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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THIS CITY, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, IT COURSES THROUGH MY VEINS.

>> AFTER YEARS OF LEGAL BATTLES, GENTRIFICATION CONCERNS AND A FEDERAL REVIEW OF THE OBAMAS BREAK GROUND ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IN JACKSON PARK.

>> I THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO GO WELL.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.

>> THE PRESIDENT MEETS WITH LAWMAKERS TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND PASS HIS SIGNATURE PROGRAM.

>> A GUILTY VERDICT FOREVER BRANDS R. KELLY HAS A PREDATOR.

>> REACTIONS TO THE R. KELLY VERDICT FROM CHICAGOANS WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORIES OF SURVIVORS FOR YEARS.

>> HOW THIS TINY FRAGMENT OF AAN ASTEROID COULD SHED LIGHT ON THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

>> IF THEY HAVE THE SAME MUSCLES AS EVERYBODY ELSE HOW CAN THEY MOVE SO FAST?

>> A SHRIMP PACKS THE FASTEST PUNCH IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER JOINS US TO TALK TRASH IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> FIRST IF FIRST.

>> TAMMY DUCKWORTH WILL INTRODUCE A BILL TO ESTABLISH AN AFTER GAB WAR STUDY COMMISSION ONE OF SEVERAL SENATORS GRILLING TOP MILITARY LEADERS ON THE CHAOTIC EXIT FROM AFGHANISTAN.

DUCKWORTH HOPES TO STUDY TO GET TO THE BOTH YOU UM OF WHAT WENT RIGHT AND WHAT WENT WRONG.

AUSTIN APPEARED UNDER OATH WITH CHAIRMAN MARK MILLEY AND FRANK MCKENZIE THE HEAD OF U.S. CENTRAL MANNED AND DUCKWORTH WANTS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF RESETTLING AFGHAN ALLIES IN THE U.S. PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT COMING TO THE CHICAGO AREA TOMORROW AFTER ALL.

THE WHITE HOUSE CONFIRMED THAT BIDEN HAS CANCELED HIS SCHEDULED TRIP HERE WHICH WAS TO INCLUDE AN EVENT IN ELK GROVE VILLAGE ON WEDNESDAY.

HE PLANNED TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 BY VISITING LOCAL COMPANIES THAT HAD INSTITUTED VACCINE MANDATES.

A REASON WAS NOT GIVEN FOR THE CANCELLATION BUT IT LIKELY HAD TO DO WITH ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE DEBT CEILING AND INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS THAT ARE COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE.

AND WE'LL GET THE LATEST ON THOSE NEGOTIATIONS IN JUST A BIT.

AND WE ARE GETTING A PICTURE WHAT THE RUSTY COLORED DISCHARGE IN LAKE MICHIGAN THAT CLOSED A BEACH.

THE U.S. STEEL SAID IT WAS DUE TO ELEVATED IRON LEVELS BUT THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE WATER EXCEEDED PERMANENT LEVELS OF TOXINS.

THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IS LEADING THE ENVIRONMENT INTO THE SPILL AND SAYS IT IS STILL AWAITING SAMPLE RESULTS TAKEN BY U.S. P OF EPA OFFICIALS.

IT CAUSED THE BEACH AT THE INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKE SHORE TO CLOSE.

>> UP NEXT A LONG ANTICIPATED GROUNDBREAKING IN JACKSON PARK WE HAVE A LIVE REPORT.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IS A BIT CLOSER TO REALITY TODAY.

THAT'S AFTER THE FORMER FIRST FAMILY BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA RETURNED TO CHICAGO TO BREAK GROUND ON THE CENTER IN JACKSON PARK.

THE MOVE COMES AFTER YEARS OF LEGAL BATTLES GENTRIFICATION CONCERNS AND A FEDERAL REVIEW.

OUR AMANDA VINICKY WAS THERE FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING AND JOINS US NOW FROM JACKSON PARK.

AMANDA, SET THE SCENE FOR US?

>> YES, BRANDIS I'M JUST OUTSIDE JACKSON PARK OUTSIDE OF THE CLOSED GATE.

BEYOND WHICH WILL BE THE FUTURE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

AND I AM GUESSING IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO GET PAST THAT FENCING.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WEREN'T THERE TODAY IT WAS A SMALL AUDIENCE OF DIGNITARIES AND MEDIA.

WHAT WE SAW AT THIS POINT A LOT OF DIRT BULLDOZERS AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT.

BECAUSE WHILE TODAY WAS THE OFFICIAL GROUNDBREAKING, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THIS SITE SINCE THE OBAMA FOUNDATION OFFICIALLY TOOK IT OVER SOME 19 ACRES OF JACKSON PARK'S 550 ACRES IN MID-AUGUST.

DURING HIS REMARKS FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TALKED ABOUT WHY HE CHOSE THIS PARTICULAR PLACE FOR THE MONUMENT TO HIS LEGACY.

>> CLOSE TO WHERE MICHELLE GREW UP.

WHERE I STARTED MY POLITICAL CAREER.

IT IS SURROUNDED BY VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS, AND A COMMUNITY WHERE WE BELIEVE WE CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

JACKSON PARK ALSO HAPPENS TO HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART BUT IT WAS LITERALLY MY ENTRY WAY INTO CHICAGO.

>> WITHIN A COUPLE MILES RADIUS OF HERE, HE SAYS IS WHERE HE AND MICHELLE HELD THEIR WEDDING RECEPTION AT THE SOUTH SHORE CULTURAL CENTER WHERE THEIR DAUGHTERS WERE BORN IN A NEARBY HOSPITAL WHERE HE AND A FORMER FIRST LADY BOUGHT THEIR FIRST HOME.

>> CHICAGO IS WHERE I FOUND THE PURPOSE I HAD BEEN SEEKING.

IT'S WHERE I FINALLY PUT MY IDEAS ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND ACTIVISM AND SOCIAL CHANGE TO THE TEST.

>> MICHELLE OBAMA WAS LIKEWISE SAYING HER SOUTH SHORE UPBRINGING COURSES THROUGH HER VEINS AND DESPITE HAVING THAT ROYALTY AND IS MOST PROUD OF BEING A DAUGHTER OF THE SOUTH SIDE EVEN IF SHE SAYS AS A YOUTH, THE PARK ITSELF DIDN'T CALL TO HER.

IT WAS MOSTLY A PLACE TO DRIVE THROUGH OR DRIVE AROUND.

SHE SAYS THAT WHEN HER FAMILY WANTED TO GET CULTURE OR GREENSPACE THEY HAD TO REALLY PILE INTO HER FATHER'S BUICK AND GO NORTH.

>> AN EVEN AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD THIS DISPARITY.

I UNDERSTOOD THAT WHENEVER THERE WAS A HUGE INVESTMENT OF RESOURCES IN THE CITY, NEW PARK OR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, OR ANY OTHER BEAUTIFICATION EFFORT, IT JUST RARELY HAPPENED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THE OBAMAS SAY THEIR PLAN IS TO QUOTE RESTORE JACKSON PARK.

THEY WILL PLANT NEW TREES AND MAKE THIS A PEOPLE'S PARK.

NOW, THE WORD RESTORE IS ONE THAT MAY CAUSE UMBRAGE FROM CRITICS, THERE IS STILL AN ONGOING LAWSUIT THAT IS SEEKING TO PREVENT THE CENTER FROM BEING BUILT HERE ON AT JACKSON PARK THE SITE OF THE 1893 WORLD'S FAIR AND AN OPEN AREA THAT THE ORGANIZATION PROTECT OUR PARKS SAYS SHOULD REMAIN THAT WAY AND THAT WAS A POINT MADE BY A PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD DURING THE CEREMONY WITH A BANNER THAT READ STOP CUTTING DOWN TREES MOVE OPC.

PROTECTS OUR PARKS SAYS IT CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THE PLANE EVEN IF IT AGREES WITH THE SENTIMENT ISSUING THE STATEMENT SAYING THE HOMECOMING OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY SHOULD BE A MOMENT OF PRIDE.

ON THIS THIS VISIT WE HOPE THEY WILL MOURN THE DEVASTATION OF THE CLEAR-CUTTING OF THE TREES AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WOMEN'S GARDEN IN JACKSON PARK.

IN ADDITION TO THE LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH DANGERS THAT WILL ENSUE.

DIXON RAMIRO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH SHORE AND LIKEWISE SAYS TODAY TO BE A JOYOUS DAY AND SAYS THERE IS POTENTIAL THAT IT WILL BE THE START OF A JOYOUS OCCASION BUT HE SAYS IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE SURE TO PROTECT SOUTH SHORE RESIDENTS FROM GETTING DISPLACED.

>> WE NEED MORE PUBLIC AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOUTH SHORE BECAUSE THE PRICES THAT ARE CHEAP THEY ARE RELATIVELY CHEAP MOST SOUTH SHORE RESIDENTS STRUGGLE THEY WILL RISE UP BECAUSE BETWEEN BETWEEN THE LAKE THE GOLF COURSE AND THE OBAMA CENTER THIS IS GOING TO BECOME PRIME REAL ESTATE AND THE FOLKS WHO SENT BARACK OBAMA TO SPRINGFIELD AND THE SENATE AND THE FOLKS WHO SENT HIM TO WASHINGTON D.C., THEY SHOULD BE PART OF THE JOURNEY OF THE CENTER AND THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO STAY.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL DID PASS A HOUSING PRESERVATION ORDINANCE COVERING WOODLAWN.

BUT THERE IS NO SUCH MEASURE RIGHT NOW FOR SOUTH SHORE RESIDENTS PROTECTIONS.

ALDERWOMAN LESLIE HAIRSTON SAYS THE COMMUNITIES ARE DIFFERENT.

>> THEY HAVE VA CAN'T LAND IN WOODLAWN THAN THEY DO IN SOUTH SHORE.

YOU HAVE A MIXTURE OF FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED, STATE SUBSIDIZED AND OTHER SUBSIDIES.

YOU'VE GOT MARKET RATE.

YOU'VE GOT AFFORDABLE RENTALS.

YOU'VE TWO FLATS AND THREE FLATS.

SO YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING AND IT'S ALL IN A DENSE AREA IT'S NOT AS SPREAD OUT AS THE PARKS OF WOODLAWN THAT I REPRESENT.

>> SHE SAYS, HOWEVER, THAT THERE SHOULD BE NEWS COMING SOON ABOUT SOUTH SHORE.

NOW, I DID TALK WITH OTHER CHICAGOANS SOME OF WHOM WERE BOTHERED THAT THE OBAMAS KEPT TODAY'S EVENTS SMALL RATHER THAN PARTICIPATION FROM THE COMMUNITY.

I HAD KEFVIE HOBBY WHO LOST HIS SON TO GUN VIOLENCE AND SAID PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD USE HIS RETURN TO THE CITY TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

>> WE ARE OUT HERE TRYING TO SAVE THESE KIDS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING YOU CANNOT TELL THEM TO STOP.

AND YOU NOT GIVING THEM AN OPTION TO DO SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW THAT IS WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR WE NEED HELP.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IF YOU CAN HELP US.

>> NOW, CERTAINLY NOT EVERYONE IS UPSET.

I SPOKE WITH A MAN WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AND HE IS POSITIVELY THRILLED THAT WHAT HE SAYS HE EXPECTS WILL BE CHICAGO'S GREATEST CONSTRUCTION WILL BE ACROSS FROM HIS HOME.

NOW THE OBAMAS HAVE HIGH ASPIRATIONS FOR THE CENTER.

IT MAY BE JUST DIRT NOW, AND NICE DIRT AS PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLED IT, BUT THEY WANT IT TO BE A CATALYST FOR REINVESTMENT IN THE SOUTH SIDE PROVIDING JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND MOSTLY BLACK RESIDENTS AND BRING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

OBAMA SAYS THAT HE WANTS THIS MUSEUM, ACCOMPANYING ATHLETIC FIELDS AND LIBRARIES TO BE MORE THAN JUST A PRESIDENTIAL ARCHIVE.

>> WILL BE THE WORLD'S PREMIER INSTITUTION FOR DEVELOPING CIVIC LEADERS ACROSS FIELDS, ACROSS DISCIPLINES AND, YES, ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

A FORUM FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AND FOSTER ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP.

A CAMPUS HERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHERE WE HOPE TO CONVENE SUPPORT AND EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.

>> CONSTRUCTION SLATED TO BE COMPLETE COME 2025.

WITH THAT, BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> 2025.

SEE YOU THEN THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON THE CLOCK THAT IS TICKING TOWARDS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S CRUNCH TIME IN WASHINGTON D.C. AS LAWMAKERS TRY TO AVOID DEFAULTING ON AMERICAN DEBT BY LIFTING THE DEBT CEILING AND THEY TRY TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THERE IS A VOTE ON THE HARD INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO IMPROVE ROADS AND BRIDGES WHICH ALREADY PASSED IN THE SENATE.

AND THEN NEGOTIATING THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL WITH THE PRICE TAG OF $3.5 TRILLION OVER MULTIPLE YEARS.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK AHEAD ARE CONGRESS GAM CHERI BUSTOS A DEMOCRAT FROM EAST MOLINE AND CONGRESSMAN BRAD SCHNEIDER A DEMOCRAT FROM DEERFIELD WE INVITED ALL THE REPUBLICANS AND NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION TONIGHT BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

AND FIRST, LET'S START WITH THAT DEBT CEILING VOTE.

YESTERDAY SENATE G.O.P.

FILIBUSTERED AND THE KILLED THE BILL TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING THEY SAY THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE MAJORITY IT'S UP TO THEM TO DO IT AND TODAY JANET YELLEN SAID THE COUNTRY WILL RUN OUT FLEXIBILITY TO AVOID BREACHING A DEBT LIMIT ON OCTOBER 18TH.

>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NOW BECOME THE PARTY OF DEFAULT.

THE PARTY THAT SAYS AMERICA DOESN'T PAY ITS DEBTS.

>> DEMOCRATS MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ADDRESS THE DEBT LIMIT THEMSELVES WITH TOTAL CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

>> CONGRESS GAM CHERI BUSTOS THIS BILL IS CAUSING ANXIETY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL DEMOCRATS HAVE THE VOTES TO GO IT ALONE TO RAISE IT?

>> WELL, LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING ANGELA TOVAR THE VOTES BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GETTING COOPERATION FROM ACROSS THE AISLE.

I COME FROM A DEPRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN DOWN STATE ILLINOIS.

WE HAVE SEVEN,000 SQUARE MILES AND 150 TOWNS.

THE DISTRICT VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP TWICE.

SO I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL WANTING US TO WORK TOGETHER AND THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT YOU HAVE A PARTY SAYING GO IT ALONE WE ARE GOING TO OFFER YOU NO HELP AND BY OFFERING YOU NO HELP IF YOU CANNOT GET THIS DONE WE'RE GOING TO DEFAULT ON PAYING OUR DEBTS.

WHICH, BY THE WAY, THE DEBTS ARE THOSE THAT WERE INCURRED FOR THE MOST PART UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THE DEBT THAT WE WOULD BE PAYING FOR ONLY 3% OF THAT, 3% OF THEM ARE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

SO THIS IS THE ULTIMATE IN REALLY POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL MALPRACTICE TO SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO OFFER YOU HELP.

>> AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE STAREDOWNS OVER THE DEBT CEILING HAPPENS WITH FREQUENTLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

BRAD SCHNEIDER YOU HAVE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS AS A RECONCILIATION VOTE WHERE THEY NEED THAT SIMPLE MAJORITY.

IS IT GOING TO BE DIFFICULT?

>> WELL I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT IS A MATTER OF DIFFICULT IT IS A MATTER OF RESPONSIBLE.

AND AS CHERI BUSTOS SAID THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT WE HAVE NOT COME TOGETHER AS A GOVERNMENT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO PAY OUR BILLS.

IT'S NOT FUTURE BILLS THESE ARE THINGS WE HAVE ALREADY CONGRESS AND THE GOVERNMENT SPENT AND WE NEED TO PAY THEM.

BUT IF WE DON'T DO THIS IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT THE UNITED STATES DEFAULTED ON ITS DEFTER.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING A GLOBAL LEADERS DOES IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES OR FAILING GOVERNMENTS DO.

WE NEED TO PAY THE BILLS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

MY HOPE IS WE CAN FIND A WAY TO CONVINCE REPUBLICANS TO JOIN US IN DOING THAT.

SHORT OF THAT WE NEED TO FIND A PATHWAY WE PASSED IT IN THE HOUSE WE HAD TO VOTE AND WE PASSED IT LAST WEEK TO RAISE THE DEBT AND THE SENATE THEY NEED TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

WORKING AROUND THE FILIBUSTER.

>> CHERI BUSTOS, AGAIN, GOVERNMENT HAS THREE WEEKS TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

THE SENATE HAS THREE WEEKS OR ELSE THE U.S. DEFAULTS.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICAL TERMS FOR UNITED STATES CITIZENS?

>> WELL, WOULD TAKE ALONG THE LINES OF A TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT OF HOUSEHOLD INCOMES NOT TO MENTION WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE HAPPEN OUT OF WALL STREET.

THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION.

AND I ACTUALLY PARIS DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH TO DO THE SPECULATION.

BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY LIKE A NONNEGOTIABLE AS FAR AS GETTING THE JOB DONE HERE.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A PATH.

I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE WOULD BE WILLING PARTICIPANTS IN THIS.

BUT THERE'S LITERALLY NOT A FIX FOR THIS OTHER THAN TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS RIGHT.

AND WHAT IS MORE IMMEDIATE, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS IN FRONT OF OUR FACE RIGHT NOW?

WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FACE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR IS ON THURSDAY.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO FOCUS ON KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT OPEN AND FUNCTIONAL AND SO WE'VE GOT THAT KNOCKING ON OUR DOORS.

WE'VE GOT THE DEFAULT IF WE DON'T GET THAT FIGURED OUT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING THROUGH AND WE HAVE THE BIGGER BUILD BACK BETTER ACT.

I WAS TALKING WITH YOUR TEAM BEFORE TAPING THIS, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF WEEK THIS IS IN WASHINGTON D.C.

IT IS LEGISLATIVELY ONE OF THE MOST MASSIVE WEEKS IF NOT THE MOST MASSIVE WEEKS THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD IN MY TIME IN CONGRESS BRAD AND I WERE ELECTED IN 2012 AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

>> THE WEEK FROM HELL.

AND BRAD SCHNEIDER WHAT ABOUT THAT?

A BILL TO KEEP GOVERNMENT RUNNING IF YOU DON'T PASS AN APPROPRIATIONS BILL BY THURSDAY THEN THERE IS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> THE HOUSE HAS DONE ITS RESPONSIBILITY.

LAST WEEK WE PASSED A BILL THAT CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE GOVERNMENT THE HOUSE PASSED A LARGE NUMBER OF APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

THE SENATE HAS NOT HAD THAT CONVERSATION AND NEEDS TO PASS BOTH CHAMBERS WE END UP DOING A CONTINUING RESOLUTION BUT IT KEEPS GOVERNMENT OPEN AND WE PASSED THAT LAST WEEK.

WE PASSED LAST WEEK, THE DEBT LIMIT AND WE PASSED THE [INAUDIBLE] ON THURSDAY, IN THE SENATE DOESN'T PASS A CONTINUED RESOLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN AND WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

ON THURSDAY IF WE DON'T PASS THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZATION EXPIRES WE HAVE TO PASS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON AND YOU GET INTO THE BIGGER PACKAGE THE BUILD BACK AMERICA ACT WE'RE FOCUS ON CREATING QUALITY JOBS AND ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND INVESTING IN OUR KIDS AND EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE INSURING WE BRING DOWN THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

THESE ARE THE SUBJECTS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND IF WE DON'T KEEP GOVERNMENT OPERATING IT'S HARD TO ADDRESS THE OTHER THINGS.

>> AND WE WILL GET TO THE BIGGER ITEMS IN A BIT.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT NOW RIGHT THERE WE WILL BE JOINED LATER IN THE PROGRAM TO DISCUSS INFRASTRUCTURE AND MORE.

FOR NOW, OUR THANKS TO CONGRESSWOMAN CHERI BUSTOS AND CONGRESSMAN BRAD SCHNEIDER.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS FOR LOCAL REACTION TO A LANDMARK DECISION IN THE CASE AGAINST A CHICAGO ARTIST.

>> AND PARIS IT TOOK JUST UNDER TWO DAYS FOR A JURY OF SEVEN MEN AND FIVE WOMEN TO DECLARE R&B SINGER R. KELLY GUILTY ON ALL THE CHARGES HE WAS FACING IN A COURTROOM IN BROOKLYN.

54-YEAR-OLD ROBERT SYLVESTER KELLY FACED RACKETEERING AND SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGES 13 YEARS AFTER BEING ACQUITTED OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY WHERE FURTHER CHARGES AWAIT HIM.

JOINING US ARE SCHEHERAZADE TILLET COFOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A LONG WALK HOME THAT AIMS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS AND WOMEN AND A CONSULTANT FROM SURVIVING R. KELLY.

>> AND JIM DEROGATIS CO-HOST OF SOUND OPINIONS AND AUTHOR OF SOLIS, THE CASE AGAINST R. KELLY.

HE WAS THE FIRST TO REPORT MANY OF THE KELLY ALLEGATIONS IN THE "CHICAGO-SUN TIMES".

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTIONS TO THE NEWS.

JIM DEROGATIS WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE VERDICT?

>> YOU KNOW, BRANDIS, I THINK IT WAS HISTORIC ON TWO LEVELS; NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE NEVER HAD A BIGGER MORE DANGEROUS PREDATOR IN THE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC IT IS NOW FACT AND PROVEN AND CONVICTED.

NUMBER TWO, THIS WAS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT PROSECUTION OF A PREDATOR THAT FOCUSED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON BLACK WOMEN.

WE HAVE HAD THE #METOO MOVEMENT SEE SEVERAL POWERFUL MEN COME DOWN.

THEIR VICTIMS WERE OFTEN FAMOUS WHITE ACTRESSES.

THESE WERE BLACK GIRLS DATING BACK TO THE FIRST 15-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PLAYER AND CHOIR MEMBER IN 1991, 30 YEARS.

IT'S HISTORIC.

>> SCHEHERAZADE TILLET, YOUR REACTION?

>> YES.

I MEAN ONE [INAUDIBLE] WORKING ON THE CASE FOR SO LONG.

THE VERDICT FOR ME WAS BITTERSWEET.

REALLY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SO LONG IN THE MAKING.

AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT JUSTICE HAS LOOKED LIKE OR WHAT JUSTICE SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND THIS IS ONE PART OF IT.

BUT WE WHAT NEED TO EXAMINE WHY SO LONG?

WHY THIS WAIT FOR BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS?

AND HOW MANY SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED THESE GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SEXUAL VICTIMS WHETHER IT'S THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OR WHETHER IT'S THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, OR WHETHER IT'S THE MEDIA AND THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, WE CAN EXAMINE HOW THEY HAVE FAILED BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THIS MOMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AND WE NEED TO REFORM THEM.

>> JIM, YOU FOLLOWED UP WITH ONE OF THE FAMILIES, THE SAVAGES WHO BELIEVED THEIR DAUGHTER WAS ABUSED.

WHAT WAS THEIR REACTION?

>> THEY WERE GLAD THAT HE WAS FINALLY BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

AND YET, THEIR DAUGHTER BEGAN LIVING WITH KELLY IN THIS ABUSIVE CRAZY CULT LIKE SITUATION IN 2019 AND SHE IS STILL IS NOT HOME.

HAS NOT COMMUNICATED WITH THEM -- 2009.

IN FIVE YEARS.

YOU KNOW THE VICTIMS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO THE SAVAGES MISSING THEIR DAUGHTER, MARTINEZ, AND THE OTHERS SOME OF WHO DON'T SHARE THEIR NAMES PUBLICLY HAVE ALL SAID THE SAME THING.

IT'S SATISFYING TO SEE HIM FACE REPERCUSSIONS BUT THIS IS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE FOR THEM PERSONALLY.

>> AND JACQUELYN KASULIS THE ACTING UNITED STATES STATES ATTORNEY FOR NEW YORK AND SPOKE ABOUT SURVIVORS WHEN ANNOUNCING THAT VERDICT.

>> THIS CONVICTION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE BRAVERY AND RESILIENCE OF R. KELLY'S VICTIMS.

I APPLAUD THEIR COURAGE IN REVEALING IN OPEN COURT THE PAINFUL INTIMATE AND HORRIFIC DETAILS OF THEIR LIVES WITH HIM.

>> SCHEHERAZADE TILLET WHAT DO YOU HOPE SURVIVORS CAN GAIN FROM THIS?

>> THIS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL.

I'VE WORKED WITH BLACK GIRLS AND WOMEN AT THE CENTER OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR STORIES NEED TO BE BELIEVED AND THEY WILL FIND HEALING.

>> JIM, YOU HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON THIS FOR DECADES WHAT DO YOU THINK IT SAYS ABOUT THE SYSTEM IT TOOK THIS LONG FOR CHARGES AGAINST KELLY TO STICK?

>> BRANDIS, I CAN ONLY AMPLIFY WHAT THE 48 WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THIS MAN WHO I'VE TALKED TO IN MY REPORTING SAY.

UNIVERSALLY, WE DON'T MATTER.

WE'RE BLACK GIRLS.

NOBODY HAS CARED ABOUT BLACK GIRLS.

I THINK THAT THAT'S AT THE CORE OF THIS.

I THINK CHICAGO HAS A RECKONING COMING AS SCHEHERAZADE TILLET SAID, THE SCHOOLS THE CHURCHES THE COURTS, FAILED.

AND THE HEART OF THIS SECOND FEDERAL CASE IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, IS HOW JUSTICE WAS CORRUPTED IN 2008 THROUGH BRIBERY AND WITNESS INTIMIDATION.

AND JUDGE VINCENT GAUGHAN I WONDER HOW HE FELT YESTERDAY WHEN HE HEARD THAT VERDICT 30 YEARS LAID OUT METHODICALLY IN A SIX-WEEKDAYS BY THE PROSECUTION.

AND HE ALLOWED NO ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE TO BE BROUGHT IN INTO N2008.

HE HAS A LOT OF VICTIM ON HIS HEAD WHEN THIS SHOULD HAVE STOPPED IN 2008.

IT SHOULD HAVE STOPPED WITH AALIYAH IN 1994.

>> AND YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT CASE IN PARTICULAR.

AND I'M SURE WE'LL WATCH THOSE FUTURE COURT CASES.

SCHEHERAZADE TILLET HOW CAN WE BETTER PROTECT BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS AGAINST THIS KIND OF VIOLENCE?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT SPECIFICALLY THAT THIS CASE NEXT COMES TO CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS.

THAT WE EXAMINE HOW DO WE STAND UP FOR BLACK GIRLS AND BELIEVE BLACK GIRLS AND SAY WHEN BLACK GIRLS GO MISSING THEY DESERVE ATTENTION AND WE NEED TO FIND THEM.

AND CRUSADE AROUND THEM THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR EVERYONE.

EVERYONE HAS ALLOWED THESE SYSTEMS TO FAIL THE VICTIMS.

>> THANKS TO THE BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

SCHEHERAZADE TILLET AND JIM DEROGATIS.

THANK YOU.

>> AND THERE'S MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" JUST AHEAD SO STICK AROUND.

>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING LOCAL SCIENTISTS DOING GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON ASTEROIDS.

FIRST, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF MANTIS SHRIMP THOSE ARE CRUSTATIONS MEASURING ANYWHERE FROM AN INCH TO A FOOT LONG.

THE PEACOCK MANTIS SHRIMP INDIGENOUS TO THE WATERS OF INDONESIA HAS ONE TRAIT THAT HUMANS ARE TRYING TO REPLICATE.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" EVAN GARCIA STOPPED BY THE SHEDD AQUARIUM TO LEARN MORE.

>> THIS PEACOCK MANTIS SHRIMP MAY LOOK SMALL BUT IT PACKS A MIGHTY PUNCH.

THE STRIKING MOTION OF THE INCOME TRUST TRATIONS IS CONSIDERED THE FASTEST IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

>> IT IS NOT MIMICKED IN THE REST OF THE WORLD THEY HAVE SMASHING ARMS AND THE CLUBS ARE REALLY HARDENED APPEND DAMAGES AT THE FRONT OF THEIR BODY THEY USE TO SWING OUT AT VELOCITIES UP TO 50-MILES-PER-HOUR.

>> THE SHEDD AQUARIUM SUPERVISOR KEOKI BURTON, SAYS THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF HUMANS PUNCHING THROUGH STEEL IN FACT, SPECIAL MATERIALS ARE USED TO KEEP THE MANTIS SHRIMP FROM SHATTERING AQUARIUM GLASS.

>> MANTIS SHRIMP ARE POWERFUL WITH THE ARMS THEY CAN SMASH THE AQUARIUM GLASS.

THE EXHIBIT WE HAVE IS IN ACTUALLY NOT GLASS IT IS ACRYLIC SO IT IS MORE STURDY AND WILL BE MORE SHOCK ABSORBENT AND THAT ACRYLIC IS THREE TO FOUR TIMES THICKER THAN THE REST OF THE EXHIBITS WE HAVE ON DISPLAY NOW.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WHEN WE VISITED THE SHRIMP WANTED TO EAT IN PRIVACY.

BUT THE RAPID STRIKES TO SMASH THIS MUSSEL SHELL ARE AUDIBLE.

HERE IS ANOTHER MANTIS SHRIMP PUNCHING AWAY.

>> THEY HAVE THE SAME MUSCLES AND HOW CAN THEY MOVE SO FAST?

>> THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT HARVARD GRADUATE STUDENT EMMA STEINHARDT AND OTHERS TRIED TO ANSWER BY BUILDING A ROBOT THAT MIMICS THE PUNCH OF A MANTIS SHRIMP.

>> THE WAY THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE SO FAST THEY STORE ENERGY IN THE SPRING THEY NEED SOMETHING TO STOP THE ENERGY FLOW FROM RELEASING FROM THE SPRING SO THEY CAN STORE ENERGY IN THE SPRING AND THEY NEED A LATCH TO STOP THAT FROM RELEASING AND THEY HAVE A MECHANISM THAT RELEASES THAT ENERGY AT ONCE.

>> THE SMALL SPRING LOADED ROBOT IS SWIFT BUT NOSE AS FAST AS MOTHER NATURE.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO GET AND WATER AROUND FIVE METERS PER SECOND AND MANTIS SHRIMP CAN GET 20 METERS PER SECOND.

GIVE US LIKE A YEAR AND MAYBE WE WILL WIN.

NATURE DOES HAVE SOME THINGS UP ITS SLEEVE THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY DO IN ENGINEERING.

>> EMMA STEINHARDT SAYS ONE OF THE REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS IS BUILDING MILITARY ROW BOATS CAPABLE OF PUNCHING AND JUMPING WITH GREAT FORCE.

>> A LOT OF TIMES BIOLOGY DOES HAVE GOOD INSIGHT BECAUSE IT'S HAD THOUSANDS OF YEARS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT AS ENGINEERS WE CAN CREATE THINGS THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH OURSELVES BUT LOOKING AT BIOLOGY.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M EVAN GARCIA.

>> COLORFUL.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE MANTIS SHRIMP'S UNUSUAL EYES.

IT HAS ITS EYES HAVE 12-16 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PHOTO RECEPTOR CELLS THAT IS FOUR TIMES MORE THAN HUMANS WHICH MEANS MANTIS SHRIMP ARE CAPABLE OF SEEING MORE COLORS AND LIGHT THAN WE ARE.

AND YES, MANTIS SHRIMP ARE COMMONLY EATEN IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN CUISINE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", COULD THE BILL TO FUND RAILWAYS, ROADS AND BRIDGES PASS CONGRESS THIS WEEK WITH A POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND DEBT FAULT LOOM SNOOK THIS ASTEROID COULD SHED LIGHT ON THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM THANKS TO THE CAPABILITIES OF ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY.

AND GEOFFREY BAER WHY CHICAGO SAID GOOD RID INSURANCE TO BACK RUBBISH BOXES IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE SAYS IT'S MAKING PROGRESS AT REVOKING FIREARM OWNER ID CARDS OR FOID CARDS IN THE WAKE OF THE MASS SHOOTING IN AURORA.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS CONDUCTED 450 FIREARM ENFORCEMENT DETAILS FORCING MORE THAN 1300 PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN PROHIBITED FROM HAVING WEAPONS TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND DISPOSING OF 10,000 FIREARMS.

IT EXPERIENCED AN UNPRECEDENTED SURGE IN FOID AND CONCEALED CARRY APPLICATIONS IN 2020.

AS MANY AS 143,000 APPLICATIONS FOR FOID CARDS ALONE IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR.

>> PARENTS AT JENSEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE CALLING ON C.P.S.

TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL AFTER THE DEATHS OF TWO PARENTS FROM COVID-19.

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION SAYS IT'S BEEN CALLING ON THE DISTRICT TO IMPLEMENT BETTER TESTING, CONTACT TRACING AND ON-SITE SERVICES FOR JENSEN AND OTHER SCHOOLS.

>> NONE OF THOSE THINGS HAPPENED.

AND C.P.S.

HAS THE AUDACITY TO TURN AROUND AND SAY WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE DEATHS OF THESE PARENTS.

WELL, THEY CAN'T SAY THAT IT WASN'T.

>> THE JENSEN LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL SAYS 11 OUT OF 17 CLASSROOMS ARE QUARANTINING.

THE MOST OF ANY SINGLE SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.

BUT CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS HER OFFICE HAS NO EVIDENCE THAT PROTOCOLS WERE NOT BEING FOLLOWED.

>> HISTORIANS, ACTIVISTS SCIENTISTS AND FILMMAKERS ARE AMONG THIS YEAR'S OF CLASS OF McARTHUR FELLOWS.

AMONG THEM IS UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FILM PROFESSOR JACQUELINE STEWART WHO CREATED THE SOUTH SIDE HOME MOVIE PROJECT THAT BILLIONED FAMILY LIFE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE FROM THE MID-20sTH CENTURY.

THERE IS A MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS BEEN UNDER EXPLORED THE WAYS THAT BLACKNESS INFLUENCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA AS A MEDIUM AND THE WAY THAT CINEMA PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK IDENTITY.

>> THE RECIPIENTS WILL RECEIVE A $625,000 GRANT AND INCLUDE AUTHOR WHO WROTE THE BOOK HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST.

COVID-19 SHOWS UP IN THE WORK OF FOUR OF THE FELLOWS AS DOES WORK ON RACISM AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND MORE FROM LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> THANKS.

EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED AVERTING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND DEFAULTING ON GOVERNMENT DEBT AND WE'RE JOINED BY CONGRESSWOMAN CHERI BUSTOS AND CONGRESSMAN BRAD SCHNEIDER WE INVITED ALL THE REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION.

AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PIECES.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS HELD A CAUCUS AND HERE IS WHAT HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SAID AS SHE LEFT.

>> OUR MEMBERS ARE SO IDEALISTIC [INAUDIBLE] AND INTERESTED IN GETTING RESULTS.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MEETING I'M SO PROUD OF THEM.

>> EVERYBODY ONBOARD FOR A THURSDAY VOTE THEN?

THURSDAY VOTE STILL ON TRACK?

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE BULK OF THE PRESIDENT'S ECONOMIC AGENDA SON THE LINE THIS WEEK.

4 PLUS TRILLION IN DOMESTIC SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND ITEMS YOU ARE PART OF HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI'S LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THAT MEETING.

WHERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS AT THIS MOMENT?

>> IN A WORD ONGOING.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS TOGETHER.

WHAT WE HAVE AT STAKE HERE IS WE'VE GOT ONLY THREE VOTES THAT WE CAN LOSE WITHIN OUR CAUCUS.

OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE HAVE TOLD US THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ONBOARD WITH US.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AS UNIFIED AS WE'VE EVER BEEN.

I THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE STILL GOING ON.

THE TIMING OF THE VOTE ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE TIMING OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT IS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.

WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET BOTH OF THESE DONE.

EXACTLY THE TIMING I'M NOT CERTAIN ABOUT.

BUT IN THE EXACT AMOUNT OF OUR BUILD BACK BETTER ACT I'M NOT CERTAIN ABOUT BUT I FEEL GOOD WE WILL GET BOTH DONE.

THIS WILL BE THE PREMIER DEFINITION OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ADMINISTRATION THE REBUILDING OUR COUNTRY.

AND THEN REALLY TRANSFORMING HOW WE LOOK AT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE AND SENIOR CARE.

AND SO THIS IS MOMENTUS AND IT TAKES A LOT OF NEGOTIATION.

>> AND BRAD SCHNEIDER THE SPLIT IS AMONG THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MORE MODERATE MEMBERS WANT TO PARE DOWN THAT SPENDING BILL AND PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS SAY OVER OUR DEAD BODIES THAT IS THE NUMBER.

WHERE IS THE COMPROMISE GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD CALL IT A SPLIT.

HERE IS WHAT I KNOW.

WE HAVE UNIFORMITY IN OUR CAUCUS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM THAT BRIEFS WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT HAS LIFTED.

HALF OF THE CHILDREN LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES IN POVERTY TODAY ARE LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY.

THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT WOULD EXTEND THAT AND LIFT MORE CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

THE IDEA WE CAN INVEST IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND GETS TO KINDERGARTEN WITH A PRESCHOOL EDUCATION THAT TEACHES THEM THE BASIC SKILLS TO BEGIN AND SCHEDULE LATER IN LIFE IS GOOD FOR OUR KIDS AND AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE.

THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT WE AGREE THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.

TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE THEY UNDERSTAND THEY ARE THE FIRST GENERATION EXPERIENCING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE LAST GENERATION THAT HAS A CHANCE TO TACKLE WITH THAT.

WE ARE HAMMERING OUT DETAILS.

THERE ARE FOLKS WHO WANT TO DO MORE SOONER AND FOLKS SAY COUNT ME AMONG THEM LET'S GRAB THINGS WE CAN DO WELL AND GET THEM DOWN AND CONTINUE TO WORK TO MOVE FORWARD.

ACROSS THE BOARD DEMOCRATS AND THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS AND THE NEW DEMOCRATIC COALITION, THE BLUE DOGS YOU NAME IT WE ARE OUGHT COMMITTED TO -- ALL COMMITTED TO HELPING THE PRESIDENT WORK FORWARD ON HIS AGENDA AND CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE BOLD LEGISLATION THAT WILL SECURE OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED THAT 3.5 TRILLION MIGHT NOT BE THE FINAL NUMBER ALTHOUGH PROGRESSIVES SAY IT HAS TO BE.

WHAT MIGHT BE TRIMMED OUT OF THE BILL?

>> THAT WHAT IS BEING NEGOTIATED.

HERE IS WHY I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE THE FINAL NUMBER.

AS I SAID WE CAN ONLY LOSE THREE VOTES IN THE HOUSE WE HAVE A THREE-VOTE MAJORITY AMONG THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AS YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS KNOW IT'S 50/50 AND VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAS TO BREAK ANY TIE IF WE CAN GET TO THE 50 VOTE MARGIN WHEN YOU HAVE JOE MANCHIN AND KIRSTEN SINEMA PLAY OUT SAYING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO 3.5 TRILLION THAT MEANS IT HAS TO BE NEGOTIATED DOWNWARD.

TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S CREDIT HE IS ASKING WHAT IS THAT NUMBER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AGREE TO?

WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE PROGRAM NOTICE OUR BUILD BACK BETTER ACT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE INCLUDED AND THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T LIVE WITH HAVING INCLUDED?

THIS IS THAT MESSY WORK OF NEGOTIATION AND LEGISLATING.

IN THE END, THOUGH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HISTORIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

I BELIEVE IT WILL BE TONED DOWN I DON'T THINK THAT IS BREAKING BIG NEWS.

I'M REPORTING WHAT IS THE REALITY THAT IT'S TWO OF THE SENATORS AREN'T GOING TO GO TO 3.5 TRILLION WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE VOTES SO WE HAVE TO PARE IT DOWN.

>> ACTION WILL HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE WHERE YOU KNOW THE SENATORS MANCHIN AND SINEMA STAND ON WHAT THEY WANT TO SPEND.

AND BRAD SCHNEIDER PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ALSO BEEN HOLDING SERIOUS MEETINGS IN THE OVAL OFFICE ABOUT THIS.

WHAT HAS COME OUT OF THOSE MEETINGS?

>> WELL, WE KNOW IS THERE'S AGAIN BROAD AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION AND WE WILL PASS AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND WILL PASS A FORM OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT.

THE NUMBERS IN NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE SENATE THE HOUSE AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

AGAIN TO ME PERSONALLY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING STRONG ACTION ON CLIMATE, ON JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.

ACTION ON OUR KIDS AND EDUCATION AS WELL AS HEALTHCARE.

WHAT THE FINAL PACKAGE LOOKS LIKE WILL BE THE OUTCOME OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.

AGAIN WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE SENATE.

WE KNOW TO KNOW WHAT THEIR PARAMETERS ARE WE'VE SET OUR PRIORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND THE HOUSE HAS GONE ITS WORK IN OUR COMMITTEES.

WE NEED THE SAME FROM THE SENATE AND WE CAN SIT DOWN AND FIND THAT COMMON GROUND.

>> CHERI BUSTOS WILL THIS BILL BE PAID FOR WITH NEW TAXES THAT IS SOMETHING NEGOTIATED AS WELL?

WILL IT ADD TO THE DEAF AT THIS TIME SIT OR NOT -- DEFICIT OR NOT AND WHAT MIGHT THE TAXES LOOK LIKE.

100% WILL BE PAID FOR.

THAT WAS JOE BIDEN'S PLEDGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND HIS PLEDGE TODAY.

IF YOU ARE A FAMILY THAT EARNS BELOW $400,000 A YEAR, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A TAX CUT.

IF YOU ARE THE RICHEST OF THE RICH OF THE RICH YOU WILL SEE A TAX INCREASE.

IF YOU ARE A BIG CORPORATION, THAT HAS SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PAY A REAL FEDERAL CREDIT AMOUNT OF 0% YOU ARE GOING TO BE PAYING MORE.

WHICH IS ONLY RIGHT.

SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET BACK TO THE CORPORATE TAX RATE THAT IS WHERE IT WAS BEFORE THE TAX CUTS IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

BUT THE CORPORATE TAX RATE WILL GO UP.

AND IF YOU ARE ONLY IF YOU ARE THE RICHEST OF THE RICH WILL YOU SEE A TAX INCREASE.

WHERE I COME FROM WE ARE A FAMILY OF FOUR, WHERE THE MEDIAN PAY IS $50,000, THERE'S NOT TOO MANY FAMILIES IN DOWN STATE ILLINOIS THAT WILL SEE ANY INCREASE.

IN FACT MOST WILL SEE A DECREASE.

>> A LOT TO WATCH AND THIS IS CHANGING BY THE MINUTE.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVES CHERI BUSTOS AND BRAD SCHNEIDER.

>> THANKS.

>> UP NEXT RESEARCH ON AN ASTEROID THAT COULD SHED LIGHT ON THE EARLY DEVELOP MANY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

SO STAY WITH US FOR THAT!

>> LATE LAST YEAR A SMALL SPACE CAPSULE ENTERED THE THE ATMOSPHERE AND PARACHUTED TO THE EARTH AND IT WAS CARE RELIGION I CARGO FROM A JAPANESE MISSION TO LAND A PROBE ON AN ASTEROID TO BRING BACK SAMPLES FOR STUDY.

NOW, RESEARCHERS AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY HAVE BECOME THE ONLY U.S.

FACILITY GRANTED PERMISSION BY THE JAPANESE TEAM TO STUDY THESE ASTEROID FRAGMENTS.

AND JOINING US TO TELL US MORE IS ESEN ERCAN ALP, AN ARGONNE DISTINGUISHED FELLOW AND SEEN PHYSICIST IN THE X-RAY SCIENCE DIVISION AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ASTEROID THAT FLIES 60,000 MILES AWAY FROM EARTH.

WHAT IS SO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS ROCK THAT YOU AND OTHERS WANT TO STUDY IT?

>> WELL, ASTEROIDS ARE LEFTOVERS FROM THE TIME OF THE FORMATION OF THE EARTH.

AND THEY CARRY INFORMATION THAT BELONGS TO THE TIME WHEN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM WAS FORMED.

THIS PARTICULAR ASTEROID RYUGU IS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT IS THE CLOSEST ONE TO EARTH AND THERE IS A PREDICTIONS IT MIGHT HIT EARTH IN 2,000 YEARS.

WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE IN THE FIELD WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS IT MADE OF?

HOW IS IT FUNCTIONING?

THESE ARE ALL RELATED QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE YET TO UNDERSTAND OUR UNIVERSE AND OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.

>> AND WE'RE LOOKING AT FOOTAGE OF THAT JAPANESE MISSION TRYING TO LAND ON THAT ASTEROID.

HAVE YOU DISCOVERED WHAT IS IT MADE OF AND WHAT HAS IT THOUGHT YOU ABOUT THE UNIVERSE AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM?

>> MOST ASTEROIDS ARE SILICON OCTOBER IDENTIFY BASED OR IRON BASED.

THIS PARTICULAR ASTEROID RYUGU IS SILICON OXIDE BASED BUT IT HAS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IRON IN IT IN THE FORM OFOXIDES.

WE HAVE SOME UNIQUE CAPABILITIES AT ARGONNE THAT CAN IDENTIFY AND DIFFERENTIATE DIFFERENT FORMS OF IRON OXIDES AND IDLE SULFIDES WHETHER THEY ARE ON THE SURFACE OF THE ASTEROID OR ON THE INTERIOR WHICH WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET SAMPLES OF BOTH.

>> ARGONNE IS EXCLUSIVELY THE FACILITY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SAMPLES BECAUSE OF THE INSTRUMENTATION YOU HAVE.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> WE HAVE A FACILITY CALLED ADVANCED FOR TON SEARCH ONE OF THE STRONGEST X-RAY MACHINES IN THE WORLD.

IT PROVIDES INTENSE X-RAYS THAT CAN BE FOCUSED TO FEW MICRONS ABOUT A 1TH OF YOUR HAIR.

WE HAVE IN PROTECT SPECIFIC LINES THERE ARE 75 OF THEM EACH ONE UNIQUE AND THE ONE WE HAVE IS UNIQUE FOR IRON.

ARGONNE IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF A VERY UNIQUE SPECTROSCOPY AND WE HAVE BEEN PRACTICING THIS FIELD FOR 60 YEARS CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCING AND PARTICULARLY THAT YOU SEE IN THE BACKGROUND.

SO WE HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THIS MISSION BY WORKING WITH OUR JAPANESE AND FRENCH COLLEAGUES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND PREPARING OURSELVES PRACTICING OURSELVES TO QUALIFY FOR THIS SAMPLES.

>> AND IT'S GOOD THAT ARGONNE HAS THAT CAPABILITY BECAUSE THE FRAGMENT IS TINY.

WHAT ARE YOU ABLE TO DETERMINE FROM SUCH A SMALL FRAGMENT?

>> WELL, WE HOPE TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF EACH MINERAL IN THERE AND WHAT WAS THE CONDITION -- WHICH WERE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE MINERALS FORMED?

WE CAN TELL ABOUT A LOT IN THE SAMPLES HOW THE ISOTOPE RATIOS WORK AND WHAT MINERALS THEY ARE AND WHETHER THEY HAD LEFTOVERS FROM ALUMINUM TO MANGANESE TRANSITIONS.

THERE IS PLENTY OF WORK TO DO WHEN YOU GET PRISTINE SAMPLES WHICH NEVER SEEN EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.

>> AND THIS IS AN ASTEROID THAT COULD IN A FEW THOUSAND YEARS CRASH INTO EARTH ARE YOU ABLE TO LEARN ANYTHING WHETHER OR NOT ANY ASTEROIDS AT ANY PERIOD OF TIME MIGHT BE A THREAT TO COME INTO EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE?

>> THERE ARE GOOD MODELS THAT HAS ACTUALLY PREDICTED THE PATH OF THESE ASTEROIDS THAT ARE NEAR AND RYUGU IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST ONES.

THAT IS NOT MY AREA OF RESEARCH BUT THE INFORMATION WE PROVIDE GOES INTO A BIG BOX AND THEN PEOPLE HAVE BETTER WAYS OF PREDICTING WHAT THE ASTEROID WILL DO.

>> DO YOU HAVE I MEAN, IS THERE ANY BETTER UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU COULD GAIN FROM THIS ABOUT THE FORMATION OF EARTH ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM?

>> RIGHT.

I MEAN SOME ASTEROIDS HAVE INNER CORES LIKE EARTH IRON CORES.

AND SOME ASTEROIDS DON'T.

THIS PARTICULAR ONE RYUGU DON'T HAVE AN INNER CORE SO OUR EARTH HAS AN INNER CORE.

WITHOUT THE CORE SILICON OXIDE SEPARATION WE WILL GET A CHANCE FROM A PART OF THE UNIVERSE THAT HAS THOSE CONDITIONS.

WE DON'T HAVE SIMILAR CONDITIONS ON EARTH.

>> WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO REVEAL YOUR ULTIMATE FINDINGS?

HOW LONG COULD THE RESEARCH GO ON?

>> THIS RESEARCH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THE MISSION HAD PROBES THAT WERE WORKING WITHOUT GOING ON TO THE SURFACE LIKE INFRARED PROBES.

WE KNEW QUITE A BIT OF BY RYUGU BEFORE THE SAMPLE LANDER LANDED.

NOW WE HAVE THE SAMPLES SO WE CAN DO THE ANALYSIS WE CANNOT DO ON THE SURFACE OF THE ASTEROID.

ON EARTH HERE WE HAVE MAGNIFICENT MACHINES INCLUDING ADVANCED FOR TON SOURCE THAT IS FOR TON SOURCE.

WE WILL BRING THE BRUTE FORCE APPROACH TO THE SAMPLES I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES LIKE CARNEGIE INSTITUTE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO THEY WILL BRING THEIR OWN STRENGTH.

BUT WE WERE QUICK IN PREPARING OUR FACILITIES AND WE REQUESTED THE SAMPLES ON TIME AND WE WERE LUCKY TO GET THEM FIRST.

>> ALL RIGHT EXCITING WORKOUT THERE AT ARGONNE.

OUR THANKS TO Dr. ESEN ERCAN ALP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> AND UP NEXT, SANITATION HISTORY THAT IS RIGHT UP GEOFFREY BAER'S ALLEY.

AND ENCORE PRESENTATION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

LONG TIME CHICAGO ALDERMAN ONCE SAID THERE'S NOTHING AS CRUCIAL TO AN ALDERMAN AS GARBAGE.

HOW DID GARBAGE CANS BECOME A SOURCE AND SYMBOL OF POLITICAL POWER IN THE CITY.

GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE WITH TRASHY HISTORY IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

TRASH TALK TONIGHT.

>> THAT IS ME AND YOU.

THIS QUESTION COMES FROM... >> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE OBJECT OUR VIEWER IS TRASH TALKING ABOUT.

AND SHE IS RIGHT.

THIS IS BASICALLY AN OLD TRASH RECEPTICAL WHICH PEOPLE USED AS PRIVATE INCINERATORS MADE OF CONCRETE AND MENTAL HEALTH TALL -- METAL.

ON THE LID YOU CAN SEE THE NAME SANITARY GARBAGE BOX COMPANY.

THIS WAS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF LOCAL MAKERS.

RESIDENTS WOULD THROW THEIR TRASH IN THE TOP OPENING AND THEY COULD BURN IT AND SANITATION WORKERS WOULD SHOVEL OUT THE ASHES OR UNBURNED TRASH THROUGH A SECOND OPENING NEAR THE BOTTOM ON THE ALLEY SIDE.

HERE IS A LOOK AT A DIFFERENT BOX THAT WE FOUND IN A NORTHWEST SIDE ALLEY THIS HAS BEEN PAINTED.

>> FASCINATING.

A FEW SURVIVED ALL THESE INJURIES R YEARS THEY MUST HAVE BEEN STURDY.

WHY DON'T WE USE THEM?

>> BEGINNING IN THE 1950s THE CITY PHASED THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE SMALL AND DIFFICULT TO EMPTY WITHOUT LEAVING DEBRIS MAKING THEM A FAVORITE DINING SPOT FOR RATS AND IT TOOK A CREW WITH SLEDGEHAMMERS TO DISMANTLE THE BOXES.

SOME WERE NEVER TORN DOWN.

NOW, INSTEAD OF THE BOXES THE CITY REQUIRED RESIDENTS TO SUPPLY THEIR OWN COVERED METAL GARBAGE CANS AND MANY CITIZENS BALKED AT THE SENTENCE.

TRASH COLLECTION WAS HANDLED SEPARATELY IN EACH WARD AND THE ALDERMAN AND OTHER WARD BOSSES SAW THE SERVICE AS A WAY TO WIN FAVOR AND VOTES FROM CONSTITUENTS.

SO IN SOME WARDS THEY BEGAN PROVIDING 55 GALLON STEEL DRUMS FREE OF CHARGE BUT OF COURSE WITH THE NAME OF THE RESPONSIBLE POLITICIAN STENCILED ON THE SIDE.

THE TURQUOISE BARREL IS EMBLAZONED WITH THE WORDS KELLY CANS FOR 47TH WARD ED KELLY.

AND MY FORMER NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR IN CHICAGO GREG BASIL WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS IN THE 44TH WARD AND HE REMEMBERS BERNIE CANS, STENCILED WITH COMPLIMENTS OF ALDERMAN BERNIE HANSEN.

AND OTHERS CARRIED THE NAME OF PETE WHO BY THE WAY, ALSO OWNS DEMON DOGS AND MANAGED THE ROCK BAND CHICAGO A TRIFECTA OF CHICAGO CRED.

>> THAT IS WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS IS THEIR NAME ON A TRASH CAN.

WHAT DID THE PLASTIC CARTS WE USE NOW BECOME THE STANDARD?

>> THOSE BEGAN APPEARING DURING HAROLD WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION IN 1985.

THEY SAVED MONEY BECAUSE ONE SANITATION WORKER IS ALL YOU NEED TO ATTACH THE CART TO AN ARM.

47TH WARD ALDERMAN SHULTER WAS AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THESE BECAUSE THE CARTS REPLACED THE KELLY CANS OF HIS RIVAL ED KELLY.

>> SO THE TRASH HAS BEEN PICKED UP.

THEN WHAT HAS CHICAGO DONE WITH IT?

>> WELL, THE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN YOU EITHER BURN IT OR YOU DUMP IT.

I REMEMBER AS A CHILD MY GRAND MOTHER'S SOUTH SIDE HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BUILDING HAD A TRASH CHUTE AND IT EMPTIED INTO THE BUILDING'S OWN INCINERATOR.

SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER LARGE BUILDINGS TYPICALLY HAD THEIR OWN INCINERATORS AND CLEANER BIG CITY-OWNED INCINERATORS.

BY THE 1980s, THE TRASH HAD MORE PLASTICS AND CONSUMER ELECTRONICS AND TOXIC CHEMICALS WHICH CREATED AIR POLLUTION WORRIES AND THAT ENDED INCINERATION.

THE LAST CLOSED IN 1996.

>> AND THAT LEAVES US WITH THE DUMPING OPTION?

>> YES.

AND MANY PLACES IN THE CITY ARE LITERALLY BUILT ON TRASH.

DECADES OF DUMPING THOUSANDS OF TONS OF TRASH DAILY INTO LANDFILLS.

LITERALLY CHANGED THE TOPOGRAPHY OF CHICAGO CREATING MOUNTAINS UP TO 17 STOREYS HIGH AND FILLING UP QUARRIES AND CLAY PITS USED FOR BRICK MAKING.

NO ONE WANTED LANDFILLS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE FOUND THIS PICTURE OF AN AREA AROUND 47TH STREET AND DAMON AVENUE WHEN IT WAS A DUMP IN 1906.

AND ALL THE DUMPS WERE FILLED UP ANYWAY.

TODAY, THERE ARE NO ACTIVE LANDFILLS WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND CHICAGO'S NONRECYCLABLE TRASH ENDS UP 100 MILES AWAY IN ONE OF FOUR LANDFILLS TWO IN ILLINOIS AND TWO IN INDIANA.

BUT THE WASTE, THE GAS CREATED AS THE TRASH DECOMPOSES IS CAPTURED AND SENT TO GAS TO ENERGY PLANTS WHICH TELLS IT TO UTILITY COMPANIES.

>> AND A REMINDER TO REUSE AND RECYCLE.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> GOOD TALKING TRASH WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THIS AND OTHER "ASK GEOFFREY" QUESTIONS ON OUR WEBSITE AND WHILE ARE YOU THERE BE SURE TO TOSS IN YOUR OWN QUESTIONS ABOUT CHICAGO TO GEOFFREY BAER AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO 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.

>> ANDS CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. ILLINOIS' TOP DOCTOR ON THE LATEST WITH COVID CASES IN THE STATE.

>> PLUS, SALVAGED ARTIFACTS AND A VIRTUAL RECREATION OF A LONG DEPARTED THEATRE IN CHICAGO.

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 HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]