I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

One of Mayor Johnson's former top staffers faced misconduct allegations before his departure Spotlight.

Politics team unpacks.

The potential political fallout.

2 minced garlic cloves.

>> Some seriously.

I'm not joking.

>> And the co-host of America's Test Kitchen join us to talk about their new cookbook and helpful hacks for holiday meals.

>> When you're cruising along one of Chicago lands highways, what's on your mind?

>> And we've got a fun fact.

If you're hitting the road for the holiday this week, we explain how our highway system got it.

that number's.

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

A 3rd day on the witness stand for former alderman turned FBI mole Danny Solis in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Solis is testimony today centered on Madigan's alleged efforts to illegally steer business to his property tax from amid efforts to develop land in Chinatown, which was in Sully, says Ward.

But to do so.

The state-owned land needed to be transferred to the city of Chicago.

So it could then be sold to developers which Solis testified.

Madigan tried to keep secret from then Governor Bruce Rauner, Madigan and his longtime confidant, Michael McLean, who is also facing charges, have pleaded not guilty, will have more on the trial with our Spotlight politics team coming up soon.

Voter turnout for the November 5th presidential election where Chicago's lowest of the last 4 presidential elections.

The Chicago Board of Elections today proclaimed the final results with nearly 68% of voters casting ballots.

45% of them on Election Day.

Another 32% voted early and 22% voted by mail more than 71% of voters turned out in Chicago for the last 3 presidential elections dating back to 2012.

If you're planning to fly for the Thanksgiving holiday this week, it might be a bit more crowded at O'Hare.

The Chicago Department of Aviation says the hub is expected to see a significant surge in passenger traffic expecting an 11% increase compared to Thanksgiving last year.

That's about 1.5 million travelers while midway traffic is expected to remain the same as last Thanksgiving.

Both airports will be at their busiest on Sunday December.

1st and AAA predicts more than 71 million Americans will be traveling by car over Thanksgiving.

The good news for them, though, gas prices are down about $0.20 per gallon compared to last Thanksgiving.

And you can check out our website for tips to avoid congestion at O'Hare and Midway up next, our Spotlight politics team on Mayor Johnson reversing course on proposed cuts to the budget.

The whole team joins us right after this.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexander and John Nichols family.

The gym and K maybe family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> Mayor Brandon Johnson made a big revision to the proposed budget which may be an expensive consequence of the city and the future of Chicago Police Department.

Meanwhile, the trial of Michael Madigan entered its 6th week with a new face.

Former 25th Ward Alderman and FBI mole Danny Solis and a former senior staffer and Mayor Johnson's administration was facing misconduct accusations before his departure here.

With all that and more is our spotlight.

Politics team Amanda, Vicki Hatter, Sharon and Nick Blumberg.

Hello again, everyone.

Heather, let's start with you because you've done a great deal of reporting on this.

Mayor Johnson reversing his initial proposal to cut 162 vacancy PD positions responsible for implementing the city's consent decree white.

He reversed course here.

Well, it came on the heels of an investigation.

I worked on with pro that found that really the city's efforts to comply with the consent decree are at a tipping point with police reform advocates losing faith.

>> And the very real possibility that this reform effort will cost city taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars for the foreseeable future.

Hundreds of millions of dollars that the city does not But by the same token, the mayor was under significant pressure, not just from us in the news media, but also the Attorney General, Kwame Raoul and monitoring teen charged with keeping track of the city's progress that warned if those cuts were ratified.

But the city council, it would have been a death knell for those reform efforts because as you said, it would have cut 162 vacant positions from the city's reform efforts and really reduce the city's ability to train officers on all of these new policies that they have spent so long developing to ensure that the police department no longer routinely violates the constitutional rights of black and Latino Chicagoans.

So he really had no choice.

I think the larger question, I really don't know the answer to how are these in the budget to begin Why was this even a possibility and how are the city going?

How is the city now going to restore those cuts and pay for them, which could cost as much as 24 million dollars, which the city again just not And we're going to find people to fill 162 positions because if they are vacant and now you're going to fill and obviously pay those folks, that's that's hopefully a lot of work to get done.

we had a question is why are they vacant for so long?

Yes, you're right.

We need And these positions have been consistently hard to fill because they do tend to be offered at a lower pay rate than sort of others of sworn police officer positions.

But that means that you're competing free people.

What's in the U.S. still tight labor market doing very specialized work with very specialized sort requirements.

These positions are critical to the city.

But can the city even fill don't if they are budgeted for I think is a real question.

Heather is something that you mentioned.

So the average cost of Chicago Police Department officers average, of course, $150,000 annually, including benefits.

>> And so as you said, restoring these 162 positions to the city's spending plan could swell the city's budget gap by more than 24 million complicating efforts to reach a budget agreement by the deadline, which is December 31st.

Where does this put that effort?

It is a really difficult problem and it is getting more difficult seemingly every day.

So we know the city council's refuse to raise property taxes by 300 million dollars.

>> Now Mayor Johnson last week said okay, well, how about 150 million dollars?

And all of my reporting from every older person I talk to us said basically No, which now.

And there's some concern that a law that did not get past in the veto session will make it difficult for the city to collect taxes that they were expecting on cell phones.

So that opens up a little bit more of a deficit.

And you have older people are really frustrated that there's really nothing in this budget that they can take back to their constituents and say, look, we're going to do this great thing because there's no money and it costs money to do good things so that older people are saying, look, if you're going to ask me to take this really unpopular vote, you kind give me something to give to the people back in my ward.

>> It's not clear how any of that comes Clinton out.

There have been no budget hearings this week.

Everybody is off for the Thanksgiving holiday, which means that once everybody comes back to work on Monday, they are only going to have 29 days to figure out this deal.

And of course, there's a little holiday called Christmas in of you have short be grateful for the break.

So Amanda.

>> former 25th Ward Alderman Danny Solis testifying in X, Illinois, House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial.

As a reminder, Madigan has been indicted on federal racketeering and bribery charges.

But Italy's have to say and met again, by the way.

Also, reminder, pleading not guilty to this.

He says he did nothing wrong.

>> And the reporting on this has been that is the oldest far.

A lot of this was a repeat, really, of the so-called ComEd 4.

But this is what have seen describes several times as popcorn viewing party political insiders.

I said, you know, grab years, in it what you have had happened in court is >> that you're being able to see in at again looking Stern is how he's been described.

That is not surprising is he's in conversations with these apparent clients really hookups that he got through Alderman Scalise what is seen as a favors or.

>> As you have that jury saw and heard described as a quid pro quo.

I mean, you had Solis saying that twice, literally those words.

He says that this is not something that the FBI >> pressured him to do, even though of course, he knew that they were listening.

So that is what you've really had play out.

Is unveiling?

He is the star witness?

He was the FBI's inside guy and through several schemes.

The jury is taking being taken through these tales of how it was that Solis was working with Madigan to use Madigan's power as speaker of the Illinois House allegedly to bring in work to his law firm, in essence, took to make money.

you know, as and as mentioned, Solis has admitted to a slew of unethical behavior.

Does this diminishes his credibility on the stand?

I think that's the eternal question that federal prosecutor has staff themselves when they want to decide.

>> Whether or not they're merely going to play the audio and video recordings likes Elise helped them obtain or whether they want to actually call that person to the stand because let's remember the reason that solely started working with the feds in the first place is because he was the head of the very powerful as owning committee and city council.

And he was, you know, the FBI's came to him and said we've got all this evidence that you've been accepting bribes, that you've been accepting, you know, the free use of a you know, all sorts even rebels.

Yeah, right.

Even unseen missiles.

And then that, it's popcorn stuff there.

Although maybe you might want to put the pup going down for some of the But, you know, don't.

this is clearly someone who has reputational damage to contend with.

And also, you know, depending on the jury member, they may or may not look kindly on somebody who flips on their colleagues there.

All certainly I think they would try to weed those folks out during the jury selection process.

But, you know, they they kind of have to play this on a case-by-case basis.

You know, Solis testified in the comment for case in in the Burke, a certain the and yeah, you're right.

But yes, testifying as a witness for the defense and the bird case.

You know, they brought him up there to say, you know, this is someone who is not a reliable narrator.

So it it's going to you know, a tough road.

But he's the star witness think what you have to keep in mind again is that you are hearing and seeing the video and recordings.

>> And that to me changes things you might have perhaps an unsavory character.

Sure.

But you're not trying to get beers and hang out or even elect a guy at this point, right?

He's no longer an elected official.

So when you hear these things play out, that to me is what could be.

very striking for members of the Okay.

So back to the mayor's office because Heather, his former communications director runner Ranieri's recently coming under fire.

What's he being accused what he is accused of a slew of misogynistic and sexist and inappropriate behavior in the mayor's office.

And we do know that he was the subject of these complaints and that they were found to be sustained and that he was recommended for additional training.

>> And it's not clear why he was allowed to keep his post after these complaints.

Now we can tell from the documents that we and a number of other news organizations obtained via the Freedom of Information Act that he did go through some sort of counseling or reprimand series with the mayor's chief of staff.

Christine, a past Yoan Isaias.

But we do know that she recommended wrist, a restorative justice procedure.

And it's not clear how you can address complaints of misogyny, inappropriate behavior.

in one case, inappropriate touching after work event with that sort of approach.

So there are lots of questions about not only the mayor's decision to appoint raced to this very important position which gave him really authority over the mayor's sort public facing message, but also his inability to sort of make sure that the other employees in his office were in a safe and non hostile work environment.

Yeah, I think it's pretty tough to try to employ something like a restorative justice circle.

>> You know, as as forward thinking and progressive than idea, some folks might see that as when there is such a power disparity between the 2 people involved.

These are not peers here that are involved in the allegations.

So that's a huge complication for dealing with the problem like this.

few seconds left, Heather, 30, maybe possible political consequences for the mayor for this.

And, you know, have they said anything publicly in response to all that's come out?

They have not.

Now the mayor had promised to hold weekly press conferences every Tuesday.

We didn't get one today, perhaps because of the holiday, perhaps perhaps not.

But I think again, the question is, you know, the buck stopped with him.

He wears the jacket for the people in his office.

And if they, >> you know, made sort of infractions and he didn't hold them accountable.

I think that's questions the taxpayers want to know because all of these people we're paid by taxpayer dollars as they are.

Alright, that a spotlight were not paid by It was like Amanda, Vicki Heather's your own Nic Lumber, thanks, everybody.

>> Up-next celebrating.

25 seasons of America's Test Kitchen.

With more than 600 episodes and millions of weekly viewers, America's test Kitchen has become a household staple and they're celebrating their 25th season with a new cookbook featuring just 500 of their most iconic recipes just in time for the holidays.

>> Here to talk more about their big milestone, our co-host Julia Collin, Davison and Bridget Lancaster, thanks to both for joining us.

It is good to have you here in Chicago Studio.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

Thank you for having First going to ask you both this.

Why do you think the show has resonated with viewers for so long?

Julian, let's start with Yeah.

Well, I think the content, right.

If you think about the food recipes that work, we taste test ingredients.

We tell you what to buy at the supermarket, how to spend your money.

You know where it's valuable.

And then the equipment testing.

So you can help out take your kitchen without wasting money.

And the whole idea is to empower home cooks.

And I think we're able to do that really >> Yeah, I also think that we have a connection with our viewers that starts with the readers of our magazines in our cookbooks.

They're really the ones that come up, the ideas, the food that we test.

>> And then eventually make it on the show.

So I think that they feel like they're really a part of from the very beginning.

>> You both started off as test cooks and then you became, of course, of course, the co-host of the show at the start of the 17th What I know, right?

And babies, started what would you say are some of the most significant changes over the last, you know, over the years, but Yeah, well, I mean, just becoming from going from being a test cooked to host, I think, was such a huge leap for us.

But it was really important us to have that experience because now we're on the other side and where.

>> Getting to work with other people getting to ask them the questions and having that experience behind us, knowing what people expect when you're cooking on camera, I think allows us to be better.

show you.

We also cooked together finally.

And I mean, we just have so much fun.

We've been friends for 25 26,000. it's just fun.

I mean, where we have valuable things to teach people that had a cook.

But we're having a good time.

And I think, you know, that's the best part.

how do you decide get rid of mentioned this?

But how do you decide what to cook and and what to test and how to test Yeah, well, we ask our viewers and readers of our cookbooks and magazines.

We poll them constantly.

What's on the radar?

What are they interested in is that the Mediterranean diet is the air fryer.

What are you into what you want to know about?

And that's how we get our ideas because we're not going to focus on things that don't resonate with the audience at this time.

And we know that food can go through trends and in popularity.

I'm Bridgett.

The show can also get very science E why is that important?

It is so important.

It really is everything about cooking the science is when you break down what cooking is just a whole bunch of science happening in a kitchen.

You get to eat that science.

So if you know the why of what some things happening in not just how to cook you can become a great problem solver and really solve future cooking problems yourself make science delicious.

Yeah.

At least week and instead of maybe scary, have so to celebrate.

25 seasons.

As we've mentioned, you published a new 25th anniversary cookbook with 500 recipes just 500.

How did narrow it down to 500 recipes?

up.

hard to do.

It was we have over 1200 recipes that we've done on television.

So getting that down to 500 require that we got feedback from our readers.

Also, we want to look at what really resonated with our viewers.

And, you know, we looked at new and future trends and cooking.

And so we want to make sure that our recipes that we included were pretty contemporary.

We still have some classics on Yeah, we also to choose our favorite recipes.

We get to buy a little sidebar about that.

And of course, we cooked roast chicken with 10 times.

We can only pick one.

So we picked one that had them or most modern most interesting cooking method because after 25 years you learn as you go and maybe the first wrote Ken, it's good that we have a new way to do it.

That's even better.

So that kind of helped us along that I understand this cookbook.

It has a lot of game-changing tips and tricks.

I believe the modern-day term for that is heck Do you have a favorite?

Maybe with regards to the chicken?

Perhaps anything like to talk to you about rest you can for our I have pulled TV.

He will tie.

Well.

There's that we connect roast chicken.

Return the oven off part way through.

>> And it is brilliant.

just the chicken comes out perfectly juicy.

>> Okay.

This is good to know.

the oven off for the Probably gonna want to read the recipe that, Of the bridge at anything that you all tested.

That has been just a total disaster.

There's a couple I can think of one of them was Candy is a fudge.

It was awful.

It years and years and years to try to make it so that the home cooks could do it and replicate it reliably.

But that just didn't turn out.

Well, in fact, the Tesco was responsible for that had a shoulder trying rotator cuff injury we do have a more modern recipe.

We've been working on macaron French macaron for years and this year after Steve, one of our colleagues developed a brilliant rest before I got to cook up a joint camera after 25 years we get the recipe 25 years.

All right.

We've got to stay tuned for that to find out how it goes.

Cookbook also has, of course, you know, top classic Thanksgiving recipes, but also some interesting twists.

>> What would you say is one of the most sort of exciting twists that home cook can trying to get to year.

Well, could it your pizza stone putting it in the oven when roast the turkey?

>> Game changer even as the oven heat at Brown's the chicken from the bottom cook sat through and that's the dark me.

That's the darkly that is slower to cook in the white me.

So you get a more evenly cooked Turkey.

As you probably purchase pizza Stone one.

Okay.

Step 1, 5, pizza.

Stone got extreme but and you all also been known to do a new turkey recipe every year to have any favorites.

Well, that one is actually one of my favorites, but there's a new butterfly Turkey.

So it's cut.

You take out the back bone and you make it flats.

What all cooks nice.

And even like.

>> And all the juice is going to the stuffing.

It just makes everything taste so good.

So that's beautiful to of course, you've mentioned the home cook because, you know, the show emphasizes communicating with the home cook, how to say they've changed over 25 years.

Yeah.

I mean, supermarkets have changed, right?

The supermarket of today is not the supermarket of 20 years ago.

There's so many more options.

So many more ingredients and helping people learn how to use those and make different ethnic recipes.

That's what people want to know today.

And so that's what we're really focusing Bridget.

Yeah, I think they're more curious maybe than they were years ago.

At least I think that they have they get on the bandwagon of wanting something.

No, and that's really exciting because people aren't just getting stuck into the same recipes over and over again, going to try new things that they also have lots.

They've they've got a lot of folks to choose from.

Right?

Thank so much.

Access now to food and cooking in content.

It sounds like stick with youth Yeah, learners because works.

We test them anywhere from 30 to 50 times before we publish them or put them on TV.

We also send them out to groups of around the country.

We've about 70,000 people that cook recipes for us before we publish them because we can make it if they work in the test kitchen.

But the value of our recipe is where the people to make them at home.

only way to test that is to have home cooks do that.

We do that every recipe before we put on TV.

All right.

So we know it's it's been through the wringer.

Yeah.

All right.

It's been a pleasure to speak with both of you.

Julia, Collin, Davison Lancaster, thanks to you both.

>> Thank you.

Thank you.

And you can visit our website for special holiday recipe that is at W T Tw Dot com Slash news.

And while you're there, you can also check out the new season of America's Test Kitchen.

Right back after this.

If you're one of the many travelers hitting the road this week for Thanksgiving, we've got some interesting facts for you to spice up your road trip conversation.

>> While expressways may not always be that express, they do contain some useful information.

You might not be aware of when you're on the road.

Here's Nick Lumber to explain how our interstate exits are numbered.

>> When you're cruising along one of Chicago lands highways, what's on your mind?

What song to play next where the nearest burger places when all this construction will be finished.

If ever find yourself wondering how will the exits got their numbers?

It's relatively simple, but not necessarily to it.

states of Illinois that run north-south like 5.55 The numbering system starts at the southernmost point.

The highway enters Illinois.

>> For interstates running east-west like I-80.

The number start at the westernmost point.

A lot of times the very first turn off is exit one.

But the next one isn't necessarily going to be at That's because the numbers correspond to how many exits there But to how many miles away from the border.

So by following the exit sign numbers, you can actually track how far you are from the state's boundary line.

>> Sometimes things get a little tricky.

We're 2 interstates merge the numbering system for one supersedes the other.

>> For example, if you're heading downtown along I-ninety where it needs, I-94 the exit numbers jump from 84 down to 40, which brings us to one more wrinkle in the system around the city.

I-90.

That's the Skyway.

Dan Ryan Kennedy and Jane Addams and I-94 or singer edition for Dan Ryan.

Kennedy III's and the Tri-State Tollway mostly run north and south.

But the signs all safe East and west, what Well, don't forget about inter part of interstates.

Our highways are part of nationwide system and 1994 probably run east-west across the country.

They just got a around past fuel Lake, Michigan to carry on their merry way.

So they move north south through the Windy City.

>> So the next time you find yourself stuck in bumper to bumper traffic may not know how long we'll be sitting there, but at least you'll know how far your bumper is from the border.

>> And you can see more from our W T Tw News explains series on our website while you're there, you can also find tips for reducing holiday travel stress just in time.

That's it's that is our show for this Tuesday night.

Be sure to sign up for our free e-mail newsletter at the Daily Chicago and at W T Tw Dot Com Slash newsletter and you can also stay connected by following us on Blue Sky at W T Tw and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 area.

Business owners are looking for a bump in foot traffic.

Now that the holidays are approaching.

And a look at how local Native Americans are celebrating their heritage.

And we leave you tonight with a frolicking sea otter pup named via rescued last year and now living its best life at the Shedd Aquarium.

Now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, I'm Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

>> Have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert and Clifford law a personal injury law firm committed to giving