♪.

>> THIS IS A BILL THAT WAS ALMOST 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

>> THE NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW LAWS ON HANDLING UNUSED MEDICINE, FERTILITY TREATMENT, VAPING AND MUCH MORE.

>> HOW THE PANDEMIC CAUSED DEATH RATES TO SKYROCKET FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTS.

>> JUSTIN FIELDS IS BACK IN PRACTICE AFTER AN ANKLE INJURY BUT SHOULD THE BEARS RISK HIM AGAINST THE GIANTS ON SUNDAY?

JUST KEEP SWIMMING MEET A WOMAN TRANSFORMING HER AQUATIC LIFE INTO A BUSINESS.

>> AND THE MIGHTY CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RETURNED TO THE STAGE WE SIT DOWN WITH RICCARDO MUTI.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A FEDERAL COURT DECISION UPHOLDS NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS DRAWN BY ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS.

REPUBLICANS THE N.A.A.C.P.

BROUGHT THE SUIT ARGUING DEMOCRATS DID NOT FOLLOW FEDERAL VOTING LAWS MEANT TO PROTECT MINORITY VOTERS.

THE JUDGE NOTED DEMOCRATS WERE OVERTLY POLITICAL OF DRAWING NEW DISTRICTS AND ADDED THE MAP IS LEGALLY ACCEPTABLE.

ILLINOIS SENATE REPRESENT LEADER ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING QUOTE... >> THE RULING WILL HELP DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR THE DECADE TO COME.

>> THERE IS A NEW RECORD-HIGH IN SINGLE DAY COVID CASES IN ILLINOIS.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT MORE THAN 30,000 NEW COVID-19 CASES AND AN ADDITIONAL 87 DEATHS.

THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN TO 2.1 MILLION.

AND 27,821 TOTAL DEATHS.

AND A STATE-WIDE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS MORE THAN 14%.

ONE OF THE NEW POSITIVE COVID CASES IS ILLINOIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JULIANNA STRATTON.

IN A TWEET STRATTON SAYS SHE HAS MILD SYMPTOMS AND SHE IS RELIEVED TO BE FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

STRATTON ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO GET VACCINATED AND TO WEAR A MASK.

>> ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN CHEWY GARCIA JOINED STRATTON IN TESTING POSITIVE.

THIS WEEK BOBBY RUSSIA ANNOUNCED HE ALSO TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS DESPITE BEING FULLY VACCINATED.

68% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION 5 AND OLDER IS NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

EXTRA ROUNDS OF BOOSTER SHOTS COULD BE GIVEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE F.D.A.

IS EXPECTED TO EXPAND THE BOOSTER ELIGIBILITY FOR KIDS 12-15 IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AFTER CHILD HOSPITALIZATIONS LOOM LARGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY DUE TO THE OMICRON VARIANT.

DOCTORS SAY THE HOSPITALIZATION SURGE IS LIKELY CAUSED BY A LOW VACCINATION RATE AND NOT RECEIVING THAT THIRD DOSE.

>> AND UP NEXT ONE-ON-ONE WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHIEF PEDRO MARTINEZ SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... TODAY MARKED THE LAST DAY FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES TO TURN IN THEIR AT HOME COVID TESTS AHEAD OF MONDAY'S RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

C.P.S.

DISTRIBUTED 150,000 PCR TESTS AT MORE THAN 300 SCHOOLS IN COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.

STUDENTS WHO TEST POSITIVE ARE REQUIRED TO STAY HOME.

AND JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS THE RETURN TO SCHOOL AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS AMID THE OMICRON SURGE IS C.E.O.

OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PEDRO MARTINEZ.

PEDRO MARTINEZ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING RECORD CASE HAULS RIGHT NOW WITH COVID.

WHY DO YOU STILL BELIEVE IT IS SAFER FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO BE IN SCHOOL MONDAY VERSUS AT HOME?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M PROUD OF, PARIS, IS ALL THE PROCEDURES WE'VE PUT IN PLACE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE'VE MADE INVESTMENTS IN OUR DISTRICT AND THE EVIDENCE HAS BEEN CLEAR AS YOU LOOK AT THAT EVER SINCE WE STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR THIS YEAR OUR CASES HAVE BEEN MUCH LOWER THAN THE COMMUNITY'S CASES.

WHAT WE SEE IS CASES START IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY COME INTO THE SCHOOLS.

AND WE'VE BEEN CONSERVATIVE IN OUR APPROACH.

AS OMICRON WAS COMING IN RIGHT BEFORE WE WENT ON BREAK WE WERE TRANSITION R ITIONING MORE CLASSROOMS TO BE REMOTE AND PARENTS THINK SOMEHOW WE'RE [INAUDIBLE] WE ARE MOVING VERY PRO-ACTIVELY TO MAKE SURE WE PREVENT OUTBREAKS.

THAT IS THE ONE THING I WILL CONTINUE TO LET PARENTS KNOW.

DO NOT MISINTERPRET THAT BUT I'M CONFIDENT WE ARE READY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THE BEST PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO BE IS IN SCHOOLS.

ACADEMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERS REMOTE.

>> AND CLASSROOM BY CLASSROOM TO DETERMINE REMOTE LEARNING AS OPPOSED TO SCHOOL WIDE.

YOU MENTIONED THE MAIL-IN TEST WE SAW PICTURES OF OVERFLOWING DROP BOXES ARE YOU GETTING THE RESULTS AND HAVE YOU SEEN SOME OF THE RESULTS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE PICTURES BECAUSE IT SHOWS OUR PARENTS ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

WE WERE ABLE TO PICK UP ALL THE TESTS.

FEDEX AND WALGREENS AND LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS AND FEDEX HAS BEEN DOING MORE CHECK INS.

I SAW IT AS A POSITIVE.

ALL THE TESTS WERE SAFE IN WATERPROOF PACKETS THEY ARE BEING RECEIVED BY OUR LAB THAT HAS A LAB OVER 37,000 WE ARE SETUP WHICH MEANS THE TESTS WERE BEING PROCESSED.

FOR ME IT WILL PROVIDE US VERY VALUABLE INFORMATION BECAUSE CHILDREN THAT TEST POSITIVE WILL BE ASKED TO BE AT HOME.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE KNOW THEN THE CHILDREN THAT TEST NEGATIVE THEY ARE COMING IN SAFELY.

>> ARE YOU ANTICIPATING HIGH POSITIVITY RATE FROM THE TESTS?

>> I AM.

BECAUSE THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY.

SADLY AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DATA HAS SHOWN IN CHICAGO AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED AND CHILDREN ARE IN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR GUARD DOWN THEY ARE NOT WEARING MASKS YOU SEE THE CASES RISE.

AND WE BELIEVE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ON BREAK FOR TWO WEEKS WE WILL SEE A RISE IN CASES WHICH IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CATCH THOSE CASES BEFORE THEY COME BACK ON JANUARY 3.

>> NOT JUST CONCERN AMONG STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BUT TEACHERS AND STAFF.

TUESDAY WE HEARD FROM C.T.U.

TREASURER ASKING RAPID TESTING TO BE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE DOORS ON MONDAY.

>> ALL STUDENTS AND ALL WORKERS IN THE BUILDING SO WHEN THEY ARE COMING IN THE MORNING THEY SHOULD BE TESTED THAT WILL GIVE US A CLEAR INDICATION WHERE IS THE LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION OF COVID IN THE HOMES.

AND I THINK THAT IS A VERY BIG CONCERN BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THERE'S LITTLE TESTING GOING ON.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT, PEDRO?

RAPID TESTING FOR STUDENTS AND ENOUGH TESTS FOR STUDENTS TO GET TESTED MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK?

>> HERE IS THE REALITY THERE IS A SHORT SUPPLY OF TESTING ACROSS THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ADMITTED THAT THEY THAT IS ONE OF THE AREAS THEY FELL SHORT TRYING TO DO MORE IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

BUT WITH THAT, I AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET 150,000 HOME PCR TESTS MUCH MORE ACCURATE AND THEY ARE FRANKLY AND WE TARGETED THE COMMUNITIES WE KNOW ARE MORE AT RISK.

I FEEL THAT IS A BETTER APPROACH.

THE CHALLENGE WITH TESTING IT IS ONE POINT IN TIME.

RAPID TESTS ARE NOT AS STRONG AND FOR ME, MY FEAR IT IT IT WILL GIVE US A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

FOR US THE NUMBER ONE SOLUTION HAS TO BE VACCINES.

TESTS ARE NOT GOING TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

IT'S VACCINES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ME PROUD ALSO 91% OF OUR STAFF ARE VACCINATED AND MANY GETTING BOOSTERS.

AS WE LOOK AT CONDITIONS WE ARE UNDER TODAY VERSUS IN THE PAST WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE AND OUR STAFF ARE IN A BETTER PLACE NOW THEY ARE VACCINATED.

>> AND YOU SAID BEFORE THAT YOU WILL BE CONSERVATIVE IN TERMS OF SENDING CLASSROOMS REMOTE.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US THE METRICS YOU WOULD USE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT FER WHETHER OR NOT A CLASS IS GOING TO SHUTDOWN AND THE STUDENT ALSO GO REMOTE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING IS VACCINATION RATES ARE UNEVEN ACROSS THE CITY.

I HAVE SCHOOLS WHERE UNDER 10% OF CHILDREN ARE VACCINATED.

WE HAVE EMPOWERED OUR PRINCIPALS IF THEY SEE CASES COMING INTO THE SCHOOLS FROM THE COMMUNITY THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRANSITION THOSE CLASSES INTO REMOTE BEFORE CONTACT TRACING AND WE STARTED DOING THAT DURING THE BREAK.

I BELIEVE OUR PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS ARE THE ONES THAT CAN SEE THE RISKS QUICKER.

WE WILL HAVE A TEAM THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS DIRECTLY AND THAT TEAM WILL REPRESENT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HEALTH TEAM OUR FACILITIES TEAM OUR TALENT TEAM SO WE CAN ADDRESS ISSUES SPECIFIC TO THAT SCHOOL.

WE JUST FEEL THIS IS A MUCH BETTER APPROACH BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT CLASSROOM BY CLASSROOM, COOL BY SCHOOL.

THE REALITY IS THAT COVID HAS BEEN UNEVEN IN OUR CITY AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US TO BE IMPULSIVE AND MAKING DRASTIC DECISIONS THAT AFFECT AN ENTIRE DISTRICT.

WHEN THE ENTIRE CITY IS OPEN.

RESTAURANTS AND THEATERS AND EVENTS ARE OPEN.

WHERE DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE SCHOOLS CLOSED WHEN WE KNOW OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN SAFE AND THE DATA HAS SHOWN CASES HAVE BEEN LOW AT SCHOOLS COMPARED TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> IT IS NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL PROPOSITION.

ARE THERE CONTINGENCIES IN PLACE IN CASE TEACHERS OR STAFF MEMBERS GO DOWN WITH COVID AND THEY HAVE TO MIX CLASS BEEN THE FACT THERE ARE SHORTAGES OF SUBSTITUTES.

>> WE ARE WATCHING THAT CAREFULLY.

WE ARE NOT SEEING ANY HIGHER REQUESTS FOR SUBSTITUTES FOR THE NEXT WEEK AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE ENHANCED THE RATES OF SUBSTITUTES FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY SO WE ARE GETTING MORE COVERAGE THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT, THE GOOD NEWS IS BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR STAFF ARE VACCINATED WHEN OUR STAFF GET COVID THE SYMPTOMS ARE MILD AND WITH THE GUIDELINES WE ARE ABLE TO BRING THEM BACK SOONER AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS.

I FEEL WE ARE AT THE END OF THIS.

>> THERE MIGHT BE PARENTS SAYING WE HAVE NOT TESTED POSITIVE YET BUT I'M KEEPING MY KIDS HOME NEXT WEEK.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE PARENTS?

>> YOU KNOW, I AM A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN.

MY CHILDREN ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND WE GOT THEM TESTED TODAY.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S ANXIETY.

WE WILL RESPECT THE PARENTS' WISHES.

BUT I SUGGEST AS WE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR CLASSROOM AND IN YOUR SCHOOL BECAUSE COVID HAS BEEN SO UNEVEN ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AND I ASK PARENTS TO BE PATIENT BECAUSE WE WILL SEE MORE CASES, WE WILL SEE MORE CHILDREN TRANSITION TO REMOTE AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THEY HAVE DEVICES AND WORK TO DO.

BUT WE WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT WE DON'T WANT TO BE IMPULSIVE AND MAKE SURE WE ARE USING THE SCIENCE AND DATA THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US.

>> PEDRO MARTINEZ A LOT TO MANAGE OUR THANKS TO YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, PARIS.

>> HEALTHCARE EVEN WITH INSURANCE CAN BE EXPENSIVE.

A SERIES OF NEW LAWS COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR CONSUMERS TO COMPARISON SHOP FOR PRESCRIPTIONS AND EXPAND COVERAGE OF FERTILITY TREATMENT.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

AMANDA?

>> PARIS THERE IS A SAYING I THOUGHT ABOUT OFTEN DURING THE PANDEMIC IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR HEALTH YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE AFFORDING MEDICINE TO KEEP THEIR HEALTH IN CHECK IS OUT OF REACH.

EVEN AS A LOT OF DRUGS GO TO WASTE.

MAYBE YOUR PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER SENDS MEDICINE VIA MAIL BEFORE YOU NEED IT LETTING PRESCRIPTIONS PILE UP.

PERHAPS A LOVED ONE DIES AND HAS DRUGS IN THE MEDICINE CABINET OR YOU BUY AN EXTRA BOTTLE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER PILLS.

THE DRUG REUSE OPPORTUNITY ACT WILL ALLOW THESE DRUGS TO BE DONATED.

PHARMACISTS CAN COLLECT AND HELP TO DISPENSE THEM.

THE STATE FARM SIFTS ASSOCIATION GARTH REYNOLDS SAYS THE LAW IS 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT WHOLE BOX MEDICATION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNUSED BOXED MEDICATIONS FOR THE MOST PART OR UNIT OF USE MEDICATIONS THAT ARE SEALED.

AND AT LEAST IN THE BEGINNING.

AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE MEDICATIONS BACK AND GET THEM TO PEOPLE WHO FALL INTO THE UNDER INSURED POPULATION.

AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO GET TO THE NEEDED CARE THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE MEDICATION ANY OTHER WAY.

>> ILLINOIS IS MODELING THE PROGRAM AFTER ONE THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR YEARS IN IOWA.

NOW, HERE IS ANOTHER NEW LAW WHEN YOU GO TO THE PHARMACY IN 2022 YOU MAY BEGIN TO NOTICE A NEW SIGN POSTED ALERTING YOU THAT WHEN YOU BUY A PRESCRIPTION, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO REQUEST THE RETAIL PRICE OF THE DRUG.

REYNOLDS SAYS LIKE OTHER PRODUCTS MEDICINES PRICE VARIES.

LIKE CVS TO WALGREENS.

SOMETIMES THE DRUGS ARE CHEAPER.

>> THIS IS WHERE IT'S GOOD TO BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER AND EDUCATED PATIENT.

AND THIS IS LOOK FOR THE BEST PRICE AT YOU KNOW OTHER BUSINESSES FOR OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT YOU RECEIVE, YOU SHOULD BE DOING THAT FOR YOUR MEDICATIONS.

>> ANOTHER LAW TAKING EFFECT SATURDAY DEALS WITH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR FERTILITY TREATMENT.

>> NOW, OUR INSURANCE LAW IN ILLINOIS ONLY COVERED PEOPLE WHO CAN GET BIOLOGICALLY PREGNANT, WOMEN, AND CONCEIVE AND THEY HAVE TO TRY 12 MONTHS WITH THEIR PARTNER.

AUTOMATICALLY YOU ARE EXCLUDING AN ENTIRE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS MOSTLY LGBTQ PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE A FAMILY.

>> BUT ALSO EXCLUDED SINGLE INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE A PARTNER AND WANT TO BECOME MOMS.

OUT OF POCKET FERTILITY TREATMENTS CAN BE EXPENSIVE IT CAN COST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CONCEIVE A CHILD.

STATE REPRESENT MARGARET CROKE SAYS A CONSTITUENT A DOCTOR IN A SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RAISED THIS ISSUE AND AT THE TIME SHE WAS THREE MONTHS OUT FROM GIVING BIRTH TO HER NOW TWO-YEAR-OLD SON.

>> THE IDEA THAT BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO CONCEIVE NATURALLY AND I AM A WOMAN AND I'M MARRIED TO A MAN, I AM ABLE TO HAVE A CHILD.

BUT THIS MAN WHO IS MARRIED TO THE MOST WONDERFUL PARTNER WHO HAPPENS TO BE IN A SAME SEX RELATIONSHIP I'M TAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY AWAY LIKE OUR SOCIETY, THE COST OF FERTILITY IS TAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY AWAY FROM THAT FAMILY JUST WAS HEARTBREAKING FOR ME.

AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FAIR.

>> NOW, THAT'S CHANGING.

ILLINOIS BASED INSURANCE PLANS WILL HAVE TO COVER FERTILITY TREATMENT FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES AND SINGLE INDIVIDUALS AND ALSO WOMEN OVER AGE 35.

NO LONGER NEED TO TRY FOR A YEAR.

IT'S CUT IN HALF TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE COVERAGE KICKS IN.

ALSO IF A DOCTOR VERIFIES THERE IS A MEDICAL ISSUE BEHIND THE INFERTILITY THERE IS NO LONGER THE REQUIREMENT TO TRY TO CONCEIVE NATURALLY FOR 12 MONTHS.

PREGNANT PEOPLE NEW IN 2022, CAN USE A DISABILITY PLACARD TO PARK IN HANDICAPPED SPOTS DURING THE THIRD TRIMESTER.

ANOTHER NEW LAW AIMS TO REDUCE YOUTH VAPING.

ILLINOIS WILL PROHIBIT MARKETING E-CIGARETTES TO THOSE UNDER 21.

AND THIS BAN ALSO BANS MARKETING THAT PROMISES THAT VAPING IS A LOW RISK ALTERNATIVE TO CIGARETTES.

AND STARTING SATURDAY ILLINOIS INSURANCE PLANS MUST COVER PANCREATIC CANCER SCREENINGS.

NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> ILLINOIS HAS BEEN SETTING RECORDS WITH NEW COVID CASES ALL WEEK.

HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 30,000 NEW CASES BLOWING PAST OF PAST THE RECORD OF 21,000 AND 87 ADDITIONAL DEATHS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

MORE THAN 5600 PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID CURRENTLY.

AND COVID PATIENTS ARE OCCUPYING 34% OF THE STATE'S ICU BEDS.

AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE RISE IN CASES AND MORE IS Dr. ALLISON BARTLETT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE.

Dr. BARTLETT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE SEEING THE STAGGERING AMOUNTS OF NEW CASES.

CAN WE AT LEAST BE ASSURED THAT THE DEATH RATE WON'T BE WHAT IT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE RATE OF VACCINATION AND THE RELATIVELY MILDER OMICRON SYMPTOMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED?

>> I'M HOPEFUL THAT'S THE CASE.

YOU'RE RIGHT THAT THE VACCINES AVAILABLE NOW AND WE'RE KEEPING PATIENTS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL THOSE THAT ARE VACCINATED.

AT LEAST IT APPEARS THE ONLY VON VARIANT IS NOT MORE SEVERE.

WE'VE LEARNED A LOT HOW TO PROVIDE GOOD INTENSIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE COVID OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

>> AND THAT SAID OUR HOSPITALS LIKE U CHICAGO EQUIPPED RIGHT NOW TO DEAL WITH THE SURGE IN PATIENTS THAT ARE COMING IN?

>> IT IS A CHALLENGE ALL AROUND IN PART BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS AND BECAUSE OF OUR HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE THAT IS ALSO COMING DOWN WITH COVID AND GETTING EXHAUSTED THERE'S SUPERINTENDENT VARIABLES INCLUDING HOW WELL YOU SWAB YOUR NOSE AND WHERE IN THE DISEASE COURSE YOU ARE.

THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT LAYER OF SAFETY THAT WE CAN BE USING BUT THEY ARE NOT PERFECT.

>> WE'RE SEEING 30,000 NEW CASES A DAY.

ARE VACCINES PREVENTING OMICRON?

OR JUST PREVENTING SERIOUS DISEASE FROM GETTING OMICRON?

>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

IN PART WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO DO THE COMPARISONS ABOUT RATES OF INFECTIONS AND EXPOSURES WHETHER IT PREVENTS INFECTION.

WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS IN VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.

BUT THOSE ARE ALMOST ALWAYS MILD.

SOMETIMES EVEN ASYMPTOMATIC.

REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GETTING MUCH SICKER WHEN THEY GET OMICRON.

>> THAT HAS BEEN TRUE SINCE VACCINES HAVE BEEN WIDELY AVAILABLE.

DOES IT MAKE SINCE THAT THE C.D.C.

DOWNGRADED THE QUARANTINE TIME FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ASYMPTOMATIC THAT TESTS POSITIVE FROM 10 DAYS TO FIVE DAYS?

>> I THINK POTENTIALLY FOR ECONOMIC REASONS I UNDERSTAND IT.

FROM A PERSONAL PREFERENCE I LIKE BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE AND HAVING A LITTLE BIT LONGER ISOLATION PERIOD.

WE KNOW THIS IS SUCH A TRANSMISSIBLE STRAIN OF THE VIRUS THAT EVERY LITTLE BIT OF SAFETY WE CAN LAYER ON HELPS.

>> FOR FOLKS ON THE FENCE ABOUT NEW YEAR'S PLANS SHOULD WE GET TOGETHER, SHOULD WE GO TO A PUBLIC INDOOR SPACE WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE?

>> I HATE TO BE A KILL JOY.

BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S STILL NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO GET TOGETHER IN LARGE GROUP GATHERINGS.

>> IF YOU NEED TO GET OUT AND SEE PEOPLE AND CELEBRATE FOR NEW YEAR'S, I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND DOING IT AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S HARD TO DO OUTSIDE IN ILLINOIS IN THE WINTER.

BUT RAPID TEST BEFORE YOU GO, MASKING ALL THE TIME TRYING TO KEEP THE GROUP TO A SMALLER NUMBER.

AND IT'S BEST TO LEAVE YOUR MASK ON AND NOT EAT AND DRINK WHICH IS PART OF THE FUN OF GETTING TOGETHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST WE HAVE SEEN THE CASES IN OUT AFRICA DIP RAPIDLY.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT WILL BE THE CASE HERE AND WHEN THAT MIGHT OCCUR IN ILLINOIS OR CHICAGO?

>> SURE.

I DEFINITELY HAVE HOPE THAT WE'LL EVENTUALLY START TAPERING DOWN.

IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHEN BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE ARE VERY MUCH ON THE INCLINE.

AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AS WE BRING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

WHERE FRANKLY THEY ARE IN A MORE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT WITH MASKING AS POTENTIALLY VISITING WITH RELATIVES OVER THE HOLIDAYS WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO HELP US CONTROL THE CASES OR LEAD TO MORE SPREAD.

>> SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY THE C.P.S.

C.E.O.

HAS HIS VIEW ON THAT AS HE IS WELCOMING KIDS BACK JANUARY 3.

THANKS TO Dr. ALLISON BARTLETT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND THERE'S MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AHEAD SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

IS >> AND MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING A LOOK AT COVID'S IMPACT ON DIALYSIS PATIENTS.

>> BUT FIRST, HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO GET A FISH BUT HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO START?

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" JOANNA HERNANDEZ MET WITH A WOMAN IN WICKER PARK WHO BEGAN CREATING EDUCATIONAL AQUARIUM VIDEOS DURING THE PANDEMIC WHICH LED HER TO A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE.

>> JAMIE DOES NOT HAVE FURRY PETS BUT AQUATIC FRIENDS.

>> SOMEBODY ASKED ME HOW MANY FISH I HAVE I DON'T KNOW, 50 IN DISMOO.

>> FROM HARRY.

>> HE RUNS OFF WITH IT.

>> TO LUCY AN ADORABLE SALAMANDER.

>> MY MOTHER GAVE US FISH WE WERE NOT ALLOWED DOGS SO WE HAD A LOT OF FISH AROUND I GREW UP WITH FISH.

I HAD BETAS GROWING UP AND I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING TO LEARN MORE HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR THEM BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE MAYBE HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING FOR THE CARE THAT DIFFERENT FISH AND ANIMALS NEED AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF A HEALTHY SETUP.

>> IN 2015 DALTON STARTED A BLOG SHARING INFORMATION AND TIPS TO HELP OTHERS IN BUILDING THEIR FISH TANKS.

DURING THE PANDEMIC SHE DECIDED TO GO FURTHER AND TRANSFORMED HER SECOND BEDROOM INTO A FULLY FUNCTIONING FISH STUDIO.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE TANK AND WE ARE GOING TO CHOOSE THIS.

THEY ARE NARROW.

>> WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE DIDN'T HAVE MANY VISITORS COMING AND AT THE TIME I HAD TWO OR THREE FISH TANKS AND I THOUGHT WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND REALLY TAKE MY PASSION TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> DALTON STARTED CREATING EDUCATIONAL TUTORIAL VIDEOS ON THE CARE AND OPTIONS IN BRINGING HOME THE RIGHT FISH OR WET PETS.

>> I RECENTLY MADE AN IMPOSSIBLE TWO STOREY FISH TANK I TURNED ONE TANK UPSIDE DOWN.

DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK?

>> IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME THAT HER VIDEOS WERE RACKING THOUSANDS OF VIEWS AND GOING VIRAL.

>> I NEVER EXPECTED IT 0 TO GET THIS BIG.

IT WAS AMAZING WATCHING THE GROWTH OVER 2.5 MILLION ACROSS PLATFORMS.

>> WITH A GROWING FAN BASE SHE BEGAN SELLING AQUARIUM KITS.

>> THIS IS A FOUR-GALLON MINNIE KIT AND IT COMES WITH THE SAND TO LAY THE FOUNDATION.

DRAGON STONE WHICH IS THIS CLAY-BASED STONE OR MORE OF LIKE A DARK GRAY COLOR AND WE INCLUDE THE TOOLS.

A GREAT FIRST STEP IF YOU DID WANT TO GET INTO THE HOBBY.

>> IT'S BOOMED INTO A BUSINESS.

ONE THAT DALTON WANTS TO KEEP SHARING WITH OTHERS.

>> I LOVE TO POTENTIALLY DO MORE IN-PERSON ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO AND IT'S SAFE.

IN-PERSON EVENTS TO DO DEMONSTRATIONS AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE FISH KEEPING HOBBY AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE FISH.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE TO SHARE.

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

>> AND TO WATCH MORE OF DALTON'S VIDEOS SWIM OVER TO OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... FROM NEW REGULATIONS ON PET STORES TO CHANGES IN ILLINOIS' GUN POLICY.

MORE LAWS TO KNOW FOR THE NEW YEAR.

>> DIALYSIS PATIENTS HAVE DIED IN RECORD NUMBERS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

A REPORTER LOOKS AT THE IMPACT OF COVID ON A VULNERABLE POPULATION.

>> THE FUTURE COACH MATT NAGY MAY BE DOMINATING HEADLINES AFTER A DISAPPOINTING BEARS SEASON BUT THE TEAM HAS TWO GAMES TO PLAY STARTING WITH THE GIANTS SUNDAY.

[♪♪♪] >> AND REVISITING OUR FALL CONVERSATION WITH MAESTRO RICCARDO MUTI OF THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN IS ADDRESSING THE CITY'S RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME IN 2021.

ACCORDING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, AT LEAST 75 POLICE OFFICERS WERE SHOT OR SHOT AT THIS YEAR.

MEANWHILE, POLICE TOOK MORE THAN 12,000 GUNS OFF CITY STREETS.

BROWN SAYS THE CITY EXPANDED THE VEHICULAR TASK FORCE IN RESPONSE TO CITYWIDE CARJACKINGS.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID MORE OFFICERS WILL BE PUT OUT ON THE STREETS TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES.

>> SO WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENGAGING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH OUR YOUTH AND OTHERS AND IDENTIFY COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> BROWN ALSO IS SAYS HE PLANS TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF DETECTIVES AS WELL IN 2022.

>> THE SPIKE IN COVID CASES FORCED ANOTHER SHUTDOWN THIS TIME IT'S THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SESSIONS HAVE BEEN CANCELED FOR NEXT TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 AND 6.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL CONVENE WEDNESDAY LARGELY FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES AND TO EMPOWER COMMITTEES TO MEET AND VOTE REMOTELY.

YOU CAN READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCES AN ARBITRATOR DECIDED IN THE STATE'S FAVOR AND THAT ILLINOIS QUOTE CAN AND SHOULD REQUIRE VACCINATIONS FOR PRISON GUARDS AND JUVENILE DETENTION STAFF.

THE STATE WILL REQUIRE THEY GET THE FIRST SHOT BY JANUARY 31.

>> TWO NEW STUDIES ARE SHOWING PROMISE FOR THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON BOOSTER VACCINE.

IN COMBATING THE OMICRON VARIANT.

ONE STUDY RESEARCHED 69,000 HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN SOUTH AFRICA WHO TOOK THE SHOT AND FOUND THE VACCINE REDUCED THE RISK OF HOSPITALIZATIONS BY 85%.

THE STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED DURING THE RISE OF INFECTIONS OF THE DELTA VARIANT AND OMICRON VARIANTS IN AFRICA.

>> WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT TOMORROW 300 NEW LAW ALSO TAKE EFFECT IN ILLINOIS.

THEY RANGE FROM CHANGING HOW GUN LICENSES ARE PROCESSED TO REGULATING PET SALES.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US ONCE AGAIN WITH MORE HIGHLIGHTS.

>> PARIS, WHAT COULD TRY TO MAKE A BLOG A SINGLE DOLLAR BY SELLING LEMONADE.

ILLINOIS YOUTH WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT FEAR OF RUNNING FOUL OF THE LAW.

>> IT'S CALLED HALEY'S LAW AND NAMED AFTER HALEY MARTINEZ IN 2017 SHE OPENED A LEMONADE STAND TO RAISE MONEY FOR HER COLLEGE FUND AND IT WAS SHUTDOWN BY THE CITY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT LICENSED.

SO IT MADE NEWS MADE ITS WAY INTO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> AND NOW WITH HALEY'S LAW CITIES CAN NO LONGER YOUTH TO GET A LICENSE OR PERMIT TO SELL LEMONADE AS LONG AS THE PERSON IS UNDER 16 AND THAT STAND IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR A PUBLIC PARK.

NOW, REALIZING IT IS NOT NECESSARILY LEMONADE WEATHER BUT THIS HOLDS TRUE FOR NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PERHAPS MAYBE HOT KOCOY MALAGON.

NOW, A COUPLE OF OTHER LAWS DEAL WITH PETS.

STARTING IN EARLY 22, PET SHOPS WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO SELL DOGS AND CATS THEY GET FROM ANIMAL SHELTERS OR ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITIES.

THEY HAVE TO KEEP THE PAPERWORK TO PROVE THAT.

THAT CANNOT SELL FURRY FRIENDS BORN AND RAISED IN PUPPY MILLS.

>> PUPPY MILLS ARE GENERALLY LARGE BREEDING FACILITIES THAT BREED A NUMBER OF ANIMALS AND DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEM THE WAY WE WANT TO SEE OUR PETS TAKEN CARE OF.

WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT THOSE PET SHOPS CAN'T SELL ANIMALS THEY HAVE TO SOURCE THEM THROUGH RESCUES OR SHELTERS.

>> PET STORES WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO OFFER THEIR OWN FINANCING.

STATE SENATOR LINDA HOLMES SAYS SOME STORES HAD OFFERED WANNA BE PET OWNERS LOANS WITH INTEREST RATES OVER 100%.

THAT WON'T BE ALLOWED GOING FORWARD.

>> YOU CERTAINLY CAN PUT IT ON A CREDIT CARD AND YOU HAVE YOUR FINANCE TERMS LAID OUT FOR YOU.

OR IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND TAKE OUT A PERSONAL LOAN BEFORE YOU GO TO THE PET STORE BUT WHAT THE PET STORES HAVE BANKED ON IS I'M GOING TO WALK IN THE PET STORE AND GOSH THAT IS THE CUTEST PUPPY I NEED TO TAKE IT HOME.

>> ANOTHER CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL THAT COULD SAVE ILLINOISIANS MONEY WILL FORBID COMPANIES FROM CHARGING EARLY TERMINATION FEES IF THE SERVICE IS TERMINATED BECAUSE SOMEBODY PASSES AWAY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT GWEN DANIELS OF ILLINOIS LEGAL AID SAYS HAPPENS.

>> IF YOU HAVE A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT ON A CELLPHONE AND YOU DIE IN MONTH ONE OR TWO YOU -- BEFORE THIS ACT THE STATE COULD BE CHARGED FOR THE OTHER 34 MONTHS OF THE CONTRACT.

AND THE EARLY TERMINATION FEE IS BASED ON THAT.

THIS LAW APPLIES TO INTERNET SERVICES, CELLPHONE BILLS, TELEPHONE BILLS, YOUR WATER SERVICE YOUR ELECTRIC SERVICE, GAS SERVICE.

>> I WILL WRAP IT UP HIGHLIGHTING CHANGES TO ILLINOIS' GUN LICENSING LAW.

THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO TRIM A BACKLOG OF FIREARM OWNERS APPLICANTS.

ANTIVIOLENCE GROUPS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR MANDATORY FINGERPRINTING.

FOID APPLICANTS CAN VOLUNTARILY SHARE THEIR FINGERPRINTS FOR BACKGROUND CHECK PURPOSES AND YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THAT THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION OR G PACK KATHLEEN SANCES SAYS FINGERPRINTING IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP GUNS FROM DANGEROUS PEOPLE.

>> FINGERPRINTING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL WE IDENTIFY WHO IS TRYING TO PURCHASE A FIREARM.

AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON IS NOT PROHIBITED LEGALLY FROM OWNING A FIREARM.

AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN EASY EXAMPLE.

IF YOU LOOK IN A PHONE BOOK OR DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR JOHN SMITH, HOW MANY ARE GOING TO COME UP?

>> SHE SAYS FINGERPRINTING AND THEN THE BACKGROUND CHECKS IT LEADS TO THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO VERIFY IF A GUN PURCHASER IS THE CORRECT JOHN SMITH.

ALSO THE NEW LAW STATE POLICE TASKED WITH CREATING A DATABASE OF STOLEN GUNS TO HELP PREVENT THEIR RESALE.

>> PARIS, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

BACK TO YOU.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.

A LOT CHANGING.

>> THE DEVASTATING HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF THE PANDEMIC HAVE NOT BEEN LIMITED TO THOSE INFECTED WITH COVID-19.

A REPORT FROM ProPublica DETAILS THE AT STROFFIC LOSS OF DIALYSIS PATIENTS AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS HER FINDINGS IS REPORTER DUAA ELDEIB OF PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS.

REMIND US WHAT DIALYSIS IS AND THE PATIENTS THAT RELY ON IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

PATIENTS ON DIALYSIS HAVE REASON NATIONAL DISEASE WHICH MEANS THEIR KIDNEYS ARE SO DAMAGED THEY CANNOT FILTER THE TOXINS FROM THEIR BLOOD THEY HAVE TO UNDERGO DIALYSIS WHERE A MACHINE DOES THAT FOR THEM.

>> AND YOU WRITE IN YOUR INVESTIGATION THAT DIALYSIS PATIENTS QUOTE BECAME THE PERFECT VICTIMS OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT MADE THEM SO ENVIRONMENTABLE TO DEATH WITH COVID-19?

>> THAT DIALYSIS TREATMENT IS A TREATMENT THAT THE PATIENTS CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT.

SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN PEOPLE WERE SHELTERING IN PLACE OR PUTTING OFF ELECTIVE SURGERIES THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT OPTION.

THEY HAD TO LEAVE HER HOMES MANY THREE TIMES A WEEK TO GO TO A DIALYSIS FACILITY.

MANY TOOK PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE.

ONCE THEY WERE THERE, THEY WERE IN A ROOM FOR THREE TO FOUR HOURS WITH OTHER PEOPLE SO THEY COULDN'T ISOLATE THEY COULDN'T QUARANTINE.

AND ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT THIS IS A POPULATION THAT IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MULTIPLE LAYERS OF RISK FOR PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO GET THEIR LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT.

AND DOING THIS REPORTING I WAS READING A LOT OF STUDIES AND DATA AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS A STUDY THAT FOUND EARLY ON THAT COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTS WERE 40 TIMES HIGHER THAN THEY WERE FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION.

>> AND SO BECAUSE OF THESE RISKS, A LOT OF DIALYSIS PATIENTS STAYED HOME.

HOW DANGEROUS IS THAT?

AND HOW LONG CAN THEY GO WITHOUT GETTING THE DIALYSIS TREATMENT?

>> THAT IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS AND IT'S TRAGIC.

FOR A LOT OF THE PATIENTS THE RISK WAS TOO MUCH SO THEY DIDN'T GO IN TO GET DIALYSIS.

OR SOME OF THEM WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH RENAL DISEASE DURING THE PANDEMIC THEY DID NOT START THEIR TREATMENT.

AND SO FOR DIALYSIS TREATMENT DOCTORS IT VARIES FROM PATIENT TO PATIENT BUT TYPICALLY IT IS THREE TIMES A WEEK TREATMENT IF YOU MISS TWO TREATMENTS AND YOUR DOCTOR REALLY STARTS TO WORRY.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION THAT IN OTHER COUNTRIES THERE IS A MORE ROBUST HOME DIALYSIS TREATMENT SYSTEM BUT NOT SO HERE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE MORE.

>> THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIALYSIS AND ONE IS WHAT WE SEE WITH THE TUBES AND THE BLOOD AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DIFFERENT DIALYSIS CENTERS.

ANOTHER KIND OF DIALYSIS IS DONE AT HOME.

IT'S [INAUDIBLE] IT CAN BE DONE WHILE THE PATIENT IS SLEEPING.

THEY CAN DO IT AT THEIR BEDSIDE.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS MORE POPULAR IN PLACES LIKE HONG KONG AND THAILAND BUT NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ADOPTED HERE IN THE U.S.

BUT THERE IS A BIG PUSH TO ADOPT THAT BECAUSE IT IS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN IT HAS EITHER SIMILAR OR BETTER SURVIVAL RATES.

IT GIVES THE PATIENTS MORE FLEXIBILITY.

AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HOME DIALYSIS THAN WITH DIALYSIS IN STAGE RENAL DISEASE OVERALL IT'S JUST THE RACIAL DISPARITIES AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE SEE BOTH WITH THE PATIENTS WHO START OUT WITH JUST CHRONIC KIDNEY FAILURE WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA HAVE.

BUT IT PROGRESSED TO THE LEVEL TO GET TO IN STAGE RENAL DISEASE WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE ON DIALYSIS.

AND BLACK PATIENTS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY MORE AFFECTED BY IT AND THE SAME THING WITH HOME DIALYSIS.

THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE ON HOME DIALYSIS.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK.

DID YOU SAY 40 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OR TO BE HOSPITALIZED?

>> TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

>> TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

>> WAS THIS DATA THAT THE STATE WAS PRIVY TO?

OR SURFACING NOW?

>> THIS WAS DATA IT'S BEEN TRICKLING IN AND SOMETHING THEY WILL CONTINUE TO STUDY.

BUT THERE WAS INITIAL DATA COMING OUT TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR WHEN THEY STARTED TO SEE THE DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE POPULATION AND ONE OF THE CRITICISMS I'VE HEARD WAS THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

AND WHY DIALYSIS PATIENTS WERE NOT INITIALLY PRIORITIZED EARLY ON BACK IN DECEMBER WHEN THIS DATA WAS KNOWN.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL MARCH THAT THE FEDERAL OFFICIALS PARTNERED WITH DIALYSIS FACILITIES TO GET THEM THE VACCINES IN THE DIALYSIS FACILITIES WHICH IS WHERE THEY ARE AT THREE TIMES A WEEK.

>> AND WHAT IS THE SITUATION NOW?

ARE DIALYSIS PATIENTS AT LEAST LESS VULNERABLE IF THEY ARE VACCINATED?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY THE VACCINATIONS HELP THE BOOSTERS HELP AND THERE IS A QUESTION OF IF THERE'S A BOOSTER IF THEY WILL BE PRIORITIZED BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST FINDINGS IN THIS STORY IS THAT EVERY TIME THERE IS A A SURGE AND DEATHS YOU SEE THE SURGE AND DIALYSIS POPULATION DEATHS AS WELL.

AND SO WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS THAT LAST YEAR OVERALL AN ADDITIONAL 18,000 DIALYSIS PATIENTS DIED MORE THAN WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED FROM THE YEAR BEFORE AND SO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THE TOTAL DIALYSIS POPULATION ACTUALLY SHRUNK.

>> AND NOT FOR GOOD REASON THERE.

BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

ALL RIGHT IMPORTANT REPORTING OUR THANKS TO DUAA ELDEIB.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> UP NEXT A PREVIEW OF THE BEARS SUNDAY MATCHUP.

SO STAY WITH US.

BEARS HAVE A CHANCE TO FINISH A LOST SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE STARTING WITH THE LAST PLACE NEW YORK GIANTS VISITING SOLDIER FIELD BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS WHO WILL PLAY QUARTERBACK AND THE BIGGER QUESTIONS OF WHERE EXACTLY THIS ORGANIZATION IS HEADED.

[♪♪♪] >> JOINING US NOW IS JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS.

FORMER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS.

JAMES HAPPY NEW YEAR, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

FOLES STARTED, LOOKED HALFWAY DECENT AGAINST SEATTLE IS IT A SIGN THAT THE BEARS DID NOT NEED FIELDS?

>> I MEAN, YOU THINK BACK TO ALL THE CONVERSATIONS WHEN PACE FIRST GOT HERE, WHEN SEVEN YEARS AGO AND WHEN NAGY GOT HERE, ALL THE CONVERSATION THEY HAD ABOUT BRINGING IN A YOUNG QUARTERBACK EVERY YEAR AND BEING ABLE TO GROOM YOUNG QUARTERBACKS.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.

WE'VE GOT JUSTIN FIELDS.

AND HE IS OUR YOUNG QUARTERBACK TO GO WITH RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHERE ARE THE YOUNG BACK UPS BEHIND HIM THAT THEY NEEDED TO HELP GROOM?

YES WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE GONE WITH FOLES THIS YEAR AND NOT PAID THE EXTRA $10 MILLION TO ANDY DALTON.

FOLES DID WHAT HE DOES.

HE IS A VIABLE VETERAN QUARTERBACK WHO YOU EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO COME IN ON SHORT NOTICE AND KNOW THE GAME PLAN AND KNOW IT WELL AND HE DID THAT.

>> AND SPEAKING OF FIELDS HE IS NURSING AN ANKLE INJURY AFTER THE RIBS INJURY.

IS IT BETTER TO GET HIM IN THERE AND MORE EXPERIENCE OR SHUT HIM DOWN FOR THE SEASON AND KEEP HIM HEALTHY FOR NEXT YEAR?

>> NO, I THINK IF HE CAN PLAY HE SHOULD PLAY.

TWO EXTRA REGULAR SEASON GAMES IT'S GOOD FOR HIM.

IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR HIM TO GET EXPERIENCE FOR IT'S GOOD LEARNING PERSONS SPORE HIM.

TO KEEP HIM OUTDOES HIM -- IT DOESN'T DO HIM ANY HARM BUT IT DOES HIM MORE GOOD TO BE IN THE GAMES.

>> IF YOU ARE A PLAYER AND YOU KNOW THAT LAST TWO GAMES OF THE YEAR HERE ANY CHANCE OF PLAYOFFS ARE LONG GONE LIKELY TO BE A NEW REGIME HOW DO YOU GET UP AND PLAY THIS GAME ON SUNDAY?

>> YOU KNOW EVERY SNAP IS ON FILM AND EVERY DOWN THAT YOU PLAY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO RIGHT NOW, IS BEING SCRUTINIZED NOT ONLY BY YOURSELF AND BY THE COACHES, BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT OTHER TEAMS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE.

SO IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH MOTIVATION TO GET YOU UP I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

>> AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE NAGY ERA IS ABOUT TO END ALTHOUGH WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

LESS CERTAIN IS RYAN PACE WHO ONLY HAS ONE WINNING SEASON IN THE SEVEN YEARS HE HAS BEEN HERE.

WOULD YOU PREDICT THAT PACE MIGHT BE OUT THE DOOR WITH NAGY?

>> I'M NOT PUTTING ANY PREDICTIONS OUT THERE, PARIS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, I THOUGHT THEY BOTH COULD HAVE BEEN GONE LAST YEAR.

FOR THEM TO COME BACK LAST YEAR AND SAY THEY WERE GOING TO GET ANOTHER BITE OF THE APPLE, YOU KNOW, NOTHING HAS SHOWN ME THAT IT IS A DEFINITE THAT EITHER ONE OF THEM WERE GOING TO BE GONE.

>> AND YOU KNOW THE BEARS HAVE THIS TWO-WEEK WINDOW WHERE THEY CAN MAKE PRELIMINARY CONTACT WITH POSSIBLE HEAD COACHING CANDIDATES BUT THEY HAVE NOT FIRED NAGY YET.

ARE THEY WAITING TOO LONG TO GET THE BALL ROLLING?

>> I THINK YOU DO NEED THAT TWO-WEEK ADVANTAGE ESPECIALLY IF YOU KNOW UPSTAIRS THAT HO YOU'RE GOING TO GET RID OF THE HEAD COACH.

SO EITHER WAY THEY ARE GOING TO GO THEY NEED TO MAKE A MOVE SOON.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WITH ALL THE REPORTS THAT WE HEARD EARLIER IN THE SEASON THAT THEY HAD A DIRECTION THEY WANTED TO GO.

BUT I'M NOT SURE.

AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE KNOWS EXCEPT FOR PROBABLY GEORGE.

>> AND MAYBE GEORGE OR THE BOARD THERE DOESN'T KNOW QUITE YET EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO DO OR HAVEN'T DECIDED.

SPEAKING OF THE GAME SUNDAY, THE GIANTS ARE WORSE THAN THE BEARS AT 4-11 AND THEY HAVE QUARTERBACK ISSUES.

WHAT KIND OF MATCHUP IS THIS FOR THE BEARS?

>> THIS IS A GAME I'D LIKE TO SEE THE YOUNG PLAYERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

BRING THE GRAND JUNIORS OUT AND IF JENKINS IS HEALTHY ENOUGH TO PLAY ALLOW HIM TO PLAY.

AND LET'S SEE WHAT THE YOUNG GUYS HAVE.

YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR NEXT SEASON NOT SO MUCH FOR ANOTHER WIN THIS SEASON.

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE.

YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.

AND THAT'S FROM THE TOP OF THE ORGANIZATION DOWN.

>> AND TO THAT EFFECT, BIG CAT WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION FOR SUNDAY?

>> WELL, I THINK THIS IS A GAME THAT THE BEARS CAN PULL OUT.

I THINK THE GIANTS ARE IN MORE DISARRAY THAN THEY ARE NOT TO MENTION YOU COULD HAVE GLEN STARTING AT QUARTERBACK SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE BEARS DEFENSE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

24-17 BEARS.

IN NOT SO CLOSE OF A GAME.

>> TWO-GAME WINNING STREAK AND GLEN THE FORMER BEARS QUARTERBACK BEFORE WE GO, THE NFL LOST A GIANT AS BIG AS ANY FIGURE IN THE SPORT IN JOHN MADDEN YESTERDAY.

YOUR REFLECTIONS ON MADDEN?

>> YOU KNOW, MADDEN GOT ME IN TROUBLE A LOT IN COLLEGE AS FAR AS BEING LATE TO CLASSES, STAYING UP AND PLAYING MADDEN TOO LATE IN THE EVENING.

BUT HE WAS A GREAT COACH.

HE WAS A GREAT TEACHER.

YOU KNOW I LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT HIM AFTER HE HAD PASSED AWAY JUST AS FAR AS HIS BACKGROUND IN BEING A TEACHER.

AND HOW THAT MADE HIM SO MUCH MORE OF A COACH.

HOW IT HELPED HIM TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO HIS PLAYERS.

HOW WHEN HE BECAME A BROADCASTER, IT HELPED HIM EXPLAIN THINGS TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW BEING ON TV IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN BEING ON RADIO.

YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE RADIO.

BUT AS FAR AS TV GOES HE WAS ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE THINGS THAT HE KNEW THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THE AUDIENCE KNEW.

INSTEAD OF EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT THEY ALREADY SAW.

>> I'M SURE IT WAS EXCITING WHEN YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE PLAYING A GAME GETTING THE TEAM OF PAT SUMMERALL AND JOHN MADDEN TO CALL YOUR GAME.

>> THAT IS ALL YOU WANTED TO HEAR WAS YOUR NAME CALLED OUT BY JOHN MADDEN.

>> I REMEMBER YOUR NAME CALLED OUT.

OUR THANKS TO JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS.

>> HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR'S, PARIS.

>> YOU AS WELL.

>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, A LOOK AT A CHICAGO CULTURAL TREASURE.

IN SEPTEMBER THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCED THE 10-YEAR CONTRACT OF DIRECTOR RICCARDO MUTI ABOUT TO EXPIRE HAD BEEN EXTENDED FOR ONE YEAR.

ON THE OCCASION OF THAT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND HEDY WEISS SPOKE WITH A SPECIAL GUEST, RICCARDO MUTI HIMSELF.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

[♪♪♪] >> I WATCHED REHEARSAL THAT YOU ARE HAVING FOR YOUR OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU AND THAT ORCHESTRA HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

FROM THE VERY START THERE HAS BEEN A MAGIC CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU AND THE MUSICIANS OF THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> THIS IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN.

BUT FROM THE FIRST TIME I WAS INVITED TO CONDUCT THE ORCHESTRA, AND I REMEMBER THAT FROM THE FIRST REHEARSAL THE FIRST BAR, IMMEDIATELY FROM THIS BEGINNING, I FELT THAT I HAD IN FRONT OF ME NOT ONLY GREAT ORCHESTRA BUT SPECIAL ORCHESTRA.

BUT NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRILLIANCE AND THE EXCELLENCE OF THE BRASS BECAUSE IN THAT PERIOD THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY WAS AROUND THE WORLD ALWAYS CONSIDERED FAMOUS BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF THE BRASS PLAYERS, TRUMPET AND HORNS.

BUT I FELT IMMEDIATELY THAT ALSO WOODWINDS AND STRINGS ARE VERY, VERY SPECIAL.

[♪♪♪] AND SPECIAL BEGAN OUR RELATIONSHIP.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT I'M NOT A PERSON THAT LIKES TO MAKE COMPLIMENTS TO SAY HOW GOOD YOU ARE.

I WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE HERE.

SO I DO MY WORK YOU DO YOUR WORK.

AND WE SEEM TO DEFLECT THE ORCHESTRA AND ME AND WE DID A TOUR AND TOURS INTERNATIONAL TOURS CAN MAKE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN ORCHESTRA AND THE CONDUCTOR MORE POSITIVE, MORE BEAUTIFUL, OR CAN TURN INTO DISASTER.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW EVERYDAY DIFFERENT PROGRAM, YOU ARE TRAVELING, TIRED, HOTELS AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

IT'S LIKE SOME MARRIAGES.

EVERYDAY EVERYDAY, EVERYDAY, WHEN YOU EAT EVERYDAY EVEN IF YOU EAT PROCUITTO EVERYDAY IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN INSTEAD OF SIX DAYS OF PROCUITTO THOUSAND THE SEVEN-DAY YOU RECEIVE A CABBAGE FOR BREAKFAST YOU FIND THE CABBAGE IS WONDERFUL.

[♪♪♪] >> AND THE THREE CONCERTS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING, THERE ARE THE BIG NAMES, BEETHOVEN, BRAHAMS AND TCHAIKOVSKY.

THE FIRST CONCERT IS BEETHOVEN AND TELL ME ABOUT THE BEETHOVEN YOU ARE PLAYING.

IT'S LIKE MICHELANGELO, THEY ARE ETERNAL.

SO EVERY GENERATION OF MUSICIANS AND EVERY GENERATION OF THE PUBLIC THEY MUST HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF ABSORB THE MESSAGES IN MUSIC OF THIS GREAT GENIUS.

THE MUSICIANS NEED BEETHOVEN LIKE WE NEED BREAD AT THE TABLE.

[♪♪♪] WE SHOULD NOT FORGET THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY IS AN INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION.

IT IS NOT ONLY A LOCAL INSTITUTION.

IF YOU GO IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD AND SAY CHICAGO SYMPHONY THEY WILL HEAR THE NAME WITH GREAT RESPECT.

[♪♪♪] >> YOU ARE GOING TO BE CONTINUING YOUR JOB AS MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE CSO FOR AN EXTRA YEAR IN PART BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC ROBBED YOU OF ONE YEAR OR MORE.

AND I'M WONDERING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> AS I SAID TO THE MUSICIANS I WILL STILL CONTINUE TO BE NEAR THE MUSICIANS BECAUSE I LOVE THEM.

I LOVE CHICAGO.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, ENTIRE WORLD AND AROUND THE WORLD THAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE CULTURE, ET CETERA.

MORE SHOULD BE DONE AND WE MUST DO FOR BRINGING THE ORCHESTRA TO GIVE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE SHOULD NOT ABANDON THE FACT THAT MUSIC IS AN EXPERIENCE OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE PLAYER, THE PLAYERS AND THE PUBLIC.

AND WE NEED THE ELECTRICITY THE ATTENTION AND THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THAT POSITIVE WAY ALSO IN NEGATIVE WAY IN THE SENSE WE FEEL THAT THE PUBLIC IS NOT LIKING WHAT -- DOESN'T LIKE WHAT WE ARE DOING.

OR MAYBE IF WE FEEL THAT WITH US THEY CAN GIVE US MORE ENERGY.

SO THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIVE CONCERT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

[♪♪♪] >> I DON'T KNOW BUT I COULD LISTEN TO HIM TALK ALL NIGHT.

THAT WAS HEDY WEISS WITH MAESTRO RICCARDO MUTI BACK IN SEPTEMBER.

MUTI IS SCHEDULED TO CONDUCT A BEETHOVEN PROGRAM STARTING JANUARY 13TH.

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 THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR A SPECIAL YEAR IN REVIEW.

AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

[♪♪♪]