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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> I WON THIS ELECTION BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTES.

THERE'S NO WAY I LOST GEORGIA.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLS GEORGIA'S SECRETARY OF STATE TO TRY AND GET HIM TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION RESULTS.

A LOOK AT THE LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT RAISES.

>> THEY ARE ASKING US TO BUILDINGS UNPREPARED, ILL EQUIPPED.

>> SEVERAL THOUSAND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS WERE DUE BACK IN CLASSROOMS TODAY TO PREPARE FOR STUDENTS' RETURN NEXT WEEK BUT NOT ALL SHOWED UP.

>> IT GIVES US THE HOPE WE'RE GETTING TOWARDS THE ANSWER.

>> HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAVE BASKETBALL AMONG THE FIRST TO GET THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE HAS THE IMMUNIZATION PROVIDED RELIEF?

WE HEAR FROM TWO DOCTORS.

>> THEY CONTINUE TO TRACK YOU DOWN.

>> SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS HAVE NEW PROTECTION UNDER ILLINOIS LAW.

THE 2021 LAWS YOU NEED TO KNOW.

>> NEW STUDIES FROM MOVING VAN COMPANIES FIND THAT ILLINOISANS ARE LEAVING THE STATE THAT AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> MEET A LOCAL AUTHOR WHO ARGUES THE IDEA OF LAZINESS IS A LIE ONE HAVING A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON AMERICANS DURING A PANDEMIC.

>> A FISH SPECIES IS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN MINUTE TANNING THE -- MAINTAINING THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM.

>> WE NEED TO BRING IT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> HOW CHICAGOANS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS OF COLOR IN A VIRTUAL BODEGA.

>> IT'S GROWN SINCE THE START OF THIS.

>> AND LOCAL PLANT SHOPS PUT THE GREEN IN GREENERY AS THEIR BUSINESSES BLOSSOM DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

GRIM NUMBERS FROM THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE IT HAMMED A RECORD NUMBER OF DEATH CASES IN 2020 WITH COVID-19 ACCOUNTING FOR HALF OF THEM.

BREAKING IT DOWN, THE OFFICE EXAMINED 16,049 DEATH DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS.

THE OFFICE HANDLED 6274 DEATH CASES WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT IT HANDLES IN A NORMAL YEAR.

AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 5,000 NEW POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES.

WITH 79 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THAT MAKES FOR A TOTAL OF 984,000 CASES.

WITH 16,834 DEATHS.

THE SEVEN-DAY TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 9.8%.

>> THOSE ILLINOISANS WAITING TO RENEW DRIVERSES LICENSES OR ID'S WILL NOT HAVE TO WAIT ANY LONGER.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE ANNOUNCED THAT DRIVER SERVICE FACILITIES WILL OPEN TOMORROW.

THEY HAD BEEN CLOSED DUE TO EVERYONE BUT NEW DRIVERS -- THEY HAD BEEN CLOSED TO EVERYONE BUT NEW DRIVERS.

MOST DRIVERS CAN GO ON-LINE TO RENEW LICENSES AND BUY A NEW LICENSE PLATE STICKER.

>> TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS WERE EXPECTED TO REPORT TO THEIR CLASSROOMS FOR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION SINCE THE PANDEMIC CLOSED SCHOOLS BACK IN MARCH.

THIS APPLY IMPLEMENTS TO 5800 TEACH HE WAS.

BUT SOME TEACHERS DID NOT REPORT TO THEIR BUILDINGS.

BRANDIS, HOW MANY TEACHERS DID NOT REPORT TODAY?

>> PARIS THAT IS THE INFORMATION WE ARE WAITING ON.

NO WORD YET HOW MANY TEACHERS SHOWED UP TODAY COMPARED TO THAT 5800 THAT WERE EXPECTED AND NO WORD WHAT DISCIPLINE THOSE TEACHERS MIGHT FACE FOR REFUSING TO GO INSIDE.

WE REVISITED HANSON PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BELMONT CRAGEN AND IT HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST CLUSTER PROGRAMS IN THE DISTRICTS.

THEY ARE FOR CHILDREN IN SPECIAL EDUCATION WITH MILD TO PROFOUND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES.

THE PRINCIPAL SAYS SOME C.T.U.

TEACHERS HAVE SHOWN UP.

THESE ARE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS THEY ARE SEIU MEMBERS.

THEY ARE WORKING TO RECONFIGURE HANSON PARKS CLUSTER CLASSROOMS MANY HAVE NOT BEEN TOUCHED SINCE MARCH SO THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING CAN BE OBSERVED.

THE MUSIC ROOM WILL BECOME A CLASSROOM POD.

AND DESPITE ALL OF THE STEPS THAT THE SCHOOL HAS TAKEN INCLUDING ADDING AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS THE PRINCIPAL DAVE BELANGER SAYS HE IS CONCERNED FOR STUDENT SAFETY.

>> 60639 IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST COVID POSITIVITY RATES IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE LOST -- LUCKILY WE HAVE NOT LOST ANY STAFF MEMBERS BUT WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW OF OUR STUDENTS THAT EXPERIENCED DEATH IN THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES, GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS.

AND SO MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF.

>> AND FOR REFERENCE, THE POSITIVITY RATE IN THAT ZIP CODE 60639 IS NEARLY 18% COMPARED TO THE CITYWIDE AVERAGE WHICH IS 7.4%.

THE PRINCIPAL SAYS OF THE 110 STUDENTS IN PRE-K THERE ONLY THREE HAVE OPTED TO RETURN NEXT WEEK OF THE 80 STUDENTS IN CLUSTER CLASSROOMS, JUST 22 STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO COME BACK.

>> BRANDIS, YOU MENTIONED C.T.U.

MEMBERS SAYING THEY WILL NOT RETURN UNTIL IT'S SAFE WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

>> THE UNION IS ENCOURAGING MEMBERS NOT TO GO BACK TO TEACH REMOTELY AND TAKE A SICK DAY IF THEY NEED TO.

AND HAVING REGULAR DEMONSTRATIONS THIS WEEK TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO RETURN.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS AFTERNOON THE UNION HELD A TEACH-IN ON THE NORTH SIDE.

C.T.U.

SAYS ITS MEMBERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO WORK IN-PERSON AND TO CONTINUE WORKING REMOTELY SINCE THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE WORKING UNDER C.P.S.

'S CURRENT PLAN.

>> I MADE THE DECISION TO REDUCE REENTERING THE BUILDING BECAUSE I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE.

AND I AM IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE.

>> THE CLASSROOM WILL NOT BE THE SAME IF WE RETURN.

YOU KNOW, THE CLASSROOMS WILL BE BASICALLY EMPTY.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST THE TEACHERS.

SOME LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS SENT LETTERS TO C.P.S.

SAYING THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IT'S SAFE TO REOPEN SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE NOT SURE THAT THE DUAL REMOTE AND IN-PERSON TEACHING WILL RESULT IN A VERY EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

ONE OF THE LSD'S IS VAUGHAN OCCUPATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ALSO AND YOU WILL RECALL IT WAS THE FIRST TO RECORD A CASE OF THE CORONAVIRUS BACK IN MARCH AND IT CLOSED DOWN BEFORE THE OTHERS.

>> THE THING THAT WE WANT AND EVERYONE IS UNANIMOUS VOTE BY THE LSC IS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH C.P.S.

FOR THEM TO TALK TO US RATHER THAN THEM MAKE A DECISION WE LIVE WITH THE RESULTS OF IT AND IT COULD BE A DISASTER.

AND WE'VE LIVED THAT WITH C.P.S.

UNFORTUNATELY SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST.

>> AT VAUGHAN, JOSHUA RADINSKY, SAYS THAT ONLY ONE OUT OF SIX PARENTS HAVE CHOSE ESPECIALLY TO SEND THEIR KIDS BACK INTO THE BUILDING THERE.

>> BRANDIS, WHAT DOES THE DISTRICT SAY ABOUT THE RESISTANCE THEY ARE GETTING FROM C.T.U.?

>> THE DISTRICT MAINTAINS THAT SCIENCE SHOWS SCHOOLS CAN REOPEN WITH A PLAN IN PLACE.

IN A STATEMENT... >> NOW, EARLIER TODAY JANICE JACKSON TWEETED THESE PICTURES OF HER AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT VISITING HANES ELEMENTARY TOO WELCOME TEACHERS.

AND LAST WEEK, 17 MEDICAL DOCTORS SIGNED ON TO AN OP-ED SAYING THEY BELIEVE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE TO REOPEN WITH A PLAN.

WE SPOKE WITH ONE OF THEM TODAY.

>> REMEMBER BACK IN MARCH WE WERE UNCERTAIN ABOUT THIS.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WEARING A MASK WAS GOING TO BE SAFER OR ACTUALLY INCREASE SPREAD.

WE NOW KNOW BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT WEARING A MASK PREVENTS TRANSMISSION.

>> AND PARIS, FOR NOW, UNLESS CASES INCREASE, THE PLAN IS THAT PRE-K AND CLUSTER STUDENT ALSO RETURN ON MONDAY AND SCHOOLS WILL WELCOME BACK KINDERGARTEN-8TH GRADE STUDENTS LATER THIS MONTH.

>> THANK YOU.

A BOMBSHELL PHONE CONVERSATION FIRST OBTAINED BY THE "WASHINGTON POST" HAS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FACING NEW LEGAL QUESTIONS AND CALLS FOR CENSOR AND IMPEACH.

HE ASKED THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO GO BACK ON JOE BIDEN AS THE WINNER AND CLAIMS ABOUT THE VOTE THAT WERE DIVORCED FROM REALITY.

>> I WON THIS ELECTION BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTES.

THERE IS NO WAY I LOST GEORGIA.

WE WON BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTES.

ALL I WANT TO DO IS THIS...

I JUST WANT TO FIND 11,780 VOTES, WHICH IS ONE MORE THAN WE HAVE.

>> AND JOINING US WITH MORE ARE CONNIE MIXON, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND DIRECTOR OF URBAN STUDIES PROGRAM AT ELMHURST UNIVERSITY, HAROLD KRENT A PROFESSOR OF LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SPECIALIST AT KENT COLLEGE OF LAW AT THE ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.

>> AND WAYNE STEGER, PROFESSOR OF POLL KAY SCIENCE AND SPECIALIST ON THE PRESIDENCY AND AMERICAN POLITICS AT DePAUL UNIVERSITY.

GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

CONNIE MIXON YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD THE CONTENT OF THIS PHONE CALL BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND GEORGIA'S SECRETARY OF STATE, BRAD RAFFENSPERGER?

>> WELL HE WAS ASKING THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE TO FUDGE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION AND TO SOMEHOW FIND 11,780 NONEXISTENT VOTES.

THE CALL WAS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC, IT WAS ANTI-AMERICAN.

AND HONESTLY IT SHOULD BE CALLED OUT AS SUCH.

>> WAYNE STEGER THE PRESIDENT ALSO PRESSURED OTHER STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS OVER THIS ELECTION.

IS THERE PRECEDENT FOR WHAT YOU HEARD THIS WEEKEND ON THAT PHONE CALL?

>> NO.

I MEAN THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF ELECTIONS OBVIOUSLY, 1824, 1876 THAT WERE DISPUTED THAT WENT TO CONGRESS.

BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE A PRESIDENT LOBBYING IN THIS MANNER DIRECTLY FOR BASICALLY TO THROW OUT VOTES.

THIS IS A COUP.

IT IS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AND ILLEGAL PER GEORGIA AND FEDERAL LAW.

>> AND HAROLD KRENT AS A LEGAL EXPERT HERE, DO YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THAT PHONE CALL OR IN ANY OF THE ATTEMPTS TO SUBVERT THE ELECTION THAT HAS RUN AFOUL OF FEDERAL LAW OR IN THE CASE OF PHONE CALL, GEORGIA STATE ELECTION LAW?

>> I AGREE THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR BUT AS THEY INTIMATED IT'S LIKELY CRIMINAL ACTION AS WELL.

THERE ARE LAWS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND THE STATE LEVEL TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS.

AND HE WAS SAYING FIND ME ANOTHER 12,000 VOTES TO CHANGE THE ALREADY CERTIFIED ELECTION RESULTS THAT IS A SOLICITATION TO VIOLATE THE LAW AND INTERFERENCE WITH THE RIGHT TO VOTE PROTECTED UNDER CRIMINAL STATUTE.

ON ITS FACE IT DOES SOUND AS IF THERE IS A PLAUSIBLE VIOLATION OF BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE LAW.

WILL IT BE PROSECUTED?

THAT IS A POLITICAL COMPLICATED POLITICAL ISSUE.

ON ITS FACE, YES, I BELIEVE THERE'S ENOUGH THERE TO THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW.

>> PROSECUTING IS A POLITICAL ISSUE.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY THAT THE F.B.I.

THAT GEORGIA OFFICIALS MIGHT LOOK INTO THAT?

>> THEY MIGHT.

AND THERE'S BEEN RUMBLINGS THAT THEY WILL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS AN IMPEDIMENT IS THE STATE OF MIND.

AND THE PROSECUTOR WOULD HAVE TO SHOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP KNEW THAT WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS FALSE.

AND AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY I MIGHT SAY HE IS CONVINCED HIMSELF IN HIS OWN WORLD THAT HE IS RIGHT AND WHAT HE SAYS SOUNDS OUTRAGEOUS TO THE REST OF US HE MIGHT BELIEVE AND THAT WOULD PROVIDE A DIFFERENT FOR THEM IN -- DEFENSE FOR HIM IN A COURT OF LAW.

>> WHAT IS WHAT KINZINGER HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE PHONE CALL.

>> YOU SEE, YOU KNOW THREATS MADE THREATENING IN ESSENCE A CRIME TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

YOU SEE THE REPEATING OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

IT'S DISGUSTING AND HONESTLY IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING ALL THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT HAVE NOW SAID THEY ARE GOING TO OBJECT TO THE ELECTION I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN BECAUSE THIS IS SO OBVIOUSLY BEYOND THE PALE IS NOT THE WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.

>> CONNIE MIXON SPEAKING OF THAT EXPECTED VOTE ON WEDNESDAY, BY 100 G.O.P.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND A DOZEN G.O.P.

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO CHALLENGE THE ELECTORAL VOTE CERTIFICATIONS OF SWING STATES.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO COME OUT OF THAT DISPLAY ON WEDNESDAY?

>> WELL, I EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE POLITICAL THEATRE FOR REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO CONTINUE TO AIR THE PRESIDENT'S GRIEVANCES ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION.

ULTIMATELY, THEIR OBJECTIONS ARE GOING TO FAIL.

BUT YOU KNOW IT IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT DIVIDES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FURTHER AND ERODES CONFIDENCE IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

AND WHILE WE KNOW THAT THEY WON'T BE -- THE OBJECTIONS WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL, IT IS A MATTER OF HOW LONG IT TAKES.

BECAUSE THERE WILL BE TWO-HOUR DEBATE ON EACH OBJECTION IF THEY HAVE SIX, SEVEN, IT COULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET THAT OVER WITH.

>> AND WAYNE STEGER AS THAT HAPPENS THE PRESIDENT IS ENCOURAGING DEMONSTRATIONS ON WEDNESDAY IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

THERE ARE CALLS FROM THE MAYOR OF WASHINGTON D.C. TO BRING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE CONFLUENCE OF THESE THINGS THE DIE VIESIVE VOTE AND VOLATILE SITUATION AND THE APPEARANCE OF POSSIBLY EXTREMIST PROTESTORS?

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE GRAVEST THREAT WE'VE HAD TO DEMOCRACY SINCE 1860.

AND I MEAN THAT FULLY.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT FIRST WHICH WILL FAIL TO OVERTHROW THE RESULTS OF AN ELECTION.

FLAT OUT REJECTION OF THE POPULAR VOTE AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

SECONDLY YOU HAVE THE UNDERMINING OF LEGITIMACY OF THE INCOMING REGIME.

NO GOVERNMENT CAN SURVIVE BOUT LEGITIMACY LONG-TERM.

AND THAT IS THIS IS REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL ISSUE.

AND THAT LEADS TO THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE WHICH YOU ARE RAISING, WHICH PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT LEGITIMATE THAT THE SYSTEM IS FAILING THEM FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXTREMISTS, RADICALIZED ALREADY WHO BELIEVE THAT THE SYSTEM IS UNJUST AND CORRUPT AND CANNOT BE REFORMED, THIS IS A CALL LED BY SOME POLITICAL ELITES, RIGHT?

LIKE THE MAN FROM TEXAS WHO CALLED FOR VIOLENCE.

YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE.

LYNNWOOD SAYING MIKE PENCE SHOULD BE EXECUTED.

THERE ARE ABSOLUTE CALLS FOR VIOLENCE COMING OUT OF THIS RIGHT RADICALIZED RIGHT-WING.

AND WEDNESDAY MAY NOT BE THE CRUX OF IT.

THIS COULD CONTINUE FOR SOMETIME AS PEOPLE ENGAGE IN NOT JUST NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE THAT WE LARGELY SEE FROM THE LEFT BUT VIOLENT RESISTANCE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ORGANIZED MILITIAS.

>> A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES FROM SWING STATES CHALLENGING THE RESULTS DO NOT WANT TO CHALLENGE THE RESULTS OF THEIR OWN ELECTIONS.

WHICH RAISES QUESTIONS OF WHETHER THIS IS BEING DONE IN BAD FAITH.

HAROLD KRENT, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, IN BETWEEN NOW AND THE INAUGURATION OF JOE BIDEN ARE THERE LEGAL AVENUES OR CONSTITUTIONAL CRISES THAT YOU WORRY ABOUT THE COUNTRY FACING?

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WITH THIS PRESIDENT.

THERE'S BEEN ONE UNBELIEVABLE ACTION AFTER ANOTHER.

THERE CAN BE AN IMPEACHMENT AS AN ASIDE WE'VE GONE THAT ROUTE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN APPETITE TO CONTINUE THAT WAY.

YOU CANNOT HAVE AN INVESTIGATION FOR ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

BUT I THINK THAT THE REAL FEAR IS A CALL TO ARMS.

WHETHER IT'S CODED OR DIRECT, IT'S THE PRESIDENT COULD SAY LOOK, I FOUGHT HERE, I'VE RAISED MY ISSUES SHOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVES WHAT YOU THINK.

TAKE IT TO THE STREETS.

SHOW YOU MEAN IT.

AND THAT IS A FRIGHTENING SPECTER AND THAT IS CLOSE TO AN INSURRECTION.

>> THINGS OVER THE YEARS WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT, DISCUSSING IN THIS COUNTRY ON THIS PROGRAM.

BUT WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THANKS TO CONNIE MIXON, HAROLD KRENT AND WAYNE STEGER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> MORE THAN 140,000 ILLINOISANS MOSTLY IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD RECEIVED THE FIRST DOSE OF THEIR CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

WITH MANY PREPPING FOR THE SECOND DOSE THIS WEEK BUT THE ROLL OUT HAS GONE SLOWER THAN EXPECTED.

THE VACCINATIONS COME AS A NEW STRAIN OF THE VIRUS REACHES THE U.S. AND AFTER MILLIONS IGNORED PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE BY TRAVELING OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE AND WORKING ON FRONTLINES DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE Dr. MEETA SHAH OF RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND Dr. MICHAEL HOFFMAN LEAD PHYSICIAN FOR COOK COUNTY HEALTH COVID-19 UNITS.

THEY BOTH RECEIVED THE FIRST DOSE OF THE PFIZER VACCINE ON DECEMBER 18TH.

THANK YOU BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Dr. HOFFMAN, AS I MENTIONED YOU RECEIVED THE FIRST DOSE AND ARE IN LINE TO RECEIVE THE SECOND DOSE IS THERE A SENSE OF RELIEF NOW THAT YOU HAVE STARTED THIS PROCESS TO BECOME IMMUNIZED?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK SO.

THERE WERE A RANGE OF EMOTIONS THAT CAME ABOUT WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET THE FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

AND IT WAS EXACTLY NINE MONTHS TO THE DAY FROM WHEN I HELPED TO OPEN OUR FIRST COVID UNIT IN THE HOSPITAL THAT I RECEIVED MY FIRST DOSE OF VACCINE.

THERE IS A BIT OF HOPE AND A BIT OF RELIEF ON THE HORIZON.

BUT WE KNOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT HAVE PROTECTED SO MANY PEOPLE SO FAR.

>> Dr. SHAH WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GET THE VACCINE?

>> IT IS A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

CLEARLY, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC WE MISS OUR NORMALCY.

WANT TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES.

WANT TO PROTECT OUR PATIENTS.

WE NEVER WANT TO SEE OURSELVES OR HAVE OTHERS FEEL UNSAFE AROUND US OR UNCOMFORTABLE THAT WE MAY BECOME VICTORS TO THE VIRUS.

IN SOME WAYS IT OFFERS NOT JUST PERSONAL SECURITY AND THAT PERSONAL FEELING OF FEELING SAFE AGAIN BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT FOR EVERYONE ELSE AROUND US.

>> DESPITE THESE THINGS MANY AMERICANS INCLUDING SOME IN YOUR INDUSTRY ARE STILL A LITTLE BIT RESISTANT.

Dr. HOFFMAN, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE PEOPLE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE EVIDENCE IS THERE THIS IS A VERY, VERY SAFE VACCINE.

IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE.

AND YOU KNOW WE KNOW THAT WE NEED THIS HERD IMMUNITY TO GET BEYOND THIS PANDEMIC AND TO REALLY GET PAST THIS AS Dr. SHAH SAID TO GET TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

I FEEL IT'S SAFE.

I'VE GOTTEN MY FIRST DOSE.

I'M READY FOR MY SECOND DOSE ON FRIDAY.

AND I AM COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE ELSE WILL GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP FOR THEIR VACCINE AS WELL.

>> BEFORE VACCINE APPROVAL WE SPOKE WITH A NURSE AT UI HEALTH ABOUT HOW CONCERNED THEY WERE OF NOT ONLY CATCHING THE CORONAVIRUS BUT THE RISK OF SPREADING IT... >> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS CATCHING CORONAVIRUS AND BRINGING IT HOME TO OUR LOVED ONES IS A VERY REAL RISK.

AT MY HOSPITAL, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE BRING CORONAVIRUS HOME AND INFECT THEIR LOVED ONES AND THEY DIED.

>> Dr. SHAH WORKING IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD AND BEING AROUND THIS ALL DAY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT FEELING THAT WORRY AND HAS THAT SUBSIDED NOW?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN THE ELEMENT OF FATIGUE HERE.

WE'VE BEEN WORRIED NOW FOR NINE MONTHS OR MORE REALLY.

AND THAT WORRY CAN JUST BECOME A REAL BURDEN MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY.

AND ABSOLUTELY I HAVE A FAMILY OF MY OWN.

I HAVE ELDERLY PARENTS WITH CO-MORBIDITIES THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WITHIN MY BUBBLE I WANT TO PROTECT AND THEN ALSO ALL MY OTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

SO I THINK IT'S BEEN A REAL BURDEN JUST THINK BEING WHAT IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE AND NOT WANTING TO BRING THAT VIRUS INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE UNINTENTIONALLY.

I FEEL AS THOUGH HAVING THIS VIRUS AND -- GET -- THIS VACCINE AND GETTING THE FIRST DOSE AND SUBSEQUENTLY GETTING THE SECOND DOSE AND REACHING THAT STATE OF IMMUNITY IS GOING TO PROVIDE US WITH A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF.

>> Dr. HOFFMAN YOU HAVE SEEN THE REPORTS THAT THE ROLL OUT IS GOING SLOWER THAN ANTICIPATED.

AND THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE HERD IMMUNITY WHEN IT HOPED UNLESS THIS SPEEDS UP.

I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION WHAT YOU THOUGHT THE CULPRIT WAS HERE?

>> I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY HOPED WE WOULD HAVE A MORE EFFICIENT ROLL OUT AND WE WOULD BE AHEAD OF WHERE WE ARE.

BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

AND THE CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE.

BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE WE ARE RECEIVING AND WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO TIER THE HIGHEST RISK AND RIGHT NOW IT'S FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

AND THEN MOVING INTO THE NURSING FACILITIES AND THE OLDER POPULATION.

SO I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF FACTORS INVOLVED BUT WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

>> AND Dr. SHAH ALSO IN THE NEWS REPORTS IN THREE STATES AT LEAST NOW OF THE NEW MORE AGGRESSIVE STRAIN OF COVID-19 OR MORE CONTAGIOUS STRAIN WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT AND THE SPREAD OF THAT?

>> I THINK I'M CONCERNED.

I AM AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE SURGES.

THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTED THUS FAR IS NOT ENOUGH TO CONTROL WHAT IS HAPPENING AND HELP US CONTINUE WHAT WE ARE DOING.

AND IT IS NOT THE SILVER BULLET.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION HERE IS NOT JUST THE VACCINE BUT EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

MASKING, WASHING YOUR HANDS, STAYING IN SMALL GROUPS KNOWING THIS MORE CONTAGIOUS VERSION IS ON U.S.

SOIL SHOULD EMPHASIZE THAT GREATER.

WE CAN ONLY GET TO THE END IF WE DO IT TOGETHER.

>> IT IS AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH NOT JUST THE VACCINE BUT THE CONTINUED SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MITIGATION.

I THANK Dr. MEETA SHAH AND Dr. MICHAEL HOFFMAN THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> UP NEXT A VIRTUAL BODEGA THAT AIMS TO ENCOURAGE SHOPPERS TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS.

>> WE CAN GET PAST THE IDEA OF TURNING THIS INTO A POLITICAL TOPIC AND GET TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS SOMETHING I CAN GET BEHIND.

>> MAYBE WE CAN USE IT AS A CALLING CARD TO UNITE.

>> MUCH MORE NEWS AHEAD INCLUDING WHAT NEW LAWS ARE ON THE BOOKS FOR THE NEW YEAR.

>> BUT FIRST, ORGANIZING A FEW COMMUNITY EVENTS INSPIRED CHICAGOANS BRIANNA RAMIREZ TO CREATE LOLITA PRODUCTIONS TO CREATING PLATFORMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR.

THEY TURNED A LOCAL PARK INTO THE BIGGEST PLATFORM YET AND CREATED LOLITA'S BODEGA.

ANGEL IDOWU SHARES HOW THIS ONE OF A KIND SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IS HELPING CHICAGOANS INVEST IN LOCAL ARTISTS.

>> NAMED AFTER PUERTO RICAN ACTIVIST, LOLITA PRODUCTIONS TOOK OVER HUMBOLDT PARK TO TURN IN INTO A BOW GAY GO BODEGA, SPANISH ARTISTS AND VENDORS WERE ENCOURAGED TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK.

>> IF WE ARE NOT MAKING OUR OWN AND IF WE ARE NOT SUPPORTING OUR OWN, THEN NO ONE IS GOING TO SUPPORT US.

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO IT YOURSELF.

>> HELD FOR A FEW HOURS ON A WEEKEND AFTERNOON, COFOUNDERS BRIANNA AND MARISSA SAY BY THE THIRD EVENT ARTISTS MADE OVER $22,000.

>> THE FARMERS MARKET IT'S BEEN A NICE VIBE BUT IT'S MORE ABOUT GETTING TO SELL SOMETHING.

WHEREAS WHEN YOU COME TO BODEGA YOU ARE HANGING OUT.

SOMEONE MIGHT OFFER YOU A DRINK.

THERE'S FOOD.

IT IS A GOOD TIME.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A PLACE TO COME AND SPEND MONEY IT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY WHERE WE ALL COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO IF IT WASN'T NOT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN OUR CAPABILITYS.

WHEN COVID NUMBERS BEGAN TO RISE THEY TURNED VIRTUAL.

BUT ARTISTS SAY THAT HASN'T HINDERED THE COMMUNITY THE ARTISTS CREATED IN THE SLIGHTEST.

>> I DON'T THINK MY ART WOULD BE AT THE LEVEL IT'S AT WITHOUT THEM.

BECAUSE I -- THEY MADE ME CHALLENGE MYSELF BECAUSE I WANTED TO SHOW OUT FOR THEM.

THEY WERE TAKING A CHANCE BY PUTTING ME IN ONE OF THEIR EVENTS AND I WAS LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THEM REGRET IT.

I FEEL LIKE THEY DO THAT WITH OTHER LOCAL ARTISTS AND THERE'S SO MANY STORIES TO TELL OUT THERE.

AND THEY ARE REALLY GIVING PEOPLE THAT PLATFORM TO DO IT.

>> THE VIRTUAL BODEGA OFFERS PDF'S WITH LINKS TAKING CUSTOMERS TO ARTISTS.

THE USE OF COLORS AND LINES TAKES HER CHARACTERS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT UNIVERSES.

>> YOU MAKE ME FEEL SEEN.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR ARTISTS ESPECIALLY STARTING OUT.

>> OR ARTISTS LIKE SOSA WHO THOUGHT HER ART COULD BE MORE IMPACTFUL THAN HER WORK THAT WHAT SHE PLANNED TO DO WAS A DOCTOR.

>> IF YOU HAVE THE WORK THAT HAS ALL OF ME IN IT AND IT'S HEALING FOR YOU, THEN THAT PIECE WILL BE WITH YOU FOREVER AND PART OF ME WILL BE WITH YOU FOREVER AND MAYBE YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE UNDERSTAND THROUGH THAT PIECE T CREATES A WEB OF CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY.

HOW EVER FAR AWAY YOU ARE.

>> BRENDA TORREZ AGREES AND SAYS ART IS NOT ONLY A WAY TO CONNECT BUT TO UNDERSTAND.

ONE OF HER MANY MEDIUMS INCLUDES HAND SEWN ART USING FABRIC FROM AS FAR AS WEST AFRICA.

>> WE ARE PRODUCERS.

WE ARE BUILDING CULTURE IN DIFFERENT WAYS BY REFLECTING ON THE WORLD AROUND US.

THIS IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR US BEING VISIBLE AND FEELING REPRESENTED AND FEELING THIS AND THAT, BUT ALSO AS PART OF THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A SPACE TOGETHER AND LEAVING OUR LEGACY BEHIND.

>> WE BELIEVE THE WORK THEY HAVE TO OFFER WHETHER IT BE ART, WHETHER IT BE FOOD, FASHION, THAT THE WORLD IS THERE TO SEE IT AND NO ONE ELSE IS SHINING A LOOT ON OUR PEOPLE.

AND WE NEED TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT SHINE A LIGHT ON EACH OTHER.

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

>> THE NEXT PRODUCTION FOR LOLITA'S BODEGA, IS HAPPENING THIS WEDNESDAY WITH A FOOD AND TOY DRIVE AS THEY OBSERVE THREE KING'S DAY.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"...

IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA HAS BEEN LEGAL IN ILLINOIS JUST HOW HIGH DID SALES GO?

THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> UNFORTUNATE WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ACTION ON ETHICS REFORMS.

>> WHAT NEW LAWS ARE AND ARE NOT TAKING EFFECT THIS YEAR?

>> WHY WORKING HARD IS TIED TO OURSELF WORTH.

THE ROOTS MAY GO BACK FURTHER THAN YOU THINK.

MEET THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK, "LAZINESS DOES NOT EXIST: HOW THE LAZINESS LIE DRIVES US TO OVERWORK OURSELVES" "LAZINESS DOES NOT EXIST: HOW THE LAZINESS LIE DRIVES US TO OVERWORK OURSELVES".

AND TALK ABOUT GROWTH INDUSTRIES SALES OF HOUSE PLANTS AT LOCAL SHOPS ARE FLOURISHING AS PEOPLE HAVE MORE TIME TO SPEND CARING FOR THEM AT HOME.

FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

A WRIGLEYVILLE BAR IS SHUTTERED AFTER CHICAGO POLICE DISCOVERED IT WAS OVERCAPACITY HOLDING A NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY AT THE DUGOUT WHEN THEY WERE RESPONDING TO A CALL ABOUT A PERSON BEING ATTACKED NEAR THAT BAR.

THE DUGOUT COULD FACE CITATIONS AND LONG-TERM CLOSURE IF ITS OWNERS ARE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED COVID-19 GUIDELINES AND THERE'S MORE ON THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 5,000 NEW POSITIVE CORONAVIRUS CASES WITH 79 ADDITIONAL DEATHS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

THAT MAKES FOR A TOTAL OF 984,000 CASES AND 16,8034 DEATHS.

THE POST ACTIVE RATE IS 9.8%.

A ILLINOIS SENATOR IS LEAVING HIS JOB.

ANDY MANAR A DEMOCRAT WHO SERVED THE EAST ST. LOUIS REGION IS STEPPING DOWN TO JOIN GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S ADMINISTRATION AS A SENIOR ADVISER.

MANAR WAS ELECTED IN 2012.

PRITZKER CALLS MANAR QUOTE ONE OF THE MOST THOUGHTFUL AND TRUSTED LAWMAKERS OF HIS GENERATION.

>> RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA'S DEBUT IN ILLINOIS FINISHES ON A HIGH NOTE.

THE SECOND LARGEST MALL OPERATOR AND CHICAGO'S WATER TOWER GETS A BID TO GO PRIVATE AND CUSTOMERS ARE MOVING AWAY FROM ILLINOIS.

HERE TO GO BEHIND ALL THE HEADLINES IS CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS EDITOR ANN DWYER.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

LET'S GO WITH THE MARIJUANA STORY FIRST.

HOW DID SALES PERFORM IN YEAR ONE RELATIVE TO EXPECTATIONS?

>> MUCH BETTER THAN EXPECTATIONS.

THE SALES REACHED 669 MILLION DOLLARS IN 2020.

THAT WAS STRONGER THAN EXPECTED DESPITE OR PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

I HAVE NOT DONE THAT LEVEL OF ANALYSIS YET.

BUT BY CONTRAST THE STATE OF MICHIGAN WHICH OFTEN HELD UP AS AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON TO THE ILLINOIS MARKET SAW 450 MILLION IN SALES IN 2020.

THE BIGGEST JUMP HERE IN ILLINOIS WAS IN DECEMBER.

SALES ROSE 16% DURING THAT MONTH TO 87 MILLION.

AND THAT SUGGESTS TO SOME ANALYSTS THAT WE MAY SEE MORE MOMENTUM GOING INTO EARLY 2021.

>> A LOT OF CHRISTMAS GIFT THERE IS.

THE NEXT STORY THE OWNER OF OAKBROOK CENTER WATER TOWER THEY HAVE BEEN OFFERED A BID TO GO PRIVATE.

WHO IS INTERESTED AND WHY?

>> WELL, THE COMPANY THAT IS INTERESTED IS ACTUALLY A COMPANY THAT OWNS A VERY LARGE STAKE IN BROOKFIELD PROPERTY PARTNERS THE NAME OF THE COMPANY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THAT COMPANY JUST FIELDED A $5.9 BILLION OFFER TO GO PRIVATE AS YOU POINT OUT.

THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST MALL OPERATOR IN THE COUNTRY.

AND IN FACT, THE CHICAGO PROPERTIES THAT YOU LISTED ARE ONLY A FRACTION OF THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY HOLD NATIONWIDE.

NOW, OF COURSE, IF BROOKFIELD DOES GO PRIVATE IN THIS TRANSACTION, IT WILL TAKE IT OUT OF SOME OF THE PRESSURE THAT COMPANIES FACE OF HAVING TO REPORT QUARTERLY RESULTS TO WALL STREET.

AND MAYBE THAT'S GOING TO BE A WELCOME THING IN A YEAR WHEN MALLS ARE CERTAINLY SUFFERING AND PERHAPS THAT SCRUTINY IS NOT COMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW.

>> THE MAGNIFICENT MILE.

LAST STORY AND THIS IS A STORY WE SEEM TO TALK ABOUT EVERY YEAR.

THE MOVING VAN COMPANIES ARE SAYING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MOVING OUT OF ILLINOIS.

>> YEAH, UNITED VAN LINES AND ATLAS, THE BIGGIES DO RELEASE THOSE ANNUAL NUMBERS EVERY YEAR.

AND THIS YEAR FOR ANOTHER YEAR RUNNING ILLINOIS RANKS HIGH IN THE AMOUNT OF OUTBOUND TRAFFIC AMONG THEIR INTERSTATE BOOKINGS.

IN OTHER WORDS 65% OF THE MOVES THAT THESE TWO COMPANIES HANDLED FOR ILLINOIS CLIENTS IN 2020 WERE FOR MOVES AWAY FROM ILLINOIS.

THAT SEEMS TO UNDERSCORE THE ONGOING WORRY THAT BUSINESS PEOPLE AND POLITICIANS HAVE HELD HERE IN ILLINOIS FOR A WHILE NOW ABOUT THE STATE'S SHRINKING POPULATION.

>> A LOT OF BUSINESS FOR THE MOVING VAN COMPANIES.

ANN THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> YOU, TOO.

>> BACK TO BRANDIS FOR DETAILS ON NEW LAWS GOING INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR.

>> IT IS A NEW YEAR AND AS YOU SAID THAT MEANS NEW LAWS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH A RUNDOWN OF THE LAWS YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR 2021.

>> THE NEW YEAR IS USUALLY WHEN YOU SEE NEW LAWS TAKE EFFECT WITH SO MUCH ELSE BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS, 2020 AND BY EXTENSION THE START OF 2021 IS THEREFORE AN EXCEPTION.

REALLY ONLY A FEW LAWS TOOK EFFECT STARTING THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

AND DAN BRADIE OF BLOOMINGTON [INAUDIBLE] >> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT APPROXIMATELY THREE BILLS OUT OF NORMALLY WHAT WOULD BE 300 BILLS, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH OR SIGNED INTO LAW I THINK OUR PRIORITIES OUGHT TO FOCUS ON THE BUDGET WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY ARE PRIORITIES OUGHT TO FOCUS ON THE PANDEMIC SITUATION THAT WE FIND THE STATE IN WITH OUR BUSINESSES AND THE OPERATIONS AND REALLY THE OPERATIONS OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> I'M NOT SURE ALL LOBBYISTS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT IT IS TRUE THAT DUE TO A SEVERELY TRUNCATED LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH THE HOUSE MET IN A SPRINGFIELD CONVENTION CENTER INSTEAD OF THE CHAMBERS TO ACCOMMODATE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IN 2020 WAS STREAMLINED.

LAWMAKERS PASSED THE BUDGET, A COUPLE COVID RELATED BILLS AND NOT MUCH ELSE.

SO WHILE THE LIST OF NEW LAWS TAKING EFFECT IS SHORT IT IS NONETHELESS SIGNIFICANT PARTICULARLY FOR THE PEOPLE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED.

FOR EXAMPLE, SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THEY HAVE PROTECTIONS CODIFIED IN STATE LAW.

THROUGH ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT, THEY CAN MAKE IT SO THEIR ADDRESS IS HIDDEN SO THEREFORE IT CANNOT BETRAYED THROUGH THE MAIL, THROUGH SCHOOLS, THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES AND SO ON.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T EVER WANT TO GIVE UP.

THEY CONTINUE TO TRACK YOU DOWN THROUGH KID'S SCHOOL RECORDS, THROUGH JOB APPLICATIONS THROUGH TAXES THAT ARE FILED THROUGH DRIVER'S LICENSE, UTILITIES.

AND NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU MAY HAVE NOT BEEN WITH THAT PERSON, IF THAT INDIVIDUAL IS INTENT ON FINDING YOU, THEN IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS AS AN OPTION TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND NOT BE FOUND.

>> PROTECTION FOR MISSING PERSONS AND THEIR LOVED ONES IS AT THE ROOT OF ANOTHER LAW THAT TOOK EFFECT.

THIS MEASURE MAKES IT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PUT THEIR OWN DNA ON RECORD IN THE EVENT THAT A RELATIVE GOES MISSING.

SENATOR TONY MUNOZ SAYS IT WILL HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TRACK DOWN MISSING PERSONS.

>> IF THAT PERSON IS IN THE HOSPITAL, UNCONSCIOUS AND THEY LINK THE DNA TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBER THEN YOU ARE ABLE TO LOCATE THAT PERSON FASTER AND THEY KNOW WHO THE INDIVIDUAL IS.

AND THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THE FAMILY OF THAT LOVED ONE TO NOTIFY THE FAMILY THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR THAT THEY FOUND THE INDIVIDUAL IN ANOTHER STATE.

AND WE NEVER WANT TO THINK THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE BUT WE KNOW PEOPLE DO GO MISSING.

>> MUNOZ SAYS THE LAW REQUIRES THE DNA LOG BE WIPED ONCE THE RELATIVE IS LOCATED.

ANOTHER LAW IS A BLESSING FOR DIABETICS WHO DEPEND ON INSULIN.

IT CAPS HOW MUCH CERTAIN INSURERS CAN CHARGE AT $100 FOR A 30-DAY SUPPLY.

PHARMACIST GARTH REYNOLDS SAYS HE HAS SEEN PATIENTS WITH INSURANCE STRUGGLE TO PAY MUCH HIGHER COPAYS.

>> I'VE SEEN COSTS COME BACK WITH EVEN THOUGH IT'S COVERED AND STILL COVERED AT OVER $600.

WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THE MEDICATION CAN BE COVERED BETTER.

AND IT'S AGAIN THE REBATE MANIPULATION SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT STILL NEED TO HAVE SOME GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVERSIGHT TO HELP REALLY PULLBACK THE DUCT TAPE OF THE WOUND THAT HAS THE HIGH PRESCRIPTION PRICING.

>> NEW FOR 2021, A HIGHER STATE-WIDE MINIMUM WAGE IN ILLINOIS IT IS NOW $11 AN HOUR.

AND THAT IS TO THE CHAGRIN OF SOME BUSINESSES WHO HOPED TO DELAY THAT DOWN STATE DUE TO THE PRESSURES OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT THAT DID NOT GAIN ANY TRACTION.

WORKERS SURELY CELEBRATING IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ENCOURAGES WORKERS TO BE CHECKING THEIR PAYCHECKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE GETTING PAID PROPERLY.

MIND YOU IN COOK COUNTY, AND IN CHICAGO, THE WAJ IS ALREADY HIGHER SINCE JULY.

CHICAGO BUSINESSES WITH MORE THAN 20 EMPLOYEES HAD TO PAY THEM $14 AN HOUR.

AND THEN COME JULY OF THIS YEAR, THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR MOST OF CHICAGO BUSINESSES WORKERS WILL RISE TO $15.

ANOTHER MEASURE IMPACTING CHICAGOANS AND THOSE WHO VISIT HERE IS THAT IT IS GOING TO COST MORE TO PARK.

NOT AT EVERY METER BUT THOSE THAT WERE CHARGING $2 AN HOUR, WELL IT IS NOW $2.25.

AND AS FOR THE STATE SOME LEGISLATORS ARE BOTHERED THERE ARE NOT MORE NEW STATE LAWS TO TALK ABOUT.

>> EVERY YEAR WE SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH PROPERTY TAXES WE DON'T.

WE NEVER ADDRESS PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

EVERYBODY SENDS OUT A GREAT MAIL PIECE ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE ON PROPERTY TAXES.

>> LEADER DURKIN COMPLAINING THAT THE DEMOCRATIC-LED LEGISLATURE DID NOT TOUCH PROPERTY TAXES IN 2020.

ALSO A LONG AWAITED REPORT FROM A ETHICS COMMISSION THAT HAD PROMISED TO COME OUT WITH ONE IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED.

>> WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE MOST WIDE RANGING AND COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS THAT ANY STATE HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF.

YET, IF YOU WENT TO SPRINGFIELD, YOU WOULD SEE PEOPLE BURYING THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND AND PRETENDING IT IS NOT HAPPENING.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SOMETIME TO TAKE THAT UP.

AND THE ILLINOIS HOUSE WILL BE GAVELING IN FRIDAY SINCE THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAY.

UP NEXT, LIVING UP TO EXPECTATIONS AT WORK.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> THOO.

>> IF YOU'VE FELT LIKE YOU ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE ENOUGH YOU ARE FAR FROM ALONE.

THE ROOTS AROUND THE EXPECTATIONS AROUND HARD WORK AND DOING MORE GO BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND ARE MORE PREVALENT THAN EVER INCLUDING DURING THIS ONGOING PANDEMIC ACCORDING TO THE BOOK, "LAZINESS DOES NOT EXIST: HOW THE LAZINESS LIE DRIVES US TO OVERWORK OURSELVES" IN WHICH DEVON PRICE ARGUES THAT THE LAZINESS LIE IS DRIVING PEOPLE TO OVERWORK THEMSELVES AT A COST TO THEM AND TO SOCIETY.

AND DEVON PRICE JOINS US NOW.

THERE IS A SOCIAL PROFESSOR AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU GOT INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC AFTER SUFFERING YOUR OWN HEALTH PROBLEMS.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE?

>> YEAH.

I WAS SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN CHECKING OFF A LOT OF SOCIETY'S BOXES THAT TELL US IF YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD RESPECTABLE PERSON YOU HAVE TO BE A HARD WORKER BEE.

I FINISHED MY HHD -- PH.D.

I WAS 25 AND I FELL ILL WITH A HORRIBLE FEVER THAT WOULD OVERTAKE ME EVERY EVENING AND IT LASTED FROM FEBRUARY WHEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO NOVEMBER OF THE NEXT THROUGH THAT WHOLE YEAR.

AND THE ULTIMATELY AFTONS OF MEDICAL TESTS ALL WE COULD FIGURE OUT I NEEDED TO STOP TRYING TO DO SO MUCH WORK ALL THE TIME.

I HAD TO REST.

AND ONCE I HAD THAT BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT IT MADE ME START LOOKING AT HOW ALL OF THIS STUDENTS I WAS TEACHING WHO WERE ALL ADULT LEARNER'S THEY WERE BUSY PEOPLE YET THEY WERE APOLOGETIC AND THOUGHT THEY WERE LAZY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT ALWAYS BALANCE A FULL-TIME JOB WITH A FUM FULL-TIME COURSE LOAD AND REALIZED IT WAS PART OF A CULTURAL PROBLEM.

BASICALLY NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU DO IT'S NOT SEEN AS ENOUGH.

>> AND THE BOOK COVERS THREE MAIN POINTS OF WHAT YOU CALL THE LAZINESS LIE.

THE FIRST IS THAT YOUR WORTH IS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY.

WHAT IS THAT ROOTED?

>> THAT IS ROOTED IN THE PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC AND THE LEGACY OF THE PURITANS WHO BROUGHT OVER THIS IDEOLOGY THAT IF YOU WERE HARD-WORKING AND DRIVEN THAT WAS A SIGN THAT GOD SELECTED YOU TO BE BLESSED AND IF SOMEONE WAS NOT DRIVE ESPECIALLY OR EXHAUST ACTIVE THAT WAS A SIGN OF MORAL WEAKNESS AND FAILURE IN THEM THAT REFLECTED THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN CHOSEN FOR HEAVEN.

>> AND YOUR SECOND POINT IS THAT YOU CAN'T TRUST YOUR OWN FEELINGS AND LIMITS.

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THIS WAY?

>> SO THAT BASICALLY AFTER THE PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC CAME TO THE U.S.

IT BECAME DEEPLY ENTRENCHED WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORKERS.

BEING EXPLOITED IN THE U.S.

WORKFORCE.

SO A BIG PART OF THE LEGACY OF EN SLAVE.

IN THE U.S. AND WORKERS AROUND THE TIME OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WAS THIS IDEA IF PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT BEING WORKED TOO HARD AND MISTREATED THAT WAS A SIGN THAT THEY WERE WEAK-WILLED THAT THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE TRUSTED AND SHOULD BE ARGUED WITH.

AND AGAIN, IT'S BEEN WITH US EVER SINCE.

>> AND YOUR THIRD POINT THERE'S ALWAYS MORE THAT YOU COULD BE DOING.

WHERE DO PEOPLE GET THIS MESSAGE?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS REALLY PROLIFERATED THANKS TO DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

NOW THERE ARE SO MANY AREAS OF LIFE WHERE WE CAN ENGAGE IN SOCIAL COMPARISON.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR WORK-LIFE INTERFERENCE WHERE SINCE WE DO A LOT OF WORK ON THE COMPUTER AND OUR PHONES AND NOW THANKS TO COVID WE'RE ALL WORKING FROM HOME THERE IS NO BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE WORKDAY AND OUR TIME OFF.

AND SO THE PRESSURE TO CONSTANTLY BE ACHIEVING, DOING PRODUCTIVE THINGS, PRACTICING SPANISH, IT SEIPPS INTO OUR WAKING MOMENTS.

SO IF WE USE ANYTIME IN A NONPRODUCTIVE WAY WE CAN FEEL SHAMEFUL ABOUT IT.

>> AND HOW DO YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE LAZINESS LIE?

>> I THINK OF IT AS BEING TWO-FOLD.

FIRST THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL FIGHT AGAINST IT.

WHICH YOU SEE IN PLENTY OF SELF HELP BOOKS AND A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SELF CARE AND THOSE THINGS ARE VALUABLE IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE OVERWORKING YOURSELF AND LEARN TO TRUST YOUR FEELINGS AND SEE THEM AS FRIENDS AND PART OF YOUR WARNING SYSTEM WHEN YOU FEEL EXHAUSTED OR IRRITATED THAT YOUR BODY TELLING YOU TO PUMP THE BRAKES.

BUT THERE IS IF WE WANT TO SEE SYSTEMIC CHANGE WE DO NEED TO FIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM TO ENGAGE IN SELF CARE THAT CAN BE FIGHTING FOR UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME OR MAKING THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET SOCIAL WELFARE LESS RESTRICTIVE AND LESS BASED ON PROVING BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT YOU ARE A PERSON TO DESERVE IT.

IT'S LEARNING TO BE MORE COMPASSIONATE IS KEY AND WORKING TO FREE UP STRUCTURES AND RESOURCES SO THAT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

>> AND A MINUTE LEFT, YOU THINK THAT THE LAZINESS LIE COULD HAVE MADE IT HARDER FOR THE U.S. TO CONTAIN THE CORONAVIRUS HOW DOES THAT FACTOR IN?

>> IN THE U.S. WE HAVE A CULTURE THAT IS ABOUT POLICING THE INDIVIDUAL CHOICE INSTEAD OF THE SYSTEMIC ROOTS TO PROBLEMS.

WE HAD SHAMING OF PEOPLE AND SURE PEOPLE NEED TO BEHAVE CORRECTLY.

BUT WE DID NOT HAVE CONTACT TRACING AND WE DIDN'T PAY PEOPLE TO STAY HOME.

WE HAD BARS OPEN AND SCHOOLS OPEN AND WITHOUT STRUCTURES TO FACILITATE PEOPLE AND SUPPORT THEM IN MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES YOU ARE GOING TO SEE INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING AND MAKING SELF DECISIONS.

>> DEVON PRICE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND AGAIN THE BOOK FROM DEVON PRICE, IS "LAZINESS DOES NOT EXIST: HOW THE LAZINESS LIE DRIVES US TO OVERWORK OURSELVES".

CAN YOU READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE AND FIND DETAILS ABOUT VIRTUAL EVENTS THIS THURSDAY WITH THE BOOKSTORE WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST AND ON FEBRUARY 25 WITH LOYOLA UNIVERSITY.

PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

SUCK REMEMBERS A SPECIE NAMED THE WILLED BEAST OF THE GREAT LAKES.

BUT CLIMATE CHANGE MAY BE AFFECTED THE MOVEMENTS BUTTING THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM IN DANGER DUE TO THE IMPORTANT ROLE SUCKERS PLAY.

PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE SUCKERS THEY ARE MIGRATORY PATTERN AND WHY THE SPECIES IS SO IMPORTANT?

>> THIS IS A FISH THAT IS SUPER PLENTIFUL IN ALL FIVE OF THE GREAT LAKES.

AND EVERY SPRING IT LEADS THE LAKES AND HEADS INTO TRIBUTARIES, THE RIVERS, THE STREAMS AND CREEKS THAT FEED INTO THE LAKES TO SPAWN.

AND WHILE IT'S MAKING THAT MIGRATION IT'S WASTE PRODUCT ACTUALLY SERVES AS A FERTILIZER TO STREAM BEDS WHERE IT CAUSES ALGAE TO SPROUT AND THEN INSECTS FEED ON THAT ALGAE, OTHER BIRDS, BATS AND OTHER FISH FEED ON THE INSECTS THAT FEED ON THE ALGAE.

IT CREATES THE GROUND LEVEL OF THIS WHOLE FOOD CHAIN AND ECOSYSTEM IN GREAT LAKES TRIBUTARYS.

AND SOME CHANGES NOW BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHAT IS THE SHEDD STUDYING HERE AND HOW HAS THIS MIGRATION PATTERN BEING IMPACTED?

>> BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH RELIABLE MIGRATORY FISH THE RESEARCHERS ARE CHECKING TO SEE WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN CERTAIN STREAMS.

BECAUSE THEY WILL RETURN TO THE SAME PLACE YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO THEY ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE SUCKERS ARE MOTIVATED BY A TEMPERATURE QUEUE OF WHEN TO MIGRATE?

IF THE WATERS ARE WARMING ARE THEY GOING TO START SHOWING UP IN THE STREAMS SOONER?

AND IF THEY START SHOWING UP SOONER, THEN AS WE MENTIONED WITH THE ECOSYSTEM IT CAN HAVE A SPIRAL EFFECT IN TERMS OF WHEN ALL OF THOSE OTHER EVENTS TAKE PLACE.

SO IT COULD START FERTILIZING ALGAE TOO SOON OR TOO LATE AND YOU KNOW THAT THROWS EVERYTHING OUT OF WHACK.

SO THIS ONE FISH VERY IMPORTANT TELLING US A LOT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> SO MANY PARTS OF THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM THERE.

DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL FISH SPECIES.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> WITH THE PROSPECT OF A LONG DREARY WINTER AT HOME AHEAD MANY CHICAGOANS HAVE BEGUN ADDING LIFE WITH HOUSE PLANTS MYSELF INCLUDED.

WTTW NEWS DIRECTOR AND HOST OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" HUGO BALTA STOPPED BY SOME LOCAL PLANT STORES TO SEE HOW BUSINESS WAS GROWING.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> THE CHAOS THAT CHARACTERIZED 2020 THERAPISTS AND ARTIST SHALOM PARKER SAYS HER COLLECTION OF HOUSE PLANTS HAS BECOME MORE TO HER THAN HOME DECOR.

>> A LOT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN LEARNING HOW TO CARE FOR MYSELF BETTER.

SLOWING DOWN AND TAKING CARE OF PLANTS IS PART OF MY ROUTINE HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME AND HELPED ME TO JUST SLOW DOWN AND FOCUS ON THE PLANTS' GROWTH AND MY GROWTH AT THE SAME TIME.

>> THIS IS KNOWN AS A MONEY PLANT.

THIS WAS LIKE THE START OF MY BUYING PLANTS FOR THE SEASON.

I WENT FROM HAVING 10 PLANTS LAST YEAR INTO HAVING 60 PLANTS NOW.

>> ACCORDING TO NIKA VAUGHN OWNER OF PLANTS SALON, PARKER IS NOT ALONE IN HER DESIRE TO BRING A LITTLE OR A LOT OF NATURE INDOORS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED WHEN WE OPENED AND THERE WAS SUCH AN INFLUX OF NEW PLANT PARENTS.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY RIGHT ALL AT ONCE WAS WE LIVE IN A CITY WE HAVE A LOT OF APARTMENTS WITH ODD LIGHTING SITUATIONS AND PEOPLE WOULD COME IN EXCITED AND SAY I HAVE ONE WINDOW IN MY ROOM.

AND LIKE OK. AND SO YOU WOULD SHOW THEM PLANTS THAT MEET THOSE NEEDS.

>> VAUGHAN WAS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHEN THE PANDEMIC GRAND, BEAUTY WAS HER BUSINESS NOT FLOWERS.

WHEN THE SHUTDOWN STARTED SHE FEARED HER BRIDAL MAKEUP STUDIO WOULD DIE ON THE VINE BUT ENOUGH PEOPLE SHOWED INTEREST IN HER PLANT COLLECTTION SHE DECIDED THE TIME WAS RIPE FOR A CHANGE.

>> MAY 2020 IT HIT HOME HOW LONG THE NEW NORMAL MIGHT LAST.

AND THE SHUTDOWN AND EVERYTHING ESPECIALLY FOR THE WEDDING BUSINESS AND THE BEAUTY SIDE IT WAS SUCH A DOUBLE WHAMMY.

AND BECAUSE I THINK I FELT COMFORTABLE RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS AND HAD THE RESOURCES, THAT PIVOTING AND STARTING TO LOOK AT OK, WHAT IS IT I'M SELLING BEAUTY PRODUCT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SELL PLANT PRODUCT.

WE MOVED QUICKLY AND THE COMMUNITY WAS READY FOR MORE PLANTS.

>> AND VAUGHAN SAYS THAT SHARED ENTHUSIASM HAS HELPED THE PLANT SALON FLOURISH IN THE FIRST YEAR.

>> NOT JUST BUYING A PLANT IN A PLANT SHOP YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE BECOMING PLANT PARENTS TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> ACROSS DOWN IN THE MEDICAL DISTRICT, HILARIO DOMINGUEZ SAYS HIS INTEREST IN HOUSE PLANTS BLOSSOMED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> DURING THE START OF THE PANDEMIC I MADE IT A GOAL TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET GROUNDED FOR THE SUMMER AND THAT LEAD ME TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN GARDEN AT MY HOME.

IT IS SUCH A HEALING PROCESS.

TAKING CARE OF PLANTS REALLY REQUIRES SO MUCH OF YOU SO MUCH PATIENCE AND SO MUCH OPENNESS.

>> HILARIO DOMINGUEZ SAYS WHEN HE BEGAN CREATING HE FOUND SUPPORT FOR HIS NEW HOBBY IN UNLINED PLANT COMMUNITIES.

>> THE PLANT COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO IN GENERAL IS SO BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S SUCH A CONNECTED, SUCH A HELPFUL COMMUNITY.

>> HE DISCOVERED PLANT SHOP CHICAGO ON THE NORTH SIDE MAYFAIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

CO-OWNERS OZZY GAMEZ AND JUAN QUEZADA SAY THE PANDEMIC UNEXPECTEDLY CREATED FERTILE GROUND FOR THEIR BUSINESS TO THRIVE ON-LINE.

>> AT THE BEGINNING EVERYTHING IS CLOSING DOWN WE HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN AND THE IDEA OF JUST MOVING ALL OF THAT ON-LINE AND DOING IT VIRTUALLY CAME ABOUT.

AND I THINK AT THE TIME WE WERE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE TO BE DOING THAT TO OFFER ON-LINE PLANTS ON-LINE LOCALLY AND DELIVER THEM AND OFFER CURBSIDE PICK UP LIKE A RESTAURANT WOULD DO.

KIND OF TOOK OFF FROM THERE.

>> THERE WAS A TIGHT COMMUNITY IT WAS NOT JUST THERE WAS MORE THAN PEOPLE GOING TO HOME DEPOT OR BIG BOX STORE AND BUYING A PLANT PEOPLE ARE INTO CERTAIN PLANTS.

AS THE UPTICK IN SALES GIVES THEM PEACE OF MIND ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THEIR BUSINESS THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE REPORTING AN UPTICK IN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, TOO.

>> A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE THE NOTES THAT THEY WROTE TELLING US THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND PROVIDING THIS SERVICE.

NOW I HAVE SOMETHING TO DO AT HOME AND IT KEEPS MY MIND OFF OF EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON AND SOMETHING AS SMALL AS THAT IT IS A HUGE, HUGE CHANGE AND FOR ANYONE A LOT OF HELP.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M HUGO BALTA.

>> WE'LL HAVE MORE ON OUR WEEKEND PROGRAM "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES, LOOK OUT FOR THAT SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AT 6:00 P.M. AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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PLUS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND THE CORONAVIRUS.

AND HOW THE FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE EXTENDS A LIFELINE TO CHICAGO'S INDEPENDENT VENUES AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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