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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND'S BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THEY TRANSFORMED THE PAIN INTO PROGRESS.

>> GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING SPURRED A LAW THAT MAKES MAJOR CHANGES TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN ILLINOIS.

BUT WILL IT MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER?

>> I'M NOT THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYER.

I AM THE UNITED STATES LAWYER.

>> MERRICK GARLAND'S CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL BEGINS.

WE HEAR FROM ONE OF HIS PAST CLERKS.

>> SIGN UP NOW AT HEALTHCARE.GOV.

>> A NEW THREE-MONTH ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR PEOPLE TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A HUGE BOOM.

>> FALLOUT FOR BOEING AFTER AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE EXPLODES THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> GO TO 12 AND THEN 13 IT WOULD BE OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> HOW THE DEBATE OVER RAISING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IS PLAYING OUT IN ILLINOIS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> HOW THERAPISTS ARE HELPING CLIENTINGS WHILE MANAGING THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> A DAMNING REPORT FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ON THE POLICE RESPONSE TO LAST SUMMER'S RACIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS.

>> IT SPEAKS TO HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF RACIAL INJUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND PREVIEWING THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR'S VIRTUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION.

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

MICHAEL MADIGAN STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS POWERFUL POSITION TODAY AND THAT IS CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS.

MADIGAN'S RESIGNATION COMES ONE DAY AFTER HE PLAYED A ROLE IN SELECTING THE SUCCESSOR TO HIS SEAT IN THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WENT TO EDWARD KODAT AN EMPLOYEE IN THE 13TH WARD ALDERMANIC OFFICE.

MADIGAN HAD THE HIGHEST WEIGHTED VOTE TO PICK A REPLACEMENT.

HE GOT THE NOD OVER 10 INDICATES WHO GAVE -- CANDIDATES WHO GAVE SPEECHES AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS.

MADIGAN RESIGNED AFTER 50 YEARS IN OFFICE.

COOK COUNTY CLERK KAREN LEWIS TAKES OVER AS -- KAREN YARBROUGH TAKES OVER AS THE CHAIR BEFORE THE PARTY SELECTS A NEW LEADER.

AND ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH SAYING THEY ARE BACKING ALDERMAN MICHELLE HARRIS FOR THAT POST.

>> STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 1200 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

INCLUDING 34 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THAT MAKES FOR A STATE-WIDE TOTAL OF 1.17 MILLION CASES AND 20,303 DEATHS.

AND THIS COMES AS THE NATIONS PASSES A STAGGERING DEATH TOLL HALF A MILLION AMERICANS LOST TO THE CORONAVIRUS.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ADDRESSED THE NATION AND ORDERED FLAGS ON FEDERAL PROPERTY TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF.

>> I ASK ALL AMERICANS TO REMEMBER, REMEMBER THOSE WE LOST, THOSE WHO WERE LEFT BEHIND.

BUT AS WE REMEMBER AS WE ALL REMEMBER I ASK US TO ACT TO REMAIN VIGILANT, TO STAY SOCIALLY DISTANCED TO MASK UP, GET VACCINATED WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN.

>> AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-5 TEACHERS WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY TO PREP FOR THE RETURN OF STUDENTS TO THE CLASSROOM.

TEACHERS WERE BACK IN CLASS TO MAKE PREPARATIONS AS STUDENTS ARE SET TO RETURN MARCH 1.

STUDENTS IN 5-8 ARE SET TO RETURN MARCH 8 THANKS TO A DEAL BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND THE C.T.U.

THE TWO SIDES HAVE NOT AGREED ON A RETURN DATE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

>> AND NOW BACK TO BRANDIS FOR DETAILS ON THE NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR TODAY.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

A SWEEPING CRIMINAL JUSTICE MEASURE IS NOW LAW IN ILLINOIS.

IT SETS IN MOTION THE ELIMINATION OF CASH BAIL, NEW STANDARDS FOR HOW POLICE OPERATE AND OUTLINES THE RIGHTS OF CRIMINALS ONCE THEY ARE INCARCERATED.

ADVOCATES SAY IT WILL MAKE THE STATE SAFER.

CRITICS SAY IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE LAW?

>> THIS NEW LAW STANDS TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE IS INARGUABLE BUT THE DEBATE IS THE IMPACT OF THE CHANGES.

MUCH WAS SET IN THE MOTION BY THE POLICE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE PROTESTS SPANNING THE COUNTRY AND ILLINOIS AND THE CITY RISING UP AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY, PARTICULARLY AGAINST BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

>> I REMEMBER JOINING A PROTEST PAST JUNE AND WITNESSING SOME THINGS I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

THERE WERE FAR MORE PEOPLE DEMANDING THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER THAN THOSE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME.

THAT'S WHEN I KNEW, I KNEW THIS MOMENT WAS DIFFERENT.

AND LEADING THE BLACK CAUCUS AT THAT TIME, I KNEW THAT AS A CAUCUS WE HAD TO SEIZETIES MOMENT TOGETHER.

>> THEY DID.

SENATOR KIM LIGHTFORD SAYS THEY PROPELLED THAT PAIN INTO ACTION WITH ILLINOIS BLACK LEGISLATORS LAST MONTH USHERING THROUGH BILLS INCLUDING THE ONE THAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED TODAY WHICH HE SAYS IS A... >> ONE THAT REMARKS A TRANSFORMATIVE STEP FORWARD IN ILLINOIS' EFFORT TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN DISMANTLING SYSTEMIC RACISM.

>> NOW, THIS BILL IS 764 PAGES LONG.

SO WE CAN'T HERE GET INTO AND DRILL INTO ALL THAT IT DOES.

AMONG THE CHANGES THAT IT MAKES ARE CREATING A MISCONDUCT FELONY OFFENSE FOR POLICE OFFICERS WHO INTENTIONALLY MISREPRESENT FACTS IN THEIR REPORTS.

BROADENING THE POLICE CERTIFICATION SYSTEM INCLUDING A METHOD TO STRIP OFFICERS OF CERTIFICATION EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ACTUALLY CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

LIMITING WHAT POLICE UNIONS CAN BARGAIN OVER WHEN THEY ARE DRAFTING CONTRACTS.

AND MANDATING MORE TRAINING FOR POLICE, INCLUDING ON MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS INTERVENTION.

>> IT FOCUSES ON THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FAIRNESS IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AND COMMUNITIES ARE DEMANDING THAT HAPPENS TODAY.

THEY ARE DEMANDING WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY.

THEY ARE DEMANDING WE MODERNIZE OUR THINKING AND RECOGNIZE WE HAVE TRIED FAILED TOUGH ON CRIME POLICIES IN THE PAST WHICH HAVE NOT MADE US MORE SAFE.

THEY RECOGNIZE YOU CAN SUPPORT GOOD OFFICERS AND WANT REFORM AT THE SAME TIME.

>> TODAY'S BILL SIGNING CEREMONY, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER PROMISING THIS IS POSITIVE CHANGE FOR EVERYONE.

>> OPPONENTS OF THIS LAW DON'T WANT ANY CHANGE.

DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS INJUSTICE IN THE SYSTEM.

AND ARE PREYING UPON FEAR OF CHANGE TO LIE AND FEAR MORNING GEAR IN DEFENSE OF THE STATUS QUO.

LET ME SAY THIS TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT STATE... ALL ILLINOISANS WILL LIVE IN A SAFER AND MORE JUST STATE WITH THIS LAW ON THE BOOKS.

>> WE'RE BEING LABELED WE ARE A GROUP THAT DOESN'T WANT CHANGE THAT IS JUST WRONG.

WE'VE BEEN AT THE TABLE TO DISCUSS A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS.

WE CONTINUE TO DO SO.

SO WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE GOVERNOR ASKED US A QUESTION ABOUT THIS?

WAIT?

HE HASN'T.

>> JIM KAITSCHUK WITH THE SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION SAYS A COALITION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS DID AGREE ON SOME ASPECTS OF THIS MASSIVE PACKAGE.

LIKE MUCH OF THE CERTIFICATION CHANGES, BUT HE SAYS STRICT LIMITS ON THINGS LIKE USE-OF-FORCE WILL HINDER POLICE FROM DOING THEIR JOBS.

A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE NEW LAW IS CONFUSING FOR OFFICERS AND WILL FORCE THEM TO PONDER IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE BREAKING LAW AND FACING REPERCUSSIONS AS THEY ARE IN POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUATIONS.

>> HOW DO WE IN EFFECT AN ARREST IF I CAN IDENTIFY YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU AND YOU COMIT COMMITTED A CRIME BUT YOU ARE GOING TO RESIST THAT MEANS I NEED TO TRY TO ARREST YOU LATER.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO RESIST ME, NOT EVERYBODY RESISTS BUT A LOT DO, DOES IT MEAN PHYSICAL OR VERBAL?

THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS THAT ARE CHALLENGING.

TO SAY THE LEAST TO TRY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

>> ANOTHER HUGE CHANGE THIS LAW MAKES IS THAT IT EFFECTIVELY ENDS CASH BAIL.

ADVOCATES ARE CELEBRATING THIS AS MONUMENTAL IT WILL PREVENT PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME FROM LOSING THEIR JOBS, HOMES AND FAMILIES AS THEY ARE STUCK IN JAIL.

BUT FORMER PROSECUTOR JOHN CURRAN SAYS THERE IS A WAY TO DO THAT BUT HE SAYS ILLINOIS WENT ABOUT IT WRONG.

HE SAYS THAT'S BECAUSE ILLINOIS DIDN'T GIVE JUDGES ENOUGH DISCRETION THAT THEREFORE CREATES A CATCH AND RELEASE SYSTEM FOR CRIMINALS.

>> WE CAN AGREE THAT THE THE DETENTION SHOULD NOT BE A SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT IS GOING TO HAVE GREATER CONSEQUENCES FOR THE INTEGENT OR THOSE THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD TO PAY AS COMPARED TO SOMEONE OF WEALTH.

SOMEONE OF WEALTH THAT POSES A RISK TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, SHOULD BE IN THAT SAME STANDARD BECAUSE THEY CAN PAY A HIGH BOND.

WE CAN AGREE THERE.

BUT WHAT WE REOPERATION THAT SYSTEM WITH MATTERS.

IT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> ANOTHER CHANGE THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF YEARS TO RATCHET UP TO THIS POINT BUT POLICE BODY-CAMERAS WILL BECOME MANDATORY AND CURRAN ASKS HOW LOCAL DEPARTMENTS WILL PAY FOR IT?

>> THE UNFUNDED MANDATES ARE GOING TO LEAD TO TWO THINGS... INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR A DECREASE IN POLICING SERVICES.

IT WILL BE AN EITHER OR.

>> AGAIN, THOSE ARE AMONG THE CHANGES THIS IS SWEEPING NEW LAW, AMONG THE OTHER CHANGES, ARRESTEES WILL GET TO MAKE THREE CALLS AND THEY CAN CHECK THEIR PHONE AS WELL TO GET THOSE PHONE CONTACTS.

THE LAW DOES NOT MAKE ANY CHANGE TO QUALIFIED IMMUNITY THAT WAS A MAJOR STICKING POINT IN NEGOTIATIONS BUT IT CREATES A TASK FORCE THAT WILL EXAMINE THAT ISSUE.

BY THE WAY, YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR CHANGES OR FIXES, ADVOCATES SAY THAT THAT'S JUST A NORMAL PART OF THE PROCESS PARTICULARLY WITH SOMETHING THIS MASSIVE.

BUT CRITICS SAY THAT THAT IS EVIDENCE THAT THIS OVERHAUL WAS RUSHED.

BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> IT IS A BIG PIECE OF LEGISLATION THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND DAY ONE OF A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED CONFIRMATION HEARING.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PICK FOR U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND WAS ON THE STAND FOR HIS LONG AWAITED SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING TODAY.

GARLAND IS A NATIVE OF NORTH SUBURBAN NILES, GRADUATE OF NILES WEST HIGH SCHOOL AND A JUDGE IN THE WASHINGTON D.C.

CIRCUIT AND FORMER NOMINEE FOR U.S. SUPREME COURT.

GARLAND'S NOMINATION WAS STONEWALLED HE IS LIKELY TO RECEIVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JOINING US WITH MORE IS ALEX GRODEN A PARTNER AT BARTLIT BECK AND CLERKED WITH GARLAND, AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> HAVING WORKED ALONGSIDE HIM WHAT AG DO YOU ANTICIPATE MERRICK GARLAND WILL BE?

>> YES, I THINK YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT HOW GARLAND HANDLED HIMSELF IN THE HEARING TODAY.

HE IS A MAN OF INCREDIBLE INTEGRITY AND HONOR WITH A SENSE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS LIKE AS A BOSS AND AS A JUDGE.

AND AS A PROSECUTOR BEFORE THAT.

AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH HIM EVERYDAY FOR A YEAR AND KNOWING HIM SINCE, HE IS A PERFECT PICK FOR THE MOMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

HE'S GOING TO BRING SOME BADLY NEEDED INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT.

>> AND PART OF THE EXPERIENCE HE HAS IS PROSECUTING DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

HERE IS SENATE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN DICK DURBIN, THE ILLINOIS SENATOR, TALKING ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE TODAY.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

YOU'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE.

YOU'VE SEEN DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

YOU LED THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING AND IN DOING SO MADE THE NATION SAFER AND MET PEACE AND HEALING TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I'M CONFIDENT GIVEN THIS EXPERIENCE YOU ARE UP TO THE TASK THE DEPARTMENT FACES IN THE WAKE OF JANUARY 6.

I CAN THINK OF FEW PEOPLE BETTER SUITED TO DO IT.

>> SO AS DURBIN ELUDES TO GARLAND SUPERVISED THE PROSECUTION OF TIMMOTHY McVAY AND CASES RELATED TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING IN 1995.

HOW DOES THAT EXPERIENCE SHAPE HOW YOU THINK HE WOULD LEAD THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION?

>> YES, SURE.

I THINK I AGREE WITH THE SENATOR.

JUDGE GARLAND EARNED STRIPES WORK ON HIGH PROFILE INVESTIGATIONS AND CASES IN THE 90s.

WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

NOT JUST WITH OKLAHOMA CITY AS YOU MENTIONED, BUT ALSO WITH THE UNI BOMBER CASE AND TED KAWCZYNSKI AND OTHERS.

AND WHAT WE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THAT EXPERIENCE IS HE'S WIDELY CREDITED AND WIDELY RESPECTED FOR HIS WORK AND LEADERSHIP ON THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

BOTH INVOLVING ISSUES OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

AND I THINK WHAT YOU SAW TODAY WAS A REAFFIRMENCE THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH PROSECUTIONS RELATED TO DOMESTIC INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS RELATED TO DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 6 ARE ONE EXAMPLE.

>> ANOTHER PART OF HIS JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY GARLAND SAYS COMES FROM HIS OWN FAMILY EXPERIENCE AND THAT WAS AN EMOTIONAL BUT A TESTIMONY HE OFFERED TODAY LET'S LOOK AT THAT.

>> HAVE YOU DISCUSSED THE CASE WITH THE PRESIDENT OR ANYONE ELSE AND I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO DISCUSS YOUR PRIVATE CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT, BUT MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE ALWAYS ASK JUDGES OR OTHER PEOPLE WHAT DID YOU DISCUSS WITH THE PRESIDENT FOR INSTANCE YOUR POSITION ON ABORTION?

SO HAVE YOU DISCUSSED THIS HUNTER BIDEN CASE WITH THE PRESIDENT OR ANYONE ELSE?

>> SO THAT IS NOT THE CLIP I WAS REFERRING TO.

THIS IS SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY REFERRING INTO THE INVESTIGATION.

FIRST LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FAMILY EXPERIENCE WHERE GARLAND SAID HIS FAMILY FLED ANTI-SEMITIC PERSECUTION AND FOUND REFUGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

DID HIS FAMILY HISTORY WEIGH HEAVILY ON HIS APPROACH TO JUSTICE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PARIS, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HEARD HIM SAY TODAY HE WANTS TO GIVE BACK TO THE COUNTRY THAT TOOK HIS FAMILY IN AND PROTECTED IT HIS FAMILY FROM PERSECUTION.

THIS IS A MAN WHO STARTED OUT LITTLE KNOWN FACT, HE WANTED TO BE A DAR.

HE WANTED TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

HE IS WELL SUITED AS A LAWYER.

AND AS ONE OF THE NATION'S BRIGHTEST LEGAL MINDS.

THAT'S THE COURSE HE HAS TAKEN.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK YOU CAN TAKE WHAT HE SAID TO THE BANK AND HE MEANT EVERY WORD OF IT.

HE IS DEDICATED HIS INCREDIBLE CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND I THINK HE HAS A DEEP, DEEP SENSE OF GIVING BACK TO HIS COUNTRY AND HE WILL BRING THAT SPIRIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> I WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE CLIP.

HOW THORNY OF A POSITION DO YOU BELIEVE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO BE THE GRAND JURY WHEN HIS SON HAS BEEN UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND THE PRESIDENT'S OWN SON?

>> IN A VACUUM, I AGREE WITH YOU.

IT'S THORNY IT'S FRAUGHT FOR JUDGE GARLAND I HAVE KNOWING HIM FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND SEEING HIM HANDLE SOME HIGH PROFILE CASES THAT COME THROUGH THE DC CIRCUIT WHEN A JUDGE I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD THAT HE MEANT WHAT HE SAID HE WILL NOT BE FLUENTED BY POLITICS AND THE -- INFLUENCED BY POLITICS.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS NOT DISCUSSED THE BIDEN SITUATION WITH HIM AND THE DOJ WILL APPROACH THAT MATTER ON THEIR MERITS UNINFLUENCED BY POLITICS.

>> HE MENTIONED RACIAL EQUITY AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HIS APPROACH TO JUSTICE HOW DOES THAT WORK IN PRACTICE DO YOU BELIEVE?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU HEARD THE TYPES OF ANSWERS THAT JUDGE GARLAND GAVE TODAY ABOUT DISCRIMINATION AND RACIAL EQUITY AND EQUALITY, HE WILL BRING A DEEP SENSE OF FAIRNESS AND RACIAL JUSTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT.

AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR RACIAL OR HATE CRIMES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

>> A LOT BELIEVING IT COULD MEAN A RETURN TO CONSENT DECREES WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE ONE THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDERGOING RIGHT NOW WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT IS SOMETHING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WENT AWAY FROM.

>> ALEX GRODEN I HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> BACK TO BRANDIS AND DETAILS ON A SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD TO GET HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.

>> PARIS, EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION ESTIMATED THAT NEARLY 900,000 ILLINOISANS WERE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION OF THOSE FOLKS WERE IN CHICAGO.

ACROSS THE STATE, JUST UNDER 6% OF WHITES WERE WITHOUT INSURANCE BUT THAT FIGURE ROSE TO MORE THAN 10% FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND 16% FOR HISPANICS.

SINCE THEN, THE ECONOMIC DISRUPTION CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC HAS SEEN MORE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.

BUT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS CREATED A SPECIAL NEW THREE-MONTH ENROLLMENT PERIOD TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR INSURANCE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

JOINING US TO TELL US MORE ARE STEPHANI BECKER FROM THE SHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAW.

BECKER CONDUCTS POLICY RESEARCH, DATA ANALYSIS AND TRAINING ON A RANGE OF HEALTHCARE ISSUES INCLUDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS.

AND Dr. CHRISTINE SCHAEFFER AN INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST WHO WORKS ON NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE'S TRANSITIONAL CARE TEAM AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

STEPHANI BECKER LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WHY IS THIS ENROLLMENT PERIOD NECESSARY, DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT DURING A PANDEMIC WHICH HAS SHONE A LIGHT ON THE BARRIERS PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO HEALTHCARE AND STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD IN ACCESSING AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HEADACHE.

SO THIS -- HEALTHCARE.

THIS ENROLLMENT PERIOD COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS.

>> Dr. SCHAEFER, HOW WOULD YOU SAY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION POLICIES MIGHT HAVE CREATED CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEEDED COVERAGE?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST OFEST THING IS LACK OF AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE AND THE COST INCREASES THAT HAPPENED WITHOUT FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR THE PLANS RAISED THE OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR CONSUMERS.

MANY PEOPLE FINANCIALLY HAVE BEEN PHASED OUT EASTERN IF THEY QUALIFY THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THE DELUCK TAB AND THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

COSTS ARE 25% HIGHER THAN IN THE START OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN 2014 DEPENDING ON THE PLAN.

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED THERE ARE CLEAR HEALTHCARE INEQUITIES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LOT SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND SHONE LIGHT WHO IS MOST AFFECTED BY IT.

HOW DID ONE PROBLEM COMPOUND THE OTHER WITH REGARDS TO ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC SHOWED THAT PEOPLE NEED HEALTH INSURANCE NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS, AND WITHOUT IT, PEOPLE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TESTED EVEN THOUGH WE LEARNED LATER THAT TESTING WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.

PEOPLE WERE SCARED TO GET TESTED FOR COVID.

AND NOW ESPECIALLY WITH THE VACCINE AVAILABILITY, PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE COVERED NO MATTER WHAT.

AND SO WITHOUT THIS TYPE OF COVERAGE, PEOPLE WERE WORRIED AND JUST ASSUMED THEY COULD NOT AFFORD CARE AND DID NOT GET IT.

>> AND SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC HOW HAVE THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION THAT YOU WORK WITH HOW HAVE THE NEEDS CHANGED OR SHIFTED?

>> WELL, I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY LIKE WE SAID SO ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT WE ARE HAVE HAD TO WORK FACE-TO-FACE WITH PEOPLE ALL THESE MONTHS THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE INSURED.

SO IT'S COMPOUNDED THE NEED FOR HEALTH COVERAGE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME.

PEOPLE IN LOW WAGE JOBS.

WHO ARE REALLY HAD TO FACE AND GOT THE COVID MORE READILY THAN OTHERS.

IT REALLY SHONE A LIGHT ON PEOPLE WHO HAD TO BE IN FRONT OF OTHER FOLKS AND GET COVERAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THEM BUT NOW IT IS.

>> Dr. SCHAEFER FOR THE MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS HOW FAMILIAR ARE THEY WITH NAVIGATING THE INSURANCE OPTIONS AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES?

>> THAT IS A KEY POINT.

IT IS A COMPLEX PROCESS AND IT IS NOT TRANSPARENT WHICH OPTIONS COVER WHICH FACILITIES AND MANY PATIENTS IF THEY ARE IN CARE IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT YOU NEED.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE SMALL INCENTIVES OFFERED TO PATIENTS TO SIGN UP FOR A PLAN THAT MAY NOT BE THE BEST OPTION IT IS NICE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A NEUTRAL PARTY AND LAYOUT THE OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS.

IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE AND MANY OF OUR PATIENTS DON'T HAVE REGULAR INTERNET ACCESS TO INVESTIGATE THE THINGS THEMSELVES.

>> AND STEPHANI BECKER HOW MUCH HELPFUL IS THIS ENROLLMENT GOING TO BE TO THE PATIENTS WHO NEED THE EXTRA TIME AND NEED THE SUPPORT IN GETTING HEALTH INSURANCE?

>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ACCESS TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S GOING TO BE THREE MONTHS OF THIS AVAILABLE TIME TO SIGN UP.

THERE'S FREE IN-PERSON HELP WHO CAN HELP PEOPLE GET COVERAGE.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUME THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE COVERAGE.

BUT IN ILLINOIS, 80% OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FOR THE MARKETPLACE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL HELP IN THE MARKETPLACE.

SO THIS COVERAGE WILL PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE ABILITY TO SPEND SOMETIME, LOOK AT THE PLANS AND TALK TO SOME TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS ABOUT THE PLANS AND GET ENROLLED AND GET COVERED.

>> Dr. SCHAEFER WOULD YOU SAY THE ACA IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED COVERAGE?

>> I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT COSTS OUT OF POCKET ARE BURDENSOME TO LOWER INCOME WORKERS ESPECIALLY OUR ESSENTIAL FRONTLINE WORKERS MANY OF WHOM ARE PROVIDING SERVICES IN STORES AND DRIVERS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT KEEP OUR SOCIETY GOING WHEN MANY PEOPLE ARE STAYING HOME.

AND MANY PEOPLE MAKING MINIMUM WAGE CANNOT AFFORD THE LARGE PERSONAL OUT PAY EACH MONTH AND THE LARGE DEDUCTIBLE.

>> STICKING WITH THAT FOR A LITTLE BIT, BEYOND THIS SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE TO THE ACA Dr. SCHAEFER?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN EXPANDED ACCESS WHICH PRESIDENT BIDEN PROPOSED AND I THINK IT'S BEEN SENT TO THE HOUSE.

ALLOWING PEOPLE JUST ABOVE THE ACA CUTOFF FOR MEDICAID TO PAY INTO MEDICAID.

THERE IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR A SPEND DOWN, COVERAGE THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PAY A SMALL PORTION OUT OF POCKET AND THE REST IS COVERED.

BUT THAT IS NOT AN EASY OPTION TO NAVIGATE.

HAVING REGULAR COVERAGE IS CRITICAL.

AND THIS PLAN THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN PROPOSED WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> AND WE HAVE JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TRY TO GET ANS THROUGH THE ACA WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

>> GO TO GET COVERED ILLINOIS.GOV AND GET CONNECTED WITH AN ASSISTANT THERE AND GO TO HEALTHCARE.GOV AND START SHOPPING FOR PLANS AND CHECK OUT WHAT FINANCIAL HELP THEY CAN GET IN THE MARKETPLACE.

>> OK.

THANKS TO STEPHANI BECKER AND Dr. CHRISTINE SCHAEFFER FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH A CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR.

STICK AROUND.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON A CORRECTION I STATED EARLIER THAT JUDGE MERRICK GARLAND WAS FROM NILES HE IS FROM LINCOLNWOOD.

HE WENT TO NILES WEST HIGH SCHOOL IN LINCOLNWOOD.

I REGRET THE ERROR I SAID HE IS FROM NILES AND HE IS FROM LINCOLNWOOD.

WE HAVE MUCH MORE INCLUDING THE DEBATE ON RAISING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE.

FIRST A LOOK AT A BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONCERT WITH THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR.

ANGEL IDOWU SHARES HOW THIS MUSICAL WALK THROUGH BLACK HISTORY EXPLORES HOW BLACK MUSIC HAS SERVED AS A CULTURAL KEY FOR ALL GENRES.

[♪♪♪] >> PRESERVING AND PERSEVERING THAT IS THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION WITH THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR.

>> ONE OF THE MOST INCOMPORABLE AND UNDER APPRECIATED CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN MUSIC IS THAT AFRICAN SOUND AND WE SING ALL THE THINGS THAT SEEM FOREIGN AND OUTDATED, ANTIQUATED IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT SHOW UP IN GOSPEL AND HIP-HOP AND JAZZ AND SPOKEN WORD EVEN.

BECAUSE WE PROVIDED THE RHYTHM AND THE GROOVE FOR ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> THIS MUSICAL WALK THROUGH BLACK HISTORY EXPLORES HOW AFRICAN TRADITIONS NOT ONLY INFLUENCE MUSIC GENRES TODAY BUT HOW IT'S HELPED THE BLACK COMMUNITY CELEBRATE AND MAINTAIN ITS OWN TRADITION.

>> IT TALKS HOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PERSEVERE WITHIN THE RACIAL JUSTICE IN OUR COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY IT IS A RELEVANT TOPIC ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE REALITY OF OUR SOCIETY TODAY.

AND HOW WE ARE STILL ABLE TO BE HERE AND STILL ABLE TO CELEBRATE EACH OTHER.

LIKE NOT ONLY CONSIDERING OUR PAST HISTORY BUT OUR PRESENT HISTORY TODAY.

[♪♪♪] >> THE CONCERT FEATURES COLLABORATIONS WITH CHICAGO ARTISTS LIKE PETER COTTON TAIL AND LISA FISHER AND RANKY TANKY WHO WILL TEACH ABOUT WHAT ORIGINATED DURING SLAVERY.

>> INSTRUMENTAL SO THEY HAVE AVAILED THEMSELVES IN A WORKSHOP AND ABLE TO GIVE OUR KIDS MORE INSIGHT MORE DETAIL ON WHAT THE RING SHOP IS HOW IT'S DONE WHAT IT SIGNIFIES.

[♪♪♪] >> WHILE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE BLACK COMMUNITY ON PARTS OF ITS HISTORY NOT OFTEN ACKNOWLEDGED, NORWOOD SAYS THIS IS AN IMPORTANT HISTORY LESSON FOR EVERYONE.

>> ALL OF OUR KIDS NEED TO KNOW THIS.

THIS IS NOT JUST BLACK HISTORY IT IS AMERICAN HISTORY IT'S BIGGER THAN AMERICAN HISTORY IT'S WORLD HISTORY AND WE ALL NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS [♪♪♪] >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> PRESERVING AND PERSEVERING WILL BE LIFE STREAMED THURSDAY AT 7:00 P.M. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION HOW TO WATCH.

AND STICK AROUND FOR THE END OF TONIGHT'S SHOW WE WILL LOOK AT THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR PERFORMANCE WITH PETER COTTON TAIL.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", FALLOUT AFTER FALLING DEBRIS FROM AN ENGINE EXPLOSION THAT AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF RAISING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IN THE NEXT COVID RELIEF PACKAGE FROM CONGRESS.

>> DETAILS ON A SCATHING REPORT FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL ON THE POLICE RESPONSE TO UNREST IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING.

>> AND HOW PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE HELPING THEIR CLIENTS WHILE MANAGING THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC AND RACIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT.

>> FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO IS NUMBER ONE IN A DUBIOUS RANKING AGAIN.

A REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO RANKED THE CITY AMERICA'S MOST CORRUPT AND ILLINOIS AS THE COUNTRY'S THIRD MOST CORRUPT STATE.

THE REPORT IS COAUTHORED BY PROFESSOR AND FORMER ALDERMAN DICK SIMPSON AND BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF THE PUBLIC CORRUPTION STATISTICS PUBLISHED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

THERE WERE 26 CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS DOUBLE THE NUMBER RECORDED IN 2018 ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.

>> WE'VE HAD BIG SNOWFALL AND OFFICIALS ARE WARNING FOR THE MELT.

WARMER TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK THROUGH THE WEEKEND MEANS SOME OF THAT TWO FOOT SNOWPACK WILL MELT OFF AND TURN INTO STORM WATER.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT ISSUED GLANCE ADVISING BUILDING OWNERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON FALLING ICE AND CORDON OFF AREAS DANGEROUS AND ADVISING RESIDENTS TO MONITOR ROOFS AND CONTACT PROFESSIONALS TO ASSESS CONCERNS REGARDING SNOW AND ICE BUILDUP AND MORE ABOUT THIS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND NOW BACK TO BRANDIS WITH SOME OF TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

BRANDIS?

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

ALL STATE DRAMATICALLY INCREASES ITS DIVIDEND.

A DEVELOPER PLANS TO BUILDING HIGH-RISES IN CHICAGO'S WEST LOOP AND BOEING AIRCRAFTS ARE GROUNDED AFTER AN ENGINE EXPLOSION SHOWERED DEBRIS OVER DENVER.

HERE IS WHAT A PASSENGER HAD TO SAY.

>> WE WERE JUST HITTING ATTITUDE GOING INTO THE CLOUDS AND I TURNED OVER TO JUST TALKED TO MY DAUGHTER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A HUGE BOOM.

I DID SCREAM.

AND MY DAUGHTER SAID MOM DON'T SCREAM.

AND I GOT OUT MY ROSARY.

I WAS SCARED.

>> HERE TO GO BEHIND THE HEADLINES IS CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS EDITOR ANN DWYER.

WE HEARD THAT PASSENGER LET'S START WITH THE BOEING STORY A SCARY TIME FOR THE PASSENGERS.

RECAP WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND AND WHAT IS THE FALLOUT FOR BOEING?

>> WELL, ESSENTIALLY, AS YOUR SETUP INDICATED, IT IS A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT IN THIS INCIDENT.

THIS PLANE WAS TAKING OFF.

A BOEING 777 UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT FROM DENVER TO HONOLULU.

AND UPON AFTER TAKE OFF, ONE OF THE TWO ENGINES ON THE PLANE BASICALLY EXPLODED.

THERE WAS A FAN BLADE IN ONE ENGINE THAT BROKE SETTING OFF AN EXPLOSION AND FLAMES.

THESE PLANES ARE DESIGNED TO FLY WITH ONE ENGINE.

THE CREW VERY QUICKLY BROUGHT THE PLANE BACK TO DENVER NO INJURIES REPORTED ON THE PLANE.

AND NEVERTHELESS, THERE WAS AN ENTIRE DEBRIS FIELD OF STUFF FALLING FROM THIS ENGINE ON TO SUBURBAN DENVER FOR SEVERAL MILES.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE COMPANY THAT IS REALLY FACING MORE SCRUTINY THAN BOEING IN THE WAKE OF THIS INCIDENT IS PRATT AND WHITNEY.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO MANUFACTURED THAT PARTICULAR ENGINE.

AND SO WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT THEIR NEXT STEPS ARE.

IN THE MEANTIME, BOEING FOR ITS PART HAS DECLARED THAT ALL 777s SHOULD BE GROUNDED FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL THEY CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT IS A REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE FROM JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE 737 MAX CRISIS HAPPENED.

AS YOU WILL REMEMBER WHEN THE PLANES WENT DOWN KILLING HUNDREDS THE COMPANY FOR SOMETIME WAS MAINTAINING THAT THAT PLANE WAS SAFE.

NOW, THEY ARE TAKING A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH WHICH IS AN INDICATION, I THINK, THAT THEY LEARNED THEIR LESSON IN THE 737 MAX CRISIS.

>> RIGHT.

AND NORTHBROOK BASED ALL STATE HIKING QUARTERLY DIVIDEND BY 50%.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE MARKET?

>> FEWER OF US ARE DRIVING AND FEW IROF US ARE GETTING INTO ACCIDENTS AND ALL STATE IS NOT HAVING TO PAY OUT AS MUCH AS IT NORMALLY DOES TO COVER ACCIDENTS HOMEOWNERS OR AUTO INSURANCE FOR THAT MATTER.

AND THEY ARE SHARING THAT LARGES WITH THEIR SHAREHOLDERS AND THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE STOCK.

THE STOCKS ARE DRIVING AND HAVE BEEN A BOON FOR INSURERS.

IN ALL STATE'S CASE THIS IS A DRAMATIC BOOST IN THEIR DIVIDEND PAY OUT.

THEY'RE PAYING OUT 81 CENTS PER SHARE THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN.

THE THING WE WILL BE WATCHING FOR IS TO SEE HOW THE DISASTER IN TEXAS AND SOUTHERN STATES HIT SO HARD BY THE WEATHER, IS GOING TO AFFECT INSURERS LIKE ALL STATE GOING FORWARD.

FOR NOW IT IS A GOOD TIME TO BE AN ALL STATE SHAREHOLDER.

>> THE TWO HIGH-RISES IN THE WORK FOR THE WEST LOOP WHAT DO WE KNOW AND WHAT MAKES THE PROJECT UNIQUE?

>> OK. TWO GIANT TOWERS, MORE THAN A THOUSAND APARTMENTS, CONTEMPLATED NEXT TO PRESIDENTIAL TOWERS IN THE WEST LOOP.

AND IF THIS PROJECT GOES THROUGH AS PLANNED WHICH IS A BIG IF, IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST DOWNTOWN APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT IN THREE DECADES IN A MAJOR BET THAT THE APARTMENT MARKET IS GOING TO BOUNCE BACK POST COVID.

>> BIG BET.

THANKS TO ANN DWYER THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THE LATEST COVID-19 RELIEF BILL COULD COME UP FOR A VOTE IN CONGRESS AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.

BUT A KEY DEMOCRATIC PRIORITY MIGHT BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAD PUSHED FOR A PROPOSAL IN THE BILL THAT WOULD RAISE THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 BY 2025.

BUT AFTER OPPOSITION BY TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS THE PROVISION IS NOW IN DOUBT.

>> HIS BILL THAT HE PROPOSED THAT INCLUDED A $15 MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE INCLUDED MANY OTHER KEY COMPONENTS MAY NOT LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME ON THE OTHER END WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THE SAUSAGE MAKING MACHINE.

>> TONIGHT, AS PART OF OUR FIRSTHAND LIVING IN POVERTY SERIES WE LOOK AT THE MINIMUM WAGE DEBATE AND HOW THE SCHEDULED INCREASE TO ILLINOIS' MINIMUM WAGE ARE PLAYING OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC AND JOINING US WITH MORE ARE ROB KARR, PRESIDENT OF THE ILLINOIS RETAIL MERTANTS ASSOCIATION.

AND ADRIANA ALVAREZ A McDONALD'S EMPLOYEE AND LEADER IN THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF FIGHT FOR 15 A GROUP PUSHING FOR A NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

ADRIANA ALVAREZ, FIRST WITH YOU, CHICAGO GOES TO $15 THIS SUMMER.

ILLINOIS IS ON A PATH TO $15 BY 2025.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IN FIGHTING AS YOU LOOK AT THE SCHEDULED RATES FOR ILLINOIS, WHY CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THIS NATIONALLY?

>> YOU KNOW, I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS EVERYONE'S FIGHT.

I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE STRUGGLING HERE IN ILLINOIS.

THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE STRUGGLING.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD GO UP TO A MINIMUM WAGE WILL DIFFICULT 15 AN HOUR.

>> AND ROB KARR YOU REPRESENT BUSINESSES IN ILLINOIS WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR MEMBERS ABOUT THE RECENT HIKE IN ILLINOIS AND IN CHICAGO AGAIN EXPECTED TO GO TO $15 THIS SUMMER?

>> I THINK STRUGGLING IS A GREAT WORD FOR T A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE STRUGGLING AS WELL WHY WE HAVE HISTORIC UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC IT WILL IMPOSE FOR WASHINGTON ILLINOIS IS A CAUTIONARY TALE IN THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THIS YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT TWICE ABOUT DOING IT BUT CERTAINLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC BECAUSE IT MAKES GROWTH HARDER?

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT, THE BUDGET OFFICE PUT OUT A STUDY SAYING RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR IT WOULD LIFT A MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY AND LEAD TO THE LOSS OF $1.4 MILLION JOBS.

COULD IT HURT WORKERS INSTEAD OF HELP?

>> IN MY OPINION, I DON'T THINK SO.

THE MORE MONEY I HAVE IN MY POCKET THE MORE I WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO THE SMALL MOM AND POP SHOPS TO THE HOUSE AND DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE THE TRIP TO THE BIG CORPORATIONS.

I WILL NOT BE SAVING MONEY I WILL BE SPENDING IT BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.

>> ROB KARR IF YOU LOOK AT THE MINIMUM WAGE ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES IT HASN'T GONE UP.

IT'S GONE DOWN.

SHOULD THE MINIMUM WAGE AT LEAST KEEP UP WITH INFLATION?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT CALCULATION DEPENDS WHERE YOU START THE CALCULATION FROM.

IN 68 HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY THE ADVOCATES, YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A WAGE ON AN AUTOMATIC INCREASE.

STEELES ARE NOT ON AN -- SALES ARE NOT ON AN AUTOMATIC INCREASE.

IT'S BEEN HORRIBLE POLICY FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO CONTINUE THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC AND THAT IS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU HAD SOMETHING ON AUTOMATIC ESCALATE THAT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE APPROACH.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT?

AGAIN, ROB IS SAYING THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE AUTOMATIC RAISES BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE MINIMUM WAGE ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION IT HASN'T MOVED AT ALL?

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 50 YEARS?

>> IT HASN'T YEAH, IT'S BEEN THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE HAS BEEN STUCK SINCE 2009 AND I MEAN EVERYTHING ELSE HAS GONE UP.

WE HAVE TO WORK TWO, THREE JOBS JUST TO BUY ESSENTIAL STUFF AND I HONESTLY DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS RIGHT.

AND 7.25 IS NOT ENOUGH.

>> AND WE SPOKE WITH THE CHICAGO RESTAURANT OWNER WHO PAYS HIS EMPLOYEES ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE AND HERE IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> AS A BUSINESS OWNER I HAVE TO HOLD MYSELF TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND I DO.

I THINK THAT LIKE IF YOU ARE CHASING AFTER A DOLLAR, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHO YOU ARE STEPPING OVER.

WHEN YOU ARE DOING THAT.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE WE TELL EVERYBODY THAT STIMULUS WE WILL GIVE YOU STIMULUS CHECKS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY.

BUT THEN YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY PEOPLE ENOUGH MONEY TO WHERE THEY CAN BOOST THE ECONOMY.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT, ROB?

ON THE MACRO SCALE $15 MINIMUM WAGE MORE MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS MORE SPENDING POWER IT WOULD BOOST THE ECONOMY WHAT ABOUT THAT ARGUMENT?

>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THAT WORK IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND?

NOT ONCE AND NO RESEARCHER CAN FIND THAT.

IF THAT WAS TRUE WE WOULD TAKE IT HIGHER AND THAT IS BECAUSE AT SOME POINT ONE PLUS ONE DOES EQUAL TWO AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WHO ARE IF NOW THEY ARE SOME ARE JUST GETTING OPEN LIKE RESTAURANTS AND OTHERS LIMITED OCCUPANCY, MANY HAVE NOT PASSED ON THE INCREASED COSTS FROM SUPPLIERS THEY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO.

UNLESS WE CAN FIGURE HOW TO ENHANCE SALES THAT WILL MATH DOES NOT WORK.

>> ADRIANA ALVAREZ HAS COVID-19 CHANGED THE CALCULUS FOR BUSINESSES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BOOSTING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 WHEN YOU SEE BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET RIGHT NOW?

>> YES, THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN AWFUL ON EVERYONE.

YOU KNOW, ME, MYSELF, I HAD MY HOURS CUT IF I WAS MAKING THE 8.50 WHEN I STARTED I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FEED ME OR MY SON.

I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.

BECAUSE OUR STORE STAYS BUSY JUST BECAUSE OUR INSIDE IS NOT OPEN THE DRIVE-THRU IS PACKED WE'RE MAKING CONSTANT MONEY AND I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO STRUGGLE.

>> ROB KARR, WHAT ABOUT DIFFERENT STANDARDS TO MINIMUM WAGE?

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A UNIFORM WAGE WHEN YOU HAVE DIFFERENT COSTS OF LIVING IN CITIES VERSUS RURAL AREAS?

>> NO AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT POINT AND SOMETHING WITH THAT WE ARGUED DEBATING THIS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNOR REJECTED THE APPROACH.

AND WE SUGGESTED SUPPORT FOR THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE IF YOU PHASED IT IN.

CHICAGO EMPLOYERS WILL HAVE HAD 10 YEARS TO GET TO $15 WHERE DOWN STATE EMPLOYERS ARE EXPECTED TO DO IT IN FIVE AND NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC BUT THAT POLICY SUGGESTION WAS REJECTED.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE FACE.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE IT GOES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE MIGHT KNOW IN THE NEXT WEEK.

AND THANKS TO ROB KARR AND ADRIANA ALVAREZ.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, A SCATHING REPORT ON C.P.D.

'S RESPONSE TO LAST SUMMER'S UNREST IN A CONVERSATION THAT AIRED ON OUR SUNDAY PROGRAM "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BOTCHED NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF HIS RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS AND UNREST TRIGG GEARED BY THE DEATH OWE HE TRIGGERED BY THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL RELEASED LAST WEEK.

THE REPORT IS CRITICAL OF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND DEPICTS DAVID BROWN HAS SLOW TO REACT AND AT TIMES CONFUSED.

JOINING US NOW IS THE AUTHOR OF THAT REPORT, CHICAGO DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO OBVIOUSLY SCATHING REPORT OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ITS RESPONSE LAST SUMMER.

WHAT WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OR SIGNIFICANT FAILURES OF C.P.D.

THAT YOU DOCUMENT IN THIS REPORT?

>> I THINK AT THE MOST PROFOUND LEVEL THIS WAS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.

IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ENDANGERED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND LEFT FRONTLINE MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AND LEFT THOSE FRONTLINE MEMBERS TO HIGH STAKES IMPROVISATION WHICH HAD BAD OUTCOMES.

>> YOU SAY C.P.D.

WAS QUOTE UNDER PREPARED AND ILL EQUIPPED FAILING THE FRONTLINE OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC.

WHY WEREN'T THEY PREPARED FOR THIS?

>> I THINK THERE WERE TWO DIMENSIONS TO THE LACK OF PREPAREDNESS.

A LONGER TERM ONE AND A SHORTER TERM ONE.

IN THE LONGER TERM, YOU WOULD WANT IT TO BE THE CASE THAT A MAJOR CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD A CON STINGSY PLAN -- CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR LARGE SCALE CIVIL UNREST.

SITTING IN THE DRAWER READY TO BE ACTIVATED AND THERE WERE REAL SHORT COMINGS WITH THAT BACKUP PLAN IN PLACE IN THE LONGER TERM.

IN THE SHORTER TERM, IN THE DAYS BETWEEN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS AND THE UNRAVELING OF EVENTS HERE IN CHICAGO THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE AND IN FACT, IN THE HANDS OF LEADERSHIP IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN CITY HALL ABOUT EVENTS THAT WERE OCCURRING IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

AS WELL AS INFORMATION TO SUGGEST THAT LARGE SCALE EVENTS WERE COMING TO CHICAGO.

AND I THINK GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE, I THINK THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT COULD AND SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO BE PREPARED.

>> YOU SPOKE WITH BOTH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AS WELL AS POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

AND IN THE REPORT, SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS THE DEPARTMENT QUOTE STRUGGLED WITH CERTAIN ASPECTS OF ITS RESPONSE AND HE GOES ON AND SAYS IN THE REPORT THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL USE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S FINDINGS AS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL TO SELF EVALUATE AND MOVE FORWARD TO BE A BETTER POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND ADDITIONALLY, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID TODAY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY LEARNED LESSONS FROM THE MISTAKES IT'S MADE AND SHE HAS CONFIDENCE IN SUPERINTENDENT BROWN'S LEADERSHIP.

HERE IS MORE OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT OBVIOUSLY TOOK A DEEP LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THAT TIME PERIOD.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I THINK, LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT EXPERIENCE.

AND PUT THAT LEARNING INTO PRACTICE OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER AND THE FALL AND CURRENTLY.

>> NOW, IN YOUR VIEW, DID THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE THEY ALREADY ABSORBED SOME OF THE LESSONS FROM LAST SUMMER THAT YOU DOCUMENT IN YOUR REPORT?

>> I CERTAINLY FOR THE MOMENT TAKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT ITS WORD THAT THERE ARE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THERE ARE POLICY PROVISIONS UNDERWAY.

IN FACT, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PLAYED INTO OUR DECISION TO NOT INCLUDE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT IS THE RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE REMEDIAL EFFORTS UNDERWAY AND WE WANT TO SEE WHERE THOSE LAND.

AND WHAT SORTS OF PROVISIONS THEY BRING ABOUT.

>> THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

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

A GLOBAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISIS RECKONING WITH RACIAL INJUSTICE, A TENSE POLITICAL CLIMATE AND AN INSURRECTION AT THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR, MENTAL HEALTH HAS WORSENED AND THERAPISTS HAVE HELPED THEIR CLIENTS THROUGH A MYRIAD OF CHALLENGES.

THEY'VE DONE SO WHILE ALSO MANAGING THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS HOW THERAPISTS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PAST YEAR ARE THE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND CRISIS SERVICES AT COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTERS OF CHICAGO WHERE SHE OVERSEES TEAMS ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

AND CYNTHIA LANGTIW A PRACTICING THERAPIST AND SUPERVISOR WITH THE CENTER OF SURVIVORS FOR TORTURE.

>> A POLL BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHOLOGISTS FOUND THAT 74% SAY THEY ARE SEEING MORE PATIENTS WITH ANXIETY DISORDERS COMPARED TO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

60% SAID THAT THEY ARE SEEING MORE PATIENTS WITH DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS.

DIANA, YOU AND THE THERAPISTS HAVE YOU SEEN AN INCREASE IN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AMONG THE CLIENTS YOU SERVE?

>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE.

MY TEAM AS WELL AS WORKING WITH ADULTS WORKS WITH KIDS.

AND SOCIAL ISOLATION THE CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING THE LACK OF INTERACTIONS WITH FRIENDS AND TEACHERS LED TO SEVERE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ABOUT THINGS THEY WERE NOT ANXIOUS ABOUT BEFORE REIMAGINING WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE TO RETURN TO SCHOOL IN PERSON CAUSED ANXIETY IN A LOT OF TEENS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> IS IT A CHALLENGE FOR YOU AND THE OTHER THERAPISTS TO SUPPORT YOUR CLIENTS WHILE MANAGING ONE'S OWN PERSONAL MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH ALL OF THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK DURING THIS TIME NOT ONLY ARE WE SEEING MORE OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU MENTIONED.

BUT I'M SEEING MORE CLIENTS THAN I HAVE IN MY PRACTICE AND MORE OTHERS ARE SEEING THE SAME AND IT SPEAKS TO THIS TIME.

AND THE LAYERS OF DIFFICULTY TELLING US THAT IT IS OK TO REACH OUT, RIGHT?

THAT WE HAVE PERMISSION TO REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT.

BUT THAT THE THERAPISTS THE PEOPLE SEEING ALL THESE FOLKS ARE TOUCHED BY THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE END UP DOING.

I WOULD SAY THE IMPORTANCE OF REALLY TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES AS WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER IS AT A CRITICAL POINT.

WE CANNOT OFFER ANYONE RESOURCES THAT WE DON'T HAVE OURSELVES.

>> DIANA, IS IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THERAPISTS TO SET BOUNDARIES AND STEP AWAY FROM THEIR WORK?

WE HEARD Dr. CYNTHIA LANGTIW TALK TO SEEING SO MANY CLIENTS?

>> YES.

WE WERE BETTER ABOUT IT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND WE'VE GOTTEN BETTER ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR.

FOR A LONGTIME WITH THE LOSS OF THE RITUALS THAT WE'RE USED TO HAVING LIKE COMMUTES ON THE WAY TO WORK IT'S BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE HOME LIFE AND WORK LIFE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR CLIENTS LESS.

I HAVE STAFF WHO NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD MISS THEIR COMMUTE TO WORK AND NOW THEY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'VE LOST FROM THAT TIME.

>> OVER THE SUMMER WE ALSO SAW THE RECKONING WITH RACIAL INJUSTICE.

DOCTOR WAS IT DIFFICULT TO HELP YOUR CLIENTS THROUGH THAT MOMENT AND WORKING THROUGH IT AND PROCESSING IT YOURSELF?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I FOUND THAT PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND SOCIALLY I HAD TO DO SO MUCH MORE WORK.

AS A BLACK WOMAN AND A BLACK MOTHER I WAS WATCHING DIFFICULTIES UNFOLD BEFORE US AND I REALLY HAD TO RALLY MY OWN RESOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I TOO WAS EXPERIENCING SO MUCH OF THE PAIN THAT MY CLIENTS WERE BRINGING TO THE TABLE AND I HAD TO WORK THROUGH THEM BEFORE I COULD HELP MY CLIENTS WORK THROUGH THEM.

>> AND HOW ARE THERAPISTS MANAGING THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH THIS?

MOST THERAPISTS TYPICALLY SEE THEIR OWN THERAPIST AND I IMAGINE IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO DO THAT NOW?

>> YES.

MY STAFF HAD NOT BEEN IN THERAPY FOR A COUPLE YEARS DECIDED THEY NEEDED TO GO BACK.

THEY ARE LEANING ON EACH OTHER AND AS TEAMS MOST OF US THAT WORK IN TEAMS AS' IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SPACE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE NOT OK AND NOT DICTATE ONE WAY OF REACTING TO IT BUT KNOW THAT ANY RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IN OUR POWER TO GIVE WE WILL GIVE INCLUDING THE SUPPORT TO GO TO THEIR OWN THERAPY.

>> BOTH OF YOU ARE SEEING CLIENTS VIRTUALLY AND WE HEAR ABOUT ZOOM FATIGUE ACROSS ALL OF THE INDUSTRIES.

DOCTOR HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THIS AMONG THERAPISTS?

AND DOES THE VIRTUAL VISIT MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO CARE 4 YOUR CLIENT WITHOUT SEEING THEM IN PERSON?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE MOVE TO TELEHEALTH WAS QUICK AND STEEP AND THERE ARE PROS AND CONS.

THE PROS IS ACCESSIBILITY.

I'M SEEING MORE CLIENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO COME CONSISTENTLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE COMMUTE.

BUT I FIND BOTH THERAPISTS AND CLIENTS ARE EXPERIENCING ZOOM FATIGUE AND THAT LACK OF HUMAN CONNECTION THAT WE ARE USED TO.

BUT I FIND THAT IT BALANCES ITSELF OUT AND MORE PEOPLE ARE SEEKING OUT HELP AND ABLE TO ACCESS HELP GIVEN THE CONVENIENCE OF TELEHEALTH.

>> AND DIANA, ARE YOU ABLE TO SERVE EVERYONE THAT COMES TO YOU?

AS YOU EXPERIENCE THIS INCREASE IN PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SUPPORT?

>> NOT AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE.

ONE OF THE BIG GAPS WE'RE SEEING IS THAT SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES AND ADULTS ARE WAITING TWICE AS LONG AS THE NONENGLISH-SPEAKING PEERS.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS USED TO DOING WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT BEEN ADAMANT TO CONTINUE WHEN IT'S SAFE AND IMPORTANT.

WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST BUT THERE'S BEEN MORE DEMAND THAN WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE AND THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE THAT SITUATION WORSE.

>> THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION FOUND THAT 29% OF RESPONDENTS ARE SEEING MORE PATIENTS OVERALL.

AND 41% OF PSYCHOLOGISTS REPORTED FEELING BURNED OUT.

DIANA, DO YOU OR ANY OF THOSE THAT YOU SUPERVISE EXPERIENCE BURN-OUT?

>> YOU KNOW, BURN-OUT FOR US IS COME TO MEAN THIS POINT OF NO RETURN WHERE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THE WORK AT ALL ANYMORE.

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT MORE BECAUSE OUR CLIENTS COME IN WITH TRAUMA AND SO MUCH OF THE WORK WE DO IS TRAUMA BASED MORE WE TALK ABOUT IS VICARIOUS TRAUMA AND THE WAYS WE'RE COPING WITH EVERYTHING IS GOING ON OUR CLIENTS ARE IN ADAPTIVE AND MALL ADAPTIVE TERMS I'M SEEING AN UPTICK IN VICARIOUS TRAUMA SYMPTOMS IN MY STAFF.

>> THANK YOU TO DIANA CASTANEDA AND CYNTHIA LANGTIW FOR JOINING US.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND BEST OF LUCK.

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

>> JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> AND YOU CAN JOIN ME FOR OUR BLACK VOICES FEBRUARY COMMUNITY CONVERSATION I WILL BE JOINED BY FOUR BLACK WOMEN LEADERS IN CHICAGO THE POWER THEY HOLD AND OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES.

AT 8:00 P.M. AND YOU CAN VISIT WTTW.COM/NEWS/EVENTS TO RSVP AND JOIN.

AND WE LEAVE YOU WITH MORE FROM THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[♪♪♪]