>> Hello thanks for joining us on Chicago Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

What local advocates are doing to combat child abuse.

After winning their opening day game at the new Ryan field.

What northwestern football fans can expect for the rest of the season.

>> Everyone right because in depression is is huge.

And in community.

>> And how a local coffee shop is creating a welcoming space for seniors.

First off tonight, south suburban neighbors are getting even more help cleaning up after damaging storms struck the area nearly 2 months ago.

>> Debris removal is more than just a cleanup issue.

Debris can affect transportation, public safety access to homes and businesses, public spaces and a community's ability to fully recover.

Removing it is essential restoring communities.

Cook County says it's pledging 8 million dollars to help move tons of debris still remaining across the south suburbs.

>> The Cook County Board president's office says crews have already removed roughly 100,000 cubic yards of debris enough to fill about 5700 average sized dump trucks for the debris collection from 13 south suburban municipalities is expected to take about 2 more weeks.

Chicago's inspector general is warning drivers of rogue towing tow trucks that show up to crashes unsolicited toe vehicles and charge outrageous amounts to get them back.

>> The I G report says the city passed enforcement mechanisms 5 years ago to limit predatory or pirate towing.

But says the problem is still real.

The number of rogue towing complaints fell from 110 in 2024 to 71 in 2025. report says rogue operators may claim to be sent by your insurance company or the police and promised to take your car to a dealership or repair a lot.

But really they told them to their own to lot to avoid them.

The inspector general says legitimate tow operators are required to have a city towing license and display a city registration emblem on their trucks.

Chicago, get your brooms ready because the White Sox are preparing for a playoff sweep.

They returned home for tomorrow's game.

3 of the American League Division series Guaranteed Rate Field.

They've already taken the first 2 games in the best of 5 series against the Cleveland Guardians.

First pitch is at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

>> With parking lots open for hours prior.

And Gates opening 2 hours beforehand.

Sachs are advising fans to take public transportation as parking is already sold out.

Fans are encouraged to wear black for tomorrow's game.

And those in attendance will be getting a rally towel.

Up next, a new era for Northwestern University right after this.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexandra and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> It's a new era for northwestern football as the team is enjoying a winning season in a brand-new Ryan field.

The Wildcats defeated Penn State in the stadiums debut game on Friday, 100 years to the day.

The last Northwestern Stadium opened the new Ryan Field is the most expensive college football stadium ever built at 870 million dollars.

features closer seats.

Classic Chicago food and brand new Wildcat wall, though it is its development hasn't been without pushback from some of the stadium's neighbors.

Joining us to talk more about what fans can expect is Pat Ryan Junior CEO of Ryan Sports Development.

Pat, thanks for joining us.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

So has mentioned plans for the stadium first unveiled to the public more than 4 years ago.

What was it like to finally welcome people to the stadium cut that ribbon on Friday?

And how did it go?

I mean, it was incredible if you know, you spent all this time, 5, 6, years planning dreaming of something that was great.

>> It's been a lot of excitement.

A lot of news about the stadium over the time.

But to see people live it, you know, we built this around people.

We thought of each of the groups that we use it to build around and to designed for people and then to see them use it was really magical.

And, you know, the funny thing is we have lot of people say I was expecting so much and then they say you want and totally undersold so much more fun than I expected.

And I think it's because, you know, there's just something for everyone >> why build an entirely new stadium?

What did you want to build a new stadium rather than fixing up the old one?

Well, first of all, I'd say is no longer the most expensive project in college football.

>> Nebraska's 2 billion dollar renovation, 40 billion and a half renovation.

I think unfortunately the Orion Field didn't have the physical structure left to preserve to look at a renovation spend 300 million dollars on something that frankly would not have lasted very long and really didn't offer much to the average fan or to the community was still have seven-day year kind of white elephant.

If you look at the idea of doing less expensive stadium, you really would have something that would have been probably a 3rd court.

I'll kind of quality stadium and a one in 20 down from there.

And so what we what we realized this 100 years to the day we opened as 100 year decisions.

How do you make 100 your decision?

You want something that's going to stand the test of time and the other pieces is at Northwestern with everything Northwestern does.

technology.

The performing arts, you know, economics, life sciences, everything is done at the highest order of excellence.

And so we really just bringing the football facility up to the kind of quality that the other facilities on the campus.

All right.

>> What are what are some of the features that help make this field special and make it stand out when we decide to some very different, you know, people get caught up on the idea.

It's the first NFL type stadium in college football really has to do with that.

The scale of the project and being new, not a lot of power.

2 football stadiums are new has been a new one 10 years.

We to this century before.

Right field.

But we did something very different purpose.

It's a larger building than the old building.

The ticket areas, 520,000 square feet larger.

Yet we have 12,000 less heat.

So that's one big change.

And then we did 3 things that we thought would stand the test of time.

The old stadium was built.

It was the only way to see again, there was a way to listen to on the radio.

There's no way to watch on television.

told make this back.

Then.

And now we live in a different world.

It's the hardest way to see a game high traffic crowds cost money.

You can watch northwestern game or any football game on your phone and a sports bar in your basement and a cause and any of these places.

And so, yes, the question, why did people go to games?

They go to games to share experiences, known ghostwood game alone to go friends that family to go classmates.

They go with the for a set of experiences which ultimately are the happy memories you have in your life.

And so what we did and what we focused on was how do you build a stadium around?

Those are the 3 big changes are you are closer to the field in every seat than any comparable football stadium in America.

In fact, it will be the best place to see a football game or concert or soccer match in the country of any stadium.

And the reason is we put the seat's right on top of the action in a way, but no one's seen since the Chicago Stadium.

The second is is that we built it not is sweets for the many for the few benches for the many we instead built.

That is something with premium for every single fan.

So comfortable seat.

Typical college football.

Steamy can 16 inches of a woman to put your behind on here you get a comfortable seat.

19 inches armrest.

Couple theirs protected by went from a canopy and then we built it really run experiences and we can talk more about it.

But there's day of experiences to get their festivals abound in the ability to really to make a day of it for those magical memories right to you all.

decided to make it.

You know, it's about more than just football.

There will be plans for concerts, festivals other events.

>> But some Evanston residents, they voice concerns about commercial zoning, increased traffic and noise that these additional events might bring turning their, you suburban community into something like a wrigleyville.

not at the stadium is open.

How will you all continue to work to make sure that those concerns are addressed for neighbors?

Look, couple things I'd say.

First of when you look at the city at the time, most the city of Evanston supported the stadium.

>> The controversy was really about concerts.

you know, the city council voted 6 to 2 for the stadium improvements really just the concert that was that was the Tiger vote >> I you know, I think ultimately, you know, we there was a lot of catastrophe icing at the time.

People imagining we have less seats than we had before.

The crowds will be smaller.

There's been a football staying there for 100 years.

Nobody lived there 100, you know, the people there, but there are.

it's been there.

So wasn't football games that worried anything, football games will be easier because the stadium and closes sound more.

The we have less traffic coming.

So I think it was more about concerts and I think it's easy to testifies things.

But the reality is is there were 6 concerts, as you know, from Stoney and on the golf course toward yards away.

Before we ever started It's not that it's all new.

I think there was a lot of town down when things are Northwestern about.

And I think there are people who are worried about that and the only way to deal with that is is to keep your promises.

We've been keeping our promises.

You know, the there were 221 million dollars for the women.

Already a business contract came out of this about economic empowerment.

I think 10 million dollars on workforce development for people in Evanston.

and we're working hard to be a good neighbor and to bring in events, others that there was also some criticism on Friday that the stadium didn't appear full Friday night's Or do you think that was?

Well, that's my folks.

We were sold out and we even looked at all the seats that appear on TV.

>> And the reason I say is my focus is we create too many fun things to do.

The fact is, is that our concourses, we didn't sell the standing room only.

So we had open standing room only and people went down there and they wanted to watch from there was like a giant sports bar on those and we had the creek clubs, the Chiefs, that 50 yard line people point out.

Those are the same people with clubs in the end zone see the end zone was full of those people.

So I mean, part of it was people So many fun things to do.

We really built this around experiences.

And in some cases, I think we did such a good job giving people great experiences that they wanted to watch the game from all the cool all right?

I think one of those experiences was on Friday in particular opening night was the F 16 flyover that many of us in Evanston.

>> Pat and I've got to ask you this before before we let you go, because there's other stadium news going on as well.

Your father, Pat Ryan senior, also part of the conversation on you and your family are minority owners in the Bears >> your father has also been part of the conversations about what's next for the Chicago Bears.

>> Any chance that we'll be keeping them in Chicago?

What can you say?

You know, all these questions are questions for George McCaskey.

Kevin Warren might get member of the board of directors and we are minority owners.

But people were really there to support the majority owner.

And to the extent that my dad can bring people together to ensure that there's productive conversation, he's there to be helpful, but we're there to support them.

majority owner, we've just an as a Bears fan.

Do you have feelings?

>> I have a lot but they start how well they're playing even without Caleb.

And that's my favorite part.

Alright, we'll have to leave it there.

Pat Ryan junior, congrats on the stadium.

Thanks for joining us.

Thank you.

Up next, efforts to protect children from abuse.

And what more work there is to be done.

The longest-serving Republican House speaker died this week in his suburban Chicago home.

Dennis Hastert's political legacy was tarnished after the 2015 allegations that he sexually abuse teenage boys while working as a teacher and wrestling coach in Yorkville in the years since Hastert's alleged abuse became widely known, have been changes to combat child abuse in Illinois, including eliminating the statute of limitations on criminal assault against children.

But many survivors and advocates say greater awareness of the problem is also key.

Joining us to talk more about the prevalence of child abuse and what resources are available are.

Melissa such senior director of development at Chicago Children's Advocacy Center and Rachel McGinnis, director of to children's advocacy Center.

Thanks to you both for joining Thank So according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90% of child abuse committed by someone known trusted and known by the child or the family.

One in 4 girls will be sexually abused and one in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time.

They're 18 years old.

Melissa, what misconceptions people have about child abuse?

I think some of the misconceptions are related to those statistics.

I think it's rare.

They think it's not happening in their community.

>> And it is that happens across all communities.

Also showing not economic status is all demographics.

and you know, it's an invisible harm.

A lot of times you don't see bruises or physical signs of abuse.

and so I think it can kind of fly under the radar and a lot of people just aren't aware that it's happening around them.

Here is actually one of Hastert's alleged victims.

Scott Cross on Chicago tonight.

Back in 2017, he's talking about why he came forward.

>> On average, takes the person that was abused as a minor.

>> Till age of 42 before they come out you go shame, Payne, guilt, embarrassment.

There's so many emotions that drive.

I felt it was the right thing for me to do to come forward to help me heal and to have a voice for other victims that you know what?

It's OK to come forward and you should be able to feel comfortable and tell your story.

>> Rachel, what other factors can contribute to that silence that survivors victims half?

Yeah.

I think there's a lot that goes into that for some of our children.

They don't even know that they've been abused, especially for younger kids or when you started happening when they were very, very young or brought by a loved one, they don't even know it's abuso.

I'm that some of the work that we do.

We do prevention work in the community in the schools, with teachers, with students to help them know this is abuse.

And we've even had kids come forward to our educators.

I didn't know I was being abused.

And now I do because of the work that you've done, what you've taught me.

So I think there's that aspect.

There's the awareness of what is abuse.

And then, of course, we always have the, you know, cultural aspects of the stigma around abuse.

What does it mean if I'm I no longer a good kid, right?

Why did they choose me?

Right?

If we have a male on male abuse, there's worries about sexuality that could come up for some kids.

There's word that their family will support them if it's a loved one.

What happens if it dad, what happens if dad had now has to go to jail?

All right.

And what happens with the family?

Do we lose our housing?

Do we lose our support?

So I think there's a lot that goes into why children don't want to come forward and share their abuse.

Melissa, what are some of the signs that a child might be experiencing that abuse, especially if you know, if they haven't disclosed and or as Rachel said, they don't know what they're disclosing.

>> Yes, I mean, I think some of the things to look out for are changes in behavior, trouble sleeping.

Bed-wetting, regressions things like that.

Anything that just might seem a little bit off.

They might be wary around being around a certain things like that.

Rachel, how should parents and caregivers talk to young people about abuse?

I think we need to have open and honest developmentally appropriate conversations with kids and start very young.

Most parents don't want to start at a young age.

>> But it is really important.

Teach your kids the correct terminology for their body parts.

That is huge.

We see that all the time that were kids might say, you know, this got touch, but they don't know the actual terminology.

And it makes it really hard to know if the abuse is it something else teaching that appropriate terminology is so important talking to kids from a young age and if a child does disclose abuse, the first thing you want to do is tell that child, I believe you and it's not your fault.

So many children, they are psychologically harmed when their caregivers, their loved ones that they disclose, don't believe them and tell them that they're wrong.

Most a little bit more about that.

What should a parent or or trusted adult do if a child does disclose should be not to?

Yes, I mean, think exactly what Rachel is saying, you know, letting them know that you believe them.

You hear them and that you're going to do everything that you can to keep them safe.

Moving forward, you know, than reaching out to the child Abuse hotline, making a report so that we have that child and that family can get linked to the services of CAC and they can get started on the path towards healing in safety.

Right?

And that's mean, if you look at something important to mention, not lot of folks first thing they want to do is call 9-1-1, and the police.

>> Versus start meeting with the child abuse hotline and figure out the next steps.

Absolutely cases involving high-profile people we've heard of course, we just mentioned Dennis Hastert, Larry Nassar, Jeffrey Epstein you know, they put a lot of child assault in the national spotlight.

But, Rachel, how important is it for some of these conversations to be in the public rather than in the private?

Yeah, I think it's always important the more awareness that we can get around child abuse always going to help situations.

People need to know that it's happening everywhere in every community.

As Melissa said earlier, it does not.

>> You know, does not discriminate against those who work mix status raise.

Everybody is impacted by this.

If it's not yourself personally, you know someone who's sexually abused.

And so we need to able to talk about it and we need to be comfortable talking about it.

So the kids know that they can come forward, that this is not a scary topic that they can't talk to us about we've seen television programs like to catch a Predator, which made into a movie now called Prime Time on that kind of turn, this grooming this kind of grooming or abuse into something of a spectacle.

Melissa, is there.

>> A danger that focusing on some of the most shocking cases might make people think that child abuse is something that only happens in extreme or unusual circumstances.

Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, like we said earlier, most of these incidents are with somebody that the family and the child knows and trusts.

>> It's not always to catch a predator type situation where there's this, you know, big plot and a lot of times it's just somebody that, you know, it might even be somebody in the family.

So I think focusing on those types of situations is really where we need to be.

>> Rachel, Illinois eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for survivors of children in 2017 who were children.

How significant is that a change for survivors?

But also what gaps remain when it comes to accountability?

>> Yeah, I think it's always important because we know that delayed disclosure is the norm.

Most children are not going disclose that they have been sexually abuse when it happens.

It happens years later.

So having the ability to come forward whenever they're ready is very important for all survivors of abuse in terms of the know, we work really closely with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office of both of our CAC is too to learn about the different lot to talk about ways that there are gaps in how we can help to advocate for different changes so that and would communicate those changes to our law enforcement and the families that we work with.

Melissa, for survivors to come forward.

You know, years or decades later, what does justice actually look like for them as it necessarily about prosecution or some other form of accountability?

>> A lot of time.

It's not about prosecution or justice through the traditional criminal justice pathways that we might think of.

>> A lot of times it's just giving voice to what happened to and saying it out loud and feeling like they have been heard and believed and supported.

There's a lot of healing in that.

And so I think that is a lot of times vary more, much more important for children and families to feel that support and that they have been heard and believed it also sometimes get someone else someone else who may experience it as well.

The strength to absolutely if it's Melissa Shook Rich McGinn us thanks to both for joining Thank you.

>> Up next, creating community for older Chicagoans through coffee.

>> As people age, staying connected can become harder.

Studies show nearly one in 4 adults.

65 and older are considered socially isolated.

A local coffee shop in Southwest Side neighborhood is creating space welcoming seniors to come together and build community.

Are.

Joanna Hernandez recently visited for a cup of Joe and some conversation.

Here's another look.

>> Are we ready those and how bring your give yourself it's called senior Monday said back of the Yards, coffee house.

The idea came after owner Justin Negus said his wife watched their own parents struggle to find spaces for seniors in their I'm I'm the senior.

>> lot of folks, my generation, I think kids and, you know, the seniors and some cases issues that are locked you know, behind closed doors and and they're invisible.

>> On this Monday, a group of seniors gather for a free coffee and pastry following a yoga class sharing conversations and laps.

>> It's the same community members who are hosting these the sessions, you know, from yoga to be no to Tina Deah to now we have you know, they're playing dominoes over there.

>> Creating more than just a place for coffee, but an environment where seniors can find friendship, support and sense of belonging the morning put in Percy.

You're saying we still see every day you just based on You know, me that this is my that is.

you as good.

Look at with that with media.

67 year-old for he next led a has called back of the Yards home for more than 3 decades, raising 6 children and building a life here.

Now retired.

She says she's focusing on staying active in the community, not one us and people, even though some of the one of the dilemmas and the cause of the comfort that I love most about But because the environment.

>> that's it get mostly when I might add in that the display and then then You know, for can be made was that low was up with us.

>> Any his father-in-law says being part of these events has given him a new calling.

>> Simple goodness, it will, but I I minus bonus.

Could be in good idea.

A business going stay in school book looking for people him so long when investment that >> says the neighborhood's deep Mexican routes are reflected in the lives of seniors.

Many who have spent their lives working and providing for their families.

>> people retire, sometimes it makes it so that like they don't have anything to do and and effective interior right.

you start find a new you start realizing you like to do then you discover new friends in bringing life and new motivation to it.

We want to see us to be here for for a long time and then release.

He says, hosting these events is exactly what he envisioned for the business.

>> The message we want to check to our seniors and people our community that they truly are a blessing to our community.

>> For Chicago tonight, I'm joined on this.

>> Seniors can catch a free coffee and pastry while connecting with neighbors every Monday from 09:00AM until noon.

And if you're interested in making a donation or sponsoring events, we have those details on our website.

And that's our show for this Tuesday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 digging into a controversial bill that could upend college sports.

Now for all of us here at Chicago Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff in Clifford law offices, Chicago, personal injury and wrongful death that supports inclusionary excellence throughout legal profession.