>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN .

>> AND I IN PARIS SCHUTZ, THE CITY OF NASHVILLE IS IN MOURNING FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF SIX PEOPLE IN A MASS SHOOTING AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S PROBLEM.

>> A GOVERNMENT MOLE TESTIFIES IN THIS TRIAL.

>> THE CTA STAFFING SHORTFALL, WHAT TRANSIT ADVOCATES WANT TO SEE FROM THEIR NEXT MAYOR.

>> AND HOW MANY ARE ON THE MOVE FROM A LOCAL PARK TO A SUBURBAN MALL.

>> NOW TO OUR TOP STORY, GETTING THE LEAD OUT OF CHICAGO HOMES.

LAST MONDAY WE REPORTED ABOUT THE WIDESPREAD LEAD-BASED ÑqrPA t Aä!pv@$jWowúQRHCchH7UG0XrGçSlT >> AND LEAD DUST ON FLOORS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAID PAINT HAZARDS ARE PRESENT IN 99% OF CHICAGO HOMES.

THAT REPRESENTS THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOUSING.

>> OFTEN TIMES IT'S UNHEALTHY.

>> JOHN BARLETT IS CEO OF THE METROPOLITAN TENNIS ORGANIZATION.

HE SAID THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ONLY EQUIPPED TO STEP IN ONCE A POSITIVE BLOOD LEAD LEVEL HAS BEEN REPORTED.

>> WE NEED TO PUT MORE INVESTMENT AND BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

>> CHICAGO HAS MADE PROGRESS ACCORDING TO DATA, IN 2021 2% OF CHILDREN TESTED POSITIVE FOR ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR BLOOD DOWN FROM 70% 25 YEARS EARLIER.

BUT FEWER THAN HALF OF CHICAGO CHILDREN ARE REGULARLY TESTED IN MANY LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REPORTING AS MANY AS 40% OF RESIDENTS HAVE POSITIVE TEST RESULTS.

>> SHE SAYS LEAD POISONING IN CHILDREN CAN CAUSE BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE HEALTH ISSUES.

>> IT CAN AFFECT A CHILD'S DEVELOPING BRAIN.

THERE ARE LOWER IQ SCORES THAT HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED, FOR EXAMPLE FROM A LEAD LEVEL OF 10, THEY SHOW A DROP OF IQS OF SIX POINTS.

>> IT CAN CAUSE AUTISM AND OTHER IMPAIRMENTS.

>> IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

>> ROXANNE RODRIGUEZ WANTS THE CITY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM BEFORE MORE KIDS GET POISONED.

SHE IS SPONSORING AN ORDINANCE FOR HEALTH INSPECTORS TO SCREED SCREEN HOUSING UNITS EVERY FIVE YEARS.

>> IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHEN YOU RENT A PROPERTY AND BRING YOUR FAMILY AND YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT THAT IS A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUR FAMILY.

I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

>> A PROACTIVE CITYWIDE PROGRAM WOULD REQUIRE AN ASTRONOMICAL 600 NEW HEALTH INSPECTORS.

SHE SAID THE CITY SHOULD AND SAID INSTEAD FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST RISK UNITS.

>> WHERE WE KNOW THERE ARE HOMES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF LEAD.

WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE ON THIS.

>> SHE HOPES JEDI'S STORY IS A WAKE-UP CALL TO THE CITY.

>> PROVIDING THESE APARTMENTS TO PEOPLE IN THIS CONDITION, OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING SICK.

>> THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE CALLED THE HEALTHY PILOT PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE.

HER SON IS STILL RECORDING HIS LEAD LEVELS ABOUT THREE TIMES THE LEVELS CONSIDERED HAZARDOUS.

JUST FIVE MONTHS AFTER HE WAS FIRST POISONED.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF LEGAL OR FINANCIAL RECOURSE?

>> FROM TALKING TO ADVOCATES AND THE FAMILIES IS A TRICKY SITUATION.

A LOT OF LANDLORDS CARRY INSURANCE THAT HAS EXEMPTIONS IN IT.

SO YOU CAN'T REALLY SUE FOR DAMAGES IF THEIR INSURANCE IS COVERING.

SO RENTERS DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF RECOURSE IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

THERE IS FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR LANDLORDS, BUT THIS PROCESS TAKES MONTHS.

>> NOW TO SOME OF OUR TOP STORIES.

SIX PEOPLE ARE REPORTED DEAD AFTER A SHOOTING IN A SCHOOL.

THE DEATH INCLUDES THREE CHILDREN AND THREE ADULTS.

A WOMAN REPORTEDLY OPENED FIRE.

POLICE SAY THE WOMAN ATTENDED THE NATIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT ONE POINT AND WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE.

POLICE SAY THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

>> THE FAMILY OF A DISABLED WOMAN KILLED IN A BUS CRASH IN 2021 WILL RECEIVE A $13 MILLION LEGAL SETTLEMENT.

>> THE CITY'S BUS SERVICE AND THE SUBCONTRACTOR, VIOLATED THE PUBLIC TRUST.

THEY DID SO BY PUTTING IN A DRIVER ON THE ROAD THAT WAS KNOWN TO BE A DANGER.

THEY SHIFTED THAT DANGER ONTO THE PUBLIC.

>> THE DRIVER OF THE MEDICAL TRANSPORT BUS CRASHED, THE DRIVER WAS KNOWN TO HAVE SLEEP APNEA DISORDER THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN FOLLOWED UP ON.

SHE FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL CALLING CAUSING THE CRASH.

THE TRIAL WAS SETTLED.

THE DRIVER MAY STILL FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>> THE CITY'S OTHER BIG UTILITY IS TAKING SOME HEAT.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS GOT TOGETHER TO PROTEST THE PEOPLE'S GAS RATE HIKE.

SEEKING A $400 MILLION INCREASE IN RATES THAT WOULD ADD $140 PER YEAR TO THE AVERAGE TAXPAYERS BILL.

CALLS ON THE ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMITTEE IS THE ELECTED BODY THAT WOULD REGULATE THIS.

>> WHILE PEOPLE'S GAS RATES SOAR.

OUR CITY HAS BEEN PLUNGED INTO A HEATING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.

>> NEIGHBORS AND EAST GARFIELD PARK WILL GET MORE NEIGHBORS AFTER A NEW SEVEN-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING IS BUILT.

THE NEW $47 MILLION TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPING NEXT TO THE CTA GREENLINE.

THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE CALLED HUB 32 AND FEATURE ALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

THE HALF ACRE SITE HAS BEEN EMPTY SINCE THE EARLY 70s.

CONSTRUCTION WILL START EARLY NEXT YEAR.

>> COMING UP, A WISH LIST OF CHANGES FOR CHICAGO'S NEXT MAYOR.

>> AMANDA HAS THE DETAILS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THIS BRIBERY PLOT WAS ALL ABOUT MAKING AND KEEPING MICHAEL MADIGAN HAPPY.

WE HAVE TESTIMONY FROM A KEY GOVERNMENT WITNESS.

AMANDA JOINS US NOW.

YOU ARE WATCHING THE PROCEEDINGS, >> IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT TRIAL.

FORMERLY A TOP EXECUTIVE, BEING CHARGED WITH GOVERNMENT RELATIONS.

HE SERVED AS A MOLD FOR THE FBI.

MARQUEZ ADMITTED TO BRIBERY IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS COOPERATION INCLUDING HIS TESTIMONY TODAY.

HE MAY SERVE NO PRISON TIME.

4 OF HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

>> WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SAY.

>> HE SHARED THE COMMENT DIDN'T HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH MICHAEL MADIGAN.

HE SAID MADIGAN HAS GROWN NOT TO TRUST THEM BECAUSE OF NEGOTIATIONS.

THEY FOCUSED ON TURNING THAT AROUND, WITH THE HELP OF MICHAEL McLEAN.

HE WAS KNOWN AS A DOUBLE AGENT BECAUSE WHILE THE LOBBYIST WAS INVOLVED.

THIS IS WHY MARQUEZ SAID HE GOT A REQUEST FROM McLEAN AND HE KNEW HE HAD TO ACT ON ITS URGENCY.

>> WHAT SORT OF REQUESTS WERE SON OF THESE?

>> HE WAS GIVEN A TO DO LIST.

MARQUEZ WENT ON TO DETAIL OTHER REQUESTS LIKE LOBBYING CONTRACTS.

HE SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE SKILLS FOR THOSE JOBS BUT THE SUBCONTRACTORS, DIDN'T DO ANY WORK DESPITE GETTING PAID.

EVEN AS THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF MANAGING LOBBYING CONTRACTS ORIGINALLY KNOWN.

IT WAS MORE PROMINENT LOBBYISTS.

TODAY MARQUEZ SAYS HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO POINT ONE OF THEM OUT.

MARQUEZ SAYS HE DID ALL OF THIS WITH FULL CONSENT.

HE SAID HE WANTED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT MADIGAN HAD A FAVORABLE DISPOSITION BECAUSE SHE KNEW MARQUEZ TESTIFIED AND MADIGAN WAS THE LINCHPIN FOR ADVANCING LEGISLATION INCLUDING BILLS THAT WERE CREDITED FOR ADVANCING HER TO THE CEO.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM TODAY?

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE JURY HEARD ABOUT THIS.

ALSO THEY SAW AN EMAIL EXHIBIT WITH THE PROSECUTION SHOWING PROOF TO JURORS THAT THE DEFENDANT WAS INVOLVED IN THE BRIBERY SCHEME.

THAT SUBCONTRACTS AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE PAID UNDER AND HOW MUCH.

BECAUSE IT WAS SEEN AS IMPORTANT TO MADIGAN.

WE DID NOT HEAR MUCH FROM THE DEFENSE TODAY.

WE GOT A BUNCH OF OBJECTIONS WHICH WERE OVERRULED BUT WHEN IT IS THEIR TURN TO CROSS EXAMINE, WE WILL FIND THAT MADIGAN WAS POWERFUL BUT IT WAS REGULAR LOBBY WORK FOR HIM AS A PROMINENT SPEAKER.

AGAIN THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD WEEK OF THE TRIAL.

WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE MANY MORE WEEKS AHEAD.

>> A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

THAT HAS BEEN THE DEFENSE STRATEGY SO FAR.

>> THAT IS WHERE ALL THIS IS COMING DOWN TO.

THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT TRANSIT ADVOCATES WANT TO SEE FROM CHICAGO'S NEXT MAYOR THE >> BUSES THAT NEVER SHOW UP AND UNRELIABLE TRAINS.

THIS IS A CTA SHORTFALL.

THESE ARE A FEW OF THE TRANSIT TOPICS ONLINE.

HEAD TO THE BALLOT BOX.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT TRANSIT ID IDEAS WE HOPE TO SEE.

AUDREY WINNING.

AND JOSI MANUEL JUNIOR.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

JOSI, DOES THIS UNCERTAINTY THAT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT, ABOUT A RIVAL BUS OR TRAIN ALWAYS BEING LATE.

DOES THAT PLAY INTO SAFETY?

>> IF PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TIME THE TRAIN WILL ARRIVE, AND WHAT TIME TO GET TO THE STATION, IT CAN CAUSE A LOT LESS THINGS TO HAPPEN.

RATHER THAN IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHEN TO BE THERE.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE HERE IN CHICAGO.

>> THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE TRANSPORT SISTER SAFER.

IS THAT ENOUGH OR SOMETHING THE NEXT MAYOR SHOULD CONTINUE?

>> THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO RESHAPE THE CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT SAFETY.

IF THERE IS MORE PEOPLE AROUND, ADDITIONALLY CTA SHOULD HIRE AMBASSADORS THEY CAN DE- ESCALATE AND DEAL WITH A LOT OF SITUATIONS.

THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE SAFER.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW CTA CONTINUES TO RELY ON OVERTIME.

HOW CAN THE NEXT MAYOR BETTER SUPPORT CTA?

>> THERE IS SUCH AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF OPERATORS.

IT'S BEEN SEVERE COMPETITION.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GRAVITATING.

NOT TO MENTION THE UPDATED LOOK.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THEM BECAUSE MANY ARE IN POSITIONS THAT WOULD'VE MADE THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO CATCHING COVID OR ANY OTHER VIRUS.

IT WILL BE A TOUGH PATH.

THERE HAS TO BE A VERY DIFFERENT LENS LOOKING INSIDE THE WORKFORCE.

THERE HAS TO BE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT.

>> MANY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE BUS OR TRAIN NOT SHOWING UP WHEN IT SHOULD.

>> THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO WORK ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE BUSES THAT APPEAR TO BE SCHEDULED THAT AREN'T COMING.

I WOULD AGREE WITH STAFFING WHICH WILL BE KEY TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN STAFF ALL THE BUSES ON THE SCHEDULE.

>> >> THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY OTHER IMPACTS.

THE WORK FROM HOME PHENOMENON IS HERE TO STAY WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TRANSITIONING THEIR WORK WEEK.

METRO HAS GONE TO A DIFFERENT MODEL WHICH IS WAY OF SAYING WE ARE NO LONGER A COMMUTER RAIL.

THAT MAY BE WHAT ALL TRANSIT AGENCIES OUGHT TO BE DOING.

WHEN YOU HAVE MANY OTHER TRIP TYPES, YOU ARE GIVING WAY TO THE TELECOMMUTE.

WITH OTHER TRIPS LIKE LEISURE OR OTHER TRIP TYPES.

IT BRINGS THEM BACK INTO THE FOLD.

>> OF COURSE PUBLIC TRANSIT, WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE NEXT MAYOR, AT LEAST 439 BICYCLISTS HAVE BEEN HIT BY DRIVERS AND BIKE LANES.

AUDREY, WHAT IDEAS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WITH THE MAYOR?

>> WE WANT TO SEE MORE PROTECTED BIKE LANES.

SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO VARIOUS POINTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND HAVE THE ENTIRE ROUTE.

JUST A CONTINUED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT BLOCKING BIKE LANES.

ONE REALLY GOOD THING THAT JUST HAPPENED WAS THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE WHICH PILOTS ENFORCING BIKE LANES IN DOWNTOWN.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE HAPPENING.

>> JOSI, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT MAYOR SHOULD DO?

>> THOSE ARE ALL GREAT IDEAS.

THAT WILL DO WELL TO REDUCE THE STRESS THAT CYCLISTS FACE EVERY DAY BATTLING TRAFFIC.

IT WILL ALSO DECREASE THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

>> THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY APPROVED THE PILOT PROGRAM REGARDING PARKED CARS IN BUS LANES GETTING A TICKET.

SHOULD THE NEXT MAYOR MAKE THIS PILOT PROGRAM PERMANENT?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS.

WE HAVE HAD SOME EXPERIENCES WITH ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS IN THE PAST.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE THEY HAVE BEEN.

BASED ON THAT A CONDITION CAN BE MADE.

AT THIS POINT THERE SCALING UP.

>> AUDREY WHAT SPECIFICS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A CANDIDATE'S TRANSIT PLAN?

>> WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR ADVISING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSIT.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS ACTUALLY CEMENTED FUNDING FOR PILOT PROJECTS ALONG TRANSIT STATIONS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NEW CANDIDATE SUPPORTING EMERGING BUSINESSES REGARDING TRANSIT.

>> WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME BUT WHAT IS ONE TRANSIT TOPIC YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THE CANDIDATE TALK ABOUT ENOUGH?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

ONE THING IS EXPANDING AND REOPENING THE GREEN LINE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE HEARD COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANTING THAT TO BE REOPENED AGAIN.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO INCREASE RIDERSHIP.

>> THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU.

>> UP NEXT, MEXICAN FOLK ART COMES TO LIFE, WE WILL SHOW YOU WHERE RIGHT AFTER THE BREAK.

>> 66 ON FRIDAY, IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO CANTEEN THE PARK TO SEE THE PREACHERS OF THE DREAMWORLD, WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS.

20 OF THOSE SUPERSIZED SKULL TERMS SCULPTURES HAVE TRAVELED TO THE MALL WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM BEFORE THEY MOVE ON ONCE MORE.

>> THEY ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE MALL.

SOME ARE FINISHED, SOME ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING RESTORED.

THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF CANTEEN HE FOR SIX MONTHS.

THEY WERE STORED OVER THE WINTER AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.

THEY ARE GOING TO PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS.

WE TURNED TO THE CULTURE CENTER AND BROUGHT IN 20 PIECES.

IT'S BEEN AMAZING.

>> SO THE ARTISTS HAVE COME FROM MEXICO.

IT'S GREAT THAT WE GET TO HOST THE ARTISTS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE STOP AND ASK ABOUT THE PROCESS.

THERE ARE 12 MILLION ARTISTS IN MEXICO DOING THIS KIND OF ART AND TO OUR UNSEEN.

WE CAN HOST THREE OF THEM HERE.

THEY WERE AMAZING AND VIBRANT.

WE SEE THEM COMING TOGETHER IN KIND OF A DIFFERENT APPRECIATION.

JUST THE AWARENESS IS FASCINATING.

>> A FUN THING TO SEE AT THE MALL.

ARTISTS WILL T?Uo