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

EMBRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, CHICAGO'S RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET IS BOOMING AS PRICES RISE AND INVENTORY FALLS.

WHAT IS DRIVING THE BUYING FRENZY?

>> WE CANNOT BOTTOM BRACE THE BIG LIE AND EMBRACE THE CONSTITUTION.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE G.O.P.

FROM REMOVING LIZ CHENEY FROM LEADERSHIP.

>> IT IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT POLICE OFFICERS SAY HELPS THEM TRACK GUNFIRE BUT CRITICS SAY THE SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY IS MISSING THE MARK.

>> NASA'S INGENUITY HELICOPTER TAKES FLIGHT ON MARS WE GET AN UPDATE ON THE MOST AMBITIOUS MISSION TO THE RED PLANET.

>> AND WE HAVE TIPS HOW TO WATCH ALL OF THE SOLAR SYSTEMS INNER PLANETS STARTING TONIGHT.

>> AND NOW HOME.

>> A LOCAL COMPANY THAT KEPT THE PHENOMENA SON IN CHICAGO FOR 60 YEARS.

>> AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO MEMBERS OF THE HYDE PARK JAZZFEST AHEAD OF THEIR VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE.

TOP STORIES, ESCALATING TENSIONS IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE ARE REVERBERATING HERE IN CHICAGO.

A COALITION OF PALESTINIAN ORGANIZATIONS IS DEMONSTRATING AT THIS HOUR AT THE INTERSECTION OF MICHIGAN AND IDA B.

WELLS DRIVE.

THEY ARE CONDEMNING THE DISPLACEMENT OF PALESTINIANS AT THE HANDS OF ISRAELIS.

THE DISPUTE LED TO ROCKET FIRE AND VIOLENT CLASHES IN GAZA AND ISRAEL.

PALESTINIAN HEALTH AUTHORITIES REPORT 48 DEAD AND ISRAELI OFFICIALS REPORTED SEVEN FATALITIES ON THEIR SIDE.

A HEALTH SCARE FOR CHICAGO'S TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR.

U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH WAS HOSPITALIZED SATURDAY AFTER SUFFERING STROKE-LIKE SYMPTOMS.

LAUSCH IS BACK IN THE OFFICE AND NOT CURRENTLY UNDER ANY MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS.

LAUSCH IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN HIS POSITION UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS NOMINATED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND CONFIRMED BY THE U.S. SENATE.

>> ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT JUST UNDER 18 NEW CASES OF -- 1800 CASES OF COVID-19 INCLUDING 26 DEATHS.

1.359 MILLION CASES AND 22,285 DEATHS.

THE SEVEN-DAY TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 3.3%.

AND STATE OFFICIALS HOPE RELAXED COVID RESTRICTIONS LEAD TO A BOOST IN TOURISM FOR THE STATE.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER UNVEILED A $6 MILLION MARKETING CAMPAIGN CALLED ENJOY ILLINOIS.

THE CAMPAIGN TARGETS PEOPLE FROM BORDER STATES, ENCOURAGING THEM TO TAKE A ROAD TRIP IN OUR STATE.

>> WHETHER YOU WANT TO EASE YOUR WAY BACK INTO TRAVEL OR RARING TO GO TAKING THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP IS A GREAT WAY TO ENJOY YOURSELF AND STAY SAFE.

>> AND THAT AD CAMPAIGN REPURPOSES THE SONG TIME FOR ME TO FLY INTO TIME FOR ME TO DRIVE THAT SONG OBVIOUSLY FROM THE ILLINOIS BAND REO SPEED WAGON.

AND FRIDAY WILL ALLOW INCREASED CAPACITY IN RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, MUSEUMS AND EVENT VENUES.

BACK TO BRANDIS FOR A LOOK AT WHAT IS HEATING UP THE HOT HOUSING MARKET.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THE CHICAGO HOUSING MARKET IS ON FIRE.

THE NUMBER OF LOCAL HOME SALES SKYROCKETED IN LATE TWENTD AND EARLY THIS YEAR DRIVING PRICES IN THE CHICAGO AREA TO ALL TIME HIGHS.

SALES WERE UP 25% ACCORDING TO DATA FROM ILLINOIS REALTORS.

THAT IS TRANSLATED INTO LIGHTNING FAST TURNOVER AS PEOPLE PUT THEIR HOMES UP FOR SALE AS WELL AS A DECLINE IN INVENTORY OF AVAILABLE HOUSES AND UNITS.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON WHAT IS DRIVING THIS SELLERS MARKET ARE LUIS LOPEZ AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO.

AND DENNIS RODKIN WHO COVERS THE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET FOR CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

DENNIS, GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW WHAT THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET LOOKS LIKE IN CHICAGO RIGHT NOW?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A WILDFIRE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE HOW QUICKLY HOUSES ARE SELLING, HOW FAST PRICES ARE GOING UP.

I'VE BEEN COVERING THIS FOR A LONGTIME AND SINCE 2007, SINCE THE LAST BIG -- THE END OF THE LAST BIG BOON WE HAVE SEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF HOMES SELL WITHOUT OFFICIALLY GOING ON THE MARKET.

THEY GO ON PRIVATE LISTING NETWORKS AND SELL VIA INFORMAL NETWORKS, FAMILIES AND THAT SORT OF THING BEFORE EVER HITTING THE MARKET AND WE'VE HAD DOUBLE-DIGIT PRICE INCREASES WEEK AFTER WEEK THROUGHOUT THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS OVER THE CORRESPONDING WEEK FROM A YEAR EARLIER.

>> AND LUIS LOPEZ HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC CHANGED HOME BUYING HABITS?

>> WELL, IN -- INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO WORK FROM FAR AWAY.

NOT NECESSARILY IN THEIR WORKPLACE.

AS A RESULT, THERE IS A DESIRE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE CITY AND DID TO THE SUBURBS OR LOCATIONS WHERE THERE'S MORE ROOM, MORE ELBOW ROOM, SPACE BETWEEN HOUSES AND SO FORTH.

>> DENNIS HOW MUCH OF A ROLE WOULD LOW INTEREST RATES ARE PLAYING IN THIS?

>> IT'S MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE.

IF I'M INTERESTED IN MOVING FOR REASONS THAT LEWIS SAID OR INTERESTED IN MOVING BECAUSE WE'VE HAD MORE CHILDREN, I NEED CLASSROOM SPACE FOR KIDS WHO ARE SCHOOLING AT HOME.

WHAT IS MAKING IT POSSIBLE IS INTEREST RATES HAVE BEEN SO LOW IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

YOUR PARENTS WOULD NOT THEIR JAWS WOULD DROP IF THEY KNEW YOU ARE TAKING OUT A LOAN AT BELOW 3% INTEREST N THE 70s AND 80s THEY WERE BORROWING OVER 15% INTEREST.

INTEREST RATES BELOW 3% -- FOR A LONGTIME, IN LATE 2020 AND EARLY 2021 MEANS HOUSES HAVE BEEN MORE AFFORDABLE THAN THEY HAD BEEN IN DECADES.

>> HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?

>> WELL, PRETTY MUCH WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT NATIONWIDE, THE GENERAL TREND IS THAT CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE QUITE A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND BUILD WEALTH FROM THE RETURNS IN EQUITY INVESTMENTS LIKE STOCKS.

AND THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE THE STIMULUS CHECKS HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY HELPED OUT.

ACROSS THE NATION, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT HOUSEHOLDS OR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS HAVE MORE POCKETS -- MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET AND ARE BRINGING IT TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WHEN PUTTING ON PROPERTIES.

>> YOU MENTIONED PRICE INCREASES, THE PERCENTAGE INTO THE DOUBLE-DIGITS DO WE SEE SIGNS THIS FRENZY MIGHT SLOW DOWN?

>> YES, IT MIGHT.

AND PART OF THE REASON IS THAT PRICES HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH THAT IT WILL SHAKE SELLERS INTO THE MARKET.

I WAS UNWILLING TO SELL BECAUSE FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO MOVE.

MY HOME WAS UNDERWATER I OWED MORE ON THE MORTGAGE OR I WAS SCARED BECAUSE I KEEP SEEING THE HOUSES DOWN BY BLOCK SELL IN FOUR OR FIVE DAYS AND I CAN'T FIND A HOME FAST ENOUGH BUT THE PRICES ARE GETTING SO HIGH AND PEOPLE ARE FINDING WAYS TO MAKEUP FOR THE PROBLEMS, THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE INVENTORY OF HOMES A LARGER NUMBER OF HOMES COME ON THE MARKET AS INVENTORY RISES, OF COURSE, AS THERE'S MORE SUPPLY THAN THE DEMAND DOESN'T DRIVE PRICES UP SO MUCH.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE GOING TO GO FROM THE 17% PRICE INCREASES DOWN TO 3%.

IT SEEMS AS IF IT WILL MELLOW A LITTLE BIT.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS THINK ABOUT THE HOUSING BOOM IN THE MID-2 TUN'S THAT LED US TO THE GREAT RECESSION.

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT COULD HAPPEN NOW?

>> WE OBSERVE SOMETHING IN THE PREVIOUS RECESSION.

JUST TO START OFF, THE FINANCING ASPECT THE FINANCING ARE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.

IN THE PREVIOUS RECESSION, OR LEADING UP TO THE PREVIOUS RECESSION A LOT OF LOANS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE WERE MADE.

AND DURING THIS PERIOD TODAY, THE UNDERWRITING STANDARDS ARE HIGHER.

PEOPLE NEED HIGHER CREDIT SCORES THEY NEED TO SHOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT DEBT TO INCOME RATIO IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A LOAN.

SO THE BORROWERS OUT THERE ARE OBTAINING LOANS THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO PAY THEM BACK.

AND COUPLE THAT WITH THE INCREASE IN EQUITY, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE PEOPLE ACTUALLY DEFAULTING ON MORTGAGES AND CHOOSING NOT TO PAY THE MORTGAGES.

I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE SOMETHING LIKE THE PREVIOUS RECESSION.

>> NOT AS LIKELY TO HAVE THE HOUSING BUBBLE PROBABLY A RELIEF TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING THAT.

DENNIS, HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM IS LOW INVENTORY IN THE HOUSING MARKET RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS AN EXTREME PROBLEM.

I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO GET 30 OR 40 WALK THROUGHS OF A HOUSE THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS IT GOES ON THE MARKET AND THAT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE IT IS A COOL LOOKING HOUSE BUT BECAUSE THERE ARE FEW OTHERS TO LOOK AT.

INVENTORY WE STARTED 2021 WITH THE SMALLEST NUMBER OF HOMES ON THE MARKET GOING BACK TO 2007.

AND WE HAD A HIGH WAVE OF DEMAND AND IT JUST KEEPS -- IT HASN'T SOLVED ITSELF YET.

WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT ENOUGH HOMES ON THE MARKET.

I THOUGHT PEOPLE WOULD START GETTING FLUSHED INTO THE MARKET WHEN SPRING CAME BUT IT HAS NOT INCREASED TO THE POINT THAT WHAT WE NEED IS FOR THERE TO BE MORE HOUSES COMING ON THE MARKET THAN GOING OFF AND WE ARE NOT AT THAT POINT YET.

ORDINARYLY THAT WOULD NOT BE A GREAT THING JUST THAT INVENTORY HAS BEEN SO TIGHT WE NEED TO BUILDUP EXTRA BY HAVING MORE COME ON THAN GET SOLD.

>> SOME BUYERS HAVE GOTTEN CREATIVE TO GET THE ATTENTION OF A POTENTIAL SELLER.

DENNIS WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO BUYERS ON THE MARKET FOR A HOUSE?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

YOU SHOULD NOT PLAN TO PUT IN ANY CONTINGENCIES.

YOU SHOULD NOT SAY WE WANT YOUR HOUSE BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO SELL OURS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL YOUR FINANCING LINED UP.

BECAUSE SELLERS THEY ARE GENERALLY HIT WITH A BIDDING WAR AND THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THE ONE THAT IS MOST LIKELY TO GO THROUGH, MOST CONVENIENT FOR THEM.

IF THEY HAVE TO PUT IT UNDER CONTRACT AND WAIT FOR YOU TO GET YOUR HOUSE SOLD, THAT IS NOT CONVENIENT FOR THEM AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF OTHER OPTIONS.

YOU SHOULD PUT IN A REALLY GOOD OFFER THAT IS SOLID THAT HAS EVERYTHING NAILED DOWN CONTINGENCIES AND OTHERWISE.

PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT GENERALLY YOU SHOULD BE SHOPPING FOR HOMES THAT IF YOU ARE PREQUALIFIED FOR A $300,000 THOUSAND YOU SHOULD BE SHOPPING BELOW THAT LEVEL PRICED AT $280,000 BECAUSE IT'S LIKELY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET INTO A BIDDING WAR AND NEED TO PAY MORE THAN THE STICKER PRICE AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

YOU SHOULD BE SURE THAT YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR THINGS WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO SHOP BELOW THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE PREAPPROVED FOR.

>> GOOD TO KNOW IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET.

THANKS TO DENNIS RODKIN AND LUIS LOPEZ FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH MORE DETAILS ON A MISSION ON MARS.

>> BRANDIS, THE U.S. FINDS ITSELF IN THE MIDST OF AN INTRIGUING SPACE RACE, THE RACE TO FIND EVIDENCE OF LIFE ON MARS.

NASA'S PERSEVERANCE ROVER HAS BEEN ON THE PLANET SINCE FEBRUARY AND THE MISSION TO DATE ON THE PLANET HAS SCORED A NUMBER OF FIRSTS.

JOINING US TO GIVE US AN UPDATE HOW THE MISSION IS GOING IS ASTRONOMER, MARK HAMMERGREN.

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON REMIND US THE PURPOSE OF THIS MISSION?

>> NASA FOR QUITE A WHILE HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON A BIG QUESTION AND THAT IS DOES LIFE EXIST ON MARS?

DOES LIFE HAVE A HISTORY OF LIVING ON MARS THROUGHOUT THE PAST?

AND THIS MISSION IS THE FIRST ONE TO REALLY BE ABLE TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THAT.

>> AND I THINK DAVID BOWIE ALSO ASKED THAT QUESTION.

WHAT KINDS OF ANCIENT LIFE COULD THIS MARS ROVER DETECT?

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

>> MOST LIKELY MOW KROBBAL MICROBIAL LIFE, DESIGNED TO LOOK FOR CHEMICALS OR PERHAPS MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURES THAT CANDIDATE THAT THINGS WERE LIVING THERE ON MARS.

>> AND WHAT GIVES SCIENTISTS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD FIND THAT?

>> WELL, BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS ON MARS IS HOSTILE AS THEY SEEM TO US HUMANS THEY CAN SUPPORT MICROBIAL LIFE VERY, VERY WELL.

IF WE FIND BACTERIA ON EARTH THAT EXIST UNDER REALLY EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES.

IT IS A GROWING FIELD OF STUDY.

AND MARS COULD VERY WELL SUPPORT THAT KIND OF LIFE.

>> AND LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL THE FIRSTS THAT THIS ENTERPRISE HAS ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR.

FIRST TIME HELICOPTER HAS BEEN FLOWN AS A DRONE FROM ANOTHER PLANET.

HOW IS THAT WORKING?

>> IT'S WORKING EXTRAORDINARILY WELL.

NOW, THIS HELICOPTER THE INGENUITY IS A TEST BED.

IT IS A PROTOTYPE THE FIRST ONE EVER.

THE WRIGHT BROTHERS DID NOT FLY PASSENGERS ON THEIR FIRST FLIGHT.

INGENUITY IS NOT DESIGNED TO PRODUCE GREAT SCIENCE BUT SHOW WHAT COULD BE DONE BY A SMALL HELICOPTER ON MARS IN THE FUTURE.

>> THESE ARE BABY STEPS HERE.

AND TELL US HOW FIRST OF ALL THERE'S ANOTHER FIRST.

I THINK WE HAVE OUR FIRST SOUNDS FROM MARS.

WE HAVE THE SOUND OF A WINDY, BLEAK LANDSCAPE.

WHAT DOES THAT SOUND LIKE TO YOU, MARK?

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WIND BLOWING AGAINST A MICROPHONE.

AND IT'S FANTASTIC BECAUSE THAT'S MARS THAT WE'RE HEARING.

>> IT DOESN'T SOUND TOO DIFFERENT FROM OUR PLANET.

ANOTHER THING GOING ON IS THIS INSTRUMENT CALLED MOXIE USED TO CONVERT MARS CARBON DIOXIDE RICH ATMOSPHERE INTO OXYGEN.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

IT.

USES ELECTRICITY AND HEAT TO TAKE THAT CARBON DIOXIDE ATMOSPHERE AND BREAK THE CARBON DIOXIDE APART AND PART OF THAT IS OXYGEN SO IT CAN CONCENTRATE THAT AND THE ASTRONAUTS CAN USE IT FOR BREATHING IN THE FUTURE PERHAPS OR REUSE IT FOR ROCKET FUEL.

>> AND ROCKET FUEL IS IMPORTANT IF WE LAND A CREW WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE THEM COME BACK.

WHAT DOES THIS PORTEND FOR WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEND PEOPLE TO MARS?

>> IT MEANS WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED WE CAN GENERATE SOME OF THE RESOURCES THERE ON THE SURFACE OF MARS.

ANYTHING WE MAKE THERE MEANS WE DON'T HAVE TO HAUL IT FROM EARTH.

AND THE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN YOU NEED TO LAUNCH PEOPLE BACK OFF OF MARS TO EARTH IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LIKE 50 TONS OF THAT STUFF.

IT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP TO HAVE IT THERE.

>> HOW WHICH FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO BREATHE AND STAY THERE FOR A WHILE.

>> THAT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL, YES.

>> HOW FAR AWAY FROM THAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION AND THERE ARE NO DEFINITIVE TIMETABLES FOR THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE A TIMETABLE FOR GETTING BACK TO THE MOON.

MOST NUMBERS SEEM TO INDICATE THE 2030'S.

>> HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.

TELL US ABOUT WHERE THIS MISSION LANDED?

THE JEZERO CRATER A SPECIFIC PLACE ON MARS.

>> THE CRATER APPEARS TO BE A FORMER LAKE BED LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A LAKE THERE WAS A RIVER RUNNING INTO IT AND THERE IS A DELTA DEPOSIT OF DEBRIS AND SEDIMENTS THAT GOT DEPOSITED RIGHT INTO THE LAKE.

AND THE PERSEVERANCE PROBE LANDED NOT TOO FAR AWAY WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO NEXT TO THE DELTA.

THAT WILL BE A GREAT PLACE TO INVESTIGATE THE HISTORY OF WATER ON MARS.

AND ON EARTH THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO LOOK FOR LIFE ON A PLANET.

>> AND OF COURSE WHERE THERE'S WATER THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR LIFE AND CLEARLY IT SEEMS TO BE 100% CERTAIN THERE WAS WATER THERE AT THE JEZERO CRATER AND THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT PERHAPS GETTING SOME OF THE EARTH MICROBE BIOMES ON MARS WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING SCIENTISTS WANT.

TALK ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS.

>> WELL, YEAH, THAT IS A GREAT CONCERN BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TRAGIC IF WE FOUND LIFE ON MARS AND IT PROVED TO BE EARTH LIFE THAT WE CONTAMINATE TO DO WITH.

SO MICROBES AS WE DISCUSSED, CAN SURVIVE IN THE CONDITIONS ON THE SURFACE OF MARS AND UNDER THE SURFACE OF MARS.

IF WE BROUGHT BACTERIA THAT CAN SURVIVE THE TRANSIT THROUGH SPACE AND THIS CONDITIONS ON MARS, THEN THEY MIGHT REPRODUCE ON THE SURFACE OF MARS.

WE HAVE TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THOSE CHANCES.

NOW, AS ANYONE WHO HAS GROWN A GARDEN ON EARTH BECAUSE YOU GOT THE RIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE SEEDS DOESN'T MEAN THINGS WILL PROPAGATE.

I'M NOT INCREDIBLY WORRIED RIGHT NOW.

>> BUT THERE MIGHT BE THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT HOWEVER MINIMAL AND RAY BROAD BURY WROTE ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ABOUT TAKING SAMPLES BACK TO EARTH FROM MARS?

OF.

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS MISSION.

PERSEVERANCE IS COLLECTING ROCK SAMPLES THAT WILL BE DROPPED OFF ON THE SURFACE AND LEFT THERE FOR A FUTURE MISSION TO PICK UP AND HOPEFULLY BRING BACK TO EARTH.

>> WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

WE MENTIONED THIS HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND IN MARS SINCE FEBRUARY, WHAT ARE ARE WE GOING TO LEARN IN THE COMING MONTHS?

>> PERSEVERANCE IS KEMPING TO A CLOSE OF THE START UP PROCEDURES.

AND NOW, IT'S GOING TO BEGIN ITS JOURNEY TOWARDS THE DELTA TAKING A MEANDERING PATH AND IT WILL BE DOING SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS NOW.

LOOKING AT ROCKS, DRILLING INTO THEM, COLLECTING ROCK SAMPLES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THOSE SAMPLES TURN UP AND OUR THANKS TO MARK HAMMERGREN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND ANOTHER SPACE NEWS STARTING TONIGHT YOU CAN CATCH THE SOLAR SYSTEMS INNER PLANETS IN THE NIGHT SKY.

WE'LL TELL YOU HOW TO DO THAT LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM AND THEIR TAKE ON THE SPLIT WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BUT FIRST, THE SOUND OF CHICAGO.

THAT'S HOW A NEW AND FREE VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE SERIES IS BEING DESCRIBED.

ANGEL IDOWU INTRODUCES US TO A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE CITY'S ART SCENE FROM CHICAGO TAKES 10.

[♪♪♪] >> MEET GREG WARD AND JA MANNY TAYLOR.

THE SAXAPHONEIST AND TAP DANCER ARE ARTISTS WITH THE HYDE PARK JAZZFEST.

>> IT IS A CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING A DIALOGUE UP HERE.

USING SOME JAZZ FORMS AND ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONAL FORMS TO IMPROVISE AND REALLY EXPRESS OURSELVES.

>> THEY ARE ALSO PERFORMERS IN THE CHICAGO TAKES 10 SHOWCASE.

[♪♪♪] >> YOU'RE DELIVERING SOME OF THE RAW ELEMENTS OF JAZZ MUSIC.

EVEN PLAYING IN THIS ACOUSTIC WAY.

>> THIS ON-LINE PERFORMANCE SERIES FEATURES CHICAGO ARTISTS WITH NO TWO SHOWS THE SAME.

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE SERIES OF 10 SHOWS IS THE TREMENDOUS CULTURAL DIVERSITY THAT CHICAGO HAS THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WE'RE HEARING THE SOUND OF CHICAGO.

>> LIVE STREAMED FROM CONSTELLATION PERFORMING ARTS EACH SHOW FEATURES PERFORMANCES FROM ONE OF THE 10 ART GROUPS FUNDED BY THE WATER FOUNDATION.

THROUGH THIS MONETARY SUPPORT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ASSIST BOTH THE ORGANIZATION AND THE ARTISTS.

>> THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALLOWING US TO REACH MORE PEOPLE POTENTIALLY.

AND I THINK IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

IT WILL KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

[♪♪♪] >> AND WHILE THIS ISN'T THE FIRST VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE SERIES TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE CITY'S ART WORLD HAS TO OFFER, CHICAGO TAKES 10 EMCEE SAYS SHE COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO MOTIVATE ARTISTS WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.

>> TO SEE THE ARTISTS WHO REALLY HAVE BEEN CREATING THIS WHOLE TIME, WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE AUDIENCES THERE AND NOW THAT THE AUDIENCE IS THERE THEY GET TO SHARE THIS.

SO I GUESS A BIG TAKEAWAY IS JUST DON'T STOP.

KEEP DREAMING.

[♪♪♪] FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> YOU CAN CATCH GREG WARD AND TAYLOR TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. ALONGSIDE A NUMBER OF OTHER ARTISTS WITH THE HYDE PARK JAZZFEST.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE HOW TO JOIN THAT LIVE STREAM AND WE'VE GOT DETAILS ON PAST AND FUTURE SHOWS FEATURING ARTISTS FROM GROUPS LIKE THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART AND SEE CHICAGO DANCE.

PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> LOOKS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" A NEW STUDY QUESTIONS THE ACCURACY AND UTILITY OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S SHOTSPOTTER.

>> WE CANNOT BOTTOM BRACE THE BIG LIE AND EMBRACE THE CONSTITUTION.

>> THE G.O.P.

REMOVES LIZ CHENEY FROM LEADERSHIP.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WEIGHS IN ON THAT AND DIVISIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> YOU CAN SPOT THE INNER PLANETS IN THE NIGHT SKY WE WILL TELL YOU HOW.

AND AFTER SIX DECADES OF KEEPING CHICAGO SPICEY, LA CRIOLLA FOODS IS POISED FOR GROWTH WITH THE CITY'S LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

A PANEL WITH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION HAS RECOMMENDED THE USE OF PFIZER'S COVID-19 VACCINE IN CHILDREN BETWEEN 12 AND 15 YEARS OLD.

THAT PANEL AGREED THAT BENEFITS OF BEING VACCINATED OUTWEIGH ANY RISKS FROM TAKING THE VACCINE.

AND ALL CHICAGO VACCINATION SITES WILL BE OPEN TO KIDS IN THAT AGE GROUP STARTING TOMORROW.

AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT JUST UNDER 1800 NEW COVID CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS INCLUDING 26 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

IT MAKES FOR A COUNT OF 1.3 2350EU6 URGING MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TO MAKE SURE THAT MERCY HOSPITAL TIPS ON AS A FULL SERVICE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

ED HOSPITAL IS SET TO BE OWNED BY A NEW OPENER BUT THE GROUP SAYS NEW OPENERS ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF A TIF AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND IT ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC FUNDING ON THE CONDITION THAT MERCY REMAINS A FULL SERVICE HOSPITAL.

THEY WANT LIGHTFOOT TO INSURE THAT AGREEMENT STAYS IN PLACE.

>> WHAT WE DEMAND IN WRITING FROM YOU IS A COMMITMENT FOR MERCY HOSPITAL TO REMAIN A FULL SERVICE HOSPITAL FOR AT LEAST A DECADE.

>> PAY NEERA TANDEN DIED BOB KOESTER WAS THE OWNER OF JAZZ RECORD MART FOR HALF A CENTURY.

HERE IS A SHORT CLIP PEEKING WITH PONCE.

>> THE FIRST FIVE IN L LOSE.

50 IN CHICAGO.

WHEN YOU STARTED OUT DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA YOU WOULD HAVE THIS LONG A RUN IS THIS.

>> WELL, THE RECORD BUSINESS IS EASY TO GET INTO AND HARD TO GET OUT OF.

I JUST LOVE IT.

I LOVE THE MUSIC.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

SUSAN SAYS I SHOULD RETIRE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD RETIRE TO.

>> I REMEMBER THAT WELL.

AND JAZZ RECORD MART IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

BOB KOESTER WAS 88.

>> CONTINUING ON OUR SPACE THEME IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO WATCH AFTER "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS OVER, OF COURSE, HEAD OUTSIDE FOR A FASCINATING SHOW.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINING US NOW WITH MORE.

TELL US WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VIEWING TONIGHT AS SOON AS THE SHOW IS OVER AT 8:00 P.M.?

>> YES, IT'S COOL.

THREE INNER PLANETS BESIDES EARTH, VENUS, MARS AND MERCURY ARE ALL IN THE NIGHT SKY THIS WEEK.

TONIGHT, YOU CAN WATCH VENUS AT TWILIGHT.

TOMORROW YOU CAN SEE MERCURY AND SATURDAY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD VIEW OF MARS.

>> HOW COOL.

TELL US THE BEST PLACES TO GET THE BEST VIEWS.

>> ALL YOU WANT TO LOOK TO THE WEST AND THE PERFECT THING IS WHAT MAKES THIS SO COOL IS AT THAT TIME THE CRESCENT MOON WILL SERVE AS YOUR GUIDE.

A LOT OF TIMES IT'S HARD TO FIND PLANETS.

THE CRESCENT MOON LOOK TO THAT.

LOW IN THE HORIZON, THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND VENUS AT TWILIGHT.

AND MERCURY AND MARS WILL BE A LITTLE HIGHER IN THE SKY BUT AGAIN USE THAT CRESCENT MOON AS YOUR GUIDE AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPOT THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL BE BRIGHT.

>> IS THIS FOR A COUPLE DAYS OR JUST TONIGHT?

>> JUST FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS THEY WILL BE ALIGNED WITH THE MOON THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM IN THE NIGHT SKY.

>> I'M LOOKING TO DO THAT IN HALF AN HOUR.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> UP NEXT A LOOK AT THE CRITICISM OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY IN A CONVERSATION THAT AIRED ON SUNDAY "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S USE OF ACOUSTIC GUNFIRE DETECTION SYSTEM CALLED SHOTSPOTTER HAS COME INTO SHARP FOCUS AFTER ADAM TOLEDO WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY AN OFFICER RESPONDING TO THE TECHNOLOGY'S ALERL LETTERS IN MARCH.

A STUDY BY McARTHUR'S JUSTICE CENTER FOUND 86% OF POLICE DEPLOYMENTS RESULTED IN NO REPORTS OF CRIME LEADING TO QUESTIONS OF ITS VALUE IN VIOLENCE REDUCTION.

A COALITION OF NONPROFITS RECENTLY FILED AN AMICUS BRIEF IN A PENDING MURDER CASE THAT RELIES ON SHOTSPOTTER EVIDENCE.

JOINING US ARE ARTINESE MYRICK A CONGRESSIONAL ORGANIZER WITH A FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION WORKING AGAINST MASS INCARCERATION AND VIOLENCE.

JONATHAN MANES AN ATTORNEY WITH THE McARTHUR JUSTICE CENTER WHO SPEARHEADED THE STUDY AND FREDDY MARTINEZ DIRECTOR OF A TRANSPARENTTY POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND DIGITAL SECURITY NONPROFIT LOSETY PARSONS LAB WAS AMONG THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT FILED THE BRIEF.

WE INVITED SHOTSPOTTER TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE BUT THEY DECLINED SENDING A STATEMENT THAT WE WILL GET TO IN JUST A MINUTE.

FIRST, JONATHAN MANES SHOTSPOTTER CLAIMS 95% ACCURACY RATE HOW DO THEY DEFINE ACCURACY?

>> I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY GET TO THE 90% ACCURACY RATE WHEN WHAT WE FOUND THE CITY OF CITY DATA IS 86% OF THE TIME THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CRIME OR ANY OTHER INCIDENT.

AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY GET THE NUMBERS FROM.

WE KNOW THAT SHOTSPOTTER HAS NEVER DONE A PROPERLY VALIDATED STUDY TO SEE HOW OFTEN THE SYSTEM IS TRIGG GEARED BY FIRECRACKERS, HELICOPTERS.

IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S POSSIBLE MOST OF THE ALERTS UNFOUNDED ALERTS ARE THE SYSTEM RESPONDING TO LOUD NOISES YOU HAVE IN A CITY LIKE CHICAGO AND THEY ARE SENDING THE POLICE OUT THINKING THERE'S GUNFIRE WHEN THERE'S PROBABLY NOTHING.

>> AND WE ARE LOOKING AT VIDEO OF C.P.D.

'S DECISION COMMAND CENTERS WHERE THE SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY IS USUALLY HUBBED WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGIES.

FREDDY MARTINEZ YOUR OBJECTIONS TO SHOTSPOTTER ARE NOT JUST ABOUT THE ACCURACY BUT MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS BELIEF THAT IT CONTRIBUTES TO AN OVERPOLICING IN BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE WHY THAT IS WHAT YOU THINK?

>> SHOTSPOTTER IS NOT FOUND IN ANY MAJORITY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE THERE'S NO GUN VIOLENCE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS REALISTICALLY IS THAT YOU HAVE POLICE OFFICERS YOU KNOW, REALLY THINKING THAT THERE'S GUNFIRE, RACING TO THE SCENE WHERE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ARE HANGING OUTGOING ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND REALLY JUST THINKING THAT EVERYONE IS AN ARMED SUSPECT.

IT'S QUITE DANGEROUS.

AND IT LEADS TO VERY HARMFUL INTERACTIONS.

WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW WITH THE ADAM TOLEDO CASE.

IF IT WASN'T FOR SHOTSPOTTER AND THE FOOT CHASE THEN MAYBE THAT CHILD WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY.

>> ARTINESE MYRICK HOW DO YOU THINK OR PEOPLE WHO LIVETH THESE COMMUNITIES WEAR THE SHOTSPOTTER EXISTS HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE BEING THERE?

>> WE FEEL IT'S INEFFECTIVE.

WE'RE STILL DYING WHEN POLICE OFFICERS COME ON THE SCENE.

SHOTSPOTTER DOES NOTHING BUT MONITOR AND SURVEILLANCE BLACK COMMUNITIES THEY DO NOT MAKE THEM SAFE.

JONATHAN YOUR RESEARCH FOUND THAT 40,000 REPORTS FROM SHOTSPOTTER DID NOT RESULT IN CRIME REPORTS AND THERE WERE 5,000 INCIDENTS THAT DID LEAD TO A POLICE RECORD.

WHAT WOULD A GOOD EFFICACY RATE LOOK LIKE FOR A SYSTEM LIKE THIS?

>> HAVE TO BE MUCH HIGHER.

60 TIMES A DAY THE SYSTEM IS SENDING THE POLICE OUT INTO BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS THINKING SOMEBODY JUST FIRED A GUN AND THEY FIND NOTHING.

RATHER THAN BEING ON THE STREET WHEN THE POLICE, THINKING YOU HAVE A GUN OR SHOOTING, IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

REALLY ISN'T EVIDENCE THAT IT MAKES THE COMMUNITY SAFER WHICH STANDS TO REASON IF SENDING POLICE OUT ON WILD GOOSE CHASES AND THIS IS ALL JUST RESPONSIVE IT'S ALL REACTING TO AFTER THE SHOTS ARE FIRED IT'S NOT REDUCING THE CAUSES OF GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND YOUR REPORT REFERRED TO GENERATING NO EVIDENCE OF GUNFIRE OR GUN RELATED CRIME.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT DO THE OFFICERS FIND WHEN THEY GET TO THE AREA WHERE THE SHOTSPOTTER DEPLOYED THEM?

>> WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE 86% OF THE TIME THEY FIND NOTHING.

WE COUNT THINGS LIKE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY FIRED IT.

IT'S POSSIBLY THERE WERE NO SHOTS FIRED BUT TO BE CONSERVATIVE WE COUNTED THOSE AS PART OF THE 10% THAT ARE GUN RELATED INCIDENTS.

SO 9 TIMES OUT OF 10, THE POLICE AREN'T RECORDING ANY GUN INCIDENTS.

>> ARTINESE MYRICK WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT $33 MILLION THE CONTRACT THE CITY HAS WITH SHOTSPOTTER OVER THREE YEARS WHAT COULD THAT $33 MILLION BE SPENT ON?

IS IT WORTH THE TECHNOLOGY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

$33 MILLION IS A LOT TO BE INVESTED INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE MOSTLY DEPLOYED TO.

THAT COULD BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS PREVENTATIVE SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, HOSPITAL BASED SERVICES.

POLICING HAS NOT BEEN SEEN AS EFFECTIVE TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

SO THAT 33 MILLION COULD GO TOWARDS PREVENTATIVE SERVICES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES.

>> FREDDY MARTINEZ YOUR ORGANIZATION WAS AMONG THE THREE FILING THE AMICUS BRIEF.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE SHOTSPOTTER EVIDENCE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED IN THAT CASE?

>> WE HAVE SCIENTIFIC STANDARDS FOR EVIDENCE THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A COURT CASE.

DNA EVIDENCE IS RELIABLE BECAUSE PEOPLE SPENT DECADES TESTING IT AND INCLUDING ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS WE MAKE INCLUDING THIS EVIDENCE DOESN'T MEET A SCIENTIFIC STANDARD AND CAN'T BE INCLUDED IN A COURT CASE.

WE WON'T WANT DNA EVIDENCE INCLUDED IF IT'S WRONG WHY WOULD WE ALLOW THIS TECHNOLOGY TO BE INCLUDED.

THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN ARGUMENTS WE'RE RAISING BECAUSE IF WE ALLOW THE TECHNOLOGY TO BE USED IN THIS WAY WE ARE ALLOWING CIVIL RIGHTS AND THEIR CRIMINAL RIGHTS IN COURT TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM IN A WAY WE HAVE NEVER INTENDED.

>> DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION THINK THAT THIS SHOT SPOT SHOTSPOTTER CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERPOLICING OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OR HAVING A POLICE PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY LIKE I MENTIONED IT OVERSURVEILLANCES BLACK COMMUNITIES.

IT OVERMONITORING THEM.

WE ARE SENDING POLICE IN WITH HIGH-RISK WITH HEIGHTENED SENSES, RACING INTO THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT AGAIN, LIKE FREDDIE AND JONATHAN SAID A GUN MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FIRED YET WE ARE SENDING THE OFFICERS INTO THE COMMUNITIES WITH DESENSITIZED TYPES OF ATTITUDES BECAUSE AGAIN, 86% HAS BEEN SHOWN TO NOT BE EFFECTIVE.

THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE JUST AGAIN, BEING CENTERING POLICE STRATEGIES AND WE DO NOT NEED POLICE STRATEGIES WE NEED NEW TACTICS THAT CAN MITIGATE TRAUMA AND DEATH AND HOMICIDES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

NOT POLICING.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO'S TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR JOHN LAUSCH HOSPITALIZED BY A MINI STROKE AND THE SKIS SKIISM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND JOINING US WITH THAT AND MORE ARE HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

WELCOME BACK TEAM.

AS I MENTIONED WE KNOW THAT U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH WAS HOSPITALIZED OVER THE WEEKEND WITH A MINI STROKE.

HEATHER WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY AND HE SPENT THE NIGHT THERE BEFORE BEING DISCHARGED ON SUNDAY.

NOW, HIS SPOKESMAN TOLD ME TODAY THAT HE WAS BACK AT WORK ON MONDAY AND IS UNDER NO MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS AND THINGS ARE BUSINESS AS USUAL.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ALARMED BECAUSE HE IS SUCH A PLAYING A PROMINENT ROLE IN CHICAGO POLITICS RIGHT NOW.

>> A LOT OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON IN HIS OFFICE.

THAT WE KNOW OF ANYWAY.

WHICH ONES IS HE WORKING ON?

>> HE IS PROSECUTING ALDERMAN ED BURKE WHO IS FACING A 14-COUNT INDICTMENT OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

HE IS ALSO IN CHARGE OF ALL SORTS OF CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN INCLUDING FOUR AIDES ONCE LOBBYISTS FOR ComEd.

HE'S ALSO INDICTED FORMER ALDERMAN RICARDO MUNOZ FOR STEALING MONEY FROM THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS AND ALDERMAN DALEY THOMPSON ACCUSED OF FILING FALSE TAX RETURNS AND HE IS ALSO IN CHARGE OF PROSECUTING SEVERAL ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WHO WERE PART OF THE JANUARY 6TH ASSAULT ON THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL.

HE DEFINITELY HAS HIS HANDS FULL.

>> AND BEING THE U.S. ATTORNEY THAT IS A PRESSURE COOKER JOB.

AND AS HEATHER REPORT HES HAS BEEN BACK AT WORK BUT COULD A HEALTH SCARE AFFECT THE TIMING OF THE CASES?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

MOST OF THE INVESTIGATIONS STARTED BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL ON THE SCENE AS U.S. ATTORNEY AND THEY WILL CONTINUE AFTER HE IS GONE AFTER THERE IS A NOMINEE TO REPLACE HIM AND AFTER THAT NOMINEE IS CONFIRMED THERE IS A GROUP OF PROSECUTORS THAT WORKED ON ALL OF THESE CASES.

THE SAME PROSECUTORS ON MANY OF THEM, BURKE, ComEd, AND THEY'VE BEEN IN THAT OFFICE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

I IMAGINE THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THAT OFFICE AND THAT WORK GOES ON WHOEVER IS AT THE TOP.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE HACK OF THE COLONIAL PIPELINE THAT HAS MADE SPECIAL NEWS.

BUT -- INTERNATIONAL NEWS BUT CITY COUNCIL IS DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT OF A HACK WHEN A RANSOM WAS NOT PAID THE MAYOR'S E-MAILS WERE DUMPED ON THE DARK WEB.

>> WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THOSE E-MAILS ARE IN FACT LEGITIMATE, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PUT ON-LINE IN THEIR ORIGINAL FORM AND ALSO SOMEBODY WHO COMMITTED A FEDERAL CRIME OF STEALING E-MAILS, I DON'T WANT TO CREDIT THEM AS A CREDIBLE NEWS SOURCE.

>> HEATHER LET'S START WITH WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

HOW DID THE E-MAILS GET TO BE HACKED AND THEN DUMPED ON THE INTERNET?

AND WHAT ARE WE HEAR BEING A RANSOM?

>> WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THESE E-MAILS WERE TURNED OVER FROM THE CITY TO LAW FIRM JONES DAY WHICH HAS BEEN TAPPED BY THE MAYOR TO INVESTIGATE EVERYTHING SURROUNDING THE BOTCHED RAID OF ANJANETTE YOUNG.

SHE WAS THE SOCIAL WORKER LEFT NAKED AND HANDCUFFED PLEADING FOR HELP FROM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY RAIDED HER APARTMENT MISTAKENLY.

THESE WERE THE E-MAILS THE CITY TURNED OVER THAT ENDED UP ON THE DARK WEB.

THE MAYOR SAID ON MONDAY, THE CITY HAD BEEN ASKED TO PAY RANSOM TO PREVENT THE E-MAILS FROM BEING RELEASED.

THE CITY REFUSED.

JONES STAY REDUCE FUSED AND -- REFUSED AND NOW THE E-MAILS ARE ON THE INTERNET FOR EVERYBODY TO SEARCH THROUGH AND EVERY CHICAGO POLITICAL PERSON HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS.

>> THERE IS AN ETHICAL QUESTION FOR JOURNALISTS.

AND THESE E-MAILS, YES, THIS IS PUBLIC BUSINESS, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING SAID IN THE E-MAILS.

BUT THAT IT WAS GOTTEN FROM THE DEVIOUS MEANS, I THINK DOES RAISE AN ETHICAL QUANDARY AND REMINDS ONE OF RUSSIAN OPERATIVES HACKING THE DNC'S E-MAILS WHENEVER THAT WAS, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS HERE.

I THINK IT'S WORTH IT TO LOOK AT THE E-MAILS AND FOIA FOR THE SPECIFICS SO THEY WERE NOT GOTTEN BY MORE NORMAL MEANS.

THAT IS A LOT OF WORK TO GO THROUGH.

>> THAT IS A FAIR POINT BUT IN THE MEANTIME SOME REPORTERS HAVE GONE DIGGING THROUGH THEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SECRET C.P.D.

DRONE PROGRAM WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S SOMETIMES REPORTERS WENT THROUGH AND FOUND THAT ONE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THEIR PAPER TODAY.

AND ACCORDING TO THAT E-MAIL AND ACCORDING TO THAT REPORT, IT IS A DRONE PROGRAM FINANCED BY MONEY FROM SETDZED ASSETS -- SEIZED ASSETS.

ACCORDING TO HOW THE REPORTERS IN THAT ZORRY DESCRIBE IT OFF BOOKS, FINANCING FOR THE DRONE PROGRAM.

WE DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE BUT WE KNOW ANYTIME YOU TALK ABOUT THIS THING IT RAISES EYEBROWS AMONG THE A.C.L.U.

CALLING THIS OUT SAYING THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IF THIS IS USED TO MONITOR THINGS LIKE PROTESTS AND CALLS TO MIND WHEN THE C.P.D.

USED THESE STINGRAY MACHINES TO JAM CELLPHONE SIGNALS AT PROTESTS.

USING BIOMETRIC DATA TO TRY AND SOLVE CRIMES.

MAYBE THERE IS A ELEMENT TO THESE THINGS THAT DOES HELP SOLVE CRIMES BUT C.P.D.

HAS TO WEIGH WHETHER THAT IS VIOLATING CIVIL LIBERTIES AND WHERE THE LEGALITY IS HERE.

>> AND THE OTHER THING THE E-MAILS MAY HAVE REVEALED IS THAT THE MAYOR ACTUALLY LOBBIED FOR QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW THERE?

>> QUALIFIED IMMUNITY GIVES POLICE OFFICERS A GREAT DEAL OF PROTECTION WHEN ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT OR CRIMINAL ACTIONS IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROPOSALS TO CHANGE THE STATE LAW THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER ADVOCATES SAY, TO HOLD POLICE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT THE POLICE UNION AND POLICE ADVOCATES SAY THAT THAT WOULD MAKE IT REALLY HARD FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO DO THEIR JOBS.

AND THOSE E-MAILS FROM MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT REFLECT HER PUBLIC POSITION IS THAT OFFICERS DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED FROM THOSE TORT SORT OF CLAIMS WHEN IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THERE'S BEEN MISCONDUCT OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

THIS IS AT THE HEART OF THE DEBATE GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE ABOUT HOW TO REFORM POLICING IN THE WAKE OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND HOW TO REFORM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE FEDERAL JUDGE.

>> HOW DOES THAT LOOK FOR THE MAYOR?

DIDN'T SEE CAMPAIGN AS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMER?

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF SKEPTICISM AMONG REFORM ADVOCATES THAT SHE IS WHAT SHE CAMPAIGNED FOR.

AND REMEMBER, SHE WAS APPOINTED BY RAHM EMANUEL TO THE POLICE REFORM TASK FORCE AFTER THE SHOOTING OF LAQUAN McDONALD WHEN THE VIDEO CAME OUT.

AND AT THE BEGINNING SHE DID NOT SOUND NOTES OF REFORM SHE EVOLVED INTO THAT POSITION.

AND NOW YOU SEE A BIT OF A MUDDLED POSITION.

>> SO MOVING ON TO NATIONAL POLITICS.

THE G.O.P.

OUSTED LIZ CHENEY FROM HER LEADERSHIP POSITION FOR CONTINUING TO SAY THAT JOE BIDEN WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE MUST SPEAK THE TRUTH.

OUR ELECTION WAS NOT STOLEN AND AMERICA HAS NOT FAILED.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TODAY WAS SAD.

LIZ HAS COMMITTED THE ONLY SIN OF BEING CONSISTENT.

AND TELLING THE TRUTH.

THE TRUTH IS THAT THE ELECTION WAS NOT STOLEN.

74 MILLION VOTERS WERE NOT DISENFRANCHISED THEY WERE OUT NUMBERED.

>> WHAT DOES HER OUSTER SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE G.O.P.?

>> WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE POLITICS IT'S ALL POLITICS AND THE G.O.P.

LEADER IN THE HOUSE KEVIN McCARTHY MADE THE CALCULATION AND MAJORITY MEMBERS AGREED THAT TO WIN IN 2022 AND GAIN BACK THE HOUSE, THEY HAVE TO STICK WITH TRUMP STICKING WITH TRUMP MEANS YOU HAVE TO INDULGE HIM IN HIS FANTASIES OF A STOLEN ELECTION.

THE REPUBLICANS MADE THE CALCULATION THAT IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR CAREERS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT ELICE STEFANIK VERY, VERY CRITICAL OF TRUMP AND NOW SHE'S SAYING THAT SHE IS INDULGING THOSE LIES ABOUT A STOLEN ELECTION AS WELL.

IT'S INCREASING HER FUNDRAISING AND GETTING HER A POSITION IN LEADERSHIP.

THERE IS A LOT OF ANGER FROM SOMEONE LIKE ADD DAN KING GEAR, A -- KINZINGER, THAT TELLING THE TRUTH HERE, A TRUTH THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO DEMOCRACY IS NOT WELCOME IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP DECIDED IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEIR POLITICS.

>> HEATHER IS KINZINGER THE LONE WOLF STANDING WITH LIZ CHENEY?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT HE IS THE LONE WOLF BUT HE IS ONE OF A FEW.

HE AND LIZ CHENEY WERE TWO OF 10 REPUBLICANS IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE TO VOTE TO IMPEACH DONALD TRUMP WHICH MEANS THEY ARE IN THE MINORITY WITHIN THEIR PARTY WHICH IS A MINORITY IN THE HOUSE.

WHICH LEAVES THEM VULNERABLE TO REDISTRICTING IN TERMS OF THE SEATS OUTSIDE OF WYOMING AND LIZ CHENEY IS VULNERABLE TO A TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE OUSTING HER FROM HER SEAT AS THE LONE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE FOR WYOMING.

AND I THINK THAT WE WILL BE WATCHING THEIR FATE IN THE 2022 ELECTION CLOSELY FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO GO IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FORMER MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, AMBASSADOR POTENTIALLY, SOURCES SITE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN MIGHT APPOINT HIM AS AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN.

>> IT IS NOT A DONE DEAL WE EXPECT PERHAPS IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SLATE OF AMBASSADORS TO POSITIONS LIKE JAPAN.

AND IF RAHM EMANUEL IS PICKED TO GO TO JAPAN IT WILL BE A BIT OF A POLITICAL RESURRECTION.

HE LOBBIED VERY HARD FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO PICK HIM AS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY.

HE WAS PASSED OVER FOR FORMER SOUTH BEND MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG.

AND THIS WILL BE SEEN AS RAHM EMANUEL'S RETURN TO POLITICS NOT JUST THE NATIONAL LEVEL BUT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.

HOWEVER HE HAS TO BE CONFIRM BIDE THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND THAT WILL NO DOUBT DRAW FIRE FROM PROGRESSIVES WHO SEE HIM AS BASICALLY, SOMEBODY WHO SHOULD NO LONGER BE IN PUBLIC LIFE AFTER HIS ROLE IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE POLICE MURDER OF LAQUAN McDONALD.

>> AND PARIS, WHY JAPAN?

AND WHY RAHM EMANUEL FOR JAPAN?

>> I HEARD A PROGRESSIVE SAY THEY ARE OK BECAUSE IT GETS RAHM EMANUEL AS FAR AWAY FROM CHICAGO AS GEOGRAPHICALLY POSSIBLE.

ALTHOUGH, SOME OF THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THAT PARTY IS NOT HAPPY WITH RAHM EMANUEL IN ANY POSITION.

HE'S GOTTEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY AMONG THAT WING OF THE PARTY.

JAPAN IS AN IMPORTANT POST LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES.

CHINA IS THE BIGGEST GEOPOLITICAL THREAT ACCORDING TO MOST OBSERVERS.

JAPAN IS A KEY ALLY IN THAT REGION.

SO IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT YOU TRUST IN THAT POSITION TO MAINTAIN A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH JAPAN.

>> AND QUICKLY, ALDERMAN CARRIE AUSTIN HAD BLOWN THROUGH A DEADLINE TO PAY A REDUCED ETHICS FINE.

HEATHER REMIND US WHAT THE FINE WAS FOR AND HOW SHE MANAGED TO GET IT REDUCED?

>> SHE TOOK $48500 IN IMPROPERRER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A BUSINESS THAT HAD CITY CONTRACTS.

IF YOU HAVE CITY CONTRACTS YOU ARE LIMITED IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO CANDIDATES.

CARRIE AUSTIN TOOK MONEY THAT SHE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO.

AND INITIALLY THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ETHICS FINED HER THREE TIMES THAT AMOUNT MORE THAN $140,000.

AND THEN THEY THOUGHT BETTER OF IT AND REDUCED THAT FINE TO JUST $5,000.

BUT CARRIE AUSTIN THE SECOND LONGEST SERVING ALDERMAN DID NOT PAY THAT BY THE DEADLINE OF MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY.

AND NOW THE LAW DEPARTMENT IS CHARGED WITH TRYING TO COLLECT THAT FINE AND TO GET THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS BACK.

>> NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR AN ALDERMAN ON THAT FRONT.

THANKS TO THE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

UP NEXT, HOW A LOCAL COMPANY HAS BEEN KEEPING THE SASSON IN CHICAGO'S KITCHEN.

>> AND WHEN AVELINA MALDONADO STARTED HIS SPICE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY LA CRIOLLA IN CHICAGO IN 1957 THE BIGGEST WAY OF LATINO IMMIGRANTS HAD YET TO ARRIVE.

64 YEARS LATER LATINOS MAKEUP 30% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION AND LA CRIOLLA HAS NEW OWNERS WHO HOPE TO BRING THEIR FLAVORS TO ANOTHER GENERATION OF COOKS.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" PRODUCER ERIKA GUNDERSON HAS THIS STORY.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHICAGO.

SO MY MOTHER USED TO USE LA CRIOLLA BRAND.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S A LEGACY IN THAT PART BECAUSE WE'RE BRINGING IT ON TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

>> AS IN SO MANY CULTURES FOR LATINOS THE FAMILY KITCHEN IS A SACRED PLACE WHERE TRADITIONS ARE PASSED DOWN IF GENERATION TO GENERATION.

AND SINCE 1957 WHEN AVELINA MALDONADO STARTED LA CRIOLLA FOODS BY SELLING SPICE BLENDS OUT OF THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR THE COMPANY HAS OFFERED A TASTE OF HOME FOR CHICAGO'S LATINO FAMILIES.

>> WE HAVE THE SAZON AND THE ADOBO.

THAT WAS A CREATION FROM AVELINA MALDONADO THAT'S LIKE A MULTISEASONNING.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON EVERYTHING.

>> MARIE AND AJOSE CHAPARRO TOOK OVER LA CRIOLLA FOODS AT THE ORIGINAL LOCATION IN 2016.

THEY BOUGHT THE COMPANY FROM AVELINA MALDONADO'S WIFE CARMEN.

>> CARMEN WAS LOOKING FOR TO PASS THE LEGACY TO A LATINO FAMILY AND WE WAS THE LUCKY ONES TO GET IT.

>> IN 2018, THEY MOVED LA CRIOLLA TO A LARGER FACILITY IN SOUTH SUBURBAN ALSIP.

SINCE THEN, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON PLANS TO EXPAND AND PROMOTE HER BRAND TO A NEW GENERATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

LA CRIOLLA'S FINANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER, RAUL ROSAS SAYS THE PANDEMIC HAS RENEWED INTEREST IN COOKING AT HOME.

>> IT'S BEEN A RESURGENCE OF HAVING TO EXPERIMENT AGAIN WITH YOUR COOKING.

AND HAVING TO REMEMBER THOSE RECIPES THAT YOUR MOM HAS MADE OR HAD TO GET ON A ZOOM CALL OR GOOGLE ME CALL WITH THEM OR FACE TIME TO SAY, HEY AM I DOINGTIES CORRECTLY?

AM I ADDING THE RIGHT PINCH AIT'S ALWAYS A PINCH.

>> AND GETTING JUST THE RIGHT FLAVOR TO SPARK THAT MEMORY OF HOME COOKING IS LA CRIOLLA'S MISSION.

>> WHAT WE HOPE IS WHEN THEY OPEN IT THEY WILL SMELL HOME AND REMEMBER THEIR MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER COOKING WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

FOR ME IT'S THE CHILI THAT MY MOM MAKES.

>> CHEF ROBERTO PEREZ IS IN CHARGE OF BRINGING THE FLAVORS TO LIFE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT THAT MEANS RIGHT NOW IS THAT I'M DOING SOME FOOD TESTING, TESTING WITH SPICES, TESTING THEM OUT, CHECKING THEM OUT IN DIFFERENT PARTICULAR RECIPES AND SEEING IF ANY ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE.

A LOT OF THE INGREDIENTS ARE INSPIRED FROM CARRIBBEAN COOKING.

>> AS PART OF THE EXTENDING THE BRAND'S REACH, ROSA SAYS ANOTHER THING FOR LA CRIOLLA IS THE IN THE WORKS.

>> WHAT WE ARE DOING IN OUR PLANS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE IS POSITIONING IT FOR AN EQUITY PROFITING CAMPAIGN WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO INVEST AND BE PART OF LA CRIOLLA.

>> PEOPLE KNOW LA CRIOLLA IS THE LOCAL BRAND.

>> AND AS THE CITY'S LATINO POPULATION GROWS ROSA SAYS THE COMPANY IS POSITIONED TO GROW ALONG WITH IT.

>> THE LATINO MARKET IS A MARKET THAT'S BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR SUCH A LONGTIME IT IS A SLEEPING GIANT.

AND IT IS A POWERFUL -- THERE IS POWER IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

AS A LATINO HOUSEHOLD.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> FOR MORE ON LA CRIOLLA CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

>> AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

SOME COMMUNITIES ON COOK COUNTY'S SOUTH SIDE ARE LAGGING IN THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

WE VISIT THE VILLAGE OF RIVERDALE FOR THE NEXT STOP IN OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND COLOR PHOTOS FROM PEOPLE AND PLACES FROM VIVIAN MEYER.

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

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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