>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM BRANDON FRIEDMAN .

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THE ODDS OF HER GETTING RE-ELECTED WITH EVERY CANDIDATE THAT WAS IN THIS RACE.

LOOK AT WHERE THE MAYOR'S RACE STANDS.

>>> MASS LAYOFFS CAUSING A BACKLASH AS OWNERS SIGNAL A CHANGING WORLD FOR BIG TECH.

>>> A LOCAL FIRM BUYS A FUTURE CASINO SITE.

WHAT THAT MEANS.

>>> TICKETMASTER APOLOGIZES AFTER THE BOTCHED CONCERT TICKET ROLLOUT FOR THE TAYLOR SWIFT TOUR WHICH LEFT MANY SWIFTY'S ANGRY.

>>> WE TAKE YOU INSIDE A NEW CALL CENTER IN THE CHATHAM NEIGHBORHOOD.

>>> AND FASCINATION WITH ART AND SCIENCE.

>> A MUSIC DIRECTOR ON WHAT AUDIENCES CAN EXPECT THIS SEASON.

>>> FIRST, TOP STORIES.

IT IS OFFICIAL.

GROUNDBREAKING CAN BEGIN AT O'HARE.

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PUT THE JUDGE PETE BUTTIGIEG GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT ON A MASSIVE TERMINAL THAT WILL REPLACE TERMINAL TWO.

>> APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION FEET OF GAIT AND AMENITY SPACE WILL BE ADDED, DRAMATICALLY EXPANDING THE AIRPORT'S ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE AIRCRAFT OF ALL SIZES.

>> PEOPLE RELY ON AIRPORTS NOT ONLY FOR SUPPLY CHAINS BUT FOR PASSENGER TRAVEL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE RUNNING AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> THE FIRST SATELLITE CONCOURSE IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027, AND THE SECOND IN 2028.

OFFICIALS HAVE TARGETED 2030 FOR COMPLETION OF THE NEW TERMINAL.

>>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TOOK TO TWITTER WITH STRONG WORDS IN THE WAKE OF THE COLORADO LGBT NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING.

SHE SAYS, I AM SICK OF THIS EXPLETIVE, HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO BE MURDERED BEFORE IT ACTUALLY STOPS?

WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DIE LIKE THIS.

THE 22-YEAR-OLD MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING FIVE AND SHOOTING 17 OTHERS IS FACING MURDER AND HATE CRIME CHARGES.

IT IS THANKS TO THE ACTIONS OF HEROIC CUSTOMERS WHO SUBDUED THE GUNMAN AND ENDED THE ATTACK.

>>> BROOKLYN IN, NOW BROOKLYN OUT.

THE ALDERMAN HAS DROPPED OUT IN THE BID FOR MAYOR.

>> FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LORI LIGHTFOOT IS DEFEATED AND DENIED A SECOND TERM.

THE ODDS OF HER GETTING RE-ELECTED GROW WITH EVERY CANDIDATE THAT ENTERS THIS RACE.

>> THE FREQUENT OUTSPOKEN CRITIC OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAYS THAT HE WILL FOCUS ON RE-ELECTION TO HIS WESTSIDE 15th WARD.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, WE DIG INTO WHY IT HAS BEEN SUCH A TERRIBLE YEAR FOR TECH COMPANIES.

>>> PUT UP NEXT, WITH MIDTERMS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, CHICAGO MOVES ON TO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

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

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> DOZENS OF CANDIDATES PACKED INTO A REPURPOSED WALGREENS DOWNTOWN TO BEGIN THE CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR IN EARNEST.

THERE ARE NOW SIX OFFICIAL CANDIDATES.

BUT THE BIGGEST NEWS BECAME BEFORE THE FIRST CANDIDATE WAS STAMPED!

THE FIRST CANDIDATE WHO ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO RUN AGAINST LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS THE FIRST TO DROP OUT.

>> TODAY MADE THE DECISION TO ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL NOT RUN FOR MAYOR.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LORI LIGHTFOOT IS DEFEATED AND DENIED A SECOND TERM.

THE ODDS OF HER GETTING RE-ELECTED GROW WITH EVERY CANDIDATE THAT ENTERS THIS RACE.

>> WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER JOINS US TODAY.

>> Reporter: WE NOW HAVE SIX OFFICIAL CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, INCLUDING CAM BUCKNER, BRANDON JOHNSON AND SOPHIA KING.

>> OKAY.

WHY WERE SO MANY CANDIDATES IN LINE RIGHT AT 9:00 A.M.?

>> Reporter: IT GIVES THEM AN ADVANTAGE.

IT GIVES THEM ENTRY TO A LOTTERY TO BE FIRST ON THE BALLOT.

WHEN YOU HAVE A RACE THIS CROWDED, EVERY PERCENTAGE POINT MATTERS, AND MAYBE THIS WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE BIG NAMES NOT IN LINE THIS MORNING.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CHUY GARCIA, AND RODRICK GARCIA.

THEY HAVE UNTIL 5:00 P.M. TO FILE.

AND THIS IS A GAME OF NUMBERS.

LOPEZ HAS BEEN A CONSERVATIVE CRITIC OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, SAYING THAT SHE HAS NOT KEPT THE CITY SAFE AND THAT SHE HAS NOT HANDLED THE COVID PANDEMIC WELL.

HIS DROPPING OUT WILL BENEFIT WILLIE WILSON AND OTHER MORE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE.

WE SAW HIM PUT OUT A STATEMENT WELCOMING COUNCILMEMBER LOPEZ BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2023.

WHETHER IT WORKS?

TIME WILL TELL!

>> BRENDA JOHNSON ALSO SAYS THAT HE IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE PROGRESSIVE COMMITTEE.

HERE IS WHAT HE TOLD REPORTERS.

>> I CAN'T THINK OF WHAT HIS MOTIVES ARE.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT MY MOTIVE IS BASED ON WHAT THE CITY HAS FOUGHT FOR.

THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE DISAPPOINTMENT TO PEOPLE.

SHE HAS BROKEN NEARLY EVERY SINGLE PROMISE.

>> Reporter: HE IS KEEPING AN EYE ON GARCIA.

THEY ARE BOTH PROGRESSIVE.

THEY BOTH HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS THAT IF ONE OF THEM MAKES IT INTO THE RUNOFF, THE OTHER ONE WOULD MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THOSE CANDIDATES.

>> KING WAS ASKED WHETHER SHE WOULD TRY TO CLEAR OUT THE FIELD BY ATTEMPTING TO KICK RIVALS OFF THE BALLOT BY CHALLENGING THEIR VISION.

WILL THAT WORK?

>> Reporter: IT COULD.

IF THERE IS A PROGRESSIVE LANE AND A CONSERVATIVE LANE, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ONE OF ONLY A FEW CHOICES FOR VOTERS LOOKING FOR THAT ALTERNATIVE.

AGAIN, WILL IT WORK?

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT.

>> WE WILL FIND OUT IN FEBRUARY.

WE HAVE TO WAIT.

HEATHER, THANK YOU.

YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN ALSO FIND HEATHER'S GUIDE TO CHICAGO MAYOR.

OF COURSE IT IS ALL IT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> IS A TURBULENT TIME FOR TECH.

FIRST YOU HAVE ELON MUSK AT TWITTER WHERE DECISIONS ARE BEING DONE AND UNDONE IN THE SAME DAY, AS WELL AS REINSTATING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

ALSO, THE COLLAPSE OF CRYPTO TRADING COMPANY FTX .

THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY HAS SEEN A WAVE OF LAYOFFS AND A FALLEN SHARE PRICES.

SOME 35,000 TECH WORKERS HAVE LOST THEIR JOB, AND MORE THAN 1000 TECH LAYOFFS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE THIS YEAR.

TO HELP US UNPACK ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE A PROFESSOR AND ECONOMIST WHO SERVED AS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ECONOMIC ADVISER, AS WELL AS A COMPUTER SCIENTIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

GREAT EXPERTISE, GREAT DISCUSSION TODAY.

JONES, LET'S TALK ABOUT ELON MUSK AND HIS PURCHASE OF TWITTER, ALL THESE LAYOFFS.

FOLKS ARE WONDERING WHETHER THE PLATFORM IS GOING TO SURVIVE DAY TODAY.

WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK?

>> THIS SEEMS LIKE A BIT MORE OF A VANITY PROJECT FOR HIM THAN A GREAT BUSINESS DECISION.

HE IS OBVIOUSLY AN INCREDIBLE ENTREPRENEUR.

WHAT HE HAS DONE WITH TESLA HAS REALLY CHANGED THE WORLD IN SOME WAYS.

I THINK THAT WITH TWITTER HE IS PUTTING HIS FOOT INTO THE COMMUNICATION POND AND HE IS KIND OF MIXED UP IN IT.

HE HAS A COMPANY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT BALANCE SHEET.

HE HAS BEEN CUTTING COSTS RAPIDLY, GETTING RID OF A LOT OF WORKERS, BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT HE IS GOING TO FIND THAT.

>> HE IS HELPING DONALD TRUMP FIND HIS WAY BACK TO THE PLATFORM.

KANYE WEST IS BACK AFTER SOME ANTI-SEMITIC STATEMENTS.

IS THIS THE TYPE OF THING THAT COULD FURTHER FRIGHTEN ADVERTISERS AND INVESTORS OFF?

>> YEAH, I TOTALLY THINK SO.

JUST ANECDOTALLY LOOKING AT MY CORNER OF THE TWITTERVERSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY TURNED OFF BY SOME OF THESE BIG MOVES AND ARE LAYING OFF OF TWITTER IN DROVES.

WE WILL SEE WHAT THE IMPACT IS ON THE USER BASE AFTER THE DUST SETTLES.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE THROWING SPAGHETTI AGAINST THE WALL TO SEE WHAT WILL WORK.

YOU THINK THEY WILL FIND SOME MAGIC FORMULA?

>> YOU KNOW, YEAH.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE STEPS THAT ELON IS MAKING MAKES SENSE.

COST-CUTTING MAKES SENSE.

BUT I THINK THAT SOME OF THE OTHER CATS, INCLUDING GETTING RID OF THE MODERATION TEAM, I THINK THAT WILL HAVE A REAL EFFECT ON WHAT THE CONTENT IS LIKE ON TWITTER.

I THINK THAT WILL HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON USERS.

>> DAN JONES, YOU HAVE HAD USERS TALK ABOUT SOME KIND OF REGULATORY APPARATUS FOR TWITTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT TYPE OF FRAMEWORK DO YOU THINK WE CAN AGREE ON?

>> TWITTER IS NOT A PROFITABLE COMPANY.

THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES LAYING AROUND FOR CONTENT MODERATION.

FOR FACEBOOK, METTA, YOU COULD DO THAT.

I THINK THAT WHERE A COMPANY IS SUPER PROFITABLE, I THINK THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO REGULATE THEM.

TWITTER IS MORE COMPLICATED.

>> THEN, WHAT WOULD THE REGULATION OF THIS INDUSTRY LOOK LIKE?

>> BOY, YOU GOT ME THERE.

IT WOULD BE A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.

FOR STARTERS, YOU WOULD NEED SOME STRUCTURE IN SOME OF THE STOCK OFFERING THAT META HAS IN PLACE.

JUST HAVING THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME BOARD CONTROL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD START.

OBVIOUSLY WITH TWITTER, I THINK THE REGULATORY STANDARDS ARE MUCH MORE LIMITED.

>> ALL THESE FOLKS THAT HE GOT TO INVEST WITH HIM, NOW HE OWNS A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE COMPANY.

>> PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF CRYPTO, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE MADE A LOT OF MONEY DOING THAT.

IT REMAINS AN OPEN QUESTION.

THEY SAID THAT CRYPTO IS TRYING TO REPLACE ORDINARY MONEY.

THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY DEBATABLE.

THE OTHER PART IS THAT WE HAVE TO TRUST AND BELIEVE IN THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT WE USED INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.

SO FTX TRIED TO PRETEND THAT THEY WERE THIS TRUSTWORTHY EXCHANGE AND MARKET, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE BOUND BY U.S.

REGULATIONS.

THEY WANTED TO STAY OFFSHORE.

THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF SIGNALS THAT WOULD SAY, DON'T TRUST.

DON'T TRUST.

BUT THINGS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST HERE.

SO I THINK THAT CRYPTO IS IN A LOT OF TROUBLE IN GENERAL.

I THINK THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT WE WANT.

>> THEN, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION TO YOU ABOUT CRYPTO.

ADD THAT TO THE FACT THAT THE PRICE OF THAT COIN IS STEADILY DROPPING COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS, I DON'T KNOW, A YEAR OR TWO AGO.

>> THAT COIN HAS ALWAYS SORT OF OPERATED UNBELIEF, RIGHT?

THE TECHNOLOGY UNDERNEATH IS NOT PARTICULARLY MAGICAL.

BUT AS A COMMUNITY, AS A SORT OF PLATFORM, THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF BELIEF, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE TRUST.

WE WILL SEE IF IT IS SUFFICIENT.

>> TALKING ABOUT META, FACEBOOK, MARK ZUCKERBERG AND OTHER TECH COMPANIES LAYING OFF LOTS OF EMPLOYEES.

THAT IS THE TREND HERE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE ALMOST-CELEBRITY CEOs.

ARE TECH INVESTORS TO SWAYED BY THE POWER OF THESE PERSONALITIES?

>> QUITE POSSIBLY.

I HAVE DONE RESEARCH WITH A BUNCH OF COLLEAGUES.

YOU SEE THAT THE HIGHEST-GROSSING FIRMS ARE AROUND 45, WHEN THEY START THESE COMPANIES.

SOME OF THESE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ARE INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT AND START SOME GREAT COMPANIES.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME SORT OF MIXED SIGNALS.

WITH ELON MUSK, WHO IS A PROVEN ENTREPRENEUR, MARK ZUCKERBERG IS A PROVEN ENTREPRENEUR, DO PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT -- IT IS A BIT LIKE HEDGE FUNDING AS WELL.

PEOPLE THINK, I WILL FIND A WAY TO DO WELL AGAIN.

OFTENTIMES, WE LEARN THAT PEOPLE AREN'T PERFECT.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN PUT SAM FREED IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.

YOU MENTIONED ALL THE LAYOFFS THROUGHOUT TECH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DRIVERS ARE?

>> YEAH.

THROUGH NORMAL BUSINESS CYCLE, YOU HAVE DIFFERENCES IN HIRING.

IN A WAY, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH AS EXPECTED.

WITH INTEREST RATES RISING, THE ONLY QUESTION IS HOW SEVERE IT WOULD BE AND WHAT WOULD PROMPT THAT FIRST WAVE OF LAYOFFS.

META HAS ITS OWN SORT OF TROUBLES.

IT'S LAYOFFS LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR EVERYONE.

>> WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU, BEN JONES, AND BEEN JIAO WERE ABLE TO JOIN US IN THE REAL WORLD.

>>> THERE IS MUCH MORE TO COME, SO STICK AROUND.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF BAD BLOOD BETWEEN TAYLOR SWIFT AND FANS LOOKING TO BUY TICKETS TO HER CONCERT TOUR.

FANS LOOKING TO BUY TICKETS WERE MET WITH MASSIVE DELAYS AND ERROR MESSAGES BEFORE TICKETMASTER ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD BE CANCELING THE SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE TICKETING GIANT APOLOGIZED, CITING TECHNICAL ISSUES AND NOT ENOUGH TICKETS TO MEET DEMAND.

FOR EXAMPLE, BASED ON THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC TO OUR SITE, TAYLOR WOULD NEED TO DO ALMOST 900 STADIUM SHOWS.

THAT IS A STADIUM SHOW EVERY SINGLE NIGHT FOR THE NEXT 2.5 YEARS.

JOINING US NOW IS A NEWS REPORTER FOR THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES AND RICK JULIAN, WHO WRITES FOR THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TICKETS GO ON SALE.

>> BASICALLY, TAYLOR BROKE TICKETMASTER.

THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF DEMAND.

SHE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RECORDING ARTISTS OF OUR TIME.

SHE HAS 7.6 MILLION FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS.

SHE HAS OCCUPIED ALL 10 BILLBOARD SPOTS.

SO THE FACT THAT TICKETMASTER IS SAYING THEY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THIS IS KIND OF RIDICULOUS.

UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITED HOURS AND HOURS IN THE QUEUE AND DID NOT GET THROUGH.

>> TAYLOR'S RESPONSE, SHE RESPONDED ON INSTAGRAM SAYING THAT SHE AND HER TEAM REPEATEDLY MADE SURE THAT TICKETMASTER COULD HANDLE THE VOLUME AND WERE ASSURED THAT THEY COULD.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT TICKETMASTER IS UNDER FIRE FOR THE HANDLING OF TICKET SALES.

WHAT WE SEE HERE?

>> THERE WAS DYNAMIC PRICING AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TICKETS.

SO THERE IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THIS YEAR WITH TICKETMASTER PRACTICES.

WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE 90s, I THINK THAT NOW THAT LIVE NATION AND TICKETMASTER HAVE MERGED, THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING INTO QUESTION FOR FANS.

>> I WANT TO GET BRITT IN HERE, BECAUSE IT IS FAMILIAR WITH BUT BUYING AND TICKET SCALPERS AS WELL.

IS THERE ANYTHING THE ARTISTS CAN DO TO PROTECT THE ACTUAL FANS WHO WANT TO BUY TICKETS?

>> YEAH, THERE ARE ARTISTS LIKE ED SHEERAN WHOSE , WHEN HIS TICKETS WERE BOUGHT UP, HE ACTUALLY CANCELED THE RESALE.

I THINK THERE WERE ABOUT 10,000 TICKETS THAT WERE STILL AVAILABLE FOR RESALE AT HIGH PRICES.

HE CANCELED THOSE IMMEDIATELY.

OFTENTIMES, ARTISTS WILL REQUIRE THAT ANYONE WHO HAS TICKETS , OR WHO WANTS TO PURCHASE TICKETS HAVE A PHOTO I.D.

TO GO WITH IT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARTISTS CAN DO.

YOU MIGHT THINK, WHY ARE ARTISTS TAKING THESE PRECAUTIONS?

>> ADDITIONALLY, THE COSTS FOR ATTENDING CONCERTS HAVE GONE UP.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS FOR WHY THE COST FOR TICKETS HAS GONE UP.

ONE OBVIOUSLY IS THAT THERE IS MUCH LARGER DEMAND.

PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD PLANS TO SEE ARTISTS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY HAPPENED, AND NOW THE DEMAND HAS INCREASED, PEOPLE ARE BEING MUCH MORE CHOOSY IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF ACTS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE WAITING AND SAVING UP TO SEE OTHER ARTISTS THAT THEY HAVE WANTED TO SEE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD COSTS A LOT MORE MONEY.

YOU ARE PAYING MORE FOR THE CREW WITH A PARTICULAR SHOW.

NOT PAYING MINIMUM WAGE FOR THE SOUND PERSON, THE TECH PERSON, THE MAKEUP PERSON.

IT COSTS MORE MONEY FOR FOOD AND GAS.

WHEN THESE BIG MEGA STADIUM ARENA SHOWS WERE HAPPENING IN 2018 AND 2019, PRICES WERE LOWER THAN WHAT THEY ARE NOW.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER REASON.

A MIX OF HIGHER DEMAND AS WELL AS JUST THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY.

>> COMBINATION OF FACTORS.

HOW IS THE CHICAGO MUSIC SCENE AFFECTED?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD PROMOTE A LOT OF OUR LOCAL ARTISTS HERE.

WE HAVE PLACES LIKE THE METRO, AND THEY DO NOT USE TICKETMASTER.

THEY USE OTHER AVENUES.

SO I THINK THAT YOU HAVE A MODEL HERE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO FOLLOW, BY PROMOTING INDEPENDENT VENUES.

WE HAVE THE CHICAGO INDEPENDENT VENUE LEAGUE, WHICH REALLY CAME AROUND DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE LOCAL CHICAGO SCENE IS THRIVING.

IF ANYTHING, THIS WILL PUT MORE FOCUS ON UNDERDOGS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK OF, BUT NOW THEY WILL.

>> BREAD, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU THINK THAT SMALLER VENUES AND SMALLER ARTISTS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS?

>> ONE THING I WOULD SAY, EVEN THOUGH CHICAGO DOES HAVE THIS GREAT MUSIC SCENE AND WE HAVE LOTS OF LOCAL VENUES, THERE IS HUGE COMPETITION FOR LOCAL SHOWS, AS WELL.

THE DELAY HAS MADE IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF LOCAL ARTISTS TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE COVETED SLOTS OR TO HAVE THEIR OWN HEADLINING SHOWS.

THERE ARE SO MANY MORE ARTISTS WHO ARE NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL, SO THERE IS MUCH LARGER COMPETITION TO GET INTO THOSE VENUES.

LUCKILY, THOUGH, I AM ALWAYS HEARING ABOUT NEW VENUES THAT WERE OPENED UP DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO PERFORM IN MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO PERFORM OUTSIDE OF MUSIC VENUES OR MUSIC CALLS.

THERE IS GREAT OUT COMPETITION FOR THE SLOTS AND FOR REASONABLY-PRICE CHOSE FOR LOCAL MUSICIANS.

>> SELENA, TALK ABOUT HOW DOMINANT TICKETMASTER IS AS A TICKET MARKETPLACE.

>> PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE TICKET FEES THAT THEY ARE ADDING ONTO TICKETS.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, A REPORT CAME OUT THAT THEY HAVE MADE $7.3 BILLION OVER THE COURSE OF ONE QUARTER THIS YEAR, WITH A LOT OF THAT BEING TICKET SALES.

SO UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE MONOPOLY THAT THEY HAVE, SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO A POSSIBLE ANTITRUST BREACH.

>> WHAT COULD THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DO?

>> I THINK THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO IT.

PEARL JAM BROUGHT IT UP YEARS AGO BUT NOTHING WAS REALLY DONE.

>> WE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE, WE KNOW NOW!

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR GUESTS.

WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A CHICAGO-BASED JAPANESE ARTIST SHARES HER FASCINATION WITH SCIENCE FICTION.

>> EVERY YEAR I MADE A PROMISE THAT I WOULD MAKE A PIECE OF ART TO DEDICATE TO MY MENTOR.

>> I AM USING A PIECE OF ART TO PUSH FORWARD AND CREATE THE KIND OF WORLD THAT I WANT TO SEE.

>>> IN CHICAGO, SHE BEGAN TO PAINT FICTION.

WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORK OF CHICAGO-BASED ARTIST .

>> Reporter: THE UNPOPULATED ENVIRONMENT SUGGESTS SETTINGS FOR SCI-FI STORIES FILLED WITH BOOKS AND MUSIC, ART AND SCIENCE.

THE WORK IS ABOUT INNER SPACE AND OUTER SPACE.

HERE IS THE ARTIST AS A CHILD IN OSAKA, JAPAN BEFORE SHE SPENT A HALF-CENTURY IN CHICAGO TEACHING AT THE SCHOOL OF ART INSTITUTE AND PAINTING.

SHE SEES HER WORK AS FICTION THAT INVITES VIEWERS TO ENGAGE IN THEIR OWN WAY.

>> THIS MEANS THAT I AM INVITING THE VIEWER.

IT IS A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT FOR HUMANITY.

>> Reporter: HER ARTISTRY IS CURIOSITY, TRYING TO KNOW THE UNKNOWN.

>> WILL THAT KEEP US GOING?

WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE, THE MEANING OF LIFE.

>> Reporter: AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR HER PAINTING IS THE POWER OF OPTIMISM.

>> THIS IS A REALLY HARD TIME.

WE HAVE TO BE MORE OPTIMISTIC.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE OPTIMISTIC .

IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND A WAY TO EXPRESS THIS SOMEHOW.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS MARK VITALE.

>> THIS IS FEATURE OF THE EXHIBITION SPACE IN LINCOLN PARK UNTIL DECEMBER 15th.

FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> COMING UP, A RAILROAD STRIKE LOOMS OVER THE NATION.

>>> CHICAGO LYRIC MUSIC DIRECTOR TALKS ABOUT NEW MUSIC PRODUCTIONS AND THE FUTURE OF THEATER IN CHICAGO.

>>> AND WE TAKE YOU INSIDE A NEW CALL CENTER HELPING TO TRANSFORM THE CHATHAM NEIGHBORHOOD.

>>> BUT FIRST, MORE TOP STORIES.

THE CLERK OF THE COUNTY OFFICES NO LONGER UNDER FEDERAL OVERSIGHT.

A FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSED THE ORDER GUIDING THE HIRING PROCESS SINCE 1983.

THE CLERK, IRIS MARTINEZ, CALLED IT, QUOTE, A GREAT DAY FOR JUVENILE COURTS IN CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY.

>>> JOHN LACKEY WAS PITCHING FOR THE CARDINALS AND WAS PART OF THE WORLD SERIES-WINNING CUBS IN 2015.

HE ALSO PITCHED FOR THE ANAHEIM ANGELS AS A ROOKIE, AND HE HAS ANOTHER WORLD SERIES RING WITH THE RED SOX.

THE NEXT BATCH OF HALL OF FAMER'S WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JANUARY 24th AND INDUCTED ON JULY 23rd.

>>> NOW BRANDON WITH SOME OF THE DAY'S TOP BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS.

BRANDON?

>> A BIG CASINO COMPLEX.

A NATIONAL STRIKE LOOMS AS THE WORLD YOU RAILROAD UNION VOTES DOWN A MAJOR CONTRACT RENEWAL.

JOINING US IS DANNY ECKER.

WELCOME BACK, DANNY.

SO THEY WERE PLANNING TO BUILD THAT MASSIVE CASINO COMPLEX.

TELL US ABOUT THE FIRM AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE APPROVAL?

>> THIS IS A LAYER OF COMPLEXITY TO THE VALLEY CASINO PLAN, WORTH $200 MILLION FROM OAK STREET CAPITAL.

THEY SPECIALIZE IN BUYING REAL ESTATE FOR BIG COMPANIES.

IT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING HERE.

THEY SIGNED A 99-YEAR LEASE AT THE SITE WHERE THEY WANT TO BUILD THIS CASINO.

IT WILL COST NEARLY $300 MILLION TO BUILD THIS COMPLEX.

IT MEANS THAT THERE IS MORE TO DO FOR ILLINOIS AND THIS GAMING CORPORATION, AND IT ALSO PUTS A SPOTLIGHT ON VALLEY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION.

CAN THEY PAY FOR THIS PROJECT?

THIS IS SOMETHING THE GAMING BOARDS WILL BE CONSIDERING, AS THEY FIGURE OUT WHETHER THEY WILL GRANT A LICENSE FOR THEM TO OPERATE.

>> THE RAILROAD UNION SAYS THAT A STRIKE COULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS DECEMBER 5th.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE LOCATION, DANNY?

>> OTHER UNION GROUPS HAVE ACTUALLY APPROVED THAT.

IT COULD BE CRITICAL FOR SHIPMENTS OF THINGS LIKE DRINKING WATER AND OTHER ESSENTIALS.

A STRIKE WOULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT.

OBVIOUSLY FOR COMMUTERS, THERE COULD BE STOPPAGES ON RAIL LINES FROM CHICAGO TO THE WESTERN SUBURBS.

>> DANNY, LASTLY, AIRLINES ARE REPORTING AN INCREASE IN TRAVEL FOR THE HOLIDAY.

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO YEARS PAST?

>> THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS HAS BEEN BUILDING UP FOR THE PAST WEEK.

IT ACTUALLY ECLIPSED 2019 LEVELS LAST WEEKEND.

THE YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE IN THANKS GETTING PASSENGERS HAS BEEN ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT THEY SAW IN 2019.

AIR TRAVEL HAS BEEN COMING BACK STRONG OVERALL.

THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF SLOWDOWN WITH INFLATION AND THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING, BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS A VERY WELCOME WEEK FOR AIRLINES IN TERMS OF INFLATION AND HIGHER LABOR COSTS.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH!

>>> AND NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

THE MAESTRO TOOK OVER AS THE MUSIC OPERATOR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT, SHUTTING DOWN PRODUCTION FOR PARTS OF THE LAST TWO YEARS.

NOW, LYRIC IS BACK IN A BIG WAY WITH TWO EPIC PRODUCTIONS GOING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY.

BOTH ARE CONDUCTED BY MAZZOLA HIMSELF.

WELCOME BACK!

I HOPE I PRONOUNCED THE FRENCH RIGHT.

>> YES, YES.

>> FIRST, WE MENTIONED ALL THE UNEASE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

HOW DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING HAS IT BEEN TO STEER THOSE LYRICS TO THE PANDEMIC?

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC I WAS WORKING ON A PROJECT BEFORE I WOULD TAKE MY POSITION.

YOU KNOW, YES, WE MIGHT EASILY SAY THAT IT WAS FRUSTRATING.

I REALLY WANTED TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

ACTUALLY WE HAVE PRODUCED MANY VIDEOS, WE HAVE STREAMED AND PREPARED A LOT OF CONTENT.

WE REALLY PUT THINGS TOGETHER AND WE LEARNED HOW TO -- >> VIRTUAL MUSIC, BUT I AM SURE YOU ARE GLAD TO BE WHERE YOU BELONG, IN THE UPPER HOUSE, IN PERSON WITH AUDIENCES.

SO DON CARLOS, YOU'RE DOING A REALLY-PRODUCED VERSION OF IT.

IT IS FOUR HOURS.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GO WITH THIS ONE?

>> THE MAIN REASON IS THAT WE ARE USED TO -- THE COMPOSER ORIGINALLY ONLY WROTE OPERA IN ITALIAN.

TO CONQUER THE HEARTS OF PARISIEN'S, WE HAD TO WRITE OPERA IN MAJOR, AND WE HAVE TO PROJECT OURSELVES INTO THE 1860S.

THE MAIN OPERA HOUSE IN THE WORLD WAS IN PARIS.

EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE THERE.

YOU WANTED TO WIN THE HEART OF THE PARISIEN.

SO THE REAL DON CARLOS HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE FRENCH LANGUAGE.

WE WANTED TO PROMOTE SOMETHING THAT IS TRUE, THAT REALLY REFLECTS THE IMAGINATION OF THIS GREAT ITALIAN COMPOSER.

BUT INSPIRATION IS SO DIFFERENT IN FRENCH AND IN ITALIAN.

I LIKE TO PROPOSE AN ORIGINAL VERSION.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, HE WAS FLUENT IN FRENCH AND HE WROTE THIS ENTIRE OPERA?

>> NO, HE WROTE FIRST IN FRENCH, THEN THERE WAS THE TRANSLATION OF THE FRENCH VERSION INTO ITALIAN.

THERE IS A HANDWRITTEN MANA SCRIPT IN THE FRENCH LANGUAGE.

EVERY PHRASE, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS DONE THROUGH THE FRENCH LANGUAGE.

>> IT IS GETTING RAVE REVIEWS RIGHT NOW.

YOU ARE ALSO CONDUCTING A PLAY ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM.

IT IS A COMIC OPERA FEATURING A MALE DRAGON NON-.

HE IS DRESSED IN DRAG.

SO YOU ARE WORRIED NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MUSIC BUT ABOUT GETTING COMIC TIMING RIGHT.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> SOMETIMES COMIC TIMING AND MUSIC IS MUCH EASIER, BECAUSE THE COMPOSER DID THE MAJOR WORK.

ONE SINGER HAS IT AT'S IT IS WRITTEN.

YOU HAVE TO FEEL THIS EMPTY SPACE WITH EMOTIONS.

WE ARE IN ROSSINI WORLD.

>> A BIT LIKE SEVILLE.

>> YEAH.

AGAIN, HE TRIES, IN THE FIRST ACT, HE HAS A SECOND ACT TO TRY AGAIN.

OF COURSE THERE ARE MANY, MANY THINGS HAPPENING.

>> SO YOU ARE WEARING MULTIPLE HATS HERE.

YOU'RE A CONDUCTOR BUT ALSO MUSIC DIRECTOR.

EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WHERE OUR AUDIENCE IS GOING TO BE IN 10 OR 20 YEARS?

DO YOU HAVE A VISION FOR THAT?

TO KEEP LYRIC THRIVING?

>> I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT WE CAN MAKE MUSIC FOR EVERYONE.

I HAVE NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES -- OPERA SPEAKS TO EVERYONE.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SENTIMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM SINGERS.

I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT IN AN OPERA, THERE ARE 30 SECONDS WHICH CORRESPOND WITH SOMETHING THAT TRADES ON LOVE, BETRAYAL, JEALOUSY, DREAMED, DESIRE AND SO ON.

YOU UNDERSTAND.

OPERA GOES THROUGH ALL THESE FEELINGS.

THERE IS A MOMENT WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING.

AND THIS IS FOR EVERYONE.

>> THIS IS AN ART FORM FOR EVERYBODY.

MAESTRO MAZZOLA, WE CAN TALK ABOUT SO MANY THINGS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BOTH PRODUCTIONS HAPPENING THIS WEEK, SO WE THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>>> UP NEXT, WE GO TO A CALL CENTER IN CHATHAM BANKING ON THE COMMUNITY, BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

♪ >>> BACK IN 2018, TARGET SPARKED AN OUTCRY WHEN IT ANNOUNCED PLANS TO SHUTTER SEVERAL SOUTHSIDE LOCATIONS.

ONE LOCATION, THE CHATHAM LOCATION, ANCHORED A COMMUNITY.

BUT THE SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING GOT A LEASE ON LIFE NEXT YEAR, WHEN THEY BEGAN TRANSFORMING IT INTO A CALL CENTER THAT WOULD EMPLOY 4000 PEOPLE.

TODAY, WITH ABOUT 500 EMPLOYEES AT LEAST, DISCOVERED LEADERSHIP IS SEEING IF THE LOCAL FOCUS IS PAYING OFF.

ERIC GUNDERSON HAS MORE WITH THE STORY.

>> BY THE TIME WE ARE FULLY RAMPED UP, THERE WILL BE ABOUT 10 MILLION CALLS PER YEAR FUNNELED THROUGH THIS CARE CENTER.

>> Reporter: SHE HAS MANAGED CALL CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> BEFORE I WAS A DISCOVERY EMPLOYEE, I WAS A GIRL FROM THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> Reporter: SO COMING TO WORK FOR DISCOVER IS SOMEWHAT OF A HOMECOMING FOR THIS SOUTHSIDE GIRL.

>> THERE IS THIS ECOSYSTEM OF FAMILY AND CONNECTEDNESS UNLIKE WHAT WE HAVE IN ANY OTHER LOCATION.

WE ARE PROUD THAT MOST EMPLOYEES LIVE WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE CENTER.

WE HAVE WELL OVER 150 EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN PROMOTED, AND SOME HAVE BEEN PROMOTED MULTIPLE TIMES.

>> Reporter: CEO ROGER HAAS CHILD SAYS THAT THE COMPANY TOOK A FRESH LOOK.

>> CALL CENTERS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US.

WE ARE THE ONLY BANK WITH 100% U.S.-BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE.

WE WANTED TO LOOK AT CHATHAM BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN AN AREA THAT IS UNDER-INVESTED.

WE THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMPANIES CAN DO, WHICH IS TO BRING JOBS AT SCALE INTO THE COMMUNITY.

90% OF OUR EMPLOYEES AT THE CENTER ARE BLACK.

SO PART OF OUR FOCUS ON EQUITY AND INCLUSION, THIS CENTER IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THAT.

THE ATTRITION RATE IS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT WE SEE IN OTHER CENTERS.

THERE IS A FASTER SPEED AND EFFICIENCY.

THIS IS OUR BEST-PERFORMING CALL CENTER.

>> Reporter: GREATER CHATHAM INITIATIVE DIRECTOR SAYS THAT THE DISCOVER SUCCESS STORY SHOWS THAT IT MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE TO BET ON CHATHAM.

>> YOU HAVE GOOD SCHOOLS, WE HAVE GOOD TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE GOOD RETAIL.

WHAT ELSE COULD YOU WANT?

>> Reporter: EMPLOYEES OF THE CHATHAM CENTER SAY THAT WORKING CLOSE TO HOME IS PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR THEM.

>> I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS WAS AVAILABLE FOR ME.

I CAN BE A MOM, A REALLY, REALLY GREAT MOM, AND I CAN COME TO WORK FOR CORPORATE AMERICA, ESSENTIALLY.

>> NOW WITH THE HOURS THAT I HAVE, I CAN PICK HER UP FROM DAY CARE.

>> THEY TRAINED ME TO DO IT.

MY JOB AS A TECHNICAL APPRENTICE, THEY ARE TRAINING ME TO DO IT.

>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO DRAWING FROM THE COMMUNITY WORKFORCE, DISCOVERED IS SCALING OPERATIONS TO REACH OUT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> WE JUST WANT YOU TO THE POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE WILL SHOW YOU THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING WORK ON THIS MAGNITUDE, BUT BIGGER.

>> Reporter: CHATHAM ALSO FEATURES A COMMUNITY CENTER WHICH LOCAL NONPROFITS CAN USE AT NO COST.

I PAINT MY MIND CARROTS ARTISTS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

>> THEY CAN GET INCREDIBLE SERVICE FROM US, BUT ALSO , MUCH-NEEDED FUNDING FOR ART IN LOCAL SCHOOLS IS WAY MORE THAN A CHERRY ON TOP FOR US.

>> Reporter: IT HAS CREATED A WHOLE NEW BLUEPRINT FOR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

>> I LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ACTUALLY GET MORE OUT OF THIS THAN THE PEOPLE OF CHATHAM.

>> THAT IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO TRANSLATE THIS INTO GOOD BUSINESS AND TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS IN RETURN.

>> THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

AS I SAID, THIS IS OUR TOP PERFORMING CALL CENTER.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO CHATHAM FOR THE LONG HAUL.

>> OFTEN, EMPLOYERS ARE SCARED TO COMMIT TO COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS.

THEY ARE SCARED THAT THEY WON'T GET THE RIGHT TALENT OR THEY JUST WON'T BE SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK DISCOVER SAID, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY GO THERE, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DID.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW IT HAS CHANGED THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WITHIN IT.

>> LAST WEEK, DISCOVER ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS EMPLOYING THE CHATHAM MODEL IN OHIO.

IT WILL BUILD AND STAFF A NEW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER IN THE REGION BEGINNING NEXT SPRING.

AND WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP AFTER THIS.

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

THE JAN AND KAY NAGY FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FELLOWSHIP.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US, AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM /NEWS.

>> YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE VIDEO AT.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 FOR A ONE-ON-ONE WITH CONGRESSMAN CHUY GARCIA AS HE JOINS THE RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

>>> AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT THAT RAIL STRIKES COULD HAVE ON RAIL HUBS AND COMMERCE.

>>> COMING UP NEXT, STAY TUNED FOR THE WTTW GREAT TREASURE HUNT DRAWING FOR MANY GREAT PRIZES, INCLUDING A NEW CAR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.