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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> HE SERVED AS THE INCITER IN CHIEF.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM BREAKS DOWN THE POWERFUL VIDEO EVIDENCE USED AT TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AND MUCH MORE.

>> A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE FOOD INSECURE THEY ARE IN TROUBLE.

THAT'S MY JOB.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN FOCUSED ON HIS COVID RELIEF ASIAHA BUTLER SIGNALS A MINIMUM WAGE HIKE MIGHT NOT MAKE THE CUT.

>> HOW DO WE GET BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION MEMBER AS PROVE A DEAL TO RETURN TO SOME IN-PERSON LEARNING.

THE UNION'S VICE-PRESIDENT JOINS US TO DISCUSS THE AGREEMENT.

>> THE ANSWER OR COPD OR HEART DISEASE.

>> YOUNGER PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN HEALTH CONCERNS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE COVID VACCINE BUT NOTTH CHICAGO.

>> DEBATING THE PROS AND CONS OVER A NEW SET OF TEACHING STANDARDS.

>> ALD METROPOLITAN WANT TO BOOST THE RECYCLING RATES BUT IS IT THAT SIMPLE TO DO?

>> I'M ANGEL IDOWU AND I WILL HAVE A PEEK ON THE IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH EXHIBIT.

>> ILLINOIS' U.S.

SENATORS ARE UPPING THE PRESSURE ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN NOT TO TERMINATE JOHN LAUSCH AS U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS.

IN A LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE, THE SENATORS SAY QUOTE WE HAVE MADE OUR POSITION CLEAR ON Mr. LAUSCH'S RETENTION BOTH PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY INCLUDING IN DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK.

WE REITERATE THAT JOHN LAUSCH SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL THE CONFIRMATION OF HIS SUCCESSOR.

THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF ALL U.S.

ATTORNEYS LEWDING LAUSCH BY FEBRUARY 28.

ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE REPORTING 2800 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 AND 53 ADDITIONAL DEATHS THAT MAKES FOR A STATE-WIDE TOTAL OF 1.15 MILLION CASES.

AND 19,739 DEATHS.

AND INDOOR DINING AND DRINKING IS COMING BACK IN CHICAGO AND SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY.

THURSDAY AND WITH VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND BARS AND RESTAURANTS WILL BE PERMITTED TO SEAT 50 PEOPLE OR 25% CAPACITY UP FROM A CAP RIGHT NOW OF 25 PEOPLE.

AND CHICAGO IS ELIGIBLE VIA STATE-WIDE RULES TO MOVE TO 50% CAPACITY THANKS TO IMPROVED COVID POSITIVITY NUMBERS BUT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAY THEY WANT TO KEEP AROUND A FEW MORE RESTRICTIONS TO DRIVE THAT COVID RATE EVEN LOWER.

>> IF WE CAN GET DOWN TO MODERATE RISK THAT GETS US BACK TO UNDER 400 NEW CASES PER DAY THAT HAS BEEN OUR GOAL ALL ALONG.

THIS HAS NOT CHANGED.

>> ON AMANDA VINICKY WILL HAVE MORE LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

FIRST, TO BRANDIS FOR THE LATEST ON THE DEAL BETWEEN CHICAGO TEACHERS AND C.P.S.

ON IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

SOME CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM TOMORROW.

AFTER CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION MEMBERS APPROVED A DEAL WITH THE DISTRICT TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES RULES FOR SUSPENDING IN-PERSON LEARNING BASED ON THE CITY'S COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE.

AND PRIORITIZES VACCINATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WORKING IN-PERSON WHO HAVE MEDICALLY VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

C.P.S.

PARENT VAN GOGH SAYS SHE IS GLAD THERE IS A DEAL AFTER WEEKS OF SOMETIMES SENSE NEGOTIATIONS.

>> I HAVE FOUR KIDS E-LEARNING EVERYONE IS HAVING A DIFFERENT REACTION TO THIS.

AND ALL FOUR IT IS NOT POSITIVE.

SAFETY DOES NOT EQUAL A COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF RISK.

IT'S HOW DO WE TAKE THE RISKS AND MITIGATE THEM AND KEEP EVERYONE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

>> JOINING US IS CHICAGO TEACHER UNION VICE-PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS-GATES.

WELCOME BACK.

YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT.

DESPITE TAKING THE AGREEMENT TO YOUR MEMBERS UNION LEADERSHIP TODAY EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE DEAL SAYING IT IS NOT WHAT FAMILIES AND STAFF DESERVE.

WHY NOT?

>> STACY, I THINK YOU ARE MUTED.

>> OF COURSE, OK.

THANK YOU TORE HAVING ME.

LISTEN 80% OF OUR STUDENT ALSO STILL BE REMOTE.

AND THE REMOTE LEARNING SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED.

I THINK YOU HEARD OUR MAYOR AND OUR C.E.O.

SAY CLEARLY THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO CHANGE THAT DESPITE WIDESPREAD STUDENTS, PARENTS AND FAMILIES AND EDUCATOR PUSHBACK ON THAT.

AND THAT WAS A LOT OF WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH AT THE TABLE IS A LOT OF NO.

A LOT OF JUST NO.

TO THINGS THAT WE KNOW AREN'T WORKING.

TO THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER AND IN PARTNERSHIP BUT THE WORD NO WAS SOLID AT THE TABLE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

>> ABOUT 68% OF YOUR MEMBERS VOTED YES.

32% VOTED NO.

WITH NEARLY 80% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE CASTING A VOTE.

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP STILL HAS DOUBTS ABOUT THIS PLAN?

>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR MEMBERSHIP HAS EXPERIENCED THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE MAYOR OF THIS CITY DEMONIZE THEM TRY AND ERECT THE NARRATIVE OF PARENTS AGAINST TEACHERS.

AND THAT HAS LONG-LASTING IMPACT.

THEY WERE TREATED UNFAIRLY FOR ASKING FOR BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS.

OUR MEMBERS GIVE A LOT TO THE CITY.

THEY LIVE IN THE CITY.

AND THAT THE CONFIDENCE VOTE THAT OUR DELEGATES PUT THROUGH THIS WEEK AS WELL IS AN INDICATION OF THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH BEING VILIFIED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

IT WAS UNFAIR.

IT WAS UNJUST AND COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

>> SOME MEMBERS EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE 5,000 MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T VOTE.

BELIEVING THAT THE THAT IS A HIGH NUMBER OF YOUR 25,000 MEMBERSHIP UNION.

SOME SAY THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR OWN BALLOTS.

DOES THE UNION KNOW WHAT IF ANYTHING WENT WRONG?

>> WHAT I WOULD SAY, BRANDIS, THERE'S BEEN A HIGH BAR FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

AND THIS BAR WAS THE BAR FOR NATIONAL ELECTIONS, STATE ELECTIONS AND LOCAL ELECTIONS WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A MORE RESPONSIVE LEADERSHIP.

I THINK THAT THE TURNOUT WAS ABOVE AVERAGE.

I THINK THAT THE VOTE ITSELF WAS ABOVE AVERAGE.

>> THE PARENT WE HEARD FROM AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SEGMENT SHE TOLD US SHE FELT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WERE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE AF POLITICAL DISPUTE BETWEEN C.T.U.

AND C.P.S.

>> IT MADE US UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A VERY PRO-ACTIVE ROLE IN ADVOCATING FOR OUR CHILDREN.

AND AS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID THERE'S SHE DOESN'T WANT PARENTS' -- PARENTS TO FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES ARE BEING DROWN OUT AND HOPEFULLY THERE IS A PLACE FOR US AT THAT TABLE TO START ADVOCATING FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> STACY, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION 0 THAT PARENT?

>> NUMBER ONE, I AM A PARENT I HAVE THREE CHILDREN IN REMOTE LEARNING AND HAVE BEEN SINCE LAST MARCH.

NUMBER TWO, THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IS PUSHING FOR A BIGGER TABLE FOR ALL PARENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS IT'S CALLED AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

HAS MAYOR HAS PUT A BRICK ON THAT BILL SINCE BEING ELECTED.

I AGREE WITH EVERY PARENT THAT HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THE LACK OF ACCESS THE LACK OF VOICE, THE LACK OF AGENCY THEY HAVE.

AGAIN, PARENTS HAVE BEGGED OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENTS BEGGED FOR ADJUSTMENTS TO REMOTE LEARNING.

I THINK THE STRATEGY OF OUR MAYOR AND OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LAID BEAR IN THIS MOMENT THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE REMOTE LEARNING AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE TO DRIVE FAMILIES BACK TO THE BUILDINGS EVEN IF THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH DOING THAT.

>> EARLIER TONIGHT, C.P.S.

HELD A TOWN HALL UPDATING FAMILIES ON THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

HERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID IN THAT.

>> OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.

WE HAVE THREE WEEKS OF PROVEN IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION OF A SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN WHEN OUR PRE-K AND CLUSTER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAME BACK INTO OUR BUILDINGS.

THREE WEEKS OF PROVEN SUCCESS.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE AND LOOK AT MORE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

BUT WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE A VERY SOLID PLAN.

>> STACY YOU HAVE EXPRESSED MISGIVINGS ABOUT THE PLAN AND THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS BUT YOUR MEMBERS APPROVED IT.

DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PLAN?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE TALKING POINTS THAT THE MAYOR IS MAKE SOMETHING JUST NOT SATISFIED BY THE DATA WE HAVE ON HAND.

THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 1,000 COVID INCIDENTS IN THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT KICKED UP PRECIPITOUSLY IN THE TWO WEEKS WHEN STUDENTS WERE BACK IN THE BUILDINGS.

OVER 60 SCHOOLS AT THAT TIME HAD ACTUAL COVID CASES THERE.

THERE WERE CLUSTERS AT McCHURCH EN AND HANSON.

THE CONCEPT OF SAFE NEEDING TO BE INTERROGATE AND REDEFINED.

SAFE ARE COVID CLUSTERS THEN I HAVE THE WRONG DEFINITION OF SAFE AS WELL AS OTHER PARENTS.

I HOPE THERE'S FURTHER INTERROGATION WHAT SAFE MEANS AND HOW THEY INTEND TO KEEP ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS SAFE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

>> AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO THE CONDOLENCES OF THE LOSS OF PRESIDENT KAREN LEWIS WHO DIED A COUPLE DAYS AGO AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH BRAIN CANCER.

THE UNION HOSTED A VIRTUAL MEMORIAL FOR HER TONIGHT.

WHAT DID KAREN LEWIS MEAN TO YOU?

>> YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

I GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERFACE WITH THE WORLD AND FIGHT FOR THE EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND BROWN PEOPLE AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE KAREN LEWIS DID IT FIRST.

SHE DID NOT MINCE WORDS.

SHOO FOUGHT POWER AND SHE WON.

SHE WAS ABLE TO TRANSFORM THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND IGNITE A RED FOR ED MOVEMENT THAT HAS REACHED EVERY COAST OF THIS COUNTRY.

SHE MEANS A LOT TO ME PERSONALLY.

KAREN TRUSTED ME AND SHE LOVED ME.

SHE ALLOWED ME TO GROW AND SHE ALLOWED ME TO MAKE MISTAKES.

CAN YOU NOT HAVE A BETTER EXAMPLE OF A BLACK WOMEN OF ANY WOMAN ANY PERSON LEADING WITH COURAGE, AND AUTHENTICITY.

>> MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

STACY DAVIS-GATES THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND A LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT'S COVID RELIEF PROPOSAL.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S $1.9 TRILLION COVID RELIEF PLAN IS ADVANCING THROUGH CONGRESS LIKELY WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS.

THE PRESIDENT STOOD FIRM ON THE BESIDES OF THE DEAL INCLUDING THE $ 1400 DIRECT PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO PUT THE ECONOMIC CRISIS BEHIND US?

AND JOINING US WITH MORE IS AUSTAN GOOLSBEE, ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS AND A MEMBER OF BARACK OBAMA'S CABINET.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> HI, THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> WE HAVE A GRAPHIC THAT LAYS OUT THE COMPONENTS OF THIS PACKAGE.

$400 BILLION FOR PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

THAT IS VACCINATION AND REOPENING SCHOOLS.

A TRILLION FOR THOSE DIRECT RELIEF PAYMENTS IN THE FORM OF $1400 CHECKS.

AND THEN ALSO $440 BILLION IN SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND THEN $350 BILLION FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

FIRST QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS THE RIGHT SIZE?

AND IS IT TARGETED THE CORRECT WAY?

>> I THINK MOSTLY WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT THE DIRECT CHECKS ARE ABOUT 25% OF THE TOTAL THERE ARE OTHER FORMS OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE MONEY FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AND OTHERS COUNTING IN THAT BIG NUMBER.

I THINK WE MULTIPLE TIMES MADE THE MISTAKE DEALING WITH THE VIRUS OF SAYING WELL, LET'S WAIT-AND-SEE IF IT'S NEEDED.

AND I'VE SAID THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IN A PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU REALIZE IT'S NEEDED IT'S TOO LATE.

THE THING HAS ALREADY SPREAD AS GOES THE VIRUS SO GOES THE COMI ECONOMY.

HOPEFULLY SIX MONTHS, A YEAR FROM NOW, THE VACCINE'S WIDELY AVAILABLE AND WE HAVE GOTTEN CONTROL OF THE VIRUS AND WE CAN TAMP DOWN THE PROBLEMS IN THE ECONOMY.

BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS WE'RE STILL HOLDING OUR BREATH.

YOU SAW THE FED TODAY SAY THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THE ACCURATE REPRESENTATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS OVER 10%.

WHICH IS AS BAD AS IT EVER WAS IN THE GREAT RECESSION.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND SOONER IS BETTER.

>> THAT IS ACCOUNTING FOR MISTAKES WHEN THE OFFICIAL NUMBER WAS CLOSER TO 6%.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, LAWRENCE SOMERS SAYING IF IT'S BIG IT COULD LEAD TO INFLATIONARY PRESSURES?

>> I THINK I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS ABOUT IT: ONE, THE PREDICTING THAT WE SHOULDN'T DO THINGS BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE INFLATION, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE SAYING THAT FOR 14 STRAIGHT YEARS.

THE FED HAS BEEN PROMISING THAT THEY WOULD GET THE INFLATION RATE UP TO 2%.

AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

I WOULD TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT ANYBODY SAYS THEY HAVE A MODEL THAT PREDICTS THERE'S IMMINENT DANGER OF INFLATION BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS ABOUT TO OVERHEAT WHEN THE TRUE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 10%.

AND I GUESS, THE SECOND THING I'D SAY IS A LOT OF THE CRITICS ARE USING WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER STIMULUS MENTALITY IN KIND OF AN OLD-FASHIONED CONVENTIONAL BUSINESS CYCLE IS THE WAY THEY ARE THINK BEING WHAT IS IN MY MIND DISASTER RELIEF MONEY AND THAT'S THE WRONG WAY TO THINK OF IT.

THIS ISN'T STIMULUS.

WE ARE NOT TRYING TO JUICE THE GDP GROWTH RATE.

WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING THROWN OUT OF THEIR HOMES, BUSINESSES SHUTTING DOWN PERMANENTLY.

THE PERMANENT DAMAGE THAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T HELP PEOPLE HOLD THEIR BREATH UNTIL THIS PASSES OVER US.

SO I THINK ON TWO COUNTS IT WAS A MISDIAGNOSIS.

>> AND I'VE NOTICED SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL ARE CAREFUL TO CALL THE RECOVERY ACT AND NOT A STIMULUS FOR THAT REASON.

LET'S HEAR WHAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAID ABOUT ANOTHER POSSIBLE COMPONENT HERE RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15.

>> APPARENTLY THAT IS NOT GOING TO OCCUR BECAUSE OF THE RULES OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

I PUT IT IN BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO SURVIVE.

>> IT MIGHT NOT SURVIVE THIS PACKAGE ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH DEMOCRATS WHO THINK THERE IS A CHANCE.

THE CB OOVMENT CAME OUT WITH A SCORE SAYING IF YOU DID RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR, IT WOULD ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THE DEFICIT AND COST 1.4 MILLION JOBS OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

IS THIS A DASH OF COLD WATER ON THAT IDEA?

>> MAYBE.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT IMPACT OF THE MINIMUM WAGE.

I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE CBO'S ESTIMATE IS 2-4 TIMES BIGGER THAN CONSENSUS ESTIMATES THAT MOST ECONOMIC RESEARCHERS HAVE IN TERMS OF THE PREDICTED JOB LOSS.

AND THERE WAS ANOTHER SIDE IN THE CBO REPORT THAT SAID A MILLION OR SO PEOPLE WOULD BE PULLED OUT OF POVERTY AND THAT ON BALANCE, IT WOULD ENHANCE INCOMES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DISTRIBUTION NOT MAKE IT WORSE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COLD WATER.

IT CERTAINLY TALKING POINT FOR THE OPPONENTS.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS BEING REALISTIC WHEN HE SAID HE THINKS BECAUSE THE RULES IT'S NOT GOING TO BE -- WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A FIGHT ABOUT RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT FORM AND SHOULD IT BE DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT STATES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO TAKE PLACE AROUND THIS RELIEF BILL.

I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SEPARATE THING.

>> AND ONE THING THAT IS IN THE BILL IS 350 BILLION FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, REPUBLICANS UNANIMOUSLY WERE OPPOSED TO THAT.

BUT ACCORDING TO NUMBERS RELEASED TODAY THAT COULD MEAN ABOUT $13 BILLION FOR ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT.

7.5 BILLION TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

5.5 BILLION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND CHICAGO WOULD SEE MORE THAN A BILLION.

BEYOND HELPING SEVERELY CASH STRAPPED BUDGETS IS THERE A STIMULATIVE EFFECT ECONOMICALLY TO HAVING HEALTHY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS FINANCIALLY?

>> LOOK, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THERE IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THAT.

I HOPE AND I REALLY PRAY THAT THEY INCLUDE THE RESCUE AND RELIEF MONEY TO STATES AND CITIES THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BECAUSE THIS IS A NATIONAL THING IT IS NOT LIKE STATES OR CITIES MADE CHOICES THAT THEY REGRET AND SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THEIR DECISIONS.

THIS IS ABOUT THE MASSIVE COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN LANDED UPON STATES AND CITIES COMING FROM COVID.

AND THE FEDERAL RESPONSE BEING INADEQUATE.

SO I THINK ON PHILOSOPHICAL GROUNDS THIS IS A NATURAL, NATIONAL EXPENSE NOT A STATE LEVEL EXPENSE.

AND AS LONG AS IT'S NOT TIED -- YOU WANT TO TIE IT TO THE POPULATION OR THE IMPACT OF THE DISEASE RATHER THAN TYING TO WHETHER A STATE OR A CITY'S RUNNING A BUDGET DEFICIT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE FROM CHICAGO OR ILLINOIS TO KNOW THAT SOME MONEY ALONG THESE LINES WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR THEM NOT HAVING TO LAYOFF TEACHERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE.

YOU'VE SEEN A REAL RASH OF LAYOFFS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE MONEY.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS.

IS IT TOO SOON TO START TALKING ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEBT?

IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.

IT'S BEEN PUT UNDER THE RADAR.

WHEN DO WE START TALKING ABOUT THAT?

>> IT'S NOT THAT IT'S TOO SOON IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEATH FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

THIS IS -- NATIONAL DEBT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS THIS IS THE TEMPORARY NATIONAL SHOCK LIKE A WAR OR A NATURAL DISASTER.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT NATIONAL DEBT IS FOR SO THAT YOU CAN SPREAD OUT THE COST AND SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE PAY FOR THIS IN THIS YEAR'S FISCAL BUDGET.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> ALL RIGHT THANKS TO AUSTAN GOOLSBEE WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU ON AGAIN AND WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> EVEN IF SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT ILLINOIS IS PREPARING TO GREATLY EXPAND THE POPULATION ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A VACCINE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST.

>> PARIS, THERE'S A LOT OF COVID AND VACCINE UPDATES TODAY FOR STARTERS, ILLINOIS JUST ADDING 100 MORE VACCINATION SITES.

BRINGING IT TO 577 WHERE -- 517.

STILL, NOT EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO GET TO A CORONAVIRUS VACCINATION SITE.

IN PLACES LIKE ADAMS COUNTY ARE BEGINNING TO DO AT HOME VISITS.

SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE, THOSE WHO CANNOT LEAVE THEIR HOMES CAN GET THE VACCINE.

>> THE MENTAL COMPONENT OF WHAT OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE HAS GONE THROUGH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AND THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE WE WILL HELP TO TAKE A HOME BOUND POPULATION WHO HAS BEEN SOCIALLY ISOLATED AND OPEN THE WORLD BACKUP TO THEM A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND THEN THERE'S THAT CHANGE IN ELIGIBILITY.

ILLINOIS IS EXPANDING WHO CAN GET THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE IN THE CURRENT 1B PHASE PREVIOUSLY LIMITED TO THOSE OVER AGE 65 OR WHO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FRONTLINE BUSINESS JOBS.

STARTING FEBRUARY 25 THAT LIST IS GOING TO BE EXTENDED TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND ALSO YOUNGER FOLKS WITH HIGH-RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

>> MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS MAY ALREADY BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THEY ARE 65 AND OVER.

OR THEY ARE IN A COVERED PROFESSION.

BUT THOSE WHO ARE UNDER 65 AND LIVE WITH CO-MORBIDITIES HAVE AN ELEVATED RICK OF SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS OR EVEN DEATH IF THEY CONTRACT COVID-19.

SO AS QUICKLY AS WE RECEIVE ENOUGH VACCINE SUPPLY, WE NEED TO WASTE NO TIME IN PROTECTING THEM.

>> NOW, THE CONDITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BUT THAT LIST INCLUDES CANCER, DIABETES, HEART CONDITIONS, OBESITY AND PREGNANCY.

THE NEWS WAS MET WITH HARDY APPROVAL FROM ADVOCATES FOR THE DISABLE WHO HAD ARE PRESSING ILLINOIS TO BE BROAD AND INCLUSIVE IN DETERMINING HOW TO DEFINE WHAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES MEANS.

BEAR IN MIND THIS IS A STATE CHANGE.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO PHASES ARE SIMILAR BUT THAT NOT TOTALLY ALIGNED.

CHICAGO IS NOT MAKING THIS CHANGE.

THOSE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN 65 MUST STILL WAIT UNTIL THE CITY GETS TO PHASE 1C.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS CHICAGO SIMPLY DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY.

>> HERE IN CHICAGO, IF WE ADAM KINZINGER NATIONAL PEOPLE -- IF WE ADD ADDITIONAL PEOPLE ALL WE DO IS MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO GET THAT VACCINE AND IT WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO GET IT TO THE PEOPLE OVER 65.

IT WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO GET IT INTO THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT DILUTES THE AMOUNTS AVAILABLE.

>> ARWADY SAYS SHE WOULD LIKE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE AND WHILE THE CITY IS GETTING MORE DOSES THAN IT HAD BEEN, CHICAGO SHE SAYS NEEDS THOUSANDS MORE THAN THE 6,000 DOSES IT'S RECEIVING DAILY NOW.

SO THAT MEANS THAT THE TIMELINE FOR 1C TO BEGIN IS LOOKING LIKE ABOUT APRIL.

MEANWHILE, FEWER COVID CASES MEANS IF YOU HEARD FROM PARIS, CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY ARE EASING UP ON INDOOR DINING RESTRICTIONS.

>> WE ALL WANT TO BE ABLE TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS AND ENJOY TIME TOGETHER.

WE MUST ADOPT AN APPROACH THAT COUPLES THAT DESIRE FOR COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTION WITH CAUTION.

WE DO NOT WANT TO EXPERIENCE RESURGENCES IN INFECTION.

AND WE ARE GLAD TO BE ABLE TO LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS BUT SAFELY.

>> STARTING TOMORROW, RESTAURANTS CAN SEAT EITHER 25% CAPACITY OR 50 PEOPLE.

WHICHEVER IS LESS.

BUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE SHOULD TRENDS CONTINUE IN A POSITIVE WAY, THEY WILL EXTEND TO 40% CAPACITY AND EVENTUALLY TO 50% CAPACITY ALLOWED.

THAT IS THE STATE LIMIT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M HEARING FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PREDICTABILITY HOW TO CONTINUE TO OPEN IS ESSENTIAL AND IMPORTANT.

TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BY Dr. ARWADY SETTING THE TONE AND UNDERSTANDING HOW WE ARE PROGRESSING GIVES OUR BUSINESSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN AHEAD.

>> STILL, SOME RESTAURANT TOURS ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT AS WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE HIGH VOLUME VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND THAT CHICAGO CONTINUES TO BE MORE STRICT THAN THE STATE REQUIRES.

Dr. ARWADY SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF METRICS LIKE NEW COVID CASES THAT CHICAGO IS STILL CONSIDERED HIGH-RISK.

>> AND THAT IS HONESTLY AS SAFE AS QUICKLY AS IT IS SAFE TO MOVE.

SO I HEAR -- I FEEL ALL I DO RIGHT NOW IS SAY NO, NOT YET, JUST WAIT.

WE'RE MOVING AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

AND ALL THE NUMBERS ARE LOOKING GOOD.

>> MEANWHILE, THE ILLINOIS HOUSE WAS BACK IN SPRINGFIELD TODAY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, SINCE CORONAVIRUS LAST MARCH, REPRESENTATIVES WERE BACK IN THEIR CAPITOL CHAMBERS.

MEANING THAT IT WAS ALSO NEW SPEAKER CHRIS TALIAFERRO'S FIRST TIME IN THE ROLE AT THE HOUSE SPEAKER'S PODIUM FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING REASONS THE 118 REPRESENTATIVES WERE NOT ALL ON THE FLOOR AT ONE TIME.

THEIR MAIN OBJECTIVE TO BE THERE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE REMOTELY IN THE FUTURE.

>> BEGIN TO GET BACK INTO A MORE NORMAL LEGISLATING PROCESS WHERE EVERY WEEK, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, WE CAN BE HOLDING HEARINGS ON ISSUES THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

>> THE RULES HOWEVER JUST ALLOW FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET AND TO VOTE DIGITALLY.

LEGISLATOR ALSO NEED TO MEET BACK IN SPRINGFIELD IF THEY ARE GOING TO PASS A LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PASS OTHER LAWS IN THE FUTURE VIA SOMETHING LIKE ZOOM.

NOW, ONE OTHER MAJOR CHANGE TO THE NEW HOUSE RULES ON ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE COMING OFF OF THE TENURE OF LONG-TERM HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN, TERM LIMITS FOR ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER FOR 10 YEARS.

BACK TO YOU.

>> AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL GET INTO MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS AND YOU WILL REJOIN US FOR THAT.

UP NEXT, VINCENT VAN GOGH'S ARTWORK COMES TO LIFE IN A NEW EXHIBIT.

SO STICK AROUND.

>> AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE AHEAD IN THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING AS PARIS MENTIONED OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

>> BUT FIRST, A LONG AWAITED AUTO IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH EXHIBIT HAS MADE ITS WAY TO THE U.S. AND CHICAGO IS THE FIRST STOP ON THE TOUR.

ANGEL IDOWU HAS THE VERY FIRST LOOK AT THIS ONE OF A KIND DIGITAL EXPERIENCE.

[♪♪♪] INSIDE THE GERMANIA CLUB BUILDING STANDS A NEW EXHIBIT.

ABOUT 40 FEET HIGH AND 150 FEET LONG.

NOW THE IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH EXPERIENCE IS LITERALLY A FEAST FOR THE EYES.

FEEDING YOUR APPETITE WITH VAN GOGH'S GREATEST WORKS.

WITH 90 MILLION PIXILS PROJECTING ON TO 500,000 CUBIC FEET THROUGHOUT THE GALLERY, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SAYS THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE REIMAGINES WHAT FLASHED BEFORE VAN GOGH'S EYES IN THE FINAL MOMENTS PRIOR TO HIS DEATH.

WITH MORE THAN 400 LICENSED IMAGES VISITORS ARE ABLE TO SEE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL EVERY DETAIL AND BRUSH STROKE THAT WENT INTO PIECES LIKE SUNFLOWERS AND THE BEDROOM.

NOW, THE EXPERIENCE ENTERTAINMENT IS CHOREOGRAPHED TO A SOUNDTRACK CREATED BY LOMBARDI.

IT FEATURES A MIX OF HIS ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS AND WORKINGS FROM OTHER ARTISTS MEANT TO ENHANCE THE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.

[♪♪♪] EACH RUN PLAYS FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES ON A LOOP WITH DIGITAL CIRCLES MARKING THE FLOOR TO ATTENDEES WILL STAY AS LONG AS THEY LIKE WHILE PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING.

[♪♪♪] AND WHILE THIS ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE GIVES VISITORS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT VAN GOGH'S WORK, HE HOPES IT INSPIRES PEOPLE TO VISIT MORE MUSEUMS AND APPRECIATE ART IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM.

[♪♪♪] FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> THE NEW IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH EXHIBIT OFFICIALLY OPENS TOMORROW AT THE GERMANIA CLUB BUILDING IN OLD TOWN.

AND PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" ALDERMEN AND STREETS AND SANITATION NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB KEEPING RECYCLABLE ITEMS OUT OF LANDFILLS.

BUT IS THAT JOB EASY?

>> THE PROS AND CONS OR A SET OF TEACHING STANDARDS FROM THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> IF THEY HAD FOUND SPEAKER PELOSI, THEY WOULD HAVE KILLED HER.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM BREAKS DOWN THE POWERFUL VIDEO USED AT TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AND MUCH MORE.

>> BUT FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

PLEADS FROM ILLINOIS SENATOR FOR U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH TO KEEP HIS JOB.

DICK DURBIN AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH PENNED A LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE EARNING FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO RECONSIDER HAVING LAUSCH RESIGN AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

LAUSCH WAS APPOINTED BY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HAS OVERSEEN THE PROBE INTO ComEd THAT HAS IMPLICATED FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

THE ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED FOR THE RESIGNATIONS OF ALL BUT TWO U.S.

ATTORNEYS FOLLOWING STANDARD PRACTICE FOR NEW ADMINISTRATIONS.

>> AND THE ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE REPORTING 2800 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 AND 53 ADD THAT DEATHS.

THAT MAKES FOR A STATE-WIDE TOTAL OF 1.15 MILLION CASES AND 19,739 DEATHS.

>> CHICAGO ALDERMEN WANT TO BOOST THE CITY'S RECYCLING RATE AND KEEPING RECYCLABLE ITEMS OUT OF LANDFILLS BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF SAN STATION SAYS IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE.

HEATHER CHERONE JOINING US WITH MORE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE CITY CAN NEVER GET THIS RECYCLING THING RIGHT.

WHAT PROMPTED TODAY'S HEARING AT CITY COUNCIL?

>> WELL, IN DECEMBER, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL JOSEPH FERGUSON RELEASED AN AUDIT THAT SHOWED THE CITY WAS NOT TRYING TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES LANDLORD AND BUSINESSES TO OFFER THEIR TENANTS THE ABILITY TO RECYCLE.

THE CITY'S TICKETING SYSTEM WAS NOT SETUP TO ISSUE CITATIONS SO THE ALDERMEN WANTED ANSWERS ON THAT BUT THEY HEARD A COMPLICATED STORY ABOUT WHY CHICAGO HAS NOT MANAGED TO RECYCLE MORE THAN 9% OF ITS TRASH IN MORE THAN FOUR YEARS.

>> THAT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN STORY ON THIS FOR YEARS WITH THE SAME RESULTS.

DID ANY RESOLUTION COME OUT OF THE HEARING?

>> NONE IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUES AND INVOLVES THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET LIKE ALUMINUM AND PAPER BUT CHANGES COULD BE ON THE HORIZON.

A STUDY OF THE CITY'S RECYCLING EFFORTS IS UNDERWAY AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED LATER THIS SPRING.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE NEW CONTRACTS BEING REVIEWED BY CITY OFFICIALS FOR PRIVATE FIRMS TO TAKEOVER SOME OF THE CITY'S RECYCLING ZONES THE CITY HAS SIX ZONES AND THE CITY HANDLES TWO PRIVATE FIRMS HANDLE THE REST AND WE WILL HAVE TO SEE IF THE RULES CAN BOOST THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> HEATHER IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS WITH THE CITY'S RECYCLING PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'LL SEE YOU FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

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

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS WORKING ON A NEW SET OF TEACHING STANDARDS FOR WHAT IT CALLS CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND RESPONSIVE TEACHING.

THE BOARD SAYS THE MOVE WILL CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS FEEL ENGAGED AND CAN SUCCEED.

HOWEVER CRITICS SAY THE STANDARDS COULD POLITICIZE THE CLASSROOM.

>> JOINING WITH US MORE ARE Dr. JENNIFER KIRMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

AND TED DABROWSKI, THE PRESIDENT OF WIREPOINTS AN ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY ORGANIZATION THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JENNIFER, HOW WOULD THESE NEW STANDARDS WORK AND WHY ARE THEY NECESSARY?

>> THANK YOU.

YES, YOU SAID IT BEAUTIFULLY.

THE STANDARDS ARE ABOUT HELPING ASPIRING TEACHERS TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO CREATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTMENTS WHERE CHILDREN FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND COMMUNITIES IN ILLINOIS CAN FEEL INCLUDED AND ENGAGED.

THEY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN OUR COLLEGES OF EDUCATION WHICH PREPARE OUR ASPIRING LEADERS.

THEY ARE SUPPLEMENTS TO THE TEACHING STANDARDS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND THEY WILL HELP NEW TEACHERS LEARN RESEARCH-BASED BEST PRACTICES THAT WILL MAKE THEIR TEACHING OF THE CORE SUBJECTS LIKE MATH, READING, SCIENCE THAT MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.

WE KNOW THAT CULTURALLY RESPONSE ISSIVE TEACHING WORKS BECAUSE WHEN STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE UNDERSTOOD AND WELCOMED AND INCLUDED AND WHEN THEY CAN TAKE WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING AND APPLY IT IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND TO ISSUES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED.

>> THIS IS ABOUT THE LEARNING FOR THE TEACHERS AND HOW THEY TEACH VERSUS WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE HOW AND EQUIPPING OUR TEACHERS WITH ALL THE TOOLS THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY NEED TO DO THE MOST GOOD FOR THE MOST KIDS.

>> TED, IN AN ARTICLE THAT YOU WROTE LAST WEEK, YOU CLAIMED THE STANDARDS QUOTE ENCOURAGE PROGRESSIVE VIEWPOINTS BUT THAT PART IS NO LONGER IN THE PROPOSED STANDARDS.

DO YOU STILL VIEW THE STANDARDS AS POLITICIZING EDUCATION?

>> YES.

IT'S VERY -- IT'S -- IT'S EASY TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING JENNIFER SAID BECAUSE WE WANT OUR KIDS TO YOU HAD THEIR KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM AND HOW THEY TEACH.

BUT THESE NEW RULES THEY POLITICIZE THE CLASSROOM THEY MOVE TEACHERS AWAY FROM TEACHING OUR KIDS HOW TO THINK TO TELL THEM WHAT TO THINK AND THAT IS WHERE PARENTS OF ANY POLITICAL SIDE SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE NEW RULES AND OPPOSE THEM STRONGLY.

WHAT IT DOES IT CREATES RULES THAT BRING IN NEW THEORIES.

A LOT OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

AND BASICALLY CREATES A LITMUS TEST FOR TEACHERS AND IT DRAWS THE RISK OF MAKING OUR CLASSROOMS AND CHILDREN POLITICAL FOOTBALLS FROM WHEN THE EXCHANGE FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER.

WE DON'T NEED POLITICS IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

JENNIFER WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THIS PROJECT WAS INITIATED UNDER THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION.

WE STARTED THIS PROJECT IN 2018.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE STANDARDS ARE INTENDED TO BE THE OPPOSITE OF POLITICAL.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE SCHOOLS MORE AND NOT LESS INCLUSIVE OF DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS.

THEY DON'T PROMOTE ANY PARTICULAR WAY OF THINKING OR BELIEVING FOR STUDENTS AND CERTAINLY -- FOR TEACHERS AND CERTAINLY NOT FOR STUDENTS.

BUT RATHER THEY INVITE EDUCATORS TO BE REFLECTIVE ABOUT HOW THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES AND BACKGROUNDS MIGHT IMPACT THEIR TEACHING.

EITHER IN POSITIVE WAYS OR IN WAYS THAT THEY MIGHT NEED TO THINK ABOUT AND MAKE INTENTIONAL CHOICES ABOUT HOW TO BEST REACH STUDENTS WHO COULD BE DIFFERENT FROM THEM.

>> TED, YOU'VE ARGUED THE STANDARDS COULD DISTRACT FROM WHAT EDUCATORS SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON.

HOW SO?

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON?

>> TWO-THIRDS OF KIDS IN ILLINOIS, ENGLISH AND MATH TWO-THIRDS DON'T MEET REQUIREMENTS.

WE HAVE A MASSIVE GAP IN JUST THAT BASIC MATH AND ENGLISH AND SCIENCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE NEW RULES THERE IS TALK OF ACTIVISM.

SO IT REPLACES, ASKS FOR ACTIVISM INSTEAD OF TEACHING ENGLISH AND TEACH SOCIAL JUSTICE RATHER THAN SCIENCE AND MOVES THE KIDS AWAY FROM WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING AND THAT IS LEARNING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE I ASK ANY PARENT TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE THAT IS PUT OUT WITH THE RULES YOU WILL SEE IT IS NOT THE BASIC THINGS IT TALKS ABOUT SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION, THE TEACHERS WILL TEACH IN EDUCATE AROUND THE FACT THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION.

AND THAT MEANS THAT A TEACHER MAY BE TELLING SOME KIDS THEY ARE VICTIM AND OTHER KIDS THEY ARE OPPRESSORS AND THAT IS NOT WE WANT IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

WE WANT TEACHERS INVOKING EACH KID IS SPECIAL AND UNIQUE AND DO THE BEST THEY CAN AND TO LEARN.

BUT IF WE TURN AND TELLING OUR KIDS THEY ARE VICTIM AND OPPRESSORS IT GOES THE WRONG WAY.

>> RESEARCH SHOWS, THAT HAVING JUST ONE BLACK TEACHER IN GRADES 3-5 INCREASES THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION ODDS BY BLACK BOYS BY 30% BUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE STATE'S TEACHERS ARE WHITE COMPARED TO THE STUDENT POPULATION LESS THAN HALF WHITE.

JENNIFER HOW COULD IMPLEMENTING THE STANDARDS IMPROVE THE TEACHER RETENTION RATE IN ILLINOIS ENDING A TEACHER SHORTAGE?

>> WE THINK THESE STANDARDS WILL HELP ALL TEACHERS TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AND THE PRIMARY WAY WE MEASURE THAT IS WITH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

AND I'M GLAD THAT TED BROUGHT UP THE DISTANCE THAT WE ARE FROM MEETING THE STANDARDS.

THESE NEW TEACHING STANDARDS WHICH ARE, AGAIN, STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS NOT FOR STUDENTS THERE IS NOTHING IN THEM ABOUT WHAT THE CONVERSATION IN CLASSROOMS HAS TO BE THAT IS STILL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THIS IS ABOUT GIVING THE TEACHERS THE SKILLS TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING TO DO BETTER AT MEETING THE STANDARDS FOR STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT.

AGAIN THESE ARE -- >> I WAS GOING TO SAY WE ARE OUT OF TIME AND THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE RULE IS THE SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON THIS NEXT WEEK IN 10 SECONDS JENNIFER, IF THEY DON'T VOTE ON THEM OR IF IT DOES NOT PASS WHAT HAPPENS?

>> WELL, IF THEY DON'T VOTE, IT DOES PASS.

AND WE WILL WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE INTENDED TO BENEFIT ALL STUDENTS IN ILLINOIS.

>> AND MY THANKS TO JENNIFER KIRMES AND TED DABROWSKI FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TACKLES TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> POWERFUL VIDEO IS SHOWN IN FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, JOHN BOLTONNER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HE >> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM JOINING US ARE HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

AFTER YESTERDAY'S VOTE ON WHETHER IT WAS CONSTITUTIONAL TO IMPEACH A FORMER PRESIDENT OR NOT, THE SENATE SAID IT WAS BY A 56-44 VOTE.

THE IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS STARTED TO MAKE THEIR CASE TODAY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> TRUMP INCITED THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK AND WHEN HIS MOB OVERRAN AND OCCUPIED THE SENATE AND ATTACKED THE HOUSE AND ASSAULTED LAW ENFORCEMENT, HE WATCHED IT ON TV LIKE THE REALITY SHOW.

HE REVELED IN IT.

AND HE DID NOTHING TO HELP US AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

INSTEAD HE SERVED AS THE INCITER IN CHIEF.

SENDING TWEETS THAT ONLY FURTHER INCITED THE RAMPAGING MOB.

>> HEATHER CAN YOU SUM UP TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS?

ARE DEMOCRATS MAKING THE CASE THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT DONALD TRUMP?

>> THAT IS WHAT THEY TRIED TO DO.

AND THEY DID IT WITH VIDEO WE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE FROM WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED INSIDED CAPITOL AND I THINK THE CLIP THAT WILL STICK WITH MOST PEOPLE IS THE SIGHT OF EUGENE GOODMAN WHO WE SAW LEAD A GROUP OF RIGHT YACHTERS A FEW MINUTES BEFORE COMING ACROSS MITT ROMNEY AND FOE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND YOU CAN SEE HIM SAY TO SENATOR ROMNEY, GO BACK, GO BACK.

IT'S DANGEROUS.

AND YOU SEE MITT ROMNEY START TO RUN WITH ONE OF HIS AIDES THAT WAS A JUST A BREATHTAKING MOMENT.

AND THERE WAS VIDEO OF VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE BEING ESCORTED FROM THE CHAMBER JUST TWO MINUTES BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP SEPTEMBER A TWEET SAYING THAT HE HAD BASICALLY BETRAYED HIM AND HE SHOULD FACE CONSEQUENCES.

IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL DAY AND THIS IS THE HOUSE MANAGERS' CASE.

WE WILL GET TO HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN THE COMING DAYS AND THEY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO REBUT THE EVIDENCE AND MAKE THEIR CASE BUT IT IS UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONAL TO CONVICT A PRESIDENT ONCE HE LEFT OFFICE.

>> AND WE HEARD REPUBLICAN SENATOR CASSIDY SAID YESTERDAY HOUSE MANAGERS DID A BETTER JOB AND HE DID VOTE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF IMPEACHING THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

IS IT POSSIBLE ARE THEY CHANGING MINDS HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK ON ONE HAND, MOST OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC PRESUMABLY LET ALONE AMONG THEM ARE SENATORS, HAVE MADE THEIR MINDS MADE UP.

WATCHED AS THIS UNFOLDED JANUARY 6TH.

AND OF COURSE, ELECTED OFFICIALS SURELY MAYBE WE DON'T BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE FIRST AND FOREMOST BUT MANY HAVE THEIR OWN POLITICAL FUTURES THEY ARE WEIGHING AS THEY MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS AND PERHAPS THAT CALCULUS CHANGED FOR THEM GIVEN THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NO LONGER IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

TO A DEGREE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME SORT OF PRESSURE WITH THIS VOTE.

WERE HE STILL THERE AND SO I DO THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO BE BY AND LARGE MINDS ARE MADE UP.

THEN AGAIN YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE MITT ROMNEY WHO SEES THAT VIDEO FOR IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

COLLEAGUES -- YEAH, I MEAN IT'S MOTIONAL FOR ANYBODY TO WATCH ANY AMERICAN PARTICULARLY THE CAPITOL IS YOUR OFFICE BUILDING.

PERHAPS A COUPLE OF MINDS MAY BE SWAYED.

>> THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS WOULD BE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME AS THE IMPEACHMENT.

AND MERRICK GARLAND IS SCHEDULED TO COME BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 22 WHEN DURBIN IS CHAIRING.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE, PARIS, WHEN ALL THE SENATORS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL?

>> THEY CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME BUT THEY ANTICIPATE THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL WILL BE OVER BY THEN.

IT IS EXTRAORDINARY BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IT WILL BE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS INTO THE NEW TERM WHERE THE DEMOCRATS BY THE TIE BREAKING VOTE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT HAVE THE ONE VOTE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AND YET BECAUSE OF THE DISDISPUTE OVER POWER SHARING THE LINDSEY GRAHAM STAYED ON AS JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND SLOW WALKED THE CONFIRMATION HEARING OF MERRICK GARLAND.

IT'S TAKEN A LONGTIME AND DURBIN WILL OVERSEE THAT.

HE MIGHT HAVE INFLUENCE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW U.S.

ATTORNEYS AND IT'S INTERESTING HE AND DUCKWORTH ARE URGING BIDEN PUBLICLY TO NOT HAVE JOHN LAUSCH THE U.S. ATTORNEY HERE RESIGN.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ComEd INVESTIGATION.

PAT COLLINS THE FORMER AIDE BROUGHT UP THE POSSIBILITY THAT MAYBE DURBIN WILL HAVE LAUSCH REAPPLY FOR THAT JOB.

SO DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A DONE DEAL HERE YET.

>> A LOT TO WATCH OUT FOR THERE.

SWITCHING TO STATE POLITICS.

AMANDA, GOOD NEWS POTENTIALLY FOR ILLINOIS WORKERS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOT PREDICTING OR PLANNING FOR AN INCOME TAX INCREASE IN THE BUDGET PLAN?

>> WELL, THAT IS HIS PROPOSED BUDGET.

AND IT IS NOT ALL THAT OFTEN THAT YOU SEE A GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL ACTUALLY GET PASSED AND COME TO FRUITION.

SO THERE IS SOME THOUGHT THAT THIS COULD JUST BE HIS NOT WANTING TO WEAR THE JACKET FOR THAT AND ONCE HE LAYS OUT WHAT HE HAS SAID WILL BE PAINFUL CUTS THAT YOU WILL HAVE LEGISLATORS SAY NO, WE DON'T WANT THESE CUTS AND THEN COMES IN A TAX INCREASE POTENTIALLY.

THAT CERTAINLY HAS TO BE BROUGHT UP BECAUSE REMEMBER THIS COMES ABOUT AFTER HIS PROPOSAL TO MOVE TO A GRADUATED INCOME TAX RATE WAS REJECTED BY ILLINOIS VOTERS.

AND HE SAID HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS VOCAL IN SAYING A TAX INCREASE WILL BE COMING SHOULD THAT FAIL.

WHICH AGAIN, IT DID.

SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN, OF COURSE, IS WHAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE COMING FROM THE FEDS AND WHAT THAT MIGHT DO TO POLITICALLY SAVE GOVERNOR PRITZKER AS WELL AS SAVE MONEY FROM THE POCKETS OF ILLINOIS TAXPAYERS.

>> AND HEATHER THERE IS A NEW STATE SENATOR ON THE NORTH SIDE BUT NOT WHO EVERYBODY THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE?

WHAT IS MIKE SIMMONS AND WHAT HAPPENED?

>> SO I DESERVED THAT.

I WAS NOT ALONE IN I THINKING.

CASSIDY TO REPLACE HEATHER STEANS, INSTEAD IT IS MIKE SIMMONS AND PART OF THE OBAMA FOUNDATION'S MY BROTHER'S KEEPER PROGRAM.

HE IS THE FIRST GAY, BLACK, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND I THINK THAT HE REALLY REPRESENTS A CONCERTED EFFORT AMONG LEADERS.

HE WAS PICKED BY COMMITTEE PEOPLE, ALL LEADING DEMOCRATS WHO ARE WORKING TO DIVERSIFY THE PARTY AND TO USHER IN A NEW ERA OF ILLINOIS POLITICS.

WHERE MAYBE THE BACK ROOM DEALS ARE NOT QUITE AS BACK ROOMY OR THE ROOM IS NOT AS SMOKE FILLED.

BUT HE WILL HAVE TO CONVINCE THE VOTERS.

HE WILL HAVE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

HE PROMISED TO BE A MORE PROGRESSIVE VOTE ON THE NORTH SIDE.

SO HE WILL BE HEADING TO SPRINGFIELD TO TAKE VERY TOUGH VOTES LIKE AMANDA SAID HE MIGHT HAVE TO VOTE FOR A TAX INCREASE QUICKLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE.

>> CAN I JUMP IN HERE.

I THINK I WAS THE ONE THAT SAID SIMMONS WAS MAKING A CHARGE NOT TO GLOAT OR ANYTHING.

BUT THIS FOLLOWS THIS ILLINOIS TRADITION OF A STATE SENATOR REPRESENTING RESIGNING RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING OF THEIR TERM SO IT IS NOT THE VOTERS THAT ARE PICKING THEIR REPRESENTATIVE.

IT'S THESE POLITICAL POWER BROKERS.

AND SO SENATOR HEATHER STEANS NOT SURE WHY SHE RESIGNED AND Mr. SIMMONS WILL HAVE TO FACE THE VOTERS IN FOUR YEARS IT HAPPENS IN ILLINOIS WHERE SOMEONE RESIGNS AND IT'S NOT VOTERS WHO CHOOSE THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IT'S COMMITTEE PEOPLE.

>> MOVING ON TO COVID-19 NEWS, THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER IS OPTIMISTIC MORE VACCINES ARE ON THE WAY AND EXPANDING TO PHASE 1C WILL NOT BE DELAYED.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> IF WE WERE TO REALLY NOT HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH A LOT OF OUR 1B POPULATION IT'S POSSIBLE WE WOULD HAVE TO PUSH IT BACK.

I'M CONTINUING TO FEEL OPTIMISTIC BY MARCH WE WILL BE GETTING QUITE A BIT MORE VACCINE.

>> Dr. ARWADY SASS MASS VACCINATION SITES ARE READY BUT THEY CANNOT GET MORE VACCINES WHAT IS HAPPENING TO GET MORE VACCINES?

>> WELL, IT IS REALLY UP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE VACCINES HAVE TO COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND THEN TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHICH IT GETS ITS OWN ALLOTMENT.

SO MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND Dr. ARWADY ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MORE DOSES OF VACCINE.

THEY CAN OPEN UP THE FACILITIES AND GET THEM OUT INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS BUT THE SUPPLY IS NOT THERE IT'S JUST NOT THERE AND THAT IS VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A LOT OF POLITICIANS BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING THE SAME CALLS, HOW CAN I GET A VACCINE CAN YOU HELP ME REGISTER?

WHY CAN'T MY MOTHER GET A VACCINE?

THEY ARE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE AND THEY ARE TRYING TO UNDER PROMISE AND OVERDELIVER BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO SAY MAYBE BY THE END OF MARCH AND HAVE IT NOT BE THE END OF MARCH.

>> AND RESTAURANTS ARE OPENING FURTHER TO SERVE MORE CUSTOMERS.

WHY NOW?

>> WELL, VALENTINE'S DAY.

I MEAN IT IS A BIG MONEYMAKER FOR RESTAURANTS.

THEY HAVE ALL THE $300 PREFIXED SPECIALS, DRINKS SPECIALS WHATEVER.

AND IT'S NECESSARY FOR THIS INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN BATTERED AND BRUISED.

SO THE HEAD OF THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY SAYING PLEASE WE HAVE TO RELAX RESTRICTIONS AND SHE LISTENED TO THAT IN TIME FOR THIS BIG WEEKEND.

ALTHOUGH, CHICAGO DOES QUALIFY FOR 50% CAPACITY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE COVID RATE BUT THE MAYOR WANTS TO KEEP AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF RESTRICTION.

50 PEOPLE WILL BE THE CAP AND 25% CAPACITY.

>> A SECOND TEACHERS STRIKE WAS AVERTED THIS WEEK.

HEATHER BRIEFLY BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT KAREN LEWIS WHEN WILL STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM?

>> WELL, PRESCHOOL STUDENTS AND SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS HEAD BACK TOMORROW.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL HEAD BACK MARCH 1K-5 OR 6-8 GRADER MARCH 8 WILL BE YOUR FIRST DAY IF YOU HAVE OPTED FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.

SO THAT IS MUCH LATER THAN THE MAYOR WANTED BUT IT IS MUCH SOONER THAN THE TEACHERS' UNION WANTED BECAUSE NOT ALL TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY THAT POINT ALTHOUGH THEY WILL BE SPEEDING UP THE EFFORT TO VACCINATE TEACHERS BECAUSE THAT WAS A KEY DEMAND OF THE UNION.

>> AND WE HAVE MORE TIME.

AMANDA, WHAT HAPPENED SORT OF AN 11TH HOUR.

LOOKED LIKE A LOCKOUT OR A STRIKE WAS IN THE OFFING WHAT HAPPENED TO PULL THIS TOGETHER?

>> I WISH I COULD BE IN THE ROOMS AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THE REAL STORY.

BUT I THINK THAT WHAT YOU HAD FRANKLY WAS BOTH SIDES NOT WANTING TO GET TO THAT POINT.

THERE IS MASSIVE FRUSTRATION, I THINK, WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT PARTICULARLY BY THOSE WHO SAY THAT YOU ARE SENDING TEACHERS BACK INTO CLASSROOMS WAY TOO EARLY THIS IS DANGEROUS.

WHY ARE YOU PRESSING THE BUTTONS WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC.

AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE A LOT OF PRESSURE SAYING WAIT, THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF PEOPLE GOING BACK TO WORK ESSENTIAL WORKERS GROCERY STORE CLERKS, DAYCARE PROVIDERS, WHO HAVEN'T HAD THE SAME SORT OF PROTECTIONS, ACCESS, ABLE TO WORK REMOTELY.

BOTH SIDES RECOGNIZING PRESSURE AND GIVING SOME IT IS A COMPROMISE.

>> AND PARIS, THIS WEEK WE SPOKE WITH STACY DAVIS-GATES AT C.T.U.

ABOUT THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, KAREN LEWIS FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION WAS A LARGE FIGURE IN CHICAGO POLITICS.

TALK ABOUT HER POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS AND WHAT ENDED UP BECOMING A FRIENDSHIP WITH RAHM EMANUEL.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A FRIENDSHIP BUT THE RELATIONSHIP ENDED IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WHERE IT STARTED WHERE THERE WAS LOTS OF FU'S.

AND YOU COVERED KAREN LEWIS SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL FIGURES IN MODERN CHICAGO HISTORY AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE MAYOR DALEY HAD UNLIMITED POWER AND WHEN RAHM EMANUEL CAME IN HE HAD UNLIMITED POWER.

AND THEN HE CLOSES THE SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS GO ON STRIKE.

AND THIS POLITICALLY WEAKENED AM RAHM EMANUEL AND HE NEVER RECOVERED AND SHE BETTER THE CENTER OF THE OPPOSITION AND THE TEACHERS' UNION BECAME THE POLITICAL FORCE OPPOSED TO THAT CENTRIST CORPORATE DEMOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY.

AND IF YOU SEE THE DOMINANT POLITICAL STRAIN IN CITY COUNCIL IT IS THE MORE PROGRESSIVE PRO UNION IDEOLOGY AND KAREN LEWIS IS THE GODMOTHER OF THAT BEFORE BERNIE SANDERS BECAME A NATIONAL FIGURE SHE IS A VANGUARD OF THAT MOVEMENT IN CHICAGO.

SHE WAS BEYOND HER INFLUENCE ON EDUCATION AN ENORMOUS POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN CHICAGO.

>> AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE I DID COVER HER QUITE A BIT A LAST FEW YEARS WHEN SHE GOT THERE, WHEN SHE AND CORE CAME INTO LEADERSHIP AT C.T.U.

THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME ORGANIZING AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES SO THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE.

REPRESENTATIVE NOT JUST STUDENTS BUT FAMILIES AND WHAT THE COMMUNITIES NEEDED.

CHANGING HOW THINGS WENT DOWN AT THE BARGAINING TABLE BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

>> WHAT A RENAISSANCE WOMAN.

SPOKE THREE LANGUAGES, BRILLIANT IN SCIENCE, BRILLIANT TEACHER AND LOVED MUSIC LIKED TO TALK ABOUT COLE PORTER.

>> A LOVER OF THE HUMANITIES AND A CHEMISTRY TEACHER.

THANKS TO OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND YOU CAN MIND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND CHECK OT OUR STORY ABOUT VIRTUAL CELEBRATION FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

IT'S ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE.

>> YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. CHINATOWN IS THE NEXT STOP ON OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES HOW THE COMMUNITY IS ADAPTING CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS.

>> AND THE CHICAGO ORIGINS AF FAMOUS BICYCLE COMPANY IN AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY" AND WE LEAVE YOU WITH MORE FROM THE IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH EXHIBIT THAT OPENS TOMORROW.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

I THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WARM AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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