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

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Republican State Representative Dan, you gas the shares his plan to keep the Bears in Illinois.

>> We wanted it to me.

A vibrant living celebration of community.

>> The Obama center has been up and running for about a week to Chicagoans who helped make it happen.

Join us to share their stories.

>> Daley's men, that keeper became a textbook example or a >> And how makes field became a public park.

In tonight's edition of WT Tw News explains.

First off tonight, Governor JB Pritzker join state lawmakers and reproductive rights advocates in Chicago today to sign the reproductive Health Records Privacy Act into law.

The measure approved by the General Assembly last month strengthens patient privacy protections by preventing the medical records of Illinois patients from being shared with other states.

The signing comes on the 4th anniversary of the U.S.

Supreme Court's Dobbs decision which overturned Roe versus Wade and ended the federal constitutional right to abortion.

>> 4 years ago, the right wing on the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the eliminating a right that women in this country have relied upon for nearly half a century.

The consequences of that decision have been devastating.

Health care records exist to treat patients, not surveil and punish them.

I will always stand firmly on the side of privacy, dignity and freedom.

And this bill is yet another example of what has become a defining commitment of our state.

>> Fewer people in Cook County died of an opioid overdose in 2024.

Compared to 2 years before new report from county and Chicago.

Public health officials says that 42% reduction.

It reflects the largest reduction in overdose deaths across all U.S.

counties since the national peak of the crisis in 2023. officials say, though, the opioid OD mortality rate in Illinois is still much higher than the state and national rates.

It plummeted by more than 37% between 2023 2024. first is barely a 4% decline the year before public health officials credit several factors, including the distribution of the overdose reversal medicine.

Naloxone and wider access to medications that treat opioid use disorder.

Missed out on tickets to the Obama presidential center.

You will soon have another chance.

The Obama Foundation announced that a new batch of tickets will be released July first for foundation members in July.

8th for the general public.

While the center's outdoor spaces and library are open to everyone admission to the museum which features exhibits and memorabilia highlighting President Barack Obama's time in office.

That ridge requires a ticket tickets first went on sale in May and sold out within hours with reservations, booked through November.

The latest release will cover visits from September through January 2027. giving those who missed the initial sale.

Another opportunity.

And we'll hear more from some Obama center insiders later in the program.

Up next, a Republican plan to keep the Bears in Illinois.

That's right.

After this.

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

Family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> The Chicago Bears say they're advancing plans for a stadium in Indiana.

Some Illinois lawmakers, though, insist that's not a done deal.

The General Assembly ended the spring session without passing a bill to incentivize the Bears to build in Illinois.

But conversations haven't stopped.

And while Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, Republicans are not waiting around to present their own plan.

Joining us now to talk about a new mega mega projects proposal is state Representative Dan, you Gas T a Republican from Geneva.

Welcome back.

Thanks for joining us.

Thanks for having me.

Appreciate The Bears say they are moving forward with this plan to build a stadium in Hammond, Indiana.

Why do you think that they could still be more to stay in Illinois because they haven't said.

>> Okay, we're done.

We don't want to talk a more.

We don't want to hear from you.

We are moving to Indiana.

That's going to be our home.

What they're doing is they're advancing.

What India with what Indiana has proposed for them.

And they're not going to wait to see if we're going to come up with a plan.

A more.

They're going to move forward in case that is the only plan they feel that acceptable to them, that they then must take and go forward.

So they're not further delayed.

Okay.

So I think they're proceeding sure because they can't stop, of course.

But if Illinois gets it together, >> they could still put that down and come back?

Well, I think so.

Especially since there's at least one site, we know they're very interested Illinois and that an Arlington Heights.

Now, the mayor, Chicago, has been proposing another site.

I've heard them tell or say in public that they don't believe that's a suitable location for what they want to do.

But since then, a couple other sites with in Cook County have been proposed as well, senator Representative Carver.

He's mentioned something about the old South works facility where U.S.

steel was located.

I know Mccook as a facility where they're talking.

Maybe the Bears could Bo K so.

Wherever it is, I just like for them to stay in Illinois, in part because I like the team, but more so because I want that economic development here in Illinois.

>> You voted against for the first mega projects bill that passed the House back in April.

What are your concerns with that?

One biggest concern was it didn't protect taxpayers, local taxpayers and it did not have enough.

>> To provide statewide property tax relief for all taxpayers.

There was something there, but it's the governor's office pointed out within a few days after it didn't amount to much.

So what I'm looking for is something that will put start providing real tax relief to property taxpayers here in Illinois.

I'm statewide basis that every homeowner, every business owner, anyone who owns property, we get property tax relief and then we start building on that process to provide even more.

So tell me about your proposal, shirt, the 2 proposals I have with in the bill.

I'm putting together to keep the Bears here, at least for property tax relief are.

Every referendum from this point forward or if it passes would have to go on the general election ballot right now.

They're oftentimes placed on the consolidated election ballot for the primary ballot when not nearly as many voters show up.

And voters just aren't nearly as I don't think you really get the whole community's input on whether or not they want their property taxes to increase to fund whatever project it is.

That's being proposed.

We put it on the general election ballot.

Many more people show up.

People are much more in tune to the elections.

What the issues are on the ballot and that way we get a true sense of what the community watch they could before they could be against it.

It's up to It's their community, but at least most people are weighing in within the community.

Also, there's provision or it out, I guess a loophole in current state law where if a local taxing district currently get to write winds a referendum passes, but it gets ponds from, you know, based off that referendum to fund whatever facility they can just automatically roll over those ponds without ever having go back for another referendum to get the same amount of money.

Again.

This bill would stop that from ever happening again.

Once the bonds are paid off with a comes to maturity, it would be done if they want.

local taxing district wants more money.

They have to go back to the taxpayers on a referendum and ask him again.

Do you want this that we want to use the money for to simple as that?

I think that's the way it was intended from the word go.

But it just doesn't happen that way.

All right.

So Governor Pritzker, he spoke about this yesterday about the involvement that he would like to see from the bears.

>> Here he is.

>> I think that as you know, it takes a bill and that's really what we need them to put together of the provisions of a bill.

It's one thing to articulate generally what you want.

It's another thing to actually say we'd like a provision like this, a provision like that and those are many of them anyway, already written.

They have lobbyists.

You can help them right.

Those provisions are legislators who would help them write the bill and again, then they need to go and talk to people about the various provisions to get support for it.

>> Have you spoken with the Bears about your plan?

I have not.

Next been intentional.

They've been speaking with a lot of people in Springfield.

Now, what I I'd be happy to meet with a representative from there to hear what their thoughts are.

Sure.

But at the same time, they don't need to be speaking with every one of us.

I'm looking at what's been proposed so far.

What I think would work based on public statements to the Bears as to what they want, what they're looking for from Illinois in order to move forward, what is in the best interest of our taxpayers.

If we do this using that to go forward with a proposal once they see it, if they have a comment on it and think that something needs to be done, be happy to do it.

But I'm also basing it on what I know.

He's passed through the House and Senate and what I think might be able to going forward based upon people's concerns.

I've heard and other things so that we can actually get this done and move on because there's a lot other issues facing the state we need to address, right.

And that said, you know, state Republicans, you or the super minority, so you don't have enough votes to pass something on your own.

>> What do you see as the path forward for this bill?

So the path forward for me to this bill is that we start working in a bipartisan manner and that was a path forward from the word go as far as I was concerned when when Buckner first brought a mega project pilot Bill to committee and we made comments on it, he took notes exactly what we were commenting asking about.

And a lot of that was built into the next one.

Not all of it.

We didn't quite get there, which is why I didn't vote for it.

But it went on that way.

If.

We would work together what I think you would have is enough property tax protection for property tax payers in around wherever the stadium gets built.

You would also get property tax relief for all taxpayers statewide and something the Bears and other developers, if it's not just a Cook County bill alone could use.

And if we do that, everyone wins.

But you have to work across the aisle because I don't know that the votes are there on the Democrat side of the aisle alone because it appears they're not.

All right.

So obviously we'll see when exactly you will end up back in Springfield to discuss all of this state.

Representative Dan, you Cassie, thank you so much.

Thanks for having Appreciate it.

>> Up next, meet some people working behind the scenes to make the Obama center a success.

It's been less than a week since the grand opening of the Obama presidential center.

And it has truly taken a village to get there.

>> A huge behind the scenes cast help cure rate the center's sights sounds and tastes.

Chicago native's had a hand in everything from the performances at the celebratory opening to the center's culinary space.

Here's a bit of the performance from Chicago Native Eddie Vetter and young local musicians.

>> To >> It's not just on the other >> We've been >> Here fine me.

>> Freshly recovered from that bonanza of an opening ceremony some of the folks who helped to make that very performance possible, Andrea.

And to Daniels adjunct professor at Columbia College, Chicago and regional director of guitars over guns.

The folks you just heard playing and chef Clift room whose Scheck partner at Bam Joy, which provides food services and catering operations across the campus.

Also, the owner of the restaurant, Peaches, are you all still on cloud last week?

think so.

haven't gotten down it all.

I had the privilege of being there as well.

Both of you were there last week at that opening ceremony.

What was your reaction to being there?

What was it like?

first you post crazy.

It was beautiful at the same time right?

Having just knowing with that property looked like prior to that, right?

And seeing that it was a wonderful was amazing visual to see Stony Island look like that and be occupied by so much talent and history here.

Just a culture of it all unbelievable.

And Yeah.

Like it was the real I remember meetings that they would have with the community.

>> And they would show a slight the renderings and then also have those like have input and to see it all come to fruition.

Any look exactly how they imagined it to be and to see light spaces like the like the hero being utilized by the key is the kids are rolling down the field.

That was sold a site hill in Chicago to out to you the You will.

the amount of people who came down to support.

>> I think that was one of the most beautiful things because like everybody that you could think of was president.

And then also just for the fact that it was coming together for a beer cause like it felt like.

Almost like remember when I was watching like when Obama was running felt very hopeful in that way, like he almost was like, I forgot what time place where like it was in 2026 of some different.

So you and the young people from the organization that you work with guitars over guns you all helped create and were featured in that song that we just heard any better called Better Believe.

Tell us about the organization guitars, evidence.

the title lies is that music mentor program.

We're in.

>> Middle schools, high schools and community spaces.

And we musicians from the scene to be yearlong mentors in the spaces.

And it's not just time drones.

Piano bass, we this vocal who's wrapping engineering photography and a lot of times people think about like the music lessons.

But this also like the connection that you have, the guidance that you provide in sort of ways you can prevent them from falling into some of the predatory practices of the music industry.

Like all of the information that goes into the willingness of the entire child.

That's what we do.

And we've been operating Chicago for 13 years now.

And it's been one of the most phenomenal, most transformative process is that I've been a part of >> chef room.

You have the culinary experience at the centers restaurants, tough Ari's kitchen.

on the menu?

>> Anything from was I knew 2 burgers to interact and chicken.

All the things that President Obama curated himself, right, which was which was amazing because in the beginning, we through whole bunch of things that at the wall and then he went through the menu and most people were thinking my weight.

He actually has said he did.

literally.

>> You may pan to the pan and walk through each part of it because the most important thing was that he wanted everything to be approachable to be good, right has to be consistent.

But what we all know is that it's a cultural institution.

It's an attraction, right?

And so he did not want people without their phone trying to re or the fire on the menu.

Right?

I want to very approachable.

And so I think that we got really close to that by offering or creating those offerings the way that he would want approach will but food that he >> would that he 100%.

The chilly.

Yes, he was.

I So those are those are things that I think that.

>> gives us a great opportunity not only just incorporate local vendors from Chicago.

>> But even utilizing the product that's on the rooftop at the guard.

Right?

So the goal is to be able to to use our culinary chops not just do forced army showing, you know, dinners or things like is really about incorporating local flavors and ingredients and say, hey, this is right upstairs.

>> Right.

this is and like we grew it right here.

Yeah, I'm Andrea.

You also help create the vision for the media center and there's a lot going on down there.

There's podcast studio and some other stuff.

Why did you think was important for the community to have access to recording studios like that?

Yeah.

Well, at first we were when they first time they would create a studio.

They asked recommendations for high-end and I gave them some of the like top of line equipment that I could think of.

And whatever my dream studio quickly would have been.

That's what a game So I'm gonna give you all of this right?

>> But then instead we have this conversation said, well, who going to have access to all business in the community?

>> well, let's kill this back because you don't want this equipment to be.

It's humiliating to some people would support with like I really want to touch this because if I mess this up, you know, then it's on me.

So staples like actually have like a bridge in between so that these things are some of the equipment that they might be familiar with it.

Some ice first time in us to you or even their homes to They have this equipment and they're ready like, oh, I know what this I can just put this up.

I know how to utilize this.

I know what this but means and they it takes away the intimidation or defect that they have access to it and they can maybe by on their own and have that at their home as well.

>> Chef, I was I actually just happened to be back.

If you're on the president to center yesterday for a separate event and I noticed a line outside to far as kitchen in the line got longer and people are waiting patiently.

I also notice a member of the staff going down like walking down the aisle holding many saying were out of acts were out of What art, which tells us that its popular.

But what are some of the challenges and and what's business been like in the last 5 or 6 days?

It's always challenging, right when you're dealing with a mass amount of people that the idea is that most times from a consumer side, we like you should be ready.

It's not that we're not ready.

You know, I think that just anticipating with the volume is going to look like is always going have a of challenges.

>> And we have to be very realistic around you coming to a cultural institution where you are ready, waiting to get inside right.

And so the idea is that there's going to be a wait.

And so we want to make make sure that we meet all the guess where the you know where they are.

We want to make sure that we put our best foot forward, but it's it's all part of the practice.

I won't make excuses for it, right?

We want to make sure that we get over deliver.

But I think part of his process with dealing with food, right?

And we're dealing with products that we want to make sure that we could make the fresh is on time because it's not like it's food sitting at right that we're making from scratch.

And it's definitely things that we're doing with whole bunch of integrity.

But I mean, having long lines, this some some zappa or they want it.

>> I'm Andres.

So, you know, the young folks with guitars over guns, right, 14, 15, 16 years old.

Once you've played on stage with Eddie Vetter to what's next.

What's next for young people in about 45 seconds before?

And interesting.

I've my hope is one that they still able to be kids is that, you know, despite the fact that they had this very high level moment that they can still kind of like zoom back like, you know what?

I'm still >> And prepping for my first year, high school or whatever it might be.

But then on the other hand, there's some opportunities that present themselves for opportunities that present themselves, any veteran wants them to open up for him at the Madison.

And whenever program comes back.

So they got a lot of work to do.

I feel like I got to get them back in rehearsal manager had we played without a better.

All right.

That is where we have to leave it.

Congrats to both of you and Riyadh to Daniel Chef.

Cliff Rome.

Thank you for joining Thank you.

Appreciate you.

>> Up next, how an airport became a park right on Chicago's lakefront.

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

Black Voice.

>> Chicago has a magnificent park.

You may not know about.

And with this being the first week of summer, we thought we'd give you a history lesson about it.

Its on northerly island between the Old McCormick Place in Soldier Field.

And it used to be an airport.

So what happened?

Our Eunice Office on has the story in tonight's edition of WT TW News explains.

>> We all know O'Hare and but along the lakefront near Soldier Field in the other planetarium is a little strip of land that was once home to a small airport.

Makes field.

That was until one march morning.

A little over 20 years ago when the city will to find Mayor Richard Daley had the airport bulldozed in the middle of the daisha's covert bulldozing operation was the conclusion to years long political battle to the airport into what it is now.

Northerly Island park.

>> So how is this even possible?

First, let's back up.

>> By the Mid 20th Century makes field was the busiest single runway airport in the country.

It was primarily used by politicians and business elites to jet in and out of downtown.

But Mayor Richard Daley had other plans for the land.

Any peninsula.

That next.

on was owned by the Chicago Park District.

>> And for years, some Chicagoans daily included argues Lakefront Land should instead be used as a park open to all residents.

But a series of political deals and pushback from aviation and business advocates kept the airport open so daily hatched a plan.

>> By cover of night in March 2003, the mayor's demolition crew arrived at airport in car giant X's into the runway rendering it unusable.

And all of this was done without telling the City Council the state or the Federal Aviation Administration.

The surprise move left several planes stranded daily defended this time as unnecessary post 9.11 security measures to prevent planes from flying near downtown Chicago.

But critics and condensate the mayor was merely dodging a pro long and expensive legal battle with various groups fighting to keep their open.

No matter the purpose of the plot, Chicago had to pay the $33,000 fine and an additional 1 million dollars to repay grant funding.

Daley's midnight Caper became a textbook example of mayoral clout and makes field became Northerly Island Park.

>> Home to an outdoor concert venue Urban Nature.

Sanctuary.

>> And you can watch our whole series of explainers on our website.

Everything from how the city's grid system works to watch a cargos pension debt is so high.

Just go to W t tw dot com Slash explains.

And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

You can get Chicago tonight streamed on Facebook, YouTube and our Web site W T Tw Dot com Slash news and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 now for all of us here at Chicago Brandis Friedman, thanks for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law Chicago personal injury and wrongful death that