>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON TO CONGO -- ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>>> ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE ON CHICAGO EXPRESSWAYS.

>> CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A MEASURE KEEPING BUS AND BIKE LANES CLEAR.

>> THE TOWNSHIP HAS MORE SERVICES.

>> CHICAGO BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW.

>>> WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL ARTIST WHO COMES THE SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN IN SEARCH OF ARTISTIC INSPIRATION.

NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

AN 18-YEAR-OLD MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER WILL BE HELD WITHOUT BAIL.

THE SUSPECT IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES INCLUDING FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, BUT REMAINS IN THE HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

HE THREATENED TO GET A GUN , THE STATE'S ATTORNEY SAYS DURING THE FOOT CHASE THE SUSPECT TURNED AND FIRED THREE SHOTS AT OFFICER ANDRES VASQUEZ-LASSO, STRIKING HIM IN THE LEFT TEMPLE, FOREARM AND CALF .

THERE IS MORE ON THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED SNOW FOR THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE TERRITORY .

MOST PARTS OF THE CITY SAW LITTLE TO NO PRECIPITATION.

HARDLY A DROP OR FLAKE AT ALL.

IT IS, HOWEVER, SUPPOSED TO BE A WINDY NIGHT.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MILES PER HOUR.

>> ILLINOIS OFFICIALS ARE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO FILLING THE STATE OFFICE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

THEY ARE PROPOSING A TEACHER PIPELINE GRANT PROGRAM DIRECTING $70 MILLION PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO 170 SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH THE GREATEST NEED.

>> THESE SHORTAGES DON'T AFFECT DUDEN'S EQUALLY.

THESE ARE CONCENTRATED IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STEM.

THIS IS WHY THE PIPELINE PROGRAM WILL TARGET THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

>> THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHOWS ILLINOIS SCHOOLS REPORTED MORE THAN 3500 UNFILLED TEACHING POSITIONS AS OF LAST FALL CONCENTRATED IN HIGH NEEDS SUBJECTS AND UNDER RESOURCED SCHOOLS.

>>> CHICAGO GETS A PILE OF MONEY TO HELP TACKLE THE OPIOID PANDEMIC.

SOME OF THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE EXPANDED ACCESS IN A LOG ZONE AND FENTANYL TEST STRIPS.

TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER AND --.

THE STATE IS EXPECTED TO SEE $437 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 18 YEARS IN OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY.

>>> COMING UP, A PILOT PROGRAM TO TICKET --.

>> FIRST, HOW POLICE ARE WORKING TO KEEP EXPRESSWAYS SAFE.

>>> DESPITE A RECENT SHOOTING KILLING TWO TEENAGERS AND AN INFANT, POLICE SAY TACTICS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE ON EXPRESSWAYS ARE WORKING.

A RECENT STATE REPORT SHOWS THERE WERE 140 SHOOTINGS IN 2022 LEADING TO THREE DEATHS COMPARED TO 264 SHOOTINGS IN 2021 WITH 24 DEATHS.

THAT IS A 47% DECREASE IN SHOOTINGS.

HERE TO DISCUSS THESE TACTICS AND TALK ABOUT EXPRESSWAY SHOOTINGS IS DIRECTOR BRENDAN KELLY.

WE ARE NOW TWO MONTHS INTO 2023 AND WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN A FEW EXPRESSWAY SHOOTINGS.

AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED.

WHAT ARE THE TACTICS YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE USING TO ADDRESS THIS KIND OF GUN VIOLENCE?

>> IT IS A SERIOUS CHALLENGE.

WE ARE SEEING THIS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

IT HAS BUILT INCREASINGLY.

THE VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

THIS GOES BACK TO THE 1980S .

THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE BUT WE HAVE ADJUSTED OUR TACTICS AND MADE MAJOR CHANGES TO HOW WE OPERATE FOCUSING ON THE VIOLENCE OCCURRING ON THE EXPRESSWAYS.

WE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THOSE TACTICS.

ADJUSTING THE TIMEFRAME, WE HAVE MADE CHANGES.

WE SEE A 47% REDUCTION , AS MENTIONED.

IN 2022 AN 88% DECREASE IN SHOOTINGS THAT LED TO HOMICIDES AND ALSO A 70s PERCENT INCREASE IN STOLEN OR HIJACKED VEHICLES WE ARE RECOVERING ON THE EXPRESSWAYS.

THE WAY WE ARE DOING THAT REQUIRES US TO FOCUS MORE ON CRIMES ON THE HOW, HIGHWAY , NOT JUST THE TRADITIONAL TACTICS , THE FOCUS ON THE MOST DANGEROUS THREATS USING MORE PEOPLE , USING MORE TROOPERS AND SPECIAL AGENTS DEVOTED TO THIS EFFORT, USING TECHNOLOGY LIKE LICENSE PLATE READERS.

>> DIRECTOR YOU MENTIONED THAT TECHNOLOGY AND YOU MENTIONED YOUR OFFICE WITH LICENSE PLATE CAMERA READERS.

HOW DID THOSE WORK AND HELP UTRECHT ON PERPETRATORS?

>> THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS PROVEN TO BE A REAL GAME CHANGER.

THIS IS NOT BIG BROTHER, THIS IS A LICENSE PLATE READING TECHNOLOGY FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC TYPES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

THE TYPE OF ACTIVITY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS EVENING.

WE USE IT NOT JUST TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SUSPECTS, BUT TO BE ABLE TO CORROBORATE REPORTS FROM VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT HAVE OCCURRED ON THE EXPRESSWAYS AND ALSO FIND POTENTIAL VICTIMS.

THE TYPE OF SHOOTING YOU HAVE ON THE EXPRESSWAY IS VERY DIFFERENT AND THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY IN SOLVING THOSE CASES IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN A TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD TYPE OF GUN VIOLENCE.

THE EVIDENCE IS SPREAD OUT OVER HUNDREDS OF FEET, SOMETIMES MILES DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T EVEN REALIZE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY SAW.

THE WITNESSES WHO MAY HAVE SEEN SOMETHING BUT KEPT DRIVING ALONG, THEY WERE COMING FROM INDIANA ILLINOIS ALL THE WAY UP TO WISCONSIN, THEY MAY NOT REALIZE WHAT THEY SAW.

THEY COULD HAVE RELEVANT INFORMATION THAT ALLOWS US TO SOLVE THESE CASES.

WE ARE USING THE LICENSE PLATE TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF VICTIMS WHO ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY OFFENDERS AND IDENTIFY WITNESSES TO HELP US SOLVE THESE CASES AND SEND THE MESSAGE THAT THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO SOLVING THESE SHOOTINGS, WHAT KIND OF FORENSIC TECHNOLOGY IS IN PLAY, AS WELL?

>> WE ARE USING EVERY TOOL WE HAVE.

WE DO ALL THE FORENSIC DISCIPLINES , NOT JUST FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, BUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

OUR LABS ARE VERY BUSY.

WE HAVE APPLIED ALL OUR TECHNOLOGY TO THE CHALLENGE ON THE EXPRESSWAYS.

IN ADDITION TO BE ABLE TO USE FORENSICS TO DETERMINE THE TYPES OF WEAPONS , WE ARE ALSO USING A NEW TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO GET SMALL PIECES OF DNA OFF OF SHELL CASINGS RECOVERED AT CRIMES.

THIS IS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE ROLLED THIS OUT AND TESTED IT THROUGH INVESTIGATIONS IN CHICAGO.

IT IS ALREADY LEADING TO BREAKTHROUGHS IN CASES.

WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT IS APPLIED IN THE COURTROOM.

ALSO, IT MAY MAKE THEM THINK TWICE KNOWING WE HAVE LICENSE PLATE READERS, AIRPLANES IN THE AIR, 110 MORE TROOPERS ON AVERAGE , WE HAVE THIS DNA TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE USING, WE ARE USING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE VIOLENCE ON THE EXPRESSWAY.

>> ILLINOIS STATE POLICE, YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN RECOVERING MORE GUNS AS PART OF YOUR EFFORTS.

IN ADDITION TO INVESTIGATING SHOOTINGS, WHAT OTHER CRIMES OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ARE YOU ABLE TO INVESTIGATE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL TROOPS?

>> AS A RESULT OF US PIVOTING AND FOCUSING MORE ON THE VIOLENT CRIMES , THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENSES THAT ARE OCCURRING ON THE EXPRESSWAYS AND HAVING THAT POSITIVE ADDITIONAL PRESENCE, WE ARE RECOVERING WAY MORE GUNS THAN WE USED TO.

THOSE ARE GUNS THAT COULD BE USED IN ANY TYPE OF VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE GUNS LEADING TO TERRIBLE DEATHS.

WE ARE ABLE TO SEIZE THEM AND CORRELATE THEM WITH OTHER CRIMES.

THAT HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF OUR TROOPERS.

LOOKING BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL TRAFFIC STOP, IN ADDITION TO RECOVERING FIREARMS, WE HAVE GREATLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF STOLEN VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN THROUGH VEHICULAR HIJACKINGS, THAT IS AN AMAZING EFFORT OUR FOLKS HAVE PUT INTO THIS PROCESS REALLY SHOWING TERRIFIC RESULTS.

IT IS RECORD-BREAKING, AT LEAST FOR THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER THIS MANY VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN, NOT JUST ON EXPRESSWAYS, BUT ALL PARTS OF THE STATE.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER THOSE VEHICLES, MAKE ARRESTS, WE ARE ABLE TO RETURN THE VEHICLES TO THE OWNERS.

>> GUNS, STOLEN VEHICLES, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE EXPRESSWAY VIOLENCE.

A LOT OF MILEAGE FOR YOU AND THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE TO COVER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE PROUD OF OUR PEOPLE AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING TO PROTECT THEM.

>>> UP NEXT, A NEW PLAN TO KEEP CYCLISTS SAFE.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

STAY WITH US.

>>> NEW EFFORTS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE ON WHEELS OR ON FOOT IS ONE STEP AWAY FROM, APPROVAL.

HEATHER THIS PROPOSAL WAS FRONTED BY FATAL CRASHES.

THE ONE THAT KILLED A 40-YEAR-OLD AND ONE THAT KILLED A TWO-YEAR-OLD.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT THE ALDERMAN SAID DURING TODAY'S MEETING .

>> THEY SHOULD BOTH BE ALIVE TODAY, BUT I KNOW THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY WILL KEEP MORE FOLKS SAFE.

>> HOW WILL THIS PROPOSAL WORK?

>> IT WILL ALLOW CITY , THE CITY TO MOUNT CAMERAS ON BUSES, POLLS AND OTHER CITY VEHICLES IN ORDER TO SNAP PICTURES OF THE LICENSE PLATE OF THE CARS BLOCKING THE BUSES.

THIS COULD END UP GETTING A TICKET SENT TO YOU IN THE MAIL, TOO.

>> THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN RECENT MONTHS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ACTED TO TRY TO PREVENT DEATHS ON THE ROADS.

WHAT OTHER CHANGES HAVE A MAID?

>> THE CITY WILL NOW ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OFFICIALS TO TICKET CARS THEY SEE PARKED IN BIKE AND BUS LANES.

BEFORE, IT HAD TO BE AN OFFICER WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT CHANGE WAS PROMPTED BY THE DEATH OF A LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS RIDING ON HER MOTHER'S BICYCLE.

>> SUCH A TRAGIC INCIDENT.

THERE IS ALSO AN EFFORT TO MAKE CONSTRICTION OF THE ROADS SAFER.

HOW WILL THAT WORK?

>> MOST ROADS WERE DESIGNED FOR CARS, THE MEASURE AUTHORED BY THE ALDERMAN SEEKS TO CHANGE THAT.

WHEN THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BUILT THE NEW ROAD OR REBUILT AN OLD ROAD, THIS MEASURE IS DESIGNED TO FORCE THEM TO CONSIDER HOW IT WOULD IMPACT PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, SCOOTERS, SO THAT PEOPLE NOT IN A CAR OR TRUCK ARE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

>> THE LIKELIHOOD OF PASSING?

>> BOTH MEASURES PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND BOTH HAVE SUPPORT OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

>> WHAT IS THE PILOT PROGRAM AREA?

>> THIS WILL ONLY BE IN EFFECT DOWNTOWN.

IT WILL NOT AFFECT OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES FOR CYCLISTS.

IT IS MUCH MORE DENSE WITH CARS COMING IN AND OUT OF DRIVEWAYS.

THERE ARE SOME WHO WANT TO SEE IT EXPANDED CITYWIDE BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL AND MORE STUDY IS REQUIRED.

>>> YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE .

>>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHICAGO!

HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY.

WE HAVE THE STORY OF HOW I ONCE SMALL BUT MIGHTY CITY GOBBLED UP SURROUNDING LANDS TO BECOME THE CITY WE KNOW AND LOVE TODAY.

>> MARCH 4, 1837, CHICAGO WAS A CITY OF JUST 10 SQUARE MILES.

THE ORIGINAL BORDERS WERE TIGHT.

WOULD SUITE, WOOD STREET AND 22nd STREET TO NORTH AVENUE.

HOW DID THE CITY GET SO BIG?

STARTING IN THE 1850S, CHICAGO BEGAN SWALLOWING UP SURROUNDING LANDS.

NOT IN A CONQUEST, BUT MOSTLY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ANNEXATION.

SUBURBAN RESIDENTS VOTED TO BECOME CITY DWELLERS.

TOWNSHIPS GOT MORE MUNICIPAL SERVICES IN THE CITY GOT TO EXPAND.

THE BIGGEST BLOCK OF ANNEXATION HAPPENED IN 1889 AHEAD OF THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.

HYDE PARK , LAKE AND LAKEVIEW VOTED TO JOIN CHICAGO BRINGING A WHOPPING 125 SQUARE MILES AND MORE THAN 200,000 RESIDENTS.

ANNEXATION WASN'T ALWAYS SMOOTH SAILING.

MORGAN PARK'S ANNEXATION VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY FAVORED BY WOMEN VOTERS WAS HELD UP IN COURT FOR THREE YEARS.

AND, THE ISLAND OF NORTHWEST SUBURBS STAYED AUTONOMOUS.

AFTER DECADES , CHICAGO SLOWED ITS ROLE.

THE CITY STARTED RUNNING INTO SUBURBS WITH WELL EYED, WELL-ESTABLISHED IDENTITIES OF THEIR OWN.

THE LAST EXPANSION WAS IN 1956 WHEN CHICAGO TOOK OVER THE LAND AT O'HARE AIRPORT.

SO, THAT'S THE STORY OF CHICAGO'S START AND HOW THE REST WAS WON.

>>> WHERE YOU HAVE IT.

YOU CAN SEE THIS AND OTHER ANIMATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> ONE OF THE HOTLY CONTESTED RACES WAS IN CHICAGO'S 14 TOWARD.

THE LONGTIME ALDERMAN --.

OUR COLLEAGUE SPOKE WITH GUTIERREZ AND BEGAN BY ASKING HER ABOUT HER APPROACH TO IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY IS SAFE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE PD IS WELL-EQUIPPED AND THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AND OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO BRING RESOURCES .

>> WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> I AM A FORMER EDUCATOR.

I HAVE BEEN A DISTRICT DIRECTOR IN COOK COUNTY.

OFTEN TIMES, I HAVE SEEN THE DISPARITY AND INEQUITIES IN OUR WARD.

SINCE I CAME TO CHICAGO, I ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WAS THE ISSUE, WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?

THEN I STARTED GETTING INVOLVED IN I REALIZED IT IS BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAD.

>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST NEED YOU SEE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

>> WE NEED TO REVIVE THE OFFICE.

WE KNOCKED ON SO MANY DOORS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

THEY ARE ALWAYS TELLING US THEY ARE PICKING AND CHOOSING WHO TO SERVE.

SOME ARE NEGLECTED AND FORGOT.

WE JUST NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE REQUEST IS TAKING CARE OF IN A TIMELY MANNER.

ALWAYS WITH A HAPPY FACE AND BEING ABLE TO TALK AND LISTEN .

>> YOU WERE ENDORSED BY --.

AS WE KNOW, HE DID NOT MAKE THE RUNOFF.

HAVE YOU MADE UP YOUR MIND ON WHO YOU ARE BACKING IN THE RACE?

>> I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY 14 TOWARD IS GOING TO BE TAKING CARE OF.

I WILL CHECK THEIR POLICIES AND INTENTIONS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE BACKUP THE BEST OPTION.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 .

AT NEXT, WE MEET A CHICAGO ARTIST TO GETS HIS INSPIRATION AND MATERIALS ON THE BEACH.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> DISCOVERY IS CENTRAL TO THE WORK OF AN ARTIST WHO SEEKS AND FINDS ALL KINDS OF THINGS ON THE SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

HE MAKES ARTWORK OUT OF SEEMINGLY NOTHING, SIFTING THE SAND FOR DEBRIS LEFT BY PEOPLE AND NATURE.

WE FIRST MET HIM A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

WE GET THIS PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A BEACHCOMBER.

>> HE CREATES COMPELLING COMPOSITIONS TO DOCUMENT A PLACE OR SUGGEST AN IDEA OR MAKE A VISUAL PUN.

IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE DAY AT THE BEACH.

>> TWO PARTS OF MY MIND ARE WORKING WHEN I AM WALKING ALONG THE BEACH.

ONE OF WHICH, I AM SEARCHING FOR THINGS , MY EYES ARE TUNED INTO WHAT IS ON THE GROUND, SHAPES, COLORS , BUT I ALSO DO FIND IT A MEDITATIVE THING.

I LIKE TO WORK THINGS OUT IN MY HEAD AND THINK ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS, WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TODAY.

MAYBE WORK OUT SOME OF THE MESSY STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN LIFE.

>> HE CAREFULLY ARRANGES THE THINGS HE FINDS.

HE PHOTOGRAPHS THEM ON HIS iPHONE AND PRINCE THE PICTURES ON RECYCLED ALUMINUM.

HE HUNTS FOR THESE UNEXPECTED TREASURES YEAR-ROUND.

>> THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I FEEL LIKE I AM IN THE ELEMENTS.

THERE ARE HEAVY WINDS AND BIG WAVES.

SOMETIMES THE SAND BLOWS ACROSS THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND AND GETS RIGHT AT YOU.

I KIND OF LIKE THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN ALL THE SEASONS AND FEELING WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE TO BE OUT THERE.

YOU CAN'T FEEL THAT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN YOUR HOUSE.

>> THE PROJECT STARTED NEARLY 10 YEARS AGO WHEN HE SHARED HIS PHOTOS WITH FAMILY.

HE WAS NOTICED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND NOW HAS A SECOND SHOW AT THE DIME.

>> IT TOOK ME A FEW YEARS FOR ME TO CONVINCE HIM HE IS AN ARTIST.

IT IS THIS ONGOING ARTISTIC DIALOGUE.

IT TELLS US A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE KEEP, WHAT WE REVERE, WHAT WE DISCARD.

>> EVERY WALK ALONG THE LAKEFRONT YIELDS MATERIAL FOR THE NEXT ARTFUL DISPLAY THAT MIGHT INCLUDE FIREWORKS, CHILDREN'S TOYS, OR SOMETHING MORE OMINOUS.

>> WHEN I AM AT HOME AND LOOKING AT THINGS ON THE WORKTABLE, AS I PUT THEM TOGETHER , IT IS AS IF I AM PUTTING A PUZZLE BACK TOGETHER.

I ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS , IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DRIFTWOOD OR PEACH PITS OR GOOSE FEATHERS, THEY ARE ALL ONE SOMETHING THAT WAS ALIVE.

NOW THEY HAVE JUST BEEN LEFT ON THE BEACH.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF GIVING THEM LIFE AGAIN.

>> HE IS RELATIVELY NEW TO MAKING ART BUT FREQUENTLY WORKS WITH ARTISTS.

FOR DECADES, HE HAS WORKED FOR A CHICAGO-BASED CONCERT PROMOTER.

>> I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK I AM A LONELY OLD MAN WHO WALKS AROUND AND PICKS UP LITTER.

I FEEL LIKE I AM REALLY ENGAGED WHEN I AM OUT IN THE MORNING.

LOOKING FOR THINGS AND THINKING ABOUT THINGS.

I HAVE SOME MUSIC AND THERE IS A MEDITATIVE QUALITY TO IT.

IT IS A PRETTY GREAT RITUAL.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> HIS LATEST EXHIBITION IS CALLED PICK UP THE PIECES, BLACK AND WHITE AND COLOR.

IT OPENS TONIGHT IN HUMBOLDT PARK AND RUNS THROUGH THE END OF APRIL.

YOU CAN SEE MORE OF HIS WORK ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCASTS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00.

>>> HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING SNAP BENEFITS WILL SEE A DECREASE THIS MONTH.

>>> AT 6:30, BLACK VOICES, A NEW SCHOLARSHIP TO SUPPORT STUDENTS ON THEIR WAY TO BECOMING COMMUNITY LEADERS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.