>>> HEY, EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR JOINING "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I AM BRANDON FRIEDMAN.

A SPIKE IN OVERTIME PAYMENTS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

WTTW INVESTIGATES.

>> YOU HAVE TO RESTORE PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> I NEVER SAID I WAS GOING TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

>> SPOTLIGHT FOR MAYOR.

AND A FORMER OFFICIAL WHO OVER SAW CHICAGO POLICE REFORM TALKS SOLUTION.

AND A HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD [INAUDIBLE] AMERICA'S HISTORY AND WATER COLORING.

AND NOW OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT -- >> WTTW NEWS FINDS A SHARP INCREASE IN OVERTIME DESPITE PROMISES BY THE MAYOR TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL.

HEATHER JOINS US NOW WITH WHAT STHAOE AND JAROD -- WITH WHAT SHE AND JAROD FOUND.

HOW MUCH DID CITY EMPLOYEES EARN WORKING OVERTIME IN 2022.

>> IT IS AT LEAST $410 MILLION.

AND THAT REPRESENTS A 33% INCREASE OVER 2021.

NEARLY HALF OF THAT AMOUNT, $210.5 MILLION WENT TO MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT REPRESENTS A 56% INCREASE FROM 2022.

THE CITY SPENT MORE ON OVERTIME IN 2022 THAN IT DID IN 2020 WHICH OF COURSE IS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE CRIME SURGE THAT HAS YET TO RECEDE.

>> THERE WAS A TOFPB OVERTIME IN THAT ERA AND THERE IS MORE IN 2022.

WE SAW THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT CANCELING DAYS OFF AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WHY WAS THERE SO MUCH OVERTIME?

>> YOU SNAIL -- NAILED IT ON THE HEAD.

THEY SAID POLICE WERE GOING TO GET A HANDLE ON THE CRIME SURGE SO MANY TIMES THEY HAD THEIR DAYS OFF CANCELED.

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND A THOUSAND OFFICERS WHO WORKED AT ONE POINT11 DAYS STRAIGHT AND THAT'S TO OVERTIME.

>> SHE SAID IN APRIL OF 2020 THE DEPARTMENT NEEDED TO STOP SPENDING LIKE A DRUNKEN SAILOR.

HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO WHAT YOU UNCOVERED?

>> NEITHER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RESPONDED TO OUR QUESTIONS.

THEY SAID THEY HAVEN'T FINISHED TABOO LAYINGSES -- TABULATIONS FOR 2022.

>> YOU ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

THAT OFFICE IN 2017 FOUND EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OVERTIME ARE LINKED TO BURNOUT AND MISCONDUCT AND WHAT DID SHE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS MASSIVE AMOUNT?

>> IT IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AND AN INDICATION THAT THE CITY IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAS LEARNED FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS.

>> MAYBE A QUESTION FOR ONE OF THE MAYORAL DEBATES.

>> INDEED.

>> HEATHER, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, ERIC.

>>> YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> BACK TO BRANDON FOR TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES.

>> IN THE ONGOING DISPUTE OVER THE LITTLE VILLAGE DISCOUNT MALL THEY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE OWNER AND DEVELOPER.

>> THEY MADE IT SPECIAL BY THEIR COMMITMENT AND MAKING IT AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL ANCHOR FOR THE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY.

AND NOW THESE DEVELOPERS WANT TO TAKE ALL OF THE GOODWILL THAT WAS BUILT UP BY THE VENDORS OVER THE YEARS AND SAY YOU ARE NOT A TENANT.

WE CAN KICK YOU OUT WHEN WE WANT.

>> ADVOCATES SAY NOVAK CONSTRUCTION HAS GIVEN UP 40 DISCOUNT MALL VENDORS.

THE 25th WARD ALDERMAN CAME ALONGSIDE THE VENDORS AND THEY WERE THE BIGGEST HELP IN FINDING A NEW LOCATION.

THEY ARE ASKING THE COUNTY JUDGE TO INTERVENE.

>> PARENTS OF CHICK KH-G STUDENTS -- OF CHICAGO STUDENTS ARE GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON HOW BOARD MEMBERS MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT STUDENTS.

THE BOARD WILL START MAKING INFORMATION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WEEKS BEFORE THE MONTHLY BOARD MEETING.

>> WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY.

AND THIS WILL MEAN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE HAS ACCESS TO ANY GIVEN MONTH'S AGENDA EARLIER WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL FOSTER MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SO THE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE MORE ADVANCED NOTICE ON WHAT ITEMS ARE GONNA COME UP FOR THE MONTH.

>> CHANGE STARTS IN MAY.

PREVIOUSLY STAFF WOULD BRIEF BOARD MEMBERS TWO AT A TIME IN PRIVATE MEETINGS IN ADVANCE OF THE PUBLIC'S FULL BOARD MEETING.

ADDITIONALLY THE BOARD SAYS IT WILL HOLD MORE MONTHLY MEETINGS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE CURRENT BOARD WILL TRAN -- TRANSITION TO AN ELECTED BOARD NEXT YEAR STPHAOEUFPLT CHICAGO AREA STARBUCKS WORKERS JOINED IN A NATIONAL STRIKE TODAY.

WORKERS AT THE EDGEWATER STARBUCKS TOOK TO THE PICKET LINE TO SUPPORT UNIONIZED STARBUCKS WORKERS.

IT IS ONE OF SEVEN CITY LOCATION S, AND THEY SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL LABOR VIOLATIONS IN THE CAMPAIGN TO HALT UNIONIZATION AT ITS DOORS.

AND WITH THAT RUNOFF ELECTION LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY VISIT OUR WTTW NEWS VOTER GUIDE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

SEARCH BY NAME, RACE OR WARD AND FIND OUT WHERE CANDIDATES STAND IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

THAT'S ALL AT WTTW.COM.

>>> UP NEXT IN THE PROGRAM, THE FORMER OFFICIAL WHO OVER -- OVER SAW POLICE REFORM SHARES HIS RECOMMENDATION FOR CHICAGO'S NEXT TOP COP.

THAT'S AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> THEY ARE PICKING A NEW POLICE SUPERINTENDENT.

THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF WILL UP THE PACE OF REFORM TO KEEP UP WITH THE FED -- FEDERAL CONCEPT DECREE.

THE FORMER WAS FIRED AFTER A DISPUTE WITH DAVID BROWN.

HE SAID BROWN'S MOVES WOULD HURT THE REFORM EFFORT.

JOINING US IS ROBERT HOYT, THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.

HE NOW WORKS AS AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.

DEFINITELY HAS AN INSIDE VIEW OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> WE MENTIONED YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF THE DEPARTMENT.

YOU WERE FIRED BECAUSE YOU PUSHED BACK ON A PERSONNEL MOVEMENT.

YOU ARGUED THAT WAS GOING TO HURT THE EFFORTS TO KEEP UP WITH THE CONCEPT DECREE -- CONSENT DECREE.

WHY WERE YOU FIRED?

>> I WANT TO FOCUS FORWARD AND NOT REALLY LOOK BACK TODAY.

TODAY I THINK WE HAD AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF LITERATURE THAT WAS RELEASED.

IT LAYS OUT A ROAD MAP FOR A NEW MAYOR, AND ONCE THE SUPER IN-- THE SUPERINTENDENT IS ELECTED IT SHOULD BE AT THE CORE OF THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO ADVANCE CONCEPTS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU IDEALLY BE LOOKING FOR IN A SUPERINTENDANT.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

NUMBER ONE, THE SUPERINTENDANT NEEDS TO BE A DYE TPHAPL -- DYNAMIC CHANGE AGENT.

THEY NEED TO LEAD ON REFORM AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT BUILDING OFFICER MORALE IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

REFORM CAN BE PUSHED FROM THE TOP AND TRUE CULTURE CHANGE HAS TO COME FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

THAT LEADER HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THAT LEADER NEEDS TO HIRE A DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT REALLY EMBRACES THE CONCEPTS OF REFORM AND REALLY EMBRACES BUILDING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AS THE ESSENCE OF A PRIZE-FIGHTING STRATEGY THAT WILL IMPACT VIOLENT CRIME.

>> AND THERE IS ALWAYS A DEBATE WHETHER THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD COME FROM WITHIN OR OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ARE THERE ANY FOLKS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU CAN SEE POTENTIAL CHANGE IN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EXACTLY WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE, THAT'S NOT MY JOB.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO NAME NAMES RIGHT NOW?

>> 100%.

>> AND SPEAKING OF THE CONSENT DECREE, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY ONLY 3% OF THE RECOMMENDATION IS ON TIME.

WHAT SHOULD VIEWERS MAKE OF THAT PERCENTAGE?

>> I THINK REFORM IS NECESSARY IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK REALLY THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT AND REALLY START TO MAKE THE CHANGE THAT'S ARE VISIBLE TO THE INDIVIDUAL ON THE GROUND.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEPARTMENT IS DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

I OFTEN SAY EVEN IF EDDIE JOHNSON WERE TO COME BACK TODAY, I THINK HE WOULD FIND A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT THAN WHAT HE LEFT.

THERE IS CHANGE THAT HAS OCCURRED.

THE CHANGE REALLY NEEDS TO SPEED UP.

PART OF THE WAY THAT HAPPENS IS BY HAVING A CRIME-FIGHTING STRATEGY WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY, WHERE THOSE RESOURCES ARE BASED ON A PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHY, AND WHERE THOSE OFFICERS ARE REQUESTED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

COMMUNITY POLICING IS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE THAT OFFICERS ENGAGE IN AS OPPOSED TO OTHER ACTIVITIES.

>> AND THE REPORT THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER BASICALLY COMES TO THE CONCLUSION THAT CPD, AND A DEPARTMENT FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY POLICING.

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF THAT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY IS MADE UP OF CERTAIN SPECIALIZED UNITS.

THOSE SPECIALIZED UNITS NEED TO BE PROBING -- NEED TO BE BROKEN UP AND THE RESOURCES NEED TO BE CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY.

ONCE THE RESOURCES ARE PUSHED CLOSE -- CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY, THE DEPARTMENT HAS A RESPONSIBLE -- RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A ROTATION OF OFFICERS WHO DON'T WORK EVERY DAY.

IT WOULD BE THE SAME OFFICER FOR A SHIFT CHANGE.

IT NEEDS TO BE THE SAME PERSONNEL EVERY DAY.

THOSE OFFICERS' PRIMARY FOCUS SHOULD BE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST CLEARANCE RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

THE ESSENCE OF WHY IT IS THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BREAK DOWN THE PROCESS, AND PARTICULARLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO.

BUILDING TRUST HAS TO BE THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE NOT JUST OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT CPD LEADERSHIP.

>> I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN AN NEC.

I TALKED TO THE OWNER OF A SMALL PHARMACY.

HE SAYS IF HE SEES SOMETHING HAPPENING, A GANG FIGHT OUTSIDE, HE DOESN'T CALL THE COPS.

PEOPLE KNOW HE WILL NOT CALL THE COPS AND HE TRIES TO RESOLVE IT AND THE STORE IS FINE.

IN THAT ENVIRONMENT HOW DO THE POLICE BREAKTHROUGH?

>> INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT WHEN THEY CALL THE POLICE, NUMBER ONE, THAT THE POLICE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN THEIR CONFIDENCE.

IF THEY WANT TO BE DISCREET ABOUT IT, THEY CAN BE DISCREET.

THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS BY HAVING AN OFFICER THAT THEY KNOW, AN OFFICER THAT WORKS THAT BEAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THAT'S OF PRIME IMPORTANCE.

THROUGH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, THE BUSINESS OWNER CAN TRUST THAT THAT OFFICER WILL DO THE RIGHT THING WITH THAT INFORMATION.

>> YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO ENDORSE ANYBODY FROM MAYOR, BUT THERE ARE TWO VIEWS.

ON ONE SIDE MORE RESOURCES DIVERTED TO OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, HIRING BACK A THOUSAND POLICE OFFICERS.

WHICH APPROACH DO YOU THINK IS GONNA GET CLOSER TO WHAT YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I UNDERSTAND IT IS CAMPAIGNING FOR GOVERNOR.

WHOEVER WINGS THE THEY -- WINS THE ELECTION, THE REPORT IS AN EXCELLENT ROAD MAP THEY CAN FOLLOW AND THE STEPS THEY NEED TO TAKE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CHICAGO AND L.A. AND NEW YORK IS A REAL EFFORT TO BUILD COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND BUILD TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT NEEDS TO BE THEIR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE.

>> HOPEFULLY COMBINED -- CANDIDATES ARE LISTENING TO THAT AND TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> UP NEXT, CANDIDATES TRY TO REFOCUS THEIR MESSAGING.

STAY WITH US.

>> LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FOR ELECTION DAY CANDIDATES ARE MAKING THEIR CASE TO VOTERS AND THE LATEST IN THE TRIAL THAT IS SHINING A LIGHT ON THE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER'S POLITICAL POWER.

LET'S START WITH THE RACE.

HERE IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY LAST NIGHT.

>> HE HAS A TERRIBLE RESUME.

PAUL HAS NEVER BEEN ELECTED TO ANYTHING.

HE NEVER HAD TO MOVE A LEGISLATIVE DYNAMIC.

NEVER HAD TO DO IT.

>> HOLDING THE LINE ON TAXES.

I DO NOT BELIEVE PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC ISSUE.

I THINK THAT'S WHY I HAVE BEEN DOING WELL AND THAT'S WHY I GOT INTO A RUNOFF.

>> THE REPUBLICAN AND HIS OPPONENT.

>> HE WOULD LOVE FOR CHICAGOANS TO BELIEVE EXACTLY THAT.

CHICAGO IS A DEMOCRATIC TOWN AND HE THINKS IT WILL HELP IN THIS CONTEST.

HE GOT A LITTLE HELP TODAY FROM FORMER REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE.

HE SAYS IT WILL BE A DARK DAY IF BRANDON BECOMES MAYOR AND VOTE FOR PAUL.

BRANDON JOHNSON'S CAMPAIGN BLASTED THE VIDEO OUT TO REPORTERS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE FIGHT HE WANTS TO HAVE.

WILL IT BE SUCCESSFUL?

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

>> HE IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE FIGURE IN CHICAGO.

A BOOSTER DARRIN BAILEY MANY TIMES.

>> HE IS CALLING HIM A DICTATOR.

>> YES.

HE ALSO HAS SUPPORT FROM A LOT OF DEMOCRATS.

LET'S BE CLEAR.

HE HAS TIES TO REPUBLICANS AND HAS ENDORSEMENTS FROM HIS FORMER RUNNING MATE.

>> AND A TON OF ALDERPEOPLE TOO.

>> I THINK VOTERS HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DEBATES AND THERE IS ONE EVERY DAY.

THEY ARE HEARING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER.

I THINK WHAT THEY KNOW IS BRANDON JOHNSON SAYS HE WANTS TO DIVERT ABOUT $150 MILLION INTO OTHER THINGS, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.

HE IS GOING TO HIRE A THOUSAND POLICE OFFICERS THAT LEFT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

CAN THEY DO THAT IN OFFICE?

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> LET'S GET INTO THAT.

EARLIER IN THE SHOW YOU COVERED THE MASSIVE CPD OVERTIME PROBLEM.

SOME MAY SAY THAT IS CLEAR EVIDENCE THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE POLICE AND NEEDS MORE PEOPLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T NEED MORE COPS.

WILL JOHNSON'S PLAN TO PROMOTE 200 DETECTIVES HELP?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHY HE WANTS TO DO IT.

THE WAY TO REDUCE CRIME IS TO SOLVE CRIME.

RIGHT NOW PROPORTIONALLY CHICAGO HAS FEWER DETECTIVES THAN LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK.

JOHNSON'S PLAN IS LET'S PUT OFFICERS NOT ON THE STREETS PULLING OVER CARS AND RUNNING DRUG BUSTS.

LET'S HAVE THEM SOLVE ACTUAL VIOLENT CRIMES.

IT WILL HELP BECAUSE IT WILL GET CRIMINALS OFF THE STREETS.

IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TEST AND MOVE UP THE RANKS.

IT WOULD BE THE NEW OFFICERS GOING THROUGH THE ACADEMY EVERY COUPLE WEEKS THAT WOULD FILL THOSE -- ON THE STREETS.

HE SAID IT IS NOT A SOLUTION AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS -- AND NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO BE EASY.

IF IT WAS LORI LIGHTFOOT WOULD HAVE DONE IT A LONGTIME AGO.

>> WHAT IS THE DOWNSIDE OF PROMOTING 200 OFFICERS TO DETECTIVE POSITIONS?

>> IT TAKES OFFICERS OFF THEIR PATROLS AND PUTS THEM IN OFFICES OR SOLVING THESE PARTICULAR CRIMES.

THAT MAY BE SOMETHING BRANDON JOHNSON WILL ADD.

IT WAS NOT A PERSONAL GOAL, BUT HE DOESN'T WANT MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET.

HE DOES PRESIDENT BELIEVE THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE TASK TO CURBING SAFETY.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE.

THEN AGAIN, THE REASON YOU HAVE ALL THIS OVERTIME IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS.

IT IS QUITE THE CONUNDRUM.

IT IS GOING TO KWOPBT -- GOING TO CONTINUE.

>> MADIGAN IS ON TRIAL AND IT AFFECTS THE WAY THE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER CONTROLS THE HOUSE.

MADIGAN WILL GO ON TRIAL SEPARATELY.

>> LIKE YOU SAID WE GOT A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE SCENES.

IT WAS NEVER SORT OF STRAIGHT FORWARD.

IT WAS ALWAYS HIM TALKING ABOUT FINDING OUT WHO IS ON TRIAL.

MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS.

NOT JUST TO STAFF, BUT TO OTHER LAWMAKERS.

LAWMAKERS WHO ARE DOING AS THEY WERE INSTRUCK -- INSTRUCTED.

IT IS FASCINATING.

>> FOR A SPEAKER WHO WASN'T PRONE TO SPEAKING OFTEN AND EVEN IF YOU ARE IN PRESS CONFERENCES AND HE IS GIVING DIRECTIVES.

>> THEY ARE SETTING THIS UP HOW IT WORKS.

THEY ARE GOING TO RELATE IT TO COM-ED.

200 MILLION TO ADMIT TO THE SCHEME AND HOW MUCH DID THEY MAKE?

BILLIONS?

>> ONE OF THE MEASURES THEY BELIEVE THEY MADE NEARLY $2 BILLION.

>> A $2 MILLION PROFIT BY TAKING FOUR EXECUTIVES TO TRIAL?

>> WE HAVE BEEN 22ND -- 20 SECONDS.

THEY SAY IT IS LEGAL.

IS THE LOBBYING LINE A LITTLE BLURRY?

>> IT IS VERY BLURRY.

IT MAKES SENSE YOU WANT TO PLEASE THE VERY POWERFUL HOUSE SPEAKER.

IS THAT LEGAL?

THERE IS A LOT MORE TO THE TRIAL.

A LOT OF THAT IS COMMON SENSE.

>> IT MAY NOT BE ILLEGAL, BUT IT SOUNDS -- >> AND IN THAT SPOTLIGHT POLITICS -- [INAUDIBLE].

>> UP NEXT, A WATER COLORIST TAKES ON DEPICTIONS OF AMERICAN MONUMENTS IN HISTORY.

>>> OF COURSE FOR A -- OVER THE COURSE OF A HUNDRED YEARS A LOT HAS CHANGED.

HE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING THEM FOR A GOOD PART OF THE LAST CENTURY AND IT IS ROOTED IN LOVE FOR AMERICAN HISTORY.

WE GO TO LINCOLN PARK TO MEET A CENTENARIAN WHO IS A WIZ WITH WATER COLORS.

>> FOR TKPWHROR -- GLORIA K WILLIAMS THERE IS ONE FOCUS OF HER WORK IN WATER COLOR.

>> AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> FROM THE STATUTE OF LIBERTY TO MOUNT RUSHMORE SHE SPENT 50 YEARS TRAVELING THE COUNTRY AND DOCUMENTING HISTORICAL LANDMARKS WITH HER WATER COLORS.

>> IT IS WHAT I NEED TO PAINT AND WHAT I NEED TO GET DONE.

>> SHE WOULD PAINT WHAT IS KNOWN AS HER AMERICAN LEGACY COLLECTION.

THAT 250-PIECE COLLECTION WOULD LEAD THE FORMER TEACHER TO BE HONORED AS THE ARTIST KNOWN AS GLORIA.

>> I AM GRATEFUL.

IT IS RECOGNITION AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF RECOGNITION.

>> NOW SMITH'S DEPICTION OF AMERICAN HISTORY HAS LEAD HER TO RECEIVE MANY ACCOLADES, THAT INCLUDE BEING HONORED BY THE CITY OF CHICAGO WITH THE DECLARATION OF K SMITH DAY ON FEBRUARY 27th.

>> I AM A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

I AM THANKFUL I CAN DO SOMETHING I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF ARTWORK.

>> EVEN AT THE AGE OF 100 YEARS OLD, SHE SPENDS ONE HOUR A DAY DO -- DOING HER WATER COLORS AND IT IS WHAT KEEPS HER DOING -- GOING.

>> I SPEND AN HOUR IN THE MORNING AND I CAN PAINT.

THE NEXT HOUR I CAN PAINT [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

AND I COULDN'T DO IT WITH ANYTHING BUT WATER COLOR.

WATER COLOR IS FOR ME VERY ABLE, VERY VIABLE.

[INAUDIBLE] >> AS FOR HER STILL GROWING COLLECTION, SHE HAS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR HERPESES, IN THE CLASSROOM.

EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION ON AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> THEY DON'T KNOW A THING.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS GREA.

>> SHE WAS AWARDED BY THE LINCOLN ACADEMY OF ILLINOIS.

ACCORDING TO THE ORGANIZATION THEY RECOGNIZED INDIVIDUAL PWHOE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BETTER MEANT OF HUMANITY ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

FIND MORE ON KAY SMITH AND HER WATER COLORS.

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

JOIN US TOMORROW LIVE AT 10.

WHAT IF A TRAIN DERAILMENT HAPPENED HERE?

SOME RESIDENTS ARE PREPARING.

>> AND INTO THE LAB WITH A PALEONTOLOGIST AS HE PREPARES FOR A MUCH DELAYED FOSSIL HUNT IN THE ARCTIC.

>> THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW.