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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THIS IS UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

>> IT LOOKS LIKELY THAT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSES WILL BE CANCELED TOMORROW AS TEACHERS PRESS TO GO REMOTE.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE CITY'S TOP DOC ON THE VACCINE MANDATE FOR SOME BUSINESSES AND MUCH MORE.

>> I AM NOT RETIRING I AM RETURNING.

>> CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH ON HIS DECADES IN OFFICE AND WHY HE WON'T SEEK REELECTION AFTER 15 TERMS.

>> GENETICS ALLOWS SOME AMISH PEOPLE TO LIVE LONGER A NEW INSTITUTE AIMS TO DECODE THAT AND MYSTERIES OF THE AGING PROCESS.

>> "THE SUN TIMES" FINDS REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT REACH A 20 YEAR HIGH WHAT IS BEHIND THE INCREASE?

[♪♪♪] >> AND STEPEN SONDHEIM WAS A ONE-MANNER RA OF MUSICAL THEATRE.

A NEW APPRECIATION OF HIS MOSQUE AND ARTIST INDUSTRY FROM WFMT.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST COOK COUNTY AND CHICAGO'S PROOF OF VACCINE MANDATE.

IT WENT INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY FOR GYMS, RESTAURANTS, BARS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.

SOME REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CLAIMING IT PUTS AN ADDED BURDEN ON STRUGGLING BUSINESS AMID COVID WHILE DRIVING RESIDENTS AND CUSTOMERS AWAY.

>> COUNTLESS BUSINESSES THAT I TALK TO ON A DAILY BASIS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND STAFF TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN.

THIS ADDS TO THAT BURDEN.

THEY DON'T WANT TO PLAY POLICE.

PEOPLE WILL STOP GOING INTO BUSINESSES IN COOK COUNTY.

AND CROSS THE STREET TO GO TO THE LAKE COUNTY BUSINESS.

>> MEANWHILE CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH REVEAL STARK STATISTICS IN ONE IS UNVACCINATED ONE IS FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO END UP IN THE HOSPITAL THAN VACCINATED CHICAGOANS AND NINE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THOSE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED AS STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 6600 PEOPLE CURRENTLY IN HOSPITALS BEING TREATED FOR COVID THAT IS 300 MORE THAN YESTERDAY.

90% OF ILLINOIS' INTENSIVE CARE UNIT BEDS ARE OCCUPIED WITH COVID PATIENTS MAKING UP MORE THAN A THIRD.

THE STATE REPORTS OVER 24,000 NEW CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS AND 79 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

CHICAGO'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS THAT THE CITY IS QUOTE VERY MUCH IN THE OMICRON SURGE AND WE WILL BE HEARING MUCH MORE FROM HER IN A BIT.

>> CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH WILL NOT BE SEEKING ANOTHER TERM.

RUSH MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OFFICIAL AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY.

RUSH IS CURRENTLY IN HIS 15TH TERM AND HELD ILLINOIS' FIRST CONGRESS AT SEAT SINCE 1992.

BUT HE SAYS HE IS NOT COMPLETELY DONE.

>> I'M GOING TO REMAIN IN PUBLIC LIFE, IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

FIGHTING FOR EVERYTHING AND JUSTICE FOR AND WITHIN MY COMMUNITY.

>> AND COMING UP WE TALK ONE-ON-ONE AND WITH CONGRESSMAN RUSH WHAT HE HAS LEFT TO ACCOMPLISH.

UP NEXT, A CHICAGO TEACHER'S UNIONS' PUSH FOR REMOTE LEARNING.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... CHICAGO FAMILIES SHOULD BE LEARNING TONIGHT WHETHER SCHOOL IS CANCELED TOMORROW.

THIS ALL DEPENDS ON THE OUTCOME OF A VOTE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION MEMBERS ARE TAKING AS WE SPEAK.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST.

AMANDA, WHAT IS IT?

>> THE LATEST WE ARE SET TO HEAR AFTER 7:30 BECAUSE CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ ARE SET THEN TO GIVE THE CITY AND JOURNALISTS AN UPDATE.

THAT WILL BE BEFORE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION MEMBERS HAVE FINISHED VOTING.

THEY HAVE UNTIL 9:00 P.M. TO CAST BALLOTS ON-LINE AS C.T.U.

MEMBERS DECIDE WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO REFUSE TO PHYSICALLY GO TO THE CLASSROOMS TOMORROW AND TEACH REMOTELY.

IF C.T.U.

DOES VOTE FOR THAT REMOTE OPTION, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MARTINEZ AND LIGHTFOOT SAY WILL LEAD THEM TO CANCEL ALL C.P.S.

CLASSES TOMORROW.

>> IF WE PAUSE WHAT DO WE SAY TO THE PARENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND WATCH THEIR KIDS?

WHO CAN'T SHIP THEIR KIDS OFF TO SOME OTHER PLACE?

WHAT DO WE SAY TO THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING?

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS POINT.

100,000 KIDS THAT WE LOST CONTACT WITH THROUGH REMOTE LEARNING.

WE'RE JUST GETTING THAT BACK.

>> C.T.U.

PRESIDENT JESSE SHARKEY TELLING CNN TODAY THAT WHILE REMOTE LEARNING WAS UNPLEASANT, THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION AND THE DISTRICT HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH IN THE FACE OF THOSE SKYROCKETING OMICRON CASES TO KEEP SCHOOLS SAFE.

>> WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE VERY HIGHEST PART OF A SURGE AND IF WE HAD TESTING IF WE HAD A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE COMING INTO THE BUILDINGS WERE NOT CARRYING THE OMICRON VARIANT THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT MATTER.

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO THE TEACHERS ARE BEING PUT IN THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND RUN SCHOOLS AND WE ARE NOT BEING GIVEN THE TOOLS TO DO IT.

>> UNION AND SCHOOL DISTRICT BARGAINING TEAMS DID MEET THIS AFTERNOON.

C.P.S.

SAYING IT DID OFFER THE UNION TO COME TO TERMS ON THINGS THAT THE UNION HAD BEEN ASKING FOR LIKE PROVIDING STAFF 200,000 KN95 MASKINGS.

ALLOWING PRINCIPALS TO REIMPLEMENT HEALTH SCREENINGS AND TEMPERATURE CHECKS.

COVID TESTING AT ALL SCHOOLS INCLUDING 30,000 DISTRICT WIDE EACH WEEK.

HAVING DAILY MEETINGS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT COVID AND METRICS THAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY MOVE SCHOOLS TO REMOTE LEARNING.

BUT ONLY IF AND THESE ARE ROUGH BECAUSE IT GETS SPECIFIC HERE, ROUGHLY HALF OF STUDENTS OR ABOUT 40% OF TEACHERS IN A SCHOOL ARE OUT BECAUSE OF COVID.

AND THOSE METRICS I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF FOLKS WITH C.T.U.

AND SAID THEY ARE OFFENSIVE, LAUGHABLE.

KATHI GRIFFIN IS PRESIDENT OF THE ILLINOIS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION UNION NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE C.T.U., SHE SAYS THE IEA AND MEMBERS WANT TO TEACH AND THEY WANT TO DO IT IN SCHOOLS.

BUT SHE SAYS IT HAS TO BE DONE SAFELY AND WITH ENOUGH STAFF.

>> IF THE STAFF JUST TEACHERS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AROUND THE COUNTRY IS GETTING INFECTED WITH COVID, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO BE IN WORK WITH STUDENTS.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THEIR SAFETY.

SO YOU CAN'T HAVE AN OVERLOAD OF STUDENTS IN YOUR CLASSROOM THAT IS TOO LARGE FOR YOUR CLASSROOM TO FIT.

IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.

>> CHICAGO DISTRICT 33 LAST WEEK ENOUGH TEACHERS WERE GOING TO BE ABSENT THIS WEEK THAT THE KRISTINA DAVIS HAD TO MAKE THE CALL THAT THE DISTRICT WOULD GO REMOTE.

HER SCHOOL CAN COVER 45 ABSENCES BUT SHE KNEW THEY WOULD BE DEALING WITH A LOT MORE.

>> SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 72 AND ADDITIONAL 51 THAT IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

AND THAT INCLUDES ALL STAFF.

WE ALSO CUSTODIAL STAFF WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR STAFF OUT.

WE HAD NINE AS OF MONDAY.

BEING ABLE TO KEEP OUR BUILDINGS CLEAN AND DAILY OPERATIONS WAS IMPACTED.

IT IS NOT JUST A CLASSROOM ISSUE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND PLAN FOR THE DAILY OPERATIONS.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT HAVE STATE-WIDE METRICS FOR WHEN SCHOOLS SHOULD GO REMOTE AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOES NOT TRACK WHEN DISTRICTS TAKE ADAPTIVE PAUSES BECAUSE OF IT.

THERE IS NO WAY TO DEFINITIVELY KNOW WHAT ALL SCHOOLS ARE DOING IN THE FACE OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

EMILY WARNECKE IS WITH THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND SAYS SUPERINTENDENTS ARE LIKEWISE WAITING TO HEAR WHETHER C.D.C.

GUIDELINES THAT SHORTEN QUARANTINE FOR ASYMPTOMATIC CASES OF COVID FROM 10 DAYS DOWN TO 5 WHETHER THAT WILL APPLY TO SCHOOLS AS THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON STAFFING.

>> OUR ADMINISTRATORS HAVE GOTTEN EXTREMELY CREATIVE WITH HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SHORTAGES.

THEY'VE HIRED PERMANENT SUBSTITUTES.

THEY REASSIGNED STAFF MEMBERS EVERYDAY TO COVER AREAS OF CRITICAL NEED.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE HEARING AS WE'RE COMING OFF OF THIS BREAK MORE STAFF MEMBERS OUT THAN WE'VE SEEN IT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> NOW, BEYOND C.P.S.

'S DECISION TO CANCEL CLASS ON WEDNESDAY IF C.T.U.

DOES VOTE TO GO REMOTE, IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT IS NEXT.

THE DISTRICT CALLING WHAT C.T.U.

IS THREATENING TO DO AN ILLEGAL ACTION AND THE UNION SAYING IT HAS THE CONTRACTUAL RIGHT TO A SAFE WORKPLACE.

BOB BRUNO TEACHES LABOR LAW AND SAYS FROM A LABOR LAW PERSPECTIVE THIS IS UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

>> YOU STILL HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KIDS WHO NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL.

YOU HAVE TEACHERS WHO WANT TO TEACH AND YOU NEED TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

YOU HAVE FAMILIES THAT WANT THEIR KIDS EDUCATED AND HAVE JOBS.

THEY NEED TO GET ALL THOSE DYNAMICS ARE UNFOLDING.

>> FOR NOW WE IN CHICAGO FAMILY AWAIT THE RESULTS OF THIS EVENING'S VOTE AND WE WILL BE WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE MAYOR HAS TO SAY LATER THIS EVENING AND I WILL CHECK BACK WITH YOU LATER ON WITH THAT.

FOR NOW, BACK TO YOU.

>> WE WILL BE SEEING YOU LATER ON AND HOPEFULLY HAVE MORE INFORMATION THEN AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

>> AND OF COURSE AS DEBATES OVER IN-PERSON LEARNING CONTINUE, HOSPITALIZATION RATES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CLIMBING.

CHICAGO'S INDOOR VACCINE POLICY FOR SOME BUSINESSES BEGAN THIS WEEK AS THE CITY'S DAILY CASE AVERAGE REACHES MORE THAN 4500 CASES.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS AND MORE IS Dr. ALLISON ARWADY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE MAYOR IN 20 MINUTES.

THANK YOU FORFEITING US IN.

DAILY HOSPITALIZATION RATES UP TO AN AVERAGE OF SEVEN PER DAY FOR CHILDREN.

PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR US.

WHILE IT IS THE HIGHEST DURING THE PANDEMIC YOU SAY IT'S VERY RARE?

>> IT IS.

AND REALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE IS COMPARE EVEN BEFORE VACCINES WERE AVAILABLE, THE RATE THANK GOODNESS WE ARE SEEING CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RATE THAT WE SEE CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH THE FLU IN A TYPICAL YEAR.

YOU ADD VACCINATION ON TOP OF THAT, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THE CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING VACCINATED WHILE THAT NUMBER IS LOW, ARE UNVACCINATED TEENAGERS.

I AM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT BEING IN SCHOOL.

BECAUSE SCHOOL ITSELF IS NOT KNOWN -- IT DOESN'T INCREASE THE RISK OF COVID INFECTION.

IT'S BEEN SHOWN?

STUDIES TO DECREASE IT BECAUSE OF THE MITIGATIONS IN PLACE AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE LIGHT OF THE FACT THERE ARE CHILDREN BEING HOSPITALIZED BUT ONLY 15% OF THE KIDS IN CHICAGO HOSPITALS TODAY HAVE COVID-19.

THE OTHER 85% HAVE OTHER ILLNESSES.

AND WE DON'T UPEND SCHOOL AND WE DON'T STOP FOR INFLUENZA AND BETWEEN CHILDREN BEING UNLIKELY TO HAVE SEVERE OUTCOMES ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE VACCINATED AND STAFF IF THEY ARE VACCINATED AND ESPECIALLY THEY ARE BOOSTED HAVING AN ALMOST ZERO RISK OF BEING HOSPITALIZED OR HAVING SEVERE ILLNESS IT IS CONCERNING TO ME THAT WE'RE PRETENDING LIKE IT'S FEBRUARY 2020 AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL THIS.

>> IN THE INSTANCE OF THE KIDS BEING HOSPITALIZED, WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THOSE HOSPITALIZATIONS?

DO SOME OF THE CHILDREN HAVE ADDITIONAL COMPLICATIONS IN THEIR HEALTH?

>> YEAH, THEY DO.

AND CERTAINLY AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN ALL ALONG FOR THE CHILDREN WITH THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE REMOTE AND THAT IS IMPORTANT FROM THE BEGINNING.

YES IF THERE ARE CHILDREN GETTING TREATED FOR CANCER.

A COVID INFECTION IS DANGEROUS POTENTIALLY FOR THEM.

AND THAT WHAT THAT HOSPITALIZATION INCLUDES.

WE HAVE NOT HAD DURING THIS OMICRON SURGE WHICH HAS BEEN BIG WE HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE VACCINATED 5-11-YEAR-OLD ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER.

AND ALMOST NO VACCINATED 12-17-YEAR-OLDS.

WHERE WE ARE SEEING CHILDREN ADMITTED IT'S UNVACCINATED 12-17-YEAR-OLDS TYPICALLY WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS BUT NOT AT RATES AS HIGHER AS WE RECEIVED IN INFLUENZA.

AND VACCINE IS WHAT MAKES IT MORE LIKELY TO BEHAVE LIKE THE FLU.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW ALL WEEK ALL DAY WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENTS ARE WAITING TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THE STUDENTS WILL BE IN THE CLASSROOM TOMORROW.

AS THE UNION AND THE DISTRICT WORKOUT THEIR DIFFERENCES.

WITH THE 23.6% POSITIVITY RATE ACROSS THE CITY YOU STILL BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS ARE SAFE IN THE CLASSROOMS?

>> I DO.

THIS HAS BEEN A QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED MULTIPLE TIMES INCLUDING HERE IN CHICAGO.

NEW YORK CITY HAS A 35% POSITIVITY RATE THEIR SCHOOLS ARE OPEN.

THERE IS A SENSE OUT THERE THERE IS NOT TESTING HAPPENING.

THERE'S TESTING HAPPENING IN EVERY C.P.S.

SCHOOL THIS WEEK AND FRANKLY, TESTING IS NOT THE FULL ANSWER HERE.

I'VE SEEN WHAT C.P.S.

PUT FORWARD AND I AGREE WITH IT.

THERE'S CERTAINLY WILL BE NEED FOR CLASSROOMS AND POTENTIALLY EVEN SCHOOLS TO FLIP REMOTE JUST AS WE ARE SEEING OUR OTHER SCHOOLS ARE OPEN HERE IN CHICAGO RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING THEM HAVING SOME OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES.

BUT WE KNOW THAT SCHOOL IS ESSENTIAL.

ARE WE JUST GOING TO KEEP DOING THIS WHEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN BEING IN SCHOOL IS NOT A RISK FACTOR FOR STAFF OR STUDENTS TO HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF COVID.

IN FACT IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO BE PROTECTIVE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS, Dr. ARWADY AS YOU LOOK AT THE CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS WHAT ARE THE FACTORS YOU ARE CONSIDERING?

YOU TALKED ABOUT MORE TESTING HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY BREAK AND PEOPLE WANTING TO TEST BEFORE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND AT THE SAME TIME A LOT OF USE AT AT HOME TESTS AND THOSE ARE NOT GETTING REPORTED TO YOUR OFFICE THE SAME WAY?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE THIS IS WHERE THE EPIDEMIOLOGISTS COME IN.

IF YOU THINK OF THIS LIKE INFLUENZA FOR YEARS WE HAVE SURVEILLANCE FOR INFLUENZA.

WE DON'T COUNT EVERY FLU CASE BUT WE COUNT WHEN PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED, ICU'S AND DEATHS AND EXAMPLE FROM ACROSS EMERGENCY ROOMS AND FOR FLU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE WE SEEING WITH SURGES AND STRAINS.

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A LONG-TERM WAY WITH COVID NOT SHOWING EVERY CASE.

BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE, TODAY, BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 INFECTION IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THAT IS DEEPLY CONCERNING TO ME AND WHAT IS DRIVING THAT SURGE IS PEOPLE NOT VACCINATED.

THE RISK NINE TIMES GREATER OF GETTING HOSPITALIZED RIGHT NOW WITH COVID-19 IN CHICAGO IN THOSE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED COMPARED TO THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED AND MORE THAN FIVE TIMES HIGHER IN UNVACCINATED COMPARED TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE BOOSTER.

WE GOT TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED HOW WE PROTECT OUR HOSPITALS AND WHY WE'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING, OF COURSE, VACCINATION IN ALL WAYS INCLUDING THE NEW REQUIREMENT FOR HIGHER RISK SETTINGS WHILE WE GET THROUGH THE SURGE.

>> A RECORD-BREAKING DAY.

I WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT YOU SAID FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS IN CHICAGO.

>> THE AT HOME TESTS, THOUGH, I THINK A LOT OF US KNOW THEY ARE HARD TO COME BY AND YOU'VE RECOMMENDED AMAZON AS ONE LOCATION.

HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S REPUTABLE?

>> AS LONG AS IT IS A TEST THAT HAS THE SIGN OFF FROM THE F.D.A.

HAS THAT EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

CAN YOU GO TO THE F.D.A.

WEBSITE IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE LIST OF WHICH OF THOSE THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

BUT THINGS YOU'RE SEEING ON AMAZON FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE ARE BEING VETTED AND CHECKED.

AND THINGS YOU WOULD BE SEEING ON PHARMACY WEBSITES, WALMART.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THERE TO BE MORE AVAILABILITY OF THESE.

THE FEDS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, EVEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WE'VE GOT ORDERS FOR THE RAPID TESTS GOING BACK TO NOVEMBER THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED AND PART OF WHY WE'RE ENCOURAGING ANY POSITIVE TEST CONSIDER IT TO BE A POSITIVE DON'T TRY TO SEEK OUT ADDITIONAL TESTING.

AND IF YOU ARE HAVING SYMPTOMS THAT COULD BE COVID CHANCES ARE GOOD THAT IT IS COVID.

COVID UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE.

ISOLATE FOR AT LEAST FIVE DAYS REGARDLESS OF YOUR VACCINATION STATUS.

AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO INCREASE TESTING ACCESSIBILITY AND PRIORITIZING SCHOOLS AND HIGH-RISK SETTINGS AS WE DO THAT.

>> AND ONCE THE TESTS BECAUSE THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE ONCE THE TESTS ARE MUCH MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE THAT ORDER YOU'VE HAD GETS FILLED IS THE CITY CONSIDER DISTRIBUTING THE TESTS IN COMMUNITIES HARDER HIT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 150,000 OF THEM BEFORE THE SUPPLY DRAINED UP IN THE COMMUNITIES WE KNOW IT'S HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO AFFORD TESTS LIKE THAT.

AND USED THEM IN OUR HIGHER RISK SETTINGS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

WE'VE USED THEM IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND DISTRIBUTED THEM AS PART OF OUR CONTACT TRACING.

THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS TESTING WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED AND THE RISK IS HIGHER.

SCHOOLS ARE NOT WHERE THE RISK IS HIGHER BUT THE WORRY IS HIGHER.

AND I'VE BEEN PLEASED TO SEE SOME OF THE NEW WAYS THAT SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO BUILD THAT TESTING ACCESSIBILITY BUT TEST SOMETHING NOT THE FULL ANSWER.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE INVESTMENTS IN VENTILATION, THE DISTANCING, THE SYMPTOM SCREENING, THE FINALLY.

>> MASKING AND HYGIENE.

AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO I HAVE TO ASK THIS PRESS CONFERENCE YOU HAVE WITH THE MAYOR, ANY SENSE OF WHAT WE MIGHT HEAR FROM YOU AND THE MAYOR?

>> I MEAN WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES THERE.

I THINK ALL DAY I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SHARE THE SCIENCE WHY WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT IN-PERSON EDUCATION IS THE RIGHT DECISION AND MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WHILE PEOPLE ARE VOTING WE'LL WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXPLAIN THE SCIENCE BEHIND THAT AND EXPLAIN WHAT IS IN PLACE AND TO POTENTIALLY TALK CONTINGENCY PLANNING A LOT OF PARENTS ARE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW.

>> A LOT TO CONSIDER.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK, BRANDIS.

>> CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SINCE 1993.

BUT TODAY HE ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT RUN FOR REELECTION NEXT YEAR.

RUSH'S POLITICAL STORY STARTED LONG BEFORE HIS 30-YEAR RUN IN CONGRESS BACK IN THE 1960s.

RUSH WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND HELPED FOUND THE ILLINOIS BLACK PANTHER PARTY.

AND JOINING US NOW IS RETIRING CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH, A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE.

CONGRESSMAN RUSH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND FIRST OFF WE KNOW THAT A WEEK OR SO AGO YOU WERE DIAGNOSED WITH COVID AND YOU ARE A CANCER SURVIVOR.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

>> JUST GREAT.

YESTERDAY I HAD MY SEVEN-DAY TEST AND I TESTED NEGATIVE.

SO THAT IS GREAT.

I HAD LITTLE TO NO SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS.

AND SO I FEEL WONDERFUL, PARIS.

>> AND YOU'VE NOTED THAT YOU ARE VACCINATED MIGHT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THANKFULLY MILD SYMPTOMS.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE STEPPING DOWN AT THE END OF YOUR TERM YOU WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND THERE IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

THE EMMETT TILL ANTILYNCHING ACT IT SAILED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND STUCK IN THE SENATE.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT?

>> WE'LL PASS IT.

I SPOKE YESTERDAY AND WHEN I TOLD HER THAT I WAS GOING TO, PARIS I'M NOT RETIRING, I'M RETURNING.

WHEN I SPOKE TO MS. SINGER HE TOLD HER THAT MY PRIORITY FOR THE NEXT YEAR WOULD NEED TO PASS THE EMMETT TILL ANTILYNCHING ACT AND SHE SAID WELL, YOU GOT ALL THE SUPPORT WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN.

NOW ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK SO IT CAN BECOME LAW.

IN CONGRESS HAVE TRIED FOR THE LAST 125 YEARS TO PASS AN ANTI-LYNCHING WITH NO RESULT.

SO NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS PASSED.

WE'VE PASSED IT OUT OF THE HOUSE IN THE LAST SESSION OF CONGRESS AND LANGUISH IN THE SENATE.

AND DIED IN THE SENATE.

THE ONE SENATOR.

SO WE THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IT OUT NOW.

>> OBVIOUSLY A PRIORITY OF YOURS BEFORE YOU STEP DOWN THAT SENATOR IS REPUBLICAN RAND PAUL FROM KENTUCKY.

ALSO YOUR CHAMBER OF THE HOUSE PASSED VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION AND NOW THERE'S TALK IN THE SENATE FROM SENATE LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE FILIBUSTER IN THIS INSTANCE.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN?

>> I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL.

KNOWING THERE IS A COMMITMENT FROM THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AND ENOUGH DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS IN THE SENATE TO DO SOME AMENDMENTS.

SO I CERTAINLY THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO PASS A VOTING RIGHTS ACT BETWEEN NOW AND PROBABLY THE SPRING.

>> AND ABOLISHING THE FILIBUSTER THE SENATE WOULD MEAN IT WOULD NEED A MAJORITY OF 51 SENATORS TO PASS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A LITTLE HISTORY CONGRESSMAN, BACK IN 2000 A YOUNG UPSTART NAMED BARACK OBAMA THOUGHT HE COULD CHALLENGE YOU.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR CANDIDATE FORUM FROM THAT ERA.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED AS WE ENTER IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE SKILL SET REQUIRED NOT ONLY TO DEAL WITH GOVERNMENT AND TO BE ABLE TO PUT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TOGETHER WITH NOT-FOR-PROFITS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MAKE THINGS WORK FOR PEOPLE.

>> CONGRESSMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS.

I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR BOTH MY CHALLENGERS.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A RECORD.

I MEAN SENATOR BARACK HE REPRESENTS A PART OF ENGLEWOOD HIS DISTRICT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN ENGLEWOOD.

WHAT HAS HE DONE?

>> CONGRESSMAN WE KNOW THE STORY THE THEN STATE SENATOR LOST BADLY TO YOU IN THAT CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY.

WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE AFTER THAT?

>> WE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.

THERE WAS SOME FRIENDS WHO MADE A POINT TO INTENTIONALLY BRING US TOGETHER.

AND WE -- YOU CAN DISAGREE BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DISAGREEABLE.

AND BOTH SENATOR BAR RACK AND LATER PRESIDENT BARACK WE HAD A NUMBER OF THINGS IN COMMON AND SHARED A LOT OF HARD WORK TOGETHER AND THE SAME PATH TOGETHER.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE HE ANNOUNCED AND MADE THE FINAL DECISION TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT HE ASKED ME AND ASKED ME FOR MY ADVICE.

AND ASKED DO YOU THINK I SHOULD RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY?

AND IN MY HEART I TOLD HIM I SAID SENATOR, IF YOU DON'T RUN NOW, YOU ARE ALWAYS REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

SO I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO RUN NOW SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE NO REGRETS.

AND I THOUGHT THAT MY ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION HELPED HIM TO MAKE THE DECISION TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

AND HE DID SOME REMARKABLE WORK AS PRESIDENT.

WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO HIM.

AND TO MICHELLE FOR GIVING US EIGHT YEARS OF GOOD GOVERNMENT.

>> QUITE A STORY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU.

WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU COFOUNDED THE ILLINOIS CHAPTER OF THE BRACK PANTHER PARTY AND CLOSE TO FRIEND HAMPTON CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN LIKE FROM SOMEBODY WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THE SYSTEM FROM THE OUTSIDE TO DECADES NOW BEING INSIDE THAT SYSTEM TRYING TO CREATE CHANGE.

>> WELL, ONE THING THAT YOU MAY KNOW, PARIS OR MIGHT NOT KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] WE KNEW THE ONLY WAY TO BRING FORTH PROGRESS WAS TO BE INSIDE THE SYSTEM.

AND TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT AND THE CONSTITUTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW MY TENURE IN THE PARTY WE CERTAINLY WE HAD TRAINING PROGRAMS AND DID A NUMBER OF THINGS.

WE ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF OPPRESSED PEOPLE PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

WE ALWAYS PUT OURSELVES IN THE FOREFRONT OF CHALLENGING POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER.

AND WE DID THAT BY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE AND ORGANIZING CAMPAIGNS FOR COMMUNITY CONTROL OF POLICE.

AND WE HAD BUSING.

ALL THE PROGRAMS WAS IN THE SYSTEM TO RESPOND.

>> SO YOU YOU'VE BEEN DOING THE SAME WORK FOR THE BETTER PART OF SIX DECADES.

>> ALL MY LIFE THE WAY I VIEW MY LIFE AND MY, I VIEW MY LIFE, I KEEP ON LEARNING TO CONTINUE FIGHTING THE FIGHT AND PUTTING THE ICING ON THE CAKE.

AND LEARN AND RIGHT NOW I AM AT A POINT WHERE I DECIDED TO PUTTING THE ICING ON THE CAKE.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN ARE YOU NOT GONE YET BECAUSE YOU HAVE A YEAR LEFT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU BEFORE YOU STEP DOWN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, PARIS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

>> THERE'S MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" JUST AHEAD.

SO PLEASE STICK AROUND.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", A UNIQUE GENETIC VARIANT ALLOWS SOME AMISH PEOPLE TO LIVE LONGER.

INSIDE NORTHWESTERN'S NEW EFFORT TO DECODE THAT AND OTHER MYSTERIES OF THE AGING PROCESS.

A NEW "SUN-TIMES" STORY FINDS REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE RETURNING TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS SEX CRIMES?

AND AN APPRECIATION OF THE MUSIC AND DRAMATIC RANGE OF THE LATE COMMON POSER STEPEN SONDHEIM FROM OUR SISTER STATION WFMT.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS THE APPROXIMATELY 800 HOMICIDES IN THE CITY LAST YEAR ARE DUE IN PART TO TOO MANY HUGE CRIMINALS BEING RELEASED ON BOND.

BROWN CALLED ON THE MEDIA TO REPORT THE STORIES OF VICTIMS TO PRESSURE JUDGES TO IMPOSE HIGHER BONDS.

>> TELL THE STORIES OF THESE FAMILIES AND LIKELY PRICK THE HEARTS OF JUDGES TO SET NO BAIL OR HIGH BAILS SO THEY WON'T GET OUT OF JAIL.

AS LONG AS THIS IS JUST A NUMBER, NO ONE'S REALLY EMPAT THICK.

>> -- EMPATH PARTICULAR.

>> LORI LIGHTFOOT IS PLACING BLAME THERE ARE 3300 PEOPLE OUT ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING COMPARING TO 1200 PREPANDEMIC.

>> ONE OF THE ELEMENTS JUDGES ARE SUPPOSED TO CONSIDER IN MAKING A BAIL DECISION IS COMMUNITY SAFETY.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY OF THIS PERSON GOING BACK AND BEING OUT ON EM?

WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING PEOPLE BACK OUT ON THE STREET WITH NO COMMUNITY SUPERVISION WHICH IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEM YOU ARE DOING NO ONE A FAVOR EXCEPT THE CRIMINAL.

>> REVENUE FROM CITY'S AUTOMATED SPEED CAMERAS SOARED AS THE THRESHOLD DROPPED TO 6 MILES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT.

THE CITY MADE $73 MILLION ON TICKETS THROUGH OCTOBER ACCORDING TO OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS BY THE INSTITUTE WITH A TICKET ISSUED ON AVERAGE EVERY 11 SECONDS.

OVER 9,000 TICKETS WERE ISSUED AFTER MARCH 2021 COMPARED TO 1,000 BEFORE MARCH.

>> PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

THERE IS A NEW EFFORT AT NORTHWESTERN'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO STUDY HOW TO SLOW DOWN OR REVERSE THE AGING PROCESS.

THE NEW POTOCSNAK LONGEVITY INSTITUTE WILL RESEARCH WHY SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO AGE FASTER THAN OTHERS AND HOW THE RESEARCH CAN HELP OLDER FOLKS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS INCLUDING HIV.

AND JOINING US TO TELL US MORE IS THE DIRECTOR Dr. DOUGLAS VAUGHAN.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

FIRST OFF, YOU MAKE AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHRONOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL AGING.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

>> THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION AND SOMETHING WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU ORBIT THE SUN BUT WE KNOW PEOPLE AGE MORE RAPIDLY OR MORE SLOWLY THAN THEY APPEAR TO BE.

THAT TELLS US THERE IS A BIOLOGY THERE AND THAT IS THE INSIGHT THAT IS GUIDED AND CATALYZED THE FORMATION OF THIS INSTITUTE.

>> YOU ARE STUDYING THERAPEUTICS THAT COULD AT SOME POINT SLOW DOWN OR REVERSE THE AGING PROCESS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> WELL, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS OF THE INSTITUTE.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE AND TRACK THE VELOCITY OF AGING IN OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL FIND WAYS TO INTERVENE ON THAT PROCESS.

CHANGE THE SLOPE OF THE CURVE THAT MIGHT BE TO DIETARY INTERVENTIONS OR LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS IT MIGHT BE THROUGH DRUGS.

>> AND I KNOW THAT THE FOCUS OF YOUR RESEARCH IS TO HELP TREAT PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS LATER IN LIFE.

WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN IN TERMS OF HUMAN LIFESPAN?

>> WELL, ALMOST EVERY DISEASE THAT WE DEAL WITH IN ADULT MEDICINE HAS A PRIMARY RISK FACTOR OF AGE.

AGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RISK FACTOR FOR HEART DISEASE, FOR CANCER, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

IF WE CAN PUSHBACK THE AGING PROCESS WE CAN IMPACT UPON DISEASES THAT OCCUR IN THE AGING POPULATION AND PERHAPS EXTEND THE HEALTH SPAN A DECADE OR MORE.

>> AND HAVE YOU DISCOVERED ANYTHING ABOUT THAT BIOLOGICAL PROCESS THAT CAUSES SOME PEOPLE TO AGE QUICKER THAN OTHERS AND WHY THAT HAPPENS?

>> WELL, THERE'S CERTAINLY GENETIC VARIANTS OUT THERE IN THE POPULATION.

THEY ARE NOT VERY COMMON BUT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A RAPID AGING IN SOME PEOPLE AND WE SEE PEOPLE LIKE THAT IN THE HOSPITAL REGULARLY.

THERE ARE COMMON CLINICAL CONDITIONS THAT ACCELERATE AGING LIKE KIDNEY DISEASE, OR CHRONIC HIV INFECTION.

SO THOSE TELL US A LOT ABOUT THE PROCESS.

AND WE THINK -- WE HAVE ALSO FLIPPED THAT COIN OVER.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A POPULATION OF OLD ORDER AMISH THAT LIVE IN NORTHEASTERN INDIANA THAT CARRY A GENETIC VARIANT THAT APPEARS TO PROTECT THEM FROM AGING IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM RAPID AGING, SLOWER AGING AND TOGETHER HOPEFULLY WE'LL MEET IN THE MIDDLE AND FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO AND HELP PROTECT FRRVE THIS PROCESS.

>> YOU'VE PIQUED A LOT OF CURIOSITY.

TELL US ABOUT THE OLD ORDER AMISH POPULATION IN INDIANA AND WHAT THEIR CHARACTERISTICS ARE AND WHAT THAT GENETIC COMPONENT IS THAT SLOWS DOWN AGING IN THEM?

>> IT IS A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY THAT EMIGRATED INTO THE AREA AROUND ADAMS COUNTY INDIANA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 1800'S FROM SWISS LAND AND THEY SWISSER LAND.

AND THEY HARBOR A GENETIC VARIANT THAT APPEARS TO PROTECT AGAINST AGING.

MOO I LABORATORY GROUP HAS BEEN STUDYING THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IT APPEARS TO TOUCH ON MULTIPLE ASPECTS OF AGING EVERYTHING FROM THEIR CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION TO THEIR METABOLISM TO THEIR LIFESPAN.

WE THINK THAT AMISH POPULATION HAS IS REALLY KIND OF A NATURAL MAYBE THEY HAVE SOME PRESENT SOMETHING THAT LIKE A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH THAT WE COULD TURN INTO A THERAPEUTIC APPROACH THAT WOULD IMPACT EVERYBODY.

>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY FOLLOW-UP.

HAVE YOU DISCOVERED THINGS ABOUT THEM THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION IN TERMS OF THERAPEUTICS?

>> THE GENETIC VARIANT THEY HAVE IMPACTS UPON A LEVEL OF A PROTEIN THAT CIRCULATES IN OUR BLOOD I CAN MEASURE IT IN YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE LISTENING TO US.

AND THERE ARE ALREADY DRUGS BEING DEVELOPED AND TESTED THAT CAN LOWER THE LEVELS OF THAT PROTEIN IN THE BLOOD AND WE THINK THAT MIGHT BE A WAY ONE WAY TO POTENTIALLY SLOW DOWN THE AGING PROCESS.

OR SLOW DOWN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGING RELATED DISEASES.

>> AND I KNOW AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF YOUR WORK DEALS WITH FOLKS LIVING WITH HIV.

WHY ANTIAGING RESEARCH SO IMPORTANT TO THOSE WITH HIV?

>> WELL, IT IS A REMARKABLE STORY.

HIV WAS A LETHAL DISEASE IN THE 1980s.

FAST FORWARD TO THIS MOMENT IN TIME, WITH THE PROPER COMBINATION OF THARPICS, PEOPLE -- THERAPEUTICS, PEOPLE LIVE MUCH LONGER.

WE'RE SEEING THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC HIV INFECTIONS MANIFEST SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE ACCELERATED AGING.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT BIOLOGY AND PERHAPS BY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'LL HAVE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING WHAT DRIVES AGING IN PEOPLE WITHOUT HIV.

>> AS WE MENTIONED THE POTOCSNAK LONGEVITY INSTITUTE JUST LAUNCHED AND YOU ARE LEADING THIS UP.

NOT JUST SLOWING DOWN THE AGING PROCESS BUT REVERSING THE AGING PROCESS THAT SOUNDS UTOPIAN.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> THERE ARE MOLECULAR DRIVERS OF AGING THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY.

OUR DNA GETS METH LATED AS WE AGE AND THAT PROCESS CHANGING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF OUR DNA.

SINCE IT DRIVES AGING IT'S POSSIBLE TO DEMETH LATE DNA AND PERHAPS REVERSE AGING AND THAT IS ONE OF THE HYPOTHESIS WE CAN TEST.

>> IMPORTANT WORK TO COME OUT AT THE LONGEVITY INSTITUTE AT THE FEINBERG SCHOOL AND THANKS TO Dr. DOUGLAS VAUGHAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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

REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN CHICAGO ARE RETURNING TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS AND IN THE NORTHWEST DISTRICT INCLUDING RIVER NORTH CASES REACHED A 20 YEAR HIGH FROM A REPORT IN THE "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES".

JOINING US US NOW TO DISCUSS THE FACTORS BEHIND THE INCREASE AND WAYS TO ADDRESS IT ARE MADELINE KENNEY A REPORTER AT THE "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES" AND MADELEINE BEHR PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY MANAGER AT THE CHICAGO ALLIANCE AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.

WE INVITED THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION.

MADELINE KENNEY AND MADELEINE BEHR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MADELINE KENNEY STARTING WITH YOU, PLEASE, YOU REPORTED THAT YOU FOUND SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS INCREASED IN 19 OF 22 DISTRICTS IN CHICAGO COMPARED TO 2020.

AND THAT THE LATEST DATA AVAILABLE THROUGH DECEMBER 26 SHOWED THERE WERE 2,000 SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS IN 2021 COMPARED TO 1600 IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD IN 2020.

MADELINE KENNEY WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THIS?

AND HOW WAS THE END OF MOST COVID CLOSURES RELATED?

>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO PINPOINT WHY WE'RE SEEING THIS INCREASE IN NUMBERS.

IN TALKING WITH ADVOCATES AND WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PEOPLE IT SEEMS LIKE BARS AND RESTAURANTS REOPENING OR JUST PEOPLE GETTING OUT AND NOT BEING QUARANTINED AS YOU SAW IN 2020 COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO IT.

IT COULD BE THAT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE FEELING MORE EMPOWERED TO COME FORWARD AND REPORT THESE CRIMES.

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE STILL SEEING THERE IS A STIGMA WITH BEING A VICTIM OF THESE CRIMES AND NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE OR FEELING LIKE IF YOU COME FORWARD YOU WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

NOW THERE'S GREAT ADVOCACY WORK THAT IS SUPPORTING SURVIVORS COMING FORWARD AND FILING REPORTS.

>> MADELEINE BEHR WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE RISE THIS INCREASE IN REPORTED CASES ARE YOU SURPRISED AT ALL?

>> NO.

I MEAN IT IS HARD TO LOOK AT MADELEINE'S REPORT AND NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IN SEEING THE NUMBERS RISE.

THE NUMBERS GOING UP IS A MULTITUDE OF FACTORS.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGING THINGS IN GENERAL.

MORE SURVIVORS INTERESTED IN REPORTING TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AFTER EXPERIENCING HARM.

I THINK OVERALL IT IS A WHOLE VARIETY OF FACTORS IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THE NUMBERS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN CRIME, CORRELATED WITH AN INCREASE IN POVERTY AND HARDSHIP AND CHICAGO IS NOT ALONE IN THAT TREND THAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> MADELINE KENNEY WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES OF REPORTING IN THIS PREVALENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CRIMES?

>> DEFINITELY WITH GETTING ACCURATE DATA AND MAKING SURE THAT THE NUMBERS ARE MATCHING UP.

ONE THING THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO REPORT ON SEXUAL ASSAULTS IS THAT IF A SURVIVOR COMES FORWARD LET'S SAY YEARS AFTER THE REPORT THAT CAN SKEW SOMETIMES THE DATA THAT YOU ARE SEEING.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROPERLY UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE ASSAULTS ARE HAPPENING OR GETTING REPORTED AT AND MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING OUR BEST JOB MAKING SURE OUR INFORMATION IS ACCURATE.

>> MADELEINE BEHR YOU WORKED ON A REPORT PUBLISHED IN 2020 THAT REVIEWED C.P.D.

DATA FROM 2010-2019 AND 80-90% OF SEXUAL HARM REPORTS MADE TO C.P.D.

DID NOT RESULT IN AN ARREST.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

AND WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON WHETHER OTHERS DECIDE TO FILE REPORTS?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT IS A WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS.

AND REALLY I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO OUR SOCIETY'S PERPETUATION OF VICTIM BLAMING.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT COMING FORWARD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

OF THE 80-90% WHO DID REPORT TO C.P.D.

THAT IS A SMALL FRACTION OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SEXUAL HARM ONLY A CERTAIN KIND OF MINORITY OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT I THINK OFTENTIMES THESE PERCEPTIONS WHAT RAPE IS AND WHAT SEX YAM HARM IS IMPACTS ALL OF US AND IMPACTS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEIR TREATMENT OF SURVIVORS THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SURVIVORS' EXPERIENCES AND WILLINGNESS TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO A STORY AND NOT DISMISS IT OUT OF HAND AND DECIDE WHETHER TO FORWARD THAT CASE ON TO PROSECUTORS.

>> MADELINE KENNEY YOUR REPORTING YOU POINTED OUT THAT COURT PROCEEDINGS OFTEN WHEN THEY DO HAPPEN THEY CAN BE LONG AND DRAWN OUT.

WHAT IMPACT DOES THIS HAVE ON SURVIVORS?

>> IT IS A TRAUMATIC EVENT THAT YOU GO THROUGH.

AND IF YOU DO END UP GOING THROUGH COURT SOMETIME IT IS CAN TAKE TWO TO THREE YEARS TO REACH A CONVICTION OR FINISH AND THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE OF THE DNA ANALYSIS THAT GOES INTO THESE CASES.

IT CAN CAUSE A STRAIN ON ANY KIND OF SURVIVOR THAT GOES THROUGH IT.

THE STATE'S ATTORNEY OFFICE DOES PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE AND GREAT ADVOCACY WORK AMONG ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT THROUGH THERAPY OR COUNSELING THAT HELPS SURVIVORS WHO DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.

IT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

>> MADELEINE BEHR WHAT CAN BE DONE THEN TO ADDRESS THE PREVALENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CRIMES IN CHICAGO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN THE NUMBERS THAT MADELEINE REPORTED ON IN RIVER NORTH AND OTHER AREAS IN CHICAGO IT IS ALARMING.

I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO REMEMBER THAT THE NUMBERS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE WHOLE STORY.

IF WE ARE ONLY FOCUSING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO SEXUAL HARM WE ARE MISSING THE VAST MAJORITY OF SURVIVORS THAT WILL NEVER GO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE NEED A CRISIS LEVEL TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSE TO SURVIVORS WHO DO GO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BE INVESTING IN COMMUNITY SERVICES LIKE RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, PREVENTION INITIATIVES AND A HOST OF OTHER NECESSARY THINGS THAT SURVIVORS NEED.

IF WE ARE ONLY FOCUSING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOWEVER WE'RE MISSING THE VAST MAJORITY OF SURVIVORS IF WE'RE ONLY FOCUSING ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE.

IT NEED TO BE QUALITY BUT WE NEED ALTERNATIVE THINGS FOR SURVIVORS.

>> SPEAKING OF ALTERNATIVES AND PREVENTION, MADELINE KENNEY YOU REPORTED ON WHAT VENUES, RESTAURANTS, BARS WHAT THEY CAN BE DOING TO PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULTS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE LET YOU GO?

>> I CO-REPORTED THE STORY WITH ELVIA MALAGON AND IT LOOKS AT WHETHER OR NOT BAR OWNERS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS DO THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW TO PROTECT THEIR PATRONS WHETHER IT'S MAKING SURE THEY ARE TRAINED IN RECOGNIZING THE RED FLAGS OR NOT OVERSERVING CUSTOMERS WHO ARE DRINKING.

AS REPORTED IN OUR STORY, A LOT OF THESE CASES DO HAVE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS INVOLVED WHICH IS NOT AN EXCUSE.

BUT JUST IT IS A VARIABLE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

LOOKING AT THE RESPONSIBILITY WHETHER OR NOT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT HAS ANY KINDS OF RESPONSIBILITYING IN HANDLING THIS.

ONE SURVIVOR SAID SHE BELIEVES THEY SHOULD HAVE LOOK OUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS.

>> ENOUGH RESPONSIBILITY TO GO AROUND.

MADELINE KENNEY AND MADELEINE BEHR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT, REMEMBERING A TITAN OF MUSICAL THEATRE.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT A CLASSICAL RADIO STATION PAYS TRIBUTE TO A BROADWAY COMPOSER BUT THAT IS HAPPENING TONIGHT WHEN OUR SISTER STATION WFMT'S REMEMBERS STEPEN SONDHEIM.

SONDHEIM DIED IN NOVEMBER AT THE AGE OF 91.

AND JOINING US IS THE HOST OF BEING ALIVE, FILM CRITIC AND REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SOUNDTRACK PROGRAM.

MICHAEL PHILLIPS HAPPY NEW YEAR AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

SO WHY SPOTLIGHT STEPEN SONDHEIM ON CLASSICAL RADIO STATION WFMT?

>> MY GOD, I THINK YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT STEPEN SONDHEIM WAS THE PREEMPTNENT AMERICAN COMPOSER FOR MOST OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

AND THAT AS A COMPOSER.

AS A LIRE SIFT HE WAS -- LIRERY SIFT HE WAS UNMATCHED.

HOW DO WE DEFINE CLASSICAL OR CLASSIC MUSIC AND SONDHEIM FITS IN.

HE STUDIED WITH MILTON BAB BOTH AND HAS ALL KINDS OF FOLKS.

AND BERNARD HERMAN MY FAVORITE FILM COMMON POSE, SWEENEY TODD IS AN ACKNOWLEDGED DEBT SONDHEIM'S LOVE LETTER TO BERNARD HERMAN THAT INFLUENCE I THINK REALLY TICKLES PEOPLE'S EARS AND IMAGINATION.

>> CLASSICAL MUSIC RUNS DEEP.

AND YOU MENTIONED HIS ASSOCIATION WITH COMPOSERS.

LEONARD BERN SPHIN WITH WHOM HE WORKED ON "WEST SIDE STORY".

HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT FOR SONDHEIM TO WORK WITH LEONARD BERNSTEIN?

>> IT MEANT EVERYTHING TO SONDHEIM'S CAREER TO BE PART OF THAT MOMENTOUS COLLABORATION IN 1957.

SONDHEIM WAS LISTED AS K OWE LYRISIST AND BERN SOMETIME SAID I WILL TAKE MY NAME OFF SO YOU GET THE CREDIT AND THAT GESTURE REALLY SAID A LOT AND ANNOUNCED THE EMERGENCE OF A MAJOR, MAJOR TALENT AND THAT IS SONDHEIM'S CAREER IN ONE NUTSHELL.

HE HAS ONE FOOT IN CLASSIC GOLDEN AGE BROADWAY.

LIRERY SIFT FOR "WEST SIDE STORY" AND GYPSY AND FUNNY THING THAT HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM IN THE EARLY 60s.

THAT IS ONE FOOT IN THE PAST AND EVERYTHING HE DID FROM COMPANY ON IN 1970 THAT IS MAKING THE MUSICAL THEATRE'S FUTURE.

AND REALLY MARKING THE ENTIRE STREAK OF AN ADVENTURE NEWS AND EXPERIMENTATION AND GENIUS SONDHEIM REPRESENTS.

ONE FOOT IN THE PAST AND ONE IN THE FUTURE.

>> AND THE SHOW IS BEING ALIVE IN REFERENCE TO THE SONG FROM COMPANY.

THIS IS AN HOUR PROGRAM HOW DO YOU GO THROUGH THIS IMMENSE BODY OF WORK.

YOU MENTIONED THE PRODUCTIONS AND PICK OUT THE PIECES YOU WANT TO SHOWCASE FOR THAT HOUR?

>> I TRY TO PLAY IT COOL.

IT MADE ME CRAZY.

ACTUALLY WHITTLE IT DOWN TO 12 SELECTIONS.

THE BEST I COULD DO IS LET'S GIVE PEOPLE A WIDE SWATH OF A SENSE OF REAL RANGE AND BREADTH OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WE START IN 1954 FROM THE FIRST UNPRODUCED MUSICAL CALLED SATURDAY NIGHT WHICH HAS BEEN PRODUCED SINCE.

AND WE TAKE IT UP THROUGH HIS LAST MAJOR SHOW ON BROADWAY, PASSION IN THE EARLY 90s.

AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS ALONG THE WAY.

SOME FLOPS, A FEW HITS.

BUT WHEN YOU REALLY GET TO THE STREAK THAT STARTS WITH COMPANY, MOVES ON TO THE 90s SWEENEY TODD THAT IS AN AMAZING STREAK OF WORK A CREATIVE EXPLOSION THAT REALLY COULD COMPETE WITH ANY ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT IN AMERICA DURING THOSE YEARS.

>> AND THE SONGS ENDURE IN CULTURE.

YOU'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET HIM AND INTERVIEW HIM IN THE PAST.

WHAT WAS HE LIKE IN-PERSON?

>> HE WAS GREAT.

HE WAS GREAT.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF PHONERS OVER THE YEARS WHICH FINE.

AND AROUND AT TIME OF ONE OF THE REVIVALS IN BROADWAY 2002, I DID A LONGER PIECE AT HIS PLACE IN NEW YORK.

AND THAT WAS GREAT THAT WAS TIME ENOUGH TO GET INTO ALL KINDS OF WORK AND THIS WAS NOT THAT LONG AFTER 9/11 AND HE WAS IN A REFLECTIVE MOOD TO SAY THE LEAST.

AND THE SHOW INTO THE WOODS IS DEALING WITH ISSUES OF GRIEF AND SHOCK AND EMOTIONAL TURMOIL LIKE ALL SONDHEIM'S WORK.

BUT IT BROUGHT OUT AN INTERESTING TENOR IN THE CONVERSATION AND IT WAS A PEAK JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE IN MY THEATRE CRITIC CAREER BEFORE I WAS MOVING OVER TO FILM.

>> AND SO MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEY HONE IN ON HIS LYRICS AND POWER AS A WHAT SET THE LYRICS APART?

>> UNBELIEVABLE PRECISION AND CON SIX AND EXACTING STANDARDS.

HE WAS INCREDIBLY TOUGH ON HIS OWN WORK.

HE TO THE END COULD DERIVE MOST OF HIS OWN LYRICS FOR "WEST SIDE STORY".

AND HE IS VERY SPARING AND PRAISE WITH HIS OWN WORK.

WHEN HE TOOK THAT FINDING WHAT THAT CHARACTER IN THAT PARTICULAR STORY MOMENT IN THAT SHOW NEEDS TO SAY AND HOW AM I GOING TO SAY IT IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PREDICT.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO SAVE MY THOUGHTS FOR A POT CAST.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES THANKS TO MICHAEL PHILLIPS.

>> AND BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ALONG WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS C.E.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO START A NEWS CONFERENCE FOR THE LAST 20 MINUTES.

LIKELY TO DISCUSS WHETHER SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN OR NOT TOMORROW.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST.

AMANDA?

>> YEAH, BRANDIS.

WE STILL HAVE YET TO HEAR GLANCING OVER AT THE COMPUTER SCREEN I HAVE GOING, STILL NO LIGHTFOOT, NO MARTINEZ NO ARWADY.

UNCLEAR WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SAY.

BUT, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING ON EVEN AS C.T.U.

MEMBERS ALL THE THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION ARE VOTING ON THAT DECISION.

HOWEVER IF YOU TAKE IT FROM THE GOVERNING BODY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF THOSE MEMBERS I'M TOLD NEARLY 90% DID VOTE TO SEND THIS TO THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP LEADING MANY TO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE THAT THE UNION WILL CHOOSE TO GO TO THAT REMOTE OPTION.

WE DON'T KNOW, AGAIN, WHAT EXACTLY OF COURSE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT COULD BE VOTING TO END AROUND 9:00 P.M. AND IT HAS TO BE COUNTED IT COULD BE LATE INTO THE EVENING UNTIL WE LEARN MORE.

>> IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT THE C.T.U.

RANK-AND-FILE IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES HAVE DONE.

WHY DID DIDN'T C.T.U.

LIKE THE PROPOSAL THAT C.P.S.

MADE THIS AFTERNOON WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS THE UNION HAD?

>> WELL, THEY WERE SAYING WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THESE THINGS FOR A LONGTIME.

WHERE HAS THE DISTRICT BEEN?

AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATION IT SEEMS WITH FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT A LOT IN CHICAGO AND THAT IS JUST UNFAIR RESOURCES AND THAT THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ALL OF THIS.

WHERE THERE ARE HIGHER RATES OF VACCINATION AND OTHERS THAT DON'T HAVE IT AND FRUSTRATION WITH THE METRICS THAT THERE'S IT WOULD TAKE SO MANY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL THEY ARE SAYING THAT IS JUST WILD.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ADULTS WHAT IS THE POINT?

>> AND WE KNOW THIS AFTERNOON YOU SPOKE WITH BOB BRUNO LABOR PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AND HE SAYS THIS IS UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY THAT?

>> BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING IN WHICH I MEAN IT IS A PANDEMIC AND C.T.U.

SAYING THIS IS UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS.

AND YET, THEY ARE NOT STAGING A WALKOUT OR A STRIKE NECESSARILY.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN SCHOOL AND IF THE VOTE TURNS OUT THAT WAY.

WOULD THEY BE LOCKED OUT OF TEACHING IN THEIR CLASSROOMS?

OR THE DISTRICTS INSTEAD SAYING WAIT NO, WE HAD TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT WAS YOUR FAULT.

IT'S POINTING FINGERS BOTH WAYS.

AND IF IT DOES GO REMOTE STUDENTS ARE TOLD NOT TO GO TO THE BUILDINGS TOMORROW IF IT DOES TURNOUT TO BE THAT WAY.

A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.

THAT PART IS NOT UNFAMILIAR AND I'M SEEING FROM THE MAYOR'S ACCOUNT THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS GETTING STARTED SHORTLY.

AMANDA VINICKY THANK YOU AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> WE'LL HAVE CONTINUED COVERAGE OVER THE FIGHT OVER REMOTE LEARNING BETWEEN THE TEACHERS' UNION AND C.P.S.

>> IT'S PORTABLE PUFFY AND PIZZAISH.

WE'LL MEET THE FAMILY BEHIND ONE OF CHICAGO'S FAVORITE FRIED FOODS.

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

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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