>> HI THERE, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON WTTW.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARACHUTES.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMES THEY LIVE IN.

>> AIMS TO HELP COUNTY HOMEOWNERS FACING HOURS OF PROPERTY TAX DAMAGE.

>>> MAKE NO MISTAKE.

IF ANY OBJECT PRESENTS A THREAT TO THE SAFETY, SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I WILL TAKE IT DOWN.

>> COULD THE PENTAGON REVIEW THE $400,000 MISSILE TO SHOOT DOWN A $12 BALLOON LAUNCHED IN THIS ILLINOIS HOBBYIST GROUP?

>>> DOCUMENTS LAYOUT WHAT WENT WRONG WITH AN ILLEGALLY BUILT MUSEUM.

>>> AND THE ONE AND ONLY PATTY SMITH TALKS ABOUT HER INFLUENTIAL CAREER , HER TIME AS A WAITRESS, AND HER FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

>>> NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE FIVE FORMER COPS CHARGED IN THE BEATING DEATH OF TYRE NICHOLS .

MULTIPLE CHARGES TODAY INCLUDING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

AN ATTORNEY FOR ONE OF THE MEN SAYS HIS CLIENT WAS DOING HIS JOB AND, QUOTE, NEVER TOUCH NICHOLS.

>> AND HE NEVER STRUCK HIM.

AND THERE HAS BEEN NO, NO, NO INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN AS OF RIGHT NOW THAT INDICATES THAT THERE IS A , THAT THERE IS ANY SORT OF INFORMATION THAT , THAT WE CAN RELY ON .

>> POLICE BODY CAM VIDEO SHOWS FIVE OFFICERS BEATING 29-YEAR-OLD NICHOLS AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP AND FOOTRACE IN EARLY JANUARY.

HE DIED THREE DAYS LATER.

OTHER OFFICERS HAVE ALSO BEEN FIRED OR SUSPENDED FROM THE MEMPHIS POLICE FORCE.

FIVE MEN IN COURT TODAY ARE DUE BACK IN EARLY MAY.

>>> NINE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR VARIOUS OFFICES IN THE UPCOMING CHICAGO ELECTION ARE FACING PROPHYLACTICS FINE.

CITY BOARD OF ETHICS DETERMINE THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THOSE CANDIDATES VIOLATED AN ORDINANCE BY USING CITY PROPERTY IN THEIR CAMPAIGN.

IF THEY'RE FOUND OF VIOLATING THE LAW, THEY COULD FACE FINES OF UP TO $20,000 PER VIOLATION.

ENFORCEMENT ACTION AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER FOR THE BOARD TO TAKE IN A SINGLE MEETING WERE APPROVED AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ETHICS .

APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER CHAIR WILLIAM, AND SENT A WARNING TO ALL CANDIDATES, DO NOT USE IMAGES OF UNIFORMED CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS OR FIREFIGHTERS OR CITY PERSONNEL IN CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS.

>>> EARLY VOTING HAS BEEN HALTED FOR VOTERS IN THE 20th WARD .

ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT IS ORDERING THE CITY ELECTION TO RETURN A CANDIDATES NAME TO THE BALLOT.

SEAN A WALKERS NAME SHOULD NOW APPEAR ON THE BALLOT, ALONG WITH CURRENT 20th WARD ALDERMAN JASON IRVIN.

CHICAGO REPORTED WALKER HAD ORIGINALLY LOST THE BALLOT FOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH VALID SIGNATURES TO QUALIFY.

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SAYS 359 EARLY VOTING BALLOTS HAVE BEEN CAST BY 28th WARD VOTERS.

THEY'RE BEING ISOLATED AND VOTERS NOTIFIED.

MEANWHILE, ANY 28th WARD MOTOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A VALID AT ANY VOTING LOCATION IN THE CITY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

>>> AFTER UNVEILING HIS PROPOSAL TO MAKE MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE CAMPAIGNING ACROSS ILLINOIS ON WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THE SMARTSTART TOUR.

TODAY, THEY STOP IN CHICAGO.

>> WE ARE DOING THE WHOLE SPECTRUM , FROM PRENATAL TO FIVE.

WE ARE INVESTING IN DOULAS.

WE'RE INVESTING IN HOME VISITING.

WE ARE INVESTING IN INFANT EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH AND EARLY INTERVENTION AND PRESCHOOL AND CAPITAL AND THE WORKFORCE.

>> PRITZKER'S PROPOSAL IS BASED ON RESEARCH THAT INVESTING RESOURCES AND CHILD'S EARLIEST YEARS LEAD TO HIGHER REGULATION RATES, HIGHER COLLEGE ATTENDANCE RATES, AND LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS, AMONG OTHER BENEFITS.

THE SMARTSTART ILLINOIS PLAN WOULD MEAN A $250 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, INCLUDING CREATING MORE PRESCHOOL SLOTS, BOOSTING PAY FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, AND EXPANDING HOME VISITING SERVICES.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, WHY AN UNAPPROVED MUSEUM ADDITION WAS BUILT ON THE CITY'S WESTSIDE.

>>> BUT FIRST, HAS SOME STATE LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO HELP RESIDENTS HAVE A FAIR SHOT AT KEEPING THEIR HOMES AMID HIGH PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE GYM AND K MAY BE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> STATE LAWMAKERS ARE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE ON COOK COUNTY'S CONTROVERSIAL TAX SALES SYSTEM.

IF HOMEOWNERS ARE DELINQUENT MORE THAN ONE YEAR ON MAKING PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS, THEY'RE AT RISK OF OWING LARGE INTEREST PAYMENTS TO PRIVATE INVESTORS WHO BUY UP THAT DEBT.

ULTIMATELY, THEY COULD FACE LOSING THEIR HOME ALTOGETHER.

AFTER SOME NOTEWORTHY STUDIES PUT OUT BY THE COOK COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE, LAWMAKERS SAY IT'S TIME TO GIVE THOSE RESIDENTS A FAIR SHOT AT KEEPING THEIR HOMES.

>> Reporter: BACK IN NOVEMBER, WE MET GARFIELD PARK HOMEOWNER HENRY JOHNSON, WHO FELL BEHIND ON HIS PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT AND FACED A NIGHTMARE OF DEBT.

JOHNSON IS ON A FIXED INCOME AND HAD FINANCIAL ISSUES AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE.

>> SHE WAS A EDUCATOR.

SHE WAS ABLE TO HELP WITH EVERYTHING.

BUT AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

>> Reporter: JOHNSON NOTE INTEREST OF ONE AND A HALF PERCENT A MONTH TO COOK COUNTY, ACCRUING TO 18% OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

AFTER THAT, HIS PROPERTY, LIKE ALL OTHERS, WENT TO THE COOK COUNTY TAX SALE, WHERE PRIVATE INVESTORS SWOOP IN TO BUY UP THAT DEBT AND THEY CHARGE UP TO 12% PER YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 54% INTEREST OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS.

>> BASICALLY, THIS IS VERY POOR PEOPLE PAYING VERY RICH PEOPLE.

>> BARRY, YEAH, VERY POOR PEOPLE PAYING THE WEALTHIEST IN THE COUNTRY.

BEYOND THE WEALTHIEST COMEDIES ARE HEDGE FUNDS.

>> Reporter: JOHNSON'S ORIGINAL TAX BILL WAS LESS THAN $1800, BUT THAT OUT TO $18,173 AFTER SUBSEQUENT BILLS, INTEREST, AND THESE , ALL LOAD AT ONCE IF YOU WANTED TO KEEP HIS HOME.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

TALKING ABOUT THE HOMES THAT THEY LIVE IN.

>> ANTHONY SIMKINS IS THE HEAD OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, A NONPROFIT THAT HELPED JOHNSON MAKE HIS PAYMENT AND KEEP HIS HOME.

SIMKINS SAYS MANY HOMEOWNERS RESORT TO DRASTIC METHODS TO GET OUT OF DEBT.

>> THEY BORROW, AND THEY, YOU KNOW, FORGO BUYING MEDICINE, AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER STUFF IN ORDER TO GET THESE BILLS PAID.

>> Reporter: NOW A GROUP OF BILLS FILED IN SPRINGFIELD AIMS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THOSE HOMEOWNERS TO HANG ON.

A BILL BACKED BY COOK COUNTY TREASURER MARIA PAPPAS WOULD CUT THE YEARLY INTEREST RATE ON THE DEBT AND HALF, FROM 18% TO 9%.

>> IF YOUR PENALTY IS NOW $500, IT'S GOING TO BE 250.

IN THIS ECONOMY, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A HOMEOWNER.

>>> >> Reporter: AND OTHER BILL WOULD REFORM THE STATE SALE IN ERROR LAW.

A STUDY FROM PAPPAS'S OFFICE FOUND THAT MOST TAX BUYERS IS A LOOPHOLE IN STATE LAW TO A FULL REFUND ON THE PROPERTY AFTER IT COLLECTS ALL THE INTEREST FROM PEOPLE LIKE JOHNSON.

THE BUYER SIMPLY POINTS TO ANY MINOR THING WRONG WITH THE PROPERTY AS AN EXCUSE TO OFFLOAD IT, AND THE COUNTY TAXING BODIES HAVE TO FORK OVER ALL OF THE CASH.

>> THE WEBSITE OF THE INVESTOR SAYS THAT THERE'S AN AIR CONDITIONER, AND THERE'S NO AIR-CONDITIONER.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A TOILET, AND THERE'S NO TOILET.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A BASEMENT.

THERE IS NO BASEMENT.

HERE, TAKE IT BACK.

>> Reporter: PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD NOW MOVE IT TOWARD A BUYER BEWARE SYSTEM.

PAPPAS SAYS THE MESSAGE TO THE TAX BUYER IS, IF YOU ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT >> LOOK, YOU'RE GOING TO BUY THIS.

IF THERE'S SO MUCH AS A 3.0 YEAR-ROUND.

YOU GET TO KNOW.

OVER THAT SLITS.

AND A SALE ON A HOUSE THAT YOU REALLY JUST WANT TO PURCHASE LIKE.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER PILL SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR ROBERT PETERS WOULD GIVE THE HOMEOWNER A CHANCE TO PAY OFF THEIR PROPERTY TAX DEBT IN INSTALLMENTS RATHER THAN ONE LUMP SUM.

>> AS LONG AS THEY'RE MAKING PAYMENTS, THAT THEY DON'T RISK LOSING THEIR HOME, RIGHT?

THEY JUST NEED TO KEEP MAKING PAYMENTS.

>> Reporter: BRAD WAS OVER AS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL TAX LIEN ASSOCIATION, A GROUP THAT REPRESENTS TAX BUYERS TO HE SENT THE TAX SALE IS NECESSARY, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PENALTY, HOMEOWNERS DON'T HAVE INCENTIVE TO PAY TAXES ON TIME.

>> THIS PROCESS IS A MEANS BY WHICH , KIND OF, EVERYBODY PAYS THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> Reporter: BUT WESTOVER HAS SAID THAT HIS ASSOCIATION WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF SOME OF THE CHANGES REPRESENTED IN THIS LEGISLATION.

JOHNSON FINALLY PAID OFF HIS DEBT IN OCTOBER.

HE SAYS THE LEGISLATION WOULD'VE BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT TO HIM.

>> EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

STILL, BACK IN MY MIND , THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEWAY, SOMEHOW IT WAS GOING TO BE DONE.

>> TREASURER PAPPAS SAYS THAT MORE THAN 55,000 PROPERTIES HAD THEIR DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES UP FOR AUCTION AT THE COOK COUNTY TAX SALE LAST YEAR.

21,000 OF THOSE OWED LESS THAN $1000.

BRANDIS.

>>> PARIS, SINCE THE UNITED STATES DOWN A CHINESE SPY BALLOON JUST OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST ON FEBRUARY 4th, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS ORDERED THREE MORE OBJECTS OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN SHOT OUT OF THE SKY.

THE INCIDENCE HAVE CREATED A DIPLOMATIC WITH CHINA AND CREATED THE IMPRESSION THAT NORTH AMERICAN SKIES ARE TEAMING WITH POTENTIALLY HOSTILE UFOS.

HERE'S A LITTLE OF WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD TO SAY YESTERDAY ABOUT HIS DECISION TO HAVE THOSE THREE OBJECTS SHOT DOWN LAST WEEKEND.

>> INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S CURRENT ASSESSMENT IS THAT THESE THREE OBJECTS WERE MOST LIKELY BALLOONS TIED TO PRIVATE COMPANIES , RECREATION, OR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS TO STUDY WHETHER OR CONDUCTING OTHER SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE , IF ANY OBJECT PRESENTS A THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I WILL TAKE IT DOWN.

>> Reporter: JOINING US NOW TO DELVE INTO THIS BALLOON SLAPPED OUR PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND A SPECIALIST ON INTERNATIONAL LAW AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY , AND CRAIG TO VOHRA, A NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALIST AT THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

CRAIG, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

THE DRAMA OVER THE CHINESE SPY BALLOON CREATING QUITE A STIR.

COMMENTATORS CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT MIGHT GET DECISION TO ALLOW IT TO FLOAT ACROSS THE U.S. BEFORE SHOOTING IT DOWN.

DO YOU THINK THAT WITH THE RIGHT DECISION?

SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT EARLIER?

>> I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION MADE THE RIGHT DECISION HERE.

I THINK THAT'S THE CASE FOR THREE REASONS.

SO FIRST OF ALL, AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY TO AMERICANS WHO ARE UNDER THE FLIGHT PATH, SHOOTING DOWN A BALLOON WITH THAT LARGE OF A PAYLOAD MEANS THAT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF DEBRIS FALLING OUT OF THE SKY, AND FROM A FAIRLY HIGH ALTITUDE.

NOW, SOME OF IT WAS OVER SOME FAIRLY RURAL AREA, BUT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, POTENTIALLY INJURING PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IS SOMETHING THE ADMINISTRATION CLEARLY WANTED TO AVOID.

CAN THEY, BY KNOWING THAT THIS BALLOON IS THERE, THE UNITED WAS ABLE TO USE ITS OWN SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITY , FORCES, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BALLOON TO SEE WHAT KIND OF THINGS IT WOULD TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE TO GET A REALLY GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT THEY'RE UP AGAINST.

AND THEN, THIRDLY, BY WAITING FOR IT TO TRANSMIT OVER SOME FAIRLY SHALLOW WATER OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO RECOVER THE DEBRIS, WHICH THEY'RE CURRENTLY FISHING OUT OF THE SEA.

>> IAN HEARD, HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS HOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HANDLED THIS BALLOON CRISIS?

>> I THINK IT'S DONE RELATIVELY WELL, LARGELY BECAUSE IT HAS AVOIDED ESCALATING THINGS AND, AND FREAKING OUT, TO BE HONEST.

IT'S NOT FREAKED OUT.

SO IT'S BEEN QUITE MEASURED.

IT'S TAKEN IT'S TIME.

IT ONLY TOOK A FEW DAYS TO IDENTIFY THESE OBJECTS.

SO IT'S DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF NOT ESCALATING THINGS.

IT'S UNNECESSARY WEIRDNESS.

>> Reporter: WHAT IMPACT, IF ANY, DO YOU THINK THE CHINESE SPY BALLOON WILL HAVE ON RELATIONS?

>> FOR SURE.

DIFFERENT OBJECTS ARE VERY -- FIRST ONE WAS CLEARLY -- AS YOU SAY, AND THE OTHER -- TRASH.

SO -- ISSUE IS -- ONE FOR AMERICAN -- TYPES TO CONSIDER -- WHAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT -- AIRSPACE BETWEEN WHERE SATELLITES FLY AND WHERE AIRPLANES FLY .

BUT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DANGER FOR MANY OF THIS , THE WAY WE SEE IT RIGHT NOW.

THE TRASH PROBLEM IS PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT'S A REMINDER THAT THERE'S A LOT OF JUNK FLOATING AROUND IN THAT SPACE, AND IT CAN GET IN THE WAY OF AIRPLANES, IT COMES DOWN, IT CAN DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS AND BE , YOU KNOW, A PROBLEM, JUST LIKE POLLUTION IN THE OCEAN IS A PROBLEM.

AND NO ONE'S PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO THAT UNTIL NOW BUT >> CRAIG, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THE DOWNING OF THE CHINESE BIBLE AND COULD HAVE ON RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES?

>> WELL, THIS REALLY DID, AND AN UNFORTUNATE TIME FOR U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS.

THERE WERE SOME SENSES THAT CHINA WAS ATTEMPTING A BIT OF A DIPLOMATIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN .

JUST MENDING TIES WITH AUSTRALIA RECENTLY.

THERE WERE PLANS FOR SECRETARY LINCOLN TO TRAVEL TO BEIJING JUST A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THIS BALLOON ENTERED U.S.

AIRSPACE.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS PUT A CABBAGE ON THAT.

AND SO NOW YOU'RE WAITING, MAYBE, FOR BLINKEN TO TALK, POTENTIALLY TO SPEAK IN MUNICH.

IT HAS PUT THINGS OFF COURSE.

THE OTHER CONCERNING SIGN, OF COURSE, IS THAT THE U.S. AND DRC HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE IN MILITARY TO MILITARY TALKS FOLLOWING THE DOWNING OF THIS, THIS BALLOON.

THIS HAS BEEN A REPEATED PROBLEM IN U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS IN THE PAST, WHEN THERE IS A CRISIS AND YOU HAVE A HOTLINE, BEIJING DOESN'T ALWAYS PICK UP THE OTHER END OF THAT PHONE.

HOPEFULLY, THE TWO SIDES WILL BE ABLE TO RESUME SOME TALKS SOON AND GET THINGS ON A BIT OF A MORE STABLE COURSE.

>> NOW, AS I MENTIONED, SINCE DOWNING THE CHINESE BALLOON, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ORDERED THREE OTHER OBJECTS TO BE SHOT DOWN.

AT LEAST ONE OF THESE OBJECTS APPEARS TO BE, TO HAVE BEEN A BALLOON LAUNCHED BY THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS BOTTLECAP BALLOON BRIGADE .

THAT HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN CONFIRMED YET, TO BE CLEAR.

CRAIG, IS THIS AN EMBARRASSMENT AT ALL?

THE PENTAGON HAS APPEARED TO USE A $4000 SIDELINE MR. TO POTENTIALLY SHOOT ON A $12 HOBBY BALLOON PRINT >> IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF A BLACK MARK FOR THEM.

I THINK THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS BOTTLECAP BALLOON BRIGADE SHOULD TAKE IT AS A MARKER.

NOT EVERYONE CAN SHADE IT HAD EIGHT BALLOON SHUT DOWN BY THE U.S. AIR FORCE.

BUT THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER, I THINK, JUST HOW MUCH STUFF IS FLOATING IN THIS ZONE, BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL AIR TRAVEL AND THESE REALLY, REALLY HIGH-ALTITUDE BALLOONS.

THESE THINGS GET OFF COURSE.

THEY LOSE SIGNAL.

PEOPLE LOSE TRACK OF THEM, AND THEN THEY'RE JUST FLOATING OUT THERE.

NORAD ISN'T NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR THOSE TYPES OF OBJECTS.

THEY'RE GOING TO MISS THEM.

>> IAN HEARD, PRESIDENT BIDEN MENTIONED THAT NORAD IS NOW DOING MORE TO TRACK SLOW-MOVING OBJECTS IN U.S.

AIRSPACE FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT NORAD HAS EVER SHUT DOWN OBJECTS IN U.S.

AIRSPACE LIKE THIS.

DO YOU , DO YOU THINK THE ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE OVERREACTED?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

I THINK IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE GOOD IF THEY DID NOT MAKE A HABIT OF DOING THIS SORT OF THING, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF FLOATING AROUND UP THERE, AND IF YOU START SHOOTING AT IT AND STABILITY, EVENTUALLY SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET HURT.

YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT ON A PLANE BY ACCIDENT.

YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE THE REACTION.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THE BORDERS HAVE BEEN KIND OF, LIKE, IMPERMEABLE BARRIERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH A FLAG LINE THAT SEPARATES THE INSIDE FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND THAT'S NEVER BEEN THE CASE.

IT'S JUST A MYTH.

ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE CROSSING BORDERS ALL THE TIME, WEATHER RADIO WAVES, BALLOONS, AND WATER AND POLLUTION AND ALL THIS STUFF.

SO WE LIVE WITH BORDERS THAT GET CROSSED BY LOTS OF THINGS ALL THE TIME, AND IT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM.

WE MAY NEED TO GET A LITTLE BIT LESS ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE BORDER MEANS, AND APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF LOW BACK AND FORTH ACROSS BORDERS, AND THAT'S JUST LIFE.

>> CRAIG, IS THIS IN ANY WAY WAKE-UP CALL THAT THE U.S.

NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB MONITORING IT AIRSPACE?

>> I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT WORD YOU'VE HEARD FROM NORAD THAT THEY ARE GOING TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON LOOKING FOR THE SPECIFIC KIND OF SIGNATURES THEY SEE FROM THESE REALLY HIGH-ALTITUDE ESPIONAGE BALLOONS.

THEY'VE NOW SORT OF REPORTING THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHER BALLOONS SIMILAR TO THIS SPY BALLOON DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION YOUR OTHER U.S. MILITARY BASES, ESPECIALLY IN THE PACIFIC, AND YOU'VE SEEN FROM U.S.

ALLIES, TOO.

JAPAN HAS REPORTED THAT THEY THINK THREE FLIGHTS LIKE THIS TOOK PLACE OVER JAPANESE TERRITORY BETWEEN THE 2019 AND 2022.

SO I DO THINK FOLKS IN THE U.S. AT OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME LOOKING UP TO SEE WHAT'S UP THERE.

>> THAT'LL BE FUN FOR ALL OF US.

SUPER CURIOUS ABOUT THE BALLOONS FROM THE BOTTLECAP BALLOON BRIGADE, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU PRINT >> INCIPIT >>> UP NEXT, WHAT WENT WRONG WITH AN ILLEGALLY BUILT MUSEUM IN HUMBOLDT PARK?

BUT FIRST, YOUR FORECAST THIS WEEKEND.

>>> THERE STILL AREN'T ANY SIGNS THAT THE CINDERBLOCK SHELL NEXT TO THE HUMBOLDT PARK RECEPTOR HE WILL BE FINISHED ANYTIME SOON.

AND A NEWLY COMPILED PAPER TRAIL SHOWS THE ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION OF THAT BUILDING VIOLATED RULES SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WHITLEY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

PATTY, MINUS Y PARK DISTRICT, DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING STOPPED THE BUILDING OF WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF PUERTO RICAN ARCHITECTURAL.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, THEY STOPPED IT BECAUSE THEY NEVER GOT ANY PERMITS TO BUILD IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO, BECAUSE THIS ARCHIVE, BECAUSE THE MUSEUM IS IN THIS HISTORIC CHICAGO LANDMARK BUILDING, THERE ARE SO MANY PROCESSES THAT YOU NEED TO GO TO GET PERMISSION TO BUILD SO MANY SPECIFICATIONS , DETAILS THAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE TO CITY AND STATE AGENCIES , IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE THEY DID GET SOME STATE MONEY FOR THIS.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BUILD ANYTHING IN CHICAGO.

I CAN'T EVEN PRACTICALLY PUT A DOORKNOB ON A BUILDING WITHOUT A PERMIT AND THEY STARTED PUTTING UP STRUCTURE WITH, WITH NO PERMIT.

>> AND IT'S GOTTEN THIS FAR ALONG.

>> AND IT GOT FAIRLY FAR ALONG PRINT >> SO A NUMBER OF PRESERVATION CHICAGO HAS PUT TOGETHER A 16 PAGE STATEMENT OF FACTS OF THE SITUATION.

WHAT DO THEY SHOW?

>> THEY SHOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MISREPRESENTATION THAT WENT ON DEPENDING ON WHO THE LEADERS OF THE MUSEUM WERE SPEAKING TO.

SO AT FIRST, IT'S GOING TO BE 1500 SQUARE FEET.

NOW IT'S 6800 SQUARE FEET.

PEOPLE AREN'T SURE IT'S ACTUALLY AN ARCHIVE, BECAUSE NONE OF THE RENDERINGS SHOW ANYTHING THAT RESEMBLED AN ARCHIVE.

WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH THIS VENUE SEEMS TO BE UP FOR GRABS.

AND SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, DID YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO APPLY FOR PERMITS, DID YOU NOT?

CONSIDERING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE MUSEUM , CERTAINLY AWARE OF HOW THE PERMIT PROCESS WORKS.

>> ANY RESPONSE FROM MUSEUM LEADERSHIP SO FAR?

>> I MEAN, THEY SAID, FIRST THEY DIDN'T RESPOND TO ANY OF OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT, BUT THEY HAVE TOLD OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS THAT , HONEST MISTAKES MADE.

FOLKS, AGAIN, WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE VERY AWARE OF THE PROCESS, AND THAT YOU NEED BUILDING PERMITS, ESPECIALLY FOR A HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING.

>> AND WHAT HAS THE PARK DISTRICT THAT ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR THIS PROJECT?

>> WELL, THE MOST RECENT MEETING, GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT CEO SAID THIS IS A VERY LONG , INVOLVED PROCESS.

THERE'S A LOT TO UNTANGLE.

MULTIPLE STATE AND CITY AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THIS.

AGAIN, THERE'S NOT 16 PAGE DOCUMENT OF PAPER TRAIL, AND THEY WANT THE MUSEUM TO GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE .

GRANTED, THERE ALREADY IS A BUILDING STRUCTURE STARTED AND IN PLACE, BUT THEY WANT THEM TO GO BACK AND START THE WHOLE PROCESS OVER AND DO IT RIGHT THIS TIME, WHICH WOULD ALSO INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND FEEDBACK ON THIS PRINT >> A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE OVER THERE.

>> YEAH.

THAT CINDERBLOCK IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE FOR A WHILE.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT, PATTY WETLI WILL STAY ON IT FOR US.

>> I WILL.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>>> BRANDIS, THANKS.

BORN IN CHICAGO AND RAISED IN NEW JERSEY, PATTY SMITH HAS LIVED AN INCOMPARABLE LIFE AS A POET AND A PERFORMER.

SHE IS IN THE ROCK 'N ROLL HALL OF FAME AND WON A NATIONAL AWARD, AND SHE'S CAN'T BE CALLED UPON POET LAUREATE.

LATE LAST YEAR, PATTI SMITH ACCEPTED AN HONOR FROM THE CHICAGO-BASED POETRY FOUNDATION.

CHICAGO TONIGHT SPOKE WITH HER.

WE HAVE A PORTION OF THAT INTERVIEW BACK IN NOVEMBER, BUT NOW, WE'VE DUG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.

HERE IS MORE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH PATTI SMITH.

>> >> >> IT BELONGS TO EVERYONE.

SO MANY PEOPLE SECRETLY WRITE POETRY WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, ALL THROUGH THEIR LIFE.

IT'S BEEN A CONTINUING MODE OF EXPRESSION , A REVOLUTIONARY MODE OF EXPRESSION , CONSTANTLY CHANGING THROUGH , THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HISTORY THROUGH ROCK 'N ROLL AND THROUGH HIP-HOP, THROUGH WHATEVER MOTIVE COMMUNICATION EACH GENERATION EMBRACES .

IT, IT'S SORT OF DEMOCRATIZES THIS KIND OF ELEVATED CONVERSATION, OR ELEVATED EXPRESSION .

WHEN I READ LITTLE WOMEN, THERE WAS A GIRL WHO WAS A BIT LIKE ME, SORT OF A TOMBOY, GANGLY, SOCIALLY, LIKE, INEPT AND A BOOKWORM WHO WROTE .

AND FROM THAT BOOK, I LEARNED , IT ALMOST GAVE ME PERMISSION TO WRITE , YOU KNOW?

BE SORT OF AN AWKWARD GIRL WHO WAS GROWING UP IN A SOCIETY WHERE GIRLS WERE GROOMED TO BE HOMEMAKERS, OR HAIRDRESSERS, OR SECRETARIES.

YOUR OPTIONS WERE, ESPECIALLY IN A LOWER MIDDLE-CLASS AREA, THEY WEREN'T VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND IN READING THAT , I HAD A WHOLE , YOU KNOW, A WHOLE OTHER GOAL , WHICH I HELD FAST TO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

MY FIRST JOB, I GOT AS A WAITRESS .

LASTED FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS.

THEY GAVE ME THIS GIANT PLATTER OF VEAL PARMESAN, AND I JUST, LIKE, NEVER HAD HELD SUCH A BIG PLATTER, AND I TRIPPED OVER SOMETHING, AND THE WHOLE THING WENT ON TO THIS WOMAN'S TWEED SUIT, SO I, THAT WAS THE END OF MY CAREER AS A WAITRESS.

>> >> I WAS VERY LUCKY WHEN I WAS YOUNG , GROWING UP IN THE EARLY '70S, LATE '60S, EARLY '70S AT THE CHELSEA HOTEL.

I MET MANY GREAT ARTISTS, AND I HAD WONDERFUL MENTORS.

I MEAN, I HAD WILLIAM BURROUGHS AND ALLEN GINSBERG AS TWO OF MY MENTORS , WHO REALLY DEVOTED A LOT OF TIME AND, AND SUPPORTED ME, AND , YOU KNOW, GAVE ME ADVICE, AND INVITED ME TO PERFORM WITH THEM.

>> FROM THE PORTOBELLO ROSE .

I WAS.

>> >> I DON'T PLACE MYSELF IN A POSITION TO ADVISE PEOPLE HOW TO CONDUCT THEIR LIFE, BUT IF I COULD ONLY TELL THEM ONE THING, I WOULD SAY TO WORK HARD.

TO WORK HARD EVERY DAY AND KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON THE WORK AND DOING THE BEST WORK THAT YOU CAN, AND ALL OF THE PERIPHERAL THINGS , ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENT CULTURE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN, PUT THEM IN THEIR PROPER PROPORTION.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE WORK.

AND ALSO , YOU KNOW, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

EVEN WHEN OTHERS DON'T.

>> LUCKY FOR ALL OF US, PATTI SMITH WAS A FAR BETTER MUSICIAN THAN WAITRESS, APPARENTLY.

IN HER NEW BOOK, A BOOK OF DAYS, WAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT IS IRISH OH FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT : LATINA VOICES.

THE STIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY, YOUNG AND OLD.

>>> AND THEN AT 6:30 TOMORROW, TRAN35: LIKE VOICES, WE DIVE INTO TWO INITIATIVES TELLING THE UNTOLD STORIES THAT MADE A LOCAL IMPACT ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT.

>>> NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND NINE PARISH SHOTS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

THERE