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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> BIRTH CONTROL IS BASIC HEALTHCARE.

>> A NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT IN ILLINOIS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE BIRTH CONTROL MORE ACCESSIBLE BUT IT COULD TAKE TIME.

>> COVID CASES ARE SPIKING IN NURSING HOMES.

WHAT FACILITIES CAN DO TO MITIGATE THE SURGE.

>> THEY SHOULD REST ASSURED THAT WE ARE FOCUSED.

>> JEWISH CHICAGOANS ASK THE U.S. TO RAMP UP SECURITY MEASURES INSIDE PLACES OF WORSHIP AFTER THE HOSTAGE SITUATION IN TEXAS.

>> INCARCERATED PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS ARE HAVING TROUBLE GET GETTING BASIC ITEMS LIKE DETERGENT AND TOOTHBRUSHES.

>> NO MORE UTENSILS IN YOUR DELIVERY ORDER THANKS TO A CITY ORDINANCE.

>> THE SHEDD AQUARIUM PRESIDENT TALKS US ABOUT A EXPANSION IN PREPARATION FOR THE CENTENNIAL.

>> YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELINQUISH YOUR PET BECAUSE YOU CANNOT AFFORD FOOD.

>> MEET A COUPLE WHO USED THEIR STIMULUS CHECKS TO BUILD A PANTRY TO HELP STRUGGLING PET OWNERS.

>> THE EXHIBITION IS AN INTROSPECTION OF CHICAGO.

>> AND HOW A ONE OF A KIND SHOWCASE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS ENDED UP IN A BUSY DOWNTOWN BUILDIES... >> AN ALLEGED GUNMAN INVOLVED IN A SHOOTOUT NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IS REPORTED TO BE IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE UC MEDICAL CENTER AFTER THAT SHOOT OUT THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN A UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER AND THE ALLEGED GUNMAN THAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING.

POLICE SAY ANOTHER FIVE PEOPLE WERE SHOT TODAY IN TWO OTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING AN 11-YEAR-OLD AND A 16-YEAR-OLD.

MEANWHILE THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS REPORTING FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE CITY OVER MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

IN ALL, 38 PEOPLE FROM SHOT IN 32 INCIDENTS.

AT LEAST 22 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN CHICAGO SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR WHICH IS DOWN 27% DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ADDRESSED THE RISE AND FALL OF VIOLENCE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY.

>> IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO BREAK THIS CYCLE OF A SPIKE AND A TROUGH AND A SPIKE AND A TROUGH THAT GOES BACK TO THE 1970s, WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE VIOLENCE.

WHAT IS MOTIVATING THESE MOSTLY YOUNG MEN TO PICK UP A GUN AND SOLVE IN MANY INSTANCES PETTY DISTRIBUTES AT WITH A TRIGGER PULL.

>> AND TODAY'S EVENT WAS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE SINCE ANNOUNCING SHE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID A WEEK AGO.

>> THE ROLLOUT OF 5G, THE NEXT GENERATION OF CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY IS NOT CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF.

AT LEAST NOT COMPLETELY FOLLOWING PUSHBACK OVER AIRLINE SAFETY CONCERNS.

AT&T AND VERIZON ARE PLANNING TO LAUNCH 5G TOMORROW BUT WILL NOT TURN ON THE SIGNALS WITHIN TWO MILES OF AIRPORT RUNWAYS.

THE CONCERN IS THAT THE FREQUENCIES USED FOR THE NETWORK COULD CONFUSE RADAR ALTIMETERS.

A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES ANNOUNCED SOME CANCELLATIONS OF U.S.

BOUND FLIGHTS AFTER THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND BOEING WARNED ABOUT FLYING THE 777 JUMBO JET.

NO WORD HOW LONG THE BUFFERS AROUND AIRPORTS WILL LAST.

>> A NEW AIRLINE IS ARRIVING AT MIDWAY AIRPORT THIS SPRING.

FRONTIER AIRLINE ALSO START FLYING BEGINNING APRIL 28.

THAT MAKES SIX AIRLINES OPERATING OUT OF CHICAGO'S SMALLER AIRPORT.

>> AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT THERE WERE NEARLY 20500 REPORTED COVID CASES TODAY ALONG WITH 36 DEATHS.

THERE HAVE BEEN 2,683,000 TOTAL COVID CASES AND 29,350 DEATHS IN THE STATE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

THE SEVEN-DAY TEST POSITIVITY RATE STATE-WIDE IS AT 15.4%.

>> AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION QUIETLY LAUNCHES ITS WEBSITE FOR FREE AT HOME COVID TESTS TODAY.

THE WEBSITE COVID TESTS.GOV WAS SCHEDULED TO GO ON-LINE TOMORROW.

AMERICANS CAN ORDER FOUR FREE AT HOME TESTS PER HOUSEHOLD THAT THE USPS WILL DELIVER.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS PURCHASING ONE BILL AT HOME TESTS BUT DO NOT EXPECT NEXT DAY DELIVERY IT WILL SHIP WITHIN 7-12 DAYS OF ORDERING.

PEOPLE WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE CAN 8 FREE HOME TESTS PER MONTH AT PHARMACIES AND ON-LINE RETAILORS.

>> A NEW LAW AIMED AT MAKING BIRTH CONTROL MORE ACCESSIBLE.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> ILLINOIS LIFTED RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTIONS IN RECENT YEARS BUT OTHER LIMITS ON HEALTHCARE AND REPRODUCTIVE CARE SPECIFICALLY REMAIN.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE ON A NEW LAW THAT SEEKS TO CHANGE THAT.

AMANDA?

>> YEAH, PARIS.

BIRTH CONTROL IS BASIC HEALTHCARE SO SAYS KATIE THIEDE SHE IS THE COFOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF ILLINOIS CONTRACEPTIVE NOW OR I CAN.

IT HAS PURPOSES IT CAN BE USED TO CONTROL MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

EVEN SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR EVERYONE TO ACCESS.

>> ONE IN THREE WOMEN HAS STRUGGLED TO ACCESS BIRTH CONTROL DURING THE PANDEMIC DUE TO HEALTH CENTERS LIMITED, TELEHEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR BLACK AND HISPANIC WOMEN IN PARTICULAR DISTRUST OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM DUE TO EXPERIENCES OF DISCRIMINATION, RACISM AND OR CONTRACEPTIVE COERCION REMAIN A BARRIER TO CARE.

AND HERE IN ILLINOIS 800,000 WOMEN AGED 15-44 WITH FEWER RESOURCES LIVE IN COUNTIES WHERE THERE ARE NO HEALTH CENTERS THAT OFFER THE FULL RANGE OF CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS.

>> AMONG THE BARRIERS UNTIL THIS MONTH, ILLINOIS REQUIRED A DOCTOR TO PRESCRIBE BIRTH CONTROL.

NOT GOING FORWARD A NEW LAW ALLOWS A PHARMACIST TO DISPENSE UP TO A YEAR'S WORTH OF HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVE, BIRTH CONTROL WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION FROM A DOCTOR.

BUT IT IS NOT QUITE OVER-THE-COUNTER.

A TRAINED PHARMACIST HAS TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH A DOCTOR FOR OVERSIGHT AND THE PATIENT MUST HAVE AN EVALUATION AND THAT PRIVATE COUNSELING COULD LEAD THE PHARMACIST TO SEND THE PATIENT TO A PHYSICIAN.

FOR SOMETHING LIKE AN IUD OR OTHER MEDICAL INTERVENTION.

HEAD OF THE STATE FARM SIFTS ASSOCIATION WHICH HELPED TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS LAW SAYS THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN THE EXPANDED ROLE PHARMACISTS CAN PLAY IN A STRAINED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>> COVID HAS DEFINITELY HELPED THE COUNTRY SEE THAT PHARMACISTS ARE A POINT OF ACCESS FOR MEDICAL SERVICES AS WELL.

FOR SOME.

NOW, I WON'T SAY ALL BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A DOCTOR WE NEVER WILL BE A PHYSICIAN.

BUT WE CAN HELP WITH ALLEVIATING A LOT OF THE PATIENT CARE SERVICES.

LIKE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH POINT OF CARE TESTING WITH COVID TESTING.

HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND WITH OFFERING VACCINATIONS.

>> I CAN'S OTHER FOUNDER MIDWIFE KAI TAO SAYS THESE CONSULTATIONS WILL PROVIDE PHARMACISTS WITH OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDICAL INTERVENTION.

>> IT IS A GREAT WAY FOR SOMEBODY WHO MAY NOT ACCESS CARE OTHERWISE TO FIND A TRUSTED PROVIDER, GET THE BIRTH CONTROL THEY NEED AND THEN ALSO BE BRIDGED TO A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.

I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND THE PHARMACIST IS ASSESSING THAT.

THEY SHOULD NEVER BE WITHHOLDING THAT ANDTH SIS A GREAT PLACE TO GET TESTED HIV INCLUDING IN ILLINOIS WE HAVE HAD HIGH PREVALENCE RATES.

>> THE PHARMACISTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO CHECK A PATIENT'S BLOOD PRESSURE AND THAT IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEALTH CHECK.

BUT THE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE JENNIFER VOLLEN-KATZ SAYS THAT -- JIM SEDLAK SAYS PHARMACISTS DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THOROUGH CONSULTS.

>> IT IS A DISSERVICE TO THE WOMEN WHO ARE LOOKING TO GET THE HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL BECAUSE THERE ARE DANGEROUS THINGS ABOUT THE HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL AND WHEN YOU GO TO A DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND YOU ASK THE DOCTOR ABOUT IT THEY GENERALLY HAVE THE TIME TO TALK TO YOU AND TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS TO SPAIN THE FACT THAT THE HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL CAUSES DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AND BLOOD CLOTS THAT CAN CAUSE BRAIN ANEURYSMS.

>> JIM SEDLAK IS CONCERNED THAT ILLINOIS' NEW LAW SETS NO QUALIFYING MINIMUM AGE.

>> A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL, A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL COULD GO INTO A PHARMACIST AND SAY, I WANT THE BIRTH CONTROL AND CAN GET THE PRESCRIPTION IF THEY FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE NOT ADULTS YET AND THEY CAN'T MAKE THE DECISIONS THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE MAKING THE DECISIONS.

>> HE SAYS TEENS COGNITIVE THINKING ISN'T DEVELOPED ENOUGH FOR THEM TO MAKE LONG-TERM CHOICES ABOUT THEIR HEALTH.

BUT KAI TAO SAYS BENEFICIAL CONTROL IS SAFE.

>> USUALLY PROGESTERONE AND ESTROGEN AND THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION EVEN GLOBE ALI ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN CALLED FREE THE PILL WHICH SAYS THAT CAMPAIGN IS WHY CAN'T BIRTH CONTROL LIKE IN OTHER COUNTRIES YOU MAY SEE IT OVER-THE-COUNTER WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION.

THERE IS A LOT OF ARGUMENTS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A TYLENOL IS THAT MORE DANGEROUS THAN WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF SOMEONE TOOK THE BILL?

>> SHE -- PILL.

>> OTHER STATES HAVE SHOWN IT IS SAFE.

17 HAVE A SIMILAR LAW IN EFFECT.

EVEN THOUGH ILLINOIS' LAW HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS TAKING EFFECT AT THE START OF THIS MONTH, IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOMETIME BEFORE PATIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO BYPASS A DOCTOR TO ACCESS BIRTH CONTROL.

THERE'S RED TAPE TO GO THROUGH, FEDERAL APPROVAL IN ORDER FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS TO GO THIS PATH AND ALSO TRAINING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN AND PRACTICAL MATTERS LIKE PHARMACIES THAT THE HEAD OF THE STATE ASSOCIATION ADMITS ARE STRUGGLING WITH STAFFING AS ARE SO MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES AS THEY GET UP TO SPEED DECIDE FOR EXAMPLE WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE WALK UP APPOINTMENTS OR REQUIRE THEM TO BE SCHEDULED.

IT IS EXPECTED THOSE WITH GOVERNMENT-BACKED HEALTH INSURANCE WILL, HOWEVER, BE ABLE TO GO THIS ROUTE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE SEVERAL MONTHS.

IT WILL BE UNTIL 2023, HOWEVER, THAT THOSE WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE WILL HAVE IT REQUIRED THROUGH THEIR INSURERS.

PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> STILL A WAYS TO GO THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS AND A CAUSE FOR CONCERN AT ILLINOIS NURSING HOMES.

BRANDIS?

>> PARIS, COVID CASES AND DEATHS AT U.S.

NURSING HOMES ARE ONCE AGAIN ON THE RISE.

ACCORDING TO C.D.C.

DATA, ILLINOIS SAW ITS HIGHEST EVER CASE RATE FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS THIS MONTH.

SURPASSING EVEN LAST WINTER'S SURGE.

CASES AMONG STAFF HAVE REACHED RECORD LEVELS.

AND WHILE RESIDENT DEATHS ARE ON THE RISE AS WELL, THE NUMBERS ARE STILL FAR SHORT OF PREVIOUS RECORDS.

EASTERN THOUGH SOME CAUTION THAT DEATHS ARE A LAGGING INDICATOR.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE TAMARA KONETZKA, PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

AND JOSEPH QUAYSON, DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT ALDEN PARK STRATHMOOR REHABILITATION AND HEALTH CARE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TAMARA KONETZKA LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE, C.D.C.

DATA FOR THE MOST RECENT WEEK AVAILABLE SHOWS MORE THAN 2200 COVID CASES IN ILLINOIS NURSING HOMES BREAKING A RECORD SET IN DECEMBER 2020.

THAT SAME WEEK SAW 60 RESIDENT DEATHS MUCH LOWER THAN THE RECORD OF 393 FROM DECEMBER 2020 AND ALTHOUGH AS WE MENTIONED DEATHS ARE VIEWED AS A LAGGING INDICATOR.

TAMARA KONETZKA WHAT STEPS CAN NURSING HOMES TAKE TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF COVID ON ITS RESIDENTS?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST OUR MAIN TOOL REMAINS VACCINATIONS.

IF WE REMEMBER BACK A YEAR AGO, WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF THE VACCINATION CAMPAIGN THAT PRIORITIZED NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND STAFF.

AND THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL AND CAUSED A DECLINE IN CASES AND DEATHS AMONG NURSING HOME RESIDENTS.

BUT THAT IS NOT A ONE-TIME EVENT IT IS A PROCESS.

AND A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VACCINATION RATES AMONG RESIDENTS AND STAFF INCLUDING NOW BOOSTERS, STAY HIGH AND IN FACT THEY HAVE DROPPED TO 87% AMONG RESIDENTS AND 82% IN ILLINOIS AMONG STAFF.

OUR FIRST WEAPON IS TO JUST INCREASE THOSE VACCINATION RATES.

>> JOSEPH QUAYSON WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR RESIDENTS AND STAFF?

>> MOSTLY STAFFING.

THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR US NOW.

WITH THE INCREASE IN CASES OF COVID A LOT OF THE STAFF HAVE TO BE OFF WORK AND THAT IS PUTTING A CONSTRAIN ON THE REST OF THE STAFF LEFT BEHIND TO PICK UP THE SLACK.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOUR RESIDENTS WHEN YOU ARE FACING STAFF SHORTAGES LIKE THAT?

>> SO MY BUILDING IS FULLY STAFFED WE HAVE MANAGERS WHO ARE PICKING UP TO EXTRA HOURS TO HELP WITH THE STAFFING NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.

ALSO ALDEN IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO BRING IN AGENCY STAFF TO BRING IN.

>> HAVE YOU NOTICED IMPACT ON RESIDENTS AND RATES OF COVID?

>> SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE 87% RATE FOR VACCINATED LIKE TAMARA SAID, VACCINATION BEING THE KEY FOR US.

WE PROMOTE VACCINATION THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING AND CONTINUE TO PUSH VACCINATION FURTHER TO PROMOTE RAFFLES AND OTHER PROGRAMS TO HELP WITH VACCINATION.

FOR NOW, WITH THE MANAGERS PICKING UP CLINICAL MANAGERS PICKING UP AND STAFF HELPING WITH THE STAFFING NEED, WE STABLE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE HAVE CHALLENGES AHEAD BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE CASES WE HAVE NOW.

>> OF COURSE.

TAMARA KONETZKA, THERE HAVE BEEN NATIONWIDE PROBLEMS GETTING ACCESS TO COVID TESTS AND RESULTS.

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT NURSING HOMES?

>> IT IS A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR NURSING HOMES.

IT HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY IN THE POPULATION TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS TESTS AND GET RESULTS IN TIME.

BUT IN A CONGREGATE SETTING LIKE NURSING HOMES IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IF WE CAN'T KNOW WHO HAS COVID, IT'S REALLY HARD TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION.

ACCURATE AND FAST TESTS ARE CRITICAL.

>> AND TAMARA KONETZKA UNDER A FEDERAL MANDATE UPHELD BY THE SUPREME COURT HEALTHCARE WORKERS LIKE NURSING HOME STAFF HAVE UNTIL THE NEXT MONTH TO GET VACCINATED OR AN EXEMPTION.

HOW MIGHT THAT AFFECT FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS?

>> I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.

WE HAVE HAD A STATE MANDATE SINCE FALL FOR NURSING HOME STAFF TO BE VACCINATED.

BUT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR THAT AND STAFF CAN CHOOSE TO TEST INSTEAD.

I THINK THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID IS GOING TO BE THAT MUCH STRONGER MORE POTENT IF WE CAN GET MORE STAFF VACCINATED.

I THINK THAT WILL BE A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP.

THE ONE CAVEAT IS THAT WHILE THE STATE RULE RIGHT NOW APPLIES TO BOTH ASSISTED LIVING AND NURSING FACILITIES, THE FEDERAL MANDATE WILL NOT APPLY TO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES UNLESS THEY TAKE MEDICAID AND MEDICARE WHICH MOST DON'T.

WE WILL HAVE TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS WHAT HAPPENED IN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES SO THE RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES DO NOT INCUR HIGHER RISKS.

>> JOSEPH QUAYSON DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS WHAT TAMARA KONETZKA MENTIONED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NURSING HOMES AND THE ALLOWANCES FOR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES THAT THAT MIGHT CAUSE A LOSS OF STAFF FOR YOU?

>> YES, I DO.

WITH THE CURRENT CASES WITH THE VACCINATION RATE THAT WE HAVE, WE PROMOTE EDUCATION AND MATERIAL FOR STAFF TO FORWARD THE VACCINE MANDATE.

OUR GOAL IS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PROVIDE THE NEEDS WE HAVE.

AT THIS RATE WE ARE PAYING THREE TIMES THE BASE RATE TO GET STAFF TO COME IN AND HELP TAKE CARE OF THE RESIDENTS.

WITH THE SHORTAGE THERE'S COMPETITION ONLY WITH THE ASSISTED LIVING BUT THE HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE THE HOSPITALS ALSO NEED STAFF AND THEY ARE PAYING ABOVE THE BASE RATE TO GET THE STAFF.

SO IN ALL WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A STAFF SHORTAGE.

WE DO PROMOTE VACCINE AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERY SINGLE STAFF MEMBER TO GET VACCINATED.

I HAVE 15% OF MY STAFF WHO ARE RELUCTANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE BASED ON PERSONAL AND RELIGIOUS REASONS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE COMPETING TO MAINTAIN YOUR STAFFING LEVELS.

DO YOU THINK THE STATE SHOULD CHANGE THE MANDATE TO ELIMINATE THE TESTING?

>> CURRENTLY, I THINK THE VACCINATION IS A GOOD THE BEST WEAPON WE HAVE AGAINST THIS COVID.

WHAT I KNOW FROM BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE C.D.C.

GUIDELINES AND OTHER RESEARCH OUT THERE, THE MORE WE THE -- THE VIRUSES MUTATE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE IN THE FUTURE.

I BELIEVE VACCINE MANDATE IS GOOD WE NEED TO PUT OUT MORE EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT VACCINES AND WHAT IS THE EFFICACY.

A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, TOO.

BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE MORE GOOD PEER REVIEW ARTICLES AND GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC, IT WILL HELP WITH THE VACCINE MANDATE.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU JOSEPH QUAYSON AND PROFESSOR TAMARA KONETZKA FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

THE WEEKEND ATTACK ON A TEXAS SYNAGOGUE REVERBERATED HERE TO CHICAGO'S JEWISH COMMUNITY.

ON SATURDAY, FOUR CONGREGATION MEMBERS WERE HELD HOSTAGE INSIDE THE CONGREGATION OF BETH ISRAEL IN COLLEYVILLE TEXAS.

THEY WERE RELEASED AFTER A RABBI THREW A CHAIR AT THE GUNMAN.

THEY ARE ASKING FOR GUN SAFETY TRAINING FOLLOW THE AFTERMATH OF THE INCIDENT.

JOINING US ARE SHOSHANAH CONOVER, A SENIOR RABBI AT TEMPLE SHOLOM OF CHICAGO.

SARAH VAN LOON DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE CHICAGO'S REGIONAL OFFICE AND DAVID GOLDENBERG MIDWEST REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

SHOSHANAH CONOVER HOW IS YOUR CONGREGATION AND THE CHICAGO JEWISH COMMUNITY AT LARGE REACTING TO WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND?

>> WELL, JUST SAY THAT WE ARE FIRSTLY EXTRAORDINARILY GRATEFUL, GRATEFUL OF THE OUTCOME, GRATEFUL ALL FOUR HOSTAGES GOT OUT SAFELY.

GRATEFUL THERE WERE INCREDIBLE TRAININGS THAT HELPED THEM TO DO SO AND GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY HELPED THIS CONGREGATION TO BE ABLE TO BE SAFE.

I WILL SAY AT THIS POINT WE ARE ALSO NOT ONLY GRATEFUL BUT WE ALSO LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH GREATER APPREHENSION.

AND WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS SHAKEN PEOPLE.

THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN A TOUGH TIME WITH GOING INTO WINTER WITH COVID CONTINUING TO RUN RAMPANT.

AND THEN TO HAVE THIS AN ATTACK IT MAKES EVERYBODY MORE ANXIOUS.

AND YET THERE WERE SO MANY WAYS TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON WHAT HAS BEEN POSITIVE FROM THIS AND ALSO WHAT WE CAN LEARN AND DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

>> SARAH VAN LOON WHAT DO CHICAGO AREA SYNAGOGUES OR COMMUNITY CENTERS NEED RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF SAFETY?

>> WELL, THEY NEED INCREASED SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BOTH STATE-WIDE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES.

BUT ALSO TO HAVE OUR NONJUDICIAL LIES SPEAK OUT AND STAND IF SOLIDARITY WITH US.

AJP HAS A CAMPAIGN UNITED AGAINST ANTISEMITISM WE ARE CALLING ON ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL TO STAND UP AND CALL OUT ANTISEMITISM AND SHOW IT HAS NO PLACE IN OUR HOMES.

>> DAVID WE HAVE LEARNED THE MEMBERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE IN TEXAS HAD BEEN GIVEN SAFETY COURSES GUN COURSES FOR A SITUATION JUST LIKE WHAT OCCURRED.

IS THIS COMMONPLACE IN SYNAGOGUES THROUGHOUT AMERICA TO BE FORTIFIED LIKE THIS TO GO THROUGH TRAINING FOR THESE SITUATIONS?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, PARIS, IT IS.

IT IS TOO OFTEN HERE WITH SYNAGOGUES LOOKING TO INCREASE THEIR SECURITY MEASURES AROUND SYNAGOGUES WHETHER IT BE VESTIBULES OR BULLET-PROOF GLASSES OR PANIC BUTTONS THAT IS TOO COMMON NOW AND WE HAVE A SITUATION HERE WHERE RABBIS LIKE RABBI CON OVER HAVE TO LEARN AND TEACH AND LEARN AND TEACH TACTICS AND THAT IS A SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS OF BEING A JEW IN AMERICA TODAY.

>> LET'S HEAR WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID WHEN HE WEIGHED IN SUNDAY.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE THIS.

THAT WE HAVE THIS CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH THE ASSAULTS ON PARTICULARLY THE ANTISEMITISM THAT IS GROWING UP AND I WILL BE TALKING WITH -- I PUT A CALL INTO THE RABBI.

BUT THEY SHOULD REST ASSURED THAT WE ARE FOCUSED.

WE ARE FOCUSED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE DEAL WITH THESE ACTS.

>> RABBI, WHAT CONVERSATIONS DO YOU HAVE WITH YOUR CONGREGATION ABOUT SAFETY AND POTENTIAL SITUATIONS LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, WE'VE HAD TRAININGS AND FURTHER TRAININGS TO GO AND ALSO WE'RE ABLE TO WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW DO WE KEEP OURSELVES SAFE WE KEEP FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION.

WHILE WE FOCUS ON SAFETY, WE ALSO FOCUS ON REACHING OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE.

WE CONTINUE TO STUDY TORA.

WE CONTINUE TO WELCOME IN OUR CHILDREN.

THESE ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE STAY BOTH SAFE AND ALSO WE STAY THE PEOPLE WE ARE WITH PRIDE AND WITH THE GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE.

>> SARAH VAN LOON WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION IS OFFERING OR PROVIDING FOR SYNAGOGUES TO COMFORT THEM AND FOR SAFETY?

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS NOT ONLY BEING THERE FOR OUR RABBIS AND LOCAL AREA SYNAGOGUES AND PROVIDING ANTISEMITISM AWARENESS TRAINING.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER AND DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS BUT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

TO HELP CONNECT THAT WITH LOCAL AND STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HELP INSURE THEY GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED FOR THE LONG-TERM.

SO THIS MAY BE OUR FOCUS TODAY.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT ANTISEMITISM HAS BASKETBALL AROUND FOR 2,000 YEARS IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON AND IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US TO COMBAT IT IN EVERY SENSE.

>> LET'S HEAR WHAT RABBI CHARLIE CYTRON-WALKER SAID ABOUT MITIGATING THIS INCIDENT.

THROWING THE CHAIR AT THE SUSPECTED TERRORIST.

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING.

AND IT TURNED OUT THAT IT WAS HIS GUN.

I THREW A CHAIR AT THE GUNMAN AND I HEADED FOR THE DOOR.

>> DAVID GOLDENBERG WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RECENT ATTACKS, TREE OF LIFE, POWAY, CALIFORNIA DOES IT FEEL RIGHT NOW LIKE ANTISEMITISM IS WORSE IN YOUR LIFETIMES THAN YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IT?

>> THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS IF WE WANT TO QUANTIFY IT ARE DEFINITELY UP IN RECENT YEARS.

IF IT'S WORSE?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT TOO OFTEN WE'RE SEEING THE INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT AND VANDALISM AND ASSAULTS THAT ARE GROWING AND INCREASING TO ALARMING RATES.

AND HAVE REALLY REACHED A POINT WHERE WE'RE AT A WATERSHED RIGHT NOW.

AND SARAH AND RABBI TALKED ABOUT BEING THERE AND SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM ON OUR OWN AS A JEWISH COMMUNITY AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE TAKE A LOT FROM WHAT OCCURRED LAST WEEK.

IT WAS OVERWHELMING TO SEE THE SUPPORT THE MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WERE RECEIVING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

AND IF WE TAKE ANYTHING FROM THAT, PERHAPS HOPEFULLY IT OPENS UP NEW LEVELS OF DIALOGUE THAT WE'RE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER NOT JUST IN CRISIS BUT IN TIMES OF CALM AND PEACE AND MOVING ON FROM THERE.

>> AND SPEAKING OF BEING THERE RABBI, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO CONGREGANTS WHO ARE AFRAID TO GO TO SYNAGOGUE OR COMMUNITY CENTERS OR IN PUBLIC TO PLACES LIKE THIS GIVEN WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> WELL, THERE'S ONE THING TO BE AFRAID AND WE HAVE TO AFFIRM THAT THAT IS FEAR IS REAL.

AND ALSO THAT TRULY THE WAY IN WHICH WE CAN GO FORWARD AND BE ABLE TO LIVE OUR LIVES WITH BOTH DIGNITY AND GRATITUDE AND TRULY WITH TORA AT OUR CENTER IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO GATHER.

IT MEANS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE KINDS OF PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD AND WE ARE GOING TO BE VIGILANT.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WITH THAT LEVEL OF VIGILANCE WE CAN GATHER IN SAFETY AND IN JOY AND WITH GREAT WAYS OF BEING ABLE TO SAY WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT MOVES FORWARD.

WE ARE NOT THE ONLY VICTIMS OF HATE.

SO TO BE ABLE TO GATHER TOGETHER WITH OTHER JEWS AND WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF HATE.

AND TO BE ABLE TO STAND TOGETHER AS ONE HUMAN FAMILY IS GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL FOR ALL OF US.

>> AND SARAH VAN LOON THE REPORTING TO THIS POINT IS THAT THE SUSPECTED ATTACKER HERE TERRORIST, WAS A BRITISH NATIONAL NOT ON THE RADAR OF U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

WHAT ELSE DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEED TO DO TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFER?

>> WELL, THEY NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER.

THEY ARE CALLING ON THE WHITE HOUSE TO CONVENE A NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON ANTISEMITISM AND EXPLORE WAYS THE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER CAN UTILIZE THE RESOURCES, SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE SO THAT WE CAN MOUNT THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IN ALL REGARDS.

WE HAVE SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY AND SO MUCH INTELLIGENCE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT STARTING AT THE TOP THAT ALL OF US ARE WORKING TOGETHER LED BY THE WHITE HOUSE TO INSURE SAFETY NOT JUST FOR JEWISH AMERICANS BUT FOR ALL AMERICANS.

>> THIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION FOR NOW, OUR THANKS TO SHOSHANAH CONOVER, SARAH VAN LOON, AND DAVID GOLDENBERG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANKS.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS... >> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE SHEDD AQUARIUM'S HALF A BILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION.

IT'S BECOME MORE COMMON TO SEE DONATION BOXES IN THE CITY SOME ARE FILLED WITH BOOKS AND OTHERS WITH CANNED GOODS.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ HEADS TO THE SOUTHWEST SIDE TO SPEAK WITH A COUPLE THAT BUILT A DONATION BOX TO HELP PEOPLE WITH FURRY FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS.

>> IT IS A FULL HOUSE THAT THE ALONZO HOME.

THERE'S TONS OF SNACKS AND PLAYTIME FOR THE FOUR-LEGGED PUPS.

CAROLYN AND GREGORY ALONZO HAVE FOUR RESCUE DOGGINGS, FRASER, BOWIE, ZOO ZOO AND LILLEY.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE RESCUE DOGS COME OUT OF THEIR SHELL AND YOU ARE HELPING THAT AND HELPING THEM YOU HAVE A NEW LIFE AND MEET NEW DOGS AND HAVE A NEW EXPERIENCE IT IS NOT JUST GREAT FOR THEM IT'S GREAT FOR US, TOO.

>> THEY ADOPTED RESCUE DOGS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND WHEN TWO DOGS DIED DURING THE PANDEMIC THEY WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO HONOR THEIR PETS.

>> SO WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE CIVIL UNREST GOING AROUND IT WAS A LOT TO TAKE IN.

AND SO IT CAME BACK TO ME.

IT IS A HARD TIME FOR EVERYBODY.

I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO GIVE BACK.

>> WE WERE ALREADY INVOLVED WITH SO MANY RESCUES AND WE WERE HEARING STORIES OF PEOPLE WISHING THEIR PETS BECAUSE I LOST MY JOB I CAN'T FEED THEM.

AND YOU KNOW, THE THOUGHT OF HAVING TO GIVE UP ONE OF OUR DOGS FOR ANY REASON IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO US.

AND THAT WHEN WE WERE LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO?

>> THEY DECIDED TO BUILD A DOG PANTRY AND PLACE IT OUTSIDE THEIR HOME NAMING AFTER ONE OF THEIR DOGS.

>> OBI WAS ALMOST 14 AND WE GOT HIM WHEN HE WAS FIVE.

HE WAS SPECIAL BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS RIGHT THERE AT OUR SIDE.

IF YOU WERE SAD HE KNEW IT.

HE WOULD SIT THERE WITH YOU AND MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.

AND HAD A WAY OF MAKING YOU LAUGH.

>> USING THE STIMULUS CHECKS, CAROLYN AND GREGORY STOCKED THE PANTRY WITH PET SUPPLIES.

FOOD, TREATS, YOU THOUGH THE BASICS.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RELINQUISH YOUR PET BECAUSE YOU CANNOT AFFORD FOOD.

WE WAND TO HELP -- WANT TO HELPLESS EN THE BURDEN.

>> I THOUGHT WE WOULD STOCK ONCE IN A WHILE.

I WISH THE NEED FOR IT WASN'T THERE.

BUT AS LONG AS IT IS WE WILL TRY TO BE THERE WITH IT.

>> NOW, THEY ARE HOPING TO EXPAND AND SEE MORE PET DONATION BOXES KEEPING MEMORY OF OBI ALIVE.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT DOING GOOD CAN DO FOR YOURSELF UNTIL YOU TRY.

AND WHEN YOU DO YOU FIND OUT THERE'S THINGS OUT THERE THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

>> THE PANTRY IS LOCATED NEAR MIDWAY AIRPORT ON 64TH STREET.

ANYONE IS WELCOME TO MAKE DONATIONS OR GRAB WHAT THEY NEED AND PASS ON THE MESSAGE.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> AND OBI'S PET PANTRY IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", HOW A NEW CITY ORDINANCE WILL AFFECT YOUR NEXT TAKE OUT OR DELIVERY ORDER.

>> DIFFICULTY ACCESSING BASIC ITEMS FOR HYGIENE OR SNACKS ADVOCATES SAY THAT HAS BEEN THE REALITY FOR ILLINOIS' PRISON INMATES FOR MONTHS.

>> THE SHEDD AQUARIUM PRESIDENT TALKS US THROUGH A PLANNED $500 MILLION TRANSFORMATION IN PREPARATION FOR ITS CENTENNIAL.

>> THE EXHIBITION AT ONE TWO PRU IS AN INTROSPECTION OF CHICAGO.

>> HOW A SHOWCASE OF AFRICANS AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS ENDED UP IN A BUSY DOWNTOWN BUILDING.

>> SEVEN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN AWARDED PART OF A $10 MILLION PRIZE.

THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THE WINNERS THIS AFTERNOON.

RESIDENTS SUBMITTED 500 IDEAS THAT WERE WHITTLED DOWN TO 21 PROPOSALS BEFORE BEING PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITIES APART OF THE CHICAGO WORKS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE.

THE PROJECTS CHOSEN INCLUDE FOUR PARK DISTRICT FACILITIES, TWO CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES AND A PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH WHICH WILL SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMING YEAR.

>> MEANWHILE INSPECTORS CITED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN BUSINESS FOR NOT ENFORCING THE CITY'S COVID-19 PROOF OF VACCINATION MANDATE.

THEY WERE ISSUED TWO CITATIONS WHICH WOULD TRIGGER A HEARING.

FINES CAN RANGE BETWEEN $ 100-$10,000 FOR FAILING TO ENFORCE CITY RULES REQUIRING ANYONE OLDER THAN 5 TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION TO ENTER A RESTAURANT, GYM OR ENTERTAINMENT VENUE.

FOR THE LIST OF BUSINESSES CITED VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AND TO PARIS WITH POSSIBLE CHANGES TO YOUR NEXT TAKE OUT ORDER, PARIS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

STARTING TODAY YOU MIGHT NOTICE SOMETHING MISSING FROM YOUR NEXT PICK UP OR DELIVERY ORDER AND THAT IS THE PILE OF UTENSILS AND NAPKINS IN THE BAG.

PATTY WETLI JOINS US TO EXPLAIN.

PER THIS NEW ORDINANCE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS ARE ELIMINATED FROM TAKE OUT AND DELIVERY ORDERS BUT CAN SOMEONE GET THEM IF THEY WANT?

>> YES.

THIS ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT TODAY JANUARY 18TH.

IT WAS PASSED BACK IN SEPTEMBER.

PEOPLE HAD WANTED A BIT MORE TO BE BANNED INCLUDING ALL TAKE OUT CONTAINERS.

BUT THIS APPLIES TO FOODWARE.

AND ONLY FOR DELIVERY TAKE OUT NOT DINE-IN AND SOME EXCEPTIONS ARE IF YOU REQUEST THEM YOU CAN STILL GET THEM.

AND ALSO IF IT IS A SELF SERVICE KIND OF KIOSK LIKE A SALAD BAR AND GRABBING THEM YOURSELVES YOU CAN OBTAIN THEM.

>> SO YOU ANSWERED MY NEXT QUESTION.

DOES THIS NEW ORDINANCE APPLY THEN FOR ALL OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS BEYOND THE ONES YOU MENTIONED?

>> WELL, YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT THE LIST COVERED.

IT INCLUDES BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS.

ANYWHERE THAT YOU COULD PICK UP OR ORDER FOOD FROM.

BUT SOME OF THE NOTABLE EXEMPTIONS ARE PLACES AT O'HARE AND MIDWAY.

IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM.

DRIVE-THRU RESTAURANTS.

IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM.

SO THERE ARE LOOPHOLES HERE.

BUT I THINK ALSO INTERESTING THAT IT INCLUDES MORE THINGS THAN JUST YOUR PLASTIC UTENSILS.

IT IS NAPKINS AND CONNED MEANT PACKETS.

STIRRERS, WET NAPS.

WEIRD EXEMPTIONS INCLUDE STRAWS YOU CAN GET ALL THE STRAWS YOU WANT.

IT IS SORT OF A MIXED BAG.

>> IF YOU ARE GETTING A HOT DOG WHO NEEDS THE KETCHUP PACKAGES.

>> YOU NEED THE NAPKINS.

>> WHEN THE PLASTIC BAG BAN PASSED THERE WERE WAYS OF GETTING AROUND THAT WHAT IS A SINGLE-USE UTENSIL CAN AN ESTABLISHMENT HAVE A DIFFERENT MATERIAL?

>> THAT WAS THE BIG QUESTION THAT CRITICS WHAT IS THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM?

AND THEY WANTED IT TO BE MUCH BROADER.

IT PASSED WITH A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE WHO SAID SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

SO IF WE CAN AT LEAST ELIMINATE SOME FORKS FROM THE CHAIN OF WASTE IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

IN INCARCERATED PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS PRISONS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES LIKE HYGIENE ITEMS OR DETERGENT.

THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SAYS THIS IS DUE TO A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IS AFFECTING INMATES IS JENNIFER VOLLEN-KATZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JOHN HOWARD ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS.

WE DID INVITE IDOC TO JOIN BUT THEY INSTEAD SENT A STATEMENT SAYING QUOTE... JENNIFER VOLLEN-KATZ GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOUR GROUP HAS BEEN HEARING THAT WHAT WE HEARD FROM IDOC, YOU ARE HEARING THAT IS NOT QUITE SUFFICIENT.

GIVE US A SENSE WHAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM INMATES AND FAMILIES?

>> SURE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE ARE AWARE THAT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS ENTERED EMERGENCY CONTRACTS WITH OTHER COMMISSARY VENDORS BUT WE ARE HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE INSIDE AS WELL AS LOVED ONES AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND FROM SOME CORRECTIONAL STAFF THAT THE GOODS ARE NOT FLOWING IN.

THAT EVEN UNDER THE EMERGENCY CONTRACT THING SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH SUPPLY TO MEET DEMAND AND WE CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE BEING DEPRIVED OF BASIC NECESSITIES.

>> AND HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN A PROBLEM?

>> THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THIS SUMMER.

THAT IS WHEN WE BEGAN TO RECEIVE REPORTS ABOUT THE LACK OF AVAILABLE GOODS ON COMMISSARIES.

WE SAW IT STARTING IN THE LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL WHEN WE WERE INSIDE MONITORING THE FACILITIES AND SAW THE COMMISSARY SHELVES WERE EMPTY AND HEARD FROM BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED AND STAFF THAT THIS WAS A REAL ISSUE.

AND YOU KNOW, WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES AND THERE'S BENEFITS AND STARTS AND GOODS MADE IT ON TO THE SHELVES, IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE DEMAND OR MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED AND WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT UP UNTIL THE CURRENT DAY THROUGH TODAY.

>> GIVE US A SENSE WHAT GOODS AND PRODUCTS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND WHY THE INMATES NEED THEM?

>> SURE.

SO ONE OF THE COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING THAT EXIST IN SOCIETY THAT COMMISSARY PROVIDES LUXURY GOODS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED WHICH IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

THE ITEMS AVAILABLE ARE REALLY HYGIENE ITEMS TO AUGUST MEANT WHAT THE STATE PROVIDES WHICH IS CONSIDERED INADEQUATE.

ONE BAR OF SOAP.

ONE ROLL OF TOILET PAPER.

BARS OF SOAP ARE SMALL NOT ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE THROUGH A WEEK.

AS WELL AS THINGS LIKE LAUNDRY DETERGENT, SHERIFFING CREAM, WRITING IMPLEMENTS, ENVELOPES SO PEOPLE CAN WRITE TO THEIR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES.

AND FOOD IS A BIG TICKET ITEM.

WE ROUTINELY HEAR ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH BOTH QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF FOOD INSIDE THE PRISONS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE RELY ON COMMISSARY AS THEIR MAJOR SOURCE OF FOOD.

SO NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THAT IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> ON THEIR WEBSITE, IDOC AND IN THE STATEMENT THEY SAY THIS IS DUE TO A GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE AND YOU FOUND CONTRACT DISPUTES WITH VENDORS AND THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT IS LEADING TO THE VENDOR SHORTAGE MANY TELL US WHAT YOU FOUND?

>> SURE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAME TO UNDERSTAND QUICKLY IS CERTAINLY WE'VE ALL CERTAIN GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES IMPACTING US IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND AN ITEM WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

BUT IF WE CAN'T FIND THE BRAND WE WANT WE CAN USUALLY FIND A REPLACEMENT ITEM OR SOMETHING SIMILAR.

AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE WRITING TO US PEOPLE INCARCERATED NOTED THAT THAT THEY WERE BEING TOLD GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WAS THE REASON BUT THEY WERE HEARING FROM THE LOVED ONES ON THE OUTSIDE AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF THAT THAT WASN'T TRUE THAT THERE WERE GOODS AVAILABLE.

AND SO WHEN WE STARTED ASKING MORE QUESTIONS OF THE AGENCY IT BECAME CLEAR THAT ONE PROBLEM LED TO ANOTHER LED TO ANOTHER.

AND IN TRYING TO CREATE CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE STATE AND COMING TO COMPLIANCE WITH PROCUREMENT LAWS THAT THE AGENCY HAS LONG BEEN OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH, THE CHANGES MADE LED TO ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS AND LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF ITEMS NECESSITATING EMERGENCY CONTRACTS AND IT'S UNCLEAR EXACTLY WHY THOSE CONTRACTS AREN'T FUNCTIONING THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO.

BUT WHAT WE WERE TOLD BY IDOC IS THAT THE WAY THE CONTRACTS WOULD BE MANAGE SECOND THAT THEY WOULD BE FOR GOODS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

NOT FOR THINGS THAT THEY ROUTINELY OFFERED.

SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T CONTINUE TO BE IN THE SITUATION OF RUNNING TRYING TO ORDER THINGS THAT WEREN'T IN STOCK.

>> AND OUR COLLEAGUES AT WBEZ DONE REPORTING THERE WERE COMPLICATIONS WITH THE BIDDING PROCESS THAT IDOC WENT THROUGH TO ESTABLISH A CONTRACT WITH ONE OF THE VENDORS.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN THE PRISONS HOW THE SHORTAGE AFFECTS THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH?

>> THEY ARE SUFFERING.

DURING A TIME OF DEPRIVATION AND ISOLATION, THIS MAKES A BAD SITUATION FAR WORSE.

THIS IS A VERY SCARY TIME TO BE INCARCERATED ANYWHERE PARTICULARLY IN ILLINOIS.

WE'RE SEEING INCREDIBLY HIGH COVID POSITIVE NUMBERS.

WE'RE HEARING ABOUT SOME CORRECTIONAL STAFF DEATHS DUE TO COVID IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

IN ALL OF THAT, TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET BASIC GOODS THAT ALLOW YOU TO WRITE HOME TO KEEP YOURSELF CLEAN, TO NOURISH YOURSELF, BASIC THINGS THAT WILL HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND SANE IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND DEMORALIZING.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

JENNIFER VOLLEN-KATZ AT THE JOHN HOWARD ASSOCIATION THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WE'LL DIVE INTO PLANS FOR BIG CHANGES AT THE SHEDD AQUARIUM.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... BIG CHANGES ARE AFOOT AT THE SHEDD AQUARIUM, THE SHEDD ANNOUNCES AS IT BUILDS TOWARDS THE CENTENNIAL IN 2030 IT WILL UNDERGO A $500 MILLION TRANSFORMATION.

IT WILL CREATE EXHIBITS BUT WILL ENTAIL A TRANSFORMATION OF MISSION WITH MORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR CHICAGO SCHOOL STUDENTS.

MORE IS PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE SHEDD AQUARIUM, GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THIS NEW INVESTMENT TELL US HOW THE SHED IS DOING AFTER THE SHUTDOWN AND NOW THE OMICRON SURGE?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

THE MINUTE WE COULD OPEN JANUARY 26 AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR OVER 200 DAYS, WE SAW THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS TO CONNECT WITH ANIMALS.

WE JUST HAD AN AMAZING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

WEEKEND WHERE WE WELCOMED TIME TICKETS AND VACCINE CARDS AND MASKS JUST ABOUT 30,000 GUESTS.

SO WE ARE OPEN AND JUST WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY BACK HERE AT THE ACARE NUMBER.

>> 30,000 GUESTS HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO A TYPICAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND PREPANDEMIC?

>> WE ARE BACK TO PREPANDEMIC ATTENDANCE LEVELS WHICH IS EXTRAORDINARY.

AND WHAT HAS NOT COME BACK ARE SCHOOL GROUPS THEY STARTED TO COME BACK BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND WITH THE SHIFTING AND OMICRON WE HAVE SEEN THEM HAVE TO PULLBACK FROM FIELD TRIPS BUT WE KNOW AS SOON AS THEY ARE ABLE THEY WILL COME.

WE SAW IT AND WE'LL SEE IT AGAIN.

>> AND A GREAT NEED IN A TIME TO RECONNECT WITH NATURE.

AND TALK US BRIEFLY THROUGH THIS MAJOR CENTENNIAL COMMITMENT IN TERMS OF THE PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE SHEDD?

>> THE SENTINEL COMMITMENT IS HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.

EIGHT-YEAR ENDEAVOR AND YOU REFERENCED REVITALIZE AND RENOVATE OUR HISTORIC GALLERIES AND ALSO TO REALLY AMPLIFY OUR MISSION NOT ONLY HERE ON THE SITE BUT OUT IN COMMUNITY ON THE WATER AND THOSE PROGRAMS ARE READY AND GOING TO BE LAUNCHED IN THE COMING MONTHS.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE PHYSICAL EXPERIENCE THAT VISITORS WILL WITNESS ONCE THIS PROJECT IS DONE?

>> WE'RE FOCUS ONGOING FIRST MAKING THE GUEST EXPERIENCE MORE ACCESSIBLE, EASIER TO NAVIGATE AND FAR MORE PARTIESER TO.

YOU WILL HAVE YOU'LL FIVE SENSES TAKEN INTO LIFE BENEATH THE WATERLINE.

YOU WILL SEE FISH THAT LIVE DEEP IN THE SEA WHERE NO LIGHT PENETRATES AND TASTE SALTWATER FROM AROUND THE WORLD YOU WILL HEAR THE FISH AND COMMUNE WITH ANIMALS.

WE THINK THERE IS A NATURE GAP AND IF WE CAN CLOSE THAT NATURE GAP WITH EMPATHY FOR ANIMALS WE CAN ELICIT EVERYONE'S HELP HARNESS EVERYONE TO FIGHT THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS THAT WE SHARE.

>> WE SAW A PICTURE OF THE PROPOSED ACARE NUMBER THAT WILL BE OVERHEAD WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH.

HOW UNIQUE IS THAT GOING TO BE?

>> PART OF THE JOURNEY WILL BE THROUGH A 35 FOOT LONG TUNNEL WHERE THE BIODIETERSSY WITH LIFE, RICH WITH SHARKS AND CORALS DANCE AROUND YOU LIKE SCUBA DIVING AND YOU WILL BE TRANSPORTED FROM THETER RESTIAL WORLD TO THE AQUATIC WORLD.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO COMPLIMENT THE EXHIBIT EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW LEARNING COMMON.

OUR CLASSROOMS ARE IN THE BASEMENT THEY ARE HARD TO GET TO.

AND WE ARE GOING TO ELEVATE THEM TO THE MAIN FLOOR OPEN UP CURRENTLY BLOCKED WINDOWS THAT HAVE THE WORLD'S BEST VIEW OF THE CHICAGO SKYLINE AND LAKE MICHIGAN AND SETUP STEM RICH EXPERIENCES FOR NOT ONLY SCHOOL GROUPS BUT THE GENERAL GUESTS TO PARTICIPATE IN.

>> AND SCHOOL GROUPS YOU MENTIONED A PRONG IS EDUCATION OUTREACH.

CHANGING YOUR MISSION WITH REGARDS TO THAT AND FIELD BASED RESEARCH.

TELL US HOW THOSE WILL CHANGE?

>> SOME OF THE PROGRAMMATICLEMICS WE HAVE STARTED LAST SUMMER ARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS FOR PROJECT EXPLORATION, PART OF A COLLABORATIVE THAT THE MAYOR HAS STOOD UP WITH GETTING YOUTH GROUPS OUT OF SCHOOL TIME, SO PROJECT EXPLORATION IS FOR GIRLS, STEM GIRLS, MY HEART IS THERE BEING A BIOCHEMIST AND WORKING WITH PROJECT EXPLORATION AND TEACHERS IN TRAINING AT NORTHWESTERN TO TEACH MARINE BIOLOGY AND TEACH INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION AND TO DO IT IN THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS WELCOME THEM TO THE AQUARIUM WHEN WE ARE OPEN.

>> SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH.

WE MENTIONED HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IS THAT RAISED OR ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE MOST OF THAT GOING FORWARD?

>> THE AQUARIUM HAS BEEN MEASURED IN ITS APPROACH TO LARGE FINANCIAL PROJECTS.

WE'RE USING A BALANCE BETWEEN FUNDRAISING, BETWEEN THE ENDOWMENTS AND MORE RERAISE THE MORE IMPACT WE CAN HAVE AND LOOKING AT THE IMPACT NOT ONLY FOR THE GALLERIES, BUT THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ALONE WILL PROVIDE 2,000 JOBS TO CHICAGO.

AND WE HAVE SET AGGRESSIVE GOALS FOR WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION THAT THE COMMITMENT WILL CREATE.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE MUSEUM BE OPEN DURING THE RENOVATION?

>> WE'RE DOING A PHASED APPROACH.

THE CONSTRUCTION WILL HAPPEN OVER ABOUT FIVE YEARS IN FOUR PHASES.

THE HISTORIC GALLERIES WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN.

WE WILL CLOSE SECTIONS AT A TIME.

WORK BEHIND THE SCENES AND HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE AND THEN HAVE MULTIPLE RIBBON CUTTINGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS.

IT WILL BE AMAZING TO PARTICIPATE IN.

AND THERE WILL BE SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME YOU COME BACK.

>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SHEDD PENGUINS THEY ARE BIG STARS I ASSUME THEY HAVE TALENT REPRESENTATION HOW ARE THEY DOING?

>> THE PENGUINS ARE GREAT.

WE LET PENGUINS BE PENGUINS AND WHILE THE WORLD DISCOVERED THEM THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS THEY ARE ENRICHMENT FIELD TRIPS THAT HAPPENED YEARS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WE TOOK THEM TO LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

PART OF A WELLNESS AND HEALING FOR THE CHILDREN AND PATIENTS THERE.

AND NOW WE JUST MAKE SH YOUR THAT WE CAPTURE THEIR WONDERFUL EXPLORATIONS AND BRING LOTS OF JOY TO LOTS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE.

>> AMAZING ANIMALS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT AN ART SHOW IN IN UNEXPECTED PLACE.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> A UNIQUE COLLABORATION IS BRINGING BLACK ART TO A POPULAR CHICAGO BUILDING THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND EXHIBIT HAPPENING AT ONE TWO PRU KNOWN AS PRUDENTIAL PLAZA DOWNTOWN.

>> THE EXHIBITION AT ONE TWO PRU IS AN INTROSPECTION OF COMMITTEE AND IT COVERS EVERYTHING FROM JAZZ TO BLUES TO ENERGY, INTROSPECTION AND LANDSCAPE DEPICTING THE GREATMY GATION.

-- MIGRATION.

>> WALK INTO ONE TWO PRU AT STETSON AND RANDOLPH IN THE LOOP AND THE FIRST THING YOU WILL NOTICE IS ART.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE ART IN DOWNTOWN LOBBIES BUT MOST OF THE PIECES HERE ARE FROM A BLACK-OWNED ART GALLERY IN BRONZEVILLE.

>> IT'S ABOUT INCLUSION AND WE HAVE FOUND ONE TWO PRU INVITED US OUT.

WE WORK WITH KEIANA BARRETT AND KEITH DOUGLAS AND OTHERS THAT HELPED US UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE A PART OF A CORPORATE ENTITY.

SO HERE WE ARE IN ONE TWO PRU EXHIBITING OUR WORK ALLOWING OUR ARTISTS TO HAVE EXPOSURE THAT THEY WOULD NOT NORMALLY HAVE.

>> STEERING BAY AND GALLERY GUICHARD TEAMED UP TO CREATE THIS EXHIBIT TO SHOWCASE BLACK ARTISTS AND BRING THEIR WORK TO AN AUDIENCE THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED OTHERWISE.

>> THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE AT A CRITICAL INTERSECTION WITH THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AS WELL AS RECKONING AROUND RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

AND SO WE WERE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW COULD WE UTILIZE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO FROM A MOMENT AND TO CREATE A MOVEMENT OF CHANGE >> THE EXHIBIT TITLED AFRICAN DIASPORA CHICAGO FEATURES 20 COLHANDLING AND ACRYLIC MIXED MEDIA PIECES ALL RELATED TO CHICAGO.

IT OPENED IN MAY AND A NEW COLLECTION WENT UP IN NOVEMBER.

>> WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE COULD IMMERSE AND INVITE THE TENANTS IN OUR BUILDING AS WELL AS THE MOVEMENT OF CHICAGOANS AND TOURISTS ACROSS THE SPACE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ART FORM, TO BE HAVE THEIR INTEREST PIQUED BY IT AND HOPEFULLY MOTIVATED TO OPEN UP THEIR CHECKBOOKS AND TO PURCHASE THEM.

>> WE'VE SOLD FIVE PIECES.

AND 25% OF OUR EXHIBIT SOLD FIVE OUT OF 20.

WE WERE ABLE TO EXPOSE OUR ARTISTS TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT NORMALLY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE ARTWORK.

>> STERLING BAY AND GALLERY GUICHARD HOPE TO BUILD ON THAT NEW EXPOSURE AND STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> WE'VE NOTICED MORE TOURISM COMING THROUGH BRONZEVILLE LOOKING AT THE GALLERY AND WE ARE SURMISING THEY ARE PROBABLY SEE TO GO HERE FIRST AND COME TO THE GALLERY.

>> FOR STERLING BAY, THE COLLABORATION WITH GALLERY GUICHARD IS THE FIRST OF MANY.

>> THIS IS A SIGNATURE INITIATIVE FOR US AS WELL.

AND WHAT WE'RE HOPE SOMETHING THAT THIS WILL BE THE IMPETUS TO A SERIES OF COLLABORATIONS SUCH AS THIS.

NOT ONLY WITHIN OUR PORTFOLIO OF PROPERTIES BUT WE WANT TO SET THE BAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WE THINK AND TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY.

I SAY MEANINGFUL, MEASURABLE DIVERSITY HAS TO BE MAKING THE WORD NOT ONLY A NOUN BUT A VERB.

THERE HAS TO BE ACTION BEHIND IT.

>> THEY HOPE THE EXHIBIT CAN BE A REMINDER OF THE POWER OF ART AND THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE.

>> IT'S OUR MOTTO SEE ART, LOVE ART, BUY ART, LIVE WITH ORIGINAL ART AND OUR ARTISTS AS THE AFRICAN DIASPORA ARE ABLE TO HELP US IN A WAY THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT DURING THIS TIME OF COVID.

>> THE EXHIBIT AT ONE TWO PRU RUNS UNTIL MAY 22.

WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S 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 OUR WEBSITE 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. A LOOK AT THE STRESS PARENTS ARE UNDER AMID THE PANDEMIC AND ADVICE FOR DEALING WITH IT.

>> PLUS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE LATEST NAME THROWN INTO THE ILLINOIS RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

>> NOW 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 HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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