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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN VMENT PARIS SCHUTZ WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE CANNOT SURRENDER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EFFORTS TO HIDE WHAT HAPPENED.

>> FORMER CONGRESSMAN MARK MEADOWS SANCTIONED FOR NOT COOPERATING WITH THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE.

THREE LOCAL CONGRESS MEMBERS WEIGH-IN.

>> I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS BILL IMPROVES ACCESS TO HOME BIRTHS.

>> A NEW LAW CREATES A PATH FOR MIDWIVES TO BE LICENSED BY THE STATE.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT SEND ANY DIPLOMATIC OR OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION TO THE BEIJING 2022 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES.

>> REACTION TO THE UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT OF THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES IN BEIJING.

>> A SANTA SHORTAGE IN CHICAGO.

WE'LL HEAR FROM THE BIG GUY HIMSELF ON THIS AND MORE.

>> YOU'RE NOT DOING LESS BAD YOU ARE DOING GOOD.

>> GOING BEYOND NET ZERO.

LEARN ABOUT A NEW BUILDING CONCEPT THAT CAN ACTUALLY ABSORB CARBON FROM THE AIR.

>> A PROPOSED CAR VEINNA VENDING MACHINE IS SET IN SKOKIE.

A LIBRARY IS TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT AND A CZECH RESTAURANT IN CICERO IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS HE DOES NOT PLAN ON RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

THIS COMES AFTER A "NEW YORK TIMES" STORY LISTED PRITZKER'S NAME AS A POTENTIAL CONTENDER IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THE TIMES REPORTED SUNDAY THAT PRITZKER TALKED ABOUT HIS INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE AT SOME POINT BUT HE DENIED THIS TODAY AT AN UNRELATED NEWS CONFERENCE.

>> I'VE NEVER SPOKEN PRIVATELY OR PUBLICLY ABOUT THAT AND SECOND I LOVE MY JOB AS GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS I INTEND TO KEEP DOING IT ON BEHALF OF THE WORKING FAMILIES OF ILLINOIS.

>> A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS YET TO FINISH REVIEWING 700 PAGES OF ARGUMENTS FILED IN THE CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST ED BURKE.

DURING A HEARING, THE JUDGE ROBERT DOWD SAID HE EXPECTED TO FINISH HIS REVIEW OF THE DOCUMENTS IN THE COMING WEEKS AND SCHEDULE ORAL ARGUMENTS IN FEBRUARY.

THIS COMES MORE THAN TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS AFTER THE 14TH WARD ALDERMAN WAS INDICTED ON 14 COUNTS WHICH ALLEGE HE USED HIS POSITION AT CITY HALL TO FORCE THOSE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY TO HIRE HIS PRIVATE LAW FIRM.

>> CALIFORNIA AND MISSISSIPPI ARE BACK ON CHICAGO'S COVID-19 TRAVEL ADVISORY.

IT NOW CLOUDS 42 STATES AND WASHINGTON D.C. SEEN HERE IN ORANGE.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY UNVACCINATED TRAVELERS SHOULD GET TESTED BEFORE AND AFTER TRAVEL TO ANY STATE ON THE LIST AND SHOULD QUARANTINE ONCE THEY ARRIVE IN CHICAGO.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS IT WILL GIVE OUT AROUND 150,000 TAKE HOME COVID-19 TEST KIDS AHEAD OF WINTER BREAK.

IT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO 300 SCHOOLS IN COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC FAMILIES WHOSE STUDENTS DO NOT RECEIVE A TEST FROM C.P.S.

ARE ENCOURAGED TO TEST THEIR KIDS OVER WINTER BREAK.

>> UP NEXT, PARIS SCHUTZ AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON THE JANUARY 6 COMMISSION AND MORE.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE IN PART BY... CONGRESS VOTES TO HOLD ONE EVERY ITS OWN MARK MEADOWS IN CONTEMPT.

LAWMAKERS HOLD COURT IN CHICAGO FOR A HEARING ON THE CITY'S HIGH VIOLENCE AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND MORE ARE CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY A DEMOCRAT FROM MADISON.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE.

AND CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS, A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE.

WE DID INVITE EVERY MEMBER OF ILLINOIS' REPUBLICAN DELEGATION TO JOIN US TONIGHT AND THEY DECLINED OUR REQUEST BUT WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU AEND ITED THE COMMITTEE HEARING IN CHICAGO ABOUT VIOLENCE.

CONGRESSMAN DAVIS DID YOU COME AWAY WITH ANY CONSENSUS ON SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK WE DID.

AND I WANT TO THANK SENATOR DURBIN FOR HOLDING IT.

I THINK WE ALL AGREED THAT GUNS, THE PRESENCE OF GUNS, THE AVAILABILITY OF GUNS, THE ABILITY FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE GUNS, THAT IF WE COULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF GUNS IN OUR SOCIETY, IF WE COULD STOP THE GUN TRAFFICKING, ILLINOIS HAS SOME GOOD LAWS.

BUT WE ARE RIGHT NEXT TO OTHER STATES THAT YOU CAN GO AND ACQUIRE A GUN IN INDIANA, BRING IT BACK TO ILLINOIS.

MANY OF THE CRIMES THAT ARE COMMITTED ESPECIALLY HOMICIDES, IF THERE WAS NO GUN PRESENT, I GUARANTEE YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ALIVE AND THRIVING.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY THIS WOULD TAKE FEDERAL ACTION THE HOUSE HAS MASSED GUN CONTROL MEASURES BUT THEY SEEM TO BE DOA IN THE SENATE.

IS THERE ANY HOPE IN WASHINGTON FOR ANY LAWS TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS?

>> YOU ARE SO CORRECT ABOUT THAT.

WE PASSED THE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND TWICE AND AS YOU SAID IT'S GO NOWHERE IN THE SENATE.

SENATOR DURBIN DID SEEM TO HAVE HOPE WE COULD GET TRAFFICKING AND STRAW PURCHASING POSSIBLY PASSED WITH THIS SENATE.

I KNOW THEY WERE PASSED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HE SEEMED TO THINK IT WOULD PASS IN THE SENATE BECAUSE THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM TRAFFICKING AND STRAW PURCHASING AS MY COLLEAGUE SHARED AND THE WEAK GUN LAWS IN WISCONSIN AND INDIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.

TO NAME A FEW.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS BELIEVE INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT THE PROBLEM AS WEAK PROSECUTION FROM THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY AND PROBLEMS OF SENTENCING AND BAIL FROM THE JUDGES.

DID THAT COME UP AT THE HEARING?

>> IT DIDN'T COME UP IN THE PARTS I WAS INVOLVED WITH.

I THINK IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH AND I'M GLAD THE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE INVOLVED.

BUT THIS HAS TO WORK AT THE STATE AND LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND IF IT DOESN'T, IF THERE IS A FAILURE BETWEEN THEM, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE.

>> CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU ON THE ISSUE OF MARK MEADOWS A VOTE TO HOLD HIM IN CONTEMPT FOR FAILING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE.

HE DID TURNOVER TEXT MESSAGES FROM FOX CABLE IMPLORING THE PRESIDENT TO GET THE RIOTERS STOP THAT DAY.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK THE COMMITTEE CAN LEARN?

>> EYE-OPENING THE PRESIDENT, HIS FAMILY, MEMBERS OF THE FOX COMMUNITY, THEY UNDERSTOOD FULLY HOW SERIOUS THIS WAS.

OBVIOUSLY THAT DAY AND THE DAYS AFTER Mr. McCONNELL AND Mr. McCARTHY RECOGNIZED THE RESPONSIBILITY LAY AT THE PRESIDENT'S FEET FOR INSTIGATING THE RIOT.

I THINK WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE AND HOW TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> AND BY THE WAY, THE FACT THEY SAID THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS GOING TO BE USED TO PROTECT THE TRUMP PEOPLE WHO LATER ON ATTACKED THE CAPITOL, IS PROBABLY THE MOST DISTURBING THING I'VE LEARNED SO FAR.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW IT AFFECTS HIS TESTIMONY AND WHAT ELSE IS LEARNED FROM THE COMMITTEE.

SO MUCH TO BE GLEANED.

I WANT TO MOVE TO THE ECONOMY CONGRESSMAN DAVIS AN RECOVERY IS MARRED BY INFLATION, 7% PRICE INCREASE.

HOW IS THIS IMPACTING YOUR CONSTITUENTS?

>> WELL, I MEAN JUST SAY THIS THAT THE ECONOMY IS ON THE WAY BACK AND I BELIEVE THAT THE POLICIES OF THE ADMINISTRATION ESPECIALLY TO GET MONEY IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SPEND EVERY DIME OF IT THAT THEY GET, THE CHILD TAX CREDIT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT INCREASE.

EVERY BIT OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO GO RIGHT BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE IMPACT OF IT.

SO I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE IN TERMS OF POLICIES THAT ARE MOVING THE ECONOMY UPWARDS AND WE SEE A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE ONCE IN A WHILE.

BUT IF YOU'VE GOT THE RESOURCES TO HANDLE IT, THEN YOU CAN DO IT.

>> CONGRESSMAN YOU ARE SPEAKING OF COURSE OF THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY A GOAL OF THAT $2 TRILLION BUILD BACK BETTER.

LET'S HEAR WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

>> BUILD BACK BETTER IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE INFLATION IT WILL DIMINISH INFLATION.

IT HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON INFLATION.

THAT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE INFLATION IS UP.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY THIS IS STILL WHERE IT'S BEEN FOR THE LAST SEEMINGLY BETTER PART OF THE YEAR IN THAT EVERYONE IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT TWO MODERATE SENATORS MANCHIN AND SINEMA WANT TO DO ABOUT IT AND PART IS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WHICH EXPIRES AS THE END OF THE YEAR.

WILL THERE BE ACTION AS A STAND ALONE?

>> WE'RE HOPING THAT IT WILL BE IN THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT WHEN IT PASSES IN THE SENATE AND ASSUMING THAT IT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO US BECAUSE THERE WILL BE CHANGES BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT IS ONE OF THE PROVISIONS THAT STAYS WITHIN THAT ACT.

AND THAT IT IS EXTENDED.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S HELPED MANY, MANY, MANY FAMILIES AND I'M HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE CAN SEE THAT OR REALIZE THAT.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY, ANY IDEA WHY SENATOR MANCHIN HOLDS HIS CARDS CLOSE TO THE VEST AND WILL NOT COMMIT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER?

>> HE HAS BEEN VERY CAUTIOUS.

I CAN'T READ HIS MIND ON THIS.

I CAN NEVER PREDICT WHAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO DO.

I LIKE TO THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE BEFORE CHRISTMAS BUT I'M PESSIMISTIC AFTER HIS RECENT REMARKS.

>> THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN PUTTING TROOPS ON THE BORDER WITH UKRAINE.

A WROTE A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT SAYING THE U.S.

NEEDS TO ASSIST UKRAINE AND SANCTION RUSSIA.

SHOULD THE PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA INVADE, WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE U.S. AND NATO RESPONSE?

>> THAT RESPONSE HAS TO BE UNIFIED.

DEALING WITH THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO PUTIN.

THIS IS AN ECONOMY ABOUT THE SIZE OF NEW YORK STATE.

BUT THEY HAVE GASOLINE AND THAT IS WHAT EUROPE NEEDS.

SO HE KNOWS WINTER IS COMING FROM A CLIMATE POINT OF VIEW AND FROM A POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW AND USING THAT TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT.

SO WE HAVE TO USE THAT IN THE PIPELINE HE HOLDS SO DEAR AGAINST HIM.

I THINK SHUTTING HIM OFF FROM THE BANKING SYSTEM, SWIFT PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD MATTER TO HIM AND GOING AFTER THE OLIGARCHS, I THINK IT'S THE REASON HE IS CONTEMPLATING THIS DECISION.

>> PERHAPS POSTURING FOR OTHER INTERESTS HE HAS INCLUDING THAT PIPELINE OUT THERE.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT FOR NOW.

OUR THANKS TO CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS, CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY AND CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY.

BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

DECADES AGO, ILLINOIS OUTLAWED MIDWIFERY.

THE STATE IS NOW REVERSING COURSE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS, DEBBIE BOUSHEY IS THE RARE MIDWIFE WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO LEGALLY ATTEND HOME BIRTHS BECAUSE SHE IS ALSO A CERTIFIED NURSE.

SHE IS A CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE WITH FULL PRACTICE AUTHORITY TO BE EXACT AND THAT IS AMONG OTHER TITLES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS THAT MOTHERS CHOOSE TO HAVE HOME BIRTHS.

>> I'VE SEEN BIRTHS FROM JUST THE WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND AND MYSELF AND MY ASSISTANT, ALL THE WAY TO EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS THEY ARE THERE AND IT IS A BIG PARTY.

SO HAVING THAT FLEXIBILITY TO DO THINGS THE WAY THEY WANT TO DO.

>> IT IS DIFFERENT FROM MIDWIVES WHO ARE NOT ALSO LICENSED NURSES.

THEY ESSENTIALLY HAVE BEEN OPERATING UNDERGROUND WITH LIMITS LIKE THEY CANNOT PURCHASE CERTAIN DRUGS OR COORDINATE CARE WITH HOSPITALS.

>> AN UNLICENSED PROVIDER HAS TO TAKE SOMEONE TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY CAN'T GO IN WITH THEM.

SO THE PATIENT IS GOING TO LOSE THAT LABOR SUPPORT.

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T OFTEN -- SOMETIMES THEY DO.

I'VE HEARD SOMETIMES THEY DO GO IN AND BECOME THE PATIENT'S SISTER OR DOULA.

BUT TO AVOID THE RISK OF GETTING CAUGHT THEY OFTEN CAN'T COME IN AND HELP THE PATIENT THROUGH THAT.

>> THAT IS SET TO CHANGE DUE TO A LAW SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR TODAY.

THAT CREATES A PATH FOR NON-NURSE MIDWIVES TO BE CERTIFIED LICENSED BY THE STATE SO THEY CAN LEGALLY ATTEND PERFORM THE OUT OF HOSPITAL BIRTHS.

DEMAND FOR AT HOME BIRTHS HAS BEEN INCREASING ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN A LOT OF FAMILIES WERE DOING WHAT THEY COULD TO AVOID HOSPITALS.

BOUSHEY WHO IS APPLYING TO BE ON THE STATE CERTIFICATION BOARD SAYS THE LAW IS DESIGNED WITH LIMITS IN PLACE TO PROTECT PATIENTS SAFETY.

SHE SAYS HAVING MORE LICENSED MIDWIVES WILL HELP TO MEET THIS RISE IN CONSUMER DEMAND.

>> AND IT WILL DECREASE THE NUMBER OF UNATTENDED HOME BIRTHS THAT SOMETIMES ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE PEOPLE CANNOT FIND A LICENSED PROVIDER AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> THE PRESIDENT OF HOLISTIC COLLECTIVE, A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO THAT PROVIDES AT HOME AND POST PART TESTIMONY SERVICES SAYS DEMAND IS HIGH FOR BLACK MOMS.

>> THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE.

THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

BLACK WOMEN ARE DYING AT THE RATE EIGHT TIMES OF WHITE WOMEN AND IT IS A SCARY THOUGHT GOING TO THE HOSPITAL KNOWING WE HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF DYING THAN OUR COUNTERPARTS.

WE WANT A SAFER OPTION TO HAVE SOMEONE PROVIDING FOR US THAT LOOKS LIKE US.

AND CAN RELATE TO US.

>> STAR AUGUST WHO HAD HER OWN BAD EXPERIENCE GIVING BIRTH AT A HOSPITAL IS NOW STUDYING TO APPLY FOR THAT CERTIFICATION.

>> I'M SITTING FOR THE EXAM SOON ESSENTIALLY IF I PASS I WILL BE THE FIRST BLACK TO BE QUALIFIED TO APPLY FOR I ALICENSE.

I AM A DESCENDANT WHO WAS A MIDWIFE.

AND THERE IS A HISTORY OF US BEING PUSHED OUT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIRTH AND MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS WE CAN DECREASE THE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES WE ARE HAVING.

>> HAVING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A MIDWIFE COULD BE DIFFERENT THAN A STANDARD APPOINTMENT WITH AN OBGYN, CHECKING VITALS AND A URINE SAMPLE MIDWIVES DO THAT BUT THEY GO TO A PATIENT'S HOME.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO SEE IS THERE ANY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

DO THEY HAVE FOOD?

SOMEONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SEE WE CAN SEE THE PEOPLE FULL CIRCLE AND IT FEELS LIKE A STRONG BOND IF THEY FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS OFF THEY CALL US AND THEY HAVE ACCESS 24/7.

AND WE LISTEN TO THEM AND WE MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE WE GO TO THEIR HOME.

>> SHE SAYS THE NEW LAW IS GOING TO HAVE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE FOR MIDWIVES WHO WON'T HAVE TO FEAR PROSECUTION AND ALSO FOR PATIENTS.

BUT SHE SAYS THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP.

RIGHT NOW, SHE SAYS MIDWIFERY IS MOST ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WEALTHY AND MOST OFTEN WHITE.

SHE IS PUSHING FOR ILLINOIS TO HAVE A NEW LAW THAT MAKES IT SO THAT LICENSED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE SERVICES ARE COVERED BY MEDICAID.

>> THIS WILL OPEN UP AN OPTION FOR WOMEN WHO DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR IT.

IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ANY WOMAN.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, ILLINOIS BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE U.S. TO PROVIDE 12 MONTHS OF POST-PARTUM COVERAGE FOR MOTHERS VIA MEDICAID.

AND TODAY'S LAW THAT TAKES EFFECT IN FALL OF 2022 ILLINOIS BECOMES THE 37TH STATE IN THE NATION TO HAVE LICENSED MIDWIVES.

BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> DEMAND TO SEE SANTA CLAUS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY COMPARED TO YEARS PAST.

FAMILIES ARE LINING UP AROUND THE CITY TO MEET WITH THE BIG GUY.

BUT IN SOMEPLACES THERE IS A STRUGGLE TO MEET THE DEMAND.

A NOTE TO PARENTS IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF SANTA'S SECRETS MIGHT COME OUT YOU DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO SEND THE KIDDOS OUT OF THE ROOM.

JOINING US ARE SANTA TIM WHO HAS BEEN BUSY LENDING A HAND TO SANTA CLAUS IN THE NORTH POLE AND KEITH STRAS, C.E.O.

AND FOUNDER OF CHICAGO'S SANTAS.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME FOR US.

SANTA, WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

TELL US ABOUT.

>> HO, HO, HO, GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> HOW HAS IT BEEN GOING MEETING WITH FAMILIES WHO IS ON YOUR NAUGHTY AND NICE LIST?

>> I TELL YOU WHAT.

THERE'S VERY FEW KIDS ON THE NAUGHTY LIST AND THE FEW ARE STRADDLING THE GOOD LIST AND THE NAUGHTY LIST BUT SANTA BELIEVES IN REDEMPTION IF THEY DO THE BEST JOB THEY GET ON THE GOOD LIST.

IT'S BEEN REALLY BUSY THIS YEAR.

>> AND BECAUSE OF WHAT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN LIKE MAYBE IT'S NOT AS EVERYBODY TO STAY AS NICE AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE.

>> KEITH YOU HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 48 YEARS.

TELL US ABOUT THE INCREASE IN DEMAND AND HOW IT'S AFFECTED THE JOBS YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ON THIS YEAR INTEREST I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAST YEAR, ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T A TOTAL WASH IT WAS CLOSE TO IT.

SANTA WASN'T ABLE TO DO WHAT HE NORMALLY DOES AS FAR AS HOME VISITS SOME OF THE MALLS DIDN'T HAVE SANTA LAST YEAR.

THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND FOR SANTA THIS YEAR.

SO MUCH SO TO THE POINT WHERE THERE'S MORE WORK THAN WE HAVE SANTAS AVAILABLE.

WE EMPLOY 25 SANTAS WHICH CHICAGO STAN SANTAS AND THEY ARE NONSTOP BETWEEN NOVEMBER 11 UP UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY.

AND THE REQUESTS ARE STILL COMING IN BECAUSE THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS FALLS ON A SUNDAY AND SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING PARTIES AND REQUESTING SANTA.

IT'S BEEN UNBELIEVABLY DEAD LAMB SO TO SPEAK BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE.

>> AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS BEHIND THE SANTA SHORTAGE THAT YOU'VE BEEN SEEING?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR SANTAS ARE UP IN AGE.

60 AND BETTER.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOME DID PASS AWAY FROM COVID AND NOT ALL FROM COVID BUT SOME OF THEM DID.

AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH IN THE ACTOR POOL SO TO SPEAK ANYBODY CAN PUT ON A SANTA CLAUS OUTFIT BUT YOU GOT TO HAVE IT HERE.

AND WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH ALL OF OUR CLIENTS FOR SO MANY YEARS.

BECAUSE OUR GUYS PORTRAY SANTA FROM THE HEART.

SO IT'S HARD SOMETIMES TO FIND THE RIGHT GUY TO PORTRAY SANTA.

WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE AND I THINK THAT WHY WE ARE AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE ARE.

HOPEFULLY AS YEARS GO BY WE FIND MORE PEOPLE AND BUILD OUR STABLE BACK UP.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

NOT EVERYONE CAN PORTRAY SANTA AND WE'RE SORRY TO HEAR OF THE LOSS OF THE MEN THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED.

SANTA COMING BACK TO YOU, WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS JOB?

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?

>> WELL, IT'S THE KIDS AND THE LOVE THAT THEY SHARE.

AND YOU KNOW, EVERYDAY IS A HOLIDAY FOR SANTA.

I DON'T CARE WHERE I'M AT I GET LOVE EVERYWHERE I GO.

AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

>> AND SANTA, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT KEITH WAS SAYING HOW IT HAS TO COME FROM THE HEART.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD SANTA?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL YOU GOT TO BELIEVE.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S FROM THE HEART.

TO SEE THE JOY AND THE SPARKLE IN THE CHILDREN'S EYES WHEN THEY GET A GLIMPSE OF SANTA, I CAN'T DESCRIBE IT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT.

I WILL SAY THAT LAST YEAR WITH THE WAY THE SITUATION WAS WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING, I DIDN'T REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH I MISSED THE LOVE FROM THE LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS.

SO IT WAS THAT MUCH BETTER THIS YEAR SO FAR.

>> AND SANTA, DO YOU, YOURSELF, OR ANY OF YOUR SANTA COLLEAGUES HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT EXPOSURE TO COVID OR THE COLD AND FLU WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN A CONCERN PREPANDEMIC AS WELL?

>> WELL, I ALWAYS GET A FLU SHOT EVERY YEAR.

AND THIS YEAR I HAD THE COVID VACCINE AND THE BOOSTER AND WE WEAR THE SANTA SHIELD ON THE FACE.

AND I WILL BE THE BOYS AND GIRLS HAVE BEEN GOOD ABOUT WEARING THEIR MASKS WHEN THEY SEE ME.

THEY SIT NEXT TO ME NO ONE IS ON SANTA'S LAP THIS YEAR.

AND WE'LL LET THEM TAKE THEIR MASKS DOWN JUST FOR THE PICTURE SO WE ARE NOT EXPOSED TO MUCH OF ANYTHING.

OTHER THAN THAT, WE FEEL PRETTY SAFE.

>> GOOD PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.

KEITH, WHAT ROLE HAS COVID PLAYED THIS YEAR AND ARE YOU EXPECTING OR HOPING TO SEE MORE NORMALCY THIS YEAR COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS?

>> I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU I THINK THE DAYS OF CHILDREN SITTING ON SANTA'S LAP ARE GONE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT RETURN ANYTIME SOON.

IT IS A CONCERN OF OURS BECAUSE WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE WANT TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

EVEN A LITTLE BABY THAT LIKE I SAY CAME OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE WE USED TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THEM AND CUDDLE THEM AND WE CANNOT DO THAT.

SO THE PARENTS SIT NEXT TO US.

BUT I SAY AND MOST OF THE SANTAS WILL AGREE I THINK THE DAYS OF KIDS SITTING ON OUR LAPS HAVE GONE TO THE WAYSIDE.

WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING.

THE PARENTS HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTROL THEM.

>> AND BEFORE I LET YOU GO, KEITH WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO TO SEE SANTA?

>> WE ARE AT THE SWISS HOTEL, IN THE SANTA SUITE.

WE'RE AT LINCOLN PARK ZOO ZOO LIGHTS CONTINUES THROUGH THE 22nd OF DECEMBER.

WE'RE AT THE KRIS KRINGLE MARKET AT WRIGLEYVILLE UP THERE.

WE ARE AT THE BERGDORF'S RESTAURANT.

YOU NAME THE PLACE, A CHICAGO SANTA IS THERE VISITING WITH THE CHICAGO PEOPLE OF CHICAGO.

>> RIGHT ON TIME FOR THE SEASON.

I KNOW SOME OF THE LOCATIONS MYSELF.

SANTA AND KEITH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND BEST OF LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.

>> HO, HO, HO.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS!

>> NOT EVERYDAY YOU GET TO INTERVIEW SANTA.

UP NEXT DETAILS ON A BUILDING PRO POW TYPE THAT CAN ABSORB -- PROTOTYPE THAT CAN ABSORB CARBON POLLUTION.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING A LOOK AT AN INDEPENDENT LIBRARY STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.

BUT FIRST, WHAT IF OUR CITIES COULD BE LIKE FORESTS?

THAT IS THE QUESTION AT THE HEART OF A NEW BUILDING PROTOTYPE DEVELOPED BY FIRM SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL.

AS NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS THINKING OF BUILDINGS AS TREES IS NOT FOR ESTHETIC PURPOSES IT IS A WAY TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING CLIMATE.

>> A CODE RED FOR HUMANITY.

THAT IS HOW THE UNITED NATIONS DESCRIBED A RECENT REPORT ON EARTH'S CLIMATE WHICH SEEMED TO BE CHANGING MORE RAPIDLY, THE CRISIS THAT PROMPTED SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL TO THINK ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND WHETHER IT'S POSSIBLE FOR A BUILDING TO GO BEYOND NET ZERO EMISSIONS.

>> JUST RELEASING THE CARBON EMISSIONS AS CLOSE TO ZERO CAN WE GO ONE STEP BEYOND AND THINK OF THE BUILDING INDUSTRY THAT WOULD ABSORB CARBON FROM THE AIR?

>> THE PROTOTYPE IS CALLED URBAN SEQUOIA.

IT DEBUTED AT THE COP 26 CLIMATE SUMMIT.

THE BUILDING USES DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO CAPTURE CARBON FROM THE AIR.

ONE IS THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE BUILDING IS MADE OF.

>> WE USE BASICALLY, NATURAL MATERIAL.

SO RATHER THAN CONCRETE AND STEEL, WE ACTUALLY FOCUS ON USING WOOD OR USING BIOBRICKS.

IT INTEGRATES USING CARBON AS PART OF PHOTO SYNTHESIS TO PRODUCE ALGAE TO BE USED AS A BIOFUEL.

>> YOU CAN USE THAT AS A BIOFUEL FOR HEATING AND COOLING OF OUR BUILDING.

>> AND THE PROTOTYPE HAS A CARBON CAPTURE DEVICE THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE WAY AIR MOVES UPWARD IN TALL BUILDINGS.

>> USE THE FORCES OF THE WIND TO POWER THE DEVICES LIKE A FAN.

>> A SLEW OF ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS AND SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALISTS CAME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE CONCEPT THEY THINK THE URBAN SEQUOIA HAS BIG POTENTIAL.

>> WE IMAGINE THAT OVER 60 YEARS FOR EXAMPLE, IT WILL SEQUESTER 350%, THREE-AND-A-HALF TIMES WHAT IT WOULD HAVE EMITTED IF WE WERE TO BUILD IT IN A CONVENTIONAL FASHION.

>> AND THE PROJECT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FINDING THE BEST BUILDING TERMS OR COMING UP WITH WAYS TO CAPTURE CARBON IT'S ABOUT HOW CITIES AND PEOPLE CAN LEARN FROM NATURE.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO USE THE POWER OF NATURE OR LIGHT TO DO A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING OF THE WORK IN A BUILDING.

OR FOR THE WORLD AS A WHOLE NATURE AND HUMAN THRIVING TOGETHER.

>> AND THE PROTOTYPE COULD HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT BEYOND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

THE CARBON THE URBAN SEQUOIA CAPTURES IT CAN BE USED FOR BUILDING OR FUEL REDUCING THE STRAIN ON AGRICULTURE.

>> WE DECOUPLE THE URBAN AND THE ENVIRONMENT WITH FARMING.

WE WANT TO LESS THE BURDEN OF THE FARMLAND BY CREATING BUILDINGS THAT CAN ACTUALLY CREATE THE MATERIAL WE NEED.

>> THE URBAN SEQUOIA PROTOTYPE IS A HIGH-RISE BUT THE CONCEPTS WORK IN A VARIETY OF SCALES AND SOME OF THE TECHNIQUES CAN BE APPLIED TO EXISTING BUILDINGS.

THERE ARE NOT PLANS TO BUILD ONE AT THE MOMENT THE FOLKS AT SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL ARE NOT LETTING GO OF THIS IDEA.

>> I LOVE MY SON TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD LIKE I DID.

AND I KEEP OPTIMISM BECAUSE IT IS A CHALLENGE BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CLOSER TO ADDRESSING THIS CHALLENGE THAN THIS MOMENT.

AND TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE BETTER, TOO.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL ALSO SAYS IT'S PLANNING TO RELEASE A WHITE PAPER DETAILING HOW THE URBAN SEQUOIA PROTOTYPE WORKS.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", THE UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT OF THE UP COMING WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES IN BEIJING.

YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN ONE BEFORE.

A CARVANA VENDING MACHINE ONE IS PROPOSED FOR SKOKIE AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM.

>> A LIBRARIAN IS ASKING FOR HELP TO SAVE A COMMUNITY LIBRARY SHE STARTED IN HUMBOLDT PARK 15 YEARS AGO.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER ON THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE POTENTIAL FUTURE OF CICERO'S KLAS RESTAURANT IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> EMERGENCY DISASTER DECLARATION FOLLOWING SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADO.

IT WILL MAKE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE AFTER THE STORMS.

IT COMES AMID ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS INTO WHAT HAPPENED AT THE AMAZON WAREHOUSE IN EDWARDSVILLE WHERE SIX WORKERS DIED.

>> PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY WERE BUILT TO CODE.

IF THEY WERE THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AND I'VE TALKED TO LEGISLATORS ABOUT THIS WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER THE CODE NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED.

WE ARE AWARE THAT STORMS ARE GETTING MORE SEVERE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING BUSINESSES AND HOMES AND INDIVIDUALS ALL ACROSS THE NATION NOT TO MENTION HERE IN ILLINOIS.

AND SO IF WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE CODES BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WE SHOULD GO DO THAT.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL ZONING COMMITTEE APPROVES A DEVELOPMENT ON THE FAR NORTHWEST SIDE AGAINST THE ALDERPERSON'S WISHES.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD BUILDING AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WITH WITH 300 UNITS INCLUDING 59 FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME CHICAGOANS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIRED.

ALDERPERSON NAPOLITANO OPPOSED THE AREA SAYS THE AREA IS TOO DENSE AND COULD CAUSE OVERCROWDING IN THE SCHOOLS AND HURT LANDLORDS.

IT HEADS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE TOMORROW.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS STORY.

>> AND WEDNESDAY COULD SEE RECORD-HIGH TEMPERATURES IN CHICAGO.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE A 50 YEAR MARK COULD FALL TOMORROW AS THE TEMPERATURE IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE MID-TO UPPER 60s.

THE WARMEST DECEMBER 15TH ON RECORD WAS 64° IN 1971.

THE WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL NOT STICK AROUND FOR LONG.

A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING BRINGING A ROUND OF STRONG WINDS.

>> AND AFTER WINNING A WNBA CHAMPIONSHIP THE SKY'S CANDACE PARKER IS EXPECTING A BABY WITH HER WIFE OF TWO YEARS.

IN AN INSTAGRAM POST PARKER WRITES WE'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF GROWING OUR FAMILY IT'S SURREAL THAT WE NOW HAVE A BABY ON THE WAY.

HER 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS EXCITED TO BE A BIG SISTER.

>> THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS ANNOUNCING A DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT OF THE BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS.

JEN PSAKI SAYS THE MOVE WAS IN RESPONSE TO GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY PREDOMINATELY THE >> WE MUST SUPPORT OUR ATHLETES THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BUT WE CANNOT PROCEED IF THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING THE OLYMPICS IN A COUNTRY THAT IS ENGAGED IN GENOCIDE AND PERPETRATING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

I DON'T GET IT.

>> JOINING US WITH MORE ARE CRAIG KAFURA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC OPINION AND FOREIGN POLICY AT THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS AND LOOKED INTO THE POPULARITY OF THESE BOYCOTTS WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

JOHN SOARES A HISTORY PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME WHO HAS WRITTEN ABOUT POLITICS AND THE OLYMPICS.

>> AND BRENT HUFFMAN A JOURNALISM PROFESSOR AND FILMMAKER AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

HUFFMAN'S WORK EXAMINED CHINA'S EXPANDING INFLUENCE AROUND THE WORLD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JOHN SOARES LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT OF THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN BEIJING?

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO IS SIGNAL CLEAR EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE DISAPPROVAL WITH THE POLICIES THAT SPEAKER PELOSI WAS CRITICIZING IN A WAY THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL UNDERSTAND IT BUT ISN'T GOING TO PUNISH AMERICAN ATHLETES BY FORCING THEM TO STAY HOME FROM THE GAMES OR BOYCOTT.

>> DO PEOPLE CARE THAT THE DIPLOMATS AREN'T COMING?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE CARE.

BUT I THINK IN THEIR REACTIONS IT'S CLEAR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS.

>> BRENT HUFFMAN, REMIND US PLEASE WHY THIS DIPLOMATIC PROTEST IS HAPPENING AND WHO THE WEEKER PEOPLE ARE.

>> THEY ARE A MUSLIM MINORITY WITHIN CHINA ABOUT 12 MILLION.

I'VE DOCUMENTED IN PAKISTAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES THEY ARE FACING THIS PERSECUTION BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AS YOU MENTIONED OVER A MILLION HAVE BEEN PUT IN WHAT ARE CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

IT'S THE MOST PRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS STORY TODAY.

>> WHAT HAS CHINA SAID ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE?

THEY ARE NOT CALLING THEM CONCENTRATION CAMPS?

>> YES.

SO CHINA HAS TOTALLY DENIED THESE REPORTS.

THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE BUT THEY CLAIM IT'S ALL WESTERN PROPAGANDA THAT THE U.S. IS MAKING THIS UP.

THE RELATIONSHIP IS GETTING INCREASINGLY ADD VER ZAIRAL AND CHINA -- ADVERSARIAL AND CHINA IS SAYING THE U.S. HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS WE SHOULD DEAL WITH OUR OWN PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING THEM.

BUT THEY ARE DENYING EVERYTHING.

SAYING THESE ARE EDUCATION CAMPS OR TRAINING CAMPS FOR SKILLED LABOR AND OF COURSE NONE OF THAT IS TRUE.

>> CRAIG KAFURA IF THIS ISSUE IS SO IMPORTANT, WHY NOT MAKE IT A BROADER BOYCOTT INCLUDING THE ATHLETES?

>> FOR ONE THING, THE PAST BOYCOTT OF THE 1980 GAMES IT WAS POPULAR AHEAD AND AND DURING THE GAMES THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAD REGRETS.

HALF OF AMERICANS STILL SUPPORTED IT ONCE THE 1984 GAMES CAME AROUND AND THE AMERICANS WERE SUFFERING A BOYCOTT FROM SERBIAN ATHLETES AND THEIR ALLIES.

IN THIS YEAR WE FIND IT A NARROW MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT SOME SORT OF A BOYCOTT.

53% OVERALL INCLUDING 62% OF REPUBLICANS.

>> BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME U.S. OFFICIALS ARKANSAS SENATORS TOM COTTON FOLLOWING FOR A FULL BOYCOTT INVOLVING THE ATHLETES.

CRAIG, FOR THE ATHLETES IS THAT NOT DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR LIVELIHOODS?

>> YES, THAT IS THE ARGUMENT THAT NUMBER OF OTHER SENATORS HAVE MADE EVEN THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CHINA AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA.

MITT ROMNEY WHO WORKED ON HOSTING THE SALT LAKE GAMES IN 2002 SAID IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO AMERICAN ATHLETES TO EXPECT THEM TO BOYCOTT GAMES THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINING FOR FOR YEARS AND YEARS OF THEIR LIFE.

I THINK WHAT THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IS DOING HERE IS MORE OR LESS WHAT SPEAKER PELOSI SAID TRYING TO SPLIT THAT MIDDLE BETWEEN SUPPORTING U.S.

ATHLETES AND DEMONSTRATING AMERICAN CONCERNS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS INSIDE CHINA.

>> AND JOHN SOARES YOU TOUCHED ON THIS, HOW IS THE NEWS BEING RECEIVED BY CHINA?

>> WELL, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CRITICAL.

TYPICALLY GOVERNMENTS LIKE CHINA THAT FACE INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM THEY TREAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THE OLYMPICS AS AN INTERNATIONAL SEAL OF APPROVAL.

AND WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING IS YOU WILL HAVE YOUR OLYMPICS BUT DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR A SEAL OF APPROVAL WHICH MAKES IT HARDER FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN TO THEIR PEOPLE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT THE OLYMPICS MEANS INTERNATIONAL APPROVAL OF CHINA AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.

>> AND CRAIG, WHAT HAS BEEN THE HISTORY OF OLYMPIC AND OTHER SPORTING BOYCOTTS?

ARE THEY EVER EFFECTIVE AT MAKING CHANGE?

>> I THINK WE SAW WITH THE 1980 BOYCOTT A SIMILAR EFFECT WHAT PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE SOVIET UNION HOPED TO SHOWCASE MOSCOW AS A GREAT CITY AND THE SOVIET UNION AS A GREAT COUNTRY BUT IT DID PUT A DAMPER ON SOVIET EFFORTS TO MAKE THE GAMES A GREAT SPECTACLE AND PROMOTION OF THE USSR.

WHETHER THIS WILL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT ON BEIJING'S POLICIES AT THIS POINT.

>> HOW HAS THE IOC RESPONDED TO THE THREATS OF A BOYCOTT?

>> SO FAR, I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO STAY NEUTRAL THEY DON'T WANT TO GET POLITICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS EVEN WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH.

NOT GET INVOLVED AND TAKE SIDES.

WHO IS PING SWAY, THE TENNIS STAR IN CHINA?

>> A TENNIS STAR WHO MADE AN SEXUAL ASSAULT ACCUSATION AGAINST A CHINESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL AND VANISHED FOR OVER TWO WEEKS.

MANY BELIEVE THAT THE SHE WAS SORT OF TAKEN IN BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND FORCED TO NOT SPEAK.

SHE HAS SHOWN UP HERE OR THERE BUT IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT MADE THE WIDER U.S. AND GLOBAL POPULATIONS PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CHINA AND WHY DID SHE DISAPPEAR.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THESE PEOPLE?

>> JOHN, DOES THE U.S.

NEED OTHER NATIONS TO JOIN THEM IN THE BOYCOTT TO HAVE THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HOPING TO HAVE?

>> THE U.S. IS TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT THE MORE COUNTRIES THAT SEEM TO SIGN ON TO THE STATEMENT THE GREATER THE INTERNATIONAL DISAPPROVAL IT WOULD SEEM TO REPRESENT.

THERE WOULD BE UPSIDES FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IF MORE COUNTRIES SIGN ON.

BUT I THINK FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PURPOSES, MAKING THE CLEAR STATEMENT OF DISAPPROVAL EVEN IF THE U.S.

WERE THE ONLY COUNTRY MAKING IT I THINK HE WOULD FIGURE THAT THIS IS A WORTHWHILE STEP ON HUMAN RIGHTS GROUNDS.

>> OK. SOMETHING TO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THE IMPACT OF THIS GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU TO JOHN SOARES, BRENT HUFFMAN AND CRAIG KAFURA FOR JOINING US.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... YOU MAY HAVE COME ACROSS A CAR VENDING MACHINE OPERATED BY CAR VAN IN.

IT'S HARD TO MISS THE GLASS TOWERS ILLUMINATED 24/7 AND ENVIRONMENTALS SAY IT'S HARMFUL FOR BIRDS AND CAUSING DEBATE AS THE VILLAGE OF SKOKIE CONSIDERS A PROPOSAL FROM CARVANA.

PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

TELL US ABOUT THE CARVANA PROPOSAL THAT SKOKIE OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING?

>> YES AS YOU MENTIONED THEY ARE THESE TALL GLASS TOWERS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED THIS SITE IS ANOTHER OLD ORCHARD MALL AND BUTTS UP ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM HARMS WOOD NATURE PRESERVE.

AND THAT IS A BIG PART OF WHAT HAS BIRDERS SO CONCERNED.

>> WHY DO ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY IT'S BAD FOR BIRDS?

>> WELL, THAT TRIPLE THREAT COMBINATION A PERFECT STORM.

THE CLEAR GLASS THAT CARVANA PREFERS, BIRDS WON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GLASS THEY WILL THINK THEY CAN FLY THROUGH IT.

AND ALSO THE CONSTANT ILLUMINATION AND THE FACT THIS BUILDING SITS RIGHT ALONG THE IMPORTANT MIGRATORY GREENWAY FOR BIRDS SEEMS LIKE A RECIPE FOR COLLISIONS AND THAT IS THE CONCERN HERE.

>> WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE PROPOSAL?

>> WELL, PEOPLE DID EXPECT THIS PROPOSAL TO COME UP BEFORE THE SKOKIE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THIS MONTH BUT IT GOT KICKED BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE NOTION THAT CARVANA NEEDS TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE WITH CONCESSIONS IN TERMS OF LIGHTING OR BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGN WE EXPECT TO HEAR MORE AT AN ADDITIONAL HEARING AND MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS IN JANUARY.

>> VENDING MACHINE FOR CARS MIGHT LOOK COOL BUT NOT THE BEST FOR NATURE.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AN INDEPENDENT LIBRARY IN HUMBOLDT PARK IS FIGHTING TO KEEP ITS DOORS OPEN AFTER OPERATING FOR 17 YEARS.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ SPEAKS WITH THE FOUNDER OF HOW SHE IS TRYING TO KEEP IT RUNNING.

>> READ/WRITE LIBRARY IN HUMBOLDT PARK IS NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL CITY LIBRARY.

>> THIS IS JUST AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE ARTIST BOOK WITH THE MUSIC PIECE IS REALLY LIKE NOTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD EVER SEE OUT THERE.

>> YOU CAN FIND CREATIVE BOOKS LIKE THIS AMONG COLLECTIONS OF NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPERS, POETRY, NOVELS, COOKBOOKS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVES BY PEOPLE INCARCERATED.

PUBLICATIONS TAYLOR SAYS YOU WILL NOT FIND AT A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>> WITHIN THE COOK COUNTY TEMPORARY JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER THE FIRST THING I HEAR IS A POW WOMEN CALLED WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A SMART GIRL AND THINKING ABOUT THE PROMISE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE.

>> I WANTED TO BE CHALLENGED BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE I LIVE WITH SO MUCH VIOLENCE.

MY MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE.

>> NOW, TAYLOR WAS IN HER EARLY 20s WHEN SHE HAD THE IDEA TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD CONNECT TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE USING LOCAL MEDIA.

>> WE STARTED GETTING LIBRARIANS TOGETHER IN MY LIVING ROOM AND TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW, HEY WHAT ARE ALL THE PROBLEMS WHEN STORIES GET LEFT OUT OF THE RECORD.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS IN CATALOGING IN THE WAYS THAT IT MISREPRESENTS PEOPLE AND THE WAY IT PICKEN HOLES PEOPLE -- PIGEONHOLES PEOPLE.

>> IT STARTED IN 2006 AS A CHICAGO UNDERGROUND LIBRARY AND OVER THE YEARS THE COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROJECT HAS GROWN FINDING PERMANENT SPACE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS ON THE CORNER OF CALIFORNIA AND WALTON.

>> IT'S JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SPACE TO GROW INTO.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WE WERE IN THE BACK WHICH IS ABOUT 600 SQUARE FEET WE COULD MAYBE FIT 10 PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE.

A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND INTO THE FRONT ROOM IT GAVE US 1600 SQUARE FEET.

>> TAYLOR SAYS THE INDEPENDENT SPACE FOCUSED ON HOSTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND POP-UP LIBRARIES AIMED AT GIVING THE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO LOCAL STORIES.

NOW THE VOLUNTEER-RUN LIBRARY IS LOSING ITS SPACE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE IS HERE IT IS A [INAUDIBLE] >> TAYLOR IS SEARCHING FOR A NEW LOCATION IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

>> HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER PLACE THAT CAN GIVE US THAT.

BUT CAN SUPPORT US IN GROWING AND SUSTAINING IS REALLY HUGE MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB.

>> S IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS SINCE TAYLOR TOOK ON THIS PROJECT RUNNING ON DONATIONS.

IN ORDER TO SAVE IT AND FIND AN AFFORDABLE SPACE SHE IS HOPING TO RAISE $50,000 THAT WILL HELP MOVE AND STORE MORE THAN 6,000 LOCAL PUBLICATIONS.

WITH THOSE DONATIONS SHE IS HOPING TO SWITCH FROM VOLUNTEERS TO PAID STAFF.

>> THE MEMORIES AND THE SPACE AND WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF IT THAT PEOPLE REACT TO THE POWER OF BEING TOLD THAT YOUR STORY DOES MATTER.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING HOW YOU CAN HELP YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> UP NEXT, AMANDA VINICKY AND THE POTENTIAL FUTURE OF CICERO'S KLAS RESTAURANT IN A SPECIAL ENCORE EDITION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

STAY WITH US.

>> THE OLD WORLD MEETS THE NEW AT A LEGENDARY CICERO RESTAURANT THAT SERVED AS AN ANCHOR FOR CHICAGO'S CZECH COMMUNITY AND NOW ITS LEGACY IS UNDER THREAT.

GEOFFREY BAER JOINS US WITH THE STORY OF THE KLAS RESTAURANT IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

WELCOME BACK GEOFFREY, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, TOO, AMANDA.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE HUNGRY TO ANSWER IT THE QUESTION.

THE VIEWER ASKS... >> RIGHT.

UNIQUE THAT IS TRULY THE RIGHT WORD TO DESCRIBE THE KLAS RESTAURANT.

YOU WILL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN A MINUTE.

IT IS STILL STANDING AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT IN WEST IS YOUR BAN CICERO ON CERMAK ROAD.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE.

IF YOU ARE HUNGRY YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK IT IS A SHUTTERED RESTAURANT.

YOU CANNOT MISS THE BUILDING'S GABLED ROOF AND OLD WORLD CHARACTER.

NOTICE THE COATS OF ARMS AND BELLS AND STATUES ON THE FACADE LIKE YOU A EUROPE VILLAGE.

AND A SIGNATURE HIGHLIGHT ARE THE MURALS IN ROOMS WHICH DEPICT DIFFERENT STORIES AND THEMES.

SOME LOST BUT OTHERS SURVIVE UNDER LAYERS OF VARNISH.

LIKE THESE FROM THE RUSSIAN ROOM PAINTED BY A LOCAL ARTIST GENNADI GORDEJEV DURING THE DEPRESSION.

AND THE RESTAURANT IS BOARDED UP.

BUT WE GOT THE PHOTOS FROM THE ARTIST'S GRANDDAUGHTER.

THE RESTAURANT'S ORIGINS DATE BACK TO 1922 WHEN A CZECH IMMIGRANT NAMED ADOLF KLAS OPENED A TINY OPERATION ON THE SITE SIX TABLES 18 LUNCH COUNTER.

KLAS SERVED CZECH STAPLES LIKE CHICKEN PAPRIKASH AND DUMPLINGS AND THAT CZECH BEER.

OVER THE DECADES THE BUSINESS AND THE BUILDING GREW.

EVENTUALLY HOLDING AS MANY AS 350 PEOPLE IN THE BANQUET ROOMS AND BARS.

AFTER Mr. KLAS DIED IN 1962, VARIOUS OWNERS KEPT THE BUSINESS GOING AND THE RESTAURANT BECAME A MUST VISIT FOR CZECH AND CHECK-AMERICAN CELEBRITIES, DIGNITARIES LIKE FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND A WIDE RANGE OF MUSICIANS WHO WOULD PERFORM THERE.

KLAS CLOSED IN 2016 MOSTLY FOR FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL REASONS.

ALTHOUGH MANY HOPE THE DOORS ARE NOT CLOSED FOR THE LAST TIME AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

>> I THINK I KNOW SOMEBODY WHO VISITED AND PARTIED IN ONE OF THOSE BANQUET ROOMS MY BEST FRIEND'S GRANDFATHER CELEBRATED A BIRTHDAY ONCE AND CHICAGO HAS A RICH HISTORY OF CZECH COMMUNITIES CALLING CHICAGO HOME?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE FIRST WAVE OF CZECH OR BOHEMIAN IMMIGRANTS STARTED OUT SETTLING IN PILSEN ON CHICAGO'S LOWER WEST SIDE.

THIS IS BEFORE IT WAS A MEXICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD THIS WAS IN THE LATE 1800'S AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD GETS ITS NAME FROM THE CZECH CITY OF PLZEN WHERE PILSNER BEER ORIGINATED.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE THAT THE CZECH RESIDENTS BUILT OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN LAWNDALE.

EVENTLY MANY WHO COULD AFFORD TO LEAVE THE CITY MOVED WEST TO CICERO AND BERWYN.

A DRAW TO CICERO WAS THE HAWTHORNE WORKS WESTERN ELECTRIC PLANT WHICH EMPLOYED MANY CZECH IMMIGRANTS AND FAMILIES WHO MADE AMERICA'S FIRST TELEPHONE TELEPHONES A CONNECTING LINE LITERALLY THAT RUNS THROUGH ALL THE COMMUNITIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS 22nd STREET WHICH NOW IS KNOWN AS SURMAC ROAD.

AND IT'S NAMED FOR MAYOR ANTON SURMAC CERMAK, WHO WAS A CZECH IMMIGRANT.

HE SERVED TWO YEARS IN OFFICE IN THE EARLY 1930s BECAUSE OF HIS UNTIMELY DEATH.

CERMAK WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA WHILE APPEARING WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT AND THE ASSASSIN WAS AIMING FOR FDR BUT MISSED.

HE SUPPOSEDLY SAID TO ROOSEVELT I'M GLAD IT WAS ME INSTEAD OF YOU IS THE QUOTE.

THE VERACITY OF QUOTE HAS BEEN QUESTIONED BUT IT'S INSCRIBED ON THE WALL OF CERMAK'S CRYPT IN THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.

>> ANYTIME WE CAN GET CHICAGO POLITICAL HISTORY WORKED INTO THIS.

BACK TO THE KLAS RESTAURANT, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT IS CURRENTLY UNOCCUPIED NOT IN GREAT SHAPE AND NOT SERVING UP CZECH FOODS.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE?

>> I DIGRESS GETTING BACK TO THE QUESTION SINCE ITS CLOSURE IN 2016, THE RESTAURANT HAS UNFORTUNATELY FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR.

BUT A COALITION OF CZECH RESIDENTS AND CZECH GROUPS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS STATED THEY HAVE A TENTATIVE DEAL TO BUY AND RESTORE THE BUILDING HERE IS THE CATCH...

THEY HAVE TO RAISE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BY OCTOBER AND THEN QUITE A BIT MORE FOR THE RESTORATION WHICH THEY ARE TRYING TO RAISE THROUGH A "GOFUNDME" PAGE CAMPAIGN.

THE GOAL IS TO TURN THE BUILDING INTO A MUSEUM OF CZECH HISTORY AS WELL AS A BAR WHERE YOU CAN GET THAT CZECH BEER AND EVENT SPACE.

THEY ALSO HOPE TO USE IT AS A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE LARGELY LATINO COMMUNITY IN CICERO.

ONE ORGANIZER HOPES THEY CAN HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE LEGAL AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND LANGUAGE SERVICES AND OTHER THINGS BUT IT ALL DEPENDS WHETHER THAT MONEY CAN BE RAISED.

>> TRUE.

POTENTIAL BOHEMIAN VIBE GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE KLAS RESTAURANT AND THEIR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.

DON'T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TAKE UP A PROPOSED $3 MILLION SETTLEMENT FOR ANJANETTE YOUNG IN WHAT COULD BE THE COUNCIL'S LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR.

AND A PHOTOGRAPHER DOCUMENTS THE AMERICAN DREAM SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED AND OPERATED BY IMMIGRANTS.

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]