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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> A DISTRICT OUR SIZE IS THE BEST WAY TO MANAGE.

>> SCHOOLS ARE BACK AND SO IS COVID.

NEW PROMISES FROM THE C.E.O.

OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS FOR SURE.

>> BUT SOME PARENTS SAY SCHOOLS AREN'T SAFE AS THE TEACHERS UNION CONTEMPLATES A WALKOUT.

>> LONG LINES PERSIST AT TESTING CENTERS AND THE C.D.C.

EXPANDS BOOST EVER ELIGIBILITY FOR ADOLESCENTS.

>> RESTAURANTS, BARS AND GYMS MUST CHECK PROOF OF VACCINATION WE HEAR FROM BUSINESS OWNERS WHAT THIS MEANS.

>> EMPLOYEES AT THE STARBUCKS IN THE LOOP LOOK TO UNIONIZE MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> LOW INTEREST RATES AND THE DESIRE TO MAKE PANDEMIC MOVES FUEL THE HOUSING MARKET IN 2021, WILL IT KEEP UP THE PACE IN 2022?

>> WE ARE HAPPY TO BE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE.

>> AND MEET TWO AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WHO SAVED THE CITY'S LAST LESBIAN BAR.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> DAY ONE IN THE CITY'S NEW INDOOR VACCINE MANDATE THAT APPLIES TO MOST PUBLIC INDOOR ACTIVITIES.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TOURED A PILATES GYM AS RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND EXERCISE FACILITIES PUT THEIR POLICIES IN PLACE.

THE MAYOR DID NOT TAKE QUESTIONS FROM LOCAL REPORTERS BUT APPEARED ON CNBC TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICY.

AND ISSUED HER BELIEF THAT C.P.S.

SHOULD BE IN-SCHOOL LEARNING DESPITE THE EMERGING OMICRON VARIANT.

>> COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS IN ILLINOIS ARE AT A RECORD LEVEL AND TODAY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS HE FEARS IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 6300 PEOPLE CURRENTLY IN HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE.

BEING TREATED FOR COVID-19.

89% OF THE STATE'S INTENSIVE CARE UNIT BEDS ARE OCCUPIED WITH COVID PATIENTS MAKING UP MORE THAN A THIRD OF THAT TOTAL.

THE STATE REPORTS 21,000 NEW CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS AND 30 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE HOSPITALIZED ARE UNVACCINATED.

>> IT IS FRUSTRATING AND TRAGIC THAT TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC WITH MULTIPLE WIDELY AVAILABLE AND FREE LIFE-SAVING VACCINES, THAT WE ARE ONCE AGAIN IN THIS HORRIBLE POSITION.

NEIGHBORS ARE HOLDING OFF ON IMPORTANT MEDICAL CARE LIKE HERNIA REPAIR, COLONOSCOPIES AND EARLY STAGE CANCER TREATMENTS.

AND THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS WARNING WITH ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTHCARE SAY THE SYSTEM IS SEEING ITS HIGHEST COVID HOSPITALIZATION RATE SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC AND IS DEALING WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES AND FATIGUE.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE HAD TO PAUSE SOME NON-COVID RELATED TREATMENTS BECAUSE OF THE OVERWHELMING STRESS ON THE SYSTEM.

THOSE OFFICIALS ARE PLEADING WITH THE PUBLIC TO TAKE COVID PRECAUTIONS.

>> AND THE SITUATION IS GROWING MORE CHALLENGES BY THE DAY.

BEDS ARE VERY TIGHT.

AND WAIT TIMES ARE LONG.

AND REALLY SIGNIFICANTLY OUR TEAM MEMBERS ARE UNDER, I THINK A LOT OF STRESS RIGHT NOW.

>> AND OUR MULTIPLE REPORTS THAT ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF HIS CURRENT TERM.

RUSH IS IN HIS 15TH TERM AND HELD ILLINOIS' FIRST CONGRESSIONAL SEAT SINCE 1993.

HE WAS THE HOUSE SPONSOR OF THE EMMETT TILL ANTILYNCHING ACT AND A MEMBER OF THE BLACK PANTHER IN THE 60s.

HE TELLS "THE SUN TIMES" HE MADE THE DECISION BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN.

>> UP NEXT CHECKING IN ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AFTER THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AS YOU JUST HEARD COVID CASES ARE REACHING NEW HEIGHTS.

THIS AS STUDENTS ACROSS ILLINOIS ARE HEADED BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS AND SETTING UP A POTENTIAL STANDOFF BETWEEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEADERSHIP AND THE TEACHERS' UNION.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

HOW IS THE TEACHERS' UNION APPROACHING THIS?

>> WELL, BRANDIS, THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION SET TO VOTE TOMORROW ON RETURNING TO ALL REMOTE LEARNING CITING OMICRON AND TEACHERS DO HAVE THE BACKING FROM SOME PARENTS LIKE JP PAULSON WHO SENT HIS FIFTH GRADER AND JUNIOR TO THE SCHOOLS WITH SOME SENSE OF SECURITY BECAUSE THEY ARE VACCINATED.

BUT HE SAYS HE WOULD RATHER THEY TEMPORARILY HAVE THE OPTION TO LEARN ON-LINE INSTEAD.

>> THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THAT WAY, EVERYBODY'S COME HOME FROM THE HOLIDAYS, VACATIONS, FROM BEING AT THE MOVIES, THEY CAN KNOW FOR SURE IF THEY HAVE COVID AND IT WILL DIE DOWN AND FROM THERE WE CAN SEE WHERE KIDS STAND.

AND OUR CITY IN GENERAL.

>> SETTING THE DISTRICT DOWN ALL ACROSS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ IS CONSIDERING, THOUGH.

MARTINEZ SPENT THE DAY VISITING A HAPPENEDFUL OF SCHOOLS AND IT BROUGHT HOME HOW VARIED THE REACTION TO AND IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

SOME SCHOOLS A LOT OF STUDENTS AND STAFF WERE ABSENT AND OTHERS EXCITED TO BE BACK.

IT'S ONE MARTINEZ SAYS A TACTICAL APPROACH IS BEST.

>> I'M COMMITTED TO HAVING A SCHOOL BASED METRIC, IT HAS TO BE A METRIC THAT WILL REPRESENT THE TIMES WE ARE IN TODAY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OLD METRICS THEY DO NOT APPLY BECAUSE 91% OF OUR STAFF VACCINATED.

100,000 STUDENTS VACCINATED.

WE NEED TO GET MORE BUT VACCINES WERE NOT IN PLACE WITH THE OLD METRICS AND WE KNOW WITH THE OMICRON IT SPREADS FASTER IT'S MILDER, I'M COMMITTED TO COME UP WITH THE METRICS.

IT WILL BE A HARDSHIP FOR FAMILIES THAT IS WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKING HOW TO BALANCE THE HARDSHIP FOR FAMILIES.

>> RYAN GRIFFIN IS THE PARENT OF TWO FULLY VACCINATED C.P.S.

STUDENTS AGES 5 AND 7.

AND HE IS MAKING A PLEA TO CHICAGO TEACHERS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE WHICH HE SAYS THEY WILL KNOW OF IN-PERSON LEARNING AND TO NOT TAKE THAT AWAY.

>> FUNDAMENTALLY WHO RUNS THE DISTRICT?

AND I THINK THE TEACHERS' UNION IS ARE DOING THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT AND ABILITY TO SHUTDOWN A DISTRICT THAT SERVES 330,000 STUDENTS.

IT'S PERPLEXING TO US AS PARENTS WE TURN TO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> HE SAYS THEY TURN TO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS NOT TEACHERS AND CHICAGO'S TOP DOCTOR SAID THAT SCHOOLS ARE SAFER FOR CHILDREN THAT THEY ARE MORE PROTECTED IN THE CLASSROOM THAN THEY WOULD BE OUT AND ABOUT.

IN GENERAL OR ON A PLAY DATE.

AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS THAT SHE IS RELYING ON SCIENCE INCLUDING DATA THAT SHOWS LOW TRANSMISSION OF CASES IN SCHOOLS.

WE CANNOT IGNORE THE SAD LESSONS OF A DISTRICT RESORTING TO REMOTE LEARNING, SIGNIFICANT LEARNING LOSS, PARTICULARLY AMONGST STUDENTS OF COLOR AND HARDSHIP ON FAMILIES WHO HAD TO WORK AND COULD NOT COME SCHOOL STUDENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAUMA ARISING FROM ISOLATION.

WE CANNOT FORGET THAT SHIFTING FULLY TO REMOTE LEARNING IS NOT A PANACEA AND COMES WITH SIGNIFICANT HARM TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SHE SAYS.

AMONG C.T.U.

'S PRIOR TO RETURNING TO CLASS WAS REQUIRING EVERYONE ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS TO COME WITH A NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

C.P.S.

PREWINTER BREAK DID DISTRIBUTE 150,000 TESTS TO STUDENTS WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS IN THE HARDEST HIT AREAS.

40,000 WERE RETURNED AND HALF CAME BACK INCONCLUSIVE.

HOLLIS' KIDS TESTS WERE AMONG THOSE EVEN THOUGH THEY FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS.

HE EXPECTS IT'S BECAUSE HOW FAR THE TESTS TO TRAVEL AND SAMPLES ARE NO LONGER GOOD IF MORE THAN 48 HOURS OLD.

>> JUST TOO BAD THERE WASN'T A LOCAL LAB THAT COULD HAVE PROCESSED IT.

WITHIN A DAY OR IF WE SAW THE PILE UPS SOMEBODY COULD HAVE DRIVEN IT OVER THERE IF THAT WAS THE CASE.

INSTEAD OURS WENT TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> MARTINEZ IS FRUSTRATED BY THIS EXPERIENCE, TOO HE SAYS IN DISTRIBUTING THE TESTS THE DISTRICT WAS TRYING TO INSURE ACCESS TO THEM AND SAYS HE LEARNED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PULL OFF AN INITIATIVE WITH SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR BREAK.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LEARN FROM THAT WE ARE GOING TO LEARN THE LESSONS AND WE HAVE 135 TESTS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE USED WELL.

I'VE SHARED MY GOAL IS TO USE THOSE TESTS AS CHILDREN ARE BEING QUARANTINED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TEST SO THEY CAN COME BACK SOONER.

I BELIEVE IF THE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WE CAN WORK WITH THE FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE IT GETS DONE WELL.

>> MARTINEZ SAYS THE DISTRICT ALSO WORKING WITH THE VENDOR TO RESOLVE ANY ISSUES AND THE VENDOR EXPANDING IN-SCHOOL TESTING THIS WEEK HE SAYS.

>> TOLD THE C.T.U.

THAT WE ARE OPEN TO BRINGING BACK THE HEALTH SCREENER.

I'M HAVING OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT RESURRECT THAT AND THE ONLY THING I ASKED WAS ALLOW SCHOOLS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.

IT CREATES ISSUES FOR FAMILIES.

SO FOR ME, AGAIN, ANXIETY LEVEL VARIES BY SCHOOL SO ALLOW THE SCHOOLS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS AND I'M COMMITTED TO FINDING WAYS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND TESTING.

I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THAT AND IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING FOR ME HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO INCREASE CAPACITY HERE.

>> MARTINEZ SAYS THAT 200,000 KN95 MASKS ARE ON THEIR WAY AND SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS BY WEDNESDAY.

HE SAYS HE IS HOPING TO NAIL DOWN METRICS FOR COVID 0 CLOSURES THIS WEEK.

WILL THAT BE ENOUGH FOR THOSE ANXIOUS TEACHERS?

BRANDIS, I WILL LEAVE THAT TO YOU TO FIND OUT AHEAD.

TOSSING IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NOW, AS C.P.S.

CLASSES ARE BACK IN SESSION, THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IS WORKING UP A PLAN TO GATHER EDUCATORS TO WALKOUT OF SCHOOLS ON WEDNESDAY.

SOME UNION MEMBERS AND EDUCATORS ARE DEMANDING C.P.S.

MOVE TO REMOTE LEARNING.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS THE SCHOOLS ARE QUOTE THE SAFEST PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO BE.

SOME C.T.U.

'S 25,000 HOUSE OF DELEGATES MEMBERS WILL VOTE ON WHAT THEY WILL DO NEXT.

JOINING US NOW IS STACY DAVIS GATES, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

WELCOME BACK.

SO C.P.S.

RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT TEST RESULTS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS TO RETURN TO CLASS BUT ADVISES STUDENTS TO STAY HOME IF THEY ARE SICK AND CONCERNED ABOUT CLOSING SCHOOLS LEADING TO HIGHER TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS, POTENTIALLY HARMING STUDENTS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.

CONSIDERING ALL OF THIS, WHAT WILL C.T.U.

MEMBERS DO IF C.P.S.

DOES NOT DECIDE TO TRANSITION TO REMOTE LEARNING?

>> WELL, HAPPY NEW YEAR, BRANDIS.

YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS I'M STRUCK BY IN THE LEAD IN TO THIS INTERVIEW IS THAT OUR C.E.O.

JUST SAID THAT YOU KNOW, LET SCHOOLS DECIDE.

THEIR OWN FATE SO TO SPEAK.

THIS MORNING I WAS AT PARKMAN NOSH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO WHERE I STOOD WITH WORKERS AND PARENTS WHO MADE A DECISION THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE THAT IT'S UNSAFE.

THOSE WORKERS RECEIVED A THREATENING LETTER FROM THE C.E.O.

TELLING THEM IF THEY DON'T REPORT IN-PERSON THEY WERE GOING TO GET DOCKED PAY.

PART TWO OF THAT PARENTS RECEIVED LETTERS FROM THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEMANDING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL IN-PERSON.

SO THE IRONY IN THAT STATEMENT IS THE REALITY IN WHICH WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE PANDEMIC UNDER THEIR LEADERSHIP ARE TWO THINGS DIFFERENT THINGS COMPLETELY.

FURTHERMORE, READING THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT SHE SAYS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT SCHOOLS HELP TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS.

WE AGREE.

WE ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

THE SMALL ISSUE WE HAVE IS THAT NONE OF THE THINGS SHE ENUMERATED IN HER STATEMENT ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

YOU'VE SEEN THE RATE OF TRAUMA.

NOT JUST FROM COVID BUT FROM UNRELENTING VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.

YOU KNOW, WE HEAR ONE THING AND OUR MEMBERS ARE EXPERIENCING ANOTHER THING.

AND THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISTRICT AND THE MAYOR'S ABILITY TO DELIVER ON ANY OF THEIR PROMISES.

WE KEEP HEARING THAT TESTING IS GOING TO GET BETTERMENT IN FACT, I THINK THE MAYOR TOLD US IN AUGUST SHE WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE TESTING.

THEN WE SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF TESTS ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE OF WALGREENS PILED ON TOP OF FEDEX BOXES.

WHICH ONE IS IT?

>> SO YOU FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT DELIVERING ON THE PROMISES.

AT A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING YESTERDAY, THE UNION SAID THAT 80% OF C.T.U.

MEMBERS DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS WEEK'S RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WILL BE ASKING YOUR HOUSE OF DELEGATES TO VOTE ON TOMORROW?

>> UNFORTUNATELY OUR UNION IS AGAIN BEING BACKED INTO THE CORNER OF BEING THE LEADER IN THE CITY THAT THE MAYOR REFUSES TO BE.

WE ARE BEING PLACED IN A SITUATION OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE FOR A REMOTE NOT TO WALK OFF THE JOB AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT REAL CLEAR AND NOT FOR AN INDEFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME, EITHER.

WE HAVE SEEN HOW THIS VARIANT BEHAVES WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN -- WHAT HAPPENED IN OUT AFRICA.

WE FOR THIS IS GOING TO DECLINE.

WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HERE IN ILLINOIS IN FACT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS WHERE WE REPRESENT MEMBERS THEY ARE ON A TWO-WEEK PAUSE.

THEY ARE TESTING FOR REENTRY.

ALL OF THE DEMANDS WE HAVE PUT FORTH TO THE MAYOR AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE DEMANDS WE PUT FORTH TO ALL OF OUR CHARTER CONTRACTS IRONICALLY, C.P.S.

SAID NO, AND THEY'VE SAID YES.

>> ACCORDING TO THE DATA, NEARLY 4700 STUDENTS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE AND NEARLY MORE THAN 1700 ADULTS TESTED POSITIVE THAT IS SINCE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

CURRENTLY SHOWS 2100 STUDENTS ARE IN QUARANTINE AND 1500 ADULTS ARE QUARANTINED.

I SPOKE WITH A DELEGATE AT THE SCHOOL AND 40% OF THE STUDENTS WERE OUT TODAY WHEN THEY HAVE TYPICALLY WELL ABOVE 95% ATTENDANCE.

WHAT ARE THE METRICS YOU WERE ASKING FOR IN BARGAINING TO REQUIRE A RETURN TO REMOTE LEARNING?

>> AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE C.E.O.

SAID THAT THOSE ARE OLD METRICS.

I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW HIS ATTENTION BACK TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER HERE IN CHICAGO.

THIS WAS HER METRIC.

SHE PUT THIS METRIC FORTH AND SHE TOLD US MATTER OF FACT MADE A CONVINCING ARGUMENT IN BARGAINING THAT THIS METRIC WAS CREATED FOR A TIME JUST AS THE ONE WE'RE EXPERIENCING CURRENTLY.

THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD GIVE US ASSURANCE IN A SURGE THAT WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND I THINK 23% IS OUT OF CONTROL, WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PAUSE, GET THINGS BACK IN ORDER, AND THEN REINVITE OUR STUDENTS IN.

LISTEN IN ORDER TO HAVE SCHOOL WE NEED ALL OF THE MITIGATIONS IN PLACE.

ALL OF THE MITIGATIONS ARE NOT IN PLACE IN EVERY SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

PART TWO TO THAT IS WHERE IS THE MAYOR ON ANCHORING VACCINATION SITES IN SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE LESS THAN 50% VAXED?

WHERE IS THE MAYOR ON INSURING THAT TESTING IS A REGIMENTED PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE?

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 50% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS THAT ARE VACCINATED AND ONLY 30% OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS VACCINATED.

THOSE NUMBERS COUPLED WITH HOW VACCINATED AND BOOSTED PEOPLE ARE GETTING COVID?

THAT CAUSES A LOT OF CONCERN BECAUSE NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INABILITY OF GROWN-UPS TO BE ABLE TO STAFF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE THE VIRUS ON ONE END, YOU HAVE THE STAFFING ON ONE END, AND THEN YOU HAVE A MAYOR BURYING HER HEAD IN THE SAND.

>> AND BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, IT FEELS LIKE YOU AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT A YEAR AGO DOES THIS FEEL FAMILIAR AND WHY DO YOU FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE CHANGES HAVE NOT BEEN MADE?

WE HAVE A VACCINE NOW?

>> WE HAVE A VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS VARIANT.

SO THE VACCINE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS PEOPLE TAKE IT AGAIN.

30% OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOT VACCINATED.

THE VACCINE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS WE ANCHOR IT IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

I'M ABSOLUTELY [INAUDIBLE] AS HAVING TO EXPERIENCE THIS AGAIN.

I'M EXPERIENCING THIS AS A MOTHER OF THREE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO LOVE SCHOOL, WHO WANT TO BE IN SCHOOL.

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT MY CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL IS IF THE MAYOR PUTS THE MITIGATIONS IN PLACE THAT SHE HAS COMMITTED TO, PROMISED TO PARENTS AND CONTINUES TO NOT DELIVER ON.

>> I'M SURE WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON WHAT YOU DECIDE THIS WEEK AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL TALK AGAIN SOON.

STACY DAVIS GATES C.T.U.

THANK YOU.

>> AND PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

CONCERNS ABOUT STUDENTS RETURNING TO CLASSROOMS COME AS THE F.D.A.

SKPANNED THE EMERGENCY USE -- EXPANDED THE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION TO COVID BOOSTERS TO CHILDREN 12-15.

A BRITISH STUDY FINDS PEOPLE WHO CONTRACTED THE OMICRON VARIANT WERE HALF AS LIKELY TO NEED HOSPITAL CARE AS THOSE WITH DELTA.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON THAT IS Dr. DAVID SLADE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF INFECTION PREVENTION CONTROL AT LOYOLA MEDICINE.

FIRST, AS MANY OF THE AREA SCHOOL KIDS GO BACK FROM WINTER BREAK A LOT OF PARENTS AND STAFF ARE CONCERNED OVER WHETHER SCHOOLS ARE SAFE FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.

WHAT DOES THE MEDICAL DATA SAY?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW I HAVE THREE CHILDREN OF MY OWN SO THIS IS CERTAINLY A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

AND I THINK WE HAD TO START BY LOOKING AT THE RISK OVERALL RISK TO OUR CHILDREN.

WE KNOW THAT TRADITIONALLY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN A LOWER RISK GROUP OVERALL FOR SEVERE EFFECTS OF COVID-19.

BUT WE'RE SEEING WITH OMICRON VARIANT EXTREMELY RAPID SPREAD RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE SEEING INCREASED RATES OF HOSPITALIZATION EVEN IN CHILDREN.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT STILL THE BEST PROTECTION FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE IS VACCINATION.

SO IF THE CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO GO OUT AND HAVE THEM VACCINATED RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SEEING GOOD RATES OF VACCINATION IN THE OLDER ADULTS AND NOW IS TIME TO MAKE A PUSH FOR THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE.

SO THAT'S KEY.

HAVING OUR STUDENTS VACCINATED.

TAKING STOCK AS WE LOOK AT THE RATES OF HOSPITALIZATION.

BUT THE OVERALL RISK REMAINS LOW TO OUR CHILDREN RIGHT NOW EVEN LOWER IF THEY ARE VACCINATED.

WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DECISIONS ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL WEARING MASKS VERSUS STAYING HOME OR REMOTE LEARNING, THOSE DECISIONS I THINK WILL HAVE TO BE MADE BASED ON THE PARTICULARS IF THERE IS HIGH RATE OF OUTBREAK IN A PARTICULAR CLASSROOM OR A PARTICULAR SCHOOL THEN THAT MAY BE SOME INCENTIVE TO CHANGE.

>> AND THAT IS WHAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAID THEY WOULD DO GO CLASSROOM BY CLASSROOM.

>> AND THE F.D.A.

DID AUTHORIZE THE BOOSTER SHOT FOR KIDS AGED 12-15.

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SO THE F.D.A.

LOOKED AT THE SAFETY OF THE BOOSTER SHOT IN THAT AGE GROUP BASED ON DATA THAT CAME OUT OF ISRAEL.

THEY LOOKED AT 6,000 CHILDREN WHO HAD RECEIVED THE BOOSTER DOSE.

AND IT APPEARS TO BE VERY SAFE.

NO ADDED RISKS.

WE'RE SEEING IN THE POPULATION AN ADDED BENEFIT IN THE BOOSTER IN PROTECTION AGAINST OMICRON.

INCENTIVE TO GET THE BOOSTER RIGHT NOW.

AS I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT'S AUTHORIZED FOR FIVE MONTHS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE VACCINE SERIES.

>> AND Dr. SLADE A BRITISH STUDY CAME OUT DETERMINING PEOPLE WHO CONTRACTED OMICRON ARE LESS LIKELY TO WIND UP IN THE HOSPITAL THAN IF THEY CONTRACTED DELTA.

IS THAT PROOF POSITIVE THAT OMICRON IS A LESS SEVERE VARIANT?

>> EVERYTHING I'M SEEING SUPPORTS THAT.

OMICRON SPREADS MUCH MORE RAPIDLY BUT OVERALL IT IS LESS SEVERE.

NOW, WHEN WE'RE SEEING THE HUGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE INTO THE HOSPITAL WE'RE SEEING THE ABILITY OF THE VIRUS TO SPREAD SO RAPIDLY OUTWEIGH THAT FACTOR THAT IT IS LESS SEVERE.

WE'RE SEEING SO MANY MORE PEOPLE INFECTED RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, VACCINE IS OUR BEST PROTECTION AND STILL THE MAJORITY OF PATIENTS BEING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL ARE UNVACCINATED.

>> OFFSETTING FACTORS.

FAR MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN LESS SEVERE DOES THAT MEAN YOU ANTICIPATE A STEEP DROP-OFF LIKE SOUTH AFRICA SAW?

>> I DO.

IT'S HARD TO PREDICT OR SAY WITH CERTAINTY BUT LOOKING AT THE WAY WE SAW IT DROP IN SOUTH AFRICA I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT A RAPID SPREAD OVER A FOUR-WEEK PERIOD AND IT SHOULD IN FOUR WEEKS DECREASE AND THAT IS MY HOPE.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE LAST VARIANT?

OR WILL THERE BE MORE TO COME?

THERE WERE A FORBES ARTICLE TALKING ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF LIVING WITH COVID.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> RIGHT.

YOU KNOW EVERY TIME WE TRY TO SPECULATE, I'VE BEEN SURPRISED.

WITH THIS SORT OF RAPID SPREAD AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION AFFECTED, MY INSTINCT IS THAT WE'RE HEADING TOWARDS THE END GAME WITH THE COMPLETE PANDEMIC PHASE OF THIS AND MORE TOWARDS THE ENDEMIC.

IF WE LOOK AT PAST PANDEMICS AND INFLUENZA IT'S CONTINUED TO CIRCULATE IN THE POPULATION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

IT'S BEEN A REGULARLY CIRCULATING VIRUS.

BUT I THINK WE CAN EXPECT PERHAPS FURTHER VARIANTS AND MUTATIONS.

HOPEFULLY THEY ARE LESS SEVERE.

I THINK IT WILL BE THERE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT WE'RE SEEING HERE RIGHT NOW.

>> HOPEFUL WORDS PERHAPS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE PANDEMIC PHASE.

THE CITY IMPLEMENTED ITS INDOOR VAX POLICY TODAY.

DO YOU THINK THAT THAT COULD CURB THE SPREAD AT ALL?

OR IS THAT WISHFUL THINKING GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS?

>> I SUPPORT IT.

I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT MEASURE.

IT BY NO MEANS WILL LEAD TO ANY SUDDEN STOP IN THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

AGAIN WITH JUST AN EXTREMELY RAPID SPREAD.

WHAT IT WILL DO IS PROVIDE FURTHER PROTECTION, FURTHER PEACE OF MIND FOR PEOPLE GOING OUT TO RESTAURANTS.

IF YOU ARE VACCINATED YOU'RE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS LIKELY TO HAVE A SEVERE CASE.

TO BE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND IT PROVIDES PROTECTION AGAINST THOSE SEVERE CASES AND AGAINST DEATH.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT SHOULD HELP TO SLOW THE SPREAD.

BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, I THINK WE NEED A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED AND GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> AND YOU SEE HOSPITAL OFFICIALS TALKING ABOUT THIS AT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PATIENTS THEY SEE FOR COVID ARE UNVACCINATED OR DON'T HAVE A BOOSTER AND THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE IN THE ICU ARE UNVACCINATED.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN LOYOLA U.

>> I WAS WORKED IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IT IS STILL WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

THERE ARE BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

IF YOU READ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY YOU'RE SEEING BETWEEN 70-90% OF THE PATIENTS ADMITTED TO HOSPITALS ARE UNVACCINATED.

SO I THINK AT THIS POINT WE'VE WHERE AT A POINT IN TIME WHERE WE'VE SEEING A LOST VACCINES GIVEN AND MORE ASSURANCES TO THE SAFETY OF IT, ESPECIALLY LONG-TERM SAFETY OVER SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE THIS STARTED TO A YEAR, WHICH IS JUST FURTHER REASSURANCE AND FURTHER INCENTIVE TO GO AHEAD AND GET THE VACCINE.

>> Dr. DAVID SLADE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> MUCH MORE AHEAD ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" INCLUDING A LOOK AT THE HOUSING MARKET IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> FIRST THERE IS A NEW BAR IN ANDERSONVILLE ONE OF THE CITY'S ONLY BARS LEFT CATERING TO QUEER WOMEN.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ RECENTLY STOPPED BY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BAR'S NAME.

NOBODY'S DARLING.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> FUN.

THOSE ARE WORDS BUSINESS PARTNERS ANGELIA BARNES AND RENAUDA RIDDLE DESCRIBE THEIR NEWLY OPENED BAR NOBODY'S DARLING.

>> I DON'T THINK WE QUITE ANTICIPATED THE RESPONSE.

I THINK WE KNEW THAT QUEER WOMEN WOULD BE LIKE THIS IS AWESOME.

QUEER WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE OPENING THE BAR BUT WE HAVE HAD SUCH A RESPONSE FROM STRAIGHT PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TRANSCOMMUNITY, GAY MEN.

IT'S BEEN THIS AMAZING SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.

>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD BAR USED TO BE A LESBIAN WINE BAR THAT CLOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE LONG TIME FRIENDS JOINED FORCES TO TAKEOVER THE SPACE AND FOCUS ON INCLUSIVITY AND A GOOD CRAFT COCKTAIL.

>> I HAVE A PASSION FOR COCKTAILS.

IT'S LIKE WHEN I HAVE A GOOD COCKTAIL IT'S LIKE BITING INTO A STEAK.

I WANT TO OPEN MY OWN BAR AND HAVE THAT SAME PASSION AND GIVE IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> AS FOR THE BAR'S NAME, NOBODY'S DARLING, BARNS GOT INSPIRATION FROM HER COLLECTION OF POETRY, NOBODY'S DARLING BY ALICE WALKER SPOKE TO HER.

>> THE POEM IS ABOUT BEING AUTHENTIC AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO FOLLOW YOUR OWN PATH EVEN IF YOU ARE CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDER.

GO BOLDLY FOR IT.

AND BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE.

IT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING.

>> NOW, THE LOUNGE IS GIVING WOMEN A PLACE TO COME TOGETHER AS HUNDREDS OF LESBIAN BARS HAVE CLOSED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THE LESBIAN BAR PROJECT IS A SHORT FILM THAT SHOWCASES A DECLINE OF WOMEN QUEER OWNED BARS.

THE FILM REPORTS SINCE THE 80s, 200 LESBIAN BARS SHUTDOWN AND 21 QUEER SPACES ARE HANGING ON.

>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT BEING IN THIS POSITION AND WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

EVERYDAY WE ARE LITERALLY TRYING TO GET BETTER BECAUSE WE ARE NEW TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS INDUSTRY.

>> AND GIVE BACK.

I THINK LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO FEATURE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED ALCOHOL AS WELL AS WOMEN OWNED OR QUEER OWNED.

>> WHEN THEY ARE NOT RUNNING THE BAR BARNS IS A LEGAL COUNSEL AND RID SELL AN AUDITOR.

THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOST DIFFERENT EVENTS AND WELCOME EVERYONE FROM THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> TO SEE YOU KNOW, YOUR 60, 70 CROWD SITTING NEXT TO THE 20 SOMETHING TRANSWOMEN SITTING NEXT TO LIKE THE GAY BOYS IN THEIR 30s SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?

IN A GOOD WAY.

LIKE, IT'S JUST THE CONVERSATIONS.

>> FROM THE ESTHETICS OF THE BAR TO THE CRAFT COCKTAILS IN BLENDS AND PAYS HOMAGE AND INFLUENTIAL BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN.

>> WE PUT OUR HEART AND PASSION INTO THE BAR WHEN WE THOUGHT OF THE NAME FROM THE COCKTAILS TO THE WAY WE WANTED IT TO LOOK.

LIKE WHEN WE WALK INTO THE SPACE WE'RE PROUD OF IT.

>> MAKING THEIR MARK NOT ONLY AS TWO QUEER WOMEN BUT BUSINESS WOMEN THRIVING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC HOPING TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO GO FOR IT.

>> YOU COME HERE TO HAVE A GREAT COCKTAIL AND LISTEN TO MUSIC AND FIND COMMUNITY.

AND THE CONVERSATION FLOWS FROM THERE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> AND NOBODY'S DARLING IS OPEN WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY AND YOU CAN FIND IT IN ANDERSONVILLE.

THERE IS MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... EMPLOYEES AT A STARBUCKS IN THE LOOP HOPE TO UNIONIZE THAT AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> TODAY'S PROOF OF VACCINE MANDATE KICKED IN FOR LOCAL RESTAURANTS GYMS AND BARS AND WE HEAR FROM BUSINESS OWNERS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OPERATIONS AND MORE.

>> PANDEMIC INSPIRED MOVES AND LOW INTEREST RATES FUEL THE HOT HOUSING MARKET LAST YEAR.

CAN SALES CONTINUE AT THAT SAME PACE IN 22?

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE STATE'S COVID-19 TEST POSITIVITY RATE REACHED 17.5%, IN 6300 PEOPLE STATE-WIDE ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS 85% OF THOSE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UNVACCINATED PATIENTS.

IN ADDITION TO ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. NGOZI EZIKE ADVISES PEOPLE TO GET TESTED.

AND URGING CAUTION OVER QUESTIONABLE POP-UP SITES.

>> NOW, UNFORTUNATELY THOSE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE CRAZY TIMES TO TRY TO SCAM PEOPLE.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE TESTING LOCATION THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT GO AHEAD AND ASK QUESTIONS.

WHAT LAB IS THE SITE USING?

WHEN WILL YOU RECEIVE THE RESULTS?

AND FROM WHOM?

>> DR. NGOZI EZIKE SAYS THE IDPH WEBSITE LISTS COMMUNITY-BASED TESTING LOCATION AND STATE AFFILIATED SHIELD TESTING LOCATIONS.

ON A PROGRAMMING NOTE DR. NGOZI EZIKE IS SCHEDULED TO JOIN US ON TOMORROW'S PROGRAM.

>> GRIM STATISTICS FROM THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER SHOWS 2021 WAS ONE OF THE COUNTY'S DEADLIEST YEARS ON RECORD.

LAST YEAR THEY HANDLED MORE THAN 12600 CASES THE SECOND HIGHEST IN ITS HISTORY COMPARED TO MORE THAN 16,000 CASES IN 2020.

AND AN AVERAGE OF 6200 PREPANDEMIC.

COVID-19 ACCOUNTED FOR A THIRD OF THE 2021 CASE LOAD WITH 4500 DEATHS.

GUN VIOLENCE AND OPIOID RELATED DEATHS CONTRIBUTED WITH MORE THAN 1000 HOMICIDES LAST YEAR, THE FIRST TIME MORE THAN A GUN RELATED HOMICIDES SINCE 1994.

WHILE SOME TEST RESULTS ARE PENDING THE ME'S OFFICE EXPECTS 2,000 OPIOID RELATED DEATHS FROM 2021 BEATING 2020'S RECORD.

>> FRANK ZUCCARELLI HAS DIED ACCORDING TO COUNTY PARTY CHAIR TONI PRECKWINKLE.

FRANK ZUCCARELLI WAS A LONGTIME TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR AND COMMITTEEMAN AND A RESIDENT OF SOUTH HOLLAND HE WAS 70 YEARS OLD.

>> AND FOR THE FIRST TIME A SAME-SEX COUPLE IS THE FIRST TO BE MARRIED IN COOK COUNTY THIS YEAR.

ANNUALLY THE COOK COUNTY CLERK AWARDS A CEREMONY TO ONE LUCKY COUPLE TO BE THE FIRST AND THEY WERE JAKE HARRIS AND JUSTIN LUNA.

THE LAKEVIEW COUPLE ENDURED AN EXTENDED QUARANTINE DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF LUNA'S LEUKEMIA DIAGNOSIS WHICH MEANT TREATMENTS AND PREPARATION FOR STEM CELL TRANSPLANT.

HARRIS HAD BEEN PLANNING TO PROPOSE TO LUNA AND HE WON THE LOTTERY AND USED THE E-MAIL TO POP THE QUESTION.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH SOME OF TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

STARBUCKS WORKERS IN THE LOOP MAKE THEIR FIRST MOVES TO UNIONIZE.

A NEW DEAL VALUES A TOWER ON WHACKER DRIVE AT $1 BILLION AND A U.S.

PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM SHOWS INTEREST IN BUYS WALGREENS U.K. DRUGSTORE CHAIN.

HERE IS ANN DWYER.

HAPPY NEW, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

LET'S START WITH THE STARBUCKS STORY.

WHERE DOES THIS UNION ELECTION STAND RIGHT NOW WITH THE STARBUCKS IN THE LOOP?

>> WELL, THESE WORKERS HAVE A MAJORITY OF THEM SIGNED UNION AUTHORIZATION CARDS WHICH MEANS THAT THE NLRB WILL BE SETTING A DATE FOR A VOTE.

IF THE CARD COUNT IS ANY INDICATION, I THINK STARBUCKS IS BRACING ITSELF FOR THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION AT RANDOLPH AND WABASH TO GO YFNLT IF IT DOES IT WILL BE THE FIRST HERE IN THE MIDWEST TO HAVE DONE SO.

THERE WAS ONE ON THE EAST COAST I BELIEVE IN NEW YORK STATE THAT WENT UNION JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND STARBUCKS DOESN'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

IS THIS A SIGN WE CAN SEE MORE UNION STARBUCKS SHOPS?

>> I THINK IT IS A GOOD SIGN THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AS YOU KNOW THE LABOR MOVEMENT HAS BEEN FLEXING ITS MUSCLES WITH EMPLOYERS SCRAMBLING.

IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME COMING FOR LABOR WHICH IS MOSTLY BEEN ON THE ROPES FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS VOTE IS GOING TO BE WATCHED CLOSELY BY STARBUCKS AND OTHER EMPLOYERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> THE LOOP OFFICE MARKET IS BEING WATCHED NOW AND THERE IS A 55 STOREY BUILDING THAT BANK OF AMERICA OFFICE BUILDING FOR SALE VALUED AT $1 BILLION.

WHO IS THE POTENTIAL BUYER HERE?

>> THE BUYER IS THEY ARE BUYING A STAKE IN IT THE CONTROLLING STAKE.

IT IS AN OUTFIT OAK HILL ADVISERS A BIG INVESTMENT FUND OUT OF NEW YORK.

AND THIS IS A BET ON THEIR PART THAT THE DOWNTOWN CHICAGO OFFICE MARKET IS STILL A GOOD PLACE TO BE INVESTING.

AND YOU KNOW THAT RUNS CONTRARY TO THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM OF DOOM AND GLOOM AROUND OFFICE PROPERTIES IN GENERAL.

AND THE CHICAGO LOOP MARKET IN PARTICULAR.

AS WE KEEP SEEING THESE HIGH PROFILE TROPHY PROPERTIES KEEP TRADING HANDS AT HIGH VALUATIONS.

THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY HAS A LOT GOING FOR IT.

IT HAS BANK OF AMERICA AND ITS MERRILL LYNCH AS A TENANT AND IT IS 85% LEASED THAT IS A GOOD NUMBER IN THIS MARKET RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT IS A GOOD NUMBER ALTHOUGH SO MANY PEOPLE AT HOME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE OMICRON SURGE.

CHICAGO BASED WALGREENS MAY HAVE A BUYER FOR ITS BRITISH PHARMACY.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, WE REPORTED BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS THAT THE WORD WAS THAT WALGREENS BOOTS HAD HIRED GOLDMAN SACHS TO PEDDLE THE U.K. AND EUROPEAN DIVISION BOOTS PHARMACIES AND COMES WORD THAT BANE CAPITAL IS ONE OF THE PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTMENT FUNDS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT BOOTS.

OTHERS HAVE AS WELL ACCORDING TO REPORTS IN THE TIMES OF LONDON AND ELSEWHERE.

WHAT THIS MEANS, PARIS, IS THAT THIS COMBINATION WHICH IS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD OF WALGREENS AND BOOTS IS COMING TO AN END AND IT NEVER REALLY LIVED UP TO THE HYPE WHEN IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED BACK IN I BELIEVE 2012.

>> AND BANE CAPITAL THE FORMER HOME OF MITT ROMNEY, I BELIEVE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT IS RIGHT.

>> ANN GREAT TO SEE YOU IN 2022.

ALL THE BEST FOR A GREAT NEW YEAR AND WE'LL TALK TO YOU SOON.

>> AND TO ALL OF YOU.

>> TODAY MARKS THE FIRST DAY LOCAL BUSINESSES MUST CHECK PROOF OF COVID VACCINATION FROM CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS IN CHICAGO IN RESTAURANTS BARS, GYMS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, IT WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL THE SURGE HAS PASSED AND BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN US WITH MUCH MORE.

WE HAVE ERIK ARCHAMBEAULT OWNER OF ROGERS PARK SOCIAL A COMMUNITY BAR AND LOUNGE.

SHIRLEY BLAZEJCZYK AND MARLON EASTMOND, O'CONNERS OF BLAZE EN CYCLE A FITNESS STUDIO LOCATED IN BEVERLY.

AND DARNELL JOHNSON OWNER OF CHICAGO'S HOME OF CHICKEN AND WAFFLES WITH LOCATIONS IN BRONZE VIT AND OAK PARK.

DARNELL, DAY ONE OF THIS INDOOR VACCINE POLICY HOW IS IT GOING AT YOUR VENUE?

>> IT'S GOING GREAT.

WE GOT EXTRA STAFF TO MAKE SURE THEY CHECK EVERYBODY COMING IN.

A COUPLE POLICE OFFICERS.

AND IT LOOKS GOOD SO FAR.

WE PROBABLY TURNED WAY THREE PEOPLE OUT OF THE DAY.

THAT IS GREAT.

>> AND DARNELL DID IT GET TESTY WITH THE CUSTOMERS YOU HAD TO TURN AWAY?

>> EVERYTHING WENT PERFECT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND BRING YOUR CARDS NEXT TIME.

>> SHIRLEY AND MARLON YOU HAVE A FITNESS STUDIO HOW IS THIS CHANGING THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE TO OPERATE NOW GOING FORWARD?

>> IT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE CLASSES INSIDE THE STUDIO BUT WE DO A 90 DAYDREAM BODY PROGRAM WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT.

IT IS A PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM SO WHEN THEY DO JOIN US WE TALK ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OR NOT AND WE ALREADY IMPLEMENT AND CREATE A CUSTOMIZED PROGRAM IF THEY WANT TO WORKOUT FROM HOME OR COME INSIDE THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU LIKE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR MEMBERS.

THEY ARE GREAT AND RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE A NICE WONDERFUL PLACE WITH GREAT PEOPLE.

>> MARLON DO YOU WORRY THAT FOLKS DO NOT WANT TO COMPLY AND THE POSITION IT MIGHT PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN?

>> NO, FOR THE MOST PART WE HAVE RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS.

SO WE CHITCHAT AND WE'RE CLOSE WITH OUR MEMBERS SO WHEN WE TALK TO THEM MAJORITY OF THEM ARE -- WE TALK ABOUT HEY HAVE YOU GOTTEN VACCINATED WAS THERE ANY COMPLICATIONS FROM YOUR FIRST AND SECOND SHOT?

EVERYONE KNOCK ON WOOD THAT IS OUR MEMBER IS VACCINATED.

SO FAR SO GOOD.

>> AND THE CATCH HONESTLY THEY COME AND TELL US WHEN THEY ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE A SMALL MOM AND POP SHOP SO EVERYBODY THAT COMES IN, IT'S EASY.

>> OBVIOUSLY VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH.

AND THIS GOES WITH THAT.

ERIK ARCHAMBEAULT THIS IS NOTHING FOR YOU AT ROGERS PARK YOU HAVE HAD YOUR OWN VACCINE POLICY.

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO GET A HEADSTART ON THE CITY?

>> IT'S JUST WE ARE A VERY SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD BAR.

AND WE RESPECT OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE WANT TO DO THE BEST THINGS FOR BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE STARTED THIS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND LITERALLY WE MAY HAVE HAD TWO PARTIES AT MOST WALK AWAY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT.

BUT EVERYONE APPRECIATES IT.

AND THEY ARE VERY COMFORTABLE COMING IN.

BUT THEY ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

THIS IS NOTHING NEW AND I'M EXCITED THAT THE CITY AS A WHOLE HAS MADE THE DECISION TO REQUIRE IT.

>> DARNELL GOING BACK TO YOU HAS THE CITY COMMUNICATED WITH YOU HOW THEY PLAN TO ENFORCE THIS MANDATE AND HOW THEY PLAN TO SUPPORT YOU IF YOU DO HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT DON'T WANT TO COMPLY?

>> WELL, SHE IS GOING TO HAVE EXTRA POLICE IN THE AREA PATROLLING TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES OK.

THE ALDERMAN HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS.

WE'RE BLESSED AND IT'S GOOD FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE THIS.

>> SHIRLEY BLAZEJCZYK AND MARLON EASTMOND HAS THE CITY COMMUNICATED HOW THE ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO WORK?

>> I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE CITY I DON'T FORESEE ANY PROBLEMS.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED REINFORCEMENT WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY THAT COMES IN HERE IS FOCUSED ON BEING HEALTHY.

WE HAVE CLASSES BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CLASSES IT'S ABOUT EATING BETTER AND HOW TO BUILD YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IT IS MORE LIKE A WELLNESS THAN -- WE ARE NOT A BOX GYM.

SO I THINK THAT CHANGES THE DYNAMIC OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE COMING IN HERE.

IT'S REALLY MORE LIKE WE'RE FAMILY SO WE ALL CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS GOING TO ENFORCE IT.

ERIC, WHAT ABOUT YOU, DO YOU HAVE CONSUME CAKES WITH THE CITY IN TERMS OF HOW THEY PLAN TO UNIFORMLY ENFORCE THIS THROUGH THE THOUSANDS OF ESTABLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY?

>> I WANT TO SAY FROM THE HIERARCHY OF THE CITY BUT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ALDERWOMAN MARIA HAD DON WAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND HELPING US WITH OUR OUTDOOR STRUCTURES AND JUST COMMUNICATING THINGS.

SO I WANT TO SAY FROM THE HIGHER LEVELS OF THE CITY, I HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH BUT FROM A LOCAL SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD CENTRIC, YEAH, TOTALLY IN TOUCH AND NO ISSUES THERE.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS BEING HANDLED ON THE ALDERMANIC LEVEL.

DARNELL THERE'S BEEN PUSHBACK CLAIMING THAT RESTAURANTS AND ESTABLISHMENTS NEED MORE TIME.

IT WAS A WEEK-AND-A-HALF TO TWO WEEKS THAT THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THIS THAT NOW IT'S TAKING PLACE.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

DO THE RESTAURANTS NEED MORE TIME?

>> I DON'T FEEL SO.

THIS PANDEMIC THINGS HAPPEN EVERYDAY.

YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING AND LOOK AT THE NEWS, AND IT'S EVOLVING RAPIDLY.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED.

THIS IS NOTHING I THINK THE TIMING WAS GREAT.

WE LIVING IN A DIFFERENT AGE NOW WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED EVERYDAY FOR THE UNEXPECTED.

>> SHIRLEY BLAZEJCZYK HOW DOES YOUR ENFORCEMENT WORK?

DO YOU CHECK FOLK'S CELLPHONES OR DO THEY HAVE TO PRODUCE THEIR CARD?

>> TODAY I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK MY MEMBERS SHOWED THEIR CARD.

SHOVED IT IN MY FACE AND A LOT HAVE BEEN TEXTING ME AND MESSAGING ME ON FACEBOOK AND TEXT MESSAGES EVERYONE HAS BEEN ASKING HEY WHEN I COME IN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY CAN SEND I'VE ADVISED ME THEY CAN SHOW IT TO ME IN PERSON OR TEXT IT TO ME OR THROUGH FACEBOOK WE HAVE LIKE AN APP THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE.

WE HAVE LOTS OF COMMUNICATION WITH OUR PEOPLE ANYWAY.

THEY HAVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GO AHEAD AND SHOW THE CARD.

>> IT'S SO FUNNY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW US THE CARD.

>> THEY ARE EXCITED TO SHOW THE CARD.

>> ARE YOU HOPEFUL THIS CAN HALT THE SPREAD OF COVID THROUGHOUT THE CITY?

>> OH, FOR SURE.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ALL HOPING FOR, RIGHT?

IS YOU WANT TO STOP IT WHERE YOU CAN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND THAT IS SOMETHING LIKE MY EMPLOYEES, I ALWAYS GO TO MY EMPLOYEES AND THEY ARE NOT EMPLOYEES THEY ARE FAMILY, RIGHT.

SO I SAY, HEY WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE OPENING INSIDE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE DID AFTER WE SHUTDOWN FOR A WHILE.

SO I GO TO MY EMPLOYEES FIRST AND SAY ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WORKING LET'S BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND NOT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IS ALWAYS LIKE WITHSTOOD TIME.

AND YEAH, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH HOW THIS IS HAPPENING.

>> ALL RIGHT DAY ONE OF WE HOPE NOT TO BE TOO MANY DAYS OF THIS VACCINE MANDATE.

OUR THANKS TO ERIK ARCHAMBEAULT, SHIRLEY BLAZEJCZYK, MARLON EASTMOND AND DARNELL JOHNSON THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN THE HOUSING MARKET THIS YEAR.

BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> 2021 WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR THE HOUSES MARKET IN METRO CHICAGO.

REALTORS SOLD MORE HOMES THAN EVER AS PRICES ROSE AT RATES SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S AND FUELING THAT WAS LOW INTEREST RATES AND FOLKS LOOKING TO MAKE PANDEMIC INSPIRED MOVES TO LARGER HOMES AS REMOTE WORKING BECAME THE NORM FOR MANY.

JOINING US ARE DENNIS REDKIN, RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE REPORTER FOR CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS, AND GWENDOLENE NEWTON A REAL ESTATE AGENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE DEARBORN REALTORS BOARD AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN REAL ESTATE TRADE ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DENNIS WELCOME BACK LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

WHY WAS 2021 SUCH A FRENZIED YEAR FOR THE CHICAGO REAL ESTATE MARKET?

>> BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTED TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT HOME.

IF I HAD TO WORK AT HOME, I HAD MY KIDS IN A SCHOOL ROOM AT HOME, WORKOUT AT HOME, IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THAT SPACE IN THE PLACE I WAS LIVING.

AND WITH VERY LOW INTEREST RATES I COULD IN MOST CASES I COULD AFFORD TO MAKE THAT MOVE.

WE FINISHED 2021 WITH MORE HOME SALES IN THE CHICAGO AREA THAN THERE HAVE EVER BEEN.

IN DECEMBER WE PASSED 2005 WHICH WAS THE HEIGHT OF THE LAST HOUSING BOOM.

WE PASSED THE SALES VOLUME RECORD FROM THAT YEAR BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO COULD TRADE HOUSES DID.

>> AND GWENDOLENE NEWTON WAS 2021 JUST AS GOOD A YEAR FOR PURCHASING A HOME FOR BLACK BUYERS PURCHASERS?

>> HI AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON THIS EVENING.

THE BLACK BUYER EXPERIENCE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WE DID EXPERIENCE WHAT I CALL THE PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM WHERE YOU HAD A FLORENCESY OF BUYERS OUT THERE BUT THERE WERE STRUGGLES IN THE AREA FOR BUYERS BEING PREAPPROVED FOR LOANS.

FHA VERSUS CONVENTIONAL.

COMING UP WITH DOWN PAYMENTS ET CETERA.

AND THEN WITH THE APPRAISAL ISSUES THEY WERE ALWAYS SEVERAL HURDLES AND FACTORS THAT BLACK BUYERS HAD TO OVERCOME.

>> AND THERE'S REPORTING AS WELL ABOUT BLACK SELLERS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE HAD WITH APPRAISALS.

>> DENNIS, THE MEDIAN SALE PRICE IN CHICAGO METRO ROSE 12% IN 2021 UP TO 300,000.

CAN THE MARKET MAINTAIN THAT KIND OF PACE IN 2022?

>> YOU KNOW IT PROBABLY CAN BECAUSE WHILE WE'VE HAD DOUBLE-DIGIT PRICE GROWTH WE HAVE BEEN GROWING IN THE 12% RANGE THINK OF PHOENIX THEY HAVE BEEN GROWING IN THE 32% PRICE RAGE.

A YEAR TODAY HOMES COST 32% MORE IN PHOENIX THAN THEY DID A YEAR AGO.

THOSE PLACES ARE IN A BUBBLE.

PHOENIX, SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE, WE'RE GROWING AT OUR PRICES ARE GROWING AT A RAPID RATE BUT COMPARED TO MOST OTHER BIG CITIES IT'S NOT SO BIG.

THERE IS A STUDY OUT THAT SHOWS THAT CHICAGO IS ONE OF THE ONLY MAJOR U.S. CITIES WHERE HOME PRICES HAVE NOT RISEN AS FAST AS WAGES WHICH IS IS TO SAY YOU CAN AFFORD MORE HOUSE THAN YOU COULD WHILE AFFORDABILITY IS RUNNING AWAY FROM PEOPLE IN OTHER CITIES WHERE HOME PRICES ARE GROWING FASTER THAN WAGES.

>> AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON, DENNIS, YOU HEAR HOUSING BOOM AND COMPARISONS TO 2005 AND PEOPLE GET NERVOUS BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT HOUSING BOOM IN THE MID-2000'S ARE WE IN ANY DANGER HERE?

>> WE ARE NOT GROWING AS FAST OUR PRICES ARE NOT GROWING AS FAST AS THEY WERE AT THAT TIME.

BUT ALSO MOST OF THIS IS APPRAISING OUT.

A LOT OF IT IN 2005 WAS THERE WERE THE LOW OR NO DOCUMENT LOANS.

THERE WAS PREDATORY LENDING IN BLACK COMMUNITIES AND ELSEWHERE.

THAT WAS FORCING LENDING ON TO PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF RULES IN PLACE FOR LENDING THAT DID NOT EXIST THEN THAT CAME IN TO BEING BECAUSE OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

AND WE'RE NOT SEEING YET THE FORECLOSE CRISIS COMING THE WAY IT DID THE LAST TIME BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING ON THE INCOME THEY HAVE NOT ON UNDOCUMENTED INCOME OR NO DOCUMENT LOANS.

>> GWENDOLENE NEWTON HISTORICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO THE HOUSING MARKET AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD WEALTH BECAUSE OF UNEQUAL ACCESS TO FINANCING AND OTHER PRACTICES.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE SITUATION IS LIKE TODAY FOR SAY A YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUPLE LOOKING TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOUSE?

>> WELL, A COUPLE THINGS AND IF I CAN JUST TOUCH ON DENNIS MENTIONED IN TERMS OF THE FORECLOSE CRISIS.

THERE ARE SOME LEVELS OF RISK AND BASED ON SOME OF THE REPORTING THAT I HAVE READ OVER THE LAST LIKE SAY 60 DAYS THERE IS SOME INCREASE AND UPTICK IN THE FORECLOSE SPACE FOR BLACK HOMEOWNERS.

THAT IS NOT TO DISCOURAGE YOUNG MILLENNIALS AND PEOPLE OUT BUYING IN THE SPACE AT THIS TIME.

I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE LOWER INTEREST RATES THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PURCHASING A HOME AT THIS POINT.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF WEALTH AND THE DISPARITY BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS AND WHITE HOUSE HOLDS, IN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL WEALTH, THAT OFTENTIMES AFRICAN-AMERICANS DON'T HAVE THE DOWN PAYMENT RESOURCES.

SO THERE ARE SOME LOAN MOD -- LOAN PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT DO ALLOW YOU KNOW, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND YOU CAN ALSO ACCEPT GIFTS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS WHICH HAVE ENABLED BLACKS AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO PURCHASE.

BUT AGAIN, WHEN THERE IS A LACK OF FINANCIAL STABILITY, BANK ACCOUNT.

>> NOT AS EASY.

GWENDOLYN I WANTED TO GET THIS ON YOU QUICKLY, YOU KNOW WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS BLACKS MOVING OUT OF THE CITY AND ALSO FOLKS MOVED OUT OF THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

DO YOU THINK THESE TWO TRENDS WILL CONTINUE WITH PEOPLE LEAVING THE CITY?

>> YES.

BY ALL MEANS.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH BUYERS THAT HAVE BEEN RELOCATING TO THE SUBURBS.

WHERE THEY ARE CRIME OR YOU KNOW, JUST LIVING IN CLOSE QUARTERS, CONDOMINIUMS, APARTMENT LIFESTYLES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AND BACKYARD SPACE HAS BEEN A LARGE UPTICK DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I'VE ALSO HAD PEOPLE RELOCATE OUT OF STATE.

THEY HAVE WASHED THEIR HANDS OF CHICAGO AND THEY'VE MOVED SOUTH TO GEORGIA, FLORIDA, AND THEN SOME TO ARIZONA.

>> AND SHIRLEY THEY HAVE -- SURELY THEY HAVE REASONS FOR THAT.

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT COULD SLOW THE MARKET DOWN?

>> CRIME.

ONE OF THE THINGS I TRACK IS THE VERY HIGH-END PART OF THE MARKET AND UP AT THE TOP OF THE MARKET, 4 MILLION AND UP, WE HAD AN AMAZING YEAR IN 2021.

THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF SALES IN A YEAR AT 4 MILLION AND UP IS 51.5.

IN 2021 THERE WERE 100 SALES AT THAT LEVEL FROM 4 MILLION TO THE HIGHEST PRICE THE SALE CAME RIGHT AROUND CHRISTMASTIME AT 12.55 MILLION.

SO OF THAT, 37 SALES WERE DOWNTOWN CONDOS.

DOWNTOWN PENTHOUSES WHEN YOU ARE TALKING $4 MILLION AND UP.

PEOPLE ARE STILL INVESTING.

PEOPLE OF MEANS AFFLUENT PEOPLE ARE STILL INVEST UNWILLING REAL ESTATE DOWNTOWN.

EVEN THOUGH WHAT YOU HEAR IS THAT CRIME IS STOPPING PEOPLE NOW THAT THERE IS A OBVIOUS CRIME PROBLEM IN THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND STOPPING PEOPLE FROM BUYING.

>> DENNIS REDKIN WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

I'M SURE.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU TO DENNIS REDKIN AND GWENDOLENE NEWTON FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> 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 MONDAY NIGHT.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH ILLINOIS' PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR AS COVID CASES SURGE.

>> AND WFMT IS HOLDING A TRIBUTE TO STEVEN SONDHEIM.

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

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

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

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