>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M PARISH HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THESE FOR 7 MONTHS IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY.

>> OF ALL OF THE MIGRANTS TO DERIVE THE NEW YEAR.

WDW NEWS EXCLUSIVE.

WHAT DID MAYOR JOHNSON AND CITY OFFICIALS KNOW ABOUT MIGRANT SHELTER?

CONDITIONS WERE SEVERAL HAVE FALLEN ILL. >> INCLUDING A 5 YEAR-OLD WHO LATER DIED.

MEANWHILE, THE ONGOING MIGRANT CRISIS TOPS AGENDA AS LAWMAKERS RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD.

THAT AND MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

WHY THE CITY SAYS IT WILL TAKE 15 YEARS TO MAKE CROSSWALKS ACCESSIBLE FOR BLIND PEDESTRIANS AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS SAYS IT'S FACING AN EMERGENCY BLOOD SHORTAGE.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

FIRST TONIGHT, BLOCKBUSTER ALLEGATIONS IN A NEW WTW NEWS EXCLUSIVE REPORT.

JOHN CARLOS MARTINEZ RIVERO, A 5 YEAR-OLD MIGRANT DIED AT COMER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ON DECEMBER 17TH AFTER FALLING ILL AT A CROWDED MIGRANT SHELTER IN PILSEN WHERE HE WAS STAYING WITH HIS FAMILY.

THAT SHELTER HAS COME UNDER REPEATED SCRUTINY FOR ALLEGED UNSAFE CONDITIONS.

NOW WTW NEWS HAS EXCLUSIVE NEW INFORMATION THAT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON KNEW ABOUT CONDITIONS AT THE SHELTER.

AND WHEN WTW NEWS HAS OBTAINED DOCUMENTS THAT SHOW TOP STAFFERS IN THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE MAYOR HIMSELF WERE MADE AWARE OF ALLEGATIONS OF UNSANITARY AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS AT THE SHELTER AS EARLY AS LATE OCTOBER.

JUST WEEKS AFTER IT OPENED AND BEFORE THE MARTINEZ RIVERA FAMILY ARRIVED, THE DOCUMENTS RAISE FRESH QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RESPONDED TO CHICAGO'S MIGRANT CRISIS.

MIGRANT STAND OUTSIDE THE CROWDED SHELTER IN THE 2200 BLOCK OF SOUTH HALSTED AVENUE.

>> ON A RECENT FRIGID DAY ASKING FOR WARM CLOTHING.

>> WE WITNESSED AN AMBULANCE AND FIRETRUCK AT THE SHELTER.

ON THE DAY WE VISITED THE SHELTER HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MEDIA REPORTS, INCLUDING THIS DECEMBER 14TH STORY FROM BORDERLESS MAGAZINE DETAILING UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AROUND THE TIME OF THE DECEMBER 17TH DEATH OF 5 YEAR-OLD MIGRANT SEAN CARLOS MARTINEZ, RIVERO ON DECEMBER 19TH.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TOLD MEDIA THAT SEVERAL OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.

NOW WTW NEWS HAS OBTAINED DOCUMENTS SHOWING MAYOR JOHNSON AND TOP STAFFERS INCLUDING DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

COMMISSIONER BRANDON, CAN I Z WERE WARNED OF ALLEGED UNSAFE CONDITIONS AT THE SHELTER AS EARLY AS OCTOBER.

28 AROUND THAT TIME, A CONCERNED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER REACHED OUT TO 11TH WORD ALDERPERSON.

THE COLE LEAVES OFFICE.

LEE PROBABLY SENT AN EMAIL TO THE MAYOR WTW NEWS FILED A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST FOR THE OCTOBER.

28 E-MAIL AND RECEIVED A HEAVILY REDACTED DOCUMENT IN RESPONSE.

QUOTE, GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR JOHNSON COMMISSIONER DEPUTY MAYOR PONCE DE LEON AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF THE EMAIL READS AND THEN 6 PARAGRAPHS ENTIRELY BLACKED OUT.

BUT A NON-PROFIT GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ORGANIZATION CALLED THE FOIA BAKERY SHARED WITH US IN UNREDACTED VERSION.

THEY SAY THEY OBTAINED.

THE PREVIOUSLY REDACTED PARTS ALLEGE THE SHELTER HAD, QUOTE, INSUFFICIENT BATHROOMS, EXPOSED PIPES WITH RAW SEWAGE, INSECT COCKROACH INFESTATION.

POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF ILLNESS WITH MANY PEOPLE BEING SICK, INSUFFICIENT PROVISION OF MEALS AND WATER AND POOR IN DISRESPECTFUL TREATMENT OF MIGRANTS HOUSED IN THE SHELTER BY STAFF.

ANOTHER SOURCE SENT US THESE IMAGES THAT ALLEGEDLY SHOW MIGRANTS SLEEPING NEXT TO SEWER COVERS INSIDE THE SHELTER.

A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL OBTAINED BY THE FOIA BAKERY APPEARS TO SHOW THAT COMMISSIONER STAFFERS TO FIND OUT ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS.

WTW FILED A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST FOR COMMISSIONER CAN AS HIS RESPONSE TO ALDERWOMAN LEE'S CONCERNS SENT ON OCTOBER 29TH ONCE AGAIN, THE DOCUMENT WAS NEARLY COMPLETELY REDACTED.

THE CITY FOR OFFICER CITED EXEMPTIONS UNDER THE LAW THAT ALLOWED THEM TO WITHHOLD, QUOTE, PRE DECISION DELIBERATIVE INFORMATION.

ANY GOMBERG IS A LEAD ORGANIZER WITH THE POLICE STATION RESPONSE TEAM.

SHE SAYS ORGANIZERS HAVE BEEN WARNING ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ABOUT CONDITIONS AND LACK OF MEDICAL CARE AT THIS SHELTER SINCE IT OPENED IN EARLY OCTOBER, WE HEAR TIME AND AGAIN.

>> THAT MEDICAL CARE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S EASY TO COME BY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN IT'S WHEN IT IS FOLKS ARE EITHER TOLD THEY'RE KIND OF ON THEIR OWN OR NOTHING IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

WE ASKED THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION IF THE MAYOR SAW THE OCTOBER 27TH EMAIL.

>> AND WHETHER THE ISSUES WERE ADDRESSED BUT WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE ON THIS PROVIDE DURING A DECEMBER 20TH INTERVIEW ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

I ASKED THE MAYOR REPEATEDLY IF THE CONDITIONS AT THE HOMESTEAD SHELTER WERE SAFE EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THESE FOR 7 MONTHS IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY.

>> OF ALL OF THE MIGRANTS THAT ARE ARRIVING HERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED.

THESE ARE NEW CONCERNS.

REMEMBER, THERE WERE 4,000 PEOPLE LIVING ON FLOORS AND POLICE DISTRICTS.

THERE WERE AMBULATORY RUNS THAT WERE HAPPENING THERE.

GOMBERG SAYS SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE THE CITY IS JUSTIFIED IN KEEPING THE INFORMATION IN THOSE EMAILS REDACTED.

>> IF IT HAS TO BE CONDITION AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT INFORMATION PUBLIC, I WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S GOING PREVENT ANYTHING FROM GETTING BETTER.

>> AND WTW IS PREPARING TO FILE SUIT AGAINST THE CITY AND COURT TO GET THE REMAINING DOCUMENTS UNREDACTED.

WE REACHED OUT TO ALDERWOMAN LEE WHO DECLINED TO COMMENT FOR THIS STORY.

FAVORITE STAFFING IS THE COMPANY THAT STAFF'S WORKERS AT THIS AND OTHER SHELTERS.

IN A STATEMENT FAVORITE VPK AND DRIVER TELLS US, QUOTE, FAVORITE STAFFING TAKES ALL STAFF COMPLAINTS VERY SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE'RE CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MIGRANTS BUT AT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR OWN STAFF.

NOW WE SHOULD MAKE CLEAR THAT MARTINEZ RIVEROS CAUSE OF DEATH HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

WE DON'T KNOW IF HIS AND OTHER ILLNESSES WERE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE ALLEGED UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AT THE SHELTER.

SOURCES WHO HAVE VISITED THE SHELTER RECENTLY CLAIM, BUT MANY OF THOSE CONDITIONS PERSIST THE SHELTER HOUSE MORE THAN 2500 MIGRANTS AT ITS PEAK.

AND NOW TO SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE SET TO RESUME CLASSES TOMORROW.

THAT'S UP TO THE DISTRICT, CANCELED THEM TODAY DUE TO DANGEROUSLY LOW TEMPERATURES.

WIND CHILLS PLUNGED TO AS LOW AS 33 DEGREES BELOW 0 IN PARTS OF THE REGION.

AS WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO MOVING OUT OF THIS RECENT POLAR PLUNGE.

TEMPERATURES ARE CURRENTLY JUST BARELY ABOVE 0, BUT EXPECTED TO PLUNGE DOWN BELOW 0 AGAIN THIS EVENING BEFORE HITTING EXPECTED HIGH OF 16 ABOVE TOMORROW.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 TOMORROW MORNING.

HOPEFULLY HAVE BOOTIES AND SWEATERS FOR YOUR PETS.

FOR INFORMATION ON CHICAGO'S WARMING CENTER'S VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

THE CITY'S TREASURE IS IN HOT WATER FOR FIRING CITY EMPLOYEES AFTER THEY WARNED HER SHE WAS VIOLATING THE CITY'S ETHICS ORDINANCE.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

ACCORDING TO AN IG REPORT, MELISSA CONYERS OR BEEN FIRED 2 CITY EMPLOYEES AFTER THEY WARNED HER SHE WAS VIOLATING THE CITY'S ETHICS CODE BY USING CITY RESOURCES TO HOST A PRAYER SERVICE COUNTERS.

IRVIN WAS NOT NAMED IN THE REPORT.

HOWEVER, SOURCES CONFIRMED TO WTW NEWS THAT KEYE RESERVE AND IS THE SUBJECT OF THE PROBE.

SPOKESPERSON FOR CONYERS, IRVIN SAYS, QUOTE, THE TREASURE IS PROUD OF THE WORK SHE HAS DONE TO PROTECT AND GROW THE CITY'S INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO AND TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EMPOWERMENT FOR RESIDENTS AND HAS DONE SO WITH INTEGRITY AND HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS THROUGHOUT HER TIME IN OFFICE.

UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM AND THE UPCOMING SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD WITH MIGRANTS.

TOP OF MIND, BAD WEATHER PROMPTS MAYOR JOHNSON TO SUSPEND HIS POLICY OF EVICTING MIGRANTS FROM CITY SHELTERS AFTER 60 DAYS AND A NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, RAP CITY TREASURER MELISSA.

KYRA IRVING, AS YOU JUST HEARD IT WITH ALL THAT AND MORE AS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINDICATE AND HEATHER SHARON, SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AS ALWAYS.

ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD FOR THE START OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH HAS SAID THE MIGRANT ISSUE IS GOING TO BE TOP OF EVERYONE'S MIND MONTHS AGO.

I REMEMBER HEARING THAT THE CITY WAS KIND OF ON ITS OWN IS NOW IT'S ON THE TOP OF EVERY LAWMAKER'S MINDS.

SO DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF MORE HELP FROM SPRINGFIELD?

TOP OF MIND DOESN'T MEAN THAT ITS TOP OF THEIR TO DO LIST BY ANY MEANS.

I THINK TRIBUNE STORY THAT QUOTED THE SPEAKER ALSO >> HAD A QUOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE WHO SAID THERE REALLY ISN'T AN APPETITE RIGHT NOW FOR ANY STANDALONE APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT WOULD HURRY AND SEND MORE FUNDING ARE WHEN WE LAST SAW THE GOVERNOR SPEAK LAST WEEK, HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE OF 2024.

>> ASKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL AND REALLY SAID THAT THE ONLY PLANS HE HAS BUDGET AIRILY RIGHT NOW, ART TO BACKFILL THE 160 MILLION DOLLARS THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT UNALLOCATED.

SO THAT'S WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN FIRST.

NOT NEW FUNDING, BUT JUST RESTORING THE FUNDING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT MOSTLY TO CHICAGO.

SOME OTHER FUNDING ANNOUNCED TODAY BEING AVAILABLE TO SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOW GETTING MIGRANTS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS NECESSARILY THE END, ALL BE ALL FOR 2024, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT GOING AWAY, BUT THAT THAT'S ALWAYS THE FIRST >> MAYOR JOHNSON ANNOUNCED FRIDAY, THANKFULLY BECAUSE OF TEMPERATURES AT GOING TO SPEND THE 60 DAY EVICTION POLICY WHERE MIGRANTS WOULD HAVE TO FIND SOME KIND OF HOUSING AND LEAVE SHELTERS AFTER 60 OBVIOUSLY A MOVE THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE GIVEN WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSIDE.

SURE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD MAYOR JOHNSON SAY THAT HIS FIRST PRIORITY IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S LIFE AND SAFETY.

>> PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DIED HAD THAT 60 DAY LIMIT BEEN ENFORCED, THAT THIS ONLY A WEEK OF REPRIEVE ON THE 22ND WHEN THE CITY OFFICIALS SAID THAT THE POLICY WOULD BE REINSTATING ITS STATED AS MANY AS 650 PEOPLE COULD BE EVICTED.

>> AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHERE THEY WOULD GO BECAUSE THE CITY HAS SAID THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO OPEN ANY NEW SHELTERS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO RIGHT SIZE THE SHELTERS THAT WE HAVE.

AND AS YOU REPORTED, PARIS, THERE ARE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THOSE SHELTERS AND THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENT AS THEY WERE EVEN THERE THE OTHER DAY WHERE IT WAS FREEZING COLD AND SNOWING IN FOLKS WHO OUTSIDE.

>> THEY DID NOT HAVE PROPER CONDITIONS BAD IN THE SHELTERS AND OBVIOUSLY OUT OF THE SHELTERS.

>> I WANT TO ALSO DRILLING A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE SEEING THAT SCREEN, OF COURSE, IS A JOURNALIST.

WHEN YOU HAVE WHEN FILE A FOIA AND GET BACK A WHOLE BUNCH OF BLACK REDACTIONS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY SHOW YOU THE INFORMATION THAT REALLY MAKE YOUR STORY WHEN.

>> YOU GOT IT FROM ANOTHER SOURCE.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION'S IT WAS SURPRISE, SURPRISE AND OR NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE WE DID SEE WHAT THE WHAT WAS BEHIND THOSE REDACTIONS.

AND THIS WAS INFORMATION PERTAINING.

>> 2 CONDITIONS AT THE SHELTER SURPRISING THAT THEY WOULD REDACTED CONSIDERING THAT THEY HAVE PLEDGED TO BE VERY >> TRANSPARENT.

WE DO KNOW FROM SOME OTHER E-MAILS THAT WE LOOKED AT, THAT SOMEONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION DID GO DOWN AND LOOK AT THE SHELTER AFTER THESE ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE.

BUT WE HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS AMELIORATED IN TERMS OF THE SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS AND WE KNOW THAT FOLKS HAVE FALLEN ILL AT THIS UP UNTIL THE PRESENT MOMENT.

WHEN WE WERE THERE, WE SAW AN CARTED AWAY.

AGAIN, WE WE HAVE TO STATE THOUGH.

WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL NURSES ARE CONNECTED TO WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE SHELTER OR WHETHER FOLKS CAME WITH THESE ILLNESSES OR FROM SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HEATHER GOVERNOR PRITZKER SENT A LETTER TO THE TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT WHO KEEP SENDING THE BUS LOADS HERE SAYING STOP, YOU KNOW, FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY, IT'S TOO COLD AND BUSES HAVE STOPPED AS THE TEXAS GOVERNOR CHANGED HIS TONE.

WELL, TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT'S OFFICE SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT STOP THE BUSES, BUT NO BUSES HAVE ARRIVED SINCE THAT EXCHANGE.

AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER ABBOTT DID QUIETLY STOPPED THE BUSES OR IF HE'S BEEN PREOCCUPIED WITH OTHER ISSUES.

OF COURSE.

>> 2 MIGRANTS DIED IN THE RIO GRANDE WHILE THEY WERE TRYING TO CROSS INTO AMERICA.

AND OF COURSE, TEXAS STATE PATROL OFFICERS BEEN ACCUSED OF PRESENT PREVENTING BORDER PATROL OFFICERS FROM HELPING THEM.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

IT'S ALSO NOT CLEAR WHETHER MIGRANTS ARE WILLING TO COME TO CHICAGO AT THIS POINT KNOWING THAT THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE CONDITIONS HERE AND THE COLD WEATHER AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MEETING WITH THE MAYOR IN SUBURBAN THERE.

BUT IT HAPPENED HOW CALM HE DID NOT.

THEY SAID THAT WAS TOO COLD TODAY.

AND I THINK THAT PERHAPS THAT WAS CERTAINLY TRUE.

BUT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT, I THINK FOR THE MAYORS TO DISCUSS AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE HE'S AMANDA SAID IF THERE'S NO MONEY THESE MAYORS HANDS ARE REALLY TIED.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE SECRET STASHES OF FUNDS THAT THEY CAN DIP INTO.

AND THERE'S VERY FEW SUBURBS, OAK PARK BEING ONE OF THE FEW EXCEPTIONS WERE WILLING TO TAKE THE MIGRANTS AND TO HELP THE CITY CARE FOR THEM.

IT'S NOT PUSHED BACK.

THERE'S A NEW ROUND OF GRANTS AND THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION THAT.

>> WITH THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION HAD PLANNED THIS MEETING TODAY AND YOU SAW A LOT OF PUSHBACK WAS PRETTY THING.

NO, WE DON'T WANT THE MONEY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.

UNCLEAR HOW MANY COMMUNITIES WILL COMPETE FOR THOSE DOLLARS ARE RIGHT NOW.

THE PLAN IS I THINK PRETTY MUCH SEND HIM TO AND CHICAGO, AS WE'VE SEEN OF PLANS ARE IMPERFECT TO SAY THE AND OTHERS OTHER.

>> UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN SPRINGFIELD EVER LATER.

THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SET FIRST EVER ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

I MEAN, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME HERE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THAT.

NOEMI THE ELECTION IS IN NOVEMBER FOR THIS FIRST OPEN ELECTION ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

WHAT HAS TO BE DECIDE THIS?

>> HOW THAT ELECTION IS GOING TO WORK AND REALLY THE BIG FIGHT RIGHT NOW IS WILL IT FOR HALF OF THE SPOTS OF THIS 20 MEMBER WILL EVENTUALLY BE ALL THAT THE BOARD OR WILL THE BOARD FULLY ELECTED FROM THE FRONT?

YOU SORT OF SEEING A ROLE REVERSAL CTU HAVE LONG CLAMORED FOR WE WANTED TO BE ALL ELECTED.

>> LO AND BEHOLD, NOW THEY SAY IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S ENOUGH TIME TO ORGANIZE.

BUT A LOT OF FOLKS SAYING, OH, WAIT, NOW THAT THE MEMBER OF YOUR UNION IN LEADERSHIP IS THE MAYOR.

YOU'RE WANTING TO PRESERVE THE ABILITY FOR THE MAYOR TO KEEP 10 OF THOSE SPOTS OF THAT IS THE KEY QUESTION WILL BE CITED AND SOMETHING THAT LEGISLATORS DO HAVE TO DO ACTUALLY EARLIER IN THEIR SESSION ACTUALLY HAVE A DEADLINE ON ACTUALLY DO.

ALL RIGHT, AMANDA HEATHER, SHARON, INSIGHTFUL ENTERTAINING, AS ALWAYS, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> AND UP NEXT, WE DIG INTO THE COMPETING PLANS FOR MAKING CHICAGO'S CROSSWALKS ACCESSIBLE FOR BLIND.

TEST RUNS.

DESPITE CRIES FOR HELP DATING BACK MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAS FAILED TO MAKE INTERSECTIONS ACCESSIBLE FROM BLINDS PEDESTRIANS.

THAT RULING CAME DOWN FROM A FEDERAL JUDGE LAST YEAR.

NOW ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY AND THE PLAINTIFFS HAVE BROUGHT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT ARE GRAPPLING IN COURT OVER HOW MANY ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS CHICAGO HAS TO INSTALL HOW LONG THEY'LL GET TO DO IT.

BTW NEWS REPORTED BLOOMBERG HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CASE AND JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

NIC, REMIND US WHAT THESE ACCESSIBLE SIGNALS ARE, PARENTS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TOOL TO MAKE CITIES SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS.

WITH LIMITED OR NO VISION FIND THEM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

EVEN THEY HAVE AUDIO CUES THAT LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN IT'S SAFE TO CROSS THE STREET.

A LOT OF THEM ALSO HAVE A TACTILE GUIDANCE AS WELL.

THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE.

>> WHO HAVE HEARING PROBLEMS NOW LAST YEAR, CHICAGO LOST A FEDERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ARGUING THAT ITS FAILURE TO INSTALL THOSE ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS KNOWN AS APS VIOLATES THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND THE REHABILITATION ACT FEUER THAN 2% OF SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS WITH THE CROSSWALK HAVE ACCESSIBLE SIGNALS HERE IN CHICAGO.

ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IT MAINTAINS JUST OVER 2700 SIGNALIZED PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS NEARLY 2 YEARS AGO, CDOT TOLD WBTW NEWS IT PLAN TO INSTALL 150 APS IN 2022.

AND 2023.

BUT THE DEPARTMENT INSTALLED JUST 9 SIGNALS IN 2020 TO ONE OF WHICH WAS AN UPGRADE TO AN EXISTING SIGNAL.

AND IT ONLY INSTALLED 12 SIGNALS LAST YEAR.

THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCESSIBLE SIGNALS AROUND CHICAGO TO JUST 45 A FEW MORE INTERSECTIONS IN THE CITY THAN THAT MAKE YOU MENTIONED THE CITY LOST ITS CLASS ACTION LAW.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

WELL, ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE PLAINTIFFS, THEY JUST COULDN'T AGREE ON A REMEDIAL PLAN TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

SO LATE LAST YEAR THEY SUBMITTED COMPETING PLANS TO THE JUDGE.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THERE ARE STARK.

THE CITY SAYS IT SHOULD GET 15 YEARS TO MAKE A LITTLE OVER 70% OF INTERSECTIONS ACCESSIBLE TO BLIND PEDESTRIANS.

BUT THE PLAINTIFFS ARGUE THE CITY CAN GET ALL THE INTERSECTIONS DONE IN 10 YEARS.

ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING BLIND PEDESTRIANS HERE IN CHICAGO WON A SIMILAR CASE AGAINST NEW YORK CITY A FEW YEARS BACK.

THE REMEDIAL PLAN IN THAT CASE ORDERED NEW YORK TO MAKE 10,000 INTERCEPT INTERSECTIONS ACCESSIBLE WITHIN 10 YEARS.

AND THEN ANOTHER 4,000 OR SO BY THE END OF 15 YEARS.

SO THE PLAINTIFFS SAY THE FACT THAT NEW YORK CITY IS DOING ABOUT 4 TIMES AS MANY INTERSECTIONS WITHIN THE SAME 10 YEAR TIME FRAME, A PROPOSED FOR CHICAGO MEANS THE WINDY CITY CAN ABSOLUTELY GET THIS DONE.

AND HOW LONG HAS THE WINDY CITY HAVE BEEN INSTALLING THESE SIGNALS?

WELL, ATTORNEYS WROTE IN THE FILING THAT THE CITY STARTED INSTALLING APS ON REQUEST IN 2015, CHICAGO STARTED A PILOT PROJECT IN 2016 PROJECT THAT WASN'T PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED FOR ANOTHER 3 YEARS.

BUT COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW THIS ISN'T SOME NEW PROBLEM.

THAT'S JUST COMING TO CHICAGO.

THE TENSION, THE EXHIBITS INCLUDE REQUEST FOR ACCESSIBLE SIGNALS AS FAR BACK AS 2001 IN A STATEMENT TO WTW NEWS, THE CITY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF EXCESS OF PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS, QUOTE, CDOT INCORPORATES APS SIGNALS INTO ALL NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLATIONS, ROADWAY, RECONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND SIGNAL MODERNIZATION PROJECT.

THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS 135 INTERSECTIONS WHERE APS IS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION DESIGN A PROCUREMENT AND WILL BE COMMENCING A CITYWIDE RETROFIT PROGRAM, WHICH WE CANNOT COMMENT ON FURTHER DUE TO ONGOING LITIGATION.

NOW THE ATTORNEYS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR REMEDIAL PLAN'S.

THEY'LL GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND IN COURT FILINGS DUE NEXT MONTH.

AND THEN PARIS.

IT IS IN THE JUDGE'S HANDS.

ALL RIGHT, NICK, MORE TO COME.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU CAN READ NEXT FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

>> THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS SOUNDING THE ALARM ON BLOOD DONATION LEVELS DECLARING A NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY.

THE ORGANIZATION SAYS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DONATING BLOOD IS DROPPED BY 40% IN THE LAST 2 DECADES.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S BEHIND IT AND THE IMPACT OUR JOY SQUIRE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ILLINOIS RED CROSS AND DOCTOR GLENN RAMSEY, MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE BLOOD BANK AT NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT THAT DOCTOR RAMSEY, HOW IS THIS BLOOD SHORTAGE IMPACTING HOSPITALS AND PATIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> YEAH, IT'S A IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM FOR HOSPITALS WHEN YOU DEPEND CASA BUT SUPPLY.

WE ESTIMATE IN CHICAGO AREA THE PATIENT NEEDS A TRANSFUSION ABOUT ONCE A MINUTE.

SO THERE'S A CONSTANT NEED FOR BLOOD.

THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THESE TRANSFUSIONS.

GO TO ALL KINDS OF PATIENTS FROM PREMATURE BABIES, TOO, TO CANCER PATIENTS AND ALL.

AND WE'RE IN BETWEEN FOLKS HAVING TO WAIT LONGER FOR THEIR ARE THEY GETTING WHAT I NEED RIGHT NOW?

WE'RE ALL CAREFULLY MONITORING OUR SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

WE ARE ABLE TO MEET THE DEMANDS, BUT WE'RE BEING VERY CAREFUL IN MAKING SURE THAT THE TRANSFUSIONS ARE >> GOING TO, YOU KNOW, OF CULT FOLLOWING GUIDELINES.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE ONE UNIT AT A TIME STABLE PATIENTS TO BE ABLE TO STRETCH THE SUPPLY FOR EVERYBODY.

JOY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 40%, THE NATION'S BLOOD SUPPLY.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> WELL, THE RED CROSS SOUND THE ALARM ABOUT THE BLOOD SHORTAGE BECAUSE TYPICALLY COMING OUT OF THE HOLIDAYS, YOU MIGHT SEE THAT BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BUSY THAT BLOOD DONATIONS DROP.

BUT IT WAS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THIS YEAR BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S.

WE LOST LIKE 7,000 AND THOSE ARE UNITS THAT WOULD GO TO NOW WITH THE COLD WEATHER THAT'S EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM.

EVEN MORE.

BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO DONATE ONLY 3% OF AMERICANS DONATE IN A GIVEN YEAR.

AND DOCTOR RAMSEY, CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK LESSON IN HOW BLOOD BANKS WORK?

BECAUSE BLOOD?

>> DOESN'T HAVE A VERY LONG SHELF LIFE, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT?

THAT DEPENDS ON THE KIND OF BLOOD YOU'RE GETTING SOME THE RED CELLS WE THINK CAN LAST FOR UP TO 6 WEEKS.

BUT >> CAN BE, YOU KNOW, USE VERY, VERY QUICKLY IN EMERGENCIES.

THE PLATELETS THAT YOU'RE GIVEN TO PATIENTS SAY CANCER BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS ONLY HAVE A SHELF LIFE OF A 5 TO 7 DAYS.

SO IT'S A YOU KNOW, IT'S A CONSTANT DAY-TO-DAY PROCESS OF OF KEEPING ENOUGH INVENTORY AVAILABLE, ENJOYING YOU MENTIONED 3% OF AMERICANS DONATE IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE JUST GOT OUT OF THE HABIT OF DOING IN RECENT YEARS AS COVID HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH >> WELL, PEOPLE SAY THAT WHEN THEY'RE ASKED WHY THEY DON'T DONATE, THEY'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

THEY'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN ASKED.

SO I THINK IT'S SIMPLY JUST NOT TOP OF MIND.

BUT COVID DID ALSO IMPACT THIS BECAUSE COVID, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SHUT DOWN WHEN SCHOOL SHUT DOWN, UNIVERSITIES, ET CETERA, BUSINESSES, IT'S HARDER TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE NOW BECAUSE WE'RE BACK.

HYBRID.

NOT NECESSARILY YOU KNOW, IN THE OFFICES.

SO IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO SET UP DRIVES WHERE PEOPLE ARE AND GET PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND COMMIT TO THEIR SCHEDULES.

AND THEN AS I UNDERSTAND THAT 25% OF THE NATION'S BLOOD RUNS COME FROM SCHOOL.

>> BLOOD ARE NOT HAPPENING AS OFTEN IS AS TYPICALLY DO.

>> RIGHT SCHOOLS.

WE USED TO DRIVES IN MANY, MANY SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES.

AND WHEN THE PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN, THE WE SAW A LOT FEUER DRIVES IN THOSE TYPES OF PLACES, SOMETHING LIKE THE NUMBER 18 TO 24 YEAR-OLD DONORS WHO DONATED IN 2021.

WAS LIKE 260,000 NATIONALLY.

THAT'S HALF AS MUCH AS 2 YEARS EARLIER JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

AND DOCTOR RAMSEY, YOU MENTIONED THE NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL.

YOU'RE MONITORING THE SITUATION.

YOU DO HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION HOSPITALS IN THE IN THE CITY AND AROUND THE AREA AS IT IS IT ABOUT THE SAME?

YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME FOR WE'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE SAME THE SAME SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT THEIR PATIENTS WHO ALL KINDS OF PATIENTS WHO NEED CUT, YOU KNOW, SOME PATIENTS NEED CONSTANT SUPPLY, KNOW TRANSFUSIONS FOR THEIR DEPENDENT ON ON THEIR TRANSFUSIONS.

>> OTHER PATIENTS THAT MIGHT BE YOU KNOW, AN ACCIDENT THEY HAVE OR CANCER TREATMENT OR SICKLE CELL DISEASE.

PATIENTS WHO NEED YOU KNOW, LONG-TERM TRANSFUSION, OF COURSE.

SO THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF PATIENTS THAT WE HAVE TO BALANCE OF SUPPLY TO TRY TO EVERYONE'S THE MAN.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WHEN THINGS ARE THINGS ARE TIGHT.

SO JOY, TO GET MORE IT BACK AND HAVE A REMIND US WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE.

AGE BLOOD TYPE.

>> SO ANY BLOOD TYPE AND YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW YOUR BLOOD TYPE TO GO IN AND DONATE.

ANYONE CAN GO AGE 16 WITH THE PARENT CONSENT 17 WITHOUT 110 POUNDS.

IT'S REALLY PRETTY SIMPLE AND YEAR IN AND OUT IN ABOUT AN HOUR FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, THE ACTUAL BLOOD DONATION IS ONLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

DOCTOR WITH THE FLU AND WITH ON THE RISE AGAIN.

ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THAT MIGHT IMPACT?

>> FUTURE SUPPLY?

>> SURE.

WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH THE COVID WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE EITHER OR THEIR, YOU KNOW, UNABLE TO COME OUT AND TO DONATE AND SO IT IT IS DEFINITELY IMPACTING THE ELIGIBILITY OF DONORS TO BE ABLE TO DONATE WHEN THEY'RE NOT WELL THAT DAY.

THEY CAN.

THEY CAN DONATE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> AND YOU'RE AND YOUR MESSAGE TO EVERYONE JUST TO GET TO GET FOLKS OUT.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY ALL NEED BLOOD CANCER PATIENTS, BABY'S BIRTH TRAUMA ACCIDENTS.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOU WANTED TO BE THERE FOR EVERYONE.

SO CONSIDER COMING OUT TO DONATE.

YOU'RE HELPING PEOPLE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU HOSPITALS.

APPRECIATE YOU.

IT REALLY, REALLY ARE.

ALRIGHT PEOPLE.

ALL RIGHT, JOY SQUARE, THAT DOCTOR, GLENN RAMSEY, A VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION, VITAL INFORMATION.

THANKS FOR SHARING WITH US.

>> THANK THANK YOU.

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