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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> A LOOK AT TWO COURT BATTLES BREWING OVER THE POLITICS OF THE NEWLY RELEASED CENSUS DATA.

>> I FEEL UNBELIEVABLY STRONGLY THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT THING TO HAVE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

>> WE'LL TALK TO THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION ABOUT SAFETY CONCERNS AS STUDENTS RETURN TO CLASSROOMS.

>> THE OUTLOOK FOR REFUGEES LOOKING TO COME TO THE U.S. AFTER THE TALIBAN TAKEOVER OF AFGHANISTAN.

>> LOCAL RELIEF EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY IN THE AFTERMATH OF A POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI.

>> WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE PAWNS IN A GAME WE CANNOT CONTROL.

>> INSIDE ONE OF ILLINOIS' NUCLEAR GENERATING STATIONS THAT COULD BE SHUTDOWN WITHIN A MONTH.

>> CONCERNS ON THE SECURITY OF .

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY ETOP STORIES.

AS THE NUMBER OF COVID CASES TOPS 400 PER DAY IN CHICAGO THE CITY IS RESTORING THE INDOOR MASK MANDATE.

DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE A VACCINE A HIGH CASE COUNT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY TRANSLATE TO A HIGH HOSPITALIZATION COUNT AND A HIGH DEATH COUNT AND WE'RE HOPEFUL HAVE THE MASKS IN PLACE FOR EVERYBODY WILL GET US THROUGH DELTA WHILE WE KEEP WORKING ON GETTING FOLKS VACCINATED AND WITH DOING THAT OUR GOAL IS TO REMAIN OPEN BUT CAREFUL.

>> Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS SHE DOES NOT ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL BUSINESS RESTRICTS UNLESS IT REACHES 800 CASES A DAY.

IT'S EFFECTIVE FRIDAY.

>> BOTH ILLINOIS SENATORS DICK DURBIN AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH ARE APPEALING TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO SAFELY RESCUE THE MAN FROM AFGHANISTAN AS THE U.S. MILITARY WITHDRAWAL CONTINUES.

HE IS A NAVY VETERAN AND WORK AGO AS A CIVIL ENGINEER IN KABUL WHEN HE WAS KIDNAPPED BY THE TALIBAN IN JANUARY 2020.

>> OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON MAKING SURE WE LEAVE NO AMERICAN BEHIND AND ESPECIALLY THE PRIORITY IS MARK FROM ILLINOIS HELD BY THE TALIBAN FOR A YEAR AND WE NEED TO GET HIM HOME.

>> WE WILL HAVE MORE ON AFGHAN REFUGEES LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THE PARENTS OF ONE OF THE MEN KILLED IN KENOSHA DURING LAST SUMMER'S PROTESTS ARE SUING THE KENOSHA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SHERIFF'S EFFORT.

THE FAMILY FOR ANTHONY HUBER SAYS LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOK SIDES.

RITTENHOUSE WAS 17 WHEN HE CROSSED INTO ILLINOIS FROM WISCONSIN AND SHOT THREE PEOPLE KILLING TWO DURING PROTESTS AFTER THE SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE.

IN FEDERAL COURT DOCUMENTS ANTHONY HUBER'S ATTORNEY SAYS LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS IT VIOLATED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BY ALLOWING THEM TO PATROL THE STREETS WITH DANGEROUS WEAPONS.

>> UP NEXT, A LOOK AT THE POLITICS OF THE NEWLY RELEASED CENSUS DATA.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> IT'S LIKE THE POLITICAL OLYMPICS IT HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS.

POLITICAL LEADERS ARE FEVERISHLY NEGOTIATING NEW DISTRICT MAPS AS THE CENSUS UNVEIL THE OFFICIAL POPULATION COUNT LAST WEEK.

THE DATA IS USED TO THE MAPS FROM CHICAGO WARDS TO STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL BOUNDARIES.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL REALITIES OF THAT DATA AT ALL LEVELS ARE CHRISTOPHER MOONEY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO A SENIOR SCHOLAR AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

AND MADELIENE DOUBEK THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHANGE THAT WORKS FOR ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT, FAIR MAPS AND ROBUST ELECTIONS.

AND WE WELCOME YOU BOTH BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

CHRIS, WE HAVE REPORTED ON THE CENSUS NUMBERS MODEST POPULATION LOSS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND GAINS IN CHICAGO AND IN THE SURROUNDING SUBURBS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE NEW POLITICAL MAPS ESPECIALLY THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE YET TO BE REDRAWN?

>> WELL, THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR CHICAGO IN THE SENSE THAT WE'VE STOPPED THE BLEEDING TO SOME EXCEPT THE 2010 CENSUS SHOWED US LOSING A BUNCH BUT THAT HAS TURNED AROUND.

AND IT'S SHOWN THAT THE SUBURBAN AREAS WHICH WERE GROWING LIKE WHITE HOT HEAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES HAVE CALMED.

SO IT'S NOT GROWING TREMENDOUSLY IN DUPAGE AND WILL AND LAKE COUNTIES.

THEY ARE SEEING GROWTH IN GRUNDY WHICH ARE MORE EXURBAN.

THAT IS THE STORY.

DOWN STATE CONTINUES 150 YEARS OR WHATEVER IT IS OF EXODUS FROM DOWN STATE.

THE MECHANIZATION OF FARMING AND PEOPLE LIVING SMALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES AND SMALL CITIES AROUND THE STATE FOR THE LAST "X" NUMBER OF YEARS THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE HOLLOWING OUT THE RURAL AREAS AND PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO URBAN AREAS WHERE IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN TREND.

>> ALL OF THIS FACTORS INTO THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS THAT WILL BE REDRAWN.

AND ILLINOIS WILL LOSE ONE SEAT IN CONGRESS.

MADELIENE DOUBEK THERE ARE TWO LAWSUITS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW OVER THE MAPS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE DRAWN.

MAINLY THE STATE SENATE AND HOUSE MAPS.

WHAT ARE THE BASIS OF THE LAWSUITS, REMIND US?

>> THE BASIS FOR THE LAWSUITS ARE ESSENTIALLY THAT THE CONCEPT OF ONE PORN ONE VOTE WAS NOT UPHELD BECAUSE ACS SURVEY DATA WAS USED TO DRAW THE MAPS WITHOUT THE LAWMAKERS DID NOT WAIT ARE NOT CENSUS COUNT AND SO WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND HEARING IS THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST A HANDFUL OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ACCEPTABLE 10% DEVIATION THAT COURTS HAVE FOUND TO BE OK.

SOME OF THEM HAVE RANGES WIDELY AS 30% DEVIATION FROM EQUAL POPULATION STANDARDS.

SO THAT COULD BE AN ISSUE.

>> YOU'RE SAYING THE DISTRICTS DRAWN BASED ON THE ACS, AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA ARE 30% OFF FROM THE ACTUAL CENSUS DATA IN SOME CASES.

CHRISTOPHER MOONEY DOES THAT MEAN THAT A COURT MIGHT TOSS SOME OF THE MAPS?

>> IT MEANS THEY CERTAINLY WOULD.

THE DISTRICTS HAVE TO BE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS THE RULE OF THUMB THE SUPREME COURT GOES BY IS 10% BETWEEN THE BIGGEST ONE AND THE SMALLEST ONE HAVE TO BE WITHIN 10% OF EACH OTHER AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EXPECTED US TO BE THAT CASE THEY USED THIS SORT OF ESTIMATED DATA THAT CAME OUT AND DID THAT TO TRY TO AVOID TOSSING THE REDISTRICTING INTO THE HANDS OF SO-CALLED BIPARTISAN COMMISSION WHICH REALLY ENDS UP BEING A COIN TOSS FOR ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER TO GET TOTAL CONTROL OF THEIR DISTRICT.

AND REPUBLICANS HAVE NO STATE-WIDE OFFICES.

THEY ARE A SUPER MINORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

THE ONLY CHANCE THEY HAVE OF GETTING INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS IS THAT THE COURT THROWS THE WHOLE THING OUT.

>> AND THIS IS DUE TO A STATE LAW IF THE MAPS ARE NOT DRAWN BY THE PARTY IN POWER AT A CERTAIN DEADLINE IT GOES INTO THE INDEPENDENT PROCESS.

THE DEMOCRATS SAY THEY ARE REVIEWING THE DATA AND MIGHT TWEAK DISTRICTS WOULD THAT BE ENOUGH TO SATISFY A JUDGE SHORT OF HAVING THAT JUDGE THROW OUT THE WHOLE THING?

>> I THINK IT COULD BE HISTORICALLY.

JUDGES DO NOT LIKE TO GET INTO THE TERRIBLE THOS OF MAP MAKING IT COULD BE SEE A RULING THAT TT DIRECTS THEM TO MAKING CHANGES TO CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS.

WE HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

>> AND YOU AND YOUR GROUP HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR INDEPENDENTLY DRAWN MAPS FAIR MAPS TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE OF GERRYMANDERING THAT HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS.

CHRIS, LET'S BRING IT DOWN TO THE WARD LEVEL.

CHICAGO SAW 50,000 NEW RESIDENTS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

THE LATINO POPULATION HAS GROWN.

BLACK POPULATION HAS GONE DOWN.

HOW WILL THAT REFLECT IN HOWARDS ARE DRAWN AND WHAT REPRESENTATION WILL BE IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, THE WARDS WILL REPRESENT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

THEY WILL BE EQUAL IN POPULATION.

WE KNOW THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE RACE ISSUE, I MEAN ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THE BIG HEADLINE ON A LOT OF CENSUS DATA WAS THAT WHITE POPULATION IS GOING DOWN AND LATINX POPULATION IS GOING UP.

THE PROBLEM IS IS WE DON'T KNOW THAT IS TRUE.

THE CENSUS CHANGED THE QUESTION ABOUT RACE AND ETHNICITY AND THEY THEMSELVES SAID THEY PROBABLY HAVEN'T CHANGED THAT MUCH JUST THE QUESTION CHANGED.

BUT THE MEDIA HAS BASICALLY IGNORED THAT.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH BUT THE QUESTION CHANGED?

>> THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHAT YOU'VE GOT HERE IS A BAD SOCIAL SCIENCE CONCEPT THAT IS OPERATIONALIZED BADLY.

TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT RACE PEOPLE ARE AND PUT PEOPLE INTO CATEGORIES.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO.

AND SO SOCIAL SIGH SCIENTISTS AND THEY ADJUSTED THIS LAST TIME CALLING IT AN IMPROVEMENT.

SAYING WE'VE IMPROVED IT NOW.

AND BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE DATA FROM 2010 AND 2020 ARE NOT THAT COMPARABLE.

>> BECAUSE OF THE QUESTION AND IN 2020 AS I UNDERSTAND MORE PEOPLE MIGHT DECIDE THEY ARE MIXED RACE WHEREAS IN 2010 THEY WERE NOT OFFERED THAT CATEGORY.

MADELIENE DOUBEK YOU HAVE ADVOCATED FOR INDEPENDENT FAIR MAPS DO YOU HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE POLITICALLY DRAWN MAPS BASED ON THIS SEPSIS DATA WILL BE FAIRER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY KEEP PUSHING FOR THAT AND HOLDING OUT HOPE AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THE WORK OF A CHICAGO ADVISORY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION THAT HAS BEEN HOSTING HEARINGS ALL SUMMER LONG THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO GET SHUNTED A150EUD IN THIS TALK ABOUT POLITICAL POWER.

CHICAGO IS ABOUT MORE THAN BLACK, WHITE AND LATINO.

THERE ARE MUSLIMMED THERE ARE ASIANS WHO BELIEVE THEY DESERVE MORE REPRESENTATION THEIR POPULATION IS SEEMS TO BE GROWING IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND IN CHINATOWN THEY BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME FOR AN ASIAN WARD IN THAT AREA.

AND SO YOU KNOW, LOST IN THIS, I THINK IS A FOCUS ON WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND WHAT DO THOSE COMMUNITIES NEED.

AND CHICAGO ADVISORY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING IS TRYING TO DRAW A MAP THAT MAKES SENSE FOR PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CHICAGO AREA.

AND THERE IS A CHANCE IT COULD BE ADOPTED.

>> IT IS A CITY LAW IF ENOUGH ALDERPEOPLE GO ALONG WITH THIS THERE IS A CHANCE IT COULD BE HEARD AND ADOPTED.

AND AS WE HAVE MENTIONED SEVERAL WARDS THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CARVED UP INTO MANY WARDS WHICH DOES HURT ISSUES OF REPRESENTATION.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE THANKS TO CHRISTOPHER MOONEY AND MADELIENE DOUBEK THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> GOOD NIGHT.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS AND HOW THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IS RESPONDING TO THE DISTRICT'S COVID PRECAUTIONS FOR THE SEMESTER.

>> THE CHILDREN ARE SET TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOMS IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AS THE COVID CASES ARE UP IN THE CITY IT'S PUT A WEDGE BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND THE TEACHERS' UNION WHICH SAYS THE DISTRICT IS STALLING ON NEEDED SAFETY GUARANTEES AS C.P.S.

MANDATES ALL TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF WE FULLY VACCINATED BY OCTOBER.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS JESSE SHARKEY PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

WELCOME BACK.

YOU WERE AT THE BARGAINING TABLE WITH C.P.S.

TODAY.

AND THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE TWO SIDES AGREE.

BUT COVID TESTING AND HEALTH METRICS SEEM TO BE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST POINTS OF CONTENTION.

WHAT IS C.T.U.

'S CONCERN THERE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

AND YEAH, WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THE MAYOR AND THE CITY ARE TRYING TO ROLLBACK A NUMBER OF HEALTH PROTECTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE THEY WANT TO DECREASE SOCIAL DISTANCING, THEY WANT TO GET RID OF THE METRICS WE'VE USED FOR POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN IF THE SITUATION IN THE SCHOOLS GETS WORSE.

SO WE ARE NOT WILLING TO GO BACKWARDS.

>> AS WE'VE DISCUSSED COVID CASES CONTINUING TO RISE IN CHICAGO.

BECAUSE OF THAT, SHOULD THAT AUGUST 30TH DATE FOR STUDENTS TO RETURN TO CLASSROOMS SHOULD THAT BE PUSHED BACK?

>> AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING BACK INTO SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE OUR FOLKS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS RETURN TOMORROW.

TEACHERS ARE GOING BACK FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEXT WEEK.

AND SO I THINK WE'RE GOING INTO THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

THE STATE MADE IT CLEAR THEY EXPECT SCHOOLS TO BE RUN FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO GET CREDIT FOR RUNNING SCHOOL.

I THINK IT IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

WHETHER THE PARENTS WILL SEND THE KIDS TO SCHOOLS AND TWO WHETHER THEY STAY OPEN.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND IN ORDER TO GET THAT IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE MAYOR TO COLLABORATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND COME TO THE TABLE IN GOOD FAITH AND TRY TO HAMMER OUT AGREEMENTS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PARENTS WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY FEEL SAFE SENDING THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING THERE?

>> A LOT OF WORRY.

BECAUSE THE DELTA VARIANT IS SUPER CONCERNING AND WHILE IT'S ILLINOIS HAS HOSPITALIZATION RATES BETTER THAN FLORIDA OR OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONTAGIOUS AS CHICKENPOX HAD BAD HEALTH OBVIOUSES AND WE HAVE EXTREMELY LOW VACCINATION RATES AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT GO TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO.

WE FOID YEAHED INFORMATION FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AMONG BLACK STUDENTS 12-17, THE VACCINATION RATE IS 12%.

AND THEN AMONG ADULTS AND A NUMBER OF SCHOOL COMMUNITIES LOW VACCINATION RATES IN THE 20s AND 30s.

THESE ARE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND WE NEED TO HAVE ALL THE SAFETY THINGS IN PLACE.

>> C.P.S.

MANDATED THAT ALL TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF VENDORS THAT THEY ALL BE VACCINATED BY MID-OCTOBER BUT WILL NOT REQUIRE STUDENTS TO DO THE SAME.

HERE IS C.P.S.

C.E.O.

JOSE TORRES SPEAKING ABOUT THAT TODAY WITH Dr. ALLISON ARWADY.

>> THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS MONDAY AUGUST 30.

>> YES.

>> AND WE WANT ALL CHILDREN TO COME AND NO TEST REQUIRED NO VACCINATION IS REQUIRED.

WE WILL BE PROVIDING TESTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR TESTING BEGINNING THAT FIRST WEEK.

>> AND JESSE WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS ARE OFTEN REQUIRED TO HAVE VACCINES TO ENROLL IN SCHOOL.

SHOULD C.P.S.

REQUIRE THAT STUDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 12 RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK EVENTUALLY, THEY PROBABLY ARE GOING TO GO THERE.

I THINK THAT THE ISSUE NOW IS RIGHT NOW, IS JUST HOW LITTLE ACCESS AND LITTLE PENETRATION INTO COMMUNITIES IN OUR CITY VACCINE IS MADE LITTLE HEADWAY.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IS C.P.S.

SET A GOAL.

THEY HAVE AGREED TO SET A GOAL AND THE NEXT PARTISANS YOU HAVE A GOAL YOU HAVE TO HAVE A ROBUST PLAN TO GET IN THERE AND RUN VACCINE CLINICS IN EVERY SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND GO THROUGH THE CITY THAT WAY.

IT NEEDS TO BE SYSTEMIC.

MANDATING SOMETHING BUT NOT HAVING A SYSTEMIC WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IS NOT ANY USE.

SO WE'VE BEEN VERY MUCH ASKING C.P.S.

TO SETUP THE PLANS TO DELIVER VACCINES WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR 100 SITES A WEEK TO BE SETUP IN SCHOOLS.

C.P.S.

MADE SOME HEADWAY ON THAT BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

>> AT WHAT THRESHOLD OF POSITIVITY RATE DO YOU THINK C.P.S.

SHOULD SHUTDOWN LEARNING OR RETURN TO REMOTE LEARNING, EXCUSE ME.

>> TWO THINGS: FIRST OF ALL THE STATE HAS TO DO SOMETHING THERE BECAUSE THE STATE HAS MANDATED FULL RETURN TO IN-PERSON SCHOOL FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

SO C.P.S.

HAS TO OPERATE UNDER THE STATE RULE.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE WE NEED POLITICAL LEADERSHIP FROM THE MAYOR.

SHE HAS TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T JUST LET IF THE VIRUS IS SURGING FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE POSITIVITY RATES ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY WERE LAST FALL GOING INTO OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER IF HOSPITALIZATION RATES GO UP THOSE ARE THE TIMES WHEN THE MAYOR SHOULD SAY CLEARLY WE SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING IN-PERSON SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WILL BE INFECTING AND DOING GRAVE HARM TO THE COMMUNITY THAT DEPENDS ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> INTERIM C.P.S.

C.E.O.

JOSE TORRES, DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS LEADERSHIP ABILITY ESPECIALLY WITH SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY HEADING INTO THE FALL?

>> HE IS INTERIM C.E.O.

THE REAL LEADERSHIP IN THE SCHOOLS IS THE MAYOR THAT APPOINTS THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE C.E.O.

SERVES THE MAYOR'S PLEASURE THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE IT GOES BACK TO THE MAYOR.

THEY CAN'T SAY WHAT WE HAVE AN INTERIM C.E.O.

IT HAS TO GO BACK TO THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY.

>> WITH THAT SAID WHAT ABOUT THE FULL-TIME C.E.O.

THE MAYOR HOPED SOMEONE WOULD BE APPOINTED IN JULY AND WE ARE AWAITING WORD WHO THAT MIGHT BE.

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

WHAT KIND OF LEADER WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

>> SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AN EDUCATOR AND TOW KNOWS THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SOMEONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH CHICAGO AND THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID WE MIGHT HAVE THE INTERIM FOR A WHILE WHEN THEY MADE THAT SEARCH.

AND THAT WILL BE OK WITH US.

I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT THEY DO THE JOB WELL THAN QUICKLY.

THAT SAID, THIS IS VERY MUCH A SITUATION WHERE THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP MATTERS.

PARTLY BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH, THAT COMES INTO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ARE NOT ISOLATED IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

IF TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS STARTS IN THE SCHOOLS IT WILL WINDUP BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS NOT WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VACCINE TARGETS MET.

AND IN LOTS OF WAYS A A LOT OF THIS GOES BACK TO THE MAYOR.

>> OK. C.T.U.

PRESIDENT JESSE SHARKEY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ALL THE BEST.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND NOW PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

THE LATEST REPORTS OUT OF KABUL INDICATE A MILITARY LED EVACUATION OF EMBASSY AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL IN AFGHANISTAN IS UNDERWAY AS TALIBAN LEADERS CEMENT CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY.

OFFICIALS ARE SCRAMBLING TO HELP AFGHAN ALLIES WHO SUPPORTED THE AMERICAN MISSION TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AS TALIBAN CHECKPOINTS SPREAD AND THE CAPITAL OF KABUL.

HOW MANY AFGHANS CAN BE EVACUATED AND SETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES?

JOINING US IS JIMS PORTER, SPOKESPERSON FOR REFUGEE ONE THAT IS ILLINOIS' LARGEST REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AGENCY WORKING TO HELP UNITE AFGHAN AMERICANS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS NOW TRAPPED IN AFGHANISTAN AND WE REACHED OUT TO A NUMBER OF AFGHANS TO BE PART OF TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION BUT THEY TURNED DOWN THE REQUEST CITING SAFETY CONCERNS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN.

JIMS PORTER I'M SURE THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE HEARING A LOT.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR MEMBER ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN RIGHT NOW?

>> THANKS, PARIS I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.

WE ARE HEARING A LOT FROM THE AFGHAN FAMILIES WE HAVE RESETTLED IN RECENT YEARS.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE FAMILY IN AFGHANISTAN AND SO THEY ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FAMILY'S ABILITY TO MAKE IT TO SAFETY.

SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS HELPED U.S.

FORCES OVERSEAS AND THAT IS WHY THEY WERE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR A SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA A SPECIAL CATEGORY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HELPED U.S.

FORCES THEY HAVE NOT ONLY SUPPORTED THE U.S. AND RISKED THEIR LIVES AND FAMILY'S LIVES TO SAVE AMERICAN LIVES.

IT IS OUR FEELING AND OUR DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE A PATHWAY TO SAFETY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO BE REUNITED WITH THE FAMILIES.

>> YOU HAVE RESETTLED 500 AFGHANS HERE IN THE CHICAGO AREA SINCE 2014.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR THEM?

>> SO MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'VE RESETTLED FROM AFGHANISTAN ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME ON SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS.

BECAUSE OF THAT THEY HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER REFUGEE POPULATIONS THAT WE SERVE.

THE MOST OF THEM SPEAK ENGLISH THAT IS A HUGE LEG UP WHEN YOU GET TO THE UNITED STATES AND MANY HAVE STRONG EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

AND SO ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES IS TRYING TO HELP THEM FIND WORK IN THE FIELDS THEY WORKED PREVIOUSLY.

BUT ALSO JUST THE BASIC SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ADJUSTING TO LIFE IN THE U.S. WE PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING.

AND WE PROVIDE A HOST OF SERVICES THAT WORK TOGETHER HOLISTICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT REFUGEES HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED.

WE HAVE A YOUTH PROGRAM, WE HAVE ENGLISH CLASSES AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND EVEN A MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM THAT IS GEARED TOWARDS HELPING REFUGEES.

>> THESE ARE PROGRAMS YOU OFFER TO MANY REFUGEES.

I REMEMBER DOING A STORY WITH YOU ABOUT SYRIAN REFUGEES SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THE U.S. HAS TALKED ABOUT THE TROUBLES OF EVACUATING SOME OF THE AFGHAN ALLIES.

HOW MANY DO YOU THINK CAN BE EVACUATED SAFELY FROM AFGHANISTAN?

AND HOW MANY DO YOU ANTICIPATE WOULD COME TO CHICAGO OR ILLINOIS?

>> SO THERE'S NOT A GREAT WAY TO ESTIMATE HOW MANY WILL BE COMING BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE SITUATION HAS BEEN IN A STATE OF FLUX.

WE HAD HEARD THERE WOULD BE 18,000 SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS COMING TO THE U.S. AND TAKEN TO VIRGINIA WHERE WE WERE PLANNING TO DEPLOY 10 OF OUR STAFF LAST WEEK.

BUT OVER THE WEEKEND WE FOUND OUT THEY HALTED THE EVACUATION FLIGHTS AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A NEED OF CASE MANAGERS TO GO THERE.

WE HEARD TODAY THEY'VE STARTED RESUMING SOME OF THE FLIGHTS.

OUR HOPE IS THOSE 18,000 WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO THE U.S. WE HAVE SEVERAL OF CASES AND A COUPLE FAMILIES WE WILL BE WELCOME AND.

I KNOW OTHER AGENCIES HAVE BEEN INFORMED THEY WILL BE RESETTLING AFGHAN FAMILIES HARD TO PREDICT WHAT THAT NUMBER WILL LOOK LIKE BUT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY AND THE ABILITY TO WELCOME MANY.

WE ARE HOPE AS MANY WILL GET HERE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED FROM TALKING TO AN AFGHAN AMERICAN WAS THAT THERE IS CONCERN THAT AFGHANS THAT DO RECEIVE THIS SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA WHEN THEY COME THE TALIBAN MIGHT FIND OUT AND PUT THEIR FAMILIES LIFE AT RISK IF THEY STAY IN AFGHANISTAN.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'VE HEARD?

AND DOES THAT MEAN THAT PERHAPS VISAS SHOULD EXTEND TO THE FAMILIES OF AFTER GAB INTERPRETERS AND OTHERS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT POINT ONE OF THE REASONS I'M SPEAKING MOST OF THE AFGHANS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE SPEAKING WITH THE MEDIA.

ONE MAN WHO WE ARE HELPING TWO OF HIS CHILDREN ARE U.S. CITIZENS AND THEY WERE IN AFGHANISTAN WITH HIS WIFE.

AT THE FUNERAL OF ONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TARGETED BY THE TALIBAN BECAUSE OF THIS FAMILY'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE U.S.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY REAL PROBLEM.

IT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE CONCERNED.

THEY ARE DEVASTATED.

HE, OF COURSE, IS TRYING TO DO ANYTHING HE CAN TO GET HIS FAMILY TO THE KABUL AIRPORT WHICH IS THE LAST HOPE FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO ESCAPE.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH U.S.

ENTITIES EVERYONE FROM OUR NATIONAL RESETTLEMENT AGENCY TO CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN A PR CAMPAIGN FROM LEADERS OF THE TALIBAN SAYING IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO THREATEN WOMEN AND THREATEN FOLKS WHO ASSISTED THE U.S. DO THE AFGHANS YOU TALK TO BELIEVE ANY OF THAT?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

A LOT OF INFORMATION COME OUT TODAY AND TOWARDS THE END OF YESTERDAY I HAVE NOT HEARD A LOT OF RESPONSE TO THAT.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE WORKING WITH ARE CAUGHT UP IN TRYING TO INSURE THEIR FAMILIES ARE SAFE AND HAVE NOT BEGUN PROCESSING THE THINGS COMING OUT OF THE TALIBAN.

I THINK EVERYBODY HAS SKEPTICISM THAT WOMEN WILL BE INCLUDED AND WOMEN WILL HAVE RIGHTS AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT ISSUES IN THE PAST.

THAT THEY WILL RESURFACE.

WE WERE TALKING WITH A YOUNG AFGHAN WOMEN THIS WEEK AND SHE WAS EXPRESSING WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO LIVE UNDER THE TALIBAN INFLUENCE AND HOW TERRIBLE THAT WOULD BE IF HER COUNTRY WERE TO RETURN TO THAT.

FOR HER AT LEAST IT WAS SOMETHING SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> WE'LL KEEP FOLLOWING THIS AND YOUR EFFORTS AND THE EFFORTS OF OTHER REFUGEE AGENCIES IN THE AREA.

AND THANKS TO JIMS PORTER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, PARIS.

>> AND BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS MAY BE BACK IN SPRINGFIELD SOON FOR A SECOND EXTRA SESSION.

THEIR SOLE GOAL: STRIKING A DEAL ON A ENERGY PACKAGE THAT HAS PROVEN ELUSIVE IT WILL IMPACT EVERYTHING FROM ILLINOIS' ROLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE TO YOUR ENERGY BILL AND THE STAKES ARE HIGH IN ONE NORTHERN ILLINOIS TOWN.

WE GO TO AMANDA VINICKY WITH MORE.

>> BYRON ILLINOIS 11 MILES OUTSIDE OF ROCK 230RD HAS HAD VARIOUS IDENTITIES.

COME TO CANNING PLANTS, RAILROAD STOPS AND A MILK DEPOT.

>> THEY WOULD MILK AND THE TRAIN WOULD STOP AND BRING THE MILK TO CHICAGO.

>> THOSE ARE COME AND GONE BUT SINCE 1985 BYRON HAS BEEN HOME TO A PAIR OF NUCLEAR GENERATORS.

>> THE NEEDLES SHOW YOU HOW MUCH POWER THE REACTOR IS PUTTING OUT AND MEASURING THE NEUTRONS OFF THE URANIUM.

>> AT FULL POWER, THE PLANT IS PUMPING OUT ENOUGH ENERGY TO POWER TWO MILLION HOMES.

AGAIN, THAT'S WHEN IT'S AT FULL POWER.

>> THIS PARTICULAR PLANT HAS A FIXED AMOUNT OF FUEL LOADED IN IT AND THAT WAS LOADED 18 MONTHS AGO WAS THE LAST TIME THE PLANT WAS SHUTDOWN.

THAT IS LOSING ENERGY AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WE'LL SEE THE REACTOR DECREASE FROM 100% POWER AND TRICKLE-DOWN TO 70% POWER WHEN THE PLANT SHUTS DOWN ON SEPTEMBER 13TH.

>> SEPTEMBER 13TH IS AN IMPORTANT DATE.

NUCLEAR PLANTS HAVE TO REFUEL FROM TIME TO TIME AT BYRON IT'S DONE EVERY 18 MONTHS.

BUT EXELON PUT IN NOTICE THAT IT MAY NOT REFUEL.

THAT IS A BIGGER DEAL THAN IT MAY SOUND.

IF YOU DON'T PUT THE GAS IN THE CAR YOU CAN WAIT AND FILL UP LATER.

WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH RADIOACTIVE FUEL RODS IT IS NOT SIMPLE.

>> WE ARE PREPARING TO SHUTDOWN THE REACTORS FOREVER.

THAT MEANS SHUTTING A PLANT DOWNTURNING THE TURBINES OFF AND THE GENERATORS AND REACTOR.

>> EXELON PULLING THE PLUG ON THE PLANT WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

BYRON'S POPULATION HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM 1200 TO 3800.

>> WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE PAWNS IN A GAME WE CAN'T CONTROL.

WHAT IS HAPPENING THE DISCUSSIONS IN SPRINGFIELD WE DON'T SEEM TO BE HAVING ANY INFLUENCE ON ANYMORE.

AND SO WE ARE GOING DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO US.

>> TO DO NOTHING IS TO CONDEMN THIS TOWN, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> CHRISTINE LYNDE, PROPERTY TAXED FROM THE NUCLEAR PLANT MAKEUP 74% OF THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET.

SOME $19 MILLION THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE.

THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS A REALITY BYRON WILL HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE.

EXELON EXECUTIVES ARE PREPARING EMPLOYEES AT THE STATION FOR THAT POSSIBILITY.

>> PEOPLE ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT EXELON AND IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE.

>> THE CHICAGO BASED CORPORATION HAS 21 REACTORS NATIONWIDE HALF ARE IN ILLINOIS.

EXELON'S A PROFITABLE CORPORATION.

F.C.C.

FILE GHTS SHOW THE C.E.O.

WAS COMPENSATED TO THE TUNE OF $14 MILLION.

BUT DUE TO ENERGY MARKET PARTICULARS EXELON SAYS THE PLANTS ARE LOSING MONEY NOT JUST EXELON SAYING THAT.

THE STATE COMMISSIONED A STUDY AND FOUND THAT BYRON DO FACE A REAL RISK OF BECOMING UNECONOMIC IN THE NEAR TERM WHY EXELON IS MOVING TO CLOSE THEM UNLESS THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE COMES THROUGH.

A PACKAGE BEFORE LAWMAKERS WOULD HAVE RATEPAYERS PAY A SUBSIDY TO KEEP THEM OPEN AN EXTRA CHARGE ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL WORTH $700 MILLION THAT EXELON WOULD USE TO KEEP THE PLANTS OPEN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

IT IS A BIG ASK CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED LAST JULY WITH EXELON'S COMMONWEALTH EDISON.

>> THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS OFFICE FILED A ONE COUNT CRIMINAL INFORMATION IN DISTRICT COURT HERE IN CHICAGO CHARGING COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY WITH BRIBERY INVOLVING A HIGH LEVEL STATE OF ILLINOIS ELECTED OFFICIAL IDENTIFIED AS PUBLIC OFFICIAL A.

>> PUBLIC OFFICIAL A IS FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN WHO DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE BUT WHO HELPED STEER THROUGH LEGISLATION THAT HELPED ComEd.

EXELON BENEFITED WITH THE LAW THAT HAS ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS PAY A SUBSIDY FOR TWO OF THE OTHER ILLINOIS PLANTS.

IN CLINTON AND THE QUAD CITIES.

IT IS A NEW PHENOMENA NOT SINGULAR TO ILLINOIS AS STATES LOOK TO REDUCE GAS EMISSIONS.

IT HAS A GOAL OF GOING TO RENEWABLE SOURCES BY 2050.

>> THE MARKETS PAY A MEGAWATT ELECTRICITY THE SAME WHETHER IT'S CARBON FREE OR THE DIRTIEST COAL PLANT IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE WE ARE POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE ON THE REVENUE.

THEREFORE WE SHOULD BE DESIGNING MARKET SOLUTIONS AND UNTIL WE HAVE MARKET SOLUTIONS DESIGNED WE ARE ASKING POLITICIANS TO DIVE INTO THE ENERGY MARKET AND PICK WINNERS AND LOSES.

>> THE SLIGHT UPTICK THE CUSTOMERS WILL PAY IS LESS THAN THE SPIKE YOU WILL SEE ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL IF THE NUCLEAR PLANTS ARE ALLOWED TO RETIRE EARLY.

BUT THE ILLINOIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS SKEPTICAL OF ANOTHER EXELON BAILOUT.

>> WE BECOME CONCERNED WHEN A PROFITABLE COMPANY SEEKS TO LOCK IN PROFITS THROUGH THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN THE PROFITS WILL BE PAID FOR BY RATEPAYERS.

>> AND CRITICS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY SAY EXELON'S THREATS ARE AKIN TO RANSOM.

>> EXELON STARTED THE NUCLEAR HOSTAGE CRISIS A PATTERN THAT A UTILITY WILL THREATEN CLOSURE WHICH GETS THE WORKERS UPSET AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHOSE TAX BASE IT DEPENDS ON UPSET AND THEY PRESSURE THE LEGISLATORS AND THEY GRANT BAILOUTS.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IS ONBOARD WITH THE EXELON SUBSIDY.

IT HELPS THAT THEY HAVE THE BACKING OF LABOR UNIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES.

>> BYRON IS AT THE MERCY OF AN ENERGY BATTLE WHEN PLANTS POWERED BY NATURAL GAS AND COAL MUST CLOSE.

A FRUSTRATION TO BYRON SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT CHRISTINE LYNDE.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD THAT CAN HAPPEN BUT PEOPLE ARE DIGGING IN FOR SOMETHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE ARE FIGHTING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN 2035 AND 2045 WHEN IN THREE WEEKS WE ARE GOING TO LOSE NUCLEAR.

>> KEN FELDMAN IS MANNING HIS STATION IN THE REACTORS OPERATING ROOM SCANNING TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ON TRACK.

>> THESE ARE ALL ALARMS.

SOME OF THEM ARE NOT VERY SIGNIFICANT.

WE'LL SEE ONE AND IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.

A FEW ARE SIGNIFICANT.

BUT EVEN IF A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE GOES OFF YOU STAY CALM.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE THERE'S TIME TO WALK UP AND TAKE CARE OF THINGS.

>> IN THIS CASE TIME IS RUNNING OUT AND EXELON IS SOUNDING THE ALARM.

CHIEF GENERATION OFFICER BRYAN HANSON SAYS IF A LAW DOES NOT PASS EXELON WILL CLOSE IN SEPTEMBER.

>> IF A PASS A BILL SEPTEMBER 11th, SEPTEMBER 12TH IS IT THAT TOO LATE.

>> EVERYDAY IT GETS HARDER.

UNTIL WE SUBMIT THAT LETTER, WE COULD REVERSE BUT REVERSING A DECISION LIKE WE'VE MADE IS LIKE TURNING A CRUISE SHIP AROUND.

>> ONE STEP FUEL RODS REMOVED BYRON IS CLOSED FOREVER.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

>> THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MEASURE INCLUDES PROVISIONS TO PROP UP NUCLEAR PLANTS AND EXELON SAYS IT'S NOT ENOUGH THEY ARE THREATENING TO CLOSE THE DRESDIN PLANT IN NOVEMBER.

PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"...

THE PANDEMIC UPENDED ALL SORTS OF SOCIAL NORMS BUT HOW DO WE HANDLE ALL THE CHANGES?

WE SHARE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19 ETIQUETTE.

AND HOW TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN THE AFTERMATH OF A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI.

AND COULD ILLINOIS' VACCINE INFORMATION PORTAL VAX VERIFY LEAVE PERSONAL INFORMATION VULNERABLE TO HACKING.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> Reporter: CHICAGOANS GET READY TO MASK UP INDOORS.

MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED IN PUBLIC INDOOR PLACES THAT INCLUDES RESTAURANTS, BARS, GYMS AND BUILDING LOBBIES OR COMMON AREAS.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS CHICAGO IS AVERAGING MORE THAN 400 NEW COVID INFECTIONS EVERYDAY.

THE FEDS NAB A SUSPECTED VACCINATION CARD FRAUDSTER.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST A CHICAGO PHARMACIST WHO ALLEGEDLY SOLD C.D.C.

COVID-19 VACCINATION CARDS ON eBAY.

THE CHARGES ALLEGE 34-YEAR-OLD PHARMACIST SOLD 125 C.D.C.

CARDS TO 11 BUYERS FOR $10 PER CARD.

HE IS CHARGED WITH 12 COUNTS OF THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.

>> AND YOU JUST SAW THAT STORY ABOUT EXELON AND ComEd A JUDGE SETS A TRIAL DATE FOR A GROUP OF DEFENDANTS TIED TO THE BRIBERY SCANDAL THAT IMPLICATES MICHAEL MADIGAN.

THE JUDGE SET A DAY OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 FOR FORMER MICHAEL McCLAIN AND FORMER ComEd EXECUTIVES.

ALL HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN KKION WITH THE BRIBERY SCHEME AND PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

MADIGAN HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED BUT PROSECUTORS SAY THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

AND NOW TO BRANDIS FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID ETIQUETTE.

BRANDIS.

>> PARIS, THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC UPENDED ALL SORTS OF SOCIAL NORMS FROM WEARING MASKS AND WONDERING IF THE STAININGER NEXT -- STRANGER NEXT TO YOU IS VACCINATED.

KRISTEN THOMETZ JOINS US WITH THE ADVICE EXPERTS GAVE HER.

YOU COMPILED A LOT OF COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID ETIQUETTE INTO A THREE-PART SERIES.

LET'S START WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT BEING OUT AND ABOUT.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A HANDSHAKE OR GO IN FOR A HUG AND YOU ARE NOT READY?

>> YOU CAN USE YOUR BODY LANGUAGE AND KEEP YOUR HANDS AT YOUR SIDE.

SOMEONE EXTENDS THE HAND PUT YOUR ELBOW OUT.

GREAT TO MEET YOU.

AS FOR HUGS YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK TO PUT THAT SPACE BETWEEN YOU AND THE OTHER PORN AND GO FOR AN AIR HUG AND SAY I CANNOT WAIT TO HUG YOU WHEN IT'S SAFE AND BEFORE YOU MEET UP WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TELL THEM I'M EXCITED TO SEE YOU BUT I'M NOT READY FOR THE CLOSE PHYSICAL CONTACT YET.

>> AND ANOTHER QUESTION RELATED TO VACCINES.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT ASKING SOMEONE THEIR VACCINATION STATUS?

>> YOU SHOULD START BY SHARING YOUR OWN AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU WANT TO KNOW.

DO YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO BE VACCINATED YET OR AN ELDERLY PERSON IMMUNOCOMPROMISED BE UP FRONT WHY YOU WANT TO KNOW.

>> THE INDOOR MASKS IS REQUIRED AGAIN IN CHICAGO AND OTHER PLACES, THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WONDERING HOW DO YOU TELL SOMEONE THEY ARE WEARING THEIR MASK INCORRECTLY.

>> THAT CAN BE TRICKLY AND THE EXPERTS HAD UNIQUE WAYS TO GO ABOUT IT USING ONE BEING SELF DEPRECATING.

THIS IS SUPER EMBARRASSING I USED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO WEAR YOUR MASK OVER YOUR NOSE AND YOUR MOUTH.

YOU CAN SAY LIKE HEY, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW YOUR MASK DROPPED BELOW YOUR NOSE AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE.

IF IT'S NOT COVERING YOUR NOSE YOU ARE NOT FULLY PROTECTED.

KRISTEN THOMETZ THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN READ KRISTEN'S SERIES ON OUR WEBSITE AND MAKE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN QUESTION ABOUT COVID ETIQUETTE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK AT SECURITY KENS REGARDING THE STATE'S NEW VACCINE VERIFICATION SYSTEM.

>> AS MORE ACTIVITIES EVENTS REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINATION THE STATE UNVEILED THE ON-LINE VACCINE VERIFICATION PORTAL.

IN THEORY VAX VERIFY SHOULD PROVIDE VACCINE RECORDS DIGITALLY AND SINCE THE LAUNCH PRIVACY CONCERNS AROUND EXPERRIAN.

HERE IS MAURICE DAWSON DIRECTOR OF ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ALEXIS HANCOCK A DIGITAL CIVIL LIBERTIES NONPROFIT BASED IN CALIFORNIA.

AND WE EXTENDED INVITATIONS TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH BUT THE AGENCY DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST.

BUT WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

MAUER RECEIPTS, I WILL >> MAURICE, EXPLAIN TO US WHAT VAX VERIFY IS AND HOW IT WORKS?

>> THE WEBSITE IS SUPPOSED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO REGISTER AND IT SHOULD CAPTURE THEM BEING VACCINATED.

THAT IS THE WHOLE THING YOU NEED TO CAPTURE WHEN PEOPLE GET VACCINATED AND YOU HAD WHAT THE STATUS IS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CAN YOU HAD IT AS WELL.

AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES AROUND THE SYSTEM IN TERMS OF DEPLOYMENT AND HOW IT'S FUNCTIONING.

>> AND ALEXIS HANCOCK YOU'VE WATCHED OTHER STATES ROLL OUT SIMILAR THINGS LIKE HOW HAS IT WORKED?

HAS IT HAD SIMILAR ISSUES?

>> IT'S HAD SIMILAR ISSUES BUT NOT IN THE SAME BARRIER TO ENTRY IS THE MOST THAT I'VE SEEN WITH ILLINOIS.

CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK AND LOUISIANA YOU CAN SUBMIT THE INFORMATION ON YOUR C.D.C.

CARD TO THEIR PORT CALLS AND THEY ARE NOT USING PARTICULARLY IDENTIFY VERIFICATION SYSTEM.

THIS PART IS ACTUALLY THE MOST UNIQUE IN TERMS OF STATE VARIANCE WITH ILLINOIS WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY THROUGH A CREDIT BUREAU WHICH IS NOT WHAT THE OTHER STATES ARE DOING.

THEY ARE USING THE INFORMATION AND CHECKING AGAINST THEIR HEALTH DATA BASES IN THEIR STATE SYSTEM THIS IS NOT THE SAME AND THERE'S MORE ISSUES REPORT OF ERROR IN ILLINOIS.

>> MORE REPORTS OF ERRORS IN ILLINOIS THAN OTHER STATES AND ILLINOIS IS USING EXPERRIAN TO CONFIRM IDENTITIES.

I TRIED TO SIGN MYSELF UP TODAY AND THE STATE SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND MY RECORDS I'M HEARING MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> THERE IS A NUMBER OF THINGS WHEN YOU ARE USING THE THIRD PARTY TO VERIFY YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM YOU ARE USING TO DO VERIFICATION IS OPENABLE.

IT SHOWS IT WAS NOT AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TESTING THAT OCCURRED.

WHEN YOU ARE ROLLING OUT THIS YOU WANT TO TEST AND MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM WILL WORK.

THEY DIDN'T TEST THE THIRD PARTY THAT IS DOING THE VERIFICATION AND THAT IS AN ISSUE.

>> PECKS PEERIAN AND THAT -- EXPEERIAN AND THAT, PERRIAN.

SHOULD FOLKS IN ILLINOIS BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO SIGN UP FOR THE VAX VERIFY?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE IT WAS EQUIFAX THAT HAD THE DATA BREACH BUT EXPERRIAN AND TRANS UNION THEY OFTEN HAVE INFORMATION THAT GETS UPDATED WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE'S INFORMATION.

SO THE INFORMATION IS VOLATILE USING THAT DATABASE TO CHECK SOMEONE'S IDENTITY I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND.

AND K0E6D SCAMS HAVE HAPPENED TO PEOPLE AND EXPERRIAN RECOMMENDED IF YOU ARE NOT APPLIED FOR A CREDIT CARD OR ARE LOOKING WHERE THEY DO A HARD CREDIT CHECK YOU FREEZE YOUR CREDIT AND WITH THE VAX VERIFY YOU HAD TO UNFREEZE YOUR CREDIT TO USE THE VERIFICATION SYSTEM WITHIN VAX VERIFY WITH ILLINOIS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL TURN THIS BACK ON OR REMEMBER TO TURN IT BACK ON WITH CREDIT FREEZING?

WHAT TYPE OF PROCESS WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF USERS THAT GAP OF TIME OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MONITOR THEIR CREDIT.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE EFFECTS OF THAT WOULD BE.

THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN THERE ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE'S SO MUCH PHISHING SCAMS AND EVERYTHING WITH COVID-19 AND THE WAY HACKERS HAVE BEEN TARGETING PEOPLE.

>> A BARRIER TO ENTRY.

MAURICE, THE OTHER THINGS ABOUT VAX VERIFY THEY ASK FOR YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE IT BUT THEY ASK FOR YOUR ADDRESS.

SHOULD FOLKS BE CONCERNED ABOUT HACKING OR POTENTIAL OF HACKING?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S MORE THAN A POTENTIAL OF HACKING.

YOU HAVE TO VERIFY YOUR ADDRESS, THE ITEM IS THAT YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION ON A PUBLIC DATA WEBSITE.

YOU PURCHASE A HOUSE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AS WELL.

IF THEY ARE ABLE TO TAKE DATA FROM TWO DATA POINTS THIS IS WHERE MAURICE LIVES AND THE ADDRESS ON FILE AT VAX VERIFY AND THIS IS A POTENTIAL TARGET THAT IS SOMETHING AS WELL.

WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO DO A LINK ANALYSIS AND CHECK ONE MORE SOURCE THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE.

I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE TO DISCUSS IS NOT JUST THE FAULTY SYSTEM BUT WHERE THIS ACTUAL DATABASE RESIDES AND HOW THE STATE AND THE THIRD PARTY WILL HAVE DIFFERENT SECURITY CONTROLS PLACED UPON EACH OTHER WHICH MEANS ONE WILL BE MORE SECURE THAN OTHER AND THAT LEAVES A WEAK POINT FOR ACTUAL ACTORS TO GET ENTRY TO THE SYSTEM.

>> ALL QUESTIONS WE HAVE NOT HAD ANSWERED.

ALEXIS HANCOCK IF YOU ARE ADVISING YOUR AVERAGE ILLINOIS RESIDENT WOULD YOU SAY GO WITH THE CARD THAT YOU HAVE OR A CELLPHONE PICTURE OF YOUR CARD BECAUSE MOST ESTABLISHMENTS SAY THAT IS FINE AS OPPOSED TO REGULARSTERRING ON-LINE WITH VAX VERIFY?

>> I WOULD SAY IF YOU LOST YOUR C.D.C.

CARD AND YOU NEEDED THAT RECORD I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY PROBABLY STICK TO PAPER IN THIS CASE.

JUST BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THE DIGITAL RECORD TO PASS THROUGH SYSTEMS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FRAUD BUT THERE'S LAWS FOR THAT IN CASE YOU PRESENT FAWLTY VACCINATION INFORMATION THAT NEED THAT FROM YOU.

SO THERE IS LAWS IN PLACE FOR THAT BUT THERE IS NO LAWS IN PLACE FEDERALLY FOR DATA PROTECTION ON DIFFERENT LEVELS NOT WITH PRIVACY AND DATA FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

DIFFERENT STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA, A PRIVACY LAW AND VIRGINIA DOES AND ILLINOIS DOES.

BUT IN TERMS OF ACTUAL BLANKET SECURITY, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY GO THE PAPER ROUTE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN THE VERIFICATION PROCESS SEEMS UNNEEDED TO ME.

AND UNNECESSARY.

AND THEY SHOULD HAVE PUT THE BARRIER ENTRY LOWER TO ACCESS YOUR RECORD IN THE FIRST PLACE AND MADE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS TO ACCESS THAT.

>> A LOT FOR FOLKS TO THINK ABOUT.

THANKS TO MAURICE DAWSON AND ALEXIS HANCOCK THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> PLEASURE.

>> UP NEXT, LOCAL REACTION TO THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI.

BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... PARTYK A TROPICAL STORM HAS BROUGHT RAINS TO HAITI DAYS AFTER A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK THE COUNTRY.

THE EARTHQUAKE'S EPICENTER ON THE WEST SIDE REVERBERATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND CAUSED 1900 DEATHS AND LEFT 10,000 PEOPLE INJURED.

IN CHICAGO, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TO SEND OVER RESOURCES LIKE FOOD AND FUNDS FOR REBUILDING.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON THAT ARE ELSIE HERNANDEZ, THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE HAITIAN MUSEUM OF CHICAGO AND MARC YVES ST. VICTOR THE CONSUL GENERAL FROM HAITI IN CHICAGO.

MARC YVES ST. VICTOR I THINK YOU HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN HAITI WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW?

>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT AND TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC.

IT IS REALLY HEARTBROKEN FOR ME.

HAVING THAT PEOPLE CALLING FROM HAITI ASKING FOR HELP BECAUSE OF THAT EARTHQUAKE HAPPENING LAST SATURDAY.

THE SITUATION OVER THERE IS VERY WORSE AND AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THERE IS A TROPICAL STORM GRACE BRINGING RAINS AND WIND IN THE PARTS OF HAITI AFFECTED BY THIS.

>> ELSIE HERNANDEZ, HOW ABOUT YOU, HOW WOULD YOU SAY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE DOING?

>> WELL THEY ARE BASICALLY MY BROTHER HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE LIVING AND WERE RAISED IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE A LOT OF DAMAGES HAVE OCCURRED.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE LOST THEIR HOME.

SO I HAVE A PERSONAL TRAGEDY WITHIN MY OWN FAMILY.

NOT ONLY MY FAMILY BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY FAMILIES THAT CANNOT BE REACHED AND ARE SUFFERING CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE WATER THEY ARE HOMELESS AND SO WE HOPING THAT EVENTUALLY THE GOVERNMENT OR THE ENGINEERS WILL COME SOONER THAN LATER TO HELP THE PEOPLE.

>> SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE TRAGEDY WITHIN YOUR OWN FAMILY.

>> MARC YVES ST. VICTOR WHAT RESOURCES ARE MOST NEEDED ON THE GROUND IN HAITI?

>> WE NEED EVERYTHING THERE IS KNOW WITH THE EARTHQUAKE EVERYTHING IS DESTROYED, ROADS, CHURCH, AND CHURCHES AND HOSPITALS.

WE NEED LIKE MEDICAL SUPPLIES, MASKS THAT YOU KNOW COVID IS RISING AGAIN.

SO EVERYTHING COUNTS.

EVERYTHING COUNTS.

SO WE NEED A LOT OF HELP TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM TO THE PEOPLE.

>> AND OF COURSE, ELSIE HERNANDEZ, WE KNOW THIS QUAKE COMES AT A TIME THAT THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THE ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT LAST MONTH.

HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE BEEN THERE?

>> I THINK THIS QUESTION IS MORE TO THE CONSUL GENERAL BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT.

>> OK. MARC?

>> THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTUALLY HAVING PERSON ON THE GROUND AND THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO BRING HELP TO THE POPULATION.

WE HAVE THE MINISTRY OF OUR PUBLIC WORKING THAT ALREADY GOING OVER THERE IN TRUCKS AND OTHER ENGINES TO TRY TO REMOVE PEOPLE OUT OF THE DEMOLISHED HOUSE.

AS WELL, WE HAVE HELP FROM U.S. HAITI THAT BRINGS MORE 65 PEOPLE, HELPERS THAT HELP THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

>> AND ELSIE HERNANDEZ WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NEED OF THE PEOPLE IS THE PRIORITY.

SO THE MASSES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS AND WITHOUT A HOME AND SUFFERING THAT ARE HUNGRY AND SOMEHOW THEY HAVE A PROGRAM FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND NOT GIVING MONEY TO THE GOVERNMENT BUT TO FIND A WAY TO MANAGE TO PROVIDE THE DIRECT AID TO THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE LEARNED FROM 2010 IT WAS A DISASTER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONEY THAT CAME TO HAITI.

SO DEFINITELY THE U.S.

NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND ARE THE ONES THAT NEED THE HELP.

>> ON THAT NOTE THERE WERE ISSUES WITH PEOPLE RECEIVING THE MONEY DONATED AFTER THE 2010 EARTHQUAKE.

HOW DO PEOPLE INSURE THAT THE MONEY THEY ARE DONATING WILL GET TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE GROUND IN HAITI?

>> YES.

OF COURSE, WE LEARNED FROM 2010 AND TO PREVENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS CREATED AN EMERGENCY BOARD ADVISORY CALLED AND WE URGE EVERYBODY TO GO THROUGH THAT MANAGEMENT CRISIS.

BECAUSE IT KNOWS EVERYTHING THEY KNOW WHERE TO HELP WHERE ARE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES AND THEY CAN DIRECT THE HELP BRINGING TO THE PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> AND BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I WILL ASK YOU BOTH WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE DOING TO INSURE THAT YOU'RE SENDING WHAT YOU CAN THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING YOUR HOME COUNTRY?

>> I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HAITIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM AND THE FOUNDERS IN CHICAGO LOCATED IN UPTOWN.

WE ARE DOING FUNDRAISER TO PROVIDE FIVE FAMILIES IN THE RURAL AREA OF PICO, AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FIVE NEEDED FAMILIES THAT ARE HOMELESS AND WE ARE GOING TO HELP THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> BEST OF LUCK TO YOU BOTH.

ELSIE HERNANDEZ AND MARC YVES ST. VICTOR.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE TRANSITION [INAUDIBLE] >> SORRY WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

MARC THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO BOTH YOU AND ELSIE HERNANDEZ.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> BEFORE WE GO ONE NOTE.

LAST NIGHT WE TALKED ABOUT THE NATIONAL NURSING SHORTAGE AND WE ASKED COOK COUNTY HEALTH FOR COMMENT BUT DID NOT GET THAT REQUEST OUT TO THEM UNTIL LATE IN THE DAY.

A SPOKESPERSON TELLS US COOK COUNTY HEALTH HAS ONBOARDED APPROXIMATELY 800 NURSES OVER THE PAST YEAR AND MONITOR STAFFING LEVELS ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND SHE SAYS THAT STROGER HOSPITAL IS RECRUITING FOR 200 OPEN NURSING POSITIONS AND HOPES TO FILL 100 POSITIONS AT THE HOSPITAL IN 2022.

SHE POINTS OUT THE FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY WILL NOT COME DIRECTLY TO COOK COUNTY HEALTH.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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