CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WHAT VOICES ARE BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

I HAVE BEEN THE BEST PRESIDENT FOR THE BLACK POPULATION SINCE ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

TRUMP VISITS THE LAND OF LINCOLN FOR A Q AND A WITH BLACK JOURNALISTS.

THAT QUICKLY TURNS CONTENTIOUS.

THIS MISSION NEVER HAD A GROWING CALLS FOR JUSTICE IN THE FATAL SHOOTING OF SONYA MASSEY BY DOWNSTATE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY.

AND WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT A SUMMER SURGE IN COVID CASES WITH CHICAGO'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS IN CHICAGO TODAY FOR JUST THE SECOND TIME SINCE MASSIVE PROTESTS FORCED HIM TO SCRAP A RALLY IN 2016 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

CHICAGO.

TRUMP HAS OFTEN CRITICIZE CHICAGO USING IT AS A PUNCHING BAG TO ATTACK DEMOCRATS.

TODAY HE SAT DOWN WITH 3 JOURNALISTS, ALL MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS DURING ITS ANNUAL CONVENTION IN WHAT BECAME A COMBATIVE INTERVIEW, ONE THAT MANY MEMBERS VOICED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT OVER.

WITH PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE HILTON.

CHICAGO.

AND MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS GROWING RESTLESS INSIDE THE Q AND A WITH FORMER PRESIDENT.

DONALD TRUMP BEGAN MORE THAN AN HOUR AFTER ITS SCHEDULED TIME.

ABC NEWS RACHEL SCOTT KICKING OFF THE QUESTIONS ATTACKED BLACK JOURNALISTS CALLING THEM A LOSER, SAYING THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASKED ARE, QUOTE, STUPID AND RACIST.

WE'VE HAD DINNER WITH A WHITE SUPREMACIST.

YOUR MAR-A-LAGO RESORT.

SO MY QUESTION, SIR, NOW THAT YOU'RE ASKING BLACK SUPPORTERS TO VOTE FOR YOU, WHY SHOULD BLACK VOTERS TRUST YOU AFTER YOU HAVE USE LANGUAGE LIKE THAT?

AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT SHOWING HIS ANGER YOU WITH ABC BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE A FAKE NEWS NETWORK.

A TERRIBLE.

I THINK IT'S DISGRACEFUL THAT I CAME HERE IN GOOD I LOVE THE BLACK POPULATION OF THIS COUNTRY.

TRUMP'S HISTORY OF THAT KIND OF VITRIOL DIRECTED AT BLACK FEMALE JOURNALISTS IN PARTICULAR IS WHAT SET OFF A BACKLASH FROM MANY IN A B J MEMBERS WHEN THEY LEARNED HE BE AT THE CONVENTION.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HOW IT TURNED OUT.

TRUMP MANIPULATED SITUATION CAME OUT VERY HOSTILE, LOT OF HOSTILE QUESTIONS LIVE, HOSTILE ACCUSATIONS TO DIVERT THE REPORTERS FROM DOING THEIR JOB.

AND YOU DID.

YOU DID YOU LEARN A LOT MORE THAN YOU ALREADY KNEW ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AND HOW HE FELT ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS?

QUESTIONS SPANNED FROM INFLATION.

INFLATION IS A COUNTRY BUSTER.

IT BREAKS EVERY COUNTRY AND WE HAD, IN MY OPINION, THE WORST INFLATION WE'VE HAD.

THEY SAY IT'S 58 YEARS, BUT I THINK IT'S MUCH MORE THAN TO IMMIGRATION.

MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM MENTAL INSTITUTIONS, FROM PRISONS, FROM JAILS, A GANG MEMBERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

OTHER COUNTRIES ARE SETTING LOOSE THEIR PRISONERS.

THEY'RE OPENING UP THEIR PRISONS AND THEIR MENTAL INSTITUTIONS.

WHILE POLITIFACT POSTED LIVE FACT CHECKING ONLINE ON HIS LAST POINT ABOUT IMMIGRATION, POLITIFACT SAYS IT'S ALREADY RATED THIS CLAIM, QUOTE, PANTS ON FIRE, MEANING QUITE FALSE.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHETHER HIS OPPONENT, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS A, QUOTE, DEI HIGHER.

HE QUESTIONED HER RACIAL IDENTITY.

SHE WAS ALWAYS OF INDIAN HERITAGE.

AND SHE ONLY PROMOTING INDIAN HERITAGE.

I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS BLACK.

UNTIL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN SHE HAPPENED TO TURN BLACK AND NOW SHE WANTS TO KNOWN BLACK.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF SHE INDEED ARE SHIPPED LAST YEAR'S.

ALL THE DOESN'T.

POLITIFACT SAYS THAT CLAIM TO IS FALLS.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST REVEALING MOMENT OF THE EVENT.

I HAVEN'T HEARD HIM SAY THAT BEFORE.

IT'S A RIDICULOUS CHARGE.

I THINK HE'S TRYING TO APPLY THAT SHE'S AND BLACK ENOUGH BECAUSE HE FEELS THAT THAT WILL HURT HER WITH BLACK VOTERS.

AND TO BE CLEAR, LOWER WASHINGTON, WHO YOU JUST HEARD FROM THERE SAID THAT SHE DID SUPPORT TRUMP'S APPEARANCE INITIALLY AS IT'S SOMETHING THAT IN A B J HAD IN A B J HAS DONE IN THE PAST IN A BJ'S PRESIDENT.

KEN LEMON SAYS THE ORGANIZATION IS IN TALKS WITH THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN AS WELL TO ARRANGE A Q AND A WITH HER EITHER VIRTUALLY OR IN-PERSON IN SEPTEMBER.

FOR MORE OF TRUMP'S COMMENTS AT TODAY'S EVENT AS WELL AS REACTION FROM PROTESTERS.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTTA W DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

UP NEXT, CHICAGOANS REACT TO SONYA MASSEY'S DEATH.

CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

THERE'S GROWING OUTRAGE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ON DOWN FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF BODYCAM FOOTAGE SHOWING A DOWNSTATE POLICE OFFICER FATALLY SHOOTING.

36 YEAR-OLD SONIA MASSEY EARLIER THIS MONTH SAYING I'M IN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SEAN GRAYSON HAS BEEN FIRED AND CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

BUT AS MORE DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT GREECE'S HISTORY, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND ACTIVISTS ARE DEMANDING ANSWERS AND ACTION THAT INCLUDES HERE IN CHICAGO WHERE REVEREND AL SHARPTON AND OTHERS GATHERED AT NEW MOUNT PILGRIM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH LAST NIGHT AS PART OF A NATIONWIDE CALL FOR JUSTICE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE SOME OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THAT EVENT.

REVEREND IRA ACREE, PASTOR OF GREATER SAINT JOHN BIBLE CHURCH ALESE EDWARDS, A FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND A MEMBER OF THE 11TH DISTRICT POLICE COUNCIL AND DAVID CHERRY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR USE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AT THE ALL STARS PROJECT.

THANKS TO ALL 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING REVEREND, ACCURATE.

LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

THE JUSTICE FOR SONYA MASSEY EVENT LAST NIGHT.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT EVENT AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WERE SOME OF THE KEY MESSAGES OR TAKEAWAYS FROM LAST NIGHT A GREAT EVENT.

IT'S A GREAT EVENT.

WE HAD PHASE LEADERS, RESIDENTS AND WE HAD OTHER VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE, MURDERS BEING FANS.

WERE THERE.

AND CHICAGO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN.

MANY OF US.

WE HAD FLASHBACKS OF THE HORRIFIC.

UGLY.

THIS POLICE MURDER OF LAQUAN MCDONALD.

AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING TO SEE THIS YOUNG BOY, 17 YEARS OLD.

GOOD SHOT 16 TIMES.

HONESTLY, WHEN I SAW THAT VIDEO.

IN MANY OF US WOULD NORMALLY SWIM.

WE SAW THAT VIDEO WE THOUGHT OF LAQUAN MCDONALD.

ON STUDENT STILL ROYCE.

IT WAS AGONIZING AND MANY PEOPLE ARE JUST FRUSTRATED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THIS WOMAN.

THIS WOMAN IS IN THE SANCTITY AND SANCTUARY OF OUR OWN.

HOW SO?

AND THE PERSON WHO IS OFFICE OF THE PEACE COMES IN GUNS ARE DOWN.

SO WE WERE VERY ENTHUSED TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN AND AND TO THE NATIONAL CRAFT FOR JUSTICE FOR SONYA MASSEY AND JUST LIKE OTHERS.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PERSON SHOULD HAVE NEVER.

ON THIS FOR US FROM THE GET-GO.

6 TIMES HE HAS BEEN MOVED FROM 40 POLICE AGENCIES WORK.

CORRECT?

CORRECT.

HE'S BEEN MULTIPLE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES UNTIL HE GOT TO SAY THE ALESE EDWARDS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK JUSTICE FOR SONYA MASSEY LOOKS LIKE.

WELL, SO IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF THINGS.

I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP ALL OF US.

AS YOU COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THERE IS A THING IN ILLINOIS CAUGHT THE SAFETY ACT AND THAT SAFETY IS NOT JUST CASH BAIL, BUT IT ALSO HELPS WHERE THERE ARE OFFICERS THAT DOES PARTICIPATE IN MISCONDUCT.

IT HAS BEEN LINKED OR, YOU KNOW, BUT MORE LIKE CATEGORIES IN WHAT THEY CALLED THE CERTIFICATION THAT ALLOWS THOSE OFFICERS TO BE DECERTIFIED, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU TAKE THEIR AUTHORITY AWAY.

THEY'RE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO ACTUALLY HAVE A GUN.

AND WHEN THEY TRY TO MOVE AROUND TO OTHER AGENCIES WITHIN ILLINOIS THAT STOPS THEM FROM HAVING THAT GUN IN THE AUTHORITY THAT COMES WITH THEIR BADGE, ALMOST EQUIVALENT TO SORT DO NOT HIRE LIST, WERE THEY?

SO THEY CAN BE HARD TO GET AS A POLICE OFFICER AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

WE HAVE SOME VIDEO FROM EARLIER IN THAT ENCOUNTER BETWEEN MASSEY DEPUTY GRAYSON THAT DOES NOT SHOW THE SHOOTING.

BUT HERE'S HERE'S A BIT OF THAT.

CHAI HEALTH LAW THAT WE'RE GOING HELP WITH THAT.

I THINK OF NEED HELP WITH LESS THAN OF WE'RE WE WILL HELP I HEARD SOMEBODY CHECK YOUR HOUSE AND CHECK YOUR BACKYARD.

I WALKED ALL THE WAY ALWAYS BACKYARD CHECK YOUR FRONT YARD.

YOU CAN SEE NO, BUT OVER.

HE'S OUT HERE.

DAVID CHERRY, YOU KNOW, WE WATCH THAT AND EVEN A LITTLE BIT LATER ON INTO THAT ENCOUNTERED, IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S SHE'S DISORIENTED.

SHE NEEDS HELP.

SHE CAN'T QUITE EXPRESS WHAT IS THAT SHE NEEDS, THOUGH.

HOW DO YOU SEE ALL OF AND SORT OF LIKE THE COLLAPSE IN IN POLICE TRAINING THAT HAPPENED THERE THAT ESCALATED FROM THE POINT THAT WE JUST SAW TO WHAT WE ALL KNOW HAPPENED LATER.

THE I THINK THE WHOLE THING IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.

YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT, YOU YOU HAVE THESE REALLY 2 BIG BURLY MAN.

WHO SHOWED UP AT HER HOME.

AND INSTEAD OF PROVIDING COMFORT BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE INTRUDER INSTEAD OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, LET'S MAKE SURE THE WINDOWS AND DOORS UNLOCKED BEFORE WE LEAVE IN.

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, WE'LL COME BACK AND PROVIDE MORE CONFIDENT NECESSARY.

YOU KNOW, TAKE SOT UVALDE SHOOTER AND IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS TO SEE THIS HAPPENED HERE 2024 APPRENTICE AND, YOU KNOW, BIG PART THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN THESE CASES.

SO FAMILIES AND MITT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TRAUMATIZED ONE BY THE SHOOTING, BUT THEN WOULD TRAUMATIZE AGAIN BY BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW IT.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PROSECUTORS WON'T BRING CHARGES IF PROSECUTORS DECIDE TO BRING CHARGES.

THEY'RE ACQUITTALS BY THE JURY OR A JUDGE OR LICENSES BY JUDGE.

YOU KNOW, WE KEYBOARD YOUNG BLACK WOMAN WAS KILLED HERE IN CHICAGO SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THAT.

YOU HEAR ABOUT BREONNA TAYLOR KILLED IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THAT.

BUT ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHO WAS FIRED IS NOW WORKING AT DEPARTMENT.

AND THIS IS A PATTERN.

AND SO IT IS THING ABOUT JUSTICE IS THAT YOU WILL TAKE THAT DANGEROUS OFF THE STREET.

AND THEN ALSO SERVES AS A DETERRENCE SO THAT THIS GUY HE WOULD EAT, TOOK HIS WEAPON NOW BECAUSE HE'S NOT WORRIED THAT THE THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO EVEN THOUGH HE'S BEEN CHARGE, HE DOES NOT.

BASED ON HISTORY DOES NOT FEEL THAT HE'S GOING TO SERVE ANY JAIL TIME FOR KILLING THIS.

A BLESSING SAYING HE FELT CONFIDENT IN THAT MOMENT.

JUSTICE.

HE THINKS AND I ALSO NOT ONLY CAN WE BLAME THEM BUT THE BLOOD OF SONYA MASSEY IS ALSO ON THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WELL AS CONGRESS BECAUSE, YES, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THE GEORGE FLOYD AT YES, AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, RIGHT?

A DO NOTHING.

CONGRESS DID NOT PASS LEGISLATION THEY HAD PASSED THAT LEGISLATION, WE WOULD NOW HAVE A NO.

WHAT IS THE CALL AND NO POLICE, A NATIONAL POLICE MISCONDUCT REGISTRY GET WHAT THEY TRACK.

ALL POLICE MISS MISCONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AND THAT WOULD PROHIBIT A POLICE OFFICER FROM GOING FROM ONE JURISDICTION TO ANOTHER WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND I WANT TO SAY JUST ONE MORE THING.

I'M SORRY THAT THAT OUT LISTENING TO THAT CONVERSATION, WHAT THE OFFICER AND WITH SONYA MASSEY.

YEAH, AGGRESSION THAT WAS THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAINING, YOU KNOW, DE-ESCALATING ASIDE FROM THAT.

WE REALLY WANT TO FREE UP THE TIME OF OFFICERS WHEN IT IS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR, YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL LIKE SOMEONE CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES THAT THEY CALL SOMEONE ELSE IN IT.

HE FELT I FELT LOOKING AT THAT VIDEO.

THERE WAS SOME IMPATIENS TALKING DOWN, JUST AGGRESSION.

THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE WE FEEL, YOU KNOW, HER IN MANY WAYS.

THAT'S SO FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE VIDEO SAYING THE COUNTY SHERIFF JACK CAMPBELL GREESON SAID HE CALLED GRAY SON'S ACTIONS, QUOTE, JUSTIFIABLE AND RECKLESS.

WE KNOW THE GRAYSON HAS BEEN FIRED.

HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER ELISE, ARE YOU SATISFIED?

BUT THAT ISN'T ENOUGH.

I MEAN, I DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE THE HISTORY THIS OFFICER.

I MEAN, THAT'S ME.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, YEAH, BUT WE'RE REFLECTS PRIOR TO THIS THAT THEY IGNORED WHETHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN HIS CAREER THAT THEY COULD HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST IN NOT THE FACT THAT HE WENT TO 6 DIFFERENT LEO, YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN 4 YEARS.

BUT WITH THAT PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHERE THE FLAGS THAT THEY DID NOT CATCH AND IF THERE WERE THE BLOOD IS ON THEIR HANDS AS WELL.

SO THERESA HALEY, PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP, SPRINGFIELD BRANCH.

HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY AFTER THE RESULTS.

SO YOU MASSEY'S AUTOPSY WERE RELEASED.

AS I WATCHED THE VIDEO AGAIN, AGAIN, I HAVE TO OR WRITE.

BLACK WOMEN ARE UNDER ATTACK.

WE FEAR FOR OUR LIVES AS WELL.

AGAIN, WE USED TO TELL OUR SONS OUR HUSBANDS, OUR NEPHEWS, THE MAN IN OUR LIVES TO BE CAREFUL AND WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE STOPPED BY THE POLICE.

NOW WE HAVE TO TELL OURSELVES OUR DAUGHTERS AND MOTHERS, OUR SISTERS ARE COUSINS.

ALESE EDWARDS.

BACK TO YOU.

IS THIS THE NEW REALITY?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD WE BE HAVING THE SAME TALK WITH WOMEN BECAUSE THEY IN THE CASE OF BREONNA TAYLOR, SHE WAS SLEEPING IN HER BED THAT NIGHT.

THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING THAT SHE COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS, YOU CANNOT BE PREPARED FOR.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO TALK TO ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR.

HONESTLY AT THE CHURCH LAST YOU KNOW, AT THE RALLY, I JUST SAID IN 2 YEARS, I JUST SAID IN TEARS, EVERYTHING THAT WENT FORTH, IT'S NOT JUST BLACK FEMALES IS NOT JUST BLACK MALES.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN IS TRANSGENDER.

IT'S LIKE A LIKE LITERALLY ANYONE WHO IS AND BLACK SKIN IS UNDER ATTACK.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IS UNFORTUNATE.

RIVER.

YOU MENTIONED THE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING WHAT WHAT WITH THE FAMILY LIKE TO SEE GOING FORWARD?

WELL, THE FATHER MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT SHERIFF SHOULD RESIGN.

BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS MAYBE HE WON'T RESIGN.

BUT THERE OTHER WAYS TO GET RID OF.

I WAS LOOKING AT UP BECAUSE HE WAS ELECTED.

SO HE HAS THE POWER TO SAT NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT HE COULD BE FIRED.

YOU CAN BE FIRED BY THE GOVERNOR.

HE COULD BE RECALL BY THE ELECTORATE OR HE COULD BE IMPEACHED.

BUT I THINK WE CAN'T SIT BACK AND WAIT ON HIM TO RESIGN.

WE MUST KEEP ON PUTTING THE PRESSURE BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ELECTED AND AND THIS.

THIS IS A GREAT NEGLECT OF DUTY.

HE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

DAVID CHERRY, 10 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

YOU KNOW, REALLY AS ACCOUNTABILITY ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER WHO NEEDS TO BE PROSECUTED AND PUNISH AND IMPRISON 40 DID ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ANYBODY WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING HIM.

6, 6 DEPARTMENTS IN 4 YEARS ON THE SUPPLE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE MIND.

SO MUCH OF THE SET.

NO MORE YOU CAN BE A POLICE OFFICER.

SO MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES, RIGHT CONSIDERED READY ABOUT IT COME IF WE CAN'T GET THAT.

GEORGE FLOYD AT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, IT'S GOOD TO SONYA MASSEY HERE IN ILLINOIS IS THAT SOME COURAGEOUS STATE LEGISLATURE LEGISLATIVE STEP UP AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

MY THANKS TO THE 3 OF YOU, REVEREND IRA ACREE ALESE EDWARDS AND DAVID CHERRY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING THANK UP NEXT, AN UPDATE ON THE SUMMER UPTICK IN COVID CASES.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WARNING COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE NATIONALLY.

WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN POSITIVE VIRAL ACTIVITY THIS SUMMER.

AND CHICAGO IS NO DIFFERENT AND WITH THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, JUST WHAT IS THE LATEST COVID GUIDANCE HERE TO ANSWER THAT AND MUCH MORE IS DOCTOR SOMEBODY, COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DOCTOR, UK, WELCOME BACK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANK SO DESCRIBE THIS INCREASE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SEEING IN COVID-19 CASES.

HOW CONCERNING IS THIS TO PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS?

WELL, THIS IS REMINISCENT SOME OF THE PARDONS WE SAW IN 2023 SUMMER CASES START TO INCH UP A LITTLE AND WE'RE SEEING THAT HAPPEN.

AND WE EXPECT THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE FALL AND THE WINTER.

SO BUT WE HAVE GOOD NEWS AND NOW WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WE HAVE TOOLS THAT EFFECTIVE.

SO WE WANT PEOPLE AGAIN TO BE REMINDED THAT WE CAN KEEP COVID AT BAY WITH VACCINES.

AND SO WE PEOPLE TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FALL FOR THE WINTER BY GETTING THE PROTECTION THAT THEY NEED BACK SINCE GET TREATMENT AND STAY HOME.

IF YOU'RE SICK.

AND IF YOU HAVE TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE AFTER YOU'VE BEEN SICK MASK, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING FOR MANY YEARS.

THEY WORK AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE LAST SEASON WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP DEATH FROM COVID DOWN AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE SAME SUCCESS THIS SEASON.

WHAT KNOW ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THIS CURRENT INCREASE COVID?

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S BEEN A VERY, SMART VIRUS.

KEEPS MUTATING ME KEEPS DEVELOPING NEW.

VERY.

AND SO THERE'S A NEW VARIANT THAT'S OUT THERE FOR VARIANT THAT CAUSE OF THIS NEW UPTICK IN CASES THAT WE'RE SEEING.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE SEEING THIS.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A VIRUS THAT HAS BEEN VERY ADEPT AT YOU KNOW, CHANGING ITS SHAPE AND EXPRESSION, BUT THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS IT'S NOT A NEED SEVERE DISEASE.

SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

AND WE KNOW HOW TO KEEP IT AT BE.

THE VACCINE STILL LOOKS FOR THIS VERY.

AND SO THAT'S ALSO GOOD NEWS.

AND YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SORT OF A PATTERN THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF SUMMERS, BUT IT'S A BIT TOO EARLY TO TELL IF THIS IS GOING TO BE SUMMER VIRUS.

IF THE KIND OF LIKE THE FLU IS SORT OF A FALL AND WINTER VIRUS, RIGHT?

IT'S IT'S WE COVID WE TRY TO CAUTIOUS ABOUT BEING YOU CONFIDENT ABOUT HOW WE FIX PRICES BECAUSE THE VARIANT JUST KEEP POPPING UP.

BUT SOME OF THE PATTERNS WE SEEN THE SO THE NAME IS FAIR IN AUSTRALIA WITH IN THE PEAK OF AYLAN SEASON WITH KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT SORT PREP FOR HOW HANDLE A SEASON.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE, YES, THE THE FLOOD VARIANT IS LEADING TO MORE CASES BUT NOT MORE.

SEE THERE.

THE NEW VACCINE THAT WE HOPE WILL BE READY IN SEPTEMBER WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN KEEPING DEBATE.

VARIANT SOUNDS IT'S HOW CDPH KEEPING TRACK OF THESE NUMBERS?

WELL, A MAINSTAY RIGHT NOW AS THE WEEKS GO INTO SUTHERLAND BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE TESTING PROGRAM, CETERA.

AND WE'RE NO LONGER GETTING.

WE POINTS ON HOSPITALIZATION, CETERA.

SO WE ARE TRACKING ACROSS THE CITY WASTEWATER THAT HELPS US DETECT WHAT THE ACTIVITY IS FOR COVID IN THE WASTEWATER.

AND THAT'S HOW WE KNOW WHEN THINGS THE ENGINE OPEN WHEN THINGS ARE STABILIZING AND NOW GOING GOING UP.

OKAY.

AND JUST TO SHOW FOLKS AT HOME TO THE WEEK ENDING JULY 19TH THAT STARTED JULY THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IN CHICAGO WAS 9.8% COMPARED WITH THE WEEK BEFORE 7.6% DO YOU EXPECT THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR US A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT USED TO HEARING THESE NUMBERS REGULARITY THE WAY WE WERE, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE A LOT HIGHER RIGHT?

I THINK WHAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON RIGHT NOW WILL BE THE WASTEWATER ACTIVITY THAT HELPS US SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH LARGE THE TESTING.

NOT THIS, NOT EVERYBODY TESTING.

SO TEST POSITIVITY DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED.

SO THE COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE IS FROM THE WEISE.

SUTHERLAND'S.

AND YES, HE SAYS THE INCHING UP.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT PART IN THE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

WE EXPECT THAT HE WILL COME HERE.

SO WE WANT FOLKS TO CAUTIOUS TO START TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

NOW AND NOT WAIT UNTIL THE PEAK OF THE SEASON.

WE EXPECT NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO RISE.

SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE ANY RESPIRATORY SYMPTOM AT ALL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN COVID TAKE THE SAME PRECAUTIONS.

THE SAME PRECAUTIONS WILL FLEW THE SAME PRECAUTIONS FOR RSV THE SAME PRECAUTIONS FOR COVID.

A COMMENDATION RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS IF YOU ARE SICK, PLEASE STAY HOME UNTIL YOU FEEL BETTER.

24 HOURS AFTER YOU SYMPTOMS YOU CAN GO ABOUT YOUR NORMAL BUSINESS, BUT PLEASE KEEP YOUR MASK ON FOR UP TO 5 DAYS AFTER WOODS.

AND IF YOU FEEL PARTICULARLY SEEK, YOU HAVE A FEVER, YOU HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING.

THAT IS TREATMENT AVAILABLE.

PLEASE GET ASAP.

SO THOSE ARE THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL BE ASSURED THAT WE NOW KNOW HOW TO CONTROL COVID AND WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THIS TOOLS ON TO USE CAN WE EXPECT THAT THE NEXT VACCINE, THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE VACCINE WILL ADDRESS THIS VARIANT?

OH, YES, I'M THE KIND VACCINE STILL IS LITTLE PROTECTIVE, BUT THE NEW VERSION OF IT THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN WILL BE TAYLOR SAID FOR THIS PARTICULAR VARIANT.

AND SO WE'LL BE EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE.

CDPH YOU ARE STILL ADVOCATING FOR FEDERAL COVID FUNDING.

WHAT WHAT WOULD THAT BE USED FOR?

AND HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVING YOU ANY INDICATION THAT IT WILL PROVIDE MORE WELL, IT'S NOT LIKELY, THOUGH, IS GETTING MOST LINDINA COVID FUNDING IS ACTUALLY DEPLETING.

AND IT'S A A CHILLY GOING AWAY.

AND ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT SWEET IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW RIGHT NOW IS WE NO LONGER HAVE FUNDING FULL FREE VACCINES LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.

THE BREACH PROGRAM ENDS IN AUGUST 2024, WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE RIGHT NOW, THE OPTIONS WILL FREE VACCINATIONS AND LIMITED.

SO WE WILL STILL BE PROVIDING SOME FREE VACCINES, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS WE HAD LAST YEAR.

THE STOCK WILL BE LIMITED.

SO WE WANT FOLKS WAY ENJOY TO PLEASE ENGAGE WITH THEIR PHARMACIES WITH THEIR PROVIDERS FOR THE VACCINES.

AND WE WILL ALSO BE COMPLEMENTED THAT ARE WE CAN FIX THE REST OF THE COVID-RELATED FUNDED HAS BEEN MOST.

HE TOO, WAS COVID RECOVERY MORE THAN THE COVID VACCINE ITSELF.

AND WE'LL HAVE THAT FUNDING UNTIL 2026.

SOME OF PULL FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE TILL 2026.

BUT SUPPORTING PROGRAMS.

MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY, IT CETERA, AND NOT JUST THE COVID VACCINATION PROGRAM.

OKAY.

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO ABOUT 30 SECONDS CDPH TO STARTED A NEW OPERATION, ESO ES.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR APPROACH OF GETTING RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WITH THE AND WE ARE DOING CAME BECAUSE ABOUT 30% OF THE OVERDOSE DEATH THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN CHICAGO IS CONCENTRATED 5 NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO THERE ABOUT 1300 BOOKS WE'RE GOING TO DO TO DO A 10 WEEK CAMPAIGN TO GET RESOURCES TO PEOPLE.

WE'RE TIRED OF PEOPLE DYING FROM PREVENTABLE CAUSES.

LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 1300 PEOPLE DIED FROM OPIOID OVERDOSES.

MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES AND ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, COMBAT OPIOID OVERDOSES.

SO THIS IS HAVE TO HAVE YOU BACK TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

I'M GOING FOR DOCTORS IN BOWIE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING COURSE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 PROTESTS IN VENEZUELA FOLLOWING THEIR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE U.S. AND CHICAGO AND IT'S A CREATIVE TAKE ON AN ITALIAN CLASSIC.

GRAB A SLICE AT NOVEL PIZZA IN PILSEN.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICE IS GREATEST TREATMENT, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A THAT AS A PERSONAL INJURY LAW