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

>> HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

A GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN IS LOOMING.

>>> WHAT ARE THOSE STRANGE STRUCTURES IN LAKE MICHIGAN?

THE HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF THE WATER CRIBS.

>>> AND FOLLOWING THIS MONTH'S MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY GATHERING LEADERS IN THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY REACT TO HOW THE CITY APPROACHES IT'S CELEBRATION.

>>> AND A SINGER GETS BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS IN CHICAGO.

>>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES A JUDGE FINDS TWO CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS NOT GUILTY OF FELONY MISCONDUCT STEMMING FROM A SHOOTING OF AN UNARMED MAN IN 2022.

THEY WERE ACQUITTED TODAY ON CHARGES THAT THEY HAD SHOT THE MAN IN TILSON.

THE STINT INCIDENT IS SEEN HERE.

PROSECUTORS ALLEGE THE OFFICERS WERE NOT IN DANGER AND HAD NO REASON TO SHOOT THE MAP BUT DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ARGUED MAN AND A TEEN HAD APPROACHED THE OFFICERS IN AN AMBUSH.

>>> THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS FACING ANOTHER WRONGFUL CONVICTION LAWSUIT AFTER A MAN SPENT 30 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER FALSELY CONFESSING TO A MURDER.

LEE HARRIS WAS CLEARED THIS YEAR AFTER AN ATTORNEY WAS ABLE TO SHOW EVIDENCE THAT CHICAGO POLICE DETECTIVES MADE UP THEIR REPORT OF HARRIS'S STATEMENT DURING THE MURDER INVESTIGATION.

>> LIFE AS I KNOW IT HAS CHANGED.

PEOPLE -- NEW HAVE APPEARED AND IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARD FOR ME TO DO THE LITTLE MINOR THINGS LIKE TRUST PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU LOOSE TRUST IN PEOPLE YOU LOOK AT THE WORLD COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

>> AMONG THE DETECTIVES NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT IS RICHARD WHO LATER WORKED AS AN INTERROGATOR.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE LAW DEPARTMENT DECLINED COMMENT ON THE SUIT.

>>> FEDERALLY INDICTED FORMER PRESIDENT AND CURRENT REPUBLICAN FRONT RUNNER DON AMEND TRUMP HAS MOUNTING LEGAL PROBLEMS HERE IN CHICAGO.

ATTORNEY JENA NOUNED HE IS AMENDING A LAWSUIT ALLEGING TRUMP TOWER SHEI IS HE IS PEAKING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS BY DUMPING WATER IN TO THE CHICAGO RIVER, SPECIFICALLY THE SUIT SAID THE BUILDING IS UNDER REPORTING THE AMOUNT OF WATER IT DISCHARGES IN TO THE RIVER.

THE LAWSUIT SAID IT'S FAILED TO GET THE NECESSARY PERMITS AND IS VIOLATING THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

>>> AND A GOOD-BYE TO A CHICAGO ICONIC INSTITUTION.

THE SIGNATURE ROOM RESTAURANT ON THE 95th FLOOR OF THE FORMER HANCOCK BUILDING ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT'S CLOSING.

IN A STATEMENT THE RESTAURANT'S OWNERS SAID IT FACED SEVERE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP STEMMING FROM COVID CLOSURES AND HAS YET TO RECOVER.

ITS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND WAS A POPULAR.

>> SO MANY GREAT MEMORIES I HAVE AT THAT PLACE.

SAD TO SEE IT GO.

MAYBE SOMEONE WITH COME AND GET IT.

>>> COMING IN THE PROGRAM WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF CHICAGO'S WATER CRIB.

>>> FIRST THE LIKELIHOOD OF A GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND -- THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

JA VU.

GOVERNMENT IS ONCE AGAIN AT THE RISK OF A SHUT DOWN.

THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL WORKERS LOSING PAYCHECKS AND CORE GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS NOT OPERATING.

THIS COULD BE AVOIDED IF THE HOUSE AND SENATE AGREE ON A SPENDING BILL.

JOINING US ARE ROBIN KELLY OF THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND A DEMOCRAT OF THE 9st THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THEY ALSO INVITED ALL THE REPUBLICANS IN THE DELEGATION AND NONACCEPTED OUR INVITATION.

WE ARE HAPPY THAT YOU ARE ALL HERE FRESH OFF A VOTE WITH IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

THANK YOU FOR RUSHING TO YOUR OFFICES TO JOIN US.

>>> IT'LL AFFECT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

CHILDREN THAT WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THEIR HEAD START.

MOTHERS AND CHILDREN WON'T BE ABLE TO GET NUTRITION.

INSPECTIONS IN CHICAGO FOR EXAMPLE LAST -- TIME WE HAD A SHUT DOWN CAN'T MAKE SURE THAT THE INSPECTIONS MADE OF WATER OF -- ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT RELY ON GOVERNMENT INSPECTIONS, THEY WILL STOP.

AND OF COURSE WE WILL SEE THAT WORKERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR PAYCHECKS EVEN AT THE AIRPORT AND WE SAW THE KIND OF CHAOS AT THE AIRPORT THE LAST TIME WE HAD A SHUT DOWN WAS A TSA WORKERS WERE NOT ABLE TO GET AID.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A PRETTY PICTURE.

>> SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK EVEN IF THEY WON'T GET PAID.

CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY, CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

WHAT YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT THE RESPOND?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S TECH HAS A PASS OUT OF THE SENATE WE ARE EXPECTING IT TO COME TO THE HOUSE FLOOR BUT YOU KNOW, TEMPERATURES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE.

WE HAVE TO GET THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS ON THE SAME PAGE OR AT LEAST KEVIN MCCARTHY BECAUSE HE CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE MAKER.

>> IT DIDN'T PASS OUT OF THE SENATE.

CONGRESSWOMAN RAMIREZ WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE ON THE TABLE THAT ARE BEING DEBATED IN THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW?

ESPECIALLY AMONG SOME OF THE HARD LINE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE HOLDING OUT AGAINST THE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY?

>> THEY MADE IT CLEAR THEY WANT TO PROTECT DONALD TRUMP.

THEY WANT TO GET RID OF THE -- AND THEY WANT TO ESCAPE -- THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PUT THEIR ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE CHILD DEPORTATION BILL ON THE TABLE AND A CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND WHAT THEY CALL A BORDER SHUT DOWN.

WE KNOW THAT WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO USE ANY TALKING PIECE FOR THEIR OWN POLITICAL GAMES AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE BUT HERE WE ARE CAPE GOATING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

WE WILL HAVE SLOW TSA LINES.

PEOPLE IN CHICAGO WITH FEDERAL HOUSING VOUCHERS WON'T HAVE IT PAID FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

THE THINGS THEY ARE DOING ARE DEVASTATING I THINK THEY FORGET THAT PEOPLE ALSO NEED THESE SERVICES.

>> AND TO YOU THINK THERE WOULD BE ANY AGREEMENT ON I BILL THAT'S PASSED WITH SO-CALLED MORE BORDER SECURITY AS SOME OF THE HARD LINE REPUBLICANS ARE ASKING BE ABLE TO PASS IN A DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED SENATE?

>> I'M NOT SEEING HOW THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO AGREE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE GOING TO AGREE TO ANYTHING.

I WANT TO TELL YOU IT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN THE HOUSE IS THERE'S A COLLAPSE OF GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T EVEN LIKE TO CALL IT A SHUT DOWN.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S REALLY INTENTIONAL AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

RIGHT NOW KEVIN MCCARTHY HAS VERY LITTLE OPTIONS AND POWER AND I MEAN IT'S A -- I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD.

THIS -- I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SOME OTHER SHUT DOWNS BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SITUATION LIKE THIS WITH THE SENATE IS IT READY TO COME UP WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION SO WE CAN ALL AGREE AND -- THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND KEVIN MCCARTHY STANDS ALONE WITH THE WORST OF THE WORST OF THE MAGA REPUBLICANS.

>> SO, CONGRESSWOMAN, FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T SO INTERESTED IN THE POLITICS OR THE DIVISIONS BUT JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO STAY OPEN AND NATIONAL PARKS ARE GOING TO STAY OPEN AND PEOPLE WILL GET PAID WHAT IS THE PATH TO A SOLUTION HERE?

>> THE PATH TO A SOLUTION UNFORTUNATELY IS THROUGH KEVIN MCCARTHY COMING TO HIS SENSES BUT RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE HE CARES MORE ABOUT BEING A SPEAKER THAN CARING ABOUT THE COUNTRY BECAUSE IF HE PUT SOMETHING DECENT ON THE TABLE OR ALLOWS THE SENATE CR TO COME THROUGH THERE WITH BE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THAT -- ENOUGH OF US THAT VOTED FOR IT TO SEE IT THROW.

WE DON'T WANT PARKS SHUT DOWN.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE NOT TO GET PAID.

WE WANT TSA PEOPLE GETTING FADE.

WE WANT THE AGENCY THAT THERE IS SOMEONE THERE TO ANSWER THE PHONE.

WE DON'T WANT THIS.

THIS IS KEVIN AND HIS FEW OR HIS TEN PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY CAUSING ALL OF THIS AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THE OTHER REPUBLICANS ARE GOING ALONG WITH IT BUT I KNOW SOME OF THEM DO NOT WANT THIS BUT THEY ARE NOT EVEN BEING GIVEN A CHANCE TO VOTE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S HEAR WHAT THE SPEAKER HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

>> I BELIEVE WE CAN SECURE THE BORDER, GET THE FUNDING NEEDED TO KEEP GOVERNMENT UP AND RUNNING.

THE PRESIDENT IS SITTING ON THE SIDELINE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PRESIDENT WILLING TOEN GANG.

>> HE IS SILL SAYING THEY SECURING THE BORDER.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HE IS GOING TO AGREE TO ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT AMONG DEMOCRATS THEN.

>> NO.

I MEAN, THE CRAZY THING IS THAT THEY KEEP ASKING HIM FOR MORE.

PUTTING MORE CUTS, DO MORE HATEFUL THINGS.

AND THEN HE PUT ITSELF IN THERE AND THEN THEY SAY NOT ENOUGH, DO, DO MORE, DO MORE.

HE HAS LOST ABSOLUTE CONTROL.

IF HE ACTUALLY WANTED TO MOVE ALONG HE WOULD COME TO HIS SENSES, NEGOTIATE WITH US, NOT PUT VETERANS ON THE LINE AND KEEP THE GOVERNMENT GOING.

42,000 GOVERNMENT WORKERS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ARE NOT GOING TO RECEIVE A PAYCHECK EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1st.

THIS IS WHAT HE IS DOING AND HE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT SECURING THE BORDER F YOU LOOKED AT THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL THIS IS ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT FED, THAT PREGNANT WOMEN ARE PUT IN DETENTION CENTERS, IMMEDIATELY DEPORTED, THAT ANYONE THAT WILL PROVIDE ANY KIND OF SHELTER WOULD LOOSE ALL DHS FUNDING.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRUELTY AND YET HIS MAGA REPUBLICANS TELL HIM IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH.

>> I GOT TO GET TO THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION HERE.

BUSES CONTINUE TO COME WITH MIGRANTS ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS.

CHICAGO IS A SANCTUARY CITY, ILLINOIS IS A SANCTUAR STATE.

CAN THE CITY AND STATE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE INFLUX?

>> YOU KNOW CHICAGO IS A WELCOMING PLACE.

ILLINOIS IS A WELCOMING PLACE.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING, ESPECIALLY FROM TEXAS THE BUS LOAD AFTER BUS LOAD OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SENT HERE.

THIS DELIBERATE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SENDING THIS TO US AND WE NEED HELP.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR.

IF WE COULD GET SOME INCREASED WORK PERMITS FOR A NUMBER OF THESE IMMIGRANTS.

I TALKED TO SO MANY OF THEM AND WHAT DO THEY WANT FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

A JOB.

AND WHAT DO EMPLOYERS NEED?

WORKERS.

SO, YOU KNOW WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER IN COALITION WHERE -- PEOPLE EVEN SOME OF THE RED STATES WHO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED WORKERS TO GET WORK PERMITS.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN, I MEAN -- >> GO HEAD.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS.

I HAVE TO BRING UP THIS CONTRACT THE CITY JUST STRUCK TO BUILD TENT CITIES.

RU IN FAVOR OF THIS DEAL?

THERE'S BEEN CONTROVERSY AROUND THIS COMPANY.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE AROUND THE COMPANY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE SHELTERS FOR PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE CAN'T HAVE CHILDREN OUT IN THE COLD AND THE WINTER AND SO I'M GOING TO WE BE LOOKING IN TO MORE CLOSELY THE CONTRACT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AND PROVIDE SHELTER FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>>> UP NEXT THE HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF CHICAGO'S WATER CRIBS AND THE LATEST EDITION OF THE NEWS EXPLAIN SERIES.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> DURING YOUR MORNING ON THE LAKEFRONT YOU PROBABLY FOUND YOURSELF ASKING WHAT THOSE STRANGE STRUCTURES ARE STANDING OUT IN LAKE MICHIGAN.

OUR LATEST EDITION OF WTTW NEWS EXPLAINS -- HAS THE ANSWER FOR YOU.

HERE IS PATTY ON THE HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF CHICAGO'S WATER CRIBS.

>> TOWARD THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AS CHICAGO'S POPULATION STARTED TO BLOOM WATER FROM THE CHICAGO RIVER AND LAKE MICHIGAN WAS POLLUTED WITH RAW SEWA GE, CHEMICALS AND ROTTING ANIMAL CARCAS SES FROM THE STOCKYARD CAUSING SICKNESS.

ENTER THE FIRST CITY ENGINEER AND DESIGNER OF THE WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM WE STILL USE TODAY.

THE PLAN, BUILD AN OFF SHORE STRUCTURE CALLED A CRIB TO ACT AS A STRAW AND BRING CLEAN WATER FROM OUT ON THE LAKE INTO THE CITY.

SOUNDS SIMPLE, RIGHT?

NOT SO MUCH.

HE HAD ONE CREW WORKING ON THE SHORE DIGGING 200 FEET BELOW THE LAKE BOTTOM, A SECOND CREW BUILDING A WATER INTAKE CRIB TWO MILES OUT ON THE LAKE, DIGGING DOWN AND WEST FROM THERE INCHING TOWARD THE OTHER TUNNEL.

REMEMBER IT'S 1864 SO IT WAS DONE BY HAND USING PICKS, SHOVELS AND MULES, 24 HOURS A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK.

FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS AND THE TWO CREWS FINALLY MET IN THE MIDDLE.

THEY WERE ONLY SEVEN AND A HALF INCHES OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF FRESH, UNPOLLUTED WATER SOARED IN.

AFTER THE GRATE CHICAGO FIRE OF 1871 THE CITY DECIDED TO BUILD MORE WATER CRIBS TO SPREAD OUT THE WATER SUPPLY FOR FIRE PROTECTION.

ALL IN ALL NINE CRIBS WERE BUILT OFF CHICAGO'S SHORES.

TODAY SIX OF THOSE CRIBS ARE STILL STANDING BUT ONLY TWO ARE IN ACTIVE USE.

THEY STILL PULL WATER THROUGH THE TUNNELS # HUNDRED FEET BELOW THE LAKE IN TO THE TWO WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

FROM THERE THE WATER GOES TO THE CITY'S 12 PUMPING STATIONS WHICH PRESSURE EYES AND PUSH THE WATER OUT ALONG THE 4300 MILES OF WATER MAINS STRAIGHT TO YOUR TAP.

THE NEXT TIME YOU TAKE A DRINK OR WASH YOUR HANDS THINK ABOUT THE CRIBS AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY'S UNSUNG HEROES.

BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS DYSENTARY.

>>> VERY COOL.

YOU CAN SEE MORE FROM THE NEWS EXPLAIN SERIES ON THE WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT WTTW.COM/EXPLAIN.

>>> BACK WITH MORE TONIGHT BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> ACCORDING TO UNITED STATES CENT SUGGESTION DATA ABOUT 20% OF CHICAGO RESIDENTS CLAIM MEXICAN HERITAGE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES ITSELF CLEAR EVE SEPTEMBER WHEN MEXICANS AT HOME AND OVERSEAS CELEBRATE MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY.

IN RECENT YEARS CELEBRATIONS HAVE GONE BEYOND ORGANIZED EVENTS AS CARAVANS HAVE FILLED THE DOWNTOWN STREETS.

IT'S EVENTS THE CITY HAS STRUGGLED TO CONTROL.

ON THE LATINO VOICES HOST ALEX HERNANDEZ SPEAKS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT HOW THE CITY CAN BETTER HANDLE CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS.

>> JENNIFER.

THIS WEAR QUESTION ACTUALLY CELEBRATED 54th PARADE IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT ORGANIZING THAT?

>> IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

WE ALREADY FINISHED THE PARADE AND WE STARTED PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR IMMEDIATELY.

IT JUST IS A LOT OF COORDINATION.

OUR TEAM IS A VERY SMALL TEAM OF THREE PEOPLE.

THEY ARE VERY EXPERIENCED AND DOING THE PARADE AND PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING ALL THE REQUIRED GUIDELINES.

IT IS A -- A WORK OF THE TEAM.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

DEFINITELY.

ORGANIZE AN EVENT LIKE THAT.

JOSE GOING WITH YOU NOW.

YOU WERE OPEN ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE GOING DOWNTOWN DURING THE CELEBRATION ON INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND.

YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE?

>> YES.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK THE -- IT WAS ABOUT TWO THINGS.

TWO ISSUES.

THE FIRST WAS ABOUT THE SECOND -- OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE CITY SET UP CHECKPOINTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO TO DIVIDE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY AND KEEP INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SHOWING UP FOR FESTIVALS IN TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

I BELIEVE THAT NO ONE, NO PERSON OF COLOR, SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CITY OF CHICAGO OR THROUGH A CHECKPOINT, SHOW ID OR TO BE SEARCHED, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.

THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

WE NEED -- CHICAGO IS ONE OF THE MOST -- CITIES IN THE WORLD.

WE DON'T NEED BORDER CHECKPOINTS.

THE SECOND THING WAS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE ACKNOWLEDGING EMBRACING ONE THE LARGEST E TFL IC GROUPS IN THE CITY.

OUR CULTURE DESERVE ITSELF BE CELEBRATED.

>> YOU THINK THAT IT'S OKAY TO CELEBRATE LIKE THAT AND -- DOWNTOWN STREETS LIKE THEY DO EVERY YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW FIRST WE NEED TO HAVE SOME EVENT THAT ARE ORGANIZED AND PUT TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY TO WELCOME AND EMBRACE FOLKS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

CARAVANS AND CELEBRATIONS AREN'T NEW TO CHICAGO.

WHAT IS NEW IS THAT THE POPULATION, PARTICULARLY YOUNG ONES IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH WHERE ALL OVER THE CITY SO THE DAYS OF -- JUST A COUPLE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE OVER.

THE CITY NEEDS TO START TREATING THE MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH THE SAME RESPECT AND EXCITEMENT THAT IT DOES WITH OTHER MAJOR EVENTS LIKE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, PRIDE MONTH, THE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT HAD BETTER TREATMENT.

WE HAD THOUSANDS IN THE STREET OVER A WEEK -- DOWNTOWN WASN'T DRIVABLE.

THERE WAS MUSIC ALL OVER THE STREET.

THEY WERE WELL UM COMED CELEBRATED.

BUILDINGS CHANGED COLORS AND INVITED THEM IN.

WE NEED THAT LEVEL OF RESPECT.

>> THAT WAS THE HOST SPEAKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT HOW CHICAGO HANDLES IT'S MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS.

TO GET THE FULL CONVERSATION ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES TOMORROW NIGHT AT 50:00 AND SATURDAY AT SIX.

WE ARE BACK AFTER THIS.

>>> IN HONDURA, HE CONTRIBUTED TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST HITS IN LATIN MUSIC.

IN HIS HOMETOWN OF CHICAGO HE KEEPS A MODEST PROFILE WORKING IN CHURCHES AND PLAYING OCCASIONAL GIGS.

A GROUP OF CHICAGO MUSICIANS HAS HELPED TURN THE SPOTLIGHT ONCE AGAIN ON SINGER, SONGWRITER, WHO GOES BY THE STAGE NAME CHARLIE BURAN.

REMET THE BAND RADIO FREE HONDURAS IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> I MET CHARLIE ON THE MUSIC SCENE HERE IN CHICAGO WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE IN THE EARLY 200'S AND I JUST ADMIRED HIM AS A GUITAR PLAYER.

HE WAS AMAZING.

EVENTUALLY I BECAME PART OF A BAND THAT HE WAS PLAYING IN AND SO GOT TO PLAY WITH HIM AND GOT TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT AND THEN YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS A SINGER, SONGWRITER HIMSELF AND THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED THIS BAND WHEN I REALIZED HE HAD THIS WHOLE CAREER THAT I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT.

THE BAND THEY STARTED IS RADIO FREE HONDURAS.

CHARLIE HAD A LONG CAREER AS A MUSICIAN, A SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND A BAND LEADER IN HIS NATIVE COUNTRY.

WE SPOKE TO HIM THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, HE TOLD US HOW HE MET HIS BAND MATE AND MUSIC CAL PARTNER.

>> DAN APPROACHED AND ASKED HIM WE LIKE YOUR MUSIC.

WOULD YOU BE DOWN TO PUT A BAND TOGETHER AND RECORD SOME OF YOUR MUSIC?

HE SAID THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.

HE NEVER WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING OR GOTTEN OUT IF IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FOR DAN COMING TO APPROACH HIM LIKE THAT.

>> IN 1991 CHARLIE CONTRIBUTED VOCAL S&P UITARS TO SONGS THAT TOPPED THE LATIN BILLBOARD CHARTS.

HE LEFT HONDURAS AFTER BEING HARASSED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

A ROUTE BROUGHT HIM TO CHICAGO BY WAY OF MIAMI.

NOW HE WORKS AT TWO LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND PLAYS THE OCCASIONAL SHOW WITH RADIO FREE HONDURAS.

WE ASKED HIM ACT RECENT SET BACK.

HE SAID HIS HEALTH ISN'T SO GOOD BUT WITH THE HELP OF GOD HE WILL GO ON.

>> I LOVED HIS MUSIC AND I LOVED HIS STYLE SO THAT WAS THE FIRST THING BUT THEN QUICKLY I REALIZED THAT HE NEEDED HELP.

BASICALLY BEING A MARGINALIZED PART OF OUR SOCIETY RIGHT NOW AS HE IS THERE IS NO WAY HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE MUSIC BUSINESS ON HIS OWN.

IT'S HARD ENOUGH FOR SOMEONE WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND EVERY ADVANTAGE TO MAKE IT IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS.

SO, I KNEW I COULD HELP HIM AND I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO HELP HIM.

>> CHARLIE WRITES ALL THE MUSIC.

HE USUALLY BRINGS TO ME A PRETTY MUCH FINISHED SONG AND I JUST HELP WITH INSTRUMENTS AND PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND PRODUCING AND THAT SORT OF THING.

>> HE SAID THAT HE FEELS VERY PRIVILEGED AND VERY GRATEFUL TO BE PLAYING WITH MUSICIANS, DIFFERENT CALIBERS THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THE BAND OVERTIME.

THEY HAVE KIND OF ACCEPTED WHAT HE PLAYS AND APPRECIATED WHAT HE PLAYS AND SO HE IS ALWAYS KIND OF LEARNING AND APPRECIATING FROM THOSE WHO ARE AROUND HIM.

>> HE IS CERTAINLY HAPPY TO BE OUT HERE MAKING MUSIC, MEETING NEW US MIKE ANS AND RECORDING NEW STUFF SO WE ARE ALL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> GREAT MUSIC.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A LIST OF PERFORMANCES BY THE BAND RADIO FREE HONDURAS.

>>> AND THAT'S THE SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGNING UP FOR THE DAILY BRIEFING GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND THE WEBSITE.

>>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW ON PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

FOR ALL OF US HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.