
March 16, 2021 - Full Show
3/16/2021 | 56m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Watch the March 16, 2021 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
Local members of Congress on immigration. How ventilation slows the spread of COVID-19. Visiting with hospitals a year into the pandemic. A history-making Oscar nomination for a local hairstylist.
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March 16, 2021 - Full Show
3/16/2021 | 56m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Local members of Congress on immigration. How ventilation slows the spread of COVID-19. Visiting with hospitals a year into the pandemic. A history-making Oscar nomination for a local hairstylist.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."
I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.
>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.
ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> IT IS AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS FRONT AND CENTER FOR THE PRESIDENT.
>> ILLINOIS CONGRESS MEMBERS ON THE CRISIS AT THE BORDER AND THE IMMIGRATION BILLS BEFORE CONGRESS THIS WEEK.
>> LOOK, THEY ARE CRITICAL.
>> FROM HOSPITALS TO YOUR HOME WE TALK TO SPECIALISTS HOW AIR FILTRATION CAN DISSIPATE AND KILL COVID.
>> THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
>> A RARE LOOK INSIDE THE STATE'S LARGEST PRIVATE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AS IT REFLECTS ON ONE YEAR OF TREATING COVID.
>> ILLINOIS COMPTROLLER SUSANA MENDOZA HOW THE STATE WILL SPEND ITS SHARE ON THE COVID STIMULUS PACKAGE.
>> SUMMER CONCERTS AND FALL THEATRE SCHEDULES OFFER HOPE FOR A LONG AWAITED RETURN TO LIVE PERFORMANCES.
>> AND A GARY, INDIANA NATIVE, IS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR A BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING WE TALK TO HER ON THIS 4EU69IC NOTE.
>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TELLS PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS IT'S AIMING TO REOPEN BY APRIL 19TH THE START OF THE FOURTH QUARTER.
IN AN E-MAIL SENT TO FAMILIES AND STAFF, THE DISTRICT SAYS BASED ON THE QUOTE PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, IT BELIEVES HIGH SCHOOLS CAN SAFELY BE REOPENED.
C.P.S.
SAYS SCHOOLS MAY SEE DIFFERENT LEARNING MODELS DEPENDING ON ENROLL MANY AND BUILDING CAPACITY BUT THE DISTRICT AND C.T.U.
ARE DISCUSSING A HYBRID STRUCTURE SIMILAR TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
FOR MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
>> THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS NEARLY 2,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS SINCE YESTERDAY.
AND ANOTHER 19 HAVE DIED.
THE STATE HAS HAD MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION CASES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND 29073 PEOPLE DIED.
THE STATE SAYS MORE THAN 12% OF THE POPULATION HAS BEEN VACCINATED.
>> LIVE MUSIC FANS WILL BE PLEASED TO HEAR THE SOUNDS OF THEIR FAVORITE ARTISTS LIVE FROM THE PAVILION AT RAVINIA.
IT PLANS TO REOPEN IN JULY FOR THE SUMMER 2021 SEASON.
RAVINIA SAYS AUDIENCES WILL BE SMALLER AND THE NUMBER OF ARTISTS ON STAGE WILL BE REDUCED TO ALLOW FOR DISTANCING.
THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY IS RETURNING TO THE SUMMER RESIDENCY AND THE LINEUP OF CONCERTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN LATE APRIL.
LATER IN THE SHOW WE WILL HAVE MORE ON HOPES FOR A RETURN TO LIVE THEATRE.
>> AND TO PARIS WITH MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
>> PARIS?
>> BRANDIS, THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS SCHEDULED TO HEAR TWO IMMIGRATION BILLS THIS WEEK AS A SURGE OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS FLOOD THE U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER.
HERE IS WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SOUTHERN BORDER COORDINATOR HAD TO SAY.
>> THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN IN OFFICE SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS WE'VE MOVED SWIFTLY TO MAKE SURE WE RESTORE HUMANITY TO OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY AND IN DOING SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY MEANS WE HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE AND CHILDREN ESPECIALLY WELL.
>> JOINING US ARE CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY A DEMOCRAT FROM MADISON.
AND NOW CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS.
CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER A REPUBLICAN FROM SHANAHAN.
AND CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI A DEMOCRAT FROM SHAMBURG.
>> I WANT TO START WITH THE BORDER SITUATION THERE'S BEEN A SWELL OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE NEAR TERM TO STABILIZE THE SITUATION THERE?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS DOING MAKES A LOT OF SENSE IN BRINGING HUMANITY TO HOW WE TREAT THE CHILDREN.
UNLIKE BEFORE, WE SHOULD NOT BE DETAINING THEM AT THESE BORDER FACILITIES AND WE SHOULD BE OBVIOUSLY RESETTLING THEM INTO BETTER SURROUNDINGS PENDING THEIR ASYLUM CASES AND SO FORTH.
LONG-TERM WE HAVE TO GO TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, PARIS.
THERE IS INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE AND ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION AND COVID THAT IS COURSING THROUGH THEIR HOME COUNTRIES AS WE BATTLE ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ON BEHALF OF OUR OWN CITIZENS WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS TO ULTIMATELY STEM THE TIDE.
>> AND THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE THERE IS CRITICISM FROM THE LEFT THAT THERE ARE SQUALID CONDITIONS AT THE DETENTION CENTERS AND CRITICISM FROM THE RIGHT THAT MORE MIGRANTS WANT TO COME BECAUSE OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES.
CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO TAKE UP TWO BILLS TO OFFER PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR THE DREAMERS THE MINORS WHO CAME WITH PARENTS.
AND FOR UNDOCUMENTED FARM WORKERS.
WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS OF THOSE BILLS?
>> WELL, THOSE BILLS ARE LONG OVERDUE AND I THINK EVEN BEFORE I CAME IN, THE GROUP IN THE SENATE THAT WAS BIPARTISAN THERE WERE EIGHT OF THEM THEY SENT LEGISLATION TO THE HOUSE THAT NEVER SAW THE LIGHT OF DAY.
AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE BIPARTISAN, BUSINESS, FARMERS, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT THINK WE NEED TO PROGRESS AND PASS THESE BILLS THAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE, BETTER FOR THE ECONOMY, BETTER FOR AGRICULTURE IF WE CAN GET THE BILLS PASSED.
I'M HOPING THAT IN A BIPARTISAN THAT WE CAN DO THIS.
>> IT WOULD IMPACT OF MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS.
ADAM KINZINGER, THE DREAM ACT HAS SEEN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE PAST ALTHOUGH SOME REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING HOLD ON NO ACTION UNTIL THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER IS STABILIZED.
WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THIS LEGISLATION AND HOW WOULD YOU VOTE ON IT?
>> I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE THIS WEEK I HAVE MILITARY STARTING TOMORROW BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IMMIGRATION FROM A REAL LENS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THAT NO SOMOS LOCOS COUNTRY BESIDES THIS ONE.
LET'S FIX THAT PROBLEM AND ANY NUMBER OF THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO BORDER SECURITY THAT WE AGREE WHAT TO DO FOR A PATHWAY TO LEGALIZATION.
THE PROBLEM IS THIS DEBATE HAS BECOME SO, SO TOXIC THAT EVERYTHING IS A BIG OUTRAGE NOW.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF IT WAS ABLE TO BE DONE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY COME TO A SOLUTION THAT 80-90% OF AMERICANS AGREE ON.
MY ONLY CONCERN DOING IT PIECEMEAL WE ARE NOT FIXING THE LARGER SCALE ISSUE.
BUT OF COURSE ANYTIME ANYTHING LIKE THAT IS IN FRONT OF ME THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO I WOULD SUPPORT IT.
>> YOU ARE SAYING YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE A MORE SWEEPING IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL BUT YOU WOULD SUPPORT THE TWO PIECEMEAL BILLS?
>> YES, LOOK, THE WAY TO FIX THE SYSTEM IT WILL BE EVERYBODY WILLING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT AND THERE'S SO MUCH MISTRUST THE RIGHT MISTRUST THERE'S GOING TO BE BORDER SECURITY AND THE LEFT MISTRUST THERE'S EVER GOING TO BE A PATHWAY TO LEGALIZATION AND WE ARE IN A STANDOFF AND USE IT AS A WEAPON ON BOTH SIDES I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A BROAD COMPREHENSIVE REFORM DONE BUT IT'S TANKED BY THE LOUDEST VOICES ON THE EXTREMES.
>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE TWO BILLS WOULD HAVE SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE WHAT IS THE PROSPECTS IN THE SENATE?
DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE AREA WHERE THE FILIBUSTER WOULD HAVE TO GO AWAY FOR IT TO PASS?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROSPECTS ARE.
AS YOU MENTIONED THERE WOULD NEED TO BE 10 REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO BREAK THE FILIBUSTER.
AND BRING THIS TO PASSAGE.
I AM AN IMMIGRANT MYSELF.
I AM ONE OF THE FEW IMMIGRANTS IN CONGRESS NATURALIZED CITIZENS.
SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ME AND MY CONSTITUENTS.
30% OF MY 750,000 CONSTITUENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS.
AND THESE DREAMERS ARE SOME OF THE FINEST PEOPLE YOU WILL MEET.
AND THAT IS WHY SENATOR DICK DURBIN OUR SENIOR SENATOR IS PUSHING FOR THE BILL SO STRONGLY AND WHY I AM, TOO.
THESE FOLKS DESERVE TO BE HERE THEY ARE AMERICAN IN EVERY WAY, SHAPE AND FORM EXCEPT ON PAPER.
AND THAT HAS TO CHANGE.
>> CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL THAT THE HOUSE DID PASS AND FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN THE SENATE IT WOULD DO AWAY WITH FORMS OF VOTERID AND CODIFY LENGTHY EARLY VOTING PERIODS AND DO AWARE WITH GERRYMANDERING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHERE THE FILIBUSTER WOULD HAVE TO GO AWAY FOR IT TO ADVANCE IN THE SENATE?
>> I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, ADAM KINZINGER FOR HIS CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ADAM.
I THINK THE VOTE IS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME UNFORTUNATELY.
WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE SO MANY STATES ARE TRYING TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT SUPPRESSES THE VOTE.
BUT I DO THINK IT WILL BE TOUGH TO GET 60 VOTES TO PASS HR1 I ASSUME YOU ARE SPEAKING OF.
>> CORRECT, HR1.
AND CONGRESSMAN KINZINGER IN THOSE HOUSES IN TEXAS, GEORGIA, PASSED BILLS TO SHORTEN EARLY VOTING PERIODS AND MAKING EASIER TO PURGE VOTERS FROM THE ROLLS.
CRITICS SAID THIS IS REPUBLICANS TRYING TO BENEFIT THEIR VOTERS AND HURT DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.
SOME SAYING IT IS A NEW JIM CROW IT HURTS VOTERS OF COLOR.
HOW DO YOU SEE THESE EFFORTS GOING ON AT THE STATE LEVEL?
>> WELL, SOME OF THEM, THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM, I HAVE TO SPEAK GENERALLY.
SOME OF THEM MAY BE REAL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE VOTING SYSTEM WHICH WE ALL WANT.
SOME ARE A CONTINUATION OF THE LIE THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND PASSING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS PASSING AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THE SYSTEM WAS RIGGED AND THE SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK.
I THINK IT IS -- I DON'T WANT TO PAINT IT WITH A BROAD BRUSH.
IN SOME CASES SHORTENING THE TIME OF EARLY VOTING IF IT'S DONE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT CAMPAIGNS TO START SIX MONTHS OUT THAT IS ONE THING.
IF IT'S DONE TO DENY PARTICIPANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE THEN IT'S WRONG.
THE BOTTOM LINE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY THAT IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND WANTS TO VOTE HAS THE ABILITY TO VOTE AS REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS COMPETE ON IDEAS AND TURN YOUR PEOPLE OUT TO THE POLLS.
BUT PLAYING GAMES YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S NOT A LEGITIMATE CONCERN WHERE THERE IS NOT ANY CONCERN IS NOT GOOD POLITICS AND IT'S WRONG FOR A REPUBLIC LIKE OURS.
>> AND THERE ARE REPUBLICANS THAT SEPARATED FROM THEMSELVES LIKE THAT LIKE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE LATER WE WILL BE JOINED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT AND MORE.
OUR THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVES KELLY, KINZINGER AND KRISHNAMOORTHI THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WEARING A MASK, STAYING HOME, GETTING THE VACCINE.
THESE ARE THE METHODS LIKELY TOP OF MIND WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER TOOL ALSO AND IT'S IN THE AIR.
AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH THE STORY WHAT IS THIS TOOL?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT COVID-19 IS AN AIRBORNE VIRUS WHICH MEANS THAT PROPER VENTILATION IS KEY.
BUT WHAT REALLY DOES THAT MEAN?
TO GET ANSWERS I WENT TO ONE OF THE EXPERTS, MARCO CAPICCHIONI IS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF FACILITIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE WHICH MEANS THAT HE OVERSEES JUST THIS SORT OF THING.
MARCO CAPICCHIONI SAYS DATING BACK TO THE DAYS OF TU LURK LOW -- TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH INFECTIOUS PATHOGENS LIKE COVID AND CONTAINING THEM AND THEY HAVE ROOMS INTENDED FOR PATIENTS WHO NEED TO BE ISOLATED.
BUT EVEN MODERN HOSPITALS MANY WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR A PANDEMIC THAT HAS RAGED LIKE THIS ONE HAS.
>> THE STRESSFUL THING WAS WHEN WE EXCEEDED AT ONE POINT HAVING 100 COVID PATIENTS NOT ALL OF THE BUILDING AREAS WERE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE ISOLATION TYPE PATIENTS.
>> THAT MEANT THEY HAD TO RETOOL TWO FLOORS TO TURN THEM INTO ISOLATION OR NEGATIVE PRESSURE ROOMS.
HOSPITALS HAVE POSITIVE PRESSURE ROOMS FOR SURGICAL AND ONCOLOGY PATIENTS THE HIGHER PRESSURE KEEPS OUT, OUTSIDE AIR AND ANY CONTAMINANTS THAT MAY BE IN IT.
AND ISOLATION ROOMS THE PRESSURE IS NEGATIVE OR LOWER THAT KEEPS THE OUTSIDE AIR FROM FLOWING IN, TRAPS THE CONTAMINATED OR THE COVID AIR INSIDE UNTIL IT IS INTENTIONALLY EXHAUSTED OUT.
>> IF THE PATIENT IS THE SOURCE OF THE CONTAMINANT WHAT WE WANT IS THE AIR TO RUN TO MOVE INTO THE ROOM, MIX WITH THE PATIENT'S AIR AND EXHAUST THAT AIR OUT OF THE BUILDING.
>> OF COURSE HOSPITALS ARE CONTROLLED SETTINGS AND WE ALL HOPE TO NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO BE IN AN ISOLATION ROOM AND MARCO CAPICCHIONI SAYS THAT PUBLIC PLACES LIKE RESTAURANTS THEY ARE TOUGHER.
>> SO IF YOU HAD FIVE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE ROOM AND HAD THE WINDOW OPEN, AND AIR WAS BROKING IN, THE PERSON BY THE WINDOW WOULD BE GETTING NICE FRESH CLEAN AIR.
THE NEXT PERSON OVER FROM THEM WOULD BE GETTING CLEAN AIR PLUS THE AIR THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED BY THE FIRST PERSON.
SO AS YOU GO ON SO THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM IT'S HARD TO CONTROL THAT.
>> THAT'S WHERE MASKS COME IN IF EVERYONE WEARS ONE THEN POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED AIR IS MORE CONTAINED.
OPENING WINDOWS IS RECOMMENDED BY EXPERTS INCLUDING THE CDC TO GET AIR FLOWING.
>> IF THE ROOM IS NOT HAVING ANY AIR CHANGES IT JUST BUILDS UP AND BUILDS UP CONCENTRATION.
OPENING A WINDOW, IS A GREAT FIRST STEP AND MOVING A PORTABLE AIR CLEANER INTO THE ROOM.
>> JOHN SCHUBERT IS AN ENGINEER AND IS A CO-OWNER OF GLENDALE HEIGHTS BASED SHUBERT ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE COMPANY HAS BEEN WORKING TO GET TOXINS OUT OF THE AIR IN INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS AND THAT HAS TRANSLATED IN THESE COVID TIMES.
BECAUSE BOTH THE VIRUS AND TOXINS ARE TINY PARTICULATES.
THEY ARE LOW MASS DENSITY, CIGARETTE SMOKE OR WELDING SMOKE OR SMOKE FROM MACHINE TOOLS OR FORGING OR STEEL MILLS, THOSE ARE ALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ONE MICRON OR LESS PLUS OR MINUS AND THEY FLOAT.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION AS THE PATHOGEN.
>> THE COMPANY NOW HAS PATENTEDDED A PORTABLE AIR FILTRATION DEVICE.
SOME CHICAGO AREA SCHOOLS PURCHASED THEM FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS AND STAYED OPEN FOR MUCH OF COVID AND AS FOR RESTAURANTS I SAW ONE IN JEFFERSON PARK.
NOW, THESE DEVICES USE FILTERS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE IN YOUR FURNACE.
THEY ALSO HAVE WHAT HE DUBBED A KILL CHAMBER AND THERE IS A ROTATING DEVICE THAT USES UV RAYS TO KILL THE COVID VIRUS.
>> ULTRAVIOLET IS REFLECTING AND BANGING ALL OVER.
THE VIRUS IS FRAGILE.
WE'VE HAD LABORATORIES TELL US THAT SAW THIS AND SAID YOU DON'T NEED THE ULTRAVIOLET.
YOU'VE BEAT THE VIRUS TO DEATH SO MUCH ALREADY.
>> THERE IS A LOT ON THE MARKET WHEN IT COMES TO AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS THERE IS NEW TECHNOLOGY UV RAYS YOU CAN PUT IN THE CEILING FOR BIGGER BUSINESSES BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A HOME AIR FILTRATION DEVICE, HE SAYS SOMETHING IMPORTANT IS TO PRETTY MUCH IGNORE CLAIMS ABOUT HIGH EFFICIENCY.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEVICE IS MEANT FOR THE SQUARE-FOOTAGE YOU ARE INTENDED TO USE IT FOR.
THERE ARE, AGAIN, OTHER METHODS BESIDES BUYING ONE OF THESE DEVICES.
REPEAT, OPEN THAT WINDOW.
ALSO KEEP YOUR FURNACE RUNNING BUT WHEN YOU DO, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A FILTER.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HEPA FILTERS AND THAT IS GREAT FOR BIGGER BUSINESSES BUT HE SAYS AT HOME YOU LIKELY DON'T NEED THAT.
>> YOU GET TWO, IT STARTS TO FILL UP AND BLOCK AIRFLOW AND THEN YOUR HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT CANNOT FUNCTION IT WILL START TO SLOW UP THE AIR AND THEN YOU WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS LOST YOUR AIR CHANGES.
>> HE SAYS WHAT YOU WILL PROBABLY WANT TO LOOK FOR IS ONE THAT IS CLASSIFIED AS A MERV8 OR 10 FILTER.
AND CAN'T EMPHASIZE STRONGLY ENOUGH HE SAYS THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS TO KEEP THAT AIR FROM BUILDING UP.
YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE AIRFLOW BY BREAKING IT APART AND WAVING YOUR HANDS SO I WILL GIVE YOU A WAVE, BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.
>> BACK TO YOU.
THANK YOU.
AND BACK TO PARIS FOR A LOOK INSIDE A HOSPITAL AFTER A YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC.
>> HOSPITALS WERE BRACING FOR THE UNKNOWN THE SPREAD ACCELERATED WHICH MEANT A COMING STORM FOR THE NATION'S HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE GOT A LOOK INSIDE ILLINOIS' LARGEST PRIVATE HEALTH SYSTEM ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH AS HOSPITAL PROFESSIONALS REFLECT ON A YEAR UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
>> THERE IS A SENSE OF NORMALCY INSIDE THE COVID UNIT AT ADVOCATE LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL IN PARK RIDGE.
BUT A YEAR AGO THIS TIME, PROVIDERS FEARED THE WORST.
>> WE AS A COUNTRY WERE NOT PREPARED.
>> THE DOCTOR IS ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH'S CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
HE SAYS DOCTORS WERE HAMSTRUNG AS AN ONSLAUGHT OF CASES CAME THEIR WAY WITH SO MUCH UNKNOWN ABOUT THE VIRUS.
>> WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY VENTILATE THEM OR WHAT MEDICATIONS MIGHT WORK OR NOT WORK WE WERE GOING IN BLIND.
>> HE SAID THAT INITIAL WAVE OF COVID-19 LED TO A HIGH RATE OF DEATH.
MANY PATIENTS DYING ALONE.
BEWILLEDDERRED WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THEM.
>> I SAW PATIENTS WHO SAID THE SAME THING I HAD NO IDEA HOW BAD THIS WAS I SHOULD HAVE TAKE 10 MORE SERIOUSLY AND RIGHT BEFORE THEY GOT PUT ON A VENTILATOR OR DIED.
>> IT WAS EMOTIONAL TO SEE PATIENTS DO SO WELL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN DECLINE THE NEXT MINUTE.
>> SHE IS THE CLINICAL MANAGER OF LUTHERAN GENERAL'S COVID UNIT AND SAID THE PACE AND CONSTANT DEATH TOOK ITS TOLL ON HEALTHCARE WORKERS WITH SOME LEAVING THEIR JOBS.
>> WE WERE SEEING A LOT OF PATIENTS THAT WERE TRANSICKING TO THEIR HOSPICE OR ENDING THEIR LIFE AND THEY COULDN'T HANDLE THAT ANYMORE.
>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST CAME, IN FAIRNESS MOST OF US IN THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY QUICKLY GOT BATTLE WARY.
THIS WAS VERY STRESSFUL VERY FAST.
>> JIM IS THE C.E.O.
OF ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH AND SAYS THE STRESS WAS COMPOUNDED BY A RAPIDLY DIMINISHING SUPPLY OF GLOVES, MASKS AND OTHER PPE.
>> WE SCOURED THE GLOBE NOT JUST THE COUNTRY BUT THE GLOBE FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
>> AS YOU REFLECT ON THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND EVERYTHING THAT TRANSPIRE SECOND THERE ANYTHING THAT STANDS OUT FOR YOU?
>> TO COMBAT FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY, HE TOOK ON THE UNLIKELY ROLE OF TV HOST AND MODERATOR.
HE STARTED A B-I WEEKLY PROGRAM WITH "CHICAGO TONIGHT" INTERVIEW PANELS.
>> LET'S USE THIS MEDIUM THIS VENUE TO COMMUNICATE AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON, TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE NATURALLY HAVE DURING A TIME OF SUCH STRESS AND STRIFE AND STRAIN.
>> IT'S BEEN KEY TO KEEPING THE ORGANIZATION TOGETHER.
ADVOCATE'S SHEAR SIZE WITH HOSPITALS ACROSS ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN WORK TO ITS ADVANTAGE IT ALLOWED THE TRANSFER OF EQUIPMENT AND STAFF FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER DURING THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC.
>> BY LATE SUMMER THE NUMBER OF INPATIENTS DROPPED TO 200 PER DAY.
BUT THE SECOND WAVE HIT IN OCTOBER.
AND CASES AGAIN SKYROCKETED.
THIS TIME, GANDHI SAYS HER STAFF WAS PREPARED TO SAVE MORE LIVES WITH TREATMENTS INCLUDING PRONING PATIENTS STRUGGLING TO BREATHE ON TO THEIR STOMACHS.
>> WE ALL LEARNED ABOUT IT IN NURSING SCHOOL AND NEVER PUT IT INTO ACTION IN REAL-LIFE AND DURING THIS TIME WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THAT.
>> THE NEXT HURDLE WAS CONVINCING NON-COVID PATIENTS TO COME BACK FOR CARE AND SURGERIES.
THE DIMINISH.
WITH THE SERVICES AND THE HIGH COST OF COVID NEARLY WIPED OUT THE SYSTEM'S FINANCES.
>> 2020 WAS FINANCIALLY A DISASTER.
UNMITIGATED DISASTER.
>> HE SAYS THE SYSTEM HAS RECOVERED THANK TO FEDERAL CARES ACT RELIEF AND AN UPTICK IN NON-COVID BUSINESS.
TO GET A SENSE HOW QUICKLY THINGS CHANGED THERE WERE NEARLY 1200 COVID INPATIENTS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM DURING THE LATEST PEAK IN NOVEMBER.
THAT NUMBER TODAY IS 170.
HOSPITAL OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE WORST IS OVER WITH MOST OF THE STAFF VACCINATED.
BUT THEY SAY THEY'VE LEARNED HOW QUICKLY THINGS CAN TURN BAD.
>> WE HAVE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO LET UP OUR GUARD.
>> THERE WILL BE A NEXT THING THERE WILL BE.
WE'RE READY FOR WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY.
>> ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH SAYS IT TREATED A TOTAL OF THREE MILLION PATIENTS THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN LAST YEAR.
AND THIS THURSDAY WE'LL HAVE A ONE-HOUR SPECIAL MARKING ONE YEAR OF COVID-19 SHUTDOWNS IN ILLINOIS.
WE'LL SHARE INSIGHTS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, HEAR FROM BUSINESS OWNERS AND SHINE A LIGHT ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC.
THIS THURSDAY AT 7:00 P.M. ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."
>> AND UP NEXT HOW CHICAGO AREA THEATERS ARE GEARING UP TO REOPEN.
SO PLEASE STICK AROUND.
LE EARLY TODAY THE RAVINIA FESTIVAL AND WRIGLEY FIELD ANNOUNCED SCHEDULES FOR SUMMER CONCERTS.
A LONG AWAITED RETURN TO IN-PERSON EVENTS AFTER BOTH CANCELED THE 2020 SLATE OF SHOWS.
LIVE THEATRE IS EYEING A RETURN AS WELL.
WITH THE CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE AND DRURY LANE PLANNING ON GETTING ON STAGE IN THE FALL.
JOINING US ARE BRABARA GAINES, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE.
ACTOR AND MUSICIAN ROBERT CORNELIUS AND THEATER CRITIC CHRIS JONES THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."
ROBERT, ARE YOU HEARING FROM COLLEAGUES WHO ARE EAGER TO RETURN TO LIVE THEATRE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK WE ARE ANXIOUS TO GET BACK.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING IN A ROOM TOGETHER.
THEATRE IS ABOUT COLLABORATION.
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT ADJUSTING TO THIS NEW PLATFORM.
AND WE GOT A LOT OF WORK DONE BUT BUILT A STRONG COMMUNITY WE ARE IN TOUCH A LOT AND EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SAFE AND THE PATRONS ARE SAFE AND THE THEATERS ARE SUPPORTING US AS MUCH AS THEY CAN WHEN WE DO GET BACK.
EVERYBODY I KNOW CANNOT WAIT TO GET ON THE STAGE AGAIN FOR SURE.
WE HAVE GHOST LIGHTS IN THE THEATRE WHEN THEY ARE DARK AND LIGHTS SHINING OVER THE CITY AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXTINGUISHING THAT.
>> WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT CHICAGO SHAKES IS CONSIDERING AS YOU MAKE THE PLAN TO RETURN?
>> THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT THING IS SAFETY FOR EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN THE BUILDING AND ALL AUDIENCES.
WE WORKED WITH SCIENTISTS REGULARLY SINCE A YEAR AGO.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON EXTREMELY SAFE PROTOCOLS AND MAKE SURE NO ONE HAS WORRIES WHEN THEY COME BACK TO THE THEATRE.
IT'S GOING TO BE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ALL GET USED TO GATHERING AGAIN.
I THINK THE JOY OF BEING TOGETHER IS A FACTOR THAT WILL KEEP THE WIND IN OUR EVENTS GOING FORWARD.
>> HOW MUCH IS DEPENDENT ON THE REGULATIONS THE GOVERNMENT PUTS IN PLACE?
>> ALL OF IT.
AS WE SIT HERE RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE IN AN INDOOR VENUE.
AND I THINK WE'RE ALL EXPECTING THAT TO CHANGE PROBABLY IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE OF DAYS MAYBE.
A WEEK AT THE MOST.
I DON'T THINK WE KNOW YET EXACTLY WHAT THOSE REGULATIONS ARE GOING TO BE.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THEATERS HAVE FACED IS THE INDUSTRY IS VERY MUCH SETUP FOR FULL HOUSES.
THAT IS KIND OF THE BAROMETER OF THE SUCCESS IN THE THEATRE.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR COMMERCIAL SHOWS IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO A BIG MUSICAL WITH A CAST OF 40 PEOPLE AND ONLY ALLOW 25% CAPACITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE REASON WHY THE SHUTDOWN SEEMS TO BE SO LONG EVEN INTO THE FALL BECAUSE THE NUMBERS JUST DON'T ADD UP FOR A PRODUCER.
SO I THINK THE QUESTION NOW IS GOING TO BE IS THERE A SWEET SPOT WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND PERFORMERS FEEL SAFE AND UNIONS FEEL HAPPY AND AT THE SAME TIME THERE IS ENOUGH PEOPLE THERE THAT YOU CAN COVER THE COST OF DOING THE SHOW.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.
>> ON THAT NOTE, YOU MENTIONED UNIONS WHAT A FACTOR IS THE ACTORS EQUITY UNION IN REOPENING?
>> WELL IT IS A COLOSSAL FACTOR BECAUSE THE UNION REALLY DICTATES WHAT ITS MEMBERS DO.
SO IF IT'S NOT A UNION APPROVED SHOW THEN MOST EQUITY MEMBERS WILL NOT BE WORKING THERE.
AND SO IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THE UNION IS BROUGHT ALONG YOU MIGHT SAY.
AND THE UNION HAS A LEGITIMATE JOB OF TAKING CARE OF PERFORMERS.
THAT IS WHAT IT EXISTS TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT IS CRUCIAL.
BUT IT'S ALSO, OF COURSE, A NATIONAL UNION SO THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO SORT OF HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE NATIONAL AGREEMENTS WHEREAS IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS BARBARA AND ROBERT SAYING WE'RE HAPPY.
IT'S JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
IT'S MORE COMPLICATED.
>> AND ROBERT CORNELIUS WHAT SORT OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN PLACE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND THE FOLLOW THE RESEARCHERS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST AND SAFEST WAY.
I FEEL LIKE IF WE CAN GET TO HERD IMMUNITY THAT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL FOR ALL OF US.
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND FREELY.
I FEEL LIKE I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAKEN CARE OF THAT WE ARE TAKEN CARE OF EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY.
THERE WAS A THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE OF THE PIECE WE DID ABOUT CHECKING IN ON EACH OTHER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE OK AND SURVIVING THROUGH THIS AS A COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IS TOGETHER.
>> AND BARBARA GAINES HOW DIFFICULT FOR THEATRE ARTISTS HAS THE PAST YEAR BEEN BECAUSE MANY ARE LARGELY UNABLE TO WORK?
>> IT'S BEEN A MISERABLE YEAR IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO WORK.
OUR JOBS REALLY ALL THE ARTISTS THEY'VE JUST BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
AND THERE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING GREATLY.
AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THEM.
WE WANT BOY WANT THIS VIRUS TO END SOON.
BUT WHAT I REALLY AGREE WITH WHAT ROBERT JUST SAID.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
NOT JUST IN TERMS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING BUT ALSO EMOTIONALLY.
BECAUSE THIS HAS TAKE ESPECIALLY A GREAT TOLL ON EVERYONE.
AND FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING AND, YET, OUT OF DARKNESS COMES LIGHT.
AND THE LIGHT ONE DAY HOPEFULLY IN A FEW MONTHS WILL SHINE AGAIN BECAUSE OUR HEARTS NEED THAT VERY MUCH.
>> CHRIS, WHAT DO YOU AUDIENCES CAN EXPECT?
>> WELL, I THINK MY PREDICTION WHICH HAS BEEN WRONG BEFORE ABOUT FOUR TIMES IN THIS WHOLE THING BUT CURRENT THINKING IS THAT THEATERS THE BIG THEATERS WILL BE BACK IN THE FALL.
THAT WILL HAPPEN COME SEPTEMBER EVERYBODY WILL BE OPENING AT ONCE.
AND WE'LL HAVE A GREAT FALL.
AND I THINK THAT IN THE SUMMER, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, I HOPE, A COOL OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT SEASON.
PLACES LIKE RAVINIA, GRANT PARK, MAY BE WRIGLEY FIELD ASSUMING THAT WORKS OUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF GREAT OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT AND I THINK GREAT WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF AS LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT WHERE SHOWS THAT CAN BE PUT TOGETHER MORE QUICKLY, MAYBE THAT ARE A BIT MORE SPONTANEOUS IN HOW THEY PLAN THAT THERE IS A WINDOW, I THINK WHERE THE BIG GUNS AREN'T GOING TO BE READY BECAUSE IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET ALL THAT PREPARED.
THERE'S GOING TO BE I HOPE AN ORGANIC SUMMER OF LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT FOR PEOPLE.
AND IT'S TRUE THE THEATERS AUDIENCE USUALLY OLDER THAN FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT AND SOME WAYS THAT WILL BE AN ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THOSE FOLKS ARE MOSTLY FASCINATED AND -- VACCINATED.
>> AND MANY THEATERS HAVE SHOWN US THEY CAN BE CREATIVE WITH KEEPING ARTISTS WORKING.
I'M SURE WE WILL SEE MORE CREATIVITY.
THANKS TO BARBARA GAINES, ROBERT CORNELIUS AND CHRIS JONES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.
>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... DECADES LATER A RENEWED PUSH FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONWAY WEIGH?
>> COMPTROLLER SUSANA MENDOZA HOW THE STATE PLANS TO SPEND ITS STIMULUS DOLLARS AND HER OWN FAMILY'S BATTLE WITH COVID-19.
[♪♪♪] >> AND MEET THE WOMAN WHO STYLED VIOLA DAVIS' HAIR IN THE FILM "MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM" SHE RECEIVED AN OSCAR NOMINATION THIS WEEK.
FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.
A CITY AGENCY SAYS IT HAS QUESTIONS FOR GENERAL IRON OVER THE PROPOSAL TO MOVE A RECYCLING FACILITY FROM LINCOLN PARK TO THE SOUTHEAST SIDE COMMUNITY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS ASKING RESERVE MANAGEMENT GROUP ABOUT THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PROPOSED FACILITY AND BUSINESSES THAT THE COMPANY OWNS NEARBY.
RMG SAYS IT'S BUILDING A MODERN NEW FACILITY THAT WILL OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY ALONGSIDE OTHER COMPANIES FUNCTIONING IN THE AREA.
CPDH ASKED FOR A THURSDAY MEETING WITH THE COMPANY AND ACTIVISTS STAUNCHLY OPPOSED THE RELOCATION.
YOU CAN READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.
>> AND THE QUARTERBACK SHUFFLE BEGINS FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS.
THE TEAM IS SIGNING QUARTERBACK ANTI-DALTON TO A ONE-YEAR $10 MILLION DEAL.
DALTON PLAYED NINE YEARS WITH THE BENGALS BEFORE JOINING THE COWBOYS.
THE THREE-TIME PRO BOWLER WILL JOIN A BEARS QUARTERBACK ROOM WITH NICK FOLES.
THE MOVE TO SIGN DALTON LIKELY ENDS MITCH TRUBISKY'S TENURE WITH THE TEAM.
THE BEARS FINISHED 8-8 LAST SEASON.
AND LOYOLA'S FAVORITE MEN'S BASKETBALL FANCIESTER JEAN WILL BE HEADING TO THE BIG DANCE TO WATCH THE RAMBLERS PLAY.
>> THESE YOUNG MEN SEVERAL OF THEM ARE SENIORS AND PLAYED IN 2018, AND THEY WERE ONLY FRESHMEN BUT THEY WERE ALL ON THE FLOOR AND PLAYED IN THE FINAL FOUR.
AND SO THE ONE DESIGN WAS TO BE ON THAT DANCE FLOOR AGAIN WHEN THEY WERE SENIORS.
AND SO THEY DID, THEY HAVE THEIR DREAM NOW.
SO I'M SURE THEY WILL WORK HARDER THAN ANYTHING.
>> YOU WILL RECALL SISTER JEAN WAS COURTSIDE CHEERING FOR THE GAME AT EVERY GAME DURING THE RUN INTO THE FINAL FOUR IN 2018.
MAKING HER A NATIONALLY KNOWN FIGURE.
THE UNIVERSITY SAID SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND BUT CHANGED COURSE.
LOYOLA MEETS GEORGIA TECH FRIDAY AT 3.
AND TO PARIS WITH MORE FROM LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
>> EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION NOW REPRESENTATIVES ROBIN KELLY, ADAM KINZINGER AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI JOIN US AGAIN.
CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS THE HOUSE IS TAKING UP AN EXTENSION OF THE PPP, THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM WHY IS THAT NEEDED?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM FUNDS ENDED UP GOING TO CONNECTED BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES WITH RELATIONSHIPS WITH BANKS.
AND REALLY CUT OUT A LOT OF THE SMALLER BUSINESSES AND SOME OF THE ONES THAT FRANKLY NEED THE MONEY THE MOST.
AND SO WHAT WE DID IN THIS PARTICULAR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS AT LEAST TWO THINGS: ONE ESTABLISH GRANT PROGRAMS SO THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF BUSINESSES COULD GET ACCESS TO THEM SUCH AS RESTAURANTS WHICH ARE ABSOLUTELY GETTING DECIMATED IN MY DISTRICT AND EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY.
AND SECONDLY, MAKING SURE THAT MORE TYPES OF LENDERS MORE DIVERSE LENDERS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE SO THAT WE CAN GET MONEY INTO UNDERSERVED AREAS AND SMALLER AND SMALLER BUSINESSES THAT ARE STILL STRUGGLING.
WITHOUT THESE TYPES OF EXTENSIONS WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO REVIVE THE BUSINESSES THAT WILL HELP POWER OR ECONOMY FORWARD.
>> CONGRESSMAN KINZINGER THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND 4200 BUSINESSES WERE PAID TWICE BY THE PPP UNDERSCORING THE HICCUPS WITH THE SYSTEM.
WHY SHOULD AMERICANS HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THESE LOANS WILL GET INTO THE RIGHT HANDS SMALL BUSINESSES NOT GIANT CORPORATIONS THAT DON'T NEED THEM?
>> WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE GRANDIOSITY OF THIS PROGRAM AND A MONTH THIS PROGRAM WAS WRITTEN AND SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER EXPECTED IT WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL AND I THINK KEEPING THE ECONOMY ON IDENTIFY DELL WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE A RESURGE OF THE ECONOMY AND THAT CAN BE IN PART THANKS TO THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM.
WHEN YOU ROLL SOMETHING OUT QUICKLY AND IF YOU TAKE A YEAR TO DO IT YOU WILL HAVE THINGS THAT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND YOU CAN TURN THEM INTO OUTRAGEOUS STORIES OR YOU CAN LOOK AT IT LEARN FROM IT AND MAKE IT BETTER.
WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO TRY TO FIND THE OUTRAGE AND SAY THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
IT GOES TO SHOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN PLAY A ROLE IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS.
BUT THERE'S STILL NOTHING THAT REPLACES THE FREE MARKET AND THIS HELPED KEEP THE FREE MARKET THE COALS ON THE FIRE AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE READY TO TAKE OFF SOON.
>> I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY, THE HOUSE IS CONSIDERING REMOVING A DEADLINE TO HAVE STATES RATIFY THE AMENDMENT A JUDGE RULED IT'S TOO LATE.
THE PROCESS HAS TO START OVER BECAUSE THERE WAS A DEADLINE FOR STATES TO EITHER SUPPORT THIS OR NOT.
SO WHAT DO YOU WANT THE HOUSE TO DO AT THIS POINT?
>> WELL, I WANT US TO PASS THE LEGISLATION.
WOMEN ARE STILL PAID LESS FOR DOING THE SAME WORK AS MEN.
WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO CAPITAL THAT MEN HAVE.
AND WOMEN STILL DON'T HAVE FULL AUTONOMY OVER THEIR OWN BODIES.
THIS LEGISLATION IS NEEDED.
I WANT US TO PUSH ON AND HOPEFULLY PASS IT.
>> CONGRESSMAN KRISHNAMOORTHI DOES CONGRESS NEED TO START OVER ON AN AMENDMENT GIVEN THE DEADLINE IN THIS INITIAL AMENDMENT?
OR CAN IT JUST MAKE THAT DEADLINE MOOT?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BECOME MOOT AND US CONTINUE THE FIGHT TO GET THIS RATIFIED.
I'M REMINDED OF GLORIA STEINEM SAYING A WOMAN NEEDS A MAN LIKE A FISH NEEDS A BICYCLE.
AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THAT SAYING IS EVEN MORE TRUE AND YET WE ARE NOT TREATING WOMEN THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT PASSES SO THAT MY DAUGHTER AND EVERYONE ELSE CAN ENJOY THE FULL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF BEING AMERICAN AND CAN REALLY LIVE UP TO THEIR GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL.
>> CONGRESSMAN KINZINGER MOVING ON TO CAPITOL SAFETY WHERE IS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW ON A 9/11 TYPE COMMISSION TO REALLY PROBE AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF ALL THE EVENTS ON JANUARY 6 IT APPEARS SOME OF THE CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS STALLED A LITTLE BIT >> YES, SAD.
WE'RE NOWHERE.
I ACTUALLY THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND THERE ARE A BILLION IDEAS WE NEED A FIVE REPUBLICANS, FIVE DEMOCRATS, WHATEVER THAT IS, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT RETIRED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT ARE NOT OUT THERE TO MAKE POLITICAL POINTS TO TAKE A REAL LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RHETORIC, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SECURITY AND GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE THERE IS NO DOUBT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT THAT FOR.
ED WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 26.
I'M SURE THAT WILL BE EXPOSED THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND TO FIND OUT WHY WAS THE CAPITOL SO EASILY BROKEN INTO WHEN ALL THREE OF US ON THIS ASSUME THERE WERE PLANS IN PLACE IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED BEING EVACUATED REINFORCED DOORS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE NEED ANSWERS AND I HOPE WE CAN GET AWAY FROM THE POLITICS OF WHAT THIS MEANS.
AND GET TO THE SAFETY OF IT.
AND I THINK MOVING INTO THE REALM OF POSSIBLY RETIRED MEMBERS OF NOTHING TO GAIN OR LOSE.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE MEMBERS HAVE LEGAL EXPOSURE FOR WHATEVER ROLE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN?
>> IF YOU ARE AT A RALLY INCITING VIOLENCE OR [INAUDIBLE] BUT THEN YOU BEAR, YOU BEAR THAT LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN WOULD.
THE ONLY THING WE HAVE AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT ARE PROTECTED IS SPEECH IN DEBATE COVERS WHAT WE SAY ON THE FLOOR AND THE COMMUNICATIONS WITH EACH OTHER BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN GO IN FRONT OF A CROWD AND INCITE VIOLENCE WE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT BUT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE YELLING FIRE IN A THEATRE.
>> IS THERE AN APPETITE TO PUT TOGETHER A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION SPEAKER PELOSI WANTED SEVEN DEMOCRATS, FOUR REPUBLICANS WHAT ABOUT CONGRESSMAN KINZINGER'S REQUEST?
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH IT.
I'M FINE WITH AN EQUAL NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS AND EQUAL NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS.
WE WERE ALL PUT IN DANGER.
AND I DO THINK SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES SHOULD FACE SOME CONSEQUENCES FOR WHAT THEY DID.
THEY PUT OUR LIVES IN DANGER I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY ON MY HANDS AND KNEES PRAYING I WAS GOING TO GET OUT WITH 25 OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES.
I WOULD BE FINE SOMETHING PUT TOGETHER WHERE IT'S 5 AND 5.
BUT I THINK WE DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED AND I DO THINK THOSE COLLEAGUES THAT WERE INVOLVED THAT THEY SHOULD GET IN TROUBLE.
THE TOUR THAT WENT ON THE DAY BEFORE, THE SPEAKING AT THE RALLY.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT.
>> WE DID TALK TO ALL THREE OF YOU ON THAT DAY OR AROUND THAT DAY AND YOU SPOKE TO THE TERROR THAT YOU DID FEEL THAT WAY.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVES ROBIN KELLY, ADAM KINZINGER AND RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE WITH ILLINOIS' COMPTROLLER.
PHIL?
>> PARIS, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS SET TO RECEIVE $7.5 BILLION AS PART OF THE COVID-19 STIMULUS PACKAGE PASSED BY CONGRESS THAT IS ON TOP OF $5.5 BILLION THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS ILLINOIS INCLUDING CHICAGO.
BUT THE UNFLUX OF FEDERAL MONEY IS NOT A BLANK CHECK HOW CAN THIS MONEY BE SPENT IN A STATE THAT IS LONG FACED NUMEROUS FISCAL CHALLENGES?
JOINING US WITH MORE IS ILLINOIS COMPTROLLER SUSANA MENDOZA SHE IS THE STATE OFFICER THAT PAYS THE STATE'S BILLS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THIS MONEY MORE THAN $7 BILLION WHEN DOES THE STATE GET IT?
>> WE SHOULD BE SEEING THE ABOUT $3.75 BILLION WITHIN THE NEXT 60 DAYS.
WE DON'T KNOW THE DATE BUT THAT IS OUR EXPECTATION.
THE REMAINDER OF THAT THE OTHER $3.75 BILLION WE LIKELY WILL NOT SEE UNTIL A YEAR FROM NOW TOWARDS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
>> WHAT DOES THE TOP PRIORITY?
THE PERSON WHO PAYS THE BILLS WHAT BILLS ARE YOU PAYING FIRST?
>> THE TOP PRIORITY IS TO PAYBACK THE BORROWING WE DID FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND THAT WAS ABOUT 3.1 BILLION.
WE'VE PAID A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BACK BUT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ALMOST 2.5 THAT HAS YET TO BE PAID BACK AND THAT IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.
AS YOU KNOW, PHIL, ALL OF THE FUNDS ARE STIPULATIONS THEY CAN ONLY GO TOWARDS PAYING FOR COVID RELATED EXPENSES THE BORROWING IS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT WILL MAKE THE MARKETS HAPPY THE RATING AGENCIES WILL SEE WE WILL BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE HOW WE SPEND THESE DOLLARS.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PAY A LITTLE BIT DOWN ON OUR BILL BACKLOG.
I INHERITED WHAT WAS AT THAT TIME FROM THE PRIOR GOVERNOR $16.7 BILLION BACKLOG.
TODAY I WHITTLED THAT DOWN TO 5.4 BILLION AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT SOME TOWARDS PAYING THAT DOWN RELATED TO COVID AND USE SOME OF THE IMPORTANT DOLLARS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS ILLINOIS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE PANDEMIC.
AND TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC AND JOB CREATION.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TO GO AROUND BUT WE WILL MAKE THE USE AND STRETCH IT AS FAR AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
>> THE FUNDS HAVE FEW STRINGS ATTACHED BUT ONE IS THAT MONEY CANNOT SPEND TO HELP PAY DOWN PENSION DEBT.
>> CORRECT.
>> IS THAT A BAD THING?
>> IT IS.
WE HAVE TO PAYBACK OUR BORROWING FIRST AND FOREMOST AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE AS COMMON TRANSPORTER THAT WE DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE FURTHER CREDIT DOWNGRADES ON THE CONTRARY WE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC LAST WEEK, WENT FROM A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK TO A STABLE OUTLOOK WITH STANDARD & POORS.
THAT IS REALLY GREAT THING I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC ILLINOIS ACTUALLY WENT FROM NEGATIVE TO STABLE.
SO THAT'S AS A RESULT OF THE SMART FISCAL MANAGEMENT THAT WE'VE H I'M PROUD OF HOW WE'VE HANDLED THE FINANCES.
AS A DEMOCRAT, I WILL CEDE NO TRAIN TO ANYONE THAT WE ARE NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN MANAGING TAXPAYER MONEY.
NOT A PENNY WILL GO TOWARDS MISTAKES OF THE PAST OR PENSION DEBT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FISCALLY SOLVENT AND THAT IS THE GOAL AND TRYING TO STABILIZE OUR FINANCES AND INJECT PREDICTABILITY AND STABILITY INTO OUR FINANCIAL PICTURE.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE STATE YOU WHITTLE IT DOWN TO ONLY 5.4 BILLION.
THAT WAS DOWN FROM 16 BILLION.
HOW MUCH OF A DENT WILL THIS MONEY COULD THIS MONEY MAKE ON THAT 5.4 BILLION IN UNPAID STATE BILLS?
>> SO TO START, IT WON'T MAKE MUCH BECAUSE IF WE DO THE MATH WE HAVE BORROWED 3.1 BILLION AND PAID SOME OF THAT DOWN BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 2.5 BILLION LEFT TO PUT TOWARDS THAT 3.75 BILLION.
SO YOU KNOW, WHAT THE EXACT NUMBER IS THAT WILL GO TOWARDS THE BILL BACKLOG WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE MONEY SOME OF THAT WILL BE PUT TOWARDS THAT AND WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH LEFTOVER TO INJECT SOME FINANCIAL AID TO THE BUSINESSES ACROSS ILLINOIS WHO HAVE BEEN HURTING.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND HELP THE SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVER AND TO STIMULATE JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
>> THIS CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING HAS TO DO WITH BIG PICTURE ISSUES.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT A SITUATION FROM 20,000 FEET IN THE SKY BUT COVID HAS BEEN A PERSONAL THING FOR YOU.
TELL US ABOUT THAT?
>> YES, IT HAS.
MY BROTHER QA R JOAQUIN A DETECTIVE SERGEANT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN CHICAGO I CALLED HIM ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND HE HAD A COUGH.
HE IS ONLY 56.
TWO DAYS LATER HE WAS AT NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE 45 DAYS.
AND A MONTH HE SPENT IN AN INPATIENT REHAB.
HE HAS HAD TREMENDOUS COMPLICATIONS, SUFFERED MANY STROKES IN HIS BRAIN WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL.
TOTAL COMPLETE KIDNEY FAILURE.
HE WILL NEED TO BE ON DIALYSIS THE REST OF HIS LIFE AND I SHARE IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT A 99% SURVIVAL RATE.
THINK ABOUT MY BROTHER'S SITUATION.
SURE HE SURVIVED AND IT IS A BLESSING FOR US.
BUT IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THE COMPLICATIONS FOR SOMEBODY THAT DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE THAT IS GOING THROUGH THIS AND IT'S NO JOKE THIS IS VERY REAL AND WE'RE THANKFUL HE IS STILL WITH US.
BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR.
MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES.
AND I TAKE THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY BOTH AS A SISTER AND AS A COMPTROLLER.
WE HAVE TO ORDER THINGS LIKE BODY BAGS IT HITS CLOSE TO HOME.
AND I JUST ASK PEOPLE PLEASE GET VACCINATED AND DO EVERYTHING TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES AND LET'S GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
>> YOU MENTIONED BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR THAT YOUR BROTHER MOVED IN WITH YOU AND YOU ARE PROVIDING CARE FOR HIM.
WHAT IS IT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH?
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S DEVASTATING.
AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT I COULD TAKE CARE OF MY BROTHER WHEN HE NEEDS ME.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES WHO FEEL OVERWHELMED.
AND I WAS ONE OF THEM.
HONESTLY, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD TELL YOU THE EASIEST PART OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW IS MANAGING BILLIONS IN STATE DEBT.
BUT IT TRULY IS.
I FEEL SO CONFIDENT AND SURE OF WHAT I'M DOING AS A COMPTROLLER BUT IT'S A LOT HEAVIER A LIFT TO TRY TO KEEP MY BROTHER HEALTHY.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN RELATE TO AND I KNOW WE ARE NOT ALONE.
LOTS OF FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR OR WORSE SCENARIOS WITH HAVING LOST LOVED ONES.
BUT IT'S REAL AND I ASK YOU TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES PLEASE.
>> SUSANA MENDOZA THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE AND ALL THE BEST TO YOUR BROTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASE KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS, PRAYERS ARE HELPFUL.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> YOU BET.
>> AND UP NEXT, A CONVERSATION WITH THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR FOR BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING.
FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.
MAVMENT RAINY MATE HISTORY OF THE MOTHER OF BLUES.
MOVIE WATCHERS CAN SEE IN THE FILM "MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM" WHICH DEPICTS A RECORDING SESSION IN 1920s CHICAGO.
NOT TOO FAR FROM CHICAGO HISTORY IS BEING MADE A GARY, INDIANA NATIVE IS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK WOMEN TO BE NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR IN MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING.
JOINING US IS MIA NEAL, THE HAIR DEPARTMENT HEAD FOR THE FILM "MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM" AND WHO IS MAKING OSCAR HISTORY ALONGSIDE HER COLLEAGUE JAMIKA WILSON AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN NOMINATED IN MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING.
MIA NEAL CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE NEWS WHEN YOU LEARNED YOU RECEIVED THIS NOMINATION BUT YOU ARE MAKING OSCAR HISTORY WITH THIS NOMINATION?
>> I KNOW LISTEN THE WHOLE THING FEELS LIKE IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN.
I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE.
IT'S JUST HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU GO TO WORK AND YOU DO YOUR JOB AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WORK BEHIND THE SCENES YOU ARE NOT USED TO HAVING ANYTHING IN THE SPOTLIGHT, YOU KNOW.
AND SO FOR THAT TO HAPPEN LIKE IT'S JUST CALIBER, I JUST IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
>> I AM SO GRATEFUL.
>> PAST YOUR JOB WAS NAILING THE HAIR STYLES OF THE 20s FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN CHICAGO AND MAYBE A TENT IN THE COUNTRY ON THE ROAD.
WHAT DID YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION FOR THOSE?
>> SO THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF MORAINE ANY.
AND MA RAINY.
AND I COULD ONLY FIND TWO.
I LOOK UP PHOTOGRAPHS BLACK HARLEM RENAISSANCE AND THAT SORT OF THING BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT DID THAT GREAT MIGRATION SAY CAME FROM DOWN SOUTH TO THE NORTH AND LANDED IN HARLEM.
AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS THERE THAT KIND OF DEPICT BOTH SOUTHERN AND VERY MUCH THE CITY LOOKS OF THE 20s.
THE RESEARCH PART IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS WHEN I GET A FILM JUST GOING THROUGH I USUALLY LOOK UP A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHERS LIKE BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE TIME AND I GO OFF OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT THEY USED.
AND SO THAT IS WHATDY.
AS FAR AS MA RAINY GOES THERE WAS SOMETHING WRITTEN THAT ANN ROTH THE COSTUME DESIGNER FOUND THAT SAID SHE WORE HORSE HAIR WIGS WE DECIDED WE SHOULD GO WITH THAT SINCE WE COULDN'T FIND THAT MANY FACTS HOW SHE LOOKED.
AND SO THAT WAS INTERESTING.
THE FIRST TIME I MADE A WIG OUT OF HORSE HAIR WHICH IS NOTHING LIKE HUMAN HAIR AND I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS GOING TO SHOW UP COVERED IN LICE AND MANURE SO THAT WAS INTERESTING.
FROM THERE, I JUST BUILT THAT WIG AND ACTUALLY REALIZED WHY MA PROBABLY WORE HORSE HAIR WIGS.
AFTER SETTING THE WIG IT MAINTAINED ITS STYLING LIKE TODAY'S SYNTHETIC WIG.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO RESET IT.
AND I ASSUME A BLACK WOMAN TRAVELING IN THE 20s FROM TOWN TO TOWN PERFORMING, SHE WHO KNEW IF THERE WAS A SALON THAT SHE COULD BE SERVICED.
SHE NEEDED LIKE A WIG TO MAINTAIN THAT.
AND THAT IS PROBABLY WHY SHE WORE HORSE HAIR WIG WAS FOR THE CONTINUITY OF IT.
>> SOMETHING THAT NOW THAT YOU KNOW PROBABLY WILL KNOW TO USE IT IN THE FUTURE IF NEEDED.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
MANURE AND LICE?
[LAUGHTER] >> HERE IS A CLIP FROM THE FILM WITH STAR VIOLA DAVIS.
>> I NEVER COULD STAND NO SONICS.
I HAD TO HAVE SOME MUSIC GOING ON IN MY HEAD SOMEWHERE, MUSIC WILL DO THAT IT FILLS THINGS UP.
MORE MUSIC YOU HAVE IN THE WORLD, FULLER IT IS.
>> SO WHAT WAS IT ABOUT MA RAINY'S STORY THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE FILM AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT HER THROUGH STYLING HER CHARACTER THROUGH HER HAIR?
>> WELL, I DEFINITELY LEARNED ABOUT THE HORSE HAIR WIG AND THE CONTINUITY OF IT.
I THINK MA RAINY HERSELF WAS SUCH A COMPLEX WOMAN, RIGHT?
THIS WAS A WOMAN WHO GREW UP IN THE RURAL SOUTHERN PART OF GEORGIA.
SHE CHANGED HER NAME.
MOVED.
CAME FROM PROBABLY WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SHARE CROPPERS.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT SHE IS THE FIRST GENERATION BORN FREE IN THIS COUNTRY OF HER FAMILY.
AND SHE JUST DID NOT -- ALSO BEING A DARK SKINNED WOMAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WROTE ABOUT HER DESCRIBED HER AS THE MOST UNATTRACTIVE WOMAN IN SHOW BUSINESS.
AND SO JUST HAVING LIKE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND REALIZING THAT I'M STILL GOING TO GO OUT AND GET EVERYTHING I WANT NO MATTER THE OBSTACLES.
SHE DID NOT FOLLOW ANY RULES WHICH IS HIGHLY RESPECTED WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A WOMAN IN THE 20s, WOMAN OF COLOR LIKE JUST ALL BOUNDARIES BROKEN.
SHE HAD A HUSBAND AND A GIRLFRIEND.
SHE WORE FUR COATS IN THE SUMMERTIME.
THIS WOMAN GOLD TEETH LIKE THE WHOLE NINE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THAT YOU KNOW HER LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER DURING THIS TIME.
SHE SPOKE TO MEN LIKE MEN SPEAK TO MEN DURING THAT TIME.
AND SO I LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A VERY BRAVE WOMAN WHO WAS WAY AHEAD OF HER TIME.
AND I'M GLAD THAT GEORGE AND AUGUST WOLFSON AND THIS CAME TOGETHER SO PEOPLE KNOW HER BECAUSE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ERASED.
AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL NOT ONLY WATCH THE MOVIE BUT GO AND READ ABOUT HER AND LOOK UP OTHER THINGS SHE WAS AN INTERESTING WOMAN.
>> AND MIA NEAL BEST OF LUCK AT THE OSCARS AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
ESPECIALLY YOU KNOW CHICAGO!
HEY CHICAGO.
HEY GARY, INDIANA.
>> SHOUT-OUT TO GARY, PARIS AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.
>> JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.
THE ILLINOIS HOUSE IS BACK IN SPRINGFIELD.
OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM HAS THE HIGHLIGHTS.
>> AND A BUSINESS THAT RENTS OUT KITCHEN SPACE TO RESTAURANTS IS STIRRING THE POT.
FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.
>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
♪
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