>> Hello and thanks for joining us in Chicago tonight, Latino voices.

I'm joined on this.

Here's what we're looking at.

The Army Corps of Engineers is dropping a plan to expand a toxic dump on the southeast side after community pushback.

Medical students are enrolling, fewer black and Latino students.

How that how that could impact patient outcomes.

And we're gearing up for tonight's lunar eclipse.

What you should know about dazzling display.

>> And now to some of today's top stories, a federal judge is ordering 10's of thousands of fire federal workers to wreak to be rehired immediately.

The California judge says probationary workers at 6 federal agencies must be reinstated after being fired last month amid President Donald Trump's efforts to shrink the federal workforce.

In his ruling, the judge called the mass firings a sham strategy by the government to sidestep federal law, noting some workers had been told they were fired based on their performance.

But the order also says agencies can conduct reductions in force but have to follow certain procedures.

The 6 agencies include Department of Agriculture, Defense Energy, Interior Treasury in veteran affairs.

The White House called today's order absurd and unconstitutional.

And Governor JB Pritzker is warning that the future student learning is at risk.

Today he addressed a packed audience of educators from across the state at the Illinois Education Association Conference in Rosemont.

He says they are ready to fight against against the Trump administration, which he says is jeopardizing more than 3 billion dollars in federal funding for education in Illinois.

Pritzker says students in low-income rural communities depend on that funding to provide programs like free lunches and resources for students with disabilities.

May take away funding, which is their goal.

>> Kids across this nation who deserve to be able to get a good public education and in particular from some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

We're talking about people who are disabled people, people in need have special needs special education.

When you take away 10 to 12% of the funding for education across this nation, you're damaging what we can do for our people here in the state of Illinois.

>> Pritzker also announced today that Illinois is joining 20 other states in a federal lawsuit challenging sweeping layoffs of the Department of Education.

And local drivers are mobilizing in seeking to unionize.

Dozens of drivers rallied outside the company's offices today to demand the option to join a union.

Organizers say the company is benefiting from the work while drivers deal with unfair conditions.

They say joining a union will help negotiate better standards.

And I are ready to get your green on Chicago's annual Saint Patrick's Day.

Celebrations are happening this weekend.

>> The Chicago River will be died of festive shade of green on Saturday morning beginning at 10:00AM the city says the best place to watch is along the river between State Street and Columbus.

So you don't have to get there early.

Meanwhile, the 70th annual Saint Patrick's Day parade kicks off downtown at noon Saturday in the South Side, Irish parade begins at noon Sunday in the Beverly neighborhood.

So many festivities.

Up next, a controversial plan to expand a toxic dump on Lake Michigan is getting well dumped.

We explain right after this.

>> Chicago tonight, Latino voices.

It's made possible in part by the support of these donors.

>> The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is dropping its plan to expand a toxic down on Lake Michigan.

It comes after a years long battle with community members.

Environmentalist on the city's southeast side.

Our own Patty.

What Lee joins us now with more on what this means.

Patty, this has been a years long battle as I just first of all, what is this toxic sludge and what were they planning to do with it?

Right?

So toxic sludge.

That's all the sediment that gathers on the bottom.

>> Of like the Calumet River, the cows channel and the Army Corps has been dredging it to keep that channel navigable for shipping.

I could just normally dump that back into the lake, but because it's contaminated with chemicals, pollutants like arsenic, mercury lead.

It needs to place it in what's called a confined disposal facility.

So that already exists right there on the mouth of the Calumet River.

It's been there for 40 years in the Army Corps, wanted to expand it by 20 more feet high and continue dumping the sludge.

There's some people really hold out, right?

Right.

You had with the Alliance of the Southeast, which is a community organization in the Southeast side neighborhood of Chicago, friends of the Parks and the Environmental Law and Policy Center working the start of legal angle for them objecting to it because that community is already overburdened, they say with with dumps with pollution, with industry, friends of the parks had long been promise that once this site maxed out and it's been there for 40 years, been doing so much work.

Great for that.

You they've wanted to lake complete this lakefront path.

That's part of like the last 4 miles and and to put a park there, that was the promise of Army Corps be like we'll shut it down.

Will give you these 45 acres, remediate the site and it'll be parkland for the community.

So they're like you made the promise.

Now you're going back on its back on its way next.

So the issue now is there the Army Corps has withdrawn its plan.

But if they're still going to drudge, they're still going maintain that shipping channel.

Where's this toxic sludge going to go?

And they said they already explored alternate sites and nobody helps wanted this in their community.

So they're going really have to work with state and local officials to find a place to put this stuff on.

doesn't know exactly.

Well, thank you, my or anyone.

With a light on the slide it under center will ringing about Joanna.

>> And you can read patties full story on our website.

It's all at Www dot com slash news.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action 2 years ago.

Diversity is in decline at medical schools nationwide.

This includes a more than 10% drop in enrollment for black and Latino students.

Despite an increase in applicants.

Joining us now with more on the potential impact on patients are doctors, Susie Lopez, a primary care physician and assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at Rush University Medical Center.

She's also the court adviser of the Latino Medical Student Association and Dr. Monica move to full primary care physician and assistant dean of diversity, equity and Inclusion.

Loyola University, Chicago School of Medicine.

She's also associate professor of medicine.

Thank you both for joining us.

Dr Maloof.

I want to start with you.

When you read about the decline in medical students from different cultural backgrounds such as left the nose, what goes through your mind is also a woman of color.

>> You know, I think overall the decline is really harmful for our patients, our communities that we live in as well as for the medical societies.

We know that from really good data that having differs physicians and nurses helps improve patient outcomes helps patients meet their health care.

It cools and live longer, but also helps the physician workforce.

I'm physicians who work in diverse environments tend to do better, have better job satisfaction and care for our able to care for diverse communities.

Better.

So is the climb is really concerning for the medical landscape as a whole across the board.

>> And Doctor Lopez just share some obstacles, students of color face when deciding to enter the medical field.

>> No I want past the Bulls compared mines.

That maim young song.

We 5, 9 make you sign center.

being friends to families to Senate.

going Yeah.

I heard somebody talking act then transplant.

It's part of it is new students who are carrying very motivated students thinking that meantime, Central student do then us?

the thing that's a on and landslides and will and signed when might have test new.

That's nearly something is not accident.

Not that I need to us.

That's understandable.

And Dr. Maloof lies in incorporating diversity and health equity in resident education.

>> So important.

>> You know, I always like to say that we tried to get to health equity by accident and incident what I mean by that is that for many decades and U.S. site at medical schools, we hope that that position treat all patients the same in all patients with dude, great, no matter where they came from or what the color of their skin was.

But over the last several decades, lies that that's cause a lot of divert disparities.

So black and Latino patients and Hispanic patients are more likely to die from chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease and higher rate than white patients.

So in order to help mitigate and bridge that gap, we really need to be educating our positions and our residents to be the best they possibly can be taking care of all patients regardless of where they come from and recognizing that these disparities exist so they could work towards mitigating mom.

>> Dr Lopez.

You know this next question is what are the benefits for patients to have physicians who are from their own race and Ignas City?

You know, I remember growing up, you know, going to the clinic at that time.

You're spending all day at the clinic my mom to have insurance at that time.

And I remember having to translate because the doctor only spoke English.

You know, how important is it?

>> It's not which expect action altar.

Sorry.

It didn't get speak.

Cheryl standing next action at the culture of understanding the culture there's a based around and find it.

he understand missed frankly, And do is when reach a different.

But I'm taking and we tend to do in the area medicine where we sent us a lot just get on And I came to incident, was that an acting just honestly, I'm just wondering, is months, rather than learned fire and and snow It's not the the highest health, something should for think is it's the exact What are your thoughts?

aloof.

>> Yeah, I mean, echo everything.

Dr Lopez said that it's so impactful for patients to have a position that speaks their language, understands our culture and that doesn't just have to be that you're from the same culture.

But just coming in with an understanding and openness.

And so that's what I was alluding to earlier about having diverse medical schools makes all the doctors better because they're all been trained to take care of interactive people from different backgrounds and understand that you need to adjust your recommendations based on cultural nuance, cultural differences and social differences so that diversity is so important for all of us as we train and grow together.

But then also for patients being able to connect with them.

>> And in that aspect, Dr Maloof.

What are your thoughts on the Trump administration's executive order to Target Dei programs?

And how does would you say it's affects the future of health equity?

>> Such a great question.

It's been a really challenging time for all of us in the diversity space.

I will say that as a dean of dei.

Welcome criticism.

If you have thoughtful really evidence-based ways to help us improve.

I welcome that because what we're doing is innovative the new emboldened.

We need that feedback to be able to get better.

But what's happening is not that what's happening is and discriminatory attacks that are really persecute.

Tory.

And there is also that is that all these benefits that we talked about, health equity diversifying.

The physician workforce, our friend.

And that's going threaten the health of all Americans, not just those of color.

>> Same question for you, Dr Lopez.

What do you know?

What are your thoughts when you see, you know, some of these programs and at jeopardy would what do you think that people are are not understanding of how essential these dei programs are?

Well, 100 went back in done that.

But I think thing it would provide, don't want to so it's >> It's not great.

they it.

gender assigned read right.

It's learning ensure that want to turn to Witz.

admit productive.

Don't have access Dixon line in from it on.

It's not just And what would you Just Dr Lopez, you know, what can you tell us a bit about your background and what type of discrimination you even have experience in healthcare?

>> Yeah, would here anybody who's been tempted to from Leeds and sometimes they can but is going you can raise your hand ask that you used.

think if says patient's condition them a raise their hands mice time once used for maybe says their activist.

And we live in is under physical therapist by kitchen area.

is that a woman and women of color 100 patients families don't stay might sign exemptions for environmental service.

are still Some Americans there that rain settlement thing you.

Probably mission to bring back to stop.

you're going this issue here.

We'll talk to you.

Same question for you.

Don't Have you ever had to experience, you know, these type of obstacles and challenges?

>> I think that I've been really blessed to have a really supportive training environment everywhere that I've been.

But those examples Dr Lopez gave are examples that I think echo across the medical spectrum for and women of color.

I've had many experiences that are just like that.

but I think that what I really focus on is my students that we mentor and teach and how to help create a more inclusive environments.

They don't have to go through this.

Training can feel like they don't belong.

They don't belong in that way code.

They don't belong as the in the hospital in this medical school and having so many experiences like that that have become normalized that can sometimes feel like that for those students that can have its called Imposter syndrome feeling like they don't belong because they walk into the hospital and someone thinks they're there to clean the floors.

And so a lot of her work in the office of Diversity here is to help and make sure that the medical school in our hospital is really safe and inclusive for everybody who walks through these doors.

Patients and students alike.

What advice?

You know, the ending question is what advice would you give?

>> To someone who is interested in going into the medical field, you know, and and is a little bit nervous.

>> I can start by saying that I being a doctor is the best job in the world.

I have days that are terrible and I'm and and come home gas and break out.

But I wouldn't trade for the world.

I think be able to make an impact in my patients.

Lives be able to connect them with the care they need is something that is me so much fulfillment even when I'm exhausted and so burnt out.

And I really want encourage anybody thinking about going into medicine, too.

And if you have that energy a passion for helping people taking care of your community, then listen to that.

pursue, pursue a career in Healthcare, Inc.

It's a very rewarding career.

>> Well, thank you both for your feedback and good luck with everything.

>> Thank you so much for having us.

Up next, what you need to know for tonight's total lunar eclipse.

Don't go to bed too early tonight.

Chicago, get your binoculars out because scientific magic rises in the sky tonight.

>> As a lunar blood moon eclipse will begin to be visible.

And joining us with everything we need to know is our friend Joel Guzman, founder and CEO Chicago Astronomer and NASA ambassador.

So nice to have you back.

It's always lovely when you're here in the studio with us.

And I, you know, less than you were here, we talked about all strong Nicole event happening this year.

But tonight we are talking about a total lunar eclipse.

Remind us what that showing.

A lot of pleasure.

It is to once again.

A lunar eclipse is when things get in the way of other things.

In this case, the earth is getting in the way of the sunlight the morning.

>> And semi wear event and we only get to a year.

And so let's enjoy this one because we are perfectly suited in the Americas to you.

This event to 92 a year that just every issue and they're different phases of this eclipse.

Tell us what those are and what we can observe.

And each of them only in what this starts at 12 midnight tonight, 11.

57, 12 o'clock.

So we have to stay out.

Its warts say it's worth staying it it is.

And it will last for 5 hours to 5 in the morning.

The meat of the eclipse.

The sweet spot is 02:00AM.

And that's what you want to watch.

Hear that the beginning, the moon will slowly, Jim hit the meet sweet spot and then slowly come back to its normal, a looming nation.

And try to learn the terminology have been learning because of you know what I what time does the totality reach its peak o'clock.

2 o'clock.

2 o'clock in the morning for those who have early morning Now you'll start to see the Earth's shadow.

Take a bite out of the moon.

About one 30 2 o'clock so sweet spot to 30.

It's about over and then for geeks.

Like me were up to 5 o'clock.

are you staying up the whole time?

I'm gonna try to my garage or I mean your wife is here.

She's staying up where she going to be she's going to >> This is Joe's is just a show tomorrow.

She'll hear about it.

I love that.

Now the total number of solar and lunar eclipse are similar, but lunar eclipses are most commonly observed.

Why is that?

>> Well, because the moon's the Earth's shadow course the entire moon, whereas on the solar eclipse because a tiny spot because the moon this much, much smaller than endure it and arcs of tiny area that it passes over the earth wherever it may be.

Usually a santeria, gruesome, some place that.

not going to go.

We're not going >> Now the phase Bilodeau cases.

Interesting blood war Moon has been floating around to describe the eclipse.

What's the meaning behind that?

Well, it's the color of the moon that.

Apparently changes.

It doesn't change calling reality.

It's the atmosphere of the earth that we franks to light.

>> From the sun and blocking out the blue wavelengths and the red light wavelengths pass through because what we there on screen, it looks red.

That's that's the Wings of the allowed to pass through the atmosphere.

Now, if there is a volcano or forest fire, it will deepen and color get more of a blood So interesting.

So many different things that we do know now.

Our last lunar, total lunar eclipse was back in November 2022, the next one is set for March of 2026, why are they so widely spread out its these of the planets?

The the orbit of the the tilts 5 degrees up 5 degrees down.

It's got to be right in that sweet spot.

Scope mean that line.

And if it isn't that we're not going to either loved one or a solar eclipse.

I love that binoculars.

This is something that you need Okay.

So they can.

I event.

You can watch it safely.

It's not like a solar eclipse.

special glasses.

>> Well, you can bring your family out a little kids in watch just for the 5 hours.

>> But a pair of binoculars will enhance hands.

They experience as you're connecting more intimately and a telescope.

Of course, we'll always improve that.

The V on his a team of Tell us do you do?

Want a lot of money that 3 well, you differently at the enhancements really help the situation now want to talk about the Blue Ghost.

There's also a lunar lander and the moon not called Blue.

Goes have no idea what that is.

can you explain what that is intended to do.

This is a payload lander from the Firefly Aerospace company to private commercial company.

The first time he has ever done this in history space exploration.

Enhanced 10 experiments going on right now, expanding its drilling.

It's and it's looking it's doing a whole bunch of in.

There all were keen.

I'm very impressed by this machine and it's a private endeavor sub country by NASA.

And would you say they the findings will look like for the predictions say what are you hoping that the last astronaut on the moon was Gene Cernan.

He reported that lunar soil was levitating.

And not due to electromagnetic a influences on the surface.

issues going to explore that and look at the sunrise coming over moon.

Take some photos, videos on that and measure what's going on?

Do you love that?

There's just more enthusiasm and passion for exploring the space.

We are in the golden age of space exploration right now with the technology we have space to risk going into space as well.

Yeah, this is a fantastic to be alive and to look at this and to look and I and again, you just have to look up, just have to look all Stephen Hadley and you're not observer.

You're a participant.

Your part of the universe.

And so you're looking at yourself when you're looking up into space.

I love that.

if you've noticed, but I am a little pride in And I was reading that I don't know.

This is a myth or but can pregnant women look up at an eclipse?

Yes, they Its foreclosure and the idea behind it was that the light from the sun is being interfered with by the blockages of the Earth.

And it may hindered the development the baby, our ancestors.

sticks used to wear a coat on this little All right.

Underwear and on the and though it's not so much vogue now, but they wear red wristbands.

too, noticed while I was how they're still the superstitions inmates when there's any type of light eclipse.

that's always interesting what other events are happening and the sky this year.

This is the only lunar eclipse of the year.

So let's get out and enjoy it.

But there's meador showers as planetary conjunctions and there's the glory of the universe's with telescopes.

Make it.

love talking about this forever.

Uni's I level thank you so much for breaking it down for leave it here.

We have leave it at some sure.

We'll see you again.

Excellent.

Thank you.

>> And that's our show for this Thursday night in join us tomorrow night at 5.37, for the weekend review.

Now from all of us here at Chicago tonight, I'm joined at 9 this.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

>> When that's not just now be using live.

>> Closed caption was made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law, offices Chicago, personal injury and wrongful But he's proud to a multi-lingual lost invites