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

>> THIS IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS A BAD DUDE.

>> WE WILL NOT JUSTIFY KILLING PEOPLE FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE.

>> MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN TAXPAYER MONEY TO SETTLE POLICE MISCONDUCT CASES, BUT NOT WITHOUT A DEBATE.

>>> PLUS A PUSH IN CITY COUNCIL TO END THE PRACTICE OF TIPPED WORKERS TO BE PAID LESS THAN LEGAL MINIMUM WAGE.

>>> THE WORKERS OF THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY LOOK TO UNIONIZE, AND A WAVE OF THOSE LOOKING TO ORGANIZE.

>>> TRAFFICKING CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS CHICAGO'S COMMUNITIES.

>>> ILLINOIS U.S.

SENATOR DICK DURBIN IS CALLING FOR MAJOR ETHICS CHANGES AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

THIS COMES IN THE WAKE OF ANOTHER INVESTIGATION FROM NEWS OUTLET PROPUBLIC, ALLEGING JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO TOOK TRIPS WITH SOMEONE WHO HAD CASES BEFORE THE HIGH COURT.

THEY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED NUMEROUS PERKS JUSTICE THOMAS ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE.

HE SAYS THE COMMITTEE WILL MARK UP LEGISLATION IMPOSING NEW ETHICS REQUIREMENTS ON EVERY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

IN A STATEMENT, HE SAID QUOTE, THE SUPREME COURT IS IN AN ETHICAL CRISIS OF ITS OWN MAKING DUE TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF LAVISH GIFTS WITH PARTIES WITH CASES BEFORE THE COURT.

THE CREDIBILITY OF THE COURT IS AT STAKE.

CHIEF ROBERTS COULD RESOLVE THIS TODAY BUT HE'S NOT ACTED.

>>> AN ATTORNEY FOR THE FAMILY OF A MAN KILLED AT A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION SAYS HE'S LOOKING AT WHETHER TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE OWNER OF THE SHOPPING CENTER WHERE THE EVENT TOOK PLACE.

>> THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO BRING REGINALD BACK, UNFORTUNATELY, AND THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE WORLD THAT WILL COMPENSATE FOR THE FAMILY'S LOSS.

BUT IN THE EYES OF THE LAW, THE ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THOSE DAMAGES IS MONETARILY.

AND THAT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS CHILDREN.

>> THE 31-YEAR-OLD VICTIM'S FAMILY MAY FILE THE SUIT.

22 OTHER PEOPLE WERE INJURED DURING THE WEEKEND SHOOTING.

>>> TWO MORE CHICAGO PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS VOTED TO REMOVE CHICAGO POLICE PERSONNEL THAT SERVE AS RESOURCE OFFICERS AT THE SCHOOLS.

THE BOARD APPROVED A MORE EXPECTED CONTRACT FOR THE RESOURCE OFFICER SYSTEM WIDE, UP FROM $10.2 MILLION TO $10.3 MILLION THIS YEAR, WELL BELOW THE $33 MILLION THE DISTRICT SPENT ON OFFICERS IN 2019 BEFORE SCHOOLS STARTED VOTING TO HAVE THEM REMOVED.

AUSTIN HEIGHTS VOTED TO REMOVE ONE OF ITS TWO OFFICERS AND MARSHALL HIGH VOTED TO REMOVE BOTH ITS SRO OFFICERS.

>>> THE WAREHOUSE NOW A CHICAGO LANDMARK.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE DESIGNATION THREE MONTHS AFTER PRESERVATION CHICAGO LISTED IT AMONG THE CITY'S MOST HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

DJ FRANKIE KNUCKLES SPUN UP MUSIC AND IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

>> HOUSE MUSIC STARTED RIGHT IN THAT BUILDING, SO HISTORIC.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, EFFORTS TO UNIONIZE AT MUSEUMS ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

>>> FIRST, A DEBATE OVER POLICE MISCONDUCT IN CITY HALL.

>>> CHICAGO TAXPAYERS ARE CYTOST PAY $1 MILLION TO THE FAMILY OF A MAN SHOT AND KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER WHO INTENTIONALLY TURNED OFF HIS BODY WORN CAMERA.

IT'S ONE OF THREE SETTLEMENTS THE COUNCIL VOTED ON TODAY.

THE MAYOR SAYS IT'S PART OF HIS PUSH TO REPAIR THE LINGERING DAMAGE FROM CHICAGO'S HISTORY OF POLICE MISCONDUCT.

>> WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT BLACKNESS IS NOT CRIMINALIZED AND/OR BRUTALIZED.

>> AND HEATHER SHARONE IS JOINING US NOW WITH MORE.

THE CASE OF SHE RELY SHERELL BROWN?

>> OFFICERS WERE LOOKING FOR AN ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT AND THEY CHASED HIM BEFORE HE WAS SHOT SIX TIMES BY THE OFFICER WHO HAD JUST TURNED OFF HIS BODY WORN CAMERA.

>> AND THE RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY LAWYERS TO SETTLE THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY BROWN'S MOTHER BROUGHT A STRONG RESPONSE FROM SOME OF THE ALDERMEN.

>> THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT AN HONOR ROLL STUDENT.

THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT A CHOIR BOY AT CHURCH.

THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS A BAD DUDE.

>> A BAD DUDE, TO USE HIS TERMS THERE.

IS THERE A CRIMINAL RECORD THAT'S AN ISSUE HERE?

>> NOT HERE.

THEY HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY COULD SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY BY TAKING THIS SUIT TO A JURY VERDICT.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDED THAT THEY COULDN'T BECAUSE NOT ONLY WOULD THEY HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE OFFICER TURNED OFF HIS BODY WORN CAMERA, THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOPE THE EXPENSE OF THE TRIAL WAS LESS THAN THAT AND A JURY VERDICT.

>> AND ANOTHER ALDERMAN, JASON IRVIN, WARNED THAT NOT SETTLING THIS LAWSUIT COULD COST TAXPAYERS MORE IN THE LONG RUN.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL WE WANT IS CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND POLICING.

IT'S EASY TO ROLL THE DICE WHEN IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY.

>> SO NOT JUST THIS ONE BUT MULTIPLE LAWSUITS SETTLED TODAY, COSTING WHAT?

>> IT WILL COST TAXPAYERS $8.3 MILLION FOR TAXPAYERS TO SETTLE THESE SUITS.

ONE WAS A MAN WRONGFULLY SUSPECTED OF ARSON AND DOUBLE MURDER AND SPENT NEARLY 30 YEARS IN PRISON.

AND $500,000 WILL GO TO A MAN TASED BY A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER WHO'S FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH THAT EVENT.

STATE SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY 11% OF THE YEARLY BUDGET THAT CHICAGO PUTS ASIDE TO PAY FOR POLICE MISCONDUCT SETTLEMENTS.

>> AND THAT JUST ADDS TO THE HALF BILLION DOLLAR TOTAL OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND COUNTING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> WE'LL SEE YOU OF COURSE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES ON SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S WEDNESDAY.

READ THE FULL STORY AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> A CITY COUNCIL PUSH TO ALLOW TIPPED WORKERS TO BE PAID LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE, ANT ANOTHER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE EMBROILED IN ANTICS SCANDAL.

HERE WITH ALL THAT IS OUR POLITICS SPOTLIGHT TEAM.

ALLIES OF MAYOR JOHNSON LAUNCHED AN EFFORT TO REQUIRE CHICAGO BUSINESSES TO PAY THEIR WORKERS THE SAME MINIMUM WAGE HOUR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE TIPS AS A WAY TO EXPAND EMPLOYMENT.

>> IF INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN CHICAGO, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE WAGES THAT REFLECT THE COST INCREASE THAT IS CREEPING UP ON ALL OF US.

ANY EFFORT THAT WE PUT FORTH WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO SECURE THE ECONOMICS FOR WORKING CERTAINLY PLACES US IN A FAR BETTER POSITION TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY.

>> IS THIS GOING TO BE A BIG FIGHT LIKE IN 2019 WHEN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY KILLED A SIMILAR PROPOSAL?

>> THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR AND HIS LAWYER LEADER AND SEVERAL CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE CHAIRS ARE ALL IN FAVOR OF IT SETS IT UP TO BE ONE OF THE MAYOR'S HIGHEST PRIORITIES OVER HIS 2024 SPENDING PLAN.

VERY DIFFERENT THAN IN 2019, WHEN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY WAS ABLE TO PREVAIL OVER THE FORMER MAYOR THAT THIS WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEM.

HOWEVER, WE'LL SEE A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE CHICAGO'S RESTAURANTS ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND STILL FACING A STAFFING CRUNCH.

THIS IS ALL GOING TO SORT OF PLAY INTO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE WAY TO GO.

BUT YOU HEARD JOHNSON, HE SEEMS LIKE THIS IS KILLING MULTIPLE BIRDS WITH A SINGLE STONE.

>> AND PARENTS IN THE GROUP FUNDED BY THE MAYOR MET FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY.

>> INTERESTING NAMES ON THIS WORKING GROUP, AND POLICE PENSIONS ARE A BIG PART OF THE ISSUE AT HAND.

THE SOLUTION HERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME.

IT'S NOT COMPLICATED.

IT'S ONE OF TWO THINGS, EITHER YOU DRAG OUT THE AMORTIZATION PERIOD AND SPEND MORE YEARS PAYING TO GET TO THIS 90% FUNDING LEVEL FROM 24%, WHERE THEY ARE NOW, OR YOU POUR MORE MONEY IN THERE.

THE CITY HAS POURED ABOVE THEIR REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION THIS YEAR AND STILL, DESPITE ALL THAT, IT'S ONLY MAKING INCREMENTAL PROGRESS IN THAT LONG-TERM DEBT.

SO THEN THERE'S THE CASINO, AND MONEY FROM THAT GOING TO THE PENSION.

THERE'S NO RABBIT IN THE HAT HERE.

THIS WORKING GROUP, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT IF THEY COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE TWO THINGS, I'LL BE VERY INTERESTED.

>> IF IT'S PUTTING MONEY IN, WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM?

>> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES LEGISLATORS IN SPRINGFIELD WOULD BE USING STATE MONEY TO HELP?

>> NO, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

IN FACT, IF ANYTHING, WHAT YOU COULD SEE IS ADDED PENSION DEBT BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO BRING UP THE PENSIONS PAID TO FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE, SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE HELD OFF DOING BECAUSE THEY HAD TO WITH FORMER MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

THIS WORKING GROUP CAN SAY, WE WANT FIXES THERE THAT WOULD ADD TO THAT.

>> WHEN THERE WAS PENSION REFORM 10, 12 YEARS AGO, THIS WAS CONSTITUTIONAL TO ADD A NEW TIER.

FOR NEW WORKERS, THEIR BENEFITS WILL BE DIMINISHED COMPARED TO THEIR ELDERS.

NOW THESE BILLS ARE GOING TO CHANGE THAT, WHICH MEANS AND ADDED BILL FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO INTO THOSE PENSION FUNDS.

>> IT WILL GIVE MAYOR JOHNSON THE ABILITY TO GO TO SPRINGFIELD AND SAY, GIVE ME THE ABILITY TO RAISE THE TRANSPORTATION TAX, TO RAISE OTHER REVENUE OTHER THAN PROPERTY TAXES.

AND YOU'LL SEE A CONCERTED PUSH FROM PEOPLE LIKE ALDERMAN ROSA TO IMPOSE THAT TAX ON BIG CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE LOST EMPLOYEES IN CHICAGO SO THAT BURDEN IS NO LONGER BORNE BY PROPERTY OWNERS, WHO HAVE FACED HIKES IN RECENT YEARS.

BUT WEALTHY CORPORATIONS WHO MAY HAVE A LITTLE MORE TO GIVE, ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR.

>> AND NEW MAYORS MAY DISCOVER THE FISCAL SITUATION FOR THE CITY IS WORSE THAN THEY THOUGHT IT WAS WHEN THEY WERE RUNNING FOR THE OFFICE, AND BACKTRACK ON CAMPAIGN PROMISES.

DO YOU THINK HE WILL HAVE TO BACKTRACK ON HIS NO NEW PROPERTY TAXES PLEDGE WHEN THE ECONOMIC REALITY BITES?

>> HIS PLATFORM IS VERY CLEAR, NO NEW PROPERTY TAXES COMING.

HE'S VOWED TO REVEAL THE AUTOMATIC PROPERTY TAX INCREASE THAT LORI LIGHTFOOT DID.

HE'S GOT TO PULL MORE RABBITS OUT OF THE HAT.

>> CPS IS GOING TO VOTE TO RAISE ITS PROPERTY TAX LEVEE, AND JOHNSON SAID, THAT'S MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S SCHOOL BOARD.

I'M NOT BREAKING MY PROMISE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ME.

HE'S RIGHT, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

>> BUT HE HAS CLOUT.

HE COULD MAKE SOME CALLS.

>> SO TO SAY NO PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS?

>> NOT A GUARANTEE.

>> WE HEARD SENATOR DURBIN PREPARING LEGISLATION ONLY SUPREME COURT ETHICS AS JUSTICE ALITO HAS BECOME EMBROILED IN AN ETHICS SCANDAL.

WHAT'S YOUR LIKELY CONCLUSION?

>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPORT THE GIFTS AS INCOME AND RECUSE THEMSELVES IF THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

ALITO FOUND THAT HE HAD TAKEN $100,000 PRIVATE JET FROM A BILLIONAIRE CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST WITH BUSINESS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, AND THIS ELABORATE FISHING TRIP IN ALASKA.

THEN HE GOES TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYING, IT WAS KIND OF A RUSTIC CABIN.

>> NOT FANCY, THAT MAKES IT OKAY.

>> HE SAID, I HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THERE WAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

BUT THE APPEARANCE IS TERRIBLE.

IT APPEARS TO BE PAY TO PLAY TYPE BEHAVIOR.

I'M NOT SAYING LEGALLY THAT'S WHAT IT IS, BUT THEY HAVE TO HOLD THEMSELVES TO A HIGHER STANDARD.

SEEMS LIKE SO FAR THOMAS AND ALITO CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES BUT TO SAY YES TO THESE LAVISH VACATIONS.

DURBIN SAYS HE'S IN A TOUGH POSITION.

HE WANTS TO MAINTAIN THE CREDIBILITY OF THE COURT BUT DOESN'T WANT TO ADMIT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

>> AND ANOTHER VIOLENT WEEKEND, 75 PEOPLE SHOT, 13 FATALLY OVER THE JUNETEENTH WEEKEND.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SEARCH FOR THE NEW AND PERMANENT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT?

>> IT'S COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE.

THE COMMUNITY SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION HAS 20 MORE DAYS TO GET THEIR PICK IN.

19 ALDER PEOPLE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION AND ANGER THAT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT BRIAN MCDERMOTT, THE NUMBER THREE, HAS ADVANCED INTO THE POOL OF FINALISTS, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY.

BUT THE BOARD SAYS, LOOK, WE HAVEN'T DONE OUR WORK YET AND WE'RE NOT COMPLETE, SO DON'T DO THAT SO FAR.

>> THIS IS A HUGE DECISION FACING THE MAYOR DOWN THE PIKE.

>> THANKS, Y'ALL.

>>> UP NEXT, UNIONIZATION EFFORTS AT CHICAGO CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> THIS PAST WEEKEND MANY WORKERS AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY VOTED THE UNIONIZE.

ACCORDING TO THE UNOFFICIAL RELEASED, NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF EMPLOYEES WHO VOTED CAST A BALLOT IN FAVOR OF UNIONIZATION, SPURRED ON BY THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19.

THOSE HAVE INCLUDED SEVERAL LOCAL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY.

AND WORKERS SAY THEY WANT THEIR PROTECTIONS TO MATCH THE PRESTIGE OF THE INSTITUTIONS WHERE THEY WORK.

>> WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE THE MUSEUM A BETTER PLACE.

>> Reporter: BUT MANAGER MARKIE LAUGHLIN SAYS PROWORKERS AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY HAVE BEEN CALLED BULLIES AND FACE HEAVY PRESSURE.

>> UPPER MANAGEMENT HAS STOPPED BY MY DESK UPWARDS OF FIVE TIMES A DAY SOMETIMES.

IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S UNDUE PRESSURE TO NOT SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY SAYS, QUOTE, WE RESPECT AN EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE OR DECLINE UNION REPRESENTATION.

OUR PRIORITY IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING A POSITIVE CULTURE THAT BENEFITS THE GREATER CHICAGO COMMUNITY.

THE VOTE TO UNIONIZE IS THE LATEST IN A STRING OF MUSEUMS AND OTHER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN CHICAGO, BEGINNING WITH THE ART INSTITUTE.

IT'S A BLEND OF ART AND SCIENCE BUT THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS CHALLENGING.

>> THE VALUES WERE VERY ASPIRATIONAL.

MANAGEMENT SEEM TO COME FROM A PLACE WITH A DIFFERENT REALITY.

>> Reporter: THE ELECTION WAS CERTIFIED IN JANUARY 2022 AND THEY HAVE BEEN BARGAINING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR TO SEE GOOD BENEFITS AND WAGES FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES.

>> OUR MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVES NEED TO COME ALONGSIDE AND REALLY COME TO THE TABLE IN A HEAD SPACE WHERE THEY WERE REALLY BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH.

I THINK WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THAT.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, THE ART INSTITUTE SAYS QUOTE, WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE, AND HAVE AGREEMENTS ON NEARLY ALL NONECONOMIC PROVISIONS AND HAVING DISCUSSION AROUND THE ECONOMIC PROPOSAL.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC WE CAN REACH AN EQUITABLE AGREEMENT.

FIELD WORKERS HAD ELECTION RESULTS CERTIFIED IN MARCH.

ADRIAN WORKS IN THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND SAYS THE HIGH TURNOVER RATE ONE WAS REASON SHE BACKED THE UNIONIZATION EFFORT.

ORGANIZING HAS HELPED BRING TOGETHER WORKERS WHO WERE ONCE MORE SILOED.

>> PEOPLE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT ROLES FROM HOUSEKEEPING TO COLLECTIONS TO PR.

EVERYBODY IS VERY SKILLED BUT VERY SPECIFIC SKILLS, SO WE WANT TO BE SURE EVERYBODY IS HEARD AND WE CAN ADDRESS THE THINGS THAT AFFECT EVERYBODY.

>> Reporter: AND SOME SAY GREATER PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS WILL ALSO BENEFIT THE VISITORS.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE INFORMAL EDUCATION FROM PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM AGE WISE, BODY TYPE WISE.

WE HAVE LOTS OF GENDER NONCONFORMING FOLKS.

WE HAVE VISIBILITY, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS IN A POSITIVE WAY.

WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT EACH OTHER IN THAT WAY TOO.

>> THE MUSEUM SAID WHILE THE ELECTION PROCESS PRODUCED STRONG FEELINGS AND CONTRASTING VIEWS, WE ARE UNIFIED IN SERVING VISITORS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM IS READY TO BEGIN GOOD FAITH BARGAINING.

>>> UP NEXT, TRACKING CLIMATE CHANGE BLOCK BY BLOCK.

STAY WITH US.

>>> THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS BEING FELT IN WAYS LARGE AND SMALL, BUT IT'S INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT FELT EQUALLY.

NOW A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS FROM ARGON NATIONAL LABORATORY IS WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN CHICAGO TO TRACK THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS THE CITY.

THE HOPE IS THAT THE DATA COLLECTED WILL HELP THEM DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO BECOME MORE RESILIENT TO THE EXTREME WEATHER CLIMATE CHANGE BRINGS.

>> Reporter: IT'S COMMUNITY RESEARCH ON CLIMATE AND URBAN SCIENCE, A PROJECT FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND A CITY LIKE CHICAGO AND HOW IT CAN BE IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE SIMULATIONS ARE DONE ON SUPERCOMPUTERS.

THE PIXEL SIZE IS 50 BY 50.

THAT'S THE ENTIRE CITY.

THE WAY IT MODELS CHATHAM IS THE SAME FOR WEST LAWN.

WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO GOING BLOCK BY BLOCK IS REALLY STUDY HOW DRAINAGE, AIR QUALITY, WHETHER YOU HAVE GREEN OR GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW THAT INFLUENCES THE OUTCOMES FOR THE COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO.

THIS IS THE THERMAL CAMERA.

EVERYTHING HERE IS INTEGRATED IN WITH THE COMPUTING DEVICE THAT COMBINES DATA FROM OUR SENSING INSTRUMENTS, METEOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS, SENDS IT BACK TO THE COMPUTING CENTER WHETHER IT'S USED IN SIMULATION EFFORTS.

AS SOON AS WE PUT OUR INSTRUMENTS OUT HERE AND TURN THEM ON, WE START SEEING INTERESTING THINGS.

EVEN LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE CANADIAN WILDFIRES COME THROUGH.

USING THE LIVE SATELLITE AND RADAR SYSTEMS, WE COULD SEE HOW THE SMOKE FROM CANADA WAS INTERACTING WITH THE AIR QUALITY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE RADAR YOU SEE ON THE TV WEATHER, BUT INSTEAD OF LOOKING OUT, THIS LOOKS STRAIGHT UP.

WHAT THIS GIVES US IS LIKE A SUPER DETAILED HD PICTURE OF THE STRUCTURE OF STORMS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE SIZE AND SIMULATE THEM AND SEE HOW WE CAN COME UP WITH BETTER SOLUTIONS AND GREEN SOLUTIONS TO HELP COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

THEY CAN IN FACT -- I'M GOING TO PAVE OVER THE CITY AND SEE HOW BAD THE FLOODING IS.

OR I'LL PLANT A LOT OF TREES AND SEE WHAT THE FLOODING IS LIKE.

ONE OF THE IDEAS OF CROCUS IS TO GET PAST, THE TREES ARE GOOD, TO HOW GOOD ARE TREES?

>> IT'S HISTORIC.

WE HAVE HAD FOUR MAJOR FLOOD EVENTS AND I HAVE NOT ONE SHRED OF MEMORABILIA FROM MY CHILDHOOD BECAUSE IT WAS ALL WASHED AWAY OR BLOWN AWAY WITH THE ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE FLOODING.

>> Reporter: WHEN IT COMES TO RAINFALL, WATER MOVES.

IT DOESN'T STAY WHERE IT FALLS.

OUR SYSTEM IN CHICAGO LEADS TO A LOT OF THESE INEQUITIES WE SEE.

WE NEED TO, WHEN IT RAINS, NOT JUST THE POOR COMMUNITIES FLOODING ALL THE TIME.

>> WE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FLOOD CLAIMS OF ANY COMMUNITY IN CHICAGOLAND.

WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

WHAT WE WANT IS SOLUTIONS, AND WE ARE HOPING CROCUS CAN HELP US LOOK AT WHAT TO DO FOR THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL AS HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND ALSO COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY TO STOP THE FLOODING.

>> Reporter: THE RESEARCH IS EXPECTED TO HAVE 21 ADVANCED METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY BY THE FALL OF 2025.

>> THAT IS OUR SHOW THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

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

>>> WE ARE LIVE FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

AND TWO THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF ART AND TABOO.

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND ENJOY THE SUMMER SOLSTICE.

>> HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.