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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ WILL JIN US LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> LEADER SCHUMER AND PELOSI SAID THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO BE BIPARTISAN.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN LOOKS FOR G.O.P.

SUPPORT ON HIS STIMULUS PLAN.

HEAR FROM LOCAL CONGRESSMEN AND RELIEF AID AND MORE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> A STRIKE STILL POSSIBLE FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS HOW ARE OTHER AREA DISTRICTS HANDLING COVID-19?

A CHECK IN ON THEIR RETURN TO SCHOOL PLANS.

>> HOW NURSING HOMES ARE FARING WITH COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AUTO.

>> NO BREAK FROM WINTER WE EXPLAIN A WEATHER SYSTEM THAT IS EXPECTED TO BRING HIGHS IN THE SINGLE-DIGITS THIS WEEKEND.

>> THE JUSTICE FOR ALL WILL BE DEFERRED NO LONGER.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RELEASES THE RACIAL EQUITY AGENDA THE LEADERS OF THE CHICAGO AND NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE WEIGH-IN.

>> EVERYTHING HERE ALMOST SPEAKS TO SOME ELEMENT OF PUERTO RICAN CULTURE OR OF LATINO CULTURE.

>> AND A BUSINESS INCUBATOR IN HUMBOLDT PARK IS WORKING TO PRESERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S PUERTO RICAN CULTURE.

>> FIRST TOP STORIES ... CHICAGOANS FRUSTRATED WITH TRYING TO SCHEDULE COVID-19 VACCINE APPOINTMENTS MIGHT BE GLAD THE CITY IS PARTNERING WITH ON-LINE SCHEDULING PLATFORM TO MAKE IT EASIER.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS WE'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE I'M HAVING TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO FIND VACCINE APPOINTMENTS.

WHERE WE HAVE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS WE WANTED TO CREATE A TECHNOLOGY-BASED PARTNERSHIP THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER.

>> CHICAGO HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE FREE RESOURCE IS FOR ELIGIBLE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT GET THE VACCINE THROUGH A DOCTOR, PHARMACY OR EMPLOYER.

IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO ACCESS VACCINATION SITES OPERATED BY THE CITY AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS LIKE ERIE FAMILY HEALTH OR RUSH.

ALLISON ARWADY WARNS THE CITY'S SUPPLY OF THE VACCINE IS STILL LIMITED.

FOR HOW TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> MEANWHILE, THE STATE REPORTS MORE THAN 2300 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS TODAY AND 47 DEATHS.

THE STATE'S TOTAL CASE COUNT IS MORE THAN 1,130,000 AND 19,306 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

THIS COMES AS SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY OR REGION 10 IN THE REOPENING PLAN MOVES INTO PHASE FOUR LIFTING SOME RESTRICTIONS.

BUT COOK COUNTY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL FOLLOW THE LEAD SET BY CHICAGO OFFICIALS BY MAINTAINING THE CURRENT LIMITS ON INDOOR DRINKING AND DINING AT A MAX OF 25 PEOPLE OR 25% CAPACITY.

>> A CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT CITY COUNCIL.

36TH WARD ALDERMAN GILBERT VILLEGAS IS RESIGNING HIS POSITION AS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S FLOOR LEADER.

A POSITION HE HAS HELD SINCE MAY 2019.

VILLEGAS SAYS THE WORK PULLED HIM AWAY FROM DUTIES AS THE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC CAPITAL AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WHERE HE FEELS HIS TIME IS MORE VALUABLE.

THE MAYOR HAS APPOINTED 8TH WARD ALDERMAN MICHELLE HARRIS AS FLOOR LEADER AND CREATED A POSITION OF DEPUTY FLOOR LEADER FOR GEORGE CARDENAS.

AND IT'S OFFICIAL... CHICAGO'S OWN CANDACE PARKER IS LEAVING THE SPARKS TO JOIN THE CHICAGO SKY.

>> WHEN YOU REALIZE HOW SPECIAL THIS LITTLE ORANGE BALL AND HOW MANY JOURNEYS AND EVENTS AND MEMORIES AND RELATIONSHIPS YOU HAVE ESTABLISH BECAUSE OF IT YOU FEEL SPECIAL.

I LEFT NAPERVILLE AT 18 AND I'M RETURNING AT 35.

I WILL BE 35 WHEN I RETURN AND THE LESSONS I'VE LEARNED BEING GONE HAVE BROUGHT ME BACK HOME.

>> THE TWO-TIME WNBA, MVP SAID SHE WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT THE SPARKS FOR ANY OTHER TEAM BUT THE SKY.

YOU CAN SEE HER HERE IN THE FINALS.

SHE WAS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND A FIVE-TIME ALL-STAR AND THE ALL TIME LEADER IN SCORING, BLOCKS AND REBOUNDS.

PARKER ADDS SHE PLANS TO BE AN ACTIVE VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY HELPING TO ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITIES AND ENCOURAGING GIRLS TO PLAY SPORTS.

NOW TO PARIS SCHUTZ AND THE DETAILS WITH THE PRESIDENT'S STIMULUS DEAL WITH LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> THE NEXT ROUND OF STIMULUS NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY AS CONGRESS BRACES FOR THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

YESTERDAY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HELD AN OVAL OFFICE MEETING WITH 10 REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO PROPOSED A SCALED DOWN STIMULUS EFFORT.

IS COMPROMISE POSSIBLE?

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MUCH MORE ARE CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELY, A DEMOCRAT FROM MAD MATSON.

MARIE NEWMAN A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO'S SOUTHWEST SIDE.

BOBBY RUSH, A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE AND CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI A DEMOCRAT FROM SCHAUMBURG AND WE INVISITTED EVERY MEMBER FROM THE REPUBLICAN ILLINOIS DELEGATION AND NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

LET'S OUTLINE WHAT IS IN THE STIMULUS PROPOSAL IT INCLUDES 1400 DOLLAR INDIVIDUAL CHECKS, 400 ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS, MONEY FOR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

CONGRESSWOMAN MARIE NEWMAN, YOU SAW REPUBLICANS PROPOSE ABOUT $600 BILLION SCALED DOWN FROM THE BIDEN PROPOSAL.

IS THERE A NUMBER LESS THAN $1.9 TRILLION THAT WOULD RETAIN DEMOCRAT SUPPORT?

>> YOU KNOW I THINK IT WOULD TAKE A LOT MOST OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS THINKS THAT $1.9 TRILLION IS NOT ENOUGH.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AN UNUSUAL NEGOTIATION.

HERE IS WHAT I THINK THAT WHEN YOU COME BACK IN A NEGOTIATION AND YOU ARE COMING IN AT LESS THAN A THIRD OF WHAT WAS OFFERED TO YOU, A IT IS A DISRESPECTFUL OFFER.

B THEY ARE NOT SERIOUS AT ALL.

AND C THEY DON'T ALLOW FOR ANY MONEY TO CITIES TOWNS AND STATES AND COUNTIES AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT VACCINE DISTRIBUTION THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, HEALTHCARE SERVICES PROVIDED AT THE STATE, LOCAL OR COUNTY LEVEL.

>> THAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL FOUR OF YOU.

CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY OUTLINE SPECIFICALLY WHAT WOULD BE COMING TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND THEIR CASH STRAPPED BUDGETS?

>> EACH STATE WOULD RECEIVE NOT JUST THE STATE OF ILLINOIS BUT THEY 0 WOULD RECEIVE MONEY AROUND VACCINES AND TRANSPORTATION AND THEN THERE'S MONEY, OF COURSE, FOR VACCINES AND THE CITY GETS THEIR OWN.

AND IT'S SEPARATE FROM WHAT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS RECEIVES.

WHAT WE'RE HOPING LIKE WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, EVERY STATE, CITY, SMALL TOWN LARGE TOWN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET MONEY LAST YEAR AND THEN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR WHICH OF COURSE WE GOT THROUGH THE HOUSE BUT COULD NOT GET THROUGH THE SENATE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SENDING MONEY TO THE STATES AND THE MUNICIPALITIES BECAUSE THEY'VE LOST SO MUCH MONEY BECAUSE OF COVID AND NOT GETTING THE TAX MONEY AND THE REVENUE THAT THEY ARE USED TO GETTING.

IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET MONEY TO THEM AND GET MONEY TO THEM FOR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.

>> REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS.AGAINST THE MONEY FOR THE GOVERNMENTS.

HERE IS WHAT WHITE HOUSE JEN PSAKI HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT.

>> LEWDER SCHUMER AND PELOSI SAID THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO BE BIPARTISAN.

WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE MEETING AND IF THERE ARE GOOD IDEAS WE WILL PUT FORWARD THERE'S TIME TO DO THAT.

EVEN IF THROUGH THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS THAT THE CONGRESS WILL DECIDE IT MOVES TOWARDS RECONCILIATION REPUBLICANS CAN VOTE FOR THAT.

>> CONGRESSMAN RUSH THIS RECONCILIATION PROCESS WHERE THE SENATE WOULD NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF 51 VOTES INSTEAD OF A FILIBUSTER PROOF THEY WOULD NOT NEED REPUBLICANS IS THIS THE RIGHT PATH TO GO DOWN OR WOULD IT START THE BIDEN ERA OFF TO A HYPER PARTISAN START?

>> WELL, I WOULD THINK THAT IN ESSENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS A RESULT OF THE JANUARY 6 DEBACLE INSURRECTION IN THE CAPITOL.

AND WAS THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY VOTING TO NOT IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I WOULD THINK THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

AND FRANKLY, I WOULD THINK THAT RECONCILIATION IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GO.

I'VE BEEN LONG ENOUGH TO SEE REPUBLICANS SUPPOSEDLY NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH AND THEN THEY WOULD GET A COMPROMISE, THE HEALTH BILL, OBAMACARE.

AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY VOTED AGAINST IT.

SO I DON'T TRUST THE REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO DELIVER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SOME MUCH-NEEDED RESULTS BE IT RECONCILIATION OR ANY OTHER WAY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DELIVER THE GOODS.

>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI WOULD YOU PREFER THERE BE REPUBLICAN VOTES ON THIS BILL?

OR AS CONGRESSMAN RUSH SAID DO YOU PREFER IT JUST GETS DONE AND IT'S BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WANT IT TO?

>> BOTH.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE REPUBLICAN VOTES ON THIS BILL.

I THINK WE WOULD ALL LIKE IT TO BE BIPARTISAN.

BUT AT END OF THE DAY THE PANDEMIC IS TOO SERIOUS THE HEALTHCARE CRISIS IS TOO GRAVE AND OUR ECONOMY IS SLOWING DOWN NOW AGAIN.

AND MY CONSTITUENTS ARE DEMANDING THAT WASHINGTON STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP SAVE THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE AND STILL 50% OF RESTAURANTS IN ILLINOIS ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS WITHOUT ANYMORE RELIEF.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE ABOUT TO EXPIRE ON MARCH 14TH.

JUST WEEKS AWAY AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE CRYING OUT FOR AID.

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE VILLAGE OF SCHAUMBURG SAYING THAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR THEY HAVE LOST A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR SALES TAX REVENUES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND IF WE DON'T ASSIST THEM, THEY ARE GOING TO LAY PEOPLE OFF.

THE VERY PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO HELP WITH THE RESPONSE TO COVID.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE MILLION PEOPLE LAID OFF ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE NEED TO GET RESULTS RIGHT NOW HOWEVER IT'S DONE.

>> CLEARLY TO ALL FOUR OF YOU THAT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AID IS IMPORTANT.

I WANT TO SHIFT GEARS AND TALK ABOUT SHAFT OF SAFETY ON CAPITOL HILL AFTER THE INSURRECTION.

YOU HEARD SPEAKER PELOSI SAY QUOTE THE ENEMY IS WITHIN THERE ARE STILL A PRESENCE OF NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN WASHINGTON INCLUDING FROM ILLINOIS.

CONGRESSWOMAN NEWMAN HOW SAFE DO YOU FEEL IN THE CAPITOL?

>> LUCKILY WE HAVE THIS AMAZING FORCE OF NATIONAL GUARD THAT ARE WATCHING OVER US AND I FEEL SAFE IN TERMS OF THEM BEING THERE.

I WILL SAY I AGREE WITH SPEAKER PELOSI THAT THERE ARE FOLKS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE AROUND AND I WILL BE CLEAR BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING HER TO RESIGN, BE TAKEN OFF THE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEES, AND ACTUALLY HER OFFICE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN, SHE SITS ACROSS FROM ME.

AND SHE SAID SOME INCREDIBLY HATEFUL THINGS SHE ACTED AS A WHITE SUPREMACIST AND FOLLOWS QANON AND DEMONSTRATED SHE IS NOT STABLE.

HER OFFICE IS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MINE AND SHE INTIMIDATED CORY BUSH, AND I SAW THE TAIL-END THAT.

CORY WAS RIGHT TO TAKE HER STAFF AND KEEP THEM SAFE I ADMIRE THAT.

I AM NOT GOING TO MOVE THOUGH SHE MAKES ME NERVOUS AND I FEAR FOR MY STAFF'S SAFETY THAT SAID, THE LEADERSHIP IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP US SAFE AND KEEP GUNS OFF THE FLOOR.

BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I AGREE WITH SPEAKER PELOSI THERE ARE FOLKS THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND IF THEY ARE FOUND GUILTY THEY SHOULD BE EXPELLED.

>> YOU MENTIONED CORY BUSH FROM ST. LOUIS.

AND MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN FROM GEORGIA WE WILL GET MORE INTO HER IN OUR SECOND SEGMENT.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY CONGRESS MEMBERS LATER TO DISCUSS BIDEN'S IMMIGRATION PLAN AND WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION BUT NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION.

WE DO THANKS REPRESENTATIVES KELLY, NEWMAN, RUSH AND KRISHNAMOORTHI FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD PLANNED TO REOPEN KINDERGARTEN-8 GRADE CLASSROOMS TO STUDENTS MONDAY.

INSTEAD THERE IS NO ANSWER AS TO WHEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL REOPEN.

TEACHERS AND C.P.S.

LEADERS HAVE UP WITH MORE DAY OF TALKS.

BUT OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA DID REOPEN.

SOME JUST YESTERDAY.

AMANDA VINICKY SURVEYED SEVERAL TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING AND SHE JOINS US NOW.

>> BRANDIS, ANTHONY LA CIVITA TEACHES WORLD HISTORY TO FRESHMEN AT MORTON EAST THEY ARE STUDYING THE MIDDLE AGES.

>> THE DIFFICULT TOPIC THE BLACK DEATH BECAUSE IT'S SO CLOSE TO SOME OF THESE KIDS BUT THERE'S HE HAVE VERY GOOD COMPARISONS AND CONTRASTS ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE BEHAVED TOWARDS IT AND THE WAY WE'RE BEHAVING TOWARDS IT TODAY.

>> HE AND OTHER TEACHERS HAVE BEEN BACK IN THEIR BUILDINGS SINCE MID-JANUARY BUT MOSTLY WITHOUT STUDENTS.

>> WE ALSO HAVE OFFICE HOURS WHERE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO COME UP TO OUR CLASSROOMS IF NEED BE.

>> STUDENTS COULD COME TO THE CAFETERIA TO USE WI-FI.

BUT TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY THAT STUDENTS WHO WANTED COULD RETURN TO THEIR CLASSROOMS.

THIS IS DESPITE MISGIVINGS BY TEACHERS THE DISTRICT REOPENING WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT PROMPTING THE UNION TO FILE AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE.

>> THERE'S SOME VENTILATION ISSUES WE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT AND STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT.

AND A METRIC.

WE WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT A METRIC WOULD LOOK LIKE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE DISTRICT TO RETURN TO REMOTE.

>> WHEN WE DID SPEAK, HE SAID HE HAD THREE STUDENTS SHOW UP AND ONE STUDENT SHOW UP FOR ANOTHER PERIOD.

HE HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN AND A FAN GOING.

HE SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT A TEACHER WANTS MORE THAN TO HAVE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM BUT HE SAYS IT HAS TO BE SAFE.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHERS IN CICERO HAD ALREADY FILED AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE AND THERE WAS A HEARING ON IT TODAY.

UNION LEADER RACHEL ESPOSITO SAYS THE DISTRICT BARGAINED IN BAD FAITH.

SHE SAYS COVID HAS MADE A BIG IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> CICERO IS A PREDOMINANTLY LATINX COMMUNITY.

LOW INCOME.

THEY DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY THE SAME ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AS OTHER THE COUPS DO.

AND CICERO HAS BEEN HIT HARD BY THE COVID PANDEMIC.

IN THE FALL WE WERE 25% POSITIVITY RATE ACROSS THE CITY.

>> NOW, AMONG THE UNION'S REQUEST A METRIC SO THAT IF COMMUNITY SPREAD IS HIGH THERE WILL NOT BE IN-PERSON SCHOOL AND BRINGING IN A PROFESSIONAL TO DO A HAZARD ANALYSIS ON THE VENTILATION SYSTEMS.

THE VACCINE MAY BE A GAME-CHANGER SO THAT IS A FACTOR, TOO, RACHEL ESPOSITO SAYS AND THE DISTRICT DID GO ON WITH REOPENING BUT NOT ALL TEACHERS WENT TO SCHOOL.

>> I AM ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SAID NO.

SO I'VE BEEN TEACHING FROM HOME FROM THE SAFETY OF MY HOME SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> RACHEL ESPOSITO IS A JUNIOR HIGH LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHERS AND THE DISTRICT HAS ISSUED WARNINGS TO HER AND TO OTHER TEACHERS WHO HAVE REFUSED TO PHYSICALLY RETURN.

SHE IS HOPEFUL FOR A UNION FAVOR HOPEFULLY WILL LEAD TO MEDIATION A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE DISICK FROM.

MEANWHILE, SCHOOLS IN CARPENTERVILLE, AND HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT 300 THEY HAVE BEEN BACK SINCE JANUARY 11.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IT IS A HYBRID MODEL WITH SOME DAYS IN-SCHOOL AND OTHER DAYS ON-LINE.

>> WE'VE GOT SOME I HAD CANS THEY ARE ON MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND OTHERS TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.

AND OUR ELEMENTARIES, WE KEPT OUR IN-PERSON CLASS SIZED AT 20 BUT THEY ARE BACK FULL-TIME IF THE CLASS CANNOT BE MADE SMALLER THAN 20 THEY MIGHT BE ON A HYBRID MODEL.

AND WE ARE DOING LIVE AND VIRTUAL AT THE SAME TIME HATS OFF TO TEACHERS WHO PULL THIS OFF IT'S LIKE BEING IN TWO CLASSROOMS AT THE SAME TIME.

>> UNION LEADER MICHAEL WILLIAMS SAID THE DISTRICT HAD TO MAKE OTHER CHANGES, TOO.

>> WE'VE HAD TO REDO CAFETERIAS WITH PLASTIC DIVIDERS AND DEPENDING ON THE POPULATION YOU SIT THEM SEVERAL SEATS APART.

AGAIN IT IS A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.

AS FAR AS HIGH SCHOOLS GO, THERE'S NOT ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP HAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A HALLWAY BUT IF YOU CAN DIRECT PEOPLE SO THEY ARE GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND EVERYBODY IS WEARING THE MASKS THEY NEED TO WEAR.

>> AND THEY HAVE TO BE QUIET NO CHATTING, TALKING AS MUCH MEANING THAT HALLWAYS ARE NOT THE RAUCOUS PLACES THEY WERE PREPANDEMIC.

OAK PARK SOCIAL WORKER AND UNION CO-PRESIDENT HANNAH BOUDREAU SAYS HALLWAYS ARE QUIET THERE.

>> FOLLOWING THE RULES, STAYING SOCIALLY DISTANT AND THEY ARE EXCITED TO SEE EACH OTHER.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THEM.

THIS MORNING I HAD TO TELL A COUPLE GIRLS SIX FEET.

STAY ON YOUR THE DO'S.

AND THEY ARE JUST GREAT.

SO SUPER COMPLIANT, SUPER COOPERATIVE.

>> SHE SAYS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WEARING THEIR MASKS AND FOLLOWING THE RULES SINCE OAK PARK ELEMENTARY STUDENTS RETURNED TO SCHOOL YESTERDAY.

>> ELEMENTARY IS FIVE DAYS A WEEK DUE TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS BEING LARGE AND HAVING A DENSE POPULATION OAK PARK EACH GRADE LEVEL HAS DESIGNATED WEEK.

THE FIRST WEEK BACK WAS SIXTH GRADE THIS WEEK.

>> LARY GRIMALDI DOES TEACH BUT HE COULD NOT BE THERE HE HAS TO QUARANTINE DUE TO CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEBODY WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

BUT HE SAYS THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE AGREEMENT THAT THE UNION HAD WORKED OUT WITH THE DISTRIBUTE THAT TEACHERS IN POSITIONS LIKE HIM WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK REMOTELY WITH A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM TO MONITOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE THERE.

>> EVEN THOUGH I CANNOT BE WITH THEM I'M STILL LEADING THE INSTRUCTION.

>> HE SAYS IT'S BEEN EXCITING FOR HIM AND FOR THE STUDENTS AS WELL.

IN OAK PARK'S GAME, LARY GRIMALDI SAYS ADMINISTRATORS WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO WORK WITH THE UNION TO REACH AN AGREEMENT AND SURE HE SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF KINKS BUT THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH IT.

HE SAYS WHAT HELPED LOCAL DONORS FUNDRAISED THOUSANDS TO BUY TEACHERS AND STAFF N95 MASKS.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE FOR A CHECK IN ON VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN NURSING HOMES.

>> BRANDIS FIRST ROUND OF COVID-19 VACCINATIONS TO ILLINOIS NURSING HOMES CLASSIFIED AS SKILLED IS NOW COMPLETE.

AND ASSISTED LIVING SITES ARE SET TO FIRST THE FIRST ROUND BY FEBRUARY 15TH THIS COMES OVER A MONTH INTO THE CORONAVIRUS STATE'S DISTRIBUTION TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WHICH HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR A SLOW ROLL OUT.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE STATE OF THE PANDEMIC IN NURSING HOMES ARE Dr. RAJEEV KUMAR, THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT TWO SUBURBAN FACILITIES.

BURGESS HEALTHCARE AND REHAB IT WERE?

WESTMONT AND PLYMOUTH PLACE IN HE WILL GRANGE.

AND TAMARA KONETZKA A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WHO STUDIES LONG-TERM CARE.

THERE'S CRITICISM THAT RESIDENTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE NOT GETTING THE VACCINES FAST ENOUGH MORE THAN 16,000 DOSES HAD BEEN ADMINISTERED IN ILLINOIS OF THE 496,000 ALLOCATED.

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS TELL YOU?

>> WELL, FIRST, I WOULD SAY WE CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE WHAT A DRAMATICALLY GOOD THING IT IS THAT THE VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE.

IT'S GOING TO CHANGE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LONG-TERM CARE AND IN NURSING HOMES IN PARTICULAR.

AND THE HORRORS OF THE LAST YEAR.

THE ROLLOUT, HOWEVER HAS BEEN GOING SLOWER THAN EXPECTED.

I THINK PART OF THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS ORGANIZED.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTED WITH TWO LARGE COMPANIES WALGREENS AND CVS TO HANDLE THE DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THAT IS NOT A CRAZY IDEA IT'S GOOD TO HAVE ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND HAVE THE SAME COMPANY DOING THIS OVER AND OVER.

THAT SHOULD PRODUCE EFFICIENCIES.

BUT I THINK THEY REACHED CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS.

AND SO IT'S HARD TO HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Dr. KUMAR HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE RATE OF VACCINATIONS IN YOUR FACILITIES?

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.

I AGREE WITH THE PROFESSOR.

THE CHALLENGES ARE THESE VACCINES HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED AND STORED AT CERTAIN TEMPERATURES WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO DO FOR MOST OPERATORS.

THAT IS WHY THE BIGGEST TWO PHARMACY CHAINS WERE CHOSEN BUT IT DID IMPACT THE ROLLOUT FOR SURE.

>> AND Dr. KUMAR LET ME STAY WOULD YOU, DATA FROM THE CDC SUGGESTS SHOWS 78% OF RESIDENTS HAVE GOTTEN IT AND 37.5% OF STAFF MEMBERS OFFERED THE VACCINE HAVE.

Dr. KUMAR ARE THOSE RATES WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN YOUR FACILITIES?

>> A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT.

ABOUT 90% FOR OUR RESIDENTS ARE GETTING VACCINATED AND 40-50% OF THE STAFF.

IT GOES BACK TO THE COMPOSITION OF OUR STAFF.

THE FRONTLINE STAFF ARE MADE UP OF ETHNIC MINORITIES AND IN OUR COUNTRY WE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF INEQUITIES HEALTH AND SOCIAL THAT IS ALSO HISTORY OF DISTRUST.

ALL OF THIS COMBINED TOGETHER WITH THE PREVAILING MISINFORMATION THAT IS GOING AROUND IN THE COMMUNITY NOT JUST IN THE HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT BUT GENERALLY IN THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING THE VACCINES THAT HAS TRICKLED DOWN TO THE FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE STAFF AS WELL.

>> PROFESSOR, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU STUDY HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUSPICIOUS FOR HISTORICAL REASONS AND OTHERWISE OF GOVERNMENT VACCINES OR GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED VACCINATION PROGRAMS?

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE HESITANCE ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE AMONGST NURSING HOME STAFF IS NOT THAT THEY ARE STRONGLY AGAINST VACCINES OR ANTI-VAXERS IT'S JUST THAT IT'S NEW.

IT'S AUTHORIZED FOR EMERGENCY USE.

AND THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS.

THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING TO MISS WORK BECAUSE THEY WILL FEEL SICK GETTING THE VACCINE.

PARTLY TIME WILL SOLVE THIS.

THEY WILL SEE THAT OTHER PEOPLE GET THE VACCINE AND PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ILL AND THAT IT REALLY DOES HELP TO PREVENT GETTING COVID WHICH THEY SHOULD BE MUCH MORE WORRIED ABOUT.

>> Dr. KUMAR ONE OF YOUR FACILITIES HAS COMPLETED BOTH OF THE STAGES OF VACATE NATION.

ARE YOU SEEING -- VACCINATION ARE YOU SEEING LOWER RATES AND SO FOR THE?

>> YES.

HOPE IS PREVAILING.

RESIDENTS ARE OVERJOYED.

THEY KNOW NOW THAT THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND FINALLY GET THE FREEDOM TO MINGLE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, SOCIALLY DISTANCED AND MASK AND GOOD HYGIENE.

BUT IT IS A REALLY GOOD THING THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> PROFESSOR, DO YOU SEE THESE POSITIVE TRENDS WHICH DESPITE THE SLOW ROLL OUT EVIDENTLY IS IN PLACE, DO YOU SEE THAT AS A TREND THAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE CONTINUE?

>> WE CERTAINLY EXPECT DRAMATIC DECREASES IN CASES AND DEATHS IN NURSING HOMES AS THE VACCINE GETS ROLLED OUT.

I THINK IT'S STILL TOO SOON TO SEE THAT.

I THINK IT'S NOT TOO SOON FOR HOPE BUT IT'S TOO SOON TO SEE IT IN THE DATA.

THE NURSING HOME RESIDENTS HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATED OFTEN HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE SECOND DOSE AND THERE ARE OTHER LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THAT NEED TO BE VACCINATED.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE A DECLINE IN THE NUMBERS.

>> AND Dr. KUMAR WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE VARIANTS AND HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO HANDLE THE VARIANTS TO THE CURRENT COVID-19?

>> IT'S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.

THIS VIRUS IS KNOWN TO MUTATE SO WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR IT.

SO FAR ALL THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE EXISTING VACCINES DO WORK ON MOST OF THE NEW STRAINS EVEN IF THEY DON'T AT SOME POINT, THE DISEASE WILL STILL BE LESS VIRULENT IF YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED WE RECOMMEND THAT EVERYBODY GET VACCINATED AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THAT WAY WE CAN CHECK THIS DISEASE IN ITS TRACKS.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND UP NEXT A STORY OF A MARKET TURNED BUSINESS INCUBATOR IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW CHICAGO SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DOING?

THESE ARE MORE THAN JUST SHOPPING CENTERS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE GATHERING PLACES WHERE THEY MAINTAIN THEIR CULTURE.

>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT.

CHICAGO'S HUMBOLDT NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN THE EPICENTER OF THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY FOR DECADES BUT IN RECENT YEARS AS HIGH RENTS AND DEVELOP.

S ENCROACHED ON THE BORDERS, FEARS OF GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT HAVE GROWN AND IN SOME CASES BECOME A REALITY.

AS QUINN MYERS REPORTS, A NEW INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY HOPES TO HELP CHANGE THAT.

>> A WHOLE PLAIN TAN AND SQUASHED.

>> FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS LUIS COLLAZO HAS BEEN HAND CRAFTING JIBARITO PRESSES THE CONTRAPTIONS DESIGNED TO FLATTEN PLANTAINS FOR A PUERTO RICAN SANDWICH INVENTED IN CHICAGO.

>> NOBODY HAD SOMETHING TO MAKE A JIBARITO SANDWICH OR THEY BREAK PLATES.

BUTCHER BLOCKS OR SOMETHING.

MY WIFE ASKED ME TO MAKE HER SOMETHING.

>> LUIS COLLAZO IS ONE OF MORE THAN A DOZEN SMALL BUSINESSES OPERATING OUT OF A NEW SPACE CALLED MERCADO DELL PUEBLO.

IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

THE INITIATIVE IS ORGANIZED BY THE PUERTO RICAN CULTURAL CENTER OR PRCC WHICH IS PROVIDING FREE RENT TO VENDORS AND ARTISTS TO OPERATE AND TRY TO DEVELOP THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> THIS PROJECT IS A MARKET BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS AN INCUBATOR.

RIGHT NOW, THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROJECT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AT SOME POINT THAT THEY CAN OPEN IN THE FUTURE A STOREFRONT FOR EXAMPLE.

>> AS THE BUSINESSES GROW, THEY WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FROM THE PRCC AND THEIR PARTNERS.

>> IF WE FEEL THAT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO POUR THEIR LIFE IN THEIR BUSINESS WE INVITE THEM TO BE PART OF THE INCUBATOR WHEN WE WORK MORE ONE-ON-ONE TO GIVE THEM ADVICE IN TERMS OF HOW TO DEVELOP THEIR BUSINESS AND HOW TO GROW IT, HOW TO REGISTER IT.

>> HE HOPES TO EVENTUALLY HAVE HIS OWN SPACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SELL HIS JIBARITO MAKERS AND THE COLORING BOOKS AND POSTERS HE DESIGNS.

>> MERCADO OFFERED A UNIQUE SITUATION TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND I THOUGHT I COULD LEVERAGE THAT AND LEARN MORE AS A START-UP.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT SMALL POP-UPS DON'T KNOW WHICH I DIDN'T.

AND THEY'VE GIVEN ME AN AVENUE TO SEE OTHER THINGS THAT I WAS MISSING.

>> ONE OF THE MERCADO'S GOALS IS TO HELP BUSINESSES MOVE INTO STOREFRONTS HERE ON DIVISION STREET.

AS A WAY OF PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHILE STALLING GENTRIFICATION.

THE MERCADO IS THE BRAINCHILD OF PRCC DIRECTOR JOSE LOPEZ LONG A FIXTURE IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

>> DURING THE COVID WE SAW MANY OF OUR BUSINESSES PARTICULARLY THE INFORMAL BUSINESSES SUFFER A GREAT DEAL.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANY SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THEM STEP-BY-STEP SO THEY COULD BECOME FORMAL BUSINESSES.

>> AND THE MERCADO HAS A SPECIAL SECTION TELLING PUERTO RICAN PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO FIND IN CHICAGO.

BUT THE SPACE IS ALSO OPEN TO NON-PUERTO RICANS, INCLUDING BUSINESS OWNERS FROM BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES.

ONE IS CEDRIC SALONE WHO SELLS HOMEMADE BODY LOTIONS AND OILS THROUGH HIS COMPANY BUTTERS RX AND HE SEES THE MERCADO A WAY TO DIVERSIFY HIS CLIENTELE.

>> I HAVE A HUGE ON-LINE PRESENCE BUT A SMALL STOREFRONT PRESENCE THIS PUTS ME IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT AND I GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND INTRODUCE MY PRODUCT TO DIFFERENT AREAS AND GROUPS THAT COME THROUGH.

>> PRCC ORGANIZERS SAY BUSINESSES THEY ARE SUPPORTING ARE A WAY TO KEEP DOLLARS IN THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM SPENT ELSEWHERE.

>> FOR US, THIS MERCADO SPEAKS TO US OF HISTORY, SPEAKS TO US OF COMMUNITY, IT SPEAKS TO US ABOUT IDENTITY, BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AGE OF COVID.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M QUINN MYERS.

>> AND THE MERCADO IS OPEN FRIDAY AFTERNOONS AND SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AT DIVISION AND ROCKWELL IN HUMBOLDT PARK THEY ARE ENFORCING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES AND REQUIRING FACE MASKS TO ENTER AND YOU ARE LEARN MORE ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LOCAL CONGRESSMEN HOW SAFE THEY FEEL AROUND CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN ON CAPITOL HILL.

COLD WEATHER IS FORECAST TO HIT THE CHICAGO AREA WE WILL EXPLAIN WHAT TO EXPECT.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN RELEASE THE RACIAL EQUITY AGENDA THE LEADERS OF THE NATIONAL AND URBAN LEAGUE SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

FIRST TOP STORIES...

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NEGOTIATING THIS EVENING TO HAMMER OUT A DEAL TO REOPEN SCHOOLS.

A STATEMENT FROM BOTH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND SCHOOL C.E.O.

JANICE JACKSON SAYS THE TWO SIDES CONFERRED ON A SMALL NUMBER OF REMAINING ISSUES TODAY AND EXPECT TO CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING.

THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AVERT A STRIKE SO FAR ON HOW TO SAFELY REOPEN SCHOOLS TORE K-8 STUDENTS.

THEY AGREED TO NEGOTIATE FOR TWO MORE DAYS ALLOWING REMOTE LEARNING TO GO ON.

TOMORROW EVENING MARKS THE END OF THE AGREED UPON COOLING OFF PERIOD.

THE PANDEMIC CLAIMED CHICAGO'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADES FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

TYPICALLY HELD IN MID-MARCH, THE DOWNTOWN AND SOUTH SIDE PARADES HAVE BEEN CANCELED.

OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THEY ARE NOT ISSUING PERMITS FOR PARADES OR LARGE GATHERINGS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC BUT SAYS THE CITY IS WORKING WITH ORIGINAL THIZZERS AND COMMUNITIES TO FIND WAYS TO CELEBRATE WITHIN PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE.

THE ST. PATRICK A DAY WEBSITE SAYS IT WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON MARCH 13TH.

TO PARIS WITH MORE FROM LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> THANK YOU.

AND EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED THE COVID-19 STIMULUS PROPOSAL AND JOINING US ARE MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, ROBIN KELY, MARIE NEWMAN, BOBBY RUSH AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI AND WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION BUT NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IMPEACHMENT FIRST.

CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LAWYERS SAY HIS SPEECH WAS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT AT THAT RALLY BEFORE THE RIOT HAPPENED.

CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRAT IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS SAY HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU SEE THAT THERE AREN'T MANY REPUBLICAN SENATORS ON THE BOARD FOR THIS.

WHERE DO YOU THINK TRIAL IS GOING TO GO IN THE SENATE?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE THE TRIAL.

THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSEQUENCES WHETHER HE IS CONVICTED OR NOT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BRING HIM TO TRIAL.

AND I BELIEVE HE DID INSIGHT WHAT HAPPENED -- INCITE WHAT HAPPENED I DON'T THINK HE WAS ALONE IN INCITING WHAT HAPPENED.

IT WASN'T JUST THAT DAY IT'S BEEN THE MORE BUILDUP THAT CULMINATED IN THAT DAY.

WE LOST FIVE PEOPLE THAT DAY.

I BELIEVE TWO MORE OFFICERS TO SUICIDE.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS THAT HAPPENED BESIDE THE MEMBERS CAUGHT IN THEIR OFFICES, CROUCHED BEHIND DESKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD GO THROUGH WITH THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

>> CONGRESSMAN RUSH WE ELUDED TO THIS THE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM GEORGIA MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN ESPOUSED BIZARRE QANON THEORIES TALKS OF A JEWISH SPACE LASER.

DO YOU THINK THERE WOULD BE VOTES IN THE CONGRESS TO EXPEL HER AS DEMOCRATS HAVE CALLED FOR?

>> I THINK THERE WOULD BE VOTES TO EXPEL HER.

BUT YOU KNOW, I HAVE A DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINT.

A AM LOOKING AT 2022.

I THINK MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN COULD BE A VALUABLE PERSONALITY AND IMAGE FOR DEMOCRATS IN 202 2022.MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN IS TE REPUBLICAN'S PROBLEM AND NOT THE DEMOCRAT'S PROBLEM.

WHAT HAPPENED TO US IN THE PAST ELECTION.

REPUBLICANS WERE VERY SMART AND CAN ANY ABOUT HOW THEY WE LOST SEATS OF DEMOCRATS BASED ON THEM VILIFYING AND MISCHARACTERIZING DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.

PARTICULARLY AOC.

WE LOST SEATS BASED ON THAT.

WE LOST SEATS BASED ON THEM CARRYING OUT NANCY PELOSI AND OTHERS AS SOCIALISTS.

I BELIEVE THAT MARJORIE JONES GREEN REPRESENTS A FASCIST ELEMENT IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS LEANING MORE AND MORE AND MORE AS WITNESS EVIDENCE RATHER BY JANUARY 6.

THEY ARE LEANING MORE AND MORE AND MORE TOWARD FASCISM.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO RESCUE THE REPUBLICANS FROM MARJORIE JONES GREEN WE NEED TO TIE HER THEM AND TIE THEM TO HER AND WE NEED TO PUT HER BEFORE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND SAY IS THIS WHO YOU WANT TO REPRESENT YOU IN WASHINGTON D.C.?

>> TO THAT EFFECT, CONGRESSMAN RUSH SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL HAS CALLED HER A CANCER ON THE PARTY AND ON THE COUNTRY.

CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI, SHOULD SHE LOSE AT THE LEAST THAT SPOT THAT SHE HAS ON ONE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES?

>> YES.

I THINK SHE SHOULD BE TREATED AT LEAST THE SAME WAY THAT STEVE KING OF IOWA WAS TREATED LAST TERM WHERE HE WAS STRIPPED OF HIS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

NOW, THEN IT WILL BE UP TO THE VOTERS OF HER DISTRICT WHETHER THEY WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS POWERLESS TO DO THEIR BUSINESS IN CONGRESS.

AND THEY CAN DECIDE THAT IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

BUT I THINK THAT SHE'S DONE ENOUGH TO MERIT AT LEAST THAT TYPE OF SANCTION OR PENALTY.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN NEWMAN A POLICY ISSUE, PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED MORE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON IMMIGRATION INCLUDING WHOLESALE REVIEW OF THE FAMILY SEPARATION POLICY AT THE BORDER.

IS THERE ENOUGH HERE THAT YOU BELIEVE THESE FAMILIES CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER AND SOME OF THE CHILDREN THAT LOST THEIR PARENTS CAN FIND THEM AGAIN?

>> WELL, HERE IS THE TRAGEDY OF THIS.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL TORN APART.

THE WORK IS NECESSARY IT'S IMPERATIVE.

IF WE CAN GET ONE CHILD REUNITED IT IS WORTH IT.

WE HAVE TO GET THE FAMILIES BACK TOGETHER.

WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID TO THE FAMILIES IS BEYOND HORRIFYING.

AND IT IS OUR JOB AS ALWAYS DEMOCRATS COME IN AND CORRECT THE I AM MORALITY OF WHAT HAS COME BEFORE THEM.

WE WILL CORRECT THIS AND THIS IS A GOOD FIRST STEP AND I ENCOURAGE IT.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY WHAT IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION MIGHT WE SEE FROM CONGRESS GIVEN THIS ISSUE OF THE COUNTRY AND IN GENERAL.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONGTIME AND PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO SEE WHAT CAN WORK ON TO PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR 11 MILLION PEOPLE PLUS WHAT CAN WE DO AROUND DACA AND AROUND THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE BROUGHT IN WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG.

I EXPECT TO SEE CERTAINLY LEGISLATION AROUND THAT GOING BACK FROM WHAT TRUMP DID.

BUT ALSO, I EXPECT TO SEE LEGISLATION AROUND THE 11 MILLION PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.

MANY ARE WORKING.

MANY ARE CONTRIBUTING.

AND WE NEED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THEM U.S. CITIZENS.

>> PARIS, I AM AN IMMIGRANT CAN I JUMP IN?

>> GO AHEAD.

>> AS AN IMMIGRANT, I THINK THAT THE ENTIRE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM HAS TO WORK FOR AMERICA BUT THAT ALSO MEANS A PATHWAY FOR THESE 11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED AS WELL AS THE DREAMERS AS WELL AS HIGH SKILLED IMMIGRANTS.

THESE ARE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AND ENRICH OUR TECHNOLOGY SPACE AS WELL AS OUR ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS FOR ALL AMERICANS.

>> AND THOSE ISSUES HAVE GOTTEN SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

AND WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION TONIGHT BUT NONE ACCEPTED OUR REQUEST.

WE THANK REPRESENTATIVES KELLY, NEWMAN, RUSH AND KRISHNAMOORTHI FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, EVERYBODY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW WE GO BACK TO BRANDIS FOR A LOOK AT THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS WEEKEND'S FORECAST.

HINT: IT'S GOING TO BE A BIT CHILLY OUT THERE.

BRANDIS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

AFTER GETTING WALLOPED BY TWO BIG SNOWSTORMS THE CHICAGO AREA IS NOW BRACING FOR BITTER COLD THAT IS EXPECTED TO SETTLE IN LATER THIS WEEK.

AFTER A POSSIBLE RAIN/SNOW MIX ON THURSDAY, TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO DROP DRAMATICALLY.

WITH HIGHS IN THE SINGLE-DIGITS POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT AND WHAT IS DRIVING THIS WEATHER IS SCOTT COLLIS, AN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTIST AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY.

WELCOME BACK.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ANIMATIONS SHOWING THE BRUTAL COLD AIR THAT IS IN GRAY AND THE GREEN COMING DOWN FROM THE NORTH.

EXPLAIN TO US WHAT WE'RE SEEING, PLEASE.

>> THAT IS A LICK OF COLD AIR COMING DOWN TO OUR AREA FROM THE VERY DEEP NORTH UP IN THE ARCTIC.

THE GRAYS AND THE GREENS THIS IS RIGHT AT THE COLDEST AIR REPRESENTS OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE NEGATIVE TEENS IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

>> SO HOW DOES SORT OF WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

HOW DOES THE WEATHER WE HAVE ON THE GROUND LOTS OF SNOW, HOW DOES THAT INFLUENCE WHAT IS COMING OUR WAY?

>> SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF INGREDIENTS TO THIS.

ONE, ONE TALKS ABOUT THE POLAR VORTEX AND IT'S ALWAYS THERE BUT THIS TIME THE POLAR VORTEX HAS GOTTEN WARPED AND IT'S SENDING WINDS UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE OVER OUR AREA AND THAT IS GUIDING ALL THE STORMS DOWN OVER CHICAGO AND THE STORM WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IS GOING TO BRING A SNOW RAIN MIXTURE IS DRAGGING COLD AIR WITH IT.

BUT THERE'S SO MUCH SNOW BETWEEN US AND CANADA AND ALASKA, THAT AIR AS IT MOVES FROM THE NORTH POLE IS NOT GOING TO WARM AT ALL.

>> SO YOU SAID SUPER COLD, HIGHS IN LIKE WHAT THE SINGLE-DIGITS?

WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING?

THIS IS RECORD-BREAKING I'M GUESSING?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO THE COLDEST AIR IS SITTING OUT AROUND THAT SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, TIME-FRAME AND THAT IS RIGHT AT THE LIMITS OF PREDICTABILITY OF THE WEATHER SIMULATIONS WE USE TO MAKE OUR FORECASTS.

EVERY TIME WE RUN A COMPUTER SIMULATION YOU GET A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANSWER.

AT THE MOMENT WE ARE SEEING NUMBERS THAT WOULD BE HIGH TEMPERATURES BELOW 0 AND LOWS GETTING INTO THE VERY, VERY NEGATIVE TEENS WHICH ENDS UP NEAR RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES.

THE COLDEST LOW TEMPERATURE FOR MONDAY THE 8TH IS -17 FAHRENHEIT SET IN 1899.

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE WE WILL BREAK RECORDS THIS COMING NEW WEEK.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS THERE WILL BE BITTER COLD TO DANGEROUS COLD IN OUR FORECAST.

>> WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF THIS EXTREME COLD?

>> SO THERE ARE A VARIETY OF DANGERS.

AND IT'S EXACERBATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE FOLKS ARE A LOT MORE ISOLATED.

A LOT HARDER TO CHECK IN ON FOLKS BECAUSE YOU DO NOT SEE THEM YOU HAVE THE OBVIOUS THINGS THE BITTER COLD, DAMAGE TO EXTREMITIES, HYPOTHERMIA AND THE LESS OBVIOUS THINGS THE SILENT KILLERS WHEN IT GETS COLD AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS HEATING THEIR HOUSES THEY WILL TURN TO ALTERNATE SOURCES THAT MAY NOT BE USED INSIDE BUT THEY BECOME A CARBON MONOXIDE DANGER.

AND IN THE RUN UP TO THE COLD PEOPLE SHOULD BE CHECKING THE BATTERY IN THE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS.

>> LOTS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

DOES CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MAKE THIS EXTREME -- CLIMATE CHANGE MAKE THE COLD MUCH MORE LIKELY?

>> SO, FROM OBSERVATION POINT OF VIEW IT'S DIFFICULT TO SHOW THE ROLE CLIMATE CHANGE HAS IN COLD BECAUSE WE GET THEM RARELY.

HOWEVER THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF STUDIES DONE THAT SHOWS THE POLAR VORTEX AND THE WOBBLEYNESS OF THE POLAR VORTEX IS RELATED TO THE SEA ARCTIC ICE LESS SEA ICE THE MORE WOBBLEY THE VORTEX IS THE MORE LIKELIHOOD OF THE COLD AND WARM EXTREMES DEPENDING WHAT PART OF THE POLAR VORTEX HAVE OVER YOU.

WHETHER IT'S WARM WEATHER OR COLD AIR DOWN TOWARDS YOU FROM THE ARCTIC.

>> AND SCOTT, YOU ARE AT THE LIMITS OF YOUR PREDICTABILITY FOR THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM BUT ANY IDEA WHAT DO WE KNOW WHEN THIS COLD MIGHT BREAK?

>> SO EVENTS LIKE THIS TYPICALLY LAST BETWEEN THREE TO FOUR DAYS.

DEPENDING HOW EXTREME THAT GIVE OF DIP IN THE POLAR VORTEX IS.

JUST OVER THE HORIZON AND WE CAN USE A STATISTICAL SET OF MODEL RUNS AND SIMULATIONS TO HAVE A GUESS AT THIS.

FOLKS AT ARGONNE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT PREDICTABILITY.

BUT WE EXPECT IT TO LAST THREE TO FOUR DAYS.

BUT THAT COLD AIR IS IN PLACE AND THE SNOWPACK IS IN PLACE.

WHILE WE MAY RECOVER, WE ARE GOING TO REMAIN QUITE COLD FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

BUT, HEY IT'S FEBRUARY IN CHICAGO.

AND WE'VE HAD A GOOD RUN SO FAR.

>> FINGERS CROSSED.

THAT IT DOESN'T LAST TOO LONG, SCOTT.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SCOTT COLLIS.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> AND UP NEXT, A CONVERSATION ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RACIAL EQUITY AGENDA THAT FIRST AIRED ON SUNDAY "CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" BLACK VOICES FIRST DETAILS OF THE FIVE-DAY FORECAST.

NOVEMBER'S ELECTION PLAQUE VOTERS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING JOE BIDEN INTO THE OVAL OFFICE.

IN HIS SPEECH, BIDEN TOLD THOSE VOTERS QUOTE YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD MY BACK AND I'LL HAVE YOURS.

NOW IN THE EARLY WEEK OF HIS PRESIDENCY WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE HOW PRESIDENT BIDEN INTENDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THE PROMISE WITH THE UNDOING OF SOME OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES AND THE RELEASE OF HIS RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY AGENDA.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS ARE KAREN FREEMAN WILL SOME PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE AND MARK MOREREAL PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.

>> BIDEN WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO EVER ADDRESS WHITE SUPREMACY.

HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> A CRY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE 400 YEARS IN THE MAKING MOVES US THE DREAM OF JUSTICE FOR ALL WILL BE DEFERRED NO LONGER.

NOW, A RISE OF POLITICAL EXTREMISM, WHITE SUPREMACY, DOMESTIC TERRORISM THAT WE MUST CONFRONT AND WE WILL DEFEAT.

>> AND MARK LET'S START WITH, DO YOU THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABLE TO COMBAT THIS THREAT OF RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY AND VIOLENCE WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE.

FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TO DEFEAT THE TIDE OF WHITE SUPREMACY AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM.

THE DEFEAT OF DONALD TRUMP AND ALL THAT HE REPRESENTED, IS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, HIS APPROACH TO GOVERNING, HIS HATRED AND RACISM WAS A STEP BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SAY TO THE NEW PRESIDENT WE EMBRACE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

WE WANT TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

AND NOW, JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN IN OFFICE NINE DAYS, I BELIEVE, AND I THINK THE FIRST STEPS HE HAS TAKEN HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE IN THAT NO PRIOR PRESIDENT THAT I CAN REMEMBER HAS ACTED SO DECISIVELY TO PUT DOWN SEVERAL MARKERS WHEN IT COMES TO RACIAL INJUSTICE.

LET'S QUALIFY IT BY SAYING WE'RE NINE DAYS IN.

AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING AND MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> HE FEEL HE IS SENDING A CLEAR SIGNAL.

KAREN, WE SAW DEMONSTRATION BY WHITE SUPREMACISTS IN FRONT OF CITY HALL HERE LAST WEEK.

HOW DO YOU FEEL BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY WILL AFFECT POLICING IN CHICAGO.

>> LET ME ADD MY THANKS AND ALSO SUPPORT WHAT MARK JUST SAID.

THERE IS A CLEAR MESSAGE BEING SENT THAT WE WANT TO ENGAGE DIFFERENTLY THAT WHITE SUPREMACY IS NOT WELCOME IN DC OR IN ANY ASPECT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND NOT ONLY IS IT NOT WELCOME, BUT THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL USE HIS STATION'S RESOURCES -- ADMINISTRATION'S RESOURCES TO GET AT THE ROOT OF WHITE SUPREMACY AND UNCOVER THAT IN THE MILITARY, IN PLACES WHERE HE HAS FEDERAL JURISDICTION WHICH I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> MARK, YOU AND THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE YOU WROTE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN UPON HIS INAUGURATION.

AND WE'VE SEEN HIM ROLL OUT THE RACIAL EQUITY AGENDA HOW DOES THIS AGENDA LINEUP WITH WHAT YOU CALLED FOR IN YOUR LETTER?

>> HIS FIRST STEPS ARE IMPORTANT WHAT HE DID HE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT SAID TO ALL THE AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE 200 DAYS TO ASSESS AND EVALUATE WHETHER THERE ARE DISPARITIES, RACIAL AN MOUSE, VARIABLE DISPARITIES IN YOUR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES AND TO REPORT BACK.

I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THE FRAMEWORK IS BEING PUT DOWN.

FOR SIGNIFICANT ACTION ON ISSUES RELATED TO IF YOU WILL, RACIAL JUSTICE.

SO I EMBRACE THE EARLY STEPS.

BUT I'M NOT SPIKING THE BALL.

OR POPPING A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE.

BECAUSE THESE ARE JUST INITIAL STEPS THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT I'M NOT PUTTING RACIAL JUSTICE ON THE BACK BURNER AND I WILL GET TO IT LATER.

I'M NOT IGNORING IT AFTER I SAID IN MY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AND IN MY INAUGURAL ADDRESS RACIAL JUSTICE IS GOING TO BE A CENTRAL PRINCIPLE TO EVERYTHING WE DO.

AS AN ADMINISTRATION.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE LOT OF WORK TO DO GOING FORWARD IT'S ONLY BEEN NINE DAYS.

KAREN, TO THAT END WHAT CAN GROUPS LIKE THE URBAN LEAGUE DO TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE LOCAL LEVEL?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS ON THE LOCAL LEVEL ON THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S TO INSURE THAT BLACKS GET THE VACCINE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME SKEPTICISM AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE STATE, WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, TO INSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST COVID IN ADDITION TO TESTING AND WASHING YOUR HANDS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, MASKS FOR A LONGTIME, IS TO NOW GET THE VACCINE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE HAS PLACED FRONT AND CENTER.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S THE NEED FOR RELIEF TO THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN SO MANY CHALLENGES AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

PARTICULARLY BLACK BUSINESSES.

AND THAT IS WHY WE PROMOTED BLACK SHOP FRIDAY ON BLACK FRIDAY LAST YEAR.

>> THAT IS RIGHT, I REMEMBER THAT.

MARK, YOU WERE AT INAUGURATION WHAT DID THAT MEAN TO YOU TO SEE THE VICE-PRESIDENT SWORN IN?

>> IT WAS COLD BUT TO SEE KAMALA HARRIS AND AMANDA GORMAN THE TWO POWERFUL SISTERS TO POWERFUL BLACK WOMEN, TALENTED BLACK WOMEN BROUGHT PRIDE TO ME AS IT I BELIEVED IT DOES FOR ALL AMERICANS.

IT IS A MOMENT OF GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR KAMALA HARRIS.

AND I THINK SHE IS JUST WELL POSITIONED TO BE A GREAT VICE-PRESIDENT AND I THINK GO BEYOND.

>> OUTSTANDING.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

ALL THE BEST.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. ILLINOIS' SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR DICK DURBIN ON CAPITOL SAFETY.

TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT AND COVID RELIEF.

[♪♪♪] PLUS HOW A NEW MUSIC PROGRAM IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A CAREER AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]