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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF THE.

>>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, DESPITE FACING FEDERAL INDICTMENT FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN IS STILL ABLE TO PULL IN CAMPAIGN CASH.

>>> THE SUPREME COURT TAKES UP TWO CASES ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS.

>>> A GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO GET THE CITY TO PLOW SIDEWALKS MUCH LIKE IT DOES STREETS DURING WINTERY WEATHER.

>>> BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS CARRY A HEAVIER STUDENT LET TODAY AND IT'S CAUSING A GREATER WEALTH DIVIDE.

>>> PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER VILLAGE M D-BACKED BY WALGREEN'S IS EXPLORING A MERGER DEAL WITH A HEALTHCARE NETWORK RIVAL.

>>> A CHICAGO PLAYWRIGHT IS PAYING HOMAGE TO A COMMUNITY THAT RAISED HIM IN A NEW PRODUCTION IN PILLSON.

>>> WHEN I OPENED THE BUSINESS, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS KIND OF FLOWER.

>> WE LEARN ABOUT THE FLOWER NATIVE TO MEXICO THAT ADORNS OFRENDAS FOR DIA DE LOS MUERTOS.

>>> BUT FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP ON STORIES, FIVE PEOPLE INCLUDING TWO TEENAGERS WERE KILLED IN SEPARATE SHOOTINGS OVER THE WEEKEND ACROSS CHICAGO.

35 WERE SHOT IN 32 INDIVIDUAL SHOOTING INCIDENTS BETWEEN FRIDAY EVENING AND SUNDAY NIGHT ACCORDING TO CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT DATA.

THOSE VICTIMS INCLUDE A 17-YEAR-OLD AND AN 18-YEAR-OLD WHO WERE EACH KILLED.

>>> THE MAN ACCUSED OF BREAKING INTO U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER'S NANCY PELOSI'S HOME AND ATTACKING HER HUSBAND WITH A HAMMER FACES FEDERAL CHARGES AND UP TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON.

AUTHORITIES SAY DAVID DEPAPE TOLD POLICE HE WANTED TO HOLD THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER HOSTAGE AND "BREAK HER KNEECAPS."

DEPAPE FACES TWO FELONY CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY BREAKING INTO PELOSI'S HOME, ONE COUNT OF ASSAULT OF AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER OF A U.S. OFFICIAL WITH THE INTENT TO RETALIATE AGAINST THE OFFICIAL ON ACCOUNT OF PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES AND ONE COUNT OF ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING OF A U.S. OFFICIAL ON ACCOUNT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES.

>>> THE BEARS DEFENSE IS NOW WITHOUT ONE OF ITS MARQUEE PLAYERS AFTER YESTERDAY'S SHELLACKING AT THE HANDS OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS.

THE TEAM HAS TRADED STAR LINEBACKER ROQUAN SMITH TO THE BALTIMORE RAVENS IN EXCHANGE FOR A SECOND AND FIFTH ROUND DRAFT PICK.

SMITH LEADS THE NFL IN TACKLES THIS YEAR AND IS A TWO-TIME SECOND TEAM ALL PRO.

HE WAS PICKED BY THE TEAM IN THE FIRST ROUND IN THE 2018 NFL DRAFT.

THE TEAM TRADED AWAY ROBERT QUINN TO THE EAGLES FOR A FOURTH ROUND PICK.

>>> UP NEXT, INDICTED EX-ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN IS STILL PULLING IN CAMPAIGN CASH.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> ELECTION DAY IS A WEEK FROM TOMORROW.

LAST MINUTE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS ARE FLOWING INCLUDING TO A CAMPAIGN FUND ONCE RUN BY -- WELL, RUN BY ILLINOIS' ONCE MOST POWERFUL POLITICIAN.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THAT STORY AND THAT PERSON, OF COURSE, IS -- >> FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

PARIS, THERE IS A LOT MONEY FLOWING INTO AND OUT OF POLITICAL COMMITTEES AND NO SURPRISE, THE BIG BUCKS ARE GOING TO FUND CANDIDATES FIGHTING TO WIN THEIR RACES NEXT WEEK, BUT IN LOOKING OVER CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING, WE ALSO NOTICED DOLLARS GOING TO THIS MAN AND THERE HE IS, MICHAEL MADIGAN OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

HE WAS THE LONGEST SPEAKER OF THE INSTITUTION AND A TOP POWER BROKER.

HE RESIGNED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BUT MAINTAINS ONE ELECTED OFFICE AND THAT IS HE IS STILL THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEEMAN FOR THE 13th WARD.

THAT IS A QUINTESSENTIAL POLITICAL ROLE.

HE IS STILL IN CONTROL OF THE COMMITTEE THAT RAISES MONEY FOR THAT POLITICAL WORK.

ACCORDING TO STATE RECORDS ORGANIZED BY REFORM FOR ILLINOIS' SUNSHINE DATABASE, THE 13th WARD DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN RAKING IN THE DOUGH INCLUDING THIS YEAR.

>> OF COURSE, THAT WAS A ONCE VERY POWERFUL -- MAYBE THE MOST POWERFUL ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE.

HOW MUCH DOUGH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> I POURED OVER THESE RECORDS TODAY AND ASKED REFORM FOR ILLINOIS' EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ELISA KAPLAN TO DO THE SAME.

KAPLAN DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT EVERY WARD BUT SAYS HIS POWERFUL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AROUND $50,000 OR SO IN THE BANK WHILE THE 13th WARD'S DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION HAS MANY TIMES THAT.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING LIKE $2.7 MILLION THAT MADIGAN'S ORGANIZATION HAS IN THE BANK.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY FOR AN ORGANIZATION OF THIS TYPE.

>> AMANDA, IS THIS MONEY LEFT OVER FROM WHEN HE STILL SERVED AS HOUSE SPEAKER AND CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR IS THIS NEW?

>> $2.7 MILLION, IT'S A COMBINATION, A LOT OF IT RECENT ACTIVITY.

I COUNTED FIVE DOZEN CONTRIBUTIONS SINCE MADIGAN WAS INDICTED ON FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES IN MARCH.

THE BULK OF THEM, ESPECIALLY THE HIGHER DOLLAR AMOUNTS, COME FROM LABOR UNIONS INCLUDING SEVERAL UNIONS THAT MADE BIG CONTRIBUTIONS THIS MONTH WITH POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES REPRESENTING VARIOUS UNIONS GIVING THE MAX THIS THEY ARE LEGALLY ABLE, $59,900.

I CALLED SEVERAL UNIONS AND GOT NO RESPONSE WHEN I ASKED ABOUT WHY INCLUDING GROUPS LIKE THE OPERATING ENGINEERS AND THE AFLCIO, DIDN'T GIVE ANY SORT OF RESPONSE, BUT THE LOCAL 150 DID SEND A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THAT UNION HAS A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE 13th WARD DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION WHICH ADVOCATES FOR MANY POLICIES AND CANDIDATES THAT WE SUPPORT.

PRIMARILY THIS ELECTION CYCLE THAT WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT, THAT BALLOT QUESTION ABOUT AMENDING THE QUESTION.

>> SOMETHING THAT LABOR GROUPS ARE CERTAINLY IN SUPPORT OF.

HOW UNUSUAL IS THIS TO HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY FLOWING INTO THIS GUY'S CAMPAIGN FUND?

>> KAPLAN SAYS UNIONS HAVE A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH DEMOCRATS INCLUDING THEREFORE, OF COURSE, MADIGAN AS THE PARTY'S LONG TIME HEAD.

ALSO WE KNOW OF OTHER POLITICIANS THAT SUCCESSFULLY FUNDRAISED DESPITE BEING UNDER CLOUDS OF CORRUPTION LIKE INDICTED ALTERMAN ED BURKE.

THEN AGAIN, BURKE IS STILL THE ALDERMAN.

SO HOW EXCEPTIONAL IS THIS?

HERE'S KAPLAN'S ANSWER.

>> IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT YOU WOULD SEE MONEY STILL COMING IN AND OUT.

I THINK WHAT'S EXCEPTIONAL ABOUT THIS CASE IS THE PERSON WHO IS IN CHARGE OF IT AND ALL OF THE CLOUDS AROUND HIM AND THE FACT PEOPLE AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER SPECIAL INTERESTS ARE STILL GIVING HIM MONEY AND MONEY IN ANY KIND OF POLITICS GIVES YOU A LOT OF CONTROL AND A LOT OF INFLUENCE.

>> COMMUNITY PEOPLE DO HAVE POLITICAL POWER IN CHICAGO, YES, BUT NONE LIKE MADIGAN.

HE CLEARLY STILL WIELDS A LOT OF IT IN THE 13th WARD.

>> IT'S REMARKABLE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE HE JUST CAN'T QUIT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY JUST CAN'T QUIT MADIGAN AND HE IS STILL AROUND IN A POSITION OF SOME INFLUENCE WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DOLE OUT.

SO IT'S AN UNUSUAL STORY.

>> SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DOLE OUT.

WHAT IS THIS MONEY BEING DOLED OUT ON?

>> SOME OF IT IS JUST WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO TO MAINTAIN AN OFFICE THAT IS STILL OPERATIONAL, SO PAYING PHONE BILLS, RENT, INSURANCE, JUST AGAIN REGULAR SORT OF THINGS, BUT OTHER SPENDING KAPLAN SAYS DOES RAISE EYEBROWS.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS IN SEPTEMBER A $14,000 EXPENDITURE ON WHITE SOX TICKETS AND WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO WENT TO THAT GAME OR WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THAT OUTING, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE SOME BIG EXPENDITURES THAT YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

>> ACTUALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON THE WHITE SOX THROUGHOUT THAT CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.

YOU DO HAVE THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN JANUARY AND MADIGAN WILL LIKELY BE WORKING TO GET HIS LONG TIME ALLY 13th WARD ALDERMAN MARTY QUINN REELECTED.

QUINN IS FACING A CHALLENGE FROM PAUL BUTEN.

I REACHED OUT TO THE 13th WARD OFFICE.

IT DID NOT RETURN A MESSAGE.

I REACHED OUT TO MADIGAN'S FORMER SPOKESPERSON WHO DIRECTED ME TO THE WARD OFFICE.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, PARIS.

>>> UP NEXT, THE SUPREME COURT TAKES UP AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S BEEN A RETHINKING HOW THESE EVENTS HAPPENED IN CHICAGO?

>> I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT EVERY YEAR I WOULD MAKE A PIECE OF ART DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY.

>> GOT INTO A ZONE OF MENTORS TO CHILDREN.

SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO ELEVATE EACH OTHER.

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

>>> THE SUPREME COURT HEARD TWO CASES TODAY ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, ONE DEALING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, THE OTHER HARVARD.

THE QUESTION WAS THE ONGOING USE OF RACE IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SIGNALING THE HIGH COURT COULD RULE RACE INDEED COULD NOT BE USED AS A FACTOR TO GET INTO COLLEGE.

PAUL GOUTER, PROFESSOR OF LAW AT WESTERN UNIVERSITY PRITZKER SCHOOL OF LAW, AUTHOR OF "THE RULE OF LAW IN THE UNITED STATES, AN UNFINISHED PROJECT OF BLACK LIBERATION," AND ALAN KING, A PARTNER AT RILEY SAFER HOMES, LLC.

HE'S A LITIGATOR AND HAS REPRESENTED CLIENTS ON EMPLOYMENT LAW ISSUES INCLUDING MATTERS INVOLVING DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT.

WE WELCOME YOU BOTH TONIGHT.

PAUL GOUTER, BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE US WHAT'S BEFORE SCOTUS WITH THIS NORTH CAROLINA AND HARVARD CASE.

>> THESE ARE TWO INDEPENDENT CHALLENGES BROUGHT BY THE SAME REALLY ORGANIZATION TO CHALLENGE THE USE OF RACE AS A PART OF A HOLISTIC EVALUATION FOR STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION PURPOSES.

SO THE NORTH CAROLINA ONE IS UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

THE HARVARD ONE IS UNDER A FEDERAL STATUTE PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATION.

>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE CASE, ALTHOUGH JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON HAS TIES TO HARVARD.

SO SHE HAS REDUCED HERSELF FROM THE HARVARD CASE AND SHE'S ON THE NORTH CAROLINA CASE.

ALAN KING, THE ARGUMENTS THE PLAINTIFFS ARE MAKING HERE AND THE DEFENSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING.

>> WELL, YEAH.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY THE ONE ARGUMENT IS THAT THERE'S NO LONGER A NEED FOR CONSIDERING THE ISSUE OF RACE AMONG THE FACTORS SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE RECENT ATTACKS ON THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND I OBVIOUSLY THINK THAT THERE IS STILL A NEED TO, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER RACE BOTH FROM THE NOTION OF REALLY ENRICHING THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND EXPERIENCE AND I'M SURE PAUL CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION AND WHAT THE OTHER SIDE IS ARGUING IS THAT IT ADDS TO THE ENRICHMENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ANY NUMBER OF SUBJECTS, WHETHER IT'S POLITICAL SCIENCE OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM OR ANY NUMBER OF THINGS TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, NOT ONLY RACE, BUT DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WHICH THEY CAN BRING TO THE DISCUSSION AT A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY LEVEL TO ENRICH THAT DISCUSSION.

SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT AND THE SECOND PART OF IT IS THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS ALSO CERTAINLY A REMEDIAL MEASURE AS WELL.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT FURTHER AS WELL.

>> IT HAS BEEN PRECEDENT FOR SEVERAL DECADES ESTABLISHED BY THE SUPREME COURT.

SO IF THE COURT OVERTURNS IT LIKE IN THE DOBBS CASE, IT'S OVERTURNING ANOTHER MAJOR PRECEDENT THAT'S BEEN SET.

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL DEFENDING THIS CASE ARGUED THAT THERE COULD BE PROFOUND CONSEQUENCES IF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WENT AWAY.

WHAT COULD THOSE CONSEQUENCES BE?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE COMING INTO COLLEGE FROM BACKGROUNDS WHERE THE EFFECT OF OUR RACIAL INJUSTICE IN THIS SOCIETY IS STILL VERY MUCH PRESENT, RIGHT?

SO THINK ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE WAY THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR ARE OFTEN EDUCATED UNDER REGIMES WHERE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF THE UNFAIR ALLOCATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL OF THESE FACTORS CAUSE STUDENTS OF COLOR MANY TIMES TO NOT HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD AS STUDENTS FROM MORE PRIVILEGED ENVIRONMENTS HAVE AND SO WITHOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EVEN TO CAPTURE THE TRUE ABILITY OF STUDENTS WHO HAVEN'T STARTED OUT, THINK ABOUT NAPERVILLE VERSUS ENGLEWOOD, RIGHT?

WITHOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WE'LL REALLY THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO LOSE THE CAPACITY TO FIND THAT TALENT.

>> OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR DISPARITY THERE.

ALAN KING, THE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEM I BELIEVE FILED AN AMICUS BRIEF.

THEY GOT RID OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION A COUPLE DECADES AGO AND ARGUED THAT IT DIDN'T WORK OUT VERY WELL.

CAN YOU EXPOUND ON THAT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THEY'VE STRUGGLED IN THE WAKE OF THAT ALL THESE MANY YEARS TO, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WITHOUT CONSIDERING RACE EXPLICITLY MAKE THEIR STUDENT BODY MORE DIVERSE.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE, BUT JUST TO KIND OF GO BACK TO THE PROFOUND CONSEQUENCES OF GETTING RID OF OR, YOU KNOW, SERIOUSLY DIMINISHING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT AND I CAN CERTAINLY SAY THIS FROM MY REPRESENTATION OF CLIENTS THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN MORE ENGAGED ON THE ISSUE OF DIVERSITY AND DEI, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE COMPANIES ARE OUT THERE SETTING IN MANY CASES VERY AGGRESSIVE GOALS AND COMPANIES ARE FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE AND OBVIOUSLY THE PIPELINE FOR QUALIFIED OUTSTANDING DIVERSE TALENT IS THESE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

SO IF THIS GETS OVERTURNED, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO A CONFLICT IN THOSE TWO, YOU KNOW, SOCIETAL VALUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT IN TERMS OF PROFOUND CONSEQUENCES, THAT IF THIS GOES THE WAY IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO.

>> NEVERTHELESS, PAUL GODDARD, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE QUESTIONS FROM THE CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES THAT THEY'RE VERY SKEPTICAL OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND ITS IMPACT THE LAST FIVE DECADES OR SO.

WOULD THAT BE KIND OF A TELL THAT IT DOES FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE OVERTURNED?

>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE ARE SIX VOTES ON THE COURT THAT ARE ALL VERY CONSERVATIVE AND I THINK IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY AT LEAST IN THE NORTH CAROLINA CASE.

I MEAN ONE QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK AS A MATTER OF LAW IS WHY ARE THE SAME ARGUMENTS PRESENT IN THE NORTH CAROLINA CASE AND IN THE HARVARD CASE?

THE HARVARD CASE IS UNDER A FEDERAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATUTE, BUT WE KNOW A LOT OF OTHER FEDERAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATUTES LIKE TITLE XII, THE EMPLOYMENT STATUE, THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS PERMITTED UNDER THOSE.

SO ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR THE COURT IS WHY WOULD YOU DECIDE THE CONSTITUTIONAL CASE AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ON THE STATUTORY CASE AGAINST HARVARD THE SAME?

THEY'RE DIFFERENT STANDARDS.

>> HARVARD NOT BEING A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.

>> EXACTLY.

>> OBVIOUSLY TWO DIFFERENT CASES.

ALAN KING, JUSTICE JACKSON BROUGHT UP AN ARGUMENT SAYING THIS CAN'T BE A FACTOR, SHOULD THINGS LIKE VETERAN STATUS OR PARENTAL STATUS BE A FACTOR AS WELL?

IS THAT A COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR THE DEFENSE?

>> I THINK IT IS.

PEOPLE TRY TO ISOLATE AND SINGLE OUT THE ISSUE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, BUT THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE PLUS FACTORS, IF YOU WILL, IN THE COLLEGE ADMISSION PROCESS, YOU KNOW.

LEGACY GENERALLY GIVES YOU A POINT AS THE JUSTICE WOULD SAY TODAY.

VETERAN STATUS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, SO THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS THAT WE AS A SOCIETY AND COUNTRY VALUE AND IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S A QUOTA AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE OF COLOR IS GOING TO REPLACE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT OF COLOR OR EVEN TO SUGGEST THAT IT'S A PROHIBITIVE FACTOR, BUT THE NOTION THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE AT LEAST A FACTOR AMONG THE MANY OTHER FACTORS THAT COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS BOARDS CONSIDER, I JUST THINK IT'S SHORT SIGHTED AND I THINK WHAT THE MAJORITY'S QUESTIONS TODAY TRY TO SUGGEST OR THAT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CONCEPTUALLY, BUT THEY'RE QUESTIONING WHETHER ITS TIME HAS COME AND GONE AND I THINK ANYONE WHO IS REALISTIC ABOUT WHERE WE STILL ARE IN SOCIETY KNOWS SADLY THAT THAT TIME HAS NOT COME AND GONE.

>> WE WILL AWAIT THE RULING WHICH WILL PROBABLY COME IN SEVERAL MONTHS.

WE SHOULD NOTE LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN COLLEGE EDUCATION AS IT PERTAINS TO BORROWING AND STUDENT LOANS, BUT FOR NOW OUR THANKS TO YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> UP NEXT, HAS THE TIME COME FOR THE CITY TO PLOW SNOWY CHICAGO SIDEWALKS?

PLEASE STICK AROUND.

>>> AS OCTOBER TURNS TO NOVEMBER, CHICAGOANS WILL SOON MAKE THE SWITCH FROM RAKING LEAVES TO SHOVELING SNOW.

THERE'S A GROWING MOVEMENT DRIVEN BY THE INCONSISTENCY AND LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY OF CHICAGO'S SIDEWALKS AFTER A BIG SNOW EVENT.

JOINING US ARE ALEX NELSON, AN ORGANIZER WITH BETTER STREETS CHICAGO, A GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION PUSHING FOR BETTER WALKING, BIKING AND TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND CHARNEL LANE, WRITER AND HOST OF THE PODCAST "WORDS OF A BLACK WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE."

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

ALEX NELSON, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU PUSHING FOR WITH YOUR PLOW THE SIDEWALKS CAMPAIGN?

>> WELL, FIRST THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE CAMPAIGN NAME KIND OF COVERS IT, PLOW THE SIDEWALKS.

WE WANT THE CITY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNIVERSAL SIDEWALK SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL.

WE BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A MUNICIPAL SERVICE.

HOMEOWNERS ARE CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SERVICE OR ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.

HOWEVER, THAT CAN BE VERY INCONSISTENT.

WHETHER THAT'S A RESULT OF VERY DECENT AND GOOD HOMEOWNERS THAT HAPPEN TO BE OUT OF TOWN OR SICK OR INJURED WHEN A SNOW FALLS, WHETHER IT'S A VACANT LOT OR WHERE THE OWNERSHIP IS INDETERMINED, AT INDUSTRIAL SITES, VACANT LOTS, TRACKS THAT RUN OVERHEAD, A HUGE OVERSIGHT.

>> YOU WANT ONE CITY-WIDE STANDARD.

CHARNEL, YOU NAVIGATE THE CITY IN A WHEELCHAIR.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND?

>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

WE ARE STOPPED AND ME PERSONALLY, WE'RE STOPPED FROM DOING THE THINGS WE WOULD NORMALLY DO.

IN THE WINTERTIME IS A TIME WHERE EVERYBODY USUALLY GETS FAMILY TIME AND THEY GO TO EVENTS AND THAT STOPS FOR PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS.

THAT STOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY NAVIGATING SIDEWALKS THAT ARE NOT SHOVELED AND WHEELCHAIRS CAN'T ROLL IN THE SNOW, ESPECIALLY DEEP SNOW THAT CHICAGO GETS EVERY WEREN'T.

>> I WOULD ASSUME IN THE ICE AS WELL ORAL AT LEAST IT WOULD BE PRETTY TREACHEROUS.

ALEX, YOU MENTION IT'S UP TO HOMEOWNERS AND THE CITY SAYS THERE ARE FINES IF HOMEOWNERS DO NOT SHOVEL THEIR LITTLE SECTION OF SIDEWALK.

IT'S ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO $500.

DOES THE CITY ENFORCE THESE FINES AT ALL?

>> THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF ENFORCEMENT.

WBEZ DID A REPORT LAST YEAR AND HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT IT'S PRETTY MINIMAL.

MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, SIGNS DON'T SHOVEL SIDEWALKS.

FOR PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON MOBILITY AIDED, WHEELCHAIRS, WHITE CONTAIN USERS WHO HAVE VISION IMPAIRMENT, WHETHER THEY'RE A FAMILY WITH YOUNG KIDS AND MAY NEED A STROLLER TO GET AROUND, SIGNS DON'T SHOVEL SIDEWALKS.

THEY DON'T ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT UNEQUAL ACCESS TO OUR SIDEWALKS IMPACTS SOME PEOPLE DISPROPORTIONATELY.

>> YOU'RE PUSHING FOR THE CITY TO ADOPT A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WOULD COST ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE CURRENT BUDGET.

HOW WOULD THIS PILOT WORK?

>> WE DRAFTED A MAP THAT HAS 15 2 1/2 MILE ZONES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THE $750,000 MARK WILL COVER ALL 15 OF THOSE ZONES, BUT WE HOPE CITY COUNCIL WILL WORK WITH US TO ADOPT SEVERAL OF THOSE ZONES THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THESE AREAS.

ONE, THAT IT'S AN EQUITABLE APPROACH AND WE AREN'T FOCUSED ON ONE GEOGRAPHIC REGION, BUT THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THINGS LIKE BUSINESS DISTRICTS, RESIDENTIAL AREAS, SOME OF THE PLACES LIKE UNDER THE TRANSIT AREAS, UNDERPASSES AND BRIDGES A BIG CONCERN.

WE REALLY WANT A TEST WITH A PILOT LITTLE ZONES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND CAN HOPEFULLY SCALE UP TO A UNIVERSAL CITY-WIDE PROGRAM IN A YEAR.

>> HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST FOR A VERY BIG CITY, IT WOULD BE AN UNDERTAKING.

CHARNEL, HOW WOULD THIS HELP YOU, A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE THE CITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIDEWALKS JUST LIKE IT IS WITH THE STREETS?

>> IT WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT I GO IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I JUST RELY ON THE SIDEWALKS BEING CLEARED TO GET TO MY LOCATIONS.

IT WOULD MEAN THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL IN THE STREETS FOR BLOCKS THAT ARE UNSHOVELLED, FOR BLOCKS THAT HAVE A LOT OF VACANT BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOT BEING OCCUPIED.

THOSE SIDEWALKS DON'T GET SHOVELED.

SO IT WOULD OPEN UP MY ABILITY TO TRAVEL TO PLACES AND TO LIVE LIFE HOW I WOULD NORMALLY LIVE LIFE.

>> ALEX NELSON, THIS ISN'T A NEW CONCEPT.

THERE ARE CITIES THAT DO THIS, PERHAPS MOST COMPARATIVELY TORONTO.

HOW DOES IT WORK IN TORONTO?

>> TORONTO IS A UNIVERSAL CITY-WIDE SERVICE.

THEY HAVE ACTUAL SIDEWALK SNOWPLOWS, MACHINES BUILT FOR THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE, NOT LIKE ATVs THAT ARE RETROFIT.

THEY'RE SNOW GRADE AND COMMERCIAL GRADE MACHINES.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

I THINK THEIR LIMIT IS FOUR INCHES.

WE'RE PUSHING FOR TWO BECAUSE THAT'S BETTER FOR ACCESSIBILITY FOR VISION-IMPAIRED USERS.

WE WANT TO SEND SIDEWALK PLOWS OUT AS SOON AS THE SNOW HITS.

>> IS IT BEST PRACTICES TO HAVE THE CITY CONTRACT THE WORK OUT OR USE CITY EMPLOYEES?

>> THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE PILOT THAT WE'RE PUSHING FOR IS WE HOPE TO ANSWER.

TO BE TRUTHFUL, I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE ANSWER FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

I THINK IN SOME AREAS CONTRACTING WILL BE A BETTER AND MORE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE AND I THINK OTHER AREAS THEY ARE GOING TO NEED CITY EMPLOYEES WITH LARGER HEAVY DUTY MACHINES.

>> CHARNEL LANE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FOLKS THAT MIGHT ARGUE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE ALREADY DO THE STREETS.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE TOO HARD TO PULL OFF A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.

>> I WOULD SAY FOR THEM TO THINK ABOUT IF THEY AS ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS COULD JUST WALK OUT THEIR DOOR ONE DAY AND AN INVISIBLE FORCE STOPPED THEM FROM GOING ANYWHERE.

WHAT WOULD THEY DO TO FIX THAT PROBLEM?

>> PERHAPS CONSIDER YOUR PERSPECTIVE HERE.

ALEX, DO YOU HAVE ANY OLDER PEOPLE ON BOARD THIS PILOT PROJECT BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND, YOU'LL PROTEST OUTSIDE CITY HALL ON WEDNESDAY.

ANY TAKERS YET?

>> WE DO ACTUALLY.

WE'VE GOT A GOOD COALITION.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20% OF CITY HALL IS ON BOARD SO FAR.

WE MET WITH AN ALDERMAN EARLIER TODAY THAT WILL HELP US DRAFT A BUDGET AMENDMENT, HOPEFULLY GET THAT ON THE RECORD IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, BUT YEAH, WE DO HAVE TEN ALDERMANIC SUPPORTERS ON BOARD AND READY TO HELP PUSH THIS THROUGH.

>> ANY COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE?

>> NO.

IT HASN'T BEEN A PUSHBACK EITHER.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND I THINK THEY'RE KIND OF WAITING TO LET CITY HALL LEAD ON THIS AND SEE WHAT CITY COUNCIL DOES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF WINTER WE HAVE IN STORE FOR US AND HOW NECESSARY THIS MIGHT BE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>>> WE'RE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> WE HAVE A LOT MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING THE IMPACT ON STUDENT LOAN DEBT ON BLACK AND HISPANIC BORROWERS.

>>> BUT FIRST FOR CHICAGO BY CHICAGO IS HOW A LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT ADDRESSES LOCAL BIASES HE SAYS HE'S WITNESSED GROWING UP AS A QUEER MEXICAN-AMERICAN.

OUR CORRESPONDENT TAKES US TO PILLSON FOR A BREAKDOWN OF THAT PRODUCTION.

>> Reporter: IT WAS AFTER RICARDO GAMBOA RETURNED TO CHICAGO AFTER A DECADE OF TRAVEL THAT HE FOUND HIMSELF EAGER TO SHARE THE STORY OF A COMMUNITY HE FELT WAS FLEETING.

>> AND BEAT ME SCREAMING OVER AND OVER.

>> OUR COMMUNITY WAS BECOMING A GHOST AND NOT LONG AFTER I CAME BACK TO CHICAGO TRUMP WAS ELECTED AND SO THERE WAS ANOTHER HAUNTING THAT WAS HAPPENING AND THAT WAS THE VIOLENCE AND THE RACISM THAT TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION MEANT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING ME, AND THOSE TWO THINGS, RIGHT, LIKE THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP OR GENTRIFICATION SEEMED LIKE TWO SEPARATE REALITIES, BUT THEY WERE REALLY ENTANGLED REALITIES.

THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT THE GENESIS OF THE PLAY WAS.

>> Reporter: SO THE WIZARD WAS BORN.

THE STORY FOLLOWS THE LIVES OF A BLACK AND BROWN QUEER COUPLE WHO RETURNED TO CHICAGO AFTER SURVIVING A HATE CRIME AND AFTER CONNECTING WITH A MEXICAN-AMERICAN COVER BAND CALLED THE WIZARDS THEY BECOME FACED WITH A TASK THAT FORCES THEM TO DEAL WITH SOCIETAL ISSUES THAT GAMBOA SAYS HAVE PLAGUED THE COUNTRY FOR DECADES.

>> "THE WIZARD" DEALS BLUNT WITH ISSUES REICH RACISM, GENERAL OWE LIKE RACISM, GONOPHOBIA, WAR.

>> Reporter: A FELLOW WIZARD IN THE CHICAGO NATION AGREES.

>> WE'LL SEE THE STORIES WE'LL TELL EACH OTHER IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS BUT A LOT OF US ARE PUSHED OUT OF, SO LESS AND LESS OF THOSE STORIES ARE TOLD.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IT ON STAGE AS MUCH AS WE CAN SO WE CAN STILL SHOW PEOPLE WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE WERE.

>> Reporter: BUT THE STORY GOES BEYOND THESE EVERYDAY PARALLELS.

>> THE PLAY DEALS WITH MAGIC, SUPERNATURAL LIKE THE OIUIJI BOARD.

WE DEFINITELY WANTED THIS PLAY TO OVERLAP WITH THE HALLOWEEN SEASON WHEN THE VEIL IS THINNER BETWEEN THE WORLDS.

>> Reporter: "THE WIZARD REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST DIVERSE TUNES.

>> PART OF WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT AGAIN WITH MY PARENTS' STORIES AND IDENTIFIED SO MUCH WITH SOMETHING LIKE MOTOWN WHICH WAS LIKE THE SONGS OF ANOTHER RACIALIZED URBAN POPULATION, BLACK AMERICANS, AND SO THAT KIND OF BECAME IN A WAY TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RACE AND SURVIVING OPPRESSION.

>> GET A GIRL, FALL IN LOVE, HAVE KIDS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OPPRESSION DOES IS IT DEPRIVES US OF LOVE, THE LOVE THAT WE CAN GIVE TO EACH OTHER, THE LOVE THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE TO OURSELF.

WHAT I THINK THIS PLAY FOCUSES ON IS PRECISELY THAT AND THINKING ABOUT LOVE IN RADICAL WAYS, LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR EACH OTHER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE WIZARDS AT THE APO CULTURAL CENTER IN PILLSON ON CHICAGO 19th.

>>> STILL TO COME, A REPORT FINDS ILLINOIS IS ONE OF THE TOP STATES WHERE BIOSCIENCE IS ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS.

>>> HOW STUDENT DEBT CONTRIBUTES TO THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

>>> WHAT WENT INTO MAKING TENNIS ICON SERENA WILLIAMS AN ICON, THE HOST OF WBEZ'S MAKING PODCAST JOINS US WITH A LOOK AT THE NEW SEASON.

>>> JUST IN TIME FOR DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, LEARN ABOUT THE COLORFUL FLOWERS USED FOR THE HOLIDAY AND WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM IN CHICAGO.

>>> BUT FIRST SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, THE NEW DAMON GREEN LINE STADIUM SET TO BE COMPLETE THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2024 ACCORDING TO THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE."

MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AFTER THE PROJECT WAS ANNOUNCED, THE CTA STATIONS IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

IT WILL FILL A 1.5-MILE GAP BETWEEN EXISTING STATIONS AND WILL OFFER ADDITIONAL TRANSIT FOR RESIDENTS, McKINZIE INDUSTRIAL QUARTER AND THOSE ATTENDING EVENTS AT UNITED CENTER.

>>> TEACHERS AND FACULTY FOR CITY COLLEGES IN CHICAGO REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION DAYS BEFORE A PLANNED STRIKE.

THE NEW FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT INCLUDES A SALARY INCREASE, SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND A PLAN TO PROVIDE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES ACCORDING TO THE UNION.

THE UNION IS TOUTING ITS SUPPORT FOR "CHICAGO'S MOST MARGINALIZED STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES."

THE CITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE TENT TENTATIVE AGREEMENT INSURES A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND CONTRIBUTION OF STUDENTS AND STAFF IS RECOGNIZED.

>>> THE POWERBALL JACKPOT THE FIFTH LARGEST IN HISTORY.

TONIGHT'S DRAWING HAPPENS AT 9:59 CHICAGO TIME IN.

JULY TWO PEOPLE CLAIMED A $1.3 BILLION POWERBALL PRIZE FROM A TICKET PURCHASED IN DES PLAINES.

>>> A MAJOR HEALTHCARE MERGER INVOLVING DEERFIELD-BASED WALGREEN'S, TWO ILLINOIS NUCLEAR PLANTS ONCE AT RISK OF CLOSING WILL NOW RUN FOR DECADES TO COME.

>>> AND A NEW REPORT FINDS ILLINOIS IS AMONG THE TOP STATES WHERE LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES ATTRACT INVESTMENT.

HERE TO GO BUSINESS THE BUSINESS HEADLINES IS CRANE CHICAGO BUSINESS EDITOR ANN DWYER.

OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, A MAJOR MERGER IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY INVOLVING WALGREEN'S.

TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> IT REALLY INVOLVES A SUBSIDIARY OF WALGREEN'S CALLED VILLAGE MD, PARIS, AND VILLAGE MD IS A PILLAR OF WALGREEN'S PLAN TO GROW THROUGH EXPANDING ITS IN-STORE CLINICS AND TODAY COMES NEWS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING AN OUTFIT CALLED SUMMIT HEALTH.

THIS IS A MEDICAL CLINIC OPERATOR THAT HAS A FOOTPRINT IN NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT, PENNSYLVANIA AND OREGON.

THEY HAVE 370 LOCATIONS.

NOW IF THIS ACQUISITION DOES TAKE PLACE, IT WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD BRINGING VILLAGE MD TOWARD ITS GOAL OF 1,000 PHARMACY-BASED CLINICS BY THE YEAR 2027.

SO ROSS BREWER, THE CEO OF WALGREEN'S, HAS A LOT RIDING ON THIS.

WE'LL WATCH IT CLOSELY.

>> GROWTH IN THAT CLINIC SPACE.

>>> TWO NUCLEAR PLANTS IN ILLINOIS OWNED BY CON ED, DRESDEN AND CLINTON, WE ALL KNOW THEY THREATENED TO CLOSE DOWN WITHOUT GETTING THAT BAILOUT LEGISLATION FROM THE STATE.

NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE SET TO RUN FOR DECADES TO COME.

HOW DID THIS TURNAROUND HAPPEN?

>> WELL, THE NEWS TODAY IS THAT THEY PUT IN AN APPLICATION TO OPERATE THESE PLANTS WITH THE NRC FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS, THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, AND ANALYSTS EXPECT THAT THE NRC WILL APPROVE THOSE APPLICATIONS AND THAT MEANS CLINTON AND DRESDEN WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE THOSE NEXT TWO DECADES AND IT WILL PUT AN END TO THE CHATTER I THINK THAT DRESDEN AND CLINTON ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

>> I WONDER IF THEY'LL COME BACK TO THE STATE FOR MORE AS SUBSIDIES AND ALL THAT GIVEN THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'LL BE GOOD FOR DECADES TO COME.

>>> ALSO THE STATE IS SEEING GROWTH IN THE BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY OR LIFE SCIENCES.

HOW WELL POSITIONED IS ILLINOIS IN THIS INDUSTRY?

>> VERY WELL POSITIONED AS IT TURNS OUT, PARIS.

WE'VE GOT SOME NEW DATA TODAY THAT SHOWS JUST HOW LARGE OF SLICE OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY IS MADE UP OF LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECH BUSINESSES.

EMPLOYMENT IN THAT SECTOR IS UP 4.5% THIS YEAR TO NEARLY 91,000 JOBS STATEWIDE.

THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING AT 5,000 DIFFERENT ESTABLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WHAT'S FUELING THAT GROWTH IS MAJOR SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL NATIONAL INSTITUTES FOR HEALTH AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE ILLINOIS LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR RECENTLY AND THESE ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE AVERAGE WAGE AT THESE OUTFITS IN 2021 WAS $141,000.

THAT'S UP 8% SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS MEASURED IN 2018.

>> MAYBE THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IS BUILDING THAT DISCOVERY PARTNERS INSTITUTE WITH SOME STATE FUNDING HELP, TOO, IN THE SOUTH LOOP THERE.

ANN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ABOUT 48 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT TOTALING MORE THAN $1.7 TRILLION.

WHEN IT COMES TO PAYING OFF THAT DEBT, MANY BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING.

NEARLY HALF OF BLACK STUDENTS OWE AN AVERAGE OF 12.5% MORE THAN THEY BORROWED.

MANY ADVOCACY GROUPS SAY STUDENT DEBT IS EXACERBATING THE WEALTH GAP.

AS PART OF WTTW'S FIRSTHAND SEGREGATION INITIATIVE, WE DIG INTO THIS TOPIC DEEPER WITH HORATIO MENDEZ, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE WOODSTOCK INSTITUTE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE NONPROFIT, CODY HUNANIAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS CENTER, WILL HOBART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BOTTOM LINE WHICH WORKS WITH FIRST GENERATION AND LOW INCOME COLLEGE STUDENTS.

WE WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

HORATIO MENDEZ, THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, BLACK AND LATINO COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE CARRYING AS MUCH AS THREE TIMES AS MUCH DEATH AS THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU THINK ABOUT GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND THE ABILITY FOR FAMILIES OF COLOR TO BUILD THE KIND OF RESOURCES FROM WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE TO BORROW AS MUCH TO ATTAIN THE AMERICAN DREAM OF GOING TO COLLEGE, GETTING A GOOD JOB AND HAVING THE WORLD OPENED UP TO YOU AS A RESULT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ENTIRE CYCLE ALMOST LIKE PLAYING MONOPOLY, IMAGINE IF A FAMILY'S ABLE TO PLAY MONOPOLY ON THEIR OWN FOR 350 YEARS.

THEY GET TO PASS GO, PURCHASE PROPERTY, COLLECT RENT AND THEN YOU INVITE OTHER PEOPLE TO JOIN FROM THERE, PRETTY FAR BEHIND.

YOU'RE NEVER REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP.

AS A RESULT, THE CHOICES YOU MAKE, THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE AND RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PRESENTED TO YOU ARE VERY DIFFERENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE JUST STARTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY IN THAT MANNER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD, AS OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD ALL THOSE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF ADVANTAGE IN BUILDING THAT GENERATIONAL WEALTH WHICH THEN OPENS UP THE DOOR TOWARDS COLLEGE, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, MORTGAGES, STARTING A FAMILY.

>> KIND OF PART OF THE OVERALL WEALTH GAP HERE.

CODY HUNANIAN, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIG REASONS WHY THERE IS THIS MASSIVE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT BORROWERS AND BORROWERS FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> WELL, I THINK HORATIO IS SPOT ON WITH THE MONOPOLY ANALOGY.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY OF THINKING ABOUT IT.

THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP REALLY HAS BLACK AND BROWN BORROWERS STARTING OFF ON THE WRONG FOOTING WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO AFFORD COLLEGE.

ON TOP OF THAT, BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT, YOU'RE NO LONGER GETTING THAT $200 FOR PASSING GO.

SO ALL OF THE BENEFITS OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT WE TYPICALLY THINK ARE THE BENCHMARKS OF HIGHER EDUCATION BEING THE PATHWAY TO THE AMERICAN DREAM HAVE BEEN STRIPPED AWAY BECAUSE OF THAT DEBT.

SO TO HEAR FROM BLACK OR BROWN BORROWERS WHO GOT A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR ATTENDED SOME LEVEL OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THEY NO LONGER SEE SALARY INCREASES, JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

IN FACT, THE BENCHMARK IS MOVING FURTHER.

SO WE KNOW BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR ARE MORE LIKELY TO ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL AS WELL WHICH MEANS THEIR DEBT BURDEN IS LARGER.

ALL OF THAT IS JUST IN AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO MAKE THIS PATHWAY OF HIGHER EDUCATION CAN'T TURN OUT THE WAY WE ALL HOPE IT WILL TURN OUT WHICH MEANS BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME, SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY.

HIGHER EDUCATION IS MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER BEFORE FOR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS, BUT THE BENEFITS THOSE STUDENTS ARE SEEING ARE BEING COMPLETELY UNDERMINED BY THIS BURDEN OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

>> YOU'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF THESE BORROWERS DIRECTLY.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM THEM?

>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THIS CONVERSATION THE EQUITY GAP AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING TO INSTITUTIONS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ATTENDING, SO RESEARCH HAS POINTED OUT STUDENTS WHO COME FROM PREDOMINANTLY NONWHITE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE RECEIVED $23 BILLION LESS EQUAL FUNDING THAN THEIR PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE THINK ABOUT THE RESULT OF SYSTEMIC RACISM AND OTHER STRUCTURAL BARRIERS, STUDENTS OF COLOR AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES FACE THIS ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ACCEPTED IN ENROLLING AND MATRICULATING INTO COLLEGE.

THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS WORKING IN UNDERRESOURCED COMMUNITIES AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THIS CRITICAL COLLEGE ADVISING AND PREP SUPPORT TO STUDENTS.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE BOTTOM LINE STEPS IN.

WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT AND PARTNER WITH FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS.

YOU COUPLE STUDENTS WHO ARE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

THERE ARE JUST FEWER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO GAIN THAT CRITICAL GUIDANCE THAT WE KNOW IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN MAKING A DECISION AROUND COLLEGE THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND ALSO A GREAT FIT.

>> HORATIO MENDEZ, WE'RE ALL TOLD IF WE WANT TO GET AHEAD, WE NEED A COLLEGE DEGREE.

DO BLACK AND LATINO BORROWERS FEEL IT WAS WORTH IT WHEN THEY CONSIDER THE KIND OF ECONOMIC CHOKEHOLD THEY'RE UNDER AFTER COLLEGE?

>> WELL, THERE WAS SOME STARTLING INFORMATION SHARED BY THE ASPEN INSTITUTE NOT THAT LONG AGO WHERE THEY DID PRETTY ROBUST CONVERSATIONS WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BORROWERS AND GRADUATES AND TWO-THIRDS OF THE BORROWERS OF COLOR OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS WERE QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT GOING INTO THAT LEVEL OF DEBT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE.

WELL OVER 50% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY DID NOT FEEL STUDENT DEBT CLOSED THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP AT ALL.

SO THAT'S HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE IT IS A DOOR OPENING TO SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S NOT NECESSARY.

IT'S NOT A MANDATE THAT IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL YOU HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE BUILDING BLOCKS THAT DOES OPEN UP SO MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GO TO COLLEGE AND HAVING THAT PERCEPTION AFTERWARDS MEANS THAT THEY'RE SADDLED WITH DEBT.

THEY'RE PROBABLY TURNING TO HIGH COST ALTERNATIVES WHEN THEIR MONTHLY BILLS ARE DUE.

THEY COULD HAVE A SITUATION OF TURNING TO PREDATORY LENDERS, PAWN SHOPS, ET CETERA.

THERE ARE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH DEBT, ESPECIALLY THIS KIND OF CONSUMER DEBT.

THAT'S WELL DOCUMENTED.

SO FOR THE MOST PART DEBT AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH BORROWERS OF COLOR IS THAT IT'S USUALLY MORE HARMFUL.

IT USUALLY ENDS UP IN COURT MORE OFTEN AND THE OUTCOMES THERE AREN'T QUITE AS GOOD AS THEY ARE FOR WHITE BORROWERS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SPILLOVER EFFECTS THAT ARE NOT FINANCIAL, HEALTH ISSUES, FOREGOING LIFE CHOICES LIKE GETTING MARRIED, FAMILIES, ET CETERA.

SO YES, IT'S NOT A NECESSITY TO HAVE THAT COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT YOUR CHOICES ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE LIMITED.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE A RANGE OF IMPACTS.

CODY HUNANIAN, WE KNOW HOW IMPACTFUL THE PRESIDENT'S POTENTIAL PLAN HERE TO CANCEL $10,000 IN STUDENT DEBT, UP TO $20,000 FOR PELL GRANT, WILL THIS DO ANYTHING TO CLOSE THE RACIAL DISPARITY HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I LOOK AT THE MOST CURRENT RESEARCH AROUND THIS TOPIC.

THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE HAS DONE SOME FABULOUS RESEARCH AROUND STUDENT DEBT CANCELLATION AND SUMMARIZE THIS VERY SIMPLY.

THEY SAID STUDENT DEBT CANCELLATION IS A PROGRESSIVE POLICY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL BORROWERS' WEALTH AND FOR BLACK AND BROWN BORROWERS THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP IS REALLY WHAT HOLDS THEM BACK WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE AND BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR STUDENT LOANS.

SO THE MORE WE CANCEL AS FAR AS STUDENT LOAN DEBTS, THE MORE BENEFITS REACH THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST AND THAT IS THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY BORROWERS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO INSURE HAS ACCESS TO THIS PROGRAM.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT IS BEING CALLED OUT NOW IN COURT.

WE ARE QUITE OPTIMISTIC AND HOPEFUL THIS WILL BE RESOLVED SOON AND BORROWERS ABSOLUTELY SHOULD APPLY AND THE BENEFITS WILL BE, ONE, BEING ABLE TO CLOSE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP AND, TWO, MORE SPILLOVER EFFECTS FROM THE POSITIVE.

THESE BLACK AND BROWN BORROWERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THAT BENEFIT TO PURCHASE HOMES, TO FINISH EDUCATION, SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO EDUCATION.

SO IT HAS A DOMINO EFFECT THAT WILL MEAN THAT OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY AND OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE BENEFITS.

>> WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TOWN.

REALLY QUICKLY, WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CLOSE THE WEALTH GAP HERE?

>> I THINK ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO ADD TO WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS THERE IS JUST STILL GOING TO COLLEGE MATTERS STATISTICALLY.

WE KNOW IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED A COLLEGE EDUCATION IS UNMATCHED IN TERMS OFABILITY AND UNLOCKED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ABILITY.

WHILE THE OUTCOMES WE'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT ARE GRIM, THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY WE BELIEVE AT BOTTOM LINE IN TERMS OF CLOSING THE EQUITY GAP.

WE KNOW EARNING A COLLEGE DEGREE MEANS STUDENTS ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY ABLE TO ENJOY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND WILL EARN 1 MILLION MORE DOLLARS OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A LOOK AT THE NEW SEASON OF THE MAKING PODCAST.

THAT'S IN A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> THE BIOGRAPHIC PODCAST CALLED MAKING, OPRAH, BEYONCE, OBAMA, YOU'LL STILL GET THE ONE NAME ONLY LEVEL OF LEGENDS IN THIS LATEST SEASON, BUT THEY'VE SHAKEN THINGS UP A BIT.

NOW EACH EPISODE COVERS A DIFFERENT FIGURE EACH WEEK AND THE SHOW HAS A NEW HOST, BRANDON POPE, WHO JOINS US NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WELCOME IN.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST SEASON AS THE SHOW'S HOST.

FIRST EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT.

>> YEAH.

THE IDEA IS JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT MADE THESE ICONIC BLACK FIGURES WHO THEY ARE.

IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND IT'S ONE THAT I THINK IS REALLY FASCINATING.

IT'S A BIOGRAPHICAL PODCAST.

EACH WEEK YOU'LL HEAR THE MAKING STORY, HOW WAS SERENA WILLIAMS MADE, HOW WAS REVEREND JESSE JACKSON MADE, HOW WAS RIHANNA, THE POP SUPERSTAR MADE.

>> WHICH JUST DROPPED A NEW SONG.

>> THE KEY THING IS YOU'RE HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT KNEW THEM IN THOSE PIVOTAL YEARS AND HELPED THEM GET TO WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY'VE GOT THE BEST PERSPECTIVE.

>> WE HAVE A CLIP OF RECORD PRODUCER EVAN ROGERS WHO DISCOVERED RIHANNA IN BARBADOS IN 2003 TALKING ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THE SONG "UMBRELLA" AND HOW IT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR HER CAREER.

HERE THAT IS.

>> I THINK WE ALWAYS FELT FROM DAY ONE THAT SHE HAD A RICHER, LOWER PART OF HER TONE THAT REALLY ALLOWED HER TO SHINE AND "UMBRELLA" EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER.

IT WAS THE COMFORT ZONE WHERE SHE COULD SHOW THAT SWAG IN HER VOICE.

EVERYTHING BEGAN TO CHANGE QUICKLY WHEN THAT SONG HIT.

>> BRANDON, HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH YEARS ARE THE MAKING YEAR?

>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE LIKE A RIHANNA WHO HAVE A CAREER THAT'S STILL HAPPENING, RIGHT?

THEY'RE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

I THINK THE KEY THING FOR US IS WE THINK ABOUT OKAY, WHAT ARE THE AREAS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE MOST?

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARKS?

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY KNOW RIHANNA'S FROM BARBADOS.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW SHE MADE THE LEAP TO THE UNITED STATES, SLEEPING IN THE OFFICES OF JAY-Z, PEOPLE HOLDING HER FOR RANSOM TO SIGN THE CONTRACT AND WE ASKED THE QUESTION HAS SHE MADE IT AND THEN WE CUT IT OFF.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MAYBE SERENA WILLIAMS FANS, MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY TENNIS FANS, TENNIS PRO SHANDRA RUBEN, TENNIS PRO.

>> SHE COULD HIT OUT WIDE, UP THE T, INTO THE BODY.

THOSE ARE KIND OF THE PRIMARY THREE, BUT SHE COULD DO IT WITH THE SAME LOOK, WITH THE SAME TOSS, SO YOU COULDN'T READ IT.

IT WAS THE SUM TOTAL OF HER GAME AND WHAT SHE BROUGHT TO THE COURT.

SO EVEN IF YOU WERE A GOOD RETURNER LIKE I WAS, HOW DO YOU MAKE INROADS INTO THAT KIND OF SERVICE GAME?

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO TALK TO ON THAT EPISODE, PARTICULARLY FOR SERENA?

>> FOR SERENA WILLIAMS IT WAS TOUGH BECAUSE IT'S LIKE WHO IS GOING TO GIVE US THE BEST PERSPECTIVE AND YOU WANT IT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES, RIGHT?

FOR THIS EPISODE WE HAD SHANDA RUBEN, EXCELLENT, PLAYED AGAINST HER, CAN TALK ABOUT HOW SCARY IT IS TO PLAY AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE SERENA WILLIAMS AND HOW YOU HAVE TO UP YOUR GAME.

WE THINK ABOUT HOW ABOUT FAMILY LIFE?

FAMILY STORY IS A BIG PART OF HER LEGACY.

WE TALKED TO HER OLDER SISTER.

FINALLY YOU WANT THE COACHING PERSPECTIVE, A PERSON WHO SAT THERE WITH HER, TAUGHT HER SOME THINGS THAT SHE KNOWS AND THAT'S RICK MACY.

IF YOU SAW THE MOVIE "KING RICHARD," JOHN BERNTHALL PLAYED THE GUY THAT MOVED THE FAMILY OUT TO CALIFORNIA BECAUSE IN GIRL IS SO GOOD.

A LOT OF THESE FIGURES ARE MULTILAYERED.

YES, SERENA WILLIAMS IS A TENNIS STAR, BUT SHE'S ALSO A FASHION ICON AS WELL.

SHE IS A HEROINE TO SO MANY, SAME FOR RIHANNA, MUCH MORE THAN MUSIC.

SHE'S A FASHION MOGUL AS WELL.

YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ANGLES TO PEOPLE.

>> YOUR LATEST EPISODE IS ON REVEREND JESSE JACKSON.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH FIGURES DIFFERENTLY, POLITICAL FIGURES LIKE JESSE JACKSON COMPARED TO SOME OF THE ENTERTAINMENT FIGURES, EVEN HISTORICAL FIGURES?

>> I THINK THE KEY IS TELLING A COMPLETE STORY.

OBVIOUSLY A THEME LIKE RIHANNA IS A LITTLE MORE LIGHT-HEARTED, WHEREAS REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, THERE ARE ELEMENTS TO HIS STORY LIKE THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING THAT YOU WANT TO TREAT WITH THE RIGHT RESPECT.

THE THING ABOUT THE JESSE JACKSON EPISODE IS WE TALKED TO A BIOGRAPHER OF JESSE JACKSON WHO IS REALLY OBJECTIVE.

SHE GOT A LOT OF HATE AND DEATH THREATS BECAUSE OF THE WAY SHE DOCUMENTED THE JESSE JACKSON EARLY LIFE AND THE WAY THE MLK ASSASSINATION WENT DOWN AND THE AFTERMATH OF THAT.

THERE'S SOME CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS THERE.

WE'RE ABLE TO DIVE INTO THAT AND BE REALLY BE ON TV AND UNBIASED IN THE WAY WE DO IT.

I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART.

>> SOMETHING I'VE NOTICED ABOUT MOST OF THE FOLKS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, RIHANNA, SERENA WILLIAMS, REVEREND JACKSON, OFF OF THEM IS STILL RELEVANT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MAKING OF THEM.

I THINK THIS WAS RELEASED SOME WEEKS AFTER SHE ANNOUNCED SHE WAS EVOLVING AWAY FROM TENNIS.

RIHANNA ANNOUNCED SHE IS HEADLINING THE SUPER BOWL IN ADDITION TO DROPPING THIS NEW ALBUM.

WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.

>> THAT'S THE COOLEST PART, RIGHT?

WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE THE HISTORY CHANNEL.

THERE WILL BE SOME EPISODES WHERE WE DO TALK ABOUT FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND SOME REALLY COOL PEOPLE WHO DID GREAT THINGS, BUT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT THEIR STORY IS NOT COMPLETELY WRITTEN YET, I THINK THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE FUN BECAUSE IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO MAYBE GO BACK LATER AND REVISIT IT AND SEE WHAT THE NEXT CHAPTER IS, MAYBE A MAKING PART TWO.

>> OH.

AS A JOURNALIST, YOU'RE PRETTY PLUGGED IN.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LEARNED OR WERE SURPRISED BY?

>> THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT QUESTION.

IT REALLY IS.

THE RIHANNA EPISODE TO ME I LEARNED THE MOST.

IT WAS THE MOST ENLIGHTENING BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF RIHANNA, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THE EFFORT SHE PUT IN, THE WORK ETHIC AND IT'S SUCH AN UNCONVENTIONAL STORY.

EVAN ROGERS, THIS WHITE GUY PRODUCER, HE GOES TO BARBADOS, GOES TO A TALENT SHOW, HERE'S A YOUNG GIRL SINGLE SING AND SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M GOING TO BRING YOU TO THE UNITED STATES WITH ME.

TO HAVE THAT TALENT DEVELOP DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

THEY WORKED YEARS TO GET HER FIRST SINGLE AND THE PROCESSING, EFFORT, DRIVE, I THINK THAT'S REALLY INSPIRING.

I THINK WOW, IF THEY CAN DO THAT, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE VERY SIMILAR STORIES I FIND, TOO.

IF THEY CAN HAVE THOSE STRUGGLE, THOSE OBJECTS IN THEIR PAST, WE CAN DO THE SAME.

WE CAN GET PAST THOSE THINGS AS WELL.

HEY, WE GOT MAKING OURSELVES.

>> SOME OF THOSE THINGS SOUND LIKE A FAIRYTALE, NONE OF IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> DIA DE LOS MUERTOS OR DAY OF THE DEAD IS A TRADITIONAL MEXICAN HOLIDAY REMEMBERING LOVED ONES WHO HAVE DIED.

ORANGE AND YELLOW KNOWN AS MARIGOLDS IN ENGLISH FREQUENTLY ADORN OFRENDAS.

THE VIVID FLOWERS ARE NATIVE TO MEXICO AND BLOOM THIS TIME OF YEAR JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY.

THESE CAN BE TOUGH TO FIND IN CHICAGO, BUT PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON SPOTTED THEM OUTSIDE AN ALBANY PARK FLORAL SHOP AND STOPPED IN TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> Reporter: THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS HOLIDAY IS CELEBRATED ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, BUT IT'S MOST STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH MEXICAN CULTURE.

>> I AM FROM ECUADOR.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE DO IT IN ECUADOR, IN PERU, IN COLOMBIA, HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MEXICAN PEOPLE IS EVERYWHERE.

SO THEY TAKE THE TRADITION WHERE THEY GO.

>> Reporter: ALBANY PARK FLORAL DESIGNER BLANCA TERO SAYS A FEW YEARS AGO A CUSTOMER STOPPED IN HOPING TO PICK UP A CRUCIAL ELEMENT OF THE MEXICAN DIA DE LOS MUERTOS TRADITION, MARIGOLDS.

>> WHEN I OPENED THE BUSINESSES, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS KIND OF FLOWERS.

THE FIRST YEAR WHEN I SELL THEM BECAUSE ONE CUSTOMER ASKING, HEY, YOU HAVE THEM?

I SAY NO.

SHE SAY WHY?

I SAY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY USE IT.

THEY SAY OH, YOU KNOW, IN MEXICO BECAUSE THIS IS A MEXICAN TRADITION.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN MEXICO WE DO THE ALTAR.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THIS FLOWER BE IN THE ALTAR.

>> Reporter: THE BELIEF IS THE BRIGHT COLOR AND STRONG FRAGRANCE HELPS GUIDE THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED TO THEIR FAMILIES' HOME FOR THEIR ANNUAL REUNION.

>> YOU'LL FEEL IN YOUR HEART THEY ARE HERE.

THEY ARE HERE EVERY YEAR.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE TRADITION.

>> BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

DAY OF THE DEAD BEGINS TOMORROW.

>>> WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT," I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

STAY SAFE OUT THERE, TRICK-OR-TREATERS.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM THAT