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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT THESE ARE ALL PERSONAL DEBTS.

>> THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT WEIGHS WHETHER POLITICIANS CAN USE CAMPAIGN SUPPORTERS' MONEY TO WAGE A LEGAL DEFENSE.

>> I DID NOT OVERPROMISE.

BUT I HAVE PROBABLY OUT PERFORMED WHAT ANYBODY THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE AS HIS POLL NUMBERS SINK.

SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM EXAMINES THE BIDEN PRESIDENCY.

>> EVERYONE IS SAYING SLOW DOWN.

>> AIRLINE CANCEL FLIGHTS ALWAYS 5G LAUNCHES A PARTIAL ROLL OUT.

WE HAVE REACTION.

>> A LOOK AT THE STRESS PARENTS ARE UNDER AMID THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND HOW THEY COULD BE THEIR OWN SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW IT BUT I STARTED GOING INTO A DEEP STATE OF DEPRESSION.

>> A BELOVED LOCAL MUSICIAN HITS BOTTOM.

FIND OUT HOW HE MADE IT BACK.

>> I REALIZED I COULD TAKE THE WORLD.

>> AND A TASTE OF RESTAURANTS FEATURED ON A NEW SEASON "TO DINE FOR" WITH KATE SULLIVAN.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO'S TOP DOCTOR SAYS THE CITY HAS PASSED AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE COVID-19 SURGE DRIVEN BY THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>> I AM VERY, VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE FORMALLY PASSED THE OMICRON PEAK HERE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

HOWEVER, WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM BEING OUT OF THE WOODS.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT OVER THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD ON GETTING FOLKS VACCINATED GETTING FOLKS TESTED AND CONTINUE WEARING MASKS BECAUSE THERE IS A LONG WAY TO COME DOWN.

>> THE POSITIVITY PEAKED AT 19.6% ON JANUARY FIRST AND DROPPED TO 12.6%.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO DROP BUT THEY HAVE PLATEAUED.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HOLDS A RARE FORMAL PRESS CONFERENCE TO MARK HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WITH SAGGING APPROVAL RATINGS BIDEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE LEVEL OF EXHAUSTER BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC.

>> I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND FATIGUE IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE KNOW WHY.

COVID-19.

I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP.

AND ACCEPT THINGS AS THEY ARE NOW.

SOMETHING P MAY CALL WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW THE NEW NORMAL.

I CALL IT A JOB NOT YET FINISHED.

>> IT WILL GET BETTER.

>> BUT BIDEN ADMITTED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BREAK UP HIS BUILD BACK BETTER BILL AND CLIMATE PLAN INTO BIG CHUNKS TO PASS PART OF HIS SWEEPING AGENDA.

SENATE DEMOCRATS PRESS AHEAD WITH EFFORTS TO PASS VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION DESPITE REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.

SENATORS HAVE BEEN DEBATING THE MEASURE ALL AFTERNOON AND ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE LEGISLATION THIS EVENING.

ILLINOIS SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH CITED THE SACRIFICES OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND SOLDIERS IN FIGHTING FOR AND MAINTAINING DEMOCRACY AS SHE CALLED OUT OPPONENTS OF THE BILL.

>> I'M NOT ASKING ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING MERELY AS DIFFICULT AS PUTTING ON A UNIFORM AND GOING TO WAR OR CROSSING A BRIDGE TO BE MET WITH BILLY CLUBS.

ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS THE BARE MINIMUM.

ALL I'M BEGGING THEM TO DO IS MERELY TO NOT SIT IN SILENCE IN THE FACE OF GRAVE INJUSTICE.

>> CHUCK SCHUMER SAYS IF REPUBLICANS PLOK A BILL HE WILL HOLD A VOTE TO CHANGE SENATE RULES.

THE ILLINOIS SUPREME TACKLES WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH CAMPAIGN FUNDS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> CAN PUBLIC OFFICIAL WILLS LEGALLY PAY FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE WITH CAMPAIGN MONEY?

THAT IS A QUESTION OF INTEREST TO SEVERAL CURRENT AND FORMER ILLINOIS OFFICE HOLDERS AND ONE BEFORE THE STATE'S HIGH COURT RIGHT NOW.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

AMANDA?

>> YES, PARIS THERE IS A REASON THAT CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS HAVE DEVELOPED REPUTATIONS FOR CORRUPTION AND THAT IS BECAUSE AS YOU'VE NOTED MORE FREQUENT THAN NOT WE HAVE A LOT OF OFFICIALS WHO ARE ACCUSED OF BRIBERY, ATTEMPTED EXTORTION AND OTHER FORMS OF CORRUPTION.

WHEN THEY DO THEY ARE FREQUENTLY NOT PAYING THEIR LEGAL BILLS OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS.

INSTEAD THEY USE CAMPAIGN CASH.

CONTRIBUTIONS GIVEN TO THEM BY SUPPORTERS TO PAY THEIR ATTORNEYS.

THE QUESTION BEFORE THE HIGH COURT IS THAT LEGAL?

THE QUESTION IS GETTING RAISED BY CHICAGO'S 25TH WARD ALDERPERSON BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ WHO TOOK LEGAL ACTION AGAINST HIS PREDECESSOR DANNY SOLIS, SOLIS RELIED ON THE FUND TO PAY LEGAL BILLS OVER $200,000 IN CONNECTION WITH A BRIBE THAT SNARED ALDERMAN ED BURKE.

ED BURKE HAS SINCE SPENT $2 MILLION OF CAMPAIGN MONEY ON HIS LEGAL DEFENSE.

BURKE'S WIFE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANN BURKE HAS RECUSED HERSELF FROM THE CASE NOW BEFORE THE STATE'S HIGH COURT.

THESE ARE COMPLICATED CONNECTIONS TO BE SURE.

BUT BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ'S ATTORNEY SAYS THE MATTER AT HAND BEFORE THE JUSTICE IS ONE OF COMMON SENSE.

HE SAYS THAT CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS ARE MEANT TO PREVENT AND TO ROOT OUT CORRUPTION.

AND IT WOULD BE ANTITHETICAL FOR A LAW INTENDED FOR THAT CAUSE CAN THEN BE RELIED UPON BY CORRUPT POLITICIANS FOR THEIR DEFENSE.

>> THE PURPOSE BEHIND THOSE ARE TO COMBAT AND DETER PUBLIC CORRUPTION WHAT A SLAP IN THE FACE IF YOU HAVE A LAW THAT IS MEANT TO DETER PUBLIC CORRUPTION THROUGH CAMPAIGN LIMITS AND TRANSPARENCY AND LIMITING USE OF MONEY FOR CAMPAIGN RELATED MATTERS.

BUT THEN YOU INCH OUT THE ABILITY FOR ONE OF THE POLITICIANS FACING PUBLIC CORRUPTION AND ALLOW THEM TO USE THIS MONEY.

>> CANDIDATES AND OFFICIALS CAN USE SUPPORTERS' DONATIONS FOR LEGAL EXPENSENESS FOR THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW AND BALLOT CHANGES.

HE ARGUES DANNY SOLIS' USE WAS A BUSINESS RATHER IT WAS PERSONAL.

AND HE SAYS THAT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.

BUT MICHAEL BURKE WHO IS REPRESENTED THE ORGANIZATION SAYS DANNY SOLIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE IT NOT FOR THE PUBLIC POSITION HE HELD.

AND SAYS THAT BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ IS ACTING AS IF ALL POLITICIANS ARE GUILTY BUT HE SAYS EVEN THOUGH THAT AREN'T, CAN ALSO INCUR OPPRESSIVE LEGAL BILLS.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH A PERSON WHO MAY BE UNDER INVESTIGATION, MAY HAVE HAD AN E-MAIL FROM THAT PERSON AND SUDDENLY THEY ARE THE SUBJECT OF A SUBPOENA FOR THOUSANDS OF RECORDS.

>> DIRECTOR OF REFORM FOR ILLINOIS ALISA KAPLAN SAYS IT CAN BE STOMACH TURNING FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES THEY ENTRUSTED WITH MONEY AND DONATED TO FOR THEIR CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE RUN THEIR OFFICES TO THEN USE IT TO DEFEND CORRUPTION CHARGES.

BUT SHE SAYS, AGAIN, THESE ARE OFTEN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WOULD NOT BE IN WERE IT NOT FOR THE POSITIONS THEY HOLD.

AND SHE SAYS IF THE CAMPAIGN DOESN'T PAY FOR THESE LEGAL EXPENSES, WHO DOES?

SHE SAYS THAT COULD PUT CANDIDATES AND MEMBERS OF THEIR STAFF WHO ARE NOT PERSONALLY WEALTHY AT A DISADVANTAGE.

>> IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHY PEOPLE WOULD RECOIL AT THAT IDEA.

BUT THINK ABOUT THE FACT FOR EXAMPLE NOT EVERYBODY ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION IS GUILTY.

AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO A DEFENSE.

AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE ACCUSATIONS LEVELED IF THEY WERE NOT A CANDIDATE OR A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

AND SO IT REALLY IS LEGITIMATE.

YOU COULD SEE IT AS A LEGITIMATE CAMPAIGN EXPENSE.

>> SHE SAYS THAT IT IS A COMPLICATED QUESTION AND ADDS THAT YOU ALSO AT LEAST HAVE TRANSPARENCY IF THIS IS LISTED AS A CAMPAIGN DONATION VERSUS POTENTIALLY HAVING A CANDIDATES GO OUT AND ASK FOR EXAMPLE FOR A "GOFUNDME" PAGE TO HELP TO DEAL WITH ANY SORT OF LEGAL BATTLES THAT THEY MIGHT FACE.

YOU DID HAVE SEVERAL JUSTICES DURING TODAY'S ORAL ARGUMENTS INTERJECT INCLUDING JUSTICE MICHAEL BURKE HE IS NO RELATION TO THE ALDERMAN OR TO THE SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE.

BURKE POINTED TO AN OPINION FROM THE NEW YORK SUPREME COURT THAT RULED THAT POLITICIANS CANNOT USE THEIR CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES ON CORRUPTION CHARGES.

>> WE HAVE YET TO REACH THE POINT WHEN IT CAN BE SAID THAT DEFENDING AGAINST FEDERAL OR STATE CRIMINAL INDICTMENT ALLEGING CORRUPT PRACTICES IS AN ORDINARY EXPENSE OF HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE.

ARE WE AT THAT POINT IN ILLINOIS WHERE WE WILL SAY THAT IS AN ORDINARY EXPENSE OF HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE?

>> IT IS PERHAPS A GOOD WAY TO WRAP UP THIS DISCUSSION FOR NOW, PARIS.

COUPLE ADDS, JUSTICE BURKE IS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE UP FOR ELECTION HIMSELF THIS YEAR.

AND YOU HAVE TWO MEASURES ONE INTRODUCED BY A DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND THE OTHER BY A REPUBLICAN.

BOTH PUT FORTH IN 2021 TO EXPLICITLY FORBID CAMPAIGN MONEY FROM BEING USED FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE.

BUT BOTH OF THOSE MEASURES WERE HELD UP IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT ADVANCING AT ALL.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> AS YOU KNOW THE FOURTH QUARTER CAMPAIGN REPORTS COME OUT IN RECENT DAYS AND YOU LOOK AT THOSE REPORTS AND IN THE EXPENDITURES YOU SEE LAW FIRMS IN MANY REPORTS.

OBVIOUSLY A CASE OF BEING CLOSELY WATCHED HERE IN ILLINOIS.

>> RELEVANT DISCUSSION CERTAINLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES HAVE CANCELED AND MODIFIED HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS DUE TO CONCERN OVER THE ROLLOUT OF 5G SERVICE.

THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WARNED THAT THE HYPED HIGH SPEED WIRELESS SERVICE COULD INTERFERE WITH AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY.

AT&T AND VERIZON ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE DELAYED LAUNCHING 5G IN SOME AIRPORTS.

AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND MORE ARE RANSY BERRY, A PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND JOSEPH SCHWIETRMAN TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST AND PROFESSOR AT DePAUL UNIVERSITY.

WELCOME.

RANDY, REMIND US WHAT 5G, OR FIFTH GENERATION WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY IS.

>> THIS IS THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY UNDERLYING YOUR CELLPHONE.

CURRENTLY MOST OF US HAVE 4G OR LTE.

5G IS THE NEXT VERSION OF THAT.

IT'S OFFERING HIGHER DATA RATES AND OTHER ENHANCED FEATURES.

>> AND IT'S BECAUSE IT'S USING A SPECTRUM OF RADIO FREQUENCY.

AND JOE, IN SHORT WHY ARE AIRLINES SO CONCERNED ABOUT CELLPHONE COMPANIES USING THIS SO-CALLED C BAND SPECTRUM.

>> TOLERANCE FOR RISK OF AIR TRAVEL HAS FALLEN WHERE RISKS ARE NOT SEEN AS ACCEPTABLE.

AND WE HAVE UNKNOWNS FOR THE AIRLINES.

REMINDS ME OF A DEBATE OVER CELLPHONE CALLS AT HIGH ALTITUDE BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY.

WE HAVE A MASSIVE ROLL OUT OF A 5G PROGRAM BY TWO BIG PROVIDERS VERIZON AND AT&T AND THE AIRLINES HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN CREDIBLE EVIDENCE THAT THERE WAS NO INTERFERENCE AND LOW VISIBILITY LANDING.

YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY THE NUMBER OF FLIGHTS WE HAVE PER DAY AND THE RISK WAS SEEN AS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> THE CONCERN IS THE ALTIMETER WHICH OBVIOUSLY PILOTS RELY ON TO LAND IN LOW VISIBILITY AND.

RANDY BERRY, HOW MUCH EVIDENCE IS THERE THAT CELLULAR USE IN THIS SPECTRUM RF SPECTRUM WILL IMPACT THOSE ALTIMETERS?

>> THERE'S I WOULD SAY THERE'S -- I HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF HARD EVIDENCE.

THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.

THE BANDS ARE SEPARATED.

THERE IS ABOUT 200 MEGA HURST BAND BETWEEN THE C BAND AND WHAT THE ALTIMETERS USE AND THE QUESTION IS IS THAT ENOUGH?

I THINK THE FTC AND THE WIRELESS PROVIDERS TEND TO THINK IT IS.

THE AIRLINES OBVIOUSLY DO NOT.

>> AND JOSEPH SCHWIETRMAN TODAY THEY PUT A PAUSE THEY AGREED TO A PAUSE IN THE 5G ROLL OUT AROUND CERTAIN AIRPORTS.

WHICH AIRPORTS AND WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS OF THE PAUSE?

>> THIS WAS A REMARKABLE THING WE HAD A GAME OF CHICKEN WHERE BOTH SIDES WERE ELEVATING THE RHETORIC ABOUT MASS CHAOS IN THE AIR AND THE COMPROMISE BEING WE ARE NOT GOING TO DEPLOY AT CERTAIN AIRPORTS AND THAT IS HOPEFUL TO AVOID THE CHAOS TODAY AND INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FELT THAT THE CUTBACKS DID NOT GIVE THEM ENOUGH ASSURANCE.

AIRLINES FLYING THE 777 WHICH IS THE BIG PLANE USUALLY 550 SEATS SCRAMBLED TO FIND A DIFFERENT AIRPLANE WHEN THEY FELT THE RISKS WERE LESS AND LOTS OF CANCELLATIONS BECAUSE OF THE AMBIGUITY IN THE AIR.

>> AND CONCERNS FROM DENNIS TAJER PILOTS UNION HE WEIGHED IN WITH US TODAY.

>> I MAY GO TO AN AIRPORT LIKE CHICAGO LAGUARDIA IS GOING TO BE PROTECTED AIRPORTS.

BUT IF I HAVE TO DIVERT SOMEONE FOR AN EQUIPMENT ISSUE OR WEATHER IS NOT GOOD AT EITHER PLACE, I'M GOING TO GO TO A 5G AIRPORT I HAVE A LOT TO LOOK AT AND A LOT OF DISTRACTIONS THAT WE REALLY FEEL ARE UNNECESSARY.

THEY ARE TRYING TO JUST ROLL THIS OUT AGAIN, IN A METERED WAY WHICH IS BETTER THAN FULSOME LIKE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT AND SAY CAPTAIN LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE ISSUES.

THAT IS NOT HOW WE DO BUSINESS IN THE AVIATION WORLD.

>> WHAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED DURING THE PAUSES TO MAKE FOLKS LIKE DENNIS TAJER FEEL COMFORTABLE?

>> COMING BACK, THE REAL QUESTION IS IS THIS DOES IT INTERFERENCE LEAK OVER IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT AROUND THE AIRPORTS FOR 5G IS DEPLOYED THAT IT WOULD CAUSE THE ALTIMETERS NOT TO WORK CORRECTLY.

AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TESTING.

THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE STUDIES OF THAT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL CONFIDENT.

>> AND JOSEPH SCHWIETRMAN IT IS NOT NEW BECAUSE VERIZON AND AT&T THEY SPENT $80 BILLION FOR THE RIGHT TO USE THIS FREQUENCY TO LAUNCH 5G.

WHY ARE THESE CONCERNS COMING TO A HEAD NOW WHEN IT'S ROLLING OUT?

>> 21 COMPANIES, 81 BILLION DOLLARS SPENT THEY WANT TO SEE A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT AND THE F.A.A.

DID ALLOW A PUSH FOR DEPLOYMENT TO BE DELAYED AND IT BROUGHT US BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT THE BALL DROPPED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT TO SPACE THIS OUT TO HAVE CREDIBLE TESTING AND I THINK WHAT IS REALLY SAD ABOUT THIS, IS JUST THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DISRUPTED DURING THIS UPWARDS OF 32,000 ON EMIRATES ALONE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

WHY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN A MONTH AGO WITH THE PHASED ROLL OUT REALLY IS ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THIS DIDN'T DO ANY SERVICE TO OUR NATIONAL AVIATION SYSTEM.

>> THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS, ESPECIALLY FLYING THE 777 ARE THE ONES CANCELING FLIGHTS AND WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THEM.

RANDY TELL US MORE ABOUT 5G.

THE PROPONENTS SAY IT'S GOING TO SPUR MORE SELF-DRIVING CARS AND IT'S GOING TO REVOLUTIONIZE HEALTHCARE HOW DOES THAT CONNECT TO ALL THE BIG ADVANCES?

>> TO SUPPORT THOSE BIG ADVANCES YOU NEED MORE DATA RATES.

YOU NEED TO SUPPORT HIGHER DATA RATES AND FOR THAT YOU NEED MORE SPECTRUM AND THAT IS WHAT LED TO THE C BANDS ONE OF THE BANDS ONE OF MANY BANDS THAT 5G USES IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE BUT THAT IS THE KEY INGREDIENT TO REALIZE THE PROMISES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> JOSEPH SCHWIETRMAN IF YOU HAD TO GUESS WILL THERE BE A RESOLUTION THAT MAKES EVERYBODY HAPPY?

ONE THING I READ ABOUT THEY WANT TO WAIT FOR THE OLDER ALTIMETERS TO RETIRE AND NEWER ALTIMETERS WILL NOT FACE THE SAME PROBLEM OF INTERFERENCE?

>> I THINK THAT IS RIGHT.

WHAT WE SEE THERE IS A LOT OF PATHWAYS TO KEEP THE AVIATION SYSTEM RUNNING WHILE BENEFITING 5G.

FOR ONE MOST OF THE PROBLEM ARE TOWERS TWO MILE FROM AN AIRPLANE.

AIRPORT.

AND THE F.A.A.

IS CERTIFYING PLANES NOT AT RISK.

WHY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN A FEW WEEKS AGO I DON'T KNOW.

AIRLINES FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH CERTAIN EQUIPMENT AND THE 777 MIGHT BE OK.

I THINK WE'LL SEE A FRENZIED EFFORT WITH COMPROMISE BUT IT IS A SHAME IT GOT TO THIS LEVEL FROM WHAT I CAN TELL FOUR OR FIVE BIG INTERNATIONAL PLANES CANCELED IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

THERE'S PAIN BEING FELT.

>> A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO IN THE AIR TRAVEL INDUSTRY WE'LL WATCH HOW IT RESOLVES.

>> THANKS TO RANDY BERRY AND JOSEPH SCHWIETRMAN.

>> AND TO BRANDIS WITH A LOOK AT A GROUP OF AMERICANS FEELING THE PRESSURES OF THE PANDEMIC.

PARENTS.

ADDRESSING REPORTEDDERS PRESIDENT BIDEN ACKNOWLEDGED HE MAY HAVE TO BREAK UP PART OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL TO GET IT THROUGH CONGRESS.

SOME OF THE SOCIAL COMPONENTS WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON PARENTS.

USE UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN AND ONE YEAR CHILD TAX CREDIT EXTENSION.

OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS PARENTS HAVE THE POWER TO BECOME THE COUNTRY'S STRONGEST SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT PARENTS IS Dr. DANA SUSKIND AUTHOR AND DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF 30 MILLION WORDS.

THAT IS AN INITIATIVE AIMED AT NARROWS THE LANGUAGE GAP FROM THOSE IN LOWER INCOME FAMILIES AND IS A PEDIATRIC PHYSICIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

WELLINGTON THOMAS TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

FIRST, TELL US WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF PARENTS ON THIS PROTRACTED PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE?

>> I THINK THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS LEFT NOT ONLY LEFT FAMILIES REELING, LEFT COMPLETELY ON THEIR OWN BUT IT'S HIGHLIGHTED THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS WITH CHILDREN FROM ALL AGES.

AND IT IS REALLY LEFT THEIR STRUGGLING REELING AND THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL.

>> HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE PANDEMIC OR PANDEMIC PARENTING HAS BEEN DIFFERENT FOR PARENTS OF ST. PAULER KIDS VERSUS THOSE OF OLDER 5 AND UP KIDS?

>> IT'S HARD FOR EVERYONE.

BUT BY FAR AND AWAY THOSE FIRST THREE TO FIVE YEARS OF LIFE ARE THE MOST INTENSIVE IN THIS COUNTRY IT IS THE TIME PERIOD THAT WE LEAVE PARENTS ALMOST COMPLETELY ON THEIR OWN.

WHILE THEY WERE STRUGGLING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAS REALLY MADE IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

WITHOUT THE LACK OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE, WITHOUT HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE, FAMILIES ARE LEFT TO BE EVERYTHING FROM TEACHERS, COACHES, CAMP COUNSELORS WHILE TRYING TO JUGGLE WORKING AS WELL.

IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR ALL FAMILIES BUT ESPECIALLY FAMILIES OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> YOU WROTE IN AN OP-ED IN THE HILL THAT THE LARGEST SOCIAL SAFETY NET EXPANSION IN 80 YEARS WHICH WOULD BE PART OF THE ACT, HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY DANGLED IN FRONT OF PARENTS.

WHAT COULD THAT MEASURE DO FOR PARENTS?

>> IT COULD BE A GAME-CHANGER.

LET'S PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

IN THIS COUNTRY, PARENTS ARE BASICALLY LEFT ON THEIR OWN.

UNLIKE ALMOST ANY OTHER OECD COUNTRY WE HAVE NO PAID FAMILY LEAVE, WE HAVE NO HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE AND THIS IN A SENSE WOULD REVERSE THAT AND START SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ROLES ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY YEARS.

SUPPORTING THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPING BRAINS.

SO THIS BILL IN WHATEVER FORM WITH THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE AND THE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE, THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WOULD FINALLY GIVE FAMILIES THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PARENT THE WAY IN WHICH THEY WANT TO PARENT.

>> YOU WROTE ABOUT HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM DURING WORLD WAR II.

BRIEFLY TELL US WHAT WAS DONE THEN?

>> IT IS AMAZING WHAT OUR COUNTRY WILL DO WHEN THERE IS A NECESSITY.

WHEN MEN WENT OFF TO WAR, IT LEFT WOMEN THERE AND BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THE CHILDREN NEEDED TO BE CARED FOR THEY ACTUALLY CREATED A SYSTEM OF HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE REALLY HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE WHICH FILLED THE GAP AND ALLOWED THE WOMEN TO GO TO WORK.

WHERE THE MEN HAD LEFT.

AND HAS HAD LONG-TERM POSITIVE IMPACTS ON THE CHILDREN THAT WERE IN THOSE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARES SYSTEMS.

BUT OF COURSE WHEN THE MEN CAME BACK, DESPITE EVERYBODY LOVING THE CHILDCARE CENTERS THROUGH THE ACT, IT WAS ENDED.

AND SINCE THAT TIME, AND WE HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH A HODGEPODGE OF STOPGAPS THAT WE CALL A CHILDCARE SYSTEM WHICH REALLY ISN'T.

>> YOU ALSO WRITE ABOUT AARP AND LIKENING WHAT PARENTS COULD DO TO WHAT AARP DOES FOR OLDER AMERICANS.

WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE FOR PARENTS?

>> YEAH.

TO KNOW THE STORY OF THE AARP IS TO KNOW THE STORY OF A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS COMING TOGETHER SO PUSH FORWARD SOCIAL CHANGE.

BACK IN THE 60s THE ELDERLY WERE THE POOREST SEGMENT OF SOCIETY.

50% LIVED IN ALMOST ABJECT POVERTY.

AND THEY CAME TOGETHER THROUGH IT WAS CALLED SOMETHING BEFORE THE AARP.

BUT THEY CAME TOGETHER AND TOGETHER THEY BECAME THE STRONGEST POLITICAL VOICE THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

AND JUST BY CREATING THE AARP THEY DECREASED ELDERLY POVERTY BY 70%.

THEY HAVE ADVOCATED FOR MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE ELEVATED THE SECURITY THE SAFETY NET FOR ELDERLY.

BUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TODAY FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN?

TODAY CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY THE POOREST SEGMENT OF SOCIETY.

AND AS A RESULT THE PARENTS WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM.

BUT, YET, WE HAVE 60 MILLION PARENTS WHO ALL WANT THE SAME THING FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY ALL WANT TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN THE BEST POSSIBLE START IN LIFE.

AND IF THEY CAME TOGETHER UNDERSTANDING THEIR COLLECTIVE IDENTITY AND THEIR COLLECTIVE POWER THEY COULD REALLY PUSH FORWARD CHANGES THAT ALL FAMILIES WANT.

I AM IN THE MIDST OF I HAVE A NEW BOOK COMING OUT, PARENT NATION.

AND I TALK TO FAMILIES FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS FROM ALL SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT.

AND ULTIMATELY ALL PARENTS WANTED THE SAME THINGS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND SOCIETAL SUPPORT.

>> AND OF COURSE YOU MENTIONED THAT BOOK PARENT NATION COMING OUT IN APRIL WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK ON TO DISCUSS THAT.

BUT THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT BECAUSE WE CAN TALK ABOUT PARENTING ALL DAY.

Dr. DANA SUSKIND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> UP NEXT, A LEGENDARY CHICAGO MUSICIAN MAKES A COMEBACK AFTER HITTING ROCK BOTTOM.

WE SHARE HIS STORY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> MANY WAYS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TURNED LIVES UPSIDE-DOWN.

THE NEXT STORY IS ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL DEVASTATION AND RECOVERY EXPERIENCED BY ONE BELOVED LOCAL MUSICIAN.

JAY SHEFSKY BROUGHT US THIS STORY LAST YEAR AND HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> BACK IN EARLY MARCH 2020 JUST BEFORE COVID SHUT THE WORLD DOWN, A GROUP OF MUSICIANS RECORDED THE 16TH CD OF A LEGENDARY CHICAGO PIANIST.

BUT THEY HAD NO IDEA THE 84-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN'S LIFE WAS ABOUT TO FALL APART.

>> OK. >> AND WITHIN TWO MONTHS HE WOULD BE IN A HOSPITAL PSYCH UNIT.

[♪♪♪] MY NAME IS ERWIN HELFER, I PLAY A HOOTS PIANO, BLUES, BOOGIE AND STANDARDS.

[♪♪♪] >> ERWIN HELFER IS ALSO QUITE MODEST.

HE'S GOT A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE CHICAGO JAZZ INSTITUTE.

A CHICAGO STREET NAMED IN HIS HONOR AND HE WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO BRING BLUES MUSICIANS FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO NORTH SIDE CLUBS AND WHITE AUDIENCES.

>> YOU WANT TO SIT ON THIS NOTE... >> HE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC WHEN HE WAS JUST 16.

>> I WAS A TEENAGER AND I COULD DRIVE SO I WOULD DRIVE DOWN THE SOUTH SIDE AND MY DAD WOULD TAKE ME TO HEAR LITTLE BROTHER MONTGOMERY AND BLIND JOHN DAVIS ON WEST MADISON STREET.

>> OVER THE YEARS HE BECAME A TRUSTED FRIEND AND FELLOW PLAYER TO MANY BLUES MUSICIANS WHO CAME BEFORE HIM LIKE MAMA YANCY, THE WIDOW OF PIONEERING BOOINGBY WOOGIE PIANIST JIM ANY NANCY AND A NOTED BLUES STINGER IN HER OWN RIGHT.

>> AMERICA OWES A GREAT DEAL TO THESE PEOPLE.

>> NEARLY A YEAR AFTER THAT PRECOVID RECORDING SESSION ERWIN HELFER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HIS TRIP TO HELL AND HOW HE GOT BACK.

>> WHEN THE SHUTDOWN BEGAN, HOW WERE THINGS FOR YOU THEN?

>> THEY WERE ALL RIGHT FOR A WHILE.

BUT LATER ON IT WAS NOT GETTING ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE I COULDN'T TEACH WHICH IS WHAT I LOVE DOING THE MOST.

I COULDN'T PLAY WHICH I LOVE DOING.

AND COULDN'T EVEN WALK INTO THE BANK AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT BUT I STARTED GOING INTO A DEEP STATE OF DEPRESSION.

>> ERWIN SAYS HE BECAME CONSUMED BY FEAR AND DELUSIONS LIKE OBSESSIVELY WORRYING HIS HOUSE WOULD BURN DOWN.

>> WHAT I WAS DOING WAS ACCEPTING UNREALITY FOR REALITY.

>> SOME PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM WERE GETTING WORRIED.

ONE WAS THE OWNER OF ERWIN'S RECORD LABEL AND A LONGTIME FRIEND.

>> I WAS CALLING HIM EVERYDAY AND JUST WEEK AFTER WEEK, THINGS SEEMED TO BE GOING IN A BAD DIRECTION.

>> PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HIM HARMING HIMSELF AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF.

>> SO IN EARLY MAY HIS FRIENDS INTERVENED.

>> THEY DROVE ME TO RUSH HOSPITAL WHERE I STAYED FOR SIX WEEKS.

>> DRUG THERAPY HE SAYS DIDN'T WORK.

GROUP THERAPY WAS OK BUT DIDN'T BRING BACK HIS WILL TO LIVE.

ERWIN AND HIS FRIENDS CREDIT HIS RECOVERY TO A TREATMENT WITH A BAD REPUTATION.

ELECTRO CON VULSIVE THERAPY.

ECT OR SHOCK THERAPY AS MANY CALL IT, CONJURES TERRIBLE IMAGES.

BUT DOCTORS THEY TRUSTED RECOMMENDED IT.

AND AFTER NINE TREATMENTS ERWIN AND HIS FRIENDS COULD TELL HE WAS BACK.

>> I KNEW I WAS GETTING MUCH BETTER WHEN THE NURSE CAME UP TO ME AND SHE SAYS WHEN WAS YOUR LAST BOWL MOVEMENT, AND -- BOWEL MOVEMENT AND THAT IS WHEN I KNEW.

>> AND WHEN ERWIN CAME HOME HE FOUND HIS FRIENDS THOROUGHLY CLEANED HIS HOUSE AND GOOD FRIEND BLUES SINGER KATHERINE DAVIS HAD MOVED IN TO HELP.

AND NOW ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS LATER HE SAYS THE DEEP DESPAIR HAS NOT RETURNED.

AND WHAT HE FEELS MOST IS GRATITUDE.

>> THE FRIENDS I HAVE WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR ME, BEING ABLE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND FACE A NEW DAY ... >> THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN HIS LIFE NOW?

HE IS NOT PLAYING MUSIC.

NO GIGS, OF COURSE, BUT HE DOESN'T PLAY AT HOME.

HE SAYS HE IS OK WITH THAT.

SOME SPECULATE IT COULD BE A SIDE EFFECT OF THE ECT ERWIN DOESN'T THINK SO.

>> WE INTERVIEWED ERWIN IN A ROOM WITH A PIANO JUST IN CASE.

AND HE DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY.

[♪♪♪] >> SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME I WAS VERY BRAVE FOR TELLING THE STORY AND I DON'T THINK I WAS BRAVE AT ALL.

I THINK I OWED IT TO PEOPLE.

[♪♪♪] THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF SINGLE OLDER DEPRESSED PEOPLE LIVING BY THEMSELVES.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS JAY SHEFSKY.

>> HE'S STILL GOT IT.

AND THE OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC IS THROWING HIM AN 86TH BIRTHDAY SELL BRAGHTS.

TICKETS ARE SOLD ON-LINE AND PROOF OF VACCINATION IS REQUIRED.

HELFER RELEASED A BOOK CALLED BLUES PIANO AND HOW TO PLAY IT.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FIRST YEAR POLITICAL CHALLENGES AND LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

AND THE TRAVELS AND TAILS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN "TO DINE FOR" WITH KATE SULLIVAN ON PBS.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS IN ILLINOIS HAVE PEAKED.

THE GOVERNOR TOUTED DATA THAT SHOWS PROMISE THAT THE OMICRON WAVE IS STARTING TO WANE.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW THE SURGE HAS PEAKED UNTIL YOU ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

TODAY IS OUR SEVENTH DAY SINCE WE SAW PEAK HOSPITALIZATIONS OF 7380 REPORTED ON JANUARY 13TH.

SINCE THEN, OUR SINGLE DAY NUMBER OF COVID PATIENT NOTICE THE HOSPITAL HAS FALLEN BY 870 PATIENTS.

>> AND PRITZKER SAYS THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WERE UNVACCINATED BUT SAYS THE DROP IN HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE QUOTE A HOPEFUL SIGN THAT VACCINATIONS, BOOSTERS AND MASKS ARE WORKING.

>> FAMILY MEMBERS OF 49-YEAR-OLD TALBERT SHOT AND KILLED FRIDAY ARE JOINING WITH LOCAL POLITICIANS TO CALL FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE.

THEY ARE CALL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND COMMUNITY LED GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION PLAN.

DAVID MOORE IS ASKING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON TALBERT'S SHOOTING TO COME FORWARD.

>> THIS IS NOT ANOTHER BODY.

SHE WAS JUST NOT ANOTHER PERSON SHE WAS A WIFE.

SHE WAS A MOTHER.

AND SHE WAS A FRIEND TO MANY.

WHETHER WE KNEW HER OR NOT SHE IS A PART OF OUR FAMILY.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU DON'T PUT A STATISTIC ON HER YOU PUT A NAME ON HER.

YOU PUT A NAME ON IT.

IF YOU SEEN SOMETHING YOU MUST SAY SOMETHING.

>> MINNESOTA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL FILES A LAWSUIT AGAINST TWO ILLINOIS COMPANIES OPERATING COVID TESTING SITES.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THE CENTER FOR COVID CONTROL AND DOCTORS CLINICAL LABORATORY DEFRAUDED MINNESOTANS BY FAILING TO GIVE TEST RESULTS OR DELIVERING FAKE OR INACCURATE RESULTS.

THE CENTERS FOR COVID CONTROL IS BASED OUT WILL ROLLING MEADOWS AND HAS 300 LOCATIONS NATIONALLY.

SOME PEOPLE REPORTED RECEIVING TEST RESULTS DESPITE NEVER HAVING SUBMITTED A SAMPLE FOR TESTING.

THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IS WARNING ABOUT SCAMS ON THE WEBSITE OFFERING FREE TEST KITS.

>> WBEZ IS SET TO EMERGENCY WITH THE NON-TIMES TO BECOME A NEW NONPROFIT COMPANY.

THE DEAL WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED LATE LAST EVENING BY WBEZ'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND "THE SUN TIMES" WOULD JOIN THE NONPROFIT AS A SUBSIDIARY BUT HAVE ITS OWN BOARD.

THE MERGER IS SET TO BE COMPLETED ON JANUARY 31.

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

>> THANK YOU, AND OF COURSE DON'T GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE WE'RE COMING UP TO YOU NEXT AS WE BRING IN THE REST OF OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TO TALK ABOUT CHICAGO'S VIOLENCE, THE LATEST FROM WASHINGTON AND MUCH MORE.

JOINING US NOW ARE AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND OF COURSE PARIS SCHUTZ.

SO MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AT THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS WHERE INCREASED VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE DISCUSSED.

HERE IS WHAT SHE SAID YESTERDAY ABOUT GETTING MORE FEDERAL HELP.

>> WE ALSO NEED MORE RESOURCES FROM THE MARSHALL SERVICE TO HELP US IDENTIFY AND FIND FUGITIVES AND PARTICULARLY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS FROM AGAIN, THE COOK COUNTY COURTS WHERE NOBODY IS LOOKING FOR THEM.

THAT CANNOT BE THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> HEATHER CHERONE DOES THE MAYOR HAVE A NEW STRATEGY FOR FIGHTING CRIME?

>> WELL, SHE HAS A FOUR--MONTH-OLD STRATEGY FOR FIGHTING CRIME ON FRIDAY, SHE WILL PRESENT HER SO-CALLED VICTIMS JUSTICE ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR A HEARING.

THAT ORDINANCE WOULD GIVE THE CITY THE ABILITY TO SUE GANG MEMBERS TO ATTEMPT TO RECOVER THEIR ILL GOTTEN GAINS OR PROFITS THAT THEY HAVE EARNED FROM THEIR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

IT IS GOING TO BE A HARD PUSH TO CONVINCE THEM BECAUSE THAT MEASURE AS I SAID, IS UNSOLD AND IT HAS NOT GONE ANYWHERE AND IT PHASES A BUZZ SAW OF OPPOSITION FROM CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS AS WELL AS VIOLENCE REDUCTION ADVOCATES INCLUDING SOME OF WHOM HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO THE MAYOR.

SO SHE HAS GOT TO CONVINCE THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THIS IS THE WAY TO APPROACH THIS ISSUE.

AND WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THE CONCERN ABOUT CRIME FREES UP THIS ORDINANCE FROM THE LIMBO THAT IT'S BEEN IN.

>> LAST NIGHT WAS A VIOLENT ONE AND ACCORDING TO ONE REPORT, SOME CHICAGO POLICE BRASS ARE LOSING CONFIDENCE IN SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

DOES THE MAYOR STILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM?

>> "SUN-TIMES" STORY QUOTING SOME COMMANDERS SAYING COMMANDERS DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN DAVID BROWN.

BUT I DON'T SEE ANYTHING TO SUGGEST THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS LOST CONFIDENCE IN HIM.

SHE HAS APPEARED IN PRESS CONFERENCES WITH HIM AND SHE HAS A LOT RIDING ON THIS.

THE HOMICIDE RATE WAS ABYSMAL LAST YEAR AND IT HASN'T STARTED OFF GOOD THIS YEAR.

BUT THIS WAS HER BIG PICK IF SHE FIRES HIM OR COMES TO RESIGN NOW A YEAR BEFORE SHE GOES INTO AN ELECTION SEASON IT FEELS LIKE AN ADMISSION OF FAILURE ON THE VIOLENCE FRONT SHE STANDS TO LOSE A LOT POLITICALLY IF SHE DOES FIRE HIM.

HER POLITICAL FORTUNES ARE TIED TO HIM THIS IS THE BIG AGENCY THE MAYOR HAS CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR NOW AND THIS WAS HER PICK DAVID BROWN OUT OF TEXAS.

>> AND POLICE SOMETHING SOMETHING SHE RAN ON AND HAD CREDIBILITY WHEN CAMPAIGNING.

AMANDA SHOW POKED AT CHIEF JUDGE TIM EVANS OVER VIOLENT OFFENDERS BEING RELEASED ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING THEY HAVE BEEN AT LOGGERHEADS ON THIS WE KNOW.

IS THERE A COMPROMISE OR A WAY FOR THE TWO OF THEM TO COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING?

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT COMPROMISE WOULD BE.

THE MAYOR CALLED FOR MORE INDIVIDUALS TO BE KEPT BEHIND BARS IF THEY ARE ACCUSED OF MOSTLY VIOLENT CRIMES BUT ALSO WEAPONS CHARGES EVEN IF THAT WEAPON WAS NOT DISCHARGED OR USED FOR A VIOLENT ACT.

THE CHIEF JUDGE SAYING THAT THAT DOES NOT MEET CONSTITUTIONAL SCRUTINY THAT YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

AND THAT HER POLICY WOULD LEAD TO TOO MANY INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS BEING KEPT BEHIND BARS THAT YOU NEED TO GO TO THE DENOMINATOR WHERE IF THEY ARE GOING TO RETURN TO COURT AND KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE BUT YOU CANNOT JUST LOCK EVERYBODY UP WHILE THEY ARE AWAITING TRIAL.

MAYBE THERE WOULD BE COMPROMISE.

THE ISSUE IS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN PARTIAL LETTERS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE WHAT I THINK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TALKED ABOUT IS THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE HERE SOME SORT OF CONSENSUS, A RELATIONSHIP, COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CHIEF JUDGE'S OFFICE AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY AND THE MAYOR, BETWEEN THE C.P.D.

INSTEAD IT SEEMS AS IF THEY ARE AT LOGGERHEADS OVER THE POLICY AND PROBABLY YOU HAVE TO FIGURE SOME POLITICAL FUTURES WEIGH INTO THIS AND IT IS JUST NOT GETTING DONE.

>> HEATHER IS THIS ARGUMENT FAILING TO GET ANY TRACTION WITH VOTERS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC?

>> IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY FIGURES AND THIS PERSON DID THIS AND THEN THEY WERE RELEASED FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO PARS OUT WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH AND THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" DID AN INDEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE MAYOR'S RHETORIC AND FOUND SHE HAS PRESENTED MISLEADING IF NOT OUT RIGHT FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING AFTER CHARGED WITH MURDER OR ATTEMPTED MURDER.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, TOO.

PEOPLE ARE NOT SURE WHAT ACTUALLY IS HAPPENING AND IF YOU ASK THE CHIEF JUDGE HE SAYS LOOK THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SHOW THIS IS DRIVING THE VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

THE MAYOR DISAGREES AND THAT IS WHERE THAT DISPUTE COMES.

IT WAS A ZERO SUM GAME MAYBE WE'LL FIND THE MIDDLE GROUND AND IT'S HARD FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN YOU CANNOT AGREE ON THE FACTS IN QUESTION AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

>> LET'S JUMP INTO NATIONAL POLITICS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HELD A RARE PRESS CONFERENCE AS HIS SIGNATURE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL FLOUNDERING AND THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL DEAD WITHOUT A CHANGE TO THE FILIBUSTER HERE IS WHAT HE SAID ABOUT MITCH McCONNELL'S OPPOSITION.

>> I GET ALONG WITH MITCH.

I LIKE MITCH McCONNELL WE LIKE ONE ANOTHER.

HE WAS ONE STRAIGHTFORWARD OBJECTIVE MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING I DO THAT MAKES ME LOOK GOOD WITH THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THAT BUILD BACK BETTER SHOULD BE BROKEN UP IN PARTS TO PASS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES?

>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT PARTS OF BUILD BACK BETTER WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS BECAUSE IT WOULD APPEAR TO OVERCOME A FILIBUSTER YOU NEED 10 VOTES TO END THE DEBATE.

AND AS THE PRESIDENT SAID HE ASKED THE QUESTION WHAT DO REPUBLICANS STAND FOR?

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY ARE FOR ANY PART OF THIS BILL.

THINGS IN THE BILL THAT HAVE GOTTEN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE PAST WOULD SEEM TO BE EXTENDING THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT THAT IS A PRIORITY IN THIS BILL AND OF DEMOCRATS.

SOMETHING THAT SENATOR MITT ROMNEY HAS SAID HE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANY REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO PUT THEIR NAME ON SUPPORTING ANY ASPECT OF THIS BILL RIGHT NOW.

AND IT ALSO DOESN'T SEEM LIKE MINUTE CHAN AND SINEMA WANT TO MOVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE FILIBUSTER THEY ARE HAVING HAD THAT DEBATE RIGHT NOW AS IT RELATES TO VOTING RIGHTS.

>> WITH INFLATION UP, ONLY CON AND THE DEMOCRATS AT ODDS, THE G.O.P.

BLOCKING PRIORITIES, PRESIDENT POLLING AT 40% APPROVAL RATING GIVE US A SENSE WHAT THE MIDTERMS ARE LOOKING LIKE?

>> I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT RIGHT THERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF TURMOIL IN THE NATION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF VOTERS WHO ARE SCARED, UPSET, OVER COVID YET THEY CAN'T BE.

BILLS ARE STACKING UP DUE TO INFLATION, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

SO IT IS A DIFFICULT MIDTERM AND WE KNOW GOING IN TYPICALLY MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE DIFFICULT FOR THE PARTY THAT HAS A SITTING PRESIDENT.

IT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE, I THINK FOR DEMOCRATS PARTICULARLY IF THEY LOOK TO HOLD CONTROL IN WASHINGTON THAT SMALL MARGINS THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW, NOT ENOUGH AS PARIS MENTIONED TO GET THEIR POLICIES ENACTED.

IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THAT PARTY.

>> AS AMANDA REPORTED THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT IS WEIGHING WHETHER ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN USE CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO PAY FOR THEIR LEGAL DEFENSE.

AMANDA, THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS VOTED 8-0 THAT POLITICIANS COULD USE THEIR WAR CHEST DOES IT HAVE A SNOWBALL CHANCE OF BEING REVERSED BY THE SUPREME COURT?

>> I DON'T LIKE TO PRESUME WHAT THE JUSTICES WILL DO.

AND STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BODY WHERE OF THE ATTORNEYS SAY IT IS SORT OF DIFFERENT THAN MOST BOARDS IN THAT IT IS SPLIT EVENLY BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BY THE WAY, THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT IS NOT RIGHT THERE.

AND THAT IT IS A BODY THAT IS CREATED UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

BUT IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT QUESTION THAT THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS FACING THAN THE SUPREME COURT.

AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE ONE OF THE CRITICISMS OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS THEY DO NOT TAKE PRO-ACTIVE MEASURES.

INSTEAD THEY ARE MORE A REACTIVE BODY YOU HAVE TO BRING THE QUESTION BEFORE IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO PRESUME WHERE THIS WILL GO BUT THIS IS A PRACTICE THAT HAS LONG BEEN USED BY POLITICIANS AND THAT MAKES ME THINK THAT MAYBE THE COURT IS NOT GOING 0 OVERTURN IT.

>> AND THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

AURORA MAYOR RICHARD IRVIN MAKES HIS BID OFFICIAL.

>> TELL US WHO HE IS AND IS HE A REPUBLICAN?

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION AND INTERESTING CHOICE HE HAS A COMPELLING PERSONAL HISTORY WE HAVE INTERVIEWED HIM.

BORN AND RAISED IN AURORA, PUBLIC HOUSING, PROSECUTOR, ALDERMAN AND MAYOR HE PULLED DEMOCRATIC BALLOTS AND SUPPORTED SANCTUARY CITIES.

HE SAID HE SUPPORTS BLACK LIVES MATTER BUT THEN IN THE CAMPAIGN HE SAID ALL LIVES MATTER AND CERTAIN CONTEXT THAT CAN BE A LOADED PHRASE.

SEEMS ALL BUT CERTAIN THAT GRIFFIN ANNOUNCED A SLATE OF CANDIDATES HERE FOR OFFICE HERE.

IS GOING TO BE THE CANDIDATE OF KEN GRIFFIN THE STATE'S RICHEST RESIDENT THOSE GRIFFIN IS SAYING I HAVE NOT MET HIM YET BUT HE PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING HE HAS A COMPELLING HISTORY.

AND SO MUCH OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS IS OPTICS.

WHEN I LOOK AT HIM AND AVERY BOURNE AND PICTURES, I SEE THE TOP FIVE CONSTITUENCIES THAT THEY ARE GOING HERE, SUBURBAN WOMAN, SUBURBAN WOMEN, AND SUBURBAN WOMEN.

ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T THINK THEY CARE IF THEY GET THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE SOUTH OF I80.

I THINK THEY WILL HAMMER PUBLIC SAFETY AND TAXES AND HOPE THEY GET MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THIS IS A BLUE AREA.

BUT THE MOST REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN NUMBER IS IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

SO THAT'S THE STRATEGY THAT THEY ARE BANKING ON HERE.

>> AND MEANWHILE, BILLIONAIRE GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HAS GIVEN HIS OWN REELECTION BID $90 MILLION.

90 MILLION.

AND WE'RE SEEING CAMPAIGN COMMERCIALS FEATURING ONE OF YOUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" ANCHORS WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.

IS CAMPAIGN SEASON GETTING EARLIER AND EARLIER?

>> SO IT'S ACTUALLY NOT.

IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE JUST HAD AN ELECTION I'M STILL RECOVERING.

BUT THEY ARE OUT PASSING PETITIONS WHICH MEANS THAT THE ELECTION ITSELF IS AROUND THE BEND.

WE ARE JUST IN THE THICK OF IT.

AND IT IS GOING TO BE A HARD-FOUGHT, VERY EXPENSIVE RACE.

YOU WILL SEE ALL OF THE ADS, ALL OF THE TIME ESPECIALLY IF KEN GRIFFIN DOES GET BEHIND THE REPUBLICAN TICKET AS WE EXPECT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE FOUGHT ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

COVID, TAXES, PENSIONS, THE FUTURE OF ILLINOIS.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAD [INAUDIBLE] AND WE HEARD GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TAKE THE FIRST VEILED SHOT AT IRWIN TODAY SAYING HE HOPES ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR WILL TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE NEWS MEDIA ABOUT THEIR PLANS.

OF COURSE NOBODY HAD A CHANCE TO QUESTION THE G.O.P.

NAMED TICKET.

WE'LL SEE.

>> WE ARE ALL WAITING ON THAT.

THAT SPOTLIGHT POLITICS AMANDA VINICKY HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> THANKS, GUYS.

NEXT, A TASTE OF THE NEW SEASON OF "TO DINE FOR" WITH KATE SULLIVAN.

FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... UKSZ CRAWFISH ON AN ISLAND THAT HAS NO RESIDENTS.

A CLASSIC STEAKHOUSE IN TEXAS THIS SEASON OF "TO DINE FOR" TAKES VIEWERS ON A JOURNEY WITH GUESTS SHARING STORIES OVER THEIR FAVORITE FOODS.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS KATE SULLIVAN CREATOR OF SHOW.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> IN THE INTEREST OF FULL DISCLOSURE OUR FRIENDS AT HOME KATE AND I ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS AND SHARED MANY A MEAL.

>> WE LOVE TO EAT.

>> GIVE US A QUICK SENSE OF THE CONCEPT OF "TO DINE FOR"?

>> IT IS SIMPLE.

I GO WITH A GUEST TO THEIR FAVORITE RESTAURANT WHATEVER THAT IS IN THE COUNTRY OR THE WORLD WE EAT WHERE THEY LOVE AND SEE WHERE IT IS THAT THEY LOVE.

YOU GET AN IDEA ABOUT THE RESTAURANT AND WE LET THE RESTAURANT BE A BACKDROP FOR A CONVERSATION WHAT THEY CREATED.

EVERY GUEST ON THE SHOW CREATED SOMETHING OUT OF THEIR OWN IMAGINATION.

AND WE HEAR HOW THEY DID IT WHETHER THEY ARE A C.E.O., A FOUNDER AN ARCTIC OR ARTIST.

>> AND YOU HAVE ALL OF THOSE FOLKS IN SEASON FOUR.

LAST WEEK IN THE FIRST EPISODE YOU SPOKE WITH AUTHOR NFL ANALYST HERE IS WHAT HE TOLD YOU.

>> I WENT TO AN AFFLUENT HIGH SCHOOL ST. MARKS ALL BOYS HIGH SCHOOL.

AT HOME IT IS A NIGERIAN, I'M EATING GOAT STEW, PLANTAINS AND LISTENING TO NIGERIAN MUSIC GOING TO SMALL GROUPS.

AND YOU GO TO SCHOOL AND IT'S WHITE AND IT IS -- >> DALLAS COWBOYS AND BARBECUE.

>> DIFFERENT.

I HAD TO KIND OF BE A MASTER OF FITTING INTO TO DIFFERENT PLACES WHICH SERVED ME WELL.

BECAUSE NOW I TOO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LIKE A CAMILLIAN BLEND IN DIFFERENT SPACES AND PLACES.

>> KATE HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS VIDEO SERIES UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A BLACK MAN WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR CONVERSATION WITH HIM?

>> FOOD TELLS A STORY AND THAT IS THE PREMISE OF "TO DINE FOR".

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT EATING GOAT MEAT AND RICE AND STEW AND PLANTAINS AND HIS NIGERIAN BACKGROUND AND HIS ABILITY TO BE IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS IN LIFE WHETHER IT IS A WHITE HIGH SCHOOL OR BEING IN THE NFL.

BEING ABLE TO BE IN SO MANY ROOMS AND LIVES LED HIM TO THE MOMENT LED HIM TO CREATE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A BLACK MAN.

HIS STORY SHOWS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM IT'S WHAT YOU LEARN WHERE YOU ARE.

AND WHAT REALLY SIGNIFIES SO MUCH ABOUT THE JOURNEY HE LEARNED IN EVERY ROOM HE WAS IN AND BROUGHT IT TO CREATING UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A BLACK MAN.

>> WE ALL HAVE TO EAT WHY IS FOOD SUCH A GOOD WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER?

>> THE GREAT COMMON DENOMINATOR.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE ALL DO HAVE TO EAT.

THE VERY OFTEN WHAT WE LIKE TO EAT AND OUR FAVORITE SPOT SPEAKS TO WHERE WE'RE FROM OUR CULTURE WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHAT THAT SAYS ABOUT IT.

WHETHER IT IS A SIMPLE CHEESEBURGER, SOMEWHERE IN CHICAGO OR WHETHER IT IS APLACE THAT IS MORE COMPLEX, IT DOES TELL A STORY.

AND I ALSO FIND THAT THE BEST CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN OVER MEALS.

WHETHER IT'S AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE WITH YOUR FAMILY.

WHETHER IT'S YOU AND I HAVE A GREAT CONVERSATION OVER A MEAL.

IT SOMEHOW WHAT IS SAID IS ALWAYS MORE INTIMATE IT IS MORE REAL AND AUTHENTIC WHEN IT'S OVER FOOD.

>> WE GET A LOT COVERED YOU AND I.

YOU SPOKE WITH ARCHITECT JENNY GANG HERE IS WHAT SHE SAID >> YES, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE OUTDOORS MAKING A TREEHOUSE.

I DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> YOU WERE CREATING AND CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS TREEHOUSES WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD?

>> YEAH.

CREATE THINGS MAKING HOUSES OUT OF A PILE OF SNOW TO HAVE FUN.

MY MOM WOULD BOIL WATER ON THE STOVE AND THEN I WOULD TAKE IT OUT AND CARVE HOLES INTO THE SNOW PILE FOR A FORT.

>> TO MAKIGLOOS.

>> SHE IS KNOWN FOR BUILDINGS SHE HAS DESIGNED IN CHICAGO.

WHICH RESTAURANT DID SHE TAKE YOU TO AND WHY?

>> SHE TOOK ME TO THE RESTAURANT BRONDE.

AND IT IS FRENCH AND IT'S ELEVATED BUT IT'S ALSO ACCEPTABLE.

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS FOOD.

JEANNIE IS A FORCE OF NATURE.

AND SHE IS A GIANT IN THE WORLD OF ARCHITECTURE.

SHE IS IN OUR BACKYARD AND CREATING THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD BY A FEMALE ARCHITECT THE ST. REGENT GIST TOWER AND HEARING HER CREATIVITY AND HOW SHE DOES WHAT SHE DOES AND IT IS ON WTTW SUNDAY AT 4:00 P.M., THE CHICAGO EPISODE.

>> FOLKS CAN CATCH THAT THIS WEEKEND.

KATE YOU FILMED THIS SEASON DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING.

WHAT DID YOU SEE ABOUT HOW THEY ARE MAINTAINING?

>> I MEAN, THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE MAINTAINING ARE HAVING TO PIVOT LIKE THEY'VE NEVER PIVOTED IN THEIR LIFE.

IT IS THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE RESTAURANTS AND TO TELL THEIR STORIES, TOO.

SO OFTEN WHEN I TALK ABOUT "TO DINE FOR" I TALK ABOUT THE GUEST'S JOURNEY BUT THIS IS A LOVE LETTER TO GREAT RESTAURANTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE HARD WORK OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND NEVER HAVE THESE STORIES BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS WE WANT TO CELEBRATE AND RAISE A GLASS TO GREAT RESTAURANTS.

>> CHEERS TO THEM AND CHEERS TO YOU.

ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND TO SEE WHEN YOU CAN CATCH THE NEW SEASON OF "TO DINE FOR" WITH KATE SULLIVAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> 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 WEDNESDAY 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.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. OMICRON OVERWHELMS THE SOUTH SUBURBAN HOSPITAL AND CHANGES ARE COMING TO A LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HARVEY, ILLINOIS IS THE NEXT STOP ON OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND PUPPETS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AS WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE INTERNATIONAL PUPPET FESTIVAL.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]