>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

AMANDA VINICKY IS LIVE IN SPRINGFIELD WITH NEGOTIATIONS.

>>> CITY OFFICIALS UNVEIL SAFETY PLANS FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

>> NOW, WE REALLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

>>> WHAT AAPI HERITAGE MONTH MEANS FOR CHICAGO'S ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE LIVE FROM CHINATOWN.

>>> AND GLORIOUS VOICES REVIVE A GOSPEL MUSICAL THAT REVIVES A CLASSICAL PLAY.

>>> AND REPORTING LIVE AS PART OF YOUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD" SERIES.

HISTORIC REPRESENTATION.

A CELEBRATION OF SOUTH ASIAN DANCE.

AND COMMUNITY 5K.

WE'LL TELL YOU HOW PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY ARE CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH AND BEYOND.

BUT FIRST, TONIGHT'S TOP STOR.

>> IT COMMUNITY LEADERS.

>> THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A STRATEGY AROUND POLICING.

YOU HAVE A COLLABORATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAN THERE'S ACTIVITY IN CHICAGO.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO INVEST IN PEOPLE.

>> AND HERE WITH A LOOK AT THE SAFETY PLANS, ARE WTTW NEWS REPORTERS, MATHE MAT SHARON.

THEY STARTED WITH POSITIVE THINGS TO DO OVER THE WEEKEND.

HEATHER, WAS THAT A MESSAGE, VERSUS STARTING WITH THE POLICING PLAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BRANDON JOHNSON WAS ELECTED ON A PLATFORM TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THIS WEEKEND IS REALLY THE FIRST TEST OF THAT PLAN.

AND HE PUT FORWARD A STRATEGY THAT EMPHASIZES THINGS TO DO TO KEEP TROUBLE FROM HAPPENING AS OPPOSED TO ADDRESSING TROUBLE ONCE IT HAPPENS.

WHAT WE TYPICALLY HAVE HEARD AT THESE PRESS CONFERENCES, WHICH HAS HAPPENED AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER.

HOW MANY OFFICERS WILL BE ON THE STREET.

WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEPLOYED.

WHAT THEY'LL BE TASKED WITH.

WE GOT NONE OF THAT TODAY, HERALDING A NEW APPROACH TO THIS TYPICALLY VIOLENT WEEKEND.

>> MARKING A SHIFT FOR SURE.

HERE'S WHAT INTERIMPOLICE SUPERINTENDENT FRED WALLER HAD TO SAY ABOUT CPD.

>> THIS EVENING OUR SWORN OFFICERS WILL HAVE ONE REGULAR DAY OFF CANCELED.

THIS IS A STANDARD PROCEDURE, AND OFFICERS WILL RECEIVE OVERTIME PAY FOR THIS.

>> WILL THERE BE ENOUGH FOR POLICE OR ENOUGH POLICE FOR THE HOLIDAY DEPLOYMENTS THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND?

>> IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CANCEL AT LEAST ONE DAY OFF FOR ALL OF THESE.

THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

DREW THE IRE OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE.

WALLER, THOUGH.

HE'S THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.

NOT GOING TO BE THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT FOREVER.

PERMANENT REPLACEMENT WILL BE FOUND IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

UNCLEAR GOING FORWARD IF THIS WILL BE THE STRATEGY GOING FORWARD ON THESE HOLIDAYS.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER SAYING THERE HAS BEEN SOME MOVING FORWARD.

>> WELL, SIMPLY PUT, THE STATE HAS ESSENTIALLY LEFTOVER MONEY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AND THIS IS PART OF THE ANTI-VIOLENCE STRATEGY, THAT THE GOVERNOR IS ALL IN ON.

BECAUSE HE AGREES WITH BRANDON JOHNSON THAT TO PREVENT VIOLENCE, YOU HAVE TO DO MORE THAN JUST HELP PEOPLE.

NOW, THESE, SO-CALLED PEACEKEEPERS ARE TRAINED IN MEDIATION.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO PREVENT RETALIATORY CYCLES OF VIOLENCE, WHICH CAN SOMETIMES TAKE ROUTE ON WEEKENDS, WHERE EVERYBODY IS OUT, ENJOYING THE WARM WEATHER.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO GET MUCH ABOVE 70 DEGREES.

SO PERHAPS THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE MOTHER NATURE WORKING IN THEIR FAVOR AS WELL.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THESE 30 PEOPLE AND WHERE THEY WERE TRAINED?

>> AS HEATHER SAID.

THESE PEACEKEEPERS ARE TRAINED THROUGH DEESCALATION INTERRUPTION.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, AND TRY TO HELP SECURE THOSE SCENES.

THESE PEACEKEEPERS WERE SENT FROM PRITZKER, NOT FROM JOHNSON.

AND IT'S WHERE OFFICIALS ARE LEANING ON STRATEGIES, BESIDES JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO TRY TO KEEP VIOLENCE DOWN OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

>> 253 GRASS ROOTS GROUPS WILL RECEIVE $255 MILLION.

HEATHER, HOW WILL THIS INVESTMENT HELP OVER THIS WEEKEND?

>> THE IDEA IS TO GIVE PEOPLE THINGS TO DO THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM MAKING BAD DECISIONS OR GETTING SORT OF WRAPPED UP IN TROUBLE.

THE IDEA IS THAT INSTEAD OF JUST SORT OF, YOU KNOW, HANGING OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND MAYBE SORT OF GETTING INTO AN ALTERCATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT A BARBECUE, WHERE YOU'RE HAVING FUN, AND DANCING AND LISTENING TO MUSIC.

YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO LEAD TO A PROBLEM.

THAT IS THE STRATEGY.

SO WE HEARD THE MAYOR TALK A LOT ABOUT BARBECUES AND SORT OF BLOCK PARTIES AND THAT SORT OF THING.

THE QUESTION IS, CAN THEY SCALE THOSE SORT OF EVENTS, WHICH WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN ON SORT OF A BLOCK-BY-BLOCK BASIS, TO MAKE SORT OF AN OVERALL DIFFERENCE?

>> AND PAST MEMORIAL DAY WEEKENDS, WHAT HAVE WE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IN POLICE STABS OVER THIS PARTICULAR HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

>> WE ALWAYS HEAR OF OFFICERS BEING DEPLOYED.

WE DIDN'T HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT THAT TODAY BUT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR OFFICERS TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE IF NOT BOTH.

AS FOR VIOLENCE LEVELS.

IT HAS FLUCTUATED IN RECENT YEARS.

IN 2020, 10 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND ABOUT 50 WERE SHOT.

THAT WENT DOWN TO THREE WERE BEING KILLED IN 2021.

AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOUTED THAT AS ONE OF THE SAFEST MEMORIAL DAY WEEKENDS IN DECADES.

THERE WERE NINE PEOPLE KILLED AND ABOUT 50 PEOPLE SHOT ONCE AGAIN.

>> AND OF COURSE, EVERYBODY IS HOPING FOR A SAFE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT ON TUESDAY, I'M SURE.

HEATHER SHARON THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>>> YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE SAFETY PLANS ON OUR WEBSITE, AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> NOW BACK TO PARIS WITH MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

STO.

>>> AND SPEAKING OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FAILING TO MOVE OR DISCIPLINE OFFICERS WHO FAIL FALSE REPORTS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE INSPECTION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

STILL RECENTLY EMPLOYED MORE THAN 100 OFFICERS WITH HISTORIES OF VIOLATING CPD'S RULE 14 ABOUT FALSE REPORTS, WHICH POSES RISKS TO THE DEPARTMENT AND RIGHTS.

THEY MADE 10 RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING FIRING CPD OFFICERS WHO MAKE FALSE REPORTS.

VISIT FOR MORE ON THE STORY.

>>> BANNED IN ALL UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF COOK COUNTY.

THE COOK COUNTY BOARD, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AN ORDINANCE THAT OUTLAWED THE CONTROVERSIAL E-CIGARETTE CONFLICT.

IT ONLY AFFECTS ABOUT 42 RETAILERS.

BECAUSE OF THEIR MARKETING AND THE RISK THEY POSE TO TEENS.

VIOLATORS WOULD SAY IT'S FINES BETWEEN $1,000 AND $5,000.

>>> NO SURPRISE, NO AGREEMENT YET ON A DEAL TO AVOID THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DEFAULTING ON ITS DEBT.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY HAVE SAID THEY FEEL OPTIMISTIC A DEAL WILL BE REACHED.

IT COULD HAVE CHAOTIC REPERCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.

DICK DURBIN NOTED THE SIX STRAIGHT DAYS OF FALLING STOCK MARKET VALUES.

AND SAID McCARTHY AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE HOLDING THE HOUSE HOSTAGE.

INCLUDING, HE SAYS, SPENDING CUTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

>> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO ANYBODY OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY?

NOT TO ME.

WHETHER IT'S A SOUTHERN BORDER OR SECURITY IN THE STREETS IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WE NEED GOOD, COMPETENT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> WORKERS AT THE NATURE MUSEUM IN LINCOLN PARK HAVE VOTED IN FAVOR OF UNIONIZING.

FALL UNDER ASK ME COUNCIL 31.

AND REPRESENT 45 EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THE BIOLOGY AND COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WORK WITH VISITORS TO THE MUSEUM.

THIS IS THE SIXTH UNION WIN IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF FOR CHICAGO AREA CULTURAL WORKERS, INCLUDING THE STAFF AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY AND FIELD MUSEUM.

WORKERS AT THE SCIENCE INDUSTRY HAVE FILED FOR ELECTION AS WELL.

>>> UP NEXT.

DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING PUTS A PAUSE ON AS WELL.

AMANDA HAS MORE WITH THAT STORY.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA, AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY MABEE FAMILY.

>>> THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> A NEW SET OF BUDGET DELAYS HIT THE STATE HOUSE.

MEANING LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT SESSIONS THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

SO WHAT IS THE HOLDUP?

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH THIS.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> WELL, BRANDIS, WE'RE IN A BIT OF A WAIT-AND-SEE AT THIS POINT.

JUST YESTERDAY, I HAD GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER.

AND THE SENATE ANNOUNCING A DEAL.

WITH LITTLE AMBIGUITY THERE, PRITZKER SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO SIGNING IT ONCE IT REACHES HIS DESK.

FAST FORWARD.

AND THERE HAS BEEN NO REAL MOVEMENT.

>> NO VOTES.

>> WHICH MEANS ESSENTIALLY, NO BUDGET.

NOW, THERE IS A PROPOSAL THAT IS READY TO GO.

AND AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF IT, NO NEW TAXES.

BUT ALSO, NO TAX CUTS, AS ILLINOIS SAW BOTH THIS BUDGET YEAR AND THAT HAD BEEN BRIEFLY CONTEMPLATED FOR THE COMING ONE.

IT ALSO DOES MAKE THE LEGALLY REQUIRED PENSION PAYMENT.

YOU HAVE ACTUARIES SPENDING BILLIONS MORE.

ALSO, $350 MILLION.

MORE IS GOING TO GO INTO THIS SCHOOL AID FORMULA THAT HELPS THE STATE'S MOST FINANCIALLY STRUGGLING SCHOOLS.

ALSO, WHILE CHICAGO'S NEW MAYOR, BRANDON JOHNSON, WILL NOT RECEIVE ALL THAT HE HAD ASKED FOR, WHEN HE VISITED SPRINGFIELD LAST MONTH.

CITIES INCLUDING CHICAGO ARE SET TO RECEIVE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THEIR SHARE OF THE STATE INCOME TAX.

DESPITE ALL OF THAT BEING PRETTY CLOSE TO NAILED DOWN, AND DESPITE HAVING THAT DEAL, OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE BUDGET ARE STILL IN FLUX.

AND WE ARE WAITING STILL TO SEE WHAT THOSE POTENTIAL CHANGES COULD BE.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS MET FOR HOURS THIS AFTERNOON, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET AND TO DISCUSS OTHER PROPOSALS THAT ARE STILL UP IN THE AIR AT THIS HOUR.

NOW, SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS TOLD ME, THEY THINK THAT THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPORT, THAT THE SPENDING PLAN IS A GO.

OTHERS SAID, NOPE.

NOT YET.

YOU DO HAVE MORE HOUSE DEMOCRATS THAN AT ANY POINT IN THE HISTORY OF THE SETUP OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, DEMOCRATS DO TECHNICALLY HAVE THE NUMBERS TO GET THIS DONE.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF REALLY DIVERSE INTERESTS.

AND THEREFORE, YOU HAVE SPLITS AMONG THE CAUCUS.

>> AMANDA.

WHAT ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE PROGRAM, FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS THAT HAD BEEN A MAJOR HOLDUP?

>> SO THIS BUDGET DOES NOT EXPAND THAT PROGRAM, LATINO LEGISLATORS SAYING THEY REALLY WANTED TO BE SURE THAT HEALTHCARE COVERAGE WAS GIVEN TO ALL UNDOCUMENTED ADULTS.

WHAT WE ALSO DON'T KNOW, HOWEVER, IS HOW MUCH EXACTLY ILLINOIS IS GOING TO BE SPENDING ON THIS PROGRAM.

THE CHIEF SPONSOR OF THE BUDGET OVER IN THE SENATE.

SENATOR SIMMS SAID THAT REALLY, HE CAN'T GIVE AN ANSWER TO THAT.

BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION IS ABLE TO REIGN IN COSTS WITH TOOLS THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T YET HAVE.

>> AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE -- WHAT THE EXPENDITURES WILL BE FOR '24.

BECAUSE THE COST CONTAINMENT MEASURES OUTLINED IN THE SUBSEQUENT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, HAVE NOT BEEN PASSED AND AUTHORIZED YET.

>> NOW, ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, A TAX CREDIT FOR DONORS, WHO HELPED PAY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS FOR THE INVEST IN KIDS STATE PROGRAM, THAT SENDS THESE STUDENTS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THERE IS DEFINITELY A LAST-DITCH LOBBYING EFFORT.

BUT BARRING A CHANGE, THAT INVEST IN KIDS PROGRAM WILL END.

YOU ALSO HAVE SOME THAT AREN'T SATISFIED WITH ALL THAT THIS DOES COVER.

THEY WILL NUMBER CRISIS WITHOUT MORE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE.

>> WE CAME TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ASKING TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP IN FUNDING THAT WOULD LEAVE ILLINOIS SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS WITH WAITING FOR CLOSURES AND STAFF LAYOFFS.

>> AMAUNDERSTANDA, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEP?

WHAT'S THE TIME LINE?

>> WELL, TECHNICALLY, THE DEADLINE IS A BUDGET NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE BY JULY 1st.

THE REAL DEADLINE TO GET THAT DONE.

MAY 31st.

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS VOTES FROM BOTH CHAMBERS ON THE BUDGET THAT HAS TO GET GOING.

AND BECAUSE OF LEGISLATIVE TECHNICALITIES, THE ABSOLUTE EARLIEST THAT THAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED AT THIS POINT WILL BE SATURDAY.

>> OKAY.

AMANDA IN SPRINGFIELD FOR US.

THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, HOW CHICAGO IS CELEBRATING AAPI HERITAGE MONTH.

LIVE FROM CHINATOWN'S COMMUNITY.

STAY WITH US.

>>> MAY MARKS ASIAN AMERICAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER AND HAWAIIAN HERITAGE MONTH.

MEMBERS HAVE MADE THE CITY THEIR HOME WHILE KEEPING CULTURE ALIVE.

NICK BLUMBERG AND PRODUCER BLAIR PADDOCK HAVE BEEN SPENDING TIME IN THREE PARTS OF TOWN, WITH THRIVING ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

AND NICK JOINS US FROM CHINATOWN.

>> CHICAGOANS OF ASIAN DESCENT ARE THE FASTEST GROWING.

ABOUT 7% OF CHICAGO'S POPULATION.

WE VISITED THREE COMMUNITIES THIS WEEK.

ALONG DAVON AVENUE ON THE FAR WEST SIDE.

AROUND ARGYLE STREET IN UPTOWN.

AND RIGHT HERE IN CHINA TOWN, WHERE PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING THEIR HER HAD TAJ.

HERITAGE.

>> ON A RECENT NIGHT, SHILACKA COOL KEARNEY.

REHEARSING FOR AN UPCOMING PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL.

BORN IN INDIA, COOL KEARNEY WANTED TO DANCE.

SHE MADE A DEAL WITH HER DAD, THAT SHE TAKE DANCE CLASSES.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO LEARN DANCE.

THEN YOU WILL BE STRONG.

>> PERSONALLY, IT HELPED ME IN SCHOOLS, TOO.

IT MADE ME APPRECIATE ANYONE ELSE WHO IS PUTTING TIME AND EFFORT IN DOING SOMETHING.

>> MANDALA PRESENTS WORK LIKE THIS CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE.

BUT COOL KEARNEY'S WORK IS ALSO BEING INSPIRED BY BEING PART OF THE SOUTH ASIAN DIASPORA.

SHE ALSO COLLABORATED WITH A JAPANESE DANCER.

>> TOGETHER, WE CREATED SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE.

GOING OUT OF THEIR WAYS TO PRESENT EACH OTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER.

>> MANDALA ALSO PRESENTS.

IN JUNE, IT'S HOSTING AN ARTS FESTIVAL, AROUND THE CORNER.

IT'S A COMMUNITY WITH MANY MEMBERS OF PAKISTANI AND INDIAN DESCENT.

HE WAS A KID, HELPING OUT AT HIS FAMILY'S RESTAURANT.

>> EVERY WALK OF LIFE, RACE, RELIGION, CULTURE, AND THE MELTING POT.

>> STARTED WORKING FULL-TIME AT THE POPULAR AFTER HE GRADUATED COLLEGE AND NOW RUNS THE RESTAURANT.

>> EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE IS BUTTER CHICKEN, WHICH IS MIKE MINE ALSO.

I CAN PUT BUTTER CHICKEN ON EVERYTHING.

>> THE RESTAURANT HAS EXPANDED TO UIC, LOMBARD, LINCOLN PARK AND NEXT MONTH TO DALLAS.

IN RECENT YEARS, NEW FANS LEARNED FROM A QUIRKY TWITTER ACCOUNT STARTED BY A FAN OF THE RESTAURANT.

BUT EVEN IF YOU MISSED THE MEMES, BOZI SIS THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

>> IT MIGHT BE LIKE WHAT IS PAKISTANI-INDIAN FOOD?

JUST GIVE IT A TRY, AND I'M SURE YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE.

>> UPTOWN MAINSTAY IS WELL KNOWN AS AN ASIAN CULINARY HOT SPOT, INCLUDING MANY VIETNAMESE SPOTS.

>> WE ARE FROM CENTRAL VIETNAM.

AND OUR FOOD IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANYBODY.

THAT'S WHY I THINK PEOPLE LIKE TO COME AND TRY OUR FOOD.

>> Reporter: SYDNEY LEI SAYS THIS MEANS LOTS OF SEAFOOD DISHES AND FLAVORS LIKE TURMERIC.

LEI EVENTUALLY WENT TO CULINARY SCHOOL IN VIETNAM AND OPENED HER RESTAURANT FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> WE TRY TO DO THIS EVERY MONTH TO CREATE NEW DISHES.

THE LONGER WE HAVE THE BUSINESS THE MORE I ENJOY IT.

BECAUSE WHEN I SEE OUR CUSTOMER APPRECIATE AND ENJOY OUR FOOD, THAT MAKE US SO HAPPY.

>> DANONG WAS ONE OF SEVERAL BUSINESSES ALONG THE STREET THAT HAS GOTTEN THINGS LIKE MICROGRANTS, PROMOTIONAL HEALTH.

FROM THE GRASS ROOTS GROUP CELEBRATE ARGYLE.

>> THIS HIT AND HURT THE COMMUNITY.

WITH ALL OF THE ANTI-ASIAN HATE SENTIMENT.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO UPLIFT, NOT JUST PREPANDEMIC TIMES BUT ALSO FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Reporter: THE GROUP IS ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY CLEANUP SATURDAY AND 5K ON SUNDAY.

>> WE HAVE BEEN FINDING AGENCY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TRYING TO FIND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE FINDING THAT VOICE IN THEMSELVES TO BE PROUD OF OUR CULTURE.

>> THE GREAT THING I'M SEEING RIGHT NOW IS JUST THE WHOLE API VOICE.

AND EVERYBODY CELEBRATING ASIAN HERITAGE.

IT'S A GREAT CHANGE TO SEE.

>> Reporter: TRIPLE CROWN'S SPENCER PAZ ING IS GLAD TO SEE THIS, BUT SAID HE IS STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND ENOUGH STAFFERS TO KEEP THE BELOVED RESTAURANT OPEN AS LONG AS HE USED TO.

ELECTION OF THE WARD'S FIRST CHINESE AMERICAN ALDER WOMAN.

>> FIRST TIME.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY.

YOU'RE ON THE MENU, IF YOU'RE NOT AT THE TABLE.

AND NOW WE REALLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ISSUES AND VOICES THAT NEED THE ASSISTANCE AND NEED TO BE HEARD.

>> LEAD NEW, THE SECOND MEMBER.

ALONG WITH THAT.

>> I'M EVER HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND 13 NEW COLLEAGUES, THAT WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> SPEAKING OF KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE, LEE CREDITED THE LOCAL DISTRICT POLICE, AS WELL AS THE CHINATOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WITH REVERSING A RECENT SPIKE IN ROBBERIES HERE IN CHINATOWN.

>> NICK, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, THERE'S BEEN THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF A PROPOSED NEW HIGH SCHOOL ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

IT'S GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS.

WHAT DID SHE HAVE TO SAY TODAY ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SHE SAID IT'S STILL A PRIORITY FOR HER AND SOMETHING THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN.

SHE GETS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

DEVELOPMENTS OF THAT NEW SCHOOL HAS BEEN ON HOLD AMID THE TRANSITION.

BUT LEE TOLD ME, SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN WITH THE MAYOR, AS WELL AS PEDRO MARTINEZ.

ALONG WITH FELLOW ALDERWOMAN PAT DOWEL.

>> BY THE WAY.

ALL THE EVENTS.

THE 5K AND PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL.

WE HAVE DETAILS ABOUT THOSE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> UP NEXT.

SOUNDS FROM A GOSPEL MUSICAL, WITH AN ALL-STAR CHICAGO CAST.

BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> WHEN GOSPEL MUSIC MERGES, WITH AN ANCIENT GREEK TEXT.

YOU CAN ALMOST CALL IT A HOLY COMMUNION.

IT'S A REVIVAL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

CHICAGO TONIGHT VISITED A REHEARSAL.

PRODUCER MARK VITALE HAS THE STORY.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >> THE FEAR IN ALL OF US.

IT'S NOT CHRISTIAN.

IT'S NOT JEWISH.

IT'S NOT MUSLIM.

IT'S NOT GREEK.

WELL, IT'S A LITTLE GREEK.

SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

BUT IT'S A SPIRITUAL EVENT.

>> IT'S A RARELY PERFORMED SHOW CALLED THE GOSPEL AT COLONIS.

MORGAN FREEMAN WAS IN THE ORIGINAL CAST IN 1983.

AND THAT PRODUCTION INSPIRED THE CAREER OF AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE.

>> I SAW THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION IN 1983.

BROOKLYN ACADEMY MUSIC.

AND HEY, IF CLASSIC TEXTS AND MUSIC CAN CREATE SUCH A SPIRITUAL EVENT THAT LIFTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN THAT THEATER TO EVENT.

YET IT'S CONTEMPORARY FOR TODAY.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE.

SO IT FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN PREPARING THIS FOR 30 YEARS.

EVEN THOUGH WE STILL HAVE ONLY TWO DAYS TO GO BEFORE WE OPEN.

I CAN'T WAIT.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> IT IS BASED ON OEDIPUS AT COLONIS.

AGING KING WHO SEEKS LIFE.

ONE OF THE CAST PERFORMED IN THE ORIGINAL WORLD TOUR.

>> THE ROLE SHE ORIGINALLY PLAYED IS NOW BEING PLAYED BY HER DAUGHTER.

THEY HAVE HIGH LOPES FOR THE CAST.

>> WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED CASTS I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.

AS AN ACTOR, I COME UP HERE IN CHICAGO.

I COME UP IN THE COMMUNITY HERE.

I'VE BEEN DOING THEATER WITH MANY OF THESE PEOPLE AND SOMEHOW, WE GOT, AS CHARLIE CALLS, AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES.

THAT EVERYONE'S VOICE BE SHOW-CASED.

>> HE KNOWS ABOUT VOICES BEING SHOWCASED.

THE DIRECTORS ARE BOTH SONS OF PREACHERS.

FOLLOWING REHEARSAL, THEY GIVE FINAL NOTES TO THE CAST IN ADVANCE OF OPENING NIGHT.

>> PUTTING IT IN THE CONTEXT OF BLACK PENTECOSTAL WORSHIP AND SPIRIT.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE TWO THAT CREATES THIS FLURRIED THING.

>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, IT'S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER.

IT'S TRULY ITS OWN ENTITY.

IT'S A SPIRITUAL THING.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARK VITALE.

>> LOTS OF ENERGY THERE.

RUNS THROUGH JUNE 11th.

WE'LL BE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP AFTER THIS.

POSSIBLE IN PART BY NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY FOUNDATION.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THAL IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET THIS STREAMED.

NOW, FOR ALL OF US, I'M PARIS SHUTSZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CHICAGO WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM.

PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS 18 ATTORNEYS SELECTED FOR THE SUPER LAWYERS GROUP.