[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> SHY RACK IS IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.

>> IN A WHIRLWIND SESSION ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS PASSED BILLS.

WE LOOK AT WHAT DID AND DIDN'T PASS.

>> PANDEMIC VERSES ENDEMIC WHAT THE FUTURE COVID LOOKS LIKE IN A RECENT RISE IN CASES WE TALK ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE C.E.O.

OF RUSH.

>> A LOOK AT THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF LGBTQ STUDENTS.

CHICAGO'S TOURISM BURROW AND HOW SHE PLANS TO BRING MORE VISITORS TO THE CITY.

>> WE MADE IT.

[APPLAUSE] >> JUDGE JACKSON'S HISTORIC CONFIRMATION TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

>> THE FORMER OFFICES OF THE PUBLISHER BEHIND THE DICK AND JANE CHILDREN'S SERIES MIGHT BE SEEING NEW LIFE.

THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> RENOVATING A THEATRE A HOME FOR ARTISTS MORE THAN A CENTURY.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> FILL LAND THOUGH PIVOT AND BUSINESSMAN WILLIE WILSON ANNOUNCES HE WILL RUN FOR MAYOR IN AN EFFORT TO DENY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AS SECOND TERM AFTER ENDORSING HER DURING THE 2019 RUNOFF.

WILLSON WHO HAS RUN FOR MAYOR TWICE BEFORE VOWS TO MAKE FIGHTING CRIME AND LOWERING TAXES THE CENTERPIECE OF HIS CAMPAIGN AND COMMITTED $5 MILLION TO FUND HIS BID.

HE REGRETS HIS PREVIOUS SUPPORT FOR LIGHTFOOT.

>> I HAD TWO CHOICES, TONI PRECKWINKLE, SHE IS RAISING TAXES AND TAXING I DON'T BELIEVE IN RAISING TAXES.

WE WENT THAT WAY.

BUT I MADE A MISTAKE.

A MADE A HELL OF A MISTAKE.

>> AND MORE OF THIS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCES A CRACKDOWN ON SO-CALLED GHOST GUNS.

GUNS MADE FROM KITS AND HAVE NO SERIAL NUMBER.

BIDEN SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION WILL REQUIRE THE MAKERS OF GUN KITS TO INCLUDE A SERIAL NUMBER AND TO CONDUCT A BACKGROUND CHECK PRIOR TO PURCHASE AS WITH OTHER GUN SALES.

THESE GUNS ARE WEAPONS OF CHOICE FOR MANY CRIMINALS.

WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO DEPRIVE THEM OF THAT CHOICE AND WHEN WE FIND THEM PUT THEM IN JAIL FOR A VERY LONG, LONG TIME.

TODAY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS MAKING IT ILLEGAL FOR A BUSINESS TO MANUFACTURE ONE OF THESE KITS WITHOUT A SERIAL NUMBER.

>> AND ON SATURDAY, ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS ALSO PASSED LEGISLATION TO OUTLAW GHOST GUNS THAT BILL IS NOW HEADED TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S DESK.

AMANDA VINICKY HAS MORE NEWS ON THAT COMING UP.

>> A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TODAY TO BUILD AN ACCESSIBLE GROUP HOME FOR SENIORS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

IT'S EXPECTED TO COST MORE THAN A MILLION.

ENVISION UNLIMITED SAYS THE PROJECT WAS MADE THANK TO THE DONATION OF A CORNER LOT AND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF MATERIAL AND SERVICES.

THE FIRST RESIDENTS ARE SCHEDULED TO MOVE IN BY DECEMBER.

>> UP NEXT, A RECAP OF THE LATEST LEGISLATION OUT OF SPRINGFIELD.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> CHICAGO'S AMONG CITIES NATIONWIDE DEALING WITH A SURGE OF VIOLENCE ADDRESSING THAT WITH THE FOCUS FOR ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS A THEY WRAP UP THEIR SPRING SESSION.

AMANDA VINICKY WAS IN SPRINGFIELD AND JOINS US NOW.

AMANDA, LAWMAKERS WERE BUSY AND IT WORKED UNTIL SUN UP FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND SATURDAY.

WHAT DID THEY DO IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING CRIME?

>> WELL, PARIS, FOR SOME LEGISLATORS THIS IS PERSONAL.

BEFORE CHRISTMAS STATE SYSTEM KIM LIGHTFORD WAS WITH HER HUSBAND WHEN SOMETHING TERRIFIED HAPPENED.

SHE WAS SAID IT WAS LIKE OUT OF A MOVIE.

THEY WERE CARJACKED BY FOUR MEN HOLDING GUNS.

MY HUSBAND TOLD ME TO RUN.

I WAS TERRIFIED AND I BELIEVE THAT I STOPPED BREATHING.

I JUST THOUGHT WITH EVERY STEP I WOULD BE HIT WITH A BULLET IN MY BACK AND I KNEW THEY KILLED MY HUSBAND.

IT WAS A LOT OF SHOOTING GOING ON.

I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE GONE.

>> LIGHTFORD NOR HER HUSBAND WERE PHYSICALLY HURT AND THE ASSAILANTS HAVE NOT BEEN CAUGHT.

SCENARIOS LIKE THIS THAT HAVE CRIME ON THE TOP OF THE AGENDA FOR VOTERS AND OFFICIALS ALIKE.

A FEW BILLS WILL BE HEADING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK TARGETED AT PUBLIC SAFETY.

FOR EXAMPLE, CARJACKERS DO NOT NEED MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES ONE MEASURE ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COOPERATE ACROSS JURISDICTION AND RETAIN AND RECRUIT AND SUPPORT POLICE.

>> THE SHERIFFS, THE STATE POLICE AND HOPEFULLY IDENTIFY SOME OF THE UNDERLYING ORGANIZATIONS GOING ON HOPEFULLY DO A BETTER JOB OF EFFECTUATING ARRESTS.

>> 150% MORE PRESENCE OF STATE TROOPERS ON THE STREET AND DO IT DURING PEAK CRIMINAL HOURS N TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE EXPANDED ACCESS TO DAM RAS ON EXPRESSWAYS.

>> ANOTHER BILL THAT PASSED WAIVES ANY SPEEDING TICKETS, FINES OR FEES AFTER A VICTIM'S CAR HAS BEEN STOLEN.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER JIM DURKIN SAYS MUALITIES ALREADY -- MUNICIPALITIES ALREADY DO.

REPUBLICANS WERE PUSHING FOR HARSHER PENNALITIES.

HE SAID HIS NIECE IS TRAUMATIZED AFTER CARJACKED.

>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE HORRIBLE CRIME WAVE COMING TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE MAJORITY PARTY CREATED A COUNCIL ON HIJACKING AND THEY WILL WAIVE YOUR PARKING FEES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> ACCORDING TO THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF THERE WERE MORE THAN 2,000 CARJACKINGS IN COOK COUNTY LAST YEAR AND MORE THAN IN NEW YORK AND LA COMBINED.

TOM DART SAYS ONE COMPLICATION WITH CATCHING CULPRITS IS AN INABILITY TO TRACK THEIR CARS AND VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD ALLOW THAT.

HE LOBBIED FOR A BILL TO CREATE A HOTLINE LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD CALL SO THAT AUTO MANUFACTURERS COULD FACILITATE THAT TRACKING RIGHT AWAY AFTER A CRIME.

>> THIS IS DOABLE.

AND I REALLY WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE SYMPATHY PARTY FOR A LOT OF THE MANUFACTURERS THEY MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME THEY CANNOT SETUP A 24-HOUR HOTLINE?

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT POLITICALLY FEASIBLE BECAUSE THAT BILL DID NOT ADVANCE.

LAWMAKERS DID PASS A MEASURE THAT DEALS WITH THE SO-CALLED GHOST GUNS MAKING THEM ILLEGAL.

SENATOR JACQUELINE COLLINS SAYS THAT CRIMINALS USE THEM TO EVADE POLICE.

>> WE SEE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSERS, OR MENTALLY ILL AND JUST THE BASIC CRIMINAL THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO STOP WITH THE CARJACKING THEY HAVE THESE GHOST GUNS AND INVESTIGATORS AND THE POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT ABLE TO SOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE CRIME BECAUSE THEY ARE UNTRACEABLE.

>> ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL HIGHLY NEGOTIATED MEASURE CRACKS DOWN ON SO-CALLED SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERIES T CREATES A NEW CRIME ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT.

>> AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE BILL IS TO GET TO THE BIG FISH.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET THE LITTLE FISH WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN LITTLE SHOPLIFTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT WE WANT TO GET TO THE ENTERPRISE AND WE THINK WITH THE LANGUAGE WE CHANGED IS GOING TOWARD THE MANAGER, THE RECRUITER THE ORGANIZER THE SUPERVISOR, FINANCING SPECIFICALLY THESE ACTS.

>> MANY REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR IT SAYING IT DOES HAVE GOODELLMENTS LIKE THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN CALL A STATE-WIDE GRAND JURY TO GO AFTER ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT ORGANIZERS.

ALSO THIRD PARTY VENDORS WILL SOON HAVE TO REQUIRE SELLERS TO SHARE INFORMATION.

THIS IS A MEANS OF CUTTING OFF THE MARKET FOR RESELLING STOLEN GOODS.

BUT IN TERMS OF PUNISHING THOSE WHO COORDINATE AND ROB STORES?

WELL, REPUBLICANS SAY IT HAS NO TEETH.

>> UNTIL THIS LATE HOUR AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE COME UP WITH?

OUR STORES IN THIS STATE MANY OF WHICH HAVE NOT RECOVERED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

MOST OF WHICH HAVE NOT RECOVERED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEY ARE BEING -- TARGETED IN A WAY WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE.

BY RETAIL THEFTS.

AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

THE YOU CHANGE THE WORDS AROUND AND ALLOW THEM TO BE CHARGED WITH THE SAME THING.

GUESS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

NOTHING.

>> REPUBLICANS SAY THAT DEMOCRATS ARE STILL BEING TOO SOFT ON CRIME.

DEMOCRATS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN SLAUGHTER SAY THAT IT IS PAST G.O.P.

TOUGH ON CRIME POLICIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE.

>> YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

IF YOU DID, YOU WOULD KNOW IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, IT'S BEEN A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME NOW.

BUT NOW CHIRAQ IS IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.

AND NOW IT'S A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

>> AND THE FINAL AS YOU NOTED, WEE HOURS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS IS NOT OVER, THOUGH, REALLY THIS LEGISLATIVE DEBATE A PREVIEW OF WHAT IS TO COME IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION.

CRIME SURE TO BE CENTRAL IN MANY CAMPAIGNS PARTICULARLY THAT FOR GOVERNOR.

WITH THAT PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> AND FOR THAT REASON THE SESSION ENDED EARLY SO FOLKS COULD GO CAMPAIGN FOR THAT PRIMARY IN JUNE.

TO BRANDIS AND RUSH HOSPITAL'S C.E.O.

>> AND PARIS, HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SAYING COVID HAS WORSENED THE CHRONIC HEALTHCARE WORKERS SHORTAGE RESULTING IN BURN-OUT AND A SPED UP TRACK TO RETIREMENT FOR MANY.

COVID CASES ARE SLIGHTLY INCREASING ACROSS THE STATE DUE TO THE SPREADING OMICRON BA.2 SUBVARIANT.

AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IS TRACKING TWO MORE SUBVARIANTS OF THE OMICRON STRAIN.

SO JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS ALL THIS AND MORE IS Dr. OMAR LATEEF C.E.O.

AND PRESIDENT OF RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS RECENT UPTICK IN CASES IN ILLINOIS AT ANY TIME R ISN'T NEARLY AS HIGH AS THE OMICRON SURGE.

ILLINOIS IS REPORTING 1400 COVID CASES TODAY.

NOW THAT IS UP FROM 756 CASES A WEEK AGO.

ACCORDING TO THE DATA FROM THE ILLINOIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

NOW THAT IS IN COMPARISON TO A HIGH OF 42,000 NEW CASES REPORTED ON JANUARY 7.

THE HEIGHT OF THE OMICRON SURGE.

IS THERE STILL CAUSE FOR CONCERN?

>> WELL THERE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

BUT THE NUMBERS YOU MENTIONED ARE SOBERING BUT TAKEN INTO CONTEXT WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS IT PRESENTS A DIFFERENT PICTURE.

WHEN YOU GO BACK TO JANUARY AND QUOTED THE LARGE NUMBERS AT THE PEAK THERE WERE 7,000 ADMISSIONS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO HOSPITALS.

AND THAT WAS CREATING A DRAIN ON THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

WHEN YOU FAST FORWARD TO THIS MONTH THERE'S LESS THAN 500 ADMISSIONS.

WHILE THE NUMBERS ARE INCREASING, THE NUMBERS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DECREASING.

WHILE THERE'S SPREAD OF THE DISEASE THERE IS NOT SPREAD OF ACUTE AND SEVERE ILLNESS.

SO THE THREAT OF OVERWHELMING THE HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS ARE DEFINITELY LOWER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN BEFORE.

AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER WITH THE NEW VARIANTS IN TERMS OF THEIR RESPONSE TO THE INFECTION.

>> WHEN WE SPOKE TO YOU LAST IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OMICRON SURGE YOUR HOSPITAL, RUSH, WAS EXPERIENCING A STAFFING SHORTAGE.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SITUATION TODAY?

>> WE'VE SHIFTED OUR THOUGHTS OF THE STAFFING SHORTAGE FROM AN ACUTE PROBLEM TO A CORONAVIRUS KELL PROBLEM.

WE ARE SHORT STAFFED BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS WE HAVE EVERYBODY ENOUGH PROVIDERS TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE PATIENTS WE HAVE.

AS WELL AS ENOUGH PROVIDERS TO FLEX UP IF WE HAD TO IF WE ULTIMATELY WENT THROUGH ANOTHER SURGE.

THE REALITY IS, WE NEED TO GROW THAT NET POPULATION OF PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE THE STAFFING SHORTAGE IS NOT ISOLATED TO JUST CHICAGO IT IS A NATIONAL PHENOMENON.

AND WHILE WE HAVE ADJUSTED TO IT WE'VE LEVERAGED TECHNOLOGY AND FIGURED OUT WAYS TO DECREASE THE IMPACT OF THE STAFFING SHORTAGE AND WE WILL CONTINUE.

ULTIMATELY WE HAVE A GROWING POPULATION AND WE NEED TO HAVE A GROWING NUMBERING OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY, GIVE US A DEEPER SENSE ABOUT HOW YOU AND OTHER HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE ADDRESSING THE SHORTAGE HOW YOU HOPE TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE?

>> GENERALLY WHENEVER ANYONE ASKS ME ABOUT THE PANDEMIC I TELL THEM IT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IN EVERY CATEGORY.

THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE APPROVE -- IMPROVED HEALTHCARE IN AMERICA IT FORCED US TO ADVANCE MORE RAPIDLY THAN WE WOULD HAVE.

THE BEST EXAMPLE ARE THINGS LIKE TELEHEALTH.

WHERE YOU CAN OFFER UP AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT GET ACCESS THROUGH TELEHEALTH AND CREATE A WAY ALMOST DIGITAL FRONT DOOR TO BRING PATIENTS TO COME IN COME IN.

NOT JUST RELATED TO COVID BUT ALL ILLNESS.

WE LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC TO BE INNOVATIVE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO GET PEOPLE THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED WITHOUT HAVING TO COME TO THE HOSPITAL.

OTHER WAYS WE'VE DONE WAS TO GET CARE TO PEOPLE AND BRING BACK THAT OLD WISDOM OF HOME VISITS.

AND THE REALITY IF WE CAN PROVIDE CARE AT HOME THEN WE CAN SAVE THAT NEED IT'S MORE COMFORTABLE FOR A PATIENT AS WELL AS IT DOESN'T UTILIZE THE RESOURCES IN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THAT COVID IS BEGINNING TO SHIFT FROM PANDEMIC TO ENDEMIC?

OR IS IT TOO SOON TO SAY THAT YET?

>> WELL, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THAT.

IT DOES SEEM.

HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY THAT THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE WAY WE LEARN IN HEALTHCARE IS BY TRACKING SOMETHING OVER TIME AND REPORTING ON IT IN RETROSPECT.

WHEN SOMEONE ASKS HOW LONG THE VACCINE WORK?

WHEN PEOPLE START GETTING INFECTED WE KNOW THE VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS HAS GONE DOWN.

PREDICTING HOW LONG A VACCINE WORKS AS YOU'VE SEEN PLAYED OUT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.

THE REALITY SOME VACCINES LAST A LIFETIME AND OTHERS A SHORT TIME.

WE KNOW NOW WHEN YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND WE'VE HAD COVID COME IN SURGES AND COVID DETERIORATE IN SURGES, WE'VE SEEN THE RESPONSE AND CRITICAL ILLNESS AMELIORATE THEY ARE GETTING LESS SICK.

IT DOES PORTEND A PROGNOSIS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A VARIANT LIKE OMICRON THAT SPREADS AND DOES THIS AGAIN.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS AN EBB AND FLOW.

AND SEEING INCREASED HERD IMMUNITY AND BODIES GET VACCINATED AND PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM THE VACCINE AND BOTH ARE OFFERING A LEVEL OF PROTECTION.

IT'S LIKELY OVER TIME, THE LONG-TERM PROJECTION IS THE ACUTENESS WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED HERD IMMUNITY.

ARE WE CLOSER TO REACHING THAT?

>> YEAH, WE ARE.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS AMAZING IN THE SENSE THAT THERE IS VACCINE AVAILABILITY.

THERE IS ENOUGH VACCINE FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY TO GET A VACCINE.

AND YOU CAN DO THAT.

AND THE NUMBERS TO GET HERD IMMUNITY.

SOME SAY 90%, SOME 70%.

WE ARE NOT IN THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT IN AND OUT BUT WE ARE AT A POINT NEAR 70, 80% YOU SEE THE ACUITY GO DOWN AND HOSPITALIZATIONS DECREASE.

AND WHAT HELPED SO MUCH WASN'T PEOPLE GETTING SICK, WE WERE TRYING TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING CRITICALLY ILL AND DYING AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

HOWEVER, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN TO CONTINUE GETTING A HIGHER VACCINATION RATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

IF WE COULD VACCINATE EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD THERE'S REASON THIS WOULD GO AWAY.

>> OBVIOUSLY COVID HAS TAKEN A PHYSICAL TOLL AND A MENTAL ONE AS WELL.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF COVID ON MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED?

>> OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES WE WILL BE WRITING IMPACTS OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

IT HAS TO DO WITH REGULAR PEOPLE LIVING THEIR LIVES AND WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU WERE STUCK AT HOME OR WHEN THE CITIES WERE IN LOCKDOWN.

WE'VE SEEN INCREDIBLE RATES OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE EFFECT OF NOT GOING TO SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE LONG-TERM.

SO MUCH OF OUR LEARNING COMES FROM THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF BEING IN SCHOOL AND GOING THROUGH DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.

AND WE KNOW THAT HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS WE HAVE.

SO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS COVID EXACERBATED AN ALREADY MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP WAYS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WE HAVE.

>> CREATE, OF COURSE, A LOT OF ONGOING WORK FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

Dr. OMAR LATEEF THERE AT RUSH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND THE NEW HEAD OF CHICAGO'S TOURISM BUREAU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE CITY'S OFFICIAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION HAS A NEW LEADER WITH THE MISSION TO ATTRACT MORE VISITORS TO CHICAGO AS COVID KEPT TOURISM NUMBERS DOWN AND CHICAGO'S MAGNIFICENT MILE FACES A 25% VACANCY RATE.

LYNN OSMOND WAS NAMED C.E.O.

OF CHOOSE CHICAGO.

LYNN OSMOND IS THE FORMER HEAD OF THE FORMER ARCHITECTURE CENTER AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD THE TOURISM BUREAU.

JOINING US IS LYNN OSMOND C.E.O.

OF CHOOSE CHICAGO.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW POSITION AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LYNN OSMOND FIRST OFF, GIVE US A SENSE OF THE CURRENT HOTEL VACANCY RATES AND THE GENERAL RATE OF TOURISM IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK LET'S LOOK AHEAD.

GOING AHEAD WE HAVE 176 MEETINGS PLANNED IN THE CITY FOR THIS YEAR THAT WILL BE 1.7 MILLION VISITORS AND 1.2 MILLION ROOM RATES.

I THINK IT'S GREAT CONSIDERING WE ARE STILL COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE THINK OF IT AS A CRESCENDO AND MOVING FORWARD TO A STRONG SUMMER SEASON.

>> WHEN DO YOU THINK THE NUMBERS WILL BE BACK TO PRECOVID LEVELS?

>> I JUST FINISHED A TWO-DAY MEETING WITH THE U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION I THINK EVERYBODY IS THINKING IT WILL BE 24-25.

WE ARE SEEING A QUICK REBOUND IN TERMS OF LEISURE.

AND WE'RE STARTING TO MATCH SOME OF WHAT WE DID IN 2019.

WE ARE SEEING SOME RECOVERY FROM THE LEISURE TRAVELER AND A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THE BUSINESS TRAVEL.

>> WE KNOW COVID HAS BEEN A DETRACT TORE HOW BIG A HINDERANCE IS THIS PERCEPTION THAT CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL IN CHICAGO AND MIGHT KEEP THEM FROM TRAVELING HERE?

>> I THINK EVERYBODY BIG IS STRUGGLING WITH THIS.

CRIME IS A FACTOR OF NOT HAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE STREET.

AS WE SEE THE POPULATION START RETURNING BUSINESSES STARTING OPENING AND COMING BACK, WE'RE ALSO SEEING A DECREASE IN THE URBAN AREAS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND GET BACK DOWNTOWN AND SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES AND GET THE MAG MILE BUSY AGAIN.

I WAS JUST ON AT NOON TODAY AND THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HUMMING AROUND GETTING READY FOR THAT APRIL HOLIDAY WEEK OF EASTER.

>> MORE FOOT TRAFFIC MORE ACTIVITY MIGHT REPELL SOME OF THE CRIME THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

AND THE MAG MILE THERE WAS THE REPORT THAT SAID THE VACANCY RATE ALONG MICHIGAN AVENUE IS 25%.

HOW DOES A CITY GO ABOUT FILLING THOSE LOCATIONS UP AGAIN?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MAGNIFICENT MILE ASSOCIATION IS LOOKING WHAT THE NEXT THING TO FILL THE RETAIL SPOTS.

THERE IS A PRINT SHOW THAT WILL BE A POP-UP EXPERIENCE AND SEEING A LOT OF POP-UP GALLERIES HAPPENING.

SO I THINK THAT WHILE IT'S CHALLENGING THIS IS NOT GOING TO GET FIXED RIGHT AWAY.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTERESTED RETAIL CONCEPTS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT THAT WE SHOULD SEE STARTING TO HAPPEN IN THE IN THE FUTURE.

>> REIMAGINING THE MAG MILE MIGHT INVOLVE NOT MAKING IT 100% RETAIL OR RESTAURANT BUT GALLERIES OR MUSEUMS?

>> WE ARE SEEING THE ETION CREAM MUSEUM IN THE TOWER AND WE HAVE THE PRINT SHOW THAT FOLLOWS THE OFFICE EXPERIENCE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SHOPS THIS WONDERFUL MEXICAN SHOP ON THE AVENUE THAT IS A TEMPORARY THAT WAS A TEMPORARY FOR CHRISTMAS THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH BUSINESS IT'S STAYING ON LONGER TERM.

WE ARE SEEING THE NEW CONCEPTS BEING SPERMED WITH.

RETAIL -- EXPERIMENTED WITH.

>> RETAIL IS NOT DEAD.

MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE BIG BOX STORES AND THE ROAST ERIE IS ALWAYS LINED UP.

AND.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE STARBUCKS LOCATION ON MICHIGAN AVENUE.

SO TELL US ABOUT YOUR VISION TO ATTRACT MORE TOURISM TO CHICAGO AND FOR THE DEPARTMENT CHOOSE CHICAGO?

>> WELL, I'M EXCITED ABOUT PROMOTING CHOOSE CHICAGO.

FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS I'VE BEEN PROMOTING THE ARCHITECTURE OF OUR WONDERFUL CITY AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT MAKES OUR CITY UNIQUE AND SOME OF THAT IS ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES.

I THINK ONE OF THE TRENDS IN TRAVEL WE SEE ARE PEOPLE WANTING TO EXPERIENCE AND EXPLORE IN GETTING TO THE NOONS.

CHICAGO HAS 77 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE SO RICH.

HOW DO WE CREATE THOSE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES TO GET THEM NOT JUST DOWNTOWN BUT ALSO EXTEND THEIR STAY AND GO OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.

YOU KNOW WE'RE FINISHING RESTAURANT WEEK AND THAT HAS BEEN A SMASHING SUCCESS.

WE HAVE TO KEEP ON INCREASING OUR SERVER CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO TO RESTAURANTS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU LAST NIGHT THEY WERE HOPPING ON A SUNDAY NIGHT.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT.

THERE'S SO MANY EXPERIENCES THAT ARE UNIQUE IN CHICAGO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OTHER CITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.

ORLANDO, LAS VEGAS, MANY PEOPLE SAY COMPETE WITH THEM I DON'T THINK WE DO BECAUSE WE HAVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT IS ICONIC.

AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS ALSO TO LOOK HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THE MEETING BUSINESS AND BUILD BACK A STRONG CHICAGO.

>> I AGREE LAS VEGAS, ORLANDO THEY DON'T HAVE BIG CITY EXPERIENCE THAT COMES CLOSE TO CHICAGO.

BUT THE CITY DOES COMPETE WITH THOSE CITIES FOR THE CONVENTION BUSINESS HOW IMPORTANT IS IT GETTING THE CONVENTION BUSINESS BACK TO WHERE IT WAS AND HOW MIGHT THE NEW CASINO PLAY INTO THAT?

>> THE CONVENTION BUSINESS IS CRITICAL.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS 1.2 MILLION ROOM NIGHTS JUST FROM THE MEETINGS THAT ARE BOOKED THAT IS $1.87 BILLION ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THAT ONLY GROWS WITH THE MORE BUSINESS WE HAVE.

THE CASINO I THINK WILL BE AN ADDED ATTRACTION IN THE CITY.

IT IS I'M GLAD THAT NOW WE'VE SEPARATED IT FROM THE ACTUAL CONVENTION.

BECAUSE ONE OF OUR ADVANTAGES LAS VEGAS IS THAT WE DON'T DISTRACT PEOPLE FROM THE CONVENTION FLOOR THAT WE KEEP THEM IN THE CONVENTION AREA DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IS LEARNING AND LOOKING AT PRODUCTS THAT SUPPORT THEIR INDUSTRY.

AND I THINK THE CASINO WILL ENHANCE OUR ABILITY AS A CITY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND THE CHOOSE CHICAGO ITS OWN STAFF HAS SHRUNK WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A SMALLER STAFF AND DO YOU PLAN TO GROW THE AGENCY A LITTLE MORE?

>> I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT OUR MONEY FROM THE CITY AND THE STATE IS STABILIZED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS IT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AHEAD.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING A NEW EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF SALES.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW OUR STAFF.

BUT I THINK WE'LL GROW SMARTLY.

EVERY BUSINESS INCLUDING THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER WE WENT THROUGH DOWNSIZING AND GROWING IN A DIFFERENT WAY COMING BACK.

WHAT ARE THE POSITIONS KEY TO DRIVING THE BUSINESS AND HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE COVID.

CHOOSE CHICAGO HAS GONE THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.

I WAS GLAD I WAS VICE-CHAIR GOING THROUGH THAT.

SO SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND HOW WE BUILD THAT.

>> TOURISM IS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE CITY'S QUALITY AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE.

>> THANK YOU TO LYNN OSMOND.

>> RENOVATIONS FOR A BUILDING LONG TIME HAVEN FOR ARTISTS SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING A STARTLING RISE IN SUICIDES AMONG LGBTQ TEENS.

BUT FIRST, A LANDMARK BUILDING IN CHICAGO HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A HOME TO THE ARTS.

IT'S THE FINE ARTS BUILDING ON SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE AND PARTS OF THE BUILDING ARE BEING RENOVATED.

MARC VITALI HAS A LOOK AT THE FINER POINTS OF THE FINE ARTS BUILDING.

[♪♪♪] >> IT OPENED IN 1885 AS THE STUDEBAKER BUILDING A SHOWROOM AND ASSEMBLY PLANT FOR CARRIAGES.

13 YEARS LATER IT WAS REMODELED AND REPURPOSED AS THE FINE ARTS BUILDING.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HAD AN OFFICE, POETRY MAGAZINE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED HERE AND EARLY WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUPS WERE WELCOMED IN THE SPACE.

THE BUILDING REMAINS DEDICATED TO ARTISTS AND FREE THINKERS.

THESE DAYS IT'S HOME TO THE CHICAGO PUPPET STUDIO, A GALLERY OF ART GLASS, A BOOKSTORE, AND BOTH MUSIC TEACHERS AND MAKERS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

IT IS ALSO THE LAST PLACE IN CHICAGO THAT STILL EMPLOYS ELEVATOR OPERATORS.

>> I THINK THE LAND FOUR ARE RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING.

TWO DURING THE DAY AND TWO AT NIGHT.

IT HAS A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS.

>> TWO THEATERS ARE BEING RENOVATED.

>> WE ARE IN THE STUDEBAKER THEATRE THE HISTORIC VENUE FOR OVER 125 YEARS.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REMODELING IT AND REVITALIZE TO GO TO REOPEN THIS SPRING AND WE ARE UPDATING ALL OF THE AUDIO VIDEO INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING IT A MORE PRODUCTION FRIENDLY AND MORE AUDIENCE FRIENDLY VENUE.

>> THE STUDEBAKER THEATRE HAS PRESENTED HENRY PHONE DA, HELEN HAYES,ER THAT KIT AND OTHERS.

MURALS INCLUDE TRIBUTES TO THEATRE AND PASSIONS PURSUED IN THIS BUILDING.

>> IT IS THE HOME OF ONE OF CHICAGO'S ORIGINAL ARTIST COLONIES.

IT IS A 10 STOREY BUILDING FILLED WITH WORKSHOPS, OFFICES AND STUDIOS OF LOCAL ARTISANS.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM DANCE COMPANIES, ORCHESTRA COMPANIES, ARCHITECTS, WHAT IS SO COOL AND SPECIAL ABOUT THIS MOMENT WITH THE STUDEBAKER IS CREATING A SPACE FOR THE LIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS TO RESIST IN THE BUILDING IN THE SAME WAY THE FINE ARTS EXIST IN THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW.

>> IT IS A COOL BUILDING TO WORK IN FOR SURE.

A FEW TIMES A DAY WE'LL GO TO THE 9TH FLOOR BECAUSE WE'LL HEAR SOMEBODY PRACTICE OPERA OR THE VIOLIN, IT HAS A CALMING EFFECT.

>> WE HAVE A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF TENANTS.

THERE'S ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS THAT HAVE BEEN IN HERE OVER THE COURSE OF OUR LIFE AND OUR BUSINESS' LIFESPAN.

WE HAVE HAD CRAZY COOL NEIGHBORS AND LOTS OF EXPERIENCES WITH THE PUBLIC.

IT HAS A LOT OF PERSONALITY AND QUIRKS.

>> AND WHAT IT REALLY TRULY IS ABOUT IS A SHARED COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE CITY AND BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES THAT IS THE THING THE LIVE ARTS DO, PERFORMING ARTS AND FINE ARTS DO IN A WAY THAT NOTHING CAN.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> AND IT'S AT 410 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE.

THE STUDEBAKER TREMENDOUSES THE CHICAGO JAZZ ORCHESTRA IN MAY.

LATER IN THE YEAR IT WILL HOST THE CHICAGO YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHICAGO OPERA THEATRE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THE IMPACT OF INFLATION ON A FOOD GIANT RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCTS LIKE SLIM JIM.

THAT AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> WHAT IS BEHIND A STARTLING RISE IN SUICIDES AMONG LGBTQ TEENS?

LOCAL THERAPISTS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

>> AND JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON'S HISTORIC CONFIRMATION TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES THAT THE CITY'S SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WILL PAY ALL PARTICIPANTS THE CITY'S MINIMUM WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR.

THOSE AGED 14-24 CAN APPLY FOR A JOB AND SKILLS TRAINING AT A VARIETY OF AGENCIES BY FILLING OUT THE ONE SUMMER CHICAGO APPLICATION ON-LINE.

THE PROGRAM WILL HAVE NO CAPACITY LIMITS AND THE CITY WILL HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH PROGRAM TARGETING YOUTH WHO MAY HAVE TROUBLE ACCESSING THE PROGRAM.

>> WE KNOW SUMMER JOBS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THEY ARE MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL.

WE DO NOT WANT ANY YOUNG PERSON WHO NEEDS A JOB THIS SUMMER NOT TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT BECAUSE OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE OR OTHER BARRIERS THAT MIGHT KEEP THEM BACK FROM BEING ABLE TO APPLY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> AFTER MONTHS OF ORGANIZING WORKERS AT EL MILAGRO TORTILLA FACTORY SAYS THEY HAVE WON WAGE INCREASES $1.3 MILLION.

SINCE ORGANIZING, THE WORKERS SAY IN A STATEMENT THEY HAVE WON WAGE INCREASES AND ENDED SEVEN DAY WORK WEEKS AND BEGAN ANTISEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING FOR THE MANAGERS.

THE COMPANY HAS NOT FULFILLED A PROMISE TO CLOSE ON SUNDAYS AND BEING WORKED LIKE MACHINES.

AND SAYING THE COMPANY REFUSES TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM DIRECTLY.

TO BRANDIS WITH TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A NEW YORK FIRM AS A FORMER OFFICE MAX HEADQUARTERS TO THE BUYING SPREE IN CHICAGO WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE VACANT OFFICE CAMPUS OF A FORMER PUBLISHING COMPANY, AND INFLATION FORCES A CHICAGO BASED FOOD GIANT TO GET MEATY.

HERE BEHIND THE HEADLINES IS CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS REPORTER DANNY ECKER.

WELCOME BACK.

THIS EAST COAST INVESTOR JUST BOUGHT AN ABANDONED OFFICE MAX HEADQUARTERS IN NAPERVILLE AFTER PURCHASING DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDINGS.

TELL US WHO THIS NEW YORK FIRM IS AND WHAT THIS LATER STRING OF PURCHASES MEANS?

>> SO IT IS A GROUP OPAL HOLDINGS THEY BOUGHT THE REDEVELOPED FORMER OFFICE MAX HEADQUARTERS THAT WAS PURCHASED FOUR YEARS AGO AND REVIVED RENOVATED AND FILLED UP WITH DIFFERENT TENANTS.

BUT OPAL HOLDINGS THEY HAVE BEEN SNAPPING UP PROPERTIES IN OTHER CITIES, TOO.

THEY JUST SPENT $650 MILLION ON BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE LEO BURNETT BUILDING DOWNTOWN AND CATERPILLAR'S HEADQUARTERS IN FAIRFIELD.

AND NOW THEY'VE PURCHASED THE SHUMAN FOR $73 MILLION IN NAPERVILLE.

AND THEY'VE DONE WELL.

AND WHAT THEY ARE BETTING ON IS THAT THE HIGH QUALITY, NEW RENOVATED BUILDINGS OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO WEATHER THE STORM WELL AT A TIME WHEN COMPANIES ARE TRYING TO COMPEL WORKERS TO NOT WORK-FROM-HOME THEY BELIEVE THE NEWEST AND MOST UP-TO-DATE BUILDINGS WILL DO WELL.

>> ALSO IN OTHER OFFICE REAL ESTATE NEWS, THE FORMER SCOTT FORCE MAN OFFICE CAMPUS IN GLENVIEW KNOWN FOR PUBLISHING THE DICK AND JANE CHILDREN'S BOOK SERIES HAS BEEN VACANT BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE FOR MUCH LONGER.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

>> IT'S NOW IN POSITION TO BE REDEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING POTENTIALLY VERY DIFFERENT AS A CHICAGO DEVELOPER CALLED R2, THAT IS KNOWN FOR THE WORK DOWNTOWN THAT BOUGHT THE MORTGAGE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WAS FACING FORECLOSE.

IT PUTS R2 IN A POSITION TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT OR SELL TO ANOTHER DEVELOPER T COULD BE DEMOLISHED AND TURNED INTO RESIDENTIAL USE OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THERE COULD BE PUSHBACK FROM PRESERVATIONISTS THIS COMPLEX WAS ON THE 2021 LIST OF MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC SITES BECAUSE IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT.

IT WILL BE ANOTHER SUBURBAN SITE WORTH WATCHING AS A BELLWETHER OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.

>> LASTLY, A LOCAL FOOD GIANT KNOWN FOR SLIM JIM AND HEALTHY CHOICE MEALS EXPECTS TO SPEND 50% MORE ON MEAT INGREDIENTS.

TELL US WHY?

>> WELL, WHAT IS NOT COSTING A LOT MORE?

THE COMPANY SAYS LAST WEEK THAT INFLATION IS THE MAIN DRIVING UP THE PRICE OF BEEF, CHICKEN, PORK AND TURKEY AND TO CUT THE EARNINGS AND CONAGRA SAID IT WILL LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES FOR SLIM JIM AND HEALTHY FOODS.

AND OTHERS SAID THE MEAT COSTS WERE GOING UP WE MIGHT EXPECT TO BE PAYING MORE FOR BEEF AND THE HOT DOGS.

WE'VE NOTICED THE COST OF FOOD GOING UP LATELY.

DANNY ECKER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> PARIS, WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

APPROXIMATELY ONE IN THREE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCED POOR MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AND THE PREF LENT LENS OF MORE MENTAL HEALTH WAS THE HIGH EAST MUNG LGBTQ STUDENTS.

ON TOP OF COVID RELATED STRESSORS, ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS ARE TAKING A TOLL ON YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH.

AND JOINING US WITH MORE ARE LOWELL LOWELL OWNER OF FIGURE TREE COUNSELING AND IGGY LADDEN THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO THERAPY COLLECTIVE.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I WANT TO LOOK AT GRAPHICS FROM THE C.D.C.

ACCORDING TO THAT AGENCY, 5% OF HETEROSEXUAL STUDENTS ATTEMPTED SUICIDE COMPARED TO 26% FOR GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL STUDENTS AND OTHERS 16.5% ATTEMPTING SUICIDE.

IGGY LADDEN WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS DATA?

>> IT'S REALLY SCARY AND SAD TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON NOT JUST FOR LGBTQ YOUTH BUT YOUTH ACROSS THE BOARD ARE REPORTING INCREASES IN SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.

20% OF NON-LGBTQ YOUTH ARE SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE AND 44% OF LGBTQ YOUTH ARE REPORTING SERIOUS THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, CON PLEX PTSD ARE OVERWHELMING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ESPECIALLY LGBTQ YOUTH AT THIS TIME.

>> SHOCKING NUMBERS.

AND LOWELL LOWELL TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE LOLA WANG TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE YOUTH AND ALSO LGBTQ YOUTH OF COLOR HOW IT'S IMPACTING ALL THOSE COMMUNITIES?

>> LGBTQ YOUTH OF COLOR THEY FACE UNIQUE STRESSORS.

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS WE'VE SEEN HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AND BLACK PEOPLE GROW SHARPLY IN THE U.S. WITH OUR CLIENTS DIRECT CLINICAL WORK WE SEE THAT BLACK LGBTQ CLIENTS ESPECIALLY YOUTH THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO ASSOCIATE RACISM AND ACCOUNT VIOLENCE AS A MAJOR STRESS WHILE THEIR WHITE PEERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SAY TRANSPHOBIA OR ANTI-LGBTQ HATE CRIME AND THE OTHER EXAMPLE ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE MENTAL HEALTH YOUTH SERVICES WHICH RESULTED IN YOUTH THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ACOUNSELING SERVICE.

WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE NEW ANSWERS OF INTERSECTIONIAL LIKE A YOUTH OF COLOR WITH UNDOCUMENTED FAMILY STRUGGLES WITH STABILITY THEY MAY FACE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS COMPARED TO THEIR WHITE MIDDLE CLASS PEERS.

AND THESE ARE ALL THE FACTORS AFFECTING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

SOMETIMES SUPPORT SYSTEM AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE RACISM WITHIN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE ARE TALKING WITH A YOUTH OF COLOR, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO COME OUT, THE NARRATIVE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR WHITE PEERS.

YOU MENTIONED ACROSS THE BOARD, SUICIDE RATES AND THOSE THINK BEING SUICIDE HAVE GONE UP.

IS IT JUST THE ISOLATION OF THE PANDEMIC?

THE STRESS?

SOCIAL MEDIA?

ALL OF THOSE THINGS?

>> I SAY ALL OF THE ABOVE.

SOCIAL ISOLATION MIGHT BE HIGHEST IN TERMS OF COVID RELATED FACTORS THAT REALLY HAS IMPACTED YOUTH ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT THE MORE SOCIALLY CONNECTED YOUTH ARE IN GENERAL, LGBTQ YOUTH ARE IN GENERAL THE MORE RESILIENT THEY ARE IN THE FACE OF ALL OF THE STRESS FACTORS.

ADD TO THAT FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND THE TRANSCOMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF COLOR ARE POLITICAL CLIMATE.

AND YOU HAVE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF STRESS THAT WE'RE PLACING ON LGBTQ YOUTH AND LGBTQ YOUTH OF COLOR.

THE TREVOR PROJECT FOUND THAT 95% OF SURVEYED LGBTQ YOUTH FOUND THAT LISTENING TO POLITICAL DEBATE IN THIS TIME WAS HURTING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT POLITICAL -- SPEAKING OF THAT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, LOLA WANG WE MENTIONED THE BILLS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED OR PASSED IN STATES TARGETING TRANSYOUTH AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON TRANSYOUTH OF THESE BILLS?

>> FIRST OF ALL THERE ARE BARRIERS SETUP.

FOR EXAMPLE, A LOT OF YOUTH DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSAFFIRMING CARE WHICH IS NOT JUST TRANSAFFIRMING IT IS LIFE-SAVING CARE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT SOME BILLS ALSO PREVENTED YOUTH USE COPING SKILLS.

FOR SOME YOUTH THEY LIKE TO PLAY SPORTS AND THERE ARE BILLS FOR THEM TO PLAY SPORTS BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.

AND FOR YOUTH THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU ARE SEEING THE BILLS NOT ONLY FOR LGBTQ YOUTH IT'S FOR THEIR FRIENDS FOR THEIR TEACHERS.

SO THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE MORE BULLYING.

AND INTERMLY, WE ARE ALL COPING WITH THE RECORD CHANGING PANDEMIC WORLD WHICH IS A LOT OF INSECURITIES AND CHANGES AND ALL OF US OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS FRAGILE.

FOR LGBTQ YOUTH THAT IS WORSE BECAUSE FOR THEM THEY ARE NO LONGER IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

THERE WAS NEVER A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND NOW WE'RE SEEING IT'S GETTING WORSE.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH CLIENTS STRUGGLING WITH FEAR AND ANXIETY WE ASK IS THIS FEAR JUSTIFIED?

UNFORTUNATELY, DURING THE PAST YEAR WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT IS INDEED, JUSTIFIED AND A LOT OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO ASSESS THINGS AND THEN TRYING TO GRADUALLY MAKE CHANGES.

>> AND IGGY LADDEN SOME OF THE BILLS THEY ARE TARGETING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, ESPECIALLY AMONG TRANSYOUTH.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO THE DECISION AND HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS FOR TRANSYOUTH THAT GO FORWARD WITH GENDER AFFIRMING CARE?

>> I THINK IT JUST MAKES THE WHOLE CLIMATE OF TRUSTING ONESELF, ONCE BODY THAT MUCH SCARIER.

IT IS A COURAGEOUS THING TO SAY I AM TRANSAND I WANT TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY.

AND ONE'S PROVIDER MIGHT BE ATTACKED, ONE'S PARENTS MIGHT BE CRIMINALIZED AND ONESELF MIGHT BE RELATED TO AS MENTALLY UNWELL FOR BEING TRANSMAKES IT HARDER TO TAKE THAT STEP AND START LIVING ONES LIFE IN THE MOST HEALTHY WAY FOR THEM.

>> LOLA WANG HOW SHOULD PARENTS BE TALKING TO THEIR KIDS ABOUT THIS?

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO HIDE WHAT IS HAPPENING.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE EVENT IN AN AGE APPROPRIATE WAY.

VALIDATE THEIR WORRIES AND TRY TO NOT LET YOUR WORRIES AND FEARS TO AFFECT THEM.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS TO TALK ABOUT THEM WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL?

IN THE FAMILY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCRETE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU GAIN SOME KIND OF SAFETY.

WE CAN USE THE RIGHT PRONOUNCE.

WE CAN ADVOCATE OR FAMILY AND EDUCATE THE SCHOOL AND EDUCATORS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON.

>> THANKS TO LOLA WANG AND TO IGGY LADDEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT WHAT HISTORIC SUPREME COURT NOMINATION MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN A CONVERSATION THAT AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK JOYCES.

BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON IS SET TO BECOME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SIT ON THE SUPREME COURT.

IT IS A HISTORY INC.

MOMENT JIANG SON WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT IN WHILE SPEAKING OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE ON FRIDAY.

>> IT'S TAKEN 232 YEARS AND 115 PRIOR APPOINTMENTS FOR A BLACK WOMAN TO BE SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.

[APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] >> BUT WE'VE MADE IT.

[CHEERING] [APPLAUSE] >> JUDGE JACKSON WATCHED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AS THE SENATE VOTED TO CONFIRM HER NOMINATION ON THURSDAY.

THE VOTE FELL MOSTLY ALONG PARTY LINES 53-47 WITH THREE REPUBLICANS JOINING DEMOCRATS IN VOTING IN FAVOR.

JUDGE JACKSON IS SET TO BE SWORN IN AS THE 116TH SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THIS SUMMER WHEN JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER STEPS DOWN.

>> JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE AUDREY WILLSON PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE ASHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAW THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> KHALIL, JUDGE JACKSON'S CONFIRMATION MAKES IT THE FIRST TIME THAT A BLACK WOMAN WILL SIT ON THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE NATION THE 233-YEAR-OLD SUPREME COURT.

DICK DURBIN WHO LED THE PROCESS, REFLECTED ON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION AND HOW IT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY.

>> IN THE YEARS TO COME, LONG AFTER WE'VE LEFT THE SENATE, ONE OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN MAY ASK WHERE WE WERE ON THIS HISTORIC DAY APRIL 7TH, 2022.

WHEN AMERICA BROKE DOWN WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE RACIAL BARRIER AND VOTED TO SEND THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE ON OUR HIGHEST COURT.

I WILL BE PROUD TO SAY I WAS HON ON THE SENATE FLOOR STANDING AT MY DESK AND CASTING MY VOTE WITH PRIDE FOR THE NEXT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON.

>> KHALIL AWHY IS THIS MOMENT TO MONUMENTAL?

>> BECAUSE JUSTICE JACKSON'S APPOINTMENT TO THE SUPREME COURT IS PROVIDES THE BEACON OF HOPE.

AS A BLACK WOMAN LAWYER, AS A MEMBER OF THE BLACK WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER CHICAGO THIS IS SUCH AN INSPIRING MOMENT.

NOW, WE CAN REALLY SAY THAT EVERY YOUNG BLACK GIRL CAN LOOK TO JUSTICE JACKSON AND KNOW THAT THEY, TOO, CAN ASCEND TO THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND.

THIS MOMENT IS SO MONUMENTAL BECAUSE WE ARE NOW MOVING TO HAVE REASSURANCE THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS FORMING THAT MORE PERFECT UNION.

NOW THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF AMERICA.

AND THAT IS ESSENTIAL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

MONUMENTAL MOMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE JUSTICE JACKSON WHO WILL SERVE AS THE FEDERAL DEFENDER TO EVER SIT ON THE HIGHEST COURT A COURT THAT OFTENTIMES PRESIDES OVER THE DECISIONS INVOLVING CRIMINAL LAW.

SHE FUNDAMENTALLY UNDERSTANDS THE CRIMINAL PROCESS.

SHE UNDERSTANDS CRIMINAL LAW.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

SHE WILL PROVIDE A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT VOICE TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

AS THE JUSTICES ARE MAKING DELIBERATIONS IN ORDER TO SET PRECEDENT THAT WILL HAVE LONGSTANDING IMPACT FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> AND TO THAT POINT, AUDRA AS WE HEARD, IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER SITS ON THE SUPREME COURT.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT HOW HER OPINION AND PUBLIC IMPRESSION OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS SHIFTED?

>> WELL, HISTORICALLY THE PATH TO BECOMING A JUDGE, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS IS TO BE A PROSECUTOR, WORK OR BE A LITIGATOR FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THIS WOULD LEAVE OUT FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS AND ATTORNEYS THAT ARE WORKING FOR THE N.A.A.C.P.

AND THE DEFENSE FUND AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CHALLENGING THE GOVERNMENT.

HAVING THIS CONFIRMATION IS SO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WE SEE NOW THERE IS MORE OF A POSSIBILITY FOR PROFESSIONAL DIVERSITY TO BE REPRESENTED IN THE FUTURE.

AS KA LEAH MENTIONED WITH DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM HER TIME AS A PUBLIC DEFENDERS WILL ENABLE HER TO BE A NUANCED PERSPECTIVE FROM CLIENTS THIS IS MOMENTOUS.

>> THE CONFIRMATION DOES NOT CHANGE TO BE THE CONSERVATIVE LEANING OF THE COURT WHAT IMPACT MIGHT SHE HAVE ON CASES?

>> WELL, THAT IS TRUE IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY.

BUT THERE IS A VOICE THAT WILL BE PRESENT DURING THOSE DISCUSSIONS THAT WAS NOT PRESENT BEFORE.

AND THAT VOICE IS AS I STATED WILL BE ONE THAT COMES WITH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

AND HOPEFULLY BASED ON HER DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE THAT SHE WILL BRING IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE MAJORITY IDEOLOGICAL COMPOSITION, HOPEFULLY IT CREATES A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF CONSIDERATION BASED ON HOW SHE WILL ARTICULATE HER VIEWS AND HER PERSPECTIVES ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES.

>> THIS FALL, THE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR A CHALLENGE TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S USE OF RACE AS A FACTOR IN ADMISSIONS.

IT IS A CASE THAT COULD IMPACT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASES NATIONWIDE AND JUSTICE BROWN JACKSON SERVES ON HARVARD'S BOARD OF OVERSEERS AND TESTIFIED IN SENATE HEARINGS SHE WOULD RECUSE HERSELF.

AUDRA, DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT MOVE?

>> I DO THINK IT'S THE RIGHT MOVE TO MAKE.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS WHETHER TO RECUSE THEMSELF.

FEDERAL LAW [INAUDIBLE] ALTHOUGH SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STANDARD IT'S PROBABLY THE PRUDENT THING TO DO.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUSTICES HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT DOING ENOUGH OF POLICING THEMSELVES MORE AND CHOOSING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES WHEN IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY.

SHOULD JUSTICES BE POLICING THEMSELVES MORE, AUDRA?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE JANUARY 6TH PROCEEDINGS AND THE CONCERN MAJOR CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPARTIALITY OF A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME OTHER THAT WE COULD REPLY UPON JUSTICES TO BE ABLE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES OR CLEAR WHEN THEY SHOULD BE BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD THAT FLEXIBILITY.

I UNDERSTAND WHY THAT FLEXIBILITY IS IN PLACE.

BUT FOR EXAMPLE IN THIS CASE, I HOPE THAT JUSTICE JACKSON WOULD RECUSE HERSELF IN THIS PROCEEDING THAT JUSTICE THOMAS WOULD TAKE IT UPON HIMSELF TO RECUSE HIMSELF IF IN FACT PROCEEDINGS THAT MAKE IT TO THE SUPREME COURT REGARDING JANUARY 6.

>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO HER RECUSING FROM THAT CASE?

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASE WHERE THE BLACK WOMAN ON THE COURT IS NOT CASTING A VOTE AND PROVIDING INPUT ON THAT ONE?

>> WELL, AS AUDRA MENTIONED I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM.

JUDGES ARE EXPECTED TO BE IMPARTIAL.

AND AS PART OF THAT IMPARTIALALITY ASSESSMENT WHEN ONE MAY HAVE AT LEAST FROM AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE MAY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST, JUSTICE JACKSON SERVES ON THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR HARVARD, THAT COULD COMPROMISE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC'S FAITH OR CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM.

SO I THINK A RECUSAL IS APPROPRIATE.

HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHEN THE SUPREME COURT DOES CONSIDER THE AFFIRMATIVE ACCESS CASES THERE ARE ANOTHER CASE INVOLVING THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA THAT JUSTICE JACKSON MAYBE ABLE TO WEIGH-IN ON THAT CASE WHICH HOPEFULLY HER PERSPECTIVE WITH RESPECT TO WEIGHING IN ON THAT CASE COULD SORT OF PUT THE OTHER JUSTICES ON NOTICE OF HER POSITION WITH RESPECT TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AS A WHOLE.

>> POLITICIANS CALLING JACKSON'S CONFIRMATION A GROUNDBREAKING MOMENT.

LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID... >> HOW DOES THIS CONFIRMATION OPEN THE DOOR FOR LAWYERS WITH VARIED BACKGROUNDS WITH THE HISTORY OF BEING A PUBLIC DEFENDER HOW DOES THAT OPEN THE DOOR FOR MORE DIVERSITY THAN WE SEE PROFESSIONALLY?

>> YOU KNOW I HAVE A QUOTE THAT RESONATES WITH ME.

YOU CAN'T BE WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE.

I THINK NOW JUSTICE JACKSON'S CONFIRMATION TO THE COURT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE SIMILAR CAREER PATHS TO BE AUDACIOUS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE SUPREME COURT.

WHEN BEFORE YOU KNOW, MANY FOLKS WHO WERE PRIOR FEDERAL DEFENDERS THOUGHT IT WAS A COMPLETE IMPOSSIBILITY.

BLACK WOMEN LAWYERS THOUGHT IT WAS A COMPLETE IMPOSSIBILITY.

AND NOW THOSE IMPOSSIBILITIES ARE NOW FILLED WITH HOPE AND ASSURANCE THAT YOU, TOO, CAN ALSO ASCEND TO THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND.

>> AUDRA, YOU KNOW OVER THE YEARS, THE SENATE SCOTUS VOTES HAVE GOTTEN MORE AND MORE DIVIDED.

THIS 53-47.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

>> WELL, IT TELLS US WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF OUR GREAT POLITICAL DIVIDE.

I'M HAPPY THERE WERE THREE REPUBLICANS THAT DID VOTE CONFIRMATION.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS TO HAVE.

REALLY WE HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE POLARIZATION IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IS NOW POSSIBLY INFECTING THE HIGHEST COURT OF THE LAND WHERE IMPARTIALALITY IS KEY.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. A PANEL OF STATE LEGISLATORS REACT TO THE NEW BUDGET, ANTICRIME LEGISLATION AND MUCH MORE FROM THE LATEST SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> PLUS SATISFYING OUR SWEET TOOTH ONE LAST TIME BEFORE THE BAKERY SHUTS FOR GOOD.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]