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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> OUR KIDS ARE CONTINUOUSLY BEING USED A PAWNS IN A POLITICAL BATTLE.

>> FAMILIES SAY THEY ARE STUCK ON THE SIDELINES AS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS' UNION FEUD.

WE HAVE THE LATEST ON NEGOTIATIONS.

>> STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR IT.

>> THE STALEMATE DISRUPTS A FOURTH DAY OF CLASSES FOR STUDENTS.

WE TALK TO THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

>> WE CHECK IN WITH ILLINOIS' TOP DOCTOR ABOUT IN-PERSON LEARNING AND HOSPITALIZATIONS AND MORE.

>> OUR SEARCH FOR A MANAGE MANAGER AND HEAD COACH BEGINS TODAY.

>> THE BEARS COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER ARE OUT AFTER ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING SEASON.

>> AS TEMPERATURES PLUNGE WHAT ARE LOCAL LEADERS DOING TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS?

>> NEW RESEARCH ESTIMATES MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE REGAINED THEIR SENSE OF SMELL AFTER COVID.

A DOCTOR OFFERS TIPS ON REGAINING IT.

[♪♪♪] >> AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF RAVI SHANKAR IN A NEW EXHIBITION IN CHICAGO.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ARE AMONG A GROUP OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES BEING SUED FOR ALLEGED ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS.

AALLEGES THE INSTITUTIONS WORKED TOGETHER TO DETERMINE FINANCIAL AID AWARDS FOR STUDENTS.

THE SUIT WAS FILED IN FEDERAL COURT IN ILLINOIS AND CLAIMS THAT U OF C AND NORTHWESTERN AND 14 OTHER UNIVERSITIES ENGAGED PRICE FIXING.

TWO PLAINTIFFS RECEIVED NEED BASED FINANCIAL AID FROM NORTHWESTERN.

IT SEEKS DAMAGES AND A PERMANENT END TO THE SCHOOLS' COLLABORATION IN CALCULATING FINANCIAL NEED AND AWARDING AID.

>> A LONGTIME ADVOCATE FOR POLICE REFORM HAS BEEN TAPPED BY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT FOR A KEY OVERSIGHT ROLE.

ADAM GROSS WILL LEAD THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY MADE UP OF CHICAGOANS ELECTED TO OVERSEE THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CITY COUNCIL CREATED THIS BOARD IN JULY SO RESIDENTS HAVE A SAY IN OVERSIGHT INCLUDING RECOMMENDING CANDIDATES FOR SUPERINTENDENT AND THE POLICE BOARD TO THE MAYOR.

COMMISSION WILL HAVE THE POWER TO HIRE THE HEAD OF THE CIVILIAN CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY OR C.O.P.A.

WHICH PROBES POLICE MISCONDUCT AND THE BOARD HAS TIME SAY ON POLICY FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT THE ORDINANCE GIVES THE MAYOR A VETO THAT COULD BE OVERRIDDEN BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THERE WERE MORE THAN 19,000 NEWLY REPORTED COVID CASES AND 34 RELATED DEATHS ON MONDAY.

THE STATE'S SEEN MORE THAN 6460,000 CASES WITH 28568 DEATHS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

LAST NIGHT MORE THAN 7,000 PATIENTS WITH COVID WERE REPORTED TO BE IN ILLINOIS HOSPITALS.

>> THE SHEDD AQUARIUM IS GETTING A MAKEOVER FOR THE 100TH BIRTHDAY.

PLANS FOR AN EIGHT-YEAR $500 MILLION TRANSFORMATION OF THE LAKEFRONT ATTRACTION.

THE SHEDD PLANS TO MAKE VISITING AT CARE YUM A MORE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.

IT INCLUDES UPDATING THE AQUARIUM'S ANIMAL VIEWING GALLERIES AT A COST OF $250 MILLION.

THE LAKEFRONT AQUARIUM PLANS TO ADD A WALK-THRU TUNNEL THAT WILL SURROUND VISITORS WITH SHARKS AND RAYS AND TURTLES AND THE CHANGES WILL HAPPEN IN STAGES BETWEEN 2023-2026.

THE 450,000 SQUARE-FOOT, FOOTPRINT WILL NOT INCREASE.

THE COMPLETION OF THE CHANGES ARE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SHEDD'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

>> UP NEXT, THE LATEST ON A STANDOFF BETWEEN THE TEACHERS' UNION AND THE MAYOR.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> NO DECISION FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS TO WHETHER STUDENTS WILL BE IN CLASS TOMORROW LEAVING FAMILIES TO WAIT.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH SOME OF THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

>> YES, BRANDIS WE HAVE NEW WORD FROM CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT VIA TWITTER AND A STATEMENT BEFORE 7:00 P.M. AND THAT IS THAT TODAY'S NEGOTIATIONS SHE SAYS WERE PRODUCTIVE AND THE REASON SHE SAYS THERE'S NO UPDATE FOR FAMILIES IN TERMS OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH SCHOOL TOMORROW IS BECAUSE C.P.S.

AND THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE TEACHERS' UNION RIGHT NOW.

THE UNION'S GOVERNING BODY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES IS MEETING DISCUSSING THE LATEST PROPOSAL THAT IS BEFORE THEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BRING SCHOOL BACK.

AGAIN, THE MAYOR SAYING THAT SHE AND C.P.S.

ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM C.T.U.

FOR PARENTS THE LATEST WORD THEY GOT CAME AT 5:00 P.M.

THIS EVENING SAYING THAT NO DECISION HAD BEEN MADE YET REGARDING SCHOOL FOR TOMORROW BECAUSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING AND THAT THEY WILL, AGAIN, PROVIDE AN UPDATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THIS EVEN AS SOME FAMILIES HAD GOTTEN WORD FROM THEIR SCHOOLS THAT CLASS FOR TOMORROW IS OFF FOR A FOURTH DAY.

WHILE YOU DID HAVE IN RARE CASES LIKE SCHOOL MOUNT GREENWOOD ENOUGH TEACHERS SHOWING UP THAT SCHOOL WAS IN THIS DESPITE A VOTE LAST WEEK BY THE TEACHERS UNION THAT THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO TEACH REMOTELY UNTIL A DEAL IS REACHED WITH THE DISTRICT.

THE UNION HAS PROPOSED COMING BACK TO SCHOOL A WEEK FROM TOMORROW AFTER THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

NOW, C.P.S.

WITH LIGHTFOOT'S BACKING CALLED OFF CLASSES CALLING THE C.T.U.

'S WORK ACTION CALLING THAT REMOTE WORKING ACTION ILLEGAL.

LIGHTFOOT SAYS THERE IS NO COMPELLING REASON TO SHIFT THE DISTRICT TO REMOTE LEARNING IT SHOULD BE DONE IN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WHERE THERE ARE ENOUGH COVID CASES SPIKING.

IN THAT REGARD SHE HAS THE BACKING OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

>> THE PRESIDENT'S VIEW IS TO THE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE OPEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND 95% ARE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS ON KIDS OF NOT HAVING SCHOOLS OPEN IS HARSH AND HARD AND HE DOES NOT WANT TO SEE SCHOOLS CLOSED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THERE IS NO SECRET ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS WHY HE FOUGHT FOR FUNDING.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL LEADERS IN CHICAGO TO WORK TO GET THEIR SCHOOLS OPEN.

>> IN REGARDS TO THAT FUNDING, PSAKI SAYING BIDEN SECURED FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND A TON FOR CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

AND THE DISTRICT SAYS IT CAN AND IN FACT MUST BY FEDERAL RULE ACCOUNT TORE EVERY DOLLAR.

AND THAT $100 MILLION WAS SPENT ON VENTILATION.

AND THAT MEANS CLASSROOMS ARE SAFER THAN LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME.

BUT CRITICS INCLUDING C.P.S.

MOTHER ROUSEMARY VEGA QUESTION WHETHER THE CITY SPENT THAT MONEY EFFECTIVELY.

>> THE BEST, SAFEST PLACE FOR KIDS TO BE IS IN SCHOOL.

WE ARE NOT ARGUING WHERE STUDENTS SHOULD BE RECEIVING AN EDUCATION.

WHAT WE ARE ARGUING ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT THE CHILDREN ARE IN WHEN RECEIVING THE EDUCATION.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE CURRENTLY STRUGGLING TO OPERATE SAFELY LET'S BE HONEST.

>> TIERRA PEARSON IS MOTHER TO STUDENTS WHO GO TO SCHOOL IN HUMBOLDT PARK AND AUSTIN.

AND SHE KEPT THEM OUT OF CLASS LAST WEEK BEFORE THIS REMOTE ACTION STILL AT THIS POINT SHE IS FRUSTRATED.

>> THIS FEUD IS AFFECTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES.

I'M TIRED OF THIS BEING MADE ABOUT WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG.

OR WHICH SIDE HAS MORE POWER.

THAT HAS GOTTEN US ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE.

THIS BEHAVIOR IS MAKING OUR CHILDREN SUFFER AND IT HAS TURNED CHICAGO INTO A POLITICAL CIRCUS.

>> MOTHER KARONA LOCUST SHARES THAT SENTIMENT.

SHE SAYS SHE IS SICK OF C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

FIGHTS THAT LEAVE CHILDREN AS PAWNS THIS AS SHE PERSONALLY BACKS IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> I BELIEVE C.P.S.

HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH INSURING OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN AIR PURIFIER, HAND SANITIZERS, FACE MASKS AND MORE.

THERE IS INCREASED CLEANING IN A LOT OF SCHOOLS.

I OFTEN VOLUNTEER AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY.

>> AND THAT REGARD YOU HAVE ESTHER CORPUZ WHO RUNS A MEDICAL CLINIC THAT FOCUSES ON LATINO PATIENTS INCLUDING CLINICS AT SOME C.P.S.

SCHOOLS AND SAYS WITH SCHOOL OUT THE PAST FOUR DAYS SOME EMPLOYEES HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME WHILE THEY COME TO WORK.

SHE SAYS THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY COVID IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION BUT THERE ARE OTHER RISKS TO WEIGH AS WELL.

>> LET'S PUT ALL OF OUR POLITICAL FEELINGS ASIDE AND LET'S I KNOW IT SOUNDS CORNY AND WE SAY IT PUT OUR KIDS FIRST BUT I'M SAYING TO YOU TODAY WE REALLY NEED TO PUT OUR CHILDREN FIRST AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IS BEST NOT JUST FOR LEARNING THEIR PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN GENERAL.

>> I LISTENED TO A GROUP OF PARENTS WHO MET VIRTUALLY WITH ALLISON ARWADY AND THEY SHARED THEIR CHILDREN EXPERIENCED SUICIDAL THOUGHTS DURING THAT LONG STRETCH OF REMOTE LEARNING LAST YEAR.

THEY SAY THAT SOME FAMILIES HOWEVER ARE SCARED TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS OUT OF FEAR OF RETALIATION.

YOU HAVE MANY PARENTS AT THIS POINT NO MATTER WHAT THEIR STANCE IS SAYING THAT NEGOTIATIONS SHOULDN'T JUST BE BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND THE C.T.U.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, REPRESENTING THE MOST DISADVANTAGED CONSTITUENTS SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY AND PARENTS WANT TO BE PART OF TALKS.

>> I THINK WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE INCLUDING PARENTS.

THESE DECISIONS ARE AFFECTING OUR BABIES NOT JUST THE C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

I THINK PARENTS SHOULD BE FIRST AND FOREMOST AT THE SCHOOLS AND AT THE TABLE AND HAVE A VOICE.

>> NOW, AT LAST CHECK, THE BIG OUTSTANDING ISSUES WHAT METRICS WOULD CAUSE SCHOOLS OR PERHAPS DISTRICT WIDE TO SHUTDOWN BECAUSE OF A RISE IN COVID CASES AND ALSO COVID TESTING.

AGAIN, REALLY AS WE SPEAK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IS HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE TOPICS.

BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND OF COURSE WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH A MEMBER FROM THE TEACHERS UNION LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

TO PARENTS WITH ILLINOIS -- TO PARIS WITH ILLINOIS' TOP DOCTOR.

>> A BIT OF A DIP IN COVID CASES AFTER MULTIPLE RECORD CASE HAULS LAST WEEK AS HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE HOVER NEAR CAPACITY AND AS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS' UNION DEBATE IN-PERSON LEARNING.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND MORE IS DR. NGOZI EZIKE, DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

DR. NGOZI EZIKE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON THE SITUATION IN CHICAGO BECAUSE IT'S FRONT AND CENTER FOR SO MANY PARENTS.

IN YOUR VIEW, ARE SCHOOLS SAFE PLACES FOR KIDS AND STAFF TO BE DURING THIS OMICRON SURGE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S -- IT'S NUANCED AS ARE ALL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH COVID.

I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN SCHOOLS, COMPLETELY MASKED ENVIRONMENTS, VERSUS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF KIDS DON'T GO TO SCHOOL MAYBE CONGREGATING WITH SOME OF THE SAME CLASSMATES.

MAYBE IN UNMASKED CONDITIONS YOU KNOW.

I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE MASS COMPLIANCE IN THE SCHOOLS AND FOR SURE WE KNOW WHEN KIDS ARE NOT IN SCHOOLS WE HAVE EDUCATIONAL LOSSES, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LOSSES, AND SO IN TERMS OF THE TEACHERS, YOU ALSO KNOW THAT WE KNOW THE WAYS WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE SAFE WITH VACCINATION, BOOSTING AND MASKING.

SO I THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT SAFE.

I KNOW OMICRON IS HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE BUT WE HAVE TO THINK OF THE WHOLE PICTURE ABOUT WHAT IS AT STAKE WHEN THE KIDS ARE NOT IN SCHOOL.

>> NO DOUBT THERE'S BEEN CHALLENGES TO REMOTE LEARNING.

I WANT TO SHOW A GRAPHIC THAT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FROM CONTACT TRACING STATE-WIDE SCHOOLS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY THE NUMBER ONE PLACE FOR POTENTIAL EXPOSURE.

THIS EXCLUDES THE CHICAGO REGION.

WHAT DOES THAT DATA TELL YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT LIMITATIONS TO THAT DATA.

BECAUSE IF YOU ASK ANYBODY AT ANY TIME WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN IN THE PRECEDING DAYS WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

THE TOP TWO ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE WORK AND SCHOOL.

AND SO THAT'S JUST A FACTOR OF WHERE PEOPLE SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME.

THAT DOESN'T SIGNIFY THAT SCHOOLS INHERENTLY ARE UNSAFE.

WHEN YOU PULL ALL THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY MOSTLY COULD HAVE BEEN, OF COURSE THEY WERE AT WORK OR SCHOOL.

SNOOP THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION MADE TESTING A KEY COMPONENT OF DEMANDS TO GO BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.

C.P.S.

ACKNOWLEDGED IT TURNED DOWN THE SHIELD TEST THE SALIVA TEST DEVELOPED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF SHIELD VERSUS ANTIGEN TESTING IN DETECTING OMICRON?

>> WE KNOW THAT THE SALIVA SHIELD IS A MOLECULAR BASED TEST AND ANTIGEN TESTS, THEY WORK THROUGH DIFFERENT MECHANISMS.

WE DO KNOW THAT MOLECULAR TESTS HAVE A MEASURE OF AMPLIFICATION SO YOU CAN FIND THE FACT IF SOMEONE HAS THE VIRUS OR NOT.

WE KNOW THE ANTIGEN TESTS ARE USEFUL WITH SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS WHERE ONE TEST IS AT ITS BEST AND MORE RELIABLE THAN OTHER TIMES.

ALL KINDS OF TESTING IS NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE COST THE TIMELINESS OF TURNING AROUND THE RESULTS.

ACCESSIBILITY.

AND THEN IF YOU HAVE TO DO RAPID NUMBERS OF TESTING, THERE MIGHT BE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER BETWEEN THOSE CHOICES.

AGAIN, THERE'S NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH TESTS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE FOR ALL THE TESTING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO GIVEN THE HIGHLY TRANSMISERABLE VARIANT.

>> THE STATE IS PROVIDING 330,000 ANTIGEN TESTS FOR C.P.S.

TO PURCHASE.

WILL THAT GO A LONG WAY TO ALLEVIATE PARENTS AND TEACHERS CONCERNS ABOUT BEING IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT JUST HAVING THAT ONE SET OF TESTS TAKES EVERYTHING AWAY.

I THINK WE KNOW THAT WE WANT TO HAVE KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM.

IF THIS IS WHAT IS NECESSARY, TO GET KIDS BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING WHERE THEY CAN GET THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL BENEFITS AND GET THE EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS, YOU KNOW THEN I'M GLAD WE'RE GETTING ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND MINIMIZE THE DEFICITS ESPECIALLY THE EQUITY DEFICIT WHERE WE HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY MORE AFFECTED BLACK AND BROWN KIDS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

>> AND BLACK AND BROWN KIDS ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE VACCINATED RIGHT NOW AT LEAST IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> STATE-WIDE, WE SAW NUMEROUS DAYS WITH CASE HAULS IN THE 40,000'S.

TODAY 19,000 ARE YOU CONFIDENT WE ARE AT OR NEAR A PEAK WITH THIS OMICRON SURGE?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONFIDENT WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE BEEN THROWN LOTS OF CURVEBALLS.

SO IT'S NOT -- I DON'T THINK MY CRYSTAL BALL CAN PREDICT.

I'M HOPING AS QUICKLY AS THIS QUICK RISE HAS COME THAT IT WILL ALSO PEAK AND BE COMING DOWN.

WE CAN'T DETERMINE THAT FROM JUST A DAY OR TWO.

WE NEED TO HAVE A TREND GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE ARE HOPING WE'RE NEARING THERE IF WE ARE NOT THERE JUST YET.

>> AND THE CAPACITY SITUATION AT ILLINOIS HOSPITALS HOVERING AROUND 90% OF ICU BEDS OCCUPIED RIGHT NOW.

ARE YOU -- DO YOU BELIEVE IT COULD GET WORSE AND DEMAND COULD OUT STRIP SUPPLY AT SOME POINT SOON?

>> THAT IS THE FEAR AND WHAT WE ARE WORKING AGGRESSIVELY TO TRY TO NOT GET TO THAT POINT.

BUT WITH LESS THAN 10% OF ICU BEDS AND THE SAME SITUATION FOR REGULAR BEDS, THERE IS A CONCERN THAT ANY PATIENT WHETHER IT IS A CAR ACCIDENT AND YOU NEED EMERGENCY CARE FOR CAR ACCIDENTS INJURIES VERSUS A HEART ATTACK, THERE'S NO BED FOR ANYONE.

AND SO WE NEED TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF COVID ADMISSIONS AND WE ARE AT ABOUT 700 COVID ADMISSIONS A DAY.

WE NEED TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF THOSE BY HAVING PEOPLE GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASES THAT.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO GET THEIR FLU SHOT SO THEY DON'T HAVE A FLU ADMISSION.

AND THEN WE NEED TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO STAY AWAY FROM THE ER FOR JUST ROUTINE MEASURES THAT COULD BE HANDLED AT AN OUTPATIENT OR DON'T SHOW UP AT THE ER TO GET A COVID TEST.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLOW THE THREW PUT THAT IS NECESSARY THROUGH OUR ER'S AND HOSPITALS SO EMERGENCIES CAN BE TENDED TO IN MINIMAL AMOUNT OF TIME AS POSSIBLE.

>> AS YOU KNOW WE'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF HOSPITALS THAT SAY THEY ARE STARTING TO DELAY NONESSENTIAL PROCEDURES BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION.

OUR THANKS TO DR. NGOZI EZIKE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND UP NEXT, THE LIFE OF MAESTRO RAVI SHANKAR AND HIS INFLUENCE ON THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE LIFE OF RAVI SHANKAR NEXT.

FIRST, AS WE HEARD NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND THE TEACHERS' UNION RESUMED TODAY AS THE STANDOFF ENTERS THE SECOND WEEK.

C.T.U.

'S HOUSE OF DELEGATES WE UNDERSTAND HAS CONVENED THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS A PROPOSAL.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS KEY ANNA PAYTON, A MEMBER WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION WHO TEACHES ON THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE AND FOUR MINUTES AGO WE DID RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AT C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ SAYING THAT NEGOTIATIONS WERE PRODUCTIVE.

THEY ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE C.T.U.

AND THAT THEY WILL UPDATE PARENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

KEY ANNA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AS WE MENTIONED WE UNDERSTAND THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES IS MEETING THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS A PROPOSAL THAT PROVIDES HOPE FOR SOME TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHERE NEGOTIATIONS STAND SO FAR?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CURRENTLY SO LIKE THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES ARE CONVENING RIGHT NOW.

THAT PROPOSAL THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THEY WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY NEED TO BRING IT TO THE MEMBERS.

DISCUSS IT AND GO THROUGH IT.

HOPEFULLY IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS FAVORABLE FOR BOTH SIDES AND THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO LEARNING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR FAMILIES.

>> AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT IF LEADERSHIP AND THOSE AT THE BARGAINING TABLE IF THEY TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES IT IS NOT A DONE DEAL BUT IS THAT AN INDICATION THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE?

>> I'M HOPEFUL.

I AM HOPEFUL.

NO IT IS NOT A OWN DEAL BUT THEY ARE GOING TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.

AND SO THAT WAY THE DELEGATES CAN DECIDE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GO TO THE MEMBERS.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LATEST PROPOSAL AND WHERE WE STAND ON THE STICKING POINTS LIKE OPT-OUT TESTING AND COVID METRICS MASKING?

>> THE LAST I'VE HEARD IS THAT MASKING WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

WE WOULD BE GETTING MASKS.

I'M NOT CERTAIN THE NUMBER HOW MANY OR WHO.

I DO KNOW THAT FOR MY SCHOOL WE DO HAVE KN95 MASKS AVAILABLE FOR TEACHERS.

THE HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME FOR STUDENTS AS WELL.

THE MAYOR WAS VERY STRICT ON HER STANCE AS FAR AS THE OPT-OUT TESTING.

SHE SAID IT'S MORALLY REPUGNANT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AS FAR AS I'M THINKING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR THEY GOT WITH THAT PIECE OF THE PROPOSAL.

THE METRICS IS THE BIG ONE.

WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY DECIDE OR DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE SWITCHED TO REMOTE THOSE NUMBERS SPECIFICALLY I THINK ARE THE BIG POINTS THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE UNION IS WILLING TO MOVE TO REMOTE LEARNING ON A SCHOOL BY SCHOOL BASIS DEPENDANT ON THE METRICS?

>> I'M THINKING SO.

WE'LL KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHEN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES CONVENES.

>> WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT IS IN THE DEAL.

NOW, OF COURSE, ALL OF THIS HAS MEANT THAT CLASSES HAVE BEEN CANCELED FOR FOUR DAYS MAKING A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR STUDENTS EVEN MORE TURBULENT.

HERE IS A CLIP OF JOURNEY MEMBERS FROM A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY ASKING C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

TO COME TO A SOLUTION.

>> I BELIEVE THAT IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT STUDENTS LIKE ME ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEARN.

I UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW THAT THINGS ARE IN A TIGHT SPOT.

BUT STUDENTS LIKE ME SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES TO HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR IT.

>> S A TEACHER AND PARENT, WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT HOW THIS IS IMPACTING STUDENTS?

>> I FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT STUDENT DOES.

SO I HAVE A SIX-YEAR-OLD A FIRST GRADEER IN A C.P.S.

SCHOOL AND A SENIOR WHO IS GETTING READY TO GRADUATE AND THEY WANT TO LEARN.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNFAIR THAT THE MAYOR FEELS THAT NO LEARNING IS BETTER THAN REMOTE LEARNING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

WE UNDERSTAND THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS AND THE THINGS WE HAVE TO ENDURE WITH REMOTE LEARNING.

HOWEVER SOME LEARNING GIVING THE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKEUP ASSIGNMENTS AND WORK ON THINGS AND ENGAGE IS BETTER THAN NOTHING AT ALL.

IT IS COMPLETELY DISHEARTENING AND UNFAIR AS A EDUCATOR AND PARENT SOMETHING DOES NEED TO HAPPEN I AGREE WITH THAT STUDENT.

>> AND WE'RE HEARING FROM MULTIPLE PARENT GROUPS THAT THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE UNION.

WHAT MORE DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO INCLUDE PARENTS IN THIS CONVERSATION?

AND THE SITUATION WE ALL FIND OURSELVES IN?

>> PARENTS ARE THE DRIVING FORCE.

THE UNION WE WORK TOGETHER.

WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY.

WE WORK WITH OUR PARENTS AND WITH OUR STUDENTS.

BUT PARENTS HAVE A VOICE.

AND SO PARENTS AS MUCH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN SHOULD STAND UP AND MAKE NOISE AND SAY HOW THEY ARE FEELING.

OUR PARENT ADVISORYRY COUNCIL WAS PHENOMENA NATIONAL IN EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS WITH RETURNING TO IN-PERSON LEARNING KNOWING THE CASES WERE SURGING OUT OF CONTROL.

AND SO THEY WERE REALLY PART OF THE ISSUE IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS WERE SAFE.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT PARKMAN NOSH ELEMENTARY C.T.U.

HELD A -- PARK MANOR ELEMENTARY C.T.U.

HELD A MEETING.

GIVE US A SENSE WHAT IT'S LIKE?

>> RIGHT BEFORE BREAK WE HAD ABOUT 12 STAFF MEMBERS TEST POSITIVE WHO WERE VACCINATED.

ABOUT 25 STUDENTS WHO TESTED POSITIVE WHICH ALLOWED FOR ABOUT 75% OF THE BUILDING TO BE QUARANTINED.

SEVEN OUT OF 10 CLASSES ON REMOTE LEARNING AND THE PRINCIPAL TESTED POSITIVE.

SO WITH ALL OF THAT GOING ON PARENTS KEPT THEIR BABIES HOME THE ONES ALLOWED TO COME INTO THE BUILDING.

WITH THAT BEING SAID THAT THURSDAY OR FRIDAY BEFORE WINTER BREAK THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE TEST KITS THAT C.P.S.

PROVIDED.

SO WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE WALKING INTO ON JANUARY 3.

I AM THE LEAD SAFETY TEAM CHAIR AT MY SCHOOL WE MADE A DECISION TO WORK OVER BREAK AND HELP PARENTS AND GET THE KIDS -- KITS BACK TO PARENTS ON THAT TUESDAY.

THE PARENTS GOT THE KITS AND THEY TESTED STUDENTS THAT DAY.

WE HAD EVERYTHING READY TO GO TO FEDEX FOR THE RESULTS NOT TO BE VALID.

THE PARENTS WERE UPSET.

WE WERE UPSET.

>> I'M SURE A CHALLENGING TIME.

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS WE KNOW THAT TEACHERS AT MOUNT GREENWOOD ARE DEFYING THE UNION AND HELD IN-PERSON LEARNING TODAY WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO YOUR FELLOW UNION MEMBERS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL DESPITE THIS ACTION?

>> THAT IS A VERY INTERESTING THING.

THAT IS THE BEST WAY I CAN PUT IT.

EVERY SCHOOL IS NOT THE SAME.

EVERY AREA, EVERY PART OF THE CITY IS NOT THE SAME SO THEY DON'T SEE THE THINGS WE DO.

WE JUST NEED TO STAND TOGETHER AS BEST AS WE CAN.

>> KEY ANNA PAYTON WE WERE AWAITING WORD FROM THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES AND THE CITY WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING DETAILS INTO THE FIRING OF A CHICAGO BEARS COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER.

>> FIRST, THE BEATLES, JAZZ GREAT JOHN COAL TRAIN AND PHILLIP GLASS ALL OF THE MUSIC GIANTS FELT THE INFLUENCE OF RAVI SHANKAR.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" TOURED A PANDEMIC DELAYED EXHIBITION AND WE MET ONE PERSON WHO KNEW RAVI SHANKAR IN CHICAGO.

AND MARC VITALI HAS MORE ON THE ENDURING APPEAL OF A WORLD MUSIC SUPERSTAR.

[♪♪♪] >> A HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL IN 1967 WAS THE PERFORMANCE BY A 47-YEAR-OLD VETERAN MUSICIAN FROM INDIA.

SITARIST RAVI SHANKAR ROUSED AN AUDIENCE THAT INCLUDED OTHERS AT THE FESTIVAL INCLUDING JIMMY HENDRICKS.

>> SHANKAR TUTORED GEORGE HARRISON WHO PLAYED THE SITAR ON SONGS.

A NEW EXHIBITION MAKES IT CLEAR THAT SHANKAR HAD A LONG CAREER BEFORE AND AFTER HIS LEADERSHIP TO STARDOME IN THE PSYCHEDELIC 60s.

WE MET A FORMER STUDENT.

>> I COME FROM A VERY SMALL TOWN IN INDIA.

I HAPPENED TO MEET HIM IN-PERSON IN THE 80s AND IN MID-80s HE ACCEPTED ME AS HIS DISCIPLE AND I STAYED WITH HIM FOR SEVEN YEARS IN HIS HOME LEARNING FROM HIM AND THEN MY ASSOCIATION WITH HIM WAS AT THE END OF THIS LIFE.

>> THE EXHIBIT WAS PLANNED FOR THE CENTENNIAL OF RAVI SHANKAR'S BIRTH LAST YEAR BUT THE NEWLY OPENED INSTITUTE SHUTDOWN FOR THE PANDEMIC.

WE MET THE FOUNDERS OF THE INSTITUTE, A HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM COLLECTORS WHO RETIRED FROM THEIR CAREERS IN MEDICINE.

>> SOUTH ASIANS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE SEVERAL MILLION NOW BUT THERE'S LITTLE ABOUT OUR CULTURE AND OUR HERITAGE THAT WE'VE COMMUNICATED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON A LARGER SCALE.

>> MUCH OF THE SHOW COMES FROM THE COLLECTION OF ONE PERSON A MUSIC PROMOTER WHO GOT TO KNOW SHANKAR.

>> WHEN I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT CHICAGO HE HAD A DEAR CONNECTION TO CHICAGO.

HE PLAYED AT THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY CENTER WHEN HE WAS 13 YEARS OLD IN 1933 WITH HIS BROTHER'S TRANSTROOPE AND PLAYED THERE UNTIL HE PASSED IN 2012.

>> YES THIS MASTER STARTED AS A DANCER.

>> IF YOU LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING, ANY BACKGROUND, YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT HIS MUSIC IS MOVING YOU.

HIS MUSIC IS TELLING YOU A STORY.

HIS MUSIC GIVES YOU VISIONS BASICALLY, YOU CAN IMAGINE THINGS.

AND MANY A TIMES WHILE TEACHING OR PERFORMING HE WOULD SPEAK TO US AND SAID THAT HE IMAGINES A CHOREOGRAPHFY IN HIS MUSIC BECAUSE OF HIS DANCING DAYS.

>> THAT CHOREOGRAPHY EXPRESSED IN THE TRADITIONS OF CLASSICAL INDIAN MUSIC AND RAVI SHANKAR BECAME A INFLUENCER.

>> THE INFLUENCES THE ROCK, THE JAZZ, CLASSICAL AND EVEN NEW AGE MUSIC AND THAT AMBIENT MUSIC.

[♪♪♪] >> WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO WITH THE GENERAL HUMANITY AROUND US.

AND WE FIND THAT HE WAS DOING THIS DECADES AGO THROUGH HIS MUSIC.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> AND YOU CAN CATCH MORE FROM SITARIST GAURAV MAZUMDAR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND THERE IS AN INTERVIEW FROM STUDS TURKELL RADIO ARCHIVES.

AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", ANOTHER COLD DAY FOR CHICAGOANS.

WE HEAR FROM LEADERS WORKING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WITHOUT A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

>> AND ARE YOU STILL DEALING WITH A LOSS OF SMELL AND TASTE MONTHS AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID?

A DOCTOR SHARES HOW HE IS HELPING PATIENTS REGAIN THEIR SENSES.

AND WITH FANS DEMANDING CHANGE THE CHICAGO BEARS FIRE THEIR HEAD COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER AFTER ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING SEASON.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> STARTING SATURDAY, RAPID HOME COVID-19 TESTS WILL BE COVERED BY PRIVATE INSURANCE.

THE COST OF UP TO EIGHT OVER-THE-COUNTER COVID-19 A MONTH WILL BE COVERED BY PRIVATE INSURERS.

IT WILL START SATURDAY.

THE HOPE IS THAT TESTING WILL HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>> ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THERE WERE MORE THAN 19,000 NEWLY REPORTED COVID CASES WITH 34 MORE DEATHS.

THE SEVEN-DAY TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 7.3%.

>> A RECORD WARM DECEMBER PUSHED THE THERMOMETER UP LAST YEAR.

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE LAST MONTH WAS 39.3°, 6.7° ABOVE NORMAL.

AND AS A RESULT THE U.S.

SAW THE FOURTH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD.

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ALSO REPORTS THE U.S.

EXPERIENCED 20 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WEATHER DISASTERS IN 2021.

NEARLY 700 PEOPLE KILLED COMPARED WITH 262 IN 2020.

THERE WERE 193 TORNADOES IN THE MIDWEST IN DECEMBER.

THE MOST RECORDED IN THE MONTH WHICH IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS HIGH OF 97 IN 2002.

AND NOW TO PARIS AND SWEEPING CHANGES ON THE WAY FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS.

PARIS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IN WHAT HAS BECOME A TRADITION EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS THE BEARS ANNOUNCE THEY ARE FIRING THE GENERAL MANAGER AND HEAD COACH AND THEN SAY THEY WILL CONSULT WITH A LEAGUE EXPERT TO FIND REPLACEMENTS.

TODAY BEARS CHAIRMAN GEORGE McCASKEY EXPLAINED HIS DECISION TO LET GO MATT NAGY AND RYAN PACE.

>> OUR OFFENSE FAILED TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT.

WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AT HOME.

WE DID NOT CLOSE THE GAP WITHIN OUR DIVISION.

IN THE END, WE DIDN'T WIN ENOUGH GAMES.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE RESULTS ON THE FIELD.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS.

>> THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE AND JOINING US WITH MORE IS JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS FORMER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

YOUR REACTION TODAY NOT ONLY TO THE MOVES TO FIRE NAGY AND PACE BUT CHAIRMAN McCASKEY'S THOUGHTS ON THE PATH FORWARD?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT YOU HAD TO GET RID OF PACE AND NAGY WERE TIED AT THE HIP FOREVER AS MUCH AS PEOPLE WANT TO SAY THAT FOX WAS PUSHED ON TO PACE AND IT WASN'T REALLY HIS HIRE, I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

IF YOU ARE THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER COMING IN, AND THEY WANT TO PUT YOU WITH AN OLDER MORE VETERAN TYPE HEAD COACH YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY AYE OR NAY.

IF IT WASN'T SOMETHING HE WANTED TO DO HE SHOULD HAVE SPOKE UP AND SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

IT WAS TIME.

IT WAS TIME FOR BOTH OF THEM TO GO.

AND YOU KNOW, LIKE GEORGE SAID, YOU LOOK AT THE OFFENSE WHICH HE WAS PAID TO COME IN HERE AND FIX AND IT NEVER GOT FIXED.

17 POINTS A GAME IS NOT A GOOD AVERAGE FOR AN NFL OFFENSE.

AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET BETTER.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT GEORGE McCASKEY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN A CONSULTANT LIKE THEY DID BEFORE AND THEN I WILL MAKE THE CALL ON MY OWN.

BY THE WAY, I AM A FAN I'M NOT A FOOTBALL EVALUATOR.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, WAS IT SHOCKING TO YOU?

IT WASN'T SHOCKING TO ME.

TO HEAR HIM SAY THAT IT WAS A SHOCK THAT HE ACTUALLY SAID IT.

BUT IT WAS NOT A SHOCK TO HEAR.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS KNOWN.

FROM A PERSON THAT'S BEEN A PLAYER THAT'S BEEN IN THAT LOCKER ROOM, THAT'S BEEN IN THAT FACILITY, YOU KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT AND THE PROBLEMS START UPSTAIRS.

AND THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO GET IRONED OUT HAVE TO START UPSTAIRS BEFORE THEY CAN START WORKING ON DOWNSTAIRS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BETTER THIS PICK IS GOING TO BE THAN THEIR LAST CHOICE.

>> IT IS THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE SEE OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND THIS TIME GEORGE McCASKEY IS BRINGING IN A VETERAN EXECUTIVE HALL OF FAMER TO LEAD THIS SEARCH.

IS THAT THE RIGHT GUY TO DO THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK BILL WILL BE GOOD IN THE ROOM.

BECAUSE HE IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT IS GOING TO TELL GEORGE WHAT GEORGE DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR.

NOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT CAN GEORGE DEAL WITH THAT, CAN GEORGE TAKE THE THINGS IN THAT HE SAYS AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ACCORDINGLY?

HE IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO HEAR THE THINGS BILL WILL HAVE TO SAY TO HIM.

AND YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS BEFORE.

YOU DIDN'T SEEM LIKE YOU LISTENED THEN.

WE HAVE TO HOPE AND KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED THEY LISTENED >> WHO WOULD BE ON YOUR SHORT LIST FOR GENERAL MANAGER AND HEAD COACH?

>> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT GENERAL MANAGER YET.

I WAS STILL PLAYING BY THE CARDS THAT PACE COULD STILL BE AROUND.

BUT I THINK THAT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A HEAD COACH, YOU NEED TO MAKE A SPLASH.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE RAIDERS DID AND EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T WORKOUT, THEY MADE THAT BIG SPLASH.

THEY WERE GETTING THE NEW STADIUM.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH WITH THEIR TEAM AND THEY BROUGHT GREW TON IN.

WHEN GROTON IN.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BEARS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THEM TRYING TO GET A NEW STADIUM AND YOU NEED TO BREAK THAT -- MAKE THAT SPLASH WITH YOUR HEAD COACH WHETHER IT'S A JIM HARBAUGH SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS THE ORGANIZATION, SOMEBODY THAT WAS DRAFTED BY THE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE A GOOD HEAD COACH IN SEVERAL PLACES NOT ONLY IN THE NFL BUT IN COLLEGE.

AND HE IS A GUY THAT HE IS A COACH THAT CAN DEAL WITH PLAYERS.

NOT ALL THE PLAYERS MIGHT LIKE HIM.

BUT HE KNOWS HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM AND HE KNOWS HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF THEM.

LIKE A JOSH McDANIELS OUT OF NEW ENGLAND.

IT WILL BE HIS SECOND TIME AROUND.

WHAT DID HE LEARN THE FIRST TIME THAT HE CAN BRING TO A JOB LIKE THIS?

I THINK IT HAS TO BE A BIG NAME THAT CAN MAKE A BIG SPLASH.

>> AND THE NUMBER ONE PERSON THAT HE HAS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IS THE QUARTERBACK JUSTIN FIELDS ARE YOU CONVINCED FROM WHAT YOU SAW THAT ARE YOU READY TO CROWN HIM THE FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK OF THE CHICAGO BEARS FOR NEXT YEAR?

>> NO, I'M NOT READY TO CROWN HIM THE NEXT -- THE BEARS ARE LOOKING FOR A GUY THAT CAN SUSTAIN EXCELLENCE FOR 10 TO 15 YEARS THAT CAN BE A FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK.

WE'VE SEEN JUSTIN AFTER HIS FIRST SEASON.

AND IN A SCHEME THAT DID NOT SEEM TO WORK FOR HIM.

SO CAN WE I WANT TO SEE HIM WITH A SCHEME THAT FITS HIM.

A SCHEME THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER FOR HIM TO USE HIS TALENTS AND HIS ABILITIES TO THE MAXIMUM.

SO CAN WE GET THAT?

HOPEFULLY.

AND HOPEFULLY HE IS ALL THAT WE THINK HE IS WRAPPED UP TO BE.

>> PRIORITY NUMBER ONE DEVELOP HIM INTO THAT SUSTAINED SUCCESSFUL QUARTERBACK.

GM, COACH, NOT WITHSTANDING THE BEARS DON'T HAVE A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO TO RESTOCK THE POSITIONS THEY ARE LIGHT ON RIGHT NOW FOR NEXT YEAR?

>> I THINK WHAT THE SITUATION THEY ARE IN, FREE AGENCY IS GOING TO BE BIG FOR THEM.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE GETTING RID OF SOME PLAYERS THAT YOU HAVE THAT ARE GOING TO BE UP AS FREE AGENTS THIS YEAR.

IT'S LIKE 23.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE WHOEVER COMES IN IS GOING TO HAVE HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE.

BUT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING -- WHERE DO YOU GET A LEFT TACKLE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HIGH FIRST SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICK?

YOU HAVE TO PICK HIM UP IN FREE AGENCY.

AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE A CHEAP PRICE AND MOST OF THE GOOD ONES ARE TAKEN AND TEAMS DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF GUYS LIKE THAT.

>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS I SAID OFFENSIVE LINE AND RECEIVER.

QUICKLY BEFORE YOU GO, BIG CAT, WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO WIN IT ALL?

WHO IS YOUR SUPER BOWL PICK RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M UNFORTUNATELY I WATCH A LOT OF NFC GAMES AND IF GREEN BAY DURING THEIR WEEK OFF CAN GET PLAYERS BACK BOTH OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY, THEY ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO DEAL WITH ESPECIALLY IN GREEN BAY.

I THINK GREEN BAY IS MY PICK FROM THE NFC AND FROM THE AFC, KANSAS CITY GETS ON A ROLL THEY ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO BEAT EVEN WITH THE DEFENSE LOOKING AS BAD AS IT HAS AT POINTS IN TIME THAT OFFENSE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

>> A MARQUEE MATCHUP THAT WOULD BE.

JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS I GUESS WE'LL SEE YOU IN SIX, SEVEN MONTHS TO TALK ABOUT A NEW BEARS REGIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> SOUNDS GOOD PARIS, TAKE IT EASY.

>> YOU, TOO.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DESPITE THE U.S.

SEEING THE FOURTH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD IT WAS ANOTHER COLD DAY FOR CHICAGOANS AS TEMPERATURES FELT AS COLD AS -2.

LEADERS ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHICAGO'S HOMELESS POPULATION ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS AND HER WORK IS NELI VAZQUEZ ROWLAND, COFOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF A SAFE HAVEN FOUNDATION A NONPROFIT ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT KIND OF DEMAND ARE YOU SEEING FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION'S SERVICES I WOULD IMAGINE IT INCREASED SINCE THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC?

>> WELL, BRANDIS WE HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES OF HELPING THE HOMELESS FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS AND THIS IS THE WORST WE HAVE SEEN IT.

WE ARE INUNDATED WITH CALLS, E-MAILS AND WALK-INS FROM PEOPLE THAT NEVER IMAGINED THEY WOULD NEED HELP LIKE THIS BEFORE.

>> AND YOUR ORGANIZATION LAST YEAR YOU OPENED A COVID-19 MEDICAL RESPITE CENTER FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

HOW HAS THAT BEEN IMPACTED DURING THE OMICRON SURGE?

>> THE MEDICAL RESPITE THAT WE OPENED IN APRIL OF 2020 IN RESPONSE OUT OF SERIOUS CONCERN FOR THE HOMELESS AND PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN DOUBLED UP SITUATIONS SEEING WHAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE HOSPITALS BEING OVERWHELMED WE WERE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THE HOMELESS WOULD BE THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST AND WE PARTNERED WITH RUSH TO BRING A HEALTHCARE TEAM AND THEY WORKED WITH OUR HEALTHCARE TEAM AND ALL OF OUR WRAP AROUND SERVICES TO HELP ADDRESS AND MEET THE NEEDS OF HOME THAT ARE HOMELESS AND COVID POSITIVE.

WE HAVE HAD A THOUSAND PEOPLE COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM AND TODAY THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE WORKING ON THE REST OF THEIR PLANS TO GET THEIR LIFE BACK ON TRACK.

BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO ASSESS THEIR SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND THAT IS OUR GOAL TO EVERYONE AND THAT IS TRY TO HELP THEM GET THEIR LIFE BACK ON TRAGEDY.

>> HOW WOULD YOU SAY COVID CONTINUES TO IMPACT HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, IT'S HAVING A SERIOUS IMPACT.

BEFORE COVID-19, THERE WERE ABOUT 40% OF THE POPULATION WERE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

AND THOSE ESPECIALLY WERE WORKING AND VULNERABLE TYPES OF JOBS WHERE THEY LOST THEIR JOBS OR COULDN'T GET BACK TO WORK FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.

THE CHILDREN WERE HOME.

ALTHOUGH THE RENT MORATORIUMS DID HELP THAT DID NOT KEEP THEM FROM FALLING BEHIND ON EXPENSES.

WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE THAT BENEFITED FROM THE MORATORIUM GETTING EVICTED.

THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS WHY THE PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING HOMELESSNESS AND WE'RE SEEING A SUN IN THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE LOST IN THE SHADOWS OF THE PANDEMIC THAT ARE VERY, VERY REAL PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING THAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE FRONTLINES.

>> OF COURSE WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING VERY FRIGID TEMPERATURES OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

DO YOU HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF EMERGENCY BEDS AS WINTER CONTINUES?

>> I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS.

PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAD 3304 BEDS.

TODAY THEY SAY THEY HAVE 3,000 BEDS THAT IS A 10% DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BEDS AVAILABLE.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS, OUR POINT IN TIME COUNT DONE IN JANUARY OF 2020, IT REFLECTED WE HAD HAD 5800 HOMELESS UNSHELTERED HOMELESS AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE PEOPLE LIVING IN SHELTERS WHICH ARE OVER 100,000 PEOPLE.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THERE IS A HUGE GAP AND THE BEDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THE NUMBER OF BEDS CUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE NEED TO MEET THE SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS THAT C.D.C.

REQUIRED AND WE HAVE NOT REPLACED THOSE BEDS IT IS A PERFECT STORM.

WE HAVE A RISE IN DEMAND FOR BEDS AND WE HAVE OPIOID EPIDEMIC WHERE MANY OF THE HOMELESS ORGANIZATIONS ARE FACING MAJOR OUTBREAKS IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

AND IF THEY HAD A BED THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTING YOU BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 OUTBREAKS THEY ARE HAVING WITHIN THEIR HOMELESS ORGANIZATIONS.

THERE IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

I'M GLAD WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WE ADO NEED HELP AND.

>> AND TO THAT POINT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE ONE PROBLEM COMPOUNDED BY ANOTHER.

WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING THE LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS WHAT MORE DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE?

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE CITY POLICYMAKERS NONPROFITS WHERE DO THEY NEED TO STEP UP?

>> I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY WE ACTUALLY HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF ALL THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT HAVE HIT OUR STATE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK DIFFERENTLY AND THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES?

WHERE IS THERE AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND SAY HERE IS A WAY WE CAN ADDRESS THESE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE BY PROVIDING HEALTHCARE SERVICES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PERMANENT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT HOUSING HAS TO BE A CONTINUUM.

IT HAS TO INCLUDE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT WHERE PEOPLE GET THE HELP THEY NEED FROM SPECIALISTS, AND ALL KINDS OF SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, JOB TRAINING SERVICES SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE INTO THEIR OWN APARTMENT IN A WAY OR HOME THAT IS GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE.

SO THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE NEED TO THINK DIFFERENTLY AND SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM.

AND IN TERMS OF HOW CAN WE CREATE AN ECOSYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED TO BE INTEGRATED TO SOLVE ANY OF THE ROOT CAUSES SO PEOPLE GET BACK.

>> AND OPPORTUNITIES.

ABSOLUTELY.

TO TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM LONG-TERM.

NELI VAZQUEZ ROWLAND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> UP NEXT, A DOCTOR SHARES TIPS HOW TO REGAIN SMELL LOSS AFTER COVID-19.

>> WHILE MANY OF COVID-19'S SYMPTOMS INFURIATINGLY MIMIC THE FLU OR A COLD THE LOST OF TASTE AND SMELL ARE A COMPLICATER OF THE VIRUS.

NOW RESEARCH ESTIMATES BETWEEN 700,000 AND 1.6 MILLION PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE REGAINED THEIR SENSE OF SMELL EVEN MONTHS AFTER THEIR COVID INFECTION.

AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE RESEARCHING WAYS TO HELP PATIENTS REDWAIN THE SENSES.

JOINING US TO SHARE TIPS HOW TO RECOVER FROM SMELL LOSS IS Dr. PETER PAPAGIANNOPOULOS, A SPECIALIST WHO TREATS SMELL LOSS AND SINUS PROBLEMS AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AS I MENTIONED WE KNOW THAT OMICRON VARIANT'S SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE COLD-LIKE THE SNIFFLES, SNEEZING.

DOES OMICRON HAVE THE SAME IMPACT ON SMELL AND TASTE AS WE'VE SEEN WITH COVID-19 UP TO THIS POINT?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME FIRST OF ALL.

AND I'D SAY IN TERMS OF OMICRON LONG-TERM EFFECTS TOO EARLY TO TELL.

ANECDOTALLY SEEMS LIKE IT'S STILL HAVING SIMILAR EFFECTS IN THE SHORT-TERM AS IT HAS FOR THE PRIOR VARIANTS.

>> WITH OMICRON, CASES OR SYMPTOMS CAN CLOSELY RESEMBLE FLU AND COLD HOW SHOULD WE MANAGE THIS AS CASES RISE AND LATER ON AS THEY GO DOWN?

>> I THINK THE KEY IS TO DO THE SIMPLE THINGS.

CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK WHEN YOU ARE IN PUBLIC.

TRY TO LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE TO LARGE PUBLIC SPACES AND BEING IN LARGE GROUPS.

THE REALITY IT DOES SPREAD AMAZINGLY QUICKLY AND EASILY.

AT LEAST I, MYSELF HAD NUMEROUS FRIENDS CATCHES IN THE LAST MONTH.

EVEN ANECDOTALLY IT'S CLEAR THIS IS SPREAD MUCH MORE EASILY AMONGST US >> NOW, ACCORDING TO A STUDY FROM THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OVER 72% OF PATIENTS WITH SMELL LOSS RECOVERED AFTER ONE MONTH.

AND 84% OF PATIENTS WITH TASTE LOSS RECOVERED AFTER ONE MONTH.

WHAT DO WE KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS DYSFUNCTION?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SMELL AND TASTE ARE VERY, VERY MUCH INTERLINKED.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TASTE ALONE THERE'S FOUR CARDINAL TASTES, SWEET, SOUR, BITTER AND USE MA'AMMY.

EVERY OTHER ELEMENT IN TERMS OF FLAVOR COMES FROM YOUR SENSE OF SMELL.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A SMELL LOSS THEY ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE A TASTE LOSS AS WELL.

WHAT WE'VE FOUND AND YOUR NUMBERS ARE CORRECT THAT USUALLY OF THOSE PATIENTS WITH COVID WHO HAVE A SMELL LOSS ABOUT 85% WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL IN ABOUT ONE MONTH.

THAT LEAVES 15% OF PATIENTS THAT WILL BE STRUGGLING POTENTIALLY FOR UP TO THREE MONTHS AND THEN THERE ARE PATIENTS THAT NEVER REALLY GET A NORMAL FUNCTION BACK UNFORTUNATELY.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW HOW IT CAN BE RESTORED?

>> SO THE REASON FOR THE LOSS IS ACTUALLY RATHER THAN A SWELLING PROBLEM IN THE NOSE OR A CONGESTION PROBLEM IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEVEL OF THE SMELL NERVES AND IT'S NERVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE VIRUS.

SO WHAT WE CAN DO EARLY ON IS WHAT IS CALLED SMELL RETRAINING THERAPY.

AND I RECOMMEND STARTING THE THERAPY IF YOU ARE STILL HAVING SMELL DYSFUNCTION SYMPTOMS TWO WEEKS INTO COVID.

IF YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES AFTER THAT THE EARLIER YOU START THIS THE BETTER.

>> AND WHAT IS THE THERAPY ENTAIL AND IS IT THE KIND OF THING I CAN DO AT HOME?

OR SHOULD I SEE SOMEONE LIKE YOU FOR THAT.

>> GREAT QUESTION.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN START ON YOUR OWN IT'S EASY TO DO.

IT REQUIRES YOU USING ESSENTIAL OILS.

WE USUALLY RECOMMEND FOUR DIVISION SHALL OILS YOU CAN BUY ON ANY ON-LINE SITE.

THE FOUR RECOMMEND RED LEMON, ROSE, CLOVE AND EUCALYPTUS.

THEY SHOULD BE SMELLS THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SMELL LIKE.

DIFFICULTY WITH THE SMELL LOSS IS TRYING TO RECONNECT THE NERVE CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT YOUR MEMORY SMELLS LIKE TO WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE.

THE WAY IT WORKS YOU WILL PUT THE SMELLS IN FRONT OF YOU IN THE MORNING AND FOR 15 SECONDS YOU WILL PUT THAT OIL IN FRONT OF YOUR NOSE AND TAKE A DEEP SNIFF IN FOR 15 SECONDS AND PUT IT DOWN AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THE SMELL SHOULD SMELL LIKE AND GO DOWN THE LINE AND DO THAT MORNING AND NIGHT.

AND IF YOU ARE STILL HAVING ISSUES I WOULD SAY COME SEE A PHYSICIAN AS SOON AS A MONTH AFTER YOUR DIAGNOSIS TO START WORKING WITH YOU.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER REGAIN THAT SENSE OF TASTE AND SOMETHING DOESN'T TASTE THE WAY IT USED TO BEFORE THEY HAD COVID.

BUT WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS THERE ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NEVER REGAIN THAT?

>> THAT IS TRUE.

IT IS A MINORITY OF PATIENTS.

I'D SAY IT'S ABOUT 5%.

BUT IT IS REAL.

I'VE HAD A 30-YEAR-OLD CHEF IN MY OFFICE CRYING THAT HE CAN'T PERFORM HIS JOB THE SAME WAY HE USED TO.

THE BIGGEST WAY TO AVOID THE LONG-TERM EFFECT IS AVOID GET TO GO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHO WILL HAVE LONG-TERM SMELL LOSS AND WHO WON'T.

THE KEY IS IF YOU DO YOURSELF HAVE THE SYMPTOMS THE SOONER YOU CAN START SMELL RETRAINING THERAPY THE BEST CHANCE YOU WILL HAVE OF AVOIDING THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS.

>> THANKS TO Dr. PETER PAPAGIANNOPOULOS FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PRIVILEGE.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> A CORRECTION EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE INCORRECTLY REPORTED SEVEN-DAY TEST POSITIVITY RATE OF 7.3% STATE-WIDE THAT CORRECT NUMBER IS 17.3%.

TEST POSITIVITY.

THAT OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

THE LATEST OVER THE BATTLE AT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> AND WE CHECK IN WITH LOCAL WRITER WHOSE LATER VENTURE INCLUDES A CHILDREN'S LIMERICK BOOK.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND WARM AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]