>>> HEY, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>>> OUR MEMBERS DESERVE TRANSPARENCY.

OUR MEMBERS DESERVE DEMOCRACY.

>> DISCORD WITHIN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION , BIG IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR.

SOME OF THEM SPENDING POTENTIALLY VIOLATING STATE LAW.

>>> ANYTHING JOE ENDORSEMENT IS MUCH TIME AND MONEY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

>> OLDER PEOPLE FRUSTRATED OVER POLICE PRESS RESPONSE TO OFFICERS TIED TO EXTREMIST GROUPS.

THAT AND MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>>> KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, ESSENTIALLY, AND SAID, ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING WITH THAT?

>>> LEARN HOW THE CHICAGO AREA'S MAJOR WATER TREATMENT AGENCY IS USING A BYPRODUCT FROM LOWER BREWERIES.

>>> WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE AFRAID.

>> A SNEAK PEEK OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH DOLORES WHERE TALK, THE LONGTIME LABOR ACTIVIST BUT WIND THE ANTHEM.

>>> AND THE U.S. IS FACING A NATIVE SEED SHORTAGE.

THEY LOOK AT WHY THAT MATTERS.

AND LOCAL ETHICS TO HELP DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION IS UNDER FIRE FROM WITHIN , AND THE UNION HAS BEEN FORCED TO MAKE CHANGES TO SOME OF THE ELECTIONS FILINGS OR RISK VIOLATING STATE LAW.

THE UNION HAS BEEN FRONT AND CENTER WITH THE PART OF ONE OF ITS OWN, BRANDON JOHNSON, AS A CANDIDATE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

THE BIG BUCKS IN ELECTION ACTIONS ARE NOW CAUSING SOME TEACHERS UNION MEMBERS TO SPEAK OUT.

>> A CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE HAS DONATED MORE THAN $1 MILLION SO FAR TO THE MAYORAL CAMPAIGN OF BRANDON JOHNSON, AND UNION LEADERSHIP IS ALL IN ON THE CANDIDATE, WHO IS ALSO A PAID CTU OFFICER AND COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

BUT THAT SUPPORT IS HARDLY UNANIMOUS AMONG THE 27,000 RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS OF THE UNION , WHICH SOME SAY IS MORE IDEOLOGICALLY DIVERSE THAN LEADERSHIP LETS ON.

>> REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, CONSERVATIVES, PROGRESSIVES, LIBERTARIAN, GREEN PARTY, AND SO FORTH.

EVERY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD .

>> A GROUP OF CTU MEMBERS MET WITH ME THIS WEEK EAGER TO AIR THEIR FRUSTRATION AT HOW MUCH OF THEIR DUES MONEY IS SUPPORTING THE UNIONS POLITICAL AMBITIONS.

IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS, THE CHICAGO TEACHER UNION LOADED TOTAL OF $415,000 TO TWO POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES IT CONTROLS.

THOSE COMMITTEES, CHAIRED BY UNION PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS GATES, HAS SPENT LARGELY ON JOHNSON'S CAMPAIGN AND A HANDFUL OF CITY COUNCIL RACES.

MEMBERS SAY THE LOAN WAS MADE BEHIND THEIR BACKS WITHOUT HAVING THE CHANCE TO VOTE ON IT.

>> MEMBERS WEREN'T NOTIFIED.

IF ANY OF US WERE NOTIFIED BY GOING ONTO THE WEBSITE AND SIGNING OUT THAT THIS MONEY WAS DONATED, AND IT WASN'T DONE IN A TRANSPARENT WAY.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, UNION OFFICIALS SAY THE MONEY WILL BE REPAID TO THE UNION FROM FUTURE PACK REVENUES, WHICH COME FROM VOLUNTARY DUES PAID BY TEACHERS UNION MEMBERS.

IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THE UNION LOANED TO A POLITICAL COMMITTEE.

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE REPORTS A LOAN OF MORE THAN $300,000 TO A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE IN 2015.

TEACHERS UNION MEMBERS SAY THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE BULK OF THAT MONEY TO BE REPAID, AND THEY SAY THEY EXPECT A SIMILAR RESULT THIS TIME.

>> SHOW OF HANDS, WHO BELIEVES THAT THAT MONEY'S GOING TO BE PAID BACK?

NOBODY REALLY BELIEVES THAT THAT MONEY'S COMING BACK.

WHY NOT?

OUR EXPERIENCE, AS UNION MEMBERS, IS THAT WE'VE LOANED ANOTHER CANDIDATE DURING ANOTHER ELECTION MONEY, AND IT NEVER WAS REPAID.

>> Reporter: THE LOAN IS NOT ONLY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT MIGHT ALSO BE ILLEGAL.

STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SPOKE IN MATT DIETRICH SAID THE BOARD SENT A LETTER TO THE UNION.

ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, LABOR ORGANIZATIONS CAN'T GET A PACK MORE THAN $27,400, AND BY LAW CANNOT LOAN MONEY.

>> WE HAVE TO BE A LOAN FROM A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, AND IN THIS CASE, IT IS A LOAN FROM A LABOR ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS TREATED AS A CONTRIBUTION , WHICH MEANS IT'S SUBJECT TO THE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.

>> Reporter: CTU HAS SPENT BIG ON JOHNSON AND A NUMBER OF CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE RACES IN THE LAST YEAR, AND HAS SPENT THOUSANDS DIRECTLY ON NAYLOR'S SUPPORTING JOHNSON.

SOME MEMBERS WORRY THE UNION IS RUNNING OUT OF MONEY.

SOME ARE THE ONLY OPTION LEFT IS TO RAISE DUES, WHICH ALREADY AVERAGE AROUND $1200 PER YEAR PER MEMBER.

>> THOSE RESOURCES COULD BE USED FOR A STRIKE FUND, AND THEY'RE NOT.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS, BY MEMBERS BECOMING DISENCHANTED WITH THE UNION, BY MEMBERS WANTING TO PULL THEIR DUES , THIS IS GOING TO, GOING TO DISSIPATE OUR -- >> Reporter: ATTORNEY FOR THE CHICAGO -- TOLD ME ILLINOIS -- THEY WOULD -- THAT FILING TO MAKE -- NOT AS A LOAN, A DONATION OF -- UNION DUES -- ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION.

THAT CHANGE -- MAKE THEM -- WITH THE LAW, BUT -- RAISES QUESTIONS OR NOT THE UNION COULD'VE MADE THAT DONATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF ITS MEMBERS.

MANY OF THE UNION MEMBERS I SPOKE WITH BELONG TO FACTIONS WITHIN THE UNION THAT HAVE OPPOSED THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP.

MS. ESPOSITO BASKET, WHO YOU PROPOSE THERE, IN THE LAST UNION ELECTION.

BUT THEY ALL SAY THEY ARE NOT WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING FOR ANY OTHER CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR.

>>> AND IN OTHER NEWS TONIGHT, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS INVEST $76 MILLION TO UPGRADE SECURITY CAMERAS IN SCHOOLS FOR STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY.

THE INVESTMENT WILL BE OVER THREE YEARS, AND ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT, QUOTE, A CRITICAL PART OF CBS'S COMPETENCE OF SAFETY INITIATIVES.

THE NEWS CONFERENCE SAID ELI WHITNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CPS CEO PEDRO MARTINEZ EXPLAIN HOW SCHOOLS WOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR THE CAMERA UPGRADES.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT ENROLLMENT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT CURRENT CAMERA CONDITIONS.

AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF SAFETY INCIDENTS TAKING PLACE AT THE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF CRIMINAL INCIDENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY NEAR THE SCHOOL.

>> ASKED ABOUT THE NEW EXPENDITURE ON SECURITY CAMERAS, CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION VICE PRESIDENT JACKSON POTTER HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> WE HAVE TO EXAMINE HOW IT'S BEING UTILIZED AND WHERE IT'S BEING UTILIZED TO ENSURE ITS EQUITABLY, AND IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY GOING TO KEEP SCHOOL COMMUNITIES SAFE.

>> AND YOU CAN READ MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS AREA ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> TRAVELERS PASSING THROUGH O'HARE WILL NOW BE ABLE TO AVOID SOME BIG-TIME HASSLES.

FROM MARCH 1st, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PASSENGERS IN TRANSIT WILL BE ABLE TO USE A SECURE BUS SERVICE BETWEEN TERMINAL FIVE AND TERMINALS ONE AND THREE.

SOON TO BE RESUME SERVICE, WHICH WAS SUSPENDED IN MARCH 2020, WILL MAKE IT FAR EASIER FOR PASSENGERS WITH CONNECTING FLIGHTS.

CURRENTLY, PASSENGERS HAVE TO EXIT SECURITY, USE THE AIRPORT TRANSITION SYSTEM TO REACH THE CONNECTING TERMINAL, AND THEN BE RESCREENED BEFORE ENTERING THE SECURE AREA.

>>> AND A WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT.

THE WINTER STORM BRINGS FREEZING RAIN AND TREACHEROUS ICY DRIVING CONDITIONS TO NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

THE ADVISORY FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 A.M.

TOMORROW.

THE IMPACT NORTHERN COOK COUNTY COLUMN ALONG WITH LAKE OGLE, DeKALB, AND KANE COUNTY'S.

DRIVERS ARE ADVISED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION, AS ICY PATCHES CONFORM ON UNTREATED BRIDGES AND SECONDARY ROADS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MILES PER HOUR.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.

>>> AND UP NEXT, OFFICERS TIED TO EXTREMIST GROUPS.

THE MAYOR'S RACE AND FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS VISITED ILLINOIS.

ALL THOSE STORIES AND MORE WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> PRETTY STARTLING ADMISSION FROM A CHICAGO POLICE DEPUTY CHIEF AT A HEATED HEARING ABOUT AN OFFICER WITH ADMITTED TIES TO THE ANTIGOVERNMENT OATH KEEPERS.

AND THERE'S LESS THAN A WEEK LEFT IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD.

ALL THAT AND MORE IN THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

JOINING US NOW ARE OUR GOOD FRIENDS, AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER SUPPOSE, MY VERY GOOD FRIENDS.

SO FIRST TONIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WITH CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT LEADERS OVER KEEPING AN OFFICER WITH TIES TO TWO RIGHT-WING GROUPS, THE OATH KEEPERS AND THE PROUD BOYS.

>> IT SOMEONE TODAY SAID I AM A MEMBER OF THE OATH KEEPERS, I AM A SWORN MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COULD, COULD THERE TENURE BE TERMINATED?

>> THEIR POSITION IN CPD COULD BE TERMINATED.

>> NO, SIR.

>> KNOW?

>> UNIVERSAL ANGER HEAR FROM CITY COUNCIL PUZZLES WHY THE DEPARTMENT CANNOT GET RID OF THESE OFFICERS WHO HAVE ADMITTED THESE TIES.

>> WELL, THERE'S NO EXPLICIT POLICY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T BE A MEMBER OF CERTAIN GROUPS.

THE OATH KEEPERS AND THE PROUD BOYS AMONG THEM.

NOW, WE HEARD TODAY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DEVELOPING SUCH POLICY, BUT IT IS STILL IN DRAFT FORM, HASN'T BEEN APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL JUDGE OR THE TEAM OVERSEEING THE CONSENT DECREE, SO IT'S VERY MUCH IN WORKS.

BUT IF YOU ASK INSPECTOR GENERAL DEBORAH WITZBURG, SHE WOULD SAY YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN FIRE AN OFFICER FOR BEING A MEMBER OF THE OATH KEEPERS, BECAUSE IT BRINGS DISREPUTE AND SCANDAL ON THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS AGAINST THE POLICY.

SO THERE WAS REALLY SORT OF JUST BAFFLEMENT ON THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY ABOUT WHY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS SO RELUCTANT TO FIRE ONE OFFICER WHO ADMITTED THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE OATH KEEPERS, AND ANOTHER OFFICER WHO ADMITTED THAT HE HAD TIES TO THE PROUD BOYS AND WAS FOUND TO HAVE LIED ABOUT IT.

>> RIGHT.

THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION FROM THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THERE.

AMANDA , ANOTHER STORY YOU COVERED THIS WEEK, MAYORAL, FORMER MAYORAL RIVAL SUSANA MENDOZA ACCUSE KAREN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT OF HER BROTHER .

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE MAYOR SAID ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY.

>> UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, PENSION BENEFITS AREN'T DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS OR PERSONAL FEELING ABOUT ANYONE OR THEIR BROTHER.

AND FRANKLY, THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE.

NOW, IF THE LAW NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, THEN SPRINGFIELD SHOULD ACT.

>> SO WHAT THE MAYOR'S SAYING HERE, AMANDA, IS SHE HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE PENSION BOARD, DON'T BLAME HER, AND SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE CONTROL.

DOES THAT MEAN THIS IS KIND OF OPEN AND SHUT?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS COMES A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION, SO ALTHOUGH MENDOZA HAS DENIED THAT THE TIMING HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE MAYOR'S RACE, IT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE A POLITICAL HIT, AND IT IS SUCH, I THINK, FOR THE MAYOR, WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT SAY, HEY, WAIT A SECOND, YOU'RE LOOKING AT CRIME IN THE CITY, FEELING BAD FOR THESE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE BARELY REALLY DISABLED AND HURT, MANDALAS BROTHER IN PARTICULAR.

SO BY THE WAY, OF COURSE IS NOT DONE, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT, IN GENERAL, INFLUENCE, IT CAUSES US TO LOOK MORE AT PENSION BOARD DECISIONS.

THIS, AS WELL AS OTHERS, ARE GOING TO BE COURT ACTION.

SO NO, THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT DONE.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT HERE.

>> EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SURE.

>> A LATE BREAKING STORY, AND YOU'RE COVERING THIS, ACTUALLY.

THAT'S IN REGARDS TO THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION SHOVELING MONEY TO THEIR PREFERRED CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE.

OF COURSE, THAT IS THE CTU ORGANIZER BRANDON JOHNSON, AND THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF THE MONEY THAT CTU IS GIVING HIM, AND WHETHER IT'S LEGAL.

>> WE FIRST BROUGHT UP THIS MORNING THAT THIS $15,000 LOAN, IF IT'S A LOAN, WOULD ACTUALLY FALL OUTSIDE STATE LAW.

IT WOULD NOT BE ILLEGAL.

SO AS WE REPORTED, CTU LEADERS ARE REVISING THAT, SAYING IT'S NO LONGER A LOAN.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS AGGREGATE DEWS DONATION .

BUT THIS IS MAKING M EVEN MORE ANGRY, HEATHER.

THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING, THIS IS OUR MONEY, WE DIDN'T APPROVE THIS, AND WE DON'T THINK THIS IS NEVER GOING TO COME BACK TO US.

BIT OF AN UNFORCED ERROR HEREBY CTU?

>> THERE ARE ONLY SIX DAYS TO GO.

CRAZY STUFF IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

BUT ANYTIME THIS CLOSE TO AN ELECTION YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CANDIDATE AND YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HIS DECISIONS, OR YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HIS OPPONENTS BAD DECISIONS, THAT'S AN ERROR.

>> AND OF COURSE THIS MONEY WAS SENT TO THEIR PAST, WHICH IS SUPPORTED JOHNSON AT A SLATE OF CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES.

>> YEAH, I THINK HEATHER IS RIGHT.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU DON'T WANT ANY SORT OF UNFORCED ERROR OR DETRACTION FROM A CANDIDATE, BUT ALSO, I DO THINK THAT IT RAISES THE TIES BETWEEN JOHNSON AND THE CTU, AND FOR HIM, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING, BUT FOR THOSE WHO MAYBE AREN'T THAT AWARE, AND ARE UPSET WITH THAT TRAJECTORY, THIS RAISES THAT, AGAIN.

AND SO IT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL.

>> SPEAKING OF TIES, WHAT ABOUT THE TWICE BETWEEN THE HAVERTY AND PAUL VALLAS?

THE F.O.P.

HELP SPONSOR THIS EVENT, WHERE FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

HE GOES THERE, AND THE GUY THAT KIND OF PUT THIS TOGETHER WAS BEHIND IT.

JOHN CAN THERE IS NOT THERE.

HOW COME?

>> KANTNER HAS SAID HE WASN'T THE ORGANIZER, AND IN FACT THIS WAS A THREE CITY TOUR ON RON DESANTIS'S PART.

THERE'S REALLY BEEN ORGANIZED BY DESANTIS.

BUT REGARDLESS -- EXACTLY.

BUT STILL, YOU CANNOT BE WITH -- AGAIN, THAT FOR ALL OF THE F.O.P.

AND VALLAS HAS SAID THAT THEY RANK AND FILE WHO ARE BEHIND HAD THAT, IS IT ALSO HURTING HIM TO HAVE THAT ENDORSEMENT AND THOSE TIES , AMONG OTHER CLAIMS THAT HE IS, YOU KNOW, TOO RIGHT-LEANING, TOO REPUBLICAN?

CAN THERE WAS NOT ACTUALLY AT THE EVENT.

>> AND IT MIGHT BE WHY VALLAS CAME OUT RIGHT AWAY, AND SAID I DON'T LIKE THIS EVENT HAPPENING.

I REPUDIATE IT.

I DON'T LIKE WHAT GOVERNOR DESANTIS STANDS FOR.

MAYBE A SURPRISE SOME OF HIS SUPPORTERS AND DETRACTORS.

SPEAKING OF VALLAS, HEATHER, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAYS THAT WHEN VALLAS TELLS WE NEED TO, QUOTE, TAKE OUR CITY BACK, IT'S A DOG WHISTLE.

EXPLAINED THAT FOR A SPIRIT >> THE OLD CLICHE IN CHICAGO POLITICS IS THAT THE ONLY ISSUE IS RAISED, AND WE'LL REALLY SEE THAT COMING TO THE FOREFRONT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AT THE SAME TIME, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS ALSO FACING ALLEGATIONS THAT SHE IS ALSO PLAYING THE RACE CARD, BECAUSE SHE TOLD BLACK VOTERS ON THE SOUTH AND THE WEST SIDE THAT SHE'S THE ONLY BLACK CANDIDATE THAT HAS A SHOT TO WIN, SO THAT UNLESS THEY WANT PAUL VALLAS OR JESUS "CHUY" GARCIA TO THE MAYOR, THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR HER, WHICH IS CLEARLY SAYING THAT THE ONE LATINO CANDIDATE IN THE RACE WON'T PROPERLY REPRESENT BLACK CHICAGO , WHICH IS REALLY, I THINK, SORT OF MADE PEOPLE SORT OF SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.

>> THIS REALLY, LIKE, ECHOES A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WAS SAID DURING THE HAROLD WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

BOTH CAMPAIGNS, WHICH WE WEREN'T REALLY -- WE WERE BORED, BUT WE WEREN'T AROUND TO COVER.

BUT WE CAN STILL READ ABOUT.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S THE TIME FOR US TONIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

AND WITH THE ELECTION JUST DAYS AWAY, DON'T FORGET TO VISIT OUR WTTW NEWS VOTER GUIDE FOR CANDIDATE PROFILES AND RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRES, AND, OF COURSE, OUR ONGOING POLITICAL COVERAGE.

IT'S ALL A WTTW.COM/VOTER GUIDE.

>>> UP NEXT, HOW A BYPRODUCT FROM LOCAL BREWERIES IS HELPING TO KEEP CLEAN.

>> WHAT SHOULD THE CITY BE DOING TO BETTER SUPPORT BLACK CHICAGO INTO OUR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF HATE CRIME?

>> WE WORK SO THE LEFT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND DOING, >> POWER IS THE VOICE.

POWER IS THE NUMBERS.

POWER ARE THE PEOPLE.

>> THE ABILITY TO SWAY ELECTIONS IS THE POWER.

>>> THE METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT HAS BEEN CALLED THE MOST IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT.

YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?

IT'S THE AGENCY THAT TREATS STORM WATER AND WASTEWATER FOR MORE THAN 5 MILLION PEOPLE IN COOK COUNTY.

ONE OF THE METHODS TO TREAT THAT WATER IS A SURPRISING WAY TO REUSE A BYPRODUCT.

THE CREATION OF A VERY POPULAR BEVERAGE.

CHICAGO TONIGHT NICK BLUMBERG HAS THAT STORY.

>> WITHOUT CLEAN WATER, YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BEER WOULDN'T EXIST.

>> WATER IS THE NUMBER ONE INGREDIENT IN OUR BEER.

WE USE LAKE MICHIGAN WATER.

>> THAT'S WHY WHEN THE METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT APPROACH RESOLUTION BREWING ABOUT TAKING SOME OF THE BYPRODUCT FROM ITS BREWERY OFF THEIR HANDS, JOSH DETH AND HIS COLLEAGUES WERE ALL EARS.

BYPRODUCT IS SPENT YEAST.

>> THIS HOLDS A WEEK WORTH OF WASTE, WHICH IS A PRETTY BIG TANK .

THESE ARE 24 FOOT CEILINGS HERE.

THE HOPS AND THE YEAST FALL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK.

THEY GATHER IN THE CONE.

>> Reporter: ONCE THAT YEAST HAS PLAYED ITS PART FERMENTING THE BEER, REVOLUTION DOESN'T HAVE A USE FOR IT.

>> PREVIOUSLY, WE WOULD'VE JUST PUT IT DOWN THE DRAIN AND FLUSHED IT DOWN WITH SOME EXTRA WATER, SEND IT OUT TO THE CITY SEWER SYSTEM.

THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON TODAY IS A WAY TO REPURPOSE THAT INGREDIENT, GIVEN A HIGHER PURPOSE.

AND THAT PURPOSE?

USING THE CARBON RICH SPENT YEAST TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PHOSPHORUS IN THE WATER MWRD TREATS.

IF THERE'S TOO MUCH PHOSPHORUS IN THE WATER, THAT CAN FEED MICROORGANISMS THAT CAN HARM WATER.

>> THEY WANT TO EAT, AND THEY WANT TO REPRODUCE.

AND WHEN THEY REPRODUCE, YOU END UP WITH THAT LOOK LIKE ALGAL BLOOMS THAT CAN THEN LEAD TO FISH CAMPS, AND THEN IT CAN LEAD TO DEAD ZONES.

>> Reporter: ON A RECENT THURSDAY, A TRUCK FULL OF SPENT YEAST ARRIVES AT THE MWRD 400+ ACRE STICKNEY FACILITY IN CICERO.

A HOSE CONNECTS THE TANKER TO AN UNDERGROUND RECEPTACLE FOR THE SPENT YEAST, AND A STAFFER TEST THAT THE MATERIAL FROM THE BREWERY IS SAFE.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN THE FIRST TRUCKS CAME IN, WE KIND OF JOKED, SHOULD WE BOTTLE THAT, BECAUSE IT SMELLS REALLY GOOD.

>> I CAN CONFIRM THAT IT DOES SMELL LIKE BEER.

>> Reporter: USING THE FRAGRANT BYPRODUCT IS ONE WAY THE MWRD SAYS IT WANTS TO MOVE AWAY FROM A MIND-SET OF WATER TREATMENT TO RESOURCE RECOVERY.

EVEN THE PHOSPHORUS AT THE MWRD, IT'S REUSING THAT TO MAKE FERTILIZER.

>> RECYCLING MATERIALS.

WE'RE COVERING THINGS LET YOU WOULD HAVE THROWN IN THE GARBAGE , AND NOW ARE JUST BASICALLY SAYING, LIKE, WAIT, I CAN REUSE THAT FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> JOSH DETH HAS HELPED ENCOURAGE OTHER LOCAL BREWERIES TO GET INVOLVED IN THE RESOURCE RECOVERY PROGRAM TOO.

>> WE ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY BY NOT HAVING TO PAY MONEY TO THE MWRD , IN ADDITION TO MAKING GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL.

>> ON CITIES LIKE JACKSON MISSISSIPPI , WATER.

WE'RE LUCKY TO LIVE SO CLOSE TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST WATER RESOURCES IN THE GREAT LAKES.

WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAMS INNOVATIVE, AND MWRD LEADERS WANT TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS.

TO USE THIS RESOURCE, SO WE CAN ALL HAVE A WIN-WIN SITUATION.

>> THE ADDRESS REMEMBER, NEXT TIME YOU LIFT A GLASS OF LOCALLY BREWED HERE, IT JUST MIGHT BE DOING YOUR PART TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.

FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> CHEERS.

ENJOY THAT DEAR, NICK.

THE RESOURCE RECOVERY PROGRAM FIRST DARTED IN 2017.

IN ADDITION TO SPENT YEAST, THE MWRD CAN ALSO ACCEPT GRAINS AND HOPS FROM BREWERIES, AND OTHER MATERIALS FROM FRUIT PROCESSING FACILITIES.

>>> AND UP NEXT, WE INVESTIGATE A NATIVE SEED SHORTAGE AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO HELP DEVELOP MORE SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY.

STAY WITH US.

>> FUN HELPING HEREIN CHARRED BY WATER FIRES HIS NATIVE STATES PACK A MIGHTY PUNCH TO THEIR SMALL SIZE.

BUT A RECENT REPORT FOUND ECO-RESTORATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING A NATIVE SEED SHORTAGE.

THANKFULLY, EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A MORE SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY ARE NOW UNDERWAY, WITH HELP FROM THE CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN.

THE NEWS REPORTER PATTY WHITLEY JOINED US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WHY THEY'RE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

>> WELL, THEY'RE THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR ANY RESTORATION, WHETHER IT'S MIDWEST PRAIRIE OR WETLAND IN THE SOUTHEAST.

THESE ARE THE PLANTS THAT EVOLVE AND ADAPTED FOR THAT SPECIFIC ECOSYSTEM.

SO THESE ARE THE ONES THAT SUPPORT THE WILDLIFE THAT GO WITH THAT ECOSYSTEM.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE PERFECT FOR THE SOIL AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT CONE FLOWERS AND TALL GRASSES IN THE PRAIRIE, THOSE ARE THE PLANS THAT WERE, HISTORICALLY, THERE.

SO WHEN YOU'RE DOING ANY RESTORATION, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO RE-CREATE.

THE ISSUE IS ONE OF CAPACITY.

THERE IS A VERY SMALL POOL OF SUPPLIERS AND GROWERS OF NATIVE SEEDS.

THEY'RE TRICKY TO GROW.

IT CAN TAKE TIME TO GROW THEM.

AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A SEASON WHERE 10,000, NOT 10,000, 10 MILLION ACRES BURN IN WILDFIRES, AND YOU WANT TO RECEDE THAT, THERE'S JUST A SUPPLY FOR THAT.

>> AND CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, THEY'RE GETTING INVOLVED HERE.

>> YES.

THE ONE OF THEIR RESEARCHERS WAS PART OF THE COMMITTEE THAT CREATED THIS NEW REPORT.

THEY PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM CALLED SEEDS OF SUCCESS, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY GO TO DIFFERENT NATURAL AREAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND COLLECT SEED , BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY COLLECTING SEEDS, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH.

THEY NEED TO FIND A WAY TO, LIKE, RAMP UP THE COMMERCIAL KIND OF INDUSTRIAL SIDE OF IT, SO THEY NEED SOMETHING LIKE WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AG DOES, FOR AGRICULTURAL SEEDS, WHICH IS TO CREATE RESEARCH CENTERS .

SO THAT FOR SOME OF THESE REALLY IMPORTANT NATIVE PLANTS THAT ARE SUPER HARD FOR GROWERS TO GROW FROM SEED , YOU KNOW, THEY DEVELOP THE RESEARCH TECHNIQUES TO HELP THEM ALONG.

THEY WOULD DO THINGS LIKE HAVE LAND MANAGERS COMMIT TO , WE WILL RESTORE X AMOUNT OF ACRES EVERY YEAR, SO THAT GROWERS WHO ARE INVESTING IN THESE LONG-TERM SEED BANKS, YOU KNOW, KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, DEMAND FOR WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S BASICALLY BEEN A SUPPLY AND DEMAND CONUNDRUM, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SOLVE THAT.

>> GOOD OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR GROWERS.

PATTY WHITLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> IS A SIMPLE SENTIMENT, BUT THE PHRASE GUESS WE CAN HAS POWERED RALLIES FOR JUSTICE AROUND THE WORLD.

EVER SINCE THE UNITED FARM WORKERS OF AMERICA ADOPTED AS ITS MOTTO IN 1972.

THE WOODEN BEHIND THOSE WORDS IS DOLORES HUERTA.

SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL LABOR ACTIVISTS IN AMERICA, AND A LEADER OF THE CHICAGO CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

EARLIER TODAY, JOANNA HERNANDEZ SAT DOWN WITH A 92-YEAR-OLD.

HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK OF THEIR CONVERSATION THAT WILL AIR SATURDAY NIGHT ON TRAN35: LATINA VOICES.

IN IT, HUERTA DESCRIBES WHAT SI SE PUEDE MEANS TO HER AT THIS JUNCTURE IN HER CAREER.

>> WELL, IT MEANS ACTIVISM.

IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THINGS IN THEIR LIFE, CHANGE THINGS POLITICALLY.

IT MEANS EVERY PERSON SHOULD FEEL THEIR OWN POWER AND KNOW THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> HOW COME?

>> WELL, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE BETTER IN OUR SOCIETY , OUR DEMOCRACY'S AT RISK AND SO FORTH.

LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO VOTE, TO GET INVOLVED AND GET ENGAGED PHYSICALLY, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ALL AROUND THEM.

HE INFORMED.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE LEVEL AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL .

AND THAT THEY NEED TO CONTACT THE REPRESENTATIVES OR CONGRESSMEN, YOUR COMMISSIONERS.

ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A VOICE.

>> VERY TRUE.

NOW, YOU FOUGHT AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY YOUR WHOLE LIFE, AND YOU YOURSELF BEATEN BY POLICE IN 1988.

YOU BELIEVE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND OTHER MOVEMENT HAS SPARKED SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN OUR NATION?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A, YOU MIGHT SAY, UNDERCOVER.

PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD REALLY BROUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE WHOLE WORLD, AS WE KNOW.

>> HOW WAS IT FOR YOU TO SEE PEOPLE SPEAKING OUT AND ORGANIZING?

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A NEW MOVEMENT.

>> WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF OUR YOUTH .

UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY LOOK TO PROTESTS AND THEY LOOK TO MARCH.

THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT VOTING IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN CHANGE THINGS, AND I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE ELECTIONS GOING ON HERE IN CHICAGO, AND SO WE WANT TO TELL PEOPLE, PLEASE GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

>> AGAIN, THAT WAS JOANNA HERNANDEZ WITH LABOR ACTIVISTS DOLORES HUERTA.

AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE FULL CONVERSATION ON TRAN35: LATINA VOICES THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT 6:00.

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

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AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 10:00 NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

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