>>> IS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WILL JOIN US IN JUST A MOMENT.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> PEOPLE OF CHICAGO ARE COUNTING ON US TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> MAYOR BRENDA JOHNSON'S FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>> WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON A BALANCED BUDGET.

>>> AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

>>> WE ARE TESTING OUR OWN RUGS.

>>> AND REMEMBERING THE QUEEN OF ROCK 'N ROLL, TINA TURNER.

AND NOW TO BRANDIS FOR THE TOP STORY.

>>> BRANDON JOHNSON LEAPT FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE WHEN HE PRESIDED OVER HIS FIRST MEETING OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER JOINS US NOW.

HEATHER, ONE OF THESE DISSENTING VOTES CAME FROM THE ALDERMAN WHO WAS OUSTED AS THE FINANCIAL CHAIR.

>> I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A VOICE FOR INTEGRITY AND REFORM FOR THIS COUNCIL .

I LOOK FORWARD TO FORGING A PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP.

>> HEATHER, DIDN'T THE CITY COUNCIL DECLARE ITS INDEPENDENCE MONTHS AGO?

>> IT DID BUT IT WAS BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.

AGAIN, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO ALLOW A CHICAGO MARE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE COMMITTEE.

THIS ELEVATES SEVERAL KEY ALLIES OF BRANDON JOHNSON AND ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA WHO WILL SERVE AS COMMITTEE CHAIR AND HIS FLOOR LEADER.

IT ALSO REACHES AN OLIVE BRANCH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO DID NOT SUPPORT JOHNSON, INCLUDING WALTER BURNETT, WHO WILL SERVE AS ALDERMAN OF THE 27th WARD AND VICE MAYOR.

TRADITIONALLY THAT POSITION IS JUST CEREMONIAL, BUT HE WILL GET HIS OWN BUDGET IF A BUDGET CHANGES APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

YOU CAN SEE BRANDON JOHNSON AND BURNETT, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MAYORAL RACE, BUT THEY ARE VERY MUCH ON THE SAME SIDE NOW.

>> HE MAY HAVE WON THE VOTE, BUT THE PROPOSAL WAS BLOCKED TO EARMARK $51 TO CARE FOR THE BYRON'S TRANSPORTATION FROM TEXAS TO CHICAGO AMID A POLITICAL FIRESTORM.

HERE IS WHAT BRANDON JOHNSON SAID ABOUT HOW HE PLANS TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS THAT HAS EXACERBATED TENSIONS BETWEEN CHICAGOANS.

>> THE TENSION THAT WE ARE ALL FEELING HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD, FOR TOO LONG, BLACK RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HAD TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND THEIR AUSTERITY BUDGET.

IN FACT, IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE TESTIMONY, BLACK RESIDENTS ARE NOT LOOKING TO SEEK ASYLUM IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE UPSET ABOUT?

>> DOES THE MAYOR HAVE A VOTE?

>> THERE IS NO OTHER PLAN, BECAUSE THIS $51 MILLION WILL HELP THE 800 PEOPLE LIVING ON THE FLOORS OF POLICE STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY AS PART OF A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THE CITY CAN DO BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF JUNE.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE INCREASING PRESSURE ON MAYOR JOHNSON TO COME UP WITH A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO HOUSE, CLOTHE AND FEED THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING, AND THE CRISIS HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POLICE STATIONS HAS GROWN BY NEARLY 50%.

>> HEATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WILL SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

YOU CAN READ THE FULL COVERAGE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND NOW TO PARIS FOR MORE OF TODAY STOP STORIES.

>>> A TESTY EXCHANGE TODAY AT THE CHICAGO SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

>> I WANTED TO HEAR YOU OUT.

I DID NOT WANT YOU TO BE DEFAMING INDIVIDUALS.

YOU REFER TO OUR STAFF IS CORRUPT.

THAT IS DEFAMATION.

>> YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE ALDERMAN ASKING THE HEAD OF THE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION TO BE ESCORTED OUT.

>>> THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS SAYS THAT THE PLAN IS TO INCREASE EVERYDAY CYCLING BY CONNECTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAJOR DESTINATIONS AND CREATING A BIKE NETWORK.

IT WOULD MAKE CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE EXISTING TRAIL SYSTEM TO ELIMINATE GAPS, SETTING UP AREAS FOR NEW UPSTREAM TRAILS ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS.

>>> THE MUSIC WORLD MOURNS THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN OF ROCK 'N ROLL.

THAT IS OF COURSE THE UNMISTAKABLE, LEGENDARY TINA TURNER.

SHE DIED TODAY AT HER HOME IN SWITZERLAND AFTER A LONG ILLNESS.

SHE IS OF COURSE REVERED FOR HITS LIKE WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT AND ICONIC PERFORMANCES OF PROUD MARY.

SHE IS SEEN RIGHT HERE ON THE WTTW SOUNDSTAGE RIGHT BACK IN 1983.

THIS IS BEFORE HER COMEBACK MADE HER INTO A GLOBALSTAR.

TURNER WAS 83 YEARS OLD.

WE WILL HAVE MUSIC FROM TINA TURNER TO CLOSE OUT THIS PROGRAM LATER TONIGHT.

>>> AFTER A SLIGHT DETOUR, ILLINOIS IS BACK ON THE ROAD TO HAVING AN ON-TIME STATE BUDGET.

AND NOW AMANDA JOINS US FROM THE CAPITAL WITH THE VERY LATEST.

AMANDA?

>> Reporter: YES, HARRIS, THERE IS NO BUDGET BILL THAT HAS TECHNICALLY BEEN INTRODUCED.

WHEN I SPOKE TO MEMBERS EARLIER, THEY SAID IT IS JUST A STAND-IN.

IN REALITY THE SPENDING PLAN WILL RESEMBLE MORE AROUND $50 MILLION.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER COULD NOT SAY PRECISELY HOW MUCH THIS SPENDING PLAN IS GOING TO SPEND, JUST THAT IT WILL BE AROUND THAT $50 MILLION MARK.

SO PRITZKER STANDS FULLY BEHIND IT.

>> I WOULD BE PROUD TO SIGN THIS BUDGET WHEN IT ARRIVES ON MY DESK.

THIS BUDGET MEANS THAT WE ARE ON A PATH TO ELIMINATING CHILDCARE DESERTS, RELIEVING SOME OF THE BURDEN ON PARENTS WHO NEED TO WORK WHILE ENSURING KIDS GET QUALITY CARE.

>> THE PLAN ALSO PUTS MORE MONEY INTO K-12 SCHOOLS AND WILL ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES TO ATTEND COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY TUITION OR FEES.

DEMOCRATS SAY THAT THIS IS A PLAN THAT MAKES GOOD ON TWO OF THEIR PROMISED GOALS.

FOR ONE, THEY SAY, IT IS ABOUT BALANCE.

>> THIS AGREEMENT WILL CREATE ANOTHER BALANCED BUDGET THAT REINFORCES OUR STATE ECONOMIC STABILITY WHILE IMPROVING ON KEY PROMISES FOR THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

>> THEY ALSO SAY THAT IT REFLECTS THEIR PROGRESSIVE VALUES.

>> IT MAKES SMART INVESTMENTS AND IT IS COMPASSIONATE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUOUSLY SAY IS A TOP PRIORITY.

I TALKED TO THEM ALL THE TIME AND I ASK THEM TO REMEMBER OUR WHY.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

>> AMANDA, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WAS A ROADBLOCK BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES.

SO REFRESH US ON WHAT THAT WAS AND HOW IT WAS RESOLVED.

>> Reporter: IT IS A BIG ONE ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HEALTH CARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS , MORE, THE GOVERNOR SAID, THEN ILLINOIS COULD AFFORD IF IT WAS GOING TO COVER OTHER NEEDS.

WE DO NOT YET HAVE DETAILS ON HOW MUCH THIS SPENDING PLAN PROJECTS TO SPEND ON THAT PROGRAM, BUT THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WHAT THE DEAL IS CONTINGENT ON IS GETTING THE TOOLS , LIKE FOR EXAMPLE GETTING THE CO-PAY THAT WILL ALLOW HIS ADMINISTRATION TO REIN IN THOSE COSTS.

>> IT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD, BUT IN A BUDGET-FRIENDLY WAYS SO THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE HELP THEY NEED.

>> AS A REMINDER, IT IS A PROJECTED COST.

WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK SO FAR?

>> Reporter: WELL, IT IS EARLY YET.

WE STILL DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGET, AND I'M TOLD THE CONVERSATIONS ARE STILL ONGOING.

STILL, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS CLEARLY EXPECT MEMBERS OF THEIR PARTY TO BE ON BOARD.

THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOT IMPRESSED, CLEARLY, WITH THE PROPOSAL, STATED THAT HIS BUDGET COMES TO A PARTISAN WISH LIST, NOT A NEGOTIATION.

WITH COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT, DEMOCRATS WILL CONTINUE TO TAX AND SPEND.

ALSO, THE DISABLED HAVE BEEN SEEKING A $4.00 PER HOUR WAGE INCREASE.

THEY SAY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED.

THEY SAY THAT THIS PLAN GIVES ONLY HALF OF THAT.

IT IS SOMEWHAT EARLY FOR FEEDBACK TO A DEGREE, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHANGE.

THE NEW DEADLINE THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN THEMSELVES IS THIS FRIDAY.

IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THAT, THEN THE SENATE HAS TO HAVE A PLAN INTRODUCED ON PAPER BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMANDA.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT BECAUSE OF NEXT WE TAKE ON SPRINGFIELD AND CITY HALL, SO PLEASE STICK AROUND.

>>> AS WE JUST HEARD, A LOT OF ACTION FROM BOTH SPRINGFIELD AND THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL.

WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY!

PARIS, HEATHER, AMANDA.

STARTING WITH BRANDON JOHNSON PRESIDING OVER HIS FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, AND DESPITE SOME TOUGH VOTES, DEPLOYED HIS SENSE OF HUMOR TO KEEP THINGS LIGHT.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING RECORDED LIVE FROM NAPERVILLE.

>> THAT'S A DIG AT FOX NEWS.

AFTER THE MEETING HE HAD A TONGUE-IN-CHEEK ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> I DID NOT WANT TO MAKE THIS BREAKING NEWS TODAY BECAUSE MY WIFE IS WATCHING THIS, BUT IT IS MY INTENTION TO DEVELOP MY STAND-UP ROUTINE AND TAKE IT ON THE ROAD.

>> HOW DID OTHER PEOPLE REACT TO THE LESS COMBATIVE TONE THAN THEY ARE USED TO?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED BUT MAY HAVE BEEN SHOT BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A DIFFERENT TONE THAN LORI LIGHTFOOT TOOK.

JOHNSON'S FIRST INSTINCT IS TO POKE FUN AT HIMSELF AND EVERYBODY ELSE THERE AND TO BE COLLABORATIVE AND BRING EVERYBODY IN ON THE JOKE, BUT HE CAN ALSO BE POINTED.

THAT DIG AT FOX NEWS WAS BASED ON A FOX AND FRIENDS MORNING SHOW THAT PURPORTED TO TALK TO CHICAGOANS ABOUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT HIS ELECTION.

HE HAS GOT WET AND SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT SHARP.

>> AND LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT WHAT THE FORMER ALDERWOMAN SAID ABOUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE.

SHE SAID MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS A HABIT OF TAKING OFF EVERYONE SHE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH, AND THAT INCLUDES ALLIES.

WITH BRANDON JOHNSON, IF YOU HAVE TO TWIST A FEW ARMS, SO BE IT.

BUT 49 -1 IN JOHNSON'S FAVOR?

THIS IS NOT A VERY GOOD OPPOSITION BLOCK, HEATHER.

SO THERE WILL BE SOME INCREASED MARGINS HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL TO START OFF.

LIGHTFOOT DID NOT HAVE THESE.

>> HERE IS WHAT STATE LAWMAKER CHRIS JUDGE HAD TO SAY.

>> THIS IS BALANCED WITHOUT GIMMICKS.

THIS BUDGET IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, ACTUALLY COMPASSIONATE, TOO.

>> HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO REACH THE STEAL, AMANDA?

>> Reporter: THIS DEAL WAS A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT ONE THAT BROUGHT THE LEGISLATURE BACK TO WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.

THAT SAID, IT WAS A MATTER OF WHEN AND NOT IF.

I THINK THE TALKS ARE STILL ONGOING DESPITE THE FACT THAT A DEAL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED.

IT SHOWS DEMOCRATS ABLE TO GET THERE.

THEY HAD THE NUMBERS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IT DONE.

>> WAS THERE ANY OUTREACH OR INPUT FROM THE GOP ON THIS?

>> NO, WE ARE STILL ACTUALLY WAITING FOR FEEDBACK FROM THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES.

THE GOP WANTED TO START OUT WITH TALKS BUT THE SENATE REPUBLICANS SAID THEY WERE PART OF THINGS.

WE DO NOT YET HAVE ANY REAL FEEDBACK BEYOND THAT CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING.

SO THIS IS SORT OF A MODELED MESSAGE IN THAT WE HAVE A DEAL BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A REVENUE FIGURE OR A SPENDING FIGURE OR A BUDGET ON PAPER AND TALKS ARE STILL ONGOING.

>> DEMOCRATS REALLY DO NOT NEED REPUBLICANS IN THIS PROCESS.

IT IS GOOD TO INVOLVE ALL POINTS OF VIEW AND THEY NEED BIPARTISANSHIP MAYBE FOR APPEARANCES, BUT FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES THEY REALLY DO NOT NEED IT.

>> THAT IS SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

>>> OF NEXT, JANET JACKSON ON EXPANDING COLLEGE ACCESS FOR BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS.

>>> THE NONPROFIT AIMS TO REDUCE BARRIERS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS BY ALLOWING THEM TO ATTEND COLLEGE DEBT-FREE.

THE NEW REPORT FINDS THAT ENROLLMENT RATE AVERAGE 74% IN THE FIRST YEAR PARTNERING WITH FIVE CPS HIGH SCHOOLS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS JANICE JACKSON, CEO OF HOPE CHICAGO AND FORMER CEO OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

JANICE, WELCOME BACK.

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE WERE ABLE TO TALK WITH YOU.

SO HOPE CHICAGO SHARED THE RESOURCE YESTERDAY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DEBT-FREE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS LIKE YOURS.

SPECIFICALLY AMONG THE FINDINGS IT INTRODUCES A RACIAL BORROWING GAP .

BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BORROW $7000 MORE THAN WHITE STUDENTS WITH THE SAME EDUCATION.

HOW-TOS HOPE CHICAGO REMOVE THE FINANCIAL BARRIER?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING WE DO IS WE GET STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT OR MADE DIFFERENT CHOICES BECAUSE OF MONEY.

WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRST YEAR, WE CAN SEE RIGHT AWAY THAT STUDENTS ARE MAKING DIFFERENT CHOICES AND THEIR BEHAVIORS HAVE CHANGED TOWARDS COLLEGE BECAUSE FINANCES ARE NO LONGER AN ISSUE.

WE GO FURTHER BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT JUST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, BUT THAT IT REALLY DOES NARROW THE ECONOMIC AND WEALTH GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS AND WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

SOME OF THE IMPACTS ARE SHARED, BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ON THE BACK END WE ARE ABLE TO VIEW THE CITY AND THE STATE AS WELL.

>> WE SAW THAT RISING COLLEGE COSTS ARE BIG DEAL, ALSO.

>> WE ARE FALLING SHORT AND EDUCATING THEM AT THE HIGHER LEVELS.

WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR THE GLOBAL POSITIONING OF THE UNITED STATES?

THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE.

WHETHER IT BE THE QUALITY OF SCHOOLING THEY GOT LEADING UP TO COLLEGE OR THE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE IN ORDER TO ACCESS A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN PEOPLE QUESTION WHETHER COLLEGE IS EVEN WORTH IT GIVEN WHAT IT COSTS THESE DAYS?

>> FOR ONE, NOBODY EVER SAYS THAT ABOUT THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

WHEN WE START TO TALK ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS OR FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS BUT WHAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE A GREAT JOB IN THIS ECONOMY, YOU NEED TO HAVE A DEGREE.

THAT IS A FACT.

THE OTHER THING THAT I SAY IS THAT WE NEED AN EDUCATED POPULACE.

JUST LIKE WE MADE HIGH SCHOOL COMPULSORY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EDUCATING ENOUGH FOLKS.

>> WHAT OTHER KINDS OF SUPPORT CAN CHICAGO PROVIDE ?

IS THIS A NEW WORLD?

>> MONEY IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE.

YOU ALSO NEED WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS.

WE HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE 1 MILLION DEGREES.

ALL OF THEM HAVE RESEARCH PRACTICES WHERE THEY COME IN AND SUPPORT STUDENTS, WHETHER IT BE ACADEMICALLY OR REGARDING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES THAT THEY NEED.

>> STARTING NEXT YEAR , YOU HAVE NOT NECESSARILY BEEN A BIG PROPONENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

>> WE NEED TO START ORGANIZING OURSELVES AROUND THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW, MOST PARENTS COULD NOT TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THIS NEW GOVERNANCE UPDATE.

MOST OF OUR STUDENTS ARE BLACK AND LATINO.

THEY SHOULD BE REPRESENTED, AND I AM WORRIED THAT IT IS MOVING TOO QUICKLY WITHOUT ENOUGH OVERSIGHT AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.

THE OTHER THING THAT I HIGHLIGHTED YESTERDAY IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE IS A LOT THAT HAPPENS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE AROUND SCHOOLING, QUALITY OF SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HOWEVER IT IS ORGANIZED, THERE ARE CHAMPIONS THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN COMPETE.

>> WE HAVE JUST COUPLE OF SECONDS LEFT.

YOU KNOW, THE ANNIVERSARY OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS THIS WEEK AS WELL.

HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON THAT?

>> I THINK IT IS PART OF THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE TO LEARN FROM THE PAST.

I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE THE LARGEST SCHOOL CLOSING IN OUR HISTORY, AND THAT IS WHEN OUR SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SCHOOL CLOSING AND HOW WE FIX IT MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WANT TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT.

>> JANICE JACKSON, WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT ALL THIS STUFF ANOTHER TIME.

THANK YOU!

>>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> IF YOU EVER WANTED TO MAKE YOUR OWN RUG, AND WHO HASN'T, WE MIGHT HAVE THE PLACE FOR YOU.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL ITO INTRODUCES US TO A TUFT IN CLASS IN BRIDGEPORT THAT AIMS TO BRING MORE FUN TO THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> I REALLY LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I REALLY WANT TO BRING SOMETHING MORE FUN TO BRIDGEPORT.

>> Reporter: FREESTYLE CERAMICS WAS BORN.

>> WE FIRST STARTED WITH CERAMICS, BECAUSE CERAMICS HAVE NO AGE LIMIT.

>> Reporter: LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THEY EXPANDED BEYOND CERAMICS TO INCLUDE FREESTYLE TUFTING , A NEW CONCEPT THAT ALLOWS ANYONE TO MAKE THEIR OWN RUG.

>> WE GOT A LOT OF PHONE CALLS.

AFTER ONE MONTH WE STARTED TUFTING.

PEOPLE SAID I WANT TO BOOK ONLINE AND YOU GUYS HAVE NO AVAILABILITY.

>> Reporter: WHAT STARTED AS A TEAM QUICKLY EXPANDED TO 24.

>> YOU SEE THE YARN HERE.

IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON TOP OF THE MARKERS.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE FUN PART?

ARE YOU READY TO TRY?

SO YOU JUST PUSH IN.

VERY GOOD.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME?

AGAIN, THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG.

WHAT WE USE IS ALSO THE NEWEST ON THE MARKET.

IF YOU DO NOT USE THE GUN CORRECTLY, IT IS EASY TO POKE A HOLE.

SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIX ANY OF THESE ISSUES.

WITH THE SMALLEST SIZE OFFER TAKING ABOUT THREE HOURS, THE ONLY REQUIREMENT TO DO WELL IS TO HAVE FUN.

>> YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY HAVE TO BE AN ARTIST IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM ANGEL ITO.

>> LOOK AT THAT!

BEAUTIFULLY DONE.

THE COMPANY CHARGES A $10 STUDIO FEE.

WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT!

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

RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY ARE CELEBRATING ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH.

>>> AND A ROUSING REVIVAL OF A GOSPEL MUSICAL HITS THE STAGE WITH AN ALL-STAR CHICAGO STAGE.

AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH MORE OF TINA TURNER RECORDED AT THE SOUNDSTAGE IN 1983.

HERE SHE IS PERFORMING ONE OF HER ICONIC SONGS, NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND THE CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A