ASSET TO OUR ORGANIZATION.

PERVIS SPANN WAS 89.

>> AND UP NEXT, CANDIDATE FILING TO GET ON THIS YEAR'S BALLOT.

WE HEAR FROM FAMILIAR FACES FOR ILLINOIS VOTERS SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR ILLINOIS CANDIDATES HOPING TO MAKE IT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE JUNE 28TH PRIMARY.

IT IS A CONVOLUTED SYSTEM TO GET THERE AND SOME SAY IT'S RIPE FOR UPDATING.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

FIRST ANY SURPRISES ABOUT WHO DID OR DID NOT SUBMIT PETITIONS TODAY?

>> WE'RE ALL BEEN WAITING TO SEE WHETHER A BIG NAME DECIDED TO RUN FOR ELECTION OR A HIGH PROFILE CANDIDATE THAT HAD BEEN EXPECTED TO RUN SUDDENLY DROPOUT?

WELL, OR MAYBE THERE IS A CANDIDATE WHO WANTS TO RUN, BUT COULDN'T MANAGE TO GET THEIR PETITIONS IN ORDER.

AS YOU MENTIONED IT IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS AND MORE SO THAN IT MAY SEEM ON ITS FACE.

NO MAJOR STATE-WIDE SURPRISES I'VE NOTICED SO FAR.

THE DEADLINE WAS 5:00 P.M.

SO YOU CAN HAVE ELECTION OFFICIALS TAKING TIME TO GET EVERYTHING ON-LINE THAT IS UP-TO-DATE.

BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE ATTORNEY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF INSIDE LAWSUITS, TOM DEVORE FILED TO RUN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND RICHARD BOYNE KIN TURNED IN PAPERWORK TO RUN FOR COOK COUNTY PRESIDENT AGAINST TONI PRECKWINKLE.

ALL SIDES OF THE HIGH PROFILE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR DO HAVE THEIR PETITIONS IN.

THERE IS THE CHANCE THAT SOMEONE WILL BE KNOCKED OFF THE BALLOT BECAUSE THEY NEED ENOUGH WHAT WOULD CUT OUT SO MANY OF THE STEPS AND CUT OUT THE TIME HONORED CHICAGO TRADITION OF ATTEMPTING TO GET YOUR OPPONENT KICKED OFF THE BALLOT BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S SIGNATURE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT LOOKS WHEN FILLING OUT THE FORM.

I JOKE WHEN YOU ARE REGISTERING TO VOTE YOU'RE WRITING EVERYTHING NEATLY AND YOUR SIGNATURE IS YOUR PERFECT PENMANSHIP AND AN L STOP ON A 20 DEGREE DAY.

CASSIDY SAYS GATHERING SIGNATURING ELECTRONICALLY, A CANDIDATE WANTED TO OPT-IN WOULD BORROW A TABLET FROM THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

>> I THINK PARDON ME ARE YOU A REGISTERED VOTER?

YES.

WOULD YOU SIGN MY PETITION AND I HAND YOU MY TABLET INSTEAD OF MY CLIPBOARD AND YOU VERIFY THE INFORMATION I'VE PULLED UP YOU VERIFY THAT IS YOU, CHECK A BOX AND SIGN AND IT VERIFIES YOUR SIGNATURE IS RELATIVELY THE SAME, AND BOOM, AND AMANDA VINICKY IS IN MY BANK OF THE REQUIRED SIGNATURES I NEED TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

>> CASSIDY SAYS IT WOULD MEAN THAT ELECTIONS ATTORNEYS WOULD LOSE WORK AND ALSO THAT INCUMBENTS SUCH AS HERSELF WOULD LIKELY SEE MORE COMPETITION.

CASSIDY SAYS SHE IS OK WITH THAT.

THAT'S DEMOCRACY.

COUNTY CLERK KAREN YARBROUGH NOT CONVINCED.

>> AND I NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT NOW THAT MICHAEL MADIGAN HAS BEEN INDICTED ON CORRUPTION CHARGES QUINN WANTS TO TRY AGAIN ALL THE MORE REASON TO DO SO.

BUT THE WINDOW TO COLLECT THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES STATE-WIDE TO GET A REFERENDUM QUESTION ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT IS SHORT.

HE ONLY HAS UNTIL MID-MAY TO GET IT DONE.

IT IS A PANDEMIC.

SO HE WANTS VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO SIGN AN ON-LINE PETITION TO GET THAT QUESTION ON THE BALLOT.

HE POINTS OUT THAT YOU CAN BUY A HOUSE ON-LINE, FILE YOUR TAXES AND ALSO LEGISLATORS VOTED TO GIVE THEMSELVES THE ABILITY TO VOTE VIRTUALLY.

>> SO THE POLITICIANS CAN GIVE THEMSELVES THIS RIGHT, THEY OUGHT TO GIVE IT TO THE EVERYDAY PEOPLE PASSING PETITIONS FOR A CAUSE WE BELIEVE IN, CLEAN GOVERNMENT.

IT'S HIGH TIME END THE CORRUPTION IN ILLINOIS AND DO IT AT THE BALLOT BOX WHERE THE VOTERS TELL THE POLITICIANS WHAT THE RULES ARE.

>> A COURT HEARING ON THE VIRTUAL COURT HEARING IS MARCH 30TH.

THAT IS JUST DAYS BEFORE MADIGAN'S NEXT VIRTUAL COURT HEARING.

MEANWHILE, CASSIDY'S BILL HAS NOT ADVANCED.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH A LOOK AT THE LOCAL IMPACT OF SURGING GAS PRICES.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

GASOLINE PRICES REACHED RECORD NUMBERS SOME PREDICT DRIVERS COULD SEE THE COSTS GO HIGHER.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ HEADED OUT TO SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE NAVIGATING THIS HIGH OCTANE DILEMMA.

>> DRIVERS ARE FEELING THE IMPACT AT THE PUMP.

>> 5.99T DON'T MAKE NO SENSE.

IT'S $30.

>> WITH PRICES CLAIMING CLOSE TO $6 CHICAGOANS ARE STRATEGIZING FOR WAYS TO SAVE MONEY.

>> RESTAURANT FOOD WE HAD TO DURING SPRING AND SUMMER.

OIL REFINERIES GO INTO SEASONAL MAINTENANCE SO THEY WON'T BE FULL PRODUCTION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND WE HAVE SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER COMING WHEN MORE PEOPLE WILL BE ON THE ROADS.

>> WHAT CAN YOU DO?

A LOCAL CAR EXPERT SAYS IS TURN OFF YOUR CAR WHEN YOU ARE NOT DRIVING.

>> THE MORE YOUR CAR IDLES THE MORE FUEL YOU BURN AND YOUR EFFICIENCY GOES DOWN.

WAITING FOR YOUR CHILD TO COME OUT OF SCHOOL ONE THAT PEOPLE IN THE CAR ON THEIR PHONE WAITING FOR THAT 30 MINUTES FOR A CHILD TO COME OUT.

AND YOU'RE BURNING FUEL.

>> HE SAYS KEEPING AN EYE ON TIRE PRESSURE AND REDUCING WEIGHT IN YOUR VEHICLE.

>> RESET YOUR TRIP ODOMETER WHEN YOU FILL UP.

THERE IS A METER ON YOUR VEHICLE.

IT IS A CONTINUOUS.

SO YOU MAY NOT SEE THE TRUE FUEL EFFICIENCY UNLESS YOU RESET THAT EVERY TIME YOU FILL UP.

>> AT A GAS STATION DRIVERS RESORTED TO FILLING UP ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THE WEEK.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT CONFLICT MUST HAPPEN BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

>> IT IS UNCLEAR WHEN GAS PRICES WILL HEAD BACK DOWN.

>> RIGHT NOW THE MARKET IS VERY VOLATILE.

IT IS ERRATIC.

WE ARE MONITORING IT.

BUT WE CAN'T PREDICT WHEN THE PRICE IS GOING TO DROP.

>> DRIVERS ARE THINKING OF CREATIVE WAYS TO AVOID THE HIGH GASOLINE PRICES.

>> MIGHT BE GETTING ME A SCOOTER.

>> IF IT DO WE ARE GOING ON R TO BE ON THE BUS, TRAIN, BIKE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> AND AS OF TODAY AAA SAYS ILLINOIS' AVERAGE PRICE FOR I AGALLON OF GAS IS 4.56.

ALTHOUGH THE PRICE OF OIL HAS SERVICES IN NORTH CENTER LOCATED IN THE BELMONT CRAGIN COMMUNITY.

PETE, HOW HAVE YOU BELMONT CRAGIN WAS MANY WOULD ARGUE ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND IN CHICAGO AS IT RELATES TO POSITIVE CASES FOR COVID.

SO ON TOP OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC PANDEMIC AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE SEEN ANOTHER SPIKE OF DEMAND FOR SERVICES OF METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES.

AS IT RELATES TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AS AN EXAMPLE AS WE ARE SERVING A FAMILY IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IT'S HARD TO THINK OF THAT WHEN YOU ARE THINKING OF HOW AM I GOING TO GET TO WORK?

HOW AM I GOING TO FEED MY CHILD WHEN EVERYTHING IS EXPONENTIALLY MORE EXPENSIVE WE HAVE SEEN A SPIKE IF SERVICES.

>> AND PETE GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE THE DECISIONS FAMILIES HAVE HAD TO MAKE TO DEAL WITH THE SPIKE IN PRICES?

>> SURE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF REPORTS OF FAMILIES SHARING WHAT RESOURCES THEY HAVE WITHIN THEIR FAMILIES AND ALSO NEIGHBORS UNRELATED.

AND THAT'S A MAJOR IMPACT FOR THEM.

ONE GENTLEMAN WHO HAS AN ELDERLY FATHER WHO IS TRYING TO KEEP HIS HEAT AS LOW AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP HIS ELECTRIC BILL DOWN BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY ARE BOTH MAKING THE CHOICE NOT TO HAVE A CELLPHONE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE A CELLPHONE AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND PAY THEIR BILLS.

SO VERY REAL CHOICES.

WE'RE HAPPY TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE FOOD AND TOILETRIES WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR.

>> ROXANNE, ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID IN THE SPIKE IN SERVICES AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH, DOMESTIC ISSUES IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THOSE THINGS?

AND ECONOMIC PRESSURES LIKE PETE'S WHEN OUR CLIENTS NEED FOOD WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS FOR FOOD, HOUSING, WE PARTNER WITH OUR CITY, STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WE PARTNER WITH OUR MEDICAL PARTNERS.

SO THAT THEY ARE ON-SITE PROVIDING VACCINES.

ON-SITE PROVIDING THE HEALTHCARE RESOURCES THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.

WE SEE THE SPIKE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WE MEET THE CLIENT WHERE THEY ARE AT.

THEY MIGHT COME IN FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WE ADDRESS THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES THE NEEDS IN THAT HOUSEHOLD SUCH AS EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES.

MAKING SURE THERE IS A SAFETY PLAN.

BUT THE SPIKE IS CHALLENGING.

WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE OUR STAFF WHICH IS AN AMAZING HORMONES.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS CONTINUE TO IMPACT FAMILIES FOR A WHILE.

THANKFULLY WE HAVE SOME CORPORATIONS STEP UP.

HAVE ALL GIVEN US DONATIONS TO BUY PRODUCE AND SO MANY INDIVIDUALS STEP UP.

WE'RE WELL POSITIONED RIGHT NOW TO STEP IN AND HELP WHERE PEOPLE NEED.

I'M SURE IT'S THE SAME AT METROPOLITAN.

>> AND ROXANNE NAVA IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN THE INFLATIONRY PRESSURE MIGHT EASE WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE FOLKS YOU SERVE OF THIS DRAGGING OUT REALLY LONG?

>> THE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LONG-TERM IMPACT IS WHERE COVID HAD US BREAKDOWN SILOS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.

SO THAT IS A POSITIVE LONG-TERM IMPACT IS THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WE MEET ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS SO THAT WE >> THE LONG-TERM IMPACT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHO IS IT THAT OFTEN NEEDS A PLACE LIKE A FOOD PANTRY OR HELP AND FRONTLINE WORKERS, PEOPLE HOURLY WAGE EARNERS.

AND TO GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND NOW THE OTHER SHOE HAS DROPPED WITH ALL THIS INFLATION PARTICULARLY AROUND GAS PRICES AND SO TRYING TO EARN BACK THAT SAVINGS IS GOING TO TAKE A REALLY LONG TIME FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO TRY AND GAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY.

THAT IS ANOTHER -- IN ADDITION TO THE MENTAL HEALTH THAT IS A VERY REAL POCKETBOOK KIND OF THING THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE ENDS MEET FOR THE LONG-TERM.

NOT JUST NOW.

AND PARTICULARLY PEOPLE NONCITIZENS WOULD NOT BE COUNTED.

I THINK ALL THAT REALLY CONTRIBUTES TO SOME RELUCTANCE AS WELL AS THE PANDEMIC CONTRIBUTED TO RELUCTANCE IN PEOPLE BEING WILLING TO OPEN THEIR DOORS AND RESPONSIVE IF SOMEONE CAME TO THEIR DOOR.

BECAUSE WE WERE ALSO DOWN ENUMBER RATERS THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO KNOCK ON DOORS.

AND FEAR AND A LOT OF LACK OF TRUST, I THINK, THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT.

DESPITE, I THINK THE AMAZING EFFORT THAT WAS PUT OUT WHERE THE STATE OF ILLINOIS INVESTED OVER $31 MILLION IN OUTREACH EFFORTS.

I SHUTTER TO THINK WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THAT INVESTMENT OF $30 MILLION.

>> AND I WANT TO GET YOU MENTIONED THE TRUST AND THE CONVERSATIONS, ASIAHA BUTLER WHAT WERE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO GET THEM TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS DURING THE PANDEMIC?

MISSED OUT ON BECAUSE OF THE UNDERSTAND COMES FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

BASICALLY EVEN NO GROWTH IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT IS FOR ILLINOIS' ECONOMY IN TERMS OF OUR LABOR FORCE, IN TERMS OF OUR HOMEOWNER SHIP GROWTH AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT DRIVE OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

>> AND TO YOUR POINT, IN 2010 THERE WAS A 1.54% UNDER COUNT SPECIFICALLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

BUT THEN IT JUMPED TO 4.99 NEARLY 5% IN 2020.

BUT ASIAHA BUTLER MOVING TO YOU, WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THIS UNDERSTAND COUNT COULD HAVE IN ENGLEWOOD?

>> UNDERCOUNT IN ENGLEWOOD?

>> IN EVENING WE ARE STARVED OF RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND FUNDING.

THE FACT WE ARE UNDERCOUNTED WE ARE A LOW COUNT COMMUNITY IN GENERAL THIS WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS AND IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOLS.

IMPACT ON OUR TAX BASE JUST IN GENERAL.

WE KNOW THAT OUR POPULATION DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE FUNDING AND THE RESOURCES WILL ALSO DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND YOU KNOW SO OUR WORK HAS TO BE TO ADVOCATE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT COUNT SAID AROUND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED HERE.

AND HAD WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT HERE.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

>> GO AHEAD?

>> I WAS GOING TO ADD IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 THE STATE OF ILLINOIS RECEIVED ALMOST 56 MILLION JUST BASED ON CENSUS DATA.

SOMETHING THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHO GETS COUNTED WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESOURCES WE RECEIVE.

>> GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS, OSWALDO ALVAREZ, ASIAHA BUTLER AND SYLVIA PUENTE FOR CLUSTER AND VACUUM BOMBS AND THE KREMLIN MAY HAVE REQUESTED MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM CHINA.

JOINING US ARE JEFF ABRAMSON A SENIOR FELLOW FOR ARMS CONTROL AND TRANSFERS FOR THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION PROMOTING ARMS CONTROL.

AND ROBERT LATIFT, A RETIRED U.S. AIR FORCE MAJOR GENERAL WHO NOW SERVES ON THE SCIENCE AND SECURITY BOARD OF THE CHICAGO BASED BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

ROBERT LATIFT WE'VE SEEN THE HORRIFYING IMAGES OF MATERNITY HOSPITALS BEING BOMBED AND WHAT ARE THE WEAPONS USED ON BOTH SIDES?

>> BOTH SIDES ARE USING THE CLASSIC WEAPONS, TANKS AND RIFLES AND BOMBS AND MISSILES.

BUT WE'VE HEARD REPORTS AND SEEN FILMS WHAT YOU CALLED THE VACUUM BOMB AND CLUSTER MUNITIONS WHICH DISPENSE SMALL BOMB LETS THAT GO OFF OVER A LARGE AREA.

THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE HEINOUS WEAPONS.

>> AND JEFF ABRAMSON TELL US MORE ABOUT THE GENERAL BROUGHT UP THE CLUSTER MUSICIANS AND VACUUM BOMBS.

TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS THEY ARE?

>> WARFARE IS HORRIBLE BUT WHAT WE'VE COME TO DO IS NARROW IT DOWN TO CERTAIN WEAPONS THAT WE GENERALLY AGREE WITH PARTICULARLY AWFUL.

CLUSTER MUNITIONS, ARE LITTLE BOMBS INSIDE BIG BOMBS AND THEY TEND NOT TO EXPLODE IMMEDIATELY BUT TO LEAVE AROUND TOY LIKE MUNITIONS THAT KIDS AND OTHERS PICK UP LATER.

BECAUSE OF SUCH A WEAPON THAT IS USUALLY HARMING CIVILIANS, IT IS A ONE THAT 110 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AGREED TO A TREATY THAT BANS THE WEAPONS.

YOU LOOK AT WEAPONS BANNED WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WAR AS A SIGN OF HOW HORRIBLE THAT IS.

THERMO BARRICK BOMBS ARE NOT BANNED IN THE SAME WAY BUT THE PAST?

>> THE THERMO BARRICK VACUUM BOMB WAS USED TO GREAT EFFECT IN AFGHANISTAN.

AND WHEN THEY WERE HUNTING DOWN THE TALIBAN AND OTHERS IN THE CAVES.

THAT IS A PERFECT USE FOR THEM.

IT IS A NON-POPULATED AREA BUT THE SO-CALLED MIXTURE WILL BE DISPERSED AND GO INSIDE AND EXPLODE.

IT DOES WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO BUT AFGHANISTAN WAS THE LATEST USE OF THEM.

>> USED MORE FOR THAT NOT URBAN AREAS WHERE THEY CAN BE MORE DEADLY AND TARGET CIVILIANS.

JEFF ABRAMSON THE U.S. HAS NOT SIGNED THE TREATY BANNING THESE WEAPONS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> THE UNITED STATES STILL ARGUES THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR CLUSTER MUNITIONS.

THEY WILL USE THEM MORE AGAINST TANK MOVEMENTS OR THOSE TYPES OF ARMORED MOVEMENTS.

BUT IT IS AN AERIAL DENIAL TYPE WEAPON.

THE UNITED STATES IS NOT USE TO DO IN 20 YEARS EXCEPT MAYBE IN A LIMITED CAPACITY IN YEMEN BUT THE UNITED STATES MAINTAINS IT NEEDS TO USE CERTAIN WEAPONS IT CONDEMNS OTHER COUNTRIES FOR USING.

THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE CALL THE UNITED STATES TO GET ONBOARD THAT TREATY AND THE MINE BAN TREATY.

>> VERY RECENTLY THE U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. LINDA GREENFIELD APPEARED BEFORE THE U.N.

SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT RUSSIA POSSIBLY USING CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT RUSSIA MAY BE PLANNING TO USE CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AGAINST THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

RUSSIA COULD USE CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL AGENTS FOR ASSASSINATIONS AS PART OF A STAGED OR FALSIFIED INCIDENT OR TO SUPPORT MILITARY OPERATIONS.

>> GENERAL, DO YOU SHARE THE AMBASSADOR'S CONCERNS THAT THE USE OF THESE WEAPONS FOR ASSASSINATIONS COULD BE IMMINENT?

>> ONLY PARTIALLY.

I'M SURE THE AMBASSADOR HAS ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE WHICH OBVIOUSLY I DON'T HAVE.

BUT I KIND OF AGREE THAT CHEMICALS PERHAPS, BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBT THAT.

THOSE ONCE RELEASED ARE NOT EASILY CONTROLLED.

CHEMICALS MORE SO.

AND IN THE PAST, THE RUSSIANS HAVE NOT SHOWN HESITATION TO USE CHEMICALS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

NOT PROBABLE.

>> JEFF ABRAMSON WHAT ABOUT CONCERNS OVER THE USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS?

THERE IS A CAMP OF FOLKS THAT SAY IT IS A BLUFF.

OTHER CAMP SAY YOU CANNOT BE TOO PREPARED OR CAUTIOUS WHEN DEALING WITH NUCLEAR POWERS.

>> I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS TRYING TO GET INTO THE MIND OF VLADIMIR PUTIN AND A LOT OF US ARE FAILING TO DO SO.

I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD RULE IT OUT COMPLETELY.

I THINK THE SITUATION IS TRYING TO BE CONTROLLED IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T GET TO THAT ESCALATION.

THE SCENARIO WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE A NUCLEAR EXCHANGE IF YOU STARTED TO SEE MILITARY CONFLICT BETWEEN U.S. OR NATO FORCES AND RUSSIA THAT RATCHETS UP TO A NUCLEAR EXCHANGE.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE PUTIN DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE DOWN THAT PATH.

IT'S ANOTHER SIGN THAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE NOT MAKING THE WORLD SAFER THEY ARE USED IN THIS CASE TO ENABLE THE CONFLICT.

BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT PATH IS NOT TAKEN.

IT DOES SEEM THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS BEING CAUTIOUS TO NOT RATCHET UP NUCLEAR ALERTS AND THERE IS A WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH RUSSIA DIRECTLY SO ANY MISUNDERSTANDING IS TAKEN INTO HEART.

BUT ANYTIME YOU START TALKING NUCLEAR THIS IS RATCHETING UP THE CONCERNS.

>> AND GENERAL, AS WE MENTIONED THE REPORTS THAT THE U.S. OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CHINA SIFTING RUSSIA.

-- AKIFTING RUSSIA WITH WEAPONS COULD THE ALLIANCES ESCALATE INTO A GLOBAL CONFLICT WITH NUCLEAR POWERS AT PLAY HERE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THE WORRY WITH CHINA AT LEAST MOST CURRENT WORRY HAS BEEN THEY MIGHT BE PROVIDING WEAPONS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE DEFENSIVE OR OFFENSIVE WEAPONS OR AID FOR THAT MATTER.

AND I THINK IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT WHATEVER PROCEED TO HAVING RUSSIANS OR CHINESE >> DR. NGOZI EZIKE'S LAST DAY AS DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS TODAY.

SHE IS LEAVING THE AGENCY AFTER THREE YEARS OF SERVICE MUCH OF THAT TIME SPENT LEADING THE STATE THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

AND DR. NGOZI EZIKE JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON TAKING THIS NEXT STEP.

YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS WE ENTER THE NEW PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC WE ARE RELAXING MASK MANDATES AND INCREASING VACCINATION RATES FEWER CASES.

DID YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE SITUATION WAS MORE STABLE BEFORE MAKING THIS DECISION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TAXING, REWARDING BUT VERY TAXING EXPERIENCE AND HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO FOR AN OPPORTUNITY OBVIOUSLY THE END OF LAST YEAR AS OMICRON WAS PEAKING AND RECORD NUMBERS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND MORE THAN ANY OTHER SURGE THAT WASN'T GOING TO BE THE RIGHT TIME.

AS WE'RE COMING OFF OF THE OMICRON SURGE AND HAVE HAD A CONTINUOUS DROPS IN THE NUMBER OF CASES AND THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS, I FIGURED THIS IS THE TIME THE MOMENT WHERE WE'RE TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF A BREATHER AND WE CAN SUBOUT AND GET A FRESH PAIR OF LEGS AND EYES TO TAKE ON THIS INCREDIBLE WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT NOT JUST FOR COVID BUT ALL OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES WE ARE RUNNING.

>> YOU ACCEPTED THE JOB IN 2019.

2020 WE WERE IN THE PANDEMIC.

DID YOU RECOGNIZE THE SEVERITY OF COVID AND THE SIZE OF THE TASK IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT AWAY?

>> NO, I THINK IN THE MOMENT IT WAS LIKE OH, OK.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING.

WE SEE CASES FIRST IN CHINA, OH, WE SEE CASES IN EUROPE, OH, WE HAVE A FIRST CASE IN WASHINGTON.

WE KNOW THAT ILLINOIS THERE'S NO WAY THAT ILLINOIS WOULD BE SPARED BUT UNDERSTANDING THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS EXPERIENCE AND THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD IMAGINE EVEN AS WE >> ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THE RIGHT MESSANGERS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH SO MANY SECTORS OF OUR POPULATION MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THE TRUSTED MESSANGERS HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OR OUR STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

WE KNOW THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WE FORM WILL HAVE TO STAY SOLIDIFIED FOR FUTURE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES WE WANT TO TACKLE TOGETHER.

>> WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

>> I'M PROUD OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS WHO MADE THE IMPORTANT CHOICE TO GET VACCINATED, TO GET BOOSTED, TO SEEK OUT TESTING WHEN THEY WERE SYMPTOMATIC OR HAD REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THEY HAD BEEN EXPOSED.

I SALUTE THE PEOPLE THAT ISOLATED AND QUARANTINED TO AVOID SPREADING INFECTION TO OTHERS WITHOUT PEOPLE DOING THAT, WE WOULD HAVE HAD SO MANY MORE INFECTIONS AND SO MANY MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND WORSE.

>> DURING YOUR GOOD-BYE SPEECH THIS MONTH, YOU SPOKE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY HAD MADE TO ALLOW YOU TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION.

HERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

>> OTHER GROUP SACRIFICED A LOT TO ALLOW ME TO SERVE AND IT'S TIME THAT I TRY TO MAKE THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A DEFINING ROLE FOR ME AND SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS A LEADER AND SO IT IS VERY HARD TO STEP AWAY.

EVEN AS I THINK ABOUT ALL I'VE BEEN THROUGH AND HOW I DO NEED TO STEP AWAY AND TAKE A BREAK IT IS SUPER HARD TO DO THAT.

IT'S VERY BITTERSWEET.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

THERE ARE REPORTS FROM WBEZ THAT SINAI CHICAGO IS WORKING TO RECRUIT YOU.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

WE ARE ON THE HEELS OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY TO SUPPORT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF WOMEN.

I'VE EXCITED TO HAVE BROKEN A BARRIER AND EXCITED TO HOLD THE DOOR OPEN TO HAVE FED THE PIPELINE TO HAVE BROUGHT MORE WOMEN MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR INTO THE AGENCIES SO THAT WE CANNOT JUST BE CELEBRATING THE FIRST BUT SEEING THE SECOND AND THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH AND NOT BE EXCITED TO SEE THIS.

BECAUSE THIS WILL BE NORMALIZED AS SOMETHING WE SEE FROM WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

>> DR. NGOZI EZIKE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.

>> THANK YOU SO WORKERS THEY SACRIFICED THEIR LIFE AND EVEN THEY DIED.

>> VETERANS ALSO HAD A VOICE IN CREATING THE EXHIBIT.

>> THIS FIRST-RESPONDERS THING CAME ABOUT BY SOMEONE SAYING I HAVE A NEPHEW WHO IS A FIRST-RESPONDER AND HE HAS TO DRAW.

WE STARTED A WEBSITE FOR HIM.

AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S GROWN TO.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE ARTISTS AND THEIR WORK AND IT'S INTERESTING.

I'M GLAD WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS.

>> FOR MANY THEIR CREATIVITY IS THERAPEUTIC.

>> MY JOB CAN GET STRESSFUL AT TIMES BUT IT'S NICE AFTER I GET HOME AND KIND OF GET SETTLED IN TO START DRAWING.

IT RELAXES ME A LOT AND GETS ME TO FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON.

>> I DIDN'T REALLY CONSIDER THAT TO BE ANYTHING BUT SOMETHING THAT I HAD TO DO.

IT WAS IN A SENSE SOMETHING THAT KEPT ME REASONABLY STABLE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND THE SITUATION.

>> AFTER HAVING 30 YEARS OF EXHIBITS, OFTENTIMES I HAVE ARTISTS DROP-OFF THEIR WORK AND SAY WHEN DO I PICK IT UP?

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE ARTISTS WANTED TO STAY AND HELP ME PUT THE SHOW TOGETHER.

IT'S IN THEIR BLOOD.

IT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THEY ARE HELPERS.

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

>> AND GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOO