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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> ASK OUR FOUNDERS WHY BOTHER?

>> ILLINOIS CONGRESSMEN WEIGH-IN ON A PROPOSED 9/11 TYPE COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE INSURRECTION AND DETAILS ON THE NEXT COVID STIMULUS BILL.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S COVID RELIEF PACKAGE COULD INCLUDE CANCELING SOME STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> INDOOR DINING EXPANDS IN CHICAGO AND THE LATEST COVID NEWS WITH A DOCTOR.

>> AND THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE CUTTING.

>> TOMORROW, THE GOVERNOR WILL SHARE HIS VISION FOR THE NEXT STATE BUDGET WE LOOK AT THE FISCAL PROCEDURE R PRESSURES FACING ILLINOIS.

>> WE HAVE A BROKEN SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.

>> A POLICE TORTURE SURVIVOR RECOUNTS HIS EXPERIENCE AS A NEW ON-LINE ARCHIVE LAUNCHES TO DOCUMENT STORIES LIKE HIS OWN.

[♪♪♪] A WINNING SEASON LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN♪ >> AND HOW DOES GOSPEL MUSIC VARY FROM OTHER GENRES?

WE CHECK IN WITH A LOCAL GOSPEL GROUP TO FIND OUT.

TOP STORIES...

THIS WEEK'S EXTREME WEATHER DELAYED THE VACCINE ROLLOUT EFFORT.

THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WARNED ALL STATES TO EXPECT DELIVERY DELAYS BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER'S IMPACT ON ROAD AND SHIPPING CONDITIONS.

TO OFFSET THE DELAYS, STATE OFFICIALS PRO-ACTIVELY ORDERED VACCINE TO BE DELIVERED TO A STOCKPILE AND IS WORKING TO DISTRIBUTE THAT STOCKPILE TO PROVIDERS TODAY AND TOMORROW.

CHICAGO HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE CITY IS EXPERIENCING A DELAY IN VACCINE SHIPMENTS WITH NO ESTIMATE ADD RIVAL TIME OF THE ORDERS.

THE CITY CLOSED ALL VACCINATION AND TESTING SITES FOR TODAY AND RESCHEDULED THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ISSUES A DISASTER PROCLAMATION FOR THE STATE AFTER THE STORM LEFT 7,000 ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER.

THE STORM LEFT 7-AND-A-HALF INCHES AT O'HARE AIRPORT AND WHOPPING 17.7 INCHES AT MIDWAY.

SOME SEEING MORE THAN 18 INCHES.

CHICAGO'S DEPARTMENT OF STREETS AND SANSTATION HAS MORE THAN 400 TRUCKS AND CREWS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO CLEAR ROADS.

>> WITH SO MUCH SNOW WE ARE WORKING ON RELOCATING THE SNOW.

THE SNOW IS NOT GOING TO MELT WE'VE DESIGNATED AREAS TO START RELOCATING THAT WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

>> 1300 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS SINCE YESTERDAY AND 32 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

THE STATE'S TOTAL COUNT IS 1.16 MILLION CASES WITH 20,034 DEATHS.

>> MORE DINERS ARE NOW ALLOWED TO EAT IN CHICAGO RESTAURANTS AS THE CITY ANNOUNCES IT'S MET THE METRICS TO EXPAND.

BARS AND RESTAURANTS MAY OPEN AT 40% OF THEIR NORMAL CAPACITY OR NO MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE AS OF TODAY.

THE CITY SAYS IT HAS BEEN AT A MODERATE RISK LEVEL FOR THREE DAYS MEANING IT'S KEPT THE ROLLING AVERAGE OF NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES BELOW 400.

THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TELLS WTTW THAT SUBURBAN COOK WILL FOLLOW THE SAME RULES IN CHICAGO AND LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS ON INDOOR DINING AND DRINKING.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT REOPENING AND HOW SOON RESTAURANTS COULD EXPAND FURTHER.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

>> PARIS?

>> WITH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT OVER, CONGRESS IS HAMMERING OUT THE NEXT COVID STIMULUS PACKAGE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE ARE CONGRESSMAN SEAN CASTEN, A DEMOCRAT FROM DOWNERS GROVE.

>> CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, A DEMOCRAT FROM SCHAUMBURG AND CONGRESSMAN BRAD SCHNEIDER A DEMOCRAT FROM DEERFIELD WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION AND WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND WE'LL START WITH TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IT ENDED WITH AN ACQUITTAL AND NOW HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI WANTS A 9/11 COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED SURROUNDING THE CAPITOL RIOT SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SUPPORTS.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> OF COURSE CONGRESS' DECISION TO FORM THIS COMMISSION AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE AND CERTAINLY ONE THE PRESIDENT WOULD SUPPORT.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE CLEAR HIS VIEWS ON THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF JANUARY 6TH.

INCLUDING WHERE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM WAS AND BACKED EFFORTS TO SHED ADDITIONAL LIGHT ON THE FACTS TO INSURE SOMETHING LIKE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI YOU ARE ON THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHY A 9/11 STYLE COMMISSION WITH MEMBERS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHEN THE IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS PRESENTED NEW EVIDENCE AND YOU HAVE CRIMINAL CASES OUT THERE AS WELL?

>> WELL, I THINK THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS OUTSIDE, INDEPENDENT COMMISSION IS THAT IT NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAD A LAPSE IN SECURITY.

AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING EVER AGAIN.

THIS WAS A LIFE CHANGING EVENT IN THE LIVES OF STAFF AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AND WE CAN'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE THREAT IMMINENTS FROM WHERE IT'S FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC.

>> CONGRESSMAN BRAD SCHNEIDER WILL THE COMMISSION BE BIPARTISAN OR IS IT LIABLE TO DEVOLVE INTO THE TYPICAL PARTISAN POLARIZATION WE SEE NOW?

>> I HOPE IT WILL BE BIPARTISAN.

WE'VE SEEN MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH.

THIS WAS AN ATTACK NOT JUST ON THE CAPITOL AND THE PEOPLE THERE IT WAS AN ATTACK ON OUR GOVERNMENT OUR CONSTITUTION, ON OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WERE THE BREAKDOWNS.

THIS ATTACK WAS PREDICTABLE IT WAS PREVENTIBLE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MANAGED BETTER AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND TAKE THE LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE TO STRENGTHEN OUR REPUBLIC AND MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN'S GENERATION APPRECIATES THE DEMOCRACY WE HAVE FOUGHT HARD TO PRESERVE.

>> AS WE MENTIONED THE IMPEACHMENT ENDED IN AN ACQUITAL WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE IMPEACHMENT WHEN THE OUTCOME WAS NEVER IN DOUBT?

>> IF WE NOT TO DO THINGS BASED ON WHAT WE THINK IS GOING TO BE THE OUTCOME WE HAVE FAILED AT OUR JOBS.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US AND I SUBMIT ALL THE REPUBLICANS, KNEW EXACTLY THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM.

CAN YOU LISTEN TO TED CRUZ SAYING WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS INCITING VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE.

HE KNOWS THAT.

THEN YOU SEE HIM DURING THE TRIAL AND LEAVING HIS POSITION TO SIT WITH A DEFENSE WITNESS.

IF WE WERE TO DECIDE WE SHOULD NOT HONOR OUR OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION AND NOT DO OUR DUTY TO PROTECT THE REPUBLIC FROM SOMEONE WHO WOULD INCITE VIOLENCE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, PEOPLE FROM HIS PARTY VOTED AGAINST HIM.

THEY KNOW WHERE THIS IS.

WE HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT THE REPUBLIC FROM THAT AND WHILE I'M DISAPPOINTED 43 SENATORS DID NOT SIGN ON IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT 57 DID.

>> 57-43 IN FAVOR OF CONVICTION.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SAID AFTER THE IMPEACHMENT ACQUITAL.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION, NONE.

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

>> IF WE WERE NOT TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THIS, WE MIGHT AS WELL REMOVE ANY PENALTY FROM THE CONSTITUTION.

>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI A POSSIBLE FOLLOW-UP A VOTE ON CENSURE OF THE PRESENT IS ANYTHING HAPPENING WITH THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW, PERHAPS THE VERDICT WAS CENSURE ENOUGH.

IT LAID OUT A HISTORICAL RECORD WHICH EVERYBODY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME WILL UNDERSTAND HAPPENED IN A LOT OF DETAIL ON JANUARY 6TH.

ALL THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT 57 MEMBERS DECIDED TO VOTE TO CONVICT THE PRESIDENT IS A DAMNING STATEMENT ABOUT THIS PRESIDENCY.

A TWICE-IMPEACHED PRESIDENT WHO ENDED UP LEAVING FROM THE CAPITOL.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN SCHNEIDER YOU ARE PART OF A CAUCUS THAT HAS A BILL TO COMBAT DOMESTIC TERRORISM SENATOR DURBIN HAS INTRODUCED BILLS TO THIS EFFECT.

TELL US WHAT THOSE BILLS WOULD DO?

>> THANK YOU.

THIS IS THE DOMESTIC TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE BILL GOING BACK TO 2017.

MY BILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE IN SEPTEMBER.

OVERWHELMINGLY GOING TO THE SENATE TO BE BLOCKED BY THE AT THAT TIME BYRON JOHNSON.

WE INTRODUCED THE BILL.

IT WILL EMPOWER EXISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND F.B.I.

EMPOWER THEM TO WORK TOGETHER IN IDENTIFYING DOMESTIC TERROR THREATS AND TAKING STEPS TO THWART THE THREATS BEFORE THEY BECOME INCIDENTS.

AND WORKING TO KEEP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAFE.

WE HAVE SEEN A GROWING NUMBER OF DOMESTIC TERRORIST INDIVIDUALS OR MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS.

WE'VE SEEN INCIDENTS WHETHER IT'S CHARLES LOTSVILLE OR PITTSBURGH.

AND ULTIMATELY CULMINATING WHAT WE SAW ON JANUARY 6TH WITH A TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE CAPITOL WE NEED TO BE BETTER AT IDENTIFYING THEM.

STOPPING THEM BEFORE THEY ACT AND KEEPING ALL AMERICANS SAFE.

>> CONGRESSMAN CASTEN YOU MIGHT HAVE CRITICS THAT WORRY ABOUT A BIGGER SURVEILLANCE STATE?

CRITICS TO THE ACTIONS TAKEN AFTER 9/11.

WHAT ABOUT COUNTERING PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND FEARS OF SURVEILLANCE?

>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS AND I THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH AS A COUNTRY.

FOR THE MOST PART WHEN WE ARE ATTACKED FROM WITH OUT, 9/11, PEARL HARBOR, WE RALLIED TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY AND WE HAVE SOMETIMES OVERSTATED OUR SURVEILLANCE ON FOLKS FROM OUTSIDE OUR COUNTRY.

WITNESS SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS AT NSA ABOUT THE PFIZER REFORM.

IT'S HARDER WHEN WE ARE ATTACKED FROM WITHIN.

WE WERE ATTACKED BY PEOPLE WHO MEANT HARM TO OUR REPUBLIC AND PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO BE GOVERNED BY THE OPINION OF THE MAJORITY.

AND THEY ORGANIZED TO STOP THAT.

THEY ORGANIZED IN WAYS THAT OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WERE MONITORING BUT DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO COMBAT.

AND GOOD MORAL PEOPLE CAN STRIKE AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN RESPECTING PEOPLE'S CIVIL LIBERTIES AND AT THE SAME TIME RECOGNIZING IF WE DON'T PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF AMERICAN CITIZENS WE ARE NOT DOING OUR JOB.

>> AND PARIS, IF I CAN JUMP IN ON THAT.

THE BILL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT IT DOES NOT CREATE A NEW STATUTE WE HAVE STATUTES ON THE BOOKS TO PROSECUTE ACTS OF DOMESTIC, INTERNATIONAL.

IT DOESN'T CREATE A NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHAT IT DOES IS WORK WITH EXISTING F.B.I., DOG, HOMELAND SECURITY TRYING TO CLOSE THE GAP.

WE SAW A FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE ANTICIPATION ON JANUARY 6 TRY TO CLOSE THAT AND IDENTIFY THE THREATS AND STOP THEM FROM HAPPENING AND IMPORTANTLY REPORTING TO CONGRESS TWICE A YEAR.

SO CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE THREATS ARE.

>> WE HAVE TO GET TO COVID AND WE'LL DO THAT LATER IN THE SHOW.

WE WILL BE JOINEDDED BY CONGRESS MEMBERS TO DISCUSS DETAILS ABOUT THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.

WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND NONE ACCEPTED OUR OFFER.

WE THANK REPRESENTATIVES CASTEN, KRISHNAMOORTHI AND SCHNEIDER FOR JOINING US.

BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

AS WE MENTIONED, OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED AN EXPANSION OF INDOOR DINING IN CHICAGO.

THIS AS A NEW VIRUS STRAIN HAS BEEN DETECTED IN ILLINOIS AND THE CDC RELEASES NEW GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS TO REOPEN.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND MORE IS Dr. SUSAN BLEASDALE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF INIF EFFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HEALTH.

SHE SPECIALIZES IN DIAGNOSING AND TREATING INFECTIONS.

WELCOME BACK Dr. BLEASDALE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING FROM HOME AND MANY BUSINESSES ARE NOT FULLY OPENED.

PEOPLE MAY NOT BE TRAVELING AS MUCH DUE TO THE WEATHER WE'VE HAD NOT JUST THE SNOW BUT THE LOW TEMPERATURES AS WELL.

DO YOU THINK THE WEATHER HAS HAD A ROLE IN REDUCING THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS AS WELL?

>> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY HAVING SOME IMPACT OVERALL I THINK IT'S THE MITIGATION MEASURES KEEPING OUR DISTANCE.

MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE MASKED WHEN THEY ARE TOGETHER BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT LESS THERE'S GOING TO BE LESSEN COUNTERS SO THAT MAY BE IN PART SOME OF THE DECLINE.

WE SAW SOME OF THAT PEAK AROUND HOLIDAYS STARTED BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND THEN THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND WE'VE SEEN A DOWNWARD TREND OVERALL.

NOT JUST RELATED TO COLD WEATHER BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TOO.

>> EARLIER TODAY CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SPOKE ABOUT THE EXPANDED CAPACITY FOR INDOOR DINING.

>> WE NOW ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN AGAIN TURN THAT DIAL AND MAKE SOME MORE CAUTIOUS AND CAREFUL REOPENING.

WE WILL BE EXPANDING RESTAURANT CAPACITY INDOOR RESTAURANT CAPACITY FROM 25% TO 40%.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED WE'RE SEEING NUMBERS THAT ARE LOWER THAN WHAT WE SAW A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME, STILL, TO EXPAND AND FURTHER OPEN INDOOR DINING?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE THAT I THINK THERE IS A NEED TO OPEN IN SOME SENSE BUT CAUTIOUSLY AND USING THE DATA HELP TO DECIDE WHAT IS SAFE AS Dr. ARWADY MENTIONED THE POSITIVITY RATE HAS COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

FOR AN INDIVIDUAL YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION OVER HOW ARE YOU GOING TO UTILIZE THIS EXPANDED SERVICE?

IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND DINE-IN A RESTAURANT YOU MAY CHOOSE TO DINE WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH.

THAT YOU KNOW THEY HAVE NOT HAD SIGNIFICANT CONTACT WITH OTHERS.

BECAUSE ANYTIME YOU TAKE DOWN A MASK WITH SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD THERE IS POTENTIAL RISK.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE TO DO BUT SOMEONE THAT MAYBE HIGH-RISK AT COMPLICATIONS OF THE COVID-19 INFECTION THEY MIGHT NOT CHOOSE TO DINE WITH OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

AGAIN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE CAN BE AN OPTION WITH THE PERCENT POSITIVITY BEING LOW THE CHANCES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH THOSE THAT ARE ACTIVELY INFECTED IS PROBABLY LOWER.

SO JUST PUTTING THAT IN WITH ALL OF THE OTHER POTENTIAL WAYS OF PROTECTING YOURSELF YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPANSION OF RESTAURANT DINING.

>> LAST WEEK, OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THE VARIANT OF THE VIRUS FROM SOUTH OFF KA HAS BEEN -- AFRICA HAS BEEN DISCOVERED AND THE U.K.

VARIANT.

ARE THESE STRAINS BELIEVED TO BE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE ARE THEY SPREADING AS MUCH AS EXPERTS HAD ANTICIPATED?

>> WELL IT'S EARLY TO SAY.

I THINK WE KNOW THAT THE U.K. VARIANTS HAD BEEN HERE AND FOUND HERE IN CHICAGO SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.

OUR CONCERN IS THAT IT WILL BECOME A PREDOMINANT STRAIN BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE SPREAD MORE EASILY.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE OPEN UP MEASURES THAT WE STILL ARE USING ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS ALONG WITH VACCINE AS A ADDITIONAL MEASURE.

BECAUSE IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE VACCINE IS EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE U.K.

VARIANT AND THE TWO VACCINES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

UNDER EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

SOME CONCERN IS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN ILLINOIS AND OTHER STATES THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT THAT MAY BE LESS RESPONSIVE TO THE VACCINE.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE OUR PRECAUTIONS SO WE DON'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT SPREAD OF THE VARIANTS THAT GETS AHEAD OF US AND OUR VACCINE DEPLOYMENT AND GETS CRITICAL TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE GET AS MANY PEOPLE PROTECTED BY VACCINE IMMUNITY EARLIER SO THAT THESE VARIANT STRAINS DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD AND AT THE SAME TIME USING OUR MITIGATION STRATEGIES.

MAKING SURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE GOING OUT DINING YOU ARE NOT DINING WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT DAYS AND EXPOSING YOURSELF TO DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS FROM THAT TIME.

AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE AROUND OTHERS YOU ARE WEARING A MASK AND ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE AND WASHING YOUR HANDS AT ALL TIMES.

THESE ARE EFFECTIVE IN HELPING TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION.

>> THE CDC RELEASED GUIDELINES WITH REGARD TO SCHOOL REOPENING.

THEY SAY THAT VACCINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE A PREREQUISITE FOR OPENING SCHOOLS.

WHAT SHOULD SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS BE FOCUSING ON IN THE RETURN TO CLASSROOMS?

>> WELL, THAT VACCINE IS AN ADDITIONAL PROTECTION BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF MITIGATING TRANSMISSION.

THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN OPEN THROUGHOUT THIS FALL AND THERE'S GOOD DATA THAT THAT RISK IS ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED WITH MASK WEARING AND DISTANCING AND ALL OF THE GUIDANCE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR SCHOOLS.

REALLY, THE ABILITY TO OPEN SCHOOLS IS TO OPEN SCHOOLS SAFELY WITH APPROPRIATE MEASURES.

VACCINE IS PART OF PROTECTION BUT IT REALLY ISN'T A SOLE -- IF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED THEY CAN'T STOP WEARING MASKS AND GET TOGETHER AND THAT IS NOT THE DECIDING FACTOR.

THE VACCINE WILL HELP US TO AS WE GET MORE GENERAL VACCINE UPTAKE AND MORE GENERAL IMMUNITY IT WILL HELP SLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO OPEN THINGS UP EVENTUALLY IN A MORE SIGNIFICANT FASHION WE CAN'T WAIT TO OPEN UP SCHOOLS UNTIL PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED BECAUSE WE CAN DO IT SAFELY WITH THE OTHER STRATEGYS.

WHEN THE WEATHER GIVES US RELIEF AS WELL.

Dr. SUSAN BLEASDALE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, DETAILS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PROPOSAL TO CANCEL 10,000 DOLLARS IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT PER BORROWER.

.

>> SOME DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO CANCEL UP TO $50,000 IN FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN DEBT PER BORROWER.

THE PRESIDENT CAMPAIGNED ON CANCELING UP TO $10,000.

THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY TWEETED THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS QUOTE REVIEWING WHETHER THERE ARE ANY STEPS HE CAN TAKE THROUGH EXECUTIVE ACTION AND HE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN A BILL SENT TO HIM BY CONGRESS AS THE PRESIDENT HAS EXTENDED A PAUSE ON FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS UNTIL AT LEAST OCTOBER.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS WHAT CANCELING STUDENT LOAN DEBT COULD MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY, IS CONSTANTINE YANNELIS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FINANCE AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

HIS RESEARCH FOCUSES ON STUDENT LOANS AMONG OTHER THINGS.

AND HORACIO MENDEZ, HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE WOODSTOCK INSTITUTE AND ECONOMIC ADVOCACY GROUP IN CHICAGO.

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST OF ALL, 45 MILLION AMERICANS 1.7 TRILLION IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND BORROWERS OWE $36,000 IN FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS.

HORACIO MENDEZ MORE ON THE SUFFERING THIS DEBT IS CAUSING ON INDIVIDUALS?

>> WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF PIECES TO THE PUZZLE HERE.

OBVIOUSLY NOT ALL DEBT IS CREATED EQUAL.

THERE'S DEBT THAT IS AFFORDABLE BASED ON WHAT INCOME YOU ARE ABLE TO GET AND THAT HAPPENS TO DO WITH THE EDUCATION YOU GOT THE SCHOOL YOU WENT TO AND THE JOB YOU WERE ABLE TO GET AFTERWARDS.

THERE ARE ORS MAYBE SADDLED WITH DEBT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FINISH A PROGRAM AND A SCHOOL THAT SADDLED THEM WITH UNAFFORDABLE DEBT AND IT FALLS DISPROPORTIONATELY ON LOW AND MODERATE INCOME AND THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ESPECIALLY HERE IN CHICAGO.

>> CONSTANTINE YANNELIS MORE ON WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YEAH, A LOT OF THE PROPOSALS NOW TO CANCEL STUDENT DEBT THEY WOULD BENEFIT PRIMARILY HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS RATHER THAN LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT HORACIO MENDEZ SAID IN PARTICULAR, ABOUT FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES.

THERE ARE A SMALL NUMBER OF SCHOOLS DRIVING A LOT OF THE BAD OUTCOMES.

ANY SOLUTIONS TO THIS CRISIS NEEDS TO INCORPORATE THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENT BORROWERS AND WHO IS STRUGGLING AND WHO IS DOING WELL.

>> CONSTANTINE YANNELIS WHY IS IT -- WHY DO YOU ASSERT THAT PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE MOST MONEY WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST?

SPELL THAT OUT FOR US?

>> BECAUSE THEY HAVE HIGHER LEVELS OF STUDENT DEBT.

AND IF YOU THINK OF IT FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS.

IF WE THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, A LOT OF BUSINESS PEOPLE WITH MBA'S THEY WENT TO COLLEGE FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF YEARS AND BORROWED A LOT AND THEY EARN A LOT OF MONEY.

IF WE LOOK AT HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS OR OTHERS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY STUDENT DEBT.

IF WE LOOK AT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENT DEBT AND EARNINGS, PEOPLE WHO BORROW MORE TO GO TO COLLEGE, TEND TO EARN MORE.

>> HORACIO MENDEZ, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT THAT PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO MAKE MORE MONEY BECAUSE THEY ARE IN CAREERS THAT REQUIRED MORE EDUCATION?

>> YES, I THINK THERE ARE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ANGLES TO THE CONVERSATION.

STUDENT DEBT HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY HELD BY HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES THE DATA WE'VE SEEN.

THEY FOUND THAT OVER 50% OF THE OUTSTANDING DEBT BELONGS TO THE TOP 40% OF THE INCOME LADDER.

NOW, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FORGIVENESS OF $10,000 NOT TO SAY ANYTHING OF $25,000, TO SOMEBODY THAT IS ON THE LOWER INCOME SIDE ON THE BOTTOM 20%, FROM A REPRESENTATIVE PERSPECTIVE THAT IS A BIG CHUNK OF CHANGE.

WHILE IT MAY HELP THE TOP QUARTILE OR MORE IN TERMS OF THE INCOME LADDER THERE IS A GREAT BENEFIT FOR THE LOWER SIDE OF THAT LADDER AS WELL.

>> CONSTANTINE YANNELIS, WOULD FORGIVING DEBT BE A BOON TO THE ECONOMY?

WOULD PEOPLE HAVE MORE MONEY AND RISE ALL ECONOMIC BOATS SO TO SPEAK?

>> THERE WOULD BE SOME EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY BECAUSE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF MAKING THE STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS THEY COULD PURCHASE OTHER CONSUMER GOODS OR PURCHASE VEHICLES, HOMES OR ANY NUMBER OF THINGS N TERMS OF STIMULUS, FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC COUNCIL OF ADVISERS SAID THAT FORGIVING STUDENT LOAN DEBT WOULD BE AN INEFFECTIVE FORM OF STIMULUS COMPARED TO OTHER OPTIONS AND I AGREE WITH THAT THERE ARE MORE EFFECTIVE WAYS OF GETTING MONEY TO THE VERY POOREST HOUSEHOLDS WHO WILL SPEND THE MOST OF EACH DOLLAR THAT THEY ARE GIVEN.

>> HORACIO MENDEZ, WOULD THIS FORGIVENESS IF IT WERE TO COME ABOUT WOULD IT CLOSE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP?

>> NOT IN THE LONG-TERM TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

WE REALLY NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT THE FLIP SIDE WHICH IS THE COST OF NOT GOING TO COLLEGE.

THE TYPICAL U.S. WORKER WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE EARNS NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN A SIMILAR WORKER WITH JUST A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

WE NEED TO AGREE THAT COLLEGE IS A NEW EDUCATIONAL STANDARD THAT HIGH SCHOOL USED TO BE AND IT PAYS OFF IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH IT WITHOUT DEBT.

HERE IS THE KICKER.

OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FRAGMENTED, UNAFFORDABLE AND BROKEN.

STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS IS NOT GOING TO FIX THAT.

AFFORDABLE COLLEGE DOES.

LIMITS ON DEBT DOES AND REGULATING FRAUDULENT SCHOOL AND BUSINESSES IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO CLOSE THAT RACIAL WEALTH GAP THAN A ONE-TIME WIPING OF DEBT.

>> AND GENTLEMEN THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO CONSTANTINE YANNELIS AND HORACIO MENDEZ.

MANY THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... WHAT IS IN STORE AS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IS SET TO PROPOSE A PANDEMIC ERA BUDGET?

SO FAR HE SAYS NO INCOME TAX INCREASE.

>> WE ASK ILLINOIS CONGRESSWOMAN ABOUT THE LATEST STIMULUS NEGOTIATIONS AND MUCH MORE.

>> A NEW ON-LINE ARCHIVE LAUNCHES TO DOCUMENT THE STORIES OF POLICE TORTURE SURVIVORS AND WE HEAR FROM ONE OF THEM.

AND WE INTRODUCE TO A CHICAGO GOSPEL GROUP WHO TALKED ABOUT THE POWER AND IMPACT OF GOSPEL MUSIC.

BUT FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

HEDGE FUND ALL THEN GLOBAL CAPITAL ACQUIRED TRIBUNE PUBLISHING IN A $330 MILLION DEAL AFTER WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE TRIBUNE PUBLISHING'S BOARD ANDAL DIN.

THE HEDGE FUND WHICH HELD THE LARGEST SHAREHOLDER STAKE AND IS PAYING TO BUY UP THE REMAINDER IS TAKING THE COMPANY PRIVATE.

ALDEN WHICH HAS A HISTORY OF MAKING DEEP CUTS OWNS THE TRIBUNE, ALONG WITH THE BALTIMORE SUN, THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS AND SEVEN OTHER PAPERS.

>> SOME CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE RETURNING TO THEIR BUILDINGS TOMORROW AFTER STAYING HOME FOR REMOTE LEARNING BECAUSE OF TODAY'S WEATHER.

C.P.S.

SAYS CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO CLEAR SIDEWALKS AND PARKING LOTS AND TO INSURE THAT BUILDINGS ARE WARMED UP.

SO FAR ONLY PREKINDERGARTEN AND SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO RETURN OR INVITED TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

OFFICIAL TOTALS SAY YESTERDAY'S SNOWSTORM DUMPED AS UP AS 18 INCHES IN SOME AREAS.

>> ACTIVISTS WHO OPPOSED THE PLANNED CLOSURE OF MERCY HOSPITAL ARE STEPPING UP EFFORTS ASKING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TO GET INVOLVED.

>> WE ARE ASKING TODAY FOR CARDINAL GREGORY, AND ALSO FOR CARDINAL SUPPOSE ITCH TO INTERVENE, TRINITY HEALTH SYSTEM IS IT A CATHOLIC INSTITUTION.

AND BRING TRINITY TO THE TABLE AND PUSH THEM TO SELL.

>> THE GROUP CHICAGO HEALTH EQUITY COALITION SENT A LETTER TO CARDINAL GREGORY IN WASHINGTON D.C. AS WELL AS CHICAGO CARDINAL ASKING THEM TO CONVINCE TRINITY TO SELL THE HOSPITAL TO AN INTERESTED PARTY.

THE GROUP IS ASKING GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TO EXERT HIS INFLUENCE AND SAYS THE HOSPITAL'S CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY FILING IS ACCELERATING THE CLOSURE.

ANOTHER 1300 PEOPLE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS SINCE YESTERDAY.

AND ANOTHER 32 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

THE STATE'S TOTAL CASE COUNT IS MORE THAN 1.16 MILLION CASES CAS WITH 2,00 >> THE CORONAVIRUS WREAKED HAVOC ON PEOPLE'S LIVES AND ON GOVERNMENT BUDGETS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WILL TOMORROW PROPOSE HIS IDEAS FOR GETTING ILLINOIS THROUGH IT.

AND AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH A PREVIEW.

>> PARIS, AS GOVERNOR PRITZKER HAD HIS WAY THINGS WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT.

HE WOULD HAVE AN EXTRA $3 BILLION TO WORK WITH.

INSTEAD IN NOVEMBER, ILLINOIS VOTERS SOUNDLY REJECTED HIS PLAN THAT WOULD MOVE ILLINOIS TO A GRADUATED INCOME TAX STRUCTURE AND RAISE THAT REVENUE.

TODAY AFTER THE ELECTION, PRITZKER WARNED IT WOULD HAVE BUDGET CONSEQUENCES.

>> THERE WILL BE CUTS.

AND THEY WILL BE PAINFUL.

>> HEAD OF THE NONPARTISAN CIVIC FEDERATION LAURENCE MSALL SAYS PRITZKER IS IN THE INEVITABLE POSITION OF THEREFORE LOOKING AT A DEFICIT OF MORE THAN $3 BILLION AS HE PREPS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

LAURENCE MSALL SAYS RIGHT NOW ILLINOIS IS TREADING WATER WITH ITS CURRENT COVID ERA BUDGET THAT WAS COBBLED TOGETHER IN THE SPRING.

>> THE STATE STILL HAS OVER $7 BILLION IN UNPAID BILLS.

IT HAS $3 BILLION IN DEBT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT HAS TO PAYBACK IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE ECONOMY HAS NOT REOPENED.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH THERE'S BEEN SOME POSITIVE IN THE HIGHER END INCOME GROUPS REVENUE GROWTH, THE OVERALL ECONOMY IS CHALLENGING.

AND PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HAS A LOT OF DEBT, INCLUDING A LOT OF PENSION DEBT.

>> PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION DID RECENTLY GIVE US A GLIMPSE RELEASE TIDBITS ABOUT WHAT IS IN STORE.

LIKE PLANS TO HOLD SPENDING FLAT EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PENSION DEBT THAT LAURENCE MSALL WAS TALKING ABOUT, ILLINOIS' PENSION PAYMENT FOR THE NEXT YEAR IS SET TO INCREASE BY $600 MILLION.

AND THAT MEANS IF ILLINOIS IS GOING TO PAY THAT IT COULD MEAN CUTS ELSEWHERE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ADVOCATES LIKE ANDREA DURBIN ARE FIGHTING.

>> WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE BUDGET HAS TO INSURE THAT THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, ECONOMIC SUPPORT AND FAMILY WELL-BEING THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE CUTTING THOSE THINGS BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO BE INVESTING IN THAT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEED OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO REIMBURSE FOR REMOTE SERVICES AND HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT TO EVOLVING NEEDS.

>> DURBIN SAYS THAT SPENDING REDUCTIONS ON HUMAN SERVICES AREN'T OFTEN WHAT THEY SEEM ON PAPER.

SHE SAYS THAT QUOTE-UNQUOTE SAVING MONEY ON ONE NEED REALLY SHOVES IT TO ANOTHER LINE ITEM AND IT COULD COST MORE DOWN THE ROAD.

>> IT APPEARS TO ME THAT WE HAVE NOT LEARNED THE LESSONS OF THE BUDGET IMPASSE THAT WE HAVE NOT UNDERSTOOD THAT THE STATE ALL OUR FATES ARE TIED TOGETHER AND THE PANDEMIC HAS REVEALED THAT MORE CLEARLY THAN THE BUDGET IMPASSE DID.

RIGHT?

NO PERSON HAS BEEN PROTECTED FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.

ALL OF US ARE AT RISK WHEN ANYBODY IS AT RISK.

>> NOW, AMONG THE OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION HAS RELEASED IN ADVANCE OF THE BUDGET ADDRESS IS THAT HE PLANS TO CLOSE WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS $900 MILLION IN CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES.

BUT THERE IS NO LIST OR DETAILS ON WHAT HE DEFINES AS A TAX LOOPHOLE AND BUSINESS GROUPS AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS SAY THAT CLOSING THOSE WOULD, AGAIN, HURT ILLINOIS' FINANCES IN THE LONG-TERM.

>> THOSE ARE JOB CREATION MECHANISMS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE OVER THE YEARS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 7.5% IN THE STATE AND 10% IN THE CITY.

9.3 IN THE SUBURBS.

LIKE IN EVERY PARK AND 8% IN ALTON.

WE'RE GOING TO WHAT THE DEMOCRATS CALL IS LOOPHOLES, WE LOOK AT THOSE AS TAX INCREASES BUT WE BELIEVE THAT IS DISINCENTIVE FOR BUSINESSES TO REMAIN IN ILLINOIS, TO GROW, AND TO KEEP EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED AND BRING IN NEW PEOPLE.

>> ANOTHER ELEMENT HERE, IT DEALS SOMEWHAT OF WHAT THE CONGRESS MEMBERS THAT YOU WERE TALKING TO A BIT AGO CAN DO AND THAT IS THAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER CANNOT BANK ON THIS UNTIL IT IS A DONE DEAL BUT HE FOR SURE IS HOPING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO COME THROUGH WITH MONEY FOR STATES AS WELL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HELP THEM BUTTRESS BUDGETS THAT HAVE UNIVERSALLY TAKEN A HIT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

EVEN SHOULD THAT MONEY COME THROUGH IT IS NO PANACEA LAURENCE MSALL WARNS.

>> EVEN IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES FORWARD OF $7.5 BILLION IN NEW REVENUE SUPPORT FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, AS PART OF THE NEW BIDEN AND FEDERAL CONGRESS, RELIEF PACKAGE, IT'S SHORT-TERM MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE AGAIN, A STRUCTURAL HOLE.

>> ONE POSSIBLE WAY TO GET OUT OF THAT HOLE TAKING THE SUGGESTION OF THE CENTER FOR TAX AND BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY WAS ONE OF THE GROUPS A MAJOR PROPONENT OF THE GRADUATED INCOME TAX AND SAYS THOUGH THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FAILED, ILLINOIS COULD ACHIEVE A SIMILAR RESULT BY RAISING THE FLAT INCOME TAX RATE BY 1 PERCENTAGE POINT AND GIVING A BREAK TO LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS THROUGH TAX CREDITS.

IT IS AN IDEA BUT FOR NOW, GOVERNOR PRITZKER SAID THAT HIS PROPOSAL IS NOT GOING TO INCLUDE ANY INCREASES IN THE INCOME TAX.

BY THE WAY, THERE IS ONE BRIGHT SPOT AND IT'S STRANGE TO THINK ABOUT AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT THAT ILLINOIS HAS SEEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

WELL, THOSE ARE TAXABLE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

SO ILLINOIS DOESN'T HAVE QUITE AS DEEP A DEFICIT AS HAD BEEN PREDICTED.

WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TOMORROW AT NOON.

AND THEN WE WILL BE DISSECTING THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN HERE ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" TOMORROW EVENING.

WITH THAT, PARIS, I WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, AMANDA.

AND EARL WARREN IN THE PROGRAM MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION DISCUSSED AN IMPEACHMENT COMMISSION AND WE ARE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVES SEAN CASTEN, RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI AND BRAD SCHNEIDER.

REPRESENTATIVE KRISHNAMOORTHI TO THE 1.9 TRILLION STIMULUS, 350 BILLION TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

TELL US HOW MUCH WILL BE COMING TO ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT AND THEN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, COOK COUNTY AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS LIKE THAT?

>> SURE.

THANK YOU.

THIS ACTUALLY WAS A PIECE OF THE PACKAGE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF MY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHERE I AM A CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ARE RELEVANT JURISDICTION.

AND 13.2 BILLION OVERALL WILL COME TO ILLINOIS.

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WILL GET 7.5 BILLION, THE CITY OF CHICAGO WILL RECEIVE 1.8 BILLION.

COOK COUNTY WILL RECEIVE 1 BILLION.

AND THE MUNICIPALITIES AND VILLAGES WILL RECEIVE THE REST.

THIS IS VITAL AID TO MAKE SURE THAT SERVICES ARE NOT CUT AND TAXES ARE NOT INCREASED.

SO I'M PROUD TO HELP TO PASS THIS LATE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT 9:00 P.M. AND NOW IT GOES TO THE FLOOR.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN SCHNEIDER IT GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THERE ARE PARTS OF THE BILL THE $1400 CHECKS AND A $15 MINIMUM WAGE.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK WILL PASS AND THEN BE SUCCESSFUL PASSING THE SENATE?

>> WE'LL SEE.

LOOK, ILLINOIS HAS A $15 MINIMUM WAGE PROJECTED BY 2025 IN THE BILL.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE FRONTLINES WORKING KEEPING US SAFE, FILLING OUR GROCERY STORE SHELVES MANY OF THOSE ARE LOW WAGE MINIMUM WAGE JOBS.

NO ONE SHOULD BE WORKING FULL-TIME AND LIVING IN POVERTY.

WE NEED TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AT A NATIONAL LEVEL LIKE WE HAVE DONE IN ILLINOIS.

ILLINOIS IS SETTING THE STANDARD.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS YOU TOUCHED ON IS GETTING RELIEF TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THE CHECKS AND THE EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BEYOND MARCH 14TH.

THE ASSISTANCE TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES LITERALLY HANGING ON.

ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE APPROVED LAST WEEK IN THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE PACKAGE THAT HAS GONE THROUGH AND THE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE AS A PIECE WE'LL PUT THAT TOGETHER AND IT WILL PASS THE HOUSE I'M CONFIDENT.

WE NEED IT TO GET THROUGH THE SENATE AND ON TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK.

>> YOU ARE AWARE THAT REPUBLICANS WERE OPPOSED TO THAT $350 BILLION STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PACKAGE THE CRITICISM THEY DIDN'T WANT FEDERAL MONEY BAILING OUT GOVERNMENTS THAT HAD GOTTEN THEMSELVES INTO PENSION PROBLEMS AND THAT IS CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS.

SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY THIS MONEY IS NOT GOING TO BAILOUT PENSION FUNDS?

IT'S GOING WHERE IT'S NEEDED?

>> WELL, I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY POLITICIANS DON'T ADVOCATE FOR BRINGING MONEY BACK TO THE STATES.

CERTAINLY WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR ILLINOIS.

EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY, EVERY GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC, IS REALLY SQUEEZED BY COLLAPSING REVENUE.

THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM OF PENSIONS THIS IS WHEN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY SLOWS DOWN PEOPLE STOP BUYING THINGS AND PEOPLE STOP GOING TO RESTAURANTS AND CONCERTS AND SALES TAX REVENUE COLLAPSED.

INCOME TAX REVENUE IS DOWN.

IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SANITATION WORKERS, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND CONTINUE TO GET OUR STREETS PLOWED IN THE SNOWSTORMS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE RESOURCES ARE THERE AND THE SINGLE BIGGEST DRAG ON ECONOMIC GOING FORWARD, IS SIGNIFICANT UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

1.5 MILLION PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST.

IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE COUNTRY AND FOR ILLINOIS AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

AND IT WILL CONFUSE ME UNTIL THE DAY I DIE WHAT THAT HAS BECOME PARTISAN.

>> LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE PROBABLY PLOWING THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS.

CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI WE KNOW THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION HAS GONE SLOWER.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION [INAUDIBLE] WHAT DOES THAT PORTEND FOR ILLINOIS SINCE THE GOVERNOR WANTS EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 16 THAT HAS A PREEXISTING CONDITION TO BE ELIGIBLE BY THE NEXT WEEK?

>> I THINK IT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GREATER SUPPLY TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION, PARIS.

JUST SO YOUR VIEWERS KNOW, NOW WE HAVE 40 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY WHO AT LEAST RECEIVED ONE SHOT.

AND IN ILLINOIS, I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE FOR AT LEAST TWO REASONS; ONE THE SUPPLY OF THE MODERNA AND PFIZER VACCINES ARE INCREASING EACH WEEK.

AND TWO, THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER VACCINE COMING ON-LINE SOON FROM JOHNSON & JOHNSON AND THAT IS A SINGLE SHOT VACCINE.

THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE THE SAME COLD CHAIN THAT DEEP FREEZERS AND SO FORTH.

I JUST GOT APPOINTED TO THE SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE COVID RESPONSE SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ILLINOIS GETS ITS FAIR SHARE AND ALL AMERICANS GET A SHOT IN THE ARM LITERALLY ASAP.

>> THAT MIGHT HELP THE LOGISTICS WITH THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

CONGRESSMAN CASTEN, Dr. FAUCI SAID THAT EVEN WITH ALL THE NEW VACCINES COMING ON-LINE IT COULD BE JUNE UNTIL THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS ELIGIBLE TO GET A SHOT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND?

>> I THINK IT IS AVERAGE SO SAY THAT EVERYBODY WISHES THE VACCINE WAS COMING QUICKER.

I THINK WE CAN AT THE SAME TIME SAY AS CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI SAID WE ARE UP TO 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE RECEIVED AT LEAST THE FIRST VACCINE IN ILLINOIS THAT IS 15%.

AND THE OTHER POINT THAT Dr. FAUCI HAS BEEN MAKING WORTH KEEPING IN MIND IS THAT EVEN THAT IF YOU YOU ONLY HAVE ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SECOND DOSE BUT EVEN IF YOU ONLY GOT ONE THE RISK OF SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS AND DEATH GOES ALMOST TO ZERO.

SON GETTING THESE VACCINES OUT, AND GETTING THEM INTO PEOPLE MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE WHEN ARE YOU ELIGIBLE GO GET VACCINATED AND PROTECT YOURSELF AND PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND AS I SAID WHILE WE ALL WISH WE HAD MORE VACCINE IT IS A HEROIC EFFORT THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH IS DOING.

GET TO GO FROM THE LABS INTO THE ARMS.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

AGAIN WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION BUT NON-ACCEPTED OUR OFFER AND WE THANKS REPRESENTATIVES CASTEN, KRISHNAMOORTHI AND SCHNEIDER FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> UP NEXT A POLICE TORTURE SURVIVOR RECOUNTS HIS EXPERIENCE IN A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

A NEW ON-LINE ARCHIVE DOCUMENTING STORY OF POLICE TORE OUR ARCHIVE DETAILS THE EXPERIENCES ALLEGEDLY INFLICTED BY FORMER POLICE COMMANDER JOHN BURGE AND HIS GROUP OF OFFICERS KNOWN AS THE MIDNIGHT CREW WHO REPORTEDLY TORTURED SUSPECT TOSCOERS CONFESSIONS.

FOR YEARS GROUPS CAMPAIGNED FOR REPARATIONS FOR THE SURVIVORS WHICH THE CITY AGREED TO IN 2015.

AMONG THE TERMS OF THE REPARATIONS PACKAGE IS WHAT BECAME THE CHICAGO TORTURE JUSTICE CENTER AND OFFERS SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE TRAUMA OF POLICE VIOLENCE.

MARK CLEMENS IS STORY WAS TOLD HE WAS TORTURED TO CONFESS TO A CRIME IN 1981 WHEN HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD.

WEIGHS INCARCERATED FOR 28 YEARS BEFORE THE CONVICTION WAS OVERTURNED.

TODAY HE IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS WITH THE CHICAGO TORTURE JUSTICE CENTER AND JOINING US IS CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TORTURE DIRECTOR CENTER.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MARK, LET'S START WITH, SINCE YOUR EXONERATION YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE REALM.

TELL US ABOUT THAT WORK AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW BEING A 16-YEAR-OLD KID TAKEN DOWN TO A POLICE STATION AND TORTURED AND NO ONE BELIEVING WHAT TOOK PLACE INSIDE OF THE POLICE STATION, I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE TO NOT JUST TAKE THE PAIN BUT TO AT LEAST PUT YOURSELVES IN THE POSITION TO DISH THE PAIN OUT FOR REFORMS.

WE HAVE A BROKEN SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.

AND THAT BROKEN SYSTEM OF JUSTICE HAS WORKED TO DEMONIZE AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

I WAS AFFECTED AS A RESULT OF TRAUMA.

SPENDING ALL OF MY YOUTH BEHIND PRISON WALLS.

AND I JUST WANT SOMEONE, THE CITY OF CHICAGO, ALL OF OUR LEADERS, TO UNDERSTAND FIRST OF ALL THAT I AM SOMEONE'S SON THAT THIS HAPPENED TO.

AND THAT PERSON DIED FIGHTING TO FREE ME AND I WILL KEEP HER VOICE ALIVE THROUGH ME FOR ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE SYSTEMICALLY TORTURED UNDER JOHN BURGE.

>> AND MARK WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT TRAUMA.

I WANT TO GET ALY IN, THE CHICAGO TORTURE JUSTICE CENTER HOW HAS THE CENTER EVOLVED?

>> THIS YEAR WILL BE OUR FOURTH BIRTHDAY.

WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO ANYONE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IMPACTED BY POLICE VIOLENCE.

SO THAT MEANS, OF COURSE, OUR SERVICES ARE FREE TO TORTURE SURVIVORS BUT THEY ARE FREE TO FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES HAVE BEEN KILLED BY POLICE OR INDIVIDUALS WHO THEY THEMSELVES EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE AT THE HANDS OF POLICE OR INDIRECTLY EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE.

THAT MEANS WE INCORPORATE A COMMUNITY COUNSELING MODEL WE UNDERSTAND THE MULTIFACETED WAYS IN WHICH STATE VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR POLICE VIOLENCE CAN BECOME A VERY ISOLATING REALITY FOR FOLKS.

THAT MEANS OUR CLINICIANS SEE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GO INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES AND THIS WAS PREPANDEMIC SO WE'VE MADE ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE STORIES OF THE TORTURE SURVIVOR ARCHIVED AND DOCUMENTED THE WAY THE INVISIBLE INSTITUTE HAS DONE?

>> BECAUSE IT HELPS TO WRITE HISTORY.

AND SOME OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE DECADES' LONG FITD TO EXPOSE THE TRUTH IS THAT THESE STORIES WERE ORIGINALLY DENIED AND REPRESSED FROM SEEING ANY LIGHT OF DAY.

AND IT TOOK DECADES OF SURVIVORS REFUSING TO REMAIN SILENT AND TO CONTINUE TO TELL THEIR STORIES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT CONTINUES.

BECAUSE THERE IS A BIG CHANCE AS WE CAN LOOK TO JUST RECENT EPISODES THAT HAVE HAPPENED NOW IN THIS COUNTRY, WHERE REVISIONS HAPPEN AROUND HISTORY.

AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT IS THAT TORTURE CONTINUES.

THIS HASN'T ENDED.

SO THIS IS NOT A DARK PERIOD IN CHICAGO'S HISTORY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

IT DIDN'T END WITH BURGE.

>> BACK WHEN THE CHICAGO TORTURE JUSTICE CENTER OPENED I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW SOMEONE ON YOUR STAFF ANOTHER SURVIVOR DARRYL CANNON.

HERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT INTERVIEW AT THE TIME.

>> NOT ONLY DID YOU TORTURE ME PHASE CALI, MENTALLY, BUT YOU TORTURED ME BY PLACING ME IN PRISON WRONGFULLY AND I LOST EVERYBODY WHILE I WAS IN PRISON.

MY MOTHER, MY FATHER.

MY SON.

I DON'T HAVE PAIN.

I GET MAD.

I GET SO MAD THAT I GET EMOTIONAL.

AND THAT IS THE TRAUMA.

>> AND MARK, YOU TOO, SPENT HALF OF OUR LIVE OF LIFE IN PRISON FOR A CRIME YOU WERE EXONERATED LIKE DARRYL CANNON HE IS EXPRESSING A UNIQUE TRAUMA PAST THE PHYSICAL THAT HAPPENED ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

WHY DO YOU THINK AND AINSLEY TOUCHED ON IT BUT WHY ARE THE SPECIALIZED SERVICES NECESSARY FOR SURVIVORS LIKE YOURSELF?

>> WELL, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT HAS NEGLECTED MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ARE A SOCIETY OF PEOPLE THAT FAIL TO REALIZE THAT NOT ONLY DID THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT MEASURE OUT ITS ACTS OF TRAUMA UPON MANY PEOPLE, BUT ALSO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE AND OUR PRISON SYSTEM WHICH IS VERY BARBARIC AND WHAT WE HAVE WITNESSED IS THIS HAS BEEN IGNORED WHERE THAT MEN AND WOMEN ARE BEING RELEASED OUT OF THE PRISON SYSTEMS REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE INNOCENT OR GUILTY.

AND THEY ARE TRAUMATIZED AND THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO AND IT IS A VERY SAD DAY IN THE SOCIETY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO AT LEAST ESTABLISH THE CHICAGO TORTURE JUSTICE CENTER AS WELL ASS ARCHIVES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN AGAIN TO SEE WITH THEIR OWN TWO EYES AS TO THE STRUGGLES OF MANY LITTLE OLD MOTHERS THAT HAD TO AT LEAST ENDURE THIS LIKE AMMAN THAT, THE MOTHER OF GERALD, CONSTANTLY, CONSTANTLY HAVING TO DEAL WITH A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT STILL TO THIS DAY DON'T WANT TO RECOGNIZE.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

A GROUP OF YOUNG WOMEN ARE CHANGING GOSPEL MUSIC AND WHO IT'S FOR.

ANGEL IDOWU MEETS A BAND OF SISTERS ON A MISSION.

[♪♪♪] ♪YOU ARE THE REASON.

>> MEET GROUP AXE FOR ALL OR ALL FOR LOVE.

♪AS I HOPE MY SOUL TAKE CONTROL OF MY EMOTIONS, I LOVE YOU♪ ♪SIMPLY LOVE YOU.

>> THEY ARE FOUR SISTERS ON A MISSION TO SHARE THEIR LOVE OF CHRIST THROUGH GOSPEL MUSIC.

THE WORD GOSPEL MEANS GOOD NEWS IT IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE A MESSAGE OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO PEOPLE.

♪UNTIL I WAKE WITH YOUR FEEL UPON MY HEART♪ >> IT IS FROM OUR FAMILY.

>> OUR DAD BEING THE OWNER OF MUSIC NET WITH HIS BROTHER ONE OF THE PROPRIETORS THEY REALLY DID INSTILL IN US AS A FATHER JUST LIKE HUM THE ONE IN THE SONG HE MADE SURE WE KNEW THE MUSIC THEORY AND UNDERSTAND THE NUMBER SYSTEM AND LIKE COME TO THE PIANO AND FIND THE G AND FIND THE C. IT REALLY BIRTHED FROM OUR DNA AND BEING HIS DAUGHTERS.

>> THEY SAY THE DIVERSE MUSIC TRAINING FROM THEIR FATHER AND UNCLE ALAN AND AARON AT THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC HELPED THEM NARROW THEIR FOCUS.

>> GOSPEL MUSIC BRINGS LIFE AND HOPE.

AND JUST HAPPY THAT THEY CHOSE THAT ROUTE.

IT'S SOMETHING WHEN YOU LEAVE A GOSPEL CONCERT YOU HAVE A FEELING LIKE OF HOPE AND UPLIFTED AND IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT FEELING.

>> GOSPEL MUSIC IS SO BROAD LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF RANGE FROM CHOIRS TO QUARTET TO NOW NARROW THIS LIKE THE WORSHIP GOSPEL IS COMING TO LIKE A NEW HEIGHTS.

SO I THINK LIKE WE KIND OF HAVE BEEN EXPLORING WHAT OUR NICHE IS IN THE GOSPEL WORLD AND GOSPEL MUSIC.

IT'S BEEN FUN TO HAVE THE LIBERTIES.

♪LAVISH YOU WITH LOVE♪ ♪I WANT TO LAVISH YOU WITH LOVE♪ >> AS AN OFFICIAL GROUP FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, A FOR L SAYS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN GOSPEL MUSIC IS THE MESSAGE.

>> THAT IS WHAT I FEEL IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOSPEL MUSIC AND THE SONGS OF TODAY.

I CAN LISTEN TO A SONG RIGHT NOW, AND IT CAN TELL ME WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

BUT WHAT IS A SONG THAT CAN TELL ME HOW TO GET PAST IT?

THAT IS WHAT GOSPEL MUSIC DOES.

YOU LISTEN TO IT AND WOW NOT ONLY AM GOING THROUGH A TRIAL BUT JESUS IS THE ONE TO GET YOU THROUGH IT.

THERE'S MESSAGES PUT IN THE MUSIC.

THERE MIGHT BE A SONG THAT REALLY BLESSED YOU YOU KNOW OR A SONG THAT REALLY LIKE THAT GAVE YOU HOPE OR ENCOURAGED YOU OR GAVE YOU FREEDOM.

♪YOU HAVE WON THE VICTORY♪ >> THE GOSPEL MUSIC YOU SHOULD WANT TO LIKE GROW INTO SOMETHING BETTER.

YOU SHOULD WANT TO BE BETTER.

YOU SHOULD WANT TO LIVE BETTER.

YOU SHOULD WANT TO CHANGE AN OLD MINDSET AND GET A NEW PERSPECTIVE.

THAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF GOSPEL MUSIC.

FOR US THAT IS OUR GOAL, TOO, THAT PEOPLE ARE RADICALLY TRANSFORMED BY WHAT THEY HEAR.

♪I'M WAITING ON YOU♪ >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

♪WAITING ON YOU♪ ♪AND I WON'T MOVE I'M WAITING ON YOU♪ >> AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON A FOR L THEY WILL BE RELEASING THE FIRST ALBUM THIS YEAR.

AND TUNE IN TO THE NEW TWO PART DOCUMENTARY SERIES THE BLACK CHURCH THIS IS OURER IS ROY THIS IS OUR CHURCH TONIGHT AT 9:00 P.M. AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER DELIVERS HIS BUDGET ADDRESS AND HOW THE STATE COME BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC?

>> AND A COMMUNITY OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A FOOD DESERT NORTH CHICAGO IS GETTING ITS FIRST FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORE IN 20 YEARS.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WARM AND GOOD NIGHT.

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