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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE CAN'T LET THE STUNTS DERAIL US FROM WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT US TO DO.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ABOUT THE SPIKE IN SUMMER VIOLENCE, CITY COUNCIL BREAKDOWNS AND MUCH MORE.

>> THIS IS A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT.

>> WE TALK TO LAWMAKERS ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PUSH FOR MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

>> RENOWNED CHICAGO SCULPTOR RICHARD HUNT AND HIS YEARS MAKING MONUMENTS AND HIS STATUE OF IDA B.

WELLS IN BRONZEVILLE.

>> I THOUGHT WAIT A MINUTE, I CAN DO THIS.

>> AND HE DID.

AFTER NEARLY THREE DECADES, PHIL PONCE ENDS HIS REGULAR APPEARANCES ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" A REFLECTION ON HIS CAREER IN JOURNALISM.

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

ILLINOIS' FINANCIAL OUTLOOK IS MUCH BRIGHTER TODAY ACCORDING TO MOODY'S INVESTOR SERVICE WHICH GAVE THE STATE ITS FIRST BOND RATING UPGRADE IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

IT CAME AS WELCOME NEWS TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER.

>> THIS MONUMENTAL DEVELOPMENT FROM MOODY'S INVESTOR SERVICE RECOGNIZES THE DEPTH OF OUR EFFORTS TO REVERSE THE DAMAGE OF THE PAST.

WITH THIS RATINGS UPGRADE, ILLINOIS IS POISED TO SAVE MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AFTER WEATHERING A ONCE IN A GENERATION FINANCIAL STORM CAUSED BY COVID-19 AND THE PANDEMIC.

>> MOODY'S CITED IMPROVES, INCREASED PENSION PAYMENTS AND KEEPING THE BILL BACKLOG IN CHECK FOR THE INCREASE.

>> TRAVELERS COMING TO CHICAGO FROM OTHER STATES WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO FOLLOW A TRAVEL ORDER WHICH REQUIRED A QUARANTINE OR NEGATIVE COVID TEST UPON ARRIVAL.

HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED FROM A TRAVEL ORDER TO AN ADVISORY SINCE NONE OF THE 50 STATES ARE RECORDING MORE THAN 15 NEW CASES PER DAY PER 100,000 RESIDENTS.

THE ORDER WAS SUSPENDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH AND CAN BE REINSTATED IF SURGES ARE SEEN IN ANY STATE AND THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS HALF A PERCENT FOR THE PAST WEEK.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS THAT IS AN ALL-TIME LOW SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC AND PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED NEED TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL.

>> PLEASE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO TRAVEL GET VACCINATED.

IT WORRIES ME WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED AND THEY ARE TRAVELING WHERE WE ARE SEEING SURGING.

IF YOU'VE TRAVELED, AND YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED, PLEASE DO WEAR A MASK WHEN YOU ARE BACK.

YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK ALL THE TIME IF YOU'RE UNVACCINATED BUT THAT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY TRUE IF YOU POTENTIALLY TRAVELED.

>> AND UNITED AIRLINES IS BETTING BIG THAT TRAVELERS WILL RETURN TO THE SKIES BY PLACING ONE OF THE LARGEST ORDERS EVER FOR COMMERCIAL PLANES.

THE CHICAGO BASED COMPANY IS BUYING 200 BOEING MAX JETS AND 70 PLANES FROM AIRBUS.

THE PLAN IS TO REPLACE SMALLER PLANES AND SOME OF THE OLDEST.

>> IT IS THE BIGGEST ORDER IN UNITED'S HISTORY AND ANY BY U.S. CARRIER SINCE 2011.

THE C.E.O.

PREDICTS THAT BUSINESS TRAVEL WILL PICK UP AFTER LABOR DAY AND THAT BUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WILL FULLY RECOVER BUT NOT LIKELY UNTIL 2023.

AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE WITH CHICAGO'S MAYOR.

PHIL?

>> BRANDIS, CHICAGO IS IN THE MIDST OF A VIOLENT SUMMER AS SHOOTINGS GO UP AND HOMICIDES MATCH LAST YEAR'S YEAR TO DATE TOTAL.

LAKE SHORE DRIVE GETS A NEW NAME AND A PUSH IS CREATED FOR AN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

JOINING US IS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

WELCOME BACK BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING WITH US.

>> IT IS MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO BE ON THE BROADCAST.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU AND THE CITY HAVE HAD A ROUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?

>> WELL, THE TRUTH IS WE'VE HAD A ROUGH 15, 16 MONTHS.

WE'VE HAD THE CHALLENGE OF THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC WHICH IS STILL WITH US.

ALTHOUGH STARTING TO RECEDE INTO THE BACKGROUND AS A RESULT OF OUR HUGE PUSH ON AN EQUITABLE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION SO THAT IS ALL GOOD.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE OUR ECONOMY START TO REBOUND BUT JUST LIKE IN NEW YORK AND LA, SAN FRANCISCO, WASHINGTON D.C., ATLANTA, ALL THE MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONTINUE TO BE PLAGUED WITH I THINK A PANDEMIC FOR SURGE IN VIOLENCE.

WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS ALL OVER THE CITY ARE IN FACT SAFE.

>> MAYOR, THIS PAST WEEKEND WAS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING SEVEN PEOPLE ARE DEAD, OVERALL, THERE WERE TWO MASS SHOOTINGS.

ALDERMEN ARE CALLING FOR A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT TO DISCUSS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE STREETS.

IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

>> LOOK, I THINK THE ALD METROPOLITAN HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN OVERSIGHT WHAT I WILL SAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES REGULAR BELIEVINGS WITH ALDERMEN AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL THE ALDERMEN ARE COMING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE BRIEFINGS.

BUT TRANSPARENCY AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

>> MAYOR, YOU ELUDED TO THE FACT THAT OTHER CITIES ARE PLAGUED WITH VIOLENCE BUT SPECIFICALLY IN CHICAGO, WHAT IS NOT WORKING?

>> WELL, I THINK IT IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, I BELIEVE THAT VIOLENCE IS THE MANIFESTATION OF SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

WHEN YOU SEE WAY TOO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS THE LACK OF JOBS, THE LACK OF INVESTMENT AND THESE ARE HISTORIC DECADES LONG PROBLEMS, THEY MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN AN ERUPTION OF VIOLENCE.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS UNIQUE TO CHICAGO WE ARE SURROUNDED BY JURISDICTIONS BOTH SISTER STATES AND ALSO SUBURBS THAT HAVE VERY LAX GUN LAWS.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'VE BEEN CALLING SINCE 2019 FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP AND EMPOWER A.T.F.

AND WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO LISTENING IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GUN FEDERALLY LICENSED GUN DEALERS ARE SELLING TO CRIMINALS AND SELLING TO STRAW PURCHASERS.

PEOPLE WHO DO NOT INTEND TO OWN THE FIREARMS.

BECAUSE OF INDIANA, WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN THAT YOU CAN GO ACROSS THE BORDER INTO THESE STATES AND IF YOU HAVE THE CASH, YOU CAN BUY LITERALLY MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS.

OF ANY QUANTITY AND BRING THEM BACK TO CHICAGO.

WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A CONSISTENT GUN TRAFFICKING PROBLEM FROM SOUTHERN STATES TO CITIES LIKE CHICAGO.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS HEARD WHAT ME AND OTHER MAYORS SAID IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO STEP UP.

WE ARE A WASH IN ILLEGAL FIREARMS.

THE OTHER PIECE WE HAVE WAY TOO MANY GUNS WAY TOO FEW LEVELS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE COUNTY COURTS HAVE TO OPEN BACK UP AND HOLD THESE GUN OFFENDERS AND VIOLENT PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

WE HAVE NOT HAD COUNTY COURTS OPEN FOR CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS AND TRIALS SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

>> AS YOU KNOW, CHIEF JUDGE EVANS HAS DISPUTED THAT SAYING NOT WITHSTANDING SOME OF THE STEPS THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC THAT THE PROCESS CONTINUES.

LET ME MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE -- >> THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

JUSTICE DELAY SECOND JUSTICE DENIED.

IF THE CRIMINAL COURTS ARE NOT OPEN AND HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

AS OF LATE APRIL THERE WERE 99 PEOPLE CHARGED WITH MURDER WHO ARE OUT ON BAIL ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

THOSE ARE NOT -- THOSE PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER THEY ARE NOT MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER.

SO EVERY PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM INCLUDING THE COURTS HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

>> LAST WEEK'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING ENDED UNEXPECTEDLY.

YOU APPEARED TO HAVE STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME ALDERMEN.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR REPRESENT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL RIGHT NOW?

>> LOOK, I THINK WE HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH A GOOD WORKING MAJORITY OF THE ALDERMEN.

BUT PROCEDURALLY, TWO PEOPLE CAN SHUTDOWN THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, HISTORICALLY THAT HAS BEEN USED VERY SPARINGLY BUT WE'RE SEEING IT BEING USED MORE BY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TURN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS INTO SOME KIND OF STAGE PERFORMANCE RATHER THAN DOING THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE.

GIVEN ALL THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING IN THE CITY, WHERE PEOPLE'S LIVES HAVE LITERALLY DEPENDING UPON THE WORK WE DO AS A MAYOR AND AS A CITY COUNCIL, WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON DOING THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS AND NOT POLITICAL STUNTS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A SMALL HANDFUL THAT ARE NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS BUT THEY CARE ABOUT IS GETTING THEMSELVES IN THE PRESS.

THEY CARE ABOUT DISRUPTING THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST THAT AND GET THINGS DONE.

SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT WEDNESDAY'S MEETING WAS DERUPTED WE RESUMED FRIDAY AND GOT TWO IMPORTANT MEASURES PAST.

ONE GUARANTEEING THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO WORK FOR HOTEL WORKERS AND THE SECOND ANSWERING THE CRIES OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE.

WE DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING PASSED AND WE'LL GET BACK AT IT AGAIN BUT WE TOOK IMPORTANT STEPS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE.

WE CANNOT LET THE STUNTS DERAIL US FROM WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT US TO DO WHICH IS TO BE RESPONSIVE AND MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE RESPONSIVE AND A FRIEND TO THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSED ON.

>> WHEN YOU RAN YOU SUPPORTED A CIVILIAN BOARD OVERSEEING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YOUR CRITICS SAY NOW THE LATEST PROPOSAL HAS NO SUCH CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OVER THE POLICE.

JUST HOW MUCH CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT DO YOU WANT?

>> WELL, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE IN THE CITY THROUGH THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY TASK FORCE TO TALK ABOUT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT.

I STILL SUPPORT IT.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES.

WHAT I DON'T SUPPORT IS A PROPOSAL SUPPORTED BY SOME WHICH IS A BACK DOORWAY TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

I DON'T SUPPORT THAT.

AND AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE SEEING THIS SURGE IN VIOLENCE THE LAST THING WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IS DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROPONENTS OF ONE MEASURE WANT TO DO.

THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE CITY COUNCIL'S ACCOUNTABILITY, THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE MAYOR'S ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEY WANT TO GIVE IT TO THE HANDS OF A SMALL GROUP OF CIVILIANS WHO CLEARLY IF YOU LOOK AT WHO THE PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING THIS THEY ARE THE DEFUNDING THE POLICE CROWD.

I DON'T SUPPORT THAT.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

>> MAYOR, THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS RAISED BY YOUR TEMPERAMENT AND YOUR REACTION TO CRITICISM.

A TRIBUNE EDITORIAL USED A TERM IRRATIONAL.

HOW MUCH OF THIS DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH YOU BEING A WOMAN OR A BLACK WOMAN?

>> ABOUT 99% OF IT.

>> EXPAND ON THAT?

>> LOOK AT MY PREDECESSORS.

DID PEOPLE SAY THAT RICH DALEY HELD YOU KNOW, A TEA SESSION WITH PEOPLE THAT HE DIDN'T DISAGREE ON?

RAHM EMANUEL WAS A POLITE GUY WHO WAS A UNITER?

NO.

WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE ALWAYS HELD TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I'VE KNOWN THAT MY WHOLE LIFE AND THE TRIBUNE CAN WRITE WHAT THEY WANT.

I'M FIGHTING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

I'M AN ADVOCATE AND I WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING.

WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON UNITING PEOPLE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

I WAS ELECTED AND RAN ON DISRUPTING THE STATUS QUO.

AND WHEN YOU DISRUPT THE STATUS QUO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE CRITICIZE YOU.

BUT I KNOW WHERE MY NORTH STAR IS.

AND I KNOW THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON.

CAN I DO THINGS BETTER?

OF COURSE.

LIFE IS A LIFELONG LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND OTHERS.

AND I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THAT THE CRITICS SOME OF THEM OUT THERE ARE CRITICIZING ME BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE TO SEE A WOMAN ASSUME POWER AND FORGE AHEAD ON AN AGENDA THAT IS ABOUT DISRUPTING THE STATUS QUO AND, LOOK, I ALSO SAY WITH THE TRIBUNE, CONSIDER THE SOURCE.

THIS CRITICISM COMES JUST ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AFTER I MADE A POINTED DECISION AT MY TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY THAT I WAS ONLY GOING TO GIVE INTERVIEWS FOR THAT ANNIVERSARY TO JOURNALISTS OF COLOR AND IT WAS LIKE THE SKY WAS FALLING ON THE PART OF SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE [INAUDIBLE] INCLUDING SOME OF THE MEDIA FOLK.

LOOK AROUND LOOK AT THE TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD OF MOST BIG MEDIA COMPANIES IN THE CITY THEY DO NOT REFLECT OUR DIVERSITY.

AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE ON THE BOARDS DO NOT LIVE IN CHICAGO.

I'M SORRY IF I OFFEND PEOPLE BY FIGHTING FOR WHAT PEOPLE ELECTED ME TO DO WHICH IS DISRUPT THE MACHINE, DISRUPT THE STATUS QUO AND MAKE CITY GOVERNMENT MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE RESIDENTS.

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT THAT IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

OUR THANKS TO YOU FOR APPEARING ON THIS PROGRAM AND MY PERSONAL THANKS TO YOU FOR COMING ON OVER THE YEARS.

>> PHIL, BEFORE WE LEAVE, YOU ARE GOING TO BE MISSED.

I MADE THIS CUT OUT FOR YOU TO SAY, PHIL, PLEASE DON'T GO.

BUT IF YOU HAVE TO GO YOU ARE CLOSE TO MY HEART.

>> MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THAT BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO ME.

THANK YOU.

THAT IS VERY FUNNY.

>> PLEASURE.

>> GOODNESS.

AND NOW TO PARIS WITH LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

PARIS?

>> THANK YOU, PHIL.

YOU ARE INDEED A CUT ABOVE.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WAS IN WISCONSIN TODAY TO SELL THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AND BIPARTISANSHIP.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THIS IS A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT, A GENERATION INVESTMENT TO MODERNIZE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, CREATING MILLIONS OF GOOD PAYING JOBS.

>> AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL AND MORE ARE CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKY, A DEMOCRAT FROM EVANSTON AND CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, A DEMOCRAT FROM SCHAUMBURG.

WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND SURROUNDING STATES NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION BUT WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKY THE PRESIDENT IS TOUTING A PARED DOWN INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL THAT HE NEGOTIATED WITH A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CHILDCARE SPENDING, CLIMATE PROVISIONS AND HIGHER CORPORATE TAXES THAT HE AND MOST DEMOCRATS WANTED.

WOULD THIS PARED DOWN BILL HAVE YOUR VOTE?

>> WELL, WHAT NANCY PELOSI SAID THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS THAT A BIPARTISAN BILL, YES, WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT BUT WHEN IT COMES BACK TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WE WANT TO HAVE A COMMITMENT TO A ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE VOTE ON -- THAT WE VOTE 50 VOTES IN THE SENATE AND PASS IT IN THE HOUSE.

A RECONCILIATION BILL WE CALL THAT.

THAT WOULD HAVE ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS IN IT.

AND WE WOULD NOT EXPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET REPUBLICAN VOTES ON THAT.

>> AND AS YOU SAID HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SAID THERE AIN'T GOING TO BE AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL UNLESS WE HAVE THE RECONCILIATION BILL PASSED BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI IS THAT YOUR POSITION YOU WOULD NOT VOTE FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL UNLESS THAT OTHER SPENDING PACKAGE IS PASSED THROUGH RECONCILIATION ON A PARTY LINE VOTE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT OTHER PACKAGE DEPENDING ON WHAT ENDS UP BEING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

BUT I THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT RECENTLY SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE PASS ON A BIPARTISAN VOTE.

THIS FIRST PIECE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ARE SO DIRE ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE ILLINOIS AND WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE ASAP.

AS YOU KNOW IN WASHINGTON, SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHICH IS A MULTIYEAR PACKAGE, CANNOT ENDURE UNLESS IT IS BIPARTISAN AND SO FIRST WE NEED TO DO THAT.

BUT I VERY MUCH WANT TO DO THE OTHER PIECES AS WELL.

IF RECONCILIATION IS NEEDED THEN THAT IS WHAT WE NEED ASAP, TOO.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN IF THE SENATE PASSES THE OTHER PIECE WITH CHILDCARE, AND CLIMATE CHANGE DOES IT RISK SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT THAT HAS BEEN PLEDGED TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS AS WELL THERE IS THE DEMOCRATS, UNDERSTAND WHAT CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI SAID IS A DIRE NEED IN THE UNITED STATES.

CERTAINLY WANTING TO GO TO THE RIBBON CUTTINGS THAT WE REPAIR THEIR STREETS AND THEIR THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND WE NEED THOSE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BRIDGES ARE NOT GOING TO BE COLLAPSING.

AND ACTUALLY WE HAD ONE COLLAPSE IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA RECENTLY.

AND SO WE NEED TO AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS STICK TOGETHER ON MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

>> PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT COLLAPSED YOU ARE REFERRING TO IN WASHINGTON D.C.

CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI WHAT SHOVEL READY PROJECTS ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT OR IN THE CHICAGO AREA THAT ARE READY TO GO IF THE BILL DOES PASS?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO GO THROUGH ALL THE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW.

IN FIVE SECONDS OR LESS, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS AROUND THE ELGIN O'HARE EXPRESSWAY WHICH NEITHER REACHES ELGIN OR O'HARE, PARIS, SO THAT IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR THE WEST AND NORTHWEST SUBURBS.

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE DEAL TO GO THROUGH SO WE CAN FINALLY GET THIS NAMED EXPRESSWAY TO BOTH OF ITS END POINTS.

>> SOUNDED LIKE MIKE MEYERS ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" FOR A SECOND.

CONGRESSWOMAN, I WANT TO TRANSITION TO HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI TALKED ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER A SELECT COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED JANUARY 6TH.

THE SPEAKER WILL PICK EIGHT A POTTIES EIGHT APPOINTEES.

SHOULD SHE PUT REPUBLICANS ON IT?

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE BIPARTISAN I HOPE THAT KEVIN McCARTHY WILL AGREE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN DOING THIS.

YOU KNOW, THEY REJECTED THE IDEA OF A FULL COMMISSION LIKE WE HAD FOR 9/11.

AND SO INSTEAD, WHAT THE SPEAKER SAID WE HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

AND SO WE WILL HAVE A SELECT COMMITTEE.

AND I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR IT TO BE BIPARTISAN AND MY GUESS IS THAT THE SPEAKER MAY MAKE IT SO IF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP DECIDES NOT TO PARTICIPATE.

WE NEED ALL VOICES TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT DAY.

PEOPLE ARE STILL IN TRAUMA BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

AND DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI AS IT STANDS THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER WOULD BE ABLE TO APPOINT FIVE MEMBERS SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE WHICH IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ANY FINDINGS FROM THIS COMMISSION WOULD HOLD MORE GRAVITAS WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IF THERE WERE REPUBLICAN VOICES LIKE CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER OR LIZ CHENEY.

>> I THINK THAT ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO GET AT THE TRUTH, PARIS, WOULD MAKE VERY GOOD PARTICIPANTS AND MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE JUST WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6.

THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED LEADING UP TO IT.

WHY THE FEDERAL RESPONSE WAS SO DELAYED AFTER URGENT APPEALS FOR ASSISTANCE AND WHY TODAY, SO FEW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE IN CONNECTION WITH JANUARY 6.

SO WHETHER IT'S ADAM KINZINGER, LIZ CHENEY OR ANYONE ELSE AMONG THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT THE TRUTH, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS I'M CONFIDENT WHO WILL WANT TO DO THE SAME.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT, TOO.

>> AND YOU HAVE THE FORMER PRESIDENT FURTHERING FALSEHOODS THAT IN SOME WAY THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN WHICH DID SPUR INTO ACTION.

AND YOU HAD FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL BARR AND CALL THOSE CLAIMS OF STOLEN ELECTION BS IN SHORT.

DOES THAT HELP MOVE THE NATION HEAL THE NATION BEYOND SOME OF THE PARTISAN DIVISIONS SORT OF GIVEN THE LIES THAT ARE OUT THERE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND TO ENCOURAGE THE AN INVESTIGATION THAT IS AFTER A LOT OF THINGS HE DID THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORTED DONALD TRUMP AND THE BIG LIE THAT HE TOLD.

BUT WE WELCOME THAT ANYWAY WHENEVER IT COMES.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FOR HIS REPUTATION WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN, WHO KNOWS.

BUT HE SAID WHAT HE SAID.

>> LAST QUESTION FOR YOU CONGRESSMAN, VIOLENCE IS AGAIN, A BIG TOPIC IN CHICAGO.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED CRACKING DOWN ENFORCING GUN LAWS.

IS THERE ANYTHING NEW THAT THE PRESIDENT OR CONGRESS IS DOING TO COMBAT VIOLENCE IN CITIES?

>> WELL, WE NEED LEGISLATION TO BE PASSED BY CONGRESS TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AND THE HOUSE WE'VE DONE A LOT IN THAT REGARD WITH REGARD TO UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS.

BUT IT'S STALLED IN THE SENATE.

ALL THAT BEING SAID I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS DEVOTING RESOURCES TO PROSECUTING GUNSHOPS THAT SELL THE ILLEGAL GUNS.

AND AS YOU KNOW, A DISPROPORTION AT SHARE OF VIOLENCE IS COMMITTED BY THE ILLEGAL GUNS.

DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO GET THOSE OFF THE STREET IS A START.

EVEN AS WE TRY TO SEARCH FOR A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC THROUGH LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> ALL RIGHT WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVES JAN SCHAKOWSKY AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT A LOOK AT A MONUMENT FOR IDA B.

WELLS.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AND STILL TO COME, ON HIS LAST DAY OF REGULAR APPEARANCES ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", WE SIT DOWN WITH PHIL PONCE TO HEAR HIS REFLECTIONS ON HIS STORIED CAREER.

FIRST, WHEN PLANNING A NEW MONUMENT FOR THE CITY, WHY NOT HIRE A LOCAL ARTIST WHOSE REPUTATION IS MONUMENTAL?

RICHARD HUNT WAS BORN IN ENGLEWOOD IN 1935.

HIS WORKS HAVE BEEN EXPORTED AROUND THE WORLD FROM THIS STUDIO HERE CHICAGO.

MARC VITALI CAUGHT UP WITH HIM BEFORE THE UNVEILING OF A MONUMENT IN BRONZEVILLE THAT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING.

>> 50 YEARS AGO THIS ONE TIME ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION WAS CONVERTED INTO A SCULPTOR'S LABORATORY.

RICHARD HUNT HAS BEEN GRINDING, WELDING AND CREATING HERE SINCE 1971.

>> WHEN I GOT THIS PLACE IN THE BEGINNING, I HAD TAKEN OUT ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT EXCEPT THE CRANE WHICH, OF COURSE, I'M GLAD THEY DID NOT TAKE IT OUT.

HERE YOU HAVE THIS BIG HIGH CEILING OPEN SPACE TO DEVELOP THINGS IN AND MOVE THEM AROUND WITH A CRANE GET THEM OUT THE BACK DOOR.

>> HIS PROCESS IS INTUITIVE.

>> THE WAY THINGS WORK, I WILL START PUTTING SOME THINGS TOGETHER THAT I HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT.

AND SUGGEST SOMETHING.

>> SOME OF HIS 21ST CENTURY WORKS ARE ON THE TERRACE OF THE MODERN WING OF THE ART INSTITUTE.

RICHARD GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL IN 1957 WITH A DEGREE IN ART EDUCATION.

>> ONE YEAR I WAS WORKING ON MY INCOME TAX, I SAID YOU KNOW I MADE MORE MONEY SELLING SCULPTORS THAN MY TEACHING JOB.

I DECIDED TO QUIT TEACHING AND PIANO BE A SCULPTOR.

>> HE CALLED HIS CREATIONS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN HIMSELF, AND THE TECHNIQUE AND THE MATERIAL.

>> IT'S THREE DIMENSIONAL.

YOU CAN HAVE A PAINTING THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A SCULPTURE SOMEWHERE, YOU LOOK AT IT FROM HERE AND LOOK AT IT FROM THERE AND LOOK AT IT FROM ANOTHER SIDE AND IT REVEALS ITSELF IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> HE WORKS WITH STEEL, BRONZE, COPPER, BRASS AND ALL KINDLESS OF SCRAP.

EARLY HE FOCUSED ON FOUND MATERIALS N THE 1960s STUDS TURKELL ASKED HIM ABOUT IT.

>> LOOKING AT THE WORKS THESE TWO STATUES THESE WORKS OF SKULL TOUR WHAT IS THE MATERIAL?

HOW DID THIS COME TO BE?

IS THIS STEEL?

>> WELL, THE RAW MATERIAL FOR THESE ARE AUTOMOBILE BUMPERS.

>> RICHARD HUNT'S SKULL STANLEY CUP TURS SCULPTURES CAN BE SEEN ALL OVER THE CITY.

HIS NEWEST WORK IN CHICAGO IS LIGHT OF TRUTH A MONUMENT IN BRONZE TO IDA B.

WELLS THE CRUSADING JOURNALIST.

A LOCAL AUTHOR WHO IS IDA B.

WELLS GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER SPENT 13 YEARS TO BRING TO LIVE THIS CIVIC MEMORIAL.

>> WE MADE A DECISION BEFORE WE CONTACTED RICHARD THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BE IN HER LIKENESS, AND WE WANTED IT TO BE A MONUMENT VERSUS A STATUE BECAUSE IDA'S LIFE AND HER WORK WAS SO MULTIDIMENSIONAL AND LAYERED WE FELT TRYING TO CAPTURE ONE POSE WOULD NOT CAPTURE ALL OF WHO SHE WAS.

>> THE IDA B.

WELLS HOMES WERE RIGHT HERE ON THIS LAND FROM 1941-2002.

A TRIBUTE NEEDED TO BE GIVEN TO IDA ON THE LAND WHERE THE HOMES ONCE STOOD, WHICH IS ALSO REALLY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE THAT SHE PHYSICALLY LIVED IN.

AND THIS IS BRONZEVILLE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A STRONG, RICH HISTORY.

>> I'M REMINDED OF THE PAST AND THEN LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

>> IN THE STUDIO HE HAS RUN FOR HALF A CENTURY, 85-YEAR-OLD RICHARD HUNT IS BACK TO THE GRIND.

>> IT'S INTERESTING HOW THE CITY SCAPE HAS CHANGED AND I'M HAPPY THAT I'VE HAD A OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A PIECE HERE AND A PIECE THERE.

IT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT THING FOR ME ON MANY LEVELS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> THE MONUMENTS TO IDA B.

WELLS IS CALLED LIGHT OF TRUTH AND IT WILL BE DEDICATED AT 10:00 A.M.

TOMORROW AT 37TH AND LANGLEY BOULEVARD IN BRENSVILLE.

RICHARD HUNT'S WORK IS UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER 20.

AND MAKE SURE TO WATCH OUR CHICAGO STORIES DOCUMENTARY AND IDA B.

WELLS AND EXPLORE THE WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/IDA B.

WELLS.

>> 29 YEARS AGO, A SEASONED REPORTER WALKED INTO WTTW STUDIOS AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

TONIGHT PHIL PONCE MARKS HIS FINAL REGULAR APPEARANCE WITH THE PROGRAM THAT HE HAS LED FOR MUCH OF THE LAST THREE DECADES.

IN THAT TIME, THE STORIES HAVE CHANGED, THE POLITICAL FIGURES HAVE CHANGED AND JOURNALISM HAS CHANGED.

BUT PONCE AND "CHICAGO TONIGHT" HAVE BEEN CONSTANT IN CARING FOR THE INTELLIGENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND NEWS AND ANALYSIS CONCEIVED BY JOHN CALLAWAY.

>> THOSE ARE AMONG THE QUESTIONS WE'LL EXPLORE AFTER THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM A MAN WE ARE PLEASED AND PROUD TO WELCOME IS PHIL PONCE.

>> WITH THOSE WORDS 30 YEARS ALD, JOHN CALLAWAY INTRODUCED THE MAN WHO WOULD BECOME THE FACE OF NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT WTTW.

>> THE CHICAGO AREA HAS SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR JOB.

>> IN THAT TIME, PONCE ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS THE CITY'S PREMIER TELEVISION MODERATOR AND INTERVIEWER.

>> NOW A DISCUSSION OF THIS WISCONSIN PLAN LED BY THE NEWSHOUR'S NEW NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT PHIL PONCE.

>> NOT BEFORE HIS WORK CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE "PBS NEWSHOUR" IN 1997 WHEN LEHRER HIRED PONCE AS CORRESPONDENT AND HOST.

WHEN JOHN CALLAWAY RETIRED IN 1999, THERE WAS LITTLE DOUBT WHO HE WOULD PASS THE TORCH TO.

>> AS JOHN WAS STEPPING AWAY THE PERSON HE WANTED TO STEP INTO THAT PLACE WAS PHIL.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS A HIGHER COMPLIMENT THAN THAT, FRANKLY.

>> PHIL PONCE WAS BORN IN McALLEN TEXAS AND RAISED IN EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA THE SON OF IMMIGRANT STEELWORKERS AND ONE OF NINE KIDS.

AT BISHOP KNOLL PONCE GRAVITATED TOWARDS THE ARTS.

HE GRADUATED WITH AN ENGLISH DEGREE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY AND IS PICTURED WITH HIS NOW WIFE OF 50 YEARS, ANN.

PONCE GOT A LAW DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AND EMBANGERRED ON A SIX-YEAR CAREER AS AN ATTORNEY.

>> HE SAYS HE HAS NO PROBLEM BEING AN ATTORNEY BUT IT WASN'T FOR HIM HE WANTED TO FIND A CAREER THAT INVOLVED A LEVEL OF SHOWMANSHIP.

>> LIVING IN INDIANAPOLIS, PONCE ENTERED THE TELEVISION NEWS BUSINESS.

>> HE HAD A FRIEND MAKE A SORT OF A FAKE RESUME TAPE.

WROTE A SCRIPT, WENT TO A PRODUCTION HOUSE, PERFORMED IT ON CAMERA, SUBMITTED IT TO WRTV AND THEY SAID YOU ARE HIRED.

>> PONCE BECAME A WEEKEND REPORTER AT WRTV IN INDIANAPOLIS.

>> WHY DO SO MANY HATE CATS?

>> I THINK IT GOES BACK TO MYTHOLOGY.

>> AND NOT LONG AFTER WOUND UP IN CHICAGO AT CHANNEL 2.

>> HE SAYS WHAT IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE DAY HAPPENED EARLIER.

>> I KNOW HE LOVED HIS DAYS AS A STREET REPORTER FORECHANNEL 2 AND HE WOULD NOT TAKE THOSE YEARS BACK BUT IT SET HIM UP TO LAND AT CHANNEL 11 AND THAT IS WHERE HE REALLY CONNECTED WITH CHICAGO.

>> OVER THE WEEKEND, CHICAGO WAS THE EPICENTER IN A MOVEMENT WHICH APPEARS TO BE GROWING.

>> AS "CHICAGO TONIGHT" HOST AND MODERATOR PONCE BUILT ON CALLAWAY'S TEMPLATE OF INTERVIEWS STEERING THE DEBATE ON THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.

>> THE FIRST THING HE DOES HIS HOME OCTOBER AND DOES MORE HOMEWORK.

>> IT'S ABOUT THE LISTENING THAT IS WHAT MAKES A GOOD INTERVIEW.

AND THAT IS THE HARDEST THING IS LISTEN AGGRESSIVELY DURING AN INTERVIEW ON LIVE TELEVISION.

>> ONCE IN A WHILE THE INTERVIEWS COULD TURN CONTENTIOUS.

>> ONE OF THE INTERVIEWS SEARED INTO MY MEMORY WHEN HE POUNDED ON THE TABLE ON THE SET OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

HE GOES.

>> STOP IT.

>> I AM AN AMERICAN TOO.

>> I AM GOING TO INSIST ON CIVILITY IN THIS DISCUSSION PLEASE THE FOUR OF YOU.

SHALL WE PROCEED?

SHALL WE?

THANK YOU.

>> A CRUCIAL MISSION FOR PONCE AND "CHICAGO TONIGHT" MODERATING CANDIDATE FORUMS DURING ELECTION SEASON.

>> THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE SHAMEFUL THING TO SAY.

>> DIDN'T LIFT A FINGER TO INVESTIGATE THE BIGGEST SCANDAL.

>> THAT WAS A FEDERAL PROBE FROM THE BEGINNING.

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE] >> I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THAT.

>> IT'S FAILED LEADERSHIP.

>> GENTLEMEN, GENTLEMEN.

>> TRY GOING TO WORK.

>> I DID WHEN I WAS SICK I WENT TO WORK WHY DON'T YOU GO TO WORK?

WHY CAN'T YOU PASS ONE BILL.

>> FOR THE RECORD, FOR THE RECORD -- >> CHILDREN DYING AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT.

>> NOT FOR YOU AND NOT FOR HIM.

>> THE U.S. ATTORNEY WAS ON OUR PROGRAM SITTING THERE AND HE SAID ABOUT BLAGOJEVICH WHAT Mr. RYAN DID IN NOT PURSUING AN INVESTIGATION WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO JUST FOR THE RECORD.

>> WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM THE CONGRESSMAN AND FROM SENATOR TROTTER?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN, IS THAT I DON'T THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES I THINK WE ARE ALL PROGRESSIVE, URBAN DEMOCRATS.

>> IT WAS ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THAT A YOUNG COMMUNITY ORGANIZER TURNED SOUTH SIDE STATE SENATOR BEGAN TO ESTABLISH HIS BONA-FIDE AS A SERIOUS POLITICAL FIGURE.

>> PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GIVEN YOU AN ENDORSEMENT, YOUR REACTION?

>> LOOK, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ISN'T MONOLITHIC ANYMORE THAN THE WHITE, LATINO OR ASIAN COMMUNITY IS MONOLITHIC.

>> AND THAT SENATOR BECAME A U.S.

SENATOR AND NONSTOP BUZZ OF SEEKING HIGHER OFFICE.

>> SPEAKING OF THE PRESIDENCY I'M LOOKING AT SPORTS BOOK.COM.

THEY LIST YOUR ODDS OF BEING THE NEXT PRESIDENT AT 30-1 WHICH PUTS YOU AHEAD OF JEB BUSH HIS ODDS ARE 35-1 YOU ARE BEHIND HILLARY CLINTON.

>> THAT IS GOOD CONSIDERING I'VE RULED IT OUT.

>> A POLITICAL FIGURE A WASH WITH RUMORS OF CORRUPTION FOUND HIMSELF THE UNFORTUNATE RECIPIENT OF PONCE'S TOUGH AND DIRECT QUESTIONING.

>> FOR THE RECORD: NAME ONE POLITICALLY RISKY THING YOU'VE DONE SO FAR AS GOVERNOR?

>> ONE POLITICALLY RISKY THING I'VE DONE SO FAR AS GOVERNOR?

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

>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE MAKING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

>> THIS YEAR'S BUDGET SHORTCHANGES THE PENSION FUND BY A BILLION DOLLARS HOW BIG A MESS ARE YOU LEAVING THAT OTHERS WILL HAVE TO CLEAN UP?

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

AGAIN WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT NO ONE THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT.

>> NOR NOW, HOW ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN AND MY CHILDREN WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO FACE WHERE THIS FUTURE DEBT IS GOING TO PUT THEM?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE PENSION PAYMENTS.

>> WITHOUT BLUSTER OR BRO VLAD DOUGH HE COULD CORNER POLITICAL FIGURES BY CALMLY FOLLOWING UP WITH LASER LIKE PRECISION PONCE REFUSED TO LET THE J.B. PRITZKER OFF THE HOOK AFTER A SERIES OF CONFUSING ANSWERS ABOUT HIS PERSONAL FORTUNE.

>> THE TRIBUNE SAYS AT LEAST 11 COMPANIES CONNECTED WITH YOU OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SETUP WITHIN THE PAST 10 YEARS IS THAT RIGHT?

>> NOT SETUP BY ME.

>> NOT SETUP BY YOU.

DO YOU HAVE CONNECTION IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS?

DO YOU HAVE FINANCIAL INTERESTS CONNECTED WITH THOSE 11 COMPANIES AT LEAST 11 COMPANIES THE TRIBUNE SAYS HAVE BEEN SETUP IN THE PAST 10 YEARS?

>> THOSE TRUSTS ARE DEDICATED.

AND THE COMPANIES UNDERLYING THE TRUSTS AND THE TRUSTEES CREATED THE COMPANIES TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.

>> PONCE'S LEGACY IS FAR FROM LIMITED TO SERIOUS POLITICAL COVERAGE.

HE COULD HAVE SOME FUN.

>> JOHN CLEESE YOU ARE THE FIRST TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU THAT WAS FUN.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU MUST BE ON TV AND YOU SMELL GOOD, TOO.

[♪♪♪] >> ELMO, CAN I USE THAT AS A THEME SHOW FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT"?

>> NO.

>> IT IS IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, "CHICAGO TONIGHT" DOCUMENTED PONCE'S HOBBIES THAT COULD SOMETIMES TURN INTO OBSESSIONS.

>> STAINED GLASS, BIKE RIDING, TRUMPET.

[♪♪♪] BEAD MAKING.

BUT I THINK GARDENING IS THE ONE SKILL THAT TRUMPS THEM ALL.

HE WANTS TO WORK IN HIS YARD.

MANIAC ALL DAY LONG.

>> PERHAPS PONCE'S PROUDEST LEGACY THE FACT THAT A VIEWER CAN FLIP THROUGH CHICAGO'S TV CHANNELS AND STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF LANDING ON A DIFFERENT PONCE.

[♪♪♪] IN 2014, THE PONCE TAKEOVER OF CHICAGO EXTENDED TO AMERICA'S NATIONAL PASTTIME WHEN THE THREE PONCE MEN COLLABORATED TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM ON OPENING DAY FOR THEIR BELOVED WHITE SOX.

>> THE THREE OF US SINGING IN UNISON THERE... [♪♪♪] UNFORGETTABLE.

THE MOST NERVOUS I HAVE BEEN TO SING.

>> THE END OF THIS MONTH I WILL BE MAKING MY LAST REGULAR APPEARANCE ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> NOW, AS PONCE TRANSITIONS INTO A NEW ROLE TAKING ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT", HE PASSES THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION.

MUCH LIKE JOHN CALLAWAY DID WITH HIM.

MEANWHILE, PHIL AND ANN WILL DEVOTE MORE TIME TO SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS OF PONCE'S THEIR THREE KIDS AND FIVE GRANDCHILDREN.

>> QUITE A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM.

HIGHLIGHTS.

>> MY HEAD IS SPINNING.

YOU DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB OF KIND OF TOUCHING ON THE ARC OF A CAREER.

>> PHIL, WHAT IS YOUR INITIAL REACTION RELIVING SOME OF THESE MOMENTS AND MOMENTS WE'VE WATCHED OVER THE LAST WEEK?

>> I WOULD SAY I'M IMPRESSED BY WHAT YOU AND I DO IN TERMS OF THE RANGE OF STORIES THAT WE COVER.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE FUN THINGS ABOUT THIS JOB.

WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T TELL PEOPLE THAT THIS IS A FUN JOB TO HAVE.

BUT TO INTERVIEW PROMINENT PEOPLE LIKE BARACK OBAMA, WHO IS COMING UP, AND INTERVIEWING PEOPLE IN THE ARTS LIKE JOHN CLEESE FROM BRITAIN AND HIS WACKY COMEDY.

AND THEN ARTISTS THAT YOU AND I HAVE ADMIRED.

THE RANGE OF PEOPLE WE COVER IS JUST A REAL TREAT TO US.

AND OUR JOB IS TO MAKE IT INTERESTING FOR VIEWERS.

>> IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO GET TO DO THAT AND IT'S FUN TO GO FROM A HARD POLITICAL SEGMENT TO ELMO TO JOHN CLEESE OR TO A MOVIE STAR.

PHIL, YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR 40 YEARS.

30 YEARS AT PUBLIC TELEVISION WAS THIS THE GRAND MASTER PLAN WHEN YOU WERE CONCEIVING YOUR CAREER?

>> PARIS, BELIEVE ME THERE WAS NO MASTER PLAN.

THERE WAS A SERIES OF HAPPY ACCIDENTS.

SOMETIMES AN OPPORTUNITY COMES TO YOU THAT YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING IN ANYWAY.

AND IT WORKS OUT.

AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.

HAPPILY THE TIME THAT I'VE SPENT HERE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL, INSPIRING, WORKING WITH AMAZING COLLEAGUES LIKE YOU.

>> I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE FAKE AUDITION TAPE THAT YOUR SONS WERE TALKING ABOUT.

>> IT WAS NOT A FAKE AUDITION TAPE.

IT WAS STAGED IN THE SENSE THAT I HAD NO PREVIOUS TELEVISION EXPERIENCE SO I MEMORIZED I WROTE AND MEMORIZED A NEWSCAST SINCE I DID NOT HAVE A TELEPROMPTER.

AND I WENT INTO A PRODUCTION HOUSE THEY DID A VIDEOTAPE OF ME.

I DID ONE TAKE AND I THOUGHT WELL I WILL NOT BE BETTER THAN THAT AND DID SHOP IT TO THE STATIONS IN TOWN AND WRTV THE ABC AFFILIATE THEY HIRED ME AS A WEEKEND REPORTER AND IT STARTED.

>> AMAZING WAY TO BREAK-IN THE BUSINESS.

AND YOU WERE OUT OF THE BUSINESS FOR A WHILE BEFORE YOU GOT THE CALL TO COME HERE FROM JOHN CALLAWAY.

>> I WAS WORKING FOR A COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY A MAIER PARTICULAR AND IN CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS AND I WAS MISSING TELEVISION NEWS.

SO I CALLED JOHN CALLAWAY UP WHO I KNEW FROM A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND COINCIDENTLY THEY HAD IDENTIFIED SOMEBODY ELSE, SHE WOUND UP NOT TAKING THE JOB AND THEY HIRED ME.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THE DAY I WAS HIRED HERE I WALKED INTO THE PARKING LOT, JUMPED UP AND CLICKED MY HEELS.

I WAS SO HAPPY.

>> THE LAND OF OZ.

>> I WON'T SAY I'VE CLICKED MY HEELS EVERY TIME I'VE LEFT THE STATION BUT I TELL YOU WORKING HERE HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE AND YES IT'S BEEN FUN.

>> LET'S LOOK AT ONE OF THE HARD PROBING INTERVIEWS THAT WE MISSED IN 2004 DURING A DEBATE YOU ASKED THEN CANDIDATE BLAIR HALL ABOUT SOME SEEDY ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM.

>> Mr. HALL, YOUR WIFE HAS ACCUSED YOU OF STRIKING HER, THREATENING TO KILL HER, AND CALLING HER A VIAL NAME.

FOR THE RECORD, ARE THOSE CHARGES TRUE OR FALSE?

>> MY GUESS IS THAT CAPTIVATED THIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN FOR THE LAST 10 DAYS.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> PHIL AS I WROTE ABOUT, YOU HAVE THIS SECOND GEAR THAT YOU CAN GO INTO IF YOU SENSE YOU ARE NOT BEING DEALT WITH ON THE LEVEL BY A NEWSMAKER.

WHERE YOU HOME IN AND YOU DOUBLE DOWN WITHOUT EVER CHANGING YOUR TONE ALL MEASURED AND EVEN KEEL.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF INTERVIEWING IN MOMENTS LIKE THAT.

>> YOU CAN ASK THE TOUGHEST POSSIBLE QUESTION IT IS A MATTER OF TONE.

AND USUALLY TAKES PRESSURE OFF THE INTERVIEWER IF YOU MAINTAIN SORT OF A CONSISTENCY AND NOT BECOME PROSECUTORIAL, SAY AND IT'S EASIEST IF YOU STATE THE FACTS CLEARLY AND ASK THEM TO RESPOND EVEN IF THE FACTS ARE DIFFICULT.

AND THAT HAS COME UP A NUMBER OF TIMES AND A NON-PROSECUTORIAL CALM TONE WHILE ASKING A TOUGH QUESTION WORNS FOR ME.

>> INTERVIEWS OVER THE YEARS THAT WERE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT OR MADE YOU SWEAT?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE INTERVIEWS THAT MAKE ME SWEAT ARE THE INTERVIEWS THE TIMES I'VE HAD TO INTERVIEW COMEDIANS.

THEY ARE SO HARD.

>> I KNOW THIS ABOUT YOU.

>> BECAUSE THEY ARE QUICK SILVER YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO.

>> IT'S COMPLETE IMPROVISATION.

>> AND IT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF YES AND HOLDING 0 AND TO THE SADDLE AND HOPE THE HORSE DOESN'T KNOCK YOU OFF.

>> ANY PARTICULAR COMEDIAN THAT COMES TO MIND?

>> I WOULD SAY ANY COMEDIAN MAKES ME NERVOUS.

JEFF GARLAND IS BETTER THAN -- IS EASIER TO HANDLE BUT WITH HIM YOU NEVER KNEW WHERE HE WAS GOING TO GO AND YOU CANNOT PREPARE THAT YOU CAN PREPARE FOR A POLITICIAN.

>> YOU TWO HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

YOU GAVE HIM A TIE BECAUSE HE COMPLIMENTED YOUR TIE.

WHAT ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA?

YOU SAW HIM WHEN HE WAS A STATE SENATOR AND A SENATOR.

WHEN YOU FIRST SAW OBAMA HE CAME ON TO THIS PROGRAM EARLY IN HIS CAREER.

DID YOU LOOK AT HIM AND SAY PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE TERM PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL CAME TO MIND BUT I THOUGHT THIS PERSON THIS IS A VERY BRIGHT PERSON.

HE'S POISED.

HE'S GOT THIS CHARISMA.

AND NO I DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY THINK HE IS GOING TO BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE ONE DAY.

AFTER HE WAS ON THE SHOW 10 OR 15 TIMES HE WAS ON OUR SHOW 20 TIMES BEFORE HE BECAME PRESIDENT I THOUGHT THIS GUY IS GOING SOMEWHERE AND IT COULD BE THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE WATCHING THAT FROM YOUR PERCH?

>> IT IS AN INCREMENTAL GROWTH.

BUT A SOLID GROWTH.

YOU COULD SEE -- IF YOU WATCH HIS APPEARANCES ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" YOU CAN SEE THE EVOLUTION OF SOMEONE WHO CONTINUES TO GROW IN MATURITY AND POISE.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THE STORY AFTER I MODERATED A DEBATE BETWEEN BARACK OBAMA AND ALLEN KEYS I POSED A QUESTION OF GAY MARRIAGE TO BOTH OF THEM.

AND BARACK OBAMA, I THOUGHT DID NOT HANDLE IT WELL.

HE WAFFLED AND AFTER THE DEBATE WAS OVER I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY AND I HEARD SOMEBODY ONE OF HIS SUPPORTERS SAY TO BARACK OBAMA, YOU WERE NOT READY FOR PHIL PONCE.

WERE YOU NOT READY FOR PHIL PONCE AND THAT IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENTS I HAVE RECEIVED.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND HE ASKED YOU TO GET LUNCH YEARS AGO AND THAT LUNCH DATE HAS NOT HAPPENED.

MAYBE IT'S TIME TO CALL HIM UP.

>> HE AND I TRADED MESSAGES PHONE MESSAGES AND FINALLY I THOUGHT THIS IS TOO MUCH TROUBLE I'M NOT GOING TO CALL HIM BACK.

>> YOU'VE WITNESSED SO MANY THINGS HAPPEN IN CHICAGO IN THE NATION IN THE WORLD.

9/11 WHAT WAS IT LIKE AND WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THE SHOW THAT YOU DID AFTER 9/11?

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST SHOWS WE'VE EVER DONE.

ALL OF US WERE -- WE SCRAMBLED AT THE TIME IT WAS A HALF HOUR SHOW BUT WE EXPANDED IT TO AN HOUR.

WE TRIED TO REACT TO IT IN A WAY THAT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO GET OUR HEADS AROUND WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU ALL OF US WERE TRAUMATIZED AND IT WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST SHOWS WE'VE DONE BECAUSE ALL OF US OUR FEELINGS WERE VERY, VERY RAW.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT THOSE OF US WHO PUT THAT PROGRAM TOGETHER AND MANY AMERICANS SUFFERED FROM A TYPE OF PTSD AFTER THAT.

YES IT WAS TOUGH.

I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THE CLIPS OF PEOPLE I'VE INTERVIEWED AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE GUESTS WHO HAVE GRACED US WITH THEIR PRESENCE IN DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE 9/11 OR EVEN IN LIGHTER TIMES WHEN WE HAVE ENTERTAINERS ON.

IF THIS SHOW DID NOT HAVE A CADRE OF GUESTS WE COULD NOT DO WHAT WE DO.

AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY GENEROUS IN SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE WITH US.

>> WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAD TO COME UP TO THE STUDIO AND THAT HAS BEEN SORT OF OFF FOR THE LAST 15 MONTHS WITH THE ZOOM INTERVIEWS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC HOPEFULLY THOSE COME BACK.

YOU MENTIONED ENTERTAINERS AND CELEBRITIES, RITA MORENO, JUDY COLLINS.

ANYONE PARTICULARLY FLUSTER YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE SO IN AWE?

>> I HATE TO SAY IT I WENT INTO FAN BOY MODE BUT I REMEMBER ADVICE THAT JIM LEHRER GAVE ME HE SAID INTERVIEW EVERYBODY THE SAME WHETHER YOU ARE INTERVIEWING JESUS, BUDDHA OR MOHAMMED.

THE POINT HE WAS MAKING IS ATTEMPT TO INTERVIEW EVERYBODY IN A SIMILAR WAY IN THE SENSE THAT YOU PREPARE, YOU LISTEN AND YOU REACT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAN BOYISH ORPHAN GIRLISH OTHERWISE IT MAKES THE AUDIENCE UNCOMFORTABLE.

I SAY HECK YES.

EVERY MAN MY AGE PROBABLY HAD A CRUSH ON JUDY COLLINS WHEN I SAT ACROSS FROM JUDY COLLINS I HAVE TO ADMIT MY HEART SKIPPED A BEAT.

AT THE SAME TIME WITH RITA MORENO OR GATHER DEAN CHAPLIN.

I WATCHED HER AT Dr.SIVE ADVANTAGE GO.

TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.

AND TO MEET HER YEARS LATER, I WAS DAZZLED I'M HUMAN.

>> QUICKLY, I WANT TO BRING IN BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HERE.

YOU'VE WATCHED YOUR SONS DAN AND ANTHONY FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO WATCH THAT.

>> IT'S BEEN A SOURCE OF AMAZEMENT TO ME.

I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS NOT PART OF A GRAND PLAN AT ALL.

I REMEMBER MY SON TOLD ME A STORY WHERE HE SHOWED UP AT THE SCENE OF A CRIME OR SOMETHING AND IT WAS IN BEVERLY AND HE GOT OUT OF HIS MINIVAN THIS IS DAN, AND HE HEARD A NEIGHBOR SAY, LOOK THEY SENT A PONCE AS IF WE ARE FUNGIBLE AND MAYBE WE ARE.

IT IS GRATIFYING.

MOSTLY BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THEY HAVE FOUND SOMETHING THAT THEY LOVE SAME WITH MY DAUGHTER MARIA WHO IS AN OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHER.

FOR PARENTS TO HAVE CHILDREN FINDING THEIR WAY IN THE WORLD AND MAKING A LIVING AND ENJOYING WHAT THEY DO THAT IS SO, SO SATISFYING.

>> PHIL, I FEEL LIKE A TELEVISION SON I WALKED IN HERE 16 YEARS AGO AS AN INTERN AND I REMEMBER THE SUPERVISOR WALKING ME DOWN THE HALL AND YOUR OFFICE IS LOOMING LARGE AND I WALK IN AND THERE YOU ARE WITH A SMILE AND YOU COULDN'T HAVE BEEN FRIENDLIER AND MORE GRACIOUS.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN FROM YOU AND PRODUCE FOR YOU AND BECOME A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS.

IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU.

AND I KNOW BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS SETTLEMENTS SHE WANTS TO EXPRESS TO YOU.

>> TO THAT END, WHEN I FIRST GOT HIRED HERE EIGHT-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO, I LOST COUNT IT'S BEEN THAT GREAT WHEN I WAS FIRST HIRED, PHIL YOU TOLD ME YOU MADE A PREDICTION THIS WOULD BE THE BEST TELEVISION JOB I HAD EVER HAD AND SO FAR YOU'VE STILL BEEN RIGHT THAT SOMETHING THAT I REMEMBERED AND I THINK PART OF THE REASON THAT THAT HAS HELD TRUE IS BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE OF THE NEWSROOM, THE JOURNALISM THAT WE PRACTICE HERE AND YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN EXTREMELY INFLUENTIAL IN FOSTERING ALL OF THAT.

A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT PHIL PONCE, I WORE MY PHIL PONCE NECKLACE TODAY BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS OR EVERYBODY THAT WORKS HERE KNOWS THAT PHIL PONCE IS A GENEROUS PERSON.

IN ADDITION TO BEING CREATIVE AND TALENTED, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT IS APPARENT BY EVERYONE IN HIS FAMILY, I HOPE, PHIL, THAT IF YOU AND ANN ADOPTED ME MAYBE I WOULD HAVE CREATIVE AND TALENTED TOO.

I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO LATE SINCE YOU ARE LEAVING WE'LL GET MORE QUALITY TIME.

THE OTHER THING IS YOU'RE ALSO VERY FUNNY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT AND VERY GENEROUS.

YOU GAVE ME A NECKLACE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD TODAY YOU GAVE US CHOCOLATE BARS FOR FUN.

A NUMBER OF US HAD A MEAL ON YOU OR AT YOUR HOME.

>> I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A BAD TASTE IN YOUR HOME.

>> WHICH MEANS YOU OWE ME A MEAL.

PARIS AND I WILL DO OUR BEST TO TRY AND CONTINUE TO MAKE YOU PROUD.

I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A DAD JOKE.

IT TAKES TWO OF US TO FILL YOUR SHOES... YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> I WISH YOU FUNNY DAYS IN THE GARDEN WITH THE GRANDKIDS.

>> THANK YOU.

PARIS I HAVE TO SAY ONE OF THE JOYS OF THIS JOB IS WORKING WITH YOU.

I SOMETIMES THINK OF YOU AS A SON I WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE BRANDIS AS A DAUGHTER.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE COLLEAGUES I'VE HAD.

AND GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT MANAGEMENT HAS GIVEN THE SHOW AND ME.

AND I ALREADY MENTIONED THAT WITHOUT THE GUESTS WE WOULD BE NOTHING AND WITHOUT YOU, YOU VIEWERS, WE WOULD BE NOTHING.

AND IT'S BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFETIME TO WORK HERE AND THE HONOR OF MY LIFETIME TO HAVE PEOPLE COME UP AND TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY THE SHOW AND THE WORK WE DO.

I'M GOING TO MISS YOU VERY MUCH.

HAPPILY I WILL COME BACK OCCASIONALLY TO DO SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS.

BUT I WILL MISS YOU.

AND I WILL MISS THIS WORK.

BUT IN THE PHRASE, GOING, GOING, GONE I'M BETWEEN GOING, AND GONE.

I LEAVE FOR NOW AS A VERY HAPPY AND GRATEFUL PERSON.

>> AND PHIL, I MEAN IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE CAREER AND AS I SAID IT'S NOT OVER BECAUSE YOU WILL BE HERE.

AND WE WILL BE THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU FOR SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS AND FOR GUEST HOSTING AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO BECAUSE THIS PLACE IS ALWAYS YOUR HOME AND AS I SAID, THERE IS A MT.

RUSHMORE OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT" JOHN CALLAWAY, PHIL PONCE ARE THE TWO FACES ON THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> AND THE OTHER PERSON CAROL MARIN.

PARIS, I LOVE YOU.

>> I LOVE YOU TOO, PHIL.

WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

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

DON'T FORGET TO 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 GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. CHICAGO'S MINIMUM WAGE RISES TO $15 ON JULY FIRST.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AND MUCH MORE.

>> AND EXPLORING THE COMPLICATED LEGAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY THAT HELPED SHAPE CHICAGO'S LAKEFRONT.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

WE LOVE PHIL PONCE!

GOOD NIGHT!

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