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

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

TONIGHT, THE REDLINE EXTENSION ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

>>> SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCING A NUCLEAR FUSION BREAKTHROUGH.

>> THIS REALLY IS A CHANCE.

>>> HOW ILLINOIS IS FARING.

>>> HOSPITAL BED CAPACITIES, STATEWIDE .

HOW TO PREPARE, AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS.

>>> WE TALKED WITH THE LEADERS OF NASA'S PRIMARY MISSION TO MARS.

>>> AND WE ARE TRYING A NEW RESTAURANT, HERE IN SUNNYDALE.

>>> HOW ARTISTS EMBRACED FOOD EXPRESSIONS OF SEXUALITY, GENDER, AND ROMANCE.

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED THE BIPARTISAN BILL THAT GIVES EQUITABLE PROTECTION TO SAME-SEX AND INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE.

>> TODAY WE STEP TOWARD EQUALITY , NOT JUST FOR SOME, BUT FOR EVERYONE.

>> THE RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT COMPELS STATES TO RECOGNIZE THESE MARRIAGES PERFORMED IN OTHER STATES.

IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THEM TO PROVIDE SERVICES .

>>> MORE THAN 600 FACULTY MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO ART INSTITUTE HAVE JOINED A UNION, DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE UNITED WORKERS UNION.

WORKERS AT THE ART INSTITUTE FIRST MOVED IN UNIONIZE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

REPRESENTATIVES CAME TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR TRANSPARENCY EQUITY, BETTER PAY, AND BETTER WORK CONDITIONS.

>>> THE NBA IS RENAMING THE MVP AWARD AFTER MICHAEL JORDAN.

THEY WILL NOT BE RECEIVING THE MICHAEL JORDAN TROPHY, AND HE GOT HIS LIFETIME MVP AWARD DURING HIS 15th SEASON.

THEY WILL REDESIGN TROPHIES .

>> NEVER HEARD OF HIM.

>>> COMING UP, TRIPLE VIRUSES AND THEIR IMPACT ON AVAILABLE HOSPITAL BEDS.

>>> FUNDING FOR THE REDLINE EXTENSION, AND MUCH MORE.

STAY WITH US.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF JOHN NICHOLS, THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THE REDLINE EXTENSION HAS CONTROVERSY OVER FUNDING.

BUILDING A CHICAGO CASINO IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN ALL MORE IS THE ALDERMAN OF THE WORD ON THE 25th SIDE.

, THE THIRD SIDE, AND THE 27th WARD.

THERE ARE BIG ITEMS COMING UP FOR CITY COUNCIL.

THEREFORE THOUSAND GAMING SLOTS, A THEATER , WILL THIS GET THE GREEN LIGHT?

>> THERE IS SUPPORT OF THE CASINO IN THE 27th DISTRICT.

I AM PLANNING TO SUPPORT IT, TOMORROW.

WE NEED THE REVENUE.

WE NEED THIS PRODUCTION FOR OUR PENSIONS AND JOBS.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THIS IN CHICAGO.

>> YOUR BIG ISSUE IS MINORITY CONTRACTING , HALF OF CONTRACTING GOING TO WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.

WHAT STEPS ARE YOU MAKING FOR THAT PROMISE?

>> THEY MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF THE CHICAGO .

MY MAIN THING IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE FROM MY WORD CAN GET THE JOB.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE FOLKS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THESE JOBS , SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PROSPER AND GROW .

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

WE ARE LOOKING TO GET ABOUT $200 MILLION, THIS YEAR, TO HELP FULFILL OUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS.

>> A COUPLE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES BROUGHT UP THE POINT THAT THERE COULD BE A RISK OF HAVING AN UNFINISHED EYESORE.

>> IT DID NOT GIVE THE PUBLIC A LOT OF REASSURANCE .

THE PLAN WAS RUSHED .

I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE SAKE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR REVENUE NOW THAT THE PLAN IS MOVING FORWARD AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GAIN THE FACTS.

I WILL BE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.

WE DO NEED THE REVENUE AND WE HAVE TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH THE ECONOMY.

>> SO, ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I THINK THAT THE PLAN WILL GO FORWARD .

IN THE EVENT THAT IT DOES NOT, IT'S VERY VALUABLE AND I AM SURE THE CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER HIGH INVEST ISSUE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF THE REDLINE .

THERE WAS A TIFF, TO FUND UP TO HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS OF THIS.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS TRANSIT MEASURE HAS BEEN NEEDED, FOR A LONG TIME.

>> YES, I THINK THAT IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL AND IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO LEVERAGE THE DOLLARS IN ORDER TO HELP BUILD UP NORTH.

WHEN YOU GET PAST 95th STREET, IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO GO TO THOSE .

THERE ARE A LOT OF STATES OUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT HER COLLEAGUES , AND I RESPECT THAT .

>> YOU VOTED AGAINST THIS .

IT WOULD RUN THROUGH YOUR WARD , SO HOW DO YOU THINK THE CITY SHOULD GET THE FUNDING?

>> THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS VIABLE TO THE CITY AND WE NEED TO DO IT.

MY ISSUE IS THAT THE FUNDING FOR IT SHOULD BE SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY.

IT IS NOT JUST FOR SOUTHSIDE RESIDENCE .

WE NEED TO SEE STATE MONEY IN IT WHICH IS NOT THERE, AND COUNTY MONEY, WHICH IS NOT THERE.

MY WORD WILL BE PUTTING UP ONE QUARTER, $959 MILLION .

I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN FIND A BETTER WAY TO FUND THIS.

>> TO ME, THE SKIN IN THE GAME IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY NEEDS TO PROVIDE THAT.

YOU WERE A NO VOTE, ON THIS.

>> WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE NEED THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION .

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY INVESTED $2.1 MILLION .

WE VOTED TO APPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE SAME THING ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

WE HAVE TO DO MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER REVENUE SOURCES COME THROUGH AND THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DOLLARS ARE THERE TO HELP , AND THIS CAN HELP STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS .

>> IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING VOTE.

>> IT CAN ONLY GO TO THE EXTENSION OF THE REDLINE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A VOTE ON THE SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL .

ALDERMAN LOPEZ, DO YOU SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION ON THAT?

>> WE ALSO HAVE OUR CONSTITUENTS IN CHINATOWN .

WE HAVE HEARD FROM THEM AND WE NEED TO DO PUBLIC HOUSING.

>> IT FELT LIKE YOU ARE MIXED ON THIS.

>> THIS IS NOT JUST THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR CHINATOWN , WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

WE ARE NOT THROWING CHA RESIDENTS OFF THE LAND .

ALL 244 UNITS HAVE COME BACK TO THAT.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE BUILDINGS UP, NOW, AND PHASE TWO STARTS NEXT YEAR.

>> I SHOULD MENTION THE OTHER PART OF THE CONTROVERSY, THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WANTS TO WITHHOLD STATE MONEY TOWARDS THIS AND AS ALDERMAN LOPEZ SAID, DOES THIS PROJECT HAVE TO GO FORWARD WITHOUT THAT STATE MONEY?

>> THE CITY CAN DO IT.

IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

YOUNG PEOPLE NEED A PLACE TO GO TO SCHOOL .

IT HELPS TO SELL HOUSES AND PEOPLE NEED THESE NEIGHBORHOODS .

I THINK THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE NEEDS TO RECONSIDER .

I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT MANY ARE CONCERNED .

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME , BUT WE DO WANT YOUR RESPONSE.

DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY IS NEEDED TO BUILD THE SCHOOL?

>> WE WILL DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO USE THE MONEY THAT SHE HAS ALLOCATED.

>> AND SHE WITHHOLD THAT?

>> IF SHE IS GOING TO BE RECALCITRANT, WE WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY TO FUND THE SCHOOL.

>> WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THESE VOTES.

>>> NOW TO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND NASA'S REMARKABLE FEAT.

>> IF YOU EVER DREAMED OF FLYING ACROSS AN ALIEN WORLD, THIS IS FOR YOU.

THIS IS THE FIRST AIRCRAFT HUMANKIND HAS GRADED THAT'S CAPABLE OF FLIGHT ON ANOTHER PLANET.

THEY HAVE A GOAL OF ACHIEVING FIVE FLIGHTS IN ONE MONTH.

IT COMPLETED ITS 36th FLIGHT .

HERE IS THE TEAM LEAD FOR NASA'S INGENUITY PROJECT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES IN THIS PROJECT?

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO TRANSFER CAPABILITIES TO MARS .

THE AIR DENSITY IS 1% THE DENSITY OF EARTH.

ON MARS, YOU WOULDN'T FEEL A THING.

IT'S A VERY COLD ATMOSPHERE AND YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF WARM THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

YOU CANNOT JOYSTICK A HELICOPTER.

THERE ARE SO MANY CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH FLYING, IN GENERAL.

IT'S VERY LIGHTWEIGHT, VERY SELF-SUFFICIENT.

>> IT'S A FOUR POUND HELICOPTER.

THERE'S A LOT OF OFF-THE-SHELF TECHNOLOGY.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> WHAT PHYSICS MANDATES THAT YOU NEED, AND CHALLENGES OF THE TECHNOLOGY DIFFERENCES.

AN OBVIOUS DECISION CAME OUT OF THAT LIKE CELL PHONE GREAT PROCESSORS , REGULAR, OFF-THE-SHELF RADIOS .

IT'S ABOUT KEEPING THINGS RELIABLE ENOUGH AND LIGHTWEIGHT.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE, THAT FIRST FLIGHT?

>> MOST PEOPLE WERE WORKING ON THE PROJECT AND THE CONCEPTS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE WITH OUR CHIEF ENGINEER.

GETTING THAT FIRST FLIGHT, GETTING THAT RIGHT BROTHERS MOMENT , AND THEN THE WAVE OF CUTTING BACK INTO BUSINESS.

>> ALL THE WAY UP TO 36.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE REAL TIME CONTROL INGENUITY.

HOW DO YOU PLAN THE FLIGHT?

>> WE LEAVE THEM ALL HERE ON THE GROUND.

LOOKING AT MAPS, WE KNOW WHERE THE HELICOPTER IS.

WE HAVE THESE WAYPOINTS , FROM START TO FINISH AND HIGH ACCURACY SIMULATIONS ON THE GROUND .

WE SEND THESE , WITH HIS ANTENNA.

THEN, IT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

>> SO THIS WAS DESIGNED AND WAS CLEARLY A SUCCESS.

>> IT'S ABOUT INGENUITY .

THE ENTIRE TIME WE'VE BEEN FLYING, WE JUST COMPLETED THAT, FOR UPGRADE.

WE HAVE ROUGH AREAS, DANGEROUS AREAS AND OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THESE AERIAL ASPECTS.

ABOUT SIX ONCE A DECISION WAS MADE TO ADD TWO INGENUITY CLASS HELICOPTERS.

THAT WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND, ON THE SURFACE.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU, AS A SCIENTIST?

>> IT IS PHENOMENAL TO SEE HOW SHORT THE FEEDBACK LOOP IS.

WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING ALL OF THIS DATA THAT WE CAN USE WITH FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THE CHALLENGE IS TO TAKE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND RECYCLE THE MEANING.

LET'S GET TWO HELICOPTERS BACK TO MARS.

>> SO IN THE FUTURE, WHERE WE SEE HUMANS?

ZIPPING AROUND?

>> MY DREAM IS WHEN THEY HAVE FLEETS OF AIRCRAFT ZIPPING AROUND .

I IMAGINE THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN ON MARS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING HELICOPTERS GENERATING TELECOM RELAY NETWORKS, CELL NETWORKS , I THINK WE HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NASA AND ITS MISSION, SCIENTISTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE AT ADLER PLANETARIUM TOMORROW EVENING.

PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>>> OVER A YEAR AGO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED THIS BILL TO BRING ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES TO ILLINOIS.

>> WE INTEND TO ATTRACT MORE EV MANUFACTURERS , CHARGING MANUFACTURERS, AUTOMOTIVE PARTS MANUFACTURERS.

IT WILL HELP ILLINOIS BECOME ONE OF THE VB HUBS IN THE NATION.

>> FAST FORWARD A YEAR, WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW IT'S GOING.

>> THIS IS HUGE FOR ILLINOIS MANUFACTURING.

THE GOVERNOR IS NOT ALONE IN PROMISING TAX CREDITS TO INCENTIVIZE THIS.

LEGISLATORS FROM BOTH PARTIES BACK DRAFT AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY HAS SAID THAT THEY HAVE POSITIONED THE STATE TO SPREAD THIS IN ILLINOIS.

>> BOOSTING ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, CREATING JOBS IN ILLINOIS, AND ENACTING A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.

>> I THINK THIS PUTS US IN THE FOREFRONT TO TURN ILLINOIS INTO THE SILICON VALLEY ELECTRICAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURING.

>> INDICATOR ILLINOIS HAS A GREAT STORY WHERE THEY MAKE COMPRESSORS THAT GO INTO BUSES AND LARGE TRUCKS AND THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS .

THEY WILL HAVE RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE BECOME A TRAINING ACADEMY FOR THIS.

NOT THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, MARK TAYLOR, SAYS THAT THE TRAINING WILL GIVE ILLINOIS THE ADVANTAGE.

EMPLOYEES WILL BE NECESSARY TO DO THE WORK AND IT WILL BE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN BUILDING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ENGINEERING PROGRAM AND I GOT , PREMEDIA REPORTS, OWNER HAS LOST A DOZEN EV BATTERY PRODUCTION PLANTS.

HOW MUCH IS ILLINOIS LOST OUT?

>> WE CERTAINLY LOST SOME PLANTS TO OTHER STATES WHERE THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO RELOCATE.

CERTAINLY, THERE ARE CHALLENGES, AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH PROPERTY TAXES.

THE OTHER THING WE ARE SEEING IS THERE MAKING SOME DECISIONS VERY QUICKLY.

>> HE IS HOPING A REVISED REB ACT CAN HELP.

LEGISLATORS WANTED TO MAKE CHANGES LIKE INCREASING INCENTIVES AND ALLOWING COMPANIES THAT DO HYBRID WORK TO QUALIFY.

>> ALL OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS ARE GOING INTO THIS DIRECTION.

THEY ARE ALL MAKING THESE DECISIONS, RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO LAUNCH THESE VEHICLES AND SHIP THEM FROM.

WE ARE WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF COMPANIES, AUTO MANUFACTURERS, BATTERY MANUFACTURERS, AND OTHER STATES.

>> SO, THIS COULD HELP ILLINOIS HOLD ONTO THIS?

>> WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THIS PLANT IN BELVEDERE COULD STAND WHEN IT COMES TO DECISIONS.

>> LAST WEEK CAME THE NEWS .

THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY COVID-19 , THE CHIP SHORTAGE, AND INCREASING COST RELATED TO THE ELECTROCUTION OF AUTOMOTIVE MARKET, MEANING WORKERS WILL BE LAID OFF.

THE COMPANY IS LOOKING TO IDENTIFY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES BUT THE FACILITY HAS NO OTHER NEWS TO SHARE, AT THIS TIME.

THEY COULD REPURPOSE THE PLANT THAT MAKES ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THERE IS TALK OF ADDITIONAL CHANGES WITH BROADER TAX CREDIT.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS WORKING ON UPDATING EDGE.

J.B. PRITZKER'S OFFICE SAID THIS COULD REDUCE RENT PAY.

BASICALLY , THEY COULD RECRUIT .

EVEN BEFORE THE RED CREDIT CAME ABOUT, ILLINOIS DOES HAVE A FOOTHOLD IN THE INDUSTRY , WITH ELECTRIC PLANTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>>> UP NEXT, A RESTAURANT IN LAWNDALE SERVING SOUL FOOD.

>>> THERE IS MUCH MORE AHEAD, INCLUDING A TOP DOCTOR ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

>>> FIRST, A NEW RESTAURANT BEING DECLARED A PLACE TO GO FOR SOUL FOOD.

HEADING TO LAWNDALE FOR THE SOUL FOOD LUNCH.

>> AFTER BEING APPROACHED BY THE LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK , THEY DECIDED TO OPEN A SOUL FOOD STAPLE.

>> WE GO OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY, TO HELP.

>> SO, THE SOUL FOOD LOUNGE WAS BORN.

>> THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE DEEPLY INVEST IN OUR OWN BACKYARD .

WE DON'T HAVE ANY UPSCALE THINGS IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

>> IT'S JUST NEXT-DOOR TO THE MLK LEGACY APARTMENT.

CUSTOMERS SAY THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS ELSEWHERE.

>> THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS .

IT'S A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY DINNER.

>> I GOT POT ROAST .

I GOT THE MISSISSIPPI CRABCAKES .

WE ARE ALL TRYING EACH OTHER'S FOOD.

>> THE MENU SELECTION IS NOT THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY.

>> SO MANY TIMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD , THERE IS A FOOD DESERT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO GO AND PUT RESOURCES INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S GOOD .

I'M FROM THE HOOD AND I AM GOOD.

>> I GREW UP WITH MY MOM AND SHE ALWAYS TOOK US OUT.

IT'S AN EXPERIENCE AND I ENJOYED THAT EXPERIENCE.

NOT ALL KIDS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT .

>> IT TEACHES THEM ETIQUETTE, IT TEACHES THEM TO INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY .

>> THE RESTAURANT IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS INTO BUILDING ITS IMPACT .

>> HOW TO CHANGE THE PARADIGM OF VIOLENCE WITH THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE COMMUNITY?

>> CHICAGO USED TO BE NOTHING BUT DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS.

IT'S LIKE A CRIMINAL HAVEN.

WHAT IF THAT CHANGED?

YOU HAVE TO GO UP NORTH OR SOMEWHERE ELSE TO HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE .

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE DOLLARS OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY TO GET A HIGH QUALITY MEAL .

WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS BUSINESS BUILDS A LEGACY IN THE LAWNDALE COMMUNITY.

>> IT IS SO GOOD.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THEY ARE OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", HOSPITALS DURING WHAT OFFICIALS ARE CALLING THE "TRIPLE-DEMIC".

>>> AND, HOW NUCLEAR COULD CHANGE THE POWER OF OUR PLANET.

>>> FOR MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, WILLIAM HOLDS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A FELONY ACCOUNT AFTER ROOT HEATEDLY THREATENING TO SHOOT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

HE ALLEGEDLY SAID THREATENING MESSAGES AND CHICAGO POLICE FOUND THE IP ADDRESS FROM THE MESSAGES WERE SENT .

HE IS DUE IN COURT FOR A HEARING SOON.

>>> STATE AND CITY LEADERS ARE CALLING TO CONDEMN AN OFFICER LINKED TO FAR RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUPS.

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IN THE CHICAGO CONDO POLICE SAID HE LIED ABOUT HIS TYPE TYSABRI BOYS.

HE WAS SUSPENDED.

>>> RESERVATIONS FOR THIS EVENT ARE OPEN.

THERE WILL BE MORE THAN 330 EATERIES ACROSS CHICAGOLAND.

PRICES ARE SET AT $25 FOR BRUNCH AND LUNCH.

THIS EVENT IS GENERALLY 20th TO FEBRUARY 5th.

BACK TO YOU.

>>> IT'S HARD TO DO THE SHOW ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

>>> IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR SCIENCE .

OFFICIALS ARE TOUTING A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH THAT COULD ONE DAY LEAD TO CHANGES IN ENERGY.

THERE WAS THE FIRST KNOWN NUCLEAR FUSION REACTION GRADING AND NET ENERGY GAIN.

THIS IS 80 YEARS IN THE MAKING AND COULD BRING AROUND LIMITLESS ENERGY .

HERE IS MORE ON WHAT THIS MEANS FROM PROFESSOR ROSNER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

WELCOME BACK.

EXPLAIN TO US WHAT NUCLEAR FUSION IS .

>> SO WE GET ENERGY TWO WAYS FROM AN ATOM.

ONE INVOLVES STARTING WITH A HEAVY NUCLEUS, LIKE URANIUM.

THAT STARTS AT THE OTHER END .

>> SO USE THE NUCLEI TO CREATE SOMETHING BIGGER .

>> HYDROGEN, AND HELIUM.

>> BASICALLY THEY ARE SAYING IT'S A NET ENERGY GAIN .

AND AS EXPERIENCE, YOU LOSE THE ENERGY .

I DID MAJOR IN PHYSICS.

>> HELIUM IS FOUR ELEMENTARY PARTICLES .

HYDROGEN IS JUST ONE PROTON .

YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER IN A CERTAIN WAY , AND YOU CAN CHANGE THEM TO NEUTRONS AND YOU CAN ASSESS THE WEIGHT.

THIS WEIGHS A LITTLE BIT LESS .

>> AND THAT IS WHERE THE ENERGY IS COMING FROM.

>> WE HAVE DONE IT.

FROM NUCLEAR BOMBS, HYDROGEN BONDS.

THE QUESTION IS, CAN YOU DO IN A CONTROLLED WAY?

DOING IT IN A CONTROLLED WAY IS NECESSARY TO DO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT .

>> SEE YOU DO IN A CONTROLLED WAY .

>> YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXPLOSION.

>> HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS AT A POWER PLANT?

>> THE EXPERIMENT, ITSELF , WAS NOT INTENDED AS AN ENERGY EXPERIMENT.

IT WAS AN EXTREME AND TO HELP THE WEAPONS PROGRAM.

OUR NUCLEAR STOCKPILE USED INVOLVE BRINGING WEAPONS TO NEVADA .

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE KNOWS THAT THIS WORKED AND WORKED APPROPRIATELY.

IN THE EARLY 1990s, WE STOPPED TESTING .

THE IDEA WAS TO LAUNCH A SCIENCE BASE STOCKPILE PROGRAM INVOLVING COMPUTER SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT?

THIS BASICALLY VALIDATES THE COMPUTER PROGRAM.

IT WAS BUILT TO VALIDATE OR APPROACH , USING SCIENCE .

>> SO IT'S KIND OF A HAPPY ACCIDENT.

>> PART OF WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS DEMONSTRATE THIS COMPLICATED PHYSICS.

COMPRESS IT, AND YOU SHOULD GET FUSION.

AND THEY DID.

>> SO, HOW MANY DECADES DOES IT TAKE TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

>> SO, LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THIS.

ONE LITTLE CAPSULE IS SHOT AT AND YOU COULD DO IT AT A RATE OF 10 EVERY SECOND , AND YOU WOULD NEED ABOUT 1 MILLION CAPSULES PER DAY.

YOU'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO IN TERMS OF DESIGN.

>> SO SAY THAT DOES HAPPEN , IS THIS MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, MONEY MATTERS.

>> THE MAJOR SELLING POINT IS THAT IT'S COMPLETELY CARBON FREE.

THAT WAS THE DREAM IN THE 1950s.

>> A MAJOR STEP FORWARD, TODAY, BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE STEPS TO TAKE.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THIS TO ME AND ALL OF OUR VIEWERS.

>>> UP NEXT, THE SO-CALLED "TRIPLE-DEMIC" .

>>> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY JEWELL AND FRIEDMAN, THE VAUGHN FAMILY FUND.

>>> AS HOLIDAYS APPROACH , DATA FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT SHOWS THAT HOSPITALS STATEWIDE ARE NEARING AN 80% ICU BED CAPACITY.

ILLINOIS REPORTED JUST OVER 3300 NEW CASES TODAY, AN INCREASE FROM LAST WEEK.

JOINING US FOR INSIGHT IN THE SPIKE IS DR. SAMIR MORA, WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW HOSPITALS ARE FARING WITH RSP, FLU, AND COVID.

>> IS A CHALLENGING MOMENT FOR OUR HOSPITALS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN THE WINTER SEASON , WITH A NUMBER OF INFECTIONS, COVID-19, CHILDHOOD INFECTIONS, LIKE RSV, AND OTHERS.

THEN, AS YOU POINTED OUT, HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> ARE THEY BEING HARDEST HIT WITH ANY OF THESE IN PARTICULAR?

>> COMPARED TO A COUPLE MONTHS AGO , IT INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

WE SEE THE NUMBERS OF RSP CASES WITH SOME OF OUR PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.

WITH THAT , IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE SEEING THOSE INCREASES AND WE ARE SEEING INCREASED IN FLU OMISSION.

YOU SEE BEDS DOWN TO ONLY 17% AVAILABILITY .

ADULT CITIZENS ACROSS ILLINOIS ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE SICK.

>> RSP CASES WERE A BIG CAUSE OF CONCERN LAST MONTH .

WILL WE SEE MORE OF THIS?

>> SO, I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW AND IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS IS THAT WE ARE SEEING A PRETTY STRONG DECREASE.

I THINK THAT WE ARE FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT THERE'S A PROBABLE SPIKE IN WEIRS AND PROBABLY THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

WILL THERE BE OTHER CHILDHOOD INFECTIONS AND ILLNESSES , DIFFERENT WAYS THAT COVID-19 CAN IMPACT TEST ?

I THINK THAT WE HAVE A MOMENT OF HOPE AND A REAL INCREASE IN PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT BEDS COMPARED TO LAST MONTH , BUT WE ARE STILL MONITORING THE DATA.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THE PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED IMMUNITY ?

THESE WERE AGE GROUPS WE WEREN'T MOST CONCERNED ABOUT DURING THE EARLY DAYS THE PANDEMIC BUT HAS THAT CHANGED ?

>> WHAT MANY RESEARCH SCIENTISTS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT THINK IS THAT PART OF IT IS WITH THE WAY WE DO MITIGATION EFFORTS, CHILDREN ARE OFTEN EXPOSED IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO RSV AND OTHER ILLNESSES.

NOW, AS WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYTHING LOOKS DIFFERENT , PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING EACH OTHER'S COMPANY AND PART OF THAT COULD BE THE SAME LEVELS OF EXPOSURE AND WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT.

AS A GENERAL PEDIATRICIAN MYSELF, A LOT OF THOSE KIDS ARE BEING INFECTED AND EXPOSED.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES HEALTHY?

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT EVERYONE CAN DEAL FROM COVID-19 AND INFLUENZA .

PART OF THAT, IS GETTING YOUR COVID BOOSTER, YOUR FLU SHOT .

THIS WILL ALLOW YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO HAVE THE PROTECTION NEEDED IN THE WORST OUTCOMES FROM COVID-19.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND IN THE LAST TWO WINTER SEASONS WAS THAT WE NEED TO DO A NUMBER OF OTHER PREVENTATIVE THINGS.

THOSE TESTS THAT YOU HAVE USED, WHEN YOU ARE IN A BIG GROUP , SOMEONE WHO COULD BE AT SEVERE RISK, GET TESTED SEEK AND PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES.

WHETHER THAT IS THROUGH CRACKING OPEN A WINDOW , JUST BEING COGNIZANT, GOOD HANDWASHING AND HYGIENE IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO STAY HOME , OUTSIDE OF VACCINE, WE HAVE GREAT TREATMENT.

>> A LOT OF THE SAME MITIGATION FACTORS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY VACCINES ARE PANDEMIC ISSUES ARE A KEY FACTOR?

>> WE ONLY HAVE 17% OF ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WITH THE UPDATED BIVALENT ROOSTER.

WE HAVE BASED THESE CHALLENGES ON WHAT WE FACE SINCE MARCH 2020.

ACROSS DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES OF THE STATE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY WHAT WINTER BRINGS AND OUR FAMILY AND OUR LOVED ONES AND PART OF IT IS TO TAKE ALL OF OUR PROTECTIVE MEASURES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, OURSELVES, AND OUR LOVED ONES CAN SPREAD THAT MESSAGE WITH THE VACCINE AND ALL THAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY DILIGENT.

>> CAN'T STAY UP GIVE UP YET.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THERE IS MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT", JUST AHEAD.

>>> ROMANCE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY ARE THEMES IN A CHICAGO ART SHOW.

IT'S ABOUT TIME WHEN THE ARTWORLD RELEASED A FLOOD OF NEW CONTENT .

THERE IS SOME BURDOCK PROVOCATIVE CONTENT AND NUDITY.

>> THERE ARE SOLOIST, DUETS, MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND MORE .

THERE ARE HISTORICAL ARTWORKS FROM THE LATE 19th AND EARLY 20th CENTURIES.

>> THAT LOOKS LIKE A CONTEMPORARY VERSION THAT INCLUDES A RANGE OF GENDERS, OF BEING TRANS , DEPICTING WORKS OF TRANS ART.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE A BIT SURPRISED BY .

IT'S NOT A CONTEMPORARY THING.

>> THE SHOW IS CALLED "THE FIRST HOMOSEXUALS."

THE ART PRESENTED HERE BEGAN IN 1869.

>> 1869 WAS WHEN THE WORD WAS COINED AND IT WAS TO GIVE IT DEEP INTERIOR CORE THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM HETEROSEXUALS .

THEY WERE BOTH JUST FORMS OF SEXUALITY AND FUNCTIONALLY, THE SAME.

ONE WAS CONDEMNED AND ONE WAS CELEBRATED .

ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS TOOK A BINARY CAST.

IT BECAME INCREASINGLY TRUNCATED .

ART STARTED TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE DIFFERENCE, THAT LANGUAGE COULDN'T NAME OR SPEAK TO, FLOURISHED.

>> THERE ARE DUAL PORTRAITS ENCODED IMAGERY THAT SUGGESTS MORE THAN MEET THE EYE.

THIS IS A PAINTING OF BEATRICE THE ACTRESS .

>> IT'S TWO BLACK SWANS , SUGGESTING THE INTIMACY AND DIFFERENCE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP.

>> AND A PAINTING BY THOMAS AIKINS.

>> IT WAS A MEDICAL OR LEGAL TERM .

THE POINT WAS TO SHOW BLOOD AND SWEAT .

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS UNDERS CORE THAT THIS IS A BINARY CONSTRUCT.

BEFORE IT, AND NOW AFTER IT.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THE EXHIBITION IS IN LINCOLN PARK AND RUNS THROUGH THE 28th.

FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER JONES , THE LAYTON FAMILY, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMING ON FACEBOOK AND OUR WEBSITE .

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST .

THE FATE OF FUNDING FOR THE REDLINE EXTENSION IS UP FOR CITY COUNCIL VOTE.

>> A MASSIVE COMMUNITY CENTER SET TO OPEN.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT", I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.