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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HASES EVENING OFF.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WHAT DO WE WANT?

DO WE WANT PERMANENT HELP FOR PEOPLE OR MORE GOVERNMENT SPENDING?

>> TAX RELIEF, CARJACKINGS AND MUCH MORE WE ARE IN SPRINGFIELD WITH THE LATEST BEFORE WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A LONG NIGHT AHEAD.

>> I WANT TO BE MAYOR BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY.

>> 15TH WARD ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ TALKS ABOUT HIS RUN FOR MAYOR AND HIS CRITICISM OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

>> AND WE HEAR FROM TWO RETIRED SKOKIE DOCTORS WHO VOLUNTEERED IN EASTERN EUROPE TO HELP UKRAINIANS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE SENATE TAKES A HISTORIC VOTE ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S NOMINEE TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>> ON THIS VOTE THE AYES ARE 53 AND THE NAYS ARE 47.

AND THE NOMINATION IS CONFIRMED.

[APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] >> AND WITH THAT, JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON WILL MAKE HISTORY AND BECOME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO JOIN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

DESPITE AN EFFORT BY SOME REPUBLICANS TO BRAND JACKSON AS A LEFT WING ACTIVIST JUDGE SOFT ON CRIME, THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS LISA MURKOWSKI OF ALASKA, SUSAN COLLINS OF MAINE AND UTAH'S MITT ROMNEY VOTED TO CONFIRM HER.

DICK DURBIN HIGHLIGHTED THE HISTORIC NATURE OF JACKSON'S APPOINTMENT.

>> THE CONFIRMATION OF A FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO THE SUPREME COURT HONORS THE HISTORY THAT HAS COME BEFORE IT IT HONORS THE STRUGGLES OF THE PAST OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WAGED THEM AND THIS CONFERMATION IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO A MORE PERFECT UNION.

>> THE TOP DOCTOR IS NOT ALARMED BY A RECENT UPTICK IN COVID CASES.

>> CHICAGO'S CURRENT COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVEL REMAINS LOW.

THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT I WANT YOU TO HEAR.

>> WARD H ARWADY SAYS THE KELL DEPARTMENT WOULD BE READY TO ACT IF NECESSARY BUT EMPHASIZED THE NEWS REMAINS GOOD FROM A COVID PERSPECTIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CASES IN CHICAGO JUMPED 28% AND THE CITY IS AVERAGING 300 CASES A DAY.

THE COVID POSITIVITY RATE HAS RISEN FROM 1.4% TO 1.7%.

HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE DOWN SHARPLY.

ELECTRIC SCOOTERS ARE SET TO BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF CHICAGO'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

THREE FIRMS, LIME, SPIN AND SUPER PEDESTRIAN WON LICENSES TO DEPLOY SCOOTERS STARTING MAY 10TH.

EACH WILL BE ALLOWED NO MORE THAN 1,000 FOR A TOTAL OF 3,000.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL EXPAND DIVVY, THE BIKESHARING SYSTEM TO INCLUDE DOCKABLE SCOOTERS FROM LYFT BRINGING THE NUMBER OF SCOOTERS ON CHICAGO STREETS THIS SUMMER TO 4,000.

>> AN OPENING DAY WIN FOR THE CHICAGO CUBS OVER THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS.

KYLE HENDRICK LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE VICTORY STRIKING OUT SEVEN AND GIVING UP JUST ONE RUN IN FIVE AND A THIRD INNINGS.

THE CUBS TOOK THE LEAD IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH BEFORE THE BREWERS TIED THE GAME IN THE TOP OF THE 7TH.

BUT A TWO-RUN DOUBLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH GAVE THE CUBS THE LEAD FOR GOOD.

CUBS 5, BREWERS 4.

UP NEXT LAWMAKERS IN SPRINGFIELD TACKLE TAX RELIEF.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE IN PART BY... >> IT'S GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR STATE LAWMAKERS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO FINISH THEIR WORK FOR THIS SESSION TOMORROW.

AND JUST BEFORE DEADLINE, DEMOCRATS ARE OUT WITH A DEAL.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW FROM THE CHAMBERS OF ILLINOIS HOUSE WITH THE LATEST.

AMANDA?

>> YES, BRANDIS THIS IS FRESH SO WE HAVE NOT SEEN LANGUAGE YET NOR ANY VOTE WHEN YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OUT ANNOUNCING A DEAL, A $45 BILLION ONE AT THAT, WELL, THE SMART MONEY IS THAT IT'S A GO.

>> LEADERS IN BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND YET ANOTHER RESPONSIBLE, BALANCED BUDGET.

BECAUSE OF OUR FOCUS ON FISCAL BALANCE, THIS BUDGET WILL PROVIDE OVER $1.8 BILLION, 1.8 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF TO ILLINOIS RESIDENTS.

>> SO WE'VE ONLY GOT THE BROAD STROKES BUT I WILL GO OVER SOME OF THEM.

ILLINOIS LOOKING TO SUSPEND THE 1% TAX ON GROCERIES FOR ONE YEAR.

AND THEN FOR SIX MONTHS, THE STATE TAX ON GAS WILL REMAIN AT 39 CENTS A GALLON RATHER THAN RISING.

AND THEN ALSO LOOK FOR BACK TO SCHOOL A BRIEF BACK TO SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY ON CLOTHING AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES THIS FALL.

ALSO LOOK FOR A CHECK IN THE MAIL.

TAXPAYERS ANYBODY MAKING $200,000 OR LESS TO GET A $100 REBATE.

>> GOING TO BE A BUDGET THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

IT ALSO RESPONDS TO THE DIFFICULT TIMES MANY PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ACROSS THIS STATE FIND THEMSELVES IN NOW WITH THE RISING COST OF INFLATION.

THIS BUDGET WILL SAY ILLINOISANS WE HEAR YOU.

>> WHILE DEMOCRATS SAY THAT THIS IS A RESPONSE TO INFLATION, REPUBLICANS SAY IT IS MORE OBVIOUSLY A RESPONSE TO SOMETHING ELSE, AND THAT IS THE ELECTION.

LEGISLATORS WILL BE ABLE TO CAMPAIGN ON THIS FROM NOW THROUGH THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SO I'M GOING TO SHARE SOME OF THAT TIMING WITH YOU.

THE PRIMARY JUNE 28.

JUST A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT, JULY 1 IS WHEN THE GAS TAX FREEZE IS GOING TO KICK IN.

AND THEN THE GAS TAX STAYS SUSPENDED THROUGH JANUARY.

BY THE WAY, THAT MEANS IT WILL BE LIFTING SHORTLY AFTER THE MID-NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

THE G.O.P.

SAYS IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.

>> BUT BEFORE THE DEMOCRATS LEAVE THIS BUILDING, WITH SO-CALLED ELECTION YEAR GIMMICK TAX RELIEF THAT EXPIRES ON JANUARY FIRST, THEY NEED TO KNOW AND THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS NEED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WE CAN AGAIN REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND INCORPORATE MANY OF THEIR OBJECTIVES INTO OUR PLAN AND PROVIDE REAL TAX RELIEF ON A PERMANENT BASIS.

>> THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE G.O.P.

ISN'T GOING TO BE VOTING FOR THESE MEASURES THAT WOULD BE TOUGH FOR ANY LEGISLATOR TO DO WITH AN ELECTION ON THE HORIZON.

REPUBLICANS SAY BY AND LARGE THEY WERE EXCLUDED FROM NEGOTIATIONS.

DEMOCRATS THEY SAY IGNORED ALL THE REQUESTS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE TAX RELIEF PERMANENT OR BIGGER SO AGAIN LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GAS TAX FREEZE.

BECAUSE THAT IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION WITH THE PRICES AT THE PUMP.

IT'S EXPECTED TO SAVE DRIVERS $100 A YEAR.

THE G.O.P.

HAD BEEN PUSHING FOR A DIFFERENT TACTIC.

ELIMINATING THE STATE SALES TAX THAT 6.75% PRESUMABLY SAVED RESIDENTS, DRIVERS, FAMILYLESS A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY.

AND THE BUDGET, TAX RELIEF ARE THE HEADLINERS.

THERE IS A LOT MORE GOING ON IN THE STATE HOUSE WITH A COUPLE DAYS OF SESSION LEFT.

YOU'VE GOT A FLURRY OF BILLS BEING PASSED.

AND ONE OF THOSE DEMOCRATS PROMISE IS GOING TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY PACKAGE.

BECAUSE CRIME IS ANOTHER BIG DEAL THIS ELECTION.

THERE HAS BEEN MOVEMENT ON THAT ALREADY.

INCLUDING A BILL THAT ALLOWS POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO COOPERATE IN CARJACKING CASES.

>> WITH CARJACKINGS YOU HAVE PERHAPS DIFFERENT KINDS OF GROUPS THAT MIGHT BE PERPETRATING THIS.

SOME MIGHT BE SORT OF RANDOM BUT SOME SEEM TO BE COORDINATED.

AND SO THE IDEA THEN IS TO ALLOW AS THEY COMMIT THE CARJACKING AND THEY FLEE TO ALLOW THE MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS TO COORDINATE EFFORTS TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE AND PERHAPS TO PURSUE AFTER A CARJACKING.

>> ANOTHER MEASURE THAT PASSED THE SENATE WOULD INSURE THAT CARJACKING VICTIMS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY RED LIGHT CAMERA FEES, SPEEDING TICKET FINES FOR THEIR STOLEN VEHICLE.

SENATOR JASON BAKER MAN A REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT BUT HE IS NOT SATISFIED.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE HOW LITTLE THESE PROPOSALS ARE GOING TO DO TO ADDRESS THE RAMPANT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT IS EXISTING THROUGHOUT ALL REGIONS AND POCKETS OF THIS STATE.

THIS IS EXHIBIT A TO THAT PROBLEM.

>> THAT SIDE OF THE AISLE NEEDS TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE CRIME THAT EXISTS IN THIS STATE.

>> AGAIN, DEMOCRATS DO PROMISE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE ACTION ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY FRONT AMONG THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL OF THOSE MEASURES IS ONE THAT WOULD EMPOWER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RETAILORS TO FURTHER CRACKDOWN ON THOSE SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERIES.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE HOUSE IS GOING STRONG, SENATE, TOO, LOOK FOR MORE ACTION HERE IN SPRINGFIELD WITH SESSION SET TO ADJOURN ON FRIDAY WITH THAT, BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> A LOT TO GET DONE IN A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

UP NEXT, ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE FIRST CANDIDATE TO ENTER CHICAGO'S MAYORAL ELECTION.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

ONE OF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S BIGGEST CRITICS WANTS HER JOB.

15TH WARD ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ ANNOUNCED HIS BED FOR MAYOR THIS WEEK.

SINCE 2015 LOPEZ HAS REPRESENTED THE 15TH WARD WHICH INCLUDES THE SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS OF BACK OF THE YARDS, GAGE PARK, BRIGHTON PARK AND WEST ENGLEWOOD.

JOINING US IS ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRSTK TELL US WHY DO YOU WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR?

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

FIRST, ALLOW ME TO THANK AND CONGRATULATE CHANNEL 11 AND LOCAL 1220 IN COMING TO AN AGREEMENT.

I'M GLAD OUR UNIONS WERE ABLE TO WORK IT OUT.

I WANT TO BE MAYOR BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CHICAGO.

I LOVE CHICAGO I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE SEEN WHEN LEADERSHIP FAILURES HAVE IMPACTED OUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE OUR GREATNESS.

AND I KNOW BASED ON EVERYTHING I'VE DONE IN MY WARD ADDRESSING VIOLENCE, TRYING TO SPUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND DELIVERING CITY SERVICES, I KNOW THAT THE SUCCESSES I'VE HAD IN MY WARD CAN BE REPLICATED THROUGHOUT EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THAT IS WHY I'M RUNNING.

>> THE CURRENT MAYOR HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR MAKING ENEMIES.

YOU HAVE CLASHED WITH HER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS AND COLLEAGUES IN CITY COUNCIL.

AND LEAVING THE LATINO CAUCUS AFTER ITS MEMBERS ENDORSED YOUR OPPONENT IN 2019.

HOW WILL YOU CHANGE YOUR APPROACH IF ELECTED MAYOR, WILL YOU CHANGE YOUR APPROACH IF ELECTED MAYOR?

>> AS ALDERMAN I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND THIS CURRENT TERM, HAVE SHOWN MY ABILITY TO CROSS THE AISLE TO WORK WITH CONSERVATIVES, PROGRESSIVES AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS TO GET THE JOB DONE AND SPEAK FOR ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY.

AND I BELIEVE THIS ELECTION IS NOT ABOUT PERSONALITY.

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT THE FUTURE LITERALLY THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING.

THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS OUR WORKERS AND GUESTS BEING FIRST AND FOREMOST AND I WILL BE THE MAYOR THAT TAKES OWNERSHIP OF EVERYONE'S SAFETY AND INSURE WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

BUILD OUR ECONOMY AND MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD.

>> IF ELECTED YOU WOULD BE THE CITY'S FIRST LATINO MAYOR IN THE PAST YOU HAVE OPPOSED EXPANDING PROTECTIONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHICH ANGERED SOME IMMIGRANT REFORM ADVOCATES.

DO YOU STAND BY THOSE STATEMENTS THAT THOSE PROTECTIONS HELPED FUEL CHICAGO'S CRIME SURGE?

>> I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT CHICAGO SHOULD BE A WELCOMING CITY.

HOWEVER I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HARBOR SAFE HAVEN FOR KNOWS 0 WHO DO NOT LOVE OUR CITY AND COUNTRY.

THERE ARE A SMALL AMOUNT ARE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO BEING PART OF A PROBLEM IN OUR CITY AND NOT GIVEN HARBOR IN TRYING TO BUILD AN AMERICAN DREAM.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR REDUCING CRIME IN CHICAGO?

>> FIRST IT ALL STARTS TO LEADERSHIP.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MAYOR THAT BELIEVES IT IS POSSIBLE TO HOLD CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WHILE HAVING SMART POLICING AND STRATEGIC POLICING THAT GOES AFTER THE MAGNETS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND RESTORES THE TRUST AND FAITH OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE IN THE POLICE REGARDLESS OF WHAT COMMUNITY THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT WORK IN MY WARD WHEREAS ALDERMAN I WAS ABLE TO RALLY THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMANDERS.

OUR COMMANDERS WHO IN TURN INSPIRED OUR OFFICERS TO DO RIGHT EVERYDAY BOTH IN CATCHING CRIMINALS AND ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE CAN REPLICATE THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

IT STARTS WITH LEADERSHIP.

I CAN PROVIDE THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP TO BE THE BRIDGE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND IT REQUIRES US TO TAKE A SUPERINTENDENT WHO KNOWS THE JOB AND KNOWS THE CITY AND THE WORKFORCE AND KNOWS THE HISTORY BEHIND OUR COMMUNITY AND POLICE RELATIONS.

>> AND TO THAT POINT, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD AND YOU'VE SAID THIS YOU WOULD REPLACE DAVID BROWN WHAT WOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A POLICE SUPERINTENDENT?

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF TALENT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I BELIEVE AS WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO BUILD THE MOST WORLD CLASS LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT IN CHICAGO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE LEADER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF OUR OFFICERS AND UNDERSTANDS THE CONCERNS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IS WILLING TO GO AFTER THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO REMAIN THE MAGNETS OF VIOLENCE THE SMALL NUMBERS OF PEOPLE COMMITTING THE LARGE NUMBER OF CRIMES.

>> WOULD YOU MAKE REFORMING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IMPLEMENTING THE CONSENT DECREE A TOP PRIORITY?

>> ABSOLUTELY IT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LEGITIMATE AND RESPECTED LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY IN OUR CITY.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE TOO MANY OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE WITH REGARDS TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT EVEN THOUGH 99% OF OUR OFFICERS PUT ON THAT UNIFORM EVERYDAY AND PERFORM THEIR DUTIES PERFECTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

BUT WE MUST RESTORE THEIR MEG MASSIE IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE AND THE ONLY WAY IS BY WORKING QUICKLY TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THE CONSENT DECREE AND NOT DO IT IN A PIECEMEAL FASHION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

>> SINCE YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR SEAT ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO RUN FOR MAYOR, DO YOU PLAN ON ENDORSING A SUCCESSOR IN THE 15TH WARD?

>> I'M SURE AT SOME POINT THAT DISCUSSION WILL COME INTO CLARITY.

RIGHT NOW I'M FOCUSED ON MY CAMPAIGN.

I WILL BE SERVING OUT THE REST OF MY TERM.

MY STAFF IS WELL-TRAINED ON THE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC SERVICE WITH EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MY RESIDENTS SHOULD KNOW WE WILL NOT CHANGE A THING DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND THE NEXT 14 MONTHS AND HOW WE HELP THEM AS I PROCEED FORWARD.

>> IS THERE A POINT THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER REELECTION IN THE 15TH?

>> NO.

I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW, THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE IN MY WARD, THE LEADERSHIP I'VE ZONE IN MY COMMUNITIES, NEEDS TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR WHICH WE MOVE THE CITY FORWARD.

I'M ALL IN AS IT COMES TO LEADING THE CITY AND PROVIDING HOPE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THAT WE ARE AT THE CUSP OR THE BRINK.

WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY SAFE AGAIN.

WE CAN REBUILD THE TRUST WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REINSPIRE OUR CITY WORKERS TO HAVE LOVE FOR THE CITY AGAIN.

AND WE CAN BE THE CITY THAT WE KNOW AND ALWAYS TOUT OURSELVES TO BE WHICH IS THE GREATEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> RAY LOPEZ RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> AND UP NEXT WE HEAR FROM DOCTORS JUST RETURNED FROM THE POLAND-UKRAINE BORDER.

STAY WITH US.

TWO RETIRED SKOKIE DOCTORS RETURNED FROM VOLUNTEERING IN EASTERN EUROPE ESCAPING UKRAINE.

Dr. AVERY HART AND Dr. DAVID SHAPIRO BOTH HERE SPENT ALMOST TWO WEEKS ON THE UKRAINIAN BORDER IN POLAND.

THEY PROVIDED HEALTHCARE FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN CROSSING INTO POLAND OFTENTIMES GIVING PEOPLE CRUCIAL MEDICATIONS THEY HAD BEEN UNABLE TO ACCESS.

AND Dr. AVERY HART AND Dr. DAVID SHAPIRO BOTH JOIN US NOW.

>> WHY DID YOU WANT TO GO TO THE REGION AND HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA?

>> QUITE HONESTLY, AVERY CALLED ME AND SAID DAVID DO YOU WANT TO GO TO POLAND.

WE ARE RETIRED AND NOT WITH A LOT TO FILL OUR TIME.

AND IT WAS A PLEASURE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND USE OUR SKILLS TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AN OTHERWISE VERY UNPLEASANT SITUATION.

>> WHAT AREAS WERE YOU IN?

>> WE WERE STATIONED MOSTLY IN A REFUGEE CARE CENTER IN THE CITY WHICH IS ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM THE BORDER.

IN A MEDICAL CLINIC THERE.

AND WE ALSO SPENT ABOUT THREE DAYS IN A MEDICAL CLINIC IMMEDIATELY AT THE BORDER RUN BY SSF A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION.

YOU HAVE A SHARED PHOTOS WITH US.

AND ONE A MAKESHIFT PHARMACY.

Dr. HART WHAT WERE THE MEDICAL NEEDS YOU SAW THERE?

>> WELL, IN THE ADULTS WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT HAD ACCESS TO THEIR MEDICATIONS FOR EXAMPLE, WE SAW A MALE WITH DIABETES WHO HAD WALKED ACROSS THE BORDER AND HURT HIS FOOT AND I NEED HELP I THINK I SPRAINED MY ANKLE AND LET'S CHECK YOUR DIABETES HE HAD NOT HAD INSULIN FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THERE WAS ANY IN THE PHARMACIES AND HIS BLOOD SUGAR WAS 500 AND NORMAL 100.

IT WAS DANGEROUSLY HIGH.

SO WE HAD TO BRING HIS BLOOD SUGAR DOWN BEFORE IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR HIM TO TRAVEL FURTHER.

WE SAW PEOPLE WITH SKY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURES BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN TAKING THEIR MEDICINES.

A WOMAN WITH HAD A TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY, AND WAS TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON THYROID HORMONE TO LIVE AND THERE WAS NONE IN THE CITY OF MARIUPOL WHICH WE'VE HEARD ABOUT ON THE NEWS BECAUSE OF THE SIEGE.

THIS WAS A COMMON SITUATION AMONG THE ADULTS.

THE CHILDREN WE SAW INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

LESS AT THE BORDER THAN AT THE REFUGEE STATION.

WE STARTED SEEING FAIR AMOUNT OF GASTROENTERITIS BECAUSE OF THE CROWDED CONDITIONS AND INSUFFICIENT SANITATION CAPABILITY.

SO THAT WAS A DEVELOPING PROBLEM AMONG THE CHILDREN THAT WE SAW AT THE REFUGEE CENTER.

>> Dr. SHAPIRO WE HAVE A PICTURE OF A REFUGEE CENTER AS WELL.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT OTHER SERVICES BESIDES MEDICAL CARE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THERE.

>> PEOPLE CAME FROM THE BORDER IF THEY WEREN'T PREPARED TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT HAD TIME TO MAKE PLANS OR WERE UNCERTAIN WHERE TO GO AND IF THEY WERE JUST TOO TIRED OR TOO I WILL OR TOO FRIGHTENED TO CONTINUE THE JOURNEY.

SO THEY WOULD COME TO THE REFUGEE CENTER AND IT'S BEEN PERHAPS -- SPEND PERHAPS A NIGHT, PERHAPS TWO, HOPEFULLY NOT MORE SO THEY COULD GET SOMETHING TO EAT, GET REST.

SEE A DOCTOR IF THEY NEEDED THAT.

TALK TO REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES WHO WERE THERE PRECISELY TO HELP THEM MAKE PLANS TO CONTINUE THEIR TRAVEL.

>> AMONG THE PHOTOS YOU SHARED WITH US WE HAVE A PHOTO OF A COUPLE Dr. HART WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT IS THEIR STORY?

>> THIS ELDERLY COUPLE THEY ARE FROM THE UKRAINIAN TOWN IN THE HOT AREA IN TERMS OF CONFLICT IN EASTERN UKRAINE.

THEY STOPPED AT THE TENT THE MEDICAL TENT JUST FOR A BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK AND THE BLOOD PRESSURES WERE OK BUT THEY WERE VERY SHAKEN UP PSYCHOLOGICALLY.

THEY WANTED US TO BEAR WITNESS TO THEIR STORY.

SO I'M GLAD YOU ARE ASKING AND THAT WAS THE DAY BEFORE THEIR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD HAD COME UNDER ATTACK BY RUSSIAN ROCKET FIRE AND THEIR HOUSE WAS DESTROYED.

THEY ESCAPED ALIVE AND UNINJURED THEY HEADED WEST AND CROSSED INTO POLAND AND THAT IS WHERE THEY TOOK THE PHOTO.

THEY WERE WAITING FOR THEIR DAUGHTER WHO LIVED IN FRANKFURT TO DRIVE TO THE BORDER TO PICK THEM UP AND TAKE THEM TO GERMANY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE SAW QUITE A BIT WAS THE UKRAINIAN DIASPORA IN EUROPE THAT PEOPLE OFTENTIMES HAVE FRIENDS OR RELATIVES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES AROUND THE CONTINENT THAT WOULD TAKE THEM IN AFTER THEY GOT PAST THE BORDER CROSSING.

>> Dr. SHAPIRO WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO SEE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE FOLKS WHO ARE RUNNING FROM THEIR HOMES IN UKRAINE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE ENTIRE EFFORT DEPENDED ON THESE PEOPLE.

NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, NGO'S WHO WERE PRIME TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY SITUATIONS LIKE THIS ON SHORT NOTICE WHO CAME TO PITCH TENTNESS, OFFER SERVICES, AND CREATE A COMMUNITY AMONGST THEMSELVES.

ALSO INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL OVER EUROPE AND SOME FROM THE UNITED STATES WHO DROPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND WITHOUT HAVING A PARTICULAR TASK OR PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION TO WORK SHOWING UP ON-SITE AND SAID WHAT CAN WE DO?

AND WOULD END UP SERVING FOOD, CLEANING FLOORS.

SORTING MOUNTAINS OF DONATED CLOTHING SUPPLIES AND ESPECIALLY MEDICATIONS SO THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR USE.

AND IT REALLY WAS THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE TO SUCCEED.

>> Dr. HART ONE OF THE LAST PICTURES WE HAVE IS A MAN PLAYING THE PIANO.

WHAT WAS HIS STORY?

THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE-PEOPLE WITH WHATEVER SKILLS THEY HAVE AND APPLYING THEIR SKILLS TO THE PROBLEM.

I WAS IN ONE OF THE MEDICAL TENTS AND I HEARD PIANO MUSIC AND I STEPPED OUT OF THE TENT AND I SAW THAT DAVID PICTURED IN THE PHOTO HAS TOWED HIS GRAND PIANO TO THE BORDER AND SET IT UP RIGHT ACROSS FROM WHERE THE REFUGEES CROSSED THE BORDER WERE WAITING FOR BUSTOS TAKE THEM TO THE REFUGEE CENTER, AND HE PLAYED FOR HOURS UPON END AND HE CONTINUED PLAYING DAY AFTER DAY PLAYING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, SOOTHE, CALMING PIANO MUSIC JUST TO LEND AN AIR OF CIVILIZATION TO THE SITUATION AND TO CALM FOLKS AS THEY WAITED FOR THEIR BUS.

>> A SMALL STEP I'M SURE MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR FOLKS THERE.

Dr. AVERY HART AND Dr. DAVID SHAPIRO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

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.

[♪♪♪]