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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE'RE STILL BEHIND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> CHICAGO'S TRYING TO GET NEW WAYS TO GET COVID SHOTS INTO THE ARMS OF PEOPLE RELUCTANT TO BE VACCINATED.

A CONTENTIOUS PROPOSAL TO RENAME LAKE SHORE DRIVE HEADS TO CITY COUNCIL AGAIN.

WE TALK WITH ALDERPEOPLE ABOUT THAT AND OTHER CITY BUSINESS.

>> AFTER RECORD FLOODS IN 2019, NORTHERN ILLINOIS FARMERS ARE NOW CONTENDING WITH SEVERE DROUGHT AFTER THE THIRD DRYEST SPRING ON RECORD.

>> A MASS EXODUS OF TALENT AT THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" WE ARE TALKING TO FOUR COLUMNISTS THAT ARE TAKING BUYOUTS.

>> TO MARK TIME.

>> HOW AN ARTIST IS USING GRAPHITE TO DOCUMENT THE IMPACT OF ONE OF THE CITY'S PROMINENT CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO ABCDE OR X IS?

>> AS WE GET SET FOR OUR COLLEAGUE PHIL PONCE'S RETIREMENT AT THE END OF THE MONTH WE HAVE THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF "PONCE MOMENTS" LIKE THIS MEMORIAL CONVERSATION WITH THEN GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH.

>> FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE LAST DAY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE END OF THE YEAR THAT SAW COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND REMOTE AND IN-PERSON LEARNING.

AND THE FINAL YEAR FOR C.E.O.

JANICE JACKSON WHO IS LEAVING NEXT WEEK.

>> MORE CLEAN UP TODAY FROM THE SUBURBAN STORMS THAT INCLUDED WHAT IS NOW BEEN CONFIRMED AS TWO TORNADOES.

AS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ASSESS THE DAMAGE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME AMAOKU IS WARNING AGAINST FRAUDSTERS INCH A STATEMENT... >> AND WE HAVE MORE OF SUNDAY'S STORMS AND ADVICE FROM THE AG ON PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST CAMPS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ALDERPEOPLE PRESSURE THE MAYOR TO ADOPT A PREROGATIVE PLAN -- PROGRESSIVE PLAN FOR FEDERAL MONEY.

IT CALLS FOR FUNDING IN AN ARRAY OF PRIORITIES INCLUDING VIOLENCE PREVENTION, CHILDCARE ACCESS AND CRISIS SUPPORT INCLUDING REOPENING SHUTTERED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CLIENTS?

WHO ASKED THEM WHERE DO YOU GO NOW THAT YOUR CLINICS ARE CLOSED WHERE DO YOU GO.

WE HAVE LOST PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE CLOTHING OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

HOW DO WE HELP THOSE BEING TRAUMATIZED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS NOW?

>> AND SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL, WERE SOME OF THE ALDERPEOPLE COSPONSORING IT WE'LL HEAR FROM A PANEL OF COUNCILMEMBERS SHORTLY.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE IS THE BEST HOPE FOR PUTTING AAND END TO THE PANDEMIC.

EVEN THOUGH ILLINOIS HAS REOPENED, COVID IS STILL HERE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST HOW PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE TRYING TO GET SHOTS INTO THE ARMS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RELUCTANT.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF COVID VACCINATIONS AT THIS POINT?

>> LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK.

REMEMBER THERE WAS A TIME THAT DEMAND FOR THE COVID VACCINE OUTPACED SUPPLY.

PEOPLE WERE CLAMOURING, TRAVELING STAYING UP ALL NIGHT TO TRY TO GET A COVID VACCINE APPOINTMENT WE ARE NO LONGER AT THAT POINT.

DEMAND FOR THE COVID VACCINE DROPPED IN ILLINOIS IN APRIL THEY RELEASED 174,000 LATELY LESS THAN 17,000 DOSES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED A DAY.

IN ILLINOIS 55% OF THE ADULT POPULATION HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

NEARLY 48% OF CHICAGO RESIDENTS HAVE HAD THE SHOT AND HERE IS THE NATIONAL CHECK IN.

>> WE HAVE ALREADY MET THE PRESIDENT'S 70% GOAL FOR ALL U.S.

ADULTS 30 AND OLDER.

THAT'S RIGHT FOR THOSE AGES 30 AND ABOVE, 70% HAVE AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WANTED 70% OF AMERICANS AT LEAST PARTIALLY VACCINATED BY THE FOURTH OF JULY.

TODAY HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE U.S. WILL MISS THAT GOAL BY A COUPLE OF WEEKS CITING RELUCTANCE PARTICULARLY BY THOSE IN THE 18-26 AGE GROUP.

NEW INCENTIVE TO GET THE VACCINE.

STARTING TODAY WALGREENS GIVING $25 WALGREENS CASH THAT YOU CAN USE AT THE STORES FOR ANYONE WHO GETS VACCINATED AT WALGREENS.

AND YOUTH MAY BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN AN EVENT THAT CHICAGO HAS PLANNED FOR SATURDAY.

YOU HAVE TO PREBOOK AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE VACCINE AT ONE OF FOUR LOCATIONS, CITY COLLEGES THAT YOU WILL IN EXCHANGE GET A PASSING TO TO ONE DAY OF LOLLAPALOOZA.

YOU WANT TO BOOK Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS THE APPOINTMENTS ARE GOING QUICKLY AND WATCH WHAT LOCATION YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR BECAUSE THEY ARE MESHED WITH WHAT DAY FOR THE MUSIC FESTIVAL THE PASS IS FOR.

NOW THERE'S ALSO THAT BIG STATE LOTTERY FEATURING PRIZES UP TO $1 MILLION FOR ANYONE WHO RECEIVED THE VACCINE.

ALL ILLINOISIANS ARE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED.

ADULTS FOR CASH PRIZES.

YOUTH AGES 12-17 FOR A SCHOLARSHIP.

THAT FIRST DRAWING JULY 8.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATED BY THE START OF JULY IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.

BUT THEN THERE ARE GOING TO BE DRAWINGS THROUGHOUT JULY AND AUGUST AND THE CHECK WILL CHECK BEFORE EACH ROUND SO ANYBODY WHO GETS VACCINATED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR LATTER DRAWINGS.

THE CITY'S PURPOSEFULLY WAITED TO USE THESE MAJOR INCENTIVES LATER TO DRIVE INTEREST.

>> I THINK ANYTHING THAT KEEPS PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT VACCINE IS A GOOD THING.

WE KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING A LOT HARDER TO GET EVERY VACCINATION AT THIS POINT.

THAN WE WERE PREVIOUSLY.

AND WE ALSO KNOW A LOT OF PEEL ARE TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT COVID AND PERHAPS NOT AS -- IT'S NOT AS MUCH FRONT AND CENTER IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT.

>> CHICAGO ANNOUNCED A NEW INCENTIVE TODAY.

PREVIOUSLY, THE CITY WOULD SEND A TEAM TO HOMES OF SENIORS OR TO THOSE WITH DISABILITIES AS A WAY FOR THOSE TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING OUT AND ABOUT TO GET VACCINATED.

NOW, THAT WILL BE AN OPTION FOR ANYONE AT HOME VISITS REGARDLESS OF AGE OR STATUS.

BOOK THAT AND STARTING NEXT WEEK, GET A $50 GRUBHUB GIFT CARD.

>> ONE PER HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR AT HOME VACCINATION AGAIN THAT CAN BE UP TO 10 PEOPLE.

YOU WILL RECEIVE A $50 GIFT CARD FROM GRUBHUB THAT CAN BE USED IMMEDIATELY AT ANY LOCATION WHERE GRUBHUB IS AVAILABLE SO IF YOU MAKE IT A FAMILY EVENT TO GET THE VACCINE YOU CAN ORDER IN FOOD AND HAVE DINNER AS A RESULT.

>> AND CHICAGO HAS MADE PROGRESS ON VACCINATIONS BUT THE CITY IS NOT WHERE SHE WANTS IT TO BE.

>> AND THE VACCINES WORK INCLUDING FOR OLDER PEOPLE.

SINCE MID-JANUARY, 97% OF THE COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS IN CHICAGO AND 98% OF THE COVID DEATHS IN CHICAGO HAVE BEEN IN PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT FULLY VACCINATED.

>> WHILE THINGS MAY BE STARTING TO FEEL BACK TO NORMAL COVID IS STILL A THREAT.

ARWADY SAYS CHICAGO HAS NOT SEEN A DAY SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER WHEN SOMEBODY IN THE CITY HAS NOT DIED OF COVID.

LATELY SHE SAYS THE AVERAGE IS TWO PEOPLE A DAY IN CHICAGO DYING AFTER HAVING CONTRACTED COVID-19.

AND THEN THERE'S THIS ADDED NEW CONCERN OF THAT DELTA VARIATION.

>> I FULLY EXPECT THIS VIRUS TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE.

RIGHT NOW YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO A VARIANT YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET COVID IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WHO HAS COVID.

JUST WE HAVE LESS COVID AROUND SO BROADLY THE NUMBERS ARE LOWER.

>> ARWADY SAYS THUS FAR CHICAGO HAS SEEN 70 CASES OF THAT DELTA MUTATION.

INDIVIDUALS, SOCIAL NETWORKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT VACCINATED ARE MOST THREATENED THAT IS A SENTIMENT ECHOED BY AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS PHYSICIAN Dr. FAUCI.

>> BUT THERE IS A DANGER A REAL DANGER THAT IF THERE IS A PERSISTENCE OF A REKALS TRANSTO GETTING VACCINATED YOU COULD SEE LOCALIZED SURGES I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WITH ALL FOUR OF US HAVE SAID ALL OF THAT IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE BY GETTING VACCINATED.

>> AND REMEMBER...

THE COVID VACCINE IS FREE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT Dr. ARWADY SAYS SOME PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE OR DON'T TRUST BUT IT IS FREE.

CHICAGO IS SENDING TEAMS DOOR-TO-DOOR IN SOME POCKETS OF THE CITY.

OF LIKENING EVENING WHERE THERE ARE LIKE ENGLEWOOD WHERE THERE ARE LOW VACCINATION RATES BUT THICK ARE CHANGING.

THURSDAY THE LAST DAY FOR THE MASS SITE AT THE UNITED CENTER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL IN ADVANCE OF TOMORROW'S COUNCIL MEETING.

PHIL?

>> BRANDIS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON A PROPOSAL TO RENAME LAKE SHORE DRIVE AFTER CHICAGO'S FIRST NONINDIGENOUS SETTLER, JEAN BAPTISTE POINTE DuSABLE.

THIS COMES AFTER A PARLIAMENTARY MANEUVER DELAYED THE VOTE LAST MONTH.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THAT AND OTHER BUSINESS ARE ALDERPERSON SCOTT WAGUESPACK WHO REPRESENTS THE 32nd WARD ON THE NORTH SIDE.

ALDERPERSON JASON ERVIN WHO REPRESENTS THE 28TH WARD.

SOPHIA KING WHO REPRESENTS THE FOURTH WARD ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

AND ALDERPERSON CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA WHO REPRESENTS THE 35TH WARD ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST OF ALL LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO RENAME LAKE SHORE DRIVE.

ALDERMAN KING YOU ARE A COSPONSOR OF THE BILL DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH VOTES FOR IT TO GO THROUGH?

>> YES, FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND YES, WE DO HAVE ENOUGH VOTES FOR IT TO GO THROUGH.

I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S ALL THE THROWING OUT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS OUT THERE BUT, YES, WE HAVE THE VOTES TO GO THROUGH AND WE PLAN ON MOVING FORWARD WITH DUSABLE DRIVE.

>> ALDERMAN ERVIN DO YOU SHARE ALDERPERSON'S THAT THE VOTES ARE THERE?

>> I DO BELIEVE THE VOTES ARE THERE TO PASS THE RENAMING FOR DUSABLE DRIVE.

I THINK IT IS A BROAD SUPPORT ACROSS THE CITY.

THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT WANT TO SEE THAT DONE.

BUT OVERALL, I THINK IT IS A POSITIVE WAY TO RENAME THE DRIVE FOR OUR FOUNDING SETTLER AS WELL AS OTHER ITEMS PLACED ON THE TABLE BY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

>> LET'S STICK WITH THAT ALDERMAN SCOTT WAGUESPACK WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE MEASURE?

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO VOTE ON DUSABLE DRIVE?

>> I THINK IT HAS THE VOTES.

YOU KNOW I WAS A LITTLE UPSET AT THE WAY WE WENT ABOUT IT.

SOME OF THE MEETINGS BECAME CONTENTIOUS AND I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF BARBS THROWN THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE.

I THINK THAT IT UPSET A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COME AROUND.

I DON'T THINK I'VE HAD ANY CONSTITUENTS WHO SAID THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF IT.

BUT I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT IT TOMORROW, IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO PASS.

>> AND WILL YOU BE VOTING FOR IT?

>> I'VE LEANED IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO LOOK BACK HOW WE WENT ABOUT THIS AND RECONCILE WHAT HAPPENED IN SOME OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS.

AND THE WAY THINGS HAVE GONE THROUGH THOSE.

BUT I THINK LOOKING FAVORABLY HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD I THINK I CAN PROBABLY VOTE FOR IT.

>> ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ARE PUSHING FOR THE MAYOR TO ADOPT A PROGRESSIVE PLAN FOR FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT MONEY SPENT?

>> THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS IN LINE TO RECEIVE 1.9 BILLION.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER TO PROPOSE A CHICAGO RESCUE PLAN.

IT ALLOCATES MONEY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS DURING THIS PANDEMIC WE'VE SEEN OTHER CITIES USE THEIR FEDERAL DOLLARS TO GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.

WE'VE SEEN HOMELESSNESS EXPLODE DURING THIS CRISIS.

IT DOESN'T HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

WE KNOW THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAN THE FUNDS WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

SO WE HAVE TO RAISE THAT AND IT DOES THINGS LIKE PROVIDE MONEY FOR CHILDCARE WHICH WE KNOW IS IMPORTANT.

THIS PANDEMIC EXPOSED THAT SO MANY WORKING FAMILIES NEED THAT SUPPORT AND IT DOES THINGS LIKE INSURE THERE'S MONEY FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT PLAN AND A STARTING POINT.

THE ALDERMAN THAT INTRODUCED THE CHICAGO RESCUE PLAN WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS WANT TO INTERFACE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.

I'M GLAD WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF ALDERWOMAN KING AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE GROW THE SUPPORT THAT EXISTS.

THE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS WILL BE LEADING THERE IS NO REASON WE CANNOT PUT FORWARD OUR OWN PLAN AS TO HOW THIS 1.9 BILLION SHOULD BE SPENT.

>> SINCE YOU RAISED THE TOPIC OF RENT RELIEF OUR STATISTICS SHOW THAT NEARLY 27,000 CHICAGOANS APPLIED FOR RELIEF ASSISTANCE REQUEST BEING $137 MILLION IN GRANTS.

BUT CITY OFFICIALS HAVE ONLY 80 MILLION AVAILABLE THIS ROUND.

ALDERMAN KING IS THERE A LOOMING HOUSING CRISIS?

>> DEFINITELY.

THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN THAT HOUSING INSECURITY AS ONLY GONE UP.

I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE THAT WE'VE GOT 1.9 BILLION WE NEED TO PUT IT TO USE NOW NOT WAIT TO BUDGET TIME BUT TO PUT IT TO USE NOW.

HOUSING INSECURITY IS ONE OF THE THINGS.

REPARATIONS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO BUT HOUSING CERTAINLY IS UP THERE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST BECAUSE WE NOT ONLY HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE ISSUES WITH RENT THE MORATORIUM WILL BE LIFTED SO WE WILL HAVE MORE FOLKS DEALING WITH HOUSING INSECURITIES.

WE HAVE OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.

BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND THAT IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

>> ALDERMAN ERVIN, A SWEEPING PACKAGE THAT THE MAYOR HOPES WILL HELP BUSINESSES RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.

WILL BE VOTED ON TOMORROW INCLUDING A BAN ON THE SALE OF ALCOHOL AT STORES AFTER MIDNIGHT.

IS THAT A GOOD MOVE?

A GOOD IDEA?

>> I THINK THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A CRY FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO LIQUOR SALES AFTER 1-2:00 A.M.

I THINK THAT WE COMPROMISED THAT IT WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE.

ONE COMPONENT OF IT THAT WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF IS WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND OUR BORDERS.

AS I SAW ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO, WHEN WE HAD OUR CURFEW FOR LIQUOR AT 9:00 P.M. PEOPLE WERE CROSSING OVER INTO CICERO AND BERWYN TO PER CHAS LIQUOR.

PART OF IT WE HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN AND A REVENUE CONCERN AND I DON'T THINK IT MAKES ACCEPTS FOR US TO LOSE REVENUE TO COMMUNITIES AT A TIME WHEN WE CAN UTILIZE THE REVENUE.

THE COMPROMISE REACHED FOR MIDNIGHT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL PARTIES.

>> THE PACKAGE INCLUDES CHANGES HOW THE CITY APPROVES PERMITS FOR SIGNS.

WHY IS THIS A BIG DEAL?

>> WELL, IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR A LOT OF BUSINESSES OUT THERE WHO SOMETIMES HAVE TO WAIT A COUPLE MONTHS OR LONGER IF THERE'S DELAYS OF ANY KIND.

THIS WOULD EXPEDITE THE PROCESS, CUTOFF A FEW WEEKS OF WAITING AND GET THOSE SIGNS UP QUICKER SO THEY CAN DRAW MORE PEOPLE IN.

THE ORDINANCE HAS A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT ARE PRO BUSINESS THAT A LOT OF ALDERMEN HAVE BEEN ASKING FORMENTO'S MANY YEARS.

THE A FRAME SIGNS THE SANDWICH SIGNS AT SBAC ILLINOIS AND THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AND WE'RE SEEING THAT.

AND WE'VE GOT DELIVERY FEES CAPPED FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER FROM COMPANIES LIKE DOORDASH WHO HAVE BEEN GOUGING RESTAURANTS AND CUSTOMERS.

THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THE PACKAGE.

AND THERE WAS GOOD COMPROMISE ON THE CLOSURE PERIOD FOR THE PACKAGE OF LICENSES BUT OVERALL IT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL TO BUSINESSES.

>> DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IT?

OR ARE YOU GOOD WITH IT THE WAY IT IS?

>> NO, I THINK I'M GOOD WITH THE WAY IT IS.

A LOT OF THE ALDERMEN WHO HAD ISSUES WITH THE LATE NIGHT PACKAGE LICENSEES WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ONE OR TWO BARS OR RESTAURANTS IN OUR WARD THAT WE TRY TO REALLY MAKE SAFE AND ADDRESS THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT 12:00 PERIOD HELPS DO THAT FOR MANY OF THE ALDERMEN WHO WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH IT.

>> ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA LET'S GO BACK TO HOUSING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THERE IS AN EVICTION MORATORIUM IN PLACE.

IS THE CITY PREPARED TO HANDLE THE SITUATION WHEN THAT MORATORIUM GOES AWAY?

>> YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK THE COURTS, THE CITY OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS READY TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS LOOMING AHEAD OF US.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO ALLOCATED $80 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND I BELIEVE IT'S 130 MILLION THAT CHICAGOANS REQUESTED AND THERE'S MANY THAT WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST IT BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO GET IN DURING THE APPLICATION WINDOW.

I THINK THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO LOOK AT USING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHICAGOAN WHO IS BEHIND ON THEIR RENT AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC HAVE THE ABILITY TO CATCH UP, HAS THE ABILITY TO GET THAT ASSISTANCE THAT IS WHY THIS MONEY WAS PUT TOGETHER BY DEMOCRATS AND BIDEN TO HELP AMERICAN FAMILIES.

I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

THE OTHER ASPECT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE HERE IS THAT A LOT OF LANDLORDS WILL LOOK VERY -- ARE UNLIKELY TO RENT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN EVICTION ON THEIR RECORD.

THE MORE EVICTIONS THERE ARE THE MORE LANDLORDS WILL BE HURTING THEMSELVES THAT MEANS THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE THAT THE MARKET IS WILLING TO DEAL WITH.

WE ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER, LANDLORDS, GOVERNMENT, RENTERS, THE DOLLARS ARE THERE FROM THE AMERICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST WITH THIS CRISIS AND WE NEED TO PUT THEM TO USE.

>> AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT FOR NOW... >> EXCUSE ME, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME OF OUR SMALL LANDLORDS.

I LIVE IN A WARD THAT IS TWO AND THREE FLAT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR OLDER SENIOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN'T PAY BUT WON'T PAY.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DEAL WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CHEATING THE SYSTEM AND WON'T PARTICIPATE AND WON'T DO WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO AND THEY CLEARLY CAN BECAUSE WE HAVE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN THIS.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE APPROACH AND CHOOSE BALANCE.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT FOR NOW.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY THE ALDERPEOPLE LATER IN THE PROGRAM TO CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITYIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT THANK YOU TO SCOTT WAGUESPACK, JASON ERVIN, SOPHIA KING AND CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PHIL, THANK YOU.

AFTER RECORD FLOODS IN 2019, NORTHERN ILLINOIS IS NOW EXPERIENCING A SEVERE DROUGHT THE LIKES OF WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

ACCORDING TO STATE DATA, THIS SPRING WAS THE THIRD DRYEST ON RECORD AND THOSE RECORDS GO BACK TO 1871 THAT MEANS THE SOIL IS DRYING OUT AND WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL GOING FORWARD, SOME FARMERS COULD BEGIN TO LOSE CROPS.

JOINING US NOW TO SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS ON HOW THE DROUGHT IS IMPACTING FARMERS IS MARK TUTTLE A FARMER IN DEKALB COUNTY AND THE DIRECT FORMENTO'S THE FARM BUREAU.

AND MIKE VON BERGEN A FARMER IN McHENRY COUNTY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MARK TUTTLE LET'S START WITH YOU.

HOW SEVERE IS THIS DROUGHT?

WHAT HAS THE IMPACT BEEN SO FAR?

>> WE'VE HAD A COUPLE RAINS IN THE LAST THIS WEEKEND AND BEFORE THAT WE WERE A MONTH WITHOUT RAIN.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY DRY THROUGH ALL OF SPRING.

ONE OF THE IMPACTS IS WE ARE ABLE TO GET TIMELY PLANTING THIS YEAR THE THREE WETTEST DAYS ON RECORD WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN THE FIELD IN APRIL THAT IS NICE A NORMAL TIME-FRAME.

BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN BARELY GETTING ENOUGH RAIN TO KEEP THE CROP STABLE AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT GOING INTO JULY AND AUGUST WE ARE AT A SEVEN, NINE-INCH DEFICIT HERE AND IF WE DON'T GET MOISTURE SOON THE CROP IS GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME IN JULY AND AUGUST.

>> WHICH CROPS ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO DROUGHT?

>> CORN IS GOING TO NEED AN INCH OR TWO INCHES PER WEEK.

AND POLLINATION IS A CRITICAL TIME.

JULY WOULD BE CORN ISSUE.

AND AUGUST WILL BE A SOYBEAN DROUGHT ISSUE.

THINGS WILL HANG ON THROUGH THE DRY WEATHER BUT REPRODUCTION TIME GENERAL AROUND THE FIRST PART OF AUGUST THEY WILL NEED MOISTURE OR THEY WILL NOT SET PODS.

>> MIKE VON BERGEN YOU HAVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF CROPS AS WE'VE MENTIONED.

HAS THAT ENABLED YOU TO WEATHER THIS DROUGHT BETTER THAN SOME FARMERS MAY BE ABLE TO?

>> BEEN ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT MARK SAID GO ALONG WITH THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE CORN AND SOYBEAN ACRES THAN WE DO VEGETABLES BUT THE VEGETABLES ARE A HIGH DOLLAR CROP AND THEY REQUIRE AMPLE AMOUNT OF WATER, TOO, TO MAKE THEM PRODUCE.

SO THE VEGETABLES WE ARE ABLE TO DO IRRIGATION BUT IRRIGATION IS NOT THE SAME AS GETTING RAIN.

THERE IS A LOT MORE NUTRIENTS IN THE RAIN WATER THAN OUT OF WELL WATER YOU ARE PUTTING ON YOUR CROPS.

>> WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF IRRIGATION?

CAN YOU MAKEUP FOR THE LACK OF RAIN WITH IRRIGATION.

>> IT IS USUALLY ENOUGH TO KEEP THINGS ALIVE AND MOVING ALONG BUT IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

WE HAVE OVERHEAD WHICH IS EASY TO DO SPRING CENTER PIVOT BUT THEN THE TRICKLE WE DO ON OUR PLASTIC THAT REQUIRES WORKING WITH PIPE AND WATER AND HAULING IN WATER YOU EAT UP A LOT OF TIME DOING THAT WHEN YOU COULD BE DOING OTHER THINGS ON A FARM.

>> AND MARK, IF DROPS ARE -- CROPS ARE LOST TO THE DROUGHT WILL THAT IMMEDIATELY BE FELT BY CONSUMERS IN THE FORM OF HIGHER PRICES?

>> HIGHER PRICES ALL SPRING ALREADY BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH.

WE CAME OFF A TWO YEARS OF REDUCED CROPS IN 2019 WE HAD [INAUDIBLE] IN 2020 WE HAD STARTED GETTING DRY LAST JULY.

OUR CROP PRODUCTION LAST PART OF 2020 WAS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

I THINK THE CONSUMERS HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME OF THE PRICE INCREASES.

RIGHT NOW THE SHELVES ARE EMPTY.

YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE LOCAL ARE ABOVE WHAT THE BOARD OF TRADE IS BECAUSE THEY ARE HUNTING FOR CORN AND HUNTING FOR SOYBEANS.

NEW CROP RISES ARE AT SEVEN YEAR HIGHS BUT IT WILL BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS AND SOME OF IT IS ALREADY BEING FELT.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED 2020, HOW DID THE PANDEMIC AFFECT YOUR FARM LAST YEAR?

>> FOR US, IN THE VEGETABLE AND ENTERTAINMENT WAS THE BEST YEAR WE HAD.

IT DID WELL.

BUT ALSO ADD SOMETHING WHAT MARK SAID IS THAT OUR COSTS AS FARMERS ARE OUR INPUTS HAVE GONE UP ALONG WITH THE RISE IN COSTS ON WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR OUR CROP, TOO.

IT'S A HAND IN HAND WE ARE NOT MAKING MORE MONEY WE'RE JUST CHANGING DOLLARS OVER.

>> MARK, HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED MOST FARMERS AND WAS THERE MUCH FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM OUT?

>> YES, FARMERS WERE AFFECTED IN A COUPLE WAYS.

ONE IS LIFE STOCK FARMERS PROBABLY FELT IT FIRST BACK WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, MEAT PROCESSING FACILITIES A LOT OF WORKERS HAD TO GO OUT SICK AND THEY SHUTDOWN MEATPACKING FOR SOMETIMES TWO WEEKS.

SO HOGS AND CATTLE SLAUGHTER GOT BACKED UP AND THAT AFFECTED THE LIVESTOCK GUYS AND AFFECTED THE DAIRY PRODUCE E. DAIRIES COULD NOT TAKE THE MILK.

CORN AND SOYBEANS AFFECTED THEM DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE IT BACKED UP THINGS AS FAR AS JUST DELIVERING GRAINS.

IT AFFECTED EVERYBODY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BUT THE LIVESTOCK MORE THAN ANYTHING AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPPED UP AND THEY PROVIDED FOR THE LOSSES THE C PAC PROGRAM THAT CAME OUT UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID HELP MAINTAIN THE FARMS BUT IT WAS NOT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL AN INCOME PRODUCING SITUATION IT WAS MAKING UP FOR SOME OF THE LOSSES.

>> MARK IT SOUNDS LIKE BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC AND NOW THIS DROUGHT AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIGHER PRICES TO THE CONSUMER THAT THESE TWO EVENTS WOULD COMPOUND EACH OTHER TO MAKE FOR HIGHER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS.

SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.

>> WEATHER IS ALREADY IMPORTANT TO FARMERS WHETHER IT'S WAY TOO WET OR TOO COLD.

WAY TOO DRY COMING OFF OF THREE WET YEARS.

THE WEATHER HAS BEEN A REALLY TOUGH SITUATION FOR AGRICULTURE.

AND PANDEMIC THROW THAT ON TOP OF IT AND YES, IT'S BEEN A CHAOS SITUATION AND THE CROP'S HOLDING ON RIGHT NOW BUT WEATHER AND RAINFALL GOING FORWARD WILL BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

>> MIKE VON BERGEN, A COUPLE YEARS AGO FLOODS PUT SOME FARMERS ON THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY AND YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WELL IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS DESPITE THE TOUGH TIMES BEFALLING OTHER FARMERS.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE CURRENT ECONOMICS OF FARMING?

SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A GOOD TIME TO BE A FARMER?

>> IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO BE A FARMER.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO WE HAVE SO MANY JOBS IT'S NEVER BORING.

IT SEEMS TO INTEREST MY KIDS ARE ALL ON THE YOUNGER AND THEY ARE COMING BACK TO THE FARM AND WORKING HERE.

SO YEAH, I MEAN I ESPECIALLY JOY IT.

IT'S LOT -- I ENJOY IT.

IT IS A DIFFERENT CLIMATE THAN WHEN I STARTED.

MORE TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHANGES GO BACK TO 1988 AND 2012, THE CROPS AND THE GENETICS ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN ' 88.

TO BE ABLE TO WEATHER THIS DRY CLIMATE.

>> AND WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, MIKE VON BERGEN AND MARK TUTTLE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ART CENTER IN THE COUNTRY.

POLICE STAY WITH US.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AND THERE'S STILL MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING WHY FOUR TRIBUNE COLUMNISTS ARE TAKING BUYOUTS FROM THE PAPER'S NEW OWNER.

FIRST, MARKING TIME.

THAT'S HOW ARTIST FAHEEM MAJEED DESCRIBES HIS LATEST TRIBUTE TO THE OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ART CENTER IN THE COUNTRY.

ANGEL IDOWU SHARES MORE ABOUT HOW MAJEED IS USING GRAPHITE TO MARK THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER.

>> IT HIGHLIGHTS THE GALLERY.

I WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT I SEE WHEN I COME INTO THAT SPACE.

>> FOR THE PAST EIGHT DECADES THE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER HAS BEEN WORKING TO SERVE BLACK CREATIVES IN ALL MEDIUMS MANY REASONS THAT ARTIST FAHEEM MAJEED IS HONORING THE DISR IN HIS LATEST PROJECT.

A GRAPHITE RUBBING OF THE BUILDING.

>> IT WILL SEE OLD WOODEN WALLS, I SEE THE ANCESTORS MOVING THROUGH THE SPACE.

THE GRAPHITE IS ONE OF EXPLORATIONS OF THE HISTORY OF THE SPACE.

>> FOR SIX DAYS, MAJEED AND HIS TEAM LAID SHEETS ACROSS THE BUILDING AND USED GRAPHITE TO CATCH THE MOMENTS IN TIME.

>> I HAD EXPLAINED TO THEM HOW IT WORKS.

IT'S GOING TO MOVE ON YOU.

IT'S HEAVY WE HAD TO DO IT IN STRIPS.

IT'S GOING TO GET IN-YOUR-FACE AND YOU MOVE AND BY THE TIME YOU COME BACK IT'S MOVED AND THAT IS THE POINT.

TRYING TO MARK A SECOND DO A RUBBING OF A MOMENT WHEN YOU SEE THE PIECE IT DOESN'T LOOK ONE FOR ONE IT'S MARKING TIME.

I ALMOST THINK LIKE PHOTOGRAPHS BUT IT'S MOVING.

>> MAJEED USED THE DRAWING MATERIAL TO DOCUMENT THE INSIDE OF THE CENTER AS WELL CREATING A COLLECTION OF INTERIOR RUBBINGS RANGING FROM THE FLOORS TO THE PIANOS TO THE WALLS.

THE TRIBUTE IS ON DISPLAY AT THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE INSURANCE CONSTITUTIONS AND PROPEL THE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY ART CENTER TO THE LEVEL MAJEED BELIEVES IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED.

THEY HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH WPA AND GOT GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO FIND A SPACE AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

SO A LOT OF THE ARTISTS THAT SHOW HERE HAVE SHOWN AT HYDE PARK ART CENTER BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN FORMAL EXCHANGES.

>> LONG-TERM MAJEED HOPES THIS HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE ROLE PHYSICAL INSTITUTIONS PLAY AND NOT ONLY SHAPING ARTISTS BUT SHAPING COMMUNITIES.

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A BUILDING BECAUSE IT'S UNRAVEL VELLED AND HOW DO YOU WRAP A COLUMN INTO A RUBBING.

IT'S KIND OF A EXPLOSIVE THING AND IT MOVES.

AND ITH I THAT IS A GREAT ANALOGY FOR THINKING OF WORKING IN A CULTURAL SPACE LIKE THIS IT'S ALWAYS MOVING AND CHANGING.

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

>> AND THE FULL GRAPHITE RUB SOMETHING NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE HYDE PARK ARTS CENTER UNTIL JULY 24.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... A PLAN TO CREATE A CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT STALLS IN COMMITTEE.

FOUR ALDERPEOPLE WEIGH-IN ON THAT AND OTHER BUSINESS.

>> DOZENS OF "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" EMPLOYEES ARE TAKING BUYOUTS OFFERED BY THE NEW OWNER.

WE TALK WITH FOUR COLUMNISTS LEAVING THE PAPER.

>> HOW BIG A MESS ARE YOU BELIEVING THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CLEAN UP?

>> PHIL PONCE GETTING READY TO EXIT THE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STAGE A LOOK BACK AT HIS MEMORABLE CONVERSATION WITH ROD BLAGOJEVICH.

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

CHICAGO CONNECTED WAS AIMED AT BRIDGING THE GAP FOR REMOTE LEARNER'S WHO NEEDED INTERNET ACCESS.

ORIGINALLY JUST FOR C.P.S.

STUDENTS CITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED GRADUATING SENIORS WILL HAVE THEIR ACCESS EXTENDED THROUGH OCTOBER.

AND IF THEY ENROLL IN CITY COLLEGES THEY WILL GET INTERNET UP TO THREE YEARS.

A PROPOSED C.P.S.

POLICY AIMS AT ENDING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ARE ASKED TO FOCUS ON DEESCALATION RATHER THAN CALLING POLICE IN SITUATIONS SUCH AS TO REMOVE A STUDENT.

ARRESTS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS ARE DISCOURAGED AND STUDENTS ARE TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE FROM THE SCHOOL.

THE POLICY REMOVES CRIMINALIZING LANGUAGE FROM THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.

THE BOARD IS SET TO VOTE ON THE CHANGES TOMORROW.

MORE DETAILS OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> A YOUTH ORGANIZED MARCH THIS AFTERNOON CALLED OUT CITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR NOT SOLVING CASES OF YOUNG BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED OR GONE MISSING.

ORGANIZERS AT THE WE MARCH FOR HER SAY THE MAYOR, STATE'S ATTORNEY, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICIALS ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO SOLVE THE CASES OF DOZENS OF MOSTLY BLACK WOMEN OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> WE WANT CHANGE WE WANT TRANSPARENCY FROM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DETECTIVES THAT ARE PUT ON THESE CASES.

WHEN THE WOMEN GO MISSING WE ONLY HEAR SOMETHING AND AFTER THAT YOU DON'T HEAR ANYTHING AND THE CASE IS CLOSED.

HOW IS THE CASE CLOSE FEDERAL WE DON'T KNOW THIS PERSON IS FOUND OR HAVE BEEN MURDERED OR WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE FOR MORE ON WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT AT TOMORROW'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

PHIL?

>> THANK YOU.

EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED THE PUSH TO RENAME LAKE SHORE DRIVE AND WE'RE JOINED BY ALDERPEOPLE, SCOTT WAGUESPACK, JASON ERVIN, SOPHIA KING AND CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA.

LAST WEEK, A VOTE STALLED ON A PLAN TO CREATE A CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THERE WERE CHANGES.

ALDERMAN RAMIREZ ROSA WILL YOU TRY TO BRING THE MEASURE TO THE FLOOR?

DO YOU EXPECT YOUR EFFORT TO BE SUCCESSFUL TOMORROW?

>> YOU KNOW, TALIAFERRO, THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE PROMISED THERE WOULD BE A VOTE THIS MONTH.

WE WANT THIS ITEM TO MOVE THROUGH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

OVER 100 PLUS GROUPS WORKING TO PASSIVELYIAN OVERSIGHT HAVE COME TOGETHER THIS UNITY ORDINANCE WAS BORN OUT OF HEART WORK AND COMPROMISE.

THE SOLUTION THAT IS NOW BEFORE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IF THEY ACCEPT THE SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE WE BELIEVE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

IT IS AN ORDINANCE THAT REFLECTS THE PLATFORM THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT RAN ON TO INSURE THAT WE HAVE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT AND THAT WE HAVE A MEANINGFUL REPRESENTATIVE BODY THAT HAS TOOLS TO REALLY CHANGE POLICING AND REFORM THIS BROKEN SYSTEM.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT CRYSTAL FERRO WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND WE CONVENE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SO WE CAN ACCEPT THAT ORDINANCE AND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A VOTE ON IT.

WE HAVE AMENDED THE ORDINANCE TO GAIN MORE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT TALIAFERRO WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

>> SOPHIA KING HOW DO YOU SEE IT?

THERE HAVE BEEN COMPETING PROPOSALS FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS, THE MAYOR OBVIOUSLY HAS HER OWN THOUGHTS ON IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I THINK IT'S HONESTLY I THINK WE HAVE THE VOTES TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AS WELL.

I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT THIS IS A BILL THAT YOU KNOW, TAKES EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK INTO CONSIDERATION.

IT'S THE PEOPLE'S BILL.

WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONGTIME TO REALLY COME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT.

AND IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

I THINK PEOPLE IN OUR CITY PROBABLY WANT THIS MORE THAN ANYTHING AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US AS CITY GOVERNMENT TO HEED WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.

YOU KNOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND IMPERATIVE THAT THE MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES COME TOGETHER AND MOVE THIS FORWARD.

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGISLATIONS WE WILL DEAL WITH.

WE HAVE SEEN HOW IT WORKS WITHOUT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT WITH LAQUAN McDONALD, WITH GEORGE FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR YOU CAN GO ON AND ON.

NOW IS THE TIME TO DO BRING CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT TO THIS BOARD AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND THE WILL OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

>> SCOTT WAGUESPACK IS IT TIME FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF POLICE?

IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I THINK IT WILL AND I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IF FOR YEARS.

I WAS AN EARLY SUPPORTER OF GAPA WHICH CREATED A MERGER WITH C PACT AND TURNING INTO EPCS WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE PACKAGE THAT WOULD MOVE FORWARD.

SO I WAS SURPRISED WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT MOVING.

BUT I THINK IF CHAIRMAN TALIAFERRO I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE JUNE THIS JUNE MEETING.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD IT LOOKED LIKE GAPA BUT NOT REALLY.

THE NEW MERGER WHICH I THINK CARLOS WORKED HARD TO PUT TOGETHER AND CRAFT A NEW VERSION THERE IS A LOT OF COMPETING INTERESTS HERE.

AND I THINK OVERALL WE HAVE TO PASS SOMETHING.

>> JASON ERVIN IS IT POSSIBLE FOR CITY OFFICIALS TO INSTILL PUBLIC TRUST IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT?

>> I THINK THE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT.

AND LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK.

WE TOO ARE CIVILIANS AND WE TOO HAVE OVERSIGHT ABILITY.

IT'S JUST THAT OUR OVERSIGHT HAS NOT BEEN AS EFFECTIVE AS DIRECT AS WHAT WE WOULD FIND IN A CIVILIAN BODY THAT WOULD ONLY HAVE THAT SPECIFIC CHARGE.

I THINK THAT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS THE MOVE THAT WE SEE NATIONALLY IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GIVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS A SPECIFIC CHARGE TO DEAL WITH THE WORK WITH PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE ASKED FOR.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE ALDO BROWN MEN FOR THEIR -- ALDERMEN FOR THEIR HARD WORK TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE TODAY WHERE WE SEE THERE IS A WAY TO GET THIS DONE WITH THE MAJORITY SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

>> CAN'T FORGET ALDERMAN HAIRSTON.

>> MY APOLOGIES.

>> VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO AS IT IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAYS THE CITY IS SEEING A DOWNWARD TREND HERE IS WHAT SHE SAID YESTERDAY.

>> THE TRUTH IS EVENTS THAT YOU NOTED OBVIOUSLY ARE TRAGIC AND HEARTBREAKING AND I WILL ADDRESS EACH OF THEM.

BUT THE REALITY IS JUNE OVER JUNE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS ONE WE'VE SEEN A DOWNWARD TREND IN BOTH HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE IN JANUARY, TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, WE'RE ALSO SEEING A DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY IN HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS.

>> ALDERMAN RAMIREZ ROSA DO YOU AGREE DOWNWARD TREND IN HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS?

>> THE DATA I'VE SEEN SHOWS THAT VIOLENCE IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE EXPERIENCING ONCE IN A LIFETIME SITUATION THE PANDEMIC, OF COURSE, SAW A SPIKE IN VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY.

AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO WALK THE STREETS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AS LONG AS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GETTING SHOT IN THE STREETS, AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE GETTING PULLED OUT OF THEIR CARS IN ACTS OF VIOLENCE THERE IS MORE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO AS A CITY AND A SOCIETY TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE.

I THINK BEYOND THE STATISTICS, IT'S CLEAR BASED UPON THE VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT MORE MUST BE DONE AND THAT INCLUDES VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE TYPES OF HEFD-BASED STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN REDUCE VIOLENCE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

>> AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU TO SCOTT WAGUESPACK, JASON ERVIN, SOPHIA KING AND CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA.

>> AND BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A FLOOD OF TALENT IS EXITING THE TRIBUNE AFTER ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL OFFERED VOLUNTARY BUYOUTS.

THE HEDGE FUND IS KNOWN FOR CUTTING COSTS THAT THE NEWSPAPERS IT BUYS.

BUT WHAT ARE THE PAPER AND READERS ARE LOSING WITH DOZENS HEADED FOR THE DOOR?

HERE TO ANSWER THAT AND MORE ARE MARY SCHMICH, A PULITZER PRIZE PRIZE WINNER.

DAHLEEN GLANTON A PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST WHO JOINED THE TRIBUNE IN 1989 AFTER WORKING AT THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES".

HEIDI STEVENS WHO STARTED AND GOT HER COLUMN IN 2012.

AND ERIC ZORN WHO HAS BEEN A COLUMNIST AT THE TRIBUNE SINCE 1986.

I'M SORRY AT TIMES LIKE THIS BUT I'M GLAD TO HAVE EACH OF YOU HERE I READ ALL OF YOUR COLUMNS.

AS COLUMNIST IT IS MEANS YOU BRING YOUR OWN OPINION AND FLAVOR TO THE PAPER.

HEIDI STEVENS LET'S START WITH YOU.

WITH SO MANY OPINION WRITERS LEAVING WHAT ARE THE PAPER AND CHICAGO READERS LOSING?

>> WELL, THEY ARE LOSING A CONNECTION AND FORM OF ANALYSIS FOR THE NEWS WHAT WE ARE LEARNING FROM THE OUTPOURING OF SUCH SWEET E-MAILS AND TWEETS AND COMMENTS FROM READERS IS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL LIKE SOMEONE IS IN THE TRENCHES WITH THEM AS THEY SURVIVE A PANDEMIC AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WENT THROUGH FOR THE PAST YEAR AND THE PAST DECADE.

PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THESE VOICES ARE NOT ONLY MAKING SENSE OF THE NEWS FOR THEM AND ADDING THEIR PERSPECTIVE TO THE NEWS AND ALSO THEY ARE LIVING THROUGH IT WITH THEM.

YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT GOES AWAY WHEN THE FOUR OF US LEAVE AND OTHER OPINION WRITERS LEAVE.

BUT THERE'S AMPLE TALENT STAYING AT THE NEWSROOM AS WELL TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE SENSE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS SWIRLING AROUND THEM.

>> AND ERIC ZORN ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE NEWS BUSINESS RIGHT NOW?

>> THE DIRECTION OF THE NEWS BUSINESS, ABSOLUTELY I AM, YES.

IT IS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR NEWSPAPERS.

AND WE SEE THIS GOING ON IN CHICAGO WITH THE COST CUTTING.

ANYTIME ARE YOU LOSING THE KIND OF PERSONNEL WE ARE LOSING AND IT'S NOT JUST THE COLUMNISTS WE ARE LOSING EDITORS AND OTHER REPORTERS.

AND SO YOU HAVE A SMALLER PRODUCT.

YOU HAVE FEWER GUARDIANS AT THE GATE.

AND FEWER PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW.

AND SO I DO WORRY ABOUT THAT, YES.

>> MARY SCHMICH, IS OPINION A NECESSITY AT A NEWSPAPER?

OR EXTRA?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT IS A NECESSITY BUT I DO THINK IT IS ONE SIGNIFICANT WAY TO TRADITIONALLY WAY THAT NEWSPAPERS ENGAGE PEOPLE.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU USE THE WORD COLUMNIST YOU THINK OF THE WORD OPINION, OPINION, OPINION AND SOME OF US HAVE HAD A PHILOSOPHY IT'S ABOUT STORYTELLING AND STORIES ARE IN THEIR WAY A SUBTLER FORM OF OPINION.

OBVIOUSLY I HAVE BEEN QUESTIONING, TOO, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF OPINION IN THE NEWSPAPER?

AND IF NEWSPAPERS GOING TO SURVIVE OR CUT, DO THEY CUT OPINION?

I THINK IT'S VALUABLE.

BUT I THINK IT IS A A LEGITIMATE QUESTION FRANKLY.

>> DAHLEEN GLANTON YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEARING AND IT WAS REPORTED IN THE TRIB TODAY THE NUMBER OF FOLKS LEAVING IS AROUND 40.

WE HEARD ERIC ZORN SAY IT'S NOT JUST COLUMNISTS BUT EDITORS AND REPORTERS.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS?

>> WELL, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN EVERY TIME THERE IS A STAFF REDUCTION AT THE TRIBUNE AND WE HAVE BEING GOING THROUGH THIS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE IS THAT CERTAIN THINGS ARE LEFT UNCOVERED.

AND THAT IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.

I AM CERTAIN THAT THE REPORTERS WHO ARE LEFT WILL DO THEIR BEST WITH WHATEVER RESOURCES THEY HAVE TO COVER THE CITY AS THOROUGHLY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE THERE ARE GOING TO BE AREAS THAT ARE LACKING.

AND THAT IS MY GREATEST CONCERN.

THAT WILL BE STORIES THAT WON'T BE TOLD AND STORIES THAT WON'T BE REPORTED.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A DETRIMENT TO OUR CITY.

>> ERIC ZORN, YOU WROTE QUOTE MY SENSE IS THAT I'M NOT IN THE LONG-TERM PLANS OF OUR NEW OWNERS AND I SHOULD SEE THE OFFER NOT AS A SHOVE OUT OF THE DOOR BUT A LAUNCHING PAD OF NEW BEGINNINGS OF ALL SORTS.

WHAT IS IT THAT GIVES YOU THIS SENSE THAT YOU REFERENCE ABOUT THE NEW OWNERS?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU BELIEVE THEY MAY HAVE SAID OR THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT MADE SOMEWHERE AROUND 40 PEOPLE DECIDE TO TAKE THIS OPTION?

>> ALD EASTBOUND GOLDEN >> ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL HAS BEEN BUYING NEWSPAPERS FOR DECADES NOW.

AND I LOOKED AT THE ROLE THAT OPINION COLUMNISTS LIKE MYSELF PLAY AT THOSE PAPERS.

AND IN LOOKING AT THAT LOOKING AT WHAT THE PAPERS TO OFFER, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THERE WASN'T GOING TO BE A PLACE FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME AT THIS PAPER GOING FORWARD IN THE LONG-RUN.

AND THIS OFFER THEY GAVE TO US TO LEAVE THE PAPER UNDER FAIRLY FAVORABLE FINANCIAL TERMS WAS REALLY ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

A COLUMN IS AN OPPORTUNITY BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO EXPLORE OTHER WRITING PROJECTS AND OTHER MUSICAL PROJECTS MAYBE OTHER THINGS TO DO.

IT WAS REALLY A LOOK AT WHAT THIS COMPANY HAS DONE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND HOW I FELT LIKE PEOPLE LIKE ME WILL FIT IN.

OUR YOUNGER STAFFERS WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A PLACE THERE AND I AGREE WITH THE PANEL THERE WILL BE TOUGH STORIES AND GREAT AGGRESSIVE REPORTING THAT WILL KEEP GOING AT THE TRIBUNE.

THE PAPER IS NOT DYING.

JUST CHANGING ITS LOOK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HEIDI, AS A COLUMNIST YOU DEVELOP A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR READERS.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MANY OF YOUR COLUMNS YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT PERSONAL PARTS OF YOUR LIFE IN BALANCING ACTS THE NAME OF YOUR COLUMN YOU WRITE ABOUT YOUR KIDS AND YOUR DIVORCE YOUR LIFE IN GENERAL.

DOES TAKING THE BUYOUT FEEL LIKE A DIVORCE?

>> SUCH A GOOD QUESTION HONESTLY DOES A LITTLE BIT.

ESPECIALLY THE PART THAT IS HEARTBREAKING BUT ALSO THERE'S CERTAINTY THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

ONE ANALOGY I USE BECAUSE MY PARENTS ARE BIG NATURE LOVERS LIKE A CONTROLLED BURN.

WHEN YOU GO AND YOU INTENTIONAL SET SOMETHING ON FIRE AND YOU LEAVE EVERYTHING CHARRED BUT GROWTH IS ABLE TO COME THROUGH BECAUSE OF THAT CHANGE.

AND CERTAINLY NOT IMPLYING THAT LEAVING THE NEWSROOM CHARRED AND ASHE BECAUSE IT'S FILLED WITH TONS AND TONS OF TALENT BUT WHEN YOU ARE MAKING A DECISION FOR YOUR OWN LIFE TO LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND THAT YOU LOVE OR TO YOU KNOW, CUT TIES WHEN YOU KNOW THAT IT'S TIME EVEN IF IT'S PAINFUL IT IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A DIVORCE.

>> MARY, YOU WON A PULITZER PRIZE IN 2012 LOOKING BACK ON YOUR YEARS WHAT WERE THE OTHER HIGHS?

>> OH, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY HIGHS.

BUT I DON'T LIKE TO DWELL ON THOSE.

BECAUSE I FEAR SOMETIMES THAT WE HAVE A ROMANCE ABOUT THE NEWSPAPER AND THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE TO GET OUR HEAD INTO THE SPACE OF THIS IS THE WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN NOW.

THIS IS THE FINANCIAL REALITY NOT JUST OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" BUT OF NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER.

SO EVEN THOUGH I HAVE LOVED MY 40 YEARS IN THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS AND MY 30 HOWEVER MANY IT IS AT THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" I REALLY DON'T LIKE TO ROMANTICIZE WHAT THE YEARS WERE.

THEY WERE GREAT AND THEY ARE GONE THROUGH THE TRIBUNE AND THE CITY NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT OK, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

>> AND HOPEFULLY IF THERE'S TIME WE WILL COME BACK TO WHAT IS NEXT.

DAHLEEN GLANTON YOU HAVE HELD POSITIONS AT THE TRIBUNE WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT YOUR TIME THERE?

>> I THINK FOR ME IT'S FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL STORIES AND TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE WALK IN THE SHOES OF A POPULATION THAT THEY REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND OR DIDN'T KNOW.

IF I HAVE DONE ANYTHING THAT I HOPE WILL HAVE A LASTING IMPACT, I HOPE THAT IT IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE OPENED THEIR MINDS TO THINK ABOUT THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

AND TO BE COMMITTED TO FIXING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THIS CITY.

>> IN THE 60 SECONDS WE HAVE LEFT I WILL ASK THIS OF EACH OF YOU.

DAHLEEN GLANTON WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE TWO MONTHS TO RELAX AND ENJOY.

AND THEN I WILL FIGURE IT OUT.

>> THAT IS A GOOD PLAN.

MARY SCHMICH?

>> I WILL SEE SOME FAMILY THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

>> ERIC?

>> I'M GOING TO LEARN MORE FIDEL TUNES THAT IS MY SUMMER PLAN.

>> AND HEIDI WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> I'M GOING TO DO SOME CONTRACT WORK FOR UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOR DOCTOR AND AUTHOR IS DOING EXCITING WORK AROUND PARENTING AND TURNING AMERICA INTO A MORE PARENT-FRIENDLY NATION.

WHEN WE HAVE MORE THAN 60 SECONDS I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

>> WE HAVE HAD DANA ON THE SHOW SO I LOOK MORE TO HEARING ABOUT THAT.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

HEIDI STEVENS, DAHLEEN GLANTON, MARY SCHMICH AND ERIC ZORN THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, AS PHIL PONCE WINDS UP HIS TIME HERE ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WE BEGIN A SERIES OF "PONCE MOMENTS".

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... AS WE MENTIONED ON THE PROGRAM LAST WEEK, PHIL PONCE WHO STARTED WORKING HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN 1992 WILL BE RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

BEGINNING TONIGHT, WE WILL BE LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE "PONCE MOMENTS" HERE ARE HIGHLIGHTS FROM PHIL'S MEMORABLE CONVERSATION WITH THEN GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH IN 2005.

>> NOT WITHSTANDING EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, SAY YOU'VE DONE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU HAVE HAD AVAILABLE TO YOU YOU'VE DONE A PLUS ABOUT THE DISPARITIES AND THEY CONTINUE TO EXIST AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST UNTIL SOMEBODY MAKES A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE WAY THE SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTICULAR VIR RILT SHOULDN'T YOU USE IT TO FIX THE FUNDING SETUP IN ILLINOIS?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND I THINK PART OF THE PROCESS REQUIRES GETTING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE BACK WHO PAY FOR THIS.

AND AGAIN IT'S WRONG TO ASK THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY MORE AND MORE OUT OF THEIR POCKETS THE MONEY THEY EARN UNTIL THEY SEE THAT GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO THEM.

>> ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN IS HOW YOU HAVE BEEN BALANCING BUDGETS AND THE RAP IS THAT YOU'VE BEEN PASSING ON THE STATE'S FISCAL PROBLEMS ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS BY BORROWING MONEY TO DEAL WITH DEFICITS.

THIS YEAR'S BUDGET SHORTCHANGES THE STATE'S PENSION FUND BY MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS?

HOW BIG A MESS ARE YOU LEAVING THAT OTHERS WILL HAVE TO CLEAN UP?

>> WE ARE I THINK IN A POSITION WHERE OUR FISCAL HOUSE IS IN ORDER.

>> GOVERNOR AN ONGOING FEDERAL INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A GUILTY PLEA FROM JOSEPH KERRY WHOSE TESTIMONY CONNECTS POLITICAL A FOR CAMPAIGN CASH I'M READING IT.

YOU WERE ASKED ABOUT IT FOR THE RECORD, DO YOU DENY THAT YOU ARE PUBLIC OFFICIAL A?

>> I COMPLETELY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT DENY ANY ACTIVITY AS WAS INDICATED IN THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO.

WE DON'T OPERATE THAT WAY.

I WOULD NOT TOLERATE THAT BEHAVIOR NOT FOR A SINGLE SECOND.

>> AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

>> TOMORROW, WE GO BACK TO 2007 TO SEE PHIL TALK WITH ANOTHER STAR A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH ELMO.

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

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. A CITY COUNCIL MEETS WILL ALDERPEOPLE RECONSIDER A PLAN TO PUT AN ELECTED BOARD OF RESIDENTS IN CHARGE OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CARTOONING AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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