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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> SEEING THE RATES CLIMBING AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY, REALLY KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF OUR SAILS.

>> THE TOP CHOICES SOME PARENTS HAVE HAD TO MAKE AS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS RETURNS TO IN-PERSON LEARNING FULL-TIME TODAY.

>> THE TALIBAN, ISIS AND AL-QAEDA ARE TRACKING DOWN INDIVIDUALS EVERYDAY.

AND KILLING THEM.

>> CHICAGO IMMIGRATION GROUPS SCRAMBLE TO RESETTLE AFGHAN REFUGEES AS THE U.S. OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES AN END TO THE 20-YEAR WAR.

>> HURRICANE IDA MAKES LANDFALL AND PUMMELS LOUISIANA.

EXACTLY 16 YEARS AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA LEFT MORE THAN 1800 PEOPLE DEAD.

>> COMMUNITY REACTION TO THE CONTROVERSIAL AMAZON LOCKERS BEING INSTALLED ASH AROUND THE CITY.

>> AS PART OF OUR FIRSTHAND LIVING IN POVERTY SERIES WE HEAR ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN CHICAGO AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.

>> AFTER A SUMMER LABOR DAY WEEKEND IS SEEING LOW AIRLINE BOOKINGS THAT AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> THIS PLACE IS TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN, EVEN IN DEATH, THE LIVES OF THESE PROMINENT BLACK CHICAGOANS ARE EDUCATING OTHERS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU'VE GOT SPUNK.

>> AND BELOVED ACTOR ED ASNER DIED YESTERDAY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT HIS CAREER AND IMPACT ON CHICAGO THEATRE WITH AN AUTHOR WHO KNEW HIM WELL.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE INDOOR MASK MANDATE IS NOW BACK.

EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF TWO ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK IN ALL INDOOR SETTINGS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HOPES THE MOVE WILL SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE DELTA VARIANT AS HOSPITALS AROUND THE STATE ARE RUNNING OUT OF BEDS.

IT APPLIES TO THE VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED AND THE C.D.C.

IS RECOMMENDING MASKING OUTDOORS FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT MAINTAIN A SIX FOOT DISTANCE.

>> A POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF THE STREET AND PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE DUTY THIS EVENING.

THIS AFTER THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY INVESTIGATED A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION BETWEEN A BLACK WOMAN AND A WHITE POLICE OFFICER.

THAT HAPPENED AROUND MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY WHEN THE WOMAN WAS WALKING HER DOG AND TOLD TO LEAVE NORTH AVENUE BEACH IN LINCOLN PARK.

THE VIDEO SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWS NIKKITA BROWN WALKING AWAY FROM THE OFFICER.

THE TWO EXCHANGED WORDS AND WHEN SHE LOOKS THE HER PHONE THE OFFICER GRABS HER ARM IT IS UNCLEAR IF HE IS TRYING TO RESTRAIN HER OR IF THE SCUFFLE IS OVER HER PHONE.

BROWN COULD BE HEARD SCREAMING.

BROWN'S ATTORNEYS ARE CALLING THE INCIDENT A QUOTE OBVIOUS CASE OF RACIAL PROFILING.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS SHE WAS QUOTE DEEPLY CONCERNED.

>> I WAS QUITE DISTURBED BY WHAT I SAW.

LOOKED LIKE THE WOMAN WAS FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF THE OFFICER AND LEAVING THE BEACH.

THAT MATTER IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

>> AND THAT C.O.P.A.

INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

WE SHOULD MENTION.

THERE'S MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TODAY FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND SOME PARENTS WERE LEFT SCRAMBLING AFTER 2,000 KIDS DID NOT HAVE BUS SERVICE.

ABOUT 90 BUS DRIVERS QUIT OR RETIRED LAST WEEK AFTER THE CITY IMPOSED VACCINE MANDATES.

THAT MEANS THE DISTRICT IS NOW SHORT ABOUT 500 DRIVERS.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT BLAMES THE BUS COMPANY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SHORTAGE.

>> OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY AND THAT THEY ARE AROUND ADULTS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED WHY C.P.S.

PUT IN A MANDATORY VACCINE MANDATE FOR ALL C.P.S.

EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY OCTOBER 15TH.

>> AND THOSE 2100 FAMILIES GOT $1,000 TO GET THEIR STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL.

>> MOVING FORWARD, C.P.S.

WILL GIVE A $500 PER MONTH STIPEND FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRANDED OUT SERVICE.

>> AND UP NEXT, MORE HOW THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WENT FOR C.P.S.

STUDENTS AND STAFF RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> NOW, CHICAGO PUBLIC STUDENTS ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOMS FULL-TIME.

IT WAS ALMOST A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO THAT STUDENTS ATTENDED IN-PERSON LEARNING FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND IT LOOKED DIFFERENT THAN TODAY.

BRANDIS HAS BEEN COVERING THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

AND A LOT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

A LOT.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR STUDENTS WERE STARTING REMOTE LEARNING AND TODAY PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND STAFF WELCOMED STUDENTS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM FOR FULL-TIME IN-PERSON LEARNING.

AND CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED SINCE THE LAST TIME ALL STUDENTS WERE IN CLASSROOMS FULL-TIME, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A DAY OF NERVES AS WELL.

SCHOOLS REOPENED TO SOCIAL DISTANCING, MASK WEARING, AIR FILTERS AND LOTS OF HAND SANITIZER.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT VISITED SOME SCHOOLS TODAY WELCOMING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT IN THE PLAN THAT SCHOOLS HAVE FOR KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE.

>> WE HAVE A SPECIFIC PROTOCOL THAT WE REALLY MUTT IN PLACE LAST SPRING WHEN WE OPENED THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOLS IT CONTINUES THIS YEAR.

THERE IS I WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS BUT WE START WITH THE CLASSROOM AND IF NECESSARY THE SCHOOL AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE SYSTEM.

BUT THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE WORKED OUT IN THE VARIOUS AGREEMENTS WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION THAT WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RADFIED BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR WHERE WE ARE IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE TEACHERS' UNION AND C.P.S.

ARE AT ODDS ARE THEY STILL NEGOTIATING THE SAFETY MEASURES?

>> YES THEY ARE EVEN THOUGH SCHOOLS RESUMED THEY ARE WORKING ON A MEN RANDOM OF UNDERSTANDING AND IN RATHER WHAT WE HEARD, C.T.U.

ARGUES THAT THE CITY IS ROLLING BACK SOME OF THE LAYERED SAFETY MITIGATIONS THAT THEY AGREED TO WHEN SCHOOLS REOPENED IN PHASES.

C.T.U.

SAYS THE PREVIOUS MOU CALLED FOR A MINIMUM SIX FEET OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE NEW GUIDANCE CALLS FOR THREE FEET.

TEMPERATURE CHECKS WERE MANDATORY FOR ANYONE ENTERING THE BUILDING NOW ONLY FOR SICK STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE ASKED TO KEEP KIDS HOME WITH SYMPTOMS.

AND WHILE THE DISTRICT DID SURVEILLANCE TESTING FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS THE DISTRICT IS OFFERING TESTS IF STUDENTS OR STAFF REPORT SYMPTOMS AND ONLY REQUIRING IT FOR UNVACCINATED STUDENTS IN SPORTS.

>> YOU KNOW WE HEAR THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT HOW SAFE SCHOOL WAS IN THE WINTER AND THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR WHEN THEY RETURNED.

BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH HER NEGOTIATING TEAM THAT DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT BECAUSE THEIR PROPOSALS RUN COUNTER TO WHAT SHE CLAIMS IS SUCCESS.

IT'S FRUSTRATING AND COGNITIVE DISTANCE THERE AS WELL BUT WE ARE STILL THERE.

>> WHILE THOUSANDS OF PARENTS SENT THEIR KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM TODAY, THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES WHO OPTED OUT OF THE DISTRICT ENTIRELY.

WE SPOKE WITH ONE SUCH FAMILY A HOUSE OF THREE C.P.S.

STUDENTS FORMER C.P.S.

STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY ELECTED TO REMOVE ALL THREE IN FAVOR OF HOME SCHOOLING.

AND THE YOUNGEST IS NOT VACCINATED AND HE IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

CASSANDRA KACZOCHA SAID THEY COULDN'T TAKE THE RISK.

>> PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN.

BUT WE DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S SAFE.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAID THERE'S GOING TO BE TRANSMISSION IN SCHOOLS.

AND AT RISK FAMILIES THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE PROPOSITION.

WE ARE BACK IN OUR BUBBLE AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILY DOES NOT CATCH COVID.

>> AND I KNOW THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOST ABOUT 14,000 STUDENTS OUT OF SOMETHING LIKE 350,000.

>> 3500 >> OF COURSE LAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC LOSING 14,000 STUDENTS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC THAT IS A LOT EVEN THEN.

TYPICALLY THE DISTRICT LOSES 6-7,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR.

THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT THIS YEAR COULD BE WORSE.

THE DISTRICT REPORTS SOME 100,000 STUDENTS ARE IN A RISK CATEGORY AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT.

JOSE TORRES EXPLAINS HOW THE DISTRICT ARRIVED AT THAT FIGURE BASED ON ATTENDANCE, GRADES, DISCIPLINE AND TRUANCY.

>> THE WAY WE BROKE 100,000 WAS AROUND 80% THAT WERE LOWER RISK BUT STILL IN THAT COUNT.

AND ABOUT 18,000 THAT WERE IN THE HIGHEST RISK.

AND SO IT REALLY DEPENDS WHICH ONES WERE THOSE 25,000 STUDENTS MIGHT BE.

AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE REACHED UP TO 25,000.

BUT IT WOULD BE -- WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK.

>> AND WE SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT NUMBER DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN 100,000 STUDENT ALSO DROPOUT.

BUT ONE LOCAL ORGANIZATION IS SOUNDING AN ALARM BELL NOTING THE DISTRICT COULD LOSE A LOT OF MONEY IF ENROLLMENT FALLS SUBSTANTIAL THERE ARE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC IMPACTS AS WELL.

THE BEST WAY TO FIND OUT WHY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DISENGAGED SECOND TO ASK THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES.

>> I THINK OUR PRIORITIZATION ON STUDENTS THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THEY MISSING WHAT ARE THEY LOSING WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT I WORRY THAT BY PRIORITIZING THAT FIRST WE'RE MISSING SOMETHING REALLY APPARENT WHICH IS HOW DO WE MAKE SCHOOL AN ENGAGING SPACE FOR STUDENTS.

WHICH I DO THINK THAT IF YOU DON'T ASK THEM DIRECTLY WHY THEY ARE DISENGAGED WE WILL NOT GET THE RIGHT ANSWER.

>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS OVER THE SUMMER IT BEGAN WORK TO REENGAGE THE 100% OF THE STUDENTS AND HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH 75% OF THEM.

SCHOOL YEAR AHEAD.

>> 100,000 STUDENTS THAT IS A LOT.

>> AND NO ONE IS SAYING THAT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HAPPEN BUT A FRACTION OF THAT IS A LOT.

>> AT RISK.

A LOT FOR C.P.S.

TO HANDLE AND A LOT FOR PARENTS TO HANDLE.

THANK YOU.

>> AND UNITED STATES DEFENSE OFFICIALS MAKE IT OFFICIAL TODAY THAT 20-YEAR WAR IN AFGHANISTAN IS OVER.

TODAY THE LAST MILITARY EVACUATION FLIGHTS LEFT KABUL.

AND TO DATE THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS 116,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED SINCE THE DRAWDOWN OF TROOPS BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE.

HUNDREDS OF REFUGEES COULD SETTLE IN THE CHICAGO AREA AND LOCAL IMMIGRANT GROUPS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO TRY AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> CASH FAZAL IS A CHICAGO BASED AFGHAN AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAWYER.

SHE IS WORKING TO GET 150 REFUGEES OUT OF AFGHANISTAN BECAUSE SHE FEARS THEY MAY NOT HAVE LONG TO LIVE.

>> IF THEY CONTINUE TO REMAIN IN AFGHANISTAN, SOME OF MY CLIENTS INFORMATION HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

SO THE TALIBAN, ISIS AND AL-QAEDA ARE TRACKING DOWN INDIVIDUALS EVERYDAY AND KILLING THEM.

>> CASH FAZAL SECURED OR IS THE IN THE PROCESS OF SECURING SPECIAL VISA STATUS FOR HER CLIENTS.

LAST WEEK'S DEADLY SUICIDE BOMBING THAT KILLED 13 AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS AND HUNDREDS MORE CIVILIANS HAS MADE PASSAGE TO THE KABUL AIRPORT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

ONE OF HER CLIENTS SENT THIS VIDEO OF CHAOS OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT LATE LAST WEEK.

>> THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING ANYONE NEAR THE PARAMETERS OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPORT.

A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE BEEN SENT HOME.

>> A COALITION OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE ORGANIZATIONS ALONG WITH ILLINOIS PUBLIC OFFICIALS SAID THEY WOULD DO EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO SUCCESSFULLY RESETTLE AFGHANS WHO WORKED WITH U.S.

FORCES.

THEY SAY THEY ANTICIPATE 500 RELOCATING TO CHICAGO.

>> CHICAGO IS A WELCOMING CITY.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT BELIEVES UNEQUIVOCALLY AND PROFOUNDLY IN EVERYTHING THAT THAT TERM MEANS.

>> BUT THE GROUPS ARE CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN AND CONGRESS TO EXPEDITE THE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA PROCESS FOR AFGHAN ALLIES BUT THEIR FAMILIES THAT REMAIN IN DANGER.

>> FULFILLING OUR RISK FOR THOSE WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO IT'S SOMETHING WE MUST DO.

>> CASH FAZAL SAYS IT'S TOO LATE FOR ONE OF HER CLIENTS.

HE WAS KILLED LAST WEEK BY THE TALIBAN AFTER RECEIVING A U.S. VISA FROM THE EMBASSY IN KABUL.

THE TALIBAN ATTEMPTED TO EXTORT HIM.

>> HE WENT BACK HOME OBTAINED THE MONEY AND CAME BACK AND THEY FOLLOWED HIM AND TARGETED HIM AND KILLED HIM.

>> SIMA QURAISHI RUNS THE MUSLIM RESOURCE WOMEN'S CENTER SHE IS WORRIED FOR REFUGEE CLIENTS AN AFGHAN AMERICAN EMPLOYEE WHO IS TRAPPED IN KABUL.

>> AFGHAN AMERICAN WIFE AND SIX MONTH SON ARE [AUDIO INTERRUPTION].

BUT HE HAS LOOKED FOR A PATH TO SAFETY.

>> AND TIME IS RUNNING SHORT AS THE U.S. AND OTHER COALITION COUNTRIES WIND DOWN THEIR EVACUATION EFFORTS.

MEANWHILE 17 MEMBERS OF CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL SIGNED A LETTER TODAY ADDRESSED TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYING THE CITY STANDS READY TO HELP FEDERAL AGENCIES RESETTLE AFGHANS RIGHT HERE IN CHICAGO.

>> AND THE OTHER BIG NEWS, A MASSIVE SEARCH AND RESCUE CLEAN UP AND RECOVERY EFFORT UNDERWAY AFTER HURRICANE IDA BARRELED INTO LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.

IDA MADE LANDFALL AT A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE AND HAS DONE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LEAVING ONE MILLION PEOPLE INCLUDING RESIDENTS OF THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS WITHOUT POWER.

IDA STRUCK EXACTLY 16 YEARS TO THE DAY THAT HURRICANE KATRINA PUMMELED THE CITY LEAVING 1800 DEAD.

THIS TIME NEW ORLEANS APPEARS TO HAVE SPARED THE WORST BUT OTHER AREAS ARE NOT SO LUCKY.

JOINING US TO HELP US UNDERSTAND ARE SCOTT COLLIS A SCIENTIST FROM ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY.

KAREN, PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND A SPECIALIST IN HUMAN MAN TEARIAN LOGISTICS.

AND THE C.E.O.

OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN ILLINOIS.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> AND SCOTT I WILL START WITH YOU, PUT THIS IN CONTEXT WERE, HOW POWERFUL HAS THE STORM BEEN?

>> HURRICANE IDA MADE LANDFALL AS A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE WHICH IS THE SECOND HIGHEST STRENGTH THAT WE HAVE NUMBERS FOR.

BUT, OF COURSE, THE SINGLE NUMBER DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

THIS HURRICANE WAS PACKING 150-MILE-PER-HOUR PLUS WINDS.

THAT IS UNTIL IT BROKE.

MANY OF THE WIND SENSORS USED TO RECORD HOW STRONG IT IS.

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF PEOPLE THAT LOST POWER AND OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND SEEKING SHELTER?

>> OVER A MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI ARE CURRENTLY WITHOUT POWER AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 90° TEMPERATURES WHICH IS JUST INCREDIBLY DEVASTATING.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS ON THE GROUND WITH OUR PARTNERS HELPING PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE DEVASTATING DISASTER PROVIDING SHELTER, MEALS, COMFORT TO PEOPLE IN NEED.

SUNDAY NIGHT 2500 PEOPLE SOUGHT SHELTER AND 60 RED CROSS AND COMMUNITY SHELTERS.

AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS 350 WORKERS ON THE GROUND WITH HUNDREDS MORE HEADING TO THAT AREA FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND FROM THE ILLINOIS REGION ALONE WE HAVE SENT 15 VOLUNTEERS TO RESPOND TO HURRICANE IDA.

>> AND KAREN, I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS DID NOT CALL FOR A MANDATORY EVACUATION OF THE CITY.

JUST PARTS OF THE CITY CLOSE TO THE 11 LEVY.

>> HAS IT APPROACHED IT THE RIGHT WAY YOU THINK?

>> I THINK GIVEN THE TIME-FRAME WHEN YOU HEARD THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT WHY IT WASN'T MANDATORY IT WAS STRESSING WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ROADWAYS.

THERE WERE EVACUATIONS IN THE COAST AL COMMUNITIES, WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

AND YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.

AND WITH THE SHORT TIME-FRAME THAT THEY HAD, IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN YOU WOULD SEE MASSIVE OF NUMBERS TRYING TO LEAVE ON HIGHWAYS WHEN THE STORM WAS HITTING.

DOING THE BEST WITH WHAT WE CAN.

>> SEEING THE IMAGES IN THE PAST.

SCOTT, A LOT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT WITH THE STORM THAT IT GAINED POWER OVER THE GULF THAT THE GULF WATERS ARE A LITTLE BIT WARMER THAN NORMAL.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> IDA UNDERWENT WHAT WE CALL RAPID INTENSIFICATION.

AND WHILE THIS IS A HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE EVENT IT'S FASCINATING FROM A METEOROLOGIST LOGICAL POINT OF VIEW YOU GO FROM A STORM BENIGN A CATEGORY TWO A DAY BEFORE HITTING AND RAMPING UP TO A CATEGORY 4 SKIPPING CATEGORY 3.

AND THE REASON WAS AS YOU POINTED OUT, THIS REALLY WARM POOL OF WATER RIGHT UP AGAINST THE COAST AND AUGUST IS ONE OF THE WARMEST TIMES OF YEAR FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO.

AND THOSE WARM WATERS ARE LIKE ROCKET FUEL FOR HURRICANES.

WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT ALL THE STORMS HAVING INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE THEM SEVERE.

FOR HURRICANES, WARM WATER IS LIKE INGREDIENT ONE, TWO AND THREE.

THE WATERS JUST ALONG THE COAST OF THE GULF OF MEXICO WERE RUNNING ABOUT 2° CELSIUS WARMER THAN NORMAL.

AND SCOTT, THIS IS A DICEY DISCUSSION AND HOW MUCH CLIMATE CHANGE PLAYS A ROLE HERE.

BUT DO YOU THINK CLIMATE CHANGE IS PLAYING A ROLE IN CAUSING THE WARMER WATERS WHICH AS YOU EXPLAINED FOR US, SOUPS UP THE STORMS?

>> THIS IS ABOUT AS UNDICEY AS IT GETS, PARIS.

AND AS I SAID, HURRICANES SURVIVE ON WARM WATER.

THE OCEAN IS WHERE MOST OF THE ENERGY FROM CLIMATE CHANGE IS GOING RIGHT NOW.

AND HURRICANES ARE HUGE WEATHER SYSTEMS SO A LOT LESS RANDOM, A LOT LESS CHAOS THIS IS AS CLOSE AS IT GETS BEING ABLE TO ATTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE THIS WAS SUPER CHARGED BY THE ENERGY THAT IS TRAPPED BY GREENHOUSE GASES.

>> HARD TO DENY THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY WEATHER EVENTS.

WHAT ARE THE MOST CONCRETE WAYS OF VIEWERS WATCHING CAN ASSIST FOLKS IN NEW ORLEANS AND IN MISSISSIPPI?

>> ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU AND THIS IS A DEVASTATING EVENT.

AND REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED ARE JUST RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE LAURA AND HURRICANE DELTA LAST YEAR AND NOW THEY ARE FACING A LENGTHY RECOVERY.

FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED JUST GETTING STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THE LONG-TERM IMPACT.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE IN THE MONTHS TO COME.

THE BEST WAY SOMEONE CAN SUPPORT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS GIVING YOUR TIME.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

AND TO MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION BY GOING TO RED CROSS.ORG IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT 90 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS BRINGS IN GOES TO PROVIDING COMFORT AND CARE TO THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE IDA.

>> KAREN, GIVEN THE CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSION HERE, IT APPEARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE OF THESE EVENTS IN THE GULF REGION.

WE REMEMBER HURRICANE KATRINA THIS DAY SO MANY YEARS AGO AND THE AFTERMATH WAS DEVASTATING.

HAVE THE RELIEF AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT IMPROVED THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN THE AFTERMATH OF A STORM LIKE THIS SINCE THEN?

>> YOU HEARD THAT ANSWERED ABOUT BEING VERY TARGETED IN WAYS TO HELP.

THE COORDINATION HAS TO BE AMONG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP AND THERE IS A GOOD DISCUSSION HOW YOU CAN DO THAT AND AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

WHILE THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TIME TO DO A MANDATORY EVACUATION WHAT YOU DID SEE WAS THE GOVERNMENT STEP UP PLANNING AHEAD OF TIME.

YOU SAW FEMA ACTIVATED AND PREPOSITIONS OF RESOURCES AND CREWS.

BRINGING TO THE AREA NOW YOU SEE THAT WITH THE COORDINATION OF RESTORATION OF POWER.

THERE ARE DIFFICULT CHOICES ABOUT PRIORITIZING RESTORATIONS OF POWER ON THE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION NOT JUST WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT BUT ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE RED CROSS.

>> SCOTT, SEEING AS HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING AND WATERS ARE WARMER, HOW IN DANGER IS THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND THE AREA AROUND THERE?

WE TALK ABOUT HOW LOW EYEING IT IS AND DISAPPEARING SWAMP LAND.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THAT CITY?

>> WELL, I WANT TO POINT OUT TWO POSITIVES IN THIS TERRIBLE NEWS STORY.

THE LEVIS HELD.

THE GONERRING WAS GREAT.

THIS WAS A MORE POWERFUL STORM WIND WISE A MORE BEAUTIFUL STORM THAN KATRINA.

NUMBER TWO, NOAA NAILED THIS FORECAST.

THEY HAD AN ACCURATE TRACK ON THURSDAY THAT ALLOWED FOLKS LIKE SELENA ORGANIZATION TO PLAN FOR THIS.

SO WE'RE LIVING CLIMATE CHANGE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS NO LONGER LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE AND THE WORK GOING INTO A PLACE LIKE NEW ORLEANS IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AROUND THE NATION IN IMPROVING OUR RESILIENCE TO THE HIGH-END IMPACTS.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE RELIEF EFFORTS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> UP NEXT, AMANDA VINICKY AND CONTROVERSIAL LOCKERS IN LOCAL PARKS.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> TAKE A WALK IN A CHICAGO PARK OR GO FOR A JOG.

PLAY FRISBEE OR SOFTBALL AND PICK UP YOUR LATEST GOODS FROM AMAZON?

THE GIANT BEGAN INSTALLING LOCKERS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC PARKS.

AND SAYS THE LOCKERS ARE A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY IN A STATEMENT A SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE FOCUS OF OUR PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE PARK PATRONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH ACCESS TO A SECURE AND CONVENIENT DELIVERY OPTION.

BUT THAT SO-CALLED CONVENIENCE HAS PROVEN CONTROVERSIAL.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THESE ZIFER DELIVERY LOCKERS IN CHICAGO IS JUANITA IRIZZARI AND WE REACHED OUT TO COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SUPPORT THE LOCKERS IN CHICAGO PARKS AND THEY WERE UNABLE DECLINED OUR INVITATION.

JUANITA IRIZZARI TO YOU, YOU ARE NO FAN OF THEM.

WHY NOT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE CONVENIENT TO GO PICK UP YOUR ITEM AT A CHICAGO PARK BUT THAT NOT THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC PARKS.

CHICAGO REALLY NEEDS A PLACE TO GO TO ENJOY NATURE, FOR THE SAKE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND AND THE LAST THING WE NEED IS AN E-COMMERCE GIANT STARING US IN THE FACE.

>> AND SAFETY CONCERNS?

>> CERTAINLY.

YOU KNOW WE LOOK AT IT IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS: NUMBER ONE YOU MIGHT GOT ROBBED PICKING UP YOUR ITEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK AND INVITING PEOPLE TO STEP ON TO THE PARK PREMISES TO PICK UP THEIR PACKAGE AFTER 11:00 P.M.

WHEN THE PARKS ARE CLOSED.

AND BASED ON WHAT WE SAW THIS WEEKEND OF A POLICE OFFICER ACCOSTING A WOMAN WALKING HER DOG ON THE LAKEFRONT IT'S DANGEROUS TO BE IN A PARK AFTERHOURS BECAUSE ACTUALLY YOU MIGHT GET ATTACKED BY POLICE AS WELL.

>> POST CURFEW.

NOW, I KNOW A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY LIKEWISE HAVE BACKLASH BUT NOT EVERYONE IS AGAINST THESE.

THE PARK DISTRICT IN FACT ISSUING A STATEMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTED SUPPORTERS OF THESE LOCKER HUBS INCLUDING ONE FROM 11TH WARD ALDERMAN PATRICK DALEY THOMPSON WHO SAID I COMMEND THE PARK DISTRICT FOR TRYING TO CREATE NEW REVENUE FOR THE PARKS NOT ONLY DO THE AMAZON LOCKERS PROVIDE A BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORS AND GENERATES REVENUE THAT GOES INTO FUNDING PARK PROGRAMS FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THE PARK DISTRICT SAYS NEEDS OR WANTS MORE MONEY WHY NOT GET IT FROM A HIGHLY PROFITABLE CORPORATION VERSUS GOING TO TAXPAYERS?

>> WELL, VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING TO GENERATE REVENUE FROM ACTIVITIES.

THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT SHOULD FOCUS ON REVENUE GENERATING ACTIVITIES THAT KEEPS IT ON OUR KIDS AND GREENSPACE.

ONE MIGHT SAY WE SHOULD HAVE VIDEO GAMBLING IN A PARK IF YOU WANT TO USE THE ARGUMENT THAT ANYTHING THAT GENERATES REVENUE FOR THE PARK IS GOOD FOR THE PARK.

>> IS THERE ANY PRICE THAT WOULD BE WORTH IT TO YOU, I BELIEVE, ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT THAT WAS OBTAINED BY BLOCK CLUB, THE PARK DISTRICT IS CHARGING AMAZON BETWEEN $50 AND $125 AND COULD NET BETWEEN 100,000-200,000.

IS THERE A HIGHER PRICE THAT WOULD MAKE IT ACCEPTABLE OR A DIFFERENT SORT OF ACTIVITY ALONG THESE LINES THAT YOU WOULD DEEM APPROPRIATE?

>> FRIENDS OF THE PARKS THINKS IF THERE WAS A LOT MORE REVENUE GENERATED IT IS THE WRONG PLACE TO GO LOOKING FOR MONEY FOR OUR PARKS.

IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE PARK DISTRICT TO GET THAT MONEY FROM APPROPRIATE SOURCES AND OUR TAX BASE IS AN APPROPRIATE SOURCE TO PAY FOR PUBLIC AMENITIES.

>> THE INITIAL PLAN IS TO HAVE AT LEAST 100 OF THESE LOCKER HUB LOCATIONS IN THE PARK DISTRICT SAYS 46 HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THUS FAR.

BUT AFTER A LOT OF PUSHBACK, FOUR WERE REMOVED FROM PARKS.

AMAZON LIKEWISE TELLING WTTW IN A STATEMENT THAT IT TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO RESPOND TO CONCERNS WHEN THEY WERE THERE AND THAT IT IS REVIEWING THE OTHER LOCKER INSTALLATIONS IN CHICAGO.

SO IN YOUR EYES IS THIS FOR NOW, WHILE A CONTRACT IS IN PLACE AN APPROPRIATE HAPPY MEDIUM?

MEDIUM?

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE REVIEW AND HOPE THEY WILL WALK THIS CONTRACT BACK.

WE HEARD AT ALDERWOMAN SHE ASKED THE PARK DISTRICT TO TAKE ALL OF THE BOXES OUT OF HER WARD.

AND WE THINK AS FURTHER REVIEW TAKES PLACE AND MORE THOUGHTFUL PROCESS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT WILL NEED TO DECIDE THIS WAS A MISTAKE AND HAVE TO LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE.

>> NOW, AMAZON SAYS IT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT SINCE LAST YEAR.

AND THAT THESE LOCKERS WERE BROUGHT AT THE PARK DISTRICT'S EXPENSE.

IS THAT A SURPRISE TO YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO FOLLOWS WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR PARKS?

>> WELL, THE PARK DISTRICT DID THIS IN A WAY THAT WAS NOT VETTED PUBLICLY.

THEY SAY THE CONTRACT WAS SO SMALL THEY DID NOT HAVE TO BRING IT TO A BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REVIEW PROCESS WHICH HELPED US UNDERSTAND WHY WE AS FRIENDS OF THE PARKS AND GO TO THE MEETINGS HAVE NOW HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

WE KNOW THEY HAD LITTLE BITS OF CONVERSATION WITH SOME COUNSELS AND THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT THOUGHT IT WAS OK. WE ALSO KNOW ANOTHER PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT SPENT FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST TO THE PARK DISTRICT WHEN THE LOCKERS WERE FORCED UPON THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT THINK THEY WERE A GOOD IDEA.

>> LET'S SAY THE PARK DISTRICT HAD BEEN MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THIS AND THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT WAS YES WE WANT THESE HUBS IN OUR PARKS.

WOULD YOU BE ALL RIGHT WITH IT THEN PERHAPS BRINGING PEOPLE TO PARKS THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE GO AND VISIT?

>> WE THINK PEOPLE SHOULD VISIT PARKS BUT NOT ' AMAZON BOX THAT WILL GET THEM THERE.

AND PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO AGREE.

THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE THAT LED TO AN BOMBED BARRED.

OF OUR PHONE LINES AND E-MAILS UPSET ABOUT THIS AND CONNECTING WITH THE PARKS TO PUSHBACK AGAINST IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR VIEWPOINTS WITH EVERYONE HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

THAT WAS JUANITA IRIZZARI WITH FRIENDS OF THE PARKS.

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

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... MCDONALD'S MULLS OVER CLOSING INDOOR DINING TO CUSTOMERS AS THE DELTA VARIANT SURGES THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF OUR FIRSTHAND LIVING IN POVERTY SERIES, WE HEAR ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED FOOD INSECURITY IN CHICAGO.

>> REMEMBERING BELOVED ACTOR ED ASNER WHO DIED YESTERDAY.

A LOCAL AUTHOR ON ASNER'S CAREER AND HIS IMPACT ON CHICAGO THEATRE.

>> AND WE TAKE YOU ON A WALKING TOUR THROUGH A CEMETERY TO HEAR THE STORIES OF PROMINENT BLACK CHICAGOANS.

>> FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>> THE STATE'S INDOOR MASK MANDATE STARTS TODAY.

EVERYONE 2 AND UP ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK INSIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE VACCINATED.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCED THE MOVE AS HOSPITALS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND BEDS FOR SICK PATIENTS AND THE C.D.C.

IS NOW RECOMMENDING MASKING OUTDOORS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T MAINTAIN A SIX-FOOT DISTANCE.

AND GOOD NEWS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

ILLINOIS STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE UP TO FIVE MENTAL HEALTH DAYS PER YEAR WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S NOTE.

IT IS A BIG SHIFT AFTER MANY PARENTS SAW THEIR CHILDREN STRUGGLING DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT MEANS CALLING IN SICK FOR MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE VALID REASONS TO MISS SCHOOL AND STUDENTS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKEUP SCHOOL WORK.

THE LAW WAS SIGN BAD I GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER LAST WEEK AND TAKES EFFECT JANUARY 1.

>> ST. SABINA IS BRINGING BACK THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM AFTER THE CHURCH GAVE OUT $25,000 FOR 210 GUNS LAST MONTH.

IT'S ASKING PEOPLE 25 AND YOUNGER TO TURN IN WORKING GUNS FOR CASH.

A RIFLE IS WORTH 100 AND 200 FOR HANDGUNS OR ASSAULT RIFLES.

TWO DONORS ARE FUNDING THE CHURCH'S GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR SOME OF TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> THANK YOU.

AIRLINE BOOKINGS FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND ARE DOWN DESPITE BEING THE LAST SUMMER WEEKEND TO TAKE A TRIP.

AND A LOCAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT MAKER IS NEARING A $10 BILLION DEAL.

HERE TO GO BEHIND THE HEADLINES IS EDITOR ANN DWYER.

ANN GREAT TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

WE KNOW THAT AIRLINES STRUGGLED MIGHTILY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT LOOKED LIKE THINGS WERE GETTING BACK TO NORMAL AND THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND NOT GOING TO BE NORMAL FOR AIR TRAVEL.

EXPLAIN?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THE DELTA VARIANT IS REALLY THE CULPRIT HERE.

YOU'RE CORRECT THAT BOOKINGS ARE OFF NATIONWIDE DOWN 15% FROM THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND THAT IS TYPICALLY ONE OF THE BUSIEST WEEKENDS IN ANY AIRLINE'S TRAVEL CALENDAR.

THE WEAKNESS IS EXTENDING BEYOND LABOR DAY.

THAT'S WHY SOME AIRLINES LIKE SOUTHWEST AND AMERICAN ARE NOW WARNING WALL STREET TO DIAL DOWN THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIRD QUARTER PROFITS AS TRAVELERS CUT BACK ON OR SIMPLY CANCEL THEIR PLANS.

>> THE DELTA VARIANT HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON THE AIR TRAVEL INDUSTRY.

AND THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY ONE OF THE LARGEST FRANCHISORS IN THE WORLD, CHICAGO MCDONALD'S CONSIDERING CLOSING OFF INDOOR DINING BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> IN CERTAIN AREAS, YES.

REUTERS REPORTED TODAY THAT THERE'S INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AT MCDONALD'S GUIDING FRANCHISEES HOW TO SHUTDOWN THEIR STORES IF THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO.

THE INDOOR DINING COMPONENT.

THE COMPANY HAS IDENTIFIED A YARDSTICK THAT IS BASICALLY COUNTIES WHERE THERE ARE 250 COVID CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE, ON A THREE-WEEK ROLLING AVERAGE, THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO THEIR FRANCHISEES THAT THEY SHUTDOWN INDOOR DINING.

THE CHICAGO AREA DOESN'T MEET THAT STANDARD RIGHT NOW.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THAT DO.

AND PROBABLY WILL AND IT'S LIKELY THE DRIVE-THRUS WILL GET BUSY.

>> AREAS OF THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST.

LASTLY, ANN, BAXTER INTERNATIONAL IS IN TALKS OF BUYING OUT A CHICAGO BASED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT MAKER CALLED HILLROM.

WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS DEAL?

>> WELL, IT IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT'S A BIG DEAL.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $10 BILLION OFFER HERE.

AND THIS IS AN ACQUISITION THAT WOULD BE A BIG TICKET MOVE FOR BAXTER.

ONE THAT WOULD ADD A RANGE OF PRODUCTS TO THEIR EXISTING LINEUP INCLUDING PATIENT MONITORS AND OPERATING TABLES THAT SORT OF THING.

IT IS A COMBINATION THAT BAXTER HAS WANTED TO MAKE, PARIS, FOR SOMETIME NOW.

BUT HILLROM HAS REBUFFED BAXTER'S PREVIOUS OFFERS.

BAXTER WANTS TO SURVIVE AS AN INDEPENDENT OPERATOR IN A VERY RAPIDLY CONSOLIDATING INDUSTRY.

AND THEY ALSO WANT TO SHORE-UP THEIR STOCK PRICE.

BAXTER'S STOCK SUNK 8% THIS YEAR.

WHILE HILLROM'S IS UP 36%.

>> BIG DOLLAR AMOUNT LOTS OF MONEY.

ANN THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ACTOR ED ASNER DIED YESTERDAY AT THE AGE OF 91.

HE WAS ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED CHARACTER ACTOR HAVING CUT HIS TEETH EARLY HERE IN CHICAGO WHEN HE WAS CAST AS LOU GRANT IN THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW WHICH LED TO THIS MEMORABLE SCENE IN THE FIRST EPISODE.

>> YOU WHAT?

YOU'VE GOT SPUNK.

>> WELL -- >> I HATE SPUNK.

>> WHO COULD FORGET THAT LINE?

JOINING US IS MARK LARSON AN AUTHOR AND EDUCATOR WORKING ON A ORAL HISTORY OF ED ASNER'S LIFE AND CAREER.

MARK LARSON WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL US HOW YOU GOT TO KNOW ED ASNER?

>> I WAS WORKING ON A PREVIOUS BOOK CALLED ENSEMBLE AN ORAL HISTORY OF CHICAGO THEATRE.

AND ED WAS A PART OF CHICAGO THEATRE ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY DAYS.

AND SO I CONTACTED HIM AND THOUGHT MIGHT AS WELL GIVE IT A TRY.

AND WITHIN TWO DAYS, HE RESPONDED AND SAID YEAH, LET'S DO AN INTERVIEW.

I FLEW OUT TO LOS ANGELES.

AND SAT DOWN AT HIS DESK WITH HIM AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYED A COUPLE DAYS TALKING TO HIM.

>> YOU MENTIONED HIS CONNECTION TO CHICAGO THEATRE.

HE WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND DROPPED OUT AFTER A YEAR.

AND HE SORT OF PART OF THE DNA THAT EVENTUALLY FORMED SECOND CITY.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, THE TRAJECTORY IS INTERESTING.

ED CAME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND HE WASN'T INTENDING TO STUDY ACTING.

THERE IS NO ACTING SCHOOL THERE.

AND HE MET UP WITH PAUL PHILS AND DAVID SHEPHERD AND THEY DREW HIM INTO A THEATRE COMPANY CALLED PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE CLUB AND THEY DID A COUPLE SHOWS WITH THEM AND REALLY LIKED IT.

AND THEN WENT OFF TO THE WAR.

AND WHEN HE CAME BACK, THEY CAST HIM AGAIN.

AND BY THAT TIME THE PLAYWRIGHT'S THEATRE CLUB WAS REALLY STARTING TO TAKE OFF.

AND THEY HAD THIS EXTRAORDINARY COMPANY OF PLAYERS INCLUDED MIKE NICKELS AND ELAINE MAY AND BARBARA HARRIS AND FRITZ WEAVER AND JOYCE AND BERN PIVEN.

ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING SUDDENLY IN 1953.

AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY EXCITING TIME AND ED WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF THAT.

>> THAT WAS A PRECURSOR TO THE COMPASS PLAYERS WHICH LED TO SECOND CITY IF I HAVE MY HISTORY CORRECT?

>> YOU'VE GOT IT CORRECT.

PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE IT PRODUCED A LOT DURING ITS LESS THAN TWO YEARS, IT DID ONLY LAST ABOUT TWO YEARS, WHEN THAT DISBANDED SOME OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF PLAYWRIGHTS FORMED COMPASS PLAYERS.

BY THEN ED GONE OFF TO NEW YORK.

HE WAS NOT PART OF COMPASS PLAYERS.

>> AND HE SETTLED IN LA AND HIS MOST FAMOUS ROLE LOU GRANT ON THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW AND THE SPIN-OFF LOU GRANT THIS IS A CHARACTER WE CAN RELATE TO IN THE NEWS BUSINESS.

HOW ENDURING IS THAT CHARACTER?

>> HOW ENDURING?

THAT'S ONE OF MY GREAT FASCINATIONS WITH THIS GUY AND THIS CHARACTER.

IS YOU KNOW, THIS -- THAT SHOW WAS ON IN THE 70s AND I REMEMBER WATCHING IT WHEN IT WAS LIVE AND IT WASN'T LIVE BUT IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD RECORD AND WATCH LATER.

AND I CAN DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE AND ALL THE CHARACTERS.

SO WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE BOOK SO MANY YEARS LATER, I APPROACHED THE WATCHING THOSE SHOWS WITH REAL TREPIDATION.

I WAS SO AFRAID I WASN'T GOING TO LIKE IT.

AND I STARTED WATCHING IT WITH MY WIFE AND THEY ABSOLUTELY HOLD-UP.

THEY ABSOLUTELY HOLD-UP REALLY, REALLY WELL.

AND I FIND THAT FASCINATING.

>> ABSOLUTELY STILL HOLD-UP TODAY.

YOU SPOKE WITH HIM FOR YOUR BIOGRAPHY RECENTLY.

WHAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION LIKE?

>> WELL, I'VE TALKED TO HIM A LOT IN THE PAST -- I STARTED WORKING ON THE BOOK EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO A LOT OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WERE VIA ZOOM.

BUT THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO HIM WAS IN MAY, MAY 19TH.

AND I SPENT A COUPLE AFTERNOONS SITTING WITH HIM PARTLY IN HIS STUDY AND SITTING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.

AND I REMEMBER THIS IS MAKING ME EMOTIONAL SUDDENLY.

I APOLOGIZE.

WHEN THE SECOND DAY I WAS THERE I WALKED IN AND HE ANNOUNCED TO ME THAT GAVIN MacLEOD HAD GONE INTO HOSPICE.

AND HE SAID THAT LEAVES JOHN AM MONTHS, BETTIE WHITE AND ME.

AND THAT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GAVIN, I THINK, CREATED A VERY DIFFERENT FEEL FOR THE CONVERSATION THAT IN THE PAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF WE'VE HAD MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE FEEL OF THAT CONVERSATION.

AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED TOO, AT THE END OF IT, I -- HE HAD TO GET PHYSICAL THERAPY.

SOMEBODY WAS COMING IN SO I SHUTOFF MY EQUIPMENT AND WE JUST CHATTED AND I REALIZED IT WAS A LUXURY I HAD NOT OFTEN HAD WITH HIM.

AND HE WAS EXTREMELY REFLECTIVE, EXTREMELY WARM.

IT WASN'T PERFORM ACTIVE LIKE IN AN INTERVIEW.

I HAVE A LOT OF STRONG MEMORIES AND FEELINGS ABOUT THAT LAST CONVERSATION.

>> I'M SURE HE ENJOYED RELIVING THE MEMORIES AND HE MEANT A LOT TO YOU.

ONE OF THE PROJECTS HE DID IN RECENT YEARS THE ANIMATED PICTURE UP, LET'S LOOK AT A CLIP FROM THAT.

>> WE'RE ON OUR WAY, ELLY.

>> AND AS I UNDERSTAND YOU SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THIS MOVIE FOR YOUR BOOK.

WERE THEY CONFIDENT IN GIVING THIS ROLE TO ASNER?

>> THEY ACTUALLY CONSIDERED JAMES GARNER, TOO.

AND I TOLD ED THAT BECAUSE THE DIRECTORS TOLD ME.

AND WHEN I TOLD ED HE SAID THEY CONSIDERED HIM AND CHOSE ME?

THEY WEREN'T SURE NOT RIGHT AT FIRST AND THEN THEY WENT TO SEE HIM IN A LIVE PERFORMANCE OF SOMETHING AND THEY BOTH SAID THIS IS IT.

THIS IS PERFECT.

AND HE WAS.

>> SO HE WAS ALIVE THEATRE ACTOR IN ADDITION TO MOVIE AND TELEVISION SEVEN EMMY AWARDS EVERY NEVER STOPPED WORKING AND PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN RECENT YEARS.

HE WAS AN ACTIVIST.

WHAT IS THE ENDURING SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS HERE AND HIS LIKABILITY?

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNRAVEL.

I HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.

ONE IS THIS MAN WHEN YOU SIT DOWN WITH HIM, IS ABSOLUTELY AUTHENTIC.

HE IS VERY PERFORM TIF HE LIKES TO TEASE YOU BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE IS AN AUTHENTICITY TO HIM THAT IS EXTREMELY ENGAGING.

AND I THINK THAT COMES ACROSS ON THE SCREEN.

ALSO, HE IS JUST A FINE ACTOR.

IF YOU LOOK AT HIM IN RICH MAN POOR MAN OR IN ROOTS, HE IS DOING EXTRAORDINARY WORK THERE.

HE WAS THERE TO FILM WITH LINDSEY KRAUSE CALLED DANIEL.

AND LINDSEY TOLD ME SOMETHING RECENTLY THAT COULD SERVE AS A RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION.

SHE SAYS THE WAY HE ATTENDED TO ME THE WAY HE FOCUSED ON ME WAS EXTRAORDINARY.

AND I THINK THAT COMES ACROSS ON THE SCREEN, TOO.

ALSO JUST THE EASY ANSWER IS HE IS AN EXTREMELY LIKABLE HUMAN BEING.

>> COMES ACROSS.

AND INCREDIBLE ACTOR WHO HONES HIS CHOPS PARTLY HERE IN CHICAGO.

MARK WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE BIOGRAPHY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> AND PARIS, FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM FOR SOME CHICAGOANS MADE WORSE BY THE PANDEMIC.

ACCORDING TO CHICAGO FOOD EQUITY AGENDA IN LATE 2020, 19% OF PEOPLE IN THE CHICAGO METRO REGION FACED FOOD SECURITY.

LATINO COMMUNITIES SAW 29% INSECURITY AND BLACK COMMUNITIES SAW 37%.

THE CITY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ITS FIRST EVER FOOD EQUITY POLICY LEAD WHO WILL BE WORKING ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM IN CHICAGO.

TONIGHT, AS PART OF OUR FIRSTHAND LIVING IN POVERTY SERIES, WE HEAR FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CITY AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.

JOINING US NOW ARE ANGELA ODOMS-YOUNG ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION WITH THE UIC OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH PARTNERSHIP.

AND ANTON SEALS, JR.

THE COFOUNDER AND LEAD STEWARD AT GROW GREATER ENGLEWOOD EVENING.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN CHICAGO?

>> I THINK THE NUMBERS REALLY SPEAK TO THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING IN THE CITY.

AND THAT REALLY IS DEFINED FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT.

SO IF WE LOOK AT THE TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF FOOD INSECURITY IT REALLY IS THE FEAR YOU WILL RUN OUT OF FOOD AND NOT HAVE MONEY TO PURCHASE MORE.

THAT DOES EN CAPTURE THE GEOGRAPHIC INEQUITIES THAT EXIST AS WELL.

IN THE BIRTHTH OF -- DIRTTH OF BUSINESSES IN COMMUNITIES OWNED AND RUN BY THE COMMUNITIES.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY WE THINK OF IT FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE THAT IS THE USDA DEFINITION.

BUT IF WE ADD TO THAT THE LACK OF GEOGRAPHIC ACCESS, THE LACK OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT EVEN SHOWS HOW THIS IS COMPOUNDED WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M SURE THE PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED THIS ISSUE.

ANTON SEALS, JR. OVER TO YOU.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE COMES OF THE NEW FOOD POLICY EQUITY LEAD POSITION?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN NETWORKS AND SILOS THAT EXISTED IN THE CITY TO BREAKDOWN SOME OF THOSE SILOS SO THEY CAN FURTHER IMPACT PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE.

LIKE THE WAY THAT Dr.

OWED DOMES DID LAYOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH.

SO THE ISSUE OF ACCESS OR BEING ABLE TO AFFORD AND SUSTAIN IS STILL A TREMENDOUS ISSUE.

I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WILL COME FROM THIS IS THE POTENTIAL GROWTH OF AN URBAN AG AND FOOD SYSTEM THAT IS LED BY MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM THE DIVEST.

THAT HAPPENED IN MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> AS WE MENTIONED, WE KNOW LATINO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE FACING THIS A LOT MORE.

LATINO COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR, SEEING 29% FOOD INSECURITY.

BLACK COMMUNITIES 37%.

AND THAT IS JUST LAST YEAR.

ANGELA WHAT IS THE HEALTH IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES WHO FACE THIS CONTINUING LACK OF ACCESS TO FOOD?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

MANY TIMES WE THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ONLY HEALTHY FOOD OR WHAT WE THINK OF AS NUTRITION SECURITY.

SO PEOPLE CAN LIKE HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS AND NUTRITION IS THE BACKBONE OF HEALTH.

MANY OF THE CURRENT CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING AMERICANS, ARE DIET RELATED.

DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR, CANCER ALL OF THESE HAVE A ROOT IN NUTRITION AND IN HEALTHY FOOD CONSUMPTION.

IF YOU LACK ACCESS THAT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR HEALTH.

BUT I THINK THE OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT IS THE FOOD ANXIETY AND THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS THAT GOES ALONG WITH LACKING ACCESS TO FOOD IN GENERAL.

FOOD INSECURITY CAN CAUSE FOOD ANXIETY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT A FAMILY THAT MIGHT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY FEAR THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF FOOD AND NOT HAVE MONEY TO PURCHASE MORE, THAT CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING.

>> I'M SURE THAT ANXIETY CAN LEAD TO OTHER GREATER MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS.

POSSIBLY EVEN DEPRESSION.

ANTON, ONE SOLUTION THAT YOUR GROUP WORKS ON IS URBAN FARMING.

HOW HAS THAT BEEN BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITIES YOU WORK IN?

>> WELL, ONE IT HELPS A FEW THINGS.

THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT IN PARTICULAR FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN THE CITY THE HISTORY THE CULTURAL CONTEXT YOU KNOW OUR HISTORY AND LEGACY FROM THE SHORES OF WESTERN AFRICA TO DOWN SOUTH AND BUILD THIS COUNTRY WITH ENORMOUS WEALTH COMES FROM THE AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND.

ENGLEWOOD WAS BIRTHED OUT OF THE DESIRE AND THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY ALSO LOOKED LIKE THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WERE MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE REFLECTING AND PULLING UP THOSE KIND OF HISTORICAL LEGACIES AND ACCESS THAT EXISTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO GROW FOOD SO THEY NEEDED A LEVEL OF SUPPORT.

SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL COME FROM THE FOOD EQUITY COUNCIL POTENTIALLY IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE REAL CLEAR POLICIES FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS LAND, HOW TO REMEDIATE LAND SO WE CAN GROW FOOD ON THERE.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE IN PARTICULAR SINCE THE PANDEMIC ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON IN PUBLIC HEALTH IS AROUND THE DESIRE FOR PEOPLE TO BE MUCH MORE COGNIZANT OF THEIR HEALTH AND TAKING THEIR HEALTH INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON AND IT IS A SUPER POSITIVE THING EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE AREN'T DEALING WITH THE COVID VACCINE IN THE SAME WAY.

AND THOSE ARE DEEP WAYS WE THINK WE CAN PUSH THIS FORWARD.

>> AND I THINK THAT IS A GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

MY THANKS TO ANGELA ODOMS-YOUNG AND ANTON SEALS, JR. FOR JOINING US TO DISCUSS FOOD INSECURITY AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS GOING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> EAT YOUR GREENS.

[LAUGHTER] >> YES, SIR.

UP NEXT, A HISTORY LESSON IN A CEMETERY.

FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> A CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER WALKING TOUR TAKES OUT TO THE HEADSTONES AND MODES LEE YUMS OF SOME OF CHICAGO'S INFLUENCE AT ACTIVISTS, POLITICIANS AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO SHAPED THE HISTORY SINCE THE COUNTRY'S FIRST JUNE TENTH WE BROUGHT YOU THIS STORY EARLIER THIS SUMMER AND HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK >> NOR MANY CHICAGOANS THE BISHOP FORD IS A BUSTLING FREEWAY THROUGH THE SOUTH SIDE.

BUT THE MAN IT'S NAMED FOR BISHOP LEWIS HENRY FORD HE WAS THE USING GIFT AT THE FUNERAL OF EMMETT TILL.

>> AFTER TILL WAS LYNCHED IN MISSISSIPPI.

>> THE PICTURES OF HIS CORPSE WERE PUBLISHED IN JOHN RUSSICK SON'S EASTBOUNDBY AND JET FOR THE WORLD TO SEE AND EVERY AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE COUNTRY WAS ABLE TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED >> TODAY BOTH JOHNSON AND FORD LIE IN REST NEXT TO EACH OTHER INSIDE OAKWOOD CEMETERY IN THE GRAND CROSSING COMMUNITY.

THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACES SHARED WITH SO MANY OTHER CHICAGOANS WHO HELPED WRITE THE CITY'S AND THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY.

THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER'S WALKING TOUR OF OAKWOOD CEMETERY CALLED CIVIL WAR TO CIVIL RIGHTS TRACES HISTORY THROUGH THE PEOPLE BURIED HERE.

AMONG THEM, MORE THAN 4,000 CONFEDERATE AND MILITARY PRISONERS IN A MASS GRAVE.

>> WE BEGIN AT THE CONFEDERATE MOUND BUT THAT IS NOT WHERE WE END THAT IS THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AND WE MOVE INTO RECONSTRUCTION, THE GREAT MIGRATION AND THE MOD CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND ALL THE PEOPLE HERE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT DIFFICULT TRANSITION FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> ANOTHER TEAM THAT IS PART OF THE TOUR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION, IS THAT PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE THE FEELING THAT HISTORY IS ALWAYS ABOUT PROGRESS.

YOU'RE ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD AND THINGS ARE ALWAYS GETTING BETTER.

BUT WHAT WE SEE IN SOME EXAMPLES ON THIS TOUR IS THAT THERE'S OFTEN A LOT OF REGRESSION.

>> ERICA MYLES IS ONE OF THE DOES SANTS FOR THE TOUR WITH MARY JO HOAG WHO WROTE IT.

DURING THE TOURS THEY PLAIN TO VISITORS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHICAGO'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR HAROLD WASHINGTON.

>> HE WAS ELECTED MAYOR IN 1983.

AND UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED IN 1987.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO IN THAT SPAN OF TIME IS AMAZING.

>> ANTILYNCHING CRUSADER IDA B.

WELLS.

>> IT WAS AMAZING TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT SHE DID, THE TIME SHE DID IT, HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS AND HOW SIGNIFICANT IT WAS IN TERMS OF RAISING THE AWARENESS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

>> ALSO BURIED HERE, OLYMPIC GREAT JESSE OWENS WHO BEAT HITLER'S NAZIS IN TRACK AND FIELD IN THE 1936 OLYMPICS.

MILES EXPLAINS HISTORY AND DATES AND PLACES ARE IMPORTANT BUT WHAT SHE HOPES VISITORS CAN SENSE IS THE CONTEXT OF THE TIME PERIOD.

>> WE TEND TO METH OBVIOUSLY JIZ THESE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM LARGER THAN LIVE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE THIS SUPER HUMAN PERSON.

BUT THAT IS OFTEN NOT THE CASE.

IT'S OFTEN JUST REGULAR PEOPLE WHO ARE RISING TO THE CHALLENGE.

>> OTHER NOTABLES BURIED INCLUDE SOCIAL SERVICES ADVOCATE ADA MCKINLEY AND NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL ICON TED DOUBLE DUTY RATCLIFFE.

THE CENTER IS OFFERING THE TOUR ON AN ADDITIONAL TWO DATES THIS YEAR.

THE NEXT OF WHICH IS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER FOURTH.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.

>> 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 MONDAY NIGHT.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TALK ABOUT THE SUICIDE BOMBINGS AND THE U.S.

PULL OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

>> AND HOW THE GAGE PARK LATINX COUNCIL IS TEACHING YOUTH TO BE HISTORIANS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

>> AND JOIN JOANNA HERNANDEZ FOR TONIGHT'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

SHE IS TALKING WITH ENTREPRENEURS WHO STARTED OR EXPANDED THEIR BUSINESSES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

YOU CAN RSVP AT WTTW.COM/NEWS AND THE CONVERSATION GETS GOING AT 8:00 P.M.

RIGHT AFTER THE SHOW TONIGHT.

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

>> EMBRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAYLE THINK AND SAFE AND HAVE A -- STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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