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

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

The race is on for position on February's ballot.

We tell you which mayoral candidates have a chance to get top billing and attempted shooting at a suburban Hindu temple comes amid a rise in anti heat.

And Chicago hotel workers are on the picket line demanding more pay and benefits.

First off tonight, early voting is expanding today in Chicago and the Cook County suburbs.

>> In Chicago, early voting is now available in all 50 wards, including the downtown super sites that opened a couple of weeks ago in the suburbs, 56, early voting locations are open for voters can register cast ballots or returned their mail in ballots using a secure drop box.

Election officials say they've received no confirmed plans for any federal presence at polling places on Election Day, but they are prepared if so.

>> We're prepared.

>> To file any kind of lawsuit immediately.

For temporary restraining order.

We recognize that has to be right away.

It's not like we have days and we don't voters to get this made and not vote.

>> Election Day is 2 weeks from tomorrow.

For more on the races and all the candidates, check out our voter guide at W T Tw Dot com Slash voter guide.

City Colleges of Chicago.

Students were in class today.

Its faculty and staff reached a tentative contract agreement with the school.

The 2 sides reached a four-year contract early this morning.

Averting strike that would have begun today.

The Cook County College Teachers, Union local 1600 says under the contract faculty and professional staff will receive annual raises that they say will keep up with the rising cost of living protected health insurance and safeguards on the use of AI their contract expired in mid-July.

The new agreement goes before the 1500 member union for ratification before approval by the City College's Board of Trustees.

It was a deadly weekend for birds in the Chicago region.

The Chicago Bird collision monitors say they collected more than 1000 injured or dead birds.

On Saturday.

The most casualties in a single day in 3 years.

Monitors say one of the deadliest sites over the weekend was the Kellogg Global Hub on Northwestern University's Evanston campus.

In a statement, the university says it's been implementing strategies to reduce bird collisions for the past decade in the last year has installed a more advanced Bird friendly film on sections of the global Hub.

Chicago sits along one of the most popular migratory routes for birds.

Monitors say the danger isn't so much the height of buildings, but the glass, measure that would mandate bird friendly building requirements for new developments in Chicago has been stalled and city council since the beginning of the year.

Up next to candidates for Chicago, Mayor files signatures today ahead of the municipal election.

That's right.

After this.

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

The Joyce Foundation.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> The midterm election is just 2 weeks away, but Chicago voters have another election not long after that.

The municipal election candidates running for Mayor Alderperson and other officers lined up early this morning to submit stacks of signatures with the hope of getting on the February ballot.

Our Matt Masterson was there and joins us now with more mad.

How many signatures do they have to submit and what advantages can they snag if they were in line this morning?

>> What advantages does that give back his election?

So the candidates only have to submit 12,500 signatures but Brandis.

That's just a minimal.

As we saw today, candidates brought in many, many times more than that.

These were gigantic stacks of paper.

We'll as we saw their candidate election workers, they're measuring them with a ruler to get estimate of how many >> signatures were As for a benefit, today's the first day that candidates are allowed to do this and the only real advantages that this anyone who was there today, it puts them in a lottery for first place on the ballot.

Now, is that going to determine the election?

Unlikely.

But in a tight race with potentially more than a dozen candidates that could pay off somewhat to have your name first on the ballot.

>> Who are some of the candidates that you saw today?

Any notable absence is a big step since mayor, Brandon Johnson was not there today.

Of course, that's not a huge disadvantage.

Not to be there.

He has more time.

He surely will submit his signatures who's and ozone comptroller.

Also not there.

>> But there were 5 candidates who did show up today.

Most notable, Illinois Secretary of state, Alexi Giannoulias Congressman Mike Quigley.

long time businessman Willie Wilson, lobbyist John Kelly and Chicago Housing Authority Commissioner Matt Brewer.

Those are the 5 did show up today.

They also minute between 30 60,000 signatures and made sure that they will or at least attempt to be on the ballot going forward.

Right?

Because there's a few more steps before we get to that ballot.

What is next in the process?

The challenge is and that's where the the reason these candidates are bringing in so many tens of thousands of of of signatures that other candidates can attempt to get them booted from the bout, proving that some of the signatures were fake, that they were not authentic and boot them down under that 12,500 limit so that they are removed from the ballot.

Candidates have until the 26th to submit their deadline.

submit their signatures.

That's what Brandon Johnson is going to be doing on that day.

They then have until November second to challenge those signatures and try to get any of these candidates booted after that, there will be a few more weeks where they play out where those challenges will be heard.

Candidates could be removed or they're going to have to spend money fighting those challenges and to remain on the ballot.

Ultimately, this ballot is going to be finalized on December 17th.

And then, of course, the election next February.

Alright, long way to go before we get to the ballot to the lottery itself.

And then, of course, Election Day in February.

That Masterson, thanks so much.

Experience.

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

It's all A W t tw dot com slash news.

>> Illinois law enforcement is working to uncover details about a planned mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora.

19 year-old Alexandra's pop or rock us was arrested October 11th after authorities say his gun malfunctioned in the temple's parking lot and co-workers alerted police about his alleged plans.

comes amid a reported rise in racist incidents directed at Hindu Indian and South Asian communities.

Joining us, our rush of chatty, the Chicago chapter lead of Hindus for Human Rights.

And Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi who represents Illinois's 8th congressional district and was inside the temple that day.

Thanks to you both for joining us.

A congressman, of course, we're thankful that you and your family were OK because the Rivera with them as well.

How did you learn about the attempted attack?

>> only learned about it days later after the attack was attempted.

So basically on Sunday, October, 11th, I attended.

The temple for the start the Hindu holiday called number out today.

And we were inside countless people were there and only later, did we learn that there's a gunman outside lying in wait.

With a semiautomatic weapon?

An AR 15 plus 300 rounds of ammunition.

He took one shot and a passerby the gun jammed you know, basically that prevented the massacre from Anthony.

>> What other details there about the plot have have come out since the investigation began so far.

>> He this shooter basically went home 2 jammed the weapon.

He called a co-worker and the co worker then learn from him that he was planning to go back to the temple after fixing his weapon.

And that's when the coworker called the Palatine police.

The police arrested the shooter on Sunday.

He wrote a manifesto in which he said that he hated blacks, Jews and the ends and other minorities.

He also said he was a, quote, Neo-Nazi white supremacist filled with hatred and this mirrors, of course, the hatred that we see online toward Indian Americans, South Asians in general and Hindu Americans.

And as you know, that rhetoric can quickly transforms the violence, which is what we're seeing now.

>> Obviously, this this could have been so much worse and it is disturbing to to know that Congressman House, the community recovering and our people, I'm fearful of going back to that temple to worship.

>> I think they're shaken right now.

I don't think that they are fearful about going back.

>> There's an increased security presence.

I think there's also resolve that, you know, we have to be ourselves.

You have to be yourself, whoever you are and you have to practice your believes, whatever they are >> doing anything different is what the attackers want.

They want us to change who we are and to change our behavior.

And I don't think people want to give They don't want to heal to that fear or to allow the 10 attackers to win the day.

>> Russian chatty what?

What's happening nationally with anti Hindu hate.

>> Yeah, you're seeing and a Hindu increasing or last couple of decades since 9.11 You know, Americans in American, South, Asian Americans, Muslim Arab, think many different religious and ethnic minorities have experiencing elevated amount of hate and on the surveillance discrimination, something been happening or less through DEC.

It's not something new, but seeing that start to manifest more and more in violent means today.

>> This was a celebration of the holiday, never appetit.

What what does that celebrate?

>> Now that the celebrate its Aboriginal black, the celebration of of the good in the world of to to understand.

The ways in which we can prosper amongst each other among 5 families or communities in our society.

>> Yeah, that I'm just like drawing that out because I believe it is ironic that it's being, you know, faced with something like this.

Congressman, you call for federal hate crime investigation into this plot.

What do you think that's important?

>> Well, I think the FBI must investigate.

This is a hate crime.

Given all the evidence that we have about the shooter's intentions, his motives and we want to draw attention to just the rise hate toward numerous communities, whether there are Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs even other minorities, blacks, Latinos, and women.

I think that this is one of those situations where I think we now need to stand in solidarity with regardless of who the victim of bigotry is because unfortunately what I call the forces of darkness are upon And also this tape is being used as a political tool by certain MAGA politicians.

And that is a very disturbing development as well.

>> Russ of what's what's known about how people can become radicalized to carry out religious or ethnically motivated attacks.

You know, folks in America tend to be about collide when they see themselves us.

What Spurs of the other category right when they see themselves.

Struggling maintain dropped security when they see themselves.

>> To struggle to afford food, to afford housing, to afford health care.

>> People want to find somebody to blame and the people in defined to blame our minority groups.

People that look like look like the congressman.

>> Right.

And I think that the problem there is income inequality and economic inequality country is not result of people who look like me and the congressmen taking dolphin from people because billionaires in power, billionaires were financing.

Elections were financing to politics over country are increasingly gaining more and more power and and making exceptionally more difficult for folks.

People come forward live by themselves.

So we need to ship in their way from being minorities to understanding exactly who backing this increase in corporate and political influence and ensuring that people are able to eat are able to live are able to drink, are able to sustained themselves properly.

Lane, lot of other folks for for those mishaps.

>> Congressman, you called for more regulations of social media companies and hate speech is well, tell us about that.

>> Well, obviously big pull big tech is not policing their social media platforms where there's been an explosion of anti South Asian, anti Indian and Thai indicate.

I just give you one statistic.

The >> number of ex post X or basically touting anti South Asian hate has increased by more than 240% over a very short period of time.

>> Unfortunately, big tech is profiting off of this hate.

They have no incentive right now.

2 decrease And so we have have this point of the federal level.

They make sure that they face the full consequences of not taking action.

So residents closing the loopholes in Section 2.30, of the Communications Decency Act, which basically provides that a safe harbor immunity from any liability for the consequences of the posts that are on their site.

I am convinced that this hate online and on social media is now transforming into violence and until they face the full consequences of they're not taking action online.

These companies are going to make things worse, not better.

And as a consequence and real life, we're going to have more violence.

Recent.

We've got just a couple seconds left.

What else do you think can be done to prevent future attacks yet to record a congressman?

I think social media a really big role to play here.

I mean.

>> Increasingly lot of social media content and tend to be AI generated or blocked content.

And we don't know if content everything online is a human being making that that that that that information anymore.

So we really need to work with social media companies, hold them accountable and ensure that from now on.

Social media, companies are preventing folks from going down that far-right MAGA pipeline before they actually call going go out and commit those violent acts that we're seeing right now.

that's where we'll have to leave it.

A Russian chatty and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi thanks to both for joining us.

Thank you so much for having que.

>> Up next, hundreds of Chicago hotel workers into their second week on strike.

>> Chicago >> hotel workers are growing their picket lines yesterday.

Workers at the Hilton, Chicago and Hyatt Regency Chicago walked off the job.

It comes as more than 7,000 employees at 6 other Chicago hotel say they've been working without a contract since August 31st.

The workers say they are demanding higher wages, increased health care benefits and safer working in conditions.

They say if your needs are not met, more workers could be joining the strikes soon.

Joining us now, our Eileen Brown, a room attendant at the Hilton, Chicago and member of Unite here, local one and unite here.

Local one President Karen Kent.

We also invited a representative from each of the hotels with workers currently or formerly on strike.

But we didn't hear back.

We have received some statements, though.

We will get to those shortly.

Eileen and Karen, thanks to the both of you for joining us here.

Eileen.

As we mentioned, you and workers across 8 Chicago hotels and those hotels range from the Hyatt Regency, as we said, but also the Palmer House Sheraton Grand Chicago and some others.

They have gone on strike.

What is it like on the picket lines right now?

It's crazy out there were fired and for our lives here.

nearby Sean up wish on each other support looking out for one another.

like big family.

We all came together to fight for what we deserve.

What we know.

>> Well, we should be receiving from the company.

What's the energy like?

What are what are folks you and your fellow colleagues?

What are you all feeling?

>> Well, with the coffin and we hope that we can get what we're asking for a way out there we hope the take this to consideration.

We don't want to be out stride, but we we have to do.

We have to do to get what you know, to get what we deserve.

Karen, the first round of strikes began the weekend of the Chicago Marathon.

An important time for the city.

Of course, what it will feel.

That was the right time for workers to walk out.

>> You know, things have gone on for awhile.

We haven't reached agreement.

And I think that's emblematic of for people are at in this moment.

You know, the felt like it was important to demonstrate to the company that they need to step up and come serious.

Nobody likes to be on strike.

The of course.

I mean, how are negotiations going?

Is that a question for care?

Well, is a question for you.

But as Karin better suited to answer that, want to go stations.

You negotiations you know.

Taking place.

And to explain phone call to settlement agreement.

Workers like Eileen and many other people on the committee know what it takes to get an agreement.

They're ready listen to the employers any time.

And we're here in Chicago to do that.

But then players have yet to step up.

What's the status right now?

Are Sessions bargaining sessions scheduled or are who's waiting on who?

>> To make a phone call?

>> Get negotiations have been ongoing, but frankly, we don't have an agreement.

And the fact that where seeing strikes across the city this because you know, the people have not gotten what they need.

People need SEPTA native phrases.

They need to see maintain maintain their health care, be able to retire with dignity.

And frankly, there's been a dramatic contraction in the workforce in terms of how many workers side there and the workload has increased dramatically fewer workers doing more work.

>> I let's talk about that a little bit more because one of your demands is for safer working conditions.

What is it like to work in the hotels right It's extremely are side window and everybody's well, understaffed, overworked, >> every day come with mandatory overtime for us.

Just south of Just won't get the work done.

Get the work done.

>> so tight.

I get home so I can interact with my family.

can barely cook meals because I'm so type of ban a don't mess.

also working in your room attendant.

What most folks we go to a hotel.

We hear from House keeping her.

We will hear from House.

I mean, are you having to serve more rooms Yes, we do.

We have to serve more wrong to give like if a mandatory over time that can be extra limbs that >> except the extra from Pretty much just throughout the whole that's hard to build Every department is on the staff.

We all on this happen >> Karen other demands are for wage increases, better health care benefits, how rising prices and ongoing affordability concerns impacted workers.

>> You know, it is a, you know, a parent that everybody is struggling and we did a survey among sir workers.

Hundreds workers answer that one in 8 are accessing food banks.

One in 3 are struggling to pay their rent or their mortgage.

And one in 4 have talked about using payday loans make, you know, to actually be able to survive.

It's a time that you know, inflation is crushing people really cannot afford.

And I don't think that's just hotel workers in our union.

I think that's hospitality workers across the city.

I think it's working people everywhere.

Who are feeling this.

And this is a demonstration of that.

It's a demonstration of real desperation.

It should be a wake-up call.

>> In a statement to Wt Tw news, Daniel Dring, head of Labor Relations for the Americas at Hyatt wrote, quote, We are disappointed, unite here.

Local one has chosen to strike while high.

It remains willing to continue bargaining in good faith.

Hi does offer competitive wages and benefits and all employees, wages and benefits remain unchanged as we negotiate a new agreement.

look forward to continuing to negotiate a fair contract and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees.

And we also received a statement from Hilton where you, Eileen, of course, are are on staff and viewers can read that statement on her website.

You know, Eileen, first, what is what's your reaction to that statement?

Well, if we what we needed, we definitely want to be outside the building strike if they this could be a 1, call.

We didn't want to go outside.

We just know we worked too hard to live like this.

We should have to borrow money from people are going to get paid a lot to make ends meet.

Karen, what do you say to that statement?

>> Yeah, I say that people are struggling.

Tourism is brushing back and we've seen numerous articles throughout the industry throughout, you know, media say talking about tourism here in Chicago.

We can see it on the streets.

You know how many people are coming and what the room prices are.

Every 9.

And frankly, it's a travesty that they have allowed this to go on because if there was agreement that was serious.

People would know it.

Nobody People are smart.

And they know it when they see it and they're not there.

And frankly, it's really, you know, the fact that this has gone on really says more about the hotel corporations and what they think of the workers care and their 46 hotels.

And what with workers without a contract.

Do you expect that if there is an agreement not reached, that you'll have to call on workers from additional hotels to also take to the picket lines.

>> I expect that workers are going rise up and tell us what they need.

And frankly, the fact that, you know, there's been a response like their house.

>> Is indicative of how much pressure people are feeling in money.

You know, it takes one day some of these hotels CEOs make in one day what it would take 2 years for failing to make.

And so there certainly enough money enough business and Chicago's a world-class city from wanted to return.

Then the employer should, you know, dig deeper and show up.

>> Okay.

And Eileen, we know that you've been at the helm for 14 years.

He went on strike for similar reasons.

Back in 2018, a job that you're at that you're sticking with.

We thank you for joining us because we'll have to leave it there.

Eileen Brown, caring Kid, thanks to both.

Appreciate Thanks to block.

And that's our show for this Monday 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 and join us tomorrow night at 5.30, and then again at 8 kids.

That is when candidates for U.S.

Senate.

>> Julianna Stratton and on Tracy will join us to discuss all the pressing issues ahead of the general election.

We'll talk about affordability, immigration, health care and more again, that hour-long forum is tomorrow at 08:00PM.

Now for all of us here Chicago Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law offices, Chicago, personal injury and wrongful death for that supports inclusionary excellence