>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> WE RAN TO SURVIVE.

WE RAN THROUGH BULLETS.

>> MASS SHOOTING SURVIVORS PRESS LAWMAKERS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST GUNS.

>>> FUNDING FOR RED LINE EXTENSION GETS A KEY CITY COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD.

>>> FEDERAL JUDGES OFTEN ILLEGALLY LOCK UP DEFENDANTS BEFORE THEY GO TO TRIAL.

WE DIG INTO A NEW REPORT.

>>> AS THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE ENTERS ITS BUSIEST DELIVERY WEEK OF THE SEASON, CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF POSTAL WORKERS ARISE IN LIGHT OF RECENT ATTACKS.

>>> THE SO-CALLED TRIPLEDEMIC OF COVID, RSV AND FLU IS LEADING TO A SHORTAGE OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN.

>>> WHAT'S CAUSING FINANCIAL ISSUES FOR THE GRILL COMPANY WEBER, THAT AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRANE.

>>> THE HEALING POWER OF ARTWORK MADE BY A CHICAGO VIETNAM WAR VETERAN YOU WON'T SOON FORGET.

>> I FEEL LIKE THEIR CREATIVITY, THEIR PASSION, THEIR DESIRES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANYBODY ELSE'S.

>>> AND AN ORGANIZATION ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS USING ART THERAPY TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

>>> THE MAYORAL CAMPAIGNS TRADED BARBS AT TODAY'S BALLOT CHALLENGE HEARINGS.

GREEN IS CHALLENGING WILSON'S CHICAGO RESIDENCY AND SAYS THE BRIBE WILLIE WILSON'S CAMPAIGN AIDE ALLEGEDLY OFFERED SO GREEN WOULD DROP HIS CHALLENGE TO WILSON SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO RICKY HENDREN AND WILLIE WILSON ESPECIALLY KNOWS WILLIE WILSON IS NOT GOING TO FIRE HIM AND HAS PAID HIM ALMOST A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS ALONE, A HALF MILLION ALMOST.

WE HAVE THE RECORDS.

SO THIS IS HIS HENCHMAN THAT HE USES TO BUY PEOPLE OFF AND WE'RE EXPOSING IT.

>> THREE VIDEOS WERE POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWING FORMER STATE SENATOR RICKY HENDEN OFFERING GREEN'S CAMPAIGN AIDE MONEY TO DROP LEGAL CHALLENGES TO WILSON'S PETITIONS, BUT WILSON'S LAWYER SAYS THERE WAS NO BRIBERY.

>>> A NEW POLL SHOWS CONGRESSMAN GARCIA IN THE LEAD FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

THE POLL OF 700 LIKELY CHICAGO VOTERS WAS CONDUCTED FROM NOVEMBER 10th TO THE 17th BY IMPACT RESEARCH, A FEDERAL THAT INCLUDES PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AMONG ITS PROMINENT LIST OF CLIENTS.

THE POLL FOUND GARCIA WOULD WIN 25% OF THE FIRST ROUND VOTE SET FOR FEBRUARY 28th FOLLOWED BY LIGHTFOOT WITH 18% SENDING THE TWO CANDIDATES TO AN APRIL 4th RUNOFF.

LIGHTFOOT IS FOLLOWED BY PAUL BALAS WITH 14% AND WILLIE WILSON WITH 14%.

14% OF VOTERS ARE UNDECIDED.

THE POLL WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 150 WHICH BACKED GARCIA IN THE MAYOR'S RACE AFTER THE POLL WAS CONDUCTED AND COMMITTED $1 MILLION TO GARCIA'S CAMPAIGN.

>>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT PICKS A NEW ALDER PERSON FOR THE WEST SIDE 12th WARD.

ANABEL ABARCA WHO SERVED AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE WARD'S FORMER ALDERMAN GEORGE CARDENAS IS TAPPED AS HIS REPLACEMENT.

CARDENAS STEPPED DOWN AFTER WINNING ELECTION WITH THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW IN NOVEMBER.

IF ABARCA WINS, SHE WILL BE THE FIRST NEW ALDER PERSON OF THE 12th WARD IN NEARLY 20 YEARS AND WILL FACE VOTERS ON THE FEBRUARY BALLOT.

>>> THE SOUTH SIDE IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BUILDING A NEW $120 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL.

THE CITY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED $8 MILLION TO HELP BUY LAND OWNED BY THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY AT 24th AND STATE STREET.

THAT PARCEL OF LAND WAS ONCE HOME TO THE HAROLD ICKES HOME WHICH WAS TORN DOWN 12 YEARS AGO.

THE LOCATION RECEIVED SOME PUSHBACK BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SET TO BE REDEVELOPED INTO PUBLIC HOUSING.

THE $8 MILLION WILL COME FROM THE AREA'S TAX FINANCE DISTRICT TO ALSO SUBSIDIZE AND DESIGN AN ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION FOR THE PROJECT.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE DISSENTING VOTE.

A FINAL VOTE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY'S FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, PROTECTING POSTAL WORKERS AMID A BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON.

>>> BUT FIRST SURVIVORS OF MASS SHOOTINGS PUSH FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.

WE EXPLAIN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THE MOTHER OF A TEEN SHOT AND KILLED AT RANDOM, A MOM SHOT TWICE WHILE ATTENDING A PATRIOTIC PARADE, THOSE AND OTHER SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE TOLD THEIR STORIES TO LAWMAKERS TODAY AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS TO CONSIDER NEW GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

A LOT OF HEAVY STORIES TODAY.

>> YES.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH A MEASURE THAT WOULD BAN FUTURE SALE OF GUNS DEFINED AS ASSAULT WEAPONS.

WITH LEADING DEMOCRATS COMMITTED TO ITS PASSAGE, LEGISLATORS TOOK A FIRST BIG STEP HOLDING THEIR FIRST HEARING ON THE MEASURE TODAY.

IT FEATURED SURVIVORS LIKE LAUREN BENNETT.

SHE WAS WITH HER FAMILY INCLUDING HER YOUNG SONS AT THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE IN HIGHLAND PARK WHEN SHE HEARD WHAT INITIALLY SOUNDED LIKE FIREWORKS.

IT WAS A 21-YEAR-OLD MAN REPEATEDLY SHOOTING AN AR-15-STYLE GUN.

BENNETT WAS HIT TWICE.

>> IMAGINE A HOT METAL DART-LIKE PROJECTILE TEARING THROUGH YOUR BODY AT SUPERSONIC SPEED FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND.

YOU'LL FEEL IT BURN THROUGH YOUR SKIN AND LIKELY YOU'LL GRAB WHATEVER PART OF YOUR BODY WAS HIT WOULD BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT ONLY TO FEEL THAT EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF BLOOD DRAINING OUT OF YOU AND SOAKING EVERYTHING.

AT THIS POINT YOU MOST LIKELY FEEL AS IF YOU ARE DYING, MAYBE WONDERING IF THIS IS HOW IT ALL ENDS.

I CAN ASSURE YOU, THAT IS WHAT I WAS THINKING.

>> SHE WAS HIT ONCE IN HER LOWER BACK AND HIP, THEN AGAIN AS SHE GOT UP TO RUN IN HER UPPER BACK.

STILL SHE MOVED TO GET AWAY.

THE CROWD WAS UNDER ATTACK AND BULLETS WERE POURING DOWN.

>> MY HUSBAND WAS RUNNING WITH OUR 6 AND 9-YEAR-OLD BOYS LITERALLY FOR THEIR LIVES SHIELDING THEM WHILE EXPOSING HIMSELF TO SHOOTING BULLETS BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT THEIR INNOCENT YOUNG LIVES ARE FAR MORE PRECIOUS THAN OUR OWN.

THESE BOYS DODGED BULLETS, JUMPED OVER FALLEN BODIES, WHILE RUNNING BEHIND ME LOOKING AT MY BLOOD-SOAKED BODY AND THEY ASSUME THEIR MOTHER WAS PROBABLY BLEEDING TO DEATH.

>> SHE CLEARLY SURVIVED, THOUGH SEVEN PEOPLE DID NOT.

BENNETT SAID THE TRAUMA WILL LIVE WITH HER AND HER FAMILY FOREVER.

HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR NANCY ROTERING SAYS THE SUSPECT FIRED 83 ROUNDS IN UNDER ONE MINUTE USING A GUN HE LEGALLY BOUGHT.

ROTERING SAYS BANNING WEAPONS LIKE THIS WON'T STOP ALL GUN VIOLENCE, BUT SHE CALLED IT A FIRST COMMON SENSE STEP.

>> JUST LIKE WE DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO HANDLE NUCLEAR MATERIAL OR OWN MISSILE LAUNCHERS AND SO ON, THESE WEAPONS ARE TOO DANGEROUS FOR PUBLIC ACCESS.

PLEASE HELP US RECLAIM OUR FREEDOM AND DEFEND OUR HUMAN RIGHT TO LIVE.

>> THE PACKAGE LEGISLATORS ARE DEBATING WOULD FORBID FUTURE SALE OF WHAT IT DEFINES AS ASSAULT-GRADE WEAPONS AS WELL AS SWITCHING DEVICES THAT CAN TURN OTHER GUNS INTO THEM.

THOSE WHO CURRENTLY OWN GUNS ON THE LIST WOULD NEED TO REGISTER THEM WITH THE STATE, BUT SHEKESHA JACKSON WANTS LAWMAKERS TO GO FURTHER.

HER 17-YEAR-OLD SON WAS KILLED IN WAUKEGAN IN 2016.

SHE STILL MISSES HIM AND SAYS SHE RELIVES THE TRAGEDY, THE TRIAL, THE AUTOPSY.

SHE CAN'T LET GO OF HOW DAVEONTAE REQUIRED A CLOSED CASKET BECAUSE THE ASSAULT RIFLE'S BULLETS SO DAMAGED HIS BODY.

>> IT IS MY OPINION THAT ASSAULT RIFLES SHOULD BE BANNED, MAKING LAWS AND PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO BREAK THEM BE WAY MORE HARSH THAN THEY ARE NOW.

>>> ANOTHER HOLIDAY, HALLOWEEN, ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING, THIS TIME IN CHICAGO'S EAST PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.

SHE WAS WITH FAMILY MEMBER FOR A VIGIL WHO DIED FROM AN ILLNESS WHEN SHOTS RANG OUT FROM EVERY DIRECTION.

SHE SAID THE BULLET THAT TORE THROUGH HER LEG WAS SO LARGE IT BROKE THE BONE.

>> WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE GUNS, NOT ONLY THE AK-47s, ALL GUNS.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE?

>> WHETHER THE ASSAULT WEAPONS MEASURE SUCCEEDS COULD BE A PARTIAL ANSWER TO HER QUESTION, BUT JACKIE ELJEE WHOSE TEENAGE SON WAS HELPING A FRIEND MOVE WHEN HE WAS RANDOMLY SHOT AND KILLED SAYS IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A MASS SHOOTING IN A SUBURB TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SHE SAYS HER HEART GOES OUT TO HIGHLAND PARK VICTIMS AND SHE PRAYS FOR THEM, BUT SHE SAYS THERE'S A GULF BETWEEN THE REACTION TO THAT AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SHOOTINGS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> IN THIS CITY TEN BLACK KIDS THAT WERE SHOT AND KILLED THAT DAY, THERE WERE 62 THAT WERE SHOT AND INJURED AND YET THE REACTION AND THE RESULT OF WHAT HAS COME FROM THAT REACTION BOTH FROM A LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE FAR SURPASSES WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US AND TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY.

>> SHE SAYS NOTHING WILL CHANGE UNLESS CHANGE IS FOCUSED EVERYWHERE.

>> OBVIOUSLY VERY COMPELLING TESTIMONY TODAY.

WHAT ABOUT FOR GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES OR GUN SHOP OWNERS THAT ALSO WANT TO SORT OF PRESENT THEIR SIDE ON THIS BILL?

>> THEY ARE GOING TO GET THEIR CHANCE.

THIS WAS AN INITIAL HEARING OUT OF WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE THREE THIS MONTH BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE RETURNS FOR A LAME DUCK SESSION IN JANUARY.

AFTER THE HEARING ADJOURNED, THOUGH, ONE MAN DID ASK TO SPEAK AND LEGISLATORS LET HIM.

THIS IS UNUSUAL.

THEY LET HIM TALK INFORMALLY AND LATER ANOTHER COUPLE OF GUN OWNERS ALSO TALKED WITH THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS LEADING THIS COMMITTEE HEARING AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THERE ARE REASONS TO HAVE THESE WHAT ARE DEFINED AS ASSAULT GRADE WEAPONS.

THEY SAY FARMERS USE THEM TO SHOOT PREDATORS LIKE COYOTES AND ALSO THEY SAY THERE ARE NOT SHOOTINGS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THEY SAY CRIMINALS REALIZE THAT THESE HOMEOWNERS ARE ARMED.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW THE DEBATE SHAPES UP ON THIS BEFORE THEY GO BACK TO SESSION IN JANUARY.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>>> UP NEXT, AN UPDATE ON THE LONG AWAITED RED LINE EXTENSION SOUTH, PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> OUR CULTURE IS VIBRANT.

IT'S RICH.

IT'S FUN.

>> WE TRY TO FOCUS ON HEY, LET ME HELP YOU.

THIS IS WHAT CHICAGO IS.

THIS IS LITTLE VILLAGE.

>>> A CONTROVERSIAL PLAN TO HELP FUND A $3.6 BILLION EXTENSION OF THE CTA RED LINE FROM 95th STREET TO THE CITY'S SOUTHERN BORDER NEAR 130th IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO HAPPENING.

THE PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS SINCE THE 1950s AND IT GOT APPROVAL TODAY FROM CITY COUNCIL'S FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS THRILLED.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

$3.6BILLION FOR THIS LONG AWAITED EXTENSION.

HOW WILL THE CITY PAY FOR THIS?

>> THEY HOPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL COME THROUGH WITH A $2.1 BILLION GRANT, BUT THEY HAVE TO PUT SOME SKIN IN THE GAME THEMSELVES.

THEY'LL DO THAT BY GENERATING $959 MILLION THROUGH A NEW TIF DISTRICT.

>> TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT.

CTA PRESIDENT DORVAL CARTER WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, SO HE'S URGING A VOTE AT THE FULL CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY.

WHY SUCH A RUSH?

>> YOU CAN IMAGINE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WANT THIS MONEY.

THEY ALL HAVE LONG DELAYED INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS.

REMEMBER THERE WAS NO FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

SO NOW THE IRON IS HOT.

DORVAL CARTER TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL GIVE ME THIS MONEY.

LET ME GO TO WASHINGTON AND LET ME NAIL DOWN THIS GRANT AND BUILD THIS, AS YOU SAID, LONG AWAITED PROJECT.

>> RIGHT.

THEY NEED THAT LOCAL MATCH TO GET THAT GRANT AND TIF IS CONTROVERSIAL, AS WE KNOW.

THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND SUCH TRANSIT ORIENTED TIF.

>> THIS WOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE CURRENTLY BEING USED TO REBUILD THE RED LINE ALONG THE NORTH SIDE.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS WOULD DO WOULD TAKE ALL OF THIS PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM FIVE DOWNTOWN WARDS INCLUDING THE 3rd AND THE 11th WARD AND TAKE THAT AND MOVE IT TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO TO BUILD THIS TRAIN TRACK, 5.6 MILES WITH FOUR STATIONS, BUT ON THE SOUTH SIDE THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO TAKE IT FROM THOSE TIFs AND THAT'S WHAT'S MAKING IT VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

>> AND IT WAS TOO CONTROVERSIAL FOR AN ALLY OF THE MAYOR, THE CHAIR OF THE CITY BUDGET COMMITTEE ALDERWOMAN PAT DOWELL VOTED AGAINST IT.

HOW COME?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WOULD BE HER CONSTITUENTS' TAX DOLLARS GOING ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO 130th AND SHE SAID THAT WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR HER CONSTITUENTS TO BEAR.

NOW ON THE OTHER SIDE ALDERMAN NICOLE LEE IN THE 11th WARD WILL ALSO HELP FUND THIS TIF VOTED FOR IT, BUT SHE NOTICED IT WAS A REALLY TOUGH VOTE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'LL ALL FACE THE VOTERS IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS.

>> IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE THIS EVOLVE BECAUSE IT SEEMED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE MAJORITY OF OLDER PEOPLE WERE AGAINST THIS.

THEY DO HAVE THE VOTES TO GET OUT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.

WILL THEY ULTIMATELY HAVE THE VOTES IN THE FULL CITY COUNCIL?

>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO VOTE AGAINST A PROJECT THAT'S DESIGNED TO CORRECT THE STRUCTURAL RACISM FROM THE SOUTH SIDE.

THERE'S A REASON THERE'S NO RED LINE FROM 95 TO 130th STREET BECAUSE THAT AREA HAS BEEN DISINVESTED FOR DECADES, ANOTHER LEGACY OF MODERN SEGREGATION HERE IN CHICAGO.

THE MAYOR IS TOUTING THIS PROJECT AS A WAY TO BALANCE THOSE SCALES.

THAT'S ALSO A TOUGH VOTE AGAIN.

>> CERTAINLY A TRANSIT DESERT DOWN THERE.

THAT MIGHT FOCUS SOME MINDS.

HEATHER, THANKS VERY MUCH.

YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> A NEW REPORT NOW ON FEDERAL PRETRIAL DETENTION.

>> WE'VE COVERED ILLINOIS' SAFE-T ACT LAW QUITE A BIT.

A KEY TENANT BEING THE ELIMINATION OF CASH BAIL TO BEGIN DECEMBER 1st, BUT IN CRIMINAL COURT THIS LAW WOULD NOT APPLY.

A NEW REPORT FROM UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S FEDERAL JUSTICE CLINIC SHOWS LOCKING UP DEFENDANTS PRETRIAL HAS BECOME THE NORM IN FEDERAL COURT RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND JUST AS IN STATE COURTS, MANY OF THOSE JAILED PRETRIAL IN FEDERAL COURT ARE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND UNABLE TO PAY BAIL.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS ALL THIS IS ALLISON SEAGLER, FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLINIC AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BRIEFLY FIRST GIVE US A SENSE WHAT ARE THE CRIMES WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO SEE PROSECUTED IN FEDERAL COURT VERSUS STATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

STATE CRIMES ARE MORE LIKE VIOLENT CRIMES, RIGHT, MURDER, ROBBERY, ASSAULT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM WE'RE TALKING MOSTLY LOW LEVEL DRUG CRIMES AND IMMIGRATION CASES.

THAT MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES, SOME GUN POSSESSION, FRAUD, BUT IT'S MUCH LESS VIOLENT SORT OF, IN FACT, ONLY LIKE 2% OF FEDERAL CRIMES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE VIOLENT.

IT'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRIMES THAN YOU SEE IN THE STATE SYSTEM.

>> WHEN THE BAIL REFORM ACT WAS PASSED IN 1984, IT WAS MEANT TO KEEP THE MAJORITY OF FEDERAL DEFENDANTS WHO ARE AWAITING TRIAL OUT OF JAIL, BUT YOUR REPORT FINDS THE RATE OF PEOPLE JAILED WHILE AWAITING TRIAL HAS ACTUALLY SKYROCKETED SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THIS ACT IN '84.

TELL US WHAT YOU FOUND.

>> FIRST WHAT WE FOUND WAS LOOKING AT THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA, WE SAW THAT HUGE SKYROCKETING OF THE DETENTION RATES, THE JAILING RATES PRETRIAL FROM 20 SOME% UP TO 75%, ONE IN FOUR TO THREE IN FOUR PEOPLE BEING JAILED PRETRIAL, BUT ESPECIALLY WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT JUDGES ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE APPLYING AND, IN FACT, WHEN THEY VIOLATE THE LAW, IT'S MAKING THOSE PRETRIAL JAILING RATES GO UP AND ALSO FALLING ESPECIALLY ON POOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS WHY THESE NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED THE WAY THEY HAVE?

>> FROM WHAT WE FIND, IT SEEMS PART OF WHAT'S INCREASING THESE JAILING RATES IS THAT JUDGES ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE LAW LIKE IT'S LIKE HERE'S THE LAW.

THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND INSTEAD THE PRACTICE IS ALL THE WAY OVER HERE, SOME OTHER WORLD THAT'S LIKE COMPLETELY UNTETHERED FROM THE REQUIREMENTS.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEY'RE LOCKING PEOPLE UP WHO THEY SHOULDN'T AND THERE'S NO BASIS UNDER THE LAW TO LOCK UP.

>> IS IT LACK OF AWARENESS FOR THESE JUDGES WHO CERTAINLY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING WELL AWARE WHAT THE LAW IS OR A LOT OF JUDGES WE HEAR ABOUT THE WILLY HORTON EFFECT AND THEIR FEAR OF LETTING SOMEONE OUT WHO MIGHT COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME.

>> THE JUDGES WE FOUND DID NOT ACTUALLY FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THESE LAWS REQUIRED OF THEM AND IN OTHER INSTANCES I DO THINK THAT FEAR IS REALLY DRIVING THINGS.

THAT FEAR IS COMPLETELY MISPLACED BECAUSE THE DATA SHOW THAT ACTUALLY WHEN YOU RELEASE SOMEBODY PRETRIAL IN A FEDERAL CASE, THE PERSON PRESUMED INNOCENT, YOU RELEASE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY, IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY RARE FOR THEM EVER TO COMMIT A CRIME WHILE THEY'RE ON RELEASE.

IT'S LIKE 99% OF THE TIME EVERYBODY DOES THINGS RIGHT.

AND SO IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE THAT FEAR FACTOR, ESPECIALLY IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.

>> WHAT ARE THE FACTORS A JUDGE IS SUPPOSED TO WEIGH WHEN CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE SHOULD BE DETAINED?

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IS, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE VERY BASIC LEVEL JUDGES ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE LAWYERS TO APPEAR AT THE BAIL HEARING IN.

ONE QUARTER OF CASES WE FOUND JUDGES ARE NOT PROVIDE SINGLE PERSON CHARGED WITH A CRIME A LAWYER.

THEY'RE LETTING THEM JUST GO INTO THEIR HEARING BY THEMSELF UP AGAINST THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND WE FOUND.

>> OF COURSE, DETAINING PEOPLE AWAITING FEDERAL TRIAL SEEMS TO BE THE NORM DESPITE THE LAW SAYING IT SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE WORST OF THE WORST.

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> THIS FALLS ESPECIALLY HARD ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

WE FOUND IN OUR STUDY THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE UNLAWFULLY JAILED PRETRIAL.

THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE DEPRIVED OF COUNSEL WHILE THEY WERE IN HEARINGS.

THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE LOCKED IN JAIL ON FINANCIAL BONDS THAT THEY COULD NOT MEET AND WE FOUND THAT TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE JAILED PRETRIAL IN DRUG CASES IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM IN OUR STUDY.

>> YOU LEARNED A LOT OF THIS DATA AND RESEARCH THROUGH THE FEDERAL WATCHING PROJECT.

>> IT'S A PROJECT THAT I CREATED IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM OF FEDERAL PRETRIAL DETENTION TO FIGURE OUT WHY ARE THESE JAILING RATES SO HIGH AND WHAT WE DID WAS IT'S A MULTIFACETED PROJECT.

THE IDEA WAS WELL, LET'S GO INTO COURT, ZOOM COURT DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND WATCH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THESE PRETRIAL BAIL HEARINGS AND FIGURE OUT REALLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO I DEPUTIZED LAW STUDENTS AND LAW PROFESSORS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS INCLUDING UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, BUT ALSO HARVARD AND OTHER SCHOOLS TO BE COURT WATCHERS AND WATCH COURT, TAKE NOTES WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN COURT , LOG THEIR DATA AND THEN WE INTERVIEWED PEOPLE IN 36 FEDERAL COURTS TO SHOW THE PROBLEMS WE'RE FINDING ARE SUBSTANTIATED IN A MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD WAY ACROSS MANY, MANY COURTS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN YOUR REPORT?

>> THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FAIRLY SIMPLE.

JUDGES SHOULD BE FOLLOWING THE LAW, RIGHT?

>> BASIC.

>> JUDGES SHOULD NOT BE LOCKING PEOPLE IN JAIL WITHOUT LAWYERS.

JUDGES SHOULD NOT BE -- THERE'S A PROHIBITION IN THE LAW THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT IMPOSE A FINANCIAL CONDITION ON SOMEBODY, A MONEY BAIL THAT THEY AREN'T ABLE TO MEET, SO JUDGES SHOULD SIMPLY FOLLOW THAT RULE.

IN DRUG CASES WE SAY JUDGES NEED TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND NOT PRESUME THAT EVERYBODY IN A DRUG CASE NEEDS TO BE LOCKED IN JAIL.

REALLY IT'S ABOUT STOP FOLLOWING HABIT AND CUSTOM.

START ADHERING TO THE LAW AND THE DATA.

>> OUR STATE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN ILLINOIS' CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM A MAJOR OVERHAUL ABOLISHING CASH BAIL THAT GOES INTO EFFECT EARLY JANUARY.

HOW LIKELY IS IT CONGRESS MIGHT ENACT FEDERAL BAIL REFORM ANYTIME SOON?

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY UNLIKELY CONGRESS WILL DO THAT.

I THINK THERE'S A GREAT LAW, A BILL PUT FORWARD BY SENATOR DURBIN THAT'S GOT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT CALLED THE SMARTER PRETRIAL DETENTION FOR DRUG CHARGES ACT AND IT WOULD ELIMINATE THIS SORT OF PRESUMPTION OF DETENTION IN DRUG CASES WHICH HAS BEEN FOUND TO NOT WORK AND TO CREATE REALLY SERIOUS RACIAL DISPARITIES IN A BIG GOVERNMENT STUDY DIFFERENT FROM MY OWN.

SO THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT THIS CONGRESS IS GOING TO PASS THAT ANYTIME SOON UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I DO THINK THE ILLINOIS LAW IS FANTASTIC.

THE ILLINOIS LAW REALLY IS FIXING A PROBLEM, SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.

IT'S FIXING THOSE BY SAYING OKAY, JUDGES AREN'T ACTUALLY FOLLOWING -- THEY WEREN'T FOLLOWING THE BAIL LAW IN ILLINOIS.

THEY REALLY WEREN'T.

JUDGES OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO, THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO LOCK PEOPLE IN JAIL WITHOUT LAWYERS, BUT THEY WERE.

THIS NEW LAW SAYS YOU CAN'T LOCK PEOPLE IN JAIL WITHOUT LAWYERS.

IT SAYS UNEQUIVOCALLY YOU CAN'T IMPOSE MONEY BAILS AND GRAVE PEOPLE OF THEIR FREEDOM WHEN THEY CAN'T PAY AND IT MAKES THE LAW CLEARER AND IT GETS RID OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM, FRANKLY.

>> SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE ANYBODY ADDRESSES THOSE PROBLEMS BASED ON YOUR SENSE OF WHAT CONGRESS MAY OR MAY NOT DO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>>> UP NEXT, HOW A MARINE CORPS VETERAN USES ARTWORK TO HEAL HIS MEMORIES OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

>>> STAY WITH US.

>>> WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO COME IN THE PROGRAM INCLUDING KEEPING POSTAL WORKERS SAFE.

>>> IN 1968 A U.S. MARINE WAS WOUNDED AND EVACUATED FROM VIETNAM.

HE RETURNED TO CHICAGO AND FOUND HIS CALLING MAKING ARTWORK IN A WAY THAT MIGHT BE CALLED OBSESSIVE.

CHARLES SMITH NOW LIVES IN LOUISIANA AND HE CONTINUES TO CREATE.

PRODUCER MARC VITALI MET HIM ON A RECENT VISIT BACK TO THE CITY TO OPEN A NEW SHOW AT THE NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM.

PLEASE BE WARNED.

THERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF VIOLENCE IN THIS STORY THAT MAY BE UPSETTING.

>> THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE ART IS TO GUIDE THE FOCUS AND ATTENTION TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE SO THAT THE WORLD WILL KNOW THE UNDERSTANDING OF US AS A PEOPLE FROM ITS VERY EARLY BEGINNING AND THAT IS WHY THE PIECES TELL THE STORY OF A PERIOD IN TIME CAPTURED IN ART.

>> DR. CHARLES SMITH GAVE HIMSELF THE TITLE DOCTOR TO HONOR A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.

HE HAS MADE THOUSANDS OF THESE FIGURES FROM A BLEND OF CONCRETE, WOOD PULP AND REBAR.

IN THE 1990s HIS HOME IN AURORA, ILLINOIS, BECAME A ROADSIDE ATTRACTION.

HE NOW RUNS A HERITAGE MUSEUM NEAR NEW ORLEANS.

CALL ME DOC, HE SAID, AND TOMORROW TOLD US ABOUT HIS LIFE BEFORE HE WAS AN ARTIST.

HIS DESCRIPTION OF WAR IS HARROWING.

>> IN MY LIFE IN 1968 WHEN I CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM, HEAVILY USAGE OF DRUGS AND MARIJUANA PRIMARILY TO STAY STABLE AND VERY MUCH FULL OF HATE FOR THE KILLING I DID OF FAMILIES, WOMEN, CHILDREN, WATER BUFFALO, NORTH VIETNAMESE, VC, ANYTHING THAT DIDN'T HAVE USMC ON THEM, I WAS KILLING THEM.

YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR HEART AND YOU FEEL THE CHANGE AND THE HATE TAKING OVER YOU AND AFTER A WHILE YOU GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT.

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT PTSD.

IT DON'T BOTHER YOU NOW, BUT AS YOU GET OLDER AND AS YOU COME OUT, IT BOTHERS YOU.

I'M UNDER VA CARE RIGHT NOW FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AND SITUATIONS OF THAT WAR AND YOU NEVER GET OVER IT.

>> HE IS VOCAL ABOUT WHAT HE HASN'T SEEN OVER THE YEARS IN TERMS OF POLITICAL CHANGE AND LEADERSHIP.

>> I'M 82 NOW AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

OUR REPRESENTATIVES DON'T TALK TO US.

THEY DON'T INCLUDE US.

THEY DON'T COME AND ASK OUR OPINION WHAT ARE OUR MAJOR NEEDS AND ALL I KNOW ABOUT A LEADER IS MALCOLM X, MARTIN LUTHER KING, FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND IDA B.

WELLS AND THOSE PEOPLE OF THE PAST, BUT TODAY'S LEADERS HAVE FAILED THAT LEADERSHIP AND THEY DON'T MEASURE UP.

>> YEARS AGO SMITH WAS A PASTOR IN TENNESSEE.

HE NO LONGER MINISTERS A CHURCH, BUT HE HASN'T STOPPED PREACHING.

>> THE CALLING COMES FROM GOD BECAUSE GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE AND GOD WORKS WITH ME, PUT THAT ART IN MY HEART AND SAY THAT'S THE PLATFORM YOU USE.

SO THAT'S WHAT MY ART DOES.

IT CREATES CONVERSATION.

IT GIVES INFORMATION AND IT GIVES DIRECTIONS IN TERMS OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE AT EVERY LEVEL, POLITICALLY, SPIRITUALLY, PERSONALLY, COMMUNITY AND THAT TYPE OF A THING.

THE MESSAGE MUST CONTINUE TO GO OUT.

THIS MUST CONTINUE TO POUND ON WHAT'S WRONG.

I POUND ON ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, PRINCIPALS.

I'M LIKE THE RADIO.

IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THE CHANNEL OR CUT IT OFF, I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT," THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> THE EXHIBITION IS CALLED DR. CHARLES SMITH HOLDING THE DREAM IN MY HAND AT THE NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE UNTIL JUNE 1st.

THERE'S MORE ON OUR WEBSITE INCLUDING THE ARTIST'S ACCOUNT OF MEETING MARTIN LUTHER KING IN CHICAGO.

>>> NOW, BRANDIS, WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT," A BIOTECH COMPANY WITH A DEERFIELD OUTPOST IS ACQUIRED FOR OVER $27 BILLION, THAT AND MORE FROM CRANE.

>>> IT'S THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE'S BUSIEST WEEK OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF POSTAL WORKERS ARISE IN LIGHT OF RECENT ARMED ROBBERIES AND ATTACKS.

>>> THE SO-CALLED TRIPLEDEMIC HAS CREATED A PERFECT STORM CAUSING SHORTAGES OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN.

>>> THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR CREATIVITY, PASSION, DESIRES ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ANYBODY ELSE'S.

>> AN ORGANIZATION ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS USING ART THERAPY TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>>> BUT FIRST SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, AN EFFORT TO DUMP THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR OVER POOR MIDTERM ELECTION RESULTS FAILED.

ILLINOIS GOP CHAIRMAN DON TRACY SURVIVES A FOUR-HOUR REPUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE DOZENS IN THE AUDIENCE SPOKE AGAINST HIM.

TRACY ACKNOWLEDGED THE ELECTION WAS "A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW," BUT AFTER HEARING THE OPPOSITION THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE VOTED TO KEEP TRACY AS HEAD OF THE STATE PARTY UNTIL 2025.

>>> THE ILLINOIS CAPITOL ROTUNDA HAS A NEW ADDITION TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

THE SATANIC TEMPLE OF ILLINOIS INSTALLED THEIR LATEST HOLIDAY DISPLAY IN THE CAPITOL WITH A HEARTY HALE SATAN.

THERE WERE APPLES AND A SNAKE LYING ON THE BOOK "ON THE REVOLUTION OF THE HEAVENLY SPHERES" WRITTEN IN 1543.

SINCE 2018 THE SATANIC TEMPLE OF ILLINOIS HAS BEEN INCLUDED BASED ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

GLOBALLY THERE ARE ABOUT 500,000 FOLLOWERS WHO ESPOUSE "RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY."

>>> IS THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ONE STEP CLOSER IN REPLACING THEIR MASCOT?

THE BELTED KINGFISHER IS GAINING POPULARITY AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN.

STUDENTS HAVE LED THE KINGFISHER CAMPAIGN OVER TWO YEARS AND ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE UNOFFICIAL MASCOT, IT WON A CAMPUS-WIDE REFERENDUM, FACULTY VOTE AND THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED THE KINGFISHER HAS THE NEW MASCOT.

THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS LAST WEEK ENDORSED THE DEMOCRATIC EFFORT USED TO CREATE THE NEW MASCOT, NO WORD ON THE BIRD FROM THE U OF I ADMINISTRATION YET.

>>> NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN A $120 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL SET TO BE BUILT ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THE CITY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED $8 MILLION TO HELP BUY LAND OWNED BY THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY AT 24th AND STATE STREETS.

THE $8 MILLION WILL COME FROM THE AREA'S TAX INCREMENT FINANCE DISTRICT TO ALSO SUBSIDIZE THE DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION FOR THE PROJECT.

ALDERMAN DAVID MOORE CAST THE ONLY DISSENTING VOTE.

A FINAL VOTE ON THE CITY SUBSIDY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY'S FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

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

PARIS.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

PALATINE-BASED GRILL COMPANY WEBER IS GOING PRIVATE A QUICK YEAR AFTER THEIR PUBLIC BID.

AN AUTOIMMUNE TREATMENT FACILITY IN DEERFIELD IS ACQUIRED FOR A WHOPPING $27 BILLION AND THREE DEVELOPERS ROLL OUT MASSIVE PLANS FOR THE FULTON MARKET DISTRICT, BUT THE PROSPECT OF THEM MOVING FORWARD IS SHAKY.

HERE'S OUR CHICAGO BUSINESS REPORTER.

LET'S START WITH FULTON MARKET WHERE THE PROPOSALS STEAM TO BE GETTING TALLER AND TALLER.

TELL US ABOUT THE MOST RECENT ONES.

>> YEAH.

THE FULL MARKET DEVELOPMENT TRAIN KEEPS ROLLING ALONG, THREE BIG PROJECTS TO GO BEFORE THE CITY'S DESIGN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

THEY INCLUDE ALMOST 2,100 APARTMENT 2,100 APARTMENTS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S TALLEST BUILDING.

THERE'S A TRIO OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS PROPOSED BY A NEW YORK DEVELOPER NORTH OF THE GOOGLE OFFICES AND A PROPOSAL FROM A CANADIAN DEVELOPER THAT WANTS TO ADD AN OFFICE PROJECT ON GREEN STREET OVERLOOKING THE KENNEDY.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN MANY BIG PROJECTS PROPOSED IN FULTON STRUGGLE TO GET FINANCING.

THEY'VE DONE WELL.

THAT SHOWS HOW STRONG INVESTOR DEMAND HAS BEEN, BUT THE FULTON MARKET BOOM IS ALSO NOT OVERLAPPED WITH THE KIND OF INTEREST RATES WE'RE SEEING NOW.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO MAKE THESE PLANS MOVE FORWARD.

IT WILL BE ANOTHER SHOWCASE OF THE RESILIENCE OF FULTON MARKET.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT IS THERE.

IT HAPPENED FAST AND FURIOUS.

ARE YOU SAYING BECAUSE OF INTEREST RATES AND THE GENERAL STATE OF THE ECONOMY, THESE PROJECT MAY NOT GET OFF THE GROUND?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A BIGGER CHALLENGE TO FINANCE THEM WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH MUCH HIGHER COST TO CAPITAL TODAY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER CHICAGO-BASED COMPANY.

WEBER GRILL IS GOING PRIVATE A YEAR AFTER GOING PUBLIC.

HOW COME THE QUICK TURNAROUND?

>> WELL, IT WAS A PRETTY SHORT LIVED RUN, YEAH, BEING A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY FOR WEBER.

IT WENT PUBLIC IN AUGUST LAST YEAR AT $14 A SHARE AND NOW BTD CAPITAL, PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM BASED IN CHICAGO WHICH ALREADY OWNS ALMOST HALF THE COMPANY, IS BUYING THE REST OF IT AT $8 PER SHARE, THAT DEAL SLATED TO CLOSE EARLY NEXT YEAR.

BY THE STOCK PRICE ALONE IT WAS NOT A MONEY MAKING EFFORT FOR TAKING THIS COMPANY PUBLIC.

THE REASON IT WENT PUBLIC ORIGINALLY WAS WEBER GRILLS WERE DOING GREAT EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC WITH PEOPLE HOLED UP AT HOME.

AS DEMAND SOFTENED, THE PANDEMIC WORE ON AND THIS YEAR WITH SPENDING DOWN AND THEY FARTHERRED WAYS WITH THEIR CEO, BDT IS GOING TO TRY TO REVIVE THIS BRAND AS A PRIVATELY-HELD COMPANY AGAIN.

>> FINALLY, A MEDICAL THERAPEUTIC COMPANY WITH AN OUTPOST IN DEERFIELD IS BEING BOUGHT UP BY A GIANT BIOTECH COMPANY.

TELL US ABOUT THIS DEAL.

>> YEAH.

HORIZON THERAPEUTICS BEST KNOWN FOR A DRUG CALLED TAPEZA WHICH TREATS AN AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION CALLED THYROID EYE DISEASE.

SALES OF THAT DRUG ALONE ACTUALLY ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST HALF OF HORIZON'S ANNUAL SALES AND IT'S GOT A BIG PRESENCE IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS.

MANY PEOPLE BOUGHT AND MOVED TO THE FORMER CAMPUS IN DEERFIELD IN 2020 IT.

AMGEN IS ACQUIRING IT, ONE OF THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT BIOTECH COMPANIES IN THE WORLD.

THIS IS A WAY TO GROW ITS BUSINESS QUICKLY.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES DOING DEALS LIKE THIS NOW THAT THEY CAN SHIFT SOME OF THEIR FOCUS AWAY FROM FIGHTING COVID-19, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR YET WHAT THIS MEANS FOR HORIZON'S PRESENCE LOCALLY AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL WATCH IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> A LOT OF BUSINESS STORIES TO WATCH IN THE NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> THIS WEEK IS EXPECTED TO BE THE BUSIEST DELIVERY WEEK OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON FOR THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE.

WORKERS WILL BE OUT DELIVERING MAIL AND PACKAGES JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

CONCERNS ABOUTSAFETY HAVE SURFACED IN LIGHT OF RECENT ARMED ROBBERIES AND ATTACKS OF POSTAL WORKERS IN THE CITY.

NOT TOO FAR FROM CHICAGO A POSTAL CARRIER IN MILWAUKEE WAS SHOT AND KILLED FRIDAY DELIVERING THE MAIL.

JOINING US IS ELISE FOSTER, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS BRANCH 11 WHICH REPRESENTS OVER 4,800 LETTER CARRIERS AND RETIREES INCLUDING IN CHICAGO.

WE INVITED A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE TO JOIN US, BUT THEY DECLINED.

>> ELISE FOSTER, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE INCOMING PRESIDENT OF THE UNION NEXT WEEK.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE MENTIONED ARMED ROBBERIES AND ATTACKS OF POSTAL WORKERS.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AROUND CHICAGO?

>> WE HAVE A TAX ON MEDICARE, SECOND PACKAGE WHATEVER THEY HAVE.

THEY JUST HAVE TO SURRENDER EVERYTHING TO THE ROBBER AND GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE.

>> THE ARROW KEY, EXPLAIN THAT.

>> THE ARROW KEYS ARE THE KEYS WE USE TO GET INTO THE BUILDINGS.

THEY HAVE KEY KEEPERS IN THE MAILBOXES.

THE IDEA IS TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO GET INTO THE BUILDING TO GET THEM WHATEVER THEY WANT OUT THE MAIL RECEPTACLE, THE BLUE BOXES.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.

>> IS THIS HAPPENING MORE NOW OR HAS IT ALWAYS GONE ON?

>> I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S MORE.

I SEE THE UPTICK IN THE ROBBERIES FROM AUGUST TO NOVEMBER.

IT IS AN UPTICK.

>> DO YOU SEE ANY REASON FOR THAT PARTICULARLY?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DELIVER IN OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE NOT HAVING JOBS AND LOOK FOR A WAY OUT AND COME AND GET THE GOODS AT THE POSTAL SERVICE.

THEY SEE THE PACKAGES AND THINK VALUABLES AND TAKE IT AND DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

>> TRAGICALLY UP IN MILWAUKEE ON FRIDAY SOMEONE SHOT AND KILLED.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT INCIDENT?

>> I HAVEN'T HAD ANY REPORTS.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.

WE JUST GOT THE RECENT REPORTS ON THE 9th THAT IT HAPPENED, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOT A FULL REPORT ON THE SPECIFICS.

THEY'RE STILL INVESTIGATING.

>> SO WHAT DID THE US PS RESPOND HERE TO KEEP LETTER CARRIERS SAFE ARE DOING IN LIGHT OF ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING?

>> JUST LAST MONTH WE TALKED TO THE POSTMASTER AND WE ASKED HER FOR MORE HELP OUT HERE TO PROTECT LETTER CARRIERS.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER TIME.

THE CARRIERS ARE OUT THERE LATER.

THEY'RE TAKING A LOAD ON.

THE ISSUES WE HAVE IS NOT ALL CARRIERS CAN TAKE A 100% SACK.

THIS IS OUR PEAK SEASON TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS THEIR PACKAGES.

THE CARRIERS ARE OUT THERE WORKING 11 1/2 TO 12 HOURS A DAY.

WE'RE IN PITCH DARK DELIVERING MAIL.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME STARTED.

TIME GOES BACK.

WE'RE OUT THERE PRETTY MUCH IN THE DARK AND THAT'S A SAFETY CONCERN.

WE ASK THEM CAN THEY DO SOMETHING TO HELP GET US OFF THE STREET EARLIER?

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CUSTOMERS GET THEIR MAIL.

>> I REMEMBER LAST YEAR AROUND THIS TIME I REPORTED ON SHORT OF A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS.

IS THAT STILL THE CASE?

IS THERE A LACK OF ENOUGH MAIL CARRIERS TO DEAL WITH ALL THESE ROUTES AND MAYBE NOT HAVE THEM OUT THERE AT NIGHT?

>> I WOULD SAY NO.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

THE POSTAL SERVICE IS TRYING THEIR BEST TO HIRE EMPLOYEES TO GET THEM ON BOARD, BUT THE PROCESS IS LENGTHY, BUT WE ARE SHORT CARRIERS AND THE ONES TO WORK EVERY DAY TO DO THE WORK, THEY'RE OUT THERE WORKING 12, 13 HOURS TO GET THE MAIL DELIVERED TO THE CUSTOMER.

WE'RE OUT THERE.

WE ARE SHORT STAFFED.

>> LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE COVID WAS AN ISSUE, TOO, A LOT OF FOLKS OUT.

IS THAT STILL CONTRIBUTING?

>> NOT MORE, BUT WE DO HAVE CASES WHERE CARRIERS ARE RESTRICTED WITH COVID AND HAVE TO TAKE OFF.

WE DON'T HAVE THE REPLACEMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE THEM FAST ENOUGH COMING IN AS THEY'RE GOING OUT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT LETTER CARRIERS DEAL WITH COVID AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE OFF.

>> GETTING BACK TO THE ARROW KEY ROBBERIES, WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO CUSTOMERS WORRIED ABOUT THEIR PACKAGES, THEIR VALUABLES FALLING PREY TO THIS?

>> WE JUST TELL THE CUSTOMERS THAT THE LETTER CARRIER HAS TO PROTECT THEMSELF AND THEY HAVE TO BE SAFE AND THEY'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED IF THE ROBBER WANT IT, GIVE IT TO THEM.

IT CAN BE REPLACED AND HOPEFULLY THEY MAKE THE REPORT.

WE CAN GET THAT TO THE POSTAL SERVICE AND HOPEFULLY GET IT TO THE COMPANY AND GET IT REPLACED, BUT LETTER CARRIER SAFETY IS ALWAYS FIRST.

>> IS THERE RECOURSE FOR A LETTER CARRIER WHO GETS ROBBED ON THE JOB OR AT GUNPOINT OR HARASSED OR ATTACKED?

>> WE HAVE THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION ACT WHICH IS INJURY COMPENSATION.

THEY CAN REPORT CLAIMS AND INJURY AND THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS THE EAP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES SO THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES THEY'RE FACING.

>> IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, IT'S GOING TO BE BUSY.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING?

>> WELL, I HOPE WE GET THE PACKAGES DELIVERED, GET OUT THERE AND GET THE CARRIERS SAFE HOME.

WE WANT TO DELIVER OURSELF HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY TO OUR FAMILIES AND HOPE WE GET EVERYBODY OFF THE STREET TIMELY AND ALL OUR CUSTOMERS SERVED.

>> BEYOND LIKE WORKING IN THE DARK AND WORKING 12 HOURS, ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING ELSE FROM YOUR LETTER CARRIERS THAT ARE CONCERNS?

>> WE GOT TO GET THOSE STARTING TIMES CHANGED TO GET THE CARRIERS OFF THE STREET.

IT NEVER WAS AN ISSUE WHEN I STARTED.

WE STARTED EARLY IN AND OUT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

>> HOW COME YOU DON'T HAVE THE EARLY STARTING TIMES NOW?

>> PROCESSING AND THEY CAN'T GET THE MAIL TO THE CARRIERS EARLY IS WHAT WE'RE TOLD AND WE HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME ON THE STREET VERSUS THE STATION.

THEY JUST WANT US TO GET OUT THERE AND DO MORE.

>> EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM OR EARLY AND OFTEN IS THE KEY HERE.

THANKS VERY MUCH HERE.

BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A SHORTAGE OF CHILDREN'S MEDICINE, BUT FIRST WE LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

[ MUSI >>> A SURGE IN RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES CAUSED BY COVID-19, THE FLU AND RSV HAS CREATED A TRIPLEDEMIC LEADING TO SHORTAGES OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN.

PHARMACIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE SEEING SURGING DEMAND FOR CHILD FRIENDLY VERSIONS OF AMOXICILLIN, TAMIFLU AND OTHER DRUGS.

THAT DEMAND HAS LED AT TIMES TO EMPTY SHELVES AND PARENTS HAVING TO TRY MULTIPLE PHARMACIES TO FIND THEIR CHILD'S PRESCRIPTION.

JOINING US NOW TO SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS ARE STERLING ELLIOTT, CLINICAL PHARMACIST AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ORTHOPEDIC SURGE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DR. SAMIR PATEL, PEDIATRIC DISEASE INFECTION SPECIALIST AT LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

STERLING, WE'VE GOT THIS TRIPLE THREAT OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, BUT WHY ARE CHILDREN BEING PARTICULARLY IMPACTED IN THESE SHORTAGES VERSUS ADULTS?

>> I THINK IT JUST COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT FOR CHILDREN, MANY OF THEM AREN'T YET READY TO SWALLOW CAPSULES OR TABLETS AND SO LIQUID FORMULATIONS ARE TOP OF MIND WITH MOM AND DAD AND IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS OF.

SO AS THE DEMAND JUST FLIES AND THE SUPPLY CAN'T KEEP UP, WE GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE SEE WHAT THE SHELVES LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ON THE FLIP SIDE SOMETHING OF AS WELL EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

OBVIOUSLY WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE OLDER POPULATION AND PROTECTING THEM.

NOW WE HAVE THE SITUATION WITH CHILDREN ARE MORE IMPACTED.

>> IT IS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE AREA WHERE WE'VE SEEN THE SHORTAGE AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHUDDERS WHEN THEY THINK OF CHILDREN NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO GET BETTER AND NOT HAVING WHAT WE NEED AND PARENTS ARE FEARFUL OF HOW CAN I HELP MY KIDS GET BETTER?

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A PERFECT STORM FOR BRINGING IT SKYROCKETING UP TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION.

>> DR. PATEL, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LEVEL OF CONCERN OVER THESE SHORTAGES?

>> IT'S REALLY A VERY FRUSTRATING THING FOR THE FAMILIES AND TREATING PHYSICIANS WE'VE HAD MANY SITUATIONS WITH THE CLINICIANS IN OUR URGENT CARE CENTERS, EMERGENCY ROOM AND AFFILIATED CLINICS HAVE PRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTICS FOR COMMON CONDITIONS LIKE EAR INFECTIONS OR THROAT INFECTIONS AND FAMILIES HAVE STRUGGLED TO OBTAIN THE PROPER FORMULATION TO TREAT YOUNG CHILDREN.

WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE TO USE ALTERNATE ANTIBIOTICS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LACK IN SUPPLY, THOUGH WE'RE RUNNING LOW ON THEM.

IT'S NOT A SITUATION AT THIS POINT WE'LL RUN OUT OF ALL OPTIONS, BUT IT'S TOTALLY ALTERING OUR PREFERRED WAY OF TREATING INFECTIONS.

>> HOW DOES THAT IMPACT A PATIENT'S CARE IF, FOR EXAMPLE, A PARENT CAN'T FIND A PARTICULAR DRUG THAT'S BEEN PRESCRIBED AND A DOCTOR MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER PRESCRIBING SOMETHING ELSE?

>> WELL, IN SOME SITUATIONS THERE'S MAYBE DELAYS IN OBTAINING THE ANTIBIOTIC EITHER THROUGH AN ALTERNATE PHARMACY OR OBTAINING A SPECIALLY COMPOUNDED PREPARATION.

WE'LL HAVE TO USE AN ALTERNATE ANTIBIOTIC WHICH MAY HAVE DIFFERENT SIDE EFFECTS THAN WE PREFER WHICH, FOR EXAMPLE, DIARRHEA AND SOME OF THE OTHER ANTIBIOTIC OPTIONS MAY LEAD TO INCREASED RISK OF ACQUIRING ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT ORGANISMS BECAUSE WE'RE USING MORE BROAD SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTICS, MORE POTENT ANTIBIOTICS THAN WE PREFER TO USE.

THIS CERTAINLY HAS MADE ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBING CHALLENGING.

>> OKAY.

STERLING, IS IT JUST PARTICULAR MEDICINES THAT ARE USED TO TREAT, YOU KNOW, RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN SHORT SUPPLY OR ARE WE SEEING BROADER SHORTAGES?

>> WE'RE SEEING BROADER SHORTAGES.

WHAT'S BRINGING IT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION IS THE FACT THAT IT'S CHILDREN.

WE'RE LOOKING AT BROADER SHORTAGES AND DIFFERENT CLASSES OF MEDICATIONS.

IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN MANAGING SHORTAGES IN THE PHARMACY WORLD FOR AT LEAST FIVE, IF NOT MORE, YEARS.

>> BECAUSE WE'VE ALSO HEARD OF SHORTAGES OF ADDERALL, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS NOT USED TO TREAT RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.

>> NO, NO.

THAT'S A SHORTAGE THAT'S COME UP TOP OF MIND IN A FEW YEARS BACK.

WE ALSO HAD A SHORTAGE GOING ON OF HEPARIN, AN ANTI-COAGULANT, AND AT THIS TIME THERE WAS TALK OF HAVING TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CARDIAC SURGERIES IN A DAY BECAUSE YOU NEED THAT DRUG IN ORDER TO ANTICOAGULATE THE BLOOD.

>> SHOULD DRUG MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THIS SURGE IN DEMAND?

>> THE SITUATION WITH THE RISE IN THREE DIFFERENT VIRUSES AT THE SAME TIME IS UNPRECEDENTED.

THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 MITIGATION MEASURES, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING ALTERED CIRCULATION OF VIRUSES IN THE U.S. STATES WHICH WE TYPICALLY WOULD SEE MOST OF THEM IN WINTER MONTHS.

THE FACT THAT THEY'VE NOW OCCURRED EARLIER AT A TIME THAT WE DID NOT EXPECT FULLY MAKES IT HARD FOR DRUG COMPANIES TO HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR THERE WOULD BE INCREASED DEMAND WHICH THEY TYPICALLY SEE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE YEAR.

>> STERLING, HOW RARE OF THESE KINDS OF SHORTAGES?

YOU MENTIONED HEPARIN SOME YEARS AGO.

>> YEAH.

UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T WANT TO CALL THEM RARE.

THEY RISE WITH SOME MEASURE OF FREQUENCY.

FORTUNATELY WE ARE GENERALLY ABLE TO COME UP WITH PLANS AND COME UP WITH STRATEGIC APPROACHES TO HOW TO MAKE SURE WE MANAGE A MORE LIMITED SUPPLY AND, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S WHAT YOU END UP DOING IN THIS SCENARIO AS WELL.

SO IT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE THAT WAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN THE RECENT HISTORY WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE HAVE TO BE MANAGED.

>> IS THIS JUST PRESCRIBED MEDS BECAUSE I DID A QUICK SEARCH BEFORE IN SHOW AND TYLENOL, CHILDREN'S MOTRIN, THOSE ARE HARD TO GET.

AS A MOTHER OF SMALL KIDS, I FEEL THE NEED TO START HOARDING.

>> NO.

I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

FIRST OF ALL, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT PRESCRIBED, ALL PRESCRIBED MEDICINE.

SOME OF THE PRESCRIBED MEDS ARE SUBJECT TO THIS.

TYLENOL AND IBUPROFEN ARE PERFECT EXAMPLES OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T HORDE BECAUSE WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO BE A COMMUNITY TO HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN AND I THINK THAT IT BECOMES IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US USE IT RESPONSIBLY.

GOES WITHOUT SAYING WITH ANY MEDICATION, BUT WE ONLY USE IT RESPONSIBLY AND THAT MEANS MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN HAVE THE ABILITY TO PICK THESE THINGS UP SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT CARING FOR THEIR KIDS AND THEIR KIDS CAN GET BETTER.

>> DR. PATEL, WHAT SHOULD A PARENT DO IF THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO FIND A PRESCRIBED MEDICATION FOR THEIR CHILD?

>> THEY CAN TALK TO THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT ALTERNATE PREPARATIONS THAT CAN BE REPRESCRIBED ARE THE AT THEIR PHARMACY OR A NEIGHBORING PHARMACY.

THERE ARE MAYBE ALTERED OPTIONS FOR ANTIBIOTICS YOU COULD TALK TO THE PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT.

EVEN THOUGH THERE'S INCREASING VIRUSES CAUSING FEVERS IN CHILDREN AND ILLNESSES, ANTIBIOTICS ARE USED TO TREAT BACTERIAL INFECTIONS, NOT VIRAL INFECTIONS, AND IN ANY SITUATION WHEN A CHILD MOST SITUATIONS HAS A FEVER AND INFECTION, IT'S DUE TO A VIRAL CAUSE.

THE REASON WHY WE'RE USING ANTIBIOTICS MORE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING INFECTIONS IS BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE DO NOT MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN, OF COURSE, DIFFICULT TO DO ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN.

MANY SITUATIONS THAT ILLNESS WITH A FEVER MAY BE MANAGED BY CARE ALONE.

>> DR. PATEL, WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO HELP REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON THE SYSTEM?

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 15 SECONDS LEFT.

>> PLEASE GET VACCINATED FOR FLU AND COVID-19 TO REDUCE ANY RISK OF ILLNESSES.

PRACTICE GOOD HAND WASHING AND WEAR MASKS IN CROWDED SITUATIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GATHERINGS.

>> THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>>> UP NEXT, ART THERAPY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED.

STAY WITH US.

>>> WE FIRST INTRODUCED YOU TO SKY ART AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC WITH ITS ART THERAPY MODEL HELPING COMMUNITIES PROCESS LIFE EXPERIENCES.

SINCE THEN IT'S CONTINUED THAT MODEL WITH A PRACTICE THAT'S HELPING FORMER AND CURRENTLY INCARCERATED YOUTHS.

ART CORRESPONDENT ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US BACK TO SKY ART WITH ONE OF ITS NEWER PROGRAMS.

>> Reporter: JUST US, THE NAME OF A PROGRAM CREATED BY SKY ART TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUTH AGES 14 TO 21 IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND INSTEAD OF TALK THERAPY THEY'RE UTILIZING ART THERAPY.

>> YOUTH ARE OFTENTIMES OVERTHERATIZED WHERE THEY HAVE TO RETELL THEIR TRAUMA OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE ACTUALLY TRY TO REVERSE THAT A BIT AND INSTEAD OF EXPECTING THEM TO RECOUNT THEIR TRAUMA, WE INVITE THEM IN TO EXPRESS THOSE THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> Reporter: THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS SAYS IT'S A PROGRAM THAT BEGAN RIGHT AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND THROUGH THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THEY'RE ABLE TO VISIT THREE DIFFERENT FACILITIES WEEKLY TO PRACTICE THIS MODEL.

>> BLACK AND BROWN KIDS ARE OVERCRIMINALLIZED FROM THE TIME THAT THEY'RE BORN.

OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE LOW SELF-ESTEEM.

THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE NURTURING THEY DESERVE.

WE START WORKING WITH THEM AND THEY SAY I CAN'T DO THIS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW.

WE SAY DO WHAT YOU CAN DO, MAKE LINES, COLORS.

WE LET THEM START THERE AND WHAT'S BEAUTIFUL IS THEY LET US HELP THEM COVER THOSE THINGS UP AND THEN IT'S DRAWING AND ABSTRACT THINKING AND FOR THESE KIDS IT'S MORE ABOUT CRITICAL THINKING, THINKING ABOUT WHY WE'RE MAKING WHAT WE'RE MAKING.

>> Reporter: BEFORE ENTERING THE PROGRAM, THIS YOUTH ONLY SAW DRAWING AS SOMETHING TO DO WHEN BORED.

>> I DIDN'T LOOK AT IT AS A COPING MECHANISM.

I'M BORED.

I'M GOING TO DO A DOODLE, BUT NOW I CAN CLEAR MY MIND AND JUST FOCUS ON THIS ON WHAT I WANT TO DRAW.

>> HE HAS GAINED GREAT CONFIDENCE AS AN ARTIST AND THE COLLABORATIVE PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

THESE ARE YOUTH WHO OFTENTIMES FEEL THEY CAN'T RELY ON ANYBODY.

THEY'VE BEEN TOLD THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VALUE.

SO THEM WORKING TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH US JUST HELPS TO DECONSTRUCT THAT POWER DYNAMIC A LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: 21-YEAR-OLD ADAM MARTINEZ JOINED THE PROGRAM AT 18.

HE'S BEEN RELEASED AND IS WORKING A FULL TIME JOB AND WHILE HE DOESN'T MAKE AREN'T AS MUCH ANYMORE, HE SAYS THE LESSONS STILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON HIM.

>> I DO FIND IT THERAPEUTIC.

WHEN I'M DRAWING OR PAINTING, I'M IN MY OWN SPACE DOING WHATEVER I WANT.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU'RE IN THERE ON THE UNIT ALL DAY SEEING THE SAME FACES, THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE START GETTING IN TROUBLE.

YOU KNOW YOU GOT SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU WANT TO BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR TO BE SURE YOU GET TO THE PROGRAM.

>> Reporter: ALL THEIR WORK IS ON DISPLAY IN A NEW THREE-PART EXHIBITION TITLED "CAN YOU SEE ME," FEATURING WORK AS WELL BY CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS.

>> ESPECIALLY AS A JUVENILE, YOU DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU'RE JUST OUT WITH YOUR PEERS.

AFTER SOME TIME YOU JUST REALIZE YOU CAN'T CHOOSE WHO YOU GROW UP AROUND, WHERE YOU GREW UP AT.

SOME PEOPLE GROW OUT OF THAT.

>> ON ONE FRONT WE'RE CREATING ACCESS TO THOSE FOLKS SORT OF WE'LL CALL THEM CONTEMPORARY ART VIEWING FOLKS.

THAT AUDIENCE WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR UNDERSTANDING OR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT INCARCERATION AND PUTTING THE WORK BY THE YOUTH ALONGSIDE THE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, WE'RE PLACING THE SAME VALUE ON THEM AS A WORK BY THE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND I THINK THE CONTEMPORARY ARTIST WOULD SAY THE SAME THING.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT," I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE EXHIBIT AT ONE OF ITS THREE LOCATIONS THROUGH DECEMBER 16th.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>>> WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE APP.

TOMORROW AT 7:00 JOIN US, A GROWING NUMBER OF COUNTIES AT HIGH RISK FOR COVID-19, THE STATE'S TOP DOCTOR ON SAFE PRACTICES AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS.

>>> U.S. SCIENTISTS ARE SET TO ANNOUNCE A NUCLEAR FUSION BREAKTHROUGH, WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR CLEAN ENERGY EFFORTS.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A