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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> IT'S BEEN A LOT.

>> WHEN WILL STUDENTS RESUME LEARNING?

THE LATEST ON THE STANDOFF BETWEEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS' UNION.

>> I BROKE AWAY TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS AND LOOK AT THEM THEY DON'T DESERVE THIS THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEMAND THIS.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION LEADERSHIP.

>> ON THIS ANNIVERSARY OF JANUARY 6TH LET'S CONFRONT THE ANGER.

>> CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER MAKING A CAREER DECISION ON THE EVE OF THE JANUARY 6TH ANNIVERSARY.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WEIGHS IN.

>> WE'VE TURNED OUR LOBBY INTO AN EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON EDGE HOW THEY ARE WORKING TO MAINTAIN CAPACITY.

>> AND RECORD-HIGH COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN IN CHICAGO.

A LOCAL PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR WEIGHS IN.

>> SON OF A GUN WHEN WE PUT IT IN THE FRYER IT HELD TOGETHER.

>> AND THE FOURTH GENERATION FAMILY BUSINESS THAT CREATED ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST ENDURING FRIED FAST FOOD FAVORITES.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., THE WHITE HOUSE WEIGHS IN ON CHICAGO TEACHERS REFUSING TO TEACH IN-PERSON.

THE TEACHERS UNION VOTED NOT TO BE IN SCHOOL UNTIL AS LATE AS JANUARY 18TH DUE TO FRUSTRATIONS WITH COVID MITIGATIONS FROM C.P.S.

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI SAYS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN URGES STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO BE IN CLASS AS OPPOSED TO REMOTE.

>> HE AGREES WITH MEDICAL, SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATION EXPERTS BECAUSE OF THE HISTORIC WORK WE'VE DONE WE ARE MORE THAN EQUIPPED TO INSURE THAT SCHOOLS ARE OPEN AND KEEP OUR CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS WHO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY SAFE AND INSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT ENDURING THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF NOT BEING IN SCHOOL, THAT THERE ARE NOT GAPS IN LEARNING.

THIS INCLUDES SCHOOLS EVERYWHERE INCLUDING IN CHICAGO.

>> AND ANOTHER NEW RECORD FOR DAILY COVID CASES IN ILLINOIS TODAY.

THE STATE RECORDED MORE THAN 32,000 NEW CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

WITH 79 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL CASE COUNT TO 2.3 MILLION WITH 28,156 CONFIRMED DEATHS.

THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE LEAPS UP TO 18.4%.

AND THE STATE SETS A RECORD FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS DUE TO COVID AS WELL.

AND WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON HOW AREA HOSPITALS ARE COPING IN JUST A MINUTE.

>> AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCES HE WILL BE WORKING REMOTELY AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO A STATE EMPLOYEE WITH COVID.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE HIMSELF TESTED NEGATIVE THIS MORNING.

BUT IS TAKING THE MEASURE OUT OF CAUTION.

PRITZKER SAYS HE IS FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED AGAINST THE VIRUS.

>> THE RACE TO REPLACE LONG TIME FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH GETS A NEW ENTRANT.

THIRD WARD CHICAGO ALDERMAN PAT DOWELL SAYS SHE IS RUNNING FOR THE SEAT.

DOWELL HAD BEEN VYING TO WIN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE BUT FAILED TO GET THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE COOK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

RUSSIA ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS YESTERDAY AFTER 30 YEARS IN THAT SEAT.

ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT'S FISCAL PICTURE IS IMPROVING.

THE COMPTROLLER ANNOUNCES ILLINOIS REPAID A COVID LOAN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIX MONTHS EARLY.

MENDOZA SAYS THAT MEANS TAXPAYER ALSO SAVE $82 MILLION IN INTEREST PAYMENTS.

OFFICIALS CITED THE IMPROVED ECONOMY AS THE CHIEF REASON FOR THE EARLY REPAYMENT.

>> AND UP NEXT, THE LATEST ON TODAY'S SCHOOL CLOSURES.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> C.P.S.

CLASSES WERE CANCELED TODAY AND THAT WILL EXTEND TO TOMORROW AT THE LEAST ACCORDING TO COMMENTS MADE BY C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ.

AND AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST ON THIS STANDOFF BETWEEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

AMANDA NO SCHOOLS TOMORROW.

TAKE US BEHIND THIS DECISION?

>> PARIS, THE CHICAGO FAMILIES DID NOT LEARN UNTIL 11:30 LAST NIGHT THAT CLASSES WERE GOING TO BE CANCELED TODAY THEY HAVE MORE NOTICE FOR CLASS ON THURSDAY AS YOU NOTED WE JUST LEARNED FROM THE HEAD OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PEDRO MARTINEZ THAT THERE AGAIN BE NO CLASS AT C.P.S.

ON THURSDAY.

HOWEVER, HE DOES SAY THAT AT LEAST AT SOME SCHOOLS IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION COULD COMBINE AS SOON AS FRIDAY.

HE SAYS THAT HE DROVE BY SOME SCHOOLS, SAW STUDENTS TRYING TO GET IN.

AND HE SAID THEY WERE CRYING, MARTINEZ LIKEWISE SAYING HE CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT TREATING COVID AND CLOSING THE SCHOOLS SYSTEM WIDE AS HE TERMED IT A PUTTING A HAMMER DOWN DISTRICT WIDE IS NOT THE SOLUTION.

HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE HE SAYS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

NEGOTIATIONS DID TAKE PLACE THIS AFTERNOON BY BARGAINING MEMBERS FROM BOTH SIDES.

THAT WHILE C.T.U.

MEMBERS SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT A CAR CARAVAN DEMONSTRATION RATHER THAN TEACHING.

THIS ALL BECAUSE TEACHERS VOTED LATE LAST NIGHT TO GO REMOTE CITING UNSAFE CONDITIONS IN SCHOOLS.

THAT IS IN DEFIANCE OF ADMINISTRATORS, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND THE MAYOR WHO SAY THAT SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY THE SAFEST PLACE FOR CHILDREN GIVEN COMMUNITY SPREAD OF COVID.

KNOWING THAT MOST TEACHERS WOULD NOT SHOW IT MEANT THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE PAID, C.P.S.

ADMINISTRATORS SAY THEY HAD NO CHOICE 0 TO CANCEL CLASS TORE TODAY AND ALSO FOR TOMORROW.

THE DISTRICT SAYS THAT C.T.U.

HERE IS TAKING ILLEGAL ACTION AND PREVENTED TEACHERS WHO DID STAY HOME FROM LOGGING ON TO THEIR WORK E-MAILS AND INTO THEIR REMOTE CLASSROOMS N AN INTERVIEW WITH WBEZ, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS THERE IS NO DATA TO SHOW A REASON TO CLOSE THE ENTIRE CITY'S SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND SHE SAYS C.T.U.

LEADERS NOT THE TEACHERS BUT THE LEADERSHIP SHE SAYS DID IT BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM POWER.

HERE SHE IS YESTERDAY.

>> WE DON'T NEED A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL STRATEGY.

WE NEED TO LEAN IN TO THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA AND NOT PUSH THAT TO THE SIDE AND GIVE IN TO FEAR MONGERING AND HYSTERIA.

>> LIGHTFOOT SAYS REMOTE LEARNING CAUSES LASTING HARM TO STUDENTS PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR.

WHO REALLY FELL BEHIND DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT C.P.S.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CATLYN SAVADO SAYS THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHAT THEY ARE FACING DAILY IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE MAYOR AND THE C.P.S.

C.E.O.

EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY POP INTO SCHOOLS FOR A BRIEF BIT FOR A PHOTO-OP.

>> IN THE COMMUNITY MYSELF AS A STUDENT, TEACHERS, STAFF WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

THIS IS NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED RIGHT.

SAFETY MEASURES ARE NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED.

THIS IS NOT WHAT SCHOOL SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

I HEARD THE C.E.O.

SAY YESTERDAY THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR KIDS ARE WEARING MASKS IN SCHOOL.

THE C.E.O.

WAS AT MY SCHOOL ON MONDAY.

AND I KNOW HE DIDN'T SEE EVERY HIGH SCHOOLER AT MY SCHOOL WITH A MASK ON.

>> ERIN COPLAND IS A LONGTIME C.T.U.

MEMBER AND A COUNSELOR AND MARRIED TO A C.P.S.

TEACHER AND HAS CHILDREN WHO ATTEND C.P.S.

SCHOOLS AND THERE ARE TRUST ISSUES WITH THE DISTRICT AND ERIN COPLAND SAYS THERE ARE TRUST ISSUES WITH THE DISTRICT.

ERIN COPLAND SAYS THE COVID IS DIFFERENT NOW WITH OMICRON AND CASES RAGING.

>> FEELS LIKE GROUND-HOG DAY IN WE ARE ALWAYS ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER.

THERE'S SOMETHING WE ARE ALWAYS NOT AGREEING UPON.

SO, YES, IN A SENSE GROUND-HOG DAY WITH NOT WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

AND IT'S FRUSTRATING.

I THINK ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.

>> AGAIN, DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF OMICRON AND SHE SAYS THAT THE C.P.S.

HAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THAT CHANGE.

NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH PPE SHE SAYS NOR ENOUGH FREQUENT OR RELIABLE TESTING OF COVID AND THAT IS WHY SHE VOTED TO GO REMOTE.

SHE SAYS IT WAS TO TAKE A PAUSE TIME TO GET THAT REMEDIED.

>> I FELT THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT STRATEGY.

I GUESS A STRATEGY IN THAT WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGE.

AND THE VOTE WAS TO GO REMOTE.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CLEAR WE ARE NOT ON STRIKE TEACHERS DON'T WANT TO STOP WORKING TEACHERS WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING THEY WANT TO WORK REMOTELY BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S THE BEST OPTION RIGHT NOW UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT A BETTER SOLUTION.

>> SHE SAYS THERE IS NO TRUE RIGHT ANSWER BUT SHE WILL BE COMFORTABLE GOING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM ONCE SHE IS PROVIDED WITH KN95 MASKS AND ONCE THAT CURVE OF THE RISING CASES FALLS DOWN SOME.

VANESSA CHAVEZ IS A MOM AND A STEP-MOM TO THREE C.P.S.

JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS AND SHE HAD BEEN DREADING A DAY LIKE THIS OF CLASSES GETTING CANCELED.

>> I WAS AFRAID IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

MY BIGGEST, I THINK, THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATION IS ALWAYS WHEN I AM IN HEALTHCARE.

SO I FOLLOW THE NUMBER THE COASTED NUMBERS WE TRACK THEM DAILY.

MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION IS KNOWING WHEN MITIGATION EFFORTS ACTUALLY WORK AND HOW MUCH PAIN AND EFFORT AND SACRIFICE HAS BEEN PUT INTO FIGURING OUT WHAT WORKS AND HAVING AN ORGANIZATION COME AND SAY WELL, NO THAT IS A LIE AND KIND OF DEBUNKING THE SCIENCE BEHIND KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

>> CHAVEZ FEELS BAD FOR HER KIDS.

THEY WERE ON TRACK TO HEALING AND RECOVERING FROM THE TUMULT OF THE PANDEMIC AND REMOTE LEARNING.

SHE SAYS HOW C.P.S.

IS STILL NEW RELATIVELY NEW C.E.O.

MARTINEZ HANDLED THINGS SHE LIKES THAT.

>> LEVELS OF FRUSTRATION HIGHEST FRUSTRATION GOES TO C.T.U.

I AGAIN THE MISINFORMATION THAT IS OUT THERE, THE TRYING TO SCARE FAMILIES AND SCARE THEIR MEMBERS, USING LIES AND DENOUNCING ACTUAL DATA AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.

AND THEIR GUIDANCE.

THE MAJORITY OF MY FRUSTRATION LIES WITH THEM.

>> SO STILL FOR FAMILIES NO REAL CLEARANCES ON WHAT IS GOING TO GO ON IN THE REST OF THE WEEK WITH MARTINEZ INDICATING THAT PERHAPS SCHOOL COULD BE BACK IN AS EARLY AS FRIDAY.

BUT FOR SURE, NO SCHOOL TOMORROW AS THE STANDOFF BETWEEN C.T.U.

AND C.P.S.

DRAGS ON.

I KNOW WE'LL HAVE MORE LATER.

FOR NOW TOSSING IT BACK TO YOU.

>> A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FOR C.P.S.

FAMILIES RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU.

AND TO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND ONE OF C.T.U.

'S LEADERS.

BRANDIS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

OF COURSE QUESTIONS REMAIN FOR THOUSANDS OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

JUST AN HOUR AGO WE SPOKE WITH CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION VICE-PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS GATES TO GET MORE ON THE STATUS OF THE STALEMATE BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

WE SHOULD NOTE WE INVITED A REPRESENTATIVE FROM C.P.S.

BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO JOIN US.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HOW SHE DESCRIBED TODAY FOR HER MEMBERS AND HOW THEY ARE FEELING?

>> FRUSTRATING FOR MANY OF THE MEMBERS THIS MORNING WHEN THEY WENT TO LOG ON AND FOUND THEY WERE LOCKED OUT OF THEIR CLASSROOMS.

MANY COMMUNICATED TO THEIR FAMILIES THAT THEY WOULD BE LOGGING ON AND COULD NOT SO THEY SPENT TIME TODAY CALLING FAMILIES, TOUCHING BASES WITH THEM.

THIS AFTERNOON THERE WAS A CAR CARAVAN SEVERAL OF THE EDUCATORS I SPOKE WITH TODAY SPENT THE AFTERNOON TAKING WORK TO THEIR STUDENTS MAKING SURE THE FAMILIES HAD GOOD INSTRUCTION.

JUST A LOT OF WORK TO SCRAMBLE AROUND.

WE DID NOT EXPECT TO BE LOCKED OUT OF OUR VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS.

>> THAT SAID, THE DISTRICT IS CALLING THIS ACTION AN ILLEGAL WORK STOPPAGE.

SINCE THE UNION CAN'T MAKE THE DETERMINATION ON WHEN THE DISTRICT GOES TO REMOTE LEARNING IT IS THE DISTRICT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THAT DECISION, AND OF COURSE YOU AND I KNOW A LOT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE AN ACTUAL STRIKE CAN OCCUR, BUT IS THIS IN EFFECT A WORK STOPPAGE?

IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL IT?

>> NO, I WOULD NOT CALL IT A WORK STOPPAGE.

IT WAS OBVIOUS IT IS A REMOTE WORK ACTION.

SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR WHERE WE COULD INTERACT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO THEM.

LOOK, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T ANSWER FOR OUR MAYOR.

I JUST CAN'T.

I JUST KNOW THAT OUR MEMBERS WANT TO BE ENGAGED IN INSTRUCTION AGAIN.

BRANDIS, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE CLASSROOMS IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY WERE DOUBLED UP, TRIPLED UP THEY WERE IN CAFETERIAS, IN AUDITORIUMS AND GYMS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO ADULTS TO STAFF OR INSTRUCT.

INSTRUCTION IS NOT HAPPENING.

BECAUSE OF COVID.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE CATCHING THIS AND IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO KEEP CIVILITY WHICH IS WHY TESTING IS IMPORTANT, WHY VACCINATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE OUR MAYOR THAT THESE THINGS NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES SO WE CANNOT ONLY OPEN BUT WE CAN REMAIN.

>> AND OF COURSE, STACY WHAT A LOT OF PARENTS WANT TO KNOW IS HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON STAYING OUT OF THE BUILDING UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD YOU RETURN BEFORE JANUARY 18TH?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH OUR MAYOR.

SHE IS IN CONTROL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE'VE BEEN BEGGING FOR COLLABORATION FOR A LONGTIME.

TODAY IN BARGAINING I WOULD SAY IS THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS THAT WE GOT TRANSPARENCY, GOOD DISCUSSION.

THE PASSING OF PROPOSALS.

AND THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE OUR MEMBERS TOOK ACTION.

AND IT IS A SHAME THAT OUR MEMBERS HAVE TO TAKE ACTION IN ORDER TO GET HER TEAM TO BE TRUTHFUL AT THE TABLE TO PASS PROPOSALS AT THE TABLE.

0 TO ENGAGE AND INTERACT AT THE TABLE.

TYPICALLY IT IS A LOT OF NO.

A LOT OF WAITING AND TODAY THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH AND SO WE SEE THAT AS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND WE HOPE THAT THE MAYOR CAN, YOU KNOW, GIVE US AN INDICATION OF HER OPENING BACK UP OUR CLASSROOMS SO WE CAN TEACH THEM.

AND GET TO AN AGREEMENT THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

>> YESTERDAY, WE HEARD FROM C.P.S.

LATE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED TO YOU 200,000 KN95 MASKS TO STAFF AND MORE THROUGHOUT JANUARY.

ALLOWING PRINCIPALS TO MAKE THE DECISION ON REINSTATING THE HEALTH SCREENER AND THE TEMPERATURE CHECK POLICIES AT SCHOOLS AS WELL AS ON SIGHT TESTING AT 100% OF SCHOOLS WHILE ALLOWING SCHOOLS TO MAKE THE SCHOOL LEVEL TO MAKE THE DECISION ON RETURNING TO REMOTE LEARNING WHEN CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT PROPOSAL?

I DON'T THINK IT LINES UP WITH WHAT YOU ALL ARE ASKING?

>> WELL, IT DOESN'T.

IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE FREQUENCY OF TESTING.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OPT-OUT TESTING.

WE KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EVANSTON IS DOING THAT.

THORNTON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOTH ARE DOING OPT-OUT.

WE BELIEVE HAVING AN OPT-OUT MECHANISM HELPS US GET MORE CHILDREN INTO THE TESTING REGIMENT AND A BETTER OPPORTUNITY OF CATCHING THE RYE VIRUS BEFORE WE HAVE A SITUATION LIKE WE HAD AT FIRST WHERE 80% OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY WAS IN QUARANTINE BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS.

WE NEED THOSE MITIGATIONS IN PLACE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BROKEN RECORD ON THIS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GAVE THE SCHOOLS A BILLION DOLLARS TO PUT THE MITIGATIONS IN PLACE AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ADMINISTERED IN A WAY THAT HELPS US GIVE OUR STUDENTS SUPPORTS THAT HELPS US HELP OUR STUDENTS RECOVER FROM THE TIME WE WERE NOT IN-PERSON.

WE DON'T HAVE TESTING WORKING.

YOU ALL SAW THE TESTING DEBACLE.

THESE THINGS REQUIRE ADMINISTRATION, LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HOPING FROM THE MAYOR.

>> ON THE TOPIC OF THE MAYOR YESTERDAY, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ADDRESSED THE DECISION THAT YOUR MEMBERS TOOK.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THAT.

>> WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE WENT TO ALL REMOTE LEARNING AS THE C.T.U.

LEADERSHIP IS CHALLENGING US TO DO?

WHAT WE SAW IS 100,000 CHILDREN PARTICULARLY AMONG BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN THAT WERE DISCONNECTED FROM THE SYSTEM AND LEARNING.

WE SAW THREE-FOLD INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FAILURE RATES AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN.

NOT ONLY THAT WE HEARD FROM PARENTS HOW DISRUPTIVE THAT REMOTE LEARNING WAS TO THEIR LIFESTYLES >> NOW, STACY THIS CAUSED WHIPLASH AND FRUSTRATION FOR PARENTS UP LATE LAST NIGHT WONDERING WHAT TO EXPECT TODAY.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE PARENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TENSION AND DISCORD BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE UNION AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEM AND THEIR STUDENTS?

>> A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THAT.

I AM A MOM AS WELL.

I HAD TO HUSH MY CHILDREN BEFORE I LOGGED ON WITH YOU.

THIS HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY DISRUPTIVE.

AND IT'S BEEN DISRUPTIVE SINCE WE STARTED IN SEPTEMBER.

I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE MY 7TH GRADER DOES NOT HAVE A READING, SCIENCE OR MATH TEACHERS.

THOSE ARE CRITICAL CLASSES IN A CRITICAL SCHOOL YEAR.

THIS DISRUPTION IS FELT BY EVERYONE AND IT IS UNFAIR.

IT'S SO MUCH SO UNFAIR THIS IS WHY WE'RE SAYING WHERE IS THE $2 BILLION?

OUR MAYOR BRINGS UP ALL OF WHAT WAS WRONG BUT HAS NOT IMPLEMENTED ANY POLICIES OR PRACTICES OR HIRED THE NECESSARY PEOPLE TO ADDRESS ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT SHE CONTINUES TO ENUMBER RATE.

WE DON'T HAVE MORE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

WE DON'T HAVE MORE SUBSTITUTES IN THE BUILDING TO COVER CLASSES BECAUSE WE KNOW STAFFING CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK.

>> AND WE ARE JUST OUT OF TIME BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE OBVIOUSLY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OUT OF THE MAYOR.

WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM HER AS WELL.

THAT IS WHERE WE'LL LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

>> HEY, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN HAVE REACHED A RECORD-HIGH IN CHICAGO.

THE CITY IS CURRENTLY SEEING A DAILY AVERAGE OF ABOUT SEVEN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND DESPITE THESE NUMBERS SOME DATA SUGGESTS THE OMICRON VARIANT IS CAUSING A MILDER ILLNESS IN CHILDREN.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS Dr. TAYLOR HEALD-SARGENT, A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN AT LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

WELCOME BACK DOCTOR AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

FIRST OFF WE HAVE WE HAD LAST NIGHT CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY ON THE SHOW AND SHE SPOKE ABOUT THE SPIKE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

HERE SHE IS.

>> EVEN BEFORE VACCINES WERE AVAILABLE, THE RATE THANK GOODNESS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RATE WE SEE CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH THE FLU IN A TYPICAL YEAR.

>> WOULD YOU SAY, THAT ARE YOU SEEING THE SAME PATTERN AT LURIE?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE NUMBER OF FLU SINCE WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT IN SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS HERE WE HAVE HAD OVER 110 PATIENTS BE ADMITTED WITH COVID-19 TO OUR INSTITUTION AND ABOUT 20% OF THEM HAD NEEDED ICU CARE.

IT IS NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CHILDREN IT IS THE MOST WE'VE HAD SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

>> THE MOST YOU'VE HAD SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

IN THAT SAME INTERVIEW WITH Dr. ARWADY SHE SAID WHILE THE NUMBERS ARE RISING FOR CHILDREN, IT IS STILL RARE.

BUT FROM WHAT WE'RE HEARING 110 ADMISSIONS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT.

HOW WOULD YOU PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT FOR US?

>> SO IT IS A LOT.

AND ALTHOUGH EVERYONE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT OMICRON IS SLIGHTLY MILDER, IT APPEARS, AND OVERALL COVID IS MILDER IN CHILDREN WHEN YOU HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF INFECTED INDIVIDUALS, THE RARE EVENTS ARE GOING TO OCCUR AND THEY ARE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND SEVERE ILLNESS.

SO IT HAS BEEN PRETTY HIGH AMOUNTS RECENTLY FOR US.

>> AS YOU JUST SAID OMICRON SAID TO BE MILDER IN CHILDREN BUT WE'RE SEEING THE CLIMBING INFECTION AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES FOR CHILDREN.

IS IT A MATTER OF CO-MORBIDITIES AND HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE PUTTING THE CHILDREN IN YOUR CARE?

>> CERTAINLY THAT IS SOME OF THEM.

ALSO YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT A LARGE PROPORTION OF OUR CHILDREN ARE UNVACCINATED NOT BECAUSE OF CHOICE BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO VACCINES THROUGH THEIR PARENTS' DECISIONS OR LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OLD.

OVER HALF OF OUR PATIENTS ADMITTED HAVE BEEN LESS THAN FIVE AND UNABLE TO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A VACCINE FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

SOME OF THEM DO HAVE OTHER CO-MORBIDITIES AND SOME ARE OTHERWISE HEALTHY.

>> WE'VE HEARD REPORTS FROM SOME HOSPITALS CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT CHILDREN ARE BEING ADMITTED FOR OTHER ILLNESSES AND TESTING POSITIVE AT THE POINT OF ADMISSION.

AND HAVING BEEN OTHERWISE ASYMPTOMATIC ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THAT AS WELL?

>> WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN 25% OF OUR CASES THAT CHILDREN MIGHT PRESENT FOR OTHER REASONS.

OR ADMITTED FOR REASONS NOT RELATED TO COVID THE MAJORITY ARE BEING ADMITTED FOR COVID-19.

>> OK. ARE THERE SYMPTOMS THAT PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR?

>> SO THE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WATCHING IN GENERAL, A COLD THAT PROGRESSES INTO A COUGH.

SEEMING LIKE THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHE ARE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN THAT CAN BE HARD TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT ALWAYS TELL YOU IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO BREATHE.

WATCHING TO SEE IF THEY ARE BREATHING FASTER THAN NORMAL OR WORKING HARDER.

IF THEY ARE SLEEPIER THAN USUAL OR HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING DOWN FLUIDS.

SOMETIMES THE GI, THE VOMITING AND DIARRHEA CAN BE A COMPONENT AND KEEPING KIDS HYDRATED CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

>> ARE YOU SEEING A DIFFERENCE HOW THE DELTA VARIANT AFFECTED CHILDREN COMPARED TO OMICRON?

>> LUCKILY, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME SPIKE UP IN THIS REGION WITH DELTA SEEN IN THE OTHER REGIONS.

AND SO OUR DELTA INFECTIONS WERE MANAGEABLE IN THAT THEY WERE A LOWER NUMBER.

HERE I WOULD SAY WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IT'S SIMILAR TO DELTA.

>> WHAT IMPACT IS THE INCREASE IN PATIENTS UP TO 110, HOW IS THAT IMPACTING YOUR RESOURCES THERE, YOUR STAFF AND YOUR ABILITY YOU ARE A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BUT THAT IS A LARGE INFLUX OF CHILDREN >> YES.

AND WE ARE DESIGNED FOR IT.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE EXPECT IN THE WINTERTIME IS OUR BUSY TIME WITH RESPIRATORY VIRUSES AND THE FLU.

IT IS NOT UNHEARD OF.

BUT THE PROBLEM THAT COMPOUNDED HERE AND OTHER HOSPITALS WE'RE ALL WARY.

ADDING TO ALREADY PANDEMIC WARINESS AND FATIGUE AND OUR STAFFING IS ACTUALLY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T -- WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH STAFFING IT IS NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF BEDS BUT THE NUMBER OF CARE PROVIDERS.

LUXURY WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP ON TOP OF THINGS AND OUR INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL INSURED WE HAVE ENOUGH PPE AND MASKS TO GO AROUND BUT IT'S TIRING.

>> DOCTOR, ALL DAY A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND C.T.U.

ABOUT CHILDREN RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOMS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT CHILDREN BEING BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AFFECTING THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT YOU SEE THERE?

>> I THINK IN GENERAL WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE NEED TO KEEP UP ALL OF YOUR MITIGATION EFFORTS AS BEST WE CAN.

VACCINATION, TESTING, MASK, GOOD VENTILATION ALL BE IN PLACE TO KEEP THE RATES AS LOW AS WE CAN GET THEM.

SOMETIMES SCHOOL RESPECTABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE.

IF SCHOOLS ARE PROVIDING THE MITIGATION FACTORS AND KIDS ARE IN THE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS, THEN IT CAN BE DONE WELL AND IT MIGHT NOT IMPACT OUR RATE CASE AS MUCH.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

Dr. TAYLOR HEALD-SARGENT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AHEAD.

SO STAY WITH US.

THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING THE RACE TO REPLACE OUTRAGEOUS CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH.

FIRST, CHICAGO'S BLEND OF CULTURES RESULTED IN A LONG AND DELICIOUS LIST OF CULINARY INNOVATIONS.

ONE PARTICULAR CHICAGO FOOD FAVORITE STARTED WITH A SYRIAN FAMILY THAT FOLDED TOGETHER ITALIAN AND MEXICAN INGREDIENTS TO CREATE A HOT DOG STAND STAPLE.

ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY AND IT IS A BIT OF A PUFF PIECE.

>> THERE'S NO OTHER CITY THAT IS BETTER AT DOING QUICK SERVICE ITEMS AND CERTAINLY PIZZA PUFFS ARE A BIG PART OF THAT.

>> THE PIZZA PUFF HAS BEEN ON THE MENU AT BYRON'S HOT DOGS FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

THE PRESIDENT MIKE PAYNE SAYS THE HUMBLE POCKET IS STAYING POWER IS PROOF.

>> IT DOESN'T TAKE ROCKET SCIENCE TO COOK THEM.

YOU PUT IT IN THE DEEP FRYER AND WAIT UNTIL IT'S DONE AND YOU ARE DONE.

>> SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1976 MILLIONS OF PIZZA PUFFS HAVE BEEN PRESSED, FILLED AND FOLDED AND PACKAGED FOR COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL SAIL IN IL TACO FOODS WEST TOWN FACILITY.

>> I AM STANDING OUTSIDE THE PIZZA PUFF LINE.

AND IF YOU ARE ANYTHING LIKE ME THIS IS EXCITING.

IT'S LIKE STANDING OUTSIDE THE GATES OF THE WILLIE WONKA CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

>> IT'S MADE FROM SCRATCH EVERYDAY.

WHETHER IT BE THE FILLING OR THE DOUGH THAT WE MAKE AND THEN WE HAND FOLD THEM.

OUR EMPLOYEES WORK THEIR TAILS OFF HERE AND APPRECIATED EVERYDAY.

THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO AND THEY REALLY HAVE A PASSION AND APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING A COMPANY NAMED IL TACOS MAKES TACOS.

>> THAT STANDS WITH ILLINOIS TAMALE COMPANY STARTED WITH MY GRANDFATHER.

>> IN 1927 HE BOUGHT A COMPANY MAKING CHICAGO STYLE ROLLED TAMALES FOR PUSH CART VENDORS.

WHEN WARREN SHABAZ TOOK THE COMPANY OVER IN 1964 HE CONDENSED THE NAME TO IL TACO.

BY THE 70s, THE HOT DOG STANDS WERE READY FOR SOMETHING NEW.

>> MY BROTHER AND I GREW UP IN AN ALL ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND CALZONES WERE HUGE BACK THEN AND I HAD A BUDDY.

HE OWNED AZTEC CORN PRODUCTS AND I SAID LISTEN, ART, LET ME TAKE SOME OF YOUR TORTILLAS.

>> WAR RIGHT HAND AND EDWARD USED THE DOUGH AS A WRAPPER FOR A SPICEY PIZZA FLAVORED FILLING.

HE SAYS MAKING A POCKET THAT COULD TAKE THE PLUNGE IN THE DEEP FLYER TOOK TRIAL AND ERROR BUT... >> WHEN WE PUT IT IN THE FRENCH FRYER IT HELD TOGETHER AND IT WAS AMAZING.

>> IL TACO ADDED THE PIZZA PUFF TO THE LINEUP AND IT TOOK OFF.

AS THE COMPANY GREW THE FAMILY GREW AND WARREN FOLDED HIS CHILDREN INTO THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

>> OF COURSE I USED TO FORCE THEM TO COME DOWN HERE.

THEY COME DOWN AND WORK IN THE SUMMER.

>> I CANNOT FOLD A PIZZA PUFF IT GOES BY TOO FAST.

THE WORST PART WAS DOING THE TACO PUFF AND HAVING TO PEEL THE ONIONS BY FAR.

I EYES RUNNING.

>> OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE SIBLINGS LEFT OTHER JOBS TO BECOME THE FOURTH GENERATION OF THE FAMILY TO RUN IL TACO.

>> IT'S GROWN AND IT'S BEEN SO FUN TO DO IT WITH TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

AND ENJOY EVERYDAY DOING IT.

SO IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

>> I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE THREE KIDS.

SOMETIMES I ALMOST CAN GET TO TEARS BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE.

>> AND THEY SAY THEIR HOPE IS A FIFTH ROUND OF CHAVEZ'S WILL BE READY TO TAKEOVER ONE DAY.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO STAY WITH IT AS A FAMILY COMPANY AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION IF THEY WANT TO.

>> MY SON RIGHT NOW, HE DRILLS ABOUT THREE PIZZA PUFFS A DAY AND THAT IS NOT A JOKE.

>> I FEEL PRIVILEGED I CAN SPEAK FOR MY BROTHERS IT IS A PRIVILEGE.

>> THANK YOU FOR EATING THE PUFFS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> AND YOU MAY HAVE SPOTTED THE FOR SALE SIGN ON THE PLANT IN WEST TOWN BECAUSE THE COMPANY IS PLANNING A BIG MOVE.

BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING FAR.

THE NEW FACILITY WILL BE IN THE NORTH SIDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY ARE ANTICIPATING TO MOVE IN LATER THIS YEAR.

YUM, YUM.

BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> A PUFFED PIZZA BUT IT LOOKED DELICIOUS.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" HOW HOSPITALS ARE WORKING TO MAINTAIN CAPACITY.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE C.E.O.

OF RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

>> ON THIS ANNIVERSARY OF JANUARY 6TH, LET'S CONFRONT THE ANGER.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM HAS THE LATEST ON WHETHER CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR OR U.S. SENATE.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... AS WE MENTIONED MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND PEDRO MARTINEZ ARE HOLDING A NEWS CONFERENCE RIGHT NOW.

MARTINEZ SAYS THE SCHOOLS WILL BE CANCELED TOMORROW GIVEN THE ONGOING STANDOFF BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

BUT BOTH STRESS THAT SCHOOLS ARE SAFE AND IN-PERSON LEARNING IS THE BEST OPTION FOR STUDENTS.

>> SO IF THERE IS ANY REASON FOR US TO SHUTDOWN AN ENTIRE SYSTEM AND GO FULLY REMOTE, I WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE STANDING HERE AND TELLING YOU THAT THAT WAS NECESSARY.

BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT.

NOR IS THE C.E.O.

NOR IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARY.

SO IF YOU CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES, AS WE DO, WE WILL NOT RELENT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

WE ARE STANDING FIRM AND WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT TO GET OUR KIDS BACK IN IN-PERSON LEARNING!

PERIOD!

FULL STOP!

>> STARTING FRIDAY, I WELCOME MY STAFF TO COME INTO THE BUILDINGS.

I WELCOME TO COME AND JOIN US TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN.

AND WE WILL BUILD PLANS AS WE SUPPORT CHILDREN AND AGAIN ALLOW SCHOOLS STARTING FRIDAY TO HAVE CHILDREN COMING IN FOR ALL SERVICES.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE BUILDING UP AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH C.T.U.

>> 13,000 COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE SAYS IT PASSED THIS GRIM MILESTONE TODAY JUST SIX WEEKS AFTER MARKING THE 12,000TH DEATH.

THE OFFICE ALSO NOTES THAT MORE THAN THREE-AND-A-HALF MONTHS PASSED BETWEEN THE 11,000TH AND 12,000TH DEATH RELATED TO COVID-19.

254 PEOPLE DIED THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 27 IN 2021.

THE MOST IN ONE WEEK SINCE DECEMBER OF 2020.

MONTHS BEFORE THE VACCINE WAS WIDELY AVAILABLE.

THE COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS BEGUN TO DEPLOY TRAILERS TO HOSPITALS TO RELIEVE THE MORGUES.

>> AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES IS MOURNING THE DEATH OF ONE OF ITS OWN.

DEIDRE SILAS WAS KILLED WHILE RESPONDING TO A REPORT OF CHILDREN IN DANGER OUTSIDE SPRINGFIELD.

DEIDRE SILAS JOINED DCFS.

THE UNION SAYS IT WILL STUDY THE FACTS THIS INCIDENT AND PRESS FOR NECESSARY CHANGES TO DCFS OPERATIONS.

THE GOVERNOR AND DIRECTOR HAVE OFFERED THEIR CONDOLENCES.

>> AND PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AS WE MENTIONED ILLINOIS IS SETTING RECORD-HIGHS FOR CORONAVIRUS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES WITH 6800 NOW IN HOSPITALS DUE TO COVID.

ACCORDING TO CITY DATA CHICAGO BROKE THE RECORD YESTERDAY FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 AND CURRENTLY 31% OF ICU PATIENTS IN THE CITY HAVE COVID.

HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE ARE WORKING TO MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO TAKE PATIENTS AND ARE DELAYING PROCEDURES AMID A BED SHORTAGE.

AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS AND MORE IS Dr. OMAR LATEEF, C.E.O.

AND PRESIDENT OF RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

Dr. OMAR LATEEF THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE'RE SEEING THE STATE SET RECORDS FOR COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS EVERYDAY.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION CURRENTLY AT RUSH?

>> RUSH LIKE MANY OF THE HOSPITALS IN CHICAGO IS NOT CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY WE HAVE ROOM AND OPEN BEDS WE HAVE ICU BEDS AND GENERAL MEDICAL BEDS.

WE ARE AMPLE FOR TODAY AND YESTERDAY.

I THINK WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE REAL ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE WE WILL BE AT IN ONE, TWO AND THREE WEEKS FROM NOW WHEN THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO INCREASE THEN WE WILL HAVE THAT GREATER SURGE THAT WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO TAKE PATIENTS.

HOW IS RUSH PREPARING FOR THAT?

>> SO IT'S REALLY FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

IN ANY KIND OF PANDEMIC, THERE'S THREE LIMITATIONS IN YOUR ABILITY TO CARE FOR PEOPLE.

SUPPLIES, DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PPE, THE IV FLUIDS AND MEDICATIONS.

STAFFING DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN STAFF AND BEDS PHYSICAL BEDS.

AND THE FIRST WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC, AS A NATION WE INCREASED OUR SUPPLIES AND INCREASED OUR NUMBER OF BEDS.

THAT WAS THE INITIAL FEAR DURING THE FIRST SURGE WE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THAT NUMBER.

DURING THIS SURGE WE REALIZED THAT STAFF SOMETHING OUR GREATEST CRISIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND THE CITY.

SO SPECIFICALLY WHAT RUSH HAS DONE WE INCREASED OUR BEDS WE HAVE A PLAN THAT ALLOWS US TO FLEX UP OR DOWN BASED ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY GOING OUTSIDE OF THE CHICAGOLAND AREA FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN HELP.

AND WE'RE BRINGING IN AS MUCH STAFF AS WE CAN FIND.

BOTH OUR CURRENT STAFF AND WE'RE REPURPOSING STAFF FROM OTHER AREAS TO CREATE MORE STAFF BEDS FOR COVID LIKE ALL THE HOSPITALS IN THE CITY.

>> PART OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS THE DELAY OR POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTIVE PROCEDURES OR TREATMENTS FOR OTHER ILLNESSES.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT AT RUSH RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH, WE ARE.

AND I THINK THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN PAIN AND WAITING AND WAITING AND SEE A CURE FOR THEIR SEVERE BACK PAIN OR ELECTIVE SURGERY THAT PHRASE IS BEING THROWN AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT IS A REALLY BROAD SPECTRUM AND THERE ARE SURGERIES IMPORTANT TO GET DONE LIKE A CANCER RESECTION FROM A WOMAN THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

VERSUS SAY, AN EYELID RECESSION.

RUSH JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER HOSPITALS IN THE CITY PRIORITIZES THE CASES WE DO BASED ON THE VOLUMES AND THE NEEDS FOR OUR CITY.

WE WILL ABSOLUTELY POSTPONE WHATEVER THERE NEEDS TO BE POSTPONED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THE SICKEST PATIENTS.

>> FOR A CANCER PATIENT, THAT NEEDS SURGERY OR TREATMENT, WHO MIGHT BE WORRIED THAT THEY MIGHT BE POSTPONED YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM?

>> OUR MESSAGE IS WE LEARNED FROM THE FIRST WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC, HOSPITALS LIKE RUSH EFFECTIVELY BECAME COVID HOSPITALS AND PEOPLE WERE SCARED.

WE HAD ONE PATIENT WHO WAITED FIVE DAYS WITH CHEST PAIN PRIOR TO COMING TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE SHE WAS SCARED.

WHAT WE LEARNED IS THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AFTER THE PANDEMIC WAS WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

DELAYING THE APPROPRIATE CARE IS NEVER THE RIGHT THING.

SO WE URGE ALL OUR PATIENTS TO WORK WITH THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND CONSULTING DOCTORS TO MAKE SURE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THEY ARE PUTTING OFF, THAT IT'S OK TO PUT OFF.

SO CRITICAL SURGERIES CANCER SURGERIES THOSE ARE SURGERIES WE WANT TO DO WE HAVE TO DO THOSE.

PART OF THE NEW NORMAL THAT EXISTS IN AMERICA IS LIVING IN A HOSPITAL WITH COVID PATIENTS AND WITH NON-COVID PATIENTS.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TREAT ALL OF THOSE LIKE ALL THE HOSPITALS.

>> AND WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF VACCINE THERE'S BEEN ADVANCEMENT IN THERAPEUTICS FOR COVID-19.

TELL US ABOUT HOW FAR YOUR HOSPITAL AND OTHERS HAVE COME IN TERMS OF TREATING THE PATIENTS THAT DO COME IN?

>> TWO YEARS AGO, THE DISEASE DID NOT EXIST.

IT WAS SPARSE DATA COMING FROM CHINA AND ITALY AND SEATTLE, SPARSE DATA COMING FROM NEW YORK.

IT TOOK US A WHILE TO COORDINATE AND COLLECT THAT DATA AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DID NOT WORK.

IN HEALTHCARE WE LEARN FROM BEST PRACTICES.

WE LOOK AND SAY THESE 600 PATIENTS WERE TREATED ON THIS VENTILATOR AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

THAT ACTUALLY TAKES TIME TO ACCUMULATE.

IT IS TWO YEARS LATER, WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED NATIONS IN HEALTHCARE IN THIS WORLD.

AND HAVE SHARED DATA IN AN OPEN SOURCE WAY TO LEARN BEST PRACTICES.

OUR OUTCOMES HAVE GOTTEN BETTER EACH MONTH SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED MORTALITY HAS CONTINUED TO DROP BECAUSE WE LEARN HOW TO HANDLE THE ACUTE PATIENTS AND THE SUPER ACUTE PATIENTS IN A WAY THAT REALLY PROLONGS THEIR LIFE AND MINIMIZES MORTALITY.

>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COULD PREVENT FOLKS FROM COMING TO THE HOSPITAL IS GETTING TESTED.

THERE'S BEEN A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF TESTING.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE TEST RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD REALLY URGE PEOPLE TO GO TO THE IDPH WEBSITE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE TEST THAT YOU ARE GETTING IS A VERIFIED OR A STUDIED TEST.

I THINK RIGHT NOW LIKE ANY OTHER TIME WHEN THERE IS A HUGE NEED YOU TEND TO SEE SOME TESTS THAT ARE NOT AS GOOD AS OTHERS.

ANY REPUTABLE TESTING SITE OR HEALTHCARE FACILITY OVER-THE-COUNTER TEST THAT HAVE BEEN VALIDATED HAVE F.D.A.

APPROVAL ON THEM ARE VERY ACCURATE TESTS AND CAN BE HELPFUL IN GUIDING BEHAVIOR.

SO WE ARE NOT -- WE VERY MUCH ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IF YOU ARE SYMPTOMATIC TO GET TESTED.

THAT REALLY CAN PULL YOU OUT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION AND DECREASE THE SPREAD.

TESTING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE AND EVERY TIME WE HAVE THE SURGE WE FIND OURSELVES CHASING MORE TESTS AND WE ARE IN THAT SITUATION NOW WHERE I'M SURE MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS KEEP GOING TO DIFFERENT PHARMACIES AND ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY SEE ON-LINE AND BY THE TIME THEY GET THERE THEY ARE SOLD OUT.

>> DOCTOR A LOT FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND A LOT FOR YOU TO MANAGE.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WITH MORE ON THE FIGHT BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND THE TEACHERS' UNION.

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER ... WHAT IS THE POLITICAL FALLOUT OF THE STANDOFF BETWEEN THE TEACHERS' UNION AND THE CITY?

THE RACE FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HEATS UP AFTER BOBBY RUSH ANNOUNCES HE IS STEPPING DOWN AND ADAM KINZINGER DISCUSSES HIS FUTURE ON THE EVE OF THE JANUARY 6TH CAPITOL RIOT ANNIVERSARY.

HERE ARE AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

THE TEACHERS' UNION VOTED TO SKIP IN-PERSON LEARNING TODAY AND WE KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN TOMORROW AS WE HEARD.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND HERE IS MORE WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> WE WILL NOT RELENT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

WE ARE STANDING FIRM!

AND WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT TO GET OUR KIDS BACK IN IN-PERSON LEARNING!

PERIOD!

FULL STOP!

WE OWE THAT TO OUR CHILDREN WHO SUFFERED LEARNING LOSSES.

I NEED YOU TO REPORT ABOUT THE AFFECTED 100,000 CHILDREN WERE DISENGAGED WHEN WE WERE FULLY REMOTE.

100,000 MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN AND POOR KIDS.

>> HEATHER WHAT IS THE POLITICAL FALLOUT FOR THE MAYOR WITH THIS STANDOFF?

>> WELL, IT COULD BE SEVERE.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 300,000 STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN IN SCHOOL TODAY AND WILL NOT BE IN SCHOOL TOMORROW.

AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHEN THEY WILL RETURN TO SCHOOL WHETHER IN-PERSON OR REMOTE.

AND THIS IS REALLY BECAUSE BOTH SIDES, BOTH THE MAYOR AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AGREE THAT WE ARE IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BUT THEY DISAGREE ON HOW TO APPROACH THAT.

AND THE MAYOR AS YOU HEARD WANTS KIDS IN SCHOOLS.

WHILE THE UNION IS CONCERNED THAT STUDENTS WILL GET COVID, GET SICK AND SOME OF THEM WILL GET SERIOUSLY ILL AND DIE NOT TO MENTION TEACHERS AND STAFF AS WELL.

THE MAYOR, HOWEVER, IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM NATIONAL POLITICIANS, REPUBLICANS, TO GET THE SCHOOLS BACK OPEN AGAIN AND IT REALLY GOES TO THE HEART OF HER SORT OF PITCH TO VOTERS THAT SHE IS A COMPETENT EXECUTIVE AND THAT SHE CAN KEEP THE CITY FUNCTIONING WHAT CANNOT HAPPEN WITH THAT MANY KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL FOR AT THIS POINT, AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> AND WE KNOW THE UNION'S VICE-PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS GATES SHE IS QUOTED SAYING WE ARE BETWEEN A ROCK AND THE HARD PLACE THE ROCK BEING THE PANDEMIC AND THE HARD PLACE BEING AN INTRACTABLE INCOMPETENT MAYOR.

THIS IS GETTING NASTY.

IS THIS THE WORST WE'VE SEEN IT MAKING IT HARDER TO GET AN AGREEMENT?

>> YES.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THERE IS NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND STACY DAVIS GATES.

AND OTHER UNION LEADERS THEY HAVE BEEN AT ODDS SINCE MINUTE ONE OF THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION AND BECAUSE IT IS A BIG CRISIS IN COVID-19 IT'S MAKING IT WORSE BECAUSE THERE IS A LACK OF TRUST ON BOTH SIDES.

WE HEARD THE MAYOR SAY THAT SHE DOESN'T TRUST THE C.T.U.

TO ONLY GO REMOTE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS UNTIL JANUARY 18TH WHICH IS WHAT THEY'VE PROPOSED.

AND THE UNION DOES NOT TRUST LIGHTFOOT OR HER STAFF TO PUT RESTRICTIONS OR RULES IN PLACE TO KEEP KIDS AND STAFF SAFE FROM GETTING COVID-19.

THAT MAKES IT A REALLY HARD, HARD POSITION TO REACH ANY SORT OF AGREEMENT WHICH IS WHY THERE'S NO END IN SIGHT AT THIS POINT.

>> AND IT COULD GET WORSE BY THE WAY WE HEARD FROM THE MAYOR SHE HAS BEGUN PURSUING LEGAL ACTION FILING AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE COMPLAINT THAT WOULD TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL AND IT'S NOT JUST CHICAGO YOU ARE GETTING PARTICULARLY SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR ILLINOIS GOVERNOR, AND THOSE IN OTHER RACES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY FOLLOWING THIS AND SAYING PAINTING THIS AS A POLITICAL ISSUE PARTICULARLY AGAINST DEMOCRATS SAYING LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CITY IS RUN BY DEMOCRATS, RESPECT ARRESTING CONTROL FROM PARENTS GET YOUR SCHOOLS UNDER CONTROL.

>> DESPITE THE CHALLENGES THAT THE MAYOR FACES WITH THE C.T.U., THE PANDEMIC, THE CITY'S VIOLENCE, ANY QUESTION THAT LIGHTFOOT WILL RUN AGAIN?

IT.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.

SHE HAS BARNSTORMED THE COUNTRY RAISING MONEY.

SHE HAS NOT SAID THAT.

AS DIFFICULT AS THE CHALLENGES ARE, I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT TO RUN AGAIN AND I ECHO HEATHER'S COMMENTS YES THERE ARE TEACHERS THAT ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED AND FRUSTRATED WITH THE MITIGATIONS AND SO MUCH FROM C.T.U.

AND THE MAYOR IS POLITICAL.

THE C.T.U.

HAS BEEN AGAINST LORI LIGHTFOOT FROM THE BEGINNING.

THE 2019 STRIKE.

THE WORK STOPPAGES LAST YEAR.

A LOT IS POLITICAL.

A LOT PARALLELS THE WAY THESE THINGS GO.

THEIR CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR WAS TONI PRECKWINKLE.

NOW LORI LIGHTFOOT IN THOSE COMMENTS THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I SENSE POLITICS IN THE COMMENTS SHE IS TRYING TO GET CHICAGOANS SHE WANTS TO BE REELECTED GET CHICAGOANS TO SEE HER AS SOMEONE WHO IS STANDING UP AND BANKING ON THE FACT THAT PUBLIC OPINION IF THIS IS THE CASE, PUBLIC OPINION FALLS ON THE SIDE OF WANTING KIDS IN CLASS.

BUT THEN LET'S TOSS THAT ASIDE AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE FRUSTRATION FOR FAMILIES RIGHT NOW.

FINDING OUT AT 11:00 P.M. LAST NIGHT AND WHO THIS HURTS THE MOST, LOW INCOME STUDENTS AS THE MAYOR SAID.

BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS.

C.P.S.

LOST TRACK OF A LOT OF THOSE STUDENTS LAST YEAR.

THIS IS REALLY DEVASTATING FOR FAMILIES.

AND IT UNDERSCORES THE FACT THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN DO THIS BUT POLITICS NEEDS TO BE PUT ASIDE AND THEY NEED TO FIND A RESOLUTION.

>> IT'S UGLY AND FRUSTRATING FOR A LOT OF PARENTS.

MOVING ON TO BOBBY RUSH'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WILL LEAVE THE HOUSE NEXT YEAR.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY.

>> I AM NOT RETIRING.

I AM RETURNING.

>> AMANDA WHY NOW FOR CONGRESSMAN RUSH AFTER 30 YEARS?

23 OTHER HOUSE DEMOCRATS WALKING AWAY?

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE REASSESSED THEIR PRIORITIES WHAT MATTERS IN LIFE AND HE SAID IT COMES DOWN TO NO, NOT THE RHETORIC IN WASHINGTON, AND THE PARTISAN DIVIDE BUT IT COMES DOWN TO WANTING TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS GRANDKIDS AND WANTING THEM TO KNOW WHO HE IS BEYOND A TV SCREEN.

SOMETIMES IT IS A SIMPLE AS THAT.

AND OF COURSE, RUSSIAS HE NOTED RETURNING.

HE ALSO IS GOING TO BE DOING RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND TAKING A BIGGER ROLE IN HIS CHURCH.

HE HAS ROOTS AS A BLACK PANTHER HE IS NOT ONE FOR SETTLING DOWN IF EVEN IF IT'S NOT CONGRESS.

>> PAT DOWELL CHANGING LANES FROM RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE TO RUNNING TO REPLACE RUSH IN THIS FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

SHE WAS NOT SLATED FOR BY THE PARTY FOR SECRETARY OF STATE?

>> AND DOWELL HAS BEEN A COMMITTEE PERSON AND ACTIVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND FELT IT WAS A SLIGHT AGAINST HER AT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSED ANOTHER FOR SECRETARY OF STATE SHE DECIDED TO PIVOT AND RUN FOR THE SEAT.

SHE IS A VETERAN AT THIS POINT IN POLITICS.

BUT YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF FOLKS DECLARE FOR THAT SEAT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE WIDE OPEN AND FOLKS WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE POSSIBLY YOU ALREADY HAVE THE COMMUNITY ACTIVIST JA'MAL COLE JUMPING IN AND ROBERT PETERS, SENATOR JACQUELINE COLLINS AND A LITANY OF FOLKS IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO RUSH ENDORSES AND WHO THE PARTY ENDORSES.

>> HEATHER THOUGHTS ON EXPECTATIONS ON WHO HE MIGHT ENDORSE IN THE RACE TO REPLACE HIM?

>> WELL, HE REALLY HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO BE A KING MAKER IN THIS RACE BECAUSE HE IS BELOVED IN THE DISTRICT.

AMANDA TALKED ABOUT THAT 30 YEARS OF HISTORY.

THERE IS REPORTS TONIGHT HE WILL ENDORSE KARIN NORINGTON-REAVES THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO COOK WORKFORCE OPERATION.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY INVOLVED IN RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RUNNING CONTACT TRACING AND JOB TRAINING.

SHE IS VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT AND WHAT PROMISES TO BE A HARD-FOUGHT RACE FOR A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO THAT DOES NOT COME OPEN VERY OFTEN WHICH MAKES IT A PRIZED POLITICAL PLUM.

I WILL NOTE IT IS INTERESTING THAT WE NOW HAVE TWO SITTING MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL RUNNING FOR CONGRESS WITH ALDERMAN DOWELL.

GILBERT VILLEGAS WANTS TO BE THE CONGRESS PERSON ON THE FAR NORTHWEST SIDE.

THEY BOTH WIN, IT WILL BY DEFAULT SERIOUSLY RESHAPE THE CITY COUNCIL EVEN BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTIONS IN 2023 BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THIS RACE IS A FREEBIE FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT UP FOR REELECTION FOR ANOTHER YEAR AFTER THIS RACE WHICH COULD GIVE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT A CHANCE TO APPOINT SOME PERHAPS FRIENDLY FACES ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT RUN FOR GOVERNOR OR SENATOR.

HE WANTS TO RIGHT THE G.O.P.

INSTEAD WITH THE COUNTRY FIRST GROUP.

DO YOU BELIEVE HE HAS LOFTIER PLANS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?

>> IF YOU TALK TO FOLKS IN ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN CIRCLES, THEY DO BELIEVE THAT HE HAS LOFTIER PLANS TO POSSIBLY RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

HIS STATED GOAL IS MOVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AWAY FROM DONALD TRUMP AND MOVE IT AWAY FROM EXTREMISM.

HE IS OPPOSED TO THE EXTREMISM THAT HAS OVERTAKEN THE PARTY LIKE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN OR MATT GAETZ HE WANTS TO TAKE THE PARTY IN A NEW DIRECTION.

FIRST IS A PACT THAT RAISES MONEY AND SUPPORTS CANDIDATES AND PERHAPS HE WILL HAVE A PLATFORM TO RUN AND CHALLENGE POSSIBLY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN A PRIMARY.

BUT IT'S CLEAR HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OR SENATOR BECAUSE HE DOESN'T BELIEVE ACCOMPLISHING THIS GOAL AND THE COUNTRY, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IT WON'T BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH RUNNING FOR THOSE OFFICES.

>> CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS WILL BE FACING OFF AGAINST TRUMP-BACKED REPRESENTATIVE MARY MILLER DOWN STATE.

IS THE MUD ALREADY FLYING IN THAT RACE?

AND DOES HAVING TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT DOES IT GIVE MARY MILLER THE EDGE?

>> THE MUD IS MOST SERIOUSLY FLYING, YES, BRANDIS.

THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT IS DRAWN TO BENEFIT A REPUBLICAN.

AND THE THOUGHT WAS THAT IS A SEAT DRAWN FOR RODNEY DAVIS KEEP HIM OUT OF THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

HE WAS SEEN AS SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE OF TAKING ON PRITZKER AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS REDISTRICTING ANOTHER SORT OF SYNONYM GERRYMANDERING AS YOU DRAW DISTRICTS TO FAVOR ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER THEY TEND TO BE ONES THAT DON'T ELECT A MODERATE.

INSTEAD WOULD GET SOMEBODY ON EITHER SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

YES, I DO THINK THIS PUTS RODNEY DAVIS THAT IS WHY YOU ARE SEEING THE MUD BEING FLOWN AROUND.

HE HAS THE ESTABLISHMENT BEHIND HIM BUT MILLER HAS DONALD TRUMP.

AND THIS IS A NEW DISTRICT.

IT IS HARD TO TELL WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO.

SHE LIVES OUTSIDE OF IT AND SO IT'S PART OF A FAMILIARITY THING BUT IT WILL BE WATCHED CLOSELY NOT JUST IN ILLINOIS BUT NATIONALLY.

>> LET'S JUMP ON TO STATE POLITICS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHORTENED THE SHORT SPRINGFIELD SESSION.

BACK TO YOU AMANDA, FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS A VOTE TO ALLOW VIRTUAL VOTING AGAIN?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE I THINK THE EXPECTATION WAS EVERYTHING WILL BE NORMAL IN 2022 DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN.

LOW AND BEHOLD HERE WE ALL ARE AGAIN AND SO NOW THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED ONCE AGAIN THROUGH JUNE TO ALLOW REMOTE VOTING AND THINGS GOT OFF TO A SLOW START IN SPRINGFIELD BECAUSE THERE WERE IN PART SO FEW LEGISLATORS THERE BECAUSE IT'S BELIEVED THAT SOME HAD COVID CONCERNS, QUARANTINED OR COVID THEMSELVES AND SORT OF PROTEST BECAUSE, AGAIN, REDISTRICTING REARS THAT HEAD AGAIN AS REPUBLICANS TRYING TO PROTEST WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE DOING IN RESHAPING JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.

BUT REMOTE VOTE SOMETHING ALLOWED SO THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE QUORUM ISSUES THAT DELAYED THINGS TODAY IN THE FUTURE.

>> YOU WILL KEEP US POSTED ON IT.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

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

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

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. ONE YEAR SINCE THE JANUARY 6TH CAPITOL RIOT WHAT HAS THE COUNTRY LEARNED AND WHAT IS NEXT?

>> HOW THE CANCELED CLASSES ARE IMPACTING THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

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

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

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