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

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

NEARLY A DOZEN EMPLOYEES OBTAINED FRAUDULENT PPP LOANS.

>>> HOW TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THE CHICAGO AREA'S PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT.

>>> TAKING THE WITNESS STAND IN THE UPCOMING CASE AGAINST ALDERMAN BURKE.

>>> AND ART SUSTAINABILITY IN A PARTNERSHIP ON THE WEST SIDE.

AND THAT IS SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>>> IT'S OFFICIAL.

THE LONGEST-SERVING STATE HOUSE SPEAKER HAS ENDED HIS CAREER.

MICHAEL MADIGAN WHO IS FACING RACKETEERING AND OBSTRUCTION CHARGES WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION.

MADIGAN HAS HELD THAT POST SINCE 1969.

ALDERMAN QUINN IS CIRCULATING PETITIONS FOR THE POSITION.

MADIGAN ALSO SERVED AS THE HEAD OF THE ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC ALREADY, BUT RESIGNED FROM THE HOUSE IN 2021.

HIS TRIAL IS SET FOR APRIL.

>>> THE CITY CASINO COULD OPEN AS SOON AS THIS WEEKEND.

VALLEYS IS TESTING OUT ITS TEMPORARY CASINO WITH ABOUT 350 GUEST.

IF ALL GOES WELL, THEY HOPE THE ILLINOIS GAMING BOARD WILL DEAL THEM A TEMPORARY OPERATING PERMIT AS SOON AS SATURDAY.

THERE PERMIT PERMANENT CASINO IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED IN 2026 ALONG THE CHICAGO RIVER.

>>> RESIDENTS ARE SOUNDING OFF TONIGHT SLATED TO OPEN WITH LESS THAN A WEEK'S NOTICE.

BETWEEN 130 AND 190 MIGRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE PARTHENON A HOUSE GUEST HOSTILE.

CITY OFFICIALS WILL BE IN THE HOT SEAT AGAIN.

THERE ARE ABOUT 2000 MIGRANTS STILL WAITING TO BE PLACED IN CHICAGO SHELTERS, NOT COUNTING THE FOUR BUSES OF PEOPLE THAT ARRIVED IN THE CITY JUST TODAY.

THEY AWAIT SPACE IN CITY SHELTER.

>>> FORMER RESIDENTS WERE IN FEDERAL COURT TODAY FROM CHICAGO FIERSTEIN FOR BUILDING A NEW TRAINING FACILITY.

CHICAGO'S MEN'S SOCCER TEAM PLANS TO BUILD AN $80 MILLION PRACTICE FIELD ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE WHERE THE FORMER HOME USED TO BE BEFORE THEY WERE TORN DOWN TWO DECADES AGO.

ADVOCATES SAY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD USE THE LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BED.

THE CHICAGO FIRE SAYS IT HAS INVESTED $8 MILLION IN NEARBY COMMUNITY SPACES AND MADE MILLIONS TO HELP CREATE MORE HOUSING.

>>> UP NEXT, SOME PPS WORKERS TAKE UP FRAUDULENT LOANS, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND K NIKKI FAMILY.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

IN THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> A NEW WATCHDOG WORK FINDS 14 EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINED PPP LOANS WORTH UP TO $21,000.

JIM, MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW.

THIS WAS INTENDED AS PANDEMIC RELIEF DURING THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN.

WHAT DID THE WATCHDOG REPORT FIND ON THESE 14 PEOPLE?

>> THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE EMPLOYEES AT FALSIFIED INFORMATION, AND THE INVESTIGATION CAUGHT THEM LYING ABOUT RUNNING ON IT DISTANT BUSINESSES, AND NON-CPS RELATED INCOME THAT THEY HAD EARNED.

SOME REPORTED THAT THEY HAD EARNED $100,000, AND WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS ALL A RUSE TO DEFUND THIS APPLICATION TO GET THIS LOAN.

MOST OF THE LOANS WERE AROUND THE $20,000 RANGE, BUT FOR THESE 14 SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES, THESE ARE DISTRICT OFFICIALS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL WHO, ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAD SALARIES THAT RANGED INTO THE SIX FIGURES COMING FROM CPS.

SO 12 OF THESE EMPLOYEES -- EIGHT OF THEM RESIGNED AND FOUR MORE HAVE BEEN TERMINATED.

THE DISTRICT ALSO PLACED A HOLD DESIGNATION ON THE EMPLOYEES PERSONNEL RECORD.

OF THE REMAINING 2, CPS SAYS IT HAS FILED SPECIAL CHARGES IN THE PROCESS FOR HANDLING THAT IS STILL ONGOING.

PPP LOAN FRAUD WAS VERY WIDESPREAD IN CHICAGO, AND ALL OVER THE PLACE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS RECOMMENDED TO CPS THAT, AGAIN, REQUIRING FOR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDING WHILE BEING ON CPS.

THEY SAY THEY WILL REVIEW THAT RECOMMENDATION, BUT THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT READY YET.

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE SAID THAT IT IS COMING TO A CLOSE ON SEVERAL MORE PPP FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE STILL ONGOING, AND THEY ARE IN CONNECTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THIS, AS WELL.

>> WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT.

MATT MASTERSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> REGIONWIDE COORDINATION, AND IT PUSH TO DRAW IN MORE WRITERS THAN EVER.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE AMBITIOUS IDEAS IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A BOLD NEW VISION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE CHICAGO REGION, AS CTA, METRO, FACING A LOOMING FISCAL CLIFF WHEN COVID RELIEF DOLLARS DRY UP.

THEY SAY IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGE.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ERIN OLIVER JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TO TONIGHT.

CREATING A PLAN TO RETHINK TRANSIT IN THE REGION, AND THE COVID RELIEF MONEY IS EXPECTED TO DRY UP IN 2025, 2026.

>> IN OUR REGION ALONE, WE HAVE 250 COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE METRO STATIONS AND MANY OF THOSE.

NOW RIDERSHIP IS DOWN, BUT REALLY, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS ACROSS THE REGION, WERE MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TO THEIR JOBS, TO VISIT FRIENDS AND HAVING A MULTIMODAL NETWORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> THAT PLAN LAYS OUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR HOW THINGS CAN AND SHOULD LOOK AND ACT IN YEARS TO COME.

WHAT IS THE KEY PRINCIPLE TO CREATING THAT PLAN?

>> A COUPLE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS YOU MENTIONED, WHERE REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHERE A PERSON SHOULD BE POST-PANDEMIC AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE HAD IN 2019, BUT LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR OUR TRANSIT AGENCIES SO WE ARE NOT BACK YOU'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN.

I THINK CRITICALLY, WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY.

WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING, AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE OPTIONS THAT AREN'T JUST DRIVING.

>> A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU MENTIONED THE FUNDING.

BUSINESSES REQUIRE MONEY.

AND IT WOULD INVOLVE $1.5 BILLION IN ANNUAL FUNDING.

WHERE'S THAT MONEY COMING FROM?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO THINK ABOUT FUNDING OUR AGENCIES.

ONE OF WHICH IS COST SAVINGS FROM THE AGENCY IT SELF ACROSS THE BOARD, THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY CAN COORDINATE TO CUT DOWN COSTS.

WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO TRANSFORM THE WAY THAT WE TAX GOODS AND SERVICES ACROSS THE REGION THAT REALLY WE HAVE BEEN RELIANT ON A TAX ON GOODS, BUT A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS THINK ABOUT SERVICES, SO AS WE MODERNIZE OUR TASK CODE.

AND THEN OTHER THINGS LIKE, DO WE WANT TO CHARGE MORE FOR PARKING?

COULD WE THINK ABOUT, AS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMES ONLINE LONG-TERM, WILL IT BE AS DIMINISHING?

BUT YOU CAN HELP PROVIDE SOME TRANSIT.

>> REPORT ALSO LAYS OUT FOR COORDINATION, INCLUDING TURNING THE EXISTING SERVICE BOARD INTO SENSUALLY SOMETHING THAT COULD HANDLE THE DAY-TO-DAY TRANSIT SERVICE OPERATION, BUT THAT THERE WOULD BE AN UMBRELLA OF THIS REALLY POWERFUL NEW REGIONAL AGENCY THAT WOULD HANDLE ALL THE TRANSIT AND BUSINESS FUNCTION THERE.

ESSENTIALLY A MERGER.

>> THINKING ABOUT REGIONAL FAIR POLICY, RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ARE GETTING ON CPA OR THINKING ABOUT A MONTHLY PASS AND THAT RIGHT COST, AT METRO YOU GOT A DIFFERENT MONTHLY COST.

THERE ARE SOME SURGES IN THE SYSTEM DAY-TO-DAY.

WE THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESTRUCTURING GOVERNANCE.

IT FEELS LIKE ONE SYSTEM THAT HAS ONE PASS.

WE ARE DOING IT HOLISTICALLY AND NOT PIECEMEAL, SO I THINK THOSE ARE COUPLE OF WAYS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT DIFFERENT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES TO COME UP WITH THESE OPTIONS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT LINKING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RAIL SYSTEM.

THE REGIONAL RAIL SYSTEM, BUS INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS SOMETHING THE CUSTOMER SEE IN THE EUROPEAN MODEL, REALLY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A PREDICTABLE SCHEDULE FOR YOUR RAIL.

AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC IS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING MORE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, LESS OF THE A.M. AND P.M.

RUSH HOURS THAT ARE TRADITIONAL.

IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND AND RUN ERRANDS DURING THE DAY.

BUSES HAVE BEEN VERY NIMBLE THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.

WE CAN THINK ABOUT LOOKING AT WHERE THE JOBS ARE AND WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE, AND CREATING SOME HIGH CAPACITY, HIGH'S BEAD BUS CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

>> WHATEVER VERSION OF THIS PLAN IS FORWARD WILL REQUIRE A LOT OF ACTION FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND HOW THOSE CONVERSATIONS STARTED?

>> THEY HAVE.

I'VE BEEN UP TALKING TO OUR COUNTY BOARD, TALKING TO OUR COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS ACROSS THE REGION, AND I THINK THERE'S SOME BROAD RECOGNITION THAT IT IS, THAT PEOPLE BOUGHT HOUSES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO ACT IS THAT.

THERE ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT REALLY DEPEND ON PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET TO THEIR JOBS.

SO LOSING A NUMBER OF THOSE ASSETS COULD BE A HUGE BLOW TO OUR REGION.

>> AS YOU TRY TO PUSH FORWARD TO THINKING MORE ABOUT A REGIONAL MODEL, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE PUSHED BACK TO THAT IDEA?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS HOW DO YOU TRANSFORM A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION THAT IS RESPONSIVE?

AND NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE STRUCTURES OF THE PAST.

THAT'S THE VISION WE ARE TRYING TO LAY OUT THERE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> A LOT OF EXCITING STUFF IN THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP NEXT, MORE DETAILS IN THE UPCOMING CORRUPTION TRIAL OF FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE.

STAY WITH US.

>>> PROSECUTORS DECIDE AGAINST PUTTING FORMER ALDERMAN ON THE WITNESS STAND IN ALDERMAN ED BURKE'S TRIAL.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON PREPARES WOULD BE CANDIDATES FOR THE MARCH PRIMARY, WHO WERE NOW FREE TO BEGIN COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO TRY TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

HERE WITH ALL THAT IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLICY TEAM AND SPECIAL GUEST, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT REPORTER, JUSTIN WOLMAN.

HEATHER, YOU RELEASED A REPORT THAT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WILL NOT ASK FOR THE FORMER ALDERMAN TO SPEAK AT THE TRIAL FOR ED BURKE SET TO START IN TWO MONTHS.

>> PROSECUTORS BELIEVE THEY HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT ED BURKE ON 14 COUNTS OF RACKETEERING, CONDUCTION, BRIBERY, AND EXTORTION WITHOUT THE SINGLE MOST POLITICAL CORRUPTION HISTORY.

IT'S A BET, BUT IT'S ONE THAT THE PROSECUTORS BY THEIR MOVE TODAY SAY THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE.

AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE IT, THEY DO NOT CALL REPORTERS AND TALK ABOUT THEIR TRIAL STRATEGY.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER, AS HE DID NOT AND HAS ADMITTED ACCEPTING $15,000 IN BRIBES WHILE HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE ZONING COMMITTEE, AMONG OTHER BAD ACTS, BEFORE AGREEING TO REPORT NOT JUST ED BURKE BUT ALSO MIKE MADIGAN.

HIS ADMISSION IN COURT IS THAT HE TOOK THAT $50,000 IN BRIBES AS PART OF HIS AGREEMENT WHICH COULD ALL COME BACK AND HAUNT THE PROSTITUTION.

>> TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO DETAIL HOW BIG THE CITIES TO GAP WOULD.

WHAT WILL YOU BE LOOKING FOR?

>> CERTAINLY, THE FIRST WILL WANT TO KNOW IS HOW BIG THAT BUDGET IS.

THERE WAS AN ESTIMATE OF 85 MILLION.

AND I THINK THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL COME IN HIGHER THAN THAT.

BUT TO UNDERSTAND HOW HIGH, IF IT'S IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, IT WOULD BE GOOD REASON TO INCREASE TAXES, TO BRING IN MORE REVENUE.

SO THE FIRST BIG THING IS THAT.

>> HEATHER, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS SHORTFALL THAT LORI LIGHT FALL PREDICTED ON HER WAY OUT.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ?

>> IT'S SORT OF A TIME HONORED TRADITION WHEN A NEW MAYOR TAKES OVER FOR AN OLD MAYOR, THEY LOOK IN THE BOOKS AND SAY, OH MY GOODNESS, CHICAGO'S FINANCIAL MISSION IS SO MUCH WORSE THAN WITH THE PREVIOUS GUY LED ME TO BELIEVE.

THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO DO THAT I DON'T WANT TO, AND THAT COULD INCLUDE RAISING TAXES.

HE'S GOING TO BE UNDER LESS PRESSURE TO SHOW HE COVERS DIFFERENTLY THAN LIGHT DID.

SHE WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE DURING LEGISLATION, SHE WAS VERY MUCH, THIS IS MY BUDGET.

THE HIGHWAY OR NO WAY.

JONATHAN HAS PROMISED A MORE COLLABORATIVE, LUCRATIVE APPROACH, AND THAT IS WHERE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO MEET HIM ON THE ROAD.

>> HE HAS INVESTMENTS THAT HE SAYS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE THE CITY MORE EQUITABLE.

CAN HE PULL IT OFF?

>> THE TWO BIG THINGS ARE, THE CITY'S MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS, AND MORE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING HOMELESSNESS.

WHETHER HE CAN DO IT -- I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO TRY TO DO IT ALL IN YOUR ONE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LEARNING AS WE APPROACH THE SEASON.

AND YOU WILL NEED SOME BUY-IN FROM HIS LARGER MOVEMENT.

BUT THEY WILL TRUST HIM WHEN HE SAYS, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE NUMBER WILL BE.

BUT TRUST ME, I'M COMING FOR THE OTHER ONE.

PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO BUY INTO THAT IN WAYS THEY HAVEN'T WITH THE PREVIOUS MAYOR.

WE TRUST YOU, WE CONTINUE TO YOU, AND WE WILL BE PATIENT FOR OUR GOAL.

>> EVEN THOUGH THEY JUST GOT DONE WITH ONE ELECTION -- >> IT'S ALWAYS ELECTIONS REASON.

>> THAT'S A WAY THAT FOLKS LIKE IT.

SO THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR WANT TO BE CANDIDATES.

THEY NEED SIGNATURES SO THAT THEY CAN GET NOMINATED TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

MAYBE A LITTLE EARLY, BUT WHICH RACES ARE YOU MOST FOCUSED ON?

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO REPLACES KIM FOX AS ATTORNEY.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHERS, INCLUDING A BALLOT TO REPRESENT THE 20th DISTRICT IN THE SENATE.

SHE SUPPORTS HER FORMER DISTRICT DIRECTOR, BUT SHE WAS NOT APPOINTED TO REPLACE HER ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.

WHO IS ALIGNED WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DEMOCRAT, THE MORE MODERATE SIDE OF THE DEMOCRATS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BATTLE FOR TOTAL CONTROL FOR THE PROGRESSES ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE.

>> I WANT TO ADD TO THAT ONE.

DR. DAVE NYACK WHO IS A POLITICALLY INVOLVED DOCTOR AND FARMER, IT WILL ALSO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE RACE.

AND THE OTHER BATTLE I CAN GATHER FROM THE ALDERMAN IS SHE'S GOING TO PUT HER HAT IN THE RING TO RUN IN THE COMMITTEE PERSON RACE, AND THAT WILL BE ANOTHER THING TO WATCH.

BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE MAYBE EVEN FEISTY OR.

I'M SURE THERE'S GOT TO BE IN ALDERMAN CANDIDATE AGAINST RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ.

THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.

>> WE MIGHT HAVE CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY IN THIS ELECTION.

>> IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 140 YEARS SINCE CHICAGO VOTERS HAVE GONE TO PASS A BINDING REFERENDUM.

ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES, JUSTIN MENTIONED THE RICH CHICAGO HOME PLAN FOR PROPERTY WORTH MORE THAN $1 MILLION.

THE CITY COUNCIL AGREES IN OCTOBER TO THOSE VOTERS IN MARCH, AND THE VOTERS PASS, THEN THE CITY COUNCIL TAKES ANOTHER VOTE TO CHANGE THAT TAX, WILL BE A HARD BATTLE.

>> FOR GOOD MEASURE, ONE WAS LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED?

>> 1980, WHEN THE CHICAGO BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WAS CREATED.

>> IT'S BEEN SOME TIME.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP NEXT, WE SHOW YOU HOW ART MEAN SUSTAINABILITY, AND A PARTNERSHIP AIMED AT BEAUTIFYING THE WEST SIDE.

>>> TWO ORGANIZATIONS ON THE CITY'S WEST SIDE ARE ON A MISSION TO BRIDGE THE GAP WITH A NEW INITIATIVE AIMED AT REDEEMING PLASTIC.

FOX RESPONDENT RECENTLY BROUGHT UP THE STORY.

>> Reporter: IT STARTS WITH AN ASSEMBLY LINE OF SORTS.

>> YOU USUALLY WANT TO CUT THEM DOWN THE MIDDLE.

IT MAKES IT EASIER.

>> Reporter: WASHING AND DRYING CLOTHES THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED.

>> WE HAVE TO DRY IT.

THIS IS A LAUNDRY DETERGENT JUG COLLECTION SITE.

THE PLASTIC IS LIKE THESE LITTLE SMALL GRANULES, AND THEN WE LIFTED UP, AND IT SCREWS IN.

FOR THIS, WERE MAKING THEM FOR OUR BENCH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS BENCH IS WHAT MADE FROM WHAT USED TO BE DETERGENT BOTTLES.

>> A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, LIKE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO KIND OF COME TOGETHER AND DESIGN THIS OBJECT THAT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR PUBLIC USE AND PAY FOR THE MATERIAL THAT WILL OUTLIVE.

>> SPIRITED BY THE ORGANIZATION ALL SPACE AND HAPPY RETURNS.

>> WE REALLY LIKED THAT ART WAS AT THE CENTER OF THIS.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF NOT JUST DEVELOPING ART, BUT ALSO INTERACTING WITH IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PLACEMENT.

>> THROUGH A JOINT PROJECT, JORDAN CAMPBELL SAYS THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR MISSION OF CREATING BOTH ART AND SPACE.

IT'S A CAN SET STARTED BY CAMPBELL AND HIS LATE BUSINESS PARTNER.

>> AND I THINK WHAT WE WITNESSED WAS JOHN.

HE WAS HERE ENCOURAGING AND CHALLENGING PEOPLE, BUT SHOWING LOVE.

HE TALKED ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO ISSUE LOVE OVERTIME.

>> Reporter: NOW THEY HAVE A CLUE IDEAL COLLABORATOR, MISSION IS AIMED AT DIGITAL CRAFT AND RECYCLING PLASTIC.

TOGETHER, THE TWO GROUPS WANT TO TAKE THEIR DESIRE FOR SUSTAINABILITY IS WHERE'S THE LOVE FOR COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE.

>> 83 POUNDS OF PLASTIC, THAT'S JUST IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS.

THAT'S JUST A FRACTIONAL PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WE CONSUME IN A DAY IN CHICAGO.

IT'S NOT HOW MUCH PLASTIC WE CAN TRANSITION AND REDEEM, WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR YOGURT CUP?

THROUGH THIS PROJECT AND REDEMPTIVE PLASTIC, WE ARE HIRING PEOPLE, WE ARE TRAINING THEM, AND GIVING THEM THE TOOLS.

THIS IS INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY JUST AS MUCH AS IT IS TRANSFORMATION OF A LANDFILL.

>> THE FOLKS AT ALL SPACE AND HAPPY RETURNS SAY THEY'RE IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS TO INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTION.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN RECYCLING PLASTIC, YOU CAN VISIT FOR MORE INFORMATION.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

YOU CAN GET STREAMS ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE RADIO APP, AND JOIN US TOMORROW MORNING AT 5:30.

THE MAYORS PICK FOR THE NEXT TOP, WE WILL HAVE A PREVIEW.

LOCAL ARTISTS TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AHEAD OF PERMANENT EXHIBITS AT A POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.