>> HELLO, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>>> CAN MAYOR JOHNSON BROKER A DEAL TO KEEP THE BEARS IN CHICAGO?

THAT AND MORE ON SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>>> BEHIND BARS AND OVER 50.

THE EXPERIENCES OF ELDERLY INMATES IN ILLINOIS PRISONS.

>>> ♪ >> YELP.

IN 10 YEARS AFTER THE RELEASE OF HIS HIT ALBUM , ACID RAP, WE SIT DOWN WITH CHANCE THE WRAPPER TO TALK MUSIC AND HIS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY.

>>> SCHOOL IS FINALLY OUT FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THIS YEAR'S 20,000+ GRADUATING SENIORS RAKED IN MORE THAN $2 BILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

CPS SHARED THE NEWS TODAY AS SCHOOL CEO PEDRO MARTINEZ AND MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON VISITED OR ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL.

MARTINEZ POINTS OUT THAT THIS YEAR'S GRADUATING CLASS WAS IN THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR THAT FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THEY CLOSED OFF THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR , AND THIS WHOLE COUNTRY WAS SHUT DOWN.

SO THINK ABOUT THOSE CHALLENGES.

AND THEN COMING BACK THEIR SECOND-YEAR REMOTE , AND ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT CAME WITH THAT.

AND THEN LAST YEAR AND THEN THIS IS THEIR SENIOR YEAR.

SO I, I THINK WE REALLY WANT TO REFLECT ON THAT.

>> ORIGINALLY PASSED $50 BILLION STATE BUDGET IS NOW LAW.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED THE MASSIVE DOCUMENT TODAY AT AN EVENT IN CHICAGO.

THE SPENDING PLAN INCREASES DOLLARS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, K-12, AND HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL, AND PROVIDE $500 MILLION TO GO TOWARDS HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

THAT PROGRAM WAS SPECULATED TO COST AS MUCH AS $1 BILLION, BUT THE COST WAS NEGOTIATED DOWN.

PRITZKER DEFENDED THAT LINE ITEM, SAYING THAT IT'S NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT IT'S COST-EFFECTIVE.

>> WE SAVE MONEY , WE INVEST IN HEALTHCARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS , BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T GET HEALTHCARE, BASIC HEALTH CARE?

THEY END UP IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM, AND WE ALL END UP PAYING FOR THAT.

>> IT ONLY TAKES A FEDERAL CONFERENCE THE JAMES BEARD AWARD AND THREE NIGHTS OF TAYLOR SWIFT CONFERENCE TO A HOTEL RECORD FOR CHICAGO.

THE CITY'S TOURISM AGENCY SAYS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT, HOTEL OCCUPANCY SET AN ALL-TIME RECORD FOR THE CITY, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 44,000 ROOMS OCCUPIED EACH NIGHT.

REVENUE FROM THOSE TWO NIGHTS TOTAL $39 MILLION, ALSO A RECORD , AND NEARLY 21% HIGHER THAN THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

AN AVERAGE OF ALMOST 97% OF CHICAGO HOTEL INVENTORY WAS TAKEN EACH NIGHT.

>> GOOD NEWS FOR CHICAGO STORIES OF ECONOMY.

>>> NO WHITE SOX GAME TONIGHT.

THEY'RE PLAYING THE YANKEES IN NEW YORK, AND YOU CAN TAKE A GUESS WHY IT GOT CANCELED.

THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE THICK ORANGE LAYER OF SMOG ENVELOPING THE CITY ALL DAY.

THERE WAS A -- WOW, LOOK AT THAT, AND IT JUST GETS DARKER FROM THERE AS A RESULT OF WILDFIRES IN CANADA.

IN FACT, NEW YORK CITY'S AIR QUALITY IS AMONG THE WORST OF ANY PLACE ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW.

RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO PERFORM STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, AND EVEN WEAR MASKS IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUTSIDE.

NEW YORK'S GOVERNOR HAS DECLARED THE SMOG AN EMERGENCY CRISIS, AND SAYS IT MIGHT STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE.

NO WORD ON WHETHER TOMORROW'S GAME IS GOING TO BE PLAYED.

>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, THOUGH, CAN MAYOR JOHNSON KEEP THE CHICAGO BEARS IN SOLDIER FIELD?

>>> BUT FIRST, HEALTHCARE BEHIND BARS IN PART TWO OF OUR ELDER PAROLE SERIES, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE KAY AND K MAY BE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> YESTERDAY, WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE GROWING NUMBER OF ELDERLY INMATES SERVING TIME IN ILLINOIS PRISONS.

MORE THAN 4000 INCARCERATED PEOPLE MAKING UP 14% OF THE STATE'S PRISON POPULATION.

AS THEY AGE, THE MEDICAL NEEDS INCREASE, AND THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS ALREADY FOUR YEARS INTO A CONSENT DECREE DICTATING THAT THE STATE DO A BETTER JOB OF PROVIDING CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED.

ADVOCATES SAY THAT'S JUST ONE MORE REASON THEY BELIEVE ELDERLY INMATES DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE OUTSIDE OF PRISON.

IN THE SECOND AND FINAL PART OF OUR SERIES ON ELDER PAROLE.

AFTER DECADES IN PRISON, YUSUF MADYUN HAS BEEN HOME FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> I'M STILL TRYING TO NAVIGATE MY PHONE.

>> TODAY, HE SPENDS HIS TIME TALKING WITH THE YOUNG MEN IN THE GREEN REENTRY COHORT AT THE INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK, OR I.M.A.N., WHERE THEY RESPECTFULLY CALL THEM SHEIK YUSUF.

>> WHEN I COME OVER HERE AND ATTEMPT TO GUIDE YOUNGSTERS AWAY FROM THE PATH THAT I TOOK, AWAY FROM A PATH THAT LEADS TO INCARCERATED.

>> MADYUN WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON THROUGH A PROCESS THE MAJORITY OF ILLINOIS STATE PRISONERS DON'T HAVE A CHANCE AT, PAROLE.

IN 1967, HE WAS JOSEPH HURST, SENTENCED TO DEATH ROW FOR KILLING A CHILD PLEASE OFFICER , A CRIME HE SAYS LITTLE ABOUT TODAY.

>> BUT I DON'T GOING TO IS TO TRY TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED .

MEANT TO JUSTIFY MY END OF THINGS.

BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT WAS KILLED IS NOT HERE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

I CAN CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH AS I CAN TO THE GOOD OF SOCIETY.

AND HOPEFULLY, SOCIETY WILL ALLOW ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> IN 1972, HE WAS RESENTENCED TO 100 TO 300 YEARS IN PRISON.

THAT WAS BEFORE THE STATE ELIMINATED PAROLE IN 1978, MEANING, IN TIME, HE COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.

HE WASN'T RELEASED ON PAROLE UNTIL 2021.

IT'S A MOVE THE CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION OPPOSED.

>> SINCE ITS CONCEPTION, WE EJECT TO ANY PAROLE FOR CONVICTED , A CONVERT THE PERSON WHO KILLED A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER.

>> MADYUN DID SPEND NEARLY 54 YEARS IN PRISON, AND HE SAYS THEY TOOK THEIR TOLL.

>> SO WHEN YOU SEE HIS HAND, HIS HAND IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT HAVING BEEN GIVEN IMMEDIATE CARE WHEN THE STROKE HAD HIT ME.

>> MADYUN SAYS THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE POOR HEALTHCARE HE AND OTHER OLDER INCARCERATED PEOPLE RECEIVE FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

>> I WAS MADE TO WEAR A CATHETER FOR 18 MONTHS.

BEFORE THE PROSTATE, THE ENLARGED PROSTATE, WAS TAKEN CARE OF.

>> JENNY SOBLE RUNS THE NONPROFIT ILLINOIS PRISON PROJECT.

SHE ARGUES CARING FOR THE ELDERLY IN PRISON IS A HEAVY BURDEN.

>> CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION.

THEY'RE ALSO TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE WITH CANCER, WITH CARDIAC DISEASE , WITH DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER'S.

PRISON OFFICIALS SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.

THEY NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE DOORWAYS AND CELLS.

>> A BURDEN THAT A RECENT COURT-APPOINTED MONITORS REPORT SAYS THE STATE ISN'T SHOULDERING .

IN SHORT, THE NEARLY 400 PAGE REPORT SAYS, QUOTE, AT THE END OF YEAR FOUR, THE LACK OF PROGRESS TOWARDS COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE CAN BE SUMMARIZED AS A FAILURE BY THE STATE TO ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATIONS OF AN ADEQUATE MEDICAL PROGRAM IN THE IDOC.

EVEN IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, IDOC TOLD WTTW NEWS THAT IT, QUOTE, DOES NOT MAINTAIN OR POSSESS RECORDS RESPONSIVE TO YOUR REQUEST ABOUT POLICIES SPECIFIC TO OLDER PRISONERS.

>> I, RIGHT NOW, REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO SPEND THEIR ENTIRE DAYS SITTING IN WHEELCHAIRS IN THE SAME SPACE , IN THE SAME SPOT , IN THE INFIRMARY UNIT WHERE THEY LIVE, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT SUFFICIENT CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BODIES ARE MOVED WITH ANY REGULARITY.

>> WHAT'S MORE, SOBEL ARGUES THAT CARING FOR THE ELDERLY IN PRISON IS EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE, A COST THAT FALLS TO TAXPAYERS.

>> ELDERLY PEOPLE AS INDIVIDUALS COST 2 TO 5 TIMES AS MUCH TO CARE FOR AS NONELDERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE.

>> IT'S ONE OF SEVERAL REASONS ADVOCATES LIKE BILL RYAN ARE CALLING FOR A PAROLE SYSTEM FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE IN PRISON.

>> IT'S NOT A FREE GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD , BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOUR BEHAVIOR HAS CHANGED.

YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU'RE NO LONGER A THREAT TO ANYBODY .

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PRISONERS , THE VICTIM'S FAMILIES, HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO THIS, AND THEY, THEY, THEIR VOICE WILL BE HEARD.

>> BUT SOME VICTIMS ADVOCATES ARGUE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES AS SERIOUS AS MURDER SHOULD NEVER HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF PRISON, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE KILLED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

>> IN OUR MIND, SOMEONE WHO KILLED A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER IN THE LINE OF DUTY DOES NOT WARRANT A SECOND CHANCE.

THEY FORFEITED THAT RIGHT.

>> BUT SOBLE AND ADVOCATES ARGUE OLDER INMATES ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO RE-COMMIT A CRIME , AND THAT CHANGE IS NECESSARY.

>> IF NOTHING CHANGES, IF THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND OUR PRISON SYSTEM , THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS COUNTRY WILL JUST CONTINUE TO GROW AND GROW AND GROW .

AND WITH THAT, THE COST OF OUR PRISON SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> THEY SAY MANY INCARCERATED PEOPLE , INCLUDING YUSUF MADYUN, CAN AND HAVE CHANGED , WHETHER OR NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WILL CHANGE AS WELL.

>> SO THE SPECIFICS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO RESTORE CITIZENSHIP .

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS GUILTY OF NOT PROVIDING THOSE THINGS THAT WOULD TRULY RESTORE CITIZENSHIP.

>> ONE MEASURE THAT ALLOWS FOR EARLY RELEASE FOR ELDERLY INMATES IS THE JOE COLEMAN MEDICAL RELEASE ACT, WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT IN THE WINTER OF 2022.

IT ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO ARE MEDICALLY INCAPACITATED OR TERMINALLY ILL TO SEEK EARLY RELEASE FROM THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

A RECORD FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SHOWS THAT AS OF MARCH 24th, 2023, THE BOARD GRANTED 38 APPLICATIONS TO HAVE SENTENCES AND EARLY UNDER THAT ACT, AND DENIED ANOTHER 62.

>>> UP NEXT, SPOTLIGHT POLITICS, AND THE BEARS FUTURE IN CHICAGO.

>>> BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS OFF ON THE NEW STATE BUDGET, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.

MEANWHILE, MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TALKS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF KEEPING THE CHICAGO BEARS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS , AND RISING EXPECTATIONS THAT THE NEW MAYOR WILL DO MORE TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF ENVIRONMENTAL INEQUITY.

HEREWITH ALL THAT AND MORE, OF COURSE, IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VENEDY, AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON WAS ASKED WHAT HIS ADMINISTRATION IS DOING TO KEEP THE BEARS IN THE CITY.

NOW THAT THEY APPEAR TO HAVE RESERVATIONS OVER THAT ARLINGTON HEIGHTS DEAL.

HERE'S A LITTLE OF WHAT HE SAID.

>> YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CHICAGO BEARS , THE PARK DISTRICT, AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAVE A REAL SEAT AT THE TABLE TO DISCUSS A PATHWAY FORWARD.

I GREW UP WITH THE SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE .

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP SHUFFLING HERE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WITH THE BEARS.

>> SHUFFLING.

THE MAYOR AND CHICAGO BEARS CEO, KEVIN MOORE, OF COURSE, THEY MET OUT TODAY AND PUT OUT A JOINT STATEMENT THIS AFTERNOON.

IS A BIT OF WHAT WAS SAID.

QUOTE, TODAY WE MET AND DISCUSSED OUR SHARED VALUES AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GROUP, AND THE NEED FOR EQUITABLE COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE'RE BOTH COMMITTED TO THE IDEA THAT THE CITY AND ITS MAJOR CIVIC INSTITUTIONS MUST GROW AND EVOLVE TOGETHER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE DIALOGUE AROUND THESE SHARED VALUES.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT STATEMENT IN A MINUTE, BUT FIRST, AMANDA, YOU ARE REPORTING ON THAT EARLIER THIS WEEK.

IS THERE ANY REAL BELIEF THAT THERE'S A DEAL THAT THE CITY COULD PUT TOGETHER THAT WOULD SWAY THE BEARS TO STAY?

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY BELIEVE THAT INSTEAD OF SHUFFLING IN CHICAGO, THEY WILL BE SHUFFLING THROUGH.

I MEAN, THEY'RE REALLY PRETTY DEEP INTO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

AND THE NOTION THAT IT WILL GO TO ANY OTHER COMMUNITY, BE IT CHICAGO, NAPERVILLE, WHEREVER ELSE, IS PRETTY TOUGH TO SWALLOW, GIVEN JUST HOW MUCH THEY'VE ALREADY INVESTED IN THIS ARLINGTON HEIGHTS PROPERTY, AND AS WAS NOTED EARLIER BY THE MAYOR OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT AND JUST SALIVATING OVER THIS AREA FOR LITERALLY DECADES.

SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THAT THIS IS ANYTHING BUT LUSTER, AND REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET MAYBE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SUCH ON THEIR SIDE.

IT DOES, HOWEVER, CERTAINLY PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, FOR MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO AT LEAST MAKE THE EFFORT.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

I'M NOT PRIVY TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT THAT HELP THEM, I THINK, PUBLICLY.

>> HEATHER, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT REPORTERS HAVE GOTTEN A STATEMENT THAT HASN'T SAID MUCH AT ALL.

DO YOU THINK WE CAN READ INTO -- WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THEM.

DO YOU THINK WE CAN READ ANYTHING INTO THE STATEMENT?

>> IT DOESN'T TELL US REALLY ANYTHING, YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT IT DOES SIGNAL THAT AT LEAST THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION ARE OPEN BETWEEN THE BEARS AND MAYOR JOHNSON IN A WAY THAT THEY WERE NOT OPEN BETWEEN FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND THE BEARS.

SHE REALLY LOST A LOT OF GOODWILL WITH THE TEAMS WHEN THEY FIRST SORT OF FLOATED THIS IDEA OF GOING TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, AND SHE SAID, THAT'S NICE, WHY DON'T YOU FOCUS ON BEATING THE PACKERS AND WINNING SOME GAMES, WHICH WAS NOT TRULY APPRECIATED.

BUT I THINK YOU CAN SEE THAT BRANDON JOHNSON IS GOING TO TAKE A MORE CONCILIATORY APPROACH.

I THINK THAT IF THE BEARS WOULD STAY IN CHICAGO, IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD GO SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN SOLDIER FIELD, THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO OWN SOLDIER FIELD.

THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PUT A DOME OVER SOLDIER FIELD, DESPITE PLANS RELEASED BY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WOULD DO THAT.

BUT THE ISSUE IS HERE, REALLY, THAT THE STATE OWES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE RENOVATION OF SOLDIER FIELD.

THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE STATE TO GIVE THE BEARS MORE MONEY , WHETHER THEY GO TO NAPERVILLE OR ROCKFORD OR MY BACKYARD.

>> OH, YOUR BACKYARD!

PARIS, OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW YOU'RE A FAN.

DO YOU THINK THE BEARS CAN BE PERSUADED TO STAY, AND WHEN A NEW STADIUM HAD TO BE PART OF THE DEAL IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO DO THAT?

>> A NEW STADIUM WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE PART OF THE DEAL.

THEY'RE DONE WITH SOLDIER FIELD, AS HEATHER MENTIONED.

THEY WANT A BIG PIECE OF LAND WHERE THEY CAN BUILD THEIR FUN PARK AND THE SIX FLAGS OVER THE BEARS DOME.

AND THERE ARE PARCELS IN CHICAGO THAT PROVIDE THAT AMOUNT OF SPACE, BUT AS AMANDA MENTIONED, THEY'VE ALREADY INVESTED THE MONEY IN ARLINGTON PARK.

ALL THAT HAD TO DO REALLY, THERE, IS TURN AROUND AND SELL IT.

THEY HAVE TO BUY -- IF THEY CAN DO THAT, YES, THE CITY OF CHICAGO DEFINITELY HAS A SPOT.

AND THEN THIS WOULD BE POLITICALLY DIFFICULT FOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

IT WOULD BE A MAJOR NOTCH IN HIS BELT IF HE WAS THE MAYOR THAT SAVE THE BEARS IN CHICAGO, BUT HE WAS ELECTED ON THE PROMISE TO INVEST IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN THIS INVESTED IN.

IT'S NOT GOING TO LOOK GOOD IF HE IS GIVING TAX BREAKS OR SOMETHING TO A BIG, GIANT, WEALTHY CORPORATION INSTEAD OF MONEY GOING TO COMMUNITIES.

BUT THERE'S STILL A WAY.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY.

THERE CAN BE A WIN-WIN.

YOU CAN COME UP WITH A PACKAGE FOR YOU, YOU KNOW, UP THE MINORITY CONTRACTORS ON THE CONSTRUCTION JOBS, OR YOU HIGHER CHICAGOANS FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEY GOT TO BE CREATIVE.

THERE IS A WIN-WIN OUT THERE.

IT'S VERY UNLIKELY, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE.

>> HOPE IT INCLUDES THE BEARS WINNING SOME GAMES.

HEATHER, YOU WERE AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, THOUGH, WITH THE MAYOR, AND ASKED HIM WHETHER HE WOULD BACK AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF POLLUTING INDUSTRIES ON PARTICULAR CHICAGO COMMUNITIES.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> SO WE WILL BE EXPLORING ALL OF THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS AND THE DEMAND OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE RESIDENTS .

AND AS MANY OF YOU WILL KNOW, I'M RAISING MY FAMILY IN AUSTIN.

WE ARE ONE OF THE HOTSPOTS WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE ALL OF OUR OPTIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO PRINT >> HEATHER, CAN THE MAYOR LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF FOLKS WHO EXPECT THEM TO DO MORE TO PROTECT US COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING ENVIRONMENTAL INEQUITY?

>> IT WILL BE NO SMALL TASK.

IT GOT A LITTLE BIT HARDER WITH THIS WEEK WITH THE NEWS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE HAS SAID THAT BASICALLY THE CITY SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A PERMIT FOR THE WARMER OWNERS OF GENERAL IRON TO OPEN UP THE NEW METAL SCRAP AROUND SOUTHEAST SIDE.

THAT MEANS THAT BRANDON JOHNSON IS GOING TO BE EXPECTED BY HIS PROGRESSIVE BASE TO DELIVER ON HIS PROMISES OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS BY PUSHING THROUGH THAT ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

HE DECLINED TO FULLY COMMIT TO DOING THAT, AS YOU JUST HEARD.

>> AMANDA, LET'S GET TO STATE POLITICS BEFORE WE HAVE TO GO.

GOVERNOR SIGNED MOST OF THE NEW STATE BUDGET, BUT HE USED THAT VITO PALIN TO MAKE SOME CUTS.

>> HE WAS ABLE TO REDUCE CERTAIN ITEMS.

WHAT HE DID WAS HE ERASED RELIEF BY $200,000.

SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT -- BUT, BUT -- WHAT HE SAID IS IT REDUCES THE RAISE THAT LEGISLATORS AND CONSTITUTIONAL ARE GOING TO GET.

THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GET MORE MONEY.

IT'S JUST 5% MORE INSTEAD OF 5.5% MORE, BECAUSE THERE WERE QUESTIONS .

THE ADMINISTRATION DESCRIBED IT IN ERROR, BASICALLY, A SNAFU THAT SOMEBODY SHOULD'VE CAUGHT ALONG THE ROAD.

HOWEVER, CRITICS, PARTICULARLY REPUBLICANS, ARE SAYING THAT IS POULTRY, THAT IS A CHUMP CHANGE, AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS THE SECOND RACE THAT LEGISLATORS HAVE REALLY GOTTEN IN THE SPAN OF SIX MONTHS, SO NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT SALARIES INSTEAD OF $90,000, $89,000.

>> OKAY.

A YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S SPOTLIGHT.

THANK YOU, GANG.

HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY, PARIS SCHUTZ.

>>> UP NEXT, LOCAL MUSIC ICON CHANCE THE RAPPER TALKS MENTAL HEALTH.

STAY WITH US.

>>> MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH HAS COME TO A CLOSE, BUT CHANCE THE RAPPER'S NONPROFIT SOCIAL WORKS IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE CHICAGOANS HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE YEAR-ROUND .

AN INITIATIVE CALLED MY STATE OF MIND.

THE PROGRAM HAS OFFERED NEARLY 3000 DIFFERENT WELLNESS PROGRAMS SINCE IT'S 2019 INCEPTION TO ENSURE RESIDENTS GET THE TAILORED HELP THE COMMUNITY SAYS IT NEEDS.

IT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW CHANCE THE RAPPER HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITIES SINCE BECOMING A HOUSEHOLD NAME.

OUR CORRESPONDENT RECENTLY SIT DOWN WITH THEM FOR A WIDE-RANGING CONVERSATION.

>> SO HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT SOCIAL WORK CONNECTING WITH THE YOUTH THIS YEAR TO REALLY TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS?

>> MAN, I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I FEEL LIKE CHICAGO , IT'S A BIG CITY WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHALLENGES .

WHAT WE DID AT SOCIALWORKS WAS WE CREATED THIS MY STATE OF MIND PROJECT TO, TO CONNECT PEOPLE, AND TO MAKE A PLATFORM FOR ALL THOSE SPACES TO EXIST IN.

AND JUST TO, TO MAKE THAT ACCESSIBLE, BECAUSE WE NEEDED.

>> WHAT WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT SOCIALWORKS PROVIDING FOR THE TRINITY, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THAT YOU THINK HAS BEEN PINPOINTING, OR BRINGING ATTENTION TO?

>> WE, AS A COMMUNITY , OVERWHELMINGLY SUFFER FROM POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS FROM A VAST, VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE ACCESS TO CARE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

AND SO MY STATE OF MIND LETS YOU FILTER AND FIND CERTAIN PRACTICES, OR PRACTITIONERS , THAT SPECIALIZE IN WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED THROUGH A SERIES OF QUIZZES AND TESTS, AND AN EASY WAY TO GUIDE THROUGH FINDING HELP.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY PERSONALLY WORKS FOR YOU WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A STATE OF, MAYBE, NOT FEELING CREATIVE, FEELING DOWN, FEELING SAD , YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS GET YOURSELF UP AND READY ?

I'LL BE AT, YOU KNOW, AT HOME CHILLING, OR YOU'RE ON THE ROAD, AND YOU HAVE TO BE ON, YOU HAD TO BE PRESENT.

WHAT ARE THINGS THAT WORK FOR YOU?

>> I MEAN, I TRY A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN I'M LACKING MOTIVATION, BUT ALSO WHEN I'M, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'VE DEALT WITH DEPRESSION BEFORE.

I'VE DEALT WITH ANXIETY.

I'VE DEALT WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND I THINK WHAT HELPED IN ALL THE SITUATIONS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS THICK AS THIS, IS BEING AMONGST OTHER PEOPLE, AND CREATING SPACE FOR YOUR FRIENDS OR YOUR FAMILY, THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU, TO EVEN SEE THAT YOU, THAT YOU MIGHT NEED ASSISTANCE OR HELP.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE JUST DID A BIG BIKE RIDE.

JUST A BUNCH OF BLACK FOLKS GOING OUT ON A RIDE TOGETHER, BUT THE WAY THAT WE INVITE PEOPLE IN HIS WE'RE CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR PEOPLE .

IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, NOT FEELING OKAY.

A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS ABOUT, OR PEOPLE IN THE DAY TODAY.

>> HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE EXPENDING COMMUNITY, OR YOUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY GOES BEYOND SOCIALWORKS, AND THINKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE GALLERY , OF INCORPORATING ARTISTS IN A CREATIVE WEIGHT TO SHOWCASE THEIR ART ALONGSIDE YOUR RECORDS AND VISUALS ?

IT'S JUST A VERY DIFFERENT AND CREATIVE APPROACH TO STORYTELLING THAT REALLY , REALLY FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, NO, THANK YOU.

YEAH, IT IS.

I FEEL LIKE THAT'S BEEN, LIKE, MY BIG THING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE PAST FEW YEARS.

BUILDING MY COMMUNITY AND BUILDING COLLECTIVES.

A LOT OF MY GOALS DO DEAL WITH EQUITY, OR HOUSING , EDUCATION , CIVICS.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU NEED .

A GROUP.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

AND THROUGH THE MUSIC CREATION, THROUGH EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AT SOCIALWORKS RECENTLY, THROUGH THE FESTIVAL, ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN OPPORTUNITIES TO, LIKE, GET ON THE SAME PAGE, TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT, AND JUST TO STRENGTHEN, OVERALL, OUR COMMUNITY.

>> OKAY, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF SOCIALWORKS, BUT FOR YOU AS WELL.

YOU HAVE YOUR SHOW COMING UP, 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

THAT REALLY WILL PUT YOU ON THE MAP , AND KIND OF STARTED THIS.

HOW DOES THAT FEEL FOR YOU, JUST LIKE A MOMENT OF REFLECTION AND ALSO GRATITUDE?

>> IT'S A REALLY COOL THING.

LIKE, I, I REMEMBER MAKING ACID RAP , AND I WAS VISITING A LOT OF THE SAME PLACES THAT I GO TO NOW.

I FEEL LIKE IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO, BUT IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND I THINK TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE STILL LOVE IT AND HOLD IT, YOU KNOW, NEAR AND DEAR TO THEIR HEARTS, OR SEND ME MESSAGES ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT TO THEM, AND FOR THEM TO COME OUT TO THE SHOW.

YOU KNOW, THEY SOLD OUT THE CHICAGO SHOW SO FAST.

>> ♪ >> I WENT TO COLLEGE IN WISCONSIN, AND I KID YOU NOT, IT WAS LIKE A LIPSTICK -- >> ♪ >> THEY'RE LIKE, ANGEL, HAVE YOU HEARD THE SONG?

AND I WAS LIKE, WAIT, WHAT?

>> ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> YEAH!

AND THAT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THAT MOMENT OF HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THAT SPACE, AND I THINK IT'LL BE THE SAME THING .

>> OH, THANKS, MAN.

I'M EXCITED FOR THE SHOW.

>> I KNOW CHICAGO IS EXCITED AS WELL.

AGAIN, THAT WAS LARGE CORRESPONDENT ANGELENOS SPEAKING WITH CHANCE THE RAPPER.

HE DIDN'T GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT HIS FIRST SEASON HOSTING ON THE VOICE, BUT HE DID SHARE HOW HAPPY HE WAS TO SEE ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM MAKE IT TO THE FINALS.

AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN UTILIZING SOME OF THOSE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> VERY COOL.

THANKS TO CHET FOR JOINING US.

GOT TO REMEMBER TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL.

>> WE'LL GET TICKETS.

>> WE'LL GET TICKETS FOR THAT.

>> AIRFARE, TOO.

>> OBVIOUSLY BUT THAT OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US.

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

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

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ANNOUNCES A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.

>>> AND CELEBRATING PUERTO RICAN PRIDE WITH A PARADE, A COOKOFF, AND MORE.

WE'RE LIVE FROM HUMBOLDT PARK.

>>> AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT 35, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND ENJOY THIS EVENING.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION FOCUSED