JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

CHICAGO POLICE OVERTIME SKYROCKETS.

>> THE 72 YEAR OLD.

MAN WHO A TERMINAL ILLNESS.

>> ILLINOIS PASSED A LAW ALLOWING THE RELEASE OF DYING AND SEVERELY DISABLED PEOPLE PRISON.

BUT NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN DENIED.

WHO GETS A COMPASSIONATE RELEASE AND WHITE.

>> ALL THAT HOT BUT STACKING INTO MAKING WILL REALLY FEEL THAT YOU DON'T >> AND WDW NEWS EXPLAINS.

CHICAGO NICKNAMES.

ALL THAT AND MORE NEXT ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, THE 6 WEEK-OLD AUTOMAKER STRIKE COULD BE COMING TO AN END NOW THAT GENERAL MOTORS AND THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS HAVE REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT.

THE U A W CONFIRMED THE DEAL.

THIS COMES AFTER FORD'S DEAL WITH THE UNION LAST WEEK AND AGREEMENT WITH JEEP-MAKER STELLANTIS OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE DEALS WILL LAST FOR YEARS AND 8 MONTHS AND INCLUDE 25%.

GENERAL PAY RAISES AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

THE 146,000 UHW MEMBERS WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS.

MEANTIME, THEY WILL HEAD BACK TO THE JOB AFTER THIS HISTORIC STRIKE.

ILLINOIS STUDENTS SHOWED STRONG LEARNING RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC WITH THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE IN 13 YEARS AS WELL AS INCREASED PROFICIENCY.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RELEASED ITS 2023, ILLINOIS REPORT CARD TODAY SHOWING 87.6% GRADUATION RATE DRIVEN BY GAINS MADE AMONG BLACK AND HISPANIC STUDENTS.

ADDITIONALLY STUDENTS SHOWED INCREASED PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS WITH A 16% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR TO 34.6% MATH PROFICIENCY INCREASED SLIGHTLY TO NEARLY 27% IS BE SAYS BOTH PROFICIENCY RATES ARE STILL BELOW PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.

WOULDN'T BE HALLOWEEN IN CHICAGO WITHOUT SLIGHTLY SCARY FORECAST.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS PREDICTING SNOW SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

TOMORROW, INCLUDING DURING THOSE TRICK-OR-TREATING HOURS.

HIGHS JUST BETWEEN 36 AND 40 DEGREES AND GUSTY WINDS WITH WIND CHILLS DOWN IN THE MID 20'S.

SO BE SURE TO ADD SOME LAYERS TO THOSE COSTUMES.

AND FOR TONIGHT, THE WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING WITH TEMPS DIPPING DOWN TO 27 DEGREES.

BUNDLE UP.

IF YOU CAN.

COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM WHETHER TO RELEASE INCARCERATED PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM TERMINAL ILLNESSES FROM PRISON.

BUT FIRST, CHICAGO'S SKYROCKETING POLICE OVERTIME BILL.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> ONCE AGAIN, BE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF TAXPAYER MONEY SPENT TO PAY OVERTIME TO MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS A FLASHPOINT IN THE ANNUAL NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE CITY SPENDING PLAN.

NEW CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING VOWS TO BE MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

BUT HE MADE NO PROMISES THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ACTUALLY SPEND LESS ON OVERTIME IN 2024.

WBTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

HEATHER, HOW MUCH IS CHICAGO ON TRACK TO SPEND THIS YEAR ON POLICE OVERTIME AND WHAT THE CITY SPENT LAST YEAR?

SO THE CITY HAS ALREADY SPENT 200 MILLION DOLLARS ON POLICE OVERTIME.

>> AND REMAINS ON TRACK TO END THE YEAR AT 250 MILLION DOLLARS IN POLICE OVERTIME.

BILL THAT REPRESENTS A MASSIVE INCREASE FROM 2022.

WHEN THE CITY END OF THE YEAR WITH OVERTIME BILLS, ABOUT 210 MILLION DOLLARS.

AND EVEN THAT WAS A MASSIVE INCREASE FROM 2021.

THERE APPEARS TO NO END IN SIGHT TO THESE INCREASES SEEMS TO BE HAVE HAVE STEADILY GONE UP YEAR AFTER HOW MUCH DOES MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON SPENDING PLANS SET ASIDE FOR POLICE OVERTIME IN 2024.

SO EVEN THOUGH IN EACH OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, THE CITY HAS SPENT FAR MORE THAN 100 MILLION DOLLARS ON POLICE OVERTIME FIELD EVERY YEAR.

THE CITY HAS SET ASIDE JUST THAT 100 MILLION DOLLARS AND WILL DO SO AGAIN IN 2024, ALTHOUGH NOBODY SEEMS TO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY COME IN ANYWHERE NEAR THAT AMOUNT IN OVERTIME.

SO FIRST, WARD ALDERMAN DANIEL SPOT.

I ASKED SEWING WHETHER THE CITY WAS, QUOTE, DO TO SPEND MORE THAN MORE THAN THAT ON POLICE OVERTIME IN 2024.

>> HOW DID HE RESPOND?

SUPERINTENDENTS TELLING SAID >> PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE'S A GREAT POSSIBILITY.

HE SAID THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY CONFLAGRATION THAT WILL REQUIRE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SPEND MORE ON OVERTIME.

AND THOSE ARE JUST THE UNANTICIPATED PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE THE KNOWN KNOWNS THAT ARE GOING TO COST THE CITY OVER TIME LIKE THE NASCAR RACE AND LOLLAPALOOZA.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE IS THE DNC AS HOW LIKELY IS SNOWING TO MAKE GOOD ON PROMISES TO REIN IN POLICE SPENDING ON OVERTIME?

WELL, YOU KNOW, VOWED TO BE MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND TO HOLD DISTRICT COMMANDERS RESPONSIBLE IF THEY GO OVER THEIR OVERTIME BUDGET.

BUT INSPECTOR GENERAL DE PERE BERG HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS OVERSPENDING SYMPTOM OF A MUCH DEEPER AND MORE SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AND HOW THE DEPARTMENT ALLOCATES ITS RESOURCES AND HOW IT RESPONDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS, WHICH CAN BE ADDRESSED WITH JUST A FEW REMARKS AT A BUDGET HEARING IN A BUDGET WORTH 2 BILLION DOLLARS ANNUAL OBVIOUSLY SOUNDS LIKE A MUCH MORE LONG-TERM PROBLEM.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS AT SHARON.

I'M SURE WE'LL BE FOLLOWING IT FOR US.

THANKS SO MUCH.

SURE.

WELL, THANKS FOR AND US.

>> AND YOU CAN HIS FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

FOR ALMOST THE LAST 2 YEARS.

ILLINOIS HAS HAD A LAW THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PRISON AND DYING OF A TERMINAL ILLNESS OR ARE PHYSICALLY DISABLED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PETITION FOR COMPASSIONATE RELEASE.

IT'S CALLED THE JOE COLEMAN MEDICAL RELEASE ACT.

BUT A RECENT REPORT SHOWS FAR FEWER PRISONERS THAN EXPECTED ARE GETTING OUT.

IN FACT, THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD HAS DENIED NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF ALL MEDICAL RELEASE REQUESTS.

ACCORDING TO THAT REPORT FROM WBEZ AND INJUSTICE.

WATCH.

WE MET WITH A MAN WHO IS IN PRISON AND DYING YET HIS REQUEST WAS DENIED.

HERE'S HIS STORY.

AS HIS OXYGEN MACHINE WORSE NEXT TO HIM.

RICHARD ICKES CONSIDERS HIS FUTURE.

>> THE 72 YEAR OLD.

MAN WHO A TERMINAL ILLNESS.

WE MET DIKES IN A CONFERENCE ROOM AT DIXON CORRECTIONAL CENTER WHERE HE'S BEEN THE LAST 27 YEARS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER.

THINKS THE END OF HIS LIFE MAY BE COMING SOON SINCE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH A TERMINAL ILLNESS.

MY HOPE IS WANING.

>> I PERSONALLY BELIEVE ALL ANY OF US HAS IS HOPE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU YOUR TIME.

AND I AM GOING I WHAT I HEAR IN SUMMER 2022, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS.

>> A RARE TERMINAL LUNG DISEASE.

THEY GAVE ME THE THE RESULTS TO READ.

AND AS SOON AS I GOT TO PULMONARY.

>> IN A FAR, BRUNEAU SAYS I BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT THAT WAS.

KNEW THAT IT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE BECAUSE MY MOTHER DIED WITH THIS DISEASE.

MY BROTHER DIED WITH THIS DISEASE AND OR THE JOE COLEMAN MEDICAL RELEASE ACT.

>> PEOPLE IN PRISON CAN PETITION THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD FOR EARLY RELEASE.

IF THEY'RE TERMINALLY ILL AND LIKELY TO DIE WITHIN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS OR DISABLED OR LIKELY TO BECOME DISABLED WITHIN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS.

THIS IS THE LETTER FROM THE DOCTOR FOR STATING THAT I NEED IT.

>> THIS IS THE LETTER FROM THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR VERIFYING THE.

THIS IS THE LETTER FROM THE OPRAH COM SYSTEM LIVES OF ACCEPTING ME.

THIS IS THE LETTER FROM THE BOARD DENYING ACCORDING TO THAT LETTER FROM THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD, CHAIRMAN DONALD SHELTON.

>> CAN REAPPLY IN 6 MONTHS, THOUGH IT GIVES NO REASON FOR THE DENIAL.

THE PROCESS TAKES ABOUT 90 DAYS TO GO THROUGH FILING A REQUEST OF THE TIME.

IT'S DECIDED.

>> AND THAT THAT TIME IS SET BY LAWS LIMIT.

AND SO WHEN YOU TAKE SOMEONE LIKE RICH, WHO WAS THE NIGHT IN JULY, AND THEN IF HE HAS TO WAIT 6 MONTHS.

TO REAPPLY, THAT'S JANUARY.

THEN TAKES 90 DAYS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THAT'S APRIL.

HE'S GOT ONLY 2 MONTHS LEFT TO LIVE UNDER THE PREDICTION THE DOCTORS MADE.

>> ATTORNEY BILL NELSON ARGUES THE BOARD IS OVERSTEPPING WITH THAT 6 MONTH WAITING PERIOD SINCE HE'S NOT IN THE STATUTE AND HE SAYS THE BOARD'S LOW RATE OF GRANTING MEDICAL RELEASES DEFEATS THE LAW'S PURPOSE.

THAT DOES NOBODY ANY GOOD AT AT THAT POINT IN LIFE THE STATE HAS PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

THE STATE LACKS THE RESOURCES.

>> TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE PROPERLY.

AND AND THERE THERE IS NO.

IN MY VIEW P VALID P NO PURPOSE SERVED BY REQUIRING THE A SICK PERSON WHO HAS A LIFE SENTENCE TO SERVE THEIR LAST DAYS IN IN THE PRISON INFIRMARY AS OPPOSED TO A NURSING HOME OR OTHER OTHER FACILITY.

>> APPLICANTS ALSO HAVE TO PROVE THEY HAVE A PLAN FOR THEMSELVES UPON RELEASE.

LAKE SAYS PIN PAL TURNED POWER OF ATTORNEY HELPED HIM SECURE A SPOT HERE IN OAK PARK.

>> HIS PARTICULAR DIAGNOSIS, PULMONARY STRIKES VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART.

I JUST HAD A SISTER WHO DIED OF THAT THIS LAST SUMMER.

SO I KNOW THAT HUGHES LAST YEAR IS GOING TO BE PRETTY HORRIBLE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE EXTRA WHO ARE BOTH FACING PRISON AND DIKES WOULD HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PAY THE COST OF CARE SINCE HE'S EARNED A SMALL INCOME ON HIS BOOKS AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE WHEN HE'S RELEASED FROM PRISON.

>> BUT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE THE MONTH AFTER HIS FIRST PETITION WAS DENIED MEDICAL TESTS THAT YOU I HEALTH REVEALED HIS LUNG DISEASE IS GETTING WORSE.

AND THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THEN THAT SHE'S NOT SURE I CAN.

I BELIEVE IN 6 MONTHS.

>> IT IS AGGRESSIVELY ATTACK MY BODY.

ANOTHER 6 MONTHS COULD MEAN WILL SPEND VERY FEW IF OF HIS LAST DAYS OUTSIDE THESE I WANT TO SPIN WHAT KIND OF HAVE LEFT WITH MY CHILDREN.

I HAVE IDENTICAL TWIN GRANDDAUGHTERS THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN.

>> I WANT TO SEE THEM.

WANT TO SEE MY CHILDREN.

>> AND WE ASKED THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD ABOUT THAT 6 MONTH WAITING PROCESS.

AND IN A STATEMENT THEY TOLD US, QUOTE, SIMILAR TO THE ONE YEAR WAITING PROCESS IN THE CLEMENCY PROCESS.

THE PRB IMPOSES A 6 MONTH WAITING PERIOD TO ENSURE BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO GIVE EACH PERSON THE DUE DILIGENCE.

THEY DESERVE THESE WAITING PERIODS, PREVENT THE BOARD FROM BEING INUNDATED BY REQUESTS.

THE POLICY INCLUDES THE ABILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PETITION THE BOARD CHAIR TO WAIVE THE 6 MONTH WAIT REQUIREMENT.

IF THERE ARE CLEAR AND CONVINCING CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO LET'S DIVE A BIT DEEPER INTO THE DETAILS OF THE JOE COLEMAN MEDICAL ACT.

IT WAS PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE 2 YEARS AGO.

ONE OF THE NATION'S STRONGEST COMPASSIONATE RELEASE LAWS AT THE TIME.

BUT SO FAR, NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE REQUEST FROM DYING, A DISABLED PRISONERS HAVE BEEN DENIED.

AS WE MENTIONED, ADVOCATES ARGUE THE LAW ISN'T LIVING UP TO ITS PROMISE.

JOINING US, OUR LISA DANIELS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DARYN EASTERLING CENTER FOR RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.

AND JOINING US FROM THE TOWN OF GREENVILLE IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS IS ATTORNEY TOM, WAR.

HE WAS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 2022.

WE SHOULD ALSO MENTION WE INVITED MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD AS WELL AS VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVES FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING SEVERAL SUBURBAN STATES ATTORNEYS AND SHERIFF, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE GOP.

THEY ALL DECLINED OUR INVITATIONS.

THANKFUL TO HAVE THE 2 OF YOU, LISA AND TOM TO JOIN US.

I'M LISA, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

AS WE MENTIONED, NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF REQUESTS FOR RELEASE BEING DENIED.

DO YOU THINK THIS LAW IS LIVING UP TO ITS PROMISE?

DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

SPENT.

MANY OPPORTUNITY ACTUALLY ON PANELS AND REVIEWING PETITIONS AS WELL.

THERE ARE OFTEN CHALLENGES IN THE DELIBERATION PROCESS AND ABILITY TO REACH A CONSENSUS WHEN IT COMES TO WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE SHOULD BE RELEASED IN SPITE OF THE FACT.

THAT THEY MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS BE RELEASED UNDER THE JOE COLEMAN ACT.

IN FACT, YOU JUST LEFT THE PRISON REVIEW BOARD EARLIER THIS YEAR JANUARY OF THIS YEAR IN.

AND WE KNOW THAT IN SOME OF RICHARD SAYS >> PAPERWORK THAT HE GOT FROM THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

I THINK IT WAS THE CHAIRMAN WHO SAYS JUST BECAUSE YOU MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS DOES NOT NECESSARILY AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT YOU WILL BE GRANTED IT JUST MAKES YOU ELIGIBLE FOR FOR CONSIDERATION.

TOM DE BOER, WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU THINK SOMEONE SHOULD BE GRANTED?

POLICE?

>> YOU KNOW THAT HYPOTHETICAL IN THE ABSTRACT IS REALLY HARD TO APPLY.

AND YOU HAVE A GOOD ANSWER.

BUT BUT I WAS GOING TO SAY WHAT YOU JUST SAID THAT THE POINTED OUT WHERE METEOROLOGIST LEE REQUIREMENTS MEANS THAT YOU CAN APPLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT WILL BE GRANTED BEING GRANTED IS PROBABLY VERY FACT SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THE GENTLEMAN'S A WHOLE STORY THAT YOU JUST A GIVEN TO ME, GENTLEMAN THAT BEEN IN PRISON FOR QUITE SOME TIME COMMITTED MURDER, ETCETERA, HUMAN BEING WOULD BE ABLE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH HIS PLIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BALANCE TO THAT AS WELL FROM SOCIETY PERSPECTIVE THAT HE DID GET A SENTENCE IN THAT SENTENCE HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE LOST THEIR LIFE, ETCETERA.

I DON'T PRETEND TO I THINK THAT'S AN EASY JOB BEING ON PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

I'M SURE IT'S MIRED WITH A LOT OF EMOTION AND POLITICS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY SAY THIS LAW IS NOT MEETING ITS EXPECTATION LAWS, WHAT IT IS, IT'S A LONG WHICH MEANS IT'S A TOOL THAT CAN BE UTILIZED AND FOR PEOPLE TO APPLY THAT WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GRANTED IT.

THIS COUNCIL MUCH ABOUT THE LAWS ABOUT THE POLITICS IT.

>> AND WE MAY COME BACK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT AS BOTH TIME BEFORE WE LET YOU BOTH GO.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT MEMBERS OF THE PRB YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CONSIDER WHEN CONSIDERING A MEDICAL RELEASE REQUEST?

WELL, OF COURSE, THE CRITERIA THAT THE STATE IS IN THE STATUTE.

AS YOU STATED EARLIER, WHETHER OR NOT THIS PERSON HAS TERMINAL ILLNESS, WHETHER OR NOT THERE BE INCAPACITATED ARE INCAPACITATED.

>> WHETHER WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO DO WITHIN THAT PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE PROPOSED PLAN, MEANING WHAT?

WHAT PRESIDENT PROVISIONS DOES THIS PERSON HAVE IN PLACE TO CARE FOR WILL BE CARED FOR UPON RELEASE.

AND THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT AS I UNDERSTAND THE THE LAW ITSELF AND THE CRITERIA, THE ELIGIBILITY FOR.

BEING ABLE TO APPLY.

THERE'S NO OTHER CRITERIA.

THERE.

THERE ARE NO OTHER.

THERE ARE NO OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER.

THERE IS ROOM TO HEAR FROM THE VICTIM OR SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS TO HAVE A AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS PERSON SHOULD BE RELEASED.

AS IN AS AS INCLEMENT.

BUT THERE ARE NO OTHER FACTORS PER THE STATUTE.

SAY THAT THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD SHOULD CONSIDER THESE THINGS IN MAKING THE DECISION.

SO IT'S LEFT UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE PANELISTS.

EXACTLY.

AND AND THAT'S ACTUALLY THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE GUIDELINES THAT IT IS THE WHETHER OR NOT THIS PERSON IS GRANTED OR DENIED IS AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

>> SO THIS MEDICAL RELEASE ACTIVISTS ALSO TOUTED AS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE THE HIGH COST OF CARING FOR ELDERLY.

AND OBVIOUSLY THOSE WHO NEED A GREAT DEAL OF MEDICAL CARE IN PRISON.

I'M TOM IS RELEASING PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

IS THAT A SMART WAY FOR THE STATE TO SAVE MONEY?

>> I'M NOT CONVINCED I'M NOT SAYING IT IS OR ISN'T BECAUSE AGAIN, THOSE TYPES BEFORE TAKING A LAWYER, I WAS A FINANCE PERSON.

SO I THE PRECARIOUS OF CAN BE COMPLICATED IN, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I USE A HYPOTHETICAL THAT WE SAY WE HAVE SOMEONE.

ELDERLY BEEN THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THEY'RE INCURRING MEDICAL COSTS IN PRISON.

THEY HAVEN'T WORKED IN A COUPLE OF DECADES.

IF THEY DO MEET THAT THE FACTORS AND THEY'RE LET OUT BY THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO GET A FULL-TIME JOB WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE, ETCETERA.

SO THOSE COSTS ARE LIKELY GOING TO BE BORNE BY THE TAXPAYERS TO SOME OTHER MECHANISM.

SO I WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON OF IF WE LET AND THEN OUT THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO ALLEVIATE THE TAX PAYER FROM CARRYING THOSE COST.

ME JUST SHIFTED TO ANOTHER FUN DURING ANOTHER POOL OF TAX DOLLARS.

BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THAT IT'S AN AUTOMATIC TAX SAVINGS.

KNOW I WOULD.

>> ELISE, JUST KEEPING PRISONERS WITH SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS INCARCERATED.

IT DOES.

IS THAT BURDENING THE PRISON SYSTEM THAT IS ALREADY?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE STRAPPED.

I WOULD I WOULD I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE BECAUSE >> THERE PEOPLE AGAIN WHO ARE INCAPACITATED THAT ARE NOW LEFT TO BE CARED FOR AND HAVING A LOT OF THEIR DAILY NEEDS AND THAT BECOMES A BURDEN ON STAFF ON THE CORRECTION STAFF VERSUS MEDICAL STAFF.

AND SO NOW THERE'S THERE'S THIS EXPECTATION OF CORRECTIONS STAFF TO DO THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF YEAH.

THE SCOPE OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

I WOULD ALSO IMAGINE THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY IS SOMETHING PANELISTS THE BOARD MEMBERS CONSIDER WHEN CONSIDERING APPLICATION.

YEAH, ALWAYS CONSIDER THAT AND >> AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK THIS PERSON TOO JONAH'S POINT IS ELDERLY HAS BEEN INCARCERATED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

IN MOST CASES AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT POSES.

ABSOLUTELY NO THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

IF RELEASED.

>> OKAY.

SO I DID SAY WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS A LITTLE BIT.

PRISON REVIEW BOARD SUPPOSED TO BE ROUGHLY EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

EXPLAINER FOR THOSE AT HOME.

WE'VE WE'VE MENTIONED IT EACH RELEASE REQUEST IS DECIDED BY A PANEL OF JUST BOARD MEMBERS OF THE THE GREATER DATA SHOWS, AND AS WE MENTIONED, THIS INFORMATION COMES FROM THE INJUSTICE WATCHING WBEZ THAT REPUBLICANS ARE CASTING MORE VOTES THAN DEMOCRATS AND THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO DENY A REQUEST FOR RELEASE.

I'M LISA FIRST COME TO YOU AS WELL, TOM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ONCE USE OUT ON THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD, DID YOU EVER EXPERIENCED BOARD MEMBERS WHO SEEM TO BE IDEOLOGICALLY OPPOSED TO RELEASING PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED.

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT'S MY >> BELIEF THAT THE BOARD VOTES ITS IDEOLOGY, THE VOID, THE BOARD VOTES, WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND IN SPITE OF THEIR A CRITERIA THAT NEED TO BE WHERE THE STATUTES THAT NEED TO CONSIDERED WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE RELEASED OR CLEMENCY IS GOING TO BE GRANTED.

THERE IS A THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MY BELIEF SYSTEM INTO THE GUIDELINES OF THE STATUTE.

IF THE STATUTE, IF THE IF STATUTE THAT WE ARE TO CONSIDER ONE OF THE STATUES THAT WE'RE CONSIDER OUR TO CONSIDER IS WHAT DOES THIS DOES RELEASED AND IS PER PERSON DEPRECATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME.

THERE'S THERE'S NO CRITERIA FOR THAT.

THERE'S NO THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT IT'S IT'S ALL SUBJECTIVE IN.

SO.

IF I WANT, IF I BELIEVE THAT A PERSON DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE, THEN MY RUSSIAN NOW IS SIMPLY I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT RELEASING THIS PERSON WOULD DEPRECATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME.

MY DECISION FALLS UNDER THE STATUTE.

>> TOM, YOUR THOUGHTS ON POLITICS AND HOW THEY MIGHT PLAY INTO SOME OF THE DECISIONS OF THE PRB MAKES.

>> MISS DANIELS JUST MADE A VARIETY OF EXCELLENT POINTS OF WHICH I AGREE WITH HER ON.

YOU KNOW, THE THE FACTORS ARE 6 OF THEM ACTUALLY.

AND NONE OF THEM SPECIFICALLY DISCUSS WHAT WHEN SHE JUST MENTIONED.

BUT THAT'S THE HUMAN CONDITION YOU'LL SEE IT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

YOU'LL SEE IT IN THE JUDICIARY IN GENERAL, THE WORD IDEOLOGY OF PEOPLE THAT INFLUENCE THEIR DECISIONS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY BROAD RANGE OF DISCRETION.

I WOULD POINT OUT THAT PRIOR TO THIS BEING PASSED WAS A SIMILAR METHOD CLEMENCY.

THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

AND I WOULD HUMBLY SUGGEST LEAST CONSIDER A MONTH SAYING IT'S TRUE.

I'M SAYING CONSIDER THE PASSING.

THIS LAW WAS A WAY TO SHIFT THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS VERY COMPLEX TO THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD BECAUSE MAYBE THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE THESE DIFFICULT DECISIONS BECAUSE THE IDEOLOGY CAN BE SO HEATED ON BOTH SIDES.

YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT GENTLEMAN CERTAINLY STAFF.

SORRY.

SORRY.

OBVIOUSLY THE 3 OF US CAN TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT MORE >> HAPPES THIS CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE ANOTHER TIME, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

TIME RELEASE A DANIELS.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UP NEXT, SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER AS WE DELVE INTO THE ORIGINS OF SOME OF CHICAGO'S NICKNAMES.

STAY WITH US.

>> WHAT'S IN A NAME ABOUT A NICKNAME?

CHICAGO HAS A LOT OF THEM.

WERE THEY ALL COME FROM CHICAGO TONIGHT?

ERICA GUNDERSON TAKES ON THAT QUESTION IN THE LATEST FROM OUR DIGITAL SERIES W T TW NEWS EXPLAINS.

>> WHEN >> IT COMES TO NICKNAMES, CHICAGO SURE HAS GOTTEN STUCK WITH SOME STINKERS.

MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THE CITY'S ACTUAL NAME COMES FROM A SMELLY WILD OR MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OTHER CITIES LIKE TO DRAG OUR CITY THROUGH THE MUD.

IN FACT, ONE OF CHICAGO'S FIRST NICKNAMES WAS MUD ACCURATE.

IF NOT EXACTLY FLATTERING, THEN THERE'S CHICAGO'S BEST KNOWN NICKNAME, THE WINDY CITY.

>> SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT TO ANYONE'S CONDUCT BASEBALL.

A FROSTY LAKELAND IN JANUARY.

BUT CHICAGO IS ONLY THE 12TH WINDY, A CITY IN THE U.S. >> A LOT OF FOLKS THINK THE WINDY CITY MONIKER CAME FROM NEW YORK.

>> BRASH UPSTART CHICAGO WAS COMPETING TO HOST THE 18 93 WORLD'S THE NEW YORK SUN EDITORIALIZED.

OUR POLITICIANS AS QUOTE, FULL OF HOT BUT REFERENCES TO CHICAGO AS THE WINDY CITY LONG PREDATE THAT THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER USED IT 18.

76 HEADLINE TO REPORT ON A TORNADO THAT BLEW THROUGH CHICAGO, THOUGH.

HISTORIANS SAY THERE WAS LIKELY A DOUBLE MEANING AT PLAY THERE FAST FORWARD TO 1914, AND BEEFED UP CHICAGO AND IS PRONE CHICAGO.

CARL SANDBURG CHARACTERIZE THE GROWING CITY AS A YOUNG WORKING >> IN HIS WORDS, STORMIE HUSKY A LINE FROM THAT GAVE THE NICKNAME CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS MAKES SENSE ALL THAT HOT.

BUT STACKING INTO MAKING WILL REALLY THAT YOU DON'T PLACE.

>> CHICAGO'S MOST CONTENTIOUS NICKNAME MIGHT BE THE SECOND CITY.

SOME BELIEVE IT WAS SPARKED BY THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE OF 18.

71 WHEN THE CITY HAD BE BILL JING IS A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT CHICAGO.

BUT CHICAGO WAS AMERICA'S SECOND MOST POPULOUS CITY FOR NEARLY A CENTURY.

SO IS MORE LIKELY STARTED THERE AND ANNOYINGLY.

IT WAS A NEW YORKERS POISON PEN THAT NEED IT STICKS WHEN WRITER AGING NEED BE FOUND HIMSELF IN A ROOM IN CHICAGO FOR A FEW YEARS IN THE LATE 1940'S, IN A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS OUTLINING ALL THE WAYS HE FELT.

CHICAGO SHORT OF HIS HOMETOWN.

THE BOOK WAS TITLED CHICAGO, THE SECOND CITY.

BUT IN CLASSIC CHICAGO FASHION, WE EMBRACE TO ME MEANT TO RUN US DOWN AND USE IT TO LIFT UP INSTEAD BECAUSE >> YOU WEAR FROM CHICAGO.

>> BOTH EARNED SOMETHING NEW EVERY TIME I WATCH ONE OF THOSE.

THANK YOU, ERICA.

YOU CAN SEE THIS VIDEO AGAIN AND OUR WHOLE SERIES OF EXPLAINERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

EVERYTHING FROM HOW WE GET OUR DRINKING WATER TO THE INFAMOUS PARKING METER DEAL AND HOW YOUR TAXES YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE CALCULATED.

JUST GO TO W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS AND CLICK ON WTW NEWS EXPLAINS.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEBSITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND IF UBS VIDEO APP AND JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH WHOSE ATTORNEYS EMBRACE CULTURE OF PHILANTHROPY IN SERVICE BY VOLUNTEERING THEIR