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

I'M PARIS SCHU, PARIS SCHUTZ, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, COLUMBUS DAY OR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THEY.

HOW SOE ARE CELEBRATING AND THE LOCAL ES TO CHANGE THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

> >> REDISTRICTING, TERM LIMITS, .

>> THE DUBS DECISION MAY HAVE PUT A SHARP FOCUS ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, BUT THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE FOR THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

> >> ONE-ON-ONE WITH HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR ON HOW HER TOWN IS HEALING AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE ATTACK.

>> IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERE TO OVERSTATE THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING ABOT SOMETHING ABOUT MULTIPLE COACHES.

>> A PUSH FOR PENALTIES AFTER AN INVESTIGATION INTO WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER FINDS ABUSE ABUSE TO BE RAMPANT, INCLUDING AT THE CHICAGO RED STARS.

>> THEY GET BOOTED, THEY NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

I'M NEVER WITH THE THE SAME PERSON TWICE.

>> HOW PRIVATE BOOTING COMPANIES ARE PUSHING TO LEGALIZE THE PERFECT CITYWIDE.

> >> AS I SAID WHEN I RAN FOR PRE, NO ONE SHOULD BE IN JAIL JUST FOR USING OR POSSESSING MARIJUANA.

>> WHAT DOES FEDERAL DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA MEAN FOR A STATE LIKE ILLINOIS?

> >> AND REMEMBERING THE EVENTS OF 1919 IN CHICAGO IN A NEW STEF NEW STEPPENWOLF PRODUCTION.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

SUSPECTED CYBER ATTACK CYBER ATTACK AT UNITED STATES AIRPORTS TODAY, INCLUDING BOTH O'HARE AND MIDWAY.

THE ATTACKS CRASHED AIRPORT WEBSITES EARLY THIS MORNING AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A COORDINATED DENIAL OF SE OF SERVICE GAME.

THAT'S WHEN A WEBSITE IS OVERWHELMED AND EFFECTIVELY DISABLED BY FLOODING IT WITH JUNK REQUESTS.

REQUESTS.

MORE THAN A DOZEN U.S.

AIRPORTS WERE REPORTEDLY TARGETED.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO ABC NEWS.

ABC ALSO REPORTS A SENIOR FROM MOSER FAMILIAR WITH WITH THE SITUATION TOLD US THE ATTACKS ORIGINATED FROM WITHIN RUSSIA.

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION SAYS AIRPORTS OPERATIONS WERE NOT AFFECTED AND I.T.

STAFF ARE WORKING TO FX THE WEBSITES.

> >> A UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PROFR CHICAGO PROFESSOR WINS THIS YEAR'S NOBEL PRIZE FOR ECONOMIC.

FOR ECONOMICS.

PROFESSOR DOUGLAS DIAMOND IS SHARING THE PRIZE WITH THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE, BEN BERNANKE, AND PHILIP IZYK OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS.

THE ROYAL SWEDISH ACADEMY HONORED THE TRIO FOR IMPROVING, QUOTE, OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF BAS OF BANKS IN THE ECONOMY, PARTICULARLY DURING FINANCIAL CRISES.

IN A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, DIAMOND WAS ASKEDT ASKED ABOUT GETTING A CALL FROM FROM THE ACADEMY.

>> I WAS SOUND ASLEEP, SO MY MAIN REACTION WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE MY PHONE WAS.

O WAS.

SO I HEARD THIS SWEDISH VOICE ON THERE SAYING ARE YOU PR YOU PROFESSOR BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH, I SAID YES.

I DID NOTICE WAS THE DAY THAT THEY ANNOUNCED THE PRICE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY LEGIT.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

SOME FRIENDS HAVE A A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> AS OF SUNDAY NIGHT, JUST UNDER 550 EARLY VOTES HAVE BEEN BEEN CAST IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOR THE NOVEMBER 8th GENERAL ELECTION.

EARLY VOTING BEGAN IN CHICAGO ON FRIDAY.

ACCORDING TO THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS, IN ADDITION TO THE EARLY VOTES CAST, IT'S ALSOD ALMOST 2600 VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS, GIVING A GRAND TOTAL OF 3140 BALLOTS CAST SO FAR.

> >> COMING UP LATER IN THE PROGRAM, AWT TW NEWS INVESTIGATION INTO THE PUSH FORE PRIVATE BOOTING.

FIRST, THE CONTROVERSY OVER COLUMBUS DAY AND THE FIGHT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER AFTER THIS.

> >> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE PARSABLE IN PART BY -- >> TODAY IS COLUMBUS DAY, STILLA CONTROVERSIAL HOLIDAY TOO MANY.S ALSO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY.

SOE ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS ARE CHANGING HOW THEY OBSERVE THE HOLIDAY, IF AT ALL, WHILE MANY STILL GATHER FOR THE ANNUAL COLUMBUS DAY PARADE.

"CHO TONIGHT"'S JoANNE HERNANDEZ HAS HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: THERE WERE CHEERS AS HUNDREDS GATHERED FOR CHICAGO'S 70th ANNUAL COLUMBUS Y PARADE DOWNTOWN.

>> IT'S MY ITALIAN HERITAGE AND AND I LOVE THE PARADE, AND SEE THE BANDS.

>> Reporter: THE JOINT CIVIC COE OF ITALIAN AMERICANS ORGANIZED THE PARADE, WITH MORE THAN 100 FLOATS, BANDS, AND MARCHERS TRAVELING DOWN STATE STREET, A CELEBRATION OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS'S VOYAGE TO THE AMERICAS AND THE ITALIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE SUCH GREAT DIVERSITY DIVERSITY IN AMERICA TO COME AND CELEBRATE THEIR CULTURE WITH US.

THAT'S THE LEGACY OF CS OF COLUMBUS IN THIS NATION OF IMMIGRANTS.

>> Reporter: LEWIS BRONCO HAS BEEN THE GRAND MARSHAL OF THE PARADE SINCE 1972.

>> IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE AND I HAVE MY WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED.

MY GRANDSON, MY TWO SONS ARE WIH ME TODAY, TOO.

THEY'RE HELPING OUT.

>> Reporter: ALTHOUGH COLUMBUS DAY REMAINS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, ADVOCATES HAVE PUSHED THE CITY, CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE TO OFFIY REPLACE THE HOLIDAY WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY.

>> THIS IS OUR LAND PART OF THE THE LAND YOU ARE STANDING ON TODAY'S NATIVE LAND.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE NATIVE PEOPLE WERE HERE AND WE ARE STILL HERE.

>> Reporter: DOWN IN POTTAWATOME PARK AND ROGERS PARK THE INDIGES PEOPLES THEY COALITION GATHERS ALONGSIDE LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS TO PUSH FOR THE CHANG.

THE CHANGE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT SOCIETIES THAT THAT LIVED HERE FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THE OJIBWAY, THE MIAMI AND ALL OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS THAT UNFORTUNATELY SO MANY OF US ARE NOT TAUGHT ABOUT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK TALK ABOUT THAT HISTORY ERASURE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK TO TALK ABOUT THAT HISTORY OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AND SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE THAT STILL REARS ITS HD ON THIS COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: ORGANIZERS SAY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INDIGENOUS GENOCIDE.

>> IT'S ANTI-COLUMBUS.

IF IT WAS ABOUT ITALIAN PRIDE THAN YOU COULD HAVE ITALIAN AMERICANE DAY AND WE GLADLY SHARE THAT.

WE CANNOT SHARE THE DATE OF COLS OF COLUMBUS, THE ATROCITIES IN HIS NAME.

>> Reporter: STILL, MANY ARE OPD TO REPLACING COLUMBUS DAY, SAYIG THE HOLIDAY IS AN IMPORTANT HISL MARKER FOR ITALIAN AMERICANS.

>> IT WOULD HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND IT WOULD HURT-FIRST OF ALL IT WOULD HURT HISTORY BECAUSE THE REASONING IS JUST NOT THERE.

>> Reporter: PHIL CASTELLA AND Y HAVE BEEN COMING TO WATCH THE PARADE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS.

>> THIS WAS A TIME IN OUR HISTORY THAT THIS IS HOW THINGS HOW THINGS WERE DONE.

WE DON'T AGREE WITH IT NOW IN TODAY'S WORLD, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS JUST AS MUCH GOOD THAT CAME OUT OUT OF THAT TIME.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL STATES HAVE STOPPED CELEBRATING COLUMBUS DAY.

LOCALLY, CHICAGO HAS REMOVED THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE FROM GRANT AND ARRIGO PARK.

THE DEBATE OVER WHT OVER WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG STILL REMAINS.

>> PEOPLE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS LIKE THEY'RE NO LONGER HERE.

THEY STILL ARE HERE.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

> >> IN 2017 THE ILLINOIS GENERAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED A BILL MAKING THE LAST MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY IN THE STATE.

> >> A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, THE POTENTIAL FOR A NEW GOVERNOR, A LOT OF IMPORTANT RACES WILL BE DECIDED IN EARLY NOVEMBER.

BUT SOME ARGUE THE MOST PIVOTAL RACES WILL BE AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR BALLOT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RACES TT WILL DECIDE WHO SITS ON THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT, AND DOMINICA BENEKE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

VERY CLOSELY WATCHED RACES HERE, MAYBE BY THE POLITICAL OBSERVERS IF NOT THE STATE AT LARGE.

>> THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO BIG BATTLES FOR ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT SEATS THIS YEAR AND WHO WINS THEM WON'T JUST DECIDE WHO DECIDE WHO ACTUALLY SITS ON THE THE BENCH OF THE STATE'S HIGH COURT, IT WILL ALSO DETERMINE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE COURT.

COURT.

>> IT IS HARD.

THESE RACES OFTEN FLY UNDER THE RADAR, BUT THESE ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT RACES ON OUR BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, AND EVEN THOUGH THAT MIGHT SOUND LIKE AN OVERSTATEMENT, IT'S NOT.

>> Reporter: THAT'S TRICIA WRENCH, WHO IS ON THE BOARD OF THE ABORTION RIGHTS GROUP PERSONAL PACK.

WE'LL GET TO HER HER REASONING FOR THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT TO ADVOCATES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ABORTION ISSUE, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT A VARIETY OF OTHER ISSUES HAVE ALSO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE CONTEXTS.

AND IT'S RARE THAT VOTERS GET THE SORT OF INFLUENCE IN ONE ELECTION CYCLE.

>> EXACTLY HOW RARE IS IT?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE REASONS THAT IT IS RARE AND ONE IS BECAUSE THERE AREN'T OFTEN ACTUAL CONTESTS.

>> IN ILLINOIS POLITICS IT CAN BE RARE TO HAVE A REAL CONTEST BECAUSE YOU HAVE INCUMBENTS WHOT IN THERE AND GET ENTRENCHED, AND ESPECIALLY WITH JUDGES WE HAVE RETENTION ELECTIONS.

ONCE THEY WERE IN THERE, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET THEM OUT.

>> AS YOU HEARD, ONCE JUDGES WIN A SEAT ON THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT, THEY OFTEN STAY FOR A LONG TIME.

NOT LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS LIKE ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, BUT TERMS LAST A A DECADE AND ONCE THAT DECADE IS UP, A JUSTICE DOESN'T RUN AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE.

THEY RUN ON THEIR RECORD FOR RETENTION.

TWO YEARS AGO, FORMER JUSTICE THOMAS KILBRIDE WAS THE FIRST JUSTICE TO LOSE HIS BID FOR RETENTION IN AN ELECTION CYCLE THAT SET SPENDING RECORDS.

IT'S IT'S ALSO RARE BECAUSE OF HOW THE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN.

WHEN THERE ARE CONTESTS, IT IS A GIVEN THAT THE THREE SEATS COVERING COOK COUNTY WILL BE HELD BY DEMOCRATS AND THAT REPUBLICANS WILL THEN WIN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, WHICH IS WHY WHY THIS IS A BIG YEAR TO SUBURBAN DISTRICTS ARE IN PLAY AND DISTRICTS THAT COULD BE WON WON BY THE NOMINEE OF EITHER PARTY.

IN THE SECOND DISTRICT, COVERING THE NORTHERN CALLER COUNTIES, IT'S FORMER LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF MARK CURRAN AGAIT THE CRADDICK LAKE COUNTY JUDGE ELIZABETH LIZ ROQUEFORT.

THE THIRD DISTRICT, COVERING THE SOUTHWEST SUBURBS, PITS CURRENT CURRENT SUPREME COURT JUDGE MICHAEL BURKE AGAINST APPELLATE APPELLATE JUSTICE ERIC CANO BRIAN.

NOW AS I SAID, RIGHT NOW NOW DEMOCRATS HOLD A 4-3 MAJORITY, BUT IF THE GOP NOMINEES WHEN BOTH OF THOSE CONTESTS, CONTROL OF THE COURT WOULD FLIP TO REPUBLICAN 4-3 CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES.

FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR JIM NOLAN WAS INVOLVED WITH THE EFFORT TO OUST KILBRIDE.

HE SAYS DEMOCRATS DREW THE MAPS TO FAVOR THEIR PAY BACK IN THE '60S.

>> SINCE THEN, CONTINUOUSLY DEMOCRATS OF HEAD A MAJORITY ON ON THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT AND THEY HAVE USED THAT MAJORITY RELIABLY TO ATTRACT POSITIONS LIKE MIKE MADIGAN ON , TERM LIMITS, PENSIONS, AND SO IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

>> A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC POWER IN IN SO MANY BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE COMMON ILLINOIS AND IF CONTROL OF THE COURT FLICKS?

>> >> YOU TOUCHED ON IT RIGHT THERE.

PARTY CONTROL.

RIGHT NOWS CONTROL ALL OF STATE GOVERNMENT STATE GOVERNMENT INCLUDING THE COURT.

YOU HEARD ALSO NOLAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE AT STAKE.

PENSIONS, REDISTRICTING.

THE SUPREME COURT TACKLES ISSUES REGARDING WORKERS COMPENSATION PAYOUTS AND WHILE JUSTICES ARE TO BE NON ONCE THE ELECTIONS ARE OVER, ILLINOIS HAS SEEN JUSTICES ELECTED AS AUTOCRATS SIDING WITH TRIAL LAWYERS, THOSE ELECTED AS REPUBLICANS OFTEN SIDING WITH BUSINESSES AND INSU.

BUT THE DOBBS DECISION OVERRULING ROE V WADE HAS ALSO E CLEAR JUDGES HAVE A BIG SAY ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAY THAT ILLINOIS IS AN ISLAND IN PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO HAVE AN AN ABORTION.

THEY SAY THAT COULD CHANGE.

THE CHALLENGES BROUGHT BEFORE THE STATE'S HIGH HIGH COURT.

>> THESE RACES PUT ALL OF OUR RIGHTS BACK IN THE SUPREME COURT AND UP FOR GRABS.

THAT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

THAT'S THE THE RIGHT TO GO TO A SCHOOL OR CHURCH OR A PARADE AND NOT BE SHOT.

THAT'S THE RIGHT TO DRINK DRINK CLEAN WATER.

ALL OF THOSE OF THOSE THINGS LAND IN THE STATE SUPREME COURT'S ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

>> AND A RECORD SPENDING BUT WE BUT WE ARE SEEING A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY FROM BOTH SIDES GOING INTO THESE RACES.

WE'LL GET TO THE CANDIDATE STANCES TOMORROW.

TOMORROW.

IT IS COMP LOCATED BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING FOR JUD.

THESE CANDIDATES DON'T TAKE STANCES ON ISSUES, AS DO CANDIDS FOR LEGISLATIVE OFFICES.

BUT ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS ARE BACKING THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDAT.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

NOW TO BRING SOMETHING INTERESTING UP, INTERESTING UP, DEMOCRATS OF THE LEGISLATURE HAVE PASSED A CE LAWS LIMITING DONATIONS FOR JUDICIAL RACES, LIKE ONES THAT AND MONEY FROM THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE ILLINOIS.

THE CONSERVATIVE LEANING LIBERTY JUSTICE CENTER IS SUING TO GET THAT LAW TOSSED.

>> WE REPRESENT A MAN WHO WAS A A LAWYER IN ILLINOIS FOR 63 YEARS BEFORE HE FINALLY RETIRED RETIRED TO TEXAS, AND HE HAS A NUMBER OF FORMER COLLEAGUES WHO WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, AND AND HE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM.

BUT THIS LAW SAYS SAYS HE LITERALLY CAN'T SUPPORT CAN'T SUPPORT THEM AT ALL, AND THAT'S TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ATTEMPT TO INE WHO DOES AND DOESN'T GET TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS, GET TO TO HAVE A SAY IN OUR ELECTION, AND THAT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THAT CASE IS STILL WINDING IS WAY THROUGH THE COURT.

>> A LOT OF HOMEWORK FOR VOTERS FOR VOTERS TO DO, AMANDA.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

> >> UP NEXT, COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY KIM FOX ON MARIJUANA PARDONS AND MORE.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PARDONED PARDONED ALL CITIZENS AND LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE WITHE WITH SIMPLE MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS THIS WILL AFFECT ABOUT 6500 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE.

AND ACCG TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER, ILLINOIS HAS ALREADY PARDONED AND EXPUNGD AND EXPUNGED NEARLY 800,000 LOW-LEVEL CONVICTIONS TO THIS DAY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MORE IS COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY KIM FOX, WHOSE OFFICE HAS ALREADY EXPUNGED MORE THAN 15,000 MARIJUANA CASE.

STATE'S ATTORNEY FOX, WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

IT'S IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

>> IT HAS BEEN, THANK FOR HAVING ME IN THE STUDIO.

>> OBVIOUSLY MARIJUANA HAS BEEN LEGAL IN ILLINOIS FOR TWO YEARS, SO WHAT WHAT PRACTICAL IMPACT DOES THIS THIS FEDERAL EXPUNGEMENT HAVE?

>> I THINK THE FEDERAL IMPACT IS THAT IT'S ACROSS ALL STATES WE SHOULD BE MOVING TOWARDS DEC.

SO YES, ILLINOIS WAS AHEAD OF THE CURVE BUT IT IS STILL A FEDERAL OFFENSE TO POSSESS SIMPLE MARIJUANA CASES, SO I THINK IT IS TO SEND A MESSAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE NEED NEED TO MOVE TOWARDS DECRIMINALIZATION AND ULTIMATELY VACATING CONVICTIONS CONVICTIONS LIKE WE DONE HERE IN ILLINOIS.

>> YOU'VE VACATED ABOUT 15,000 N COOK COUNTY AND THERE ARE STILL ARE STILL A COUPLE HUNDRED LEFT.

WHAT ARE THOSE CASES?

>> THOSE ARE CASES WHERE WE ARE ARE LOOKING AT THE WEIGHT AND THE AMOUNT TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY FIT OUR , AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, VACATING CONVICTIONS, THESE ARE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD A GUILTY FINDING AND NOW THOSE FINDINGS NO LONGER EXIST AND THOSE RECORDS CAN BE EXPUNGED.

EXPUNGEMENT, WHICH THE GOVERNOR GOVERNOR HAS DONE ALREADY, HAS BEEN ANYONE WHO HAS EVEN BEEN ARRESTED, EVEN FOR CASES THAT DID NOT LEAD TO CHARGES.

THOSE ARE ARRESTS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPUD AND THAT'S WHY THERE ARE SO MANY STATEWIDE.

>> AT THE COUNTY LEVEL CONVICTION, THAT'S OFF THE RECOD NOW.

>> THOSE CONVICTIONS ARE OFF THEIR RECORD.

AS THOUGH IT NEVER HAPPENED.

NOT JUST A PARDON BUT THE CONVICTION DOES NOT EXIST.

>> WITH THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF OF THAT?

>> IF YOU HAVE A CONVICTION ON ONE'S RECORD THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM JOBS, HOUSING, STUDENT LOANS, SO THE ABILITY FOR ONE TO BE ABLE TO NOT CHECK BOX OF HAVING A PREVIOUS CONVIC, EVEN JUST FOR MARIJUANA, WILL OPEN SO MANY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY DOORS.

>> THE SERIES WE RAN LAST WEEK EXAMINED SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO RECOMMENDD RECLASSIFYING MARIJUANA FROM A SCHEDULE ONE NARCOTIC, WHICH IS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF HEROIN AND AND OTHER DRUGS, TO SOMETHING ELSE.

FROM THE PROSECUTOR STAND, WHERE DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE BE RECLASSIFIED?

YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE LEGALIZED?

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE LEGALIZED.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU HAVE SCHEDULE ONE TO THE POINT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEROIN OR FENTANYL, AND WE'VE SEEN NOW ALT 2 DOZEN STATES HAVE LEGALIZED M, SO WE KNOW FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, FROM A MEDICAL STANDPOINT, THAT IT IS NOT SERVING THE SAME DANGER AS FENTANYL IS.

I THINK AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WHAT WE'VE LED WE'VE LEARNED WITH THE PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL, WE SHOUD APPLY THOSE SAME LESSONS TO MAR.

I THINK MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED.

>> A LOT OF EVOLUTION OF THINKING ON THAT.

THE PRESIDENT THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT ON BOARD H THAT KIND OF THOUGHT YEARS AGO N HE WAS PART OF THE '94 CRIME BILL.

I WANT TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT SUBJECT, THE SAFETY ACT.

YOU ARE A SUPPORTER OF THAT AS A PROSECUTOR.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER HAS A ALLEGED THE LAW WILL BE TWEAKED AT SOME POINT.

WHAT KIND OF TWEAKS DO YOU THINK YOU THINK IT SHOULD GET?

>> THE SAFETY ACT WAS ENACTED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE COMMUNITIES AND THAT WE HAVE A BELL SYSTEM THAT KEPT DANGEROUS DANGEROUS PEOPLE IN JAIL AND PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT A DANGER, OUT.

I THINK SOME OF THE TWEAKS TWEAKS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT THE LANGUAGE IS CLEAR.

THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE SAFETY SAFETY ACT IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE VAGARIES IN THE LEGISLATURE SO I THINK IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THE LANGUAGE IS CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL ABOUT WHO GETS HELD HELD AND WHO DOESN'T SO THERE'S THERE'S NO CONFUSION.

>> CONFUSION IS THAT THERE MIGHT BE RELEASE OF OFFENSES WHERE PROSECUTORS CANNOT SEEK DETENTION, THEREBY RESULTING IN IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PEOPLE PEOPLE BACK ON THE STREET.

HOW DO YOU REACT TO THAT?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED AND PART OF THIS INFORMATION WAS THIS NOTION OF NONDETECTABLE OFFENSES.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THE JUDGE HAS THE ABILITY TO DETAIN ANYONE OF A NUMBER OF OFFENSES, BUT TO TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S CLARITY AROUND THE LAWMAKERS WITH INPUT WITH INPUT FROM STATES ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND AND ACROSS THE STATE, I SHOULD .

MY OFFICE IS PARTICIPATING IN THAT.

WE WANT TO MAKE A CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL OF WHO GETS TO TAKE THIS BENEFIT.

>> THERE HAVE TO BE THIS EXTRA STEP OF DETENTION HEARINGS FOR MANY AFFECTED.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IS THAT FOR PROSECUTORS TO TAKE TAKE THIS EXTRA STEP AND TO REALLY PROVE SOMEONE IS A DANGER OR A FLIGHT RISK BECAUSE BECAUSE THAT MIGHT BE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION FOR A JUDGE TO MAKE.

>> WE'VE BEEN HAVING DETENTION HEARINGS ALL ALONG.

WE'VE HAD BAIL HEARINGS AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT EVOLUTION, THESE ARE HEARINGS TT USED TO BE HELD AND TAKE NO MORE THAN A MINUTE.

NOW WE ARE SLOWING THE PROCESS DOWN.

WE ARE USING THE AVAILABLE DATA FROM PRETRIAL SERVICES AS WELL AS SOMEONE'S CRIMINAL HISTORY AD BACKGROUND AS WELL AS TALKING TO THE VICTIMS OF CRIME, TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE FULL PICTURE.

IT WILL TAKE LONGER.

IT WILL REQUIRE US TO HAVE MORE PROSECUTORS AROUND.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR US TO BE WORKING WITH THE STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, THE COUNTY COURT PRESIDENT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE E NECESSARY RESOURCES TO BE READYY 1st.

>> YOU KNOW MANY STATES ATTORNEYS STILL WORRY THAT TOO Y TOO MANY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SUSPECTS MIGHT BE BACK ON THE STREETS.

YOU DON'T SHARE THOSE CONCERNS AT ALL?

>> I WORRY EVERY DAY WHEN I SEE SEE SOMEONE WHO IS CHARGED WITH WITH A VIOLENT OFFENSE BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR WAY OUT, AND THAT'S THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE T NOW.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE N CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, WHO GOT A MILLION-DOLLAR BOND AND POSTED $100,000 AND WALKED OUT.

SO RIGHT NOW UNDER THIS CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE --E ACCESS TO CASH AND ARE DANGEROUS OUT ON OUR STREETS.

SO I THINK WHAT THIS ALLOWS FOR FOR US TO DO, AND I'M SURE THATY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE WILL FULLY UNDERSTAND, IS TAKE YOU ARE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC, THERE SHOULD BE NO DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO WALK OUT AND CAUSE HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT WITHD GANG MEMBERS THAT MAYBE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE BAILED FOR Y SERIOUS OFFENSES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S PART OF THE THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES WHO KNOW THAT BEING ARRESTED AND GOING TO JAIL AS PART OF THE COST, SO SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CASH, AND THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE DANGEROUS TO OUR COMMUNITY ARE WRITING CHECKS AND WALKING.

WITH THE SAFETY ACT IS DEDICATED TO DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY CANNOT PAY THEIR WAY OUT, AND I THINK E GOING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE DANGEROUS AND POSE THAT THREAT HELD IN CUSTODY THEN WE SEE TODAY.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SPECIAL LEVELS IN YOUR OFFICE BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROSECUTOR THAT CAME OUT PUBLICLY AND SAID SAID THERE WERE SO MANY POSITIONS THAT WERE GOING UNFILLED, LOTS OF ATTRITION, AND MORALE IS TAKING A HIT.

WHERE ARE YOU ON STAFFING NOW?

>> WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE OTR PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE OFFICE, WHO DURING THESE TRANSITIONS, AS PART OF THE GREAT RESIGNATION WE'VE SEEN ACROSS SECT THEIRS, O STOOD BY AND DID THIS WORK UNDER INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE HAVE JUST BROUGHT IN A NEW CLASS OF ATTORS OF ATTORNEYS, I THINK 50 BACK IN AUGUST WILL BE SWORN IN NEXT IN NEXT MONTH.

SO WE ARE TRYING TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ATTRITION.

SO WE ARE NOT FULLY STAFFED.

WE CERTAINLY ARE MUCH BETTER THAN WE WERE.

WE ARE ON R WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE , SOMEWHERE AROUND 15% OF OUR COMMISSIONS WERE MADE OFFICE.

>> COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY KIM FLACHS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

> >> UP NEXT, COULD PRIVATE CAR BG BECOMING CITYWIDE?

WTTW CITY NEWS INVESTIGATES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> OUR CULTURAL IS VIBRANT, IT'S RICH, IT'S FUN.

>> WE TRY TO FOCUS ON LET ME HELP YOU, THIS IS WHAT CHICAGO IS, IT'S LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> CERTAINLY NOBODY'S IDEA OF A A GOOD TIME, WALKING OUT TO YOUR CAR TO FIND IT'S BEEN BOOTED.

IN 35 WORDS AROUND CHICAGO, BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ALLOWED TO HIRE A PRIVATE BOOTING COMPANY TO PATROL THEIR LOTS AND PUNISHE WHO PARKED ILLEGALLY.

NOW THERES A MEASURE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE PREP IS CITYWIDE, AND ITS BACKERS ARE FOLLOWING A FAMILIAR PLAYBOOK.

WTTW NEWS REPORTERS NICK BLUMBERG AND HEAR SHARON HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS STORY AND ARE JOINING US NOW.

HEATHER, STARTING WITH YOU.

>> AS MENTIONED, IT'S LEGAL AND AND 35 WORDS FOR IF YOU PARK LEY TO COME OUT AND FIND A BOOT ON YOUR CAR AND IT WILL COST YOU $0 TO GET IT OFF.

THE WARDS WHERE THAT PRACTICE IS LEGAL HAVE RISEN SINCE 2017, WHEN IT WAS JUST 25.

NOW THERE HAS BEEN A CONCERTED PUSH BACK BY SOME PROGRESSIVE ALDER PEOPLE THAT SAID THIS IS UNFAIR AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.

NOW THAT PROCESS IS SUPPORTERS TO MOBILIZE IN A WAY VERY FAMILIAR FAMILIAR TO OBSERVERS FOLLOWING FOLLOWING A PATH BLAZED WITH CLOUT AND CASH.

>> THE FERMENT OF NEARLY ALL THE PRIVATE BOOTING IN THE CITY BROT ON A LONGTIME FORMER ALDER PERSON TO LOBBY HIS EX-COLLEAGUES AND GIN UP SUPPORT FOR CITYWIDE LEGALIZATION.

THATE FIRM CONNECTED PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES HAVE FOR YEARS BEEN T BEEN FREQUENT DONORS TO ALTER PEOPLE AND THEIR POLITICAL FUNDS.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL DENNY GRACE KNOWS HE AND HIS EMPLOYEES AREN'T EXACTLY POPULAR.

>> WE ARE NOT HANDING OUT ICE CREAM.

>> Reporter: BUT HE SAYS IT'S NT FAIR TO BUSINESS OWNERS WHEN PEOPLE PARKED ILLEGALLY IN THEIR LOTS AND THAT A BOOT THATN BE REMOVED ON THE SPOT WHEN THE THE DRIVER PAYS UP IS FAR MORE HUMANE THAN TELLING.

>> WE LEAVE THE VIOLATOR STRANDED, SOME HAVE TO PICK UP KIDS FROM SCHOOL OR HAVE TO GET GET TO A DATE OR SOMETHING LIKE.

WE HAVE SOME OLD PEOPLE OUT IN THE SNOW.

>> Reporter: AND HE SAYS IT IS UNFAIR TO A BUSINESS LIKE HIS TO ONLY BE ABLE TO OPERATE IN CERTAIN WARDS.

>> WHY SHOULD I HAVE TWO COMPANIES -- YOU CAN'T TOE ANYBODY IN THAT WORD.

>> Reporter: THAT'S WHY DENNY GRACE IS PUSHING FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD LEGALIZE PE BOOTING CITYWIDE WITH THE HELP OF FORMER 49th WARD ALDER PERSON TURNED LOBBYIST JOE MORE.

>> IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO GET MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THESE OLDER PERSONS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY BUSY.

HE KNOWS THE BUSINESS.

HE HAD IT IN HIS WORD.

>> NOT ONLY SOMETHING THAT BUSINESSES NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THEIR PARKING LOTS OR OR PAYING CUSTOMERS, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT'S HONESTLY MORE CONSUMER FRIENDLY THAN HAVING THESE PIRATES GO AROUND TELLING CARS AWAY.

>> Reporter: THE OLDER PERSON WHO DEFEATED MOORE IN 2019, WHO 2019, WHO IS LOOKING TO BAN PRIVATE BOOTING IN THE 49th WARD DISAGREES.

>> IT'S PREDATORY, IT HURTS POOR PEOPLE AND IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE AN ADDED BENEFIT.

>> WHILE SOME OF MOORE'S FORMERS FORMER COLLEAGUES HAVE CRITICIZED HIS PIVOT TO LOBBY AND AFTER LOSING THE 2019 REELECTION BID, HE SAYS HE'S STL JUST TALKING POLICY LIKE HE ALWS DID.

>> IN ESSENCE I'VE BEEN LOBBYING MY COLLEAGUES FOR 30 YEARS.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE FORMER THOSE FORMER COLLEAGUES, ALDER PERSON ARIEL BOGARDUS IS COSPONSORING MEASURE TO LEGALIZE PRIVATE BOOTING CITYWIDE AFTER MOORE BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO HIS ATTENTION.

HE SAYS IT'S ABOUT SUPPORTING BUSINESS OWNERS, NOT NOT CLOUT.

>> IS REPRESENTING THE BUSINESS.

DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME.

HE'S GETTING PAID FOR HIS SERVICES.

I KNOW THAT.

>> Reporter: ONE PRIVILEGE TO WHICH MOORE HAS BEEN ENTITLED, THE LIFETIME ACCESS TO CITY COUL CHAMBERS GRANTED TO FORMER ALDER PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIME, BUT AN ETHICS OVERHAUL PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR BANS LOBBYING ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR.

MOORE HAS BEEN A A FREQUENT PRESENCE THERE BUT SAYS HE WASN'T DOING ANY BUSINESS.

>> EVEN BEFORE THIS RULE WENT INTO EFFECT, I NEVER LOBBIED ON ON THE FLOOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL DURING A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS BAD FORM.

>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO LOBG FIREPOWER, INNOVATIVE PARKING GIVES OWNERS AND EXECUTIVES ANDR OTHER BUSINESSES ARE LONGTIME DONORS TO ALDER PEOPLE, CANDIDATE FOR COUNSEL, AND WARD WARD POLITICAL COMMITTEES.

SINCE 2003, RECORDS SHOW THEY'VE GIVEN MORE THAN $115,000 TO THOSE FUNDS.

DURING DURING THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL, INNOVATIVE PARKING AND ITS LEADERS HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN 33,000.

LOBBYIST MOORE HAS DONATED MORE THAN 12,000.

>> SUPPORTING CANDIDATES OF YOUR CHOICE OR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO YOU BELIEVE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A PART AND PARCEL OF AMERICAN POLITICS SINCE THE REV.

>> I THINK IT'S KIND OF UNETHICAL.

I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL JUDGMENTS, RIGHT, ABOUT RIGHT, ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO USE ONE'S ACCESS OR ONE'S FORMER STATUS, OR WHETHER IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR FOR COMPANIES TO DO BUSINESS.

BT MAYBE I'LL JUST SAY, FOR INNOVATIVE PARKING SOLUTIONS IT IT SEEMS IN LINE WITH HOW THEY O BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ADVANCED THE PRIVATE G LAST MONTH ON A VOTE.

INTERESTS INTERESTS FROM BOOTING INTEREST, MOORE OR BOTH.

>> MY CONTRIBUTIONS COULD DO NOTHING AND THAT DEPARTMENT, ANY DONATIONS THAT ARE MADE ARE ARE FOR EVENTS, ALWAYS FOR EVENTS, AND THOSE EVENTS ARE ADVANTAGEOUS TO ME BECAUSE I WANT TO GET IN THERE AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS DO COME TO THESE EVENTS.

>> Reporter: A FULL CITY COUNCIL VOTE ON THE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL LATER THIS MONTH AT THE EARLIEST AS BACKERS LOOK LOOK TO GATHER VOTES.

LOBBYIST MOORE IS HOPEFUL THEY CAN MAKE R CASE, AS HE SAYS HE LOOKS TO DO DO FOR INNOVATIVE PARKING AND ALL HIS OTHER LANDS.

>> I THINK THEY HIRED ME BECAUSE OF THE KNOWLEDGE I LEARNED AND RELATIONSHIPS I'VE BUILT OVER MY 30 YEARS IN PUBLIC OFFICE, AND I THINK I'M VERY GOOD AT WHAT I DO.

SO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO REACH OUT TO ME, THAT'S THAT'S JOE MOORE.ORG.

>> WE SPOKE WITH BORIS LAST WEEK, HE SAID HE THOUGHT THEY JUST BARELY HAD THE VOTES BUT HE WASN'T YET SURE OF THE EARLIEST EARLIEST THE BOOTING PROPOSAL CD COME UP IS AT THE CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 26th MEETING.

>> SURPRISED HE DIDN'T GIVE OUT OUT HIS PHONE NUMBER, TOO.

HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR ALDERMEN TO CONSIDER SOMETHING THAT KIND OF KIND OF GOES AGAINST ALDERMANIC?

TYPICALLY AN OLDER PERSON, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO BOOTING IN THEIR WARD, THE OTHER OLDER PEOPLE WOULD BACK THAT DECISION.

>> THIS WILL UNDERMINE ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE AND MANYF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE FOR THIS ARE TYPICAL SUPPORTERS OF ALDERC PREROGATIVE.

THIS PROPOSAL DID NOT COME FROM MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, WHO HAS TRIED TO CURTAIL THAT POWER.

PERHAPS THAT'S WHY IT HASN'T RAISED THE THE HACKLES OF ALDER PEOPLE.

>> >> WE'LL SEE WHERE THIS GOES.

NICE JOB, THANKS VERY MUCH.

> >> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> STILL TO COME ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, WE TALKED WITH HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTARY THREE MONTHS AFTER THE TRAGIC FOURTH OF JULY PARADE SHOOTING.

> >> NEW REPORTS OF MISCONDUCT HAVE COME OUT SINCE AN INVESTIGATION DETAILS WIDESPREAD ABUSE IN PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER.

AND REMEMBERING THE EVENTS OF 1919 N CHICAGO IN A NEW STEPPENWOLF PRODUCTION FROM TWO CHICAGO WOM.

CHICAGO WOMEN.

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

THREE MONTHS AFTER HE WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED DURING THE FOURTH OF JULY MASS SHOOTING IND PARK, EIGHT-YEAR-OLD COOPER ROBERTS RETURNS TO SCHOOL FOR HIS FIRST DAY OF THIRD GRADE.

TS ACCORDING TO HIS FAMILY.

ROBERT, WHO WAS PARALYZED BY THE SHOOTI, WAS AMONG THE YOUNGEST VICTIMS OF THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE ATTACK THAT LEFT SEVEN PEOPLE DEAD AND DOZENS MORE WINDED.

AND AS WE MENTIONED, WE'LL BE TALKIG WITH HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY Y AND IN JUST A MINUTE.

> >> OUTRAGE IN WASHINGTON PARK OR AN ATTACK ON A YOUNG GIRL WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL.

COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE AREA ARE ASKING HOW IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON A SO-CALLED SAFE PASSAGE ROUTE LAST WEEK.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE TODAY IS THAT THAT'S A BLOCK AND A HALF WHICH SAFE PASSAGE WORKERS SHOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE HER IF THEY WAS OUT WAS OUT THERE DOING WHAT THEY WERE PAID TO DO.

SO I'M CALLING I'M CALLING ON A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION TODAY ON WHERE, WHO WAS A PART OF SAFE PASSAGE, PASSAGE, WHERE WAS SAFE PASSAGE, AND WHY DIDN'T THEY SEE THE YOUNG GIRLS?

>> CHICAGO POLICE HAVE RELEASED HAVE RELEASED THIS SKETCH OF A MAN WHO IS WANTED IN CONNECTIONH THE ATTACK.

HE'S DESCRIBED AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN AGED BETWEEN 45 AND 60 AND BETWEEN FIVE FEET EIGHT AND FIVE FEET 10 INCHES TALL.

> >> ANOTHER SURE SIGN OF A CHANGE OF SEASONS, BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN IN GRANT PARK WILL HAVE ITS FINAL DISPLAY THIS EVENING AT 11:00 P.M.

THE ICONIC CHICAGO LANDMARK, WHICH FIRST OD IN MAY OF 1927, WILL BE BACK FOR ITS 96th SEASON NEXT SPRING, AND IN THE MEANTIME, THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT WILL DRAIN THE FOUNTAIN AND PREPARE IT FOR THE OFF-SEASON.

> >> IT'S BEEN A LITTLE MORE THAN THAN THREE MONTHS SINCE THE TRAGIC MASS SHOOTING IN HIGHLAND PARK DURING THE FOURTH FOURTH OF JULY PARADE.

SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 48 OTHERS WERE HURT, BUT SOME POSITIVE NEWS TODAY.

AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY SHOT AND PAR, AND PARALYZED, RETURNED TO SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SINCE THE DEADLY SHOOTING, HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTARY HAS INCREASED HER CALLS R A BAN ON ASSAULT RIFLES, INCLUDING DURING TESTIMONY BEFORE CONGRESS, AND SHE JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS, HOWEVER COMMUNITY IS HEALING AND HOW THE VICTIMS OF THIS ATTACK ARE BEING REMEMBERED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THREE MONTS OUT, TAKING THE 500 FOOT VIEW, WHAT ARE YOUR REFLECTIONS ON THE AFTERMATH HERE IN HIGHLAND PARK AND WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY IS AT RIGHT NOW?

>> WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING TOWARDS A RECOVERY.

WE E WE ARE GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT FOREVER LS LIKE AFTER A MASS SHOOTING, BUT BUT WE ARE ALSO WORKING THROUGH THROUGH THE MEMORIALIZING, RECOGNIZING THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF WHAT DEVASTATING EVENT LIKE THIS HAS ON A COMMUNITY.

WE ARE STRONG.

WE ARE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.

BUT WE KNOW FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THIS FIRST YEAR IS GOING TO BE A YEAR OF A LOT OF FIRSTS AND A LOT OF TEARS, AND HOPEFULLY SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHE.

>> YOU WERE TELLING ME BEFORE TS TAPING THAT THERE'S AN ACTUAL PK ACTUAL PLAYBOOK THAT GOT SENT TO YOU ON HOW A COMMUNITY DEALSH THIS.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT P OUT AT YOU, FROM WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, AND S IS THE 198 PAGE PLAYBOOK THAT'ST TO MAYORS AFTER A MASS SHOOTING, SO NAN WHALEY, THE MAYOR OF DAYTON, OHIO, LITERALLY CALLED E WITHIN THE HOUR AND SAID CHECK R EMAIL, I JUST SENT YOU THIS HANDBOOK.

AND THE BIGGEST ISSUET IT REALLY SPELLS OUT IS JUST GIG EVERYBODY ROOM TO MOVE FORWARD, MOVE FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S THE WORD RECOVERY, HEALING, MORNING, ALL OF THE ABOVE, BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE WHO AREW ARE NOW HAVING THE FIRST BIRTHDAY WITHOUT THEIR LOVED ON.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE HAVING E FIRST SPECIAL HOLIDAY WITHOUT TR LOVED ONE, OR WITH A CHANGE TO THEIR PHYSICALITY, THEIR OWN EMOTIONAL SPACE.

SO UNDERSTANDIG THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF WHO'S BEEN IMPACTED, WHAT THEY BROUGHT THEY BROUGHT IN THEIR OWN LIVESO THE EVENT NOW, AS THEY TRIED TO TO MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT ARE THEY DEALING WITH?

>> I STILL GATHER THERE IS STILL GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMING TO GRIPS WITH CHANGES INS LIVES.

IT'S NOT JUST A LINEAR IT LINEAR IMPROVEMENT THREE MONTHS MONTHS OUT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A ROCKY ROAD, BUT WE DID HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TODAY.

EIGHT-YEAD COOPER ROBERTS, HE WAS SHOT AND AND PARALYZED.

HE RETURNED TO SCHOOL TODAY.

WHAT IS PROGNOSIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS PROGNOSIS IS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS HIS NEW NORMAL, AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING HEARTBREAKING TO READ HIS QUOTE HIS QUOTE WHEN SOMEBODY SAID HOW WAS YOUR FIRST DAY BACK AT SCHOOL AND HE SAID IF I HADN'T BEEN SHOT AND PARALYZED AND IN A WHEELCHAIR, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT.

THAT JUST CATCHES YOU.

THINKING ABOUT WHO ABOUT WHO YOU WERE AS AN EIGHT-, WHO YOU KNOW WHO ARE EIGHT-YEAR-OLDS IN YOUR LIFE AND THEIR FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL.

SCHOOL.

TO HAVE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF PERSPECTIVE AND NOW LOOK OUT INTO THE FUTURE, HAS TO BE PRETTY DODGY BEFORE COOPER AND HIS FAMILY.

>> FOR ANYBODY, BUT ESPECIALLY N EIGHT-YEAR-OLD.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM SOME OF THE OTHER VICTIMS AND HOW THE RECOVERY IS IS GOING?

>> IT'S TAKING A LONG TIME.

THE TIME.

THE WOUNDS THAT COME FROM FROM THESE COMBAT WEAPONS ARE MEANT TO DEVASTATE THE HUMAN BODY, AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE OUTCOMES FROM THE HIGHLAND K SHOOTING, AS WELL.

MANY PEOPLE E STILL WORKING ON THEIR PHYSICAL THEIR PHYSICAL RECOVERY.

MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES DEALING WITH THESE WOUNDS, HAVING TO GO BACK INTO THE HOSPITAL IN SOME INSTANCES.

IT'S A HORRIBLE THING AND THESE GUNSE GUNS ARE MADE FOR WAR AND SHOULDN'T BE ON OUR STREETS.

>> >> AND YOU'VE BEEN TESTIFYING PLACES LIKE CAPITOL HILL ABOUT THAT VERY THING.

WHAT OF THOSE EXPERIENCES BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?

>> BOTH ENCOURAGING AND HORRIFYING.

THERE ARE THOSE WHOR US, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S NOT JUST GUN VIOLENCE, WHICH EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE INURED TO.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, REAL TERRORISMN OUR CITY STREETS.

THOSE CONVERS, PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO.

THE FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO COVER THEIR EARS AND HOPE THAT THIS NEVER COMES TO THEIR COMMUNITY ARE NOT HEARING WHAT WE ARE SAYING.

THEY ARE FOOLS.

THIS IS IS COMING TO ANYBODY'S COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN ITL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO WHAT I'M I'M HEARING MORE FROM OUR MAYORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT THIS DEVASTATION WILL LAND IN THEIR LAPSE, NOT IF BUT WHEN IT COMES COMES TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY WILL NOW BE DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH.

IT'S NOT JUST THE WEEKS AND MONTHS, BUT THE FOREVERS, GENERATIONS THAT ARE G IMPACTED.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF A STATEWIDE ASSAUT WEAPONS BAN.

HE WAS ASKED AT THE DEBATE ON THURSDAY WHY IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

TAKE A LOOK A LOOK.

>> I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT AT THIS POINT IN THE LEGISLATURE YOU NEED A SUPER MAJORITY IN ORDER TO GET THAT DONE.

'S OF THE WORKING GROUPS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE DETERMINING WHAT THEY CAN GET DE IN THE VETO SESSION, WHICH IS HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER, AND WHAT WHAT THEY CAN GET DONE AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR WHEN THERE IS A NEW SENATE AND YOU NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

>> THEY NEED A SUPER MAJORITY NOW.

THAT'S HARDER TO DO.

THE VOTES OSTENSIBLY ARE NOT THERE.

NOT THERE.

IN JANUARY YOU WILL D A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

THERE ARE ENOUGH DEMOCRATS, AT LEAST TO AH THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS PACKAGE WILL LOOK LIKE ALTERNATELY?

>> MY FONDEST WISH IS THAT IT IS A FULL ON STATEWIDE BEEN.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS WHERE ANYTHING COULD BE MOVED FORWARD IN TERMS OF MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET THESE WEAPONS.

WHETHER IT'S IT'S REMOVING THE STATE PREEMPTN THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, HIGHLAND EXISTS, HIGHLAND PARK BANNED THESE WEAPONS IN 2013 UNDER A WEIRD LITTLE LEGISLATIVE OPPORTUNITY.

THAT NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED NOW TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL BASED ON OUR OWN LAWSUIT WITH THE NRA.

BUT LET'S GET THE BAN ON THE RECORDS FOR THE STATE.

FRANKLY TO ME, THOUGH, WE ARE NOT AN IS.

WE NEED A FEDERAL BAN.

>> WOULD IT BE A BAN ON JUST FUE PURCHASES?

WOULD PEOPLE BE GRANDFATHERED IN IF THEY ALREADY OWN ASSAULT RIFLES?

>> IN THE BEST OF WORLDS IT WOULD BE A BAN ON POSSESSION AND A BAN ON SALE, AND A BAN ONE CAPACITY MAGAZINES, BECAUSE IT'S BOTH THE WEAPONS AND THE ABILITY TO SHOOT HUNDREDS OF ROS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSE THE DEVASTATION.

WE KNOW IN HIGHLAND PARK, 83 ROUNDS WERE SHOT IN UNDER A MINUTE, SO SO FOLKS WHO SAY THEY BACK THE BLUE AREN'T BACKING THE BLUE IF IF THEY PUSH FOR THESE WEAPONS TO BE CONTINUALLY AVAILABLE TO .

TO PEOPLE.

THEY PIERCE KEVLAR VESTS.

THEY PIERCED THE HELMETS HELMETS OF THE POLICE.

A POLICE POLICE MAN WITH A HANDGUN CANNOT TAKE OUT A GUY WHO'S GOT GOT THESE TYPES OF WEAPONS, PARY ON A ROOFTOP.

SO TO THOSE WHO SAY THIS IS ABOUT OUR FREEDOM, I SAY NO.

WHERE ARE OUR HUMAN RS FREEDOMS?

WHERE IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE FREE FROM VIOLENCE AND FEAR?

WE AS A COMMUNITY, WE AS A NATION NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND RECOGNIZE THESE WEAPONS WERE BANNED FOR A A 10 YEAR PERIOD.

IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO THAT BAN AND IT'S TIME TO RECAPTURE WHAT REALLY IS FREEDOM IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> THERE CERTAINLY IS NO FREEDOM FOR THE VICTIMS AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM INJURIES, AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES RIGHT NOW.

WE KNOW THAT GUN MANUFACTURERS ENJOY TREMENDOUS IMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE'S A NEW LAWSUIT AGAINST SMITH AND WESSON GOING AFTER DECEPTIVE MARKETING.

IT'S A SIMILAR APPROACH TO HOW THE CITY OF CHICAGO WENT AFTER VAPING COMPANIES.

IS THIS AN APPROACH THAT HAS ANY CHANCE OF OF SUCCEEDING?

>> I'LL TELL YOU I THINK ANY APPROACH THAT WORKS TOWARDS REMOVING THE RISK OF THIS KIND OF DEVASTATION IN THE COMMUNITYS WORTH TRYING.

WE HAVE TWO STOP BEING AFRAID, STOP PRESUPPOSING PRESUPPOSING WHAT OUTCOMES ARE GOING TO BE, AND RECLAIM OUR COUNTRY, RECLAIM OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM IN HIGHLAND PARK AND TO HAVE THIS KIND OF CE COME TO OUR STREETS AND DEVASTATE THIS MANY FAMILIES CERTAINLY ISN'T FREEDOM.

>> HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTERING, I KNOW WE'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM YOU ON THIS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YU AGAIN.

OUR THANKS TO HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTERING.

WE ARE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> A LONG ANTICIPATED REPORT ONL ABUSE HAS ROCKED THE WOMEN'S SOCCER WORLD.

THE REPORT WAS CONDUCTED BY FORMER ACTING U.S. U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL SALLY YATES.

IT'S ON A CULTURE OF SEXUAL AND VERBAL ABUSE PERVASIVE THROUGHOUT THE LEAGUE, INCLUDING WITHIN THE CHICAGO RED STARS FRANCHISE, WHERE COMPLAINTS AGAINST FORMER FORMER HEAD COACH RORY JAMES WENT UNHEEDED FOR YEARS.

AS A R, THE RED STARS BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTED TO REMOVE OWNER OWNER ARE 10 WHISTLER AS CHAIRM.

SO WHERE DOES THIS TEAM AND THE THE SPORT GO FROM HERE?

JOINING HERE?

JOINING US OR EDDIE CONSTABLE, WHO COVERS THE CHICAGO RED STARS FOR THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, AND MELISSA ISAACSON, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN'S MEDILL SCHOOLF JOURNALISM, WHERE SHE TEACHES SS REPORTING.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

REMIND US THE BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS SALLY YATES REPORT INTO THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE.

LEAGUE.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST TAKE AWAY IS THAT THIS WAS SYSTEMIC.

IT WAS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE LEAGUE AND THESE COACHES WERE ALLOWED TO MOVE FROM TEAM TO TEAM, ABUSING OTHER PLAYERS.

RORY STATING CHICAGO.

RORY HAS BEEN IN CHICAGO HIS ENTIRE CAREER, BUT PAUL RILEY MOVED FROM ORGANIZATION TO ORGANIZATION, AND AS A RESULT WAS ALLOWED TO CARRY HIS ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR WITH HIM.

AND WHAT'S SHOCKING ABOUT THAT IS UPON HIS DEPARTURE, THE SUPPORTT HE RECEIVED FROM THE PORTLAND THORNS WHEN HE LEFT THAT ORGANIZATION.

HE GOT A STAMP OF OF APPROVAL AND HE GOT TO MOVE ON.

>> WE MENTIONED THAT THE RED STARS, THESE COMPLAINTS WERE GOG ON FOR YEARS.

THEY WERE UNHEEDED.

MELISSA ISAACSON, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO HOW PERE AND WIDESPREAD THIS REPORT OF THIS ACTIVITY WAS?

>> WE SHOULDN'T BE SHOCKED, SADLY, BECAUSE WE'VE READ ABOUT ABOUT CASES LIKE THIS BEFORE, NOT NECESSARILY IN SOCCER, BUT JUST IN GENERAL WITH WOMEN, WHO WHO SHOULDN'T BE SHOCKED, BUT YET WE ARE.

IT'S APPALLING THE LACK OF RESPONSE.

AND LET'S NOT NOT JUST SAY IT'S ALL MEN, BECAE THERE WAS A WOMAN IN CHARGE OF THE LEAGUE AT THE TIME WHO GOT THE LETTERS FROM THE WOMEN INVO, WHO WAS TOLD WHAT HAPPENED AND CHOSE TO SORT OF -- MAYBE WE CAN MEET IF WE ARE EVER IN THE SAME CITY.

AND THEN YEARS GO BY, SIX YEARS WENT BY AND THEN SHE SAID OH NO, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

IT'S REALLY SCARY.

AND THEN YOU THINK THESE THESE ARE U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIOP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYERS, SOME OF THEM, SO YOU KIND OF HAE THIS FEELING OF THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO THEM.

WELL WHY NOT?

BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE VULNERABLE AND YOU WANT TO PLAY A PROFESSIONAL SPORT AND USE YOUR YOUR LIVELIHOOD, YOU WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BUT IT MAKES ANYBODY AFRAID, RIGHT, AND THAT'S THE THING.

THESE WOMEN WERE SOLD A M A DREAM, THEY WERE GIVEN PENNIES AND TOLD THEY ARE GOINGO TURN THOSE PENNIES INTO STACKS AND STACKS OF RICHES IF THEY JUST WORK A LITTLE HARDER.

THEY THEY JUST SHOW UP EVERY DAY, IF IF THEY KEEP THEIR HEAD DOWN AND KEEP WORKING, AND WHAT ARE WE SELLING WOMEN WHEN WE TELL THEM THAT YOU CAN HAVE THIS DREAM BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK IN SE IN SILENCE, YOU HAVE TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THINGS?

>> THIS REPORT TALKED ABOUT GROOMING BEHAVIOR.

BY THE WAY, THESE WOMEN MAKE VERY MODEST SALARIES IN THIS BUSINESS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RED STARS, STARS, WHAT THIS REPORT FOUND ABOUT THE RED STARS.

ALLEGED THT ARNONE WHISTLER, THE OWNER IGNOD REPORTS AGAINST COACH RORY DAINES INCLUDING THAT HE SEXUALLY GROOMED PLAYERS GOING L THE WAY BACK TO LEADING YOUTH SOCCER.

HE RUNS A YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZATION.

DAMES ALLEGEDLY CALLED BLACK PLAYERS THUGS AND PLAYERS FROM KENTUCKY AND OHIO TRAILER TRASH.

HE OFFERED TO RESIGN.

WHISTLER HAD REFUSED TO TO ACCEPT HIS RESIGNATION.

TELL RESIGNATION.

TELL US MORE ABOUT RORY DAMES.

HOW LONG THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE GONE ON AGAINST AGAINST THEM AND WHAT'S HAPPENED.

>> WITHIN THE RED STARS ORGANIZATION, THE REPORTS AGAINT HIM WERE NOT THAT HE WAS SEXUALY GROOMING PLAYERS WITHIN THE RED THE RED STARS ORGANIZATION.

THAT COMPLAINT GOES BACK TO AGAIN, HIS YOUTH DAYS COACHING IN CLUB SOCCER, AND THERE IS AN AN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS POLICE REPORT.

>> YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZATION.

>> BUT WITHIN THE RED STARS ORGANIZATION THE REPORTS AGAINST HIM WERE THAT HE WAS VERBALLY AND EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE.

KRISTIN PRESS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PLAYERS I BELIEVE THAT REPORTEDY DAINES BEHAVIOR.

SHE REPORTED IT TO THE U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM.

IT ALL WENT IGNORED AT THE TIME.

2014 I BELIEVE WAS THE YEAR.

RORY OFFERED TO RESIGN AT THAT TIME, AND WHISTLER TOLD HIM NO.

SO THIS BEHAVIOR FROM HIM, THE REPORTS OF CALLING BLACK LAYERS THUGS, OTHER PLAYERS FROM THE MIDWEST TRAILER TRASH, THAT CONTINUED AFTER THE FACT, AFTER HE OFFERED TO RESIGN.

WHISTLER ALLD HIM TO CONTINUE MENTALLY AND VERBALLY ABUSING PLAYERS.

>> THE CURRENT SITUATION IS WHISTLER STEP BACK BUT HE'S STILL OWNER OF THE TEAM, STILL HAS SHARES IN THE ORGANIZATION.

ORGANIZATION.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH THE RED STARS?

>> HE NEEDS TO -- HE CAN'T JUST JUST SELL THE TEAM.

AND HE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THIS, BUT HE'S GOT TWO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM THE TEAM COMPLETELY.

HE HAS TO BE JT LIKE RORY DAMES, AWAY FROM THE TEAM, AND THE WHOLE CONNECTION WITH THE YOUTH SOCCER NEEDS TO E CUT OFF COMPLETELY.

SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST SAY THIS GUY IS FIRED.

YOU'VE GOT TO SAY LIKE IN PORTLAND, EXACTLY WHY THEY WERE FIRED, NOT ENDORSED HIM FOR ANOTHER JOB, NOT HAVE RORY DAMES POP UPE ELSE, NOT HAVE ANY ASSOCIATION WITH THE ECLIPSE CLUB.

AND NOT SEND THIS MESSAGE TO YOUNG GIRLS THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS, THAT THIS IS OKAY.

>> ANY CONSTABLE, WE KNOW WOMEN SOCCER SOCCER HAS ASKED LOADED IN POPULARITY.

THE NATIONAL TEAM HAS PERFORMED SO WELL.

WHAT DOES THIS REPORT MEAN FOR THE LEAGUE, FOR THE RED STARS GOING GOING FORWARD, AND PARENTS WHO MIGHT THINK TWICE ABOUT HAVING THEIR LITTLE GIRLS PLAY SOCCER?

SOCCER?

>> TO ME, THIS REPORT, I THINK BRINGS THE PUBLIC INTO IT.

WE ALL KNOW NOW WHAT WENT ON IN THIS LEAGUE.

WE ALL NEED TO DEMAND BETTER, AND OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE NWSL OTHER THAN REPORTING ON IT.

FANS AREN'T NECESSARILY AFFILIATED OTHER THAN SHOWING UP TO GAMES.

BUT THERE'S POWER IN THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT WENT ON.

ON.

THOSE OF US THAT READ THIS REPORT, IT'S ABOUT HOLDING PEOPE ACCOUNTABLE NOW AND FILLING THEE ROLES WITH PEOPLE THAT CAN UPHOD WHAT THESE PLAYERS ARE WORKING FOR AND WHAT THESE PLAYERS DESE, WHATEVER BUT HE DESERVES.

>> THIS IS JUST ONE THING YOU WROTE ABOUT, THAT THE LEADERSHIP IN THIS LEAGUE IS MOSTLY MEN, AND THAT MIGHT LEAD MIGHT LEAD TO SOME OF THE DYNAMIC YOUR.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, BUT THAT'SG THAT WE CAN SEE ACROSS THE BOARD IN SO MANY INDUSTRIES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN POWER HAPPEN TO BE MEN.

THAT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WOMAN'S LEAGUE, IT DOESN'T DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE COACHES ND TO BE WOMEN.

WOMEN DON'T NEED TO BE COACHED BY WOMEN, BUT THE THE LEAGUE SHOULD REFLECT THE PLAYERS THAT ARE FILLING IT UP AND WHEN IT PREDOMINANTLY REFLES SOMETHING CLEARLY OPPOSITE, I THINK THAT'S A SIGN THAT SOMETHING MAY BE OFF TO A DEGREE.

WEATHER THAT AGAIN, JUST GIVING WOMEN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD OR SOMETHING MORE DISTURBING, LIKE WHAT WE SAW GO GO ON IN THE NWSL.

>> FOR THE LEAGUE IN THE ORGANIZATION, THIS KIND OF DOVES INTO A CONFERENCE YOU'RE LEAVING AT NORTHWESTERN ON THE STATE OF TITLE IX.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED.

OCTOBER 27, 28, 29, NORTHWESTERN EVANSTON CAMPUS, BRINGING TOGETHER SCHOLARS AND POLICYMAKERS, AND COACHES AND ATHLETES AND JOURNALISTS, ALL TALKING ABOUT WHERE ARE WE 50 YEARS AFTER TITLE IX WAS ENACTED, AND GUESS WHAT -- IT'S IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ALL GREAT.

GREAT.

IN FACT, A LOT OF THINGS THINGS AREN'T.

'S ON THE BRINK OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO LOOK AT GENDER EQUITY, LOOK AT WHAT'S WRONG WITH TITLE IX IN TERMS OF OF THE LACK OF COMPLIANCE, THE LACK OF WOMEN AS COACHES, AS AD.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A REALLY HARD LOOK AT TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN SPORTS.

WE GOT SOME SOME GREAT SCREENING.

WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GATHERED TO TAKE A REALLY CRITICAL EYE TOWARDS TS TOWARDS THIS.

YOU TALKED ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO, WHEN I PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL, EVERYTHING WAS SO OPTIMISTIC.

ANYTHING WAS POSSIBLE FOR GIRLS.

AND I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE, CERTAINLY, BUT NOW WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS, YOU WONDER IF GIRLS ARE ARE LIKE WELL, DO I WANT TO DO THIS OR WHAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT'S BEING SENT.

I THINK SADLY IT IS KIND OF A DECENT SEGWAY TO GO FROM THAT STORY TO.

>> A LOT TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR.

ANY CONSTABLE AND MELISSA ISAACSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH WILL BE IN YOUR.

> >> AND UP NEXT, REMEMBERING THES OF 1919 IN CHICAGO IN A NEW THEATER REDUCTION.

THAT'S IN A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> MORE THAN A CENTURY LATER, EVENTS LEADING TO THE KILLING OF 17-YEAR-OLD EUGENE WILLIAMS AT A SEGREGATED LAKE MICHIGAN BH MICHIGAN BEACH IN THE SUMMER OF OF 1919, IN THE DAYS OF TRAGEDY TRAGEDY AND VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWED, STILL ECHO IN CHICAGO.

IN A NEW PRODUCTION ADAPTED FROM THE VIEWING'S COLLECTION OF POETRY ABOUT THOSE TERRIBLE DAYS, THE STEPPENWOLF FOR YOUNG ADULTS PROGRAM EXPLORES 1919'S LEGACY.

1919'S LEGACY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE PLAY IS PLAYWRIGHT GINA COLEBROOK.

WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING HAVING ME.

> >> OF COURSE, THIS BOOK, THE PLY WAS BASED ON THE VIEWING'S BOOKF POEMS ABOUT THE EVENTS OF 1919.D US WHAT HAPPENED IN 1919 IN CHICAGO.

>> IN 1919 THERE WAS AN UNLAWFUL KILLING OF A YOUNG MAN MAN NAMED EUGENE WILLIAMS, WHO, , WITH HIS FRIENDS, CROSSED AN UNOFFICIAL RACIAL BARRIER.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, HE AND HIS FRIENDS WERE SWIMMING AND THEY DRIFTED INTO WHAT WAS CONSIDERED THE WHITE WATERS.

EUGENE WILLIAMS WAS UNFORTUNATELY MURDERED AND THE PERSON DEEMED RESPONSIBLE WAS GEORGE STOPPER.E WAS STONED AND EVENTUALLY DROWN, AND THAT KICKED OFF WEEKS AND WEEKS OF A PRETTY TERRIBLE RACE.

>> TERRIBLE TIME IN CHICAGO.

HOW DO YOU TURN AN E-BOOK OF POETRY INTO A STAGE PRODUCTION?

PRODUCTION?

YOU WENT FROM PAGE TO PAGE.

>> VERY CAREFULLY.

>> I'M SURE.

I'M A LONGTIME FANF THE VIEWING'S WORK.

I THINK THEK IS NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT I FOD HER WORDS TO BE VISCERAL AND REALLY I FOUND THAT WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A .

BUT POETRY CAN BE VERY RADICAL, RADICAL, SO IT GIVES YOU THE FREEDOM TO READ THE WORDS THAT YVES EWING HAS WRITTEN, DIGEST AND SORT OF PUSH AWAY FROM IT AND SEE WHAT'S LEFT.

AND PRETTYH FROM THAT, THAT I WAS ABLE TO CREATE THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE STAGEPLAY OF 1919.

>> WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT TO SEE TO SEE?

IS THIS A RETELLING OF EVENTS, PARTLY?

BECAUSE WHEN TAKING POETRY ON THE STAGE, I'M I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK?

>> THERE IS A STRUCTURE TO IT, EVEN THOUGH THE PLAY IS BASED ON A BOOK OF POETRY, THERE ARE S AND THE CENTRAL CHARACTER IS A WRITER WHO IS RESEARCHING SOMETHING ELSE, AND SHE COMES ACROSS THIS INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN 1919 AT THE LAKEFRONT.

SO FROM THERE, THE CHARACTERS DELVED INTO ALL OF THIS.

SO IT'S A MEMORY PLAY.

IT'S ALSO A PLAY THAT EXPLORES WHAT IF.

WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED HAPPENED IF EUGENE WILLIAMS HAD HAD NOT DRIFTED INTO SO-CALLED WHITE WATERS?

WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF EMMETT TILL MAY NOT NOT HAVE GONE DOWN SOUTH ON THE THE TRIP?

SO IT EXPLORES SO MANY THINGS AND IT COMES FROM A FROM A DIVERSITY OF VOICES FROM FROM BACK THEN AS WELL AS TODAY.

>> YOU DESCRIBE IT AS A VERY PHYSICAL PLAY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> I THINK MOST OF THE PLAYS THAT I'VE WRITTEN INCLUDE PHYSICALITY, SO I'M DEEPLY INFLUENCED BY DANCE.

I'M A FORMER DANCER.

AS AN ACTOR, CLOWNING HAS ALSO BEEN VERY IMPORTANT IN MY CAREER, IN MY STUDIES.

SO ALL OF IT GOES INTO GOES INTO THE STORY.

I THINK ITS IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT ONLY CREATE IMAGES WITH WORDS, BUT WE ALSO DO SOMETHING THAT'S VISUAL.

SO THAT'S HOW IT'S IN THERE, SO THERE'S LOTS OF MOVEMENT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE IN SOME WAYS IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU.

>> YES IT IS.

I THINK THAT REFLECTION COMES OUT OF GROWINGP IN CHICAGO.

AS MIDWESTERNERS WE WE LIKE TO THINK WE CAN RUN AND AND JUMP AND GET OUR WAY THROUGH ANYTHING AND IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE OF SNOW THAT WE DEAL WITH.

BUT IT CERTAINLY GOES INTO THIS PRODUCTION AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE WORLD TO SEE HOW THIS CAST AND E AND ENSEMBLE DO JUST THAT.

>> THAT'S >> THAT'S WILL TOUGHEN US ALL.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT 1919 IN 2019, OF COURSE.

A LOT OF CHICAGOANS LEARNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THAT 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS SORT OF A RETHINKING OF HOW THIS EVENT HAPPENED HERE IN CHICAGO?

>> I'D LIKE TO THINK SO.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TAKE A LOOK INTO IT.

I THINK PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD OR THE TERM RACE RIOT AND FRANKLY EVERYBODY IS EXHAUSTED.

NO ONE WANTS TO TACKLE IT, AND FOR ME,I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF AND MY MY CAREER THAT EVERY YEAR I WOULD MAKE A PIECE OF ART DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY AND THE THE POWER BEHIND EUGENE WILLIAMS AS WELL AS THE 1919 RACE RIOT.

I MADE A SHORT SONG.

SHORT SONG.

I HAVE WRITTEN THIS WRITTEN THIS PLAY AND I CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

IT'S ONLY TO THE POINT WHERE WE ALL KNOW ABOUT HISTORY OF THE LAKEFRONT D NEVER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, SO THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER, THIS NEVER, EVER, EVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> YOU'VE BEEN ON STAGE IN FRONT OF A YOUNGER AUDIENCE FOR A FEW FEW DAYS.

WHAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSE, THE READ FROM THOSE YOUNGER FOLKS?

>> IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.

I HAVE TO SAY WHEN I'M WRITING, I DON'T REALLY MAKE -- I DON'T THINK I'M WRITING THIS FOR A YOG AUDIENCE, OH I'M WRITING THIS FOR 40-YEAR-OLDS.

WHEN I WRITE,I WRITE, AND I WANT THE SAME REACTION, AND THEY CAN GO AND DO THEIR OWN SORT OF CRAWLING THROUGH HISTORY AND HOPEFULLY THEY UNDERSTAND THAT LEVITY AND AND LAUGHTER IS ALSO A PART OF THAT JOURNEY.

SO YOU WON'T JUSTE IN AND GET A BUNCH OF FACTS THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU SAD.

THEY WILL.

BUT YOU HAVE TO EMBRACE T. SADNESS IS A PART OF THE POWER IT TAKES TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THAT'S WHAT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PLAY WILL HOPEFULLY LEAVE THE AUDIENCE.

AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS HONEST.

>> I'M SURE THEY ARE.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOLKS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCTION?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCTION T WE SHOULD BE DOING -- WE SHOULDE LISTENING TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

THEY THEY ALWAYS LEAD US.

THERE'S NOG NEW THERE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

I WANT PEOPLE TO PAY MORE PAY MORE ATTENTION TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

I WANT THEM TO SUPPORT LIVE THEATER, AND I WANT THEM TO EMBRACE THE FACT THAT CHICAGO HAS A LONG HISTORY, GOOD, BAD AND UGLY, AND IT'S UP TO US TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED.

.

>> IT WILL PLAY THROUGH OCTOBER OCTOBER 2019 STEPPENWOLF ENSEMBE THEATER AND NOW OUR THANKS TO JADA GOLDBERG FOR JOINING US.

BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY -- > >> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONY NIGHT.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCHR WATCHING.

HAPPY MONDAY.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.