>> GOOD EVENING. AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT. LATINO VOICES. I'M JOHN THIS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH PEOPLE WANT TO PUSH TO END THE CHICAGO POLICE DISCIPLINE SYSTEM. >> THE NEED IS SO VITAL OUT THERE. >> AND EXPUNGE DEPARTMENT IS NOW OPEN FOR RESIDENTS LOOKING FOR A FRESH START. HOW IT WORKS. EARLY VOTING KICKS OFF FOR THE MARCH 19TH PRIMARY. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU CAST YOUR BALLOT. THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY POPULATION IS AT A NEAR RECORD LOW, WHICH A CALM WINDS CAN DO TO HELP. >> CHINESE JAPANESE, KOREAN AND LATINO. WE TRY TO MIX IT ALL UP. >> AND WE TAKE YOU INSIDE LOUNGE SERVING OF ASIAN AND LATINO FLAVORS. >> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES. UPDATE TO THE DEADLY MASS SHOOTING IN KANSAS CITY THAT KILLED ONE PERSON AND INJURED. 23 OTHERS. KANSAS CITY POLICE SAY THE SHOOTING WHERE THOUSANDS HAVE GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE CHIEFS. SUPER BOWL VICTORY WAS A PERSONAL DISPUTE. TEEN BETWEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO POLICE, 2 JUVENILES ARE IN CUSTODY. POLICE SAY A 3RD PERSON THAT HAD BEEN DETAINED HAS BEEN RELEASED. WE'RE TOLD MORE THAN HALF OF THE VICTIMS ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16. AND GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER IN COOK COUNTY BOARD. PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE ARE COMMITTING AN ADDITIONAL 250 MILLION DOLLARS ON MIGRANTS SENT TO CHICAGO. BUT THE PAIR OF THE DEMOCRATS SAY ANOTHER 70 MILLION DOLLARS IS NEEDED. CHICAGO WAS ABSENT FROM THE JOINT FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT. REPORTERS TODAY PRESS MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ON WHETHER THE CITY WILL COME UP WITH THE MONEY. HE WAS GUARDED IN, GREW FRUSTRATED WITH THE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN HIM AND THE STATE AND COUNTY LEADERS. >> THERE IS NO DISCONNECT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MATTERS THAT. NEED TO BE WORKED THROUGH. REMEMBER THE STATE MADE A COMMITMENT TO 2000 BASE BACK IN NOVEMBER. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? RIGHT. SO ALL OF THOSE DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED THROUGH. IT'S NOT JUST SIMPLY ABOUT FINDING FINANCIAL RESOURCES IS ABOUT AN ENTIRE OPERATION. >> GOVERNOR PRITZKER SET TO INTRODUCE HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL NEXT WEEK. DESPITE TODAY'S GUARANTEE HE'LL NEED LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL FOR THE ADDITIONAL SPENDING. THE ILLINOIS PRIMARY IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AWAY. BUT YOU CAN ALREADY START CASTING YOUR BALLOT AT SELECT LOCATIONS DOWNTOWN. >> JOAN, WAIT UNTIL THE LAST SECOND ON MARCH 19. RESEARCHER CHOICES NOW AND MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE EARLY. >> STARTING TODAY, EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN AT THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SUPER SITE LOCATION AND ITS OFFICE BOTH LOCATED DOWNTOWN THIS YEAR'S BALLOT INCLUDE RACES FOR PRESIDENT U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY. PLUS, A BIDDING CITYWIDE REFERENDUM ON WHETHER TO RAISE THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX TO HELP FUND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION EFFORTS. EARLY VOTING IN ALL 50 WARDS BEGIN MARCH 4TH. WE'LL HAVE MORE EARLY VOTING LATER IN THE PROGRAM AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE VOTER GUIDE TO LEARN MORE. UP NEXT, A BATTLE AND CITY COUNCIL OVER HOW TO HOLD POLICE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SERIOUS MISCONDUCT. THAT'S RIGHT. AFTER THIS. >> CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICE HE'S MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS. >> THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL HAS ONCE AGAIN VOTED TO REJECT AN EFFORT BACKED BY THE CITY'S LARGEST POLICE UNION. THAT WOULD END THE SYSTEM HOLE TO HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SERIOUS MISCONDUCT FOR THE PAST 60 YEARS. LET'S LISTEN TO A BIT OF THE FIERCE DEBATE. >> ALL I CONSTANTLY HERE AND THERE IS POLICE ARE RACIST. POLICE ARE RACIST OR ANTI-BLACK. THE ANTI HISPANIC, ANTI WHATEVER. THAT IS THE MOST WITH ABSOLUTE NONSENSE THING I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE BECAUSE WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT RADIO. WHEN THAT CALL COMES OUT, NOT ONE SINGLE TIME. SECOND ANYBODY NO LONGER ANY OTHER SLAVERY WAS LEGAL, WANTS. >> PLESSY VERSUS FERGUSON SAID THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE 3 FIFTHS OF A PERSON. I KNOW IF YOU NOTICED, BUT THE LAW DOESN'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT. >> WDW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHOWING JOINS US NOW. KNOW THAT SEEMS LIKE A HEATED DEBATE. HEATHER REMIND AS WHAT WAS AT STAKE WITH TODAY'S VOTE. SO FOR MUCH OF THE PAST 60 YEARS, OFFICERS ACCUSED OF SERIOUS MISCONDUCT THAT COULD RESULT IN THEIR TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF MORE THAN A YEAR HAD THEIR FATES DECIDED BY THE CHICAGO POLICE BOARD AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING. THE CHICAGO FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, THE CITY'S LARGEST POLICE UNION SAYS THAT IS IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW AND THEY WANT THEIR MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO HAVE THEIR FATES DECIDED BY THAT PLEA SPORT OR AN ARBITRATOR. NOW IT'S CLEAR THAT MOST OFFICERS WILL FACE A MUCH LIGHTER PUNISHMENT IF THAT DECISION IS MADE BY AN ARBITRATOR BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY VOTED FOR THE SECOND TIME TO REJECT THAT DECISION BY ANOTHER ARBITRATOR, SENDING THE MATTER TO COOK COUNTY 2 IN COOK COUNTY JUDGE TO DECIDE WHICH AT IS GOING TO BE A FIERCE LEGAL BATTLE. SO WHAT HAPPENS SO THAT LEGAL BATTLE WILL START IN A HEARING THAT IS ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR LATER THIS MONTH AT RISK IS WHETHER OFFICERS NEARLY 20 OF THEM AT THIS POINT WILL FACE IMMINENT POLICE PORT HEARINGS, INCLUDING OFFICER ERIC STILLMAN, WHO IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING ADAM TOLEDO. AFTER THAT, THIS CHILD DROPPED A GUN. THE CITY OF CANNES. THE CITY COUNCIL'S VOTE SETS UP WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE A FIERCE LEGAL BATTLE. ONE THAT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON SAID HE'S WILLING TO FIGHT. LET'S TAKE A LISTEN. >> THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS CLEAR THAT IN ORDER TO RESTORE AND IN MANY CASES, NOT EVEN JUST A STORE, JUST BUILD TRUST. HAVING OPEN, TRANSPARENT PROCESS. THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO DESERVE AND THEY WANT. >> AND HEAD OF THERE WAS ALSO NEWS TODAY IN THE MIGRANT CRISIS, WHICH STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS PLEADING TO SET ASIDE ADDITIONAL 250 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP CARE FOR THE PEOPLE SENT TO CHICAGO FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER. WILL THAT BE ENOUGH? IT WON'T BE. THERE'S AT LEAST A 70 MILLION DOLLARS GAP BETWEEN WHAT STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS THINK THAT THERE WILL BE NEEDED TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS. >> THE CITY HAS NOT YET COMMITTED TO MAKING UP THAT DIFFERENCE, WHICH MITT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AGAIN TODAY SAYING THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON ITS PROMISES TO OPEN IN 2000 BED SHELTER AND AGAIN, CALLING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP AND CARE FOR THESE MIGRANTS. BECAUSE, OF COURSE, AS WE'VE ALL REPORTED, IMMIGRATION IS A FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS OF DEEP MESS. CLEARLY THE BREACHES BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE ARE GROWING. WE WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON CONTAIN AS WELL. THANK YOU, HEATHER. THANKS, AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE. IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS. WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS. >> COOK >> COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE OPENING WHAT THEY'RE CALLING AN OPEN STOP SHOP FOR RESIDENTS LOOKING FOR A FRESH START. AND BY THAT, THEY MEAN EXPUNGING CRIMINAL STARTING CRIMINAL RECORDS. HERE'S COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK IRIS MET THE NURSE FROM EARLIER TODAY AT THE RIBBON CUTTING OF OFFICE'S NEW EXPUNGEMENT DEPARTMENT. >> CREATION OF DEPARTMENT IS NOT MERELY IN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE. IT IS A STRIKE TOWARDS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS ACCESS TO JUSTICE. >> WDW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOIN US NOW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE NOW. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TELL WHAT WILL THE NEW DEPARTMENT OFFER? SO THIS IS A NEW SPACE INSIDE THE COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS BUILDING AT 26 IN CALIFORNIA. >> AND IT'S IT'S A ONE SPOT AREA. WE'RE REQUESTING FILINGS FOR EXPUNGEMENTS TO GET THESE RECORDS. CRIMINAL RECORDS WIPED OFF THE BOOKS. IT CAN ALL TAKE MARTINEZ'S OFFICE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WILL OFFER ASSISTANCE. THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN FILING THESE EXPUNGE MONTHS. THEY OFFER CLASSES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS A QUICK WAY. CONSULTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE CRIMINAL RECORDS OFF THE BOOKS AND GET A FRESH START WITH THEIR LIVES. AND CAN ANYONE WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND MAKE USE OF IT? SO IT'S NOT QUITE ANYONE. THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN RECORDS THAT CAN BE EXPUNGED. SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED IS GOING TO BE PUBLIC RECORDS ABOUT THAT, EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED. BUT YOU CAN TRY TO GET THOSE OFF THE BOOKS. AND SOMETIMES THEY RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH HOUSING OR A JOB OR EDUCATION. IF YOU HAVE THESE RECORDS OUT THERE. SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF THESE CRIMES BUT HAVE ARREST ARE CHARGING RECORDS OUT THERE. THEY CAN FILE THESE EXPANSION REQUESTS AND GET THEM OFF THE BOOKS. THERE ARE ALSO SOME CONVICTIONS THAT CAN ALSO BE EXPUNGED, FOR INSTANCE, COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX, HER OFFICE FOR YEARS HAS BEEN TRYING TO EXPUNGE LOTS OF LOW LEVEL. CANNABIS RELATED CONVICTIONS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN ON THE RECORDS FOR SOMETIMES DECADES. BUT THOSE HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPUNGED AS WELL. RECENT YEARS. >> AND THEN HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS NEW DEPARTMENT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD EXPUNGEMENT SYSTEM? SO PREVIOUSLY, IF YOU ARE 5, IF YOU HAD A CHARGE FILED IN A CERTAIN BRANCHES IN COOK COUNTY AND THERE ARE SEVERAL YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE COURTROOM FOR THAT SPECIFIC BRANCH AND FILED THIS EXPANSION REQUEST. NOW WITH THIS NEW DEPARTMENT AT 26 IN CALIFORNIA. YOU CAN DO IT THERE. IF YOU HAD MULTIPLE CHARGES MULTIPLE BRANCHES, YOU HAVE TO GO TO EACH ONE OF THOSE FILE AND PAY A FILING CHARGE FOR EACH ONE OF THESE. NOW THERE'S ONE CHARGE. THERE'S LESS TRAVEL. YOU CAN GET IT ALL DONE IN ONE PLACE. SO OFFICIALS SAID THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH THE OLD PROCESS, THIS NEW STREAMLINED PROCESS WITH THE ONE LOCATION IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THINGS A LOT EASIER AND HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL. SEEMS THAT A GAME CHANGER WITH THINKING THAT FOR THE VIEW FOR THIS REPORT, THANKS >> YOU CAN READ MATT'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE. THAT'S WTW DOT COM SLASH NEWS. WE'RE ALMOST ONE MONTH OUT UNTIL THE ILLINOIS PRIMARY ELECTION WITH EARLY VOTING ALREADY KICKING OFF AT 2 DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS. ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE CALLING ON VOTERS TO MAKE A PLAN. JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IS GIOVANNA GOT A DEAL HANDLES HISPANIC OUTREACH FOR THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS. WILL. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. I WANT TO START OFF. WOULD MAKE SOMEONE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE? YES, SO THEY MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN. THEY MUST HAVE LIVED IN THEIR ADDRESS FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION AND THEY CAN CLING TO VOTE ANYWHERE ELSE. AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE 18 BY NOVEMBER, 5TH, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. NOW. AND THESE ARE SIMPLE QUESTIONS, OF COURSE. BUT HOW DOES SOMEONE GO ABOUT REGISTERING? YES, SO WE TRY TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR SOMEONE TO REGISTER. THEY CAN REGISTER ONLINE. THEY CAN DO DURING EARLY VOTING PERIOD AND EVEN ON ELECTION SO THAT WAS GOING WAS GOING TO ASK THAT. CAN THEY SEEMED CAN THEY REGISTER ON THE SAME DAYS AT AVAILABLE? YES. WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO BRING? THEY HAVE TO BRING IT TO PIECES OF ONLY ONE HAS TO HAVE THE ACTRESS. NOW THERE ARE CURRENTLY 2 EARLY VOTING SITES OPEN IN DOWNTOWN. WHERE ELSE CAN PEOPLE GO TO VOTE EARLY? SO IT'S THOSE 2 SITES FOR NOW. I'M A BYE ON MARCH. 15TH STARTING MARCH 4TH, THEY CAN VOTE IN OUR 52 SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND YOU CAN VOTE AT ANY OF THE SITES REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAR YOU LIVE SOMETHING THAT YOU TELL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY LATINO POPULATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING OUT TO VOTE. YOU KNOW, YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE AND HAS LET THE NOSE BEING THE LARGEST GOING DEMOGRAPHIC. >> IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO AT THE SIZE AND YOU KNOW, IT COMES WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY HAVING BEING ABLE TO MAKE THAT GREAT IMPACT TO WHY NOT? HE WOULD WANT JUST SHARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST YOU A LOT LATINOS INTIMIDATION GOING INTO POLLING PLACE. SO WE DO TRY TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. EVERY SINGLE DOCUMENT AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS BY DEFAULT. I'M IN SPANISH. THE BALLOT IS BY DEFAULT, BILINGUAL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF MAYBE LACK OF OUTREACH FROM CANDIDATES THAT ALSO, YOU KNOW, MIGHT KEEP LATINO VOTERS AWAY ON ELECTION DAY. ALWAYS YOUR PASSION TO GET INTO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PART OF COMMUNITY SINCE I STARTED MY COLLEGE CLEAR. AND I YOU KNOW, I SAW THAT LATINOS AREN'T VOTING, THAT THEY FEEL INTIMIDATED BY THE PROCESS. SO IF I COULD HELP POINT SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO YOU, OWNING YOUR OWN HOME. YEAH. SOMETHING DEEPLY PERSONAL FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND FOR SPANISH SPEAKING VOTERS IN PARTICULAR, WHAT SHOULD THEY KNOW ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE AVAILABLE TO THEM WHEN THEY GO INTO A POLLING SITE? SO ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS WE DO HAVE THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS THAT WE WORK VERY HARD TO RECRUIT BILINGUAL POLL WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO WHEN A LATINO VOTER GOES IN, THEY CAN SEE SOMEONE THAT LOOKS LIKE THEM AND STERLING, WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO WANT TO VOTE ON THROUGH MAIL? IS THERE ANY SENSE THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW OR IS IT VERY SIMPLE AS WELL EXTREMELY CAN APPLY TO VOTE BY MAIL ON PAPER, BUT ALSO ONLINE. AND YOU HAVE UNTIL MARCH 14TH TO APPLY SEE A PATTERN FOR THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE THROUGH MAIL OR COME IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING. IS THERE A PATTERN THEY US HAVE NOTICED? YES. SO WE SEE THAT ABOUT 25% OF VOTERS VOTE BY MAIL. 25% EARLY AND ABOUT 50 50% OF THE VOTERS VOTE ON ELECTION IS AN INTERESTING FOR YEAH, IT'S VERY INTERESTING ON, YOU KNOW, OUR BIG PUSH IS FOR VOTERS TO VOTE EARLY. YOU KNOW, THINGS CAN ALWAYS COME UP ON ELECTION DAY. SO WHY LEAVE IT UP TO CHANCE WHEN THEY CAN VOTE BY MAIL AND WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE EXPECT TO SEE ON THIS YEAR'S BALLOT? YES, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF OFFICES ALL PRETTY LOCAL ALL THE WAY TO, OF COURSE, PRESIDENTIAL. SO, PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A STATE JUDGES. WE HAVE WARD COMMITTEEMAN. WE HAVE STATE REP REPRESENTATIVES STATE SENATORS AND EVEN U.S. COULD BE SUPER OVERWHELMING. SO HOW DO YOU BREAK IT DOWN FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OF SPANISH SPEAKING THE SPECIALLY POPULATION? HOW DO YOU BREAK IT DOWN FOR THEM TO JUST KEEP SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE? SO IF YOUR GOAL ON OUR CHICAGO ELECTIONS GOV OR A MIXED FINISH TO COPE AND TO YOU CAN SEE A SAMPLE BALLOTS. YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOUR BALLOT WOULD LOOK LIKE ON ELECTION DAY. AND YOU CAN START DOING THE RESEARCH FIRM. DOESN'T TAKE THAT MUCH. THEY CAN JUST GO ON. JUST START READING. IT LITERALLY TAKES 30 SECONDS. THE WAY THAT PEOPLE GO ON ALSO NEED MORE ELECTION JUDGES, ESPECIALLY SPANISH SPEAKING ELECTION JUDGES. HE SPOKE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT. BUT CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THEM? >> YEAH, LIKE I YOU KNOW. IT'S MUCH TO GO INTO A POLLING PLACE, FEELING LESS INTIMIDATED IF SOMEONE THERE SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE OF SOMEONE THERE, YOU KNOW, LOOKS LIKE YOU. SO WE WORK REALLY HARD TO JUDGES IN GENERAL, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE BILINGUAL AND SPEAK SPANISH. THE ENTIRE CITY OF CHICAGO. SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO IS BILINGUAL WAS A U.S. CITIZEN TO COME ON OUT AND APPLY TO BE AN ELECTION. JUST HOW MANY DO BOARD CURRENTLY. SO OUR GOAL IS 560. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 6, SORRY, 560. AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE 650 AM. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MORE THE UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALWAYS FACE RESIGNATIONS CLOSER TO THE ELECTION. THERE'S SOME NO SHOWS. SO IN ORDER TO BE SAFE, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO APPLY UP UNTIL ELECTION DAY. SO GO APPLY. YES. WHAT SHOULD THOSE IN HIGH SCHOOL? NO ON WHETHER THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE? YES. SO IF YOU WILL BE 18 YEARS OLD ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 5TH, YOU CAN VOTE EVEN DURING THIS PRIMARY ELECTION BEING 17 YEARS OLD. WELL, THANK YOU, AFOA THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR ONLINE VOTER GUIDE TO FIND OUT IF YOU'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN MUCH MORE. IT'S ALL AT WWW DOT COM SLASH VOTER GUIDE. UP NEXT, HOW CHICAGOANS ARE COMBATING THE NEAR RECORD. LOW COUNTS OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. STAY WITH US. >> EACH >> YEAR DURING SPRING MONARCH BUTTERFLIES MIGRATE NORTH FROM MEXICO LOOKING FOR MILKWEED TO LAY THEIR EGGS. BUT THE NUMBER OF THESE INSECTS HAVE SEEN A 60% DECLINE OVER THIS PAST YEAR, REACHING NEAR RECORD LOWS, ACCORDING TO AN ANNUAL SURVEY GROUPS CHICAGO HAVE LONG BEEN WORKING TO REBUILD OR HAVE ITS HABITAT AND RESTORE THE MONARCH POPULATION. JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS ASTOR HAZELL LEAVE CONSERVATION ECOLOGIST AT THE FIELD MUSEUM SCHELLER SCIENCE ACTION CENTER WILL THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I LOVE TALKING ABOUT BUTTERFLIES, BUTTERFLIES. I LOVE THEM. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE MONARCH POPULATION IS SURVEYED? YES. SO EVERY THE MONARCHS WE SEE HERE IN LATE EARLY SEPTEMBER. >> MIGRATE TO CENTRAL MEXICO AND THEY CONGREGATE ON THE CERTAIN STANDS OF. PINE LOOKING TREES AND THEY'RE IN THERE THEY ACTUALLY MEASURE THE AREAS THAT THEY OCCUPIED BECAUSE IT'S EVEN THOUGH THE POPULATION'S DECLINE. IT'S OVER 20 MILLION BUTTERFLIES. SO WE HAVE THAT AREA. AND THIS YEAR IT FELL BY 60%. THAT'S A LOT TO WHAT YOU SAY WAS FOUND IN THE SURVEY. SO THIS ABOUT 20 MILLION BUTTERFLIES IN THE 2, 2, 0.2 ACRES, WHICH IS ABOUT ONE AND A HALF FOOTBALL FIELDS OF BUTTERFLIES. AND REASON IT'S CONCERNING IS THAT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS WE'VE SEEN THE POPULATION DECLINE OVER 80%. SO THIS IS STARTLING DECLINE OVER A STARTLING DECLINE. >> AND THE CLIENTS HAPPENING IN. BUT WE WORRY WHEN WE SEE THE STEEP DECLINES. OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD TO MAINTAIN THIS REALLY IMPRESSIVE MIGRATION. WILL SYRIA JUST SAY WHAT'S LEADING TO THIS NEAR RECORD LOW? >> SO WELL, THE WEATHER THIS SUMMER IN CHICAGO WAS RELATIVELY MILD. WE DIDN'T HAVE A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT SUMMER. WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HOW HOT AND DRY IT WAS IN. >> SO THE UNITED STATES AND NORTHERN MEXICO AND THOSE ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT THE MONITORS WOULD HAVE ENCOUNTERED ON THEIR MIGRATION SOUTH AND THAT HAD IMPACTED THEM. THEY ALSO MIGRATE FROM HERE UP INTO NORTHERN CANADA AND IT WAS NOT PARTICULAR NOT NORTHERN CAN. IT'S SOUTHERN CANADA. IT WAS NOT PARTICULARLY GREAT CONDITIONS FOR THEM THERE. SO OVERALL, RE SEEING THESE CONTINUED IMPACTS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING CLIMATOLOGICAL E. >> AND WHAT THINGS CAN BE DONE TO BUILD BACK THE POPULATION, WHICH IS SAY YES. SO THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE WE SEE. SO EVEN WITH THIS DECLINE, WE WILL MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ROUNDABOUT EARLY JUNE. YOU MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE HARDER THAN WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST, BUT REALLY THE BREAD BASKET HERE IN THE MIDWEST, WE WANT TO BUILD THE ONES WE SEE UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO THE WORSENING, THE MOST BUTTERFLY SOUTH AS POSSIBLE AND MONARCHY, ADULTS. THEY'RE KIND OF PICKY. THE ONLY LAY THEIR EGGS ON MILKWEED. AND THOSE CATERPILLARS WILL ONLY EAT LOCALLY. SO WE NEED TO PLANT MILKWEED FOR THE BABY CATERPILLARS AND THEN WE NEED TO HAVE LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER FOR THE ADULTS IS AT HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP. YEAH. SO PLANTING LOTS OF CREED AND THEN HAVING FLOWERS THAT BLOOM THROUGHOUT THE SEASON BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO FALL BLOOMING FLOWERS TO FUEL THOSE ADULTS UP FOR THAT LONG MIGRATIONS OUT. IS THERE CERTAIN TYPES OF FLOWERS? I'M JUST CURIOUS TO SEE BOTH FLOWERS TO PLANT THAT WELL AND TO SEE A LITTLE PARTIAL THE ASTORS THERE'S A NICE FALL BLOOMING FLOWER ALSO GOING CAN GET A BAD RAP, BUT THERE'S LOTS TO NOT JUST THE ONE YOU SEE IN YOUR ALLEY. THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GOING IN THE SPRING. ACTUALLY HAVING DID SOMETHING FRAME FOR WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. MOOKIE TONIGHT EVEN OFTEN OPERATE WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE. SO YOU'LL NEED SOME GOOD SPRING BLOOMING FLOWERS AND SOME FALL BLOOMING FLOWERS ARE GREAT. AND THE OTHER THING IS IMPORTANT IS HAVING TO BE PESTICIDE FREE BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE PESTICIDES THAT WILL IMPACT SOME INSECTS WILL ALSO DEFINITELY IMPACT NOMINEE. KEEP THAT IN MIND. HOW DOES THIS LOOK AT AN URBAN AREA LIKE CHICAGO COMPARED TO OUTSIDE CITIES? >> YEAH, IT'S JUST CITIES ARE HUGELY IMPORTANT. SO WE DON'T THINK LIKE, OH, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE HERE, BUT WE STUDY THIS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROJECT. THOSE 5, 10, 15 MILKWEED PLANTS. YEAH. THOSE 5, 10, 15 MILKWEED PLANTS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN YOUR YARD. YOU MIGHT NOT GET YOUR FIRST YEAR. BUT YOU MIGHT THOSE REALLY DO HAVE AN IMPACT. SO IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL AREA, BUT THAT IS HUGE. AND YOU CAN PLANT ON YOUR BALCONY OR PATIO YOUR ROOFTOP. YOU'RE YOU. ARE YOU FOR YOUR BACKYARD, YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP AT YOUR KIDS YOU KNOW, JUST ASK FIRST WHAT JUST AS FOR THAT. THAT'S TRUE. AS FIRST, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU YOU KNOW MY 4 YEARS. YOU KNOW, EXPERIMENTING WITH BUTTERFLIES. I MEAN, THAT HAS TO SEEMS KIND OF I I LOVE THAT. I LOVE GETTING TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO LOVE TALKING ABOUT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. >> ALL BUT I ALSO LOVE. YOU KNOW, I SPENT A LOT OF MY THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL INSECT DECLINE. BUT LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO THIS IS A MEANINGFUL IMPACT OF MILKWEED IN MY YARD AND IT FEELS GOOD WHEN I GET MONARCH I NOW HAVE TO DO THAT. MAKE I GUESS. I JUST CURIOUS. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS DECLINE IN POPULATION? IT'S REALLY HARD. IT IS REALLY HARD TO MONARCHS. A CLIENT IS HARD TO KNOW THAT MIGRATING SPECIES. GIVE US A REALLY INDICATE GOOD INDICATION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS LANDSCAPE. THIS IS PROBABLY AN INDICATION THAT A LOT OF INSECTS ARE STRUGGLING AND AND THAT'S CONCERNING. SO I TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND AND THAT IS IMPORTANT PLANTING LOTS OF DIFFERENT FLOWERS THAT ONLY BECAUSE THAT SUPPORTS MONARCHS, BUT BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO PUT A LOT OF OTHER SPECIES BECAUSE IT'S AN ECOSYSTEM AND WE ARE A PART OF IT. AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO BE SUPPORTING INSECTS. YOU TALKED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WITH ANYTHING HAPPENING WITH THE STATE OF ECOSYSTEM AS A WHOLE. YES, SO WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF HUGE INSECT DECLINE AND, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY WHO'S MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DECADES OLD, THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU USED TO HAVE TO CLEAN YOUR WINDSHIELD ON THE ROAD. CHIP USED TO SEE A LOT MORE INSECTS AROUND THE STREET LIGHTS AT NIGHT. YOU DON'T SEE THAT AS MUCH YOU CAN. YOU CAN YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE NUMBERS AND IT'S HARD TO HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR SPECIES LIKE MONARCHS THAT DON'T CONGREGATE IN ONE PLACE NICELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YESTERDAY. I DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION THAT, BUT YOU'RE SO RIGHT ABOUT THE ROAD TRIP AND THE INSECTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS UP NEXT, HAVE A TO HOW A LOCAL CELEBRATE THE CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH LATINO FLAVORS. WE EXPLAIN RIGHT AFTER THIS. >> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND CHICAGO IS MADE POSSIBLE IN BY JOAN PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSE AND H FAMILY. FUN. >> IN HONOR OF THE CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR, WE TAKE YOU INSIDE A RESTAURANT COMBINING MEXICAN AND ASIAN FLAVORS. WE HAD TO BRIDGEPORT WITH THE OWNERS OF BELLY BULL, ASIAN KITCHEN AND LOUNGE. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PASSION BEHIND THE DISHES IN THE CONCEPT OF THEIR NEW SPOT. >> WANT TO HAVE A LOOK KIND OF LIKE LAUNCH LAUNCH AREA SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST EAT, BUT RELAX. WE ALSO I AM A BIG FAN OF CHAIR. SO I WENT UP WITH SOME PIECES. JUST GOING TO BE BOOKED LIKE A WELCOME IF YOU MORE MORE THAN THAT, I THINK CHINESE, JAPANESE KOREAN AND LET YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO MIX IT ALL UP. >> LIKE LIKE US, LIKE COUPLE TIME. YOU KNOW, I KNOW HE HAD PEOPLE COST FOR LIFE WILL FLY. SO I MAKE MISS KENDALL AND EVERYBODY LIKE THAT'S WHY TODAY YOU CAN SEE WE HELP TO U.S. SOMETHING IS FOR TIME. USE NEW EVERYBODY NEEDS TO EAT NIGHT MEANS THE I COULD >> WE'LL DO IT MY MY MOM MY MOM COMES TO CHICAGO. SHE BRINGS ME ENOUGH ON THIS FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. SO SO SO THAT I LET EVERYBODY TRY. BUT MY MIND MAKES THEM LIKE A CHICKEN >> THE POLITICAL YOU KNOW, SO I HEAR MY LET'S START WITH THE SECOND ONE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH. THAT DIFFERENT SPICES. ONE HAS THE RIGHT MAIL. SOMEONE LIKE THE SAUCES TO THAT ARE IN THE THIS TO FINISH UP A NICE ADDITION. SO THAT DIFFERENT THE >> WE SHOULD ALSO MENTION THE RESTAURANT HAS ROBOTS SERVING UP THE FOOD. >> HE WAS GOING COME AND TAKE >> JUST DON'T NEED THE HUMAN TOUCH. JUST DON'T NEED TECHNICIANS TO STUDY PEOPLE TO OPERATE SO I THINK WITH LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, HE IS STILL LIKE WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY WORKING SIDE BY SIDE. THAT'S KIND OF OUR MOTTO. >> SO EVERYTHING ON THE MENU IS IS GOOD EVERYBODY'S MY FAMERS. SO YEAH. >> NOW HOW COOLER THOSE ROBOTS, THE OWNERS ALSO IN A ROBOTIC COMPANY INTO OTHER RESTAURANTS. MY FAVORITE THING ON THE MENU WAS A DEEP FRIED KOREAN THUMB ON VERY GOOD YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUPLE'S RESTAURANT ON OUR WEBSITE. AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5.37, FOR THE WEEKEND REVIEW. NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT THAT THE NOISE I'M JOE ON AND THEN THIS STAY HEALTHY. STAY SAFE. WHEN US NOT >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH THAT SUPPORTS