>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Chicago may be closing out 2025 with its fewest homicides in years.

>> And every stage residents were blindsided, excluded and ignored.

>> From South side, residents are pushing for voters to weigh in on the new quantum campus development.

>> please let clean slate plays lead.

>> A clean slate and a new beginning.

We explain.

And the latest edition of WT Tw News explains.

It lays out Chicago's alcohol rules.

First off tonight, 2025 saw a dramatic drop in homicides for the city of Chicago, potentially the lowest in more than half a century.

>> City data shows there were 411 homicides recorded between the first of the year and December 27th a 30% decline compared to the same time last year.

The city also reports the numbers of shootings, robberies and carjackings are all also down by double digit percentages.

Chicago's homicide rate peaked in the 90's with almost 34 homicides per 100,000 residents this year.

It's 14.6, according to data from the University of Chicago Crime Lab.

For more on this story, visit our website.

Public health officials say flu activity has jumped in the past week and is still climbing.

The Cook County Department of Public Health says emergency room visits for the flu have nearly tripled in the past week are above where they were this time in 2024. additionally, the percent of ER visits for flu in children is twice as high as this time last officials recommend masking in certain settings like the waiting room.

If you or any member of your household is high risk, they say while activity levels for COVID and RSV are currently low, they are increasing.

A major technological developments on the city's south side raises some concerns.

That's right after this.

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

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> Neighbors living near the future, Illinois quantum and Microelectronics Park are pushing back against the billion dollar 128 acre mega development.

But in different ways, their concerns are over gentrification and environmental impact.

But developers say the project will create jobs and protect the environment.

Joining us now, our Gerri Worley, a coordinator with Southside together.

Jorge Perez, a community member and owner of Chico's Bakery.

Moises Moreno organizing director with Alliance of the Southeast and Zoom some nearby, a car managing director of the Pulse Coy Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago and former deputy mayor under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

And we did invite 10th Ward Alderman Peter Chico, who accepted but then had to cancel earlier today.

We also invited the developer related Midwest, but they declined related Did send us a statement, though, and we'll get to that in a moment.

We think the 3 of you and are guest Zoom.

We thank you all for joining us as well.

Gerri, we're really starting with Southside Togethers effort is to have a non-binding referendum on the March primary ballot.

Why do you think this should be put to a vote?

>> So that could he's just been saying that the residents want this facility.

The referendum is our way because we went out knocking on doors to get their opinion.

And we got over 300 signatures saying that they are opposed to this facility.

>> Ok, what would the referendum do with its nonbinding?

>> If this nonbinding warming world, honestly, we are just looking for the facility just to not be there.

>> To not be there at all.

You've been on the record that you don't want it built it all at all.

What are your concerns pollution displacement and then also the sheer power that uses already like Apollo.

Look at 3rd up a nuclear power plant, meaning like is over 200,000 homes, Illinois, South.

Apparently they just put out energy deficit.

So I guess the answers to something else going to take more energy.

>> Moises, over to you.

You're taking sort of a different approach.

You're calling for a community benefits agreement instead.

What would that do?

So basically would bring community members and the developers.

>> And the city to the table to negotiate a can of a binding community benefits agreement that would address the needs of the community summit on to a jury is talking about to address this placement, the environment, local hiring prioritizing local hiring for long time.

Residents also to taking on the data center out.

Speaking of the data centers, I want to see that policy as well.

That could be included.

Not just that's part of the CBA, but also to help prevent displacement really put a hold and regularly some of these new industries that are that are coming into communities getting the red carpet treatment is already getting taxpayer funding.

So residents in the southeast side and we've been working with they want something.

They really want something tangible, We're paying for this development.

So it's natural that residents want something and you want to be part of that negotiations related Midwest has said that they've had over 50 public meetings and events with thousands of residents.

What do you think the relationship with related Midwest has been like?

>> I mean, the fact that they're sitting here, that he was pretty evident.

We've been also knocking on doors.

We've been inviting them to our community meetings as They haven't been showing up.

>> has missed opportunities really to listen to residents who want community benefits agreement at the work site.

So we do see this as a win-win for the community.

But when developers and stakeholders and public officials at the time.

>> For hate, you are also a longtime community member owner, Chico's Bakery there because of He goes of it and thank you for that that want to get right, everybody the city, but it's another busy, I guess.

You know, okay, well.

There you You've got an idea.

You support the park tells why.

Absolutely so I grew up lived there.

I think I'm the only one in stable or actually lives few blocks from the site, got a business that I grew up in reopen.

That is my parents bakery.

My dad is a steel worker was also Baker taught us how to bake and I'm appalled.

>> The building for the last 30 years and reopen the bakery 4 years ago with the hope that one day something would happen on the South works site.

And when this came along very enthusiastically embrace that, don't know who they talk to, but a lot of folks that we've talked to my customers, my neighbors, friends and families have been waiting for 33 years since this still no clothes for something to happen.

And it definitely to be something big.

And I think we definitely are fitting that Are you concerned that, you know, if residents and neighbors are not interested in having this?

>> This massive development to facility in the community.

What do you think you'd be missing out on?

it doesn't come in and if it doesn't happen, all basically let what's happened the last 30 years, which is nothing, there's been no economic development of the southeast side for the last 33 years.

He's been spurt here and there, but nothing really made it to this magnitude.

It takes advantage of this and it's really being approached for holistic way, you know, we do.

Can we say that we have my stuff in South Chicago.

It's and Hyde Park or to northwest Indiana.

And here's a chance to fill that donut hole.

Some say, look, how do we actually take advantage of this opportunity?

Capitalize it for residents for folks and to invite everyone into this community.

Samir, want to get you in here because first quantum computing can be confusing for many of us.

A lot of us don't even know what it is.

So would you clarify that for us?

>> Brandis.

Yeah, I'm happy to and I'm not a physicist.

I'll try my best to explain this in a way that all of us can understand.

You know, quantum computing represents the next generation of computing.

And so you think of today's supercomputers like the one that we have Argon National labs quantum computing is the next generation of power.

So if you think of computing like unlocking the door, imagine that you have a set of keys now.

A traditional computer today has to go in sequence and try each key.

But what's so powerful about a quantum computer is that you can use all of the keys at once to unlock that door.

And that's a whole new level of power that can then advanced industries from healthcare to financial services to national defense and on and really unlock new economies.

>> All that said, why do you think Chicago and this site in particular?

Why do you think that they are right for this development?

>> You know, I think we can take a generational setback in what Jorge mentioned was the kind of abandonment from the steel industry of the site in 1992. to now having to be a generational opportunity with quantum computing because we're in the midst of a global competition and quantum computing.

China's making huge investments here.

Europe is making huge investments and the reality is here in Chicago.

We have the highest amount of federal funding coming to the quantum sector.

We have the highest amount of publications and research happening between the major University systems like you, Chicago.

And now this site, which is bigger than the loop.

It's over 400 acres.

You have a generational opportunity to bring jobs and investment to a site that is Jorge alluded to really needs investment.

>> So in a statement I want to get to related Midwest has sent to us and they tell us in a statement, quote, after a comprehensive and collaborative process that included over 50 public meetings and events attended by more than 15,000 residents.

The approved plan includes the full and complete remediation of the entire 440 acre property to protect residents and the environment while creating a vibrant hub for innovation, manufacturing and research on the South side, it also says that Mitt related Midwestern partners, they look forward to creating thousands of jobs, investing in local schools, transforming once vacant land into new housing and expanding in preserving 100 acres of Parkland as well.

Gerry does none of this away your concerns?

>> So the concern is not that we are against innovation and we're not against industry.

We're against our neighbor was being overburdened by companies coming in at one of the test.

All things in our neighborhood.

Instead, it is actively coming AG's what we would like to have that I can't.

I've been a resident South shore for now about 3 years.

I personally have not received any notification from the It was about coming to these community means the first I've heard of the quantum facility is when I initially heard about Southside together from a flyer on my door.

So personally from any of the companies like this, a bigger comes as a part of it.

I have not directly receive any of these notifications about it until I met Southside together.

And then that's what I found out about the the things that comes along with having the facility of this magnitude you this is best about this because it's sort of a Johnny come lately here.

>> It was a year ago that they made the announcement on this.

And and correct if I'm wrong, South Shore is not South.

Chicago saw Chicago's everything south of 79th Street.

So Chicago Avenue east to the late.

That's probably why here.

It's not your neighborhood.

We've been informed from the get go.

We've been engaged with it.

All the meetings, both as a resident my family members, you know, as a business, we had an opportunity cater lot of the They really reached out and did a lot.

And it includes a lot conversations and really answered a lot.

And I think all of these kind of concerns or things that are just honest again, misplaced or misinformed, because I don't know where you've You weren't even around in the last year.

Republican just recently got hired.

So he's not from the neighborhood.

You're not from the neighborhood.

The customers talked to on a daily basis, folks.

I talked to the neighborhood come to me regularly.

The sentiment has been wonderful over the last year.

All the excitement of residents, customers coming to my window telling is this real?

Is this really happening and to see this actually build up the momentum is really been fascinating.

Moises, first and foremost, thank you for you know, should you do your homework and looking up.

>> I represent a coalition coli or Sunshine Go.

I'm here to represent college for a for Chicago Bush.

I do want to hear what he has to Thank for yet.

And who have been talking?

So we've been talking to people from Bush.

>> We went we went to Boeing, OK?

And guess what?

You're 79. going to carry You cannot let me speak you let me speak finish, OK?

Can you keep quiet when I speak?

He will work is going to please continue to get here.

But just a quick geography you're misinformed yourself because, the Belmont does cover part of South Shore.

So I advise you to do you do do a little bit more homework before you know agonize as because first and foremost, we do support development.

Our leaders do support of I don't know where you're coming from.

John is misinformed here?

Not not not my fault, but yeah, I want to just to simply say we are nation.

We represent 30 organizations, including churches, block clubs.

Okay.

Small businesses near your small business and they don't want to get pushed out.

They support this development.

So I want to give you some knowledge right here right now court, this development and we want to community going on and up Medicaid.

So Senator Mike, are more do you think the city and developers could do to work with community members about their concerns?

They say they've had lots of meetings.

The environmental remediation.

Those concerns have been met.

Is there more that the organization could do?

>> Well, community engagement.

I certainly know this from my previous role.

It's it's a continuous spectrum and you have a coalition as a part of this development of universities of businesses, you have residents and other community organizations involved.

I know for a fact that they're going to be releasing a new quality of life plan in early 2026, for this broader area.

So, you know, engagement doesn't stop just because the groundbreaking already happened for the site.

It's going to be a continuous dialogue.

And I think what gives me a lot of hope is the fact that you are seeing so much ancillary investment happening as a result of the IQ impede moving forward.

For example, you have advocate who announced a 300 million Dollar New Hospital on that site.

And, you know, I'm someone who's got a lot of time thinking about investments on the south and the West side and this site for many years, it was described by the local elected officials by the committee members.

It was like Charlie Brown with the football.

You know, there are multiple developments that keep that that were in front of the community.

They never happened.

They couldn't get financed.

And now you have something that has financing that already broke ground, I have to credit the state tremendously with helping to get moving forward.

And now you a follow-on investments from advocate, IBM, the U.S.

Department of Defense and the list goes on.

So this is a generational opportunity that I haven't seen in my life.

Doing economic development before we run out of time, what is the likelihood that the city and a related could be interested in CBA, for example?

>> Well, you know, I don't speak for them, but what I do believe is that everyone shares this common sense that you have to be a good neighbor.

This has to be an environmentally friendly development.

And in fact, this technology, I mean, really is another missions.

And so it's going to be a much cleaner development in what used to be on that site, which was a steel mill.

And then secondly, this needs to create jobs.

So the unemployment rate in South Chicago, it is 500% higher than downtown 5 times.

The unemployment rate.

And I think what I've heard from community members and I'm a fellow south side is that we need jobs.

And that's exactly what this development can bring, his jobs and investment.

>> All right.

We've got about 45 seconds left Moises and then a trying to so just the reference amir.

Yes, I'm with it.

We're also part of the quality of life and we participated at this year as part of the line for the Southeast and Community benefits agreement should be part of that vision for Ca Jerry.

>> I just want to point out that something being and legal and compliant doesn't necessarily make it right.

So they usually with these particular things they use legal and compliant as the ceiling.

When this needs to be the bearer minimal.

So just because of meeting the standard, doesn't necessarily mean that the standards are going up.

He's the environment around long road ahead, gentlemen, because this thing is nowhere near being built.

Some of you would like for it to stop entirely.

lot a lot to figure out every that is where we'll have to leave it.

My thanks to all of us here by a car on Zoom, Jorge Perez, Jerry Worley and Moises Moreno.

Thanks, Thank you.

>> Up next, activists push for an easier pathway to seal criminal records.

Illinois state lawmakers this year passed hundreds of new laws.

One of which is the Clean Slate Act.

>> 2 years ago we brought you the series permanent punishment where we explore the challenges people face after they've served a sentence in prison.

One of them was record sealing a way of making those convictions only available to certain institutions like law enforcement.

Now activists hope they've created a path to making that process much easier for those who need it.

>> Nobody's asking what was your experience when you go through programs?

Activist Marlin Chamberlain has been driving this issue for a long time.

If you filled out a slip.

>> Made a phone call sent the email like this is a win from us.

Might we went to the Capitol >> Waiting Flake and >> He and thousands of others like him have finally notched a win.

>> Feels good feels good.

But the way I'm wired up, my brain is instantly thinking about implementation.

But but this was a huge milestone.

>> He's referring to the Clean Slate Act passed during the fall veto session in Springfield.

The legislation is designed to automate the ceiling of certain criminal offenses.

>> Currently more than 2 million people in Illinois are eligible to have their records sealed, but haven't acted on what is currently a cumbersome, lengthy process.

>> You can talk to one person who would say, hey, because I was well connected, support it in sort of like the nonprofit space had access to attorneys.

And so for me, it took 6 months.

But then there are some we've spoken to what's been a three-year waiting period.

Waves, court dates that were rescheduled, cancel or you didn't have access to an attorney.

That's not true.

Justice.

>> Justices when it's fair and equitable open for everyone.

state senator LG Sims was one of the bill's chief sponsors ceiling allows for law enforcement.

Well, for certain governmental still have access to the information that would make public any less safe.

But it would make that information not available to approach to private entities so that individuals would have access to housing access to to employment, access to education.

>> 37 year-old Julian Sims was released from prison 3 years ago after serving time on drug related charges.

What I was a cross word.

I am a culinary I I actually had my electricity because certification and that's it.

>> Did you get a job here?

You guys know what they told me one allowed to go houses because of the current have a beggar.

>> As with the current ceiling laws, the legislation only applies to misdemeanors ordinance violations in class, one through 4 felony convictions unless they involve violence.

So no murder convictions, DUIs or class X felonies, like armed robbery or assault.

The new legislation also removes the drug testing requirement to SEAL felony drug convictions, Chamberlain, a longtime advocate and someone who served time for federal drug charges himself says passing the Clean Slate Act is just the beginning.

hundreds of state and local laws prevent system impacted people from moving on.

There's restrictions around.

>> Volunteering a children's schools, certain professional license and that folks can have with the arrest and conviction records.

So there's a A-list over 1000 statues that we have catalog this still exist in our goal is to build a permanent institution so that we can continue long after Martin decides to retire.

We want this fight continue until we are.

We have eliminated all of those statutes.

For now.

Julian Sam's says a clean slate is at least a start.

I want to start really like a class act So that could put him on a to grow my neighborhood.

>> Because I feel they got a times they got better ways to grow.

They get a lot of grant money.

>> Governor Pritzker is expected to sign this clean Slate Act into law next month.

Some Republican lawmakers did vote against the bill saying it allows criminals to repeatedly have their records clean without repercussions.

The law would go into effect next summer before the first phase of records will automatically be sealed on January.

First 2029.

We're back with more right after this.

>> Reflecting the people and perspectives that make a buck This story is part of Chicago tonight.

Black Voice.

>> New Year's Eve is nearly here.

And if your plans include alcohol, you should know the law where when and how can you drink our Nick Lambert has the details in TONIGHTS edition of WT Tw News explains >> A Chicago may have become virtually synonymous with speakeasy during prohibition.

But that doesn't mean the Windy City is lawless when it comes to drinking.

In fact, we've got a lot of rules on the books governing when and where we can enjoy an adult beverage.

New York might be the city that never sleeps, but Chicagoans can be night owls rouse is looking to party into the wee hours of the morning.

Just need to keep an eye on the bars can still make or after 02:00AM most nights before 03:00AM on early Sunday morning at the tail end of a wild Saturday course.

That's unless they have a coveted for EM license which actually extends to 05:00AM on Sunday.

If you want to take the party home, you better have a plan to head liquor stores and supermarkets have to stop selling alcohol at midnight every night of the week.

Whether you're I Sunday with a powerful need to chase away a hangover or just your standard Sunday.

Scaries your in luck.

A brunch is just around the corner.

Thanks to a recent move from the City Council restaurants and bars that serve food can start selling alcohol at 9 o'clock on Sunday.

Mornings used to have to wait until after 11.

And if you want to without those brunch mimosas at home, the liquor stores can bring you up until 11:00AM on Sundays.

But supermarket can sell you a bottle of bubbly.

Starting at 08:00AM.

>> And some of the barriers to imbibing aren't just about time.

They're also about place.

The city won't issue liquor licenses near most libraries and churches or schools, hospitals and nursing homes and residents can use the power of the ballot box to banish all liquor sales in the precinct where they live.

Perhaps one of the best known know goes is in Chicago's the adult establishments.

Alcohol is prohibited in places that allow fully nude dancing.

>> The city Council did.

He's the rules in recent years to allow alcohol sales in bars and clubs with occasional topless performances with the intention of drawing a crowd more connoisseur than base for or at least.

So we heard from friend.

So, yeah, we've got rules.

But with nearly 200 breweries, several local distilleries and a questionable obsession with a borderline Unpalatable D just Chicago is still in drinking It just sometimes takes an ounce or 2 of preparation.

>> And for more wbtw news explains videos.

Be sure to check out our Web site.

And that's our show for this Tuesday night.

Join us tomorrow as we ring in the new year with an encore edition of Year in review where we break down some of the year's biggest stories in them are off Thursday for the holiday but will be back Friday for the week in review.

As we sit down with our reporters and talk about the stories they'll be watching out for in 2026. now for all of us here at Chicago tonight.

I'm Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

>> Have a happy new year.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Clifford and Clifford Law offices, Chicago, personal injury and wrongful death from that gives back to