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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE STARTED THIS PROCESS AT GROUND ZERO.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE SET TO HEAD BACK TO CLASSROOMS TOMORROW AFTER DAYS OF CANCELED CLASSES.

WE HAVE THE LATEST ON THE UNION'S LABOR ACTION AND THE PROPOSAL.

>> WE MUST FIND A WAY TO PASS THE VOTING RIGHTS BILLS.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN PUSHES FOR VOTING RIGHTS BUT WILL IT PASS IN THE SENATE?

ILLINOIS CONGRESS MEMBERS WEIGH-IN.

>> I MANUEL CHRIS WELCH... >> ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI RE >> REFLECTS ON THE YEAR.

>> WHAT KEEPS ME GOING IS THE NEWS ITSELF.

>> PAT CASSIDY PARKS HIS LAST DAY ON THE AIR.

HE REFLECTS ON 51 YEARS BEHIND THE MICROPHONE.

>> THE THIRD AND FOURTH ARE DA, DA, DA, DA.

>> AND HOW TO WRITE THE PERFECT LIMERICK.

THE AUTHOR OF A NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK PLAINS.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES SHE HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

THE MAYOR MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN A STATEMENT SAYING EARLIER TODAY I TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

I'M EXPERIENCING COLD-LIKE SYMPTOMS BUT OTHERWISE FEEL FINE WHICH I CREDIT TO BEING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK-FROM-HOME WHILE FOLLOWING THE C.D.C.

GUIDELINES FOR ISOLATION.

THE NEWS CAME LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER HOLDING A NEWS CONFERENCE WHERE LIGHTFOOT SPOKE WITHOUT A MASK AND ANNOUNCED AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE WITH THE C.T.U.

TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> CHICAGO'S COVID TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 18.9% DOWN FROM 21% THE WEEK BEFORE.

HOSPITALIZATION RATES REMAIN AT THE HIGHEST THEY HAVE BEEN STILL WITH ABOUT 90% OF ICU BEDS OCCUPIED.

CHICAGO'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAYS OVERALL DATA IS SHOWING SIGNS OF PROGRESS AND THE CITY COULD BE REACHING THE PEAK OF THE OMICRON SURGE BUT ADDS IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL.

>> I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT POTENTIALLY WE ARE SEEING AT LEAST SOME SLOWING OF INCREASE.

BUT WE DO NEED MORE DAYS OF DATA TO FEEL MORE SURE ABOUT THE DIRECTION THEY ARE HEADING.

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THIS WILL BE OVER 5,000 AGAIN.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT'S NOT 7,000 AND 12,000 AND GOING FROM THERE.

>> THERE ARE 28,000 NEW COVID CASES 8,000 MORE THAN YESTERDAY.

AND 92 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE STATE'S SEEN MORE THAN 2,488,000 COVID CASES WITH 28,6 28,660 TOTAL DEATHS.

A HOSPITALIZATION RECORD WAS SET WITH MORE THAN 7,000 PATIENTS CURRENTLY INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS.

>> A CHICAGO TREATMENT CENTER FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IS FILING A FEDERAL DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE VILLAGE OF ITASCA FOR REJECTING THE CREATION OF A NEW CENTER.

ACCESS LIVING REPRESENTING HAYMARKET CENTER SAYS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE NO BASIS FOR DENYING THE CENTER'S ZONING APPLICATION.

>> ULTIMATELY DENIED HAYMARKET'S ZONING APPLICATION DESPITE HAYMARKET HAVING SATISFIED ALL ZONING REQUIREMENTS FOR MORE THAN 35 PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ONEROUS TWO-YEAR PROCESS.

THESE ACTIONS WERE INTENTIONALLY DISCRIMINATORY, ARBITRARY, CAPRICIOUS WITHOUT BASIS AND UNREASONABLE.

>> AND UP NEXT, THE LATEST ON CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND CHICAGO STUDENTS ARE SET TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM TOMORROW.

THIS AFTER CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CANCELED FIVE DAYS OF CLASSES AMID A LABOR ACTION BY THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IN WHICH TEACHERS AND STAFF REFUSED TO WORK IN-PERSON AS COVID CASES SURGED.

THE UNION'S ELECTED DELEGATES APPROVED A PROPOSAL AND RANK-AND-FILE TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE THIS WEEK.

JOINING US WITH THE LATEST IS CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION VICE-PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS GATES.

WE DID INVITE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM C.P.S.

TO JOIN US TONIGHT BUT WERE TOLD THAT NO ONE IS AVAILABLE.

STACY WELCOME BACK.

FIRST, WE KNOW THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES VOTED TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOMS THIS WEEK, YOUR PROPOSAL IS HEADED TO THE FULL RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERSHIP.

QUICK WHEN CAN WE EXPECT YOUR RANK-AND-FILE TO VOTE ON THIS?

>> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF VOTING FOR IT NOW.

I LEFT AN ALL-MEMBER MEETING TO TALK TO YOU AND YOUR AUDIENCE.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONTINUING MEETINGS.

UNPACKING WHAT IT MEANS.

ANSWERING QUESTIONS, GIVING EXAMPLES OF HOW IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

AND WE EXPECT SOMETHING THIS WEEK.

>> THIS WEEK.

>> FRIDAY AT THE LATEST?

>> YES.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE AGREEMENT REACHED AT THE BARGAINING TABLE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, TO BE PERFECTLY FAIR, IT'S NOT JUST AN AGREEMENT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE MARCH 2020.

YOU REMEMBER, BRANDIS, THE GOVERNOR WAS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY IN MARCH OF 2020.

THE MAYOR SAID EVEN THEN WITH HER DOCTOR THAT DID NOT SEE THE NEED TO SWITCH TO REMOTE LEARNING.

AND SHE HAS HELD STEADFAST TO THAT POSITION.

WHAT IS MORE DISAPPOINTING, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, WE FOUND OUT THROUGH HER C.E.O.

THAT THEY NEVER INTENDED TO NEGOTIATE A SAFETY AGREEMENT.

AND THAT IS A BIT DISCOURAGING CONSIDERING THERE WAS NEVER A PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT AS MANY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE VACCINATED, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

THAT WE SIGN FOLKS UP FOR TESTING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP THINGS AT BAY.

THEY CONTINUED TO BALK AT A METRIC THAT TELLS US IF IT'S SAFE OR UNSAFE.

WE SEE SCHOOLS FLIPPING TO REMOTE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO NOT BECAUSE THAT IS THE THING TO DO BUT BECAUSE THE LACK OF SAFETY BECAUSE OF THIS VARIANT.

>> STACY THE AGREEMENT YOUR MEMBERS ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS WEEK, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR C.T.U.

PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU MOVED THE BALL WHILE MAYBE THIS IS NOT THE DEAL YOU WANTED, THIS IS THE DEAL THAT YOU BELIEVE IS WORTH PRESENTING TO YOUR MEMBERS?

>> WELL, THE DEAL HAS TWO THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVE.

IT HAS GUARDRAILS FOR SAFETY.

AND IT HAS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MEMBERS.

ONE OF THE PIECES THAT HAS BEEN VERY TOUGH FOR MEMBERS AND FAMILIES FRANKLY TO DEAL WITH IS THE DISCONNECTEDNESS OF CONTACT TRACING FROM THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

CONTACT TRACING HAPPENS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF THE BUILDING.

MEANING THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME AND CASES CAN GO UP FASTER.

THE NOTIFICATIONS CAN BE MORE THOROUGH THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT WE FINALLY HAVE A METRIC.

THIS METRIC BASELINES THE CALAMITY WE SAW BOTH AT PARK MANOR AND CARNEGIE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE EVERYTHING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO HAVE FRANKLY.

BUT THEY ALSO HAVE LEADERSHIP IN THOSE SPACES THAT ARE CLEAR ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS AND NOT MAKING THE PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY EXPENDABLE.

>> 63% OF YOUR DELEGATES VOTED TO APPROVE THIS PROPOSAL.

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE TEACHERS WHO FELT LIKE THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH?

>> YOU KNOW YOU HEAR A LOT OF ANXIETY.

LISTEN THIS IS NOT OUR FIRST BATTLE.

YOU KNOW, IN 2019 WE HAD A HUGE BATTLE TO MAKE SURE WE WOULD HAVE NURSES AT EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL 2024.

THAT BEING SAID WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC AND WHERE A SCHOOL NURSE WOULD SERVE A SPECIFIC AND IMPORTANT CRITICAL PURPOSE IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

BUT WE HAVE HAD THESE NON-STAFF BACK AND FORTH -- NONSTOP BACK AND FORTH FIGHTS WITH THE MAYOR OVERCOME SENSE, PRACTICAL, BASELINE SAFETY MEASURES.

OUR MEMBERS LITERALLY TOOK A FOUR-DAY HIT TO THEIR PAYCHECK TO GET FACE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR STUDENTS.

THAT IS PATHETIC.

>> AND TO THAT POINT, LAST NIGHT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID SHE HOPED THIS WOULD BE THE END OF THE COVID RELATED DISTRIBUTES -- DISPUTES FOR THE UNION AND THE DISTRICT.

DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BE IT?

>> SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL COVID.

I DON'T THINK ANY MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION OR ANY FAMILY WANTS COVID TO CONTINUE TO INTERRUPT AND DESTABILIZE OUR LIVES.

AND THESE VARIANTS THEY HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN.

THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

SO THAT'S PART OF THIS ISSUE IS THAT OUR MAYOR KEEPS TRYING TO BOTTOM LINE A VIRUS THAT THIS COUNTRY, THIS WORLDS HAS YET TO GET IN CHECK.

SO WE HAVE TO BE IN A POSITION OF FLEXIBILITY, TO PIVOT IN WAYS THAT MAXIMIZES THE GREATEST LEVEL OF SAFETY THAT WE CAN AND THE FACE OF THIS PANDEMIC.

LOOK WE'VE LOST ALMOST A MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT BEHOOVES US TO DO ALL WE CAN AND IT IS DISAPPOINTING AT THAT TIME WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR FOUR DAYS TO GET THE BASELINE SECURITY THAT DISTRICTS OUT SITED OF CHICAGO PROVIDE BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDINGS.

>> LAST NIGHT AT A NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES TOOK THEIR VOTE YOU TOOK AIM AT THE MAYOR.

HERE IS A CLIP.

>> THIS MAYOR IS UNFIT TO LEAD THIS CITY.

AND SHE IS ON A ONE-WOMAN KAMIKAZE MISSION TO DESTROY OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> DO YOU THINK PARENTS AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES CAN HOPE FOR AN IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY C.P.S.

AND THE UNION?

>> I THINK A LOT IS BEING MADE OVER A RELATIONSHIP AND WHAT SHOULD BE -- TOO MUCH IS BEING PAID OF A RELATIONSHIP -- MADE OF A RELATIONSHIP.

WHAT WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO ESPECIALLY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS IS PROVIDE ASSURANCES AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PLACES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.

IN ORDER TO KEEP THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF PEOPLE SAFE.

THE FACT THAT IT HAS TO BE A FIGHT TO RECEIVE A FACE COVERING, A FOUR-DAY FIGHT, I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE FAULT OF OUR UNION AND THE MANY WOMEN AND MEN WHO SERVE OUR CITY.

THAT'S NOT OUR BAD.

THAT IS HER BAD.

AND I WANT TO ADD, THIS MAYOR FINDS FAULT IN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, THE COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT, SHE FIND IT IS IN HER CITY COUNCIL, SHE FINDS IT IN THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

IT'S NOT JUST THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

WE HAVE A CRISIS OF COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP AND THAT ONE PERSON CUTS ACROSS THE FIELD WITH EVERYONE.

>> ALL OF THAT SAID AND AMID ALL OF THIS WE HAVE TO ASK SOME HAVE SUSPECTED YOU FOR POTENTIAL MAYORAL RUN IN 2023, ANY CONSIDERATIONS THERE?

>> MY CONSIDERATION IS MAKING SURE THAT THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAMMERED OUT IS UNPACKED FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OUR FAMILIES.

AND THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT IT IN A WAY THAT MAXIMIZES SAFETY AS BEST AS WE CAN AND MY FRANKLY GET TO HAVE A MORE STABLE SCHOOL YEAR SO THEY TOO CAN GET THE BEST EDUCATION FOR THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT IS MY SOLE GOAL AND FOCUS AT THIS MOMENT.

THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH COUPLE OF YEARS.

COVID HAS -- WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING COVID IN MY FAMILY.

I'VE EXPERIENCED COVID AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL IN MY WORK.

THIS HASN'T BEEN FUN.

AND RIGHT NOW I'M FOCUSED ON CONTINUING TO SERVE OUR MEMBERSHIP AND GIVING CHICAGO STUDENTS THE SCHOOLS THEY DESERVE.

>> BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ON THE VOTE AND THE RETURN TO SCHOOL.

STACY DAVIS GATES THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HIM.

OK THANK YOU ALL.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WAS IN GEORGIA TODAY PUSHING FOR VOTING RIGHTS BILLS AND ELIMINATING THE FILIBUSTER IF SENATE REPUBLICANS BLOCK THE LEGISLATION.

TAKE A LOOK... >> I BELIEVE THE THREAT TO OUR CHOCKSY IS SO GRAVE -- DEMOCRACY IS SO GRAVE AND WE MUST HAVE FIND A WAY TO PASS THE VOTING RIGHTS BILLS.

DEBATE THEM, VOTE.

LET THE MAJORITY PREVAIL.

AND IF THAT BARE MINIMUM IS BLOCKED, WE HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO CHANGE THE SENATE RULES INCLUDING GETTING RID OF THE FILIBUSTER FOR THIS.

>> AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS AND MORE ARE CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE.

CHERI BUSTOS A DEMOCRAT FROM MOLINE AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI A DEMOCRAT FROM SCHAUMBURG WE INVITED ALL REPUBLICANS TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATION TONIGHT AND NONE ACCEPTED.

BUT WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING BACK HERE WITH US.

FIRST CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY, A LOT OF VOTING RIGHTS GROUPS ARE SAYING WHAT TOOK HIM SO LONG?

DOES THIS SPEECH TODAY GIVE THIS MOVEMENT TO ABOLISH THE FILIBUSTER FOR VOTING RIGHTS ANY MOMENTUM?

>> I THINK IT DOES AND HE SAID IT RIGHT.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND A TOCKSY.

AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO CARVE SOMETHING OUT OF THE FILIBUSTER OR BLOW IT UP, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE FOR SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT AS VOTING RIGHTS.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN BUSTOS WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT MAJOR VOTING RIGHTS GROUPS INCLUDING THE CANDIDATE FOR GEORGIA GOVERNOR STACY ABRAMS DECIDED NOT TO SHOW UP FOR THE SPEECH?

>> I THINK IT'S JUST A WAY TO LOOK AT THROWING OUT FAULT FOR SOMETHING.

JOE BIDEN WENT TO GEORGIA AND TOOK COLLEAGUES ON AIR FORCE ONE WITH HIM.

STACY ABRAMS SAID SHE HAD A SCHEDULING CONFLICT.

I THINK IT'S MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

THE MESSAGE IS THE SACREDNESS OF OUR ELECTIONS HOW WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT.

WE HAVE 19 STATES THAT HAVE PASSED LAWS IN 30 LAWS THAT IMPACT IF A REAL WAY EVERYTHING FROM IF YOU WANT TO PASS OUT WATER OR FOOD WHEN SOMEBODY IN A LONG HOTLINE IN GEORGIA, TO SOMETHING MORE SINISTER AND THAT IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS CAN APPOINT PEOPLE TO REPLACE THE ELECTION BOARD SO THEY GET THE RIGHT OUTCOME.

THAT IS MESSING WITH PEOPLE'S VOTES AND YOU THINK ABOUT IT IF I GO AND VOTE FOR MIKE QUIGLEY FOR CONGRESS AND HE GETS THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES HOW DARE ANYBODY THINK THEY CAN COMETH AND REVERSE THAT.

THOSE ARE THE LAWS WE ARE DEALING WITH.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THE SPECIFICS IN A BIT.

BACK TO THE FILIBUSTER WHERE IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE FOR A CHANCE OF THE BILLS TO PASS IT WOULD TAKE ABOLISHING THE FILIBUSTER.

THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR DOING IT.

CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI WHAT IS THE MOST LIKELY OPTION THAT WOULD HAVE SUCCESS?

>> WELL, I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH.

THE FILIBUSTER WAS PRIMARILY USED IN THE JIM CROW ERA TO BASICALLY OBSTRUCT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE TO VOTE.

AND IT'S BEING USED AGAIN IN PRECISELY THAT WAY TO BASICALLY PREVENT THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND JOE MANCHIN'S FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT FROM MOVING FORWARD.

SO I THINK THE MOST LIKELY PATH HERE IS TO BASICALLY GET THE CAUCUS, THE DEMOCRATIC CAUSE CONDUCT TO UNANIMOUSLY CAUCUS TO ADOPT A CARVE OUT IN THIS CASE TO ALLOW THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT AND THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT TO MOVE FORWARD.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT JOE MANCHIN WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT VENTURE.

>> AND THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY LET'S PARS THE BILLS.

THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT VERSUS SENATOR MANCHIN'S FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT.

WHAT DO THE BILLS DO SPECIFICALLY?

>> THE THING ABOUT JOHN LEWIS', IT RESTORES SOME OF THE KEY PROVISIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT BY THE SUPREME COURT.

THE OTHER BILL THE MANCHIN BILL IT DOES A SLEW OF THINGS ADDRESSING DARK MONEY, ELECTION SECURITY, AND A LONG LAUNDRY LIST OF JUST ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GET TO THE VOTING BOOTH.

SO TAKEN TOGETHER, IT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

I DON'T THINK ONE IS ENOUGH.

>> AND CONGRESSWOMAN BUSTOS YOU MENTIONED THE LAWS CONSIDERED OR PASSED IN CERTAIN STATES.

HOW WOULD THIS BILL INTERACT WITH THOSE LAWS AKA WOULD THE FEDERAL BILL TRUMP SOME OF THE LAWS PASSED IN CONSERVATIVE AND SWING STATES?

>> YES, THE FEDERAL LAWS IF WE CAN PASS THIS WOULD SUPERSEDE ALL OF THOSE.

AND AGAIN, JUST FOR CONTEXT THERE ARE 400 STATE LEVEL BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN DEBATED.

THESE 19 STATES HAVE PASSED 30.

THOSE RIGHT NOW IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE BECOME LAW.

THE SENSE OF URGENCY AROUND PRESIDENT BIDEN GOING TO GEORGIA AND POUNDING HIS FIST ON THE PODIUM IS BECAUSE OF THAT.

WE HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY BECAUSE WE GOT THESE 19 STATES THAT ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO GET IN THE WAY OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

AND AS AMERICANS WE ALL OUGHT TO STAND UP AND DO SHOUTING LIKE JOE BIDEN DID TODAY.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI A MORE BIPARTISAN ROUTE TALKED ABOUT IS A FIX TO THE ELECTORAL REFORM ACT WHICH WOULD PREVENT A SITUATION LIKE IN 2020 WHERE THE FORMER PRESIDENT TRIED TO SUBVERT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE RESULTS.

EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THE ELECTORAL REFORM ACT WOULD DO?

>> THE ELECTORAL REFORM ACT WOULD CODIFY THE VICE-PRESIDENT'S MERELY CEREMONIAL ROLE IN CERTIFYING THE ELECTION.

AS YOU REMEMBER ON JANUARY 6, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE INSURRECTIONISTS TRIED TO PRESSURE VICE-PRESIDENT PENCE TO BASICALLY THROW OUT THE RESULTS THAT THE VOTERS OF SIX STATES PUT FORWARD IN SELECTING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

WHAT THIS ELECTORAL REFORM ACT WOULD DO IS PREVENT A FUTURE VICE-PRESIDENT FROM BEING ABLE TO EVEN DO THAT.

BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

THIS PARTICULAR REFORM THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE PUTTING FORWARD IN THE SENATE IS A START.

AND IT'S OK.

BUT WE NEED FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO PREVENT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THOSE 19 STATES THAT WERE REFERENCED BEFORE.

WE NEED TO PREVENT VOTER SUPPRESSION.

WE NEED TO PREVENT BASICALLY STATE LEGISLATURES FROM USURPING THE ROLE OF VOTERS IN SELECTING THEIR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

AND WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PREVENT WHAT WAS ATTEMPTED ON JANUARY 6TH AND OVERTURNING OF A LAWFUL ELECTION FROM ACTUALLY BEING SUCCESSFUL.

>> DOES THE ELECTORAL REFORM HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT?

LIKELY HAVE SUPPORT IN YOUR CHAMBER BUT IN THE SENATE COULD IT GET 60 VOTES?

>> YOU KNOW, I JUST DOUBT IT AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PAST VOTES TO GIVE US A BEST INDICATION OF FUTURE ONES I'M CONCERNED IT'S GOING TO GET ENOUGH.

IT NEEDS TO BE PART OF A BROADER PROCESS.

IF WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY IT WILL BEGIN WITH THE LAWS.

AND TO DO THAT, THEY ARE GOING TO GO AFTER THE FILIBUSTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE THANKS FROM MIKE QUIGLEY, CHERI BUSTOS AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI.

>> AND UP NEXT, AMANDA VINICKY AND SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE, USE MANUAL CHRIS WELCH AFTER A YEAR IN HIS NEW ROLE.

>> THIS WEEK MARKS ONE YEAR THIS CHRIS WELCH BECAME ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER.

CHRIS WELCH HISTORIC WIN FOLLOWED MICHAEL MADIGAN'S DECADES' LONG HOLD ON POLITICAL POWER IN THE HOUSE AND JOINING US TO REFLECT ON THAT MOMENT AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE YEAR SINCE IS SPEAKER WELCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE U MY PLEASURE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT?

WHAT IS DIFFERENT IN THIS PAST YEAR?

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE WITH YOU AT THE HELM?

>> I DON'T WANT TO STATE THE OBVIOUS BUT THERE'S BEEN A HISTORIC APPOINTMENT IN ME BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

THAT IN 203 YEARS FOR OUR STATE.

THAT IS A HUGE SIGNIFICANCE.

AS YOU KNOW WE TALK A LOT.

YOU KNOW HOW DIFFERENT IT IS IN THE HOUSE WITH REGARD TO THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE BEING VERY OPEN, ACCESSIBLE, DOING THE BEST TO BE TRANSPARENT.

DEMOCRATS ON -- MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WILL TELL YOU THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR MANY OF THEM.

I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ME AND GOT THINGS DONE.

AND WE HAVE TERM LIMITS AND RULES.

THE FIRST TIME EVER.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE CONSIDERED TERM LIMITS ON A SPEAKER.

THOSE ARE BIG DIFFERENCES IF YOU TALK TO THE RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS THEY WILL TELL YOU THEY SEE A FEELING A DIFFERENCE AND THEY ARE FEELING HEARD.

>> THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT YOU PROMISE WILL ONLY BE AS LONG AS A 10-YEAR RUN AS SPEAKER.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING THE FIRST BLACK INDIVIDUAL TO HOLD THAT POSITION.

HOW HAS THAT MATERIALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN WHAT HAS BEEN DONE THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO NOTE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT IN HISTORY.

I THINK IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE TO BLACK BOYS AND GIRLS ACROSS THE STATE NOW THEY CAN SEE SOMETHING THEY CAN BELIEVE IT AND THEY CAN ACHIEVE IT.

AND I ALSO IT IS SYMBOLIC WE SEIZED THE MOMENT.

AND WE SEIZED THE MOMENT IN A BIG WAY HERE IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE THERE'S BEEN A CALL FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

I'VE ALWAYS CALLED FOR THAT BEFORE I WAS SPEAKER AND HERE I AM TODAY.

THAT A DIRECT RESULT WHERE WE ARE IN OUR COUNTRY AND OUR SOCIETY.

BUT WE ALSO SEIZED THE MOMENT AND GOT BIG THINGS DONE FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING AND HAVING A NEW SPEAKER AND NEW ENERGY WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF THOSE BIG THINGS DONE.

>> BRIEFLY, CURIOUS, MADIGAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND GIVE YOU A CALL, FEEDBACK, ADVICE, AND WOULD YOU WANT IT?

>> WE TALK LESS THAN A HANDFUL OF TIMES LAST YEAR.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE LAST CONVERSATION.

BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU THERE'S ONLY FOUR PEOPLE ALIVE IN ILLINOIS THAT KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH AND THAT IS MYSELF, SPEAKER MADIGAN, GEORGE RYAN AND LEE DANIELS.

IT IS AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM LESS THAN A HANDFUL OF TIMES I FOUND HIM TO BE HELPFUL.

>> YOU NOTED THAT TIMING IS EVERYTHING AND VERY SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION DID BECOME LAW IN ILLINOIS UNDER YOU.

AND WITH A PUSH FROM THE BLACK CAUCUS INCLUDING SOME CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHANGES THAT ARE JUST BEGINNING TO TAKE EFFECT.

AND YET, OF COURSE, THIS COMES AS WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF CRIME IN MAJOR METROPOLISES INCLUDING IN CHICAGO.

YOU'VE SAID THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CHANGES COMING IN THAT REGARD TO DEAL WITH THINGS SUCH AS CARJACKINGS AND ALSO TO DEAL WITH RETAIL THEFT.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO DO THERE?

>> AMANDA, IT'S PRETTY EARLY IN THE SESSION WE HAVE BEEN IN SPRINGFIELD ONE DAY IN-PERSON.

WE'RE ABOUT TO START OUR VIRTUAL HEARINGS THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE VIRTUAL HEARINGS.

CONVERSATIONS ARE VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ANTICRIME AGENDA THAT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WE KNOW CARJACKINGS IS AN ISSUE ACROSS THE STATE.

WE FOR ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT IS AN ISSUE.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ALREADY WITH THE ILLINOIS RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION ON A PACKAGE WE'RE WORKING ON.

THERE IS A LOT OF BIG THINGS THAT WE THINK WE'LL GET DONE.

BUT PARTICULARLY AROUND THIS AREA OF HELPING TO REDUCE CRIME.

BUT I ALSO THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WITHIN OUR BUDGET SPACE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US ADDRESS CRIME AS WELL.

AND I DO THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PROPERLY FUND OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE FUNDING THEY NEED FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

LIKE WE DID IN THE 2021 BUDGET.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT.

THERE ARE POLICY THINGS WE CAN DO AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THINGS FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT AS WELL.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE IN THE EARLY CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS SOLUTIONS TO CARJACKING AND RETAIL THEFT IS IT LONGER SENTENCES?

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN TRYING TO BRING THE PRISON POPULATION DOWN.

IS THAT PART OF IT?

>> IT'S VERY EARLY ON AMANDA.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO SPECIFICS YET BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET LOCKED INTO ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR.

CHAIRMAN SLAUGHTER IN THE HOUSE AND SIMS IN THE SENATE, THEY ARE LEADING THE EFFORTS AND IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS, YOU WILL BE GETTING MORE SPECIFICS ON THOSE THINGS.

I DO KNOW THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE TOP OF MIND.

CRIME IS NOT IS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND WE HAVE TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

AND PEOPLE SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT CARJACKINGS AND RETAIL THEFT AND THERE'S ANSWERS THAT WE CAN BRING FORTH.

>> WE'RE CERTAINLY EEGER TO HEAR WHATEVER YOU HAVE COMING.

PLEASE SHARE.

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES AS WE'RE ABOUT A MONTH OUT FROM THE GOVERNOR GIVING HIS PROPOSAL ON THE BUDGET?

>> I TELL YOU, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE IN YEAR THREE OF COVID-19 AND NOT ONLY ARE WE IN YEAR THREE BUT IN THE MID-CENTER FIELD A SURGE OF COVID-19 OUR BUDGET HAS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY.

WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS COVID-19.

THANKFULLY WE DIDN'T SPEND ALL OF THE ARP MONEY AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE SOME DOLLARS TO HELP PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR RENT AND MORTGAGES TO CONTINUE TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES STAY OPEN.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS IN OUR BUDGET SPACE BECAUSE OF OUR RESPONSIBLE USE OF DOLLARS LAST YEAR.

I WANT TO BUILD ON THAT AND CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC IT HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HELP PEOPLE AS BEST WE CAN.

>> A RARE POSITION FOR ILLINOIS TO BE IN IN TERMS OF HAVING SOME DOLLARS TO SPARE OR PERHAPS PLAY AROUND WITH.

WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE COVID PANDEMIC WHAT ACTION DO YOU BELIEVE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO TAKE ALONG THAT VAIN PARTICULARLY AS WE STILL SEE FOR EXAMPLE, COURT CASES GOING FORWARD, TRYING TO SAY THAT WITHOUT AN ACTUAL LAW THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T HAVE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THINGS LIKE A MASK MANDATE IN SCHOOL OR VACCINATION MANDATES.

>> WELL, I THINK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS TAKEN ACTION IN THE LAST VETO SESSION.

WE TOOK ACTION WITH REGARD TO THE HEALTHCARE RIGHT OF CONSCIOUS ACT.

BUT FROM OUR STANDPOINT THE BIGGEST SPACE WE CAN BE HELPFUL IN IS THE BUDGET SPACE.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT COVID-19 IS WREAKING HAVOC ON FAMILIES WITH REGARD TO CHILDCARE ISSUES.

PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY GET LAID OFF FROM THEIR JOBS.

UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR BUDGET SPACE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO TO CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE REALITIES OF LIVING IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE DONE.

WE DID IT IN 2021 AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT HERE IN 2022 AND I'M HOPING MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE WILL JOIN US IN OUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TO HELP PEOPLE.

>> AND OF COURSE, ALL OF THAT WITH 2022 ALSO AT LEAST NOT FORGET AN ELECTION YEAR WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE RUNNING FOR REELECTION INCLUDING YOURSELF UP AND ON THAT BALLOT.

ON THAT NOTE STAY WELL AND THANK YOU HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH.

>> AMANDA THANK YOU AND YOU BE WELL AS WELL.

>> THANKS.

>> BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT OVERWHELMING HOSPITALS, LOCAL CONGRESS MEMBERS WEIGH-IN ON WHAT THE PRESIDENT CAN DO TO EASE THE CRUNCH.

>> NEWS ANCHOR PAT CASSIDY RETIRED AFTER 51 YEARS BEHIND THE MICROPHONE.

REFLECTIONS ON HIS LONG CAREER.

>> AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A 90-YEAR-OLD LOCAL WRITER WHO IS TAKING ON LIMERICKS ONE RHYME AT A TIME.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... EMPLOYEES AT ONE OF CHICAGO'S PROMINENT ARTS INSTITUTIONS VOTE TO FORM A UNION.

WORKERS AT THE ART INSTITUTE VOTED TO UNIONIZE.

ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES RANGING FROM CURATORS AND CUSTODIANS TO MAIL ROOM STAFF AND RETAIL WORKERS WILL BE REPRESENTED BY THE WORKERS UNITED.

THEY HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED OF 250 WORKERS.

>> ILLINOIS OFFICIALS ARE LAUNCHING A NEW CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE VACCINATIONS AMID THE COURAGE SUFFRAGE OF COVID CASES.

THE ROLLOUT IS FEATURING STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE HESITANT TO GET VACCINATED.

>> WENT ON A TRIP TO TAKE IN MY NEPHEW'S WEDDING THAT RESULTED IN MY WIFE PASSING.

RESULTED IN ME BEING IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE WEEKS.

IF WE HAD RECEIVED THE VACCINATION PRIOR TO CONTRACTING COVID, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THINGS WOULD HAVE CAME OUT DIFFERENTLY.

>> IN THE CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED AS ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 28,000 NEW COVID CASES.

AND 92 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE STATE HAS SEEN 2,488,000 COVID CASES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN WITH 28,660 DEATHS AND THE STATE'S POSITIVITY RATE IS 16.9%.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO DISTRIBUTED KN95 MASKS TO ALDERMANIC OFFICES MADE AVAILABLE TO CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.

THEY WILL REACH EVERY COMMUNITY.

RESIDENTS OR GROUPS INTERESTED IN THE MASKS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR ALDERMANIC OFFICE FOR DETAILS.

PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

EARLY IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED VOTING RIGHTS BILLS AND NOW WE'RE JOINED BY MIKE QUIGLEY, CHERI BUSTOS AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI.

AGAIN WE INVITED ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATION BUT NONE ACCEPTED.

WE DO AGAIN THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US HERE AGAIN.

AND LET'S START A DISCUSS WITH COVID.

HEALTH OFFICIALS FROM THE C.D.C., F.D.A.

AND NIH TESTIFIED ON CAPITOL HILL ABOUT THE EXPLOSION OF OMICRON.

PLEASE STAKE A LOOK.

>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO PROCESS WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET COVID.

ALL RIGHT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THE HOSPITALS CAN STILL FUNCTION, TRANSPORTATION, OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE NOT DISRUPTED WHILE THIS HAPPENS.

>> AND CONGRESSWOMAN CHERI BUSTOS DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT FROM THE DOCTOR THAT THE SENTIMENT NOW IS MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO GET COVID?

>> WELL, I WORKED IN HEALTHCARE FOR 10 YEARS OF MY CAREER ALTHOUGH I WORKED IN COMMUNICATIONS IN HEALTHCARE.

SO CERTAINLY I AM NOT ANY MEDICAL EXPERT.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT.

IT IS A MOSTLY RURAL DISTRICT.

BUT WE HAVE THREE BIGGER MARKETS WE HAVE ROCKFORD, PEORIA AND THE QUAD CITIES.

AND ROCK ISLAND COUNTY WHERE I LIVE, IT'S ONLY A POPULATION OF 140,000, WE HAD 676 CASES LAST WEEK IN TWO DAYS.

WE ARE NOW TO THE POINT WHERE OUR HOSPITAL ONE OF OUR HOSPITALS IS NO LONGER TAKING ELECTIVE SURGERIES.

WE HAVE ANOTHER HOSPITAL THAT EVERYONE OF THE ICU BEDS IS TAKEN UP.

LOOK, I WORK WITH SO MANY DOCTORS AND NURSES OVER MY DECADE IN HEALTHCARE AND I STILL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MANY OF THEM THEY ARE WORN OUT.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THIS BACK STORY OF THIS YOU DON'T GO INTO HEALTHCARE UNLESS YOU ARE AN EMPATHETIC TYPE PERSON AND NOW THERE'S TALK ABOUT AN EMPATHY DEFICIT BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS WORN OUT.

AND THE MESSAGE IS GET YOUR VACCINATION, GET YOUR BOOSTER AND WEAR YOUR MASK.

USE YOUR HAND SANITIZER THE BASICS ARE ALL THERE.

AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO STRESS OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> AND WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM HEALTHCARE OFFICIALS IN RECENT WEEKS.

CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI PART OF THE BIDEN PLAN IS TO SEND UP TO EIGHT AT HOME TESTS TO ALL AMERICANS TO HAVE REIMBURSED BY INSURANCE.

WHEN A CONSTITUENT COMES TO YOU AND ASKS YOU HOW DO I GET MY HANDS ON A TEST AND WILL IT BE FREE WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER TO THEM?

>> THE ANSWER IS THAT IT WILL BE FREE AND THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE THE TESTS.

OF COURSE RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET TESTS AND THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME HONESTLY.

THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE RAPID TESTS AT THEIR LOCAL PHARMACIES NOT ABLE TO GET THE PCR TESTS BACK QUICKLY ENOUGH TO MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT WHETHER THEY SHOULD ISOLATE OR HOW DO THEY APPROACH THEIR AFFAIRS AT WORK AND SO FORTH.

AND SO I THINK THOSE PLANS TO GET TESTS ARE GOING TO BE VERY USEFUL ESPECIALLY AS WE DEAL WITH FUTURE VARIANTS.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS AS SHERRY ELUDED TO IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET YOUR VACCINATION AND GET YOUR BOOSTERS AND THEN YOU ISOLATE AND QUARANTINE AS NECESSARY.

MY WIFE HAPPENS TO BE A PHYSICIAN AND 50% OF HER PATIENTS ARE COVID POSITIVE RIGHT NOW IN THE HOSPITAL.

SO THIS IS EXTREMELY NERVE-WRACKING FOR FOLKS AND I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO AT THIS POINT PLAY IT SAFE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE TRIES TO STAY OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND VACCINATIONS IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.

>> CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY DOES THERE NEED TO BE MORE OF A FEDERAL RESPONSE BEYOND JUST SENDING TESTS, SENDING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO HOSPITALS?

>> THE HOSPITALS ARE NEED IT OUR CAREGIVER ALSO NEED IT.

SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS WILL NEED IT TO PUT SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO PROTECT EVERYONE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS STILL BACK TO VACCINATION.

UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO TEST POSITIVE.

NINE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

14 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID.

SO WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE WITH COVID FOR A LONGTIME AND THE LARGE PART IS THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO REFUSE TO BE VACCINATED.

>> CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY THERE ARE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MAYOR AND PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT THOSE STUDENTS NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL DESPITE THE WAVE OF OMICRON RIGHT NOW?

>> THEY NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL.

BUT WE NEED PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.

PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH GETTING KIDS VACCINATED AND PUTTING THE OTHER SYSTEMS INCLUDING SCREENING AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OUT THERE TO PROTECT THE TEACHERS, THE STAFF, AND THE KIDS.

>> AND IS THERE MORE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE INITIATIVES?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE C.P.S.

WAS IS WITH THE ASSISTANCE THEY ALREADY GOT BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE.

>> POLITICS CONGRESSWOMAN CHERI BUSTOS 24 HOUSE DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE RETIRING.

YOU ARE AMONG THOSE DEMOCRATS.

DOES THAT SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR DEMOCRATS TO KEEP THE HOUSE?

>> NO, I THINK IT SAYS THAT I CAN SAY FOR MYSELF.

I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE IT WILL BE FIVE TERMS BY THE TIME I'M DONE, A FULL DECADE.

AND FOR ME, ON TO MY NEXT CHAPTER.

I AM NOT BY ANY MEANS ABANDONING SHIP.

I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SEAT I'VE REPRESENTED SINCE 2013 IS REPRESENTED BY SOMEBODY WHO IS GREAT AND WE'VE GOT WONDERFUL CANDIDATES.

AND I THINK AS YOU LOOK AT THE OTHERS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WANTS TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IN LIFE AND SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY.

ARE PEOPLE READY FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

LOOK, I THINK I RAN THE POLITICAL ARM OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS FOR THE PREVIOUS CYCLE.

AND IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF STRATEGY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THE BALLOT BOX.

BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HAVE GREAT CANDIDATES RUNNING ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AND WE HAVE TO GEAR UP FOR THAT.

WE HAVE ABOUT 10ISH MONTHS BEFORE THAT NOVEMBER ELECTION.

AND I THINK WE WILL BE READY FOR IT.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN THAT IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE REDRAWN MAPS.

CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI, THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL RATINGS ARE NOT HIGH RELATIVE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T LOSE THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE?

>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TO DELIVER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO GET THINGS DONE.

OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BBB BUT AS I SAID THE OTHER DAY I THINK WE NEED TO GET GGG, GET GOVERNANCE GOING WHATEVER COMPONENTS OF THAT PARTICULAR BILL THAT WE CAN PASS AND GET SIGNED INTO LAW WHETHER IT'S PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE REFORMS, UNIVERSE TALL PRESCHOOL OR EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDITS WE NEED TO GET IT DONE BECAUSE MY CONSTITUENTS WANT IT.

AND TACKLE INFLATION AND COVID.

AND THE OTHER KITCHEN TABLETOPPICS THAT PEOPLE ARE DISCUSSING EVERYDAY.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY ARE THERE COMPONENTS OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL THAT HAVE MOMENTUM ON THEIR OWN RIGHT NOW?

>> I'M JUST NOT SURE.

I MEAN THEY ARE ALL IMPORTANT TO ME.

CLIMATE CHANGE, THE TAX CREDIT FOR KIDS IS GOING TO RUN OUT.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT IS GOING TO RUN OUT NOW THIS IS THE LAST WEEK THAT IS THERE.

THAT LIFTED HALF OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT.

BUT LET ME JUST ADDRESS WHAT YOU ASKED.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE CAN'T BE DEFEATED.

THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

WE'RE STILL TRYING TO PASS BUILD BACK BETTER BUT WE PASSED A GENERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND WE WILL START SEEING THE BENEFITS IN MARCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON REBUILDING OUR COUNTRY.

>> AND THE DEBATE RAMPS UP ON VOTING RIGHTS AMONG OTHER THINGS.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVES, MIKE QUIGLEY, CHERI BUSTOS AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT A LOOK BACK AT THE STORIED CAREER OF A LOCAL RADIO ANCHOR WHO IS SIGNING OFF AFTER 51 YEARS.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> AFTER 51 YEARS AS A RADIO NEWS ANCHOR PAT CASSIDY HAS SIGNED OFF.

FOR MOST OF THE LAST 22 YEARS, CASSIDY HOSTED MORNINGS ON WBBM NEWS RADIO HOLDING NUMBER ONE SPOT IN THE RATINGS FOR MOST OF THAT TIME.

HE SPENT 25 YEARS AS THE FORMER WMAQ-AM.

HE COVERED EVERYTHING FROM HISTORIC ELECTIONS TO HIGHWAY CLOSURES.

AND HIS ROOTS IN RADIO GO BACK TO COLLEGE.

AND PAT CASSIDY JOINS US NOW.

PAT IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER SOME EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS NEW TO CHICAGO AT WBBM NEWS RADIO AS WELL.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

IT HAS BEEN EIGHT YEARS, WOW.

>> SOLID REPORTER AND SOLID ANCHOR AND YOU ARE DOING GREAT NOW AND GOOD FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND GOOD FOR YOU AS WELL.

YOU WRAPPED UP YOUR CAREER END OF LAST YEAR.

HOW ARE YOU SLEEPING IN THE MORNINGS NOW?

>> NOT TOO GOOD I WAKE UP AT 2:30 IN THE MORNING WIDE AWAKE AND I HAVE A LITTLE GAME I PLAY WITH MYSELF AND I READ A BOOK AND GET BACK TO SLEEP ALL RIGHT.

51 YEARS OF 2:30 AM MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE MY BODY CLOCK WILL TAKE A WHILE TO GET ADJUSTED.

THAT WILL BE ONE OF MY BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

>> SOMETHING TO KEEP WORKING ON YOU HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT NOW.

YOU FIRST GOT INTO RADIO IN COLLEGE.

HOW DID THAT COME TO BE?

>> WELL, I WAS IN COLLEGE FIRST DAY ACTUALLY GETTING MY ROOMMATE IN THE DORM AND MY MAJOR WAS JOURNALISM.

IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL PAPER AND THEN COLLEGE AND THAT WAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY INTERESTS IS JOURNALISM.

AND THE STUDENT DIRECTOR OF THE RADIO STATION WHO IS TALKING IN THERE AND I SAID ME.

I'M THE COLLEGE RADIO STATION MANAGER YOU HAVE A GREAT VOICE HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A DJ.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

ALL YOU DO IS PLAY ROCK 'N ROLL AND GIRLS CALL YOU ON THE PHONE ALL NIGHT.

I SAID WELL, I THINK I WILL GIVE THAT A TRY AND I DID.

AND MARRIED JOURNALISM WITH IT.

AND LORD BLESSING WITH A NICE VOICE AND I WAS A NATURAL.

AND IT'S TOOK OFF FROM THERE.

>> AND HERE YOU ARE.

YOU WORKED AT LOCAL STATIONS BEFORE SPENDING 25 YEARS AS MORNING NEWS ANCHOR AT WMAQ-AM.

HUGE STORIES THAT COVERED IN THAT TIME INCLUDING THE ELECTION OF HAROLD WASHINGTON WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THAT TIME?

>> WELL, I THINK PROBABLY ONE OF MY GREAT MEMORIES STARTING OFF WAS IN THE COUNTRY MUSIC DAYS.

I WAS THE NEWSMAN WE DID A MORNING SHOW CALLED GOOD MORNING GUYS.

LEE SHERWOOD WAS THE HOST AND TIM WAS OUR SPORTS GUY AND JERRY TAFT WAS THE WEATHERMAN.

IT WAS TIM'S FIRST BROADCAST JOB AND JERRY ONE OF HIS FIRST RADIO JOBS AND WE HAD GREAT PROGRAMMING AND GOT GREAT RATINGS.

I DID THE NEWS AND IT WAS HUMOR AND SO ON.

AND THE NEWS WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME.

AND COVERED STORIES ACCORDINGLY AND THEN IT BECAME A TALK STATION WITH MORTON DOWN ANY JR. AND DREW HAYES AND SOLD TO WESTINGHOUSE IN 1988 AND BECAME WMAQ ALL NEWS.

THE STORIES THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED SINCE 1975.

CERTAINLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS STORY WISE WAS 9/11.

THAT WAS IN 2001 AT WBBM.

AND STARTED OFF WE TOOK TURNS SOMEBODY RUNS THE BOARD AND THE OTHER PERSON SITS IN THE ANCHOR CHAIR AND I WAS RUNNING THE BOARD THAT DAY.

AND WE EDITOR SAID WE HAVE A SMALL PLANE MAYBE A SUICIDE HIT A BUILDING IN NEW YORK LET'S SWITCH TO IT AND GOT THE PICTURE AND REMEMBER WE'RE GETTING THIS BEFORE SOCIAL MEDIA EXISTED.

AND BEFORE REALLY FASTEST MEDIA AT THAT POINT AND WE SAW RIGHT AWAY IT WAS THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT AND SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

AND PROBABLY PROUD OF THIS WE KEPT OUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK.

IT WAS HARD WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS TOO AND AMERICANS SEEING THIS CARNAGE AND CHAOS AND EVERYONE ON THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY AND EISENHOWER AND DAN RYAN THEY HAVE US AS OUR EYES.

WE HAD TO KEEP IT CALM AND COOL YOU DON'T WANT THE ANCHOR TO BE SAYING OH, MY GOD WE KEPT IT WILL COUP AND CALM.

AND I REMEMBER SAYING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE TRADEMARK WORLD CENTER TOWERS AREN'T THERE ANYMORE.

AND IT WAS VERY POWERFUL MOMENT.

CHOKES ME UP TO THIS DAY.

BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT AND I TELL YOU WHAT, IT WAS A POWERFUL DAY AND WE GOT THROUGH IT AND I'M PROUD HOW WE HANDLED THAT THAT WAS THE BIGGEST STORY WE COVERED IN MY ENTIRE CAREER AND HOPEFULLY THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT.

>> AS JOURNALISTS WE HAVE THE FRONT SEAT TO HISTORY AS MANY OF US WERE THAT DAY.

QUICKLY WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT MOVE FROM WMAQ TO WBBM NEWS RADIO, BEGINNING THAT LONG TIME SHARING OF THE MICROPHONE WITH FELICIA, ANY BUMPS IN THAT TRANSITION SWITCHING OVER?

>> NO.

I THINK FOR ME I HAD TO REMEMBER TO SAY WBBM AND NOT WMAQ WHICH I HAD DONE FOR 25 YEARS.

AND TRAFFIC ON THE 8s VERSUS THE ONE'S.

BUT LEARNING A DIFFERENT FORMAT AND CLOCK AND JUST OUR ROLES SHE WAS THE SENIOR ANCHOR I WAS THE NEW KID.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT A KID.

BUT WE WORKED TOGETHER QUITE WELL ALMOST RIGHT AWAY.

AND THEN SHE RETIRED A FEW YEARS AGO AND I WAS DOING THE PROGRAM SOLO.

BUT ALWAYS SIGNED ON WITH MY TRADEMARK BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT.

PAT CASSIDY BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT.

AND I THINK THE AUDIENCE REALLY BECAME VERY ACCUSTOMED TO THAT SIGN ON AT 5:05AM.

>> LATER ON IN THE MORNING YOU WOULD SAY GOOD MORNING BREAKFAST LOVERS.

THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.

THAT WAS A TAKE OFF OF DON McNEIL'S BREAKFAST CLUBBERS.

SO I SPUN IT INTO BREAKFAST LOVERS BECAUSE I WAS A FAN OF THAT PROGRAM BACK IN THE DAY.

THAT IS WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

>> IT MADE ME HUNGRY.

PAT, WILL YOU MISS COVERING THE BREAKING NEWS STORIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WILL PROBABLY BE THE NUMBER ONE THING.

THIS MORNING, OR THE OTHER MORNING, THE BEARS LET NAGY AND PACE GO THAT WAS A BREAKING STORY AND I MISSED IT.

SOMETHING ABOUT BREAKING NEWS THAT HAS JUST ALWAYS MY RESPIRATION GOES UP MY HEART RATE GOES UP AND I LIKE BREAKING NEWS.

BIG STUFF, SMALL, THEY CLOSE AN EXPRESSWAY FOR AN ACCIDENT I GET WORKED UP BECAUSE I'M TELLING PEOPLE AND THEY ARE HEAR TO GO FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT IS THE AUDIENCE.

LISTENING TO WHAT THEY SAY.

AND LISTENING TO THE IMPACT AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE AUDIENCE FOR ME.

>> PAT BEFORE WE LET YOU GO WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THINKING OF GETTING INTO RADIO NEWS?

>> I WOULD SAY LEARN ALL YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF NEWS.

AND DON'T BE A ONE TRICK PONY.

DON'T KNOW A CERTAIN NEWS.

LEARN SPORTS, WEATHER, NEWS, NATIONAL NEWS, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, READ A LOT, AND STAY ON TOP OF THINGS.

AND SOCIAL MEDIA HAS CHANGED THE PARADIGM, TOO.

BUT BE AWARE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

MAKE SURE THINGS ARE VETTED AND BEFORE YOU PUT IT ON THE AIR.

I WOULD SAY THAT.

READ A LOT, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PAT CASSIDY AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE ENJOY THE DAYS OF HANGING WITH THE GRANDKIDS AND THE GOLFING AND FISHING AND BEST OF LUCK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU BRANDIS.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> GREAT CAREER.

THANK YOU.

>> JAY SHEFSKY FIRST INTRODUCED US TOBIN BIN ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" SOME YEARS AGO IN A VISIT TO HER EVANSTON BASED ANTIQUE STORE.

THE 90-YEAR-OLD CLOSED UP SHOP AND TAKEN ON A NEW OUTLET ROOTED IN RHYMING WORDS.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TELLS US HOW IT CAME TO BE.

>> SKIDLY DIDDILY SCAT.

>> THE NAME OF BINDY BITTERMAN'S NEW CHILDREN'S LIMERICK BOOK.

>> I NEVER INTENDED TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK.

SKIDLY DIDDILY SCAT CAME INTO MY HEAD AND I THOUGHT LITTLE KIDS WOULD LOVE THAT.

THEY WOULD SAY SKIDLY DIDDILY SCAT LIKE A NURSERY RHYME.

I WROTE SOME LIMERICKS ABOUT A MOUSE AND A CAT.

AND THEY GOT INTO TROUBLE IN THE LAUNDROMAT AND GET THROWN INTO A WASHER THAIN GET SWITCHED.

AND THEY COME OUT AND THE MOUSE SAYS MEOW AND THE CAT GOES EEK LIKE A MOUSE LIKE I THINK A MOUSE WOULD.

>> BINDY BITTERMAN SAYS HER JOY CAME AFTER SUBSCRIBING TO AWAD OR A WORD A DAY CHALLENGES.

SHE WOULD WRITE A LIMERICK AROUND AN UNCOMMON WORD AND OFTEN WIN BEST LIMERICK IN THE DAILY CONTEST.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME BUT THE FIRST, THE SECOND AND THE FIFTH SHOULD HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF SYLLABLES THE THIRD AND FOURTH ARE DANEEN WOODARD DA, DANEEN WOODARD, OR DA, DA, DA, DA, DA, IT'S GOT TO BE THERE ARE RULES.

>> SO WHEN THE PHRASE SKIDLY DIDDILY SCAT CAME TO MIND SHE STARTED WRITDING AND SHE CREATED A BOOK.

>> YOU KNOW, AT 90 YEARS OLD AND FORTUNATELY I'M OK FINANCIALLY AND HOPEFULLY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

THE BOOK IS $20.

I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE MONEY ON THE BOOK AND THAT IS OK.

I'M NOT DOING IT TO MAKE MONEY.

PEOPLE ARE STOPPING ME AND SAYING I GAVE THIS TO MY GRANDSON OR NEPHEW OR FRIEND AND THEY JUST LOVE IT.

THAT IS THANKS ENOUGH.

>> WITH THE HELP OF A QR CODE FOLKS WITH HEAR HER READ THE STORY HERSELF.

>> JUST BECAUSE CATS DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE.

THEY JUST ALWAYS EAT MICE.

EVERYONE KNOWS ALL THOSE NATURAL LAWS.

>> BUT CREATING IT WAS ONE THING AND PEOPLE SEEM TO LOVE IT.

I MEAN I SOLD OUT THE WHOLE INITIAL PRINTING OF 300 BEFORE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

I CAN'T COMPARE MYSELF TO DR. SEUSS.

PEOPLE WHO REALLY GET OFF ON DR. SEUSS CAN BE ANY AGE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING WITH THIS.

I'M SO PROUD OF IT NOW.

BECAUSE I THINK IT LOOKS SO GOOD AND SOUNDS SO GOOD.

IT IS A GOOD LIMERICK, WELL ILLUSTRATED AND PEOPLE LOVE IT.

SO WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?

BECAUSE THEY REALIZED HOW THEY WEREN'T ENEMIES NOW BUT SKIDLY DIDDILY SKA DABBLE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET YOUR PAWS ON A COPY OF SKIDLY DIDDILY SCAT.

AND BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. AFTER FIVE DAYS OF CANCELED CLASSES, C.P.S.

STUDENTS ARE SET TO RETURN TO SCHOOL.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

>> AND ISRAELI RESEARCHERS TEACH A GOLDFISH HOW TO DRIVE.

THAT AND OTHER STORIES MAKING HEADLINES FROM THE WORLD OF SCIENCE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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