>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT .

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ WILL JOIN US IN A MOMENT.

>> I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE DECISION OF THE COURT.

>> REVERSING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

>> I WANT TO SEE IT LIVE.

I WANT TO HEAR IT.

>> BUCKLING UP FOR THE FIRST EVER NASCAR RACE IN CHICAGO.

WE ARE LIVE AT THE TRACK.

>>> WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THE STATE LAWS TAKE EFFECT IN JULY THAT ARE NEW.

>> I AM LIVE ON THE NASCAR CHICAGO STREET COURSE , THE FIRST EVER , START YOUR ENGINES, READY OR NOT , THE RACE IS DAYS AWAY.

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF VIEWPOINTS ON THIS , CURIOSITY , EXCITEMENT , AND WE WILL HEAR FROM EVERYONE AND GET A FULL PREVIEW IN JUST A BIT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> TOP STORIES, AND A BOMBSHELL DECISION FROM U.S. SUPREME COURT THE FEDERATION OF RACE AS A FACTOR IS NO MORE.

THE COURTS CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY RULED IN FAVOR OF STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS WHICH BROUGHT THE LAWSUIT AGAINST HARVARD AND UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

THE GROUP ARGUED THAT THE POLICIES DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ASIAN AND WHITE AMERICANS.

A DISSENTING OPINION SAYS THE DECISION ROLLS BACK DECADES OF PROGRESS.

WE HAVE MORE ON THE RULING IN A FEW MINUTES .

>>> ACTIVISTS AND STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO REPURCHASE PLAN TO PAUSE MEDICAID ENROLLMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

>> NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE LEGISLATURES , STAKEHOLDER, THE GOVERNMENT PUT UP A NOTICE ON A WEBSITE THAT SAID, IN 14 DAYS, COVERAGE AND ENROLLMENT WOULD BE CLOSING.

>>> AS OF JULY 1st , THIS SATURDAY, NEW ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS AGE 42 TO 64 WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED CANNOT SIGN UP FOR MAC STATE-SPONSORED HEALTH CARE COVERAGE .

HEALTHY ILLINOIS, WHICH ADVOCATED FOR THE COVERAGE IS ASKING FOR A MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

>>> THE CHICAGO POLICE HAS ALWAYS COMPLIED WITH 5% OF PARAGRAPHS REQUIRED UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM AN INDEPENDENT MONITOR.

THEY SAY MUCH MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REACH COMPLIANCE AND THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT WILL ADVISE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERSHIP .

ONCE SELECTED, THE NEW TOP COP WILL ADDRESS STAFFING CHALLENGES , COMMUNITY POLICING STRATEGY , AND IMPLEMENT A BETTER DATA COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT PROCESS .

IN RESPONSE, THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE DEPARTMENT HAS REACHED PRELIMINARY BUT NOT FULL COMPLIANCE WITH 82% OF PARAGRAPHS IN THE DEGREE AND HIRED NEARLY 1300 OFFICERS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2022.

MORE TO THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE .

>>> NEXT, GEARING UP FOR THE NASCAR STREET RACE.

PARIS SCHUTZ IS LIVE FROM GRANT PARK RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> IS ALMOST GO TIME FOR NASCAR IN CHICAGO.

CITY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS ALMOST ONE YEAR.

THE 12 TURN, 2.2 MILE COURSE DOWN LAKESHORE DRIVE, MICHIGAN AVENUE , AND COLUMBUS DRIVE.

PARIS SCHUTZ SPENT TIME NEAR THE COURSE THIS WEEK FOREVER IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES .

WE ARE GETTING REACTION FROM RESIDENTS.

PARIS JOINS US FROM GRANT PARK.

HOW WAS IT LOOKING?

>> Reporter: WE ARE AT THE HEART OF THE COURSE, THE START AND FINISH LINE, JUST WEST OF GRANT PARK.

WE HAVE THE PODIUM HERE, STANDS , IMPRESSIVE, IT IS AN ACTUAL RACEWAY , IT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED IN DAYS .

THERE IS A RANGE OF OPINIONS AS EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION IT SEEMS LIKE.

NEARBY NEIGHBORS SAYS THEY WILL LAY LOW THIS WEEKEND AS THE RACE FANS START TO PACK THE CITY .

>> WE ARE HUNKERING DOWN.

>> THEY LIVE IN A HIGH-RISE OFF OF MICHIGAN AVENUE.

JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE NASCAR STREET COURSE.

THEY SAY THE CITY IS ENTERING UNKNOWN TERRITORY.

>> WHAT IS GOING TO BE LIKE?

LOUD .

OILY , SMOKY , TERRIBLE, OR SOMETHING COOL.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Reporter: >> HOW WE TURN FROM MICHIGAN AVENUE TO JACKSON ON A STOCK-CAR ?

WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE.

>> WE WILL GO LOOK AND THE COPS WILL TURN US AWAY.!

LAKESHORE DRIVE STREET CLOSURES STARTED LAST NIGHT .

A BLOCK AWAY, GRANT PARK BISTRO MANAGERS HAVE GONE AHEAD.

>> WE ARTY HAVE OUR DELIVERIES.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO TRY TO NAVIGATE THE STREETS.

THAT MAY BE THE TOUGHEST THING.

YOU COME TO AN EVENT , YOU ARE WALKING ANYWAY IN GRANT PARK.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY IT IS TIME FOR THE CITY TO BUCKLE UP AND ENJOY THE RIDE.

>> I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A NASCAR RACE AND I WANT TO SEE IT LIVE, I WANT TO SEE CARS FLYING BY, I WANT TO HEAR IT , SEE PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: TICKETHOLDERS WILL BE COMING IN FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 14 COUNTRIES.

80% OF THEM ARE ATTENDING THE FIRST EVER NASCAR RACE.

>> WE ARE TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED .

THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR NASCAR AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> HE IS IN TOWN FROM DETROIT, A LIFELONG NASCAR FAN BUT SAYS HE HAD TO PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS ONE.

>> THE PRICE IS TOO TOUGH, SURPRISED HOW MUCH IT IS.

IT IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY LOCALS ARE ATTENDING.

>> A VERY GOOD BALANCE , I DON'T HAVE EXACT NUMBERS BUT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF LOCALS ATTENDING, PARTICIPATING .

>> Reporter: CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS ARE WORKING OVERTIME THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, COUPLED WITH PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS.

NEARBY BUILDINGS ARE SETTING UP PITSTOPS OF THEIR OWN.

>> WORKING EXTRA SHIFTS AND SO ON.

COME OVER TO OUR BUILDING AND GET SNACKS, WATER , CLEAN BATHROOMS, HAVE A MINUTE TO RECHARGE.

>> THE RACE HAS DEALT WITH SOME CONTROVERSY.

THE FORMER MAYOR STRUCK A DEAL BEFORE CITY COUNCIL HAD A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN.

>> THESE TYPES OF THINGS SHOULD BE VETTED MORE BROADLY AND PLANNED WITH MORE TIME.

>> GRANT PARK IS THE FRONT YARD FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO BUT A HOME FOR PEOPLE AND THERE HAS TO BE A MORE EXTENSIVE DIALOGUE WITH CITIZENS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS NASCAR HAS BEEN WILLING TO WORK WITH HIM TO ADDRESS CONCERNS.

BUT THE RACE IS ONE OF MANY EVENTS THAT WILL KEEP HIS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK PARTIALLY OR FULLY CLOSED OFF FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE SUMMER.

DIANE AND NICK ARE KEEPING AN OPEN MIND.

RESERVING JUDGMENT UNTIL AFTER RACE OFFICIALS RAISE THE CHECKERED FLAG.

>> I THINK IT COULD BE GREAT FOR THE CITY.

MOST PEOPLE'S REACTION IS, WHAT TO MAKE MAYBE IT WILL WORK.

WE WILL SEE.

>> Reporter: IF YOU CAN , AVOID DRIVING IN THIS AREA FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

LAKESHORE DRIVE CLOSED BETWEEN RANDOLPH , TRAFFIC DIVERTED ELSEWHERE.

IT IS ROUGH ON OUR CAMERAMEN BEHIND THE LENS DROVE 2.5 HOURS FROM OUR STATION TO GET HERE.

IT WAS ROUGH ON MICHIGAN AVENUE.

WE ARE JOINED BY A DRIVER, ANDRE CASTRO, MAKING HIS XFINITY SERIES DEBUT.

THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST AMERICAN NASCAR EVENT, THE FIRST EVER CITY STREET COURSE .

WHAT IS YOUR MENTALITY GOING IN ?

>> MY FIRST EVER RACE IN A SERIES.

THE EVENT IS ONLY ONE DATE.

THAT IS PRETTY CRAZY BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THE XFINITY CAR.

I HAVE PRACTICE TO GET USED TO THE TRACK AND THE CAR.

I HAVE TO DO WELL ENOUGH IN QUALIFYING TO MAKE MY WAY INTO THE MAIN RACE.

IT IS ABOUT BEING PATIENT AND FINISHING THE BEST WE CAN.

>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU PRACTICE WHEN YOU CANNOT BE ON THE COURSE?

>> THANKS TO THE TEAM , I WENT TO CHARLOTTE AND DROVE A CHEVY SIMULATOR AND GOT SOME GOOD LAPS ON THE COURSE.

THEY SCANNED THE COURSE .

IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL BE DRIVING.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A GOOD LEG UP.

I FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING OUT THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WE WILL SEE .

IT IS DIFFERENT WITH A TEMPORARY CIRCUIT, THE BARRIERS WILL NOT ALWAYS BE IN THE SAME PLACE.

WE WILL BE TAKING A FEW LAPS IN PRACTICE, AND DOING THE BEST I CAN.

>> Reporter: I GET A PREVIEW DRIVE WITH DALE JARRETT, NASCAR LEGEND , HE SAID, SERIOUSLY, HE WAS WORRIED DRIVERS MAY BE DISTRACTED BY THE SKYLINE.

THEY ARE NOT USED TO SEEING THAT WHILE DRIVING , ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST FEW LAPS.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ?

>> I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE FOR FOUR YEARS SO I HAVE SEEN THE SKYLINE MULTIPLE TIMES.

I WILL TRY NOT TO GET DISTRACTED.

THE MAIN CONCERN WILL BE BEING CONSISTENT AND NOT HITTING THE WALL.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT DISTRACTED , YOU CAN MAKE A MISTAKE.

IT WILL BE ABOUT BEING CONSISTENT AND FOCUSED .

>> WE SHOULD MENTION YOU ARE A UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GRADUATE.

WHAT IS IT LIKE MAKING YOUR DEBUT IN A CITY IN WHICH YOU WENT TO COLLEGE?

>> INCREDIBLE .

IT HAS NOT REALLY SUNK IN YET.

EVERYBODY IS EXCITED TO HAVE MANY GUESTS ON SATURDAY CHEERING ME ON.

IT IS A COOL OPPORTUNITY I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD DO.

I STARTED COLLEGE IN 2017.

THIS WAS NOT EVEN BORN YET .

I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

I KNEW I HAD TO JUMP AT THE CHANCE.

THANKFULLY, CHICAGO SUPPORTED ME AND THEY GOT BEHIND ME.

I AM HERE AND WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> Reporter: EMMITT SMITH IS THE OWNER OF YOUR TEAM.

BEST OF LUCK , LET'S GET YOU INTO THE MAIN RACE ON SUNDAY.

BE SAFE .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US .

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME .

>> FROM THE FIRST EVER CHICAGO STREET COURSE, WE GO BACK TO YOU, BRANDIS.

>> BEST OF LUCK TO ANDRE AND THE OTHER DRIVERS.

THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SETS OFF A STORM FORECAST.

>>> A BOMBSHELL DECISION BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AS THEY STRUCK DOWN DECADES LONG PRESIDENTS OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

THE RULING THAT FELL ALONG THE IDEOLOGICAL LINES MEANS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CAN NO LONGER TAKE RACE INTO CONSIDERATION IN ADMISSIONS.

JOINING US TO BREAK DOWN THE DECISION OR A PARTNER AND CLERK FOR JUSTICE KENNEDY, AND THE PROFESSOR OF LAW AND ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESOURCE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TO CLARIFY , EXPLAIN WHAT YOU AND YOUR FIRM'S RELATIONSHIP IS .

>> I AM A PARTNER IN AN APPELLATE PRACTICE AND MY COLLEAGUES FILED A BRIEF IN THE SUPREME COURT ON BEHALF OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> WHAT WAS THE ARGUMENT IN THIS CASE AND WHAT DID THEY DECIDE >> THE STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSION CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE ADMISSIONS POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND HARVARD.

THEY ALLEGED THEY VIOLATED THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE 14th AMENDMENT AND TITLE VI OF -- THE UNIVERSITIES SAID THEY WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT, INCLUDING A 2003 DECISION.

THE DECISION IN QUESTION TODAY BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE INTERPRETS THESE TO NOT PERMIT RACIAL CLASSIFICATION TO BE USED, FOR THE SAKE OF RACE.

>> HERE IS A BIT OF THE PRESIDENT'S REACTION.

>> WE NEED TO KEEP AN OPEN DOOR OF OPPORTUNITIES.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY FORWARD .

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE PROMISE OF AMERICA IS BIG ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE TO SUCCEED.

>> IS DIVERSITY A JUSTIFICATION FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?

>> ACCORDING TO THE COURT'S RULING, THEY DID NOT EXPLICITLY SAY THAT WE WILL OVERRULE THE PRIOR CASES .

IN A LOT OF WAYS, THE DECISION WAS EXTREMELY NARROW.

IT FOCUSED ON THE PARTICULAR ADMISSIONS POLICIES .

IT IS IMPORTANT THE COURT EMPHASIZED THOSE POLICIES POTENTIALLY MAY RAISE THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY SUBMITTED -- THE COURT FOCUSED ON WHAT I THINK OF AS THE DIVERSITY STANDARD.

IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH THE SCRUTINY , THE CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARD , THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES HAVE TO FOLLOW , THEY HAVE TO APPROVE THEIR CONSIDERATION TO RACE AFFECTING THE UNIVERSITY, BUT THEY CANNOT HAVE A NUMERICAL OUTPUT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE COURT SAYS IS A QUOTE OF WHICH IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

WHAT THIS DECISION DO , THE COURT SAID, YOU CAN STILL THINK ABOUT INDIVIDUALS AND STILL , IF SOMEBODY HAS A PERSONAL STATEMENT IN THE ADMISSION, HERE IS HOW I OVERCAME RACISM , YOU CAN STILL CONSIDER THAT.

THE COURT ALSO , THE OPINION DOES NOT TOUCH PIPELINE PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT AN APPLICANT WHO IS ROBUST , REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COUNTRY IS WHAT COMES INTO THE ADMISSION OFFICE.

>> ON HER DEFENSE, JUSTICE JACKSON WRITES, WOULD LET THEM EAT CAKE OBLIVIOUSNESS TODAY, THE MAJORITY PULLED THE REPORT AND ANNOUNCES COLORBLINDNESS FOR OUR BY FIAT.

IT DOES NOT MAKE IT SO IN LIFE.

IT SAYS THE COURT HAS BEEN INTERFERING WITH THE CRUCIAL WORK INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING ARE DOING TO SOLVE AMERICA'S REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS.

HOW MIGHT THIS RULING TODAY APPLIED OUTSIDE OF EDUCATION , IN OTHER SECTORS ?

>> TWO BIG QUESTIONS, ONE, HOW THIS DECISION APPLIES TO UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS GOING FORWARD.

THE COURT HELD THAT RACE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SAKE OF RACE, BUT THERE IS SOME AMBIGUITY , PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS WHERE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID , THE OPINION SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS PROHIBITING UNIVERSITIES FROM CONSIDERING THE APPLICANT'S DISCUSSION OF HOW RACE AFFECTED THEIR LIFE , BE IT THIS COMMISSION OR OTHERWISE.

DESPITE THE ASSERTION TO THE CONTRARY, UNIVERSITIES MAY NOT ESTABLISH APPLICATIONS OR OTHER MEANS -- THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WILL NEED TO BE FIGURED OUT GOING FORWARD.

SOME OF THOSE SAME QUESTIONS EXIST OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS SETTINGS , WHICH WILL BE FOR LOWER COURTS TO DETERMINE THAT OPINION.

>> WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK IT WILL HAVE ON STUDENTS WHO ARE APPLYING TO THESE INSTITUTIONS?

MAYBE STUDENTS COULD WRITE ABOUT THEIR OWN RACE IN ENTRANCE EXAMS.

IS THAT THE ONLY WAY FOR THAT TO COME UP ?

WHAT IF STUDENTS DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE RACE IN AN ESSAY?

>> THAT IS ALREADY AN ISSUE TO SOME EXTENT.

JUSTICE SOUTER , THERE ARE GENUINE SOCIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN EVERYBODY'S LIFE.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE RACE IN AN APPLICATION I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT CHANGES.

TWO THINGS CHANGE, NUMBER ONE, IN THE COUNTRIES MOST ELITE INSTITUTIONS, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DO WHAT I THINK THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IN, TO BE PERFECTLY BLUNT , MAKING IT THE CASE FOR CONTRIBUTING , PEOPLE OTHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN TAUGHT BY THE MOST POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL CLASSES.

THEY COME FROM A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND.

THE OTHER THING TO WORRY ABOUT , FRANKLY, IS THE MESSAGE THIS SENDS TO STUDENTS WHO APPLY TO SCHOOLS.

WILL STUDENTS AND APPLICANTS EXPERIENCE THE SUPREME COURT SAYING , WE DON'T VALUE INCLUDING YOU IN OUR ECONOMIC LIFE.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THE LAST POINT, THE JUSTICES EXEMPTED MILITARY ACADEMIES FROM THIS BAND ON RACE CONSCIOUSNESS, WHAT IS THE ARGUMENT?

>> YES, THEY SEE THAT AS A DIFFERENT INSTITUTION.

THE SAME ANALYSIS, INCLUDING , THE PLUS FACTORS, THEY DO NOT APPLY.

>> A LOT TO DISCUSS .

WE WILL BE PARSING THIS OUT IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

>>> TAX RELIEF MEASURES SET TO EXPIRE, WHAT TO EXPECT BUT AFTER THIS.

>>> YOU READY TO PAY MORE FOR GAS AND GROCERIES.

AMANDA VINICKY HAS MORE CHANGES COMING NEXT MONTH.

WHY SHOULD WE EXPECT TO PAY MORE?

>> Reporter: IN HONOR OF THE NEW FISCAL NEW YEAR, I AM KIDDING, THE GIFT CAME LAST YEAR.

STATUS CHANGES ARE COMING , SATURDAY, JULY 1st IS THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN ILLINOIS.

THE NEW STATE BUDGET TAKES EFFECT.

ORGANIZATIONS, PROGRAMS , AND INDIVIDUALS WITH FUNDING , INCLUDING THE IMMIGRANT HEALTHCARE FUNDING PARTICIPANTS.

I WANT TO SPEND THE NEXT FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT OTHER CHANGES THAT WILL IMPACT CONSUMERS.

BUDGETS INCLUDE NO TAX INCREASE .

BUT IT DOES INCLUDE A HIKE THAT COULD IMPACT THOSE PURCHASING CARS, IT WILL COST $10 MORE FOR A NEW TITLE, MONEY TO HELP THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH THEIR ARCHAIC I.T.

SYSTEMS .

>> WHAT ABOUT GAS?

>> FILLING UP YOUR CAR WILL COST MORE AS THE STATE MOTOR FUEL TAX WILL GO UP BY ABOUT THREE CENTS PER GALLON.

I DO NOT THINK MOTORISTS WILL BE LINING UP AT GAS STATION ON FRIDAY BEFORE THE CHANGE, BUT IT IS GOING UP.

YOU MAY RECALL , LAST JULY 1st, LAWMAKERS HAD VOTED TO FREEZE THE GAS TAX AT $.39 PER GALLON.

A MOVE THEY MADE SURE TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF GAS STATIONS WERE REQUIRED TO POST STICKERS LIKE THIS ONE AT THE PUMP.

WHICH IS WHY THIS WILL NOT BE THE SECOND HIKE IN THE GAS TAX IN SIX MONTHS.

IT WENT UP FROM $.39 TO $.42 PER GALLON, STARTING SATURDAY, $.45 PER GALLON.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY CITY OR COUNTY TAXES.

>> WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, THAT WILL COST MORE.

>> THIS HARKENS BACK TO ACTION THAT LEGISLATORS TOOK LAST YEAR , ILLINOIS SUSPENDED THE 1% SALES TAX ON GROCERIES , 1%, MAYBE ENOUGH TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE WALLET, ONE DOLLARS ON $100 WITH THE PURCHASES , BUT IT ADDS UP FOR CONSUMERS AND FOR GOVERNMENT WHO DEPENDS ON THE REVENUE.

IN THIS CASE, CASH THAT GOES TO MUNICIPALITIES LAST YEAR , ILLINOIS PAID THE BACK.

IT IS TIGHTER THIS YEAR AROUND.

THE STATE IS NOT DOING A REPEAT OF THAT GROCERY TAX.

>> I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO ELIMINATE THE GROCERY TAX, BUT IT IS A MATTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT INCOME AS A RESULT OF THE GROCERY TAX.

>> WHAT WAS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT LAST YEAR THAT THE TAXES WERE STEADY OR DOWN VERSUS THIS YEAR WHEN THEY ARE BEING REINSTATED?

>> IT WAS NOT JUST GAS AND GROCERIES.

THERE WAS A LOT MORE AS WELL , INCLUDING THE TEMPORARY RELIEF PLAN GAVE DIRECT PAYMENTS OF $50 TO MOST ADULTS, THERE WAS A ONE TIME PROPERTY TAX REBATE.

LAST YEAR , INFLATION WAS BIG IN THE HEADLINES.

WEIGHT , SOMETHING ELSE, IT WAS AN ELECTION YEAR .

THE REPUBLICANS HAD RAISED FRUSTRATIONS .

NOW, SAYING THAT THE FAILURE OF DEMOCRATS TO STOP THE RELIEF PROVED IT WAS A CAMPAIGN GIMMICK.

HERE IS WHAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAID.

>> WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR WAS A TEMPORARY MEASURE BECAUSE WE HAD HIGH INFLATION.

INFLATION YOU MAY NOTICE HAS GONE DOWN.

WE HAD HIGH INFLATION AND WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING WE COULD, PROVIDING $1.8 BILLION OF TAX RELIEF FOR FAMILIES ACROSS ILLINOIS.

>> FOR ALL OF THE TAX INCREASES, THE LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES IN THE CHICAGO REGION COULD SEE THEIR PAYCHECKS INCREASE .

IT IS HARD TO SAY BECAUSE THE COMPETITIVE LABOR MARKET THEY NEED THEIR WAGES ARE ALREADY UP TO THIS POINT, BUT , STARTING SATURDAY, THE MINIMUM WAGE IS INCREASING AROUND HERE.

COOK COUNTY, $13.70, FOR NON-TEMP WORKERS, EIGHT DOLLARS FOR TIPPED-EMPLOYS.

$15.80 IN CHICAGO , FOR EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE 21 OR MORE WORKERS $15 PER HOUR FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES.

THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE IS STILL $13 THROUGH THE CALENDAR YEAR BUT IN 2024 IT INCREASES BY ONE DOLLAR.

>> THANK YOU , AMANDA VINICKY.

THAT IS OUR SHOW , JOIN US TOMORROW.

PARIS SCHUTZ AND ALL OF US AT CHICAGO TONIGHT , I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN , THANK YOU FOR WATCHING .

STAY SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

♪ ♪ >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION FOCUSED