>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

What does Mayor Brandon Johnson want to see in the city's next top cop?

>> We still have issues drug use, not as much for.

Why some transit commuters are seeing more law enforcement on the right.

>> Chicagoans reimagined who gets remembered through a new Washington park installation.

The artist joins us live to discuss.

>> It doesn't just help them with a pair bike skills or whatever.

But and hopefully like problem solving confidence.

>> And from repairing bikes to welding metal.

A local organization is giving Chicago teens new skills and confidence.

>> First off tonight, 8.6 billion dollars.

That's how much money Governor JB Pritzker says the Trump administration owes Illinois residents over the president's tariffs that were later struck down by the U.S.

Supreme Court in a second letter to the administration.

Pritzker is demanding refunds for Illinois into he argues paid higher prices as a result of the tariffs.

He cites the 166 billion dollars in refunds given to corporations like Apple, Amazon and Nike, but nothing for Illinois residents.

The tariff refunds system is structured so that only the parties who directly paid the tariffs or customs brokers on their behalf can file for a refund.

But in his letter, Pritzker is demanding the U.S.

Treasury direct payments of $1700 per family to Illinois households.

If you want to weigh in on Chicago's next police superintendent, you have a few chances to do so in the coming weeks.

The community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability or today announced 5 community listening sessions as part of its search for finalist to replace Larry snowing.

Chicago police superintendent.

They'll be held August 17th at Malcolm X College, August 25th at Kennedy High School August 27th at Morgan Park Academy September second at DePaul, College Prep and virtually on September 10th and online form will be available to allow those who are unable to attend in person to also shared their thoughts.

Thrill seekers can experience a bit of the great outdoors on their next trip to the local amusement park.

Camp temperature.

Ale will also feature immersive experiences.

>> Interactive play opportunities, dining and shopping countless ways for families to explore.

Connect and create unforgettable family experiences together.

>> Construction is underway at 6 Flags.

Great America in Gurnee on the all-new Camp Timber trail.

Set to open in 2027.

The company says it's one of the largest recent investments in family attractions at the park with the all-new Skyhawk, which will be the Midwest, longest tallest and fastest suspended family coaster in all Camp Camp Camp.

Timber Trail will have 3 brand new attractions.

Plus for reimagined ones along with a couple of old favorites.

Up next, what's coming first, a new top cop or a new mayor at Masterson breaks it down for us.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexander and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> As we mentioned earlier, a nationwide search for Chicago's next top cop is underway.

The community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability Today announced they're holding 5 community listening.

Sessions across Chicago as part of that search.

It comes after Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling retired last month.

Now 2 time lines are intertwined.

The search for CPS, new leader and the race to be the next mayor.

Our Matt Masterson spoke with Mayor Brandon Johnson this week to get his perspective on the search and the calls to delay it.

Matt, remind us what role does the mayor have in picking the new superintendent So mayor has the final say he gets to make this selection of who will be the next superintendent, but he doesn't get to pick the finalists.

That role is up to the commission.

The ccps say they're the ones who are running this nationwide search.

>> They're going to identify.

Candidates are going to interview them and they're going to make the final list of 3 candidates that will people be presented to Mayor Johnson, presumably he then gets to make that like doesn't have full say over who is going to be a finalist.

This is exactly how we saw process play out in 2023 when Larry Snelling was selected, the commission made its selections of 3 finalists, not snowing was among them and they're from Johnson made that pick at that time.

So we'll see if that's exactly this plays out.

Again, this time.

>> Ok, so Ccps a has a November 12th deadline to send finalist to the mayor mayoral election, though that is in February wise and even a question of who will make the final selection, right?

So the mayor, the mayor's races coming up, Mayor Johnson has not said if he's running for re-election yet, but the reason this has come up is Anthony Driver, the former head of the who is still a member of that commission.

He issued a letter to the city council basically asking them to delay this vote until after the search process until after the election in the spring.

>> He said he wants to draw the strongest possible group of candidates for this role.

He said this isn't necessarily a indictment on Mayor Brandon Johnson or who he would pick the next superintendent.

But he wants to make sure that the next mayor is in place to make this decision.

Vera Johnson told me that he doesn't feel that this delay is necessary, said the laws in place.

People fought to get this law in place for the selection process.

He said he's got through this process before in 2023.

He made the pick.

The commission made the their finalists.

He picked out of them.

The process went smoothly.

At that point, he he said there's no reason not to do it again as it's laid out currently.

>> And one of the mayor say that he wants to see in the next top A lot of the same things he saw on Larry Snelling said somebody who they don't necessarily have to be a CPD like he was.

He'd been in department for 3 decades.

But somebody who understands and respects the role of rank and file officers, somebody who can build on the constitutional policing requirements that are laid out under the consent decree that there was progress under Larry snowing compared to previous superintendents.

>> He also wants to find somebody who's going to work with community violence, Interrupters.

He's repeatedly credited those groups with helping drive down these historic violence reductions that we've seen in Chicago over the last couple of years.

So those are some of the traits that he outlined for his next top cop.

>> Okay.

Masks and thanks so much.

We'll see how this plays out.

Of course, that is and you can read Matt's full story on our website there.

You can also find the schedule for those community listening.

Sessions being held for the superintendent search.

It's all at W T Tw Dot com slash news.

Up next, how a new state law puts more Cook County Sheriff's police on the L and how it's working.

>> W T Tw news coverage of policing and police reform is supported by the Joyce Foundation.

>> violent crime along the CTA bus and train lines are down 30% year to date.

According to the Chicago Police Department.

That may be in part because of a law enforcement effort introduced by the state's new northern Illinois Transit Authority created to replace the regional Transit authority, the bill that created the agency to oversee the CTA, Metra and Pace also created a task force where area law enforcement agencies partner to put the brakes on transit crimes.

We recently rode along with Cook County Sheriff's deputies to see how they got on track.

Here's another look.

>> Most folks riding the CTA will witness a scene like this.

A handful of sheriff's police officers going car to car while riding the L.

>> Inaction hope more.

doesn't stop people get off It for >> This group of officers is focusing on the green line writing from Harlem and Lake Station over to Damon and back.

there led by Sergeant Frank Washington, who's heard feedback from passengers and CTA staff.

>> Street station, worst.

>> They're working under a new task force led by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.

It was created by the state's northern Illinois Transit Authority Act or media that went into effect this year since March.

The sheriff is placed teams of officers 50 per day working 12 hour shifts on the green and red lines.

We started going out into the public transportation.

>> Routes and trains buses to what the reality was met with the bus drivers, the unions that represent them, the ones represent the train drivers.

>> The first big problem they found fare evasion.

We found that.

>> And numerous train stations.

No response 80 to 90% of the people were not pain.

So virtually everybody was going on for free.

There isn't any personnel that was there to stop.

And I'm happy to say once we put people up there, it's now easier.

All.

>> Next officers began keeping an eye out for other violations, smoking drinking on the train, transferring between moving cars.

The idea is that sweating, the smaller details leads to a safer ride.

>> We found 20 weapons on people in rest of 250 people for a range of offenses.

God we execute.

I think about 50, 60 warrants for people.

We found 10 missing people.

People who are in the system is missing persons, mostly juveniles to we're able to reunite with either family or whatever the structure was.

We found 10 people not registered offenders.

We will take in custody.

>> The day our cameras road along within an hour, officer stopped a man for smoking and learned he had an arrest warrant.

The sheriff's office says they've lowered fare evasion alone.

Right?

85 1% on the red line.

The office also says CTA zone stats show a 77% reduction in violent crime may of this year compared to last year and a 50% reduction in overall crime may over May as well.

They're also the train passengers who need a little extra help for that.

People like Elizabeth Kappa, you and her team are paired with officers to provide services for mental health substance use disorder or homelessness.

Sometimes it's the only place that we might be able So, you have a lot of individuals that houses around and don't have a are utilizing the trainings for one.

the space to our shelters?

>> Are both the officers and the treatment and response team members added to their training so they could conduct their jobs while in transit.

Now after 20 years and mental help.

This is where feels she's finally seeing movement of times.

I've been part of the men also system and work.

that's the person feel like I'm actually helping people not just because system.

I'm making a and feels Cause.

>> The man who was arrested during a ride-along was facing warrants for failing to appear in court on charges of retail theft and possession of a controlled substance.

The sheriff, meanwhile, will make recommendations to the new board about how the task force has been going.

Then the board will decide whether to continue or if a unified transit police force is necessary.

Up next, a new public display is unveiled today in Washington Park.

The artist behind the project joins us live.

A brand-new public installation is looking to inspire Chicagoans to re.

Imagine who we choose to remember.

It's called other Washington's and it features artists, inventors and educators and other inspirational leaders all with the last name Washington.

The public artwork is located around the George Washington statue in Washington Park as part of the Chicago Monuments Project.

Joining us live from outside that installation is the artist who created Amanda Williams.

Also, we should mention former MacArthur fellow recipient, which makes you a genius.

Welcome back.

I'm thanks for joining us.

Hi.

Thank you so much for having me again.

So you unveiled the project just a few minutes ago.

Really?

What was the reaction from the folks in attendance?

>> We have an amazing turnout.

We had a cross section of actual honorees and participants as well as neighborhood community leaders and everyday Bronzeville, Washington Park citizen.

So is a really great.

First foray into what will be, I think, a really wonderful anchor for Washington Park.

>> So describe what we're seeing for us in the center.

We can see, of course, the statue of George Washington still there.

But without flag poles tell us what we're looking at least.

So we have nearly 40 flag poles that surround George.

>> Each one contains a flag and or a biography on a banner of what I've called other Washington.

So these are beloved historical figures like Booker T or George Washington Carver, but also everyday unsung heroes like Benjamin Washington, who is the band director at King High School will be coming down this very street on Saturday, the Bud Billiken parade.

So we really give a cross section of folks that make a huge impact in our collective memories.

But also in our present day.

>> Yeah, I see a couple of Washington names.

I think I recognize want to come back to that in just a bit.

But you've also described this exhibit as an intervention on the George Washington statue.

What do you mean by that?

An intervention?

So George Washington is one of those figures that everybody probably can describe as something they learned about in school, from elementary school kids to adults.

>> And we have a kind of static way that we understand him.

Usually not necessarily in a positive light or maybe finding him to be relevant in many instances.

Obviously, he's the first president of the United States, but also.

Renders a troubled history as a slave owner and other narratives that are minimize or overlooked.

And so this gives an opportunity to not just erase him or 2 either minimize or overemphasize those things, but also to just expand what it might mean to honor and exalt someone name Washington.

So you you included Chicagoans in the selection process.

How did that work?

>> So we about a year ago a banner around offense that was in closing the statue.

>> Since 2020 and just asked a simple question, who's your favorite Washington?

And I found that to be a way to really get people engage, whether you name Washington are not, you know, Washington in a Washington has played some role in your life from Harrell to Diana.

And then that really was a kind of informal crowdsourcing to get people to give information about these Washington's that they might think are important.

And then we held several workshops in the neighborhood with different groups that are stakeholders committed knitters at art in public life on 55th Street at the perfect tree on Presidents Day to really kind of pull out those stories of people that had deep impact and meaning for people.

And then we work to edit those in turn those into banners and biographies.

So really was something that everybody could feel they had ownership over one Washington who I think he's probably played an important role in your life and your work is.

>> George Washington Carver, of talk about, you know, his importance in history and I'm a little bit you know, how he influenced your work because you spent a lot of time researching his blue, the blue, the color blue that he patented.

Yeah.

So in addition to this project that's been about 2 years.

>> Thinking about about 2 the obscure Patton that George Washington Carver received in 1927.

So obviously he's the peanut gotten most of us.

But in reality at a kind of broad range of skills and expertise in kind of magic.

So one of those was this patent for this blue paint.

And I've made some paintings with those but also wanted to bring that into some of my public artwork.

And so the colors of the banners that you see behind us as well as the flags themselves.

Are this pressure blue and then the banners are a kind of expanded palette that he developed, where he encourage farmers in Alabama to paint the interiors of their homes with salmon walls and chocolate ran and cream ceiling.

So the cream and the chocolate and the salmon that you see on the banners are too what really is a beautiful color palette on under any circumstances.

But definitely in this public around.

Yeah, that was definitely be my next question because I know color plays a big role in your work it's we've seen that in some of your previous works.

>> So then the colors that you just named, are they on?

You know, did you group the Washington's into different colors for whatever reason like this group of people were scientist or politicians or >> how big it?

so no, we thought about that.

We as I trained as an architect, sir, my background in kind of understandings of space was a lot of time spent thinking about the car that's going to drive past on on King Drive and then the pedestrians that are going to walk on the on the frontage road that is just west of of the median where the statue sits.

It's a really just thinking a play on the collar and that way.

So they're not necessarily group that way.

But it does lend itself in future iterations of this project to think about it in that way.

We do keep families together.

There's several where there's a husband and wife or there are father, a son and a grandfather.

So you will see those kinds things together.

Amanda, you know, as the country celebrates its 250 of this year, you know, what do you want people to think about or consider about America as they see this exhibit?

>> America's in a difficult time.

But I think we all have a belief that we can live out what these ideals in these dreams, whether they were fictional or not, they're here and we're part of it.

And so I think in this moment where we see a lot of you're a share, a lot of conversation about fake news.

It's amazing that we live in a city where we can have support of artists in civic it works that really allow people to see everyday real people not a pretend thing.

You know, Jerome Washington exist.

Candace Washington exist.

They being honored in real time.

And so I think that the message for everybody is that you don't have to be a genius or have done something great.

Historically to be honored to to be seen as human.

And I think that that message is lost a little bit in the larger conversation about what it means to be American.

And so I think this is an expansion of plenty plenty of Washington's to appreciate.

It's a popular name.

So is Williams.

That is where we'll have to leave it with.

Amanda case makes so much for joining >> Thank you.

They having me again.

Up next, an organization teaching Chicago teens skills and life lessons through hands-on experiences.

>> Reflecting the people and perspectives that make a buck This story is part of Chicago tonight.

Black Voice.

>> Teen takeovers remain a hot topic in Chicago and across the country as officials and residents debate how to combat the large gatherings that can turn violent.

One argument is that kids need more opportunities to access productive outlets.

One local organization is taking a hands-on approach by teaching young people new skills while also building their confidence.

Joanna Hernandez has the story.

Inside this workshop.

Lessons found in textbooks.

>> They're learned by hand We're going expect fransisco it'll be let's teach in Chicago teens how to repair and build bicycles while helping them build confidence along the way, teaching them how to empower themselves through cycling through the mechanics of light.

>> I don't know how to do is is like no.

You don't know how to The Bikes and Roses Program operates out of a shop in Belmont Cragin.

>> Eighteen-year-old Kevin Keatts be has been part of the program for 4 years old by us here.

I don't.

And we have because Bill time.

>> We I we I we even have open shop every Thursday where we have kids coming from the community.

Kloza communities come by.

We all work together fix and buy it.

Some kids how to fix or buy.

>> 15 year-old David Earl.

The Tegus says the program has helped him step out of his comfort zone.

It doesn't just help with Mike schools or whatever, but I.

>> And hopefully like problem solving confidence.

We try to be a better person like try to like better raised in Pilsen.

Rubio says he understands firsthand.

>> How the right mentor can change a young person's myself and my boss.

David, we kind of see the positive miss of like working with your hands and seen something to be really rough and you'll be able to polish it.

>> Bikes and roses is one of several free programs under communities.

United Workbench Project initiative giving young people a chance to explore trades like bike mechanics, woodworking and welding along the way many participants are in a financial stipend for a paycheck.

>> These programs are completely essential for these communities where we're at now with schools not getting appropriate funding after-school programs being cut or not having enough of them.

These programs offer young people something to do in the summers and outside of school, but also an opportunity to learn in a different way.

>> Just a few miles away in the Austin neighborhood.

Sparks are flying as another group of teens were into different rates.

>> A lot of we all come together and work together.

Everybody is hopeful.

Tom Inslee.

>> I do think it's good skill to have because they say this technically like a job and I'm like thinking like all like preparing me for like the future.

We >> Instructors, Sophia Lopez says the goal isn't just teaching students how to weld.

She says it's about teaching them how to work through challenges.

I really do try to reinforce that whether it's like the machines not working or I can't get this to work in a certain way.

Giving them the tools and the confidence to pause.

Take a second.

What do I know right now and how can I fix >> We want young people to leave this program with an understanding of how they can build their own narratives.

And so despite what other people have told them.

There's a lot of time to grow who you are as an individual.

>> Whether its repairing a biker welding metal.

These mentors hope the teenagers leave with aren't just technical.

>> live in low-income areas.

There's also still some gang activities.

So it's kind of like the more that we teach them how to build community amongst themselves and look out for each other is like a real benefit.

If there's people struggling out there.

thing they don't have anybody talk to are like.

>> They're alone in the world.

Like find yourself a program like this and like it would really change minds about the whole world.

>> For Chicago tonight, I'm joined on this bikes and roses is also helping expand access to bicycles in the community.

The teenagers are repairing donated bikes and giving them to people who need them.

>> Back to wrap things up right after this.

>> And >> that's our show for this Thursday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5.37, for the week in review.

Now for all of us here Chicago Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

>> We have a good night.

>> caption he's made possible by Robert, a cliff Clifford law Chicago, personal injury and wrongful death for that