>>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

DEBT INCREASES BY OVER $1 BILLION.

>> ILLINOIS IS FACING ITS WORST DROUGHT IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

THE IMPACT ON LOCAL FARMERS.

>> PLEASE DATA SHOWS HOMICIDES ARE DOWN SLIGHTLY AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM DIGS INTO THAT MORE.

>> CHICAGO IS THE GREATEST SUCCESS I EVER HAD.

>> A CHICAGO RADIO ICON DIED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 90.

WE REVISIT THE 2003 CHICAGO TONIGHT APPEARANCE.

>>> NOW TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO POLICE AND EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ARE PROUD OF THE RANK-AND-FILE OFFICERS WHO WORKED LONG HOURS OVER THE EXTENDED HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

INTERIM POLICE POLICE CHIEF SAYS THE STORMS MAY HAVE PAID A ROLE AS WELL.

>> THE WEATHER BEING WHAT IT WAS FOR NASCAR, I'M SURE THAT KEPT SOME PEOPLE OFF THE STREET WHO NORMALLY WOULD BE ON THE STREET AND WE SEE WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY EARLY IN THE MORNING.

SO, I FEEL, I STILL THINK WE DID A GREAT JOB OVERALL.

YOU CAN'T SAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES THAT WE DID A GREAT JOB, BUT THE EFFORT WAS THERE.

>> PRELIMINARY POLICE DATA SHOWS NINE PEOPLE WERE KILLED BETWEEN FRIDAY EVENING AND MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT.

DURING A BUSY HOLIDAY WEEKEND THAT INCLUDED THE NASCAR STREET RACE AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL.

IN TOTAL 57 PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN 45 SEPARATE SHOOTING INCIDENTS INCLUDING AN EARLY-MORNING PARTY IN ENGLEWOOD WHERE ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND FOUR OTHERS INJURED.

>>> SOME OF LAST NIGHTS FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS TURNED INTO FIRES BECAUSE OF FIREWORKS.

THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT BLAMES A GROUP OF GARAGE FIRES NEW MIDWAY AIRPORT ON ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

MEANWHILE AN UNSANCTIONED DISPLAY HAPPENED ON THE NORTH SIDE DESPITE FENCING AND WARNINGS AGAINST THAT.

FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN THE CITY, BUT FIRE COMMISSIONER SAYS THERE IS LITTLE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN DO ABOUT IT.

>> ALL WE CAN DO IS PUSH OUT THE INFORMATION, EDUCATE PEOPLE WELL AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY.

WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO TALK ABOUT THE HAZARDS AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH FIREWORKS BESIDES PROPERTY DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIMB.

IT IS LOSS OF LIFE AS WELL.

AND IT CAN SPREAD VERY RAPIDLY.

>> JOHNSON IS PUTTING HIS STAMP ON THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION.

TODAY HE ANNOUNCED ALL SEVEN APPOINTMENTS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD INCLUDING JIANAN SHI, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EXECUTIVE GROUP RAISE YOUR HAND, AS BOARD PRESIDENT.

ALSO ELIZABETH TODD-BRELAND, THE ONLY ONE REAPPOINTED FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

MARIELA ESTRADA, MARY FAHEY HUGHES, RUDY LOZANO , MICHELLE MORALES, AND TANYA WOODS.

IN TWO YEARS THE BOARD WILL MOVE TO A HYBRID 21 MEMBER BOARD WHEN THE MAYOR APPOINTS 11 MEMBERS AND 10 ARE ELECTED.

AND THEN TWO YEARS AFTER THAT ALL 21 SEATS ARE SLATED FOR ELECTION.

>>> THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN BORDER RECLAMATION DISTRICT IS MAKING HISTORY WITH HER APPOINTMENT.

APPOINTED TO FILL THE VACANCY ON THE NINE-MEMBER BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AFTER RUNNING FOR THE OFFICE IN 2022.

SHE BECOMES THE FIRST TRANS-PERSON TO SERVE ON THE BOARD AND THE FIRST APPOINTED TO A COUNTY OFFICE.

>>> THE GOVERNOR IS SIGNING OFF ON A SHIPMENT OF AMBULANCES TO AID THE WAR EFFORT IN UKRAINE.

LITERALLY.

SEVERAL OF THE AMBULANCES HAVE BEEN DONATED BY HOSPITALS AND PROVIDERS AND WILL SOON BE SENT TO UKRAINE.

THE GROUP U.S. AMBULANCES FOR UKRAINE WAS STARTED BY PEORIA-BASED HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE MANSON AND HIS DAUGHTER.

HE SAYS SINCE THEY STARTED MARCH OF LAST YEAR THEY HAVE DELIVERED 38 AMBULANCES, EIGHT FIRE ENGINES AND FIVE SUVS TO UKRAINE.

THIS SHIPMENT WILL BRING THE TOTAL TO 51 AMBULANCES.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, HOW ILLINOIS FARMERS ARE FARING IN THE RECORD DRY MONTH AND WITH THE IMPACT ON CONSUMERS COULD BE.

>> FIRST, TACKLING CHICAGO'S PENSION THAT.

RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> CHICAGO'S PENSION WOES WORSENED IN 2022 AGREED TO THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.

HEATHER JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THE TOUGH CHOICES FACING THE MAYOR.

WILL HAVE KNOWN FOR A WIRE WHILE FINANCES HAVE BEEN PINCHED, HOW DID THEY GET WORSE IN 2022?

>> IN ALL THE CITY OWES $35.4 BILLION TO ITS FOUR PENSION FUNDS.

THAT IS FOR POLICE, FIRE, LABORERS AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.

THAT THAT GROUP 5% IN 2022 AND THAT IS ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT THE DEBT GREW IN 2021, SIGNIFYING THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.

>> THE CITY, AS YOU SAID, HAS FOUR PENSION FUNDS WHICH PAY BENEFITS AS EMPLOYEES RETIRE.

CAN I COVER THE COSTS?

>> THAT IS LITERALLY THE $35 MILLION QUESTION.

THESE FUNDS ARE VASTLY UNDERFUNDED.

THE WORST SHAPE IS THE FIREMAN'S PENSION FUND WHICH IS ONLY 18% FUNDED.

WHICH REALLY RAISES INTO QUESTION WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COVER THE COST AS MORE PEOPLE RETIRE .

AND THAT IS WHY THIS IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE FOR THE CITY'S FINANCIAL FUTURE.

>> 18%.

FAR FROM IT.

FORMER MAYOR LIGHTFOOT LEFT OFFICE, SHE AND HER ADMINISTRATION HAD MADE PROGRESS IN GETTING THE SHIP RIGHT, WHAT HAPPENED?

>> IT WAS A BAD YEAR IN THE STOCK MARKET.

THE CITY NOT ONLY MAKES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONTRIBUTIONS INTO ITS PENSION FUNDS BUT THAT MANY IS IN TURN INVESTED.

WHEN THOSE INVESTMENTS GO DOWN, THE CITY LOSES MONEY AND THAT IS WHY THIS DEBT GREW, EVEN THOUGH THE CITY IS PAYING $1.3 BILLION MORE INTO IT AS OF 2022, THEN IN 2019.

>> SO THAT LEAVES OF COURSE MAYOR JOHNSON BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

AFTER PROMISING TO USE RESOURCES TO INVEST IN PEOPLE, RATHER THAN TO PAY OFF DEBT, WHAT IS HIS PLAN?

>> THAT PLAN IS VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS.

HE HAS FORMED A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE THESE ISSUES AND OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY'S PENSION.

THAT GROUP MET FOR THE FIRST TIME JUNE 21 AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WE EXPECT THAT GROUP WILL ANNOUNCE SOME SORT OF PLAN GOING FORWARD, BUT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CRATED OVERNIGHT AND IT WILL NOT BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT.

>> IT WILL BE A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OF COURSE WE WILL SEE YOU LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THANKS.

>>> YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> SOME PARTS OF THE REGION SAW AS MUCH AS 7 INCHES OF RAINFALL THIS WEEKEND.

BUT THE DELUGE DIDN'T DO MUCH TO BREAK A LOT OF THE STATE OF THE WORST DROUGHT IN MORE THAN 10 YEARS.

IT'S EXPECTED GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE 10 DRIEST MONTHS IN THE STATES HISTORY.

FARMERS ARE SEEING AN IMPACT ON OUR CROPS AND CONSUMERS ARE LIKELY TO SEE AN IMPACT SOON AS WELL.

JOINING US ARE MARK, A LONG-TERM FARMER, DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR THE ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU.

AND JOINING US REMOTELY IS TRENT, STATE CLIMATOLOGIST AT THE ILLINOIS STATE WATER SURVEY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

MARK, THIS RAINSTORM DID NOT WASH OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THE FARMERS ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.

>> THE AMOUNT OF RAIN I'VE GOT IS ABOUT THE DEFICIT.

YOU GOT SEVEN OR 8 INCHES WE HAVE HAD LOW RAIN ALL SPRING.

WE ARE SEVEN OR 8 INCHES BEHIND.

>> DID THE STORMS TO HIT ANY OF THE OTHER -- I ASSUME NORTHEAST ILLINOIS, NORTHWEST ILLINOIS -- >> THERE WAS SOME RAINFALL I CUT SOME RAIN BUT THERE WERE SOME OF THE FARMERS WHO MISSED OUT ON ALL OF IT.

ROCKFORD.

BUT THERE IS SOME RAIN TODAY.

BUT WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND, OUR SUBTOTALS ARE BEHIND.

>> WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON CROPS?

>> THE CORN HAS BEEN DAMAGE.

WE WON'T KNOW FOR A WHILE HOW MUCH.

POLLINATION IS GOING TO BE DELAYED.

WE ARE HOPING FOR MORE RAIN OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THE CORN DECIDES HOW MUCH IS GOING TO PUT IN HERE ON, BACK IN JUNE.

IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL AT THAT TIME ON THE CORN CROP.

WE WON'T KNOW WHAT THE POLLINATION IS OR HOW BIG OF A YEAR OR ANYTHING.

>> MUCH OF THE STATE WAS IN SEVERE DROUGHT STATUS BEFORE THIS WEEKEND.

HAS THAT STATUS IMPROVED IN ANY PART OF THE STATE?

>> YEAH, THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR WILL BE RELEASED AGAIN TOMORROW.

WE WILL SEE EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE IMPROVED.

GIVEN THAT SOME OF THE PARTS OF THE CITY SAW LIKE YOU SAID, 7 OR 8 INCHES OF RAIN, SOME WIDER SPREAD 2-3 INCHES IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN ILLINOIS, IT'S LIKELY WE WILL SEE AN IMPROVEMENT OF ONE CATEGORY IN SOME PLACES.

BUT WE ARE STILL NO DOUBT ACROSS THE STATE IN MODERATE TO SEVERE DROUGHT BECAUSE AS MARK MENTIONED, GOING BACK TO THE APRIL 1 WE WERE BETWEEN 8 AND 12 INCHES DEFICITS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE IMPACT ON CROPS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO CONSUMERS LOOKING FOR THEIR CORN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ARE THE FARMERS MARKETS, SWEETCORN SHOULD BE GETTING THE STANDS AND I THINK IT WOULD BE DELAYED.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HUNT TO FIND SWEETCORN.

I DROVE BY A COUPLE FIELDS ON THE WAY HERE THAT MY NEIGHBORS HAVE AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE MUCH.

>> WHAT IS THE BROADER ECONOMIC IMPACT?

>> WE ARE A BIG CORN STATE.

WE ARE A BIG BEEN STATE.

WE DO A LOT OF EXPORTS OUT OF ILLINOIS.

THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THE FARMERS PRETTY HARD.

IT'S OUR FEED SOURCE.

IT MAKES CORN SWEETENER, IT IS OUR ETHANOL SOURCE.

LOSS OF PRODUCTION, A LOT OF LOSS OF PRODUCT.

>> HOW HISTORIC , IN ANOTHER SENSE, WAS THE SHEER AMOUNT OF RAINFALL WE SAW AT LEAST IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY?

>> YEAH, HONESTLY WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR WHEN PARTS OF THE NORTH SIDE SAW 6-7 INCHES OF RAIN.

AND EVEN BACK TO MAY 2021 SOME PARTS SAW SEVEN I 8 INCHES IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD.

THE LATEST NUMBERS HERE IN CHAMPAIGN SUGGEST SOME PARTS AROUND 8 INCHES OF RAIN IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD.

THAT IS A 1% CHANCE.

BASICALLY 1% CHANCE OF IT HAPPENING , ALSO CALLED THE ONE IN 100 TYPE OF RAIN EVENT.

IT IS DEFINITELY AN UNUSUAL EVENT.

ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD SAY THOSE TYPE OF EXTREME EVENTS, EXTREME PRECIPITATION EVENTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN ARE INCREASING IN THEIR FREQUENCY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, I CITED AT LEAST ONE EVENT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK CHICAGO AND MUCH OF THEIR STATE OF ILLINOIS HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN FREQUENCY AND.

>> WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN FREQUENCY IN THE RAIN EVENTS BUT IS IT GOING TO BE FEAST OR FAMINE GOING FORWARD?

EITHER SEVERE DROUGHT AS WE HAVE SEEN AND THEN HUGE DOWNPOUR?

AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY SEEN IN THE PAST?

>> HONESTLY, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR WE ARE GETTING THE REST OF THE SEASON WE WILL BE GETTING OUR RAIN TOTALS IN MORE REASONABLE AMOUNTS.

1.5 INCH TOTALS.

TO BE HONEST THIS IS SOMETHING THE MODELS ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT.

PROJECTING THE FUTURE OF PRECIPITATION VARIABILITY.

WHEN WE GO 90 DAYS WITH VERY LITTLE RAINFALL, AND UP A DEFICIT AND THEN MAKE IT UP IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD, AND THEN WE THINK ABOUT HYDROLOGY BEYOND AGRICULTURE, IT'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT A MORE CONSISTENT RAINFALL.

LIKE I SAID, PROJECTIONS OF THAT COMING MORE FREQUENT, IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE NORMAL?

THAT IS UNCERTAIN AT THE MOMENT.

A LOT MORE RESEARCH HAS TO BE DONE IN NOT JUST HOW MUCH RAINFALL WE ARE GOING TO GET OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR MONTH, BUT HOW THAT RAINFALL WILL FALL IN THE FUTURE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT RESEARCH QUESTION.

>> MARK, YOU ARE TELLING ME EARLIER YOU BELIEVE THE STATE IS GOING TO NEED ABOUT ONE INCH OF RAIN PER WEEK TO MAKE UP FOR THE DEFICIT.

DOES THAT MEAN THE CROPS THAT ARE SHORTER THAN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CAN RECOVER AND GROW TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE?

OR IS IT TOO LATE?

>> FOR THE SOYBEANS WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME YET.

BEANS IN AUGUST.

WE GET RAINS.

CORN, WE GET THROUGH A LONG PERIOD OF DRYNESS.

WE ARE NOT SURE YET, BUT I WOULD SAY 25% AT LEAST AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED AN INCH OF WATER PER WEEK GOING THROUGH POLLINATION OTHERWISE WE WON'T HAVE A GOOD CROP.

>> TRENCH WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOM AND BUST, FEAST OR FAMINE, HOW UNCERTAIN IS IT TO BE A FARMER RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU SEE EITHER BIBLICAL STYLE FLOODING OR TOTAL DROUGHT?

>> WE ARE OPTIMISTIC EVERY SPRING.

WE GO OUT THERE ENDORSING.

WE KNOW HOW TO PLANT OUR CROPS.

WE CAME OUT OF THREE OF THE WETTEST SPRINGS IN 2018, 2019 AND 2020.

WE BET ON HAVING A GOOD, NORMAL GROWING SEASON ENTERING THE YEAR YOU DEAL WITH OTHER THINGS LIKE DROUGHT OR FLOOD OR HAIL OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT COMES ALONG.

>> THERE IS A STORM MOVING THROUGH SOME OF THE FAR WESTERN SUBURBS RIGHT NOW.

COMING TOWARD CHICAGO.

MAYBE THAT DEFICIT WILL BE MADE UP.

OUR THANKS TO MARK AND TRENT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>>> WILL NASCAR MAKE A RETURN TO CHICAGO NEXT YEAR?

OUR SPOTLIGHT ON THAT AND MUCH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> IN SPITE OF THE FACT THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, HOMICIDES IN THE CITY ARE DOWN ACCORDING TO THE STATE A.

HERE WITH A BREAKDOWN OF THAT AND MUCH MORE, TONIGHT WE HAVE HEATHER .

HEATHER, THE NUMBERS ARE OUT.

CHICAGO MURDERS ARE DOWN ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> I THINK NATIONWIDE WE ARE SEEING A DECREASE IN CRIME SORT OF AS PEOPLE RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC IN THE PROGRAMS WE KNOW STOP CRIME GET BACK UP AND GOING.

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD DISCOUNT THE IMPACT OF THE TORRENTIAL RAIN AND SORT OF KEEPING PEOPLE AWAY FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY MIGHT BE ANGRY WITH OR FRUSTRATED WITH.

THAT IS WHERE VIOLENCE HAPPENS MANY TIMES.

LET'S BE HONEST, VIOLENCE WE SAW THIS WEEKEND WAS CONCENTRATED WHERE VIOLENCE IS NORMALLY CONCENTRATED.

SO YOU DID NOT HAVE SORT OF A HIGH-PROFILE EVENT DOWNTOWN OR ON THE NORTH SIDE WHICH TYPICALLY TENDS TO MAKE MORE HEADLINES THEN UNFORTUNATELY THE REGULAR VIOLENCE THAT CHICAGO SUFFERS FROM.

>> HERE IS WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID ABOUT POSSIBLE FACTORS FOR A DEADLY BUT NOT RECORD-SETTING VIOLENT WE CAN.

>> A LOT OF LONG-TERM PLANNING WHEN INTO NASCAR OF COURSE.

WE ALWAYS PLAN LONG-TERM FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

OF COURSE THE WEATHER BEING WHAT IT WAS FOR NASCAR, I AM SURE THAT KEPT SOME PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS WHO NORMALLY WOULD BE ON THE STREET.

AND WE SEE WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

>> DESPITE THE 6% DROP IN MURDERS, MASS SHOOTINGS STILL PERSIST.

>> STILL PERSIST.

THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ADDRESS THAT.

THE ISSUE ARE THE MASS GATHERINGS.

WE SAW THAT IN WILLOWBROOK SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.

NOT JUST A CHICAGO PROBLEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS GO TO THESE SORT OF MATH GATHERINGS HAPPENING OUTSIDE AND TRY TO DISPERSE THEM BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE TENSIONS RISE SOMETIMES IN THE EVENING HOURS OR INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE MASS SHOOTINGS.

ALSO MENTIONED CHICAGO HOMICIDES ARE DOWN BUT NOT AT THE RATE OF OTHER BIG CITIES HAVE FALLEN TOO.

LIKE NEW YORK AND L.A., THEY HAD A SPIKE JUST LIKE CHICAGO DURING COVID, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE BACK DOWN TO WHERE LEVELS HAVE BEEN.

CHICAGO IS INCHING DOWN TOWARD THAT.

CHICAGO IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY DIFFERENT CITY WITH DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAN THOSE CITIES.

BUT STILL A LONG WAYS TO GO.

>> HEATHER, WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT?

>> THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE.

THEY HAVE NINE DAYS TO GET THEIR PICS FOR THREE FINALISTS.

THE MAYOR THEN HAS 30 DAYS TO MAKE A PICK.

THE COMMISSION SAID THEY WILL HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING TO ANNOUNCE THE FINALISTS.

THAT MEETING HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED.

THERE HAS BEEN REPORTING FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY HAVE NARROWED THE FIELD DOWN TO SIX PEOPLE.

ONLY ONE OF WHOM DOES NOT CURRENTLY WORK FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHICH OF THOSE, IF THEY ARE THE FINALISTS, MAKES THE FINAL CUT.

>> WE HAVE TO SEE IF BRENDA JOHNSON IS GOING TO LIKE ANY OF THE FINALISTS.

THIS IS HIS MOST IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HE'S GOING TO GO WITH SOMEONE HE IS NOT GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH.

IF HE DOESN'T LIKE THEM HE WILL SEND THEM BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD OR, I DON'T THINK I'LL DO THIS, BUT CIRCUMVENT THE PROCESS FOR NOW AND PUT MY GUY IN THERE >> MAY BE NOT SO GREAT.

>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MOST OF IT HAS WORKED OUT, CONSIDERING WHAT WE DISCUSSED ABOUT THE CRIME RATE.

ON THE FOURTH PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLED FOR STRICTER GUN CONTROL LIKE THE ONE ILLINOIS HAS AN ACTED IN WAY OF THE HIGHLAND PARK MASS SHOOTING.

>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES IN STATE AND FEDERAL JURISDICTION , THE COURT JUST HEARD SOME ARGUMENT , WHATEVER THEY DECIDE OR THE COURTS DECIDE IT'S GOING TO THE SUPREME COURT IN SOME FORM.

MAYBE THEY GET CONSOLIDATED.

LIES NOT SUPPOSED TO GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL 2024.

WE WILL SEE IF IT GETS ADJUDICATED BY THEN.

PROBABLY NOT.

IN THE INTERIM IT IS UP FOR GRABS.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WOULD BE ANY FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED HOUSE.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, A LONG PROCESS OF JUDICIAL PROCESS AND LEGISLATORS.

>> THE WHEELS TURN SLOWLY SOMETIMES.

>> MEANWHILE MAYOR JOHNSON SAYS IF YOU'RE GOING TO GRADE THE PERFORMANCE OF NASCAR BEFORE MAKING A DECISION, -- DIDN'T SHE SIGNED A THREE-YEAR DEAL?

>> IT IS A THREE-YEAR DEAL WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TWO MORE YEARS.

WE CAN SEE HER THERE NOW.

BUT THE ISSUE IS THE CONTRACT ALLOWS EITHER THE CITY OR NASCAR TO WALK AWAY, NO QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE END OF DECEMBER, SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE NEXT RACE WOULD TAKE PLACE.

THAT GIVES MAYOR JOHNSON AND POTENTIALLY THE CITY COUNCIL A CHANCE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT WAS GREAT, WE ENJOYED THE SHOTS OF THE SKYLINE ON THE NATIONAL TELEVISION, BUT THIS IS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR OUR CITY.

THAT GIVES THEM A WAY OUT.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE IT ALSO GIVES THEM LEVERAGE IF THEY WANT TO TRY AND WRESTLE MORE CONCESSIONS FROM NASCAR'S THING YOU NEED TO INVEST MORE IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS.

ALTHOUGH NASCAR DID SOME OF THAT.

YOU NEED TO FOOT THE BILL MORE FOR POLICE TO FIGURE OUT SECURITY BETTER AND NOT HAVE ARE POLICE OFFICERS WORKING.

AND MAYBE THEY SHOULD DO ANOTHER WEEKEND, NOT A WEEKEND THAT ALREADY USUALLY HAS HOTELS PACKED AND IS USUALLY GOOD FOR TOURISM.

IF THE POINT IS TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT, MAYBE YOU DO IT ON A WEEKEND THAT DOESN'T TYPICALLY HAVE A LOT OF TOURISM.

>> SPREAD THE WEALTH AND THE BURDEN.

>> I THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING IF THE RACE RETURNS OVER THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND, POSTPONED UNTIL LABOR DAY WEEKEND THIS YEAR, SORT OF A STOPGAP MEASURE.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> I'VE SEEN SO MANY WONDERFUL CONCERTS THROUGH THE YEARS.

STEVIE WONDER.

BE KING.

>> WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO GET TO THIS QUICKLY, ENTIRE SLATE OF THE CHICAGO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

>> A VERY PROGRESSIVE.

ONLY ONE HOLDOVER FROM THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

CPU FRIENDLY, JOHNSON WAS A CPU ORGANIZER.

WE WILL SEE HOW THEY DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF CPU WITH THE BUDGET REALITIES.

>> OF COURSE WE DID HEAR STATEMENT ON THIS .

IS BUT THEY WERE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT IT.

PRAISING THE CHOICES.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE GOT FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>>> UP NEXT.

>> REMEMBERING CHICAGO RADIO LEGEND.

>> FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> DICK BIONDI WAS A SUPERSTAR.

HE CAME IN 1960 TO JOIN AN ICONIC LINEUP AT WLS.

HE LEFT CHICAGO AND CAME BACK NUMBER OF TIMES RETURNING FOR GOOD IN THE 1980S.

AND STAYING ON THE AIR IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE NEXT 30+ YEARS.

DICK BIONDI DIED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 90.

HERE HE IS WITH BOB ON CHICAGO TONIGHT BACK IN 2003 TALKING ABOUT A CERTAIN BAND FROM LIVERPOOL.

>> YOU WERE THE FIRST DISC JOCKEY I THINK OF THE COUNTRY TO PLAY A BEATLES RECORD AND THEN YOU MET THEM.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT WAS GREAT.

YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, HE WAS ALSO STEVIE WONDER'S MANAGER.

WE PLAYED IT AND MEETING THE BEATLES WAS REALLY GREAT.

I SAW THEM THE FIRST TIME THEY CAME TO THE U.S., I DIDN'T DO THEM BUT I WAS IN NEW YORK AND THAT'S WHEN THEY STATED THE PARK PLAZA.

BUT THEN BOB EUBANKS BROUGHT THEM IN TO LOS ANGELES.

>> AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL.

>> AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL.

WE WERE BACKSTAGE.

WE HAD A GREAT LINEUP.

WE HAD BOB EUBANKS, CASEY KASEM, CHARLIE O'DONNELL, MYSELF -- >> AFTER YOU LEFT CHICAGO YOU ARE AT THAT STATION IN LOS ANGELES.

>> I WAS THEIR FIRST.

THE SECOND TIME -- >> DID YOU GET TO KNOW ANY OF THE BEATLES?

>> WE GOT TO MEET THEM AND EVERYTHING.

BACKSTAGE TALKING.

THEN WE ALL GET UP BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO GO ONE.

AND WE ARE STANDING, ALL OF US, WAITING TO WALK OUT BECAUSE BOB EUBANKS WAS VERY SMART.

HE SAID WE ALL GO OUT AND SAY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HERE ARE THE BEATLES.

WHICH WAS FINE.

I LOVE THAT.

'S WE ARE STANDING THERE WAITING, THE AFTERNOON MAN, HE WAS HAVING FUN OUT THERE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR THIS VOICE BEHIND ME, I HAVE TO EDIT THIS, I HEAR THIS VOICE SAY, WOULD YOU GET OFF THE BLANKING STAGE SO WE CAN GET ON WITH OUR SHOW?

I TURN AROUND AND IT'S PAUL McCARTNEY.

>> SO YOU PLAYED PLEASE, FEBRUARY 63.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

>> REMEMBER, IN MAY I GOT FIRED.

I WENT OUT TO L.A.

I BROUGHT THE RECORD WITH ME.

AND THE SECOND OR THIRD NIGHT ON THEIR I PUT IT ON THE AIR AND I PLAYED IT.

I SAID HERE'S A GREAT RECORD BY A GROUP CALLED THE BEATLES.

>> THIS IS IN LOS ANGELES.

>> THE PHONE RINGS OFF THE WALL AND PEOPLE, KIDS, GET THAT KRAPP OF THE AIR AND PUT THE BEACH BOYS ON.

ONE YEAR LATER IT'S ALL THEY WANTED.

>> YES IT WAS.

>> MY HOW THINGS CHANGE.

THE LEGENDARY DICK BIONDI ON CHICAGO TONIGHT BACK IN 2003.

PERSONAL STORY.

MY FAMILY HIRED DICK BIONDI TO DJ MY MOM'S 70th BIRTHDAY.

THEY WERE ALL DRESSED UP IN SOCK HOP GEAR.

DICK BIONDI HAD THEM DANCING ALL NIGHT PLAYING THE YAWN AND THE BEACH BOYS AND THE SUPREMES .

AT THE END OF THE NIGHT HE COMES UP TO ME AND SAYS, DID I MAKE YOUR MOM HAPPY?

I SAID YOU MADE US ALL REALLY HAPPY.

HE MADE EVERYBODY HAPPY IN HIS CAREER.

WHAT A GREAT CAREER, WHAT A GREAT LIFE TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY EVERY DAY PLAYING THE FAVORITE MUSIC.

AND HAVING A LOT OF FUN.

OUR SYMPATHY IS WITH HIS FAMILY.

DEFINITELY A LEGEND.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR ONCE IN A.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR THE DAILY BRIEFING.

YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, U2 AND OUR WEBSITE .

>> YOU CAN ALSO DO IT VIA PODCAST .

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 PM AND 10:00.

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.