>>> WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> DO WE HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO SPEND THE MONEY NOW AND PREVENT FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM A TERRIBLE OUTCOME?

>> A MOTHER SEEKS TO CREATE AWARENESS FROM LEAD POISONING.

>>> THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE COVID LOCKDOWN.

A LOOK AT THE LESSONS LEARNED.

>>> IT COULD BE THE MAYOR'S FINAL DEFEAT.

WHY A DEAL THAT SHE MADE WITH COMMENT COULD BE FLAMING OUT.

>>> IS IT FINALLY TIME FOR A SOUTH SUBURBAN AIRPORT?

>>> NOW TO THE TOP STORY.

IS THE HIDDEN HEALTH HAZARD IN MOST CHICAGO HOMES.

LEAD PAINT HAS BEEN OUTLAWED IN CHICAGO SINCE 1978, BUT AN INVESTIGATION FOUND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE HOUSING STOCK STILL CONTAINS TOXIC LEVELS AND MOST CHILDREN ARE NOT BEING TESTED REGULARLY.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES SAY COULD BE ELIMINATED IF THE CITY PROACTIVELY INSPECTED FOR LEAD INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A RESIDENT TO REPORT ELEVATED LEVELS IN THE BLOOD.

ONE MOTHER HOPES THAT HURT TODDLERS TRAGIC STORY WILL PROVIDE A WAKE-UP CALL.

>> Reporter: LIKE ANY TWO-YEAR-OLD, HE IS AN ACTIVE CHILD.

BUT HIS MOTHER SAID HE IS IN THERAPY EVERY DAY FOR PHYSICAL , BEHAVIORAL, AND COGNITIVE HEALTH PROBLEMS.

SHE SAID SHE NOTICED SOMETHING WRONG IN OCTOBER 'S 18 MONTH CHECKUP.

>> HE WAS NOT TALKING , AND I DID NOTICE HE WAS EATING THINGS THAT WERE NOT FOOD.

>> Reporter: HE WAS SENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR LEAD POISONING.

THEY CONSIDER ANYTHING OVER FIVE MICROGRAMS TO BE DEADLY.

HIS LEVEL WAS 76.

>> REALLY SCARY BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM.

WHERE WAS HE POISONED?

AND THEN WE FOUND OUT IT WAS IN OUR OWN HOME.

W.A.R.

THE MOST LIKELY SOURCE IS LEAD-BASED PAINT.

SHE IS THE DEPARTMENT MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR MATERNAL, AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH.

SHE SAID A LEAD POISONING REPORT TRIGGERS AN INVESTIGATION.

INVESTIGATORS FOUND HAZARDS IN HALLWAYS AND STAIRWAYS AS WELL AS AN ROTTING WINDOWSILLS.

HE HAD BEEN EXPOSED FOR A YEAR INHALING DUST AND EATING PAINT CHIPS.

THE INSPECTOR SAID HE CAN RETURN HOME SAFELY ONCE THE AREAS WERE CLEANED.

BUT THE FAMILY DECIDED TO MOVE OUT.

PER FEDERAL LAW, LANDLORDS MUST NOTIFY TENANTS ABOUT KNOWN RISKS BEFORE THEY MOVE IN.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE LANDLORD BY PHONE.

HE ADMITTED HE FAILED TO DO SO, SAYING HE DID NOT KNOW THERE WERE ANY RISKS.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE LEAD WAS NOT ABATED.

THE CLEANUP COULD TAKE MONTHS.

>> THE INSPECTORS FOLLOW UP WITH THE OWNERS ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO ENSURE THAT IT IS HAPPENING AND THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING UP AND MAKING THOSE REPAIRS TO THE PROPERTY.

FOUR ACCORDING TO MEDICAL RECORDS, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SERIES OF HEALTH PROBLEMS.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, AND MODERATE COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.

HOW MANY OF THESE ISSUES TYPICALLY CAN BE TIED TO LEAD POISONING?

>> ALL OF THEM.

LEAD IS A NEUROTOXIN.

>> Reporter: SHE IS THE HEAD OF A NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES FOR HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE HOMES AND ADVOCATED FOR PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS OF LEAD-BASED PAINT.

>> IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT IT WILL AFFECT A CHILD'S DEVELOPING BRAIN AND RESULTS IN THESE COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS AND LEARNING DISABILITIES AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

>> Reporter: THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WITH ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS IN 2021 WAS LESS THAN 2%.

THAT IS DOWN FROM 70% IN 1996.

BUT LESS THAN 50% OF CHILDREN ARE BEING TESTED REGULARLY.

DATA FINDS THAT IN LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BETWEEN 30 AND 40% OF ALL RESIDENTS IN OLDER HOMES TESTED POSITIVE.

>> IN THOSE OLDER HOMES WE OFTEN FIND IS OFTENTIMES THAT PAINT IS STARTING TO DETERIORATE AND BREAK DOWN.

OREGON WHEN ASKED HOW MANY UNITS CONTAIN THE RISKS, A SPOKESPERSON SAID THEY FIND LET HAZARDS IN ABOUT 99% OF RESIDENCES BUILT BEFORE 1978.

>> WOULD NOT BE A SAFER SYSTEM IF THE CITY JUST REGULARLY INSPECTED ALL OF THESE UNITS REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS BEING REPORTED?

>> I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO WHAT IS IN PLACE NOW.

I CANNOT FORECAST OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

W.A.R.

A PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD REQUIRE PERIODIC INSPECTION FOR ALL PRE-1978 UNITS.

DO WE HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO SAVE FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM THIS.

>> HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT OTHER KIDS ARE DOING AND HE HAS NOT BEEN DOING THEM YET.

>> Reporter: HE IS STILL TESTING POSITIVE.

CDPH SAID THERE IS MONEY THAT CAN ASSIST OWNERS IN ABATING THE PROBLEM.

THE FAMILY HAS SET UP A GO FUND ME TO HELP WITH MEDICAL EXPENSES AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CDPH, DR. ARWADY.

IT IS THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF COVID-19.

WE JUST SAW THIS STORY.

GIVEN WHAT WE JUST SAW, ISN'T IT TIME FOR THE CITY TO INSTITUTE A SYSTEM WHERE THEY PROACTIVELY INSPECT THESE UNITS AND ABATE THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY COST A LOT OF MONEY?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE COVERING THIS.

A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN ABOUT THE WATER AND THE PIPES.

THAT AS YOU HEARD , THERE IS LEAD PAINT THAT IS POISONING CHILDREN IN CHICAGO TODAY.

CDPH BEFORE COVID PUT TOGETHER A MODEL WHERE WE CAN PROJECT AND FOUND THE AGE OF THE HOME WAS BASED ON SIMILAR FINDINGS AND A HOME WHERE CHILD COULD BE AT HIGHER RISK FOR LEAD POISONING.

WE WOULD LIKE TO DO MORE.

IT DOES COST MONEY FOR SURE.

LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CITY PUT SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO A BOND.

$47 MILLION TO HELP AUGMENT SOME OF THE FIXING OF SOME OF THESE PLACES FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FEDERAL GRANT.

THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.

WE HAVE MADE MAJOR PROGRESS, BUT WE'VE MADE IT WITH A FOCUS ON PAINT.

>> THE CITY KNOWS THE MOST AT RISK UNITS.

SHOULD CITY COUNCIL PASS A HEALTHY HOMES ORDINANCE AND WITH THAT GO ALONG WAY TO HELPING?

>> IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING -- PROACTIVE WORK WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING TO HELP.

MY BIG INTEREST IS MAKING SURE THAT PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS THAT WE DO START IN THE HIGHEST RISK PLACES.

THAT WE EXPAND THE ABILITY TO DO MORE.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SOME OF THAT MODELING.

IT IS ABOUT RESOURCES AND COMMITMENT.

>> HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE?

>> PART OF IT IS MONEY AND PART OF IT INSPECTORS.

WE LOOKED AT THE PROPOSAL THAT CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING AT THE MOMENT.

WE THINK AS PROJECTED IT WOULD TAKE LIKE 600 INSPECTORS.

THAT IS MORE PEOPLE THEM WORK AT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE SCALE IS SUBSTANTIAL , AND I DO THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE TAKING STEPS ON.

WE KNOW THERE ARE PROBLEM BUILDINGS AND WE KNOW THERE ARE HOMES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER LEVEL OF LEAD.

WE COULD BE DOING MORE ON THIS.

AND WE ARE ANXIOUS TO KEEP HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

>> MAYBE SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT MAYOR TO KEEP IN MIND AND SOMETHING FOR CITY COUNCIL TO KEEP IN MIND.

YOU ARE SAYING THIS IS A BIGGER DANGER FOR CHILDREN.

LET'S MOVE ON TO COVID.

THREE YEARS AGO ALMOST TO THE DAY, THE NBA CANCELED THEIR SEASON.

BUSINESSES LOCKED DOWN IN SCHOOLS AND TRAVEL FROM EUROPE WAS BANNED.

THIS IS A HEALTH CRISIS LIKE NO OTHER.

>> LOOKING BACK WE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING COVID FOR SOME TIME AND WE HAD SOME PIECES, BUT IN EARLY MARCH WHEN IT ALL STARTED, THAT IS WHEN IT STARTED FOR EVERYBODY.

WE WENT FROM A WEEK WHEN WE WERE TESTING SAMPLES ACROSS THE CITY AND FOUND ZERO COVID AND THE NEXT WEEK 40% OF THE SAMPLES WAS POSITIVE.

IT WAS REMARKABLE.

>> DID THAT ALARM YOU AS TO WHERE THIS MIGHT BE HEADED TO OVERWHELMED HOSPITALS?

>> HERE WE WERE IN SOME WAYS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN ITALY AND CUT TO AN EXTENT, NEW YORK.

WATCHING ITALY WAS A CITY THAT HAS A GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

WE WATCH THAT COUNTRY BECOME QUICKLY OVERWHELMED.

SO I THINK SOME OF THE DECISIONS , THOSE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AROUND SHUTDOWNS AND MAJOR CHANGES WERE COMING OUT OF LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENED IN OTHER SETTINGS.

COVID HIT SO HARD HERE , BUT COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW NEW YORK AND COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW IN ITALY, SOME OF THOSE HARD DECISIONS WITH THE IMPORTANT ONES.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING.

IN HINDSIGHT , SHUTTING DOWN SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES , DID THAT WORK AND WERE THOSE THE RIGHT DECISIONS?

>> ALWAYS YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE AT THAT TIME.

ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING WHEN WE KNEW NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT HOW IT SPREAD.

WE ASSUMED THAT IT SPREAD LIKE OTHER CORONAVIRUS IS.

AND YOU COULD NOT SPREAD THAT YOU HAD SYMPTOMS.

IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT IT WAS OVERWHELMING HEALTH SYSTEMS AND KILLING PEOPLE.

AND YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ACT DECISIVELY AT THE BEGINNING.

I THINK THE SCHOOL CONVERSATION IS ONE THAT ONCE WE HAD DATA AND WE KNEW THAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN TO BE IN SCHOOL, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE PUSHED HARD TO COME BACK AROUND ON THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING DECISIONS WITH THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE AT THE TIME.

I WANT CHICAGO TO KNOW THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE DID EVERY POINT.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SHUTDOWNS .

THE OUTBREAK HAPPENED AT SCHOOL AND I REMEMBER IT SHUTTING DOWN RIGHT AWAY.

COVID IS STILL WITH US.

PEOPLE EVERY DAY HAVE COVID FOR THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME.

WHAT WOULD YOU ASSESS THE STATE WE ARE IN?

WE ARE AT A LOW COVID LEVEL.

WE WILL ALWAYS, EVERY COUNTY, ARE WE AT A LOW LEVEL OR MEDIUM LEVEL OR HIGH-LEVEL?

IT MEANS THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL GETTING COVID.

WE ARE NOT SEEING A HIGH NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND WE ARE ACTING HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED.

AND IT MEANS THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE THE STRONGER MEASURES IN PLACE.

IT ALSO MEANS -- I THINK OF IT SORT OF LIKE THE FLU IN SOME WAYS.

IT IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE FLU.

IS STILL HOSPITALIZING 20 TO 30 PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND KILLING ONE PERSON EVERY DAY.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL SEE SOME SEASONAL PATTERNS.

WE HAVE TOOLS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE.

THE BIG ONE IN THE SECOND YEAR WAS THE VACCINE.

AN EARLY TREATMENT WAS IN THE THIRD YEAR.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTAIN IT IN A WAY THAT WE DID NOT BEGINNING.

>> WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YEARLY VACCINE BOOSTERS?

>> WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT MY GUESS IS THAT MOST LIKELY EVERY FALL IN THE SAME WAY WE DO BOOSTER FOR THE FLU , MY GUESS IS THAT THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DO FOR COVID.

MOST LIKELY EVERY FALL YOU WILL GET A COVID AND A FLU SHOT TO HELP PROTECT YOU.

IT COULD ALWAYS THROWS A CURVEBALL, BUT ASSUMING WE DON'T SEE A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE BIARRITZ ITSELF, A SCARY VARIANT , WE HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF IMMUNITY.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU.

YOU HAVE A NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN MAY.

DO YOU WANT TO STAY ON THIS POST?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY MY GOAL.

I LOVE MY JOB AND I'M FIRST AND FOREMOST A PUBLIC HEALTH ENTHUSIAST.

I HOPE TO STAY ON.

>> WE'VE BEEN THANKFUL FOR YOU TO COME ON HERE.

AND GIVE US THE RAW FACTS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> COMING UP NEXT MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> NOW MORE TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES.

ILLINOIS ONE STEP CLOSER TO HAVING A NEW TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR.DURBIN AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH SET PRESIDENT BIDEN TWO RECOMMENDATIONS .

THEY SPENT A DOZEN YEARS AS LEADERS IN THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THE FIRST TIME EITHER PERSON OF COLOR OR A WOMAN WOULD SERVE AS THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR IN THE STATE.

WHOEVER THE PRESIDENT PICKS WILL BE REVIEWED.

THE NOMINATIONS WILL GO TO THE FULL SENATE FOR A VOTE.

IN THE MEANTIME, MORRIS PASCUAL WILL ACT AS U.S. ATTORNEY.

>>> YOUR COMMUTE ON THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY WILL TAKE A LOT LONGER AS A MASSIVE THREE-YEAR PROJECT KICKS OFF TONIGHT.

DRIVERS GOING SOUTH INTO THE CITY WILL FIND THAT TWO LEFT LANES CLOSE FROM MONTROSE TO HUBBARD'S CAVE.

THE EXPRESS LANES WILL ONLY BE OPEN TO INBOUND TRAFFIC.

THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO FIND ANOTHER ROUTE DOWNTOWN OR USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

>>> VOTERS ARE AT THE POLLS.

EARLY VOTING KICKED OFF TODAY FOR 14 CITY COUNCIL SEATS AND THE MAYORAL RUNOFF BETWEEN BRANDON JOHNSON AND PAUL VALLAS.

VOTES CAN BE CAST BY MAIL.

MEANWHILE, ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE PLEADING FOR MORE POLL WORKERS ON ELECTION DAY , WHICH IS APRIL 4th.

DO NOT FORGET TO VISIT OUR RUNOFF ELECTION VOTER GUIDE.

YOU CAN SEARCH BY NAME, RACE, OR WARD, AND FIND OUT WHERE THEY STAND ON ISSUES IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

TO FIND THAT GUIDE YOU CAN FIND IT ON WTTW.COM.

>>> COMING UP NEXT, A LIKELIHOOD THAT CITY COUNCIL PASSES THE COMED DEAL.

THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHANCES ARE FADING THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL PASS A DEAL TO EXTEND A LOOK AT OF CONTRACT WITH COMMENT.

HEATHER SHARON JOINS US WITH A LOOK AT WHAT WILL BE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S FINAL DEFEAT.

REMIND US WHAT THIS INCLUDES?

>> IT WAS A 15 YEAR DEAL THAT INCLUDED $100 MILLION TO HELP THE CITY BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT ALSO INCLUDES AN AGREEMENT TO BUILD A TRAINING FACILITY THAT WILL COST $32.59 TO TRAIN 10,000 PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE GREEN ENERGY SECTOR AS WELL AS TRAIN ANOTHER 1000 RESIDENTS TO WORK FOR THE COMPANY.

BUT THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE PART OF THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.

IT GIVES COMMENT THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO PROVIDE POWER TO CHICAGO HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

WHY WAS IT BLOCKED?

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT UNVEILED THIS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE ELECTION DAY AND THAT MEANT THAT ALL 50 MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WERE PREOCCUPIED WITH THEIR REELECTION AND UNWILLING TO TAKE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT VOTE SO CLOSE TO ELECTION DAY.

HER ENEMIES ON CITY COUNCIL WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HURT HER BEFORE HER TERM.

BUCK WE REMEMBER ABOUT A MONTH AGO THAT THE MAYOR WAS TOUTING THIS AND SAID THAT CITY COUNCIL SHOULD PASS THIS.

>> $100 MILLION TO GO TO NEIGHBORHOODS CLIMATE EQUITY PROJECTS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IT IS COMPANY PROFITS THAT NO OTHER MUNICIPALITY AROUND THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE AT THAT SCALE.

>> IT IS NOT CHANGE ANY MINDS.

WHY?

>> THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

THE WAY THE DEAL ENVISIONED IT WAS TO CREATE A NEW NONPROFIT WITH PEOPLE APPOINTED BY COMED AND THE CITY.

AND WE'VE BEEN COVERING FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS THE TRIAL OF FOUR AFFILIATED FORMER EMPLOYEES AND IT WAS A GREAT DEAL OF CONSTERNATION THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO COME OUT DURING THIS TRIAL THAT WOULD EMBARRASS ANYONE WHO VOTED FOR.

>> THIS IS THE BILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION.

PAUL VALLAS , BRANDON JOHNSON.

WHAT IS THEIR PLAN?

>> THEY DO NOT LIKE LORI LIGHTFOOT'S PLAN.

BUT WHOEVER TAKES OFFICE ON MAY 22nd, THIS WILL BE AT THE TOP OF THE TO DO LIST BECAUSE THIS AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY OPERATES UNDER WILL HAVE ALREADY EXPIRED.

>> ONE OF THE MANY THINGS ON THE TO DO LIST.

>>> YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY AT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM.

>>> AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS, IT COULD BE TIME FOR A SOUTH SUBURBAN AIRPORT TO TAKE OFF?

LAWMAKERS FROM THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS ARE ADVANCING A PLAN THAT WOULD GET THE BALL ROLLING ON AIRPORT.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST IN THIS SAGA.

THE LINCOLN AIRPORT, THE OBAMA AIRPORT.

IT HAS DIFFERENT NAMES AND PROPOSALS.

FOUR YOU'VE HEARD THE SAYING THAT IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN.

OFFICIALS ARE EMBRACING THAT WISDOM DESPITE DECADES OF TRYING .

AND THE STATE SPENDING NEARLY $100 MILLION TO GET LAND THAT COULD HOST AND THEREFORE.

THIS HAS NOT STOPPED SUPPORTERS.

>> I AM WEARING A LAPEL PIN THAT SAYS AIRPORT 2000.

THIS WAS AN INITIATIVE .

IS TIME TO BUILD A SOUTH SUBURBAN AIRPORT.

>> EVEN IF THERE IS BROAD AGREEMENT, THE PROJECT IS NOT READY TO LAUNCH.

THEY'VE ONLY PURCHASED ABOUT 90% OF THE LAND.

THAT THEY HAVE TO PROCURE THE FINAL 10%.

J.B. PRITZKER SAID THIS WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GET ON BOARD.

HE SAID HE ALSO WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT CARRIERS WOULD USE IT.

>> WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IS IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

JUST BUILDING IT AND HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP TO ESSENTIALLY PAY FOR THE AIRPORT HAVING BEEN BUILT.

YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE BUILDING IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE INTEREST.

>> AND EFFORT THAT IS GAINING SUPPORT WOULD FORCE THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE THINGS ALONG.

THE LAW WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE TO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO OPEN THE DOOR TO DEVELOPERS.

>> DEVELOPERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BUILDING THE AIRPORT PUT PEN TO PAPER TO SHOW THEIR CAPACITY AND DESIRE AND WILLINGNESS AND THEIR MONEY TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE THIRD AIRPORT HERE TODAY.

>> HOW WOULD THIS AIRPORT BE DIFFERENT?

>> THE PLAN WAS TO MAKE THIS AN ALTERNATE PASSENGER AIRPORT.

BUT NOT ANYMORE.

PLANS NOW , FOR IT TO BE CARGO FOCUSED.

>> THIS WILL BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF AIRPORT.

BUILT TO SERVE INDUSTRY.

BUILT TO SERVE CARGO CARRIERS.

BUILT FOR e-COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS.

AND OUR MODERN ECONOMIES.

>> SUPPORTERS POINT OUT THAT THEY HOST THE LARGEST INLAND PORT.

AND AMAZON AND OTHER COMPANIES ARE BUILDING HUGE FACILITY CENTERS NEARBY.

THE LOCAL CHAMBER SAY THAT THE AIRPORT IS A NATURAL FIT AND IT WILL CREATE 10,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND AN ESTIMATED 50,000 PERMANENT JOBS.

>> THE NEW COMPANIES WILL PAY PROPERTY TAXES .

MUCH LIKE O'HARE AIRPORT DOES.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS AIRPORT WILL BRING JOBS BACK TO AMERICA AND RETAIN JOBS IN ILLINOIS.

BUT CRITICS SAY EVEN IF ILLINOIS PURSUES THE ADDITIONAL AIRPORT, THE STATES WILL FIND NO NEED FOR IT.

>> IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED AS A SOLUTION TO THE FACT THAT WE COULD NOT EXPAND O'HARE AIRPORT.

THEM EXPANDED IT.

THEN, THEY DECIDED WE NEEDED A NEW PASSENGER FACILITY FOR THE SOUTH SUBURBS, BUT THE AIRLINES SHOWED ZERO INTEREST.

SO NOW IT IS A SOLUTION TO THE AIR CARGO PROBLEMS.

WE DON'T HAVE AIR CARGO PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE O'HARE AIRPORT, WE HAVE ROCKFORD, AND WE HAVE GARY.

>> HE SAID IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO EXPAND ALL THE THINGS NEEDED TO CREATE A COMMERCIAL CENTER IN WHAT HE CALLS THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

I SPOKE WITH THE LEADER OF THE BOARD WHO IS OPPOSED TO IT .

IS CURRENTLY AGRICULTURAL LAND AND HER LAND IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD BECOME THE AIRPORT.

THEY SAY THIS HOLE IDEA WOULD BE A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND ROOTED SOLELY IN POLITICS .

AND SUPPORTERS SAY IT IS ROOTED IN EMPOWERING LOCAL PEOPLE.

>> THEY SAY IT IS A SOLUTION INSERTABLE PROBLEM.

WE WILL SEE IF THIS DEBATE GETS ANYWHERE.

>> WE WILL SEE.

>>> COMING UP NEXT WE WILL'S TELL YOU WHAT IS ON TAP FOR TOMORROW >>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT.

IS DONALD TRUMP GETTING ARRESTED THIS WEEK?

A LOOK AT THE ACCUSATIONS FACING FORMER PRESIDENT.

>>> A LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT FOR HUNDREDS OF MEDICAL STUDENTS.

WE WILL LOOK INTO MATCH DAY.

>>> AND ON THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR, WE LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT PORTRAITS OF BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN BATTLE.

THE PORTRAIT OF A SOLDIER EXHIBIT IS ON DISPLAY AT THE COOK COUNTY BUILDING THROUGH MARCH 25th.

>>> FOR ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING .

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.