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

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

>> It's law will be enforced.

>> The Illinois Secretary of state's office says it's seeing, quote, ridiculously long lines Chicagoans rush to get their real ID.

Federal funding for head start could be on the chopping block.

Illinois families are pushing back.

>> I want more babies in the United States of America.

>> And the Trump administration is pushing for a baby, >> And now to some of today's top stories, Congresswoman Robin Kelly becomes the next candidate in the race to replace outgoing U.S.

Senator Durbin.

>> I'm Robin Kelly.

You could say I've been underdog my whole life welling up in my family's mom and pop grocery store.

It was early mornings and long days.

I put myself through college in Peoria, worked at the hospital my kids were born in child abuse prevention center as a counselor and mental health professional and against.

>> In her announcement video, Kelly says she's running on a platform of public safety and gun legislation as well as lowering costs for families and tackling health inequities.

She currently represents Illinois second congressional district in Congress spanning from the Kenwood community on the South side to I-74, and Danville, Illinois.

For more on who's considering a run for Senate, check out our Web site and >> during those.

>> Governor JB Pritzker announces he will testify before a congressional committee about Illinois's protections for undocumented immigrants.

Pritzker will appear before the U.S. House Oversight Committee alongside Minnesota governor and former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and New York Governor Kathy Hochul Pritzker's appearance is likely to represent a flashpoint in Illinois's ongoing battle with the Trump administration which is attempting to strip sanctuary cities of all federal funding.

The hearing is set for June 12th and we'll come 3 months after Mayor Brandon Johnson testified in front of the same committee and if you're taking the Kennedy out of the city this month, you might need to find a new way to get on or off the expressway.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is implementing ramp closures for about a week at a time on the outbound Kennedy until the end of May, the closures will impact ramps at Arden Avenue, Division Street, Ohio Street and Keeler Avenue with that one lasting 2 weeks.

I dot officials say the ramp closure closures are needed to complete repairs and pavement.

Patching as part of a three-year rehab project on the Kennedy between the Edens Junction and Ohio Street.

More ramp closures are expected later.

The Harlem Globetrotters are getting a historic recognition.

The legendary basketball team is receiving an honorary street sign called Globetrotters Way, which will be located at the corner of Pershing Road and Giles Avenue near Wendell Phillips, High School where the team got its start known for blending their captivating basketball skills with comedy and pediatrics.

The Globetrotters also played a pivotal role in breaking racial barriers eventually leading to the integrated NBA.

Up next, what you should know about the real ID is TSA begins inforcement measures tomorrow.

That's right.

After this.

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

The Pope Brothers Foundation and the support of these donors.

>> It's a day 20 years in the making starting tomorrow, travelers catching a domestic flight will be required to present a real ID or another federally approved identification that's supposed deadline has set off a rush for some travelers to the DMV, but not everyone needs one right away.

Our reporter Eunice Office on is here to break it down for us in Eunice, remind us what is the deal with real ID's and why now?

Yeah.

So like you mentioned Burness this has been 20 years in the making and the Real ID Act was passed in 2005 and after several delays, the Federal Enforcement period is finally upon us.

>> Re lady meets the security requirements mandated in that federal law, which the Congress at a past in aftermath of 9.11, and Illinois residents can tell if they have a real ID by having a gold star in the upper right hand corner of their driver's license or state ID.

And so what if you still don't have one?

So luckily for trying to catch a TSA says they will accept other forms of identification.

They have a full list on their website, but that includes things like a passport permanent resident card or military ID.

For example.

But if you still don't have any of hears U.S.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a House oversight hearing earlier today.

>> What will happen tomorrow is folks will come through the line and will be issued their ID and show it.

If it's not compliant, they may be diverted to a different line.

I have an extra step of people will be allowed to fly.

>> Yeah.

So you might still be able to fly without a real ID for now, but you should get to the airport early in case you are faced with additional screening and there's been some long lines, though, at the DMV lately, right?

Yeah.

So ridiculously long lines to quote, Illinois.

Secretary of state Alexi Julius, those long lines of people actually prompted Julius to hold a news briefing to remind residents that they can still get a real ID after May 7th.

And it's also worth reminding that a real ID is not required to drive or for proof of citizenship.

It's no units office on.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

And for information on the documents that you will need to get your real ID.

Be sure to check out.

Eunice is full story on our website.

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

Among the list of programs at risk under President Donald Trump's so-called skinny budget proposal is head start.

>> Parents who otherwise may not be able to afford child care, rely on head start when they go to work or school.

The program operates across all 50 states and supports more than 600 childcare centers.

In 28,000 children across Illinois, completely shutting down.

The program requires congressional approval.

But head start, advocates say the disruption and uncertainty are already having devastating consequences.

Joining us now on the potential impact of cuts are Laurie Fritzl, the executive director of the Illinois Head Start Association and Michaela Collins, former head start parent who now sits on the board of directors at the Illinois Head Start Association.

Thanks to you both for joining I'm Lori, Start with you.

Please remind us how head start is funded and how that funding works to serve children.

Sure.

Thank you for the opportunity to share and talk about head.

Start tonight.

>> Head Start is funded federal to local so the come from the federal government to the local program.

We have over 15, what we call head start grantees across the state and thousands of centers that provide support head start services, head start programs, submit annually, an application or grant application and their level of funding is set within the grant application and then they they pull down federal funds from what's the federal payment management system as they need those funds throughout annual year of services.

And how does that?

>> Work has all that work to support children and families.

>> Right.

So the the funding is there to support.

>> The service for the head start program and majority of the funds go to pay the workforce.

And so we've experienced difficulty over the last few with funding pulling down funds and accessing funds to keep programs open and providing those critical lifelines for our families and the services for children, which parents depend on to get there to get to work.

They need safe, reliable source of care for their child and regular Colin.

So more about that and how head start was useful for you.

your children a bigger now, but when you needed it, I actually was able to work full time.

>> Because I didn't have to give my you know, early time because of the program say it open a little longer.

also was able to had issues with food as is at times and they were able to provide services.

My children were just able to get what they need in the as a mom, I was able to get assistance with getting the see cap program going on and see kind of the childcare, a program where the state of Illinois, yes, it was just very helpful.

And I was able to volunteer at the center and always be around my children.

If I needed to be.

Should those helpful as a mom, you can keep an eye on I'm Laura.

You just mentioned this.

But even before the federal government decides on the status quo or the status excuse me of this programming and funding.

>> President Trump's executive orders were already impacting head.

Start talking more about that, correct.

So there's been a lot of executive orders and the to that I would like to highlight is one around diversity, equity and inclusion and the other around immigration.

And so We are part of the ACLU lawsuit for primary reasons around the dismantling regards to the funding which we talked about.

so because of the diversity equity equity and inclusion.

>> rules came down that we were to remove.

>> Diversity, equity, inclusion from our work from all of our websites and and all of the when you write a grant application, you include good work that goes into programming young children and families and that the heart and soul of that is diversity, equity and inclusion to remove all of that is that's not right.

It's mean-spirited and wrong.

And so we think the program said they're just remove the language and keep providing the services like they always have.

But now we have to certify that we're not doing anything related to diversity, equity and Inclusion, Inc and also spending any funds around that which is directly in conflict with the state's requirement.

Correct?

Yeah.

So we many of our programs blend and break funding.

They weave it together with preschool for all are child care assistance program and the state the policies and regulations are grounded and founded in diversity, equity and inclusion.

When we're on it, remind us of the history of Head Start.

we started 60 years ago during during the racial tensions and it was because of head start that the funds go federal to local because states didn't want to help families in poverty.

And so the LBJ administration said that's 2 federal, local and that's, you know, that's our founding principle was we born out of the racial tensions and provide a great service within all of our communities across the state.

And today in Illinois, 41% of the children that you will serve identify as black.

36 identify as Hispanic.

>> 14% have disabilities.

4 1% are in foster care and 8% are experiencing homelessness without the ability to plan.

Michaela.

What does that mean for for organizations that are sure are if this funding will exist in some time?

it.

Scares us all.

It scares.

Families is cares.

Organizations.

>> We don't know if we're going wake up tomorrow on his side will be gone and they don't have been where to take the children every day.

And folks will be out of a So it is really scary.

Biden is Asians are scared to even step up and say anything.

They're scared to write about it.

Talk about it.

Send people out to, you know, write about Whatever you know, it's really hard to Jay-Z.

know that the service of I received my children were seen could no longer be there for the families in need.

And what would that mean for parents?

Right?

It's one thing for providers, but it's it's another thing for parents to have this uncertainty as well.

>> At if I did not have heart, I would not have been able to go to work for a time like I did.

So it would mean that a lot of parents may be at work.

lot of parents may have to work part-time some parents may not even be able to go to school.

I was able to work, go to school just do what I needed to do for my family.

>> Lori, what are you hearing from your member providers right >> they are worried about their their funding.

There that the chaos uncertainty across the board this impacts are already fragile workforce.

And you know, so that they're worried about attracting and retaining staff to work in our programs because of the chaotic this of the administration.

So you mentioned, the lawsuit that the ACLU has filed, that you all are part of what are you seeking here?

>> So bottom line is to protect our head.

Start early head start programs across the state, protect the funding that Congress has already appropriated.

We feel like it's being slow.

Walked to to dismantling the system.

The closure of the regional offices that 50% of the federal staff are gone and how they going to manage the workload too, support our grants in our contracts across the state and then the whole piece in the lawsuit regarding diversity, equity and inclusion supporting the lifeline that head start provides for for our children and families across the state.

What is the likelihood or how concerned are you about the damage being done by the time a lawsuit is adjudicated?

>> What we're really worried about that.

But we think we're in good hands with the ACLU and the support from all of our state partners from the governor from state agencies.

We think that together we will push things forward and provide support that's needed.

>> And before we go, Mike, you let your kids a bigger now.

They are 8.17 how are they today?

>> I think my children are wonderful.

I got butts and the number one school in the city and state.

Well, it's a pain.

She's a junior and my son is accelerating, really, really well aware.

This school adapted celebrated program for him to be able Sabina 3rd grade classroom.

So he's a second grader, but he's in 3rd grade classroom.

So I'd like thank head start because without head start, I would not have had that push as a parent to make sure that my children were learning the way that they need to learn.

Okay.

That's where we'll have to leave the best of luck as this all gets figured out.

We're effectively.

Michaela Collins, thank you so much.

Thank you.

>> Up next, a look at the country's birth rate as the Trump administration is looking to persuade more women to have babies.

President Donald Trump is pushing for a baby boom.

His administration is considering possible incentives for future mothers, including $5,000 post Partum baby bonus government-funded programs to educate women on their menstrual cycles and a national Medal of motherhood to moms with 6 or more children.

While some are backing the president's baby boom, push.

Others think the baby fever frenzy is part of the rise of prenatal isn't or the belief that a declining birthrate is a threat to the future of society.

Joining us via zoom is Peggy Headington University of Chicago history, professor and author of the book Without Children.

The Long History of Not being a mother.

Professor, Peggy, thank you so much for joining us.

Thanks so much for having me.

I think you might be on mute.

But while you're on needing all at this next question, do you think these incentives are these enough to make people want to have children or more children?

You hear me now.

I cannot hear her now.

What does everybody else hear her?

Seems like we're having maybe a technical issue but if while I've got you like, what are these incentives?

I mean, our day, do you think there are enough to make people want to have children or more children?

>> mean, my it's my perspective that these proposals are really notch from from complex reasons why people aren't having kids.

It take, for example, battled for sure mothers with 6 or more children since it over with really does reward women, it can sort of superficial rates for having children, but he doesn't back that up the real material that they need.

>> Things parental Postpartum support the the program is that your previous guests were talking about like head start added that allow parents to to work full-time while all the while, also having their kids.

And then you did they the baby bonus amount of $5,000.

I mean it.

doesn't even come close to offsetting the cost of having children just to take one example in 2022, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the average cost of in hospital out of pocket for someone wish ploy or health insurance was almost $3,000 so that that $5,000 is going to not just in the cost birth alone.

So I think that these policies are not only insufficient, but they're kind of mismatch.

But the real needs of parents.

What would you say might incentivize people to have 4 babies.

>> It's a great question.

And a really complicated question because, of course, you know, I mentioned things that would really support parents like parental leave, like postpartum support, like child care subsidies.

And there are countries that have all of like we look to some European countries to France Scandinavian countries, they have all of support of policies and more and and their their fertility rates are roughly the same as ours here in the United States.

I think, you know, it's it's within a Of of ours.

So I think the right question, it's not necessarily how do we get people to have more children?

I don't know that there's policies that have really proven to be effective at moving needle.

I think a part better question to be asking is how do we support parents?

How do we make you know, be active parenting a happier and easier endeavor.

And we know answers to those questions and they are medals.

what you know on the subject of metal to have to be honest, it a little bit of research before before the segment in metals of motherhood are actually something that the that was given before.

>> In Germany to encourage women to have German babies when they're not the party was on the rise.

But this modern-day movement in America are other parts of this movement.

Better skewing majority white, traditional heterosexual family.

>> I think explicitly or implicitly those those themes are concerns about just, for example, the administration policies seem to be centered on a sphere as future American population dropping, that's why they need to have more children.

But at the same time, the administration is actively working to prevent young people who want to come to this country and raise families from entering or deporting people who are already here with their families.

And so I think that that shows us that this isn't just about sort of future population numbers.

It's about what kind of people will in the United States in the future.

And there's there's a long history of this.

If we look back to the late 19th century, the early 20th century, people were also concerned about population.

But at the time the American population was booming, thanks to immigration.

So what they were really concerned about with the fact that white women having fewer children.

And I think, you know, similar concerns about the future racial and ethnic composition of the country are certain play today as well.

>> That said, as you said, birth rates are down according to the CDC, the number of us births from 2022.

2023 went down 2%.

The average number of births declined 2% from 2015 to 2020 vice president JD Vance has called the declining birthrate an existential threat to civilization I mean, if we're to politics aside is a declining birthrate, something to actually be concerned about.

>> I think on a but say, you and again, I would I would just emphasize you know, the U.S. is in a really unique position versus other low fertility countries you know, compared to countries in the state are, for example, that have had very low fertility rates.

The United States has has a very meager population of young people who want to come to the country to, to live here, to work here, to, to raise families here so declining populations may be problem in the future for various places in the world.

That does not have to be our problem and the or you know it.

doesn't have to be only fertility that solves.

>> There's another phenomenon phenomenon that we're seeing gaining momentum on social media.

And that's the rise of the trapped.

Why for traditional on social media content thinking about ballerina farm in North Smith >> influencers who you know are getting famous basically off of, you know, their content about child rearing and cooking and being, you know, that sort of traditional wife structure.

>> Is that popularity sort of a rise of that were sign of the rise in popularity for conservative values.

>> I mean, I think certain extent you know, from a conservative perspective, these news influencers are selling a return to a past where, you know, men were manly enough to be breadwinners and women just got stay home and their feminine domestic spaces.

And, you know, we have their backs.

Best wives, everything, children and taking care of their home course.

These influencers are making that look a lot easier and more beautiful.

was probably experienced by a lot of women in the And that's largely because of money that that is that is invisible in the story that's rarely mentioned.

are, you ballerina Farm.

It's sort funded by family money on her husband's side.

But I just there's an appeal of Sorry, go ahead.

Well, sorry, I was just going to say we're out of time, but I do want to hear what your what you have to say.

We'll just have to do it next time we have this Peggy have thank you so much for joining us.

>> Thank you so much for having me.

>> And that is our show for this Tuesday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10, the new effort to reduce Chicago's massive affordable housing shortfall faces a crucial test at tomorrow's City Council meeting.

>> 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 night.

>> A closed captioning a toss up.

Why Robert, a cliff and Clifford law a Chicago personal injury and wrongful death that serves the needs of