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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ IS ON ASSIGNMENT THIS EVENING.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN VACCINATED I FEEL SAFER, YES.

>> TRAVEL AND RECREATIONAL RESTRICTIONS EASE UP AS CORONAVIRUS CASES DECLINE IN CHICAGO.

WE'VE GOT THE RUNDOWN ON THE LATEST COVID POLICY.

>> WE WELCOME EVERYONE.

>> FOUR ALDERMEN ON THE WELCOMING CITY POLICY THE MAYOR SIGNED PLUS POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, CORRUPTION AND MORE.

A NEW REPORT SHOWS THE AVERAGE U.S. LIFE EXPECTANCY DROPPED BY ONE YEAR HOW THE CORONAVIRUS IMPACTED THAT CHANGE.

CHICAGO IS DECLARED THE MOST CORRUPT CITY IN AMERICA AND ILLINOIS THE THIRD MOST CORRUPT STATE.

WE HEAR FROM THE COAUTHOR OF A NEW REPORT.

>> WE GET TIRED BY SO MANY, SO MANY [INAUDIBLE] >> MEET A HOSPITAL CHAPLIN WHO IS HELPING PATIENTS' SPIRITUAL HEALTH.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND AS THE BIG MELT BEGINS THIS WEEK.

>> WE STARTED VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING RIGHT AWAY AS SOON AS THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>> HOW THE COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE PIVOTED TO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH WILL REPORTEDLY KEEP HIS JOB FOR NOW.

IN A STATEMENT, ILLINOIS SENATORS DICK DURBIN AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH APPLAUDED THE NEWS THEY LOBBIED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO LET LAUSCH STAY ON.

TODAY, CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID REPLACING LAUSCH IMMEDIATELY WOULD PUT CHICAGO AT RISK.

>> EVEN IF THERE WAS A SPECIFIC CANDIDATE THAT IS NAMED TODAY TO REPLACE HIM, THAT PERSON'S NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE GAUNTLET OF THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, GETTING ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S DOCKET THEN BEING VOTED BY THE FULL SENATE ANY SOONER THAN PROBABLY SEPTEMBER OR SOMETIME LATER.

WE CAN'T BE WITHOUT A PERMANENT HEAD OF THIS OFFICE AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THINGS ARE MOST CHALLENGING.

>> LIGHTFOOT SPOKE TODAY ABOUT LAUSCH AT AN EVENT TO MARK THE SIGNING OF CHICAGO'S WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE PHIL PONCE DISCUSSES THAT AND MUCH MORE WITH ALDERMEN IN JUST A MOMENT.

>> THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS NOT LIABLE FOR A OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER WHO.

>> OVERTURNING A JUDGMENT HANDED DOWN BY A JURY IN 2017.

JURORS FOUND THE CITY FAILED TO FLAG PATRICK KELLY AS A PROBLEM OFFICER.

KELLY SHOT A FRIEND IN A DRUNKEN INCIDENT IN 2010.

THE MAN REQUIRES 2 FOUR-HOUR CARE.

THE COURT FOUND THAT KELLY WAS ACTING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN RATHER THAN A POLICE OFFICER AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING AN EFFORT TO FIRE KELLY FROM THE C.P.D.

IS ONGOING.

>> THE POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF CHICAGO NATIVE DAN OWL PRUDE LAST MARCH WILL NOT FACE CHARGES.

WEIGHS IN NEW YORK VISITING HIS BROTHER WHEN HE BURST ON TO THE STREET NAKED IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

POLICE LAYED HIM DOWN AND HANDCUFFED HIM WITH A HOOD OVER HIS HEAD.

IN RESPONSE TO A GRAND JURY DECISION ATTORNEYS FOR PRUDE'S FAMILY SAY QUOTE... >> STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 1600 NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS INCLUDING 27 MORE DEATHS.

THE TOTAL CASE COUNT STANDS AT MORE THAN 1.17 MILLION CASES WITH 23,030 DEATHS.

TO PHIL PONCE WITH A PREVIEW OF TOMORROW'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>> THE CITY'S WATCHDOG ISSUED A SCATHING REPORT SAYING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNPREPARED DURING THE SUMMER PROTESTS.

THE MAYOR CANCELED A MEETING ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT ARE SCOTT WAGUESPACK, ALDERMAN OF THE 32nd WARD.

GEORGE CARDENAS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S DEPUTY FLOOR LEADER, CARLOS RAMIREZ ROSA ALDERMAN OF THE 35TH WARD AND RODERICK SAWYER ALDERMAN OF THE 6TH WARD.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SIGNED A WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE OFFICIALLY ENDING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I.C.E.

AGENTS AND HERE IS SOME OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A FEEL GOOD POLICY IT IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE REAL, DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO ARE JUST HERE TRYING TO LIVE THEIR LIVES, SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, AND REALLY REALIZE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THAT THIS GREAT CITY HAS GIVEN TO ALL OF US.

>> ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ ROSA YOU SPOKE AT TODAY'S CEREMONY IN PLAIN LANGUAGE WHAT DOES THE NEW POLICY MEAN?

>> WELL, OUR SANCTUARY ORDINANCES IF YOU WERE TO CRIMINALIZE ON THE GANG DATABASE OR FACING CHARGES, C.P.D.

COULD TURN YOU OVER TO I.C.E.

AND THIS IS A VIOLATION OF DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO A DAY IN COURT AND ASSERT YOUR INNOCENCE AND PROVE YOUR INNOCENCE.

BE REMOVING THESE WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT OUR SANCTUARY CITY PROTECTIONS APPLY TO EVERYONE AND WE CAN TELL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS THEY DON'T HAVE TO FEAR TO CALL 9-1-1 BECAUSE THAT MAY RESULT IN THEM BEING TURNED OVER TO I.C.E.

THIS WAS A FIGHT FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING THE ALDERMEN WERE SUPPORTIVE AND IT WAS GREAT TO GET THIS DONE.

>> THE TOP POLICE ALDERMEN, CARDENAS, YOU ARE THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE TOP FOUND THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE WERE UNFLANKED, UNDER EQUIPPED AND UNPREPARED.

WHAT CHANGES DO YOU SEE GOING FORWARD THAT THE MAYOR MIGHT IMPLEMENT TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO PROTESTS IN THE FUTURE?

>> THERE IS AN ONGOING COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.

LOOK, CHICAGO WAS NOT ALONE.

YOU LOOK AT NEW YORK AND MINNEAPOLIS WHERE IT STARTED, LA, PRETTY MUCH YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN THE U.S. REALLY JUST HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A PANDEMIC LIKE THIS?

AND HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR THE ENSUING RIOTS THAT OCCURRED?

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SURMISE WHAT EXACTLY PEOPLE WERE GOING TO DO.

IT WASN'T PRETTY.

IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT ANYONE HERE IS PROUD OF.

BUT THE FACT THAT THOSE POLICE OFFICERS WERE ASSIGNED TO THIS DUTY DID IT TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

I THOUGHT THE MAYOR DID A YEOMEN'S JOB WITH TRYING TO CORRAL EVERYBODY AND MAKING THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE ON THE GROUND.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, HAD EVER HAPPENEDDED.

EVERYBODY IS MONDAY QUARTERBACKING THIS BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK SHE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF NORTH-SOUTH IF WE NEED TO DIVIDE, AND ASCEND BRIDGES MAYBE WE CAN SEND TROOPS IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE CITY AND THE SAME FOR THE VIEW.

WE ARE GOING TO GET TO RATHER COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS.

>> ALDERMAN SAWYER A NUMBER HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT POLICE DAVID BROWN BROWN'S PERFORMANCE IS HE UP TO THE JOB?

>> WELL, THE CONCERN I HAVE WITH ASSESSING HIM AT THAT POINT HE WAS ON THE JOB MAYBE FOUR, SIX WEEKS WHEN THE RIOTS OCCURRED.

NOT TO SAY THAT IS AN EXCUSE.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO DO BETTER WITH RESPONSE TRAINING AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT HE GOT KIND OF GOT CAUGHT SHORT A LITTLE BIT.

AGAIN, I COULD NOT SAY THAT HE NEEDS TO GO BASED ON THAT ISSUE ALONE HE WAS SIX WEEKS ON THE JOB.

>> SCOTT WAGUESPACK DOES THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE YOUR CONFIDENCE?

>> I THINK YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION HE HAS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED THOUGH HE WAS THERE A SHORT TIME.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF POLICE MANAGEMENT OF THE SENIOR MANAGERS, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR THIS TYPE OF SITUATION THE PREPAREDNESS LEVEL WAS VERY LOW.

BUT HE IS STIPULATING TO THE FACTS HERE THAT WHAT THE PSIG, THE PUBLIC SAFETY INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS PUT OUT ARE TRUE THAT ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THEM HOLISTIC PARTICULARLY.

THE REPORT THIS IS WHY WE CREATED THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THEY HAVE DONE THE JOB OF REVIEWING THIS.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER PART THAT IS COMING TOO.

YOU HAVE THE CONSENT DECREE MONITOR THEY HAVE TO WEIGH-IN ON THIS.

RECOMMENDATIONS WERE NOT MADE IN THIS DOCUMENT BUT WE STIPULATE TO THE FACTS OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WE SAW.

THEY INTERVIEWED SENIOR STAFF.

THEY INTERVIEWED RANK-AND-FILE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SAW PROBLEMS SYSTEMICALLY THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

BUT THEY INTERVIEWED PEOPLE OF THE PUBLIC.

THE PROTESTORS WHO WERE OUT THERE WHO HAD A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST.

AND THEY COBBLED ALL OF THIS TOGETHER, PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW DAVID BROWN THE SUPERINTENDENT RESPONDS TO IT AND WHAT HE COMES UP WITH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE C.O.P.A.

AND BHVMENT IA INVESTIGATORS WHO MUST FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE INVESTIGATIONS OF OFFICERS AND ALSO LOOK AT HOW THE CONSENT DECREE WORKS WITH THE ALDERMEN, WITH THE MONITOR WORKS WITH THE ALDERMEN AND C.P.D.

TO MAKE THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

>> ALDERMAN SAWYER LAST FRIDAY THE CITY COUNCIL WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MEETING ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BUT THE MAYOR POSTPONED IT AND CRITICS CRIED FOUL.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH THAT, WE WERE A LITTLE UPSET THAT THE MAYOR FROM OUR UNDERSTANDING HAS HER OWN ORDINANCE SHE IS PROPOSING WHEN THE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS CRAFTING AN ORDINANCE ACCOUNTING FOR TRUE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE TRICK IS WE HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE FINISHING TOUCHES RIGHT NOW ON A AMENDMENT ORDINANCE THAT WILL ADDRESS BOTH OF OUR ISSUES AND REALLY ATTACK THE ISSUE OF COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT OVER THE POLICE.

WE ARE THAT CLOSE IN GETTING IT DONE.

WE'RE PROBABLY ONE OR TWO MEETINGS AWAY FROM FINISHING IT AND WE WILL HAVE AN ORDINANCE CRAFTED THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON COLLECTIVELY FOR OVER SIX YEARS, CARLOS, I BELIEVE?

THAT WE ARE WORKING FOR TRUE POLICE REFORM, COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT, AND REALLY A TRANSFORMATION HOW POLICING IS DONE IN CHICAGO.

>> CARLOS RAMIREZ ROSA SHOULD THIS MOVE TO POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY WITH MORE CIVILIAN INPUT SHOULD THAT MOVE FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THE MAYOR DOES NOT SUPPORT IT?

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO NEEDS CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE POLICE.

SOMETHING IDENTIFIED BY THE CONSENT DECREE AND EXPERTS OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY HAVE SAID.

YOU NEED TO POWER A CIVILIAN COMMISSION THAT HAS POWER OVER POLICY AND PAYS THE ROLE IN HIRING AND FIRING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND OVERSEEING POLICE DISCIPLINE.

THE CONTROLS ARE COMMUNITY INITIATED PROPOSALS AND WE HAVE A COALITION OF 40 ALDERMEN, OF HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERTS IN CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT THAT ARE WORKING TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH TO WIN CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE MAYOR WOULD SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS.

AS MY COLLEAGUE ALDERMAN SAWYER SAID HE IS ONE OF THE CHIEF SPONSORS OF GAPA AND I'M ONE OF THE CHIEF RESPONSE ARE TOES TO C PAP.

IT CHECKS THE BOX OF WHAT EXPERTS SAID A CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT ORDINANCE NEEDS TO HAVE AND WE NEED MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS.

>> ALDERMAN CAR DEN NAS IS THE MAYOR AGAINST CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THIS POINT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

IF ANYBODY IS FOR POLICE REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY IT'S THE MAYOR.

SHE LED THE TASK FORCE AND WHY SHE IS NOW MAYOR.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DOES COME CLEAR IS THE FACT THAT CHICAGOANS ELECTED HER TO LEAD.

CHICAGOANS EXPECT HER TO PUT HER BEST FOOT FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE CHANGES AND REFORMS THAT SHE FOUGHT FOR BEFORE SHE WAS MAYOR WHEN SHE WAS LEADING THE TASK FORCE.

AND WE EXPECT HER TO DO THAT.

LOOK, I JUST READ "THE SUN TIMES" AGREES WITH THIS.

THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR MUST BE FRONT AND CENTER RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICE AND EDUCATION IN THE CITY, AND I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THE CHICAGOANS ELECT THEIR MAYOR TO LEAD THEM IN WAYS AND MORE WAYS THAN ONE AND TO LEAD THEM IN INFRASTRUCTURE, TO LEAD THEM IN POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEAD THEM IN EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAYORS ARE FOR AND ALDERMEN -- ELECTED TO LEAD IN THEIR WARD.

>> THANK YOU.

LATER IN THE PROGRAM WE WILL BE JOINED AGAIN BY OUR GUESTS TO DISCUSS COVID VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND DISPARITIES.

THANKS TO SCOTT WAGUESPACK, GEORGE CARDENAS, CARLOS RAMIREZ ROSA AND RODERICK SAWYER.

>> AND BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MILLIONS OF ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WILL BECOME NEWLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE THIS WEEK BUT NOT IN CHICAGO.

THE CITY IS FOCUSING ON ITS MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND RELAXING RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE COVID RUNDOWN.

>> BRANDIS, TODAY'S TEMPERATURES WERE RELATIVELY BALMY NOT BEACH WEATHER AND EVEN IF IT WERE NICE ENOUGH TO HIT THE BEACH MOST OF THE ACCESS TO CHICAGO'S LAKEFRONT HAS BEEN CLOSED OFF FOR NEARLY A YEAR NOW BECAUSE OF COVID.

BUT THAT IS CHANGING.

THE PARK DISTRICT ANNOUNCING THAT THE LAKEFRONT CAN SAFELY REOPEN.

PLAYGROUNDS AND INDOOR POOLS, TOO.

THIS IS NOT IMMEDIATE IN A PRESS RELEASE THE SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL KELLY SAYS THE CLOSED OFF ACCESS POINTS TO THE LAKEFRONT EAST OF LAKE SHORE DRIVE WILL BE REOPENED AS CREWS CLEAR AWAY SNOW.

ALSO, LOTS WILL BE LIFTED FROM PLAYGROUNDS IN THE COMING WEEKS NOT TOTALLY BACK TO NORMAL.

NO LARGE GATHERINGS ARE ALLOWED AND MASKS ARE A MANDATORY ACCESSORY.

WHY NOW?

>> WHEN WE STARTED TAKING THESE CHANGES TO PARE BACK ACCESS TO THE LAKEFRONT WE WERE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE WITH THE PANDEMIC AND WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CROWDS THAT WERE GATHERING AND THAT PEOPLE WERE NOT ADHERING TO THE VARIOUS WARNINGS COMING NOT ONLY FROM ME BUT Dr. ARWADY AND OFFICIALS.

>> MAYOR SAYS NOW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE CALLS THE MOMENT THAT WE ARE IN.

THIS COMES AS CHICAGO'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCED SOME CHEER PROVOKING NEWS ABOUT COVID CASES.

>> AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE THE LOWEST PERCENT POSITIVITY THAT CHICAGO HAS SEEN SINCE COVID ARRIVED IN CHICAGO.

[CHEERING] [APPLAUSE] SO WE ARE IN A 3.2% TEST POSITIVITY.

>> CHICAGO ALSO AVERAGING 257 NEW CASES A DAY.

A FIGURE THAT HAS BEEN DROPPING AS HAS EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES ALSO DROPPING FOR COVID IN OUR NEIGHBORING STATES WHICH IS WHY THAT INDIANA, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN ARE NOW AMONG THE 18 STATES THAT YOU WILL SEE IN YELLOW ON THE MAP.

THAT MEANS THAT CHICAGOANS DON'T HAVE TO QUARANTINE AFTER TRAVELING FROM THOSE PLACES.

THE CITY DOES RECOMMEND NOT TRAVELING TO ANY OF THE STATES THAT ARE IN ORANGE AND IF FOLKS DO THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS UPON RETURNING.

ADDING THOSE NEIGHBORING STATES TO THE MAP IS NOT A GREEN LIGHT FOR TRAVEL.

ARWADY SAYS CORONAVIRUS IS STILL OUT THERE AND THERE IS THAT CONCERN FOR THOSE MORE CONTAGIOUS VARIANTS.

KEEPING CASES DOWN THE VACCINE WHICH TODAY SHE DESCRIBED AS ONE WHICH WILL GET US PAST COVID.

AMONG THOSE IN CHICAGO GETTING THE PRIORITY FOR COVID VACCINE ARE RESIDENTS OF HOMELESS SHELTERS WHO AS PART OF A TARGETED CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN CONNECTING TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH HEALTHCARE.

SPECIFIC MISSION RESIDENT CONSTANCE FOSTER IS AMONG THE 2200 HOMELESSNESS INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED THE SHOT.

>> BY TAKING THE VACCINE TODAY, I WANT TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM GETTING COVID AGAIN.

NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN VACCINATED I FEEL SAFER, YES.

[APPLAUSE] >> PLUS FOSTER HAPPY AS SHE WENT ON TO GET THE SECOND DOSE BUT THE VACCINE IS OUT OF REACH FOR MANY EVEN THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

ARWADY SAYS THERE SUPPLY IS NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND AND THAT WHY CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY ARE AMONG THE LOCALITIES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO RESTRICT ELIGIBILITY TO HEALTHCARE AND CERTAIN OTHER FRONTLINE WORKERS AS WELL AS THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65.

THIS EVEN AS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS COME THURSDAY WILL ALLOW ANYONE OVER AGE 18 WITH CONDITIONS INCLUDING CANCER, HEART PROBLEMS AND OBESITY TO GET THE VACCINE.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WAS ASKED HOW THE STATE IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS DON'T CHEAT?

>> I BELIEVE IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE.

FIRST MOST PEOPLE WILL GO TO A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER THAT THEY ALREADY KNOW.

AN FQHC OR A CLINIC THEY ARE ENGAGED WITH.

THEY WILL KNOW WHAT THEIR CO-MORBIDITIES ARE.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP AND BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT THEIR CO-MORBIDITIES ARE IN AN INTERVIEW WITH A NURSE OR SOMEBODY WORKING WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> I KNOW I SAID THAT CHICAGO IS NOT GOING TO BE EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY BUT THERE IS A BIG EXCEPTION.

THE CITY FOCUSING ON VACCINATING RESIDENTS IN 15 COMMUNITIES THAT IT HAS RANKED THE MOST VULNERABLE LIKENING EVENING, ROSELAND AND THERE, THE CITY COULD BE OPENING THE VACCINE TO ANY RESIDENT IN A QUALIFYING ZIP CODE.

ARWADY SAYS THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF STOPPING COVID SPREAD AND THAT IS SOMETHING LIKELY TO MAKE THOSE WHO ARE TRYING IN VAIN ALREADY ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID VACCINE BUT CANNOT GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR IT.

MEANWHILE IN WASHINGTON, DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING TO GET PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S COVID RELIEF PACKAGE THROUGH.

>> THIS RESCUE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PUT VACCINE ON THE STREETS IN THE CLINICS AND IN THE ARMS OF AMERICANS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> CAN I GO FULL CIRCLE?

WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT EASING RESTRICTIONS.

I WANT TO SAY THAT YOU CANNOT LOOK FOR ANY MAJOR CHANGES FOR A WHILE NOW.

ILLINOIS' PHASE FOUR LIMITS ON GATHERINGS ARE SET TO REMAIN IN PLACE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE UNTIL MORE OF US, MOST OF US EVEN ARE VACCINATED.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU, BRANDIS.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

U.S.

RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT TO LIVE ONE YEAR LESS ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION THAT USES DATA FROM THE FIRST HALF OF 2020.

THAT DECREASE IN AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY IS STEEPER IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THE REPORT SHOWS THAT IT DROPPED FOR BLACK PEOPLE BY 2.7 YEARS.

FOR HISPANIC RESIDENTS 1.9 YEARS.

AND BY JUST .8 YEARS FOR WHITE RESIDENTS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS WHAT THE DECREASE MEANS ARE MERCEDES CARNSON.

AND Dr. DAVID AN SELL, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY AT RUSH UNIVERSITY AND THE AUTHOR OF THE DEATH GAP HOW INEQUALITY KILLS THAT WILL BE REPUBLISHED THIS MAY.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> MERCEDES HOW SIGNIFICANT IS A ONE-YEAR DROP IN LIFE EXPECTANCY?

>> ONE YEAR DROP WHILE IT SOUNDS SMALL IT IS NOTABLE.

AND WHAT IS THE LOSS HERE IS THAT THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS SOME OF WHOM HAVE PRODUCTIVE YEARS AHEAD AND WE ARE LOSING GROUND ON LIFE EXPECTANCY AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF BETTER MEDICAL THERAPIES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PREVENTION DESPITE ALL OF THAT WE'RE SEEING LOSSES IN LIFE THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY FELT BY DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS THAT BLACK AND HISPANIC MALES FACE THE HIGHEST DECREASE IN LIFE EXPECTANCY IT READS IN PART...

DOCTOR, WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, COVID REVEALED THE SOCIAL FAULT LINES THAT PREEXISTED AND PLANTED ITS SEEDS IN THOSE SOCIAL CHASMS THAT PRESIFTED.

TAKE A CITY LIKE CHICAGO PRIOR TO COVID THERE WAS A BLACK-WHITE LIVE EXPECTANCY GAP OF 8.6 YEARS, THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY IT TRANSLATES TO GAPS LIKE WE'VE HEARD BETWEEN THE LOOP AND CENSUS TRACK TO 90 IN ENGLEWOOD, 30 YEARS LESS DOWN TO 60.

SO NOW WE HAVE COVID AND THE STAT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR.

IT'S THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL UNDERPINNINGS OF HEALTH.

AND THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE THAT CAN ADDRESS THAT.

WE SAW A LOT ABOUT THE ICU RESPONSES BUT IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS COUNTRY IN A MORE THOUGHTFUL INTEGRATIVE WAY, THIS PATTERN WHICH HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING PATTERN IN THE UNITED STATES OUT OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS, LIFE EXPECTANCY DROPPED THREE OUT OF THE FOUR YEARS BEFORE COVID AND ONLY HALF OF 2020.

SO IT'S DRAMATIC.

TRAGIC.

>> I'M HOPING WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.

BUT HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG BLACK AND BROWN AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WAS THIS EXPECTED THOUGH ALARMING?

>> IT IS.

MY LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT DESCRIBING THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN OUR POPULATION.

AND WE HAVE LONG KNOWN THAT THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE BLACK-WHITE GAP IN LIFE EXPECTANCY IS HEART DISEASE.

OVERLAY THAT WITH COVID-19 WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH HEART DISEASE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER SEVERE OUTCOMES FROM COVID.

AND YOU SEE IT PROMINENTLY AMONG MEN IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR FINDINGS THAT BLACK MEN ARE DEVELOPING CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES EARLIER IN LIFE WHEN THEY CONTRACTED THOSE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, IT THEN PUT THEM AT GREATER RISK FOR SUFFERING SEVERE COVID.

UNFORTUNATELY AND DISAPPOINTINGLY, THE SCIENCE EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC POINTED TO THIS AS AN OUTCOME.

>> AND STICKING WITH YOU FOR A SECOND, THE DATA IS BASED ON THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2020 THAT INCLUDES THREE MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC.

IS THIS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT WORSE NEXT YEAR WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE 2020 LIFE EXPECTANCY?

>> IN AROUND OCTOBER, COVID-19 LED ACHIEVED THE POSITION OF THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN 2020.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED IN LARGE PART BECAUSE WE WERE SEEING THE PREMATURE DEATHS PARTICULARLY AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

RIGHT NOW THE PANDEMIC IS SHIFTING WHEREBY OLDER ADULTS ARE DRIVING THEY CONTINUE TO DRIVE MOST OF THE MORTALITY OR THE DEATHS.

HOWEVER, I THINK THAT WHEN WE ADD IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2020 WHEN WE CERTAINLY STILL SEEING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, LATINX POPULATION AND BLACKS SUFFERING HIGHER RATES OF MORTALITY, I THINK THE DIFFERENCES OF LIFE EXPECTANCY COULD BE EXPECTED TO REMAIN THE SAME OR GROW SOMEWHAT AS MORE LATINX DEATHS HAVE BECOME APPARENT.

>> AND A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME WE KNOW THE REPORT CITES OVERDOSE RELATED DEATHS AS ANOTHER CAUSE FOR THIS REDUCED LIFE EXPECTANCY.

OTHER CAUSES OF DEATH RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DROP?

>> YES.

AND I THINK WHAT ARE LABELED AS COVID DEATHS WHEN WE GET TO ACCESS MORTALITY, WITH LATER ANALYSES DOWN THE ROAD WE WILL FIND THAT PEOPLE DIED FROM PROBABLY OTHER CAUSES THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN RELATED TO COVID.

IT IS A CO-PREVALENCE OF THE DISEASES.

I WANT TO FRAME IT IN CHICAGO.

25,000 PEOPLE CHICAGO EVERY YEAR MANY PREMATURELY AND IT LEADS TO THE BLACK-WHITE GAP THAT PREEXISTED.

COVID SINCE IT STARTED WE HAVE HAD 5,000 DEATHS IN CHICAGO FROM COVID.

THAT'S A HUGE ADDITIONAL MORTALITY BURDEN AND YOU THROW ON TO THE DESPAIR AND MISERY AND THE OPIOID OVERDOSES IN CHICAGO THIS YEAR ARE THE HIGHEST THAT THEY'VE EVER BEEN.

AND ANOTHER EPIDEMIC ON TOP OF THE EPIDEMIC AND PEOPLE SAY EPIDEMIC IS ECONOMIC DEPOSIT OPERATION, HISTORICAL STRUCTURAL CAUSES THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A HOSPITAL CHAPLIN OFFERS CARE FOR THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

STICK AROUND.

>> MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING DETAILS OF A REPORT THAT FINDS CHICAGO TO BE THE COUNTRY'S MOST CORRUPT CITY.

FIRST, ONE OF THE KEY CORONAVIRUS METRICS THAT POLITICIAN AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON OVER THE PAST YEAR IS HOSPITAL CAPACITY.

MAKING SURE THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH BEDS FOR THE SICKEST OF COVID PATIENTS.

HOSPITALS DON'T JUST OFFER HEALTHCARE MANY OFFER CARE FOR HUMAN SPIRIT AS WELL AS THE HUMAN BODY.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" NICK BLUMBERG SPOKE WITH THE CHAPLIN AT GOTTLIEB MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN MELROSE PARK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF ADMINISTERING TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES DURING A PANDEMIC.

[♪♪♪] >> JORGE MALDONADO HAS THOUGHT ABOUT ILLNESS AND THE END OF LIFE FOR A LONGTIME.

>> I WAS PART OF MY GRANDFATHER'S.

>> AN EXPERIENCE THAT HELPED PUT JORGE ON THE PATH HE STILL WALKS.

>> I LEARNED HOW TO ACCEPT THAT SOMEONE DIED.

IT WAS NOT SAD FOR ME.

IT WAS MORE LIKE A REASSURANCE OF LIFE.

>> JORGE SPENT YEARS IN SEMINARY BEFORE DECIDING AGAINST BECOMING A PRIEST AND SPENT TWO YEARS AS A MISSIONARY IN FIJI.

>> I LEARNED HOW TO BE MORE IN CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR OWN FAITH INSTEAD OF THEIR RELIGION.

BECAUSE RELIGION IS ALMOST INSTITUTION BUT FAITH IS YOUR OWN PERSONAL BELIEFS.

>> HE LESSON HE CARRIED WITH HIM WHEN HE BEGAN TRAINING AS A HOSPITAL CHAPLIN IN 2004.

HIS MINISTRY TAUGHT HIM TIME AND AGAIN.

>> IT IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF SPIRITUAL STRENGTH IN EVERYONE AS A MEMBER OF THIS LADY IN HER 80s AND SHE SAID I NEED TO GO HOME TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOM.

I MEAN HER MOM WAS 103-YEAR-OLD.

AND I THOUGHT YOU KNOW, LADY LIKE HER IN HER AGE SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BUT SHE IS TAKING CARE.

>> AS A NATIVE SPANISH SPEAKER JORGE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE COMFORT TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES WHO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CONNECT WITH THE HOSPITAL STAFF.

>> IT'S ALWAYS WHEN WITH HE CAN COMMUNICATE EACH OTHER IN OUR OWN LANGUAGE.

>> IN HIS EARLY YEARS HE WAS SOMETIMES UNSURE WHETHER HE WAS FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS ESPECIALLY IN ENGLISH BUT HE LEARNED THAT SOMETIMES HIS PRESENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT HE SAYS.

>> FOR SOME PEOPLE IT'S JUST TO SHOW THEM THAT SOMEONE WHO IS THERE NOT A DOCTOR NOT A NURSE THAT IS GOING TO BE BY THEIR SIDE.

>> BEING BY A PATIENT'S SIDE TO HOLD THEIR HAND OR GATHERING WITH THE FAMILY TO PRAY OR TO TALK THAT WAS ALL UPENDED LAST SPRING BECAUSE OF COVID.

>> WE SPIRITUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY THROUGH THE PHONE AND THROUGH THE iPAD THEY CAN GO INSIDE AND DO THE FACE TIME PHONE CALLS.

>> WHILE THE WORK OF A CHAPLIN IS ADAPT ABSENTEE BALLOT THE ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES ANXIOUS AND SAD.

>> EVEN SOME STAFF MEMBERS WOULD EXPRESS ANGER OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP THE PATIENTS TO RECOVER.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING THIS WITH THIS HIGH OF STRESS.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, JORGE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAD BEEN BATTLING FOR MONTHS.

>> IT WAS A STRUGGLE BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK AT THE END I BECAME STRONGER IN KNOWING THAT I SHARE THAT WITH PATIENT.

AND THE STAFF AS WELL.

>> ONE PATIENT STANDS OUT IN JORGE'S MIND A MAN IN HIS 40s WHO CAME IN LAST SUMMER.

HE EXPECTED TO GET WELL.

HE DIDN'T.

HE LEFT BEHIND A WIFE AND A BABY.

>> HIS WIFE AND HER BABY WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT EVER GIVEN TO HER BY HER HUSBAND.

THE STORY STAYED WITH ME.

IT IS A LOT ABOUT HOPE, RESILIENCY AND SEEING LIFE CONTINUE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A TRAUMATIC END HERE.

BUT THE BABY IS LIFE AND NEW LIFE FOR HER.

>> DESPITE THE TOLL OF ILLNESS AND DEATH OVER THE PAST YEAR, JORGE STILL FINDS HOPE LIKE FROM HIS FATHER IN SOUTHERN CHILI A CHILE WHO GOT HIS DOSE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> PEOPLE LIKE HIM DO CARE FOR ALL.

AND WE NEED THIS DAY TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND THE LOVED ONES AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> ONE OTHER WAY GOTTLIEB MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PROVIDES COMFORT TO PATIENTS A PROGRAM TO GIVE OUT PLUSH HANDMADE BLANKETS THAT PATIENTS AND FAMILIES GET TO KEEP.

JORGE THINKS IT IS EACH KNOT ON THE BLANKET AS A PRAYER.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", WATCH OUT WHERE YOU STEP BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A PUDDLE.

TIPS FOR HANDLING THE BIG MELT HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.

>> WE TALK WITH FOUR ALDERMEN ABOUT CHICAGO'S VACCINE ROLLOUT DOGGED BY DISTRIBUTION DISPARITIES AS SUBURBANITES DRIVE IN FOR SHOTS.

CHARGES AGAINST ALDERMAN BOIRNLG SOMETHING AS EVIDENCE THAT CHICAGO REMAINS THE MOST CORRUPT CITY IN AMERICA.

>> A BOUNCING OR A THRILL CALL LIKE... >> AND HOW THE COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE IS LIVE STREAMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE TWO OWLS AND A NATIONAL RALIST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

MERRICK GARLAND'S NOMINATION TO SERVE AS U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL GOT A SECOND DAY OF HEARINGS IN WASHINGTON D.C. TODAY.

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARD FROM WITNESSES WHO PRAISED THE FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR.

HE CONSTITUENTS ON THE DC CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS.

MITCH McCONNELL WHO BLOCKED GARLAND'S NOMINATION TO THE SUPREME COURT TOLD POLITICO HE PLANS TO SUPPORT GARLAND'S NOMINATION AS AG.

>> A MILLION CHILDREN IN ILLINOIS WILL GET ADDITIONAL FOOD BENEFITS FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTING NEXT MONTH.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCED THE PANDEMIC EBT PROGRAM SAYING ACT ISES TO FOOD CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN A PERSON'S EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITIES.

>> A CHILD WHOSE FAMILY IS FOOD INSECURE HAS TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTY FOCUSING ON SCHOOL COMPARED TO HER CLASSMATES WHO DO NOT GO TO SCHOOL HUNGRY.

>> FAMILIES ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR DISCOUNTED MEALS UNDER THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE THE EXTRA BENEFIT.

FAMILIES DON'T NEED TO APPLY BUT THEY SHOULD BE ALERTED BY THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL.

>> FIRST IT WAS THE BIG CHILL.

THEN THE BIG DIG.

AND NOW THE BIG MELT.

WITH TEMPS RISING INTO THE 40s THIS WEEK, ALL OF THIS MONTH'S SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO MELT AND QUICKLY.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINS US WITH HELPFUL TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND.

PATTY, WHAT DOES THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS RECOMMEND THAT OWNERS AND RENTERS DO OR KEEP AN EYE ON AS WE SEE THE MELT HAPPEN?

>> RIGHT.

A LOT OF THE DEATH CYCLES ARE STARTING TO MELT.

WHAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT SAYS YOU WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DOWNSPOUTS ARE CLEAR SO THE WATER HAS A PATH AND IS NOT BLOCKED AND YOU'RE PROBABLY IN THE SPRING GOING TO WANT TO HAVE YOUR GUTTERS INSPECTED IF YOU THOSE ICICLES TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE.

IF YOU'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT ANY LEFTOVER ICE DAMS OR ACCUMULATION ON YOUR ROOF, YOU WANT TO CALL IN THE PROFESSIONALS AND NOT TRY AND TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM YOURSELF.

BECAUSE YOU COULD END UP DOING MORE HARM TO YOUR ROOF THAN GOOD.

>> AND SPEAKING OF PROFESSIONALS, SHOULD WE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SCAMS?

>> YES.

THAT IS THE KIM JONG-UN FORTUNATE THING ABOUT >> THE UNFORTUNATELY TO LOOK OUT FOR PROFESSIONALS.

THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ISSUED A WARNING TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE THE WORD OF SOMEBODY WHO SHOWS UP UNSOLICITED.

YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY NEVER SIGN A CONTRACT.

AND FOR SURE A WARNING SIGN IS IF THEY HAVE FOR CASH UP FRONT TO INSPECT YOUR ROOF.

UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE ARE FREAKED OUT AND THEY ARE AFRAID AND FEEL A SENSE OF URGENCY BUT YOU WANT TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE LETTING SOMEONE ON YOUR ROOF.

>> LOOK OUT AND LOOK UP.

>> BUT THEY ARE VERY SERIOUS.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

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

>> AND NOW, BACK TO PHIL WITH MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM, WE DISCUSSED POLICE PROBLEMS AND CHANGES AND WE'RE JOINED BY ALDERMAN SCOTT WAGUESPACK, RODERICK SAWYER, GEORGE CARDENAS AND CARLOS RAMIREZ ROSA.

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

GEORGE CARDENAS, THE NATIONAL CORONAVIRUS DEATH SURPASSED 500,000 PEOPLE NOW AS YOU KNOW.

AND CHICAGO VACCINE HUNTERS HAVE ENTERED INTO SOME PEOPLE ARE CALLING "THE HUNGER GAMES"ES TO GET VACCINES.

IS THE CITY DOING ENOUGH TO LESSEN THE IMBALANCE IN VACCINE DISTRIBUTION?

>> WE ARE GETTING TO THAT.

BY THE WAY I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH SEVERAL DEPUTY MAYOR FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SHE GAVE ME THE RUNDOWN ON VACCINES AND DISTRIBUTION.

IN LITTLE VILLAGE ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WAS MOST BESET BY CORONAVIRUS' POSITIVITY RATE AND ALSO DEATHS AS WELL, WE HAVE NOW ALMOST 20,000 VACCINES COMMITTED OVER THE NEXT SIX WEEKS TO VACCINATE ANYBODY OVER 18 YEARS OLD.

WE'VE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE BEEN VACCINATED 65 AND ODDER IN THOSE ON THE PROGRAM ONE A AND ONE B.

YOU GOT GAGE PARK A TREMENDOUS EFFORT BY ESPERANZA HEALTH CENTERS AND NOBODY IS BEING TURNED AWAY THEY ARE GETTING SCHEDULED THE VACCINES ARE THERE.

I WAS TODAY FOR MY SECOND SHOT I SAW A LOT OF ACTIVITY AND ACTION.

AGAIN, THE VACCINE IS COMING NOW.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THE VACCINE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS NOT GETTING HERE FAST ENOUGH AND IT'S COMING HERE IN LARGER AMOUNTS IN THE CITY'S READY AND POISED TO DO THAT.

TO VACCINATE ALL CHICAGOANS.

>> CARLOS RAMIREZ ROSA AS YOU KNOW THERE ARE REPORTS OF SUBURBANITES COMING INTO THE CITY FOR THE VACCINES AND MANY ARE HEALTH WORKERS OR AT RISK BUT HOW DOES ONE ADDRESS THAT?

>> THE DATA DOESN'T LIE.

THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE MOVE AFFLUENT RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO GET THE MOST ACCESS TO THE VACCINE AND THE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT WITH MANY UNININSURED AND POOR WORKERS ARE LEFT BEHIND.

PROTECT CHICAGO HAS BEEN A GREAT START.

THE 15 PROGRAMS THEY HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING VACCINATED BUT WE HAVE TOO MANY CHICAGO COMMUNITIES NOT INCLUDED IN THIS INITIATIVE.

BRIGHTON PARK, THE NORTHWEST SIDE THAT I REPRESENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WORKING POOR PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS.

IF YOU ARE A VERY RICH OLDER PERSON, YOU LIKELY HAVE A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN YOU PROBABLY ALREADY AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE VACCINATED AND HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

A WORKING POOR CENTRAL WORKER YOU NEED A ROBUST GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TO REACH YOU TO GET ACCESS.

I WILL KEEP PUSHING THE CHICAGO PUBLIC OF HEALTH TO STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE TOO MANY COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT BEHIND.

>> BEFORE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BRIGHTON PARK IT IS NOT ACTUAL IT IS BEING ATTENDED TO PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

MAYBE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE NOW BEGINNING TO SEE THAT THEY ARE GETTING STARTED BY BRIGHTON PARK IS NOT ONE OF THOSE.

THANK YOU.

>> RODERICK SAWYER WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN YOUR COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THE EQUITIABILITY OF THE DISTRIBUTION?

>> THE CONCERN I HAVE IS GETTING ENOUGH GOOD INFORMATION TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE VACCINE.

WE HAVE A ROBUST CAMPAIGN I WAS AT ST. BERNARD WHERE PEOPLE THEIR CONCERN WAS PEOPLE NOT SHOWING UP FOR THE SCHEDULED SECOND DOSES.

SO THAT WAS A CONCERN.

BUT A LOT OF CONCERN I HAVE IN ENGLEWOOD AREA, IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED RIGHTFULLY SO ABOUT IS IT SAFE?

AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S SAFE BUT I THINK THERE IS NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION DISSEMINATED TO THE MASSES TO TALK ABOUT THE EFFICACY AS FAR AS THE VACCINE IS CONCERNED BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE HAVE RECENT HISTORY TO BACKUP WHY THEY SHOULD NOT TAKE VACCINES.

BUT I THINK THAT ME GETTING THE SHOT IN PUBLIC WAS MY WAY OF SHOWING PEOPLE THAT YOU SHOULD AT LEAST LOOK INTO IT, JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES, BUT TAKE THIS AS A SERIOUS LOOK BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> ALDERMAN SAWYER, ALDERMAN AND CONGRESSMAN RUSH HAVE BEEN CALLING ON THE POSTAL SERVICE WITH CHANGES AND ASKING FOR HELP.

IT IS A FEDERAL ISSUE WHAT CAN BE DONE AT THE CITY LEVEL?

>> WELL, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON T I JUST GOT MAIL FOR THE FIRST TIME SUNDAY FOR THE PAST WEEK.

SO I'M ONE OF THOSE FRUSTRATED RECIPIENTS TRYING TO GET MY MAIL.

I GET CALLS ALL DAY, THAT IS ONE OF MY NUMBER ONE CALLS FOR SERVICE RIGHT NOW THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IS MAIL DELIVERY AND IT IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OVER THAT.

BUT WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO IS SHINE A LIGHT.

WE NEED HELP.

AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE POSTMASTER IN CHICAGO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BETTER IN OUR RESPECTIVE POST OFFICES LET'S GET THAT DONE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR MEDICATION THROUGH THE MAIL.

CHECKS THROUGH THE MAIL.

PEOPLE SURVIVE BASED ON MAIL DELIVERY AND PEOPLE AREN'T SATISFIED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON CURRENTLY.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

>> ALDERMAN SCOTT WAGUESPACK, FORMER ALDERMAN SIMPSON UP NEXT TO TALK ABOUT HIS NEW REPORT THAT CHICAGO IS THE NATION'S MOST CORRUPT CITY.

DOES THAT COME AS A SURPRISE TO YOU?

>> NO NOT THAT WE ARE -- WE ARE IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER CITIES BUT WE'VE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE ETHICS REFORMS THAT WE PUT FORWARD OVER THE LAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

I TALK TO FELLOW ALDERMEN ABOUT WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THAT.

AND A LOT HAS TO DO WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND HOW THEY OPERATE.

WHAT WE NEED TO SEE IS CONTINUED COMPREHENSIVE WORK ON THE ETHICS SIDE OF THINGS.

I'VE TALKED TO ALDERMEN WHO FOR INSTANCE, FORMER ALDERMAN DICK SIMPSON AND FORMER ALDERMAN DAVID ORR ABOUT THINGS THEY SAW IN THE PAST AND HOW WE COULD MAKE STRIDES STILL TO MAKE THE CHANGES.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN THE COUNCIL IT'S THE WAY WE OPERATE OUR COMMITTEES.

I'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THERE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONTINUED INTO THE FUTURE.

BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BUT I THINK WE'RE MAKING GOOD STRIDES.

>> AND THAT'S WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU TO SCOTT WAGUESPACK, RODERICK SAWYER, CARLOS RAMIREZ ROSA AND GEORGE CARDENAS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NOW -- WAIT.

WAIT.

[LAUGHTER] >> WE GO BACK TO YOU, BRANDIS.

>> PHIL, THANK YOU.

CHICAGO REMAINS AMERICA'S MOST CORRUPT CITY WHILE ILLINOIS IS THE COUNTRY'S THIRD MOST CORRUPT STATE THE GRIM FINDING OF AN ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO RELEASED BASED UPON PUBLIC CORRUPTION STATISTICS COMPILED.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT REPORT IS PROFESSOR AND FORMER ALDERMEN DICK SIMPSON.

YOU PUBLISHED THE REPORT YESTERDAY BUT THE DATA IS BASED ON DOJ STATS FROM 2019.

TAKE US THROUGH SOME OF THE KEY FINDINGS IN THIS REPORT?

>> WELL, WE FOUND THAT 2019 WAS SORT OF A BANNER YEAR OF CORRUPTION FOR CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS.

OVER 2018, THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAD TWICE AS MANY CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS HERE IN THE METROPOLITAN CHICAGO.

THE STATE JUMPED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE NUMBER OF TOTAL CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS.

SO WE WERE DOING BETTER FOR A WHILE.

BUT WE SUNK BACK INTO DEEP CORRUPTION IN SIGNIFICANT CASES.

ALDERMAN BURKE'S CASE WHICH WAS MENTIONED AND ALL THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING MICHAEL MADIGAN AND THE COMMONWEALTH EDISON SCANDAL AND NOR ARE THE SUBURBS FREE FROM CORRUPTION.

WE HAD THE RED LIGHT CAMERA CASE AND WE HAD IN A SMALL TOWN LIKE HARVEY, ENORMOUS NUMBERS OF CORRUPTION CASES.

>> FROM 1976-2019, THE DOJ RECORDED A TOTAL OF 1770 CONVICTIONS.

FEDERAL CONVICTIONS WE SHOULD SAY FOR PUBLIC CORRUPTION IN CHICAGO THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF 41 PER YEAR AND IF YOU ONLY COUNT THE DECADE FROM 2010-2019, CHICAGO IS THE SIXTH MOST CORRUPT CITY IS THAT A SIGN OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN THAT IT'S LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE BEING CONVICTED DOES THAT MEAN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF CATCHING IT?

>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT OVER THE LAST DECADE UP UNTIL 2019 WE WERE STARTING TO HAVE A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS.

AND PART OF THAT WAS JUST THE WAY THAT CORRUPTION CASES ROLL OUT.

I PREDICT IN THIS YEAR AND NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BANNER YEARS OF CORRUPTION BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL THESE MAJOR CASES AROUND ALDERMAN BURKE AND AROUND MICHAEL MADIGAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS IN SPRINGFIELD AMONG A NUMBER OF STATE LEGISLATORS AND SUBURBAN OFFICIALS MANY WHEN ALL THESE GO TO COURT, AND GET TRIED NOW THAT THE FEDERAL COURTS WILL BE REOPENING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SLEW OF CORRUPTION CASES AND ALDERMAN WALL SICK IS CORRECT THERE ARE THINGS BEING DOWN IMPROVING THE LAWS BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

THAT IS WHAT THE PENDING CASES SHOW FOR THE FUTURE.

THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER AND THAT MEANS ELIMINATING MACHINE POLITICS.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT CHICAGO IS ALWAYS AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF CITY'S WITH CORRUPTION PROBLEMS?

IS IT A FUNCTION OF THE SO-CALLED CHICAGO WAY.

>> IT IS THE CHICAGO WAY OR THE CHICAGO MACHINE.

SOME OF THAT IS ERODING.

ORIGINALLY WHEN THE CASES GOT STARTED IN THE 1970s AND WERE 35,000 PATRONAGE WORKERS THE COURTS FOUND AND BY THE TIME RICHARD M. DALEY CAME ALONG THERE WERE 5,000 AND THAT NUMBER KEEPS DECLINING FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HERE.

BUT THEY HAVE NOT GONE TO ZERO.

AND PATRONAGE ALSO LENDS ITSELF TO CORRUPT CONTRACTS AND ENDS UP DOING FAVORS FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE PARTY CANDIDATES.

ALL OF THE PLACES THAT HAVE THE HIGH LEVELS OF CORRUPTION LIKE LOUISIANA, NEW JERSEY, ALL OF THEM HAVE A HISTORY OF MACHINE POLITICS.

THE PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE MACHINE POLITICS LIKE MOST OF THE WESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN STATES, DON'T HAVE CORRUPTION NEAR THE LEVELS THAT CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS DO.

>> AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE SEEN LONG-TERM TIME HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN BROUGHT DOWN BY THE ONGOING FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS AND THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF CORRUPTION THOUGH HE HIMSELF HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED HE DENIED WRONGDOING.

WHY ARE ILLINOIS STATE POLITICS APPARENTLY SO MUCH MORE CORRUPT THAN OTHER STATES?

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE A MACHINE HERE IN CHICAGO THAT'S DEMOCRATIC MACHINE AND DOWN STATE WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN MACHINE.

AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE WORKED TO MAKE THE LAWS VERY FLEXIBLE AND ALLOW PATRONAGE AND CORRUPT CONTRACTS ALLOW FAVORITISM TO THE VOTERS.

AND THAT IS A LONG HISTORY.

OUR HISTORY OF CORRUPTION GOES BACK BEFORE WE WERE A STATE.

IT'S OVER 150 YEARS-LONG.

THE FIRST CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS WERE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS HERE IN CHICAGO BACK IN 1865.

AND THE FIRST REAL MACHINE WAS FORMED IN CHICAGO IN 1871.

SO WE HAVE 150 YEARS THAT WE HAVE TO OVERCOME.

>> THAT IS A LOT TO OVERCOME AND YOU HAVE PREDICTED BANNERS YEARS FOR CORRUPTION FOR 2020 BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW.

WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK IN A YEAR.

ABOUT CORRUPTION.

DICK SIMPSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GLAD TO DO SO.

>> UP NEXT, HOW THE COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES IS KEEPING UP ITS PROGRAMMING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> ANIMALS THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE ON THEIR OWN IN THE WILD ARE GETTING THE CARE THEY NEED AND USED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AT FIVE FOREST PRESERVE NATURE CENTERS AROUND COOK COUNTY.

DUGOUT DURING COVID-19 PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO INSIDE SO THE ANIMALS REACH OUT VIRTUALLY.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" EVAN GARCIA TRAVELED NORTH OF THE CITY TO RIVER TRAIL NATURE CENTER TO LEARN MORE.

>> EASTERN SCREECH OWLS ARE COMMON.

THIS IS FULL SIZE HE DOESN'T GET BIGGER HE LOOKS LIKE A BABY BUT THIS IS IT.

>> COOK COUNTY COUNTY'S RYAN DePAUL IS SHOWING OFF TWO BIRDS OF PREY TODAY A SCREECH OWL ONE OF THE SMALLEST FOUND IN THE REGION AND ONE OF THE LARGEST.

A GREAT HORNED OWL.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE BIRDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN INJURY WHERE THEY CAN'T SURVIVE IN THE WILD ON THEIR OWN.

THE BIRDS COME TO THE NATURE CENTER WHERE HOPEFULLY WE CAN GIVE THEM A GOOD HOME AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> DePAUL SAYS THIS GREAT HORNED OWL'S BROKEN WING HEALED IN A WAY THAT KEEPS HIM FROM FLYING.

>> AND THIS SCREECH OWL INJURED ITS EYE MAKING LIVING IN THE WILD IMPOSSIBLE.

>> AS I'M INTRODUCING THE BIRDS FEEL FREE TO SHARE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

>> DePAUL WOULD BRING THE OWLS TO SCHOOLS OR LIBRARIES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

BUT IN THE COVID-19 ERA, PROGRAMMING LIKE TWO OWLS AND A NATIONAL RALIST IS NATURALIST IS LIVE STREAMED.

>> THIS IS OUR VISITOR CENTER SO PEOPLE WOULD COME IN AND SEE THE LIVE ANIMALS AND TALK WITH A NATURALIST.

>> THE PROGRAM MANAGER SAYS THE DISTRICT PIVOTED TO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AS SOON AS THE COUNTY SHUTDOWN IN MARCH.

>> TWO OWLS AND A NATURALIST IS FOCUSED ON THE OWLS IN COOK COUNTY IT IS A FUN WAY TO ENGAGE PEOPLE.

WHO DOESN'T LIKE TO SEE A LIVE ANIMAL.

BUT THE OTHER PROGRAMS CONSIST OF HISTORY PROGRAMS, ART PROGRAMS, FITNESS PROGRAMS.

WE TRY TO KEEP IT VARIED SO WE CAN ATTRACT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> ALTHOUGH THE INDOOR SPACE OF THE FOREST PRESERVE SIX NATURE CENTERS HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19 THE CENTERS OFFER FREE ACTIVITIES EVENTS AND PROGRAMS.

LIKE FREE SNOWSHOE RENTALS WHICH COME IN HANDY DURING THE HEAVY SNOW.

>> THEY ARE CARNIVORES SO THEY REQUIRE THAT MEAT THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR THEM EVERYDAY.

>> TODAY, NATURALIST JERRY SAYS QUAIL IS ON THE MENU.

>> AND IF LOGGING ON TO A LIVE STREAM OR SNOWSHOING DON'T CUT IT FOR YOU, VISITORS CAN CHECK OUT BIRDS OF PREY AND A COYOTE IN OUTDOOR EN CLOSURES.

>> THIS GUY HAS BEEN WITH YOUR EIGHT YEARS NOW IN THE WILD, A BIG A LARGE BIRD OF PREY MIGHT LIVE 12 OR 15 YEARS.

IN CAPTIVITY HOPEFULLY IT LIVES AS MANY AS 30 YEARS.

IT IS AMAZING.

>> WHILE COVID HAS ALTERED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, THE COUNTY KEPT FOREST PRESERVE TRAILS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> SO MANY INDOOR ACTIVITIES WERE PROHIBITED FROM.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE OUT IN THE OUTDOORS AND THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC WE ARE NOT CLOSED THE PRESERVES AND THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET EXERCISE AND SUNLIGHT AND BE IN NATURE THAT IS GOOD PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M EVAN GARCIA.

>> A COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES SPOKESWOMAN SAYS IN 2020 THE DISTRICT LOST MORE THAN $3 MILLION IN NONTAX REVENUE LIKE CAMPING FEES AND PERMITS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

HOWEVER THE MAJORITY OF THE FOREST PRESERVES FUNDING IS GENERATED FROM PROPERTY TAXES WHICH SOFTENED THE FINANCIAL BLOW TO THE BUDGET.

FOR A FULL LIST OF ALL SIX FOREST PRESERVE NATURE CENTERS YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL MEETS TO DISCUSS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE TO LAST SUMMER'S PROTESTS AND WHY A LEGENDARY AREA CHICAGO MUSICIAN'S LIFE FELL APART AND WHAT BROUGHT HIM BACK.

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]