[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> IT'S ABOUT THE POWER AND PURPOSE THAT COMES FROM A JOB.

>> EXTENDED PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITTINGS ARE ENDING.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS.

>> I HAVE NOT REVIEWED THE DETAILS OF THE MAPS.

THEY HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN SENT TO ME.

>> DEMOCRATS IN SPRINGFIELD ADVANCE NEW ELECTION MAPS.

REPUBLICANS CALL THE PROCESS A QUOTE FARCE AND A CHARADE.

>> FEELS LIKE ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU SEE IN THE MOVIES EVERYONE IS LIKE JUST SO OVERLY FRIENDLY.

>> HOW NORTHWEST SUBURBAN DES PLAINES IS COMING TOGETHER TO OVERCOME THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT DEFINITELY RESULTED IN EXTREME FORMS OF SELF HATRED.

BUT I SURVIVED.

>> MEET A SURVIVOR OF GAY CONVERSION THERAPY WHO IS FEATURED IN THE NEW KNELT FLIX DOCUMENTARY, PRAY AWAY.

>> ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN PETS COMING THROUGH THE DOORS.

HOW THEY ARE HANDLING THE SURGE.

>> THE BIG HISTORY BEHIND THE LITTLE HOMES IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> AND BRANDIS AND PARIS, I'M IN DES PLAINES AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

A DIVERSE SUBURB NORTH OF O'HARE AIRPORT WITH HIGH VACCINATION RATES BUT IT'S FACING AN UPTICK IN COVID CASES AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REOPENING OF THE HISTORIC THEATRE AND EXPANSION OF ONE OF THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS.

WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT AND MORE.

BUT FIRST BACK TO YOU.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

NOW TO SOME OF THE TOP STORIES, ILLINOIS GROUPS REACT TO THE SUPREME COURT DECISION NOT TO HALT THE ABORTION LAW.

THE COURT DENIED AN EMERGENCY PEEL TO BLOCK ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW WHILE IT MADE ITS WAY THROUGH COURTS.

THE RULING CAME WITH A BLISTERING DISSENT FROM THE MINORITY JUSTICES.

THE RIGHT TO LIFE PRAISED THE DECISION AND THE TEXAS LAW SAYING IT HOPE IT IS INFLUENCES OTHER STATES TO PASS SIMILAR LAWS.

SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH SLAMMED THE RULING AND CALLED ON CONGRESS TO RECODIFY THE PROTECTIONS IN ROE V. WADE.

>> A CHICAGO ALDERMAN IS IN HOT WATER FOR OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

JIM GARDINER IS FACING BLOWBACK FROM PROGRESSIVE ALDERPEOPLE AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES THIS AFTER TEXT MESSAGES HE SENT TO A STAFFER WHERE HE REFERS TO ALDERMAN TOM TUNNEY AS A BITCH.

HE USED THE SLUR TO DESCRIBE A FEMALE STAFFER FOR SCOTT WAGUESPACK.

WTTW OBTAINED THE MESSAGES AFTER REPORTED ON A BLOG CALLED PEOPLE'S FABRIC.

WAGUESPACK WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES KELLY CASSIDY CONDEMNED THE COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS AFTERNOON.

GARDINER DID NOT RETURN A CALL SEEKING COMMENT.

>> ANOTHER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MISCONDUCT.

LIEUTENANT WILFREDO ROMAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED BATTERY.

HE IS ACCUSED OF SHOVING A FLASHLIGHT BETWEEN A 17-YEAR-OLD'S BUTTOCKS WHILE MAKING AN ARREST.

THE TEEN WAS CLOTHED AT THE TIME.

HE HAD BEEN RESPONDING TO AN ARMED CARJACK AND GOT THE SUSPECT IN HANDCUFFS WHEN THE INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED.

>> BULLS AND BLACKHAWKS FANS WILL HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS IN ORDER TO GO TO THE GAMES.

ALL EVENTS INCLUDING SPORTING EVENTS AND CONCERTS.

UNITED CENTER OFFICIALS SAY THE DECISION IS BASED ON A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR FANS AND EMPLOYEES AND IT WILL GO UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

>> AND UP NEXT, THE LATEST ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN ILLINOIS.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ARE FALLING IN ILLINOIS.

THE LATEST FIGURES SHOW THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 7% IN JULY MUCH IMPROVED FROM LAST JULY WHEN IT TOPPED 12%.

STILL, ILLINOIS' UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL RATE OF 5.4%.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH PORE ON THIS.

WHAT IS THE LATEST?

>> WELL, UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

YOU HAD STAY AT HOME ORDERS AND OTHER FALLOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC, SPRING LAYOFFS AND MANY WHO LOST THEIR JOBS TROUBLE ACCESSING BENEFITS AND IN PART BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF FRAUD.

NOW, FOR A LONGTIME ALSO PEOPLE COULDN'T PHYSICALLY GO TO STATE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICES TO GET HELP WITH THIS.

THEY WERE CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID.

CAUSING LONG FRUSTRATING CALLS TO THE STATE'S OVERBURDENED UNEMPLOYMENT HOTLINE.

NOW, THAT CLOSURE SET TO CHANGE LAST WEEK, THREE STATE JOB CENTERS REOPENED ON AN APPOINTMENT ONLY BASIS INCLUDING ONE IN JAVY AND YESTERDAY THE STATE ANNOUNCED THREE MORE INCLUDING ONE IN PILSEN AS MANY BUSINESS OWNERS ARE DESPERATE FOR EMPLOYEES, GROCERY STORES, CLOTHING SHOPS, YOU NAME IT SAYS ROB KARR WHO IS HEAD OF THE ILLINOIS RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.

>> WITH YOUR RESTAURANT, WE'RE SEEING SIGNS EVERYWHERE NARROWING HOURS OR CLOSING ON DAYS BECAUSE OF LACK OF AVAILABLE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE THE TABLES AND DURING THE HOURS AND THE RUSHES.

>> MIGHT THAT CHANGE?

EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PUMPED UP BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WILL EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 4.

NELI VASQUEZ ROWLAND IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT A SAFE HAVEN AND DEMAND FOR SERVICES HAS BEEN UNPRECEDENTED NOW SHE IS PREPARING FOR A RECKONING WITH THE EVICTION MORATORIUM SET TO EXPIRE, JOBLESSNESS IS EXPENSIVE FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

IT'S EXPENSIVE TO THE TAX BASE THEY HAVE TO COVER THE COST EXPENSES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EMPLOYABLE IF ONLY MAYBE INVESTMENT IN THEM TO GET THEM EMPLOYED.

>> HER ORGANIZATION IS DOING WHAT IT CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO JOBS, SERVING LIKE A MATCHMAKER FOR THOSE WHO NEED WORK AND SKILLS AND THOSE WHO NEED WORKERS.

>> THE EMPLOYERS ARE AGGRESSIVELY TRYING TO HIRE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE FINDING A LACK OF APPLICANTS, WHO ARE ACTUALLY HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEKING YOU KNOW, CAREERS IN THOSE JOBS.

>> CARA COLLECTIVE DOES THIS WORK AND KATHLEEN CALIENTO SAYS MATCH MAKE SOMETHING NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT MAY SEEM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS ESPECIALLY NOW, THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT BE PREPARED TO GO TO WORK.

>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS BECAUSE OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE FACING COMPLEX ISSUES BEYOND UNEMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, PERHAPS EVEN ISSUES IN CHALLENGES WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THOSE ISSUES CONTINUE TO POSE BARRIERS FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS AS THEY ARE TRYING TO ENTER INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> EMPLOYERS MAY BE PUTTING UP BARRIERS THEMSELVES AS WELL.

FOR EXAMPLE, INCLUDING JOB REQUIREMENTS IN A POSTING THAT ARE NOT ACTUALLY NECESSARY.

>> YOU EXCLUDE ESSENTIALLY 68% OF BLACK AND 79% OF LATINX POPULATIONS WHEN YOU PUT MUST HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE.

AND SO THAT IS A QUESTION WE ASK DOES IT ACTUALLY REQUIRE A COLLEGE DEGREE?

WHAT COLLEGE DEGREE IS REQUIRED FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE SKILL SET?

COULD THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE HAD UP UNTIL NOW, THE TRAINING, THE SUPPORT, COULD THOSE PERHAPS BE BETTER INDICATORS OF THEIR ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> A COALITION OF ILLINOIS' MOST MAJOR BUSINESS GROUPS, HOWEVER, SAY THAT ILLINOIS NEEDS TO DO MORE ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT FRONT.

A SENT A LETTER TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IN JULY IN ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING ASKS USING FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF MONEY ILLINOIS HAS BILLIONS LEFT TO FILL A DEFICIT IN THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND AND THIS IS THE FUND THAT PAYS FOR ALL OF THOSE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

CARR SAYS THE FUND IS FACING THE LARGEST DEFICIT MORE THAN DOUBLING DURING THE PANDEMIC AS THE BENEFIT DEMANDS WERE SOARING AND DOUBLING TO MORE THAN $5 BILLION.

THE ONLY OTHER ON HONORS TO PAY IT DOWN, REDUCING BENEFITS OR RAISING TAXES ON BUSINESSES.

>> EMPLOYERS DID THEIR PART.

THEY SUFFERED SHUTTING DOWN AND EMPLOYEES SUFFERED SHUTTING DOWN.

EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT BE CUT AND EMPLOYERS SHOULD NOT HAVE ADDITIONAL TAXES PLACED ON THEM AS A RESULT OF THAT.

THEY DID THEIR PART IN THE PANDEMIC IT IS NOT AS IF IT IS A NORMAL RECESSION THAT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY ECONOMIC FACTORS.

>> MEANWHILE, A STATE AUDIT FOUND THAT IDS DID NOT HAVE PROPER CHECKS IN PLACE AS THAT STATE AGENCY AWARDED PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFITS, FAILURE TO ACCURATELY DOCUMENT ELIGIBILITY RESULTED IN POTENTIALLY INELIGIBLE CLAIMANTS RECEIVING BENEFITS TOTALING $160 MILLION THAT AUDIT FOUND.

YESTERDAY, A BIPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION VOTED TO CONDUCT A BIGGER AUDIT INTO IDES.

>> WE ALL REALIZE THAT IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC EVERYONE WAS DRINKING WATER OUT OF THE FIRE HOSE.

BUT THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.

>> NOW, IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT IMPACT ANY OF THE CHANGES REOPENING OF JOB CENTERS AND THE EXPIRATION OF THOSE BEEFED UP PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHAT THAT IS GOING TO MEAN IN TERMS OF CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK.

CARA COLLECTIVES, KATHLEEN CALIENTO YOU HAVE TO THINK OF A NOBODY IT'S ABOUT HOUR AND PURPOSE AND WHEN SOMEBODY HAS THAT POWER AND PURPOSE THAT SPREADS TO THEIR FAMILY AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> MATTERS A LOT, THANK YOU.

>> DES PLAINES IS A CHICAGO SUBURB KNOWN FOR ITS FOREST PRESERVES AND HEADQUARTERS TO SEVERAL MAJOR CORPORATIONS.

A DIVERSE TOWN WITH A GROWING POPULATION OF 58,000 PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORS TO O'HARE AIRPORT.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND NICK BLUMBERG SPENT THE DAY IN THE SUBURB AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

AND JOANNA HERNANDEZ JOINS US NOW HOW THE TOWN IS WORKING TO OVERCOME THE PANDEMIC.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLANE.

>> IT WAS A TRAIN.

I HAVE NOT VISITED DES PLAINES IN QUITE SOMETIME BUT THE TIME I DID SPEND HERE I GOT TO SEE HOW TIGHT-KNIT THIS COMMUNITY WAS.

THIS TOWN FACED CHALLENGES FROM STRUGGLING BUSINESSES FROM GETTING THE PEOPLE THE RESOURCES THEY NEEDED TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC.

AT THIS MOMENT THEY ARE SEEING A SLIGHT UPTICK IN COVID CASES FOR THAT REASON, SOME SCHOOLS ARE STEPPING UP AND HELPING POP-UP VACCINATION CLINICS.

>> THROUGHOUT THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS IT'S BEEN CLIMBING A LITTLE BIT.

WE ARE AROUND 3.92% FOR OUR ZIP CODES.

TODAY WE HAVE EIGHT POSITIVE CASES AND ABOUT 32 KIDS THAT ARE ON QUARANTINE.

>> THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PARTNERED WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO HOST A SERIES OF COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINICS.

>> BETWEEN THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE PFIZER VACCINE AND NOW THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON, AND THE MANDATES FROM THE STATE AND THE FACT THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND A LITTLE WHILE AND PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THEM WITHOUT A LOT OF SIDE EFFECTS THE HESITANT PEOPLE ARE COMING IN.

>> THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS ONE OF DOZENS OF SCHOOLS IN THE AREA THAT ARE BACK IN SESSION AND HAVE WELCOMED STUDENTS INTO THE CLASSROOM.

ADMINISTRATORS SAY THEY ARE TAKING ALL THE PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE.

>> OVER 99% OF OUR KIDS HAVE RETURNED.

WE HAVE GREAT MITIGATIONS IN PLACE.

OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE HAS BEEN IN OUR LUNCH ROOMS MAINTAINING THAT SIX FOOT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT BUT SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS WE ARE USING THE GYM DURING THE LUNCH-HOUR.

>> OVER AT THE DES PLAINES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDREA BIWER HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT HELPING BUSINESSES STAY AFLOAT.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT BUSINESSES WERE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION.

SO WE TRIED TO ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE POSSIBLY COULD.

WE ALSO STARTED A VIDEO SERIES TO HELP CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE TAKING CURBSIDE AND WE LAUNCHED A PLEASE STOP HERE VIDEO SERIES.

>> ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES AS AMERICAN WILD BURGER.

>> THERE IS A TIME THAT WE COULD NOT FIND HAND SANITIZER AND MASKS.

SO THERE WAS LIKE A LOCAL CHAMBER MEMBER SHE SEWED MASKS FOR OUR STAFF AND DROPPED THEM OFF.

AT THE TIME WHEN EVERYONE IS ISOLATING WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP CONNECTED WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH MEETINGS AND IF IT HAD TO BE THROUGH ZOOM.

>> SYLVIA TALAVERA IS ONE OF THE RESTAURANT OWNERS HER HUSBAND AND BROTHER-IN-LAW STARTED THE RESTAURANT EIGHT YEARS AGO.

THE FAMILY WANTED TO GIVE BACK AND STARTED FREE LUNCH FRIDAYS.

>> THEY ARE A FAMILY OF SEVEN KIDS AND I THINK THAT MY HUSBAND HAS A HUGE HEART AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW AS WELL, THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO STRUGGLE SOMETIMES AND WHEN YOU ARE IN A HUGE FAMILY LIKE THAT, AND THEY WANTED TO DO WHATEVER THEY COULD TO HELP OUT.

AND THEY WERE BROUGHT UP TO HELP PEOPLE.

>> DOWN ON HOLIDAY LANE, SELF HELP CLOSET AND FOOD PANTRY WORKED WITH BUSINESSES LIKE AMERICAN WILD BURGER TO HOST THE PROGRAM AN INITIATIVE OFFERING FREE FOOD DONATIONS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE HAD 400 DES PLAINES HOUSEHOLDS ON OUR BOOKS.

HOUSEHOLD CAN BE FROM ONE PERSON TO EIGHT OR 10 PEOPLE.

AND THAT NUMBER HAS GONE UP TO 675 HOUSEHOLDS.

>> THE VOLUNTEER PANTRY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS.

AND LONG TIME RESIDENT DEBBIE WALUSIAK SAID THE NEED FOR FOOD IS INCREASING.

>> MOST OF THE STORIES I HEARD HAD TO DO WITH PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOB OR HAD A SICK FAMILY MEMBER THEY HAD TO TAKE CARE OF.

BUT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC THE THEME WAS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE HERE.

>> THE FOOD PANTRY OFFERS CLOTHES AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS AND IS OPEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TWICE A WEEK.

THE MISSION IS TO GIVE PEOPLE A SAFE SPACE REGARDLESS OF THE FINANCIAL SITUATION.

THEY HOPE TO BRING DES PLAINES BACK ON THE MAP AS THE TOWN FINDS WAYS TO REINVENT THEMSELVES AND HELP BUSINESSES SURVIVE.

>> RIGHT NOW SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY IS THE UNKNOWNS OF THE FUTURE BUT IS ALSO IN HIRING QUALIFIED PEOPLE FOR THEIR OPEN POSITIONS.

SO WE ARE PIVOTING AND WE WILL DO A PLEASE APPLY HERE FOR THE BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN TELL ABOUT THEIR OPEN POSITIONS.

>> APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING BUILT AND OFFICIALS ARE HOPING TO BRING IN NEW RESIDENTS AND STAY TUNED IN A FEW MINUTES YOU WILL HEAR FROM THE MAYOR ON THEIR EFFORTS TO REVIVE THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

NOW, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

SEE YOU IN A BIT.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND A DEBATE OVER NEW DISTRICT MAPS.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN?

IT MIGHT CHANGE SOON AS DEMOCRATS HAVE SUBMITTED NEW REDISTRICTING MAPS IT HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS AFTER THE CENSUS BUT BECAUSE OF LATE NUMBERS THE PROCESS HAS BEEN MORE CONTENTIOUS THAN OTHERS.

REPUBLICANS DECRIED THE VERSIONS AND THE PROCESS CALL TO GO A FARCE AND CHARADE.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS HE HAS YET TO SEE THE MAPS WHICH FACE NUMEROUS LEGAL CHALLENGES.

AND JOINING US TO GIVE THERESA MAH TAKES ARE STATE REPRESENTATIVE AVERY BOURNE A REPUBLICAN FROM LICHT BERG.

SENATOR JASON BARICKMAN A REPUBLICAN FROM BLOOMINGTON AND ERNEST HERRERA AN ATTORNEY AT THE MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL EDUCATIONAL FUND THAT FILED A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE MAPS.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DISCUSSION BUT THEY DECLINED OUR INVITATIONS.

WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU JOINING US TONIGHT.

AVERY BOURNE, I WILL START WITH YOU.

DEMOCRATS REVISED THEIR MAPS AFTER BEING FORCED TO DO SO ONCE THE CENSUS DATA CAME OUT ARE THE NEW MAPS ANY FAIRER IN YOUR MIND THAN THE ORIGINAL ONES?

>> WELL, MY INITIAL ANSWER IS NO.

BUT MY FOLLOW-UP TO THAT IS WHO REALLY KNOWS.

THEY DRAW UP THE MAPS AT THE LAST SECOND LITERALLY LESS THAN AN HOUR WE WERE ABLE TO VOTE ON THEM.

THIS PROCESS ALLOWED LITTLE PUBLIC INPUT.

WE GOT LITTLE TIME TO DIGEST THEM.

AFTER COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AFTER COMMUNITY ADVOCATE ASKED FOR UP TO 30 DAYS TO REVIEW THESE.

SO WE KNOW THEY ARE FAIR AND WE BELIEVE FUNDAMENTALLY IF POLITICIANS ARE DRAWING THE MAPS IT'S GOING TO BE UNFAIR.

>> AND JASON BARICKMAN THERE IS A LAWSUIT LEGAL CHALLENGES, WHAT IS THE BASIS OF THE LAWSUIT FROM REPUBLICANS?

>> WELL, LOOK THERE'S CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE DEMOCRATS' FIRST USING FLAWED AND INACCURATE DATA THAT RESULTS IN DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS.

ILLINOIS VOTERS.

THESE CONSTITUTIONAL CLAIMS ARE THINGS LIKE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THE NOTION THAT ONE PERSON ONE VOTE EXISTS.

THERE IS JUST NO DEFENSE TO WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DO.

I THINK PARIS, THE FACT THAT NO DEMOCRATS WILLING TO COME ON YOUR SHOW AND DEFEND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE MESS THAT THEY'VE CREATED AND THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO FOLLOW FOR WHICH THEY HAVE NO DEFENSE.

>> AMONG THOSE LEGAL ISSUES, ERNEST HERRERA, IS A LAWSUIT FROM YOUR GROUP, SAYING THAT IT'S UNFAIR TO THE LATINO POPULATION IN THE STATE.

EXPLAIN THE BASIS OF YOUR LAWSUIT?

>> THE BASIS OF OUR LAWSUIT IS SIMILAR IN THAT WE ARE ACCUSING AND WE BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE NOW AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALL ADMITTED THAT THEIR MAPS THAT THEY PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, BACK IN JUNE, USED DATA THAT IS NOT POPULATION DATA.

THEY ARE ESTIMATES.

AND THIS DATA THAT THEY USED IT'S IMPORTANT TO HOW WE DO LOTS OF THINGSTH THIS COUNTRY.

>> THEY USED THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THEY USED THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY AND THE SURVEY THAT SURVEY DONE BY THE CENSUS BUREAU EVERY YEAR DOES NOT ACTUALLY COUNT EVERYBODY LIKE THE CENSUS DOES EVERY 10 YEARS AND THAT DIFFERENCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR CASE LAW FROM THE U.S. SUPREME COURT BASED IN THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT IT HAS TO BE ON A POPULATION BASIS.

THEY DID NOT PROVIDE A POPULATION BASIS IT PROVIDES POPULATION ESTIMATES AND THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE STATE OR ANYONE TO CREATE A MAP THAT IS PROPERLY APPORTIONED MEANING HAVING DISTRICTS THAT HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

>> AND THE ESTIMATES DID UNDER COUNT THE LATINO POPULATION IN THE STATE AS REVEALED BY THE CENSUS, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS.

AND ANOTHER PROBLEM AS YOU WILL FIND IN OUR FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT THAT WE FILED A FEW WEEKS AGO, IS THAT THAT ORIGINAL MAP PASSED IN JUNE, PUT OUR CLIENTS OR PLAINTIFFS IN DISTRICTS UNDER POPULATED OR MALAPPORTIONED MEANING THEY ARE WAY OFF.

DISTRICTS WAY OFF FROM WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO BE EQUAL DISTRICTS.

>> THE DISTRICTS WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE EQUAL AMOUNT OF POPULATION.

AVERY BOURNE WHAT ABOUT THIS IS POLITICS THE PARTY IN POWER GETS TO DRAW THE MAPS IT HAPPENS IN ILLINOIS WITH DEMOCRATS.

IT HAPPENS IN STATES WHERE REPUBLICANS CONTROL BOTH THE HOUSES OF THEIR LEGISLATURE OR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THIS SHOWS THE WORST OF POLITICS.

JUST BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE DO IT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT.

THE WAY THAT WE DRAW DISTRICTS IS HUGELY CONSEQUENTIAL FOR POLICY DECISION FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND VOTERS NEED A CHOICE TO HAVE A TO WHO REPRESENTS THEM.

AND WE ARE SEEING IS A MAP THAT IS DRAWN TO KEEP THE POLITICAL CLASS IN POWER AND KEEPING VOTERS FROM HAVING A SHOT TO HAVE CHOSE WHO THEY WANT TO REPRESENT THEM.

>> AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER DID CAMPAIGN ON FAIR MAPS.

LET'S HEAR WHAT HE SAID TODAY.

>> I HAVE NOT REVIEWED THE DETAILS OF THE MAPS.

THEY HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN SENT TO ME, YET.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT MY PRINCIPLES ARE AROUND MAPS WHICH ARE REALLY AROUND DIVERSITY OF REPRESENTATION IT ISN'T ABOUT PARTY AFFILIATION.

IT REALLY IS ABOUT DIVERSITY OF OUR STATE AND THE REPRESENTATION THAT PEOPLE WHO SOMETIMES HAVE NOT BEEN REPRESENTED ALL THAT WELL OVER DECADES SHOULD NOW BE REPRESENTED IN THE STATE AS DIVERSE AS OURS.

>> SO, JASON BARICKMAN THE GOVERNOR SAYING THAT THE MAPS DO REPRESENT DIVERSITY, THE DIVERSITY OF THE STATE.

IS HE BEING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT HE CAMPAIGNED ON?

>> NO, LOOK, I THINK THE GOVERNOR CAN'T BE TRUSTED ON THIS ISSUE.

THE GOVERNOR CAMPAIGNED AND PROMISED TO VOTERS THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION DRAWING THESE MAPS AND THAT HE IN FACT WOULD VETO ANY MAP DRAWN BY POLITICIANS.

HE BROKE HIS WORD WITH VOTERS.

HE THEN PROCLAIMED HE WAS FOR A FAIR MAP WHATEVER HE DEFINED THAT TO BE.

CLEARLY HIS DEFINITION OF FAIR MAP IS DEFINED BY THE MAP HE SIGNED.

HE SIGNED A MAP THAT OTHERS CLEARLY POINT TO AS VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ILLINOIS VOTERS.

AND SO THAT IS NOT A FAIR MAP.

SO NOW THE NOTION THAT THE GOVERNOR TODAY WOULD AGAIN CAST JUDGMENT ON WHAT HE DETERMINES TO BE FAIR, IS JUST A NOTION THAT VOTERS AREN'T GOING TO BELIEVE.

ULTIMATELY, THIS ISSUE IS IN THE HANDS OF THE COURT.

WE THINK THAT THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION'S DECLARATION THAT A BIPARTISAN REDISTRICTING COMMISSION SHOULD BE ENACTED WE'RE LOOKING TO THE FEDERAL COURTS TO EITHER CHOOSE THAT REMEDY OR TO CHOOSE A SPECIAL MASTER THAT MAY DRAW THE DISTRICTS.

THE POINT BEING IT SHOULD NO LONGER BE IN THE HANDS OF POLITICIANS WHO IN OUR CASE, THE DEMOCRATS, HAVE MADE A MESS OF THIS.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW IT PROCEEDS THROUGHOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

COURTS IN THE PAST HAVE NOT THEY HAVE BEEN LOATHE TO RULE ON SOME OF THESE REDISTRICTING CASES.

ERNEST HERRERA, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE SAY SO MANY COMMUNITY VOICES WERE INVOLVED.

A LOT OF FOLKS WERE HEARD.

DID YOU FEEL THAT IS TRUE OF THE PROCESS?

>> NO, AND I CAN ATTEST TO OUR ACTUAL ONE OF OUR ACTUAL CLIENTS JULIE CONTRERAS, TESTIFYING IN THE HEARINGS AND HER TESTIMONY BACK IN MAY WAS THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO REVIEW THE MAPS.

AND THEY WERE ALSO USING DATA THAT WAS NOT ACTUALLY COUNTING THE POPULATION.

LAST WEEK, WHEN THE DEMOCRATS OR THE LEGISLATURE WAS SCRAMBLING TO DRAW NEW MAPS, MS. CONTRERAS TESTIFIED AGAIN AND SHE IS AN AVERAGE PERSON A VOTER WHO LIVES IN HER COMMUNITY.

SAYING THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO REVIEW THE MAPS.

AND IT'S NOT MALL DEAF REPRESENTS PEOPLE WITHOUT REGARD AS TO THE PARTY WE ARE A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION.

THERE WERE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT LOOK OUT FOR VOTING RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

AND HELPED ORGANIZE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS COMMON CAUSE AND OTHERS WHO SAT OUT THIS LAST PROCESS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS SO UNFAIR AND SO OPAQUE, NONTRANSPARENT.

THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE IN OUR EYES.

IT IS A MATTER OF FOLLOWING THE LAW.

AND I DO TAKE ISSUE WITH GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S ASSUMPTION PERHAPS THAT THESE MAPS THEY REPRESENT DIVERSITY.

FOR ONE, WE THINK THAT THE COURT SHOULD TAKEOVER THE PROCESS AT THIS POINT.

THEY SHOULD FIND THE MAPS THAT WERE SIGNED INTO LAW BACK IN JUNE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS WHEN YOU SAID THE COURT IS LOATHE TO DECIDE THESE THINGS, USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS UNDER PRECEDENT COURT GIVES THE CHANCE TO A JURISDICTION TO REDRAW THE MAPS ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR ILLEGAL.

AND IN THIS CASE THE DEMOCRATS OR THE LEADERS HERE HAD THEIR CHANCE TO REDRAW THE MAPS.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THOSE MAPS.

AND AS THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS SAYING WE DON'T KNOW WHICH VERSIONS WERE THE FINAL UNTIL ABOUT A NIGHT-AND-A-HALF AGO.

BUT OUR ANALYSIS OF THE LAST VERSIONS WE SAW ON MONDAY, SHOWED THAT LATINOS ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THESE NEWEST MAPS.

IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE LEGISLATURE OR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HERE GOT RID OF ONE UNCONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATION IN FAVOR OF ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OR STATUTORY VIOLATION.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES TO FOLLOW HERE OUR THANKS TO AVERY BOURNE, JASON BARICKMAN AND ERNEST HERRERA.

>> AND UP NEXT WE HEAD BACK TO DES PLAINES.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AND NOW WE GO TO JOANNA HERNANDEZ WHO HAS BEEN REPORTING FROM NORTHWEST SUBURBAN DES PLAINES AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND PARIS NOW JOINING US IS DES PLAINES MAYOR ANDREW GOCZKOWSKI.

HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY ON THIS BEAUTIFUL EVENING?

I'M DOING GREAT I'M GLAD TO BE WITH YOU IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK DES PLAINES.

>> I WANT TO START OFF WITH VACCINATION RATES.

ACCORDING DATA FROM COOK COUNTY, 85% OF THE PEOPLE HERE ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK LED TO A HIGH RATE?

>> THERE ARE A FEW THINGS DES PLAINES GETTING A HIGHER RATE.

WE HAD A GREAT MASS VACCINATION FACILITY IN OUR CITY THAT WAS RUN BY COOK COUNTY AND IT WAS THE HIGHEST PERFORMING FACILITY.

SO THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DES PLAINES RESIDENTS THAT WERE ABLE TO GO DOWN THE STREET TO GET VACCINATED.

OUR INITIAL INFECTION RATE WAS HIGH SO THE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD IT WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

>> DO YOU FEEL THAT THE TOWN IS IN A GOOD PLACE?

>> I DO I THINK THE TOWN IS IN A GOOD PLACE OUR NUMBERS ARE TRENDING UP BUT WE HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING I THINK WE WILL BE IN A GOOD SPOT.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DIVERSITY PROGRAM YOU ARE WORKING ON.

ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS DATA A THIRD OF DES PLAINES RESIDENTS WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. AND 40% SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME.

HOW ARE YOU WORKING TO INCLUDE THIS DIVERSE COMMUNITY ALTOGETHER?

>> SURE.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO I ANNOUNCED AN ADVISORY GROUP AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTH ASIAN, POLISH COMMUNITY AND WE WILL HAVE THEM COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THE CITY DOES RIGHT AND WHAT IT IS THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO BETTER AND WHAT IS CHALLENGING TO INCORPORATE THE COMMUNITY AND PART OF THE GREATER FAB RICK OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT?

>> I GREW UP IN DES PLAINES AND THE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE I'VE SEEN IT TURN MORE AND MORE DIVERSE AND MULTICULTURAL IN THE MAKEUP I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT REFLECTED IN CITY IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM AND WHO WE HIRE.

>> YOU WANT TO GET EVERYONE INVOLVED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IS BEHIND US THE DES PLAINES THEATRE.

IT'S GETTING READY TO OPEN UP.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> THIS IS THE DES PLAINES HISTORIC THEATRE.

AND FOR MANY YEARS IT SAT HERE WITHOUT MUCH ACTIVITY.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE CITY PURCHASED THE LAND AND WE RENOVATED THE THEATRE SPENDING A LOT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND GOT MONEY FROM RIVERS CASINO AND NOW IT IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY THAT WILL BE OPENING ON OCTOBER FIRST.

IT WILL BE RUN BY THE [INAUDIBLE] AND WE EXPECT IT TO BE MAGNET DRAWING PEOPLE FROM THE AREA TO COME AND WATCH A SHOW AND EAT IN OUR GREAT RESTAURANTS AND SHOP AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO REVIVE THE DOWNTOWN AREA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOMETHING WELL UNDERWAY.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS AND BARS LIKE UNCORK UNWIND HERE THAT HAVE OPENED UP THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM CUSTOMERS AND SEE THEM SUCCEED AND GROW THE ENTIRE AREA.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS DOWNTOWN IN A COUPLE YEARS FROM NOW?

>> I SEE IT BEING A THRIVING AREA WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY ARE BUILDING GOING TO RESTAURANTS EATING OUTSIDE, GOING TO THE NEW RETAIL THAT HAS OPENED UP AND IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF MAGNET THINGS LIKE THE THEATRE HERE.

>> I WANT TO FINISH UP SAYING THERE IS AN EXPANSION UNDERWAY FOR RIVERS CASINO A MAJOR EMPLOYER.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT RIVERS FACING COMPETITION AS OTHER CASINOS ARE BUILT IN THE CHICAGO AREA?

>> I AM NOT.

I THINK RIVERS IS THE GAMING DESTINATION IN THE STATE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF EXPANSION AND THEY WILL BE THE FIRST CASINO TO HAVE 2,000 GAMING POSITIONS.

THE EXPERIENCE IS UNPARALLELED.

AND I THINK THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

I'M NOT WORRIED AT ALL.

>> THANK YOU THAT WAS ALL GREAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BRANDIS AND PARIS, WE TAKE IT BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

IT IS EXCITING TO SEE ALL THAT IS GOING ON THERE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE VERY INTERESTING MAKES YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT HEADING OUT TO DES PLAINES SOON AND THANKS TO JOANNA FOR BRINGING THAT TO US.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AFTER A BOOST IN ADOPTIONS IN 2020 SHELTERS NOW SAY THEY ARE SEEING AN INCREASE OF PETS COMING THROUGH THE DOORS.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE FIRST OPENLY GAY CHAPLIN AT WHEATON COLLEGE WHO IS FEATURED IN THE NETFLIX FILM PRAY AWAY.

AND GEOFFREY BAER GIVES US A TOUR IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST MORE OF FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... ANOTHER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER IS FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR THE MISTREATMENT OF A SUSPECT THE FOURTH IN A MONTH.

VETERAN LIEUTENANT WILFREDO ROMAN WAS RELEASED FROM CUSTODY ON HIS WRITTEN PROMISE TO RETURN TO COURT HE IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED BATTERY FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOVING A FLASHLIGHT ON THE BUTTOCKS AT THE TEEN AFTER A CARJACKING.

HE WAS CLOTHED AT THE TIME.

HE SURRENDERED TO THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS BUREAU LAST NIGHT.

>> SPRING BREAK TRAVEL IS SIFTED AS THE SOURCE OF A COVID-19 OUTBREAK AT A CHICAGO VERSE SICKENING 158 PEOPLE.

THIS COMES FROM A REPORT FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION THAT DOESN'T NAME THE UNIVERSITY.

BUT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO REPORTED AN OUTBREAK AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL THE SAME TIME AS THE REPORT.

OFFICIALS TOLD ON CAMPUS STUDENTS TO STAY IN THEIR DORMS FOR A WEEK.

CHICAGO PUBLIC OF PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY WARNED THE TUD WOULD PROMPT ANY UNVACCINATED RESIDENTS TO DROP THE PLANS TO TRAVEL OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

>> AND GETTING VACCINATED PAYS AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE.

IN EFFORTS TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS OFFERING $100 VISA GIFT CARDS TO ANYONE WHO GETS THE COVID VACCINE AT THE MOBILE VACCINATION EVENTS OR THE AT HOME PROGRAM.

RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE A $50 GIVE CARD FOR EACH DOSE FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL HANDOUT GIFT CARDS SATURDAY AND TUESDAY FOR AT HOME APPOINTMENTS.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK HOW ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE HOLDING UP AFTER A BUSY YEAR LAST YEAR.

>> THANKS.

ANIMAL SHELTERS ACROSS THE CITY ARE SEEING AAND INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PETS AFTER A RELATIVELY QUIET 2020 WHEN SHELTERS SAW A BOOST IN ADOPTIONS AND FOSTERING.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER KRISTEN THOMETZ JOINS US NOW WITH DETAILS.

WHY ARE SHELTERS SEEING A SPIKE NOW IN PETS TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS?

>> YES, THE SHELTERS ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE RETURNING PETS.

THEY ARE CITING REASONS SUCH AS RETURNING TO WORK, OR MOVING.

YOU MAY RECALL MANY PEOPLE REMAINED AT HOME IN ONE PLACE LAST YEAR THEY WERE WORKING FROM HOME AND MORE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GO BACK TO OFFICES.

MORE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO MOVE INTO NEW HOMES OR APARTMENTS.

SHELTERS SAY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CITING FINANCIAL REASONS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP A PET IS JUST THE LACK OF TIME IN GENERAL TO CARE FOR ONE.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT PICTURES RIGHT NOW OF PETS UP FOR ADOPTION AT PAWS CHICAGO.

THE PRODUCERS ARE DOING THAT TO ME.

HOW ARE SHELTERS HANDLING THIS INCREASE IN PETS RIGHT NOW?

>> CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL IS ASKING THOSE WHO UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR PETS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO DO SO AND HANG ON TO THE PETS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

THIS ALLOWS THE SHELTER TO BETTER MANAGE THE POPULATION.

MEANWHILE, THE SHELTER IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THOSE OWNERS DURING THAT TIME.

OTHER SHELTERS ARE ALSO OFFERING HELP WITH FOOD AND MEDICAL EXPENSES.

AND ABOVE ALL, ALL THE SHELTERS THEY WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE HOME AS OFTEN AS YOU WERE IN 2020, THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T ADOPT A PET.

THEY SAY A HOME IS A BETTER PLACE FOR AN ANIMAL THAN A SHELTER.

YOU COULD FOSTER.

SHELTERS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR FOSTER HOMES ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CAN ACCOMMODATE PETS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR ILLNESSES.

BUT IF YOU ARE STILL THINKING ABOUT ADOPTION NOW MAY BE THE TIME.

MANY OF THE SHELTERS WE SPOKE WITH ARE WAIVING ADOPTION FEES OR ALLOW WOULD BE PET PARENTS TO SET THEIR OWN PRICES FOR ADOPTIONS AS PART OF THE SHELTER CAMPAIGN GOING ON NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 19TH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A LOT OF ANIMALS LOOKING FOR HOMES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ KRISTEN'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU WILL FIND MORE HOW YOU CAN ADOPT OR FOSTER A PET THAT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS AND ONE OF THE SUBJECTS OF THE NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY PRAY AWAY.

>> THANK YOU.

IN 2015, THEN ILLINOIS GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER SIGNED A LAW BANNING GAY CONVERSION THERAPY FOR MINORS.

A PRACTICE WHERE COUNSELORS TRY TO CHANGE A PERSON'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION FROM GAY TO STRAIGHT.

THIS PRACTICE HAS BEEN WIDELY CONDEMNED AS NOT ONLY INEFFECTIVE BUT HARMFUL BY A VARIETY OF MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS.

OUR NEXT GUEST HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES AS ONE OF THE FACES OF THE GAY CONVENTIONER MOST.

AND HER -- MOVEMENT AND HER JOURNEY TO BE THE OPENLY GAY PERSON BY WHEATON COLLEGE.

THE BOOK IS CALLED "OUTLOVE: A QUEER CHRISTIAN SURVIVAL STORY".

SHE WAS FEATURED IN THE NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE MOVEMENT CALLED PRAY AWAY.

HERE IS A CLIP.

>> EXGAY LEADERS ARE DOING WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS THE BEST THING FOR ALL OF US.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY THINK WHOLE AND HEALTHY MEANS TRYING TO FIT OURSELVES INTO SOMETHING WE CAN'T BE.

I WISH THAT THEY WOULD LISTEN TO US.

AND BELIEVE US.

WHEN WE SAY THAT WE REALLY ARE SO MUCH HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER NOW THAT WE ARE NO LONGER A PART OF THAT.

>> AND JOINING US IS AUTHOR JULIE RODGERS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO LET'S START HERE.

YOU WERE LITERALLY THE POSTER GIRL FOR THE SO-CALLED THE GAY CONVERSION THERAPY YOU WERE SPEAKING AT CONFERENCES, WHICH WHICH WAS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST ORGANIZATION IN THAT SO-CALLED EXGAY MOVEMENT.

TELL US HOW YOU WENT FROM BEING A PROPONENT TO BEING AN OPPONENT TO IT NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS MY MOM TOOK ME TO THE CONVERSION THERAPY PROGRAM CALLED LIVING HOPE MEN INDUSTRIES OUT OF DALLAS FORTH WORTH.

AND SHE TOOK ME WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD WHEN I CAME OUT.

HE HAD ME START GIVING MY ESCAPE TESTIMONY WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD FOR THE DONOR BANQUET AND NOBODY HAS AN EXGAY TESTIMONY WHEN THEY ARE 17 YEARS OLD.

I CONTINUED DOING THAT.

HE TOOK ME ON THE ROAD WITH HIM EVERY TIME HE WOULD SPEAK I WOULD TELL MY STORY BEFOREHAND TO ILLUSTRATE HIS POINTS.

SO IT WAS SOMETHING THAT OUR BRAINS ARE STILL DEVELOPING UNTIL WE ARE 27 YEARS OLD.

IT WAS IN THE CRUCIAL DEVELOPMENTAL YEARS THAT I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS AND BEING A PROPONENT OF IT AND DURING THAT TIME I WAS ABLE TO COME INTO MY OWN SENSE OF SELF, SEE THE HARM THAT THAT TEACHING WAS CAUSING AND COME OUT IN A DIFFERENT PLACE BY THE TIME I WAS MORE ESTABLISHED AS AN ADULT.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THOSE CONVERSION THERAPY SESSIONS.

>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE NORMAL THERAPY APPOINTMENT WHERE YOU SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT YOUR WEEK AND WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEN YOU START GETTING DEEPER INTO THE STUFF THAT IS BOTHERING YOU.

BUT THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE OF A CONFESSIONAL ELEMENT.

I FELT LIKE I HAD TO TELL RICKY EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING SEXUAL ATTRACTION OR FEELING OR CRUSH THAT I MIGHT HAVE.

>> AND SO AFTER CONFESSING YOUR SO-CALLED SINS WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE THERAPY SESSIONS?

WAS THERE PRAYER?

>> IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE 12 STEP PROGRAM.

THERE WAS SING SONGS AND THERE WOULD BE A SERMON AND WHEN WE MAKE THESE GO AROUND AND CONFESS OUR FAILURES FROM THE WEEK.

THE LEADER WOULD HELP US TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TRIGGERED IT WHY WE MAY BE GAVE IN TO A SEXUAL IMPULSE OR REACHED OUT TO A CRUSH.

AND THEY WOULD CONNECT IT WITH LIKE OH, YOUR BOSS BELITTLES YOU AND THAT IS WHY YOU REACHED OUT OR YOUR MOM WAS HARSH TO YOU SO YOU WENT AND LOOKED AT PORN OR WHATEVER THEN WE WOULD LIKE TRY TO COMMIT TO YOU KNOW, MORE PURITY THAT NEXT WEEK AND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE BASICALLY ALL WENT AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND DID THAT EVERY SINGLE WEEK FOR YEARS.

>> OK. FAST FORWARDING A LITTLE BIT YOU WERE THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PERSON TO BE HIRED BY A CHRISTIAN COLLEGE HERE IN ILLINOIS.

YOU TOOK WHEATON COLLEGE'S PLEDGOR A COMMUNITY COVENANT TO REMAIN CELIBATE AND IT'S THE SAME PLEDGE THAT LGBTQ STUDENTS AND STAFF ALL TAKE.

BUT BY THEN YOU WERE AN OUTCRIESIAN BLOGGER WHEN THEY REACHED OUT TO MINISTER TO THE GROWING GROUP OF LGBTQ STUDENTS THERE AS AN OUT PERSON WHY DID YOU TAKE THE JOB WHEN IT CAME ALONG WITH THAT PLEDGE?

>> I TOOK THE JOB BECAUSE FIRST I REALLY CARED ABOUT STUDENTS.

THEY ARE ALL THE QUEER STUDENTS ON CAMPUS WHO I KNEW DID NOT HAVE ANYBODY THAT COULD EMPATHIZE WITH THEM AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM.

AND I REALLY SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM.

SO TO BEGIN TO IMAGINE A PAUSE OF THE FUTURE IN THE SAFE COMMUNITIES.

AND I ALSO THOUGHT MAYBE THESE COMMUNITIES ARE CHANGING MORE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO COME OUT AND SAY IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE THE INTERNET NOW SO PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW OUR JOURNEYS AND SEE THAT WE DON'T BITE THAT WE ARE NOT MONSTERS.

AND MAYBE THEY ARE COMING AROUND.

I HAD FAITH THAT THEY MIGHT BE OPENING UP MORE THAN THEY WERE READY TO OPEN UP WHEN THEY OFFERED ME THE JOB.

>> AND WE KNOW LATER ON YOU WERE FORCED TO RESIGN AFTER THE SCHOOL RECEIVED SOME PRESSURE FROM CONSERVATIVES.

TELL US ABOUT WRITING YOUR BOOK OUT LOVE WAS THIS THERAPEUTIC?

WERE YOU GOING FOR A TALE ABOUT NOT BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF?

>> I WANTED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.

I KNOW HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE QUEERS WHO GREW UP IN FAITH COMMUNITIES AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE DAMAGE THAT TEACHING CAUSES.

THAT YOU KNOW, THE SELF HARM, THE SUICIDAL IDENTIFIATION AND I THOUGHT IF CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS KNEW HOW HARMFUL THIS TEACHING IS, THEN THEY WOULD BE MOVED TO CHANGE.

AND I WANTED THEM TO SEE HOW HARD WE TRY AND WE REALLY WANT TO BE GOOD AND THAT WE'RE NOT JUST OUT TO BE LIKE THESE DEBAUCHEROUS REBELS THAT WE ARE EARNEST AND I WANTED THEM TO GET A GLIMPSE INTO THE HEART OF SOMEBODY LIKE ME AND HOPE MAYBE THEY'LL BE MOVED TO COMPASSION EN EMBRACE US.

>> THE FILM SHOWS EXODUS SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL WHO CLOSED IN 2013, 20 STATES BANNED CONVERSION THERAPY ACCORDING TO THE TREVOR PROJECT, THIS PROJECT THE PRACTICE OF CON VERY, THERAPY IS THAT STILL GOING STRONG?

>> WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE BANS THEY ARE IMPORTANT BUT THEY ONLY APPLY TO LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

SO THEY DON'T APPLY TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LIVING HOPE WHICH IS WHERE I WAS IN CON VERY, THERAPY STILL ALIVE AND THRIVING TODAY.

RICKY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SPEAKS TO MEGA CHURCHES WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THEY HAVE 100 PEOPLE IN THE SUPPORT GROUPS EVERY WEEK AND 10,000 ON THE ON-LINE FORUMS.

NO BAN WILL EVER TOUCH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE OF THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAWS AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED A STRATEGY THAT BOTH DOES MAKE SURE THAT IT SPANS THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS BUT ALSO CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE IT'S MOST PROMINENT.

>> AND WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A POSITIVE FUTURE AWAITING THEM.

THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO COME OUT IF IT'S NOT SAFE.

BUT I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY IF THEY GET TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN TELL THE TRUTH TO A FEW SAFE PEOPLE THEY WILL FIND ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITIES WHO WILL ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACE THEM AND SAFE COMMUNITIES, AND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IF THEY WANT TO HOLD ON TO THE FAITH THAT WILL CELEBRATE THEM AND LOVE THEM THE WAY THEY ARE.

>> JULIE RODGERS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AGAIN, HER BOOK IS CALLED "OUTLOVE: A QUEER CHRISTIAN SURVIVAL STORY" AND THE DOCUMENTARY PRAY AWAY IS ON NETFLIX NOW.

>> UP NEXT, WE CHECK BACK IN WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ IN DES PLAINES.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> AND IT'S TIME TO CHECK IN WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ WHO IS IN SUBURBAN DES PLAINES AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

WHAT YOU GOT?

>> WELL, PARIS NOW JOINING US IS NINA ALIPRAND, SOCIAL SOBIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARYVILLE ACADEMY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT IS A WONDERFUL EVENING.

>> IT IS IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> I WANT TO START OFF FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH MARYVILLE ACADEMY WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> MARYVILLE IS AN AGENCY THAT HAS PROGRAMS THAT PROTECT CHILDREN AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL TO THRIVETH THEIR COMMUNITIES.

MARYVILLE WAS FOUNDED IN 1883 WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR A LONGTIME.

AND ALTHOUGH THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY AND THE NAMES OF OUR PROGRAMS HAVE CHANGED OUR COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HAS REMAINED.

>> COVID HIT EVERYONE VERY HARD.

CAN YOU TELL US SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE WERE STILL ABLE TO RECEIVE OR GO TO?

>> SURE.

I'M PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT MARYVILLE NEVER SHUT ITS DOORS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WE CONTINUED TO THRIVE.

SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT MARYVILLE RUNS TODAY WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS THAT OPERATE BOTH IN CHICAGO AND HERE IN DES PLAINES AND THEY PROVIDE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.

WE RUN THE MARYVILLE CRISIS NURSERY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND A CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE CENTER FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE MEDICALLY FRAGILE AND ARE READY TO COME OUT OF ACUTE HOSPITAL SETTINGS BUT CANNOT GO HOME.

WE HAVE A THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL CALLED THE JEN SCHOOL THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB WITH STUDENTS WITH EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES.

WE RUN RECOVERY HOMES FOR ADULT WOMEN WHO ARE IN TREATMENT AND THE NEAT THING ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THESE WOMEN CAN BRING THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM.

AND SO WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT SERVICES.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE RUN CYO, CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PLAY AND PARTICIPATE IN SPORTING ACTIVITIES IN AN ORGANIZED AND SAFE WAY.

>> THERE'S MULTIPLE PROGRAMS.

>> LOTS OF PROGRAMS WE NEVER SHUT OUR DOOR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> CAN YOU TELL ME HOW SOMEONE CAN SEEK THE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS HOW CAN THEY FIND YOU?

>> IF ANYONE WANTED TO FIND US THEY GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT MARYVILLE ACAD ANY.ORG AND SEE ALL THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE AND THEY CAN E-MAIL US THERE AND REACH OUT.

>> AND YOU HAVE BEEN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THOSE WHO ARE STILL GOING THROUGH IT NOW?

>> WELL, THERE IS LIGHT AT THE TUNNEL THERE ARE SAFE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR DOORS OPEN.

WE WERE FORTUNATE WE HAD A LOT OF MEDICAL STAFF AT OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE CENTER.

A WEEK BEFORE THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE SHUTDOWN FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WE WERE ORDERING ALL SORTS OF PPE AND PLANNING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN.

SO THERE ARE WAYS TO KEEP STAFF SAFE.

THERE WERE SOME DEPARTMENTS OUR SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE ALLOWED SOME STAFF TO WORK-FROM-HOME BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR WORKFORCE WAS COMING TO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN AND THE GROUP HOMES.

>> THANK YOU NINA THAT IS USEFUL AND GREAT INFORMATION THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

NOW THAT IS ALL THAT WE HAVE HERE FROM DES PLAINES.

NOW WE SEND IS BACK TO YOU BACK IN THE STUDIO.

>> A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK DONE BY MARCHVIEVILLE.

-- MARYVILLE.

THE BIG HISTORY BEHIND LITTLE HOMES IN AN ENCORE EDITION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> WHETHER YOU CALL THEM COUCH HOUSES OR CARRIAGE HOUSES OR GRANNY FLATS THE SMALL SPACES LOOMED LARGE.

GEOFFREY BAER SAYS PUT THEM IN COACH IN TONIGHT'S EDITION OF TONIGHT'S EDITION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

HOW IS IT GOING?

>> GREAT.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE COVER THIS THIS IS A HOT TOPIC IN CHICAGO.

WE GOT A LETTER... >> WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE INSIDE?

>> WE ARE GOING TO SEE.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TINY HOUSES THAT OUR VIEWER IS ADMIRING ARE NOT THE TINY HOUSES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BUILD HOUSES WITH SMALL FOOTPRINTS.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY COACH HOUSES CALLED CARRIAGE HOUSES OR REAR HOUSES.

WHICH HAVE AN OLDER PEDIGREE.

COACH HOUSES WHEN CHICAGO LIKE ALL CITIES WAS DEPENDENT ON HORSES FOR PERSONAL TRANSATION.

THE COACH HOUSE IS WHERE THE HORSES AND CARRIAGES WERE KEPT AND SOMETIMES INCLUDED LIVING QUARTERS FOR THE COACH MEN AND THE GROOMERS.

THE OWNERS OF THIS ANDERSONVILLE HOME SAY THAT THE COACH HOUSE WHICH THEY OFFER AS A VACATION RENTAL HAD TWO LIVING SPACES ABOVE THE STABLES.

THEY SAID THAT WHEN THEY MOVED IN, THERE WAS AN OLD BELL INSIDE THE MAIN HOUSE THAT YOU COULD PULL AND IT WOULD RING IN THE COACH HOUSE AND SIGNAL FOR THE COACH TO BE BROUGHT AROUND FOR THE TRIP.

>> THAT FEELS DOWNTON ABBEY THEY GARAGE FOR HORSES.

>> AND CARS DO NOT NEED AS MUCH ROOM.

SO ONCE THE AUTOMOBILE ENTERED THE SCENE SOME COACH HOUSES WERE REPURCHASE PURPOSED AS GARAGES FOR THE NEW AUTOMOBILES.

AND OTHERS AS A STAND ALONE LIVING SPACE FORMERLY KNOWN IN ZONING LAW AS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS OR ADU'S'.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THAT LANGUAGE CORRECT.

DOES IT MEAN ALL THE COACH HOUSES IN CHICAGO WERE AT ONE POINT USED FOR THE PURPOSE THE HORSES?

>> NO, NOT ALL OF THEM.

SOME WERE BUILT AFTER THE HORSE ERA TO FUNCTION AS LIVING SPACE AND SOME WERE PROBABLY BUILT ILLEGALLY BECAUSE IN 1957, CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL MADE SWEEPING CHANGES TO ZONING ORDINANCES THAT INCLUDED A BAN ON BUILDING NEW COACH HOUSES AS LIVING SPACES.

AT THE TIME CITY PLANNERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT OVERCROWDING.

COACH HOUSES ALREADY IN EXISTENCE IN 1957 WERE GRANDFATHERED IN.

BUT THERE WAS A CATCH.

ONCE A UNIT WENT UNOCCUPIED FOR A YEAR IT COULD NOT BE USED AS A LIVING SPACE ANYMORE.

>> THE REASON THIS DISCUSSION IS IN VOGUE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED AS A WAY TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CHICAGO.

ARE THERE MORE COACH HOUSES IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAN IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR VIEWER DID SPOT A LOT OF COACH HOUSES IN ROGERS PARK BUT ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS BY AN URBAN PLAN ARE FOR CHICAGO CITY SCAPE ROGERS PARK DOES NOT MAKE IT INTO THE TOP 10.

THIS IS A MAP OF THE 2400 COACH HOUSES IN CHICAGO.

LOTS OF THEM ARE IN WEST TOWNS, SOUTH LAWNDALE AND LINCOLN PARK AND LAKEVIEW AND LOGAN SQUARE AND SOME HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS THEIR SOME COACH HOUSES THAT RIVAL THE MAIN HOUSE IN BEAUTY.

LOOK AT THIS.

THE 1886 RANSOM CABLE HOUSE, JUST OFF MAGNIFICENT MILE TODAY IS THE HOME OF DREAM HOUSE CAPITAL MANAGE MANY THE FIRM FOUNDED BY THE INVESTOR RICHARD H. TREEHOUSE.

THE COACH HOUSE IS MADE OF THE SAME STONE AS THE MAIN HOUSE FANCY.

IN THE DOUGLAS NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THE 1885 WOOD MAXI BOYD HOUSE, BELONGED FOR YEARS TO Dr. BOYD AND AT 3,000 SQUARE FEET THIS COACH HOUSE IS HARDLY A TINY HOUSE.

BOYD DIED IN 2009 AND THE COACH HOUSE WAS RESTORED ALONG WITH THE MAIN HOUSE.

>> I HAVE TO ADMIT THERE IS ONE COACH HOUSE IN THE CITY THAT I'M FOND OF AND THAT IS THE PONCE STUDIO.

>> FAMILIAR NAME THERE.

ARTIST ANN PONCE, MIGHT RECOGNIZE THAT LAST NAME WORKS OUT OF A COACH HOUSE TURNED ART STUDIO ON THE NORTH SIDE.

IT WAS ANN'S -- BEFORE IT WAS ANN'S STUDIO, PHIL PONCE PONCE TELLS US THIS IS WHERE THE CLARK DAIRY KEPT THEIR HORSES AND ITEMS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH GEOFFREY.

>> AND DON'T FORGET YOU CAN TROT TO OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS ABOUT THIS AND OTHER "ASK GEOFFREY" STORIES AND SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

>> AND BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

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