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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ LIVE IN THE O'HARE COMMUNITY AREA ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR.

>> VINDICATION AND SURPRISE LEGISLATORS AND INSIDERS REACT TO FORMER SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN'S INDICTMENT.

>> THIS HAS BEEN SOMETIME COMING WHERE WE HAVE CONTINUED TO LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE, FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE WHERE IT LEADS.

PLUS, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTORS BREAKDOWN THE CHARGES IN THAT INDICTMENT.

>> WE'RE WAITING FOR PEACE AND VICTORY.

>> A LOCAL UKRAINIAN CHURCH IS STANDING IN SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE INVASION OF THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

WE'RE LIVE IN THE O'HARE AREA.

>> PEW TIP WAS WRONG -- PUTIN WAS WRONG.

WE ARE READY.

>> A LOCAL PROFESSOR WHO RETURNED FROM RUSSIA SHARES HER FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT AS THE COUNTRY'S INVASION OF UKRAINE INTENSIFIES.

>> THERE IS A POTENTIAL THEY COULD BLOCK OFF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> A GROUP OF SUBURBS WARN THE MERGER OF TWO FREIGHT TRAIN COMPANIES WOULD MEAN SNARLED TRAFFIC AND DELAYS FOR FIRST-RESPONDERS.

>> ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST EDITORIAL CARTOONISTS IS ON VIEW AT THE PRITZKER MUSEUM AND LIBRARY.

>> I'M LIVE IN THE O'HARE COMMUNITY AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

IT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT JUST AN AIRPORT AND UNOFFICIALLY THE SECOND CULTURAL HUB OF UKRAINIAN AMERICAN LIFE HERE IN CHICAGO.

WE WILL GETAWAY THE LATEST ON EFFORTS LOCALS ARE UNDERTAKING TO ASSIST UKRAINIANS.

AND HOW LOCALS ARE PREPARING TO WELCOME REFUGEES.

THAT AND MORE IN A BIT, FIRST WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

FIRST TONIGHT, FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN/AMERICAS IS DEMANDING AN APOLOGY FROM MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT OVER AN OBSCENE REMARK ALLEGED IN A LAWSUIT.

THE QUOTATION ALLEGEDLY WAS SAID WHILE LIGHTFOOT WAS KILLING A DEAL TO DISPLAY THE STATUE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IT WAS REMOVED AFTER THE SITE OF VANDALISM AND PROTESTS.

ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT LIGHTFOOT IS ALLEGED TO HAVE ACCUSED TWO PARK DISTRICT ATTORNEYS MAKING A SECRET AGREEMENT WITH ITALIANS AND SAYING QUOTE... >> TODAY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FILE AN UPDATE AS PART OF A FEDERAL COURT AGREEMENT AIMED AT REFORM AND GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE C.P.D.

LISTED IN THE PROGRESS UPDATE REPORT FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2021, INCLUDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON RESIZE ADVISED POLICIES.

THE REPORT IS SUBJECT TO EVALUATION BY AN INDEPENDENT MONITOR PER THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE AGREEMENT.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS NO LANDS TO MEET WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN AS RUSSIA'S INVASION RAGES IN THE SECOND WEEK.

>> NOW IS NOT THE MOMENT.

WE'RE NOT PLANNING A MEETING BETWEEN THEM OR A CALL.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

WE WILL HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND WEIGH THE FACTORS.

>> AND TODAY THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED NEW SANCTIONS AIMED AT RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS AND FAMILIES.

THE PEOPLE ON THESE RECEIVING END OF THESE SANCTIONS ARE WEALTHY ALLIES OF PUTIN.

UP NEXT A LOOK AT THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO'S O'HARE NEIGHBORHOOD.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> UKRAINIAN VILLAGE MIGHT BE THE BASE FOR MANY UKRAINIAN CHICAGOANS BUT ANOTHER PART OF THE CITY BOASTS AS SIGNIFICANT POPULATION AS WELL.

O'HARE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL SITS EAST OF THE AIRPORT RUNNING ALONG CUMBERLAND AVENUE BETWEEN FOSTER AND LAWRENCE ABUTS NORRIDGE AND IS A CENTER FOR UKRAINIAN AMERICAN LIFE, COMMERCE AND CULTURE.

PARIS SCHUTZ SPENT THE DAY IN O'HARE GETTING A SENSE HOW THE COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO ASSIST THE WAR EFFORT BACK HOME.

PARIS JOINS US OUTSIDE OF ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC CHURCHES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WE ARE OUTSIDE ST. JOSEPH UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH A MECCA FOR UKRAINIAN CATHOLICS FROM THE REGION WHO FLOCK FOR SERVICE.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1975 AS PART OF THE EASTERN CHRISTIAN TRADITION OF CHURCHES.

A HUB HERE ON CUMBERLAND AVENUE FOR THE O'HARE COMMUNITY AREA WHICH IS HOME TO A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF UKRAINIAN AMERICANS.

OBVIOUSLY THIS CHURCH IS PLAYING AN OUTSIZED ROLE IN LIVES RIGHT NOW, HOLDING DAILY PRAYER SERVICES AROUND THE CLOCK FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY BACK HOME.

THE SENIOR PASTOR MYKOLA BURGADNYK TELLS ME THE CHURCH IS ARRANGING THINGS AND SENDING BODY ARMOR AND NEEDED TO PERSONALLY COUNSEL PARISHIONERS AND OFTENTIMES RUNS OUT OF WORDS TO SAY BECAUSE OF THE HORRIFIC WAKES IN UKRAINE BUT THIS WEEK OFFERS COMFORT FOR ALL CATHOLICS.

IT IS THE BEGINNING OF LENT, THE HOLIEST SEASON IN THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR.

HIS PARISHIONERS CAN TAKE SOLIS THIS WAS THE TIME OF JESUS' SUFFERING.

>> THERE WAS A CRUCIFIXION GOING ON, BETRAYAL, LONELINESS THERE ARE PRAYERS WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW THERE HAS TO BE A RESURRECTION THERE HAS TO BE A NEW DAY.

WE'RE WAITING FOR PEACE AND VICTORY.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN PRAY RIGHT NOW.

>> AND RIGHT NEXT DOOR IS THE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION A LENDER A LIFELINE FOR UKRAINIAN AMERICANS IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD AND PLAYS A ROLE BECAUSE IMMIGRANTS MIGHT NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND THEY SPEAK UKRAINIAN HERE AND THEY MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO MORTGAGES AND LENDING PRODUCTS THAT THEY COULD NOT GET ACCESS TO.

WALTER TUN SAID THIS CREDIT UNION HELPED ORGANIZING FUNDRAISING THAT SENT DIRECT MONEY FOR WAR AND HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN UKRAINE.

>> WE'VE WAIVED ALL WIRE TRANSFER FEES FOR ANY WIRE TRANSFERS TO KRARYN.

WE HAVE MADE IT EASIER FOR OUR MEMBERS WHO CHOOSE TO SEND MONIES TO HELP THEIR RELATIVES AND HUMANITARIAN AID IN UKRAINE TO DO SO.

AND WE'RE ALSO CREATED A FOUNDATION FUND THAT IS A 501C3 FUND FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE MONIES TO AND THOSE MONIES WILL BE DIRECTED THROUGH VETTED ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

>> DIFFERENT ASSISTANCE EFFORTS ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND EMPLOYEES HERE AT THE CREDIT UNION HAVE FAMILY IN UKRAINE THEY ARE ON EDGE AS EVERYONE IS.

NOT JUST THE STORIES OF THE DEFENSE EFFORTS BUT THE BOMBING AND THE CASUALTIES.

TETYANA NOVIKOVA SAYS SHE DOES NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT.

HER ELDERLY PARENTS ARE IN WESTERN UKRAINE AND CANNOT MOVE.

SHE STAYS UP ALL NIGHT MONITORING THE SITUATION.

>> THEY ARE SICK AND THEY CANNOT MOVE ANYWHERE WITHOUT HELP.

AND I'M ALWAYS ON THE PHONE.

ALWAYS ON-LINE.

ANY NEWS WHEN WE HAVE A DAY THEY HAVE A NIGHT.

AND ANY NEWS I'M CALLING THEM IF IT IS AN AIR ALARM OR SOMETHING, I WAKE THEM UP.

BECAUSE THEY ARE SLEEPING.

>> AND THIS IS ALL PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE O'HARE COMMUNITY AREA AND OFTEN FORGOTTEN BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL.

IT IS A BLUE-COLLAR POPULATION MADE UP OF A LOT OF CITY WORKERS AND MANY, MANY LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN THIS AREA NOT JUST UKRAINIAN POLISH, HISPANIC EVERYTHING AND HOME TO COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE AREAS LIKE SCHILLER WORDS AND AS YOU CAN HEAR CLOSE TO O'HARE AIRPORT.

NICK SPOSATO REPRESENTS THE AREA SAYS HE BELIEVES CHICAGO SHOULD LET IN UKRAINIAN RELATIVES AND REFUGEES.

HE IS SKEPTICAL THE CITY HAS SHELTER SPACE.

HE SUGGESTS THE CITY ASSIST FAMILIES FOR TAKING UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

>> TAKE THEM IN AND COMPENSATE THEM.

IF MARY AND JOHN LIVE HERE AND UKRAINIAN AND THEY SPEAK THE LANGUAGE THEY COULD TAKE IN A MOM AND TWO KIDS WE COULD COMPENSATE THEM.

CASH ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GIVING AWAY LET'S GIVE CASH ASSISTANCE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OUT AND HEM PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.

>> WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE GROUND FROM UKRAINE FROM MIKE QUIGLEY WHO CHAIRS THE CONGRESSIONAL UKRAINE CAUCUS AND EFFORTS TO WELCOME REFUGEES.

WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

SEE NEW A BIT.

>> NOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER AND STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN MICHAEL MADIGAN WAS AT THE EPICENTER OF POLITICS IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS NOW HE THE CENTER OF A CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION IN A 22 COUNT INDICTMENT.

SOME ARE PROTECTIVE OF MADIGAN AND OTHERS THERE IS A SENSE OF VINDICATION.

AMANDA VINICKY TO BEGIN THE ONGOING MADIGAN COVERAGE.

>> THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF THOUGHTS GIVEN THIS BOMBSHELL NEWS.

ONCE A SENSE OF DISBELIEF THAT MADIGAN IS FACING CHARGES.

THERE'S BEEN RECOGNITION SINCE JULY OF 2020 WHEN ComEd ADMITTED TO A YEAR'S LONG BRIBERY SCHEME INTENDED TO INFLUENCE MADIGAN THAT HE HAS BEEN IN THE FEDS CROSSHAIRS.

IN 2018, WHEN ONE OF MADIGAN'S POLITICAL WORKERS ALAINNA HAMPTON WENT PUBLIC WITH ACCUSATIONS THAT MADIGAN AND HIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY MISHANDLED HER ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASS MANY AGAINST ANOTHER POLITICAL AIDE WHO WAS WELL CONNECTED.

>> I THINK MY LAWSUIT ACTUALLY MAYBE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME THAT HIM AND HIS TEAM WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE SITUATION.

AND PERHAPS DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE LEVEL OF EVIDENCE THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD IN PAPER FORM IN WRITING.

>> THE SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED IN LATE 2019.

HAMPTON SAYS SHE KNEW MADIGAN AND WORKED WITH HIM IN THE 13TH WARD OFFICES.

IT WAS ALL BUSINESS ALL THE TIME.

SHE SAYS MADIGAN WAS POLITE.

HE WOULD OFFERED TO GET HER A CUP OF COFFEE.

AND ALSO SHE SAYS SHE WITNESSED A LOT OF UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE OPERATION THAT A RULE THAT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES HAD TO DO POLITICAL WORK FOR FREE.

WHEN SHE WENT PUBLIC WITH HER SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIM IT WAS DIFFICULT FORMER COLLEAGUES REFUSED TO TALK TO HER AND SOME STILL WON'T.

>> AT FIRST THEY WERE AFRAID: AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I WORKED IN THE ORGANIZATION AND I UNDERSTANDED FEAR MONGERING THAT TOOK PLACE.

WHEN I WAS THE PERSON SEEKING JUSTICE IT WAS HARD TO BE THAT ISOLATED AND NOT BE SUPPORTED BY DEMOCRATIC ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PARTY OF THE PEOPLE.

>> SHE SAYS THERE HAS SINCE BEEN A SHIFT.

SHE IS CURRENTLY WORKING FOR COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR FRITZ KAEGI'S CAMPAIGN.

HAMPTON BELIEVES HER CASE OPENED THE DOOR FOR OTHERS FOR SITTING LEGISLATORS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST MADIGAN.

SUCH AS THE 19 HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, SUNK MADIGAN'S BID FOR ANOTHER TERM AS HOUSE SPEAKER BY REFUSING TO VOTE FOR HIM.

>> THIS WAS NOT EASY FOR ANY OF US.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I KNOW THAT I CAN LOOK MY DAUGHTERS IN THE FACE AND TELL THEM DOING WHAT IS RIGHT ISN'T ALWAYS EASY.

BUT DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IS WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO.

>> THE REPRESENTATIVE TERRA COSTA HOWARD WAS THE FIRST IN JULY OF 2020 TO PUBLICLY DISTANCE HERSELF FROM MADIGAN WHILE BEING A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

CALLING ON HIM TO STEP DOWN IN LIGHT OF THE ComEd SCANDAL.

SHE SAYS WORD OF MADIGAN'S INDICTMENT YESTERDAY WAS EMOTIONAL FOR HER.

>> IT WAS LIKE HAVING TO RELIVE THAT TRAUMA.

AND I DO CALL IT TRAUMA.

BECAUSE IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

YOU DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?

YOU DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE BEING FOLLOWED IF THERE WERE PEOPLE WATCHING YOU.

>> IF BEING FOLLOWED MAY SOUND PARANOID, TERRA COSTA HOWARD SAYS IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL NOT RELATED TO ANY SORT OF ANTI-MADIGAN STANCE.

>> ALL I KNEW WAS THAT I WAS POTENTIALLY BY COMING OUT THIS WAY, EXPOSING THINGS THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T WANT EXPOSED.

WHEN THE MOST POWERFUL MAN HERE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST HIM IN SUCH A WAY, YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED.

>> TERRA COSTA HOWARD SAYS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF RAMIFICATIONS LIKE HER BILLS GETTING BOTTLED THE UP OR PUSHBACK FROM POWERFUL INTERESTS LOYAL TO THE THEN SPEAKER.

THOUGH MADIGAN IS NO LONGER IN POWER SOME RELATIONSHIPS SHE SAYS ARE STILL STRAINED BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION.

IT IS SIMILAR FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE KIFOWIT.

WHO WAS THE FIRST TO CHALLENGE MADIGAN FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP.

>> TO GIVE REPRESENTATIVES A CHOICE HIM OR ME.

BECAUSE THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A CHOICE BEFORE.

AND IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL.

CONSIDERING WHO MICHAEL MADIGAN WAS.

>> STEPHANIE KIFOWIT RECALLS BEING SCARED WHEN SHE WENT UP AGAINST MADIGAN IT WAS STRESSFUL.

SHE SAYS AT THE TIME SOME LEGISLATORS REFUSED TO RETURN HER CALLS AND AGAIN, SOME STILL WON'T.

THEY VIEWED THE CHALLENGE, SHE SAYS, TO MADIGAN AS DISLOYAL AND SELFISH.

JUST IMAGINE SAYS STATE REPRESENTATIVE KELLY BAUERLY CASSIDY PART OF THE 19 WHO OPPOSED MADIGAN WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE IF THEIR EFFORTS TO DETHRONE HIM HAD NOT BEEN A SUCCESS?

>> AND WHAT THIS DAY WOULD LOOK LIKE IF HE WERE STILL SPEAKER.

THE A YOS OUR WORK WOULD HAVE BEEN PLUNGED INTO THE LACK OF ANY FORWARD MOTION ON ANY OF THE ISSUES WE'RE WORKING ON HERE.

>> EACH OF THOSE THREE LEGISLATORS SAY THAT ILLINOIS IS CHANGING WITH MADIGAN NO LONGER THE SPEAKER POINTING TO THE HOUSE HAVE THE FIRST BLACK SPEAKER.

CHRIS WELCH.

HE IS NOT AMONG THOSE WHO WORKED TO OUST MADIGAN AND HAD MORE PRAISED MADIGAN'S LEADERSHIP.

NOT EVERYONE SHARES THE ATTITUDE TOWARD MADIGAN AS THE WOMEN FEATURES IN THIS PIECE.

I SPOKE WITH ONE OF MADIGAN'S FORMER TOP DEPUTIES HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER BARBARA FLYNN CURRY SAID IF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID.

BUT THE MADIGAN SHE KNOWS IS A MAN OF INTEGRITY.

MADIGAN IS ADAMANT THAT HE DID NOT BREAK THE LAW AND IN A STATEMENT YESTERDAY SAYS HE IS PROUD OF HIS LONG RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND WHILE MANY MAY NOT SAY IT OPENLY, CLEARLY HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR MADIGAN FOR THAT POSITION TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

AND MANY DEMOCRATS CREDIT HIM WITH LEADING THEIR PARTY TO THE SUPER MAJORITIES THAT THEY NOW HOLD AND TO FENDING OFF EFFORTS INCLUDING ANTILABOR MEASURES THAT WERE ATTEMPTED BY FORMER GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER.

WITH THAT, BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MADIGAN ENTERPRISE ARE THREE WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WHO SPENT TIME WORKING AT THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS OFFICE THEY ARE PATRICK COLLINS OF LAW FIRM KING & SPALDING.

DURING HIS TENURE AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR HE SPENT FOUR YEARS AT THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE PUBLIC CORRUPTIONS SECTION.

NANCY DEPODESTA OF SAUL EWING ARNSTEIN & LEHR, BEFORE DEFENDING WHITE-COLLAR CLIENTS SHE WAS U.S. ASSISTANT ATTORNEY AND THE COUNSEL FOR THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

AND RON SAFER AT RILEY SAFER HOLMS & CANCILA.

THANKS TO ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

AS WE STATED ComEd WAS CHARGED WITH BRIBERY IN JULY 2020 WHICH WAS THE FIRST CASE THAT IMPLICATED MICHAEL MADIGAN BUT NO CHARGES WERE BROUGHT AGAINST HIM AT THE TIME.

ComEd AGREED TO PAY $200 MILLION IN FINES AND ENTERED INTO A DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT.

RON SAFER COMING TO YOU FIRST, WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN, DOES THIS INDICTMENT YESTERDAY DOES IT LOOK LIKE A RESULT OF ComEd COOPERATING WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE?

>> ComEd HAS BEEN COOPERATING WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FROM THE BEGINNING.

BUT THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED HAVE NOT BEEN COOPERATING.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE ARE COOPERATING.

AND I DON'T THINK YESTERDAY'S INDICTMENT IS THE PRODUCT OF COOPERATION.

THEY COULD HAVE INDICTED MICHAEL MADIGAN FOR THE COMMONWEALTH EDITION PART OF THESE CRIMES BACK IN 2020.

BUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING IS PUTTING TOGETHER ALL OF THE REST OF CRIMES IN THE RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY.

>> IN THIS 106-PAGE INDICTMENT PROSECUTOR ALLEGE THAT MADIGAN KILLED THE ComEd REFORM BILL.

MADIGAN TOLD THEN ComEd LOBBYIST MIKE MCCLAIN TO WORK TO KILL THE BILL.

McCLAIN E-MAILED THE C.E.O.

ANNE PRAMAGGIORE, AND OTHERS SAYING QUOTE A FRIEND OF OURS GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO GO AHEAD AND KILL IT.

PAT, WHEN THEY TALK IN CODE LIKE THAT AND REFER TO MADIGAN OUR FRIEND OR FRIEND OF OURS, DOES THAT INDICATE TO YOU THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS SUSPECT?

>> I MEAN THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL ARGUE.

IT IS AN ODD WAY TO REFER TO THE SPEAKER.

BUT THE USE OF CODE WHICH ALL OF US YOU SEE CODE IN DRUG KAYS THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO DO.

I THINK THIS ISSUE OF KILL THE BILL, THE SPEAKER CAN KILL THE BILL ON THE MERITS.

THE ISSUE IS IS HE KILL TO GO BECAUSE ComEd IS TAKING CARE OF INTERNS IN HIS POSITION AND LOBBYISTS.

AND THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONNECT IN THE CASE AND THIS MIKE MCCLAIN IS A FOCAL POINT.

THE GOVERNMENT INDICTED HIM TWICE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

THE ISSUE OF KILLING BILLS IS THERE THE QUID PRO QUO AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO TIE THAT UP.

>> NANCY, MIKE MCCLAIN IS FACING AN ADDITIONAL 22 COUNTS.

DOES THAT INDICATE THAT PROSECUTORS ARE PUSHING TO GET HIM TO FLIP AND TO GIVE UP MORE ABOUT HIS FORMER BOSS?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY I THINK THAT PROSECUTORS HAVE PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON MIKE MCCLAIN ALREADY TO PERHAPS GETTING HIM TO FLIP.

FROM WHAT I KNOW THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT HE HAS IN FACT DONE SO.

PEOPLE CAN HAVE ALL REASONS AND MOTIVATIONS FOR COOPERATING OR NOT COOPERATING.

I'M NOT SURE THAT ADDING ADDITIONAL CHARGES IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING THAT MIKE MCCLAIN HAS ALREADY FACED IS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT CERTAINLY, I THINK THAT PERHAPS THERE'S A HOPE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT THEY WILL HAVE ONE DEFENDANT FLIP AGAINST THE OTHER.

>> JOHN LAUSCH AGAIN ASKED FOR MORE PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD YESTERDAY AND SHARE WHAT THEY KNOW.

PATRICK COLLINS IS THAT NORMAL IF HE ALREADY HAS AN INDICTMENT IS HE SENDING A MESSAGE?

>> I MEAN THAT IS NOW SORT OF WHAT THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS DO AT THE PRESS CONFERENCES IS SAY WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO COME FORWARD WITH ANY INFORMATION THEY HAVE.

AND I THINK SO I THINK THAT WAS A STANDARD SORT OF CALL OUT.

I DO THINK TO NANCY'S POINT Mr. McCLAIN IS GOING ON TRIAL IN SEPTEMBER WITH OTHER PEOPLE KEY PLAYERS.

AND I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THAT CASE.

THE JUDGE ISSUED A DECISION SAYING THE CASE IS GOING FORWARD.

BUT THERE'S FOUR KEY PLAYERS THAT ARE -- WHOSE FATES WILL BE DETERMINED WELL BEFORE THE MADIGAN CASE GOES CLOSER TO TRIAL.

AND ONE THING TO REMEMBER, GOVERNMENT PROSECUTORS ARE NEVER DONE INVESTIGATING UNTIL THE TRIAL HAPPENS AND THERE COULD BE YEARS BEFORE THE TRIAL HAPPENS.

THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO KEEP DIGGING AND I THINK Mr. LAUSCH'S COMMENT ABOUT COMING FORWARD IS IN THAT SPIRIT.

>> RON SAFER DO YOU NEED AN INSIDER TO TELL THE STORY TO CONNECT THE DOTS FOR A JURY SHOULD THIS GO TO TRIAL?

>> DO YOU NEED IT?

NO.

DOES IT HELP?

ABSOLUTELY.

A TRIAL IS A JIGSAW PUZZLE AND EVIDENCE WILL COME IN BIT BY BIT.

PATRICK ELUDED TO AN E-MAIL.

THERE ARE TAPE RECORDINGS THAT WILL COME IN.

AND ALL OF THOSE BITS AND PIECES OF EVIDENCE THE GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO STRING TOGETHER.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A NARRATOR FOR THAT STORY, IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE JURY TO GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH ALL OF IT.

WITH A NARRATOR AN INSIDER SOMEBODY TO SPRAIN WHAT WAS GOING ON, HELPS A LOT.

>> I DO THINK TO RON'S POINT, IT WOULD HELP A LOT.

THIS INDICTMENT 106 PAGES IS ALMOST DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS BUT IT'S MISSING THE NARRATOR AND IT MAY BE MULTIPLE PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE TAPES AND THEY HAVE E-MAILS.

BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CONVICT BASED ON E-MAILS.

YOU NEED A NARRATOR TO PULL IT TOGETHER AT LEAST WHEN YOU ARE TAKING A SHOT AT A GUY LIKE MADIGAN.

I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO KEEP LOOKING FOR THE NARRATOR AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

>> MICHAEL MADIGAN IS KNOWN AS BEING THE VELVET HAMMER, SMALL INNER CIRCLE, CAREFUL NOT USING E-MAIL OR TEXTING TO BE SURE THAT HE DOESN'T GET CAUGHT UP WITH ANYTHING.

NANCY ARE YOU SURPRISED A PERSON THIS CAREFUL COULD STILL BE INDICTED?

>> I CAN'T SAY I'M SURPRISED.

WE'VE KNOWN FOR SOMETIME NOW THAT MICHAEL MADIGAN HAS BEEN A TARGET OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

I THINK IN IN A INVESTIGATION INVOLVING SOMETHING LIKE MICHAEL MADIGAN WHERE HE IS GOT A SMALLER INNER CIRCLE HE KNOWS HE IS THE TARGET OF A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION, WHERE HE HAS GOT A TIGHT INNER CIRCLE IT CERTAINLY IS HARDER FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INFILTRATE THAT CIRCLE.

I CANNOT SAY I'M SURPRISED NECESSARILY.

>> WHAT COULD THE CASE LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD?

WE DISCUSSED THIS LAST NIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM THAT ED BURKE'S ATTORNEYS HAVE BURIED THE GOVERNMENT IN MOTIONS AND PAPERWORK AND A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH TAKING A LONGTIME TO MAKE PROGRESS.

RON WHAT COULD MADIGAN'S DEFENSE LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD?

>> THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MOTIONS.

A LOT OF DELAY.

MICHAEL MADIGAN IS 80 YEARS OLD.

HE'S GOT "X" NUMBER OF YEARS LEFT ON THIS EARTH.

DELAY IS THE MOST CERTAIN WAY THAT HE CAN SPEND A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF THOSE OUT OF JAIL.

I WOULD EXPECT THE DEFENSE WILL BE ERECTING AS MANY ROADBLOCKS TO TRIAL AS THEY CAN.

>> THE OFFICIALS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAD TO APPROVE AND OVERSEE THIS CASE.

PATRICK DOES THAT INDICATE THERE IS POTENTIALLY ENOUGH TO CONVICT MADIGAN?

>> WELL, I THINK LOOK A CASE LIKE THIS GOES A LOT OF INTERNAL SCRUTINY.

SO I THINK THE GOVERNMENT AND Mr. LAUSCH WHEN HE SPOKE YESTERDAY, I THINK THE STANDARD AT THE OFFICE IS BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT IS THE EVIDENCE GOING TO CONVICT BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT?

I WOULD ARGUE SOMEBODY WHO HAS SEEN A LOST THESE THERE'S GRAY HERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF SEQUENCES BUT THEY HAVE TO PULL THEM TOGETHER.

LOOK, THE GOVERNMENT FEELS CONFIDENT ABOUT THEIR CASE.

IT IS A SPRAWLING CASE THAT HANGS TOGETHER.

THE QUESTION IS ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS GOING TO HOLD-UP AND I THINK THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> A LOST US WOULD LIKE TO THINK THIS INDICTMENT WILL BE A TURNING POINT IN CORRUPTION, NANCY DEPODESTA WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> GOSH, I HOPE SO, RIGHT?

BUT, LOOK, IT'S BEEN DISHEARTENING TO SEE AND SURPRISING THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS OF HIGH PROFILE PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHETHER IT BE GOVERNORS, ALDERMEN, STATE SENATORS, STATE REPS, IT'S SURPRISING TO SEE THAT PEOPLE STILL FAIL TO ADHERE TO TAKE A BRIBE OR ENGAGE IN -- IS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT'S RADAR.

I WILL REMAIN OPTIMISTIC, BUT REALISTICALLY IT'S DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE CASES CONTINUE AND -- >> I'M OLDER THAN NANCY AND I'M NOT SURPRISED.

AND THE POLITICIANS AREN'T GOING TO GET IT.

THEY'VE PROVEN THAT.

PATRICK INDICTED THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND HE WASN'T THE FIRST AND THE LAST GOVERNOR.

UNTIL THE PEOPLE SAY THIS IS A VOTING ISSUE FOR US.

HONESTY IS A VOTING ISSUE FOR US.

AND WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.

UNTIL THEY DO THAT THEY WILL GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN.

>> MY THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US, RON SAFER, PATRICK COLLINS AND NANCY DEPODESTA.

>> TWO MAJOR RAIL COMPANIES ARE PLANNING A MERGER BUT SOME SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES ARE PUTTING UP A FIGHT.

STAY WITH US.

>> MORE FREQUENT FREIGHT TRAINS SOME AS LONG AS TWO MILES DIVIDING TOWNS IN TWO.

THE FEAR OF EIGHT NORTHWEST SUBURBS THAT FORMED A COALITION TRYING TO BLOCK THE MERGER OF TWO MAJOR RAIL COMPANIES THEY ARE WORRIED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FREIGHT TRAFFIC ALONG THE TRACKS SHARED BY METRA'S MILWAUKEE'S WEST LINE WILL BE PROBLEM FOR COMMUTERS, RESIDENTS AND FIRST-RESPONDERS.

AS NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS THE COMPANIES SAY THE FEARS ARE OVERSTATED.

>> THE WAY INTERIM FIRE CHIEF JOHN BUCKELY DESCRIBES IT THE VILLAGE IS SPLIT IN TWO BY TRAIN TRACKS.

>> THERE ARE NO UNDER OR OVERPASSES.

4 INTERSECTIONS WE USE OUR FIRE STATION IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE HALF THE CALLS ARE ON THE NORTH SIDE.

>> 30 TIMES A YEAR CREWS GET DELAYED BY A TRAIN JUST BY THE METRA FOR A MIB OR SO.

>> NOT IDEAL BUT SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE.

>> BUT OTHER OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED THE PROPOSED MERGER OF TWO MAJOR RAIL COMPANIES WOULD MEAN MORE FREQUENT FREIGHT TRAINS THAT CAN TAKE 10 MINUTES.

>> EVERYTHING WE DO IS TIME SENSITIVE IN FIVE MINUTES COULD BECOME BRAIN DEAD.

FIRE DOUBLES IN SIZE EVERY MINUTE.

AND IT CAN BE MORE.

>> LAST YEAR, CANADIAN PACIFIC AND KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN AGREED TO MERGE THE DEAL IS BEING REVIEWED BY THE TRANSPORTATION BOARD.

CANADIAN PACIFIC SPOKESMAN ANDY CUMMINGS SAYS THE NEW COMPANY WOULD BE THE ONLY LINE LINKING MEXICO, THE U.S. AND CANADA.

>> WE SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE 64,000 TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD AND CAPTURES THE SHIPMENTS TO FREIGHT RAIL INCLUDING A 75% REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

>> CANADIAN PACIFIC RUNS FREIGHT TRAINS AS MILWAUKEE DISTRICT WEST LINE.

IT'S THREE TO FOUR A DAY.

POST MERGER THE COMPANY WILL RUN SEVEN OR EIGHT MORE.

>> AT ANY CROSSING YOU ARE LOOKING AT A THREE MINUTE FOR A 10-,000 FOOT TRAIN.

THAT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT THAT IS A THREE-MINUTE BLOCKAGE.

THAT IS SPREAD OUT OVER A 24-HOUR PERIOD ONE PER HOUR.

>> THIS IMPACTS YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE AS A COMMUNITY.

>> THAT'S WHY ELGIN AND OTHER SUBURBS FORMED THE COALITION TO STOP CPKC.

IN A FILING THE COALITION SAYS THERE IS NO WAY TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF FREIGHT TRAINS ON THEIR COMMUNITIES BETWEEN THEM HAVE 54 AT GRADE CROSSINGS.

>> IF THERE IS A BREAKDOWN ON THE FREIGHT LINE WITH A FREIGHT TRAIN THAT WILL BLOCK ALL OF OUR CROSSINGS IN DOWNTOWN.

AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS ARE 100 FEET.

IT CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD.

>> ELGIN ESTIMATES BUILDING TUNNELS OR BRIDGES CAN COST AS MUCH AS $9 BILLION.

OTHER COMMUNITIES ESTIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE COST IS 4 TO 265 MILLION.

THE MERGER IS NOT A DONE DEAL.

THERE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY EXPECTED THIS YEAR.

IF THE DEAL GOES THROUGH COMMUNITIES NEED TO HEAR A LOT MORE HOW THE COMPANY CAN MITIGATE THE IMPACTS.

THE COALITION WANTS ANY MERGER TO BE CONDITIONED AND NO ADDITIONAL FREIGHT TRAFFIC ON THIS TRACKS.

THE GROUP WANTS DETAILED FEDERAL OVERSIGHT AND MONITORING.

CANADIAN PACIFIC'S ANDY CUMMINGS SAYS THE COALITION'S COST ESTIMATES ARE A BIG ASK FOR A LIMITED SECTION OF TRAFFIC AND HE SAYS THEY ARE FILING MISS CHARACTERIZES A SHARED USE SECTION OF RAIL.

>> WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM TO ADDRESS A REASONABLE SUBURBAN CONCERNS MANY WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO DISCUSS WITH THE COMMUNITIES WHAT SOLUTIONS MIGHT BE GOOD FOR IT.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> METRA SAYS MORE FREIGHT TRAFFIC COULD CREATE DELAYS FOR COMMUTERS AND HIRED AN OUTSIDE EXPERT AND HAS A FILING DUE THIS MONTH.

A DECISION ON THE MERGER IS EXPECTED WITHIN A YEAR.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" A LOCAL ORGANIZATION IS CREATING A SAFE SPACE IN CHICAGO FOR UKRAINIANS FLEEING WAR.

AN ACCOUNT FROM THE WAR FROM A LOCAL PROFESSOR WHO RETURNED TO CHICAGO FROM EASTERN EUROPE.

AND ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT EDITORIAL CARTOONISTS, BILL MAULED DIN.

>> A REPORT RELEASED CLAIMS A DECADE OF INVESTMENT ON ONE SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BENEFITED THE COMMUNITY ECONOMICALLY.

AFTER MORE THAN 400 MILLION INVESTED THROUGH FEDERAL, STATE AND CITY FUNDING SINCE 2011, WOODLAWN RESIDENTS HAVE SEEN BOOSTS IN MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND HOMEOWNERSHIP RATES.

RESEARCHERS CREDIT THE NATIONAL NONPROFIT PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR STABILIZING HOUSING FOR EXISTING RESIDENTS.

WOODLAWN'S MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME GREW 16% FROM 2 TUN AND 2018.

AND HOMEOWNER GREW BY 23% DURING THAT TIME.

>> AND NOW THAT WE'RE IN MARCH, STAY TUNED FOR A VOLATILE MONTH OF WEATHER HERE IN CHICAGO.

TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 60s COULD COME SATURDAY THERE IS A SNOW AND RAIN MIX EXPECTED MONDAY.

BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE PAR WITHOUT IT.

TO PARIS WHO SPENT THE DAY IN THE O'HARE COMMUNITY AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON WE SPOKE WITH CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY WHO REPRESENTS THIS AREA AND IS ON THE UKRAINE CAUCUS.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HIM WHAT HE IS HEAREST ABOUT THE LATEST ON THE GROUND?

>> WELL, LOOK THIS WAS MEANT TO BE AN ALL COUNTRY INVASION ON SEVERAL FRONTS.

THE UKRAINIAN DEFENSE HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.

AND THEY HAVE HELD OFF THE RUSSIAN ARMY SIGNIFICANTLY.

UNFORTUNATELY THERE HAVE BEEN BREAKTHROUGHS.

REMIND OURSELVES THIS IS A MISMATCH ON PAPER.

THIS IS OVERWHELMING FORCE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE STARTING TO SEE BREAKTHROUGHS.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR U.S. AND NATO?

THERE WERE NEW SANCTIONS ANNOUNCED BUT DOES THE UNITED STATES AND WESTERN COUNTRIES HAVE TO UP THE ASSISTANCE?

>> THE ASSISTANCE HAS TO CONTINUE TO BE EXTENDED ON THE SANCTIONS FRONT IT'S STARTING TO HAVE SOME EFFECT ON THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY IT DROPPED THROUGH THE FLOOR AND MORE.

THEIR ECONOMY IS TIED THROUGH BANKS.

SO I THINK THEY HAVE TO START LOOKING AT THE ENERGY SECTOR.

WE HAVE TO DO MORE ON THE MILITARY FRONT.

WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] CHANGES IN POLICIES FROM GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND WHO WAS ALWAYS STAY OUT OF ALL OF THESE THINGS.

TO MAKE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF MILITARY AID.

THAT HAS TO BE ENHANCED AS WELL.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS UPPING HIS ASK FOR MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.

HOW MUCH WILL IT BE?

AND WILL THAT HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT?

>> THIS NUMBER THAT NUMBER WENT FROM 6 BILLION TO 10 BILLION.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD GO BACK TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND TRY TO PASS IN THE OVERALL GOVERNMENT SPENDING BILL.

IT'S RARE WE SEE SUCH EXTRAORDINARY BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR ANYTHING.

BUT AS YOU SAW THE STATE OF THE UNION WHEN THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT UKRAINE EVERYONE STOOD UP.

EVERYONE SUPPORTED IT.

I'M HOPING THAT HAPPENS NEXT WEEK.

>> YOU HAVE SEEN THE PLEAS FROM PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY AND UKRAINIANS THEY HAVE FOUGHT TO KEEP KYIV AND KEEP MOST OF THE CITIES BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THEY CAN HOLD ON.

AT WHAT POINT DOES THIS ESCALATE TO PERHAPS NATO OR WESTERN COUNTRIES DECLARING A NO-FLY ZONE OVER UKRAINE.

>> THERE'S RISK OF ESCALATION.

HOW DO ANY WARS ESCALATE ORIGIN?

A MISUNDERSTANDING.

A MISTAKE.

SOMEONE MISCALCULATES A SITUATION OR PERHAPS WORST THEY ASSUME THE OTHER PERSON WOULD DO WHAT THEY WOULD DO AND THEY DON'T ACT RATIONALLY.

SUPPLY CHAINS THAT ARE COMING IN CONCEIVABLY IN THE FUTURE COULD BE ATTACKED BY THE RUSSIANS.

IS THAT PROVOCATIVE ENOUGH?

WHICH SIDE OF THE BORDER?

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT COULD ESCALATE THIS AND IT IS A DANGEROUS TIME FOR THE AREA AND THE WORLD.

>> BACK AT HOME UKRAINIAN AMERICANS ARE ASKING FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR REFUGEES AND FOLKS THAT ARE HERE PERHAPS FACING DEPORTATION.

WHEN MIGHT THAT HAPPEN IF IT HAPPENS?

>> I LET A LETTER TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF THAT THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO PUT THAT IN PLACE.

29 MILLION UKRAINIANS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY COULD BE IF THINGS DON'T GO WELL, PUT RIGHT BACK INTO A WAR ZONE.

HUMANITARIAN AID HAS TO START THERE.

BUT WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES WE DON'T WANT TO SEND UKRAINIANS BACK INTO A WAR ZONE.

>> AND QUIGLEY'S NAME HAS BEEN TOSSED ABOUT AS A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR I ASKED HIM IF HE IS INTERESTED IN RUNNING HE SAID I'M SOLELY FOCUSED ON UKRAINE RIGHT NOW.

WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS MORE THAN A MILLION REFUGEES HAVE FLED UKRAINE SINCE THE START OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION AND MORE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO LEAVE THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MANAGED TO FLEE THE JOURNEY CAN BE HARROWING.

THE NEXT GUEST IS A PROFESSOR WHO YESTERDAY RETURNED FROM RUSSIA.

JOINING US IS OLGA KAMENCHUK, AN ASSOCIATE RESEARCH PROFESSORS IN THE INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND INVESTIGATOR ON THE COMPARATIVE NATIONAL ELECT TORL STUDIES.

YOU WERE RECENTLY IN RUSSIA.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ATMOSPHERE THERE RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S QUITE HECTIC.

FOR MANY REASONS.

ON THE ONE HAND, THERE IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUSSIANS WHO ARE IN SHOCK ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED I'VE SEEN PEOPLE CRYING IN THE STREETS AND PROTESTING.

I ALSO HAVE SEEN PEOPLE STORMING ATM'S AND BANKS TO GET THEIR MONEY TO TRY TO EXCHANGE RUBELS INTO DOLLARS OR EUROS THAT RUBEL FELL SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THE SITUATION THERE IS VERY TENSE TO SAY THE LEAST.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT EVEN THOUGH I SEE PEOPLE PROTESTING, STILL THE MAJORITY OF RUSSIANS ARE SUPPORTING THIS WAR.

DEPENDING ON THE POLL 57-65% SUPPORT IT.

AND THE REST ARE OPPOSING IT.

I HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS NOT THE SO-CALLED CRIMEAN CONSENSUS WE SAW EIGHT YEARS AGO.

THAT TIME OVER 90% OF RUSSIANS SUPPORTED THE ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA.

RIGHT NOW TWO-THIRDS.

IT IS STILL THE MAJORITY BUT NOT AS STRONG OF A MAJORITY THAN WAS PREVIOUSLY EIGHT YEARS AGO.

THERE IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT ARE IN SHOCK.

I'VE SEEN THAT PROTESTS.

I'VE SEEN -- >> YOU WERE ATTENDED PROTESTS AND YOU HAD SOME FRIENDS WHO WERE ARRESTED AND BEATEN AT THOSE PROTESTS.

WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?

>> THIS IS INSANE.

YOUTH INTELLECTUALS ARE MOSTLY ATTEND THE PROTESTS AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY FOR EXAMPLE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE SPECIFICALLY TRYING TO MONITOR BEHAVIOR OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS.

STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED WARNINGS FROM THEIR DEPARTMENTS THAT EVERY COHORT EVERY GROUP OF THE STUDENT WILL BE MONITORED AND THEIR ACTIVITIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF THEY DARE TO MENTION THE WORD UKRAINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THEY WOULD BE EXPELLED RIGHT AWAY.

THERE'S LOADS OF POLICE AND SPECIAL FORCES IN METRO AND THE STREETS OF THE CITY IT FEELS WEIRD SO MUCH MILITARY IN THE CITY AND BESIDES HUMANS THERE'S SPECIAL CARS WHERE THEY WOULD PACK PUT THOSE PROTESTORS.

SOME OF MY FRIENDS WERE BEATEN UP INCLUDING THE ONES WHICH WEREN'T PROTESTING BUT THEY PASSING BY THE PROTEST.

THEY ARREST EVERYBODY WITHOUT EVEN MAKING ANY SENSE.

ONE FRIEND OF MINE WAS BEATEN UNCONSCIOUS AND POLICE REFUSED TO CALL AMBULANCE FOR HIM.

THIS IS HARSH AND NOW THEY ARE INTRODUCING STRICT SEVERE LAWS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE CONSULTING THE SITE WHICH IS HELPING UKRAINE AND PROVIDING EXPERTISE YOUR ACTIVITY MIGHT BE RECOGNIZED AS TEASE SON WITH 20 YEARS IN JAIL.

AND IF YOU ARE EETREASON.

AND IF YOU ARE SPREADING FAKES IF YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE BUT THEY CALL IT FAKES, ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF RUSSIAN FORCES IN UKRAINE LIKE SHELLING, AND LOOTING, YOU GET 15 YEARS IN JAIL.

>> HOW ARE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE RECEIVING THEIR INFORMATION?

WE HAVE HAD REPORTS OLDER PEOPLE RELYING ON TELEVISION VERSUS YOUNGER PEOPLE USING SOCIAL MEDIA HOW ARE PEOPLE GETTING THEIR INFORMATION?

AND WHAT DO THEY KNOW?

>> THAT IS TRUE.

OLDER GENERATIONS MOSTLY ARE RELYING ON TV AND MOST OF TV IS UNDER CONTROL.

THERE USED TO BE FREE TV STATIONS RELATIVELY AVAILABLE BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU STILL HAVE TO USE EPN'S TO ACCEPT THEM.

YOU COULD HAVE THE USE OF CPN OR TV RING.

BUT USUALLY YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY MOTIVATED TO DO SO.

MOST PEOPLE REALLY ARE NOT WHAT WE CALL PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRE WALL WHEN THEY DECIDE NOT TO GET THE INFORMATION.

BUT IN GENERAL, OLD GENERATION WOULD LIMIT THEMSELVES TO THE STATE OWNED CONTROLLED PROPAGANDA TV.

LET'S BE STRAIGHT ABOUT THAT.

AND YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY ARE MUCH MORE TECHNOLOGY SAVVY SO THEY ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA MUCH MORE OFTEN AND THEY THE TOOLS TO ACCESS SOME OF THE INFORMATION BUT SOCIAL MEDIA IS BEING SLOWED DOWN BY THE GOVERNMENT SUCH AS FACEBOOK AND TWITTER -- >> BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

RUSSIA IS ADMITTING 500 SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE INVASION.

UKRAINE SAYS THE REAL NUMBER IS IN THE THOUSANDS.

WHAT IMPACT IS THAT GOING TO HAVE ON PUBLIC OPINION IN RUSSIA?

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS?

>> THEY ARE TRYING TO HIDE INFORMATION ABOUT LOSSES.

AND BUT THERE IS ALREADY SOME SENATORS WHICH IS BRINGING THIS UP AND TRYING TO COVET THIS INFORMATION AND SHE IS VOICING THE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

HOWEVER AGAIN THE STATE TV DOES NOT REPORT IT.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING EVEN THE WORD WAR IS PROHIBITED ON RUSSIAN TV AND MOST INDEPENDENT NETWORKS ARE BEING SHUTDOWN TODAY AND YESTERDAY.

>> OLGA KAMENCHUK WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GLAD YOU MADE IT OUT OF RUSSIA AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN TALK TO YOU AGAIN SOON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WE CHECK BACK IN WITH PARIS WHO IS CO-CAN CHORING FROM THE O'HARE COMMUNITY.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> AND NOW PACK TO PARIS WHO SPENT THE DAY IN THE O'HARE COMMUNITY AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> WE'RE JOINED BY PAVLO BANDRIWSKY, THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UKRAINIAN CONGRESS COMMITTEE GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN.

WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT A WEEK AGO.

LET'S START WITH THE LATEST NEWS THE WORD HAS COME FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THE U.S. WILL GRANT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO UKRAINIANS HERE BUT ARE NOT RESIDENTS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WE THINK THIS IS A BIG MOVE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES LEGALIZATION STATUS FOR PEOPLE OF UKRAINIAN CITIZENSHIP IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO WORK HERE AND GET EDUCATION HERE LEGALLY.

WE'VE WORKED WITH SENATOR DURBIN AND DUCKWORTH AND MIKE QUIGLEY TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN AND THEY REALLY LOBBIED THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE HOMELAND SECRETARY ANNOUNCED IT TODAY.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HERE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS STATUS.

AND WE'RE PREPARED FOR YET TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO MAYBE COMING TO CHICAGO BUT, OF COURSE THAT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON LIFTING THE CAP ON IMMIGRATION.

>> THAT IS THE NEXT FRONT THAT YOU WANT TO FIGHT.

WHEN THEY COME TO CHICAGO WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO?

NICK SPOSATO SAYS HE THINKS FAMILIES SHOULD TAKE THEM IN AND ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES?

>> FAMILIES ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE THEM IN.

WHAT WE'VE STARTED IS REFUGEE RELIEF COMMITTEE AND STARTED A LIST.

A LOT OF AMERICANS NON-UKRAINIANS WITH NO TRUE CONNECTION TO UKRAINE OTHER THAN HUMANITARIAN ASPECT HAVE ALREADY VOLUNTEERED THEIR HOMES THEIR APARTMENTS, CONDOS WHAT HAVE YOU.

AS TEMPORARY REFUGE FOR THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT WILL BE FLEEING.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE BIG NUMBERS.

WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW OVER A MILLION UKRAINIANS FLED THE COUNTRY THE LARGEST MASSIVE EVACUATION THIS CENTURY.

THERE'S GOING TO BE QUITE A FEW THAT MIGHT COME TO ILLINOIS.

>> IT COULD BE FIVE TIMES THAT OR MORE.

LET ME ASK YOU WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW?

WE SEE THE REPORTS OF CITIES BEING SHELLED, CIVILIANS KILLED.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> WELL THERE IS A LOT OF ANGUISH AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF OUTRAGE.

PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN UP ARMS.

THE TERRITORIAL DEFENSE FORCE CIVILIANS WHO HAVE BEEN MOBILIZED ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH THE ENEMY.

THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO DEFEND UKRAINE AGAINST THE RUSSIAN INVADERS AND TO TRY AND PROTECT THE COUNTRY.

SO.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EFFORTS WE SPOKE TO PEOPLE ALL DAY SENDING HUMANITARIAN AND MONEY AND BODY ARMOR, MONEY TO A WAR FUND, DEFENSE FUND WHAT OTHER AID EFFORTS ARE UNYOU UNDERTAKING?

>> HUMANITARIAN RELIEF HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT SHELTER WITHOUT FOOD, WITHOUT MEDICINE.

SO WE HAVE SPECIAL FUNDS SETUP TO DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH AN INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AGENCY THAT HAS WAREHOUSES THROUGHOUT UKRAINE IT IS A FRENCH AGENCY THAT HAS BEEN DEALING WITH HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS FOR 17 YEARS.

SO THEY HAVE THE TRACK RECORD.

THEY ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE UKRAINE AND THEY'VE GOT A STOCKPILE ALREADY STORED IN DIFFERENT WAREHOUSES AND THEY WILL NEED TO REPLENISH THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO PROVIDE MONEY FOR THAT.

NOW, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS TACTICAL EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED.

THE HELMETS THE BODY ARMOR, NIGHT VISION GOGGLES.

THAT IS ALSO BEING FUNDED RIGHT NOW THERE IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN GETTING THE STUFF IN THERE.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO FLIGHTS INTO OR OUT OF UKRAINE.

SO EVERYTHING HAS TO GO THROUGH A TRANSIT THROUGH POLAND.

>> AND THE TWO SIDES HAVE AGREED TO PEACE CORRIDORS I WONDER IF THAT MEANS WEAPONS OR ARTILLERY WOULD NOT GET IN.

PAVLO BANDRIWSKY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'LL WRAP THINGS UP IN A BIT, FIRST WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> BY THE AGE OF 23, HE HAD FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II, TANGLED WITH GENERAL PATTON AND WON HIS FIRST PULITZER PRIZE.

BILL MALL MAUL MAULED IN MARC VITALI BROUGHT US THIS STORY LAST YEAR.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> FOR ANY ISSUE FACING THE UNITED STATES OR THE WORLD AT LARGE, BILL MAUL DIN COULD STRETCH A STRONG INFORMATION.

FOR 50 YEARS HE SAT RISED THE NEWS OF THE DAY.

NOW THE PRITZKER MILITARY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY OPENED THE ARCHIVES OF THE WORK.

>> YOU START JUST LOOKING AT THE CARTOONS AND GOING THROUGH HUNDREDS THOUSANDS OF THEM AND YOU REALLY GAIN NOT ONLY AN APPRECIATION FOR THE ORIGINAL PIECES BUT CERTAINLY FOR HIS HUMOR.

FOR THE SUBJECT MATTER THAT HE IS COVERING.

I MEAN HE TOUCHED ON EVERYTHING.

IF IT WAS IMPORTANT SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC TOPIC OF THE 1960s, 70s, 80s OR 90s HE PROBABLY TOUCHED ON IT.

AND HE DID IT IN A SHARP BITING COMMENTARY THAT I THINK ONLY CARTOONISTS CAN DO SOMETIMES.

>> BORN IN NEW MEXICO HE STUDIED AT THE CHICAGO ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS AND STARTED HIS CAREER WHILE FIGHTING IN EUROPE IN WORLD WAR II.

HE CREATED TWO SOLDIERS THAT CAME TO SYMBOLIZE THE FIGHTING MAN.

>> ONCE IN ITALY IS WHERE THE CHARACTERS WILLIE AND JOE EMERGE AS CHARACTERS.

AND HE WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW THEM THROUGHOUT THE WAR.

AND AFTER THE WAR AS WELL.

THEY ARE REALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AVERAGE EXPERIENCE OF THE INFANTRY MAN.

>> HIS VIEW WAS POPULAR.

BUT THE SOLDIERS HE DREW WERE NOT APPRECIATED BY SOME OF THE MILITARY BRASS INCLUDING GENERAL GEORGE PATTON WHO HELD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH MALDIN.

>> PATTON CHEWED HIM OUT OVER THE CARTOONS AND QUESTIONS AS FAR AS WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO WITH THESE GUYS.

HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRAW THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WAR AND ON THE RETURN HOME HE IS IT YOU CAN TO WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO REPRESENT WITH THE CHARACTERS.

HE WON HIS FIRST PULITZER PRIZE FOR THE WORLD WAR II WORK.

IN 1959 HE WON A SECOND PULITZER PRIZE FOR THIS CARTOON AND BECAME AN EDITORIAL CARTOONIST FOR THE "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES" FROM 1962 TO 1999.

A GRIEF STRICKEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN REACTING TO JOHN F. KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION.

THE CURATOR OF THE EXHIBITION HAS A CONNECTION TO THE ARTIST BECAUSE HE, TOO, WAS AN INFANTRY MAN.

>> I SERVED IN THE MARINES IN IRAQ AND THE EXPERIENCES HE REPRESENTS THROUGH WILLIE AND JOE ARE MANY OF THE SAME PERSONSES THAT I WENT THROUGH AND I THINK INFANTRY MEN CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH.

COMPLAINING ABOUT FOOD.

COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WEATHER THESE ARE THINGS THAT DON'T GO AWAY FOR THOSE IN THE MILITARY.

SO WHETHER YOU ARE A SOLDIER IN WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM, DESERT STORM HIS CARTOONS WOULD SPEAK TO YOU.

YOU LOOK AT HIS ARTWORK NOW AND THERE ARE SOME OF HIS CARTOONS THAT ARE RELEVANT JUST AS MUCH TODAY AS THEY WERE WHEN HE DREW THEM.

WE SAY THERE IS ALMOST A MALDIN FOR EVERYTHING AND SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TODAY WE CAN FIND A CARTOON THAT ADDRESSES THE TOPIC.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> AND SINCE THE LAST TIME THE MUSEUM ADDED A VIRTUAL TOUR LED BY OUR OWN GEOFFREY BAER.

AND HE DIED IN 2003 AND IS BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

THE EXHIBIT IS CALLED DRAWN TO COMBAT.

YOU CAN SEE MORE OF THE ARTWORK ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

>> ANDS 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. >> WE LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT THE ME UNIVERSAL.

-- REHEARSAL.

TUNE IN TO BLACK CHOICES FOR A PREVIEW OF THE TUNE IN TO BLACK VOICES FOR A PREVIEW OF THE SHOW.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[♪♪♪]