>> Hello and thanks for joining us in Chicago tonight.

I'm John of non this friend is Freeman.

Has the evening off.

Here's what we're looking at.

Federal food assistance recipients will soon need to meet stricter work requirements.

$500 for the A big blessing to them right now.

And effort to raise funds for Chicago, struggling street vendors.

>> And Chicago rapper Adam Kila joins us to talk about his viral social media videos.

We kick things off right after this.

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

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> More than 300,000 Illinois residents are at risk of losing their snap benefits.

Major changes are happening to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program come February.

1st, when stricter federal work requirements will begin phasing in.

The report comes as new Purdue University data indicates that food security in security in the United States has increased climbing from 12.5% of households last year to 14%.

Now.

Joining us now to discuss all of that and more our Kimberly Gunther chief impact officer the United Way of Metro Chicago and Kate Mayor seal of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Thank you, ladies for joining us today.

I want to start off kicking it off.

Let's start with these new work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, ages 18 to 60 for you will need to work, volunteer or participate in job training at least 80 hours per month.

Also, extensions have been repelled repealed for veterans Unhoused individuals and young adults aging out of foster care.

Those school do not meet these requirements may be limited to receiving benefits for only 3 months within a three-year period.

Now, Kate, I want to start off.

How concerning are these new benchmarks set recipients have to meet?

It seems a little bit all confusing and overwhelming.

Almost absolutely.

And so let me just the bill that was passed in July 4th by Congress and signed by President Trump.

>> Makes major changes to the SNAP program.

Snap is what we sometimes call food stamps.

It's actually an amazing program.

More than 60 years we've had in place in this country.

It provides assistance benefits that people can use at grocery stores to get food.

It also is a really powerful tool for stimulating our economy.

And this bill brought forward really significant changes, including making sure that people have to work.

Now, people have always had to work on snap what the bill actually does is it takes away some of the waivers that states had.

But at the end of the day, it's super confusing for a lot of our neighbors who don't understand what it is.

They have to do when they have to do it and they are really worried, particularly after we just had a government shutdown that for hundreds of thousands of people across the state and millions of people across the country meant that they had no snap benefits.

People who rely on these benefits.

Now these changes are tied to the building.

You talked about rules outline in the one big beautiful bill.

Now in a statement, the Illinois Department of Human Services said Trump's budget bill is designed to deliver really prevent Americans in Illinois for receiving assistance to the SNAP program by implementing new requirements that burden states and individuals rely on 100% federally funded benefits.

Source.

>> Kate, what do you view as the most important immediate impact of the stricter requirements?

I think the most important thing is right now, if there are people watching who are part of the program, they're receiving snap benefits to go to the Illinois Department of Human Services website and find out you likely may have to provide some additional information in order to make sure that your SNAP benefits continue.

>> We know that they're going to be many people, including some immigrants who have in the past been able to legally receive SNAP benefits as well as some people who no longer meet these new requirements that are being put forward.

going to lose their benefits to those folks.

What we need to make sure that they are aware of is that there is an amazing network of charitable organizations, food pantries and soup kitchens all across this community who might have the food that they need to be able to feed themselves and their families.

The deadline was originally December 8, you know, I was changed or I do.

And it's this is part of the confusion.

There have been a series of lot of lawsuits, legal actions taken by states in order to test whether or not some of the provisions in the law are, in fact, legal.

And there's been a lot of question about that right now.

We are trying to navigate this and we understand the provisions won't begin until February one.

Again, it is really confusing for the families out there who are just trying to make sure that they have groceries for the children in the household.

And so go to the Illinois Department of Human Services website.

You can get great information there.

You can also go to the Food Depository website and learn whether or not you need to take additional steps in order to keep your her.

Some some of these families we have heard from a lot of families, families are scared.

Families are worried about what is in front of them.

People are wondering how they're going to make ends meet.

And I will just say this is on top of, as you noted at the beginning, historic and unprecedented hunger in this community and in this country, we are serving more people today at the Greater Chicago Food Depository than we ever have served and are close to 50 year history.

You are reserving the deposit or is already serving hundreds of people in general.

We are serving hundreds of thousands of our neighbors and this is sobering reality that we are going to see even more people for every meal we are able to provide the SNAP program provides 9.

So taking that back from people is going to have huge ramifications can really want to bring you in.

What has that been like for Metro Chicago and especially to 1, 1, Have you seen an increase in calls?

Its there has been a tremendous increase just.

>> Looking from the first 2 weeks of October to the first 2 weeks of November, we saw 149% increase in calls for food assistance.

Only we also know that there are calls for things like employment services that our probably in line with some of these upcoming requirement meant remind people to 1, 1, someone's calling for assistance.

You're hooking them up or league S directing them to different food depository is a han trees are 1, One is a 24 call line where people can call for human services.

All they need to provide as their zip code.

They can provide additional information if they'd like.

But really a one one-stop shop to be able to get access to all of the services that you need.

There's been an overwhelming there's going overwhelming increase that 149% was on top of a month to month.

49, I'm sorry.

43 1% increase from September to October.

So, you know, in addition to the pause and snap benefits, me know that federal presence in communities also impacted people's ability to go and get food pantries or perhaps go to work.

That's kind of putting putting those households in real position that prompt metro Chicago to start the response fund grant, you tell me a bit about that.

It did.

Yes.

So for some time we've been looking at just the incredible data that 2, 1, 1, offers.

What's incredible about it is that it updates daily.

So it's one of the very few sources of real-time data about emerging needs.

So we've been able to look at that data.

See that increase in calls.

Meet with Kate and her team and look at, you know, where the highest snap utilization is across the region and also talk to our 145 funded partners across the Chicago region.

And from that, we determined that we can make some some response grant.

So we have funded 24 organizations across the metro Area, $250,000 investment with the real focus on the hyper local pantries and organizations that are doing home delivery is they're different.

Neighborhoods are more impacted than others.

Is absolutely.

look across the map, particularly here in Chicago.

We know that there is disproportionately high number of people.

>> Who are food insecure and also who rely on the SNAP program on the Westside of Chicago on the South side of Chicago in the far south suburbs.

Hunger in this community and hungry in America is a reflection of poverty.

And so it's not surprising that we see those maps look the same, whether we're talking about food, insecurity, poverty or health disparities.

I have committee.

What do you think people get wrong about people are enrolled in SNAP benefits?

>> I think there's an assumption that people aren't doing everything within their power to provide for their families, too access all of the resources that they need.

But if we look at decades of disinvestment in communities in individuals, it really is so difficult to gain a foothold and so many of the people that access SNAP benefits are working.

Our have complex family situations that may be their care taking for people and there there's just a terrible narrative that that is very untrue about.

I think all all of the folks in our region that are are accessing services in order to have a stable, stable life for their family.

Following up on that, you know, what do you say to people who see the additional work requirements and think that this seems reasonable?

So, again, to be clear, we have always had these work requirements.

What changed is that.

>> States were allowed to have waivers because there are high unemployment rates because it was hard for people to get jobs.

Bill took away the ability for states to have those waivers.

That's what really changed.

We haven't done anything different.

Denying people access to food is not going to make them get a job.

As Kimberly said, most of the people who can work are working.

In fact, most of the people on SNAP are not even the population that people think of most of the people on snap children, older adults and people with disabilities.

And so I think there's a narrative that we really have to change huge and also like an impact on grocery stores.

>> That's right.

So how how does that work?

I think one of the the concerns that I have is the way snapped works.

You get dollars loaded up on an EBT card.

You spend those dollars qualified grocery stores and those grocery stores.

They use those dollars to hire people in community to buy food from food companies.

Those dollars go all the way back to the Illinois farmer.

And so when we begin to restrict access to snap, we're leaving those dollars out of our economy and that has huge ramifications.

Not just for places like Chicago, but I'm really worried about smaller communities in rural communities.

They're our grocery stores that will really struggle with this new especially grocery food deserts.

I would like to say.

Well, thank you both for your knowledge.

Thank you for being here today and Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank >> Up next, how some Chicagoans are rallying around the city's street vendors.

Chicago Street vendors say they're being pushed out of business since the start of the Trump administration's operation.

Midway Blitz.

Many vendors have stopped selling altogether, fearing federal immigration enforcement.

Tonight we hear from the vendors and how some Chicago residents are rallying around them.

>> And phones and looking others going with And thing that Thank you.

case.

>> Throughout the year, you can find vendors on the corners of many neighborhoods selling foods like a miley's tackles, invest bottles.

They mean a lot more than people would have realized killer of Chicago.

They bring their culture.

>> They're different season means or different taste of food.

>> At any given time used to see street vendors lined up all along.

26th Street over the last 2 months.

That reality has changed due to federal immigration arrest.

Fewer and fewer street vendors.

Our out in the streets.

Members of the Street Vendor Association say the situation is becoming desperate.

>> Many can't work right now and they're struggling to make ends meet, making it.

The Maryland company says that in those enough and you know, man on simple >> One of the association's vice president says they knew they had to act.

So they launched a street vendor Relief Fund.

What happened next?

Took them by surprise.

We all cry to every time we reached 10,000 or 20,000 were like okay.

>> We didn't think it was gonna pass 20, 30,000 because I didn't think people know about them or like them and stuff.

But we jumped into action.

The goal is $300,000.

Currently the GoFundMe stands at over 330,000.

>> We have about 960 people that have applied.

So our goal is to filter out everyone that is spenders, making sure a very fine with more than 6,000 street vendors across Chicago.

>> The Street Vendor Association aims to reach at least 1000 of them.

So far they've distributed $500 checks to 150 vendors.

One, nothing in put that up with on.

>> You got looking into 11th.

Is that we're going mention the busses pass was a split them but a concert.

>> Gun laws roots in street vending run He began selling in Chicago as a teenager.

You'll pay.

You see anything that's been in the >> Let's go to that.

But but this is the man and that's one of the points in this woeful Pena said, look, this.

He said, look, as get a moment.

On the end it is going have it's getting little this committee 2 men in >> According to the association, a large number of street vendors are seniors over 60 and depend on their daily sales to get by them.

On that end.

>> think is important me as it was.

was not meant that up.

think is that one those than any of them.

>> Money out school whose family has long worked as vendors says it's heartbreaking to watch hardworking individuals be treated unfairly just because other legal status.

This is a business that.

>> Not everyone can run that everyone can wake up 5, 4, in the morning to do what you guys are doing.

They're very important part of Chicago, not just in that aspect, but also in the economy.

There are big.

They pay taxes.

They have their licenses.

>> With immigration enforcement pushing them into the shadows.

The association says Chicagoans have stepped up to offer support this improvement in 60's.

This guy can bring them up the group.

Cycling Excela Garrity is organizing bike tours across the city to buy out Thunder supply.

>> I thought didn't think it was a player.

I'm going an amendment that put a cane.

a couple as I don't need me to the one that is CNN Kenyan Bulls.

As you know, don't let for me do know that.

>> The association says if they can raise more money, they hope to give venders a second round of checks.

They're still taking applications and we have all that information on our website.

Up next, Chicago rapper Adam Kila joins us to talk about the message behind his viral social media videos.

His upcoming concert and much more.

>> Reflecting the people perspectives that make can This story is part of Chicago tonight.

Not the >> Chicago rapper Adam Kelly better known as Adam Kayla has been going viral for his videos on social media in the post.

Kelly trolls, local law enforcement by daring them to arrest them and then dancing to his song fall on.

>> he did >> That rented land him in hot water is earlier this month when a Chicago police officer handcuffed and briefly detained Kelly.

He was really so without charges and is back at it again saying the videos are part of his larger message.

Joining us now is Adam Kelly.

Better known as rapper Adam Kayla, thank you for joining you have to start off like that.

have to ask.

Where did this idea spark to start, you know, going front of a National Guard and arrest me, daddy.

So actually I was in New York swore off.

>> And I saw off a surreal use hand on his And I just did all Arrest needed even quarter to post with our own stock doing I mean, did you expect that that was going to go viral?

Like did you reaction?

I not that want do is post viral post like 20 times a day.

So whatever does good.

I just keep doing 20 times a That's a lot just to see.

Like what hits and what doesn't what I found interesting is some have seen as a unique former protest for you, though, is that having fun?

>> Or for you?

It hasn't been also a way of protesting his current of both like the guy that I did, too.

He carded Eli, listen up after he was like laugh.

so it was like I'm not a 3.

And that's deserves laugh right you.

But you don't so many of these videos most don't do or I walk away?

We got to tame, but I want yeah talk to some of the officers after you just walk away and just like laugh it off.

Others walk off with some of They talked to me.

They told me they got a group chat about, you like him.

A people were were all.

So you're popular.

You among among the now, say here he comes >> Now you posted a video where your stepmother was shouting at ICE agents when they were checking ID's for Uber drivers at O'Hare.

You know, why has it been important for you to post at and talk about that?

Because I don't agree with it, but I feel like we should have global citizen honestly here.

I don't believe anyone is illegal.

So as that important free, what has it been like for you to speak out on that?

Have you any type of like?

>> Good or bad backlash or I mean, mostly good.

But, you know, it's always going to be banned from certain people because everybody has different opinions.

But that's why I believe yeah.

And do want to over the line is not because I mean, I'm pretty sure you have to have a work for Uber.

so you're really just wasting everybody's So important for you to like, say something I think I read where retire before, you love.

And it was terrible.

a job or Because I know that you've been in the music industry for 15 years coming a little bit about your career.

So I started music for fun because I played baseball in high school, believe, is going coast to full baseball scholarship to Illinois Central.

So I doing music for fun.

And then he started doing will not drop Went on a world tour.

care.

Doing music.

>> So baseball is also I love the It was option to argue crew music.

What was what is it about music?

always always like group in.

The music has always into music.

So going to baseball as race Missouri.

>> Do you feel like this recent?

I know you've been doing it for so long, but feel like this recent like spiking in fame and all these views and they have over 9 million views and like different platforms.

>> Has helped your career.

You right now argue around like 520 million views about online TikTok dance So it is definitely pushing on you right now.

My face is a little bigger than my music.

showed a summer favorite Yeah.

I'm gonna talk about that.

But how does it make you feel that you're getting like?

>> All these like Pete feedback people following you like in your videos have also seen trends were there's a group young people doing it with and I agree on TikTok along, I think it's a right.

930 million individual viewers.

So if I were one.

>> April the world Yesenia on think are all over the world.

Isn't crazy?

Pretty crazy.

Like somewhere somewhere around the world at night, they're like schooling looking at your video recruiting.

stopped everywhere constantly.

Yeah.

And you love your fans right here what is that about?

Like what is it about your fan base?

I feel we're so nice to me because I always talk to CV more like a frendak yes, we pretty crazy.

And I think that makes you like really double pretty really my fans.

somebody be like a 6 They comes with a like of 50, 60 year-old my fan base is pretty.

I brought.

do think like during this political climate that's just kind of brings a different type of joy.

Like, have you noticed that?

people are happy for Happier when they see me.

Yeah.

Like make their day facing because out there.

But also you're bringing this type of entertainment news entertainment and flight people's dislike.

Whatever I do so for all kinds of videos.

going back to your music.

>> Who are some of your biggest influencers by Caitlin says like probably will wane.

>> our group on the way with warning or a company camera.

>> What would you say in this 15 years has been some of your biggest challenges.

>> biggest challenges is the money aspect.

Their first could you rights slow-down seem I have to get a job I had to do the first job I ever was over with.

And then I was like picking of fans then they will be like what happened where you go over UV lighting.

But I mean, but that's of So right, we consider Do you consider some us learned >> Because, I mean, kind of have to be to do this, especially as an independent artist independent.

like I don't have a label.

all the funding, everything indoors figuring it out.

>> And now it feels like it seems like you found a formula for something that worked for you on social media and you ran with it.

You also do these trendy video shutting a very specific groups.

Let's let's take a look.

>> I'd like every time I hear the song like a body like you need to you need to do you know why this approach sauce are going to college I started.

I just thought about like, oh, what if like when I was younger and say, like Lil Wayne, what if you do like a free?

Meet up in May?

I don't know if you probably due to largest.

All right.

It will make people happy.

Saw started doing it and also chance the rapper whose to do We've been in place to do it while still taking it.

So I kind of thought about how these to do it and it because you can just do everything on the Internet like you had a light show people real they like it, I mean, you're doing it all types of of like demographics and videos.

And it seems like people are like reacting.

>> Good to it.

You know, like a year 2 years ago, my first that idea had 2 people.

And now is 4,000 people.

like that says a lot about you.

And just like you or like it was very like Very serious >> may be serious.

>> That series still finding breaking off, Tony, by concert.

>> Mark on Thursday, December readies its almost sold out.

I think there's a few tickets love.

It's going to be fun going around to get people to buy these tickets, government police So it's a red these underage youth.

food.

I hearing him around.

Also want receive fans last week.

OK, so you're going to tell them I-75 tickets.

I have.

Therefore, we may be like 30.

Okay.

You got a minute.

I love that.

Well, I wish you all the success and I love watching a social media end and joining us and chatting with us, Oprah the car is there.

And we're back right after this.

>> And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

Stay connected with our reporters and what they're working on by following us on Instagram at W T Tw Chicago.

And a programming note.

We're off tomorrow for the holiday, but we'll see you back here on Friday for a special edition of the weekend review as the holiday season begins, we look at the economy, consumer spending, the impact of tariffs, a local businesses and much more now from all of us here at Chicago tonight.

I'm joined that in on this.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

Good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible.

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