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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE'RE MAKING REAL PROGRESS FINALLY.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE TURNED ILLINOIS' FINANCES AROUND.

REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR DOUBTS.

WE HEAR FROM THE TOP REPUBLICAN IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

>> THE LATEST ON VACCINATIONS FOR KIDS FIVE AND UNDER.

WHEN TO LOOSEN COVID RESTRICTIONS AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE COVID VARIANT.

NEW DATA REVEALS THE IMPACT OF CHICAGO'S COVID VACCINE MANDATE ON RESIDENTS.

>> THERE IS A MASSIVE WINTER STORM HEADING OUR WAY BUT SNOWFALL WILL VARY DRAMATICALLY BY LOCATION.

>> RISING WATER LEVELS ARE TAKING OVER CHICAGO'S SHORELINES WE DISCUSS THE CITY'S PLAN TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE.

>> COULD A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK BE THE NEXT PERK TO ENTICE WORKERS IN THE PRECARIOUS LABOR MARKET?

AND THE ARTIST INDUSTRY OF MINIATURE ENTIRE I DON'T REMEMBERS AT THE ART INSTITUTE.

AND WE HEAD TO WICKER PARK TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE ARTIST BEHIND 100 ZOOM PORTRAITS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ISSUES A DISASTER DECLARATION AS A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CHICAGO REGION.

THE FIRST ROUND OF SNOW IS EXPECTED LATE TUESDAY EVENING INTO MOST OF WEDNESDAY FOLLOWED BY A SECOND ROUND THURSDAY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANTICIPATES TOTALS TO RANGE BETWEEN 4-12 INCHES WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS PREDICTED FOR AREAS SOUTH OF I-57 5.

OFFICIALS WARN THIS COULD MEAN LIFE-THREATENING TRAVEL CONDITIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WE TRULY, TRULY NEED THE PUBLIC'S COOPERATION TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.

BECAUSE OF THE INTENSITY AND THE AMOUNT OF SNOW EXPECTED, TRAVEL WILL BE DANGEROUS AND STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

ALWAYS REMEMBER DURING EXTREME WEATHER THE SAFEST OPTION IS TO STAY HOME.

>> AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE SNOWSTORM WITH ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTISTS LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THE N.A.A.C.P.

IS URGING FEDERAL CHARGES TO BE BROUGHT IN THE KILLING OF LAQUAN McDONALD.

THE ORGANIZATION IS ASKING ATTORNEY MERRICK GARLAND TO BRING FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES AGAINST JASON VAN DYKE WHO SHOT AND KILLED THE 17-YEAR-OLD McDONALD IN 2014.

VAN DYKE IS SET TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON ON THURSDAY AFTER SERVING LESS THAN HALF HIS PRISON TERM OF SIX YEARS AND NINE MONTHS.

HE WAS CONVICTED OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER IN 2018.

THE BLACK CAUCUS DISAPPROVED OF VAN DYKE'S RELEASE ASKING THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN CHICAGO TO CONSIDER FEDERAL CHARGES.

>> HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY CHICAGO IS SEEING PROGRESS IN THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19'S OMICRON VARIANT.

DURING THE PAST WEEK, CHICAGO HAS SEEN ON AVERAGE JUST UNDER 1,000 DAILY CASES.

DOWN 47% FROM THE WEEK PRIOR.

86 DAILY HOSPITALIZATIONS DOWN 45%.

AND AN AVERAGE OF 14 DAILY DEATHS ALSO DOWN 45%.

THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 4.4% THAT WAS 7.1% A WEEK AGO.

>> OUR DAILY CASES IN CHICAGO PEAKED AROUND NEW YEAR'S AT ALMOST 10,000 CASES A DAY.

SO THE FACT THAT OUR AVERAGE IS NOW AROUND 1,000 CASES PER DAY, JUST IN A MONTH IS AMAZINGLY FAST PROGRESS.

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY GETTING VACCINATED AND BEING CAREFUL OVER THE LAST MONTH.

WE REMAIN IN HIGH TRANSMISSION RISK LEVEL.

>> AND MORE ON COVID-19 LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> UP NEXT, ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE STATE'S TOP REPUBLICAN ON THE EVE OF GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S BUDGET ADDRESS.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> ILLINOIS' PANDEMIC RESPONSE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION POTENTIAL TAX RELIEF WE'LL GET DETAILS TOMORROW FROM GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ON THOSE AND OTHER ISSUES WHEN HE PRESENTS HIS BUDGET.

AMONG THE EXPECTED PROPOSALS, HOLDING THE LINE ON A GASOLINE TAX AND TEMPORARILY LIFTING A 1% TAX ON FOOD.

EARLIER TODAY, THE GOVERNOR PUSHED BACK ON THE ASSERTION THAT THOSE ARE ELECTION HAD YEAR GIMMICKS.

>> WHAT I WANT TO DO IS RELIEVE THE BURDEN UPON MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING CLASS FAMILIES.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THAT IN EVERY WAY I CAN FROM A TAX PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE THAT WERE CUTOFF DURING THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE OF POOR FISCAL MANAGEMENT.

WE'RE MAKING REAL PROGRESS FINALLY.

>> AND AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW FROM THE STATE CAPITOL IN SPRINGFIELD SHE IS JOINED BY A GUEST, AMANDA?

>> YES, BRANDIS I'M HERE WITH HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER JIM DURKIN AND HE IS ONE OF THE FEW LEGISLATORS THAT WILL BE AROUND FOR THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS.

MOST LEGISLATORS NEVER MADE IT TO SPRINGFIELD AND THOSE THAT DID THE SENATE HAD SESSION FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD OF THOSE STORMS CAME.

BRIEFLY LEADER DURKIN AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WHY DID YOU STICK AROUND AND YOU ARE PLANNING TO GO TO THE SPEECH?

>> THIS IS MY JOB AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SPRINGFIELD HAS BEEN HIT WITH A STORM.

I INVITED MYSELF.

I PLAN TO BE THERE TOMORROW CLOSE TO THE GOVERNOR READING EVERYTHING HE HAS TO SAY.

BUT IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BE PRESENT FOR A STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IT IS A CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED FUNCTION OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BE PRESENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS ALREADY RELEASED SOME DETAILS ABOUT WHAT HE PLANS TO SAY IN THE MARQUEE ITEMS APPEAR TO BE A MESSAGE OF WHAT HE IS CALLING FAMILY TAX RELIEF PLAN.

TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN TAXES LIKE GROCERIES AND THE GASOLINE TAX, PROPERTY TAX REBATE.

I'VE HEARD SOME SAY THESE ARE GIVEAWAYS IN AN ELECTION YEAR DO YOU BELIEVE THEY ARE GIMICKS?

>> ABSOLUTELY WITH A CAPITAL G THIS IS A GIMMICK FOR THE GOVERNOR WHICH DOES NOT ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT.

HE IS TALKING ABOUT A MINOR REBATE TO PROPERTY TAX OWNERS AND NOTHING TO DEAL WITH THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM.

THAT IS TO ME IS A FAILURE.

AND ALSO THE OTHER PLACES THAT HE IS LOOKING TO HELP THESE MIDDLE CLASS WHICH IS ON THE SALES TAX AND ALSO THE MOTOR FUEL TAX.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP OUT THE MIDDLE CLASS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING CRUSHED WITH THE RISING COSTS OF INFLATION.

AND THESE GIMMICKS AS I SAID, WHATEVER THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO CALL THEM ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CUT INTO WHAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS PAYING FOR GOODS AND SERVICES BASED ON THE RISING INFLATION.

AND SO IT SOUNDS GOOD ON PAPER BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S REALLY TO ME THERE'S NOT MUCH HERE THAT WILL HELP ANYBODY IN THE MIDDLE CLASS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO BE ABLE TO BUY GROCERIES AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> IT DOES SOUND GOOD.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD SEE YOURSELF SUPPORTING VOTING FOR?

>> I WILL SAY THIS...

THERE IS A CREDIBILITY PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNOR.

TWO YEARS AGO HE SAID IF WE DON'T PASS HIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE FAIR TAX THE STATE WOULD FALL IN THE ABYSS AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID WE WOULD HAVE A 20% INCOME TAX INCREASE IF WE DID NOT PASS THIS.

NOW THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING EVERYTHING IS FINE AND GREAT.

THERE IS A CREDIBILITY ISSUE THAT I HAVE AND ALSO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING HAVE WITH THE GOVERNOR WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT STATE FINANCES.

SO I WILL LISTEN TOMORROW BUT I WILL BE LISTENING IN A GUARDED POSITION BECAUSE THERE IS A TRUST PROBLEM ABOUT WHAT HE SAYS AND WHAT EXACTLY IT MEANS.

>> IS THAT TO SAY YOU DO NOT ILLINOIS CAN AFFORD THIS?

YOUR COLLEAGUES REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAPITOL AND THE SENATE CALLED FOR THESE SHOULD BE PERMANENT.

>> OF COURSE THEY SHOULD BE PERMANENT.

WE HAVE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ILLINOISIANS NOT TO SAY THE GOVERNOR HAS A ONE-YEAR ELECTION CAMPAIGN THAT STARTS TOMORROW FOR THE GOVERNOR.

THIS IS HIS REELECTION SPEECH THAT HE IS GIVING.

BUT, AGAIN, THERE'S NOTHING THAT DEALS WITH THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITHIN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

I MENTIONED PROPERTY TAXES HE IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE FIGHTING VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS OF CHICAGO AND EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE.

HE IGNORED THAT.

AND THAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IN THIS STATE IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> THE GOVERNOR ELUDED THAT MONEY COULD BE GOING TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

>> THAT IS NOT GOING TO KEEP THE STREET GANGS FROM DOING WHAT THEY DO.

LAST TIME WE DID DID THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM AND IT WAS A DISASTER UNDER GOVERNOR QUINN IT WAS A SLUSH FUND AND I DO NOT LOOK AT THAT AS A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO ADDRESS THE RISING CRIME IN CHICAGO AND SUBURBS.

>> MORE THAN A BUDGET ADDRESS THIS IS A STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS YOU WANT HIM TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS VIOLENCE.

>> THE ANSWER IS THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO TALK TO POLICE AND ACTUALLY BE RESPECTFUL TO THEM AND GET THEIR BACKS.

WE HAVE LOST SO MANY POLICE HE DEFUNDED THE POLICE BY SIGNING THIS POLICE REFORM BILL AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.

AND SOME THINGS ARE IN PLACE.

BUT BECAUSE OF THAT LEGISLATION -- >> HOW IS THAT DEFUNDING?

>> BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING POLICE.

YOU ARE DEFUNDING POLICE BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING MEN AND WOMEN ON THE STREET THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR JOBS AND GOING TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT IS ADVERTISING IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO COME WORK FOR US AS A POLICE OFFICER.

BUT I KNOW A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS IN CHICAGO WHO ARE READY TO RETIRE MANY LEFT ALREADY BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED THIS PAST YEAR.

AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WORK UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ONCE AGAIN HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER JIM DURKIN.

WHO WILL BE IN THE AUDIENCE ONE OF THE FEW LEGISLATORS I WILL BE THERE TOO WHEN THE GOVERNOR LAYS OUT HIS VISION FOR THE STATE TOMORROW AT THE OLD STATE CAPITOL INSTEAD OF WHERE HE GIVE IT IS HERE.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> PFIZER AND PARTNER BY N PROTECT WITH ASKING THE F.D.A.

TO AUTHORIZE THE COVID-19 VACCINE FOR CHILDREN FIVE AND YOUNGER.

COVID CASES ARE CONTINUING TO DROP IN CHICAGO AND OFFICIALS ARE FLOATING THE IDEA OF EASING RESTRICTIONS AND SCIENTISTS ARE KEEPING THEIR EYE ON THE OMICRON SUBVARIANT BA.2.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MORE ARE Dr. JENNIFER KUSMA A PEDIATRICIAN ARE LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND Dr. MAXIMO BRITO AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AND PROFESSOR AT UI HEALTH.

WELLINGTON THOMAS TO YOU BOTH.

WE KNOW THAT THE F.D.A.

OR PFIZER ASKED THE F.D.A.

TO AUTHORIZE THE COVID VACCINE FOR CHILDREN UNDERAGE FIVE.

WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG FOR THIS AGE TO GET APPROVAL FOR THE VACCINE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE KNOW THAT THE DATA WAS REVIEWED, MENTIONED IN DECEMBER IF YOU WILL REMEMBER.

AND WHAT THEY SAID WAS THAT THIS DATA THE VACCINE WAS SAFE BUT THEY HAD NOT FOUND THE EFFICACY THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

THEY HAD NOT FOUND IT WAS PROTECTING THE KIDS IN THAT AGE GROUP AS WELL AS THEY HAD HOPED AND IT WAS IN THAT 2-5-YEAR-OLD AGE RANGE.

NOW WE'RE SIX WEEKS LATER AND THAT SIX WEEKS MORE TIME FOR MORE DATA.

THERE'S BEEN AN OMICRON SURGE IN THAT WINDOW.

NOW, THEY ARE PRESENTING THIS DATA ANEW.

AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE DATA YET BUT THE HOPE IS THAT THAT MEANS WE NOW HAVE A SHOT THAT IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE WHICH IS EXCITING.

>> S THE MOTHER OF A TWO-AND-A-HALF-YEAR-OLD LOTS OF PARENTS LIKE ME ARE WONDERING HOW SOON CAN PARENTS BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR LITTLE ONES VACCINATED, JENNIFER KUSMA BACK TO YOU?

>> IF THIS IS LIKE OTHER UEA SUBMISSION IT IS WILL GO UNDER REVIEW IN THE COMING ONE TO TWO WEEKS AND THEN AS SOON AS BY THE END OF THE MONTH IT IS POSSIBLE WE COULD HAVE THIS VACCINE AVAILABLE FOR KIDS UNDER FIVE.

>> AND WHY DID THE F.D.A.

URGE THE COMPANY TO MOVE AHEAD WITH MAKING THIS REQUEST, THAT IS RARE FOR THE AGENCY TO ASK A COMPANY TO DO THAT?

>> I HAVE TO SAY WITHOUT SEEING THE DATA I DON'T KNOW I HAVE NOT SEEN THE DATA.

I WILL NOT SEE IT UNTIL IT'S RELEASED AFTER REVIEW.

BUT MY SUSPICION IS THAT WE HAVE MORE DATA THAT SHOWS EFFECTIVENESS OR MORE POTENTIALLY ENROLLEES MORE NUMBERS WE KNOW BETTER.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE F.D.A.

MAY HAVE DATA THAT I HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO SEE THAT SHOWS WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO KNOW IT'S SAFE.

WE'VE KNOWN IT'S SAFE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO KNOW IT WORKS AS WELL AS WE HOPED IT COULD.

>> CDPH Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SPOKE TODAY ABOUT WHEN RESTRICTIONS MIGHT BE LIFTED AS CASES ARE FALLING.

HERE SHE IS.

>> WE'RE WATCHING THE OUTBREAK AS WE GET BACK DOWN TO LOWER RISK, AS DEFINED BY US AND C.D.C., WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO LIFT THAT VACCINATION REQUIREMENT AND THINKING ABOUT THE MASK REQUIREMENT FOR INDOOR SETTINGS AS WELL.

>> Dr. BRITO AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK THE RESTRICTIONS COULD BE SCALED BACK.

>> I THINK IT WILL GET TO A POINT WHERE THE CASES ARE LOW ENOUGH AND THE INTRACOMMUNITY TRANSMISSION IS MUCH LOWER THAN WHAT IT IS NOW.

SIMILAR TO WHERE WE'VE BEEN BEFORE LAST SUMMER FOR EXAMPLE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE TIME TO EASE THE RESTRICTIONS AND ALLOW MORE INDOOR DINING AND STUFF WITHOUT A MASK.

>> AND AS SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COVID FATIGUE Dr. BRITO HOW DO YOU BALANCE ROLLING THE RESTRICTIONS BACK WITH PREVENTING FURTHER SPREAD?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS COVID FATIGUE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

BUT WE CANNOT HAVE RESTRICTIONS FOREVER.

AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT.

SO WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE MORE FREEDOM.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW AT SOME POINT, THE DISEASE BECOMES ENDEMIC AND THEN WE START RECLAIMING NORMALCY.

JUST LIKE WE WERE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS DONE WITH THE NUMBER OF CASES ARE LOW ENOUGH AND THE CDPH AND IDPH DETERMINE THAT IT'S SAFE BY THEIR COUNTS AND BY THEIR STANDARDS.

>> EARLY JANUARY WE SPOKE WITH A COLLEAGUE FROM LURIE Dr. TAYLOR SERGEANT WHO TOLD US ABOUT THE LARGE AMOUNT OF COVID CASES COMING INTO LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

110 PATIENTS ADMITTED IN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR YOU ALL THERE?

>> WE ARE SEEING A DECLINE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS MUCH LIKE WE'RE SEEING THAT DECLINE IN POSITIVITY ACROSS THE CITY.

MOST RECENT NUMBERS I SAW WE'RE BELOW 100 ADMISSIONS FOR COVID.

OUR NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN.

MUCH LIKE WE'RE SEEING THAT DECREASE WHICH IS A GREAT THING.

>> AND HOW KEY IS IT THAT CHILDREN ARE VACCINATED IN ORDER TO MOVE CLOSER TO ENDING THIS PANDEMIC?

HOW SIGNIFICANT OF A GROUP ARE THEY?

>> WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN THE MAJORITY OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE ADMITTED IN THE HOSPITAL THROUGHOUT THE OMICRON SURGE HAVE BEEN CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN UNVACCINATED.

THERE'S CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE VACCINATED UNDER FIVE.

AND ALSO CHILDREN IN THE 5-11 YEAR AGE RANGE THAT HADN'T RECEIVED THEIR VACCINE YET.

WE KNOW AS FAR AS IF YOU GET COVID AND YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED THAT IS BY AND LARGE KIDS UNVACCINATED.

AND I THINK OVERALL IF WE CAN GET THE VACCINE FOR THESE KIDS IT WILL HELP US AS WE TRY TO NOT ONLY REDUCE HOSPITALIZATIONS BUT ALSO GET BACK TO THE SENSE OF NORMALCY HAVING PARENTS NOT HAVE TO HAVE QUARANTINES.

KIDS GET SENT HOME FOR DAYCARE AND SO GETTING THE VACCINES IS GOING TO HELP US AS WE TRY AND GET TO WHATEVER THAT NEXT STATE OF THE NEW NORMAL WILL BE.

>> Dr. BRITO WHAT DO WE KNOW OF THE NEW VARIANT OF OMICRON STEALTH OMICRON?

>> WE KNOW IT'S BEEN SPREADING THROUGH PARTS OF EUROPE.

NOTABLY DENMARK IT'S ALMOST REPLACED THE OMICRON VARIANT.

AND WE KNOW IT'S MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.

1.5 TIMES MORE TRANSMISSIBLE AND IT HAS IMMUNE SCAPE PROPERTY IT IS CAN EVADE THE VACCINE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN OMICRON IS.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN STUDIES OUT OF DENMARK IT HAS NOT INCREASED RATES OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND PROOF OF THAT IS THAT DENMARK RELAXED ALL THE RESTRICTIONS JUST YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE THEY STOPPED ALL THE RESTRICTIONS INCLUDING INDOOR MASKING.

AND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT RECOGNIZING THAT ALTHOUGH THE VARIANT IS MUCH MORE TRANSMISSIBLE IT DOESN'T SEEM TO PUT MORE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL.

WHICH IS REALLY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PREVENT OR WHAT YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT IN THESE CASES.

>> MORE TRANSMISSIBLE NOT NECESSARILY MORE DANGEROUS.

I MEAN COULD THIS BE THE VARIANT THAT DOES THIS MAKE US HAVE TO KEEP RESTRICTIONS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY SLOWS THE NUMBER IF IT GETS INTRODUCED TO CHICAGO FOR EXAMPLE, IT SLOWS THE DROP IN THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING OVER THE NEXT WEEK -- OVER THE PAST WEEK OR TWO.

WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

IF WE HAVE THIS VARIANT INTRODUCED, THEN THAT WILL BE SLOWER.

BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE CASES.

BUT HOPEFULLY IT WON'T RESULT IN INCREASE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT.

>> PLATEAU BUT NOT NECESSARILY AN INCREASE.

WE'RE ALL HOPEFUL.

DOCTORS JENNIFER KUSMA AND MAXIMO BRITO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> AS WE MENTIONED, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ISSUED A DISASTER DECLARATION THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF A SNOWSTORM EXPECTED TO HIT A LARGE PORTION OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS AS WELL AS NORTHWEST INDIANA.

THE CHICAGO AREA IS UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8:00 P.M. TONIGHT UNTIL 6:00 P.M.

TOMORROW NIGHT WITH ESPECIALLY HEAVY SNOWFALL EXPECTED IN THE MORNING.

WHILE SOME OF THE STATE COULD SEE A FOOT OF SNOW OTHER PARTS OF THE AREA COULD GET AN INCH OR TWO.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN WHY AND FILL US IN ON WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE COMING STORM ARE SCOTT COLLIS, ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTIST AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY AND VOCTOR GENSINI PROFESSOR OF GEOGRAPHIC AND ATMOSPHERIC EYENCE AT NORTHERN -- SCIENCE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

AS WE'VE BEEN REPORTING THE FIRST ROUND IS EXPECTED TONIGHT.

SNOW TOMORROW MORNING AND A SECOND ROUND TOMORROW NIGHT INTO THURSDAY.

THE EXPECTED SNOWFALL TOTALS VARY WIDELY.

WHY IS THAT?

>> THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING TYPE OF STORM NOT ONE WE NORMALLY GET THIS TIME OF YEAR.

WE HAVE A GIANT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM IN ALBERTA CANADA AND A TROUGH A LINE OF LOW PRESSURE STRETCHING FROM ARKANSAS UP INTO INDIANA.

AND THAT IS SENDING A SLOG OF MOIST AIR AND A SHARP LINE OF WARM TO COLD TEMPERATURES THAT IS CREATING THIS NARROW SWATH OF SNOW WITH THIS ESPECIALLY HIGH GRADIENT FROM TWO INCHES TO ONE FOOT IN ABOUT 40 MILES.

SO ANY CHANGES IN THAT TRACK IN THE DIRECTION IN THE PATHWAY OF THE STORM YOU CAN GO AT A POINT A LOCATION FROM LOTS OF SNOW TO NOT MUCH AT ALL.

>> YOU SAID TWO INCHES TO A FOOT THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE, 10 INCHES.

VOCTOR GENSINI, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTS AN INCH PER HOUR NO COOK AND DUPAGE COUNTIES.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO KEEP UP WITH SNOW FALLING SO QUICKLY?

>> INCH AN HOUR RATES ARE NOT TOO BAD IF YOU START TO GET INTO THE TWO-FOUR INCH PER HOUR RATES THAT WHERE REMOVAL BECOMES A PROBLEM.

THIS IS A TALE OF TWO STORMS FOR THE CHICAGOLAND AREA WHERE WE COULD SEE UPWARDS OF 12 OR SO INCHES DIFFERENCE IN ACCUMULATION BETWEEN MIDWAY AIRPORT AND O'HARE AIRPORT.

NORTHWEST INDIANA, MAY BE MORE WELL INTO OVER A FOOT OF SNOW.

THE NORTHERN SUBURBS AND LAKE COUNTY MAY END UP WITH LESS THAN AN INCH.

THE CHICAGO IS REALLY ON THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THIS SNOWSTORM MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING.

AND FOR THE SNOW REMOVE CREWS WHO WILL HAVE TO BE OUT THERE FOR A LONG DURATION EVENT POTENTIALLY OVER 48 HOURS.

>> SCOTT, DO THE VARIED SNOWFALLS DO THEY MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE WARNINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO LEAVE THEIR HOME AND TRAVEL SOMEWHERE?

>> THEY ABSOLUTELY DO.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES WARNINGS ON A COUNTY BASIS.

AND COOK COUNTY AND DUPAGE COUNTY THEY ARE THE CERTAIN OF THE -- CENTER OF THE UNCERTAINTY ZONE.

PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

I WOULD RATHER PREPARE AND HAVE MYSELF NICELY SETTLED IN THAN BE STUCK IN A SNOWSTORM.

>> VICTOR IS IT UNUSUAL TO HAVE A LONGER DURATION STORM LIKE THIS OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS?

>> YES, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE RARE SIDE AS SCOTT ELUDED TO AND WILL BE UNDER A THREAT FROM LITERALLY TONIGHT INTO EVEN FRIDAY BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR LAKE-EFFECT SNOW THAT VERY INTERESTING LAKE-EFFECT BAND WILL SETUP AND HIT SOMEWHERE POTENTIALLY CLOSE TO NEAR JOLIET, MIDWAY AREA WHICH COULD ENHANCE THE TOTALS THERE MORE.

IN TERMS OF CLIMATOLOGY WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY INTO THE TIME OF YEAR WE WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS IN IN 2011 WE HAD THE GROUND-HOG DAY BLIZZARD THAT SHUTDOWN LAKE SHORE DRIVE AND WE ARE THERE AGAIN IN TERMS OF THE CALENDAR.

CHICAGO FEBRUARY THIS IS OUR SNOWIEST MONTH AND THE LONGER DURATION IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE RARE SIDE.

>> SCOTT, VICTOR MENTIONED THE GROUND-HOG'S DAY STORM FROM 2011 AND I WAS GOING TO SAY HAVEN'T WE SEEN THIS BEFORE?

WE HAD A MILD START TO THE WINTER IN TERMS OF SNOW AND SAW HEAVY SNOWFALL LAST MONTH.

JANUARY, BECAUSE THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY.

IS THAT A PATTERN WE CAN EXPECT MORE OF IN THE COMING YEARS?

>> GROUND-HOG BY NATURE THIS SO FAR HAS BEEN A CARBON COPY OF LAST WINTER WHERE WE HAD A SNOW DROUGHT IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

AND LAST MONTH WE HAD 13.9 INCHES AT O'HARE AIRPORT THAT IS ABOVE OUR SEASONAL AVERAGE 11.3.

CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTIONS SHOW THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY SEE MUCH LESS SNOW AS IT GETS WARMER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER AND APRIL AND MARCH.

BECAUSE WARMER AIR HOLDS MORE MOISTURE WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE SNOWIER JANUARY AND FEBRUARY IN FUTURE CLIMATE SCENARIOS AROUND THE CHICAGO REGION.

>> OK. VICTOR WHERE DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IN ILLINOIS?

>> FROM THIS STORM THE JACKPOT IF YOU ARE A SNOW LOVER WILL BE CLOSE TO CHAMPAIGN URBANA CORRIDOR.

POINTS NORTHEAST TOWARDS NORTHWEST INDIANA WHERE WE CAN SEE TOTALS IN UPWARDS ON TWO FEET OF SNOWFALL.

>> AND SCOTT, YOU MENTIONED LIKE THE SHOULDERS OF WINTER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, MARCH APRIL HAVING LESS SNOW AND A LOT MORE FALLING IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

CLIMATE CHANGE A FACTOR HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AGAIN, SNOW YOU NEED INGREDIENTS.

YOU NEED IT TO BE BELOW FREEZING.

A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT WILL KNOCKOUT THE SHOULDERS.

BUT ALMOST LIKE COUNTER INTUITIVE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE SNOWFALL IN A WARMER CLIMATE BECAUSE CHICAGO'S SNOWFALL REALLY IS LIMITED BY THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE.

SO THE WARMER IT GETS WHEN IT GETS WARMER ON THE LAKE AND WE HAVE LESS ICE ON THE LAKE WE WILL SEE MORE SNOW IN THAT CENTER PERIOD OF WINTER.

>> VICTOR STILL A LOT OF VARIABILITY AS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING.

ONCE THE STORM HITS, WILL WE HAVE IMPROVED PREDICTIONS OF WHERE TO EXPECT THE WORST OF IT?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

GENERALLY AS WE GET CLOSER TO AN EVENT OUR PREDICTABILITY OUR SKILL OF FORECASTING INCREASES.

THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

WITH THESE TYPES OF EVENTS, SPECIFICALLY THE SNOW EVENT WE WILL BE EXPERIENCING OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS OUR CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN HIGH IN TERMS OF THE TRACK.

WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS IN MY CLASSES AT NIU FOREVER OVER 10 DAYS.

IT'S COOL TO SAY THE TRACK CHANGE EVEN A SMALL DEVIATION IN THE TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM WILL HAVE BIG CONSEQUENCES IN TERMS OF EXACTLY HOW MUCH SNOWFALL AT YOUR HOUSE AND WHAT YOU ARE MEASURING THURSDAY MORNING.

>> GOOD LEARNS EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR STUDENTS.

SCOTT, YOU MENTIONED A WARMER LAKE NOT SEEING A LOT OF ICE ON IT.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A WARMER LAKE HERE?

>> THIS STORM IT IS A LOT BECAUSE OF THE POSITIONING OF THE HIGH AND LOW IT WILL TURN THE WINDS EASTERLY.

SO THE SECOND EVENT THAT VICTOR HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT IS STINGING THE TAIL AND THAT IS A LAKE-EFFECT SNOW.

LAKE-EFFECT SNOWS ARE REALLY HARD FOR OUR SIMULATIONS TO PICK UP BECAUSE THEY CAN BE A KILL METER LESS THAN A MILE DEEP.

SO YOU NEED HIGH RESOLUTION MODELS AND SO THE WARMER THE LAKE IS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S ICE FREE IT JUST POUNDS ITS MOISTURE INTO THAT ATMOSPHERE AND THAT IS WHAT CAN LEAD TO THE REALLY HEAVY SNOWFALLS AND ACCUMULATIONS BY THE LAKE.

>> OK. GENTLEMEN THANK YOU.

EVERYBODY BEAR DOWN.

SCOTT COLLIS AND VOCTOR GENSINI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT MINIATURE INTERIORS.

STAY WITH US.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING A LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF CHICAGO'S VACCINE MANDATE ON RESIDENTS.

BUT FIRST, BIG THINGS CAN COME IN SMALL PACKAGES.

AND THAT GOES FOR ARTWORK AS WELL.

A LOCAL MAKER OF MINIATURES AS A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE THORN ROOMS THE POPULAR SCALE MODEL ROOMS ON VIEW AT THE ART INSTITUTE.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" PRODUCER MARC VITALI EXPLORED SOME AWE INSPIRING LITTLE WORLDS ON DISPLAY IN A NEW SETTING.

[♪♪♪] >> THEY ARE JEWEL BOXES FILLED WITH DELIGHTS IN THREE DIMENSIONS.

FROM THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN OF A 17TH CENTURY PIRATE SHIP TO A MEDIEVAL LIBRARY IN FRANCE, THE JAY KUPJACK ROOMS INSPIRED IMAGINATION.

>> YOU CAN SUSPEND YOUR DEBELIEF WHAT IS ABOUT AND FANTASIZE THE VIEWER CREATES THE SCENE.

THEY ADD THE STORY.

WE JUST CREATE A SCENE FOR YOU TO EXPLORE.

>> ALSO ON DISPLAY, A RECREATION OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT'S TENT FROM 300 BC.

THE WORKS WERE MADE BY JAY KUPJACK AND HIS BROTHER HANK.

THEY ARE THE SONS OF EUGENE WHO IN THE 1930s CREATED THE THORN ROOMS AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO.

THOSE MINIATURES HAVE BEEN ON PERMANENT DISPLAY SINCE 1954.

MINIATURE ROOMS CAN TAKE MORE THAN A YEAR TO CREATE BUT WHEN IT'S THE FAMILY BUSINESS IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

BUT THE DRAWERS OPEN ON THE CABINETS THERE IS NO APOULTRY IN THE CHAIRS.

IT IS EASIER TO MAKE A SMALL PIECE OF FURNITURE THAN A BIG ONE.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME SOME OF THE ROOMS MADE ARE ON DISPLAY IN A GALLERY SETTING.

>> WE HAVE A SHOW CALLED WONDER CAMPER WHICH IS CABINET OF CURIOSITIES A WORD THAT CAME TO BE IN 1600.

CABINET OF CURIOSITY CAN BE A ROOM OR A BOX THAT YOU PUT SOMETHING IN OR IT CAN BE AN OBJECT ITSELF.

SO THEY WERE THIS COMBINATION OF ART AND SCIENCE AND NATURE AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY PRECURSORS TO MUSEUMS.

>> THE SHOW INCLUDES A RECREATION OF THE STUDIO SPACE OF AN ARTIST WORKING IN PILSEN FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

>> WHEN VICTOR CAME TO MY STUDIO HE WAS ATTACHED TO MY STUFF.

AND HE DECIDED TO PATRICK CREADON 8 THE WALL I HAD.

AND I'M EXCITED YOU KNOW TO BE PART OF THE SHOW BECAUSE IT'S LIKE [INAUDIBLE] IT'S ALL OBJECTS.

>> THE REAL HONOR OF THIS SHOW IS TO FEATURE THE MINIATURE ROOMS.

WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING LITTLE WONDERS YOUR WHOLE LIFE IT IS NO BIG DEAL.

>> THE ACTUAL WORK ITSELF EITHER YOU CAN DO IT OR YOU CAN'T.

IT'S HARD TO TEACH SOMEBODY GOOD DESIGN SETS.

OR PROPORTIONS OR DEXTERITY.

>> NEITHER OF ONE OF US HANK AND I DID NOT PLAN ON BEING MINIATURISTS.

HE WAS GOING TO BE AN ARCHITECT AND I WAS GOING TO BE AN ENGINEER.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WE WERE.

AND NOW I'M TOO OLD TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.

>> THERE'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PAINTERS BUT THERE'S NOT TOOMIN TOUR ROOM ARTISTS.

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

>> AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OWN A MINIATURE ROOM START SAVING YOUR MONEY.

THE ASKING PRICE STARTS IN THE LOW 6 FIGURES.

THE SHOW RUNS THROUGH THE END OF MARCH AND MORE ABOUT THE GALLERY AND THE MINIATURES ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... DID CHICAGO'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES INCREASE THE CITY'S VACCINATION RATE?

NEW DATA SAYS YES.

>> RISING LAKE LEVELS ARE CAUSING FLOODING AND EROSION.

A CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS AND ADVOCATES.

WE DISCUSS THE CITY'S PLAN FOR PROTECTION.

>> PANASONIC AND OTHER COMPANIES ARE GIVING WORKERS THE OPTION TO WORK FOUR DAYS A WEEK COULD THE NEXT PERK BE TO ENTICE MORE WORKERS?

UP-CLOSE LOOK AT AT 100 ZOOM PORTRAITS PAINTED BY A LOCAL LANDSCAPE ARTIST.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO POLICE ANNOUNCED CHARGES AGAINST A SUBURBAN MAN IN CONNECTION WITH ANTISEMITIC VANDALISM OVER THE WEEKEND.

39-YEAR-OLD SHAHID HUSSAIN IS CHARGED WITH FOUR COUNTS OF FELONY HATE CRIME ALONG WITH CRIMINAL DAMAGE AND DEFACEMENT.

HE SPRAY PAINTED SWASTIKAS ON A SYNAGOGUE AND A JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL FOLLOWING THE VANDALISM IN JEWISH BUSINESSES.

LOCAL FAITH LEADERS SPOKE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY.

>> THIS IS A DARKNESS.

THE MEMORY TOWARD US.

THAT LIGHT PREVAILS OVER DARKNESS BY ADDING MORE GOOD DEEDS AND MORE POSITIVE THINGS WE WILL TAKEOVER THE DARKNESS AND BRING MORE GOODNESS AND ENERGY TO THE WORLD.

AND THE MESSAGE IS: THAT WE WILL STAND STRONGER AND BUILD STRONGER AND GREATER.

>> SHAHID HUSSAIN WAS ORDERED HELD ON BOND.

>> COOK COUNTY PROSECUTORS DISMISS 20 CONVICTIONS LINKED TO DISGRACED RONALD WATTS.

THE FORMER SERGEANT IS ACCUSED OF PLANTING EVIDENCE AND FABRICATING CHARGES.

PROSECUTORS HAVE BEEN DISMISSING PEOPLE CONNECTED TO WATTS SINCE 2016.

THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS 130 HAVE BEEN DISMISSED.

KIM FOXX SAYS THE EXONERATIONS ARE CRUCIAL TO RESTORING TRUST BETWEEN CITIZENS, POLICE OFFICERS AND PROSECUTORS.

>> IF YOU TALK TO THEM AND TALK TO THEM HOW THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN UPROOTED AND IMPACTED THIS IS NOT A DAY OF CELEBRATION.

THIS IS A DAY WHERE WE HAVE TO RECKON WITH THE HISTORY OF OUR SYSTEM AND VOW TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> THE FORMER HEAD OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY MAY SOON JOIN THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT BOARD.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS TAPPING ANDREA TELLI TO JOIN THE BOARD.

SHE IS A VETERAN LIBRARIAN WHO RETIRED AS COMMISSIONER OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM IN JULY 2020.

THE MOVE COMES AFTER REPORTS REVEALED THE AGENCY'S LEADERSHIP FAILED TO INVESTIGATE DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS OF LIFEGUARD ABUSE, ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT AT CHICAGO'S BEACHES AND POOLS.

IF CONFIRMED BY CITY COUNCIL ANDREA TELLI WOULD BE THE FIRST PERSON TO JOIN THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SINCE THE SCANDAL OUSTED SEVERAL LEADERS.

>> CHICAGO'S COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE FOR BARS, RESTAURANTS AND FITNESS CENTERS TOOK EFFECT NEARLY A MONTH AGO AND SINCE THEN VACCINATION RATES FOR THE CITY'S ADULTS HAVE RISEN STEADILY.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US WITH MORE.

SO THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH RELEASED DATA ON THE CITY'S VACCINATION RATES WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER IN THAT DATA?

>> WELL, CHICAGOANS OLDER THAN 18 ARE NOW MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE VACCINATED THAN CHICAGOANS IN ANOTHER AGE GROUP.

SO RIGHT NOW, CHICAGOANS 18 AND OLDER ARE 83.7% VACCINATED AS COMPARED WITH 80.1% OF ALL CHICAGOANS OLDER THAN FIVE.

AND THAT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THIS VACCINE MANDATE WAS TARGETED TOWARD ADULTS WHO WANT TO GO OUT TO BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND WORKOUT.

AND ESPECIALLY INTERESTING IS THAT THE VACCINATION RATE AMONG ADULT CHICAGOANS BEGAN TO GROW ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WHEN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED THIS VACCINE MANDATE ON DECEMBER 31.

AND DOCTORS ALLISON ARWADY, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAID IT WAS A NOTABLE INCREASE.

>> SO DOES IT MEAN THAT THE VACCINE MANDATE IS WORKS AS INTENDED?

>> IT IS.

THERE IS -- THE VACCINE MANDATE WAS DESIGNED TO DO TWO THINGS; ONE TO HELP COMBAT THE OMICRON SURGE OF COVID-19.

AND TO MAKE BARS AND RESTAURANTS SAFER BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE HAD BEEN WAFFLING OR DIDN'T MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO GET VACCINATED AND THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING HERE.

IN FACT, PEOPLE WHO WERE VACCINATED AT THE CITY'S VACCINATION CENTERS ARE TELLING VACCINATORS THAT IS WHAT PUSHED THEM OVER THE EDGE.

>> HEATHER CHERONE THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

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

>> CHICAGO SHORELINE WILL BE GETTING THE LONG AWAITED ATTENTION ADVOCATES SAY IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS LAKE MICHIGAN'S RISING WATER LEVELS.

THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS TAKING ON THE FIRST STUDY OF THE CITY'S LAKEFRONT IN MORE THAN 25 YEARS WITH $3 MILLION IN CITY AND FEDERAL FUNDING.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS RISING WATER LEVELS THE STUDY AND MORE, ARE JOEL BRAMMEIER, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

AT ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES.

AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE KAM BUCKNER OF THE 26TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT WHICH COVERS NEAR NORTH SIDE AND SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JOEL LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATUS OF LAKE MICHIGAN WATER LEVELS IS THERE REASON TO BE CONCERNED?

>> WELL IT IS A BIT OFF OF A RECORD-HIGH BUT THERE'S REASON TO BE CONCERNED BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS EXTREME CHANGES IN WATER LEVELS.

WATER LEVELS GO UP AND DOWN NATURALLY AND THAT IS GOOD FOR THE LAKES.

BUT WE'RE SEEING A JUMP FROM A RECORD LOW UP TO A RECORD-HIGH A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND THAT CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR COMMUNITIES ALONG THE GREAT LAKES INCLUDING CHICAGO.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BUCKNER WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE FLUCTUATING WATER LEVELS ON CHICAGO'S SHORELINES?

>> THESE ARE ERRATIC WATER LEVELS AND TRYING FOR MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO LIVE BOTH ON THE NORTHERN LAKE SHORE IN CHICAGO AND THE SOUTHERN END HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF FLOODING IN THEIR BUILDINGS.

THEY HAVE HAD BUNCH OF SUBSEQUENT THINGS THAT FLOW FROM THE LAKE SHORE EROSION AND THE WATER LEVELS WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL.

>> AND BUILDING FLOODING DESCRIBE HOW THAT DAMAGE IMPACTS YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE RESIDENTS IN THOSE BUILDINGS?

>> IT'S HUGE WE HAD FLOODING A COUPLE YEARS AGO ON BUILDINGS IN SOUTH SHORE THAT LITERALLY RENDERED THE BUILDINGS UNUSABLE FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS BECAUSE IT TOOK OVER THE ROOM AND THE BUILDING WHERE THE MECHANICS WERE.

AND SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE A BUILDING GO FROM THE FURNACE AND THE BOILER SOME OF THE HVAC SYSTEMS WERE FLOODED OUT.

AND THESE PEOPLE HAD TO FIND A WAY TO LIVE THROUGH THIS.

THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION IT HAS REAL-LIFE CONSEQUENCES.

>> JOEL HOW IS CLIMATE CHANGE INFLUENCING THIS?

>> WATER LEVELS IN THE GREAT LAKES THEY ARE A FUNCTION OF EVAPORATION AND RAINFALL.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS INTENSE RECORD RAINFALL AND STORMS HITTING THE GREAT LAKES REGION.

THAT WATER SOAKS INTO THE GROUND AND IT MADE LAKE MICHIGAN RISE AND RISE AND RISE AND THE EFFECT WAS THE EXTREME RECORD-HIGH WATER LEVELS.

THAT IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE CHANGING IN CLIMATE AND WE ARE FACING THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR BACKYARD IN CHICAGO.

AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THAT AND WE MAKE SURE THAT NO COMMUNITIES GET LEFT BEHIND DEALING WITH THE REALITY OF A CHANGING CLIMATE THAT IS BEARING DOWN ON THE GREAT LAKES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BUCKNER, THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THE STUDY.

FIRST COMPREHENSIVE STUDY IN 2 FIVE YEARS.

THE CITY IS MATCHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S 1.5 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF $3 MILLION.

WHAT WILL ENGINEERS BE LOOKING AT?

>> THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES TRY TO SEE HOW WE GOT HERE AND DAMAGE CAUSED AND PREVENT DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE.

HONESTLY WE JUST HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH.

WE TRIED TO FIND WAYS TO PATCH IT UP AND THE JERSEY BARRIER AND RIFF-RAFF AND WHATEVER WE CAN FIND TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION BUT THIS IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD THAT THE CITY IS PUTTING SKIN IN THE GAME AND I WILL DO MY BEST IN SPRINGFIELD TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE SAME ON THE STATE LEVEL AND HAVE ALL PARTNERS COME TO THE TABLE AND LOOK AT THIS FROM A POTENTIAL ANGLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING US ALONG SO WE CAN GET TO A BETTER SPOT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WHAT HAS INVESTMENT ON THE SOUTH SHORES BEEN LIKE UP TO THIS POINT?

>> IT'S BEEN NONEXISTENT.

I KNOW JOEL TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAMMER HOME THE POINT AS WE LOOK AT RESOURCES AND PUT RESOURCES IN THE ISSUE THAT WE CANNOT LEAVE CERTAIN COMMUNITIES BEHIND.

WE CANNOT LEAVE THE COMMUNITY SOUTH OF ROOSEVELT WHO HAVE REALLY BORN THE BRUNT OF THIS FOR A LONGTIME BEHIND.

THERE IS A CONSTITUENT THAT TALKS ABOUT HER FIRST INSTANCE WITH THE RISING LAKE LEVELS IN 1987 AND HOW SHE HAD A FLOOD AND TOLD THIS IS THE WORST IT WOULD GET AND TODAY IT'S WORSE THAN IT WAS THEN AND THERE'S BEEN NO RESOURCES GIVEN TO HER AND HER COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING EQUITABLE MOVING FORWARD.

>> JOEL WHAT ELSE SHOULD BE DONE TO PREVENT THE EFFECTS OF RISING LAKE LEVELS?

>> ONE THING IS THAT THE GREAT LAKES REGION HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE AT BRINGING DOLLARS TO BEAR ON RESTORING THE GREAT LAKES.

SO TWO PROGRAMS LIKE THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION AND OTHERS WE'RE BRINGING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION TO RESTORE THE SHORELINE AND DO OTHER THINGS TO CLEAN OUT THE GREAT LAKES.

IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE CHANNEL SOME OF THE DOLLARS AND THAT EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITIES LIKE THESE HERE IN CHICAGO THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HAVE RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESILIENCE TO CHANGING WATER LEVELS.

THE WATER LEVELS ARE GOING TO KEEP GOING UP AND DOWN AND IT WILL BECOME LESS PREDICTABLE BUT WE HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF INVESTING IN RESTORING SHORELINES WE HAVE TO DO THAT BIGGER AND BETTER TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY THAT COMMUNITIES LIKE THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO ARE FACING.

WE CAN DO THAT.

LET'S GET THE STUDY MOVING.

AND LET'S SHOW THE GREAT LAKES REGION HOW A CITY CAN ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THIS AND HELP ITS RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THE LAKEFRONT AND PEOPLE WHO RELY ON LIVING NEAR THE LAKEFRONT IN A HEALTHY AND SAFE HOME THAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO THE JOB.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE COME OUT OF THE STUDY?

>> REAL ANSWERS AND A CLEAR PATH FORWARD.

LISTEN, OUR PROXIMITY TO THE LAKE IS PART OF WHAT MAKES US GREAT.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO EMBRACE THAT AND IT CAN BE DANGEROUS IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND PROPERTY AND BUSINESSES AND OUR WAY OF LIFE.

AND THIS IS A CHANCE TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE 28 MILES OF LAKEFRONT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND 63 MILES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND WE ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE EROSION, AND ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPENS WITH THE LEVELS OF LAKE AND PROTECTED IN THE MOST AGGRESSIVE WAYS.

>> AND BRIEFLY ONCE THE STUDY IS COMPLETED HOW LONG IS IT EXPECTED TO TAKE?

AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE STUDY IS DONE REPRESENTATIVE BUCKNER?

>> SO I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTIME LINE YET ON HOW LONG THE STUDY WILL TAKE BUT WHAT I AM ASKING FOR AND THE NUMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LAKE SHORE CAUCUS ARE ASKING FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET ARE HELPING THE WORK THAT THE CITY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING IN THIS TO SPEED ALONG THE PROCESS.

WE WANT THIS TO BE A PROCESS THAT WANTS TO BE INTENTIONAL AND GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

>> AND ONCE IT IS COMPLETED I THINK THE CORPS HAS TO GO BEFORE CONGRESS AND ASK FOR MONEY TO MAKE THE FIXES.

THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

JOEL BRAMMEIER AND REPRESENTATIVE KAM BUCKNER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A NEW WAY COMPANIES ARE RECRUITING EMPLOYEES.

OFFERING FOUR-DAY WORK WEEKS.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THAT WEATHER... AS THE SO-CALLED GREAT RESIGNATION CONTINUES COMPANIES HAVE HAD TO GET CREATIVE WITH RECRUITING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES.

THE NEWEST BENEFIT IS A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS ARE TOM GIMBEL THE FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF LASALLE NETWORK A NATIONAL STAFFING RECRUITING AND CULTURE FIRM.

AND BEN FRIEDRICH A PROFESSOR OF STRATEGY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BEN, SO THE COMPANY PANASONIC IS NOW OFFERING A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK OPTION.

IS THIS A BIG ENOUGH PERK TO BE ABLE TO LURE TALENTED EMPLOYEES TO THE COMPANY?

>> I THINK IT IS A PERK AND IT CAN HELP ATTRACT TALENT MANY WORKERS PREFER A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK.

IT IS A NEW PERK THAT EMPLOYEES VALUE AND THIS OFFER DIFFERENTIATES THE COMPANY FROM THE COMPETITION AND ESTABLISHES THE COMPANY AS A LEADER IN CREATING A HEALTHIER WORK CULTURE AND THIS IS VALUABLE RIGHT NOW AS COMPANIES ARE FACING THE GREAT RESIGNATION.

LABOR SHORTAGES AND A BIDDING WAR FOR TALENT.

>> TOM GIMBEL YOU TRIED A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK DIDN'T GO TOO WELL.

WHEN WAS THAT AND WHY DIDN'T IT WORKOUT?

>> BRANDIS THAT WAS A LIFETIME AGO, 22 YEARS AGO.

DURING THE"DOT COM" BOOM.

YOU ARE PUTTING THEM IN A BOX AND SAYING ONLY WORK THESE DAYS AND THESE TIMES TONIGHT GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN.

WHAT WE HAVE A REAL DIFFERENT WORLD NOW WITH REMOTE WORK OPTIONS PEOPLE CAN BE WORKING FROM ANYWHERE AND ON A COMPANY LIKE PANASONIC WE ARE IN A SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE THE MANUFACTURING PEOPLE NOT WORKING FIVE DAYS A WEEK?

ARE THE DELIVERY PEOPLE NOT WORKING FIVE DAYS A WEEK?

IS THE EXECUTIVE TEAM NOT WORKING FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

TOO OFTEN WHEN THE COMPANIES ROLL THESE THINGS OUT THEY DO NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> TOM, I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP YOU TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE FEELING BOXED IN AND TOLD TO WORK THIS AMOUNT OF HOURS.

TALK ABOUT THAT CHANGE IN MINDSET OUR CULTURE CAN BE WORK CENTRIC?

>> THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE AND SO OFTEN THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE OIL.

YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT WILL SAY I'M MORE PRODUCTIVE FROM HOME WHY DO WE HAVE TO COME IN.

I CAN DO IT IN FOUR DAYS.

BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE CONTINUITY HOW IT IS THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK FOUR, 10 HOUR DAYS THEY WANT TO CUTOFF AT EIGHT HOURS.

AND PEOPLE SAY IT'S THE EXTROVERTS THAT WANT TO COME TO THE OFFICE.

I FIND IT OPPOSITE.

THE INTROVERTS DO NOT HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE AND WORK IN THE OFFICE GIVES THEM THAT VEHICLE.

I'M NOT PUTTING AN ABSOLUTE ON ANYTHING.

I'M SAYING THERE'S TWO SIDES TO EVERY COIN.

>> BEN, TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED OVER THE DECADES AND THE PANDEMIC SHOWN COMPANIES THAT WE CAN CHANGE OUR WORK PACE SPACES AND BE SUCCESSFUL IS THAT FAIR?

>> I THINK THAT IS TRUE.

I MEAN THE PANDEMIC FORCED REMOTE WORK EXPERIMENTS ON COMPANIES THAT WERE HESITANT TO DO IT FOR A LONGTIME BEFORE THAT.

AND SO NOW THE LABOR SHORTAGE IS FORCING COMPANIES TO GET CREATIVE ON THE AMENITIES ON THE BENEFITS THEY OFFER.

SO I THINK SOME JOBS WILL BE QUITE SUITABLE FOR A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK.

I CAN THINK OF ANALYTICAL CREATIVE JOBS TAKE A BREAK TO REFLECT ON THE TASK AND SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND YEAH, IT'S TRUE SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY THEY CAN ONLY BE PRODUCTIVE FOR A FEW HOURS AT A TIME PUSHING WORKERS TOO HARD CAN HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.

IT'S TRUE THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY ROOM FOR COMPANIES TO BENEFIT FROM A SYSTEM LIKE THAT.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS FOR THE EMPLOYEES, TOM, OF HAVING -- BEN OF HAVING A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK, LESS STRESS AND OTHER STUFF THAT YOU CAN MANAGE ON THE FIFTH DAY WHAT ARE THE PROS?

>> I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ATTRACTING TALENT, YOU CAN EXPAND THE TALENT POOL BECAUSE SOME WORKERS WHO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN OR FAMILY MEMBERS WORKERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER OR DO A SIDE JOB ALL WILL VALUE THE SHORT WORK WEEK AND IT CAN HELP YOU CREATE MORE DIVERSE INCLUSIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENTS N GENERAL IT'S HEALTHIER EMPLOYEES PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE IN EVERY HOUR OF THE WORK.

SO THAT MAY MEAN FEWER SICK DAYS.

MAY MEAN MORE FOCUSED WORK.

IT MAY MEAN CUTTING DOWN ON UNNECESSARY MEETINGS CUTTING DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> DO EMPLOYEES HAVE THE UPPER HAND IN THIS JOB MARKET WHEN IT COMES TO NEGOTIATING PERKS?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, UNEMPLOYMENT IS AN AT AN ALL-TIME LOW IF YOU TAKE OUT THE SERVICE SECTOR AND THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR HIT HARD BY COVID.

WHITE-COLLAR JOBS ARE AT AN ALL-TIME LOW AND FRANKLY BLUE-COLLAR JOBS TRUCK DRIVERS WAREHOUSE WE ARE SEEING THAT WITH THE SHORTAGES.

YES AT THE MOMENT THEY HAVE THE UPPER HAND.

BUT I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO SEE WITH INFLATION SETTING IN AND THE FED IS GOING TO RAISE INTEREST RATES THERE IS A DYNAMIC WE ARE ON A TEETER TO THER AND IF YOU GO TOO FAR ONE WAY IT WILL SWING THE OTHER WAY AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT EMPLOYEES AND HOW HARD THEY WORK AND THE LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTION IS THAT IF IT GOES FROM FIVE DAYS TO FOUR DAYS, THEN YOU HAVE TO SAY OK, WHAT ABOUT THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO DO MORE AND WORK THAT FIFTH DAY TO ADVANCE?

ARE THEY ALLOWED TO?

CAN THEY STILL DO IT THE SAME WAY ON EMPLOYEE WHO COMES IN ON THE WEEKENDS.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE NAY SAYERS COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO IS OUTWORKING THEM AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT SETUP A SYSTEM THAT REWARDS MEDIOCRITY.

>> HOW DOES THE FLEXIBLE WORK WEEK CHANGE EQUITY IN THE OFFICE MAYBE SOME PEOPLE GETTING MORE FACE TIME OR THE FOLKS WORKING FROM HOME AREN'T MAYBE GETTING THE STAFF CATERED LUNCH, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE?

>> I THINK THAT IS A CONCERN IN GENERAL.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE USE OF REMOTE WORK THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC HAS ESTABLISHED A BETTER SYSTEM HOWEVER ONE CAN CONTRIBUTE, REMOTELY, VIRTUALLY.

AND COMPANIES YOU KNOW SAY THAT HYBRID IS THE WAY TO GO INTO THE FUTURE.

AND SO MORE OF THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY IS READY TO GO IN ORDER TO ALSO ACCOMMODATE SETTINGS LIKE A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK WORKING MORE STAGGERED ACROSS THE WORK WEEK.

AND THERE HAVE ALTHOUGH BEEN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE CAN PROGRESS IN THEIR CAREER AT DIFFERENT PACES.

AND I THINK THAT IS ONE WAY TO ADDRESS TOM'S POINT AS WELL.

>> OK.

PROBABLY THE FUTURE OF WHAT HYBRID WORK WILL LOOK LIKE.

TOM GIMBEL AND BEN FRIEDRICH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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

A LANDSCAPE ARTIST IS DITCHING THE DIRT FOR MORE FORMAL PAINTINGS.

IN A NEW SERIES CALLED 100 ZOOM PORTRAITS, ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU RECENTLY INTRODUCED US TO THE ARTIST AND HER PORTRAIT OF 100 PORTRAITS.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> THE WHAT STARTED OUT AS 300 SCREEN SHOTS OF ZOOM INTERVIEWS FROM HER FAVORITE NEWSCAST HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A DECLARATION OF THE TIMES.

>> I STARTED BECAUSE I COULD ONLY WATCH THE NEWS ON MY PHONE.

THE BIGGER SCREENS WERE TOO MUCH AND I COULD COVER UP WHAT I DID NOT WANT TO LOOK AT WITH MY HAND WHILE WATCHING THE NEWS DURING LOCKDOWN IT WAS INTENSE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE SUDDENLY GOT TO LOOK INTO EACH OTHER'S HOMES.

FAMOUS REPORTERS OR THE PEOPLE THEY WERE INTERVIEWING.

AND I JUST TOOK COMFORT IN THAT AND STARTED EDITING SCREEN CAPTURES.

I NEVER WORKED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS BEFORE BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE.

>> AS SOMEONE NEVER PAINTED PORTRAIT MEGAN WILLIAMSON NEVER EXPECTED TO COMPLETE 100 OF THEM.

>> ONE DAY I WALKED IN AND THERE WERE 20 ON THE WALL AND I THOUGHT I REALLY THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT MY FRIENDS ARE HERE.

>> BUT REALIZING SHY DEVELOPED A ROUTINE THAT GAVE HER COMFORT DURING A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY.

>> IN A WAY I FEEL LIKE I WAS PARTNERED WITH THE PEOPLE.

WHEN I WAS PAINTING FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND HAVE MULTIPLE I WASN'T COPYING THE PHOTOGRAPH.

I FELT LIKE I WAS CLIMBING INTO THEIR HOMES.

SO I WOULD START NOTICING THINGS WHEN I WAS PAINTING THAT I DIDN'T NOTICE WHEN I DID THE SCREEN CAPTURE.

I CANNOT REMEMBER EVERYBODY'S NAME.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT IS IN THEIR ROOM OR WHAT THEY WERE WEARING.

>> FROM FEBRUARY TO MAY WILLIAMSON MADE ONE PORTRAIT A DAY.

SHE RECREATED LIVING ROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND GUESTS SEEN ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

AND DESPITE GROWING IN POPULARITY, MEGAN WILLIAMSON DOES NOT INTEND TO OFFER THEM AS INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS.

>> I DO THINK OF THIS AS ONE PIECE.

THE 100 PIECES ARE ONE.

>> WILLIAMSON IT IS BEEN A COMMUNAL CONNECTION.

TO SEE THEM ALTOGETHER I HOPE IS LIKE THE BEST ZOOM CALL YOU HAVE BEEN ON.

>> OUR SHARED HUMANITY WE WERE ALL LOOKING INTO THE SCREENS THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE HERE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS AND LOOK THAT I CHOSE TO PAINT IS THEY HAVE JUST SPOKEN OR THEY ARE LISTENING.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALL DOING SO MUCH YELLING AND NOT LISTENING.

THIS IS JUST THIS MOMENT OF BEING PRESENT AND TO SEE 100 PEOPLE BEING PRESENT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY, MAKES ME FEEL LIKE HOPEFUL SERIES.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> WILLIAMSON HOPES TO HAVE 100 ZOOM PORTRAITS DEBUT IN NEWSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE MORE PORTRAITS CLOSE-UP.

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

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER DELIVERS HIS STATE OF THE STATE AND BUDGET ADDRESS.

WE'LL SHARE ANALYSIS AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM DIVES INTO WHAT IT ALL MEANS.

AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH MORE OF THE SMALL WONDERS OF THE KUPJACK MINIATURE ROOMS.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY SAFE AND WARM AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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