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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN REPORTING LIVE FROM CITY'S NORTH LAWNDALE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> A SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AWAITS PRESIDENT TRUMP AS HE BELATEDLY CONDEMNS THE DEADLY VIOLENCE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> A LOT HAPPENED IN SPRINGFIELD BESIDES THE ELECTION OF A NEW ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER WE HAVE THE SCORECARD.

>> EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE WAS JUST AMPLIFIED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS LIVE IN NORTH LAWNDALE FOR THE LATEST STOP IN OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

PROVIDING CRITICAL CARE TO SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COVID PATIENTS TWO RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS AND THEIR WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> I'M ANGEL IDOWU HOW A CHICAGO TEEN IS INCLUDING ART AND STEM TO CONTINUE Dr. MARTIN'S MESSAGE ON UNITY.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER HAS SCOOP ON CHICAGO ICE CREAM HISTORY IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST -- >> I'M IN NORTH LAWNDALE WHERE I WILL BE COANCHORING FROM CHICAGO'S NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITIES PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES AND WE ARE GOING TO CHECK IN WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS STILL STRUGGLING AMID THE PANDEMIC.

WE WILL HAVE THAT AND MORE, PARIS?

>> THANK YOU.

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

PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN ADDRESSED THE NATION WITHIN THE PAST HOUR.

HE ANNOUNCED A NEARLY $2 TRILLION COVID STIMULUS PROPOSAL INCLUDING $1400 DIRECT CHECKS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, $400 BILLION IN RELIEF FUNDS AND 350 BILLION FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO TO STEM SOME OF THE RESULT IN BUDGET SHORTFALLS.

THE ADDRESS COMES AS THE LABOR DEPARTMENT REPORTS MORE THAN ONE MILLION NEW UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS UP 25% FROM THE WEEK BEFORE.

BIDEN SAYS THE PLAN IS NECESSARY TO COMBAT THIS RAGING PANDEMIC AND CRATERING ECONOMY THAT EXACERBATED ECONOMIC INEQUALITY.

>> WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCE IN SEVERAL GENERATIONS ECONOMIC CRISIS WITH THE ONCE IN SEVERAL GENERATIONS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

THE CRISIS OF DEEP HUMAN SUFFERING IS IN PLAIN SIGHT.

AND THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE.

WE HAVE TO ACT AND WE HAVE TO ACT NOW.

>> AND CHICAGO'S GETTING MORE MASK COVID VACCINATION SITES FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

TWO ANY SITES OPENED AT CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO LOCATIONS WITH THREE MORE COMING ON-LINE NEXT WEEK.

THE CITY SAYS IT'S IN PHASE 1A OF THE VACCINATION MEANING UP TO 400,000 CHICAGO HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE ELIGIBLE AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CALLED ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SPEED UP THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND SAYS THE AMOUNT OF VACCINES DELIVERED HAVE BEEN GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>> TWO WEEKS AGO, THE NUMBER FELL TO 38,000 FIRST DOSES.

LAST WEEK, THE NUMBER DROPPED TO 32,000 FIRST DOSES.

THAT IS CLEARLY THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE GOING.

AT THE RATE WE HAVE BEEN ON CHICAGO WILL NOT BE FULLY VACCINATED FOR A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AND THAT IS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

>> AND LIGHTFOOT WANTS THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN CHICAGO BARS AND RESTAURANTS.

LIGHTFOOT TODAY AGAIN CALLED ON GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TO ALLOW THE RELAXING OF SOME COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AS THE SPIKED IN LATE OCTOBER APPEARS TO HAVE LEVELED OFF A BIT.

PRITZKER'S OFFICE SAYS NEITHER CHICAGO OR COOK COUNTY REACHED THE METRIC LEVEL FOR A PARTIAL REOPEN.

AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 6600 NEW COVID-19 CASES TODAY AND 88 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE STATE-WIDE CASE TOTAL IS NOW MORE THAN 1 MILLION 52,000 CASES WITH 17,928 DEATHS.

THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS A FLAT 8%.

>> ALL EYES ARE ON THE SENATE AFTER THE HOUSE VOTES FOR A SECOND TIME TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR HIS ROLE INCITING THE VIOLENT INSURRECTION THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6.

AFTER A WEEK OF SOFT CONDEMNATION AND SILENCE, THE PRESIDENT PUT OUT A VIDEO STATEMENT LAST NIGHT.

>> I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR...

I UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMN THE VIOLENCE THAT WE SAW LAST WEEK.

VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY AND NO PLACE IN OUR MOVEMENT.

MOB VIOLENCE GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING I BELIEVE IN AND EVERYTHING OUR MOVEMENT STANDS FOR.

>> AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPENDING IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ARE WILLIAM HOWELL PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HARRIS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AND THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.

AND HEIDI KITROSSER, A VISITING PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

WILL, WHAT IS THE POINT OF CARRYING OUT AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IN THE SENATE IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN UNDER A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?

>> WELL, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK TO.

THE FIRST IS THAT SHOULD THEY SUCCEED IN CONVICTING IN THE SENATE AND THAT IS PROBABLY UNLIKELY SHOULD THEY MANAGE TO DO SO THEY WILL BE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAST A VOTE ABOUT WHETHER TO BAN TRUMP FROM HOLDING OFFICE EVER MORE.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A PRESIDENT WHO IS NONE TOO HINTED AT HIS INTEREST IN RUNNING IN 2024.

THE BIGGER REASON HAS TO DO WITH MANAGING THE PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS WHAT CONSTITUTES PROPER PRESIDENTIAL CONDUCT AND THERE IS A TON OF WORK.

THERE IS A REASON WE NEED TO SEE A REPUDIATION FROM CONGRESS THAT GOES BEYOND THE SELECT WILLINGNESS OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS TO SHOW UP SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOWS AND SAY THEY WISH IT HND'S HAPPENED BUT TO DO SOMETHING OFFICIAL.

>> 10 REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE VOTED FOR THE IMPEACHMENT.

HEIDI KITROSSER THERE'S QUESTION TODAY AS TO WHETHER A POST PRESIDENCY IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IS EVEN CONSTITUTIONAL.

WHAT IS YOUR READ ON THAT?

>> YES.

SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF SCHOLARLY DEBATE ABOUT THAT A VERY GOOD ARTICLE IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" BY ONE LAW PROFESSORSER MAKING THE CASE IT IS AND THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE "WASHINGTON POST" BY A JUDGE MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT IT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL.

I THINK THE ARGUMENT IS THAT IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

THE VERY FACT THAT THE CONSTITUTION'S TEXT CREATES THE OPTION OF DISQUALIFICATION FOR FUTURE OFFICE AS AN OPTION AFTER CONVICTION SUGGESTS IT WOULD NOT BE LOGICAL NOT TO MAKE IMPEACHMENT AN OPTION AFTER ONE'S TERM ENDED OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE ALL TOO EASY FOR SOMEONE TO AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED BY RESIGNING BEFORE THEY COULD BE IMPEACHED.

SECOND OF ALL, THERE IS SOME HISTORICAL EVIDENCE INDICATING THAT, INDEED, THE FOUNDERS WERE WELL AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF POST TERM IMPEACHMENT AND HISTORICALLY IN THE U.S.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME IMPEACHMENTS OF LOWER LEVEL OFFICERS AFTER THEY HAVE LEFT OFFICE.

I THINK THAT IS A BETTER ARGUMENT.

>> THERE IS PRESS DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF LOWER LEVEL OFFICERS.

WILL HOWELL, MITCH McCONNELL IS NOT GOING TO CALL THE SENATE BACK AS WE MENTIONED UNTIL THE NEW TERM STARTS JANUARY 19TH.

NO ACTIVITY WOULD HAPPEN ON THIS UNTIL BIDE SENN SWORN IN.

MITCH McCONNELL LOVES BEING IN THE MAJORITY.

BUT FROM REPORTING HE ALSO WANTS TO PURGE DONALD TRUMP FROM THE PARTY.

WHAT IS THE POLITICAL CALCULATION McCONNELL IS MAKING HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU POINTED TO IT.

ON THE ONE HAND HE DOESN'T LIKE TRUMP HE SEES THE RISE OF POPULISM AS BEING DESTRUCTIVE.

BUT HE IS NOT ONE TO SHAKE THE TREE.

HE HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR FOUR YEARS AND HAS DONE LITTLE TO TAKE ON THIS PRESIDENT.

HE WON'T BE THE MAJORITY LEADER GOING FORWARD IT WILL BE CHUCK SCHUMER WILL DECIDE THE TERMS OF THIS SENATE TRIAL THAT WE ARE GOING TO OBSERVE.

AND IF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE IS ANY KIND OF PROVIDES INSIGHT WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN TO THE SENATE ONLY 10, ONLY 10 REPUBLICANS OUT OF THE MORE THAN 200 THERE SAW FIT TO VOTE FOR IMPEACHMENT.

THEY WILL NEED IN THE SENATE TO GET 17 FOR 50 IF THEY ARE GOING TO CONVICT AND THAT SEEMS UNLIKELY.

McCONNELL'S HESITATION OR HIS DANCE HE IS PERFORMING NOT WITHSTANDING.

>> AND HEIDI KITROSSER, COULD A SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL UPEND THE EARLY BIDEN AGENDA WHEN HE WANTS TO GET OFF TO A FAST START ON COVID ON ECONOMIC RELIEF AND ON CONFIRMATION OF HIS CABINET APPOINTMENTS?

>> THAT IS A CONCERN.

AND IT IS A CONCERN THAT BIDEN HAS CERTAINLY INDICATED IS ONE THAT HE WANTS TO PUT COVID RELIEF AND THE OTHER CHALLENGES FACING THE COUNTRY FRONT AND CENTER.

THAT SAID THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF DOUBLE TRACKING THINGS SO THAT THE SENATE FOR PART OF THE DAY COULD HANDLE THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AND FOR PART OF THE DAY COULD CONSIDER LEGISLATION SUCH AS COVID RELIEF ET CETERA.

THE BALANCE CAN BE STRUCK BUT IT IS SOMEWHAT TRICKY.

>> AND WILL HOWELL, HOW DO YOU SEE THE BROADER SHAKE OUT HAPPENING IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

McCONNELL AND OTHER MORE ESTABLISHMENT FIGURES WANT TRUMP GONE FROM THEIR PARTY.

THEY SEE IT AS A CANCER TO THEIR PARTY.

BUT TRUMP STILL IS THE MOST POPULAR FIGURE IN THE PARTY AND THE MORE GRASSROOTS FOLKS STILL STAND BEHIND HIM.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO PLAY OUT?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

I THINK THAT TRUMP IS LEAVING OFFICE DOES NOT MEAN THAT POPULISM IS GOING TO DISSIPATE FROM OUR MIDST THAT HE GOT 74 MILLION VOTES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

139 REPUBLICANS SAW FIT EVEN IN THE AFTERMATH THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF LAST WEEK'S INSURRECTION TO PROPAGATE HIS LIES ABOUT THE ELECTION HAVING BEEN STOLEN.

THERE ARE A LINEUP OF FOLKS WHO WOULD LOVE TO PICK UP THE MAN TELL AND CARRY IT FORWARD.

SURE, TRUMP AS AN INDIVIDUAL MAY BE TAKING A STEP BACK.

BUT HE REMAINS INCREDIBLY POPULAR AND POPULISM DECIDEDLY HAS TAKEN HOLD OF THIS PARTY AND THERE ARE FEW SIGNS THAT THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

>> AND IT IS SUCH A DIFFERENT WASHINGTON D.C. NOW FOLKS TALKING ABOUT ALL THE TROOPS IT LOOKED LIKE A FORTIFIED ZONE IN A WAR-TORN COUNTRY.

HEIDI KITROSSER IN THE AFTERMATH OF JANUARY 6, WHAT ABOUT THE UNITED STATES' STRENGTH AROUND THE WORLD?

AS THE EXPORTER OF DEMOCRACY BECAUSE OF THIS EXAMPLE BACK HOME, HOW DOES WHAT HAPPENED COMPLICATE BIDEN'S AGENDA AT HOME AND ABROAD?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THIS DOES ADD TO BIDEN'S AGENDA THE NEED TO SHOW THAT THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE NOTION OF LIVING UNDER THE RULE OF LAW, FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, SO MANY NORMS AND ADHERES TO VALUES HAVE BEEN UPENDED IN THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THAT IS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR AROUND THE WORLD.

THAT IS TRUE IT IS AMONG THE TASKS THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CARRY OUT.

>> AND WILL HOWELL WE HAVE ALWAYS CELEBRATED THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER IN THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S LEFT THE BUILDING IS THERE ANY PARALLEL TO THIS SITUATION AND WORRIES YOU HAVE ABOUT THE INAUGURATION NEXT WEEK?

>> FOR SURE.

I MEAN THERE ARE LOTS OF CONCERNS ABOUT VIOLENCE.

BUT MUCH OF THE DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.

BOTH IN TERMS OF THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN FROM THE PRESIDENT.

THE FAILURE OF THIS PRESIDENT TO COOPERATE WITH THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION TO INSURE NOT JUST A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER BUT A SEAMLESS TRANSFER OF POWER, THE WORK GOING ON THE DIPLOMACY FRONTS CAN CONTINUE.

THAT WITHOUT TOO MUCH DISRUPTION.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY LOST OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'VE OBSERVED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WORST STILL WE'VE SEEN THE FINAL THROES OF A POPULOUS PRESIDENT HE IS TRYING TO DO WHAT HE CAN TO LEAVE DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION BEYOND HIS WAKE.

>> AND BEYOND THE INAUGURATION IS COULD LEAD TO A MOVEMENT THAT STICKS AROUND IN THE UNITED STATES FOR A WHILE.

OUR THANKS TO WILLIAM HOWELL AND HEIDI KITROSSER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN IS OUT AND HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH IS IN.

WHAT ELSE DID ILLINOIS' GENERAL ASSEMBLY DO THE PAST FEW DAYS WHILE THEY WERE IN SESSION?

IT TURNS OUT A LOT.

AMANDA VINICKY IS LIVE AT THE CAPITOL WITH MORE.

GIVE US THE RUNDOWN.

>> YOU KNOW, PARIS, THE CAPITOL IS ONCE AGAIN RELATIVELY EMPTY AFTER A BUSY COUPLE OF DAYS.

AND ACTUALLY UP UNTIL THEN IT HAD BEEN 230 DAYS SINCE THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE HAD LAST CONVENED WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BUSY SEVERAL MONTHS WAS ALL CANCELED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

A LOT BUILDS UP IN THAT TIME INCLUDING A MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS LAME DUCK SESSION AND THAT IS A PACKAGE PUT FORTH BY THE BLACK CAUCUS IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING.

>> THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS AGENDA WILL INSURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE PANDEMICS THAT EXIST IN OUR SOCIETY.

ONE THE SYSTEMIC RACISM.

TWO, VIOLENCE.

AND NOW COVID-19.

>> SO THAT BLACK CAUCUS AGENDA IS EXTENSIVE.

ONE PROVISION WOULD LIMIT TO 36% THE INTEREST THAT PAYDAY LOAN LENDERS CAN CHARGE.

>> HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO GET A CREDIT CARD FROM MACY'S AT 80%, 99%?

THIS IS PREYING ON CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IT'S TARGETING IT'S ALL IT IS IT IS A REBIRTH OF REDLINING, HOUSING COVENANTS AND ALL THE OTHER ILLS THAT HAVE DECIMATED MY COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS INSURE THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ECONOMIC STABILITY.

>> NOW, THAT MEASURE PASSED DESPITE CONCERNS THAT IT WILL LEAVE LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ANY ACCESS.

>> THERE ARE MANY CITIZENS NOT JUST IN ILLINOIS BUT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE CREDIT RATING THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GO TO THE TOP SHELF LENDING INSTITUTIONS AND BORROW MONEY.

BUT NEVERTHELESS HAVE A CASH NEED OR A CAPITAL NEED MAYBE SHORT-TERM, IT MAYBE TO PUT A NEW ROOF ON THE HOUSE OR REPAIR A CAR.

>> REPUBLICANS ALSO RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT ANOTHER MEASURE THAT RESTRICTS EMPLOYERS FROM MAKING HIRING DECISIONS BASED ON THE JOB APPLICANT'S CRIMINAL HISTORY.

THEY LAID OUT SCENARIOS OF EMPLOYERS BEING AT RISK OF BREAKING THE LAW WHEN THEY SAY THOSE EMPLOYERS ARE JUST TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR THEIR BUSINESS.

>> I FEEL LIKE I HAVE FALLEN INTO AN EPISODE OF HYPOTHETICALS GONE WILD.

WITH ALL OF THESE VARIOUS NIGHTMARE SCENARIOS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MAKE THIS BILL THE BOOGIE MAN.

AGAIN, WE ARE AT A CRITICAL POINT IN OUR HISTORY.

WE HAVE GENERATIONS OF ERRORS AND INJUSTICES TO CORRECT FOR.

>> ANOTHER PILLAR OF THAT BLACK CAUCUS AGENDA IN FACT, MAYBE THE BIGGEST ONE DEALS WITH POLICING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND WE WILL DELVE INTO THAT ON WTTW'S BLACK VOICES SUNDAY 6:00 P.M.

IN PART BECAUSE OF COVID-19 ILLINOIS' BUDGET IS IN A WORLD OF HURT AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S SLUNGS IS TO BRING ADDITIONAL MONEY BY ELIMINATING A TAX BREAK FOR CERTAIN BUSINESSES A TAX BREAK THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CREATED AND PROVIDED FORMENTO'S BUSINESSES THAT WERE HURTING AND LOSING MONEY BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

IT IS CALLED DEANNE MAZZOCHI COUPLING AND REPUBLICANS WERE FURIOUS ABOUT IT.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT'S THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE EMPATHY FOR THE STRUGGLING OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ONE REASON ANY BUSINESS WOULD WANT TO COME TO ILLINOIS OR STAY IN ILLINOIS?

WE'RE TREATING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS DECOUPLING SHAMEFULLY.

THEY NEED OUR HELP.

>> THIS IS A $1 BILLION TAX INCREASE.

THIS IS A TAX INCREASE ON SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> BUT GOVERNOR AND OTHER BACKERS OF THIS SAY THAT THERE HAVE TO BE TOUGH CHOICES MADE RIGHT NOW AND AT THIS POINT ILLINOIS CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE ADDITIONAL TAX BREAKS TO BUSINESS.

>> WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TAXING BUSINESSES OUT OF EXISTENCE, THAT'S A BIT OF AN [INAUDIBLE] >> TO THE BILL.

>> TO THE BILL.

THIS IS A DEFICIT INCREASE IF WE DON'T PASS THIS.

>> THE DECISIONS IN THE 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

THIS MAKES BALANCING THE BUDGET A MUCH MORE PALATABLE CIRCUMSTANCE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.

>> BUT IT WAS NOT JUST REPUBLICANS WHO WERE NOT ONBOARD.

DEMOCRATS HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO PASS ANY BILL WITHOUT A SINGLE G.O.P.

VOTE AND THAT DECOUPLE PELLING -- DECOUPLING PLAN DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS.

EITHER FOR LACK OF SUPPORT OR FOR LACK OF TIME.

AND THAT INCLUDES IN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ANYTHING TO DO WITH ETHICS AND ALSO SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO NOT HAVE TO GO FOR SUCH A LONG STRETCH WITHOUT MEETING AGAIN.

THEY DID TALK ABOUT IT BUT NO BILL ON THE WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK THAT WOULD ALLOW LEGISLATORS TO MEET REMOTELY OVER ZOOM.

BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A LOT ON THE AGENDA THERE.

THANK YOU.

>> AND LAST SUMMER WE VISITED ONE OF CHICAGO'S MORE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THAT SAME NEIGHBORHOOD HAS FACED CHALLENGES OF ECONOMIC DEPRESSION AND UNEMPLOYMENT, VIOLENCE, AND THE PANDEMIC.

FOR THIS WEEK'S TOP IN OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND QUINN MYERS TRAVELED TO NORTH LAWNDALE TO FIND OUT HOW THE COMMUNITY IS FARING 11 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC.

THE AREA HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION.

TELL BUS THAT?

>> WE WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT ONE OF THE SUCCESSES OF THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT AWAY.

WE ARE STANDING IN DOUGLAS PARK WHICH UNTIL LAST YEAR WAS NAMED FOR STEVEN DOUGLAS, AN ILLINOIS POLITICIAN WHO WAS PROFITED OFF OF THE SLAVE TRADE IN THE 1800'S.

A CAMPAIGN FROM THE COMMUNITY LED BY STUDENTS AT VILLAGE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IT LEAD THE PARK DISTRICT TO RENAME THE PARK FOR FREDRICK DOUGLASS ABOLITIONIST.

>> THE STUDENTS BECAUSE RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE WENT TO A HEARING FOR THEM TO TALK ABOUT IT AND THERE WAS LIKE -- THEY WEREN'T RECEPTIVE AT ALL AND THEY HAD BEEN THERE A NUMBER OF TIMES.

SEEING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE RESPONSE IN THE CITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND TO SEE THE CHANGE IT WAS REALLY EMOTIONAL FOR ME TO WATCH THAT LAST HEARING.

>> NOW, THAT LAST HEARING WAS IN JULY WHEN THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT BOARD AGREED TO CHANGE THE NAME AFTER THE EFFORT LED BY STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.

POLLARD SAYS BECAUSE THE SIGNS REFLECTING THE NAME CHANGE WERE REPLACED THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE COLD WEATHER.

THE CORONAVIRUS HAS HIT THIS COMMUNITY HARD CERTAINLY NOT THE WORST BUT IT DOES HAVE A 12.1% POSITIVITY RATE.

THIS ZIP CODE IS 60623 AND IS SHARED WITH LITTLE VILLAGE.

BUT THERE ARE ZIP CODES WHERE THE POSITIVITY RATE GETS HIGHER UP TO 16% COMPARED TO THE CITY'S RATE OF 9.7% AS OF TODAY.

NOW, THIS COMMUNITY, THOUGH IT IS HISTORIC, IT HAS NEEDS.

DUSHAUN BRANCH POLLARD WHO YOU HEARD FROM, SHE SAYS HER ORGANIZATION THE NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY COORDINATING COUNCIL WAS WORKING ON A QUALIFY OF LIFE PLAN UNTIL THE PANDEMIC HIT.

VOLUNTEERS WERE WORKING TO ADDRESS HOUSING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND IT HAD TO SHIFT FOCUS.

>> EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE WAS JUST AMPLIFIED BY THE PANDEMIC.

SO YOU KNOW THERE WERE HOUSING NEEDS THERE WERE FOOD INSECURITY NEEDS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS JUST AMPLIFIED AND WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS, NOT HAVING MONEY TO PAY THEIR RENT.

>> IT INCLUDES FOOD GIVEAWAYS, DIAPER DRIVES, DONATING MASKS AND PPE.

SO THIS IS A WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY WITH MORE THAN 50% OF RESIDENTS EARNING $50,000 OR LESS.

IT IS ALSO A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITY WITH 88% OF THE RESIDENTS BEING BLACK.

ONE OF THOSE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS MANY OF US REMEMBER FROM OUR STOP, IS EDWIN MULDROW OF DEL-KAR PHARMACY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE 60s.

HE SAYS HE HAS NOTICED RESIDENTS ARE STRUGGLING AND GONE INTO SURVIVAL MODE BUT HE DOES HIS BEST TO LEND SUPPORT AS WELL.

>> I KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE AS FAR AS HELPING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S WITH MEDICATION OR EVEN MY MINI MART NEXT DOOR IF YOU NEED GROCERIES OR EVEN SIMPLE DELIVERY.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO GET OUT AND GO TO PICK UP YOUR MEDICINE OR PICK UP MILK.

>> ALSO HERE IN THE NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY IS SINAI HOSPITAL A SAFETY NET HOSPITAL THEY TREAT PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.

ONE OF THE HOSPITALS LEADERS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES SAYS THE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN HIT HARD BY COVID THEY ARE NOTICING A LOT OF MULTIGENERATIONAL IMPACTS.

AND SAYS ABOUT 40% OF THE STAFF HAS BEEN VACCINATED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

AND THAT THAT IS ON PAR WITH WHAT OTHER HOSPITALS ARE DOING AS WELL.

BUT AS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THERE ARE HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO ARE HESITANT ABOUT THE VACCINE.

>> EVEN HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE HUMAN AND IT IS A NEW VACCINE SO THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE NOVELTY OF THE VACCINE.

A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL ISSUES IF SOMEBODY IS PREGNANT PARTICULARLY IF IT IS AN EARLY PREGNANCY.

THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS FROM CAREGIVERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY HAD COVID.

>> AND I SHOULD MENTION THE DOCTOR SAYS THE HOSPITAL IS PROVIDING THAT ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WITH HEALTHCARE WORKERS IF THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THAT COVID-19 VACCINE.

AND LATER ON WE WILL HEAR FROM THE ALDERMAN MICHAEL SCOTT, AND THIS IS A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT LATER ON AS WELL.

PARIS?

>> WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

UP NEXT WAYS TO CELEBRATE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

VIRTUALLY.

SO PLEASE STICK AROUND.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US HOW CHICAGO SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DOING?

THESE ARE MORE THAN SHOPPING ARE GATHERING PLACES WHERE THEY AINTAIN THEIR CULTURE.

3W78 >> HOW RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

FIRST, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY IS COMING MONDAY AND ARTISTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ARE FINDING WAYS TO CELEBRATE KING'S MOVEMENT IN VIRTUAL CELEBRATIONS.

ANGEL IDOWU SHARES MORE.

[♪♪♪] >> WE WANTED TO SHOW HOW MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WORKS IN TANDEM WITH EVERY LETTER OF STEM.

HE IS NOT JUST LIKE A LEADER NOT JUST A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER.

LIKE HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING UNDER THAT UMBRELLA THAT YOU COULD THINK OF.

>> THIS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY 14-YEAR-OLD DORIS CARROLL IS DOROTHY IS USING HER PASSION TO HIGHLIGHT KING'S PASSION IN A VIRTUAL CELEBRATION.

IT WILL BE LIVE STREAMED FROM THE HAROLD WASHINGTON CULTURAL CENTER.

[♪♪♪] FROM DANCE AND MUSICAL NUMBERS TO EXCERPTS FROM SOME OF HIS MOST PROMINENT SPEECHES.

>> I CALL UPON YOU TO TAKE YOUR MONEY OUT OF THE BANK AND PUT YOUR MONEY IN TRI STATE BAKE.

>> TO SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS.

TILLMAN'S MOTHER SAYS THE AFTERNOON'S ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT OF ART AND SCIENCE WORKING TOGETHER.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT UNITY.

AND ULTIMATELY, THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A CHOICE AND Dr. KING FOUGHT FOR THEM TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEARN AND EXCEL IN ANY FIELD.

>> UNITY IS NOT THE ONLY MESSAGE OF Dr. KING THAT CHICAGO ARTISTS WILL BE CELEBRATING.

OVER AT THE BLACKEN SEMBLE THEATRE THEY WILL BE HAVING THEIR 10TH MLK DAY PRODUCTION.

FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF THE THEATRE JAYKY TAYLOR HOPES THE SHOWCASE REENFORCES EMPATHY AND HUMANITY.

>> THAT IS WHAT Dr. KING PREACHED MORE THAN ANYTHING.

IT WASN'T ABOUT REVENGE.

WE EITHER LOVE EACH OTHER, LEARN HOW TO LOVE AND CARE FOR EACH OTHER, AND I MEAN THAT ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS.

>> REGARDLESS, ACTRESS DAWN SAYS SHE HOPES VIEWERS ARE ABLE TO SEE HOW ART HELPED PROGRESS Dr. KING'S MOVEMENT.

>> THE ART OF FORCE TO EVOLVE AND WE ALWAYS DO.

I THINK THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY AS ARTISTS AND ARTISTS ALL OF THE CREATIVE PEOPLE I THINK WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A RENAISSANCE.

AND I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S FORCING PEOPLE TO REALLY GET CREATIVE WITH THEIR CREATIVITY.

>> ART WOO WE'VE SEEN WITH A RISE IN PUBLIC ART.

>> SO MUCH OF WHAT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS SPEAKING TO THROUGH HIS POLITICAL LENS WAS THAT IDEA OF CLAIMING SPACE OF CLAIMING SELF OF PRIDE.

>> DOREEN WILL JOIN A GROUP OF BLACK MURALISTS OF ALL AGES TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THIS MURAL MOVEMENT AT THE HYDE PARK ARTS CENTER.

>> THIS PERIOD OF PROTEST IS REALLY JUST IGNITED SO MUCH MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT PUBLIC SPACE SHOULD BE AND MEAN AND HOW WE CAN ENGAGE IT TO CREATE MORE CAMARADERIE.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH JUST TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL OPINION BUT HOW DO WE COME TOGETHER AND FIND COMMONALITIES IN TERMS OF OUR DIRECTIONS.

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

>> NOW YOU CAN JOIN THE CELEBRATION OF Dr. KING'S LIFE AND LEGACY VIRTUALLY MONDAY.

WE HAVE THE FULL DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES TAKES US TO NORTH LAWNDALE WHERE WE CHECK IN WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO HEAR HOW THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19.

THEY ARE CRITICAL TO THE CARE OF MOST CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS WE HEAR FROM TWO RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS.

AND GEOFFREY BAER HAS THE SCOOP ON SOME CHICAGO ICE CREAM HISTORY IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

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

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST OFFICERS CAUGHT ON CAMERA SLEEPING AND LOUNGING IN THE OFFICES OF CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH DURING RIOTS LAST SUMMER.

A GROUP OF 13 OFFICERS INCLUDING THREE SUPERVISORS WERE CAPTURED ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO DISCOVERED AND TURNED OVER TO THE CITY.

A SPOKESPERSON WOULD CONFIRM ONLY THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETE BUT DID NOT SAY HOW MANY OFFICERS WERE DISCIPLINED AND WHAT EXACTLY THAT DISCIPLINE WOULD BE.

>> DIFFERING ACCOUNTS HOW MANY COVID CASES HAVE BROKEN OUT IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

C.P.S.

PUTS THE OFFICIAL NUMBER AT 4 TOTAL PRESUMED POSITIVE CASES AMONG A THOUSAND TESTS.

THE C.P.S.

STATISTICS DO NOT IDENTIFY WHICH SCHOOLS HAVE SEEN POSITIVE CASES.

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION PUTS THE NUMBER AT 20 SCHOOLS WITH POSITIVE CASES AND TODAY A GROUP OF TEACHERS' UNION SCHOOL NURSES PROTESTED THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> TODAY IS NOT A GAME.

IT IS NOT A JOKE.

WE SEE THE EFFECTS OF THIS DISEASE ON PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

>> AND NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WHO IS COANCHORING IN NORTH LAWNDALE ON THE WEST SIDE.

IT'S PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH 24TH WARD ALDERMAN MICHAEL SCOTT AND I STARTED BY ASKING HOW THIS COMMUNITY IS COPING 10 MONTHS INTO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> IN AND AROUND NORTH LAWNDALE THERE ARE NOT MANY THINGS TO DO AND PART OF MY JOB IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING MORE AMENITIES TO THE COMMUNITY AND NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING EVEN IF THE SUMMER IT WAS ROUGH AND NOW EVERYTHING IS CLOSED DOWN.

YOU CAN'T GO DOWNTOWN MANY OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE STUCK IN A HOUSE AND WONDERING WHEN THIS COVID THING IS GOING TO END AND GET THE VACCINE WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

>> ECONOMICALLY, WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH EARLIER AND I NOTICED THE BUSINESS WE SPOKE TO THIS SUMMER HAD ITS DOOR CLOSED TODAY AND WE HAVE NOT CALLED TO FIND OUT WHY BUT HOW ARE BUSINESSES WHAT IS THE ECONOMICS LIKE HERE?

>> AGAIN, BEFORE COVID WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS.

COVID EXACERBATED THOSE ISSUES.

WHAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IS WORK ON NEW BUSINESSES, BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE A FUND THAT WE'VE CREATED IN THE WARD WHERE WE RAISED ABOUT $150,000 WHERE WE WILL GIVE TO NEW COMMUNITY BUSINESSES HOPEFULLY IN THE SUMMER TO START UP AND GET WHEN THE GET SOMETHING GOOD WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM AND PEOPLE CAN COME OUT.

>> HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH REGARD TO VACCINE HESITANCY?

>> I GIVE IT AN INCOMPLETE.

I THINK WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT JUST WHO, WHEN, WHERE AND HOW.

WHAT I WILL SAY, THOUGH, IS MEMBERS IN MY COMMUNITY AND MY FAMILY AND MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN GENERAL HAVE A MIXED BAG ABOUT THE VACCINE AND HOW IT SHOULD BE ROLLED OUT IF THEY SHOULD GET IT OR NOT.

I WAS TALKING TO AN INDIVIDUAL THE OTHER DAY WHO WAS TELLING ME HOW THEY REALLY WANT THE VACCINE AND WHEN THINGS ARE AVAILABLE LET THEM KNOW.

AND I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A RELATIVE DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE SPEED AND THE ROLL OUT HOW THEY GOT THE VACCINE THE WAY IT IS.

IT IS A MIXED BAG OF SORTS.

>> YESTERDAY WE REPORTED THERE WILL BE NO CITYWIDE REGISTRY.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYING MOST FOLKS WILL GET THE VACCINE THROUGH THEIR DOCTOR BUT A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T HAVE A PRIMARY PHYSICIAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO BE DOING TO MAKE SURE WHEN THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET IT?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED TO Dr. ALLISON ARWADY HERSELF IS MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE NORTH LAWNDALE, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HEALTH CENTERS AND PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GO AND HAVE A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN WE HAVE TO GO TO THE PLACES WHERE THEY WILL GO.

I WAS TALKING TO A LAWYER FRIEND OF MINE WHO WORKS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION HERE IN NORTH LAWNDALE WHO DOES DRUG TREATMENT IT IS A DRUG TREATMENT FACILITY AND WANTS TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET THE VACCINE HE KNOWS PEOPLE GET THEIR HEALTHCARE THERE.

MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH LIKE A CATCH ALL.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THOSE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GO SO WE CAN MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

>> YOU HOSTED A HEARING ON MONDAY ABOUT C.P.S.

'S REOPENING PLAN.

DO YOU THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CASES?

>> SO YOU KNOW THERE IS NEVER GOING TO BE THE EXACT RIGHT TIME.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHILDREN IN COMMUNITIES LIKE NORTH LAWNDALE LIKENING EVENING, LIKE BACK OF THE YARDS WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE NEEDS MET BY E-LEARNING.

WE HAVE TO THINK OF ANOTHER THING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN IT IS NOT A LOST GENERATION.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN COVID CASES REPORTED IN SEVERAL SCHOOLS.

A LOT OF LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT REOPENING AND THEY ARE RESISTANT TO IT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE FOLKS ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THE RATES ARE HIGHER AND THEY DON'T TRUST C.P.S.

'S PLAN?

>> I THINK THIS IS ALL WRAPPED AROUND THE MISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT WE TALKED ABOUT THE VIRUS AND PEOPLE HAVING MISTRUST.

PEOPLE HAVE MISTRUST IN GOVERNMENT.

YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND FEEL COMFORTABLE YOURSELF AND THAT IS WHY C.P.S.

HAS THE OPTION OF PEOPLE GOING AND NOT GOING.

IF YOU FEEL IT IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME, THERE'S GOING TO BE E-LEARNING WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED THE WAY THEY CAN BE WHETHER IT IS AT HOME OR IN-PERSON.

SO YOU KNOW, NEVER GOING TO BE THE RIGHT TIME UNTIL COVID IS GONE AWAY.

BUT WE GOT TO DO THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT WE CAN.

>> AND PARIS IN A FEW MINUTES WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM A LOCAL CHURCH IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW THEY'VE PIVOTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE FOR A LOOK AT THE WORK OF RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> PARIS, IT IS A PROFESSION MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT AND THEY ARE PROVIDING CRITICAL CARE.

RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS ARE THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS TRAINED TO USE VENTILATORS A MACHINE NEEDED BY SOME OF THE SICKEST COVID PATIENTS.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK ARE BRADY SCOTT HE IS A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST AT RUSH MEDICAL CENTER AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT RUSH UNIVERSITY.

AND NAIDA PEREZ, A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST AT UI HEALTH AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NAIDA PEREZ AS I MENTIONED A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST DOES.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO?

>> A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST IN OUR ROLE WE TREAT AND ASSESS PATIENTS.

WE TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS LUNG DISEASES AND LUNG INFECTIONS SUCH AS COPD AND LUNG CANCER AND NOW COVID.

>> BRADY SCOTT HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ROLE AMIDST THIS COVID PANDEMIC?

>> A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF BECAUSE THEY ARE DEALING WITH COVID ARE IN PRETTY SEVERERIES PERRER TO FAILURE.

A LOT ARE USING DEVICES TO HELP THEM BREATHE EASIER AND IMPROVE THEIR OXYGEN LEVELS.

AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO USE DEVICES TO BREATHE FOR THEM.

RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS DO THIS FOR A LOT OF FOLKS BUT THE COVID-19 POPULATION ARE REALLY CHALLENGING US DURING THIS TIME.

>> YOU USE DEVICES OTHER THAN RESPIRATORS, THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

>> CORRECT.

WE MAKE A LOT OF ATTEMPTS TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF THE VENTILATORS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SOMETHING COMMONLY WOULD BE HIGH FLOW OXYGEN THERAPY ON NONINVASIVE VENTILATION WHICH IS SIMILAR TO PUTTING A PATIENT ON THE BREATHING MACHINES IN THE TUBE BUT WITHOUT THE TUBE.

SO THE PATIENT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SEDATED HEAVILY AND PARALYZED AND THOSE THINGS.

IT IS A WAY TO KEEP PATIENTS AWAKE AND PREVENT THEM FROM GOING ON THE MACHINES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> NAIDA PEREZ WE UNDERSTAND THAT A PATIENT'S CONDITION CAN CHANGE VERY DRAMATICALLY VERY QUICKLY.

COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND ANY EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I'VE SEEN DUE TO THE MEDIA A LOT OF PEOPLE TRY TO SIMPLIFY COVID AND SAY IT IS NOT REAL OR SERIOUS.

AND I THINK THAT CAUSED DELAY IN A LOT OF OUR PATIENTS COMING INTO THE ER AND BY THE TIME THEY COME TO THE ER, THEY NEED TO BE ON OXYGEN LIKE BRADY WAS SAYING AND DEPENDING HOW LOW THE OXYGEN LEVELS ARE WE'VE SEEN IT WHERE WE HAD TO START THEM.

WE CAN REGULATE YOUR OXYGENATION WELL BY DRAWING YOUR BLOOD AND CHECKING YOUR LEVELS.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE TIMES WHERE IT'S TOO GRAVE AND WE HAVE TO INTUBATE.

>> AND BRADY SCOTT HOW QUICKLY CAN A PATIENT'S CONDITION CHANGE?

>> VERY QUICKLY.

IF YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE COVID-19, THE INDIVIDUALS WITH COVID-19, I HAVE TO BE FRANK SOME OF THE FOLKS DETERIORATE VERY, VERY QUICKLY WITH US AS SHE SAID.

SOME FOLKS COME TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND THEY ARE VERY SICK AND THEY DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY AND HAVE TO BE PLACED ON THE MECHANICAL VENTILATORS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEY ARE ADMITTED TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOSPITAL OR AN ICU BED.

AND THEN WE ARE SEEING FOLKS THAT ARE HAVE BEEN ADMITTED STILL DETERIORATE AT THE BEDSIDE AND HAVE TO BE INTUBATED WHICH THAT MEANS PUTTING THE BREATHING TUBE IN VERY QUICKLY.

SO THAT'S PRETTY COMMON.

>> NAIDA PEREZ WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT BURN-OUT THAT SOME MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT KINDS OF HOURS ARE A LOT OF YOU WORKING?

>> WELL, WE'RE WORKING OUR NORMAL SHIFTS AND COVERING EXTRA SHIFTS.

YOU KNOW SOME OF OUR STAFF ALSO TEST POSITIVE AND THEY ARE GONE FOR TWO WEEKS AT A TIME.

SO WE'RE PICKING UP THE SLACK FROM THAT OR THERE'S JUST SO MANY PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS.

A POINT SYSTEM THAT WE WORK ON THE POINTS ARE HIGH REQUIRING EXTRA RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

WE'VE HAD TO SEEK OUT THERAPISTS TO COME ON STAFF AND WE'RE WORKING 12-16 HOURS DAYS, FIVE OR SIX DAYS A WEEK.

>> BRADY SCOTT HOW ABOUT THAT?

HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE SHORTAGE IN YOUR PROFESSION AND WHAT IT MEANS IN THIS MOMENT?

>> WELL, AS YOU CLEARLY SAID WE HAD A SHORTAGE IN THE PROFESSION BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

I THINK WHAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS HIGHLIGHTED THAT REALITY.

YOU KNOW, OUR RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO WORK A LOT OF HOURS AND SHIFTS THEY DON'T NORMALLY WORK DURING THE SURGE SOME WENT FROM THEIR LIKE PULMONARY FUNCTION LABS BACK TO WORKING AT THE BEDSIDE AGAIN AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SHIFTED AROUND.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK THAT RAISING AWARENESS OF THE RESPIRATORY THERAPY PRO SPHETION IMPORTANT AND I HOPE AFTER THE PANDEMIC THEN PEOPLE WILL LOOK TOWARDS OUR PROFESSION AS A CAREER OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE AND REALLY FILL UP A LOT OF THE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE NOWADAYS.

>> RIGHT NOW, IN CHICAGO, ABOUT 80% OF STAFFED ICU BEDS ARE OCCUPIED AND 32% OF VENTILATORS ARE BEING USED, ACCORDING TO STATE DATA.

NAIDA PEREZ WITH A MORE CONTAGIOUS STRAIN HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU THAT THIS COULD CHANGE THAT THE NUMBERS COULD GO UP?

>> I DO FEEL THAT IT WILL CHANGE ESPECIALLY HEARING THAT IT'S MORE CONTAGIOUS AND YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT FOLLOWING SIMPLE RULES SUCH AS WEARING MASKS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO GET THE VACCINE.

I MEAN I'VE GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

START DEVELOPING HERD IMMUNITY AND GET AHEAD OF THE STRAIN COMING OUR WAY.

WE GOT OUR VENTILATORS AND WE'RE READY TO TAKE ON THE FIGHT.

>> NAIDA PEREZ, BRADY SCOTT WE HOPE THAT WE WISH YOU THE BEST WITH THAT FIGHT AND WE ALL HOPE FOR EVERYTHING'S SAFE THAT THAT FIGHT DIMINISHES SOON SOMEWHAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW PARIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, PHIL AND WE CHECK BACK IN WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN COANCHORING TONIGHT'S SHOW IN NORTH LAWNDALE AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> AND TODAY WE STOPPED BY THE STONE TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN NORTH LAWNDALE AND WE SPOKE WITH PASTOR RESHORNA FITZPATRICK ABOUT THE CHURCH'S LONG HISTORY BUT ALSO HOW IT'S PIVOTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE ADAPTED BY REALIZING WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS PANDEMIC IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO RALLY TOGETHER TO SHOW SENSE OF UNITY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP.

SO WE'VE PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE FOOD, TO PROVIDE CLOTHING, TO PROVIDE TOILETRIES AND PPE AND IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

>> JUST NOW FOR EXAMPLE WE SAW A FOOD DONATION ARRIVE AND PEOPLE ARE HELPING TO SETUP FOR IT.

>> THAT BRINGS ME SO MUCH JOY I WILL GET A CALL IN THE MORNING HEY WE GOT A SHIPMENT CAN YOU USE ANYTHING?

AND MY ANSWER IS ALWAYS YES.

PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS USE SOMETHING ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

I GOT A CALL FROM YOU CAN AND I LINED UP PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP AND WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE AND MY GOD GOES TO PICK UP THE GOODIES AND WE SETUP A TABLE AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE IT MAKE IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS POSSIBLE.

I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A SENSE OF DIGNITY THIS IS NOT JUST A FOOD PANTRY BUT YOU CAN COME AND GET GOOD FOOD ITEMS.

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE SAUSAGES AND THE PASTA.

WE COME AND SETUP.

USUALLY I WILL DO A Facebook POST AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FROM THE COMMUNITY GOES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT BRINGS ME A SENSE OF JOY.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

THE SCRUP TUR SAYS WE ARE OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER.

IT'S MY ABILITY TO SERVE.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE NEEDS IN THE NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY EDUCATION ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WHERE TO GET HELP AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISENFRANCHISE.

IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE THE 50s FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

NOW, PEOPLE ARE BEING GENEROUS AND I WANT THEM TO GENEROUSLY COME TO NORTH LAWNDALE AND FIND A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE EMPOWERED AND TO EMPOWER THEM WITH EDUCATIONAL TOOLS WITH ENTREPRENEURSHIP TOOLS THAT THEY CAN START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.

RIGHT NOW THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING.

IT'S GOTTEN SO DIFFICULT TO HOLD A REGULAR 9-5 ALL THE PANDEMIC PEOPLE ARE INSIDE.

SO LET'S BE CREATIVE AND DO THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON TRYING TO GET AN ENTREPRENEUR HUB WHERE WE CAN GET LEADERS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND TO SHARE SKILLS AND TO TEACH AND TRAIN AND DEVELOP SO THAT PEOPLE CAN EMPOWER THEMSELVES AND INSTEAD OF HAVING TO COME TO THE TABLE THEY CAN BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE.

THAT IS EXCITING BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF YOUR CHURCH'S BUILDING?

THERE ARE A LOT OF FORMER SYNAGOGUES IN THE NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY.

>> STONE WAS ORIGINALLY A SYNAGOGUE.

AND I TELL PEOPLE, IS THAT WHEN YOU COME TO STONE TEMPLE YOU ARE COMING TO A PLACE WHERE A QUEEN WAS AND ALSO THE KING.

SO THE ROMANIAN QUEEN CAME IN 1926 AND GRACED THE PLACEMENT WHEN YOU CROSS THE THRESHOLD YOU ARE IN A PLACE THAT IS QUEENLY AND KINGLY.

I LIKE TO SHARE THAT STORY.

Dr. KING SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT STONE TEMPLE IN THE 60s.

THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY AND WE CONTINUE TO TELL THAT HISTORY.

THIS GARDEN THESE TABLETS WERE INSIDE OF THE CHURCH THE JEWISH TABLETS WE BROUGHT THEM OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH CHICAGO SINAI AND THEY HELP KEEP THIS GARDEN TOGETHER.

THEY ARE OUR PARTNERS AND WE LOVE THEM.

THEY COME OFTEN WITH US AND WE WANT TO USE THIS STAGE AS A WAY OF TELLING OUR HERITAGE TO BRIDGE THE HISTORIES TOGETHER SO THERE IS A SPIRIT OF UNITY.

>> AND YOU MENTION Dr. KING PREACHED HERE IN THE 60s.

>> YEAH, IN THE 60s Dr. KING WAS HERE.

THIS COMMUNITY WAS AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AS IT RELATES TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

HE SPENT TIME HAVING RALLIES HERE TALKING ABOUT REDLINE AND HOW ALL OF THE DISENFRANCHISE MEANT WAS HAPPENING AND STILL TODAY IT STILL EXISTS.

SYSTEMIC RACISM IS VERY REAL AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND WE HAVE TO STAND UP AGAINST IT.

PEOPLE HAVE BIASES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW.

LET'S SEE WHAT CAN WE GET RID OF TO BRING US ALTOGETHER.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT GOING ON NOW.

AND EVERYBODY IS TALKING THAT IS WHAT I LOVE EVERYBODY IS TALKING AND NOW IT'S MORE THAN TALK EVERYBODY CAN SEE AND BE ACTIVATED IN THE PROCESS OF ENDING SYSTEMIC RACISM BECAUSE IT DOES EXIST.

>> AND THAT IS PASTOR RESHORNA FITZPATRICK OF STONE TEMPLE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

YOU HEAR HER MENTION THAT Dr. KING PREACHED THERE IN THE 60s.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON REVEREND KING'S TIME IN NORTH LAWNDALE SUNDAY ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

>> A LOT OF GREAT HISTORY THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT IT MAY BE THE MIDDLE OF WINTER BUT WE GO TO THE ARCHIVES FOR A SWEET TREAT FROM LAST JULY AN ENCORE PRESENTATION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> IN 1984, PRESIDENT REAGAN DECREED THE MONTH OF JULY TO BE NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH.

WHY GEOFFREY BAER CONSIDERS IT HIS PATRIOTIC DUTY TO GIVE US THE SCOOP ON SWEET CREAMY HISTORY IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

HEY GEOFFREY.

>> ANYTHING FOR THE TEAM.

>> ANYTHING FOR THE TEAM.

ALL RIGHT THEY GIVE YOU THE TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS.

YOU ANSWERED A QUESTION ABOUT THE BUILDING MATERIAL KNOWN AS THE CHICAGO BRICK.

TONIGHT WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP.

SO PEOPLE CAN PROBABLY PICTURE NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM.

WHICH IS DIVIDED INTO LATERAL SECTIONS OF CHOCOLATE, VANILLA AND STRAWBERRY.

OS OUR VIEWER POINTS OUT CHICAGO BRICK ICE CREAM WAS THE SAME IDEA BUT THEY WERE ORANGER IS BET, VANILLA AND CARAMEL.

>> WHY DO THEY CALL IT CHICAGO BRICK?

DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH CLAY BRICKS?

>> WELL, THAT WAS MY FIRST THEORY AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGE THE COLORS OF THE FLAVORS MIXED TOGETHER DEFINITELY DO RESEMBLE THE COLOR PALLET OF REAL CHICAGO BRICKS WHICH I FEATURED ON "ASK GEOFFREY" BUT WE COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE NAME HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

AND IN FACT, THE ICE CREAM VARIETY WASN'T UNIQUE TO CHICAGO.

WE FOUND ADS FOR CHICAGO BRICK ICE CREAM AS FAR AWAY AS OKLAHOMA AND NEBRASKA IN THE 1910'S AND THE 193 OWE'S.

NOT KNOWING WHERE ELSE TO TURN WE ASKED HISTORY CAN TIM SAMUELSON AND HE BROKE IT DOWN.

HE SAYS AS FAR AS THE BRICK PART OF THE NAME THAT WAS ONCE A COMMON REFERENCE TO THE SHAPE OF A BLOCK OF ICE CREAM NO MATTER WHAT THE FLAVOR.

IN THE 1860s BRICKS OF ICE CREAM BECAME POPULAR IN SWEET SHOPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THE SHOP WOULD CUT A SLAB AND WRAP IT UP AND YOU WOULD SLICE IT UP INTO SERVINGS.

AND THIS FLAVOR CALLED CHICAGO BRICK STARTED APPEARING IN ICE CREAM PARLORS IN THE MID-1880s AND COULD BE FOUND IN GROCERY STORES STARTING IN THE LATE 1940s.

AND A FEW LOCAL MANUFACTURERS PRODUCED CHICAGO BRICK FLAVORS.

WHY THE NAME CHICAGO IS IN THERE >> CAN YOU GET IT ANYWHERE TODAY?

>> IT WAS OUT OF STOCK AT EVERY STORE.

IT IS STILL MADE BY A PRODUCER CALLED DFA BRANDS AND SOLD UNDER THE DEAN'S COUNTRY FRESH LABEL BUT THEY RELEASE IT AS A LIMITED EDITION.

I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY SAID IF THEY GET ENOUGH REQUESTS WE CAN START A MOVEMENT IF YOU WANT TO TASTE A BIT OF CHICAGO HISTORY GIVE THEM A CALL.

>> I ANTICIPATE A LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN.

YOU WERE HOLDING A BOWL OF SUPPOSED CHICAGO BRICK ICE CREAM UP.

WHAT WAS THAT?

>> NEXT TO THE BRICK WALL.

WE CHEATED A LITTLE THERE.

OUR PRODUCER DISCOVERED THAT AN ICE CREAM PARLOR CALLED HOMER'S CARRIES THE THREE SEPARATE FLAVORS AND SHE ASKED THEM TO PACK THEM INTO A QUART TO SIMULATE CHICAGO BRICK BUT HOMER'S DOES NOT OFFER THAT.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHICAGO FLAVORED ICE CREAM FLAVORS?

>> WELL, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE AND IT HAS A MISLEADING NAME.

SOUTH SIDERS KNOW THE PALMER HOUSE FLAVOR.

AS THE MIDDLE LAYER OF A RAINBOW CONE.

IT COMES DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THE TOWERING FIVE-LAYER TREAT FROM THE SHOP OF THE SAME NAME IN THE BEVERLY NEIGHBORHOOD.

PALMER HOUSE IS VANILLA WITH CHERRIES AND WALNUTS BUT IT WAS NOT INVENTED AT THE PALMER HOUSE HOTEL.

ACCORDING TO RAINBOW CONES OWNER HER GRANDFATHER JOSEPH SAP WANTED TO PUT A CHICAGO STAMP ON A NEW YORK ICE CREAM THAT WAS HAVE VANILLA AND CHERRY AND HE ADDED THE NAME HOUSE SO IT HONORS THE PALMER HOUSE HOTEL.

AND DOVE BARS WERE INVENTED IN CHICAGO.

CHICAGO CANDY STORE OWNER INVENTED THE CHOCOLATE DIPPED ICE CREAM BAR IN THE 50s AFTER SEEING HIS SON RUNNING DOWN THE STREET AFTER AN ICE CREAM TRUCK HE DECIDED IT WOULD MAKE HIS SON SAFER IF HE INVENTED HIS OWN ICE CREAM BAR.

GEOFFREY THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CANVIE FER VISITED OUR WEB SITE FOR MORE OF CHICAGO'S HISTORY AND SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

THAT IS ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND THAT WAS TAPED BACK IN JULY AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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