[♪♪♪] "CHICAGO TONIGHT" WIN R WINNER OF THE 2021 MIDWEST EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC AFFAIRS SERIES.

>> AND GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE TRUTH IS THE TRAVEL BANS ARE NOT THAT EFFECTIVE.

>> ADDRESSING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL.

HOW VACCINATION EFFORTS AROUND THE WORLD COULD IMPACT SPREAD IN THE U.S. >> PRESIDENT BIDEN PREPARES TO CONFRONT VLADIMIR PUTIN OVER REPORTS THAT RUSSIA MAY SOON INVADE UKRAINE.

>> MORE THAN 1000 HOMICIDES IN COOK COUNTY SO FAR THIS YEAR.

WHAT IS DRIVING THESE NUMBERS IN THE SUBURBS?

>> NO TAKE OFF FOR THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY'S PANDEMIC RECOVERY.

THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> EFFORTS BY LOCAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO HOLD MIDWEST OIL GIANTS ACCOUNTABLE.

>> THE FIRST BLACK WHO PLAYED FOR THE CITY.

AND I WAS THE FIRST BLACK WHO PLAYED OVER THERE AND I HAD A GREAT, GREAT YEARS.

>> Mr. WHITE SOX IS SET TO BECOME Mr. HALL OF FAME.

A LOOK AT THE TRAIL BLAZING CAREER OF MINNIE MINOSO.

>> AND A ONCE IN A LIFETIME CELESTIAL TREAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> ANOTHER VIOLENT WEEKEND IN CHICAGO WITH NINE PEOPLE FATALLY SHOT AND 23 OTHERS WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE.

A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS SHOT IN THE ARM AFTER HE BUMPED INTO SOMEONE WALKING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

A CTA BUS DRIVER IS RECOVERING IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER BEING BOOT EN IN THE LOOP.

A 15-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED.

AND TWO POLICE OFFICERS WERE INJURED RESPONDING TO A FLASH MOB OF YOUNG PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.

AT LEAST 22 JUVENILES WERE ARRESTED AND THEY RECOVERED WHAT POLICE DESCRIBE AS A PAIR OF REPLICA FIREARMS FROM THE SCENE.

WHETHER IS WHAT THE MAYOR HAD TO SAY TODAY.

>> WE ARE REEVALUATING WHAT WE PUT IN PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN COME DOWNTOWN, ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY SAFELY BUT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T IMPOSE UPON OTHERS WITH VIOLENCE, WITH FIGHTS AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE SAW OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> FORMER EMPIRE ACTOR JUSSIE SMOLLETT TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE TODAY.

SMOLLETT REFUTED LAST WEEK'S TESTIMONY THAT HE ORCHESTRATED THE ATTACK ON HIMSELF.

SMOLLETT TOLD THE COURT HE WROTE A 3500 CHECK FOR NUTRITION AND WORKOUT ADVICE.

BOTH OSUNDAIRO BROTHERS TESTIFIED THE ATTACK WAS STAGED FOR PUBLICITY.

SMOLLETT GAVE THEM $100 FOR SUPPLIES INSTRUCTING THEM TO YELL HOMOPHOBIC SLURS AND PLACE A NOOSE AROUND HIS NECK.

HE IS CHARGED FOR LYING TO POLICE AND FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT.

IF CONVICTED HE COULD FACE THREE YEARS IN PRISON.

>> THE COST OF BEING INFECTED BY COVID-19 WOULD GO UP FOR SOME UNDER A MEASURE INTRODUCED IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

UNVACCINATED ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR HOSPITALS AND RELATED HEALTHCARE EXPENSES.

NORTHBROOK STATE REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN CARROLL SAYS HE IS FRUSTRATED BY ELIGIBLE PEOPLE RESISTING THE VACCINE.

AS DRAFTED THE CHANGES COULD NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 2023 IF IT EVER BECOMES LAW.

THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO FACE LEGAL QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES.

>> UP NEXT, ADDRESSING THE COVID PANDEMIC AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL.

SO STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES AND COUNTRIES ARE DETECTING THE COVID-19 OMICRON VARIANT.

THOUGH IT HAS YET TO BE IDENTIFIED HERE IN ILLINOIS.

SOME SAY THE MUTATION HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE AFTER AN EQUITABLE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE GLOBE TO PREVENT MORE VARIANTS FROM EMERGING AMID CRITICISM FOR THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES FOR TRAVEL BANS TO SOUTH AFRICA AND NEARBY NATIONS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT ARE Dr. RICHARD NOVAK HEAD OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE DIVISION AT UI HEALTH AND Dr. SOLA OLOPADE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DIVISION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

Dr. NOVAK, CAN YOU FIRST REMIND US HOW VARIANTS EMERGE AND WHERE THEY ARE MOST LIKELY TO EMERGE?

>> SURE.

SO WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, SARS COV2 HAD NEVER BEEN IN THE HUMAN POPULATION AND HUMANS WERE NAIVE TO IT IT CAN REPLICATE WITH IMMUNITY.

AND SO IT EVOLVED THE VIRUSES ALL MUTATE AND EVOLVE.

AND THEY JUST NATURAL SELECTION.

SO THEY ARE COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER TO SEE WHO WHICH VIRUS WOULD GROW THE MOST RAPIDLY, MOST EFFICIENTLY.

SO THE EARLIEST VARIANTS ONES THAT WOULD REPLICATE BETTER AND BETTER IN HUMAN CELLS.

AND THEN AS IMMUNITY STARTS TO APPEAR IN THE HUMAN POPULATION AFTER REPEAT EXPOSURES TO VIRUS AND THE INTRODUCTION OF VACCINES MORE RECENT VARIANTS ARE RESPONDING TO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM THROUGH IMMUNOSCAPE TRYING TO CREATE SELECTED FROM MUTATIONS THAT HELP IT ESCAPE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

WE'RE SEEING COMBINATION OF THOSE THINGS NOW.

WE ARE VIRUSES THAT REPLICATE WELL AND STARTING TO EVADE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE.

>> IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SOUTH AFRICA HAS A HIGHER VACCINATION RATE COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES ON THE CONTINENT AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHERE OMICRON FIRST EMERGED.

BUT Dr. SOLA OLOPADE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE HOW HAS VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AROUND THE WORLD GONE?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION HAS NOT GONE VERY WELL.

BECAUSE THEY BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, HIGH INCOME COUNTRIES, I DON'T BLAME THEM PRIORITIZED THE VACCINATION OF THEIR PEOPLE.

WHILE A LOT OF THE LOW INCOME COUNTRIES SETTINGS DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HAVE ACCESS TO ANY VACCINE.

SO THAT DISPARITY, THAT IS STILL THERE WHERE MANY OF US HERE ARE GETTING A BOOSTERS, WHEREAS IN AFRICA, USE AFRICA AS AN EXAMPLE, VACCINATION RATE IS IN THE 45% RANGE.

AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR ALL OF US.

BECAUSE AS Dr. NOVAK, IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR THE VIRUS TO INFECT IT PROVIDES A PER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VARIANTS TO DEVELOP WHICH MAJORS ALL OF US VULNERABLE BECAUSE OF THE EASE OF TRAVEL ACROSS THE GLOBE.

>> AFTER SOUTH AFRICA FIRST ANNOUNCED THE VARIANT MANY GOVERNMENTS ENACTED TRAVEL BANS TO SOUTH AFRICA INCLUDING THE U.S. WE SPOKE WITH MICHAEL DIAMOND ABOUT THIS.

HE IS A PROFESSOR AT DePAUL UNIVERSITY AND PRESIDENT OF WORLD RESOURCES CHICAGO.

>> THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AND A VERY ROBUST LABORATORY SYSTEM.

AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT THIS NEW OMICRON VARIANT, VERY EARLY ON.

THE DOWNSIDE FOR OUT AFRICA WHEN THEY CAME FORWARD WITH THIS INFORMATION THEY WERE THEN PENALIZED BY COUNTRIES BANNING ALL TRAVEL FROM NOT ONLY SOUTH AFRICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

THIS SENDS A MESSAGE OF SANCTIONS TO OTHER COUNTRIES THAT WANT TO COME FORWARD.

>> Dr. NOVAK HOW EFFECTIVE ARE TRAVEL BANS?

>> IN THIS CASE IT'S PROBABLY TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

THE SO-CALLED HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN, I SUSPECT BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THE OMICRON VARIANT IN AT LEAST 17 STATES AND THAT IS IN A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES ALL OVER EUROPE ALREADY, IT'S IN ASIA.

IT'S SPREADING OCCURRED BEFORE SOUTH AFRICA IDENTIFIED THE OMICRON VARIANT AND WITHIN SOUTH AFRICA.

HAD A SMALL IMPACT ON SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS N THIS CASE, I SUSPECT THAT DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF AN EFFECT.

I THINK THE SPREAD ALREADY OCCURRED AND IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THE VIRUS FROM GETTING EVERYWHERE BECAUSE PEOPLE TRAVEL AND THEY CARRY THE VIRUS BEFORE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE IT.

>> AND COULD TRAVEL BANS LIKE THOSE DIS INCENTIVIZE COUNTRIES FROM COMING FORWARD WHEN THEY FIND THE NEW VARIANTS.

>> I THINK THE TRAVEL BAN IS AS PUNITIVE AS IT SOUNDS.

I DON'T THINK MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE DISINGENUOUS IN NOT SHARING THE RESULTS OF THEIR EXPERTISE.

IN BEING ABLE TO DO THE GENOME SEQUENCE AND THAT POTENTIALLY HELPED ALL OF US TO DO THE PLANNING AND MOST PEOPLE MIGHT BE UNAWARE THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OVER TIME INVESTED MAYBE UP TO $180 MILLION TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO ALL OF THE GENOMIC TESTING IN AFRICA BY AFRICANS.

IN THE CONSEQUENCES WE WORSEN THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THESE COUNTRIES.

WE DISMANTLE THE FRAGILE HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO BE INFECTED AND MAKING ALL OF US UNSAFE.

SO I DON'T THINK IT IS A SMART DECISION TO OSTRACIZE SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES.

BUT I TRUST OUR COLLEAGUES TO CONTINUE TO DO THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK THAT WILL AINFORM THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND MAKE LIFE SAFER FOR ALL OF US.

>> WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE MORE VACCINE ACCESS TO THE VULNERABLE COUNTRIES?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE W.H.O.

AS A VEHICLE THROUGH KOVAX, THEY ARE VERY SOPHISTICATED GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE COMPETITIVE PRICING FOR VACCINE OVER TIME.

I THINK IF WE CAN DO THAT AND HAVE SOME OF THE HIGH INCOME OR WEALTHY COUNTRIES ALSO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS EITHER IN TERMS OF VACCINE OR IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP BOTH THE ALLIANCE AND KOVAX THROUGH THE W.H.O.

T MIGHT HELP US TO NARROW THE GAP IF WE CAN GET OVER THE VACCINE HESITANCY AND ALL OF THE BAD INFORMATION THAT IS OUT THERE.

>> SOME OF WHICH WE EXPERIENCE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY AS WELL.

Dr. RICHARD NOVAK AND SOLA OLOPADE THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> U.S. INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS ARE WARNING THAT RUSSIA MAY BE ON THE BRINK OF LAUNCHING A WIDE SCALE INVASION OF UKRAINE.

THERE IS A LARGE DEPLOYMENT OF RUSSIAN FORCES ON THE UKRAINE BORDER.

U.S. DIPLOMATS ARE SCRAMBLING TO RESPOND AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A VIDEO CALL WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN TOMORROW.

HERE IS WHAT U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE BLINKIN HAD TO SAY LAST WEEK AFTER A MEETING WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART.

>> IT'S NOW ON RUSSIA TO DEESCALATE THE TENSIONS BY REVERSING THE TROOP BUILDUP AND RETURNING TO PEACETIME POSITIONS AND REFRAINING FROM FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO DESTABILIZE UKRAINE.

>> JOINING US ARE ALBERTO COLL, PROFESSOR OF LAW AND U.S. FOREIGN RELATIONS AT DePAUL UNIVERSITY, AND A FORMER PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

AND CECILE SHEA A SENIOR FELLOW ON SECURITY AND DIPLOMACY ON THE CHICAGO COUNCIL OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS AND SERVED AS A U.S.

DIPLOMAT FOR TWO DECADES AND WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF PUTIN'S INTENTIONS HERE?

DO YOU THINK THERE IS AN INVASION LIKELY?

OR JUST BLINKS MANHATTANSHIP?

>> IT'S VERY HARD TO ASCRIBE RATIONAL THOUGHT TO PUTIN'S DECISIONS.

SOME OF THEM TEND TO BE BASED ON DOING THINGS BECAUSE HE CAN.

FROM THE KGB DAYS AND SOMETIMES HE MAKES DECISIONS BECAUSE HE IS A BULLY WHICH COMES INTO THE HE CAN.

I THINK THIS TIME THERE MAY BE STRATEGIC REASONS.

IF HE BACKS THE U.S. AND EUROPE INTO A CORNER ON THIS AND HE HAS, IT PUTS PRESIDENT BIDEN IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

AND IT PUTS THE EUROPEAN LEADER IN A DIFFICULT POSITION INCLUDING THE NEW CHANCELLOR IN GERMANY.

SHE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND NOW SHE WOULD FACE THIS REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

I THINK THAT NO MATTER WHAT HE IS SEEING THIS AS A REAL TEST OF THE U.S. AND OF THE EUROPEAN POWERS.

HE PROBABLY LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO SCORE POINTS DOMESTICALLY AMONG THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO LIKE HIS STANDING UP TO THE WEST.

>> ALBERTO COLL SAME QUESTION, WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF WHAT PUT TIP IS UP TO?

>> I THINK HE HAS A RANGE OF SCENARIOS.

AND I THINK THIS MASSIVE BUILDUP GIVES HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVADE UKRAINE IF HE SENSES THIS IS A GOOD WINDOW OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.

HE MAY FEEL THAT GIVEN THE UNITED STATES PREOCCUPATION WITH DOMESTIC POLITICS, EUROPEANS CURRENT DIVISIONS AND DISAGREEMENTS THAT THIS MAY BE A GOOD WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO SEIZE UKRAINE.

HE DEFINITELY HAS THAT A A LONG-TERM GOAL.

HE WANTS TO DOMINATE UKRAINE.

HE SEES THE LOSS OF UKRAINE AS CATASTROPHIC TO RUSSIA AND A KEY TO RETAINING THE STATUS.

ON THE OTHER HAND HE MAY DECIDE TO USE THIS AS A PROBE TO SEE HOW THE WEST WOULD RESPOND AND THE EUROPEANS, NATO AND THE UNITED STATES AND DRAW LESSONS FOR FUTURE ACTION.

AND IN THE MEANTIME HE IS KEEPING UKRAINE DESTABILIZED THIS IS KEEPING UKRAINE FROM MAKING ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROGRESS BECAUSE THEY CONSTANTLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A MAJOR RUSSIAN INVASION OF IT THEIR TERRITORY.

TO THE EXTENT THAT PUTIN USES THE MASSIVE TROOP CONSERVATIONS AND THREATS EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS TO DESTABILIZE THE UKRAINIANS HE IS KEEPING UKRAINE MUCH WEAKER POLL KAYLEE AND ECONOMICALLY POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

>> WILL HE BE DETERRED TO WHATEVER THE RESPONSE THE U.S. AND ALLY ALSO COME UP WITH?

>> IT DEPENDS WHAT HE IS RESPONDING TO.

I THINK IN PUBLIC IT'S OK FOR THE ALLIES AND FOR THE UNITED STATES FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO TALK IN GENERAL TERMS ABOUT MAKING RUSSIA PAY A HIGH PRICE.

THAT'S OK PUBLICLY.

BUT I THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT NEEDS PRIVATELY TO CONVEY TO PUTIN THE MESSAGE THAT IN ADDITION TO THESE STEEP COSTS WHICH WE ASSUME WOULD BE ECONOMIC, THAT THE UNITED STATES MIGHT TAKE MILITARY ACTION.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK COULD BE AND SHOULD BE CONVEYED ONLY IN PRIVATE.

IT DOESN'T INVOLVE USE OF U.S.

GROUND TROOPS ASIAHA BUTLER THE UNITED STATES IN CASE OF A RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE COULD SUPPLY THE UKRAINIANS WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF MILITARY TECHNOLOGY MORE OF THE JAVELIN MISSILES WHICH THE MILITARY KNOW HOW TO USE, TO MAKE A RUSSIAN INVASION COSTLY AND MESSY.

AND THAT MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO DETER PUTIN.

I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, I DON'T THINK PUTIN IS GOING TO BE DETERRED SOLELY BY THE THREAT OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.

I THINK HE IS BELIEVED HE IS PREPARED TO PAY A HIGH PRICE AND RUSSIA IS LOOKING THE A WORLD IN WHICH ITS CHIEF EXPORTS OIL AND GAS ARE GOING TO BE IN GREATER DEMAND TO THE EXTENT THAT WESTERN CRIES TRY TO STOP THE PRODUCTIONS OF OIL AND GAS.

>> CECILE SHEA HOW SHOULD THE U.S. AND ALLIES IN EUROPE RESPOND?

AND IF RUSSIA DOES INVADE UKRAINE DOES UKRAINE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO RESIST?

>> TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION FIRST IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RESIST BUT IT WOULD BE A BLOODY WAR, MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THIS WOULD NOT BE A ONE-DAY DONE DEAL.

AND QUITE POSSIBLY BE A COST TO PUTIN INSIDE RUSSIA IF THERE ARE RUSSIAN CASUALTIES AND LIKELY THERE WOULD BE IN THIS KIND OF INVASION.

TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, WHAT CAN THE U.S. WHAT CAN OUR ALLIES DO?

WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS YOUR DISCUSSION GOING ON DO WE ACT AS NATO OR ACT AS INDIVIDUALS?

I WOULD THINK ACTING AS INDIVIDUALS WOULD TAKE AWAY ONE PR WEAPON THAT PUTIN HAS.

BECAUSE HE IS SAYING HE IS DOING THIS BECAUSE HE IS WORRIED ABOUT UKRAINE POSSIBLY JOINING NATO.

LET'S NOT HAVE NATO DEFEND UKRAINE SOME INDIVIDUAL EUROPEANS OR THE U.S.

I AGREE WITH ALBERTO, I THINK THERE WERE ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE TO SHORE-UP THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY SECRET AND PUBLIC ACTIONS.

AND I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SANCTIONS WE CAN PLACE ON THEM BUT IT'S HARD TO MAKE THEM STICK IF THE EUROPEANS DON'T COOPERATE AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THE EUROPEANS ARE RELUCTANT TO COOPERATE ON SOME OF THE SANCTIONS THAT WILL MEAN HIGHER FUEL PRICES FROM RUSSIA.

I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING.

PEOPLE SAY HOW DOES THIS MATTER TO THE U.S.?

UKRAINE SHARES A BORDER WITH POLAND AND WE ARE A COUNTRY OF VALUES.

THE UKRAINIANS HAVE A RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION NO MATTER WHAT THE RUSSIANS KEEP SAYING.

THEY ARE A DISTINCT PEOPLE WITH A DISTINCT LANGUAGE THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY TIED TO RUSSIA BECAUSE THE CZAR AND THE SOVIETS KEPT ANNEXING UKRAINE.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAND BY THE UKRAINIANS AND THEIR DESIRE TO ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH WESTERN IDEALS AND ECONOMIC NORMS AND WITH THE INTERNATIONAL RULE OF LAW.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND PRESIDENT PUTIN ARE SCHEDULED FOR A VIDEO CALL TOMORROW.

MORE NEWS ON THIS AS IT DEVELOPS.

MEANWHILE THANKS TO CECILE SHEA AND ALBERTO COLL FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT, Mr. WHITE SOX IS SET TO BECOME Mr. HALL OF FAME.

A LOOK AT THE TRAIL BLAZING CAREER OF MINNIE MINOSO.

>> AT LONG-LAST WE CAN SAY IT.

MINNIE MINOSO WILL SOON BE INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME.

AFTER A LONG CAREER THAT INCLUDED NEARLY A DECADES WORTH OF SEASONS WITH THE WHIS SOX, THE CUBAN COMET WAS SELECTED BY THE GOLDEN DAYS ERA COMMITTEE SUNDAY.

MINOSO BROKE THE COLOR LINE AND HIT A HOME RUN AT HIS FER HIS FIRST AT BAT.

HE BECAME A FAN FAVORITE.

HERE IS Mr. WHITE SOX HIMSELF TALKING TO WTTW IN 1995 ABOUT HOW SOX FANS WOULD CHANT FOR HIM TO STEAL BASES A CHANT THAT BECAME A FAMILIAR TEAM HE NICKNAME.

>> GO, GO, GO, MINNIE.

AND GO, GO.

I THINK I STARTED THE GO GO WHITE SOX.

>> JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS CAP ON A STORIED CAREER ARE CHICAGO BASED BASEBALL WRITER SHAKEIA TAYLOR AND MINNIE MINOSO'S SON CHARLIE RICE-MINOSO.

THANK YOU LET'S START WITH YOU CHARLIE.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONGTIME COMING.

WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE TO GET THAT CALL YESTERDAY?

>> BITTERSWEET IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.

WE ARE SO HONORED THAT DAD IS BEING RECOGNIZED AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE BEING HIGHLIGHTED IN THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN.

ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT DAD AND HIS CAREER MEANS TO SO MANY AUDIENCES.

AND IN PARTICULAR, DAD DIDN'T CHECK -- DAD DIDN'T FIT INTO ANY BOX NEATLY.

AND THAT IS JUST WHO HE WAS AS A PERSON.

AND THE FACT THAT HE MEANS SO MUCH TO BLACK, LATINO AND AFRO LATINO PLAYERS AND AUDIENCES, I THINK HAT IS POWERFUL.

IT MEANS A LOT FOR THAT TO STILL BE REMEMBERED HOWEVER IT'S BITTERSWEET BECAUSE HE IS NOT HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH US.

WE ARE VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS RECOGNITION.

>> AND HE HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR SOMETHING THAT HE TALKED ABOUT, RIGHT?

>> IT WAS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE JUST FELT IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN, THEN IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IT DIDN'T MEAN HIS IMPACT WAS LESSENED.

IT DIDN'T MEAN THAT HIS CONTRIBUTIONS WERE NOT IMPACTFUL.

IT JUST MEANT THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE CARDS FOR HIM AND HE DIDN'T LET THAT DULL OR DIM HIS LIGHT AT ALL.

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING ADMIRABLE AND SOMETHING I THINK WE ALL CAN LEARN FROM, FROM DAD.

>> CHARACTER OFF THE BASEBALL FIELD.

SHAKEIA TAYLOR SPEAKING OF THAT, WHAT HAS CHANGED FOR MINOSO'S CANDIDACY SINCE HIS FIRST BID FOR THE HALL OF FAME?

>> SINCE IN 1968, HIS CAREER ACTUALLY CONTINUED LONGER THAN ANY OTHER PERSON IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HISTORY.

SO HE GOT MORE TIME IN THE LEAGUE.

AND ALSO IN 2020 WITH EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD BE SORT OF ACKNOWLEDGING NEGRO LEAGUE AS MAJOR LEAGUES.

WHEN THOSE STATS CAME INTO PLAY, IT DEFINITELY PADDED OR ADDED TO MINNIE'S CANDIDACY.

IT IS UNDENIABLE 2,000 HITS.

HE STOLE SO MANY BASES.

IT SEALED THE DEAL THE KNEE FRO LEAGUE IS SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LOOK TO.

>> ANY BASEBALL PLAYER RETIRING AND COMING BACK THE ATHLETICISM THAT THAT SHOWS.

CHARLIE YOU DESCRIBED OF RECEIVING THIS HONOR IS BITTERSWEET YOU LOST YOUR FATHER IN 2015.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU AND TO MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY?

>> IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL.

BECAUSE WHILE HE IS NOT WITH US PHYSICALLY, IT MEANS THAT HE IS NOT GONE.

AND JUST KEEPING HIS MEMORY AND LEGACY ALIVE IS OUR -- IT'S HOW WE KNOW THAT HE IS STILL HERE AND STILL PRESENT AND ALTHOUGH HE MIGHT NOT PHYSICALLY BE HERE WITH US.

I ALSO FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS A WAY TO HONOR THE SACRIFICES THAT OUR FAMILY MADE WHEN WE HAD TO SHARE HIM WITH THE WORLD.

MOST NOTABLY WHEN HE WAS AWAY FOR LONG PERIODS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND AWAY FROM MY SIBLINGS WHEN THEY WERE GROWING UP.

AND HE PLAYED YEAR-ROUND WHETHER IT WAS DURING THE WINTER OR AND NOT HERE IN MLB, BUT BACK IN CUBA AND MEXICO AND OTHER PLACES.

SO I FEEL LIKE THIS RECOGNITION IS ALSO AN HONORING OF THAT TIME AWAY AND THE SACRIFICES THAT MY SIBLINGS AND OUR EXTENDED FAMILY HAD TO MAKE FOR HIM.

>> AND NOW BEING BROUGHT INTO THE HALL OF FAME FANS WHO DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE HIM PLAYING AT HIS PEAK WILL PERHAPS LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM.

WHAT DID MAKE HIM SO EXCEPTIONAL ESPECIALLY DURING THE PEAK OF PLAY?

>> MINNIE WAS I BELIEVE JUST THE SIXTH PLAYER OF COLOR TO BREAK THE BARRIER WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS TRAIL BLAZING FEAT.

HE WAS KNOWN FOR STEALING BASES.

DOING JUST WILD CATCHES WHERE HE'D RUN INTO THE OUTFIELD WALL.

HE WAS -- HE PLAYED WITH A LOT OF HEART.

HE PLAYED WITH A LOT OF PASSION.

JAFFEE USED A PHENOMENAL QUOTE ABOUT MINNIE AS A PLAYER.

HE PLAYED WITH RECKLESS ABANDON AIMED AT ACHIEVING NOTHING SHORT OF TOTAL VICTORY.

HIS WAS FLAIR WITH THE CLEAR WORK ETHIC.

HE STOLE BASES WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE.

HARASSED PITCHERS WITH DARING BASE RUNNING PLOYS, TOOK EXTRA BASES AND MADE IMPOSSIBLE WALL CRASHES.

MINNIE WAS THE EARLY VERGE OF LET THE KIDS PLAY.

HE PLAYED IN A WAY THAT I THINK TODAY WE WOULD LOVE.

IT WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE] GIVEN HIS PASSION ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT I WAS HOPING COULD YOU TELL US DID HE EVER TALK ABOUT THE DISCRIMINATION DE FACE?

HE WAS BELOVED IN CHICAGO.

A REAL ICON AMONG NOT JUST WHITE SOX FANS AND DID FACE SOME TRUE MEAN BEHAVIOR?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.

HE DISCUSSED THAT HE DISCUSS TO DO HE MADE SURE TO NOT BE BITTER ABOUT IT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE FACT THAT DAD LED IN TERMS OF HITS BY PITCH, PART OF THAT WAS YES, WAS PART OF A STRATEGY FOR HIM TO CROWD THE BASE AND GET ON FIELD.

HE WAS THAT CUBAN GUY WHO COULD DASH FROM BASE TO BASE AND GET THE STEALS AND RUNS.

HOWEVER, THAT'S ALSO A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THE HATRED THAT WAS HE WAS EXPERIENCING ON THE FIELD.

AND SO CONGRESSMAN MENTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES THE FIRST TIME THAT HE ENCOUNTERED MY DAD IT WAS AT AN EXHIBITION GAME IN MEMPHIS DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE SEGREGATION ERA IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH AND DAD WAS THE ONLY PLAYER WHO GAVE A BALL TO THIS YOUNG BOY WHO HAD POLIO AND COULD NOT GET TO THE FRONT OF THE FIELD TO GET AUTOGRAPHS FROM OTHER PLAYERS.

AND DAD HAD TO HAVE A BALL SENT BY A WHITE PLAYER TO STEVE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING UP TO A WHITE CHILD DURING THE 50s IN JIM CROW SOUTH.

>> EVEN IN TRYING TO EXPRESS A MEASURE OF KINDNESS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR FAMILY AND TO YOUR FATHER AND THANKS TO EACH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT IS SHAKEIA TAYLOR AND CHARLIE RICE-MINOSO.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

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

>> THANK YOU.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", MORE THAN 1,000 HOMICIDES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED IN COOK COUNTY WE HEAR WHAT IS DRIVING THE NUMBERS IN THE SUBURBS.

>> AIR POLLUTION IN THE MIDWEST ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE CALLING OUT REFINERIES.

>> COULD A PIECE OF ARCHITECT TUCK ATTRACT MORE TO THE MAG MILE.

>> AND PATTY WETLI HAS TIPS FOR VIEWING THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME COMET LEONARD AS IT APPROACHES EARTH.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> YET ANOTHER CHAPTER CLOSED IN THE LONG STORY OF THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS TONIGHT SAY THEY HAVE CLOSED A COLD CASE REINVESTIGATION OF THE 14-YEAR-OLD'S LYNCHING IN MISSISSIPPI IN 1955.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION AND THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI REVISITED THE INVESTIGATION AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF A BOOK, THE BLOOD OF EMMETT TILL.

TYSON WRITES THAT THE WOMAN THAT TILL ALLEGEDLY WHISTLED AT OUTSIDE A SORRY WAS SAID TO RECAN'T HER STORY.

TILL'S COUSIN REACTED TO THE NEWS.

>> I WAS 16 YEARS OLD AND I REMEMBER READING HOW THAT THEY DEMONIZED HIM BEFORE YOU DO SOMEONE IN OR MURDER, HAVE TO DEMONIZE THAT PERSON TO SEEM LIKE THEY ARE GETTING WHAT THEY DESERVE.

AND I ALWAYS LIVE WITH THAT AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD TREAT A PERSON LIKE THAT.

>> THE DOJ SAYS IT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHETHER THE WOMAN LIED IN 1955 WHILE TESTIFYING OR LIED TO TYSON.

IN A STATEMENT THE DEPARTMENT SAYS QUOTE... >> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE ODDS ARE GOOD FOR A 2% CHICAGO TAX ON SPORTS BETTING.

IF APPROVED IT WOULD ADD 2% TO THE EXISTING 2% TAX FOR COOK COUNTY AND THE 15% STATE TAX FOR RATE ON GROSS REVENUES FROM SPORTS BETTING TO 19%.

IT GOES BEFORE THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL'S LICENSE AND ZONING COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL THIS WEEK.

>> 2% IT MATCHES WHAT THE COUNTY IS WAS ABLE TO PUT ON THE SPORTS BOOK BILL.

I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO ALSO OBTAINS REVENUES AS A RESULT OF THIS NEW VENTURE BY THE SPORTS GAMES.

>> BACK TO AMANDA WITH TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> THANKS.

THE RISE IN AIR TRAVEL IS COMING BACK DOWN THANKS TO THE OMICRON VARIANT'S RAPID SPREAD.

WALGREENS IS EXPLORING THE SALE OF THE U.K. DRUGSTORE CHAIN AND A NEWARK PROTECTIAL MASTERPIECE AT THE END OF THE MAG MILE ONE OF THE IDEAS TO HELP REVIVE THE SHOPPING DISTRICT.

HERE IS CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS EDITOR ANN DWYER.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

I WANT TO GET STARTED HERE.

WE TALKED IN THE SHOW ABOUT BORDER RESTRICTIONS TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

NOW, HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT IS THAT HAVING ON THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY JUST AS IT'S REALLY READY FOR TAKE OFF?

>> YOU KNOW, CARRIERS HAVE SLASHED MORE THAN 150,000 FLIGHTS IN THEIR SCHEDULES THROUGH FEBRUARY FIRST.

AND THAT IS ABOUT 3% OF THE OVERALL GLOBAL TRAVEL SCHEDULE AND IT ALL HAPPENED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN RESPONSE TO THE RISE OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

AIRLINE EXECUTIVES WHO ARE FRUSTRATED BY THE FRAGMENTED GLOBAL RESPONSE ARE CALLING FOR BETTER INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION ON ISSUES LIKE TESTING, LIKE REQUIRING VACCINES FOR PASSENGERS.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AT BORDERS.

AND QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS ET CETERA.

RIGHT NOW IT IS A HODGEPODGE GLOBALLY.

AND THAT MAKES IT TOUGH FOR AIRLINES TO MANAGE.

THEY ARE CALLING FOR A GLOBAL RESPONSE THAT IS MORE COORDINATED.

>> FOR AIRLINE EXECUTIVES TO MANAGE AND TOUGH FOR TRAVELERS AND IT BECOMES A VIECIOUS CYCLE.

AND -- VICIOUS CYCLE.

>> LONDON WALGREENS IS EXPLORING ITS SALE OF THE U.K. DRUGSTORE CHAIN BOOTS BREAKING UP THAT ALLIANCE.

HOW COME?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO START OUT BY SAYING WALGREENS IS NOT CONFIRMING THIS REPORT.

THAT SAID IT'S NOT ENTIRELY SURPRISING TO ANYONE WHO FOLLOWED WALGREENS FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME.

THAT THIS COMBINATION WHICH IS FIRST ANNOUNCED IN 2012 HASN'T EXACTLY YIELDED THE FRUITS THAT IT WAS FIRST IMAGINED TO.

AS ONE ANALYST PUT IT TO CRAIN'S TODAY THIS WAS A COMBINATION THAT MADE SENSE ONLY TO STEF KNOW WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMPANY AND GRANDCHILD THIS COMPANY WAS.

THE STOCK HAS LAGGED SINCE THE MERGER.

REVENUE AND PROFIT PERFORMANCE HAS MISSED TARGETS.

AND NOW, THE RELATIVELY NEW C.E.O.

OF WALGREENS, ROZ BREWER HAS GROWTH PLANS THAT INVOLVE EMPHASIZING HEALTHCARE DELIVERY AND INSTORE CLINICS.

AND BOOTS WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON BEAUTY AND FRONT OF STORE SALES DOES NOT FIT INTO THAT MIX.

WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE IF WALGREENS CONFIRMS THEY ARE DOING THIS.

IF THEY ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT MAKES SENSE >> I WILL HAVE TO MAKE A WALGREENS RUN AND BUY MY FAVORITES BOOTS PRODUCTS BEFORE THAT DEAL GOES THROUGH.

LASTLY WE HAVE A PANEL CONVENED BY THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE TOSSING AROUND IDEAS TO REVIVE THAT MAGNIFICENT MILE WHICH IS NOT AS MAGNIFICENT AS MANY WOULD LIKE.

WHAT HAS THIS PANEL COME UP WITH?

AND CAN WE EXPECT ANY OF THE IDEAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED ANYTIME SOON?

>> IMPLEMENTATION IS STILL A LITTLE BIT OF A QUESTION MARK, AMANDA.

BUT THE PLAN DOES CALL FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT IDEAS.

THE ONE THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE ORGANIZERS SEEM TO BE EMBRACING IS CREATING A SO-CALLED SPECIAL SERVICE AREA FOR THE MAG MILE TO PAY FOR EXTRA SECURITY AND MARKETING AND OTHER COSTS INCLUDING THE IDEA THAT YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF OUR SEGMENT ABOUT PERHAPS CREATING SOME SORT OF ARCHITECTURAL DESTINATION ALONG THAT CORRIDOR.

SECURITY IS PRIORITY ONE FOR THIS GROUP AND SADLY AS WE'VE SEEN EXTRA SECURITY IS CERTAINLY NEEDED ALONG NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE LATELY.

>> ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS PAST WEEKEND AND WITH A LOT OF HOLIDAY SHOPPERS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU AMANDA.

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

>> THANK YOU.

>> COOK COUNTY HAS TOPPED 1,000 HOMICIDES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1994.

THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE FOUND THAT UNDER 23% OF HOMICIDES OCCURRED IN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY.

IN THE SUBURBS, HARVEY HAS SEEN THE HIGHEST TOTAL WITH 30 HOMICIDES FOLLOWED BY MAYWOOD WITH 16 AND DALTON WITH 11.

JOINING US TO LOOK MORE INTO THESE NUMBERS IS MAYOR OF HARVEY CHRISTOPHER CLARK.

WE INVITED A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HARVEY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO JOIN US BUT NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE.

MAYOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OUT OF ALL THE SUBURBS JAVY IS SEEING THE MOST HOMICIDES.

WHAT FACTORS WOULD YOU SAY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FIRST OF ALL FOR HAVING ME.

AND AS FAR AS THE HOMICIDES ARE CONCERNED FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS IS JUST THE CULMINATION OF A CULTURE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED OVER THE PAST 16 YEARS NOW I'M IN A POSITION TO TRY TO CLEAN IT UP.

WE HAVE HAD CHALLENGES OVER THE YEARS AND THIS PAST TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

SPECIFICALLY FROM A FACTOR OF RESOURCES.

RESOURCES HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SCARCE.

DURING 2018 HALF OF OUR POLICE FORCE WAS LAID OFF AND WE ARE 150 MILLION IN DEBT.

THE EXPECTATION THAT DEALING WITH THE CULTURE THAT WAS CREATED OVER THE PAST 16 YEARS ALONG WITH THE DEBT I INHERITED IT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE EXPECTATION IN MY OPINION TO EXPECT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING.

>> HARVEY SAW A DIP LAST YEAR WITH 25 HOMICIDES IN 2019.

FALLING TO 19 IN THE YEAR 2020.

AND AS WE SAID BACK UP TO 30 IN 2021 SO FAR.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT DECLINE THAT YEAR IN 2020?

>> WELL, ONE IS SO MANY OTHER THINGS GOING ON AS FAR AS THE STARTED THE BEGINNING OF COVID AT THE END OF THAT YEAR.

BUT ALSO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE IT'S THE USUAL CYCLE.

WE'LL SEE CHICAGO FOR INSTANCE WE'LL SEE THE HOMICIDE RATE WILL GO UP AND IT WILL TAKE A DECLINE AND GO BACK UP AGAIN.

OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER DIRECTION WE ARE GOING IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE WENT DOWN 27% IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND NOW UP.

OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO GET IT LESS THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

IN THE NEXT UP COMING BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE ONE THING I'M CERTAIN OF IS THAT DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION PEOPLE HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL BE DOING EVERYTHING THAT IS POSSIBLY AVAILABLE TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES.

>> HOW WOULD YOU SAY HARVEY'S SITUATION IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF SURROUNDING SUBURBS?

>> WELL, SURROUNDING SUBURBS HAVE MORE MONEY THAN MORE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DO THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

35% OF OUR SALES TAXES GOES TO A PENSION FUND FOR FIRE AND POLICE THAT WASN'T PAID FOR 10 YEARS BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAVE BOND ISSUES AND NOT ABLE TO GO TO THE BOND MARKET AND OTHER SUBURBAN COUNTERPARTS ARE ABLE TO DO SO.

WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.

THAT IS WHY WE REACH OUT TO OUR COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO GIVE THE ASSISTANCE THAT WE NEED.

WE APPLIED FOR THE EDWARD J.

BURN MEMORIAL GRANT AND WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT HARVEY IS IN NEED OF THE POLICE SERVICES WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THAT.

>> NOW, IN 2018, HARVEY DID SEE A MAJOR CUT IN YOUR POLICE AND FIRE FORCES.

40 POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS FIRE EMPLOYEES WERE LAID OFF.

HAVE THOSE DEPARTMENTS BEEN ABLE TO REBUILD THAT MANPOWER?

>> NO, THEY HAVE NOT.

AND ONCE AGAIN THE REASON IS BECAUSE IT WAS THE REASONING FOR THE CUTS.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THE PENSIONS WERE NOT PAID FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS.

THE PENSION BOARD SUED THE CITY OF HARVEY AND AS A RESULT THEY ENDED UP GETTING A PORTION OF OUR SALES TAXES WHICH HELP TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE AND FIRE.

AND THEY ALSO ENDED UP GETTING A PORTION OF OUR MFT FUNDS WHICH HELPS REPAIR LIGHTS, CURBS, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.

SO THAT MONEY WAS GONE.

WE DON'T HAVE NO NEW MONEY HAS COME INTO THE CITY TO SUPPORT BRINGING IN THOSE ADDITIONAL POLICE AND FIRE SPECIFICALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POLICE.

SO WE'RE STUCK WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I MEMBERRIONED THE GRANT BECAUSE THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE ABLE TO HELP TO SHORE-UP THE POLICE FORCE.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REBUILD IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DO SO.

>> AND MAYOR YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FACED CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO CORRUPTION AND BEEN RAIDED BY FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES WHO SUPPORT ARE YOU PROVIDING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR WHAT INSTRUCTIONS ARE YOU GIVING THEM TO RIGHT THE SHIP?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE IS IN THIS CASE WE ARE STARTING A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A POLICE CHIEF.

SO I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL.

ALSO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO OUR LOCAL AND COUNTY PARTNERS AND STATE PARTNERS TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH HELP AS WE CAN GET MANPOWER STANDPOINT.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO KEEP UP OUR MANPOWER WHILE WE ARE STARTING THE SEARCH AND KEEP OPERATIONS GOING.

WE HAVE INVESTED IN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE.

WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE THE DEPARTMENT WAS WORKING WITH TYPEWRITERS AND THAT IS WHAT THEY HAD.

THE OLD 1980s COMPUTERS THAT RAN OFF OF MSDOS AND FADED OUT FROM BEIGE TO YELLOW.

THAT IS WHAT WE WERE WORKING WITH THIS.

>> MANY OF US RECALL THE MOST MACHINES.

UNFORTUNATELY, CHRISTOPHER CLARK WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR FINDING TIME TO JOIN US TONIGHT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> AND NOW TO AMANDA FOR A LOOK AT THE CRITICISM LOCAL REFINERIES ARE FACING.

>> OIL GIANT BP AGREED TO REDUCE EMISSIONS OUT OF THE WHITING REFINERY 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHICAGO.

THE COMPANY WILL ALSO PAY A $500,000 PENALTY.

SINCE THE LATEST IN THE LONG RUNNING EFFORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO REIN IN THE REFINERY.

A SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED IN 2012 AND ACTIVISTS FILED ANOTHER LAWSUIT IN 2019 ALLEGING THE REFINERY EXCEEDED AGREED UPON LIMITS AND REPEATEDLY FAILED TO OPERATE POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT.

HERE TO DISCUSS THIS CASE AND ONGOING CONCERN FOR AIR POLLUTION IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA ARE ERIC SCHAEFER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY PROJECT.

HE IS ALSO AN ATTORNEY WHO WORKS THE BP REFINERY CASE.

AND JEN WALLING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL.

ERIC AS AN ATTORNEY WHO WORKED ON THIS LAWSUIT WHAT ARE OIL REFINERIES RELEASING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE THAT IS HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS THEY ARE DOING THE REFINING?

THEY ARE TAKING CRUDE OIL AND REFINING IT INTO GASOLINE, JET FUEL, THOSE THINGS.

WHAT ARE THEY RELEASING AS THEY DO SO?

>> THE REFINERY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND BIGGEST REFINERIES IN THE U.S.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST THAT JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER BUILT RUNNING FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

THE PROCESS OF SQUEEZING GASOLINE OUT OF OIL INVOLVES A LOT OF HEAT MIXING IN CHEMICALS, A LOT OF PRESSURE.

SO IT IS NOT SURPRISINGLY YOU GET POLLUTION FROM THE PLANTS.

YOU GET SULFUR DIOXIDE.

YOU CAN PICK UP SULFUR COMPOUNDS ATTACKING YOUR LUNGS.

NITROGEN DIOXIDE CONTRIBUTES TO SMOG IN THIS CASE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOOT.

AND THESE ARE THE FINAL PARTICLES THAT ARE LINKED TO HEART DISEASE AND LUNG DISEASE AND CONTRIBUTE TO PREMATURE DEATH.

PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FORM OF POLLUTION.

THE COMPANY HAD LIMITS ON PARTICULATE MATTER THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET UNDER THAT 2012 CONSENT DECREE.

THEY WEREN'T MEETING THEM.

WE THOUGHT THEY WEREN'T TAKEN THAT PROBLEM SERIOUSLY ENOUGH SO WE BROUGHT ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND THAT EVENTUALLY WITH EPA'S HELP LED TO THE SETTLEMENT.

>> AND JEN, WHAT EFFECTS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOOT, PARTICULATE MATTER WHICH EFFECT IS THAT HAVING ON PEOPLE'S EVERYDAYS LIVES WITHIN THE AREA OF THESE EMISSIONS?

>> CHICAGOANS ARE LIVING WITH THE DIRTIEST AIR IN THE COUNTRY.

THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION SAYS WE'RE 19TH IN TERMS OF THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF PARTICULATE MATTER.

AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY EVEN WORSE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

WE'RE SEEING COMMUNITIES THAT THE NOT ONLY HAVE POLLUTION FROM THE OIL REFINERIES AND OTHER HEAVY SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT'S CONTRIBUTING TO WHAT ARE INCREASED RATES OF ASTHMA IN CHILDREN.

AND OTHER HEALTH IMPACTS TO CHILDREN AND THE FOLKS LIVING HERE.

FROM THE AIR THAT WE'RE BREATHING.

>> AND I DO WANT TO GET BACK TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES.

BRIEFLY, ERIC, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING ONE OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES BUT THERE ARE OTHER REFINERIES IN THE MIDWEST.

WHERE ARE SOME OF THESE AND ARE THEY ALSO UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT?

>> THERE IS A BIG REFINERY IN JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL REFINERIES IN OHIO.

THERE IS ANOTHER ONE IN INDIANA.

SO THE MIDWEST IS ACTUALLY A CENTER OF REFINING ACTIVITY.

THE PLANTS ARE BIG, MAJOR SOURCES OF POLLUTION.

AND SOME I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO FIND THE SAME KIND OF TROUBLE THAT WE SAW AT BP WHITING.

>> AND SO WHAT ARE YOU HOPING, JEN, TO GET OUT OF THIS SETTLEMENT THE REFINERY COVERING WHITING, INDIANA AND EAST CHICAGO, HAMMOND, INDIANA ARE LARGELY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> SO I JUST WANT TO -- WAS THAT FOR YOU, JEN?

>> GO AHEAD, JUMP ON IT.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I WANT TO REINFORCE WHAT JEN SAID PEOPLE LIVING CLOSEST TO THE PLANTS ARE TYPICALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR WITH LIMITED INCOMES AND THEY ARE HIT THE HARDEST BY THIS POLLUTION AND ESPECIALLY BY SOOT.

AND THEY ARE THE FOLKS WE MOST WANT TO HELP WHEN WE BRING THESE ACTIONS.

>> AND ALSO OTHER POLLUTERS COAL PLANTS AND SO ON DO YOU WANT TO JUMP IN HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS GOING FORWARD THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE OIL REFINERIES LOOK AT FOSSIL FUEL IN GENERAL BUT IN CHICAGO AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WE MUST START TO LOOK AT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT AIR SOURCES.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE LOOK AT AND ENDS UP WE PUT ALL SORTS OF DIRTY POLLUTERS OF THE AIR IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT ARE ALWAYS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND ALWAYS LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND THEY ARE BEING JUST BOMBARDED BY AIR POLLUTION IN A WAY THAT IS INCREDIBLY UNJUST.

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHETHER IT'S THE GENERAL IRON FACILITY THAT WANTS TO LOCATE THERE, HILCO IN LITTLE VILLAGE THESE ARE ALL LARGE CONTRIBUTORS TO AIR POLLUTION AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS ELSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE WE ALLOW POLLUTERS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO OR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> ERIC ONE MINUTE LEFT, WHAT DIFFERENCE SHOULD THIS SETTLEMENT MAKE?

AND COULD YOU JUST GIVE US A GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF THE AIR QUALITY HAS IT IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS DESPITE HAVING REFINERIES NEARBY WITH INCREASED RECOGNITION?

>> IF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE CHICAGO AREA WHICH WOULD INCLUDE NORTHWEST INDIANA AND THOSE AIR POLLUTION REGIONS ARE, USUALLY MULTISTATE, IT'S GOTTEN SOMEWHAT BETTER.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT CHICAGO IS STILL NOT MEETING THE SMOG STANDARD THAT DATES BACK TO 1997.

AND WHILE IT'S JUST NOW MEETING THE STANDARD FOR FINE PARTICLES THE FEDERAL AIR QUALITY STANDARD THERE'S NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CHICAGO REGION VERY CLOSE TO THE LIMIT.

AND BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONITORING WE NEED IN THE AREA RIGHT AROUND THE REFINERY, I THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BREATHING AIR THAT IS ACTUALLY VIOLATING THE CLEAN AIR ACT AS FAR AS SOOT GOES.

>> AND BOTH OF YOU WILL BE KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THAT.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHT WITH US.

ERICA ERNST SCHAEFER AND JEN WALLING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HOW TO CATCH A RARE COMET IN THE SKY TONIGHT.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... [♪♪♪] >> EVERY YEAR AROUND THIS TIME, SANTA'S BUSY PREPARING FOR A TRIP UP IN THE SKY WITH REINDEER FRIENDS THIS DECEMBER HE WILL BE JOINED BY COMET LEONARD, THE CHRISTMAS COMET WILL BLAZE TOWARD THE SUN AND TRAVEL TOWARDS THE EARTH.

PATTY WETLI JOINS NOW WITH MORE HOW TO VIEW THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME COMET.

THIS COMET IS EXPECTED TO SHOW DISPLAY IN THE COMING DAYS.

WHAT MAKES THIS INTERESTING BEYOND ITS NAME?

>> RIGHT, LEN GNARLED AN INTERESTING -- LEN GNARLED, LEONARD ONCE IN A LIFETIME IF YOU DO NOT SEE THIS COMET YOU WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER SEE IT IT'S NOT COMING BACK FOR 70-80,000 YEARS.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME TO SEE A NEWLY DISCOVERED COMET.

>> AND IF YOU DO WANT TO TAKE UP THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY WHAT ARE THE BEST VIEWING TIPS YOU CAN GIVE US TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS COMET?

>> YEAH, SET YOUR ALARM FOR EARLY IN THE MORNING UP BEFORE SUNRISE.

THE BEST THING I WOULD SUGGEST BECAUSE ARE YOU GOING TO NEED BINOCULARS OR A TELESCOPE AND DARK SKIES WHICH IS HARD TO GET INTO THE CITY TUNE IN TUESDAY MORNING 5:00 A.M. TO THE ADLER PLANETARIUM LIVE STREAM YouTube WATCH PARTY FOR THIS.

THEY ARE THE PROFESSIONALS THEY'VE GOT A BIG TELESCOPE AND IF THEY CAN'T FIND IT FOR ALL OF US WHO CAN?

THAT WOULD BE MY BEST VIEWING ADVICE.

>> WELL, AN EARLY HOLIDAY GIFT FOR US ALL.

THANKS, PATTY.

>> THANKS, AMANDA.

>> YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND BEFORE WE GO, A FEW NOTES.

LAST NIGHT AT THE CHICAGO MIDWEST EMMY AWARDS OUR OWN PHIL PONCE WOULD BE INDUCTED INTO THE ACADEMY A SILVER CIRCLE LIKE IS LIKE CHICAGO TELEVISION HALL OF FAME AND WE CAN'T THINK OF A MORE DESERVING MEMBER THAN PHIL.

ALSO LAST NIGHT, WTTW TOOK HOME THREE EMMY AWARDS.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN, STACY FOR TAKING HOME THE EMMY FOR OUTSTANDING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY FOR CHICAGO STORIES IDA B.

WELLS.

AND OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTING.

AND AS WE MENTIONED, EVERYONE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS PROUD OF WINNING THE EMMY FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC AFFAIRS SERIES.

WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE ENTIRE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" TEAM FROM THE NEWSROOM AND EDITORIAL STAFF TO OUR OUTSTANDING TECHNICIANS AND ENGINEERS, DIRECTORS AND GRAPHIC ARTISTS AS WELL AS THE WTTW STAFF.

OF COURSE WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THE STRONG SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE ON OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM, THE WEB DEPARTMENT, IT, CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND COUNTLESS OTHERS.

THANKS TO YOU ALL AND CONGRATS TO ALL OF YOU AS WELL.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM YOU.

YOU ARE THE REASON WE'RE HERE AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AND TO REFLECT THE VOICES OF THIS COMMUNITY.

>> HAND THAT IS OUR SHOW JOIN US TOMORROW AT 7:00 P.M.

THE CHANGES IN CORPORATE CULTURE AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION CONTRIBUTE TO DEADLY BOEING PLANE CRASHES?

>> AND LOCAL FAITH LEADERS SHARE HOW THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS SAFELY THIS YEAR.

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

>> I'M AMANDA VINICKY THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]