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

I'm Nick Blumberg.

Brandis Friedman is on assignment.

Here's what we're looking at.

The Cook County State's Attorney reverses course and is sending some gun possession cases to alternative courts.

You deserve a congressperson wilshere's you fight.

Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez throws his hat in the proverbial rain as he vies for Congressman Chuy Garcia joins us to discuss the race.

And changing requirements for SNAP recipients are coming.

What you should know.

>> First off tonight, 21 million dollars.

That's how much it cost to deploy National Guard troops to the Chicago area as of the end of December, according to the Congressional Budget Office, despite President Donald Trump's intentions to have troops patrolling Chicago's streets, federal courts blocked that move.

The decision the Supreme Court upheld Trump also send federalized National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., Memphis, New Orleans, Las Angeles and Portland, Oregon.

The CBO says that cost nearly 500 million dollars through the end of last year and it could run some 1.1 billion dollars this year.

If troops remain deployed.

Tougher new rules for electronic monitoring chief judge of Cook County Circuit Court is announcing 2 changes to the program which been under the microscope after a person released on electronic monitoring was charged with a violent random attack on a CTA rider under the new rules, major violations will go to the court for review within.

24 hours on both weekdays and weekends.

Previously, the court was only staff to do so on weekdays and what constitutes a major violation is also changing from 48 hours of unauthorized absence to just 3 hours under the new protocols.

In a statement, Chief Judge Charles Beach says these updates reinforce the courts commitment to timely judicial oversight and clear lines of responsibility.

Governor JB Pritzker says the state has yet to decide whether it will opt into a federal school voucher program, but that he still could drain resources from public schools.

Speaking at an unrelated event, the governor says his office is still reviewing the program, which was passed by Congress as part of the so-called one big beautiful bill.

The program offers donors up to a $1700 tax credit for donating to not-for-profits that offer students scholarships to private schools and cover other education related costs.

Pritzker told reporters that the federal government still has yet to release the final rules for the program.

Despite promising they be out weeks ago.

>> On its face, the question is, is just just just a repeat of trying to take money out of public schools and moving into private schools, which is what the Trump administration generally speaking has been in favor of or is this something that could be useful?

But we just don't know because there are no rules around are right now.

>> Opponents of the program rallied yesterday urging the governor to reject school vouchers.

Up next, why the Cook County State's attorney is reversing a policy on gun possession cases.

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.

>> The Cook County State's attorney has reversed course and is now diverting first time nonviolent gun cases to the restorative justice community courts in these courts, young people with nonviolent charges are sent to an alternative program with the charge dismissed upon completion.

The move comes nearly a year after states attorney Eileen O'Neill, Burke instructed her office not to divert gun possession cases to the restorative justice courts, which gutted the courses.

Caseload our Blair Paddock joins us now with more now.

Blair, what we know about why the state's attorney's office reversed its decision here.

Yeah.

So they told me that they do believe in gun possession case is going to the rjc seas.

>> But they took issue with how the gun possession cases are being handled in a previous iteration of the courts.

So they said that they weren't confident in the gun possession, education that was being provided to participants.

And there wasn't a process to get a firearm owner identification card that they saw was streamlined.

So now those cases are being sent back to the RJ CCS starting earlier this month.

And they said that there's more robust going education provided to participants and now participants can start the application for a FOID card while they're currently in the program and then received upon completion previously, they had to wait until they wouldn't even start the FOID card application process.

And for folks who aren't familiar with them, how exactly do these courts work?

Yeah.

So they started in 2017 as an alternative to incarceration for young people.

So they taken possession cases.

Some property related cases, drug possession cases and they get community together.

The person who was harmed in the cases where there is a person harmed and they look at, you know, what harm was done.

They provide social services folks like job training, counseling, mentorship and upon completion, they can get the charge wiped from the record.

It specifically for young people in a suburban Sauk village, Avondale Englewood and North Lawndale and was the program's.

So in those neighborhoods right now and, you know, with certain kinds of cases, are there any efforts underway to expand eligibility?

There's definitely a want to expand eligibility.

So I spoke with Judge Patricia Sprout.

She's overseas than Rick Lawndale RJ CC and she would like violent cases to start to come to the rjc The PCs office public defender's office said that they would also like expansion in the types of gun possession, but gun possession case is being seen so they would like cases involving guns without serial numbers or guns with certain attachments to start make their way, making their way to the Rjc All right.

Very interesting program where Paddack thank you very much.

>> And you can read Blair's full story on our website.

It's all at W T Tw Dot com Slash news.

The race to replace outgoing congressman has says Julie Garcia has a new candidate, 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez officially announced his bid today when a city council's Democratic socialist he'll be running as an independent to represent the 4th Congressional District Lopez sharply criticized Garcia's decision to announce at the last minute that he wouldn't run again, paving the way for his chief of staff, Patty Garcia to take the Democratic nomination and joining us to discuss the race is 4th district Congressional candidate Byron Sigcho Lopez.

He currently serves as 25th where all the person representing communities, including Colson and Little Village.

Welcome back to the program.

Thanks for being here.

Thank you, Ben So you haven't publicly talked about entering this race until Congressman Garcia announced very last minute that he wasn't going to run for re-election.

What made you want to jump them?

One just hearing across their 4th congressional district.

The need for representation in a moment like this.

We need to build a coalition.

>> And we've got to do it upholding or Democratic values.

We can challenge those who are rigging elections.

I want to be in power forever by re elections or sell.

So it was important for us to listen to concede was across different congressional districts, suburban and urban areas to work together to find solutions for the issues that we're facing as Americans across the country.

>> And of course, you know, here in Cook County, Democratic candidates have a major advantage on the ballot.

How are you looking connect with voters?

Try and overcome some of that built-in advantage?

>> Well, with the with the support were conceived through this with the power of the people.

So we will not stranger being outspent.

You know, by big corporate PACs.

That's what it was important for us to take our time to gather where people had.

And I think that there's the sired 2 to elect independent leadership that he's I'm buck.

I am confident I just made going and sessions from federal workers to teachers to people, homeowners, small businesses, the need is there nothing that we would mobilize people?

We organize people.

We organize his motivations Chinese day being a glass.

Yeah.

And speaking of mobilization as well, of course, as the matter of getting on the ballot as an independent candidate requires nearly 11,000 valid signatures in your district.

>> Are you feeling confident you'll be able to clear that hurdle?

>> Yes, and think is important.

I know there's many legal challenges being challenging going to especially knowing how difficulties for independence run.

I was not getting any other choice.

You know, fact, had no choice but to run as an independent.

But I do things and exercise and he talked to people across the district.

That is something I feel my 7 years in office.

I think comfortable talking to people gathering support from people across the aisle on a field excited about mobilizing, communities together.

2, 5, 4, 4, different.

Wally is really concerning what we've seen a country abroad home the deployment of military forces to attack the murdered even American citizens.

It demands a bold action and a few that would inspire people to come out.

Sign a petition and vote for us.

>> And when you talk to folks across the district, what are the priorities that you hear?

What are what are people concerned about when we hear people who are afraid, of course, of of the deployment of federal troops.

>> To terrorize the kidnapper to 2 murder as we saw in Minneapolis.

But we also see the issues of affordability, rising costs food.

And then also it's not not benefits being cut.

We see premiums of health care insurance going up drastically leaving thousands of people without insurance.

We see people are struggling to make ends meet to pay for rent, for mortgages.

So we see an affordability crisis with a president who does not even know what affordability means.

So it is important for us to challenge that would solutions.

So we're there listen to the shoes provide a proposal that we challenge to be in a class tax, the rich and corporations so that we can help or what some people are struggling.

>> You mentioned the ongoing and very aggressive immigration enforcement that's happening.

You've been outspoken about calling for the abolition of ICE.

Why?

Why abolition rather than the reform was that the right approach, which we reform a system bodies murdering people in plain sight.

And we saw what happened spread encore in a good also what we saw with many units inside his heat in our state.

We cannot reform a system that is broken needs to be change.

We've been calling for abolishing ICE for years.

Nobody became convenient.

We reform system that now is recreating his slave catchers that we see people running for terror.

We only need to abolish ICE.

We need to find accountability.

We need to persecute and the rest 40 by the call law enforcement.

There's nothing about lawful for people who do not respect the law.

We need to bring front of justices.

The DA in Philadelphia has already called for.

>> You know, some Democrats have called on the state of Illinois to redraw its congressional maps, try and counter Republican efforts to pick up seats in the house, although that hasn't really gained any traction locally.

But do you think Illinois should changes maps should it leave the masses?

>> Well, I think it is important that we that we don't have a politicians choosing their voters.

Voters need to choose their representatives.

I think that we need to challenge, of course, about all Democratic means.

I'm showing that we can do by challenging those decisions.

I think that is important that democratic values that we don't elections in any way, shape or form.

That is the recipe all the Republican Lindsey.

And I think for us, important that we Apollo Democratic values by a lot voters to choose their representatives and do it with solutions and ideas and what platforms.

>> You know, as we mentioned, you're aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America Group.

That's the risen in prominence over the last decade or so.

Both in Chicago and nationally.

Why do you think the DSA message is starting to connect more with voters?

we as we saw in New York when a new mayor was I was elected as Ormond.

Any show a to speak directly to what can people to speak to working people and their issues of affordability, health care, housing public education, things that working people are suffering no making know, being able make ends meet.

>> And I think that that measures overhauling to be in a class accountable is something has become more and more evident the federal government, a complete corrupt, prevent a government.

We literally being run our government at the federal level rum.

But Pena, 5 billionaires who want divide working people.

I think that Democratic session is percent and turned I was elected in 2018 and only seen that these become more and more like optional represents working people who represent a baby in a class.

>> You know, and on the flip side for folks who may be more mainline, are more moderate or conservative Democrats.

How do you communicate with with those voters about the ideas that you bring to this race?

>> We're looking for way too long.

We have allowed Republican Party too, to protect me that that is that the party that Anderson business that under understands how to small business when they're the first ones destroy small businesses with over taxation, property taxes and so forth.

So we want to make sure that we talked to the east was a working people, talking about affordability, talking about a small businesses, talking to people who are struggling to make ends providing real solution.

I think that's millionaires vaccine vaccine to be in place.

It is for so that we don't see property taxes raising health care insurance.

We are a country, the richest country in history of of are planted and unacceptable that we have people who can not have access public health care.

We also veterans who have mistreated when they have been serving our country.

Want to make sure that we expand services, those benefits to veterans.

So there's a lot of work to do with being working with people across the aisle.

I used to represent France and the Chinatown community and in community, even though there may be more conservative, we've been working together so that we are the only Chinatown in the country that is going good economic solutions, the men platforms.

And that is something that weekend that I think that we can promote a got just under a minute left.

Of course, there's a lot of action on the House side as well.

But >> there are also 3 candidates currently competing for the Democratic nomination in the Republican race to replace Senator Durbin.

Are you planning to endorse any of those candidates?

What I'm looking at time to cut funding sources.

I know that will be challenging anybody's funded by a pack.

But we also want to make sure that we look at their solutions.

What are they proposing for working people?

So I'm looking very closely at that raises an important race.

So we'll be sealed making or we've seen the debates and it's cut into Senator marketing and the urban markets.

open race.

What we can vote on ideas and platforms.

So I'll be I'll be I'll be waiting to to make the decision.

All right.

Many open races this year and a new candidate and one of them.

Byron Sigcho Lopez, thank you very much for joining us.

Thank you so much.

Up-next work requirements for food assistance benefits are changing what that means for Illinois residents.

Eligibility >> reflecting the people perspectives that make this story is part of Chicago tonight.

Not >> As many as 450,000 Illinois residents could soon lose their food assistance benefits under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP.

That's according to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which is warning of new work requirements set to take effect on February.

1st, the changes came as a result of the so-called one big beautiful bill that became law this past summer.

The Food depository says it's gearing up for a new wave of food and security, but cautions that it can't handle the additional need a loan.

Joining us to discuss the potential impact of the changes are Nolan Downey, senior director of policy at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Kenny Robinson in Englewood, residents and Snap recipient.

Thank you both for being here tonight.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

So no one.

Can walk us through the changes to the SNAP program that are set to take effect at the beginning of February?

Yeah.

So what we're concerned about here is the expanded work requirements following the passage of HR one.

>> Now SNAP recipients who are between ages 18 to 64 who don't struggle with any type of physical or mental limitations.

It impacts ability to work and also don't have children under age 14 are now going to have to start meeting new work requirements starting February first.

If they want to maintain their critical nutritional assistance and what happens of SNAP recipients can't make those new requirements.

Yes, honor the work requirements.

These recipients are going to have to work or participate in some type of volunteer or training activity for 80 hours a month.

And if they don't do that, they only get 3 months of staff in a three-year period.

So we think about it sort of like baseball, 3 strikes and you're out and sadly, we think a lot of people are going to be impacted by this.

>> You know, Kenny, I know you're worried that these upcoming changes haven't been clearly communicated to folks who rely on this program.

Are you are you worried people who rely on snap know about the changes are, you know, has that not been clear?

It's not in lot of people on stand that.

>> Ordinary I was, you know, anything can happen that they fall short of way.

I was and get cut off, you know, with they get hurt on the job, working for the stamps.

You know, and everybody I'm saying pay step.

you know, some get less others.

You know, so working for 50, $50 of stamps.

You, Nevada.

I is that it got really one other benefit that we have.

can we look forward to?

about permanent jobs?

You know, things that they think that nature.

I am a petition 10, but I really tired of being I want to work.

I want earn a living and I want to be for the rest of my life.

I've decided that job with bare is out there that hold me back.

Yeah, it's not always a question of, >> you know, on willingness or lack of motivation.

It can be a lack of opportunity as well.

It you know, and I know you've been doing some volunteer work to make sure you're still eligible.

Are you confident you'll be able to stay on SNAP after these changes take place?

I'm not sure that I don't know.

You know, Nolan Snap recipients.

As you mentioned, they've got basically 3 months to meet the new requirements or they'll be kicked out.

But people can still get back on SNAP if that were to happen.

Is that correct?

That's right.

And I think Mr.

Robinson's actually raising a really important point.

>> Of course, if people lose those trees, 3 strikes they can get back on SNAP.

If they start meeting the work requirement again, if they meet those 80 hours a month, they become exempt, they can get back on.

But I think when Mr Robinson's highlighting is really important because often times most people who are on snap unable to work are working.

Folks that are often face severe barriers to work and as Mr.

Robinson's highlighting taking away people's food doesn't make it easier for them to get a job.

We want people to be gainfully employed.

We want people to have jobs to treat them fairly and pay them well, but taking away their food doesn't help with that.

In the research over decades is clear work requirements do not work.

to me.

How about that idea that you'll you'll hear folks who argue for work requirements saying?

>> You know, people are taking advantage of the system or they just don't want to work.

It is that is that true in your experience?

You we 51 you that I want to word OK, why got time?

I want I want to contribute, you know, I want to be able to get a paycheck.

You know, include, come in, come check you into.

just want them a check.

I get from SNAP.

a beneficial.

It was so much get up between.

I mean, I mean, bills, always late phone, get cut off from time to move This is the way to And may I ask, I mean, how much you seeing from snap each month?

One 58 a month that finally and they want to work for that.

And then hours that you have to put in, you know, if you're doing a volunteer job, you know, you're not they're not getting paid for that.

So that doesn't generate any and additional income for exactly.

I mean, what about medical benefits a job doing it for a DUI with full staff I get on the job it didn't pay my medical benefits of I get to out kicking my family.

Don, working for the full Senate.

Well, the benefits do we have?

Can we expect from that from administration of the 45 stamps and what would you say to the folks in Congress or the administration?

>> That have been supportive of these new changes.

These new rules.

>> Station, Well, in fact, could need to work on this.

We to work on this.

>> Well, you know, and as we mentioned earlier, these new requirements are part of the one big beautiful bill passed.

It at the behest of President Trump.

What rationale have we heard from from folks in Washington about why they made this change?

Well, it's the rationale that you're getting at and it's the same tired tropes and misconceptions about benefits recipients of people are receiving these benefits, but that they don't want to work and Mr.

Robinson is highlighting this.

He receives $158 a month.

The average snap benefit per person is about $196.

Nobody is turning down a good job because that's the amount that they're receiving.

That benefit is important for people to supplement their grocery budgets.

But that is not enough.

And so I think a lot of the justification is around these misconceptions, but we should be very clear that the purpose of these expanded work requirements is to kick people off of benefits.

And sadly, that is what I think we're likely to see.

>> And you mentioned a bit of a confusing system.

The sort of 3 strikes.

You know, that you basically don't get those 3 strikes back for another 3 years.

But you're not kicked out of snap for another 3 years.

Is that correct?

As long as you are meeting these requirements again, if you go back to meeting the requirements, you can get back on.

But for so many people.

There are barriers to work that they're not able to overcome.

>> And taking their food assistance away does not make that situation any better.

And so that what the data shows us often is that people lose those benefits right after those 3 months and that they don't make their way back to the program again, if we're interested in people getting good jobs, what we need to do is support them with the food that they need while they're out there looking and trying to navigate this difficult job market because that is what's going help them be more successful.

And again, the research has demonstrated that.

>> And you know, when when these changes were put into place, how were you notified?

are they sending?

Letters that they sending email and that I mean.

Pompeo at which it took them to the snap program, told me your at the reportedly know if I'm able to work at Big big and you have to work at the age limit.

All that was coming take.

>> a letter firms have people say you people who work on a program?

Yeah.

>> So you know, maybe folks are living in a different address temporarily or if they don't have access to their e-mail, they could potentially be falling through the cracks and might not know about shows and they show can some people have might not get the e-mail or >> might be.

Homes will have man in a dress can delay and get cut off their full staff.

>> And, you know, forgive me for sort of an obvious question.

But, you know, if you're out there looking for a job and you don't have adequate food, if you're not sure where that's coming from.

How challenging does that make sound to how you going be evaluate the nourishment district if you don't have if you know food sustain life, I don't want ask you, sir, for a job.

When you lack in full.

We've got about 30 seconds left.

But Nolan, how is the Greater Chicago Food Depository preparing for a possible new search of food and security?

We're going to do everything we can to try to meet this need.

But as you highlighted at the jump.

>> For every meal that snap provides for every meal that we provide.

Snap provides 9.

And so this is not at the scale that we're going to be able to meet.

And so part of the equation now is, are there are additional investment so we can get from the state to try to help people absorb the loss of these critical benefits.

We can meet this need on our own.

We're going to do everything we can.

But I think we need our partners in state government to explore solutions to also think through how we can support people during this crisis.

Yeah, certainly critical program for a lot of folks.

Nolan Downey County Robinson, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

Thank you.

And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

You can stream Chicago tonight on our W T Tw YouTube channel every evening and catch up on any programs you may have missed.

>> Join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

What's at stake as the country waits for the Supreme Court to rule on President Trump's tariffs.

Now for all of us here in Chicago tonight, I'm Nick Lumber.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Woes caption he's made possible by Robert a and Clifford A Chicago personal injury and wrongful death.