[♪♪♪]
>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
"CHICAGO TONIGHT."
I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.
>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.
ON THE SHOW TONIGHT...
>> THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REACH A DEAL
ON CHICAGO'S WARD MAP.
A LOOK WHERE THE TWO PROPOSALS
STAND.
>> THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE WITHDRAWS FROM THE
COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATES.
A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE
COMMISSION'S BOARD WEIGHS IN.
>> 54 TEXTBOOKS ARE BANNED IN
FLORIDA IN RECORD-BREAKING
CENSORSHIP WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION SAYS THE BOOKS WERE
INDOCTRINATING STUDENTS.
>> IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM
AND IT IS AN ESCALATING PROBLEM.
>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE CHICAGO
POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID
BROWN ON GHOST GUNS, CONSENT
DECREE DEADLINES AND MORE.
>> WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE OF
EVERYTHING.
>> A NEW AD CAMPAIGN HOPES TO
BOOST TOURISM ACROSS ILLINOIS
THAT AND MORE FROM KRANS.
>> HOW THESE --
CRAIN'S.
>> HOW THESE FOSSILS CAN SHOW
THE EARLY TIMELINE ON EARLY THAT
AND SCIENCE STORIES MAKING
HEADLINESSISM WE ARE COMEDIANS
BUT WE HAVE A RESPECT FOR
MARIACHI.
>> AND MARIACHI MEETS IMPROV.
>> FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP
STORIES NO, NO FEDERAL CRIMINAL
CHARGES AGAINST FORMER CHICAGO
POLICE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE IT
WILL NOT PURSUE FEDERAL CIVIL
RIGHTS CHARGES FOR THE KILLING
OF LAQUAN McDONALD.
U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH SAYS
THE BAR IS HIGH TO PROVE BEYOND
A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT VAN DYKE
ACTED WITH DELIBERATE INTENT.
HE WAS RELEASED AFTER SERVING
THREE YEARS OF A SEVEN-YEAR
PRISON SENTENCE.
LAUSCH SAYS THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE CONSULTED WITH
MCDONALD'S' FAMILY WHO AGREED
NOT TO BRING THE ADDITIONAL
CHARGES.
>> A FORMER ILLINOIS PUBLIC
OFFICIAL IS FEDERALLY CHARGED
WITH CORRUPTION.
ANTHONY RAGUCCI, WAS CHARGED
WITH WIRE AND TAX FRAUD FOR HIS
ROLE IN AN ALLEGED SCHEME
INVOLVING RED LIGHT CAMERAS.
HE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
IN KICKBACKS FROM A RED LIGHT
CAMERA FIRM THAT PUT CAMERAS UP
IN THE TOWN OF OAKBROOK TERRACE.
HE WAS ELECTED MAYOR IN 2009.
>> GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEES AT
UIC ARE ON STRIKE AMID STALLED
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
THE SIDES ARE STALEMATED ON WAGE
INCREASES, HEALTHCARE COSTS AND
STUDENT FEES.
UIC ADMINISTRATORS SAY THE
WALKOUT WILL NOT AFFECT CLASS
SCHEDULES OR FINAL EXAMS.
>> UP NEXT A BIG DEADLINE FOR
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.
>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY...
>> THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO STRIKE A DEAL
ON A NEW WARD MAP.
ALDERPEOPLE HAVE A MONTH TO
REACH A COMPROMISE.
IF NOT, IT GOES TO THE VOTERS
VIA A REFERENDUM.
WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER
CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE
ON THE COUNTDOWN AND HEATHER
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND BY WHEN
IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS
REFERENDUM?
>> WELL, STATE LAW SAYS 41
ALDERPEOPLE HAVE TO AGREE ON A
MAP SETTING THE BOUNDARIES OF
CHICAGO'S 50 WARDS BY MAY 19TH,
THAT IS 40 DAYS BEFORE THE JUNE
28TH PRIMARY.
AND THAT WILL AVERT A
REFERENDUM.
BUT IT'S BEEN MORE THAN SIX
MONTHS.
THERE IS NO AGREEMENT IN SIGHT
AND AS YOU SAID THE CLOCK IS
TICKING LOUDLY.
>> MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.
WHERE DO THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW?
>> PRETTY MUCH WHERE WE STARTED
AT THIS.
THE LATINO CAUCUS IS REFUSING TO
SIGN OFF ON A MAP THAT WOULD
HAVE FEWER THAN 15 WARDS WITH
THE MAJORITY OF LATINO VOTERS.
AND THE BLACK CAUCUS IS REFUSING
TO SIGN OFF ON A MAP THAT HAS
FEWER THAN 16 WARDS WITH A
MAJORITY OF BLACK VOTERS AND ONE
WARD WITH A FLUHRALITY OF BLACK
VOTERS AND THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE
IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST
SIDES.
LEAVING THE TWO GROUPS AT LAGGER
HEADS AND PERHAPS PUNTING THE
QUESTION TO VOTERS FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE 1992.
>> WHY, HEATHER, IS THIS YEAR'S
REMAPPING EFFORT SO ESPECIALLY
TENSE?
>> WELL, CHICAGO'S RACIAL
DEMOGRAPHICS AND MAKEUP IS
CHANGING SIGNIFICANTLY.
CHICAGO'S BLACK POPULATION
DROPPED 10% OVER THE LAST
DECADE.
WHILE CHICAGO'S LATINO
POPULATION ROSE 5%.
AT THE SAME TIME, CHICAGO'S
ASIAN-AMERICAN POPULATION HAS
SOARED 31%.
AND THAT MEANS THAT EVERYTHING
IS IS IN FLUX AND EVERYBODY IS
BATTLING FOR THEIR SHARE OF
POWER AT CITY HALL.
>> AND IN THAT BATTLE, HEATHER,
ARE EITHER GROUPS MAKING THEIR
CASES TO THE VOTERS YET?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO BOTH THE MAPS SUPPORTED BY
THE LATINO CAUCUS AND THE BLACK
CAUCUS CREATED CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEES THAT ALLOWS THEM TO
START COLLECTING CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS.
THAT HAS STARTED AND WE COULD
SEE THE CAMPAIGNS START IN
EARNEST BEFORE THE MAY 19TH
DEADLINE BECAUSE THE MAIL COULD
START HITTING IN JUST A COUPLE
OF WEEKS, ASSUMING THAT THERE IS
NO AGREEMENT IN SIGHT.
>> OK.
THAT MEANS THERE COULD BE ONE
MORE DECISION FOR CHICAGO VOTERS
TO MAKE.
HEATHER CHERONE THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANKS, BRANDIS.
>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S
STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.
>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK
AT THE FUTURE OF PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATES.
PARIS?
>> THANKS, BRANDIS.
THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES
COULD LOOK LOPSIDED BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO WITHDRAW
FROM THE COMMISSION ON
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.
THE COMMISSION IS A NONPROFIT
NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT
HAS BEEN SPONSORING AND
PRODUCING GENERAL ELECTION
DEBATES SINCE 1987.
IN A STATEMENT CHAIRWOMAN RONNA
McDANIEL SAYS...
>> AND HERE WITH REACTION AND
MORE IS NEWTON MINOW HE RETIRED
FROM THE BOARD OF THE COMMISSION
AFTER 49 DEBATES HE IS AN
ATTORNEY FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE
F.C.C. UNDER PRESIDENT KENNEDY,
RECIPIENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
AMERICAN OF FREEDOM.
AND NEWTON MINOW IT IS A
PLEASURE TO TALK TO YOU.
FIRST, REMIND US WHAT THE
COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATES DOES AND ITS ROLE IN
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES?
>> PARIS, IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE
WITH YOU.
THE COMMISSION HAS SPONSORED AND
ORGANIZED DEBATES AS YOU POINTED
OUT FOR MANY YEARS.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FROM THE
BEGINNING IN 49 TELEVISED
PRESIDENTIAL AND
VICE-PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.
THE COMMISSION CONSISTS MOSTLY
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COME FROM SOME
EXPOSURE TO POLITICS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
GOVERNORS, PEOPLE FROM
EDUCATION, WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT
OF NOTRE DAME AS A MEMBER.
PEOPLE FROM BUSINESS.
AND WE PERFORM AS A NONPARTISAN
SPONSOR.
WE WORK WITH UNIVERSITIES WHERE
THE DEBATES OCCUR.
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND WE HAVE HAD A SUCCESSFUL
RECORD OVERALL THESE YEARS.
>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE
BIPARTISAN MAKEUP OF THE
COMMISSION.
YOUR REACTION TO THE STATEMENT
FROM THE RNC BOTH WITHDRAWING
AND CALLING THE COMMISSION
BIASED.
DID YOU DETECT BIAS THERE?
>> WELL, IT IS SO DISAPPOINTING
TO GET THIS WORD FROM THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
BECAUSE OUR OWN CO-CHAIR MAN IS
A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE MANY REPUBLICANS
PROBABLY MORE REPUBLICANS THAN
DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS ON
THE COMMISSION.
AND WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR DECADES
AND DECADES AND THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME, THE FIRST TIME ANY
CANDIDATE OF ANY PARTY OR ANY
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE HAS HAD
ANY PROBLEM.
>> AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE OF
THE MODERATORS FROM 2020 CHRIS
WALLACE.
ONE OF THE DEMANDS WAS THEY
WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMISSION
NEVER CHOSE A MODERATOR THAT
WORKED FOR ONE OF THE CANDIDATES
IN RESPONSE TO C SPAN'S STEVE
SCULLY WHO WORKED FOR BIDEN.
>> HE WORKED FOR HIM AS A
STUDENT INTERN FOR SIX WEEKS.
PUT THERE BY HIS OWN UNIVERSITY
AND NEVER EVEN MET BIDEN.
>> RIGHT.
SO THAT WAS WHAT THE RNC WAS
RESPONDING TO.
IN GENERAL THE NOTION THAT
MODERATORS THAT NEVER HAD ANY
ASSOCIATION, I GUESS WITH THE
CANDIDATES IS THAT SOMETHING THE
COMMISSION IS OPEN TO?
IS THAT A FAIR ASK?
>> OF COURSE, THAT'S FAIR.
BUT WHAT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE WANTS IS TO PICK THE
MODERATORS.
>> HAVE THEY EXPRESSED THAT
OPENLY THAT THEY SENT YOU A LIST
OF MODERATORS?
>> NOT OPENLY, BUT THEY HAVE
INDICATED THAT THAT IS WHAT THEY
WANT TO DO.
AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE
SOMETHING FAIR TO THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC.
>> CERTAINLY.
WE WOULDN'T WANT CANDIDATES
PICKING THE MODERATORS.
>> ONE OTHER THING, PARIS, THE
REPUBLICANS DO NOT WANT
JOURNALISTS DO NOT WANT
JOURNALISTS TO BE MODERATORS.
I THINK SOMEHOW AFRAID OF
JOURNALISTS.
>> IS THIS ALL ABOUT THE FORMER
PRESIDENT?
IS HE THE ONE DO YOU BELIEVE
CALLING THE SHOTS AND ASKING THE
PARTY TO ISSUE THIS KIND OF
DIRECTIVE?
>> WELL, I CAN ONLY TELL YOU
AFTER 49 DEBATES, IT WAS ONLY
HIS DISSATISFACTION THAT HAS
CAUSED THIS WHOLE THING.
>> DO YOU ANTICIPATE WHOEVER
ENDS UP BEING THE NOMINEE OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY IN 2024 MIGHT
THEY CHOOSE INDIVIDUALLY TO
PARTICIPATE DESPITE WHAT THE
PARTY IS SAYING?
>> WELL, THAT GOES RIGHT TO THE
HEART OF THE POINT I WANT TO
MAKE.
THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATES DOES NOT UNDERLINE NOT,
DEAL WITH PARTIES.
THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATES DEALS WITH CANDIDATES.
DIRECTLY WITH CANDIDATES.
AND I DON'T THINK THE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE WHOEVER THAT MIGHT BE
MAN OR WOMAN IN 2024, IS GOING
TO BE WANT TO BE REPRESENTED AT
THE DEBATE BY SOME KIND OF AN
EMPTY CHAIR.
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WILL
WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
>> AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING
DESPITE THE DIRECTIVE, THE
COMMISSION IS GOING TO CONTINUE
TO STAGE DEBATES, CORRECT, EVEN
IF IT IS JUST ONE MAJOR PARTY
CANDIDATE THAT TAKES PART?
>> NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
AND THERE COULD BE MORE THAN
TWO.
YOU KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAVE HAD
TWO CANDIDATES, ROSS PERREAULT
AND JOHN ANDERSON WHO WERE THE
THIRD PARTICIPANT THIRD
CANDIDATE IN THE DEBATE.
AND THAT COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN
AGAIN.
TO BE A PARTICIPANT IN THE
DEBATE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
YOUR POLITICAL PARTY.
IT HAS TO DO WITH YOU HAVE TO BE
CONSTITUTIONALLY QUALIFIED WHICH
MEANS YOU HAVE TO BE A NATIVE
BORN CITIZEN AT LEAST 35 YEARS
OLD.
YOU MUST BE ON ENOUGH BALLOTS SO
YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN.
AND THIRD, YOU MUST HAVE AT
LEAST 15% SUPPORT IN THE LEADING
NATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION POLLS.
SO THERE'S NOTHING TO DO WITH
PARTY.
IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL
QUALIFICATION TO BE IN THE
DEBATE.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE COST TO
THE PUBLIC IS FOR HAVING AT
LEAST ONE MAJOR PARTY DECIDE TO
WITHDRAW, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU
CONSIDER THAT THE DEBATES ARE
CARRIED BY EVERY MAJOR NETWORK
ONE OF THE FEW MASS VIEWING
EVENTS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY?
>> ONE OF THE FEW NONPARTISAN
EVENTS THAT LASTED AND
CONTRIBUTED TO VOTER EDUCATION
FOR DECADES.
AND THE BROADCASTERS AND CABLE
PEOPLE PROVIDE THIS WITHOUT
CHARGE.
THERE'S NO COMMERCIALS.
THEY ARE EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS AT UNIVERSITIES.
MORE THAN 200 MILLION PEOPLE I
THINK THE AUDIENCE FOR THE
PRESIDENTIAL AND
VICE-PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES
COMPARES ONLY TO THE SUPER BOWL.
IT IS A VERY ESSENTIAL PART OF
THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
AND THE CANDIDATES SHOULD ALL
PARTICIPATE IN ORDER TO GIVE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THE INFORMATION
THAT THEY NEED THE REAL PURPOSE
OF THE DEBATES IS TO ONE AND
ONLY TIME THEY CAN SEE THE
CANDIDATES AT THE SAME TIME,
RESPONDING TO EACH OTHER AND
GIVING THE VOTER THE CHANCE TO
EVALUATE THEM.
>> AND YOU WERE PART OF THAT
VERY FAMOUS FIRST TELEVISED
DEBATE NIXON KENNEDY.
HOW HAVE THE DEBATES CHANGED
SINCE THEN?
>> WELL, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK
AT THE TAPES OF THE
KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE YOU WILL
SEE THEY WERE SIMILAR BUT YET,
EACH OPENED WITH AN OPENING
STATEMENT AND CLOSED WITH A
CLOSING STATEMENT.
THERE WAS A PANEL OF QUESTIONERS
BY THE FUNNIEST COINCIDENCES MY
COLLEGE ROOMMATE AT NORTHWEST
UNIVERSITY WAS ONE OF THE
PANELISTS.
THE 1960 DEBATE WAS THE FIRST
TIME THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAD A
ACHANCE TO COMPARE TWO
CANDIDATES SIDE-BY-SIDE, NIX CON
AND KENNEDY AND WERE VERY
IMPORTANT.
IN THE FUTURE DEBATES, PRESIDENT
REAGAN, THE TWO PRESIDENT
BUSHES, VERY OFTEN ARE REGARDED
AS HAVING WON THEIR ELECTIONS
THROUGH THE DEBATES.
THAT IS WHY IT IS SUCH --
DON'T GET ME STARTED --
SURPRISING THING FOR THE
REPUBLICANS WHO BENEFITED SO
ENORMOUSLY FROM THE DEBATES TO
WANT TO WITHDRAW FROM THEM.
>> CERTAINLY DEBATES HAVE ALWAYS
PROVEN TO BE FLUNGAL ON THE
ELECTION.
INFLUENTIAL.
>> NEWTON MINOW THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
>> ONE MORE SECOND.
I WANT TO NOMINATE A CANDIDATE
FOR MAYOR OF CHICAGO.
>> WHO IS THAT?
>> JOHN RODGERS.
OUR PROBLEM IS TO GET HIM TO BE
WILLING TO RUN.
>> MAYBE HE IS LISTENING.
NEWTON MINOW THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS AND BOOK
BANNING EFFORTS IN FLORIDA.
>> THE WAR ON BOOKS IS
ESCALATING AND THE LATEST
TARGET, MATH TEXTBOOKS FLORIDA'S
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
ANNOUNCED IT WAS BANNING 54 MATH
BOOKS ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY
TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
IN THE PAST YEAR MORE THAN 1500
BOOKS HAVE BEEN BANNED IN
SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ACCORDING TO PEN AMERICA.
A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO
PROTECTING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
IN THE UNITED STATES.
HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LATEST
BAN IS TRACIE HALL, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE KNOW IN THE PAST FEW YEARS,
WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK ON
BANNING SPECIFIC KINDS OF BOOKS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CAUSE
OF ALL THIS?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT ANYTIME WE
HAVE SEEN THE SUPPRESSION OF
IDEAS AND BOOKS WHETHER IT'S NOW
OR IN THE McCARTHY ERA 70
YEARS AGO IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
REALLY ABOUT SOCIAL CHANGE AND
TRYING TO SUPPRESS SOCIAL CHANGE
IN THE McCARTHY ERA WE SAW
BOOKS CONSIDERED TO BE
ANTI-AMERICAN OFTEN WERE BOOKS
THAT PROMOTED INTEGRATION AND
PUSHED BACK AGAINST
DESEGREGATION.
AND THOSE BOOKS WERE LABELED AS
DANGEROUS.
TODAY WE SEE THAT BOOKS THAT
UPLIFT THE LIVES OF BLACK INC.
DIGINOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFY AS
LGBTQ ARE ALSO BEING REPRESSED.
I THINK WE CAN SEE A PATTERN
HERE.
>> SO THE AMERICAN LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION YOU ALL HAVE CALLED
THIS A QUOTE THREAT TO THE
FREEDOM TO READ.
HOW DOES THIS BAN AFFECT LOCAL
COMMUNITIES?
>> WELL, IT REALLY AFFECTS LOCAL
COMMUNITIES IN TWO WAYS: ONE,
BECAUSE IT DRIVES A WEDGE WITHIN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO IT SAYS THAT CERTAIN IDEAS
ARE NOT TO BE TALKED ABOUT OR
NOT TO BE DISCUSSED AND IT ALSO
CHALLENGES OUR ABILITY TO
PROVIDE THE KINDS OF INFORMATION
SERVICES AND READING THAT PEOPLE
NEED.
SO IT IS A DOUBLE CHALLENGE.
AND LESS UNCHECKED CAN CAN DO
MORE DAMAGE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
MANY OF THE BOOKS SUCH ACETONE
ANYMORERIES SON'S THE BLUEST EYE
ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PART OF THE
AMERICAN CANNON AND WHEN THOSE
BOOKS ARE REMOVED FROM LIBRARIES
SCHOOL OR PUBLIC, IT HINDERS THE
ABILITY OF STUDENTS TO PREPARE
FOR TESTS LIKE THE SAT OR THE
ACT WHEN THE BLUEST EYE IS ONE
OF THE BOOKS THAT IS FREQUENTLY
MENTIONED.
AND BECOMES PART OF MANY OF THE
TEST QUESTIONS WE SEE THERE.
>> THE ALA YOU CONDUCTED A VOTER
POLL IN ADDITION TO THAT WHAT
HAS THE ALA BEEN DOING IN
RESPONSE TO THE EFFORTS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY?
>> WE DID.
WE CONDUCTED A POLL BECAUSE WE
WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WE AS
LIBRARIANS BELIEVE THAT
PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO READ IS
AT THE CORE OF LIBRARIANSHIP.
BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE WERE IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT
REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY,
70% OF AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY
BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT TO READ
IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF FREEDOM
OF SPEECH.
AND WANT TO PROTECT IT.
WE HAVE ALSO SEEN THAT
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
BOOKS THAT ARE LABELED CRITICAL
RACE THEORY ET CETERA, BOOKS
THAT SPEAK ABOUT ANTIRACISM,
THAT WE FOR THAT MORE THAN 90%
OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY
BELIEVE THAT THOSE BOOKS SHOULD
BE ON THE SHELVES OF LIBRARIES
EVERYWHERE.
>> NOW, ACCORDING TO EDUCATION
WEEK.ORG SINCE JANUARY OF 202142
STATES INTRODUCED BILLS OR
TAKEN --
THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE
THEORY AN ACADEMIC THEORY FROM
WHAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW CAN THE
BANS BE UPHELD?
>> WELL, THE BANS CAN BE UPHELD
WHEN THEY ARE LEFT UNSTOPPED AND
UNCHECKED.
THE BANS CAN BE UPHELD WHEN
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT CENSORSHIP
IS RIGHT AND THAT SOMEHOW THEY
ARE PROTECTING THEIR CHILDREN
AND OTHERS.
BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THAT IS
NOT WHAT WE BELIEVE IN WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT A DEMOCRACY.
WE KNOW THAT MOST PARENTS REALLY
WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR
CHILDREN'S READING.
AND THEY WANT TO DECIDE WHAT
THEIR CHILDREN ARE READING.
THEY DON'T WANT TO SURRENDER
THAT RIGHT TO ANYONE ELSE.
SO I THINK THAT THE BANS I THINK
TO THINK OF THEM AS AN
ABERRATION.
THEY ARENCE TENSEFYING AND WE
CAN SEE PARALLELS WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN THE McCARTHY ERA
I DO BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT
INDICATIVE WHAT WE THINK AS A
PEOPLE.
ONE WAY WE CAN FIGHT AGAINST
THEM IS TO AND I'M INVITING
EVERYONE TO VISIT UNITE AGAINST
BOOK BANS.ORG THAT IS WHERE WE
ARE ASKING CAREGIVERS, MOMS AND
DADS AND TEACHERS AND WRITERS
AND AUTHORS AND ARTISTS AND
PHYSICAL LEADERS TO COME
TOGETHER AND PROTECT THE RIGHT
TO READ.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT FREE
PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO
READ FREELY.
>> FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DE
SANTIS ARGUES PARENTS SHOULD BE
THE ONES ABLE TO HAVE THE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SEXUALITY WITH
THEIR CHILDREN VERSUS BOOKS.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT
ARGUMENT?
>> I ACTUALLY SAY THAT I THINK
THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT
PARENTS DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES WITH
THEIR OWN CHILDREN TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT READING MIGHT BE IMPORTANT
FOR THAT YOUNG PERSON FOR THE
FAMILY ET CETERA.
AND WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE
BOOKS THAT ARE BEING CENSORED
TALK ABOUT IDENTIFIATION, TALK
ABOUT IDENTITY, TALK ABOUT
GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
RACE, DATING, TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT TEENAGERS AND
YOUNG PEOPLE AND PRETEENS BEGIN
TO THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY REALLY
WANT TO IDENTIFY FOR THEMSELVES
WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR ME?
WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR ME?
AND ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE WHO
FELT THE WAY I FEEL?
THE HAPPINESS, THE ELATION, THE
CONFUSION ET CETERA.
AND WHEN WE TAKE AWAY THE BOOKS
WE TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT FOR THE
PARENT TO INTRODUCE A BOOK THAT
MIGHT HELP THEIR YOUNG PERSON
THEN WE REALLY SILENCE THAT
PARENT.
SO WE BELIEVE ALSO THAT PARENTS
HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE READING
WITH AND FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND
NOT FOR ANYONE ELSE.
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT
YOU ARE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO
HOLD THIS TITLE OF EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
LEAD THIS EFFORT?
>> WELL, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
AND TIMELY FOR ME.
BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THE
REPRESSION OF THE RIGHT TO READ
MANY TIMES IN OUR LIFETIME.
WE HAVE SEEN IT WHEN IT COMES TO
WORKERS, SEEN IT WHEN IT COMES
TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ENSLAVED
AND SEEN IT EVEN IN THE
SEGREGATION AREA --
ERA, THE REMEMBER AOF
SEGREGATION WHEN WE HAD
SEGREGATED LIBRARIES.
FOR ME PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO
READ IS SOMETHING THAT CUTS
ACROSS ALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
AND DEFINITELY FOR ME IT DRIVES
ME TO THIS WORK AND I SEE MYSELF
HOPEFULLY BEING A VANGUARD OF A
MOVEMENT TO COUNTER CENSORSHIP.
>> TRACIE HALL EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> UP NEXT, HOW A GROUP OF
COMEDIANS ARE MIXING IMPROV WITH
MARIACHI.
STAY WITH US.
>> CHICAGO IS WELL-KNOWN AS THE
BIRTHPLACE OF IMPROVISATIONAL
COMEDY BUT SINCE IT GOT STARTED
IT'S BEEN A WHITE DOMINATED
SPACE.
A GROUP OF LOCAL COMEDIANS
PLAYED A DIFFERENT TUNE THROUGH
A TWIST ON MEXICAN MARIACHI
MUSIC THEY ARE BRINGING A TASTE
OF LATINO CULTURE TO AUDIENCES.
ERICA GUNDERSON INTRODUCES TO
LOS IMPROVIACHIS.
>> EMILY.
>> ARE YOU FROM HERE OR
VISITING?
>> WE'RE VISITING.
>> FROM WHERE?
>> WISCONSIN.
>> NO!
>> THE MEMBERS OF LOS
IMPROVIACHIS WILL BE THE FIRST
TO TELL YOU THEY ARE NOT
TRADITIONAL MARIACHIS.
>> WE ARE COMEDIANS BUT WE HAVE
A RESPECT FOR MARIACHI IT IS A
SERIOUS ART FORM.
[♪♪♪]
♪EMILY IS SO BEAUTIFUL SHE IS
WORTH IT MORE THAN A PESO.
>> IT'S PAYING HOMAGE TO MEXICAN
CULTURE.
[♪♪♪]
THEY WILL ADMIT THEY ARE NOT
PARTICULARLY GOOD MUSICIANS.
>> PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY EXPECTING
THESE GUYS ARE THE ATTIRE THEY
ARE GOING TO SOUND GREAT AND I
GET ON MY HORN AND A B FLAT ALL
THE WAY.
[LAUGHTER]
[♪♪♪]
>> BUT FOR THEIR BRANDS OF
IMPROV COMEDY IT'S PART OF THE
PLAN.
>> IMPROVISING THE MUSIC
PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY THAT
LOWER LEVEL BARRIER TO ENTRY
WHERE YOU CAN JUST GO FOR IT AND
HAVE A GOOD TIME.
>> NELSON VELAZQUEZ STARTED LOS
IMPROVIACHIS 10 YEARS AGO WITH
MEGAN POWELL.
AND STEVEN SANBRIA JOINED IN
2015.
>> IT WAS MORE OUT OF SALSATION
THEATRE COMEDY THE LONGER
RUNNING LATINO THEATRE COMPANY
IN CHICAGO AND I WANTED TO PUT
TOGETHER A SHOW THAT CELEBRATED
MEXICAN CULTURE AND LATINO
CULTURE BUT HAD A TON OF FUN
WITH T WE GOT OUR VICKS VAPO RUB
JOKES.
SPRITE, PEPSI.
>> OUR SEXUAL APPETITE, THE
LATIN LOVER STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE MAY DO A VERSE OF EL REY AND
THE SPANISH VERSE AND THE SECOND
VERSE IS COMPLETELY IN ENGLISH
AND IMPROVISED ON THE SPOT BASED
ON WHAT THEY ARE GIVEN.
>> WE'RE AMBASSADORS WE ARE THE
INTRO TO THE INTRO CLASS THAT
YOU WOULD TAKE AT A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE ON LATINO CULTURE.
>> THEIR ACT ADDS VARIETY INTO
WHAT IS A WHITE DOMINATED SPACE.
>> ALSO THERE IS NOT A LOT OF
SPANISH COMEDY THAT YOU WILL
SEE.
IF YOU GO TO DIFFERENT STAGES
ACROSS THE CITY, I'M SURE YOU
ARE NOT GOING TO SEE A LOT OF
OUR FACES.
AND NOT SAYING THAT I AM GOING
TO BE THE NEXT STEPHEN COLBERT
OR WHATEVER [INAUDIBLE]
OR DON FRANCISCO.
RIGHT.
SO YOU KNOW, WE JUST THAT'S WHAT
WE BRING.
WE BRING A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING
OF THE CULTURE AND HOW THAT IS
AND HOW IT PLAYS A PART IN
COMEDY BUT EVERYDAY LIFE.
>> LIKE ANY OTHER COMEDY SHOW
THEY SAY THEIR MISSION IS TO
MAKE THEM LAUGH EVEN WHEN THE
RESULTS CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE.
>> THERE IS A BIT OF READING THE
ROOM.
ESPECIALLY IN THE SITUATIONS
LIKE ARE YOU TWO TOGETHER?
IF NELSON ASKS HE NOTICES BODY
LANGUAGE OR HOW THEY ARE SEATED.
>> WE'VE DONE IT FOR 10 YEARS.
WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE ON LOVE
CONNECTION.
>> WE PROBABLY RUIN A FEW
MARRIAGES THAT IS COLLATERAL
DAMAGE WHEN ARE YOU DOING
COMEDY.
>> WHAT CAN YOU DO?
♪WE ARE THE MARIACHI.
>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS
ERICA GUNDERSON.
>> LOS IMPROVIACHIS ARE JOINING
THE UPCOMING FIESTA IN AURORA.
YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR
INFORMATION.
AND NOW BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.
>> COIL TO COME ON "CHICAGO
TONIGHT" PAT DOWELL COMES OUT
AGAINST ONE OF THE THREE CHICAGO
CASINO FINALISTS THAT AND MORE
FROM CRAIN'S.
>> AND OUTRAGE OVER THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S FOOT PURSUIT
POLICY.
DAVID BROWN ON THE TIMELINE FOR
NEW POLICY AND MORE.
AND MANY BIRDS ARE NESTING AND
LAYING THEIR EGGS EARLIER THAN
EVER BEFORE.
COULD CLIMATE CHANGE BE TO
BLAME?
FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP
STORIES...
>> NO FEDERAL CRIMINAL CHARGES
AGAINST FORMER CHICAGO POLICE
OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE.
THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
ANNOUNCES IT WILL NOT PURSUE
FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES FOR
THE KILLING OF LAQUAN
McDONALD.
U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH SAYS
THE BAR IS VERY HIGH TO PROVE
BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT
VAN DYKE ACTED WITH SPECIFIC AND
DELIBERATE INTENT.
VAN DYKE WAS RELEASED IN
FEBRUARY AFTER SERVING THREE
YEARS OF A SEVEN-YEAR SENTENCE.
THE LAUSCH SAYS THE U.S.
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONSULTED WITH
MCDONALD'S FAMILY WHO AGREED
WITH THE DECISION NOT TO BRING
CHARGES.
>> IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, YOU MAY
NOT NEED TO HAVE YOUR MASK HANDY
AFTER ALL.
A FEDERAL JUDGE IN FLORIDA TODAY
VOIDED THE NATIONAL MASK MANDATE
FOR AIRPLANES AND PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
AS A RESULT A BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAYS THE
ORDER IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT
WHILE THE RULE SOMETHING BEING
REVIEWED.
THE TRUMP APPOINTED U.S.
DISTRICT JUDGE ISSUED A 59-PAGE
RULING SAYING U.S. HEALTH
OFFICIALS OVERSTEPPED THEIR
AUTHORITY IN ISSUING THE MANDATE
AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION FAILED TO
JUSTIFY ITS DECISION.
THE MANDATE WAS SET TO EXPIRE
TODAY.
BUT THE C.D.C. RECENTLY EXTENDED
IT THROUGH MAY THIRD WHILE
STUDYING THE IMPACTS OF THE
OMICRON SIB VARIANT.
SUBVARIANT.
>> THE GROWING MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGE FOR TEENAGERS WAS THE
TOPIC OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN
NAPERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
AND U.S. SURGEON GENERAL VIVEK
MURTHY.
>> WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WHEN I WAS
IN GRADE SCHOOL, I STRUGGLED A
LOT WITH MY MENTAL HEALTH.
DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO TALK TO
ABOUT IT.
WELL, I DID, MY PARENTS CARED
DEEPLY ABOUT ME AND MY SISTER
BUT I WAS TOO ASHAMED TO TALK TO
THEM MUCH LESS TALK TO MY
TEACHERS OR COUNSELORS IN
SCHOOL.
>> THE SURGEON GENERAL ADMITTED
HIS OWN MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES
AS A TEENAGER WHILE JOINING
STUDENTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN UNDEAR
WOOD JOINED IN LISTENING AS
STUDENTS SHARED THEIR
EXPERIENCES WITH CHALLENGES AND
THE ADVOCACY WORK THEY HAVE DONE
TO IMPROVE RESOURCES IN THEIR
SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
C.D.C. SAYS THE SUICIDE IS THE
SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH
FOR PEOPLE 10-24 A RATE THAT
INCREASED FROM 2007 TO 2017.
>> A HISTORY IRK ENGLEWOOD
CHURCH CONTINUED TO BURN AFTER
FIRE BROKE OUT AFTER GOOD
FRIDAY'S SERVICE LAST WEEK.
THE BUILDING HAS BEEN THE HOME
TO THE ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH.
CHICAGO FIRE CREWS RETURNED TO
THE CRUTCH BECAUSE MORE FLAMES
WERE BURNING.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS LAST
WEEK IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE
ACCIDENTAL CAUSED BY WORK BEING
DONE ON THE ROOF USING A TORCH.
THE CHURCH SAYS IT WAS THE FIRST
IN THE COUNTRY TO USE THE
HOUSING ACT WHEN THE NONPROFIT
RECEIVED A LOAN TO DEVELOP
HOUSING FOR LOW TO MODERATE
INCOME SENIORS AND FAMILIES.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY YOU HAVE
JUST A FEW MORE HOURS BEFORE THE
MIDNIGHT DEADLINE TO HAVE YOUR
FEDERAL TAX RETURN POSTMARKED.
THOUGH TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR
FILING YOUR TAX RETURN, THE
I.R.S. SAYS YOUR REFUND MIGHT BE
DELAYED DUE TO A BACKLOG.
THE AGENCY IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE
TO FILE ELECTRONICALLY SINCE
IT'S TAKING UP TO SIX MONTHS TO
PROCESS A PAPER RETURN.
AND FOLKS NEED TO FACTOR IN THE
CHILD TAX CREDIT AND RULES ABOUT
REPORTING INCOME FROM
CRYPTOCURRENCY.
TO PARIS FOR TOP BUSINESS
HEADLINES.
>> AN ALDERPERSON COMES OUT
AGAINST ONE OF THE THREE CASINO
FINALISTS.
DEVELOPERS PLAN NEW APARTMENTS
FOR THE MAG MILE.
>> LET'S ENJOY ILLINOIS.
>> AND A SERIES OF ADS HOPES TO
SHOWCASE ILLINOIS AS QUOTE THE
MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING.
AND HERE TO GO BEHIND THE
HEADLINES IS CRAIN'S BUSINESS
EDITOR ANN DWYER IN THE MIDDLE
OF ALL THE BUSINESS NEWS ALL THE
TIME.
LET'S START WITH THAT CASINO
NEWS.
WHICH ALDERPERSON IS OPPOSING
WHICH PROPOSAL AND WHY?
>> PAT DOWELL WHO IS THE
ALDERPERSON OVERSEEING THE AREA
AROUND McCORMICK PLACE HAS
EXPRESSED PUBLICLY HER
OPPOSITION TO THE HARD ROCK
PROPOSAL THAT HAS BEEN TIED WITH
THE ONE CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT NEAR
SOLDIER FIELD.
SHE CITED CONCERNS THAT A LOT OF
CONSTITUENTS HAVE CITED AROUND
CONGESTION, NEIGHBORHOOD
DISRUPTION, PUBLIC SAFETY ET
CETERA.
BUT SHE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT
WHICH IS KIND OF INTERESTING.
AND PARIS, IT IS NOT ENTIRELY
CLEAR WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE
LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THIS
PARTICULAR BID.
NORMALLY WHEN AN ALDERPERSON
COMES OUT AGAINST A DEVELOPMENT
THAT MEANS THE KISS OF DEATH.
BUT NOT SO HERE.
THE CITY DOES HAVE A LOT OF
STAKE WITH THE THREE BIDS.
WHAT IS MORE LIKELY THIS WILL
PUT PRESSURE ON LIGHTFOOT TO
SEEK CONCESSIONS OR MAYBE RISK
PUBLIC SCORN BY GOING AHEAD AND
BLESSING THE IDEA ANYWAY.
>> AND THE WAY IT IS ALL THREE
ALDERPEOPLE REPRESENTING EACH OF
THE SITES ARE ALL AGAINST EACH
PROPOSAL.
ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE IS NOT
GOING TO PLAY A ROLE IF ONE OF
THEM PASSES CITY COUNCIL DOWN
THE ROAD.
LET'S MOVE ON A LOCAL DEVELOPER
IS PLANNING A 21 STOREY
APARTMENT TOWER A BLOCK EAST OF
THE MAGNIFICENT MILE.
WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS
PROJECT?
>> THE MAIN THING IT'S BEING
PROPOSED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE
WE HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS.
THE FIRST RENTAL PROJECT FOR
THAT LONG.
AND MOST OF THAT SORT OF ACTION
NOWADAYS AS YOU KNOW IS
HAPPENING IN THE WEST LOOP.
AND THAT AREA.
THAT IS MAINLY BECAUSE MOST OF
THE BEST SITES IN STREETERVILLE
HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
THIS IS IT AMBITIOUS.
248 APARTMENTS.
41,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE
SPACE.
ANOTHER 8,000 SQUARE FEET OF
STREET-LEVEL RETAIL.
AND 100 PARKING SPACE.
BUT IT IS ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE
DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL MARKET
APARTMENTS AT LEAST IS STILL RED
HOT.
>> COMING AT A TIME WHERE THE
MAG MILE IS STRUGGLING WITH
RETAIL.
ILLINOIS NATIVE JANE LYNCH IS IN
A NEW PROJECT THAT IS NOT A FILM
OR TV SHOW BUT A TOURISM AD
CAMPAIGN FOR ILLINOIS.
WHAT DOES THIS HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH?
>> MAINLY THE STATE WANTS TO
ENCOURAGE MIDWESTERNERS
PARTICULARLY IN THE ADJOINING
STATES TO ILLINOIS, TO ADD
CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS TO THEIR
TRAVEL PLANS NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
FEELING SAFE TO GET OUT ON THE
ROAD AGAIN.
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT
JANE LYNCH HAS SHOWN UP FOR THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS.
THE STATE TAPPED HER TO BE PART
OF A VACCINATION AD CAMPAIGN IN
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.
IN A WAY SHE IS BECOMING AN
UNOFFICIAL SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE
STATE.
>> I DID WATCH THIS AD IT WAS
FUNNY JANE LYNCH IS TALENTED.
ANN THANK YOU SO MUCH AS ALWAYS.
>> THANK YOU, PARIS.
>> UP NEXT, DISCUSSING GHOST
GUNS AND CONSENT DECREE
COMPLIANCE WITH CHICAGO'S TOP
COP IN A CONVERSATION THAT AIRED
ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK
VOICES".
FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE
WEATHER...
>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS
ANNOUNCED A NEW STRATEGY
DESIGNED TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE.
LAST WEEK THE PRESIDENT UNVEILED
PLANS FOR A FEDERAL CRACKDOWN ON
GHOST GUNS, FIREARMS MADE FROM
KITS PRIVATELY ASSEMBLED AND
HAVE NO SERIAL NUMBER.
CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT
DAVID BROWN ATTENDED THE WHITE
HOUSE EVENT.
CHICAGO POLICE SAY THEY
RECOVERED 458 GHOST GUNS IN
2021.
A 70% INCREASE FROM 2020.
JOINING US WITH MORE IS
SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.
WELCOME BACK AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS WE MENTIONED THE GRATION
ESSENTIALLY EXPANDED WHAT
QUALIFIES AS A FIREARM UNDER THE
GUN CONTROL ACT TO INCLUDE GHOST
GUNS AND AT HOME GUN KITS ALSO
ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS WE KNOW THEY
HAVE PASSED A MEASURE MAKING
GHOST GUNS ILLEGAL.
HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM WOULD YOU
SAY GHOST GUNS ARE IN CHICAGO?
>> SO JUST LOOK AT THE LAST
THREE YEARS.
2019 TO TODAY.
THERE'S BEEN OVER A 200%
INCREASE IN GHOST GUNS THAT
CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS HAVE
SEIZED FROM THE STREETS OF
CHICAGO.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AND
IT'S AN ESCALATING PROBLEM.
TWO-FOLD.
AND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE
GUNS AT CRIME SCENES USED TO
METE OUT VIOLENCE.
>> DO YOU THINK THE NEW EFFORTS
STATE AND LOCAL WILL HELP TO
REDUCE SOME OF THE GUN VIOLENCE
IN CHICAGO?
>> I DO.
ITH THINK THE PRESIDENT HIT THE
RIGHT NOTE AND THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IS HITTING THE RIGHT
NOTE TO FIND WAYS TO REGULATE
GHOST GUNS.
BECAUSE THEY ARE GUNS.
THEY CAN HARM PEOPLE.
AND YOU CAN ORDER THEM ON-LINE
WITH ANONYMITY.
AND YOU CAN USE THESE GUNS AND
THERE'S NO WAY CURRENTLY BEFORE
THESE MEASURES PUT IN PLACE TO
TRACK IT THROUGH SERIAL NUMBERS.
IT IS AN ANONYMOUS WAY OF HIDING
THE USE OF A GUN WHO OWNS THE
GUN, WHO IS ATTRIBUTED TO BUYING
THE GUN, SELLING THE GUN.
THIS IS SIGNIFICANT TO REQUIRE
REGULATIONS AS IT RELATES TO
SERIAL NUMBERS ON THESE GUNS ON
THE KITS THAT COME THROUGH THE
MAIL.
>> ALSO THIS WEEK THE
INDEPENDENT MONITOR'S OFFICE
SAYS THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE
DEPARTMENT YOU ARE MOVING CLOSER
TO COMPLIANCE WITH REGARD TO
YOUR FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE.
THAT IS THE COURT ORDER THAT WAS
ISSUED IN THE WAKE OF THE LAQUAN
McDONALD KILLING REQUIRING THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE
CERTAIN REFORM TRAINING POLICIES
AND PRACTICES.
THE LATEST REVIEW FOUND THE
DEPARTMENT IS AT ABOUT 70%
COMPLIANT COMPARED TO THE LAST
REPORT AT 50% COMPLIANCE.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
LATEST STATUS UPDATE?
>> I THINK THE REAL STORY IS WE
BEGAN OUR FIRST REPORTING PERIOD
WITH AN 11% COMPLIANCE.
SO JUST IN 2019 OUR COMPLIANCE
LEVEL WAS 11%.
AND THE REPORT THAT WAS JUST
ISSUED SHOWS WE ARE 72%
COMPLIANCE.
THAT IS ONE IN MY OPINION SMALL
ACT OF WHAT OUR GOAL IS AS IT
RELATES TO THE CONSENT DECREE.
WE WANT TO OBVIOUSLY ACHIEVE
WELL BEYOND THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE CONSENT DECREE.
WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE
CULTURE TRANSFORM THIS
DEPARTMENT WHERE EVERY CHICAGOAN
CAN BE PROUD OF EVERY OFFICER IN
THE DEPARTMENT.
>> WHERE DO YOU THINK YOUR
DEPARTMENT COULD AFFORD TO
IMPROVE?
>> THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT
AREAS.
NUMBER ONE BUILDING TRUST AND
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND OUR DATA IS REALLY BEHIND
CURRENT TIMES AS IT RELATES TO
TECHNOLOGY.
WE NEED TO FAST FORWARD INTO THE
21ST CENTURY WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY
AS IT RELATES TO CAPTURING OUR
OFFICERS ARE DOING AND YEARRY
AND PROVE OFFICERS ARE FOLLOWING
THE POLICIES AND TRAINING
REQUIRED.
>> THE REPORTED HIGHLIGHTED
COMMUNITY POLICING AND
ENGAGEMENT AREAS IN NEED OF
IMPROVEMENT ONE PART STATES
QUOTE...
THE REPORT ADDRESSED THE
DEPARTMENT'S GOAL TO HAVE
1.KNIFE MILLION POLICE INITIATED
POSITIVE COMMUNITY ACTIONS
THROUGH 2022 AND THE TEAM
EXPRESSED CONCERN FOCUSED ON
QUANTITY OVER QUALITY.
IS THAT A GOAL THAT YOU NEED TO
RECONSIDER?
OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT
TO MAINTAIN?
>> WELL, QUITE FRANKLY, THE
CRITICISM IS WELL TAKEN.
WE ARE STARTING FROM A VERY,
VERY LOW LEVEL OF TRUST IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THE REASON WHY WE ARE IN A
CONSENT DECREE.
THAT IS A FAIR ASSESSMENT WE
NEED TO DO MORE.
THE CONSENT DECREE IF WE NEEDED
TO BE IN ONE, IT WOULDN'T BE
SOMETHING THAT WE COULD UNDO
OVERNIGHT.
BUILDING TRUST IS GOING TO TAKE
A JOURNEY.
AND WE ARE JUST BEGINNING THAT
JOURNEY.
AND WE HAVE SET GOALS, POLICE
OFFICERS ARE GOAL ORIENTED.
IF YOU DON'T GIVE OFFICERS A
GOAL THEY SEEM TO FLAIL AWAY AT
TRYING TO HIT WHATEVER TASK WE
ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
WE WILL NEVER STOP ENGAGING THE
COMMUNITY TO BUILD TRUST.
AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT FOR
THE PURPOSE IN PLACE OF THE
GOOD.
WE HAVE A GOOD START GETTING OUR
OFFICERS OUT OF THE CARS AND OUT
FROM BEHIND THEIR DESK, INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND REQUIRING THEM TO
CREATE A POSITIVE INTERACTION
WITH THE PUBLIC.
THAT'S A GOOD GOAL.
NOW, CAN WE IMPROVE HOW WE DO
ALL OF THAT?
YES.
AND ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO PROVE
THAT OUR EFFORTS ARE ACTUALLY
BUILDING TRUST.
SO AUDITING, SURVEYS, HOW WE
PROVE IT IS GOING TO BE THE
TELLTALE.
>> AND SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT
DOES A POSITIVE COMMUNITY
INTERACTION ENTAIL?
>> IT ENTAILS MULTIPLE THINGS
BUT PRIMARILY PROVIDING A
SERVICE.
THINK ABOUT THE DRIVER THAT IS
HAVING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH
THEIR CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD.
WE WANT OUR OFFICER TO STOP AND
ASSIST.
THINK ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE MAYBE
YOUNG PEOPLE NEED OR TOURISTS
MIGHT NEED.
THE MENTORING REQUIRED TO INSURE
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE BEST
PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE
OFFICER WHERE THAT INTERACTION
LEAVES THE PUBLIC WITH A
POSITIVE VIEW OF THE POLICE
RATHER THAN OUR ONLY BEING
ENFORCEMENT OR INVESTIGATIONS.
WE WANT TO CREATE A LOT OF
INTERACTIONS WHERE THE TAKEAWAY
IS I'M PROUD OF OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN CAME IN
AS THEY OCCUPYING FORCE.
WE DON'T WANT OUR REQUIREMENT TO
ENFORCE THE LAW BE THE ONLY
NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT POLICE
OFFICERS DO.
WE SHOULD BE ENGAGING YOUNG
PEOPLE AND ASSISTING PROVIDING A
SERVICE EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY.
>> ALSO SUPERINTENDENT THIS
WEEK, WTTW NEWS REPORTED THAT
ALMOST 5.5% OF OFFICERS IN YOUR
DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT BEEN
VACCINATED OR EXEMPT FROM THE
CITY'S VACCINE MANDATE THAT THAT
PUTS THE OFFICERS AT RISK OF
DISCIPLINE AND YOUR OFFICE
RECEIVED DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF
EXEMPTIONS OF ANY OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENT, THE MAYOR GRANTING
15 THOUSAND OFFICERS.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE
EXEMPTIONS COULD BE GRANTED OR
COULD MORE OFFICERS BE FACING
DISCIPLINE IF THEY FAIL TO MEET
THE REQUIREMENT?
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SAY
THIS.
IF YOU RECALL WHEN THIS STARTED
A FEW MONTHS BACK THERE WAS THE
SKIES FALLING.
THAT 3,000 COPS WOULD WALK OFF
THE JOB BECAUSE OF THIS VACCINE
MANDATE.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WE ARE LIKELY DEALING WITH A FEW
HUNDRED OFFICERS WHO OBVIOUSLY
HAVE HAVING WHATEVER
APPREHENSIONS AND TAKEN THE
MANDATE BUT WE HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PENDING
EXEMPTIONS.
OFFICERS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR A
MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION
AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED WORD
WHETHER IT'S BEEN APPROVED.
AS SOON AS WE VET THROUGH THAT
INFORMATION IT WILL TAKE
SOMETIME BEYOND THE DATE.
BUT OFFICERS THAT DON'T GET
VACCINATED I WANT TO BE CLEAR
ABOUT THIS, WILL GO INTO A NO
PAY STATUS.
AND WE OBVIOUSLY ARE VERY
COGNIZANT OF ALL THE
VACCINATIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH
THAT IT IS A PERSONAL AND FAMILY
DECISION.
BUT COVID HAS BEEN THE NUMBER
ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT THESE LAST TWO
YEARS.
THE NUMBER ONE.
AND THE CHICAGO POLICE
DEPARTMENT LOST FOUR OFFICERS TO
COVID SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.
I BELIEVE IN OFFICERS' SAFETY
AND I BELIEVE THE MANDATE WILL
MAKE OFFICERS SAFER.
THERE MAY BE OFFICERS THAT
DECIDE LIKE OTHER PROFESSIONS
THAT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE
VACCINE AND THERE IS A SMALL,
SMALL SUBSET OF OFFICERS THAT
FEEL THAT WAY.
>> AND SUPERINTENDENT BEFORE WE
LET YOU GO ONE OTHER IMPORTANT
ISSUE THAT I WANT TO SQUEEZE IN.
COME UNDER FIRE SINCE THE
KILLING OF ADAM TOLEDO IS THE
DEPARTMENT'S FOOT PURSUIT
POLICY.
A NEW POLICY IS EXPECTED TO BE
IN PLACE THIS YEAR.
THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR
SOMETIME.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN
GETTING THIS POLICY RIGHT?
WHAT IS THE HOLD-UP?
>> WE WANTED TO ENGAGE AND HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE POLICY.
WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL ROUNDS
OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
THAT'S BEEN THE DELAY.
AND THAT DELAY HAS BEEN
WORTHWHILE.
PUBLIC HAS ENGAGED US IN THE
MONITORING TEAM WITH THE CONSENT
DECREE TO OFFER THEIR ADVICE BUT
WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE
COMMUNITY, EVERYDAY PEOPLE WITH
THE CHANGES WE ARE MAKING IN
ORDER TO HAVE THE TRANSPARENCY
AND TRUST BUILDING MEAN
SOMETHING.
SO WE COULD HAVE SEVERAL MONTHS
AGO JUST PUT OUT AN EDIC THIS IS
THE NEW POLICY AND THE PUBLIC
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENGAGED.
I THINK IT'S BEEN TIMELY TO
ENGAGE THE PUBLIC TO GO THROUGH
SEVERAL ROUNDS OF PUBLIC COMMENT
ON THE POLICY.
BY THE END OF THE YEAR, MAYBE
SOONER, THAN THE LAST QUARTER WE
SHOULD HAVE THE PERMANENT POLICY
IN PLACE.
BUT WE HAVE HAD AN INTERIM
POLICY IN PLACE DURING THIS TIME
OF ENGAGING THE PUBLIC.
WE SHOULD HAVE A PERMANENT
POLICY IN PLACE HOPEFULLY BEFORE
THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
>> AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO
LEAVE IT.
SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRANDIS.
>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO
TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.
>> CHICAGO AREA BIRDS ARE
NESTING AND LAYING EGGS EARLIER
THAN BEFORE.
A METEOR BURNS UP OVER PAPA NEW
BEGIN ANY.
A FOSSIL THAT COULD REWRITE THE
EVOLUTION OF LIFE ON EARTH AND A
DISTURBING FINDING ABOUT MICRO
PLASTICS.
JOINING US IS UNIVERSITY OF
CHICAGO PALEONTOLOGIST NEIL
SHUBIN.
LET'S START WITH THE STUDY ABOUT
BIRDS.
IT FOUND THAT SOME BIRDS ARE
LAYING THEIR EGGS ABOUT A MONTH
EARLIER NOW THAN THEY WERE A
CENTURY AGO.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS HERE?
>> YEAH, IT'S REMARKABLE.
SCIENTISTS AT THE FIELD MUSEUM
USING EGG COLLECTIONS MADE IN
1880-1920 RECORDED THE DATE WHEN
THEY COLLECTED THE EGGS THEY
COMPARED THE PAST RECORDS AND
FOUND THAT 72 SPECIES THEY CAN
MEASURE.
THEY CAN GET PAST DATA AND
CURRENT DATA AND A THIRD OF THEM
ARE PLAYING THEIR EGGS THREE
WEEKS TO A MONTH EARLY.
THAT IS DRAMATIC.
THE IMPLICATIONS ARE HUGE
BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE BIOLOGY
OF THE CREATURES.
BY HATCHING EARLIER THERE'S
DIFFERENT FOOD SOURCES AND
COMPETITORS MAYBE PREDATORS.
SO IT DOES AFFECT THEIR BIOLOGY
IN A PRO FOUND MANNER.
>> WHAT ARE THEY ATTRIBUTING THE
CAUSE TO?
>> GLOBAL WARMING.
IT WILL CHANGE WHEN FLOWERS BUD
IT CHANGES WHEN AND WHERE
INSECTSES WILL BE HATCHING.
THOSE CHANGES TO FOOD STRUCTURES
WILL CHANGE WHEN THE BIRDS LAY
THEIR EGGS.
>> IT IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE
BIRD SPECIES.
DOES THAT MEAN MORE SPECIES THEN
THEY KNOW OF ARE ACTUALLY
NESTING EARLIER?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT CERTAINLY COULD AND IT MAY
NOT JUST BE BIRD IT IS COULD BE
REPTILES AS WELL.
AND THERE IS A LOT GOING ON HERE
THE FUNDAMENTAL BIOLOGY THAT IS
SHIFTING BECAUSE OF THE GLOBAL
WARMING.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT METEOR.
2014, A METEOR ABOUT THE SIZE OF
A DISHWASHER BURNED UP OVER PAPA
NEW GUINEA WHY DO RESEARCHERS
BELIEVE THIS WAS UNIQUE?
>> WHEN SCIENTISTS LOOKED AT THE
DATABASE USING STATE LIGHT
IMAGERY, IT WAS GOING SO FAST,
THAT WHAT IT SUGGESTED TO THEM
THAT THE METEOR AROSE NOT FROM A
BODY CIRCULATING THE SUN BUT
FROM SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM
OUTSIDE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
>> AN INTERSTELLAR METEOR AND
THE FOLKS THAT CAME UP WITH THIS
AND THE EVIDENCE HAD A LOT OF
TROUBLE GETTING THEIR NOTES
HEARD ON THIS.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE THEY WERE USING
DATA RELATED TO MILITARY
SATELLITES AND THE MILITARY
SATELLITES IT'S CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION.
THE MILITARY SATELLITES ARE
LOOKING AT MISSILE MAP NUCLEAR
TEST SITES AND LAUNCHES FROM
OTHER COUNTRIES THAT WAS
CLASSIFIED DATA THEY USED.
SO THE DATA CANNOT BE PUBLISHED
AND SCIENTISTS NEED THE DATA
PUBLISHED.
>> AND AGAIN, IT'S UNIQUE
BECAUSE IT'S THOUGHT TO BE AN
INTERSTELLAR METEOR.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF
THAT A ROCK COMING FROM OUTSIDE
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM?
>> HUGE.
OUTSIDE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM FROM
ANOTHER STAR SYSTEM THAT IS A
VISITOR FROM SO FAR AWAY WE
DON'T SEE THOSE.
IT'S GIVING US A SENSE OF WHAT
IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE OUR SOLAR
SYSTEM.
>> SPEAKING OF BIG QUESTION,
SCIENTISTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF COLLEGE OF LONDON BELIEVE
THAT LIFE ON EARTH BEGAN EARLIER
THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.
HOW ARE THEY DETERMINING THAT?
>> WELL, THEY WERE WORKING ON
ROCKS IN QUEBEC FORMED IN THE
OCEAN 4.25 BILLION YEARS OLD 300
MILLION YEARS AFTER THE
FORMATION OF EARTH.
THEY FOUND STRUCTURES SPHERES,
FILAMENTS LIKE STEMS WITH
BRANCHES THAT SEEMED TO BE MADE
BY CREATURES MICRO KROBS.
THE KEMPSY IT SHOWED IRON AND
SULFUR OTHER THINGS THAT
MICROBES DO.
THERE'S LINES OF EVIDENCE
SUGGESTING THAT THEY ARE
MICROBES ON EARTH 4.25 BILLION
YEARS AGO.
LITERALLY SOON RIGHT AFTER OUR
PLANET FORMED.
>> IN THE INFANT STAGES OF THE
PLANET.
THERE WERE SCIENTISTS THAT WERE
SKEPTICAL OF THIS CLAIM.
HOW STRONG IS THE EVIDENCE?
>> IT'S EASY TO BE SKEPTICAL
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ASK THE
QUESTION CAN THE STRUCTURES BE
FORMED IN THE ROCKS OR BECAUSE
OF LIFE.
THEY USED MULTIPLE LINES OF
EVIDENCE H THEY USED THE
CHEMISTRY OF THE ROCKS TO
SUGGEST METABOLISM AND USED THE
STRUCTURE OF THE FOSSILS AND
COMPARED THEM TO MICROBES THAT
ARE ALIVE TODAY AND THE MULTIPLE
LINES OF EVIDENCE POINT TO THAT
THESE WERE ONCE LIVING
CREATURES.
>> A MORE DISTURBING STUDY
SCIENTISTS FOUND MICRO PLASTIC
POLLUTION DEEP IN THE LUNGS OF
LIVING PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME
AND THERE WAS A SUBSET OF FOLKS
WHERE MICRO PLASTICS WERE
DETECTED.
>> DURING SURGERIES THEY
COLLECTED TISSUE TO REMOVE PART
OF A LUNG AND THEY SAMPLE THAT
TISSUE FOR MICRO PLASTICS AND
FOUND A SURPRISING FRACTIONATE
0% OF THE PATIENTS HAD SMALL
PARTICLES OF MICRO PLASTICS DEEP
INSIDE THE LUNGS IN THE DEEPEST
PARTS OF THE LUNGS AND THAT WAS
SURPRISING.
>> OMINOUS THERE.
WHAT DO RESEARCHERS ATTRIBUTE
THAT TO ESPECIALLY GETTING SO
DEEP INTO THE LUNGS?
>> THESE WERE PLASTICS AND WATER
BOTTLES AND PIPING AND
PACKAGING.
THESE ARE THINGS WE BREATHE.
THESE WERE PARTICLES THAT WE
BREATHE AND WE'RE PROBABLY ALL
BREATHING.
ONE OTHER ROOT THROUGH THE
DIGESTIVE TRACK, DRINKING WATER
AND EATING FOOD.
>> AND WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS IF SO MUCH
OF THE POPULATION HAS MICRO
PLASTICS DISCOVERABLE DEEP IN
THEIR LUNGS.
>> WE ARE FINDING IS IN BLOOD
AND OTHER TISSUE.
THAT IS THE CONCERNING THING.
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.
ONE THING WE DO KNOW IN
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS LIKE IN A
DISH PLASTICS ARE NOT GOOD FOR
HUMAN CELLS THEY CAN DAMAGE THE
CELLS.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT LINKS TO
DISEASES.
THERE'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
THAT MUCH MORE RESEARCH NEEDS TO
BE DONE.
>> IMPORTANT STUDIES HERE.
OUR THANKS AS ALWAYS TO NEIL
SHUBIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS
UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.
>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY...
>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS
MONDAY NIGHT.
STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN
UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.
AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO
TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK,
YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE,
WTTW.COM/NEWS.
>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA
PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.
AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW
NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.
STARBUCKS WORKERS IN THE CHICAGO
AREA AND AROUND THE U.S. ARE
JOINING A FAST GROWING
UNIONIZATION EFFORT.
>> AND WE VISIT MERCURY THEATRE
FOR A PREVIEW OF WINNIE THE POOH
THE MUSICAL.
>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT
"CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS
SCHUTZ.
>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A
GOOD NIGHT.
[♪♪♪]