>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight on Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

A Chicago man is facing murder charges in the fatal shooting of 2 Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. We've >> We've got public.

Transit workers are pushing for more funding as the budget deadline looms in Springfield.

>> And a new children's book explores growing up in immigrant family.

First off tonight, a Chicago man is being charged in the fatal shooting of 2 Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, D.C. >> Fbi agents descended on Albany Park on the city's north side this morning to search a home connected to Elias Rodriguez.

Police say Rodriguez attacked the victims yesterday evening as they were leaving an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum and yelled Free Free Palestine as he was detained.

It comes as Israel launched another major offensive in the Gaza Strip.

And as Jewish communities are on alert amid a national rise in Anti-Semitic incidents.

Our Matt Masterson joins us now with more.

Matt, what do we know about suspected gunman?

Yeah, 31 year-old Elias Rodriguez.

He's now as of this afternoon, charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and also some felony firearm charges.

Well.

>> Federal authorities say that he could also face terrorism charges down the road.

Those which are yet to be filed.

It appears he's a Chicago native.

He now lives in Albany Park with FBI search occurred this morning.

He apparently was a former University of Illinois-Chicago student who now works for the American Osteopathic Association, a Chicago based group that represents osteopathic physicians and based on some comments and social media postings, he appears like he had been heavily influenced by the war in Gaza.

As you said, he had targeted people coming out of the Capital Jewish Museum reportedly shouted Free Palestine as he's been arrested after the shooting.

And yet justice for one day, photo in his in his home window.

A reference, of course, to the 6 year-old boy Palestinian boy who was murdered in suburban Plainfield back in 2023.

>> Representative Brad Schneider from Illinois is the co-chair of the Congressional Jewish Caucus.

He spoke at a news conference outside the museum today.

Here's what he said.

>> seen a rise of Anti-Semitism.

That has.

The unprecedented in my lifetime.

So as we gather here today, we are.

>> Overwhelming.

Overwhelmed by emotions.

Emotions of grief at the loss of beautiful young people.

>> Matt, what other local reaction have you heard Illinois Governor JB Pritzker who is himself tuition, had a member of the staff actually at this event in Washington where the shooting occurred said he was horrified by what happened.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Anti-Semitism and hate have no place in our nation at all.

We also heard from one of Rodriguez's neighbors, John Wayne Frey, who said he was sad and disappointed to hear about the shooting and the ongoing war in Gaza.

He said that he never interacted much with Rodriguez.

They live in the same apartment building a few doors down.

But he said he appeared to just be a normal friendly guy.

He wishes he had spoken with Rodriguez more about the war in Gaza, something they both appeared to be very influenced by and said if he had the chance to speak with him about this, he would try to talk him out of the shooting saying violence is never the answer for us.

A situation like this.

lastly, Matt, what do we know about the victims?

Yeah.

So as to people you're you're on the shinsky and Sarah Lund Milgram to members of the Israel is really a set embassy who are both in Washington, D.C., at this young diplomats, reception.

No gun was 26 An American missions key was a 30 year-old Israeli citizen.

And according to an Israeli official, their young couple, they've been dating and Russians region recently purchased a wedding ring with the intent of posing tour in Jerusalem just next week.

heartbreaking story.

Matt, thank you.

Thank you.

Friends.

>> And you can read Matt's full story on our website.

It's all at W T Tw Dot com Slash news.

And now to some more of today's top stories.

Lawsuits filed in Illinois and Indiana today say Heights crematory failed to properly treat and cremate the remains of more than 30 people.

>> When a family member comes to place their loved one.

In their final resting place.

They expect that the funeral home or crematory well fulfill their obligations as a sacred manner.

And this has been a gross disruption of that process, denying these families of closure.

>> One of the attorneys you just heard from there says that after filing one lawsuit for Darla Smith alleging the growth mishandling and negligence of her husband's remains, they received a tidal wave of calls from other families, fearing the same had happened to their loved ones.

The complaints allege the crematory and its affiliates improperly stored remains.

Bodies were commingled with other bodies.

And in some instances, families received the wrong remains entirely.

The Chicago Blackhawks have a new head coach.

The team announced today the hiring of just blast Hill.

He previously coached the Detroit Red Wings for 7 seasons before being fired blast.

He'll succeed Luke Richardson who was fired by the teen in December Hawks.

Fans are hoping for a turnaround after the team finished last in the Central Division this year.

and second to last in the league for the last 2 seasons.

Toyota.

If you're planning to travel this Memorial Day weekend, you can expect lots of company, the Illinois Tollway estimates 8 million drivers to take a pass through that whole way.

The agency says Friday will be the busiest with nearly 2 million expected vehicles.

Auto club.

Aaa expects more than 2 million Illinois residents to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday, either by car plane or buggy.

I got in the Tri-State Tollway are reminding drivers of ongoing construction zones, though some non-emergency closures will be suspended.

We have more information on our website.

In Chicago.

Beaches are open for swimming starting tomorrow, marking the unofficial start to summer.

Temperatures are expected to top out at 60 degrees over the holiday weekend.

The Chicago Park District says it has recruited enough lifeguards to have all 22 beaches open for swimming 7 days a week, all until Labor Day.

If you're not quite ready to take a dip in Lake Michigan, though, because it's probably still cold.

You can hold out a few more weeks and wait until the city pools open on June.

21st.

Still to come, a local author and illustrator captures experiences growing up being first generation in a new children's book.

But up next, the funding challenges facing Chicago transit agencies as lawmakers face a looming budget deadline in Springfield.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part why the Alexandra and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> We are just days away from the end of the Illinois General Assembly Spring Session.

And among the many, 40 issues, lawmakers are tackling the future of Chicagoland.

Public transit CTA, Metra and Pace are facing a 770 million dollar hole in their budget.

But lawmakers have been clear that they aren't coming through with any more money unless they see reforms to how those agencies are run.

But what those reforms look like and where the money will come from.

Well, that has yet to be resolved.

Here's what one writer had to say at a rally yesterday.

>> the city.

people be able going.

I'm worried about all excellent.

If you are to get a system entirety.

>> Joining us to discuss the looming deadline and the impact of transit are pending.

A coach president of Amalgamated Transit Union local 308, a union that represents Chicago Transit authority workers, Orlando Rojas, the train conductor at Metro and legislative representative at sheet male heir sheet, metal air Rail Transportation, Union, local 6.53 and Audrey wedding senior director at the Metropolitan Planning Council.

Thank you all for joining us.

a coach that clip we heard from a hurricane from a rally backing a proposal from a number of labor groups.

That's an effort you've supported, what kinds of reforms might we see from that proposal?

>> Well, number, want that on that proposal.

One of them safety safety for the public as well as the employees.

Providers ship for the public.

wow.

what more being they're number one?

I like the and the roads I'm it.

Police for end to >> You know, we've heard it, you know, from a lot from legislators about safety concerns.

And I want to get to those Audrey winning.

Other proposals have gone farther than this bill backed by labor groups perhaps is far as calling for merging all bus and rail service into one new agency.

What would be the the advantage of going quite so far?

>> Yes, we really would like to see the region take Right or center proposal where I don't different functions that alone Griggs the involved.

If we had all fair policy and let the regional level so that riders could transfer between different systems and not have to pay to fares if we had all service planning handled at the regional level.

So that connections could be timed.

Well, so we really think there's a lot of opportunity to have everything integrated in a way that it makes it really easy and appealing for riders to travel around the region, using transit and the other car behind.

>> And, you know, Audrey, when you when you speak with with lawmakers about these different, you know, needs these these different passenger centric ideas, what sort of a reception do you get?

Do you think they're you know, aware of how disjointed the system can sometimes feel?

>> Yes, I'm I'm down in Springfield right now and have been talking to legislators over the past few days as have many others.

we're hearing that a lot of legislators really are seeing the potential of transformation for the transit system.

They are feel like this is a turning point.

It can be a turning point for the future and they hear from their constituents about difficulties with.

Ghost bosses and difficulties transferring and understand that we need to do better.

And really want to see those reforms before they come up with a large amount of money.

But know that they need to do that as well.

>> Yes, certainly if those things are going hand in hand, there is quite a bit of urgency here.

You know, Orlando Rojas, we heard payment coach and have heard many others bring up safety concerns both for passengers and for frontline workers.

What sorts of concerns have you heard from folks about what they experience on the job?

You know, there has been not.

>> You know, I'm a desire for more presence.

Other stations at the stations on the trains themselves throughout the system really.

And even I know Metro has had difficult time.

at getting the police force up to where it wants to be.

I mean, it makes a difference.

Certainly it's it's, you know.

Being having the option to be able to call and have designated police force for us is critical and we need we need to do that.

think that it can be expanded.

And I think the united we moved bill sets the stage for that.

Not just Metra, for the entire system.

critical.

People want safety.

First.

We want to be able to get from point A to point B safely on time and, you know, unclean trains comfortable.

So I think that it's a it's a key component.

I think the legislation before us, provides that.

>> In Orlando Rojas, if lawmakers don't come through with this money or if it's perhaps in limbo for a while, what kinds of impacts are you worried about from service cuts?

>> So my understanding is that in order to achieve a you know, financial reduction or budgetary >> was really realize the savings of 20% you have to cut service by up to 40%.

Certain fixed costs that the transit agencies have, whether it's, you know, fully funded or not lead to meet those costs.

So where they have the most room is in service cuts.

Unfortunately.

And that's the actual service that we provide.

Now you're talking 40% reduction.

Obviously the people that I work with are concerned about, you know, cuts to 2 workers.

And so what that means for their families being able to provide for their families and that it's a huge concern for all of us.

And, you know, it's not just the city of Chicago.

really is the region.

I know for Metro.

There's a lot of workers in the suburbs as well as in the city.

And it really would be a huge impact for the entire region.

You know, we take the money we earn and we spend it back in our communities and that that.

Multiplier effect goes both ways, you know, for every dollar spent in transit, there's a 13 X multiplier.

But it works the other way too.

You know, taking a dollar out of the economy really are taken 13 for every everyone.

So I know that on paper, it seems like a savings.

But in the end, it would affect only the lives of all the transit workers to people that provide or that depend on our and the service we provide.

But really the entire economy in the potentially quite a widespread impact, you know, putting a coach that United we move Bill, that Orlando reference.

This is the measure that labor groups have been pushing in and talking about with lawmakers.

>> Do the proposals in that bill?

It is in essentially sort of strengthening the RTA, strengthening coordination, but leaving this this structure largely in place.

Do you feel like you've been getting a good reception from lawmakers who have been really hungry for reform to the way the system's Ron.

>> I >> had very good their that.

>> law, they want one how what?

Everything that's going on with the chance them.

But went out.

funding at least Not That comes on >> You know, Audrey winning, you know, in terms of the funding in terms of the conversations happening down in Springfield, you know, sometimes lawmakers drag their feet a little bit on looking at specific revenue streams.

Do you feel like they've reached a point in the conversation where it's looking like we may have the money come through before the end of May.

>> We know legislators are talking seriously about a range of funding source is you know, they're getting into details.

I think that that's something that they do kind of amongst themselves a little more you know, talking on the open until they found the solution.

But I'm optimistic.

I think they realize that the consequences will be devastating.

I mean, I I think see counties that are car right now because of the traffic you can get to the studio rate the and we absolutely need transit in our region our region is going to be paralyzed.

If we shut down 40% of the transit system with a second highest level of congestion in the country not to mention transit impacts on air quality.

We you know, all kinds of health impacts from emissions from driving climate change economic impacts that early was was mentioning.

So I think people understand that the Chicago region is really an economic engine and also there's a lot of congestion.

And and so we need to make transit.

Not only fill gaps, but make it even stronger and make it attractive for people to ride.

And that's good for everybody.

Well, certainly they're going to be a lot of conversations over the next few days, but that's where we'll have to leave this conversation.

>> coach, Orlando Rojas, Audrey winning.

Thank you all for joining us.

We appreciate it.

>> Thank Thank you.

And up next, a local children's author on her latest book.

>> Whether it's connecting with extended family from afar or taking pride in your heritage in the U.S. growing up as a child of immigrants can come with many complex experiences, local writer and illustrator Jackie out onto draws from her own childhood to help kids navigate their diverse identities.

In her new book called Pios and Primo's Spanish for aunts, uncles and Cousins.

And joining us now is the book's author and illustrator Jacqueline account.

I thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you for having me.

So this book tells the story of a young girls visit to Honduras where her family is from.

She's excited to meet her extended family.

Of course, you're also Honduran.

How did some of your childhood experiences inspired the story of this book?

Yeah, well, I have hunter and my father's side of the fight.

Family lives there.

>> And growing up in state in Chicago, you know, really wanted to connect with that part of identity.

But luckily, we were able to take a lot of trips there.

And I was giving opportunities to connect with my cousins and aunts and uncles.

But, you know, when you arrive there, realize the Spanish that, you know, is only get you so far and you're missing out on conversations and jokes and you really want to bond with people further.

That was kind of when I get frustrated.

And so when I was starting to dive into writing this book, I started to remember all of the ways that my family really made me feel so welcome and so accepted in really part of the family.

Despite that language barrier.

Yeah.

And your your character in the book, the Little Girl.

she has a little bit of anxiety about meeting the family.

And how's it going to go like you said the family welcomes her in the book and all works out.

>> Yeah, we have to read the book to hundreds is often underrepresented parts of Latino culture.

Lots of stereotypes, of course, about all of What was it like for you to bring under an identity to life through words and pictures as an illustrator?

Yeah, I think it's you know, trying from your personal experience.

Always the best, right.

And then writing and illustrating.

So it was a natural thing for me to want to create and want to draw and paint these parts of Honduras.

That means so much to me and our also contrasting a lot of the negative rhetoric that we hear about Central Erika Lankan families.

So you know, kind of a great time to have such a positive book out about how loving families or their beautiful of a country.

It is.

so it feels great to be able to share a positive story for, you people to people to see well into that point.

You know, we are in a time when many people from immigrant communities are facing challenges with current immigration policies and xenophobia, attitudes.

Have you think your book sort of contributes to, you know, this current national contacts that we're Question?

you know, I guess my hope for it is that it's just interesting that and kids and families are able to see positive depictions of their culture that are may be very different from other sources of media that they're being inundated with and that they can sit with books like this and others and chill pride about their own identity and curious about.

Heritage.

If they have grown up here and they haven't visited it and you know, maybe it's parks than wanting to tell their own story one day as well in the book.

You also talk about the language barrier that the little girl, your main character experiences.

What do you say to the assumption that, you know, because your family is Honduran that you're fluent in Spanish?

>> Has that ever happened to you where someone's like, oh, you're 100 and you I think maybe it's more of a, you know, internal issue that I've been dealing with for my whole life of just wanting to be more fluent and.

>> But of course, being in situations where maybe you're expected to know more, then you do.

But I just kind of find it amazing that there's always ways that you can really connect to people despite, you know, maybe knowingly.

>> A little bit of the language.

And so hopefully a good reminder that there's lots of ways we can bond with people.

>> And in reverse, there's lots of small things we can do to make other people feel really accepted.

That might not know our language and understood but I'm always trying to learn more we all been is getting mad at me.

He's got like a 3rd eye right now.

It's a little weird.

Al.

What do you say, though, to children of immigrants who may be feeling scared or nervous about sharing their multi cultural identities?

>> Another great question something you ever experienced yourself.

Lucky as you mentioned, being have 100 right.

Think that, you know, growing hundreds wasn't necessarily in that news as it is today.

maybe that's lucky thing for me growing up because they don't feel like I had instances where I had combat that.

I think it was more just, you know, being having a multi cultural background are always kind of feeling a little bit this a little bit that maybe not enough.

This is not an of that, but it's also, you know, a lot of really exciting and cool things that you get to share with people to, you know, as a kid having been to rainforest, getting to visit your family, another country you know, so I feel like just kind of bit of a balancing act.

Yeah, I'm sure it the 30 seconds left.

What's next for you?

And you've got another full project that's coming up later this year.

Yeah, I was very lucky enough to boost ratings.

Supreme Court Justice Oney said Myers next picture book.

So that releases in September another project to have under way is a biography about Cuban artists.

We fatal him.

Okay.

Yeah.

So it's more stuff for us be on the lookout for from Jacqueline all content.

so much congratulate and thank you so much.

Of course.

And the book Sand Primo's is out now.

And that is our show for this Thursday night.

If you're looking for things to do this holiday weekend, be sure to check out our website for our Summer festival guide.

That's at W T Tw Dot com slash festivals and join us tomorrow night at 5.37, for the weekend review.

We leave you tonight with a look at Chi Food Truck Fest that's rolling in culinary delights through Daily Plaza.

Every Friday until October 3rd.

Yeah, it's it's time for that again.

Now for all of us here at Chicago Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible.

Why Robert, a click and click A Chicago personal injury and wrongful death that serves the needs of clients in