>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

A majority of Chicago and support a gunshot detection system, but also cite some concerns.

>> budget built around.

The simple principle partnership, people where they moving forward.

>> Cook County Board, President Toni Preckwinkle joins us tonight to discuss her budget proposal and winning reelection.

Plus, the Bears are off to their hottest start in years.

What they have to do to keep it going.

First off tonight, another proposed location for the future Bear Stadium has entered the chat.

This time developers are unveiling a 10 billion dollar vision for the former Michael Reese hospital site in Bronzeville.

>> It is our belief that a modern competitive dome stating such as when we were proposing will outperform suburban locations such as Arlington Heights or northwest Indiana.

This is just plain common sense, in our opinion, is these remote locations are not at the heart of the most important economic driver.

The entire that Chicago.

>> The project dubbed Bronzeville Lakefront would transform approximately 100 acres that include and surround the former hospital site.

The proposal includes a 75,000 seat domed stadium for the Bears along with housing commercial development, recreational facilities, cultural attractions, hotels and public space.

What's more Capri Investment Group and Partners say they are prepared to buy the Arlington Heights property off the Bears hands if needed.

So that that location isn't an obstacle to considering their Chicago proposal.

The proposal comes before Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield for fall veto session next week to consider legislation on new funding frameworks for stadiums.

Chicagoans are set to learn the 3 finalists in the running to be the city's next top cop.

In just about an hour.

The community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability will host a public meeting to vote on which 3 candidates to send the mayor commissioner spent the last 4 months on the search, enlisted a national search firm and received nearly 50 applications.

The mayor will have 30 days to make his pick to replace former superintendent Larry snowing who retired in July.

Visit our website to learn who the contenders are when they are announced 6.30, meeting.

And sources say we might get some snow tonight.

The National Weather Service is forecasting lake effect.

Snow kicking up late tonight through Friday morning.

Some slushy accumulations could occur and in that dark blue area on your screen tomorrow afternoon, precipitation will be mostly rain.

Then back to lake effect Friday night.

Then the cooler temps, cooler fall.

Temps are here to stay with highs only in the early to mid 40's for the next few days.

Widespread support among Chicagoans for a new gunshot detection system.

Where unpack a new survey right after this.

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

The Joyce Foundation.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donuts.

>> majority of Chicagoans believe gunshot detection system would likely reduce violent crime.

But they are also concerned that could lead to unnecessary arrests and waste officers.

Time.

That's according to a new survey conducted by Norc at the University of Chicago commissioned by W T Tw News.

And our Heather Sharon joins us now with more on this.

Heather, few issues have been more controversial in the past several years.

And Mayor Brandon Johnson's decision to scrap shot spotter.

What is this new survey tell us?

Well, it told us that a wide majority of Chicago and 69%, in fact, agreed that a gunshot detection system could send officers more quickly to incidents of gun violence.

And they say majority said that they believe that that will help reduce gun violence across the city.

52 1%, in fact.

>> But as you said, there are some concerns.

A majority of Chicagoans.

52% are concerns that the new system would likely send officers to not bona fide reports of gunfire and waste their time.

Also those alerts, they're worried they said could result in unnecessary arrest.

that is why this issue has been a hot button like none other and why there's no clear path for what Brendan Johnson with like to have a second term to decide to from indeed.

How did those results breakdown across the city?

Well, it's interesting because the poll found that black and Latino residents are far more likely to want a gunshot detection system into believe it could reduce crime in their neighborhoods than white residents or those who live on the north in the northwest side.

Now, this is interesting because, of course, when ShotSpotter was active in Chicago, only operated on the south and West sides.

And we, of course, know that those neighborhoods are have suffered under the most consistent crime and violence in Chicago for decades now, this poll it comes as the mayor has changed course on plans to test new gunshot detection technology.

What's the latest?

There won't late last month Wt Tw News was the first to report that the mayor had announced a new pilot program would be tested in 6 south and West Side police district of a new gunshot detection system.

But we learned last week that the mayor's office has decided to change course and will test more than one system on the south and the West side.

Perhaps all of the firms that are vying for that very lucrative city contract that has been up for grabs for nearly 2 years.

How that pilot program will be judged when it will start when it we're still asking those audition.

It sounds so many questions unanswered.

Okay.

Heather Sharon keeping our eye on it for us.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Brandis.

>> And you can read his full story on our website.

It is all at W T Tw Dot com slash news.

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

>> Cook County is considering a 9.6 billion dollar budget proposal for the next fiscal year President Toni Preckwinkle says her plan closes the projected 550 million dollar budget gap without any new taxes, fees or layoffs that comes as the county grapples with unprecedented federal funding cuts and threats from the Trump administration.

Toni Preckwinkle joins us now to talk more about what's in store for the county.

Welcome back.

Madam President, thank Thank you.

So you previously told reporters that this plan was made possible by budget Magic had to do it.

Well, the first thing I want to thank our finance teams, not just the president won led by Angela Manning Hartman.

But our our finance teams over the last 16 years because where Anna Sound financial footing and that's enabled us to meet the challenges of the present budget cycle.

The first thing we did was ask for Belt tightening.

We asked our departments and DeRozan separately elected officials to cut their budgets and that was about 8% cuts in those budgets week.

We look you some of our reserves.

Because of fiscal responsibility over the last 16 years, we do have reserves that we can tap in emergencies.

And this truly an emergency situation.

>> We reduced vacancies.

So we took a lot of steps close to 550 million dollar gap.

The gap was caused mainly by changes in the federal government's Medicaid program and buy a lawsuit against the county by road builders that allege that we were not appropriately using transportation related revenues.

And that is continuing to be litigated.

We've appealed.

Weve appealed the initial decision was that went against us.

But that that road builders suit withdrew 250 million dollars from our budget on annual basis last year there before this year.

So that's a 250 million dollar gap to close.

And then as a result of the federal changes in Medicaid.

We lost 138 million dollars in revenue and suffered additional 100 million dollars in charity care.

But as people lost Medicaid coverage could no longer afford it on the exchanges.

So we've we've we faced some real challenges brought on by the lawsuit in by federal changes in Medicaid.

You mentioned, you know, asking agencies and county departments to do some belt tightening.

Do more with less.

Could that have an impact on services?

>> No, we've done it without without challenging.

Our services are.

>> Or the programs that we've we've been so proud of.

laying off workers >> of course talk about health care because it is a huge part of your budget with more than 4 billion dollars dedicated to county wide services.

And of course, the federal funding cuts that you've already referenced.

Well, how's the county preparing what could be a surge in patients that is expected with with these impacts from the federal healthcare cuts was.

I said earlier we we've seen 100 million dollar increase in our charity care already.

>> We anticipate greater impacts in the years to come as Medicaid continues to change in ways that that will make fewer people eligible for Medicaid coverage, which was deliberate.

And this is an effort to it's not a frontal assault, but it's an effort to reduce federal support for health care in this country, which I think is abomination.

>> And that said, how how can the county continue paying for out on what it costs this year?

More than more than expected?

Because of because of these cuts where we're going to continue to look for efficiencies and continue to tighten our belts.

But, you know, we've we've kind of swept the covered bear and you can only do that once.

During recent budget hearing states attorney Eileen o Burke called for more staff While other commissioners criticized overtime spending for employees in the Cook County Jail where you stand on those issues.

Well, we went to every separately elected official and said you're going to have to cut your budget.

Those elected officials pursued that in a variety of different ways.

Many of them eliminated vacant positions.

For example, or made other cuts in on personnel, areas of their budgets.

You we're in a situation where separately elected are always going to want more than we can provide given the revenues that we have.

I think it's it's instructive that there were no amendments to the budget this time to accommodate those who wanted more.

Cook County, as you mentioned, are going to have to dip into your fiscal reserves in order to balance the budget COVID dollars running out at the end of the year.

>> How have you made sure that, you know, in the absence of those COVID dollars when they go away, that that doesn't create another hole in the budget for you.

>> Well, we put aside last year and this year to sustain some of the programs that we had initiated with American Rescue Plan Act resources.

So we have a fun that's that's available to to cover those costs we're going we're going to have to look carefully.

However.

At our future expenses and budget for federal fiscal year.

28 and we may have to raise revenue.

Okay.

It's a more about that because as it is, of course, the View said that, you you're not gonna be able to keep going back to this well, to the reserves into the changes that you've made this year.

>> What is an increase in revenue look like going forward next year?

Well, that's to be determined that there's a January one imposition of work requirements for Medicaid recipients.

We don't know how that's going to impact those who receive Medicaid coverage or are health and hospital system so weak.

We kind of have to wait and see starting in January what the impact is and our preliminary budget is due in in June.

We have hearings in July.

So we'll by the by the first 6 months of the year will know pretty much but the impact it's going to be these federal changes.

You won reelection last week, a tying the record for a 5th term and on.

>> By the time you're done, you will have sort of tied the record for to the person who served longest in this position.

Boaters are urged an George done.

That's the one voters have already flipped.

All county board seats blue after the 17th district elected Democratic nominee, at least half of Berg.

Do you think having now entirely blue board makes any changes or any difference in the way the county board operates?

Well, I have one Republican in last cycle on the board and he was reasonable responsible.

I don't think there's going to be much change.

Okay.

So business as usual.

Not that business as usual.

But not a lot of Not a lot of ground.

Not a lot of that.

Illinois was also part of this nationwide blue wave that we're all witnessing.

What would you like to see from the newly elected leaders who the state is sending to Washington?

Well, first of all, I'm grateful to the American people I was pretty discouraged.

By Trump's reelection thus the cycle restored my faith and not simply that a man, some of the things that happened were astonishing.

We elected a Native American woman to be governor of New Mexico.

We elected a Bettina to be governor of Texas for heaven's sake and all of the statewide constitutional offices in Georgia are now held by black women.

But I I would my joke is I wouldn't bet a nickel if you did, you have >> I mean, some amazing things happen.

Then it's a message to the Democrats that we have to make some changes.

>> And it was also a referendum on President Trump pretty resounding rejection of, you know, the state of our economy, the war and and the Middle East hit the corruption.

Frankly, the plagues him and his family members.

>> Have you have you made contact with any of these elected the newly elected on their priorities?

call him to congratulate him, but I haven't talked about their priorities.

No business yet.

No, I'm midterms may be over Chicago's preparing course because we are always getting ready for an election to vote for the next mayor and city council members in the last election.

Of course, you endorsed former commissioner current Mayor Brandon Johnson, head of the runoffs.

Are you planning on and supporting him endorsing him or anyone else?

This I haven't made any commitments to anyone and I won't through this first cycle.

We'll see what happens in the runoff.

You've also said that you would like to make looking for a successor, one of your priorities.

This term.

You've said that this last term, this term will be your last what qualities and experience to think an expert president will need.

Well, the first thing I'm looking for someone who shares my values move, put a lot of emphasis on trying improve the quality of care that we deliver our health and hospital system and the efficiency with which we do that criminal justice reform.

And pleased to say that that has been remarkably successful reforms that preceded as crime has decreased, gone down, particularly murders.

I think since.

2021 at the height of the pandemic, murders are down 50% from that point in the city of Chicago in the county of Cook.

So we've made some astonishing progress in terms of dealing with crime through our investments in not only violence prevention, but in the neighborhoods that have struggled the most with violence.

So fiscal responsibility, you know.

Working on on helping our health and hospital system perform it at peak and working on criminal justice reformer are the big issues that we've tackle.

But we've also, you know, have a program as a result of our on helping folks eliminate medical debt.

We've worked with modular housing developers to to produce affordable housing initiated a lot of of programs that we hope to continue.

I hope that I can find a successor who believes in some of the same that will have to leave.

Of course, we will have you here again before before before that time comes Cook County Board.

President Toni Preckwinkle, thanks.

Thank Thank you.

Up next, we look at how far this Bears team could go with former player James big cat Williams.

>> It is half way through the NFL season and the Chicago Bears are off to their best start in nearly 15 years.

With a 72 record there at the top of the division.

And among the best records in the entire league, they can rest up this weekend as the team has a bye.

But after that, they'll be looking to finish the season like they started and they'll have to get it done in perhaps the league's best division.

Joining us with his thoughts is James Big Cat Williams, former offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears.

Welcome back.

Big Cat.

Good to see you.

Thank you for having Ok?

So little halfway through the season, bears are looking best they have in a long time.

Like we said, you are part of winning locker rooms and losing locker rooms.

What is it like for team to be experiencing this kind of success and how does it build on itself?

>> Well, it's it's a good thing because I mean, this is where you dreamed of being you know, over 500 in a good position.

Higher Premier Division high up in the NFC period.

And now we just have to focus on staying growled.

Don't get too high offer being 7, 2 board to bye week.

Bye Week is a great opportunity for them to Self Scout, similar like to what they did last Use all the running game improve last year after the bye week.

You're looking for those same tired Advancers during this bye week.

What do you need to get better at?

What do we need to focus on?

You know, whether be during this week of practice or or even in the film room to help turn things around or get something straight and out but needed to be.

>> Nfc North North, it's off to a crazy start right now.

All 4 teams having at least 6 coach Ben Johnson struggled against the division so far in his tenure.

But what does he have to to to to fix that for the rest of the season?

So you've got to win these division games.

I mean, >> it's a tough 2 You look at the the matter.

so great record, solid defense or trying to figure some things out on offense.

And you've got to imagine they're starting to Minnesota's car in a different boat because played where really well in the beginning of the season.

As far as the defense and the winds they were able to really kind of falling back to the pack.

Now, I think it's just trying to get SoCal the offense.

But if they can figure it out, going to be a tough run down the road.

And, you know, we always have to do with what the Packers you look at.

Jordan Love right now.

The throwing the ball all over the They're having trouble running the ball, but they're making up for with the way thrown the ball.

So there are a lot of different things the Bears are going to have to be prepared for once they get back into their stuff is important.

>> So Caleb Williams threw 4 interceptions in just one game last week.

Was that a fluke or something to worry about?

like to say it was a fluke, but you have to worry about >> you know, anytime you have a has 5 turnovers in the game.

You worry about those things.

The advantages they were able to win that game.

So it's a game, but you can look at you can make corrections.

But you still have that women in your pocket because usually come out on top with games like that.

So I think it was a fluke.

I think is something he will be caught or so.

But I don't think it'll happen, I don't think it'll stop him from throwing the ball downfield.

Throwing the ball into those tight windows.

trying to be cautious.

>> As the weather gets colder wetter, how important is it for the bears be able to establish the It's very important, you know, defense and the running game.

That's what they say.

Travels.

>> So, you know, once you later into the season, those things that you need to be able to evolve.

You need to be able to lean on their defense, making stops your office, being able to run the ball and put points on the board get goals small, state.

And you know, you've got to be able to start off very maybe 3, 4 yard runs and hopefully by end of game goes will turn into 6, 7, If you are or even breaking a few.

>> What role do you think injuries are playing right now including Luther Burden in common?

I do think Kyle he's Caleb Williams.

You think he's completely healed from his hamstring I think Arabs he looks to be running around well, >> You know, I guess my thing will alone guy.

When do we get do they get him back?

He very significant the run game.

He's a different style of warmer and, you know, having the opportunity you have that warm 2 parts with 2 guys can be in the backfield are important time whether it be first down through 3rd bal.

It's important and, you know, being able to give him a break, women to so have.

>> So the team also landed a really big addition 2 weeks ago.

They traded 2 future first-round draft picks to the Titans for all pro defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons.

He's one of the best in the league and he's proved it these last 2 games.

How do you think he's changed the team?

think you're looking there after his last 2 >> could do 2 more first-round for satisfied.

Here's changes the whole atmosphere on the defense things they were able to do before they're able to do.

Now able to rush for get pressure with those 4 and allow your linebackers and cornerbacks to do what they do back there.

He has his taser, whole atmosphere around the building.

I would have to imagine, you know, when you have a guy that the mayor double teams now that means everyone else's war on want everyone else should be worn on war.

Now you've got to win your battles those guys and win their battles with.

He's taking all that double because we've seen be the double take now.

Now you're putting something forward.

Now your you're watching have the interview to play of 4 quarters.

Look like he's really motivated.

I mean, there's guys really stepped up since who's walked into the building.

>> According to analytics produced by ESPN, the Bears have a 90% chance of making the playoffs.

And a 42% chance of winning their division.

What are the challenges you think they face for the remainder of the season where they need to do?

But think it's just about staying Brown, I think and I think that's something Coach Johnson will do a good >> He's not going to let them get ahead of themselves.

It's going to be one game with one week at a time.

game a time.

One play at a time and they're going move forward very caring.

Improve, things they did not do well in the 1st half of the season improve on those things second era.

You're looking at a possible long run of the playoff long run in the playoffs.

How far big hear the word?

Not.

You're not saying are know when it's time to say the work.

We'll have you back likely before then Joker to get Williams.

>> Good to see you as always.

to to thank you.

And we're back right after this.

>> And >> that's our show for this Thursday night for the latest environmental news information on local wildlife and ideas for how to explore the Chicago area's natural wonders.

Sign up for our free email newsletter.

Urban Nature that's at W T Tw Dot Com Slash newsletter and join us tomorrow night at 5.37, for the week in review.

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

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law offices, Chicago, personal injury and wrongful death gives back to its community in Chicago and beyond.