♪♪ ♪♪ >> GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT." I'M PARIS. ON THE SHOW RICH IRVIN'S EX-WIFE. >> YOU SURE WE ARE HOLDING ADULTS RESPONSIBLE FOR BEHAVIOR THEY ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN. >> CARJACKING IN SPRINGFIELD. LESSONS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S LIFE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIRNG SCIENCE AND FALL. TOPPED STORY, 15th ALDERMAN RAYMOND LOPEZ IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR. LIGHTFOOT HAS NOT REVEALED WHETHER SHE WILL RUN FOR REELECTION NEXT YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE RACE FOR MAYOR. SPRINGFIELD LAWMAKERS PUSHING AUTOMATIC DOORS DO THEIR PART PREVENTING CARJACKING. >> WE UNFORTUNATELY LEAD THE COUNTRY IN THIS AND I CAN TELL YOU THE PEOPLE DO IT RUN THE GAMUT FROM JUVENILES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY SOPHISTICATED. ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THE INCREASES ARE GOING ON THE VIOLENCE IS GOING ON. >> SHERIFF AN LAWMAKERS PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE AUTOMATIC DOORS PROVIDE A 24/7 HOTLINE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATING CARJACKING. DART SAYS COOK COUNTY ESPECIALLY CHICAGO IS IN CRISIS. WITH MORE THAN 2,000 CAR JACKS IN THE COUNTY LAST YEAR ALONE. A LARGE MIXED USE SHOPPING MALL ON THE MAG WILL SELL TO METLIFE A YEAR AFTER THE MALL LOST RETAIL GIANT MACY'S AND INDICATES BROOKFIELD PLAZA VALUELESS THAN 300 MILLION OWED ON THE PROPERTY. UP NEXT DETAILS FROM OUR INVESTIGATION INTO AURORA MAYOR GOVERNOR CANDIDATE RICHARD IRVIN. PLEASE STAY WITH US. RICH IRVIN'S EX-WIFE INVOLVED IN PROJECT THAT HAS POLITICALLY CONNECTED COMPANIES AN INDIVIDUALS. IT'S THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF WTTW STORIES SHOWING COMPANIES GIVING CITY INCENTIVES IN CONTRACTS AND DONATING TO FUNDS TIED TO IRVIN AND HIS FORMER LAW PARTNER. HE IS BACKED BY KEN GRIFFIN. REPORTER NICK BLUMBERG AND I HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS STORY. LET'S SET THIS UP FOR VIEWERS MANY CRYSTAL ROLLINS IRVIN'S EX-WIFE HIRED FOR JTE REAL ESTATE SERVICES ONE OF SEVERAL WORKING ON THE $128 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER COPLEY HOSPITAL IN AURORA. THE PLANS CALL FOR MILK USE SITE INCLUDING HOUSING FOR SENIORS. AURORA CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR IRVIN APPROVED GIVING THIS PROPERTY TO THIS GROUP OF DEVELOPERS AS WELL AS $15 MILLION IN TOTAL INCENTIVES FROM THE CITY AND UP TO 80 PERCENT OF TAX REVENUE GENERATED. THIS FOLLOWS OUR INVESTIGATIONS INTO A PATTERN OF CONTRACTS AND INCENTIVES AWARDED THE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT GAVE BIG MONEY TO IRVIN MAYORAL CAMPAIGN A PAC RUN BY LIST FORMER CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN DENNIS COOK AND CAMPAIGN OF HIS PRIVATE PRACTICE LAW PARTNER BRITTNEY PETTERSON WHO IS RUNNING FOR JUNK. ROLLINS AND IRVIN WERE MARCH TWHID THE CITY COUNCIL BROOUFD THIS DEAL RECORDS SHOW THE REPORT WAS FINAL DECEMBER LAST YEAR. NICK TELL US ABOUT HER ROLE IN THIS PROJECT. >> THE COMPANY SAYS ROLLINS IS NOT WORKING ON THE COPLEY PROJECT THROUGH A SPOKESPERSON, JTE CEO A GLOOIM ALLY OF RICHARD IRVIN AND HIS FORMER CAMPAIGN TREASURE. HE TOLD US THAT ROLLINS STARTED IN MID MARCH AND HAD NO ROLE IN THEIR AURORA BASED PROJECT. ALL THE CURRENT PROJECTS ON COMPANY'S WEB SITE ARE IN AURORA THOUGH IT SAYS IT'S WORKING TO OPEN A RESTAURANT. IRVIN CAMPAIGN DEFENDED THAT PROJECT A SPOKESPERSON SAYS IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY AURORA CITY COUNCIL AND WILL CREATE JOBS. QUOTE. >> AND NICK, ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND WHEN LOOKING INTO THIS IS THE SPEAR WEB OF POLITICALLY CONNECTED COMPANIES THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS COPLEY HOSPITAL PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT SOME OF THESE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS DONATED TO IRVIN RELATED CAMPAIGN. SO UNPACK THIS WEB FOR US. >> THAT'S RIGHT PARIS. WE CAN START WITH JTE CEO MICHAEL HE WORKS IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND HAS A LAW OFFICE AS WELL AS SEVERAL BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN AURORA ALONG WITH HIS BUSINESS PARTNER WON RORMAN ELECTED TO AURORA CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR. HIS BROTHER RUSSELL OWNS A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. HE AND [NAME] WORKED TO OVERHAUL A VACANT DOWNTOWN PROPERTY. THEY GOT UP TO 80 PERCENT OF NEW TAX REVENUE. BOTH WORMANS WERE PART OF THE COPLEY PROJECT. ALL TOLD THE BUSINESSES TIED TO THEM AND COPLEY DONATED MORE THAN $66,000 TO IRVIN MAYORAL CAMPAIGN GAVE $35,000 TO BUILD OUR FUTURE PAC, AND THEN GAVE MORE THAN 22,000 TO IRVIN'S FORMER PRIVATE PRACTICE LAW PARTNER BRITTNEY PETTERSON. SHE IS RUNNING FOR KING COUNTY JUDGE AS DEMOCRAT. THOSE ARE THE FUND WE HAVE REPORTED SEVERAL OTHER DEVELOPERS GETTING WORK AND SNIFRS FROM THE CITY HAVE ALSO DONATED. NOW IRVIN IS SO FAR THE CHOSEN CANDIDATE OF KEN GRIFFIN AS YOU MENTIONED IS ILLINOIS RICHEST MAN AND GRIFFIN HAD CHOICE WORDS ABOUT GOVERN R GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES. >> AND DONATED $20 MILLION TO IRVIN GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN ISSUED STATEMENTS PROMISING IRVIN IS THE GUY TO CLEAN UP WASTE AND CORRUPTION AND INORDINARY NATIONAL SPENDING. NOW, WE DID HEAR REACTION ACTION FROM IRVIN G.O.P. PRIMARY OPPONENTS. ANOTHER QUOTE. AND THEN GARY SAYS. WE NEED TO BE CLEAR NICK THROUGH OUR REPORTING WE HAVE NOT FOUND EFL H EVIDENCE OF ILLEGALITY BUT WE HAVE TALKED TO GOVERNMENT GROUPS SAY THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY EYE ROADS TRUST IN GOVERNMENT. TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THAT REACTION. >> THAT THE RIGHT. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM THE GOVERNMENT TYPE THEY SAY THAT IS THE ISSUE THAT IN ILLINOIS THIS SORT OF THING CAN BE FAIRLY COMMON, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ILLEGAL. THERE ARE PLACES LIKE CHICAGO THAT PUT LIMITS ON HOW MUCH PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS WITH A MUNICIPALITY CAN DONATE THAT'S NOT THE CASE HERE BUT THAT'S THE QUESTION FOR SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE TROUBLED BY THIS THERE'S THE APPEARANCE OF PLAY EVEN IF IT'S NOT ILLEGAL. >> A LOT OF SCRUTINY ON CANDIDATES, NICK BLUMBERG THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> READ OUR STORIES AT OUR WEB SITE WTTW.COM. NEED CAL PROFESSIONALS SHARE THE LATEST RECOMMENDATIONS ON COVID 19 BOOSTER SHOTS. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD COMES TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE SUCH AN IMPORTANT DAY IN OUR CULTURE. >> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT GAS CARD GIVEAWAY FACES DEFEATED FIRST TO ANNOUNCE BID FOR MAYOR AND LEGISLATORS TALK BUDGET CRIME IN TONIGHT'S SPOTLIGHT POLITICS. JOINING US HEATHER AND AMANDA GREAT TO SEE YOU HEALTHER LET'S START WITH RELIEF THE GAS PROPOSAL WHAT HAPPENED? >> IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VOTED ON BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE BUT THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH VOTES AND AS I SAID ON THE SHOW THEY DID NOT HAVE THE VOTES. NOW, THE ORDINANCE ITSELF WAS NOT SENT TO ALDERMEN UNTIL 2 HOURS BEFORE THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING STARTED AND THE PUBLIC DIDN'T GET TO SEE IT UNTIL REPORTERS GOT HOLD OF IT DURING THE MEETING. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CHANGES FROM WHAT THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK. IT WILL BE CHICAGOANS WILL HAVE TO BE ELIGIBLE. YOU HAVE TO MAKE LESS MONEY TO GET GAS CARDS AND THE PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED NOT BY FEDERAL COVID RELIEF DOLLARS BUT BY MONEY LEFT OVER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING BUDGET SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. NOW THE MAYOR HAD THREE MORE WEEKS TO GET IT THROUGH COMMITTEE BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL WAS SCHEDULED TO MEET APRIL 27. IT IS AN INDICATION THE MAYOR IS FACING PROBLEMS GETTING HER PROPOSALS THROUGH THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL. >> SEE IF THAT PROPOSAL HAS GAS LEFT AND I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. ALDERMAN LOPEZ ANNOUNCE HE'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF CHICAGO AT NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY AFTER ANNOUNCING IN A TWEET HEALTH WARE DO YOU MAKE OF THIS POTENTIAL CANDIDATE OR OFFICIAL CANDIDATE NOW? >> WELL RAYMOND LOPEZ HAS LONG MADE NO BONES ABOUT THE FACT HE THOUGHT HE COULD DO A BETTER JOB RUNNING CHICAGO THAN LAURIE LIGHT DETECTIVE FOOT AND WILL GET HIS CHANCE TO MAKE HIS CASE FOR CHICAGO. SHE HAS SPARED NO WORDS AT HIS EXPENSE. HE HAS CALLED HER INCOMPETENT. SHE CAST CALLED HIM RACIST THEY'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH PRETTY MUCH SINCE THE MOMENT THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT TOOK OFFICE AND THEY HAVE CLASHED HOVER EVERYTHING FROM PROTECTIONS FROM UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO COVID-19 TO AND TO PUBLIC SAFETY SO THERE WILL BE NO SHORTAGE OF AREAS FOR THE TWO POTENTIAL CANDIDATE TO DISAGREE. I SHOULD NOTE MAYOR LAURIE LIGHTFOOT HAS NOT ANNOUNCED SHE WILL RUN FOR A SECOND TERM. >> SO THE FIRST DOMINO FALLS. ALDERMAN LOPEZ HAS BEEN CLOSE TO ALDERMAN BURKE OVER THE YEARS, ED BURKE THAT IS, JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON. STATE ISSUES ANTI-CRIME SENATE PROPOSALS UNDERWAY IN SPRINGFIELD, DEMOCRATS UNVEILING QUOTE PRO-LAW LAW ENFORCEMENT BILLS TAKING AT AT CARJACKINGS, COOK COUNTY SHERIFF DART WOULD CREATE A HOTLINE. >> WE ARE AT A CRISIS POINT. THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE NEED ACTION AND WE NEED IT NOW HAND WE ARE DESPERATE FOR IT. THIS CAN BE DONE. THIS IS EASY. VIRTUALLY EVERY CAR SINCE 2015 HAS TRACKING CAPABILITY IN IT SO THE QUESTION IS IF IT CAN BE TRACKED WHY ISN'T IT BEING TRACT? >> SO AMANDA THIS CARJACKING BILL SOME OF THESE OTHER PRO-LAW ENFORCEMENT BILLS WHAT KIND OF CHANCES DO THEY HAVE? >> WELL, THE STARTERS CARJACKING MEASURE AIMED AT EVERYTHING LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE SOMEWHERE TO CALL BECAUSE DART HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHERE SOMEBODY GETS CARJACKED 2 a.m. AND WANT IMMEDIATELY CHASE THE CAR AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN AUTO MANUFACTURER WHO IS COOPERATING WILL GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION, IT'S TOO LATE. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS WOULD DO BUT THIS IS ONE OF MANY MEASURES THAT ARE BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY THE WAY SET TO ADJOURN SUPER EARLY PLANNING TO ADJOURN ON FRIDAY THAT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF CRIME. SO, SOME MIGHT BE EASIER TO PASS THINGS LIKE CREATING A MECHANISM FOR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AN THE STATE POLICE TO WORK TOGETHER IN A MORE COOPERATIVE FASHION TO GO AFTER CARJACKINGS. OTHERS POTENTIALLY MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE IS PUSH BACK PARTICULARLY FROM PROGRESSIVE REASON AS MEASURES FOR INSTANCE DEALING WITH RETAIL THEFT SMASH-AND-GRAB ROBBERIES SO THERE'S A LOT OF TALK RECOGNITION BY DEMOCRATS SINCE JANUARY THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH CRIME BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE THIS ELECTION YEARS. >> DO THEY SENSE IT'S A POLITICAL LIABILITY THAT THEY'RE SOFT ON CRIME THAT SOME MEASURES EVER LET CRIMINALS OUT? >> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK BOTH THERE'S I SUPPOSE CYNICAL OR REALISTIC POINTS OF VIEW THAT THESE MEASURES THAT YES THERE IS AN ELECTION COMING UP AND AS A MAJOR CRIME LAW WAS PASSED LAST YEAR, AND SO YES, I THINK NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS THIS SESSION YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DEMOCRATS UNDER FIRE FROM REPUBLICANS THAT THEY'VE BEEN SOFT ON CRIME BUT ALSO I THINK IT COULD BE TRUE. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES THAT YOU EVER LEGISLATORS INCLUDING ONE OF THE DEMOCRATS BACKING THIS SENATOR KIM WHO HERSELF WAS VICTIMS OF CARJACKING AN THESE SORT OF CRIMES ARE HAPPENING IN THE VERY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LEGISLATORS REPRESENT SO PARTIALLY POLITICS AND UNFORTUNATE REALITY WHAT'S BEING EXPERIENCEED IN CHICAGO AND ELSEWHERE. >> CERTAINLY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FROM LAWMAKERS. HEADSER BACK TO THE CITY SO THE THREE CASINO FINALISTS ARE GOING BEFORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THIS WEEK IN HEARINGS. HOW ARE HEARINGS GOING? >> WELL WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE SO FAR ON TUESDAY NIGHT THE HARD ROCK CASINO MOSS H MADE ITS CASE TO RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH LOOP AND THE RECEPTION WAS COOL AT BEST THERE. WERE MANY PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY DID NOT WANT A CASINO AND THEY REALLY EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM THAT THE CASINO COULD BE BUILT WITHOUT THE ONE CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD BUILD A WHOLE NEW MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE TRAIN TRACKS, SOLDIER FIELD AND THEY CALL IT PIE IN THE SKY SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T THINK WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN MORE SHOULD IT BECAUSE IT RELIES ON NEARLY $6 BILLION IN STATE SUBSIDIES SO THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT PROPOSAL. NEXT UP THE 78 PROPOSAL WITH RIVERS CASINO WILL GET THEIR CHANCE AND THEN FINALLY BALLYS WILL GET TO MAKE THEIR CASE TO BUILD A CASINO ON WHAT IS NOW THE NEWS ROOM AND PRINTING PLANT AT "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" SO BIG CHANGES POTENTIALLY IN STORE FOR THEM. >> I GET THE FEELING MOST OF THESE NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO SAY NOT IN MY BACKYARD AND GROUPS WILL POP UP SAYING CITIZENS FOR THE CASINO THAT GET FUNDING FROM CASINO INTERESTS. >> YOU CAN BET ON THAT PARIS. >> WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS. AMANDA LAST 30 SECOND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE THERE'S A BUDGET THAT THE HOUSE HAS PROPOSED SENATE AND GOVERNOR PROPOSED ARE WE GOING TO SEE WITH MADIGAN WIN BLAGOJEVICH IMPASS THAT LEADS TO OVERTIME? >> EXPECTATION IS NO BECAUSE THERE IS INTEREST BY ALL LEGISLATORS TO HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. WE'VE GOT A PRIMARY IN JUNE THAT IS A STRANGE TIMELINE AND THAT IS WHERE YOU HAVE THIS FAST TRACK ADJOURN ON FRIDAY AND YOU HAVE COMPETING PROPOSALS THAT THEY EDGE AROUND THE SAME TOPIC OFFERING SOME VERSION OF OH HERE YOU GO VOTERS, ELECTION YEAR TAX RELIEF. IT'S JUST REALLY A MATTER OF HOW MUCH, WHO GET IT, AND HOW LONG THAT RELIEF LASTS WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THE PRIMARY THE GENERAL ELECTION OR ALL THROUGH 2023. >> THAT'S IT. OUR THANKS TO AMANDA AND HEATHER, AS ALWAYS. UP NEXT MODERN DAY SCIENCE LESSONS FROM ONE OF AMERICAN'S FOUNDING FATHERS BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE NEW KEN BURNS DOCUMENTARY BENL FRANKLIN LOOKS HAT THE LIFE OF ONE FOUNDER OF THE UNITED STATES, FRANKLIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS ARE A BIG PART OF THE STORY BUT HOW DO THEY RESONATE WITH TODAY'S STUDENTS OF SCIENCE? JOINING US NOW IS JASON COLEMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A CHICAGO STEM PROGRAM CALLED PROJECT SINCERE. JASON THANKS FOR JOINING US. FIRST, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROJECT SINCERE AND THE KIND OF WORK YOU DO. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. SO PROJECT SINCERE IS AN ENGINEERING EDUCATIONAL NONPROFIT IN CHICAGO. WE STARTED ROUGHLY 13 YEARS AGO. IT'S TO GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT CAREER. OFTENTIMES IT'S THE FIRST PROGRAM WITH HAND ON ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE WHAT ENGINEERING IS ABOUT AND ABOUT THE CLEAR POSSIBILITIES THAT EXIST IN THE ENGINEERING FIELD. WE DON'T JUST FOCUS ON DESTRUCTIBLEARY PROGRAMS. WE TRY TO GIVE THEM EXPERIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEM EXCITING ABOUT ENGINEERING. SO BY THE TIME THEY'RE OUT OF COLLEGE THEY CAN IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF DISCIPLINE THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO AND HAVE THE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. >> CERTAIN THELY THERE ARE AREAS THEY CAN CHOOSE FROM. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WAS INTERESTED IN SO MANY AREAS OF SCIENCE ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY WE SEE THAT IN THE DOCUMENTARY HE WAS A VERY CURIOUS PERSON HIS DISCOVERIES BECAUSE HE HAD QUESTIONS AND TRIED THESE EXPERIMENTS AND SOME FAILED SO TALK ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING KRAVR AND EVEN FAILING. >> YES, SCIENCE ENGINEERING IS ALL ABOUT A DESIGN PROCESS. TRYING TO UTILIZE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS AND WHAT FOLLOWS. IT'S INITIALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, COMING UP WITH AN IDEA, TESTING THE IDEA, REALIZING WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T AND THEN IMPROVING ON YOUR DESIGN SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOT THINK OF A BARRIER AS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T LEARN FROM BUT BEING ABLE TO REALIZE WHAT'S INVOLVED ON ISSUES THAT DIDN'T GO RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. FAILURE IS NEVER A BAD THING IN SCIENCE. IT'S ABOUT TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO LOOK AT FAILURE LEARN FROM IT AND MOVE FORWARD. >> WE SEE IN THIS DOCUMENTARY ABOUT BEN FRANKLIN DESPITE HIS GENIUS HE WAS PREJUDICE. HE HAD SLAVES AT EARLY AGE EVEN THOUGH HE EVOLVED TO BE AN AN LISTIST NEAR THE END SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SCIENCE AN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND SOME OF THE RACIST HISTORY, HOW DO YOU PROCESS ALL THAT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT SCIENCE? >> IT'S NEVER AN EASY SUBJECT TO TALK ABOUT RACE IN THE PAST. EVERYBODY HAS SOMEWHAT OF A PAST, YOU KNOW GOOD OR BAD. YOU KNOW, HONESTLY WITH BENJAMIN FRANKLIN THOSE THINGS ARE PROBABLY FACTS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT BUT BEING ENLIGHTENED ABOUT THAT IS INTERESTING TO REALIZE WHAT KIND OF MAN FRANKLIN WAS, EVEN THOUGH CHOSE TO FIGHT FOR AN LIST AND SLAVERY, HE DID MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALSO REALIZE THAT HE HAD THOUT HIS CAREER AS WELL. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE IN THE FILM ONE OF THE TURNING POINTS IN HIS THOUGHTS HE WENT TO A SCHOOL WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN AND REALIZED THEY'RE AS SMART AS ANY KIDS HE EVER MET AN ALMOST INSTANTLY CHANGE SO WHEN YOU'RE TEACHING KIDS STEM HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED IN THESE FIELDS? >> I MEAN I THINK THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES. I THINK THAT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO TEACH PEOPLE SPECIFIC SKILLS SPECIFIC AREAS THAT THEY'VE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM SO LONG IT'S REALLY ABOUT OPPORTUNITY SO IT PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH ACCESS PROFESSIONAL MENTORS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, A WAY TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALIZE IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN BE GOOD AT, THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN REALLY EXCEL IN IN A SPECIAL WAY. SO FAR, YOU HAVE PEOPLE LEARNING WHAT WE DO BUT ALSO PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY TO HELP COMPANIES FIRST HAND TO TAKE STOCK AND BEING ABLE TO USE EQUIPMENT THAT PROFESSIONALS USE SO IT'S GIVING THEM A HEAD START TO BEING ABLE TO DECIDE ON THEIR FUTURE. >> AND TALK ABOUT, WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT PERSON'S OF COLOR ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THESE FIELDS. OBVIOUSLY THE WORK YOU DO IS SO IMPORTANT. WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO GET MORE REPRESENTIZATION? >> THERE ARE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS THAT EVER OPPRESSED PEOPLE SO LONG IN THIS COUNTRY OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED MANY WE NEED MORE INVOLVEMENT WITH BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES IN CHICAGO JOB OPPORTUNITIES MAKE COLLEGE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE, COLLEGE RIGHT NOW IS BECOMING VERY EXPENSIVE FOR EVERYBODY. SO IF YOU'RE REALLY COMMITTED TO INSURE IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN WORK FOR, LIKE HOW, WHY ARE WE NOT INVESTING MORE MONEY IN THE FUTURE, SO THAT HAS TO START WITH YOUNG KIDS, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, TEACHERS WHO ARE TRAINED AND CAPABLE OF PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH TRAINING, AND WE NEED MORE PROGRAMS. SO I THINK IT'S TRULY AN APPROACH WE NEED TO TAKE ON FIXING THINGS RIGHT NOW. >> WE ARE OUT OF TIME. WE TALKED BEFORE. ONE THING YOU BROUGHT UP IF THERE'S MORE REPRESENTATION OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN STEM THEY CAN FIX SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT COME FROM SOME OF THOSE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. THEY WOULD BE THE BEST PEOPLE TO DO THAT MAYBE SHOW VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION, THANKS TO JASON COLEMAN OF PROJECT SINCERE. >> THANK YOU PARIS. >> YOU CAN CATCH THE NEW DOCUMENTARY THIS SUNDAY MORNING AT 11 A.M. ON WTTW. WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS. >> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. STAY CONNECTED BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON OUR WEB SITE AND YOUTUBE. GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND PBS VIDEO APP AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7 P.M. WE LEAVE WITH YOU A LOOK AT ARTIST BEN MILLER'S PAINTING OF THE CHICAGO RIVER USING NONE OTHER THAN A FISHING ROD AND REEL. CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS PAINTING METHOD ON OUR WEB SITE MANY FOR ALL OF US AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS. THANKS FOR WATCHING. STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪