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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WHAT WE NEED IS PROGRESS NOT PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS.

>> ALDERMEN FORCE A DELAY ON COVID RELIEF MEASURES OVER A DISPUTE HOW THE CITY SPENT STIMULUS MONEY AND THAT AND MORE FROM THE COUNCIL MEETING.

>> MICHAEL MADIGAN'S HAND PICKED SUCCESSOR IS OUT AFTER A FEW DAYS ON THE JOB AND THAT AND MUCH MORE ON THE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

>> ILLINOIS' NEW HOUSE SPEAKER RAISES THE PROSPECT OF A REDO VOTE ON A GRADUATED INCOME TAX.

WE SHARE WHAT HE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

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

>> CHICAGO'S TOP PUBLIC OFFICIAL ON THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT AND WHAT IS NEXT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE VIRUS.

>> QUESTIONS OVER THE CHICAGO ARCHDIOCESE'S TRANSPARENCY IN RELEASING NAMES OF PRIESTS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

>> CONCERNED ABOUT TEACHER MOVEMENT.

>> A VIOLENT MILITARY COUP HALF A WORLD AWAY IN MYANMAR REVERBERATES AMONG THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY HERE IN CHICAGO.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW IT BUT I STARTED GOING INTO A DEEP STATE OF DEPRESSION.

>> AND A BELOVED LOCAL MUSICIAN HIT BOTTOM LAST YEAR AND WE'LL FIND OUT HOW HE MADE IT BACK.

FIRST TOP STORIES...

IT TOOK JUST A FEW DAYS FOR FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN'S HAND PICKED SUCCESSOR AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 22nd DISTRICT TO RESIGN.

ON SUNDAY, MADIGAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS ELEVATED 26-YEAR-OLD WARD EMPLOYEE EDWARD GUERRA KODATT TO FILL THE HOUSE SEAT.

TODAY MADIGAN AND 13TH WARD ALDERMAN MARTY QUINN ISSUED A STATEMENT... >> WITH MADIGAN'S SUPPORT KODATT WON OVER 10 OTHER PEOPLE SEEKING THE JOB.

HE INTENDS TO HAVE A MEETING TO AGAIN SELECT HIS REPLACEMENT.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM HAS MUCH MORE ON THIS LATER.

>> STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 2,000 CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND 44 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES IS 1.179 MILLION.

AND THE TOTAL OF 23074 DEATHS.

AND WE'LL HEAR HOW CHICAGO IS MANAGING THE CORONAVIRUS WITH Dr. ALLISON ARWADY IN JUST A BIT.

>> CHICAGO'S LAKEFRONT IS ON AN ANNUAL LIST OF THE CITY'S MOST ENDANGERED PLACES.

THE GROUP PRESERVATION CHICAGO SAYS IT'S CONCERNED THAT PUBLIC LAKEFRONT LANDS ARE SOMETIMES CONSIDERED FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY POLITICALLY CONNECTED DEVELOPERS AND INSTITUTIONS AND SUGGEST THE CITY AND PARK DISTRICT PURSUE A NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATION AND ON THE LIST ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN CHICAGO FOR THE SECOND TIME AS THE DIOCESE IS FORCED TO CLOSE PARISHES AND CHURCHES.

AND THE PHYLLIS WHEATLY HOME ONCE SERVED AAS A SAFE HAVEN FOR BRACK WOMEN AND GIRLS BUT IT'S SUFFERED DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

ALSO ON THE LIST OF SEVEN ARE THE SOUTH CHICAGO MASONIC TEMPLE, THE CORNELL STORE IN FLATS THE CENTRAL MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS EAST DISTRICT AND WEST LOOP INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.

PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

FOR A SECOND TIME MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT MADE A SPLASH WITH A HOT MIC MOMENT DURING THE ZOOM CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND ALDERMEN SPENT HOURS HONOR THE LATE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION PRESIDENT KAREN LEWIS AND LAUDING CITY WORKERS FOR SNOW REMOVAL EFFORTS AND THE COUNCIL PASSED POLICE MISCONDUCT SETTLEMENTS AND INTRODUCED AN ANTIGENTRIFICATION ORDINANCE.

BACK TO THE COMMENT LISTEN AND HEAR THE MAYOR'S REACTION.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM.

>> THANK YOU ALDERWOMAN.

SORRY TO DISAPPOINT THE TWITTER TROLLS BUT MY COMMENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON AT CITY COUNCIL.

I'VE SPAINED THAT TO ALDERMAN RODRIGUEZ AND SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT.

>> THE MAYOR'S FRUSTRATION WITH ZOOM WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE BUT IF YOU DID NOT CATCH THAT THE MAYOR SAY YOU GOT TO BE FING KIDDING ME.

THAT MOMENT MADE THE ROUNDS WHAT WAS THE MAYOR REACTING TO?

>> MY SOURCES TELL ME HER STAFF INFORMED HER THAT ALDERMAN BOIRNLG NEMESIS AND RAYMOND LOPEZ A CRITIC INFORMED THEM THAT THEY PLAN TO BLOCK A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY ON LIGHTFOOT'S PLAN TO USE FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS LEFTOVER FROM THE PACKAGE APPROVED IN MARCH AND FUNDS SENT TO CHICAGO FROM THE PACKAGE SIGNED IN DECEMBER BY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

LIGHTFOOT HAS BEEN UNDER FIRE FOR THE PAST WEEK ABOUT HER DECISION TO USE $281 MILLION FROM THAT POT OF MONEY FROM THE MARIE 11 PACKAGE TO COVER THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS.

MOST OF THAT CRITICISM HAS COME FROM PROGRESSIVE GROUPS BUT BURKE AND LOPEZ ARE AMONG THE MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND OBJECTED TO THE DECISION.

>> AND TO THAT EFFECT, HEATHER, WE'LL RUN A CLIP WHAT BOIRN HAD TO SAY.

BURKE IS PRO POLICE AS IT COMESS IN CITY COUNCIL WAS OBJECTING ON THE MONEY AND HERE IS RESPONSE.

>> THESE NUMBERS THAT YOU ARE TESTIFYING TO TODAY WOULD MAKE MOST OBSERVERS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS.

>> AS A RESULT OF THE ACTIONS BY ALDERMEN BURKE AND LOPEZ WE DIDN'T GET TO APPROVE A MEASURE THAT DELIVERS $377 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CHICAGO'S ONGOING COVID-19 RESPONSES.

MAKE NO MISTAKE COME FRIDAY I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL GET THIS DONE.

>> SHE SAYS COME FRIDAY AND THE ALDERMEN USED THAT DNP DEFER AND PUBLISH TACTIC FROM THE DAYS COVERING CITY COUNCIL.

DOES THAT MEAN THERE WILL BE A CITY COUNCIL MEETING FRIDAY WHERE THEY WILL VOTE ON THIS?

>> YES.

AND THIS WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE OF THE POLICE MONEY.

THEY VOTED ON THIS BACK IN JUNE.

AND ONLY NINE ALDERMEN SIDED WITH PROGRESSIVE ALDERMEN WHO WANTED TO BLOCK THE MAYOR FOR BEING ABLE TO USE THIS FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY FROM REIMBURSING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT THEY FAILED.

AND NOW, WE KNOW WHAT THAT FINAL TALLY WAS 281 MILLION WHICH AS BURKE POINTED OUT THIS WEEK WOULD HAVE AMOUNTED TO ONE-THIRD OF ALL CHICAGO POLICE OPERATIONS AT THE TIME.

>> IS THERE ANY DISPUTE WHETHER THAT MONEY IS PROPERLY BEING SPENT?

CAN IT BE SPENT ON THOSE COSTS?

>> NO, THERE IS NO DISPUTE ABOUT THAT.

THIS WAS A DISCRETIONARY POT OF MONEY.

THE ISSUE IS SOME GROUPS WANTED THAT MONEY TO BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND BUSINESS HELP.

TO DIRECTLY AID PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING UNDER THE PANDEMIC.

AND PART OF THOSE PROGRAMS WILL GET A BOOST OF FUNDING FROM THIS NEXT POT OF FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY WHICH WILL BE ON THE AGENDA ON FRIDAY.

AND AS WE HEARD THE MAYOR SAY SHE IS CONFIDENT THAT PEOPLE WILL VOTE TO PASS IT.

>> I'M SURE YOU WILL BE WATCHING.

AND ANOTHER SUBJECT THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE INTRODUCED TO SLOW GENTRIFICATION AROUND THE 606.

WE'VE SEEN EFFORTS LIKE THIS CROP UP.

WHAT DOES THIS ONE CALL FOR?

>> DEMOLITION HAS BEEN BANNED ON THE 606 FOR A YEAR NOW AND WHAT THIS MEASURE WOULD DO WOULD BE TO REPLACE THAT BAN WITH A FEE.

IF A DEVELOPER WANTED TO TEAR DOWN A HOME OR A TOWNHOME THEY HAVE TO PAY $15,000.

IF THEY WANTED TO TEAR DOWN A MULTIUNIT BUILDING THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY $5,000 PER UNIT AND THE AIM IS TO SLOW THE RATE OF GENTRIFICATION.

WE'RE SEEING HOMES REPLACED BY GIGANTIC SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

>> ANOTHER SUBJECT THE COUNCIL APPROVED TWO SETTLEMENTS RELATED TO CASES OF PEOPLE WHO SUED THE CITY OVER POLICE MISCONDUCT.

WHAT WERE THESE ISSUES AND HOW MUCH DID THE SETTLEMENTS PAY OUT?

>> THE FIRST SETTLEMENT WILL PAY $175,000 TO A FOAM WHOSE HOME WAS RAIDED BY CHICAGO POLICE BY MISTAKE.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE FAMILIES DOWNSTAIRS NEIGHBOR AND WENT TO THE WRONG APARTMENT AND THE OTHER SETTLEMENT WILL PAY $400,000 TO THE MOTHER OF A MAN WHO WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY POLICE IN 2015 AFTER SHE HAD CALLED THEM TO HELP BECAUSE HER SON WAS SUFFERING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

THIS AND OTHER CASES LIKE IT HAVE SPARKED A CALL FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RETHINK HOW THEY RESPOND IF AT ALL TO CALLS LIKE THAT.

AND OF COURSE, THE PAYMENT FOR THE WRONGFUL RAID IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED TO ANJANETTE YOUNG WHO SUED THE CITY THIS WEEK OVER THE RAID THAT LEFT HER NAKED AND HANDCUFFED AND PLEADING FOR HELP CREATING A POLITICAL FIRESTORM.

>> HEATHER CHERONE LOTS OF ISSUES AND MORE FROM YOU IN SPOTLIGHT LATEER IN THE PROGRAM.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> TO BRANDIS AND CHICAGO'S TOP DOC.

>> PARIS, THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS REPORTING ITS LOWEST COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE SINCE THE PANDEMIC ARRIVED IN THE CITY A YEAR AGO.

CASE NUMBERS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE BEEN FALLING PRECIPITOUSLY SINCE THE PEAK IN LATE 2020.

THIS AS CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS ARE EXPECTING AN INCREASE IN VACCINE ALLOTMENT OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER WHO IS ABLE TO ACCESS THE VACCINES AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS Dr. ALLISON ARWADY, COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

WELCOME BACK AGAIN Dr. ARWADY.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE LATEST CHICAGO NUMBERS.

THE CITY IS REPORTING AN AVERAGE 3.1 POSITIVITY RATE THAT IS 250 DAILY CASES.

SOME MIGHT TAKE THIS POSITIVE TREND TO MEAN THAT WE ARE NEARING THE END OF THIS PANDEMIC.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> SO WE ARE DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL HERE BUT WE HAVE NOT PUT COVID BEHIND US.

PART OF THE REASON WE ARE DOING SO WELL IS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKING THE GUIDANCE SERIOUSLY.

NOT LETTING UP.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THE IMPACTS OF VACCINATING SOME OF OUR HIGHEST RISK COMMUNITIES AND AREAS AND SETTINGS HERE IN CHICAGO.

BUT WE ARE NOT DONE YET.

AND MY HOPE IS THAT THESE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK THE WAY THEY'RE LOOKING AND BETTER.

BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO KEEP DOING THE THINGS THAT HAVE GOTTEN US THIS FAR.

>> THE FDA RELEASED AN ANALYSIS FINDING THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S VACCINE WITH SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

HERE IS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S SPEAKING ABOUT THAT.

>> OBVIOUSLY AS I'VE BEEN SAYING SINCE DECEMBER, WE NEED MORE VACCINE.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF VACCINE.

IT IS A SINGLE DOLL NOT MULTIPLE DOSE WE HAVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ITS EFFECTIVENESS WITH RESPECT TO THE VARIANTS.

>> Dr. ARWADY WHEN MIGHT CHICAGO START RECEIVING THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE DOSES?

>> OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT FINAL APPROVAL FROM THE FDA AND THE CDC HAS TO WEIGH-IN WITH ITS GUIDANCE ABOUT WHERE IT SHOULD BE PROVIDED.

BUT WE'RE FEELING HOPEFUL WE MAY SEE IT HERE IN CHICAGO AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

>> THE CITY HAS SEEN IMPROVEMENT IN THE NUMBER OF VACCINES BEING GIVEN TO BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES ALTHOUGH WHITE CHICAGOANS ARE STILL OUTPACING THOSE COMMUNITIES IN GETTING THE VACCINE.

WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THE NUMBERS WILL EVEN OUT A BIT?

>> YEAH, SO AS YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT MAJOR GOALS BOTH ON EFFICIENCY WHICH WE'VE BEEN HITTING EVERY WEEK.

WE'VE GOT 90% OF OUR DOSES INTO ARMS A WEEK WITHIN ARRIVAL MANY AND EQUITY GOALS.

WE HAVE SEEN MORE THAN HALF OF OUR VACCINE GOING TO BLACK AND LATINX RESIDENTS.

BLACK AND LATINX RESIDENTS MAKEUP 59% IN CHICAGO GETTING TO THAT 50% MARK WAS AN IMPORTANT GOAL WE ARE NOT THERE YET BECAUSE WE ARE CATCHING UP FOR TIME WHERE WE WERE SEEING LAGGING ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WERE IN 1A AND FOCUSED ON JUST THE PEOPLE IN THE HEALTHCARE SETTING.

BUT WE ARE CONTINUING EVERY SINGLE WEEK TO KEEP PUSHING VACCINES TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT.

LOWERING BARRIERS TO GETTING FOLKS VACCINATED AND WORKING NOT JUST IN THE 15 COMMUNITIES BUT ACROSS CHICAGO IN SETTINGS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN COVID HIT HARDEST AND GET TO GO IN QUICKLY IS PART OF WHAT HELPS PROTECT ALL OF US AGAINST FURTHER SPREAD AND VARIANTS.

>> AND REMIND US WHAT THE 15 PROTECT CHICAGO COMMUNITIES WHAT THAT INITIATIVE IS.

>> SURE.

SO WE LOOKED AT WHAT HAS PUT COMMUNITIES AT RISK FOR COVID.

WE LOOK TO SEE WHERE IN CHICAGO HAVE WE SEE HIGH COVID CASE RATES, HIGH DEATH RATES, HIGH HOSPITALIZATION RATES AND LOOKED AT WHERE DO WE HAVE A LOT OF CROWDED HOUSING?

AND THE FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS?

WHERE DO WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS WHO ARE OVER 65?

PULLED ALL THIS TOGETHER AND DID A RANKING OF OUR 77 COMMUNITY AREAS AND WORKING IN THE 15 HIGHEST RISK COMMUNITIES TO DIRECT ADDITIONAL VACCINE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME AVAILABILITY ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THEN HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TRUSTED PARTNERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO WORK TO GET VACCINATION RATES UP TRYING TO GET THE COMMUNITIES UP TO THE SAME LEVEL WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE CITY AVERAGE.

THAT IS OUR PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS INITIATIVE.

IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE ARE PUSHING VACCINE INTO SETTINGS LIKE HOMELESS SHELTERS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES WEEK AFTER WEEK HAVE BEEN WHAT HAVE BEEN DRIVING OUT OUTBREAK GETTING THE FOLKS VACCINATED HELPS PROTECT ALL OF CHICAGO.

>> THE GUIDELINES STILL ASK PEOPLE WOULD RECEIVED THEIR VACCINE TO CONTINUE WEARING MASKS AND TO CONTINUE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

IS THERE A CONCERN THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BOTHER TO GET THE VACCINE IF IT MEANS WE CAN'T CHANGE OUR BEHAVIORS AND NOT HAVING TO DISTANCE?

>> WE WILL BE ABLE TO START RELAXING SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN OUR NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER, RIGHT?

WE'RE STILL AT A POINT WE ARE AT A MODERATE RISK LEVEL RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF CASES.

WE'RE SEEING IMPROVEMENT BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GET THE SENSE THAT WE ARE DONE WITH COVID.

IT IS A FANTASTIC VACCINE.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH J AND J IS AMAZING IN TERMS EFFICACY AND THEY HAVE BEEN PERFORMING WELL.

EVEN IN 95% VACCINE THERE IS A 1-20 CHANCE IF SOMEONE IS EXPOSED TO COVID THEY WOULD HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO BECOME SICK.

WHILE WE ARE STILL IN OUR EARLY STAGES OF THE VACCINATION CAMPAIGN HAVING A RELATIVELY WE ARE NOT DONE WITH COVID HERE.

WE DO NEED PEOPLE TO KEEP DOING THE THINGS THAT MATTER.

BUT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED I'VE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED I WAS ABLE TO SEE MY MOM WITH LESS CONCERN THAN I DID PREVIOUSLY.

I WASN'T HUGGING HER BECAUSE I WANT TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER UNTIL WE ARE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OUT OF THE WOODS BUT I AM ABLE TO HAVE MORE INTERACTIONS WITH LESS CONCERN FOR MY AND IMPORTANTLY MY FAMILY'S AND MY COMMUNITY'S SAFETY.

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT INCREASED LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE AS WE GET MORE FOLKS VACCINATED.

AND REMEMBER TWO DOSES OF VACCINE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED.

>> AND I'M SURE IT WAS NICE TO VISIT YOUR MOTHER.

CHICAGO REPORTED SEVERAL CASES OF THE U.K. CORONAVIRUS VARIANT.

HOW MUCH OF A THREAT DOES THAT POSE TO THE PROGRESS THAT THE CITY HAS MADE?

>> YEAH, SO CERTAINLY THE VARIANTS ARE A CONCERN DON'T GET ME WRONG.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARKS AS WE LOOK AHEAD NOT SO MUCH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS BUT SIX MONTHS OUT.

THE U.K.

VARIANT IS HERE.

IF PEOPLE ARE DOING THE RYE THING MASKERRING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND DOING THIS THEY CONTINUE TO BE PROTECTED BROADLY AGAINST TRANSMISSION FROM THIS.

AND WITH OUR NUMBERS GOING THE WAY THEY ARE, THE VACCINES THAT ARE AVAILABLE HERE ARE PROTECTIVE AGAINST THAT VARIANT.

MY BIGGER CONCERN LONG-TERM IS WHILE WE GET CHICAGO AND THE U.S.

VERY HEAVILY VACCINATED IF WE DON'T WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE ABLE TO ACCESS VACCINE THAT SOUTH AFRICAN VACCINE GIVES ME MORE WORRY THEY ARE PROTECTIVE, THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THIS BECOMES NOT JUST A MATTER OF EQUITY HERE IN CHICAGO BUT WE THINK ABOUT THIS AS THE WORLDWIDE OUTBREAK THAT IT IS.

>> A LOT OF WORK TO DO AS IT HAS BEEN THIS PANDEMIC.

Dr. ARWADY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ILLINOIS VOTERS IN NOVEMBER REJECTED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE STATE TO OVERHAUL HOW IT TAXES INCOME.

NOW, ONE OF SPRINGFIELD'S TOP LEADERS IS SUGGESTING ANOTHER SWING AT THE EFFORT.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS, THERE MAYBE TURNOVER WHEN IT COMES TO REPLACING MICHAEL MADIGAN AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 22nd DISTRICT IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HIS SUCCESSOR AS SPEAKER, CHRIS WELCH IS IN THE JOB TODAY MARKING SIX WEEKS AS SPEAKER WELCH.

AND HE IS COMING IN HOT WITH IDEAS ABOUT ILLINOIS' FINANCES AS YOU NOTED.

IN NOVEMBER ILLINOIS VOTERS REJECTED MOVING -- REMOVING ILLINOIS' REQUIREMENT THAT ALL INCOME BE TAXED AT THE SAME FLAT RATE 4.95% FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS.

AND WELCH SAYS THE BEST WAY TO FIX ILLINOIS' STRUCTURAL FISCAL PROBLEMS IS MOVING TO A SYSTEM IN WHICH WEALTHIER PEOPLE WOULD PAY A HIGHER TAX RATE.

>> WE ARE ONE OF SEVEN STATES THAT TAX FOLKS ON A FLAT-RATE.

AND SO IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE OUT THAT IS THE STRUCTURAL CHANGE WE NEED.

AND SOMETIMES YOU FAIL AND TRY AGAIN THAT IS HOW I'VE ALWAYS DONE THINGS I THINK WE SHOULD REVISIT THAT BECAUSE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT STRUCTURAL CHANGE THAT WE NEED.

I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THE RICH SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> AS YOU HEARD THERE, WELCH ADOPTING THE ADD DAMAGE IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN SUGGESTING THAT ILLINOIS GO BACK TO VOTERS IN THE FUTURE ON THAT QUESTION OF A GRADUATED INCOME TAX.

NEXT TIME WITH A TWIST... >> A BIG WAY OF ADDRESSING IT IS CERTAINLY BY REVISITING THE REFERENDUM THAT FAILED THIS PAST NOVEMBER TO CHANGE OUR FLAT TAX TO A PROGRESSIVE TAX BUT WE HAVE TO TELL THE VOTERS WHO WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY.

I CERTAINLY THINK TYING THAT REVENUE TO PENSIONS WOULD BE A WINNER.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY.

>> WELCH SAYS A PROBLEM LAST TIME AROUND WAS A LACK OF TRUST IN ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT.

AND HE SAYS ASSURING VOTERS WHAT THAT REVENUE WOULD BE SPENT ON WOULD BE A GOOD WAY OF EARNING THAT TRUST.

>> TRUST IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE VOTERS.

AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP BUILD THAT TRUST IN OUR VOTERS WILL HELP US BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> SPEAKING OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT OR LACK THEREOF, WELCH GIVING ASSURANCES THAT AND ETHICS LAW WILL PASS THIS YEAR.

PREVIOUS EFFORTS STALLED EVEN AS CORRUPTION SCANDALS ROCKED SPRINGFIELD.

WELCH MADE HIS REMARKS DURING A FORUM HOSTED BY THE ECONOMIC CLUB OF CHICAGO AND I DID HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO ASK WELCH QUESTIONS DURING THAT EVENT AND AS FOR IMMEDIATE BUDGET ISSUES WELCH SAYS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WE HEARD IS A GOOD START.

THOUGH HE SAYS HE DOES WANT MORE MONEY FLOWING TO SCHOOLS THAN GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S PROPOSED.

WELCH DOES BACK PRITZKER'S CALL TO ELIMINATE CERTAIN TAX BREAKS FOR BUSINESSES.

>> THERE'S MANY CORPORATIONS BENEFITING FROM SOME CORPORATE WELFARE AND BELIEVE THEY HAVE TO PUT SKIN IN THIS GAME.

THE PROGRESSIVE TAX FAILED IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THEM FOUGHT AGAINST IT, AND PUT IN MONEY AGAINST IT.

AND SO HOW DO WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STOP BALANCING THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE.

>> ANOTHER MUST DO ITEM ON THE SPEAKER'S NEAR TERM AGENDA IS REDISTRICTING.

THE LEGISLATURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRAWING THEIR OWN MAP BASICALLY THE BORDERS THAT DECIDE WHEN ONE STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT ENDS AND ONE BEGINS.

THAT IS A RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT HAS CONSEQUENCES FOR WHAT POLITICIANS WIN RACES AND WHO REPRESENTS VOTERS IN SPRINGFIELD.

I ASKED WELCH WHAT IS HIS DEFINITION OF A FAIR MAP?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT A MAP AND IT DOESN'T REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF THE STATE I DON'T KNOW HOW I DON'T KNOW CAN CALL THAT A FAIR MAP.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN DRAWING THIS PROCESS.

WHAT THAT PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE IS WAY TOO EARLY TO TELL.

>> WHEN PRESSED ON THAT LATER HE DOES NOT SEEM ONBOARD WITH THE NOTION OF THE LEGISLATURE GIVING UP THAT POWER AND HANDING IT OVER TO AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION SAYING RIGHT NOW HE IS FOCUSED HOW THE LEGISLATURE CAN GO ABOUT REDISTRICTING IN A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT WAY.

NOW, WELCH IS BECOMING THE FIRST ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER THAT IS IS A BLACK INDIVIDUAL ALSO THE FIRST PERSON NOT NAMED MADIGAN SINCE 1997 TO HOLD THAT JOB AND THAT WAS A MAJOR COUP.

BUT MADIGAN'S RESIGNATION THIS WEEK AS CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS LEAVE ANOTHER POWER OPENING AND THERE'S A THREE-WAY RACE.

WELCH SAYS HE IS NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN IT.

>> CLEARLY IT IS A NEW ERA IN ILLINOIS POLITICS IT IS A NEW DAY AND TIME FOR NEW APPROACH.

AND I THINK THAT I'M GOING TO BACK THE DEMOCRAT.

I WILL SUPPORT THE DEMOCRAT.

WHOEVER WINS THAT RACE, I THINK WILL BE SOMEONE WITH THE ABILITY TO LEAD OUR PARTY.

>> IT AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT CONTEST IN SPOTLIGHT.

BRANDIS SENDING IT BACK TO YOU.

>> YES, WE WILL THAT AND MORE THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HOW A VIOLENT CONFLICT HALF A WORLD AWAY IMPACTS A REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO.

STICK AROUND.

A VIOLENT CONFLICT MORE THAN HALF A GLOBE AWAY IS REVERBERATING HERE IN CHICAGO.

ON FEBRUARY FIRST THE DEMOCRATICALLY LEADER OF THE ASH YAB COUNTRY OF MYANMAR FORMERLY KNOWN AS BURMA WAS SACKED IN AN OVERTHROW OF GOVERNMENT.

THOUSANDS CALL IT HOME INCLUDING A LARGE NUMBER FROM THE MUSLIM MINORITY KNOWN AS ROHINGYA.

ROHINGYA FLED GENOCIDE AND SOUGHT REFUGE ON CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE AND MILITARY CONFLICT BACK HOME IS CAUSING NEW FEARS.

>> THEY CROSS [INAUDIBLE] >> NASIR ZAKARIA WAS FORCED TO FLEE MYANMAR TRAVELING TO BANGLADESH, THAILAND AND MALAISA BEFORE FINDING LIFE IN CHICAGO AS A REFUGEE.

>> IT IS AMAZING.

LIFE IN CHICAGO WE ARE RIGHT NOW FREE.

>> NASIR ZAKARIA HE HEADS UP THE ROHINGYA CULTURAL CENTER IN WEST ROGERS PARK A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE 1500 ROHINGYA REFUGEES LIVING IN CHICAGO.

THOSE REFUGEES INCLUDE STUDENTS AT ROGERS PARK'S SULLIVAN HIGH SCHOOL WHO WE MET THREE YEARS AGO THEY TOLD US HORROR STORIES OF THEIR ESCAPE FROM MYANMAR.

>> WHEN THEY KILLING MUSLIM PEOPLE.

>> 1 MILLION ROHINGYA HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT INTO REFUGEE CAMPS AROUND THE WORLD.

NOW CHICAGO'S ROHINGYA RESIDENTS ARE ON EDGE AGAIN.

MYANMAR'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT WAS ARRESTED AND THROWN IN JAIL BY THE COUNTRY'S MILITARY ON FEBRUARY FIRST AND THE MILITARY HAS NOW SEIZED CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY.

>> WE ARE VERY SAD AND VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE OF THE BURMA.

MOST ESPECIALLY FOR INNOCENT PEOPLE.

SHE WON A NOBLE PEACE PRIZE IN 1991 FOR EFFORTS TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT CECILE SHEA SENIOR FELLOW SAYS THE TENURE WAS MARRED BY A POWER SHARING AGREEMENT THAT SHE STRUCK WITH CORRUPT MILITARY RULERSISM THE MILITARY BEHAVED IN A WAY THAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS PSYCHOPATHIC.

ENGAGED IN SOME OF THE WORST HUMAN RIGHT AS CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> THE ROHINGYA SUPPORTED YOU IS CHI BUT WERE DISAPPOINTED IN THE FAILURE TO STOP THE GENOCIDE.

THE MILITARY RULERS ARE MORE DANGEROUS.

NASIR ZAKARIA FEARS FOR HIS FAMILY REMAINING IN THE COUNTRY WHO HE HAS TROUBLE COMMUNICATING WITH BECAUSE OF INTERNET AND PHONE BLACKOUTS.

>> THEY CUT PHONE LINE.

SOMETIMES VERY DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATIONS WITH PEOPLE.

THEY WILL ARREST PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY REASON.

>> AND THE DANGER IS HEIGHTENED AS PROTESTS SWELLED AND MILITARY LEADERS PROMISED A VIOLENT CRACKDOWN.

>> I THINK EVERY PERSON LIVING IN BURMA MYANMAR IS IN DANGER AND YOU WILL SEE A CIVIL WAR THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BREAK OUT.

>> NASIR ZAKARIA SAYS THE RECENT ELECTION WAS A LANDMARK BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTION MANY ROHINGYA HAVE EVER VOTED IN.

HE WANTS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO FOLLOW THE U.N. AND FORMALLY DECLARE THE KILLING AND PERSECUTION OF ROHINGYA AS A GENOCIDE.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS TO DECLARE CALLING GENOCIDE IN BURMA.

>> BIDEN CONDEMNED THE COUP BUT NOT OFFERED SPECIFICS ON A RESPONSE.

>> WE WILL WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO SUPPORT RESTORATION AND THE RULE OF LAW AND IMPOSE CONSEQUENCES ON THOSE RESPONSIBLE.

>> BUT CECILE SHEA BELIEVES BIDEN'S OPTIONS ON MYANMAR ARE LIMITED.

>> I DO THINK THAT STRONG SANCTIONS ARE IN THE FUTURE FOR BURMA WHETHER I THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> OTHER BURMESE CHRISTIAN AND BUDDHIST COMMUNITIES CAN BE FOUND ACROSS CHICAGO ALONG WITH THE ROHINGYA MUSLIMS.

NASIR ZAKARIA SAYS CHICAGO IS HOME TO THE LARGEST ROHINGYA POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND NOW, BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" A "SUN-TIMES" STORY QUESTIONS THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO TRANSPARENCY IN PUBLICIZING PRIESTS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

AND WHEN A BELOVED LOCAL MUSICIAN SUFFERS A DANGEROUS DEPRESSION HIS FRIENDS RALLY AROUND HIM AND FIND OUT HOW HE MADE IT BACK.

BUT FIRST, SOME MORE OF TOP STORIES... COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE MAILBOX FOR A POTENTIAL JURY SUMMONS.

COOK COUNTY CHIEF JUDGE TIM EVANS SAYS THE COURT SYSTEM PLANS TO RESUME JURY TRIALS ON MARCH 22 AT THE LEIGHTON CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE AND POTENTIAL JURORS COULD START RECEIVING SUMMONSES THIS WEEK.

TRIALS WERE SUSPENDED IN MARCH AND THE COURTS FACE A BACKLOG OF CASES.

EVANS SAYS MORE THAN ONE COURTROOM WILL BE USED FOR EACH TRIAL AND JURORS MUST WEAR MASKS AND ANSWER HEALTH QUESTIONS AND HAVE THEIR TEMPERATURE CHECKED.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS IT'S JUST BEGINNING TO TALK WITH THE TEACHERS' UNION FOR PLANS FOR RETURNING HIGH SCHOOLERS BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS BEFORE THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SCHOOL C.E.O.

JANICE JACKSON SAYS GETTING THE STUDENTS BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING IS HER TOP PRIORITY NOW THAT THE UNION AND THE DISTRICT WORKED ON A PLAN FOR PRE-K-8.

THE DISTRICT SAID THE COMPLEXITY OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' SCHEDULES MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CREATE THE PAUSE WITH THE STUDENTS IN THE LOWER GRADES.

JESSE SHARKEY SAID THIS RECENT CONTRACT NEGOTIATION WAS QUOTE INMIEUX MAIN FOR UNION MEMBERS AND C.P.S.

FAMILIES.

TO PARIS WITH A LOOK AT QUESTIONS OVER THE CHICAGO ARCHDIOCESE'S TRANSPARENCY.

>> IN 2018, A BOMBSHELL PENNSYLVANIA GRAND JURY REPORT REVEALED ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE BY MORE THAN 300 PRIESTS INCLUDING WITH SEVEN TIES TO ILLINOIS.

TWO YEARS LATER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO TRANSPARENCY PERSIST.

A "SUN-TIMES" STORY SAYS WHILE THE ARCHDIOCESE RECEIVED REPORTS OF PRIESTS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE IT HAS NOT PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED THOSE CLERGY MEMBERS.

AND JOINING US IS THE AUTHOR, "SUN-TIMES" REPORTER ROBERT HERGUTH THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

REMIND US EVERYONE KNOWS THAT CARDINAL SUPPOSE CUPICH IS THE HEAD AND THE ORDERS, FRANCISCANS AND JUZ JESUITS AND HOW THEY FIT INTO THE HEIRARCHY.

>> IT IS ONE CHURCH BUT IT IS A COMPLICATED INSTITUTION AND THE CHURCH IS SPLINTERED THE POPE IN ROME IS IN CHARGE WORLDWIDE AND DIOCESE WHICH ARE GEOGRAPHIC JURISDICTIONS OF THE CHURCH.

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO IS THE ARM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES AND EVERY ARCHDIOCESE IS HEADED BY A BISHOP AND THAT IS BLASE CUPICH.

AND WHAT YOU HAVE ARE THE SEMI AUTONOMOUS CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS ORDERS THE DOMINICANS THE JESUITS.

AND THE DOMINICANS FENWICK HIGH SCHOOL THEY ARE NOT GEOGRAPHICALLY BOUND GENERALLY.

THEY CROSS JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES THEY RUN SCHOOLS AND THEY FOLLOW IN THE MOLD OF LIKE A SAINT OR A PHILOSOPHY.

>> AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY ANSWER ON ALL THINGS TO THE ARCHDIOCESE.

SO THE ISSUE YOU WRITE ABOUT IS THE ORDERS HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT CLERGY THAT HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND CUPICH HAS TRIED TO GET THAT INFORMATION BUT HE HAS NOT MADE THAT PUBLIC.

WHY NOT?

>> WELL, RIGHT.

IN 2018 AS YOU MENTIONED WAS THE LATEST SCANDAL AND NOT THE SCANDAL THE THIRD WAVE OF THIS SCANDAL THAT STARTED IN THE 90s OF PRIESTS SEXUALLY ASSAULTING CHILDREN.

IN 18 CUPICH CALLED ON THE ORDERS THAT DO NOT ANSWER TO HIM BUT THAT DO OPERATE WITHIN HIS JURISDICTION TO BE TRANSPARENT, TO RELEASE PUBLIC LISTS OF THEIR OFFENDING CLERGY.

AND BASICALLY WE'VE WRITTEN A COUPLE STORIES THAT HAVE SHOWN OTHER ORDERS HAVE DONE THAT AND A NUMBER HAVE NOT AND THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHAT CUPICH HAS BEEN DOING WAS CRACKING DOWN INTERNALLY ON THE ORDERS LIKE DEMANDING MORE INFORMATION FROM THEM FROM THE ONES THAT SERVE WITHIN HIS REALM.

AND KEEP THAT INFORMATION SO HE IS AWARE OF WHAT ACCUSED PRIESTS ARE WITHIN HIS REALM PAST OR PRESENT AND NOT RELEASING IT TO PUBLIC NOW HE HAS WHAT WE UNDERSTAND A GOOD HANDLE ON THE SCOPE OF THIS PROBLEM CURRENTLY AND IN THE PAST NOT JUST WITH HIS PRIESTS BUT WITH THE PRIESTS OF THESE ORDERS.

>> AND WE SHOULD READ A STATEMENT THAT THE ARCHDIOCESE SENT IN RESPONSE...

SO WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY THIS ISN'T PUBLIC?

AND THE NAMES OF THE PRIESTS WHERE THEY WERE ACCUSED WHAT PARISHES THEY WERE PART OF?

>> WELL, I TALKED TO ONE RELIGIOUS ORDER TODAY THAT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS AFTER THIS ADMONITION AND IN 2018 THIS MODERN HISTORY THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE BEFORE THEN FOR THE ORDERS TO RELEASE THIS.

AND SO TO NOT HAVE THEIR QUOTE-UNQUOTE ACT TOGETHER BY NOW AFTER THE FACT TO CRITICS IS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO THE ORDER THAT I SPOKE WITH A LOT OF THESE THE ABUSES FROM LOCK AGO IN MOST CASES.

AND WITH CLERICS THAT MAYBE HAVE LEFT THEIR ORDER ARE DEAD AND SO THAT DOES COMPLICATE THINGS IT DOES MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO PUT TOGETHER THE LISTS FOR THE ORDERS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME A LOT OF THE ORDERS HAVE DONE IT TO THROW UP THEIR HANDS AND SAY WE CANNOT DO IT DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH SOME PEOPLE.

AND THE ARCHDIOCESE THE CHURCH IS ONE INSTITUTION BUT THROUGHOUT THE SEX ABUSE CRISIS THEY TRIED TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM EACH OTHER.

IT'S LIKE, BUT WHAT I FOUND IN MY INVESTIGATION IS THAT THERE IS INTENSE COORDINATION BETWEEN THEM SO THIS ARGUMENT DOES NOT WASH IN MANY WAYS.

>> BOB WE SHOULD MENTION THE INVESTIGATION FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF THE LIGHTNING ROD ST. FATHER MICHAEL PFLEGER HE SAYS HE IS INNOCENT.

TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW WHERE THIS INVESTIGATION IS?

>> YES.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HIGH PROFILE CASE.

FATHER PFLEGER IS BELOVED AND WIDELY KNOWN THROUGHOUT CHICAGO AND THERE ARE SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING OR REPORTED TO DIFFERENT AGENCIES, CHILD WELFARE SERVICES, THE CHURCH ITSELF AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO WHERE THOSE ARE AT AS FAR AS I KNOW, ALL STILL PENDING THERE WAS A LITTLE INKLING OF SOME DEVELOPMENT TODAY WITH DCFS BUT IT IS MURKY AS TO WHAT THAT MEANT.

BUT PFLEGER MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE THROUGHOUT.

AND IT'S YET TO BE SEEN WHERE THIS IS CONCLUDED.

PART OF THE INVESTIGATION IS CONCLUDED DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ALL CONCLUDED IT DOES TAKE TIME.

>> COMPLEX ISSUES.

ROBERT HERGUTH GREAT REPORTING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL MADIGAN FORCES HIS REPLACEMENT THAT HE HAND PICKED TO RESIGN A FEW DAYS LATER.

AND A HOT MIC LANDS THE MAYOR IN HOT WATER.

ALL THIS AND MORE WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

WELCOME BACK TO AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

A LOT TO GET TO TONIGHT.

SO AMANDA, LET'S START WITH THE SPOTLIGHT ON MICHAEL MADIGAN AND HIS REPLACEMENT AS WE MENTIONED.

THE 26-YEAR-OLD EDWARD GUERRA KODATT WAS HAND PICKED BY MADIGAN.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WHAT DID HAPPEN?

THAT IS A BIG QUESTION BECAUSE MADIGAN IS KNOWN FOR HIS POLITICAL OPERATIONS AND WHAT COMES WITH THAT IS VETTING OF CANDIDATES BEFORE YOU PUT THEM OUT THERE AND TIE YOUR NAME TO THEM.

AS YOU NOTED IT WAS WITH MADIGAN'S SUPPORT THAT KODATT WAS ELEVATED TO FILL THAT 22nd DISTRICT SEAT.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER SUNDAY'S SELECTION AND SWEARING IN HE WAS JOINED ACTUALLY YESTERDAY WITH THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS PART OF THE ZOOM MEETING.

AND THEN SOMETHING CAME OUT, A QUESTIONABLE CONDUCT IN HIS PAST.

EVIDENTLY, TO THE POINT THAT IT LED HIM TO SUBMIT HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION THIS MORNING AFTER BOTH MADIGAN AND MARTY QUINN CALLED FOR HIM TO DO SO.

WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY ADDITIONAL STATEMENT, INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT BEYOND THAT TRANSPIRE.

>> AND HEATHER IS THERE ANY WORD ON THE QUOTE QUESTIONABLE CONDUCT THAT MADIGAN AND QUINN WERE REFERRING TO IN THAT STATEMENT?

>> NOTHING THAT ANY REPORTER HAS BEEN ABLE TO NAIL DOWN WHICH MAKES IT QUITE THE POLITICAL MISS TRICK BECAUSE WOULDN'T THERE BE A PAPER TRAIL IF IT WAS BAD ENOUGH TO FORCE HIM OUT OF OFFICE AFTER TWO DAYS?

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF RAMPANT SPECULATION BUT NOTHING WE CAN REPORT.

AMANDA IS RIGHT IT IS A BLACK EYE FOR THAT MADIGAN OPERATION KNOWN FOR DECADES AS EVERY SORT OF LETTING THEM SEE YOU SWEAT.

AND THERE'S SWEAT ALL OVER THE PLACE ON THIS.

>> LOTS OF SWEAT IN THE COLD TEMPERATURES.

PARIS THIS SEEMS SLOPPY FOR MADIGAN WHO HAS BEEN A VERY EXACTING POLITICIAN FOR THESE 50 YEARS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON?

IS HE SLIPPING UP ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR?

>> FOR 50 YEARS HE HAD EVERYTHING BUTTONED UP BUT HIS EXIT HAS BEEN MUFFED.

AND THEY HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE NOW IN THE 13TH WARD WHICH IS WHERE Mr. KODATT CAME OUT OF FOR ANY SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR THINGS ALONG THAT NATURE.

AND THAT OF COURSE HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE IN THE 13TH WARD IN MADIGAN'S ORGANIZATION AS WE KNOW THERE WERE #METOO ISSUES THAT CROPPED UP ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO THAT WERE THE FIRST CRACKS IN THE HOLE HERE THAT BROUGHT THE MADIGAN SHIP DOWN.

>> SO FINALLY THERE ARE THREE WOMEN VYING FOR MICHAEL MADIGAN'S ROLE AS CHAIR OF THE STATE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

FIRST TELL US, DO WE KNOW WHY HE IS STEPPING DOWN FROM THE CHAIRMANSHIP?

>> AND THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE PARTY WAS A POWERFUL POST.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHY THE TIMING IS RIGHT NOW.

BUT NOT BEING SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDRAISING ABILITY, CACHET THAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD IF HE KEPT THAT POSITION.

THE MIDTERMS ARE IN 2022.

ALWAYS A TOUGH ELECTION FOR THE PARTY IN POWER.

SO THEY NEED TO GET SOMEONE IN PLACE FOR THAT.

BUT WHAT IS INTERESTING IS A FAMILY FIGHT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

YOU MENTIONED ROBIN KELLY SEEKING THE CHAIRMAN SHIP OF THE PARTY AND MICHELLE HARRIS AND THERE ARE TWO POWER SPHERES, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ON ONE SIDE BACKING MICHELLE HARRIS AND ON THE OTHER SIDE DICK DURBIN BACKING CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY.

AND BILL HOULIHAN THROWING HIS WEIGHT BEHIND ROBIN KELLY.

AND I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE DURBIN AND THE PRITZKER CAMP SAYING WHY ARE WE HAVING A FAMILY FIGHT?

WE NEED TO GET OUR SHIPS SAY SAILING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

PRITZKER IS THE MAIN FUNDER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IT WOULD STAND TO REASON THAT HE WANTS THE PERSON HE WANTS IN CHARGE OF THE PARTY.

>> AMANDA WHAT IS THE JOB OF THE STATE PARTY CHAIR?

FUNDRAISER IN CHIEF?

>> FUNDRAISER IN CHIEF AT LEAST DURING MADIGAN'S TENURE.

IT WAS USED TO PROP UP MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE RUNNING AS DEMOCRATS OR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR THE HOUSE.

SO I DO THINK WE COULD SEE SOME OF THAT CHANGING AND THIS BEING A DEMOCRATIC PARTY YES THAT IS FUNDRAISING AND SETTING THE TONE WORKING ON DATA AND DOING A LOT DO YOU WANT TO ADD THERE IS A CONTESTANT IN THE RACE AND THAT IS SENATOR CRISTINA CASTRO WHO HAS THE BACKING OF JESUS CHUY GARCIA MANY AND WE SEE THERE IS AN EFFORT SHE IS BY THE WAY THE HEAD OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A LATINO CAUCUS, CASTRO.

>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE CANDIDATES ARE ALL WOMEN OF COLORS IS THE HOUSE SPEAKER HE IS A MAN OF COLOR.

THE NEW SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE, CHRIS WELCH MAY BRING BACK ONE OF GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S TOP PRIORITIES THAT IS THE GRADUATED INCOME TAX.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE HAVE TO TELL THE VOTERS WHO WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH THAT MONEY.

I CERTAINLY THINK TYING THAT NEW REVENUE TO PENSIONS WOULD BE A WINNER.

>> AMANDA THIS FAILED OVERWHELMINGLY AT THE BALLOT BOX.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> THIS WAS NEWS THAT WELCH MADE TODAY NOT FOR [INAUDIBLE] IT IS CLEAR THAT THOSE WHO BACKED MOVING TO A GRADUATED INCOME TAX ARE SMARTING NEVER GOTTEN OVER THE FACT THAT THEY LOST AT THE BALLOT BOX BLAMING THAT ON WHAT THEY SAY WAS UNFAIR TACTICS BY THE OPPOSITION.

AGAIN, THESE ARE POLITICS THE OPPOSITION WOULD SAY NO WE PLAYED JUST AS FAIR OR AS DIRTY AS YOU DO.

BUT I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT.

AND THUS FAR HAS NOT GOTTEN A RESOUNDING UPROAR OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE I THINK THIS NOTION OF JUST TAXES IN GENERAL.

THE PROSPECT OF TAX INCREASE HEADING INTO 2022 THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF CANDIDATES WILL BE QUICK TO EMBRACE.

>> AND PARIS, WILL THIS BE THE TOP ISSUES THAT REPUBLICANS WILL USE TO RUN AGAINST THE GOVERNOR AND TICKET?

>> I AM AHE CERTAIN THEY WOULD WANT TO RUN ON THAT ISSUE.

AND IF YOU ARE GOVERNOR PRITZKER YOU'VE BALANCED THE BUDGET WITHOUT GENERAL INCOME TAX HIKES.

MAYBE THEY CAN REVIVE THAT ATTACK NOW.

AND I HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT WHAT THE SPEAKER WELCH SAID ABOUT MAYBE IT WILL BE MORE POPULAR.

IT LOST AT THE BALLOT BOX BUT MAYBE IT WILL BE MORE POPULAR IF WE TELL THE VOTERS WHAT IT'S GOING TO GO TO TO PENSIONS?

IF YOU ARE THE AVERAGE ILLINOIS VOTER YOU WILL SAY IT'S OK IT WILL BE WEALTHY ILLINOISANS THAT WILL PAY A HIGHER TAX AND I AM OK BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GO TO PENSIONS?

IF HE SAID IT'S GOING TO GO TO EDUCATION OR BUILDING NEW ROADS AND BRIDGES, MAYBE IT IS A LITTLE MORE POPULAR.

BUT PENSIONS?

>> LET'S -- >> PENSIONS NEED FUNDING BUT HE SAYS THAT IS POLITICALLY POPULAR.

I DON'T KNOW, AMANDA?

WHAT AM I MISSING HERE?

>> I DON'T THINK HE NECESSARILY SAID IT WOULD BE POLITICALLY POPULAR.

YOU ARE RIGHT THOSE ARE VALID POINTS AND I THINK THIS WAS SOMETHING I'M NOT SURE HE WAS HOW SERIOUS ABOUT IT HE WAS THIS IS AGAIN, THOUGH CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT THOSE WHO BACKED THAT AND TAXING THE WEALTHY I THEY THEY ARE GOING TO REVISIT IN SOME FASHION IT IS A MATTER OF WHEN AND HOW.

>> MOVING TO CITY NEWS THAT HOT MIC THAT CAUGHT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CURSING AFTER RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ SPOKE ABOUT A RESOLUTION HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONEY IN THE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.

>> THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MAKE THIS CITY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALDERWOMAN.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES ALDERMAN JIM GARNER.

>> HEATHER WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

>> WELL, MY REPORTING SHOWS SHE HAD BEEN INFORMED AT THAT MOUNTAIN THAT ALDERMAN BURKE AND LOPEZ CRITICS ON THE CITY COUNCIL JOINED FORCES AND WERE GOING TO BLOCK A VOTE ON THE FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

ALDERMAN ED BURKE HAS BEEN ADD ODDS WITH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SINCE THE BEGINNING.

SHE RAN ON ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION IN CITY HALL AND PAINTED HIM AS A FACE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH CHICAGO POLITICS.

AND SHE HAS BEEN AT ODDS WITH RAYMOND LOPEZ FROM THE SAME MOMENT.

HE IS AN ALLY OF ED BURKE AND HE HAS BEEN CRITICAL HOW SHE HAS APPROACHED HER TIME IN OFFICE.

SO SHE WAS VULNERABLE ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE SHE WAS BEING CONDEMNED BY PROGRESSIVE GROUPS AND ALDERMAN BURKE AND LOPEZ HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXACT SOME PERHAPS POLITICAL REVENGES AND FORCE ALL OF US TO COME BACK FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET THIS PASSED AGAIN.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN BURKE AND LOPEZ WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE?

>> WELL, ALDERMAN BURKE WAS BEEN QUIET SINCE HE WAS INDICTED ON 14 COUNTS OF BRIBERY, RACKETEERING AND CORRUPTION.

AND IN SOME RESPECTS ALDERMAN LOPEZ HAS SORT OF STEPPED INTO THE ROLE PUTTING OUT PRESS RELEASES AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE A PRO POLICE, CONSERVATIVE ROLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND THEY ARE ALL DEMOCRATS OR DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OR INDEPENDENTS ON THE CITY COUNCIL THERE IS NO REPUBLICAN ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

BUT THEY REALLY, REALLY WANT TO EXACT WHATEVER DAMAGE THEY CAN TO THE MAYOR.

AND THEY SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND USING A PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE THEY DID EXACTLY THAT.

>> AFTER LOBBYING FROM THE MAYOR BOTH OF ILLINOIS' U.S.

SENATOR IT IS LOOKS LIKE THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR HERE U.S. JOHN LAUSCH WILL STAY IN HIS OFFICE.

BUT HEATHER BACK TO YOU WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE INVESTIGATION INTO ALDERMAN ED BURKE?

>> IT'S STATUS QUO.

WE ARE APPROACHING IN MAY THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF ED BURKE'S INDICTMENT ON THE 14 COUNTS OF CORRUPTION THAT I JUST MENTIONED HIS CASE HIS TRIAL HAS BEEN DELAYED HE HAS PLED NOT GUILTY.

AND IT'S BEEN DELAYED BY THE PANDEMIC WHICH ENDED JURY TRIALS.

AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE IN HIS CASE.

THERE ARE HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF WIRETAPS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECORDED.

AND BEFORE ED BURKE FACES A JURY HE IS GOING TO ASK A JUDGE TO TOSS OUT A BUNCH OF THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERCUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CASE.

MAYBE WE'LL SEE THAT HEARING HAPPEN THIS SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.

BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG-HAUL AND THERE IS NO CLEAR END IN SIGHT FOR THE BURKE CORRUPTION.

>> CAN I JUMP IN ON THAT?

THREE NEW INDICTMENTS TODAY FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND TWO SONS.

SO MY POINT IS LAUSCH'S BUSY.

BUT A LOT OF THE INVESTIGATIONS STARTED BEFORE HIM.

THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WHETHER HE IS THERE OR NOT.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO THE TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE, PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND UP NEXT, WHY A LEGENDARY CHICAGO MUSICIAN'S LIFE FELL APART THIS YEAR AND WHAT BROUGHT HIM BACK.

STAY WITH US.

>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TURNED OUR LIVES UPSIDE-DOWN THIS STORY IS ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL DEVASTATION AND THE RECOVERY EXPERIENCED BY ONE BELOVED LOCAL MUSICIAN.

HERE IS JAY SHEFSKY.

>> BACK IN EARLY MARCH 2020 JUST BEFORE COVID SHUT THE WORLD DOWN, A GROUP OF MUSICIANS RECORDED THE 16TH CD OF A LEGENDARY CHICAGO PIANIST.

BUT THEY HAD NO IDEA THE 84-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN'S LIFE WAS ABOUT TO FALL APART.

>> OK. >> AND WITHIN TWO MONTHS HE WOULD BE IN A HOSPITAL PSYCH UNIT.

[♪♪♪] MY NAME IS ERWIN HELFER, I PLAY A HOOTS PIANO, BLUES, BOOGIE AND STANDARDS.

[♪♪♪] >> ERWIN HELFER IS ALSO QUITE MODEST.

HE'S GOT A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE CHICAGO JAZZ INSTITUTE.

A CHICAGO STREET NAMED IN HIS HONOR AND HE WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO BRING BLUES MUSICIANS FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO NORTH SIDE CLUBS AND WHITE AUDIENCES.

>> YOU WANT TO SIT ON THIS NOTE... >> HE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC WHEN HE WAS JUST 16.

>> I WAS A TEENAGER AND I COULD DRIVE SO I WOULD DRIVE DOWN THE SOUTH SIDE AND MY DAD WOULD TAKE ME TO HEAR LITTLE BROTHER MONTGOMERY AND BLIND JOHN DAVIS ON WEST MADISON STREET.

>> OVER THE YEARS HE BECAME A TRUSTED FRIEND AND FELLOW PLAYER TO MANY BLUES MUSICIANS WHO CAME BEFORE HIM LIKE MAMA YANCY, THE WIDOW OF PIONEERING BOOINGBY WOOGIE PIANIST JIM ANY NANCY AND A NOTED BLUES STINGER IN HER OWN RIGHT.

>> AMERICA OWES A GREAT DEAL TO THESE PEOPLE.

>> NEARLY A YEAR AFTER THAT PRECOVID RECORDING SESSION ERWIN HELFER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HIS TRIP TO HELL AND HOW HE GOT BACK.

>> WHEN THE SHUTDOWN BEGAN, HOW WERE THINGS FOR YOU THEN?

>> THEY WERE ALL RIGHT FOR A WHILE.

BUT LATER ON IT WAS NOT GETTING ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE I COULDN'T TEACH WHICH IS WHAT I LOVE DOING THE MOST.

I COULDN'T PLAY WHICH I LOVE DOING.

AND COULDN'T EVEN WALK INTO THE BANK AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT BUT I STARTED GOING INTO A DEEP STATE OF DEPRESSION.

>> ERWIN SAYS HE BECAME CONSUMED BY FEAR AND DELUSIONS LIKE OBSESSIVELY WORRYING HIS HOUSE WOULD BURN DOWN.

>> WHAT I WAS DOING WAS ACCEPTING UNREALITY FOR REALITY.

>> SOME PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM WERE GETTING WORRIED.

ONE WAS THE OWNER OF ERWIN'S RECORD LABEL AND A LONGTIME FRIEND.

>> I WAS CALLING HIM EVERYDAY AND JUST WEEK AFTER WEEK, THINGS SEEMED TO BE GOING IN A BAD DIRECTION.

>> PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HIM HARMING HIMSELF AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF.

>> SO IN EARLY MAY HIS FRIENDS INTERVENED.

>> THEY DROVE ME TO RUSH HOSPITAL WHERE I STAYED FOR SIX WEEKS.

>> DRUG THERAPY HE SAYS DIDN'T WORK.

GROUP THERAPY WAS OK BUT DIDN'T BRING BACK HIS WILL TO LIVE.

ERWIN AND HIS FRIENDS CREDIT HIS RECOVERY TO A TREATMENT WITH A BAD REPUTATION.

ELECTRO CON VULSIVE THERAPY.

ECT OR SHOCK THERAPY AS MANY CALL IT, CONJURES TERRIBLE IMAGES.

BUT DOCTORS THEY TRUSTED RECOMMENDED IT.

AND AFTER NINE TREATMENTS ERWIN AND HIS FRIENDS COULD TELL HE WAS BACK.

>> I KNEW I WAS GETTING MUCH BETTER WHEN THE NURSE CAME UP TO ME AND SHE SAYS WHEN WAS YOUR LAST BOWL MOVEMENT, AND -- BOWEL MOVEMENT AND THAT IS WHEN I KNEW.

>> AND WHEN ERWIN CAME HOME HE FOUND HIS FRIENDS THOROUGHLY CLEANED HIS HOUSE AND GOOD FRIEND BLUES SINGER KATHERINE DAVIS HAD MOVED IN TO HELP.

AND NOW ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS LATER HE SAYS THE DEEP DESPAIR HAS NOT RETURNED.

AND WHAT HE FEELS MOST IS GRATITUDE.

>> THE FRIENDS I HAVE WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR ME, BEING ABLE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND FACE A NEW DAY ... >> THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN HIS LIFE NOW?

HE IS NOT PLAYING MUSIC.

NO GIGS, OF COURSE, BUT HE DOESN'T PLAY AT HOME.

HE SAYS HE IS OK WITH THAT.

SOME SPECULATE IT COULD BE A SIDE EFFECT OF THE ECT ERWIN DOESN'T THINK SO.

>> WE INTERVIEWED ERWIN IN A ROOM WITH A PIANO JUST IN CASE.

AND HE DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY.

[♪♪♪] >> SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME I WAS VERY BRAVE FOR TELLING THE STORY AND I DON'T THINK I WAS BRAVE AT ALL.

I THINK I OWED IT TO PEOPLE.

[♪♪♪] THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF SINGLE OLDER DEPRESSED PEOPLE LIVING BY THEMSELVES.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS JAY SHEFSKY.

[♪♪♪] >> LOOKS LIKE ERWIN HAS IT.

I MISS THOSE TUESDAY NIGHT PERFORMANCES AT THE HUNGRY BRAIN.

AND THIS SATURDAY NIGHT THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL CD RELEASE CONCERT FOR CELEBRATE THE JOURNEY BUYERER AND THE CHICAGO BOOGIE ENSEMBLE LIVE AT STUDIO 5 AND YOU CAN TUNE IN FROM HOME.

ERWIN INFORMED US HE WILL PLAY WITH THE BAND.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CD EVENT ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND IF YOU'VE HAD EXPERIENCES WITH ELECTROCON VULSIVE THERAPY GOOD OR BAD LET US KNOW ABOUT THEM.

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

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. GREEK TOWN RESTAURANT WEEK IS AROUND THE CORNER AND WE VISIT THE AREA AS OUR NEXT STOP IN THE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

[♪♪♪] >> AND A LOCAL ORGANIZATION WORKING TO MAKE SURE NO MUSICIAN IS LEFT BEHIND.

AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH MORE FROM ERWIN HELFER AND THE CHICAGO BOOGIE ENSEMBLE.

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

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]