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

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PLANS TO HANDLE MASS PROTESTS AS THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION QUICKLY APPROACHES.

CITY COUNCIL REACTS TO THE MAYOR'S PLAN TO ALLOCATE MILLIONS IN REMAINING COVID RELIEF DOLLARS.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

>> WELL, PLANS OF THE LOST DEFINITELY KANDAHAR.

>> BUT HE GOT INTO HIS DREAM SCHOOL.

WHY THIS FUTURE ATTORNEY ALREADY HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT IS READY FOR THE MASS PROTESTS EXPECTED AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION JUST OVER 2 MONTHS AWAY.

HE TOLD REPORTERS THAT POLICE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING FRESH DE-ESCALATION TRAINING WHILE ABOUT 3,000 OFFICERS ARE UNDERGOING SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO RESPOND TO CIVIL UNREST.

>> WE WANT TO PUT A STOP TO THOSE THINGS BEFORE THEY STARTED.

IF THAT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WE'RE ALSO PREPARING FOR A WORST-CASE AND EVERYTHING'S JUST IN CASE THINGS GO BADLY.

PEOPLE SHOW UP AND THEY WANT TO ACT OUT VIOLENTLY WHERE THEY WANT TO COMMIT ACTS OF VANDALISM, OFFICES ARE TRAINED IN WHAT'S CALLED FEEL FORCE OPERATIONS.

>> SNOWING SPOKE ALONGSIDE U.S. SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR KIMBERLY CHEADLE, WHO IS TOURING CONVENTION VENUES THIS WEEK IN CHICAGO AND MILWAUKEE WHERE THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IS HAPPENING IN JULY.

MORE THAN 50 ORGANIZATIONS PLAN TO PROTEST IN CHICAGO AND ARE SUING THE CITY OVER PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN DENIED.

AND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL WHOSE RECENT REPORT SAYS CPD HAS MADE PROGRESS, BUT STILL HAS ROOM TO GROW IN MANAGING LARGE SCALE EVENTS.

FORMER CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS RESUMING HER ROLE IN INVESTIGATING CITY SPENDING IN SOUTH SUBURBAN DOLTON.

IT COMES AFTER A CONTENTIOUS VILLAGE MEETING LAST NIGHT WHERE TRUSTEES VOTED TO REINSTATE LIGHTFOOT'S INVESTIGATION INTO DALTON.

MAYOR TIFFANY TENURED TENURED IS ACCUSED OF MISUSING TAXPAYER FUNDS IN A STATEMENT LIKE THAT SAYS, QUOTE, A MAJORITY OF TRUSTEES REMAIN COMMITTED TO PERFORMING THEIR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES ON FISCAL OVERSIGHT AND ADVOCATING FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF DALTON RESIDENTS.

THEY UNDERSTAND VILLAGE RESIDENTS DESERVE A TRANSPARENT AND THOROUGH PROCESS AND LOOK FOR TO WORK AHEAD AND URGE MAYOR HAN YOU'RE AND HER ADMINISTRATION TO FULLY COOPERATE WITH THIS INVESTIGATION.

LOOKING FOR A JOB.

UNITED AIRLINES SAYS IT PLANS TO HIRE NEARLY 10,000 WORKERS THIS YEAR.

2300 OF THEM IN CHICAGO.

THE CHICAGO BASED AIRLINE SAYS THOSE FIGURES WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER.

BUT FOR PROBLEMS GETTING NEW PLANES FROM ALSO CHICAGO BASED BOEING LAST YEAR, THE AIRLINE 116,000 NEW WORKERS UNITED ALSO SAYS IT WILL RESUME HIRING PILOTS IN JULY AFTER CANCELING PILOT CLASSES FOR MAY AND JUNE.

THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE NUMBER OF TRAVELERS AT U.S. AIRPORT CHECKPOINTS IS UP ABOUT 6% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

CHICAGO'S READINESS FOR DNC PROTESTERS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> A NEW REPORT FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL FINDS CHICAGO POLICE ARE BETTER PREPARED TO HANDLE MASS PROTESTS THAN PREVIOUSLY, BUT CONCERNS REMAIN.

THE REPORT IS A FOLLOW-UP TO A 2021 REPORT THAT FOUND POLICE WERE, QUOTE, OUTFLANKED UNDER EQUIPPED AND UNPREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE PROTESTS THAT BROKE OUT IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S TWENTY-TWENTY KILLING WTW NEWS ANALYSIS SHOWS POLICE MISCONDUCT DURING THOSE PROTESTS COST CITY TAXPAYERS AT LEAST 5.6 MILLION DOLLARS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT HER NEW REPORT IS CHICAGO INSPECTOR GENERAL DENVER.

WHAT'S BERG?

WELCOME BACK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

CAN SO 2 PROBES FOUND CHICAGO POLICE FAILED TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THOUSANDS OF CHICAGOANS DURING THE PROTESTS AND UNREST.

THAT WAS, OF COURSE, TRIGGERED BY THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD BACK IN 2020.

JUST THIS MORNING, WE HEARD SUPERINTENDENTS KNOWING TELL REPORTERS THAT HIS DEPARTMENT IS READY.

HAS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LEARNED THE RIGHT LESSONS FROM THOSE FAILURES OF THE PAST?

I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS.

I THINK CPD HAS MADE REAL PROGRESS IN ITS PREPAREDNESS FOR MASS EVENTS.

>> THERE ARE CLEARLY IMPROVEMENTS IN PLANNING SETTING PLANS WITH OTHER CITY AGENCIES SUPPORTING ENTITIES, ETC.

THOSE PLANS HAVE BEEN TESTED IN TABLETOP EXERCISES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW GO WRONG IN 2020 THAT THERE WERE AREAS OF CONFUSION AND LACK OF CLARITY AND GAPS AND CPD IS POLICIES AS THEY APPLY TO MASS ARREST PROCESSING AND TO OBLIGATIONS AROUND REPORTING THE USE OF FORCE.

CPD HAS I THINK MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS TOWARD ADDRESSING THOSE GAPS AND POLICIES THEY'VE DONE.

SO, HOWEVER, IN A NEW SUITE OF POLICIES, WHICH IS NOT YET FINALIZED AS OF THE PUBLICATION OF OUR REPORT, THOSE POLICIES WERE STILL IN DRAFT FORM.

I THINK THAT RAISES A COUPLE OF CONCERNS.

ONE, I THINK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TRAINING CPD MEMBERS ON POLICIES WHICH ARE STILL IN DRAFT RISKS.

SOME CONFUSION.

OBVIOUSLY THOSE DRAFTS CHANGE.

I THINK ALSO FROM A PUBLIC FACING LEGITIMACY PERSPECTIVE, CPD POSTED THOSE DRAFT POLICIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THAT'S A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS TO WHICH THE DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED.

I THINK THERE'S SOME RISK THAT IF WE ARE ALREADY TRAINING MEMBERS ON POLICIES WHICH ARE STILL POSTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE'VE UNDERMINED SORT OF THE SINCERITY OF THAT OF THAT PROCESS.

IT I WOULD IMAGINE IT MIGHT RAISE THE QUESTION FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING THE PUBLIC COMMENT WHETHER OR NOT THEIR THEIR COMMENTS AND ROPE INPUT OR ACTUALLY BEING RECEIVED AND ABSORBED.

>> YOU KNOW THAT CPD HAS PLANS FOR HANDLING MASS GATHERINGS, QUOTE, RISKS ESCALATING TENSIONS AND VIOLATING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF LAWFUL DEMONSTRATORS.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOUR CONCERNS WERE RAISED?

SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER CPD THESE TRAININGS RELY ON OUTMODED, OUTDATED PRINCIPLES OF CROWD CONTROL.

WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE WHAT KIND OF METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF CROWD BEHAVIOR ARE CURRENTLY IN USE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WE ALSO LOOK AT WHETHER CPD HAS PLANS AND POLICIES ARE OUR OUR SERVE BODING WELL FOR THE DEPARTMENT RECKONING WITH THE LAWFUL PROTESTERS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

IN THE REPORT.

YOU ALSO QUESTION IF THE PRACTICE OF POLICE IN CIRCLING PROTESTERS, SOMETHING KNOWN AS KETTLING AND THE USE OF PEPPER SPRAY AGAINST PEACEFUL CONCERNS ABOUT THOSE TACTICS.

WHAT WERE YOU CONCERNS THERE WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF OC SPRAY PEPPER SPRAY AGAINST PASSIVE RESISTERS IN A CROWD SETTING.

SEE POLICIES ALLOW FOR THAT USE OF OC SPRAY IN CERTAIN SETTINGS THAT IS PROBABLY OUT OF LINE WITH GUIDANCE FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE, OTHER MAJOR CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

>> PHILADELPHIA IS THE ONE THAT WE LOOK AT IN THE REPORT.

GUIDANCE IS OUT OF LINE THERE WITH WITH GUIDANCE ELSEWHERE.

THAT RAISES SOME CONCERNS, I THINK FOR FOR PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF LAWFUL DEMONSTRATORS AND THEN ALSO THE USE OF KETTLING.

YOU'RE CONCERNED THERE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE IS THERE IS CERTAINLY SOME CONCERN AROUND WHETHER 4TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS ARE AT RISK.

IF LAWFUL DEMONSTRATORS ARE CONTAINED ALONG WITH PEOPLE COMMITTING CRIMINAL ACTIONS.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A DE-ESCALATION TACTIC.

IS IT >> THINK THAT IS THAT IS THE CONCERN.

A COALITION OF REFORM GROUPS HAVE URGED THE FEDERAL JUDGE WHO IS OVERSEEING EFFORTS TO REFORM CPD.

>> TO OVERTURN A PROPOSED POLICY THAT ALLOWS MASS ARRESTS OF PROTESTERS DURING THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

AS WE'VE MENTIONED, SAYING IT VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE CONSENT DECREE.

DO YOU SHARE THOSE CONCERNS?

SO THOSE MASS ARRESTS PROCESS IS THOSE ARE AMONG THESE NEWLY REVISED POLICIES THAT CPD HAS DRAFTED FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE ISSUE THAT WE SAW IN 2020 IN THE PROTESTS AND UNREST FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD WAS A BREAKDOWN IN CPD IS MASS ARREST PROCEDURES ABILITY TO CONDUCT MASS ARRESTS CAN BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE KEEP POLICE PRESENCE ON THE STREET WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE NEED TO BE ARRESTED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE POLICE LEAVING A SCENE TO PROCESS ARRESTS.

SO I THINK THAT THAT SOME OF CPS POLICY CHANGES BOAT FOR A MORE ORDERLY MASS ARREST PROCESS, WHICH KEEP EVERYBODY SAFER IN UNIFORM AND OUT.

A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, AS WE MENTIONED, ABOUT SECURITY PREPS FOR THE DNC SUPERINTENDENT SNELLING WAS ASKED ABOUT YOUR REPORT NOTED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN TO YOU ABOUT IT.

HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> WE HAD A VERY FRANK CONVERSATION ABOUT THINGS LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT THE IGS OFFICE REGARDING OUR TRAINING.

>> SO BASED ON THAT CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD WITH SUPERINTENDENTS KNELLINGER, CONFIDENT THAT HE APPRECIATES THE CONCERNS THAT YOU'RE RAISING AND B, THAT HE'S WILLING AND ABLE TO ADDRESS IN TIME.

>> HARD.

YES.

HAHA.

I'M HEARTENED BY THE PROGRESS UP HE'S MADE.

I THINK CHICAGOANS SHOULD BE HEARTENED THERE IS THERE.

I THINK THERE ARE PERSISTENT CONCERNS.

I THINK THERE'S TIME TO ADDRESS THEM.

AND I SINCERELY APPRECIATE SUPERINTENDENTS ENGAGEMENT ON THESE SNOWING IN HIS LETTER AND HIS RESPONSE TO YOUR REPORT NOTED THAT YOU DID NOT CONDUCT ANY INTERVIEWS WITH CPD OFFICIALS.

AS YOU PUT THIS REPORT TOGETHER.

IS THERE FOR YOUR PROCESS THAT YOU DID THAT AND PLAN ON RETURNING TO THAT IS GENERALLY PROCESS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTS.

THOSE ARE OFTEN KIND OF A DOCUMENT REVIEW BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AN ENTIRELY NEW EVALUATION, BUT IT'S A FOLLOW-UP TO OUR 2021 REPORT.

I THINK ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT STRIKES ME IS FAIR GAME TO EVALUATE A POLICY ON THE FACE OF THE POLICY THAT SAID WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH CPD AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS OTHER MATTERS.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT'S BEEN CP'S APPROACH TO SITUATIONS INVOLVING MASS ARRESTS AND THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS BY POLICE HAS CPD CLARIFIED THAT POLICY.

I THINK THAT ONLY CLARIFIED, BUT I THINK THAT THEY HAVE MEANINGFULLY IMPROVED THEIR INVENTORY OF DEPLOYABLE EQUIPMENT FOR PURPOSES OF BODY CAMERA.

THAT WAS ANOTHER ISSUE IN 2020 COVERAGE WAS VERY POOR IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THAT 2020 DEPLOYMENT HAD BODY WORN CAMERAS.

THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT'S A PROBLEM FOR EVIDENCE COLLECTION.

IT'S A PROBLEM IN LOTS OF WAYS CPD REPORTS THAT THEY ARE BETTER EQUIPPED AND MORE CAMERAS TO DEPLOY BETTORS PROCESSES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE OUT IN A DEPLOYMENT TO AMASS EVENT ARE EQUIPPED BODY-WORN CAMERAS.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYBODY.

AND OF COURSE, WE'LL SEE HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT.

WHEN WE GET TO THE DNC.

BURT BRIEFLY, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, WHAT'S NEXT AND WHAT WE EXPECT ANOTHER REPORT FROM YOU POST SEE TO SEE HOW THE CPD DID.

I THINK I THINK PROBABLY YES TONIGHT.

I KNOW.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BEING A GOOD NEWS STORY.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO COME CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL WHAT WE'RE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, AN INSPIRING STORY ABOUT AN UNLIKELY LAW STUDENT.

STAY WITH US.

ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY TONIGHT ABOUT THE FIRST COHORT OF GRADUATES FROM THE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM.

>> SINCE THEIR GRADUATION LAST FALL.

A COUPLE OF THE MEN WERE RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION AT STATE BILL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, ONE OF THEM KENLEY WAS RELEASED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AFTER 22 YEARS IN PRISON AND WITH HIS DEGREE FROM ONE OF THE TOP 10 SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY, HE'LL BE RETURNING TO BEING A STUDENT AT THIS TIME AT ONE OF THE TOP 10 LAW SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.

BERNARD MCKINLEY IS LIKE MOST OTHER PARALEGALS PREPPING FOR LAW SCHOOL AND WORKING WITH ATTORNEY AND PROFESSOR SHEILA BEDI.

>> PSYCHOLOGICALLY PREPARE MYSELF FOR FIRST-YEAR LAW SCHOOL, WHICH WHAT BEEN TOLD WOULD BE THE MOST STRESSFUL.

>> BUT PAST TO BECOME A LAWYER IS DIFFERENT FROM MOST OF HIS CLASSMATES.

>> SO THE SEA YOU KNOW, THAT KNOW ALL THE HARD WORK OF PUTIN HAS FINALLY CAME ABOUT AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE MY SUCCESS.

>> AT 19 YEARS OLD, HE WAS SENTENCED TO 100 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A CRIME THAT HE COMMITTED.

HE WAS 16.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WIDE-REACHING DISCUSSION ABOUT 2 TOPICS.

>> WE FIRST MET HIM WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT IN THE NORTHWESTERN PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM AT STATE BILL CORRECTIONAL.

>> MCKINLEY.

SEE HIM AGAIN AT GRADUATION IN THE FALL OF 2023.

>> EVEN AMONG THE EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS BEEN, I'D STOOD OUT FOR HIS QUIET LEADERSHIP FOR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND THE RIGOR WITH WHICH HE APPROACHES A LOT.

>> IT WAS HIS EXPERIENCE BEHIND BARS BUT SPARKED HIS INTEREST IN A LEGAL CAREERS.

>> I FIRST GOT MY LITTLE PROMO, I WAS NO.

>> HAPPY USE IT.

>> TEXAS AS THE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD A GAME FROM IT.

BUT AS TIME WENT ON AND I SEEN THE DIFFERENT KNOW PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SET THE PRISON FAR YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT INHUMANE IS THAT WE'VE BEEN COMMITTED.

IT MAY BE LOOKING TO THE LAW.

SO THE SEE HOW TO HELP RENEW SITUATIONS.

>> HE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ARGUE TO REDUCE HIS OWN 100 YEAR SENTENCE DOWN TO 25 YEARS.

>> SO MILLER VERSUS ALABAMA CAME OUT IN 2012 THAT ALLOWED ME TO TURN THIS.

MY SENSE IS GIVEN THAT CRIME THAT COMMITTED AND TAKE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HAPPENED WHEN I WAS 16 AND IT ALLOWED ME TO GO BACK TO FRONT OF THE >> HE WAS RELEASED FROM STATE PRISON IN LATE 2023 AFTER SERVING 22 AND A HALF YEARS.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, HE LEARNED MCKINLEY WAS ACCEPTED TO HIS TOP LAW SCHOOL CHOICE.

NORTHWESTERN PRITZKER SCHOOL OF LAW.

>> I KNEW WHEN BERNARD TOLD ME YOU YEARS AGO, I THINK IN 2017 HE WAS GOING TO BE A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER.

I KNEW THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

I KNEW THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN.

I JUST DIDN'T.

KNOW THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN SO SOON.

AND IN LATE APRIL, HE WAS RELEASED FROM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AS A REQUIREMENT OF HIS SUPERVISED RELEASE.

>> REMOVING ONE LAST BARRIER FOR THAT TOUGH FIRST YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL.

>> THEN THEY MOVED TO HAVE STUDY GROUP WITH SOME OF MY CLASSMATES, TOO LAID WAS THAT IN?

I DO BEING ABLE TO GO INTO NORTHWEST INDIANA BEES RESEARCH, CERTAIN CASE LAW, ALL OF THE MATERIAL I NEED IN ORDER TO WHEN I HEAR OF THEIR STRESSFUL EXAMS, LAW SCHOOL.

>> IS IS TOUGH FOR ANYONE.

LAW SCHOOL IS PARTICULARLY TOUGH FOR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS WHO ARE FIRST GEN AND COMPOUNDING THAT WITH TONIGHT'S LIFE EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

AND BERNARD HAS OVERCOME SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, AND ARGUE TELLS STORIES OF HAVING TO STUDY THE LAW AND FORGO FOOD BECAUSE HE'S USING HIS COMMISSARY FUNDS TO BUY LEGAL BOOKS BECAUSE HE'S SO FOCUSED AND DETERMINED.

I KNOW HE CAN DO IT.

I ALSO KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGES.

BETTY BELIEVES MCKINLEY HAS ALREADY SHOWN HE CAN RISE TO THOSE CHALLENGES.

>> AFTER LAW SCHOOL, HE PLANS TO START A NONPROFIT CIVIL RIGHTS CLINIC TO HELP OTHERS.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT.

>> SOME THINGS.

THEY HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND BEING ABLE TO COME HOME AND STARTED THE NONPROFIT.

AND GIVE THAT.

TO THE COMMUNITY IS TO THE SOUTH TO DO AND THAT'S WHY FIRST, THOUGH.

>> BECAUSE BENARD MCKINLEY IS ON PAROLE AND MANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE.

HE STILL REPORTS TO A PAROLE OFFICER EVERY 2 MONTHS.

BUT HE SAYS HE NOW HAS A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND IS LOOKING TO FIND HIS OWN APARTMENT NEAR THE LAW SCHOOL.

>> UP NEXT, SHOULD THE CITY SHOVEL SIDEWALKS?

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON HAS BEEN BUSILY PLANNING HOW TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AND REMAINING COVID RELIEF DOLLARS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

DEADLINE.

YESTERDAY HE PRESENTED HIS MONEY SPENDING PLAN TO CITY COUNCIL ALDERS SOME WHO'VE CALLED FOR MORE COUNCIL OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL MONEY.

HERE.

WITH ALL THAT MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS AND OF TURKEY HAD A SHARON WELCOME BACK TEAM.

SO BEFORE WE GET TO WHERE THE MAYOR IS PUTTING THE REMAINING PANDEMIC RELIEF A NEW REPORT FROM THE TEAM OVERSEEING COURT ORDERED REFORMS THE CONSENT DECREE OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD SOME GOOD NEWS FOR CITY OFFICIALS FINDING, QUOTE, INCREMENTAL PROGRESS, BUT ALSO SOUNDING AN ALARM.

>> HEATHER, WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THIS PUSH REFORM THAT STARTED 2019?

SO NOW THE CITY HAS COMPLIED WITH FULLY 7% OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSENT DECREE, WHICH IS UP ONLY SLIGHTLY FROM 6% DURING THE LAST 6 MONTHS PREVIEW, PERIOD.

SO THERE'S CLEARLY A LONG WAY TO GO.

BUT THIS REPORT DOES NOT SOUND ANYTHING LIKE THE PREVIOUS 2 REPORTS, WHICH WAS CLEARLY WARNING CITY OFFICIALS THAT THEY HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

THIS AT LEAST SAYS.

>> LARRY SNELLING THE SUIT.

NEW SUPERINTENDENT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON SEEMED TO BE SORT PUTTING MORE EFFORT BEHIND THE SCENES AND DID SEE THE NUMBER OF CONSENT DECREE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS AT LEAST DRAFTED POLICIES INCREASED BY ABOUT 6%.

YOU CAN'T GET TO FULL COMPLIANCE UNTIL YOU MEET THAT INTERIM MARK.

SO AT LEAST IT'S PROGRESS.

BUT THE CONSENT DECREE MONITOR SAID CONVENTION IS GOING TO BE A HUGE TEST OF THIS OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE STILL OUTSTANDING, INCLUDING SORT OF COMMUNITY POLICING POLICIES AS WELL AS A DELAYED STAFFING STUDY, WHICH WILL DETERMINE WHERE POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE DEPLOYED AND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING ON THE JOB.

2 BIG A LOT OF WORK FOR THE CPD AS IT SHOULD BE.

OBVIOUSLY POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING TELLING REPORTERS TODAY THAT THE CITY IS READY TO HOST THE CONVENTION.

BUT OF COURSE, WE JUST HEARD FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT ARE WHAT'S BERG, BUT SHE STILL GOT SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR THE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ACTUALLY PREPARED.

BRING THAT UP FOR US.

HEAD OF HIS RIGHT?

WELL, WE DON'T KNOW YET.

AND WE'RE WAITING FOR A FEDERAL JUDGE TO SORT OF SORT OUT WHETHER THIS A MASS ARREST POLICY THAT YOU ASKED DE PERE.

WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT WHETHER IT'S ACCURATE, WHETHER IT'S ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND WHETHER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO MAKE MORE CHANGES.

WE JUST SIMPLY DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

AND THE CONVENTION IS COMING.

AND I THINK THERE ARE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE THE RIGHT POLICY IN PLACE AND WILL POLICE OFFICERS BE TRAINED ON THAT RIGHT POLICY IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO SORT OF FIST BILL THAT POLICY.

A LOT OF QUESTIONS REMAINING IS ALREADY UNDER WAY.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A POLICY, WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY BEING TRAINED ON IS ONE OF BIG ONE AS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID THAT CAN LEAD TO SOME AS WELL.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS GOT AN IN-DEPTH LOOK, AS WE MENTIONED AT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON'S PLAN TO SPEND EVERY PENNY OF THOSE COVID FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS TO, YOU KNOW, SET TO STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S TATTERED SOCIAL SAFETY NET, PROVIDE SOME DIRECT AID TO WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO RECOVER.

BUT THERE'S A DEADLINE WHY HEATHER CITY OFFICIALS SCRAMBLING AND WHAT WILL CHANGE?

WELL, APPARENTLY IT'S HARD TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON PROGRAMS.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE IS RED TAPE.

THERE IS BUREAUCRACY.

BUT THE DEADLINE IS THE END OF THE YEAR FOR THE CITY TO BUDGET ALL OF THESE DOLLARS.

AND THEN THEY HAVE UNTIL 2026 ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY.

BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT BRANDON JOHNSON HAS DIFFERENT PRIORITIES.

LORI LIGHTFOOT, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.

>> AND WHAT PART OF WHAT FRAN JOHNSON WANTS TO IS THAT DURING THE UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESS, HE'S GOING TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO BASICALLY RE UP THE CITY'S GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PROGRAM.

ANOTHER 32 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT.

HE ALSO WANTS MORE MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOUTH JOBS ALL IN LINE WITH HIS SORT POLICY PLATFORM THAT HE RAN FOR AND WON ON.

THAT WILL GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

BUT YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST CHANCE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE TO SORT OF GET A NEW LOOK AT THE PLAN, WHICH IS NO LONGER THE CHICAGO RECOVERY PLAN AND IS NOW THE ROAD TO RECOVERY BRANDING BEING VERY IMPORTANT.

SOMETIMES IN POLITICS, AS WE ALL KNOW, AREN'T.

SO ONE THING THAT DIDN'T GET ANY FUNDING, NOT LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO GET ANY FUNDING ANY TIME ARE CHICAGO'S PROPOSED STADIUM PROJECT.

AND AMANDA, WE KNOW THAT YOU SPOKE WITH HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH JUST YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS.

>> HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> 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.

>> PRETTY BLUNT.

DOES IT SEEM CLEAR THAT THE BUT THE BEARS MAY YOU KNOW, FUN, BOLD THAT TO GET PUBLIC FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE BEARS COULD HAVE DONE TO WIN PUBLIC FUNDING JUST IN THIS TIME WHERE, AGAIN, THERE ARE STILL DEMANDS THAT CAN'T BE MET FOR EDUCATION, FOR MIGRANTS FOR ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS FOR ROLLING BACK TAXES.

I MEAN, THERE IS JUST AS THE SPEAKER WENT ON TO SAY, REALLY NO PUBLIC APPETITE.

AND I THINK THAT'S SORT OF THE RESPONSE THAT THESE ARE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC THAT WHAT THEY'RE ELECTED TO DO.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BEARS COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT DOES SEEM AS IF THEIR STRATEGY WAS PRETTY FLAWED.

I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT EVEN GETTING CHANCE.

NONE OF THE LEGISLATORS, THE GOVERNOR.

>> EVEN WILLING TO SAY, YEAH, WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.

THEY'RE THEY'RE SORT OF SUPPOSE THEY HAVE AN OUTRIGHT SAID NO, BUT THAT IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO OK?

SO BACK TO MAYOR JOHNSON BRIEFLY, HE UNVEILED HIS PLAN FOR FREE SIDEWALK.

SNOW REMOVAL PILOT PROGRAM.

>> ONLY 4 NEIGHBORHOODS.

HEATHER WILL BE CHOSEN AS PART OF THIS EXPERIMENT, WHICH ONES AND HOW DID THOSE GET CHOSEN?

WELL, BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS TO BE EQUAL IN CHICAGO.

YOU'VE GOT A NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTS OF UPTOWN.

YOU'VE GOT PARTS OF INGLEWOOD, SOME PARTS OF AUSTIN AND THEN ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE NEAR THE ARCHER HEIGHTS AREA.

AND THE IDEA IS THAT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING SNOW AND ICE FROM THE ROADS.

WHY ISN'T THE CITY RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING SNOW AND ICE FROM SIDEWALKS?

PEOPLE NEED TO WALK.

PEOPLE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS NEED TO GET AROUND MOMS WITH STROLLERS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE BUS STOP.

AND THIS IS REALLY I THINK GOING TO BE A TEST OF SORT WHAT SORT IS GOVERNMENT'S JOB IN CHICAGO.

AND THAT IS VERY MUCH AT THE HEART BRANDON JOHNSON SORT OF WHOLE INITIATIVE IS THAT THE CITY HAS A GREATER OBLIGATION TO MAKE LIFE LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE NOW 8 IT HASN'T BEEN APPROVED YET.

IT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AND IT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT ONE BETWEEN 1 MILLION DOLLARS AND 3.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO JUST DO THESE SORT 1.5 SQUARE MILE AREAS IN EACH OF THESE POOR NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT THE IDEA IS THAT IF IT WORKS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD ROLL OUT CITYWIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO BACK TO SPRINGFIELD FOR A BIT.

SEVERAL 100 BILLS PASSED IN THE SPRING SESSION, BUT NOT EVERYTHING.

AMANDA, WHAT ARE A FEW SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT STALLED?

DO THINK THAT IT'S WORTH PAYING ATTENTION TO.

YOU MIGHT WHO CARES?

THEY DIDN'T PASS ARE NOT GOING TO BECOME LAW.

BUT THERE ARE SOME MAJOR INITIATIVES THAT JUST DIDN'T CROSS THE FINISH LINE.

AND SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEM KIND OF PREVIOUSLY.

AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, REGULATION OF HEMP, WHICH IS SEEN AS POTENTIALLY QUITE DANGEROUS.

AND SO STILL GOING COMPLETELY UNREGULATED BECAUSE YOU HAD 2 SIDES UNABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT.

>> AND THEN ALSO, I WOULD SAY CHANGES TO THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PRITZKER PUSH BACK ON.

HE SAYS HE SORT OF DOING IT HIMSELF EXECUTIVE ORDER AND THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.

BUT THE LEGISLATOR LEGISLATURE THAT IS CLEARLY DEMANDING MORE ACTION AFTER DEATH OF 11 YEAR-OLD JADEN PERKINS, WHICH WAS, OF COURSE, VERY HEARTBREAKING.

OKAY.

THAT IS SPOTLIGHT FOR THIS WEEK.

OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT LOTS TO TALK ABOUT AS WE KEEP MARCHING TOWARDS ALL THESE CONVENTIONS AND THE SHREW AND AMANDA, THANKS, GANG.

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

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IT'S PART OF A YEARS LONG EFFORT.

>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A AND CLIFFORD LAW A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH AND PROUD SPONSOR OF PROGRAM THAT OFFERS ADVICE AND STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE