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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING >> EVER SAID THE HOUSE WAS BORING.

>> ONE ON ONE WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE ON THE JUST-ENDED LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THEY NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR THEIR OFF OF WORK AND THEY NEVER SEND ANYONE BACK OUT EVEN AFTER PROMISING TO DO SO.

>> AND LOCKSMITHS CAN BE YOUR KEY TO HOME PROTECTION.

BUT UPCOMING DEREGULATION HAS SOME CONSUMER ADVOCATES WORRIED.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE FILED 2 NEW LAWSUITS AGAINST THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ALLEGING ABUSE AND MISCONDUCT AT ILLINOIS YOUTH CENTERS.

ATTORNEYS FOR THE 95 MEN AND 13 WOMEN CLAIM THE STATE ALONG WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND JUVENILE JUSTICE, QUOTE, ALLOWED A CULTURE OF ABUSE AT HIGHWAY SEES TO FLOURISH UNABATED.

THE GROUP SAYS THE ABUSE OCCURRED FROM 1997 TO 2019 AND INVOLVED VICTIMS WHO WERE 10 TO 17 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME BEING HELD AT 8 YOUTH CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE ALLEGATIONS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE MADE IN A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE SAME ATTORNEYS LAST MONTH ON BEHALF OF NEARLY 100 OTHERS ALSO ALLEGE ABUSE AND ASSAULT BY EMPLOYEES.

CHICAGO POLICE SAY SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST LEVELS SINCE 2019.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS HOMICIDES ARE DOWN MORE THAN 14% YEAR TO DATE AND SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN NEARLY 10% IN THE MONTH OF MAY.

THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE WERE 20% IF YOU ARE HOMICIDES COMPARED TO LAST SHOOTING INCIDENTS ARE DOWN 13% AND THERE'S A 6% DROP IN GUN FIRE VICTIMS ALL AT THEIR LOWEST LEVELS IN 5 YEARS.

POLICE SAY THEY'VE INCREASED THEIR PRESENCE ACROSS THE CITY AND ON THE LAKEFRONT.

IN ADDITION TO PREPPING FOR LARGE-SCALE EVENTS AND MORE TRAINING BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN AUGUST.

CHICAGO SPORTS FANS WILL SOON HAVE A NEW NETWORK TO CATCH BULLS, WHITE SOX AND THOSE BLACKHAWKS GAMES.

THE NEWLY FORMED CHICAGO SPORTS NETWORK LAUNCHES IN OCTOBER AND WILL REPLACE NBC SPORTS.

CHICAGO AS THE 3 TEENS BROADCAST THE NETWORK WILL AIR MORE THAN 300 LIVE GAMES ANNUALLY AND FUTURE.

24 7 MULTI-SPORT PROGRAMMING.

TALKS AND BULLS PRESEASON GAMES START AIRING IN OCTOBER WITH THE WHITE SOX COMING ON IN THEIR 2025.

SEASON.

NBC SPORTS, CHICAGO SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE COVERING THE TEAM'S THROUGH THE REST OF THE PARTNERSHIPS AND COVERAGE OF EVERY LOCAL PRO TEAM ON NBC, 5, CHICAGO AND TELEMUNDO, CHICAGO.

CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY OFFICIALS MARK THE BEGINNING OF PRIDE MONTH AT DALEY PLAZA TODAY RAISING THE PRIDE FLAG ALONG WITH THE COUNTY FLAG.

THE MAYOR COOK COUNTY BOARD, PRESIDENT AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL AS LGBTQ+, ADVOCATES EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND THE COLORS OF THE PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG.

BLACK AND BROWN STRIPES TO PORTRAY MARGINALIZE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> AS WELL AS BLUE AND PINK STRIPES TO HIGHLIGHT THE TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR INCLUSION AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE AGAINST THE TRANS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS BLACK TRANS WOMEN.

>> THE CTA ALSO ROLLED OUT THE PRIDE TRAIN FOR THE 7TH YEAR IN A ROW.

NOW IN SERVICE ALONG THE RED LINE, THE 8 CARR RAINBOW WRAP STRAIN HAS A NEW DESIGN WHICH COVERS THE ENTIRE TRAIN AND ALSO INCLUDES THE ADDITIONAL COLORS OF THE PROGRESS FLAG REPRESENTING LGBTQ+, PEOPLE OF COLOR AS WELL AS THE TRANS COLOR TRIO.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON PRIDE EVENTS HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY THIS MONTH.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WTW DOT COM SLASH FESTIVALS.

UP NEXT, WHAT'S ALL IN THE STATE'S NEW BUDGET THEM?

AND THEN A KEY IS ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE TO FIND OUT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS ARE BACK HOME AFTER THEIR ANNUAL END OF A WHIRLWIND WE SAW LEGISLATORS PASS A BUDGET AND BILLS THAT DO EVERYTHING FROM CREATING DIGITAL DRIVER'S LICENSES TO GIVING CONSUMERS GREATER HEALTH INSURANCE PROTECTIONS.

NONE OF WHAT GOES ON IN SPRINGFIELD HAPPENS WITHOUT INVOLVEMENT FROM A FEW KEY LEADERS, INCLUDING OUR GUEST.

THAT'S ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER EMANUEL CHRIS WELCH.

THE ACTION DID NOT STOP IN SPRINGFIELD UPON ARRIVING HOME.

WELCH WAS SERVED WITH THE LAWSUIT BY MEMBERS OF HIS OWN STAFF.

NOW JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT IS THE SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE EMANUEL, CHRIS WELCH.

THANKS FOR JOINING US NOW.

WE JUST HEARD FROM BRANDEIS THAT THE BEARS AND THE SOX ARE GETTING A NEW NETWORK.

BUT SO FAR, NO NEW STATE HELP FOR FRESH STADIUMS.

WHAT IF ANYTHING, CAN THEY DO TO CONVINCE YOU ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

COME FALL?

>> I GOT TO TELL AS WE'VE SAID TO THE BEARS OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO THE WHITE SOX AND ALSO TO THE CHICAGO RED STARS.

THERE'S JUST NO USE TAXPAYER FUNDING TO FUND STADIUMS FOR BILLIONAIRES.

>> EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION YOU KNOW, EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION, I JUST THINK IT, YOU KNOW IT'S THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES.

>> PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR GROCERIES OR AFFORDABLE THE RENT IS AFFORDABLE.

YOU KNOW THAT THEY CAN HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

THE LAST THING THEY WANT US TO BE TALKING ABOUT STADIUMS FOR SPORTS TEAMS.

>> WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET IN JUST A BIT, BUT FIRST BECAUSE THIS IS FRESH JUSTICE OR FRIDAY WITH THAT LAWSUIT.

AND FOR THOSE WHO AWARE, IT IS A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES POLICY WORK FOR THE STATE UNDER HOUSE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE TRYING TO UNIONIZE SUING SAYING EU AS SPEAKER HAVE EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS THEM, END QUOTE, UNLAWFULLY CREATED A CLIMATE OF FEAR.

NOW THIS COMES YOU ANOTHER STATE DEMOCRATS, OF COURSE, PASSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN.

HOW DOES THAT SQUARE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME TELL YOU, I HAVE NOT BEEN SERVED WITH A LAWSUIT YET.

IF THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT'S BEEN FILED, WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET.

OFFICIALLY.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT.

>> READ IT ON OFFICIALLY EVERETT ON.

IT'S BEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> BUT I HADN'T SERVE ANYTHING YET.

CERTAINLY IF WE GET SIR, WILL A DEAL WITH IT AT THAT TIME?

YOU KNOW, MY RECORD BEEN PRETTY CLEAR LABOR.

I PICKEN LABOR ORGANIZATION.

THEY RECOGNIZE ME FROM MY WORK ON ON LABOR RIGHTS.

I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.

I BELIEVE IN UNIONS MY FAMILY WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT UNIONS, BUT THE LAW AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS, DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO DO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING.

SO WHAT HAVE WHAT HAVE I DONE?

I FILED A BILL MY NAME I SPONSORED IRAN.

IT AND IT PASSED THE HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY THAT BILL WOULD ALLOW US TO CHANGE THE LAW AND GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

THAT BILL CURRENTLY SITS IN THE SENATE.

AND SO I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT.

PASSED THE SENATE HAD TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BECOME LAW BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE NOT EMPLOYEES IN THE HOUSE THAT RIGHT WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE EMPLOYEES IN THE SENATE AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

THAT ABILITY COURSE CAN'T FORCE THE SENATE TO DO ANYTHING.

BUT YOU CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

POWERFUL LEADER.

>> GET WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

WELL.

>> I WILL TELL YOU SINCE 2021, WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE IMPROVED THE CONDITIONS IN THE HOUSE.

CAN THEY BE BETTER?

THEY CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER TO PASS LAW.

CHANGE MAY BE THINGS IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING MORE STRUCTURE TO WORK TIMES AND >> INCREASES IN PAY.

BUT HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING TO TRY TO MOVE THE SENATE ON THAT LEGISLATION?

AS ASIAN, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR SENATE HE KNOWS MY POSITION ON THE BILL.

I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THAT ISSUE.

AND >> CERTAINLY THERE'S THAT BILL AND OTHER BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED THE HOUSE THAT HAD BEEN MOVED IN THE SENATE.

THAT'S A POINT OF FRUSTRATION THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR.

WHAT I THINK THOSE EMPLOYEES SHOULD DO.

SIMILAR TO THE CONVERSATIONS THEY'VE HAD WITH ME.

THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN THE SENATE.

A BILL BECOMES LAW WHEN IT PASSES THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND IS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

AND I TELL YOU, I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THAT ISSUE.

I STOOD WITH THEM.

I SAT WITH HIM COMMITTEE AND ADVOCATED FOR THEM AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE JUST A FINAL QUESTION HERE.

DOES THIS ISSUE PRESENT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT JUST DEMOCRATIC IDENTITY?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I PUT MY NAME ON THE BILL AND PASSED IT.

IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES.

BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.

AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORTED THE BILL.

>> WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

AND WHEN YOU ARE CREATED, YOU SAID TODAY WILL BE THE LAST TIME.

I TALK ABOUT US AS DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BEING UNITED WITH BUT I'M GOING TO PLAY HERE, A REPUBLICAN WHO JUST LAST WEEK DURING THE BUDGET VOTE, SPOKE SPOKE UP, FEELING OTHERWISE.

>> YOU PASS THESE RULES.

THESE ARE YOUR RULES.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO EVERYONE IN THIS STATE.

WHAT THIS SUPER MAJORITY IS WILLING TO DO TO RAM A TAX INCREASE DOWN THE THROATS OF THE CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS.

>> IN THE MORNING.

>> RESPOND TO THAT.

WELL, THAT WAS SPRINGFIELD THEATER.

THAT'S POLITICAL THEATER.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EVERY YEAR.

THIS TIME OF YEAR.

BUT WHAT YOU SAW IS A REPUBLICAN LEADER ADVOCATING FOR CORPORATIONS LIKE REPUBLICANS DO TALKING ABOUT TAX TAXES ON SPORTS, BETTING COMPANIES THAT AREN'T EVEN BASED IN ILLINOIS AND BGT WE'RE NAMING TERMINALS.

VIDEO GAMING TERMINALS WERE TALKING ABOUT TAXING CORPORATIONS THAT CAN TO PAY MORE TO HELP US DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO FOR THE HOMELESS TO HELP HOUSING TO HELP OUR SCHOOLS AND CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY STOOD AGAINST THOSE THINGS.

>> AND YET IT WASN'T JUST REPUBLICANS.

IT TOOK 3 TIMES FOR DEMOCRATS TO PASS THE REVENUE PART OF THIS BUDGET PACKAGE.

YOU SHOULD HAVE A SPARE 17 VOTES THERE.

SO WHAT WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S SAUSAGE, MAKING SAUSAGE MAKING IN SPRINGFIELD IS YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAW.

>> THESE RESTRUCTURE ROLL OUR STRUCTURE ROLL CALL.

WE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE NUMBERS WOULD BE.

>> WRONG WELL, YOU KNOW.

>> IT'S SAUSAGE, MAKING SAUCES MAKING THINGS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME EMERGENCIES THAT CUT CAME THINGS THAT WERE UNEXPECTED THAT DID COME UP.

BUT WE ALWAYS HAD A EXTRA VOTES IN OUR BACK POCKET.

SO YOU PREPARED FOR CONTINGENCIES.

SHOWING THAT SORT WITH THOSE NUMBERS, JUST DESPAIR.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF VOTES IN WAS A REVENUE PACKAGE THAT DESIGNED TO NOT FRUSTRATE VOTERS.

AS YOU TALKED ABOUT CORPORATIONS OUT OF STATE COMPANIES, NO INCOME TAX HIKE.

WHY RESISTANCE?

WHY WAS IT SO HARD TO GET DEMOCRATS ON BOARD WITH A REVENUE PACKAGE THAT SHOULD HAVE FROM THE OUTSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE?

PRETTY EASY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SOME PRETTY POWERFUL CORPORATIONS.

I THINK THEY HAD EVERY LOBBYIST IN SPRINGFIELD ON THEIR PAYROLL.

>> AND THEN THEY WERE CONSISTENTLY WORKING AGAINST THE REVENUE PACKAGE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF MAY >> AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, IT CAN MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.

BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE THE LISTEN TO THE FACTS AND THEY VOTED AND THIS IS A BALANCED BUDGETS ARE 6 BALANCED BUDGET IN A ROW.

ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALREADY PRAISING A ANOTHER BALANCED BUDGET THAT REDUCES OUR MUNI DEBT.

FOR THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF AND IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO ADDITIONAL CREDIT CREDIT RATING INCREASES.

NOW TO THAT, ACTUALLY, WANT TO HEAR FROM A MEMBER OF YOUR OWN PARTY WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET.

>> BILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS PREDICTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WITH THAT, HERE'S DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE FRED CRESPO.

>> AND AT THIS RATE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SPEND.

NOW.

I'VE HEARD SOME SAY THAT.

A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.

SURE IS.

BUT ALSO IT ARGUE THAT WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION.

SO LOOK AFTER TAXPAYERS.

>> IT'S A TAX HIKE THAT WILL BE MORE DIRECTLY IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY, I THINK CHAIRMAN CHRIS PAUL IS AN EXPERIENCED YOU KNOW, I CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM EACH OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND HE'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS WAS A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER TOUGH YEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO DEMOCRATS, THE PARTY IN CHARGE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

WE'VE BEEN FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE COMPASSION AS WELL.

EVERY YEAR PRESENTS A NEW CHALLENGE.

AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TACKLE NEXT YEAR'S CHALLENGES AS WELL.

IS THAT GOING TO TAKE MORE REVENUE, THOUGH?

WELL, I THINK WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR IS A BIG START AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE WE YOU KNOW, COME APRIL OF NEXT YEAR AND WILL MAKE DETERMINATIONS WHAT HAPPENED IN MAY THAT I GOT ALL YOUR HEAD.

SO LET'S FOCUS MORE ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND A BIG POINT OF CONTENTION IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY STATEWIDE AND IN CHICAGO HAS BEEN.

>> WHAT FEELS LIKE TO HAVING THEIR NEEDS LEAPFROGGED BY MONEY GOING TO MIGRANTS AND SORT OF EXACERBATING LONG-STANDING FEELINGS OF OF NEGLECT AGAIN, PARTICULARLY IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

HOW HAVE YOU DEALT WITH THOSE TENSIONS?

WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IS GET OUT AND POINT TO PEOPLE WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE BUDGET.

THIS BUDGET TAKES CARE OF FOLKS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> YOU KNOW, ILLINOIS IS A WELCOMING STATE.

WE CAN'T IGNORE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE'S A CRISIS THAT'S BEING CREATED.

REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY?

THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS IS USING HUMANS AS PAWNS AND IT PRESENTS A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH HERE IN A WELCOMING STATE LIKE ILLINOIS.

>> IF THE 180 MILLION DOLLARS IS NOT ENOUGH.

ARE DEMOCRATS PREPARED TO GIVE MORE AND WHY THAT OVER OTHER NEEDS WHAT WE BELIEVE THAT 182 MILLION IS ENOUGH AND CERTAINLY IF WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE, LOOK AT THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT.

THAT'S WHAT BUDGETING IS.

BUT WE BELIEVE ALL THE FACTS HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US THAT WE'RE MEETING THOSE NEEDS AND MORE.

HOW BIG OF OBSTACLE WAS THAT GETTING THE BUDGET PASSED?

182 MILLION ANYTIME YOU DO A BUDGET.

IT'S IT'S A CHALLENGE.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WANTS MORE.

AND THIS WAS A YEAR THAT THEY WANT MORE.

WE HAD LESS.

AND THIS WAS YEAR THAT WE HAD TO SAY NO MORE THAN WE'VE WE'VE EVER HAD IN THE LAST 4, 5, YEARS.

AND EVERY BUDGETS AND CHALLENGE NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WITH OUR DIVERSE CAUCUS IS TALK THROUGH THE ISSUES AND WE END UP IN A GOOD PLACE LIKE WE DID A BALANCED BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO MORE CREDIT UPGRADES.

>> NOW YOU LIVE IN COOK COUNTY.

SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU MAKE OF STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX PLAN TO NOT PROSECUTE GUN DRUG OR OTHER CRIMES THAT STEM FROM POLICE STOPS THAT BEGIN AS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T REALLY READ MUCH ABOUT THAT YET.

I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS WHILE WE WERE IN SPRINGFIELD.

I LIKE TO DIG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO IT.

ACTUALLY TALKED TO THE STATE'S ABOUT HER RATIONAL BEHIND THE POLICY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I JUST HAVEN'T REALLY GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO IT.

>> WHAT ABOUT ALSO IS COOK COUNTY RESIDENT, REGARDLESS THE EXACT PLAN TO MERGE THE CTA, METRA AND PACE.

WHATEVER COMES OF THAT, THE AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT A $730, 730 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET HOLE SOON.

HOW IS ILLINOIS GOING TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO FILL WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES WE KNOW IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR US NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT'S ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME EXPERTS ARE CAUCUS >> THAT ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT IT.

THAT MEETING AND KAM BUCKNER ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT TRANSIT.

THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT I'M LISTENING TO.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE SUMMER THE REALLY DOING SOME WORK TO PURPOSE FOR NEXT YEAR.

BUT THAT'S ONE OF OUR MANY CHALLENGES AHEAD.

>> MATTER THAT IS HEADING TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S DESK IS GOING TO LIFT ALL CAMPAIGN LIMITS DURING PRIMARIES THAT COME FROM POLITICAL PARTIES AND REPORTED GROUPS SAY THAT THIS IS JUST THE VERY SORT OF ISSUE THAT GALVANIZED YOUR PREDECESSOR, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN'S POWER.

WHY MAKE THAT CHANGE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE WE TALKED IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM.

WE FILE REPORTS IT'S THE SUN IS SHINING IN ON THE PROCESS AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS 1, ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WAS AND WE AGREED UPON BUT WHY?

I MEAN, IT IS DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH YOU?

OF COURSE, PENTALY YOU ARE ILLINOIS'S FIRST BLACK HOUSE SPEAKER, BUT YOU ALSO SPENT A LOT OF MONEY DURING THE PRIMARY.

>> TO REMOVE FROM OFFICE.

IT LONGEST-SERVING BLACK MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE MARY FLOWERS.

>> EXCEPT FOR YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR CAUCUS IS, YOU KNOW, >> PLAYING AN INFINITE GAME AND WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE GAME.

THE GOAL OF THE GAME IS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS GAME THAT'S GOING MAKE THE HOUSE BETTER MAKE OUR CAUCUS BETTER.

AND I THINK EVENTUALLY MAKE THAT DISTRICT BETTER IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

SOMETIMES WE CAN OVERSTATE.

I YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S A SITUATION WHERE I THINK A CHANGE WAS NEEDED AND OCCASIONALLY GOING TO DO THAT IS CALL NEXT ESSENTIAL THAT'S WHAT WAS NEEDED AS WE PLAY THEM FOR THE GAME AND NOT TO OVERSTAY ARE WELCOME.

BUT VERY BRIEFLY, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IS COMING UP.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING WHAT THEN?

>> WELL, I'M I'M A DELEGATE.

I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING VICE PRES.

A VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN TO GET RE-ELECTED SO WE CAN KEEP MOVING THIS COUNTRY FORWARD AND HOSTING A PARTY WITH ALL THE OTHER BLACK SPEAKERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION.

I BELIEVE TO THE DNC.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE BACK WITH CHICAGO TONIGHT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE KERR WELCH.

THANK YOU.

HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF LOCKED OUT OF YOUR HOME?

LATE AT NIGHT?

>> FINDING A QUALIFIED LOCKSMITH TO HELP YOU OUT OF A STRESSFUL SITUATION CAN BE TOUGH AND SOON IT MAY GET EVEN TOUGHER.

LAWMAKERS IN SPRINGFIELD PASSED A LAW THAT WOULD PLACE ILLINOIS AMONG THE MAJORITY OF STATES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE LOCKSMITHS TO BE LICENSED.

SOME WORRY THAT COULD LEAVE THE DOOR WIDE OPEN TO QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES AND REDUCED CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.

CAROL MARINE AND STUDENTS FROM DEPAUL UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR JOURNALISM, INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE.

INVESTIGATE IN CARROLL JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME BACK.

CAROL, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

BRAND THIS.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS MOMENT OF PANIC WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF LOCKED OUT YOUR HOUSE, WHAT DO YOU DO?

STRUGGLE SOMEHOW TO QUICKLY FIND THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB.

WE START WITH A WOMAN IN OLD TOWN, JENNY HOPS WHO SAYS SHE WAS LEFT UNPROTECTED AFTER CALLING A LOCKSMITH.

SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD TRUST.

>> IT WAS NEAR MIDNIGHT THIS WAS SOUTH STREET APARTMENT BUILDING HOBBS SAID SHE AND HER ROOMMATE FOUND THEMSELVES LOCKED OUT OF THEIR UNIT.

A PHONE NUMBER POSTED IN THE LOBBY WAS HOPS.

HOPE THE SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEM.

>> THERE'S A STICKER AND IT SAYS CALL THE LOCKSMITHS.

SO WE CALL THE NUMBER.

>> MAKE A LOCKSMITH IN SECURITIES.

THE COMPANY.

SHE SAYS SHE CALLED AFTER ARRIVING TO UNLOCK HER DOOR.

SHE SAID THE LOCKSMITH TOLD THEM THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY INTO THE DOOR.

HE UNLESS HE DID A SPECIAL ROUTE.

>> AND SO HE DID, SHE SAID AND BROKE HER LACK.

THESE ARE THE PHOTOS SHE TOOK.

>> HE SAID HE WOULD FIX IT, BUT IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE IT'S A COUPLE $100 TO DO THAT ROUTE.

>> SHE SAYS THE LOCKSMITH FINISH THE JOB SORT >> WE DON'T REALIZE TOO, THAT NIGHT.

THIS LOCK IS LIKE TURNING AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, THAT'S WHAT LOCKS TO IT SAYS NO, LIKE IT IS GOING 360 DEGREES IN THE DOOR FRAME.

WHAT HAPPENED TO GINNY HOPS AND HER ROOMMATE IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURRENCE.

ACCORDING TO TOM JOHNSON OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU CONSUMERS ALSO THE LEGEND OR COMPLAINTS.

IT.

>> THEY'LL COME IN AND HAVE A DOOR LOCK REPLACE AND WILL FALL APART WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS LITERALLY BE LOOSENED NO LONGER WORKING.

>> AND WHEN THEY CALL THEY FIND OUT THAT GUARANTEE THE VERBAL GUARANTEES MEAN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

>> OUT OF MONEY AND FRUSTRATED HOPS ROADIE YELP REVIEW OF HER EXPERIENCE.

>> THEY NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR THEIR OFF OF WORK AND THEY NEVER SEND ANYONE BACK OUT EVEN AFTER PROMISING TO DO SO.

IT COST $350 FOR A JOB THAT WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY.

DO NOT WORK WITH THESE PEOPLE.

>> THE OWNER OF MAKE A LOCKSMITH AND SECURITY DECLINED TO DO AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW AND DID NOT RESPOND EMAILS DEALING THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HOPS COMPLAINT.

>> THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION OR IDF PR MANAGES THE LICENSING AND TAKES CONSUMER COMPLAINTS IN ILLINOIS OVER 360 INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES, INCLUDING MEGA LOCKSMITH, ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE AMONG THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET A LICENSE.

OUR PASSING AN EXAMINATION PASSING A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, REGISTERING YOUR FINGERPRINTS WITH THE STATE AND PAYING UP TO $300 IN FEES BY THEIR VERY NATURE.

LOCKSMITHS HOLD THE KEY TO A FAMILY SECURITY.

IN 2029, THE LAW THAT REGULATES LOCKSMITHS IN ILLINOIS WILL SUNSET THE RESULT OF LEGISLATION APPROVED IN SPRINGFIELD STATE.

REPRESENTATIVE EDGAR GONZALEZ, JUNIOR OF CHICAGO WAS A LEGISLATIVE CO-SPONSOR.

THE ARGUMENT WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ABOUT PEOPLE WERE JUST HAVING A ROUGH TIME AND WE WANT TO REMOVE AS MANY BARRIERS AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO ONE OF THOSE EXCESSIVE LICENSING OR.

>> GRUBER WHO OWNS NATIONAL LAW, KEN SECURITY BELIEVES LOOSENING REQUIREMENTS IS WRONG.

THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN HOME AND THAT YOU'RE NOT SAFE.

>> SHE ALSO SITS ON THE BOARD OF IDF PR WHICH OVERSEES THE CONDUCT OF LOCKS MOVES, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH ARE NOT LICENSED BY THE STATE.

I DO KNOW THAT MOST REGULATION HAPPENS BECAUSE ABUSE OCCURRED.

THAT ABUSE, SHE SAYS, INCLUDES A LONG LIST OF UNLICENSED LOCKSMITHS.

WE CALL THEM TRUNKS.

LAMMERS OUR OUR WORLD BECAUSE THEY'RE GUYS WHO WORK OUT OF THEIR CARS.

THEY'RE NOT ASSOCIATE A BRICK AND MORTAR AND A T THEY DON'T HAVE OVERSIGHT AND TRAINING.

THEY DON'T HAVE SUPERVISION TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, A COMPANY WE FOUND ON YELP CALL.

24 7 SKOKIE LOCK KEY.

>> PUT MONEY NEWS, CAROL REPORTER DOING A STORY ON LOCKSMITHS.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU'RE LOCATED?

PLEASE?

>> THE QUESTION PUT TO THE MAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE WENT UNANSWERED.

THE COMPANY'S ADDRESS ON YELP, WHICH WAS JUST UPDATED THIS APRIL, 7800 NORTH LINCOLN AVENUE IN SKOKIE.

IT'S 7800 NORTH LINCOLN IN SKOKIE, NORTH SHORE, COMMUNITY BANK AND TRUST NOT A LOCKSMITH.

AFTER SOME PRODDING.

THE MAN WHO ANSWERED OUR CALL SAID THE COMPANY IS A MOBILE SERVICE AND TRANSFERRED US TO A MANAGER.

>> SOME OF THE GUN JUST GOT HUNG UP ON.

>> ONCE YOU TAKE AWAY THE LICENSING, LITERALLY ANYBODY CAN DO THIS.

>> FOR JENNY HOPS BEING LOCKED OUT AT MIDNIGHT WAS TERRIFYING.

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LOCKS.

AND HE ALSO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> SOMETHING AND GRUVER WORRIES WILL OCCUR.

MORE AND MORE WHEN ASKED WHO WOULD REGULATE LOCKS MINUTES AFTER THE LAST SUNSETS.

>> SHE ANSWERED.

>> NO IT BECOMES THE WILD WEST.

AGAIN.

>> CURRENTLY ONLY 13 STATES REQUIRE LOCKS.

MISTER, BE LICENSED.

ONE NATIONAL GROUP THAT OVERSEES THE LOCKSMITH INDUSTRY SAYS AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT, ILLINOIS HAS THE STRICTEST LAWS.

AS FOR JENNY HOPS, SHE TOLD US AFTER MANY CALLS MANY COMPLAINTS AND THAT BAD YELP REVIEW, SHE FINALLY GOT HER MONEY BACK.

RENT CAROL, BEING LOCKED OUT CAN BE TRAUMATIC.

WHAT SHOULD CONSUMERS DO?

IT'S TRICKY BECAUSE IN THE MOMENT YOU SAY ARE YOU LICENSED?

YOU WANT THE GUY TO FIX HERE.

LOCK.

WHAT YOU DO IS YOU PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD BECAUSE IF IT TURNS OUT BADLY, YOU CAN CANCEL THE CHARGE CAN COMPLAIN TO VISA AMERICAN EXPRESS.

AND SOMETIMES THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND GOOD TO KNOW COVERING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WORK.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT 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.

CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, WHICH IS PROUD TO HONOR FOUNDER AND SENIOR PARTNER ROBERT CLIFF, WHO HAS