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

I AM A BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE CAN DEBATE IF IF WE WISH BUT WE CAN'T DRAG OUR FEET WE CAN'T WASTE A DAY.

>> SENATOR DICK DURBIN ON EFFORTS TO GET PRESIDENT BIDEN'S COVID RELIEF PLAN AS REPUBLICANS DECRY A PARTISAN APPROACH FROM DEMOCRATS.

>> I'M READY TO GO BACK WHENEVER.

>> WHAT IS THE STATUS FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A COOLING OFF PERIOD COMES TO A CLOSE?

WE HAVE THE LATEST.

>> THE GOVERNOR AWAITS HIS VACCINE SHOT AS HE REDIRECTS 100,000 DOSES SOME GOING INTO LAWMAKERS' ARMS THAT IS ONE OF THE STORIES FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

>> THE HEAD OF McCORMICK PLACE HOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPACTED THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY AND PLAN FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER TO BOUNCE BACK THIS YEAR.

>> A NEW ARCHIVE DETAILS THE ALLEGED TORTURE CARRIED OUT BY JON BURGE AND HIS CREW AGAINST DOZENS OF MEN.

>> AND LOOKING AT THE IMPACT INCARCERATION HAS ON PEOPLE'S LIVES ONCE THEY GET OUT OF PRISON.

>> WE WANT OUR STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE TO BE ABLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE BRINGING THEIR WHOLE SEVERALS TO THEIR WORK.

>> HOW A NONPROFIT IS WORKING TO CHANGE THE FACE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

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

AFTER FOUR YEARS IN MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF CITIES, STATE AND FEDERAL REVIEWS THE OBAMA CENTER IS FINALLY READY TO BREAK GROUND IN JACKSON PARK.

PRELIMINARY WORK ON UTILITY LINES COULD BEGIN AS SOON AS APRIL WITH AN OFFICIAL GROUNDBREAKING HAPPENING IN AUGUST ACCORDING TO THE OBAMA FOUNDATION.

THE NEWS COMES AFTER PRELIMINARY APPROVAL FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.

ALTHOUGH THE FOUNDATION SAYS IT IS STILL AWAITING TIME RECEIPT OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.

THE JACKSON PARK LOCATION RECEIVED PUSHBACK FROM PRESERVATION GROUPS ARGUING IT WOULD ALTER THE CHARACTER OF THE HISTORIC PARK AND THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN HEATED NEGOTIATIONS WITH RESIDENTS GROUPS TO HALT THE SPREAD OF GENTRIFICATION.

IN A VIDEO RELEASED FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAID THE PROJECT WILL HELP CATALYZE THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING IN OUR CHICAGO.

THEY HIT -- HISTORY.

THEY HIT CHICAGO HARD.

THEY SUFFERED DEVASTATING HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FROM COVID-19, FACE HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND MORE.

HOPEFULLY 2021 OFFERS A TURNING POINT FOR OUR NATION AND OUR CITY.

>> EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO SPEED UP THE RELATIVELY SLOW RATE OF COVID VACCINATIONS IN ILLINOIS.

HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE TEMPORARILY REDIRECTING 97,000 UNUSED DOSES TO THOSE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE CURRENT PHASE.

THE DOSES WILL COME FROM THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WITH CVS AND WALGREENS TO VACCINATE RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THEY HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED 496,000 DOSES BUT ONLY 163,000 HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA AVAILABLE FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

MEANWHILE, STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 3300 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

WITH 69 ADDITIONAL DEATHS THAT MAKES FOR A STATE-WIDE TOTAL OF 1,134,000 CASES AND 19,375 DEATHS.

AND NOW TO PARIS AND ILLINOIS' SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR?

A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER TODAY BEFORE THE SENATE APPROVED A POWER SHARING AGREEMENT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS THE CLOCK IS TICKING IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON SEVERAL FRONTS.

NEGOTIATIONS ON A NEARLY $2 TRILLION COVID RELIEF BILL, THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND CONFIRMATION OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S REMAINING CABINET MEMBERS INCLUDING ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE MERRICK GARLAND AN THE CENTER IS ILLINOIS' SENATOR DICK DURBIN WHO IS TODAY EXPECTED TO TAKEOVER AS CHAIR OF THE ALL IMPORTANT SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

AND SENATOR DICK DURBIN JOINS US NOW.

SENATOR THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK WITH US.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, PARIS.

>> LET'S OUTLINE FOR VIEWERS WHAT IS IN THE 1.9 TRILLION COVID STIMULUS BILL IT INCLUDES 1400 INDIVIDUAL CHECKS, 400 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME AND MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SENATOR DURBIN, WILL A FINAL COVID STIMULUS BILL INCLUDE THAT MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?

BECAUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE OPPOSED THAT MEASURE SO FAR.

>> I THINK IT WILL.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROVISIONS.

ALL THE VACCINE PROVISIONS AND THE MONEY FOR STATES TO DELIVER THE VACCINATIONS THAT IS THE STARTING POINT OF THE BILL AND PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE IT A PRIORITY.

HERE IS WHAT WE FACE.

PASS THE BUDGET RESOLUTION TODAY OR TOMORROW.

THE NEXT DAY.

THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL NEXT WEEK.

AND THEN WE HAVE A WEEK OF BREAK FOR THE PRESIDENT'S BIRTHDAYS.

AND THEN WE START WITH THE RECONCILIATION.

RECONCILIATION IS WHERE THE MONEY IS.

THAT IS WHERE WE GET DOWN TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER WE HAVE 50 VOTES.

THE 50/50 SENATE TO SUPPORT THE BIDEN RELIEF PROPOSAL.

>> AND THAT RECONCILIATION PROCESS HAS STARTED SO THAT MEANS YOU WOULD ONLY NEED A PARTY LINE VOTE IF ALL DEMOCRATS WERE IN LINE ON IT.

YOU WOULD NOT NEED REPUBLICANS.

HERE IS WHAT MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT PROCESS.

>> THEY'VE CHOSEN A TOTALLY PARTISAN PATH.

I CAN'T REMEMBER A BUDGET IN THE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE THAT EITHER SIDE VOTED IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

SO WE'RE OFF TO A TOTALLY PARTISAN START.

>> SO SENATOR DURBIN IF YOU CONTINUE ON THAT PATH WITH RECONCILIATION AND NOT JUST GETTING THE 60 VOTES FILIBUSTER PROOF MAJORITY WHICH WOULD REQUIRE 10 REPUBLICAN SENATORS DOES THIS POISON THE WELL OF BIPARTISANSHIP FOR FUTURE EFFORTS UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?

>> I WOULD SAY SENATOR McCONNELL HAD A CASA BLANCA MOMENT SHOCKED AT THE KNOCKS ANYBODY WOULD GO THROUGH RECONCILIATION AND HAVE ONE PARTY VOTING ON THE SIDE OF PASSAGE.

HE DID IT HIMSELF AND THEY DID IT TO GIVE THE TAX BREAKS TO PEOPLE IN THE HIGHER INCOME CATEGORIES.

THAT WAS PART OF HIS PACKAGE FOR RECONCILIATION.

LET ME SAY TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE BIPARTISAN SHIP AND I SALUTE THE 10 REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND SAT DOWN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR TWO STRAIGHT HOURS AND ONE-ON-ONE, DEALT WITH THE ISSUES BEFORE US.

THEY DIDN'T AGREE ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE SPENT BUT THEY AGREED ON MANY PARTS OF IT.

AND THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS I SPOKE TO AFTERWARDS WERE SO HEARTENED BY THE FACT THAT BIDEN TOOK THEIR OFFER TO HELP SERIOUSLY.

SAT DOWN WITH THEM AND GAVE THEM HIS TIME AND POINT OF VIEWS AND EXCHANGE WITH RESPECT THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS WHAT A CHANGE THAT IS OF WHAT WE'VE FACED FOR FOUR YEARS.

>> IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE MIGHT BE A COMPROMISE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, SENATOR, THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAVE BLAMED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR A SLOW VACCINE ROLLOUT ESPECIALLY HERE IN CHICAGO.

ARE THERE IMMINENT STEPS CONGRESS CAN TAKE TO SPEED THAT PROCESS UP SPECIFICALLY IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS?

>> WELL, LET'S CALL IT FOR WHAT IT IS.

THE WARP SPEED PROGRAM BROUGHT TOGETHER THE RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS AND THEY ENDED UP FINDING THE RIGHT FORMULA AND STARTING THE PRODUCTION.

THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WHEN IT CAME TO DISTRIBUTION OF A VACCINE AND THAT IS WHY WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOWED UP, ON 11, 12 DAYS AGO WE REALIZED WE HAD TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO GET MORE VACCINE INTO THE ARMS OF PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA.

THERE WAS NO VACCINE IN THE FREEZERS THAN THERE WAS IN THE ARMS OF AMERICANS.

WE ARE CHANGING THAT.

GOOD NEWS, GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS REALLY LEADING THE NATION WE ARE IN THE TOP 10 IN TERMS OF THE PERCENT OF VACCINATIONS.

IT IS A HARD JOB.

BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON IT AND HE HAS TO DO MORE.

WE HAVE TO SEE MORE AND MORE ILLINOISANS VACCINATED.

I KNOW AROUND THE STATE WHEN I CALL TO THE TV SHOWS, PEOPLE TELL ME THEIR FRUSTRATION IN ILLINOIS AND PLACES.

I FIND IT EVEN IN SPRINGFIELD.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER SYSTEM OF PRODUCING, DISTRIBUTING AND ACTUALLY INJECTING THE VACCINATIONS IN THE ARMS OF PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS.

>> AND INDEED THIS IS A STICKING POINT IN THE C.P.S.

C.T.U.

NEGOTIATIONS.

I WANT TO MOVE ON TO IMPEACHMENT.

NEXT WEEK SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM SAID THERE SHOULD NOT BE WITNESSES CALLED BECAUSE IT COULD OPEN UP A PANDORA'S BOX.

WILL THERE BE WITNESSES AND HOW DEEP WILL THIS TRIAL GO?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRIAL.

WE HAVE 100 SENATORS WHO ON THE JURY 100 SENATORS WHO WERE IONS.

WE WERE IN THE SENATE CHAMBER WHEN THE MOB CAME RUSHING THROUGH THE CAPITOL.

AND WE ARE EVACUATED FROM THE CHAMBER.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A RECORD OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

WE HAD VOLUMES OF VIDEOTAPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER DISCLOSURES THAT SHOULD BE PUT INTO THE RECORD AND THE REASON IS BASIC... 40% OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FOLLOWERS REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT OR SUPPORTERS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

THEY BLAME ANTIFA AND BLACK LIVES MATTER.

THAT KIND OF NOTION HAS TO BE DEBUNKED BY FACT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A RECORD IN THIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED SO FUTURE GENERATIONS KNOW THIS OUTRAGEOUS DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE CAPITOL.

>> AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH REPUBLICAN SENATORS, 17 IT WOULD NEED TO CONVICT.

SPEAKING OF THE SENATOR DURBIN YOU'VE CALLED FOR CONGRESS TO USE SPONSORED THE DOMESTIC TERRORISM BILL REMIND US WHAT THAT BILL WOULD DO AND WHETHER YOU FEEL SAFE RIGHT NOW AS SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE SAY THEY DON'T.

>> LET ME TELL YOU THE FACTS OF THE MATTER.

YOU MAY REMEMBER EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AGO IN WISCONSIN WHEN A SIKH TEMPLE WAS ATTACKED AND PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND IT WAS A HATE CRIME.

I HELD A HEARING IN WASHINGTON.

AND THE GROUPS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS WHITE NATIONALISM, WHITE SUPREMACY WERE GROWING IN INTENSITY AND DANGER TO THE GENERAL POPULATION OF AMERICA.

THAT HAS INCREASED THE PACE EVER SINCE.

AND SINCE THEN I HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION CALLING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO STOP JUST LOOKING AT INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND LOOK AT AMERICA BORN AND BRED TERRORISM.

THAT'S WHAT WE SAW ON JANUARY 6 RIGHT HERE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CATALOG THE CRIMES WHICH ARE GETTING MORE VIOLENT AND PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO FIGHT THIS PHENOMENA.

I WANT TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE.

>> AND WHILE THIS IS BEING CONSIDERED, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, YOU WERE EXPECTED TO TAKEOVER AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DEPENDING WHEN THE SENATE VOTES TO APPROVE THIS POWER SHARING AGREEMENT THAT McCONNELL AND SCHUMER STRUCK UP IN THE 50/50 SENATE.

YOU'VE CRITICIZED THE FORMER CHAIRMAN LINDSEY GRAHAM FOR SLOW WALKING THE NOMINATION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND.

NOW THAT IT APPEARS YOU WILL TAKEOVER, WHEN WILL THAT NOMINATION AND THOSE HEARINGS GO FORWARD?

>> I'M TRYING TO FIND A DAY THAT WE CAN DO THE HEARING.

I SUGGESTED NEXT MONDAY.

BECAUSE IT'S THE DAY BEFORE THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

BUT THAT REPUBLICANS OBJECTED.

THEY SAID THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

I REMINDED HIM TRUMP'S FIRST IMPEACHMENT CHAIRMAN GRAHAM HELD THE HEARING THE MONDAY BEFORE THE TRIAL STARTED ON TUESDAY BUT HE WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.

I'M LOOKING FOR THE FIRST AVAILABLE DATE AFTERWARDS.

THE TAX CUT IS ONE OF THE KEY PLAYERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE, INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THE LAST ONE LEFT.

I WANT TO GET THIS MAN ON THE JOB WAS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> WHY DID YOU BELIEVE THIS NOMINATION HAS BEEN HELD UP BY SENATOR GRAHAM AND OTHER REPUBLICANS?

>> WELL, I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

AND I WANT TO WORK WITH THESE REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO DISAGREED WITH THIS HEARING.

I THINK THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BEFORE THEY MADE THEIR DECISION BUT I WILL NOT BURN THE BRIDGE I HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO WORK WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.

>> AND A BRIDGE THAT MIGHT BE BURNED DOWN THE ROAD IS THE FILIBUSTER.

THERE ARE DEMOCRATS WHO SAID THAT THE SENATE FILIBUSTER RULES SHOULD BE DISSOLVED WHERE YOU CAN PASS FUTURE LEGISLATION ON THAT SIMPLE 51-VOTE MAJORITY AS OPPOSED TO THE FILL BUTTER 60.

DO YOU SUPPORT ENDING THE FILIBUSTER.

DO YOU SUPPORT IT?

>> WHAT I SUPPORT IS FOR THE SENATE GETTING SOMETHING DONE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE SENATE HAS BEEN OUT TO LUNCH.

AND THE BIG PROBLEMS FACING AMERICA WE DIDN'T EVEN BRING LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED HUNDREDS OF BILLS AND SENATE McCONNELL WOULD NOT TAKE UP ONE OF THEM THEY SAT THERE.

BILL AFTER BILL.

AND FILIBUSTER WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE FACED WE COULD NOT MOVE A BILL BECAUSE THE 60 VOTE REQUIREMENT WAS INCLUDED.

I WANT TO GET THINGS DONE.

IF WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FILIBUSTER AND THE FUTURE IN THE SENATE I'M WILLING TO DO THAT, TOO.

I HAVE AN OPEN MIND BUT I WANT THE SENATE TO PRODUCE FOR AMERICA.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WILL BE DEBATED FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

SENATOR DURBIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>> AND NOW, BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

LATE WORD FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS EVENING, JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO UPDATING US ON NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

THE COOLING OFF PERIOD COMES TO A CLOSE, THE TWO SIDES ARE STILL NEGOTIATING ON HOW TO REOPEN SCHOOLS.

AMANDA VINICKY HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY THIS WEEK AND JOINS US NOW.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS, RIGHT NOW MARKS THE END OF THAT 48-HOUR COOLING OFF PERIOD ANNOUNCED BY SA C.P.S.

AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ON MONDAY NIGHT.

AND AT THE TIME THEY HAD SAID THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THEIR TALKS WITH C.T.U.

AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CONTINUE BARGAINING AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY MET ALL DAY YESTERDAY AND THE MAYOR LAST NIGHT SAID WE'LL GIVE YOU UPDATES AS NEGOTIATIONS PROGRESS.

AND THEY MET AGAIN ALL DAY TODAY.

AND REALLY IT WAS RADIO SILENCE UNTIL JUST ABOUT 7:00 P.M.

WHEN THE MAYOR DID RELEASE A STATEMENT AND IT IS SHORT.

DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

WE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE LATER THIS EVENING.

IS ALL THAT IT SAID.

WHAT DOES THAT LEAVE IN STORE?

REALLY THREE OPTIONS: ONE THEY WILL COME TO A DEAL.

TWO: ANOTHER EXTENSION OF REMOTE LEARNING AS BOTH SIDES TRY TO GET TO AN AGREEMENT.

OR C.P.S.

SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TEACHERS HAVE TO RETURN TO SCHOOLS ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT'S REOPENING PLAN.

THE UNION SAYS THAT IF TEACHERS ARE GOING TO KEEP ON WORKING REMOTELY, C.T.U.

IS PREPARED TO STRIKE IF C.P.S.

LOCKS THEM OUT OF THEIR VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS.

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED ALREADY TO SOME TEACHERS.

>> I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT AND UNABLE TO TEACH MY STUDENTS SINCE JANUARY 12TH.

SO THIS IS THE 16TH DAY THAT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TEACH MY STUDENTS.

>> WHICH MEANS THAT LINDA PERALES HAS NOT GOTTEN PAID FOR THAT TIME, EITHER.

C.P.S.

CONSIDERS HER A.W.O.L.

>> ABSENCE WITHOUT LEAVE, BUT THAT CONTRADICTS THEIR OWN DEFINITION OF WHAT A.W.O.L.

MEANS.

A.W.O.L.

MEANS ABSENT FOR 10 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AND NO ONE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE.

I'M NOT A.W.O.L.

BECAUSE I'M HERE READY TO TEACH.

YOU CUTOFF MY ACCESS TO MY GOOGLE CLASSROOM.

>> LINDA PERALES IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION OR CLUSTER TEACHER IN THE LATINX LITTLE VILLAGE.

SHE WAS AMONG THE PRE-K AND CLUSTER TEACHERS EXPECTED BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AS OF EARLY JANUARY.

FOR A FEW WEEKS THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

BUT THEY LIKE ALL OTHER C.P.S.

STUDENTS ARE BACK TO ALL REMOTE NOW AS C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

'S BARGAINING HAS GOTTEN MORE INTENSE.

A DISTRICT SPOKESPERSON SAYS THAT STAFF FROM THAT FIRST RETURN TO SCHOOL WAVE WILL REMAIN A.W.O.L.

UNLESS THEY CLOCK IN OR UNLESS THEY PROVIDE A VALID EXCUSE FOR THEIR ABSENCES AND C.P.S.

SAYS AS OF TODAY 48 TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS ARE CONSIDERED A.W.O.L.

AND THAT IS DOWN C.P.S.

SAID FROM 143 WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY ANNOUNCED BACK JANUARY 11.

FOR LINDA PERALES SAYS SHE THOUGHT HARD BEFORE ABOUT HER REASONS FOR REMAINING REMOTE.

>> BY QUOTE-UNQUOTE YOUNG I'M 33.

I'M HEALTHY AND I WANT IT TO STAY THAT WAY.

NO ONE KNOWS HOW COVID CAN IMPACT PEOPLE.

IT'S LIKE PEOPLE CAN BE YOUNG AND THEY CAN GET GRAVELY ILL WITH COVID-19.

I WANT TO HAVE KIDS ONE DAY.

I WANT TO YOU KNOW, BUILD A LIFE WITH MY PARTNER.

AND FOR C.P.S.

TO IGNORE THAT AND NOT MAKE A REAL PLAN THAT PRIORITIZED THE SAFETY OF TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS IS INFURIATING.

>> WE ALSO WANTED TO GET PERSPECTIVE FROM A C.P.S.

STUDENT NATHANIEL MARTINEZ IS 16 YEARS OLD.

WE ARE NOT ASKING HIM TO WEIGH-IN ON THE BATTLE BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

WE JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING FOR HIM.

MARTINEZ WAS ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH HIS FRESHMAN YEAR AT ROOSEVELT HIGH LAST MARCH WHEN LEARNING WENT REMOTE.

IF HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, HE SAYS HE WOULD GO BACK.

>> I'M JUST WAITING TO WHEN WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY SO I CAN GO BACK AND DO MY THING, SEE MY FRIENDS AGAIN.

>> MARTINEZ IS A LEADER WITH COMMUNITY UNITED.

AND HE IS IN THE GAMING CLUB.

>> WE JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER AND WE PLAY TOGETHER.

I GOT INTO THREE GAMES NOW.

A GAME THAT IS KIND OF LIKE SIMILAR TO AMONG US.

>> I WANTED TO KNOW IF LIKE ME, HE IS SICK OF STARING AT A SCREEN ALL DAY LONG AND HE SAID AS A GAMER, IT DOESN'T BOTHER HIM.

MOST STUDENTS HAVE THEIR CAMERAS OFF DURING REMOTE LEARNING ANYWAY BUT HE SAYS HE IS SICK OF TYPING.

AND THAT GETS TO THE HEART OF WHY MARTINEZ SAYS THAT HE IS READY TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

>> I MEAN, I ENJOY GOING TO SCHOOL PHYSICALLY BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THERE LESS DISTRACTIONS BUT YOU CAN INTERACT WITH MORE PEOPLE.

IT'S EASIER EASIER TO WORK WITH OTHERS AND DOING A PROJECT YOU CAN GO TO YOUR CLASSMATE AND MAKE A PLAN.

YOU GUYS CAN GO SOMEWHERE AND DO THAT OR YOU CAN ASK ASSISTANCE FROM TEACHERS.

>> NOW, MIND YOU THAT MARTINEZ IS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR C.P.S.

HIGH SCHOOLERS TO MOVE AWAY FROM VIRTUAL LEARNING.

THE QUESTION AS IT STANDS NOW IS OVER WHETHER SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WHETHER PRE-K-8 GRADE TEACHERS HAVE TO GO BACK TO THEIR PHYSICAL CLASSROOMS.

AND WE WILL KEEP OUR EYES AND INBOXES OPEN FOR NEWS ON THAT FRONT, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHICAGO'S CONVENTION INDUSTRY LIKE OTHERS TOOK A HUGE FINANCIAL HIT WHEN COVID-19 SHUTDOWN THE CITY.

McCORMICK PLACE, NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST CONVENTION CENTER IS LOOKING TO REBOUND THIS SUMMER WITH DOZENS OF EVENTS SCHEDULED THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

HOW MIGHT CONVENTIONS LOOK DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?

THE HEAD OF THE CORPORATION, CONTROLLING McCORMICK PLACE AND NAVY PIER IS HERE TO TELL US.

JOINING US IS LARITA CLARK C.E.O.

OF THE METROPOLITAN PIER AND EXPOSITION AUTHORITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

>> YOU TOOK ON THIS LEADERSHIP ROLE A YEAR AGO, JANUARY 2020.

AND THAT IS A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.

WHAT HAS THIS YEAR BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?

>> THIS YEAR HAS BEEN INTERESTING.

WE HAD OUR LAST EVENT THE ALL-STAR YOU MAY RECALL BACK IN FEBRUARY 2020, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING ALL OF THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT JUST TO INSURE THAT WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT THAT WE HAVE PLANS TO RETURN SAFELY.

>> THE CANCELED SHOWS AT McCORMICK PLACE THEY WERE EXPECTED TO BRING $1.6 BILLION IN SPENDING ACCORDING TO YOUR AGENCY.

HOW FINANCIALLY DETRIMENTAL HAS THE PANDEMIC BEEN TO MPEA?

>> MPEA WE'VE LOST PROBABLY ABOUT 90 MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT WE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED NET.

BUT ON FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY WHICH IS OUR CORE MISSION IS TO BRING REVENUE INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH CONVENTIONS, IT'S BEEN ABOUT 2.6 BILLION.

>> HOW DOES THAT AFFECT BUSINESS OR ANY OPERATIONS OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NOT A LOT HAPPENING BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE BOOKS?

>> SO FOR -- WE LOOK AT IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

WE LOOK HOW WE ARE AFFECTING OUR CITY.

WHAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN IS BRINGING JOBS TO THE CITY.

SO JUST ON OUR CAMPUS THERE ARE ABOUT 3,000 WORKERS REGULARLY.

WE ARE DOWN TO PROBABLY ABOUT 400 AND MANY OF THOSE ARE ON FURLOUGH.

AND INDIRECTLY, AS YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANTS ARE IMPACTED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING THE REVENUE THAT THE DELEGATES AND ATTENDEES FOR THE CONVENTIONS WOULD BE BRINGING IN.

SO THE RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, EVEN THE TAXIS AND AND THE AIRPORTS THE JOBS AND THE REVENUE ARE BOTH DOWN AS A RESULT OF NOT HAVING THOSE CONVENTIONS.

>> BIG RIPPLE EFFECT.

BUT YOU DO HAVE DOZENS OF EVENTS AT McCORMICK PLACE SCHEDULED STARTING IN JUNE.

I TAKE IT THEN ARE YOU ALL PROBABLY PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IS GOING AND THE AFFECT THAT MIGHT HAVE ON THE CONVENTIONS ACTUALLY HAPPENING LATER?

>> YES.

WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL.

OUR GOAL IS TO BE PREPARED THE TIME IS RIGHT AND THE HEALTH OFFICIALS ALLOW US TO DO SO.

WE HAVE EVENTS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 47 EVENTS ON OUR BOOKS BEGINNING IN JULY THAT ARE SO EXCITED AND PATIENTLY AWAITING FOR THE TIME THAT WE CAN SAY YOU CAN RETURN.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE EVENTS.

COMING ON OUR CAMPUS.

AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE HEALTH OFFICIALS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE TIME IS RIGHT.

>> HOW MIGHT CONVENTIONS LOOK DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?

I IMAGINE HAVING SOME SORT OF A VIRTUAL COMPONENT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT?

>> YES.

MANY OF THE CONVENTIONS THAT CANCELED ACTUALLY LIKE VIRTUAL THEY HAD THEIR CONVENTIONS VIRTUAL BUT THEY ALSO WITH US, THEY DID RESCHEDULE MANY OF THEM REBOOKED FOR FUTURE NEAR FUTURE WHICH WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE.

THE WAY IT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT IS WHEN YOU 0 THERE'S THINGS YOU WILL SEE WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT SIMILAR TO WHEN YOU GO OTHER PLACES.

OUR READING ROOMS THE SEATING IS SOCIALLY DISTANCED.

AND THE SNEEZE GUARDS WITH OUR FOOD SERVICE AREAS.

CATERING WILL BE DIFFERENT.

WE MAY HAVE PREPLATED ITEMS THAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY SERVE BUT THEY WOULD BE MORE PREPLATED AND PACKAGED DIFFERENTLY.

AND THEN BEHIND THE SCENES THERE'S THINGS WE'RE DOING.

WE KNOW THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM OUR HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT OUTSIDE AIRFLOW IS IMPORTANT SO WE'VE INCREASED OUR OUTSIDE AIRFLOW.

>> AND TELL US ABOUT THE HEALTHY MEETING CHICAGO WEB PORTAL THAT THE MPEA IS ROLLING OUT?

>> WE IN COLLABORATION WE LAUNCHED OUR HEALTHY CHICAGO IT IS AN INTERACTIVE DANGER TALL PLATFORM THAT WE WANTED TO SHOWCASE FOR THOSE THAT WILL BE RETURNING TO CHICAGO FROM OTHER PLACES.

AND EVEN FOR THOSE WITHIN CHICAGO ATTENDING THE EVENTS.

WHAT THEIR JOURNEY WILL BE LIKE FROM THE TIME THEY ARRIVE IN ONE OF OUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS UNTIL THEY ARRIVE AT THEIR DESTINATION WHICH WOULD BE EITHER MIM CORP PLACE OR A HOTEL.

>> WE'VE HEARD TALK ABOUT CASINO IN CHICAGO.

LAKESIDE CENTER AT McCORMICK PLACE AND NAVY PIER BOTH BEEN TOSSED OUT AS POTENTIAL LOCATIONS FOR A CASINO.

WHAT MIGHT A CASINO BRING TO THESE CONVENTION CENTERS AND OF COURSE TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO LET THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

I AM NOT AWARE OF THE CASINO OPTION BEING AT EITHER OF THOSE PLACES AT THIS TIME.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S CERTAIN.

IT'S BEEN CONSIDERED AMONG THE POSSIBILITIES AMONG OTHERS AROUND THE CITY AS WELL.

IN THE MEANTIME WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK ON THE SHOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.

LARITA CLARK THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HOW A NEW PROGRAM PREPARES STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN MUSIC.

STICK AROUND.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE PREVENTS STRONG COALITION OF BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES FORMING ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES?

>> I WANT US TO AS A NATION TO COME TOGETHER.

>> GO DOWN THE BLOCK AND GET IT FROM SOMEONE LOCAL AND KEEP IT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> BLACK JOY IS MAGICAL.

>> AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINE ROLLOUT, CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER AND MORE.

BUT FIRST, A NEW INITIATIVE IS WORKING TO CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC WITH A PROGRAM DEDICATED TO DIVERSITY.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT ANGEL IDOWU HAS THE STORY.

[♪♪♪] >> 13 GRORLD AKOSUA HAYNES HAS WANTED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL CELLIST FOR AS LONG AS SHE CAN REMEMBER.

SHE HAS BEEN PLAYING FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE A RICH PERSON'S SPORT TO PLAY.

IT'S FOR EVERYONE.

>> WITH THE PASSION FOR BOTH MUSIC AND SCIENCE, HER INTEREST IN BOTH ALIES WITH THE MISSION OF THE CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE FOR STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN MUSIC AND HIGHER EDUCATION.

PROJECT MANAGER JAMES HALL SAYS THEIR PROGRAM SERVING STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-12 IS DEBUNKING MYTHS ALONG THE WAY.

>> COMMON MISCONCEPTION AMONG PARENTS BEFORE THEY JOIN US IS THAT IF OUR CHILD GETS A DEGREE IN MUSIC THEY WON'T HAVE MANY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

WHEN IN FACT THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUPPORT YOURSELF FINANCIALLY, WHILE FULFILLING YOURSELF.

>> THE PROGRAM KICKED OFF THE FIRST YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP THEM FROM OFFERING A NUMBER OF VIRTUAL RESOURCES TO INSURE STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THAT NEXT STEP.

>> THEY PLAY IN YOUTH ORCHESTRAS.

THEY ATTEND SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS AND TAKE WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSONS THEY PARTICIPATE IN MASTER CLASSES AND MOCK AUDITIONS THAT IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE CITY BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCES THAT WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE.

[♪♪♪] >> THESE EXPERIENCES ARE THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIPS THEY HAVE WITH MUSICAL ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE CHICAGO AREA.

THAT'S WHERE MENTORS FOR THE STUDENTS ARE FOUND.

STUDENT FELLOW AKOSUA HAYNES SAYS SHE AND HER MENTOR WITH A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP.

>> HER PRACTICING WITH ME AND GIVING ME MORE INFORMATION AND ADVICE HOW TO IMPROVE ON CELLO.

>> DESPITE BEING PRACTICALLY RAISED, AKOSUA HAYNES SAYS HER EXPERIENCE IN THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

SHE RECALLS HOW SHE FELT AFTER HER FIRST PERFORMANCE AS A STUDENT FELLOW.

>> FELT LIKE IT WAS SOME KIND OF INITIATION MY FIRST PERFORMANCE AND I REALIZED I WAS ALWAYS A PART OF THAT FAMILY.

IT NEEDED TO BE JUST YOU ARE PERFORMING AMONG FRIENDS, AMONG FAMILY IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A BIG THING.

>> WE WANT OUR STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE BRINGING THEIR WHOLE SELFS TO THEIR WORK AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS REPRESENTATION.

BEING AROUND PEOPLE FROM SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS WHO MAKE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING YOURSELF.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR THE CMPI2021-22 SEASON IS FRIDAY.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"...

THE STORIES OF MORE THAN 100 MEN ALLEGEDLY TORTURED BY JON BURGE AND HIS SQUAD ARE DETAILED IN A NEW ARCHIVE.

EXPLORING LIFE AFTER INCARCERATION AND THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT COME WITH IT.

>> MANY LEGISLATORS ASKED IF THEY COULD BE VACCINATED.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR WILL WAIT FOR HIS VACCINE AS SOME NEWLY RELEASED DOSES GO INTO LAWMAKERS' ARMS THAT AND MORE WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

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

FARMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAY GROUNDBREAKING ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IN JACKSON PARK IS JUST MONTHS AWAY.

THE OBAMA FOUNDATION SAYS IT HAS COMPLETED FOUR YEARS OF STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL REVIEWS AND FINALLY HAS THE ALL CLEAR TO BUILD IN JACKSON PARK.

THE MAYOR SAYS WORK ON UTILITY LINES WILL START APRIL WITH PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING AS SOON AS AUGUST.

THE CENTER WAS THE SUBJECT OF LAWSUITS FROM PRESERVATION GROUPS.

THE FOUNDATION ESTIMATES TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS TO BE AROUND $500 MILLION.

>> AND ADD ANOTHER GROUP OF ILLINOISANS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE.

STATE LAWMAKERS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TODAY ADDED LAWMAKERS INTO THE PHASE 1B GROUP AFTER SEVERAL MEMBERS AND STAFF CONTRACTED COVID-19 AFTER LAST MONTH'S SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD.

BOTH THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND SENATE ARE EXPECTED TO MEET IN SPRINGFIELD NEXT WEEK.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK AT A NEW ON-LINE ARCHIVE OF POLICE TORTURE SURVIVORS.

PARIS?

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S BEEN NEARLY THREE DECADES SINCE JON BURGE WAS FIRED FROM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT A NEW ARCHIVE DOCUMENTS YEARS OF TORTURE HE AND HIS SQUAD CARRIED OUT AGAINST DOZENS OF SURVIVORS.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US WITH MORE.

MATT, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

REMIND US WHO JON BURGE WAS AND THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE FACED?

>> BOURGEOISES AREA TWO COMMANDER SAID TO HAVE ABUSED OR OVERSEEN THE ABUSE AND TORTURE OF SCORES OF LARGELY BLACK MALE SUSPECTS THROUGH WHAT WAS CALLED MIDNIGHT CREW OF OFFICERS IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT THROUGHOUT THE 70s, 80s AND 90s BEFORE HE WAS FIRED IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1993.

>> AND NOW THE CHICAGO POLICE TORTURE ARCHIVE IS UP.

SPEARHEADED IN PART BY JOHN CONROY THE FORMER REPORTER AT THE READER THAT BROKE THIS TORTURE NEWS SEVERAL YEARS AGO ON JON BURGE.

TELL US WHAT THIS ARCHIVE INCLUDES?

>> SO IT'S FROM THE DIGITAL INSTITUTE, JOHN CONROY ASSISTED.

THE WEBSITE INCLUDES INTERVIEWS WITH VICTIMS AS WELL AS THE TIMELINE OF ABUSE THROUGHOUT THE DECADES THAT WAS SAID TO HAVE GONE ON FOR AND INCLUDES OVER 100,000 PAGES AND CASE DOCUMENTS DETAILING ALL THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THESE MEN THAT WENT ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

>> AND SHOULD NOTE INVISIBLE INSTITUTE'S KEY ROLE IN THIS.

DOES THE INVISIBLE INSTITUTE HAVE FUTURE PLANS FOR THE ARCHIVE?

>> THEY SAY THE ARCHIVE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS IT IS NOT A FINISHED THING THAT PUT OUT.

THEY WANT TO ADD MORE MATERIALS NOT ONLY FOR BURGE TORTURE VICTIMS BUT FOR VICTIMS OF OTHER POLICE ABUSE AS WELL.

AND THEY WANT TO TRACK HOW WELL THE CITY'S FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE $5.5 MILLION REPARATIONS PACKAGE THAT THE CITY APPROVED IN 2015 FOR VICTIMS OF BURGE AND ASSOCIATES.

AND TO THIS POINT IT'S NOT BEEN FOLLOWED THROUGH ON SO THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP TABS ON HOW THAT GOES GOING FORWARD.

>> A SAGA THAT JUST CONTINUES YEAR AFTER YEAR TO TRY AND FIND A RESOLUTION TO THIS.

MATT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ MATT'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW, BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANKS.

SEE YOU IN A BIT.

IN ILLINOIS, THERE ARE MORE THAN 1400 LAWS REGULATING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.

THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 1,000 EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS, 186 LIMITING POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, AND 21 HOUSING STATUTES.

THE NEW BOOK, "HALFWAY HOME", RACE, PUNISHMENT AND THE AFTER LIFE OF MASS INCARCERATION EXAMINES THE LAWS AND HOW THEY AFFECT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF FELONIES ONCE THEY ARE OUT OF PRISON.

JOINING US IS THE AUTHOR REUBEN JONATHAN MILLER ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

WELCOME BACK AND I'M EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR BOOK.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POST INCARCERATION LIMITS ALL THE LAWS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE MAJOR LAWS HAS TO DO WITH HOUSING RESTRICTIONS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE WITH A FELONY RECORD SO MUCH AS VISIT SOMEONE IN PUBLIC HOUSING AS OF 1996, THEY HAVE A FEDERAL GUIDELINE THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE TENANT CAN BE EVICTED.

AND OF COURSE THERE ARE HOUSING RESTRICTIONS BOTH IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND IN THE PRIVATE MARKET WHERE LANDLORDS CAN EVICT PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS OR DENY THE APPLICATION WITHOUT HAVING ANY RECOURSE.

THERE IS NO RECOURSE ON THE PERSON WITH THE CRIMINAL RECORD EVEN IF THEY HAVE THE CREDIT SCORE.

ADDITIONAL LAWS ON THE BOOKS, IT WASN'T UNTIL ABOUT 2018 THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN A RESTRICTION ON PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS PEOPLE WITH FELONY CONVICTIONS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A BARBER'S LICENSE OR COSMOTOLOGY LICENSE IT TOOK A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO BRING THAT ABOUT.

SO THERE ARE HUNTS OF RESTRICT HONORS IN THE LABOR MARKET AND THE HOUSING MARKET THAT MAKE IT CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS TO MAKE A LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AFTER THEY RETURN HOME WITHOUT HELP FROM OTHERS.

>> AND THOSE RULES, LAWS, STATUTES, OBVIOUSLY THEY IMPACT THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.

YOU WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED THE ECONOMY OF FAVORS THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED DEPEND ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THERE WERE THE CHANGES IN THE LIABILITY LAWS IN 1980 THAT MADE IT SO EMPLOYERS, LANDLORDS, LICENSING OFFICIALS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES COULD BE SUED IF THEY PROVIDED CARE FOR SOMEONE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD.

AND THE WAY THAT THESE ENTITIES RESPONDED WAS TO RESTRICT THEM FROM ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT ET CETERA.

WELL, BECAUSE A FAMILY MEMBER CAN BE EVICTED LET'S SAY IF A GRANDMOTHER ALLOWS HER GRANDSON TO SLEEP ON THE COUCH FOR AN AMOUNT OF TIME, WHAT THIS DOES IS IT INTRODUCES A TENSION.

ON THE ONE HAND PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE MADE NEEDY AND THIS IS BECAUSE OF ALL THESE RULES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM ACCESSING THE POLITICAL ECONOMY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, BECAUSE OF THE PUNISHMENTS THAT GET DOLLED OUT ON TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND EMPLOYERS THEY ARE AMONG THE LEAST DESIRABLE CANDIDATES TO HELP.

SO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO NAVIGATE WHAT I CALL OUR ECONOMY OF FAVORS IS CONVINCE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUNISHED IF THEY HELP THEM TO IN FACT DO THEM THE FAVOR OF RENTING THEM AN APARTMENT, ALLOWING THEM A PLACE TO STAY, GIVING THEM A JOB EVEN IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED.

>> AND RUBEN TO PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE IS THAT SUPERVISION ALL THE RULES THAT COME AFTER BEING INCARCERATED ARE THOSE NOT INTENDED TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM OR PUTTING SOMEONE A FOSTER CHILD IF THAT PERSON SHOULD BE LIVING IN THE HOME OF A FOSTER CHILD PREVENTING THOSE FOLKS FROM BEING HARMED?

>> SOME OF THEM FOR SURE SOME WERE DESIGNED WITH THIS IN MIND.

RECIDIVISM REDUCTION OR PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SOME OF THESE ARE JUST REFLECTSIVE RESPONSES FROM POLICYMAKERS LEARNED TO WRITE OUT PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF.

FROM FULL PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS, AND SOCIETY AND CULTURE.

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

ONE RULE THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN ALMOST EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY, IS THAT PEOPLE WITH FELONY RECORDS CAN'T SIT ON JURIES.

JURY DUTY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT YOU COMMITTED A CRIME.

BUT WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING WHEN SOMEONE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD GOES BEFORE A JURY, IT IS ALMOST NEVER THEN A JURY OF THEIR PEERS.

AND IN FACT, PROSECUTIONS ARE AGAINST THEM AND PROSECUTORS ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE THEM WITH EXTRA CHARGES.

ON THE ONE HAND THEY ARE RESTRICTED FROM BEING ALLOWED FOR PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND AND EXPERIENCE FROM JUDGING THEM AS IT WERE FROM BEING THE JURY.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND, ON THE OTHER HAND, THEIR CRIMINAL RECORD CAN PUT THEM AWAY FOR LONGER.

>> BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, BEYOND YOUR WORK AS A SCHOLAR AND SOCIAL SCIENTIST YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH YOUR FATHER AND BROTHER HAVING BEEN INCONSIDERS RATED.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> I WAS BORN POOR AND BLACK IN CHICAGO ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

AFTER 1972.

WHICH IS THE YEAR THAT MASS INCARCERATION BEGAN.

I DECIDED TO WRITE MYSELF AND MY FAMILY INTO THIS STORY.

BECAUSE I COULDN'T AVOID THE PRISON IF I WANTED TO.

THE PRISON FOLLOWS YOU LIKE A GHOST.

ALWAYS THERE.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD NOT JUST WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE COULD GET A JOB BUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A FAMILY MEMBER TO LOVE SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD AND LOCKED OUT OF THE POLITICAL ECONOMY AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

I DO NOT HAVE ONE.

AS THEY NAVIGATE THE SYSTEMS.

>> AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.

THE BOOK TITLE HALFWAY HOME A PLAY ON WORDS.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

ON THE ONE HAND, I DID ABOUT THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS OF PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION IN HALFWAY HOUSES IN CHICAGO.

THERE IS THE HALFWAY HOUSE.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND IT REPRESENTS BEING STUCK.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO NEVER QUITE MAKE IT HOME.

AND HOME IS SOMETHING THAT WE MAKE FOR PEOPLE AND THE WAY TO MAKE HOMES FOR PEOPLE IS TO NOT THINK SO MUCH ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY BUT THING ABOUT BELONGING.

WHAT SOCIETY WOULD WE HAVE IF WE CONSTRUCTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT EVEN PEOPLE THAT WE ARE AFRAID OF HAVE A PLACE IN IT.

THIS IS THE QUESTION I TRY TO RAISE IN THE BOOK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

REUBEN JONATHAN MILLER THANK YOU.

THE BOOK IS CALLED HALFWAY HOME, RACE, PUNISHMENT AND THE AFTER LIFE OF MASS INCARCERATION.

THANKS TO REUBEN JONATHAN MILLER FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> THE TUG OF WAR BETWEEN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS STILL GOING ON AS WE SPEAK.

AS THE VACCINE ROLLOUT BUMPS ALONG.

THAT AND MORE IS THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

JOINING US ARE AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

STARTING OF COURSE WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN THE UNION AND C.P.S.

LEADERS.

THIS IS AS AMANDA REPORTED AFTER THE 48-HOUR COOLING OFF PERIOD COMES TO A CLOSE TONIGHT.

AMANDA, BOTH SIDES SAY THEY ARE INCHING CLOSER.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> BRANDIS, WOULDN'T WE ALL LOVE TO KNOW.

ME AS A RESIDENT OF CHICAGO CONCERNED OF COURSE FOR THE WELFARE OF TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND REGARDS TO THE CORONAVIRUS THEIR EDUCATION HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED AND THEN OF COURSE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY SAFETY.

AND THEN PARENTS THEY HAVE TO BE FEELING SO ANXIOUS NOT KNOWING WHAT IS IN STORE IF SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE IN SESSION TOMORROW WHETHER IT WILL BE REMOTE OR HAVE THE OPTION TO SEND THEM TO THE CLASSROOM I FOR ONE HIGHLY DOUBT THAT SOMETHING WOULD TURN AROUND THAT QUICKLY.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE WAITING WORD.

ACTUALLY YOU ARE AN EDUCATION REPORTER WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ARE THE STICKING POINTS?

>> I'M TEXTING SOURCES FROM THE SET RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE HEARING THAT THE BIG POINTS I THINK ARE VACCINES AND MAKING SOME SORT OF A PLAN TO INSURE THAT TEACHERS CAN AT LEAST HAVE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE BEFORE HEADING BACK INTO SCHOOLS.

AND ALSO AROUND MAKING ACCOMMODATIONS.

SO FAR THE DISTRICT SAYS THEY HAVE GRANTED MEDICAL ACCOMMODATIONS TO TEACHERS WHO ASKED FOR THEM BUT THOSE WHO MIGHT LIVE WITH A LOVED ONE, NOT ALL OF THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE BEEN GRANTED AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT TO BE WORKED OUT THERE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT.

I'M HEARING FROM A SOURCE THEY COULD BE BACK ON TO REMOTE LEARNING TOMORROW.

BUT FRIDAY IS A TEACHER PLANNING DAY.

STUDENTS WERE NOT TO HAVE LEARNING.

AND WE KNOW BAD WEATHER IS COMING ON MONDAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE TO THE POINT WHERE THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION TO CLOSE SCHOOLS IF THE WORLD WEREN'T AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> GIVES THEM EXTRA TIME.

>> MIGHT BE BUYING THEM TIME.

HEATHER, SOME PARENTS SAID THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR STUDENTS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AND THEY ARE BEING PAWNS.

CDC SAYS SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.

WHAT IS THE FIGHT THERE?

>> IT'S COMPLICATED AND THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE DAY WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE CDC SAYING THAT TEACHERS DID NOT NEED TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE SCHOOLS REOPENED FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.

AND WE SAW THE C.P.S.

TWITTER ACCOUNT JUMP ON THAT RETWEETING IT, SAYING LET'S POINTING THAT OUT.

BUT THEN, THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI SAID WAIT A MINUTE, JOE BIDEN THE PRESIDENT WANTS TEACHERS TO BE SAFE.

SO THAT IS NOT OUR OFFICIAL GUIDANCE.

AGAIN, CHICAGO PARENTS CHICAGO STUDENTS AND CHICAGO TEACHERS ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DEBATE.

AND IT'S REALLY QUITE AMAZING.

WE ARE ALMOST 11 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC AND IT'S STILL NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PARENTS A LOT OF TEACHERS WHO WOULD MUCH RATHER BE SAFE THAN SORRY AND STAY REMOTE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND YOU HAVE THE MAYOR REALLY PUSHING TO RESTART IN-PERSON LEARNING BECAUSE SHE SAYS IT'S BEEN SUCH A FAILURE FOR SOME BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS.

>> I MEAN I'VE GOT WHIPLASH I IMAGINE THE PARENTS DO AS WELL.

PARIS 3700 C.P.S.

WORKERS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED VMENT C.T.U.

SAYS A THOUSAND VACCINES PER WEEK IS NOT ENOUGH.

IS THAT A GOOD START?

WHAT ARE WE HEARING HOW MANY VACCINES C.T.U.

COULD BE UP FOR A WEEK?

>> WELL, JUST RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO GREGORY PRATT HE TWEETED THAT C.P.S.

IS OFFERING 1500 VACCINATIONS PER WEEK WHICH CERTAINLY ISN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO GET TEACHERS VACCINATED AT A LEVEL WHERE I THINK THEY WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE REOPENING ALL SCHOOLS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

I'M TOLD BY SOURCES THAT LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN THE PLEA TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ASK THE PRESIDENT FOR MORE VACCINES FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY FOR TEACHERS BECAUSE OF THIS THERE IS A LETTER THAT THEY DRAFTED THAT THEY DELIVERED TO THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, TO DELIVER TO BIDEN ASKING FOR MORE VACCINES.

I'M TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NOT DELIVERED THAT LETTER YET TO THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT WITH NEGOTIATIONS.

THEY HAVE THEIR FINGERS CROSSED THEY WON'T NEED TO DELIVER THAT LETTER BUT THIS SORT OF THE ACE IN THE HOLE THE LAST EFFORT IS TO APPEAL DIRECTLY TO BIDEN TO GET MORE VACCINATIONS FOR TEACHERS.

>> SO SWITCHING GEARS A BIT BUT TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINE, AND OF COURSE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC MORE BROADLY.

THE STATE IS DIVERTING 97,000 VACCINES FROM A FEDERAL PROGRAM HERE IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID ABOUT WHY THERE IS A SURPLUS AT THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

>> AS IT TURNS OUT THEY COUNTED EVERY BED AND NOT EVERY PERSON.

AS YOU KNOW THERE ARE FACILITIES THAT ARE NOT FULL.

IN ADDITION, THEY ASSUMED THAT EVERY PERSON THAT WOULD BE OFFERED INCLUDING STAFF, WOULD TAKE THE VACCINE.

THAT ALSO HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.

SO ESSENTIALLY THERE'S BEEN A REALLOCATION TO GET AS MANY VACCINES IN THE ARMS AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE VACCINES?

>> THIS GETS DOWN TO A LOT OF PRESSURE ON GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

BEAM WANT THIS VACCINE -- PEOPLE WANT THIS VACCINE AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF IT TO GO AROUND.

SO THIS IS A NOD TO THE PRESSURE THAT HE IS UNDER TO DO SOMETHING TO REDISTRIBUTE AND THAT IS WHAT THIS IS DOING.

MIND YOU, SORT OF WHAT PARIS IS SAYING, CHICAGO OTHER LARGE CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES GET THEIR OWN SPECIFIC ALLOCATION.

AND THAT IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM WHAT IS GIVEN TO STATES AND ORIGINALLY, THERE WAS ALSO A SEPARATE VACCINE SHIPMENT GIVEN FOR THOSE IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES GIVEN THAT THERE IS THAT SURPLUS IT IS INSTEAD GOING TO BE DIVVIED UP IN AREAS AROUND THE STATE.

AND FRANKLY, THE AREAS SURROUNDING CHICAGO SHOULD GET A LOT OF THAT BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE POPULATION IS.

SO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, PHARMACIES ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THOSE TO GIVE TO FOLKS IN THE 1B STAGE.

>> AND HEATHER YOU COVERED A STORY THAT THE CITY IS USING THE SIGN UP SITE.

HOW WILL THIS HELP THE BOTTLENECK THAT PEOPLE OVER 65 HAVE BEEN RUNNING INTO WHEN SIGNING UP FOR A VACCINE?

>> WELL, IT IS LOCK DOCK AND YOU CAN GO AND PUT IN YOUR INFORMATION AND IT CAN TELL YOU WHETHER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE AND IT WILL GIVE YOU A LIST OF AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS.

THIS IS DESIGNED TO FIND APPOINTMENTS AT HOSPITALS, AT PHARMACIES, AND AS WELL AS AT THE CITY'S MASS VACCINATION SITES AND THIS IS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM HAVING TO CHECK WALGREENS AND CHECK WALMART AND CHECK JUST ALL THE WAY AROUND.

AND IT WAS EATING UP HOURS OF PEOPLE'S DAYS.

SO THIS IS A CENTRALIZED SITE.

HOWEVER THE MAIN ISSUE REMAINS THE SUPPLY OF THE VACCINE.

THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH SUPPLY OUT THERE TO VACCINATE EVERYBODY IN 1B.

IN CHICAGO, THAT IS 700,000 PEOPLE ALONE.

SO IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOMETIME THE CITY IS SAYING BE PATIENT.

BUT THEY ARE HOPING THIS ONE SITE WILL KEEP IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER ON PEOPLE AS THEY KEEP HITTING THAT REFRESH BUTTON TO FIND AN APPOINTMENT.

>> THE STATE IS ALLOWING LAWMAKERS TO JOIN THE 1B CATEGORY WE'VE HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAY THAT HE IS GOING TO WAIT TO GET HIS.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

HAS THERE BEEN PUSHBACK?

>> OH, YEAH, MOST CERTAINLY.

IN A WAY NO, YOU'VE HAD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS GET THE VACCINE WITHOUT MUCH ADIEU.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HERSELF GOT THAT SHOT IN THE ARM AND IT WAS SEEN AS ALL RIGHT SHE IS OUT AND ABOUT.

THAT SAID, I DO THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PUSHBACK WHEN WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND.

PEOPLE ARE SICK OF BEING HOME AND SCARED OF GETTING SICK AND THEY FEEL THEY ARE HAVING SOMEBODY CUT IN LINE IN FRONT OF THEM IN A STATE WHERE OF COURSE, CORRUPTION IS CONTINUOUSLY A PROBLEM AND PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THE PERKS THAT POLITICIANS GET AND THIS WILL ALLOW THOSE WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ELIGIBLE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE OF AGE IN 1B WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT.

AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LEAPFROG.

DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S NECESSARY TO CONDUCT GOVERNMENT AND REPUBLICANS ARE MAD.

>> CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT LOSES THEIR FLOOR LEADER, GILBERT VILLEGAS MIDTERM.

HEATHER WHY NOW?

HAS ANOTHER FLOOR LEADER LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF TERM BEFORE?

>> NOT IN RECENT CHICAGO POLITICAL HISTORY.

MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL HAD ONE FLOOR LEADER FOR EIGHT YEARS.

AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S FLOOR LEADER LASTED ALL OF 18 MONTHS.

AND I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE MAYOR'S TENSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW THE MAYOR'S PROPERTY TAX HIKES PASSED WITH TWO VOTES TO SPARE AND THAT IS A SLIM MARGIN.

AND THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT ALDERMAN VILLEGAS FACED A HUGE ATTACK IN TRYING TO GET THE MAYOR'S AGENDA PUSHED THROUGH HE WILL BE REPLACED BY ALDERMAN MICHELLE HARRIS SHE IS A PROTEGE OF JOHN STROGER AND SHE KNOWS HOW TO GET THE SAUSAGE MADE AND A CLOSE ALLY OF MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO BRING IN THE LIGHT.

>> QUICKLY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON INCLUDING ILLINOIS SENIOR SENATOR DICK DURBIN WHO PARIS SPOKE WITH TAKING OVER THE SENATE JUDICIARY FROM LINDSEY GRAHAM STONEWALLING MERRICK GARLAND'S HEARING TO BECOME THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

LET'S HEAR WHAT SENATOR DURBIN SAID ABOUT WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE ON THIS.

>> I WANT TO WORK WITH THESE REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO DISAGREED WITH THE HEARING.

I THINK THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TWICE BEFORE THEY MADE THE DECISION BUT I WILL NOT BURN THIS BRIDGE.

I HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO WORK WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.

I WILL DO IT AS QUICKLY AS I CAN AND PLAY BY THE RULES.

>> PARIS, BRIEFLY, IS SENATOR DURBIN OFFICIALLY IN CHARGE OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE?

AND IF SO WHY CAN'T HE CALL THE HEARING FOR GARLAND ON MONDAY?

>> MORE THAN TWO WEEKS IN THE NEW SENATE SENATOR DURBIN IS IN CHARGE REFLECTING THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS DO HAVE CONTROL.

ALBEIT.

THE SLIGHTEST CONTROL.

51-50 WITH THE TIE BREAKING VOTE OF VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

DURBIN SAYS HE CAN SCHEDULE THE HEARING BUT HE HAS TO GIVE A SEVEN-DAY NOTICE UNLESS THE REPUBLICANS DECIDED TO WAIVE THAT WHICH THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT MEANS THAT GARLAND IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A HEARING UNTIL PROBABLY AFTER THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF DONALD TRUMP.

IT WILL BE THE WEEK AFTER NEXT.

THIS AS THAT MASSIVE INVESTIGATION GOING ON IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH.

IT'S CURIOUS WHY LINDSEY GRAHAM THE REPUBLICAN FORMER CHAIRMAN WAS SLOW WALKING THAT NOMINATION AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DREW SENATOR DURBIN'S IRE.

DURBIN'S HANDS ARE TIED A LITTLE BIT AND THAT POST WILL GO UNFILLED FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.

>> I WAS HOPING WE WOULD HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT ADAM KINZINGER.

MY THANKS TO OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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>> AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW CHI HACK NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. A LOOK AT HOW RIDESHARE DRIVERS ARE MANAGING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND GEOFFREY BAER ON THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF A HISTORIC GARDEN IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

AND WE LEAVE WITH YOU A PERFORMANCE BY STUDENT FELLOW KAYLEE HOLIDAY FROM THE CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE.

NOW FOR PARIS SCHUTZ AND ALL OF US AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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