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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ MANY ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> OPEC AGREES TO START BOOSTING OIL PRODUCTION AS GAS PRICES AT THE PUMP HIT RECORD-HIGHSISM THE THEME OF THE MURAL IS THIS IS THE STARTING POINT, RIGHT?

>> A COMMUNITY THAT IS SETTING EDUCATION AS THE FOUNDATION OF ITS HOPES AND DREAMS.

WE'RE LIVE FROM WEST ELSDON AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> THIS SPACE IS THAT UP FORGOTTEN EULOGY.

>> WE VISITED THE JUST OPENED AIDS GARDEN CHICAGO WITH A VIBRANT QUEER HISTORY.

>> AND WHAT HIV RESEARCHERS CAN LEARN FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> MEANWHILE TWO MAJOR LABS WANT THE F.D.A.

TO APPROVE THEIR COVID VACCINES FOR KIDS UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD.

>> JUMPING IS LIKE AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY.

>> WHY A LOCAL DOUBLE DUTCH GROUP SAYS THE SPORT IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LEARNING THE ROPES.

>> AND BRANDIS AND PARIS I'M IN WEST ELSDON AS PART OF OUR CHICAGO "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

NOW, LOCATED ABOUT THREE BLOCKS EAST OF MIDWAY AIRPORT, RESIDENTS HERE SAY THAT IT IS A HIDDEN PART OF THE CITY WITH ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE HERE.

WE SPOKE TO COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT A HEALTH COLLABORATIVE AND ALSO THE EXTENSION OF A 9-1-1 ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PROGRAM.

WE WILL HAVE THAT AND MUCH MORE COMING UP.

>> THANK YOU, SEE YOU SOON.

>> JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ADDRESSED THE NATION ON GUN VIOLENCE AFTER MULTIPLE MASS SHOOTINGS IN RECENT WEEKS HAVE LEFT DOZENS OF PEOPLE INCLUDING CHILDREN DEAD.

>> HERE'S WHAT THE FAMILIES IN BUFFALO AND UVALDE IN TEXAS TOLD US WE MUST DO.

WE NEED TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

IF WE CAN'T BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS THEN WE SHOULD RAISE THE TO PURCHASE THEM FROM 18 TO 21.

STRENGTHEN BACKGROUND CHECKS.

AND ACCESS SAFE STORAGE AND RED FLAG LAWS.

REPEAL THE IMMUNITY THAT PROTECTS GUN MANUFACTURERS FROM LIABILITY.

ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

KEEPING THE TRAUMA OF GUN VIOLENCE AND AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT VIOLENCE.

THESE ARE RATIONAL, COMMON SENSE MEASURES.

>> THE PRESIDENT SAID AFTER VISITING WITH FAMILIES IN UVALDE AND ABOVE HE WILL HE IS CALLING ON THE CONGRESS TO ACT.

>> CITY AND STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS CONFIRM THE STATE'S FIRST CASE OF MONKEYPOX.

THE ADULT MALE FROM CHICAGO HAD TRAVELED TO EUROPE AND IS ISOLATING AT HOME IN GOOD CONDITION.

OFFICIALS SAY THERE'S NO INDICATION OF THE RISK OF COMMUNITY SPREAD SINCE IT DOES NOT SPREAD AS EASILY AS COVID-19.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION HAS IDENTIFIED 19 CONFIRMED CASE OF MONKEYPOX ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES.

>> AND NEIGHBORS IN BRONZEVILLE WILL HAVE A NEW PLACE TO ACCESS MEDICAL CARES IN A FEW YEARS.

A SORELY NEEDED IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

>> I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE WHEN WHITE AND WEALTHY COMMUNITIES CATCH A COLD, IT FEELS LIKE STAGE FOUR CANCER IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

WITH LONG-LASTING EFFECTS THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN'T FATHOM WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE OR LIVE LIKE THOSE OF US THAT LIVE IN URBAN DISINVESTED OR UNDER VESTED COMMUNITIES.

>> NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE ANNOUNCED PLAN FOR A SWEEPING NEW 120,000 SQUARE-FOOT ADVANCED OUTPATIENT ADVANCED CARE CENTER.

THE CITY SAYS THE CENTER IS EXPECTED TO SERVE MORE THAN 50,000 PATIENTS FROM BRONZEVILLE AND COMMUNITIES PROVIDING URGENT CARE AND PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE FROM DOCTORS.

THEY WILL RECEIVE ACCESS TO PHARMACY SERVICES AS WELL AS MAMMOGRAMS AND CANCER TREATMENT.

AND THE CENTER WOULD CREATE ABOUT A THOUSAND CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND 100 HEALTHCARE JOBS.

CONSTRUCTION COULD START IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 WITH DOORS OPENING IN SUMMER 2025.

>> UP NEXT, ANY RELIEF IN SIGHT FOR THE SOARING GAS PRICES?

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT TOOK ROAD TRIPS HOW MUCH DID THE FILL UPS COST YOU GIVEN THE RECORD-HIGH GAS PRICES WE'RE GUESSING QUITE A LOT.

ACCORDING TO AAA THE AVERAGE PRICE IS 4.71 AND ILLINOIS IS 5.21.

HOW MUCH HIGHER COULD THE PRICES GO AND WILL THEY RELENT?

JOINING US ARE JIM WATSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS PE TREMENDOUSLY YUM COUNCIL AND JOSEPH SCHWIETERMAN WHERE HE SPECIALIZES IN PUBLIC POLICY, TRANSPORTATION AND URBAN PLANNING.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

THE PRICES SEEM TO BE SPIKING BY THE HOUR OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS IN ILLINOIS.

JIM WATSON WHAT ARE THE FACTORS HERE?

>> THE BIGGEST FACTOR IS THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL.

THAT IS ALWAYS THE LEAD IN ANY DETERMINATION OF THE PRICE OF A GALLON OF GAS.

>> AND WHAT ARE THE FACTORS LEADING TO THE SPIKE IN THE PRICE PER BARREL OF OIL WHICH IS $118 FOR CRUDE RIGHT NOW?

>> I MEAN THINK ABOUT GOING BACK TWO YEARS WHEN THE INDUSTRY WAS PAYING PEOPLE 30 A BARREL TO TAKE IT, RIGHT?

AND NOW WE'RE AT THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE AT 100 PLUS.

I THINK YOU GOT TWO THINGS; YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

JUST BECAUSE OF THE DYNAMIC THAT HAS DONE TO WHO RUSSIA WAS SUPPLYING THAT IS ONE.

AND TWO IS PUBLIC POLICY.

AND PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY SAYS.

IF YOU COME IN -- IF A NEW ADMINISTRATION COMES IN AND START CHOPPING AT THE INDUSTRY FROM ALL DIFFERENT ANGLES, WHETHER IT'S LEASING OR INFRASTRUCTURE OR GOING TO FOREIGN NATIONS AND SAYING WE WANT YOU TO PRODUCE MORE, THOSE ALL SEND SIGNALS ABOUT INVESTMENT.

AND THE INDUSTRY HAS LISTENED.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT POLICY FROM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT WITH RESPECT TO THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE AND PERMITS FOR OIL LEASES.

JOSEPH SCHWIETERMAN ARE THOSE POLICIES CONTRIBUTING TO THE SPIKE HERE?

>> ONE FACTOR AND MAYBE A SECOND FACTOR.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WE ARE SEEING A SURGE IN DEMAND AND WE'RE ALL COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND SOMEBODY THAT WATCHES TRANSPORTATION I CAN SAY THAT THE PRICE OF JET FUEL IS UP DRAMATICALLY.

GLOBALLY THERE IS JUST A PINCH.

WORLD MARKETS ARE DOING WELL FOR CONSUMERS.

AND SO THE PRICE SENDS A SIGNAL THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OIL OUT THERE TO MEET THE PUBLIC'S NEEDS AND THE PRICE WENT UP DRAMATICALLY AS A RESULT.

>> JIM WATSON IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE PRESIDENT'S CONTROL THAT HE CAN DO TO TACKLE GAS PRICES?

THE PRESIDENT SPOKE TO THE ISSUE SAYING HE HAS LIMITED TOOLS HERE?

>> WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA FIRST 14 MONTHS, THERE WERE 57 LEASES ON FEDERAL LANDS.

IN THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, FIRST TWO YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO.

RIGHT?

ZERO.

SO THAT, AGAIN, YOU LOOK FOR SIGNALS.

YOU LOOK AT AN INDUSTRY THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AS JOE SAID, WHERE DEMAND WAS SUPPRESSED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE OVERLEVERAGED.

AND THEY GOT CRUSHED.

SO THE INDUSTRY PULLED BACK AND THEN NOW YOU HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION SAYING YEAH, WE'RE NOT THAT FOND OF YOU.

SO THEY ARE NOT INVESTING.

>> IT'S REPELLING INVESTMENTS HERE IN THE INDUSTRY.

>> WITHOUT QUESTION.

WITHOUT QUESTION.

THINK ABOUT IF YOU WERE AN INVESTOR AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE HEARD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES YOU WOULD JUMP ALL IN.

THINK ABOUT INVESTING IN OIL OR NATURAL GAS.

YOU WOULD GO WHOA AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

IT IS INARGUABLE.

>> JOSEPH SCHWIETERMAN SAUDI ARABIA TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD NOW START TO RAMP UP PRODUCTION.

COULD THAT MAKE A DENT AT ALL?

>> I THINK IT COULD.

THAT IS ONE THING WHERE MAYBE AND I JIM DIFFER SLIGHTLY WITH THE HIGH OIL PRICE WE'RE SEEING COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD SEEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BOOST THEIR ECONOMY BY STIMULATING PRODUCTION IT TAKES A FEW MONTHS.

WE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH TODAY WITH SOME OF THE MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES.

BUT I GUARANTEE YOU YOU LOOK AROUND THE WORLD, VENEZUELA, MEXICO, SOME OF THE PACIFIC RIM COUNTRIES AND THE OIL IS GOING TO START FLOWING.

AND I THINK WE'RE IN A TOUGH TIME HERE.

IT MAY TAKE A FEW MONTHS FOR THOSE EFFECTS TO REDUCE THE PRICE AT THE PUMP.

BUT, BOY, THE PRICE SIGNALS ARE STRONG RIGHT NOW.

>> IN A FEW MONTHS IT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> JIM?

>> BUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO TURN TO SAUDI ARABIA?

WHY DO WE HAVE TO TURN TO VENEZUELA?

IT'S BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO SAY NO TO THIS INDUSTRY.

THAT IS FACTUAL.

>> ALTHOUGH, I MEAN, U.S. BASED PRODUCTION HOW MUCH IS EXPORTED VERSUS USED IN THE UNITED STATES?

I UNDERSTAND WITH KEYSTONE MOST OF THE OIL WAS GOING TO BE EXPORTED?

>> DO WE NOT EXPORT CARS?

WE CAN PRODUCE -- WE HAVE ARE FOR THE FIRST TIME HAD EUROPEAN INDICES COME TO THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSURANCE STUART AND SAY HOW CAN YOU GET US NATURAL GAS?

BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE DEPENDENT ON STATE OWNED ENERGY COMPANIES WHICH WOULD BE RUSSIA, SAUDI ARABIA, VENEZUELA.

>> STILL A LOT OF DEPENDENCE ON THE COUNTRIES.

JOSEPH SCHWIETERMAN HAVE THE PRICES MOVED THE MARKET TOWARD ELECTRIC VEHICLES?

AND IS THE AVERAGE CONSUMER READY TO GO WITH AN EV?

>> YOU KNOW, DESPITE THE PAIN AND THE HIGH GAS PRICES AND IT CERTAINLY IS ON THE MINDS OF EVERYBODY IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THE MOMENTUM WITH THE BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WITH THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THE AIRLINES ARE LOOKING TO BUY MORE FUEL EFFICIENT AIRPLANES.

AND THE BUS COMPANIES ARE DOING WELL WITH THE FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES.

THERE'S REALLY SOME, I THINK, THE PRESIDENT SAID ADJUSTMENT THAT IS HAPPENING.

THE KIWI FIND A WAY TO WEATHER THE SHORT-TERM PAIN HERE FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED TO GET TO WORK AND CRITICAL TRIPS, WHILE LETTING THE TEMPERATURES FLOURISH AND THAT IS ONE OF THE PLUSES RIGHT NOW.

>> SHORT-TERM PAIN FOR PERHAPS LONG-TERM GAIN IF THE EV INDUSTRY TAKES OFF.

THANK YOU TO JIM WATSON AND JOSEPH SCHWIETERMAN THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

WEST ELSDON IS UNONE OF THE CITY'S SMALLEST NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE WITH A POPULATION OF 20,000 PEOPLE.

A SMALL COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS A SUBURBAN FEEL AND IS HOME TO MANY FAMILIES.

THAT IS WHERE WE FIND "CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND ACASIO HERNANDEZ FOR THIS WEEK'S "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

TELL US MORE ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE?

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE NEXT TO A MURAL?

>> I'M OUTSIDE LOUIS PASTEUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH THIS TALENTED ARTIST THAT IS PAINTING THIS MURAL.

LOOK AT IT.

HE IS UP THERE AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM HIM IN A BIT, THE PRINCIPAL GERARDO TRUJILLO WANTED TO GIVE THE BUILDING COLOR AND INSPIRATION FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> IT IS A NICE MIDDLE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY.

EVERYBODY HAS LOTS OF HIGH HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THUS THE RESULTS OF THE MURAL.

THE THEME OF THE MURAL IS THIS IS A STARTING POINT, EDUCATION, IS THE FIRST STEP TO REACHING YOUR DREAMS.

WHICH IS WHY I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SO LONG BECAUSE I HOPE THAT MY SON GETS THE SAME THING THAT I'M OFFERING THESE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES.

>> GERARDO TRUJILLO HAS HE BEEN A PRINCIPAL AT LOUIS PASTEUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR 10 YEARS AND LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DESCRIBES THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE A LARGE LATINO POPULATION HIT HARD DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE AREA WAS A HOTSPOT TORE COVID CASE AND IT CREATED MANY CHALLENGES FOR FAMILIES.

>> LOTS OF OUR FAMILIES LOST FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF SADNESS AND TRAM MAN DEPRESSION.

WE WERE HAPPY WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REOPEN THE DOORS AND BRING THEM BACK THOUGH, YES, WE ARE AWARE IT'S STILL HERE, THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT GONE ANYWHERE.

SO WE DO TRY TO TAKE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BUT WE SEE IT IS BETTER HAVING CHILDREN IN OUR CLASSROOMS THAN HAVING THEM VIRTUALLY.

>> THE LATINO ORGANIZATION OF THE SOUTHWEST HAS BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES SINCE 1992.

ANYTHING FROM ASSISTANCE FOR CITIZENSHIP TO ENGLISH CLASSES IS OFFERED.

THE BOARD PRESIDENT TELLS US THE NEED FOR FOOD AND ASSISTANCE FOR PAYING BILLS CONTINUES TO DOUBLE.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE COMING TO APPLY FOR THE LOW ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

EVERYBODY IS COMING OUT.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE NEED TO PAY FOR GAS BECAUSE THEY HAD NO JOB NOW THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR GAS.

AND HOW EXPENSIVE THAT IS.

SO THE NEED IS GROWING.

>> THERE IS AN EFFORT TO BATTLE FOOD INSECURITY AND HEALTH DISPARITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

STARTING WITH THE NEW HEALTH CLINIC THAT OPENED THREE MONTHS AGO WHICH WE'LL GET TO LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE CITY EXPANDED THE 9-1-1 ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PROGRAM TO WEST ELSDON AND THE LARGER SOUTHWEST AREA.

PARAMEDICS AND TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WILL BE RESPONDING TO CERTAIN 9-1-1 CALLS AIMED AT CHANGING THE WAY THE CITY RESPONDS TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT READY TO DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS YOU KNOW.

AND IT WILL BE BETTER IF SOMEBODY CAN BE DEESCALATED IN A SITUATION BEFORE THE POLICE GETS THERE.

>> THIS AREA THE, THE 22nd DISTRICT WAS ONCE REPRESENTED BY FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN FOR 40 YEARS HE WAS INDICTED ON CRIMINAL CHARGES BUT PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANGELICA GUERRERO-CUELLAR AND WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER COMING UP.

AND SHE IS THE FIRST LATINA REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT.

DESPITE THE CHANGES RESIDENTS REMAIN PASSIONATE TO SEE THEIR COMMUNITY THRIVE.

IT MIGHT BE SMALL.

LOCALS HAVE ACCESS TO THE CTA AND RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES.

AFTER THE HOUSING MARKET, THERE'S SINGLE FAMILY HOMES STARTING OF ABOUT $200,000.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS A DRIVE TO MEET STUDENTS THE DRIVE TO SEE STUDENTS SUCCEED IN THEIR EDUCATION.

THIS IS ITEM PRINCIPAL ON LOUIS PASTEUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCOUTED ARTIST PABLO SERRANO TO PAINT A MURAL ON THE SIDE OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING.

>> AS MUCH AS IT IS ABOUT INSPIRING THE YOUNG KIDS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN MON USE MONE MENTALITY AND BEAUTY AND POTENTIAL IT'S REMINDING PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE HEY, DON'T FORGET THAT.

YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTANT CONSIDERATION THAT THEY STILL HAVE ALL THIS LIFE IN FRONT OF THEM.

REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER HAPPENS.

>> NOW, IT'S ALSO COOL ABOUT THIS MURAL IS ALL THE PEOPLE THE KIDS YOU SEE IN THE MURAL ARE ALL STUDENTS THAT GO TO THIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THE ARTIST SAYS THERE IS NOT A NAME BUT WHEN HE IS DONE IT WILL COME TO HIM.

COMING UP WE SPEAK WITH REPRESENTATIVE ANGELICA GUERRERO-CUELLAR AND WE'LL TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE NAME HE COMES UP WITH WHEN HE DOES.

>> AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

FIRST TO PARIS AND COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN.

PARIS?

>> THE F.D.A.

COULD GIVE THE GO AHEAD TO ADMINISTER VACCINES TO KIDS UNDER FIVE WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.

PFIZER SAYS ITS STUDY SHOWED THREE DOSES OF THE VACCINE COULD PROTECT CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS SIX MONTHS OF AGE.

MODERNA IS ALSO ASKING FOR F.D.A.

'S APPROVAL.

HERE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT KIDS THE VACCINE IS Dr. BILL MULLER, THE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND CLINICAL TRIALS AT LURIE'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS AT FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE F.D.A.

ANNOUNCED IT'S ACCEPTED PFIZER'S APPLICATION FOR KIDS UNDER FIVE.

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN NOW BEFORE FINAL APPROVAL.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

THERE ARE A COUPLE STEPS IN THE PROCESS TWO INVOLVE THE F.D.A.

THE F.D.A.

SCHEDULEDTER MEETING TO REVIEW THE DATA ON JUNE 15TH.

THE EXPECTATION THERE WILL BE AN AUTHORIZATION BY THE F.D.A.

WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THAT IS FOLLOWED BY A C.D.C.

MEETING USUALLY ABOUT A WEEK LATER.

WE EXPECT THE VACCINES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN RIGHT AROUND THREE WEEKS FROM NOW, JUNE 23 OR 24.

>> AND WHAT DID PFIZER AND MODERNA'S TRIALS SHOWN?

>> MOST IMPORTANT THING AND THE DATA HAVE JUST BEEN SHARED BY THE COMPANIES.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE DEEPLY AT THE DATA.

SO FAR WHAT HAS BEEN SHOWN IS THAT THE RESPONSES OF THE CHILDREN TO THE VACCINES IN TERMS OF THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM ARE COMPARABLE TO DUGOUTS.

WE EXPECT THE -- ADULTS.

AND THEY STUDIED PROTECTION.

AND THERE SEEMS TO BE PROTECTIONS FROM SYSTEMATIC INFECTION IN CHILDREN AS WELL.

>> ANY SIDE EFFECTS OR ADVERSE EFFECTS?

>> THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE MILD.

THEY ARE NOT ZERO.

SIMILAR TO THE SIDE EFFECTS ADULTS, PAIN AT THE SITE OF INJECTION.

SOME CHILDREN HAD A FEVER.

SOME CHILDREN HAVE HAD MUSCLE SORENESS BUT GENERALLY MILD.

>> PFIZER'S REPORTING 80% EFFICACY AND MODERNA IS SHOWING 51% FOR KIDS UNDER 2, AND 37% BETWEEN 2-5.

DOES THAT MEAN THE PFIZER MIGHT BE MORE DESIRABLE FOR PARENTS, GIVEN WHAT THE C.D.C.

FINDS?

>> YES, NOT NECESSARILY APPLES TO APPLES BECAUSE THE STUDIES MAY HAVE BEEN DONE IN DIFFERENT POPULATIONS OVER DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS.

SOME OF THE CHILDREN IN THE DIFFERENT STUDIES MAY HAVE BEEN AT DIFFERENT RISKS FOR ACQUIRING INFECTION.

PEOPLE SEE THE NUMBERS AND WOULD THINK THAT THE VACCINES ARE NOT GOOD AS WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE.

YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IS A HIGH BAR TO SET.

THE IMPORTANT ASPECT IS IT KEEPS YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND KEEPS YOU FROM GETTING SEVERE DISEASE AND SYMPTOMATIC INFECTION WHICH IS MILD WHICH IS TYPICALLY THE CASE IN CHILDREN.

>> SIMILAR EFFICACY AS KEEPING SYMPTOMS MILD.

FOR THE PARENT THAT IS SKEPTICAL OR WORRIED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE?

>> THAT IS A BIG TOPIC TO COVER.

THE FIRST THING I TRY TO POINT OUT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THE TRIALS TAKE SO LONG IS BECAUSE WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON SAFETY.

SO WE RECOGNIZE WE ARE GIVING THE VACCINES TO HEALTHY CHILDREN AND THE BAR FOR SAFETY IS HIGH.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE AREN'T CONCERNING SIDE EFFECTS, THAT WOULD LEAD US TO NOT WANT TO GIVE THIS TO A HEALTHY CHILD.

THE SECOND THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE VACCINE TO BE COMPARED TO THE SIDE EFFECTS OF GETTING COVID WHICH ARE WORSE THAN THE VACCINE.

WE'LL HAVE CHILDREN EVERY WEEK ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID.

WE HAVE CHILDREN WHO HAVE TO COME INTO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS NOT QUITE AS SERIOUS AS BEING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

THOSE THINGS ARE NOT JUST INCONVENIENCES THEY ARE ALSO STRESSFUL ON CHILDREN.

AND THEN THERE'S LONG COVID IN CHILDREN WHICH ALTHOUGH THE VACCINE STUDIES CANNOT SHOW IT PROTECTS AGAINST THAT THAT MIGHT BE TRUE AS WELL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS TO GET THE VACCINE.

THAT I THINK THE BETTER OFF COMPARING TO THE RISKS OF GETTING THE INFECTION.

>> IMPORTANT THINGS FOR PARENTS TO WEIGH.

CASES OVERALL ARE ON THE RISE IN CHICAGO.

IN ILLINOIS AND ACROSS THE NATION.

WHAT IS DRIVING THIS SPIKE?

AND IS THIS VARIANT AS SEVERE AS OMICRON OR PAST VARIANTS?

>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE RISE IN CASES.

I DON'T THINK WE EXPECT IT TO BE TRUE THAT CHILDREN ARE THE MAIN DRIVERS OF TRANSMISSION.

BUT THEY CAN TRANSMIT WITHIN FAMILIES.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

WE HAD RELAXATION OF SOME OF THE MITIGATION MATTERS, MASKING AND DISTANCING.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING UNDERSTANDABLY A LITTLE BIT TIRED OF RESTRICTING THEIR ACTIVITIES SO THERE'S MORE TRAVEL.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE SPREAD.

AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS MORE SEVERE, IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT NOW THAT THE DISEASE ITSELF IS NECESSARILY MORE SEVERE WITH THE MORE RECENT VARIANTS BUT IT SEEMS THEY TRANSMIT MORE EASILY.

>> THAT HAS BEEN THE NATURE.

ALL RIGHT, DOES IT PORTEND A BIGGER OUTBREAK POSSIBLY IN THE FALL AND THE WINTER AS PEOPLE MOVE BACK INDOORS?

>> THAT IS HARD TO SAY.

THAT'S BEEN WE SHARE THAT AS AN EXPECTATION THAT THIS WILL BE A SEASONAL RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ARE.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.

WE'VE EXPERIENCED IT'S DIFFICULT TO PREDICT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THIS VIRUS.

ALTHOUGH THAT MAYBE THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME THAT WE'LL SEE SURGES IN THE FALL.

I THINK THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

IT IS ANOTHER REASON TO CONSIDER VACCINATING BECAUSE IT PREVENTS OR MINIMIZES THE RISK OF ACQUIRING THE INFECTION THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> WE'LL WAIT FOR THE F.D.A.

AND C.D.C.

ACTION.

THANKS TO Dr. BILL MULLER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS I APPRECIATE IT.

>> NEXT WE CHECK BACK IN WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ WHO IS REPORTING LIVE TONIGHT FROM CHICAGO'S WEST ELSDON COMMUNITY.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

BACK TO JOANNA WHO SPENT THE DAY IN WEST ELSDON IN THE SOUTHWEST SIDE COMMUNITY AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" AND JOINS US WITH A VOICE FROM THAT AREA.

>> THANKS.

WE'RE HERE WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 22nd DISTRICT, ANGELICA GUERRERO-CUELLAR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I WANT TO START OFF YOU ARE THE FIRST LATINA TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT.

HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

>> IT IS AN HONOR TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE THE FIRST LATINA WOMAN.

IT'S HOSPITALLY I'M HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> I CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU HAVE A LOT OF PLANS?

>> A LONG LIST OF PLANS.

I WILL BE HERE FOR A WHILE.

>> IS THERE ONE YOU CAN SHARE RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY ASSESSING WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

AND MY JOB BEFORE THIS WAS ADDRESSING HEALTH CONCERNS, ACCESS TO HEALTH AND THAT IS WHAT I CONTINUE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU WITH MARTY QUINN ORGANIZED A ROLL CALL WITH POLICE OFFICERS THIS WEEKEND AMID RECENT SHOOTINGS.

WHY WAS THIS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ORGANIZE.

>> WE ARE IN A PARK BEHIND ME.

AND WE HAVE KIDS OUT HERE AND FAMILIES AND WE HAVE PEOPLE PLAYING SPORTS AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND WHY NOT COME TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

AND I WANT THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY HERE.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEGATIVITY UNDERSTANDS WE AS A COMMUNITY OWN THE PARK AND WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH POLICE OFFICERS TO INSURE THEY WILL HAVE A SAFE SUMMER.

>> NEW HEALTHCARE CLINIC OPENED IN THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

SASS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN THE SOUTHEAST SIDE WHAT HAS HEALTHCARE ACCESS BEEN FOR YOU?

>> WE WOULD TRAVEL A GOOD WAY A NUMBER OF BUSES TO GET ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE WHO SPOKE YOUR LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTOOD THE CULTURE.

AND SO I KNOW THAT.

TO HAVE ACCESSIBILITY, TO SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT IS CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

MY COMMUNITY REPRESENTS ABOUT 76% OF LATINOS.

AND SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE 55TH PULASKI HEALTH COLLABORATIVE THAT WILL HAVE SPECIALTIES IN ONE FACILITY INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT DOCTORS OR THE HOSPITAL, RIGHT HERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD EASILY ACCESSIBLE.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF PARTNERS.

>> A LOT OF COLLABORATION BUT THAT IS WHAT I LIKE TO FOCUS ON.

HOW DO I COME IN AND WORK AND LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS AND BRING IT BACK INTO THE DISTRICT.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU DID MENTION ARE SOME OF YOUR TOP TWO PRIORITIES?

>> WELL, AGAIN, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, MAKING SURE THAT THAT IS AVAILABLE.

AND RIGHT NOW MY SECOND IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> NOW, MIDWAY BORDERS WEST OF WHERE WE ARE NOW.

HOW HAS HAVING A AIRPORT SO CLOSE IMPACTED RESIDENTS IN HOMES BESIDES US HEARING THE AIRPLANES GOING BACK AND FORTH?

I AM ASSUMING YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO THAT.

>> WE DO.

SOMETIMES YOU GET USED TO THE SOUND.

I CAN SA SAY THE PLANES ARE COLORFUL BUT WE ARE DEALING WITH AN ISSUE OF OFF GASSING GOING ON WITH THE WINDOWS SUPPOSED TO BE SOUNDPROOF THAT WERE INSTALLED.

A PROGRAM THAT STARTED 10 YEARS AGO.

NOW WE HAVE THIS AS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN A HEALTH CONCERN.

I'VE PASSED LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION ADDRESSES THE ISSUE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS HAVE WINDOWS REPLACED.

THEY ARE IN THEIR HOMES THEY WANT TO RELAX AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO SMELL THIS BURNT PLASTIC SMELL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> STAY TUNED.

WE SPEAK WITH A DOCTOR ABOUT A NEW HEALTH COLLABORATIVE THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

I SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

HIM'S SURE IT IS QUITE A CHANGE FOR THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED BY MICHAEL MADIGAN TO THE FIRST LATINA.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE ANGELICA GUERRERO-CUELLAR HAS A LOT OF IDEAS AND A LOT OF ENERGY AND SOUNDS LIKE THE HEALTHCARE THERE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT LATER ON.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... COMMUNITY LEADERS CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF AIDS GARDEN CHICAGO WHICH ITS ORGANIZERS CALL A PARK WITH A PURPOSE.

PLUS WE HEAR WHAT RESEARCHERS CAN LEARN ABOUT DEVELOPING AN HIV VACCINE FROM THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> JUMPING IS LIKE AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY.

>> AND WHY A LOCAL DOUBLE DUTCH GROUP SAYS THE SPORT IS MORE ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LEARNING THE ROPES.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> POLICE ARE ON THE LOOKOUT IN TWO SUSPECTS OF YESTERDAY'S SHOOTING AFTER I CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER.

THAT OFFICER SHOT DURING A TRAFFIC STOP NEAR 61 AND PAULINA IS IN SERIOUS BUT STABLE CONDITION AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HOSPITAL.

ACCORDING TO THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

DAVID BROWN SAYS ONE OF THE SUSPECTS FLED AFTER CRASHING THEIR CAR NEAR THE SCENE.

>> ANOTHER CANDIDATE SAYS THEY ARE THROWING THEIR HAT IN THE RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

ALDERMAN RODERICK SAWYER SAYS HE IS IN.

HE SERVED IN CITY COUNCIL SINCE 2011 AND IS THE SON OF FORMER MAYOR EUGENE SAWYER WHO TOOK OFFICE AFTER THE DEATH OF HAROLD WASHINGTON.

SAWYER SAID HE WOULD FIRE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN AND SAYS HE IS FRUSTRATED BY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S TOP DOWN APPROACH TO GOVERNING.

WE'LL HAVE SAWYER ON THE SHOW FOR A ONE-ON-ONE EARLY NEXT WEEK.

>> U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAY AMAZON IS OBSTRUCTING A PROBE INTO THE PARTIAL WAREHOUSE COLLAPSE THAT HAPPENED IN EDWARDSVILLE DURING A STORM LAST DECEMBER.

THE LAWMAKERS SENT A LETTER TO THE TECH COMPANY CLAIMING IT WAS FAILING TO SEND DOCUMENTS TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE DEMANDED.

THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT AND REFORM COMMITTEE LAUNCHED THE INVESTIGATION BACK IN APRIL AFTER THE COLLAPSE KILLED SIX PEOPLE.

>> FRESH OFF OF Facebook's RECENT CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT ILLINOISANS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR MORE CASH.

GOOGLE SETTLED WITH THE STATE FOR $100 MILLION FOR VIOLATING THE BIOMETRIC PRIVACY PRIVACY LAW.

THAT MEANS ILLINOIS RESIDENTS THAT APPEARED IN A PHOTO ON GOOGLE HAPPENS BETWEEN 2015-2022 WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CASH AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT 1.6 MILLION ILLINOISANS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FACEBOOK BREACH OF LAW.

>> AND BRANDIS, TO YOU FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF ONE OF CHICAGO'S NEWEST PARKS.

>> J.B. PRITZKER AND LORI LIGHTFOOT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ARTISTS GATHERED FOR A CELEBRATION THIS MORNING.

THEY WERE MARKING THE OPENING OF AIDS GARDEN CHICAGO A PROJECT MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

AS NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS, THE GARDEN'S LOCATION HAS A MEANINGFUL PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY'S QUEER COMMUNITY.

>> WE HONOR THE MYRIAD FALLEN HEROS WHO KICKED OPEN TO THE DOORS TO EVERY CLOSET.

>> THE RIBBON CUTTING MARKED THE END OF A LONG JOURNALING ANY FOR AIDS GARDEN CHICAGO.

TOM TUNNEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT IN THE EARLY 2000'S.

>> MANY OF THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES, FOR GOD BLESS 40 YEARS.

>> THE EFFORT GOT GOING WHEN TUNNEY BROUGHT THE IDEA TO THE NONPROFIT CHICAGO PARKS FOUNDATION THAT HELPS RAISE FUNDING FOR CITY PARKNESS PROGRAMS.

>> EVERYBODY DUG IN AND EMBRACED THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT IS SPECIAL AND A LEGACY PROJECT FOR THE PARK.

AND THE CITY.

>> THE FIRST STEP WAS COMMUNITY MEETS IN LAKEVIEW WHERE THE GARDEN IS LOCATED THAT EXPANDED TO BRING IN OTHER PARTS OF CHICAGO.

>> HIV/AIDS AFFECTS MANY COMMUNITIES.

IN MANY PARTS OF THE CITY.

SO WE MADE AN EFFORT TO MOVE OUR MEETINGS AROUND THE CITY AND TALK WITH DIFFERENT FOLKS SO THAT WE HAVE THEIR FEEDBACK AS WELL.

>> THE ENTRANCE TO THE GARDEN FEATURES A DONOR WALL, CHOSEN FOR BEAUTY.

GINKGO TREES AND SPACE.

>> TO REFLECT AND GATHER AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO PASSED.

THOSE WHO SURVIVED AND THOSE WHO STILL LIVE WITH HIV/AIDS TODAY.

[♪♪♪] >> THE GARDEN'S CENTERPIECE IS THE KEITH HERRING STATUE.

QR CODES LEAD VISITERS TO VIDEOS FROM SURVIVORS, ACTIVISTS, DOCTORS AND MORE.

>> WHEN I REALIZED THIS WAS AFFECTING BLACK PEOPLE DISPROPORTIONATELY, PARTICULARLY BLACK GAY MEN IN THE BEGINNING I KNEW I HAD TO GET INVOLVED.

>> THE STORIES HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORY OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IN CHICAGO AND THE LOCATION WAS CHOSEN FOR THE SIGNIFICANCE AS WELL.

THE FORMER SITE OF THE BELMONT ROCKS A LIMESTONE STRETCH WHERE THE LGBTQ STARTED GATHERING IN THE 1960s.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE?

HOW EMPOWERING THAT MUST HAVE BEEN TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE DURING THE DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY OUT IN THE SUNLIGHT TO BE WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR YOUR LOVER OR WHOEVER?

AT A TIME WHEN OUR BARS HAD BLACKENED WINDOWS.

>> OWEN KEEHNEN RECALLS THE FIRST VISIT.

>> WHEN I CAME OVER THAT RIDGE, WHAT I SAW WAS JUST SOMETHING I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

I MEAN THIS WAS THIS ORGANIC QUEER SPACE THAT WAS THRIVING.

>> THE ROCKS WERE DEMOLISHED IN 2003 AS PART OF A SHORELINE PROJECT.

AFTER POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE LOSS OF THE ROCKS A FEW YEARS AGO, OWEN KEEHNEN GOT AN OUT POURING OF PEOPLE SHARING MEMORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF SUN DRENCHED DAYS WHICH HE HAS BEEN SHARING ON-LINE.

>> THE BELMONT ROCKS WERE A PART OF OUR EVERYDAY HISTORY WHICH IS IN SOME WAYS, SO MUCH MORE RELATABLE AND AS LGBTQ PEOPLE THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHRONICLE.

NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO DO THIS FOR US.

>> IT IS A JOYFUL HISTORY.

OWEN KEEHNEN SAYS THE ROCKS WERE A SUNNY CON TERRORIST TO THE LIGHTING OF HOSPITALS WHERE SO MANY CHICAGOANS SPENT THEIR LAST DAYS FOR YEARS AND YEARS OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.

>> IT FEELS GOOD BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S NOT A FEEL GOOD FEELING.

IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION THAT IS BEING MADE.

IT IS A GREAT EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE TO MAYBE UNDERSTAND THE TIME PERIOD.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET A SENSE OF HEALING FROM HERE.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> AND AIDS GARDEN CHICAGO IS SOUTH OF BELMONT HARBOR.

THE KEITH HERRING STATUE IS HARD TO MISS.

TO LEARN ABOUT THE GARDEN AND OWEN KEEHNEN EFFORT TO DOCUMENT THE ROCKS AND ABOUT KEITH HERRINGS' TIME IN CHICAGO VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> SOME RESEARCHERS ARE POINTING TO SCIENCE BEHIND THE COVID-19 VACCINE AS A PROMISING AVENUE OF RESEARCH.

SCIENTISTS AND ADVOCATES POINT TO ONE STEP IN ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC.

INCREASING ACCESS TO PREEXPOSURE PRO FOR LAX SIS OR PREP.

JOINING US NOW ARE JOHN PELLER, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF AIDS FOUNDATION OF CHICAGO.

Dr. HOWARD GROSSMAN, STAFF PHYSICIAN AT HOWARD BROWN HEALTH.

AND RAMON LORENZO REDONDO, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JOHN PELLER YOU WERE AT THE UNVEILING OF THE GARDEN TODAY.

IT'S BEEN AN IDEA THAT HAS BEEN FLOATED SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S.

WHAT DID IT MEAN TO SEE IT OPEN TODAY?

>> IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE.

AND THE GARDEN IS SUCH A PLACE FOR REFLECTION AND FOR REMEMBERING PEOPLE THAT WE'VE LOST TO THE HIV EPIDEMIC.

BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY A PLACE OF HOPE.

AND IT GIVES ME IN PARTICULAR HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE WE CAN END THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN ILLINOIS.

>> SO Dr. GROSSMAN LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE'S IMPACT ON A POTENTIAL TREATMENT FOR HIV.

HOW MIGHT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COVID VACCINE AFFECT TECHNOLOGIES FOR AN HIV VACCINE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE COVID VACCINE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR DECADES BUT THE FIRST TIME THE PROOF OF CONCEPT THAT THEY ACTUALLY SAW THAT THEY COULD DEVELOP A VACCINE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

THEY REALIZED MOST VACCINES TAKE YEARS OR DECADES TO DEVELOP AND WHAT WE SAW WITH THE COVID VACCINE WAS RAPID DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS NOW BEING APPLIED FOR HIV.

IN HIV, BUT HIV IS A DIFFERENT VIRUS IT IS A TRICKY VIRUS THAT HIDES FROM THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND FOOLS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM INTO ATTACKING THE WRONG THINGS.

AND SO WHAT YOU NEED WITH HIV ARE WHAT IS CALLED BROADLY NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES.

BUT THIS VACCINE TECHNOLOGY MIGHT CREATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING THESE BROADLY NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES.

>> AND Dr. GROSSMAN WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT RESEARCH AND TESTING AND APPLYING THAT MRNA TECHNOLOGY TO HIV VACCINES?

>> AS I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE PUTTING VACCINES INTO PEOPLE.

SO SOME OF THIS IS ACTUALLY IN DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S GOING TO STILL TAKE YEARS TO KNOW WHETHER IT'S EFFECTIVE.

BECAUSE REMEMBER, WITH COVID IF YOU DECREASE THE RATE OF INFECTION AND DECREASE THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION YOU'VE SUCCEEDED.

WITH HIV UNLESS YOU COMPLETELY STOP IT YOU HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IT.

THE GOAL IS MORE COMPLEX WITH HIV.

THIS IS STILL GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

AS YOU SAID, WE DO HAVE TOOLS RIGHT NOW IN OUR HANDS PREP IS ONE OF THEM.

TREATMENT AS PREVENTION.

TREATING EVERYBODY WHO HAS HIV, THOSE TWO TOOLS TOGETHER COULD END THE EPIDEMIC IN A SINGLE GENERATION EVEN WITHOUT A VACCINE BUT THAT TAKES A STRONG COMMITMENT AND ONE THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN FROM OUR GOVERNMENT.

>> RAMON WHY HAS IT BEEN SO DIFFICULT TO CREATE A VACCINE FOR HIV?

VARIANTS OF HIV MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT?

>> NOW, WE ARE GETTING USED TO HEARING ABOUT VITAL EVOLUTION AND CHANGES.

WELL, HIV IS NO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

IF WE THINK CORONAVIRUS CHANGES A LOT THAT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO HIV.

HIV IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, ADOPTING AND CHANGING.

THAT IS WHY IT IS A DIFFICULT VIRUS TO FIND.

ADDITIONALLY IT HIDES FROM THE IMMUNE SYSTEM SO IT FEELS A LOT OF WAYS TO ESCAPE FROM OUR TREATMENT OR OUR DEVELOPING VACCINES.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A COMPLICATED VIRUS TO SUCCEED AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT ALL THE RESEARCH A LOT OF THE RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE DONE HAS BEEN THE BASIS OF THESE SUCCESS WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE ARE ADVANCING THE SCIENCE SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO REALLY CURE IT OR PREVENT IT.

>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PREP, RAMON REMIND US HOW PREP WORKS.

>> SO WHAT IT DOES, IT ALLOWS -- WHAT IT PREVENTS FOR THE VIRUS TYPE EFFECT US.

IT LOWERS THE RATE OF INFECTION TO A MINIMUM.

INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TREAT, YOU ARE PREVENTING FROM BEING INFECTED.

THAT IS A FANTASTIC TOOL BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO CURE HIV ACTUALLY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE EXCEPT FOR VERY, VERY FEW CASES.

PREVENTION IS THE KEY.

AND IN THIS CASE, THIS TOOL IS IMPROVING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO THIS IN OTHER PLACES WHERE ACTUALLY THE MAJORITY OF THE INFECTED INDIVIDUALS LIVE.

>> JOHN, TO THAT POINT, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO CARE AND TO PREP IN PARTICULAR?

>> THERE'S REALLY TREMENDOUS AND FRANKLY DISHEARTENING DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO PREP IN PARTICULAR.

THE C.D.C.

RELEASED DATA SHOWING THAT 63% OF WHITE PEOPLE GOT PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PREP FROM THEIR DOCTORS AND 8% OF BLACK PEOPLE GOT PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PREP.

ONE WAY WE'RE WORKING TO ADDRESS THAT THAT THE LEGISLATION THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO WALK INTO A PHARMACY AND WALKOUT WITH A NOT JUST A PRESCRIPTION FOR PREP BUT A BOTTLE OF PREP THAT THEY CAN START TAKING RIGHT AWAY AND A REFERRAL TO THE PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR TO CONTINUE TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR PREP.

>> Dr. GROSSMAN, COULD THE EXISTING HIV TREATMENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING CAN THIS LEAD TO AN END OF THIS EPIDEMIC?

>> IF WE HAVE THE COMMITMENT OF TREATING AS MANY PEOPLE AS NEED TO BE TREATED.

TO JOHN'S POINT, THERE ARE PROBABLY AT THIS POINT, ONLY ABOUT 25 OR 30% OF THE PEOPLE THAT COULD USE PREP HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

THERE ARE SO MANY PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS WHO REFUSE TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY SAY WE WON'T TOUCH AN HIV MEDICATION BECAUSE WE USE A SIMILAR MEDICATION AS PART OF OUR HIV TREATMENT.

THIS IS JUST TO ME UNFORGIVABLE THAT WE ALLOW OUR DOCTORS TO TOTALLY REFUSE TO TREAT SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP.

IF WE COULD PREVENT ALL NEW INFECTIONS AND IF WE COULD TREAT ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY INFECTED BECAUSE A PERSON WHO IS ON TREATMENT WILL NOT PASS THE VIRUS TO SOMEBODY ELSE, IF WE WOULD END THE EPIDEMIC IN A SINGLE GENERATION WITH NO NEW TECHNOLOGY.

BUT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING.

AND PREP IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT OUT TO WOMEN, IT HAS NOT BEEN MARKETED AS WELL AS IT SHOULD BE TO WOMEN, ESPECIALLY TO WOMEN IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> AND JOHN WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT HOW IMPORTANT ARE WRAP AROUND SERVICES TO REACH THE STATE'S GOAL OF ZERO?

>> I THINK WE SAW DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC HOW VITAL ACCESS TO HOUSING AND HEALTHY FOOD ARE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND IT'S JUST THE SAME FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV.

>> OK. WELL SAID.

Dr. HOWARD GROSSMAN, JOHN PELLER AND RAMON LORENZO REDONDO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WE CHECK BACK IN WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ TO HEAR ABOUT A NEW HEALTH CLINIC IN CHICAGO'S WEST ELSDON COMMUNITY.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> AND NOW WE CHECK BACK IF WITH JOANNA WHO SPENT THE DAY IN WEST ELSDON.

IT'S PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

JOANNA?

>> NOW, PARIS EARLIER I SPOKE WITH Dr. HEATHER PRENDERGAST.

SHE IS ASSOCIATE DEAN OF CLINICAL AFFAIRS OF THE UNIVERSITY ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE OPENING OF THE CLINICAL CARE CENTER THAT OPENED IN FEBRUARY ALONG PULASKI ROAD.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HER ABOUT THIS EFFORT.

TAKE A LISTEN... >> THE 55TH AND PULASKI COLLABORATIVE IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE CLINICAL SERVICES.

WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A NICE TEAM OF PARTNERS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MEET A LOT OF THE PATIENT NEEDS.

AND THIS IS REALLY ABOUT ACCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> YOU WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET DIFFERENT PARTNERS TO JOIN TOGETHER TO OPEN UP THIS HEALTH CLINIC.

WHERE WAS THAT PASSION COMING FROM?

>> YOU KNOW, IT STARTED WITH THE VISION OF THE STATE PRIMARILY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

SO THEY ISSUED A CALL FOR PROPOSALS TO TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE DELIVERY.

SO THIS BUILDING USED TO PROVIDE CLINICAL SERVICES FOR MANY YEARS AND THEY ABRUPTLY CLOSED IN JUNE OF 2021.

WE SAW AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND RESTORE SERVICES BUT TO BRING IN AND EXPAND.

TRULY YOU KNOW, YOU OFTEN HEAR ABOUT PATIENTS HAVING TO COMPLEX MEDICAL CONDITIONS NEEDING TO GO TO FOUR OR FIVE SPECIALISTS AND SO HOW NICE IS IT TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN ONE ROOF THAT THEY CAN ACCESS THE CARE AND GET THE ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC WORK, THE BLOOD WORK ALL IN ONE ROOF AND WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY AND NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL.

WE TALK TO RESIDENTS THIS PROJECT IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY INCLUSIVETY.

IT'S GROUNDED IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE GOT COMMUNITY INPUT THE ENTIRE TIME.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED AND IT IS REALLY A TRUE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES AROUND HEALTH INEQUITIES AND THIS IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY IN TRYING TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND YOU WERE MENTIONING THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO FIND A SPECIALIST.

TELL ME ABOUT THE THINGS THE HEALTHCARE CLINIC IS PROVIDING FOR?

>> WE WILL HAVE 31 CLINICAL OFFERINGS.

WE'RE OFFERING CARDIOLOGY, NEPHROLOGY, GENERAL SURGERY, OPTHAMOLOGY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, URGENT HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WE'LL HAVE MIDWIFERY SERVICES, OB, WE'RE BRINGING ALL OF OUR SPECIALTY SERVICES TO THIS AREA.

WE WILL HAVE ENT.

PATIENTS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMMUNITY TO ACCESS THE SPECIALISTS.

WE'RE BRINGING THAT.

AND ALSO BRINGING THE ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS WE WILL HAVE A CT SCANNER AND X-RAY AND MAMMOGRAPHY.

SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO SCREENINGS.

WE'LL HAVE OUR CANCER ONCOLOGY CARE AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO MEET A LOT OF PATIENT NEEDS AND THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IT'S ABOUT IMPROVING OUTCOMES.

WE KNOW THERE IS -- AS A NATION AS A CITY AS A STATE WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH INEQUITIES AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY TRANSFORM THE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY MODEL.

>> AND ONE OTHER QUESTION, THIS AREA HAS A BIG LATINO POPULATION HOW IS THE COLLABORATIVE AIMING TO MEET THE COMMUNITY NEEDS?

>> IN ADDITION TO HAVING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH FIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART OF OUR THIS PROCESS.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, THE LATINX COUNCIL, WE HAVE SOUTHWEST LATINOS OF THE SOUTHWEST, WE HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT PARTNERS IN HERE.

WE HAVE ENVISION.

AND WE'RE REALLY GETTING INPUT AND THIS AGAIN IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

IT ONLY WORKS IF WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO KEEP OUR EARS TO THE GROUND AND BE INCLUSIVE FROM START TO FINISH AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.

>> AGAIN, THAT WAS Dr. HEATHER PRENDERGAST AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TONIGHT FROM THE WEST WEST ELSDON COMMUNITY.

>> A LOT OF SERVICES THERE PROVIDED.

I'M SURE IT'S SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO MAKE GREAT USE OF.

>> AND UP NEXT WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL DOUBLE DUTCH JUMP ROPE TEAM.

FIRST A LOOK AT SOME EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.

[♪♪♪] >> WHAT STARTED AS A HOBBY TO KEEP CHILDREN ACTIVE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS EVOLVED INTO A SPORT THAT IS EMPHASIZING THE ART OF DOUBLE DUTCH.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU RECENTLY VISITED A LOCAL DOUBLE DUTCH JUMP ROPE TEAM.

TAKE A LOOK... >> TWICE A WEEK, GIRLS GATHER AT THE PARK TO EXERCISE THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH WITH DOUBLE DUTCH.

>> IT HELPS GET YOUR MENTAL HEALTH FOCUSED.

IT'S TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THINGS.

JUMPING IS LIKE A ESCAPE FROM REALITY.

>> IT IS AN ACTIVITY THAT ORIGINATED IN NEW YORK IN THE 1940s AND HAS SINCE DEVELOPED INTO A SPORT BEYOND THE SIDEWALKS.

HERE IN CHICAGO, DOUBLE DUTCH GROUP JUMPING JUNIORS SAYS IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LEARNING THE ROPES.

>> GIRLS THEY GET INTO BOYS THEY GET INTO EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON ESPECIALLY SOCIAL MEDIA THEY WANT TO BE LIKE THE NEXT SEE.

SO MUCH GOING ON WITH OUR YOUTH AND WE WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON BEING A KID.

>> THEY DEVELOP CONFIDENCE, THEY'VE GOTTEN OVER THE FEAR OF FAILURE AND THEY KNOW HOW TO CHEER FOR EACH OTHER.

THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARN SOMETHING IS GREAT BENEFIT.

>> WITH 30 GIRLS IN THE PROGRAM 11 ARE PREPARING FOR THE FIRST DOUBLE DUTCH COMPETITION IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> IN THE COMPETITION YOU HAVE TO KNOW MORE RULES AND BE MORE DISCIPLINED.

YOU CAN'T GO PAST THAT TO GET INSIDE.

[INAUDIBLE] >> 14-YEAR-OLD LOREAL MILLER IS ONE OF THE GIRLS COMPETING.

DESPITE IT BEING A ACTIVITY HER MOTHER AND ELDERS WERE RAISED ON SHE DID NOT DOUBLE DUTCH UNTIL SHE BEGAN JUMPING JUNIORS IN 2020.

>> I WILL NOT LET MY NERVES GET THE BEST OF ME.

IT'S JUST A LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND JUST YOU KNOW TRYING TO GET BETTER.

ALL ABOUT FUN.

>> IT'S DIFFERENT.

YOU DON'T SEE A TEAM OF LIKE DOUBLE DUTCHERS ANYMORE YOU SEE CHEER TEAMS AND THAT IS THE NORM.

>> NOW, JUMPING JUNIORS IS MORE THAN JUST A DOUBLE DUTCH GROUP IT'S ABOUT MENTORSHIP AS WELL.

>> I JUST WANT TO GO BACK I'M STILL IN THE GHETTO BUT I WANT TO GO BACK AND REACH AND HELP GIRLS BECAUSE I APPRECIATE PEOPLE REACHING BACK AND HELPING ME.

>> I LIKE TO MENTOR THEM AND INSPIRE THEM THINGS THAT WILL STICK WITH THEM AS THEY GROW AND LET THEM KNOW WHATEVER YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO YOU WILL REACH.

>> IF WE'RE NOT POURING INTO THEM WE WILL NOT GET ANYTHING OUT.

SINCE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE TIME AND WISDOM TO REACH YOUNG GIRLS AND LOOK UP TO US WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT FIRE GOING AND THEY PASS IT ON.

AS LONG AS THEY ARE WITH US IN HERE THEY ARE NOT OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.

THAT WE'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT.

>> NINE-YEAR-OLD KEIRA MCMILLER AGREES.

>> I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS TO ME.

AND I FEEL LIKE FAMILY AND VERY SAFE.

>> EXERCISE, MENTORSHIP AND SELF LOVE.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE QUALITIES JUMPING JUNIORS HOPES TO INSTILL NOT JUST WITH THIS GENERATION BUT GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> I BELIEVE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE SOME OF US HAVE GRANDKIDS THAT WE'RE SHARING IT WITH NOW AS PART OF OUR CHILDHOOD AND IT'S US INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION AND GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO ENRICH THE NEXT GENERATION.

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

>> NICE WORK.

SOME OF THE JUMPING JUNIORS WILL HEAD TO WASHINGTON D.C. LATER THIS MONTH FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DOUBLE DUTCH LEAGUE TOURNAMENT.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION AND DETAILS HOW TO DONATE TO THEIR TOURNAMENT FUND.

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 THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

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

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]