>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT," I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS AT ODDS OVER SO-CALLED ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

WE HAVE THE LATEST.

>>> AND BEARS FANS PUT THE SEASON BEHIND THEM.

A NEW PLAN IS UNVEILED TO KEEP THE BEARS AT SOLDIER FIELD.

>>> FEW MEDICAL GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM OBESITY ARE UNVEILED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS.

>>> EFFORTS TO EXPAND PROTECTION FOR TRANS CHICAGOANS AND THOSE SEEKING ABORTION ADVANCES FROM CITY COUNCIL.

>>> MEET NEWLY APPOINTED CEO AS HE TAKES CHARGE AT THE CHICAGO BASED ENERGY GIANT.

>>> WALGREENS SAYS IT WILL CUT BACK ON SPENDING TO FIGHT SHOPLIFTING.

THAT AND MORE FROM UKRAINE.

>>> I'M TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

>> WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER WHO IS CAPTURING THE FACES OF YOUTH CHICAGO MEDICINE.

>> THAT IS HOW WE STOP THE DISEASE.

>> TWO FORMER OBAMA CAMPAIGN STAFFERS NOW IN THE RACE TO STOP ALS.

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

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IS SWORN IN FOR HIS SECOND TERM IN OFFICE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, GOVERNOR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> TODAY'S INAUGURATION COMES AS STATE LAWMAKERS WORK ON PASSING A SO-CALLED STATE WEAPONS BAN.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JULIANNA STRATTON, SUSAN THAT MENDOSA.

>>> FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE MADIGAN WILL FINALLY HAVE HIS DAY IN COURT NEXT YEAR.

A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS SCHEDULED THE TRIAL FOR APRIL 1, 2024, TWO YEARS AFTER HIS INITIAL INDICTMENT.

MADIGAN IS FACING 23 COUNTS THAT HE ALLEGEDLY PARTICIPATED IN AND BENEFITED FROM A VARIETY OF CORRUPTION SCHEMES.

THE FORMER SPEAKER IS SET TO BE TRIED ALONGSIDE MICHAEL MCCLAIN, ONE OF HIS CLOSEST AIDES AND CONFIDENT.

BOTH HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES.

ATTORNEYS SAY THE TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO LAST SIX TO SEVEN WEEKS.

>>> CTA BUS RIDERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR SCHEDULES.

THE TRANSIT AGENCY IS MAKING CHANGES TO NEARLY HALF OF ITS ROUTES.

THE C, IT A SAYS THESE CHANGES ARE EXPECTED TO ADDRESS THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF WAIT TIMES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT COMMENTS THE AGENCY SAYS THEY RECEIVE FROM CUSTOMERS.

IT IS ALSO AIMED AT HELPING IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF ITS BUS RECORD.

52 BUS ROUTES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE SCHEDULED CHANGES, WHICH TOOK EFFECT YESTERDAY.

THE AGENCY SAYS THE CHANGES BETTER ALIGN SCHEDULED SERVICES WITH THE AVAILABLE WORK FORCE.

THE CTA, WHICH SAYS IT HAS BEEN WORKING TO ADDRESS THEIR WORKER SHORTAGE IS STILL SHORT ABOUT 600 BUS OPERATORS.

>>> AND COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, WE SPEAK WITH THE MAN BEHIND THE PROPOSED SOLDIER FIELD DOME.

>> BUT FIRST A FIGHT OVER THE PROPOSED BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS WILL GET HEATED.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLY IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> A BAN ON SO-CALLED ASSAULT WEAPONS COULD SOON BECOME LAW IN ILLINOIS.

WITHIN THE LAST HOUR, THE ILLINOIS STATE SENATE PASSED AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BILL.

THE HOUSE PASSED A VERSION OF IT OVER THE WEEKEND.

GOVERNORS LIKELY TO SIGN THE BILL INTO LAW AS LAWMAKERS GOT IT IN RIGHT BEFORE THE LAME DUCK SESSION EXPIRES.

HERE IS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER EXPRESSING HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BAN IN HIS INAUGURATION SPEECH EARLIER TODAY.

>> NOW I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS BEST WHEN WE LOOK FOR COMPROMISE.

BUT I'M DONE WITH THE NRA HAVING ITS WAY WHEN IT COMES TO MASS SHOOTINGS.

WHY DO WE ALLOW ANYONE TO EASILY PURCHASE A RAPID FIRE HIGH-CAPACITY WEAPON THAT CAN KILL DOZENS OF UNARMED PEOPLE IN UNDER A MINUTE?

>> JOINING US ARE STEVE PATTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OR G-PACK, AND RICHARD PEERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WITHIN THE LAST HOUR AS WELL, PRITZKER'S FORMER OPPONENT, REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR DARREN BAILEY SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> FRIENDS, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THE ACTIONS THAT YOU'RE TAKING RIGHT NOW ARE TIERNESS.

YOU ALSO MUST KNOW THAT I AND MILLIONS OF OTHER GUN OWNERS IN THIS STATE WILL NOT COMPLY.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S IN THIS BILL.

IT'S AN IMMEDIATE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

50 CALIBER RIFLES, CARTRIDGES, IT BANS RAPID FIRE DEVICES, LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

STEVE PATTON, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE LAST 24, 48 HOURS, SO GIVE US A FINER POINT, THE SPECIFICS.

WHAT EXACTLY IS IN THIS BILL?

>> SURE.

I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.

THE MAJOR CHANGES OCCURRED IN ABOUT THE LAST 24 HOURS AND CERTAINLY SINCE LAST WEEK WHEN THE HOUSE PASSED THE BILL.

AND IT'S TO EXPAND AND AT THE SAME TIME KIND OF TIGHTEN UP THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IS AN ASSAULT WEAPONS.

AND THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING.

THOSE STATES THAT HAVE HAD ASSAULT WEAPONS BANS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE GUN MANUFACTURERS CONTINUING AND TRYING TO DO MODIFICATIONS TO END THE DEFINITION.

AND SO I THINK WE HAVE A VERY GOOD STATE OF THE ART BEST PRACTICE TYPE OF DEFINITION.

>> IN TERMS OF AMMUNITION.

HOW MANY ROUNDS?

>> ON ROUNDS IT'S A LIMIT OF 10 FOR RIFLES AND 15 FOR HANDGUNS.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER MAJOR CHANGES SINCE THE HOUSE VERSION IS A REQUIREMENT OF FOR EXISTING ASSAULT WEAPONS.

AN AFFIDAVIT, SO THE ISP, THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE WILL HAVE A RECORD OF SERIAL NUMBERS, MAKES, AND MODELS.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO CURRENT OWNERS OF THESE WEAPONS WILL HAVE TO REGISTER THEIR SERIAL NUMBERS WITH THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE.

>> WOULDN'T USE THE WORD REGISTER ON THAT, BUT IT IS A FILING OF AN AFFIDAVIT THAT UNDER OATH THAT WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS THEY POSSESS.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

RICHARD PIERSON, YOUR REACTION TO THE FINAL SENATE PROPOSAL THAT JUST PASSED?

>> IT'S THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN.

WE THINK IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THERE SHOULD BE NO REQUIREMENT FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT OR ANY OTHER RIGHT THAT YOU REGISTER ANYTHING FOR THAT.

AND SO WE'RE OPPOSED TO THAT.

THE BANS HAVE BEEN HELD UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN A COUPLE OF COURSES THAT HAVE BEEN SET BACK IN THE LOWER COURTS FOR REVIEW, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN TRIED BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT YET.

BUT I IMAGINE WE ARE PREPARING TO FIGHT THIS IN COURT SHOULD IT PASS THE HOUSE.

>> RIGHT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF STATES LIKE MARYLAND, THEIR GUN BAN OR ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN IS REMANDED DOWN TO THE LOWER COURTS.

LIKELY TO BE HEARD AT SOME POINT.

RICHARD PEARSON, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABOUT THIS BILL THOUGH?

>> I THINK FIREARM REGISTRATION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND ALL IT DOES IS STEP TOWARDS CONFISCATION OF FIREARMS.

SO IT HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH IT.

>> WE SHOULD BE CLEAR, WE SHOULD BE CLEAR THE PROPONENTS OF THIS BILL ARE SAYING CURRENT OWNERS OF THESE WEAPONS DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR WEAPONS.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S WHAT PROPONENTS ARE SAYING.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

BUT WHEN YOU REGISTER A FIREARM, IT JUST GIVES THE POLICE THE NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THEM TO COME AND PICK IT UP WHEN THEY WANT TO CONFISCATE IT.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

>> STEVE PATTON, DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

THE PROVISIONS HERE AS YOU SAID NOT REGISTERING, BUT TO HAVE A CURRENT OWNERS OF THESE WEAPONS TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT WITH THE STATE POLICE?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

THERE ARE TWO RECENT CASES AT LOWER COURT LEVELS SO FAR ON LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINE BANS.

BOTH OF THEM HAVE HELD THAT THEY ARE NOT EVEN FIREARMS SUBJECT TO SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTION.

AND BOTH RESOUNDINGLY AFFIRMED THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF BANS AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

THERE'S NO CONFISCATION HERE.

EXISTING ASSAULT WEAPONS, OWNERS CAN CONTINUE TO POSSESS THOSE, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO -- IT'S NOT REALLY REGISTRATION, BUT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THEIR CARD AND THEY FILE AN AFFIDAVIT THAT SAY I OWN THREE ASSAULT WEAPONS.

HERE ARE THE MODELS, MAKE, AND SERIAL NUMBERS.

THAT WAY THE STATE POLICE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES.

THERE IS A SPECIFIC RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALITY, ONLY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT VERSES, FOR EXAMPLE, IF ONE OF THESE WEAPONS IS RECOVERED AT A CRIME SCENE.

AND THEN THE STATE POLICE HAS A RECORD OF IT.

>> THE STATE HAS A RED FLAG LAW AS WELL ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE ENFORCING THOSE LAWS.

RICHARD PEARSON, ANY PART OF THIS BILL THAT THE STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION IS PREPARED TO SUPPORT OR ANY ASPECT OF IT?

[ INAUDIBLE ] PROBABLY GOVERNED BY FEDERAL LAW, SO IT IS ALREADY AGAINST THE LAW TO DO THAT.

BUT THE REST OF THE ANSWER IS NO.

>> RICHARD PEARSON, WHAT WOULD BE A MORE EFFECTIVE ROUTE?

NO ONE CAN DENY WHAT HAPPENED IN HIGHLAND PARK, WHAT HAPPENS IN CHICAGO ON A DAILY BASIS.

MASS SHOOTINGS THAT OCCUR IN THIS COUNTRY WITH SEEMING REGULARITY IT, FRIGHTENING REGULARITY.

WHAT'S A BETTER ROUTE FORWARD?

>> WELL FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP SAYING ENFORCE THE LAWS YOU HAVE.

THERE MIGHT BE A CRACK OR TWO IN THOSE LAWS AND THOSE COULD BE FIXED.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE WHEN THE STATE POLICE ISSUED, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE FUNERAL RECORDS.

I THINK THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT AND THAT WILL BE TAKING CARE OF HIGHLAND PARK PROBLEM.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST SIMPLY THE ENFORCEMENT.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A CARJACKER, AND HE IS LITERALLY OUT IN TWO HOURS BACK ON THE STREETS.

HE'S NOT KEPT IN JAIL.

THEN EVERYBODY WHO SEES HIM, THEY SAY WOW, HE WAS IN AND OUT.

MAYBE I CAN DO THAT.

IF I GET AWAY WITH IT, GOOD.

AND I GOT TO SPEND TWO HOURS IN JAIL, BIG DEAL.

>> STEVE PATTON, YOU KNOW, RICHARD PEARSON MENTIONED PROBLEMS ENFORCING THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS, RED FLAG LAWS.

ROBERT CRIMO JR., THE ALLEGED HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTER, HAD A CARD AND WAS LEGALLY ALLOWED TO PURCHASE THE GUN.

HOW CAN YOU ENFORCE THE NEW PROVISIONS?

>> THE BAN ON MANUFACTURER SALES AND SO FORTH HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE.

THE STATE DOES HAVE THE ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY AND THE ABILITY TO DETECT AND, YOU KNOW, FORECLOSE OR PROSECUTE FOR ILLEGAL PURCHASES OF WEAPONS THAT ARE UNLAWFUL.

AND SO THIS SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU FROM MY OWN PERSONAL STANDPOINT WHY I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE SIX YEARS AGO IS BECAUSE OF ONE PIECE OF A MOSAIC AND IT INCLUDES ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS AND THE OTHER PIECES, BUT TO ADDRESS THE EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.

AND IF YOU FOLLOW THE NEWS REPORTS, THE DAILY NEWS REPORTS INCREASINGLY OUR OFFICERS ARE CONFRONTING CRIME SCENES WHERE THEY RECOVER 40, 50, 60, 80 SPENT SHELL CASINGS.

AND THE REPORTS ARE SOMEONE PULLS UP IN A CAR, TAKES A PISTOL, A 9 MILLIMETER PISTOL, WHICH HAS AN EXTENDED MAGAZINE ON IT.

AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY A MACHINE GUN.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE TO RAPID FIRE.

IT CAN DISCHARGE SCORES OF BULLETS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.

>> SO ALL THOSE THINGS ADDRESSED IN THIS ALONE.

WE SHOULD MENTION IT DOES HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSE IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS LAW, SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL PASS AND THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN.

FOR NOW OUR THANKS TO STEVE PATTON AND RICHARD PEARSON.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

AND NOW TO BRANDIS AND SOME EXPANDED PROTECTIONS CLEARED BY A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE TODAY.

BRANDIS?

>>> PARIS, A MEASURE DESIGNED TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS FOR TRANS CHICAGOANS AND THOSE SEEKING ABORTIONS WON UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF A KEY CITY PANEL.

THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE NOW HEADS TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE WHERE IT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO PASS.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

HEATHER, WE KNOW THIS PROPOSAL HAS THE SUPPORT OF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, AS WELL AS NANCY, THE CHAIR OF HUMAN RELATIONS.

LET'S LISTEN REAL QUICK TO WHAT SHE TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL'S HEALTH COMMITTEE.

>> NO ONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATION OR RETALIATION FOR DECISIONS THEY MAKE ABOUT THEIR OWN BODIES AND HEALTHCARE NEEDS.

AT HOME OR IN THE WORKPLACE.

>> SO HEATHER, HOW IS THIS ORDINANCE DESIGNED TO WORK?

>> WELL IT WILL GIVE THE ABILITY TO PROBE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR HEALTHCARE CHOICES IN TERMS OF REPRODUCTION AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

IT WILL ALSO GIVE THE CITY OF OFFICE LABOR STANDARDS THE ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE EMPLOYERS WHO ARE ACCUSED OF DISCRIMINATING AGAINST PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THOSE SAME CHOICES.

>> THIS WAS SHORTLY AFTER WE ALL KNOW THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND THE END OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

WHAT DOES THAT LAW DO?

>> SO THAT LAW PREVENTS ANY CITY AGENCY INCLUDING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM HELPING OTHER STATES OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES PRO PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL TO ILLINOIS TO GET THIS KIND OF CARE EITHER ABORTIONS OR OTHER GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

IT ALSO PROTECTS THE DOCTORS AND THE OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO PERFORM THAT SERVICE FROM INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL.

>> OKAY, SO WHILE THIS MEASURE HEADS TO A FINAL VOTE AT CITY COUNCIL FOR A MEETING SET ON JANUARY 18.

A BILLY FOCUSED ON THESE ISSUES IS AWAITING A VOTE IN THE ILLINOIS SENATE.

WHAT WOULD THAT LEGISLATION DO?

>> SO IT IS VERY SIMILAR.

IT WOULD EXTEND PROTECTIONS TO THOSE WHO PERFORM THESE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL FROM OUTSIDE OF ILLINOIS.

IT WOULD ALSO EXPAND ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL AND MEDICATION ABORTION, WHICH OF COURSE, IS GROWING IN POPULARITY AS THE NUMBER OF CLINICS FILL UP BECAUSE OF THE HUGE DEMAND FOR ABORTION SERVICES.

>> YES, WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THOSE WEIGHTLESS SEEKING ABORTION AND OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

SINCE THE SUPREME COURT DECISION, HOW IS THE CITY HELPING PROVIDERS WHO ARE TRYING TO MANAGE ALL THIS DEMAND?

>> WELL, THERE IS $3.1 MILLION IN THE CITY'S 2023 BUDGET TO HELP FACILITATE THESE GROUPS AND HELP THEM GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.

THE QUESTION IS WILL IT BE ENOUGH AS MORE STATES MOVE TO RESTRICT ABORTION EVEN THOUGH SOME STATES STILL ALLOW IT?

>> OKAY, ONGOING SITUATION, HEATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>>> YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

WE'RE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> OUR CULTURE IS VIBRANT, IT'S RICH, IT'S FUN.

>> WE TRY TO FOCUS ON HEY, LET ME HELP YOU.

THIS IS WHAT CHICAGO IS.

THIS IS LITTLE VILLAGE.

>>> THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS SHOULD REVEAL A LOT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CHICAGO BEARS.

THE SEASON WASN'T MUCH, BUT THEY DO HAVE THE FIRST PICK IN THE UPCOMING NFL DRAFT.

THE TEAM IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECISION ON A POTENTIAL NEW STADIUM IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, WHICH IS WHY THE MAYOR AND A PROMINENT DEVELOPER ARE TRYING TO SELL THE TEAM ON SOME DAZZLING NEW CHANGES TO SOLDIER FIELD IN A HAIL MARY ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE TEAM IN CHICAGO.

YESTERDAY DEVELOPER BOB DUNN RELEASED THE DETAILS WITH A GLASS DOME BEING THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE REIMAGINED SOLDIER FIELD.

HERE TO SHARE HIS VISION FOR SOLDIER FIELD AND WHAT IT MIGHT COST IS BOB DUNN, PRESIDENT OF LANDMARK DEVELOPMENT AND ADVISER TO THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION ON THIS TOPIC.

BOB DUNN, WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO THIS IS A $2.2 BILLION ESTIMATED RENOVATION PROPOSAL.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THIS IS A BETTER OPTION FOR THE BEARS THAN HAVING THEIR OWN STADIUM THAT THEY BUILD ON LAND THEY OWN IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S SEVERAL REASONS.

YOU KNOW, YOU START WITH THE ECONOMICS.

WHEN THIS PLAN WAS FIRST UNVEILED LAST SUMMER, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WHAT WILL IT COST TO BUILD?

YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN IT DO IN TERMS OF GENERATING REVENUE?

WE SPENT OUR TIME FROM THEN UNTIL NOW REALLY DEVELOPING OUR DESIGN, ENGINEERING, FURTHER PROVING THAT THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE HERE WE BELIEVE IS SIGNIFICANT WHEN COMPARED TO BUILDING A NEW STADIUM ON A GREEN FIELD SITE SOMEWHERE.

>> YOU PUT OUT AN ANIMATION YESTERDAY OF WHAT YOU ENVISION FOR THIS NEW STADIUM, GLASS DOME AS WE MENTIONED, NEW SEATS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER FINER POINTS?

>> WELL, THERE'S -- WE THINK EIGHT PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF THE STADIUM THAT REALLY DRIVE THE ECONOMICS, DRIVE THE FAN EXPERIENCE, CHANGE GAME DAY.

WHEN WE SAY CHANGE GAME DAY, THAT MEANS THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION.

BRINGING AS MANY AS 40% OR MORE OF THE FANS TO THE BUILDING ON GAME DAY ON RAIL RATHER THAN BY CAR.

I MEAN ONE OF THE REAL LIMITATIONS OF SOLDIER FIELD TODAY IS ITS ACCESSIBILITY ON GAME DAY.

BEYOND THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY CREATE A DAY'S WORTH OF ENTERTAINMENT.

I MEAN IT'S BEEN DONE PREDOMINANTLY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, REALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THESE SPORTS VENUES ARE ANCHORING URBAN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS.

THEN ONCE YOU COME INSIDE THE BUILDING AS YOU SEE ON THE IMAGES, IT IS REALLY ABOUT CREATING JUST A DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT FAN EXPERIENCE FOR ALL FANS ON GAME DAY.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT SOLDIER FIELD.

I THINK THE VIDEO DOES AS GOOD OF A JOB AS YOU CAN DO OF SHOWING HOW YOU CAN OVERCOME THE FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS OF THE STADIUM AND TRULY CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS ONE OF A KIND IN THE NFL AND REALLY OF ALL OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

TAKING A BUILDING THAT'S GOT 100 YEARS OF HISTORY AND REALLY MAKING IT THE DEFINING BUILDING IN SPORTS GOING FORWARD.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO THE QUESTION ON EVERYBODY'S MIND, WHO DO YOU THINK WILL FOOT THE BILL FOR IT?

WILL IT BE THE TEAM?

THERE SEEMS TO BE NO APPETITE FOR PUBLIC SUBSIDIES FOR THE SPORTS FRANCHISES.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

I MEAN CLEARLY TODAY THE PREDOMINATING COVERAGE OF COST IS BEING COVERED BY THE TEAM OR BY TEAMS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A TREND THAT'S EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS WITH A LOT OF STADIUMS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE LARGER MARKETS WE'VE SEEN THIS TREND WHERE IF NOT ALL THE COST, THE MAJORITY OF THE COST IS FUNDED BY THE TEAM.

AND I THINK THAT'S LIKELY GOING TO BE THE CASE.

IT HAS TO BE THE CASE.

HERE, I THINK AT SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND SOLDIER FIELD IS A PUBLIC BUILDING.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE A FUTURE.

WHAT ITS FUTURE IS WILL BE DETERMINED IN WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD AS THE BEARS MAKE A DECISION THEY HAVE TO MAKE.

WHAT'S BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF THE FRANCHISE?

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PUBLICLY OWNED ASSET.

THE BEARS GO AWAY, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A MASSIVE INFUSION OF CAPITAL TO TRANSFORM THE BUILDING TO BECOME SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, TO ATTRACT TENANTS AND TO ATTRACT FANS, AND WHATEVER ITS USE IS GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK THE KEY POINT RIGHT NOW IS THIS A MEASURABLY BETTER ADVANTAGE FOR A TEAM LIKE THE BEARS?

AND I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS UNQUESTIONABLY YES WHEN YOU CONSIDER $2.2 BILLION OF COST VERSES BUILDING A NEW STADIUM AND DRIVE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE REVENUE.

>> YOU MENTIONED IT IS A PUBLIC BUILDING.

THE BEARS AND THE PARK DISTRICT, WHICH OWN SOLDIER FIELD, HAVE HAD A CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP OVER MANY DECADES.

THERE IS AN APPEAL TO OWNING YOUR OWN STADIUM AND STADIUM EXPERTS SAY THAT'S SORT OF WHAT OWNERS WANT.

SO WOULD THERE BE A WAY FOR THE BEARS TO PERHAPS ACQUIRE THE BUILDING TO OWN IT?

WOULD THAT BE MORE ENTICING TO THEM IF THEY OWN IT AS OPPOSED TO LEASING IT FROM THE CITY?

>> YEAH, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE OF THE U.S. EVERY MAJOR CITY HAS BUILT A STADIUM OR STADIUMS IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

NEARLY EVERY ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS TODAY IS PUBLICLY OWNED.

BUT WHAT'S CHANGED IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE FINANCING, THE FUNDING TO DESIGN, BUILD, FINANCE, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN, SHIFTING LARGELY TO THE TEAM.

THE BUILDING MOSTLY REMAINS PUBLICLY OWNED.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT SAME TYPE OF OPERATING MODEL CAN BE PUT IN PLACE WITH SOLDIER FIELD.

DIFFERENT THAN THE STRUCTURE THAT'S IN PLACE TODAY THAT GIVES THE TEAM CONTROL, THE REVENUE RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, TAKES AWAY A LOT OF THE LIMITATIONS THAT EXIST WITH SOLDIER FIELD.

>> YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS AS A DEVELOPER BECAUSE YOU PROPOSED THE ONE CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT JUST TO THE WEST OF SOLDIER FIELD OVER THOSE TRAIN TRACKS YOU'VE ASKED FOR AS MUCH AS CLOSE TO $4 BILLION IN STATE FUNDING BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BUILD A BIG TRANSIT HUB AS YOU MENTIONED THERE.

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THIS?

ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT AGAIN, THE STATE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT IS VERY HUNGRY TO SUBSIDIZE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK TWO POINTS I WOULD MAKE ON THAT.

NUMBER ONE, THE CIVIC BUILD PHASE OF ONE CENTRAL, WHICH IS A NEARLY $4 BILLION PROJECT IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

58% OF THE COST WOULD BE PUBLICLY FUNDED OVERTIME.

42% WOULD BE PRIVATELY FUNDED.

IN OTHER WORDS THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS PUTTING SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO WHAT IS A PUBLICLY OWNED ASSET THAT DRIVES THE STATE A 16:1 RETURN.

MEANING THE INVESTMENT THAT THE STATE MAKES OVER TIME, THE STATE IS GETTING BACK A 16:1 RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

NORMALLY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S FINANCED IN THIS COUNTRY BE AT AN AIRPORT, A ROAD, AN ACADEMIC BUILDING.

YOU'RE DOING WELL IF YOU ARE GENERATING A 1:1 OR A 2:1 RETURN.

SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT ONE CENTRAL IS WE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING IN TIME IT SHOULD BE JUDGED ON ITS MERITS.

THE STATE IS NOW CONDUCTING A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO EVALUATE ONE CENTRAL ON ITS MERITS.

WE BELIEVE THE MERITS WILL PROVE THE VALUE AND REALLY SOLDIER FIELD IS A GREAT WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THE CIVIC VALUE, THE CIVIC IMPORTANCE OF A PROJECT LIKE ONE CENTRAL.

IT SOLVES THE TRANSIT AND IT CREATES THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THAT ANY SPORTS TEAM IS GOING TO REQUIRE IN THE FUTURE PARTICULARLY A SPORTS TEAM THAT LOCATES IN THE CORE OF THE CITY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU AND WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

WE'LL WATCH THESE PLANS, VERY INTERESTING PROPOSAL HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT A LOCAL COUPLE IN THE RACE TO STOP ALS.

>>> IT'S AN ILLNESS THAT AFFECTS 5,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

HE WAS GIVEN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE.

AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS GIVEN NEW MEANING TO THE ADVICE GET YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER.

>> Reporter: DESPITE HIS INABILITY TO USE ALMOST EVERY LIMB OF HIS BODY, BRIAN WALLOCK IS MAKING NO SMALL PLANS.

>> I FEEL OKAY.

I'M A BIT TIRED.

BUT FROM ALL OF THE THINGS, BUT MY MIND, IT'S RACING.

AT FULL SPEED.

>> Reporter: HIS WIFE OF NINE YEARS, SANDRA TRANSLATES ALMOST HIS EVERY WORD HE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW WE DO A SCREENING FOR THE ALS COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE WORK HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW WE IMPROVE.

OUR CARE DELIVERY FOR SIN CARE.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT OUR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES THIS AFTERNOON.

WHERE AM I IN THIS EQUATION?

>> IT'S HIS WAY OF RESPONDING TO HIS ILLNESS, WHICH MAY HAVE SLOWED HIS BODY, BUT NOT HIS MIND.

>> WITH EVERY STRESSFUL SITUATION, MY RESPONSE IS TO GO TO WORK.

AND I DO THAT BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF PURPOSE.

THAT ALS IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY, AND IT ALSO GIVES ME A SENSE OF POWER WHEN I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE DISEASE.

SO FOR ME, I WANT TO GO TO WORK BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ME TO SAY NOT TODAY ALS.

>> I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ANNOUNCE MY CANDIDACY.

>> Reporter: BRIAN AND SANDRA MET WORKING ON BARACK OBAMA'S HISTORIC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

HE AND SANDRA APPLIED THAT ORGANIZING NO HOW TO THEIR FIGHT AGAINST ALS.

MUCH OF THEIR JOURNEY IS DOCUMENTED IN THE FILM, NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN.

>> THIS IS A GOLDEN RETRIEVER, AND I HAVE TO RUN IT.

>> FIRST THE PAIR STARTED THE NON-PROFIT, I AM ALS, WITH THE SUPPORT OF A NUMBER OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND COLLEAGUES.

THEN THEY TOOK THE FIGHT TO THEIR OLD STOMPING GROUND.

BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021, THEY SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED CONGRESS TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON ALS RESEARCH FROM $10 TO $80 MILLION A YEAR.

THEY ALSO CONVINCED CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION ALLOWING PEOPLE WITH ALS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO BENEFITS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY WITHOUT THE RECK SIT FIVE-MONTH WAITING PERIOD.

AND NEXT THE GROUP PUSHED THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOW PATIENTS EARLIER ACCESS TO PROMISING, BUT EXPERIMENTAL DRUG TREATMENTS.

>> YOU CAN TAKE ONE TREATMENT AND SLOW DOWN YOUR PROGRESSION BY 20% AND THEN TAKE ANOTHER TREATMENT AND SLOW IT DOWN BY 10%.

YOU HAVE TAKEN A DISEASE THAT MOST PEOPLE PASS AWAY FROM IN TWO TO THREE YEARS AND MAKE IT A DISEASE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE SEVEN TO TEN YEARS.

THAT'S EVERYTHING.

AND THAT IS HOW WE END ALS.

>> ONE OF THOSE DRUGS IS AMX35.

APPROVED BY THE FDA IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

>> SO WE WERE ABLE TO HELP ORGANIZE A CAMPAIGN THAT MADE CLEAR TO THE FDA THAT TEN MORE MONTHS OF LIFE FOR MANY PEOPLE IS LIVING ALMOST TWICE AS LONG AS THEIR DIAGNOSIS GAVE THEM.

>> IT'S THE FIRST ALS DRUG TO BE APPROVED IN FIVE YEARS.

ALONG THE WAY, JOURNALIST KATIE COURIC BECAME AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON THE FILM.

SHE IS ALSO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO CARE FOR A HUSBAND FACING A TERMINAL ILLNESS.

>> THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AS POLITICAL OPERATIVES REALLY GAVE THEM AN END IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING SORT OF THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF HOW TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED.

THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULD BE OVERWHELMED BY.

>> THIS TEAM SAYS IT IS EVIDENT OF HOW MUCH FASTER CHANGE IS HAPPENING FOR THE ALS COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT'S REALLY TOUGH IS WHEN YOU HAVE A DEBILITATING ILLNESS LIKE ALS, THERE ARE FEW SURVIVORS.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE A BUILT-IN NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVOCATING.

BUT THEY HAVE BUILT A NETWORK.

AND THEY HAVE JUST BROUGHT TOGETHER THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY.

AND WHATEVER HAPPENS, THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING.

>> AND EVERY VICTORY HAS GIVEN BRIAN AND SANDRA HOPE THAT THEY CAN DO MORE THAN BEAT THE ODDS.

>> I THINK BRIAN AND I STILL DO AUTHENTICALLY BELIEVE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SURVIVE IT.

WE APPRECIATE THAT IT'S JUST A CHANCE THAT WE COULD BE AMONG THE FIRST SURVIVORS, SO WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR THAT EVERY DAY FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OUR GIRLS AND FOR EVERYBODY ELSE INVOLVED.

>> NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR ANYONE FACING A DEBILITATING NEURODEGENERATIVE ILLNESS.

AND THE TWO DAUGHTERS BRIAN DESPERATELY WANTS TO SEE GROW UP.

>> WELL, I WANT TO BE THERE TO SHARE WITH THEM HOW WE FOUGHT AND HOW WE MADE ALS, A DISEASE, THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITH BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WILL GROW UP TO BE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE, AND I WANT TO BE HERE TO SEE THAT.

OH, ARE YOU SAYING I HAVE A LOT MORE BAD DAD JOKES TO TELL?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> LATE LAST MONTH CONGRESS APPROVED $75 MILLION FOR THAT EXPANDED ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS ALS PATIENTS EARLIER ACCESS TO EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENTS LIKE RELIVRIO, WHICH BRIAN RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR.

AND LAST YEAR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH RECEIVED ONLY $25 MILLION TO FUND THAT EXPANDED ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM.

>>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT," FORMER BEAR, BRIAN URLACHER, IS SUING A HAIR TRANSPLANT COMPANY.

THAT AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE, THERE'S NEW OFFICIAL GUIDANCE FOR TREATING CHILDHOOD OBESITY.

WE HEAR WHAT DOCTORS RECOMMEND.

>>> ONE ON ONE WITH EXELON'S NEWLY CEO AS HE TAKES CHARGE OF THE CHICAGO BASED ENERGY GIANT.

>>> I'M TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

>> CAPTURING THE FACES OF YOUTH CHICAGO MEDICINE.

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

THE FAMILIES OF THREE WOMEN WHO DIED OF HEAT EXPOSURE IN A ROGERS PARK SENIOR BUILDING WILL GET A $16 MILLION SETTLEMENT.

THE SETTLEMENT WILL BE DIVIDED EQUALLY AMONG THE THREE FAMILIES OF DELORES MCNEELY, GWENDOLYN OSBORNE, AND JANICE REED.

THEY WERE FOUND DEAD INSIDE THEIR OWN APARTMENT UNITS AT JAMES SNYDER APARTMENT IN ROGERS PARK LAST MAY.

AUTOPSY SHOWS ALL THREE DIED FROM EXCESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL HEAT EXPOSURE.

THE WOMEN DIED AFTER SEVERAL CALLS WERE IGNORED ON DAYS WHEN TEMPERATURES WERE CONSISTENTLY OVER 90 DEGREES IN THE CITY.

>>> THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE BANS FORMER CHICAGO RED STARS COACH, RORY DAMES FOR LIFE.

THE DECISION IS A PART OF A SERIES OF ACTIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT COMES IN RESPONSE TO A REPORT LAST MONTH DETAILING ALLEGATIONS OF SYSTEMIC ABUSE AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN THE LEAGUE.

THE LEAGUE IS ALSO IMPOSING A $1.5 MILLION FINE AGAINST THE RED STARS.

>>> BUFFALO BILLS SAFETY DAMAR HAMLIN IS NOW CONTINUING HIS RECOVERY BACK IN BUFFALO ONE WEEK AFTER GOING INTO CARDIAC ARREST DURING A GAME.

A DOCTOR WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MEDICAL CENTER SAYS HAMLIN WAS RELEASED TO A HEALTHCARE TEAM IN BUFFALO FOLLOWING AN IMPROVEMENT IN HIS CONDITION.

IT COMES AFTER TEAMS ACROSS THE LEAGUE PAY TRIBUTE TO HAMLIN DURING GAMES ON SUNDAY.

HAMLIN TWEETED IN PART TODAY, "WATCHING THE WORLD COME TOGETHER AROUND ME ON SUNDAY WAS TRULY AN AMAZING FEELING.

THE SAME LOVE YOU ALL HAVE SHOWN ME IS THE SAME LOVE THAT I PLAN TO PUT BACK INTO THE WORLD AND MORE."

>>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR SOME OF TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

PARIS?

>> Reporter: BRANDIS, WALGREENS IS PEELING BACK EFFORTS TO COMBAT SHOPLIFTING.

MACHINE COMPANY JOHN DEERE ALLOWS FARMERS TO REPAIR THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT.

AND BRIAN URLACHER GETS CAUGHT UP IN A HAIRY LAWSUIT.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE HEADLINES.

IT'S BUSINESS EDITOR ANNE DWYER.

LET'S START WITH THE WALGREENS STORY.

THE CFO SAYS THE COMPANY MAY HAVE SPENT TOO MUCH ON ANTI-THEFT EFFORTS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> WELL, WALGREENS IS EXPERIENCING LESS RETAIL THEFT OR WHAT THE INDUSTRY CALLS SHRINK THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

I THINK BASICALLY THEY'RE SORT OF LEARNING WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THESE SMASH AND GRAB AND LARGE RETAIL THEFT SWARMS THAT TEND TO COME IN LATELY.

WE'VE SEEN A REAL UPTICK IN THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

AND IN FACT RETAIL SHRINK ACCOUNTED FOR ALMOST $95 BILLION IN LOSSES IN 2021.

THAT'S THE MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE.

BUT COMPARE THAT TO THE YEAR BEFORE THAT'S $5 BILLION MORE THAN THE INDUSTRY SAW NATIONWIDE.

I GUESS THE NEWS IS WALGREENS IS TAILORING THEIR ANTI-THEFT EFFORTS.

FIGURING OUT HIRING OFF-DUTY POLICEMEN INSTEAD OF SECURITY COMPANIES WORKS BEST.

FIGURING OUT THE TRAINING STAFF TO RESPOND MORE EFFECTIVELY WORKS BEST.

BUT MEANWHILE OTHER RETAILERS IN AND AROUND CHICAGO TELL US THAT THEY'RE HAPPY WALGREENS IS EXPERIENCING A DOWN TICK IN SHRINKAGE, BUT THEY STILL SEE THE SHOPLIFTING AND THE SMASH-AND-GRAB TREND AS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AROUND HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT I GUESS, BUT STILL $95 BILLION.

THAT'S QUITE A LOSS FOR THE ENTIRE COMPANY.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STORY.

AND ANOTHER MAJOR LOCAL COMPANY, JOHN DEERE.

THEY'RE LETTING FARMERS REPAIR THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT.

HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS THIS FOR CUSTOMERS?

>> THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR FARMERS AND OTHER CUSTOMERS OF JOHN DEERE.

SO MUCH SO, PARIS, THAT THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR YEARS FOR THE RIGHT TO REPAIR THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT WITHOUT VOIDING WARRANTIES OR VIOLATING PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE PRICE TAGS ASSOCIATED WITH BUYING A TRACTOR, NOT TO MENTION HOW SPREAD OUT DEALERSHIPS ARE NATIONWIDE.

THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS VERY CLOSE BY.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN A FLASH POINT BETWEEN FARMERS AND THE COMPANIES.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE AFTER YEARS OF DISPUTES, BOTH SIDES SEEM TO BE COMING TO SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND LASTLY VIEWERS MAY HAVE SEEN A BILLBOARD OF THE FORMER BRIAN GREAT BRIAN URLACHER'S MIRACULOUS NEW HAIR BECAUSE OF THE HAIR TREATMENT HE'S GETTING.

BUT CRAIN IS REPORTING URLACHER IS INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT RELATED TO THAT HAIR TREATMENT CENTER.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> WELL, APPARENTLY A HOUSTON BASED HAIR REPLACEMENT COMPANY HAS BEEN USING BRIAN URLACHER'S NAME AND IMAGE WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION IN THEIR ADVERTISING.

AND NO ONE CAN MONETIZE HIS HAIRLINE, BUT HIM, WHICH IS FAIR ENOUGH I SUPPOSE.

THAT'S WHY HE'S SUING THIS COMPANY FOR DAMAGES.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

IS THIS A DIFFERENT COMPANY THAN HE WAS ENDORSING BEFORE?

>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, ANN, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AS ALWAYS.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

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

>>> PARIS, DOCTORS ADVISE A NEW STRATEGY FOR TREATING CHILDHOOD OBESITY, WHICH AFFECTS MORE THAN 14.7 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAYS THE LONG STANDING PRACTICE OF SO-CALLED WATCHFUL WAITING ISN'T WORKING.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS THE GROUP HAS ISSUED COMPREHENSIVE GUIDELINES FOR TREATING CHILDHOOD OBESITY, ADVISING IT SHOULD BE TREATED EARLY AND PERHAPS PATIENTS FOR KIDS AS YOUNG AS 12.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THESE NEW GUIDELINES, JUSTIN RYDER, THE RESEARCH FOR THE DEPARTMENT AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT IS THE ISSUE IN GUIDELINES THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND REALLY WHAT'S CHANGED IS THE EVIDENCE BASED HAS IMPROVED FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TREATMENT OPTIONS OTHER THAN BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION AND LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION THERAPY.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NEW MEDICATIONS THAT ARE ON THE MARKET THAT HAVE BEEN FDA APPROVED AND FOR ADOLESCENTS 12 TO 17 YEARS OLD WHO SUFFER FROM THE DISEASE OF OBESITY.

AND WHAT THESE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS DO IS RECOMMEND THAT ADOLESCENTS WITH OBESITY OVER THE AGE OF 12, THEY OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOME OF THESE NEWER WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS IN ADDITION TO THE HEALTH BEHAVIORAL AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT THEY'RE ALREADY DOING.

>> SO WHAT KIND OF MEDICATION ARE AVAILABLE?

HOW LONG SHOULD CHILDREN BE TAKING THESE?

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THEM?

>> YEAH, SO THERE'S SIX MEDICATIONS, ANTI-OBESITY MEDICATION IS WHAT WE CALL THEM THAT ARE FDA APPROVED FOR ADOLESCENTS.

SOME OF THEM ARE PILLS, SO ORAL MEDICATIONS.

AND SOME ARE INJECTABLE MEDICATIONS.

AND THE INJECTABLE MEDICATION ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD GET FROM AN EPIPEN.

EACH OF THESE MEDICATIONS HAS ITS PROS AND CONS.

SOME WORK ON DIFFERENT BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM.

AND SO IT IS REALLY A DISCUSSION WITH THE PATIENT AND THE FAMILY WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OR THE PEDIATRICIAN ON WHICH MEDICATION THEY SHOULD PROBABLY CONSIDER.

>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT KIDS AS YOUNG AS 12 RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT ABOUT KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 12 WHO ARE DEALING WITH OBESITY?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

AND THERE ARE MILLIONS OF KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 12 WHO STRUGGLE FROM THE DISEASE OF OBESITY.

AND FOR THESE KIDS, MOST OF THESE MEDICATIONS ARE NOT FDA APPROVED YET FOR THAT AGE RANGE.

THEY'RE CHILD IS ONGOING FOR 6 TO 11 YEAR OLDS FOR SEVERAL OF THESE MEDICATIONS.

BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE IS AGGRESSIVE INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION AND LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION.

THE AP IS RECOMMENDING AT LEAST 26 CONTACT HOURS PER YEAR FOR 6 TO 11 YEAR OLDS.

BUT EVENTUALLY IT IS OUR HOPE THAT MANY OF THESE MEDICATIONS WILL BE FDA APPROVED FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> AND SO WHAT IS THE ISSUE THEN FOR THE PRACTICE OF WATCHFUL WAITING, THE SO-CALLED PRACTICE WITH TREATING OBESITY?

>> I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT OBESITY IS NOT SOMEBODY'S FAULT.

IT IS A BIOLOGICALLY BASED DISEASE.

AND HOPING AND WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO GROW OUT OF IT OR FOR THE ISSUE TO JUST RESOLVE ITSELF.

I THINK WE KNOW NOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN.

AND THE LONGER YOU WAIT, THE WORSE THE DISEASE BECOMES SIMILAR TO DIABETES OR HYPERTENSION.

WE NEED TO TREAT THE DISEASE NOW.

WE KNOW THESE MEDICATIONS WORK.

SOME OF THE NEWER MEDICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED ARE OFFERING 10 TO 15% WEIGHT LOSS IN ONE YEAR IN ADOLESCENTS THAT STRUGGLE WITH OBESITY.

THAT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY THE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY, BUT ALSO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF OBESITY.

>> AND ACCORDING TO THE CDC, THE PREVALENCE WAS 26% AMONG HISPANIC CHILDREN, 24% AMONG BLACK CHILDREN.

16% AMONG WHITE CHILDREN, AND 9% FOR ASIAN CHILDREN.

HOW CAN DOCTORS BE SURE THESE MEDICATIONS GET TO THOSE KIDS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH DISPARITY.

AND GOING ALONG WITH THAT SIGNIFICANT HEALTH DISPARITY, INSURANCE COVERAGE IS QUITE POUR FOR THESE MEDICATIONS.

HOPEFULLY THE MORE PEOPLE START TO UTILIZE THEM AND THE MORE PEOPLE, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PEDIATRICIANS, PRESCRIBE THESE MEDICATIONS.

HOPEFULLY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL START TO WISE UP.

AND OFTEN MEDICATIONS THAT ARE COVERED ENTITIES INTO THEIR PROGRAMS.

BUT THIS IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO CHILDREN.

ADULTS ARE HAVING SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH HAVING THESE MEDICATIONS COVERED.

THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE MEDICATIONS, AT LEAST THE NEWER MEDICATIONS ARE.

AND SO WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY IS PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE THAT THESE MEDICATIONS ARE SAFE, THEY'RE EFFECTIVE, AND THEY ARE OFFERING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS FOR THESE PATIENTS.

HOPEFULLY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL START TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN COVERING THESE MEDICATIONS BECAUSE IT WILL NOT ONLY BE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM LONG TERM, BUT ALSO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELPING.

>> ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, ARE THERE EVER ANY CONCERNS THAT DOCTORS MIGHT TOO QUICKLY REACH FOR THE MEDICATION TO TREAT OBESITY FOR KIDS?

>> IN MY OPINION, ANY ADOLESCENT WHO MEETS THE CRITERIA OF OBESITY, WHICH WOULD BE A BMI ABOVE 95th PERCENTILE SHOULD BE OFFERED THAT MEDICATION.

>> ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

HOW SHOULD PARENTS TALK TO THEIR KIDS ABOUT THIS, JUSTIN?

>> I THINK IT'S A DISCUSSION OF FAMILIES ALONG WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

OBESITY IS A SERIOUS DISEASE.

IT COMES WITH A NUMBER OF HEALTH CONSEQUENCES.

POORER QUALITY OF LIFE, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND I DON'T THINK ANY PARENT OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WANTS TO SEE CHILDREN SUFFER.

AND I THINK THAT THE MESSAGE OF GETTING OUT THERE THAT WE HAVE REAL GOOD TREATMENT NOW TO HELP KIDS WHO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR WEIGHT.

AND THESE MEDICATIONS OFFER THE POTENTIAL TO HELP PEOPLE LOSE WEIGHT ALONG WITH LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION AND OVER BEHAVIORAL CHANGES.

SO PARENTS NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEDIATRICIAN.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP MY KID WITH THEIR WEIGHT?

OR WITH OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS THAT THEY MIGHT SEE?

WHETHER IT IS ON THE COMMUNITY OR THROUGH THE PRACTICE THAT THEY WANT TO GO TO.

>> OKAY, JUSTIN RYDER AT LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, ONE ON ONE WITH EXELON'S NEWLY APPOINTED CEO, BUT FIRST A LOOK AT WEATHER.

>>> MICHAEL MADIGAN IS SET TO STAND TRIAL ON AUGUST 1, 2024.

THAT IS TWO YEARS AFTER HIS INDICTMENT ALLEGING HE PARTICIPATED AND BENEFITED FROM A VARIETY OF CORRUPTION SCHEMES INVOLVING COMED.

WE SPOKE WITH THE NEW CEO OF COMED'S PARENT COMPANY, EXELON, ABOUT THAT AND MUCH MORE ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES."

WE ASKED CALVIN BUTLER JR. ABOUT HOW THE COMPANY IS WORKING TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING BECAUSE IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

IT REALLY WAS.

ALL THE GOOD WORK, THE 6,000 MEN AND WOMEN DO EVERY DAY, HAS BEEN TAINTED BY THE ACTIONS OR THE ALLEGED ACTIONS OF A FEW.

AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU THE MEN AND WOMEN EVERY DAY AT COMED SHOW UP TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB.

AND COMED HAS CONTINUED THROUGH ALL THE NOISE TO DELIVER.

IT WAS JUST RECENTLY RANKED THE NUMBER ONE MOST RELIABLE UTILITY IN THE COUNTRY.

HAVE THE LOWEST RATES OF MOST URBAN CITIES IN THE TOP 12, RIGHT?

URBAN CITIES.

THAT DOESN'T COME FROM LACK OF HARD WORK.

SO MY FOCUS HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON THE 6,000 MEN AND WOMEN WHO SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY.

WE'LL GET THIS BEHIND US.

>> AT WHAT MEASURES DO YOU TAKE TO ENSURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IMMEDIATELY WHAT WE DID -- I THINK THE FIRST THING WE DID, WE WENT OUT AND HIRED A COMPLIANCE OFFICER WHO HAD SCC SECURITIES BACKGROUND.

HE PUT IN PLANT NOT JUST AT COMED, BUT HE PUT IN A PROGRAM ACROSS ALL OF OUR UTILITIES.

WE DID AN AUDIT OF EACH OF OUR BUSINESSES TO ENSURE CONDUCT THAT WAS ALLEGED WAS NOT OCCURRING IN ANY OTHER PARTS OF THE BUSINESS.

I'M PLEASED TO TELL YOU IT WASN'T.

BUT WE PUT IN THOSE ROBUST PROGRAMS AND NOW THERE ARE MODELS FOR OTHER COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT IN THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO HERE IN ILLINOIS, THE CLIMATE EQUITY AND JOBS ACT.

THEY TOOK MOST OF COMED'S COMPLIANCE EFFORTS AND PUT THEM INTO LEGISLATION.

WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.

IT'S A CULTURE SHIFT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THAT.

WE'RE NOT DONE THOUGH BECAUSE AS SOON AS YOU RELAX ON PROGRAMS OR ENGRAINING THE HIGH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY, WHICH WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON, IT COULD FALL BACK INTO PLACE.

WE'RE ON IT EVERY DAY.

>> IN PLACES LIKE TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, THE STABILITY OF THE POWER GRID.

IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE AS YOU KNOW.

WHAT IS EXELON DOING IN PLACES THAT IT SERVES TO ENSURE ENERGY AND STABILITY?

>> WE INVEST TENS OF MILLIONS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE SECURITY.

NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL SECURITY, BUT THE CYBER SECURITY OF THE GRID BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S BAD ACTORS WHO WANT TO ATTACK THE SYSTEM.

AND OUR MEN AND WOMEN ONCE AGAIN WERE INVESTING IN OUR I.T.

SYSTEMS.

WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR CAMERAS, WE'RE INVESTING IN FENCING.

YOU MIGHT GO BY A SUBSTATION ONE DAY AND IT LOOKS RELATIVELY VANILLA.

AND THEN YOU GO BACK AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU SEE HIGH SECURITY FENCING AROUND IT.

THOSE ARE THE EFFORTS THAT WE UNDERTAKE TO ENSURE THE GRID IS PROTECTED AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING IT.

WE HAVE CENTERS LOCATED NOT ONLY IN THE MID-ATLANTIC, BUT HERE IN CHICAGO THAT MONITOR THE TRAFFIC AROUND OUR SUBSTATIONS, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND IT IS A PRIORITY.

>> YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT DELIVERING ENERGY EQUITABLY.

EXPLAIN WHAT INEQUITIES EXIST AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS THEM?

>> INEQUITIES EXIST BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO PUT ROOFTOP SOLAR ON THEIR HOMES.

NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

NOT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS WILL HAVE CHARGING STATIONS IN THEM.

BUT WE DO KNOW THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US AS YOUR UTILITY COMPANY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT AND BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION.

SO ONCE AGAIN IN THE CLIMATE ACT, THERE'S LEGISLATION FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT THE TRANSITION TO A DECARBONIZED CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE IS NOT LEAVING THOSE TRADITIONALLY UNDERRESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS BEHIND.

CHICAGO HAS 77 NEIGHBORHOODS.

MY GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT EACH OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ECONOMY AND NOT ONE OF THEM GET LEFT BEHIND.

THAT'S EQUITY TO ME.

>> TO THAT POINT, HOW WERE THEY TRANSITIONED?

>> THE GREAT PART ABOUT THIS IS SINCE OUR SPLIT FROM CONSTELLATION, WE ARE YOUR DELIVERER OF ELECTRICITY.

SO WHAT THE POWER COMES FROM WHETHER IT IS NUCLEAR, SOLAR, WIND, HYDRO, MY JOB IS TO DELIVER IT RELIABLY AND AFFORDABLY.

SO ONCE I DO THAT AND BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROTECT THE GRID AND MAKE THE GRID MORE RESILIENT, THAT'S MY JOB EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THAT'S WHAT WE FOCUS ON.

SO EXELON, COMED SPECIFICALLY IS INVESTING INTO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT CAN REMOVE ALL TYPES OF POWER SOURCES TO YOUR HOME AND TO YOUR BUSINESSES.

>> AND TO THAT POINT, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF EXELON'S INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY?

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> I'M DOING VERY WELL AS I STATED EARLIER THAT WE WERE VOTED THE MOST RELIABLE UTILITY IN THE COUNTRY IN 2022.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE $2 PLUS BILLION THAT WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND BY WORKING WITH THE REGULATORS AND THE LEGISLATORS, IT'S REMAINED AFFORDABLE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF.

BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE FOR SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS, A DOLLAR A MONTH IS A LOT OF MONEY.

R AND WE REALLY ARE PROTECTING THE RATE OF CHANGE IN OUR BILLS.

AS WE TRANSITION OFF OF THE CURRENT RATE MAKING PROCESS, THAT'S STILL VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS SEEMLESSLY AND NO ONE IS SURPRISED BY THE LARGE STEP INCREASE.

>> AND YOU WERE NOW ONE OF JUST SEVEN BLACK CEOs CURRENTLY LEADING FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> IT MEANS MY MOTHER WILL BE VERY PROUD, YOU KNOW.

IT IS AN HONOR.

IT REALLY IS BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I COME FROM.

I COME FROM NORTH ST. LOUIS.

AND THE REALITY IS I'VE HAD A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE INVEST IN ME AND IT IS MY JOB TO INVEST IN OTHERS TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M ONE OF SEVEN, BUT SHAME ON US.

IT SHOULD BE ONE OF MANY.

AND SEVEN IS NOT MANY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FORTUNE 500.

SO WHAT AM I DOING TO ENSURE THAT THE GROUNDS ARE BEING MADE FERTILE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW BEHIND ME?

IN ADDITION TO THAT I RECOGNIZE THE RESPONSIBILITY.

AND MY RESPONSIBILITY IS FIRST TO THE 18,000 MEN AND WOMEN OF EXELON.

BUT THEN ALSO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

CALVIN BUTLER JR., CONGRATULATES ON THE NEW POSITION AND THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO WITH EXELON.

I HOPE YOU'RE SETTLING IN NICELY AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK HERE AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THE HOSPITAL PHOTOGRAPHER BY DAY AND A CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER BY NIGHT.

OUR CORRESPONDENT INTRODUCES US TO A LOCAL CREATIVE WHO IS USING HER ARTISTIC EYES TO CELEBRATE AN ART SHE SAYS HAS NO LIMITATIONS.

>> THE POSITIONED HEAD SHOTS AND SURGERIES ARE JUST SOME OF THE IMAGES THE PHOTOGRAPHER JORDAN PORTER HAS BEEN TAKING SINCE JOINING THE TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> ONE DAY MY BOSS COMES INTO MY OFFICE AND HE GIVES ME THIS CAMERA AND HE SAYS YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO USE THIS.

I'M LIKE OH.

OKAY.

AND HE SAYS TAKE SOME CLASSES AND THAT WAS IT.

THAT IS EXACTLY HOW IT STARTED.

>> NOW THE PANDEMIC BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER ONE CLASS, BUT WITH THE TECHNIQUE SHE LEARNED, SHE DECIDED TO ENHANCE A CRAFT BY TAKING PORTRAITS OF CREATIVES SHE ALWAYS ADMIRED.

>> I STARTED MY BLOG BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ART, COLLECTED ART, SO I DECIDED TO JUST BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: BEFORE SHE KNEW IT, PORTER HAD COLLECTED A NEW COLLECTION CELEBRATING HER FAVORITE ARTIST.

IT'S NOW ON DISPLAY IN THE FELLOW EXHIBITION AT THE EPIPHANY CENTER OF THE ARTS TITLED PORTRAITS AND INTIMATE VIEW.

>> I LIKE AN INTIMATE VIEW INTO THESE PEOPLE AS ARTISTS IN THEIR SPACE.

PHOTOGRAPHER OF NICK CAGE AND HIM AT THE FACILITY IN FRONT OF ONE OF HIS OWN PIECES.

THE PHOTO OF NORMAN TIEG.

AND IT IS HER ACTUALLY PAINTING TWO PIECES THAT HAVE SINCE BEEN COMPLETED AND SOLD THROUGH THINK SPACE.

A COOL MOMENT IN TIME.

I'M TRYING TO CAPTURE WHAT I'M SUPPOSE TO CAPTURE HERE.

I WANT TO SHOW THESE PEOPLE AS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHO THEY ARE.

>> SO THE WORK I DO HERE, IT'S LIKE MY CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY ON A DAY TO DAY.

THE HOSPITAL IS A PLACE PEOPLE COME TO BECAUSE THEY NEED HELP.

THE WORK IS VERY FULFILLING IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.

>> Reporter: THE STORY BEHIND PORTER-WOODRUFF'S PORTRAITS ARE DIFFERENT FROM HER WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE, BUT SHE SAYS IT IS ALL CONNECTED.

>> I AM CREATIVE, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS VERY MUCH WHAT PEOPLE WOULD THINK IS NOT A CREATIVE PLACE, BUT I THINK IT IS, YOU KNOW.

LIKE FOR INSTANCE, TAKING PICTURES OF A SURGERY IS A VERY COOL AND CREATIVE THING BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THE ANGLE, SEEING THE DOCTOR IN THERE AND THEM DOING THEIR ART.

LIKE FIXING THE BODY.

A LOT OF MY PHOTOGRAPHY HAS ALSO COME OUT OF MY OWN VULNERABILITY.

FOR ME WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF STUFF, A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS CAN BE BORN OUT OF DISCOMFORT.

>> ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" ANGEL IDOWU.

>>> AND WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLY IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

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

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00.

AND ONE NOTE BEFORE WE GO.

>> A BIG NOTE, IT'S A BIG NOTE ACTUALLY.

>> LATER THIS MONTH, "CHICAGO TONIGHT" WILL BE ON THE MOVE.

>> BEGINNING MONDAY, JANUARY 23, WE'LL BRING YOU "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AT 10:00 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THE WEEKEND REVIEW STAYS AT 7:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY AND LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SATURDAY AT 6:00 AND 6:30.

>>> OF COURSE, THE TIME CHANGE COMES WITH EXPANDED INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, VIVID HUMAN INTEREST, STORY TELLING, AND A CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO REPORTING ABOUT YOU AND THE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS CHICAGO AND BEYOND.

>> WE'LL ALSO COVER THE NEWS OF THE DAY EVERY DAY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND ALSO IN OUR DAILY BRIEFING NEWSLETTER AND ON ALL THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.

>> THESE CHANGES ARE BEING MADE, OF COURSE, WITH YOU IN MIND AND IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE YOUR ESSENTIAL SOURCE FOR TRUSTED LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.