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

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Video, gambling or sweepstakes machines.

We break down the difference that some older people push for regulation.

And investigative report reveals the barriers exonerees space in acquiring certificates of innocence.

And a new biography about put we owe one year into his papacy.

>> First off tonight, Illinois public health officials say a Winnebago County person is being tested for Hans Virus.

The Illinois Department of Public Health says the case is not related to the deadly outbreak aboard the cruise ship in the Hyundai U.S.

instead, they believe the person may have been infected with the North American strains of the virus spread through rodent droppings and is not spread from person to person.

Idph says the risk for Illinois and is very low.

The state has had 7 positive cases since 1993.

With most recent in March 2025.

The city of Chicago is again in the running to host the Democratic National Convention.

This time in 2028.

DNC leadership and the technical advisory group arrived today at the United Center for a site visit where they will assess the logistics as well as the committee's partnership with the city community and business leaders.

And, of course, quote, Democratic values.

The site visit is on the heels of the city hosting the most recent DNC less than 2 years ago in 2024.

Generating more than 371 million dollars in economic impact.

The party announced in March that the city was a finalist along with Atlanta, Boston, Denver and Philadelphia.

730 million dollar budget deficit for Chicago.

Public schools means some schools will lose staff starting this summer principles.

Got a look at their annual budgets today and learned how deep the cuts could be.

Cps has not provided specific numbers on the expected number of staff cuts but will cap the number of teacher losses at 4 for elementary schools and 6 for high schools.

But class size limits will not change funding for assistant principals at the smallest schools will also be reduced.

School CEO Macklin King points to a lack of state and federal funding, but also decreasing student enrollment down by 45,000 students since the year 2019.

For more on how the Chicago teachers Union is responding to the proposed cuts.

You can visit our website.

Plans phase out of Chicago's tipped minimum wage could be delayed 2 years under a new deal.

So City Council's workforce Development Committee unanimously advanced the deal after restaurant and bar owners share concerns over rising costs if approved by the full Council.

The measure would mean that Chicago's tipped workers would not get city ordered wage increases this year or next.

A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson says he supports the plan in March, older people had voted to block the phase out of the tipped minimum wage.

But Mayor Johnson vetoed it.

full council is expected to vote on this new measure next week.

Chicago lawmakers move to get rid of sweepstakes machines.

We explain what those are 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.

>> A push to ban so-called sweepstakes machines over the objections of Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration is one step away from final approval or head to.

Sharon joins us now with more.

Heather, so break it down for us.

First, what is the difference between try your luck on video poker machine and sweepstakes machine.

Well, sweepstakes machines popped up across Chicago more than a decade ago and not just in bars or restaurants, but also laundromats and convenience stores, gas stations.

And essentially these machines allow people to try their luck, but they don't require payment up front and you don't typically get cash if you win, you get a ticket that you can redeem for merchandise or a gift card or something other than cash.

Usually now that's different than, of course, the no slot machine or a poker machine where you got pay to play.

>> City Council says maybe we don't want these machines across our city anymore.

Why are they saying that?

Why are they saying maybe we should ban these machines themselves?

They have long operated in sort of a gray zone.

They're not technically legal, but they're not technically illegal either.

So that means that the city and the state and the county can't tax these machines.

It's also increasingly problematic.

If Chicago is going to welcome video gaming into bars and restaurants, that means that great his own machines will compete against those legal machines that, oh, yeah, the state and the city will be sure to get their cut cut of once they start popping up in bars and restaurants and of course, there the legal machines, very little machines that are coming online with the casino that's in the But Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration, he opposes that ban tolls way.

Well, a lot of the sweepstake machines are on the South and the West Side, which means that the businesses that rely on these machines to draw more foot traffic in could be hardest hit and their son.

And they're concerned that the city does not have the capacity to enforce this ban with repeated violations could lead to the loss of people's business licenses.

So it's not clear the city really enforce this ban.

And the mayor says they need to do an equity analysis about who it would hurt the So then what's next?

Well, if this ban is up for a vote, the full city council next week, just to older people can block that vote.

So it's likely that maybe it will stretch, but we'll have to see what the fate of these machines along with video gambling machines in Chicago in the weeks to come.

Always a full slate at City Council It sounds like it had a Sharon will likely be there.

Yes, thank you has what thinks Prentice.

And our thanks to spin it up.

Laundry in Irving Park for letting us stop by and get video of those machines.

You can read Heather's full story on our website.

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

>> A new investigation reveals that county prosecutors are challenging efforts by wrongfully convicted individuals to clear their names and secure compensation certificates of innocence created by Illinois lawmakers in 2008 were designed to help exonerees access state compensation and rebuild their lives with better access to jobs and housing under Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke.

The office has reportedly opposed nearly 4 out of every 5 requests for a certificate.

Joining us our Dan Hinkel senior reporter at Injustice.

Watch.

It's a nonprofit newsroom focused on the Cook County Court system and author of the investigation Lyla was Piper, a staff attorney at the Exoneration Project and Roosevelt Miles, who was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1996 and received his certificate of innocence in 2024, everyone, thank you for joining I'm Dan Hinkel.

Tell us about your investigation.

What did you find?

>> When we dug into the court record, what we found was just a nice day change between.

How former state's attorney Kim Foxx him of these things.

And why we do know, Brooke handles Kim Foxx intervened and objected to the certificates.

Pretty rarely I think we found one out of 4 cases and this for people exonerated in her second term.

second four-year term.

And I want know has objected to nearly all of them 4 out of 5 in a year and a half and just sort of put it in perspective.

I think, know, Brooke has objected to more in a year and a half.

And Kim Foxx objected to during her entire second term.

While OK?

>> Lyla, what's the process for individuals in Cook County when they are seeking a certificate of innocence?

Absolutely.

So it comes after someone has had their convictions vacated usually through a post conviction hearing or through a section to 14, one petition and then we file what's called a certificate of Innocence.

It's a petition.

It's usually accompanied by exhibits demonstrating their innocence.

Oftentimes the records from the proceedings below.

And and typically the goal in these is to get them to a hearing.

The point is to have that evidence in front of a judge and have them determine whether our client meets the burden to establish that they're entitled to a certificate of innocence.

Whats been happening right now with this administration is delay after delay and frivolous motion after frivolous motion.

What this should look like is getting a hearing in front of a judge with our evidence.

What it actually looks like is the line states attorneys filing frivolous motions and asking for a continuance is to harass and delayed cases.

And for everyone at home line attorneys not lying that you want to make sure people don't think that that's what you're Miles, you received your certificate of innocence in 2024.

After being wrongfully convicted of murder, 96.

>> What was that process like for you to receive that certificate?

It was like.

I >> You the Pru n put people to know to to actually innocent.

get that.

It was overwhelming.

I see the whole copy of it up in my office at home.

So I can look at it.

Remind me of what I went through received Because state of polls in we see the mine.

>> that means and you received in 2024. this means that you received it when a Kim Foxx was still serving.

Yes, as Cook County State's for it.

Dan, what approach has Eileen O'Neill Burke's office taken on whether to impose a certificate of innocence?

What's but Browns month they are opposing nearly all of the result.

But the I as you declined my request speak with her year and a half now.

So I would love to find out what she thinks about and >> open invite to talk.

But she has spoken publicly about and where she said she told the Tribune in 2025 that she felt that certificates of innocence for for people who had what she called irrefutable evidence of their innocence.

Right.

And she cited DNA.

Anyone who knows anything about how the court system works.

Notice the DNA is pretty rare in these cases.

So you're not going to give out a lot of tickets of innocence if if that's the standard.

But that you're thinking, I know that her her assistance of also got into court.

And, you know, generally alleged on the record that, you know, they say these folks can't prove their innocence.

And so we don't want we're not going sent to the certificate just because they were exonerated.

They don't acknowledge that.

That means the person right because she has said that, you know, there, if you prove such as DNA.

Is that really a fair standard?

Because they were not convicted with DNA.

>> Yeah, I mean, there are a lot of people who would say that is not a fair standard.

And that once again, if you if you make that your standard, you're just not going to give out.

>> Lyla in a petition for a certificate of innocence.

The burden of proof as as Eileen O'Neill Berk has said of falls on the person who has been and of course, now exonerated.

What are some examples of exonerees who have met the bar where they've, you know, get met, that burden of proof?

>> Certainly I would use action example of one that's pending right now that they're fighting because I think our client will be able to meet that burden.

For example, we have a case in which we had a very expansive hearing.

Multiple witnesses testified, including the witness who put our client in prison originally who was course by the police when he was just 15 years old.

He courageously came forward 30 years later, took the stand and told the judge in no uncertain terms he was not our client.

And he told the judge I only implicated Mr.

Williams in this case because Guevara punched me repeatedly until I did so.

So in my mind, that's irrefutable evidence.

You have the very witness who put him in prison coming forward to say it was not that person.

And so that's the type of irrefutable evidence that the state's attorney has right now.

And she's still fighting these cases.

So it's a disingenuous statement to say that they're looking for irrefutable evidence.

>> Miles, what evidence was at that ultimately help you secure your city winds that was by detective.

And she came forward is everybody that even do He didn't do it, but they refused to listen to or so she came to court.

an affidavit and say that when needed.

Dan, I think you're reporting also shows that's often the case, right witness a previous witness recanted.

statement are changing their statement yet recanting witnesses that are the basis of a lot of wrongful conviction.

this point to the states attorneys office, they did send a statement to Wt Tw.

I think it's familiar to the one her report.

It says, quote, Our process is modeled after the Illinois Attorney General's Office and reflects a responsible approach.

>> Requiring defendants to elect one avenue of review to ensure their claims are addressed officially and effectively.

Dan, what's your reaction to that?

Because it appears to be suggesting that some wrongfully convicted individuals are not following the right steps to not navigating the process correctly.

There's post conviction step.

They're supposed to be taking first.

Well, I'll say that we sought comment will first week asked for an interview from the state's turn word decline in that regard.

>> Asked to speak to an assistant to climb in that regard.

sent a number of detail questions and instead received general statement that frankly, I'm not really completely able to interpret in full.

I think some of refers more broadly to the process for the conduct conviction, Integrity unit rather just president being specific to the question of certificates of innocence.

>> Lyla, give us a sense of how long some of these petitions can take.

>> They shouldn't take.

They should be resolved within months, especially when there's extremely developed records.

In my cases, I have multiple petitions.

I filed in June July of 2025 and we haven't even had a hearing yet.

And the judges are fed up with this approach, delaying for delays.

Purpose doesn't anything to further justice in our city.

>> Miles, you're exonerated in 2022, but it took another 2 years for you to get your certificate of innocence.

You said at that period was especially difficult.

What was that like for you?

>> It was hard of based on trying find work this live my life in the recognizes and it's an individual.

>> Because I guys, Honore, people who look at you still think you're guilty, intensive Tiffany ends and then you can show yet.

This is me.

I only convicted.

I am innocent.

So.

With the >> say, but I'm a home.

I'm at home.

I'm out friend's.

You can take Well, I got must tip innocent in 2020.

24.

It has not been addressed by on those state police yet.

That response.

5 months ago, I got as much money from my case in months ago.

The police has not complied to judge's order.

You got 60 days.

They in contempt of court right now because they comply to it.

So now I see here.

Is on or certificate and its and punch.

But I still see hit with this on my record.

still showing up on your record that would love to hear from Illinois State police about that as well.

That's something that we can work on.

>> Dan, before we're out of time to think about 30 seconds left, what does it mean?

You know, both materially and mentally for folks who are seeking and received that certificate?

Well, there's the practical things that come with them.

The the expungement important people.

they want case out of the system, others and there's some modest compensation from the state.

I think the thing that most people talk talk to a lot of guys for the story, you told me with great feeling great emotion.

This more than just the practical things that it brings, right, that it's about.

>> Getting the state to admit that it was wrong when it made a mistake and that they aren't.

>> Okay.

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

My thanks to all of you for joining us.

Dan Hinkel.

Nice working reporting.

Lyla was Piper Roosevelt Miles.

Thanks, everybody.

Thank Up next, Pope Leo, the 14th is one year into his papacy.

A new book provides a glimpse into his life.

>> It has been just over a year since white smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City announcing the election of a new pope.

The world soon learned that Robert Prevost was chosen whose journey to the papacy started here in Chicago.

Now a new biography Pope Leo, the 14th, Slife, his influences and his first months leading the Roman Catholic Church.

Joining us is at least an Allen author of the biography and Rome correspondent for the Catholic News outlet.

Crux, at least thank you for joining us.

>> Thank you so much.

It is wonderful to be with you.

>> So what is your relationship with the pope?

you know him?

>> Well, actually met Bishop Robert Prevost back in 2018.

I was reporter that I was traveling to Peru to look into some stories down there.

it asked for some interviews and he was one of interviews that I got.

I had a one-on-one meeting with him at the time.

So we have that connection.

Unit News reported him as a bishop in Peru at the time.

And then, you know, stayed in touch mildly after that for various things.

If I had a question about something, a story, I was working on, a new has tried to be as helpful as he could.

And then when Pope Francis called him to Rome in 2023, there simply are not that many Americans, you know, living and working inside the Vatican.

So it was just an occasion to, you to get back in touch with the fellow countryman, you know, a fellow American, you know, the Vatican.

And so we just established a more of a report.

My husband, I invited him eventually over to dinner in October 2024. a few months before Francis passed away.

See, you can say that we're starting to, you to become friends a bit, I guess before he was elected, you know, and just to our shock and asked soul into this evening a moment.

>> Robert Prevost.

So we know that he grew up in the south suburbs later attended Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park.

>> What those who knew him during those times have to say about him?

>> I spoke to for the biography.

You have the similar things to say.

Number one, that he was incredibly bright.

He was somebody that was seen very much as intellectually gifted as a great students.

You you know, just speaking with people who know at the time and also listening to things that other people had said, you know, everybody describe this was a straight a student who is very involved.

You know, he was sort of not he came across as shy, you know, but if he wasn't one to sit out he participated in everything, was very active in sort of the community life.

But, you know, it's cool, but also at the to you, you know, but he was also described as somebody who is very special, even classmates of his, you know, who are in the minor, some there with him in 2000.

And, you know, our makes when he was 13, 12 or 13 years old, you described as very special, very pious, you know, that even young guy from South Chicago, that age don't necessarily think about humility.

And, you highest us being like words that would describe a young man.

You know it in that context of that age.

You know, they all described in that way being somebody that there's clearly something special about him, even then.

>> since then, he's been elected the What does that mean for the direction of the Catholic Church?

>> I think it's an exciting time.

Obviously, this is historic moment.

You know, he's the first pope from the United States.

I think the world is paying attention to the papacy in a way that they have not before it.

I think it makes more relevant just because of the place United States occupies on global stage.

I you know, you can't ignore it.

And he's somebody, you know, he told me in our conversations, you know, like other popes in the past and they'd speak out about global affairs or something.

It was relevant to United States.

say, OK, maybe just doesn't understand.

Maybe there's a miscommunication.

You know, he's somebody he told me is like they can't say that.

I don't understand I'm talking about.

That.

So I think there's a general understanding that when he speaks out, he knows very much what you say.

He understands the context of the United States, but not only also of the world because course, he spent so much time in Peru as a missionary, but also traveling the world as sort of disappear general of his religious order.

The August Indians, he really travel the entire world to visit community houses all over, you know, in Africa Asia, especially somebody that understands very much the United States and its contacts and its needs and its challenges.

But also how to relate that to the rest the world.

So I think this is really historic moment.

And whatever he's gonna say, I think is going to be seen.

And as increasingly relevant and and really just sort of extremely relevant given his own background and the context in which Warren.

>> Pope Leo will likely appoint a successor to Cardinal Blase Cupich here in Chicago in some years.

Are you seeing any patterns in the types of appointments that Pope Leo is making and that he's made so far?

>> Good question.

You know, everybody wants to know what is he going to do in terms of his appointments because it drives so much that direction, right of of the Catholic Church.

so the tone that's coming out, you know, the bishop's message is, you know, I think so far he's made a few key appointments.

We look at his appointment to New York.

Of course, you picks there very clear indication and he started making little appointments here.

They're what we see is an emphasis on bishops who are sort of middle of the road, guys.

He doesn't seem to appoint bishops who are really far left or far.

Right.

If we want to use those categories, you know, is somebody that number because of his own experience abroad can easily be packed into those categories that we so often use.

You know, he thinks very much in a different way.

So the guys that he's appointing a sort of center middle of the road personalities, you not seen as particularly Poehler and either direction, but we're also seeing people with some immigrant background as well, just appointed.

You you pointed a long look, of the bishop with the enemies back.

also just appointed, you know, a bishop who had been an undocumented migrant when he first arrived United States and then became regular So he's sending subtle messages.

You know, the kind of pastor that he wants, people who understand pastors to understand the issues and the nuances, the complications, you know, but also the needs of some of the big topics of the day.

Obviously, something advocated very much on behalf of migrants, you know, and and the rights while defending, you know, that the right of the state to in on it and a country to maintain their borders.

So he wants people understand the nuances of that debate and can leave the church in that discussion.

>> At least a few seconds left, you know, prior to becoming Pope Pope Leo use Facebook and formerly known as Twitter.

How is his relationship with technology influencing his papacy?

>> This is a very good question.

It is one of the reasons by initially titled My My biography of in the original version was in Spanish and part of the subtitles.

I called him a missionary the 21st century because he is the first pope.

That is really a digital native.

And he has used apps like this.

I think he's very much the tech pope.

He said artificial intelligence is going to be a huge priority of his is a huge talking point that he wants open up a discussion on.

So I think he really is going advance, you know, the conversation about these issues and he knows what he's talking about because he did use all these absentee does use them.

I think himself, you duolingo even so the going very much lead the discussion.

And we know that we know that he speaks several languages, obviously.

>> Elise and Alan, Congrats of the book.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Again.

The book is called Pope Leo, The 14th, the biography by Alice and Alan.

And that's our show for this Tuesday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, I'm Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good thing.

>> Whose caption is made possible by Robert a Richard a Chicago personal injury and