HER HAND PICKED PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, MIGUEL DEL VALLE TELLS HE HAS ADVOCATED FOR AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BUT A 21-MEMBER BOARD IS TOO BIG.

NOW, THE SPONSOR DELIA RAMIREZ WOULD NOT COMMIT TO DOWNSIZING IT BUT DID SAY YES SHE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE PLAN INCLUDING OTHER CONDITIONS LIKE PUTTING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LIMITS ON RACES FOR SCHOOL BOARD SEATS AND PAVINGS PATH FOR C.P.S.

PARENTS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SEAT ON THE BOARD.

>> I DON'T HOLD OUT MUCH HOPE THAT THE UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

I JUST DON'T SEE ANY INDICATION THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> IN ORDER TO GET THAT DONE, A BIT DIFFERENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE, LEGISLATORS PASSED THEIR -- CAST THEIR VOTES THE HOUSE TODAY ADJUSTING ITS RULES ALLOWING LAWMAKERS TO VOTE REMOTELY ON BILLS T DID NOT GO GREAT.

THERE WERE TECHNICAL HICCUPS AS THEY GOT STARTED.

REP CRESPO?

>> THINGS DID GET CLEARED UP AFTER.

REMOTE VOTING WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHOUGHT OF BUT THE COVID PANDEMIC CHANGED THAT.

THE STATE SENATE ALLOWED THIS ALL SESSION LONG BUT REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WERE FIRED UP.

SINCE THIS CHANGE WHICH IS JUST TEMPORARY WASN'T MADE BACK WHEN COVID CASES SOARING IT CAME TODAY WHEN ALL OF ILLINOIS IS BACK OPEN AND RESUMING BUSINESS AS CLOSE TO USUAL.

>> THIS CHANGE FOR REMOTE VOTING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COVID IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THEY NEED 71 VOTES TO CORRECT THE BUDGET ERROR THAT THEY THEMSELVES CAUSED BY INTRODUCING A 3,000-PAGE BUDGET 10 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT.

THEY NEED 71 VOTES TO CORRECT THAT AND COULD NOT GET 71 PEOPLE TO SHOW UP.

>> HERE IS TOM DEMMER ABOUT IS ILLINOIS NEEDS A BUDGET IN PLACE BEFORE NEXT MONTH BUT THAT 43 BILLION SPENDING PLAN WAS APPROVED A BIG MISTAKE WAS DISCOVERED THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT BIG CHUNKS OF THE BUDGET NOT TAKING INTO EFFECT UNTIL JULY OF 2022.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER USED HIS VETO POWER TO MAKE A SWITCH IN THE DATE.

DEMOCRATS THEN NEEDED 71 VOTES TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES AND BUT NOT ENOUGH DEMOCRATS COULD MAKE IT TO THE CAPITOL FOR THIS SPECIAL SESSION.

HENCE THEY CHANGED THE RULES.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MIKE MARRON SAYS THAT SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS A BUDGET HAVING BEEN RIDDLED WITH ERRORS, SHOWS WHY IT'S PROBLEMATIC THAT YOU HAVE 3,000 PAGE BILLS HAPPENING IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT WITH LITTLE ROOM FOR PUBLIC OR LEGISLATIVE SCRUTINY.

>> THIS IS THE WORST KIND OF PROCESS.

I WON'T CALL IT A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DESERVE THAT TITLE.

I WAS APPALLED AFTER BEING IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT SEEING HOW BUSINESS WAS CONDUCTED IN SPRINGFIELD.

MY SHOCK NOW TURNED TO SHAME.

>> NOW, REPUBLICANS ALSO SAY THAT IF PRITZKER WAS GOING TO USE HIS VETO PEN TO MAKE CHANGES HE SHOULD HAVE USED IT TO DO THINGS LIKE NIXING LEGISLATIVE PAY RAISES CONTAINED IN THE BUDGET.

THEY ARE DUE TO GET $2,000 EXTRA A YEAR.

AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT TODAY.

>> THIS WAS A ERROR THAT WE'RE CORRECTING AT THE REQUEST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THAT'S WHAT THAT AMENDATORY VETO WAS ABOUT.

RENEGOTIATING CHANGES SUBSTANTIVE PORTIONS OF THE BILL WAS NOT SOMETHING ANYONE WAS PLANNING TO DO THIS IS FIXING THE EFFECTIVE DATES.

>> THE REMOTE VOTING DIDN'T JUST GET ILLINOIS A BUDGET AND THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, LEGISLATORS SENDING TO PRITZKER A BILL THAT WILL MANDATE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL GUN SALES AND GIVES PEOPLE THE OPTION TO SHARE THEIR FINGERPRINTS WITH THE STATE IF THEY WANT TO SPEED UP GETTING A FIREARM OWNER IDENTIFICATION CARD REQUIRED FOR ANYONE IN ILLINOIS TO OWN A GUN.

>> I BELIEVE THIS WILL SAVE LIVES IN ILLINOIS.

I BELIEVE IT WILL INSURE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF OUR FOID SYSTEM AND IT WILL MOVE US FORWARD IN MAKING SURE THAT UNIVERSE TALL BACKGROUND CHECKS TAKE PLACE ON ALL GUN SALES IN ILLINOIS.

>> NOW, THIS IS ALSO ILLINOIS' LONG DELAYED REACTION TO A 2019 MASS SHOOTING IN AURORA.

AND IN THAT CASE THE SHOOTER KILLED FIVE PEOPLE, HIS FOID CAR HAD BEEN REVOKED BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT NEVER TOOK THE GUNS FROM HIM.

AND KEITH WHEELER WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THE FATHER OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS WHO WAS JUST STARTING HIS INTERNSHIP AT THE AURORA MANUFACTURING PLANT WHERE THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE.

>> THIS BILL GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT THE ACTUAL CHANCE THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO PREVENT ANOTHER TRAGEDY FROM HAPPENING TO ANOTHER FAMILY LIKE THE WINERS.

>> WE HAVE TO GIVE THAT CHANCE.

>> IT IS GOING TO BE A BUSY SUMMER FOR GOVERNOR PRITZKER AS HE ACTS ON THESE AND ALL OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS SENT HIS WAY.

NEGOTIATIONS ON THAT MONSTER ENERGY BILL THEY ARE STILL ONGOING AND IF THEY GET A DEAL, WE COULD SEE LEGISLATORS RETURNING TO SPRINGFIELD YET AGAIN THIS SUMMER.

IF NOT, THEY ARE BACK IN THEIR DISTRICTS UNTIL FALL.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SEE YOU LATER FOR SPOTLIGHT.

>> A NOTABLE NORTHWESTERN ALUM IS IN TOWN FOR MAJOR RECOGNITION.

GAME AUTHOR GEORGE R.R.

MARTIN A GRADUATE OF NORTHWESTERN'S MEDILL JOURNALISM SCHOOL WAS AWARDED.

I SAT DOWN WITH MARTIN AND BEGAN TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE BOOK SERIES THE HBO SHOW OFF OF IT.

HE SAYS HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO DISCUSS FUTURE "GAME OF THRONES" SHOWS AND SPIN-OFFS IN DETAILS AND WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT NEXT BOOK.

>> IT CHANGED MY LIFE, IN MOSTLY GOOD WAYS.

ALTHOUGH YOU KNOW, LOOKING BACK, I WISH I HAD STAYED AHEAD OF THE BOOKS.

MY BIGGEST ISSUE WAS WHEN THEY BEGAN THAT SERIES, I HAD FOUR BOOKS IN PRINT AND THE FIFTH ONE CAME OUT JUST AS THE SERIES WAS STARTING IN 2011.

I HAD A FIVE-BOOK HEADSTART AND THESE ARE GIGANTIC BOOKS.

I NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD CATCH UP WITH ME.

AND THEY DID.

THEY CAUGHT UP WITH ME AND PASSED ME AND IT MADE IT STRANGE NOW THE SHOW WAS AHEAD OF ME AND GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

I'M STILL WORKING ON THE BOOK.

BUT YOU WILL SEE MY ENDING WHEN THAT COMES OUT.

>> I WANT TO REWIND.

YOU WERE AN AVID READER AT A YOUNG AGE.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU USED TO SAVE YOUR MONEY TO BUY USED PAPERBACKS.

>> AND COMIC BOOKS.

COMIC BOOKS ARE WHAT I CUT MY TEETH ON IN THE BEGINNING.

I STARTED GETTING A DOLLAR A WEEK ALLOWANCE AND IT WAS ANOTHER ERA SO THAT WAS 10 COMIC BOOKS I WOULD BUY WITH MY ALLOWANCE.

AND WHEN I STARTED BUYING PAPERBACKS THOSE WERE 35 CENTS I HAD TO GIVE UP FOUR COMIC BOOKS TO BUY A PAPERBACK AND I DID BECAUSE I WAS ADDICTED TO THE BOOKS, TOO.

>> YOU STARTED DOING YOUR WRITING AND SELLING YOUR WRITING?

>> YES.

>> DRAMATIC READINGS INCLUDED?

>> THEY WERE, YES.

MOST OF MY CUSTOMERS WHO -- I GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS IN NEW JERSEY.

AND I WOULD WRITE THESE TWO, THREE PAGE STORIES, HANDWRITTEN ON PAPER RIPPED FROM MY NOTEBOOK, THEY WERE MONSTER STORIES AND VAMPIRE STORIES AND STORIES ABOUT MONITORS AND THE -- MONSTERS.

THE KIDS I WAS SELLING THEM TO, THEY WERE NOT AS GOOD READERS AS ME.

SO I READ THEM THE STORY WHEN THEY BOUGHT IT I READ THEM AND I DID THE WHERE WOLF HOWLS AND THAT STUFF.

AND I SOLD IT FOR A NICKEL I COULD GET SIX NICKELS AND I COULD BUY MORE COMIC BOOKS AND MILKY WAY BARS AND IT WAS A GOOD THING FOR A WHILE.

AND ONE OF THE KIDS STARTED HAVING NIGHTMARES BECAUSE OF MY STORIES AND HIS MOTHER CAME TO MY MOTHER AND MY MOTHER SAID STOP SCARING THE OTHER KIDS SO I HAD TO STOP.

>> SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

IT WORKED OUT FOR YOU.

LATER ON YOU CAME HERE TO NORTHWESTERN TO ATTEND MEDILL.

WAS IT A CULTURE SHOCK COMING TO THE MIDWEST?

>> COMPLETELY, YEAH.

WE NEVER HAD A LOT OF MONEY.

MY FAMILY NEVER OWNED A CAR.

I TOOK THE BUSES TO GET ANYWHERE.

AND I NEVER WENT ANYWHERE.

ONCE A YEAR WE WOULD GO INTO NEW YORK CITY ABOUT 45 MINUTES AWAY BY BUS AND SEE THE CHRISTMAS SHOW AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL AND EAT AT AN AUTO MATT AND VISIT SANTA AT MACY'S.

THAT WAS OUR CHRISTMAS TRIP BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME I COULD GET INTO NEW YORK.

I HAD CERTAINLY NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY.

I HAD NEVER BEEN TO ANYTHING BEYOND THAT.

SO IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD TO ME.

>> IN THAT TIME, YOU LIVED THROUGH YOU EXPERIENCED CHICAGO WINTERS WHICH YOU GET THE WINTER IN JERSEY BUT WE BRAG ABOUT IT HERE.

>> I GOT IMMERSED IN THAT RIGHT AWAY MY FRESHMAN YEAR I WAS IN BOB HALL HERE ON THE CAMPUS.

AND WE GOT HIT WITH A SNOWSTORM.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 23 INCHES.

23 INCHES IN LIKE A DAY.

AND I REMEMBER I WAS -- IT STARTED AND I WAS WALKING BACK FROM CLASS TO THE DORMITORY AND THE SNOW WAS COMING DOWN TO HEAVILY THAT I COULD NOT SEE A THING.

I'M FOLLOWING THE SIDEWALK I COULD NOT SEE THE BUILDINGS AROUND ME, VAGUE LIGHTS THROUGH THE SNOW.

WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A BUILDING I WOULD GO THAT IS NOT MY BUILDING WHERE THE HELL AM I?

I WAS LOST IN A BLIZZARD.

BUT I FOUND THE DORMITORY.

AND THEN THE SNOW JUST KEPT ONCOMING AND COMING.

AND I WAS ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND IT GOT SO HIGH IT COVERED THE WINDOW.

OUTSIDE.

AND THEN, WE GOT HIT WITH A HARD FREEZE.

ALL THE SNOW DID NOT MELT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THEY HAD TO DIG TRENCHES FROM THE DOOR TO THE DOORS OF OTHER BUILDINGS IT WAS LIKE THE TRENCH SYSTEM IN WORLD WAR I INSTEAD OF MUD IT WAS MADE OF SNOW.

YOU WOULD BE IN THIS TRENCH WITH THE WALLS HIGHER THAN YOUR HEAD AND PEOPLE GOING ONE DIRECTION AND YOU REACH A FORK WHERE IT MET WITH A TUNNEL.

THIS WAY TO THE AUDITORIUM.

THAT KIND OF STUFF.

IT WAS LIKE A DIFFERENT WORLD FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEN IT GOT WARM AND ALL THE SNOWMELTED AND THE REGULAR WORLD RETURNED.

I FELT LIKE I WAS ON AN ARCTIC PLANET FOR A WHILE.

YOU COULD TELL BY THE WAY I TALK ABOUT IT I REMEMBER IT ALMOST WITH A NOSTALGIA IT WAS A COOL EXPERIENCE AS WEIRD AS IT WAS.

>> DID YOU LATER REALIZE HOW THAT EXPERIENCE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING DOWN THE ROAD?

>> WELL, I HAVE STOLEN SOME OF THAT TRENCH STUFF AND THAT FOR THE WINTER SET THE WALL IN THE "GAME OF THRONES" I CAN DESCRIBE THAT FROM MEMORY.

YOU FILE EVERYTHING AWAY.

IF YOU ARE A WRITER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU, GOOD, BAD, YOU KNOW, HEARTBREAK, TRAUMA, LOVE, DEATH, AND JUST LITTLE INCIDENTS LIKE THAT THINGS THAT WHAT THE ZENRY LOOKS -- SCENERY LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE WEATHER IS LIKE AND YOU DRAW ON IT AND MAYBE DECADES OR QUARTER CENTURY LATER, SUDDENLY YOU ARE WRITING SOMETHING THAT BRING IT IS TO MIND AND YOU BRING IT OUT AGAIN.

>> AND WE'LL HAVE MORE OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH GEORGE R.R.

MARTIN COMING UP INCLUDING TALK ABOUT SOME OF HIS UP COMING PROJECTS.

>> A TRANSGENDER GROUP IS WORKING ON WHAT THEY HOPE WILL BE THE LARGEST POPULATION DATA COLLECTION ON TRANSPEOPLE TO DATE.

IT WILL COLLECT INFORMATION FROM TRANSINDIVIDUALS IN COOK COUNTY AND THE PROJECT AIMS BEYOND JUST FINDING POPULATION NUMBERS.

RESEARCHERS HOPE TO CREATE A SET OF DATA THAT WILL RANGE FROM INDIVIDUALS' HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCES TO POLITICAL GOALS.

JOINING US ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TWO GROUPS WORKING ON THE SURVEY.

DYLAN FELT, A RESEARCH PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR THE EVALUATION DATA INTEGRATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

AND JAE RICE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> DYLAN LET'S FART WITH YOU, PLEASE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IS A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE TRANS RELATED DATA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TALK ABOUT THIS.

HISTORICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPOPULATION HEALTH WE HAVE HAD TO RELY ON NATIONAL DATA SURVEYS PEOPLE ALWAYS HEARD OF ARE EFFECTIVE AT MOVING THE NATIONAL POLICY CONVERSATION FORWARD BUT NOT NECESSARILY AS EFFECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF TRANSPEOPLE IN MOST COMMUNITIES.

THE RECENT SURVEY COLLECTED DATA FROM 27,000, 1,000 WERE ILLINOIS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY THAT DATA IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH IT DOESN'T TELL US ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AND NEED WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOY OR POLITICAL LIBERATION THERE'S SO MUCH LEFT ON THE TABLE.

>> AND JAE RICE WHAT DOES OUTREACH FOR SURVEY LOOK LIKE?

>> OUTREACH THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AGAIN.

OUTREACH CAN LOOK LIKE A LOT OF THINGS.

WE HAVE STREET SCENES THAT WILL BE FORMED TO DO ON THE GROUND BOOTS ON THE GROUND OUTREACH.

OUTREACH AT THE EVENTS THAT BRINGS FAITH ALLIANCE HOSTING.

IT LOOKS LIKE ANYWHERE THAT TRANSPEOPLE MAYBE WE WILL DO OUTREACH FOR THE SERVICE.

>> AND JAE RICE WAS IS IT IMPORTANT THAT MEMBERS OF THE TRANSCOMMUNITY LEAD AND PARTICIPATE IN CONDUCTING THIS SURVEY?

>> BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES WHO KNOW WHAT TRANSPEOPLE NEED.

WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE NOT IN THE TRANSCOMMUNITY LEADING THE SURVEYS THERE IS A DISCONNECT AND THERE IS A FOCUS ON JUST THE NEGATIVES OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE TRANSCOMMUNITY THIS SURVEY IS TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS AND YOUR USUAL QUESTIONS.

BUT WE'RE ASKING FOLKS ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE HOW DO THEY FIND COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES?

>> THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELEASED DATA ON THE LGBTQ POPULATION AND ESTIMATES FROM 2014-2017 AND RESEARCH SHOWS THERE ARE 146,000 ADULT CHICAGOANS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ.

AND OF THAT, 138,000 AS SPECIFICALLY LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL AND 10500 AS TRANSGENDER.

DYLAN YOU ARE AIMING TO HEAR FROM 30,000 PEOPLE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE LARGE DIFFERENCE IN ESTIMATES?

>> YEAH, I THINK OUR COMMUNITY HAS BECOME GOOD AT HIDING AND NOT BEING FOUND WHEN WE DON'T WANT TO BE FOUND BECAUSE BEING VISIBLE COMES WITH A LOT OF PAIN AND VIOLENCE ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S HARD TO TRUST.

AND IT'S HARD TO TRUST THAT OUR BEST INTENTIONS ARE AT HEART.

THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF PROBLEMATIC, PAINFUL OR VIOLENT RESEARCH CONDUCTED ON TRANSGENDER POPULATIONS.

WE AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE ALSO TRAINED IN RESEARCH WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT OUR 30,000 NUMBER IS FAIR AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT OUR UNIQUE APPROACH AS JAE WAS DESCRIBING HAVING TRANSPEOPLE ON THE GROUND, THAT IS REALLY THE APPROACH THAT IS GOING TO GET US THE LARGEST SAMPLE POSSIBLE.

>> WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT?

>> ABOUT A YEAR.

SO WE JUST DID OUR BIG PUSH ANNOUNCEMENT ON JUNE 1ST AND I BELIEVE WE'LL START TALK TAKING SURVEYS JUNE 1ST NEXT YEAR.

>> AND DYLAN WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THIS LOCALIZED DATA COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL STATS ON TRANSPEOPLE?

>> YEAH, WHAT I WAS MENTIONING LOCAL DATA LETS YOU MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS NOT RESEARCH IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSPEOPLE.

IT'S NOT RESEARCH THAT IS INVESTED IN PRODUCING KNOWLEDGE IT CERTAINLY WILL.

IT'S RESEARCH WHICH IS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN IMPROVING THE MATERIAL CONDITIONS OF TRANSLIFE IN CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY AND YOU CANNOT DO THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE DATA FROM TRANSPEOPLE IN CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY.

WHAT MAKES OUR PROJECT SO STRONG IS ON THE FRONT END AND THE BACK END AND EVERY STAGE IN-BETWEEN.

TRANSLEADERSHIP IS CENTERED AND THAT WILL MAKE THE SURVEY TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

>> HOW DO YOU ENVISION THIS DATA CAN BENEFIT TRANSPEOPLE IN COOK COUNTY?

>> MAIN REASON WE KNOW FUNDING IS A NUMBERS GAME.

BEING ABLE TO HAVE NUMBERS THAT REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY IN AN ACCURATE WAY CAN PER PET 8 FUNDING FOR TRANSCOMMUNITIES.

>> AND HOW CAN TRANSPEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN THE SURVEY PROCESS?

>> WELL, FIRST.

ALL YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE ALLIANCE FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM WE WILL WILL BE HOSTING SIGN-UP SHEETS AND QUESTION SHEETS FOR FOLKS TO SIGN UP AND GET INVOLVED WITH THE SURVEY.

YOU CAN SIGN UP TO BE A PART OF OUR STREET TEAM.

THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT ON THE BOARD FOR THE SURVEY.

PAY ATTENTION TO OUR INSTAGRAM.

PAY ATTENTION TO OUR WEBSITE.

AND WE WILL BE DROPPING ALL THE LINKS TO SIGN UP AND GET INVOLVED.

>> KEEP UP.

THANKS TO DYLAN FELT AND JAE RICE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A LOCAL ARTIST EXPLORES HIS MEXICAN ROOTS IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ART.

STICK AROUND.

MUCH MORE AHEAD, INCLUDING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE CITY'S SPIKING VIOLENCE.

>> BUT FIRST MEXICAN ARTIST GABRIEL VILLA IS EXPLORING HIS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL TRANSFORMATION IN AN ARTIST IN THE EXHIBIT CALLED "THE METAMORPHOSIS OF GABRIEL VILLA".

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU SHARES MORE FROM THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR INDEPENDENT ARTIST GABRIEL VILLA, HIS WORK INHERENTLY IS A REFLECTION OF HIS IDENTITY.

>> I CAN'T HELP IT.

LIKE EVERYTHING I DO IS JUST LOADED WITH MY CULTURE.

I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING.

AND I DON'T RESIST THAT.

AND AT THE SAME TIME I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT IT LIKE CONSCIOUSLY.

>> FOR OVER 20 YEARS, VILLA HAS EXPLORED HIS MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE THROUGH DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS AND MOST RECENTLY SCULPTURES.

>> DEPENDING ON THE POINT OF VIEW BEING SEEN SOCIALLY AND GLOBALLY AND WHAT TYPE OF STORYLINE IT'S BEING DELIVERED, SOMETIMES YOU KNOW IT CAN COME ACROSS AS THE IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE OR COME ACROSS AS A STEREOTYPE OR IT CAN COME ACROSS THEY STICK ALL LATINO ARTISTS INTO BOXES.

I WANT TO CHALLENGE ALL THOSE NOTIONS AND AT THE SAME TIME I WANT TO CELEBRATE THEM.

>> VILLA ACKNOWLEDGES THE CHALLENGES AND CELEBRATIONS BY CREATING WORKS THAT OFFER SOCIAL CRITIQUES OR TELLING PERSONAL NARRATIVES.

BUT THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.

>> MY CERAMICS INMY OPINION ARE MUCH MORE FLUID.

AS I KEPT FOLLOWING THE PROCESS OF THE CERAMIC PIECES, THEY STARTED TO BECOME LESS AND LESS NARRATIVE WHICH IS A BIT DIFFERENT.

IT IS A BIT OF A DEPARTURE.

AND AT THEIR CORE, I THEY ARE A CELEBRATION OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT MAKING ART IS TRYING TO TAP INTO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT OBVIOUS TO ME.

AND I STARTED TO LIKE REALLY DISCOVER HOW CAN I PUSH MY OWN BOUNDARIES OF CREATING FORM AND WHAT CAN THE IMAGINATION REVEAL TO ME.

>> UNLIKE MOST ARTISTS VILLA'S WORK IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF A PARTICULAR STYLE.

>> MY WORK CHALLENGES PEOPLE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S EASY.

I DON'T THINK IT IS AN EASY SEE.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO REALLY STAND IN FRONT OF MY WORK AND TRY TO NOT FIND THE ANSWERS OR TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ARTIST IS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE, BUT MY WORK -- THE PAINTINGS ARE HEAD SCRATCHERS.

>> THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE THING VILLA SEEMS TO HOPE PEOPLE FIND.

>> I WOULD LIKE A VIEWER TO GET A NOTION ALSO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK ABOUT A LOT, IS WHAT DOES AMERICAN ART LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DOES CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ART LOOK LIKE?

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, TO ME, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A HEAVY LATINO MEXICAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE BUT THAT'S AN AMERICAN STORY.

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

[♪♪♪] >> AND YOU CAN SEE "THE METAMORPHOSIS OF GABRIEL VILLA" AT THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER UNTIL JULY 24.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... RATHER SYNDROME LINKED TO KIDS WITH COVID-19 SYMPTOMS.

>> I WILL NOT SIGN A BILL THAT DOES NOT MATCH THE GRAVITY OF THIS MOMENT.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE LATEST OUT OF SPRINGFIELD AND CHICAGO'S CITY HALL.

>> AND DPA "GAME OF THRONES" AUTHOR GEORGE R.R.

MARTIN ON SOME OF HIS PROJECTS AND GETTING AN HONORARY NORTHWESTERN DOCTORATE 50 YEARS AFTER GRADUATING.

>> FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

U.S.

CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH SAYS HIS CALLS FOR A NEW POSTMASTER IN CHICAGO HAVE BEEN HEEDED.

IN A STATEMENT RUSH SAYS HE LEARNED THAT EDDIE MORGAN JR.

REPLACED THE OUTGOING POSTMASTER.

HE PLEADED WITH THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE TO CHANGE LEADERSHIP AFTER 150 ROUTES WENT UNDELIVERED IN CHICAGO IN MAY AND 20-60 ROUTES WERE PARISHLY DELIVERED.

>> STUDENTS AT ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WILL HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT IN AUGUST.

THE SCHOOL NAMED THE FIRST INDIAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT IN RAJ CHAMBADI.

RAJ CHAMBADI IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS DEAN OF THE BUSINESS SCHOOL AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IN BOSTON AND REPLACES OUTRAGEOUS PRESIDENTIAL LEN CRUMB.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO SPEND TIME DOWNTOWN STATE STREET IS LOOKING DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT WILL BE CLOSED.

SUNDAY ON STATE PART OF A SERIES OF SUMMER EVENTS DOWNTOWN TO DRAW RESIDENTS AND VISITORS BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT WILL CLOSE A STRETCH OF THE STREETS BETWEEN LAKE AND MADISON NOR THEATRE, WRESTLING, YOGA, MUSICIANS, SIDEWALK SALES AND MORE.

THE FIRST SUNDAY IS JULY 11TH.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION.

>> A NEW STUDY FINDS A RARE CONDITION LINKED TO KIDS WITH COVID-19 INFECTIONS IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN BLACK, LATINO AND ASIAN CHILDREN THAN WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

KRISTEN THOMETZ JOINS US WITH MORE DETAILS FROM THE STUDY.

THIS RARE CONDITION IS CALLED MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME.

WHAT IS THIS AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

>> RIGHT.

MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY CHILDREN IS THE RARE BUT SERIOUS CONDITION LINKED TO KIDS WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.

NOW THE CONDITION CAN CAUSE INFLAMMATION THROUGHOUT THE BODY INCLUDING IN THE HEART, LUNGS, KIDNEYS, BRAIN AND OTHER ORGANS ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE FEVER, PAIN, VOMITING, RASH AND FATIGUE.

>> AND WHAT DID THE STUDY DISCOVER?

>> SURE.

SO RESEARCHERS ANALYZED DATA FROM THE CDC THAT LOOKED 250 CHILDREN AND THEY FOUND 96 OF THE KIDS WERE HISPANIC OR LATINO AND 75 WERE BLACK AND AND THOSE GROUPS ACCOUNTED FOR 69% OF THOSE STUDIED.

AND LATINO, BLACK, ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER CHILDREN WERE MORE AFFECTED BY THE CONDITION THAN WHITES.

RESEARCHERS DO NOT SAY WHY THAT IS AND A LOCAL DOCTOR SAYS IT'S POSSIBLE IT COULD BE ENVIRONMENTAL OR BIOLOGICAL FACTORS BUT HE AND THE RESEARCHERS SAY MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO STUDY THIS SPECIFIC CONDITION.

>> KRISTEN THOMETZ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN READ KRISTEN'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF MI S C AND BIOMARKERS FOR EARLY DETECTION AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW WE RETURN TO AUTHOR AND SCREENWRITER WHO RECEIVED AN HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM NORTHWESTERN AFTER GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR AND MASTERS IN JOURNALISM HE WAS ABLE TO ATTAIN CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO THE VIETNAM WAR.

>> BY THE TIME MY ALTERNATIVE SERVICE WAS UP, I HAD SOLD LIKE A DOZEN STORIES.

I HAD BEEN NOMINATED NOR AN AWARD.

I HAD A BURGEONING CAREER AS A FICTION WRITER.

SO I DID NOT GO OUT AND LOOK FOR A JOB AGAIN.

I DECIDED I WOULD FOLLOW THIS PATH AND SEE WHERE IT LED.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OBLIGATIONS AT THE TIME.

I WAS IN MY EARLY 20s LIVING WITH ROOMMATES WE HAD A BIG OLD APARTMENT THAT I SHARED WITH LIKE SIX PEOPLE.

AND THE RENT WAS SMALL.

AND SO I DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE I WASN'T MAKING A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT IT LED ME DOWN THAT PATH.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT PATH WORKED OUT WELL FOR ME.

>> THE "GAME OF THRONES" FINALE AIRED TWO YEARS AGO THIS SPRING.

TWO YEARS LATER HOW DO YOU LOOK BACK AND VIEW THAT SERIES WHICH BECAME A PHENOMENON?

>> IT DID BECOME A PHENOMENON IT WAS THE MOST POPULAR TELEVISION SHOW IN THE WORLD AT THE TIME.

IT WON MORE EMMYS THAN ANY OTHER SHOW IN TELEVISION HISTORY THOSE ARE EXCITING THINGS I'M PLEASED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

AND IT MADE ME FAMOUS.

WHICH I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT.

I THINK IT WAS BILL MURRAY WHO SAID IF YOU DREAM OF FAME AND FORTUNE, TRY JUST FORTUNE FIRST.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING TO SAY.

FAME IS DEFINITELY A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD.

BUT I'VE BEEN WRITING STORIES ABOUT WESTER OS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE SINCE 1991.

IT'S SUCH A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE AT THIS POINT AND NOW I'M DEVELOPING MORE SHOWS FOR HBO WE HAVE A NEW SHOW HOUSE OF DRAGON COMING DOWN FILMING RIGHT NOW IN LONDON AND CORNWALL OVER IN ENGLAND.

PROBABLY BE ON NEXT SPRING.

BUT THEN I'M DEVELOPING OTHER SHOWS FOR THAT.

IT'S TRANSFORMED MY LIFE.

FOR GOOD OR FOR ILL.

IT IS WHERE I AM.

AND I DO LOVE TELLING STORIES WITH WEST ROSS.

SO THERE ARE MORE STORIES TO TELL.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF A DEVELOPING VIDEO GAME AND IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT'S A NATURAL FIT FOR A FANTASY FICTION WRITER TO WORK ON A VIDEO GAME HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE KNOW YOU FROM WORKING ON?

>> IT'S CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT.

I'M NOT A BIG VIDEO GAMER.

BUT THE GAME IS CALLED THE ELDEN RING AND A SEQUEL TO DARK SOULS AND IT CAME OUT OF JAPAN.

MY WORK ON IT WAS ACTUALLY DONE YEARS AGO.

THESE GAMES THEY ARE LIKE MOVIES THEY TAKE A LONGTIME TO DEVELOPMENT THEY WANTED A WORLD CREATED TO SET THE GAME IN.

THEY WANTED WORLD BUILDING AS A BIG FACTOR IN FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION.

AND YOU ARE NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE CHARACTERS AND THE PLOT BUT THE SETTING IS ALMOST AS IMPORTANT.

THE FOUNDATION UNIVERSE OF ISAAC AS MOVE.

I WORKED UP DETAILED BACKGROUND AND THEY TOOK IT FROM THERE.

I REALLY IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I'VE LAST SEEN THEM BUT THEY WOULD COME IN AND SHOW ME MONSTERS THEY DESIGNED OR SPECIAL EFFECTS.

AND THE GAME HAS BEEN SLOWLY DEVELOPING AND NOW IT'S COMING OUT IN JANUARY.

I WILL BE AS EXCITED AS ANYBODY TO SEE IT.

>> AND YOU ARE LIMITED WHAT YOU CAN SA SAY ABOUT FUTURE PROJECTS AND ONE IS A PRODUCER ON AN ADAPTATION ON WHO FEARS DEATH IN A POST APOCALYPTIC AFRICA.

>> NETTIE IS A WRITER AND HER PARENTS WERE FROM NIGERIA AND SHE DREW ON NIGERIAN FOLKLORE AND AFRICAN CUSTOMS AND THAT TO CREATE THE WORLD OF WHO FER'S DEATH AN AWARD-WINNING NOVEL A FEW YEARS ACT BACK.

AND CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF HBO WHO SNAPPED UP THE RIGHTS TO DEVELOP IT FOR A TV SERIES.

AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT EVER SINCE.

TELEVISION AND FILM ARE EXCITING AREAS TO WORK IN.

AND I DID WORK IN THEM IN THE PAST IN THE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS IN THE 80s TO THE 90s LONG BEFORE "GAME OF THRONES" GAME I WAS ON THE WRITING STAFF OF TWILIGHT ZONE AND BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

AND FIVE YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT WHICH PAID WELL BUT ULTIMATELY WAS UNSATISFYING TO ME BECAUSE THEY DEVELOP A LOT OF THINGS BUT THEY ONLY MAKE A FEW OF THEM.

AND IT'S DIFFERENT AT LEAST FOR MY EXPERIENCE IN THE WORLD OF BOOKS.

IF I WRITE A SHORT STORY A NOVEL, IT COMES OUT.

THEY PUBLISH IT AND IT COMES OUT.

AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE LUCKY AND IT RESONATES WITH THE PUBLIC, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE READ IT ALL OVER THE WORLD LIKE "GAME OF THRONES".

IF IT DOESN'T RESONATE WITH THE READERS AND I HAVE BEEN THERE WITH BOOKS, THIS BOOK SOLD 3,000 COPIES.

ALTHOUGH SOME OF THOSE 3,000 PEOPLE MAYBE LOVE IT.

BUT IT ALWAYS COMES OUT.

YOU GET YOUR CHANCE WITH TELEVISION, EVEN NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE OR HOW GREAT THE PROPERTY IS, IT'S A CRAP SHOOT IF I MAY SAY THAT ON TELEVISION.

THEY DEVELOP YOU KNOW, 50 PROJECTS AND THEN THEY MAKE PILOTS FOR 10 AND PUT TWO ON THE AIR AND I WENT THROUGH THAT FOR YEARS IN THE 90s DEVELOPING SHOWS, WRITING MOVIES THAT I LOVED AND PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND CARE AND PASSION INTO THAT FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER NEVER GOT MADE.

SO NOW, WHEN I'M AT A DIFFERENT POSITION IN MY LIFE AND MY INDUSTRY, I TRY TO USE WHATEVER CLOUT OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY I HAVE TO GET GOOD THINGS LIKE WHOF FERS MADE AND EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

MAYBE MY ASSOCIATION CAN GET THAT ONE BEFORE THE CAMERA IT WILL BE A GREAT SHOW.

I HOPE IN A YEAR OR TWO WE WILL BE WATCHING IT.

>> AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO YOU WITH BACK ON CAMPUS TO RECEIVE AN HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM YOUR ALMA MATER?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU WOULD GEORGE R.R.

MARTIN 40, 50 YEARS AGO HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN?

>> NO.

NO, I DON'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T THINK 50 YEARS AGO -- I WORRIED ABOUT WHERE I WAS GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR AND COULD I PAY SHARE OF THE RENT WHERE I LIVED WITH SIX ROOMMATES.

IT'S ALL BEEN GRATIFYING AND YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN.

IT IS PARTICULARLY NICE TO GET AN HONOR LIKE THIS FROM NORTHWESTERN WHERE I DID GO TO SCHOOL.

WHERE I ATTENDED MANY CLASSES AND THIS BUILDING AND IT DOES STARTLE TO ME TO REALIZE IT'S BEEN HALF A CENTURY.

BUT STILL, IT'S NICE TO BE BACK AT NORTHWESTERN.

NOT QUITE THE NORTHWESTERN I REMEMBERED.

IT'S CHANGED QUITE A BIT SINCE 1971.

BUT THERE'S ENOUGH OF IT TO AWAKEN FEELINGS OF NOSTALGIA IN ME.

>> AND IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST PART OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE R.R.

MARTIN EARLIER IN THE SHOW, YOU CAN FIND THE ENTIRE THING ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON CITY VIOLENCE SPIKING AND THE POTENTIAL RENAME FOR LAKE SHORE DRIVE.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> LAWMAKERS ARE BACK IN SPRINGFIELD IN23UR RATING MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

ALL THAT AND MORE THE FOCUS OF OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS WELCOME BACK TO AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE HEALTH.

AMANDA YOU REPORTED ON THIS EARLIER, A LITTLE BIT OF LATE NEWS AROUND THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BILL.

ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS HAVE TO DEAL WITH A COUPLE BIG ISSUES AND THAT BILL WAS ONE OF THEM.

AND THE BILL GOT PUSHBACK FROM MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

BUT IT PASSED.

WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?

>> IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THIS IS GOING TO THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE YOU HAD A STATE SENATE AND THE STATE HOUSE IN RECENT YEARS PASS VERSIONS OF AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BILL BUT NEVER THE OTHER CHAMBER IT DID NOT GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THIS IS POISED TO BECOME LAW BECAUSE GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SUPPORTS IT.

WHILE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS BEEN FIGHTING IT TOOTH AND NAIL, SHE NOT GOING TO FIND AN ALLY ON THIS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WHAT IT DOES IT CREATES A 21-MEMBER BOARD THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BE A PRESIDENT ELECTED AT LARGE ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

EVERYBODY ELSE ELECTED WITHIN DISTRICTS THAT ARE YET TO BE DRAWN.

HALF OF THEM WOULD BE ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD BY JANUARY 2027.

BUT THE FIRST ELECTED MEMBERS WOULD BE JOINING WITH HALF APPOINTEES BY THE MAYOR AFTER 2025.

YOU WILL HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN YEARS 2024 AND 2026.

THIS ALSO CREATES AN ADVISORY BOARD FOR C.P.S.

FOR NONCITIZENS AND THEN IT ALSO PUTS A MORATORIUM ON ANY SCHOOL CLOSURES BECAUSE THAT HAS SOMETHING FOLKS ARE REALLY UPSET HAPPENED.

NO MORE OF THAT UNTIL 2025 WHEN SOME OF THE ELECTED BOARDS OF EDUCATION MEMBERS BE SEATED.

>> WHAT ARE THE MAYOR'S CONCERNS?

SHE RAN ON THIS ISSUE OF BEING IN FAVOR OF AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD?

>> YES, SHE DID.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THOSE WHO SAY WAIT A SECOND WHAT CHANGE?

WHAT MADE YOU REVERSE COURSE?

SHE SAYS WHAT IT IS THAT THIS BOARD WOULD BE UNWIELDLY BECAUSE WAY TOO BIG, PARTICULARLY IN CONTRAST TO PLACES LIKE NEW YORK AND LA WHERE THEIR BOARDS ARE LESS THAN HALF THIS SIZE.

AND ANOTHER BIG CRITICISM IS THAT IS GIVEN ENOUGH TIME FOR POWERS TO TAKE PLACE BECAUSE CHICAGO THE ONLY BOARD WHERE THERE IS NO ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, CHICAGO IS THE ONLY CITY THAT IS PAYING FOR C.P.S.

[INAUDIBLE] AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THOSE PENSION COSTS ARE PAID FOR BY THE STATE.

AND ANOTHER BIG CRITICISM THERE ARE NOT ANY SORT OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LIMITATIONS ON THESE RACES.

SO YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A FAIR REPRESENTATION.

FIRST SHE SAYS IT COULD MEAN THERE ARE GOING TO BE TOO MANY PARENTS FROM MAJORITY WHITE AREAS ON THE NORTH SIDE IF DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN BY POPULATION AND ALSO WHAT REGULAR PARENT OR RESIDENT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE RACES?

SHE SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WHERE IT WILL BECOME A POWER OF BATTLE OF INTEREST GROUPS PARTICULARLY ONE OF HER FOES AND THAT IS THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT DO YOU SEE THIS AS A WAY FOR THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION TO GAIN EVEN MORE POWER?

>> I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH MORE POWER THEY WILL AMASS BUT THERE'S MERIT TO THE CONCERN THIS GIVES C.T.U.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET CANDIDATES ELECTED.

AND WE KNOW C.T.U.

HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

THERE IS AT LEAST ONE CURRENT CITY ALDERPERSON WHO IS A FORMER C.T.U.

MEMBER AND TEACHER.

SAME FOR THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

AND WE KNOW THAT C.T.U.

HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AT BEING ORGANIZED AND MOBILIZING AROUND THE COMMUNITIES AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SBA A POLITICAL SWAY A POLITICAL ELECTION BY ORGANIZING AND SUPPORTING CANDIDATES AND ENDORSING CANDIDATES AND WE ALL KNOW KAREN LEWIS WAS GEARING UP TO RUN AGAINST RAHM EMANUEL YEARS AGO AND ONCE SHE ENDORSED CHEWY GARCIA HE DID GET INTO THE RUNOFF AT THE TIME.

THERE'S CONCERN I WONDER IF THE MAYOR IS FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS SHE DISAGREES WITH THE BILL AND THEY JUST BE ONE OF THEM.

HEATHER, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT LOBBIED HARD AGAINST THIS WHAT COULD THE POLITICAL FALLOUT BE?

>> IT IS AT LEAST THE THIRD IN THIS MOST RECENT SESSION OF A SERIOUS DEFEAT THAT THE MAYOR HAS SUFFERED IN SPRINGFIELD.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL THAT CHANGES THE WAY THAT CITY FIREFIGHTER PENSIONS ARE FUNDED OVER HER OBJECTIONS.

AND THE GOVERNOR ALSO SIGNED A BILL THAT EXPANDS THE POWER OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION, TO BARGAIN OVER ISSUES LIKE THE LENGTH OF THE SCHOOL DAY AND CLASS SIZES WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET BACK FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE IF NOT LONGER.

TODAY IS THE CULMINATION OF WORK THAT STARTED UNDER KAREN LEWIS WHO DIED RECENTLY.

AND IS REALLY THE CAP STONE TO HER LEGACY.

IT IS REALLY A HUGE DEFEAT FROM THE MAYOR WHO SAID JUST ON FRIDAY, SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE BASICALLY, WOULD THREATEN THE PROGRESS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MADE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND SHE REALLY TRIED TO PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS AND GOT NOWHERE.

THERE WERE 70 VOTES IN FAVOR OF THIS WHICH IS A PRETTY STRONG SUPER MAJORITY.

>> AND THE C.T.U.

SAID AS MUCH IN A STATEMENT THIS WOULD BE KAREN'S LEGACY.

AND SO THE ILLINOIS SENATE ALSO DEBATED PHASING OUT THE USE OF COAL IN THE STATE BY 2035 IN AN EFFORT TO GO GREEN BUT NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BROKEN DOWN HERE IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY TODAY.

>> LET ME MAKE MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR: OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY THAT MAKES ILLINOIS A LEADER IN PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRY THAT WE CAN GROW.

I WILL NOT SIGN A BILL THAT DOES NOT MATCH THE GRAVITY OF THIS MOMENT.

>> SO AMANDA, BRIEFLY WHAT IS THE MAIN STICKING POINT FOR THE OPPOSITION?

AND IF A CONSENSUS CANNOT BE REACHED WHAT THEN?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF OPPOSITION AND YOU HAVE ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAYING WE NEED TO PHASE OUT COMPLETELY COAL PLANTS THAT PRODUCE ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS PLANTS THAT PRODUCE ELECTRICITY AND YOU HAVE UNIONS THAT WORK AT THOSE PLANTS SAYING WAIT A SECOND THERE'S MONEY AND JOBS TIED UP IN THIS.

AND IT'S ALSO A BACK AND FORTH THIS IS BECOME QUITE THE GAME OF FINGER POINTING AND IT SHOWS A SORT OF SURPRISE BETWEEN GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED SENATE.

IT'S THE POLITICAL SCRABBLING.

>> SO IN CITY NEWS THERE HAS BEEN A SPIKE IN VIOLENCE OVER THE PAST WEEK AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT BRISTLED AT A REPORTER'S QUESTION ABOUT THE PERCEPTION THAT CHICAGO IS UNSAFE.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> YOU GOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERCEPTION IF PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE -- >> WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, CRAIG, IS THAT PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIFE THIS MORNING.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAD.

IN AN ACT OF VIOLENCE THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAMILIES WHO WILL BE FOREVER SCARED BY THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONES.

>> HEATHER, MAYOR HERE FRUSTRATED BY THE VIOLENCE DOES SHE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HER TEAM AND STRATEGIES?

>> SHE DOES.

SHE SAYS DESPITE THE SPIKE IN VIOLENCE THAT OCCURRED AFTER A HEATWAVE.

WE'VE OFTEN SEEN VIOLENCE IN THE TRACK LONG WITH THE MERCURY.

AND SHE SAID THAT THE OVERALL TREND IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IS PROUD OF THAT.

AND SHE HAS SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT SHE HAS CONFIDENCE IN SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

AND THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE HOLISTICALLY WITH SERVICES AND VIOLENCE INTERRUPTTERS.

HOWEVER, WE'RE NOT APPROACHING THE FOURTH OF JULY YET SO THERE'S A LOT OF SUMMER LEFT TO GO.

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

WHAT DOES SHE MEAN BY THAT?

>> HER CONSTANT REFRAIN WHEN WE HAVE HAD THE TERRIBLE SHOOT ASSOCIATION TO CALL ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN CONGRESS TO PASS MORE GUN CONTROL LAWS.

CHICAGO MAY HAVE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST GUN CONTROL LAWS IT'S POWERLESS TO STOP THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL GUNS FROM STATES LIKE INDIANA WHERE THE LAWS ARE LOOSER.

AND THAT IS WHAT THE MAYOR CALLED ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DO.

HOWEVER, YOU AND I AND EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS THAT GUN CONTROL ISN'T MOVING THROUGH THE 50/50 UNITED STATES SENATE.

THAT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT SORT OF PIE IN THE SKY HOPES.

AND NOT DIRECTLY SORT OF DRILLING DOWN ON WHAT IS HAPPENING ON CHICAGO STREETS.

>> ANOTHER ISSUE THE MAYOR IS PUSHING IS TO LIMIT ALCOHOL SALES BY FORCES BUSINESSES TO CLOSE AT 10:00 P.M. WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?

>> WELL, ORIGINALLY THE MAYOR WANTED THAT CUTOFF TO HAPPEN AT 10:00 P.M. SHE SAYS MANY OF THE LIQUOR STORES BECOME NUISANCES AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OCCURS AND THAT BROUGHT PROTESTS FROM PEOPLE AND SHE COMPROMISED AND THE MEASURE THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE WOULD CUT IT OFF AT MIDNIGHT BUT THAT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE MOST STORES ARE LICENSES TO ALLOW THEM TO SELL UNTIL 2:00 A.M. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF IT MAKES IT WAY THROUGH AS PART OF THE 90-PAGE ORDINANCE TO LAUNCH AFTER THE COVID PANDEMIC.

>> AMANDA IS THIS ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE THE MAYOR IS BIG FOOTING BUSINESSES AND ALDERMEN?

>> THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO IT.

THERE'S FRUSTRATION THAT THERE'S LOITERING THAT YOU WILL HAVE FOLKS THAT GET ROWDY OUTSIDE OF LIQUOR STORES AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OWNERS LIQUOR STORE OWNERS WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE THIS IS NOT AT THE ROOT OF IT.

SHE DID IN THIS ONE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION A LOT OF THAT PUSHBACK.

BY AT LEAST AMENDING THE ORDINANCE TO THE MIDNIGHT POINT.

BUT AS HEATHER INDICATED THERE ARE FOLKS WHO SAY THIS IS NOT ENOUGH WHEN PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE BOARD AND PLACES SURROUNDING CHICAGO THEY HAVE THOSE LATE NIGHT OR EARLY MORNING AVAILABILITIES TO GET YOUR BOOZE.

>> AND HEATHER, 30 SECONDS THIS NASTY E-MAIL FROM THE MAYOR TO HER STAFF CAME TO LIGHT.

HOW DID THE MAYOR HANDLE HER FRUSTRATION?

>> WELL, SHE CHANNELED THE SHINING A LITTLE BIT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THAT BASICALLY, SHE NEEDS A BREAK AND IT'S NOT A REQUEST.

AND SHE IS GOING TO KEEP ASKING.

AND IT'S INDICATIVE HOW TENSE RELATIONS HAVE BEEN ON THE MAYOR'S STAFF AND PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT OF THE TROUBLE SHE HAD TRANSITIONING FROM HER WORK AS A LAWYER TO BEING THE TOP EXECUTIVE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THE MAYOR TOLD REPORTERS THIS WEEK THAT THOSE PROBLEMS WERE ALL IN THE PAST AND THAT THEY WERE SINGING KUMBAYA IN THE OFFICE THESE DAYS.

>> I'VE GOT SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

THANKS TO AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

>> AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

THE MORTON ARBORETUM HAS A NEW EXHIBIT WE ARE CHECKING IT OUT AS THE NEXT STOP "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

AND A LOOK AT NEW ADDITIONS TO THE CHICAGO SKYLINE IN AN ALL NEW ASK SKVMENT FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]