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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM MY HOME.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> SIX INDIVIDUALS CLOCKED IN ON FRIDAY AND THEY NEVER CAME HOME.

>> THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEADLY TORNADOES THAT TORE THROUGH ILLINOIS AND FIVE OTHER STATES LEAVING SCORES OF PEOPLE DEAD.

>> WE NEED TO PUT SOME TEETH IN THAT LAW.

>> SOME OF CHICAGO'S BIGGEST NAMES IN CRIME FIGHTING TESTIFY ABOUT STEPS TO HELP END GUN VIOLENCE.

>> IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WE HAVE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY BY THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> HOW CHICAGO'S CONTACT TRACING PROGRAM AIMS TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC IN THE CITY'S HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES.

>> TWO BULLS GAMES POSTPONED DUE TO A COVID OUTBREAK.

WE HEAR THE LATEST DETAILS.

>> TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

>> A GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM IS STALLED A MONTH AFTER CITY COUNCIL PASSED IT.

LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON COPING WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

NEW DETAILS ON THE MASSIVE LINCOLN YARDS PROJECT IN LINCOLN PARK THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS.

AND A RARE CHICAGO SHOWING OF PROVOCATIVE PAINTINGS BY AN OVERLOOKED AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTIST.

AND PARIS WE'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU LATER IN THE SHOW.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL'S FINANCE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED A RECOMMENDATION TO PAY $2.9 MILLION TO ANJANETTE YOUNG.

YOUNG SUED THE CITY AFTER POLICE OFFICERS HANDCUFFED HER WHILE NAKED AND IGNORED HER PLEAS FOR HELP DURING A BOTCHED RAID IN FEBRUARY 2019.

THIS LAWSUIT PROMPTED C.P.D.

TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES AND THE WAY IT TREATS THE TARGETS OF HOME RAIDS BUT NOT ALL AGREE WITH THIS SETTLEMENT.

>> MY HEART OF HEARTS TELLS ME THIS IS INSUFFICIENT.

I BELIEVE THAT WE OWED HER MORE FOR THE HORRIBLE WAY WHICH SHE WAS TREATED THAT DAY AND IN THE REVICTIMIZATION BY THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> AND THE FULL COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT ON WEDNESDAY.

>> SPORTS FANS COULD GET TO PLACE WAGERS WHILE WATCHING THEIR FAVORITE TEAM IN PERSON NOW THAT A CITY COUNCIL APPROVED SPORTS BETS AT STADIUMS THE MEASURE ADVANCED DESPITE CONCERNS IT COULD KNEECAP A CASINO IN CHICAGO.

THE CITY WOULD PROPOSE A 2% TAX AND THOSE ARE ALREADY SUBJECT TO A 15% STATE TAX AND A 2% COOK COUNTY TAX.

THE MEASURE IS EXPECTED TO COME BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY.

AND YOU CAN READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND OUR SISTER STATION IS CELEBRATING 70 YEARS ON AIR.

WFMT FIRST HIT THE AIRWAVES IN 1951.

7 YEARS LATER IT CONTINUES.

-- 70 YEARS LATER IT CONTINUES.

THEY CELEBRATED WITH A FULL DAY OF PERFORMANCES.

YOU CAN CATCH THESE PERFORMANCES ON THE WFMT APP OR ON WFMT'S OFFICIAL YouTube PAGE.

>> UP NEXT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEKEND'S DEADLY TORNADOES.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE ARE FEARED DEAD AFTER VIOLENT STORMS SPAWNING MULTIPLE TORNADOES THROUGH ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY AND AT LEAST FOUR OTHER STATES AND IN DOWN STATE EDWARDSVILLE SIX WORKERS WERE KILLED AFTER THE AMAZON WAREHOUSE THEY HAD BEEN WORKING IN COLLAPSED.

THE DEATH TOLL IN KEN WHERE GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR SAID 74 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD AND MORE THAN 100 REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR.

>> THE ONES THAT WE KNOW THE AGE RANGE IS FIVE MONTHS TO 86 YEARS.

AND SIX ARE YOUNGER THAN 18.

>> JUST A TRAGIC SITUATION ALL AROUND AND JOINING US ARE CELENA ROLDAN, C.E.O.

OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ILLINOIS AND STORM CHASER AND METEOROLOGIST AT THE COLLEGE OF DUPAGE, PAUL SIRVATKA WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

GIVE US THE SENSE OF THE SIZE AND THE SCOPE OF THESE STORMS THAT TORE THROUGH THE LOWER MIDWEST THIS WEEKEND.

>> WELL, THE STORMS THAT CAME THROUGH FRIDAY WERE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MARKED THIS EVENT NOTABLE THE LOW LEVEL OF THE ACCELERATION OF THE AIR.

THERE WAS A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR DAMAGING TORNADOES.

THE MAJOR ONE, THE ONE THAT WENT THROUGH WELL OVER 200 MILES MOST LIKELY IS THE ONE THAT DID MOST OF THE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY A NUMBER OF THE OTHER TORNADOES WERE ALSO STRONG AND AFFECTED OTHER PARTS OF THE MIDWEST.

>> AND PAUL WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS THAT LED TO THIS OUTBREAK?

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT CONDITIONS FOR A SEVERE WEATHER AND ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES WE TEND TO LOOK THE AINSTABILITY, THE ABILITY OF THE AIR TO RISE AND THE AMOUNT OF WIND SHEAR WHEN THE WINDS CHANGE DIRECTION WITH SPEED OR HEIGHT.

BECAUSE THIS WAS DECEMBER WE CALL THIS A LOW INSTABILITY SITUATION IT WAS NOT THE BIG THUNDERSTORMS THAT RIP THROUGH IN MAY AND JUNE.

HOWEVER THE AMOUNTS OF WIND SHEAR AND THE STRENGTH OF THE WINDS IS WHAT LED TO VERY STRONG TORNADOES THAT DEVELOPED IN THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS.

>> AND SO GIVE US A SENSE OF THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE RECOVERY EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY AND OTHER STATES?

>> SO OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL OF THOSE IMPACTED BY THESE JUST TRAGIC AND DEVASTATING TORNADOES.

FAMILIES HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, LOST THEIR HOME AND DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON ARE DEALING WITH THE WORST MOMENTS IN THEIR LIVES.

SO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS THERE RESPONDING ACROSS ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES NON-THE HARDEST IMPACTED AREAS.

OVER 100 RED CROSSERS ARE ON THE GROUND WITH 200 HEADING THERE.

10 RED CROSSERS FROM THE ILLINOIS REGION ARE HEAD OWGHT TO KENTUCKY AND THE MOST IMPACTED AREAS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, HELP AND HOPE.

>> AND FOLKS WONDER WHAT THE BEST METHOD OF ASSISTING IS, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM?

>> RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT BASIC NECESSITIES IN NEED.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS SHELTERING OVER 12 EMERGENCY SHELTERS WITH OVER 300 PEOPLE IN SHELTERS ACROSS THESE STATES IMPACTED BY THE TORNADOES.

AND WE'RE PROVIDING FOOD, WATER, BASIC NECESSITIES.

AND ALSO PROVIDING CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUFFERED A SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA.

THE BEST WAYS THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN HELP IS THROUGH DONATIONS.

BUT THERE'S DIFFERENT DONATIONS.

ONE IS DONATION OF TIME.

IF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER BECAUSE WE HAVE LOCAL HOME DISASTERS, GO TO RED CROSS.ORG.

DONATIONS FINANCIAL DONATIONS ARE THE FASTEST AND EASIEST WAY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN HAVE EVERYTHING FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

AND THE CONTINUE TO DONATE BLOOD.

BLOOD DRIVES WERE CANCELED WHEN THESE EVENTS HAPPENED AND CONSIDER HELPING TO SAVE A LIFE THROUGH A BLOOD DONATION.

>> AND PAUL SIRVATKA ONE OF THE STORMS FEATURED A TORNADO THAT CUT A 200-MILE PATH THROUGH THE GROUND.

IS THAT UNUSUAL FOR A TORNADO TO LAST THAT LONG AND TO CUT A PATH THAT LONG?

>> YES, IT'S VERY UNUSUAL.

WHEN WE LOOK THROUGH HISTORY WE DO NOT HAVE MANY TORNADOES THAT ARE EXCEEDING 100 MILES.

IT IS ' EXTREMELY RARE EVENT, A GOLDIE LOCKS SITUATION WHERE THE PARTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT CREATED THE STORM AND KEPT IT INTO A PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN CONTINUAL REREGENERATION.

TO HAVE 200 MILE STORMS IS RARE.

THIS LOOKS LIKE THE 1925 TRISTATE TORNADO WHICH WAS OVER 200 MILES AS WELL.

THESE ARE WELL BALANCED EVENTS EVEN IF MORE VIOLENT ENVIRONMENTS WE DON'T SEE OFTEN THESE LONG TRACK TORNADOES.

>> CELENA ROLDAN, WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY THERE AND READIES PATIENTS THAT ENTIRE SMALL TOWNS ARE COMPLETELY LEVELED.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THE DAMAGE FACING CERTAIN TOWNS IN DOWN STATE ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, INDIANA AND OTHER STATES AND WHERE IS THE CRISIS MOST ACUTE RIGHT NOW?

>> SURE.

WE KNOW THAT A LARGE PART OF THE DEVASTATION IS HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY.

ANYONE THAT EXPERIENCES THIS DISASTER IT IS THE LARGEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT THAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND THE RED CROSS IS COMMITTED TO BEING THERE FOR THE COMMUNITIES.

DISASTER ASSESSMENT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN IT IS A CHALLENGE WITH ROADS CLOSED AND POWER OUTAGES.

AND THE RED CROSS IS COMMITTED TO BE BEING THERE IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME AS HELP AS LONG AS WE ARE NEEDED AS TIME GOES ON THAT HAPPENS WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES WE'LL NEED.

>> PAUL SIRVATKA, THIS IS ALWAYS A DIFFICULT QUESTION, WE'RE DEALING WITH A WARMING CLIMATE IN THE LONG-TERM HERE.

DO YOU MAKE A CONNECTION WITH A POWERFUL LINE OF STORMS IN DECEMBER LIKE THIS AND A WARMING CLIMATE?

>> WHEN WE HAVE SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAKS IN THE COLD SEASON, I PROBABLY PUT THAT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NOVEMBER THROUGH EARLY MARCH, WE ARE LOOKING AT EVENTS THAT ARE NOT COMMON BUT THEY ARE NOT UNPRECEDENTED.

SO THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN THE PERFECT BALANCE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT IS RESULTING.

BUT WE'VE HAD THESE EVENTS BEFORE.

A LOT OF THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE SEEN CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE AND TORNADOES IS OFTENTIMES WE WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAKS WITH LONGER PERIODS OF TRANQUIL WEATHER IN-BETWEEN BUT TO TAKE ANY EVENT AND ASSESS IT TO CLIMATE CHANGE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

WE LOOK AT LONG-TERM TRENDS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE THINGS BEHAVE.

THIS HOWEVER, IS DEFINITELY A SIGNIFICANT COLD SEASON EVENT AND IT WILL GO DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS.

>> I WANT TO BRING UP THAT AMAZON WAREHOUSE IN EDWARDSVILLE WHAT DO WE KNOW?

SIX PEOPLE DEAD, DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ELSE?

>> AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR SAID AND THIS IS A HORRIFIC TRAGEDY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THIS DISASTER.

AND AGAIN, THE RED CROSS IS WORKING ALONGSIDE THE PARTNERS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL HAVE TO KEEP FOLLOWING THIS.

A TRAGIC SITUATION OVER THE WEEKEND OUR THANKS TO PAUL SIRVATKA AND CELENA ROLDAN.

AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

IN 2014, CHICAGO SAW HOMICIDES HIT A HISTORIC LOW OF 426.

BUT THE CITY HAS EXCEEDED THAT NUMBER EVERY YEAR SINCE.

AND IT IS ON PACE TO AGAIN DO SO THIS CALENDAR YEAR BY MORE THAN 80% ACCORDING TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH INPUT FROM SOME OF THE TOP FIGURES IN CHICAGO'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD HOW TO REVERSE THIS TREND.

>> BRANDIS, THOSE STATISTICS ARE SOBERING THERE IS NO QUESTION.

LESS CLARITY WHAT IS CAUSING THAT SURGE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE QUESTIONS WAS THE CENTER OF A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HEARING HELD HERE IT WAS A U.S. SENATE HEARING HELD IN CHICAGO.

AND SPECIFICALLY CENTERING ON THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WHAT CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO TO INTERVENE.

ILLINOIS' SENIOR SENATOR DICK DURBIN CHAIRS THAT COMMUNITY HONING IN ON STRAW GUN PURCHASES WHEN SOME ONE BUYS A GUN FOR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT PERSON TYPICALLY SOMEBODY WHO IS ANOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO OWN A GUN.

>> I'M TOLD AT THAT TIME MANY TIMES THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS OFFICE DOES NOT PROSECUTE THESE CRIMES BECAUSE THE PENALTIES ARE SO LOW.

AND THEY ARE TAKEN AS BOOKKEEPING VIOLATIONS.

EXPLAIN TO ME YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THAT AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE ABOUT IT?

>> CERTAINLY.

IN OUR OFFICE AND IN OTHER OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE VIEW STRAW PURCHASING AS A SERIOUS CRIME.

THERE ARE CHALLENGES SOMETIMES TO PROVE THOSE CASES.

OFTENTIMES STRAW PURCHASING IT IS MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT ON A FORM AT A FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEE.

>> THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS JOHN LAUSCH SAYS WHEN HIS AGENTS ARE ABLE TO PROSECUTE THEY DO SO AND HE SAYS THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO GUN STRAW PURCHASES OR OTHER FEDERAL CRIMES.

IT WAS A POINT THAT HE REPEATEDLY STRESSED HONING IN ON A RECENT CASE IN WHICH 13 INDIVIDUALS WERE CHARGED.

>> WE ALLEGED 19 MURDERS AND 19 ATTEMPTED MURDERS THIS CAME OUT RECENTLY.

WE ARE ALREADY HEARING FEEDBACK FROM AUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS THAT IT'S HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SEE THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MURDERS AND ALSO IT IS HAVING A DETERRENT EFFECT OF PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO BE THE NEXT PERSON TO GET CHARGED FEDERALLY.

IT IS RESOURCE INTENSIVE AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO ORGANIZATIONAL CASES LIKE THAT.

>> NOW, CHICAGO IS HOME TO ONE OF FIVE NATIONAL STRIKE FORCES ON GUN TRAFFICKING WHEN PRESSED JOHN LAUSCH SHARED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID NOT SEND ADDITIONAL MONEY OR AGENTS FOR THAT TASK FORCE.

LAUSCH SAID THAT HE IS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING RESOURCES BUT SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS HE IS VERY MUCH WANTS MORE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SENT TO CHICAGO.

>> AN ADDITIONAL FULLY FUNDED F.B.I.

D.E.A.

AND HOMELAND SECURITY FORCE TASK FORCE OFFICERS WOULD BE INVALUABLE TO THE LEVELS THAT LAPD AND NYPD HAVE.

CHICAGO FALLS FAR SHORT IN THOSE FEDERAL TASK FORCES.

WE NEED FEDERAL HELP ON THE GROUND FOR LARGE SCALE EFFORTS TO TAKE DOWN THE CRIMINAL NETWORKS DRIVING VIOLENCE.

>> AS FOR WHAT IS CAUSING THE INCREASE IN CRIME IN CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION'S AMY SWEARER SAYS PART OF THAT BLAME FALLS ON PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTORS.

AT DURBIN'S URGING SHA DID NOT GET INTO THE SPECIFICS ABOUT POLICIES OF COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX DURBIN SAID THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE FOXX WAS NOT THERE.

SWEARER SAYS THAT SURGE RELATED TO COVID.

>> MILLIONS OF AMERICANS SUDDENLY LOST HER LIVELIHOODS RIPPED OUT FROM UNDER THEM, THEIR SOCIAL NETWORKS DISRUPTED, ALL MANNER OF SERIOUS STRESSORS INFLICTED ON THEM OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THIS NATION HAD ABRUPTSY CHANGED THE WAYS THEY RESPONDED TO SERVICE CALLS AND INTERACTED WITH CIVILIANS.

BECAUSE CERTAIN PROSECUTORS CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO PURSUE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S CRIME LAB LEADER SAYS IT DIFFERENTLY.

SHE SAYS THAT THERE IS A GULF IN WHERE VIOLENCE IS OCCURRING AND IT IS PRIMARILY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN LONG DISINVESTED IN PRIMARILY THOSE WHERE THERE ARE A MAJORITY OF BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS AND SHE SAYS IS THIS NOT JUST A GENERAL VIOLENCE PROBLEM IN PARTICULAR IT IS ONE INVOLVING GUNS.

AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, SHE SAYS THAT MOST MURDERS ARE NOT PLANNED OR PREMEDITATED.

>> IN FACT, A HUGE SHARE OF MURDERS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT MOTIVATED BY MONEY OR ROBBERIES OR WARS BETWEEN GANGS.

THEY ARE OFTEN THE RESULT OF AN ARGUMENT THAT SPINS OUT OF CONTROL.

HERE IN CHICAGO, THREE QUARTERS OF SHOOTINGS STEM FROM AN ALTERCATION THAT HAPPENS TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN REACH OF A GUN.

THAT MEANS THAT ONE WAY TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IS TO MAKE THOSE SITUATIONS IN WHICH THOSE ARGUMENTS OCCUR MORE FORGIVING.

>> AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT SHE SAYS IS LESS ILLEGAL GUNS.

SHE SAYS THAT THE CRIME LAB ESTIMATES THAT CHICAGO SAW A 100% INCREASE LAST YEAR IN THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL GUNS BEING CARRIED ON CITY STREETS.

HOWEVER, GETTING FEDERAL GUN CHANGES THROUGH CONGRESS THAT IS A MAJOR POLITICAL HURDLE.

SENATOR DURBIN SAYS HE HOPES ONE PLAN WILL BE LESS CONTROVERSIAL AND THAT IS HIS PROPOSAL THAT WOULD CRACKDOWN ON GHOST GUNS THE GUNS THAT ARE MADE OF PARTS THAT DON'T HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS WHICH MAKES THEM MORE DIFFICULT TO TRACE.

ALSO HE SAYS, HOPING THAT THE BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN DOES GET PASSED BECAUSE THAT WOULD SEND MORE MONIES TO CHICAGO FOR VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION.

MEANWHILE A CHALLENGE THAT CHICAGO'S POLICE FORCE IS FACING IT IS RECRUITING.

IT'S PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT DUE TO LOW MORALE AND ALSO HE SAYS BECAUSE IT IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TIME TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.

BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT WE SPEAK WITH MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S CONTACT TRACING PROGRAM.

>> AS COVID CASES RISE SOME MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE CORPS SAY THEY ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE THE WINTER MONTHS.

CONTACT TRACING EXPANDED TO MEET OTHER NEEDS LIKE SCHEDULING VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AND WORK WITH THE COVID HOT LINE.

THE WORKS FORCE PARTNERSHIP IS LEADING THAT EFFORT WORKING WITH 31 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY'S HARDEST HIT AREAS AND HIRED 600 RESIDENTS TO WORK WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

JOINING US ARE THREE MEMBERS.

CYNTHIA RODRIGUEZ, COVID-19 RESPONSE PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR THE CHICAGO COOK WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

CORNELIUS CHANDLER ALSO A COVID-19 RESPONSE CORPS MEMBER HIRED BY BREAKTHROUGH MINISTRIES IN WEST GARFIELD PARK AND JASLYN ADAMS JASMINE LOVE A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION PART OF THE CORPS.

CYNTHIA RODRIGUEZ, BRIEFLY SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE CORPS IS HOW IT'S EXPANDED ITS WORK THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THE CORPS CONSISTS OF 30 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

TARGETING THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES.

SO ALL OF THE CORPS MEMBERS ARE RESIDENTS OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND OF COURSE IT'S SERVICE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE FROM THE HARDEST HIT ZIP CODES IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO 0 SO WE KNOW THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES HEALTH WISE AND RESOURCES.

>> CORNELIUS CHANDLER YOU WORK AT THE COVID HOTLINE AND BEFORE THAT YOU DID CONTACT TRACING.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHEN YOU HEARD FROM THEM, FEARS?

>> PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS [INAUDIBLE] YOU GET THE TOUGH CALLS WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO HANDLE A SITUATION.

YOU LEAD WITH LOVE AND YOU ALWAYS KIND OF BE SYMPATHETIC TOWARD THEIR SITUATION AND PUTTING MYSELF IN THE POSITION HELPING THEM IT FEELS GREAT WHEN I AM ABLE TO SUPPLY RESOURCES AND CALM THEM DOWN AND MAKE SURE THEY STAY SAFE.

>> JASMINE ARE THERE PHONE CALL OS RESIDENTS THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH THAT STANDS OUT IN YOUR MEMORY?

THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO CALLED BACK LOOKING FOR YOU?

>> YES, SO I GET A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF CALLS AND I ENCOURAGE THE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND GET THEIR BOOSTERS.

I HAD ONE CLIENT THAT DID NOT WANT TO GET IT AND I PERSUADED HIM TO GET IT AND HE CALLED BACK ASKING FOR ME SO I'M HAPPY HE DID THAT.

>> WAS HE CALLING TO TELL YOU THAT HE CHANGED HIS MIND?

>> HE CALLED THE HOTLINE AND ASKED FOR ME AND HE SAID YOU REMEMBER ME I DIDN'T WANT TO GET IT AND NOW I'M READY AND I SET HIM UP AN APPOINTMENT TO GET HIS VACCINATION.

>> THE INITIATIVE WORKS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN SOME OF CHICAGO'S HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES.

HERE IS A CLIP FROM KAREN REEFS THE C.E.O.

OF CHICAGO COOK FORCE WORK PARTNERSHIP.

>> IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE OF THE COMMUNITY, BY THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I CANNOT UNDERSCORE ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT ROLE WE HAVE PLAYED IN EARNS OF ENSURING THAT FOLKS WHO ARE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS HERE UNDERSTAND THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.

>> AND CYNTHIA RODRIGUEZ WHAT IMPACT HAVE YOU SEEN THIS HAVE ON COMMUNITY MEMBERS?

>> I THINK JUST SEEING THE NEED FOR RESOURCES AND SUPPORT WITHIN MY COMMUNITY.

IT BECAME A NORM FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO SEE AN AMBULANCE COME DOWN YOUR BLOCK EVERY OTHER DAY.

AND I THINK SEEING HOW SCARED PEOPLE WERE AND THE LACK OF RESOURCES AND THE LANGUAGE AND FROM PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOU AND SOUND LIKE YOU WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT EFFECT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE THEM WITH SUPPORT AND RESOURCES.

>> CORNELIUS WOULD YOU SAY IT'S BEEN AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO HELP PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

WHENEVER YOU CAN GET THE MESSAGE THAT IS NOT SCRIPTED AND IT'S COMING FROM SOMEBODY JUST LIKE YOU THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LIVE THE SAME LIFE, THAT YOU LIVE, AND CHICAGO THE PARTNERSHIP HAS DONE A GREAT JOB EDUCATING US AND ALLOWING US TO BE OURSELVES.

AND WHENEVER YOU ARE ABLE TO BE YOURSELF AND TALKING TO ANOTHER PERSON IT OPENS THEM UP TO BE THEMSELVES.

WHETHER THE MESSAGE IS ANTI-VAX OR PRO VAX, BEING ABLE TO BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IT BUILDS A LEVEL OF TRUST.

AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT THE TRUST BETWEEN THE INFORMATION THAT WE GIVING THEM BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES >> NOW, THE WORK I IMAGINE INVOLVES TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE COVID, MAYBE THEY HAVE HAD FAMILIES MEMBERS LOST TO COVID.

JASMINE HOW DOES THIS WORK AFFECT YOUR OWN EMOTIONAL HEALTH?

>> IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMING AND EMOTIONAL AT THE SAME TIME BUT WE HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM.

CYNTHIA WILL CHIME IN AND CORNELIUS YOU KNOW, AND WE'LL JUST TAKE A BREAK AND TALK TO EACH OTHER TO OVERCOME IT.

BUT IT CAN BE VERY EMOTIONAL AT TIMES.

>> CORNELIUS WHAT "ABOUT FACE: STONEWALL, REVOLT AND NEW QUEER ART" YOU?

HOW IS THE WORK IMPACTED YOU?

>> INCLUDELY.

IT'S EMOTIONAL TALKING TO A SENIOR CITIZEN THAT DON'T HAVE ANYBODY DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY AND THEY JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

IT'S EMOTIONALLY IMPACTFUL.

BUT I REMEMBER WHY I TOOK THE JOB.

IT'S FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

TIMES I AM EMPATHETIC AND I CAN BE SYMPATHETIC AND I LEAD WITH LOVE.

SO WHEN YOU LEAD WITH LOVE, IT KIND OF DON'T IMPACT ME AS MUCH AS SOME SAY IT SHOULD BUT I HAVE LOVE IN MY HEART GUIDES ME THROUGH THE SITUATION.

>> ABLE TO MANAGE IT.

>> THE CORPS WORKS WITH THE COVID HOTLINE.

HERE IS A CLIP FROM THE C.E.O.

OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGAIN.

>> WE ARE NOT PROVIDING SIMPLY RESPONSE TO COVID NOT DOING SIMPLY THE CONTACT TRACING, THE SINGLE GREATEST CALL FOR SERVICES WE RECEIVE AS WE WERE STAFFING THE RESOURCE CENTER THE SINGLE GREATEST CALL IS FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS FOOD INSECURITY.

THERE'S ALSO HEALTH INSECURITY.

AND WE WANT TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

>> AND QUICKLY CORNELIUS YOU WORKED THE COVID HOTLINE WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CALL IN ABOUT THEIR NEEDS?

WE HEARD FOOD ASSISTANCE IS THE GREATEST REQUEST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE STARTED RESOURCE NAVIGATION PROGRAM DIRECTLY FROM THE CALL CENTER.

I HEAR PEOPLE THAT NEED NOT ONLY FEED ASSISTANCE, UTILITY, RENT ASSISTANCE, PEOPLE THAT IS CALLING IN HOMELESS PEOPLE CALLING IN TO GET SHELTER FOR THE NIGHT.

IT EMBODIES WHATEVER TYPE OF RESOURCES THAT THE CITIZENS OF CHICAGO NEED.

>> NOT JUST ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING A VACCINE OR A TEST.

AS MORE COMMUNITIES DETECT THE OMICRON VARIANT AND COVID CASES RISE PEOPLE ARE GATHERING FOR THE HOLIDAYS, DO YOU EXPECT YOUR WORKLOAD TO INCREASE GOING FORWARD?

>> WE DEFINITELY DO EXPECT IT TO INCREASE.

I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CORPS WE'RE READY.

WE'RE READY FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE AND WE'RE READY FOR THE NEXT CALLING.

SO WE'RE ALL GETTING ADDITIONAL TRAINING, GETTING EDUCATED ON HOW TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WE DO EXPECT A SURGE BUT WE LEAD FROM THE HEART AND CONTINUE TO SERVING OUR CHICAGO RESIDENTS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

JASMINE LOVE, CORNELIUS CHANDLER AND CYNTHIA RODRIGUEZ.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> THANKS.

IT'S TOUTED AS THE LARGEST QUANTITIED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

IN OCTOBER, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE $31.5 MILLION PLAN TO SEND OUT CHECKS TO CHICAGO FAMILIES MOST IN NEED.

EXCEPT NO CHECKS HAVE YET BEEN SENT OUT AND NONE WILL BE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT NEEDS TIME TO GET THE PROGRAM RIGHT.

WHILE SOME ADVOCATES WORRY THAT THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

>> CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE MAYOR'S $31.5 MILLION PROPOSAL WITH GREAT FANFARE ON OCTOBER 27TH.

>> RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING IN PAIN AND WORRIED ABOUT FINANCIAL RUIN THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FAMILIES DON'T SLIP INTO THE ABYSS.

>> THE PLAN CALLS FOR $500 MONTHLY CHECKS GIVEN TO 5,000 SELECTED LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS FUNDED WITH MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

MORE THAN A MONTH LATER THERE IS LITTLE MOVEMENT ON THE PROGRAM.

NORTHWEST SIDE ALDERMAN GILBERT VILLEGAS SAYS THAT CONCERNS HIM.

>> TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

>> HE LED HEARINGS ON THE INCOME PILOT EARLY THIS YEAR AND WAS REBUFFED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ALLIES.

>> THE RUG WAS PULLED OUT FROM ME BUT IT'S ABOUT GETTING RESOURCES INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

>> HE MODELED HIS PLAN ON OTHER CITY'S PROGRAMS PROPOSING THAT TO BE ELIGIBLE ONE MUST BE A RESIDENT WHO IS ENROLLED IN CITY COLLEGES OR HAS A CHILD IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

HAVE EXPERIENCED A COVID-19 IMPACT.

AND HAVE AN INCOME AT OR BELOW 300% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES.

>> COULD THEY BE C.P.S.

PARENTS?

SURE.

COULD THEY BE NEW MOMS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE FIRST YEAR OF IMPACT ON CHILD WHEN THEY ARE BORN OR MOTHER IS WOMAN IS PREGNANT HAS A HIGH IMPACT FOR THAT CHILD'S LIFE.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO THINK THROUGH WHAT COULD BE A GOOD CRITERIA.

>> HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR ILLINOIS, A LEADING ADVOCATE OF GUARANTEED INCOME.

HE SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS WHY THE CITY WANTS TO BE DELIBERATE WITH THE PROCESS.

>> WE SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE NEED TO GET THE CASH OUT AND WE NEED TO CITY TO GET THE CASH OUT.

AT THE SAME TIME, HAVING SYSTEMS SET UP TO TRACK WHO IS GETTING MONEY AND HOW THEY ARE SPENDING IT.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT CRITERIA IS SETUP IS DONE WELL.

>> LIGHTFOOT WAS ASKED WHY THE PROGRAM WAS TAKING SO LONG AT A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL LISTENING TO ADVOCATES TO MAKE SURE WE CRAFT A CRITERIA THAT IS GOING TO REACH THE PEOPLE MOST IN NEED.

SO STAY TUNED.

I EXPECT TO BE MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THAT SHORTLY.

>> A TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TOLD WTTW NEWS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS CURRENTLY DRAFTING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS TO BID, TO RUN THE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY.

THE ORGANIZATION WOULD CREATE THE CRITERIA, FIND THE PARTICIPANTS AND MEASURE THE SUCCESS RATE.

THE OFFICIAL SAYS THEY HOPE THE RFP GOES OUT IN EARLY JANUARY WHICH MEANS THE FIRST CHECKS WILL NOT BE DELIVERED UNTIL SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT.

GILBERT VILLEGAS SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT MEANS SUMMER BY THE EARLIEST.

>> IT IS FRUSTRATING.

I'M HAPPY THEY ARE TRYING TO GET AN RFP BUT IT HAS TO BE EXPEDITED OR WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE SUFFERING.

>> AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS THEY ARE BEING DELIBERATE TO ROOT OUT WASTE, FRAUD OR ABUSE AND WANT TO CREATE A PROGRAM THAT CAN CONTINUE BEYOND THE COMING YEAR AND INTO YEARS AFTER THAT.

AND NOW, BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS HAS THE LATEST ON THE LINCOLN YARDS DEVELOPMENT.

ADVICE FROM LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON COPING WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

AND A RARE CHICAGO SHOWING OF PROVOCATIVE PAINTING BY AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTIST AT THE CULTURAL CENTER.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> SOME CHICAGO TEACHERS MAY SOON BE RECEIVING PAYMENT FOR BEING LAID OFF 9 YEARS AGO.

THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SET TO VOTE ON A SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE TEACHERS' UNION AND C.P.S.

[INAUDIBLE] C.P.S.

SAID QUOTE... A PORTION OF THE 9.25 MILLION SETTLEMENT WILL G TOWARDS PAYING BLACK C.T.U.

TEACHERS LAID OFF AS A RESULT OF POLICIES, C.T.U.

PLANS TO SAY MORE ONCE THE SETTLEMENT IS FINALIZED.

>> TWO CHICAGO SPORTS TEAMS ARE POSTPONING GAMES DUE TO RECENT COVID OUTBREAKS.

THE NHL POSTPONED THE GAME AFTER SIX FLAMES PLAYERS AND A STAFF MEMBER ENTERED THE COVID-19 PROTOCOL.

THE NBA POSTPONED THE NEXT CHICAGO BULLS GAMES TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.

10 PLAYERS WITH STAFF MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY IN NBA'S HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

BOTH TEAMS SAY THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND NO NEW DATES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE BULLS COVID OUTBREAK IN A BIT.

MORE DETAILS OF THE LINCOLN YARDS DEVELOPMENT COME INTO FOCUS.

JOHN DEERE IS HIRING HUNDREDS OF TECH WORKERS AND BAD NEWS FOR SOME RESTAURANTS SEEKING COVID INSURANCE MONEY.

>> DANNY ECKER.

STERLING BAY IS UNVEILING DETAILS OF THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE NORTH SIDE ALONG THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO RIVER THEY HAVE BROKEN GROUND ON THE ALLY BUILDING TELL US ABOUT THAT AND THE PROPOSAL FOR PHASE TWO.

>> ALLY IS THE LIFE SCIENCES LAB SPACE BUILDING SOMETHING STERLING BAY THINKS IT CAN BE A BIG PART OF LINCOLN YARDS.

THE FIRST BUILDING TO HAVE WORK DONE ON THE CAMPUS AND WHAT STERLING BAY IS ABOUT TO SHARE ARE THE PLANS FOR WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, INCLUDING 800,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICES AND REN HAD SHALL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES RIGHT BY THAT ALLY BUILDING.

BY 2024 THEY WANT THE WORK UNDERWAY ON A PARK NEXT TO IT.

AND THEY ALSO IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR WANT TO EXTEND THE 606 AND ADD A RIVERWALK THERE IS A LOT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO.

AND THEY DON'T NEED CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL BECAUSE THEY GOT APPROVAL IN 2019 WITH THE MASTER PLAN BUT THE CHALLENGE WILL BE CAN THEY FIND USERS AND CAN THEY GET FINANCING TO DO THE WORK?

>> WE RECALL THAT DEBATE BACK WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

THE MONTHLY LEAN MAKE MONTHLY LYNN JOHN DEERE PLANS TO HIRE TECH WORKERS.

TECH WORKERS FOR FARM AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT?

>> YES.

THERE IS AN INCREASING TECH NEED FOR COMPANIES THAT PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY ASSOCIATE WITH SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT LIKE DEER.

BUT THEY HAVE BEEN INVESTING HEAVILYLY IN THE GPS.

OUR CITY IS BECOMING A LITTLE BIT OF A HUB FOR THESE AGRITECH COMPANIES IN FULTON MARKET THERE IS FARMER BISSONETTE WORK AN ON-LINE MARKETPLACE FOR FARMERS TO BUY THINGS.

THAT IS IN FULTON MARKET.

THERE ARE COMPANIES LIKE JOHN DEERE IS PROBABLY THE HIGHEST PROFILE THAT ARE IN AGRICULTURE AND ARE FOCUSING WE FEED TECH TALENT AND FULTON MARKET IN CHICAGO ARE A GOOD PLACE TO FIND IT.

>> THE SEVENTH U.S.

CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED IN SIX CASES THE GOVERNMENT CLOSING ON RESTRICTING BUSINESSES IN THOSE EARLY MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC THOSE ARE NOT LOSS THAT INSURERS HAVE TO PAY.

BRIEFLY THERE ARE OTHER CASES ON THIS PENDING IN LOWER COURTS WITH HIGHER PROFILE POWERFUL OF PLAINTIFFS.

WHAT DOES THAT LIKELY MEAN FOR THE CASES?

>> IT IS NOT GOOD NEWS FOR THE RESTAURANT GROUPS LIKE THAT.

EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS BUT COURTS ARE SAYING THE RESTRICTIONS ALLOWED BUSINESSES LIKE THOSE TO FUNCTION IN PART.

RESTAURANTS COULD DO TAKE OUT ORDERS THEY ARE SAYING THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR.

GREAT NEWS FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT WERE FACING HUGE PAYOUTS.

BUT CERTAINLY, NOT WELCOME NEWS FOR RESTAURANTS THAT ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM ALL THE CRISIS.

>> DANNY ECKER AT CRAIN'S THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND AS YOU JUST MENTIONED THERE IS A BIG COVID OUTBREAK AMONG THE BULLS GOING HALF THE TEAM'S ROSTER FROM THE COURT.

10 PLAYERS ARE IN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOL AND THAT LED THE NBA TO POSTPONE THE BULLS' NEXT TWO GAMES.

JOINING US IS CHERYL RAYE-STUART, SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR AT WBEZ CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA.

THE BULLS HAVE BEEN PLUGGING AWAY HERE WITH BARELY HALF A ROSTER WHAT LED THE NBA TO PULL THE PLUG ON THE NEXT TWO GAMES?

>> I THINK THEY LOOK AT THE FACT THAT YOU HAD THE 10TH TODAY AND THERE IS NO MORE HARDSHIP PLAYERS THE BULLS CAN PICK UP.

THEY WILL ONLY HAVE EIGHT PLAYERS AVAILABLE SO THE CONCERN IS WILL YOU HAVE ANOTHER CASE TOMORROW?

OR MORE THAN ONE CASE TOMORROW?

AND THE OTHER FACTOR IS REALLY IMPORTANT, THE THURSDAY'S GAME WAS GOING TO BE IN CANADA.

IN TORONTO.

AND I THINK THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT CANADA WOULD NOT ALLOW THE BULLS TO COME TO TORONTO.

SO I THINK THEY FACTORED IN WE COULD HAVE MORE CASES WITH THE BULLS AND WE KNOW THAT CANADA MAY BE A FACTOR AS FAR AS A GAME NOT BEING ABLE TO BE PLAYED.

>> 10 BULLS PLAYERS IN THE PROTOCOL INCLUDING ZACH LAVINE, DEMAR DEROZAN, HOW SERIOUS IS IT FOR THE PLAYERS?

HOW MANY HAVE COVID VERSUS WERE JUST EXPOSED AND THEY ARE STAYING AWAY NOW?

>> IF YOU REMEMBER, ZACH LAVINE HAD COVID LAST SEASON AND WAS OUT 11 GAMES.

SO WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS MOST OF THE PLAYERS HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS OR SOME HAVE NO SYMPTOMS SO THAT IS GOOD.

STAYSTY KING AND BILL WEDDINGTON GOT COVID TOO AND STACY KING HAS SEVERE ISSUES LAST WEEK.

HE HAD A 103 TEMPERATURE.

HE HAD UPS AND DOWNS WITH IT.

SO THEY HAVE HAD ISSUES BUT AS FAR AS THE PLAYERS I'VE HEARD LITTLE TO NONE AS FAR AS BAD SYMPTOMS.

>> TWO OF THE ANALYSTS ON THE BROADCAST TEAM.

WE WISH A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

MOSTLY THE BULLS ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED?

>> YES.

ALL THE PLAYERS ARE VACCINATED BUT THEY RECENTLY STARTED GETTING THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE TIMING IS A FACTOR THERE.

ONE THING IS WE KNOW THEY GO ON TO A PLANE.

AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ANNOUNCERS THEY ARE NOW IN A PLANE ALTOGETHER AS OPPOSED TO LAST YEAR THE ANNOUNCERS DID NOT TRAVEL AND THE PLAYERS HAD TO BE SEPARATED.

SO I THINK THEY FELT THEY WERE SAFE.

THEY FELT BECAUSE THEY WERE VACCINATED THAT AN OUTBREAK CAN'T OCCUR BUT THE BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE HAPPENING.

>> AND CHERYL, AS WE MENTIONED, THE BULLS HAD A ROUGH PATCH AS THEY WERE HIRING PLAYERS OFF THE STREET OR IN DEVELOPMENTAL LEAGUES WHEN ARE THE PLAYERS COMING OUT OF COVID PROTOCOL?

SOME THIS WEEK.

WHEN THE BULLS PLAY ON SUNDAY AGAINST THE LAKERS, I THINK THREE-FOUR PLAYERS WILL BE OUT OF COVID PROTOCOL THEY WILL BE NOT AT FULL STRENGTH BUT IN BETTER STRENGTH BUT EARLY NEXT WEEK THEY WILL HAVE MORE PLAYERS AVAILABLE.

>> HOW BAD IS THE PROBLEM COMPARED TO OTHER NBA TEAMS AND DOES THE NBA HAVE A PLAN TO DEAL WITH THIS?

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE NBA HAD TO MAKE A DECISION ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

OTHER TEAMS CHARLOTTE HAD FIVE PLAYERS.

BUT THE BULLS HAVING 10 INCLUDING ONE THEY HAD SIGNED FOR THE HARDSHIP CASE, THAT I THINK COMPLETELY THREW THE NBA OFF.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAD ANY IDEA THIS COULD HAPPEN AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OK, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE, NOW THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE STANDARD GOING FORWARD AS FAR AS OTHER TEAMS GO.

>> AND THIS IS A SPEED BUMP IN A MAGICAL SEASON THE BULLS WERE HAVING.

AMAZING PLAY FROM DEMAR DEROZAN, ZACH LAVINE.

WHAT IS THE CEILING FOR THIS TEAM ONCE ALL OF THIS CLEARS?

>> WE'VE SEEN GREAT PLAY DEFENSIVELY THEY ARE ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS DEFENSIVELY AND OFFENSIVELY.

BILLY DONOVAN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAKING THE SYSTEM WORK WITH THE DIFFERENT PLAYERS.

AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE NBA WANTS TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE CHICAGO BULLS.

THEY ARE A MUST SEE TEAM RIGHT NOW.

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THEM.

SO THE NBA WANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY PROTECT THEM FROM HAVING REALLY BAD GAMES AND BAD LOSSES WHERE THEY DON'T NEED TO.

SO CALLING A COUPLE GAMES OFF IS NOT A BAD DEAL.

>> CHERYL RAYE-STUART THANK YOU SO MUCH AND OUR BEST WISHES FOR THE BULLS TO GET WELL, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU BACK THERE SOON.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

AND UP NEXT, WE HAVE ALEX HERNANDEZ FROM UNIVISION WITH A LOOK AT HOLIDAY DEPRESSION AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT IN A CONVERSATION FIRST SEEN ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE FORECAST.

>> THIS SEASON A JOYOUS TIME FOR MANY BUT OTHERS IT CAN BRING SAD ANDS AND ANXIETY.

AND WITH CO-HOST CASTING A SHADOW ON LATINOS FINDING THAT SPIRIT CAN BE DIFFICULT.

A SURVEY BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOUND THAT 18% OF LATINO RESPONDENTS CONSIDERED SUICIDE IN THE PREVIOUS 30 DAYS.

AND ACCORDING TO AN ALLIANCE ON MENTAL HEALTHNESS STATISTICS ONLY 34% OF LATINO ADULTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS RECEIVE TREATMENT.

JOINING US TO SPOT SIGNS OF DEPRESSION AND HOW TO GET HELP ARE ERNESTINA PEREZ AND FRANCIS FERRER.

I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU ERNESTINA PEREZ WE THINK OF THE HOLIDAYS AS A HAPPY TIME BUT IT CAN BE'S STRESSFUL ONE ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

WHY IS THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I THINK THAT LATINO COMMUNITY THE VALUES INSTILLED ARE FAMILY, NOT JUST YOUR MOM, DAD BUT IT'S EXTENDED FAMILY.

YOU GOT YOUR COUSINS EVERYONE, COMING TOGETHER AND THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT YOU ARE GOING TO FOLLOW MAYBE CERTAIN MORAL OR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, HEAR PERHAPS CATHOLICISM AND CELEBRATE THE TIME TOGETHER.

HOWEVER WHEN WE ARE INTERACTING WITH FAMILY THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THINGS THAT WILL COME UP FOR US ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PROCESSED BEFORE OR TALKED ABOUT AND HEALED.

>> FRANCIS GOING WITH YOU, MANY OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE BIG HOLIDAY GATHERINGS.

HOW CAN THAT AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH?

>> WELL, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS A FAMILY.

AND IT IS A MOMENT DEFINITION FOR CHRISTMAS IN THE LATINO IS FAMILY GATHERINGS REUNIONS, VALUES.

SO THEY ARE COMING TO THE COUNTRY ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES SO IT IS A DIFFERENT CULTURE SO THEY ARE BETWEEN TWO CULTURES AND AT THE SAME TIME SO PROBABLY ISOLATION, LEARNING HOW TO LIVE IN THIS CULTURE, TOO.

SO FOR THE LATINO, THEY MORE -- THEY ARE NOT EASY FOR THEM TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS OUT OF THEIR SURROUNDING LIKE FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

SO IT IS A BEGINNING A NEW LIFE HERE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEPRESSION COMES WHEN SOMETIME THEY LIVE BY THEMSELVES THEY DON'T HAVE NO ONE TO CONTACT NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC, SO THEY ISOLATE MORE.

>> EVERYTHING IS THE HOLIDAYS.

FRANCIS FERRER WHAT FACTORS MIGHT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SEEKING OUT MENTAL HEALTHCARE.

>> THERE IS STIGMA IN THE COMMUNITY WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS.

AND I THINK THERE IS NOT GENERATIONALLY EXPERIENCES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SOUGHT OUT TREATMENT OR HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE WORDS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES EMOTIONALLY LET ALONE THE SCALES THAT IT TAKES TO MANAGE AND TREAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES SUCH AS DEPRESSION, SUCH AS HAVING SHAME, ANXIETY, ONE HAS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ARE.

AND WHAT TRIGGERS ARE SO IF YOU ARE HAVING A GATHERING WITH YOUR FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR'S WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE CELEBRATING THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO BE SELF-AWARE AS TO WHAT IS COMING UP FOR YOU AND WHAT IS COMING UP WITHIN THE FAMILY BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A STRONG FAMILY VALUE.

SO SOMETIMES THERE'S ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONGTIME.

THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND THAT CAN BE EXPERIENCED AS I GRIEF, A DISCONNECTION BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS, EMOTIONAL CUTOFF, ABUSE, ADDICTIONS, ALCOHOLISM, AND IF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE THE WORDS TO SAY LIKE THIS IS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD COME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY TO TALK ABOUT AND TRY TO WORK THROUGH OUR SHAME OR MAYBE JUST COME TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY AND CREATE A SAFE PLACE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> SO ONCE A MENTAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED WHAT RESOURCES ARE OUT THERE FOR LATINOS LOOKING FOR HELP?

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE NOT-FOR-PROFIT AGENCIES THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE CLIENT IN THE FAMILY SERVICES.

SO I BELIEVE THE NEED TO LET THE LATINO KNOW WHERE THE SERVICES ARE SO THEY CAN SEEK FOR SERVICES.

I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE YOU KNOW COMMUNITY-BASED EVERYONE TO ENGAGE, TO RECOGNIZE AND WE START WORKING IN EDUCATING THE PEOPLE HAVING THE SYMPTOM IS THAT SHAME.

AND TO RECOGNIZE WHEN THEY NEED TO HELP.

AND TRAIN PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE LIKE MENTAL HEALTH TO RECOGNIZE WHEN THE PERSON IS GOING THROUGH A DEPRESSION, SO THEY CAN HELP THEM.

>> THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS.

THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO YOU, WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF DEPRESSION TO LOOK OUT FOR IN A LOVED ONE IN A GATHERING?

>> I THINK IF YOU ARE IN THING THAT SOMEBODY FEELS A LITTLE BIT ISOLATED, THEY SEEM PERHAPS SAD OR EXPRESSED THEY FEEL EMPTY OR DOWN, TEARFUL MAYBE YOU WITH JUST EXPERIENCE THEM DISCONNECTED.

I THINK THE FIRST THING IS TO ADDRESS IT HEAD ON DIRECTLY AND TALK TO THE PERSON AND SAY, HEY HOW ARE YOU FEELING IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE DOWN.

IS THAT RIGHT?

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU FEEL BETTER OR DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT?

I THINK OPENING THE DIALOGUE.

AND IF SOMEBODY HAS IDENTIFIED THEY DO FEEL DOWN AND IT'S MORE THAN TWO WEEKS WITH MORE DAYS THAN NOT FEELING LIKE WORTHLESSNESS, DEPRESSED MOOD, FEELING LOW THEN I THINK THEY SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP TO WORK AND TREAT AND MANAGE THE SYMPTOMS.

>> SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO DETECT WHEN SOMEONE HAS THOSE DEPRESSION.

ERNESTINA PEREZ THANK YOU SO MUCH AND ALSO FRAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

AN ART EXHIBIT OPENED AT THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER TONIGHT COMES WITH AN ADVISORY.

ALONG WITH CONTENT AND NUDITY SOME PAINTING USE STEREOTYPES TO DEPICT RACISM AND SEXISM IN AMERICAN CULTURE.

MARC VITALI HAS THE STORY.

>> THE COLORFUL CANVASS CHALLENGE EXPECTATIONS.

A PAINTING FROM 1980 SHOWS SHIRLEY TEMPLE AND BILBO JIANGLES ROBINSON WITH THE RACES REVERSED.

THE IMAGE IS REVEAL AND PROVOKE AND RESIST EASY ANSWERS.

WE SPOKE WITH THE CURATOR AND TOLD US ABOUT THE FIRST TIME SHE SAW THE RIBERT COLESCOTT PAINTING IN THE 1970s.

>> I LOOKED THE THEM AND GO OH, MY GOD.

THE IMPACT OF THEM WAS SO IMMEDIATE BECAUSE I THINK THE MISCHIEFNESS OF THE PAINTINGS AND RELATED TO IT.

TO WALK IN AND SEE THESE PAINTINGS THAT WERE SO NAUGHTY ANDSY TISH CAL AND HUMOROUS AND SMACKING YOU AROUND WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST REVELATORY MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.

>> A PAINTING DEPICTS COLESCOTT'S PARENTS MOVE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO CALIFORNIA.

HE WAS A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II AND WELL TRAVELED.

HE FENDED IN FRANCE IN THE 1960s.

HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTIST TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES.

THE CURATOR WAS A FRIEND OF THE ARTIST.

>> BOB WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST LITERAL ARTISTS I KNEW IN TERMS OF HISTORY BUT HAD THIS ABILITY TO TRANSLATE THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO IMAGES THAT WERE IMPACTFUL.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE A VISUAL PUNS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ATTUNED TO.

TITLES LIKE COLORED TV ARE A PLAY ON BOTH THE FACT THE COLORIZATION OF IMAGINES ON TV BUT ALSO THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION OF BLACK PEOPLE.

>> THE LATE ARTIST MADE NEWS THIS YEAR WHEN THE LUCAS MUSEUM PAID $15 MILLION FOR A CANVAS THAT FEATURES GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER CROSSING THE DELAWARE THAT PAINTING ISN'T IN THE SHOW BUT A SKETCH IS.

>> BEFORE HIS DEATH IN 2009, COLESCOTT HAD INFLUENCED A YOUNGER GENERATION.

HIS OWN INFLUENCES WERE NUMEROUS.

COLESCOTT WAS VERY INTERESTED IN POPULAR ILLUSTRATION, THE COMICS, CARTOONS, HOLLYWOOD MOVIES, ADVERTISING, THE BOMBARD.

OF THE IMAGES THAT WE EXPERIENCE IN CULTURE.

HE IS ADDRESSING YOU IN A WAY THAT'S FILLED WITH IRONY.

>> AND YOU RECOGNIZELE THEMENTS SO IT MIGHT MAKE YOU LAUGH AND THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?

>> THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER IS AS BUSY AS IT'S BEEN IN TWO YEARS.

HIGH BUDDY, A SHOP THAT SHOWCASES LOCAL ARTISTS AND SMALL MANUFACTURERS.

JOINING IS THIS RARE WORK OF RIBERT COLESCOTT.

WE ASKED THE CURATOR ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THE PAINTINGS.

>> I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, LOOK CAREFULLY AND RESIST IMMEDIATE REACTIONS AND COME TO COMPREHENSION WHAT YOU ARE REACTING TO IF IT'S MORE ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE AND SO TO SEE IF IT'S WARRANTED.

AND SORT OF SEE IF THERE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN RELATE TO IN WHAT HE IS TRYING TO TELL YOU IN HIS PAINTINGS.

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

>> AND THE EXHIBITION IS CALLED ART AND RACE MATTERS.

THE CAREER OF RIBERT COLESCOTT.

IT JUST OPENED AT THE CULTURAL CENTER IT'S FREE AND RUNS THROUGH MAY.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FAKE, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU CAN GET THE SHOW ON VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> CHICAGO'S EXPERIENCING A SANTA SHORTAGE WE'LL HEAR FROM SANTA ON THIS AND MORE.

>> AND A NEW PROPOSAL FOR BUILDINGS THAT THE CAN ABSORB CARBON POLLUTION THE WAY TREES TO.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ LIVE FROM HOME.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT.

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