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

VMENT I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WILL SERVE THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS AS YOUR RESOURCE AND AS YOUR GUIDE.

>> 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.

AND WE SPEAK WITH A LOCAL MARINE ABOUT HELPING AN AFGHAN INTERPRETER ESCAPE FROM KABUL ONE YEAR LATER AND THE ONGOING STRUGGLE IN SECURING HIM A VISA.

AND PHOTOGRAPHING NATURE AND CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF NATURE AT THE MORTON ARBORETUM IN DUPAGE COUNTY.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN OFFICIALLY SIGNS THE MASSIVE CLIMATE ENERGY AND HEALTHCARE BILL KNOWN AS THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT INTO LAW.

THE BILL INVESTS $400 BILLION IN CLEAN ENERGY, WHILE RAISING TAXES ON HIGHER INCOME AND ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM CORPORATE TAX AND ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE PRESCRIPTION SON DRUG PRICES FOR MEDICAID EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY $300 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS.

BIDEN SAYS IT IS AN AFFIRMATION THAT WASHINGTON D.C. CAN STILL WORK.

>> TODAY OFFERS FURTHER PROOF THAT THE SOUL OF AMERICA IS VIBRANT, THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IS BRIGHT AND THE PROMISE OF AMERICA IS REAL AND JUST BEGINNING.

>> OPENING STATEMENTS IN THE FEDERAL TRIAL OF CHICAGO BORN R&B SINGER R. KELLY ARE SET FOR TOMORROW AT THE DIRKSEN FEDERAL BUILDING.

A JURY HAS BEEN SEATED WITH EIGHT WOMEN AND FOUR MEN.

HALF ARE WHITE AND HALF ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

HE IS CHARGED WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE ALLEGING HE CONSPIRED TO RIG HIS COOK COUNTY TRIAL FROM YEARS AGO.

GET READY FOR ALL ELECTRIC CTA BUSES.

IT'S RECEIVED A $29 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT SOME OF THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO BUY 10 NEW ALL ELECTRIC BUSES TO GO WITH THE 20 ALREADY PART OF THE FLEET.

THE BIGGEST "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES" AND OF THAT -- CHUNK OF THAT MONEY WILL GO FOR MODERNIZING THE BUS GARAGE OWN CHICAGO AVENUE IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

CRAIN'S IS REPORTING THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT HOUSE PIZZERIA UNO HAVE BEEN SOLD.

BUT DON'T WORRY, THE PIZZA IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

THE OWNER SOLD THEM TO THE PARENT COMPANY OF THE NOW NATIONAL PIZZA CHAIN.

AND THAT GUY USED TON THE C.E.O.

OF THAT COMPANY.

THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS SOLD FOR $2.3 MILLION AND 4.2 MILLION RESPECTIVELY.

>> AND UP NEXT, THE HEAD OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON CHALLENGES FACING ILLINOIS.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> COVID-19, MONKEYPOX, POLIO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES FACINGS THE NEW LEADER OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Dr. SAMEER VOHRA TOOK OVER THE ROLE AS THE 20TH DIRECTOR A POST HELD BY DR. NGOZI EZIKE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

AND Dr. VOHRA JOINS US NOW.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON THIS POSITION.

OF COURSE, THE BIG TASK FOR YOUR FULL-TIME PREDECESSOR DR. NGOZI EZIKE WAS MANAGING THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO COVID.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE AGENCY GOING FORWARD?

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITATION AND JUST HONORED AND HUMBLED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH.

AND THROUGH DR. NGOZI EZIKE ELEADERSHIP, BUT ALSO THE WAY THAT COVID-19 RAISED THE PROFILE IN OUR NEEDS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

IT'S MY PRIORITY TO CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR STATE SAFE FROM EMERGING ILLNESSES LIKE COVID-19 AND MONKEYPOX VIRUS AND REALLY ADDRESS MANY OF THE HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SHOWED US.

AND BUILD A MODERN PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY THAT REALLY ALLOWS US TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S HEALTH NEEDS.

>> AND YOU HAVE A REAL BROAD RAY OF EXPERIENCE.

YOU ARE A PEDIATRICIAN AND YOU HAVE LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY DEGREES.

HOW DO ALL THOSE THINGS INFLUENCE HOW YOU MIGHT APPROACH HEALTH POLICY IN THIS STATE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I JOKE THAT I DO COME OVEREDUCATED.

AND SO A LOT OF SCHOOL THAT TAUGHT ME ABOUT THE INTERSECTION THAT HEALTH IS REALLY MUCH MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENS UNDER THE CONFINES OF A CLINIC OR HOSPITAL.

AND I THINK IT ALSO REALLY TAUGHT ME THAT HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN GENERAL, REALLY SORT OF THINKS THROUGH ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT FIELDS.

AND I THINK I WANT TO BRING THIS INTERDISCIPLINARY LENS OF UNDERSTANDING OUR HEALTH CHALLENGES SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO THINK INNOVATIVELY ABOUT CREATING THE SOLUTIONS THAT REALLY BRING OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKE THEM AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS COVID SHINED A LIGHT ON WAS THE DISCREPANCIES IN HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, COVID HIT THOSE COMMUNITIES HARDER.

WHAT IS YOUR TASK THEN IN TAKING CARE OF THESE COMMUNITIES GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S VERY TRUE.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ABOUT LIKE THE SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT REALLY DETERMINE AN INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH.

AND WE KNOW IN MANY OF OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT THEY NECESSARILY HAVEN'T HAD THE FOUNDATION TO BE HEALTHY.

AND SO I THINK OUR REAL TASK AND THIS IS STUFF THAT WAS STARTED THROUGH DR. NGOZI EZIKE AND HAS BEEN A GREAT PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR, HAS BEEN REALLY THINKING THROUGH HOW WE CAN CREATE COMMUNITY, BUILT AND COMMUNITY LED SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN HEALTH.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO REALLY WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE SOCIAL ISSUES AND REALLY THINK ABOUT A HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES TYPE APPROACH.

>> AND A MAJOR PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS THE OVERTURNING OF ROE VS. WADE AT THIS POINT, ILLINOIS IS A SANCTUARY HERE FOR THOSE SEEKING ABORTIONS.

HOW IS THE STATE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH AN INFLUX OF FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE COMING FROM OTHER STATES TO SEEK AN ABORTION HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PRIORITY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

AND EVEN A PRIORITY THROUGH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF REALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS AND REPRODUCTIVE CARE IS HEALTHCARE.

AND TRYING TO SORT OF CREATE THE POSSIBILITIES ALL AROUND OUR HEALTH SYSTEM TO INSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT COME TO ILLINOIS AND INDIVIDUALS IN ILLINOIS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT REALLY CRITICAL HEALTHCARE SERVICE.

>> ANOTHER BIG ISSUE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS THE APPEARANCE OF THE POLIO VIRUS IN WASTEWATER TESTING IN NEW YORK, LONDON AND JERUSALEM.

SHOULD THERE BE WASTEWATER TESTING DONE IN ILLINOIS?

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT AN OUTBREAK HERE?

>> I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT AN OUTBREAK OF THE POLIO HERE IN ILLINOIS.

AND I THINK I WANT TO SORT OF STRESS TO YOUR AUDIENCE IS THAT THERE IS ONE KIND OF CASE OF POLIO IN A COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK THAT HAD VERY LOW VACCINATION RATES.

WE ARE LUCKY HERE IN ILLINOIS TO HAVE THOSE UNDER IN KINDERGARTEN OR UNDER, 96% VACCINATION RATES OF POLIO.

BUT I THINK IT IS A REMINDER FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED FOR POLIO TO GO OUT AND GET YOUR VACCINE BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING CRITICAL FOR ALL OF US TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH.

>> AND WE TALK ABOUT POLIO AND MONKEYPOX BUT COVID-19 IS STILL VERY MUCH A THING.

THE BA.5 VARIANT RIPPED THROUGH THE COUNTRY.

ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO HAVE MORE UNDER THE RADAR.

ARE TREATMENT AND VACCINE OPTIONS TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WE'RE NOT SEEING THE LEVEL OF HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH THAT WE MIGHT HAVE SEEN IN PREVIOUS SPIKES?

>> I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE.

AND I THINK EVEN WITH THE C.D.C.

GUIDANCE THAT CAME OUT LAST WEEK, IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO HAVE SO MANY AVAILABLE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO LIMIT THE RISK OF COVID-19.

I THINK I WANT TO BE CLEAR TO SAY THAT COVID-19 IS STILL SOMETHING THAT IS SERIOUS WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL FOR AND NO TOOL IS BETTER THAN VACCINATION TO PREVENT THE SEVERE OUTCOMES OF COVID-19.

BUT I THINK IT IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE TOOLS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND FOR PEOPLE TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO ACCESS BOTH THE VACCINE FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A PREVENTION AND THOSE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREATMENTS AND THERAPEUTICS THAT CAN PREVENT THE WORST OUTCOMES OF COVID-19.

>> WOULD YOU SAY IT'S UNLIKELY TO SEE THE SHUTDOWNS OR MITIGATIONS WE SAW DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID-19 GIVEN THOSE THINGS?

>> I THINK, YES, UNLIKELY.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE PREPARED FOR A POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL SURGES OF THIS KIND OF VIRUS.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE AT IDPH ARE PREPARING FOR IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FALL SURGE AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE PUSH OUR VACCINE AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY.

BUT I THINK WE ARE IN A REAL SITUATION WHERE WE GOT TO USE OUR TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO REALLY GO OUT AND REENGAGE AND ENJOY OUR LIVES TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE EVERY MOMENT MATTER.

>> AND PART OF THAT IS KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DONE AWAY WITH VACCINE MANDATES, TESTING MANDATES AND MASK MANDATES SHOULD THEY RETHINK THOSE THINGS GIVEN WHAT YOU SAID THERE?

>> AS THE C.D.C.

GUIDANCE CAME OUT LAST WEEK THEY ARE KIND OF MOVING AWAY FROM QUARANTINING AND MOVING AWAY FROM THE TEST TO STAY STRATEGY.

BUT I THINK PARTLY THE THING I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL SCHOOLS TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT WHEN THERE ARE MOMENTS OF COMMUNITY HIGH-RISK, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THE RECOMMENDATION OF MASKING INDOORS TO PREVENT SPREAD.

AND THEN I THINK IN OTHER ELEMENTS OF KIND OF BIGGER EVENTS WHERE INDIVIDUALS MIGHT HAVE REAL CLOSE CONTACT, THERE'S STILL A ROLE AND IMPORTANT ROLE FOR TESTING.

BUT UNDERSTANDING AND ACKNOWLEDGING, I THINK BASED ON THE C.D.C.

GUIDELINES THAT ILLINOIS IS ALSO ADOPTING A MOVE AWAY FROM QUARANTINING AND MOVING AWAY FROM TEST TO STAY.

BUT IF YOU ARE SICK OR SHOWING SYMPTOMS IT'S CRITICAL TO ISOLATE AND BE AWAY FROM SCHOOL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S SAGE ADVICE GOING INTO THE FALL AND THE SCHOOL SEASON FROM A PEDIATRICIAN AND THE NEW HEAD OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Dr. SAMEER VOHRA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITATION.

>> UP NEXT REFLECTIONS ON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE BOND BETWEEN A LOCAL MARINE AND HIS INTERPRETER.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE U.S.

TROOPS PULLED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

THE WITHDRAWAL LAST AUGUST LEFT MANY AFGHANS DESPERATE TO ESCAPE AT KABUL AIRPORT IN FEAR OF THE TALIBAN.

A FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN A CHICAGO MARINE AND AFGHAN INTERPRETER CULMINATED IN A HARROWING ESCAPE TO THE U.S. WHERE THAT INTERTER IS TRYING TO GAIN PERMANENT STATUS.

IT'S LAID OUT IN A MEMOIR CALLED "ALWAYS FAITHFUL: A STORY OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, THE FALL OF KABUL AND THE UNSHAKABLE BOND BETWEEN A MARINE AND AN INTERPRETER" AND JOINING US NOW IS THE COAUTHOR, TOM SCHUEMAN A MAJOR IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS.

HE GREW UP IN MOUNT GREENWOOD ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

TOM SCHUEMAN WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

AND WE SHOULD MENTION YOU WROTE THIS BOOK WITH YOUR FORMER INTERPRETER ZAINULLA ZAKI WHO GOES BY THE NAME ZAK.

HOW INSTRUMENTAL WAS HE TO YOUR OPERATION IN AFGHANISTAN?

>> HE WAS CRITICAL.

NOT ONLY DID HE DO THE THINGS THAT YOU'D EXPECT AN INTERPRETER TO DO WHICH IS TRANSLATE.

HE HELPED ME UNDERSTAND CULTURAL NUANCES AND I HAD CULTURAL BLIND SPOTS HE WAS ABLE TO POINT OUT.

WE WERE REGULARLY ENGAGED WITH THE LOCAL POPULATION TRYING TO IMPROVE THE SECURITY SITUATION AND YOU CANNOT DO THAT WITHOUT YOUR INTERPRETER.

AND ZAK DID SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST INTERPRET.

HE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE AS HE BECAME ONE OF MY MARINES PART OF THE PLATOON AS WELL.

>> AND THE BOOK IS IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND HIS PERSPECTIVE AND HE IS CLEAR FOR THE CAUSE OF A LIBERATED DEMOCRATIC AFGHANISTAN WHERE HUMAN RIGHTS ARE PUT FRONT AND CENTER.

AND HE WAS THERE WHEN YOU WERE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BY AN IED.

CAN YOU TELL US THAT STORY?

>> SURE.

ZAK ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR HIS COUNTRY.

HE SAW THE U.S. AS THE BEST MEANS OF ACHIEVING THAT BRIGHTER FUTURE.

AND ON NOVEMBER 9TH, A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WAS KILLED ROBERT KELLY AND I WENT ON A PATROL TO HELP ONE OF MY SQUADS THAT HAD A WOUNDED MARINE.

AND DURING THAT PATROL ONE OF MY SQUAD LEADERS STEPPED ON AN IED AND I WAS WOUNDED.

WHEN I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS ZAK WAS THERE HOLDING SECURITY OVER ME.

HE NEVER LEFT MY SIDE.

HE WAS ALWAYS WITH ME AND ASSUMED ALL THE RISKS THAT WE DID AS WE WALKED THROUGH MINE FIELDS AND AMBUSHED.

HE WAS THERE FIGHTING ALONGSIDE US.

>> AND YOU SAY IT SO MANY TIMES IN THE BOOK HE WAS ONE OF YOU.

HE WAS A PART OF THE U.S.

FORCES AND WHY YOU'VE BEEN PUBLIC FOR YEARS NOW ABOUT TRYING TO GET HIM CITIZENSHIP IN THE U.S.

HE FIRST TRIED TO APPLY FOR U.S.

ADVISES SA IN 2016.

WHY HAS IT BEEN SO DIFFICULT GIVEN THIS SERVICE TO THE U.S.?

>> SURE.

ZAK'S SERVICE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY EXCEPTIONAL.

HOWEVER, THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE SPECIAL IMMIGRATION VISA IS VERY CLEAR.

IT'S 12 MONTHS OF SERVICE WITH THE U.S.

PARTNER FORCE OR THE U.S.

FORCES.

ZAK DID FOUR YEARS WITH U.S.

FORCES.

AND THE REASON WE CREATED THE PROGRAM IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO PARTNERED WITH US WERE THEN SUBSEQUENTLY PERSECUTED.

I WENT HOME FROM THE WAR AND ZAK CONTINUED TO BE PERSECUTED BY THE TALIBAN FOR THE NEXT DECADE TO THE POINT THAT HE FINALLY SAID HE HOPED TO RAISE HIS FAMILY AND SEE AFGHANISTAN THROUGH, IT WAS NO LONGER VIABLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF DEATH THREATS HE RECEIVED FROM THE TALIBAN.

SO HE HAD TO APPLY FOR THE VISA PROGRAM WHICH WE SETUP FOR THIS VERY REASON.

THE PROGRAM IS CUMBERSOME.

THE PROGRAM IS -- HAS A LOT OF RED TAPE AND FOR WHATEVER SMALL DISCREPANCIES WE WERE UNABLE TO RECONCILE SMALL CLERICAL ISSUES THAT WOULD SEEMINGLY IF A PLIED ANY LOGIC OR COMMON SENSE TO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO, ZAK FOUR YEARS WITH THE U.S. REQUIREMENT 12 MONTHS.

THE CONTRACT IS BLACK AND WHITE.

ZAK DID HIS PART AND EXCEEDED IT.

AND WE FAILED TO DO OURS.

>> AND IT'S CAUGHT UP IN A BUREAUCRATIC MESS.

YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING HIM OUT A YEAR AGO WHEN THE TALIBAN CAME AND TOOK OVER.

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO HELP HIM ESCAPE ON A PLANE AND AT LEAST COME TO THE U.S. ON SOME KIND OF TEMPORARY STATUS?

>> SURE.

WHEN THE PRESIDENT MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT WE WERE LEAVING AFGHANISTAN I ASKED ZAK WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?

HE SAID I WILL BE DEAD.

I STARTED A GRILL ON SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN WHERE I PUT OUT THE CALL TO HELP.

THIS GUY DID HIS PART WE HAVE TO DO OURS.

CAN ANYBODY GIVE ME ASSISTANCE.

THERE WAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

SENATOR DURBIN, AND DUCKWORTH BOTH THREW THEIR WEIGHT BEHIND THIS CAUSE AND CHAMPIONED HIM.

AND THE MEDIA WAS SUPPORTIVE.

BUT DESPITE ALL THIS ADVOCACY WE WERE NEVER ABLE I TO AD VANS HIS ACTUAL APPLICATION.

WHAT IT RESULTED IN IS THREE ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE AT THE AIRPORT.

ALL THREE VERY HARROWING.

THE FIRST ATTEMPT HIS CHILDREN SAW HE HAD FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND HIS CHILDREN SAW SOMEONE GET KILLED WITH A MACHINE GUN BY THE TALIBAN.

THE SECOND ATTEMPT EQUALLY GRUELING AND DANGEROUS.

AND THE THIRD I HAD A FRIEND FLYING HELICOPTERS INSIDE THE GATE.

INSIDE THE BASE AND I CALLED HIM AND I SAID, HEY, I NEED YOU TO RESCUE MY FRIEND.

AND HE JUMPED THE GATE.

PUSHED THE TALIBAN BACK AND PULLED ZAK AND HIS FAMILY IN ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT.

AND THAT IS HOW HE WAS SAVED.

>> HARROWING STORY.

AND WE SEE PICTURES OF HIM AND HIS WIFE AND KIDS HE WRITES ABOUT TELEPHONE DEATH THREATS HE WOULD GET FROM SUPPOSED TALIBAN OFFICIALS SAYING HIS DAYS WERE NUMBERED.

HOW MANY ZAKS ARE THERE LEFT IN AFGHANISTAN?

U.S.

ALLIES OR INTERPRETERS STUCK AND IN DANGER FOR THEIR LIFE AND WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS TO ASSIST THEM?

>> I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS 87,000.

ABOUT 87,000 OF OUR ALLIES WHO WE MADE A DEAL WITH AND THEY UP THEMED THEIR -- UPHELD THEIR DEAL AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE INCLUDED IN PART OF THIS SPECIAL IMMIGRATION VISA PROGRAM WHICH PUTS THE NUMBER CLOSER TO 150,000.

MANY HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXECUTED.

MANY WILL BE EXECUTED.

AND I AM NOT GOING TO OFFER ANY MESSAGES TO THE PRESIDENT OR CONGRESS AS I'M AN ACTIVE-DUTY MARINE.

I WILL SAY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AMERICA KEEPS ITS PROMISES TO OUR ALLIES.

WE'VE NEEDED OUR ALLIES WE WILL NEED OUR ALLIES IN THE FUTURE AND WE HAVE TO BE A COUNTRY THAT HAS INTEGRITY AND HONOR AND KEEPS OUR WORD.

>> CERTAINLY TRAGIC THAT SO MANY HAVE BEEN EXECUTED.

SO HE IS HERE NOW WITHOUT PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS.

WHAT IS HIS TIMELINE AND WHAT IS HIS WINDOW FOR GETTING GRANTED SOMETHING BEFORE HE GETS DEPORTED?

>> HE IS ON THE FINAL APPEAL FOR THE VISA PROGRAM.

AND HE HAS LESS THAN 12 MONTHS HERE BEFORE HE WILL BE DEPORTED.

>> AND WHAT PROSPECTS DOES HE HAVE?

WHAT EFFORTS ARE BEING UNDERTAKEN RIGHT NOW?

>> THERE IS AN APPEAL.

AND WE'VE PROVIDED SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERWORK TIME AND AGAIN TO HIS PACKAGE SPECIFICALLY.

WE ARE NOT REALLY SURE.

IT'S VERY OPAQUE.

YOU CANNOT SEE BEHIND THE WALL.

WE ARE NOT SURE AS TO WHAT WHY HIS LAST PACKAGE WAS DENIED AND SO WE'VE ADDED AS MUCH SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERWORK AS WE CAN AND WE'VE FILED THAT APPEAL.

SO YOU KNOW, IF HE GETS SENT BACK, A.

HE DID AN INTERVIEW WITH STEP NOPE POLICE AND HE SAID WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND ZAK SAID ONE WORD: DEAD.

WE HAVE TO GET THIS WORKED OUT BECAUSE IT IS NO WAY TO TREAT SOMEONE WHO IS MORE AMERICAN AND FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY THAN MANY AMERICANS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CERTAINLY A VERY IMPORTANT CASE AND PUBLIC CASE AS YOU'VE MADE IT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND NOW YOU HAVE THIS VERY WELL WRITTEN BOOK FROM BOTH OF YOUR POINTS OF VIEW.

WE THANK YOU MAJOR TOM SCHUEMAN FOR JOINING US.

AND WELCOME BACK HOME TO CHICAGO.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND THE BOOK IS CALLED, "ALWAYS FAITHFUL: A STORY OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, THE FALL OF KABUL AND THE UNSHAKABLE BOND BETWEEN A MARINE AND AN INTERPRETER".

AND YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND UP NEXT, REFLECTING ON 100 YEARS OF GROWTH AT THE MORTON ARBORETUM.

BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER...

THIS YEAR IS THE CENTENNIAL OF THE MORTON ARBORETUM IN DUPAGE COUNTY.

50 YEARS BEFORE IT WAS ESTABLISHED THE FOUNDER'S FATHER STARTED ARBOUR DAY YOU MIGHT SAY TREES RUN IN THE FAMILY TREE.

MARC VITALI VISITED THE PUBLIC GARDEN FOR HISTORY AND TO MEET A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAS EXPLORED THE PLACE SINCE HIS FIRST VISIT IN THE 1960s.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

TREES AND NATURE HAVE SO MANY BENEFITS.

THEY ARE RESTORATIVE, REJUSTIFY NATURING AND THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING AT THE ARBORETUM IS MEANINGFUL.

>> IT IS A PLACE THAT I CAN RELAX AND FEEL ONE WITH NATURE I SUPPOSE.

IT MIGHT BE JUST WATCHING A BIRD FOR A WHILE.

OR STOPPING TO LOOK AT THE DEW ON A FLOWER.

>> THE ARBORETUM HAS BEEN GROWING FOR 100 YEARS.

IT WAS STARTED BY A MAN NAMED JOY.

>> Mr. JOY MORTON FOUNDED THE MORTON ARBORETUM.

HE WAS PRESIDENT OF MORTON SALT COMPANY IN CHICAGO.

AND HE LIVED AND WORKED IN THE CITY.

AND HE ACTUALLY CAME FROM A FAMILY THAT VALUED AND PLANTED TREES.

AND SO HE HAD A VISION OF AN ARBORETUM.

HE FOUNDED THE ARBORETUM ON 175 ACRES HERE AND IT'S GROWN TO BE THE 1700 ACRE ASH TREAT TUM YOU -- ARBORETUM YOU SEE TODAY.

>> IT'S CELEBRATE UNWILLING DIFFERENT WAYSISM WE ARE PLANTING 3,000 TREES THROUGHOUT THE CHICAGO REGION.

WE HAVE BEEN OFFERING HISTORY HIKES AND HIKES TO 100-YEAR-OLD TREES.

AND ADDITIONALLY WE PUBLISHED A BOOK A MAGNIFICENT GARDEN OF TREESLE IS GREATING 100 YEARS.

>> A SECOND BOOK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IT FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHS FROM A PHOTOGRAPHER VISITING IN ALL SEASONS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

HE SHARED HIS APPROACH TO PHOTOGRAPHY.

>> IT'S INTUITIVE AND BASED ON FEELINGS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO LOGICALLY SAY HOW DO I COMPOSE A PICTURE I'M TRYING TO FEEL INTUITIVELY WHAT IS IMPORTANT AT THIS SPOT AND CAN I DISTILL THAT INTO MY PICTURE.

>> AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY EIGHT SCULPTURES ON THE GROUNDS BY DANIEL POPPER.

THE WORKS SUGGEST THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HUMANITY AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

BEYOND ALL THE ARTWORK, THE ARBORETUM IS A LABORATORY WORKING TOWARD A GREENER TOMORROW.

>> FROM THE BEGINNING, SCIENCE WAS PART OF THE PURPOSE FOR THE ARBORETUM SITE AND WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT THE ARBORETUM IS MORE THAN 30 SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS AND IN LABORATORIES STUDYING TREES AND PLANTS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM THRIVE IN THE CENTURY TO COME.

>> ONE PROMINENT EXAMPLE IS A VAST PRAIRIE RESTORED BEGINNING IN 1962 AND HAS BECOME THE MODEL FOR PRAIRIE RESTORATIONS.

>> .

>> THERE'S 220,000 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS.

THERE'S 16 MILES OF TRAILS AND NINE MILES OF ROADS.

SO THERE'S PLENTY OF PLACES FOR WALKING, EXPLORATION AND ENJOYING TREES.

>> IT IS A MEDITATIVE PLACE IT IS NATURAL TO BE MEDITATING WHEN YOU ARE HERE.

AND WE ARE RESTORED BY BEING OUTSIDE WITH NATURE AND TREES.

AND THE TREES ARE SO WONDERFUL THEY BECOME LIKE MY FRIENDS.

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

>> CERTAINLY A PEACEFUL PLACE ESPECIALLY IN THE FALL.

AND THE MORTON ARBORETUM IS LOCATED IN LYLE ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF CHICAGO.

NEXT MONTH THEY ARE SET TO OPEN A GRAND GARDEN ON A TWO-ACRE SITE NEAR THE VISITOR'S CENTER.

THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY.

ABBREVIATED TO BRING YOU CHICAGO BY L WITH GEOFFREY BAER.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

IT'S GOVERNOR'S DAY AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR.

AND EARNING A DEGREE FROM AN ELITE UNIVERSITY IS HARD ENOUGH BUT THE MEN ARE DOING IT FROM A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]