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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WITH SHOTSPOTTER WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE CLEARLY COSTS AND RISKS.

>> CHICAGO POLICE SAY GUNSHOT DETECTORS ARE AN IMPORTANT TOOL AND A REPORT SAYS IT INFLUENCES OFFICERS' BEHAVIOR ON THE STREET.

>> CHICAGO OFFICIALS THINKING ABOUT SETTING UP A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND NOT SO FAST.

THE ETHICS BOARD HAS A WARNING.

>> FEELING STUCK IN A PANDEMIC PERGATORY?

A PSYCHOLOGIST OFFERS TIPS ON DEALING WITH COVID ANXIETY.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS NEW SEX EDUCATION STANDARDS IN LAW AND WHAT IT MEANS.

>> 26% OF BLACK CHICAGO PUBLIC STUDENTS EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS, THE IMPACT OF HOUSING INSECURITY ON STUDENTS.

[♪♪♪] ADVANCE OF AN UPCOMING WILL CO-SHOW JEFF TWEEDY JOINS US FROM THE TOUR BUS TO TALK ABOUT RETURNING TO THE ROAD AND HIS LOVE OF CHICAGO.

>> IT MADE US FEEL BETTER ABOUT OUR FUTURE IN TERMS OF HIS INDEPENDENCE.

>> AND A CHICAGO BAKERY WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE THE ICING ON THE CAKE.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... TRAVELERS FROM THERL EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY ARE BEING ASKED TO QUARANTINE OR RECEIVE A NEGATIVE COVID TEST TRAVELING TO CHICAGO IF THEY ARE UNVACCINATED.

COLORADO, MARYLAND, NEBRASKA AND SOUTH DAKOTA WERE ADDED TO THE WEEKLY COVID-19 TRAVEL ADVISORY AS CASES CONTINUE TO RISE.

THE TOTAL NUMBER IS 43 STATES AND TWO TERRITORIES UNDER THE ADVISORY.

THE CITY'S TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 4.5% UP FROM 4.4% SEVEN DAYS AGO.

>> CRUISE SHIP SO CURRENTTY COIN FLIP IS DOUBLING DOWN ON CHICAGO LITERALLY.

DOUBLING THE SIZE OF ITS OPERATIONS WITH A 44,000 SQUARE-FOOT HEADQUARTERS AT THE OLD POST OFFICE.

>> THIS MARKS THE LARGEST CRYPTOCURRENCY LEASE HERE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND THIS FURTHER CEMENTS COIN FLIP AS A HOMEGROWN COMPANY THAT WAS FOUNDED AND BUILT RIGHT HERE IN CHICAGO OUR NEW HEADQUARTERS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATE NEW JOBS AND BUILD UPON THE CULTURE THAT MADE US THE FASTEST GROWING COMPANY IN CHICAGO IN 2020.

>> COIN FLIP HAS 138 JOBS IN THE CHICAGO OFFICE AND SAYS IT WILL ADD 30 MORE.

IT'S SIGNED A 12-YEAR LEASE AND WILL MAKE $17 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

>> LOYOLA BASKETBALL LEGEND JERRY HARKNESS DIED AT THE AGE OF 81.

JERRY HARKNESS WAS A TWO-TIME ALL AMERICAN AND CAPTAIN OF THE RAMBLERS 1963 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.

THAT TEAM IS ALSO REMEMBERED FOR ITS ROLE IN THE LEGENDARY GAME OF CHANGE WHEN LOYOLA PLAYED MISSISSIPPI STATE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

AT THE TIME BECAUSE MISSISSIPPI FORBADE TEAMS FROM PLAYING INTEGRATED TEAMS AFTER THE MISSISSIPPI TEAM SNUCK OUT OF TOWN.

JERRY HARKNESS WAS ONE OF BLACK STARTERS HE RANKS 6TH LOYOLA HISTORY.

>> AND ON A PROGRAMMING NOTE WE PROMOTED AND HAD EXPECTED TO BE JOINED BY CHICAGO FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE PRESIDENT JOHN CATANZARA BUT HE CANCELED AND SAID HE WILL NOT BE ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> UP NEXT, A REPORT RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT GUNSHOT DETECTION TECHNOLOGY.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> CHICAGO'S INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUT WITH A REPORT CRITICAL OF TECHNOLOGY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON TO COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

WHAT IS THE LATEST?

>> YES, PARIS.

THE C.P.D.

IN DECEMBER ACTUALLY RENEWED A CONTRACT FOR $33 MILLION TO KEEP USING SHOTSPOTTER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW.

AUGUST OF 2023.

THIS IS TECHNOLOGY THAT USES SENSORS THAT ARE STRATEGICALLY PLACED AROUND THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY IN HIGH CRIME AREAS TO DETECT THE SOUND OF GUNSHOTS.

THE COMPANY RELIES ON DATA AND ALGORITHM TO TRY AN GOO LATE WHERE THE SHOTS WERE FIRED.

THEN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOTIFIED SO OFFICERS CAN HEAD TO THAT PRECISE LOCATION.

THE NEW REPORT FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE REACHES A STARK CONCLUSION: ONLY RARELY DOES SHOTSPOTTER ACTUALLY LEAD POLICE TO RECOVER EVIDENCE FROM A GUN CRIME.

A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF SHOTSPOTTER ALERTS CANNOT BE CONNECTED TO VERIFIABLE SHOOTING INCIDENT.

THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, DEBORAH WITZBURG, SAYS THE POINT OF THIS REPORT WAS NOT TO MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT SHOTSPOTTER.

>> AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS NO VALUE TO THE USE OF SHOTSPOTTER.

BUT WE ARE HOPING WITH THIS ANALYSIS TO DO IS TO PROMPT A SORT OF SOBER WELL-INFORMED, WEIGHING OF THE COSTS AND BENEFITS ATTACHED TO THIS TECHNOLOGY.

I THINK SHOTSPOTTER IS LIKE LOTS OF OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOLS IN THAT IT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THAT SORT OF COST BENEFIT ASSESSMENT WHERE WE MAKE SURE THAT THE VALUE OF USING A TOOL OUTWEIGHS ITS DRAWBACKS.

>> SHOTSPOTTER CLEARLY HAS COSTS SHE SAYS DOLLAR WISE IT'S EXPENSIVE THAT CONTRACT WORTH OVER $30 MILLION AND THE COSTS YOU CANNOT EASILY PUT A DOLLAR FIGURE ON LIKE COMMUNITY CONCERNS.

>> THERE ARE SAFETY RISKS FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS.

A SHOTSPOTTER ALERT RESPONSE IN A SITUATION WHICH IS SORT OF FAST-PACED AND HIGH STAKES AND A SITUATION INTO WHICH MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE GOING WITH VERY LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT CONTEXT AND WHAT TO EXPECT ONCE THEY GET THERE.

>> SHOTSPOTTER ISSUED A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE REPORT SAYING IT WORKED FOR THE CUSTOMERS AND CHICAGO IS THE BIGGEST CUSTOMER TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.

ALSO, THE REPORT DOES NOT NEGATIVELY REFLECT ON SHOTSPOTTER'S ACCURACY WHICH HAS BEEN AUDITED AT 97% BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM 120 CUSTOMERS SHOTSPOTTER SAID.

NOR DOES THE OIG PROPOSE THAT SHOTSPOTTER ALERTS ARE NOT INDICATIVE OF ACTUAL GUNFIRE WHETHER OR NOT PHYSICAL EVIDENCE IS RECOVERED.

NOW, DEBORAH WITZBURG SAYS THE SHOTSPOTTER IS TALKING ABOUT TECHNICAL ACCURACY THAT IT IS ACCURATELY IDENTIFYING THE SOUND OF GUNSHOTS VERSUS FIREWORKS.

SHE SAYS THE REPORT ISN'T GETTING INTO THAT TECHNICAL ACCURACY.

WHAT IT IS WEIGHING IS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER IT IS VALUABLE EVEN IF IT WORKS ACCURATELY ALL THE TIME.

ARTINESE MYRICK WITH LIVE FREE ILLINOIS SAYS THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

>> WE DO NEED ANSWERS.

WE DO NEED SOME TYPE OF REMEDY FOR GUN VIOLENCE.

HOWEVER SHOTSPOTTER IS NOT IT.

IT'S SHOWN US TIME AND TIME AGAIN IT'S SENDING OFFICERS ON DEAD-END CHASES AND HIGH ALERTS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND NOT RECOVERING ANYTHING.

THIS IS A LARGE INVESTMENT TO NOT HAVE MUCH OF A RESULT THAT IS TRULY HELPING TO SAVE LIVES.

>> TO THAT END SHE SAYS THAT THERE ARE MUCH BETTER WAYS THAT CHICAGO TAXPAYER MONEY COULD BE USED TO COMBAT VIOLENCE AND SAVE LIVES.

>> YOU DO NOT NEED TO RELY ON OLD BROKEN POLICE STRATEGIES THAT WE DON'T WORK.

INSTEAD WE WOULD RATHER INVEST IN THE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING CRIME AND VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION WORK.

WE THINK THAT THIS SHOULD GO TOWARDS TRAUMA BASED SERVICES, HOSPITAL BASED SERVICES AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES SO FAMILIES ARE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED.

>> C.P.D.

SAYS THAT SHOTSPOTTER IS CRUCIAL TO ITS WORK AND THAT IT ALLOWS OFFICERS TO GO TO A PRECISE LOCATION QUICKLY AFTER A SHOOTING.

SHOTSPOTTER HAS DETECTED HUNDREDS OF SHOOTINGS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNREPORTED.

SHOTSPOTTER IS AMONG A HOST OF TOOLS USED BY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND ULTIMATELY SAVE LIVES, C.P.D.

SAYS.

JOSE ALMANZA SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF GUN VIOLENCE NOBODY DOES.

BUT HE SAYS THIS TOOL DOES NOT WORK.

INSTEAD HE SAYS, IT BRINGS OFFICERS ARMED AND READY FOR CONFRONTATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE HIM.

>> SO ALL YOU ARE DOING IS JUST THREATENING, HARASSING AND VIOLENTLY HARASSING PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND OTHER BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO EVEN IF IT WAS WORKING, NO, I WOULDN'T WANT THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY IN MY COMMUNITY.

>> NOW, ANOTHER REASON THAT THE C.P.D.

SAYS THAT SHOTSPOTTER IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THEY SAY IT ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO QUICKLY HELP TO FIND VICTIMS, IDENTIFY WITNESSES, AND TO COLLECT FORENSIC EVIDENCE AFTER SHOOTING WHEN A LOT OF GUNSHOTS ARE NEVER CALLED IN TO 9-1-1.

THE SYSTEM GIVES POLICE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REASSURE COMMUNITIES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT THEM.

AND HELPS TO BUILD BRIDGES WITH RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS THE C.P.D.

SAYS IN THE STATEMENT.

NOW, I ASKED JOSE ALMANZA TO RESPOND TO C.P.D.

'S DEFENSE.

>> SO LET'S TRY TO FIX THAT PROBLEM.

WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT REPORTING THESE INCIDENTS?

AND THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO LOCK THE COMMUNITY OUT AND USE TECHNOLOGY TO JUST REENFORCE WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AND IT'S HARASSING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

>> THIS IS NOT THE ONLY STUDY TO QUESTION THE EFFICACY OF SHOTSPOTTER.

DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL DEBORAH WITZBURG SAYS IT IS NOTABLE THIS ANALYSIS IS NOT AN OUTLIER BUT THE REPORT DID TOUCH ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT SHOTSPOTTER CAN INFLUENCE POLICE BEHAVIOR THAT THEY BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY NOT JUST IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC SHOTSPOTTER PING BUT EVEN WHEN POLICE ARE SENT TO AN AREA WHERE THEY OFTEN GET SHOTSPOTTER ALERTS.

AND THAT SHE SAYS IS SIGNIFICANT AND WORTH FURTHER STUDY.

YOU CAN GET A LINK TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT AND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

ONE QUICK NOTE.

WE DID REACH OUT TO SHOTSPOTTER AND THE C.P.D.

FOR INTERVIEWS.

WE GOT THE STATEMENTS WE USED IN THE STORY.

WITH THAT PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> A LOT TO DIGEST THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, NEW SEX EDUCATION STANDARDS FOR ILLINOIS STUDENTS.

SO STICK AROUND.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER RECENTLY SIGNED INTO LAW A NEW MEASURE TO UPDATE SEX EDUCATION FOR K-12 SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE MOVE WILL OFFER AGE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION INCLUDING TEACHING YOUNGER STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.

CRITICS SAY THE NEW STANDARDS GO STOOFER.

JOINING US ARE SENATE SENATOR RAM VILLIVALAM A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO.

AND REPRESENTATIVE TONY MCCOMBIE A REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM SAVANNAH.

SENATOR RAM VILLIVALAM LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

THE NEW LAW MOVES ILLINOIS IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL SEX EDUCATION STANDARDS STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT CONSENT AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND SEXUAL HEALTH AND OTHERS.

WHY DID YOU THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO ADOPT THESE STANDARDS.

>> FIRST THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

LOOK, WE'VE ALL SEEN THE NEWS.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THE REPORTS.

THERE'S BEEN A RISE IN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDALS AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CAMPUSES AND BULLYING OF LGBTQ STUDENTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

YOU SEE THE COVERAGE.

THEY NEED MEDICALLY AND FACTUALLY INFORMATION AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS THEY NEED.

SENATE BILL 818 DOES JUST THAT.

IT ESTABLISHES REQUIREMENTS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT DECIDE TO TEACH HIS EDUCATION THAT IS AGE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, MEDICALLY ACCURATE AND INCLUSIVE.

>> NOW, THERE ARE OTHER TOPIC AREAS INCLUDED AS WELL.

INCLUDING ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, PUBERTY AND SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE.

REPRESENTATIVE TONY MCCOMBIE YOU SAY THIS BILL MISSES THE MARK.

WHY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LIKE SEVERAL BILLS THAT UP FORTUNATELY PASSED OUT OF SPRINGFIELD THEY GO TOO FAR AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE.

SIX YEARS AGO THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT PASSED BY THE HOUSE SPONSOR WHO CARRIED THIS ONE LEADER LILLEY.

AND THAT AT THAT TIME WAS FOR 6-12 GRADE AND THIS GOES FROM K-12.

AND I THINK THE SENATOR AND BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE CAN AGREE THAT WE WANT KIDS TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE OF GOOD TOUCH, BAD TOUCH, BULLYING, HEALTH AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, ALSO AGREE ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT CONSENT.

BUT THIS HERE DETERMINES THE CURRICULUM WILL BE DESIGNED ON THE NATIONAL SEX EDUCATION STANDARD AND THAT IS WHERE I HAVE AN ISSUE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE GETTING AWAY FROM THE STATE HAS THE STATE WAS THERE DATA SHOWING THAT THE STATE WASN'T DEVELOPING CURRICULUM THAT WAS KEEPING KIDS UNSAFE?

OR IN A POSITION THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES?

THE AGE APPROPRIATE IS ALSO PRETTY SKETCHY IN MY OPINION BECAUSE IT DOES NOT DEFINE IT.

WHAT ONE FEELS IS APPROPRIATE FOR A K-3 AND ANOTHER MIGHT NOT.

>> LET'S GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT.

SENATOR, CRITICS SAY AS WE HEARD THAT THE STANDARDS ARE NOT AGE APPROPRIATE ARE THEY BROKEN DOWN BY AGE GROUP AND HOW SO?

>> WELL, THEY ARE.

AND WE DID GIVE EXAMPLES WE HAD A SPIRITED DEBATE IN THE SENATE ABOUT THIS.

AND THE YOUNGER GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE THE FOCUS IS PERSONAL SAFETY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD FRIEND, GOOD TOUCH AND BAD TOUCH AND BEING ABLE TO TALK TO PARENTS AND TRUSTED ADULTS WHEN SOMEONE WANTS YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.

I WILL ADD WE ARE NOT DELL GRATING TO NATIONAL -- DELEGATING TO NATIONAL STANDARDS.

WE HAVE IN THE LAW BY AUGUST 1 OF 2022, THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL ADOPT STANDARDS WITH INPUT FROM YOUTH, FROM PARENTS, SEXUAL HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION EXPERTS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND SCHOOLS WILL RETAIN LOCAL CONTROL THROUGH THE SELECTION OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.

AND LASTLY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPT THEIR STUDENT OUT OF INSTRUCTION.

THE ARGUE MANY THAT WE'RE DEFERRING TO THE NATIONAL SEX ED STANDARDS I DO NOT BUY IT.

PUT IT INTO LAW THAT APPROPRIATELY THAT WE BELIEVE IN OUR STATE AND WE WANT INPUT FROM OUR YOUTH, PARENTS AND TEACHERS.

>> TO THAT END REPRESENTATIVE, YOU CALLED THE STANDARDS SEXUALLY CHARGED WE HEARD THAT PARENTS ARE ALLOWED TO OPT-OUT.

DISTRICTS DON'T TEACH SEX ED DO NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STANDARDS.

DOES THAT ADDRESS ANY OF YOUR CONCERNS?

>> WELL, I STRONGLY DISAGREE.

THE CURRICULUM WILL BE DESIGNED USING THE NATIONAL SEX EDUCATION STANDARDS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO USE ALL OF THE STANDARDS THAT THEY DEFINE.

THEY HAVE SEVERAL POINTS IN THAT AND ONE OF THE THINGS IT DOESN'T SAY THERE'S 16 POINTS THAT THEY WANT YOU TO FOLLOW.

AND NOT ONE OF THOSE IS MEDICALLY ACCURATE.

NOT ONE OF THOSE.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

THEY WILL BE DESIGNED BY THIS.

AND WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL AND OPTING OUT, WHAT IS WRONG WITH STATE CONTROL?

WHY ARE WE TAKING THIS ON THE NATIONAL SIDE?

THERE WAS EIGHT DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE THAT VOTED AGAINST THIS WITH CONCERNS BECAUSE THE STATE WILL NO LONGER HAVE CONTROL OR BE ABLE TO GIVE INPUT TO THE NATIONAL STANDARDS.

NOW, THE OPT-OUT IS INTERESTING AS WELL.

IF THE OPT-OUT IS NOT BOTHERING SOME WHY NOT AN OPT-IN?

AND THE ANSWER IS THAT PARENTS WILL NOT OPT-IN.

>> SENATOR GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S IMPORTANT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE AGE APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPMENTAL APPROPRIATELY AND MEDICALLY ACCURATE.

CHECK THE BILL.

GO TO THE WEBSITE.

SENATE BILL 818.

IT STATES BY AUGUST FIRST, 2022, THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL ADOPT RIGOROUS EDUCATION STANDARDS WITH THE INPUT FROM YOUTH, PARENTS, SEXUAL HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION EXPERTS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND CLEARLY STATES THAT THE SCHOOLS WILL RETAIN LOCAL CONTROL THROUGH THE SELECTION OF CURRICULUM.

THIS ARGUMENT WE'RE DEFERRING TO THE NATIONAL STANDARDS IS TO BORROW A WORD NOT ACCURATE.

AND BY THE WAY DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS LEGISLATION LOOK WHO SUPPORTED AND DEVELOPED THIS LEGISLATION.

ANN AND ROBERT LOWERY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO.

THE ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION AND THE ILLINOIS COALITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND STAND WITH MEDICAL EXPERTS AND SURVIVORS.

>> I SEE REPRESENTATIVE SHAKING HER HEAD I KNOW THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT HERE BUT WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

LOTS TO DISCUSS HERE THANKS TO SENATE SENATOR RAM VILLIVALAM AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE TONY MCCOMBIE FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAD BIG IDEAS FOR WHAT THEIR SUMMER MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE DELTA VARIANT PUSHING BACK A FULL REOPENING OF SOCIETY THAT ENDLESS CYCLE OF INCREASING AND DECREASING CASE NUMBERS LEFT PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEY ARE IN PANDEMIC PERGATORY.

JOINING US TO HOW TO IMPROVE MENTAL WELL-BEING IS DAVID RAKOFSKY A LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND THE PRESIDENT OF WELLINGTON COUNSELING GROUP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HOW DOES THIS PARTICULAR THE COVID SURGE WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW HOW DOES IT IMPACT OUR MENTAL HEALTH DIFFERENTLY FROM PREVIOUS SURGES?

>> WELL, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ME ON.

WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME AS I TALK TO PATIENTS AND TALK TO MANY OF MY STAFF WHO TALK TO PATIENTS, THIS IS SO DIFFERENT FROM A YEAR AGO WHEN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT JUST THE PANDEMIC FATIGUE.

WHEN YOU ARE IN PANDEMIC PERGATORY IT SEEMS THERE IS NO SOLID GROUND TO MAKE PLANS WITH.

WE FELT LIKE THERE WAS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL THERE WAS THE VACCINE AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE TAKING IT AND WE WOULD BE OUT OF THIS BY NOW MAKING PLANS, DATES, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

AND NOW IT SEEMS THAT FOR THE TIME BEING WE'RE OUT OF TRACTION AGAIN.

>> AND SO AS YOU SAID YOU'VE CALLED IT PANDEMIC PERGATORY.

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THAT NEVER ENDING CYCLE OF SORT OF NOT SEEING THE END IN SIGHT?

>> I THINK OF IT AS A PERGATORY BECAUSE THERE IS THESE TASKS AS A SOCIETY WE HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH BEFORE WE CAN MOVE ON.

HOW DOES IT LEAVE US FEELING?

WE ARE ALL HUMANS AND HUMANS EVOLVED AS BIG BRAIN PLANNERS THAT IS WHAT WE DO AND WHEN WE CANNOT DO IT WE GET UPSET.

WE ARE SPOILED IN OUR SOCIETY IN THE SENSE THAT OUR FOREBEARERS DID NOT HAVE QUITE THE ABILITY OF STABLE SOCIETY THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND NOW WE'RE GETTING A TASTE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NOT HAVE THE STABILITY THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD.

AM I SEEING HOPELESSNESS, AM I SEEING DEPRESSION, SEEING A LOT OF ANGER.

THE NEWS YESTERDAY OF A PFIZER F.D.A.

FULL APPROVAL HAS GIVEN SOME PEOPLE A LITTLE BOOST.

>> AND YOU KNOW YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND IT GIVES ALL OF US SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IN OUR LIVES AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT TO US?

WHY DO WE NEED THAT?

>> WE CRAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAN.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST A SINGLE SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH OUR LIVES.

WE ARE IN MUTUAL TELL SYSTEMS AND ALL THE THINGS RELY ON SORT OF A PLANNING AND COORDINATING WITH EACH OTHER AND THAT IS JUST OUT THE WINDOW.

AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.

AND UNTIL WE CAN GET SOLID FOOTING AN ABILITY TO MAKE THE PLANS WE STARTED MAKING AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FRUSTRATION PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE NOT USED TO DEALING WITH FRUSTRATION.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, HOW DO WE ESCAPE PANDEMIC PERGATORY?

>> WELL THERE IS NO ESCAPE.

BUT I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THERE IS A WAY TO EMBRACE THIS PERIOD.

BECAUSE IT WON'T BE HERE FOREVER AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS SO CERTAIN.

THAT WE MAY HAVE BEEN LIVING FOR A LONGTIME WITH THIS ILLUSION THAT THINGS ARE CERTAIN AND THERE'S WAYS WE CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

BUT MOTHER NATURE TELLS US IT'S NOT SO AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE CAN SLEEP ON IT.

WE CAN TAKE A BREATH.

WE CANNOT BE PUSHED INTO MAKING THESE DECISIONS AND WAIT ANOTHER DAY AND FEEL IT OUT.

AND LEARN TO BE OK WITH THAT UNTIL WE CAN START PLANNING AGAIN.

>> WITH THAT SAID, KNOWING THAT THAT IS THE CASE HOW DO PEOPLE BUILD HOPEFULNESS WHEN THE FUTURE IS DIFFICULT TO SEE?

>> I'VE ALWAYS FOUND THAT WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE WE TRUST AND TALK TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW US AND TALK TO PEOPLE WE LOVE AND CARE ABOUT, THESE THINGS BECOME ULTIMATELY ACCOMPLISHED.

AND EASIER TO GET THROUGH.

STAY CONNECTED TO SOME AFFILIATION GROUP OR FRIENDSHIPS AND BUDDIES THAT YOU CAN TURN TO WHEN YOU ARE GETTING TO THAT POINT OF FRUSTRATION.

>> AND ONE SUCH GROUP OF COURSE IS FACING A LOT OF PRESSURE, PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF AS SCHOOLS HEAD BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

MANY OF THEM IN-PERSON.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR FOLKS GOING BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AND ARE NERVOUS ABOUT MAKING THAT TRANSITION?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE PROTECTED.

AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD IS PROTECTED.

I'M NOT AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST BUT I FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND YOU KNOW AS SOON AS YOU CAN JEFFREY GETTLEMAN A VACCINE GET THAT VACCINE UNLESS THE DOCTOR TELLS YOU IT'S BAD FOR YOU.

AND THE MASK IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT US AND PROTECT EACH OTHER.

>> OK. WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

GOOD ADVICE FROM Dr. DAVID RAKOFSKY AT THE WELLINGTON COUNSELING GROUP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

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

>> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE DIPPED INTO THEIR CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO PAY LEGAL FEES BUT AN OPINION FROM THE CHICAGO ETHICS BOARD SETS NEW BOUNDARIES.

>> 26% OF BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS A LOOK AT THE IMPACT.

>> JEFF TWEEDY OF WILCO JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT TOURING WITH THE BAND AND WHAT HE LOVES ABOUT CHICAGO.

>> AND A LOCAL BAKERY BRINGING TOGETHER YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM TO BAKE UNIQUE DESSERTS WHILE BUILDING SOCIAL AND WORK SKILLS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS RECORD JUST UNDER 3,000 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

ALONG WITH 15 DEATHS.

AND THE SAME TIME DATA SHOWS 84% OF ICU HOSPITAL BEDS IN THE CHICAGO REGION ARE OCCUPIED WITH GREATER PERCENTAGES IN MANY DOWN STATE COUNTIES.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO RETURN TO SOME PREVACCINE MITIGATIONS IF THOSE HOSPITAL NUMBERS GET WORSE.

>> IF HOSPITALS CONTINUE TO FILL, IF THE HOSPITAL BEDS AND ICU'S GET FULL LIKE THEY ARE IN KENTUCKY, THAT'S JUST NEXT DOOR TO ILLINOIS, IF THAT HAPPENS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPOSE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER MITIGATIONS.

>> AND YOU PROBABLY HEARD THE SAD NEWS IN THE ROCK 'N ROLL WORLD.

ROLLING STONES FOUNDING DRUMMER CHARLIE WATTS HAS DIED.

WATTS HAS BEEN WITH THE BAND SINCE 1963, I DON'T THINK HE FOUNDED THE BAND BUT HE WAS ONE OF THE EARLY MEMBERS AND ANNOUNCED HE HAD TO SIT OUT THE TOUR DUE TO A MEDICAL PROCEDURE.

THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT TIES TO CHICAGO.

THEY RECORDED THEIR ALBUM 2120 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE AT CHESS RECORDS LOCATED AT THAT ADDRESS.

THE BAND HAS PLAYED NUMEROUS SHOWS INCLUDING IN 2019 AT SOLDIER FIELD AND THE UNITED CENTER AND THE OLD DOUBLE DOOR LOUNGE.

ACCORDING TO RYAN ARNOLD, WATT'S JAZZ INFLUENCE STRIP DOWN DRUMMING WAS THE BACKBONE OF THE STONES.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WALKED OUT ON STAGE AND CHARLIE WATTS SNAPPED THAT SNARE AND PICKED THAT BASS DRUM IT WAS LIKE THIS SOUND FLEW ACROSS THE CROWD AND HIT YOU LOOK A ROCK IN THE CHEST THAT IS CHARLIE WATTS.

>> AND CHICAGO BLUES GREAT BUDDY GUY WHO THE STONES CREDITED AS A HUGE INSPIRATION POSTED HIS CONDOLENCES ALONG WITH THIS PICTURE TODAY.

AND WATTS WAS 80 YEARS OLD.

>> AND SPEAKING OF ROCK 'N ROLL EARLIER TODAY I WENT ONE-ON-ONE WITH CHICAGO'S MOST NOTABLE MEMBERS OF THAT CLUB JEFF TWEEDY OF WILCO.

HERE HE IS PERFORMING IN CHICAGO JUST BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN.

[♪♪♪] >> THE BAND HAS A FER MASSPORT MAPS THIS WEEKEND AT MILLENIUM PARK TWEEDDY IS A "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLING AUTHOR AND JOINED US FROM HIS TOUR BUS IN BOSTON AND WAS REELING FROM THE NEWS ABOUT CHARLIE WATTS BUT STILL KIND ENOUGH TO CONTINUE WITH OUR INTERVIEW.

I BEGAN BY ASKING WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE TO PLAY IN FRONT OF LIVE AUDIENCES AFTER SO MUCH TIME OFF.

>> IT'S BEEN GREAT ON JUST BEING REMINDED HOW POWERFUL IT IS TO HAVE A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE SURROUNDING MUSIC AND GETTING TO SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY OBVIOUSLY OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

AND I ASKED THE AUDIENCE EVERY NIGHT IF IT IS THEIR FIRST TIME AND IT'S PRETTY SIZABLE PERCENTAGE EVERY NIGHT IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE GONE AND DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A ROCK CONCERT SINCE EVERYTHING WAS SHUTDOWN.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL THING TO BE A PART OF.

I WILL SAY IT'S A LITTLE BIT SCARIER THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL.

WE'RE BEING REALLY AS STRICT AS WE CAN BE WITH OUR PROTOCOLS AND.

BUT IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO GET TO DO WHAT WE LOVE TO DO.

>> HOW DOES THAT MUCH TIME OFF IMPACT YOUR DIE MAM UNANIMOUSIC -- DIE UNANIMOUS Mc >> JOHN SAID IT BEST WHEN WE STARTED PLAYING.

WE'VE DONE THIS A LOT MORE THAN WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS.

JUST A YEAR-AND-A-HALF OFF IS NOT THAT MUCH IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS WHEN YOU CONSIDER WE HAVE BEEN A BAND FOR 30 YEARS.

SO AND THAT IS THE WAY IT FEELS.

IT CAME BACK THE CONNECTION AND THE BAND CHEMISTRY SEEMS TO BE BACK FULLY INTACT.

IN A WAY A LOT OF WAYS IT FEELS BETTER THAN EVER BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A DEEP APPRECIATION OF GETTING TO DO IT AGAIN WHEN WE WENT THROUGH A PERIOD THAT NOT THAT LONG, I GUESS, BY GENERAL STANDARDS BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ADDED TO THAT MOMENT NOT PLAYING.

WE WEREN'T SURE WHEN WE WOULD PLAY AGAIN.

I THINK THAT BEING TAKEN AWAY, THIS KNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN PROBABLY MADE US APPRECIATE IT MORE.

>> AND YOU DID DO A LOT OF PLAYING IN QUARANTINE.

YOU HAD THE TWEEDY SHOW ON INSTAGRAM FILMED BY YOUR WIFE AND INVOLVING YOUR TWO KIDS.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THAT.

[♪♪♪] ♪GOING TAKE A SHOWER♪ >> YOU FILMED 200 EPISODES OF THIS.

DID YOU IMAGINE WHEN YOU STARTED THIS THAT IT WOULD GO ON AND BECOME WHAT IT BECAME?

>> NO.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO DO FREQUENTLY.

IT JUST YOU KNOW THE INITIAL RESPONSE WAS KIND OF HEARTWARMING FROM THE FIRST TIME.

WE DID IT ON MY WIFE'S ACCOUNT TO KEEP IT A LITTLE BIT LOWER PROFILE THAN IF WE HAD DONE IT ON THE WILCO ACCOUNT.

AND PEOPLE FOUND US AND IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A GOOD WAY TO SPEND THE EVENING FOR US AND OTHER PEOPLE SEEMED TO ENJOY HANGING OUT WITH US IS WHAT IT FELT LIKE.

AND IT FELT LIKE THAT REALLY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

SO WE JUST KEPT DOING IT AND THE NEXT THING THAT IS HOW THINGS GO THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE'VE DONE 100 SHOWS AND WE HAVE A THEME SONG AND JUST KEPT ADDING TO IT WE WERE HAVING FUN AND IT WAS A COPING STRATEGY AND IT WAS REALLY FEELING LIKE A SUPPORTIVE THING TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THERE WAS A COMMUNITY THAT WAS RESPONDING TO IT.

>> YOU'RE CONTINUING THAT WITH A NEW SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER THAT YOU ARE UPDATING ON A DAILY BASIS CALLED STARSHIP CASUAL.

TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE POSTING?

>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I'VE LEARNED I ENJOY WRITING PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.S AND I LIKE -- PROSE AND I LIKE GETTING TO SHARE THAT AND THERE IS AN OUTLET TO DO THAT OTHER THAN WRITING BOOKS AND THAT IS WHAT THE SUBSTACK HAS BECOME.

AND I CREATE SO MANY MORE SPONGES THAN -- SONGS THAN I AM ABLE TO FINISH OR GET TO TO RECORD OR TO SHARE OR RELEASE.

AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER OUTLET FOR ME TO KIND OF FEEL SOME CONNECTION TO THESE SONGS BY SHARING THEM.

GETTING REACTION AND ALLOWING THERE TO BE AN AUDIENCE FOR SOME OF THE STUFF THAT A LOT OF THINGS WILL PROBABLY END UP ON RECORD SOME DAY.

BUT THINGS I'VE HAD AROUND FOR A LONGTIME.

AND I LIKE THEM AND I WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH PEOPLE AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE SHARED IS YOUR TIPS FOR SONG WRITING.

YOU MENTIONED YOU LIKE TO WRITE PROSE YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF TWO BOOKS.

IT IS A WONDERFUL READ.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO LET THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN ON SOME OF YOUR TRICKS OF THE TRADE IN WRITING SONGS?

>> WELL, I GENUINELY BELIEVE IT IS A REALLY GOOD THING FOR PEOPLE TO DO TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM WITH THE CREATIVE SIDE OF THEIR BRAIN TO SPEND TIME WITH THEMSELVES IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY.

NOT THAT THEY HAVE TO PRODUCE SOMETHING OF VALUE OR ANYTHING.

JUST TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT WASN'T THERE WHEN THEY WOKE UP.

I THINK THAT IS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL THING TO PARTICIPATE IN.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DENY THEMSELVES THAT.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHY.

THE ARGUMENT NOT EVERYBODY IS GOOD AT WRITING SONGS NOT EVERYBODY IS GOOD AT PAINTING OR CREATING.

AND I FIND THAT STRANGE BECAUSE WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO DO THINGS WE ARE NOT GOOD AT.

WE PLAY BEER LEAGUE SOFTBALL AND NOBODY DOESN'T WANT TO THROW A FRISBEE BUT THEY GIVE IT A SHOT.

AND I THINK THAT CREATING IS THE SAME THING.

IT IS JUST A HEALTHY ACTIVITY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY BELIEF IN IT.

AND AS FAR ASTERISKS OF THE TRADE, THAT IS THE POINT OF THE BOOK IN A WAY.

LIKE YOU CAN DO ALL OF THE SAME TRICKS I USE IN TERMS OF GENERATING LANGUAGE OR IDEAS.

BUT YOU ARE YOU.

AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE WHAT I MAKE.

AND EVEN IF YOU SET OUT TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I WOULD MAKE, IT WON'T LAND IN THAT SPOT.

I THINK THAT THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT.

I THINK IT'S -- THAT'S THE POINT OF IT IS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND TO FIND OUT WHO THAT IS THAT YOU REALLY ARE.

>> JEFF, YOU HAVE A SHOW COMING UP AT MILLENIUM PARK SATURDAY AND YOU PLAY GREAT VENUES.

DO YOU GET SPECIAL KICK ABOUT PLAYING A HOMETOWN SHOW AT A VENUE LIKE THAT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY?

>> HOMETOWN SHOWS ARE EXCITING AND ELECTRIC.

AND THEY ARE ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH HOMETOWN SHOWS IS THAT I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS MIGHT BE THERE AND THAT CREATES A LITTLE BIT OF INHIBITIONS IT'S A LOT MORE STRESSFUL FOR MY WIFE WHO HAS TO MANAGE ALL OF THE TICKET REQUESTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT COME ALONG WITH PLAYING IN A TOWN WHERE WE KNOW A LOT MORE PEOPLE.

>> YOU'VE STUCK IN CHICAGO FOR YOUR ENTIRE CAREER AND YOU TALK ABOUT THAT SPACE THAT LOFT YOU HAVE IN IRVING PARK THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR CREATIVITY.

HOW IMPORTANT HAS IT BEEN TO BE BASED HERE TO YOU AS AN ARTIST AND TO YOU AS A PERSON?

>> I LOVE CHICAGO.

IT'S -- I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I WALK AROUND A LOT OF CITIES MARVELING HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE AND THEN I COME HOME TO CHICAGO AND I REALIZE IF I DIDN'T LIVE THERE I WOULD BE BLOWN AWAY BY THINGS THAT I HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED SOMETIMES.

I LOVE CHICAGO.

MY FAMILY LOVES CHICAGO.

JUST THE PACE OF IT, THE SPACE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE AND OLD WAREHOUSE FOR 20 YEARS OR SO NOW WE'VE HAD TIME TO ALLOW IT TO GROW UP AROUND US AS AN INSPIRING SPACE TO BE IN.

YEAH, IT'S HARD TO PICTURE BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO WITHOUT THE BACKDROP OF CHICAGO.

>> ALL RIGHT JEFF YOU WILL BE BACK HERE NEXT WEEKEND FOR THE SHOW AT MILLENIUM PARK YOU ARE IN BOSTON SAFE TRAVELS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WONDERFUL TALKING TO YOU, THANK YOU THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU AS WELL.

THANKS.

>> OUR CONVERSATION TODAY WITH JEFF TWEEDY HE SPOKE WITH US ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE BAND'S COVID PROTOCOLS TO REPARATIONS FOR BLACK MUSICIANS.

CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ETHICS HAS A WARNING FOR THE CITY'S ELECTED OFFICIALS: THINK TWICE BEFORE CREATING A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

THE BOARD SAYS THAT CHICAGO OFFICIALS NEED TO REFRAIN FROM ACCEPTING FINANCIAL HELP FROM SUPPORTERS THROUGH A LEGAL FUND.

WHAT PROMPTED THE BOARD TO MAKE THIS DECISION?

>> WELL, N AN ANONYMOUS CITY OFFICIAL ASKED THE BOARD TO ISSUE AN ADVISORY OPINION ON WHETHER THIS WOULD RUN AFOUL OF THE CITY'S GOVERNMENT AND ETHICS ORDINANCE AND THE BOARD DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BECAUSE THAT ORDINANCE PREVENTS ALDERPEOPLE AND THE MAYOR AND THE CITY TREASURER AND THE CITY CLERK FROM ACCEPTING GIFTS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THEIR RELATIVES OR PERSONAL FRIENDS.

AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND ESPECIALLY IF THERE WAS ONE ON "GOFUNDME" PAGE OR ANOTHER ON-LINE FUNDRAISER WOULD VIOLATE THAT PROHIBITION ON GIFTS.

>> DOES THE ADVISORY SAY WHETHER ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN ACCEPT FINANCIAL HELP AT ALL?

>> REALLY ONLY FROM THEIR RELATIVES AND PERSONAL FRIENDS.

AND THE BOARD DEFINES PERSONAL FRIENDS AS PEOPLE THEY KNEW BEFORE THEY ASSUMED ELECTED OFFICE AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM THAT IS NOT RELATED TO THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES.

SO THAT IS PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND A LEGAL DEFENSE.

>> AND I WOULD IMAGINE IF YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR A LONGTIME THE PEOPLE YOU KNEW BEFORE MIGHT NOT BE AS MANY.

AND WHAT ARE THE REPERCUSSIONS FOR ACCEPTING PROHIBITED GIFTS?

>> YOU COULD FACE FINES BETWEEN $1,000 AND $5,000.

AND PARTICULARLY A GREJ JUST CASES COULD LEAD TO REMOVAL FROM OFFICES.

THE BOARD'S WARNING WAS PRETTY STRONG ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN THERE ARE THREE SITTING ALDERMEN, ED BURKE, ALDERMAN CARRIE AUSTIN AND ALDERPERSON PATRICK DALEY THOMPSON UNDER FEDERAL INDICTMENT.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ASKED FOR THIS OPINION BUT THEY ARE FACING HEFTY BILLS IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS TO COME.

>> AND THERE COULD BE MORE FOR FOLKS WHO DO VIOLATE THE ADVISORY.

LASTLY WHAT ABOUT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, CAN ALDERPEOPLE USE THAT TO PAY LEGAL FEES?

>> THEY CAN.

AND ALDERMAN ED BURKE HAS SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON HIS DEFENSE IN HIS ONGOING CRIMINAL CASE AS HAS FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN, AND DISGRACED FORMER ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS.

2 FIFTHTH WARD BYRON WHITE ASKED A COURT TO PREVENT OFFICIALS TO USE THE CASH TO PAY LEGAL BILLS THOUGHT LEGAL EFFORT DID NOT SUCCEED ALTHOUGH HE DID APPEAL TO THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT.

SO FOR NOW, CAMPAIGN CASH IS OK.

GIFTS NOT SO MUCH AT LEAST IN CHICAGO.

>> TRICKY TERRITORY THANK YOU HEATHER CHERONE FOR BREAKING IT DOWN FOR US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND UP NEXT, ADDRESSING STUDENT HOMELESSNESS IN A CONVERSATION THAT AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

[♪♪♪] >> ONE IN SEVEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS DURING THEIR TIME AT THE DISTRICT ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S INCLUSIVE ECONOMY LAB.

RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT BLACK STUDENTS DISPROPORTIONATELY FEEL THE IMPACTS OF THIS WITH 26% OF THEM EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS COMPARED TO 4% OF HISPANIC STUDENTS AND 2% OF WHITE STUDENTS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE DATA AND HOW TEACHERS AND STAFF CAN SUPPORT STUDENTS ARE LIZA CURIEL FOUNDER AND LIZ DOZER AND CARMELO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LIZ LET'S START WITH YOU.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DATA FROM THE STUDY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE VARIOUS FORMS OF HOMELESSNESS THAT CAN HAPPEN FOR STUDENTS?

>> HOMELESSNESS IS A MUCH MORE COMMON EXPERIENCE AMONG C.P.S.

STUDENTS THAN PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED.

STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN C.P.S.

FOR FOUR YEARS.

WE KNOW HAVE A ACTUALLY 1-10 CHANCE OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

AND STUDENTS WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS WILL OVERWHELMING BLACK AND AT RISK FOR DECREASED GPA, ATTENDANCE AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

THIS IS VERY SERIOUS.

THERE WAS A PRINCIPAL ROUGHLY 50% OF OUR STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL AT ONE POINT QUALIFIED TO BE A PART OF THE STUDENTS IN TEMPORARY LIVING SITUATIONS AND THIS CAN LOOK LIKE STUDENTS LIVING DOUBLED UP, IT CAN LOOK LIKE STUDENTS COUCH SURFING, STUDENTS LOOK LIVING IN SHELTERS.

HAVING A SAFE AND STABLE HOME IS A BASIC NEED FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHETHER IT'S HOMELESSNESS OR UNAVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GENERAL AFFECTS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S FUTURE THEIR HEALTH COUPLED NOT TO MENTION WHICH THE REPORT TALKS ABOUT THE TRAUMA PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND THE TOO TEAGUE THAT COMES WITH THE EXPERIENCES.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE COMBINATION DISINVESTMENT IN STRUCTURAL RACISM CREATED THOSE CONDITIONS.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN WORK ON TO MITIGATE THE ISSUES.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT JUST LIVING ON THE STREETS OR IN AN ENCAMPMENT THERE ARE CAN BE STUDENTS DOUBLED UP.

CARMELO WHAT DID THE STUDY FIND ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF HOUSING FOR C.P.S.

STUDENTS?

>> AS YOU NOTED, I THINK WE WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN HOW PREVALENT AN EXPERIENCE IT IS IN C.P.S.

BUT ALSO TROUBLINGLY, THE VERY, VERY DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY WE NEVER IMAGINED WHEN WE BEGAN OUR RESEARCH WE WOULD FIND THAT 1-4 BLACK STUDENTS WOULD AT SOME POINT DURING THE TIME EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS.

THAT WAS ONE BIG SHOCKING REALIZATION.

BUT A SECOND THING WE LEARNED THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL LIAISONS IS THAT THE STUDENTS WANT TO BE ENGAGED IN SCHOOL.

THEY VALUE LEARNING.

THEY CAN TALK IN A COMPELLING WAY ABOUT THE WAY THAT GOING TO SCHOOL WILL BENEFIT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE LONG RUN.

BUT THE THIRD THING WE SAW WHICH WAS PERHAPS UNSURPRISINGS BUT SHOULD BE A CALL FOR ACTION IS THAT THESE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL FACTORS IMPACT STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES IN SCHOOL.

STUDENTS TALKED ABOUT THE STIGMA THEY FELT COMING TO SCHOOL WITH THEIR CLASSMATES KNOWING THEY WERE HOMELESS AND NOT DRESSED THE WAY THEY WANTED TO BE DRESSED AND THE CHALLENGES OF GETTING TO SCHOOL ON TIME AND CONSISTENTLY.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA AND WE CONTROLLED FOR PRIOR ATTENDANCE AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, WE DO SEE THAT EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME HAS A SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BOTH ATTENDANCE AND GRADES.

SO THERE IS A WAY IN WHICH THE HOUSING INSECURITY THAT STUDENTS EXPERIENCE CAN PERPETUATE SOME OF THE DISPARITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR CITY.

>> A MOTHER OF THREE C.P.S.

STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL.

NEWMAN AND HER CHILDREN LIVED WITH HER COUSIN AND HOW IT IMPACTED HER CHILDREN.

>> THE IMPACT IT HAD WAS ONLY BECAUSE WHEN IT'S TIME TO LEARN, DO THEY HOMEWORK AND STUFF IT'S MUCH HARDER WHEN YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF ABOUT WHY MY MAMA [INAUDIBLE] WHY I HAVE TO BORROW PAPER FROM MY COUSINS.

>> CARMELO, YOU JUST ADDRESSED THIS, WHAT DID YOU FIND ABOUT THE IMPACT OF HOUSING INSTABILITY ON STUDENTS' SUCCESS AT SCHOOL?

>> SO AS I SAID WE FOUND THAT ON AVERAGE IN THEIR VERY FIRST YEAR OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT ALSO MISS AN EXTRA WEEK OF SCHOOL COMPARED TO THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE THE PRIOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IT IS INCREASES DRAMATICALLY AND STUDENTS CAN MISS UP TO TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE NOT LIVING WITH THEIR PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

SO THERE IS A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT HOUSING INSTABILITY AND THEIR ABILITY TO GET TO SCHOOL CONSISTENTLY.

AND YOU CANNOT LEARN IF YOU ARE NOT IN SCHOOL.

AND SO WE DO SEE THAT IMPACT ON GRADES AS WELL.

I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT LIVING DOUBLED UP STAYING AS A GUEST IN SOMEBODY'S HOME IS AN INVISIBLE TYPE OF HOMELESSNESS BUT IT IS TRAUMATIC FOR A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE HEARD THAT IN THE FOCUS GROUP THAT WE DID.

AND THINK THAT SEGMENT CAPTURES THE SMALL BUT REALLY IMPORTANT WAYS IN WHICH IT CAN IMPACT STUDENTS.

>> LIZ WE KNOW YOU WERE THE PRINCIPAL AT SINGER FOR SIX YEARS AND YOU MENTIONED THAT AT SOME POINT, ABOUT 50% OF YOUR STUDENT POPULATION THERE HAD EXPERIENCED OR COULD EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS.

HOW DO YOU SEE HOMELESSNESS IMPACT YOUR STUDENTS WHEN YOU WERE PRINCIPAL?

>> IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT THAT PARENT LAID OUT A SECOND AGO IN THAT CLIP.

EVERYTHING FROM A CHILD FEELING LESS THAN IF THEY ARE IN A CLASSROOM.

FEELING A SENSE OF SHAME WHY THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTICULAR THINGS THAT THE OTHER STUDENTS HAVE.

BUT ALSO I SAW ACADEMIC OUTCOMES WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A WHOLE HAS TAKEN A STAND DESTIGMATIZING THE HOMELESSNESS STATUS AND DETAILS THE IMPORTANCE OF DESTIGMATIZINGS THE HOMELESS STATUS KNOWING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR LIVES AND SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF.

MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED AS WE THINK ABOUT THE SCHOOL BEING A LIGHTHOUSE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S FAMILIES.

>> CARMELO AS WE HEARD EARLIER HOMELESSNESS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

WHY SUCH A STARK DISPARITY THERE?

>> WELL, WE WERE NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THE VERY, VERY HIGH RATES OF HOMELESSNESS BA BY THE CITY'S BLACK COMMUNITY.

IT WAS NOT SURPRISING IN CONTEXT.

THEY HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND WELL BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DECADES.

BLACK MOTHERS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY THAN OTHER GROUPS TO EXPERIENCE AN EVICTION AN EVICTION RECORD IS HELD AGAINST YOU WHEN YOU GO TO SECURE YOUR NEXT APARTMENT.

DUE TO OVERPOLICING.

BLACK FATHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THAT IS OFTEN HELD AGAINST YOU WHEN YOU APPLY FOR HOUSING.

YOU CAN SEE HOW ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT FORCES CAN COMBINE TO LIMIT ACCESS TO SAFE, STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR A COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHILE WE WERE SHOCKED INITIALLY WHEN YOU TAKE THAT HISTORIC VIEW AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE BROADER FORCES, IT MAY BE LESS SURPRISING BUT IT MEANS WE HAVE TO BE WORKING TO UNDO ALL OF THOSE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS SORT OF EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES WE DESIRE.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED THE STUDY DOES INCLUDE STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN THE ROLE THAT SCHOOLS CAN PLAY.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT THOSE FURTHER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

ACCORDING TO A STUDY 42% OF YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM NEVER WORKED FOR PAY IN THEIR 20s A STATISTIC THAT REFLECTS THE DIFFICULTY MANY PEOPLE WITH AUTISM CAN HAVE IN MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL INTO THE WORKING WORLD.

BUT A CHICAGO WOMAN COOKED UP A WAY FOR THE YOUNG ADULTS TO DEVELOP WORK SKILLS WHILE CONTRIBUTING THEIR FLAVORS TO THE BUSINESS.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" ERIKA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> WE HAVE CUPCAKES.

OTHERS ARE FILLED WITH COCONUT CREEK.

>> THE AROMAS WAFTING THIS THE KITCHEN MAKE IT OBVIOUS WHERE THE SWEETS IN THE NAME UNIQUE SWEETS COMES FROM.

>> WE ARE TALKING WITH COCONUT.

>> I'M PUTTING COCONUT ON THE CUPCAKE.

TO MAKE IT PRETTY.

>> AND JEREMIAH IS CUTTING MARSHMELLO.

>> THE UNIQUE PART?

THAT IS ANOTHER STORY.

>> THE TREATS WE MAKE ARE UNIQUE BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE BY UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.

>> CRISTINA TORRES AND HER FELLOW BAKERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE UNIQUE SWEETS.

BY BAKING TREATS LIKE THE CUPCAKES WHICH THEY SELL AT POP-UP EVENTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, THE TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM ARE DEVELOPING WORK AND SOCIAL SKILLS.

FOUNDER LIZA CURIEL SAYS THERE IS A PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO CONTRIBUTE IN THEIR KITCHEN.

>> AUTISM IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE IS NO TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE THE SAME OR THAT EXPERIENCE IT THE SAME.

WE TRY TO FIND SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.

AND EVERYBODY TRANSITIONS THROUGH ALL OF THE PROCESS.

SO THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND WHAT THEY LIKE.

>> LIZA CURIEL STARTED UNIQUE SWEETS FROM HER HOME KITCHEN IN 2018 TO HELP HER SON WHO WAS AUTISM BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SCHOOL AND THE WORKING WORLD.

>> HE HAD FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL.

AND HE WAS IN CITY COLLEGE AND HE WASN'T READY TO GET A JOB AND I FELT LIKE HIM AND HIS FRIENDS HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL AND ONE DAY THE STORY IS AND WE LAUGH ABOUT IT IS THEY HAD A PARTY AND THEY ALL BROUGHT BAKED GOODS AND IT STRUCK ME AS THOUGH THIS WAS SOMETHING WE COULD COMBINE USE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, USE JOB SKILLS TRAINING AND BAKE BECAUSE THEY LIKED TO BAKE AND IT WAS AN INSTANT PROJECT AND THAT IS HOW IT STARTED.

>> SEBASTIEN IS NO LONGER IN THE KITCHEN BUT LIZA CURIEL SAYS HE IS USING SKILLS HE LEARNED THROUGH UNIQUE SWEETS TO HELP IT GROW.

>> HE WORKS WITH ME ON PURCHASING AND INVENTORY AND GETTING THINGS READY FOR THE ACTUAL BAKE AND ALL THAT BACKGROUND WORK THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN PASTRY WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING TO DO YOU HAVE TO INTERACT WITH OTHERS AND HAVE TO PLAN.

AND WHAT I HOPE THAT THEY GET FROM THEIR TIME WITH US, IS A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT THAT THEY CAN DO IT AND THAT THEY CAN TAKE THOSE SKILLS AND APPLY THEM TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THEIR LIFE.

>> IN DAVID'S CASE HE FOUND A WAY TO USE ART SKILLS TO DECORATE MORE THAN CUPCAKES.

>> DAVID LOVES TO DRAW THAT IS HIS THING.

SO ART TO GO WITH THE HOLIDAY OR WHATEVER WE ARE DOING AND HE WILL PUT A MESSAGE ON THERE AND PUTS IT ON THE BOX.

>> DAVID IS NONVERBAL WHICH HIS MOTHER SAYS SOMETIMES MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FIND COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME FINDING ORGANIZATIONS AND THINGS WHERE HE CAN BE A PART OF WHAT HE ENJOYS AND WHAT HE IS ABLE TO DO IS HIGHLIGHTED AND IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE HE HAD A PLACE.

THERE WAS SOMETHING FOR HIM.

HE CAN HAVE THERE WAS A FUTURE FOR HIM AND IT MADE US FEEL BETTER ABOUT OUR FUTURE IN TERMS OF HIS INDEPENDENCE.

>> OMAIDA FIGUEROA SAYS SHE TOO HAS FOUND A SENSE OF BELONGING WITH UNIQUE SWEETS.

>> IT'S GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME STRUGGLES THAT I DO AND THE SAME CELEBRATIONS THAT I DO.

>> FOR CRISTINA TORRES BRINGING HER OWN UNIQUE FLAVOR TO THAT COMMUNITY IS HELPING HER FLOURISH.

>> WHEN WE DID THE BAR YO ARTS FESTIVAL IN HUMBOLDT PARK AND WHEN WE WERE SELLING OUT ALL THE CUPCAKES ESPECIALLY THE DIFFERENT DELIVERS THAT GAVE ME THE INDICATION THAT I FELT LIKE I'M WHERE I NEED TO BE RIGHT NOW.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ERIKA GUNDERSON.

>> AND YOU WILL FIND MORE ON UNIQUE SWEETS 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'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. WHY MANY MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY ARE SO FAR REFUSING TO PLACE A BET ON A CHICAGO CASINO.

>> AND CHICAGO'S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONAL MONUMENT IS PREPARING FOR THE GRAND OPENING WE HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]