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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> DO YOU STAND BY THIS PRESIDENT DANGEROUSLY STAYING IN OFFICE?

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED AN ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT THAT IS NINE DAY AS HEAD OF INAUGURATION DAY WHAT THIS MOVE COULD MEAN FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> AFTER TWITTER SUSPENDS TRUMP'S ACCOUNT WHAT ROLE DOES SOCIAL MEDIA HAVE IN THE FREE SPEECH CONVERSATION?

>> I WILL WORK WITH WHOEVER GETS ELECTED AS SPEAKER.

>> TURMOIL IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AS SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN ANNOUNCES HE IS STEPPING BACK IN THE LEADERSHIP RACE BUT NOT ENTIRELY.

WE'RE LIVE IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> WE NEED TO BUILD THIS PATH FORWARD AND WE STARTED WITH THAT TODAY.

>> THE LATEST ON CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS REOPENING WHICH SAW SOME STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 MONTHS.

>> WHY SOME C.P.S.

FAMILIES SAY LANGUAGE BARRIERS ARE CREATING TECH PROBLEMS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

>> WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE BOEING JET THAT CRASHED THIS WEEKEND IN INDONESIA AND OTHER NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT OUR CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A NOTABLE BENEFIT OF THIS PROJECT.

>> A MAKEOVER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE REDLINE IS WELL UNDERWAY.

WE HAVE THE LATEST ON THE CTA'S PROGRESS.

>> LAUNCHING IT BACK TO -- AND HE DROPS A TOUCHDOWN!

>> AND THE BEARS' SEASON ENDS IN NEW ORLEANS AS CHICAGO'S OFFENSE FAILS TO FIRE AGAINST THE SAINTS.

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

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS IN IN INDIANA CONFIRM THE MORE CONTAGIOUS VARIANT OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS HAS BEEN FOUND IN INDIANA.

ILLINOIS' TOP DOCTOR DR. NGOZI EZIKE SAYS IT IS LIKELY ALREADY IN THE STATE CIRCULATING IN SUCH FEW NUMBERS IT HAS YET TO BE DETECTED AND WARNS WHAT THAT MEANS IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE SIGNIFICANCE OF US KNOWING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE HERE AND IS ALREADY HERE WITH TIME AS IT DID IN THE U.K.

IT WILL PREDOMINATE AND BE THE DOMINANT STRAIN AND THAT WOULD ONLY TAKE A FEW MONTHS.

POTENTIALLY IN MARCH WE COULD HAVE THIS NEW VARIANT BE THE MAJORITY OF OUR CASES AND THAT MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE INFECTIOUS SPREAD.

>> THIS COMES AS ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE ANOTHER 4700 NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

AND 53 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE STATE'S TOTAL CASE COUNT IS MORE THAN 1,033,,000.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS 8.9%.

>> CHICAGO ALDERMEN ARE CALLING FOR THE OUSTER OF POLICE UNION PRESIDENT JOHN CATANZARA.

IN A RESOLUTION SIGNED BY 35 ALDERMEN THE GROUP NOTES THAT THE UNION'S OWN BUY LAWS BAR MEMBER AND TO ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIZATION WHOSE PURPOSES IS TO OVER THROW THE GOVERNMENT.

CATANZARA TOLD WBEZ HE UNDERSTOOD THE FRUSTRATION THAT LED TO THE RIOT AT THE U.S. CAPITOL AND SAID THERE WAS NO LOOTING AND LITTLE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

HE HAS APOLOGIZED FOR THOSE REMARKS.

FIND OUT WHICH ALDERMEN SIGNED ON TO THE LETTER BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

NOW TO PARIS AND CALLS FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED AN IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION TODAY CHARGING PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH INCITEMENT OF INVEHICLES AFTER THE STORMING OF THE CAPITOL.

THE HOUSE WILL VOTE ON A MEASURE CALLING ON VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE TO INVOKE THE 25TH AMENDMENT AGAINST TRUMP.

IF PENCE DOES NOT DO SO, HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI PLANS TO CONTINUE WITH IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY.

AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS ARE LAUREL HARBRIDGE-YONG, A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY HER RESEARCH FOCUSES ON PARTISAN CONFLICT AND THE LACK OF BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

THERE IS A LOT OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND DAVID FRANKLIN A CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR AT DePAUL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW AND WAS ILLINOIS' SOLICITOR GENERAL AND CLERKED FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG IN 99 AND 2,000.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

FIRST, DAVID FRANKLIN, HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALLED ON THE VICE-PRESIDENT TO INVOKE THE 25TH AMENDMENT TO REMOVE PRESIDENT TRUMP.

REMIND US HOW THAT WOULD WORK?

>> THE 25TH AMENDMENT WAS DESIGNED FOR SITUATIONS WHERE THE PRESIDENT BECOMES UNABLE TO FULFILL THE DUTIES OF HIS OFFICE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN CASE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

IT'S BEEN INVOKED IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE PRESIDENT HAS GONE UNDER ANESTHESIA FOR OPERATIONS AND THE LIKE.

BUT IN THIS CASE THE IDEA WOULD BE IT WOULD BE INVOKED INVOLUNTARILY.

AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE VICE-PRESIDENT AND THE MAJORITY OF THE CABINET TO INVOKE IT.

AND THEN THE PRESIDENT WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO CONGRESS TO SEE WHETHER TWO-THIRDS OF THE CONGRESS WOULD RATIFY THAT DECISION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S UNLIKELY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE VICE-PRESIDENT PENCE IS RELUCTANT TO INVOKE THE 25TH AMENDMENT.

>> THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE REPORTING AND YOU HAVE ALL THE ACTING SECRETARIES IN THE CABINET WHICH IS FUZZY AS WELL.

ASSUMING THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, HOW DEMOCRATS DID INTRODUCE AN ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT TODAY.

THE RESOLUTION SAYS IN PART QUOTE... >> LAUREL HARBRIDGE-YONG, WHY IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT WITH ONLY NINE DAYS LEFT IN HIS TERM?

>> SO I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO DO IT IS TO SHOW THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS.

WHETHER OR NOT HE IS PHYSICALLY REMOVED FROM OFFICE BEFORE HIS TERM ENDS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION OCCURS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW THAT OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS ARE STRONGER THAN THE PRESSURE HE HAS PUT ON THEM TO OVERTURN FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND I WORRY WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY THIS COULD BECOME A POLITICAL NORM THAT ANY LOSING CANDIDATE UNHAPPY WITH THE ELECTION TRIES TO PREVENT THE CERTIFICATION OF VOTES, ENCOURAGES SUPPORTERS TO OVERTURN A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION AND THAT IS NOT THE WAY OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS SHOULD WORK.

>> A SITUATION THAT'S TRULY DESTABILIZED THE UNITED STATES DEMOCRACY.

DAVID THERE IS TALK OF HOLDING THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IN THE SENATE AFTER BIDEN IS SWORN IN.

AGAIN, WHY DO THAT IF THE PRESIDENT IS OUT OF OFFICE AT LEAST OTHER THAN TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WRONGDOING?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL WE ARE IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY HERE.

LET'S BE CLEAR THIS IS NOT RL NORMAL.

WE'VE NEVER HAD A PRESIDENT WHO IS ENCOURAGING A VIOLENT MOB TO STORM THE CAPITOL TO TRY TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.

AND THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PRESIDENT'S IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS COULD CONTINUE AFTER HE LEFT OFFICE IS ALSO ONE THAT'S UNSETTLED.

THERE ARE A FEW POSSIBLE PRECEDENTS INVOLVING LOWER LEVEL OFFICIALS FROM THE 19TH CENTURY.

BUT THE BASIC IDEA IS THAT THE SENATE IN ADDITION TO REMOVING THE PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE COULD ALSO IN A SEPARATE VOTE DISQUALIFY HIM FROM HOLDING OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.

SO THE IDEA WHICH IS I THINK CONTROVERSIAL AMONG LEGAL SCHOLARS BUT NOT IMPLAUSIBLE IS THAT THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS WOULD NOT BECOME MASS SHOOTING WHEN THE -- MOOT WHEN THE PRESIDENT LEAVES OFFICE BECAUSE THAT DISQUALIFICATION STEP COULD BE ON THE TABLE.

>> BARRING ANY FUTURE PUBLIC OFFICE WOULD REQUIRE A SIMPLE MAJORITY NOT A TWO-THIRDS.

LAUREL, WHAT ARE THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT FOR THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR UNITY IF YOU DO THIS.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DO THEY HAVE SOME POLITICAL BACKLASH IF THEY GO FORWARD?

OR IF THEY DON'T GO FORWARD?

>> RIGHT.

SO I THINK IN MY VIEW BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE COUNTRY WOULD BE IF THERE WAS BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT.

THAT THE COUNTRY AND BOTH PARTIES SAID THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR THIS IS NOT HOW OUR INSTITUTIONS WORK AND THEY GO FORWARD TOGETHER.

ASSUMING THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS TAKING THE RIFT IN THE SHORT-TERM THAT THEY ARE SEEN AS INFLAMING PARTISAN TENSIONS AND IT MAY HURT BIDEN'S CABINET NOMINEES, HIS EARLY LEGISLATIVE AIMS THAT HE MIGHT WANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON BUT THEY ARE TAKING RISK THERE.

BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF HOLDING TRUMP ACCOUNTABLE N TERMS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, THIS RISKS SHOWING DIVISIONS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT TRUMP, HIS SONS AND OTHERS SAID THAT IF YOU ARE NOT WITH THE PRESIDENT HERE IN TERMS OF OVERTURNING THE ELECTION THEN YOU SHOULD BE OUT OF THE PARTY ONE OF THE SOPS SAID IT IT IS NOT YOUR REPUBLICAN PARTY IT'S DONALD TRUMP'S REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THIS WILL CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHT DIVISIONS THERE.

AND MEMBERS LIKE MURKOWSKI AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT IT.

>> THERE ARE STRONG DIVISIONS THERE IN THE PARTY.

DAVID FRANKLIN, THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW IN WASHINGTON IS JUST REMARKABLY UNSTABLE.

JUST IN THE LAST FEW HOURS THE ACTING DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CHAD WOLF STEPS DOWN.

YOU HAVE ACTING SECRETARIES AND SO MANY THREATS OF VIOLENCE AFTER THIS HORRIBLE SITUATION LAST WEEK.

WHAT CONCERNS YOU ABOUT THIS GOING FORWARD THE NEXT NINE DAYS AND BEYOND?

>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN POLITICS IN THIS COUNTRY.

WHEN THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION DESIGNED THE IMPEACHMENT POWER AND THE OTHER CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT WE JUSTLY CELEBRATE AS PART OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN, THEY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE HYPER PARTISANSHIP THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

WHERE RATHER THAN DEFEND ITS OWN INSTITUTIONAL PREROGATIVES, CONGRESS WHO LITERALLY JUST SAW ITS BUILDING STORMED AT THE BEHEST OF THE HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, RATHER THAN DEFEND ITS PREROGATIVES IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE SENATE WOULD CONVICT AND REMOVE THE PRESIDENT EVEN FOR WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT.

WE HAVE A SITUATION IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE OUR POLITICS IS DYSFUNCTIONAL.

AND WHERE OUR MEDIA ECOSYSTEM OUTSIDE OF THE SAFE PRECINCTS OF PUBLIC TELEVISION, IS BROKEN, TOO.

WHERE YOU HAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BELIEVING ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC AND UNTRUE CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

AND ACTING ON THEM.

SOME OF THEM ANYWAY.

IN THIS UNPRECEDENTEDLY VIOLENT WAY.

I WISH I HAD A SIMPLE SOLUTION BUT THE PROBLEM IS CLEAR.

>> IT IS A MULTIPRONGED PROBLEM.

WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU ON SOON TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THANKS TO LAUREL HARBRIDGE-YONG AND DAVID FRANKLIN THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND ON TOMORROW'S PROGRAM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WILL JOIN US TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON IMPEACHMENT AND MORE.

BACK TO BRANDIS AND THE LATEST FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT BEFORE A NEW CLASS OF ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS ARE SWORN INTO OFFICE WHICH MEANS THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE A VOTE ON WHO WILL LEAD THE HOUSE.

CURRENT SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN ISSUED A STUNNING STATEMENT EARLIER TODAY THAT THROWS A GREATER WRENCH INTO THE RACE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW.

FROM THE ILLINOIS CAPITOL.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS IT WOULD BE HARD TO LIVE IN ILLINOIS AND NOT KNOW OF HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

HE HAS HELD THAT POSITION OF HOUSE SPEAKER FOR NEARLY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

IN THOSE 36 YEARS, HE HAS AMASSED A LOT OF POWER.

AND NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNFATHOMABLE TO IMAGINE HIM BEING FORCED TO GIVE IT UP BUT THAT MAY BE WHERE WE STAND.

AS MADIGAN RELEASING A STATEMENT SAYING HE IS SUSPENDING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR A 19TH TERM AS SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

BUT HE IS NOT WITHDRAWING FROM THE RACE.

I HAVE ALWAYS PUT THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND OUR MEMBERS FIRST.

THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CAN WORK TO FIND SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME TO GET 60 VOTES FOR SPEAKER.

YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT IS THE POINT OF STOP LOBBYING TO GET VOTES BUT STILL CONTINUING A CAMPAIGN?

WELL, THE ANSWER THERE IS THAT IT CREATES CHAOS TO MADIGAN'S ADVANTAGE AS DEMOCRATS JOCKEY TRYING TO GET ENOUGH SUPPORT.

KEY IN ON THE LAST PART OF HIS STATEMENT.

AS IF HE IS ISSUING A CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRATS.

I DARE YOU TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE WHO CAN SECURE THOSE 60 NEEDED VOTES.

HE MIGHT NOT HAVE THEM BUT NOBODY ELSE EVEN COMES CLOSE.

I THINK OF IT LIKE A KID WHO HAS STRICT PARENTS AND WANT THEM TO EAT HEALTHY AND SAY, HEY, CHILD, GO FOR IT.

HAVE ALL YOU WANT AND THEN THE KID GORGES HIMSELF AND COMES UP WITH A BELLY ACHE MADIGAN IS HOPING THAT DEMOCRATS WILL GET A POLITICAL BELLY ACHE AND THEN COME RUNNING BACK TO HIM.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER JIM DURKIN SAYS THIS MOVE IS TYPICAL MADIGAN.

WITH 36 HOURS LEFT BEFORE THE SWEARING IN OF A GENERAL ASSEMBLY MICHAEL MADIGAN CONTINUES TO CREATE UNCERTAINTY AND MISDIRECTION.

MADIGAN SUSPENDED CAMPAIGN APPEARS TO BE A PLOY OR A HEAD FAKE FOR THE SAKE OF THE INSTITUTION HIS CAUCUS MUST DEMAND THAT HE BE DIRECT AND HONEST ABOUT HIS INTENTIONS IN OR OUT.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WHO LIKE MADIGAN, IS A DEMOCRAT WITH MORE LAID BACK IN HIS REACTION.

>> AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES I WILL WORK WITH WHOEVER THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECT AS THEIR SPEAKER.

CHOOSING THE SPEAKER IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.

AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE MEMBERS ARE TAKING THEIR CHOICES SERIOUSLY.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE DID SPEAK WITH MADIGAN A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

PRITZKER IS PUSHING FOR A BILL TO SAVE THE STATE ABOUT $200 MILLION BY STOPPING BUSINESSES FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A FEDERAL TAX BREAK LAW.

THIS IS KNOWN AS DECOMING AND BUSINESS GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE ARE FIGHTING IT.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT IS ALL HE AND MADIGAN TALKED ABOUT.

>> IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNOR TO WORK WITH THE LEADERS BOTH PARTIES AND THEIR CAUCUSES.

DID I ASK HIM TO STEP DOWN?

NO, I WAS IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE.

HE IS STILL THE SPEAKER NOW.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET DECOUPLING DONE DURING THIS LAME DUCK.

>> LAME DUCK AS IN THESE ARE THE FINAL DAYS THAT OUTGOING OR LAME DUCK LEGISLATORS HAVE IN OFFICE.

OFTEN A TIME WHEN CONTROVERSIAL BILLS CAN SAIL THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

NOW, WE DIDN'T SEE THE HOUSE DOING MUCH OF THAT YET TODAY.

THAT IS BECAUSE THE REAL ACTION WAS HAPPENING IN PRIVATE MEETINGS AS DEMOCRATS STRAT JIZZED AND TALKED ABOUT WHO COULD WIN IN THE SPEAKER'S RACE.

THE SENATE WAS BUSY PASSING A CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION BILL THAT GIVES THE C.T.U.

MORE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING POWER.

A LAW RESTRICTING WHAT C.P.S.

TEACHERS CAN BARGAIN OVER HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE MID-90s.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR DALE RIGHTER SAYS IT WAS ENACTED BECAUSE OF WHAT HE CALLED C.T.U.

'S PROLIFIC TENDENCY TO GO ON STRIKE.

>> THAT IS THE ISSUE HERE.

THE REASON THE 1995 LAW WAS PUT IN PLACE WAS BECAUSE THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT THE TIME WERE AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER.

FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED THE REFORM.

THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED THE REFORM.

TO UNDO THAT, IS ASKING TO GO BACK TO THOSE WAYS AND THAT IS AN ENORMOUS MISTAKE.

>> BUT, STATE SENATOR CELINA VILLANUEVA SAYS CENTRAL ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS HAVE NO BUSINESS TALKING ABOUT C.P.S.

SHE SAYS SHE IS A GRADUATE AND KNOWS FIRSTHAND WHAT GOES ON IN CHICAGO CLASSROOMS.

>> HOW DARE WE SAY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO BARGAIN OVER SOMETHING THAT IS LITERALLY STANDING ON EQUITY WHICH IS CLASSROOM SIZES FOR BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

OR HAVING SOCIAL WORKERS IN SCHOOLS WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW THE MENTAL HEALTH EFFECT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC THE MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS ON BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> NOW, LAWMAKERS GOT STARTED MOVING ON A MAJOR PACKAGE THAT HAS BEEN PROMOTED BY BLACK LEGISLATOR KIM LIGHTFORD, NOTED THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THEIR AGENDA AND HER OWN ROLE AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BE A MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE.

>> AND TOO OFTEN LABELED AS THE ANGRY BLACK WOMAN FOR SIMPLY FIGHTING SYSTEMIC RACISM POLICIES IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR EQUITY AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL CHILDREN TO RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION.

>> NOW, VOTING IS SET TO CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING.

THE HOUSE JUST A BIT AGO IN THIS HOUR BEGINNING TO TAKE UP THAT EDUCATION BILL PROMOTED BY THE BLACK CAUCUS.

AS FOR SECURITY, GOVERNOR PRITZKER SAYS THAT THE STATE POLICE ARE AWARE OF THE MOVEMENT FOR PROTESTS AT STATE CAPITOLS NATIONWIDE BUT HE WOULD NOT GO INTO SECURITY DETAILS.

AND BRANDIS WITH THAT, BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 MONTHS SOME CHICAGO PUBLIC STUDENTS RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM TODAY.

PRE-K AND SPECIAL EDUCATION CLUSTER PROGRAM STUDENTS WERE THE FIRST GROUPS GIVEN THE OPTION FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.

A MOVE PUSHED FOR BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

>> TO DENY THESE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS THE OPTION -- LET ME UNDERSCORE THE OPTION -- TO GET BACK INTO THIS IN-PERSON LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE FACED REMOTELY.

THAT WOULD BE WRONG.

>> BUT THE REOPENING COMES AMIDST SCATHING CRITICISM FROM THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND MANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SAY IT IS NOT YET SAFE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO RETURN TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE ALDER WOMAN MARIA HADDEN WHOSE WARD INCLUDES MOST OF ROGER PARK ON THE NORTH SIDE.

AND ALDERMAN GEORGE CARENAS WHOSE WARD INCLUDES MCKINLEY PARK.

YOU SAY IT IS TOO SOON FOR C.P.S.

STUDENTS TO RETURN TO SCHOOL WHAT WOULD BE THE THRESHOLD AT WHICH YOU THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR STUDENTS TO COME BACK TO THEIR BUILDINGS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS WE ARE NOT GETTING CLEAR METRICS WHAT THAT THRESHOLD IS.

I AGREE WE NEED TO HAVE CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

THIS IS THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO LEARN.

BUT IN OUR HEARING TODAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO SET POSITIVITY RATE, THEY SAY WE ARE FOCUSING ON WHEN PRESSED WHEN ASKING WHAT IS THE METRIC AND HOW DID WE PICK TODAY WE ARE NOT GETTING CLEARANCES FROM C.P.S.

>> ALDERMAN CAR RAY NAS?

>> THEY HAVE RETURNED SO LET'S TAKE THAT FOR WHAT IT IS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID ON BOTH SIDES.

I'VE BEEN LISTENING I GOT OUT OF A MEETING WITH TEACHERS DISAPPOINTEDLY TELL ME THEY ARE AFRAID THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT METRICS DON'T LINEUP AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR FRUSTRATION.

I DO BELIEVE -- I'VE HAD PARENTS THAT WANT THEIR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

THEY HAD QUESTIONS.

HEARING THEM AS WELL.

I THINK THE TRUTH IS IN THE MIDDLE.

BUT I CANNOT DISCOUNT THE TEACHERS THE ONES THAT FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF HER FAMILIES.

AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.

WE CANNOT BE BLIND TO THAT.

AND PUNISH THEM BY NOT PAYING THEM IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP WOULD NOT BE RIGHT EITHER.

I'M HERE TO WORK IT OUT.

I'VE BEEN LISTENING AND TALKING TO C.P.S.

AND THE LEADERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.

I'VE BEEN HERE A LONGTIME.

THE WAY TO GET THINGS DONE IS BY WORKING TOGETHER ON SOLUTIONS THAT AFFECT CHICAGOANS AND OUR COMMUNITIES MY CONSTITUENTS AND THAT'S WHAT I PLAN TO DO.

AND I'VE BEEN TO MOST OF THE SCHOOLS IN THEY HAD ALL THE PPE, THE PRINCIPALS ARE READY.

BUT THERE'S MANY TEACHERS THAT ARE NOT EMOTIONALLY READY AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> LAST MONTH WE SPOKE WITH A PARENT OF A SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT WHO PLANNED TO SEND HER SON BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY.

HERE IS WHAT SHE SAID.

>> FOR MY SON AND I THINK FOR MOST KIDS IN HIS PROGRAM, SCHOOL IS HIS WHOLE WORLD.

IT'S WHERE YOU ARE NOT DOES HE GET ACADEMIC EDUCATION IT'S WHERE HE GETS SOCIAL SKILLS AND SOCIAL INTERACTION IT'S WHERE HE GETS EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE PARENTS WHO SAY THAT REMOTE LEARNING IS NOT WORKING FOR THEM WHICH C.P.S.

SAYS IS THE CASE IT'S NOT WORKING FOR A LARGE MAJORITY OF PRE-K AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE PARENTS WHO NEED THIS OPTION?

>> I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR THAT WE OWE THEM THIS OPTION.

THE QUESTION ISN'T SHOULD THIS BE AN OPTION OR SHOULD WE WORK TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOMS IS ARE WE READY?

WHEN 64% OF PRINCIPALS AND 63% OF C.P.S.

FAMILIES THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF TEACHERS AS WELL, AND I THINK WE'RE UP TO 52 LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS SAY THE PLAN AND THE DATE IS NOT RIGHT.

WE'RE NOT READY.

THAT MEANS FOR RIGHT NOW.

I CAN SIT HERE ON THE 49TH WARD WE HAD CLUSTER PROGRAM STUDENTS GOING BACK TODAY AT SULLIVAN HIGH SCHOOL AND OF THE 48 STUDENTS -- 49 STUDENTS ELIGIBLE TO GO BACK ONLY 10 OPTED IN RESPONDING TO THAT SURVEY.

I I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A LOT OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND THE TEACHERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THOSE STUDENTS WHOLE WORLD NOT HAVING AN ADEQUATE VOICE IN THE PLANNING OF THIS REOPENING.

>> ALDERMAN, C.P.S.

SAY THEY HAVE INVESTED $150 MILLION IN SAFETY PROCEDURES, YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH A NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND YOU'VE VISITED SCHOOLS.

AND YOU ARE AMONG THE HANDFUL OF ALDERMEN WHO DID NOT SIGN ON TO THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THE DISTRICT QUESTIONING THE REOPENING PLAN.

DO YOU THINK THE DISTRICT HAS DONE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR SCHOOLS TO REOPEN?

>> A LOT OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE OLD THAT NEED MORE THAN JUST PPE.

AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY AT THE END OF THE DAY THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM THE FACT WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR SCHOOLS SIGNIFICANTLY TO MAKE THEM SAFER BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SECOND ONLY MANAGING THEIR FEAR OF BEING IN PLACES THAT JUST NOT UP-TO-DATE TO BE TRUTHFUL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I HAVE NOT SIGNED ON TO THE LETTER AND I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH WHAT I USUALLY DO WHICH IS GOING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE BEFORE I SIGN ON TO ANYTHING.

BUT I WILL SIGN ON TO THE LETTER ONLY BECAUSE OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE MANY PEOPLE THE MANY TEACHERS THAT ARE CONCERNED.

AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL THAT, THAT THAT IS DISCOUNTED.

BUT I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS A LOT OF PARENTS THAT WANT TO BE IN SCHOOL.

THAT WANT THEIR SCHOOL TO BE IN SCHOOL AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT CHOICE AS WELL.

AND WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE OPTION AND HELP THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN THAT ARE COMPLETELY OFF THE GRID.

AND THAT'S NOT FAIR EITHER.

AND SO WE GOT TO COME TOGETHER TO FIND THOSE SOLUTIONS.

I AM ALL IN ON ALL OF THAT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO DISRESPECT ANYBODY BUT I WANT US TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S NEEDS ON BOTH SPECTRUMS AND WE HAVE TO COME TO THE MIDDLE.

>> 20 SECONDS LEFT.

THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY YOU ALL PARTICIPATED IN AN HOUR'S LONG HEARING SUBJECT MATTER HEARING ON THIS REOPENING IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ALDERMEN AND THE COUNCIL CAN DO ABOUT THE REOPENING?

>> I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT UP THE VOICES OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

OUR RESIDENTS OUR C.P.S.

FAMILIES OUR STUDENTS.

THE TEACH HE WAS AND SUPPORT STAFF WE ASK GOOD QUESTIONS TODAY THAT GOT TO THE HEART OF READINESS AND THE CONCERNS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR RESIDENTS.

AND THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO AND WHAT OUR CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO DO.

>> MARIA HADDEN AND GEORGE CARENAS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A WRAP-UP OF THE CHICAGO BEARS' SEASON WITH JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS.

STICK AROUND.

>> WE CAN GET PAST THE IDEA OF TURNING THIS INTO A POLITICAL TOPIC AND GET TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN GET BEHIND.

>> MAYBE WE CAN USE IT AS A CALLING CARD TO UNITE.

>> THERE IS MORE NEWS AHEAD INCLUDING DETAILS ON MAJOR UPGRADES TO THE CTA'S REDLINE.

THE CHICAGO BEARS FIND THEMSELVES IN A FAMILIAR POSITION ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN AS THE NFL PLAYOFFS PROGRESS TOWARD THE SUPER BOWL.

21-9 LOSS CAPPED OFF A SEASON OF MEDIOCRITY BACKING INTO THE SEVENTH PLAYOFF SEED NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE FAMILIAR REFRAIN WHERE DOES THIS FRANCHISE GO FROM HERE.

JOINING US IS JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS.

SO WHY SUCH AN ANEMIC PERFORMANCE ON OFFENSE DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW, PARIS.

YOU LOOK AT THAT GAME AND THE THINGS THAT THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO.

THEY JUST DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

I THINK WE SAW THEM A COUPLE WEEKS EARLIER, GRANTED VERSE NOT AS HIGH STANDARDS OF DEFENSE YOU SAW WITH THE SAINTS.

BUT YOU SAW THEM BE ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL A LITTLE BIT.

BE ABLE TO RUN THE BALL.

BE ABLE TO RUN THE PLAY ACTION AND THE BOOTLEGS.

AND IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WENT INTO THE SAINTS GAME KNOWING THEY HAD TO DO MORE BUT NOT WANTING TO BUILD OFF OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAD ALREADY STARTED TO BE BETTER AT.

>> CLEARLY THE RUNNING GAME WASN'T WORKING AND IT WORKED REALLY WELL MUCH OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF THE SEASON.

IN THE FIRST QUARTER WHIMS DROPPED THAT SURE TOUCHDOWN PASS.

HOW GUTTING WAS THAT?

>> IT WAS GUTTING.

BECAUSE IT'S THE OLD PHRASE THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR YOU NEVER LET A BAD TEAM STICK AROUND.

AND FOR THE BEARS, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE THAT BAD TEAM.

THEY WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT PASS FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

NOW THEY ARE IN THE GAME.

NOW YOUR EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH.

YOUR POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.

BUT DROPPING A PASS LIKE THAT WHICH IS ALMOST LIKE IT WAS THE LAST BULLET IN THEIR GUN.

>> IT WAS THE PERFECT THROW WE'RE WATCHING THE REPLAYS.

RIGHT THROUGH THIS ARMS.

>> RIGHT IN THE BUCKET.

>> SO THAT WAS NOT ON TRUBISKY HOW DO YOU THINK HE PLAYED OVERALL AND WHAT IS THE VERDICT?

UP, DOWN FOUR YEARS INTO TRUBISKY WHAT DO WE THINK?

>> I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MORE OUT OF HIM IN THIS PLAYOFF GAME.

I THINK THAT NOT ONLY FOR THE BEARS BUT FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL GROWTH AS FAR AS WHETHER ANOTHER TEAM IS GOING TO LOOK AT HIM AFTER THIS.

HE COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH BETTER.

YOU WATCH THE RAMS GAME AND YOU WATCH THE WASHINGTON GAME.

THE RAMS GAME GOFF WHO WASN'T SUPPOSED TO PLAY WITH A BROKEN THUMB THAT HE HAD REPAIRED AND THE KID FROM WASHINGTON.

THE GUYS ARE GIVE TO GO ALL THEY HAD AND IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE MITCH WAS GIVING YOU ALL THAT.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FOURTH DOWN AND 4 PLAY WHERE HE RUNS OUT OF BOUNDS, EVERYBODY IS LOOKING YOU HAVE TO TRY AND RUN THAT.

>> DO YOU THINK THE BEARS TRIED TO MAKE A MOVE FOR ANOTHER QUARTERBACK NEXT YEAR?

DE SEAN WATSON WANTS OUT OF HOUSTON BUT THAT WOULD BE COSTLY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

SALARY CAP IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO PLAY INTO IT.

DE SEAN WATSON, YES.

YOU LOOK AT STAFFORD WHO IS POSSIBLY COMING OUT OF DETROIT.

THEY WOULD NOT TRADE HIM TO AN INCONFERENCE RIVAL.

BUT YOU KNOW THERE ARE PLAYERS OUT THERE THAT WILL BE COMING OUT.

YOU HAVE CAM NEWTON AND PHILLIP RIVERS.

THERE ARE GUYS OUT THERE BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT KIND OF DEAL WITH YOU MAKE AND HOW BAD WOULD IT CRIPPLE THE BEARS MONEY WISE AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET A DEAL DONE.

>> ESPECIALLY IN A YEAR WHERE YOU DID NOT HAVE FANS.

>> WHAT ABOUT NAGY AND THE GENERAL MANAGER PACE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE HOTSEAT?

>> THAT IS WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON.

IT'S MONDAY AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING YET.

I WOULD SUSPECT THAT BOTH OF THEM WILL BE BACK.

I MEAN AFTER COVID SEASON AND ALL THE THINGS THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH AS FAR AS MEETINGS BEING ON-LINE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BE IN FACILITIES, ALL THE TIME.

HAVING ROOKIE PLAYERS COME IN AND JUST HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH.

THAT'S A LOT TO PUT ON A TEAM AND A COACH.

YOU CAN SEE -- I CAN SEE WHERE THEY WOULD EXPECTED THIS FOR ONE MORE YEAR AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

BUT THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES.

>> AND THEN ON THE PLAYER LEVEL WE TALKED ABOUT QUARTERBACK WHAT ELSE DO THE BEARS NEED TO DO IN THE OFF SEASON TO MAKE THIS A PLAYOFF CALIBER TEAM?

>> WELL, YOU GOT TO FIGURE THAT THE DEFENSE AND I THINK WE SAW IT TOWARDS THE END OF THE SEASON AND IN THE PLAYOFF GAME THEY ARE GETTING LONG.

AGE IS STARTING TO BECOME A FACTOR.

BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET ONE MORE GOOD SEASON OUT OF YOUR BIG NAME PLAYERS AND IF YOU CAN DO THAT PUT A VIABLE OPTION ON THE FIELD, IF YOU CAN SHORE UP THE QUARTERBACK POSITION, GET YOURSELF ANOTHER RUNNING BACK, AND TAKE CARE OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE IT SOUNDS LIKE SO MUCH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE GOING INTO THE NEXT SEASON THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.

>> AND WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AFTER EVERY YEAR.

YOU KNOW, THE NFL TRIED THIS THING BY BROADCASTING ON NICKELODEON FOR KIDS WITH ALL THE CRAZY GRAPHICS WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS EFFORT TO JUICE IT UP FOR KIDS.

>> I LOVE IT.

I LOVE THE FACT THEY ARE BROADENING THEIR HORIZON AND GOING ON NICK AND DOING A BROADCAST.

I FLIPPED OVER AND WATCHED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

I THINK NICK WAS ONE OF THE GUYS DOING THE BROADCASTING.

AND TO HEAR HIM EXPLAIN EVERYTHING AND BREAK EVERYTHING DOWN FOR INTO LAYMAN'S TERMS FOR THE KIDS TO UNDERSTAND, IT WAS UNIQUE TO WATCH.

I THINK THEY SHOULD DO MORE OF IT.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE MAYBE A THURSDAY NIGHT GAME OR A GAME THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO WANT TO BE WATCHING THE NATIONAL TELEVISED BROADCAST.

>> AND WAY TO BRING A NEW GENERATION OF FANS IN AND HAVE THEM UNDERSTAND THE GAME.

BIG CAT SORRY TO SAY WE WON'T SEE YOU UNTIL AT LEAST LATE NEXT AUGUST.

THANK YOU AS ALWAYS AND HAVE A GREAT 2021.

>> THANKS, PARIS, YOU TOO, MAN.

>> ALL RIGHT NOW BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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

THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" SAYS IT'S MOVING ITS NEWSROOM OUT OF PRUE 10 SHALL PLAZA.

WHERE 0 TO NOW?

THE PRESIDENT'S TWITTER ACCOUNT IS SUSPENDED WHAT ROLE DO SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES HAVE IN REGULATING SPEECH ON THEIR PLATFORMS?

>> 2021 IS A BIG YEAR FOR CTA AND THE RED PURPLE MODERNIZATION PROJECT.

>> THE CTA SAYS THE BY PASS WHERE THE STRUGGLES SOME CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES ARE FACING DUE TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND TECH PROBLEMS.

FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES A DEADLY CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK AT THE STATE VETERANS HOME IN LASALLE HAS LED THE STATE'S DIRECTOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO STEP DOWN.

THE NEWS SHE WAS BEING REPLACED AFTER SHE SPOKE AT A HEARING HELD BY HOUSE MEMBERS THIS MORNING.

>> SO IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WITH THE POSITIVITY ROSE IN LASALLE OUR VETERANS HAD NO CHANCE.

THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE.

THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR OUR HEROS IN THEIR HOMES LIVE WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

WHEN COMMUNITY SPREAD IS HIGH, STAFF CAN FALL PREY TO THIS VIRUS NO MATTER HOW CONSCIENTIOUS THEY ARE ABOUT FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS THAT WE DIRECT THEM TO DO.

>> AN OUTBREAK AT THE HOME TOOK THE LIVES OF 36 RESIDENTS BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

STATE SENATOR WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES THE VETERANS HOME SAYS THE REMOVAL WAS INEVITABLE BUT THINKS THE GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE REMOVED HER SOONER.

A MAJOR GENERAL WILL BECOME THE INTERIM V.A.

DIRECTOR.

>> CORONAVIRUS COMPLICATIONS CANCELED TOMORROW'S NBA GAME BETWEEN THE BULLS AND THE CELTICS.

BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GAMES TO FOUR AFTER A GAME BETWEEN MIAMI AND BOSTON WERE CALLED OFF.

BOTH TEAMS WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORT SEVERAL PLAYERS BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH THE CORONAVIRUS OR INJURY.

THE LEAGUE AND THE PLAYERS UNION MET TODAY TO MODIFY THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

>> DEVELOPING NEWS OUT OF INDONESIA AS OFFICIALS TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH OF A BOEING JET THIS WEEKEND.

THE TRIBUNE MAKES A MOVE AND CHICAGO'S BRAND VICINITYER INS GETS.

>> HERE IS CRAIN'S REPORTER A.D. QUIG.

THIS SATURDAY A JET FROM CHICAGO BASED BOEING WAS CARRYING 62 PEOPLE WHEN IT WENT DOWN MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF IN INDONESIA.

SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS LOCATED THE SITE BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THAT CRASH BUT WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE BOEING AIRCRAFT AND THE PILOTS?

>> THIS IS NOT THE BOEING 737 MAX WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF CRASHES.

THIS IS A 737, 500 MODEL.

THIS IS DESCRIBED AS A WORKHORSE PLANE.

WE KNOW THE PILOTS WERE HIGHLY EXPERIENCED HAD GOOD SAFETY RECOVEREDS AND THE CARRIER HAS A SOLID HISTORY, TOO.

FROM RADAR TRACKING DATA THE PLANE LEVELED OFF AT 10,000 FEET AND MADE A DROP INTO THE SEA IN 15 SECONDS.

THERE ARE REPORTS THAT THE PILOTS MAY HAVE BEEN DISORIENTED AND PROBLEMS WITH THE INSTRUMENTS OR THE WEATHER.

WE WILL KNOW MORE ONCE WE HAVE THE BLACK BOXES.

BUT THIS IS BIG FOR BOEING THE MAX JUST STARTED FLYING AGAIN AFTER BEING GROUNDED FOR TWO YEARS SO THIS IS JUST A BLOW FOR THE COMPANY ON TOP OF THE IMPACT OF COVID.

>> WHAT A TRAGIC CRASH.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" IS MOVING THE NEWSROOM FROM PRUDENTIAL PLAZA AFTER BEING THERE FOR LESS THAN THREE YEARS.

WHERE IS IT GOING?

>> THEY ARE MOVING TO THE FREEDOM CENTER PRINTING FACILITY WHICH FOLKS MIGHT KNOWN AS THE BIG RED BRICK BUILDING ON THE CHICAGO RIVER THEY WILL MOVE AT THE END OF JANUARY.

THE FOLKS WHO DO PRINTING, PACKAGING AND DELIVERINGS PAPER HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE FOR YEARS BUT THE REPORTING SIDE HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE OFFICE SINCE MARCH.

A MEMO SAYS IT WILL HELP REORGANIZE THE COMPANY'S PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT.

BEFORE THAT TRIB TOWER IS BEING CONVERTED TO LUXURY CONDOS.

>> AND VINTNERS IS BEING TOLD BY $25 MILLION WHO IS THE BUYER AND WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE PURCHASE?

>> SO THE BUYER [INAUDIBLE] OUT OF HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

THEY WILL GET THE TRADEMARK AND GET A FOOTHOLD IN THE MIDWEST AT A TIME WHEN COMFORT FOOD SALES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF DURING THE PANDEMIC.

VINTER IN HAS A NETWORK OF DISTRIBUTION ROUTES.

IT GOT STARTED ON THE OUTSIDE IN 1926.

CHICAGO IS THE FOURTH BIGGEST SALTY SNACK MARKET IN THE COUNTRY IT IS A BIG ACQUISITION THEY OWN BRANDS LIKE ON THE BORDER, BOULDER CANYON.

>> FOURTH BIGGEST SNACK MARKET IN THE COUNTRY.

FUN FACT ABOUT CHICAGO.

>> I'M CONTRIBUTING TO THAT TREND.

>> LIKEWISE.

A.D. QUIG THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK AT FREE SPEECH AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO POST ON SEVERAL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

FIRST Facebook AND INSTAGRAM BANNED THE ACCOUNTS UNTIL THE END OF HIS TERM THEN TWITTER PERMANENTLY SUSPENDED HIS ACCOUNT DUE TO THE RISK OF FURTHER INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE.

WHAT ROLE DO SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES HAVE IN REGULATING SPEECH ON THEIR PLATFORMS?

JOINING US ARE GENEVIEVE LAKIER AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL.

AND SINAN ARAL THE DAVID AUSTIN PROFESSOR OF MANAGINGS, MARKETING AND IT AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTION OF TECHNOLOGY.

>> YOUR REACTION TO THE PERMANENT SUSPENSION OF TWITTER AND THE SUSPENSION ON THE OTHER PLATFORMS?

>> AS A FREE SPEECH PERSON MY REACTION IS MIXED.

I UNDERSTAND WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE.

IT'S CLEAR IN THE WAKE OF THE INVASION OF THE CAPITOL THAT TRUMP'S TWEETS WERE RESPONSIBLE DID ENCOURAGE VIOLENCE AND THERE'S LOTS OF EVIDENCE THAT THERE ARE FUTURE VIOLENT ACTIONS BEING CONTEMPLATED.

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY TWITTER AND Facebook AND THE OTHER PLATFORMS DID WHAT THEY DID.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE FACT THEY HAD THE POWER TO MUTE THE VOICE OF MAYBE THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN THE WORLD DOES MAKE CLEAR THE ENORMOUS POWER THE FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES WIELD AND THIS IS A GOOD MOMENT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER THIS SHOULD BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THESE COMPANIES SHOULD BE USING THEIR POWER.

>> AND SINAN ARAL THERE IS PARLER WHICH A LOT OF FAR RIGHT CONSERVATIVES FLOCKED TO AFTER THE TWITTER BAN AND IT'S KNOWN TO HAVE VIOLENT POSTS.

AND IT GOT SHUTDOWN BECAUSE OTHER COMPANIES CHOOSING NOT TO CARRY THEM.

EXPLAIN PARLER AND HOW THAT WORKS?

>> SO PARLER IS RUN BY THE SO-CALLED JOHN MASSIE AND HE HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WILL NOT MODERATE THE PLATFORM.

THAT IS IN FACT IT'S DIFFERENTIATING CALLING CARD IF YOU WILL.

HE IS SUPPORTIVE OF ANY AND ALL SPEECH ON PARLER.

AND WHAT YOU SAW AFTER THE BANS WAS THAT KEY CONSERVATIVE VOICES THAT SOME CONSIDER FRINGE BUT HAVE A LARGE FOLLOWING BIKE MARK LAVINE OR RUSH LIMBAUGH THEY VOLUNTARILY SUSPENDED THEIR OWN TWITTER ACCOUNTS AND SAID, HEY EVERYONE JOIN ME ON PARLER AND RUMBLE AND SO ON.

THE DANGER THERE IS THAT YOU GET A SPLINTERING OF THE INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM WHERE YOU HAVE CONSERVATIVES FOLLOWING DONALD TRUMP AND MARK LAVINE AND RUSH LIMBAUGH TO A SEPARATE NETWORK.

AND THOSE IN THE MORE LIBERAL SIDE REMAINING ON THE MAINSTREAM Facebook AND TWITTER.

AND ANY STUDENT OF NEGOTIATION KNOWS THAT THE KEY TO COLLABORATION, COOPERATION, EMPATHY IS COMMON GROUND.

IF YOU HAVE TWO BIRFURCATED NETWORKS SEEING TWO DIFFERENT REALITIES THAT ARE NOT SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER THAT ARE MODERATED DIFFERENTLY, THEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE CIVIL SOCIETY WITH CIVIL DISCOURSE.

>> AND WE TOUCHED ON THAT.

GENEVIEVE LAKIER, CONSERVATIVES ARE FUMING RIGHT NOW THAT THERE'S FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES EVEN THOUGH TWITTER AND Facebook ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES THIS IS NO GOVERNMENT SUPPRESSING SPEECH IT IS PRIVATE COMPANIES ACTING THE WAY THEY ARE ALLOWED TO.

IS THERE ANY FIRST AMENDMENT OR LEGAL ISSUE HERE?

>> NO, I MEAN THERE IS AN IRONY GAP.

IT IS TRUE IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY WHEN THE COURTS WERE DEVELOPING THE MODERN AMENDMENT LAW THERE'S CASES THAT SUGGEST THAT PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS WHEN THEY OPERATE AS IMPORTANT FORUMS OF PUBLIC SPEECH WE MIGHT -- CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES MIGHT APPLY TO THEM.

BUT CONSERVATIVES HATED THOSE RULES AND THE COURT MADE CLEAR THERE IS A STRICT DIVIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT APPLIES ONLY TO GOVERNMENT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO PRIVATE COMPANIES.

SO IT'S INTERESTING NOW TO HEAR THE CONSERVATIVE VOICES CRITICIZING THE VERY STRONG DIVISIONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE THAT THEIR CONSERVATIVES IN THE SUPREME COURT IMPOSED.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE CONSERVATIVES HAVE DONE A 180 IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES ON THEIR VIEWS ON THIS ISSUE.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, AMAZON IT WAS GOOGLE AND APPLE THAT BASICALLY FORCED PARLER OFF OF THEIR PLATFORMS DO A FEW TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES HAVE TOO MUCH POWER HERE?

IS THERE MAYBE A MONOPOLY ISSUE IN THE TECH WORLD?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED MORE COMPETITION IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA ECONOMY.

THAT HAVING COMPETITION IS GOING TO BE THE ESSENTIAL INCENTIVE CREATING FORCE THAT FORCES THE PLATFORMS TO EMBRACE SOCIETY'S VALUES RATHER THAN JUST PURSUING PROFIT MOTIVE.

WHEN WE HAVE A CHOICE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PLATFORMS AND ONE PROVIDES US PRIVACY.

ONE PROVIDES US BETTER CONTENT MODERATION SO WE DON'T SEE THINGS LIKE LIVE STREAMING OF MASS MURDERS LIKE IN CHRIST CHURCH WE WILL GRAVITATE TOWARDS THOSE.

BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE CHOICE THEY DON'T HAVE THE INCENTIVE TO WORK HARD TO PROVIDE THAT BETTER SERVICE.

THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU CREATE COMPETITION?

IN MY OPINION, THE ANTITRUST CASE AGAINST Facebook IS NOT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT TO CREATE COMPETITION.

YOU NEED STRUCTURAL REFORMS OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA ECONOMY ITSELF AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE ECONOMY RUNS ON NETWORK EFFECTS.

WHICH MEANS THAT IT TENDS TOWARDS MARKET CONCENTRATION.

IF YOU BREAK UP THE MARKET LATER IT WILL TIP THE NEXT Facebook LIKE COMPANY INTO MARKET DOMINANCE.

WHAT WE NEED IS OPENABLABILITY LEGISLATION, DATA PORTABILITY LEGISLATION AND WE HAVE THOSE ACTS IN FRONT OF CONGRESS.

THE ACCESS ACT WOULD REQUIRE ANY SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY GREATER THAN 100 MILLION USERS TO BECOME INTER OPENABLE.

CAN YOU MAKE NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE A CALL BETWEEN SPRINT AND VERIZON?

IT CREATED CONSUMER SURPLUS AND COMPETITION FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

WHEN WE FORCED -- >> I WANTED TO GET GENEVIEVE IN HERE.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE NEED TO HAVE A FREEDOM OF SPEAKING ON THESE PLATFORMS WITH THEIR USE BY LEADERS MALICIOUSLY FOR PROPAGANDA FOR DISINFORMATION?

>> WELL, I AGREE ACTUALLY WE NEED STRUCTURAL REFORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

BUT I'M NOT SO SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH BECAUSE THERE IS A QUESTION OUT THERE ABOUT WHAT SPEECH DO WE ALLOW ON PLATFORMS.

ONLY PARLER HAS -- IT CAN CREATE DAMAGE DOWN THE ROAD.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IT WILL SPARK INTEREST IN A LONG-RANGE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO YOU REGULATE THE MEDIA PLATFORMS.

WHAT I THINK IT'S BEGINNING.

BUT ON MY VIEW THE PLATFORMS NEED CANNOT JUST BE Facebook AND TWITTER MAKING THE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A RICHER CONVERSATION.

>> I'M SORRY I HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THIS IS A LONG DISCUSSION WE WILL BE HAVING FOR YEARS.

OUR THANKS TO GENEVIEVE LAKIER AND SINAN ARAL.

THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IF YOU RIDE THE RAILS OR JUST DRIVE OR WALK BY THE TRAIN ON THE NORTH SIDE YOU MAY BE WATCHING THE PROGRESS OF THE CTA'S OVERALL OF THE RED AND PURPLE LINES.

CREWS ARE PUTTING INTO PLACE A MAJOR PIECE OF THAT REDEVELOPMENT EFFORT AND A "CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS, PASSENGERS WILL START TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT LATER THIS YEAR.

>> THE 2.1 BILLION DOLLAR PHASE ONE OF THE RED PURPLE MODERNIZATION KICKED OFF IN 2018 TO OVERHAUL MILES OF TRACKS AND STATIONS OF THE CENTURY OLD L. >> IT'S BEYOND ITS USEFUL LIFE.

>> OLD TRACKS MEAN TRAINS CANNOT TRAVEL AS FAST CAUSING DELAYS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

MAJOR WORK STARTED IN OCTOBER 2019.

>> WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW RED PURPLE BYPASS THAT IS GOING TO DECONGEST TRAIN TRAFFIC AT THE RED, PURPLE AND BROWN LINE INTERSECTION NORTH OF BELMONT STATION.

>> THE CTA MADE MAJOR PROGRESS ON THE BYPASS INSTALLING THE COLUMNS AND FOUNDATIONS FOR THE BRIDGE.

THIS MONTH CREWS WILL INSTALL THE PIECE THAT CONNECTS THE COLUMNS AND THE STEEL GURTERS THE CTA DESCRIBES AS THE BACKBONE OF THE BYPASS.

>> WE WILL BE BUILDING THE SECTION OF THE BYPASS THAT GOES OVER RED AND PURPLE LINE TRACKS WHEN THAT WORK IS DONE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE UNDERNEATH THE BYPASS ON A RED OR PURPLE LINE TRAIN.

>> RIGHT NOW THE CTA'S ESTIMATING IT WILL BE READY THIS SUMMER.

SET TO OPEN THIS SPRING, TEMPORARY REDLINE STATIONS AT ARGYLE AND BRYN MAWR.

>> THOSE STATIONS ARE WELL UNDERWAY AND THEY ARE VISIBLE TO ANYONE WALKING BY AND THOSE WILL OPEN SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE FOUR STATIONS CLOSING FOR RECONSTRUCTION.

>> THOSE FOUR STATIONS, BRYN MAWR, BERWYN, ARGYLE AND LAURENCE ARE SET TO BE TOTALLY REBUILT AND IT GOES BEYOND THE COSMETICS.

>> WE HAVE STATIONS THAT ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE WITH CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITY ISSUES.

WITH THIS PROJECT THEY WILL HAVE ELEVATORS AND MOBILITY DEVICES.

>> THE CTA WILL BE REBUILDING SECTIONS OF TRACK ALONG THE STRETCH.

WITH CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO RUN THROUGH 2024, THE CTA SAYS IT WANTS TO BE PRO-ACTIVE ABOUT REACHING OUT TO RIDERS, NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES WESTBOUND THE RPM FOOTPRINT AND THEY ARE NOTABLY CONCERNED EVEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC HOW ARE PEOPLE GOING TO GET TO MY BUSINESS?

>> SO THE CTA LAUNCHED THE OPEN FOR BUSINESS PROGRAM WITH ON-LINE AND IN-PERSON PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS FOR LOCAL SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS.

THE AGENCY AND ITS CONTRACTOR SAY THEY HAVE WORKED TO HIRE PEOPLE FROM DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS, HELD CAREER FAIRS AND LAUNCHED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR C.P.S.

STUDENTS IN INTERESTED IN ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION.

>> WE BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BENEFIT EVERYONE.

NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO NECESSARILY RIDE THE TRAIN LINES.

WHILE CHASE ACKNOWLEDGES THE OVERHAUL WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE DELAYS OR IMPACTS AROUND STATIONS AND TRACKS SHE SAYS IT IS A CRITICAL PROJECT FOR CHICAGO'S FUTURE.

>> THE REDLINE IS THE BACKBONE OF THE CITY IT'S BEEN HERE 100 YEARS AND WE NEED IT TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON TAKING THE CTA THIS WEEKEND TRAIN SERVICE WILL BE REPLACED BY SHUTTLE BUSES BETWEEN ADDISON AND BELMONT FOR WORK ON THE BYPASS FROM FRIDAY 10:00 P.M. UNTIL MONDAY AT 4:00 P.M. NOW TO WTTW NEWS DIRECTOR AND HOST OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES", HUGO BALTA, FOR A LOOK AT THE STRUGGLES SOME C.P.S.

FAMILIES ARE FACING DUE TO LANGUAGE AND TECH BARRIERS IN A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE SHUTTERED FOR IN-SCHOOL LEARNING AND THE MOVE TO REMOTE LEARNING HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR MANY FAMILIES AND FOR THE C.P.S.

FAMILIES WHOSE HOME LANGUAGE IS SPANISH THERE'S BEEN AN ADDITIONAL BARRIER.

CHICAGO REPORTER, MARCH SPOKE WITH FAMILIES WHO SAY C.P.S.

HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO GET THEIR CHILDREN READY FOR ON-LINE LEARNING NOR HAVE THEY DONE ENOUGH TO HELP THE SPANISH SPEAKING TEACHERS WHO HAVE TAKEN ON TECH SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILIES.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HER ARTICLE, IS REPORTER FOR JOURNAL AND TOPICS NEWSPAPER, AMARIS RODRIGUEZ.

>> HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE AND HOW HAVE THEY BEEN FIGURE THINGS OUT?

>> THINK A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT ARE HISPANIC ESPECIALLY IN PRIMARILY IN SPANISH SPEAKING HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY E-LEARNING AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT THAT IS GIVEN ESPECIALLY IN MANAGING TECHNOLOGY.

AND FROM TALKING TO TEACHERS AND FROM TALKING TO FAMILIES, IT SEEMS THAT FAMILIES THAT HAD YOUNGER STUDENTS WERE THE ONES THAT HAD THE HARDEST TIME.

FAMILIES HAVE HAD TO TRY TO NAVIGATE AND FIND HELP ON THEIR HOME WHETHER IT'S CONTACTING TECH SUPPORT AND BEING SENT TO SOMEONE ELSE.

WHETHER IT'S HAVING TO TRY AND LEARN IT THEMSELVES OR USE A TRANSLATOR.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS AFFECTED A LOT OF SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES.

>> C.P.S.

DID OFFER SOME RESOURCES FOR SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES BUT THESE FAMILIES SAY IT WASN'T ENOUGH.

WHAT MORE DO THEY THINK C.P.S.

SHOULD HAVE DONE?

>> C.P.S.

DID A GOOD JOB AS A LOT OF THEIR STUDENTS ARE SPANISH SPEAKING.

SO THERE WAS DEFINITELY A KNOWLEDGE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAD TO PUT OUT HAD TO BE PUT OUT IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES NOT JUST SPANISH.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CONSIDERATION INTO THE TECHNOLOGY GENERATIONAL GAP THAT A LOT OF SPANISH HISPANIC FAMILIES EXPERIENCE ESPECIALLY FIRST GENERATION.

SO THE LACK OF SUPPORT AND THE LACK OF TEACHING FAMILIES, TEACHING OLDER PARENTS HOW TO NAVIGATE THE TECHNOLOGY IS WHAT KIND OF CROSSED THAT STEP BACK AND WHAT HIPPEDDERRED THE STUDENTS' ABILITIES TO COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS AND CHECK THEIR GRADES.

THAT SEEMED TO BE WHERE THE PARENTS WERE HAVING THE LARGEST STRUGGLE.

>> IN YOUR ARTICLE, A TEACHER EXPRESSED HER WISHES FOR MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR TO ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.

BASED ON YOUR REPORTING DOES C.P.S.

HAVE A DIVERSITY PROBLEM?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT C.P.S.

HAS A DIVERSITY PROBLEM FROM TALKING TO THE TEACHERS AND TALKING TO THE PARENTS.

I THINK THAT WHAT AGAIN WHAT WAS THE ISSUE WAS JUST THAT C.P.S.

HAS A LOT OF TEACHERS OF COLOR AND A LOT OF BILINGUAL TEACHERS WHICH IS SOMETHING ANOTHER OF THE TEACHERS TALKED ABOUT A LOT.

THEY HAVE A STRONG BILINGUAL PROGRAM.

BUT THE TEACHERS WERE NOT OFFERED THE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICES TO FAMILIES.

>> ANOTHER PROBLEM YOU REPORT IS C.P.S.

DIRECTING FAMILIES TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS FOR TECH SUPPORT.

HOW MUCH OF A BURDEN DOES THIS PRESENT FOR THE TEACHERS YOU SPOKE WITH?

>> IT PUTS ON A BIG BURDEN ON THE TEACHERS WE SPOKE WITH.

TEACHERS ARE HAVING TO NAVIGATE THIS WORLD OF E-LEARNING HAVING TO TRY TO SWITCH THEIR COURSES AND THEIR TEACHING SCHEDULES TO A WAY THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY BE DOABLE FOR STUDENTS AND TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

HAVING TO ADD TECH HELP TO THEIR SUPPORT HELP AND SUPPORT THEY OFFER STUDENTS IS DEFINITELY ADDING -- IT'S TAKING AWAY TIME THAT THEY CAN DEDICATE TO TRY AND HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE THIS.

>> YOU MET WITH A C.P.S.

STUDENT WHO IS JUGGLING MANY RESPONSIBILITIES TO KEEP HERSELF AND HER SIBLINGS AFLOAT.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HER STORY?

>> THE STORY IS POWERFUL AND IT SPEAKS A LOT TO WHAT A LOT OF FIRST GENERATION YOUNG STUDENTS ARE GOING THROUGH ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH E-LEARNING.

HER STORY IS THAT SHE IS THE OLDEST.

SHE IS THE SECOND OLDEST.

AND SHE HAS A LOT OF YOUNGER SIBLINGS SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT ONLY HER E-LEARNING AS WELL AS THEIRS.

IT'S MANAGING HER SCHOOL WORK AND MAKING IS SURE HER SIBLINGS ARE LOGGED IN AND DURING HER BREAK AFTER SCHOOL SHE GOES AND HELPS HER MOM AT HER JOB WHICH IS A FRUIT STAND.

SO IT IS A 14-YEAR-OLD TRYING TO NAVIGATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT KIDS ARE NOT PREPARED FOR.

>> A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT STUDENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IRON OUT AS WE NOW ARE ENTERING THE SECOND HALF OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHTSISM THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AGAIN THAT WAS WTTW NEWS DIRECTOR AND HOST HUGO BALTA IN A CONVERSATION AIRED THIS PAST WEEK ON OUR PROGRAM "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" WHICH YOU CAN CATCH SATURDAY EVENINGS AT 6:00 P.M. ON WTTW.

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

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

GOOD EVENING.

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