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

VMENT I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGN: ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE SAFE EVACUATION OF AS MANY PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

>> ONE YEAR SINCE THE TALIBAN SEIZED AFGHANISTAN'S CAPITAL FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF U.S.

TROOPS, HOW ARE REFUGEES ADAPTING TO LIFE IN AMERICA?

>> THE REEMERGENCE OF POLIO IN NEW YORK IS CAUSING CONCERN.

A SPECIALIST ON WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

>> WE ARE IN FEAR EVERYDAY FOLLOWING THE SITUATION.

>> LOCAL AMAZON WORKERS SAY THE COMPANY DIDN'T PROPERLY ADDRESS RACIST DEATH THREATS AND PUNISHED EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY SPOKE OUT.

>> I CAN TELL THEM BE HONEST WITH THE PEOPLE.

THEY SHOULD TELL US OK WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO CLOSE THE STORE.

>> TWO YEARS LATER AND VENDORS ARE WONDERING IF THE NEW OWNER OF THE DISCOUNT MALL IN LITTLE VILLAGE WILL KEEP ITS DOORS OPEN.

>> ANOTHER TWO STORES EXIT THE IMAGE INFIELD SEPTEMBER MILE AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> APPLICATIONS FOR THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS PROGRAM, DACA WERE ACCEPTED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> MY DAD LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID "SON, WE DID IT.

WE DID IT."

>> AND HEAR ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF INDIANA'S ONLY LATINO STATE HOUSE MEMBER.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN THE TRIAL OF CHICAGO BORN R&B STAR R. KELLY THIS IS ROBERT KELLY'S SECOND TRIAL ON FEDERAL CHARGES THAT HE ALLEGEDLY FILMED SEX ACTS WITH UNDERAGED GIRLS AND CONSPIRED TO FIX HIS TRIAL IN 2008.

KELLY'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY FAILED TO CONVINCE THE JUDGE THAT ANY PROSPECTIVE JUROR WHO SAW THE DOCUMENTARY SHOULD BE EXCLUDED.

KELLY WAS SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON IN HIS FEDERAL RACKETEERING AND SEX TRAFFICKING CASE IN NEW YORK AND IS IN FEDERAL CUSTODY.

HE IS APPEALING THAT RULING.

THE DOZEN JURORS AND SIX ALTERNATES ARE EXPECTED TO BE SEATED BY TOMORROW.

THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST A MONTH.

>> ANOTHER VIOLENT WEEKEND IN CHICAGO.

44 PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND EIGHT KILLED IN SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE CITY.

BUT POLICE BRASS SAY THIS WEEKEND SAW LESS VIOLENCE THAN LAST YEAR.

>> BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF OUR OFFICERS AND INVOLVED COMMUNITY AND CITY PARTNERS CHICAGO CONTINUES TO SEE DECLINES IN SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDE.

WE ARE 30% DOWN IN HOMICIDES COMPARED TO 2021.

>> THE HIGH LAND PARK CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION THAT RECOMMENDS BANNING WEAPONS OF WAR IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S IN REACTION TO THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE MASS SHOOTING WHERE SEVEN WERE KILLED AND DOZENS INJURED.

IT CALLS FOR ACTION AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL AND RECOMMENDS BANNING THE MANUFACTURE, PURCHASE, SALE, POSSESSION AND USE OF ALL SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPONS, HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES AND BODY ARMOR WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR THE MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY MASS SHOOTINGS ARE UNIQUELY AMERICAN BUT THAT HIGHLAND PARK IS NOT AN ISLAND.

UP NEXT, THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. MILITARY'S WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN.

SO STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... ONE YEAR AGO TODAY THE TALIBAN SEIZE THE POWER IN AFGHANISTAN FOLLOWING THE CHAOTIC WITHDRAWAL OF U.S.

TROOPS.

AFGHANISTAN HAS SEEN POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ERODE.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THAT COUNTRY?

AND WHAT IS LIFE LIKE HERE FOR THE NEW ARRIVALS?

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE INTEREST GRATION ATTORNEY AT REFUGEE ONE.

AUSTIN WRIGHT PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND LISA WILSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MUTUAL ASSISTANCE CENTER.

AUSTIN WRIGHT ONE RULE OF TALIBAN RULE IN KABUL IN AFGHANISTAN, WHAT IS LIFE IN THAT COUNTRY LIKE?

>> WELL, I THINK SINCE THE CONSOLIDATION OF AUTHORITY UNDER THE TALIBAN THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN LOCAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

AS WELL AS A SHIFT IN HEALTH CONDITIONS.

YOU HIGHLIGHTED ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES THEY FACE IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS WAS FOOD INSECURITY.

AND IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN LOCAL RESILIENCE AND RURAL LIVELIHOOD THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ATTRACT ATTENTION.

BUT ALL CASES WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS AN ERODING BOTH OF LOCAL SECURITY AND THAT'S BOTH PHYSICAL AND FOOD SECURITY AND LOCAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

>> AND WE KNOW THE U.S.

WITHDREW ALL TROOPS AND ALL PERSONNEL.

IS THERE ANY WESTERN ASSISTANCE TO THE RESIDENTS THAT COUNTRY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS?

>> THERE IS SOME.

BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT ASSISTANCE FROM THE WEST.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE PLANS IN THE WORKS NOW TO ATTEMPT TO EXPAND THAT ASSISTANCE.

ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.

BUT HOW EFFECTIVE THOSE PROGRAMS ARE AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY WILL BE WELCOMED BY THE REGIME IS YET TO BE SEEN.

>> LISA WILSON GIVE US A SENSE HOW MANY REFUGEES ARRIVED IN ILLINOIS AND WHAT THEIR LIFE HAS BEEN LIKE?

>> IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS WE HAVE RECEIVED 70 AFGHAN VAC IS.

THE NUMBER IS HIGHER IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

LOCALLY WE'VE RECEIVED A GOOD NUMBER OF REFUGEES IN CHAMPAIGN.

>> AND HOW HAVE THEY ADAPTED TO LIFE?

>> THEY ARE ADJUSTING.

IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT ADJUSTMENT WE WERE FACED WITH THE STRUGGLE OF TRYING TO FIND THEM HOUSING.

ANOTHER STRUGGLE WAS GETTING DOCUMENTATION SO THAT THEY COULD WORK AND WE HAD TO FIND JOBS AND TRY AND GIVE THEM ENOUGH DIRECT ASSISTANCE IN TERMS OF RENTAL, UTILITY AND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THEM SURVIVE.

>> AND ABU, HOW ABOUT HERE IN THE CHICAGO AREA HOW MANY REFUGEES ARRIVED HERE AND WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO ADAPTING TO THEIR LIFE HERE?

>> WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST AGENCIES IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA FOR SURE.

WE HAVE 400 AFGHAN FAMILIES.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WE ARE FACING WITH THE REFUGEES IS THAT MANY OF THEM DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.

THEY HAVE BASICALLY LITTLE TO NO EDUCATION.

SOME ARE INDIGENOUS WITH THE LITERACY.

SO THESE ARE THE CALF VATS THEY ARE -- CALFIATES THEY ARE FACING.

THEY HAD WAR AND 20 WAS A WAR ON TISH RECORD.

AND WE HAVE GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED NOTHING BUT WAR AND AS THEY ARE COMING TO SOCIETY MANY ARE HAVING PTSD AND THIS IS LEADING TO PEOPLE WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD.

AND THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED IN AFGHANISTAN.

THERE IS THAT ASSIMILATION DIFFICULTIES THAT MANY OF THESE CLIENTS ARE FACING.

>> AUSTIN WE TALKED ABOUT THE REFUGEES THAT ARRIVED HERE.

HOW MANY AFGHAN ALLIES, INTERPRETERS REMAIN IN AFGHANISTAN AND HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN TO GET ASYLUM OR REFUGEE STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THEM?

>> WELL, IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER THAT REMAINS.

BUT ONE THING THAT WAS CLEAR AS THE DRAWDOWN WAS COMING TO A CLOSE, AND THE TALIBAN WERE SURGING TOWARDS KABUL IS THE WAIT LIST WAS MORE THAN A YEARLONG INDIVIDUALS WERE WAITING PAST TWO YEARS IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THEIR PAPERWORK ALL OF WHICH WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT STATUTES.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE KEY THINGS TO TAKEAWAY IS IT'S STILL DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW MANY HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

A NUMBER HAVE GIVEN UP ON THE PROCESS.

AND I THINK THAT THIS REALLY IS A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR THE UNITED STATES AND FUTURE CONFLICTS AS IT ATTEMPTS TO REBUILD THE REPUTATION FOR PROTECTING LOCAL ASSETS DURING A CONFLICT AND AFTER THEY HAVE ENDED MILITARY OPERATIONS.

>> ABREU BEING AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY WHO ARE THE LEGAL ROUTES TO CHALLENGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS AND GET MORE ALLIES INTO THE UNITED STATES?

>> UNFORTUNATELY FOR IMMIGRATION MATTERS, ONE END, WE WANT FAMILY REUNIFICATION, ON THE OTHER HAND WE DON'T WANT IMMIGRANTS AT THE SAME TIME.

IT IS A DICHOTOMY IN THE IMMIGRATION LAW.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING HAS BEEN MORE TRUE THAN WHEN IT CAME TO DEALING WITH THE AFGHANS.

THEY HAVE THE ADJUSTMENT ACT, THAT IS RIGHT NOW HAS PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND I BELIEVE AND THE SENATE WHATNOT.

BUT PRACTICALITY WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT IS GOING TO COME ABOUT.

RIGHT NOW THE ONLY FORMER RELIEF BECAUSE THE ONE YEAR DEADLINE IS APPROACHING, FOR MANY OF THESE EVACUEES IN THE UNITED STATES IS ASYLUM.

THERE ARE CERTAIN CONDITIONS, WELL FOUNDED FEAR ELEMENT ON RACE, RELIGION, NATIONALITY OR POLITICAL OPINION, BUT IF YOU DON'T MEET THOSE CHARACTERISTICS I DON'T KNOW WHAT GROUNDS YOU WILL FILE FOR ASYLUM.

THERE ARE CERTAIN ELEMENTS AND FORMS OF RELIEF THAT WE CAN REALLY APPLY FOR.

LIKE I SAID, UNTIL THE AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT DOESN'T REALLY GET IMPLEMENTED, THERE'S NOT MUCH OTHER THAN BEING ON THE HUMANITARIAN ROLES THEY ARE ON.

>> LISA WILSON, I INTERVIEWED A FEW RECENT AFGHAN STUDENT ARRIVALS NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS HAS A PROGRAM WHERE THEY ARE OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS AND THEY TOLD ME WAS THEIR WORRY ABOUT THEIR FAMILY BACK HOME.

ONE OF THE FAMILIES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS TELL YOU ABOUT THE SITUATION THAT THEIR LOVED ONES ARE FACING BACK HOME?

>> THEY ARE VERY WORRIED, VERY CONCERNED.

WE HAVE ONE CLIENT IN PARTICULAR WHO HAS SERIOUS HEALTH CHALLENGES AND HE IS DESPERATE TO HAVE HIM FAMILY JOIN HIM AND I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR HIM.

WE KNOW OF NO WAY TO REUNIFY THE FAMILIES.

WE CAN SUBMIT NAMES AND DOCKTATION BUT HOW WE FIND OUT HOW THEY WILL GET OUT OF AFGHAN INTO THE UNITED STATES I DON'T HAVE MUCH GOOD NEWS FOR OUR CLIENTS.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WITHDRAWAL ONE YEAR LATER AND HOW OFF GUARD THE U.S. WAS CAUGHT WITH WHICH THE SPEED TALIBAN TOOK KABUL AND RETAINED POWER, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHY?

>> I THINK THAT WE'VE LEARNED A LOT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LESSONS LEFT TO BE LEARNED.

ONE IS THAT THE U.S. ATTEMPT TO GET A RELATIVELY SWIFT VICTORY BEFORE THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THE FORM OF A SETTLED PEACE DEAL WITH THE TALIBAN SEEDED TOO MUCH GROUND.

IT UNDERMINED THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TRUMP PORTFOLIO POMPEO DEAL THAT LEFT OUT THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT?

>> EXACTLY.

IT LEFT OUT THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT IN FAVOR OF A DEAL THAT WOULD INCLUDE TWO PARTNERS.

AND THIS CEDED GROUND IN THE END DID EXACTLY WHAT THE TALIBAN HAD INTENDED WHICH IS TO UNDERMINED THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ELECTED GOVERNMENT.

WHEN THE DEAL BROKE, SECRET WAS OUT AND IT UNDERMINED PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

IT UNDERMINED ANY CONFIDENCE THAT CIVILES HAD IN THE -- CIVILIANS HAD IN THE STAYING POWER OF U.S. SUPPORT OF ANYTHING SHORT OF A POWER SHARING GOVERNMENT AND IN THE END CREATED THE FERTILE GROUND FOR MOBILIZATION OF THE CIVILIANS WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE EDGE TO SUPPORT THE TALIBAN AS THEY SWIFTLY TOOK OVER KABUL.

>> A LOT TO THINK ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER.

A LOT OF STRIFE FACING THOSE IN AFGHANISTAN LOOKING TO COME TO THE U.S.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY 10 YEARS AGO TODAY THE FIRST APPLICATIONS FOR THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS PROGRAM OR KNOWN AS DACA WERE ACCEPTED.

IT GRANTED TEMPORARY RESIDENCY STATUS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS BROUGHT HERE AS CHILDREN.

BUT DACA HAS NOT ERASED THEIR WORRIES.

THE PROGRAM NARROWLY SURVIVED LEGAL CHALLENGES WITH THE LATEST CASE PUTTING THE PROGRAM IN JEOPARDY ONCE AGAIN.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT ALL THIS ARE I WERE I WERE IRMA WILSON, FRED TSAO WITH THE COALITION FOR IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE RIGHTS AND DULCE DOMINGUEZ DACA RECIPIENT AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATE.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

FRED TSAO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO GET RID OF DACA AND THE SUPREME COURT OVERRULED THAT AND KEPT THE PROGRAM AROUND BUT THERE HAVE BEEN LEGAL CHALLENGES SINCE.

REMIND US OF THE LEGAL STATUS OF DACA AS WE SPEAK NOW?

>> THANK YOU.

THE DACA PROGRAM IS STILL ALIVE.

ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAD DACA THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR DACA AND TO RENEW THEIR DACA.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOUGH, NO NEW DACA APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED OR PROCESSED.

AND THIS IS AS A RESULT OF A COURT RULING IN TEXAS LAST YEAR IN A CASE BROUGHT BY TEXAS AND SEVERAL OTHER STATES, THAT CHALLENGES WHETHER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ACTED PROPERLY TO CREATE THE PROGRAM TO BEGIN WITH.

AND THAT CASE IS NOW WINDING THROUGH THE COURTS.

IN THE MEANTIME, THOUGH, DACA IS STILL THERE.

BUT ONLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAD IT.

>> I WERE I WERE I WERE I WERE HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES THIS I AM ACT THE NOTION THAT NEW APPLICANTS CANNOT APPLY.

>> .

>> HERE IN ILLINOIS WE HAVE 40,000 CURRENT DACA RECIPIENTS.

AND 400,000 RENEWAL DACA APPLICANTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THIS IS AFFECTING EVERYONE IN EVERY STATE.

>> AND WHAT IS YOUR LEGAL ADVICE TO THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO GAIN DACA STATUS?

CAN'T RIGHT NOW?

BECAUSE THIS IS TANGLED UP IN THE COURTS?

>> AT THIS POINT, HOLD OFF.

BUT GET A LEGAL SCREENING TO SEE IF THERE'S OTHER REMEDIES AND IMMIGRATION BENEFITS THAT YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR AND MAKE SURE YOUR PAPERWORK IS IN ORDER IN CASE SOMETHING COMES UP SOON.

>> DULCE DOMINGUEZ, YOU ARE A DACA RECIPIENT AND ADVOCATE WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE OVER THE LAST YEAR YEARS?

>> IT'S BEEN A ROLLER COAST ARE OF EMOTIONS MY FAMILY ARRIVED WHEN I WAS TWO YEARS OLD.

AND THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I'VE HAD A LOT OF INSTABILITY, INCONSISTENCY AND HARD TO PLAN A LIFE.

WHILE I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DACA HAS BEEN A LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITY IT'S ALSO TIME TO REFLECT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS HOW THIS POLICY SHOULD BE SEEN AS A FAILURE OF OUR GOVERNMENT SYSTEM.

>> AND YOU ARE SAYING TWO-YEAR INCREMENTS BUT ONE OF THE LATEST COURT RULINGS DO DACA RECIPIENTS NEED TO REAPPLY EVERY YEAR NOW?

>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF EVERY YEAR.

IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE EVERY YEAR-AND-A-HALF YOU ARE PLANNING OUT EVEN THOUGH IT'S TWO YEARS.

LIKE A YEAR AND SIX MONTHS I'M THINKING ABOUT HAVING TO GET THAT MONEY AND PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE I GET MY PAPERWORK BACK IN TIME TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICY.

>> FRED, TELL US ABOUT THE REAPPLICATION PROCESS AND HOW STRESSFUL THAT CAN BE?

>> WELL, EVERY SINGLE APPLICATION YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH $495.

IF THERE'S UPDATED INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO COMPILE THAT.

BY NOW, MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DACA HAVE GOTTEN PRETTY GOOD AT IT.

THAT SAID, IT'S STILL A COST.

AND PEOPLE WITH DACA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT OK, HOW AM I GOING TO SET ASIDE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS ADDITIONAL FEE.

EVERY TWO YEARS.

>> IRMA SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN 10 YEARS AGO HOW MANY IN THE CHICAGO AREA HAS IT IMPACTED AND WHAT HAS IT MEANT FOR THEIR LIVES?

>> IT IS ABOUT 42,000 IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND IT CHANGES YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

I AM A FORMER DACA RECIPIENT AND IT OPENS EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.

HAVING LEGAL STATUS FOR THAT TWO YEARS MEANS BEING ABLE TO WORK LEGALLY, BEING ABLE TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND BEING ABLE TO NOT LIVE IN FEAR ANYMORE.

IT IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH, IT IMPACTS YOUR FINANCIAL STATUS, YOUR WHOLE FAMILY'S LIFE.

>> DULCE DOMINGUEZ ASIDE FROM THE STRESS OF REAREAPPLYING HAVE YOU FELT OPPORTUNITIES OPEN UP TO YOU OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS?

>> YES, WITH OUT DACA I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE AN EDUCATION.

IT CAME AT A CRITICAL MOMENT I WAS 18 GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL LOOKING FOR THE NEXT STEPS.

THANKS TO DACA I WAS ABLE TO WORK MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE FIND MAY WAY INTO A SOCIAL WORK CAN REAR AND FIND JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROVIDED HEALTHCARE AND A DECENT LIVING.

WITHOUT HAVING THIS WORK PERMIT I WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANY OF THAT.

>> AND FRED TSAO, OBVIOUSLY A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION WOULD BE CONGRESS PASSING A LAW SENATOR DURBIN HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE DREAM ACT PASSED.

HE SAID ON THIS SHOW THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IT CALLED UP FOR A VOTE SOMETIME SOON AGAIN.

HOW REALISTIC ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION?

>> WELL, SENATOR DURBIN HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE DREAM ACT FOR 21 YEARS.

AND WE DID COME CLOSE BACK IN 2010.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE BILL FELL A FEW VOTES SHORT.

CONGRESS DID CONSIDER A VERSION OF THE DREAM ACT LAST FALL AS PART OF BUILD BACK BETTER AND THAT DID NOT STICK.

THERE IS MASSIVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

AMONG BOTH PARTIES FOR SOME VERSION OF THE DREAM ACT.

YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE A NO-BRAINER IT IS A MATTER OF POLITICAL WILL.

>> AND IRMAN WILSON WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF DACA?

>> IT'S UNDECIDED.

THE COURTS, THEY ARE UNDECIDED COURT DECISIONS OUT THERE.

SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RENEW THEIR DACA STATUS AND HOLD OFF FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

>> DULCE DOMINGUEZ SHORT OF LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION, WILL DACA RECIPIENTS LIVE WITH THIS ANXIETY THAT THIS PROTECTED STATUS MIGHT GO AWAY?

>> YES.

I THINK ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST SIX TO SEVEN YEARS WE HAVE LIVED IN UNCERTAINTY AND MANY OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT WE CAN PLAN A LONG-TERM VISION FOR OUR FUTURE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

10 YEARS ON SINCE THE FIRST DACA RECIPIENT APPLIED AND RECEIVED THEIR TEMPORARY STATUS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND A LOT TO IRON OUT STILL.

THANKS TO IRMA WILSON, FRED TSAO AND DULCE DOMINGUEZ.

THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, ACCUSATIONS OF A RACIALLY HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AT A CHICAGO AREA WAREHOUSE.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> LATE LAST MONTH, 26 CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES OF A JOLIET AMAZON WAREHOUSE ACCUSED OF COMPANY OF ALLOWING A RACIALLY HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND HAVE BEEN JOINED BY A DOZEN MORE WORKERS WHO FILED CHARGES WITH THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.

IT OUTLINES RACIST DEATH THREATS, THREATS THAT CAME DAYS AFTER THE MASS SHOOTING IN BUFFALO THAT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE TARGETED BLACK RESIDENTS.

AS NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS SOME EMPLOYEES ALSO SAY THEY FACED RETALIATION FROM AMAZON SINCE SPEAKING OUT.

>> WE PUT IN A PREDICAMENT WHERE WE ARE IN FEAR EVERYDAY FOLLOWING THE SITUATION.

>> ON MAY 25, EMPLOYEES AT AMAZON'S DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE IN JOLIET FOUND GRAFFITI THREATENING OF LIVES OF BLACK WORKERS.

>> WE WERE TOLD THAT WE COULD GO HOME.

AND WITH NO PAY OR WE COULD STAY AND KEEP WORKING.

>> WORKERS SAY AMAZON DID NOT SEND A MESSAGE TO EMPLOYEES UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER THE THREAT WAS FOUND.

AND TORI DAVIS SAYS SHE WAS FIRED AFTER TALKING WITH COWORKERS AND DEMANDING ACTION FROM MANAGEMENT.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY UNTIL THEY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

>> ATTORNEY TAMRA HOLDER REPRESENTS THE WORKERS AND THEIR COMPLAINT TO THE EEOC AND SAID THE GRAFFITI WAS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF DISCRIMINATION.

>> WEARING CONFIDENCE OUTFITS IN THE WORKPLACE.

COMPLAINTS FROM WORKERS ABOUT OTHER WORKERS USING THE "N" WORD WITH IMPUNITY.

>> AMAZON SPOKES PERSON TELLS WTTW NEWS AMAZON WORKS HARD TO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES FROM ANY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION AND TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL SAFE.

HATE OR RACE IISM HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY AND ARE NOT TOLERATED BY AMAZON.

>> HOLDER SAYS AMAZON HAS THREATENED AND FIRED WORKERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT SAYING THEY VIE LATED A CONFIDENCALITY VIOLATED A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.

>> THIS CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT WAS NOT MADE FOR LOW WAGE WAREHOUSE WORKERS.

BUT I BELIEVE IT IS A TOOL TO SILENCE THOSE WORKERS.

>> NICOLE PORTER IS A PROFESSOR AND SAYS CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS ARE A WAY FOR COMPANIES TO PROTECT THEIR TRADE SECRETS FROM COMPETITORS.

>> PROCEDURES THAT TURNED OUT TO BE EFFECTIVE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

LOTS OF EMPLOYERS DO HAVE EMPLOYEES SIGN CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS THAT IS QUITE COMMON.

>> BUT PORTER SAYS THEY CAN'T BE USED TO STOP EMPLOYEES FROM SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THEIR WORKPLACE.

AS FOR THE EEOC CHARGES, THE PLAINTIFFS HAVE TO PROVE THE RACISM WAS PERVASIVE AND UNWELCOME AND THE COMPANY FAILED TO ACT.

>> THE EEOC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE AND SOMETHING I THINK LIKE THIS WHERE IT'S SEVERAL PLAINTIFFS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT THE EEOC WILL TAKE THAT MORE SERIOUSLY THAN THEY MIGHT ONE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE BRINGING A CLAIM.

>> THE EEOC MIGHT FILE A LAWSUIT, CALL FOR MEDIATION OR LEAVE IT TO THE PLAINTIFFS TO SUE.

AS FOR THE THREATS WORKERS SAY THEY'VE FACED FOR SEEK OUT.

THE EMPLOYER CANNOT RETALIATE BECAUSE THEY FILED A CHARGE.

NOW, PROVING THAT CAUSATION PIECE IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT.

>> WORKERS WANT TO DO THIS WORK.

THEY WANT A GOOD PAYING JOB.

THEY WANT TO GET HOME SAFELY AT THE END OF THE DAY BUT WE NEED TO SEE ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE COMPANIES.

>> WAREHOUSE WORKERS FOR JUSTICE IS A NONPROFIT IN WILL COUNTY AFTER THE DEATH THREATS THEY WORKED WITH AMAZON EMPLOYEES TO PUBLICIZE THE INCIDENT AND BRING THEIR CONCERNS TO MANAGEMENT.

>> TALKING TO MORE WORKERS JUST DISCOVERING A HOST OF HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES.

WORKERS HAD CONCERNS ABOUT AND WHAT WORKERS FELT WAS INADEQUATE PAY.

>> GIVEN THE EXPLOSION OF AMAZON WAREHOUSES IN RECENT YEARS, MARCOS CENICEROS SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION HAS A LOT TO TACKLE.

>> WAREHOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER IN THE REGION.

AND WHAT WE SEE IS THAT WHAT DOES NOT GET BETTER IS ARE THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE WORKERS THEY ARE GETTING WORSE.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO THE WORK.

>> AS FOR THE EEOC CHARGES TAMRA HOLDER SAYS... >> WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THAT AMAZON LISTENS TO US AND FIXES THIS WORK ENVIRONMENT.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> AND AMAZON SPOKESPERSON DID NOT RESPOND TO FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKER CLAIMS OF RETALIATION OR THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.

PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", A PROPOSAL FOR THE FIRST MULTIHOME DEVELOPMENT IN CHICAGO MADE FROM SHIPPING CONTAINERS AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> VENDORS AT DISCOUNT MALL IN LITTLE VILLAGE SAY THE SHOPPING CENTER'S CONTRACT EXPIRES SOON AND THEY DON'T KNOW THE DEVELOPER'S PLANS.

>> POLIO IRRADICATION WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH VICTORIES.

SO WHY ARE WE SEEING A REEMERGENCE.

>> AND INDIANA A.

ONLY LATINO STATE HOUSE MEMBER.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN THE TRIAL OF CHICAGO BORN R. KELLY THIS IS R. KELLY'S SECOND TRIAL THAT HE FILMED SEX ACTS WITH UNDERAGED GIRLS AND CONSPIRED TO FIX HIS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY TRIAL IN 2008.

THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY FAILED TO CONVINCE A JUDGE THAT ANY JUROR WHO HAD SEEN THE SURVIVING R. KELLY DOCUMENTARY SHOULD BE EXCLUDED.

KELLY WAS SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON IN THE FEDERAL CASE IN NEW YORK AND IS IN FEDERAL CUSTODY.

HE IS APPEALING THAT RULING.

THE DOZEN JURORS AND IKE ALTERNATES ARE EXPECTED TO BE SEATED BY TOMORROW.

THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT A MONTH.

>> FORMER PAT QUINN DEMANDS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT RELEASE A WATCHDOG REPORT OF THE 2020 LITTLE VILLAGE SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION.

DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO A FORMER COAL PLANT'S SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION HAVE NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC.

CITY OFFICIALS SAID BY LAW THEY CANNOT RELEASE THE REPORT BUT PAT QUINN WHO IS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR MAYOR SAYS THE CITY SHOULD BRING BACK THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

ACCORDING TO A SUMMARY OF THE REPORT RELEASED IN JANUARY, NO CITY EMPLOYEES WERE FIRED FOR ALLOWING THE ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER BUT ONE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL RECEIVED A WRITTEN REPRIMAND.

>> HARD TO BELIEVE BUT IT'S ALREADY BACK TO SCHOOL FOR SOME ILLINOIS KIDS.

CLASSES BEGIN TUESDAY FOR STUDENTS IN THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.

U46 INCLUDES 11 NORTHWESTERN SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES.

MORE THAN 37,000 STUDENTS WILL BE BACK AS SCHOOLS STATE-WIDE STRUGGLE WITH A TEACH ARE AND BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SET TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR NEXT WEEK.

>> AND THE CHICAGO SKY SECURED HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS.

THE DEFENDING WNBA CHAMPIONS BEAT THE MERCURY YESTERDAY FOR 26TH WIN.

THE NUMBER TWO SEED SKY WILL FACE THE NUMBER SEVEN SEED NEW YORK LIBERTY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT WINTRUST ARENA.

THE FIRST TWO GAMES WILL BE AT HOME AND GAME THREE WILL BE IN NEW YORK IF NECESSARY IN THE BEST OF THREE SERIES.

CHICAGO CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTHS FOR FOUR SEASONS UNDER COACH JAMES WADE.

BACK TO AMANDA FOR TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> THE MAGNIFICENT MILE GETS HIT WITH A COUPLE LOSSES BUT THERE IS A GLIMMER AND A SCHIMPFER OF HOPE FOR THE SUPREME SHOPPING STRIP AND A 0 PROPOSAL FOR CHICAGO'S DEVELOPMENT OF HOMES MADE FROM SHIPPING CONTAINERS AND A NEW ICE CREAM BAR THAT HOPES TO TAKE YOU TO THE BAR.

HERE IS ANN DWYER.

CRAIN'S IS REPORTING THAT THE MAG MILE LOSING TWO STORES BUT GAINING A NEW ONE.

WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE MAG MILE IS IT STILL MAGNIFICENT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S STILL MAGNIFICENT.

I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A MIX OF GOOD AND BAD NEWS HERE UNFORTUNATELY.

SA RAF SKY IS ON THE GOOD SIDE THEY ARE RETURNING TO THE MAG MILE AFTER CLOSING TWO STORES THERE IN PAST YEARS.

THEY ARE GOING INTO 630 NORTH MICHIGAN IN A SPACE OCCUPIED BY ROLEX.

AND NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET TIMBERLAND CLOSED THEIR DOORS AT 625 NORTH MICHIGAN.

AND I GUESS SORT OF IN-BETWEEN THOSE TWO PIECES OF GOOD AND BAD NEWS, A MEDIUM SIZED BIT OF NEWS, CARTIER IS LEAVING A SPACE NEXT DOOR TO THAT OLD ROLEX SPACE AT 630 NORTH MICHIGAN.

THEY ARE NOT LEAVING ALTOGETHER THEY ARE MOVING TO RUSSIAN OAKS.

>> MOVING TO OAK STREET BUT WE HAVE SCHIMPFER.

AND THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO BUILD THE FIRST CHICAGO AREA OF HOMES MADE FROM SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

TELL US ABOUT THIS AND WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF BUILDING WITH A SHIPPING CONTAINER?

>> THIS IS A PITCH THAT IS INTERESTING THAT HAS BEEN PUT UP DOWN IN GRAND CROSSING ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT IT IS THE CRITICAL MASS THEY ARE PROPOSING A FIRST PHASE OF A DOZEN OF THESE HOUSES CONSTRUCTED FROM SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

AND WITH THE POSSIBLE SECOND PHASE OF EIGHT.

WHAT IS NOTEWORTHY ABOUT THAT IS WE'VE SEEN CONSTRUCTION FROM SHIPPING CONTAINERS DOTTED AROUND THE CITY AND THE SUBURBS FOR YEARS NOW.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST BIG DEVELOPMENT THAT SORT OF DESIGNED AROUND THIS CONSTRUCTION.

EACH HOUSE WILL BE BUILT OUT OF FIVE SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

THEY WILL HAVE THREE TO FOUR BEDROOMS, 1800 SQUARE FEET.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE STARTING AT $300 K WHICH IS WHAT THE HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE GONE FOR.

THE VICE-PRESIDENTERS SAY THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THESE SHIPPING CONTAINER HOUSES ARE EASIER TO BUILD QUICKLY AND CHEAPER TO BUILD.

BUT THEY ARE DURABLE AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEM LOVE THEM THEY SELL LIKE HOT CAKES IN THE SUBURBS AND IN THE CITY.

>> WE'LL SEE.

JUST IN TIME FOR THE END OF SUMMER THERE IS A NEW ICE CREAM TREAT FOR ADULTS ONLY.

TELL US ABOUT THE ICE CREAM DIVE BARS?

>> YES.

TREAT I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT ON THE SIDE OF IT AS A TREAT.

THEY ARE HOPING THAT ICE CREAM INFUSED WITH MILLER HIGH LIFE BEER AT 5% ALCOHOL AND CRUMBLED PEANUTS AND CARAMEL TO RESEMBLE THAT STICKY FEELING OF A DIVE BAR.

AND A HINT OF TOBACCO SMOKE FLAVORING WILL SOMEHOW GET PEOPLE TO WANT TO INDULGE IN THAT FLAVOR OF A DIVE BAR.

I'M NOT SURE BUT MILLEY HIGH LIFE IS WORKING ON IT AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH A COMPANY AND YOU CAN BUY THEM RIGHT NOW ON-LINE.

>> THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT CHOCOLATE CAN DO WRONG AND MY PARENTS GOT ME MUSTARD ICE CREAM AND IT WAS A PASS.

MAYBE I WILL TRY ONE AND LET YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT IS A STORY WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

VENDORS ANXIOUSLY WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE COMPANY THAT BOUGHT THE DISCOUNT MALL IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

MERCHANTS SAY THE CONTRACT IS SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT A RENEWAL IN OVER A YEAR.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" JOANNA HERNANDEZ SPOKE WITH SOME VENDORS WHO FEAR THEY ARE LOSING THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL INSIDE THE DISCOUNT MALL ON 26TH STREET IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

CUSTOMERS NAVIGATING THROUGH THE AISLES AS VENDORS WORK TO GET A SALE BUT THE MERCHANTS DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY WILL HAVE TO SPACE TO RUN THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> THEY GIVE US TIME.

GIVE YOU ONE MONTH, ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS.

WHATEVER, BE HONEST WITH US.

>> SAFRAZ SATT HAS BEEN WORKING AT THE MALL SINCE 1989 BUT THAT CAN END BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

THE CONTRACT BETWEEN NOVAK CONSTRUCTION AND THE TENANT IS SET TO EXPIRE AUGUST 31.

>> RIGHT NOW IT'S FRUSTRATING WE DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO OPEN TOMORROW OR NOT.

ARE THEY GOING TO TELL US THEY GIVE US ONE WEEK TO GET OUT FROM HERE.

>> I'VE TRIED TO COMMUNICATE BUT THE SPOKESPERSON TELLS ME THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME OR THEY DON'T RESPOND AT ALL.

DOLLARS >> VERONICA GUTIERREZ AND HER HUSBAND HAVE BEEN RUNNING A SHOP FOR 20 YEARS.

SHE SAYS THEY'VE RAISED THEIR KIDS IN THE MALL.

>> DANIEL REYNOSO IS A RESIDENT AND A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WITH LUCHA POR LA VILLITA.

HE SAYS HE IS NOT SURPRISED THE DEVELOPER HAS THAT SAID A WORD AND NOW WORRIES WHAT LOSING THE MALL WOULD MEAN FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> HERE IN LITTLE VILLAGE YOU HAVE THE DISCOUNT MALL AND THE PROPOSAL FOR THE BIKE PATH AND THE ACQUISITION OF TARGET WITH AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CORRIDOR AND 26TH STREET.

THEY ARE ALL GREAT BUT THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE PROTECTIONS TO KEEP THE PEOPLE HERE.

UNLESS THEY PROVIDE RENT PROTECTION, PROPERTY TAX PROTECTION YOU WILL NOT BE HERE.

>> OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE INTERVIEWED MERCHANTS ECHOED CONCERNS ABOUT SPEAKING UP IN FEAR OF LOSING THEIR BOOTHS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED IS THAT WHEN WE SPEAK UP, WE'RE TOLD WE'LL TALK TO YOUR ALDERMAN.

FOLLOW THE AVENUES OF COMMUNICATION THAT EXIST.

BUT IF THE POWERS THAT BE WHETHER THEY ARE POLITICAL OR COMMUNITY POWERS ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE CORPORATION AND YOU ARE TRYING TO OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THEM AND THEY ARE JUST NOT LISTENING WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> GEORGE CARDENAS REPRESENTS THE AREA WHERE THE MALL IS LOCATED.

HE SAYS THE LAST HE HEARD NOVAK WAS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SUBLEASERS AND TELLS WTTW NEWS IT IS A PRIVATE TRANSACTION I URGE ALL SIDES TO SIT DOWN AND WORK IT OUT.

WITH THE WARD MAPS REDRAWN, THE LITTLE VILLAGE PLAZA WILL BE IN ALDERMAN LOPEZ'S WARD.

HE HAS PLANS TO VISIT THE PLAZA.

>> I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING TO LEARN WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.

FOR US, THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE LOCAL VENDORS ARE IMPORTANT.

ALDERMAN CARDENAS SAID THAT HE WELCOMES A GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION.

HE HAS NOT PROVIDED AN UPDATE WHERE THE THINGS ARE AT BUT I MADE A FORMAL REQUEST AND MY INTENTION IS TO MEET WITH THE VENDORS.

>> SEVERAL VENDORS UNDERSTAND THE DISCOUNT MALL IS IN NEED OF MAJOR RENOVATIONS AND ARE HOPING NOVAK DECIDES TO KEEP OUT BIG BOX STORES.

>> THIS CULTURAL PLACE THIS HUB WILL BE GONE BUT I WORRY ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE FOLKS HERE ALL THE VENDORS AND THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THIS PLACE PROVIDES ONCE IT'S GONE.

IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT A LOT OF THE VENDORS AREN'T WILLING TO SPEAK UP AND AREN'T WILLING TO SHARE BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF REPRISALS FROM THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THE DISCOUNT MALL AND AFRAID THAT IF THEY SPEAK UP TOO MUCH OR IF THEY CAUSE TOO MUCH OF A WAVE, THAT THEIR BOOTH MIGHT BE CLOSED.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> ALDERMAN BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ SELL US US HE IS WORKING ONSETTING UP A CITY MEETING SOON.

BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> PARALYSIS, DEATH, THE WORD POLIO ONCE STRUCK FEAR IN THE HEARTS OF PARENTS ACROSS THE NATION.

THE POLIO VACCINE ELIMINATED THE DISEASE AND IS CONSIDERED ONE OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S GREATEST VICTORIES.

BUT HEALTH OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK FOUND THE FIRST CASE OF POLIO IN THE U.S.

IN NEARLY A DECADE.

AND IT'S BEEN LOCATED IN SEWAGE IN NEW YORK CITY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

THERE'S BEEN AN INTERNATIONAL RESURGENCE.

JERUSALEM SUFFERED A POLIO OUTBREAK AND THE VIRUS IS SHOWING UP IN LONDON WASTEWATER.

COVID AND MONKEYPOX CAUSING CONCERNS SHOULD WE NOW BE WORRIED ABOUT A THIRD VIRAL OUTBREAK?

JOINING US IS Dr. TINA TAN, PROFESSESSER OF PEDIATRICS AND DISEASES.

Dr. TAN IS AFFILIATED WITH LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE RESURGENCE REMIND US THE IMPACT POLIO HAD ON AMERICAN LIFE BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH SCENERY ESPECIALLY WITH AMERICAN CHILDREN?

>> YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO POLIO REALLY IS AN ANCIENT DISEASES' BEEN AROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

BUT YOU KNOW, PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST HISTORIC FIGURES WHO HAD POLIO WAS PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WHO BASICALLY, WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POLIO IN 1921 AND WAS PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

IN THE 1950s, WE REALLY DID HAVE A MAJOR RESURGENCE OF POLIO AND BETWEEN 1950-1953 THERE WERE ALMOST 120,000 CASES OF POLIO WITH 6600 DEATHS THAT OCCURRED.

SO WE KNOW THAT DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, A LOT OF PARENTS WERE REALLY FRIGHTENED TO LET THEIR CHILDREN OUT TO PLAY DURING THE SUMMERTIME WHEN POLIO TENDED TO PEAK.

>> FDR A MAJOR PART OF HIS STORY AND LEGEND THAT HE WAS PARALYZED FROM POLIO LATER IN LIFE AND THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE PRESIDENCY.

SO THE JONAS SALK VACCINE IS A MEDICAL MIRACLE.

WHAT IS CAUSING THE RESURGENCE RIGHT NOW?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SEEING THE RESURGENCE PRIMARY IN THOSE POPULATIONS THAT ARE EITHER UNIMMUNIZED OR UNCOMPLETELY IMMUNIZED.

AND IN INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE IMMUNOCOMPROMISING CONDITIONS.

>> AND IT'S BEEN FOUND IN WASTEWATER IN NEW YORK CITY AND LONDON.

DO YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S LIMITED TO THOSE MUNICIPALITIES?

OR ARE THERE PLACES ELSEWHERE AROUND THE WORLD LIKE CHICAGO TESTING WASTEWATER FOR POLIO?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IT IS IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

BUT WE DO NOT ROUTINELY TEST OUR WASTEWATER FOR POLIO.

UNLESS WE ARE SEEING INCREASED CASES OF PARALYSIS WHICH IS AN INDICATION OF A POLIO-LIKE ILLNESS WE DON'T NORMALLY TEST THE WASTEWATER FOR POLIO.

>> AND WHAT PROPORTION OF THOSE WITH POLIO EXPERIENCE THE EXTREME SYMPTOMS UP TO DEATH?

>> LESS THAN 1% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INFECTED WITH THE POLIO VIRUS WILL DEVELOP PARALYTIC POLIO AND THE COMPLICATIONS.

>> IF THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER 1% IS SCARY.

UNLIKE COVID AND MONKEYPOX, PEOPLE CAN BE CONTAGIOUS AND HAVE NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

ACTUALLY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CASES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INFECTED WITH POLIO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW -- I REMEMBER BEING A KID AND GETTING YOUR POLIO VACCINE WAS PART OF GOING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.

DO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY STILL MANDATE THE POLIO VACCINE?

>> THEY DO.

THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO RECEIVE FOR CHILDREN TO RECEIVE POLIO VACCINE BEFORE THEY GO TO SCHOOL.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT FOR YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN PARENTS ANTI-VAXERS AND OPPOSED VACCINES FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

WHAT ARE THE EXEMPTIONS TO KIDS GETTING THE POLIO VACCINE?

>> THE EXEMPTIONS ARE RELIGION ON MEDICAL.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS EVERY MAJOR RECOGNIZED RELIGION RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF VACCINES.

PRIMARILY, THE ONLY, I GUESS, SECTOR OF RELIGION THAT DOES NOT ARE THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS.

BUT ALL THE OTHER MAJOR RECOGNIZED RELIGIONS RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF VACCINES AND THEY ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE THEIR MEMBERS TO BE VACCINATED.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE OUTBREAK IS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY INCREASING NUMBERS OF THOSE THAT ARE UNVACCINATED AGAINST POLIO.

WHY MIGHT THERE BE MORE FOLKS UNVACCINATED RIGHT NOW GIVEN THE MANDATES THAT EXISTED FOR DECADES?

>> MANDATES ARE ONE THING.

BUT PEOPLE REALLY DON'T LIKE OTHER PEOPLE TELLING THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING AND SO WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE VACCINE HESITANT OR OUT RIGHT ANTI-VACCINE.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT COVID PERHAPS PUT OFF SOME FOLKS GOING TO THE DOCTOR GETTING THEIR IMMUNIZATIONS COULD THAT BE A CAUSE AS WELL?

>> THAT HAS BEEN A MAJOR FACTOR THAT MAYBE FUELING SOME OF THE OUTBREAK THAT WE'RE SEEING.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WITH COVID THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN ROUTINE VACCINATION RATES IN EVERY SINGLE AGE GROUP.

TO DATE WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CATCH UP TO WHERE WE WERE PRECOVID.

AND THAT MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO SOME OF THE OUTBREAKS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> AND GIVEN THE OUTBREAKS, AGAIN IN PLACES LIKE NEW YORK, LONDON, JERUSALEM, ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT A NATIONWIDE OR WORLDWIDE OUTBREAK AKIN TO COVID?

>> THE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE ARE VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE.

SO IF WE WERE TO SEE AN OUTBREAK IT WOULD OCCUR IN AN UNVACCINATED POPULATION IN AN UNDER VACCINATED POPULATION, OR IN INDIVIDUALS THAT THE ARE IMMUNE COMPROMISED.

>> AND HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE THE C.D.C.

OR PUBLIC HEALTHS HOW TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW?

>> THEY ARE ADDRESSING IT DOING WASTEWATER TESTING AND ALSO ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUALS TO BE EVACUATED AND UP-TO-DATE ON VACCINES OR GET A VACCINE BOOSTER WITH POLIO VACCINE IF THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE RECEIVED ALL THE VACCINES THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED.

>> AND SO WE KNOW THE VACCINE, AGAIN, THE JONAS SALK VACCINE WHICH HE GIVEAWAY FOR FREE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

BUT THERE IS NO CURE FOR POLIO, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AND JUST REMEMBER THAT THE SALK VACCINE IS THE ORAL POLIO VACCINE WHICH WE DO NOT USE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE USE THE INJECTABLE VACCINE.

>> OK. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

AND ONCE YOU GET IT AS A KID, IS IT EFFECTIVE FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE?

OR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS RECOMMEND BOOSTERS?

>> ONCE YOU GET FOUR DOSES -- I MISSPOKE.

THE INJECTABLE VACCINE IS THE SALK VACCINE THE ONLY VACCINE WE USE IN THIS COUNTRY.

THE ORAL POLIO VACCINE WHICH IS USED IN OTHER COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND CANADA.

AND BASICALLY, IF YOU GET FOUR DOSES OF VACCINE WHICH IS WHAT IS RECOMMENDED AS A CHILD, YOU HAVE A 99% EFFECTIVENESS RATE FOR THOSE VACCINES.

SO IF YOU WERE FULLY VACCINATED YOU SHOULD BE PROTECTED AGAINST POLIO.

>> ONE OF THE GREATEST MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS.

THANKS TO Dr. TINA TAN FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, CALLS FOR MORE LATINO POLITICAL REPRESENTATION.

THAT IS IN A CONVERSATION THAT AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" WITH GUEST HOST AND WBEZ REPORTER MICHAEL PUENTE.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

LATINOS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA REPRESENT 8% OF THE POPULATION.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE INDIANA LATINS CONSTITUTE.

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE NEARLY $100 MILLION TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY YET WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR REPRESENTATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE STATE HAS ONLY A SINGLE LATINO REPRESENTATIVE JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT LATINO REPRESENTATION, ABORTION, AND OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN INDIANA IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE ANDRADE HIS DISTRICT INCLUDES MUNSTER, HIGHLAND, SOUTH HAMLIN AND NORTH GRIFFIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

>> YOU ARE THE ONLY HISPANIC LAWMAKER IN INDIANA'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOW DO YOU THINK LAWMAKERS LIKE YOURSELF CAN PROMOTE MORE PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS AMONG THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE STRONGLY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.

SO I'VE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY BRINGING DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER AND WE ARE STRONG IN NUMBERS.

AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING TO HAVE YOU KNOW, EDUCATION BE A PRIORITY, HEALTHCARE AS WE ALL SAW WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK WITH THE ABORTION BILL.

AND OTHER TOPICS THAT AFFECT OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY BY BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER AND PROMOTING THAT BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT AND A LATINO IN OFFICE IS A GOOD THING.

BECAUSE REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THAT IS RIGHT.

AND YOU BROUGHT UP THE ABORTION VOTE FROM LAST WEEK.

WE HAVE A CLIP OF YOU TALKING ON THE STATE HOUSE FLOOR.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT.

>> I BELIEVE IN A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE HER OWN DECISIONS.

A WOMAN'S CHOICE SHOULD NOT BE DECIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, BUT RATHER BY HER DOCTOR, FAMILY AND FAITH AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HERSELF.

I DO NOT POSSESS THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE ABILITY OR THE EXPERTISE TO MAKE A DECISION ON BEHALF OF 3.4 MILLION WOMEN IN OUR HOOSIER STATE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS...

I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ALL HOOSIERS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY DESERVE.

>> NOW, THAT THEY VOTED TO APPROVE THAT NEW ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.

AND HOW DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS OVERALL INDIANA AND THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, IT STRONGLY GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US.

BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED WE ALL HAVE WOMEN IN OUR LIVES THAT WE LOVE.

WHETHER IT IS OUR SPOUSES OUR MOTHERS, TEACHERS, NURSES OUR NEIGHBORS NIECES AND SO HEALTHCARE IS A BIG PRIORITY IN OUR STATE ESPECIALLY IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

AND OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITIES WE'VE LACKED HAVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO PUT A MORE RESTRICTIONS ON OUR COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF US WORKING FORWARD WE'RE WORKING BACKWARDS AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES DOWN STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS NEXT SESSION COMING UP THAT WE ARE MAKING PROVISIONS, MODIFICATIONS ON THAT BILL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR WOMEN TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR.

WE'RE FIGHTING FOR WOMEN TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, BEING THE ONLY LATINO IN THE STATE HOUSE IS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO NOT ONLY REPRESENT YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY BUT YOU'RE ALMOST LIKE THE LONE VOICE FOR LATINOS IN THE STATE HOUSE.

TELL US ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT THAT CAN BE FOR YOU?

>> IT'S CHALLENGING.

IT'S CHALLENGING BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY PERSON WALKING INTO A ROOM A LOT OF TIMES AND I'M THE ONLY LATINO.

BUT IT'S ALSO AN HONOR.

I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT ELECTED IN 2020, AND I WENT TO THE STATE HOUSE WITH MY DAD AND I GET EMOTIONAL.

MY DAD CAME AS IMMIGRANT TO THIS COUNTRY FROM MEXICO.

AND I REMEMBER HIM WORKING THREE JOBS SOMETIMES SO HE COULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD FOR US TO HAVE A MEAL ON THE TABLE.

NOT ONLY THAT FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE ATTORNEYS IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS SO HE COULD GET HIS LEGAL STATUS.

PEOPLE FORGET HOW MUCH OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES COME HERE TO WORK AND GIVE US A BETTER LIFESTYLE AND THEMSELVES BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD PAYING FOR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS WHICH IS EXPENSIVE NOWADAYS AND EVEN BACK THEN.

AND WE'RE WALKING INTO THE STATE HOUSE AND MY DAD LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID "SON, WE DID IT.

YOU DID IT.

WE HAVE ARRIVED."

AND I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE WORDS AND THAT IS WHY IT IS AN HONOR TO BE THE ONLY LATINO 100% HISPANIC LATINO IN THE STATE HOUSE FIGHTING EVERYDAY FOR OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES.

BECAUSE IT IS AN HONOR.

WE HAVE A RIGHT.

THERE IS REPRESENTATION.

THE WORST PART IS IF THERE WAS ZERO REPRESENTATION.

THAT WOULD BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PART AND I KNOW IT'S CHALLENGING.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND THAT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES BECAUSE I BELIEVE [SPEAKING SPANISH] AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE NEEDS FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY NOT JUST IN YOUR DISTRICT BUT STATE-WIDE?

>> WELL, STATE-WIDE ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I'M ADVOCATING FOR AND WE WILL BRING IT UP THIS SESSION IS FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO DRIVER'S LICENSE OR AN ID TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE.

SO THEY CAN COMMUTE FROM THEIR HOUSE TO THEIR JOBS TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THEIR KIDS AT SCHOOL.

BE ABLE TO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE LIKE EVERYONE OF US WHO SHARE OUR STATE.

I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR THAT AS MY NEIGHBORING STATE ILLINOIS HAS THAT FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR SOME TYPE OF IDENTIFICATION TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE.

AND AS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR ECONOMY GROWS IN OUR STATE, THE LATINO COMMUNITY PLAY A BIG FACTOR IN THAT.

ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH COST OF LIVING RISING AND THE RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR MORE WORKERS TO WORK, THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS VERY STRONG IN OUR WORKFORCE IN OUR STATE.

AND SO I WILL BE CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF IDENTIFICATION TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO DRIVING TO THEIR JOBS, TO PICKING UP THEIR KIDS AT SCHOOL TWO, IS EDUCATION.

INSTATE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT IS IMPORTANT FOR DACA STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR LEGAL CITIZENSHIP BUT THE PROCESS AS WE KNOW TAKES A LONGTIME.

SO ALLOWING THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET INSTATE TUITION REVERSED IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE EDUCATION MATTERS.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LATINO COMMUNITY ARE BEING EDUCATED BECAUSE THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR STATE.

AND AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING HEALTHCARE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST PRIORITIES IN OUR STATE THAT I'M PUSHING FORWARD AND LOOKING FOR NEXT SESSION TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US MIKE ANDRADE ON LATINO VOICES.

>> BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7P.

COVID AND MONKEYPOX ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW HEAD OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

HE JOINS US FOR A ONE-ON-ONE.

>> PLUS PHOTOGRAPHING NATURE AND REFLECTING ON 100 YEARS OF GROWTH AT THE MORTON ARBORETUM.

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

>> I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]