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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE ALL CONSIDERED EVERY OPTION WE HAVE.

>> ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS ASK A JUDGE TO TOSS OUT NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS SIGNED INTO LAW LAST WEEK.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE.

>> I HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD AND A PLAN FOR MY FUTURE.

>> THE JOURNEY FROM CRIMINAL DEFENDANT TO STABLE TENANT STARTS HERE IN DRUG COURT HOW COOK COUNTY AGENCIES ARE TEAMING UP.

>> AND WHILE REVIEWING MORE THAN 100 UFO SIGHTINGS IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SEEKS TO EXPLAIN THE UNEXPLAINABLE IN AN UPCOMING REPORT.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., A BOMBSHELL FROM THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" THE PAPER REPORTS FORMER CHICAGO ALDERPERSON AND DANNY SOLIS MADE AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDINGS OF FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

THE TRIBUNE REPORTS MANY DISCUSSIONS CENTERED ON MADIGAN SEEKING BUSINESS FOR HIS PRIVATE LAW FIRM.

IT WAS REVEALED IN 2019 TO HAVE WORN A WIRE ON ALDERPERSON ED BURKE AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS AND TOPICS IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 400 NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

INCLUDING 23 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THAT MAKES FOR A STATE-WIDE TOTAL OF 1.386 MILLION CASES AND 22,997 DEATHS AND 50,000 COVID VACCINE DOSES WERE ADMINISTERED YESTERDAY.

>> SEVERAL ACTIVIST GROUPS EXPRESS THEIR DISPLEASURE WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S NEW FOOT PURSUIT POLICY SAYING IT WAS PUT TOGETHER WITHOUT INPUT FROM THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THE POLICIES.

AND THEY SAY THE NEW POLICY PERMITS FOOT PURSUITS FOR MINOR OFFENSES AND DOES NOT GIVE CLEAR GUIDANCE TO OFFICERS.

>> THE FOOT PURSUIT IS A TACTIC WHERE ADRENALINE IS RUNNING HIGH AND WE KNOW FROM THE DATA THAT OFFICERS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY USING LETHAL FORCE AND REMEDIES FOR THAT PROBLEM ARE NOT IN THAT POLICY.

>> C.P.D.

DEVELOPED THE POLICY IN THE WAKES OF THE DEATHS OF ANTHONY ALVAREZ AND ADAM TOLEDO.

IT IS STILL REVIEWING ITS POLICY.

ONE OF THE BUSIEST CTAL STATIONS IS SET FOR A MAJOR UPGRADE.

THE CTA UNVEILED PLANS FOR A FULLY ACCESSIBLE STATE AND LAKE STATION FEATURING A STATE-OF-THE-ART ROOF AND SCENIC VIEWS.

PART OF THE REDLINE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM AND IS EXPECTED TO COST $180 MILLION.

IT WOULD REPLACE THE CURRENT STATION ORIGINALLY BUILT ALL THE WAY BACK IN 1995.

>> A -- 18195.

>> THE CITY ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF BIKE THE DRIVE OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

CYCLISTS WILL HAVE THE DRIVE FROM 57TH STREET ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER FIFTH AFTER THE EVENT WAS CANCELED DUE TO COVID.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.

>> AND PARTS OF LAKE SHORE DRIVE WILL BE CLOSED TONIGHT INTO EARLY TOMORROW BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE 43rd STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER THE DRIVE.

CREWS ARE MAKING WAY FOR A STATE-OF-THE-ART NEW BRIDGE.

THE CLOSURES WILL IMPACT THE DRIVE FROM OAKWOOD AND 39TH STREET TO 47TH STREET.

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

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS ASK A JUDGE TO TOSS OUT THE STATE'S NEW DISTRICT MAPS.

A CITY COALITION BEGINS REDRAWING WARD BOUNDARIES AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLANS TO MEET AGAIN TO FISH LEFTOVER ITEMS FROM LAST SESSION.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM IS HERE TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN.

JOINING US ARE HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ, AMANDA VINICKY HAS THE EVENING OFF.

FIRST UP, IS STATE POLITICS, AN UPDATE IN THE ComEd BRIBERY SCHEME THE TRIBUTE REPORTS DANNY SOLIS WORKED WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO RECORD THEN HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

HEATHER WHAT DID THE TRIBUNE FIND?

>> WE FOUND THAT EVEN THOUGH DANNY SOLIS IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR CAPTURING ED BURKE ON TAPE LEADING TO IN PART TO HIS INDICTMENT ON 14 COUNTS OF BRIBERY, HE APPARENTLY CAPTURED FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN ON TAPE DURING NEGOTIATIONS INVOLVING A VARIETY OF ISSUES BUT SPECIFICALLY A PARKING LOT IN CHINATOWN THAT MADIGAN WAS APPROACHED TO HELP BROKER THE SALE OF.

IT'S OWNED BY THE STATE AND THERE WAS A PRIVATE ENTITY INTERESTED IN BUYING IT.

WE NOW NOW ACCORDING TO THE TRIBUNE THERE ARE TAPES OF THE HOUSE SPEAKER BUT VIDEO OF HIM AND A MEETING WITH DANNY SOLIS WHICH MEANS THIS INVESTIGATION STRETCHES BACK NEARLY FIVE YEARS-LONGER THAN WE KNEW FOR CERTAIN BEFORE.

>> AND PARIS WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S INVESTIGATION?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT IS ACLEAR THAT THE FEDS HAD MICHAEL MADIGAN IN THEIR SIGHTS FOR YEARS AND ED BURKE WAS LIKE A SIDE NOTE THEY DID NOT EXPECT TO DISCOVER WHAT THEY DID ABOUT ED BURKE AND HE HAS HIS INDICTMENT.

BUT THIS COULD BE VERY STRONG EVIDENCE IF THERE WERE TO BE A CASE AGAINST THE FORMER SPEAKER.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AUDIO RECORDINGS AND TALKING ABOUT VIDEO RECORDINGS BUT STILL IF MADIGAN HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG THERE IS NO ALLEGATION OF THAT YET.

AND THE FEDS HAVE CLEARLY MADE A REALLY STRONG PUSH TO TRY AND FLIP PEOPLE LIKE MADIGAN'S FORMER TOP AIDE TO GIVE UP SOME DIRT AND THEY ARE NOT DOING IT YET AND IT -- THEY ARE DISCLOSING A LOT IN THE PUBLIC MORE THAN THEY NORMALLY DO ABOUT THEIR INVESTIGATIONS IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING THEY DO FIND SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN PUT OUT AN INDICTMENT ON MADIGAN.

SO IT SAYS THAT EVEN DESPITE THIS, IT STILL DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY'VE GOT HIM.

MAYBE THEY WANT CORROBORATING EVIDENCE WITH THE VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORD TIONZ TO SOMEONE SELF OF TESTIFYING.

>> MADIGAN SAID HE HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG AND STATE REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING BACK AFTER GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED THE NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS INTO LAW LAST WEEK.

HERE IS A CLIP OF SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER DAN McCONCHIE AFTER PRITZKER APPROVED THE MAP.

>> HE SAID A LOT ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT USING INACCURATE FLAWED DATA DEVIATES FROM THE PRACTICE OF ONE PERSON ONE VOTE.

HE PRETENDED TO BE A REFORMER BUT HE IS PROVED HE IS MORE OF THE SAME.

A POLITICIAN WHO WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED AND GET POWER AND GET YOUR MONEY.

>> HEATHER ON WHAT GROUNDS ARE REPUBLICANS ASKING FOR IT TO BE TOSSED AND WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD TO BE?

>> THE MAPS THAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED INTO LAW WERE NOT BASED ON CENSUS DATE TAN THE LAWSUIT FILED TODAY ALLEGES THAT THESE MAPS MUST BE BASED ON CENSUS DATA NOT SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU.

THAT IS THE CRUX OF THE ARGUMENT.

IT VIOLATES THE 14TH AMENDMENT'S EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE AND THEY SHOULD BE TOSSED OUT AND A JUDGE SHOULD FORCE A COMMISSION TO BE APPOINTED TO REDRAW THE MAPS BASED ON CENSUS FIGURES WHICH WE EXPECT TO GET IN MID-AUGUST.

>> WE ALSO KNOW THAT ILLINOIS' GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEY ARE PLANNING ON MEETING NEXT WEEK TO GO OVER SOME OF THE ITEMS LEFTOVER FROM THE LAST SESSION.

AN ENERGY BILL IS AMONG THEM.

PARIS, WHAT ELSE IS ON THE AGENDA?

>> THE ENERGY BILL IS INTERESTING AND SIMILAR BILL TO FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE IT WOULD MANDATE STANDARDS FOR COMPLETELY CARBON FREE ENERGY AT SOME POINT.

AND THEN GIVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SUBSIDIES TO EXELON TO KEEP STRUGGLING NUCLEAR PLANTS FROM CLOSING.

AND THAT WOULD RESULT IN A COUPLE MORE DOLLARS ON EVERYBODY'S ComEd BILL.

BUT THE SNAG IS IS THERE ARE TWO COAL PLANTS AND THE BILL SAYS THEY HAVE TO CLOSE BY 2035.

ONE DOWN STATE PRAIRIE ENERGY SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO CLOSE AND THE SNAG ALREADY MANY MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING MANY IN CHICAGO, NAPERVILLE, THAT ARE INVESTED IN THIS PLANT.

SO IF IT CLOSED IT WOULD HARM TAXPAYERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THERE'S IS YOUR R SERIOUS LOBBYING I'M TOLD THERE ARE LABOR LEADERS AND THERE ARE MUNICIPAL MAYORS THAT ARE LOBBYING THE GOVERNOR TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF CLAUSE THAT WOULD KEEP THOSE PLANTS OPEN BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES HERE THAT THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE INVESTED IN THEM.

>> GETTING TO CITY POLITICS BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, A COMMISSION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAS BEGUN REDRAWING THE CITY'S WARD MAP.

HEATHER WHO ARE THE ODDS THE PROPOSAL WILL BE ACCEPTED?

>> WELL, THEY NEED 10 VOTES FROM ALDERMEN WHO WOULD TOSS THE MATTER TO A REFERENDUM BASICALLY PUT IT IN VOTERS' HANDS AND THAT WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL BREAK FROM HISTORY WHERE ALDERMEN HAVE KEPT THAT POWER, CONCENTRATED IN THEMSELVES AND USED IT TO REWARD THEIR FRIENDS, CONSOLIDATE THEIR POWER, OF COURSE, PUNISH THEIR ENEMIES.

>> AND PARIS, WHAT CAN THE LAST WARD REMAP TELL US ABOUT WHAT IS TO COME?

IS THERE GOING TO BE [INAUDIBLE] >> THE THING I REMEMBER IS PUNISHING YOUR ENEMIES AND IT WAS A BACK ROOM DEAL AND MEL WENT UP TO SPOSATO AND HE SAID I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW TO SPEAK SPANISH BUT HE HAD DRAWN THE WARD INTO A MAJORITY LATINO WARD.

HE WON AGAIN AND THEY DREW THE SECOND WARD FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO THE NORTH SIDE.

THEY WANTED TO GET RID OF BOB FIORETTI AND THE BLACK CAUCUS AND THE LATINO CAUCUS THIS IS THE ULTIMATE SAUSAGE GETTING MADE TYPE OF THING.

>> MORE TO WATCH.

THE CITY EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR COMPANIES TO MAKE THEIR PITCH TO OPERATE AND MANAGE THE CITY'S ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WHICH ComEd CURRENTLY OVERSEES.

WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT PROVIDER?

>> THIS IS REALLY A $9 BILLION QUESTION.

BECAUSE THAT IS ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST FOR ANOTHER COMPANY TO COME IN AND BUY THE WIRES AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO TOWARDS GETTING POWER TO OUR HOMES.

IT IS UNCLEAR IF THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES INTERESTED BUT IF THERE ARE THEY HAVE TWO MONTHS TO MAKE THEIR PITCH TO MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> A KEY CITY PANEL SUPPORTED PLANS TO BUILD A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AS A REDESIGNED POLICE AND FIRE AND TRAINING ACADEMY AND THERE'S BACK AND FORTH HOW YOU LOOK AT THE CITY'S VIOLENCE FIGURES.

CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN JANUARY QUIETLY WITHOUT THE USUAL FANFARE.

WHY THE QUIET BEGINNING?

>> WELL, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A QUESTION ANSWERED ABOUT THAT BUT THIS IS A HOT BUTTON ISSUE IT IS A SORE POINT FOR ACTIVISTS WORKING TO REDUCE THE BUDGET OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO SEE IS A NEW TRAINING FACILITY BUILT TO HELP THE POLICE EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS.

AND THERE ARE CONCERNS PUTTING THIS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB NEXT TO THE POLICE WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THE TENSIONS AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAYS NO IT WILL DO THE OPPOSITE.

IT WILL GIVE THE POLICE A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE AND THEIR KIDS AND FAMILIES.

AND INCREASE TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY AND RELIEVE SOME OF THAT PRESSURE.

>> THAT'S IT FOR AN ABBREVIATED SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TONIGHT THANK YOU TO HEATHER CHERONE AND OF COURSE, PARIS SCHUTZ.

UP NEXT A NEW LEASE ON LIFE FOR SOME RECOVERING DRUG ADDICTS.

STAY WITH US.

>> BREAKING THE CYCLE OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION IS A CHALLENGE MADE TOUGHER ONCE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM GETS INVOLVED AND THAT CAN LEAD TO MORE STRUGGLES LIKE FINDING WORK AND HOUSING.

TO SOLVE FOR ONE OF THOSE A COOK COUNTY PROGRAM TEAMS AGENCIES TO HELP THOSE RECOVERING FROM ADDICTION TAKE COVER IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

>> AFTER A YEAR-AND-A-HALF, THIS APARTMENT HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST A HOME FOR 33-YEAR-OLD CARLA SHAW.

>> IT FEELS GREAT.

I KNOW I HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO TO I HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD.

I HAVE MY BABY.

>> FOUR-MONTH-OLD SON JALEN IS THE FIRST OF CARLA'S FOUR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL WITH HIS MOTHER DRUG-FREE.

CARLA SAYS SHE SPENT 15 YEARS ADDICTED TO DRUGS LIVING A LIFE IN THE STREETS.

>> I WAS TRAFFICKED AT A YOUNG AGE AND I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I ACTUALLY GOT IN THE PROGRAM AND THEY TALKED ABOUT IT AND THEN I REALIZED I WAS TRAFFICKED.

AND IT WAS HARD.

>> IT WAS ANOTHER CRIMINAL CASE THAT BROUGHT HER HERE TO COOK COUNTY JUDGE CHARLES BURNS AND HIS DRUG COURT WHERE DEFENDANTS GET ADDICTION TREATMENT AND RESOURCES.

>> ONE OF THE TENANTS OF THE PROGRAM IS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FAIL.

I'M NOT LOOKING TO SEND PEOPLE TO THE PENITENTIARY AS LONG AS THEY ARE HONEST AND COMMITTED WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> CARLA IS NOT ONLY A GRADUATE OF THE PROGRAM SHE WAS THE SPEAKER AT A RECENT GRADUATION.

>> LIKE MANY OF YOU, MY JOURNEY STARTED WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

MY HOME WAS FILLED WITH TRAUMA.

>> AFTER TREATMENT AND GRADUATION, SHE STILL ENCOUNTERED A FAMILIAR PROBLEM: FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

JUDGE BURNS SAYS HALF OF DEFENDANTS COME INTO THE PROGRAM WITH NO PERMANENT HOUSING.

>> ONCE THEY GOT THROUGH TREATMENT, THEY WERE GOING BACK TO THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAD A LOT OF DANGER AND A LOT OF TEMPTATION FOR THEM.

>> I WAS IN NIGHT HOUSING BECAUSE A WIFE OF THE LANDLORD DID NOT WANT ME THERE BECAUSE OF WHAT I USED TO DO.

AND THEN OF MY CREDIT SCORES ONLY.

>> BURNS PARTNERED WITH COOK COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY DIRECTOR RICHARD MONOCCHIO.

>> IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN YOU HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM YOU DON'T HAVE OTHER BARRIERS TO OVERCOME BUT IT'S DOUBLY HARD WHEN YOU HAVE THE BARRIERS.

>> TWO YEARS AGO THEY STARTED A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS TO 25 GRADUATES.

RECIPIENTS PAY 30% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARDS HOUSING AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PAYS THE REST.

HOW CARLA EARNED THIS APARTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH ROW PARK AND A SHIFT FROM TYPICAL PUBLIC HOUSING RULES THAT PREVENTED PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE BACKGROUNDS FROM HAVING ACCESS.

>> IT'S ONLY BEEN RECENTLY THAT PUBLICLY ASSISTED HOUSING HAS SORT OF SEEN THE LIGHT.

AND THE DAYS OF THE ONE STRIKE YOU'RE OUT THOSE ARE THE OLD DAYS.

AND IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO GET OVER THAT HURDLE.

>> THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS SAYS THERE ARE 4,000 DRUG COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT THIS PARTNERSHIP MAY BE ONE OF A KIND.

>> WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS.

WE HAVE AGENCIES.

WE HAVE FEDERAL FUNDING.

WE HAVE STATE FUNDING.

WE SHOULD DO THIS.

WE SHOULD TURN THINGS AROUND.

THERE'S TOO MANY TIMES THAT WE'VE IGNORED THESE PEOPLE AND LOOKED AT THEM AS OUTCASTS AND NOT TREATED THEM AS PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH A DISEASE.

>> JUDGE BURNS SAYS BARELY 4% OF GRADUATES COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME MAKING PEOPLE LIKE CARLA WORTH THE INVESTMENT.

>> 10, 15 YEARS AGO DID YOU SEE THIS FUTURE?

>> NEVER.

IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE THAT IS HOW BAD I WAS OUT THERE.

>> TODAY, CARLA'S HOME IS ALSO AN OFFICE WHERE SHE MENTORS OTHER SURVIVORS.

WITH THIS NEW LEASE ON LIFE, SHE'S PLANNING TO BECOME A CERTIFIED ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELOR WITH DREAMS OF OWNING HER OWN HOME TO HAVE ALL OF HER CHILDREN UNDER ONE ROOF.

>> AND WE SHOULD POINT OUT WHEN DEFENDANTS COMPLETE DRUG COURT THE CHARGES THAT BROUGHT THEM TO THE COURT ARE EXPUNGED AND OTHERS MAY HAVE OTHERS IN THEIR BACKGROUND.

OF THE 25 VOUCHERS OFFERED SEVEN HAVE HOUSING AND OTHERS RECEIVED VOUCHERS AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SEARCHING FOR HOUSING.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF COOK COUNTY IS HOPING TO EXPAND THE VOUCHER PROGRAM TO OTHER PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH OR VETERANS COURTS.

UP NEXT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN THE UNEXPLAINABLE IN AN UPCOMING REPORT.

>> HERE IS A QUESTION OF ALL QUESTIONS: ARE WE TRULY ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE?

A REPORT ON UFO'S SET TO BE RELEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS MANY ASKING THAT QUESTION.

A "NEW YORK TIMES" STORY CITING OFFICIALS MAY GIVE CLUES WHAT COULD BE IN THE REPORT AND AFTER REVIEWING 100 SIGHTINGS OF UNEYEFIED AERIAL PHENOMENA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WERE LESS DEFINITIVE BRINGING UP NEW TEMPERATURES BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AS POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE UFO REPORT AND IMPLICATIONS ARE MARK RODEGHIER PRESIDENT AND SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR FOR UFO STUDIES THAT MAINTAINS ELECTRONIC DATABASES AND CONDUCTS RESEARCH.

AND LOCAL SPACE EXPLORATION ENTHUSIAST, MARK HAMMERGREN.

STARTING WITH MARK R. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PENTAGON REPORT THAT HAS SO MANY FOLKS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT?

>> WELL, WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW COMES FROM A STORY FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" BECAUSE OF THE REPORT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET.

AND I THINK IF THE STORY IS ACCURATE, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE REPORT IS GOING TO BE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE REALLY A FIRST ATTEMPT AT COLLECTING AND COLLATING THE DATA ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS AND WHAT DATA IT HAS ON HAND ABOUT UFO'S.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DEFINITIVE AND IT'S NOT GOING TO SAY THAT UFO'S ARE ALIENS OR ONLY CHINESE OR RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGY OR WHAT.

>> AND MARK HAMMERGREN IS IT FAIR TO SAY THE CONCLUSION IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING LIKE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO CONCLUDE THAT IT'S ALIENS BUT WE CAN'T RULE IT OUT YET?

>> YEAH.

SO THE ONE THING THAT WE CAN SAY FROM THE REPORTS SO FAR ABOUT THE UPCOMING REPORT IS THAT THEY DO NOT EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE.

BUT ALSO THAT THEY HOWEVER, CAN ELIMINATE MOST U.S.

TECHNOLOGICAL AIRCRAFT THAT KIND OF THING.

SO THESE SEEM TO BE UNKNOWN.

>> MARK RODEGHIER YOU MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME AIRCRAFT FROM COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIA OR CHINA TEST AIRCRAFT.

IS THAT A LIKELY EXPLANATION FOR SOME OF THE SIGHTINGS?

>> WELL, PERSONALLY, THE SIGHTINGS THAT HAVE GOTTEN THE MOST ATTENTION, THE THREE VIDEOS THAT WERE RELEASED AND CONFIRMED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BE AUTHENTIC IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY THOSE COULD BE.

OTHER SIGHTINGS OF THE 120, CERTAINLY COULD BE.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE DISPLAYED CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE NOT MINDBOGGLING BUT CONCERNING BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN MONITORING OUR AIRCRAFT MOSTLY THE NAVY.

YOU WILL NOTE THAT WHERE IS THE AIR FORCE IN THIS?

AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABSENT IN THIS.

>> MARK HAMMERGREN, MARK RODEGHIER BROUGHT UP SOME OF THE SIGHTINGS.

THERE WAS A 2004 SIGHTINGS BY NAVY PILOTS.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SIGHTINGS BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

THE 2004 WAS CALLED THE TICK TAKE-BACK INCIDENT WHAT IS PECULIAR ABOUT THIS?

>> FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SIGHTING REPORTS AND CONSIDER THE ONES THAT ARE REPORTS BY VIEWERS.

BY THE PILOTS THEMSELVES.

THESE ARE VERBAL REPORTS, VISUAL REPORTS AND THEN WE HAVE THE VIDEOS THAT IN SOME CASES HELP CORROBORATE ONE OF THE SIGHTINGS MAYBE OR NOT.

BUT THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY CONNECTED TOGETHER.

SO OFTEN THE REPORTING JUST CONNECTS THEM TOGETHER SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE STORIES ARE BACKED UP BY VIDEOS.

AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE THREE VIDEOS THAT WERE RELEASED A FEW YEARS AGO HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE MORE.

BUT THE ONES RELEASED, THE OBJECTS THAT WE SEE REALLY DO NOT DISPLAY ANYTHING TERRIBLY UNUSUAL.

THEY MOVE IN SMOOTH MOTIONS NOT JERKING AROUND.

AND FROM THE DETECTORS USED THEY COULD EASILY BE JUST GLARES FROM JET ENGINES IN THE CAMERAS.

>> AND MARK RODEGHIER WE MENTIONED "THE NEW YORK TIMES" GOT THIS REPORT LEAKED IT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC AND THERE IS GOING TO BE PART THAT IS CLASSIFIED ARE THERE BOMBSHELLS THAT YOU EXPECT TO DISCOVER?

>> I WISH THERE WAS.

AND PERHAPS I WON'T CALL IT A BOMBSHELL BUT I HOPE THAT THE REPORT WOULD CONCLUDE THAT SERIOUS RESEARCH SHOULD CONTINUE AND IN FACT BE INCREASED ON THE SUBJECT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT SERIOUS RESEARCH IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO NO ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE CONCERNING.

BUT CERTAINLY A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING AND LETTING THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY NOT JUST THE MILITARY HAVE ACCESS TO DATA AND HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO THE RIGHT TYPES OF RESEARCH.

>> MARK HAMMERGREN, THE BIG BROAD PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE AND INTELLIGENT LIFE THAT HAS THE CAPACITY TO TRAVEL BILLIONS OF LIGHTYEARS HERE TO VISIT US?

>> IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY BECAUSE WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE START TO DETECTING LIFE OUTSIDE OF EARTH.

AND THEN THERE'S THE BIG UNKNOWN BEYOND THAT IS CAN THEY TRAVEL BETWEEN THE STARS IN ANY KIND OF RELATIVELY RAPID MANNER SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT TAKE GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS.

AND WE DON'T KNOW ANY OF THAT SO WE CAN'T SET A PROBABILITY OTHER THAN WE DON'T HAVE THAT HARD PHYSICAL EVIDENCE YET.

SO IT CAN'T BE SO COMMONPLACE THAT YOU KNOW WE SEE THEM LANDING AROUND US EVERYDAY IN OUR BACKYARDS.

AND FOR SOME OF THE SCI-FI FANS HOPE THIS REPORTS PROVIDE THAT EVIDENCE THEY MIGHT BE DISAPPOINTED.

MARK RODEGHIER YOU MENTIONED YOU WANT MORE SERIOUS RESEARCH DONE AND COLLABORATION YOU LEAD A NONPROFIT THAT IS DOING THIS RESEARCH.

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE YOU LOOKING AT AND WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED?

>> WELL, I WILL TELL YOU A PROJECT THAT WOULD BE FASCINATING AND THAT IS THAT UFO'S ARE REPORTED SOMETIMES AT NIGHT AND THEY ARE QUITE BRIGHT.

SATELLITES LOOK AT THE EARTH MANY SATELLITES LET ALONE MILITARY SATELLITES I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PROJECT THAT USED WELL INVESTIGATED SIGHTINGS THAT WE COULD LOCATE IN TIME AND SPACE AND USE SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO TRY TO LOOK EXACTLY AT THAT TIME AND SPACE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN LEARN.

I HAVE A MILLION OF THEM BUT THAT IS ONE PROJECT THINK WOULD PAY GREAT DIVIDENDS.

>> MARK HAMMERGREN WHAT RESEARCH WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING USING MODERN TEMPERATURE THAT GIVES US REALLY SHARP DETAILED IMAGES OF WHATEVER THESE ARE SO WE CAN SAY THAT IS A JET.

THAT IS A BIRD IN THE BACKGROUND.

SO WE CAN REELIMINATE ALL OF THE JUST ENDLESS SOME CASES NONSENSE THAT GOES ON.

>> SPECULATION, CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

I SUSPECT THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE.

OUR THANKS TO MARK RODEGHIER AND MARK HAMMERGREN FOR JOINING US.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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

ABBREVIATED TO BRING YOU SPECIAL PLEDGE PROGRAMMING.

SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. CHICAGO AND THE STATE ARE SET TO FULLY REOPEN FRIDAY.

WE TALK WITH THE TOP DOCTOR ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT MAY STILL LIE AHEAD.

>> AND UNTOLD STORIES ABOUT ANDI FRIEDMAN.

AND NOW FOR ALL OF US AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]