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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PRACTICALLY AND MORALLY RESPONSIBLE.

>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL VOTES TO ACQUIT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT SAYS HE COULD STILL BE HELD LIABLE.

>> THE IMPLICATIONS OF NEW RESEARCH SHOWING SURPRISING FINDINGS ON THE IDENTITIES AND BACKGROUNDS OF THE CAPITOL RIOTERS.

>> TO CLOSE THE GLARING LOOPHOLES IN OUR LAWS.

>> TWO YEARS AFTER A SHOOTER KILLED FIVE PEOPLE IN AURORA GUN ADVOCATES FORMENTO'S ACTION IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE ANOTHER DAY OF WINTER BUT WE HEAR WHY IT'S UNUSUAL TO SEE THIS MUCH SNOW.

>> PLUS, DIRTY SNOW.

IT'S NOT JUST UNSIGHTLY BUT IT CAN AFFECT RIVERS AND LAKES, TOO.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S COVID TASK FORCE CALLS FOR AN EQUITABLE APPROACH TO VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

>> AND ADDRESSING HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN ILLINOIS' SEVENTH DISTRICT WITH SENATOR MIKE SIMMONS.

FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

MOST CHICAGO PUBLIC STUDENTS ARE NOT BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING YET BUT THOSE WILL HAVE REMOTE TOMORROW.

C.P.S.

ANNOUNCED A CHANGE WITH A WRATH OF SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF THE STORM.

AND ALL PUBLIC COVID-19 SITES ARE CLOSED THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS ANYONE IN NEED OF A COVID-19 TEST SHOULD CONTACT THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR REVIEW OTHER COVID-19 TESTING SITES.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON TODAY'S WILD WINTER WEATHER IN A BIT.

>> ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL PUT A PRIORITY ON GETTING SECOND DOSES TO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE THAT DOES MEAN FEWER PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A FIRST DOSE BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY.

STARTING IN 10 DAYS ALL ILLINOISANS OVER THE AGE OF 16 WITH PREEXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS WILL BE ELIGIBLE BUT TODAY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAY THE CITY WILL LIKELY NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY TO MEET THE NEW DEMAND EVEN THOUGH SHIPMENTS ARE SLIGHTLY TICKING UPWARD.

>> WE WERE GETTING 6,000 FIRST DOSES PER DAY.

THIS COMING WEEK WE ANTICIPATE GETTING 6 700 DOSES PER DAY.

NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH AS THE MAYOR SAID.

PROGRESS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE PLANNING.

BUT WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE COMMIT TO GIVING SOMEBODY A FIRST DOSE HERE IN CHICAGO THAT SECOND DOSE WILL FOLLOW.

>> MEANWHILE, ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 400 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS -- 1400 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS INCLUDING 41 DEATHS.

THAT MAKES FOR A TOTAL OF 1.16 MILLION CASES AND THE STATE PASSED A GRIME MILESTONE AT 20,002 DEATHS.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS 3.5%.

TO PARIS FOR AN ANALYSIS OF THIS WEEK'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OUTCOME.

>> THE OUTCOME WAS NEVER MUCH IN DOUBT BUT SEVEN REPUBLICAN SENATORS DID VOTE TO CONVICT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR HIS ROLE IN THE INSURRECTION ATTEMPT.

SOME FACE POLITICAL FALLOUT AS OTHERS BELIEVE THAT STICKING WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS THE WAY BACK TO POWER.

HERE IS A SHORT CLIP FROM CLOSING ARGUMENTS SATURDAY.

>> BECAUSE THEIR CASE IS SO WEAK THE HOUSE MANAGERS HAVE TAKEN A KITCHEN SINK APPROACH TO THE SUPPOSEDLY SINGLE ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT.

SENATORS, THIS TRIAL IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS IS NOT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD KNOW WHO DONALD TRUMP IS.

THIS TRIAL IS ABOUT WHO WE ARE.

>> AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE FALLOUT ARE HEIDI KITROSSER A VISITING PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

>> AUTHOR AND PODCASTER DAN SINKER WHO HAS BEEN WRITING A NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AND TOM BEVAN COFOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF REAL CLEAR POLITICS.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

HEIDI KITROSSER GETTING TO 67 VOTES NEVER SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A LIKELY OUTCOME IS THERE A MESSAGE SENT THAT SEVEN REPUBLICANS DID VOTE TO CONVICT THE PRESIDENT?

>> YES, THAT WAS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

UNTIL THE IMPEACHMENT NUMBER ONE OF TRUMP THERE HAD NEVER BEEN IN HISTORY BEEN A CASE IN WHICH ANY ONE IN THE SENATE ANY SENATOR CROSSED PARTY LINES TO VOTE TO CONVICT SOMEONE OF THE THEIR OWN PARTY.

MITT ROMNEY WAS THE FIRST THAT WAS ONE VOTE.

GETTING SEVEN VOTES IS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY EVEN THOUGH AS YOU SAY IT'S ALL WELL SHORT OF 17.

>> AND IN THIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL THERE WAS NEW VIDEO FOOTAGE THAT PRESENTED AS EVIDENCE SHOWING THE FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE BEING RUSHED OUT AND SENATOR ROMNEY NARROWLY AVOIDING RIOTERS.

THERE WAS NEWS OF TRUMP'S PHONE CALL WITH KEVIN McCARTHY SAYING I GUESS THEY CARE MORE ABOUT THE ELECTION THAN YOU FROM BUTLER FROM WASHINGTON.

CLEARLY IT'S SHOWING TRUMP NOT ACTING WITH URGENCY TO QUELL THE UNREST.

DAN SINKER WAS ANY OF THAT PERSUASIVE TO THE FINAL OUTCOME?

>> IT HAD TO BE BEEN PERSUASIVE.

THAT WAS NOT JUST HARROWING TO WATCH AS A VIEWER THAT WAS FAR FROM DC, BUT IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY HARROWING AS SOMEBODY THAT LIVED THROUGH IT THE FIRST TIME AND THEN TO SEE AS WE LEARNED THAT THE PEOPLE LIKE MITT ROMNEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW CLOSE THE MOB HAD GOTTEN TO THEM.

I THINK IT COULD NOT HAVE HURT.

IT HAD TO HAVE HELPED PUSH A FEW PEOPLE OVER THAT LINE.

>> AND TOM BEVAN WHAT ABOUT THE DEFENSE STRATEGY ALTHOUGH THE DEFENSE LAWYERS DID GET A FAIR SHARE OF CRITICISM FOR UNFOCUSED STRATEGY.

BUT SAYING DEMOCRATS HAD SAID STUFF ABOUT RIOTS IN THE SUMMER.

USING THE WORD FIGHT.

THAT THE PRESIDENT DID SAY PROTEST PEACEFULLY IN PART OF THE SPEECH ON THE 6TH WERE THOSE ARGUMENTS PERSUASIVE?

>> FOR ME, THE DEFENSE STARTED OFF WITH THIS SORT OF AIMLESS WANDERING HAPPLESS DEFENSE AND GOT STRONGER POINTING OUT THAT THE DEMOCRATS MANIPULATED EVIDENCE AND MADE THEIR FINAL ARGUMENTS AND THE DEMOCRATS I THOUGHT HAD THE OPPOSITE THEY STARTED OFF VERY, VERY STRONG AND MADE A CASE AND STUMBLED AT THE END WITH THE STUNTS ABOUT THEY WERE GOING TO SURPRISE CALLING WITNESSES WHICH FAILED.

AND THEN GETTING INTO TROUBLE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T KNOW THAT MAYBE IT CHANGED THE VOTES HERE OR THERE ON THE MARGINS BUT I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A LOT -- THERE WERE MINDS TO BE SWAYED.

THE OUTCOME WAS PREDETERMINED BEFORE THE TRIAL BEGAN.

>> AS WE SAID.

ONE OF THE MORE SURPRISING STATEMENTS AFTERWARD CAME FROM MITCH McCONNELL WHO BASICALLY ALL BUT BLAMED TRUMP FOR THE INSURRECTION THOUGH HE VOTED TO ACQUIT.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION.

NONE.

THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PRACTICALLY AND MORALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVOKING THE EVENTS OF THE DAY.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS IS STILL LIABLE FOR EVERYTHING HE DID WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE.

AS AN ORDINARY CITIZEN UNLESS THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS RUN STILL LIABLE FOR EVERYTHING HE DID WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE.

DIDN'T GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING, YET.

>> HEIDI KITROSSER HIS VOTE TO ACQUIT IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT A NON-SITTING PRESIDENT CANNOT BE IMPEACHED OR TRIED THOSE McCONNELL DID HAVE THE POWER TO HOLD A TRIAL WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS PRESIDENT.

MITCH McCONNELL WANTS TO BE IN THE MAJORITY.

WHAT IS THE POLITICAL STRATEGY HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO THROTTLE THE DEFENSE.

I THINK HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MASSIVE BACKLASH FROM THE PART OF THE BASE THAT LOVES TRUMP.

HAD HE NOT VOTED TO ACQUIT.

I ALSO THINK HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEND A SIGNAL TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARTY SUGGESTING ANY PRESSURE TO VOTE TOWARD ACQUITTAL.

BUT BY MAKING THE STATEMENT THAT HE DID, I THINK HE ALSO GAVE COVER TO REPUBLICANS IN SORT OF MORE PURPLE STATES AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HAD VOTED TO CONVICT.

THAT'S MY GUESS AS TO THE POLITICAL STRATEGY.

>> AND DAN SINKER THERE WAS DRAMA OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT POSSIBLY CALLING WITNESSES.

THERE WAS A VOTE TO AFFIRM THAT AND REPUBLICANS CAME BACK WITH A LIST OF WITNESSES THEY WANTED TO CALL EVENTUALLY THERE WERE NO WITNESSES.

WHAT WAS BEHIND THAT DRAMA AND THE FINAL OUTCOME THAT NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE STILL LEARNING WHAT WAS BEHIND THAT DRAMA, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK THAT THERE HAD BEEN A STATEMENT ON FRIDAY NIGHT THAT THE HOUSE MANAGERS FELT WAS GOING TO HELP KIND OF MAKE THEIR CASE THAT THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T LIFT A FINGER, IN FACT, ENCOURAGED THE VIOLENCE WHILE IT WAS TAKING EFFECT.

AND BY EVERY REPORT IT SEEMS THAT THEY TOOK THE SENATE DEMOCRATS ALMOST ENTIRELY BY SURPRISE.

AND IT ENDED UP, I MEAN I THINK EVERYONE THAT WAS COVERING OR WATCHING THE TRIAL CLOSELY WOKE UP SATURDAY THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BE A QUICK DAY AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS THIS EVERYTHING WENT OUT THE WINDOW FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES AND SUDDENLY IT GOT REELED BACK IN AND IT ENDED UP BEING A QUICK DAY.

IT WAS SURPRISING AND THEN IT WASN'T.

>> TOM BEVAN LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD.

SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS LIKE SENATOR CASSIDY FROM LOUISIANA FACING SENSE SEWER AND BURR IN -- CENSOR IN LOUISIANA AND BURR IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

HOW DOES THE G.O.P.

DEAL WITH THIS BATTLE?

>> IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

AND HOW THE PARTY MOVES FORWARD, PARTICULARLY PRIMARY CHALLENGES IN 2022.

IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR THE DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE BEEN UNITED AND PAPERED OVER SKI I AMS WITHIN THEIR CAUCUS.

TRUMP IS GOING TO BE OFF THE SCENES SOME OF THE CRACKS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL BUBBLE TO THE SURFACE.

IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH THIS.

DONALD TRUMP IS STILL A FORCE IN THE PARTY THERE IS NO QUESTION.

HOW HE CHOOSES TO MAKE HIMSELF PART OF THE CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD WHETHER HE CHOOSES TO RUN AGAIN OR CHOOSES TO PLAY IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, AND IT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND RIGHT NOW THE JURY IS OUT IN TERMS WHICH WAY THE PARTY IS GOING TO GO.

BUT TRUMP, IF NOT TRUMP THE PERSONALITY BUT CERTAINLY TRUMP'S POLICIES ARE RIGHT NOW AT THE CORE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO GET TO WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO HEIDI KITROSSER, DAN SINKER AND TOM BEVAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> AND THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL MAY BE OVER BUT HUNDREDS OF RIOTERS WHO STORMED THE CAPITOL ARE STILL FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES.

THERE'S BEEN COVERAGE ABOUT SOME OF THE INSURRECTIONISTS TIES TO MILITIAS AND WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS.

BUT NEW RESEARCH OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY CHICAGO PAINTS A MORE NUANCED PICTURE WHOT RIOTERS WERE.

ARE THERE BROAD CONCLUSIONS?

>> JOINING US IS ROBERT PAPE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AND THE DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO PROJECT ON SECURITY AND THREATS.

BEFORE WE GET BACK INTO THE SPECIFICS GIVE US THE ABSTRACT OF WHAT YOUR STUDY FOUND?

>> IT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE WHO WERE THE INSURRECTIONISTS ON JANUARY 6TH IF WE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP VIABLE SOLUTIONS THAT TRULY WORK FOR AMERICA.

WITH A LARGE RESEARCH TEAM OF 22, WE HAVE STUDIED OVER 250 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR EITHER BREAKING INTO THE CAPITOL BUILDING OR GROUNDS ON JANUARY 6TH.

THAT'S 250 OF THE 800 WHO DID THAT.

OUR FINDINGS ARE REALLY QUITE SURPRISING.

IT TURNS OUT, ONLY A SMALL FRACTION ARE A COLLECTION OF RIGHT-WING MILITIAS.

WHAT WE SEE IS A NEW MASS POLITICAL MOVEMENT WITH VIOLENCE AT ITS CORE.

>> AND ONLY 10% OF THOSE MILITIAS THE OTHER 90% FOLKS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND YOU DUG INTO INFO, 85% WERE EMPLOYED INCLUDING WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GRAPHIC OF FOLKS NOT IN MILITIAS.

85% WERE EMPLOYED INCLUDING SOME C.E.O.S AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

9% UNEMPLOYED.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

>> WHAT IS REALLY STRIKING, SO I'VE BEEN DOING DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE FOR THREE DECADES AND WHAT IS STRIKING IS THE 13% WHO ARE BUSINESS OWNERS ON JANUARY 6TH, THE 28% IN ADDITION TO THOSE 13% WHO COME FROM WHITE-COLLAR OCCUPATIONS, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, ACCOUNTANTS THIS IS VERY STRIKING, PARIS, BECAUSE NORMALLY WE DON'T HAVE A CATEGORY FOR BUSINESS OWNER WHEN WE STUDY POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

AND SO THIS IS A VERY BIG SIGN AT THAT TIME WE'RE DEALING WITH A NEW POLITICAL MOVEMENT WITH VIOLENCE AT ITS CORE THAT CAN'T BE REDUCED EASILY TO THE USUAL SUSPECTS; THAT IS IF ONLY WE JUST ROUNDED UP ALL THE PROUD BOYS HERE WE WOULD BE NIP THE PROBLEM IN THE BUD.

THIS -- THERE ARE PROUD BOYS TO BE SURE.

BUT ALMOST 90% ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY ORGANIZED MILITARY GROUP OR MILITIA.

AND THIS IS REALLY VERY IMPORTANT.

>> AND IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVELY LOW INCOME AS YOU FIND.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE "WASHINGTON POST" DID ANALYSIS THAT FOUND THAT 60% OF THOSE ARRESTED HAD FACED PRIOR MONEY TROUBLES, DEBT, FORECLOSE, TAX LIENS.

HOW DO YOU SQUARE THOSE SETS OF DATA?

>> TODD WAS THE RECORDER AND YOU WILL SEE HERE, HE GOES BACK TWO DECADES.

AND AS I TOLD HIM WHEN HE SAID IN HIS PIECE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU GO BACK TWO DECADES, TO REALIZE THAT THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED 20 YEARS AGO MAY NOT HAVE BEARING WHAT YOU DID JANUARY 6.

THEY MIGHT I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THEY DON'T AT ALL.

BUT THAT MEANS WE NEED TO HAVE MORE UNDERSTANDING HERE TO SEE AS WE GO FORWARD.

TODD LOOKED AT 125, NOT THE FULL SET OF OVER 250.

AND IF YOU INCLUDE THE FULL SET YOU WOULD SEE THAT IT REALLY REDUCES THE NUMBERS DOWN.

I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH TODD'S WORK.

HE HAS DONE GREAT WORK BUT IT ONLY POINTS TO HOW WE NEED TO DO MORE TRULY SYSTEMIC ANALYSIS.

>> AND PEOPLE CAN BE EMPLOYED AND BE FACE MONEY TROUBLES.

YOU FOUND THAT COUNTIES WON BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN PRODUCED MORE RIOTERS THAT COUNTIES WON BY TRUMP AND THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE BIDEN TO WIN THE MORE POPULOUS COUNTIES.

WHAT ELSE DO WE GLEAN FROM THAT?

>> MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT AFTER THE INSURRECTION THESE INSURRECTIONISTS ARE COMING FROM THE REDDEST PARTS OF AMERICA.

AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE.

THESE ARE 57% ARE COMING FROM LARGE URBAN AREAS LIKE DALLAS, DALLAS IS HARDLY THOUGHT OF AS TRUMP COUNTRY.

DALLAS BIDEN WON WITH 65% OF THE VOTE.

BUT DALLAS ALSO HAS 300,000 VOTERS FOR TRUMP AND THEY SENT FOUR INSURRECTIONISTS ON JANUARY 6TH.

WHAT THIS IS TELLING US, IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE INTERACT WITH OTHER FOLKS AS THEY OFTEN DO IN LARGE CITIES LIKE DALLAS THAT'S NOT A TAPPED SOLUTION THAT IS GOING TO WORK IN THIS SITUATION THE SAME WITH OTHER SOLUTIONS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT.

NORMALLY WE THINK RIGHT-WING MILITIA GROUPS LET'S GET THEM A JOB BECAUSE 25, 30% ARE UNEMPLOYED.

IF 9% ARE UNEMPLOYED AND MANY ARE DOCTORS AND LAWYERS THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE A SOLUTION.

AGE IS ANOTHER FACTOR IN OUR STUDY THAT HERE.

TWO-THIRDS OF THE INSURRECTIONISTS ARE OVER THE AGE OF 35.

NORMALLY WE FIND THE VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR 20s AND 30s.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WE JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO GROW UP AND GROW OUT OF IT.

THAT IS ANOTHER SOLUTION SHOT DOWN BY THIS DEEPER STUDY OF THE WHO THE INSURRECTIONISTS ARE.

>> CLEARLY THE SOLUTION HAS TO BE MULTIPRONGED BECAUSE IT IS A LARGE COALITION THAT SEEMS TO ACCEPT RESORTING TO SOME LEVEL OF VIOLENCE.

BEYOND TARGETING THE MILITIA GROUPS WHAT IS THE BROADER STRATEGY?

>> THE BIG THINGS EVERYBODY WANTS, PARIS, IS GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT AWAY.

THE SOLUTION LIKE TOMORROW, THE PROBLEM HERE IS WE'VE MADE SUBSTANTIAL FINDINGS AND PROGRESS THAT SHOOT DOWN THE NORMAL SOLUTIONS.

WE THE NEXT STEP IS TO THICKEN UP OUR FINDINGS SO THAT THE DIAGNOSIS THAT WE COME UP WITH CAN LEAD TO SOLUTIONS THAT WILL TRULY WORK FOR AMERICA.

THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE MORE TIME.

AND IN FACT WE STARTED DEDICATING NOW TO PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER FOR A THREE-SIX-MONTH THRUST OF WORK TO TRULY THICKEN UP OUR UNDERSTANDING NOT JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP AND SAY, YEAH, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THE THING TO DO.

TOO MUCH OF THAT RIGHT NOW IS FLOATING AROUND AND IT'S GETTING US NOWHERE.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO BUILD THIS ON A DIAGNOSIS OF THE REALITY NOT JUST KIND OF GUESS THAT WELL MAYBE IT'S THIS OR MAYBE IT'S THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, ROBERT PAPE.

A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK YOU WILL BE DOING AND WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU BACK TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>> AND BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE AN AGREED WORKER AT THE HENRY PRATT WAREHOUSE KILLED FIVE PEOPLE.

THE SHOOTER DIED AS WELL.

IN THAT TIME, ADVOCATES FOR GUN CONTROL SAY ILLINOIS HAS NOT TAKEN STEP TOSSES FIX PROBLEMS WITH STATE FIREARMS LAWS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

AMANDA?

>> IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO TODAY THAT ABBY PARKS LOST HER HUSBAND, TWO YEARS AGO HER SON LOST HIS FATHER.

WHEN CLAYTON PARKS WAS AMONG THE FIVE VICTIMS SHOT AND KILLED BY AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAD BEEN FIRED.

>> CLAYTON HAD A CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY HE WAS DETERMINED AND HARD-WORKING AND LOVED BY EVERYONE.

BUT HE WAS ONLY 32 WHEN HE DIED HE HAD SO MUCH MORE LIFE TO LIVE.

>> TO HONOR CLAY'S MEMORY WOULD BE TO ADDRESS LOOPHOLES IN GUN LAWS LOOPHOLES WITHOUT WHICH HER HUSBAND AND THE OTHERS WOULD BE ALIVE.

THE SHOOTER SHOULD THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY AND HAVE THE HANDGUN USED.

HE HAD A FELONY ON HIS RECORD BUT AN ERROR MAD MEANT ILLINOIS STATE POLICE MISSED IT.

THEY LATER FOUND THAT AND REVOKED THE FIREARM OWNER'S CARD WHICH MEANT THE SHOOTER COWS COULDN'T LEGALLY OWN GUNS.

BUT NO LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD TAKEN THEM AWAY.

>> FOLLOWING THE AURORA TRAGEDY WE WERE FORCED TO CONFRONT THE REALITY THAT A LARGE PART OF ILLINOIS' GUN VIOLENCE CRISIS IS CAUSED BY LOOPHOLES IN OUR CARD PERMIT TO PURCHASE SYSTEM.

>> IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING THE ILLINOIS HOUSE APPROVED A MEASURE TOUTED AS FIX THE FOID BUT IT NEVER PASSED THE SENATE.

NOW THE SPONSORS ARE TRYING AGAIN AND PRESSING FOR CHANGES LIKE A REQUIREMENT THAT ANYONE APPLYING FOR A FOID CARD GET FINGERPRINTED.

>> SO THAT WE CAN VERIFY IDENTIFICATION.

PEOPLE CAN'T EASILY CHANGE THEIR NAMES OR HAVE A COMMON NAME AND FLIP THROUGH THE CRACK AND BE ABLE TO GET A GUN.

>> THERE IS NO OTHER FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT THAT REQUIRES A FINGERPRINT TO EXERCISE IT AND ALSO RIDICULOUS THAT PRICE IS EVERYTHING OUT OF REACH FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON.

AND YOU HAVE A FAMILY THAT ALL HAVE FOID CARDS IT WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE] >> THE ILLINOIS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION'S DIRECTOR RICHARD PEARSON SAYS THE SECOND CHANGE ISN'T NEEDED EITHER.

ADVOCATES WANT TO EMPOWER STATE AND LOCAL POLICE ESSENTIAL REQUIRE THEM TO RETRIEVE GUNS FROM OWNERS WITH REVOKED FOID CARDS.

HE SAYS THAT WHILE POLICE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FEROCIOUS ABOUT DOING THAT BEFORE THE AURORA SHOOTING THEY ARE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IT NOW.

THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE LIKEWISE INDICATE THEY HAVE TAKEN THIS MORE SERIOUSLY SINCE THAT 2019 AURORA SHOOTING.

IN A STATEMENT TODAY, IT CREATED A WEB PORTAL THAT LOCAL POLICE AND PROSECUTORS CAN ACCESS TO VERIFY WHETHER SOMEONE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

THAT STATE POLICE CREATED A SPECIAL DETAIL TO ENFORCE GUN TAKE BACKS AFTER FOID REVOCATIONS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS LAST YEAR BLOCKED 11500 ATTEMPTS TO UNLAWFULLY GET A FOID CARD.

BUT THEN HEAR FROM TAMI TUNNELL, SHE IS A DOWN STATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVOCATE.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY DANGEROUS LOOPHOLES THAT ALLOW VIOLENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDER WHO HAD FOID CARDS REVOKED TO KEEP THEIR GUNS.

IN MY CAREER I HAVE SEEN SO MANY VICTIMS FORCED TO LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE THEIR ABUSERS HAD GUNS OR THEY WERE THREATENED.

AND THESE GUNS WERE TRIED TO GET THEM TAKEN AWAY AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> NOW, ANOTHER SOUGHT OFF CHANGE REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL GUN SALES THAT IS REQUIRED WHEN FIREARMS ARE PURCHASED FROM A DEALER OR AT A GUN SHOW BUT NOT PERSON TO PERSON SALES.

>> PURCHASING FIREARMS, AND FOID CARDS STILL CARRY CARDS AND THERE BACKGROUND CHECKS.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT IS NOT NECESSARY.

>> PASTOR TERRANCE HOWARD CONTRASTS TO THE MAJOR ACTIONS GOVERNMENTS TOOK TO PREVENT ACTS OF TERROR.

>> IN 2002, SOMEONE TRIED TO GET ON AN AIRPLANE WITH SOMETHING IN THEIR SHOES EVER SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD TO DISROBE TO GET ON AN AIRPLANE.

IN ILLINOIS EVERYONE HAS TO GET A REAL ID THIS IS THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY'VE CLOSED IDENTITY LOOPHOLES.

>> IT IS TIME TO APPLY THAT SAME SERIOUSNESS AND GUSTO TO GUN CRIME PREVENTION.

MEANWHILE, MORE ILLINOISANS THEN EVER ARE APPLYING FOR FOID CARDS.

I ASKED THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION RICHARD PEARSON WHAT HE THINKS IS THE REASON?

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

THEY SUDDENLY REALIZE THAT YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON THE POLICE TO PROTECT YOU.

>> BUT THAT INCREASE COMBINED PIERSON WITH STAFF SHORTAGES DUE TO PREVIOUS DEFUNDING OF THE ISB CAUSED A LONG DELAY IN PROCESSING FOID APPLICATIONS AND ENOUGH THAT THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION IS SUING.

PIERSON SAYS ANOTHER LAWSUIT MAY BE COMING ALONG ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS FRUSTRATED WITH LONG DELAYS IN GRANTING PERMITS FOR CONCEALED CARRY LICENSES.

WHILE NOT ADDRESSING THE FOID LAWSUIT STATE POLICE DIRECTOR BRENDAN KELLY SAID THAT THE HENRY PRATT SHOOTING IN AURORA REVEALED THE NEED TO USE LESS OF OUR RESOURCES ON AN OUTDATED PROCESS SIMILAR TO THAT OF A FISHING LICENSE AND MORE ON ENFORCEMENT AGAINST REAL THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

HE INDICATED THE STATE POLICE WILL SEEK ACTION AND AUTHORITY FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO, AS HE PUT IT, UNTANGLE THAT PATIENT WORK.

-- PATCHWORK.

YESTERDAY WAS THE 13TH ANNIVERSARY AFT MASS SHOOTING AT ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY THAT LEFT FIVE STUDENTS AND THE SHOOTER DEAD.

YESTERDAY WAS WHEN THREE YEARS AGO, 17 PEOPLE DIED IN THE PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS CALLING FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.

HE WANTS A BAN ON SO-CALLED ASSAULT WEAPONS AND IS CALLING FOR MORE BACKGROUND CHECKS.

BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> GRIM ANNIVERSARIES THERE.

THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WE MEET THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICE.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE PREVENTS A STRONG COALITION OF BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES FORMING ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES.

>> I WENT US TO FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER.

>> GO DOWN THE BLOCK, GET IT FROM SOMEONE LOCAL AND KEEP IT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> BLACK JOY AND THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IS MAGICAL.

>> NEIGHBORS IN ROGERS PARK, EDGEWATER, UPTOWN AND RAVENS WOOD HAVE A NEW SENATE SENATOR IN SPRINGFIELD WHO PLANS TO TACKLE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES FILLING THE SEAT VACATED BY HEATHER STEANS MIKE SIMMONS IS MAKING HISTORY AS ILLINOIS' FIRST OPENLY GAY STATE SENATOR AND THE FIRST BLACK STATE SENATOR TO REPRESENT THE 7TH DISTRICT.

HE WAS DIRECTOR OF THE OBAMA FOUNDATION'S MY BROTHER'S KEEPER ALLIANCE AND SENIOR OFFICIAL IN MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL'S ADMINISTRATION.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS HIS PLANS IS STATE SENATOR MIKE SIMMONS.

CONGRATS ON THE NEW APPOINTMENT AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> YOU'VE NEVER HELD ELECTED OFFICE BEFORE.

WHY THIS ONE, WHY NOW?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW FOR ME IT MADE SENSE FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

THE FIRST IS THAT WE ARE AT A POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE STEPPING UP, THEY ARE SPEAKING OUT ON THE ISSUES THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.

AND THIS COMMUNITY THE SEVENTH DISTRICT IS THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

I AM A NATIVE I GREW NEWSPAPER LINCOLN SQUARE I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE.

MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

WITH ALL THE GOOD WORK HAPPENING IN SPRINGFIELD AROUND THE BLACK LIVES AGENDA AND REFORM AND HEALTH EQUITY IT SEEMED LIKE THE RIGHT TIME FOR ME TO STEP UP AS A MILA KOUMPILOVA AS A BLACK PERSON AND A SON OF AN IMMIGRANT AND TO SERVE AT THAT LEVEL.

>> YOU ARE MAKING HISTORY IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

FIRST OPENLY GAY STATE SENATOR AND THE FIRST BLACK SENATOR.

HOW DO THOSE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WILL HELP INFORM HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE PEOPLE IN ELECTED OFFICE WHO HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCES TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

THE SEVENTH DISTRICT IS VIBRANT BUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PARTS OF NORTHERN LINCOLN SQUARE AND EDGEWATER THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

YOU HAVE A HIGH NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE HEADED BY SINGLE PARENT, MOMS AND DADS.

YOU'VE GOT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

MY FATHER WAS A REFUGEE FROM ETHIOPIA.

AND CAME HERE IN THE 1980s AND WAS GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM.

I KNOW THERE IS A GENERATION OF IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE COMING INTO THIS PART OF CHICAGO.

IT'S LIKE THE ELLIS ISLAND FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND SOUTH AMERICA.

EAST AFRICA, WEST AFRICA.

SOUTHERN EUROPE, EASTERN EUROPE.

I WANT TO GO TO BAT FOR THOSE FAMILIES AND HAVING THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE PREPARED ME TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY.

>> YOU GREW UP IN THE DISTRICT AS WE MENTIONED INCLUDES ROGERS PARK, EDGEWATER, UPTOWN, PARTS OF RAVENS WOOD.

YOU EXPRESSED A LITTLE BIT BUT WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IN A COMMUNITY AS DIVERSE?

>> THE ONE ISSUE THAT CRISSCROSSES ALL OF THOSE POPULATIONS IS ECONOMIC INSECURITY.

AND A LOT OF THIS HAS BEEN AGGRAVATED BY THE PANDEMIC.

WE'VE GOT HOUSEHOLDS IN THIS DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE ARE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS OFTEN IN TRANSYENTD LOW WAGE WORK WHERE FOLKS ARE BARELY MAKING ENOUGH HOURS TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AND THIS IS A PROBLEM ACROSS THE STATE BUT IT'S POINT ANT IN THIS DISTRICT THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT I'VE SETUP MEETINGS WITH THE STATE AGENCIES TO LOOK AND SEEING HOW WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ECONOMIC LADDER INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND ACCESS TO DOCTORS THAT IS IMPORTANT IF WE ARE GOING TO TACKLE HEALTH DISPARITIES.

YOU HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.

UNDIAGNOSED CONDITIONS AND OFTENTIMES THEY ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND NOT GETTING ACCESS TO TREATMENT.

I WANT TO BRING TOGETHER THE HOSPITALS AND THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CLINICS AND PROVIDERS TO FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE AND HOW WE CAN CLOSE THE GAPS FOR THOSE POPULATIONS.

YOU ARE THE SON OF A BLACK AMERICAN MOTHER AND YOUR FATHER ETHIOPIAN REFUGEE WHO MOVED TO EDGEWATER IN THE 80s.

HOW HAS THE JOURNEY OF BEING THE CHILDREN OF THESE TWO PARENTS AND YOUR FATHER'S JOURNEY HOW DOES THAT INSPIRE YOU?

>> IT JUST IT INSPIRES ME ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

MY MOTHER IS THE MOST LOVING WOMAN WHO SACRIFICED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE SO THAT ME AND MY SISTER CAN DO WHAT WE DO NOW ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS.

RUN FOR OFFICE.

RUN MY OWN BUSINESS.

AND LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND MY DAD, JUST THE WAY HE GOT TO AMERICA.

WALKED THROUGH THE DESERT FOR EIGHT DAYS WITH HIS BROTHER AND MY UNCLE TO MAKE IT TO AMERICA AND TO HAVE ME AND HAVE MY YOUNGER BROTHER AND TO DO THE GREAT THING HE HAS DONE WITH HIS LIFE.

I'M LOOKING TO GO TO BAT FOR A VISION THAT ALLOWS THE NEXT GENERATION TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THE WAY I HAD.

AND THE WAY THAT I DO THAT IS FROM HAVING THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING POLICY AND GOVERNMENT AND BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE BOTH TO ACHIEVE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY IN THAT YOU'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO TRAVEL AND LEARN ABOUT THE SLAVE TRADE AND IT LED YOU TO YOUR WORK ON ANTIRACIST PUBLIC POLICY.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON BRINGING THAT EXPERIENCE TO THE JOB?

>> RIGHT.

WHEN I LEFT MY CITY HALL IN 2016 I TOOK A YEAR OFF AND TRAVELED THROUGH WEST AFRICA.

I SAW A LOT OF YOUR VIEWERS IN ADDITION TO MY PUBLIC POLICY WORK I HAVE AN INTEREST IN HISTORY I WANTED TO EXPLORE MY MOTHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY.

BLACK AMERICANS HAVE BEEN ROBBED FROM THEIR ANCESTRY.

SO HAVING A DAD FROM ETHIOPIA.

I SPENT THAT TIME IN AFRICA GOING THROUGH SEVEN COUNTRIES.

TRYING TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE.

AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE STATES I HAD A KEEN PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT INSTITUTIONAL RACISM LOOKS LIKE IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE I HAD BEEN IN PLACES WHERE YOU DON'T SEE IT.

WHEN I STARTED MY COMPANY I WANTED TO TAKE MY PUBLIC POLICY EXPERTISE, AND LIVED EXPERIENCES TO KNOW HOW INSTITUTIONAL RACISM PLAYS OUT ON FAMILIES AND PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS AND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY AND BUILD SMART PUBLIC POLICY THAT PINPOINTS THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND PROPOSES WAYS TO BREAKTHROUGH IT.

THAT IS THE WORK I WANT TO DO AS A STATE SENATOR IS TO BRING THAT INTO THE DEBATES AROUND HEALTHCARE ACCESS, ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND IN AREAS AROUND OPEN GOVERNMENT WHO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE THAT IS AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS.

>> ON THAT NOTE, THE PROCESS OF REPLACING SENATORSTEINS HAS CRITICS WHAT DID YOU THINK OF A PROCESS OF A COMMITTEE SELECTING A SUCCESSOR INSTEAD OF A VOTER?

>> I WANT TO SAY THAT MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THE PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS.

I THINK IT IS AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO CAMPAIGN AND PUT TOGETHER A MESSAGE AND ENGAGE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IS THE CANDIDATE I WOULD LIKE TO BE.

IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE WE HAD A MORE OPEN PROCESS THAN WE TYPICALLY HAVE SEEN.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO GO FURTHER.

SOME OF THE IDEAS WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT AMENDING THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT SO WHEN WE HAVE VACANCIES THERE'S A REQUIREMENT WHO WILL SUCCEED THE OUTGOING LEGISLATOR ARE MADE PUBLIC SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE HOW THE COMMITTEE ARE DISCUSSING THE QUALIFICATIONS HOW THE COMMITTEE MEN ARE ARRIVING AT THE DECISION FOR A NEW STATE SENATOR IS GOING TO BE.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD WANT TO PUSH.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO HAVE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKS THAT WOULD TRANSPIRE WHEN THERE IS A VACANCY AND WHEN A DECISION IS MADE WHO THE NEW PERSON WILL BE THAT GIVES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

THOSE ARE TWO CONCRETE THINGS WE CAN DO AND THE OTHER THING WE DID IN THIS PROCESS IS HAVE THE OPEN PUBLIC FORUMS SO PEOPLE CAN GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO STATE SENATOR MIKE SIMMONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW, PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", WHAT IS MAKING TODAY'S WEATHER SO EXTREME AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE HOMELESS?

PLUS DIRTY SNOW FROM CARS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES CAN IMPACT REGIONS LIKE THE HIMALAYA, THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE LOOKS.

AND A MEMBER OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S COVID TASK FORCE CALLS FOR AN EQUITABLE APPROACH FOR COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CALLS THE CURRENT SNOWSTORM AN ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT.

THE MAYOR DEPLOYED MORE THAN 300 SNOWPLOWS AND SALT SPREADERS AS CONDITIONS ON CHICAGO ARTERIES GET MORE AND MORE TREACHEROUS.

AND THE NEAR WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS CANCELED MORE THAN 360 FLIGHTS AT O'HARE AND MIDWAY AIRPORTS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED THE WARNING THROUGH MIDDAY TOMORROW WITH SNOW TOTALS APPROACHING A FOOT OR MORE LOCALIZED NEAR THE LAKE.

LIGHTFOOT UNDERSTANDS THE CONCERNS RESIDENTS HAVE OVER THE SNOWED STREETS BUT THE PRIORITY IS KEEPING MAIN THOROUGHFARES CLEAR.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THE MAIN STREETS OPEN FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, FOR OUR BUSES, AND OTHER VEHICLES SO WE CAN KEEP THEM MOVING.

BUT I PROMISE YOU, WE WILL GET TO THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

>> AND MUCH MORE ON THIS IN A FEW MOMENTS.

>> AND STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 1400 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

INCLUDING 41 ADD THAT DEATHS.

THAT MAKES FOR A TOTAL OF 1.16 MILLION CASES.

AND 20002 DEATHS.

AND NOW TO BRANDIS WITH WHAT MAKES THE SEASON'S SNOWFALL UNIQUE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

IF YOU'VE BEEN THINKING THAT THERE'S BEEN MORE SNOW THAN USUAL THIS FEBRUARY YOU ARE CORRECT.

THE AVERAGE SNOWFALL FOR THIS MONTH IS AROUND 9 INCHES OF SNOW.

AND NOW AT ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE MONTH WE'VE SEEN MORE THAN 11 INCHES.

SO HOW IS THE CITY ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE WITHIN IT DEALING WITH THE SNOWSTORMS AND COLD WEATHER?

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE DOUGLAS SCHENKELBERG, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHICO LICKS FOR THE HOMELESS.

AND SCOTT COLLIS KIND ACTIVITY WITH ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY.

SCOTT, THE LAST TIME WE HAD YOU ON A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, SNOWING AND REALLY COLD.

WHY HAS IT RARELY STOPPED SINCE THEN?

>> YOU ARE GOING TO PROMISE TO CALL ME OUT WHEN WE HAVE A NICE SUNNY DAY IN THE SPRING?

>> OF COURSE.

>> SO WHEN WE LAST TALKED I TALKED ABOUT HOW WE WERE SNAPPING INTO THIS COLD PATTERN.

AND OUR LIMITED PREDICTABILITY IS SEVEN DAYS AND I COULD NOT SEE A LIMIT TO THE COLD SINCE THEN.

THAT PATTERN REALLY STAYED PUT.

THE POLAR VORTEX DIRECTED THE STORMS ONE AFTER ANOTHER DOWN OUR WAY AND BECAUSE WE ARE IN A LA ANYONE YEAH YEAR WE ARE WETTER THAN NORMAL.

AND IT PUMPS THE MOTIVE EVER INTO THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES AND YOU GET THE SPECIFIC MOISTURE ALASKAN COLD AND IT MEANS IT SNOWED EVERYDAY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

>> EARLIER TODAY, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SPOKE ABOUT THE HARSH WEATHER HERE IS WHAT SHE SAID.

>> FOR A LOT OF US IT IS A PERFECT DAY TO STAY INSIDE.

READ A BOOK.

WATCH A MOVIE OR THE BRAVE AT HEART BUNDLE UP AND PLAY IN THE WEATHER.

BUT IT'S ALSO FOR MANY TODAY'S WEATHER POSES SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO BEING SAFE AND GETTING AROUND.

>> DOUGLAS SCHENKELBERG, HAS COVID PLUS THE WEATHER COMPOUNDED PROBLEMS WITH CAPACITY TROUBLES IN WARMING CENTERS AND SHELTERS?

>> WELL IT'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.

HOMELESSNESS WAS A CRISIS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THE EXTREME WEATHER AND ALWAYS ISSUES WE HAD TO DEAL WITH IN THE BEST OF TIMES.

BUT WHEN YOU ADD IN THE PANDEMIC WHICH HAS FORCED SHELTERS TO ADJUST HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY CAN STAY IN THERE AND HOW MUCH SPACE FOR INDIVIDUALS SO IT'S SPREAD OUT.

THAT CAUSES AN ISSUE.

YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SAME THING OPENING UP WARMING CENTERS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE MAINTAINING SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND FOLKS ARE SOCIALLY DISTANCED.

THE PANDEMIC ADDS COMPLICATION TO RESPONDING TO A WEATHER CRISIS LIKE THIS.

>> HOW DO THE CENTERS HANDLE THAT WHEN THE NEED GOES UP BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER BUT THE CAPACITY IS LIMITED?

>> WELL, THEY DO ADD SOME CAPACITY.

THE CITY HAS OPENED UP TWO WARMING SHELTERS FOR 24-HOUR SO THAT FOLKS CAN BE THERE DURING THE DAY.

AND THEY LOOK FOR OTHER PLACES THAT THEY CAN ADD BEDS.

IT GETS MORE COMPLICATED WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW SAFETY PROTOCOLS FROM THE PANDEMIC.

THEY UTILIZE VARIOUS CITY BUILDINGLESS, BE IT FIELD HOUSE NOTICE PARK, LIBRARIES AS WARMING CENTERS DURING BUSINESS HOURS.

THEY TRY TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY BUT IT'S COMPLICATED AND A LOT OF FOLKS NEED WARMTH THAT DON'T FIND THOSE PLACES.

SCOTT WHAT AREAS OF THE CITY WILL BE HIT HARDEST BY THE WEATHER SYSTEM WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW?

>> THIS QUITE UNIQUE EVENT HAS TWO COMPONENTS TO IT.

YOU HAVE A WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL THAT WILL DELIVER AROUND 6 MAYBE 8 INCHES TO THE COUNTIES.

HOWEVER, THE REAL STORY HERE IS LAKE MICHIGAN RUNNING AT 44° FAHRENHEIT.

VERY WARM WITH LITTLE ICE.

SO IT'S PRODUCING A LARGE LAKE-EFFECT SNOW THAT WILL REALLY IMPACT THAT 10 MILES OF LAKE SHORE.

AND THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS ARE FAIRLY DIFFICULT TO FORECAST.

THEY ARE CHAOTIC IN NATURE.

HOWEVER WE WILL SEE AROUND 10 TO MAYBE 14 INCHES OF SNOW IN AND AROUND THE CITY.

BUT WHAT MAKES THIS A NASTY ONE IS IT WILL BE COLD.

IT WILL BE AROUND 10° FAHRENHEIT WHICH MEANS THE ROAD CHEMICALS WILL HAVE A LIMITED EFFECT.

SO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS RIGHT.

IT IS A GREAT NIGHT TO STAY HOME.

>> DOUG, THERE HAVE BEEN NINE HYPOTHERMIA RELATED DEATHS THIS SEASON.

WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL HEALTH CONCERNS FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT STAY HOME WHO ARE HOMELESS THIS WINTER?

>> PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THERE IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PRECIPITATES PEOPLE ENTERING HOMELESSNESS.

A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE OLDER.

SO THEY TEND TO HAVE VULNERABILITIES EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES.

SO WITH THE COLD WEATHER THAT EXACERBATES THOSE VULNERABILITIES.

IF THEY CAN'T GET INTO WARM SHELTER, HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE ENOUGH WARM CLOTHING AND BLANKETS TO KEEP WARM.

PARTICULARLY THOSE FOLKS DEALING WITH TENT ENCAMPMENTS AROUND THE CITY.

>> AND EARLIER THIS MONTH, A GROUP OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN A HOTEL TO GET OUT OF THE COLD AND STREETS AND SANITATION CREWS CLEARED THEIR BELONGINGS.

DOUG WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> IT IS A TRAVESTY.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING IN THIS MOMENT OR ANY MOMENT.

THESE FOLKS THEY LIVE IN COMMUNITY IN THIS ENCAMPMENT TO BE SAFE AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND SOME KIND SOULS GOT THEM HOTEL ROOMS TO BE WARM AND THE ALDERMEN AND THE STREETS AND SANITATION USED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO THROW OUT THEIR BELONGINGS.

WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE SHOULD SEE.

WE SHOULD SEE THINGS WITH ALDERMEN AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS ARE STEPPING UP TO HELP PEOPLE AND TO FIND THEM HOTELS AND SEE WHAT THEY NEED.

INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT PEOPLE WOULD LOSE THEIR POSSESSIONS PARTICULARLY IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS.

>> SCOTT, YOU SAID 10 TO 14 INCHES BY THE TIME THIS IS OVER.

IS THAT AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT?

AND WHEN CAN WE EXPECT IT TO LET UP?

>> IT IS AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT.

12 PLUS INCH SNOWFALLS USUALLY ONLY HAPPEN ONE IN EVERY THREE YEARS.

TO GET TWO IN ONE YEAR IS UNLUXURY OR LUCKY DEPENDING ON YOUR PREFERENCE FOR SNOW.

THIS IS CHICAGO.

SPRING WILL COME.

IT MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE IT NOW.

WAIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN YOUR LAST TIME WE TALKED I SAID THAT WARM WEATHER WAS OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF PREDICTABILITY.

RIGHT NOW THE WEATHER SIMULATIONS WE USE TO WORKOUT WHAT IS DOWN THE TRACK ARE TELLING US WE MIGHT SEE ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES COME SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WHICH I THINK WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A FEW WEEKS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK THIS WEATHER MEANS IT'S GOING TO GET GREAT SOON.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND WHY DIRTY SNOW IS MORE THAN JUST AN IMAGE PROBLEM.

>> THANKS.

ALTHOUGH EVERYTHING LOOKS NEAT AND WHITE-OUT SIDE MOST OF THE SNOW WILL GET DIRTY AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

PATTY WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT DIRTY SNOW?

>> WELL, FOR STARTERS HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CLEAN SNOW.

IS THAT THAT FRESH BLANKET THAT WE'RE GETTING EVERYDAY, REFLECTS LIKE 80-90% OF THE SUN'S RADIATION.

AND THEN AS SOOT AND DIRT PARTICLES LAND ON THE SNOW, THEY START TO ABSORB MORE SUNLIGHT.

AND THAT ACTUALLY CAN HELP OR MAKE SNOW CAUSE SNOW TO MELT FASTER.

EVEN MORE SO THAN IF THE TEMPERATURE WERE TO RAISE.

>> THE SNOW COULD MELT IF THE TEMPERATURE DOES NOT GET ABOVE FREEZING.

WOULDN'T SOME SAY THAT FASTER MELTING SNOW IS BETTER?

>> YOU MIGHT THINK THAT.

BECAUSE WE FOR SURE DOF USED MELTING BEFORE WE GOT ANOTHER FOOT OF SNOW BUT THINK ABOUT PLACES LIKE THE HIMALAYAS OR GLACIERS IN ANTONIO SANTOS AR KA IS DUST IS STARTING TO LAY ON THOSE LAYERS THAT USED TO BE PRISS CONTINUE.

AND WHEN THOSE MELT FASTER THAT CREATES A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND IN TERMS OF HOW FAST GLACIERS ARE MELTING.

ALL SORTS OF ISSUES.

DIRTY SNOW, NOT THAT GREAT.

>> AND BRINGING IT BACK LOCALLY IT WILL WREAK HAVOC ON STORM WATER SYSTEMS.

PATTY THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

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

>> AND UP NEXT EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE AN EQUITABLE VACCINE ROLLOUT IN A CONVERSATION THAT ORIGINALLY AIRED ON OUR SATURDAY PROGRAM "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

BUT FIRST WE LOOK AT THE UPCOMING WEATHER FORECAST... >> THE COVID-19 OUTLOOK HAS SLOWLY BUT STEADILY IMPROVED AS VACCINATIONS MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE ARMS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND OLDER ADULTS ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY.

DATA INDICATED A TROUBLING TREND.

THE COMMUNITIES MOST AT RISK OF COVID-19 INFECTION ARE NOT THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE RECEIVING THE VACCINES.

THIS MONTH, OUR NEXT GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED AN OP-ED IN "USA TODAY" URGING AN EQUITY APPROACH TO VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

AND SHE JOINS US NOW.

Dr. JULIE MORITA EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION AND A MEMBER OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION COVID-19 TASK FORCE AND SERVED AS COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT PUBLIC OF HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> WE'VE SEEN IN CHICAGO HOW THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATE OF VACCINATION ARE NOT THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF INFECTION BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES WITH THAT LIMITED SUPPLY OF VACCINE STILL HOW ARE YOU PROPOSING THAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM IN THE SHORT-TERM?

>> WE'VE SEEN WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC WHILE ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID CERTAIN COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN HIT HARDER.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT BLACK, LATINO, NATIVE-AMERICANS ARE MUCH HIGHER RISK FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH.

AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOCUS THE VACCINATION EFFORTS AND MAKE SURE THAT BLACK, LATINO AND NATIVE-AMERICANS HAVE ACT ISES TO THE VACCINE AND CAN BE VACCINATED QUICKLY AS WELL.

WE DON'T WANT FOR THIS IMPACT THAT WE SAW PLAY OUT EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC TO SEE THAT CONTINUE ON BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED.

>> HOW DOES THAT LOOK IN THE IMPLEMENTATION?

WE KNOW STATES AND GOVERNMENTS ARE TAKING CDC'S GUIDANCE AND STARTING WITH HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65.

BUT TO ADD THE EQUITY LENS HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT THAT?

>> PRIORITIZATION OF WHO GETS THE VACCINE IS JUST PART OF THE EQUATION.

IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VACCINES ARE ADMINISTERED IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER IT'S IMPORTANT THAT STEPS ARE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS.

I, MYSELF, STRUGGLED TO GET MY PARENTS APPOINTMENTS AND I HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS AND THERE ARE HOUSEHOLDS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS AND MAKING SURE THERE'S TELEPHONE SYSTEMS TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS.

COMMUNITY WORKERS GO INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND HELP PEOPLE MAKE APPOINTMENTS.

MAKING SURE THE CLINICS ARE LOCATED IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND ACCESSIBLE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND OPEN ON WEEKENDS.

AND NOT EVERYONE CAN TAKE OFF TIME FROM WORK TO GET A VACCINE.

SO PART OF IT IS PRIORITIZATION WHO CAN GET THE VACCINE AND THE OTHER PART IS MAKING SURE THAT THE VACCINES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

>> SOME BLAME VACCINE SKEPTICISM OR HESITANCY AMONG BLACK AND LATINO AMERICANS FOR FEWER UPTAKE IN THE COMMUNITIES.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT THEORY?

>> I THINK THERE IS MORE DEMAND FOR VACCINE THAN HESITANCY ABOUT THE VACCINE.

PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING AND WANTING TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINES BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO BRAND NEW VACCINES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE AND PEOPLE WANT TO WAIT-AND-SEE AND LEARN.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

AND THERE'S DEEPER SEEDED ISSUES IN TERMS OF PEOPLE NOT TRUSTING VACCINES AND GOVERNMENT.

AND THOSE ISSUES DO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THE VACCINE IS ACCESSIBLE EASILY BECAUSE THERE ARE BARRIERS THERE FOR SURE WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THE EFFICACY.

AND THAT IS NOT EASY WORK.

IT HAS TO HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY MAKING THE VACCINE ACCESSIBLE AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES IN ADDRESSING CONCERNS.

>> AND THE CONCERN ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH VACCINE.

HERE IN ILLINOIS, ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT PEOPLE WITH CO-MORBIDITIES ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID?

>> WE HERE IN ILLINOIS ARE MAKING PLANS AND LOOKING AHEAD TO THE EXPANSION OF PHASE 1B ELIGIBILITY TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO HAVE CO-MORBIDITIES AND UNDERLYING CONDITIONS AS DEFINED BY THE CDC AS WELL AS THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

MY ADMINISTRATION WILL BE WORKING WITH ALL THE LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO FIT THESE HIGHER RISK INDIVIDUALS INTO THEIR COMMUNITY VACCINATION PLANS IN THE COMING WEEKS.

>> Dr. MORITA HOW CAN STATES MANAGE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING VACCINES TO PEOPLE WITH CO-MORBIDITIES WHEN THE SUPPLY IS LIMITED?

>> THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES BAU THE VACCINE SUPPLY IS LIMITED AND IT'S CRITICAL TO GET THE VACCINES OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO THE WORK QUICKLY AND THERE HAVE TO BE SUPPORTS IN PLACE TO HELP PEOPLE GET REGISTERED PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE HIT HARDEST.

THERE ARE PROGRAMS IN PLACE IN ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO AND OTHER STATES.

WHERE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS ARE GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES TO HELP PEOPLE REGISTER FOR THE VACCINE.

TO GET THE VACCINE INTO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND PHARMACIES LOCATED IN OUR COMMUNITIES SO PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

AGAIN, THE PRIORITIZATION IS PART OF THE SOLUTION.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE VACCINE IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TONIGHT TAKES EXTRA EFFORT.

THERE'S MORE RESOURCES THAT ARE FLOWING TO STATES AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO SCALE UP THE EFFORTS AND GET THE VACCINE OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> WE SEEM TO HAVE A PATCHWORK OF POLICIES AND APPROACHES TO THIS.

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT GETTING THE VACCINE OUT AS QUICKLY AS NEEDED?

>> IN MOST OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSES I WAS A PART OF AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH THE LARGE NATIONAL EFFORTS WERE BEST WHEN COORDINATED AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS.

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE PLAYING CRITICAL ROLES BUT IT PROVIDES FEDERAL OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATES AND LOCALS NEED MORE VACCINE GET THE VACCINE AND THOSE WHO NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR MANPOWER THAT THEY GET THOSE RESOURCES AS WELL.

IT IS A FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL COORDINATION THAT IS ESSENTIAL.

WHAT I'M SEEING PLAY OUT THERE IS MORE OF THAT COORDINATION HAPPENING.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING IN TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO PHARMACIES.

AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

THE COORDINATION IS STARTING TO HAPPEN AND WE'LL SEE IT IMPROVE DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINE AS A RESULT.

>> AND Dr. MORITA 30 SECONDS LEFT, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE IDEA IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHO IS GETTING THE VACCINE SO LONG AS PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE VACCINE?

DOESN'T THAT MEAN MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED AND STARTING TO LOWER OUR RATES?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS AN EITHER OR.

WE CAN ADMINISTER VACCINES QUICKLY AND EQUITABLY AND NOW THAT RESOURCES ARE FLOWING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IT CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY AND EQUITABLY AND THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

>> Dr. JULIE MORITA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

ALL THE BEST.

>> TAKE CARE.

>> BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. ILLINOIS CONGRESS MEMBERS REACT TO DONALD TRUMP'S QUITTAL IN HIS SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

AND WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH NEXT STIMULUS?

[♪♪♪] I GIVE YOU MY HEART♪ >> AND EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF GOSPEL MUSIC WITH CHICAGO'S SISTER GROUP A4L.

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

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

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

[♪♪♪]