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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE AYES ARE 220 AND THE NAYS ARE 211.

>> WHAT THE COVID RELIEF BILL WILL MEAN FOR ILLINOIS.

>> I WILL LAUNCH THE NEXT PHASE OF THE COVID RESPONSE >> AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS LOOKING AHEAD AFTER THE PLAN PASSES IN CONGRESS WE'LL TACKLE THAT AND MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> COULD TARGET BE COMING TO THE MAGNIFICENT MILE AND WOULD THAT BE A GOOD THING?

THE CTA APPROVES A NEARLY 2 MILLION SETTLEMENT FOR A CYCLIST STRUCK BY A BUS IN 2019.

WHAT ARE NFT'S OR NON-NON-AND HOW ARE THEY CHANGING THE ART INDUSTRY?

>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY INSANE.

>> WE CHECK IN WITH LOCAL BIKE SHOPS AND CYCLING GROUPS WHO IS AHEAD THIS SEASON AFTER A RECORD SETTING 2020.

A PORTRAIT OF A RETIRED SCHOOLTEACHER WHO DEDICATES HIMSELF TO THE ART OF PRINT MAKING IN THE MEXICAN TRADITION.

KENOSHA SHOOTER KYLE RITTENHOUSE'S TRIAL HAS BEEN PUSHED TO FALL IN THE EARLIEST.

HE HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO STAND TRIAL THIS MONTH HE WAS ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND WOUNDING A THIRD BOTH SIDES TOLD THE JUDGE THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO PREPARE.

>> STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 1600 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY INCLUDING 30 DEATHS.

ILLINOIS HAS SEEN 1.2 MILLION CASES AND 28O010 DEATHS.

AND THE CTA ANNOUNCED IT STARTED ON-SITE VACCINATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES LIKE TRAIN AND BUS OPERATIONERS.

A JOINT ANTI-CARJACKING TASK FORCE NET THE A DOZEN ARRESTS.

DAVID BROWN SAYS HALF OF THE 300 CARJACKING RELATED ARRESTS INVOLVE JUVENILES.

>> WE ALL NEED TO HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE BETTER CHOICES AND WE NEED MENTORS TO SHOW THEM THE WAY.

A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT IS THE BEST DETERRENT AND FOR THOSE THAT DO OFFEND WE NEED REAL CONSEQUENCES.

>> BROWN ANNOUNCED A NEW POLICE WEBSITE DEDICATED TO CARJACKING INFORMATION AND PREVENTION.

GOT MUCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND NOW TO AMANDA VINICKY AND WHAT CONGRESS' COVID RELIEF PACKAGE COULD MEAN FOR ILLINOIS.

AMANDA?

>> PARIS, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S SIGNATURE $1.9 TRILLION COVID RELIEF PACKAGE IS EXPECTED TO BRING $13 BILLION IN AID TO ILLINOIS.

THE BILL PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS WITHOUT ANY REPUBLICAN SUPPORT AND SCHEDULED TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW FRIDAY.

THE BILL INCLUDES $1400 CHECKS FOR INDIVIDUALS EARNING LESS THAN $75,000 A YEAR.

BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO GET PAST THE PANDEMIC?

WHAT WILL THE MONEY DO FOR THE STATE AND WHAT OF REPUBLICAN CRITICISM THE BILL IS A BLOATED DEMOCRATIC WISH LIST?

JOINING US TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ARE REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR, JASON BARICKMAN FROM BLOOMINGTON, DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR RAM VILLIVALAM FROM CHICAGO.

DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR CRISTINA PACIONE-ZAYAS FROM CHICAGO AND REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR DONALD DEWITTE FROM WEST DUNDEE.

WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US RIGHT NOW.

AND I BELIEVE SOME OF ARE YOU STILL COMING TO US FROM SPRINGFIELD AS YOU HAD THE STATE SENATE BACK IN SESSION FOR TODAY.

SENATOR RAM VILLIVALAM DID THINGS BEGIN TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE RETURNING TO NORMAL?

>> IT DID.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY IN OUR DISTRICTS MAKING SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN SERVED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE HAD VIRTUAL HEARING MUCH OF LAST YEAR AND INTO THIS YEAR.

BEING IN SPRINGFIELD NOTHING REPLACES BEING IN THE CAPITOL, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WE NEED TO HAVE AND MOVING THE BILLS WE NEED TO MOVE TO GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, HAVE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS TO GET TO A BALANCED BUDGET AND MOVE OUR STATE FORWARD.

>> AND SENATOR DeWITT YOU DID THAT SALIVA TEST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS SAFE?

>> THE SHIELD TEST CREATED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IS THE ACID TEST FOR COVID TESTING AT THE CAPITOL.

STAFF MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO TEST THREE TIMES A WEEK.

LEGISLATORS ONCE THEY TEST THEIR TEST IS GOOD FOR TWO DAYS.

WE'RE OUT TOMORROW SO OUR TEST GOT US IN THE DOOR AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS FUNCTION AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

>> GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ALL TESTED PRESUME THEREFORE NEGATIVE FOR COVID AND THAT YOU ARE HEALTHY.

LET'S GET TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN 1.9 TRILLION.

THIS IS POPULAR WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE AND YET ALL G.O.P.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTED AGAINST THE PACKAGE.

WAS THAT A MISTAKE?

>> I THINK WASHINGTON HAD A DEBATE ON THIS.

IT'S OVER.

THE QUESTION IN ILLINOIS IS HOW ARE THE FUNDS GOING TO BE SPENT AND I THINK THAT DESERVES A DEBATE IN OUR CAPITOL.

FOR ME THE PRIORITIES, WE KNOW ILLINOIS IS GOING TO RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE FUNDS PRIORITIZED.

FIRST TOWARDS OUR DEBTS.

SECOND TOWARDS OUR BILL BACKLOG.

WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE NOT USED TO EXPAND OUR GOVERNMENT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE HURTING.

THOSE FUNDS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO EXPAND THE GOVERNMENT FURTHER.

>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS WHAT SHOULD ILLINOIS DO IF IT IS SET TO RECEIVE $7 BILLION.

SO LET'S GO TO SENATOR RAM VILLIVALAM WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS HOW SHOULD ILLINOIS FOLD THAT IN?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I AGREE WE NEED TO MAKE MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS WHETHER IT'S THE PENSION OBLIGATION OR OTHER DEBTS.

WE NEED TO GET AHOLD OF OUR BILL BACKLOG.

THOSE ARE THE PRIORITIES AS IT RELATES TO OUR REGULAR BUDGET CONVERSATION WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AID THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND AID TESTING AND WE AID THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT ARE GOING TO GET US THROUGH THE END OF THE PANDEMIC.

JUST BECAUSE WE ARE WE SEE AT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE AT THE LIGHT.

WE NEED TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO INVEST IN OUR ECONOMY AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES CAN GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND MOVE OUR STATE FORWARD.

>> SENATOR CRISTINA PACIONE-ZAYAS IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD HOW ILLINOIS SHOULD SPEND THOSE DOLLARS FEEL FREE TO ADD IN ON THAT AND YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.

AND I HAVE SEEN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PACKAGE DESCRIBED AS TRANSFORMATIVE IN PRIING CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT?

>> YES.

THERE WAS A REAL WIN BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S $40 BILLION DEDICATED TO CHILDCARE SPECIFICALLY.

AND ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $1 BILLION IS COMING TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL.

BECAUSE I THINK WHETHER PEOPLE RECOGNIZE IT OR NOT, CHILDCARE IS AN ENABLING SECTOR FOR OUR SOCIETY TO FUNCTION AND THAT WAS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE WITHOUT THIS INVESTMENT.

THE SAME WITH OUR SCHOOLS.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY STABILIZING OUR SCHOOLS AND PREPARING THEM FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING BUT THINKING ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO REIMAGINE EDUCATION AND WHAT THE INVESTMENTS WE ARE GOING TO MAKE TO TAKE THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS PARTICULAR PANDEMIC AND APPLY THEM TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE PREPARING CHILDREN MOVING FORWARD TO INHERIT THE SOCIETY IN WHICH WE ARE PREPARING THEM TO.

>> THAT IS FEDERALLY DESIGNATE SECOND THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU BELIEVE ILLINOIS NEEDS TO BE DOING AS IT'S SET TO GET THE DOLLARS SENATOR CRISTINA PACIONE-ZAYAS?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO THINK THROUGH THE RENT AND MORTGAGE RELIEF.

THE LAST TIME WE HAD APPROPRIATEIATED FUNDS WE PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET QUITE A FEW GET IT OUT THE DOOR BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE VERY SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT DID NOT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS IT.

SPECIFICALLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS IT WAS NOT QUITE IN TERMS OF PARITY WITH THE POPULATION.

AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE HISTORIC HOUSING BURDEN THAT LATINO FAMILIES HAVE INCUMBERED OVER THE YEARS.

>> IT WAS A YEAR SINCE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER DECLARED A STATE-WIDE DISASTER DECLARATION BECAUSE OF COVID.

AT THE TIME THERE WERE 11 CASES IN THE STATE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

AS OF TODAY, THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED 1682 NEW CASES.

SENATOR DeWITT WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT HOW THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION HAS HANDLED THINGS THIS PAST YEAR?

>> WELL, I THINK INITIALLY, I APPLAUDED THE ADEPRESSIVE NATURE THAT THE OWE AGGRESSIVE NATURE WHICH THE GOVERNOR TOOK ASSURING PEOPLE WERE TAKING THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE.

THE DIRECTIVES ABOUT MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, THAT CERTAINLY WAS PRECEDED THE BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WERE ESTABLISHED ESSENTIAL EMPLOYERS.

BUT THERE WERE SEGMENTS OF OUR ECONOMY THAT TOOK A SIGNIFICANT BEATING.

OUR ENTERTAINMENT, HOSPITALITY, RESTAURANT, HOTEL INDUSTRY OVER HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WERE PUT OUT OF WORK SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT DIRECTIVE WAS PUT OUT THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK THE REAL CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE AHEAD OF US IS HOW QUICKLY DO WE GET THOSE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AND SEGMENTS OF OUR ECONOMY BACKUP AND RUNNING SO THAT THEY CAN BE PRODUCTIVE, REVENUE-GENERATING COMPONENTS OF BRINGING OUR STATE'S ECONOMY BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF FISCAL ORDER.

>> ILLINOIS IS IN THIS PHASE 4 AS THE STATE DUBS IT OF RESTRICTIONS FOR WHAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE LIFTED.

JASON BARICKMAN DOES ILLINOIS NEED TO HAVE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED NOW?

>> I MEAN I THINK WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT PHASE 5.

THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES PROVIDE REALLY VAGUE AND ARBITRARY MEASURES FOR HOW YOU GET TO PHASE 5.

HE TALKS ABOUT TESTING BEING AVAILABLE AND VACCINES BEING AVAILABLE.

WELL, WE'RE SEEING THAT ALL OVER THE STATE.

MY COLLEAGUES TALKED ABOUT MAKING INVESTMENTS AND IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THE BEST THING ILLINOIS CAN DO IS REOPEN ITS ECONOMY.

>> ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?

>> SURE.

SCHOOLS.

LET'S START WITH SCHOOLS.

THERE'S MANY SCHOOLS AROUND THE STATE THAT CONTINUE TO TRY TO NAVIGATE THIS THROUGH A REMOTE LEARNING PROCESS THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE SCHOOL CHILDREN.

THE CDC HAS BEEN CLEAR -- >> CAN THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SAY THAT SOME 89% OF DISTRICTS HAVE SOME VERSION OF LEARNING IN-PERSON RIGHT NOW?

>> SURE.

SOME VERSION WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

DOES THAT MEAN STUDENTS ARE IN CLASS TWO DAYS A WEEK?

THREE DAYS A WEEK.

YOU TAKE THAT COVID AND ASK ANYONE WHAT WOULD BE IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN IF THEY WERE NOT IN A CLASSROOM WITH A TEACHER LEARNING TOGETHER, COOPERATING.

FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR?

THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS IN THE STATE MY SCHOOL, AS AN EXAMPLE, MY CHILDREN, WERE IN CLASS FOR LESS THAN 15 DAYS OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THIS IS -- >> WE HAVE LIKE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

I WANT TO BRING BACKCOUNTRIES COUNTRIES, WE DIDN'T GET TO TO CRISTINA PACIONE-ZAYAS, ARE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT GETTING THE VACCINATIONS?

>> I CAN SAY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO I WAS ON A BRIEFING WITH THE CITY AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO SAID THAT OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, 50% OF THE VACCINES HAVE GONE TO LATINO AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT.

BUT THAT ALSO DIDN'T COME WITHOUT A LOT OF PRESSURE AND A LOT OF SWEAT EQUITY FROM OUR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE TRUSTED MESSANGERS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO QUICKLY FASHION AND STAND UP THE VACCINE SITES AND WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF THAT HAPPENING SO WE HAVE THAT WE INVITE PEOPLE INTO THE PROCESS WE NORMALIZE IT AND ALLAY ANY CONCERNS BUT WE GET THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE SEEKING.

>> AND WE WILL BE KEEPING OUR EYE ON THAT AND FURTHER ACTION IN SPRINGFIELD.

SAFE TRAVELS AS EACH OF YOU HEAD BACK.

OUR THANKS TO SENATORS, JASON BARICKMAN, RAM VILLIVALAM, CRISTINA PACIONE-ZAYAS, AND DONALD DEWITTE DE FOR JOINING US.

>> NOW, PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

A MAJOR RETAIL CHAIN HAS QUITE A TARGET ON ITS BACK, HINT, HINT.

RUMORS THAT THE MINNESOTA-BASED TARGET WAS SNIFFING AROUND WATER TO YOUR PLACE MADE FOR HARSH BACKLASH FROM ONE PROMINENT ELECTED OFFICIAL.

WHAT DOES THIS KERRY WRIGHT IF YOU HAVE FELL CUSTOMER IF YOU HAVE TELL >> JOINING US IS ALBY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> SO HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT TARGET IS GOING TO GO INTO THE WATER TOWER MALL ON MICHIGAN AVENUE?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

WE FOR THEY HAVE LOOKED AT IT.

AND THEY HAVE A BIG SPACE TO FILL AT WATER TOWER PLACE.

MACY'S IS VACATING IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

AND SO THEY OCCUPIED MORE THAN 300,000 SQUARE FEET.

MACY'S IS THE BIGGEST TENANT IN WATER TOWER PLACE SO THE OWNER OF THE MALL HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE SPACE AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

TARGET WOULD BE A CANDIDATE.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT MACY'S VACANCY.

WHY SO MUCH BACKLASH TO THE NOTION OF TARGET ON THE MAGNIFICENT MILE?

>> SO, ON FRIDAY, AND PRIOR RADIO INTERVIEWS, COOK COUNTY TREASURER HAS BEEN SPEAKING OUT AGAINST TARGET SPOUTING OFF ON THE RUMORS THAT TARGET WOULD BE GOING THERE.

AND SHE HER BASIC VIEW IS THAT IT WOULD BE A COME DOWN FOR THE MAG MILE AND WATER TOWER PLACE.

IT WOULD DEBASE THE SHOPPING STRIP.

>> IT SOUNDS RANDOM BUT SHE LIVES RIGHT THERE.

SHE SEEMS TO HAVE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THAT?

>> SHE DOES AND THAT IS A VERY GOOD POINT.

>> SO IS THAT WHY YOU THINK SHE WAS GOING ON THE RADIO SOUNDING OFF ON IT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT.

SHE MAKES NO SECRET OF THE FACT SHE LIVES RIGHT THERE.

AND SHE SHOPS WATER TOWER PLACE.

SHE IS OBVIOUSLY NOT AFRAID TO SHARE HER PERSONS AND EVEN IF THEY ARE BASED ON RUMORS IN THE MARKET AT THIS POINT.

>> YOU MENTIONED MACY'S VACATING THERE, HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT IS THAT GOING TO HAVE ON WATER TOWER?

AND AS I UNDERSTAND THIS WAS IN THE WORKS BEFORE COVID, BEFORE SOME OF THE UNREST THAT HAPPENED THIS SUMMER, CORRECT?

>> WELL, WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHEN THEY WERE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT LEAVING WATER TOWER PLACE.

WE KNEW THEY WERE LOOKING TO SHRINK THEIR SPACE AND IN JANUARY THEY CONFIRMED THEY WOULD LEAVE THE SHOPPING CENTER ENTIRELY.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE SHRINKING DEPARTMENT STORES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME THESE DAYS STAYING RELEVANT IN THE E-COMMERCE WORLD.

AND MACY'S IS NO EXCEPTION.

>> VICTORIA'S SECRET IS LEAVING NOW ON THE MAGNIFICENT MILE.

HOW COME?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW THEY ARE FACING SAME PRESSURES THAT OTHER RETAILORS ARE FACING.

IT'S EXACERBATED ON THE MAG MILE BECAUSE RENTS ARE SO HIGH ON NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE.

AND IT'S HARD FOR A LOT OF RETAILORS TO JUSTIFY PAYING THOSE HIGH RENTS WHEN THEIR SALES ARE NOT HIGH ENOUGH AND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS SALES HAVE NOT BEEN STRONG ON MICHIGAN AVENUE.

SOME RETAILORS ARE DOING WELL AND THERE ARE RETAILORS MOVING ON TO THE AVENUE LIKE STARBUCKS OPENED A GROCERY IN THE FORMER CRATE AND BARREL SPACE.

A LOT OF RETAILORS ARE STRUGGLING TO JUSTIFY PAYING THE HIGH RENT THERE.

>> BRANDS LIKE STARBUCKS OPENING UP THE ROAD STREET AND TARGET IS THAT THE FUTURE OF THE MAGNIFICENT MILE MORE OF THESE BIG WELL-KNOWN CHAINS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE RETAIL WORLD TALK ABOUT CONCEPTS AT THAT TIME ARE E-COMMERCE RESISTANT.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT EXPERIENCAL RETAILING GIVING CONSUMERS SOMETHING THAT THEY CANNOT GET ON-LINE.

THAT IS WHAT YOU GET WITH THE STARBUCKS IT IS AN EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU GET AT THE APPLE STORE ON THE CHICAGO RIVER THAT IS A BIG THING THAT RETAILORS ARE TRYING TO OFFER.

AND THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON ON MICHIGAN AVENUE FOR A WHILE.

A LOT OF FLAGSHIP STORES ARE THERE FOR BRANDING PURPOSES.

THERE'S SO MUCH FOOT TRAFFIC THAT THEY ARE LIKE HUGE BILLBOARDS FOR THESE BRANDS.

>> AND WE'LL SEE IF THE FOOT TRAFFIC RETURNS AS THE PANDEMIC WINDS DOWN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> A CHECK IN WITH LOCAL BICYCLE SHOPS TO HEAR WHAT THEY ARE EXPECTING THIS SEASON.

SO PLEASE, STICK AROUND.

>> BICYCLE SALES SKYROCKETED IN 2020 AS THE PANDEMIC FORCED MORE PEOPLE TO EXERCISE AND COMMUTE OUTDOORS.

BUT THE SURGE IN DEMAND AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES LED TO SHORTAGES, STILL BEING FELT IN CHICAGO'S CYCLING COMMUNITY.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" QUINN MYERS CHECKED IN WITH LOCAL BIKE SHOPS AND CYCLING GROUPS ABOUT THE PAST YEAR AND WHAT TO EXPECT THIS SEASON.

>> BIKE SHOPS ACROSS CHICAGO SAY THEY'VE NEVER QUITE EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE 2020.

>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY INSANE.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR 25 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN A BIKE RETAILER THAT LONG AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE.

>> JUSTYNA FRANK IS THE CO-OWNER OF COSMIC BIKES IN JEFFERSON PARK WHICH SELLS AND FIXES A WIDE RANGE OF STYLES.

AT FIRST, FRANK SAYS THE BIKE BOOM WAS GREAT.

UNTIL THEY RAN OUT OF STUFF TO SELL.

>> SOMEHOW WE WERE STILL CHUGGING ALONG.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN BUT AT SOME POINT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE WE COULD GET.

THERE WAS A POINT IN THE SUMMER WHERE WE COULDN'T GET INTERTUBE SIZES.

REALLY BASIC COMPONENTS TO DO REPAIRS ON PEOPLE'S EXISTING BIKES.

>> BIKE SALES JUMPED 65% IN 2020 OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR ACCORDING TO DATA FROM MARKET RESEARCH FIRM THAT CAME ON TOP OF A HOST OF PANDEMIC-RELATED SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES FOR BIKE MANUFACTURERS.

IN CHICAGO, THAT TRANSLATED INTO LONG WAITS FOR MAINTENANCE LAST SUMMER AND AN ALMOST TOTAL SCARCITY OF NEW BIKES.

>> LAST YEAR PEOPLE WERE LIKE YEAH, THIS MUST BE GREAT.

YES, THE DEMAND WAS GREAT BUT IT HAS TO BE COUPLED WITH SUPPLY IF YOU HAVE DEMAND AND NO SUPPLY YOU ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME EXPLAINING TO PEOPLE WHY YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE.

>> BIKE OWNERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTIALLY RESTOCK AND CATCH THEIR BREATH AFTER THE BOOM BUT BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKET THERE MAY BE ANOTHER SHORTAGE THIS YEAR.

>> WE CAN'T ORDER MORE BIKES FOR 2021.

WHATEVER WE ARE GETTING IN, NOW, IS WHAT WE'RE GETTING.

AND THEY'VE STARTED LOOKING AT 2022.

>> GILLIAN FORSYTH OWNS AND OPERATES BFF BIKES IN BUCKTOWN WHICH SELLS BIKES AND APPARELL GEARED TOWARD WOMEN.

GILLIAN FORSYTH SAYS IN THE PAST WHEN THEY DID NOT HAVE A PART SHE WOULD ORDER IT AND IT WOULD COME.

THESE DAYS BFF IS TRYING TO STOCK UP.

IN CASE THERE WON'T BE ANYTHING LEFT IN A FEW MONTHS.

>> BRING YOUR BIKE IN AND YOU'RE CROSSING YOUR FINGERS HOPING WE CAN GET THE PART IF YOU NEED IT.

>> WHILE THE PAST YEAR HAS PUT A SIGNIFICANT STRAIN ON LOCAL BIKE SHOPS, IT'S ALSO BEEN A BOON TO AREA CYCLING GROUPS.

IN SOUTH SUBURBAN ALSIP WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF BLACK GIRLS DO BIKE.

A CYCLING CLUB ORGANIZED BY AND FOR WOMEN OF COLOR, ALTHOUGH ALL WOMEN ARE WELCOME.

THE LEADER CELESTE ADAMS SAYS THEY HAVE SEEN A SURGE OF INTEREST SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>> PEOPLE WERE REALLY GETTING INTO CYCLING.

AND THEY WERE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO VARIOUS CYCLING GROUPS.

HEY, CAN I JOIN?

WE HAD WELL OVER 100 PEOPLE JOIN OUR CLUB IN 2020.

>> BLACK GIRLS DO BIKE PAUSED GROUP RIDES FOR SAFETY REASONS IN 2020.

BUT ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE A FULL CALENDAR THIS SEASON.

JUST THIS WEEK, ABOUT 15 WOMEN SHOWED UP FOR AN AFTERNOON RIDE ALONG THE CAL-SAG CHANNEL.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN RIDING INDIVIDUALLY WE HAVE MISSED TRULY MISSED RIDING WITH OUR CLUB WITH OUR GROUP WITH THE CAMARADERIE OF A GROUP.

WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THAT.

PEOPLE SAY I HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT, I GOT TO GET A NEW BIKE I HAVE TO THEY HAVE A LOT OF REASONS.

RIDE WHATEVER YOU HAVE.

COME ON OUT RIGHT NOW AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M QUINN MYERS.

>> LET'S SEE HOW LONG THAT CYCLING WEATHER LASTS.

LOCAL SHOPS SAY IF YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY A BIKE DO IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER AND EXPECT TO PAY MORE.

AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT BLACK GIRLS DO BIKE ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", THE CTA REACHES A SETTLEMENT WITH A CYCLIST STRUCK AND RUN OVER BY A BUS DRIVER WHO WRACKED UP OVERTIME BEFORE FIRED.

NON-NONOR NFT'S ARE MAKING MILLIONS FOR DIGITAL ARTISTS HOW ARE THE CRYPTO ASSETS CHANGING ART AND INVESTING?

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM LOOKS AT THE COVID STIMULUS AND HOW THE 1.9 TRILLION DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.

[♪♪♪] AND THE MEXICAN TRADITION OF PRINTMAKING IS ALIVE AND WELL AT A CHICAGO PRINTING PRESS RUN BY A RETIRED PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER.

FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

COOK COUNTY IS SET TO HAVE A NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER.

SHERONE MITCHELL, DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS JUSTICE PROJECT IS TONI PRECKWINKLE'S PICK.

A FORMER ATTORNEY WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE MITCHELL WILL FACE A CONFIRMATION VOTE FRIDAY.

HE IS SET TO SUCCEED AMI CAMPANELLI WHO HAD HOPED TO BE APPOINTED.

TONI PRECKWINKLE STAYED QUIET AND WHY CAMPANELLI WAS NOT KEPT ON.

>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS SHE IS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT SOME OF CHICAGO'S SUMMER EVENTS CAN RETURN AS CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL MAKE A DECISION ON THE TASTE OF CHICAGO AND AIR AND WATER SHOW IN THE COMING WEEKS.

LIGHTFOOT NOT PREDICT WHICH EVENTS WILL OR WON'T HAPPEN BUT THE SUMMER WILL LIKELY LOOK LEAK A NORMAL ONE IN CHICAGO U BECAUSE WE SAY X EVENTS ARE HAPPENING DOESN'T MEAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME EN MASS UNLESS THEY ARE 18 OR 19.

FOR THE REST OF US WE ARE MORE CAUTIOUS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE WILL COME AND FLOCK BACK EN MASS.

WE KNOW SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS VIRUS HOW IT SPREADS THAN WE DID A YEAR AGO.

WE KNOW IN PARTICULAR ABOUT OUTSIDE EVENTS THAT WE CAN MANAGE THESE IN A SAFE WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE.

>> AND LIGHTFOOT MADE THE COMMENTS ANNOUNCING A NEW PROGRAM TO HELP BLACK, LATINO AND FEMALE OWNED COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY TO GET ACCESS TO FINANCING AS THEY RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AND MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND BUSINESSMAN AND PHILANTHROPIST RICHARD DRIEHAUS DIED.

HE ADVOCATED FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE THROUGH HIS NAMESAKE FOUNDATION AND THE DRIEHAUS PRIZE.

WTTW PRODUCED DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT MANY OF THE PRIZE WINNERS AND CRAIN'S REPORTS DRIEHAUS DIED AFTER SUFFERING A CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE AT HIS HOME ON MONDAY.

HE WAS 78.

>> THE CTA'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES A $1.75 MILLION SETTLEMENT FOR A MAN STRUCK BY A BUS WHILE RIDING HIS BIKE IN 2019.

NICK BLUMBERG HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY SINCE THE CRASH AND JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS.

>> PARIS, YO JOE WAS BIKING OWE HE JOSEPH MOORE WAS BILKING SOUTH WHEN HE WAS HIT-AND-RUN OVER BY A BUS PULLING UP TO A STOP AT THE CORNER.

WE HAVE ANIMATION SHOWING THE BIKE LANE MOORE WAS RIDING IN GREEN AND THE BUS LANES IN BLUE AND THE REPORT SAYS HE WAS TAKEN TO NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.

AND THE ATTORNEY TOLD US THAT MORGAN HAD MAJOR INJURIESNESS INDICATING A REROUTED COLON AND FACED BLOOD LOSS AND ROAD RASH.

MORGAN SUED THE CTA AND THE BUS DRIVER, SUNDAY AJAYI FOR MAJOR INJURIES, MEDICAL BILLS AND LOST PAY.

HE HAD TO STAY WITH FAMILY IN MICHIGAN WHILE RECOVERING AND WAS NOT ABLE TO WORK.

THE CTA BOARD APPROVED THAT SETTLEMENT IN A BRIEF STATEMENT TO WTTW NEWS TODAY THE CTA CALLED THE INCIDENT UNFORTUNATE AND SAYS BASED ON THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND FOLLOWING THE MEDIATION THE AGENCY BELIEVES IT'S IN ITS BEST INTEREST TO SETTLE.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BUS DRIVER?

>> HE WAS FIRED A MONTH AFTER THE CRASH WHICH WAS HIS THIRD ON THE JOB IN A PERIOD OF A YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

COURT RECORDS SHOWED HE HAD 18 TRAFFIC TICKETS BETWEEN 1989-2005 INCLUDING THREE WHILE WORKING FOR THE CTA AND AMONG THE HIGHEST PAID BUS DRIVERS IN SEVERAL RECENT YEARS TAKING HOME NEARLY $118,000 IN 2017 AND $151,000 WHICH INCLUDED BACK PAY IN 2018.

BASED ON HIS HOURLY RATE AT THE TIME A FULL YEAR'S PAY AT 40 HOURS WOULD COME OUT TO $73,000.

>> HE MADE MORE THAT WAS TWICE THAT.

HOW WAS THAT?

>> IT APPEARS TO BE LARGELY DRIVEN BY OVERTIME.

BEFORE SUNDAY AJAYI WAS FIRED RECORDS SHOW HE WORKED 532 HOURS OF OVERTIME IN 2019.

THAT COMES OUT TO AN AVERAGE WORK WEEK OF 60 HOURS.

AT THE TIME WE ASKED THE CTA IF THE AGENCY WAS UNDERSTAFFED AND HOW IT RELIED ON OVERTIME?

AND THE DRIVERS CHOOSE TO WORK OVERTIME THEY ARE NOT ASSIGNED.

IN A STATEMENT TOLD US CTA WORKPLACE RULES INSURE THAT BUS OPERATORS HAVE EIGHT HOURS BETWEEN SHIFTS.

AN OPERATOR IS ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME AT THE END OF THE OVERTIME SHIFT IS MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THEIR SCHEDULED WORK THE NEXT DAY.

THE CTA TOLD US ITS OVERTIME POLICIES HAVE NOT CHANGED.

WE WERE UNABLE TO REACH THE FORMER DRIVER.

>> WOW.

GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN READ NICK'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> NFT'S THEY ARE THE RAGE IN CRYPTOCURRENCIES AND CREEPING INTO OTHER INDUSTRIES.

YOU'RE PROBABLY ASKING WHAT IS AN NFT?

GOOD QUESTION.

WE'RE ABOUT TO ANSWER THAT AND KNOW THAT IT'S PRICEY THIS COLLAGE IS THE FIRST 5,000 DAYS IS ON AUCTION AT AUCTION HOUSE CHRISTIE'S WITH A BID OF MORE THAN $13 MILLION.

IT IS THE FIRST DIGITAL ART TO BE AUCTIONED AT CHRISTIE'S.

AND JOINING US TO BREAKDOWN WHAT NFT'S ARE AND WHAT IMPACT THEY ARE HAPPENING DONNA RIDELLE LAW PROFESSORSER AND BOARD MEMBER OF THE BLOCKCHAIN ALLIANCE.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> IT IS REALLY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> BASIC TERMS.

WHAT IS AN NFT OR NON-NON?

NON-NON-NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN.

>> A NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS.

IT IS A UNIQUE TOKEN AND IT LIVES ON A BLOCKCHAIN.

AND A BLOCKCHAIN THEREFORE RECORDS THE PROVIDENCE OF IT AND WHO OWN IT IS FROM TIME TO TIME AS IT GETS SOLD ALONG THE WAY.

SO YOU HAVE A PERFECT RECORD OF WHERE IT CAME FROM, WHO IT GOES TO AND ALL THE TRANSACTIONS FROM THE TIME IN WHICH IT WAS BIRTHED.

>> BLOCKCHAIN IS THE TECHNOLOGY USED FOR CRYPTOCURRENCIES SO IT IS AN AUTHENTIC THING THAT YOU OWN.

AND IT'S USED IN ART RIGHT NOW.

HOW IS OWNING A NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN PIECE OF ART LIKE OWNING AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL PIECE OF ART?

>> IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.

BECAUSE YOU ARE -- YOU'RE OWNING CODE.

AND THE CODE IS THAT MANIFESTED IN AN IMAGE.

THE OTHER THING I THINK WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IS YOU ARE A PART OF A COMMUNITY AND YOU ARE BY HAVING THIS NFT OF AN ARTIST YOU ARE BINDING YOURSELF TO THAT ARTIST IN THE SENSE THAT YOU WANT TO BE PART OF WHAT THEY REPRESENT AND IT'S ON THE BLOCKCHAIN.

I THINK YOU'RE SEEING NOW RIGHT NOW, THAT THERE IS A CONVERGENCE AND HENCE AN EXPLOSION WHICH IS A VERY EXPLOSIVE COMBINATION OF CELEBRITY BRANDS PRICED ALL AROUND NFT FOR THE MOST PART MANIFESTING ITSELF IN ART WHETHER IT BE VISUAL TO MUSIC ART.

>> AND THERE IS AN NFT MUSIC VIDEO BY THE ARTIST GRIMES THAT IS WORTH $400,000 PURPORTEDLY.

MY QUESTION IS IF ANYONE CAN CLICK ON THIS AND SEE THIS WHAT IS THE VALUE IN SPENDING $400,000 AND OWNING IT?

>> WELL, YOU RAISE A GOOD QUESTION.

THAT IS THAT YOU OWN IT AND CONCEIVABLY YOU COULD HAVE RIGHTS THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THE CONTRACT.

BECAUSE ON EVERY NFT THERE IS A SMART CONTRACT AND THAT CONTRACT PUTS IN THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLER AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE BUYER.

SO I MAY HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS THAT ATTACHED TO THAT NFT THAT I COULD GO AND DO SOMETHING WITH.

>> CHRISTIE'S AUCTION HOUSE SELLING THIS NFT PRICE BY AN ARTIST UPWARDS OF $13 MILLION.

WHY IS THIS PIECE SO VALUABLE?

HE IS A PROVEN ARTIST HE WAS DOING WHAT YOU WOULD CALL NON-DIGITAL ART, HE WAS DOING TANGIBLE ART FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND MOVED INTO THE DIGITAL SPACE AND TESTED THE WATERS IN THAT HE SOLD SOME PIECE FOR ABOUT $4.6 MILLION EVEN THOUGH AT THAT TIME THAT HE SOLD IT IT WAS WELL-KNOWN HE WAS GOING TO BE AT CHRISTIE'S.

I THINK THAT HE BECAME A VERY COLLECTIBLE ARTIST AND CHRISTIE'S WHO TOOK A GAMBLE TO MOVE INTO THE DIGITAL WORLD IN TERMS OF NFT'S THEY HAVE BEEN IN OTHER DIGITAL ART BEFORE BUT MOVE INTO NFT'S THEY PICKED THIS ARTIST AND THEY DID A SMART MOVE VERY SMART MOVE.

>> IS THE IDEA LIKE ANY GREAT PIECE OF PHYSICAL ART THAT AN NFT PIECE OF ART MIGHT APPRECIATE OVER TIME MIGHT GROW IN VALUE?

>> YEAH.

LOOK I THINK IT'S ANYTHING YOU MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN AND CLEARLY IF YOU ARE SPENDING $11 MILLION YOU ARE MAKING AN INVESTMENT YOU ARE HOPING THAT THAT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION GOING ON.

BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL ABOUT NFT'S IT'S ONBOARDING PEOPLE IN THE CRYPTO SPACE.

YOU HAVE TO GET A WALLET.

YOU HAVE TO BUY THE GAS OR THE CURRENCY THAT A LOT OF THE NFT'S ARE SOLD IN.

IT BECOMES A FLEXIBLE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN CRYPTOCURRENCIES BECAUSE THEY ARE INTERESTED IN ART OR MUSIC OR NFT'S ARE NOW IN FASHION I THINK THAT THIS BECOMES A REALLY INTERESTING WAY TO UNBOARD PEOPLE INTO WHAT WILL BE A GREATER SYSTEM.

>> ENTRY INTO THE WORLD.

WHERE CAN NFT'S EXPAND INTO?

THE MUSIC GROUP KINGS OF LEONE THEY RELEASED THEIR ALBUM?

>> WE ARE SEEING IN SPORTS WITH TOP SHOP.

THEY ARE SELLING NFT'S THAT ARE MOMENTS OF FAMOUS BASKETBALL MOMENTS WHETHER IT'S LEBRON OR OTHERS.

AND THEY ARE SOLD I BELIEVE IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS OF THESE MOMENTS.

SO SPORTS HAVE A LOT OF FANS.

FANS WANT TO CONNECT WITH THEIR SUPERSTAR OR TEAM.

AND SO THIS IS A NATURAL WAY IN WHICH FANS AND ALL THE TEAMS CAN EXPAND THAT CONNECTIVITY BECAUSE MOST OF THIS IS ABOUT CONNECTION.

BEING PART OF SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY ADORE, SOMETHING THAT YOU SPENT A LIFETIME AS IN SPORTS, WANTING TO BE INCLUDED IN.

AND THIS GETS YOU THERE IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN IF YOU WERE IN THE ARENA.

>> AND TO HAVE A FEELING OF OWNERSHIP OF THAT.

>> EXACTLY CORRECT.

AND THAT HAS A FEELING OF OWNERSHIP OF WHETHER IT BE THE ART PIECE THE MOMENT, THE MUSIC, AND ALSO A LOT OF THE ARTISTS ARE MAKING SURE THAT EMBEDDED IN THEIR CONTRACTS IT GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT FASCINATING SUBJECT THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

>> WELCOME ANYTIME.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

UP NEXT OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM DIVES INTO THE DETAILS OF THE COVID STIMULUS PLAN BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> A BIG DAY IN NATIONAL NEWS WITH THE STIMULUS PASSING IN CONGRESS AND MERRICK GARLAND CONFIRMED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

WE'LL SHINE OUR SPOTLIGHT ON SOME CITY, STATE AND OTHER POLITICAL NEWS AS WELL.

AND JOINING US ARE AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE.

LET'S START WITH THAT 1.9 TRILLION COVID RELIEF PACKAGE THAT PASSED THE HOUSE HERE IS WHAT SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND CHUCK SCHUMER AND MITCH McCONNELL HAD TO SAY.

>> HELP IS ON THE WAY.

WILL YOU RECEIVE $1400 CHECKS BY THE END OF MARCH.

HELP IS ON THE WAY.

VACCINES WILL BE AVAILABLE FAR MORE QUICKLY.

>> THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF BIG GOVERNMENT DEMOCRATIC OVERREACH.

IN THE NAME OF COVID RELIEF.

>> HEATHER CHERONE BREAK IT DOWN.

WHAT IS THE STIMULUS PACKAGE GOING TO MEAN FOR ILLINOISANS?

>> MOST PEOPLE WILL SEE A $1400 STIMULUS CHECK IF YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED AND GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE THAT WILL BE EXTENDED THROUGH LABOR DAY WITH AN EXTRA $300.

THERE IS A HOST OF OTHER PROVISIONS.

THERE'S MONEY FOR STATES AND CITIES AS WELL AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AS WELL AS MONEY FOR TESTING AND VACCINES AND IT WILL ALSO TAKE A REAL STAB AT REDUCING CHILD POVERTY IT EXPANDS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND IT ALSO EXPANDS AID FOR IN TERMS OF FOOD TO COMBAT HUNGER.

IT IS A PREROGATIVE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE ECONOMY GOING AS WE SEE THIS VACCINE ROLLOUT TAKE ACTION.

>> AND WE HAD DANNY DAVIS CALLING IT MANNA FROM HEAVEN.

IS THIS GOING TO BE MANNA FOR ILLINOISANS AND CHICAGO'S DIRE BUDGET SITUATIONS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS GOING TO CAUSE IN SOME WAYS IT IS GOING TO ALLEVIATE HEADACHES FOR MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER CERTAINLY.

THEY WOULD BE HAVING TO MAKE A LOT OF TOUGHER DECISIONS WERE IT NOT FOR THIS FEDERAL MONEY.

IT GIVES THEM BREATHING ROOM.

AND AT THE SAME TIME IT GIVES THEM A HEADACHE.

ALREADY MY INBOX HAS AN E-MAIL FROM THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION EVER AT THE BACK OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAYING WE WANT MONEY TO BE DIRECTED IN THIS FASHION.

AND WHENEVER YOU GET A BIG HUGE GIFT LIKE THIS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE POLITICIANS LOOKING TO SPEND IT ON WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE AND OF COURSE THE PRIORITIES ARE NOT ALWAYS IN ALIGNMENT.

IT IS LIKE I SAID BOTH ONCE A GIFT BUT ALSO A BRAND NEW HEADACHE.

>> AND WE SEE THE MAYOR TAMPING DOWN EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THIS $1.8 BILLION WINDFALL.

HEATHER LET'S TALK ABOUT MERRICK GARLAND, LINCOLNWOOD NATIVE, LINCOLNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.

NILES WEST.

>> HE WAS CONFIRMED BY A 70-30 VOTE AFTER DELAYS.

ARE YOU SURPRISED IT WAS BIPARTISAN LIKE THIS?

>> NO.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT MERRICK GARLAND WAS [INAUDIBLE] EVEN BY MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THERE WERE SOME REPUBLICANS WHO COULDN'T VOTE FOR HIM THEY THOUGHT HE WOULD BE TOO PARTISAN OF AN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MANY DEMOCRATS SAID WAS RICH AFTER BILL BARR UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO, OF COURSE, MADE NO BONES ABOUT HIS JOB BEING THERE TO PROTECT THE PRESIDENT.

BUT IT IS REDEMPTION OF SORTS FOR MERRICK GARLAND NOMINATED BY FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT AND DID NOT GET A HEARING IN THE SENATE THANKS TO THEN MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL WHO VOTED TO CONFIRM HIM AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

IT ALL COMES FULL CIRCLE.

>> AND THIS IS A DIFFERENT BALL GAME THERE, RIGHT?

ONE IS A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT TO THE STATE'S HIGHEST -- NATION'S HIGH COURT AND YOU HAD THIS TURN INTO WHEN HE WAS OBAMA'S NOMINEE TO THE SUPREME COURT, REPUBLICANS SEEING A CHANCE RUNNING WITH IT, TAKING A BET THAT PAID OFF IN TERMS OF THEIR GETTING INSTEAD A SEAT ON THE COURT.

HERE THIS IS A PRESIDENT.

IF THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BACK GARLAND WHO WOULD THEY GET BEHIND FOR A POSITION LIKE THIS?

IT'S DIFFERENT NOOFNLT TOMORROW WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN AND WE WILL HAVE THE PRIMETIME ADDRESS AT 7:00 P.M. ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO HEAR FROM HIM?

>> WE ARE GOING TO HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT IT BEING A YEAR SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED ALL OF OUR LIVES.

IT IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY THAT WE LEARNED THAT TOM HANKS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AS WELL AS THE END OF NBA PLAY WHERE THE GAME WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF IT BY A POSITIVE TEST AND THAT LIKE FOR ME AND MANY AMERICANS THAT WAS THE DAY WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS REALLY GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT THE MORE THAN 500,000 AMERICANS WHO DIED.

HE IS GOING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR MEMORY AND GOING TO LOOK AHEAD.

I EXPECT HE WILL SAY SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES WE ARE NOT THROUGH THIS TUNNEL YET BUT THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND I EXPECT HE WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED WHEN IT'S THEIR CHANCE AND HE WILL CLAIM CREDIT FOR SPEEDING THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINES.

AND HE WILL NO DOUBT CELEBRATE THE PACKAGE OF THE $1.9 BILLION RELIEF PACKAGE.

>> AND ONE OF THE PLACES THE UNITED CENTER YOU WERE OUT THERE ON DAY ONE.

EVEN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS THE CITY HAS ADJUSTED WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO SIGN UP FOR APPOINTMENTS THERE TO TRY AND IMPROVE SOME OF THE EQUITY NUMBERS.

TELL US ABOUT THE CHANGES?

>> THEY HAD INDICATED ACTUALLY YESTERDAY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO FOCUS ON THESE FIVE ZIP CODES.

BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW THIS WAS GOING TO WORK.

WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A FOCUS ON THE PART OF THE CITY AND THE STATE TO REALLY TARGET THE VACCINATIONS.

AND IT SEEMS AS IF THEY ARE USING A COUPON CODE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO ENTER IN IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO RESIDES IN ONE OF THE AREAS AND THEN YOU WILL NEED TO PROVE THAT.

IF NOT YOU WILL GET YOUR APPOINTMENT CANCELED AND THIS COMES AS Dr. ARWADY SAID DON'T RELY ON YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR AGE BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR PERMANENT VACCINATION RECORD.

IF AS WE ARE SEEING IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO USE TO TRAVEL IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR EXAMPLE AT SOME POINT TAKE A VACATION WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO, YOU WILL NEED THAT TO MATCHUP TO YOUR PERSONAL DATA.

BUT I BELIEVE THE TRIBUNE INDICATED THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THAT ROLL OUT.

WE DID GET GUARANTEES JUST YESTERDAY THAT WHEN FOLKS WERE THERE GETTING THE VACCINE THAT IS WHEN THEY WOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SECOND DOSE.

INSTEAD THE TRIB IS REPORTING THAT IS NOT HAPPENING AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CELLPHONE NUMBERS OR E-MAILS SO IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT THE ONUS WILL BE ON THE FIRST DOSE VACCINATED TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY WADE THROUGH THAT BEAR OF GETTING THROUGH TO A PHONE LINE TO MAKE THEIR SECOND.

>> MAKE SURE TO GET THE SECOND DOSE.

THE CITY IS RESPONDING TO THE FIGURES THAT WE'RE SHOWING THAT SOMETHING LIKE 60% OF THE FOLKS SIGNING UP WERE NOT FROM THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

SO THEY ARE TRYING TO REORIENT IT THAT THE MAJORITY WILL BE FROM CHICAGO AND ESPECIALLY FROM THE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT AND THEN COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT IN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY AND A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF COOK COUNTY AS WELL.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL START TO GET THOSE EQUITY NUMBERS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

>> WELL IT'S HARD TO SAY.

BECAUSE WHEN THEY OPENED APPOINTMENTS FOR THE UNITED CENTER AT 8:30 THURSDAY MORNING IT WAS OPEN TO ALL ILLINOIS RESIDENTS.

AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THAT MEANT THAT 60% OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP WERE FROM OUTSIDE CHICAGO AND THAT THE VAST MAJORITY WERE WHITE OR ASIAN BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN TIME AND AGAIN AS THE VACCINES HAVE ROLLED OUT THAT THAT WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND CAN WAIT AND KEEP CLICKING TO MAKE THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

I THINK IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THIS BEING DESIGNED NOT APPROPRIATELY TO ACHIEVE THOSE EQUITY GOALS BY OPENING IT UP TO EVERYBODY ON THURSDAY AND THEN SORT OF TRYING TO PULL IT BACK AND SAY WAIT WE'RE GOING TO TARGET IT MORE THAT LED TO FRUSTRATION AND HARD FEELINGS ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE IN CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY WHO ARE HOPING TO GET APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE UNITED CENTER WAS THE ONLY PLACE IF YOU HAVE AN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION TO GET VACCINATED RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE THE CITY AND THE COOK COUNTY HAVE NOT MOVED TO THAT NEXT PHASE.

SO IT'S FRUSTRATING AND IT SEEMS LIKE AS AMANDA REPORTED THERE IS NOT A LOT STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS REMAINING HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.

>> SOME QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN TERMS WHAT BASEBALL IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER.

LOOK WHAT THE MAYOR HAD TO ANNOUNCE ON THAT FRONT.

[♪♪♪] >> LET'S PLAY BALL, CHICAGO.

>> ALL RIGHT, I KNOW YOU WILL BE GEARING UP TO TRY AND GET TICKETS TO SOX AND HEATHER AT WRIGLEY FIELD 8,000 FANS IN EACH STADIUM TO START OFF WITH.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EMPTY RELATIVELY.

20% CAPACITY THESE ARE HUGE STADIUMS.

THAT SAID, I DO IMAGINE THAT IT IS GOING TO BE THIS SLOW TREAD BACK TO REALITY.

BACK TO OUR NORMAL LIVES.

AND HEY, IT'S THE AMERICAN PASTTIME.

THIS IS THE START OF IT.

WE DID HEAR TODAY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WAS ASKED BECAUSE WE ARE IN THIS LULL, THIS PHASE FOUR WITH NO DEADLINE FOR WHEN WE WILL MOVE TO WHAT THE STATE PHRASES AS PHASE 5 CLOSE TO NORMAL WITHOUT THE 50% CAPACITY AT RESTAURANTS.

AND THE GOVERNOR INDICATED THAT HE IS AT LEAST CONSIDERING AND OPEN TO SOME OF THE CHANGES HE IS UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE TO LIFT SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND NOT JUST FROM REPUBLICANS INCLUDING DEMOCRATS LIKE FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE GOLD SAYING OUT STATE IS LOSING CONVENTIONS WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN AND METRICS WE HAD THE METRICS FOR CLOSING DOWN AND NOW WE NEED METRICS FOR OPENING UP.

>> AND THERE IS A CRAIN'S REPORT THAT SAYS THAT CONVENTIONS COULD POSSIBLY RETURN TO McCORMICK PLACE INCLUDING THE AUTO SHOW ON HOLD FOR A WHILE.

HEATHER WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE AIR AND WATER SHOW?

TASTE OF CHICAGO?

ARE THEY GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT CLEAR YET BECAUSE WHEN THE CITY APPROVED ITS 2021 BUDGET THEY DID NOT APPROPRIATEIATE ANY MONEY FOR THE FESTIVALS.

THE TASTE OF CHICAGO AND THE AIR AND WATER SHOW COST THE CITY $9 MILLION IF THOSE EVENTS ARE TO TAKE PLACE THE MAYOR HAS TO DECIDE IT'S SAFE ENOUGH TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GATHER AND B SHE HAS TO FIND THAT MONEY TO MAKE THOSE EVENTS HAPPEN.

AND IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE SUMMER IS A LONG WAY AWAY BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE EVENTS TAKE PLANNING AND LOGISTICS ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE TOILETS AND HAND WASHING STATIONS AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE TO PREVENT COVID FROM SPREADING.

SO IT'S NOT CLEAR ALTHOUGH WE DID HEAR THE MAYOR SAYS SHE WAS OPTIMISTIC THIS SUMMER WOULD LOOK MORE LIKE 2019 THAN 2020.

>> IF IT DOES HAPPEN WE WILL BE TANDEM SKYDIVING TO KICKOFF THE EVENT THIS YEAR.

SEE IF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE LISTENS TO THAT.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

AND WE'LL HAVE COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ADDRESS ON OUR PROGRAM TOMORROW NIGHT.

>> A CHICAGO >> WHEN WE VISITED HIS STUDIO IN PREPANDEMIC DAYS HE WAS WORKING ALONE.

AND THIS ARTIST HAS A TALENT FOR COLLABORATION.

>> I AM A PRINT MAKER.

I HAVE COLLABORATIVE PLACE WHERE I PUBLISH PRINTS WITH ARTISTS FROM NOT ONLY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES BUT FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THERE'S SOMEBODY FROM COSTA RICA, PUERTO RICO, CANADA, IN SPAIN AND FRANCE.

THERE'S SEVERAL SOUTH AMERICAN ARTISTS THAT ARE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE COLLABORATED SOME VENEZUELAN, ARGENTINIAN, PERUVIAN.

>> FROM SILKSCREENS TO WOODEN GRAVINGS PRINTMAKERS NEED A WIDE RANGE OF SKILL SETS.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE PRESS WHEN THE CENTER HOSTED AN EXHIBIT OF WORK BY RENE ARCEO AND THE ARTISTS HE WORKS WITH.

THAT SHOW WAS CALLED THE BORDER CROSSED US.

RENE ARCEO GREW UP NEAR QUAD LA HARRA AND TOLD US THE STORY OF HIS BORDER CROSSING IN 1979 WHEN AS 19 HE LEFT MEXICO AND CAME TO THE U.S. HIS FAMILY HIRED A COYOTE TO GUIDE HIM, HIS BROTHER AND A COUSIN.

>> I REMEMBER GOING FROM TIJUANA AND COYOTE TOOK A GROUP OF US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IT WAS AROUND 2:00 A.M. WE CROSSED THE BORDER.

AND WE SAW SOME OF THE HELICOPTERS FLYING OVERHEAD.

AND DOWN THE HILL WE SAW GROUPS THAT WERE BEING CAUGHT.

WE JUST STAYED PUT UNTIL FOR A FEW HOURS I DON'T REMEMBER HOW LONG UNTIL THERE WERE NO MORE HELICOPTERS FLYING AROUND.

AND THEN THE GROUP LEADER TOOK US AND WE WERE WALKING I DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG UNTIL SUNRISE.

AND AFTER THAT, THAT AFTERNOON THEY PUT US IN A TRUNK OF A CAR, A BIG CAR.

THERE WERE FIVE OR SIX OF US.

AND FROM THERE THEY TOOK US OUT PAST US THROUGH A CHECKPOINT.

AND THEN FROM THERE WE WENT TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF LOS ANGELES I FEEL LUCKY.

AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF WHILE COMING TO THE STATES.

>> RENE ARCEO CAME TO CHICAGO, MARRIED AND BECAME A U.S. CITIZEN HE STUDIED AT THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE AND WORKED AT WHAT LATER BECAME THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART.

AND HE TAUGHT AT A CHICAGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR 20 YEARS THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE DID DO VIRTUAL TEACHING FOR A FEW MONTHS ACTUALLY.

IT WAS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE MOST OF THE KIDS WERE NOT GETTING CONNECTED.

A LOT OF THEM DID NOT HAVE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HUMBOLDT PARK DID NOT HAVE DEVICES AND ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IT WAS DIFFICULT.

>> FOR YEARS HE HAD BEEN PLANNING TO RETIRE TO FOCUS ON HIS ART.

HIS WORK IS PART OF THE HERITAGE OF MEXICAN PRINTMAKING THAT STARTED IN THE LATE 1800'S INCLUDING WORKS.

>> AND THE USE OF THE SKELETONS THAT ARE DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS NOT IN THE BLOODY SPOOKY WAY LIKE HALLOWEEN BUT THEY ARE DOING ACTIVITIES AS IF THEY WERE ALIVE.

TO US IT IS AN EXTENSION OF LIFE AND IT IS WHAT REMAINS OF THE BODY ONCE WE DIE.

>> RENE ARCEO'S ARTISTIC OUTPUT IS ALIVE WHILE HIS EARLY WORKS WERE POLITICAL HIS LATEST WORK CONCENTRATES ON PEOPLE.

ONE IS A TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO COVID-19 AND INCLUDES A BAT TAKING FLIGHT.

>> I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET MY ARTWORK OUT THERE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME I CONTINUE TO PRODUCE EVERYTHING.

I'M HAPPY THAT I AM ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO ESSENTIALLY GETTING READY TO UNTIL THE PANDEMIC IS OVER SO THAT I CAN DO MORE DISPERSING OF MY WORK THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER ARTISTS AS WELL.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> RENE ARCEO RECENTLY SETUP A ETSY SHOP TO SELL WORKS THAT GO BETWEEN 25 AND 300.

FIND OUT MORE AND SEE MORE OF HIS WORK ON OUR WEBSITE.

AAND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. PRESIDENT BIDEN GIVES HIS FIRST PRIMETIME ADDRESS TO MARK ONE YEAR SINCE THE SHUTDOWN BEGAN AND A NEW EXHIBIT IN ELMHURST USES IMAGES OF Dr. KING TO PUSH FORWARD THE CONVERSATION ON FAIR HOUSING.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪] CONSIDER