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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TALK GUN CONTROL IN THE WAKE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TEXAS.

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR SCHOOL DAY BETTER.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION, STACY DAVIS GATES ON HER PLANS FOR LEADERSHIP.

>> THE COUNTRY SEES A 16-YEAR HIGH IN TRAFFIC FATALITIES A LOOK AT THE STAGGERING NUMBERS AND EFFORTS TO REDUCE THEM.

>> TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE.

OUR NEW SERIES FOLLOWS THE STORIES OF MOTHERS WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN TO GUN VIOLENCE.

>> WHY SOME EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS ARE UPSET C.P.S.

IS REPLACING A LONG RUN AND MAGNET ARTS PROGRAM.

AND CREATIVITY IS AT THE CENTERPIECE OF A NATIVE MESH EXHIBITION AT THE FIELD MUSEUM.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A MASS SHOOTING LEAVES 14 CHILDREN AND ONE TEACHER DEAD AT A TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT SAYS THE SHOOTER WAS AN 18-YEAR-OLD LOCAL MAN HE ENTERED ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN UVALDE, TEXAS 85 MILES WEST OF SAN ANTONIO WITH A HANDGUN AND POSSIBLY A RIFLE AND OPENED FIRE.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS TEXAS IS IN MOURNING.

>> WHEN PARENTS DROP THEIR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL, THEY HAVE EVERY EXPECTATION TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PICK THEIR CHILD UP WHEN THAT SCHOOL DAY ENDS.

AND THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE IN MOURNING RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS IN MOURNING WITH THEM FOR THE REALITY THAT THESE PARENTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THEIR CHILDREN.

>> ABBOTT SAYS THE SHOOTER WAS DEAD AT THE SCENE AND LIKELY KILLED BY OFFICERS ALTHOUGH THAT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

>> ALDERMAN MICHAEL SCOTT JR.

ANNOUNCES HE IS RESIGNING FROM CITY COUNCIL.

THE 24TH WARD ALDERMAN CITES THE TOLL OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN HIS WARD AS HIS REASON FOR MOVING ON.

HOURS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT, CENTER SPACE STUDIOS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING SCOTT WILL BE JOINING THE STUDIO.

THE RESIGNATION IS EFFECTIVE JUNE 3 ACCORDING TO THE LETTER TO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

LIGHTFOOT WILL HAVE 60 DAYS TO APPOINT A REPLACEMENT.

AND THERE'S MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> A COALITION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE CALLING ON MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TO CHANGE HER APPROACH TO REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.

MORE THAN 65 COMMUNITY, FAITH, LEGAL AND POLICY ORGANIZATIONS SENT AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MAYOR SAYING SHE SHOULD FOCUS ON COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND LESS ON POLICING TO COMBAT VIOLENCE.

>> EVERY YEAR WHEN THE VIOLENCE PICKS UP, THE MAYOR RESPONDS WITH THE SAME LAW ENFORCEMENT-BASED STRATEGIES THAT FAILED THE YEAR BEFORE.

IT'S ALWAYS PUNISH AND TAKE AWAY INSTEAD OF INVEST AND BUILD.

THE MILLENNIUM PARK YOUTH BAN IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

WE ARE NOT ASKING WHAT OUR YOUTH NEED.

>> UP NEXT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REACT TO THE MASS SHOOTING TODAY AT A TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER A DEADLY SHOOTING AT A TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEAVES A COMMUNITY MOURNING.

TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT SAYS TOWN STUDENTS AND ONE TEACHER WERE KILLED AT ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN UVALDE, TEXAS AND THE SUSPECT IS ALSO DEAD.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE ARE CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS, A DEMOCRAT FROM THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD.

CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY A DEMOCRAT FROM MADISON AND CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI A DEMOCRAT FROM SCHAUMBURG.

WE INVITED ALL REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, NONE ACCEPT OUR INVITATION BUT WE THANK EACH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND WE NEED TO UNFORTUNATELY BEGIN ASKING ABOUT THAT TEXAS SHOOTING.

WILL THIS BE THE CATALYST FOREVER CONGRESS TO ACT?

>> LET ME POSE THAT QUESTION TO YOU CONGRESSMAN KELLY?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY YES.

BUT THE HOUSE ACTS BUT THEN THE SENATE DOES NOT ACT.

AND ACTUALLY EVEN IN THE HOUSE WE NEED TO DO MORE.

WE PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK BILL AND THE BILL CLOSED THE CHARLESTON LOOPHOLE BUT THERE'S TRAFFICKING AND STRAW PURCHASING AND REPORTING WHEN YOU GUN IS STOLEN.

BANNING CERTAIN WEAPONS.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WE COULD AND WE SHOULD DO.

BECAUSE THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND DOES NOT HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI THERE'S A LOT OF PARTISAN UPHEAVAL IN WASHINGTON D.C., AND YET WHEN IT COMES TO THIS STUDENTS ARE DEAD.

THEIR FAMILIES DO NOT CARE ABOUT PARTY.

WHAT IS NEEDED TO BRIDGE THESE DIVIDES?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK ALL OF US ARE JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FAMILIES TONIGHT.

IT EAR ERIELY RESEMBLES SANDY HOOK AND WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE CATALYST FOR ACTION AND IT DID NOT RESULT IN ANY GUN REFORM LAWS.

AND I THINK THIS TIME AROUND NOW WE'VE SEEN IT WAY TOO MUCH AND I THINK OUR INACTION IS RECKLESSLY LEADING TO THESE HORRIBLE TRAGEDIES.

I THINK THAT WHAT IS GOING TO ACTUALLY BRIDGE THE DIVIDE, I THINK ENDING THE FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE FOR ONE.

AND I THINK PERHAPS ALL THREE OF US ARE ON THE RECORD CALLING FOR THE END TO THE FILIBUSTER BECAUSE IT IS NOW USED AS A TOOL OF OBSTRUCTION RATHER THAN PROTECTING ANYBODY'S RIGHTS.

IN THE SENATE.

AND IN THIS CASE IT IS OBSTRUCTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.

THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY RUN FOR OFFICE ON THIS ISSUE.

SOMETIMES WE ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEM A PASS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

AND I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S DOING SO LEADS TO DEADLY CONSEQUENCES EVERYDAY NOT ONLY IN TEXAS BUT IN CHICAGO AND EVERYWHERE.

AND SO AT THIS POINT I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BECOMES AN ELECTION YEAR ISSUE AS MUCH AS ANYTHING ELSE.

>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY MEMBERS OF THE ELECTORATE THAT BELIEVE VERY MUCH IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

WHAT DOES HOLDING SOMEBODY A CANDIDATE ACCOUNTABLE LOOK LIKE?

>> FOR INSTANCE WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN PROTECTING SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS I THINK THOSE SAME PEOPLE BELIEVE IN CERTAIN COMMON SENSE GUN MEASURES.

ROBIN ELUDED TO SOME OF THEM.

UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS HAD THE SUPPORT OF 90% OF GUN OWNERS.

RED FLAG LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ENABLE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY OR OTHERS TO INTERVENE TO MAKE SURE THAT A TROUBLED PERSON IN THIS CASE, A TROUBLED YOUNG PERSON, HAS HIS OR HER FIREARMS NOT AT THEIR DISPOSAL ANYMORE.

IS IT ANY SURPRISE THAT SOMEBODY WHO IS A TROUBLED PERSON WITH EASY ACCESS TO FIREARMS MIGHT ENGAGE IN THIS TYPE OF SENSELESS SHOOTING?

I DON'T THINK SO.

AND SO MAKING SURE THAT SOMEONE WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE IS ON THE RECORD SAYING THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT THESE TYPES OF SENSIBLE GUN MEASURES, IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL AND THEN HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE ONCE THEY GET IN OFFICE.

>> GIVING SPECIFICS VERSUS GENERALLY WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

IN LIGHT OF A LACK OF ACTION FROM CONGRESS THUS FAR, CONGRESSMAN DAVIS PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DEALING WITH GHOST GUNS.

WHAT MORE CAN AND SHOULD HE DO?

>> WELL, I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP IN TERMS OF THE POWER THAT HE HAS AND THE POWER POTENTIAL THAT HE HAS.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A GUN CRISIS.

AND WE HAVE A CRISIS IN THE POLITICS OF OUR NATION.

AND I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN IS LEADING THE WAY.

BUT THE THINK THE CITIZENRY HAVE TO TAKE A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT IS TO MAKE SURE TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY THAT THEY PUT INTO OFFICE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WILLING TO USE LOGIC, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WILLING TO USE COMPASSION AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR SOCIETY HAS CHANGED.

THERE'S NO ROOM FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE AUTOMATIC WEAPONS IF THEY ARE NOT MILITARY.

THEY SHOULD BAN THEM ACROSS THE BOARD.

GET RID OF THEM.

GET THEM OUT OF THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM.

THE PEOPLE HAVE TO REALLY RISE UP.

>> AND CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY, WHY SHOULD VOTERS BE MOTIVATED TO SEND INDIVIDUALS TO CONGRESS GIVEN THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED FOR YEARS NOW?

YOU REFERENCED SANDY HOOK EARLIER?

>> RIGHT, BUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE AREN'T AT THE TABLE TO VOTE ON THESE ISSUES.

YOU KNOW THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE.

IT'S THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE THAT FEEL LIKE THE THREE OF US FEEL THEN THINGS WOULD CHANGE.

WE PASSED YOU KNOW, TWICE THE BACKGROUND CHECK BILL, THE CHARLESTON LOOPHOLE BILL IN THE HOUSE AND SENT IT TO THE SENATE AND THE BILLS GO TO DIE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WILLING TO DO IT AND SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT THEIR NAME ON A DOTTED LINE BECAUSE IT GO TO THE SENATE.

AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY THINGS LIKE A GOOD GUY WITH A GUN STOPS A BAD GUY WITH A GUN.

THE GOOD ABOUT GUY HAD A GUN IN BUFFALO AND HE IS DEAD AND THE BAD GUY WITH THE GUN IS ALIVE IN JAIL.

>> CONGRESSMAN DAVIS, I WANT TO GO TO YOU WE HAVE BEEN WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS AND VIOLENCE HAS SURGED IN CHICAGO ALBEIT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE HAVE THE MAYOR MOVING TO LIMIT CURFEW.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT?

THIS WOULD AFFECT AUSTIN TEENS?

>> I THINK THE MAYOR IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

AS A MATTER OF FACT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN DO EXCEPT BE OUT ON THE STREETS IN THE STREETS LATE AT NIGHT.

AND SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE IDEA OF A SHORTENED PERIOD OF TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE OUT.

I REMEMBER WHEN I PUT MY OWN CURFEW IN EFFECT AND SAID, HEY, DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE?

PARENTS OUGHT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE.

WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARENTING.

AND WE HAVE TO TEACH PARENTS THAT THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT IN TERMS OF ALLOWING THEIR CHILDREN TO WANDER IN AND OUT ANYWHERE IN THE STREETS.

I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP BUT WE NEED MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR NOW BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE JOINED AGAIN BY THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

WITH THE FOCUS ON FOREIGN POLICY.

FOR NOW OUR THANKS TO CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS, CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY AND CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS WITH A ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHER UNION'S NEXT PRESIDENT.

>> THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION ELECTED A NEW PRESIDENT, STACY DAVIS GATES.

THE WINNING CAUCUS OF RANK-AND-FILES DECADER OR CORE SECURED 56% OF THE VOTE.

THE MEMBERS FIRST CAUCUS WAS 27% AND THE REAL CAUCUS WITH 17%.

STACY DAVIS GATES WILL BE MOVING UP FROM HER POSITION AS VICE-PRESIDENT WHEN JESSE SHARKEY STEPS DOWN ON JULY 1.

AND JOINING US NOW IS STACY DAVIS GATES PRESIDENT ELECT.

WELCOME BACK AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST I HAVE TO GET YOUR REACTION AN AN EDUCATOR MOM TO MOM, THE DEATH TOLL IN HIS TRAGIC SHOOTING IN TEXAS INCREASED WE'RE HEARING REPORTS OF 19 PEOPLE KILLED.

18 OF THEM CHILDREN.

ONE A TEACHER.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS?

>> I'M HEARTBROKEN.

I'M HEARTBROKEN AS A MOTHER.

I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE I DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.

AND I'M ALSO CLEAR ABOUT HOW MANY OF OUR EDUCATORS HERE IN CHICAGO DEAL WITH THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

OUR DEMAND FOR MORE COMES FROM A PLACE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE.

OUR MEMBERS GOING TO SCHOOL COMMUNITIES EVERYDAY AND DEAL WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE SUFFERING ENDLESS TRAUMA FROM SHOOTINGS HERE IN CHICAGO AND VIOLENCE HERE IN CHICAGO.

FROM THE LACK OF DECISION MAKING AT LOOKS LIKE POLICY AND INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH CONGRESSMAN DAVIS.

LIMITING YOUNG PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO BE DOWNTOWN WILL NOT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND PEOPLE NEED MORE IN THIS MOMENT, BRANDIS, WE HAVE EIGHT-YEAR-OLDS WITH SUICIDAL IDEATION.

WE HAVE TEENAGERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY CARRYING OUT THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN BRUTAL TO EVERYONE THIS UNRELENTING VIOLENCE IS TRAUMATIC.

WE HAVE ALMOST $2 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING CUTS OF UP TO $300 MILLION WHEN PEOPLE NEED MORE.

THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE BY CONGRESS PEOPLE, BY OUR MAYOR AND THIS MOMENT, GOT TO DO BETTER.

THEY CANNOT BE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TYPE OF TRAUMA BUFFALO, CALIFORNIA, CHICAGO ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, AND NOW A SCHOOL AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

OUR DECISION MAKERS NEED TO DO BETTER.

>> GOING FORWARD, AS PRESIDENT, WHAT SPECIFIC INVESTMENTS WILL YOU PUSH FOR AT THE NEXT BARGAINING TABLE?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK WE CAN WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BARGAINING TABLE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING OUR NORTH SIDE SCHOOLS DEAL WITH OUTBREAKS OF COVID.

THEY ARE BEING RETURNED TO MASKING SCHOOL BY SCHOOL.

INSTEAD OF Dr. ARWADY DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

SO WE'RE GOING ANGELA TOVAR MITIGATIONS IN PLACE WHEN WE GO BACK INTO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES IN AUGUST.

YOU KNOW THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ARE CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN EVEN WITH COVID.

NUMBER TWO, THE REVENUE HAS TO COME INTO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN.

OUR MEMBERS ARE TELLING US THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE COMING WITH MORE NEEDS THAT ARE GOING UNMET BECAUSE OF THE NEW WORLD THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GIVE THEM MORE PRO-ACTIVE, SAFE SPACES TO LEARN AND TO HAVE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TEAM FORFEITING GAMES BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THE CONTEST.

SO EVEN OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE MAKING THE CHOICE TO PARTICIPATE CAN'T PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THERE IS A LACK OF INVESTMENT THERE.

WE NEED REVENUE.

>> MORE INVESTMENT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

I WANT TO COME BACK TO ELECTION AT C.T.U.

AS WELL BEFORE WE LET YOU GO.

YOU WERE CHALLENGED BY MEMBERS FIRST IN THE PAST IN THE PREVIOUS ELECTION BEFORE THIS ONE.

THE REAL CAUCUS WAS ALSO WAGING A CHALLENGE.

CORE WON THIS TIME WITH 56% OF THE VOTE AS WE SAID.

LAST WEEK WE DID HEAR FROM THE REAL CAUCUS AHEAD OF THE ELECTION, REAL STANDS FOR RESPECT, EDUCATE, ADVOCATE, LEAD.

HERE IS THEIR VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE MCDERMOTT.

>> THERE HAS BEEN AN ATTITUDE BY OUR LEADERSHIP OF DISRESPECT AND DEMEANING OF MEMBERS WHO HAD DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

THAT CREATED CONDITIONS WHERE WE WERE WEAKENED OUR UNITY WAS WEAKENED GOING INTO THAT JANUARY ACTION.

ADD TO THAT, THAT OUR LEADERSHIP MADE STATEMENTS ALONG THE LINES OF YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING, YOU WILL STILL GET PAID.

AND AT MOST, WHAT THEY CAN DO IS TAKE AWAY TWO DAYS PAY.

SO THE MESSAGING WE RECEIVED FROM OUR LEADERSHIP WAS MISLEADING, ERRONEOUS AND DEMORALIZING.

>> STACY HOW DO YOU PLAN ON UNITING YOUR MEMBER GOING FORWARD?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE 44% OF MEMBERS WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR CORE?

>> OUR UNION PRACTICES ARE ROBUST DEMOCRACY THAT IS UNMATCHED BY ANY ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT IN OUR COUNTRY.

I SAY THAT THEY MADE A DECISION TO CONTINUE THE LEADERSHIP THAT IS SEEKING TO TRANSFORM THE SEGREGATION THAT BLOCKS OUT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FROM POTENTIAL SUCCESSES.

OUR MEMBERSHIP SAID YES AGAIN TO CREATING SPACE WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADD MORE SOCIAL WORKERS AND NURSES TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

OUR MEMBERSHIP SAYING YES TO CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD BARGAINER FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE RESIDE IN AND WE TEACH IN.

SO I'M PROUD OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR MEMBERS.

BECAUSE THEY MADE CHOICES THAT REFLECT THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT CAN PARENTS MEMBERS OF THE C.P.S.

COMMUNITY WHICH CAN THEY EXPECT WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND PEDRO MARTINEZ GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK PARENTS LIKE MYSELF AND LIKE MANY OF OUR MEMBERS CAN EXPECT THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION TO CONTINUE TO TELL US WHAT IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THEIR CHILDREN WITH THE QUALITY EDUCATION WHERE THEY ARE SAFE AND N SPACES THAT ARE ANTIRACIST AND PRIVILEGE THE VOICES OF THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY CAN EXPECT PARTNERS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE CREATE HIGH SCHOOL SPACES THAT DO NOT DISAPPOINT 8TH GRADERS EVERY SPRING BECAUSE THEY ARE VYING FOR SPOTS AT VERY SELECTIVE SPACES.

WE WANT TO ANCHOR SELECT ACTIVITY IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE CITY SO THEY CAN EXPECT OUR PARTNERSHIP.

THEY CAN CONTINUE TO EXPECT OUR LOVE FOR THE CITY AND CONTINUE TO EXPECT US TO TRANSFORM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> MORE TO COME I'M SURE.

STACY DAVIS GATES CONGRATS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> UP NEXT, THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACTS ON A HISTORIC INCREASE IN TRAFFIC FATALITIES.

STAY WITH US.

>> 2021 HAS PROVED TO BE A DEADLY YEAR ON THE NATION'S ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC STATE OF SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REPORTS 43,000 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES MARKING A 16-YEAR HIGH.

IN RESPONSE, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS UNVEILED THE NATIONAL ROADWAY SAFETY STRATEGY INTENDED TO REDUCE FATALITIES AND MAKE ROADS SAFER.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS REPORT AND HOW IT COULD IMPACT YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND PLANS ARE KEN KOLOSH STATISTICS MANAGER AT THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.

AND JOSEPH SCHWIETERMAN PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SCHOOL OF SERVICE IN DePAUL UNIVERSITY AND PRESIDENT OF THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH FORUM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

KEN KOLOSH LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE, 42,915 DEATHS ON THE ROAD.

THAT IS A 10% INCREASE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS BEHIND THIS INCREASE?

>> THIS IS TRULY A HISTORIC INCREASE NOT ONLY IS IT A 10% INCREASE, THIS IS THE LARGEST PERCENT INCREASE THAT THEY HAVE EVER RECORDED.

THERE IS A LOT OF FACTORS DRIVING INCREASED BUT IT REALLY ALL STARTED DURING THE PANDEMIC IN 2020.

IN 2020, WE STARTED SEEING AN INCREASE IN DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH RISKY BEHAVIORS AND THAT UNFORTUNATELY LOOKS LIKE IT'S CONTINUING INTO 2021.

FIRST WE SEE A 3% INCREASE IN DEATHS WITH OCCUPANTS NOT WEARING SEATBELTS.

THIS IS ON TOP OF OUR 14% INCREASE IN 2020.

WE'RE SEEING A 5% INCREASE IN ALCOHOL INVOLVED DEATHS IN 2021.

ON TOP OF 16% INCREASE LAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE SEEING A 5% INCREASE IN SPEEDING DEATHS ON TOP OF A 17% INCREASE IN 2020.

SO SOME VERY UNSAFE BEHAVIORS, PERSISTING NOW INTO 2021.

EVEN WHEN THE AMOUNT OF MILES DRIVEN IS REALLY INCREASING FROM THE LOWS WE EXPERIENCED IN 2020.

SO IT'S UNSAFE BEHAVIORS, COMBINED WITH MORE MILES BEING TRAVELED.

>> JOSEPH SCHWIETERMAN WE KNOW THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS UNVEILED A SAFETY STRATEGY FOR THIS PROBLEM.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE STRATEGY AND HOW IT MIGHT REDUCE FATALITIES AND MAKE ROADS SAFER?

>> I THINK WHAT IS DISTURBING TAX A MULTIPRONGED PROBLEM.

THE PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES ARE UP, TOO.

AND WE ARE SEEING THE SHIFT FROM DOWNTOWN FATALITIES FOR PEDESTRIANS TO OUT THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

I THINK SOLVING THIS EVERYBODY SEES BOTH ENFORCEMENT OF SPEED LIMITS WHICH HAS LACKED.

AND WE NEED TO SEE.

AND WE'RE FEELING THAT ON THE EXPRESSWAYS.

AND A LOT OF STATES HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON SPEED CAMERAS.

THIS GETS IMPETUS TO LIFT THOSE THINGS AND ALSO TECHNOLOGY HAS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AS WELL.

WITH STANDARDS ON AUTOMOBILES AND I CAN SAY THAT EVERY OTHER SEGMENT OF SOCIETY DEATHS HAVE BECOME ALMOST INTOLERABLE YOU LOOK AT AIR TRAVEL AND THE FACTORY FLOOR WE DON'T ACCEPT THE RISKS BUT ON THE HIGHWAYS HERE WE ARE.

>> BOTH OF YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TALKED ABOUT INCREASED RISKY BEHAVIORS.

ESPECIALLY LIKE NOTICING IT BEGAN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

KEN KOLOSH WHAT CAN YOU SAY?

WHAT DO WE KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT THE PANDEMIC THAT LED TO THIS INCREASE IN RISKY BEHAVIOR BEHIND THE WHEEL?

>> WELL, DURING 2020 WE SAW NOT JUST ON THE ROADWAYS BUT THROUGHOUT SOCIETY THE INCREASE USE OF SUBSTANCES.

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT SUBSTANCE USE DOESN'T STOP WHEN A DRIVER GETS BEHIND A WHEEL.

A LOT OF IT WAS FROM ISSUES THAT WERE IMPACTING THE COUNTRY OVERALL.

OVERALL WE SAW A HUGE INCREASE IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS.

SO WE ALSO SAW A HUGE INCREASE IN ALCOHOL INVOLVED DRIVING CRASHES.

AS WELL.

WE ARE ALSO -- AS JOE MENTIONED WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN DEATHS REGARDING PEDESTRIANS.

WE WERE RELIEVED WHEN WE DID NOT SEE THE INCREASE IN 2020 AND NOW WITH THE INCREASED OF NUMBER OF MILES TRAVELED WE'RE SEEING THE INCREASE IN VULNERABLE ROAD USER DEATHS AS WELL.

IT IS REALLY THE STRESS OF THE PANDEMIC NOW WITH US GETTING BACK AND DRIVING MORE REGULARLY, IS RESULTING IN THESE NUMBERS.

>> KEN, THE GOVERNOR'S HIGHWAY SAFETY ASSOCIATION SAYS PART OF THE PROBLEM OUR ROADS ARE DESIGNED FOR SPEED AND EFFICIENCY NOT FOR SAFETY.

THE REPORT SHOWS THAT PEDESTRIAN DEATHS HAVE ALSO INCREASED.

DO WE NEED TO RETHINK THE WAY WE BUILD AND STRUCTURE OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS?

>> WE DO.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR ROADS PROVIDING SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL ROAD USERS NOT JUST THE EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES.

THIS MEANS WE HAVE TO DESIGN OUR ROADS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS AS WELL AS THE SAFE TRANSPORT OF OCCUPANTS IN MOTOR VEHICLES.

TO DO THIS WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT LOCAL PROBLEMS AND FIND LOCAL SOLUTIONS.

THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL IS ALSO VERY LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW PROGRAM JUST ANNOUNCED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

SAFE STREETS FOR ALL.

THIS IS GOING TO TARGET PROBLEMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WILL START AT LOOKING AT DATA, DEEP DIVE AT THE LEVEL TO FIND LOCAL SOLUTIONS.

>> AND JOE WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WHAT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY DO MOTORISTS NEED TO TAKE ON AS WELL?

>> MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.

I AM A DAILY TRAVELER DOWNTOWN AND CROSSING ON THE RED LIGHT JAYWALKING IS RAMPANT.

BUT I THINK WHAT IS GOOD HERE IS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HOUR CITY OF CHICAGO HAD A VIGOROUS VISION ZERO STRATEGY TO TRY TO CUT THE DEATHS TO A FRACTION.

AND HERE IN CHICAGO THEY HAVE INVOLVE THINGS LIKE NEW SAFE PLACE FOR PEDESTRIANS TO WAIT.

DIFFERENT SURFACE AND, DRIVERS NEIL A NEED TO SLOW DOWN.

RIGHT ON RED.

CUT BACK ON THAT.

BECAUSE PEOPLE GET HIT WHEN CARS GO RIGHT ON RED.

AND MENTIONED SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENT.

I'M BIG ON HEAVY ENFORCEMENT.

KEEP THE FINES REASONABLE SO THEY ARE ACCEPTABLE BUT REALLY MAKE IT CLEAR IF YOU ARE 8, 10 MILES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT IN THE CITY THAT IS A CITATION OFFENSE.

MIXED SIGNALS ON THAT.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

I WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, KEN KOLOSH AND JOSEPH SCHWIETERMAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE.

HEAR FROM A MOTHER WHO IS PLEADING WITH THE F.B.I.

TO HELP SOLVE HER SON'S CASES.

>> MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON RISING GAS PRICES, INFLATION AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

WHY SOME TEACHERS AND GRADUATES ARE UPSET C.P.S.

IS ENDING A MAGNET ARTS PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND WHAT IS NEXT?

AND CREATIVE PURSUITS.

THE STORIES OF NATIVE-AMERICANS IN A NEW PERMANENT EXHIBITION AT THE FIELD MUSEUM.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> HELP FOR DESPERATE PARENTS MAY BE AT HAND.

BABY FORMULA MAKER ABBOTT WILL RESTART PRODUCTION AT THE STURGIS, MICHIGAN FACILITY ON JUNE 4.

THE PLANT WAS SHUTDOWN IN FEBRUARY AFTER TWO INFANTS DIED AND OTHERS SICK AFTER CONSUMING ABBOTT FORMULA BUT THE CLOSURE LED TO SHORTAGES AND FORMULA BEING FLOWN IN ON MILITARY TRANSPORTS FROM EUROPE.

THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL PRIORITIZE THE PRODUCTION OF THE FORMULA DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WITH DISORDERS AND FOOD ALLERGIES.

THE FORMULA WILL BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY AND FREE OF CHARGE TO CHILDREN IN NEED.

>> AT LEAST ONE WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AND MORE ARE ON THE WAY IN RELATION TO THE DEATHS OF THREE BLACK WOMEN IN A SENIOR HOUSING FACILITY IN ROGERS PARK.

THEY WERE FOUND DEAD AT THE JAMES SCHNEIDER APARTMENTS EARLIER THIS MONTH AFTER RECORD-HIGH TEMPERATURES.

RESIDENTS SAY MANAGEMENT REFUSED TO TURN ON AIR-CONDITIONING.

MONDAY, THE FAMILY OF 68-YEAR-OLD JANICE REID FILED A WRONGFUL DEATH DUE TO NEGLIGENCE AGAINST GATEWAY APARTMENTS WHICH OWNS THE BUILDING AND HISPANIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT MANAGES IT.

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS AND ATTORNEY BEN CRUMP IS ONE OF THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING THE FAMILY OF 72-YEAR-OLD GWENDOLYN OSBOURNE WHO DIED.

THEY HAVE YET TO FILE A LAWSUIT CRUMP ACCUSED OF OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT PUTTING PROFIT OVER SAFETY.

>> IT IS MINDBOGGLING THAT THESE THREE BLACK WOMEN WERE HELD TO DIE IN THIS MANNER IN A FACILITY THAT HAS PROMOTED THEMSELVES AS A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY.

>> RESEARCHERS SAY SO-CALLED LONG COVID SYMPTOMS CAN LAST WELL OVER A YEAR.

A NEW STUDS TERKELS 52 LONG-HAULERS WHO HAD MILD COVID SYMPTOMS.

THEY WERE NEVER HOSPITALIZED THE PARTICIPANTS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS, FATIGUE, CHEST PAIN, HEART PALPITATIONS AND DISNEYNESS UP TO 18 MONTHS AFTER INFECTION.

MORE ON THIS STUDY TOMORROW NIGHT.

>> MORE THAN 176,000 CHICAGOANS APPLIED TO BE PART OF THE CITY'S CASH ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TEST WHETHER A UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME CAN HELP REDUCE POVERTY.

MOST OF THOSE WHO WIN THE LOTTERY TO PARTICIPATE COULD GET THE FIRST OF 12 $500 MONTHLY PAYMENTS AS THE END OF JUNE.

THE 31.5 MILLION PROGRAM HAS ENOUGH FUNDING TO COVER 5,000 CHICAGO FAMILIES.

EVERYONE WHO APPLIED TO THE PROGRAM WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THEIR STATUS AFTER MEMORIAL DAY.

>> AS PART OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" SPECIAL SERIES TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE, WE CONTINUE TO SHARE THE STORIES OF FAMILIES DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE FROM GUN VIOLENCE.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ VISITED CHICAGO'S LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY TO HEAR FROM A MOTHER WHO LOST TWO SONS IN A SINGLE YEAR.

JOANNA JOINS US TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MOTHER'S WORK TO SEEK ANSWERS.

AND THIS MOTHER IS MARIA TRUJILLO AND DESPITE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER SHE MADE IT HER MISSION TO OBTAIN JUSTICE FOR HER SONS BY STARTING A CAMPAIGN WITH OTHER MOTHERS.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS THAT MARIA TRUJILLO IS SCROLLING THROUGH PICTURES OF HER SONS.

SHE SAYS IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY PAIN TO WATCH VIDEOS AND HEAR VOICES.

>> THIS IS PHILLIP KILLED IN AUGUST AND HECTOR.

FELIPE WAS 28 AND HECTOR WAS 30.

IF I WAS TO SHOW YOU MY ALBUM YOU SEE THEM NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

>> MARIA TRUJILLO LOST TWO SONS IN THE SPAN OF FOUR MONTHS.

IN AUGUST 2021, FELIPE WAS SITTING IN HIS VEHICLE WHEN HE WAS GUNNED DOWN IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

ACCORDING TO MARIA HE WAS WAITING FOR HIS BROTHER OUTSIDE A STORE.

>> I SCREAMED AND I SAID SON, MY HUSBAND WAS YELLING OUT HE WOULD GO LIKE THIS AND MOVE HIS EYES.

>> FELIPE DIED AT THE HOSPITAL AND FOUR MONTHS LATER THE FAMILY RECEIVED ANOTHER DEVASTATING PHONE CALL.

HECTOR WAS KILLED LESS THAN A MILE FROM WHERE FELIPE WAS SHOT.

>> I'M DEVASTATED BECAUSE HECTOR HE DIDN'T HAVE AN HE WAS ALWAYS OUT.

HECTOR WAS ALWAYS ABOUT WORKING HE STARTED WORKING AT A YOUNG AGE.

>> MARIA TRUJILLO MY GREATED TO CHICAGO WHEN SHE WAS 20 AND BROUGHT HER SONS FROM MEXICO AND SETTLED IN PILSEN.

HECTOR WAS LIKE A FATHER FIGURE TO HIS SIBLINGS.

>> I WOULD HEAR ABOUT THE VIOLENCE BACK THEN BUT FELIPE WAS 15 AND HECTOR ONLY 16 AND I WASN'T AS WORRIED BECAUSE I HAD THE CONTROL TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE HOME.

>> FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS, THIS MOTHER HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO GET ANSWERS.

BOTH OF HER SONS CASES REMAIN UP SOLVED.

UNSOLVED.

>> THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE TO WHAT IS GOING ON.

THE DETECTIVE IN CHARGE OF MY SON'S CASE WAS REASSIGNED TO ANOTHER CASE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS REASSIGNED WHEN HE HASN'T SOLVED MY SON'S CASE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKS.

>> WE DON'T GET NO JUSTICE!

>> SHE AND OTHER MOTHERS FORMED A CAMPAIGN MOTHERS AND FAMILIES FOR JUSTICE.

THEY HAVE RALLIED OUTSIDE THE F.B.I.

HEADQUARTERS HOPING TO GET ASSISTANCE ON THEIR CASES.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE SYSTEM MAKES US MURDERERS.

THEY MAKE US LOOK LIKE MURDERERS BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE WITH THE DETECTIVES THEY RIGHT AWAY STARTED TO TALK ABOUT GANGS.

>> 2021 IS MARKED AS ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT YEARS CHICAGO HAS HAD WITH 1,000 GUN RELATED HOMICIDES.

THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER HAS CONFIRMED 213 HOMICIDES.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE CASES GO UNSOLVED.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME WHEN IT COMES 0 TO VIOLENCE PEOPLE STAY QUIET AND BULLETS DON'T HAVE NAMES.

I BELIEVE WHEN PEOPLE WENT OUT TO KILL THEY HAD A BULLET WITH A NAME AND NOW INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE DYING.

>> REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, MARIA TRUJILLO HAS NOT STOPPED USING HER VOICE TO SUPPORT OTHER FAMILIES.

>> PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL ME HOW STRONG I AM BUT I'M NOT STRONG.

>> I'M IN THE FIGHT BECAUSE I WANT TO FEEL.

I WANT TO KNOW IF I CAN STILL FEEL SOMETHING.

I'M SURPRISED YOU HAVE NOT GONE CRAZY BUT I RESPOND SAYING HOW DO YOU KNOW I HAVEN'T?

>> AS SUMMER APPROACHES SHE WORRIES ABOUT BULLETS TAKING OVER THE STREETS AND THE LIVES IT MAY CLAIM IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE LITTLE VILLAGE.

QUESTIONING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STRUGGLE TO SOLVE CRIME WHEN IT CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> THIS IS THE URN WHERE I HAVE FELIPE.

I CANNOT LET HIM GO YET I KNOW THE DAY WILL COME WHEN I HAVE TO LET HIM REST AND HERE HE IS NOT RESTING BUT I'M NOT READY YET.

>> MARIA TRUJILLO IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF MOTHERS SURVIVING THE PAIN OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT IS TAKING BLACK AND BROWN LIVES AND MOTHERS LIKE HER ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PAIN TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

>> I'M GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING AS LONG AS I CAN SPEAK I WILL KEEP TALKING ABOUT THEM AND THEY WILL BE HERE WITH ME.

>> MARIA TRUJILLO'S SONS HECTOR AND FELIPE WERE BOTH FATHERS TO YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> AND WE NOT THE FINAL PIECE OF OUR TURNING PAIN IN PURPOSE SERIES AIRS TOMORROW.

AND WE'LL HEAR YOUR CONVERSATION WITH NOT ONLY A MOM BUT THE SIBLINGS OF A CHILD LOST TO GUN VIOLENCE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF FIVE SIBLINGS AS THEY LIVE WITHOUT THEIR OLDER BROTHER.

>> SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BACK TO AMANDA WITH MORE FROM LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AMANDA?

>> WE DISCUSSED THE SHOOTING AT A TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND WE'RE JOINED BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY, CONGRESSMAN, DANNY DAVIS AND CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI.

WE DID INVITE THE REPUBLICANS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY.

CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI IT IS A GATHERING IN SWITZERLAND KISSINGER SAYS UKRAINE SHOULD CONCEDE TERRITORY TO RUSSIA TO END THE WAR.

YOUR REACTION?

>> IT'S UP TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE TO DECIDE THAT QUESTION.

AND SPECIFICALLY VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY AND HIS ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS JUST HEROICALLY LED UKRAINE.

WE WILL SUPPORT THE UKRAINIANS IN WHATEVER DECISION THAT THEY END UP MAKING.

BUT I THINK THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AT THIS POINT HAVE FIERCELY DEFENDED THEMSELVES AND FOUGHT OFF THE RUSSIANS IN MANY PARTS OF COUNTRY AND THEY ARE FIERCELY IN THE FIGHT IN THE EAST AND THE SOUTH, THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO STICK WITH THEM AND I'M GLAD THAT WE PASSED LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ADDITIONAL HEAVY ARMAMENTS AND WEAPONRY.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WHATEVER IS DECIDED AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WILL HINGE ON WHAT ARE THE RESULTS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UKRAINIANS PREVAIL OR HAVE THE ADVANTAGE ON THE BATTLEFIELD EVEN AS THEY DECIDE THE FINAL TERMS OF WHATEVER THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THEM WITH THE RUSSIANS.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY GIVEN PRESSURES AT HOME IS THERE A POINT THAT YOU WILL FAVOR THE U.S.

PUSHING UKRAINE TO ACCEPT THESE SORT OF CONCESSIONS?

THERE IS A POLL FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESIDENT AND THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH THAT SAYS MORE AMERICANS A GROWING NUMBER FAVOR LIMITING DAMAGE TO THE U.S. ECONOMY OVER SANCTIONING RUSSIA.

>> LET'S SEE WHERE AMERICANS MIGHT FEEL LIKE THAT AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT IF UKRAINE FALLS, WHAT WILL STOP PUTIN FROM GOING TO THE NEXT COUNTRY AND THE NEXT COUNTRY AND THE NEXT COUNTRY.

I THINK THIS IS BIGGER THAN JUST UKRAINE.

AND I YEA WITH MY COLLEAGUE, THAT WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF UKRAINE AND LET THEM DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.

AND THEN ALSO THE UNITED STATES CAN DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR US WHEN WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO HELP AS MUCH I'M SURE THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION AROUND THAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THE WAR CAN END SOOPER THAN LATER.

>> CONGRESSMAN DAVIS WHAT LESSIONS HAVE BEEN LEARNED FROM THIS ORDEAL?

WAS IT A MISTAKE?

SHOULD THE U.S. HAVE DONE MORE TO HAVE PUNISHED RUSSIA IN 2014 WHEN IT INVADED CRIMEA?

>> WELL, LET ME SAY I DON'T THINK THAT RUSSIA ONLY WANTS TERRITORY.

I THINK WHAT RUSSIA WANTS IS TO SUBJUGATE AND SUBDU, OPPRESS AND SUPPRESS THE PEOPLE IN UKRAINE.

RUSSIA HAS COMMITTED SOME OF THE MOST VIAL ACTS THAT ANY VILE ACTS THAT ANY COUNTRY HAS EVER COMMITTED TO MY KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY THAT TO ME IS UNIMAGINABLE.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

AND SO I THINK THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ON A COURSE OF ACTION SUPPORTING UKRAINE AND THE UKRAINIANS BUT REALLY DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING OTHER ALLIES IN THE REGION.

I MEAN NATO THE FACT THAT OTHERS ARE JOINING IN IS AN INDICATION THAT THEY, TOO, APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT THEIR COUNTRIES.

THEIR TERRITORY.

>> CHANGING INTERNATIONAL SCOPE LET'S MOVE ON TO ELSEWHERE.

SPEAKING OF PRESIDENT BIDEN, AND FRANKLY INCONGRATULATIONS, THE PRESIDENT DURING A STOP IN TOKYO SAID THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD TAKE ACTION IF CHINA TRIED TO OVERTAKE TAIWAN.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE UKRAINE CONFLICT MILITARILY FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

ARE YOU WILLING TO GET INVOLVED MILITARILY TO DEFEND TAIWAN IF IT COMES TO THAT?

>> YES.

>> YOU ARE?

>> THAT IS THE COMMITMENT WE MADE.

>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI DID THE PRESIDENT MAKE A MISTAKE IN SPEAKING ABOUT U.S. CHINA POLICY OR IS THERE A CHANGE?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CHANGE.

I THINK UNDER OUR TREATY OBLIGATIONS AS WELL AS WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, WE WILL COME TO AID THE TAIWAN EASE PEOPLE IF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY AND ITS MILITARY INVADE TAIWAN.

BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO WIN THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND HELP DRIVE RUSSIA OUT OF UKRAINE BECAUSE THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY IS LOOKING AT THAT CONFLICT VERY CAREFULLY TO SEE WHETHER AN INVASION COULD SUCCESSFULLY HAPPEN IN TAIWAN THE SAME WAY IT COULD IN UKRAINE.

AND WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM THAT THE WORLD COMMUNITY WILL NOT TOLERATE THAT AND IF THEY WERE TO ENGAGE IN SUCH MILITARY ACTION IN TAIWAN THE WORLD COMMUNITY WOULD RESPOND JUST AS FORCEFULLY OR MORE.

AND THEREFORE THEY SHOULD NOT UNDERTAKE SUCH AN INVASION.

>> AS WE NOTED, THE DAVOS SUMMIT TAKING PLACE BRINGING TOGETHER WORLD LEADERS AND BILLIONAIRES AND THIS YEAR THE TALK IS ABOUT THE NEXT BIG RECESSION DUE IN PART PERHAPS TO THAT CONFLICT IN UKRAINE AND SUPPLY SHORTAGES, INFLATION AND THE ECONOMY TRYING TO RECOVER, NEW HOMES REPORTING THAT SALES STUMBLING BY 16%.

CONGRESSMAN DAVIS IS THE FED GOING TOO FAST RAISING INTEREST RATES TO CALM INFLATION?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE VERY COMPLEX AND I THINK THAT OUR DIPLOMATS AND OUR GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS AT THE LEVEL OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT ARE DOING SERIOUS WORK, SERIOUS EFFORTS.

WE KNOW THAT THINGS ARE CHANGING.

BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM TO CHANGE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WE WANT A BALANCED ECONOMY.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE SAFETY AND SECURITY.

AND I THINK OUR DIPLOMATIC APPROACH IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY IS A RECESSION INEVITABLE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S INEVITABLE BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT FOUR MILLION JOBS ARE CREATED.

DOUBLE THE GDP.

THERE'S BEEN GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

KEPT 3.7 MILLION CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY AND PREVENTED A DEVASTATING WAVE OF HOME FORECLOSES.

YOU SAID THAT THINGS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT WITH HOMES.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

>> CONGRESSMAN DAVIS, GAS PRICES STILL OUCH.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO TALK OF EASING OFF OF FEDERAL TAXES ON GASOLINE OR CAN MORE OIL RESERVES BE RELEASED TO EASE PRICES?

WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE?

>> I THINK OUR TRADE POLICY IS A BIG FACTOR AND CONTINUE TO BE A BIG FACTOR.

IF WE CAN RESOLVE THE WAR ISSUES, IN TERMS OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE AND ONCE AGAIN BRING SANITY AND CREATE A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT IN OUR WORLD, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS CHANGE DRASTICALLY.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THAT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI I WANT TO ASK YOU YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN TALKS REGARDING THE LATEST CENSUS NUMBERS THAT SHOW ILLINOIS GAINED ABOUT 250,000 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTRA FUNDING COMING BACK TO THE STATE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> WELL, YOU ARE RIGHT.

INSTEAD OF A NET DROP OVER THE DECADE OF 18,000 PEOPLE AS WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT, THE STATE GAINED 250,000 PEOPLE SO IT HAS NOW MORE THAN 13 MILLION.

I WROTE A LETTER LAST FRIDAY TO THE DIRECTOR -- THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT GINA RAIMONDO TO ASK THE QUESTION HOW DO WE MAKE THE FEDERAL APPORTIONMENT OF RESOURCES REFLECTS THIS CORRECTED DATA?

I AM AWAITING AN ANSWER ON THAT.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE COULD SEE UPWARDS OF 100 MILLION MORE PER YEAR COME TO ILLINOIS AND ADD UP TO ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS OVER A DECADE IF WE GET THIS CORRECTED.

SO THIS MEANS A LOT TO ILLINOIS AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF FEDERAL RESOURCES IN LIGHT OF THE NUCORRED CENSUS DATA.

>> A BILLION DOLLARS LOTS.

ON THAT POSITIVE NOTE FOR A CHANGE HERE, WE'LL END IT THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, AS WELL AS ROBIN KELLY AND DANNY DAVIS WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS TOSSING IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS SET TO REPLACE A LONG RUNNING MAGNET ARTS PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS.

THE ADVANCED ARTS PROGRAM WILL BE KNOWN AS REALIZE AND SEE STUDENTS EARN CREDIT AT CITY COLLEGES.

THE DISTRICT SAYS IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.

CRITICS SAY THE REDUCED COURSE OFFERINGS AND CHANGES ARE A DISSERVICE TO STUDENTS.

NICK BLUMBERG JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

NICK, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS WHAT IS THE ADVANCED ARTS PROGRAM.

>> IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT 150 HIGH SCHOOLERS WOULD TRAVEL TO GALLERY 37 DOWNTOWN FOR TWO HOURS OF INSTRUCTION EACH DAY WITH A C.P.S.

TEACHER AND A TEACHING ARTIST.

HERE ARE EXAMPLES FROM THE STUDENTS MOST RECENT WINTER SHOWCASE.

THERE WERE WIDE RANGING CLASSES CERAMICS, CULINARY ARTS, JAZZ BAND, VIDEO PRODUCTION, PHOTOGRAPHY, ANIMATION.

SINCE THE PANDEMIC COURSES HAVE BEEN FULLY REMOTE.

HYBRID AND NOW BACK TO FULLY IN-PERSON.

BUT LAST SUMMER THE PROGRAM MOVED FROM THE LONG TIME HOME AT GALLERY 37 TO WELLS HIGH SCHOOL IN WEST TOWN THAT RAISED CONCERNS FOR CURRENT AND FORMER TEACHERS AND STAFF NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY SAY DOWNTOWN WAS A CENTRAL LOCATION WITH LOTS OF CULTURAL OFFERINGS BUT BECAUSE THEY DESCRIBED A RUSHED MOVE AND A DIFFICULT TRANSITION TO THE NEW BUILDING.

TEACHERS SAY PROGRAMS WERE CUT UNEXPECTEDLY MID-YEAR AND LAST MONTH THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE ADVANCED ARTS PROGRAM IS ENDING AFTER THE SEMESTER.

>> WHAT IS THIS THE PROGRAM IS BEING REPLACED WITH?

>> C.P.S.

CALLS THE NEW PROGRAM REALIZE IT WILL OFFER STUDENTS TWO YEAR PATHWAYS IN DANCE, MUSIC THEATRE AND VISUAL ARTS.

ONLY VISUAL ARTS IS SET TO BE UP AND RUNNING FOR THE FALL WITH THE OTHER THREE STARTING IN 2023.

STUDENTS WILL SPEND TWO DAYS A WEEK AT WELLS AND TWO DAYS A WEEK AT CITY COLLEGES WITH AN OPTIONAL STUDIO DAY ON FRIDAY.

IN A STATEMENT THE DISTRICT SAYS REALIZE REPRESENTS THE NEXT PHASE OF THE ARTS PROGRAM RETAINING THE VISION OF A CITYWIDE ARTS INCUBATOR AND MAKING SHIFTS TO OFFER MORE STUDENT CHOICE AND INCREASE ACCESS TO THE ARTS.

THE DISTRICT IS THRILLED TO BE PARTNERING WITH CITY COLLEGES OF CITY TO OFFER STUDENTS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARTICIPATE IN REALIZE.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE NEW PROGRAM.

>> EDUCATORS AND PROGRAM GRADUATES ARE DISAPPOINTED THERE WILL BE FEWER OFFERINGS.

THE VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM ISN'T SET TO HAVE THE THINGS WE MENTIONED LIKE VIDEO PRODUCTION OR PHOTOGRAPHY.

IT WILL BE A BIG CHANGE NOT TO BE AT A SINGLE SITE WITH MULTIPLE INSTRUCTORS EACH DAY.

THAT MIGHT REDUCE THE TRANSPORTATION BURDEN FOR SOME STUDENTS BUT SUPPORTERS OF ADVANCED ART SAY THAT CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT IS REALLY UNIQUE.

I TALKED WITH SEVERAL GRADUATES WHO SAID THEY WOULDN'T BE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY WITHOUT IT.

INCLUDING MANY STUDENTS WHO TOOK COURSES THAT AREN'T SET TO BE A PART OF THE NEW REALIZE PROGRAM.

AND THE DISTRICT IS FOCUSED ON COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS SUPPORTERS SAY THAT IS NOT ALL THIS PROGRAM DOES.

IT CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG BECAUSE OF THAT CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT AND THEY ARE CONCERNED THE NEW PROGRAM MIGHT NOT LIVE UP TO THAT.

>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

NICK BLUMBERG THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, THE THRIVING CREATIVITY OF NATIVE-AMERICAN PEOPLE TAKES CENTER STAGE AT A NEW SHOW AT THE FIELD MUSEUM.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> THE FIELD MUSEUM RENOVATED ITS NATIVE NORTH AMERICA HALL AND DRASTICALLY SHIFTED ITS FOCUS.

THE NEW APPROACH EMPHASIZES STORYTELLING AND CONTEMPORARY ART AND HISTORICAL ITEMS.

THE EXHIBITION SPACE IS CALLED NATIVE TRUTHS OUR VOICES OUR STORIES.

MARC VITALI VISITED ON OPENING DAY.

>> THERE IS A NEW FOCUS ON THE LAND... ON CONTEMPORARY ART... AND ON STORYTELLING.

THE NEW NATIVE NORTH AMERICA HALL HAS A DIFFERENT VIBE THAN THE OLD OUTDATED HALL.

IT MIGHT MAKE YOU LOOK AND THINK TWICE.

>> I AM FROM NEW MEXICO.

I AM AN ADVISORY COMMITTEEMEMBER AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS PROJECT.

AND A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE ADVISERS AND THE MUSEUM STAFF.

>> WE STARTED REACHING OUT TO DIFFERENT ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES AND SO IN THE END WE WORKED WITH OVER 150 COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND CANADA.

IT'S THEIR STORY TO TELL.

OUR ROLE WAS BASICALLY TO FACILITATE TELLING THE STORY AND HELPING THEM TO SELECT THINGS FROM OUR COLLECTION OR TALKING ABOUT WHAT OUR VISITORS MIGHT FEEL LIKE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN AWESOME FOLKS BUT IT IS THEIR STORIES YOU WILL HEAR.

>> WE SEE EACH OF THESE ITEMS AS LIVING ITEMS.

THEY ARE CREATED THROUGH PRAYER AND SONG AND ROOTED IN A DEEP FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HISTORY AND CULTURE.

AND SO IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TELL OUR OWN STORIES IN OUR OWN VOICE NOT ONLY THE ADVISERS BUT ENGAGING OTHER NATIVE-AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THIS PROCESS.

>> THE EXHIBITION IS PERMANENT WITH ONE SECTION DEVOTED TO THE NATIVE COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO.

>> BUT SOME GALLERIES WILL ROTATE GIVING SPACE FOR THE CREATIVITY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

ALL OF IT IS MEANT TO CORRECT THE OLD EXHIBIT WHICH OPENED IN THE 1950s.

>> AT THAT TIME, THE ANTHROPOLOGISTS AND CURATORS HAD THIS PERSPECTIVE THEIR CULTURES WILL DISAPPEAR.

WE BETTER ACCUMULATE EVERYTHING ALL THE MATERIAL CULTURE THAT WE CAN TO PRESERVE THAT WAY OF LIFE AND SHOWCASE IT IN OUR MUSEUM.

AND IT WAS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW STRONG AND RESILIENT NATIVE PEOPLES HAVE BEEN.

AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

THEY RESISTED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT OUTCOMES OF ALL THIS.

IS TO LET AMERICA KNOW AND LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT NATIVE PEOPLE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE.

YOU ARE ON NATIVE LAND WE ARE ON NATIVE LAND.

WE ARE ON THE LAND OF THE CREATOR.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

AND IT IS SACRED TO US.

THERE'S MORE WORK AHEAD.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE MUSEUM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH NATIVE COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE COLLECTIONS AND THEY CAN REPATRIATE THOSE ITEMS THAT NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR RESPECTIVE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

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

>> AGAIN, NATIVE TRUTHS IS A PERMANENT EXHIBITION.

IT JUST OPENED AT THE FIELD MUSEUM AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE 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'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

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

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

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. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SET TO TAKE UP THE MAYOR'S WEEKEND CURFEW AND BALLY'S CASINO PROPOSAL.

PLUS, HOW A HIGHLAND PARK COUPLE IS NAVIGATING BUREAUCRACY TO BRING HOME THEIR TWIN BABIES BORN TO A UKRAINIAN SURROGATE.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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