>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> I WILL CALL THEM OUT.

>> CITY COUNCILMEMBERS CONFIRMED LARRY SNELLING AS THE NEW POLICE SUPERINTENDENT.

>>> GET READY TO STOP AND SQUASH AS THERE'S A NEW INVASIVE SPECIES .

>> ISSUES WHICH COULD BE COSTLY IN THE LONG TERM.

>>> FROM UNDERGROUND CLIMATE CHANGE GIVING PEOPLE A SINKING FEELING.

>> I HOPE WE COULD SEE THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL KINDS.

>> REINTRODUCE YOU TO THE RECIPIENT OF THE MIDWEST AWARD FOR ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES.

>>> TODAY'S TOP STORY, LARRY SNELLING SWORN IN AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE IN CHICAGO CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY.

HE SPENT 30 YEARS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE WAS SELECTED FOR THE MOST BY THE MAYOR AFTER THE NEW COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMING UP WITH THREE FINALISTS.

HE SAYS POLICE CAN'T SOLVE CRIME WITHOUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND HE SPOKE ABOUT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO ACCOUNTABILITY ANYONE WILL TELL YOU THIS OUR OFFICE IS ACCOUNTABLE .

I WILL CALL OFFICERS OUT, IF WE HAVE BAD OFFICERS I WILL CALL THEM OUT.

WHEN OFFICERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THEY HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FAIRLY .

>> A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS FROM AROUND THE CITY AND COUNTY ARE CALLING ON THE MAYOR AND COOK COUNTY PRESIDENT DEMAND THE FEDERAL PRESIDENT FOOT THE BILL FOR THE CITY'S FEDERAL MIGRANT CRISIS.

>>> DON'T YOU DARE THINK OF RAISING TAXES OF THE WORKING IN OUR CITY AND COUNTY TO PAY FOR JOE BIDEN'S MIGRATION MESS.

>> THE GROUP CALLED THE COOK COUNTY COALITION FOR HUMANE MIGRANT MANAGEMENT SAID THAT THEY SHOULD COVER HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS NEEDED TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO CHICAGO.

THEY ARE VIOLATING CODE HOUSING MIGRANTS.

>> BUSES ARE COMING IN FROM LAST NIGHT AND TODAY.

LEGISLATIVE WORKERS FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD SOON GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORM UNIONS.

ONE HOUSE SPEAKER INTRODUCING THE LEGISLATION FOR STAFF MEMBERS TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN AND FORM A UNION AFTER GROUPS OF WORKERS IN THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE FORMED WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE STAFF ASSOCIATION ASKING TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE UNION .

>>> COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND FORMER CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER JOYCE CHAPMAN HAS DIED.

APPOINTED TO THE BOARD LAST YEAR BY THE MAYOR THEN.

SHE SERVED AS THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES BOARD HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF THE GATEWAY PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL AND HAD BEEN THE FACILITATOR AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS DISTRICT.

THE MAYOR SAID AS A FAR SOUTHSIDE ORGANIZER, CHAPMAN WORKED TIRELESSLY TO UNITE THE COMMUNITY AND BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER.

HER IMPACT WILL REVERBERATE THROUGHOUT THE MANY CORNERS OF THE CITY.

>>> COMING UP, WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT A DREADED INVASIVE SPECIES THAT RECENTLY LANDED IN CHICAGO.

>>> FIRST OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON CHICAGO'S NEW TOP COP.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FOUNDATION .

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> CHICAGO HAS A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBER.

>>> DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OPENING NEW PLANTS AND MORE BUSES CARRYING ASYLUM-SEEKERS.

WE HAVE THAT AND MORE IN TONIGHT SPOT LIKE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT APPROVED BY THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING .

FIVE STANDING OVATIONS AND THE ALDERMAN SAID MORE ON THE MOMENT.

>> HE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

THE ALDERMAN WHO ARE CONCERNED NOT SO MUCH ABOUT LOCKING UP CRIMINALS BUT REORIENTING THE DEPARTMENT WHICH OF COURSE HAS BEEN BESET BY DECADES OF MISCONDUCT SCANDALS AND MORTALITY.

THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN IT AND ABILITY TO COMPLY CONSTITUTIONALLY .

IT IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING BUT WHAT WE HEARD FROM LARRY SNELLING TODAY IS THAT HIS HIGHEST PRIORITY IS RESTORING THE DEPARTMENTS MORALE AFTER ADMITTEDLY SOME OF THE TOUGHEST YEARS OF POLICING.

THEY WANTED THE OFFICERS TO KNOW THAT HE HAS THEIR BACK.

>> JEANETTE TAYLOR WAS BLUNT IN HER ASSESSMENT OF PRESSURE ON THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> RIGHT NOW THEY WANT YOU TO BE MAGICAL AND WAIVE YOUR WINE AND FIX THINGS THAT ARE WRONG FOR DECADES.

I'M GOING TO CALL IT LIKE I SEE IT.

>> SOMETHING TO UNPACK ANOTHER TIME.

HE BE THE ONE TO TURN THIS SHIP AROUND?

>> HOPEFULLY THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BODY THAT SELECTED HIM AS ONE OF THE FINALISTS BELIEVE THAT .

I WAS STRUCK THAT THE SPEECH DEFENDING THE POLICE OFFICER SAYING I'M FOR THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BUT LET'S DO THIS FAIRLY.

EVERYONE GETS UP AND PROTEST.

WHAT ABOUT WHEN A ONE-YEAR-OLD A SHOT?

YOU GET THIS IDEA OF WHY THEY LIKE HIM VERY MUCH BECAUSE HE WENT UP AND DEFENDED COPS BECAUSE MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ELECTED ON THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY PLATFORM.

THAT WAS THE PHRASE THAT WAS OPERATIVE HERE .

I WONDER HOW MORE PROGRESSIVE OLDER PEOPLE FELT ABOUT THE SPEECH WITH DEFENDING THE POLICE AND BACKING THEM.

>> IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE WITH PLENTY OF PROTEST IS WHEN THERE ARE TRAGIC KILLINGS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND DOZENS OF PROTESTS ORGANIZED BY BLACK PEOPLE AND LATINO PEOPLE AGAINST VIOLENCE.

I THINK HE NOW HAS TO SORT OF NOT ONLY SORT OF BUILD TRUST WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT HE WILL HAVE TO BUILD TRUST ON THE CITY COUNCIL AS ANY NEW SUPERINTENDENT WOULD AND IT MAKES THINGS HARDER FOR HIM ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THEY'VE NOT EMPHASIZED EFFORTS TO REFORM THE DEPARTMENT NOMINATION FROM OVER A MONTH AGO.

WE HAVE TO SEE THIS AS A STRATEGIC APPROACH.

I PRESSED HIM ON WHAT HE WOULD DO TO IMPLEMENT THE CONCESSIONS WHICH IS 5% COMPLIED WITH.

HE COULD NOT GIVE ME A FIGURE HE WOULD WANT TO SEE WITHIN THE YEAR BUT HE PLEDGED TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO INCREASE THE COMPLIANCE .

HOW LONG DOES HE HAVE BEFORE THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO SORT OF BLOOM?

>> IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF , IT'S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS TO HAVE.

THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPROVED THE PANEL TO EXPLORE RE-OPENINGS THAT WOULD HELP AND HAVE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TEAMS RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH OR 911 EMERGENCY CALLS .

REMIND US WHY THE CITY'S MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS ARE CLOSED.

>> THE ADMINISTRATION CLOSE TO SIX OF THE 12 EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS THEN AS A COST-CUTTING MEASURE.

THE ADMINISTRATION SET AT THAT TIME THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN THESE CLINICS BUT I'M NOT SURE THIS WAS THE CASE AS THERE WASN'T ANY MEASUREMENT ON WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CLINICS CLOSED.

ON THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION THEY TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND DIDN'T REOPEN THE CLINICS BUT CONTRACTED OUT TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY THAT SAID THIS WAS AN OKAY APPROACH BUT MORE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL OLDER PEOPLE ALDER PEOPLE SAID WE NEED TO HAVE KEY PLANKS IN THE PROGRESSIVE PLATFORM.

WITH THE BUDGET DEFICIT THE MAYOR IS FACING HE'S GETTING HIMSELF A LITTLE BIT OF A RUNWAY.

>> THE NEW CPD SUPERINTENDENT , HE SEES ONE WAY TO RESTORE OFFICERS MORALE, TO TAKE THINGS OFF OF THEIR PLACE PLATE.

THEY DON'T RELISH RESPONDING TO CALLS RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

THEY NEED THEM TO GET THE RIGHT HELP AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT THE RIGHT ONES TO PROVIDE IT.

SO LARRY SNELLING ENDORSED THE SO-CALLED TREATMENT NOT TRAUMA APPROACH BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW TO PAY FOR THIS?

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE WORKING GROUP IS TRYING TO CRAFT AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY COULD SAY LOOK WE ARE WORKING ON THIS AND DEVELOPING A PLAN WITH OUTPUTTING HARD DOLLARS INTO THE PROPOSAL WHICH WE WILL GET IN EXACTLY 7 DAYS.

>> THE CITY REPORTEDLY DEALING WITH ANOTHER SEVEN BUSES OF MIGRANTS THAT ARRIVED YESTERDAY WITH MORE COMING IN TODAY.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO O'HARE AIRPORT, THE POLICE STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY, THE CITY SHELTERS ARE FULL AS THE MAYOR HAS OPENED A NEW SHELTER NEARLY EVERY WEEK THAT HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE BUT THERE'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR THEM AND THAT'S WHY HE SAID THE CITY NEEDS TO OPEN BASE CAMPS OR TENT CITIES ESSENTIALLY TO HOUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW LIVING IN THE POLICE STATIONS BEFORE THE WEATHER TURNS , WHERE THE TENTS WILL BE AND EXACTLY HOW THEY WILL BE RUN ARE THESE TWO BIG QUESTIONS.

>> SOME ALDER PEOPLE ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE CONTRACT.

ONE ALDERMAN WANTS A VOTES ON WHETHER THEY SHOULD REMAIN IN CENTURY CITY DESPITE THE STRAIN ON CITIES AND SERVICES.

THE DIVISION AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

WITH CITY COUNCIL MAKE THIS CHANGE?

>> NO, FRANKLY.

THE WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CARING FOR THE MIGRANTS .

THE CITY ORDINANCE MAKING CHICAGO A SANCTUARY, DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS FROM WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS AND DEPORTING PEOPLE SO EVEN IF CHICAGO WASN'T A SELF-DECLARED SANCTUARY CITY THE MIGRANTS WOULD BE HERE AND THIS WOULD BE --.

THE ISSUE IS FRANKLY LARGER THAN THAT.

THIS IS SORT OF SEEN AS A SYMBOLIC MEASURE BY THE ALDERMAN AND OTHER MORE CONSERVATIVE ALDER PEOPLE AS A WAY TO PUSH BACK ON THE SENSE THAT CHICAGO IS WELCOME TO THESE MIGRANTS.

THE MAYOR WAS ASKED ABOUT IT TODAY AND HE SAID CHICAGO WILL BE A WELCOMING CITY AND DON'T FLINCH.

>> THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HELD A FIELD HEARING ON VIOLENCE AND COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY CALLING THIS A CLOWN SHOW.

>> BASICALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE CALLING CHICAGO A CLOWN SHOW AND CALLING ANY DEMOCRAT RUN THE CITY A CLOWN SHOW.

ONE OF THE PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTORS THEY ARE CALLING CAN FOX A CLOWN SHOW AND SHE'S BARKING BACK.

RESPONDING TO THE GOP JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN.

TRUMP DESPITE THE INDICTMENTS NOT TO INTERESTED IN THE LAWN ORDER ON THAT YOU'RE GOING TO THESE DIFFERENT CITIES TO HOLD THESE HEARINGS .

THEY ARE PRETTY STAGED.

WITNESSES THAT THEY HAVE COME UP TO BE FRIENDLY TO THEIR POINT OF VIEW .

A NICE RUNDOWN OF SOME OF THE LACK OF FACTS AND CLAIMS MADE, IT IS THEIR VIEW THAT THE DEMOCRATIC POLICIES THAT ARE LEADING TO HIGHER CRIME HERE, MURDERS AND SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN BUT CARJACKINGS ARE UP.

>> PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT THERE.

>>> A DREADED INVASIVE SPECIES LANDING IN CHICAGO.

WHAT TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AFTER THIS.

>>> GOOD THING IT ISN'T FLIP-FLOP WEATHER ANYMORE AS A NEW INVASIVE SPECIES CALLED THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY HAS LANDED IN CHICAGO AND OFFICIALS TELL RESIDENTS TO STOMP AND SQUASH IF THEY COME ACROSS THE BUG .

OUR NEWS REPORTER JOINS WITH MORE .

TELL US ABOUT THE SPOTTED LANTERN FLY AND WHERE THEY COULD BE.

>> WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE IN THE FULLER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL CONFIRMED THAT.

THEY ALSO REPORTED LAKEVIEW AND I'VE SEEN A REPORT NEAR FINANCIAL PLAZA.

THIS IS AN INVASIVE PEST FROM CHINA THAT WAS FIRST FOUND IN THE U.S.

IN 2014 IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT'S BEEN MAKING ITS WAY WEST.

>> WAS A SURPRISE TO EVERYONE THAT THEY SHOWED UP HERE?

>> YOU HAVE OFFICIALS, STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL.

ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY THEY'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS MOVE FROM PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN.

WE ARE ON THE MARCH.

THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR IT TO COME IN.

>> WHY DOES THIS HAS TO STRIKE SUCH FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF AGRICULTURALISTS.

>> IT IS ASAP SOCCER AND IT LIKES TO FEED ON TREES AND IT WILL ALSO FEED ON OATS OR MAPLE SO THE CONCERN ORIGINALLY WAS FOR CHERRIES, PEACH TREES, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT COULD MAKE THE TREES WEAKER.

IT'S NOT A KILLER.

NOT IN THE SAME WAY OF LIKE --.

>> WE HAD THE EMERALD ASH AND SO HOW HEALTHY ARE THE TREES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND STATE AND OUR BELOVED TREE CANOPY HERE?

>> IT WON'T HIT IT LIKE SOME OTHER PATHOGENS.

I SPOKE WITH STEPHANIE ADAMS THE PLANT I'LL JUST AT THE ARBORIO.

SHE SAID IT'S NOT A KILLER.

WE AS HUMANS, YOU COULD SEE VIDEOS FROM PLACES LIKE PITTSBURGH WHERE IT'S MASSIVE VOLUMES.

SHE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE A TREE TRUNK IS JUST CRAWLING AND IT COULD BE COVERING SIDEWALKS.

SO THERE'S A YUCK FACTOR .

>> THEY ARE TELLING PEOPLE TO STOP AND SQUISH , BASICALLY KILLING THESE THINGS?

>> YES.

WE WILL GET TO A POINT WHERE IT'S LAKE IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE IT'S TIME THAT THEY MULTIPLY BEFORE ANYONE KNEW WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT SO WE NEED TO DO OUR JOB BY SQUASHING THE ADULTS, IDENTIFYING THE JUVENILES WHICH WILL HAVE PHOTOS OF, ALSO KNOW WHAT THE EGGS LOOK LIKE BECAUSE IF YOU COULD GET THE EGGS THEN YOU HAVE KILLED THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEM AND THEY COULD LITERALLY LAY EGGS ANYWHERE.

ON HER MAILBOX, GARBAGE DUMPSTER, THEY COME IN ON THINGS LIKE WOODEN PALLETS WHICH IS A WAY THAT THEY WOULD BE TRANSPORTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY JUMP FROM RAILROADS AND ONTO THE TREE OF HEAVEN WHICH IS A VERY INVASIVE PLANT THAT LINES RAILROADS AND IT JUMPS OFF IMMEDIATELY AND CLIMBS UP INTO IT TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

IT'S A TOTAL PEST INVASION GOING ON SO GET RID OF TREE OF HEAVEN, GET RID OF EGG, STOMP THE ADULT, STOMP THE JUVENILES.

>> WE CAN DO IT.

>> ALL RIGHT WILL REST IN PEACE TO THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY.

SORRY WE HAVE TO KILL YOU.

ALL RIGHT THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> TO HEAR THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON CHICAGO TONIGHT MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY JOEL M FRIEDMAN PRESIDENT OF THE FAMILY FUND.

>> LAST MONTH WAS EARTH'S HOTTEST AUGUST ON RECORD THE HEAT ISN'T JUST IMPACTING THE ATMOSPHERE BUT HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET.

RESEARCH FROM NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY AND ELIMINATING THE PHENOMENON OF UNDERGROUND CLIMATE CHANGE AND IT'S GIVING CHICAGO'S AREA A SINKING FEELING.

TRANS DOZENS OF TINY TEMPERATURE SENSOR SET UP UNDERGROUND IN THE MILLENNIUM PARK TRAIN STATION .

>> 25 DEGREES .

>> 25°C.

I COULD DO THE CONVERSION .

85°F.

>> THE CENTER RECORDS THE SUB SERVICE TEMPERATURE EVERY 10 MINUTES.

THE ENGINEERING PROFESSOR ANALYZING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF READINGS EVERY DAY .

APPOINTING TO A PHENOMENON OCCURRING BELOW THE GROUND AND ABOVE GROUND THE CLIMATE IS WARMING.

THE NEED TO SERVICE TEMPERATURES RISING AS WELL.

SOME YEARS AS MUCH AS HAVE A DEGREE CELSIUS.

FELT MOST ACUTELY IN SUBSURFACE HEAT ISLANDS THIS TRAIN STATION.

>> WHEN THE TRAINS BREAK THEY RELEASE HEAT , LIGHTING SYSTEMS RELEASE HEAT AND WE COULD REALLY REDUCE THE HEAT.

THIS ALL ADDS UP .

>> WHERE DOES IT GO THEN?

>> IN THE GROUND.

YOU COULD SEE THAT AROUND ANY UNDERGROUND STRUCTURE, THE BASEMENT OR A CONDO THERE IS A BUBBLE OF HEAT FORMING.

>> HE SAYS THE HEAT CAUSES THE SOIL AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TO THE FORM MAKING THE GROUND BENEATH THE AREA SINK A FEW MILLIMETERS EVERY YEAR.

FEAR NOT, THEY DON'T PROTECT CATASTROPHE PROTECT CATASTROPHE YET.

>> WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF STRUCTURE BUT POTENTIALLY A LONG-TERM PROBLEM CREATED TO THE ANGER RULE ANGULAR DESTRUCTION OF THE TRACKS.

>> THEY SET UP SUB SERVICE CENTERS IN PUBLIC SPACES LIKE THE TRAIN STATION AND MILLENNIUM PARKING GARAGE .

AS WELL AS IN THE BASEMENT OF 30 BUILDINGS WHERE THE BOILERS COULD IMPACT THE SUB SERVICE TEMPERATURE.

HE SAYS HIS RESEARCH OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGINEERS TO BUILD MORE EFFICIENTLY.

>> WE WILL ABSORB AND BE PART OF THE HEAT.

WE COULD USE THIS FOR SAFETY READINGS.

>> THIS COULD LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN THE HEATING BILL AND SAID CHICAGO IS NOT ALONE.

LONDON, NEW YORK AND ANY DENSELY BUILT URBAN AREA IS UNDERGOING THE SAME PHENOMENON.

HE SAYS CITIES LIKE THIS SHOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT GETS WORSE.

>> THE STUDY PROTECTS UNDERGROUND TEMPERATURES WILL RISE BETWEEN .1 AND 2.5°C EVERY DECADE.

>>> AN AWARD CELEBRATING ACCESSIBILITY IN THE ARTS, RECENTLY GIVEN OUT TO THE 2023 RECIPIENT.

AN ANNUAL AWARD PRESENTED BY ARTS MIDWEST FOR MIDWESTERN ARTIST 'S WITH DISABILITIES.

HOW CORRESPONDENCE INTRODUCES US TO US THIS YEAR'S ONLY CHICAGO RECIPIENT.

>> VISUAL ARTIST MATT CLARK GIVES HIM A VOICE.

>> THAT SORT OF POWER GIVEN BACK TO ME, I THINK WITH THIS MOMENT OF TRANSITION FOR ME.

>> THE POWER HE REFERS TO COMES AS A RESULT OF HARD WORK AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH WHAT'S DESCRIBED AS AN INVISIBLE DISABILITY.

>> WHEN WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DISABILITY IT'S VERY OFTEN THESE VISIBLE DISABILITIES AS THEY GET A LOT OF ATTENTION SO THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS THE INVISIBLE DISABILITY , IT'S HARDER TO BELIEVE.

SOMETIMES THERE'S THE STIGMAS THAT EXIST BEHIND MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY THINGS LIKE PULL YOURSELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS OR WORK THROUGH THE SADNESS.

MAN UP.

THERE'S NOTIONS THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE BEYOND THIS BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEE IT.

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER.

IT'S TWO PARTS, WINNING THE LOTTERY OF MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU GET THE MIXTURE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND A MOOD DISORDER SO I GET SEVERE DEPRESSION.

I WAS DIAGNOSED AFTER A SERIES OF MISDIAGNOSIS TRYING TO WORK THROUGH WHAT WAS GOING ON AND IT WAS PROBABLY 18 YEARS AGO NOW.

>> THAT SAID, THE COMMUNITY OF OTHER DISABLED ARTISTS HELPED HIM TO FIND A SPACE .

>> I WAS WORKING WITH THE COUNSELOR .

THEY DID ENCOURAGE ME SINCE I WAS MAKING ART BEFORE , THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO USE IT AND TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS MOST DIFFICULT FOR ME WHEN I'M IN MY WORST STATE.

WHEN I CAN NO LONGER VERBALIZE WHAT I'M SAYING.

FROM THERE THEY WANT TO ME TO USE HEALING ART TO TALK SO TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES BUT IN A VISUAL FORM.

>> THE EXPERIENCE WAS GROWING UP IN THE CHURCH.

>> I GREW UP IN A RELIGIOUS ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.

WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG AND FIRST DIAGNOSED THERE WERE DOCTORS THAT WERE SAYING I NEEDED TO REPENT OF MY SINS , I NEEDED TO DO THE RELIGIOUS THING WHICH HAD NO ROLE IN WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING.

THAT CAME PROBLEMATIC AS WELL.

>> WITH THE HELP OF OIL PAINT, HE BROUGHT HIS EXPERIENCES TO LIFE AND CELEBRATING DISABILITIES BOTH VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE.

>> RELIGION PLAYS A PART IN THE WORK THAT I SEE IT MORE CRITICALLY.

THE FIGURES I USED TO WORK ARE OFTEN THE NET OBSTINATE.

RELIGIOUS FIGURES UNDER DIFFERENT THINGS.

I COULD PULL UP THESE SORT OF STORIES FROM HISTORY THAT HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN TO US AND EVOLVED THROUGH VISUAL ART AND I COULD POSE THE QUESTION AGAIN .

THIS PERSON HEARD VOICES.

THEY DANCED IN THE STREET.

THEY DID ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD GET THEM INSTITUTIONALIZED TODAY WHY DO WE VENERATE THEM AS THE SAME TIME WE TREAT THE PEOPLE IN OUR HOME NOW?

THEY MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR THINGS.

WHY CAN'T WE TREAT THEM WITH HUMANITY?

EVERYONE EXPERIENCES MADNESS DIFFERENTLY.

CERTAINLY FOR SOME PEOPLE THIS IS HELPFUL.

MEDICATIONS CAN BE HELPFUL.

THEY MAY NEED IT.

SO TO CATEGORICALLY DISMISS THE POWER OF ART WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT .

>> EACH AWARD HE RECEIVED $3000 TO HELP ELEVATE THEIR WORK.

THE WORK IS ON DISPLAY IN A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE GALLERY ON MERCY AVENUE.

GO TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

YOU COULD GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING .

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING MAY POSSIBLE BY THE CLIFFORD LAW OFFICE OF CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY , PROUD TO BE A