>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND ON PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT -- >> IN CHICAGO, WHEN YOU FEED YOUR BALLOT INTO A MACHINE ON ELECTION DAY, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY PUTTING IT IN A BALLOT BOX WITH TWO COMPARTMENTS.

>> TOMORROW IS OF COURSE ELECTION DAY, AND OUR DIGITAL SERIES WTTW NEWS EXPLAINS ANSWERS THE QUESTION WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BALLOT AFTER YOU VOTE .

>> WE HAVE JUST ONE MORE DAY.

>> ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> POLITICIANS MAKE A FINAL APPEAL TO VOTERS.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE HEADING TO THE POLLS.

>>> YOU WON'T JUST BE CHOOSING POLITICIANS.

WE BREAK DOWN THE FIRST QUESTION ON TOMORROW'S BALLOT -- THE WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

>>> EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DIE.

>> CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S $16 BILLION BUDGET AFTER TENSE DEBATE.

>>> CONTROVERSY AT JONES COLLEGE PREP FOLLOWING THE SCHOOL'S HANDLING OF A STUDENT'S HALLOWEEN COSTUME.

>>> A MAJOR MEDICAL MERGER WITH HELP FROM WALGREENS.

THAT AND MORE .

>>> IN THE EARLY HOURS OF TOMORROW MORNING, A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE WILL TURN THE MOON RED.

THE LOCAL ASTRONOMERS EXPLAIN WHERE AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

>>> CREATIVITY IS AT THE CENTERPIECE OF THE NEW NATIVE AMERICAN EXHIBITION AT THE FIELD MUSEUM IN CHICAGO.

>> WE LOOK TOWARD THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS AND THIS NEW MASTER PLAN ENVISIONS WHAT WE WANT THAT TO BE.

>>> AND WE TAKE YOU INSIDE BROOKFIELD ZOO AS IT CELEBRATES 100 YEARS SINCE ITS GROUNDBREAKING.

>>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S 2023 BUDGET PROPOSAL.

THE $16 BILLION SPENDING PLAN PASSED BY A 32-18 VOTE.

HERE'S WHAT THE MAYOR SAID RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION YEAR BUDGET VOTE.

>> WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS BUDGET, THOSE WHO VOTED YES REAFFIRMED OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS FIDUCIARIES OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.

FIDUCIARIES OF NOT JUST PARTICULAR AREAS OF GEOGRAPHY, BUT OF DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR CITY OVERALL.

>> AND COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US TO BREAK DOWN THAT BUDGET VOTE.

>>> A NEW BEARS STADIUM IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS COULD MOVE ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY.

THE TOWN'S TRUSTEES ARE VOTING ON A CHICAGO BEARS STADIUM PREDEVELOPMENT TOMORROW NIGHT.

THIS IS A NONBINDING FRAMEWORK FOR THE TEAM, WHICH PLANS TO BUILD A $5 BILLION STADIUM AND MIXED USED DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS.

THE FIRST TIME THEY ADDRESS PUBLIC POSSIBLE FINANCING OPTIONS INCLUDING TAX INCREMENT FINANCING AND OTHER POSSIBILITIES.

THE BEARS SIGNED A $197 MILLION PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE NOW SHUTTERED ARLINGTON PARK INTERNATIONAL RACECOURSE BACK IN 2021.

THE VILLAGE SAYS TONIGHT'S VOTE IS TO PROVIDE THE BEARS WITH, QUOTE, SOME ASSURANCES REGARDING OUR INTENTIONS AND PRETTY DEBILITY OF PROCESS, SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE A PURCHASING DECISION LATER IN 2022.

>>> ELECTION DAY STARTS BRIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW.

VOTING OPENS AT 6:00 A.M. ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE AND POLLS CLOSE AT 7:00 P.M. CHICAGO ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING VOTERS TO DOUBLE CHECK THE LOCATION OF THEIR POLLING PLACE AT CHICAGO ELECTIONS.GOV OR EVEN GOOGLE THE PHRASE WHERE TO VOTE.

PAST POLLING PLACES HAVE CONSOLIDATED AND MOVED AS A RESULT OF THE NEW CITY WARD MAP.

ELECTION OFFICIALS ALSO RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU USE THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT, YOU SHOULD NOT USE A POSTAL MAILBOX TONIGHT OR TOMORROW, BECAUSE YOUR BALLOT MAY NOT BE POSTMARKED IN TIME.

INSTEAD, USE ONE OF THE 50 OFFICIAL BALLOT DROP BOXES TO MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE IS COUNTED.

AND BEFORE YOU VOTE, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WTTW VOTER GUIDE.

THAT'S AT WTTW.COM/ VOTER GUIDE.

>>> COMING UP ON THE PROGRAM, ON THE EVE OF ELECTION DAY, A LAST MINUTE LOOK AT THE RACES.

>> AT FIRST, WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED TO YOUR BALLOT WHEN YOU VOTE?

THE ANSWER, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

STAY WITH US.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY -- >>> TOMORROW IS ELECTION DAY, FINALLY.

POLITICIANS AND LOCAL ELECTION AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THE BIG DAY FOR MONTHS.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE RACES UP AND DOWN THE TICKET, BUT HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BALLOT AFTER YOU VOTE?

WTTW NEWS EXPLAINS THE JOURNEY OF A CHICAGO BALLOT.

>> Reporter: YOU'VE DONE YOUR RESEARCH, MADE YOUR CHOICES, CAST YOUR BALLOT.

THEN YOU COUNT A COUPLE MORE ON BEHALF OF YOUR DEAD RELATIVES.

HEY, IT'S THE CHICAGO WAY.

JUST QUITTING.

YOU EARN YOUR I VOTED STICKER.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

IN CHICAGO, WHEN YOU FEED YOUR BALLOT INTO A MACHINE ON ELECTION DAY, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY PUTTING IT IN A BALLOT BOX WITH TWO COMPARTMENTS.

BALLOTS WITH WRITE-IN CANDIDATES STAY SEPARATE, IN ONE COMPARTMENT.

ELECTION JUDGES WILL COUNT THESE BY HAND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT.

ALL OTHER BALLOTS ARE SCANNED AND COUNTED BY MACHINES.

LUCKY FOR THE JUDGES, OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE A LOT OF COUNTING.

ONCE THE POLLS CLOSE, MACHINES PRINT OUT A TAPE, ELECTION JUDGES WORKING BIPARTISAN TEAMS AT EACH PRECINCT TO KEEP AN EYE ON EVERYTHING.

THEY CERTIFY THINGS THAT BALANCE WEREN'T COMPROMISED WHEN THEY SIGN OTHER LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENTS.

THEN THEY USE A CELLULAR DEVICE TO TRANSMIT THE TOTALS DOWNTOWN TO ELECTION CENTRAL.

THAT'S WHEN WE BEGIN TO SEE THE RESULTS .

BUT IT'S NOT ALL HIGH-TECH.

THE PAPER BALLOTS THAT GOT FED INTO THE MACHINE DON'T GET TOSSED.

THEY GO INTO A BIG, BLUE HARDSHELL CASE ON WHEELS PACKED UP WITH A PRETTY BOW, OR RATHER, A SECURITY FIELD TO ENSURE NOBODY MESSES WITH THE PRECIOUS CARGO.

FROM THEN ON, ANYONE WHO TOUCHES THE CASE HAS TO FIND A CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM, LIKE EVIDENCE ON ONE OF THOSE TV PROCEDURAL DRAMAS.

THOUSANDS OF SUITCASES FROM EVERY CHICAGO PRECINCT GO TO A WAREHOUSE, WHERE THEY STATE.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, FOR AT LEAST 22 MONTHS, JUST IN CASE.

SOME WILL BE OPENED AND REVIEWED AS AN EXTRA CHECK.

BY LAW, A STATE AUDIT RECOUNTS VOTES FROM 5% OF ALL PRECINCTS.

PROCEDURES DIFFER SLIGHTLY FOR VOTING BY MAIL, EARLY VOTING, AND THOSE WHO VOTE FROM OVERSEAS, BUT NOT BY MUCH.

ALL AGENDA BALLOTS ARE, KEPT SECURE AT EVERY TURN, AND END UP IN THE SAME WAREHOUSE FOR SAFEKEEPING.

SO WHERE THAT STICKER WITH PRIDE AND PEACE OF MIND.

HAPPY VOTING.

>>> HAPPY VOTING INDEED.

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY CAST YOUR BALLOT, TOMORROW IS YOUR LAST CHANCE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW ELECTION DAY WORKS.

IF YOU ARE STILL UNDECIDED OR UNCLEAR ABOUT WHAT ALL IS ON THE BALLOT, YOU COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH A RUNDOWN OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HEADING INTO ELECTION DAY 2022.

>> A LITTLE BIT LIKE CRAMMING BEFORE A FINAL EXAM BECAUSE IT MAY BE MORE LIKE A GIANT PUBLIC TESTING THE RESULTS OF COURSE HAVE IMPLICATIONS THAT WILL LAST FOR YEARS.

TOMORROW, VOTERS IN ILLINOIS WILL DECIDE CONTESTS RANGING FROM WHO WILL BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR TO WHETHER THE STATE WILL AMEND ITS CONSTITUTION.

COMING UP WE'LL HEAR FROM FOLKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE UNION BACKED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT VOTE.

LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN WITH ANOTHER CONTEST AT THE TOP OF THE BALLOT.

THAT IS THE RACE FOR ILLINOIS GOVERNOR BETWEEN INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT JB PRITZKER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JULIANA STRATTON, THEY RUN AS TEAMS, AND THEN REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR DARREN BAILEY AND HIS RUNNING MATE, RADIO HOST STEPHANIE TRUSSELL.

BOTH TEAMS SPENDING TIME TODAY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

BAILEY GAINED STATEWIDE ATTENTION EARLY IN THE COVID PANDEMIC WITH PROTESTS AGAINST PRITZKER'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS TEMPORARILY REQUIRING SOME BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS TO CLOSE, AND AN EXECUTIVE ORDER MANDATING MASKS BE WORN.

BAILEY ENDING HIS CAMPAIGN ON THAT THEME.

>> JB PRITZKER USES OUR KIDS TO MAKE POLITICAL POINTS.

HE LOCKS SCHOOLCHILDREN OUT OF THEIR CLASSROOMS, AND HE TRIES TO TWIST THEIR TENDER MINDS WITH IDEOLOGY IN HIS QUEST TO BE THE MOST LEFT-WING GOVERNOR IN AMERICA.

NOW HIS MINIONS ARE LOOKING TO IMPOSE VACCINE MANDATES ON OUR CHILDREN.

JB IS -- NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> BAILEY WAS SURROUNDED BY WHAT HIS CAMPAIGN CALLS MAMA BEARS , AS YOU HEARD HIM AT THE END THERE.

THIS WAS AT A MORNING EVENT IN SUBURBAN OAK BROOK.

HE SAYS EVEN PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS DISCUSSING VACCINES SHOW THAT PRITZKER IS PLANNING TO ADD THE COVID SHOT TO THE LIST OF VACCINATIONS ILLINOIS STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO ENROLL IN SCHOOL, UNLESS THEY HAVE A RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL EXEMPTION.

>> ANOTHER EXPERIMENT IS IN THE WORKS.

LARGE-SCALE CHILD VACCINATION.

JB THINKS THAT PARENTS ARE DIMWITS AS HE LIES TO THEM.

>> PRITZKER, THOUGH, SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION IS NOT CONSIDERING A COVID VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR ILLINOIS STUDENTS.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT IN A CAMPAIGN STOP IN SPRINGFIELD, THE GOVERNOR RESPONDED, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING.

HE SAYS IT'S A LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT BY BAILEY TO WIN VOTES AFTER A CAMPAIGN CENTERED ON MISINFORMATION.

>> ERIN DAILEY AND THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO TAKE THIS STATE BACKWARDS.

DARREN BAILEY WANTS TO END WORKERS RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE AND HE WANTS TO END THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> BAILEY'S CAMPAIGN SAYS THAT IF PRITZKER WHO IS SAYING RIDICULOUS THINGS TO RILE UP HIS BASE.

BAILEY AS A STATE SENATOR VOTED NO ON THE PRITZKER SIGNED LAW THAT WILL RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE STATEWIDE TO $15 BY 2025, BUT IN ONE OF TWO TELEVISED DEBATES THIS CAMPAIGN SEASON, BAILEY SAID HE WOULD NOT RESEND THAT MINIMUM WAGE LAW .

PRITZKER SAYS BAILEY IS OTHERWISE UNFIT FOR THE STATE'S TOP JOB.

>> HE FOUNDED A SCHOOL THAT TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE THAT SLAVE MASTERS WERE GOOD TO THEIR SLAVES.

THAT TEACHES -- IN 2022 -- TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WOMEN ARE INFERIOR TO MEN.

THIS MAN SHOULDN'T COME ANYWHERE NEAR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET HIM, ARE WE?

>> NO.

>> YOU HEARD FROM BOTH CANDIDATES , CHARACTERISTIC OF THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN.

BAILEY SAYS PRITZKER IS A TYRANT WHO IS TOO LIBERAL.

PRITZKER SAYS BAILEY IS TOO EXTREME AND TOO CONSERVATIVE.

>> STRONG WORD FROM BOTH SIDES.

LET'S MOVE DOWN THE TICKET.

WHAT OTHER BIG RACES ARE THERE?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM.

THE U.S. SENATE SEAT CURRENTLY HELD BY DEMOCRAT TAMMY DUCKWORTH.

SHE'S FACING REPUBLICAN KATHY SELBY.

WTTW HELD A FORUM ON THAT.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON OUR WEBSITE.

ALSO, ALL OF THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, ATTORNEY GENERAL CRUMMY RUM WELL VERSUS TOM DeVORE.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" HAD A FORUM WITH THOSE CANDIDATES.

ALSO WE HAVE COMPTROLLER.

THAT IS SUSANNA MENDOZA VERSUS REPUBLICAN SHANTHA RECENT AND TREASURER, FOR THAT IT IS INCUMBENT MIKE FREDERICK VERSUS -- REPUBLICAN, THAT IS, SORRY ABOUT THAT, MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE CURRENTLY TODD DEMERS .

THEN SECRETARY OF STATE.

THIS IS THE ONLY OPEN SEAT, BECAUSE DEMOCRAT JESSE WHITE IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN, MEANING NEITHER REPUBLICANS DAN BRADY, HE'S A LONGTIME STATE LEGISLATOR, NOR DEMOCRAT ALEXI GIANNOULIAS, A FORMER STATE TREASURER, ARE GOING IN WITH THE INCUMBENT'S ADVANTAGE.

DEMOCRATS DO HAVE ONE ADVANTAGE, THOUGH, AND THAT IS MONEY.

BOTH FROM UNIONS AS WELL AS A WHOLE LOT OF FUNDING FROM PRITZKER, WHO IS A BILLIONAIRE.

HE'S CONTRIBUTED TO CANDIDATES UP AND DOWN THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET, INCLUDING PROPPING UP THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT.

SUBURBAN VOTERS IN THE COLLAR COUNTIES WILL HAVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN ONE OF TWO SUPREME COURT RACES AND THE OUTCOMES OF THOSE COULD FLIP CONTROL FROM DEMOCRATIC TO REPUBLICAN ON THE STATE HIGH COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES.

>> OF COURSE, A LOT OF THESE RACES, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THIS CAMPAIGN SEASON.

WHAT ABOUT LEGISLATIVE RACES?

>> YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND CONTROL OF CONGRESS IS AT STAKE, AND THERE IS ONE SIGN THAT DEMOCRATS ARE WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THE SEATS THEY CURRENTLY HOLD IN ILLINOIS.

THIS PAST WEEKEND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS STOMPED HERE.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO CAMPAIGNED IN THE SUBURBS ON FRIDAY.

SO YOU'VE GOT THE SIXTH, 11th, 13th, 14th AND 17th DISTRICTS.

THOSE ARE AMONG THOSE YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK OUT FOR .

THEN, AS FOR THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE, ALL 177 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SEATS ARE ON THE BALLOT.

ROUGHLY 100 OF THOSE ARE CONTESTED, AND OF THOSE, EXPECT ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO TO BE TRULY COMPETITIVE, INCLUDING A BUNCH OF SUBURBAN SEATS.

DEMOCRATS CURRENTLY HOLD SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND SENATE AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO HOLD ONTO THOSE.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> HAPPY VOTING.

>>> UP NEXT, A DEEPER DIVE INTO THAT WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT THAT YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR BALLOT.

STAY WITH US.

>>> DO YOU THINK THERE HAS BEEN SORT OF A RETHINKING OF HOW THOSE EVENTS HAPPENED HERE IN CHICAGO?

>> I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF AND MY CAREER THAT OVER THE YEAR I WOULD MAKE A PIECE OF ART DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY.

>> GOTTEN TO A ZONE OF MENTOR TO CHILDREN.

SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO KIND OF ELEVATE EACH OTHER, WE ALL WE GOT AT THIS POINT.

>> I'M USING THIS TO PUSH FORWARD, TO BUILD A MOVEMENT, TO CREATE THE WORLD THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE.

>>> HAS YOU JUST HEARD, A LOT OF IMPORTANT DECISIONS FOR VOTERS TO WEIGH TOMORROW, BUT THE FIRST ONE WILL BE ON A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT COULD HAVE MAJOR RAMIFICATIONS ACROSS ILLINOIS.

THE SO-CALLED WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT AIMS TO CODIFY IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION THE RIGHT TO FORM A UNION AND COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN OVER A HOST OF ISSUES.

IT WOULD EFFECTIVELY PROHIBIT ANY FUTURE ANTIUNION LEGISLATION LIKE RIGHT TO WORK LAWS.

AND JOINING US ARE MARK POULOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INDIANA /ILLINOIS/IOWA FOUNDATION FOR FAIR CONTRACTING, AND JEFF RISCH, A PARTNER WITH THE LAW FIRM AHMANSON DAVIS.

WE SHOULD REMIND FOLKS THAT THE AMENDMENT NEEDS A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF ALL VOTERS, OR 60% OF THE VOTERS WHO ACTUALLY VOTE ON THIS ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO LEAVING IT BLANK IN ORDER FOR IT TO PASS.

AND WE THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I'LL START WITH YOU, MARK POULOS.

REMIND VIEWERS, WHAT WITH PASSAGE OF THIS AMENDMENT EFFECTIVELY DO?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THIS AMENDMENT IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

IF YOU WANT WORKERS TO HAVE MORE POWER, IF YOU WANT WORKERS TO HAVE MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS, IF YOU WANT WORKERS TO HAVE A SAFER WORKING ENVIRONMENT, YOU WOULD VOTE YES ON THE WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

THE WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT WOULD CREATE A STRONGER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STATE.

IN STRONG COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STATES EMPLOYEES EARN 14% MORE, ARE 9% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, OUR 3% LESS LIKELY TO LIVE BELOW POVERTY, OUR 3% LESS LIKELY TO RELY ON MEDICAID AND 2% LESS LIKELY TO RELY ON FOOD STAMPS AND GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

AND FINALLY, THEY CONTRIBUTE 8% MORE IN STATE INCOME TAXES.

IF THAT'S THE TYPE OF STATE THAT YOU WANT, THEN I WOULD VOTE YES ON THE WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

>> JEFF RISCH, HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE VOTERS TO VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT?

>> NO.

IT'S A CLEAR NO.

THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY CALLED A WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT ON YOUR BALLOT.

THAT'S A NAME GIVEN BY THE LABOR UNIONS THAT SUPPORT IT, AND I ACTUALLY REFER TO IT AS THE GREAT PUBLIC UNION GIVEAWAY.

THIS AMENDMENT, IT IS ARGUABLY NOT GOING TO APPLY TO PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS.

THIS IS NOT THE PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION WORKER ON THE HIGHWAY.

THAT IS PROTECTED UNDER THOSE RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT THAT'S BEEN EXISTING FEDERAL LAW SINCE 1935.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS ALL ABOUT PROTECTING, TRYING TO PROTECT BIG LABOR AND ALLOW THEM TO SEIZE MORE CONTROL IN SPRINGFIELD, THEREBY RAISING TAXES ON EVERY CHILD , WORKING HOUSEHOLD THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

IT'S A TERRIBLE THING.

>> IS THAT WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT, PUBLIC-SECTOR UNIONS, GOVERNMENT UNIONS?

>> NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

I'LL START WITH THE FIRST PART OF THIS, WHICH IS THE TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT THAT APPEARS ON THE BALLOT STARTS WITH THE TERMS, EMPLOYEES SHALL HAVE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO.

THAT'S HOW IT STARTS.

THERE ARE PROTECTIONS IN THIS AMENDMENT FOR EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE, WHETHER A PRIVATE-SECTOR UNION EMPLOYEE, PUBLIC-SECTOR UNION EMPLOYEE.

IN FACT, IF YOU ARE A NONUNION EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THERE ARE PROTECTIONS IN THIS AMENDMENT , VIS-÷-VIS THE TEXT.

THERE ARE PROTECTIONS FOR EVERYONE THAT IS AN EMPLOYEE, EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS ON THE BALLOT TOMORROW.

>> WHAT JEFF IS SAYING, I THINK, THOUGH, THAT THE NLRB AFFORD SOME OF THOSE PROTECTIONS.

I WANT TO READ SOME OF THE TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU STARTED TO READ THERE.

EMPLOYEE SHOULD HAVE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING FOR THE PURPOSE OF NEGOTIATING WAGES, HOURS AND WORKING CONDITIONS AND TO PROTECT THEIR ECONOMIC WELFARE AND SAFETY AT WORK.

JEFF HEAR WORRIES ABOUT THE LANGUAGE HERE, SPECIFICALLY THE PHRASE ECONOMIC WELFARE HAS COME UNDER FIRE AS BEING PRETTY BROAD.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> ECONOMIC WELFARE HAS UNLIMITED MEANING, AND WHAT I LOOK AT, AGAIN, I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH ART AND HIS POSITION THAT THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT DOESN'T ALREADY PROTECT PRIVATE-SECTOR WORKERS.

WITH RESPECT TO PUBLIC-SECTOR WORKERS, THERE IS NOTHING NO LIMIT TO WHAT A PUBLIC SECTOR WORKER CAN NEGOTIATE AND ACTUALLY RECEIVE AT THE BARGAINING TABLE THROUGH THIS AMENDMENT.

NO LIMIT , AND IT WOULD FOREVER, PERMANENTLY BANNED THE STATE LAWMAKERS ON A LOCAL LEVEL OR A STATE LEVEL.

IT WILL PERMANENTLY BAN STATE LAWMAKERS, LOCAL LAWMAKERS FROM ENACTING LAW TO TRY AND REFORM AND HEAL THE STATE OF ILLINOIS'S FINANCIAL WOES, PARTICULARLY THE PUBLIC SECTOR UNION PENSION.

YOU CAN GOOGLE PUBLIC SECTOR UNION PENSIONS.

IT'S $130 BILLION IN DEBT, UNFUNDED THAT WOULD BENEFIT, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO RISE.

>> LET ME PICK UP ON THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S A PENSION PROTECTION CLAUSE IN THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO THERE WAS A MASSIVE, BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO MAKE SOME REFORMS TO THE PENSION SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE UNDERFUNDED NATURE OF THE SYSTEM AND THE STATE WAS PRETTY HAMSTRUNG.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULED ANY CHANGES UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

ARE YOU WORRIED THAT IN A CASE OF EMERGENCY, IF LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO TAKE UP SOME KIND OF BILL THAT PERTAINS TO SOME OF THESE ISSUES, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAMSTRUNG BECAUSE THIS IS CODIFIED NOW IN THE CONSTITUTION, MUCH LIKE THE PENSION PROTECTION CLAUSE?

>> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS AND DOES.

IT IS AN ANTI-POLITICIAN AMENDMENT, SO ALL OF THESE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT POLITICIANS MAY OR MAY NOT DO, OR WHAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT DO IN SPRINGFIELD, THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO TAKE IT OUTSIDE OF THE HANDS OF THE POLITICIAN AND TO PUT IT INSIDE THE HANDS OF WORKERS.

WORKERS SPEND MOST OF THEIR WAKING HOURS IN THE WORKPLACE, YET THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS THERE.

THE COURTS HAVE SPOKEN OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS AND SAID BOTH AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, WORKERS DO NOT HAVE FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

SO EVERY TIME A WORKER HAS A PROBLEM, THEY NEED TO FIND A LEGISLATOR AND GET IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, 60 HOUSE NUMBERS, 30 SENATE MEMBERS, AND A GOVERNOR WILLING TO SIGN A BILL TO CREATE A SAFER WORKPLACE, OR TO PAY THEM MORE MONEY, TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.

THAT'S JUST INSANE.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH, A SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, A FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL SEARCH AND SEIZURE, BUT WE HAVE NO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE, IS ABSOLUTELY ARCHAIC IN 2022, AND TOMORROW WE CAN CHANGE THAT FOR WORKERS.

>> JEFF RISCH, SOME OF THIS IS TO HEAD OFF FUTURE THINGS LIKE RIGHT TO WORK LAWS.

THE FORMER GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER HAD TRIED TO GAIN MOMENTUM FOR RIGHT TO WORK LAWS.

DO YOU SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING IN ILLINOIS, DOWN THE ROAD?

>> WELL FIRST, I THINK WHAT MARK JUST PAINTED IS THE TROJAN HORSE BEHIND THIS AMENDMENT.

THAT'S WHY THIS IS A TROJAN HORSE.

THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO HIGHER TAXES FOR ALL WORKERS.

AS FAR AS RIGHT TO WORK, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS AMENDMENT CAN ACTUALLY SURVIVE LEGAL CHALLENGE ON CEMENTING A NON-RIGHT TO WORK STATUS OF ILLINOIS.

THAT WILL BE LITIGATED.

BUT THIS IS WHAT I CAN TELL YOU.

ILLINOIS IS NOT GOING TO BECOME RIGHT TO WORK ANY TIME IN MY LIFETIME OR OUR CHILDREN'S LIFETIME.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

THE UNIONS ALREADY HAVE THEIR TEETH AND THEIR CLAWS INTO THE POLITICIANS IN SPRINGFIELD.

THAT'S CLEAR.

IT'S CLEAR TO ANY VOTER GOING TO THE BALLOT BOX TOMORROW.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, HERE'S WHAT I WILL SAY ON RIGHT TO WORK, WHY IN SO AGAINST PREVENTING EMPLOYEES FROM HIRING EMPLOYEES , IF THAT EMPLOYEE DOESN'T WANT TO TURN OVER PART OF THEIR PAYCHECK TO A LABOR UNION.

RIGHT TO WORK, THAT'S RIGHT TO WORK, AND THE UNIONS WANT TO CONTINUE TO PERMIT BEING A NON-RIGHT TO WORK STATE, TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES -- >> SOME OF THOSE FAIR SHARE LAWS AND ALL KINDS OF LEGAL CHALLENGES AROUND ALL THIS.

SO VERY HEADY QUESTION FOR ALL VOTERS TOMORROW.

WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR SHARING YOUR VIEWS.

THANKS TO MARK POULOS AND JEFF RISCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NOW TO BRANDIS FOR A LOOK AT TODAY'S VOTE ON THE CITY'S BUDGET.

>> CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S $16 BILLION SPENDING PLAN BY A SURPRISINGLY NARROW MARGIN TODAY, EVEN THOUGH THE PLAN WAS DESIGNED TO AVOID CONTROVERSY DURING AN ELECTION YEAR.

INSTEAD, THE PLAN TOOK FIRE FROM ALL SIDES.

THAT DID NOT STOP MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, WHO IS RUNNING FOR A SECOND TERM AND CLAIMING VICTORY.

>> WE MUST NEVER FORGET OUR ROLE AS FIDUCIARIES, PARTICULARLY IN THIS TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE STILL HURTING AND STILL HEALING.

WE ALL KNOW THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO AND MEET THE MOMENT, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE ON A PATH OF WRITING HISTORIC FLAWS AND GIVING TRUE MEANING TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

>> WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE OLDER PEOPLE WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS BUDGET ARE AMONG THE MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THEY SAID THAT THE SPENDING PLAN DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO ADDRESS CRIME.

WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE VOTE ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

BUT HERE'S ALDERMAN BRENDAN REILLY BLASTING THE MAYOR'S EFFORTS TO STOP CRIME ON THE CTA.

>> SO WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SHOW FOR THIS CTA INVESTMENT?

A SYSTEM PLAGUED SERVICE DISRUPTIONS, DELAY, CRIME, AND FILTH.

RIDERSHIP SCARED TO USE OUR TRAIN SYSTEM AFTER RUSH HOUR , AND MANY MORE SCARED TO USE IT DURING RUSH HOUR .

DRUG USE, VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STRONG ARM ROBBERIES.

THEY'RE OUT OF CONTROL AND THEY'VE BECOME THE NORM.

PLEASE VOTE FOR A BUDGET TO SUBSIDIZE THIS DUMPSTER FIRE.

>> HEATHER, WHY DID SO MANY CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL VOTE NO?

>> CRIME REMAINS A HOT BUTTON ISSUE.

IT REMAINS HIGHER THAN PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN 2019, AND MOST CONSERVATIVE ALDER PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IS DUE IN NO SMALL PART TO THE FACT THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HUNDREDS OF VACANCIES, AND THEY WANTED A PLAN AS PART OF THIS BUDGET TO RETAIN THOSE OFFICERS.

THE MAYOR DECLINED TO GIVE THEM ONE.

>> THE PLAN ALSO DREW FIRE FROM THE PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

LET'S LISTEN TO A FEW ALDER PEOPLE.

HERE THEY ARE.

>> WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE.

WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER, RIGHT?

AND WE SHOULD.

>> THIS MAYOR MADE PROMISE AFTER PROMISE AFTER PROMISE TO ENACT A POLICY AGENDA THAT WOULD UNDO THE HARM THAT MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL CAUSED, AND CAUSED, TOO, BY THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER, AND THAT WOULD INSTEAD BEGIN TO INVEST IN THE THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO NEEDED TO DRIVE.

>> MARIA HADDEN AND CARLOS MARIUS ROSA, WHY DID THEY VOTE NO?

>> THE BIGGEST REASON TURNED OUT TO BE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S REFUSAL TO CREATE A DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

EVEN THOUGH SHE CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE IN 2019 TO DO JUST THAT.

INSTEAD THE CITY WILL HAVE A NEW OFFICE OF CLIMATE EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENT TO STEP UP THE CITY'S FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR PROGRESSIVE ALDER PEOPLE LIKE ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA, WHO SAID THIS IS ANOTHER IN A LITANY OF BROKEN PROMISES THE MAYOR MADE TO PROGRESSIVE VOTERS.

THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN SHE FACES VOTERS.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT SOME ALDERMAN WOULD'VE LIKED TO SEE IN THE BUDGET THAT IS NOT THERE.

WHAT DOES THE BUDGET INCLUDE?

>> IT INCLUDES $26 MILLION MORE FOR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.

INCLUDES $3 MILLION TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS ABORTION CARE IN CHICAGO NOW THAT ROE VERSUS WADE HAS BEEN OVERTURNED, AND INCLUDES A $242 MILLION ADVANCE PAYMENT TO THESE PENSIONS, THE FIRST TIME THE CITY HAS PAID MORE THAN IT IS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED TO IN ITS HISTORY.

>> I'M SURE THAT MADE SOME HAPPY.

THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

HEATHER SHARON, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, IT'S ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS .

>>> UP NEXT, CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF BROOKFIELD ZOO.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING HOW TO WATCH THE TOTAL LUNAR EQUIPS EARLY TOMORROW MORNING.

BUT FIRST, THE BROOKFIELD ZOO IS CELEBRATING A BIG MILESTONE.

IT WAS A CENTURY AGO WHEN IT FIRST BROKE GROUND AND BEGAN CONSTRUCTION.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT"'S JoANNE HERNANDEZ TAKES US TO THE ZOO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ITS PAST AND PRESENT.

>> Reporter: A LOT HAS CHANGED IN 100 YEARS.

IN FACT, THE BROOKFIELD ZOO WAS AT THE TIME JUST A BIG PLOT OF LAND.

>> 235 ACRES OF LAND THAT ARE OWNED BY THE FOREST RESERVE OF COOK COUNTY.

>> Reporter: IT CAN TAKE SOME TIME TO WALK AROUND THE ZOO.

DILEO PRICE IS SHOWING US ON WHEELS.

>> AND YOU JUST TALK TO ME ABOUT JUST THE EVOLUTION OF THE ZOO?

>> SO THE LAND WAS DONATED BY EDITH ROCKENFELLER McCORMICK TO THE FOREST PRESERVE OF COOK COUNTY WITH THE PREMISE THAT IT MUST BE BUILT AS A ZOO.

SO OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, AND OF COURSE IT TOOK QUITE A WILD TO PUT THESE HABITATS IN FOR THE DIFFERENT SPECIES.

>> Reporter: ON OCTOBER 27, 1922, DOZENS GATHERED TO BREAK GROUND ON BROOKFIELD ZOO.

>> I LOVE LOOKING AT THE HISTORICAL PHOTOS AND THEN SEEING HOW PEOPLE REALLY DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION TO COME TO THE ZOO, RIGHT?

ACTUALLY THE OPENING OF BROOKFIELD ZOO WILL BE CELEBRATING THAT 100 YEAR IN 2034.

>> Reporter: FROM GIRAFFES TO RHINOS, THE ZOO IS HOME TO MORE THAN 2500 ANIMALS.

DR. MICHAEL ATKINSON IS NOW THE HEAD OF THE ZOO.

>> THE TIME SINCE THE ZOO FIRST OPENED, SO MUCH TIME HAS TAKEN PLACE HERE AND IT WAS CONCEIVED AS A MODERN ZOOLOGICAL PARK WITH OPEN, SPACIOUS EXHIBITS, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, IS TAKE IT BACK TO THAT LEVEL OF WHAT'S NEW AND EXCITING AND INNOVATIVE.

>> Reporter: DR. ATTICUS SAYS HIS TEAM HAS FOCUSED ON A MASTER PLAN, A PROJECT TO REVITALIZE HABITATS FOR THE ANIMALS.

>> WE ARE HEADED INTO TROPIC WORLD, SOUTH AMERICA RIGHT NOW.

>> HAVE YOU BEEN TO SOUTH AMERICA?

>> I HAVE, MANY TIMES.

>> OH WELL.

AND YOU WILL SAY RIGHT HERE THAT YOU LOVE WATCHING THE KIDS.

>> IT'S ALWAYS SUCH A JOY WATCHING KIDS COME HERE.

THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT A WATERFALL THAT CHILDREN LOVE, SO THEY ARE OFTEN SO ENAMORED WITH THE WATER THAT THEY DON'T EVEN NOTICE THE BEHIND THEM.

>> Reporter: TROPIC WORLD TRANSPORTS YOU INTO THE RAIN FORESTS OF THREE CONTINENTS.

IT'S ONE OF THE EXHIBITS ON THE LIST FOR RENOVATION.

>> ON THE OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING, WE'LL BE PUTTING A NEW OUTDOOR HABITAT FOR GUERRILLAS OR ORANGUTANS OR SOME OF OUR SMALLER , AND REALLY, THIS BUILDING IS AN INCREDIBLE BUILDING, BUT WE ALSO WANT THEM TO BE OUTSIDE.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THAT SPACE TO PLAY AND RUN OUTSIDE.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN SAY ATKINSON IS A MODERN DAY DR. DOOLITTLE.

HE STARTED AS A VETERINARIAN AT BROOKFIELD ZOO AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

>> THAT THING BELOW THERE IS ACTUALLY A FAKE LOG, SO WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT BUILT ENRICHMENT DEVICES, SO THESE ARE DIFFERENT KIND OF FEEDERS THAT POP FOOD OUT AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN TIME, ALL INTENDING TO KEEP THEM STIMULATED, KEEP THEM ACTIVE, KEEP THEM BUSY LIKE THEY WOULD BE IN THE WILD.

>> Reporter: ONE OF HIS PASSIONS IS THE CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS.

HE SAYS BROOKFIELD ZOO OPERATES MULTIPLE CONSERVATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> SO MANY SPECIES WOULD NO LONGER EXIST IN THE WILD IF IT WASN'T FOR ZOOS AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS BREATHING THOSE POPULATIONS FOR REINTRODUCTION.

>> WHEN PEOPLE WALK INTO THE ZOO, WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO EXPERIENCE?

>> WE WANT THEM TO HAVE FUN AND WE WANT THEM TO WALK AWAY INSPIRED.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE, WE WANT THEM TO SMILE, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE A GREAT DAY WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND WHEN THEY'RE IN THAT KIND OF MENTAL SPACE, WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR OUR CONSERVATION MESSAGES.

THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR OUR STORIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE ANIMALS AND THE CARE THEY RECEIVE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M JoANNE HERNANDEZ.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE OUR FRIENDS HANGING OUT THERE AT THE BROOKFIELD ZOO.

AND OF COURSE THE BROOKFIELD ZOO OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC IN 1934.

>>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", FINDINGS FROM A NEW REPORT SAYS CHICAGO'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM IS NOT AS BAD AS OTHER BIG CITIES.

>>> CONTROVERSY ED JONES COLLEGE PREP FOLLOWING THE SCHOOL'S HANDLING OF A STUDENT HALLOWEEN COSTUME.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR THAT SCHOOL.

>>> A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE WILL TURN THEM IN RED IN THE EARLY HOURS OF TOMORROW MORNING.

TWO LOCAL ASTRONOMERS TELL US WHERE AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

>>> AND CREATIVITY IS AT THE CENTERPIECE OF A NEW NATIVE AMERICAN EXHIBITION INSIDE CHICAGO'S FIELD MUSEUM.

>>> FIRST SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CANDIDATE FOR ELECTED OFFICE MAKE THEIR FINAL PITCHES.

POLLING PLACES ACROSS THE STATE OPEN AT 6:00 A.M. AND CLOSE AT 7:00 P.M.

TOMORROW NIGHT.

ELECTION OFFICIALS STRONGLY SUGGEST CHECKING THE LOCATION OF YOUR POLLING PLACE, BECAUSE IT MOST LIKELY HAS CHANGED.

GO TO CHICAGO ELECTIONS.GOV OR JUST GOOGLE THE PHRASE, WHERE TO LOAD.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CANDIDATES ON OUR WTTW VOTER GUIDE.

THAT'S ALL AT WTTW.COM/VOTER GUIDE .

>>> THAT LONGLINE YOU SAW TODAY MAY NOT JUST BE EARLY VOTERS.

IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE LINE WAS POWERBALL HOPEFULS BUYING TICKETS FOR THE RECORD-BREAKING $1.9 BILLION HOT.

THE CHANCES OF HOLDING THAT WINNING LOTTERY TICKET ARE ONE IN 292 MILLION.

BUT SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO WIN AT SOME POINT, EVENTUALLY.

THE DRAWING IS AT 10:00 TONIGHT .

BEST OF LUCK.

>>> NOW TO BRANDIS FOR SOME OF TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>>> WALGREENS BACKS THE DEAL TO PURCHASE A MEDICAL CENTER COMPANY.

THE OWNERS OF A LANDMARK HOTEL ON MICHIGAN AVENUE ARE HUNTING FOR A BUYER AGAIN , AND A NEW REPORT FINDS CHICAGO'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM ISN'T AS BAD AS SOME OTHER CITIES.

HERE TO GO BEHIND THE HEADLINES IS DENNY ECKER.

START WITH WALGREENS.

THE WALGREENS BACKED VILLAGE PURCHASING A RIVAL MEDICAL CARE COMPANY IN A $9 BILLION DEAL.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS PURCHASE AND ITS IMPACT?

>> VILLAGE MD, WHICH IS BACKED BY WALGREENS, IS A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER .

SUMMIT, WHO THEY ARE ACQUIRING, OWNS MEDICAL PRACTICES AND URGENT CARE CENTERS, SO THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO JUST MAKES IT A MUCH LARGER PROVIDER OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

IT'S GOING TO STRETCH ACROSS 26 MARKETS.

IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT WALGREENS AND OTHER RETAILERS ACTUALLY ARE DOING, WHICH IS POSITIONING THEMSELVES AS AN ENTRY POINT INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

WALGREENS HAS BEEN ADDING PRIMARY CARE CENTERS TO ITS RETAIL LOCATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ALSO LAUNCHED A PROGRAM TO HELP PATIENTS IN CLINICAL TRIALS.

VILLAGE MD IS REALLY THE VEHICLE THAT WALGREENS IS USING TO GROW THE SCALE OF THAT EFFORT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOVES IT'S MADE SO FAR IN THAT EFFORT.

>> NEXT UP, BLACKSTONE HOTELS BACK UP FOR SALE AFTER A FAILED ATTEMPT LAST YEAR.

WHY THE SALE NOW AND DOES THIS HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT FOLLOWING THROUGH THIS TIME?

>> THEY COULDN'T GET A DEAL DONE LAST YEAR.

COVID WAS STILL HAMMERING HOTELS AT THE TIME.

NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING OFF OF SIX MONTHS OF PRETTY STRONG LEISURE TRAVEL DEMAND DOWNTOWN.

OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN MUCH BETTER AT DOWNTOWN HOTELS.

WE'LL SEE WHETHER THAT BRINGS DOWN MORE INVESTORS.

STILL, A SALE HERE, IF THEY COULD FIND A BUYER, WOULD PROBABLY BE NOT THE GREATEST DEAL FOR THE OWNERS.

THEY PAID JUST UNDER $60 MILLION FOR THIS HOTEL IN 2016.

THEY SPENT ANOTHER $12 MILLION RENOVATING IT AND NOW THE BIDS ARE LIKELY TO COME IN AT LESS THAN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE.

BUT WE HAVE SEEN A RUN OF HOTELS HIT THE MARKET RECENTLY FROM OWNERS THAT ARE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A GOOD STRETCH OF NUMBERS FOR THESE HOTELS, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THE PRICES HERE ARE STILL LIKELY LOWER THAN PRE-PANDEMIC VALUES OF THESE PROPERTIES.

>> THAT INCLUDES THE SALE OF THE HOTEL AT NAVY PIER AS WELL.

SO LASTLY, A NEW REPORT FINDS CHICAGO'S LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISN'T AS BAD AS SOME OTHER BIG URBAN CENTERS.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS REPORT AND WHAT IT FOUND.

>> THE REPORT LOOKED AT DATA FROM 2019 AND IT STACKED UP AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS OF THE 75 MOST POPULOUS METRO AREAS, AND THE TAKE AWAY FOR CHICAGO WAS THAT HOUSING COSTS HAVE GROWN MORE SLOWLY HERE THAN THEY HAVE IN MAJOR -- OTHER MAJOR IN URBAN AREAS.

SO THE AREA IN CHICAGO, BY COMPARISON, IS MORE AFFORDABLE, AND IT REALLY SHOWCASES WHAT'S ONE OF CHICAGO'S BIGGEST ADVANTAGES, WHICH IS THAT IT REALLY IS AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR , BIG U.S. CITIES.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY STILL A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CHICAGO, BUT I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT CHICAGO STACKED UP TO OTHER BIG CITIES, COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR METROS, IT'S A BIG POSITIVE FOR THE CITY.

>> DENNY ECKER, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS A LOT.

>>> SOME STUDENTS AT JONES COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL ARE DEMANDING THEIR PRINCIPAL BE FIRED.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THAT PRINCIPAL RESPONDED TO A STUDENT WHO WORE A GERMAN MILITARY UNIFORM COSTUME ON HALLOWEEN.

THE COSTUME WAS WIDELY INTERPRETED TO REPRESENT A SOLDIER.

THE PRINCIPAL HAS BEEN REMOVED PENDING AN INVESTIGATION BY CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CPS SAYS, QUOTE, THIS INCIDENT CAUSED HARM TO MANY STUDENTS AND STAFF AND IT IS COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT ALSO COMES AT A TIME WHEN HATEFUL SPEECH AND HATEFUL ATTACKS ARE ON THE RISE, ESPECIALLY AGAINST JEWISH AMERICANS.

IT'S THE LATEST INCIDENT OUT OF JONES COLLEGE PREP INVOLVING ITS PRINCIPAL, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CULTURE AT THE SCHOOL.

JOINING US NOW ARE NORA FLANAGAN, AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT NORTHSIDE COLLEGE PREP, A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE COMMISSION AND A SENIOR FELLOW AT WESTERN STATE CENTER IN WHICH SHE CO-AUTHORED A TOOLKIT CALLED CONFRONTING WHITE NATIONALISM IN SCHOOLS.

DOBBY JOSEPHSON, A SENIOR AT JONES COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL AND COPRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT ORGANIZATION, JEWISH STUDENT CONNECTED, AND RL McGEE, A SENIOR AT JONES COLLEGE REP AND STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT.

THANKS TO ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN THIS VIDEO OF THE STUDENTS STARTED CIRCULATING ONLINE?

>> I WAS SHOCKED.

IT IS DEFINITELY A SURPRISE FOR ME TO SEE THE STUDENT IN PERSON, WEARING THIS COSTUME.

IT MADE ME FEEL HURT.

SEEN HIM WALK LIKE THIS THROUGH THE HALLS OF MY SCHOOL, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE A SAFE SPACE FOR ME AND A PLACE THAT USUALLY COMES WITHOUT HATE, SO SEEING THIS PEER OF MINE WALK THROUGH THE HALLS IN A PLACE I FEEL SAFE, IN A VERY SIMILAR UNIFORM THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED A MASS GENOCIDE AGAINST MY ANCESTORS, INCLUDING MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS, WAS TRULY TRAUMATIZING.

>> NORA FLANAGAN, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO VIEWED THE INCIDENT AS ANTI-SEMITIC AND THEN THERE WERE OTHERS WHO TOOK NOTE AND ARGUED THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY A 1940S MILITARY COMMUNIST ERA COSTUME, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE STUDENT WAS ACTUALLY GOOSE STEPPING.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT ARGUMENT?

>> IT'S TROUBLING THAT ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO NITPICK WHICH DECADE THE UNIFORM CAME FROM, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE NEED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE ACTUAL STUDENT'S ACTUAL INTENT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IMPACT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO PRIMARILY TALK TO THE STUDENTS WHO WERE IMPACTED, THE STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY FELT THAT DAY, AND STAFF MEMBERS AND ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WHO WENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND SAID, THIS IS HARMFUL, THIS FEELS UNSAFE, BECAUSE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND FAMILIES TO FEEL SAFE ABOUT THOSE STUDENTS WALKING INTO THE BUILDING EACH DAY, AND THEY WERE TELLING THEIR PRINCIPAL THAT THEY DIDN'T FEEL SAFE, AND HE WASN'T LISTENING.

HE NOT ONLY WASN'T LISTENING, HE WAS TELLING THEM THAT THEY SHOULD FEEL FINE, AND HOW THEY FELT AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE SEEING WASN'T REALLY WHAT THEY WERE SEEING, WHICH IS ABOUT THE WORST RESPONSE I CAN THINK OF.

>> ARE REAL, THERE WAS A STUDENT WALKOUT TODAY AT JONES.

YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND BUT ORGANIZERS SAY IT WAS TO PROTEST HOW THE ADMINISTRATION HANDLES RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION AT JONES.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS OF COLOR, ABOUT WHAT THE CULTURE IS LIKE AT THAT SCHOOL?

>> AS A SENIOR AT JONES AND HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF STUDENTS HAVE FELT THAT THEY ARE PRETTY UNSAFE AT THIS SCHOOL, AS A WHOLE AND NOT JUST FROM THIS ONE ISOLATED INCIDENT.

JONES HAS HAD A CULTURE THAT HASN'T MADE STUDENTS OF COLOR AND PEOPLE OF MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES AS A WHOLE FEEL VERY SAFE.

SO THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS.

THEY FELT, ONE, THAT THEIR SECURITY AND THE SCHOOL WAS NOT VERY STRONG, BUT ALSO THAT ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT REALLY SUPPORTING THEM WHEN THEY CAME TO THEM WITH ISSUES.

>> SIMILAR QUESTION ON THAT NOTE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR REACTION TO HOW THE ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED TO THIS LATEST INCIDENT?

>> I WAS DEFINITELY FRUSTRATED.

I THINK THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT THE REACTIONS WERE MORE JUST DAMAGE CONTROL, AND THEY WEREN'T REALLY ADDRESSING WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED, BUT MORE BECAUSE OF THE OUTCRY.

IT WAS KIND OF JEWISH CITY COLLECTION BUT ALSO THE BLACK COALITION PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN ORGANIZING THE WALKOUT TODAY, AND SO I WAS DEFINITELY VERY FRUSTRATED TO SEE THAT THIS INSTANCE OF ANTI-SEMITISM WAS NOT DISCUSSED UNTIL ALMOST TWO DAYS AFTER, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME.

LIKE THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AT JONES, SO I THINK THERE'S A STRONG NEED FOR BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONDING TO ATTACKS THAT HAPPENED.

>> YOU AUTHORED A TOOLKIT ON HOW SCHOOLS CAN ADDRESS WHITE NATIONALISM.

WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE WAY THE SCHOOL INITIALLY HANDLED THIS INCIDENT?

>> THE PRINCIPAL'S INITIAL EMAIL TO -- I BELIEVE IT WAS STAFF AND STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS CULTURALLY INCOMPETENT.

IT WAS HURTFUL.

HE WAXED NOSTALGIC ABOUT HIS OWN TRAVELS TO GERMANY IN THE '80S.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT HAD TO DO WITH ANYTHING.

IT COMPLETELY NOT JUST DISREGARDED BUT DENIED WHAT STUDENTS SAID THEY HAD EXPERIENCED, WHICH WAS, AND I SAID, ABOUT THE WORST WAY A SCHOOL CAN RESPOND IS TO INVALIDATE WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING THEY'RE EXPERIENCING, AND THEY WERE HEARING FROM FAMILIES, AS WELL.

AND THEN IT SEEMS LIKE HE DOUBLED DOWN.

THIS ISN'T SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF A SCHOOL IN A CITY LIKE CHICAGO, ANYWHERE REALLY, BUT ESPECIALLY IN A CITY LIKE OURS, WHERE WE ARE WORKING HARD TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND EQUITY AND RESPECT AND SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> RL, YOU AND GABBY HAVE BEEN IN TALKS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IN LIGHT OF ALL THIS.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE SCHOOL AND THE DISTRICT RESPOND?

>> I ACTUALLY JUST GOT OUT OF A REALLY LONG MEETING TODAY, AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE HIGHLIGHTED IS THAT WE WANT A LOT BETTER EDUCATION ACROSS THE BOARD.

THAT HE CAN TALK OF THIS AS WELL.

BUT WE WANT STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ANTI-SEMITISM LOOKS LIKE AND HOW TO IDENTIFY THAT AS STUDENTS , BUT WE ALSO WANT STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND OTHER THINGS LIKE MICRO AGGRESSIONS AND HOW COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN OVERLOOKED AND NOT GIVEN AS MUCH ATTENTION AS THEY SHOULD BE, HOW WE CAN PROTECT THESE GROUPS AND HOW WE CAN HELP THESE STUDENTS.

SO WE THINK THAT STARTS WITH EDUCATION, EDUCATING OUR TEACHERS AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS AS TO HOW TO BEST RESPOND WHEN THERE ARE CASES OF DISCRIMINATION AT SCHOOL.

AND THEN HOW TO SPEAK UP, HOW TO HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHERE WE HAD A STANDARD TODAY AND PROTEST WHENEVER WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT ISN'T BEING HANDLED BY SCHOOL.

>> THE PRINCIPAL HAS BEEN SUSPENDED PENDING AN INVESTIGATION.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

>> I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME.

I JUST SEE HOW THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO FUTURE ACTS AND ALSO HOW THEY WORK WITH STUDENT LEADERS TO IMPLEMENT NEW MEASURES THAT PREVENT ACTS OF HATE FROM OCCURRING IN THE COMMUNITY AGAIN.

WE MUST TAKE THIS HATE IN OUR COMMUNITY MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY AND I THINK THAT STARTS AT THE CORE BUT ALSO BUILDS UP TO MORE EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> NORA FLANAGAN, REPORTS SHOW, AS WE MENTIONED, THAT ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS AND RHETORIC ARE ON THE RISE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS WHOLE MOMENT RIGHT NOW?

>> THE MOMENT WE ARE IN DIDN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

THIS HAS BEEN A BUILDUP FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS .

SIMILARLY, THIS INCIDENT AT JONES DIDN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE, EITHER.

THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AND REPORTED AND TALKED ABOUT, AND STUDENTS AND STAFF AND FAMILIES HAVE SOUGHT ACTION.

SO ONE OF THE BIG LESSONS HERE IS THAT WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL IT'S SOMETHING AS BLATANT AS A STUDENT PERFORMING -ISM IN A HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST TO ACT.

WE NEED TO START LISTENING SOONER.

WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AND FAMILIES ALONG THE WAY AS THESE BUILDUPS AND MICRO AGGRESSIONS SURFACE IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

WE CAN'T BE SATISFIED WITH THIS ISN'T WHO WE ARE OR THAT'S NOT WHAT THAT MEANT OR I'M SURE YOU FELT HURT.

ALL OF HIS NON-APOLOGIES AND WAYS OF NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE ARE WHAT GOT US HERE IN THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW, IN THIS MOMENT WHERE THE INCIDENT AT JONES IS SO SHOCKING AND SO BLATANT.

THAT DIDN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

THAT'S BEEN BUILDING UP FOR YEARS AND ANYBODY WHO ATTENDS AND WORKS AT JONES WILL ATTEST.

>> I'M SURE THE STUDENTS AT JONES WILL KEEP US APPRISED OF THE SITUATION GOING FORWARD AND HOW THE NEW ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO THIS.

THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT BUT THANKS TO LAURA FLANAGAN, GABBY JOSEPHSON AND ARI L MAGEE FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NOW TO PARIS FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO WATCH TOMORROW MORNING'S LUNAR ECLIPSE.

>> IF YOU HAVE ELECTION ANXIETY OR JUST GENERALLY CAN'T SLEEP, GAZE YOUR EYES UP AT THE SKY.

IN THE WEE HOURS OF TOMORROW MORNING A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE SHOULD BE VISIBLE WITH THE MOON EMITTING A VERY AUTUMN LIKE ORANGES GLOW.

AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS PHENOMENON AND WHEN AND HOW CHICAGOANS CAN CATCH IT ARE OUR DIRECTOR OF ASTRONOMY AND CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT ASTRONOMER AND EDUCATOR ASTRO JOE GUZMAN WHO CONDUCTS PUBLIC ASTRONOMY SESSIONS AND CITY PARKS.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WHEN WE STARE UP AT THE NIGHT SKY AROUND 3:00, 4:00 A.M., WHAT ARE WE SEEING?

>> YOU ARE GOING TO FIRST SEE THAT THE MOON IS GOING TO BE A FULL MOON, AND THAT'S SLOWLY GOING TO START GETTING DIMMER.

AND YOU MIGHT SORT OF SEE THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BITE OUT OF IT, AND AS YOU PROGRESS CLOSER AND CLOSER IT WILL GET DIMMER AND THEN AT 4:00 IS WHEN -- 4:16 IS WHEN IT BEGINS TO ENTER THE ECLIPSE PHASE.

>> SO A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE, JOE GUZMAN, TELL US WHY IT'S GOING TO EMIT THIS RED AUTUMNAL HUE?

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE ACTS AS A PRISM, SCATTERING THE BLUE LIGHT RAYS COMING FROM THE SUN.

THEN IT DIFFRACTED AND THAT LONGER READ WAVELENGTH BENEATH THE MOON AND THE COPPERY CRIMSON COLOR , WE CAN DETERMINE HOW DEEP IT'S GOING TO BE, FOREST FIRES, CLOUDS, VOLCANIC ASH, BUT THIS ONE PROMISES TO BE REALLY SPECTACULAR ONE.

>> NORMALLY THE MOON REFLECTS A SON'S LIGHT SO IT'S GOING TO BE REFLECTING THE LIGHT OF SUNRISES ACROSS THE GLOBE, AM I CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY.

NORMALLY THE LIGHT JUST COMES UNIMPEDED, STRAIGHT FROM THE SUN TO THE MOON AND IT BOUNCES OFF TO THE EARTH.

BUT IN THIS CASE BECAUSE THE EARTH IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MOON, BLOCKING THE SUN, AND ALSO THE DIRECT RAYS, ALL THAT LIGHT COMING FROM THE SUN SURROUNDS THE ENTIRE PLANET , IT'S GOING TO BE COMING AND BATHING THE MOON, SO YOU SEE THE BEAUTIFUL RED.

>> A UNIFYING MOMENT.

JOE GUZMAN, HOW RARE IS THIS EXACT EVENT?

>> NOT AS RARE AS YOU WOULD THINK.

AT LEAST TWICE, TWO LUNAR ECLIPSES A YEAR, SOMETIMES FOUR.

IT HAPPENS RIGHT WHEN THE MOON IS ALWAYS FULL, NEVER PARTIAL.

THE SOLAR ECLIPSES THAT FOLLOW PRETTY SOON, ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER, SO SOME PART OF THE WORLD, OTHER PARTS A SOLAR ECLIPSE.

>> NOT THIS PART OF THE WORLD, IN CHICAGO.

TELL US THE BEST SPOT TO CATCH THIS.

>> THE BEAUTY OF A LUNAR ECLIPSE IS THAT THEY CAN BE SEEN EVERYWHERE AND BY EVERYONE.

THE BEST SPOT WOULD BE SOMEPLACE THAT HAS A NICE VIEW OF THE WESTERN HORIZON.

>> THE MOON IS GOING TO BE PRETTY LOW IN THE NIGHT SKY AT THIS POINT.

>> THE MOON IS GOING TO BE FAIRLY LOW TOWARDS THE END OF THE NIGHT AND SO YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE HORIZON.

>> WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING RIGHT NOW AT A CHART THAT'S SHOWING THE TIMES YOU WILL SEE THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE ECLIPSE HERE.

JOE GUZMAN, IS THE WEATHER GOING TO HOLD UP AND IS THE LIGHT POLLUTION IN CHICAGO GOING TO PREVENT US FROM SEEING THIS, HOW WE MIGHT SEE IT, SAY WE WERE UP IN THE NORTH WOODS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE BEEN CLOUDED UP FOR TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSES?

SO MANY TIMES.

BUT TOMORROW PROMISES TO BE DECENT FOR ONE, AND WE COULD GO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND THAT'S A OKAY.

CITY LIGHT HAS NO IMPACT ON WATCHING THE LUNAR ECLIPSE.

SO BRIGHT, SO VIBRANT.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO .

IT'S A NAKED EYE EVENT.

BRING YOUR FAMILY OUT.

THIS IS A RARE ECLIPSE IN TERMS OF BEING AN ELECTION DAY ECLIPSE.

NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES HAS THIS OCCURRED.

TO GO OUT AND VOTE IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED ALREADY, AND IF YOU HAVE A PAIR OF BINOCULARS BRING IT OUT .

IT WILL ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE.

>> NOT LIKE A SOLAR ECLIPSE.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THIS ONE WITH YOUR BARE EYES.

>> BRING OUT A TELESCOPE, IT WILL BRING YOU RIGHT UP CLOSE TO THE SURFACE OF THE MOON AND YOU CAN SEE A SHADOW SLOWLY CREEPING ACROSS THE FACE OF THE MOON.

>> ANY EVENTS IN CHICAGO WHERE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE COLLECTIVELY GETTING TOGETHER AND WATCHING THIS?

>> IT'S PRETTY EARLY IN THE MORNING.

BUT WE ARE HOLDING A VIRTUAL GATHERING.

OUR SKY OBSERVERS HANG OUT AND A CHANCE FOR FOLKS TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK VIRTUALLY , HERE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT LUNAR ECLIPSES, THE BEST WAY OF SEEING THIS ONE.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BE STARTING THAT SOMEWHERE AROUND 3:00 IN THE MORNING.

>> MANY FOLKS ARE GOING TO WAKE UP AND JOIN IN ON THAT VIRTUAL CONVERSATION.

JOE GUZMAN, YOU WERE MENTIONING TO ME BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR THAT THE LUNAR ECLIPSE IS AWESOME BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING THAT VIEWERS MIGHT SEE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

WHAT ELSE MIGHT WE SEE?

>> AT NO EXTRA CHARGE, AT 4:26 A.M.

THE ISS, THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WILL EXIT THE EARTH'S SHADOW, THAT SAME SHADOW THAT IS NOW COVERING THE MOON, FOR TWO MINUTES IT WILL BE 41 DEGREES HIGH AND YOU CAN USE YOUR FIST TO ESTIMATE HOW HIGH THE DEGREES ARE.

AND IT WILL LAST , IT'S SO BRIGHT IT WILL BE -2.6.

THAT'S PRETTY BRIGHT IN ASTRONOMICAL TERMS.

YOU'LL HAVE BRIGHT MARS PRACTICALLY OVERHEAD.

WE'LL SEE THAT AS WELL.

THE RED STAR GIANT OF THE NIGHT SKY IS SO CHOCK FULL OF HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE ASTRONOMY.

>> YOU GET A WHOLE MULTIMEDIA SHOW FOR THE PRICE OF ONE TOTAL BLOOD MOON ECLIPSE OR WHATEVER WE LIKE TO CALL IT.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND IF YOU'RE UP, DON'T FORGET TO CATCH THAT AT 4:00 A.M. >>> WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY -- >>> THE FIELD MUSEUM RECENTLY RENOVATED ITS NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN HALL AND DRASTICALLY SHIFTED ITS FOCUS.

THE NEW APPROACH EMPHASIZES STORYTELLING AND CONTEMPORARY ART AS WELL AS HISTORICAL ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION.

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

PRODUCER MARK VITELLI VISITED ON OPENING DAY AND HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

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

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

IT MIGHT MAKE YOU LOOK AND THINK TWICE.

>> I AM FROM ACOMA PUEBLO IN NEW MEXICO.

I AM AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER, HAVE BEEN SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS PROJECT.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE OTHER ADVISORS IN THE MUSEUM STAFF.

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

IT'S THEIR STORY TO TELL.

OUR ROLE IS BASICALLY TO FACILITATE TELLING THE STORY, HELPING THEM TO SELECT THINGS FROM OUR COLLECTION OR TALKING ABOUT WHAT A VISITOR MIGHT FEEL .

IT'S LIKE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE FOLKS BUT IT'S REALLY THEIR STORIES YOU ARE LIVING HERE.

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

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

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TELL OUR OWN STORIES IN OUR OWN VOICE , NOT ONLY THE ADVISORS, BUT ENGAGING OTHER OF OUR NATIVE AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THIS PROCESS.

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

BUT SOME GALLERIES WILL ROTATE, GIVING SPACE FOR THE DEPTH OF EXPERIENCES AND CREATIVITY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

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

>> AT THAT TIME, THE ANTHROPOLOGISTS, THE CURATORS, THEY HAD THIS PERSPECTIVE THAT THEIR CULTURES ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR, SO WE BETTER ACCUMULATE EVERYTHING, ALL THE MATERIAL CULTURE THAT WE CAN , TO PRESERVE THAT WAY OF LIFE AND SHOWCASE IT IN OUR MUSEUM.

THERE IS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND HOW STRONG NATIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

THEY RESISTED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT OUTCOMES OF ALL OF THIS, IS TO LET AMERICA KNOW AND LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT NATIVE PEOPLE , INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE.

YOU ARE ON NATIVE LAND.

WE ARE ON NATIVE LAND.

WE ARE ON THE LAND OF THE CREATOR .

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND IT IS SACRED TO US.

THERE'S MORE WORK AHEAD AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE MUSEUM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH NATIVE COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE COLLECTIONS, THAT THEY CAN REPATRIATE THOSE ITEMS THAT NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.

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

>> NATIVE TRUTHS IS A PERMANENT EXHIBITION AT THE FIELD MUSEUM, AND THIS BE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, THE MUSEUM HAS A NUMBER OF UPCOMING RELATED EVENTS INCLUDING A CELEBRATION THIS SATURDAY.

FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY --.

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

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 .

SPECIAL ELECTION DAY COVERAGE WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON VOTER TURNOUT.

>>> PLUS, CITY, STATE AND NATIONAL RACES WITH ANALYSTS AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT", I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT .

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY --