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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> AND IF YOU DON'T FIGHT LIKE HEFL YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY MY MORE.

>> DRAMATIC VED KICKS OFF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SECOND PATRIOTISM.

REACTION FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS MAY BE OUT OF A JOB WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CALL FOR RESIGNATIONS COULD MEAN FOR CORRUPTION PROBES IN ILLINOIS.

>> ONE OF THE FIRST MARKETS IS CHICAGO.

>> FROM WARM SPEED TO FREE UPPER RIDES THE ROLLOUT OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL AS AIRLINES LOOK TO SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC AND PREPARE FOR THE POST PANDEMIC FUTURE.

>> THE DEVASTATING FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC IN LATINO COMMUNITIES DRIVING SOME TO HOMELESSNESS.

>> EVERY WORD IS SIGNED IT LOOKS AS IF WE'RE PAINTING PICTURES IN THE AIR.

>> AND INSIDE A REFORMED JEWSISM CONGREGATION IN SKOKIE THAT PROVIDED EXCLUSIVE SERVICE TO THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

ILLINOIS TAXPAYER ALSO NOT PAY HIGHER INCOME TAX UNDER GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S BUDGET TODAY HE GAVE AN OVERVIEW THAT WOULD FLATTEN SPENDING IN 2022 AND SHIFT MORE OF THE TAX BURDEN ON TO BUSINESSES BY CLOSING TAX LOOPHOLES AND REDIRECT REVENUE LIKE THE CIGARETTE TAX EARMARKED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERAL FUND.

PRITZKER IS EXPECTED TO DETAIL HIS PLAN IN A BUDGET ADDRESS NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THERE'S MORE OF HIS OVERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> CHICAGOANS CAN NOW TRAVEL TO AND FROM THREE STATES AND ONE TERRITORY WOULD BE REQUIRING A NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST OR QUARANTINE.

THE CITY AS STANDING ORDER ALASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND HAWAII AND PUERTO RICO MOVED INTO THE YELLOW TIER BECAUSE OF THEIR LOWER RATES.

CHICAGO'S TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 4.9% DOWN FROM 5.7% A WEEK AGO.

COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY NOTED AN UNINTENDED SIDE EFFECT OF THE LOWER COVID-19 RATES THAT HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR THE FLU ARE LOWER AS WELL WHEN THEY ARE TYPICALLY HIGHER IN FEBRUARY.

>> AND LATER IN THE BROADCAST, WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE FUTURE OF AIR TRAVEL.

>> AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT NEARLY 2100 NEW CASES AND 20 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE CASE COUNT IS 1.15 MILLION AND 19,686 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 4%.

>> AN ANXIOUS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT HOPE TO KNOW BY TOMORROW WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN HAVE A PLAN TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION ARE VOTING THROUGH MIDNIGHT WHETHER TO ACCEPT A PROPOSAL FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WOULD RETURN PRE-K AND CLUSTER STUDENTS BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS THURSDAY.

KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE TEACHERS AND STAFF WOULD PHASE BACK INTO THE BUILDINGS DURING DIFFERENT TIMES.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH REACTION FROM LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL BEGAN TODAY.

THE HOUSE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN CONTINUED TO NEGOTIATE THE NEXT COVID STIMULUS BILL.

JOINING US WITH THAT AND PORE ARE CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS A DEMOCRAT FROMS AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD.

CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKY FROM EVAN SONS.

AND JESUS CHUY GARCIA A NOTE TO OUR VIEWERS WE INVITED EVERYONE FROM ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION BUT NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IT STARTED WITH STRIKING VIDEO INTRODUCED BY THE IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS.

THE ACTUAL VIDEO SHOWN TO SENATORS HAS STRONG LANGUAGE A FOREWARNING LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE FIGHT, WE FIGHT LIKE HELL AND IF YOU DON'T FIGHT LIKE HELL YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY ANYMORE.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKY, DESPITE THIS IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NO MORE THAN FIVE REPUBLICAN SENATORS THAT COULD VOTE TO CONVICT FAR SHORT OF WHAT WOULD BE NEEDED.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY MINDS CHANGING DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRIAL?

>> INCREDIBLY, I REALLY DON'T.

I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE OF REPUBLICANS ARE JUST SCARED TO NOT TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LARGE NUMBER OF THEM KNOW IS ABSOLUTELY IMPEACHABLE AND THAT HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED.

THE COWARDESS OF THE REPUBLICANS TO BREAK LOOSE OF DONALD TRUMP IS JUST ASTONISHING TO ME.

>> AND THERE WAS A VOTE TODAY ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY TO MOVE FORWARD IMPEACHING AND CONVICTING A FORMER PRESIDENT AND THAT PASSED 56-44.

CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS WHAT ABOUT THE TRUMP DEFENSE ARGUMENT THAT IT IS NOT CONSTITUTIONAL TO IMPEACH AND HAVE AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL FOR A FORMER PRESIDENT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN DEBUNKED.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THERE'S PRECEDENT THAT HAS BEEN PRECEDENT.

AND TRYING TO FIND A DEFENSE, THE REPUBLICANS KNOW THAT THERE IS NO DEFENSE.

THEY HAVE NO DEFENSE.

SO THE ONLY THING THAT THEY CAN DO IS TRY AND SKIRT AROUND THE ISSUES AND PRETEND THAT IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL, CAN'T BE DONE, SHOULDN'T BE DONE, NEVER BEEN DONE, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IS A FARCE.

>> CONGRESSMAN GARCIA YOUR ILLINOIS COLLEAGUE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE ADAM KINZINGER WROTE AN OP-ED AND HE BRIEFS SENATORS SHOULD VOTE TO CONVICT THE CONSEQUENCES OF ACQUIT CAL WOULD BE TABLE FOR DEMOCRACY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE?

>> IT WOULD BE A SETBACK FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND ORDER.

IT WOULD CONTINUE TO PIT THE COUNTRY IN A VERY DIVISIVE WAY.

IT WOULD MEAN THAT POSSIBLY DISTORTIONS AND LIES AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES CONTINUE TO BE A MATTER OF FACT IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

THAT IS WHAT IS AT STAKE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE HAVE TO DECIDE ON.

NO ONE CASE MADE BY THE MANAGERS IS CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL.

THERE WAS A CAUSE AND EFFECT.

DONALD TRUMP INCITED THE INVASION OF THE CAPITOL.

HE ENCOURAGED THAT ATTACK.

AND HE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN SCHAKOWSKY, KING GEAR STARTED THIS COMMITTEE TO TRY AND MOVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AWAY FROM TRUMP.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT KIND OF EFFORT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT ADAM KINZINGER IS PROBABLY RUNNING FOR SOMETHING.

AND THINKS THAT HE THINKS THAT STICKING WITH DONALD TRUMP IS PROBABLY NOT A GREAT IDEA ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

FOR REALLY THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS HE PRETTY MUCH VOTED DOWN THE LINE WITH DONALD TRUMP.

AND I'M HAPPY IF HE EVEN IF IT'S A POLITICAL, THAT HE IS TAKING THAT POSITION.

I CERTAINLY DO WISH THAT OTHER REPUBLICANS WOULD FOLLOW.

LET ME SAY ONE OTHER THING... MITCH McCONNELL COULD HAVE EASILY BROUGHT THE SENATE BACK TO DEAL WITH THE IMPEACHMENT.

HE DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL HE WAS NO LONGER PRESIDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HAD THE THIN ARGUMENT TO MAKE THAT IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO IMPEACH SOMEONE WHO WAS NO LONGER IN OFFICE.

HE SET THE TABLE.

AND HE SET THE TIMELINE.

AND I'M GLAD ADAM IS SAYING WHAT HE'S SAYING.

BUT YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON THAT IS AND JUST A FEW THAT ARE DOING THAT.

>> AND McCONNELL I BELIEVE DID VOTE DEPENDS THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROCEEDINGS.

LET'S SWITCH GEARS TO THE $1.9 TRILLION STIMULUS BILL DO YOU BELIEVE THERE WILL BE REPUBLICAN VOTES ON THIS FINAL PACKAGE?

>> I THINK WE WILL HAVE A FEW.

NOT MANY JUST LIKE WE HAVE A FEW RIGHT NOW WHO ARE WILLING TO VOTE TO IMPEACH OR TO FIND THE PRESIDENT FORMER PRESIDENT GUILTY.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE MANY.

BUT WHAT WE'VE DECIDED AND WHAT THE LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE DECIDED, IS WE ARE MOVING AHEAD.

WE START MARKUP TOMORROW.

WE HAVE A THREE-DAY MARKUP PLAN IN MY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS WHERE 941 BILLION DOLLARS OF THAT PACKAGE COMES THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE.

AND SO WE'RE MOVING AHEAD.

NO MATTER WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DO, WE ARE MOVING AHEAD.

>> THE QUESTION ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S FINDS IS THAT $1400 PROPOSED DIRECT PAYMENT TO SINGLE FILERS.

CONGRESSMAN GARCIA WILL THERE BE A INCOME THRESHOLD, 75,000 AND MORE WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE.

>> FOR INDIVIDUALS IT WILL BE 75,000 FOR HOUSEHOLD OF TWO OR TWO FILERS IN A HOUSEHOLD IT IS 170 -- 150,000 DOLLARS.

I THINK THOSE ARE REASONABLE.

AND IT ALSO INSURES THAT WE ARE AS UNIVERSAL AS POSSIBLE IN THE RELIEF EFFORTS.

IN ILLINOIS ALONE THAT IS A COST THAT POTENTIALLY UP TO HALF A MILLION FAMILIES ARE AT RISK OF EVICTION AS WE SPEAK.

CONGRESS MUST PROVIDE RELIEF FAST.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND OF COURSE 1.8 TRILLION RELIEF MEASURE WOULD ALSO PROVIDE SAFE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE.

THOSE GOVERNMENTS ARE NEEDED AND CRITICAL IN GETTING OUR ECONOMY BACK AND RUNNING AND PROVIDES SERVICES AND PERSONNEL THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES AND FOR THE STATES TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING IF WE'RE TO HAVE A QUICK RECOVERY.

>> AND I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PART LATEER IN THE SHOW.

WE HAVE IT LEAVE IT FOR THE TIME BEING.

WE WILL BE JOINED TO TALK ABOUT COVID VACCINES AND MUCH MORE WE DID INVITE EVERY MEMBER OF ILLINOIS' REPUBLICAN DELEGATION AND NONE ACCEPTED.

WE THANK REPRESENTATIVES DAVIS, SCHAKOWSKY AND GARCIA FOR JOINING US.

AND SENATORS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FOR THE DECISION TO TERMINATE NEARLY ALL U.S.

ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING JOHN LAUSCH, HERE IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS.

LAUSCH'S TENURE IS MARKED BY A SERIES OF ONGOING PUBLIC CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS INCLUDING INTO THE ComEd BRIBERY SCHEME THAT IMPLICATES MICHAEL MADIGAN AND JOINS US TO DISCUSS WHAT A CHANGE COULD MEAN FOR THOSE INVESTIGATIONS ARE PATRICK COLLINS, A FORMER ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY WOULD HELPED LEAD THE PROSECUTION OF FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN.

HE IS A PARTNER AT KING AND SPALDING.

AND RENATO MARIOTTI A FORMER U.S. ASSISTANT ATTORNEY.

AND PATRICK COLLINS I WILL START WITH YOU.

WE KNOW THE ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED FOR THE RESIGNATIONS OF NEARLY ALL U.S.

ATTORNEYS INCLUDING LAUSCH BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

DOES THIS FOLLOW PRECEDENT?

OR IS IT A STEP FURTHER?

>> I THINK PARIS THERE IS A GOOD ARGUMENT IT FOLLOWS PRECEDENT.

THESE ARE PRESIDENTIALLY APPOINTED U.S.

ATTORNEYS THEY SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT.

BUT I THINK THE KEY QUESTION HERE IS JUST BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT CAN DO IT, SHOULD HE DO IT?

AND IN PARTICULAR, SHOULD HE DO IT HERE IN ILLINOIS WHERE WE HAVE THIS SENSITIVE INVESTIGATION GOING ON THAT JOHN LAUSCH AND HIS TEAM ARE PROSECUTORS IS MANAGING AGGRESSIVELY ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

AND SO I THINK THE QUESTION IS CAN AN EXCEPTION BE MADE?

WE KNOW BASED ON THE REPORTS TWO EXCEPTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE ALREADY.

SO IT IS A WHOLESALE TERMINATION WHICH DOES HAPPEN WHETHER YOU ARE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

I DON'T EITHER SIDE CAN SAY THIS IS NEW.

BUT I DO THINK THE QUESTION FOR US THERE ARE 93 FOLKS APPOINTED AROUND THE COUNTRY, THIS SHOULD BE DONE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND THAT IS WHAT OUR SENATORS ARE SAYING TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> AND THE TRIBUNE HAS A STORY THAT LAUSCH HAS NOT YET SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION.

IN A JOINT STATEMENT, SENATORS TAMMY DUCKWORTH AND DICK DURBIN SAID... RENATO MARIOTTI, USUALLY THE U.S.

SENATORS FROM A PARTICULAR STATE HAVE OUTSIDE INFLUENCE ON WHO THE U.S. ATTORNEY IS GOING TO BE.

ARE YOU SURPRISED THIS MOVE WAS MADE DESPITE WHAT DUCKWORTH AND DURBIN HAVE ASKED FOR?

>> I WAS SURPRISED AND SURPRISED TO SEE REPORTS THAT THEY WERE NOT CONSULTED, PARTICULARLY SENATOR DURBIN WHO IS THE MAJORITY WHIP IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A S.N.A.F.U.

ISSUE HERE.

ONE WOULD THINK THAT OUR DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE IN SYNC.

SO I THINK THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO FIGURE OUT.

I WILL SAY AS I SIT HERE TODAY IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME WHETHER JOHN IS GOING TO BE ASKED TO RESIGN OR NOT.

>> AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GETTING CONFLICTING REPORTS.

THE U.S. ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL DID ASK FOR ALL BUT THOSE TWO U.S.

ATTORNEYS BUT AS WE'RE SAYING LAUSCH HAS YET TO SUBMIT HIS RESIGNATION.

AND PATRICK COLLINS WOULD IT BE UNPRECEDENTED FOR THE ARE PRESIDENT TO PERHAPS RECONSIDER THIS MOVE AS DURBIN AND DUCKWORTH ASKED FOR?

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

THE PRESIDENT MADE TWO EXCEPTIONS.

HE COULD MAKE A THIRD.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, PARIS FOR YOUR VIEWERS TO UNDERSTAND AND CERTAINLY JOHN AND HIS TEAM ARE IMPORTANT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING THE CASES THE CAREER PROSECUTORS, THEY ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

THE AGENTS AT THE F.B.I.

AND THE AGENCIES ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND THEY ARE DOING THE DAILY LIFTING.

BUT THERE IS A KAY DANCE TO THE INVESTIGATIONS AND JOHN LAUSCH AND THE LEADERS OF THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN CHICAGO, ARE MAKING THE BIG DECISIONS.

MAKING THE PROSECUTING DECISIONS AND TO HAVE THEM PULL AWAY DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE IF YOU WANT GOOD GOVERNMENT POLITICS ASIDE.

>> AND THE ComEd INVESTIGATION STARTED BEFORE LAUSCH'S TENURE ALTHOUGH IT ESCALATED IN THE LAST THREE-FOUR YEARS.

RENATO MARIOTTI HOW DO YOU THINK THAT PARTICULAR CASE WHICH IMPLICATED MICHAEL MADIGAN AS PUBLIC OFFICIAL A HOW WILL THAT BE AFFECTED BY A CHANGE-OVER AT THE TOP?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT.

I AGREE WITH PAT THERE ARE FINE PROSECUTORS LEADING THAT INVESTIGATION.

LIKE THE CHIEF OF THE PUBLIC CORRUPTIONS SECTION.

THEY WILL STILL REMAIN THERE AND PUSHING THE CASE FORWARD REGARD STLES WHO IS IN CHARGE.

AND WE HAVE HAD MOMENTS IN THE PAST WHEN PAT FITZGERALD STEPPED DOWN AND WE HAD AN INTERIM U.S. ATTORNEY AND JOHN COULD STEP INTO THAT ROLE.

SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR AN APPEARANCE SAKE THERE IS NO APPEARANCE THERE IS ANY SLOW DOWN REGARDING THIS INVESTIGATION.

>> PARIS, I WOULD SAY THOUGHT AN RENATO MARIOTTI'S POINT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I I BELIEVE, I THINK THE LAST ADMINISTRATION THERE WAS A POLITICIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND IT OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY.

TO HIS POINT, WE SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY MINDFUL OF THAT ISSUE.

IT'S NOT JUST JUSTICE BEING METED OUT IT'S WHETHER THE PERCEPTION IT'S BEING METED OUT.

IN JOHN IS TAKEN OUT AND DON'T GO FORWARD PEOPLE WILL ASK BECAUSE THE NEW PERSON SCUTTLED THE INVESTIGATION WHICH WOULD BE AN UNFAIR CRITICISM.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PRESIDENT AND THE SENATORS THERE IS A CONTINUITY ISSUE AND A FLOW TO THEM AND THAT JUST TO TAKE SOMEBODY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

IF THE INVESTIGATION WAS OVER, THIS VERY SENSITIVE ONE IT COULD BE BETTER JUSTIFIED.

I DON'T SEE THE RUSH TO IT AND Mr. LAUSCH COULD TRANSITION OUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

>> PAT MENTIONED THE APPEARANCE OF POLITICIZATION UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, A LOT FELL UNDER THE HANDS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL BARR.

BARR WAS IN CHICAGO WITH LAUSCH YOU CAN TAKING THAT CRIME WAS GOING DOWN BECAUSE OF INCREASED FEDERAL SCRUTINY ON CRIME.

BUT WE KNOW VIOLENT CRIME HAS NOT GONE DOWN.

COULD THAT HAVE FACTORED INTO THE DECISION HERE?

>> I DON'T THINK IT DID.

I THINK THIS WAS A BLANKET DECISION THAT APPEARED TO BE ALL OF THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS WERE BEING ASKED TO RESIGN AND THAT IS COMMONPLACE IN A NEW ADMINISTRATION AS PAT MENTIONED.

I DO THINK THAT BARR POLITICIZED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND I DO THAT ACTION IN PARTICULAR WAS AN EXAMPLE OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP USING OUR CITY AS A TALKING POINT AND I DIDN'T APPRECIATE THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL USING HIS [INAUDIBLE] >> PATRICK COLLINS YOU ARE SAYING A TRANSITION SHOULD HAPPEN OVER TIME IF IT IS GOING TO GO FORWARD.

ARE THERE NAMES OF FOLKS AT THIS EARLY STAGE WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO REPLACE LAUSCH?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT LAWYERS IN TOWN.

WHO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE.

I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT TO MENTION NAMES TONIGHT.

BUT I DO THINK AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE POLITICS STUFF WORKS.

WORST CASE IF JOHN HAS TO TENDER HIS RESIGNATION AND THE OFFICE IS RUN BY NUMBER TWO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WITH SENATOR DURBIN AT THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHY JOHN COULD BE'S BE REAPPOINTED AND GO INTO THE QUEUE REALIZING HE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN.

THAT IS ANOTHER OPTION SO THERE WOULDN'T BE DISRUPTION.

BUT ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE IF JOHN WAS FORCED TO STEP ASIDE?

THERE IS A DOZEN GREAT, EXPERIENCED LAWYERS, MEN AND WOMEN.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD A WOMEN U.S. ATTORNEY WE SHOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND.

AND THERE ARE GREAT PEOPLE THAT COULD DO A GREAT JOB AND CONTINUE ON THE AGGRESSIVE WORK.

BUT THE CAREER PROSECUTORS AND AGENTS ARE DOING THE DAY-TO-DAY STUFF AND THE PEOPLE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THOSE FOLKS AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

>> WE HAVE TO KEEP FOLLOWING THIS.

THANKS TO PATRICK COLLINS AND RENATO MARIOTTI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> CHICAGO'S CRACKING DOWN ON PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GAIN THE SYSTEM TO GET A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE ON THAT AND OTHER UPDATES IN THE COVID VACCINE ROLLOUT.

>> BRANDIS, JUST A BIT AGO YOU MENTIONED THAT HOSPITALIZATIONS RELATED TO THE FLU ARE DOWN.

CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS THAT THE ANNUAL EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THE FLU VACCINE MEANT THAT THE CITY WAS PREPARED WHEN QUICKER THAN ANYBODY HAD EXPECTED, THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINES RECEIVED EMERGENCY APPROVAL AND CHICAGO WAS TASKED WITH DISTRIBUTING THEM TO RESIDENTS.

THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO VACCINES, OF COURSE.

THE TWO DOSES REQUIRED OF THE COVID VACCINE AND THE ULTRA COLD STORAGE NEEDS ALSO DEMAND.

>> WHAT'S BEEN DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS, IS WE'VE NEVER HAD THE DEMAND OUTSTRIP THE SUPPLY.

TYPICALLY WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO DO FLU VACCINE WE HAVE ALL THE VACCINE AND WORKING ON TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BE MOTIVATED TO TAKE IT.

>> DURING A PANEL, WALGREENS PRESIDENT JOHN STANDLEY SAID THAT WAS A LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE.

THEY WERE CONTRACTED BY THE FEDS TO GIVE VACCINATIONS IN LONG-TERM CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

JOHN STANDLEY HE SAYS THINGS ARE ON TRACK FOR COMPLETION BY MID-APRIL.

AND COORDINATING WITH THE NURSING HOMES AND BUILDING AN ULTRA COLD STORAGE SUPPLY CHAIN AND TRAINING 27,000 PHARMACISTS.

>> WHICH TAKES SPECIAL GLOVES, HANDLING PROCEDURES, MONITORING THE STORAGE FOR THE TEMPERATURE AND GO THROUGH A CAREFUL DEFROSTING AND MIXING PROCEDURE PRIOR TO VACCINATING PATIENTS.

WE HAD TO BUILD THOSE PROCESSES OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE FEDS, LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES IS COMPLEX SAYS Dr. MATTHEW HEPBURN, HE IS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S LEAD ON OPERATION WARP SPEED THE FACT THAT IT'S GETTING DONE SHOULD BE APPRECIATED.

>> WE SHOULD MARVEL HOW DIFFICULT THAT TASK IS TO DO IN THE SETTING OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE SETTING OF AN EMERGENCY.

>> AND THE GOAL ISN'T JUST TO GET IT DONE.

IT IS TO GET AS MUCH OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC VACCINATED AS POSSIBLE.

AND TO DO THAT IN RECORD TIME.

EVEN AS IT FEELS EXCRUCIATINGLY SLOW FOR THOSE WAITING BUT UNABLE TO GET ACCESS TO THE SHOT THERE IS CONFUSION WHERE TO GET IT, CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED AT THE RATE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WHITE.

AND DEMAND FOR THE VACCINE IS SUCH THAT CHICAGO CANNOT KEEP UP.

THE CITY IS RECEIVING 6,000 DOSES A DAY AND MORE THAN 600,000 CHICAGOANS ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET THEM.

WHEN YOU GET THAT FIRST SHOT, CHICAGO GIVES THE RECIPIENT A CODE TO RESCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT ONE.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE SHARING THAT CODE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO GAME THE SYSTEM AND DO NOT SHARE IF YOU GET A CODE OR APPOINTMENT THAT HAS BEEN DIRECTED FOR YOU, WHEN YOU SHARE THAT OR IF YOU FEEL LIKE I FOUND A SECRET WAY TO GET THIS, ALL YOU ARE DOING IS CREATING EXTRA WORK FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> ALLISON ARWADY SAYS THAT CHICAGO DOES HAVE WAYS TO TRACK THE CODES AND BEFORE GETTING THE SHOT FOLKS WILL BE ASKED TO BE HONEST AND CERTIFY THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.

THE CITY COUNTS ON PEOPLE TO BE HONEST THERE.

THE CITY COUNTING ON PEOPLE WHO GET THAT FIRST DOSE, TO GET THEIR SECOND ONE AT THE SCHEDULED TIME.

THE SHORT SUPPLY OF VACCINE IS WHY CHICAGO HAS NOT OPENED UP MASS VACCINATION SITES LIKE WE SEE ELSEWHERE.

>> WE HAVE DONE ALL OF THE PLANNING, THE WALK-THRUS, WE ARE COMPLETELY READY TO STAND UP MASS VACCINATION SITES AT -- WE'VE LOOKED AT THE UNITED CENTER AND McCORMICK.

WE'VE LOOKED AND IT'S ABOUT VACCINES.

IF WE STOOD UP A SITE THAT COULD DO 5,000 DOSES A COULD, WHICH WE COULD, WE ONLY GET 6,000 DOSES A DAY RIGHT NOW.

>> THE CITY WILL OPEN MASS VACCINATION SITES WHEN IT RECEIVES MORE OF THE VACCINE, WHEN IT HAS MORE SHOTS TO GIVE.

SHE ADDS THAT UNLIKE PLACES IN ARIZONA, PEOPLE MIGHT NOT WANT TO STAND AROUND IN AN OPEN AIR STADIUM IN CHICAGO RIGHT NOW GIVEN THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET UP TO A WHOPPING 7° TONIGHT.

OPERATION WARP SPEED'S Dr. MATTHEW HEPBURN DID NOT SHARE ANYTHING MORE ABOUT WHEN VACCINE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION MAY BE RAMPED UP.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAID SHE EXPECTS CHICAGO WILL GET MORE IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

BUT ALREADY OPERATION WARP SPEED IS GEARING UP SHOULD A VARIANT STRAIN NECESSITATE CREATING A BOOSTER SHOT.

HE COMPARE TO DO TO A MOVIE SEQUEL.

>> A LOT OF TIMES THE SEQUEL IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL NATIONAL.

DID YOU LIKE GODFATHER II THE SEQUEL WILL BE BETTER BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNED THE LESSONS FOR RN AT TO SAY LOOK HOW FAST WE COULD GO.

>> AND ALONG THOSE LINES WHEN PRAISE BE THE PANDEMIC IS OVER THE DOCTOR'S ALL SAY THE SYSTEMS PUT IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO HIV OF PIVOT AND USE THOSE SYSTEMS TO FOCUS ON OTHER HEALTH ISSUES AND OUTREACH.

BY THE WAY, WALGREENS ALSO JUST ANNOUNCING THAT IT HAS FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH UBER SO THAT THOSE GETTING THE VACCINE AND WHO NEED A RIDE CAN BE TAKEN TO WALGREENS PHARMACIES AND OTHER VACCINATION CLINICS AND CHICAGO IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MARKETS WHERE IT WILL BE DEBUTING THAT PROGRAM.

BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> PRACTICE IN PATIENCE THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A LOCAL SYNAGOGUE PROVIDING SERVICE TO THE DEAF.

STICK AROUND.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VICES.

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

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

>> BLACK JOY IN AND THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IS MAGICAL.

>> AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING WHAT LOCAL CONGRESS MEMBERS THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBLE RESIGNATION OF U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH.

FIRST FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY A PLACE OF WORSHIP IN SKOKIE HAS SERVED DEAF JEWISH CONGREGANTS AND NOW THAT SIN GOING IS FIGHTING TO STAY AFLOAT.

EVAN GARCIA VISITED BENE SHALOM TO LEARN MORE.

>> NOT ONLY DO WE SPEAK OUR SERVICES IN ENGLISH, AND IN HEBREW, WE ALSO SIGN OUR SERVICES EVERY WORD IS SIGNED SO IT LOOKS AS IF WE'RE PAINTING PICTURES IN THE AIR.

>> RABBI DOUGLAS GOLDHAMER'S REFORMED JUDAISM CONGREGATION, BENE SHALOM IN SKOKIE IS OFTEN CITED AS THE NATION'S ONLY FULL SYNAGOGUE IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY.

>> WELCOME THE ANGELS INTO OUR SHABBAT SERVICE.

>> ALL SERVICES ARE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETED AND BROADCAST FROM THE RABBI'S HOME VIA ZOOM.

SOON THE CONGREGATION COULD SHUTDOWN FOR GOOD.

MORE ON THAT LATER.

>> I DO EXERCISES ON THE BED TO STRENGTHEN BY LEG POWER.

>> RABBI DOUGLAS GOLDHAMER WHO INJURED HIS LEG AND RECEIVES DAILY HELP FROM A GOOD FRIEND SAYS SOME INTERPRETATIONS OF JEWISH LAW EXCLUDE THE DEAF FROM RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS.

>> THE ATONE.

SAYS, THE DEAF, THE IMBECILE AND THE MINOR A PERSON UNDER 13 YEARS OF AGE, ARE EXEMPT FROM ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE TORAH, EVEN REJOICING.

>> IN THE EARLY 70s, FEW IF ANY SYNAGOGUES MADE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.

DOUGLAS GOLDHAMER SAW DEAF JEWS ATTENDING SERVICES SO HE STARRED BENE SHALOM IN 1972 TO GIVE THE DEAF A PLACE TO WORSHIP.

>> I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO TALK.

I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HEAR WITH ANYTHING.

AND I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO LEARN.

>> SARI DAYBROOK WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE TO PROFOUND HEARING LOSS AT THE AGE OF ONE.

SHE STARTED GOING TO BENE SHALOM AT FIVE YEARS OLD AND IS NOW A RABIN CAL STUDENT UNDER RABBI SHARI CHEN.

>> TWO OF US ALWAYS, ALWAYS COMMUNICATED.

>> NOW, BENE SHALOM'S FATE IS UNCHILDREN.

DOUGLAS GOLDHAMER SAYS AS WEALTHY GROUP OF DONORS THAT HELPED SUPPORT THE SYNAGOGUE IS DWINDLING.

>> THEY KNEW THE DIFFICULTIES WE HAD FINANCIALLY AND THEY GAVE US GIFTS EVERY MONTH.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS I'M 75 NOW THEY WERE 65 THEN.

AND THEY ARE NOT ALIVE ANYMORE.

SO WE NEED HELP.

>> A "GOFUNDME" PAGE SETUP IS A FEW THOUSAND SHORT OF THE $50,000 GOAL AND THE CONGREGATION NEEDS TO RAISE AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 THIS YEAR TO COVER THE $300,000 BUDGET.

WE ARE IN THIS PLACE THAT IS WELCOMING THE DEAF COMMUNITY WE ARE WEARING THE TRANSPARENT FACE MASKS, WE HAVE RABBI CHEN TO INTERPRET WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU IF BENE SHALOM WERE TO SHUT DOWN?

>> I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

I HAVE NOWHERE TO PRAY.

I HAVE NOWHERE WHERE I CAN RELY TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD.

>> KAREN R KAREN AGUILAR DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO HEARING SOCIETY SAYS IT'S INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE.

>> IT MIGHT TAKE AN EXTRA MINUTE TO ARRANGE AN ACCOMMODATION OR DURING A ZOOM MEETING BUT IT'S CRUCIAL WE INSURE THAT DEAF, HARD OF HEARING ARE INCLUDED IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

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

>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, SARI DAYBROOK IS TEACHING A CLASS VIA ZOOM STARTING FEBRUARY 21.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.

>> TILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DISCUSS THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT AND THE HURDLES SOME ARE FACING TO GET A VACCINATION.

>> THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL AS AIRLINES TRY TO SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC.

AND HOPE FOR A TAKE OFF POST PANDEMIC.

AND A LOOK HOW THE PANDEMIC IS HARMING FINANCES FOR SOME LATINO FAMILIES.

MAKING THEM MORE LIKELY TO LOSE THEIR HOMES.

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

BOEING RAISED A FEW BUCKS IN JANUARY BY DELIVERING 26 NEW PLANE PRESIDENT INCLUDING 21 OF THE MAX JETS GROUNDED AFTER TWO CRASHES KILLED 346 PEOPLE.

THOSE JETS WENT TO UNITED AS WELL AS SOUTHWEST AND AMERICAN.

THE CHICAGO BASED COMPANY IS HOPING FOR CASH AND PROFITS OR THE MAX'S RECOVERY THOUGH THE AIRCRAFT MARKET IS WEAK BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC'S EFFECT ON AIR TRAVEL.

AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL LATEER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THE BIG TEN BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT WILL BE PLAYED IN INDIANAPOLIS INSTEAD OF CHICAGO AS HAD BEEN PLANNED.

OFFICIALS SAY THE MEN WILL PLAY A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT ON THE SAME WEEK IN MID-MARCH.

HOSTING BOTH THE MEN AND WOMEN AT THE SAME SITE ALLOWING FOR MEDICAL PROTOCOLS FOR BOTH EVENTS AND CENTRALIZED ACCOMMODATIONS AROUND THE COMPETITION VENUES.

THE FINAL FOUR IS BEING PLAYED IN INDIANAPOLIS.

>> BIG TEN SAYS IT PLANS TO RETURN IN CHICAGO IN 2023.

>> AND BACK TO PARIS WITH MORE FROM MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

>> EARLY IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED IMPEACHMENT AND A NEW ROUND OF COVID STIMULUS AND WE ARE JOINED BY CONGRESS MA'AMS, DANNY DAVIS, JAN SCHAKOWSKY AND JESUS CHUY GARCIA.

CONGRESS QAM SHACKKY I WANT TO PICK UP, THE PART OF THE STIMULUS THAT WILL GO TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

HOW MUCH MONEY IS ILLINOIS GOING TO GET FOR THE BUDGET AND THE CITY FOR CHICAGO FOR ITS CASH STRAPPED BUDGET?

>> WE WILL SEE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

OUR MUNICIPALITIES LARGE AND SMALL OUR COUNTY ARE REALLY STRUGGLING BECAUSE ANTHRAXES BEEN THE LOSS OF INCOME FROM SALES TAXES ET CETERA.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ADAMANT ABOUT THE FACT THAT STATE AND COUNTY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEED TO GET THE MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIAL.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THE TRAINS RUNNING LITERALLY.

MUNICIPALITIES WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD TO CUT BACK THEIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.

THEIR HEALTHCARE, THEIR FIRST-RESPONDERS.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE.

AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT WE KNOW THAT 72% OF AMERICANS ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THAT INCLUDES 53% OF REPUBLICANS.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES NEED THE HELP.

THAT THEY NEED THE HELP.

AND I THINK IT IS A REALLY BAD VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS TO GO AGAINST THIS WILDLY POPULAR LEGISLATION THAT IS GOING TO MEAN SO MUCH TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING.

>> ANOTHER POSSIBLE PART OF THIS LEGISLATION, CONGRESSMAN DAVIS IS A PROPOSAL FOR MORE THAN $3,000 PER CHILD FOR CHILDCARE COSTS AND THIS IS BIPARTISAN BECAUSE SENATOR ROMNEY HAD A SIMILAR PROPOSAL.

WILL THIS BE A PART OF THE STIMULUS PACKAGE AND TELL US HOW IT WORKS?

>> IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL THING THAT HAS EVER BEEN PUT ON PAPER AND WILL BE ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT EVER HAPPENED FOR CHILDREN.

THE LARGEST PART OF THE POVERTY POPULATION IN AMERICA ARE CHILDREN.

THE MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN AMERICA ARE CHILDREN.

AND WHEN WE DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT CHILDREN, I MEAN WE ARE DOING THE WORK OF THE MASTER.

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE NEEDS OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN THIS PACKAGE UNTIL I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER, IT COMES THROUGH MY SUBCOMMITTEE THAT I CHAIR.

>> I TAKE IT YOU ARE AN AYE VOTE ON THAT.

CONGRESSMAN GARCIA WILL THAT BE A PART OF THE STIMULUS OR IS THAT A SEPARATE PROPOSAL?

>> IT WILL BE A PART OF THE RESCUE PLAN OF THE PRESIDENT.

IT IS ESSENTIAL.

IT IS EXPANDS THE BENEFITS IN THE RIGHT PLACES.

IT HELPS CHILDREN.

IT HELPS FAMILIES WHO ARE IN DIRE NEED OF THIS ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS THE PRESIDENT SIGNS THIS BILL WE'LL USE THE IRS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO QUALIFIES, FAMILIES AND FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES.

THEY WILL COME IN THE FORM OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

>> MONTHLY PAYMENT.

WE'RE HAVING A FEW AUDIO PROBLEMS.

>> SEVERAL OF US ARE CO-RESPONSE ARES.

>> I'M SORRY WE HAVE AUDIO PROBLEMS THERE.

WE GOT THE GIST OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.

SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS HOPED TO BE A PART WAS A $15 MINIMUM WAGE DOES IT LOOK LIKE THAT IS GOING TO GO BY THE WAYSIDE?

>> WE'LL SEE.

AS OF YESTERDAY AND I THINK TODAY AS WELL IT WAS STILL IN THE PLAN.

AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

WELL, ASIDE FROM WHAT DANNY DAVIS WAS SAYING I THINK THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT WOULD BRING THE ECONOMY BACK THAN RAISING THE WAGES OF AMERICANS.

SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON THE GOVERNMENT.

THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO SPEND MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY, MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND BRING THE ECONOMY BACK TO LIFE.

AND SO I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR US TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US DO IT IN THIS PACKAGE.

THERE MAY BE AN ARGUMENT ABOUT WHETHER IT'S ELIGIBLE TO BE IN THE PACKAGE.

BUT WHAT I HAVE HEARD SO FAR, IS THAT THE SENATE ACTUALLY WAS SAYING THAT THEY THOUGHT IT COULD BE DONE.

>> I SHOULD MENTION THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE DID SCORE THAT AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD COST JOBS.

I WANT TO MOVE ON TO COVID VACCINES.

CONGRESSMAN DAVIS WE KNOW ABOUT THE DISPARITIES IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.

HAVE VACCINES PICKED UP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY WERE LAGGING BEHIND BEFORE?

>> IT IS IN FACT PICKING UP AND WE YOU HAD THAT MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS FOR -- UNDERSTAND THAT MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE RELUCTANT EARLY ON TO MAKE USE OF THE VACCINE.

THAT IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE.

THERE'S BEEN AN ALL OUT EFFORT FROM EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT ON DOWN AS WELL AS MANY PHYSICIAN GROUPS, PRIVATE CITIZENS, REGULAR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS, URGING PEOPLE TO MAKE USE OF THE VACCINE AND URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISTRIBUTION GETS TO PLACES WHERE THERE IS THE GREATEST NEED.

THERE ARE ABOUT 200 SITES IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND GET VACCINATED.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEDICINE IS THERE FOR THEM.

AND SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE DEALING WITH THE DISPARITIES THAT EXIST.

WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WATER.

AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE ARE.

BUT WE ARE, INDEED, MAKING PROGRESS.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN, SCHAKOWSKY, THE DECISION BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NOT TO RETAIN U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH WAS THAT THE RIGHT MOVE?

>> I THINK THEY WERE ASKING ALL OF THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL TO RESIGN.

THIS IS TYPICAL OF AN ADMINISTRATION AT THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND THEN OTHER THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR THE APPOINTMENT.

SO I THINK THIS WAS NOT JUST TARGETED.

IT WAS NATIONWIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE DID INVITE EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION BUT NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION TONIGHT.

WE THANKS REPRESENTATIVES DAVIS, SCHAKOWSKY AND GARCIA FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS WITH A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AMID THE PANDEMIC.

>> THANK YOU.

FOR MOST OF US, TRAVEL ESPECIALLY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL HAS BEEN OFF THE AGENDA FOR THE LAST YEAR.

AS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WORSENED, MANY COUNTRIES IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON VISITORS FROM ABROAD AND WITHIN THE UNITED STATES STATES IMPOSED THEIR OWN RESTRICTIONS.

NOW WITH VACCINES BEING ROLLED OUT THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS HOPING TO SEE A POST PANDEMIC TRAVEL SURGE BUT THAT TRAVEL EXPERIENCE MAY BE DIFFERENT AND YOU MAY NEED A VACCINE PASSPORT.

JOINING US TO SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS ARE TRACY RUCINSKI, CHICAGO BASED AVIATION CORRESPONDENT FOR REUTERS NEWS AGENCY.

JEANNETTE CEJA, A CALIFORNIA BASED TRAVEL JOURNALIST AND TRAVEL ADVISER.

AND INGER BURNETT-ZEIGLER, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY AT NORTHWESTERN'S UNIVERSITY'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

JEANNETTE CEJA LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

AS A TRAVEL JOURNALIST WHAT HAS THE LAST YEAR BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING YEAR.

I HAVE DONE JUST ONE DOMESTIC TRIP AND FOR ME THAT'S THE LONGEST I HAVE BEEN LAND LOCKED AT HOME.

THE FOCUS HAS BEEN INSTEAD OF WHERE TO TRAVEL, HOW TO TRAVEL WHETHER YOU ARE DOING A VACCINATION INDICATION OR A SMALL ROAD TRIP TO A NATIONAL PARK.

HAD TO PIVOT HOW I'M COVERING TRAVEL.

INSTEAD OF WHERE IT'S MORE HOW.

>> AND YOU SAID YOU'VE ONLY TRAVELED ONCE DOMESTICALLY.

MOST OF US HAVE NOT TRAVELED IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE?

WERE YOU APPREHENSIVE ABOUT GETTING ON A PLANE?

>> I TRAVELED FROM LOS ANGELES TO NASHVILLE.

MY PARENTS LIVE IN NASHVILLE AND MY MOTHER HAD MULTIPLE SURGERIES I WENT TO HELP TAKE CAKE OF HER FOR A -- CARE OF HER FOR A WHILE.

I HAVE FLOWN IN AND OUT OF LAX SO MANY TIMES.

IT WAS EMPTY.

YOU GET IN THROUGH ALL THE SECURITY LINES VERY QUICKLY BUT IT'S THE MOST EMPTY THAT I'VE SEEN IT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AS WELL THE NASHVILLE AIRPORT WAS EMPTY.

>> ONE BENEFIT IT IS NOT CROWDED.

TRACY RUCINSKI AMERICANS WE FACE A VARIETY OF RESTRICTIONS IF WE'RE TRAVELING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

DEPENDING ON THE STATUS OF THE VIRUS HERE AND THERE.

WHERE CAN U.S. TRAVELERS GO INTERNATIONALLY RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, NOT A LOT OF PLACES.

AMERICANS ARE BANNED FROM MOST OF EUROPE BUT WE CAN GO TO MOST OF LATIN AMERICA, MEXICO, THE CARRIBBEAN AND SO WE'VE SEEN ALL OF THE U.S. AIRLINES REALLY ADD A LOT OF FLIGHTS TO THESE DESTINATIONS.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

>> AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE ADDING THE FLIGHTS WHILE THEY HAVE TRIMMED FLIGHTS TO EUROPE?

>> YES.

THERE ARE VERY FEW FLIGHTS TO EUROPE RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK YOU WOULD FIND OUT OF CHICAGO, VERY FEW DIRECT FLIGHTS ANYWHERE.

THERE ARE FLIGHTS TO LONDON, TO PARIS, TO FRANKFURT.

BUT A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL FLYING THAT CHICAGOANS WOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ISN'T THERE RIGHT NOW ANYMORE.

>> INGER BURNETT-ZEIGLER WE'VE HAD YOU ON THE SHOW IN THE PANDEMIC TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR AND HOW WE'RE MANAGING IT.

AND I'M SURE IT'S BEEN IMPACTFUL IF MANY WAYS HOW DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO REACT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC ARE WE GOING TO DEPENT UP DEMAND?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE FUTURE.

A LOT OF FOLKS I WORK WITH ARE TALKING ABOUT FEELING STUCK THE SENSE OF BOREDOM AND FEELING TRAPPED IN THEIR HOMES IN THIS ROUTINE NOT HAVING THE TYPICAL OUTLETS FOR JOY AND PLEASURE THAT THEY WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE.

AND WANTING SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

SOME FOLKS MAY HAVE HAD EXCITING TRAVEL PLANS LAST YEAR THAT WERE CANCEL AND EAGER TO PUT THOSE PLANS ON THE AGENDA.

AND PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT SAFE WAYS TO BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO THEIR CALENDAR FOR THIS YEAR.

>> INGER BURNETT-ZEIGLER DO YOU THINK IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE FEAR THAT WE'VE LIVED WITH FOR THIS LAST ALMOST A YEAR, COULD THAT REMAIN AND PEOPLE ARE FEARFUL OF WHAT MIGHT BE A RETURN TO NORMAL?

>> I THINK THAT THAT IS CERTAINLY PRESENT.

I THINK FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE VACCINE, CONCERNED ABOUT RETURNING TO WORK, CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE NEW NORMAL IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

HOWEVER, I DO THINK FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING WHAT HAS BEEN COINED IS THE CAUTION FATIGUE AND WEIGHING THE RISKS AGAINST THE BENEFITS.

AND AGAIN, FOLKS ARE WANTING TO BE ABLE TO SOAK IN THE BENEFITS OF CONNECTING WITH FOLKS AND GETTING BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD.

>> TRACY RUCINSKI ARE AIRLINES ARE THEY RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ON PLANES?

>> NO.

DELTA IS THE ONLY AIRLINE THAT CONTINUES TO BLOCK MIDDLE SEATS.

YESTERDAY, THEY SAID THEY WILL CONTINUE THAT THROUGH APRIL AT LEAST.

OTHERWISE, IF YOU BOOK A FLIGHT YOU SHOULD EXPECT THAT IT COULD BE FULL.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT PASSENGERS AND MASKING AND ARE THEY ABIDING BY THE RULES?

ARE AIRLINES ENFORCING THAT?

>> AIRLINES ARE TRYING TO ENFORCE IT.

WE NOW HAVE A FEDERAL MASK MANDATE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT.

SO ANYBODY WHO IS NOT WEARING A MASK ON AN AIRPLANE OR AIRPORT OR ON ANY MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CAN FACE A FINE OF $250-$1500.

AIRLINES HAVE ALSO BEEN PUTTING PASSENGERS ON NO-FLY LISTS IF THEY REFUSE TO COMPLY.

>> AND JEANNETTE CEJA WHAT ARE PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY EXPECTING THE POST PANDEMIC TRAVEL WORLD TO LOOK LIKE?

>> I FEEL IT IS A MIXTURE.

WE'RE OPTIMISTIC BUT WE'RE VERY REALISTIC AND TAKING IT WEEK BY WEEK AS THERE ARE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME SETBACKS.

I THINK OWN A GLOBAL SCALE YOU SEE HOW SOME COUNTRIES LIKE NEW ZEALAND ARE ADVANCING AND OTHER COUNTRIES SO IT'S SUCH AN INTERESTING PLACE TO BE IN THE INDUSTRY.

TAKING IT DAY BY DAY, WEEK BY WEEK AND HOPING FOR THE BEST.

I FEEL MOST PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY ARE OPTIMISTIC FOR THE FALL.

AND MOST TRAVELERS ARE LOOKING AT LEAST TO TRAVEL BY THE FALL MAYBE WINTER.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ALSO FROM TRAVELERS.

THEY SAY WHEN GO I GO TO PARIS?

WHEN I CAN GO TO LOCATIONS THAT ARE CLOSED RIGHT NOW FOR AMERICANS.

BUT MAYBE IN DUE TIME THEY WILL REOPEN.

THEY ARE STILL KEEPING THEIR HOPES TO TRAVEL ABROAD OPEN.

>> AND TRACY RUCINSKI, IN THE LEAD WE MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF A VACCINATION PASSPORT IS THAT POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON MAKING THAT A POSSIBILITY RIGHT NOW.

FROM DIFFERENT AIRLINES WHO HAVE SEEN UNITED AIRLINES AND AMERICAN AIRLINES BOTH ROLL OUT A KIND OF APP BY WHICH YOU CAN UPLOAD YOUR NEGATIVE COVID TEST OR VACCINATION RECORDS WHERE YOU CAN LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WHERE YOU ARE TRAVELING.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS TO CREATE A PLATFORM THAT CAN WORK ACROSS ALL COUNTRIES AND THAT CAN BE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE A SMARTPHONE AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO PRIVACY ISSUES AS WELL.

BUT I WOULD THINK THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE PART OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.

JUST LIKE YOUR PHYSICAL PASSPORT.

>> AND WHEN THIS DOES RETURN TO SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL, WHERE IS THE FIRST PLACE YOU ARE HEADING?

TRACY?

>> WELL, I WILL BE HEADING TO MADRID WHERE I LIVED FOR A LONGTIME AND HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND MISS IT A LOT.

>> LOVELY.

JENNETTE?

>> I WILL BE HEADING TO FRANCE WHERE I USUALLY GO EVERY YEAR.

YES THAT WILL BE THE FIRST PLACE I GO.

>> INC.KER?

>> BALI WAS ON MY 2020 TRAVEL PLANS I HOPE TO ADD IT BACK TO THE CALENDAR AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE.

>> I'M GOING WITH YOU GUYS.

SAFE TRAVEL.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WTTW NEWS DIRECTOR HUGO BALTA ON THE ECONOMIC TOLL OF COVID-19 IN A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON SATURDAY'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE LATINO COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AT HEIGHTENED RISK FOR INFECTION AND DEATH.

IT'S ALSO HARMING THEIR FINANCES.

AND MAKING THEM MORE LIKELY TO LOSE THEIR HOMES.

RECENTLY WE SPOKE WITH DAN FULL WEILER, THE C.E.O.

OF ESPERANZALE CENTERS HOW THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT MANY LATINO COMMUNITIES TO THE BRINK.

>> ALMOST 20% OF OUR PATIENTS AS A WHOLE HAVE HAD COVID BY NOW.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT ON EVERY LEVEL.

WE RECEIVED REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE ALL THE TIME FOR THINGS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

WE HAD A PATIENT COME TO OUR PATIENT EMERGENCY FUND BECAUSE THEY NEEDED $200 TO PAY FOR A CREMATION.

THOSE THINGS ARE HEART WRENCHING AND HARD TO SEE HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED US.

>> JOINING US WITH MORE ARE CHARMAINE, A REPORTER ARE SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY, JUSTIN, A REPORTER WITH CHICAGO BUREAU.

AND A REPORTER WITH WBEZ CHICAGO.

LAST FALL YOU REPORTED THAT 87% OF LATINO HOUSEHOLDS DISCLOSED HAVING SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT IS THE PICTURE LIKE NOW FOR THOSE FAMILIES?

>> LOOK, THE SITUATION FOR LATINOS IS BAD.

DURING THE PANDEMIC WORKERS HAVE BEEN EITHER LAID OFF OR HOURS HAVE BEEN REDUCED.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT THE INDUSTRIES WHERE A LOT OF LATINOS ARE CONCENTRATED ARE THE ONES THAT THAT HAVE LOST A LOT OF JOBS.

WE'VE LOST 8 MILLION JOBS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ALONE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INDUSTRIES STILL DOING WELL THAT HAVEN'T SEEN LAYOFFS WE ALSO SEE THOSE INDUSTRIES DO NOT EMPLOY A LOT OF LATINOS.

AS A RESULT YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF FAMILIES STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.

A POLL THAT I REPORTED ON LAST SEPTEMBER, SHOWED THAT ABOUT 72% OF LATINO HOUSEHOLDS IN CHICAGO REPORTED HAVING SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

COMPARED TO 36% OF WHITE HOUSE HOLDS IN THE CITY.

SO THAT SHOWS YOU THE SITUATION THAT LATINOS ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.

AND THE WORST PART ABOUT IS THAT FOR LATINOS WHO DON'T HAVE PROPER DOCUMENTATION OR THEY LIVE IN MIXED FAMILIES THEY OFTEN DON'T RECEIVE THE STIMULUS MONEY THAT OTHER AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED.

SO THAT PUTS PEOPLE IN A REALLY VULNERABLE SBATION SITUATION.

>> JUSTIN YOU REPORTED THAT DESPITE THE MORATORIUM PEOPLE ARE GETTING EVICTED WHAT.

STORIES ARE YOU HEARING?

>> HEARING A LOT OF DIFFERENT STORIES.

I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE LANDLORDS CAN FILE EVICTIONS AGAINST TENANTS WHO SUPPOSEDLY POSE A THREAT AND YOU KNOW LANDLORDS NEVER NEEDED THE COURT SYSTEM TO DISPLACE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND WE'RE HEARING THAT NOW.

PEOPLE YES, THEY ARE USING THE LEGAL LOCKOUT.

SHUTTING OFF UTILITIES.

THREATS OF VIOLENCE TO MOVE PEOPLE.

AND YEAH, SORT OF SEEING A LOT OF THAT.

WE'VE SPOKE TO 30 RENTERS FOR A STUDY WE PUBLISHED CALLED THE HOUSING CLIFF AND IT HIGHLIGHTED HOW EASILY FOLKS HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS AND HOW LITTLE OR LIKE HOW INEFFECTIVE THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS ACTUALLY KEEPING PEOPLE IN PLACE.

>> HAVE WE SEEN AN UPTICK IN HOMELESSNESS?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO COLLECTING DATA ON THE HOMELESSNESS?

>> YEAH, SO IT IS HARD TO SAY.

BUT IT DOES SEEM INCREDIBLY LIKELY WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN HOMELESSNESS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF EVICTIONS AND PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE RENT AND NOT BEING SURE WHERE TO GO.

THE TROUBLE WITH REALLY DOCUMENTING HOMELESSNESS AND WHETHER THAT HAS INCREASED OR NOT, IS BECAUSE THE SHELTER SYSTEM HAS EXPERIENCED SO MUCH CHAOS BECAUSE OF COVID.

LIKE THE NUMBER OF BEDS THAT YOU CAN FIT IN ONE SPACE IS NO LONGER THE SAME BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

SO I THINK THAT WE LIKELY HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK.

IN FACT IN 2020 DURING THE POINT IN TIME COUNT AN ANNUAL COUNT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILIES SUPPORT SERVICES CONDUCTS EVERY YEAR TO GET A SNAPSHOT OF WHO IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON A SINGLE NIGHT IN JANUARY.

THEY SAW A 2% INCREASE FROM 2019 AND THAT WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BEFORE COVID HAD HIT THE CITY.

AND A LOT OF THAT INCREASE CAME FROM FOLKS STAYING ON THE STREETS AS OPPOSED TO BEING IN A SHELTER.

>> THAT CONVERSATION AIRED ON OUR SHOW "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

CAN YOU WATCH THE EXTENDED VERSION ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND CAN YOU CATCH "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" HERE ON SATURDAY EVENINGS AT 6:00 P.M. >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WARM, GOOD NIGHT.

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