April 22, 2026 Chicago Tonight - Full Episode

0:14 Hello and thanks for joining us Chicago tonight.

0:16 I'm John and this friend is Freeman has the evening off.

0:18 Here's what we're looking at.

0:21 Calls for a full-scale review of the Chicago Police Department's use of force.

0:26 Chicago.

0:27 Cinco de Mayo Parade is canceled for a second straight year in organizer

0:30 joins us to discuss that decision in the ongoing impact of immigration Forsman.

0:38 The city's recycling rate been stuck below 10% since 2016.

0:41 How that we explain the history of recycling Chicago.

0:44 To know who I am.

0:49 We will child kidnapper.

0:49 And we were visit our conversation with Stranger Things.

0:54 Star Jake Colony.

0:56 First off tonight to Chicagoans testified before members of Congress today.

1:01 my my thing was shot 5 times by a Border Patrol agent in Brighton Park last fall

1:06 after federal agents collided with her vehicle's Reverend

1:09 David Black also testified before the Homeland Security Committee.

1:12 He spoke about ICE agents fired pepper at him

1:15 as he prayed outside an ice facility in Broadview.

1:20 What was done to me is only a reflection of what is being done to people

1:24 in my community who have no hope it and no platform on a daily basis.

1:30 I witness the fear and the suffering

1:31 of those who are being targeted by this violent campaign.

1:36 This is not a performance.

1:37 This is our lives we're going through it.

1:41 We were traumatized and we want accountability.

1:43 We want change in transparency.

1:45 That's it.

1:47 And international Workers Day is next week.

1:49 And members of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights are

1:52 calling on organizations to join a citywide rally at a news conference today.

1:57 The coalition and other groups outlined plans for a May day event.

2:00 It's a highly it's a holiday highlighting workers rights

2:03 in the history of labor organizing organizers say immigration will

2:07 also be a central focus citing the impact of Midway

2:10 blitz and emphasizing the role immigrants play in the workforce.

2:14 Is calling on everyone who banded together in the past

2:20 year against attacks on our communities to join ISIS.

2:23 Immigrant rights contingent on May.

2:26 First.

2:25 Mayday calls on all of us to stand together for fair wages.

2:32 Safe workplaces and dignity for every single Regardless of where they were born.

2:39 The rally is set for noon at Parc 5, 7, 8, about a mile from Union Park.

2:43 In a new class of first responders is making its mark one Paul at a time.

2:48 The four-legged teams and their handlers are now certified as therapy.

2:53 Canine units.

2:53 Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart tales of Redemption program launched in 2018.

2:58 The initiative pairs at-risk dogs with detainees for retraining in adoption.

3:02 Now some of the dogs are being trained as crisis response therapy.

3:06 Animals and sent to police departments across Illinois.

3:10 Sheriff Dart says many of the dogs one space

3:12 with euthanasia now have a new purpose helping others.

3:17 What they do when they get the dogs, yes,

3:19 they can help on particular cases where you have a victim of a crime.

3:24 He's been traumatized therapy.

3:25 Dogs amazing.

3:25 We can work with law enforcement officers.

3:27 He's gone through trauma that can help as well.

3:30 But the other component all these different agencies will have the ability

3:33 which will strongly suggests to utilize these dogs to go to your local.

3:38 Hospitals with the dog.

3:42 Up next, an annual Cinco de Mayo event is canceled for the second year in a row.

3:46 And organizer joins us right after this.

3:51 Chicago tonight is made possible in part

3:53 why the Alexander and John Nichols family.

3:56 The Pope Brothers Foundation.

4:00 And the support of these donors.

4:14 It's significant increase in the number of times

4:16 Chicago police use force against residents since 2022.

4:19 mayor, it's a full-scale review.

4:21 That's according to the office of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

4:25 Our Heather Sharon joins us now with more now.

4:27 Heather, this isn't the first time attorney

4:29 general sounded the alarm about the number

4:30 of times Chicago police officers are using force against members of the public.

4:35 Why are they can what's the concern here?

4:38 Well, according to CPD is own data.

4:41 Officers used force against members of the public more than 3,000 times in 2025.

4:46 Now that is nearly 36% increase since 2023.

4:52 The attorney general's office is especially concerned about

4:54 increases in the uses of force against youth

4:58 and the increase in the amount at the highest

5:00 of force against members of the public.

5:04 Now, back in November,

5:05 the attorney general's office first sounded the alarm about this increase,

5:08 saying that it threatened the entire consent decree reform push,

5:12 which of course, started more than 7 years ago.

5:15 And Heather, with his attorney general should happen now.

5:20 Well, they say a full-scale review would

5:22 look at specific representative samples where officers

5:25 used force against members of the public

5:27 to determine was that force reasonable wasn't necessary.

5:30 Did officers follow CPD policy and tried to de-escalate

5:35 the situation before of use of force was necessary.

5:39 They say that will allow them to figure out what

5:43 if anything needs to be changed policy or maybe that officers

5:47 need to be retrained And how did the Chicago Police

5:50 Department Superintendent Larry Snowy respond to the attorney general's demands?

5:53 He pushed back the city's top cop said that he

5:56 was concerned such a review would not take into the account,

6:00 the totality of the circumstances.

6:01 And he said officers are human.

6:03 They make mistakes and that he says the department

6:06 is prepared to hold them accountable for mistakes.

6:08 But he does not want these instance to be taken out context.

6:14 Now superintendent Snelling can't stop this review

6:16 under the terms of the federal court order.

6:20 But it's clear that there is distinct disagreement

6:22 on why officers and if officers are using force more

6:25 often the top cop says it's because officers are

6:28 simply doing a better job reporting it to authorities.

6:32 And now the latest report on Cp's efforts

6:34 to comply with the consent decree is out.

6:36 What did that?

6:37 What it what did they find?

6:40 Well, the CPD is now in full compliance with 25% of the consent decree.

6:44 Now, this agreement overall is designed to stop officers

6:48 for routinely violating the civil rights of black and Latino Chicagoans.

6:52 It first went into effect in March 2019.

6:55 That tells you there's still a way to go before we reach that 100% Mark.

7:00 Well, thank you, Heather, for breaking that down for us.

7:02 Thanks, John.

7:04 A and you can read Heather's full story on our website.

7:05 It's all at W T Tw Dot com slash news.

7:12 W T Tw News coverage of policing

7:13 and police reform is supported by the Joyce Foundation.

7:32 The annual Cinco De Mayo Parade is Chicago's Little Village community has

7:36 been canceled for the second straight

7:37 year because of concerns over immigration enforcement.

7:40 The parade typically draws hundreds of thousands of people to little

7:43 village and provides a boost to let the local businesses.

7:47 Organizers say the decision to forego both the economic benefits in culture,

7:51 celebration was difficult but necessary for a community

7:55 that has faced scrutiny from the Trump administration.

7:58 Joining us is Hector school president of gusts up.

8:00 We have a lot in the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce.

8:02 Thank you, Hector, for joining us now.

8:03 Let's talk a little bit about this parade.

8:05 These 2 organizations, they put this parade.

8:09 Now, what when about making this decision?

8:10 I can imagine it was an easy one.

8:14 Yeah.

8:14 Well, first, thank you for inviting me No, was busy as took a while to decide

8:22 if we keep going and doing festival and parade.

8:24 But Chris tense us Sen seen this new immigration enforcement with the New

8:31 Department with a new head

8:34 of the department going taken different tactics, tool.

8:38 Paco weigh in.

8:39 You know, they change.

8:40 They have us were was to Pepe Cups input, little flecks makes complex.

8:47 Iran, trucks and so to the skies them themselves into the community.

8:53 So because that recent we decide not keep going with that or festivities.

8:58 So you're saying that you started seeing that ice was using different tactics?

9:01 Yes, they're been doing it a matter of fact that.

9:05 One of are, yes, we're that we're targeting for the best 2

9:07 weeks was the border Little village and see so and targeting mostly.

9:16 He's been lit up elation and Gilson.

9:18 Yeah.

9:18 So tell me about how the decision come about.

9:20 Did you go to different community members?

9:21 Were you knocking doors?

9:23 How did you decide to we have to cancel?

9:28 Yeah, you should.

9:29 What we do.

9:29 We go around neighborhood where the party takes place from Ashland

9:33 all the way to Marshall in their own we asked them.

9:37 What what what did he feel about the parade?

9:39 And so will this beautiful.

9:40 But the I don't think I want and that I mean, things are not that good.

9:46 So week has that thing that asked hundreds very many,

9:50 many people because thousands boat out of her.

9:54 hundreds of thousands definitely.

9:55 In the thing, the business, I mean,

9:57 business community gets harder to because they prepared.

10:01 Does that first event of the summer they

10:03 that we have to tell them that that's not to some And I did want to talk about

10:08 that because of businesses are going to be impacted.

10:11 You're talking about restaurants, stores.

10:12 People who want go out to the streets and sell their items.

10:14 So this is going to them hard.

10:18 The SDA that they did hit last year right times of the pandemic.

10:23 The Get the U.S.

10:23 trying recuperate from the pandemic.

10:26 Then immigration that started last year.

10:29 Now again, look changed different Department Homeland Security.

10:34 But the tactics, rest of races, people still there.

10:39 So we just have to very careful to say

10:40 that the scale is a bit different of how they're targeting people.

10:44 They're not as you can't see them throughout the neighborhood as much.

10:48 Yes, you know that I could their load.

10:49 They were saying that like a coke with droughts, you know, with ice out and

10:53 they hunted.

10:53 They're hunting Yeah.

10:53 And what was the feedback from people when you

10:54 told them we're canceling those are people that were disappointed?

11:01 Yeah, very much there said.

11:02 people who could upend the said, well, you know,

11:05 we cool Sussex portion of of having to can So I mean,

11:09 what we said was very safety, people,

11:11 people safe then sorry, that's the reality.

11:13 What did you love about putting this event together?

11:18 Well, actually takes a lot fix a lot of people to do it.

11:23 Then we 6, 7 months in advance to get to sponsors too,

11:27 to see who is going to participate.

11:28 People from countries like Mexico.

11:31 formula.

11:32 There right to come and I know they're different presentations in the parade.

11:37 But, you know, at this point we had to play safe.

11:42 No Cinco de Mayo is a huge holiday for for Mexicans,

11:43 especially for those who don't know.

11:47 Remind us a little bit about why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

11:52 Well, it was the war actually friends tried to take

12:00 over Mexico because tried make some money from the Mexican government.

12:04 So and with that situation day, so they cannot pay.

12:09 So we're gonna do with taken to take

12:12 over the country so they send floats through Veracruz,

12:14 Mexico, but they were stopped in Florida.

12:19 My home and you know, because that thing all the voice will be in a French

12:24 now and that from Mexico into United we stopped them.

12:28 right that point, the story is so interesting.

12:30 I know we were talking about that.

12:33 You know, Chicago is known to almost 70%

12:34 of the population is Mexican living here in Chicago.

12:37 And we know the parade has been going on.

12:39 You mentioned since the 70's, yes.

12:42 How important was it at that time when parade for started?

12:47 Well, you season we had so many cultural,

12:50 a par some of that by a single them IU September 16.

12:55 But single them it was more we

12:58 trained to do in diversity fight about September's

13:02 Heastie making sure what was the difference

13:03 September in May in one of the things,

13:07 some and some points what they were trained to the commercial.

13:11 So we're just trying to cultural just focus in cup

13:16 and the community in care of our old That might mean

13:22 that have real and judgment without something where one can come

13:28 together is is is it a bit Saturday disappointing for you, too.

13:31 To know that you you can't have this event.

13:34 This parade.

13:34 Well, of course, I mean, not only that it you can that have many events?

13:39 I mean, this is more than 1000 people that it is a lot with 200,000 people.

13:44 That's that's the money can imagine is frustrating.

13:48 Yes, very much so.

13:49 But you know what?

13:50 most important take care of people then making money and Alyssa's.

13:54 That's that's a good reason.

13:54 I know this is far away.

13:56 But are you hoping the maybe next year you'll

13:58 take another look and hopefully can bring it back?

14:01 Well, we things are different next year.

14:04 So we'll be glad needed no matter what we want to plan didn't see.

14:08 Hopefully the think you have thank you for joining us and thank you very much.

14:12 Back with more in a moment.

14:14 So don't go away.

14:19 Reflecting the people perspectives that make up

14:23 This story is part of Chicago tonight.

14:25 Not the Chicago and celebrate Earth Day today

14:31 by participating in cleanup events across the city.

14:33 One area where Chicago has historically struggled in terms

14:37 of waste management has been its recycling rate.

14:40 Tonight, we explain the city's tortured relationship with the process.

14:45 Here's Patty.

14:50 What Lee with more.

14:53 Chicago be a world-class city when it comes to recycling.

14:56 Let's just say it isn't winning any The city's

14:58 recycling rate has been stuck below 10% since 2016.

15:01 How bad is that?

15:05 Will places like San Francisco in LA clean 8 their way said of Landfill.

15:08 So what went wrong here?

15:10 Let's take a deep dumpster dive flashback to the 1990,

15:15 Chicago's first try recycling was the bag program along with the usual

15:21 charges of corruption in the program had a serious image problem when people,

15:24 some blue bags recycling collected in the same trucks, trash.

15:28 Chicago and smelled a rat.

15:29 Was anything actually being recycled.

15:34 Blue bags were scrapped and fast forward to 2007 when the city

15:37 pulled up cards only to residences with 14 hits or fewer.

15:41 Tough luck fire risers first blue cart.

15:46 Recycling seemed easy instead of separating paper or plastic, aluminum glass,

15:50 everything goes into a single This method is called single stream where

15:53 the sorting happens on the back end

15:56 single stream is popular because it's simple, but it has some major flaws.

16:00 For starters, some people took everything goes a little too

16:05 literally tossing things like bowling and lumber into their carts,

16:09 which for the record are not recyclable.

16:12 Another problem with single stream is contamination contamination,

16:17 Moon and entire load recyclable.

16:19 That's where the most successful programs separate

16:23 waste when the city tried to stop contamination, recycling got more complicated.

16:28 Lots of things can't go in the cart.

16:32 Chicagoans smelled rat again.

16:33 Is anything actually being recycled?

16:36 The city is trying to take this runaway recycling train back on track.

16:41 Including 2017 back to basics campaign and a new vendor contract.

16:45 But is it too little too late?

16:47 The market for recyclables plummeted and the future of waste management is

16:53 looking more and more like compost maybe this time Chicago will get right.

17:01 And you can see more of our wbtw news explains series on our website.

17:09 That's W 2 D W Dot com Slash explains.

17:35 And that made its spinoff of Stranger Things Premiers on Netflix tomorrow.

17:40 The series is called Stranger Things.

17:41 Tales from 85 and it takes place between season 2,

17:45 3 of the original series which wrapped up late last year.

17:49 We recently spoke with one of the breakout stars

17:51 from the final season who is also a Chicago native.

17:54 Here's Nick Bloomberg with another look at that conversation.

17:57 It may be hard to believe,

17:58 but the phenomenon that is Stranger Things premiered a decade ago.

18:02 The epic saga just came to a close after 5 seasons,

18:05 the most recent 5th season introduced us to a new

18:08 character who quickly became a fan favorite Derrick Turnbow,

18:12 affectionately known as delightful Derek and less

18:14 affectionately known by nickname We won't repeat here.

18:20 As you continue breathing,

18:22 I want you to picture yourself on The water is moving blue as this summer.

18:28 If you listen to it, lacked the scene,

18:31 the shore we could dog slurping from school.

18:37 It's called official La Station.

18:43 Mom doesn't when she's out of allium.

18:48 They had to the play's.

18:49 Derek, the comic relief turn protecting us.

18:52 Chicago area native Jake Connelly and he joins us now.

18:55 Thanks for being here.

18:56 Appreciate it.

18:57 Thank you so much for having me.

18:59 It's an honor to be here.

19:01 I've always been a lifelong Wtd W fan.

19:02 Thank you.

19:03 We would have booked you anyway, but we appreciate You know,

19:07 so before doing stranger things you've Falco window commercial.

19:10 You've done a short film have what's it like

19:13 now to be part of such a high-profile show?

19:16 I've actually I really did enjoy being on some smaller productions

19:18 because that was really just dipping my toes into the water

19:22 doing a couple foco commercials here and there and that short

19:27 film was definitely a great way get double into Chicago film industry,

19:30 which I'm really huge fan have.

19:32 But that was a really good way to do with my toes in.

19:35 And I really enjoyed that to be able

19:37 to help me lead into this bigger, huge project.

19:40 Yeah, I can imagine it might have an overwhelming

19:42 to jump into without having something beforehand for sure.

19:45 Yes, you see you are just a few years old.

19:47 We mentioned stranger Things was premiered about a decade ago.

19:50 Are you a fan of the show before you got the role?

19:53 Actually, my family and I you know, my mom and dad,

19:56 we they both grew up in the 80's and they were huge

19:58 fans of the show even before I was able to watch it.

20:01 But finally, one season for came out.

20:04 They were like, yeah, you're good to her brother and I I really

20:08 fell in love with I was just so amazed.

20:10 But I actually got the audition for it.

20:13 Let alone being on the project itself.

20:15 That's great.

20:15 You know, while you were filming season 5,

20:18 you are around the age that a lot of the original

20:20 cast was back when they were filming season one.

20:21 Did you get any advice from them kind of on how to handle

20:25 the attention that comes with something like stranger things during the table.

20:28 Read worry week when we are actually beginning to start to read

20:32 the scripts million Bobby Brown and her boyfriend at the time.

20:35 Jake Bon Jovi.

20:36 They gave me some amazing advice.

20:38 you know, we are about to go get

20:41 food and she's coming over during huge pink Humvee.

20:43 Tuesday Moos.

20:45 Amazing advice.

20:44 And she said, Jake, if you need anything,

20:48 you can always come to me and make sure

20:50 that if you need help and get help in, I'm

20:53 always there for you and just make sure that we

20:56 know that you we've been in your shoes before.

20:59 We know how nervous it is getting on to a new set,

21:02 especially as a younger actor.

21:03 Yeah, specially and coming in when they've already been established for so

21:05 many seasons that that's great that they were looking out for you.

21:08 You know, so Derek starts off the season is kind of a bully.

21:11 But, you know, pretty soon he shows there's a lot more to himself.

21:15 And that was it fun to play that character to sort of get to play that turn?

21:19 I feel like the duality of it was a really fun concept and I

21:23 really enjoy acting because I get to see how life is in another person's shoes.

21:28 But it was actually a very interesting experience to be able to play

21:33 what was pretty much 2 characters in one because Derek is just heat.

21:39 I underwent so much change throughout the entire season.

21:42 You know, it was really fun.

21:43 Experience.

21:44 So, you know, we were just talking about

21:47 the 1980's stranger things full of 80's nostalgia, 80's references.

21:50 Do you have a favorite 80's movie?

21:53 Oh, that is a tough one.

21:55 But I've always been a big fan of the lost boys.

21:58 My parents, you know, since the year of 80's,

22:01 they know all the good classics, you know, stand by me.

22:03 The Goonies, all those.

22:04 It's a really kind of a 3 way tie between those.

22:07 But I would say the loss was comes on top of So

22:11 so you are in Georgia for about a year filming season.

22:14 What did you miss most about Chicago while you were away?

22:17 I think I would say the food here in Chicago assist unbeatable.

22:21 You know, you never get pizza quite like

22:25 you do in Chicago with tavern style deep dish,

22:28 whatever it is, it's always so amazing.

22:29 And I just really miss the it all the foods

22:32 and Compher foods of Italian beef and eat this piece is that.

22:36 Are Chicago classics for a reason?

22:37 Yeah.

22:38 Yeah.

22:38 All right.

22:39 So that's what you missed.

22:40 What was your favorite part of being on the shoot?

22:42 I imagine it could be almost production at this scale.

22:46 I really enjoyed the amount of practical effects where they actually

22:50 did explosions and he even late people on fire for real,

22:54 with protective gels and all that in that one military

22:57 seen it was very interesting to see with people flying Yeah,

23:03 very amazing to see all those practical facts.

23:08 Instead of all CGI.

23:08 All right.

23:09 So you're gone for a year.

23:10 So what did you tell your friends you're doing while you are away?

23:13 So actually, I had told my friends that I was and a sack humanity as home.

23:20 I didn't know many people who had that many follow-up questions to man okay.

23:25 But you know what?

23:26 If they thought they pass that once they found out what you're actually up,

23:29 200 folks A couple of my friends are kind of disappointed.

23:32 The man is documentary wasn't coming.

23:34 I would like to see Yeah.

23:35 I think everybody they were just made me feel so supported.

23:39 I'm just so glad that I have a strong backbone of my family

23:41 and friends that really made me feel good about the work that we did.

23:45 And I'm really glad to have that.

23:48 Yeah, so I know you also you play football baseball, you practiced karate.

23:54 How did you get interested in enacting in addition to I feel like that.

24:02 with sports, you know, I did Arlington Cowboys,

24:04 football and Arlen tonight, some the Arlington Heights Kids, Karate Club.

24:06 All of that really builds the amount of discipline that you need to be

24:11 able to be an actor because it is very tough in some situations.

24:13 And as long as you're prepared, it's definitely a fun experience.

24:15 But you got to make sure you have that preparation

24:18 before you can actually have all the fun of it.

24:20 Yeah, and it sounds like you've got some

24:22 of that team environment on the set as well for sure.

24:24 Yeah.

24:24 Just being in sports incur it definitely helps me bill.

24:29 That sense of teamwork that, you know,

24:31 it's teamwork makes the dream work one broken.

24:34 The whole machine is broken.

24:35 Are you still interested in pursuing acting roles?

24:38 Are there other things you want to try right now?

24:40 I'm I'm just signed on to be doing it in the film here in Northern Illinois,

24:44 which is really exciting because I love supporting Chicago from industry.

24:50 Now, that's her phone that I had done was really great.

24:52 We filmed here in Chicago.

24:53 It premiered at this Gene Siskel Film Center,

24:55 which that was really exciting to see myself

24:58 up on the big screen for the first time.

25:00 But I'm just really looking forward to doing

25:03 a couple more things in the Chicago area and yeah,

25:05 just exploring all my opportunities.

25:06 I can find.

25:08 All right.

25:08 Well, as a lot of fun watching you

25:10 in the season Jahana Thanks so much for joining us.

25:12 Such an honor to be here.

25:13 Thank you guys so much.

25:15 So Lee.

25:21 We're back with more right after this.

25:29 I-70 to finish some of the past 2 injured things season.

25:33 So I got some talking.

25:35 And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

25:37 Be sure to sign up for our free email newsletter.

25:39 The Daily Chicago in an urban nature at Www Dot com

25:42 Slash newsletter and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

25:46 Now Chicago has seen heavy rainfall so far this spring.

25:50 A look at the impact flooding is having

25:51 on the region now from all of us here Chicago tonight, I'm John, that man this.

25:56 Thank you for watching.

25:56 Stay healthy and safe.

26:02 Good night.

26:32 Woes captioning is made possible by Robert

26:36 a cliff and flipped law offices Chicago,

26:38 personal injury and wrongful death for that is a multi-lingual law firm