[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ONED SHOW TONIGHT... >> A TEXAS LAW BANNING MOST ABORTIONS IN THE STATE IS NOW IN EFFECT WITH NO ACTION FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

>> INACTION HAS CONSEQUENCES AND THIS IS URGENT.

>> MOVEMENT IN SPRINGFIELD ON THE ENERGY FRONT AS A CRUCIAL DEADLINE LOOMS.

WE LOOK AHEAD AT THE HURDLES.

>> THE DISTRICT IN THE ADJUSTED MAP WAS DRAWN TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN POPULATION.

>> STATE DEMOCRATS PASS NEW DISTRICT MAPS DURING THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SUMMER OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

>> COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE TRANSITIONING TO IN-PERSON CLASSES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR.

>> CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS IN TWO HOURS.

THAT WOULD BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR THIS REGION.

>> ADVOCATES ARE HOPEFUL THAT STATE-WIDE COORDINATION AND FEDERAL FUNDING MEAN HIGH SPEED RAIL IS ON THE HORIZON.

>> THE LATEST ON CHICAGO'S PLAN TO SEND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH POLICE OFFICERS TO CALLS FOR HELP.

>> I'M ANGEL IDOWU AND COMING UP TONIGHT WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS.

>> AND FOR SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, THE MONTH OF AUGUST ENDS IN CHICAGO WITH HOMICIDES OUTPACING LAST YEAR'S TOTAL.

THE CITY RECORDED 78 HOMICIDES LAST MONTH INCLUDING THE KILLING OF POLICE OFFICER ELLA FRENCH.

THE YEAR TO DATE HOMICIDE AND SHOOTING NUMBERS ARE 524 AND 23044 AND UP 3 AND 9% OVER LAST YEAR WHEN THE HOMICIDE TOTAL FINISHED AT HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2016.

AND TWO CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS FACE FELONY CHARGES.

THIS STEMMING FROM A JANUARY INCIDENT IN WHICH THEY ALLEGEDLY BEAT A TEENAGE BOY AS HE LAY ON THE GROUND FOLLOWING A PURSUIT IN A STOLEN VEHICLE IN WOODLAWN.

ACCORDING TO COOK COUNTY PROSECUTORS THE TWO WERE ALLEGED TO HAVE BEATEN THAT BOY STRIKING HIM IN THE HEAD AND BODY AS HE LAID ON THE GROUND AND PUSHING HIM FACE FIRST INTO A METAL FENCE AS HE WAS BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

>> CONCERNING COVID NUMBERS FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE STATE RECORDED THE HIGHEST 24-HOUR NEW INDICATION LOAD SINCE JANUARY TOPPING 5,000 NEW CASES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THERE ARE 26 NEW COVID DEATHS RECORDED.

THIS COMES AS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SHOUTED HOPEFUL NOTES YESTERDAY THAT THIS LATEST COVID PEAK WAS PLATEAUING.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS GETTING PUSHBACK FOR HIS NOMINATION OF FORMER MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL AS THE U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN.

NEW YORK CONGRESSWOMAN SLAMMED THE PICK AND URGED THE SENATE TO NOT TO CONFIRM EMANUEL SHE SAID HE COVERED UP THE KILLING OF LAQUAN McDONALD.

RAHM EMANUEL DID FIGHT THE RELEASE OF DASH-CAM VIDEO SHOWING THE KILLING CITING AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION AT THAT TIME BUT RELEASED IT AFTER A JUDGE'S ORDER.

HE HAS DENIED BEING PART OF ANY COVER UP.

>> AND UP NEXT, A SPARK IN SPRINGFIELD IN MORE THAN ONE WAY.

WE WILL EXPLAIN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> LESS THAN TWO WEEKS REMAIN UNTIL EXELON SAYS IT WILL CLOSE A PAIR OF NUCLEAR PLANTS IN ILLINOIS.

LEGISLATORS ARE WORKING TO KEEP THEM OPEN.

THERE IS NO CONCRETE PATH.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

AMANDA ARE THEY AT LEAST CLOSE?

>> PARIS, YOU DESCRIBED IT AS A SPARK AND THAT IS TRUE.

ALBEIT A SMALL ONE WHILE MOST YOU WERE PROBABLY ASLEEP AT 1:00 A.M., THE ILLINOIS SENATE PASSED A MASSIVE ENERGY BILL AND THAT IS MORE MORE.

THAN THERE HAS BEEN.

AND THIS MEASURE WILL HAVE CUSTOMERS PAYING A CHARGE ON THE ELECTRIC BILL TO KEEP THE NUCLEAR PLANTS OPEN BUT IT SETS TARGETS FOR MOVING ILLINOIS TO RELY SOLELY ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND IT DOES MORE.

>> THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY, THIS IS ABOUT JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN TRANSITION RIGHT NOW AND ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING THE CLOSURE OF FOSSIL FUEL PLANTS NOT BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION BUT BECAUSE COAL AND OTHER DIRTY FOSSIL FUELS ARE BEING PUSHED OUT OF THE MARKET BECAUSE THEY ARE UNCOMPETITIVE.

>> LET'S UNFOLD THIS THIS OMNIBUS PACKAGE, EXELON SAYS THE PLANTS ARE LOSING MONEY SO WITHOUT A SUBSIDY IT WILL SHUT THEM DOWN AND IN BYRON, IT WILL COMBINE DEACTIVATING A GENERATOR SEPTEMBER 13TH AND THAT WOULD MEAN THE LOSS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND COULD UNDERMINE ILLINOIS' CLIMATE GOALS BECAUSE ILLINOIS' NUCLEAR FLEET IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN HALF OF ALL OF THE ENERGY PRODUCED IN THE STATE BUT ALSO, THE VAST MAJORITY OF CARBON FREE ENERGY.

BOB GALLO DIRECTOR OF AARP ILLINOIS SAYS CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT BE FOOTING THE BILL TO KEEP THESE PLANTS OPEN, AARP DID A STUDY AND IN IT ESTIMATES THAT IT WILL COST RATEPAYERS $14 BILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

>> OUR CONCERN ALL ALONG HAS BEEN MAKING SURE THAT RATEPAYERS ARE REPRESENTED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AND TO DATE THEY HAVEN'T.

AND THERE'S SUCH A DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ComEd AND EXELON.

THIS IS LIKE A LET'S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE LEGISLATURE >> NOW, THAT IS IN REFERENCE TO THE LEGAL TROUBLE THAT EXELON ComEd IS IN IN PART BECAUSE OF AN ALLEGED BRIBERY SCANDAL IN WHICH THE COMPANY WORKED TO PASS A LAW SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT SIMILARLY BAILED OUT NUCLEAR PLANTS IN CLINTON AND THE QUAD CITIES.

BUT THIS IS FAR FROM THE ONLY HURDLE.

A MAJOR OBSTACLE HAS BEEN OVER HOW AND WHEN ILLINOIS WILL SCALE DOWN COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS WANT ALL COAL PLANTS CLOSED BY THE YEAR 2045.

AGAIN, ALL OF THEM.

THEY ALSO WANT ALL OF THESE PLANTS ESPECIALLY ONE THAT OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS THAT HAS CONTRACTS WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING NAPERVILLE TO HAVE TO RAMP DOWN PRODUCTION UNTIL THAT CLOSING DATE.

>> ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS FROM OUR ECONOMY ALTOGETHER BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS QUICKLY THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE.

THE LONGER WE WAIT THE MORE TONS OF CARBON GO INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, THE MORE THE PLANET GETS HOTTER.

SO IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE A DATE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS IN THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE DATES BUT WE NEED TO START ACTING RIGHT NOW.

>> BUT CRITICS INCLUDING LEGISLATORS FROM DOWN STATE SAY THAT PREMATURE TARGETS AND CLOSURE ALSO FORCE ILLINOIS TO IMPORT ENERGY FROM NEIGHBORING STATES.

>> AN ISSUE PRESS RELEASES THAT WILL BE THE TOUGHEST STATE IN THE UNION WE ARE GOING TO GET RID OF CARBON.

REALLY?

BECAUSE HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE ALL THE ELECTRONS WILL COME FROM?

THEY WILL GET BACKFILLED FROM INDIANA AND KENTUCKY WHICH ARE CARBON.

>> THAT HE SAYS OR RISK ROLLING BROWNOUTS TO WHICH MICHAEL HASTINGS HAD THIS RESPONSE.

>> THAT'S SOME BOOGIE MAN TALK IF YOU ARE RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.

THERE IS MECHANISMS IN THIS BILL THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE BASE LOAD GENERATION FOR THE STATE IS ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE CONSUMERS.

>> NOW, YOU HAVE OTHER LEGISLATORS OPPOSING SOMETHING THAT IS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF THIS ENDEAVOR AND THAT IS STATE SUPPORT, YES, TAXPAYER MONEY, FOR WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY COMPANIES.

STATE SENATOR NEIL ANDERSON CALLS INEFFICIENT POWER SOURCES AND THE PRIORITY USED TO BE ON ILLINOIS GOING CARBON FREE AND NOW THE GOAL IS MOVING COMPLETELY TO WIND AND SOLAR.

THIS LEGISLATION DOES HAVE A TARGET OF MOVING ILLINOIS TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2050.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

IT'S BECAUSE ALL THE WIND AND SOLAR AND INEFFICIENT POWER COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR HAND IN THE TAXPAYER POT DON'T WANT NUCLEAR.

THEY DON'T WANT NUCLEAR POWER THAT IS WHY WE'VE CHANGED THE NARRATIVE.

USED TO BE CLEAN.

NOW IT'S RENEWABLE.

>> THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE CHANGES STATE SENATOR DON HARMON WHO HAS BEEN IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR 18 YEARS, SPOKE TO THOSE CHALLENGES BUT ALSO HINTED AT HOPE FOR WORKING SOMETHING OUT.

>> IN MY ENTIRE TIME IN THE SENATE THIS MAY BE THE MOST COMPLICATED BILL AND THE MOST CHALLENGING NEGOTIATION OF WHICH I'VE EVER BEEN PART.

I MET TODAY AS I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE VERY WILLING AND ABLE PARTNERS IN BOTH TO GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE OUR EFFORTS TO LISTEN TO THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES, TO INSURE THAT THERE IS A HARD CLOSE OF CARBON EMITTING PLANTS.

AND THAT THERE ARE NO SPECIAL DEALS.

WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THE REQUIREMENTS HE WOULD HAVE TO SIGN THE BILL.

>> SO WHAT IS NEXT?

PROCEDURALLY THE MEASURE HEADS TO THE HOUSE AND MORE NEGOTIATING BETWEEN UNIONS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND ALSO THE GOVERNOR WHO HAD WHAT I WILL DESCRIBE AS A TEPID RESPONSE TO THE SENATE PLAN SAYING HE WANTS A VARIOUS CHANGES TO IT.

AND REALLY THIS COAL PLANT PHASE OUT IS GOING TO BE A KEY PART OF THAT.

MEANWHILE YOU HAVE EXELON ISSUING A STATEMENT SAYING IT IS ESSENTIALLY DOING ALL IT CAN TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING AT THE BYRON PLANT IN CASE THERE IS A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION BUT THE CORPORATION SAID QUOTE TO BE CLEAR, BYRON WILL RUN OUT OF FUEL AND WILL PERMANENTLY SHUTDOWN ON SEPTEMBER 13TH UNLESS A LAW IS ENACTED BEFORE THEN.

WITH THAT PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> DOWN TO THE FINAL DAYS IN WHAT FEELS LIKE AN END BUILDING DEBATE.

I KNOW YOU WERE UP INTO THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING FOLLOWING ALL THE ACTION AND THANK YOU.

>> TO BRANDIS AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF A CONTROVERSIAL TEXAS LAW.

>> PARIS, A LAW BANNING MOST ABORTIONS IN TEXAS TOOK EFFECT TODAY WITH NO ACTION FROM THE SUPREME COURT TO BLOCK IT.

THE LAW PROHIBITS ABORTIONS AFTER SIX WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

AS SOON AS A HEART BEAT IS DETECTABLE.

WHAT IS MORE, IT ALLOWS PRIVATE CITIZENS TO SUE ABORTION PROVIDERS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HELPS SOMEONE GET AN ABORTION.

THIS HAS ADVOCATES QUESTIONING THE FUTURE OF ROE VS. WADE ESPECIALLY AS THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IS ASKING THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN THE LANDMARK RULING ALTOGETHER.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS LAW AND THE POSSIBLE LEGAL CHALLENGES AHEAD ARE PETER BREEN VICE-PRESIDENT AND SENIOR COUNSEL WITH THE THOMAS MOORE SOCIETY.

AND CAROLYN SHAPIRO PROFESSOR OF LAW AT ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY'S CHICAGO KENT COLLEGE OF LAW.

WELCOME BACK TO THE BOTH OF YOU.

CAROLYN SHAPIRO LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE SUPREME COURT NOT RULING ON THIS CASE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.

BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL YET STAY THIS LAW THAT WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR IS DISSENTS FROM JUSTICES WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT STEP FORWARD.

BUT NONE OF IT REALLY -- IT WOULD NOT TELL US WHAT THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO DO IN THE LONGER RUN WITH RESPECT TO ROE VS. WADE.

IT'S BEEN ASKED TO OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE OUT OF MISSISSIPPI.

THAT IT WILL BE HEARING THIS TERM.

I THINK THE COURT WOULD PROBABLY PREFER TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT QUESTION IN THE MORE NORMAL ORDER WHICH WOULD BE BY HEARING THAT CASE AND HAVING THE ARGUMENT.

BUT THIS CASE PROCEDURALLY HAS JUMPED THE GUN.

AND AGAIN FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN.

>> AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THE MISSISSIPPI CASE.

PETER WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE SUPREME COURT NOT RULING ON THIS CASE?

>> WELL, IT'S THE CORRECT RULING AS TO THIS LAW BECAUSE THIS IS A LAW THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IN THE STATE COURTS IN TEXAS.

BECAUSE IT IS A PRIVATE PARTY DISPUTE.

THE WAY THEY DRAFTED THIS WAS UNIQUELY DRAFTED LAW TO AVOID A CHALLENGE AGAINST STATE OFFICIALS.

SO THE LAW WILL BE LITIGATED IT WILL BE LITIGATED IN THE TEXAS STATE COURTS.

AND OF COURSE, IF THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ADVOCATES GET A NEGATIVE RESULT THEY CAN GO TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT BUT HOPEFULLY BY THAT TIME YOU WOULD HAVE A DECISION IN THE CASE OUT OF MISSISSIPPI AND REALLY THE TEXAS LEGISLATORS, IN THEIR SHORT SESSION THEY DO A SHORT SESSION ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS THEY MAY HAVE THOUGHT WE THINK THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING 0 OVERTURN THIS AND THEY PUT THE LAW INTO EFFECT IN MAY TO BE EFFECTIVE ON NOW, TODAY.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING PROCEDURALLY BECAUSE IT'S TRUE THAT THE LAW WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE PRIVATE PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO SUE ANYBODY WHO EITHER ANY DOCTOR WHO PROVIDES AN ABORTION THAT IS PROHIBITED OR ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO AIDS OR ABETS SUCH ABORTION TO TAKE PLACE.

THAT IS A VERY UNUSUAL SITUATION.

WHAT WE HAVE IS THE STATE IS OUTSOURCING ITS VIOLATION OF SOMEBODY'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BECAUSE THAT IS CURRENTLY THE LAW THAT THAT WOULD VIOLATE A WOMAN'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND CREATING AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO DO SO BY PROVIDING FOR A BOUNTY OF $10,000 EVERY TIME THEY WIN.

IT'S ONE THING TO SAY, WELL, THIS WILL GET LITIGATED IN THE STATE COURTS.

BUT IMAGINE IF FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A SIMILAR LAW IN ILLINOIS THAT ALLOWED ME TO SUE ANYBODY WHO REFUSED TO GET VACCINATED.

OR ANYBODY WHO INSISTED ON AEND ITING CHURCH SERVICES IN A LARGE GROUP WITHOUT A MASK.

I THINK WE WOULD SEE THOSE AS AN INAPPROPRIATE USE DELEGATION OF STATE POWER TO PRIVATE CITIZENS AND THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE WITH THIS LAW IN TEXAS.

>> PETER BREEN DO YOU THINK THAT THAT PART OF THIS LAW IS IT NECESSARY THAT PEOPLE THE OPTION TO SUE SOMEONE IN HIS INSTANCE?

>> THE PROBLEM IS WE DO THIS IN OTHER CONTEXTS.

THE GOOD PROFESSOR IS CITING THINGS THAT SHE THINKS WILL INFLAME THE RIGHT-WING.

LOOK WE CALL THEM PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL STATUTES IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

NORMALLY, IN A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL STATUTE YOU COULD HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ENFORCE IT OR A PRIVATE PERSON N THIS CASE THEY ARE USING THE PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL PART OF THE STATUTE.

AGAIN, IT'S SORT OF THING THAT IS UNIQUE CERTAINLY.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH DOING IT.

THE REAL DIFFICULTY THAT WE'VE FOUND OURSELVES IN WAS IN 1973 THE SUPREME COURT RED A RIGHT OF BORINGS INTO THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND OVERTURNED THE LAWS IN NEARLY EVERY STATE IN THE UNION.

WE'VE HAD THE ABORTION DISTORTION IN THE LAW CAUSED THE NEED FOR LEGISLATURES TO BE CREATIVE LEGISLATING IN THIS WAY IF THE SUPREME COURT MERELY PUTS THE ISSUE BACK TO THE STATES THEN FOLKS CAN LEGISLATE A MORE NORMAL WAY.

PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL STATUTES WE SEE THEM ALL THE TIME.

>> WE SEE THEM WHEN PEOPLE ARE INJURED NOT WHEN ANY INDIVIDUAL CAN SUE ANYBODY THAT THEY HAVE NO CONNECTION TO.

THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL LAWS AND THIS ONE.

AND THE REASON THIS LAW WAS WRITTEN THE WAY IT WAS TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR IT TO BE CHALLENGED.

IT WAS MANIPULATIVE EFFORT.

>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT BACK AND FORTH FOR A WHILE.

I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS OTHER LEGAL BATTLE THAT IS BREWING IN MISSISSIPPI, POTENTIAL LAW WOULD BAN NEARLY ALL ABORTIONS AFTER 15 WEEKS AND THE STATE IS ASKING THE COURT TO OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE.

PETER, HOW DO THE LAWS STACK UP AS FAR AS LAWS THAT MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME?

>> WELL, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE STARTED WITH 20-WEEK BANS ON THE PRO-LIFE SIDE AND TRYING TO PUSH THAT BACK FROM THE VIABILITY IN THE 22-23 WEEKS DEPENDING ON TECHNOLOGY.

TRY TO PULL THE NUMBERS DOWN.

MISSISSIPPI THEY WENT TO 15.

AND THAT WAS ONE THAT GOT CHALLENGED UP TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

THE ISSUE IS CAN A STATE LIMIT PREVIABILITY ABORTIONS?

THAT DOES GO AT THE WHOLE ROE V. WADE LINE A PRECEDENT, AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD ET CETERA.

THE LAWS ARE VERY DIFFERENTLY WRITTEN THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN THEIR THE WAY THAT THEY ARE ENFORCED.

BUT AT ITS HEART, THE QUESTION PRESENTED BY TEXAS IS CAN YOU BAN ABORTIONS AFTER A HEART BEAT?

MISSISSIPPI CAN YOU BAN THEM AFTER 15 WEEKS.

THE BROADER QUESTION IS CAN STATES REGULATE ABORTION PREVIABILITY AND WE HOPE THE SUPREME COURT ANSWER I WOULD LIKE THEM TO ANSWER IT IN THE AFFIRMATIVE THAT WAS THE LAW FOR MOST OF THE NATION'S HISTORY AND THE LAW PRIOR TO 1973.

>> AND CAROLYN SHAPIRO, UP TO THIS POINT, INCLUDING THIS CASE AND BASED ON WHO WE KNOW IS ON THE COURT WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE COURT SHOULD OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE IN 2021 IN THIS TERM?

>> I THINK THERE'S SOME JUSTICES WHO DO NOT LIKE ROE VS. WADE WHO WOULD PREFER TO CHIP AWAY AT IT AND REMAIN PLAUSIBLE DIFFICULTY.

MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN TO GET ABORTIONS.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER JUSTICES ON THE COURT FOR EXAMPLE, JUSTICE THOMAS HAS BEEN EXPLICIT THAT HE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO OVERRULE ROE VS. WADE.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE COURT THE NEW JUSTICES ON THE COURT WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS SO CLEARLY A SWITCH RELATED TO CHANGE IN PERSONNEL.

OVERRULING A REALLY LONGSTANDING PRECEDENT THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T LIKE BUT THAT REMAINS A LONGSTANDING PRECEDENT.

PURELY BECAUSE THERE ARE NEW JUSTICES ON THE COURT WHICH IS WHAT IT WOULD "LIKE MIKE."

I DON'T THINK THE JUSTICES WOULD LIKE TO SEE ROE VS. WADE OVERRULED BUT I THINK HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO CHIP AWAY WITH IT AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR WOMEN TO GET ABORTIONS.

>> I'M SURE WE WILL DISCUSS THIS AGAIN AS WE CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SUPREME COURT.

CAROLYN SHAPIRO AND PETER BREEN THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH HOW SOME LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE HANDLING THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON CLASSES.

>> FALL IS IN THE AIR AND IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE NORMAL ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE.

WITH THE RETURN OF IN-PERSON CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES AFTER NEARLY A YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

BUT WHAT EXACTLY HAS THIS TRANSITION FROM LARGELY VIRTUAL TO IN-PERSON LEARNING BEEN LIKE?

HERE TO DISCUSS THEIR EXPERIENCES SO FAR ARE ZOE BRIDGES, A SENIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN.

AND CESAR SIETE A SENIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO.

WELL COAL BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

-- WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> WHAT IS CAMPUS LIFE BEEN LIKE SINCE BEING BACK?

>> IT'S BEEN A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

LAST YEAR IT FELT LIKE A GHOST TOWN IT WAS MY FIRST YEAR AS A TRANSFER STUDENT.

THIS YEAR I'M BLOWN AWAY HOW DIFFERENT IT FEELS.

ALL OF MY CLASS RESPECTFUL OF REAL LIVE PEOPLE NOT ON ZOOM.

THE STREETS ARE CROWDED ON WEEKEND NIGHTS.

IT'S BEEN A TOTAL 180 FROM LAST YEAR.

>> HOW IS THE MASK COMPLIANCE IN CLASS AND OUT ON THE STREET?

>> IN CLASS, THE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN GOOD AT FORCING STUDENTS TO WEAR MASKS.

OUTSIDE, IT'S I WOULD SAY 50/50.

THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT WEAR THEIR MASK ALL THE TIME AND SOME AS SOON AS THEY EXIT A BUILDING THEY WILL TAKE IT OFF.

IT'S DEPENDS ON THE STUDENT.

AND IN BUILDINGS IT'S GOOD.

>> CESAR SIETE YOU ARE AT UIC AND TODAY IS THE SECOND DAY OF THE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT FAIR WHERE STUDENTS CAN SIGN UP FOR VOIROUS ORGANIZATIONS.

HOW IS THE TURNOUT BEEN?

>> BETTER THAN PAST YEARS BUT WE WERE EXCITED FOR.

[INAUDIBLE] EVERYONE HAS BEEN HAVING FUN AND IT IS A BETTER CROWD FOR MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS.

IT IS A LOT OF FUN.

>> AND CESAR SIETE I WILL ASK THAT QUESTION TO YOU HOW IS THE MASK COMPLIANCE IN CLASS OR OUT DURING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

>> SAME, MAKING SURE THAT IS COMPLIANCE WITH THE MASK IN THE BUILDINGS.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUTSIDE IT'S 50/50.

GENERALLY EVERYONE RESPECTS EACH OTHER ON THAT END.

>> THIS IS WEEK TWO OF CLASSES FOR BOTH OF YOU.

AT THE U OF I WHAT HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN LIKE TO BE IN-PERSON WHEN YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME VIRTUAL LEARNING.

>> IT'S HARD TO CONCENTRATE IN CLASS BECAUSE YOU ARE USED TO BEING IN YOUR ROOM DURING CLASS BUT OVERALL IT'S BEEN GOOD FOR ME.

ZOOM CLASSES WERE HARD FOR ME.

AND TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM IS A PHYSICAL PROFESSOR AND STUDENTS LEARNING BESIDE ME IT'S BEEN GOOD.

>> ZOOM CLASSES WOULD BE HARD FOR ME, TOO.

UIC HAS BEEN DOING HYBRID CLASSES.

HOW HAVE THOSE BEEN?

>> FOR THE MOST PART THEY HAVE BEEN WELL.

I AM ENJOYING THE IN-PERSON CLASSES MORE COMPARED TO ZOOM BUT WE HAVE SOME ZOOM CLASSES WHERE THE DISCUSSION WILL BE IN PERSON AND THE LECTURE IS ON-LINE.

IT DEPENDS WHAT CLASS DO YOU HAVE.

>> DO YOU NOTICE HESITANCY FROM STUDENTS TO GO BACK INTO A CROWDED CLASSROOM?

>> I'VE SEEN STUDENTS SAYING THAT SOME CLASSES DO SEEM PACKED BUT FOR THE MOST PART A LOT OF STUDENTS THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.

AND STUDENTS LIKE THE LUXURY OF BEING HOME RATHER THAN TRAVELING TO CAMPUS.

>> WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS' POLICY OF SPREADING COVID INFORMATION BEEN LIKE.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE INFORMED AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES ARE IS SHOULD THERE BE AN OUTBREAK?

>> I THINK LAST YEAR THEY WERE A LOT MORE LIKE THE INFORMATION WAS EASIER TO GET.

THIS YEAR HASN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS MUCH ESPECIALLY MY CLASSES.

WHICH IS SURPRISING.

BUT, YEAH, STUDENTS ARE GETTING VACCINATED IT SEEMS LIKE COVID IS NOT TALKED ABOUT A LOT.

SO, YEAH.

>> EVEN THOUGH IT'S STILL AS WE REPORTED TODAY, THE STATE SAW 5,000 PLUS NEW COVID CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

WHAT ABOUT UIC ARE THEY COMMUNICATING THEIR COVID POLICIES TO YOU?

AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS AN OUTBREAK IN CLASS OR IN A RESIDENCE HALL?

>> WHEN IT COMES TO UIC THEY HAVE LET US KNOW LIKE WITH THE LIBRARY, IN ORDER TO GO IN YOU HAVE TO DO A DAILY PASS YOU ARE CLEARED TO GO INTO CERTAIN BUILDINGS AND THAT IS DONE LIKE A DISCUSSION.

OH, I WILL DO A DAILY PASS.

IT IS NOT YOU HAVE AN ON-LINE OPTION.

WHEN IT COMES TO OPEN [INAUDIBLE] IT WILL BE SIMILAR TO A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO WHERE ALL THIS WENT ON THAT IS HAPPENING.

AND THEY HAVE DOPE A DAILY PASS.

>> WHAT IS THE CONVERSATION LIKE AMONG STUDENTS AND TEACHERS REGARDING VACCINES?

IS IT A TOPIC YOU DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS OR A TOPIC EVERYONE WANTS TO DISCUSS?

>> IT HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT UP A LOT.

FOR THE MOST PART EVERYBODY ASSUMED EVERYBODY HAS BEEN VACCINATED.

ESPECIALLY LIKE IN MY GROUP OF FRIENDS.

WE'VE ALL BEEN VACCINATED SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ASSUME IF YOU ARE ON CAMPUS YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN TENSE WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING ASKED TO TEST TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED TO GET INTO THE BUILDINGS.

>> WHAT ABOUT AT UIC IS IT ASSUMED MOST OF YOUR PEERS ARE VACCINATED?

>> IT'S ASSUMED THAT MOST ARE.

IT HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT UP AMONGST MY PEERS BUT EVERYONE ASSUMES EVERYONE IS CLEARED TO GO TO CERTAIN PLACES.

>> WELL THERE IS A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU IN YOUR SENIOR YEARS, ENJOY THAT LAST YEAR GREAT THAT YOU ARE BACK ON CAMPUS.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT A NEW EFFORT TO GET HIGH SPEED RAIL RUNNING ACROSS ILLINOIS.

STICK AROUND FOR THE DETAILS.

>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE POLITICAL FALLOUT OVER AFGHANISTAN.

>> BUT FIRST, IMAGINE GETTING FROM CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS BY TRAIN IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS?

THAT'S THE VISION OF HIGH SPEED RAIL ADVOCATES WHO WANT TO SEE AN ULTRA FAST TRAIN WITH A NETWORK OF FEEDER TRAINS AND BUSES CONNECTING CITIES AROUND THE STATE.

AS NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS THAT VISION HAS GOTTEN A BOOST FROM ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS.

>> WHEN RICK HARNISH TRAVELS TO OTHER COUNTRIES THESE ARE THE TRAINS HE RIDES.

HIGH SPEED RAIL ZIPPING BY AT 200-MILES-PER-HOUR OR MORE.

>> IT'S COMFORTABLE THERE IS NO SEATBELT YOU CAN WALK AROUND.

AND THE RIDE IS SMOOTH SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SPILLING YOUR DRINK.

>> RICK HARNISH IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL ALLIANCE AND THESE ULTRA FAST TRAINS CAN BETTER CONNECT TO GEOGRAPHICALLY SPREAD OUTCRY LIKE THE U.S. >> HIGH SPEED TRAINS GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL MORE OFTEN, MORE SAFELY AND MORE AFFORDABLY.

>> HE IS HOPEFUL HIGH SPEED RAIL IS GETTING A LEG UP FROM LEADERS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED INTO LAW THE ILLINOIS HIGH SPEED RAIL COMMISSION.

ITS GOAL: TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR A HIGH-SPEED TRAIN BETWEEN ST. LOUIS AND "CHICAGO AND CHICAGOAND A NETWORK OF TRA.

>> WE COULD HAVE TRUE HIGH SPEED RAILS IN 10 YEARS BUT WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO IT.

>> THE COMMISSION IS CHARGED WITH INTEGRATING SERVICE FROM METRA AND AMTRAK.

>> OUR CHICAGO REGION RAIL IS SO IMPORTANT TO DOWNTOWN AND OUR SMALLER DOWN STATE COMMUNITIES LIKE CARBONDALE HAVING GOOD QUALITY RAIL SERVICE IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR ECONOMIES TO ALLOW COLLEGE STUDENTS TO GET THERE AND IT ADDRESSES CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> AMTRAK'S READY TO WORK WITH THE COMMISSION BUT IT'S NOT WAITING TO TRY AND IMPROVE RAIL SERVICE.

HE IS HOPEFUL THAT CONGRESS WILL PASS A LONG AWAITED INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE DUE FOR A VOTE BY SEPTEMBER 27.

>> AND IF THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSES, WHICH HAS HAS $66 BILLION FOR RAIL PROGRAMS WE ARE READY TO PARTNER WITH STATES AND COMMUNITIES.

>> AFTER YEARS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL, SUPPORTERS ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE COMBINATION OF STATE-WIDE COORDINATION AND EXPECTED FEDERAL FUNDING MIGHT MEAN THIS EFFORT FINALLY HAS THE MOMENTUM.

CHRIS BARKAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LED A STATE SPONSORED HIGH SPEED RAIL STUDY RELEASED IN 2013 THAT LOOKED AT THE IMPACT THE SYSTEM COSTS AND ROUTES.

HE IS INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE COMMISSION LEARNS ABOUT A POSSIBLE RIDERSHIP INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL THAT HIGH SPEED RAIL COULD DRAW IN NEW RIDERS.

>> HOW MANY TRIPS WOULD BE MADE THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN MADE.

THIS HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE A REAL PHENOMENON IN SOME OF THE OTHER NATIONS THAT DEVELOPED HIGH SPEED TRAINS AND SIGNIFICANT NEW DEMAND FOR TRAVEL.

>> AND CHRIS BARKAN SAYS SOME OF THE COUNTRIES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT DEMAND TO HELP COVER COSTS.

>> WHEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE START USING ANY FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND ARE GETTING CHANNELED THROUGH STATIONARIES, THAT BECOMES VERY VALUABLE REAL ESTATE.

THE REVENUES FROM THAT REAL ESTATE THAT THE RAILWAY COMPANY OWNS AT OR ADJACENT TO THE STATIONS, GENERATES A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEIR OPERATING REVENUE.

>> THE HIGH SPEED RAIL ALLIANCE'S RICK HARNISH HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THE COMMISSION FOR YEARS AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE EFFORT CLOSE TO A VOTE.

>> WE WERE READY, THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED A DECADE AGO SO WE DID WELL.

WE NEED TO GET READY QUICKLY AGAIN.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> AND THE HIGH SPEED RAIL COMMISSION'S FIRST REPORT IS DUE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", CHICAGO LAUNCHES A PILOT PROGRAM TO SEND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH POLICE OFFICERS TO 9-1-1 CALLS.

>> I WOULD ARGUE THAT THESE ARE RATHER LARGE ADJUSTMENTS.

>> STATE DEMOCRATS PASS NEW DISTRICT MAPS DESPITE G.O.P.

OBJECTIONS.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD OF THE SUMMER.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY ART IS MEANT TO BE SEEN.

>> AND HOW CHICAGOANS ARE GETTING A LOOK AT ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS STREET ARTISTS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... FIRST.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE PANDEMIC CANNED CHICAGO'S PRIDE PARADE HAPPENS ON THE LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE AND THIS YEAR WAS RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER THIRD BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

ORGANIZERS SAY TODAY THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE PARADE COULD BE HELD SAFELY FOR THOSE ATTENDING AND PARTICIPATING.

IT'S BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 2022.

AND THE 20TH ANNUAL PRIDE FEST IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER FIRST AND SECOND.

>> COOK COUNTY FAMILIES STILL SEARCHING FOR A MISSING LOVED ONE YEARS AFTER THEY HAVE DISAPPEARED ARE GETTING ATTENTION FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

>> OUR MOTHER VIOLA MARTIN HAS BEEN MISSING FOR 11 YEARS SINCE 2009.

AND IT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST 11 YEARS THAT MY SISTERS AND MY FAMILY HAVE HAD TO FACE.

>> THE FAMILY OF VIOLA MARTIN JOINED SHERIFF TOM DART WHO ANNOUNCED THE MISSING PERSONS PROJECT.

MARTIN IS AMONG 170 PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MISSING FOR THREE YEARS OR LONGER.

DART'S OFFICE IS LAUNCHING THIS WEBSITE WITH INFORMATION HOPING THE PUBLIC WILL INTERACT TO WORK WITH INVESTIGATORS TO HELP SOLVE THEM OF THEM.

VIOLA MARTIN WAS 56 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE DISAPPEARED IN CHRISTMAS 2009 FROM GLENWOOD.

HER CAR WAS FOUND IN DIX MOORE AND ANIMALS DISPLAYED BY HURRICANE IDA WILL BE ABLE TO FIND HOMES IN CHICAGO.

VOLUNTEERS WITH PAWS CHICAGO RESCUED CATS AND DOGS AFFECTED BY THE STORM.

THE LARGEST NO KILL SHELTER SAYS THE ANIMALS WILL BE GIVEN COMPLETE MEDICAL TREATMENT BEFORE BEING MADE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION THROUGH PAWS CHICAGO'S IN-PERSON ADOPTION APPLICATION PROCESS.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR DETAILS ABOUT A NEW PROGRAM SENDING MENTAL HEALTH HELP ON 9-1-1 CALLS.

>> THANK YOU.

CHICAGOANS WHO CALL 9-1-1 IN SOME PARTS OF CITY WHILE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CAN HELP FROM NOT JUST A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER BUT ALSO A PARAMEDIC AND A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

THAT IS WHAT OFFICIALS SAID DURING A COMMITTEE MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINING US NOW WITH MORE.

THIS IS PART OF A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.

TELL US HOW IT WORKS.

>> WELL, INSTEAD OF CALLING 9-1-1, AND GETTING A POLICE OFFICER TO COME HELP YOU, THE CITY IS INSTEAD GOING TO DISPATCH A TRAINED OFFICER TO REDUCE CONFLICT AS WELL AS A PARAMEDIC AND A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN TWO PARTS OF THE CITY ON THE NORTH SIDE IN LAKEVIEW AND UPTOWN AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN AUBURN GRESHAM AND CHATHAM AND THE HOPE IS IT WILL HELP PREVENT THE CRISISES WHICH CAN SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL FROM GETTING WORSE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON WHO NEEDS HELP GETS HELP AND DOESN'T UNNECESSARILY END UP IN JAIL OR THE HOSPITAL.

>> AND TELL US HOW THE CITY IS PAYING FOR THIS?

>> IT'S GOING TO COST $3.5 MILLION AND THAT MONEY WAS IN THE 2021 BUDGET APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL NEARLY NINE MONTHS AGO.

AND THAT WAS A REAL POINT OF CONTENTION AS THE MAYOR WORKED TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAD ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS THIS SPENDING PLAN BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT PROGRESSIVE ALDERMEN CARED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

>> AND LET'S HEAR FROM ONE OF THE PROGRESSIVE ALDERMEN, ALDERPERSON, ROSSANA RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ, WHO SPEARHEADED THIS EFFORT.

>> WHEN WE FIRST PROPOSE TO DO WE WERE TOLD NO.

AND NOW I SEE THAT THAT IS THE DIRECTION IN WHICH YOU ARE MOVING.

I AM GLAD BUT I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE PEOPLE WHO PUSHED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

>> WHAT IS SHE REFERRING TO HERE?

>> ALDERMAN ROSSANA RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ WANTS NO POLICE OFFICERS TO BE INVOLVED IN RESPONDING TO THE CALLS WHERE SOMEBODY IS SUFFERING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

SHE WANTS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PARAMEDICS INSTEAD, THE MAYOR WANTED A POLICE OFFICER TO BE ON EVERY CALL.

SO THE CITY IS GOING TO TEST BOTH RESPONSES WITH THE PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T SEND A POLICE OFFICER STARTING LATER THIS FALL IN TWO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

THERE MAY BE RESULTS AS SOON AS SIX MONTHS TO GIVE US A SENSE OF WHETHER THIS IS WORKING.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW THE TWO APPROACHES WORK.

HEATHER STAY THERE, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS COMING UP.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND SPOTLIGHT POLITICS IS UP NEXT.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE LATEST SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD WITH LAWMAKERS, THE AFGHANISTAN PULL OUT AND MUCH MORE.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> STATE LEGISLATORS HOLD THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SUMMER PASSING ANY DISTRICT MAPS AND REJECTING AN AMENDMENT TO ETHICS LEGISLATION.

IN THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET SEASON IS UNDERWAY AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL.

JOINING US IS THE ENTIRE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WELCOME BACK, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

FIRST UP, AMANDA LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THE SECOND SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD ALL WEEK AND A MANDATORY VETO ON ETHICS BILL.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE SIGNATURE LAWS OF THE SESSION GIVEN ALL OF THE CORRUPTION, CALLS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND THIS IS THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S ANSWER A MEASURE THAT WOULD DO THINGS LIKE REQUIRE MORE FULSOME ECONOMIC INTEREST STATEMENTS, ALSO CURTAIL A LITTLE BIT WHEN LEGISLATORS LEAVE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GO ON TO BECOME LOBBYISTS.

BUT REALLY, THE LEGISLATURE AND PRITZKER HAD BEEN UNDER PRESSURE FROM GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS TO DO MORE ALSO FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO SAID THAT THIS LAW THAT PASSED SHOWED HOW NOT SERIOUS THE LAWMAKERS WERE ABOUT DEALING WITH ETHICS.

WHEN THE GOVERNOR USED HIS AMENDATORY VETO PEN THEY SAID DO A BUNCH OF THINGS MAKE IT STRONGER INSTEAD HE DID A MINOR TWEAK AND THAT IS WHY YOU HAD REPUBLICANS NOT VOTE TO ACCEPT HIS CHANGE THEY STAYED IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE IT, WE WANT YOU TO DO MORE.

AND THE REASON IT DID NOT GO FORWARD IT CAME LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND BY THEN A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEIR SUPPORT HAD LEFT.

AND MADE THEIR WAY HOME.

SO THAT MEANS THAT FOR NOW, THIS ETHICS BILL IS DEAD.

IT DOESN'T MEAN FOREVER, HOWEVER IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES COME BACK THEY WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE AND ASSUMING DEMOCRATS WILL BE AROUND I AM ASSUMING THE BILL WILL BECOME LAW.

>> AND DEMOCRATS PASSED NEW DISTRICT MAPS HOW DID IT CHANGE FROM THE MAP THAT DEMOCRATS ORIGINALLY PASSED?

>> WELL, THE ORIGINAL MAP HAD WEIRD SHAPES AND THE NEW MAP HAS SLIGHTLY MODIFIED WEIRD SHAPES.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL CONSULTANT FRANK TOLD AMANDA -- FRANK CALABRESE TOLD AMANDA YESTERDAY, THE MAPS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE EQUAL POPULATION AND SOME WERE OFF BUT AS MUCH AS 30% BECAUSE AS AMANDA REPORTED DEMOCRATS USED OTHER DATA TO BASE THEIR MAPS ON.

AND THE CENSUS DATA CAME OUT AND IT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE DATA THAT THE DEMOCRATS USED.

AND REALLY THE BIG WINNERS IN THE CENSUS WERE LATINOS THEIR POPULATION GREW AND TODAY, THE LATINO GROUP IS SUING SAYING YOU ARE STILL UNDERREPRESENTING LATINOS WITH THIS NEW MAP.

SO YOU HAVE LATINO GROUPS IN GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS MAD AND REPUBLICANS MAD BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE PROCESS AT ALL.

>> THE PASSAGE OF THE MAPS IT CAME OVER G.O.P.

AND COMMUNITY OBJECTIONS.

HERE IS A LOOK FROM REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE AVERY BOURNE.

>> THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN A HUGE SHAM TO SAY THAT NOW AT THE END, THERE'S THIS MAGIC RESOLUTION THAT IS GOING TO COME AND EASE ALL OF OUR CONCERNS.

WE SEE THE PRODUCT OF THIS PROCESS.

AND I DON'T THINK ANY RESOLUTION CAN EXPLAIN AWAY THE FACT THAT THE ADVOCACY GROUPS HAVE BEEN IGNORED.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS PROCESS LIKE WE'VE HEARD.

>> AND WHAT ISSUES DO REPUBLICANS AND OTHER GROUPS HAVE WITH THE MAPS?

>> WELL, WE HEARD FROM PARIS, THAT LATINO GROUPS FEEL LIKE IT DOESN'T PROPERLY REPRESENT THE GAINS THEY HAVE MADE WITH THEIR POPULATION IN ILLINOIS.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE UPSET BECAUSE THIS MAP IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS AT THE EXPENSE OF REPUBLICANS AND LET'S KEEP IN MIND THIS ONLY PASSED BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

BUT THIS IS ALL JUST SORT OF A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS.

LAWMAKERS WILL COME BACK AND DRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS AND THAT IS THE BIG CAHOONNA BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEMOCRATS CAN KEEP CONTROL OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE BECAUSE IT IS VERY CLOSELY DECIDED.

ILLINOIS IS GOING TO LOSE A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

SO THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PROTECT THE INCUMBENTS THEY HAVE AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR REPUBLICANS TO WIN WHERE THEY HAVE NOW.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ALL AGAIN WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF MAPS WITH THE SAME ISSUES.

>> GETTING OVER TO CITY BUSINESS.

WE HEARD FROM YOU ON THE MENTAL HEALTH CO-RESPONDER PILOT PROGRAM.

ALDERPERSON ROSSANA RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ HAS PUSHED FOR NEW APPROACH TO CALLS FOR HELP FOR THOSE HAVING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES WITHOUT INVOLVING THE POLICE.

AND SHE FOUGHT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ON THIS ISSUE.

WHAT CHANGED?

>> WELL, IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE DURING THE HEARING ALDERMAN ROSSANA RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ AND MARIA HAD DON ON THE SAME SIDES WANTING TO GET POLICE OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF RESPONDING TO CALLS FROM HELP FOR PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SEEMED SURPRISED.

THEY WERE LIKE YOU ARE DOING THIS, YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT WE WANTED AND BOTH SAID THEY FELT CUT OUT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROCESS AND WERE SURPRISED TO SEE IT.

THIS WAS A BIG ISSUE IN THE 2021 BUDGET.

IT WAS REALLY WHAT MADE ALDERMAN HA DON AND ANDRE VAZQUEZ VOTE FOR IT BUT WE WILL NOT HAVE RESULT FOR SIX MONTHS.

THE ALDERMEN WILL BE HARD-PRESSED TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THIS CO-RESPONDER OR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE MODELS FOR 2022 BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WORKS YET.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> BUDGET SEASON IS UNDERWAY A BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARING MONDAY DISCUSSED COVID'S IMPACT ON THE CITY'S FINANCES.

SOME WANT TO USE SOME OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND OTHERS THINK IT SHOULD GO TO STRUGGLING CHICAGOANS.

IS THERE A TOUGH FIGHT AHEAD?

>> I'M NOT CONVINCED THERE WILL BE.

A LOT OF THE CALLS ARE COMING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST ALDERMEN SAYING HEY, COVID WAS DIFFICULT USE THIS RELIEF MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR CHICAGO RESIDENTS.

BUT AT SOME POINT, ALDERPEOPLE WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON A BUDGET THAT HAS A $733 MILLION GAP AND BALANCED THE LAST TWO YEARS BY SHORT-TERM BORROWING THAT SOME OF THIS FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY IS GOING TO PAYBACK.

AND THEY ARE SAYING WHY DON'T YOU PAY THAT BACK LATER WHEN THE ECONOMY GETS GOING MORE AND MORE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN THE COVID FALLOUT BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE ECONOMY COULD GO THE OTHER DIRECTION IF THERE ARE MORE SHUTDOWNS.

I WOULD ASSUME MAYBE HEATHER HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION THAT MOST ALDERPEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE A BUDGET THAT MUCH NOT IN BALANCE.

>> LET'S GO TO HEATHER.

LIGHTFOOT IS EXPECTED TO PROPOSE HER BUDGET LATER ON THIS MONTH.

IT WILL LIKE LIE INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH HAS OVER A THOUSAND VACANT POSITIONS AND HUNDREDS RETIRED.

HOW CONTENTIOUS IS THIS GOING TO BE IN CITY COUNCIL AT A TIME WHEN OTHER FOLKS ARE CALLING FOR LESS FUNDING FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS?

>> YEAH, I FIND MYSELF IN THE AWKWARD POSITION OF HAVING TO DISAGREE WITH PARIS.

I THINK IT WILL BE A HUGE FIGHT IT IS NOT ONLY THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHO WANT TO SEE THE FEDERAL FUND GO INTO THE POCKETS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

EVERYBODY IS UP FOR REELECTION IN 2023 AND EVERYBODY SUFFERED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND IT'S SOMEWHAT OF A HARD CASE TO MAKE TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO PAY OFF DEBT INSTEAD OF HELPING YOU KEEP YOUR RESTAURANT OPEN OR PAY YOUR RENT.

IT WILL BE A FIGHT AND ESPECIALLY CONTENTIOUS OVER THE FATE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH HAD A $1.7 BILLION BUDGET LAST YEAR.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ALDERMEN WHO WANT TO SEE THAT REDUCED BUT THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ALDERMEN WHO WANT TO SEE THAT INCREASED TO FILL THE POSITION AND FIGHT THE SOARING NUMBER OF HOMICIDES AND VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

IT WILL BE A BIG FIGHT.

>> LET'S GO TO SCHOOL.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HEADED BACK TO SCHOOL MONDAY AS THE DISTRICT FACES A BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE AND AFTER 70 DRIVERS QUIT IN RESPONSE TO THE VACCINE MANDATE HERE IS A CLIP FROM MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

>> WE HAVE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT THE FACT HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND SAFE IN SCHOOL.

AS A PARENT, I WOULDN'T WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS UNVACCINATED IN A BUS WITH PARTICULARLY YOUNG KIDS AND PARTICULARLY KIDS WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE NOT BEING VACCINATED.

>> AMANDA WHAT DO WE KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE SHORTAGE?

AND WHAT IS C.P.S.

DOING TO HELP STUDENTS GET TO SCHOOL?

>> THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT EXPERIENCED JUST IN CHICAGO AND STATE-WIDE AND NATIONALLY THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS BUT THIS WAS EXACERBATED, A BUNCH OF DRIVERS QUIT WITH SHORT NOTICE IN PART BECAUSE THEY WERE UNWILLING TO GET THE COVID VACCINE.

AND SO THAT REALLY LEFT C.P.S.

IN A CRUNCH THAT SAID PARENTS PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS ARE BORED THAT C.P.S -- BOTHERED THAT C.P.S.

GAVE SHORTER NOTICE TO THE PARENTS AS THEY WERE FORCED TO AHEAD OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, MAKE LAST-MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS.

THE DISTRICT IS GOING FORWARD AND GIVING MONEY TO FAMILIES, ESSENTIALLY A STIPEN.

THAT SAID, I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THERE.

I DON'T KNOW MAYBE WORKPLACES WILL BE A BIT PATIENT.

WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC AND THINGS ARE ODD BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT LUXURY AND FURTHER TO SEND YOUR CHILD ON A LYFT OR UBER IT'S SECURITY CONCERNS THERE AS WELL.

SO IT CERTAINLY IS A BIG ISSUE.

AGAIN, NOT JUST FOR CHICAGO.

>> AND I COVERED THIS THIS WEEK A LITTLE BIT, AND TO ADD ATO THAT.

I'M SEEING PARENTS ON TWITTER IS EXPRESSING CONCERN THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THROUGH TO THE DISTRICT AND FIGURING OUT HOW THEIR STUDENTS WHO ARE SPECIAL NEEDS AND NEED THE BUS RIDES HOW THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE GETTING TO SCHOOL AND I'M HEARING AND I THINK CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AS WELL AS SEIU LOCAL 73 WHO WENT ON STRIKE WITH THE UNION TWO YEARS AGO THEY ARE HAVING A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW MORNING THEY ARE GETTING LOTS OF REPORTS OF OVERCROWDING ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE HEARD GOT VIDEO EARLIER THIS WEEK OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT TAFT HIGH SCHOOL FROM A SOURCE THIS IS A PASSING PERIOD AND YOU CAN SEE HOW CROWDED IT IS.

I'M HEARING REPORTS THAT THE SAME IS HAPPENING AT TAFT, LANE TECH, LAKEVIEW, PAYTON AND PHILLIPS.

WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE UNION ABOUT THAT TOMORROW AND CERTAINLY PROBABLY MAKE A DECENT AMOUNT OF NOISE ABOUT THE LAYERED MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING AT C.P.S.

GETTING TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS, THIS WEEK U.S. OFFICIALS DECLARED THE END OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.

ILLINOIS SENIOR SENATOR DICK DURBIN SAID HE EXPECTS O'HARE TO BE A DESTINATION FOR MANY REFUGEES.

>> THERE ARE MANY AND WE ARE GOING TO PROCESSING NOW, AND THIRD COUNTRIES.

GERMANY, QATAR, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND OTHERS.

AS THEY GO THROUGH THE STAGES OF REVIEW THEY WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE THEY NEED TO BE SEPARATED FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME WHILE IT'S COMPLETED.

WISCONSIN IS ONE OF THE SITES MENTIONED AND THAT ARGUES FOR THE POSSIBILITY, POSSIBILITY, THAT O'HARE ENDS UP BEING ONE OF THE DESTINATIONS.

>> AND PARIS, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM REFUGEE GROUPS IN THE CITY?

>> THEY ARE EXPECTING AROUND 500 AFGHAN REFUGEES TO WINDUP IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

AND THEY ARE SAYING THOUGH THE AIRLIFT TOOK 120,000 PLUS PEOPLE OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, THEY ALL HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL THERE THAT WANT TO GET OUT.

AND THAT ARE IN DANGER FOR THEIR LIVES.

NOT JUST AFGHANS THAT ASSISTED U.S.

FORCES BUT THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY SAY THAT THE TALIBAN IS GOING TO HUNT DOWN NOT ONLY THE FOLKS THAT ASSISTED BUT THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY WANT TO GET THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF THERE, TOO.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RESETTLEMENT GROUPS IN CHICAGO AND THEY ARE READY TO GO A LOT OF RESOURCES GROUPS LIKE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, REFUGEE ONE THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.

AND SO MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID THIS IS A WELCOMING CITY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE OVERWHELMING SENTIMENT IN CHICAGO IS BRING REFUGEES HERE.

THIS IS A CITY BUILT BY IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AND AFGHAN REFUGEES WOULD FIT IN PERFECTLY IN CHICAGO ESPECIALLY AROUND ROGERS PARK.

>> HOW SIGNIFICANT AN IMPACT WILL THE POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM THIS HAVE ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND HIS LEGACY GOING FORWARD?

>> WELL, WAR, OF COURSE, IS CHAOTIC.

I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE A SCENARIO IN WHICH ENDING A LONG RUNNING WAR WOULD BE ANYTHING BUT THAT.

NONETHELESS THIS IS DEEMED LARGELY AS PARTICULARLY BUNGLED AND IT HAS MANY QUESTIONING BIDEN'S LEADERSHIP.

NOT EVERYBODY, OF COURSE, THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY NO MATTER WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT AND BIDEN DID WHAT HE COULD WITH THE HAND HE WAS DEALT BY A DEAL NEGOTIATED BY DONALD TRUMP.

THIS IS GOING TO LEAVE SCARS AND BY THE WAY, REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO CONTINUE TO PUT THE BLAME ON BIDEN FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH INCLUDING MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SAYING THAT BIDEN SHOULD BE IMPEACHED OVER THIS.

I THINK IT HURTS HIM.

AND IT HURTS HIM BY THE WAY ALSO WITH SOME OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL ALLIES.

BUT GOING FORWARD, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH AND SEE WHAT OTHER FALLOUT THERE IS IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH OUR ALLIES TO SEE HOW BIG AND HOW LONG-LASTING A STAIN THIS IS FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

WHICH REALLY IS STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF HIS TERM.

>> THERE'S MORE THAN A YEAR UNTIL THE MIDTERMS AND THE AGE WE LIVE IN, ATTENTIONS ARE SO SHORT AND ATTENTION SPANS DO NOT LAST LONG, THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT PEOPLE MAKE THE DECISION MORE ON DOMESTIC ISSUES THAN INTERNATIONAL ISSUES.

REPUBLICANS DO WANT TO KEEP THIS AS AN ISSUE AND IF THEY DO TAKE THE HOUSE IN 2022 YOU MIGHT SEE BENGHAZI COMMISSIONS OR IT MIGHT DISAPPEAR FROM THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS.

>> LET'S GO ON A RUN.

30 SECONDS.

HEATHER OTHER NATIONAL NEWS, NEW YORK STATE REPRESENT ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ CALL THE NOMINATION FOR RAHM EMANUEL AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN SHAMEFUL.

WHAT IS HER REASONING?

>> SHE ACCUSED RAHM EMANUEL OF COVERING UP THE POLICE MURDER OF LAQUAN McDONALD IN 2 TO 14.

AND RAHM EMANUEL DENIES HE WAS PART OF ANY COVER UP.

BUT SHE IS CLEARLY THROWING DOWN A MARKER THAT RAHM EMANUEL IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND SHE IS REALLY THE SPOKESPERSON FOR ITS PROGRESSIVE WING.

HIS SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS SHOULD BE FUN TO WATCH IF NOTHING ELSE.

>> WE ALL WILL BE THERE WATCHING.

THAT'S SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE, PARIS SCHUTZ THANKS.

>> UP NEXT, A NEW EXHIBIT FEATURING WORKS FROM ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST INFAMOUS STREET ARTISTS.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST TOURING EXHIBITIONS OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST WELL-KNOWN STREET ARTISTS.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU INTRODUCES US TO THE ART OF BANKSY.

[♪♪♪] >> IN A RARE TREAT, WORK BY ENGLISH BASED STREET ARTIST BANKSY IS MAKING ITS CHICAGO DEBUT.

EXCEPT THERE IS NO HELP FROM THE ANONYMOUS ARTIST.

CURATED BY STARBUCKS ENTERTAINMENT, THE PIECES INCLUDED IN THE RIVER NORTH EXHIBIT HAVE COME FROM COLLECTORS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY ART IS MEANT TO BE SEEN THAT IS OUR PREMISE.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY THE AMAZING PIECES THAT WOULD BE IN STORAGE SOMEWHERE.

BANKSY IS KNOWN FOR STREET ART HIS PIECES APPEAR OUT OF THE BLUE IN WALLS AND CITIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PIECES, YOU WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD.

>> LUCKILY CHICAGOANS DON'T HAVE TO.

>> THE EXHIBIT FEATURES SOME OF BANKSY'S MOST NOTABLE WORK INCLUDING GIRL WITH BALLOONS WHICH IS SAID TO REPRESENT BOTH ACTIVISM AND HOPE.

[♪♪♪] >> AMONG THE 80 FEATURED PIECES THERE ARE MANY RECOGNIZED WORKS FROM THE ARTIST INCLUDING FLOWER THROWER AND LOVE RAT AND OFF THE WALL ALBUM COVER WHICH INCLUDES A PHOTO OF THE SUPPOSED ARTIST SEEN SPRAY PAINTING WITH HIS BACK TO THE CAMERA.

THE ARTIST GOT HIS START IN THE 1990s TRANSITIONING FROM FREEHAND TO STENCILS IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE TIME.

BANKSY HAS DEVELOPED A STENCIL ESTHETIC COMBINED WITH SUBJECTS MAKING LIGHT OF EVERYDAY SITUATIONS.

>> BANKSY IS A POP CULTURE ICON.

HE APPEALS TO EVERYBODY.

SO YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE AN ART LOVER TO WALK INTO THE GALLERIES AND HAVE FUN AND HAVE A GREAT STORY.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST LEGACY AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT MAKES HIM STAND OUT.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT THE ART OF BANKSY IN RIVER NORTH THROUGH OCTOBER AND WE'VE GOT MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

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 WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND COVID ADAPTATION WE VISIT DES PLAINES FOR THIS WEEK'S "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND MEET ONE OF THE SUBJECTS FROM PRAY AWAY THE FIRST OPENLY GAY CHAPLIN AT WHEATON COLLEGE.

AND 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.

[♪♪♪]