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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING WITHOUT HAVING A VACCINATION IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

>> CHICAGO WILL BEGIN THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW COVID REQUIREMENTS AND WE HAVE THE LATEST DETAILS.

>> WE ACTUALLY HAD NO IDEA IF THAT IS AVAILABLE AT OUR HOSPITAL.

>> HOSPITALS ARE GRAPPLING WITH A SURGE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AMID THE OMICRON VARIANT.

WE TALK WITH LOCAL HEALTH LEADERS.

>> I CANNOT VOTE TO CONTINUE WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

I JUST CAN'T.

>> IS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BUILD BACK BETTER BILL DEAD?

THREE CONGRESSMEN WEIGH-IN.

>> A NEW REPORT FINDS FAILURE IN THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S HANDLING OF THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE.

WE HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE ONE-ON-ONE WITH SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DAN WEBB.

>> THERE ARE CONCERNS THE METAVERSE FOOTBALLING'S VIRTUAL REALITY WORLD WILL INHERIT THAT COMPANY'S PROBLEMS.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE OUR WORK ABOUT PLACES WORTH PRESERVING.

>> A HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO AIMS TO PROVE WITH THEIR ARTWORK THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME IN CHICAGO.

>> BROWN IS NOT JUST BROWN.

LIGHT BROWN IS NOT JUST LIGHT BROWN.

>> AND A MAKEUP BRAND WITH STAYING POWER HOW A NEW MAKEOVER FOR FASHION FAIR IS KEEPING THE HOMETOWN COMPANY FRESH AFTER 48 YEARS.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN OUTLINES RENEWED EFFORTS TO COMBAT COVID AS THE OMICRON VARIANT SURGES.

IN A SPEECH AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON, BIDEN DETAILED PLANS TO SEND MILITARY MEDICS TO ASSIST OVERWHELMED HOSPITALS, NEW FEDERALLY SUPPORTED TESTING AND VACCINATION LOCATIONS, AND A PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE 500 MILLION FREE RAPID TEST OF TESTS.

BIDEN SOUGHT TO EASE FEARS THAT THE SPIKE OF CASES IS COMING AHEAD OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S.

>> I KNOW SOME AMERICANS ARE WONDERING IF YOU CAN SAFELY CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

THE ANSWER IS YES YOU CAN.

IF YOU AND THOSE YOU CELEBRATE WITH ARE VACCINATED.

PARTICULARLY IF YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR BOOSTER SHOT.

>> AND BIDEN'S SPEECH COMES AS ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 10,000 NEW COVID CASES AND 63 DEATHS.

THE TOTAL CASE COUNT IS MORE THAN 1.98 MILLION WITH 27,291 DEATHS.

ILLINOIS' SEVEN DAY TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 7.6% HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT HIGHER THAN YESTERDAY.

>> AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON CHICAGO'S LATEST COVID MITIGATION EFFORTS COMING UP IN JUST A BIT.

ANOTHER ILLINOISIANS IS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY TAKING PART IN THE INSURRECTION ON JANUARY 6.

24 EURO AURORA MAN JAMES ROBERT ELLIOTT JIM BOB, WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH FIVE FELONIES INCLUDING ALLEGEDLY USING A FLAG POLE TO ASSAULT A FEDERAL OFFICER.

ELLIOTT IS THE 20TH ILLINOISIAN TO FACE CHARGES IN THE CAPITOL RIOT.

HE WAS SCHEDULED TO MAKE A COURT APPEARANCE BY PHONE TODAY.

>> UP NEXT CHICAGO'S LATEST ROUND OF COVID RELATED RESTRICTIONS SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> CHICAGO WILL SOON REQUIRE PROOF OF COVID VACCINATION TO ENTER MOST PUBLIC PLACES.

WE FIRST REPORTED THE NEWS LAST NIGHT VIA TWITTER AND AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE WHO THE NEW MANDATE APPLIES TO AND WHEN IT TAKES EFFECT.

AMANDA?

>> PARIS, IF YOU ARE CONTEMPT LATING A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION FOR 2022 HERE IS A SUGGESTION BE SURE COME THE NEW YEAR YOU HAVE A VACCINATION CARD OR A PHOTOCOPYPY OR A PHOTOGRAPH ON YOUR PHONE BECAUSE STARTING JANUARY THIRD THAT WILL BE THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY WEEKEND THE CITY WILL REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINATION AT PRETTY MUCH ANY DOOR PUBLIC VENUE.

AND LARGER EVENTS.

CONVENTION HALLS OR HOTEL BALLROOMS.

IT MAINLY APPLIES TO EVERYONE 5 AND UP.

ANYBODY ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

16 AND OLDER MUST SHOW ID CORRESPONDING WITH THE NAME ON THAT VACCINATION REGISTRATION.

>> TO PUT IT SIMPLY, IF YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING WITHOUT HAVING A VACCINATION, IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

IF YOU WISH TO LIVE LIFE AS NORMALLY AS POSSIBLE, WITH THE EASE TO DO THE THINGS YOU LOVE YOU MUST HAVE BE VACCINATED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO STARTING JANUARY 3.

THIS HEALTH ORDER MAY POSE AN INCONVENIENCE TO THE UNVACCINATED.

AND IT'S INCONVENIENT BY DESIGN.

>> THAT IS BECAUSE PART OF THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN VACCINATED TO GET THAT SHOT.

IT ALSO COMES AS COVID IS ON THE RISE.

>> OUR CONCERN IS THAT WE HAVE A DELTA SURGE NOW WITH THIS OMICRON SURGEON TOP OF IT.

TEST POSITIVITY IS THE HIGHEST IT'S BEEN IN A YEAR.

7.3%.

AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THAT IS A BIG JUMP JUST SINCE LAST WEEK.

ONE WEEK AGO WE WERE AT 4.1%.

ONE WEEK AGO, WE HAD 80% FEWER CASES.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED JUST IN THE LAST WEEK.

>> WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WITHIN THAT WEEK?

THE ANSWER ALLISON ARWADY SAYS OMICRON.

MANY MUSIC VENUES HAVE BEEN REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATIONS WHERE ROBERT GOMEZ WELCOMES THE CITY MANDATE.

WHEN ASKED TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION MOST PATRONS ARE HAPPY TO SHOW THEIR CARD BEFORE A SHOW AND OTHERS GET ARGUMENTATIVE.

>> IT'S ROUGH.

PEOPLE DRIVE IN YOU ARE COMING TO A SHOW FROM INDIANA AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW AND IT'S FRUSTRATING NOW YOU HAVE TO DRIVE BACK.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WE'RE EXPLAINING WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TRYING TO KEEP IT SAFE.

AND THIS IS GREAT THAT THE CITY IS MAKING THIS MANDATE IT TAKES IT OFF OF US AND WE CAN SAY IT IS A CHICAGO LAW.

THIS IS NOW THE NEW REGULATIONS.

>> THE MAYOR SAYS THE MANDATE IS NOT TAKING EFFECT FOR TWO WEEKS DESPITE THE SURGE IN CASES SO BUSINESSES HAVE TIMES TO GET THINGS IN ORDER THEY HAVE TO POST SIGNS AND HAVE A VACCINE ON FILE AND BE ALLOWED TO PUT AN INTERMEDIARY IN CHARGE.

BUSINESSES THAT CONTINUOUSLY AVOID COMPLIANCE WILL FACE PENALTIES AND THAT COULD INCLUDE GETTING SHUTDOWN, LIGHTFOOT HOPES IT DOES NOT COME TO THAT.

THERE ARE LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.

THE ORDER DOES NOT COVER HOUSES OF WORSHIP, SCHOOLS, AIRPORTS, SOUP KITCHENS, RECREATIONAL AREAS OR OFFICE BUILDINGS LIMITED TO BEING USED BY TENANTS AND RESIDENTS.

AND ALSO FOR QUICK VISITS THINGS LIKE DELIVERY WORKERS, PEOPLE POPPING IN AND OUT TO USE THE BATHROOM OR MAYBE TO PLACE A CARRY OUT ORDER THEY ARE EXEMPT.

AND THERE ARE LIMITED EXEMPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS.

ARTISTS AND ATHLETES WHO LIVE IN CHICAGO DO HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION TO PLAY OR PERFORM IN ANY OF THE VENUES.

BUT NONRESIDENT PRO ATHLETES AND PERFORMERS AND CREWS ARE EXEMPT.

STUDENTS UNDERAGE 18 EXEMPT IF AT A VENUE THAT IS COVERED IF IT IS FOR A SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITY AND THOSE WHO CAN PROVIDE MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS PROOF OF THAT ARE EXEMPT BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A 72-HOUR NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

THESE ARE FOR SOME ARE A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION WITH CRITICS SAYING IT IS UNFAIR TO PUT IN MORE OF A BURDEN ON ALREADY STRAINED BUSINESS AND RESTAURANTS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AS THEY ARE EXPERIENCING WORKER SHORTAGES WHO IS GOING TO BE CHECKING THE PROOF OF VACCINES?

THE MAYOR SAID DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT BUSINESS EMPLOYEES NOT PATRONS WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF A WHERE AROUND THAT THEY CAN -- WORK AROUND THAT THEY CAN SHOW PROOF OF A WEEKLY COVID TEST.

BUT IF READING THE ORDER, THERE IS NOTHING TO THAT EFFECT THAT IT ACTUALLY SPELLED OUT.

WAITING FROM A RESPONSE FROM LIGHTFOOT'S OFFICE.

AND GOING BY C.D.C.

GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE WHAT IS CONSIDERED FULLY VACCINATED, AND SO AT PRESENT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE BOOSTER SHOT.

BUT PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ARWADY SAYS THAT IT MIGHT SOON.

>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR GET A BOOSTER NOW.

IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ENJOYING WITHOUT THAT CHANCE OF HAVING TO GO A FEW WEEKS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO GO TO RESTAURANTS EVEN IF YOU'VE GOTTEN THE VACCINES PLEASE GET A BOOSTER.

IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT MANDATE IS FOR CITY VENUES.

LEADERS FROM COOK COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAY THEY ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ADDITIONAL MITIGATIONS AND MANDATES BUT HAVE NOTHING TO ANNOUNCE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

HOW THE VACCINATION ORDER IS GOING TO BE IN EFFECT THAT DEPENDS.

THE MAYOR SAYS IT'S GOING TO BE AROUND AS LONG AS THIS FIFTH WAVE OF COVID IS HERE AS WELL.

BY THE WAY, THAT INDOOR MASK MANDATE REMAINS IN PLACE.

PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THE C.D.C.

IS REPORTEDLY LOOKING AT REDEFINING FULLY VACCINATED AS GETTING THAT BOOSTER.

IT COULD IMPACT THIS ORDER.

THANK YOU.

>> AND ALL THIS COMES AS A SURGE AT THE AREA'S HOSPITAL IS MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT MIRRORING THE SITUATION NATIONWIDE.

ACCORDING TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH YESTERDAY THERE WERE 4,000 COVID PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED IN ILLINOIS.

THAT IS ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS SURGE ARE Dr. CLIFTON CLARKE VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC MEDICAL CENTER.

AND Dr. SUSAN BLEASDALE CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO HEALTH SYSTEM.

SHE IS ALSO AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I KNOW WERE YOU AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND YOU SAID ABOUT 18% OF ICU BEDS ACROSS THE STATE ARE AVAILABLE.

WHAT IS THE STATUS AT UI HEALTH?

>> SO YOU KNOW OUR ICU CAPACITY CHANGES.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AT DIFFERENT POINTS DURING THE DAY WE WILL NOT HAVE AN OPEN BED WITHIN OUR INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE IT ON AN HOUR-BY-HOUR BASIS AS PEOPLE TRANSITION BETWEEN NEEDING INTENSIVE CARE AND NOT FURTHER NEEDING IT AND THINKING THROUGH WHO CAN BE TRANSFERRED OUT.

SO IT IS A DYNAMIC SITUATION BUT IT IS AT DIFFERENT POINTS DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS WITH THIS INCREASE WE ARE FULL IN OUR INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

>> Dr. CLARK HOW ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE ADVOCATE SYSTEM IS IT THE SAME SITUATION?

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR PATIENTS THAT PERHAPS HAVE OTHER AILMENTS THAT NEED TO BE IN INTENSIVE CARE?

>> IT'S VERY SIMILAR.

WE HAVE WIDELY FLUCTUATING VOLUMES IN OUR ICU'S.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN VERY FULL.

AND IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS WITH OTHER DIAGNOSES TO GET IN.

THERE IS A BACKLOG IN OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE ICU'S OR THE GENERAL MEDICAL FLOORS IT'S IMPACTING ALL HEALTHCARE THAT WE CAN DELIVER IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING.

>> AND Dr. BLEASDALE GIVE US A SENSE HOW STAFF IS COPING, IS THERE BURN-OUT AND IS THERE ENOUGH WORKERS TO MEET THE DEMAND?

>> I THINK OVERALL AS THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ARE BURNED OUT FROM THE PANDEMIC AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS EVEN MORE SO.

I THINK THAT THE OTHER ISSUE WE'RE STRAINED WITH RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION WE'RE SEEING OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS WITHIN THEIR FAMILIES, WITHIN THEMSELVES NOT FROM WORK-RELATED EXPOSURES BUT BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE THE INCREASED CAPACITY NEEDS FOR OUR PATIENTS AND WE ALSO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR STAFFING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ACQUIRING INFECTION EVEN WHEN THEY ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED THEY CAN HAVE IT MILD, BUT THAT STILL TAKES THEM OUT OF WORK IF THEY ACQUIRE INFECTION.

>> SO YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT INFECTION AMONG THE STAFF.

WHAT ABOUT THROUGH THE ADVOCATE SYSTEM, DO YOU SEE FATIGUE AND NURSES LEAVING THEIR JOBS, DOCTORS ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND?

>> YES, THIS LATEST COVID SURGE CONTINUES TO TAKE A TOLL ON OUR WORKFORCE AND THE TEAM MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD, SKILLFULLY WITH GREAT COMPASSION TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

AS TIME GOES ON IT TAKES MORE AND MORE OF A TOLL ON THEM.

YES, YOU DO SEE NURSES AND OTHERS LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

BUT WE HAVE A DEDICATED WORKFORCE AS WELL.

AND DESPITE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AS AN INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEM WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE AROUND STAFF AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES WHERE IT'S NEEDED AND WHEN IT'S NEEDED WOULD HAVE FLEXIBILITY THERE.

BUT IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT AS THE CASE LOADS CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

>> AND Dr. BLEASDALE MANY PUBLIC OFFICIALS MADE THE POINT IT IS THE PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED WHEN IT COMES TO SERIOUS ILLNESS IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE AT YOUR HOSPITAL THAT MOST HOSPITALIZED ARE UNVACCINATION NATURED OR DON'T HAVE THE BOOSTER?

>> I WOULD SAY YES THOSE HOSPITALIZED.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE TAKE CAUTION THERE IS A SENSE IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, YOU CANNOT GET INFECTION.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

REALLY THE VACCINATION THE BOOSTING HELPS PREVENT THAT HOSPITALIZATION THAT SEVERE DISEASE THE RISK OF DYING FROM INFECTION AND THAT IS IMPORTANT WHY PEOPLE NEED TO GET VACCINATED.

BUT FOR THOSE OF US VACCINATED AND BOOSTED WE NEED TO USE CAUTION BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THIS AND WE DON'T WANT TO GET THIS BECAUSE THIS WILL MAYBE NOT MAKE US SICK BUT MIGHT TAKE US OUT OF WORK AND EXPOSE THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE.

>> Dr. CLARK THE OMICRON VARIANT IS RAPIDLY TAKEN OVER IN THE LAST WEEK PO TWO WEEKS IT'S BECOME THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CASES WHEN IT WAS BARELY A PERCENTAGE HOW WORRIED ARE YOU WITH THIS AND HOLIDAY GATHERINGS AND TRAVEL ON THE HORIZON?

>> IN OUR SYSTEM, WE AS OF YESTERDAY WE HAD A ONE WEEK INCREASE IN OUR INPATIENT COVID POPULATION OF 11% AND THE LAST MONTH 100%.

IT IS A HUGE ISSUE.

WE DO I WILL ECHO WHAT Dr. BLEASDALE WAS SAYING WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATE AND BOOSTED AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE STILL CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT WITH OUR MASKS AND DISTANCING AS APPROPRIATE.

THAT WOULD BE THE MESSAGE AND I GUESS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STRESS THAT TO EVERYONE.

>> Dr. BLEASDALE ARE WE HEADED TOWARD A CRISIS GIVEN THE CAPACITIES?

>> THINGS ARE HAPPENING VERY FAST THAT IS CONCERNING.

WE'RE HOPING AND APPEALING TO EVERYONE TO USE CAUTION AND GET VACCINATED KEEP YOUR MASKS ON AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL SLOW THINGS.

BUT IT IS CONCERNING BECAUSE THE RATE OF INCREASES IS MUCH FASTER THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC UNFORTUNATELY.

I'M FEARFUL THAT WE MAY BE FACING A CRISIS IF WE CANNOT SLOW THIS TRANSMISSION.

>> A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

THANKS TO Dr. CLIFTON CLARKE AND Dr. SUSAN BLEASDALE FOR JOINING US.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL HELP WITH MORE THAN 10,000 TESTING SITES AND WILL MAIL FREE AT HOME COVID TESTS DUE TO THE EXPLOSION OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS BY THE RAPIDLY SPREADING OMICRON VARIANT.

TAKE A LOOK... >> FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PURCHASE ONE-HALF BILLION, THAT IS NOT MILLION, BILLION WITH A B, ADDITIONAL AT HOME RAPID TESTS WITH DELIVERIES STARTING IN JANUARY.

>> AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MORE ARE CONGRESSMAN SEAN CASTEN A DEMOCRAT FROM DOWNERS GROVE.

CONGRESSMAN BILL FOSTER A DEMOCRAT FROM NAPERVILLE AND CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI A DEMOCRAT FROM SCHAUMBURG AND WE INVITED ALL THE REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION BUT NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION AND WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ONCE AGAIN.

REPRESENTATIVE KRISHNAMOORTHI I WILL START WITH YOU YOU THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO MAIL COVID TESTS TO CITIZENS NEXT MONTH.

IS THIS URGENT ENOUGH GIVEN THE ASTONISHING SPREAD OF OMICRON RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THAT IT IS A GOOD MEASURE.

IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO.

I QUITE FRANKLY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN IT EARLIER BUT MORE THAN THAT, PARIS, I THINK THE BIGAMIESING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE HERE WHICH I EMPHASIZED BEFORE ON THIS PROGRAM WE HAVE YET TO UNDERTAKE A SIGNIFICANT GLOBAL VACCINATION CAMPAIGN.

THREE OF MY RELATIVES DIED IN INDIA DUE TO DELTA.

AND AT THAT TIME I HAD INITIATED LEGISLATION TO APPROPRIATE A LOT OF MONEY TO HELP VACCINATE THE REST OF THE WORLD.

A MODEST AMOUNT COMPARED TO THE ECONOMIC CHAOS IT'S WREAKED ON THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER PLACES.

WE DIDN'T DO AT THAT TIME.

DELTA CAME HERE.

NOW OMICRON HAS COME AND WE'RE JUST INVITING THE NEXT GREEK LETTER VARIANT TO DO THE SAME.

AND WE'VE GOT TO LEARN OUR LESSON AND HELP TO VACCINATE THOSE UNDERSERVED.

>> OUR CONSOLE LENSES TO YOUR FAMILY.

REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER DOES THERE NEED TO BE A MORE ROBUST CAMPAIGN ON BOOSTER SHOTS RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK EVERYONE OF US GOES HOME EVERY WEEKEND AND SAYS HOW ARE WE POSSIBLY GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO CONVINCE THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT TO GET FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED?

THAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR JOB BECAUSE OF THE LIVES THAT GET SAVED.

EVERYONE IS LOOKING CAREFULLY HOW OMICRON WILL PROGRESS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

AND THE THING THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON IS WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO OVERFLOW OUR HOSPITALS.

BECAUSE IF THAT HAPPENS THEN WE WILL BE BACK WHERE WE WERE IN HAVING TO HAVE MANDATORY SHUTDOWNS.

SO FAR, THE NEWS IS NOT ALL BAD IN ENGLAND AND DENMARK AND SOUTH AFRICA SO FAR DESPITE A HUGE INCREASE IN CASE NUMBERS WE'RE NOT SEEING THE OVERFLOWS OF THE HOSPITALS AND THE EMERGENCY ROOMS.

>> PERHAPS A MILDER DISEASE OR THE VACCINATION NUMBERS SHOWING UP.

REPRESENTATIVE CASTEN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED MANDATORY VACCINATION FOR ANYONE WANTING TO ENJOY MOST INDOOR ACTIVITIES LIKE RESTAURANTS, BARS OR GYMS.

WILL THAT BE AN EFFECT TOUGH MITIGATION?

>> I HOPE SO.

TO THE QUESTION YOU ASKED CONGRESSMAN FOSTER WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE GROUP NOT GETTING VACCINATED.

70% OF ILLINOIS IS VACCINATED AND CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI IS RIGHT WE WILL NOT STOP THE EVOLUTION OF THE VIRUS UNTIL EVERYONE IS VACCINATED.

THERE IS THAT SUBSET OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISTRUSTFUL OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM AND WE CAN WORK TO GET THEM COMFORTABLE TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE TRUSTED EMISSARIES TO MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE.

BUT THERE IS THAT SUBSET WHO SEES THIS AS POLITICIZED AND THE BEST WAY IS MANDATES.

UNITED AIRLINES HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN NUMBER ONE THAT ONCE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED THEY REALIZE IT'S AWESOME TO NOT BE SICK.

>> DOES THAT MEAN THERE COULD BE MORE MANDATES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> YOU KNOW I THINK TO THE DEGREE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT WE MAY HAVE TO.

BUT THAT DEPENDS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN MANDATE THE MILITARY.

>> WHAT ABOUT AIR TRAVEL?

>> I'M GOING TO DEFER TO SMARTER LEGAL MINDS THAN MYSELF ON THAT.

I WOULD URGE EVERYBODY WHO IS LISTENING THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU.

YOU DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE SITTING NEXT TO SOMEBODY WHO IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

YOUR DECISION TO NOT GET VACCINATED UNLESS YOU ARE UNDER DOCTOR'S ORDERS NOT TO DO THAT IS LITERALLY KILLING PEOPLE.

LOOK OUT FOR THE GREATER GOOD AND THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND STRANGERS AND THAT IS HOW WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE KRISHNAMOORTHI -- >> PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS RIGHT TO BRING UP THE FACT THIS IS A DUETY TO YOUR COUNTRY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RISKS PEOPLE WERE ASKED TO TAKE WHEN DRAFTED THEY WERE ASKED TO TAKE A PERSONAL RISK FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND THE RISK WE'RE BEING ASKED TO TAKE TO GET YOURSELF VACCINATED FOR A THREAT THAT KILLED MORE PEOPLE THAN WORLD WAR II IS A REASONABLE THING FOR EVERYONE TO EXPECT OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL.

JOE MANCHIN ANNOUNCED OVER THE WEEKEND HE IS OUT.

ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT IS INSINIATING MAYBE HE MIGHT GO BACK INTO NEGOTIATIONS NEXT YEAR.

WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE STATUS?

>> AFTER HIS FOX NEWS INTERVIEW HE WENT ON WEST VIRGINIA RADIO AND TALKED ABOUT THE ELEMENTS OF THE CONCEPT THAT HE SUPPORTS SUCH AS UNIVERSAL PRE-K ESSENTIAL BRINGING WOMEN BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE AND IT WILL HELP GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE BECOME BETTER CITIZENS.

HE SUPPORTS CERTAIN CLEAN ENERGY PROVISIONS.

AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE REFORMS AMONG OTHER THINGS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE WHAT HE SUPPORTS AND NEGOTIATE WITH HIM AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT MOVES OUR COUNTRY FORWARD.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN I WILL STAY WITH YOU, DOES THAT MEAN THAT DEMOCRATS YOURSELF INCLUDED WOULD PERHAPS BE IN FAVOR OF A STAND ALONE EXTENSION OF THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT WHICH IS EXPIRING HERE?

>> I WOULD.

I THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

BUT I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITED FROM.

IT'S LIFTED TENS OF MILLIONS OF CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

AND AGAIN, REALLY HELPS PEOPLE TO CLIMB THE ECONOMIC LADDER OVER TIME.

>> CONGRESSMAN CASTEN IS THERE ANOTHER AVENUE FOR SOME OF THE CLIMATE PROVISIONS IN THIS BILL THAT LOOK LIKE THEY WON'T MAKE THE FINAL VERSION IF SENATOR MANCHIN GETS HIS WAY?

>> LOOK, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WE DO NOT HAVE ONE PROBLEM IN THE SENATE.

WE HAVE 51 PROBLEMS IN THE SENATE.

THERE ARE 51 SENATORS WHO THINK WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CHILD POVERTY AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING TOO LITTLE FOR INSULIN AND THE CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT SOMETHING WORTH OUR ATTENTION.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT AS LONG AS THE SENATE KEEPS INSISTING ON PRESERVING THE FILIBUSTER WE CAN'T FIX THAT EXCEPT THROUGH RECONCILIATION WHERE WE THAT IS THE ONLY PROCESS WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH WITH 50 VOTES.

AND I THINK ALL THESE THINGS ARE CRITICAL.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE NOT I THINK THESE ARE FACTS.

AND I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT SENATOR MANCHIN HAS TANKED THIS PROCESS WE ARE ON.

>> CONGRESSMAN FOSTER -- THERE ARE 50 OTHER SENATORS WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY.

>> CONGRESSMAN FOSTER IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE HOUSE THAT WOULD GET THE SUPPORT OF MODERATE AND PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS THAT WOULD GET THE SUPPORT OF SENATOR MANCHIN MUCH PARED DOWN FROM WHAT IS OUT THERE NOW?

>> WE WILL HAVE TWO SHOTS AT RECONCILIATION FOR THE PAST FISCAL YEAR.

IT MAY BE THAT THE RIGHT STRATEGY HERE IS TO MAKE A FIRST PASS WITH WHATEVER MINIMAL THINGS WE CAN GET AGREED TO RIGHT NOW.

THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED SINCE MANCHIN EXPRESSED SOME SUPPORT FOR.

IF WE CAN GET A SMALL PACKAGE THAT HAS THAT AND GET IT PASSED AND START WORKING ON A SECOND ONE THAT MAY BE THE BEST PATH FORWARD.

I'M PERSONALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT WHAT WAS LEFT ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR IN TERMS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT WAS INITIALLY PART OF THE 3.8 TRILLION AND THE MONEY WAS ELIMINATED DESPITE THE FACT IN THE HOUSE WE HAVE HAD PROPOSALS TO DOUBLE THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

>> AS A SCIENTIST THAT IS CLOSE TO YOUR HEART.

THANK YOU ALL.

HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU.

THANKS TO CONGRESSMAN CASTEN, FOSTER AND KRISHNAMOORTHI.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> AND UP NEXT MEET A CHICAGO COUPLE WHO CREATES WORKS OF ART OUT OF WORKS OF ARCHITECTURE.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> WE HAVE MORE COMING UP INCLUDING AN EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION WITH THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING THE HANDLING OF THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE.

>> BUT FIRST, AMONG THE MANY CHANGES THE GREAT FIRE OF 1871 WROUGHT IN CHICAGO WAS IN THE ARCHITECTURE.

THE CITY ROSE AGAIN CONSTRUCTED FROM BRICK AND STONE AND IT BROUGHT ABOUT NEW HOUSING STYLES LIKE BUNGALOWS AND THREE FLATS.

THE HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM BEHIND A RAVENSWOOD ARTS STUDIO BELIEVE THE HOME STYLES THAT DEFINE CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WORTH PRESERVING BUT IMMORTALIZING IN THE ART THEY CREATE.

PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> WE'RE TRANSPLANTS TO CHICAGO BUT WE MET WE WOULD WALK THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND LOOK AT THE HOMES AND BUILDINGS AND WE WERE IN AWE OF THE ARCHITECTURE.

>> OUR TOWERING SKYLINE GETS THE PRESS BUT FOR ARTISTS CASEY URLACHER AND PHIL THOMPSON IT'S THE VERNACULAR STYLE THAT MAKES CHICAGO HOME.

>> THE CITY BORDER TO BOARD IS JUST BEAUTIFUL FOR ME GRAY STONES ARE MY FAVORITE HOME.

YOU HAVE THE BUNGALOW, THE WORKERS COTTAGE THOSE PARTICULAR ONES UNIQUE TO CHICAGO STYLES LIKE MAKE THE CITY SING.

>> MANY HAVE BEEN CHARMED BY THE BUNGALOWS, THREE FLATS AND COTTAGES BUT THE HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM BEHIND WONDER CITY STUDIO MADE THAT CHARM THEIR BUSINESS.

AND THEY SAY IT IS A BUSINESS THAT COULD ONLY MAKE ITS HOME IN CHICAGO.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE REACTION WE GET TO OUR WORK IS SO SPECIAL THAT YOU CAN TELL IT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE.

>> THE COUPLE MET IN 2006 WHEN BOTH WERE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL.

KATIE LAUFFENBURGER WAS PURSUING A FINE ARTS DEGREE AND PHIL THOMPSON WAS STUDYING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

THOMPSON CREDITS HER WITH INSPIRING HIM INTO TAKING THE LEAP TO MAKING ART HIS BUSINESS.

>> DRAWING WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING I LOVED TO DO, NEVER SEEMED LIKE THAT WAS A GOOD CAREER PATH.

SO I THINK MEETING KATIE OPENED MY EYES TO LIKE SOME POSSIBILITIES WE GET A GALLERIES TOGETHER AND ART SHOWS.

AND SO SHE GOT ME BACK ON THE ART TRACK.

>> THOMPSON BEGAN MAKING COMMISSIONED ILLUSTRATIONS UNDER THE NAME CAPE HORN ILLUSTRATION IN 2018.

THIS YEAR, KATIE LAUFFENBURGER TOOK THE LEAP HERSELF SHE LEFT A JOB IN DIGITAL MEDIA AND RETURNED TO ART FULL-TIME CREATING CUSTOM CERAMIC PLANTERS OF THE CHICAGO HOMES.

>> IT SEEMED LIKE A NATURAL THREAD I COULD START DOING CERAMICS AS WELL BECAUSE WE LOVE IT SO MUCH.

AND I JUST FIND THAT PEOPLE LOVE FUNCTIONAL PIECES.

THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL AND THAT THEY IDENTIFY WITH AND ALSO SERVE SOME USE AROUND THE HOUSE SO THEY CAN ENJOY.

>> AND SHE HAS A HARDER JOB THAN I DO.

FIGURING IT OUT.

I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE BACK OF THE HOME.

>> I LIKE TO ADD WASHES OF COLOR AND ADD RICHNESS TO IT BUT I LIKE THE NATURAL CLAY SHINE THROUGH.

>> THE GRACE THE COMBINED ENTERPRISE WITH ONE OF CHICAGO'S NICKNAMES.

>> WONDER HOW WE FELT SO IT RESONATED WITH US.

>> AS WONDER CITY STUDIO WITH HELP FROM THEIR DOG, OFFER PRINTS THAT CAPTURE NOT ONLY THE CITY'S HOME STYLE BUT CITY LANDMARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND SELECTS FROM OTHER LESSER CITIES.

THEIR LINE OF BUSINESS COMES FROM COMMISSIONS FOR HOME PORTRAITS AND PLANTERS.

>> IT COULD BE FOR A YOUNG PEOPLE MOVING INTO THEIR FIRST HOME.

IT'S TOUCHING TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE HELPING COMMEMORATE SOMEBODY'S MEMORIES AND THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS FAMILY IN HER FAMILY POTENTIALLY FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> THEY TELL YOU A STORY.

LIKE THIS WAS MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOME.

SOMETIMES IT'S OVERWHELMING WHEN YOU GET TO CONNECT TO SOMEBODY LIKE THAT AND THAT IS WHAT ART IS.

IT'S SPECIAL.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> WONDER CITY STUDIO SELLS THEIR PRINTS AND CERAMICS ON THEIR WEBSITE AND YOU WILL FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", MAJOR FAILURE IN OPERATIONS.

THAT HOW A REPORT CHARACTERIZES THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICES HANDLING OF THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE WE HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE WITH DAN WEBB.

>> A LOOK AT CONCERNS AROUND Facebook's ANNOUNCED VIRTUAL REALITY WORLD, THE METAVERSE.

>> BROWN IS NOT JUST BROWN.

LIGHT BROWN IS NOT JUST LIGHT BROWN.

>> AND A MAKEUP BRAND CAN STAYING POWER HOW A NEW MAKEOVER FOR COSMETICS BRAND FASHION FAIR IS KEEPING THE COMPANY FRESH AFTER 48 YEARS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., COOK COUNTY LEADERS RENEW CALLS FOR RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED AND GET THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS.

WITH CASES SURGING AND THE RETURN OF COLD WEATHER COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE AND HEALTH OFFICIALS SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE JABS IN ARMS.

TONI PRECKWINKLE NOTED 78% OF SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST COVID BUT MORE WORK REMAINS.

>> ONLY 59% OF PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN TWO DOSES AND FEWER HAVE RECEIVED BOOSTER SHOTS.

THE DOSES ARE WHAT MAKE THE SHOTS AMONG THE MOST EFFECTIVE VACCINES SCIENCE HAS EVER PRODUCED AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.

THESE ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE VACCINES SCIENCE HAS PRODUCED.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL COMMUNITIES IN COOK COUNTY THAT REMAIN LARGELY UNVACCINATED.

AND WE MUST DO WHAT WE COULD TO REACH THE FOLKS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

>> CHICAGO SETS A NEW MILE PHONE, THE FIRST ASTRONOMICAL FALL ON RECORD WITHOUT ANY MEASURABLE SNOW.

THE CITY SET THAT STANDARD AS OF THIS MORNING.

WHENEVER WE GET MEASURABLE SNOW AT LEAST .1 INCH IT WILL BE THE LATEST RECORD FOR SNOWFALL AND IF WE DON'T GET ANY BY THE 31 WE WILL BREAK THE RECORD FOR THE STRETCH OF NOT GETTING MEASURABLE SNOW.

THIS SEASON SEEN 280 DAYS WITHOUT ANY FLAKES.

>> SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DAN WEBB FOUND MAJOR FAILURE IN HOW THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY OFFICE HANDLED THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE.

THE REPORT RELEASED MONDAY CITES MISLEADING SENTENCES AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL WRONG THIS AS FOXX'S OFFICE DISMISSED SMOLLETT'S CASE WITH LENIENT TERMS AND NO ADMIT TANS OF GUILT.

EARLIER TODAY, I SPOKE WITH DAN WEBB FOR AN EXCLUSIVE ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HIM WHAT HE FOUND MOST CONCERNING DURING HIS PROBE INTO THE HANDLING OF THE SMOLLETT CASE AND DISMISSAL OF CHARGES IN 2019.

>> WHAT I DID MY INVESTIGATION, AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE REPORT, I LAID OUT SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE THAT THE OFFICE CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW THIS CAME ABOUT.

THE TWO DECISION MAKER Mr. McGET, AND MS. LANIER SAY THE OTHER ONE IS THE ONE THAT NEGOTIATED THE RESOLUTION.

IT'S JUST A MASS OF CONFUSION.

AN OPERATIONAL FAILURE AS TO HOW TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN WHEN EVERY LEADER IN THAT OFFICE OR FORMERLY HAD HAD BEEN IN THE OFFICE WE INTERVIEWED 43 OF THEM, EVERYONE OF THEM SAID THIS IS UNHEARD OF.

UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE OF EVIDENCE.

AND THAT COULD HAPPEN.

EVERYONE OF THEM SAID THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN HERE THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE FACT THAT CHANGED, ZERO.

AND YET, THEY DISMISSED THE CASE.

AND THEN THEY WENT OUT AND LIED TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT IT AND TRIED TO PRETEND AS IF THE REASON THEY DISMISSED IT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL THIS PRECEDENT IN THE OFFICE OF 5700 SIMILAR CASES THAT HAD BEEN DISMISSED JUST LIKE THIS ONE WAS WHEN IN FACT, I GAVE THEM A SUBPOENA I SAID I WANT TO SEE ANY CASE YOU RELIED UPON AS A PRECEDENT TO DO THIS.

AND THEY COULDN'T PRODUCE A SINGLE CASE AND YET THEY LIED TO THE PUBLIC AND SAID THEY HAD 5700 SIMILAR CASES.

I JUST THINK THAT WAS AN OPERATIONAL FAILURE OF A BIG MAGNITUDE.

>> THEY TALKED TO US AND OTHER PRESS OUTLETS SAYING THIS WAS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CASES WHEN YOUR REPORT FINDS IT WAS NOT.

AND ALSO KIM FOXX INTERVIEWED BY THE OSP'S OFFICE AND SAID SHE IS SURPRISED AT THE DISMISSAL AND SAYING THE NEGOTIATION LETS GET RID OF THAT GUY IN EXPENSE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY THE CITY DESERVES.

WHETHER THAT FINAL DECISION WAS MADE, DOES YOUR REPORT FIND ANY DEFINITIVE REASON FOR WHY THEY DID WHAT THEY DID?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THAT OBVIOUSLY IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND I CAN'T.

I'VE LAID ALL THE FACTS OUT.

THAT WHAT EVERYONE TESTIFIED TO.

NO ONE WANTS TO ADMIT WHO CUT THE DEAL.

IT'S ALWAYS THE OTHER FELLA DID IT NOT ME AND WHEN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY LOOKS AT IT SHE SAYS IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED THIS WAY.

I FIND IT TO BE PRETTY CLEAR IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT ABUSE OF DISCRETION.

NO JUSTIFICATION FOR DOING IT.

AND I REINDICTED THE CASE AND WENT TO TRIAL IN FRONT OF A JURY BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE PUBLIC HAD A RIGHT TO HAVE A PUBLIC TRIAL.

AND LET A JURY DECIDE THIS.

AND THIS JURY DECIDED, I BELIEVE FROM THE VERDICT, THE EVIDENCE WAS OVERWHELMING.

THAT HE WAS GUILTY.

HOW THIS HAPPENED, AND BY THE WAY, THE REASON I TOOK THIS CASE WAS CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS WHY I DID IT.

I DO BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE CITY.

>> AND YOU TOOK THE CASE PRO BONO AND YOUR REASONS.

YOU GOT IN THE REPORT TO KIM FOXX'S RECUSAL FROM THE CASE EVERYONE REMEMBERS SHE SAID SHE WOULD RECUSE HERSELF BECAUSE OF CONNECTIONS WITH PHONE CALLS SHE TOOK AND I WANT TO GET INTO THAT, TOO.

BUT IT WASN'T A LEGITIMATE RECUSAL AND MISLEAD PEOPLE ON HOW RECUSED SHE WAS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT FOR US?

>> I CAN.

FIRST OF ALL, IT TURNED OUT THIS IS WHY THE JUDGE HAD TO APPOINT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.

WHEN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY FOXX MADE A DECISION TO RECUSE HERSELF THERE IS A LEGAL WAY TO DO THAT.

IT'S EASY UNDER ILLINOIS LAW.

YOU RECUSE YOURSELF AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO COURT AND HAVE A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR APPOINTED.

YOU DON'T GET TO PICK YOUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR TO HAM THE CASE.

IN THIS CASE FOXX CHOSE TO HAVE HER FIRST ASSISTANT HANDLE THE CASE.

THEN THE CHIEF OF CRIMINAL APPEALS SECTION Mr. BERG CAME IN AND EXPLAINED TO EVERYBODY YOU CANNOT DO THIS THIS IS NOT -- YOU'VE DONE AN ILLEGAL ACT BY THE WAY YOU'VE RECUSED YOURSELF.

IT'S ILLEGAL UNDER THE LAW AND YOU HAVE TO REVERSE THIS.

AND SHE REFUSED TO DO SO.

THEN SHE REFUSED TO DO IT WHEN SHE KNEW THAT THE RECUSAL WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW AND WENT OUT AND TOLD THE PUBLIC THAT SHE HAD NEVER EVER LEARNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT HER RECUSAL WAS IMPROPER SHE DENIES SHE TALKED TO HER OWN CHIEF OF THE CRIMINAL SECTION OF APPEALS AND WHEN I INTERVIEWED HER SHE ADMITTED THAT WHEN SHE TOLD THE PUBLIC SHE DIDN'T KNOW HER RECUSAL WAS IMPROPER THAT WAS NOT ACCURATE.

THAT IS WHAT SHE SAID.

>> MORE MISSTATEMENTS THERE.

THERE'S INTRIGUE ABOUT PHONE CALLS THAT SHE GOT OR TEXT MESSAGES FROM A TINA CHEN THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND A FRIEND OF THE SMOLLETT FAMILY AND SMOLLETT'S SISTER.

DID YOU FIND THOSE CALLS INFLUENCED WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR WHAT THE CONTENT OF THOSE COMMUNICATIONS WERE?

>> YES, I DID.

BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC REPORTS ABOUT TINA CHEN AND OTHERS HAVING COMMUNICATIONS WITH FOXX WE DID LOOK INTO IT AND TO CREDIT MS. FOXX SHE IS THE STATE'S ATTORNEY.

SHE DOES HAVE A RIGHT TO INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC.

SHE HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE PEOPLE CALL HER UP AND TELL DAN HERBERT OFFICE IS DOING SOMETHING WRONG OR SHE HAS -- THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION IN MY JUDGMENT AS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR BETWEEN HER AND THOSE OUTSIDE INDIVIDUALS, UP TO THE POINT WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A HOAX SHE HAD A RIGHT UP TO THAT POINT TO INTERACT WITH JERRY SMOLLETT AND OTHERS AND I CONCLUDED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT NOR DID I FIND THE OUTSIDE INDIVIDUALS I DIDN'T FIND THEY HAD ANY INFLUENCE ON DECISION MAKING.

SO EVERYTHING UP TO THAT POINT WAS FINE.

SHE THEN MS. FOXX MADE FALSE STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA AND TOLD THE MEDIA THAT SHE STOPPED COMMUNICATING WITH OUTSIDERS SUCH AS JERRY SMOLLETT AS SOON AS SHE FOUND OUT THAT Mr. SMOLLETT WAS NOT A VICTIM BUT HAD PERPETRATED A HOAX.

AND SHE SAID SHE STOPPED COMMUNICATING WITH THOSE THIRD PARTIES WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPER.

IF SHE STOPPED IT IT WOULD BE PROPER BUT WE KNOW SHE DID NOT STOP IT.

I CITED THE EVIDENCE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND THEN MS. FOXX WENT AND TOLD THE PUBLIC SHE HAD STOPPED.

SHE LIED TO THE PUBLIC WHEN SHE STOPPED COMMUNICATING WITH JERRY SMOLLETT AND THAT IS WRONG.

I'VE RAISED THE ISSUE IN MY REPORT THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS, LAWYERS, WE HAVE A CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT REQUIRES US TO BE HONEST IN OUR DEALINGS WITH OTHERS IN OUR PROFESSION.

AND THE ISSUE OF WHETHER AN ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHO IS A LAWYER COULD BE ALLOWED TO LIE TO THE PUBLIC AND LIE ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT RELATE TO HER FUNCTIONING OF HER OFFICE, I HAVE RAISED THE ISSUE WHETHER THAT IS AN ETHICAL PROBLEM I DON'T DECIDE THAT THAT IS NOT MY -- THAT IS AN ISSUE TO BE DETERMINED BY THE ATTORNEY REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION.

I'VE REFERRED MY EVIDENCE TO THEM WHICH I WAS OBLIGATED TO DO UNDER THE LAW AS ANOTHER LAWYER I HAVE TO REPORT INFORMATION TO THEM WHEN I SEE IT OR HEAR ABOUT IT.

SO I DID REPORT THE INFORMATION.

BUT I DON'T MAKE ANY DECISION ABOUT THAT THAT IS UP TO THAT ENTITY TO MAKE A DECISION.

BUT I DID RAISE THE QUESTION OF WHETHER WE WANT LAWYERS IN PUBLIC OFFICE LYING TO THE PUBLIC AND WHETHER THAT IS A GOOD THING OR NOT.

>> AGAIN THAT WAS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DAN WEBB IN AN EXCLUSIVE ONE-ON-ONE.

AND THAT COMMISSION HE TALKS ABOUT HAS THE ABILITY TO CARRY OUT PUNISHMENT AS SEVERE AS DISBARMENT HE IS NOT RECOMMENDING WHAT THEY DO BUT HE FORWARDED THAT CASE TO THEM.

WE SPOKE WITH COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX'S COUNSEL.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE REPORT'S CONCLUSION THAT FOXX AND HER TEAM LIED AND MADE MISLEADING STATEMENTS ABOUT DROPPING THIS CASE.

>> I THINK IT IS A DEEPLY FLAWED REPORT IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS.

THE MANDATE THAT WILL WEBB AND THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR GOT FROM THE COURT WAS TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANYBODY FROM THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENGAGED IN WRONGDOING.

AND THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT Mr. WEBB'S TEAM SUGGESTED THAT EVERY ERRONEOUS STATEMENT EVERY INCORRECT STATEMENT, EVERY INACCURATE STATEMENT IS FALSE AND MISLEADING.

LANGUAGE MATTERS HERE.

AND BY CHARACTERIZING IT AS FALSE AND MISLEADING IT SUGGESTS THAT THE STATEMENTS WERE INTENTIONAL THAT THEY WERE NOT THE RESULTS OF FAILED RECOLLECTION OR BAD INFORMATION THAT WAS PASSED TO MS. FOXX.

I THINK THE USE OF THE LANGUAGE THERE IS VERY UNFORTUNATE AND MISLEADING AND GOES BEYOND WHAT THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS.

>> THAT WAS THE COUNSEL FOR COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX AND HE BELIEVES WEBB'S INVESTIGATION HAD ERRORS OF ITS OWN AND Mr. WEBB DID NOT CONDUCT MANY OF THE INTERVIEWS IN THAT PROBE HIMSELF.

>> UP NEXT, WHY SOME ARE WORRIED ABOUT Facebook's RECENTLY ANNOUNCED VIRTUAL REALITY WORLD THE METAVERSE.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> FACEBOOK REBRANDED THIS PAST FALL AS META, INCLUDING THE WAY INTO THE METAVERSE A VIRTUAL REALITY VISION FOR THE FUTURE.

WHILE C.E.O.

MARK ZUCKERBERG IS TRYING TO CREATE A NEW DIGITAL WORLD SOME ARE WORRIED THE PROBLEMS OF FACEBOOK AND THE INTERNET WILL TRANSFER OVER LIKE HATE SPEECH OR BIASES IN ALGORITHMS.

ONE WRITER ARGUES TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE NEW WORLD PEOPLE FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES NEED TO TAKE THE LEAD IN SHAPING IT.

AND JOINING US IS BREIGHA ADEYEMO, A DOOR TORE RALE CANDIDATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND FIRST OF OFF FOR OUR VIEWERS, EXPLAIN WHAT THE METAVERSE IS?

>> THANK YOU.

I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

THE METAVERSE IS A NETWORK OF VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTMENTS WHERE PEOPLE USE AVATARS, VIRTUAL REPRESENTATIONS TO INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON THE PLATFORM BUT ALSO WITH DIGITAL SYSTEMS AS WELL.

IT IS SORT OF ENVISIONED AS THIS NEXT GENERATION OF THE INTERNET.

THAT IS IMMERSIVE AND EMBODIED WHAT THE CURRENT INTERNET DOES NOT OFFER US.

IT IS THIS NEXT LEVEL NEXT ITERATION OF THE INTERNET BUT WILL BE MORE EMBODIED MORE IMMERSIVE AND BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER SIMILAR TO HOW WE INTERACT IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD AND QUITE DIFFERENT.

>> YOU WROTE A COLUMN ON-LINE SAYINGS A BLACK WOMAN THE METAVERSE SCARES YOU.

HOW COME?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT THE METAVERSE IS THIS HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RACE AND TECHNOLOGY.

UNFORTUNATELY RACISM AND TECHNOLOGY HAS HISTORICALLY GONE HAND IN HAND AND LEAVING MARGINALIZED PEOPLE TO OFTEN SUFFER MOST FROM THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF NEW TECHNOLOGY.

ALGORITHMS ARE WRITTEN BY HUMANS AS WE KNOW HUMANS ARE BIASED AND THAT CAN SEIPP INTO THE WAY THAT HOLDERS FRAME THE ANALYSIS THAT UNDERLINES THEIR CODES.

THESE AI SOFTWARE NOT ONLY MIRROR THE BIASES AND INEQUALITIES IN SOCIETY BUT ALSO SOMETIMES MAKES THEM WORSE.

AND SO WE SEE THAT IN ALGORITHM BIAS IN SCREENING JOB CANDIDATES AND DETERMINING CREDIT WORTHINESS THE SOFTWARE USED BY BANKS TO PREDICT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE WILL PAYBACK CREDIT CARD DEBT FAVORS WEALTHIER WHITE APPLICANTS.

AND IT IS NOT JUST THE ALGORITHMS ARE BIAS BUT THEY ARE BIAS IN OPAQUE WAYS.

WHICH MEANS WE ARE NOT AWARE OF WHY WE MIGHT BE SEEING CERTAIN ADS ON FACEBOOK OR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHY EVEN AWARE THAT WE MIGHT BE MISSING OUT ON PARTICULAR ADS AND WHY WE MIGHT GETTING LOW HOME APPRAISALS AND MIGHT NOT BE APPROVED FOR FINANCIAL LOANS.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THIS IS HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RACE AND TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS ME ABOUT THE METAVERSE.

>> WITH RESPECT TO FACEBOOK THE ALGORITHMS DETERMINE WHAT POSTS YOU SEE, WHAT KINDS OF ADVERTISEMENTS YOU SEE.

WITH RESPECT TO THE METAVERSE, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE A MORE INCLUSIVE VISION IN BUILDING IT?

>> SO I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT BEGIN TO FOCUS ON IS HOW WE DESIGN ALGORITHMS OR THE VALUES WE PUT INTO THESE TECHNOLOGIES WHICH IS WHAT I MEAN IN MY ARTICLE BY CREATING A MORE DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE TECHNOLOGY.

THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE TECHNOLOGIES WITH VALUES THAT ARE JUST.

SO THAT OUR ALGORITHMS PROMOTE EQUALITY RATHER THAN INEQUALITY OR JUSTICE RATHER THAN INJUSTICE.

AND I THINK BY FOCUSING ON HOW WE DESIGN THESE TECHNOLOGIES, ONE MIGHT BE HAVING MORE DIVERSE DESIGN THEMES.

ANOTHER ASPECT MIGHT BE TO FOCUS ON HOW WE APPROACH OR WHAT VALUES WE APPROACH DESIGN WITH.

SO I THINK BY FOCUSING ON THAT THEN WE CAN HAVE A BETTER ALLEGE RHYTHMIC ALGORITHMIC FUTURE.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY ARE PERHAPS INCORPORATING THEM AS THEY BUILD OUT THIS METAVERSE?

>> WELL, I HOPE SO.

I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WITH THEIR REBRANDING THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW US THAT THEY ARE LISTENING TO US.

I THINK THAT THE FOCUS ON THE METAVERSE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW US THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OUR CONCERNS AND THAT THEY ARE TAKING THEM SERIOUSLY.

SO WE WILL SEE HOW THE FUTURE UNFOLDS WITH THE METAVERSE AND WHEN META AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE PLATFORM WHAT IT PLANS TO DO WITH THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE EXPRESSED.

>> AND FACEBOOK HAS WELL PUBLICIZED PROBLEMS WITH REGULATING HATE SPEECH AND DISINFORMATION ON ITS PLATFORM.

DOES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO WIN BACK TRUST, ESPECIALLY AMONG MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AS IT CREATES THIS NEW VIRTUAL WORLD?

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, TRUST HAS TO BE EARNED AND FACEBOOK LOST A LOT OF TRUST FROM THE PUBLIC OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE THE COMPANY GETS A LOT OF PUSHBACK.

YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZING PROFIT OVER PEOPLE, AND ESSENTIALLY OVER THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IT HAS.

I WOULD SAY META WITH THE REBRANDING AND THE FOCUS ON THE METAVERSE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REGAIN THE PUBLIC TRUST.

>> THERE WILL BE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

THANKS TO BREIGHA ADEYEMO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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

MANY BLACK WOMEN MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE COSMETICS BRAND FACE FAIR FOUNDED IN 1973 BY EUNICE JOHNSON, WIFE OF THE BLACK PUBLISHING MAGNET BEHIND EBONY AND JET MAGAZINES.

NEW OWNERSHIP HAS GIVEN FASHION FAIR ITS OWN MAKEOVER AND RETURNED IT TO STORE SHELVES.

HERE IS BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WITH THE STORY.

>> WITH NAMES LIKE CLOCK LATINO DARLING AND BROWN SUGAR BABE IT'S CLEAR WHAT THE SHADES ARE FROM.

FROM FOUNDATION TO LIP COLOR.

>> I'M WEARING.

>> LACE IS MY FAVORITE.

>> THE LIPSTICK I HAVE ON IS AFRICAN VIOLET.

>> THE FASHION FAIR BRAND WANTS WOMEN OF COLOR TO KNOW IT'S TIME TO REAPPLY.

>> WE STARTED 56 YEARS AGO.

WE WERE IF NOT THE FIRST, CLOSE TO THE FIRST.

AND WE'VE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON DARKER SKIN TONES.

IT WASN'T NOVEL.

IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT LIKE WOW THIS IS HIP AND COOL LET'S BE POLITICALLY CORRECT.

IT DIDN'T EXIST.

>> FOUNDED IN 1973 BY EUNICE JOHNSON OF JOHNSON PUBLISHING, FASHION FAIR CATERED TO BLACK WOMEN WHO COULD AFFORD THE DEPARTMENT STORE PRICES FOR COSMETICS THAT SUITED THEIR SKIN TONES.

>> FOR ME IT WAS THE FIRST MAKEUP MY MOTHER ALLOWED ME TO USE AND THAT IS A BIG DEAL IN ANY GIRL'S LIFE.

>> PACKAGED IN PINK TUBES AND COMPACT CASES THE BRAND WAS SEEN ON HUNDREDS OF EBONY FASHION FAIR MODELS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS.

AS JOHNSON PUBLISHING WAS FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY IN 2019 IT SOLD FASHION FAIR TO TWO FORMER EXECUTIVES.

DESIREE ROGERS AND CHERYL MAYBERRY MCKISSACK.

THE TWO WOMEN WITH A PARTNER SCOOPED IT UP WITH PLANS TO RETURN IT TO THE FORMER GLORY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE HISTORICAL LEGACY THAT FASHION FAIR HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR AROUND THE WORLD AND ALL THE WORK THAT MRS. JOHNSON DID BRINGING FASHION FAIR INTO THE MARKETPLACE IT'S WONDERFUL BUT YET A LITTLE BIT SCARY.

BECAUSE THERE IS A HISTORY AND THERE IS A LEGACY.

AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT.

>> CHICAGO NATIVE AND MAKEUP ARTIST SAM FINE RETURNED TO HELP REDEVELOP THE PRODUCT.

>> WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THE NEW SHADES THERE IS A RANGE OF NEW SHADES.

>> FASHION FAIR IS VEGAN AND INCLUDES ADDITIVES LIKE VITAMIN C AND GREEN TREE EXTRACT A RANGE OF LIPSTICKS AND FOUNDATIONS IN NEW AND LEGACY COLORS ARE PRESENTED IN WHITE AND GOLD PACKAGING PERCHED ON THE SHELVES OF SEPHORA.

>> SO BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT YOU CAN GO TO AND FIND SOMETHING FOR YOUR COUSIN, YOUR SISTER AND AUNT IS UNIQUE BECAUSE MANY OF THE BRANDS IN THEIR SHADE EXTENSIONS DON'T SPEAK TO THE NEW ANSWERS OF COLORING THAT SPEAK TO IT SO BEAUTIFULLY.

>> FASHION FAIR'S COMEBACK ARRIVES AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN OF COLOR HAVE MORE CHOICES THAN IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY.

HERITAGE BRANDS EXTENDED THEIR LINES AND ALL INCLUSIVE FEN YOUTY BEAUTY LINE HAS SOLD ENOUGH TO TURN THE POP STAR INTO A MOGUL.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BLACK WOMEN SPENT $1.3 BILLION ON COLORED COSMETICS IN 2020 DOWN FROM 1.7 BILLION IN 2019 BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHILE THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYONE, FASHION FAIR IS THE ORIGINAL AND ITS NEW MAKEOVER IS FOR THOSE WHO NEW IT WHEN AND FRESH FACES WHO CAN GET TO KNOW IT NOW.

>> THEY WILL SEE US IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND IT IS ABOUT US FOCUSING ON WOMEN WITH DARKER SKIN TONES THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE FOCUS WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> THE TEAM OWNS BLACK OPAL COSMETICS A MAKEUP BRAND SOLD IN DRUGSTORES.

AND WE'RE 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.

DETAILS IN THE LATEST COVID SURGE AND VACCINE MANDATES AS WE HEAD INTO HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.

>> AND COMBING THE BEACH IN SEARCH OF ARTISTIC INSPIRATION.

WE MEET A LOCAL ARTIST WHO DIGS TREASURE OUT OF THE SAND.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE OUT THERE.

AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]