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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> NEARLY 20 YEARS AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11th ATTACKS, WHAT HAS THE U.S.

LEARNED ABOUT TERRORISM THREATS BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC?

>> FIRES WERE BURNING, SMELL THE RUBBER AND DIESEL FUEL IN THE AIR.

>> OAK LAWN SEPTEMBER FIRST-RESPONDERS TO HELP NEW YORKERS AFTER THE ATTACKS.

WE ARE LIVE IN THE SUBURB.

>> WTTW NEWS LEARNED OF NEW ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ALDERMAN JIM GARDINER WE HAVE DETAILS ON THAT.

>> A LOCAL AUTHOR REFLECTS ON THE BONDS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP AND GROWING UP IN CHICAGO IN HER NEW BOOK.

>> THE BEARS START ANDY DALTON BUT ALL EYES ARE ON JUSTIN FIELDS WE PREVIEW THE UPCOMING SEASON.

>> AFTER CANCELING LAST SUMMER THE PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH UP-AND-COMING MUSICIANS AND ESTABLISHED PERFORMING ARTISTS.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED I WILL BE REPORTING LIVE FROM OAK LAWN AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

NOW PARTS OF OAK PARK BUTT UP TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THIS SOUTHWEST SUBURB LIKE OTHERS ALSO HAS A STRONG MUSLIM POPULATION AS YOU NOTED, THE VILLAGE ALSO SENT SOME OF ITS POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS TO HELP OUT IN NEW YORK CITY AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

SOME 20 YEARS AGO.

SO WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT AS WELL AS A COVID UPDATE AND THEN WE'LL ESCAPE A LITTLE BIT AND HAVE SOME FUN.

BUT FIRST BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO TOP STORIES...

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ROLLING OUT NEW VACCINE REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL AFFECT POSSIBLY 100 MILLION AMERICANS.

THE NEW RULES MANDATE THAT ALL EMPLOYERS WITH MORE THAN 100 WORKERS REQUIRE THEM TO EITHER BE VACCINATED OR TO TEST WEEKLY.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS ALSO SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING VACCINATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND CONTRACTORS WHO DO BUSINESS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT N THAT INSTANCE THERE IS NOT A COVID TEST OPTION.

DESPITE MORE THAN 208 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE, THE U.S. IS SEEING 300% MORE NEW COVID CASES A DAY COMPARED TO TWO MONTHS AGO AS THE DELTA VARIANT SURGES.

>> THREE OF THE STATE'S NUCLEAR PLANTS MAY AVOID CLOSURE AFTER AN 11TH HOUR ENERGY AGREEMENT IN SPRINGFIELD.

THE BILL WOULD REPORTEDLY BAILOUT ComEd'S NUCLEAR FLEET TO THE TUNE OF $700 MILLION FROM RATEPAYERS.

THE AMOUNT -- THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO 4.50 A MONTH ADDED ON A UTILITY BILL AND IT INCLUDES CLEAN ENERGY GOALS TO GET ILLINOIS 100% OFF CARBON ENERGY SOURCES BY 2050.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WILL GETTING HELP FROM THE CITY IN THE FORM OF $500 MICRO GRANTS.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT ANNOUNCED THE $9 MILLION CHICAGO FAMILIES FORWARD FUND TO HELP THE HIGHEST NEED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THE PAYMENTS ARE MADE ON A PER FAMILY BASIS.

THEY CAN RECEIVE A GRANT FOR EACH CHILD.

98% OF STUDENTS IN TEMPORARY LIVING FACILITIES ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

>> THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS BEING FUNDED WITH MONEY FROM THE CITY'S CARES ACT ALLOTMENT.

>> UP NEXT, PARIS SCHUTZ BEGINS OUR COVERAGE REMEMBERING THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> IN SOME WAYS IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY.

AND OTHERS IT WAS A LIFETIME AGO.

THIS SATURDAY MARKS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11th ATTACKS THE DEADLIEST SUCH EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY.

3,000 PEOPLE DIED INCLUDING MORE THAN 340 FIREFIGHTERS AND 72 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

SOME 25,000 PEOPLE WERE INJURED.

THE NEXT DAY SEPTEMBER 12TH "CHICAGO TONIGHT" REPORTED ON THE AFTERMATH HERE IN CHICAGO.

FROM BACK IN 2001 HERE IS RICH SAMUELS.

>> CHICAGO RETURNED TO NORMAL TODAY WITH NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS.

THE FINANCIAL MARKETS REMAIN CLOSED AND ENHANCED SECURITY WAS VISIBLE AROUND PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

THE CITY TODAY ENCOURAGED OWNERS OF HIGH-RISES RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL TO DO LIKEWISE.

>> FIRST THEY NEED TO BE VERY VIGILANT AND THEN THEY NEED TO BE PRO-ACTIVE, YOU KNOW.

EACH ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS HAVE SECURITY REGULATION THEY HAVE TO HAVE A SECURITY POLICY, A SECURITY PROTOCOL THINGS THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

AND RIGHT NOW WE AT THE HEIGHT OF SECURITY NOT ONLY IN THIS AREA BUT ACROSS THE TIME AND IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO ENFORCE THE PROTOCOLS.

>> AT 12:30 THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED CITY HALL WOULD BECOME A VENUE FOR A BLOOD DRIVE.

THE LINE OF DONORS STRETCHED HALF A BLOCK.

>> IT WAS AN ERIE SIGHT A SPARKLING CLEAR DAY AND EMPTY RUNWAYS.

NOTHING WAS MOVING.

PLANES THAT CARRY MUCH OF THE NATION'S MAIL U.P.S.

AND FEDEX SAT ON THE GROUND.

INFORMATION AS TO WHEN THE AIRPORT WOULD REOPEN CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

>> TO THE EXCEPT THAT WE ARE MOVING OR STARTING OPERATIONS, THAT IS WHY I SAY WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW PASSENGERS WHO ARE DIVERTED YESTERDAY TO BE CONTINUING ON THOSE FLIGHTS.

BUT IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHEN THOSE LIMITED FLIGHTS WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF.

MAYOR DALEY BRISTLED WHEN PRESSED WHEN OWE PAIR WOULD REOPEN.

>> YOU CANNOT OPEN ONE AIRPORT IN THIS COUNTRY, AND FLY NOWHERE.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS HAS TO BE DONE IN FULL COOPERATION WITH THE AIRLINES AND F.A.A.

THOUGH YOU OPEN AN AIRPORT YOU HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.

>> WHEN PASSENGERS ARE ALLOWED IT WILL BE UNDER DIFFERENT RULES.

NO CURBSIDE CHECK IN.

NO OFF AIRPORT CHECK IN.

NO E TICKETS.

ONLY TICKETED PASSENGERS ALLOWED BEYOND SECURITY CHECKS.

>> THAT RACE RICH SAMUELS AND ELIZABETH BRACKETT REPORTING FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BACK ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2001.

20 YEARS LATER WE ASSESS HOW SAFE THE COUNTRY IS TODAY.

JOINING US ARE THOMAS MOCKAITIS, THE DePAUL UNIVERSITY HISTORY PROFESSOR WITH A FOCUS ON TERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.

HATEM ABUDAYYEH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARAB AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK ORGANIZED FOR THE ARAB COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO.

AND ROBERT PAPE A UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR SPECIALIZES IN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS.

WE WELCOME ALL OF YOU BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

PROFESSOR PAPER YOU WERE ON THE PROGRAM AFTER 9/11 GIVING YOUR THOUGHTS WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED.

LET'S LOOK AT THAT.

>> STATES AND SOCIETIES THAT FACE THIS LEVEL OF AIR ATTACK ROUTINELY GO THROUGH PERIODS OF TREMENDOUS ANGER, TREMENDOUS GRIEF AND FEAR WHICH BREEDS DEEP DESIRE FOR RETRIBUTION AND HEAVY RETRIBUTION.

THE DILEMMA WE CASE IN THIS CASE, IS THAT MOVING TOO QUICKLY AND TOO HASTILY FOR BOWING TO THAT EMOTION, I FEEL IT MYSELF.

BOWING TO THAT EMOTION TOO HASTILY COULD WELL MAKE MATTERS WORSE.

>> AS WE KNOW IN SHORT ORDER, THE UNITED STATES ENGAGED IN WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

ROBERT PAPE, KNOWING WHAT YOU SAID DID THE U.S. ACT TOO HASTILY AFTER 9/11?

>> YES, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CLIP REALLY CAPTURES THE HEART OF THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE WAR ON TERROR.

ALTHOUGH MANY OF US HOPED THAT THE FEAR AND ANGER THAT WE FELT ON THAT DAY WOULD NOT END UP LEADING TO OVERREACTION WHICH WOULD ONLY MAKE PROBLEMS WORSE FOR INNOCENTS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY AND INNOCENTS OVERSEAS AND ACTUALLY PRODUCE MORE TERRORISTS THAN WE KILL.

WHICH WAS THE RESULT IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

THE FUNDAMENTAL FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THAT EMOTIONAL WOUND OF 9/11 CAUSED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DESIRE FOR RETRIBUTION AND PAYBACK.

AND THAT OVERWHELMED GOOD STRATEGIC SENSE WHICH THEN IS THE CORE REASON UNDERNEATH WHY WE HASSLED AND ABUSED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO WERE NOT TERRORISTS.

WHY WE INVADED IRAQ WHICH HAD NOT BEEN ATTACKING US AND DIDN'T HAVE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

UNDERNEATH IT ALL WAS UNFORTUNATELY THAT EMOTION THAT WAS CAUSED BY 9/11.

>> WE KNOW HOW THE TWO CONFLICTS HAVE RESULTED.

THOMAS MOCKAITIS, 20 YEARS LATER HOW IS LIFE IN AMERICA STILL IMPACTED BY WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND THE SUBSEQUENT FALLOUT?

>> THE BITTER IRONY THAT THE ANNIVERSARY COMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ AND AS BOB SAID, ONE OF THE MOST UNFORTUNATE THINGS WAS THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM.

BECAUSE THOSE OF US WHO STUDY THIS WERE LEARY OF THAT FROM THE BEGINNING.

YOU DON'T MAKE WAR IN ANISM.

IT PERPETUATED CONFLICT AND WE WASTED $4 TRILLION ON IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE ISLAMOPHOBIA, THE ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT FUELED INTO WHAT WE DIDN'T YET REALIZE WAS A GROWING WAVE OF WHITE SUPREMACY WHICH WOULD PEAK IN 2016 WITH THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP AND IS SADLY WITH US.

>> CERTAINLY A TREND OF NATIVISM AMONG POCKETS OF THIS COUNTRY.

HATEM ABUDAYYEH TO THAT POINT, HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS FOR ARAB AMERICANS, MUSLIM AMERICANS, IMMEDIATELY AFTER 9/11 AND STILL TODAY IN 2021?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNITED STATES WENT INTO AFGHANISTAN IN THAT WAR REALLY FOR ITS RESOURCES AND DID THE SAME IN IRAQ TWO YEARS LATER.

THERE WAS THE PRETEXT FOR WAR BUT ESSENTIALLY THERE WERE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WERE MADE BY DEFENSE CONTRACTORS, OTHER MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS, INCLUDING THE DICK CHENEY'S PREVIOUS COMPANY HALLIBURTON WHICH HE WAS THE C.E.O.

AND AS THE VICE-PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME.

SO IT WAS A WAR FOR EMPIRE AND THERE WERE RICH RESOURCES IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ THAT THE U.S.

WANTED TO GET A PIECE OF AND DIDN'T WANT CHINA, RUSSIA AND OTHER SOME WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO GET THOSE.

I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTEXT OF THE WARS AS WELL.

AND THEN HOW THEY AFFECTED OUR COMMUNITY.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY A THOUSAND ARABS AND MUSLIMS WERE DETAINED.

THE PATRIOT ACT WAS PASSED.

MASSIVE SURVEILLANCE OF OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THEN SPECIAL REGISTRATION OF 2002 IN WHICH 83,000 MEN FROM 24 ARAB OR MUSLIM MAJORITY COUNTRIES WERE FORCED TO GET FINGERPRINTED, PHOTOGRAPHED, INTERVIEWED BY THE INS AT THE TIME IMMIGRATION NATURALIZATION SERVICE.

13,000 ENDED UP IMMEDIATELY IN DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS AND NOT ONE WAS CONVICTED OF A CRIME RELATED TO TERRORISM.

>> HUGE IMPACT.

>> BROAD NET WAS DROPPED ON THE COMMUNITY AND IT CRIMINALIZED AND OTHERRED US.

>> HUGE IMPACT ON THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

ROBERT PAPE THE JUSTIFICATION 20 YEARS AGO FOR THE WARS WAS THE TERROR THREAT THAT THE U.S.

FACED AS EVIDENCED BY 9/11.

20 YEARS LATER WHAT IS THAT THREAT?

IS IT HIGHER THREAT LEVEL?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

JUST TO BE CLEAR THERE WAS A TERRORIST THREAT ON 9/11.

THE PROBLEM WASN'T WE SHOULDN'T C REACTED AT ALL THE PROBLEM IS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE OVERREACTED THAT WE WOULD CREATE MORE TERRORISTS THAN WE WERE KILLING.

AND IN THE EFFORT TO MAKE OURSELVES SAFER.

NOW, TODAY, WE ARE STILL UNDER AL-QAEDA WE HAVE TAKEN ITS BASES OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

WE'VE KILLED OSAMA BIN LADEN.

YES, WE DID KILL OSAMA BIN LADEN.

SO IN THE SENSE OF AL-QAEDA, AL-QAEDA IS A SHELL OF ITS FORMER SELF.

BUT THE WAR ON TERROR INVADING THOSE TWO COUNTRIES AND HARMING SO MANY PEOPLE THAT STIRRED UP A HORNET'S NEST OF THE TERRORISTS WE HAVE TO BE AWARE GOING FORWARD TERRORISM REMAINS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER.

OUR CHALLENGE IS NOT TO OVERREACT AGAIN.

WE SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED POLICIES THAT ARE NOW CALLED OVER THE HORIZON, THAT IS RELIED ON SELECTIVE USE OF AIR POWER, OUR INTELLIGENCE OCCASIONAL USE OF SPECIAL FORCES THAT IS WHAT GOT BIN LADEN LADEN AND THAT IS THE POLICY THAT DEFEATED ISIS.

WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYING THE POLICIES.

THOMAS MOCKAITIS HOW HAS THE TERROR THREAT CHANGED EXTERNALLY AND INTERNALLY?

>> THE FIRST THING IS WE HAVE MADE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CATASTROPHIC 9/11 STYLE ATTACK MUCH HARDER TO PULL OFF.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT AFGHANISTAN BEING A BASE FOR TERRORISM THE DAY OF THE BIG TRAINING CAMP IS OVER.

THEY WILL HIT US THE WAY THEY DID IN PARIS AND THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB AND JANUARY 6TH RECOGNIZE THE DOMESTIC THREAT.

SMALL SCALE ATTACKS LONE WOLVES.

RIGHT NOW I CONTINUE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT FAR RIGHT WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS OPERATING INSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITH AN ANTIGOVERNMENT MILITIA SOVEREIGN CITIZEN MENTALITY.

THE MAJOR ISIS SPLINTER CORRECT THAN IS GOING TO BE SO BUSY BATTLING THE TALIBAN THAT I DON'T THINK IT POSES A SERIOUS THREAT.

TERRORISM IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM NOT AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME AN ENEMY TO OURSELVES OR NEIGHBORS BY MAKING IT THE FOCUS OF OUR ATTENTION.

>> HATEM ABUDAYYEH, IS ISLAMOPHOBIA CURBED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS?

YOU MENTIONED WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 9/11 IS IT BETTER NOW THAN IT WAS THEN?

>> YES, I THINK IT'S BEEN CONSISTENT AND REMEMBER THE ISLAMOPHOBIA AND THE ANTI-ARAB REALLY ANTI-IMMIGRANT, ANTIBLACK, ANTI-PEOPLE OF COLOR SENTIMENT IS NOT JUST AN INTERPERSONAL ATTACK IT IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF HATE CRIMES WHICH WE DID SEE AND SEE TO THIS DAY.

IT'S REALLY AN ISSUE OF THE POLICY.

AND THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED AFTER SEPTEMBER 11th TO REALLY BROADLY CRIMINALIZE AND SCAPEGOAT THE ARAB COMMUNITY.

THE THING I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IN ALL HONESTY IS THAT IT IS THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE TO SAY AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AND ADMIT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS HAS ON SOME LEVEL SUPPORTED THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE U.S.

SUPPORTED OSAMA BIN LADEN'S FORCES WHICH EVENTUALLY BECAME AL-QAEDA.

THEY SUPPORTED THE TALIBAN FOR YEARS AND YEARS BECAUSE THE TALIBAN AND BIN LADEN WERE FIGHTING THE SOVIET UNION.

AND TO THIS DAY, TO THIS DAY WE HAVE GOTTEN A QUOTE FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS OUR ALLIES.

THE STUDENTS AT THE HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL.

THE SAUDIS WHAT WERE THEY DOING?

THEY WERE DETERMINED TO TAKE DOWN SYRIAN PRESIDENTIAL ASSAD AND HAVE A PROXY SUNNI WAR.

THEY -- [ALL TALKING AT ONCE] >> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

>> CERTAINLY TANGLED ALLIANCES AND A LOT TO LOOK BACK ON AND ANALYZE.

OUR THANKS TO THOMAS MOCKAITIS, HATEM ABUDAYYEH AND ROBERT PAPE THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND PHYSICAL REMNANTS OF THE 9/11 TRAGEDY ARE PERMANENTLY ON DISPLAY IN OAK LAWN.

THE SOUTHWEST SIDE COMMUNITY IS AS CLOSE AS CAN BE TO CHICAGO.

THE SUBURBAN VILLAGE SHARES TWO BORDERS WITH THE CITY.

OUR AMANDA VINICKY AND PRODUCER MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY IN OAK LAWN AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

AMANDA JOINS US FROM THE FIRST-RESPONDERS MEMORIAL ON THE METRA STOP.

>> I'M SURROUNDED BY 12-AND-A-HALF TONS OF STEEL BEAMS SCULPTURES CARVED FROM BEAMS FROM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

LOCAL FIRST-RESPONDERS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN RAISING FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT INCLUDING THE POLICE OFFICER PAT CURRAN BACK IN 2001 HAD BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS WHEN HE VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO NEW YORK CITY TO HELP POLICE THERE.

A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACK.

>> WE DID ACTUALLY GET TO GROUND ZERO ITSELF AND IT WAS JUST AS BAD AS THE PICTURES YOU SEE.

THE FIRES WERE STILL BURNING.

THE RUBBER SMELL THE RUBBER AND SMELLED DIESEL FUEL IN THE AIR.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT.

>> CURRAN SERVED AS RELIEF FOR VERY TIRED NEW YORK POLICE OFFICERS THAT HAD BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK SEARCHING TRUCKS NEAR TARGETS AND VERIFYING ID'S AT CHECKPOINTS AND BEING PRESENT TO HONOR A FALLEN OFFICER'S MEMORY.

>> WALKING BETWEEN ASSIGNMENTS AND WE WERE BY ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, AND A POLICE OFFICER SAID, HEY CAN YOU COME IN FOR A FUNERAL.

THERE WAS NO OFFICERS THERE BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL WORKING.

>> NOW, MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN.

HE HAS BEEN WITH THE FORCE FOR 23 YEARS AND THE MEMORIES LINGER.

BUT HE SAYS HIS CONCERN AS A MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS SHIFTED FROM WORRIES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM TO DOMESTIC.

AND TO REGULAR CRIMES INCLUDING IN SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE BORN AND RAISED IN OAK LAWN AFTER GRADUATING HE JOINED THE MILITARY AND SAYS WHEN HE CAME BACK BIKE MANY SOLDIERS FROM VIETNAM HE WAS A LOST SOUL AND HE SAW AN AD THAT THE OAK LAWN POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS HIRING AND HE IS RETIRED FROM A LONG CAREER AS A POLICE OFFICER HERE AND HE WAS ELECTED IN APRIL TO SERVE AS THE VILLAGE'S MAYOR.

SOME 55,000 PEOPLE LIVE HERE IN OAK LAWN MAKING IT ONE OF ILLINOIS' LARGEST OR TOP 25 MUNICIPALITIES.

>> I OFTEN SAY THAT MY WIFE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MOVING ON IN LIFE, WHY WOULD I MOVE?

MY CAR DEALER IS A BLOCK AWAY.

MY DOCTOR LIVES ON THE CORNER MY DENTIST IS ON THE OTHER CORNER AND MY UNDERTAKER LIVES DOWN THE STREET.

WHY WOULD I LEAVE OAK LAWN?

>> OAK LAWN SAW THE POPULATION TAKE OFF IN THE 70s WHEN WHITE RESIDENTS LEFT THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE CENSUS LATER BUT THE MOST RECENT DATA SHOWS THAT A MAJORITY 80% OF THE POPULATION HERE IS WHITE.

BUT LIKE MANY OTHER SOUTHWEST SUBURBS THERE'S A SIZABLE MUSLIM POPULATION.

KAREN DANIELSON IS A MEMBER OF THE MOSQUE FOUNDATION ABOUT A 12-MINUTE DRIVE AWAY IN BRIDGEVIEW.

AND MANY MUSLIMS IN OAK LAWN AND THE AREA WORSHIP THERE.

KAREN DANIELSON SAYS WHILE ISLAMIC RHETORIC EXISTED THE 9/11 INCREASED IT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR.

SHE SAYS IT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE WERE BEING ASSOCIATED AS GUILTY PARTY AS THE GUILTY ONES.

WE HAD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE ENGAGE OUR SOCIETY AND NOT CONTINUE TO BE THE SORT OF ISOLATED COMMUNITY FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

AND WE KNEW THAT THE BEST WAY WAS TO BECOME FAMILIAR TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FOR WHO WE REALLY ARE.

>> SHE SAYS ISLAMOPHOBIA STILL EXISTS BUT SHE BELIEVES THAT AMERICANS ARE LEARNING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR DIFFERENCES.

OF COURSE, COVID DOES NOT RECOGNIZE RELIGION IT DOES NOT KNOW RACE AND OAK LAWN IS HOME TO ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER WHICH HAS 70 COVID PATIENTS.

THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE ICU HOPES THAT THE DELTA VARIANT SURGE IS REACHING ITS PEAK BUT HEADING INTO COLDER WEATHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT DIRECTION THE VIRUS WILL TAKE NEXT.

>> PEOPLE ASK THESE QUESTIONS TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND LOOK INTO OUR CRYSTAL BALL WHICH IS CAKED IN CONCRETE AND IMAGINE AND IT'S HARD TO SAY.

I THINK WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THAT THERE'S 90 MILLION AMERICANS ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED THE MORE PEOPLE WE GET VACCINATED THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE IT'S SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

>> NOW, MEANWHILE, OAK LAWN RESIDENTS ARE TRYING TO ADJUST TO THE NEW NORMAL.

THE NEWLY ELECTED VILLAGE CLERK HAS FOUR KIDS AND I ASKED CLAIRE HENNING IF SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT SENDING THEM BACK TO SCHOOL AND SHE HAD A QUICK ANSWER.

NO.

SHE WAS MORE THAN READY FOR THEM TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM AS WERE HER KIDS.

>> THEY ARE MORE EXCITED TO BE IN SCHOOL.

DEFINITELY.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE PARENTS OR CHILD ENJOYED THE E-LEARNING PROCESS.

EVERYONE HAS BEEN EXCITED TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL.

>> WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL OR PROBABLY NOT DOING HOMEWORK HER CHILDREN LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OAK LAWN'S PARK SYSTEM.

THE VILLAGE HAS A GOLF COURSE, A COUPLE POOLS AND 24 PARKS.

RENOVATIONS TO ONE OF THEM LAWN MANOR WERE CONCEITED THIS SPRING.

CONSTRUCTION WAS PLANNED BUT TOM HARTWIG SAYS WITH THE LINGERING OF THE PANDEMIC THE TIMING OF AN OUTDOOR GYM CENTER ISER IS REN DIP TO US.

>> THERE ARE THORS THAT HAVE THEM BUT IT IS A FITNESS COURT, YOU HIT A QR CODE AND TELLS YOU HOW TO USE THE EQUIPMENT AND IT'S BASED ON LEVELS BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED.

YOU CAN GET AN AMAZING WORKOUT.

BUT WE GOT LUCKY.

>> IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A MENTAL WORKOUT, OAK LAWN OFFERS WHAT ESCAPE ROOMS OWNER IS A HOUR LONG TEAM BUILDING EXPERIENCE A NINE-ROOM WHODUNIT WHICH PEOPLE GO THROUGH THE MANSION THAT HE AND HIS WIFE DESIGNED AND BUILT LIKE A LIVE ACTION CLUE.

>> WITHOUT GIVING TOO MUCH AWAY WE BUILD OUR GAMES WHERE THERE IS A WOW FACTOR WHERE SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THE ENVIRONMENT CHANGES ON YOU.

IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING.

WE TRY TO BUILD FROM THAT POINT BEFORE IT AND AFTER IT.

WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO HIT THE WOW POINTS YOU WILL HEAR THE CLOCKWORK GO WHOA!

THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS WE WAIT FOR.

>> AND MORE FUN AHEAD IN OAK LAWN AFTER A YEAR OFF BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THIS WEEKEND THE VILLAGE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE HOSTING ITS FESTIVAL FALL ON THE GREEN.

AND ALSO THIS WEEKEND A MORE SOMBER OCCASION AT 9/11 AM SATURDAY MORNING HERE THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL CEREMONY REMEMBERING THOSE LOST IN THE 9/11 ATTACK.

WITH THAT BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> WOW.

WHAT A STORY FROM OFFICER PAT CURRAN IN YOUR REPORTING.

WE'LL HEAR MORE IN A BIT.

>> AND COMING UP, A HOMEGROWN MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS WEEKEND.

WE WILL HAVE A PREVIEW UP NEXT.

>> AND MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING OAK LAWN'S FIRE CHIEF REFLECTING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIONS FOLLOWING 9/11.

>> FIRST, AFTER A ONE-YEAR HIATUS CHICAGO'S PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS WEEKEND.

IT WILL BE A TYPICAL LINEUP OF NEW MUSIC AND LEGENDARY ARTISTS.

CHICAGO PRODUCER MARC VITALI MET A NUMBER OF PERFORMERS.

>> IN A WEST SIDE REHEARSAL SPACE, THE CHICAGO BAND DEAD GETS READY FOR AN IMPORTANT SHOW.

>> THIS IS OUR FIRST FESTIVAL REAL SHOW.

IMPORTANT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.

SO I'M USUALLY NEVER NERVOUS FOR SHOWS EVER AND FOR SOME REASON I'M LIKE I BETTER DO GOOD.

[♪♪♪] SINGER, PRODUCER AND INSTRUMENTAL KIA WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHICAGO.

NOW BASED IN BROOKLYN WE MET HER ON THE EVE OF HER HOMECOMING SHOW.

>> I'M SO EXCITED.

LIKE THE FIRST KIND OF REAL SOLO SHOW HOME THAT I'VE EVER HAD.

AND IT'S PITCHFORK.

[♪♪♪] A LOT OF MY FAMILY IS COMING MY MOM, GRANDPARENTS, MY AUNT.

IT FEELS VINDICATING AND LIKE REWARDING AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF.

>> KIA AND DEAD ARE TWO OF DOZENS OF PERFORMERS AT THE THREE-DAY FESTIVAL ORGANIZED BY PITCHFORK MEDIA.

SINCE 2006 THE EVENT HAS BROUGHT A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS AROUND THE WORLD TO CHICAGO'S UNION PARK.

>> I LOVE THAT.

I LOVE THERE ARE MULTIPLE TYPES OF MUSICIANS THAT ARE PLAYING THERE.

I MYSELF AM SOMEBODY THAT PULLS FROM A LOT OF GENRES WHEN I'M INSPIRED BY MUSIC.

IT'S COOL TO BE ABLE TO SEE A LOT OF US TOGETHER IN THE SAME PLACE.

[♪♪♪] >> THIS WILL BE DEAD'S FIRST BIG SHOW SINCE EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC WHEN THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FESTIVAL IN TEXAS.

IT WAS CANCELED BEFORE THEY GOT THERE.

MOVIE STARS AND NBA PLAYERS STARTED CATCHING THE VIRUS.

>> TOM HANKS GOT COVID AND WE TURNED AROUND THAT WAS THE MOMENT.

NBA, TOM HANKS, LET'S TURN THE CAR AROUND AND GO HOME.

[♪♪♪] I DROPPED MY ALBUM RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND IT FELT SUPER BITTERSWEET TO BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE AND RECEIVE BUT HAVING IT TO BE LIMITED.

[♪♪♪] >> THE PERFORMERS ARE EAGER TO PLAY TO A CROWD ONCE AGAIN.

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL.

I'VE TRIED TO WRITE MUSIC THAT EITHER ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO CRY OR LAUGH OR FEEL UNINHIBITED BECAUSE THAT IS HOW I FEEL MOST OF THE TIME.

POWER OF MUSIC IS ITS ABILITY TO MAKE US MOVE AND MAKE US FEEL SO I LIKE TO DO BOTH.

COMMUNICATE STRONG THINGS IN A WAY THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO GROOVE OR DANCE OR WANT TO CRY OR FEEL SOMETHING.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> AND THE BAND DEAD PERFORMS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT THE PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL AND KIA PERFORMS SUNDAY.

HEADLINERS INCLUDE... >> THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", WTTW NEWS LEARNED OF NEW ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ALDERMAN JIM GARDINER.

DETAILS HOW HE MAY HAVE MISUSED COURT DOCUMENTS.

>> IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE OAK LAWN'S FIRE CHIEF WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

>> A LOOK HOW BRONZEVILLE PLAYED A ROLE IN SHAPING THREE YOUNG WOMEN'S LIVES IN AUTHOR DAWN TURNER'S NEW BOOK.

AND THE BEARS STICK WITH ANDY DALTON BUT ALL EYES WILL BE ON ROOKIE JUSTIN FIELDS WE WILL TALK TO JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., NEXT TIME YOU FLY THROUGH O'HARE YOU MIGHT NOTICE LESS CONSTRUCTION ON THE RUNWAYS.

>> WE RECONFIGURED THE ENTIRE AIRFIELD.

IT MODERNIZED OR RUNWAYS, THAT FOR YEARS GAVE THIS AIRPORT A REPUTATION FOR DELAYS AND EXTENDED STAYS.

>> CITY OFFICIALS MARKED THE EXRETION OF 16 YEARS OF WORK TO MODERNIZE THE RUNWAYS, REDUCE DELAYS AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE TERMINAL REDEVELOPMENT.

THE $6 BILLION OVERHAUL HAS MEANT ADDING FOUR NEW RUNWAYS, EXTENDING TWO, AND BUILDING NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWERS.

THERE IS A NEW ENTRANT ON THE G.O.P.

SIDE IN THE RACE FOR ILLINOIS GOVERNOR.

A DOWN STATE VENTURE CAPITALIST JESSE SULLIVAN ENTERED THE RACE AND CAMPAIGN FILINGS SHOW HE RAISED UPWARDS OF $11 MILLION.

HEAR HIS AD.

SULLIVAN IS THE FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF ULTRA CAPITAL BASED IN CALIFORNIA.

HE FACES G.O.P.

CANDIDATES... >> MORE HEAT ON EMBATTLED WARD ALDERMAN JIM GARDINER.

WTTW NEWS REPORTED THAT THE COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK'S OFFICE OPENED AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION HOW COURT DOCUMENTS GOT INTO GARDINER'S HANDS SPECIFICALLY THOSE DOCUMENTS RELATED TO A CASE INVOLVING A CONSTITUENT IN GARDINER'S WARD WHO HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF THE ALDERMAN.

HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WHAT WE REPORTED ALDERMAN GARDINER URGED THE COURT DOCUMENTS BE PUT OUT AS DIRT ON A CONSTITUENT THAT HAD BEEN CRITICAL OF HIM.

THE CONNECTION IS GARDINER'S WARD SUPERINTENDENT IS CHARLES SIKANICH HE HAS A MOTHER WHO IS A CLERK IN THE COURT'S OFFICE.

THE PROBE IS SURROUNDING ALLEGATIONS THAT EMPLOYEE, THE MOTHER GOT THE COURT RECORDS AND USED THEM FOR NON-COURT PURPOSES, SENDING THEM TO THE ALDERMAN'S OFFICE TO BE USED AS DIRT ON THAT CONSTITUENT.

THE CLERK'S OFFICE CONFIRMED THE INVESTIGATION IS NOT NAMING THE EMPLOYEE.

HEATHER, FILL US IN ON THE REST OF THIS STORY.

>> THIS REALLY GOES TO THE HEART OF WHAT WAS IN THE TEXT MESSAGES THAT WE FIRST REPORTED LAST WEEK WHICH SHOWED ALDERMAN GARDINER USING PROFANE LANGUAGE ABOUT CITY STAFFERS.

INCLUDED IN THOSE TEXT MESSAGES WAS THE ALDERMAN TELLING HIS STAFFERS TO RETALIATE AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE 45TH WARD WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM OR DON'T SUPPORT HIM.

THAT BROUGHT A RUE BUICK FROM MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID THAT WAS NEVER ACCEPTABLE OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO USE THE POWER OF THE OFFICE TO RETAILIATE.

THAT IS WHAT THE HEART OF THIS ALLEGATION THAT THE CIRCUIT COURT CLERK IS LOOKING INTO.

DID ALDERMAN GARDINER USE HIS OFFICIAL POSITION AS AN ALDERMAN TO RETALIATE AGAINST SOMEBODY WHO CREATED A RALLY AGAINST A PROPOSAL THAT HE WAS BLOCKING A DEVELOPMENT NEAR SIX CORNERS.

THIS GOES TO THE HEART OF THE ALLEGATIONS.

AND RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW ALDERMAN GARDINER IS OPERATING WHILE IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

>> RIGHT.

SPECIFICALLY THE COURTYARDS RELATE TO A RESIDENT WHO HAD THROWN A RALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT AT THE TIME ALDERMAN GARDINER OPPOSED.

AND WE'VE REACHED OUT TO ALDERMEN GARDINER AND NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK AND THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME.

FOR NOW, HEATHER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ OUR FULL STORY ON-LINE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

WE CHECK BACK IN WITH AMANDA VINICKY WHO SPENT THE DAY IN SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN OAK LAWN AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> I'M BACK HERE AT THE FINALLERS MEMORIAL WITH THE FIRE CHIEF JACKRY RIDDLE AND FOR 32 YEARS HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE ARMY RESERVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH US TONIGHT.

THE QUESTION THAT I THINK EVERYBODY THINKS ABOUT 9/11 WHERE WERE YOU THAT DAY 20 YEARS AGO?

>> YES.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL.

ON THE MORNING OF 9/11 I WAS A YOUNG FIREFIGHTER GETTING OFF 24-HOUR SHIFT.

AND WE WERE ALL STANDING IN THE DAY ROOM WATCHING THE EVENTS ON TV.

AND ODDLY ENOUGH, MY FATHER WHO WAS A FIRE CHIEF AT A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HE WAS TAKING A CLASS ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM MY LOCATION.

HE AND I WERE CLOSE AS WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THINKING ABOUT FAMILY AND ALL OF THE IMPORTANT AS SEC SPECS OF LIFE.

AFTER THE ATTACK YOU WERE DEPLOYED TO THE MIDDLE EAST?

>> YES.

17 MONTHS AFTER THAT I WAS DEPLOYED FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO SOUTHWEST ASIA AND IRAQ.

AND WE SERVED ALMOST TWO TOURS THERE.

>> A LOT HAS GONE ON WITH AMERICA MOST RECENTLY DRAWING OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

ALL TEND TO BE A PART OF THIS LONG RUNNING WAR ON TERROR.

ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE?

>> WELL, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO GO BACK TO THE RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FOR THE WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN UNIFORM FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

AND THE TIMES IN THEIR LIVES THAT THEY'VE HAD TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, TO BE WHEREVER THEY ARE SENT TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION.

IT IS A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT NOT ONLY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS BUT PREVIOUS TO THAT AND THE FINALLERS WHO -- FIRST-RESPONDERS, WHO 365 DAYS A YEAR ALSO HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THE THREAT OF SELFLESS SERVICE GOES THROUGH MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY ARE IN THE MILITARY OR FIRST-RESPONDER OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

EVERYBODY IS OUT THERE TRYING TO DO GREAT THINGS AND DO THEIR PART.

>> WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW WHEN YOU DON THIS UNIFORM VERSUS BACK IN 2001?

DO YOU FEEL PREPARED HAVE THINGS CHANGED HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB AND THE THREAT OF A POTENTIAL ATTACK?

>> WELL, I THINK AS FAR AS WEARING THIS UNIFORM I'M VERY PROUD AND HONORED TO WEAR THIS UNIFORM OF AN OAK LAWN FIREFIGHTER THERE ARE ONLY 74 THAT CAN DO THAT AND WE WEAR IT PROUDLY AND EVERYDAY.

THE FIRE SERVICE HAS BECOME HIGHER TRAINED NATIONWIDE SPECIFICALLY IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS RESCUE AND BUILDING COLLAPSE AND OTHER TYPES OF SPECIALIZED NEEDS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED DURING 9/11 20 YEARS AGO.

AND WE HAVE GOTTEN ALL THE TRAINING, EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE ALL OF US BETTER, SMARTER, FASTER AT OUR JOBS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH US AND ALL THAT YOU DO.

I KNOW THAT FIRE CHIEF ZACHARY RIDDLE BASKETBALL HERE SATURDAY FOR -- WILL BE HERE SATURDAY FOR THE 9/11 MEMORIAL TAKING PLACE RIGHT HERE EARLY THAT MORNING.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR DAWN TURNER HAS BEEN WRITE BEING RACE, POLITICS AND PEOPLE HER WHOLE CAREER.

BUT IN THE LATEST BOOK HER LATEST BOOK, SHE TURNED HER PEN INWARD AS SHE REFLECTS ON HER LIFE'S PAST AND HOW IT DIVERSIONED FROM THE LIFE OF THE TWO GIRLS SHE GREW UP CLOSEST TO HER SISSER IS KIM AND HER FRIEND DEBRA.

THREE GIRLS FROM BRONZEVILLE A UNIQUELY WRITTEN MEMBER >> WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE THREE GIRLS YOU WRITE ABOUT ARE YOU, YOUR SISTER KIM, AND YOUR CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND DEBORAH AND IT FOLLOWS YOU THROUGH YOUR DIVERGENT PATHS.

YOUR SISTER WAS BORN WHEN YOU WERE THREE.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT KIM AND YOUR FAMILY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY PARENTS BROUGHT HER HOME FROM THE MOMENT, SHE WAS A MYSTERY TO ME.

HEAD STRONG, FEARLESS, AND STUBBORN AND MY MOTHER WOULD SAY THAT LITTLE GIRL IS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING AND THAT SCARES ME.

SHE WAS THE ONE WHO CHALLENGED MY PARENTS FROM BEGINNING TO THE END.

AND I WAS THE KID WHO I WAS NOT PERFECT, BUT I WAS MUCH MORE QUIET.

SO WE WERE VERY DIFFERENT IN THAT REGARD.

AND SHE -- SHE WAS JUST ALWAYS ON THE MOVE.

AND THAT WAS JUST HER PERSONALITY.

>> AND THEN YOU BECAME FRIENDS WITH DEBRA LATER WHEN YOU WERE EIGHT.

WOULD YOU SAY THE TWO OF YOU WERE AN UNLIKELY PAIR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SHE HAD VERY MUCH THE SAME QUALITIES AS MY SISTER.

I WOULD SAY THAT DEBRA AND I WERE BEST FRIENDS AND KIM AND DEBRA WERE SOUL MATES THE THINGS I DID NOT ADMIRE IN MY SISTER I LOVED IN DEBRA.

SHE WAS HEAD STRONG, CHALLENGED THE TEACHERS FOR ME, RULES WERE SCAFFOLDING AND FOR THEM IT WAS SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO PUSH OUT OF THE WAY AND THAT NOTION ABOUT OPPOSITES ATTRACTING THAT ABSOLUTELY THAT DYNAMIC IS PRESENT WITH BOTH OF THEM.

>> IN ALL OF US.

AND THE FOURTH CHARACTER IN THE TITLE IS BRONZEVILLE ITSELF ESPECIALLY THE PRIORITY GARDENS APARTMENTS WHERE YOU LIVED AND THE NEARBY IDA B.

WELLS PUBLIC HOUSING.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THE BUILDINGS AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS PLAY IN YOUR LIVES AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF KIM AND DEBRA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS WAS OUR COMMUNITY WAS BRONZEVILLE FIRST OF ALL WAS THE CRADLE OF THE GREAT MIGRATION.

AND OUR COMMUNITY WAS KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE.

THE LAKE MEADOWS APARTMENT TO THE NORTH OF US WHICH WAS FOR THE BLACK ELITE.

JUDGES, LAWYERS, AND POLITICIANS LIVED THERE.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE IDA B.

WELLS WAS IN A HEYDAY IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND JUST A BEAUTIFUL AND FORWARD THINKING PLACE.

A HAVEN AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ANSWER TO THE AWFUL TENEMENTS THAT PEOPLE DURING THE MIGRATION THEY HAD TO LIVE IN HORRIBLE PLACES AND IDA B.

WELLS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ANSWER TO THAT.

AFTER A WHILE, THE CITY ABANDONED THIS AND IT BECAME A PLACE WHERE THE CONDITIONS WERE DEPLORABLE.

WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE.

IT WAS PRIVATELY OWNED BUT WE WERE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE WITH MIDDLE CLASS ASPIRATIONS.

YOU HAD THIS TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO BETWEEN THE IDA B.

WELLS AND LAWLESS.

AND IT WAS KIND OF A PERCEIVED THERE WERE PERCEIVED DIFFERENCES BECAUSE WE WERE ALL JUST PEOPLE WHO WERE STRIVING BUT UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.

>> AND DURING YOUR TIME AS A COLUMNIST AT THE TRIBUNE YOU WROTE ABOUT DEBRA'S TIME IN PRISON.

I'M NOT GIVING ANYTHING AWAY IN THE BOOK.

AND HER RETURN TO COLLEGE WHILE SHE WAS IN PRISON.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WRITING ABOUT A FRIEND AS SHE IT'S HAPPENING?

>> WELL, IN -- I WROTE ABOUT HER FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN SHE WAS SENTENCED FOR 50 YEARS IN PRISON CONVICTED OF MURDER.

AND THEN I WROTE ABOUT HER A COUPLE YEARS LATER A FOLLOW-UP.

AND I REALIZED THOSE STORIES WERE A CAUTIONARY TALE STORY.

WHEN I WROTE IN 2007 SHE GRADUATED WITH HONORS WHILE IN PRISON GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND SOMETHING SHE STRUGGLED TO DO WHILE SHE WAS ON THE OUTSIDE.

AND THAT STORY RESONATED.

I GOT LETTERS FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THE COUNTRY, E-MAILS, LETTERS AND BECAUSE THAT STORY WAS THE STORY ABOUT REDEMPTION AND TRANSFORMATION AND WE REALLY ADMIRE THOSE TYPES OF STORIES.

WE LOVE THE WHOLE NARRATIVE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND THAT FOR DEBRA AND HER PRISON EXPERIENCE WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY RARE THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT IN PRISON.

>> SHE AND THE WOMEN WHO GRADUATED WITH HER ARE THE EXCEPTION IN PRISON.

I ALSO IMAGINE IT WAS PAINFUL FOR YOU TO WRITE ABOUT YOUR SISTER YOUR FRIEND AND YOUR SISTER KIM WHO DIED SO YOUNG.

WAS IT THERAPEUTIC FOR YOU?

>> I HAD NEVER WRITTEN ABOUT KIM BEFORE.

WHEN I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT DOING THIS BOOK I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TWO GIRLS, DEBRA AND ME.

TWO GIRLS WHO HAD TAKEN TWO DIFFERENT PATHS.

BUT THEN WHEN I STARTED WRITING THE PROPOSAL AND SHOW TO GO TO PEOPLE MY SISTER WHO SORT OF VERY MUCH HER PERSON APARTMENT LEAPT OFF THE PAGE AND IT BECAME A STORY OF THREE GIRLS.

YES, I WOULD NOT SAY IT IS A STORY THAT HAS BROUGHT ME COMPLETE CLOSURE BUT I HAVE A CHANCE TO DO RESEARCH AND TALK TO PEOPLE AND LEARN THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM OR MYSELF.

AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE THE TYPES OF STORIES OTHER STORIES THAT I WRITE THAT HAVE BEEN AN OFF SHUTE OF THE TWO OF THEM BEING IN MY LIFE BUT THIS STORY I GET TO PUT IT TO BED NOW.

>> PUT IT TO BED.

THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

IF THEY WANT TO KNOW MORE WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.

DAWN TURNER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

MY PLEASURE.

>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED THREE GIRLS FROM BRONZEVILLE, A UNIQUELY AMERICAN MEMOIR OF RACE, FATE AND SISTERHOOD.

AND DAWN TURNER WILL RETURN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY THIS WEEKEND AND AT THE CHICAGO HUMANITIES FESTIVAL IN HOCKEY.

>> UP NEXT, MORE FROM AMANDA VINICKY WHO IS REPORTING LIVE FROM OAK LAWN.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> AND NOW TO AMANDA VINICKY WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN OAK LAWN AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> I'M JOINED BY DOLL LORE RESPECT, PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC MUSLIM COALITION CENTER AND EDUCATOR.

AND EDUCATING YOU WERE DOING 9/11 2001.

>> YOU ARE ASKING ME TO REFLECT ON THAT DAY MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE AMERICANS WE LOST THE LIVES WE LOST THAT DAY AND TO THE FIRST-RESPONDERS LIKE CHIEF RIDDLE AND OTHERS THAT ARE SUPPORTING US.

I WAS A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER.

I WAS TEACHING IN MY CLASSROOM WITH MY STUDENTS.

IT WAS LANGUAGE ARTS AND THEY WERE IN SMALL GROUPS READING AROUND THE CLASSROOM AND MY PRINCIPAL KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND CALLED ME TO THE DOOR AND WHISPERED IN MY EAR WHAT HAPPENED.

THE GUIDANCE SHE PROVIDED WAS TO KEEP THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM WE NEED TO GET MORE INFORMATION.

STAY AWAY FROM THE NEWS AND WE'LL TRY TO GET YOU WHAT YOU NEED AND IT WAS A TRAGIC AND A HORROR THAT WE ALL FELT AS AMERICANS.

>> AND WHAT DO YOU SAY NOW.

WHAT SHOULD CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT THIS EVENT?

>> I HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME AN ADMINISTRATOR AND TO LEAVE THE TEACHING BUT I WOULD ASK ALL EDUCATORS TO BE AUTHENTIC AND TRANSPARENT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND OUR CHILDREN.

WE ALL DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS AMERICANS WE ARE LEADERS OF THE WORLD FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS GOOD.

BUT WE ALSO MAKE OUR OWN MISTAKES.

AND HAVE DIALOGUE.

HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

LET THEM BE CRITICAL THINKERS ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS.

AND TO TRUE PATRIOT LOVES THEIR COUNTRY ENOUGH TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.

>> MAJOR UNDERTAKING WAS EXRETTED TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS.

AND BY THAT I'M REFERENCES THE CENSUS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE IN WHICH YOU WERE INVOLVED.

THERE ARE CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTING PEOPLE WHO ARE OF ARAB DESCENT?

>> THE CENSUS WAS INCREDIBLE THAT WE HAVE DONE EVERY 10 YEARS SINCE THE 1770s.

SO WE KNOW FROM THE CENSUS THAT WE ARE A GROWING NATION.

THAT WE ARE A NATION THAT IS ALSO GETTING MORE AND MORE DIVERSE.

MIXED RACE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE GROWING AT A FAST PACE.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE UNDER COUNTED PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WE HAVE MISCOUNTED ARABS AND MIDDLE EASTERNERS AS WHITE.

AND SO THESE ARE THINGS WE NOW CAN CORRECT FOR THE 2030 CENSUS.

BUT NOW FOR THE NEXT DECADE WE HAVE TO KEEP THIS IN MIND AS WE BUILD ROADS, BUILD BRIDGES, TRANSLATE THINGS IN LIBRARIES AND DOCUMENTS THAT THERE ARE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES AND WE DIDN'T GET IT ALL RIGHT.

>> I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASING MUSLIM POPULATION PARTICULARLY HERE ON THE SOUTHWEST SUBURBS.

FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION THERE IN THE NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS BUT I AM AFRAID WE WILL HAVE TO COVER THAT ANOTHER DAY.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

SHE IS AN EDUCATOR ALSO THE PRESIDENT AND COFOUNDER OF THE ILLINOIS MUSLIM CIVIC COALITION.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT A PREVIEW OF THE CHICAGO BEARS UP COMING SEASON.

FIRST WE LOOK AT EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND...

THE NFL SEASON KICKS OFF TONIGHT BUT THE BEARS HAVE TO WAIT FOR SUNDAY NIGHT WITH THEIR MATCHUP WITH THE RAMS.

[♪♪♪] >> HERE WITH THE PREVIEW OF THE GAME AND THE SEASON IS JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS.

FORMER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS FROM 1991-2002.

JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> HI, PARIS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU, TOO.

>> SO QUARTERBACK ANDY DALTON IS THE GAME ONE STARTER OVER THE ROOKIE JUSTIN FIELDS.

IS THIS THE RIGHT MOVE BY THE COACHING STAFF?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE RIGHT MOVE OR NOT.

BUT I DON'T ANYONE IS GOING TO TALK THEM OUT OF THE DECISION.

I THINK NAGY, GOING BY HIS KANSAS CITY ROOTS WITH ANDY READ AND WHAT THEY DID WITH MAHOMES HE IS GOING TO TRY AND PULL IT OFF IN CHICAGO.

HAVING A YOUNG QUARTERBACK SIT BEHIND THE VET AND HOPEFULLY THAT VET CAN GET THEM INTO THE PLAYOFFS.

AND WE WON'T SEE FIELDS UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

>> WE DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF DALTON.

WHAT DOES HE BRING TO THAT POSITION INTO THE OFFENSE?

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A GUY HE'S PLAYED NOT BAD OLD LINES BUT O LINES IN CINCINNATI THAT DIDN'T GIVE HIM MUCH PROTECTION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST SEE WHAT HE DID IN DALLAS LAST YEAR WHICH WASN'T A LOT.

HE IS A GUY THAT HAS BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS SEVERAL TIMES AND HE HAS A GOOD GRASP ON THE GAME.

IF THE BEARS CAN PROTECT HIM, THEN HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS WELL PUT HIM OUT THERE AND RUN THE OFFENSE THE WAY NAGY HAS BEEN WANTING TO SEE IT RUN.

>> HOW SHORT OF A LEASH BEFORE NAGY MAKINGS THE SWITCH ASSUMING DALTON HAS ROUGH GAMES?

>> IT WILL BE TOO LONG FOR THE FANS HERE IN CHICAGO.

PEOPLE WANT TO SEE FIELDS NOW.

AND YOU'VE GOT THIS NEW SHINEY TOY THAT YOU CAN'T PLAY WITH IT'S SITTING UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE IT'S WRAPPED AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS AND YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH IT BUT YOUR PARENTS ARE SMACKING YOUR HANDS TELLING YOU CANNOT TOUCH IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE DALTON.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DO YOU LOSE THE FIRST THREE GAMES?

OR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE SEASON BEFORE YOU SAY THAT OK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT FIELDS?

OR WHAT HAPPENS WITH DALTON GOES THROUGH AND WON THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER THEY WILL STICK WITH HIM THEN.

>> YOU HAVE TO STICK WITH THE QUARTERBACK THAT GIVES YOU THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN.

WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF FIELDS?

>> HE IS A YOUNG PHENOM.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE KID AND MAHOMES AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE GUYS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF COLLEGE PLAYING FOOTBALL WITH THE BASEBALL BACKGROUND AND HE FITS INTO THE MOLD.

HE CAN MAKE THE THROWS, WHILE BEING ON THE RUN AND BEING PRESSURED.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A KID THAT HAS NO FEAR OUT THERE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

AND WE HEARD A SAMPLE OF THAT AFTER A COUPLE PRESEASON GAMES WHERE THIS GAME IS NOT TOO FAST FOR ME.

I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING AGAINST THE BEARS DEFENSE.

HE FELT LIKE HE WAS WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> AND OTHER TOP 10QB PICKS THAT WILL START.

YOU MENTIONED THE OFFENSIVE LINE, DALTON NEVER PLAYED BEHIND OFFENSIVE LINES.

KEVIN JEN KINS IS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN THAT IS INJURED.

HOW DOES THE OFFENSIVE LINE LOOK TO YOU?

>> THE MIDDLE IS SOLID.

WHITEHAIR AND DANIELS.

NOW YOU HAVE TO HOPE THAT ALL THREE OF THOSE GUYS CAN STAY HEALTHY, NO BIG INJURIES THEY WILL HAVE LITTLE DINGS THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT.

BUT JASON PETERS IS A A TOSS UP.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 39-YEAR-OLD LEFT TACKLE.

AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME THE TREADS ON THE TIRES START TO RUN A LITTLE THIN YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S AT.

AND GERMAINE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

HE PLAYED PRETTY WELL RIGHT TACKLE SO THEY WILL GIVE HIM A SHOT AND SEE HOW HE CAN DO.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE JUST IN CASE THINGS START TO FALL APART.

IN CASE PETERS IS NOT ABLE TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH TIME AS YOU LIKE.

>> SOMETIMES IT IS A RESOLVING DOOR AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN READY TO GO.

AND DEFENSE INJURIES TO EDDIE GOLDMAN MISSED LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID PROTOCOLS.

KHALIL MACK, BANGED UP.

HOW DOES THE D LOOK?

>> WELL, I THINK WITH MACK AND GOLDMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IT ANOTHER DAY.

AS LONG AS THE GUYS PRACTICE BY FRIDAY AND MACK HAS BEEN PRACTICING.

HE JUST BEEN LIMITED.

GOLDMAN HASN'T DONE ANYTHING AT ALL BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT IF HE CAN PRACTICE BY FRIDAY, HE HAS A GOOD SHOT OF PLAYING.

AND ALSO HAVE THE YOUNG ROOKIE, TONDA, AND THAT IS THE YOUNG NOSE GUARD THAT IS A ROOKIE.

THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT HIM.

WITH THE INJURY AND WITH HIM NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY FOR THREE WEEKS.

I THINK THEY HAD A PLAN WITH OCTOBERLE INDUSTRY.

>> THE VETERAN LINEBACKER THAT THE BEARS SIGNED.

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

PREDICTION FOR SUNDAY NIGHT AND PREDICTION FOR THE SEASON?

>> UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A GAME THAT THEY CAN PULL OFF VERSE THE RAMS.

I THINK THE RAMS MIGHT HAVE TOO MUCH FIRE POWER ON DEFENSE FOR WHAT THAT OFFENSE IS GOING TO BE PUTTING OUT THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN STRANGER THINGS HAPPEN.

31-21 RAMS OVER THE BEARS.

I HATE TO SAY IT BUT THAT IS THE WAY I SEE IT.

>> THE RAMS MATT STAFFORD AT QUARTERBACK THAT FACED THE BEARS A COUPLE OF TIMES.

BIG CAT GREAT TO HAVE YOU HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE HAPPY CONVERSATIONS IN THE WEEKS TO COME AND TAKE CARE.

>> I HOPE SO.

YOU TAKE IT EASY, MAN.

>> 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 THURSDAY NIGHT.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]