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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> HOSPITALS ARE AGAIN FIGHTING THE BATTLE THAT WE HAD HOPED WOULD BE BEHIND US BY NOW.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER BRINGS BACK THE INDOOR MASK MANDATE AS THE DELTA VARIANT SPREADS A LOOK AT WHAT DATA ON COVID INFECTIONS IS AND ISN'T GETTING COLLECTED.

>> COOK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO REPRESENT IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION.

WE HAVE THE DETAILS.

>> LIFE IS DIFFICULT, REST SOMETHING HARD.

>> A GARFIELD RIDGE WRESTLING ORGANIZATION IS HELPING EMPOWER YOUTH WITH LIFE SKILLSISM HOW BAB BELLING BABY BATS MAY SHED LIGHT ON THE EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE WORLD OF SCIENCE.

>> I'M ANGEL IDOWU AND COMING UP TONIGHT WE'VE GOT DANCE LESSONS WITH STALLIONS.

>> AND COOK COUNTY'S PALOS PRESERVES IS DESIGNATED AS ONE OF THREE URBAN NIGHT SKY PLACES IN THE WORLD.

HOW TO BEST ENJOY THE DARKNESS.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED I'M IN THE GARFIELD RIDGE COMMUNITY AREA TONIGHT AS PART OF OUR LATER "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

ON CHICAGO'S SOUTHWEST SIDE, GARFIELD RIDGE IS HOME TO MIDWAY AIRPORT.

WE SPENT THE DAY SPEAKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS INCLUDING ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT THAT DELTA VARIANT AND THE CORONAVIRUS.

BUT ALSO WE TALK TO THE HEAD OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH WRESTLING.

LOTS MORE AHEAD FIRST BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE CHAOTIC SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN ESCALATED AS TWO SUICIDE BOMBERS AND GUNMEN ATTACKED CROWDS OF AFGHANS FLOCKING TO KABUL'S AIRPORT KILLING 60 AFGHANS AND 12 U.S.

TROOPS.

U.S. OFFICIALS 11 MARINES AND ONE NAVY MEDIC ARE AMONG THOSE WHO DIED.

ANOTHER 12 SERVICE MEMBERS WERE WOUNDED ALONG WITH 140 AFGHANS.

THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK.

THE AFFILIATE IN AFGHANISTAN IS CONSIDERED MORE RADICAL THAN THE TALIBAN WHO RECENTLY TOOK BACK CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY.

>> IF WE CAN FIND WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WE WILL GO AFTER THEM.

WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO RETAIN THE RIGHT TO OPERATE AGAINST ISIS IN AFGHANISTAN AND WE ARE WORKING HARD TO DETERMINE WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ATTACK AND WE'RE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM.

24/7 WE ARE LOOKING FOR THEM.

>> THE FIRST EXPLOSION HAPPENED AT THE ABBEY GATE OF THE AIRPORT.

THE SECOND AT OR NEAR THE BARON HOTEL WHERE MANY PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO GATHER BEFORE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT.

EVACUATION FLIGHTS CONTINUED TO ACHE TAKE OFF FROM THE KABUL AIRPORT EVEN AS THE AREA WAS HIT.

AND MONDAY, EVERYONE IN ILLINOIS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK WITHIN INDOOR SPACES AND TWO WEEKS MORE WORKERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO GET VACCINATED.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT CITING RISING COVID CASES.

>> VACCINATION REMAINS OUR STRONGEST TOOL TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES TO RESTORE POST PANDEMIC LIFE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND MOST CRUCIALLY TO MAINTAIN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR ANYONE WHO WALKS THROUGH THEIR DOORS THAT NEEDS HELP.

I'M SURE THAT IF PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT BEING UNVACCINATED COULD TAKE A HOSPITAL BED FROM AN ACCIDENT VICTIM, THEY MIGHT GO GET VACCINATED.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

AS OUR HOSPITALS RUN OUT OF BEDS.

>> PRITZKER CITES LOW VACCINATION RATES IN PART OF THE STATE AS LOW AS THE TEENS THOUGH MORE THAN 65% OF ALL ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ARE VACCINATED.

THE VACCINE REQUIREMENT APPLIES TO PRE-K-12 TEACHERS AND STAFF AND HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS.

PLUS HEALTHCARE WORKERS ACROSS VARIOUS SETTINGS.

THEY WILL HAVE TO RECEIVE THE FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE BY SEPTEMBER FIFTH OR UNDERGO WEEKLY TESTING.

THE MASK MANDATE APPLIES TO EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF TWO.

>> AND THE CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS ITS LOCAL HOSPITAL CAPACITY REMAINS STABLE DESPITE THE DOWN STATE SURGE THAT IS LEAVING 3% OF ICU BEDS AVAILABLE IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

LESS THAN 10% OF ICU BEDS IN THE CITY ARE FILLED BY COVID-19 PATIENTS AND 85% ARE IN USE AND THE MAJORITY ARE OCCUPIED BY NON-COVID PATIENTS.

>> UP NEXT, HOW PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE MONITORING BREAKTHROUGH COVID CASES.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AS WE JUST REPORTED, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IS BRINGING BACK ILLINOIS' INDOOR MASK MANDATE.

AS THE DELTA VARIANT DRIVES A SPIKE IN COVID CASES TWO REPORTS OUTLINE THE CHALLENGES OF TRACKING BREAKTHROUGH COVID CASES IN FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE AND SUGGEST THAT BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE MORE PREVALENT THAN THOUGHT.

THE C.D.C.

IS NOT IN FACT TRACKING BREAKTHROUGH CASES, WHICH IT HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO DO.

INSTEAD IT'S GATHERING DATA ON THE MOST SEVERE BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE IS Dr. MARK DWORKIN PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT THE UIC SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WORKED FOR THE C.D.C.

IN ATLANTA AND WAS THE STATE'S EPIDEMIOLOGIST.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO START WITH THE NEWS OF THE DAY.

MASK MANDATES FOR ALL STATE EMPLOYEES, VACCINE MANDATES FOR K-12 TEACHERS, YOUR REACTION?

>> WELL, I MEAN NOBODY LIKES A MANDATE, NOBODY LIKES TO NEED A MANDATE.

AND YOU CAN ARGUE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU NEED A MANDATE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS MASKS ARE A BASIC SIMPLE WAY TO BLOCK TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS.

AND WE KNOW THAT MASKS ARE HELPFUL WE'VE USED THEM ALL THE TIME FOR OTHER DISEASES.

AND WE ARE USING THEM SUCCESSFULLY FOR INTERRUPTING COVID TRANSMISSION WITH THE RISE IN CASES THAT IS OCCURRING NOW, IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO SOMETHING AT A PUBLIC HEALTH LEVEL TO INTERRUPT IT.

AND MASK MANDATE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED AND SOMETIMES USED.

>> AND ILLINOIS IS APPROACHING 70% OF ADULTS VACCINATED.

THE NATION IS APPROACHING THAT, TOO.

PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT TO BE HERD IMMUNITY LEVEL IS THAT THE CASE NOW OR HAS THAT CHANGED WITH THE DELTA VARIANT?

>> WELL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY, WE KNOW THAT PROJECTIONS SUGGESTED LIKE 70% MIGHT BE GOOD.

BUT WE NEVER KNEW PRECISELY WHAT WAS GOING TO BE NEEDED.

EDUCATED GUESSES.

AND ONE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT NOW IS THAT THE PREDOMINANT CIRCULATING VARIANT OF COVID IS DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS WHEN THEY WERE FIRST LOOKING AT THIS.

THE INFECTIOUSNESS OF THIS GERM IS MUCH GREATER NOW.

AND SO THE SO-CALLED HERD IMMUNITY IS THEREFORE FURTHER PUSHED HIGHER.

WE NEED A HIGHER PERCENT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

WE KNOW IT'S CLEARLY HIGHER.

>> AND SPEAKING OF HOW INFECTIOUS THIS VARIANT IS, WE KEEP HEARING OF MORE AND MORE BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

THE C.D.C.

HELD THAT IT'S EXTREMELY RARE SOMETHING LIKE 1%, BUT THEN THE REPORTS IN PROPUBLICA AND POLITICO INDICATE THAT THE C.D.C.

DID NOT TRACK ALL BREAKTHROUGH CASES JUST THE MOST SEVERE.

WHY WAS THAT THE TACT THAT THEY TOOK?

>> WELL, I MEAN I WASN'T IN THE ROOM WHEN THE DECISIONS WERE MADE.

BUT KIND OF THINKING THAT WOULD GO ON WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE CASES OF BREAKTHROUGH AS WE HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

BECAUSE BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE CASES IN VACCINATED PEOPLE.

SO THE MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, THE MORE TOTAL NUMBER OF BREAKTHROUGHS YOU CAN HAVE.

IT CAN BE A SMALL NUMBER BUT IF IT IS A SMALL NUMBER OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IT'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MEANS A LOT OF WORK IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO TRACK THE CASES.

BECAUSE THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE EACH TIME A CASE IS IDENTIFIED YOU HAVE TO BOTH IDENTIFY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED, AND YOU HAVE TO MATCH THAT UP WITH VACCINE HISTORY.

AND THESE TWO THINGS CAN BE LABORSOME ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DOING IT IN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE VERY STRAINED BY DEALING WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC AND ALL THE WORK THAT IS INVOLVED.

SO IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT C.D.C.

WAS CONSIDERING WHAT CAN WE DO WELL VERSUS WHAT DO WE IDEALLY WANT TO DO WHICH WOULD BE TO MONITOR ALL THE BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

WE CAN MORE BETTER MONITOR AND UNDERSTAND THE SICKEST ONES THE ONES WHO ARE GETTING HOSPITALIZED.

>> AND THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE MONITORING.

WHAT IS THE DATA TELL US FROM WHAT THEY HAVE DISCOVERED ABOUT THOSE CASES?

>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE THE LATEST DATA FROM THE C.D.C.

BUT THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE LEARN FROM THIS KIND OF DATA AND THAT HAVE COME OUT IN SOME REPORTS ALREADY IS THAT OLDER PEOPLE WHICH WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE AMONG THE BREAKTHROUGH CASES WHO GOT HOSPITALIZED AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERLYING IMMUNE PROBLEMS.

LET'S SAY LIKE LUPUS OR PEOPLE ON STEROIDS OR MAYBE TRANSPLANT PATIENTS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO END UP GETTING HOSPITALIZED WHEN THEY HAVE COVID EVEN IF THEY WERE FULLY IMMUNIZED.

THESE ARE THE KINDS OF FACTORS THAT THEY MIGHT MORE READILY GET THAT INFORMATION AND BE ABLE TO THEN STUDY IT WHEN THEY ARE HOSPITALIZED.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE MEDICAL RECORD IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

>> CERTAINLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAR THAT VACCINE EFFICACY IS WANING A BIT AS THE MONTHS PROGRESS FROM A PERSON'S SECOND SHOT.

WHAT SORTS OF SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE AT THE C.D.C.

AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND DO THEY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER?

YOU MENTIONED HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO TAKE ON THE TASK OF MATCHING EVERYONE'S VACCINATION STATUS WITH ALL THE NEW COVID CASES.

>> RIGHT.

AND IT'S NOT THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE IT IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO IT ON A GIANT NUMBER OF CASES NATIONALLY.

WHAT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS EXIST, THERE ARE DOZENS OF DISEASES THAT ARE INFECTIOUS THAT ARE CURRENTLY WHAT WE CALL REPORTABLE AND THAT MEANS THAT THE HOSPITALS AND LABORATORIES AND HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS ARE SUPPOSED TO REPORT THOSE SPECIFIC DISEASES TO THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEN THEY VOLUNTARILY SHARE THIS DATA WITH C.D.C.

WITHOUT ANY NAMES FOR EXAMPLE OR IDENTIFIERS.

>> AND THAT IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING.

GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY EXAMPLES LIKE SALMONELLA, FOID POISONING OR BOTULISM THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF DAY-TO-DAY DISEASES THAT ARE UNDERGOING SURVEILLANCE.

HIV WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE.

MUMPS, MEASLES, RUBELLA ALL DISEASES THAT ARE REPORTABLE.

>> IN NORMAL TIMES HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL AND NOW WITH COVID WE CAN SEE HOW STRAINED THEY ARE.

OUR THANKS TO Dr. MARK DWORKIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED COVID CASES ARE RISING AND VACCINATION IS LAGGING IN PARTS OF THE CITY.

THAT INCLUDES GARFIELD RIDGE.

THE SOUTHWEST SIDE COMMUNITY HAS A GROWING LATINO POPULATION MORE THAN HALF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S RESIDENTS ARE LATINO.

AND A COMMUNITY THAT MANY FIRST-RESPONDERS CALL HOME AND AN AREA THAT INCLUDES MIDWAY AIRPORT.

OUR AMANDA VINICKY AND MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY THERE FOR THE LATEST IN OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND AMANDA JOINS US NOW.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

>> PARIS, I WANT TO START THE INTRODUCTION TO GARFIELD RIDGE AFTER WE MET WALTER GAWEL PAID A VISIT TO A CHICAGO CLASSIC, WEBERS BAKERY WHERE HE BOUGHT GOODS.

AND HE HAS BEEN HERE FOR A LONGTIME.

HIS PARENTS BOUGHT A HOUSE IN ' 55 AND LIVED IN THAT HOME EVER SINCE.

HE REMEMBERS WHEN THE HOUSE WAS ONE OF THREE ON THE BLOCK WHEN SOME OF HIS NEIGHBORS WERE FARMERS AND WHEN COWS AS IN THE ANIMAL NOT THE COWS ON PARADE STATUES WERE A COMMON THING TO BE SEEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

>> WITH THE GRAND RAILROAD THEY USED TO SHIP IN THE CATTLES FOR THE BACK OF THE YARDS AND WHEN THEY USED TO BREAKTHROUGH THE TRAINS THEY USED TO COME THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY COME BACK ON HORSEBACK TO ROUND THEM UP.

>> HE LIKES HIS NEIGHBORHOOD HE IS NOT THRILLED WITH SOME RECENT CHANGES GRAFFITI, CARS SPEEDING.

GARFIELD RIDGE DOES HAVE AN ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.

IT STARTED IT 10 YEARS AGO.

>> STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT GO OUT CERTAIN EVENINGS, CERTAIN AFTERNOONS AND THEY RIDE THEIR BIKE AND THEY MIGHT WALK AND MIGHT DRIVE THEIR CAR AND THEY ARE BEING THE EYES AND THE EARS FOR THE POLICE.

>> A LOT OF POLICE DO LIVE IN GARFIELD RIDGE BUT CRIME IS NOT RAMPANT.

AL CACCCIOTTOLO SAYS LIVING IN GARFIELD RIDGE IS LIKE LIVING IN THE SUBURBS.

ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE WATCH, JANJA TAYLOR HAS FAMILY TIES TO THE COMMUNITY BUT SHE THOSE TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION CLOSE TO I55 AND BECAUSE SHE LIKES LIVING IN THE CITY WITHOUT LIVING IN THE THICK OF IT.

IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT THE WATCH IS CAREFUL TO VERIFY THIS IS NOT HERE SAY THAT THEY CHECK DETAILS WITH POLICE AND ANY VICTIMS BEFORE POSTING ANYTHING ON THE WATCH'S SOCIAL MEDIA.

BUT WHILE THE WATCH BEGAN AND WAS ABOUT INITIALLY KEEPING THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE THAT'S NO LONGER ITS FOCUS.

>> OVER THE YEARS IT'S GROWN INTO MORE OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.

SO WE'VE GONE FROM PATROLLING ON THE STREETS TO HOLDING LARGE EVENTS.

WE DO TWO COMMUNITY YARD SALES A YEAR.

WE DO EVENTS LIKE THE CAR SHOW WE'VE TAKEN OVER.

WE DO A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE CHRISTMAS EVENT AT WENTWORTH PARK.

>> SHE TELLS US THAT SANTA MAKES AN APPEARANCE AND GOES THROUGH MANY STREETS VISITING LOTS OF NEIGHBORS.

MOVING ON TO ONE OF THE STREETS ARCHER AVENUE IS A MAIN ARTERY AND THAT IS WHERE WE MET THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SAYS THE CHAMBER IS HERE TO SUPPORT THE MULTIGENERATIONAL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THRIVED AND MADE IT THROUGH A RECESSION AND PANDEMIC AND NEW ONES POPPING UP.

SHE SAYS, HOWEVER, THAT COVID HAS BEEN HARD.

THERE IS THE COST OF PPE, HAVING TO CLOSE AND NOW STAFF SHORTAGES.

>> THEY SAY THERE'S ALL THE GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE BUT I HAVE A LOT MORE BUSINESSES ON ARCHER AVENUE WHO APPLIED AND NOT RECEIVED ANY GRANT MONEY WHATSOEVER.

AND MOST BUSINESSES ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT.

WE WANT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS THE WAY WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT BE GOOD, PROVIDE A GOOD SERVICE, PROVIDE A GOOD PRODUCT, BE FAIR, AND WE EXPECT THE SAME IN RETURN.

>> NOW, SPEAKING OF COVID, THE RATE OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN THIS 60638 ZIP CODE IS 5.7% AND 49% OF RESIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE CITY DATA ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

IN CONTRAST THERE IS A 4.2% POSITIVITY RATE IN ALL OF CHICAGO.

AND NEARLY 55% ARE VACCINATED CITYWIDE.

Dr. EUNICE KIM IS A FAMILY PHYSICIAN WHOSE CLINIC IS IN GARFIELD RIDGE AND SHE IS WORKING TO BRING THAT RATE OF VACCINATION UP.

PARENTS AND YOUTHS OVER THE AGE OF 12 WHO ARE COMING IN TO GET THE BACK TO SCHOOL PHYSICALS SHE IS READY TO GIVE THEM THAT SHOT.

>> I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT WE ARE HERE FOR OUR PATIENTS IN THIS GARFIELD RIDGE COMMUNITY.

SO WHENEVER THEY DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEIR DECISION.

AND IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER FOR THAT, TOO.

IN TERMS OF THE VACCINES IT IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT TOO ABOVE 90%.

AND 90% IS AN A.

>> GARFIELD RIDGE BASED BEAT THE STREETS IS ALSO LOOKING OUT FOR CHICAGO'S YOUTH.

THE ORGANIZATION TAKES BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 5-HIGH SCHOOL TO THE MAT, THE WRESTLING MAT.

>> WRESTLING IS PROBLEMLY THE -- PROBABLY THE BEST FIT BECAUSE LIFE IS DIFFICULT AND WRESTLING IS HARD.

IT IS NOT EASY WHEN YOU FIRST GET INTO WRESTLING YOU WILL GET YOUR BUTT KICKED AND TAKE A LOT OF BEATINGS.

BUT PERSEVERANCE, HARD WORK, DEDICATION, LEARNING HOW TO FINE-TUNE YOUR CRAFT, SLOWLY AND SURELY YOU GET BETTER.

>> DIXON SAY BEAT THE STREETS IS ABOUT HELPING TO DEVELOP CHILDREN OFF THE MAT AS WELL.

YES, THERE IS A WEIGHT ROOM AND OBVIOUSLY THE MAT BUT THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS TUTORING, LITERACY HELP AND LIFE COACHING.

AND THEY HAVE THIS NEW PLACE TO DO IT.

$2 MILLION OF RENOVATIONS TOWARD THIS BUILDING THAT JUST OPENED IN JUNE AS BEAT THE STREETS HEADQUARTERS.

NEXT MONTH, BEAT THE STREETS STARTS ITS NEW FALL PROGRAM AND YOU CAN REGISTER ON THE WEBSITE AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BEAT THE STREETS FOR TAKING US OFF THE STREETS THIS EVENING WITH STORMS IN THE FORECAST.

NOW, WE WILL BE BACK LATER WITH GARFIELD RIDGE RESIDENT AND ALSO THE LOCAL ALDERWOMAN, SILVANA TABARES.

BUT FOR NOW, BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> COOLER AND DRYER IN THERE.

THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS AND A NEW LAW AIMED AT HELPING COOK COUNTY'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

>> PARIS, IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION IN COOK COUNTY WILL NOW BE ABLE TO ACCESS LEGAL REPRESENTATION FROM PUBLIC DEFENDERS STARTING IN JANUARY.

A PAIR OF BILLS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER PROVIDES NOT ONLY LEGAL COUNSEL BUT PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS SO IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WILL KNOW THEIR RIGHTS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE LEGISLATION AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITY ARE HENA MANSORI, HEAD OF THE IMMIGRATION UNIT AT THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER GONG GERSHOWITZ THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER GONG GERSHOWITZ LET'S START WITH YOU YOU WERE A SPONSOR OF THESE BILLS.

WHY DID YOU THINK THESE WERE NECESSARY?

>> THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION ARE FUNDAMENTALLY AT THEIR CORE ABOUT INSURING BASIC JUSTICE AND FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS.

YOU CANNOT EXERCISE RIGHTS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE.

AND THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE DEVASTATING.

AND WITH RESPECT TO ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION EVERYONE DESERVES REPRESENTATION IN A COURTROOM ESPECIALLY WHEN THE STAKES ARE AS HIGH AS THEY ARE IN IMMIGRATION CASES.

IMMIGRANTS ARE VULNERABLE THEY MAY STRUGGLE WITH ENGLISH AND UNLIKELY TO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE COURT SYSTEM AND IT CAN TAKE YEARS FOR A TRAINED ATTORNEY TO MASTER THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO HANDLE A COMPLEX IMMIGRATION CASE.

AND YET WE'RE ASKING INDIVIDUALS THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION TO DEFEND OFTENTIMES THE EQUIVALENT OF A DEW POINT CASE IN A TRAFFIC -- DEATH PENALTY CASE IN A TRAFFIC COURT LIKE SETTING THIS GIVES THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE THE OPTION OF I REPRESENTING IMMIGRANTS IN THE REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS PROVIDING CONSISTENCY IN REPRESENTATION AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE.

>> AND HENA MANSORI, HOW DOES THE PUBLIC DEFEND ERBIL IMPACT THE WAY YOUR IMMIGRATION UNIT CAN OPERATE?

>> OUR IMMIGRATION UNIT WAS LAUNCHED IN FALL OF 2020 WITH A GOAL OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A MORE ROBUST REPRESENTATION TO THE NONCITIZEN CLIENTS THAT OUR OFFICE HAS AND THAT IS ASSISTING THEM WHEN THEY ARE IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE REPRESENTATION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY ARE PLACED IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO PRO IDENTIFY A -- PROVIDE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REPRESENTING INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE CRIMINAL CASES ARISING IN COOK COUNTY AND THE SYSTEMS ARE CLOSELY INTERTWINED.

CRIMINAL CASES HAVE A GRAVE IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS IMMIGRATION OPTIONS.

AND SOMEBODY'S IMMIGRATION STATUS CAN AFFECT WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO AND HOW THEY MAY ENCOUNTER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND SO WE FELT THAT AND WE NEEDED TO HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TOWARDS TAKING CARE OF THESE CLIENTS SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS BOTH OF THESE NEEDS AND TO DO THAT THIS BILL WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE REPRESENTATION.

>> AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER GONG GERSHOWITZ FROM YOUR OPINION HOW DOES HAVING THE LEGAL COUNSEL AFFECT AN OUTCOME FOR SOMEONE FACING DEPORTATION?

>> WELL, IT'S DRAMATIC.

I THINK MOST RECENTLY I READ A STUDY BY THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL WHICH FOUND THAT AMONG DETAINED IMMIGRANTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING REPRESENTATION AND NOT HAVING REPRESENTATION CAME DOWN TO A MATTER OF ALMOST TWO TIMES BEING MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IF SOMEBODY HAD ACCESS TO COUNSEL.

IN CASES WHERE AN IMMIGRANT WAS NOT DETAINED, THE STUDY FOUND THAT SUCCESS WAS ALMOST FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY WHEN SOMEBODY HAD ACCESS TO COUNSEL.

SO THE RESULTS IN THE CASES AREN'T DEPENDENT ON THE MERITS.

THE MERITS ARE THE SAME WHETHER YOU HAVE A REPRESENTATION OR YOU DON'T HAVE REPRESENTATION.

THE DIFFERENCE IS YOU'RE ABILITY TO ARTICULATES THE MERITS OF YOUR CASE.

AS I SAID, HAVING ACCESS TO COUNSEL HAS A DRAMATIC IMPACT IN THE SUCCESS OF SOMEONE OBTAINING RELIEF.

AND AS I SAID, THE MERITS OF THE CASE ARE THE SAME.

THE DIFFERENCE IS IN YOUR ABILITY TO ARTICULATE A COMPLEX LEGAL STANDARD WITH ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION.

>> AND HENA MANSORI YOU SAID YOUR UNIT IS STILL FAIRLY YOUNG BUT HOW HAVE YOU STARTED WORKING TOWARD THIS IMPLEMENTING THIS RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION MODEL IN YOUR OFFICE?

>> WE'RE STAFFING UP OUR UNITS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON INTERVIEWING OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

AND I'VE BEEN CONSIDERING WHAT OUR REPRESENTATION MODEL WILL LOOK LIKE SO THAT COME EARLY 2022 WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO GO INTO IMMIGRATION COURT WE'LL HAVE A MODEL SETUP AND KNOW HOW CLIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US, AND SEEK OUR REPRESENTATION.

>> GOT IT.

AND THIS PUBLIC DEFEND ERBIL CAME OUT HAND IN HAND WITH A PUSH FOR MORE PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS.

JENNIFER GONG GERSHOWITZ DO YOU BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF THIS PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES UNTIL THIS POINT?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

PRIOR TO COMING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I WORKED IN IMMIGRATION FOR OVER TWO DECADES.

AND IT WAS ALWAYS DEVASTATING TO ME TO SEE SOMEBODY COME IN WHO WAIVED THEIR RIGHT.

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO ASSERT THEM THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD RIGHTS.

AND OFTENTIMES WERE PRESENTED WITH DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION THAT WERE NOT PRESENTED TO THEM IN THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY COULD UNDERSTAND.

I HAD CASES WHERE SOMEBODY HAD SIGNED THEIR OWN REMOVAL ORDER.

WHICH IN IMMIGRATION CASES IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO OVERCOME AND THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS THEY WERE SIGNING DID NOT KNOW THEY HAD A RIGHT TO OBTAIN COUNSEL.

THE CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING YOUR RIGHTS CAN BE DEVASTATING AND THIS IS A SIMPLE MATTER OF EDUCATION.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S MANY AMERICANS WHO CAN'T RECITE THE MIRANDA WARNINGS.

WE'VE ALL SEEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT ON TELEVISION AND COURTROOM DRAMAS AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE CONSIDER TO BE FUNDAMENTAL TO DUE PROCESS AND FAIRNESS.

FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, OFTENTIMES LEFT WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THEY EVEN HAVE RIGHTS TO ASSERT.

SO FOR ME, THIS WOULD BE A GAME-CHANGER IN INSURING THAT THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE, KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RIGHTS AND CAN ASSERT THEM.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO HENA MANSORI AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER GONG GERSHOWITZ FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, WE CHECK WITH AMANDA VINICKY WHO IS REPORTING LIVE FROM GARFIELD RIDGE.

STAY WITH US.

>> CHECKING BACK IN NOW WITH AMANDA VINICKY WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN GARFIELD RIDGE AS A PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> BRANDIS EARLIER TODAY, I CAUGHT UP WITH THE 23rd WARD ALDERPERSON SILVANA TABARES SHE DOESN'T JUST REPRESENT GARFIELD RIDGE SHE LIVES HERE TOO AS DO A LOT OF FIRST-RESPONDERS.

I STARTED OFF BY ASKING HER ABOUT POLICING INCLUDING HOW THE COMMUNITY IS IS IT STILL REELING FROM THE KILLING OF POLICE OFFICER ELLA FRENCH?

>> FIRST OF ALL LAST YEAR I VOTED NO ON THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S WRONG TO CUT FUNDING FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE FORCED TO WORK 12-HOUR SHIFTS WITH BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO SLEEP, LET ALONE SEE THEIR FAMILIES.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO NEEDS TO RECRUIT MORE POLICE OFFICERS.

I WANT TO SEE MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE 23rd WARD.

RESIDENTS DO NOT FEEL SAFE.

WE NEED TO FUND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

WE NEED POLICE RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE MORALE.

WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE MORALE CONDITION THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OFFICER WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY GO HAND IN HAND.

>> HOW DO YOU RESPOND HOWEVER TO RESIDENTS THAT SAY I DON'T WANT MORE POLICE THEY MAKE ME FEEL MORE UNSAFE OR IS THAT NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU GET FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS?

>> I WORK WITH OUR LOCAL DISTRICT COMMANDER IN THE 8TH DISTRICT AND I WORKED WITH HIM TO PURCHASE MULTIPLE CAMERAS IN THE WARD FOR THE WARD OUT OF MY DISTRICT ALLOTMENT BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO HELP POLICE TO DO THEIR JOBS.

TO HELP KEEP US SAFE.

>> I KNOW THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT ALDERMEN WERE HAVING TO GIVE MONEY THAT WOULD BE SPENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUT IT TOWARDS POLICE CAMERAS.

ARE YOU HEARING ENOUGH FROM SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN WHAT HE NEEDS TO BOOST MORALE AND HIRE MORE OFFICERS?

>> I MADE IT CLEAR WHEN WE CALLED A HEARING BACK ON JULY FIRST, WE HAD THAT HEARING OVER THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND AND I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT OFFICER WELLNESS AND THE 12-HOUR SHIFTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR A BUDGET THAT IS GOING TO CUT FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE NEED FUNDING FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I'M ALSO NOT GOING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF HOMEOWNERS LIKE THOSE IN GARFIELD RIDGE.

>> SOME OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS MANY OF THEM ARE ELDERLY, ARE YOU GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS THE DELTA VARIANT IS VERY MUCH HERE ABOUT BOOSTERS AND VACCINATIONS WHAT ARE YOU TELLING PEOPLE, THE SENIOR RESIDENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED?

>> WE NEED TO FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY.

THE EASIER WE MAKE IT FOR RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED, WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED.

WE SEE PROGRESS BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS.

AND I FIND IT THAT WHEN WE MAKE THE PROCESS EASIER, IT'S EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED AND THAT'S WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO BE FOCUSING ON.

>> ARE WE DOING ENOUGH?

>> I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING IN MARCH WE HAD A VACCINATION HERE IN GARFIELD RIDGE.

IT WAS AT HAIL PARK WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY AND WE VACCINATED MORE THAN 500 RESIDENTS.

PARTICULARLY SENIOR CITIZENS OVER THE AGE OF 5.

I'M WORKING TO GET ANOTHER VACCINE EVENT AND FLU SHOT THIS FALL HERE IN GARFIELD RIDGE BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE THE SENIORS WHO WANT TO GET VACCINATED NEAR THEIR HOME AND THAT IS WHAT I MEAN WE NEED ACCESSIBILITY WE NEED TO MAKE IT ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED.

>> NOW, THE GOVERNOR JUST ANNOUNCING A MASK MANDATE AND THEN IN SELECT CASES VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS STATE-WIDE AND THE MAYOR NOW SAYING THIS IS REQUIRED OF ALL CITY WORKERS GETTING PUSHBACK FROM UNIONS.

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

SHOULD VACCINATIONS BE REQUIRED FOR CITY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING OFFICERS?

>> LIKE I MENTIONED WE NEED TO FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED.

BECAUSE WHAT I FIND IS THAT I FIND IT EASIER WHEN YOU FIND THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT EASY, YOU FIND IT EASIER RESIDENTS TO DO IT.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO FOCUS ON ENCOURAGE.

>> ENCOURAGE NOT MANDATE.

>> MANDATE IS NOT A RIGHT APPROACH AND I HOPE THE CITY AND THE UNIONS DO COME TOGETHER TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT THAT WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY WORKERS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM LIKE OUR FIRST-RESPONDERS AND OUR POLICE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE WORK-FROM-HOME.

THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE IN THE FRONTLINES KEEPING US SAFE.

>> NOW, GEARING UP FOR SOME CITY COUNCIL BUDGET BATTLES THERE BUT SILVANA TABARES' OFFICE IS TEAMING UP WITH THE GARFIELD RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK TO HOST A FUNDRAISER GET BEHIND THE VEST OCTOBER 3.

WE WILL BE BACK AGAIN WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY'S AVIATION DEPARTMENT AS WE HEAR FROM PLANES FROM MIDWAY FLYING OVERHEAD.

>> AND THERE IS A WATCH PARTY GOING ON IN GARFIELD RIDGE.

>> THOSE ARE IMPASSIONED INTERVIEW WITH THE ALDERPERSON THERE.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

AND PARIS BACK TO YOU?

>> I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO ESCAPE CITY LIGHTS?

A LOCAL FOREST PRESERVE IS AN OFFICIAL URBAN NIGHT SKY PLACE WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW TO BEST ENJOY THE DARKNESS.

>> WHAT BABBLING BABY BATS MAY TELL US ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE AND WHAT SIMULATED RAT WHISKERS CAN TELL US ABOUT TOUCH.

>> AND HISTORY LESSONS AND DANCE LESSONS WITH THE LIP SON STALLIONS.

ANGEL IDOWU HAS THE STORY.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> REACTION IS POURING IN TONIGHT TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A MASK MANDATE AND VACCINE MANDATE FOR ALL TEACHERS.

RETAIL BUSINESS AND MANUFACTURING GROUPS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MASK MANDATE.

THE ILLINOIS RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION SAID QUOTE...

THE ILLINOIS CHAMBER SUPPORTS THE MANDATES THE STATE'S LARGEST TEACHERS' UNION SIGNED ON TO THE VACCINE MANDATE SAYING IT'S QUOTE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR EDUCATION OF OUR STATE'S YOUTH.

>> THE GOVERNOR AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. NGOZI EZIKE ANNOUNCED THE MANDATE CITING RISING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE NEED TO CONTROL THE RAPIDLY SPREADING DELTA VARIANT.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE.

VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE.

BUT UNTIL MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, WE NEED TO TAKE THE STEPS TO PROTECT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, PROTECT OUR HOSPITAL RESOURCES, AND PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

>> UNEMPLOYMENT DECREASED IN ALL METRO AREAS INCLUDING CHICAGO.

THIS ACCORDING TO DATA RELEASED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

THE CHICAGO METRO AREA SAW UNEMPLOYMENT DIP FROM 13.3% TO 8% LAST MONTH A DROP OF 5.3%.

STATE-WIDE UNEMPLOYMENT WENT DOWN FROM 12.4% TO 7.

A DIP OF MORE THAN 5%.

>> SUPPLEMENTAL FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

TO BRANDIS FOR DETAILS INTO A UNIQUE DESIGNATION FOR A LOCAL FOREST PRESERVE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> PALOS PRESERVES IN COOK COUNTY HAS A LOT TO OFFER.

TRAILS FOR HIKING AND BIKING AND HILLS A RARE COMMODITY FOR COMMITTEE.

AND NOW THE PRESERVES ARE KNOWN FOR A FEATURE ONLY AVAILABLE AFTER SUNSET IT'S DARKNESS.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

PATTY PALOS PRESERVES GETS DARK SO DARK IT'S RECEIVED A NEW DESIGNATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION.

WHICH WE WILL COME BACK TO IN A MINUTE.

FIRST, TELL US WHAT IS THIS DESIGNATION AND HOW UNIQUE IS IT?

>> IT IS NOW AN OFFICIAL URBAN NIGHT SKY PLACE.

IT'S ONE OF ONLY THREE PLACES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD WITH THAT DESIGNATION.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IT IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN FIND AN AUTHENTIC NIGHTTIME EXPERIENCE EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A LOT OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT WHICH OBVIOUSLY COMES FROM CHICAGO.

SO IT'S NOT SAYING IT'S LIKE AS DARKEST SOMEPLACE IN THE WILDERNESS OR DONALD LASSERE BUT IT IS ACCORDING TO FOLKS AT THE ADLER PLANETARIUM, A THOUSAND TIMES LESS LIGHT THAN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO.

SO CONSIDERABLY DARKER AND YOU CAN SEE FOUR TIMES AS MANY STARS IN THE PALOS PRESERVES THAN YOU CAN IN THE CITY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A SUPER HERO MOVIE.

WHAT IS IT?

>> IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES THE CONSERVATION OF DARK SKIES.

SO THINKING OF DARKNESS DARK SKIES AS BEING AS RARE AS SOME HABITAT.

SO THEY ADVOCATE AGAINST LIGHT POLLUTION AND FOR THE FOREST PRESERVES, THAT MEANS THAT THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED A LOT OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LIGHTING THINGS THAT DIM THE IMPACT FROM AN ECOLOGICAL STANDPOINT.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW BIRDS MIGRATING CAN BE IMPACTED BY SO MUCH ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.

IT THROWSES OFF ANIMALS MATING HABITS.

HUMANS OUR RHYTHMS GET THROWN OFF BY ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.

WHAT THE FOREST PRESERVES AND THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION IS TRYING TO TAMP THAT DOWN AND BRING BACK THE DARKNESS.

>> IF ONE WANTED TO VISIT THE NEWLY CERTIFIED DARK SKIES BECAUSE THE PARK IS CLOSED HOW WOULD ONE DO THAT?

>> IRONICALLY THE PRESERVE CLOSES AT SUNSET BUT THEY HAVE CAMPGROUNDS THERE.

YOU CAN HAVE A COMPLETE IMMERSION OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE DARK AND THE PRESERVES ARE GOING TO PARTNER WITH ADLER PLANETARIUM ON BRINGING DARK SKY ACTIVITIES TO THE PARK LIKE SKY GAZING SO WE CAN SEE THE METEORS I'M ALWAYS TELLING YOU ABOUT AND WE CAN NEVER SEE IN THE CITY.

>> AND WE EXPECT YOU TO REPORT BACK IF YOU GO OUT ON THAT EXPERIENCE.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> UP NEXT, BATS, RATS AND CUDDLE FISH.

THAT AND MORE IN OUR ROUNDUP OF SCIENCE STORIES MAKING WAVES.

STICK AROUND.

>> BABBLING BHAB BATS, SIMULATED RATS, THE MEMORY OF CUDDLE FISH AND WHY CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF SOME KEY MENTAL ABILITIES IMPROVE WITH AGING.

JOINING US TO HELP US UNDERSTAND IS UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PALEONTOLOGIST NEIL SHUBIN.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S START WITH THE BAT STORY.

RESEARCHERS AT THE SMITHSONIAN FOUND THAT BABY HUMANS SHARE A INTERESTING TRAIT WITH BABY BATS.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> YES, SO THIS TEAM WAS LOOKING AT-BATS THE FAT WINGED BAT FROM PANAMA AND THEY WATCH THEM IN THE WILD IN THE NATURAL SETTINGS.

AND IT TURNS OUT THE BABY BATS LEARN VOCAL SIGNALS FROM THEIR MOM BY A FORM OF BABBLING LIKE HUMANS DO.

THEY WILL REPEAT A SYLLABLE LIKE DA, DA, DA, OR MA, MA, SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEN THEY LEARN FROM THEIR MOTHER AS THEY BEGIN TO BABBLE AND REFINE THEIR LANGUAGE AS THEY BABBLE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE SOUND OF THAT BABBLING LET'S PLAY THAT SOUND AS I ASK YOU THIS QUESTION IS THIS BABBLING A TRAIT UNIQUE TO HUMANS AND BATS?

OR ARE THERE OTHER ANIMALS DEVELOP LANGUAGE LIKE THIS?

>> SO FAR WITHIN MAMMALS WHICH HAVE HAIR AND SO FORTH IT'S THE BATS AND THE HUMANS.

BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT BIRDS CAN DO IT AS WELL THOUGH THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF VOCAL LEARNING.

IT'S CUTE.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A BIRD THAT IS A BABY BAT DOES IT TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE IN GENERAL?

>> IT SHOWS US THE ROOTS OF LANGUAGE RUN OUTSIDE OF OUR SPECIES.

SO THE ROOTS OF LANGUAGE PRECEDE THE EVOLUTION OF OUR OWN SPECIES.

IT'S FABULOUS.

>> A LOST SPECIES ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

LET'S MOVE ON TO CUDDLE FISH.

A TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHERS DISCOVERED THAT CUDDLE FISH RETAIN SHARP MEMORIES OF SPECIFIC EVENTS IN OLD AGE.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?

>> THEY ARE REMARKABLE.

THESE ARE SMART ANIMALS AND THEY LIVE ABOUT TWO YEARS.

>> SO OLD AGE IS RELATIVE.

>> THEY ARE 90 BY 22 MONTHS.

THE EQUIVALENT OF 9O BUT THE THING IS THAT THEY TESTED THESE CUDDLE FISH AND THEY PUT UP SIGNALS WHERE FOOD WOULD BE.

AND THEY DID OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND BURIED -- VARIED THE SIGNALS AND TRAINED THEM AND BURIED THEM IN OTHERS.

THE CUDDLE FISH WERE ABLE TO REMEMBER THE SIGNALS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES UNTIL THE DAY THEY DIED.

UNLIKE HUMANS WHERE SHORT-TERM MEMORIES CAN DISAPPEAR AND IN CUDDLE FISH THEY DON'T.

>> INTERESTING SPECIES.

IS THERE THEORY WHY THEIR MEMORY IS SO GOOD IN OLD AGE?

>> THEY STORE THEIR MEMORIES A DIFFERENT WAY THAN US.

WE STORE OUR SHORT-TERM MEMORIES IN THE HIPPO CAMPUS WHICH DEGENERATES AS WE GET OLDER WE HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING NAMES.

CUDDLE FISH DO IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE TO STORE THEIR SHORT-TERM MEMORIES THAT DOES NOT AGE.

>> SPEAKING OF MEMORY AND MENTAL ABILITY THERE IS A STUDY OUT OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER THAT SAYS CONTRARY TO MOST OF OUR COLLECTIVE BELIEF THAT THERE ARE SOME ELEMENTS OF MEMORY THAT IMPROVE IN HUMAN AGING OR AS HUMANS AGE?

>> YES, THANK GOODNESS, RIGHT.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW SHORT-TERM MEMORY.

AND WHAT THIS TEAM IS THEY GAVE INDIVIDUALS AGES 58 TO 95 A TEST.

AND THIS TEST REQUIRED THEM TO THINK ON THEIR FEET VERY RAPIDLY.

AND IT TURNED OUT SOME ASPECTS OF ATTENTION AND MEMORY ACTUALLY GET BETTER WITH AGE.

OTHERS DECREASE.

IT IS A MIXED PALLET BUT IT WAS REMARKABLE DISCOVERY.

>> WHAT ARE THE ASPECTS GET BETTER VERSUS THE ONES THAT DECREASE?

>> THINK OF DRIVING.

THERE'S THREE COMPONENTS ACTIVE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING.

ONE IS ALERT, THE OTHER IS ORIENTATION AND THE OTHER IS EXECUTIVE FUNCTION.

IN TERMS OF ALERT APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION THE ALERT PHASE SAYS I'M APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND THE NEXT IS ORIENTATION IF THERE IS A PASSENGER ORIENTATION IS WHEN YOU BRAIN FOCUSES YOU ON THAT PASSENGER.

THE THIRD IS EXECUTIVE AND EXECUTIVE ALLOWS YOU TO FILTER OUT ALL THE OTHER SIGNALS TO FOCUS ON THAT PASSENGER INDEPENDENTLY, FILTER OUT ALL THE OTHER SENSORY INFORMATION TO FOCUS ON THAT PEDESTRIAN.

SO IN THIS CASE WHAT YOU HAVE IS THE ALERT FUNCTION IS DECREASING IN FUNCTION WHEREAS THE ORIENTATION AND THE EXECUTIVE ONES ARE INCREASING.

IT IS REMARKABLE AND THAT WAS A VERY, VERY STATISTICALLY SIGRID SCHULTZ NATIONAL OF AGING.

>> MORE FOCUS AND BETTER DECISION MAKING DOES IT HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH?

>> THE FEELING IS THESE ARE LEARNED.

THE REASON WHY WE GET BETTER WITH AGE NOT BECAUSE OUR BRAINS ARE WORKING PHYSIOLOGICALLY BETTER, BUT IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNED THESE THINGS WE RETAIN THAT LEARNING OVER TIME.

PERHAPS BY REENFORCING THESE THINGS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE IN AGING BRAINS THAT WE CAN PREVENT DETERIORATION IN SOME WAYS.

>> LAST STORY NOT LEAST, RAT WHISKERS, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY DID A SIMULATION OF A COMPLETE RAT WHISKER SYSTEM.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF RESEARCHING RATS' WHISKERS.

>> RAT WHISKERS ARE AMAZING.

RATS DO NOT USE THEIR EYES AS MUCH AS WHISKERS THEY HAVE ABOUT 70 OF THEM.

OF DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES AND THEY ALLOW THEM TO SEE THEIR ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE BENDING OF THE HAIRS.

THE BRAIN IS INTEGRATING ALL THE SIGNALS FROM THE DIFFERENT WHISKERS TO GIVE A SENSORY PICTURE OF THE WORLD IT IS REMARKABLE THING.

AND WHAT THE NORTHWESTERN TEAM IS THEY SAID WE CANNOT STUDY THESE THINGS IN LIVING RATS.

WHAT WE CAN DO WE CAN MODEL THEM MATHEMATICALLY.

THEY DID A 3D SCAN OF A RAT'S WHISKERS AND THEY MODELED WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM AS THE RAT WOULD ENTER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AS IT PUT ITS HEAD IN A PIPE AND WALKED AROUND A ROOM AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SHOW HOW A RAT CAN PERCEIVE SHAPE AND SIZE AND MOVEMENT OF AIR THROUGH ITS WHISKERS.

>> AND THE RESEARCHERS IN THIS ARTICLE SAID IT MIGHT SHED LIGHT ON THE MYSTERIOUS NATURE OF HUMAN TOUCH.

HOW SO?

>> YES, THINK ABOUT IT.

LET'S THEY YOU ARE IN A DARKROOM AND FUMBLING AROUND WITH YOUR HANDS AGAINST A WALL LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT SWITCH YOU ARE SENSING THAT ROOM THROUGH YOUR HANDS AND TOUCH AND THAT IS A COMPLICATED SET OF SYSTEMS THERE THAT ARE WORKING.

TOUCH IS AMAZINGLY COMPLICATED.

BECAUSE IT'S TIED TO HOW WE USE OUR HANDS AND OUR BODIES TIED TO THE MOTOR PIECE AS WELL HOW WE USE OUR MUSCLES.

THINK ABOUT HOLDING A COFFEE CUP WITHOUT THE SENSE OF CUP YOU WOULD DROP THE CUP.

IT'S TIED TO SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO.

TOUCH IS UNDERESTIMATED AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> WE HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION WHEN I SEE THE RAT OUTSIDE MY BUILDING SCURRYING TOWARD THE DUMPSTER WHAT THAT RAT CAN TEACH ME ABOUT HUMAN TOUCH.

NEIL SHUBIN THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND UP NEXT MORE FROM GARFIELD RIDGE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT SOME EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND... >> AND NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH AMANDA VINICKY WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN GARFIELD RIDGE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

AMANDA?

>> MAYBE THIS WEEKEND OR NEXT FOR THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY YOU'RE PLANNING TO TRAVEL PERHAPS TAKING A FLIGHT OUT OF MIDWAY WE HAVE WITH US NOW ELIZABETH GRANADOS-PEREZ, YOU ARE MANAGING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR MIDWAY OPERATIONS ALSO A GARFIELD RIDGE RESIDENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY WAS DEVASTATED BY COVID AND RESTRICTIONS.

SO WHAT WAS THE IMPACT LIKE FOR MIDWAY AND HAS IT REBOUNDED?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING I APPRECIATE IT.

YES, THE AIRPORT JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER AIRPORT WAS IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

BUT AS HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THE AVIATION INDUSTRY AND THE AIRLINES HAVE REBOUNDED THROUGH OTHER CHALLENGES SO WE ARE CONFIDENT THEY ARE GOING TO REBOUND THROUGH THIS CHALLENGE AS WELL.

MIDWAY AIRPORT ITSELF STAYED OPEN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT CONTINUED TO SERVICE OUR TRAVELING PUBLIC.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT MIDWAY ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF THE AIRPORTS THAT REBOUNDED QUICKER THAN OTHERS DUE TO ITS LEISURE AND DOMESTIC TRAVEL DESTINATIONS.

AND ONE OTHER QUICK FACT IS THAT IN 2021 WE HAVE HAD DAYS WHERE THE TRAVELING FIGURES HAVE EQUALED OR EXCEEDED 2019 NUMBERS WHICH WERE PREPANDEMIC.

THAT GIVES US ALL HOPE THAT WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> PEOPLE READY TO GET SOMEWHERE ELSE AFTER STAYING AT HOME FOR SO LONG.

AND YOU PROBABLY HAD TO MAKE CHANGES OPERATIONALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT EMPLOYEES AND PASSENGERS WERE SAFE.

WHAT ABOUT OPERATIONS?

>> SO FIRST AND FOREMOST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF OUR PASSENGERS AS WELL AS OUR EMPLOYEES IS FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR US.

SO WITH THE SUPPORT OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WE DID WORK WITH THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS AGENCIES, TO INSURE THAT WE HAD GUIDELINES THAT PROTECTED THE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS OUR PASSENGERS.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE ENCOURAGE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SO WE HAVE SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE AIRPORT AS WELL AS MARKERS ON THE FLOOR TO INSURE SIX FEET OF DISTANCING.

WE HAVE INSTALLED HAND SANITATION UNITS THROUGHOUT THE AIRPORT AND WE ENCOURAGE MASKS.

MASKS NEED TO BE WORN IN THE AIRPORT.

>> AND ALSO I KNOW THERE'S LOW TOUCH CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE.

I WANT TO TOUCH ON THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DONE OVER CICERO RELATED TO MIDWAY.

WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON SECURITY CHECKPOINTS.

>> OUR MODERNIZATION PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE NEW SECURITY PAVILION IT IS 80,000 SQUARE FEET IT IS SEVEN TIMES WIDER THAN THE PREVIOUS PAVILION THAT WE HAD AND THE TSA THREW PUT INCREASED FROM 2500 PASSENGERS PER HOUR TO 5,000 PASSENGERS PER HOUR.

IT IS A NEW, GREAT AMENITY THAT I HOPE EVERYONE CAN COME OUT AND SEE.

>> MAKES IT A LOT EASIER, FASTER WHEN YOU CAN GET THROUGH SECURITY QUICKLY WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING TO TRAVEL AGAIN PERHAPS YOU ARE LOOKING TO DO SO COMING UP FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THAT WAS ELIZABETH GRANADOS-PEREZ WITH THE CITY'S AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND TIME FLEW.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> TIME FLEW.

I SAW WHAT I DID THERE.

THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, DANCE LESSONS WITH THE LIP SON STALLIONS.

S >> THERE IS A FARM NORTH OF THE CITY THAT IS WORKING TO PRESERVE AN EQUESTRIAN ART FORM YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN AT THIS SUMMER'S OLYMPICS.

>> ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US TO THE FARM AND THE LIPISON STALLIONS THEY ARE TEACHING TO DANCE.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE ART FORM ALIVE AND THE TRAINING AND THE HISTORY INVOLVED INTO CURRENT DAY.

WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW PLACES STILL DOING IT.

>> TEMPLE FARMS IN OLD MILL CREEK ILLINOIS THAT A RARE HORSE BREED KNOWN AS THE LIPISON STALLION IS TRAINED IN DEGREE SANDALING OR A FORM OF EQUESTRIAN RIDING.

>> THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT STYLES DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES.

WE HAVE HEARS HORSES THAT ARE IN THE QUAD DRILL AND THIS IS THE SOLO HORSE HE SHOWS ALL OF THE MOVEMENTS IN FRONT OF THE CROWD BY HIMSELF.

WE TAKE SOME OF OUR MOST TALENTED HORSES AND DEVELOP THEM INTO SOLO HORSES.

>> IT'S USUALLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS BEFORE A LIPISON STALLION LIKE COOKIE BEGINS THEIR FORMAL TRAINING.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE PUT INTO THESE HORSES BEFORE THEY ARE READY TO PERFORM.

IT IS A LIFELONG ENDEAVOR FOR BOTH THE RIDERS AND THE HORSES.

>> THE RELATIONSHIP IS BUILT OVER A FIVE TO SIX-YEAR PERIOD WITH TRAINERS WORKING WITH THE HORSES FOR ABOUT AN HOUR A DAY.

ONCE THEY HAVE THEIR ROUTINES DOWN IT'S SHOWTIME.

>> IN THE CENTER WE HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD MARE.

>> THE SHOW WEEKLY RECITALS THE NEWEST EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY OFFERED BY TEMPLE FARMS WHERE ATTENDEES CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ART FORM.

>> THIS BREED WAS ESTABLISHED 400 YEARS AGO.

>> BEGINNING WITH THE YOUNGEST OF OUR HERD OUR FOALS WE MODE RATE WHAT IT IS ABOUT THE LIPISON HORSE THAT ENABLES IT TO DO WHAT WE CALL DANCING WHICH IS DRESAGE.

WE SHOW FROM YOUNG HORSE TO INTERMEDIATE HORSE TO ADVANCED HORSE WHAT IT IS THAT THE RIDER IS DOING.

>> PROGRAM DIRECTOR NARRATES THE WEEKLY RECITALS AND WHY SHE IS NOT A TRAINER, SHE SAYS IT'S BOTH THE HORSE'S NATURAL ABILITY AND CURIOSITY TO ADOPT TO THIS ART FORM THAT MAKES HER PROUD TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON THIS HISTORICAL LEGACY.

>> THESE STALLIONS LEARN TO WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER.

THEY LEARN TO NOT JUST MOVE ON A STRAIGHT LINE BUT TO CROSS THEIR LEGS OVER AND REALLY ELEGANT WAYS WE DO A PIROUETTE RATHER THAN DOING A CIRCLE ON A STRAIGHT LINE THEY ARE NOW DOING A CIRCLE CARRYING THEMSELVES ON THE HIND END AND WHAT WE DO AT TEMPLE LIPISONS WHICH IS NOT DONE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY, IS THE AIRS ABOVE THE GROUND AND FORMER BATTLE MANEUVERS INTO A ART FORM WHERE YOU SEE HORSES JUMP OFF THEIR FEET AND KICK IN THE AIR.

>> I LOVE IT.

>> KATHY AGREES SHE SAYS TO WITNESS THE LIPISON STALIANS PERFORM IN PERSON IS TRULY A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

>> THEY EMANATE A PRESENCE AND ENERGY AND A POWER AND TO SEE THE WAY THEY LISTEN TO THEIR TRAINERS I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN EVER FULLY CAPTURE CLASSICAL RIDING UNLESS YOU ARE RIGHT HERE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> LEARNING MORE HOW THE LIPISONS DANCE CLASSES CONTINUE THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER SLEW WEDNESDAYS, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS.

WE HAVE TICKET INFORMATION AND MORE 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 THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

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

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

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]