HAVE

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO

"CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PHIL PONCE ON THIS TUESDAY,

OCTOBER 13th.

>> HIGH AND DEEP, AND THIS IS

LONG GONE!

THE MOON SHOT HELPED TO PUT THE

CUBS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES.

A FULL RECAP OF TONIGHT'S HEART

STOPPING SERIES CLENCHER OVER

THE CARDINALS.

>> I APOLOGIZE TO THEM, THEY

DESERVED MUCH MORE.

>> AFTER BEING SILENT FOR MONTH

FORMER SCHOOL CEO BARBARA

BYRD-BENNETT SPEAKS OUT IN

COURT.

I PLEAD GUILTY.

DETAILS ON HER PLEA AGREEMENT.

>> IT'S NOISY, HARD TO HEAT WITH

YOUR COLLEAGUES, AND HARD TO

MOVE THROUGH THE BUILDING.

VERY, VERY INEFFECTIVE.

THE THOMPSON CENTER IS FOR SALE,

GOVERNOR RAUNER SAYS IT IS A

COSTLY AND INEFFICIENT ALBATROSS

FOR STATE.

BUT HOW MUCH CAN THE STATE GET

FOR IT AND WHAT DOES THE

ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNED IT HAVE

SAY.

>> A MILLION ILLINOIS RESIDENTS

MAY WARM UP TO A SMART

THERMOMETER.

COULD IT HELP THEIR COSTS?

>> THIS IS OUR WILD AREA.

A NEO NATURE PRESERVE OFFERS A

ISLAND OF CALM IN A BUSY CHICAGO

NEIGHBORHOOD.

JAY SHEFSKY PAYS IT A VISIT.

AND FORMER "MEET THE PRESS" HOST

DAVID GREGORY ON HIS UNLIKELY

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

ALL THAT AND MORE NEXT ON

"CHICAGO TONIGHT."

REALTIME CLOSED CAPTIONING

PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TONIGHT.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT COULD

DECIDE AS EARLY AS MONDAY

WHETHER TO HEAR ARG U.S ON NOW

SUBURBAN HIGHLAND PARKS BAN ON

ASSAULT WEAPONS.

IT BANS THE

UNDISCLOSED SUM.

THE NEWS COMES AS PITCHFOR

PREPARES TO MARK ITS 20th

ANNIVERSARY IN FEBRUARY.

THE WEATHER, SUNNY TOMORROW WITH

HEY AROUND 63, AND UP NEXT,

PARIS SCHUTZ WRAPS UP THE CUBS

BIG WIN.

>>> THE CUBS WENT THIS DRAMATIC

TIGS BY A SCORE OF 6-FOUR TO

MOVE ON TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FOR THE

FIRST TIME IN TWELVE YEARS.

PARIS SCHUTZ IS HERE WITH THE

LATEST AND A BREAKDOWN OF THIS

CLINCHING WIN.

WHAT A DAY!

>> AS YOU KNOW AND THE VIEWERS

KNOW THIS GAME ENDED WITHIN

MINUTES, A DRAMATIC 6-4 WIN,

POUR 2,000 FANS ABOUT TO STREAM

OUT OF WRIGLEY FIELD BUT I'M

SURE MANY ARE STAYING IN THERE

TO SOAK UP THIS HISTORIC MOMENT.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE CUBS

HAVE JUAN PLAYOFF SERIES AT

HOME, EVER.

SO LET'S GO TO THE HIGHLIGHT

REEL.

OFF TO AN INYOU A SPYIOUS START.

A 2-RUN HOMERUN, TOP OF THE

FIRST HALF, JASON HAMMEL WITH A

SHORT LEASH.

HE STAYED IN, KNOCKING IT OUT,

TWO MEN ON.

A SINGLE, CASTRO ROUNDING THIRD

TO SCORE.

AND NEXT PATHER THREE-RUN

OPPOSITE FIELD HOMERUN TO PUT

THEM UP 4-1, THAT WAS THE

DIFFERENCE MAKER.

AND WE GO TO THE TOP OF THE 6th,

HARRY TRUEMAN, AND BRINGING THEM

TO WITHIN ONE AND BRANDON MOSS

SINGLES TO CENTER, ONE RUN

SCORES, A SECOND RUN AS YOU WILL

SEE HERE.

A HIT.

RUNNING TO GRAB THAT BALL,

THROWS TONY CRUZ OUT AT THE

PLATE.

SO THE CUBS ESCAPE TIED 4-4.

AND TO THE BOTTOM OF THE 6th,

ANTHONY RIZZO, PROBABLY THE MVP

THIS YEAR, TWO VIKES AND TWO

OUTS AND HE GOES YARD.

SOLO HOMERUN THAT PUTS THE CUBS

BACK UP 5-4.

FANS GOES NUTS AND EVERYBODY IS

BREATHING EASIER.

AND NEXT INNING, THE ROOKIE,

MOONSHOT OVER THE SCOREBOARD, I

THINK IT LANDED ON THE TOP OF

THE SCOREBOARD, THAT GIVES THEM

BREATHING ROOM.

6-4, CROWD, AND HERE IS LAST.

HECTOR, THREE STRAIGHT STRIKES

GETS HIM CLINGING.

CUBS WIN, HOLY COW, CUBS WIN,

MOVING ON TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES, AND THE

FANS ARE JUST ECSTATIC AT

WRIGLEY FIELD.

>> YOU ARE REALLYED GOOD AT THAT

>> A CATCH PHRASE, WRITTEN DOWN.

I NEED TO WORK ON THAT.

HOW ARE CITY OFFICIALS DEAL WITH

A POTENTIALLY BIG CELEBRATION?

>> THERE ARE AS YOU MIGHT

IMAGINE EXTRA POLICE ON THE

STREETS OUTSIDE WRIGLEY FIELD

RIGHT NOW.

BUT THEY WOULDN'T SAY HOW MANY.

THE SFGS OF EMERGENCY

MORNINGMENT SAYS THEY WILL CLOSE

SOME STREETS AROUND QUIGLEY

FIELD FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS TO

TRY AND PROTECT PEDESTRIANS

THERE, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A

LOT STREAMING OUT OF THE STADIUM

AND THE ESTABLISHMENTS OF MERRY,

AND A LOOK AT THE PARKING BANS A

PARKING BAN UNTIL THE END OF THE

DAY, OR NIGHT TONIGHT, ALONG

CLARK, FROM IRVING PARK TO

ADDISON TO HALSTED, AND IT WILL

BE IMPOSSIBLE, SO THEY DECIDED

TO BAN PARKING.

OMC SAYS THE CELEBRATION THEY

ANTICIPATE WILL BE SOMEWHAT LIKE

THE STANLEY CUP CELEBRATION WHEN

THE BLACKHAWKS WON YOU YOU HAVE

TO ADD IN THE 42,000 FANS

STEAMING OUT OF QUIGLEY FIELD

ANY SECOND.

SO IT WILL BE QUITE A SCENE.

>> AND THE ESTABLISHMENTS OF

MERRY MOMENT THAT OFTEN GET YOU.

LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT ARE THE CUBS

FACING?

>> THE METS AND DODGERS ARE

PLAYING, THE METS CAN CLINCH

TONIGHTANT CUBS, THE CUBS ARE

BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL LEFT IN

THE GAME.

I DON'T THINK EITHER OF THE

TEAMS SCARE THEM LIKE THE

PIRATES.

THEY WILL PLAY THE WINNER OF THE

METS-DODGER SERIES SATURDAY, AND

GAME TWO ON SUNDAY, AND GAME

THREE AT WRIGLEY TUESDAY,

WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY, AND IF

IT GOES TO GAME 6 AND 7 THAT

WILL BE IN NEW YORK OR LOS

ANGELES.

SO YOU HAVE THE METS, A YOUNG

TEAM, NOT A VERY GOOD HITTING

TEAM, THEY HAVE GOOD YOUNG

PITCHERS, INCLUDING THE GROM AND

DODGERS, TWO TO THREE BEST

PITCHERS IN BASEBALL, THAT IS

SCARY TO GO UP AGAINST.

THEY ARE TWO OF THE THREE BEST,

THE OTHER PERSON IS JAKE

ARRIETA, THE CUBS' ACE.

THEY HAVE BEST RECORD OF ANY

TIME LEFT IN THE PLAYOFFS AND I

DON'T THINK THEY LOOK

INTIMIDATED BY ANYBODY RIGHT

NOW.

>> THE WORD HISTORIC IS USED A

LOT.

THAT IS NOT AN UNDERSTATEMENT IN

THIS CASE?

>> LET'S RUN DOWN SOME OF THE

BULLET POINTS HERE ON HISTORY.

THE FIRST TIME THE CUBS HAVE

EVER WON A POST-SEASON SERIES,

AT WRIGLEY FIELD.

THAT IS GOING BACK 107, 9, 10

YEARS, MORE THAN A CENTURY.

AND IT IS ONLY THEIR SECOND

POST-SEASON SERIES WIN SINCE

1908 N 2003 THEY WON AGAINST THE

BRAVES AND PLAYED THE MARLINS

AND I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO

REMIND VIEWERS HOW THAT ENDED.

THE CUBS WERE UP 3-1 AND THAT A

FEW THINGS, THERE WAS FAN, A

FOUL BALL...

>> WE RECALL THAT.

>> I'M SURE YOU DO.

AND THE THEY HIT TEN HOMERUNS BY

7 DIFFERENT PLAYERS, THE POWER

SURGE AT WRIGLEY WAS DYNAMITE.

THE CUBS WERE NOT KNOWN IN THE

FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON LIKE

MUCH OF A POWER HITTING TEAM AND

YOU LOOK AT THE ROOKIES,

BASICALLY IN LAST MONTH OR SO OF

THE SEASON.

WHO AM I MISSING, ADAMSON,

RUSSELL, BRYANT, TURNING ON THE

POWER AT THE RIGHT TIME IN THE

FALL WHEN ITS COUNTS.

SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY

FEEL THE PRESSURE AS JOE MADDEN

THE COACH SAID DON'T LET THE

PRESSURE EXCEED THE PLEASURE, A

LOT OF PLEASURE TONIGHT, BOTH

PLAYERS AND FANS, AND WE HOPE

THAT EVERYONE CELEBRATES VERY

SAFELY.

>> AND LET'S GIVE CREDIT TO

LESTER MONSON WHO PREDICTED THIS

SERIES WILL WOULD BE WON BY THE

CUBS AND CLINCHER WOULD BE HERE

AT HOME.

>> HE IS AN ICON.

>> UP NEXT, BARBARA BYRD-BENNETT

AND HER DAY IN COURT.

>>> FORMER CHICAGO CHICAGO

PUBLIC SCHOOL'S CEO PLEADS

GUILTY TO CORRUPTION.

SHE WAS IN TOURT TODAY FOR A AN

APPEARANCE AND ARAINMENT OF MAIL

AND WIRE FRAUD.

THE INDICTMENT CLAIMS SHE

INTENDED TO ACCEPT KICKBACKS FOR

STEERING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR

CPS CONTRACT TO HER FORMER

EMPLOYERS, WHO ARE ALSO INDICTED

IN THE SCHEME.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WAS IN THE

COURTROOM TODAY AND WHAT WAS THE

ATTITUDE THAT BYRD-BENNETT

PROJECTED IN COURT?

WAS SHE REMORESFUL?

>> Reporter: IT IS HARD TO SAY,

FROM WHERE WE WERE SITTING IN

THE BACK PM DURING THE ARAINMENT

WHERE SHE TOLD THE FEDERAL

DISTRICT JUDGE, THAT SHE PLED

GUILTY, SHE SHOWED LITTLE

EMOTION.

WHEN SHE DID MAKE A BRIEF

STATEMENT, SOME CALL IT

EMOTIONAL BUT SHE DIDN'T SAY

MUCH.

>> MY MESSAGE IS FOR THE

CHILDREN AND FAMILY OF THE

CHILDREN AT THE CHICAGO PUBLIC

SCHOOLS AND THE DEDICATED

EDUCATORS THAT WE HAVE.

I AM TERRIBLY SORRY AND I

APOLOGIZE TO THEM.

THEY DESERVED MUCH MORE.

MUCH MORE THAN I GAVE TO THEM.

AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND IN COURT BIRD PLED GUILTY

TO ONE OF THE 23 COUNTS THAT WE

LEARNED OF LAST WEEK, THAT WAS

FOR COUNTS TWO, MAIL FRAUD.

THE PLEA AGREEMENT SHOWS THE

FORMER CEO WITH HER

CO-DEFENDANTS CAME UP WITH A

PLAN TO BE SURE THAT THE SUPES

ACADEMY RECEIVED CONTRACTS WORTH

A TOTAL OF $23 MILLION FOR

EXCHANGE OF KICKBACKS AND

PAYMENTS TO BYRD-BENNETT.

THE AGREEMENT READS THAT ANOTHER

DEFENDANT TOLD HER THAT THE

ACCOUNTS WERE RELATIVE A AND B

CONTAINED $127,000 EACH THAT

FUNDS 10% OF THE GROSS

PROCEEDSES OF THE OCTOBER 24th

PROJECT.

IN ADDITION THE SUPES ACADEMY

ENTITIES OWED FOR WORK PERFORMED

IN OTHER DISTRICTS PRIOR TO HER

EMPLOYMENT WITH CPS.

AND SAYS SHE DID NOT RECEIVE MY

PAYMENTS FROM SOLOMON, VRANAS OR

SUPES ACADEMY, OR ANY TRUST

RELATED TO THE CONTRACT WHILE

EMPLOYED AT CPS.

INSTEAD THEY EXPECTED TO RECEIVE

SOLOMON EMPLOYMENT, WITH A SUPES

ACADEMY ENTITIES AND FINANCIAL

ACCOUNTS FOR RELATIVE A AND B

AND SIGNING BONUS CONSISTENT

WITH THOSE OTHER CONSULTANTS.

AND THAT WOULD BE WORTH HUNDREDS

OF THOUSANDS.

THAT ONE WAS WORTH $2.09

MILLION.

>> WHAT KIND OF SENTENCE MIGHT

SHE UB SUBJECT TO IN LIT OF

THIS?

>> THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE IS 20

YEARS IN PRISON AND $250,000 IN

FINES, BUT BECAUSE SHES PLEADING

GUILTY AND COOPERATING THE

PROSECUTORS SET HER SENTENCE TO

FALL BETWEEN 11 AND 14 YEARS.

THE U.S.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICE SAY

IT IS HE COOPERATES TO THE

DEGREE TO WITHER EXPECTING THEY

ARE WILLING TO LOWER IT TO OVER

7 YEARS IN PRISON.

HER SENTENCE WILL BE UP TO THE

JUDGE AND SHE IS NOT EXPECTED

BACK IN COURT UNTIL LATE

JANUARY.

SO THAT COULD TAKE A WHILE

LONGER.

THAT IS A STATUS HEARING.

THE OTHER DEFENDANTS, GARY

SOLOMON, OWNER OF SUPES ACADEMY

AND TOMAS VRANAS ARE EXPECTED IN

THE COURTROOM FOR AN ARAINMENT

TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

>> WHAT IS THE REACTION TO THIS

PLEA DEAL?

>> A SPOKESPERSON FROM THE

MAYOR'S OFFICE SAID THAT BARBARA

BYRD-BENNETT TOOK RESPONSIBILITY

FOR PUTTING HER OWN FINANCIAL

GAIN AHEAD OF WHAT WAS IN BOSTON

INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN SHE

PLEDGED TO SERVE.

IT CONTINUES TO BE A WHAT'S FOR

THE COURTS AND VIEWERS CAN READ

THAT STATEMENT ON THE WEBSITE.

BUT ADVOCACY ASSOCIATION SAYS

THE APOLOGY IS BETTER THAN NONE

AT ALL BUT BY NOW THE DAMAGE HAS

BEEN DONE.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS THIS

UNDERSCORES AN CALL FOR AN

ELECTED COOL BOARD.

EVENTUALLY HORRIFIED THAT IT

TOOK THIS LONG.

WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT

THIS CONTRACT FOR YEARS.

AND WE WENT BEFORE THE BOARD OF

ED BUDGET HEARINGS AND MET WITH

TIM CALLY OVER SIX TIMES TO ASK

THAT THEY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT.

FOR OUR GROUP THE PROBLEM IS

LARGER THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL, WHO

DID SOMETHING VERY WRONG.

IT IS THE SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT

DOESN'T HAVE THE CHECKS AND

BALANCES NEEDED TO STOP THIS

TYPE OF ABUSE.

>> WHAT DOES CPS SAY TO STEPS

THEY WILL TAKE TO PREVENT THIS

ABUSE FROM HAPPENING IN FUTURE?

>> CURRENT CEO FORREST CLAYPOOL

SENT A LETTER TO ALDERMAN WILL

BURNS, THE CHAIR OF THE

EDUCATION SMEET DETAILING

CHANGES THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED.

BACK IN JUNE THE MONTH AFTER

BYRD-BENNETT WENT ON PAID LEAVE

FROM THE DISTRICT, CPS LEADERS

ASK THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTING

FIRM TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF

THEIR SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT

PROCEDURES AND IT DID, AND THE

DISTRICT SAYS THEY HAVE BEGUN TO

INPLEMT SOME OF THE

RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THIS ARE

MORE ON THE WAY.

THE LETTER SAYS CPS IS

UNDERGOING A TOP-TO-BOTTOM AUDIT

THAT MAY LEAD TO MORE CHANGES,

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NEW

AUDITOR THE DISTRICT HAS AND

WILL EXAMINE EVERY ASPECT OF THE

OPERATIONS INCLUDING THE

ORGANIZATION, ITS CONTRACTS AND

EMPLOYEE TRAVEL AND CAPITAL

PROJECTS AND FACILITIES AND

ENROLLMENT AND INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL

OPERATIONS AND LATE THIS EVENING

WE GOT A STATEMENT FROM FORREST

CLAYPOOL REINTERATING THAT, TOP

PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE THE

CHILDREN OF CHICAGO GET THE HIGH

QUALITY EDUCATE AND MAKING SURE

EVERY POSSIBLE DOLLAR IS SPENT

IN THE CLASSROOMS.

VIEWERS CAN LOOK AT THE PLEA

AGREEMENT AND THE MAYOR

STATEMENT ALL ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> YOU GAVE US A RANGE OF A

POTENTIAL SENTENCE.

BUT YOU KNOW OFTEN TIMES YOU

HEAR OF SOMEONE JUST GETTING

PROBATION.

BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE REPORTING,

IS IT LIKELY THEY WILL GO TO

SERVE TIME?

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WILL

ACTUALLY SERVE TIME FROM THE

DISCUSSIONS I HAVE HAD.

THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE IS WHERE IT

IS, AND THEN EVEN THEN THEY

REDUCED IT DOWN BASED ON HER

COOPERATION, I NEVER GOT THE

IMPRESSION THAT IT WOULD BE

REDUCED TO THE POINT WHERE SHE

WOULD BE UNDERSINCE ADVISED

RELEASE.

>> AND I'M UNDER THAT

IMPRESSION, YES.

>> BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU

VERY MUCH.

UP NEXT AN ICONIC BOTH BUILDING

FOR SALE.

EDDIE ARRUZA HAS DETAILS.

>>> A REBATE PROGRAM ENDS TO CUT

NR COST YOU THERE SMART

THERMOMETERS.

OUR CHICAGO NATURE PRESERVE

OFFERS HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND

A HAVEN FOR HUMANS.

AND JOURNALIST DAVID GREG ROY

EX-EXPLORATION OF RELY JOHN AND

SEARCH FOR MEANING.

AND ONE OF THE STATE'S PRICIER

ASSETS IS UP FOR SALE.

GOVERNOR RAUNER TODAY SAYS THE

30-YEAR-OLD THOMPSON CENTER ONCE

CALLED THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

BUILDING COULD BRING IN A HEFTY

AMOUNT FOR THE CASH STRAPPED

STATE.

THE BUILDING ACROSS FROM CHICAGO

CITY HALL HAS HAD ITS SHARE OF

ADMIRERS, AND DETRACTORS, BUT

THE RENOWNED CHICAGO ARCHITECT

WHO DESIGNED IT HAS TOUGH WORDS

ABOUT HOW ILLINOIS HAS FAILED TO

CARE FOR IT.

EDDIE ARRUZA IS HERE WITH MORE.

ANY WORD ON THE VALUE OF THAT

PRIME PIECE OF CHICAGO REAL

ESTATE?

>> THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE

HAS TO THE ENAPPRAISALS TO OH

THAT PROPERTY BUT WOULD NOT

DIVULGE ON HOW MUCH THEY WOULD

GET, FOR THE BUILDING AND THAT

VERY DESIREABLE BLOCK OF LAND

THAT THEY OWN.

THE ONLY COST THAT THE GOVERNOR

DID TALK ABOUT WAS THE ESTIMATED

HUNDRED MILLION IN REPAIRS AND

UPGRADES THAT THE BUILDING IS IN

DISPATH NEED OF.

YOU CAN SEE WEEDS GROWING ON THE

EXTERIOR AND CONDITIONS ARE

WORSE ON THE INSIDE, FROM DUCT

TAPE HOLDING TOGETHER OLD

CARPETING TO REPORTS OF

COCKROACHES.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN

2,000 STATE EMPLOYEES THERE AND

ANOTHER 280 THAT WORK THIS THE

RETAIL AND FOOD BUSINESSES.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE

WORKERS WOULD BE MOVED TO MORE

COST EFFECTIVE STATE OWNED

OFFICES IN CHICAGO AND EVEN

SPRINGFIELD.

NOW THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME A

GOVERNOR HAS WANTED TO DITCH

THAT PROPERTY TO HELP WITH STATE

FINANCES.

TWEF YEARS AGO AT THE BEGINNING

OF HIS FIRST TERM, GOVERNOR

BLAGOJEVICH PROPOSED SELLING IT,

BUT THAT PLAN FELL THROUGH.

NOW GOVERNOR RAUNER SAYS IT

NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND IT WANTS IT

OFFERED FOR CASH WITHIN THE NEXT

YEAR.

>> THERE IS A COMPELLING

FINANCIAL GAIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF

ILLINOIS.

AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

IT TAKES A BUILDING, A STRUCTURE

THAT IS IN SIGNIFICANT

DISREPAIR, IS VERY INEFFECTIVE,

AND VERY INEFFICIENT FOR

TAXPAYERS.

I WON'T COMMENT ON THE

AESTHETICS, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO

YOUR OWN OPINIONS.

BUT FROM A PURE FINANCIAL POINTS

OF VIEW A COMPELLING OPPORTUNITY

FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

THIS BUILDING IS IN INEFFECTIVE,

FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE,

ALL OF WHOM ARE EAGER TO MOVE

SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IT IS NOISY.

HARD TO HEAT WITH YOUR

COLLEAGUES, IT IS HARD TO MOVE

THROUGH THE BUILDING, VERY

INEFFECTIVE, NOISE FROM

DOWNSTAIRS SMELLS FROM THE FOOD

COURT, ALL GET INTO THE OFFICES,

MOST OF WHICH ARE OPEN, VERY

HARD TO CONDUCT EFFECTIVE WORK

IN THIS BUILDING.

MPLGTSDS ANY REACTION TO THE

PROPOSAL FROM LEGISTATIVE

LEADERS?

>> THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE HAS

PERSONALLY DISCUSSED THIS WITH

HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE MICHAEL

MADIGAN AND SENATE PRESIDENT

JOHN CULLERTON AND THEY HAS RUN

IT PAST MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL.

THE THREE OF THEM ARE ALL

FORWARD LEANING AND POSITIVE ON

THIS PROPOSAL.

BUT HE SAYS THEY STILL WANT MORE

DETAILS.

HE TALKED TO ATTORNEY GENERAL

LISA MADIGAN AND SECRETARY OF

STATE JESSE WHITE WHO HAVE

OFFICES THERE AND THEY ARE OPEN

AND POSITIVE.

HIS STAFF MADE COURTESY CALLS TO

JIM THOMPSON AND TO ARCHITECT

HELMUT JAHN, THE WORLD RENOWNED

ARCHITECT AND HE COULD ONLY SAY

THEY BOTH A APPRECIATED THE

PHONE CALL BY WAS VERY

DIPLOMATIC.

THE ORIGINAL VISION OF GOVERNOR

JIM THOMPSON AND THE ARCHITECT,

HELMUT JAHN, TO MAKE IT A SYMBOL

OF OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY HAS

NOT BEEN UP HOLED BY THE

ADMINISTRATIONS THAT FOLLOWED.

THE BUILDING HAS IN THE BEEN

MAINTAINED OR REPAIRED.

THE BEST WAY ON SAVE IT AND

IMPROVE IT TO TO REPURPOSE IT,

MARKING THE LARGE FLOOR PLATES

TO INNOVATIVE TECH COMPANIES,

ADDING A HOTEL OR APARTMENTS,

AND IN SHORT, MAKING IT MOST

EXCITING PLACE IN THE CITY WITH

AROUND THE CLOCK ACTIVITY.

THE BUILDING WILL ONLY SURVIVE

THIS WAY AND WILL BECOME A LAND

MARK FOR THE 21st CENTURY.

THE GOVERNOR IS OF THE OPINION

THAT NO BUR OR DEVELOPER WILL

LIKELY WANT TO KEEP THE BUILDING

AND WILL PROBABLY TEAR IT DOWN.

FOR THE CITY AND STATE, HE SAYS

IT IS FOR THE BEST.

>> AND THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE

TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO

THIS SHOULD GENERAL RIGHT

DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE NEW

BUILDING PUT IN HERE, SOMETHING

LIKE $20 MILLION PER YEAR IN NEW

CITY AND SCHOOL TAXES FOR THE

BENEFIT OF LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

A LOT OF MONEY.

RIGHT NOW IT'S A GOVERNMENT

BUILDING AND NOT ON THE CITY TAX

ROLLS.

THIS DOES NOT GENERAL RIGHT TAX

REVENUE FOR THE PEOPLE OF

CHICAGO.

VERY UNFORTUNATE, THIS IS ONE OF

THE MOST VALUABLE NICEST BLOCKS

IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE ARE CONDUCTING A REVIEW OF

THE ASSETS THAT ARE OWNED BY THE

STATE, AND TRYING TO DETERMINE

THEIR VALUE.

AND THEIR USEFULNESS, WHATTER

MAXIMUM MISING THE BENEFIT, THAT

IS AN ONGOING PROCESS.

AND WE WILL BE DOING IT ON A

CONTINUOUS BASIS.

>> ANY DEVELOPERS OR BUYERS

LINING UP?

>> ONE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER

SAID THE CURRENT FINANCIAL

MARKET IS UNLIKE ANY SHE HAS

EXPERIENCED AND SHE HAS IN THE

DOUBT IT WILL SELL.

NONE OF THE BRERS I TALKED TO

WERE WILLING TO GIVE ME AN IDEA

OF HOW MUCH IT MIGHT SELL FOR.

HOWEVER, HERE'S A STATEMENT THAT

THE CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS DID SEND US.

WHILE THE CHICAGO MARKETS RIGHT

NOW IS EXPERIENCING A ROBUST

PERIOD OF GROWTH, IT IS

IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT

CONDITIONS MAY BE DIFFERENT IN

THE PERHAPS FOUR TO FIVE YEARS

IT WOULD TAKE TO COMPLETE A

PROJECT.

ALL OF THIS SAID, IT HAS SEVERAL

ANDRY BUTS ANY DEVELOPER WOULD

LOOK FOR, INCLUDING A LARGE

SPACE WITH WHICH TO WORK AND

ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION AND A

PRIME DOWNTOWN CHICAGO LOCATION.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR HAD

SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT A MAJOR

CHANGE THAT THE MAYOR WANTS FOR

HIS UPCOMING DOOMSDAY BUDGET.

>> THE INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY

TAX EXEMPTION THAT HE NEEDS FROM

SPRINGFIELD.

LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS AS A

MASSIVE PROPERTY TAX SEALS TO BE

ON THE WAY FOR CHICAGO.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS ABOUT THAT:

>> I AM STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE

MAYOR RAISING PROPERTY TAXES ON

THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO WITHOUT

MAJOR STRUCTURAL REFORM AND HE

IS NOT INSTITUTED MAJOR

STRUCTURAL REFORM.

SO I'M OPPOSED AND IN THE

SUPPORTIVE OF ANY OF HIS TAX

INCREASE EFFORT.

AND SO IT GOES.

NO ONE SEEMS TO BE GETTING

ANYTHING IN OR FROM SPRINGFIELD

THAT THEY WANT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AFTER THE BREAK NEW WAYS

TECHNOLOGY MAY HELP YOU SAVE

MONEY ON YOUR HEATING BILLS.

SO STAY WITH US.

>>> AS THE AT THE PRESENT TIME

BEGINS TO DROP COULD YOUR

HEATING BILL DROP AS WELL?

RIGHT NOW THERE IS A NEW MOVE

FOR A SO-CALLED SMART

THERMOMETER THAT WOULD LOWER

YOUR HEATING BILL, AND HERE TO

GIVE US A FULL EXPLANATION ON

THIS, TO, ON THIS NEW REBATE

PROGRAM, VAL JENSEN THE SENIOR

VICE PRESIDENT FOR OPERATIONS AT

THE COMMONWEALTH EDISON AND

HOWARD LEARNER, EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENT LAW

AND POLICY CENTER, AND JIM

CHILSEN, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

FOR THE SATURDAYS UTILITY BOARD.

A CONSUMER ADVOCACY AND WATCHDOG

GROUP.

WHAT IS A SMART THERMOMETER?

>> THAT IS A BRILLIANT NEW PIECE

OF TECHNOLOGY THAT EXCELS IN ITS

DESIGN AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF

MODELS IF YOU CARE TO TAKE A

LOOK AT IT.

>> WE DO.

>> AND DESIGN, AND

FUNCTIONALITY, AND IT WILL

ADJUST YOUR TEMPERATURE BASED ON

YOUR BEHAVIOR AND CAN SAVE A

SUB-TANKS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WE ESTIMATED AS A COMBINATION OF

ELECTRICITY AND GAS SAVINGS CAN

HELD A HUNDRED PER YEAR IN

SAVINGS.

>> A COUPLE OF MODELS HERE.

WHICH ONE AM I HOLDING UP?

>> THE NEST.

>> AND THIS LOOKS LIKE, A

MAGNIFYING GLASS?

>> IT IS A PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPED BY THE GUY WHO HELPED

TO DEVELOP THE APRIL I i-POD.

-- THE APPLE EYE POD.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER ONE HERE, IT

IS SQUARISH.

>> THAT IS THE ECO BEE.

PRODUCED BY A COMPANY BASED IN

TORONTO, I BELIEVE.

AND ANOTHER GREAT PIECE OF BOTH

HUMAN CENTER DESIGN AND

TECHNOLOGY, BOTH OF THESE THINGS

WORE VERY WELL WITH VERY LITTLE

HUMAN SPEAKER ACTION, TO SAVE

YOU MONEY.

>> HOW DO THESE WORK?

THIS IS A GAME CHANGER.

TAKE YOUR OLD MANUAL

THERMOMETER, YOU FROM HAVE TO

PROGRAM AND IF WE KNEW HOW TO

PROGRAM THEM WELL THEY WOULD

WORK VERY WELL.

THE REALITY IS MOST OF US DON'T.

>> SOME OF US KNOW HOW TO MAKE

THEM WORK AND MOST OF US DON'T.

WHAT THIS IS IS INNOVATIVE

TECHNOLOGY THAT TAKES THE

MYSTERY OUT OF IT AND USES SMART

TECHNOLOGY TO THE THERMOMETER

WORKS THE WAY IT OUGHT TO.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT AT HOME, IT

DOESN'T HEATS A MUCH AND TURNS

DOWN THE HEAT, AND IF IT'S IN

THE SUMMER IT TURNS DOWN THE

COOLING SO YOU ARE NOT

OVERHEATING A HUSBAND IF NOBODY

IS THERE AND NOT OVERCOOLING

WHEN NO ONE THINKS.

HOW DOES THE KNOW WHEN YOU ARE

NOT AT HOME.

IT USES WI-FI AND SMART

TECHNOLOGY IN THE GIZMO AND

GADGET SO IT CAN TELL IF PEOPLE

ARE HOME, AND YOU CAN PROGRAM IT

AS IT GETS USED TO YOUR

BEHAVIOR.

YOU HAVE A COMPUTER AND STILLS

IT SAYS YOU HAVE AN HOUR LEFT ON

YOUR LAPTOP COMPUTER.

YOU CAN HIT SOMETHING CALLED

BATTERY SAVER AND YOU HAVE TWO

HOURS LEFT.

AND MOST OF US DON'T KNOW WHAT

THE COMPUTER DOES OR HOW IT GOES

FROM AN HOUR TO TWO HOURS, THAT

IS BEHIND THE BOX.

BUT OUT WORKS.

AND THIS IS USING MODERN

TECHNOLOGY, REALLY GOING TO

SAIL.

WE ALL HAVE FRIENDS WHO GOT THE

LATEST GIZMO AND GADGETS AND

WILL THIS WILL GET A MILLION

SMART THERMOMETERS, IN NORTHERN

ILLINOIS.

IT WILL SAVE PEOPLE MONEY ON

THEIR ELECTRIC AND FAST BILLS

AND REBATE WILL MEAN THAT AFTER

ABOUT A YEAR, IT WILL PAY FOR

ITSELF, AND AFTER THAT, IT IS

ALL SAVINGS.

LESS MONEY AND REDUCED

POLLUTION.

>> A VIDEO OF THE HIGHLIGHTS,

AND I'M STILL CURIOUS AS TO HOW

IT KNOWS WHEN YOU ARE HOME OR

NOT.

IS THERE A MOTION DEVICE OR

SOMETHING?

>> THAT IS HOW IT O.

AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN, A

PAINFUL AMOUNT OF ENERGY IS

WAEFTDED HEATING AND COOLING

EMPTY HOMES.

WHAT THIS IS TRYING TO DO IT

TAKE OUT THE HUMAN ERROR, OUT OF

THE PROCESS, AND CREATE A DEVICE

THAT HAS A DEVICE THAT

AUTOMATICALLY SETS A TEMPERATURE

ALMOST AUTOMATIC SAVINGS, IT HAS

SIXTH SENSE OF SAVING CASH.

>> USING A MEXICO DETECTOR AND

OTHER FEATURES, IT TRAINS ITSELF

TO INCORPORATE YOUR HABITS INTO

CONTROLLING HEATING AND COOLING,

IS THAT IT?

>> IT BECOMES YOUR COMFORT

FRIEND.

>> FOR THOSE OF WHITE HOUSE HAVE

NO FRIENDS, THZ...

>> HAVE YOU TWO NEW FRIENDS

TONIGHT.

>> IT SENSES HER BEHAVIOR AND

UNDERSTANDS YOOB HABITS.

YOU COULD PLUG WITHIN IN AND IT

COULD LIGHT UP INDICATING THAT

IT KNOWS THAT YOU ARE THERE.

AND NOT SENSITIVE TO PETS, AND I

CAN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PETS AND

HUMANS AND IT REALLY DOES LEARN

YOUR BEHAVIOR AND ALLOWS YOU TO

THINK ABOUT SOMETHING BESIDES

WHEN TO TURN THE THERMOMETER UP

OR DOWN.

>> AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT

IS GREAT IS THAT ENERGY

EFFICIENCY ISN'T ABOUT KEEPING

YOUR HOME UNCOMFORTABLE OR TOO

COOL OR TOO HOT BUT ABOUT

KEEPING YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE

AND NOT BREAKING THE BANK.

THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.

THE NEXT STEP, THEY CAN REALLY

REVOLUTIONIZE HOME SAVINGS

ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOISES.

THE REASON THAT WE ARE TALKING

ABOUT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE A

REBATE PROGRAM, THESE ARE NOT

INEXPENSIVE.

BUT THERE IS ARE REBATE PROGRAM

THROUGH WHICH CUSTOMERS WILL GET

A HALF, A REBATE, SO HOW SOON,

WHAT IS THESE NORMALLY COST AND

WHAT DOES RECEIPT BAIT DO?

THE LIST PRICE FOR THESE IS

ABOUT $250.

AND REBAITS AVAILABLE THROUGH

COM ED IN CONJUNCTION WITH

PEOPLES AND NICOR GAS WILL CUT

THAT IN ABOUT HALF.

THERE ARE ME WAYS TO DO IT, IF

TO THE STORE AND BUY WITHIN AND

SUBMIT THE REBATE FORM.

YOU CAN HAVE A CONTRACTOR

RESTORE, OR YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

IN A HOME SAVINGS PROGRAM, AND

WE'LL GIVE YOU A HOME ENERGY

ASSESSMENT AND HELP YOU

UNDERSTAND WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO

TO SAVE MONEY AND WE WILL

INSTALL THIS FOR YOU AND CUT THE

COST THIS HALF.

>> HOW THE NUMBERS WORK F YOU

GET THE REBATE FOR ABOUT $120,

IN THE FIRST YEAR YOU SAVE ABOUT

A HUNDRED, ON THE GAS AND

ELECTRIC BILL, AND THAT IS PAID

FOR THE DEVICE.

SO AFTER THAT, IT IS GRAVY.

YOU ARE SAVING MONEY ON YOUR

BILLS, AND YOU ARE AVOIDING

POLLUTION.

THIS IS PUTTING MODERN

TECHNOLOGY TO WORK, NOT JUST FOR

A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE ADEPT, THIS

IS TO GET OUT TO A MILLION

HOUSEHOLDS...

>> YOU THINK A MILLION?

>> YES, STAY THOUGH THIS TO

SCALE.

THIS IS NOT JUST A COUPLE OF

PEOPLE DOING AN INTERESTING NEW

GIZMO, WE WANT THIS IN THE HOMES

OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SMALL

AMOUNTS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE LARGE

AMOUNTS, WHO HAVE SMALL HOMES

AND BIG HOMES.

ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS, THE

CITY, THE SUBURBS AND OTHER

PLACES.

THAT IS TAKING THE ADVANTAGES OF

ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND SAVING

PEOPLE MONEY AND REDUCE

POLLUTION AND MAKING IT REAL FOR

PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE

BENEFITS FOR CUSTOMERS, WHAT IS

IT IT FOR THE UTILITYS?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE WOULDN'T DO IT IF IT WASN'T

THIS OUR INTEREST.

THE PRINCIPLE REASON IS NO

BUSINESS DOES WELL IF IT DOESN'T

SERVE ITS CUSTOMERS WELL.

THIS IS AN IDEAL WAY TO

INTRODUCE THEM TO THE WHOLE

CONCEPTS OF THE SMART HOME,

SMART ENERGY HOME.

THIS IS THE FIRST IN A LONG LINE

OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE WILL SEE,

THAT WILL PUT POWER IN EMERGENCY

CUSTOMERS TO MANAGE THEIR OWN

ENERGY BILL AND WE WILL BE PART

OF THAT.

WE THINK THAT IS A WAY TO CREATE

MORE VALUE AND CREATE THAT

VALUE, THEY WILL FIND MORE

VALUE.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT REDUCES

THE AMOUNT OF CAPACITIED THEY

NEED TO GENERAL RIGHT ON

SUPERHOT DAYS OR DURING A COLD

SPELL.

>> THAT IS A EXCELLENT POINT.

THE WHOLE IDEA ABOUT ENERGY

EFFICIENCY, IF YOU GET ENOUGH

PEOPLE INVOLVED YOU CAN REDUCE

ELECTRICITY DEMAND, THAT CAN

REDUCE MARKETS PRICES AND CAN

MAKE THE POWER GRID MORE STABLE.

A LOT OF BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE.

WE KNOW IN THE COMPANIES ARE

AGREES ON THEM.

>> YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE THE

FARMERS AND RANCHERS SITTING

DOWN TOGETHER PM

>> WE LEFT THE BRS KNUCKLES AT

THE DOOR.

WE WILL WORK WITH ANYBODY.

>> A WONDERFUL ATTORNEY ON OUR

SAF AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

POLICY CENTER, ROB KELTER WHEN

TO THE CHEERS COMMISSION AND

ARRANGED FOR A WASTED ENERGY

STUDY.

THE PROBLEM WAS THIS, IF WE KNEW

HOW TO MAKE A PROGRAMABLE

THERMOMETER WORK REALLY WELL

THEY WOULD DO EVERYTHING THEY

ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

MOST OF US DON'T AND THAT WAS

WASTING ENERGY.

IN THE UPSHOT THAT HAVE STUDY,

AND SOME WORK WE DID WITH HONEY

WELL AND ECO BEE A NEW

TECHNOLOGY IN THE MARKET AND WE

BEGAN ON WORK WITH COM ED AND

WITH THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THE

SMART THERMOMETERS AND WITH THE

ATTORNEY GENERALS AND OTHERS TO

SAY CAN WE PUT TOGETHER A

PROGRAM, NOT JUST A PILOT

PROGRAM, A COUPLE OF THOUSANDS

OF THESE AND THIS TECHNOLOGY

WORKS, AND HOW DO WE GET TO

SCALE.

A MILLION WAS AMBITIOUS BUT THAT

IS A GAME CHANGER.

LIKE GOING FROM YOUR STEADY OLD

CHEVY TO A TESTLER AND GETTING

THEM IN HOMES AROUND THE REGION,

EVERYONE WINS.

WE SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE

POLLUTION.

AS VAL PUTS IT, KMLT EDISON WILL

NOT BE SUCCESSFUL TELLING PEOPLE

YOU HAVE TO USE OLD TECHNOLOGY,

WHEN NEW TECHNOLOGY IS COMING IN

AND UTILITYS AND PEOPLE HE WORK

WITH ARE GETTING WITH THE

PROGRAM AND MOVING IT FORWARD.

THIS IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

A WIN-WIN.

AND WHAT DOES THE MONEY FROM THE

REBATE PROGRAM COME FROM?

>> IT IS PAID FOR BY OUR

CUSTOMERS, A LAW ENACTSED IN 2

VOE VOE 7 THAT REQUIRES UTILITYS

TO FUND ENERGY CONSERVATION

PROGRAMS.

AND WE COLLECT AN AMOUNT OF

MONEY FROM ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

>> THERE IS MONEY FOR

INITIATIVES LIKE THIS.

I SEE.

ANY OTHER CITIES DOING THIS?

>> THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS

AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE ACROSS

NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND I WITH SAY

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BE IN

ILLINOIS BECAUSE ENERGY

EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS ARE FULL AND

RICH, AND WE WANT THEM ON GET

BETTER AND BE BIGGER BUT THIS IS

A GREAT START.

>> THIS IS THE BIGGEST THING

GOING WITH THESE THOYRMS AND WE

ARE PROUD TO BE LEADING THIS.

STEPPING UP.

>> ISN'T THAT GOOD?

>> YES IT IS.

DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.

>> THERE ARE SOMETIMES WHEN IF

WE GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND

PLAYERS TOGETHER, WE LOOK AT THE

NEW POWERS OF TECHNOLOGY AND WE

SEE WHAT WARKS AND WHAT CAN WORK

FOR PEOPLE GOING FORWARD.

COM ED AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND

POLICY CENTER, OTHERS WHO PLAY

IN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MOVES

US FORWARD.

I THINK EVERYBODY GOT TOGETHER

AND SAID THIS MAKES SENSE, LET'S

DO IT A SMART SOLUTION.

A LOT OF TALK ABOUT NEW YORK AND

CALIFORNIA AND WHAT THEY ARE

DOING.

ILLINOIS IS A LEADER IN ENERGY

EFFICIENCY, AND CUTTING PEOPLE'S

BILLS.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> A NEW NATURE PRESERVE AND

BUSY CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD AND

OPENED LAST MONTH, YOU CAN

EASILY DRIVE BY AND MISS ITS BUT

IF YOU DO VENTURE INSIDE AS CHEF

SOME CHEF DID YOU MIGHT-- JAY

SHEFSKY DID YOU MIGHT FINT A

REFUGE FROM THE TRAFFIC AND HERE

IS ANOTHER LOOK LOOK.

>> Reporter: THIS STRETCH OF

WESTERN AVENUE SOUTH OF PETERSON

SEEMS LIKE AN UNLIKELY PLACE TO

FIND NATURAL BEAUTY.

BUT BEYOND THE TRAFFIC LIES THE

NEW WEST RIDGE NATURE PRESERVE.

THE 20 ACRE PARK INCLUDES WOODS

AND WEATHER LANDS AND WALKING

PATHS AND A PARK, THAT WAS ONCE

AN OVERGROWN PROPERTY OWNED BY

ROSEHILL CEMETERY NEXT DOOR HAS

GOTTEN A-FOR-.1 MILLION

FACE-LIFT AND IS NOW AN ISLAND

OF CALM IN A BUSY PART OF TOWN.

THE HEAD OF THE PARKS COMMUNITY

ADVISORY COUNCIL OFFERED TO SHOW

ME AROUND.

SHE HAS BEEN SNEAKING INTO THE

PIECE OF LAND FOR MANY YEARS.

>> IT WAS A NO TRESPASSING AREA

BUT EVERYONE WOULD COME DOWN THE

PATH AND COME AND PLAY IN THE

WOODS.

AND I WOULD COME HERE WITH MY

DAUGHTER FOR 20 YEARS AND WE

WOULD FISH AND CLIMB THE TREES.

>> NOW MUCH OF THE UNDERBRUSH

HAS BEEN REMOVED INCLUDING MANY

INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES.

THIS HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR A HAVEN

FOR WILDLIFE.

THERE WAS A ROAD TAIL-- RED TAIL

HAWK ON OPENING DAY.

I SAW A HAWK CATCH A SNAKE.

68 HAVE BIRDS WERE SPOTTED IN

THIS AREA.

AND THERE ARE 15 THREATENED

SPECIES, SO FOR HUMANS IT IS A

GREAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH

NATURE, AND FOR THE WILDLIFE IT

IS A CRITICAL HABITAT.

IT IS JUST VERY EXCITING.

>> Reporter: THERE IS NEARLY A

MILE OF PATH, ALL WHEELCHAIR

ACCESSIBLE.

MOST ARE PAVED AND SOME ARE

BOARDWAUGS OVER WHAT IS KNOWN AS

AN EMERGENT WETLAND PUP MIGHT

NOT SEA WATER HERE YEAR ROUND

BUT WAITSES CLOSE UNDER THE

SURFACE.

MANY NEW NATIVE PLANTS HAVE BEEN

ADDED.

THOSE AREAS LOOK SPARSE BUT ARE

EXPECTED TO FILL IN MORE IN THE

YEARS AHEAD.

SO IT IS NOISY ON WESTERN

AVENUE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHEN YOU GO TO THE NATURE

PRESERVE OVER WESTERN AVENUE,

YOU WILL GET A LITTLE NOISE BUT

ONCE YOU GET TO THE MIDDLE, YOU

DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

JUST ENJOY THE NATURE AND NOT

EVEN A FACTOR.

AND THE SHRUBS ON WESTERN AVENUE

SHOULD FILL IN, OFFERING EVEN

MORE SECLUSION AND QUIET.

THE FOUR AND A HALF ACRE POND IS

THE CENTRAL FEATURE OF THE PARK.

BY NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE STOCKED

WITH BLUE GIL AND CATFISH.

CATCHING ANYTHING

>> A SMALL BLUE HEADS.

AND THEY HANT STOCKED IT YET.

HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR LIT BE

BETTER.

ON THE SOUTH END OF THE PRESERVE

THERE IS A GROVE OF TREE IT IS A

GIVES YOU THAT FEELING OF

SANCTUARY.

YOU JUST FEEL GOOD BEING IN IT.

AND IT IS ALSO WHERE THE MIAMI

END YOU KNOW ART FACTS WERE

FOUND BY THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

AND THEY FOUND YOU ARE A OWE

HEADANCE CERAMICS FROM 1700

YEARS AGO.

>> Reporter: THERE WHAT IS THEY

CALL A COUNCIL RING, FOR

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND

MEETSINGS OR JUST COMTEAM PLAIGS

AND IF YOU LIKE BUGS, YOU WANT

TO SEE?

PATRICE CEISEL SAYS THEY WAPTSZ

TO USE THE THAT'S RIGHT PRESERVE

AS A PLACE TO INTRODUCE NATURE

TO CHILDREN.

A GREAT ADDITION TO THE

COMMUNITY.

WE SAW GRASSHOPPERS AND BIRDS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS

COMPARED TO A PLAYGROUND.

I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF LAY

GROUNDS AND LOTS OF PLACES TO

GET THAT ENERGY OUT, SO THIS IS

SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AND IF THERE WAS APPLY GROUND

HERE, I DON'T THINK WE SWO HAVE

SPEND AS MUCH TIMEX PLORING.

THIS IS A NATURAL AREA AND

INSTEAD OF HAVING SWING SETS AND

MONKEY BARS.

IT SEALS TO HAVE MADE FOR LESS

WILDLIFE IN THE SHORT RUN BUT AS

THE MORE NATIVE ECO SYSTEMS

RETURNS, THIS WILL BE MORE.

>> I LOVE THE REG STATION, YOU

HAVE WALNUT TREES AND OAK TREES.

ALL KIND OF STUFF HERE.

GREAT FOR WILDLIFE.

WE ARE HOPING THE VEGETATION

WILL FILL IN MORE SO THE

RECLUSIVE SPECIES THAT FOUND

THEIR HOME HERE WILL RETURN, AND

HAVE THE ISOLATION THAT THEY

REQUIRE.

>> AND NOW THE HUMANS CAN VISIT

WITHOUT PRESS PASSING.

FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT THIS IS JAY

SHEFSKY.

>> AND THE WEST RIDGE NATURE

PRESERVE IS OPEN EVERY DAY FROM

SUNRISE TO SUNSET.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON OUR

WEBSITE.

>>> DAVID GREGORY WAS BROUGHT UP

BY PARENTS OF TWO DIFFERENT

FAITHS BUT NOT MUCH IN THE WAY

OF FORMAL RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

HE HAS BEEN PROMPTED TO HIGH

ABOUT HIS SPIRITUALITY, BY HIS

MARRIAGE TO A CHRISTIAN WOMAN,

AND THEY ARE DECISION TO RAISE

THEIR KIDS AS SCREWISH AND HIGH

PROFILE PROFESSIONAL SETBACK.

HIS NEW BOOK IS CALLED: HOW'S

YOUR FAITH, AN UNLIKELY

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

DAVID, WELCOME TO CHICAGO.

I KNOW YOU LIVED HERE FOR A

WHILE, AND YOU ARE ON NBC NET

BORK CORRESPONDENT.

WHAT ABOUT THE TIGHTING, WHAT IS

THETORY?

>> I COVERED PRESIDENT BUSH FOR

8 YEARS.

HE HAD HEARD I WAS STUDYING WITH

A BIBLE SCHOLAR TRYING TO DEEPEN

MY FAITH AND BETTER CONNECT TO

MY WIFE'S CRISTIAN TRADITIONS

AND HE ASKED ME THAT, IT HAS RAS

NATOED WITH ME, IT IS SO DIRECT,

THAT INVITES SELF-EXAMINATION.

>> AS A JOURNAL IFTD WHO WAS

YOUR REACTION TO THAT QUESTION,

YOU SAID HE ASKED YOU THAT A

COUPLE OF TIMES?

>> I WELCOMED TO THE QUESTION.

I NEVER FELT HE WAS INTERFERE

ORGANIZE IMPOSING HIS VIEWS ON

ME.

I WELCOMED A CHANCE TO DOES

COVER FROM HIM WHAT HIS OWN

FAITH PATH HAD BEEN AND KNOWING

THAT EVEN BEFORE I STARTED

COVERING HIM.

AND YOU THEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO

HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH A

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND HE ALSO GAVE YOU ADVICE

BEFORE YOU STARTED HOSTING "MEET

THE PRESS"?

>> HE TALKED A BIT ABOUT THE

SCRUTINY THAT I WOULD FACE, AND

YOU NOW WHO TO WEATHER THAT

SCRUTINY AND HOW IMPORTANT IT

WAS TO STAND ON MY OWN AND

FOLLOW MY OWN PATH.

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOOD

ADVICE.

I COVERED POLITICS BEFORE, AND

IT WAS A UNIQUE FIGURE.

I RESPECTED HIM, A LOT AND I

THINK HE THOUGHT I WAS FAIR.

>> YOU DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS

DOG ED QUESTIONER.

PRET "MEET THE PRESS" HAS HIGH

ROE PILE JOB AND YOU WRITE ABOUT

THE LOSS OF THAT JOB.

>> IT HAS HARD, PEOPLE GO

THROUGH THAT U LOSE YOUR JOB A

TOUGH BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW THAT.

AND YET, YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY

PUBLIC AND EMBARRASSING.

IT WAS IF I HAD DONE SOMETHING

WRONG, IT DID MY BEST.

AND THAT IS TOO BAD.

AND IT WAS HARD FOR ME, WHAT I

WRITE ABOUT IN THE BOOK A AS

SOON AS OF IDENTITY AND LOSING

THAT WHICH I HAD, SINCE I WAS 18

WHEN I FIRST GOT ON TO TV NEWS,

THIS IDENTITY OF BEING ON

TELEVISION AND HAVING A

CELEBRITY, ALL THE TRAPPINGS OF

THAT JOB AND LOSING THAT WITH

SOMETHING I THINK SET ME BACK

FARTHER THAN I EXPECTED TO.

I HAD PERSPECTIVE AND MY FAITH,

BUT THE LOSS OF IDENTITY WAS

SOMETHING I REALLY HAD TO

STRUGGLE WITH.

YOU WRITE ABOUT FINALLY HEARING

THAT YOU WERE PARTING WAYS WITH

NBC AND YOU HAD CONVERSATION

WITH YOUR WIFE.

AND YOU PULL OVER ON THE SIDE

STREET, ON YOUR WAY HOME, AND

DESCRIBE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE?

>> THIS WAS A DAY WHEN I

FOYERSED THE ISSUE, I WASN'T

FIRED, I FELT LIKE IT WOULD

HAPPEN.

IT HAD BEEN A RUFF PERIOD AT NBC

AND A LOT OF LEAKS ABOUT WHETHER

I WOULD LOSE MY JOB, AND SO

FORTH.

I WANTED TO BE IN A SERENE

SETTING AND TALK TO MY WIFE.

AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE FAITH

GUIDED ME.

I FELT A MEASURE OF PEACE, AND I

FELT I HAD PERSPECTIVE AND I

FELT LOVE AND I WOULD BE OKAY.

EVEN THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW

WILL IDEAL WITH THIS BACK AND

TELL MY CHILDREN, BUT I THOUGHT

THIS WILL BE GOOD FOR ME AND

GOOD FOR THEM, AND I HAD A SENSE

OF BROADER CONTEXT, EVERYTHING

THAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> YOU SAID YOU FLT LIFTED

DURING THAT MOMENT?

>> I DID, I FELT RELIEVED, AS

BAD AS I FELT, I DIDN'T WANT TO

RETURN TO A SITUATION I WAS

PARTING WAYS WITH.

IN THAT WAY I FELT CARRIED.

ED IDEA OF ASKING YOURSELF THE

QUESTION, HOWS A YOUR FAITH, AN

EXPLORATION OF FAITH AND SELF-,

THAT REALLY DID LIFT ME.

THAT HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND

THAT I'M NOT ALONE, THAT I HAVE

A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND FEEL

COMFORT AND STREPTD AND EVEN

THROUGH HUMANITARIAN AND A

SETBACK THERE IS A LOT MORE

THERE.

>> ONCE YOU SEE SOMEONE ON

TELEVISION IN A HIGH PROFILE JOB

LIKE HOSTING "MEET THE PRESS"

AND THE PERSON SEEMS SO TOGETHER

AND EVERYBODY HAS A BACK STORY,

AND YOU WRITE ABOUT ONE DAY, IN

APRIL OF 1986.

TELL US.

>> MY MOTHER WAS AN ALCOHOLIC

AND SHE, SHS NOT LIKE SHE WAS A

FALLING DOWN DRUNK BUT PART OF

THE BACKDROP AND WHEN HER LIVE

STARTED TO FRAY AND PERSONAL

RELATIONSHIPS AND HER WORK SHE

DID LOSE CONTROL AND I WAS IN

SPEECH AND DEBATE WHEN I WAS 15

AND I WAS AT A TOURNAMENT, AND I

SPOKE AND WON AND MY...

>> YOU SPOKE WITH OPTIMISM?

>> RIGHT.

AND MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING ME

HOME AND MY SPEECH COACH AND A

FRIEND OF MY MOTHERS AND SHE WAS

PULLED OVER AND ARRESTED FOR

DRUNK DRIVING.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT MOMMY OR HER

AND FOR ME.

AND I WRITE ABOUT THAT IN THE

CONTEXT OF HOW I DIDN'T HAVE

FAITH.

AT THAT PART OF MY LIFE.

AND THAT I WISH I HAD HAD A

GREATER SENSE OF BELIEF AND

COMFORT.

IT WAS AN EMBARRASSING AND CON

USING TIME IN MY LIFE.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS MY MOTHER

GOT SOBER AND REDEEMED HER LIFE.

BUT I THINK FOR ME BEING ON A

PATH OF SPIRITUAL EXPLORATION, I

GO BACK AND SAY, I REALLY COULD

HAVE USED MY FAITH IN A DEEPER

FAITH BACK THEN.

>> AND THIS IS A QUESTION OF

FAITH.

AND WRITE ALSO A QUESTION OF

HERE WAS A FAMILY SECRET, YOUR

MOTHER'S ALCOHOLISM AND NOW

BECAUSE YOU HAD THIS TEACHER IN

THE CAR WITH YOU, AN ADVISOR,

SHE SAW THE SECRET AND IT WAS

ONE THAT YOU AND YOUR SISTER

CARRIED.

THAT WAS A BY VOTAL MOMENT?

>>-- BY VITAL MOMENT?

>> AND THIS WAS THE PREOPRAH

PERIOD, AND IT IS STILL NOT

COMFORTABLE TO ASK PEOPLE ABOUT

AN ADDICTION, BUT YOU SPEND SO

MUCH TIME COVERING IT UP, AND SO

MUCH TIME KEEPING AID SECRET AND

THAT WAS IN THE A RELIEF, BUT A

SENSE OF SHOCK, THAT I CAN'T

KEEP MY ARMS AROUND TO ANY MORE

AND I HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH

IT.

AND THAT WAS HARD.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE A

JOURNALIST.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR BACKGROUND

AND CHILDHOOD WAS SOMEWHAT

CHAOTIC, ASPECTS WERE, AND YOU

HAD THIS SECRET AND YOU WERE

NEEDING STRUCTURE, AND HOW DID

JOURNALISM PREPT ITSELF?

MPLGTD I WOULD SAY, MY LIFE

OVERALL WAS VERY GOOD.

I HAVE DIFFICULT PATCHES BUT

DURING THIS FEELING ADRIFT AND

YOU KNOW LOST, WHAT I WANTED TO

WAS TO TRANSFORM MYSELF AND I

WANTED TO ESCAPE AND FOR ME

WATCHING TELEVISION NEWS WAS MY

FORM OF ESCAPE.

I FOUND MY AMBITION AND SEE

DIEDED I WILL BECOME THIS

PERSON, I WILL BECOME A TV

JOURNALISTIST WHO CAN TRAVEL THE

WORLD AND TELL STORIES, AND

CHANGE WHO I AM TODAY.

WHEN I WAS 15 I BECAME VERY

AMBITIOUS AND MY FATHER PLAYED A

BIG ROLE, HELPING ME PLOT OUT

THINK CAREER, AND I WAS ON THE

AIR WHEN I WAS 18.

>> SO YOU ARE 26 AND YOU MEET A

WOMAN AND YOU DO GET MARRIED AND

SHE WAS RAISED METHODIST.

>> YES.

AND YOU WERE EXPLORING YOUR

JEWISH BACKGROUND AND POTENTIAL

FOR A GREATER IMMERSION IN

JEWISH BELIEFS AND YOU DECIDED

TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN AS

SCREWISH.

IT SOUNDS FINE IN THEORY BUT NOT

THAT EASY ON YOUR WIFE?

>> INTERESTINGLY, I LIVED HERE

WHEN I MET MY WIFE, SHE

PROSECUTED THE OKLAHOMA CITY

BOMBERS THIS DENVER.

A BIG PART OF THAT WAS FLYING

BACK AND FORTH FROM O'HARE TO

DENVER, AND ON A FRIDAY NIGHT

RUNNING OUT TO THE AIRPORT.

WE AGREED WE COULD AND JEWISH

FAMILY BUT SHE CHALLENGED ME TO

DIG DEEPER INTO WHAT I BELIEVED.

AND THE ENTIRE FAITH PATH HAS

BEEN UP AND DOWN.

A LOT OF GOOD PARTS BUT SHE GAVE

UP HER FAITH, IN NERMS OF

SHARING THOSE WITH HER KIDS AND

I THINK SHE HAS REGRETS ABOUT

THAT.

AND SHE FEELS A BIGGER SENSE OF

LOSS THAN SHE THOUGHT THEY

WOULD.

AND I WAS SELFISH ABOUT IT, I

DON'T THINK I WAS A FAITH FILLED

ENOUGH PERSON TO UNDERSTAND WHAT

THE LOSS WAS LIKE.

AND SHE HAS REGRETS, BUT IT IS

AN UNEVEN PATH AND WE STILL

STRUGGLE WITH AS WE REALLY TRIED

TO CREATE SOMETHING BUFT RG A

FAITH PRACTICE AND SPIRITUAL

LIFE FOR OURSELVES AND KIDS.

>> COULD YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE

CASE OR TRY TO MAKE THE CASE TO

FRIENDS OF YOURS WHO MIGHT BE

ATHEISTS ORING A HOSTICS ABOUT

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD?

MPLGTSDS NOT REALLY.

I'M NOT HEAR TO WIN A DEBATE.

>> WHEN I SAY TO PEOPLE, I THINK

THE QUESTION HOW'S YOUR FAITH IS

IMPORTANT.

DO YOU HAVE THE FAITH THAT YOU

HAD AS A KID.

HAS IT BEEN THERE FOR YOU WHEN

YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH SOMETHING

HARD.

I HAVE BEEN ON THIS EXPLORATION,

ARE NO BETTER THAN YOUR ANSWERS

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WITH WORK

WITH THE QUESTION.

THIS IS WHAT IT HAS MEANT TO MY

LIFE AND THAT IS WHAT THE BOOK

IS ABOUT.

SO IS YOUR FAITH RIGHT NOW?

>> I WOULD SAY IT IS STRONG AND

GETTING STRONGER.

ONE THING THAT FAITH TAUGHT ME

IS NOT ONLY THE POWER OF LOVE,

IN MY LIFE AND A RELATIONSHIP

WITH GOD, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING

THAT I FEEL LIKE I'M AMS IN

TRANSITION, WHO I AM TODAY WITH

YOU IS STILL, ON THIS PATH ON

BECOME WHOG GOD INTENDS ME TO DO

BE, A LOT OF PERSONAL FLAWS AND

CASHINGISTICS THAT I POYT WITH

AND I'M STILL ON THE PATH OF

TRYING TO GET BETTER AND BE

BETTER, AND ALL THE WHILE,

FEELING THE LOVE OF A

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND A

DEEPER FAITH.

>> LET'S SWITCH TOPICS.

LOOKING AT THE PRESIDENTIAL

RACE, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS,

WHO DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN THE

RUNNING WHEN IT COMES TO THE

RESPECTIVE PARTIES?

>> I THINK THERE IS A REAL,

THERE IS A LOT OF APGNER THE

COUNTRY AND THE MOOD IN THE

COUNTRY IS ANTI-WASHINGTON, AND

ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.

SO I THINK YOU ARE LIKELY TO SEE

ESPECIALLY ON THE REPUBLICAN

SIDE, SOME FIGURE WHO IS JUST

ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT FIGURE WHO

WILL GO PRETTY FAR.

WHETHER THAT IS TRUMP OR CARSON

OR CARLY FIORINA, I DON'T KNOW.

CRUZ?

>> COULD BE.

I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS A REMAN

CANDLE DISTIN TO DO SO BURN OUT

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TAKED THE

AIR OUT OF THAT BALLOON.

THERE IS SO MUCH DISARRAY WITHIN

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THERE IS A

LONG WAY TO GO.

HILLARY CLINTON IS FORMIDABLE

BUT ALSO HAS A LOT OF VELNER

BUILTS.

AND IF YOU ARE JOE BIDEN YOU ARE

PROBABLY MORE TEMPTED THAN EVER

TO GET IN BECAUSE THERE IS A

REAL PLACE.

>> THIS IS, I HOPE THIS IS NOT

TOO MUCH COMING OUT OF MY VIEW,

YOU DO A WICKED TOM BROKAW.

WOULD YOU CARE TO GRACE BECAUSE

PERFORMANCE?

>> I DID A, I TELL YOU A STORY,

WHEN I WAS AT THE BUSH RANCH

ONCE, OR NEAR THE BUSH RANCH AND

WEARING THIS SPORTS JACKET AND I

WAS ON THE AIR AND I SAID, I DID

MY PIECE, AND BROKAW, SAYS THANK

YOU VERY MUCH DAVID GREGORY SPR

DUSTING THE BLUE BLAZER OF RANCH

WEAR.

>> DAVID THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DAVID GREGORY, WHO IS YOUR

FAITH: AN UNLIKELY SPIRITUAL

JOURNEY.

BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT

AFTER THIS.

THAT IS OUR SHOW, WE HOPE YOU

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT, HILLARY

CLINTON BURNY SANDERS AND THE

REST OF THE DIM HE CAN FIELD

MEET FOR THEIR FIRST DEBATE.

WE WILL ASES THE WINNERS AND

LESSERS.

AND EXCITESMENT IS BUILDING AT

THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE BY

ENYELL.

GEOFFREY BAER LOOKING AT THE

BOLD IDEAS ON DISPLAY.

AND I'M PHIL PONCE AND FROM ALL

OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT"

I THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

KIDNAP COY

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