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

Here's what we're looking at.

Our classrooms are not homogeneous.

If they are firing communities.

Chicago public Schools, leader Macklin King testifies at a congressional committee hearing.

Newly released grand jury transcripts reveal alleged misconduct by federal prosecutors.

3 of the so-called brought the 6 defendants join us tonight to share reaction.

And soccer's biggest event is about to begin.

We see how the World Cup is affecting one community in Mexico City.

>> First off tonight, Chicago police are investigating what may have been a hate crime in Grant Park.

They've released this image of someone they say was leaving the scene of a burning cross yesterday afternoon around 600 south Columbus.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police a driver captured this video of the incident at approximately 6 foot cross engulfed in flames before the Chicago Fire Department was called to extinguish the blaze while burning crosses in this country have long been symbols of hate from members of the Ku Klux The motive for this burning cross remains unknown.

Meanwhile, Saint Sabina Church on the city's south side is offering a $10,000 reward for information.

First extreme heat.

Then severe storms swept across the Chicago area today.

Temperatures today reached 91 degrees and felt more like 101 after a round of storms late this afternoon.

Another round is expected after 7 tonight.

Tomorrow.

Threats include tornadoes, damaging hail and high winds and flash flooding.

The National Weather Service says localized rain totals could top 4 inches between today and tomorrow.

Cta leaders are touting a major milestone for bus ridership.

The agency's acting President Noor Ali Irsan told the CTA board today that its bus system has reached 90% of its pre-covid ridership levels.

And that weekend ridership has actually surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

She also touted improvements in safety.

Chicago police say the most serious crimes on transit were down 40% year over year in May with violent crime on transit down 20%.

Year-to-date.

The agency has touted the success of new patrols by Chicago and Cook County Sheriff's Police as well as its plans to roll out violence, intervention and crisis intervention specialists later this year.

Up next, the head of Chicago Public Schools testifies on Capitol Hill.

Matt Masterson has the details right after this.

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

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> The head of Chicago Public Schools made an appearance on Capitol Hill today.

Ceo Macklin King was responding to a subpoena from the U.S.

House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Lawmakers questioned her on district policies regarding transgender students.

The black student success plan and May Day protests.

Here's some of the opening statements from King and Committee Chair Tim Walberg.

>> And when classrooms become vehicles for political.

Or logical agendas.

Congress has a responsibility to ask questions.

Being a product of Cook County School system myself.

Thankfully not the Chicago public School system of today.

>> Chicago schools reflect the very best of our nation and our city diverse dynamic and strengthened by people of different backgrounds, cultures, languages and fates.

>> Our Matt Masterson joins us now with more.

Matt, remind us why was King subpoenaed by this House committee?

Tim Walberg, the Republican head of this committee had asked King to appear voluntarily multiple times in the past, but she had refused citing scheduling conflicts and the Trump administration's ongoing investigations into Chicago public schools over its trans gender student protections and its black student success plan.

Some Republicans on the committee and the Trump administration feel that those policies violate federal civil rights laws because they discriminate against non trans students down black students respectively.

And they had questions about this for King sought to ask these 2 multiple times in the past and with a subpoena, she had no choice but to appear.

>> So Republican lawmakers, they asked a number of questions about district policies relating to transgender students.

These included questions about locker room use and whether or not parents should be notified if a student, if their child is transitioning genders, had it can respond to.

Those King repeatedly said to the committee that all district policies fall in line with Illinois State law.

That was her response to several questions about whether trans students are allowed to use the bathrooms or locker rooms that meet their gender identity.

>> Whether they are allowed to go on field trips and sleep in the same room as students of the same gender is them and whether or not CPS teachers have never lied to parents about the names that students transitioning students use while they're in school.

King said she never heard of any instance of teachers lying to parents about this, but she repeated the line over and over again that CPS policies fall in line with state law.

And wasn't pleasant response from many of the congressman who wanted more from her.

But that was the line that she kept She was questions.

What the Democrats on the committee asked Democrats are far more welcoming as you might imagine.

They asked about parent engagement with CPS about some of the student achievement and some of the success, the positives of the Black Student Success Plan which seeks to improve learning experiences and outcomes for its black students.

King.

Repeatedly touted that program and she said that there is a wealth of diversity and engagement experiences and needs throughout the CPS student body and that school district does everything that it can to meet those needs and provide for all the students that can.

>> So this year's May day protests also came up.

What happened in those exchanges?

Right?

As sure you remember, CPS and CTU went back and forth about allowing students or teachers to attend.

This CPS did hold classes that day but allowed students and educators to attend the International Workers Day rally downtown.

>> Some of the Congress people spoke today about how the district allowed students to attend a political rally.

They said this was politically slanted because there are many Anti-Trump signs and many Anti-Trump slogans that were chanting there.

But Ken maintained that this was not a political rally, that this was simply an international workers day events in that students were allowed to go for it for that reason.

Okay.

That Masterson, thanks so much.

Thanks for >> And you can read full story on our website.

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

>> education reporting on Chicago tonight.

He's brought to you in part by press corps.

Would Chicago?

>> The federal government intended to put a half-dozen immigrant rights protesters known as the Broad view 6 on trial.

Instead, it is the federal prosecutors themselves who are facing scrutiny.

All of the charges were abruptly dropped last month.

Just days before the trial.

Now, newly released grand jury transcripts are fueling allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and amplifying calls for the resignation of Chicago's U.S.

Attorney Andrew Boutros.

Joining us now, our Ryan Straw, In-park Village trustee for the 5th Ward committeeman Michael Rabbit and Katharine Sharp chief of staff for the 40th Ward.

Thanks to all of you for joining us.

So before we get into some of what has as of late your reaction to the transcripts being released yesterday, I want to get your reaction if I can, Brian, because there's been news this afternoon that a federal judge in a separate also high profile case related to Loretto Hospital is ordering an evidentiary hearing in that case because the assistant U.S.

attorney leading that case is the same one that led years.

What is your reaction to that with what we understand is going on Yeah, I think you know, there's there's this concept in the federal courts, the presumption of regularity.

>> When you have the U.S.

attorney's office appearing and what's what's happening right now is sort of a crisis of confidence in this U.S.

attorneys office speech has this misconduct in the coverup of this misconduct that went on throughout our case, I think is demonstrating that.

There's good reason not to have confidence this U.S.

attorney's office.

And so now judges are having to ask more questions having to look at grand jury transcripts to make sure that proper protocols were followed.

that's that's a real problem for any U.S.

attorney's office.

And that's what we're seeing happen right now.

our viewers understand, in addition to Park village trustee, of course, you are a practicing attorney workers.

Litigator this just yet.

But you know, things about about the U.S.

attorney's office and how it works.

So >> let's back up and start from the beginning, right?

Take us back to what happened on September.

26 2025.

Yeah.

All of us were there to stand up for our immigrant neighbors and to stand up for core constitutional rights.

The first thing I did that day was tied the due process clause of the U.S.

Constitution on to the gate outside of the ICE detention facility and and that's the the spirit that I think all of us were coming to this protest with.

And truly the same spirit that's been a through line for how we have conducted ourselves through this case because we've been fighting for the First Amendment because the conspiracy charge in this case is a frontal assault on First Amendment right of Assembly, right protest what we've seen with the grand jury transcript issue that has evolved over the last 7 months.

is truly an assault on the 5th Amendment right to have a grand jury process that is that is fair.

And so we were all out there fighting for constitutional rights that should be afforded to all of our neighbors and throughout this process.

The reason all of us have continued to stand and fight is for those same types of core constitutional rights.

And I think that that's what you're seeing going forward as well where we're fighting for transparency and accountability and the kind of government that all of us can trust it can't remind me or take us back to where were that day.

I mean, you were just looking at the video.

Of course, I think it's already the crowd somewhere.

But where were you and what do you what what happens when?

>> When we see what happened?

So there's our videos from that day.

There are substantial number of videos that >> Protesters, including myself, were involved in what's called a walk.

You can see from the video that there is a stop sign there, their curb cuts.

It is a crosswalk there.

And we walking in the intersection.

There were broad new police on site who were folks asking them to step aside to allow for vehicles to come in and we did not see that instead are seeing, you ice >> From the videos we can see drive into a crowd.

I'm sure you did not anticipate an indictment would come from later on.

>> Michael, over to you.

What, what?

Where were you and when did you learn of the indictment later?

>> So my wife and I were actually in Portugal celebrating our 30 year wedding anniversary.

The call from the FBI came in overnight given the time difference.

So I woke up in Lisbon, port, Portugal and check messages on my phone.

And I saw today to messages from the FBI saying there was a entertainment.

I've been indicted and that had to turn myself in the next state.

So, you know, being out of the definitely feeling very insecure a shock to actually didn't think it was real.

I thought it was a scam.

But then I noticed that in the did mention being was a broad view on September.

26.

And then I looked up that they mentioned the USA's name a look that up.

And I saw that it was real.

So at that rapidly a secured an attorney.

you know, was concerned about getting back into the country.

To be honest with you, I was very stressed.

I talked to a member of Congress who warned me you know, you have to be prepared.

They might detain you.

And I said, well, my attorney, says that won't happen.

And they said, Michael, you need take this seriously because that's the Trump administration and they don't follow the law.

>> Ok, so transcripts, as we've mentioned from grand jury proceedings, they were unsealed yesterday.

Here's an excerpt from October 9 where assistant U.S.

Attorney Sherry Mecklenburg.

This is where she told jurors jurors, quote, I know you and I trust you and you know me and you trust me and I would never ask you to charge somebody I didn't think there was probable cause.

And, you know, you've asked me before, well, what about this person?

And I said, don't charge people unless I'm absolutely sure.

Get.

What's your reaction to it when you learned that she said that jurors to grand jurors, I mean, this was just the start of a set of transcripts that show multiple instances of prosecutorial misconduct from the get-go.

I believe that's on the first page.

That is which prosecutors are not able to do.

They also removed grand jurors from the grand jury who disagreed with the basis of these charges to some of the evidence presented to them and decided that.

This case was I won't repeat the words that were used to So to see that they were willing to inappropriately excuse grand jurors in order to relentlessly seek these charges against Jones, resist a significant number of questions for me about why they were seeking these charges to the extent that they were willing to engage in this amount of misconduct that is present throughout the 3 days they met to discuss this case and the misconduct that took place in the cover up.

We know that there were assistant U.S.

attorneys as well as the U.S.

attorney who knew about this initial misconduct and did not inform the defense.

Judge Perry for the public.

You mentioned, you know, transcripts showing that the jurors themselves were skeptical on that October 3rd 23003th, transcriptions, Mecklenburg, acknowledging that she had even spoken to grand jurors outside of the hearings, which of course, we know she's not allowed to do.

Brian, what was your reaction these documents?

I was I was shocked by by what I saw.

>> and I was I had incredible amount of gratitude to the grand jurors because I think one of the things you see when you read the transcripts.

Grand jurors everyday people from the Chicago Land area saying, wait, this isn't this isn't right.

What what you're charging here is wrong.

And the only way that this indictment was handed up was by all of these various kinds of prosecutorial misconduct being layered upon one upon another and and so we wouldn't have been suffering last 7 months if it weren't for the incredible prosecutorial misconduct and the cover which the judge Perry talked about being.

Worse than the misconduct that we see in those transcripts because USA's played a shell game to try to prevent pass and prevent the judge from seeing this misconduct.

They redacted transcripts.

They dismissed some charges.

They did everything they could to prevent the judge from seeing this misconduct so that they could still proceed to trial.

can you talk about, you know, all of the suffering over the last 7 months or so?

>> What has this meant for your personal life?

Yeah.

I >> my time.

>> A couple weeks after the indictment was unsealed my family had to leave my house fall threatening call was investigated.

My children have had nightmares to figure out how my wife and I would be able to afford our legal defense.

And so the last 7 months have been help.

But one of my overwrite overriding.

>> Takeaways is gratitude because, well, we were standing up for community.

Our community was standing with us and standing behind us and we would not have been able to take on this fight.

Without that.

And so the government wants you to be afraid to stand up.

But I think that knowing that people will stand with you helps you to have the courage to stand up.

And I want to get to Michael in camp before we're out of time.

How's your life personally affected by this?

Michael?

>> Brian mentioned, you know, there's a personal toll.

It's really your family.

You know, we had show up for many hearings, had to take vacation days from work just to be at at the hearings you know, it prevented me from putting as much time as I'd like into my political organizing work and advocating for the issues that I'm passionate about.

>> It kept it impacted.

You are running a campaign at the same time yourself.

What?

What other ways?

Because it has this impacted.

Un, of course, here are working career life.

So I got married less than year ago.

We're coming up on anniversary.

And for me, you know, I think we were all thinking about what our futures will look like.

the charges that we're facing potentially have a prison sentence of up to 7 years.

So, you know, when my husband and I get to start a family, would folks get to see their children's weddings graduations is serious personal toll on thinking about what the future could look like when you're facing.

Not just prison, but now a significant amount of legal to that.

I think for each of us incurring fairly significant cost for me.

I was running for office and seeing all of that played out in front of me.

I made the decision that.

Have to choose one or the And obviously only one of those I could decide to opt out of was sending my political campaign.

course, we know that all of you are seeking you filed with called the Hyde Amendment, which means you are seeking to be recouped for those legal expenses that you've incurred.

>> That's where we'll have to leave it.

Best of luck to the 3 of Thank so much for joining us, Brian.

Strong, Michael, Robin.

Captain, sure appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we have an open invitation out to Chicago's U.S.

Attorney Andrew Boutros to join us on the program.

Love to hear from you.

Back with more right after weather.

Soccer's biggest event is being hosted in North America with Team USA playing its first World Cup match in Los Angeles on Friday.

>> Chicago will not be hosting World Cup games as it did in 1994 declining to bid on them back in 2018 for a variety of reasons.

The World Cup kicks off tomorrow in Mexico City when Mexico takes on South Africa and U.S.

take one of Mexico's most iconic stadiums.

And while some Chicagoans may be upset, there are no games here.

Many residents living near a start us are not happy to be hosting the World Cup in partnership with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Here's their story.

>> Stacey, I thought that a local program in the over the center of the people.

that one dose of things that yet noble?

I want will be the second of the justice.

Then you not want to get was it comes now on the?

>> In the neighborhood of Santa Ursula Water is not a guarantee.

And resident resolve.

The Flores understands the struggle all too well.

She lives in the shadow of Mexico's most iconic stadium.

The a stack up.

Her house.

It's closer to the stadium.

Gates, 10 and the other.

And recently the venue has been under 24 hour construction.

Set to become the first stadium in history to host 3 World Cup openers.

The city is bracing for the eyes of the soccer world to return once again.

But as the stadium's profile rises.

>> The community beneath that is being alleged.

>> We'll check this study.

Schools close to what the schools to put up to one mean >> political >> seem youthful enough to say.

But any side in the unrest.

>> Government officials said tight deadlines construction is moving fast and the pipes are breaking.

Very pipes, resolve la and so many others rely on to survive but one resident Ruben Ramirez is fighting hold the city accountable.

he doesn't hold in the official titles for political But to the residents of Santa Ursula he is known as the warden.

But I want to send with family.

was ABC tough.

And I what is the penultimate to cook it in used in court has been so not he will head >> He has story.

several.

And if in this was that it >> The warden spends his days on the front lines.

Documenting a reality.

The soccer world rather keep hidden.

>> a little bit His mission tracked and resources being diverted from his people.

And recently his job has gotten a lot harder.

>> And just this is we buckle been to is you?

We're wasn't Do not get The CA was about it.

I we've got almost us.

You that.

>> But the Mexican government paints a different picture.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has hailed the upcoming World Cup as a defining chapter for the nation.

She insists that the tournament will be a historic moment for the country and inject billions into the economy.

>> Scene of them be in this but at them, but I'm going to cause some because >> Families will you will be enough time to do it is getting with those that it just goes to gym.

And work is most by this of the Iowa, you know, so to owners doing, it that we do deal?

He told record just carry your name.

It's >> resident Jose Ortega says he's heard these economic promises before.

He's lived through 2 World Cups in this neighborhood.

And he says he's still never seen the benefits.

>> You know why these mean really left empty?

If local the hour.

by day.

is the.

And though may seem me an animal in court that in those photos.

>> The fans will eventually go home.

But the warden says the people of center so that will be the ones left to navigate the wreckage.

Once the spectacle is complete.

>> When I was capacity, most of it was done, you'll score is.

Coco ways they've been Want to give kid really he measures imposed a quota.

Just one thing has moved his cab.

Up, he this was get new Suvs will.

if you but in this time, to just take minute.

>> Reporting from Saint Ursula for Middle School of Journalism and W T Tw Aden, Sloan and Kayla Bunch.

>> Again, the World Cup kicks off tomorrow at 02:00PM Chicago time at this time the U.S.

state in Mexico City back to wrap things up right after this.

>> Reflecting the people perspectives that make up This story is part of Chicago tonight.

Not the >> And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

Be sure to sign up for our free email newsletter is the Daily Chicago in and urban Nature at W T Tw Dot Com Slash newsletter and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 now for all of us here at Chicago Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

We have a good thing.

>> Opposed traction made possible by Robert a cliff.

for Congo personal injury and wrongful death that serves the