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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> PLEASE CONSIDER BEING VACCINATED AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

>> MORE CHICAGOANS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED FROM COVID AS ILLINOIS CONSIDERS LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS.

>> ONE OF COOK COUNTY'S TOP DOCTORS ON THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IN CHICAGO'S SUBURBS.

>> NONE OF US SHOULD EVER BE SILENT IN THE FACE OF ANY FORM OF HATE.

>> RENEWED FEARS OF ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE AS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CALLS THE ATLANTA KILLINGS A HATE CRIME THAT AND MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> YOU ARE MOVING QUICKLY.

>> MORE UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT CHILDREN ARE CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER HOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ADDRESSING THE SURGE.

>> OPERATORS ARE ABLE TO RUN A DELIVERY-ONLY OR DELIVERY-FOCUSED BUSINESS.

>> ONE OF THOSE KITCHENS AND WHY ARE SOME BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANTS UNHAPPY WITH THEM.

[♪♪♪] >> AND WHAT SCIENTISTS CAN LEARN ABOUT AUTISM FROM THE WAY A ZEBRA FISH BRAIN LIGHTS UP TO THE MUSIC OF MC HAMMER.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO POLICE SAY THEY HAVE INCREASED PRESENCE AND PATROLS IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATLANTA SHOOTING SPREE THAT LEFT EIGHT PEOPLE DEAD MOST OF THEM OF ASIAN DESCENT.

IT'S MONITORING THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT THREE MASSAGE PARLORS IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL IF THE ATTACKS WERE RACIALLY MOTIVATED BUT A SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT OR RANDOM.

>> GIVEN HE WENT TO THREE LOCATIONS AND TARGETED ASIAN WOMEN IN EACH OF THOSE LOCATIONS, SAID TO ME THIS WASN'T ANYTHING RANDOM THOUGHT IT WAS INTENTIONAL AND IT FEELS TO ME AS A FORMER MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE A HATE CRIME.

>> CLOSER TO HOME, A WORKER AT AROUNDY'S WAREHOUSE DISPUTION IT WERE ANOTHER MILWAUKEE SHOT AND KILLED TWO COLLEAGUES BEFORE TURNING THE GUN ON HIMSELF OFFICIALS SAY.

THE ATTACK HAPPENED LAST NIGHT 30 MILES WEST OF MILWAUKEE TRIGGERING A LOCKDOWN OF THE FACILITY.

THE UNION'S STEWARD SAYS THE MEN IN THEIR 40s WERE SHOT IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OF THE WAREHOUSE AND THERE WERE NO NONE DISPUTES BETWEEN THEM AND THE SHOOTER.

THE COMPLEX EMPLOYED CLOSE TO 1,000 PEOPLE AND ROUNDY'S OPERATES MARIANO GROCERY STORES HERE IN ILLINOIS.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL REPORTS ANOTHER 1600 CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND 17 DEATHS.

STATE'S TOTAL IS 1.213.

THE STATE'S VACCINATION NATURE RATE TICKS UP TO 12.6%.

>> MORE THAN FOUR MILLION ILLINOIS RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST AN INITIAL DOSE OF A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

BUT THE DOOR IS SET TO OPEN TO MANY MORE PARTICULARLY AS CHICAGO IS EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

AMANDA, BIG QUESTION WHO IS GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE AND WHEN?

>> BRANDIS LET'S GO WITH WHO IS ELIGIBLE NOW BECAUSE IT IS PARTICULARLY LIMITED IN CHICAGO.

LIMITED TO THOSE OVER AGE 65, LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS AND STAFF, AS WELL AS CERTAIN FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THINK EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AS WELL AS GROCERY STORE CLERKS.

THE ONLY REAL EXCEPTION TO THAT IS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN ZIP CODES THAT THE CITY USED DATA TO DEEM MOST VULNERABLE THEY CAN GET THE VACCINE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY FIT INTO ONE OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES.

THE CITY IS PREPPING TO EXPAND THAT POOL IN A BIG WAY.

IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS COME MARCH 29, FOLKS IN TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE.

FIRST, THOSE WITH CERTAIN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

AND THEN ALSO OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

SO RESTAURANT SERVERS, BARTENDERS, MANICURISTS, BARBERS, LAWYERS, CLERGY, YES, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA A LOT OF SECTORS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS FORM OF ESSENTIAL WORKER.

SUCH THAT PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAID REALLY MOST CHICAGOANS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

BUT SHE DOES HAVE A CAVEAT... >> BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE ELIGIBLE IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE VACCINATED RIGHT AWAY.

IT WILL DEPEND ON VACCINE SUPPLY.

WE DO NOT HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF VACCINE TO RELEASE ON ZocDoc BECAUSE WE HAVE NO VACCINES ON SEVERAL SHELVES.

>> WHILE ELIGIBILITY OPENS TO THE ONE C POOL IN LATE MARCH FOLKS SHOULD EXPECT TO GET THEIR VACCINE COME, PLAN ON APRIL OR MAY.

>> AND TO BE CLEAR WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DONE VACCINATING CHICAGO IN MAY WE WILL BE VACCINATING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS THROUGH THE SUMMER AND BEYOND AND THIS IS GOING TO FEEL LIKE MORE LIKE A TRADITIONAL FLU CAMPAIGN.

IT'S HAVING THE CONFIDENCE IN MAKING THE DECISION TO GET A VACCINE.

>> ALL OF THIS CAN BE CONFUSING AND THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE LOCALITIES CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS IN THE WHAT IS CALLING 1B PLUS AND THAT IS INDIVIDUALS YOUNGER THAN AGE 65 WITH CERTAIN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW BY ILLINOIS STANDARDS ARE ELIGIBLE THINGS LIKE CANCER, PREGNANCY, HEART CONDITIONS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN RECENTLY SAYING THAT HE WANTS VACCINE ELIGIBILITY OPENED UP TO ANY ADULT COME MAY FIRST.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TODAY INDICATED THAT THAT IS A GOAL THE STATE IS AIMING TO MEET.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT FOLLOWING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PRESCRIPTION FOR OPENING EVERYTHING UP TO ALL COMERS WHO WANT VACCINE MAY 1 AND PERHAPS EARLIER IF WE CAN DO IT.

>> ARWADY SAYS THAT BIDEN'S MAY FIRST GOAL DOES GIVE HER CONFIDENCE THAT THE FEDS ARE GOING TO COME THROUGH WITH ADDITIONAL VACCINES FOR THE CITY.

BUT DESPITE CHICAGO ALREADY GETTING MORE DOSES FROM THE FEDS THAN IT HAS, INCLUDING SOME 5600 OR SO DOSES GIVEN DAILY AT THE UNITED CENTER SAYS THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO MEET DEMAND.

CHICAGO AT LEAST SEEMS LESS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT MAY FIRST OR EARLIER DEADLINE.

NOW, THERE IS ONE MAJOR GROUP THAT IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERED A FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKER IN CHICAGO.

AND THERE WERE -- THRSH ELIGIBLE AND THAT IS TEACHERS.

JANICE JACKSON SAYS C.P.S.

BEGAN BY OFFERING THE VACCINE TO THOSE WHO PHYSICALLY HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, ADMINISTRATORS, SECURITY OFFICERS, THOSE IN FOOD SERVICES AND THEN OPENING UP THE VACCINE TO TEACHERS.

AND NOW... >> I'M THRILLED TO REPORT THAT AS OF TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING OUR VACCINATION PROGRAM BUT WE HAVE OFFERED A VACCINE TO ALL CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS VENDORS THAT WORK IN OUR BUILDINGS.

>> SHE SAYS THE NEXT STEP IS GETTING THE REMAINING C.P.S.

STAFF WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED TO TAKE THE DISTRICT UP ON THE OFFER.

C.P.S.

PLANS TO HOLD SIGN UP DRIVES ENCOURAGING CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN COLLEAGUES AND IT WILL BECOME PART OF HOMEWORK FOR STUDENTS.

>> HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN THE INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT WHERE THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT VACCINATIONS AND WE WANT THEM TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD IN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAME ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE THAT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE DOWN IN-PERSON LEARNING BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

AND Dr. RAHUL KHARE IS PART OF THE VACCINATION EFFORT WITH C.P.S.

AND ALSO THE FATHER OF THREE C.P.S.

STUDENTS AND SAYS THAT HE VIVIDLY REMEMBERS THAT DAY IN 2020.

>> I REMEMBER THAT VERY WELL.

THERE WAS SO MUCH FEAR, CONFUSION, AND US GLUED TO THE TELEVISION.

AND HERE WE ARE TODAY THERE'S SO MUCH HOPE.

TODAY LET'S CELEBRATE SCIENCE, LET'S CELEBRATE THE POTENTIAL OF GATHERINGS AND LAUGHTER AND JOY.

>> ILLINOIS HAS SEEN COVID CASES DECLINE AS ADDITIONAL PEOPLE ARE GETTING THAT PROTECTION FROM THE VACCINE.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE, DR. NGOZI EZIKE TOLD LEGISLATORS THAT IT MEANS ILLINOIS COULD BE LOOKING TO OPEN UP SOME MORE.

NOT ALL THE WAY BUT AT LEAST LIFTING SOME OF THE CURRENT STATE-WIDE RESTRICTIONS THINGS THAT KEEP GATHERINGS TO 50 PEOPLE OR LESS, PRITZKER WOULDN'T GIVE DETAILS ONLY SAYING THIS... >> WE GOT TOGETHER WITH LEADERS OF VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN ILLINOIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE AND OF COURSE WE BROUGHT OUR DOCTORS FROM IDPH AND OTHERS INTO MEETINGS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE PHASE IN AS THINGS GET BETTER IN THE STATE?

>> BUT HE WARNS THAT THE VARIANTS OF COVID ARE A CONCERN EXPECT MORE FROM THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ANY DAY.

HE SAYS NEWS COULD BE COMING THIS WEEK.

AS FOR THE VACCINES, ONCE CHICAGO DOES OPEN UP TO THE MASSIVE 1C POOL, Dr. ARWADY SAYS YES IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGHER FOR THOSE IN THE NARROWER ELIGIBILITY 1A, 1B TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.

AND SHE SAYS REALLY THE FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON PROTECTING SENIORS.

SO IF YOU ARE OVER 65 OR HAVE A LOVED THE ONE WHO IS AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE COVID VACCINE YET ARWADY DOES ENCOURAGE GET AN APPOINTMENT BOOKED WITHIN THE NEXT 12 DAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

AND NOW TO PARIS WITH DETAILS ON THE SURGE OF MIGRANT CHILDREN AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

>> SOUTHWEST BORDER CROSSINGS ARE ON TRACK TO REACH THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN 20 YEARS THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY.

AS U.S. CUSTOMS ARE ENCOUNTERING UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT CHILDREN AND SOME IN WAREHOUSE LIKE DETENTION FACILITIES.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTED FEMA TO HELP WITH THE SURGE.

HERE IS A CLIP FOR THE COORDINATOR FOR THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

>> WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE FACILITIES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN BE PROCESSED QUICKLY, AND MOVED TO SPONSORS, FAMILIES, FOSTER HOMES.

THAT'S WHAT HHS DOES WELL.

BUT WE HAVE MEMBERS THAT -- NUMBERS THAT REQUIRE WE LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL FACILITIES.

>> AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER ARE LAURENCE MSALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS COALITION FOR REFUGEE RIGHTS, MOISES HERNANDEZ THE DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND OWNER OF HERNANDEZ REYNOLDS AN IMMIGRATION FIRM.

AND MARCO CAPICCHIONI DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> MARY SHARE WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE BORDER AND THE CONDITIONS SOME OF THE CHILDREN ARE FACING?

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING AT THE BORDER NOW IS REALLY NOT NEW.

NOT A CRISIS IT IS A CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COUNTRY.

AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IS OCCURRING FOR TWO REASONS: ONE IS CHILDREN, FAMILIES, ADULTS ARE FLEEING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

MANY HAVE BEEN TRAVELING FOR YEARS FOR MONTHS, SEEKING PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE SECOND REASON IS WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN LEFT WITH CRUEL AND ILLEGAL POLICIES FROM THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.

SOME OF THE POLICIES ARE BEING ROLLED BACK WHILE OTHERS ARE NOT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ONLY ALLOWING UNACCOMPANIED IMMIGRANT CHILDREN INTO THE COUNTRY BUT CONTINUING WHAT IS KNOWN AS TITLE 42, WHICH BARS OTHER ASYLUM SEEKERS INCLUDING PARENTS OF SOME OF THE CHILDREN FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY.

>> AND LAWRENCE, MARCO CAPICCHIONI IS MENTIONING HOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION APPROACH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION APPROACH?

>> THEY ARE ALLOWING TWO FORMS AS MARY WAS SAYING TWO FORMS ASYLUM SEEKERS TO COME THROUGH.

FOLKS THAT WERE IN WHAT WAS CALLED THE MPP, REMAIN IN MEXICO PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.

ALSO WHEN YOU SAW THE PRESIDENT BIDEN DAY ONE BILL, IT ACCOUNTED FOR RESOURCES, RIGHT, AND CHANGES IN POLICIES TO DEAL WITH THE CAUSES OF MIGRATION.

RESOURCES FOR THOSE SOURCE COUNTRIES FOR WHICH PEOPLE ARE FLEEING OVER TIMES PERSECUTION, VIOLENCE OR BEING PULLED BY ECONOMIC REASONS FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR BETTER LIFE.

>> AND TO CLARIFY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COUNTRIES LIKE HONDURAS, GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR HAVING TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW.

MOISES HERNANDEZ, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CHILDREN AFTER HELD IN THE FACILITIES AND HOW MIGHT FEMA COME IN AND IMPROVE THE SITUATION?

>> I THINK FEMA'S INVOLVEMENT HOPEFULLY WILL BE A POSITIVE FORCE FOR MORE HUMANE TREATMENT BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN -- THEY HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND LEFT IN BORDER -- AT THE BORDER OUTSIDE THE U.S. WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S EXTREME VIOLENCE A LOT OF EXPLOITATION OF THE MIGRANTS AND YOU CAN IMAGINE.

THESE ARE OFTEN CHILDREN FLEEING VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA FROM THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OR THEIR LONG AND DANGEROUS COMMUTE UP TO THE BORDER.

AND THE RESPONSE FOR THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN INHUMANE AND BRUTAL.

SO I THINK HAVING THE ADMINISTRATION CALLING IN RESOURCES LIKE FEMA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, CERTAINLY IS AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO RESPOND TO THIS AS WHAT IT IS WHICH IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS A CRISIS OF CHILDREN IN DISTRESS AND NEED SOMETIMES FLEEING VIOLENCE AND FREQUENTLY BEING SURVIVORS OF TRAUMA.

I THINK GETTING THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE SITUATION IS CERTAINLY A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION AND, OF COURSE, AS MARY MENTIONED IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS RIGHT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE VILLAGENIZING AND LOCKING UP AND LEAVING CHILDREN IN EXTREMELY VULNERABLE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS IS NOT THE RIGHT RESPONSE.

>> AND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT SOME MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE MORE WELCOMING AND MAYBE THAT'S CAUSING THE SURGE.

THAT IS UNCONFIRMED.

LET'S HEAR WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID ON THE ISSUE YESTERDAY.

>> I CAN SAY CLEARLY DON'T COME.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING SETUP.

DON'T LEAVE YOUR TOWN OR CITY OR COMMUNITY.

>> MARY, WE KNOW THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LIMITED THOSE WHO COULD SEEK ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

BASICALLY ZEROING IT OUT AND LIMITING THE REFUGEE PROGRAM.

WHERE ARE THE PROGRAMS NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE SEEING AS LAWRENCE MENTIONED THIS ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO ROLLBACK SOME OF THE REALLY HARMFUL POLICIES.

AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE A PROCESS TO SEEK ASYLUM.

AND THE MIGRATION PROTECTION PROTOCOL REMAIN IN MEXICO PROCESS HAS ENDED AND PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO COME INTO THE UNITED STATES ORDERLY AND HUMANE FASHION AND THAT GIVES ME GREAT HOPE.

BUT YOU KNOW, PARIS I HAVE TO GO BACK TO WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID.

PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE THEIR HOME COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THE PRESIDENT -- WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SAYS.

THEY LEAVE BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES IS DANGEROUS.

AND THEY ARE FACED WITH THIS IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE OF LEAVING AND MAKING A DANGEROUS JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER.

WE NEED PROCESS FOR THE PEOPLE TO COME IN SAFELY.

>> GIVEN THAT IS THERE ANYWAY TO TACKLE THE SITUATION WITHOUT DEALING WITH POLICY IN THOSE COUNTRIES?

AND WHAT DOES THE POLICY HAVE TO BE?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION HERE IS WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE BORDER IS NO SURPRISE.

IT CAN BE MANAGED AND IT MUST BE MANAGED HUMANELY.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE COVID TO GO DOWN TO THE BORDER.

I WAS TO SEE FIRSTHAND AND TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE ABOUT WHY THEY MADE THAT JOURNEY AND WHY APPLYING FOR ASYLUM.

THE FEAR OF WHAT THEY WERE FACING THEIR HOME COUNTRIES WAS REAL INCREDIBLE AND HEARING THE STORIES AND SEEING THE CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE HAD TO ENDURE IN THE AREA WAS NOT A PLACE FOR CHILDREN OR FAMILIES TO BE LIVING.

AND SO I THINK WHAT THERE NEEDS TO BE IS WHAT FEMA IS DOING RAPID RESPONSE FUNDING TO SEND HEALTHCARE WORKERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, TRAUMA SPECIALISTS TO ASSESS, DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND GET THE CHILDREN REUNITED WITH FAMILIES HERE MANY OF WHOM ARE IN THE UNITED STATES ALREADY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> ONGOING PROBLEM.

MOISES HERNANDEZ, WE MENTIONED THE TWO IMMIGRATION BILLS IN THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW POISED FOR PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN THE SENATE ONE DEALS WITH DREAMERS AND THE OTHER WITH UNDOCUMENTED FARM WORKERS.

TELL US BRIEFLY WHAT THE BILLS WOULD DO?

>> FIRST, CREATE A PATH TO NORMAL LIVES.

DREAMERS INTO A PERMANENT STATUS.

YOU CAN IMAGINE WHILE THE DACA IS A BENEFIT FOR THE YOUTH TO GROWN-UP HERE BY THE WAY, THEY ARE AS AMERICAN AS ANYBODY ELSE, THIS IS THEIR COUNTRY WHERE THEY'VE LIVED ALL THEIR LIVES.

TO PLAN FORWARD WITH THE CERTAINTY OF A STABLE FUTURE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND NOT JUST THE WORK PERMIT AND A PROMISE NOT TO ENFORCE DEPORTATION.

SO IT WOULD CREATE A PATHWAY BY WHICH THEY GO THROUGH A NORMAL REGULAR LEGAL PROCESS IN THEIR STATUS.

AND AT LEAST THE SURVEY SAYS MOST U.S. CITIZENS WANT, A LEGAL ORDERLY MANNER FOR THESE YOUTHS BROUGHT HERE AS CHILDREN TO MOVE TOWARDS A PERMANENT STATUS.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THE OTHER BILL DOES DEAL WITH UNDOCUMENTED FARM WORKERS GIVES THEM A PATH TO PERMANENT STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES.

OUR THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN FOR A LOOK AT VACCINATIONS IN CHICAGO'S SUBURBS.

BRANDIS?

>> PARIS, AS WE'VE HEARD AMANDA REPORT THE CITY IS PUSHING AHEAD WITH EXPANDING THE VACCINE ROLLOUT TO INCLUDE MORE PEOPLE.

MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ASKED STATES TO MAKE EVERYONE ELIGIBLE BY MAY FIRST BUT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE CHICAGO AREA SAYS THAT EXPANSION IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON VACCINE SUPPLY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY AND MORE IS Dr. RACHEL RL RUB BIN, COLEAD OF THE COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S FIRST TAKE A LOOK AT THE LATEST VACCINE NUMBERS FOR SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY.

ABOUT 20% OF RESIDENTS HAVE GOTTEN THEIR FIRST DOSE SO FAR.

WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THE COUNTY'S ROLL OUT OF THE VACCINE AT THIS POINT?

>> I PROBABLY GIVE US A B PLUS.

I THINK THAT WE'VE ROLLED OUT VACCINE QUITE EFFICIENTLY AND QUITE FAST.

AND THE LIMITING STEP HAS BEEN SUPPLY OF VACCINE AT THIS POINT.

>> CHICAGO TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S GOING TO MOVE INTO THE 1C PHASE OF THE VACCINATION ROLL OUT THAT IS STARTING MARCH 29TH IN THE CITY.

WILL THE COUNTY BE ABLE TO FOLLOW SUIT IN THE SUBURBS SOON?

>> WE THINK SO.

AS OF THIS COMING MONDAY WE'RE MOVING INTO THE 1B PLUS TIER BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VACCINATE A FAIR AMOUNT OF OUR 65-YEAR-OLD AND OLDER RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.

AND WE HOPE TO MOVE INTO THE 1C PHASE SHORTLY THERE AFTER.

WE DON'T HAVE A DATE ON IT YET.

WE WANT TO SEE HOW THINGS GO WHEN WE EXPAND TO 1B PLUS THIS WEEK.

>> AS WE'VE HEARD, VACCINE SUPPLY IS THE PROBLEM FOR MANY MUNICIPALITIES AND PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY COOK COUNTY IS DOING TO INCREASE THAT SUPPLY?

>> YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT IN OUR CONTROL.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PUSHING OUT VACCINE.

AND OUR SUPPLY IN THE SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY IS THEN RUN THROUGH THE STATE.

AND THEN THE STATE GIVES US AN ALLOTMENT OF WHAT PART OF THE OVERALL SUPPLY THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND SO WHATEVER WE'VE BEEN ALLOTTED WHICH HAS BEEN BASED ON THE PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE WITHIN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, PLUS WE'VE BEEN GETTING EXTRA SUPPLY.

THE STATE HAS BEEN GENEROUS BECAUSE WE HAVE SETUP LARGER MASS SITES.

AND BUT IT'S BEEN VARIABLE.

SOME WEEKS WE'VE BEEN GETTING A REASONABLE SUPPLY AND OTHER WEEKS NOT.

BUT OVERALL THERE'S BEEN MUCH LESS SUPPLY THAN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PUSH OUT IF WE HAD MORE.

>> THERE'S ONGOING EQUITY CONCERNS OVER WHO IS GETTING THE VACCINE.

COOK COUNTY HAS LAUNCHED A PILOT POP-UP PROGRAM TO DELIVER SHOTS SPECIFICALLY OR TO SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES.

HOW DOES THIS WORK AND WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGING WITH THE WHOLE GROUP OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC BUT ESPECIALLY SINCE THE SUMMER WHEN WE WERE RAMPING UP THE CONTACT TRACING PROGRAM WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS TO ENGAGE THEIR COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF PUSHING OUT VACCINE.

AND SO THAT'S ONE ASPECT.

THE OTHER ASPECT IS THAT THIS POP-UP COMPONENT OF IT IS THAT WE ARE GOING OUT INTO COMMUNITIES AND BRINGING THE VACCINE TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

WE KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY CERTAIN COMMUNITIES ARE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, OUR UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THE BIG MASS SITES.

THEY MAY HAVE DISABILITY ISSUES AND ARE NOT ABLE TO TRAVEL.

HEY MAY NOT HAVE THE INCOME OR ABILITY TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

OR THEY JUST DUE TO FEAR AND REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE VACCINE THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GETTING VACCINATED ESPECIALLY IN SOMEPLACE THEY ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH.

WE NEED TO BE BRINGING THE VACCINE TO THEM AND THAT IS WHAT THE POP-UPS ARE FOR.

WE ARE GOING TO SENIOR CENTERS, PUBLICLY SUPPORTED SENIOR BUILDINGS.

WE WANT TO START AND WE'VE DONE THIS A LITTLE BIT BUT TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAM TO GO TO LARGER WORKPLACES LOW WAGE WORKERS BECAUSE WE CAN GET WORKERS VACCINATED AT ONCE.

AND RIGHT THERE WHILE THEY ARE AT WORK AND THEN THEY CAN GO ON WITH THEIR DAY AND MAYBE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES TO DO THE SAME THING.

>> AND FOR MOST OF THE PANDEMIC, THE POSITIVITY RATE HAS BEEN THE GUIDING METRIC FOR POLICYMAKERS IS THAT STILL THE BEST METRIC TO USE IN DETERMINING RESTRICTIONS AND GUIDELINES AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE TIGHTENED OR LOOSENED?

>> I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF POSITIVITY RATE THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF TESTS WE'RE DOING.

THE MORE TESTS YOU DO, THE MORE CASES YOU WILL SEE.

BUT WE WANT TO SEE LESS POSITIVES DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE TESTS.

RIGHT.

AND THEN IN ADDITION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO SEE HOW MANY NEW CASES WE'RE SEEING EACH DAY.

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE POSITIVITY RATE MAYBE DROPPING AND IT MAY BE LARGELY DUE TO US RAMPING UP TESTING WE DON'T WANT TO BE SEEING A LOT OF NEW CASES EACH DAY.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE VARYING BETWEEN 250-300 NEW CASES POPPING UP IN THE SUBURBAN AREA EACH DAY AND THAT IS TOO MUCH THAT IS MORE THAN WE WERE SEEING IN CERTAIN TIMES OVER THE SUMMER.

ALSO WE WANT TO BE LOOKING AT EQUITY ISSUES AS WELL.

>> AND TO BE CLEAR, THE VACCINATION RATE IS NOT WHAT GUIDES IS NOT THE METRIC THAT GUIDES THOSE DECISIONS WITH REGARD TO OPENING AND CLOSING?

>> NO.

NOT ALONE.

NOW, OF COURSE, THE MORE VACCINE WE GET OUT THERE AND THE HIGHER THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT IS VACCINATED AND THAT MEANS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY NOT SAYING IN ONE AREA OF THE COUNTY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED AND ANOTHER AREA NOT VERY MANY BUT THE AVERAGE IS HIGH.

NO IT HAS TO BE UNIFORM AND A LOT OF VACCINE THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT'S PART OF THE EQUATION.

BUT WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF THE CIRCULATION OF THE VIRUS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING SICK.

>> AND DOCTOR BEFORE WE LET YOU GO OUR CONDOLENCES YOU LOST BOTH OF YOUR PARENTS TO THE CORONAVIRUS A FEW MONTHS AGO.

HOW HAS THAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE SHAPED HOW YOU LOOK AT THIS PANDEMIC FROM A MACRO LEVEL?

>> UM, IT MAKES ME -- I MEAN MORE DEDICATED TO THE WORK.

IT MAKES IT HARDER IN A WAY TO WATCH NEWS REPORTS ABOUT DEATH RATES AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK IS YOU KNOW, IT TEARS ME APART.

BUT I STAND WITH EVERYBODY THAT HAS LOST FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY NEIGHBORS TO THIS PANDEMIC.

NOBODY HAS BEEN UNTOUCHED BY THIS WORLDWIDE.

AND CERTAINLY MY OWN PERSONAL TRAGEDY IS NO LESS THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S AND IT SPURS ME ON TO CONTINUE THIS WORK AS BEST I CAN.

>> AGAIN SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS Dr. RACHEL RUBIN AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT AND FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND ON TOMORROW'S PROGRAM, 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.

TOMORROW AT 7:00 P.M. ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> UP NEXT, WE GO BEHIND THE HEADLINES OF SCIENCE STORIES MAKING NEWS.

STICK AROUND.

>> BITCOIN MINING IS CAUSING CONCERN FOR ENVIRONMENTALISTS, ZEBRA'S FISH RESPONSE TO MUSIC BY MC HAMMER AND A NEW LIGHT ACTIVATED MATERIAL THAT COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPER EFFICIENT SOLAR PANELS.

JOINING US TO BREAKDOWN ALL OF THESE LATEST SCIENCE STORIES IS UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PALEONTOLOGIST, NEIL SHUBIN.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, LET'S START WITH BITCOIN.

IT'S EVER POPULAR GREW TO A HIGH OF $60,000 NOW PER BITCOIN AFTER ELON MUSK INVESTED IN IT.

REMIND US FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND BITCOIN WHY IT TAKES UP ACTUAL ENERGY?

>> SO BITCOIN THINK OF IT LIKE GOLD SOMETHING THAT IS PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE AND CAN BE TRANSFERRED AMONG PEOPLE.

BUT BITCOIN CAN BE MINED JUST LIKE GOLD.

GOLD WE MINE IN MINES AND PANNING.

AND BITCOIN WHAT THEY DO THEY MINE IT USING COMPUTER ALGORITHMS BY COMPUTER PROBLEMS THAT MUST BE SOLVED.

AND IT TAKES ENORMOUS COMPUTING POWER YOU HAVE COMPUTER SERVER FARMS CONSISTING OF HUNDREDS OF COMPUTERS TO MINE FOR BITCOIN.

AND THE CHALLENGE -- THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IT CONSUMES A TON OF ENERGY.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT IT IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND IN THE LAST YEAR WHERE BITCOIN USE HAS GONE UP.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND, IT CONSUMES THE EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO THE COUNTRY OF ARGENTINA?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

LIKE 100 CARA WATT HOURS.

BITCOIN USE IS EQUIVALENT TO ONE OF THE TOP 30 COUNTRIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

IT'S BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND AUSTRALIA IN THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY IT USES IN A YEAR.

>> AS BITCOIN INCREASES IN VALUE WHAT ARE WAYS OR SOLUTIONS TO CURB THIS ENERGY USAGE?

>> YES.

IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE AND HARMFUL FOR THE CLIMATE AS A CONSEQUENCE FORM OF CURRENCY.

SO THAT MEANS THE MORE THEY CAN TETHER IT TO RENEWABLES THE MORE THEY CAN TETHER IT TO HYDRO POWER AND TETHER IT TO SOLAR OR WIND POWER THE BETTER IT WILL BE FOR THE CLIMATE.

>> AND THE NEXT STORY AN AUSTRALIAN SCIENTIST CREATED THIS INCREDIBLE VIDEO OF A ZEBRA FISH AND THE FISH'S BRAIN'S RESPONSE TO MC HAMMER'S SONG "YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS."

>> SO YOU SEE, SENSORS GOING OFF IN THE FISH'S BRAIN TELL US THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS.

>> THE SEE BRIE FISH IS A LITTLE FISH AND THEY CAN SEE THE ACTIVITY OF THE BRAIN YOU'RE SEEING CALCIUM CHANNELS BEING TURNED ON AND IT'S SHOWING THAT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BRAIN ARE ACTIVE DURING DIFFERENT PARTS OF SONG THEY ARE RECORDING DIFFERENT SOUNDS SO THERE IS A SPECIFIC REGION THAT IS RECORDING VOICE AND ANOTHER FOR BASS.

THERE'S COMPLEXITY TO THE NEURORESPONSES TO SOUND AND MUSIC IN THE FISH.

>> ZEBRA FISH CAN TELL DIFFERENT SOUNDS A BASS SOUND OR VOCAL ARE THERE IMPLICATIONS BEYOND THE FISH?

>> THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE BASIS OF THE WIRING IN THE BRAIN.

THE RESEARCHERS ARE INTERESTED IN AUTISM.

AND THEY'VE HAD THE GENETIC MODELS FOR AUTISM AND THAT IS HOW THEY DISCOVERED IT.

AND THEY ARE SEEING HOW AUTISM IS IN PROCESSING SOUNDS.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO A SCIENTIST IN JAPAN DISCOVERED A SEA SLUG WITH A BIZARRE ABILITY.

TELL US WHAT THE SEA SLUG CAN DO.

>> IT CAN LOSE ITS HEAD.

UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES -- >> WE CAN ALL LOSE OUR HEADS!

>> FROM ITS BODY.

BASICALLY IT SEPARATES ITS HEAD FROM ITS BODY UNDER CIRQUE DU SOLEIS AND THE BODY AFTER ABOUT A FEW WEEKS, WHITHERS AWAY AND THE HEAD CONTINUES LIKE IT IS A HEAD.

AND GROWING BACK AN ENTIRE BODY.

>> HOW DOES THIS HEAD SURVIVE WITHOUT ITS ORGANS OR ABILITY TO CONSUME ENERGY?

>> IF THE HEAD WITH NO DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IT SWIMS AROUND LOOKING FOR PHOTO SYNTHETIC ALGAE USING THE SUN TO PROCESS ENERGY THEY CONSUME THE ALGAE AND STEAL THE ALGAE'S COLOR ROW BLAST THE PART THAT DOES THE PHOTO SIN THESE THEY ARE STEALING THE PROCESS.

>> IT CAN CUTOFF ITS HEAD FROM ITS BODY AND REGROW THE BODY BACK WHILE THE HEAD DIGESTS ENERGY FROM PHOTO SIN THIS DOES THIS HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN LEVEL RESEARCH?

>> THE CREATURES CAN BUILD A BODY BACK.

HOW DOES IT NOW HOW TO BUILD A BODY BACK?

WOUND HEALING THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE JEALOUS ABOUT.

BEING ABLE TO REGROW BODY PARTS THAT COULD BE FABULOUS, THE CREATURES DO THAT WITH THEIR BODY SO THEY ARE A GOOD SYSTEM FOR THAT.

>> AND THE LAST STORY, RESEARCHERS AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY DEVELOPED DEVICES THAT CAN BEND AND TWIST IN RESPONSE TO LIGHT.

EXPLAIN THIS?

>> BASICALLY WHAT THE DEVICES DO SHINE LIGHTS THEY CAN BEND AND TWIST AND WHAT THEY HAVE ARE TWO LAYERS.

ONE LAYER CONTRACTS WHEN THE LIGHT HITS AND THE OTHER EXPANDS THEY PUT THOSE TOGETHER AND YOU HAVE A BENDING STRIP IT CAN BEND WITHOUT WIRES OR PULLEYS.

>> HOW CAN MATERIAL LIKE THIS BE USED?

>> THINK ABOUT IT AS LIKE A SOLAR PANEL WOULD BE PERFECT YOU HAVE A SOLAR PANEL THAT CAN RESPOND TO WHERE THE SUN IS IN THE SKY AND MOVE TOWARDS IT THAT WOULD BE A FABULOUS WAY OF OBTAINING MORE SOLAR ENERGY.

>> VIDEO OF THE LIGHT LITERALLY BENDING THIS MATERIAL FASCINATING.

NEIL SHUBIN EXCELLENT AS ALWAYS THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> ALWAYS COOL STUFF WITH NEIL SHUBIN.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" GHOST CICHS WHICH RENT OUT SPACE TO RESTAURANTS FOR DELIVERY ONLY ORDERS ARE THRIVING BUT SOME NEARBY RESIDENTS ARE UNHAPPY WITH OPERATIONS.

>> AND STIMULUS CASH STARTS HITTING CHECKING ACCOUNTS AND STATE TREASURIES.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM LOOKS HOW ILLINOIS WILL AND WON'T SPEND THE FEDERAL MONEY.

FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE FIRST OF MANY REDISTRICTING HEARINGS GOT UNDERWAY TODAY IN SPRINGFIELD AS SENATE DEMOCRATS START THE ONCE A DAD DECADE PROCESS OF DRAWING NEW LEGISLATIVE BOUNDARIES.

THE CAUCUS SAYS IT'S THE FIRST OF MANY PUBLIC HEARINGS AS PART OF A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

BUT REPUBLICANS QUESTION WHY AN INDEPENDENT PROCESS IS NOT BEING USED.

>> THEY WANT AND MILLIONS OF ILLINOISANS WANT FOR A REDISTRICTING PROCESS TO RESULT FROM CITIZENS DRAWING MAPS NOT POLITICIANS PICKING VOTERS.

I THINK IT'S FUNDAMENTAL THAT THIS COMMITTEE ADDRESS WHY THAT INDEPENDENT COMMISSION IS NOT BEING UTILIZED.

>> THE CAUCUS SAYS THE DELAY IN FIGURES FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU WILL CREATE HURDLES.

THE COMMITTEE IS PLANNING TO MEET ITS JUNE 30TH DEADLINE TO HAVE NEW MAP AS PROVED.

>> AND JUST IN TIME FOR THE BIG GAME.

THE NATIONAL BOBBLE HEAD HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM IN MILWAUKEE SAYS SISTER JEAN IS GETTING HER THIRD LIMITED EDITION BOBBLE HEAD IT FEATURES HER IN HER WHEELCHAIR WEARING A LOYOLA JACKET.

THE MEN'S LUCKY CHARM RECEIVED A BOBBLE HEAD IN HER LIKENESS AFTER THE RUN TO THE FINAL FOUR AFTER BEING THE MUSEUM'S BEST-SELLER IT WAS OUTSOLD BY Dr. ANTHONY FAUCI.

>> THERE IS A NEW BUSINESS MODEL HELPING SOME THROUGH THE PANDEMIC BUT IT'S COOKING UP TROUBLE WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS.

EVAN GARCIA JOINS US WITH THE STORY.

>> THANK YOU.

GHOST KITCHENS ARE FACILITIES THAT RENT OUT KITCHEN SPACE TO RESTAURANTS FOR DELIVERY ONLY FOOD ORDERS.

THESE COMPANIES HAVE THRIVED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BUT ONE GHOST KITCHEN IN THE NORTH CENTER NEIGHBORHOOD IS DRAWING CRITICISM FROM THE ALDERMEN AND SOME NEIGHBORS.

THE CLOUD KITCHENS ON CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE TO LEARN MORE.

>> EMPLOYEES OF MONTY'S, A RESTAURANT SPECIALIZING IN PHILADELPHIA CHEESE STEAKS ARE COOKING AND SENDING ORDERS OUT OF A GHOST KITCHEN THAT OPENED IN CHICAGO LAST YEAR.

>> SOME POINTS OF THE DAY THERE'S TWO COOKS.

SOMEBODY UP FRONT THAT BAGS IT UP AND TAKES IT OUT TO THE FRONT.

THE CLOUD KITCHEN HIRES THE PEOPLE IN THE FRONT THAT YOU PICK UP FROM.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE KITCHEN.

WE DON'T DEAL WITH THAT.

>> THIS GHOST KITCHEN IS RENTING OUT 11 OF THE 20 COMMERCIAL COOKING SPACES TO RESTAURANTS THAT PREPARE ORDERS WHICH ARE THEN DELIVERED BY DRIVERS FROM APPS LIKE UBER EATS AND GRUBHUB.

>> WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE END OF OCTOBER.

AND IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IT'S GOTTEN US BACK ON THE MAP WE WERE CLOSED FOR A MONTH-AND-A-HALF.

>> FOR MONTY'S, THIS 250 SQUARE-FOOT KITCHEN IS A TEMPORARY FIX.

LAST SEPTEMBER A FIRE SHUTDOWN THE RESTAURANT'S BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATION A MILE SOUTH.

>> WE HAD COOLER IN THE FRONT AND YOU KNOW, THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID IT WAS A ELECTRICAL FIRE MAYBE IT WAS TOO MANY THINGS PLUGGED IN.

>> THE SHUTDOWN OF INDOOR DINING DURING COVID-19 HAS BENEFITED THE DELIVERY FOOD INDUSTRY.

SEVERAL TOP U.S. FOOD DELIVERY APPS SAW BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NEW REVENUE BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER OF 2020 COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE.

DEIDRA IS CLOUD KITCHEN'S REGIONAL MANAGER.

>> OUR BUSINESS MODEL WAS DEFINITELY THRIVING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR US DURING THE PANDEMIC IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN A LIFELINE BUT ALSO A GREAT WAY FOR RESTAURANTS TO PIVOT AND ADJUST THEIR GROWTH STRATEGY IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE CLOUD KITCHEN'S LOCATION ON ROCKWELL IS ONE OF FIVE 0 OPERATED BY THE LOS ANGELES-BASED COMPANY IN CHICAGO.

HERE IN THE NORTH CENTER NEIGHBORHOOD, THE GHOST KITCHEN HAS NOT BEEN MET WITH OPEN ARMS.

ALDERMAN MATT MARTIN HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF THE PLANS SINCE THEY ANNOUNCED THEM FOR THIS LOCATION IN 2019.

>> THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC THE PARKING PROBLEMS THAT RESULTED, AS WELL AS VERY PROBLEMATIC VERBALTER INDICATIONS INVOLVING NOT JUST THE DRIVERS BUT AT TIMES THE TRAFFIC AIDES THEMSELVES HAVE MADE REALLY CREATED THE BIGGEST BUSINESS PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE WARD RIGHT NOW.

>> SCOTT WEINER RUNS 20 RESTAURANTS AND BARS THROUGH THE 50/50 RESTAURANT GROUP.

HE SAYS CLOUD KITCHEN IS GETTING CITY APPROVAL TO OPEN IN A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING LIKE ROCKWELL STREET PUTS BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANTS AT A DISADVANTAGE ESPECIALLY AFTER THE DEVASTATING YEAR.

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK FOR RESTAURANTS ON STREETS THAT ARE MEANT TO HAVE RESTAURANTS WHEN SOMEBODY CAN OPEN UP IN A MANUFACTURING DISTRICT, A QUARTER TIMES THE RENT AND UNDERCUT THEM.

I SEE CLOUD KITCHEN BEING A THREAT TO THE LOCAL MOM AND POPS.

>> CLOUD KITCHENS SAYS THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTIONS TO WORK THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS THEY ARE RECEIVING.

MEANWHILE, MONTY'S PLANS TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL LOCATION BY THE END OF SUMMER.

TO ADDRESS COMPLAINTS, CLOUD KITCHENS SAYS IT'S WORKING THROUGH A MITIGATION PLAN THAT INCLUDES MORE PARKING AND ADDED SECURITY AMONG OTHER MEASURES.

A THIRD SECURITY COMMUNITY MEETING BETWEEN THE COMPANY, NEIGHBORS AND CITY OFFICIALS IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS MONDAY.

>> AND EVAN, CAN YOU GIVE US MORE BACKGROUND ON THIS COMPANY CLOUD KITCHENS?

>> THE COMPANY IS BASED IN CALIFORNIA THEY HAVE GHOST KITCHENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 17 U.S. CITIES.

IT'S FOUNDED BY TRAVIS KALANICK THE CO-FUNDER OF UBER.

HE SOLD ALL SHARES IN THE COMPANY IN LATE 2019 AND ESSENTIALLY STARTED THIS NEW GHOST KITCHEN A FEW MONTHS LATE SNEER AN INTERESTING CONNECTION.

AND ARE MOM AND POP THE ONLY ONES USING THE GHOST KITCHENS?

>> THEY ARE NOT COMPLAINTS INCREASED IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE POPULAR FAST FOOD CHAIN CHICK-FIL-A MOVED INTO TWO LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BUILDING AMONG THE 20 KITCHENS.

SO THIS CHICK-FIL-A IS SENDING OUT DELIVERY FOOD AND ALLOWING CONSUMERS TO COME TO THE SITE AND PURCHASE WHICH IS REALLY INCREASING THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING AND HIS COMPLAINT IS THAT IF THE GHOST KITCHEN IS OPERATING AT 50% CAPACITY HOW BAD DO THE PROBLEMS GET AT FULL CAPACITY?

EVAN GARCIA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM HAS THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY'S ONE-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN SPRINGFIELD.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... OFF A SHOOTDING SPREE IN ATLANTA LEAVES EIGHT DEAD, SIX OF ASIAN DESCENT LEADERS DENOUNCE THE VIOLENCE AND OFFER MESSAGES OF SUPPORT TO ASIAN-AMERICANS AND ANNOUNCE THE NEXTFACE PHASE OF VACCINATION PLAN AND FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY STARTS HITTING BANK ACCOUNTS AND STATE COFFERS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE.

WELCOME BACK AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

LET'S START WITH EARLIER TODAY VICE-PRESIDENT CAMERON SHOLTY REACTING TO THE SHOOTING SPREE IN ATLANTA.

SAYING THAT WHILE THE MOTIVE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, THE U.S.

STANDS BEHIND ASIAN-AMERICANS.

>> WE STAND WITH YOU AND UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS FRIGHTENED AND SHOCKED AND OUTRAGED ALL PEOPLE BUT KNOWING THE INCREASING LEVEL OF HATE CRIMES AGAINST OUR ASIAN-AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE WANT TO SPEAK OUT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NONE OF US SHOULD EVER BE SILENT IN THE FACE OF ANY FORM OF HATE.

>> AND HEATHER, WE HEARD FROM MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN ON THIS CASE.

WHAT DID THEY HAVE TO SAY?

>> WELL, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WHO, OF COURSE, A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR SAID SHE THOUGHT WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT IN ATLANTA WAS CLEARLY A HATE CRIME EVEN THOUGH LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT YET MADE THAT CHARGE.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM SUPERINTENDENT BROWN THAT HE HAD STEPPED UP PATROLS IN ASIAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO AND THAT THEY HAD REACHED OUT TO COMMUNITY GROUPS TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS WHILE REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THERE'S NO ACTIVE THREAT AGAINST ANYONE IN CHICAGO.

BUT IT WAS SORT OF THE WORST CASE SCENARIO AS WE'VE SEEN A RISE IN HATE CRIMES DIRECTED AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS AND WE'VE HEARD THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT THAT SHE HOLDS FORMER PRUSH USING RACIST PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> WHAT HAVE OFFICIALS SAID ABOUT THE RISE?

>> THEY HAVE CONDEMNED IT HERE IN ILLINOIS, BRAN SIS AND BY SOME ESTIMATES LAST YEAR SAW 150% INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICANS.

THE CHAIR OF THE ASIAN-AMERICAN CAUCUSSY COMMISSIONER ON THE MEP AND CALLED FOR METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT SHE CALLED FOR THE ASSEMBLY TO MASS BILLS CIRCULATING THAT WOULD MANDATE THE TEACHING OF THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT AND JAP 19 INTERNMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY IN SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS.

CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT IS SOMETHING THAT PBS RAN A DOCUMENTARY SERIES ON IT'S REALLY INSIGHTFUL AND INFORMATIVE PERIOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND A LOOK INTO THAT PERIOD.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW AND WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT CERTAINLY AMPS UP THAT CONVERSATION TO A NEW LEVEL.

>> AND BRIEFLY, ALSO, JUST WANT TO MENTION THE MAYOR SAYS THAT SHE IS GOING TO BE BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL C.P.D.

FORCES TO PRIMARILY ASIAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND THAT, OF COURSE, MIGHT MAKE SOME INDIVIDUALS FEEL MORE PROTECTED, MORE COMFORTABLE THAT THERE IS THAT POLICE PRESENCE AND IT VERY MUCH SAYS THE OPPOSITE FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS AND THIS GETS BACK TO SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT.

EVERYBODY IN CHICAGO, I THINK, HAS AND THAT IS DISTRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, BETWEEN CHICAGO POLICE AND PARTICULAR RESIDENTS OF COLOR AND THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE TO TACKLE.

A GOOD MOVE OR A BAD ONE FOR SOME.

>> AND AMANDA STICKING WITH YOU, AND SWITCHING GEARS YOU REPORTED EARLIER WE HAVE DETAILS NOW ABOUT THE CITY'S ROLLING OUT OF THE NEXT PHASE OF THE VACCINATION PLAN IN CHICAGO.

>> YEAH.

A COUPLE THINGS THAT DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COVER IS NUMBER ONE THAT WHEN CHICAGO DOES EXPAND INTO THIS 1C PERIOD Dr. ARWADY SAID REALLY, IT'S JUST FOR CHICAGO RESIDENTS.

IT MAY GET TO THE POINT WHERE EMPLOYERS WILL BE HOLDING MASS VACCINATIONS OR VACCINATIONS AT PLACES OF WORK.

AND IF YOUR DOCTOR DEEMS YOU VULNERABLE AND GIVES YOU A SHOT BUT THAT 1C PERIOD WOULD BE JUST FOR CHICAGO RESIDENTS.

OF COURSE I'M CURIOUS WHAT THAT WILL MEAN GIVEN THAT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IT SEEMS IS GOING TO BE EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY TO ANYONE SOONER.

WE HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAY SOMETHING TO THAT END.

ANOTHER INTERESTING DEVIATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND STATE THERE AGAIN, THE STATE RIGHT NOW ALREADY IN THIS 1B PLUS WHERE THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN GET THE VACCINE, CHICAGO DOES INCLUDE SOME CONDITIONS THAT THE STATE DOES NOT FOR EXAMPLE, HIV AND VICE VERSA THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CONSIDERS SMOKING TO BE ONE OF THE HEALTH CONDITIONS IN CHICAGO THAT IS NOT ON THE LIST.

AND SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE ANYBODY UNDERAGE 65 ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINE.

>> HEATHER A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BE PATIENT AND AWAITING TO ARE THEIR TURN TO GET THE VACCINE.

AND BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO IS REPORTING A WEST SIDE HOSPITAL WAS VACCINATING STAFF AND EMPLOYEES AT TRUMP TOWER RUMORS THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S SON WAS VACCINATED AS WELL?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT TODAY AND SHE SAID SHE WAS DISAPPOINTED AND HAD ASKED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER TO DO DIGGING AS SHE SAID TO FIGURE OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

CRAIN'S CHICAGO REPORTED JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO THAT THE DOCTOR WHO OWNS THE UNIT IN THE TRUMP TOWER SAID HE WAS JUST JOKING ABOUT VACCINATING THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S SON.

IT WAS JUST A Facebook JOKE.

BUT IT GOES TO THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH FRUSTRATION ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE AND YOU ARE NOT JUMPING THE LINE.

WHILE THEY SEE OTHER PEOPLE SORT OF NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.

AND IT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A BLACK EYE FOR MAYOR LIGHTFOOT BECAUSE THE VERY FIRST VACCINES WAY BACK IN DECEMBER WERE AT LORETTO HOSPITAL WHERE THE DOSES CAME FROM.

AND THEY HAD SHOWCASED THE CITY LORETTO HOSPITAL SOMEBODY WHO IS DOING IT RIGHT.

NEARLY 90% OF THAT HOSPITAL STAFF HAS BEEN VACCINATED WHICH IS A VERY HIGH RATE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY.

ESPECIALLY AFTER WBEZ REPORTED THIS AFTERNOON THAT DOSES ALLOCATED TO LORETTO HOSPITAL ARE USED TO VACCINATE COOK COUNTY JUDGES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED.

>> AND HEATHER, MIXED NEWS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS IN CHICAGO AS THE CITY DELAYS THE PERMIT FOR THAT METAL RECYCLING PLANT ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE WE'VE ALL HEARD OF GENERAL IRON ALDERMEN DID MAKE CONCESSIONS IN THE CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED ORDINANCE STALLED BECAUSE THERE WERE SEVERAL ALDERMEN WORRY TO DO WOULD DISSUADE INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS FROM LOCATING IN CHICAGO COSTING THE CITY, WELL PAYING JOBS WITH BENEFITS.

SHE CHANGED THE ORDINANCE TO WIN THE SUPPORT OF INDUSTRY BUT THAT MEANT THAT ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THAT HAD ENDORSED IT, THEY DROPPED THEIR SUPPORT.

THEY ALSO LOST A COSPONSOR MIKE RODRIGUEZ AND THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SHOWDOWN NEXT WEEK AT THE FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SEE WHETHER IT MOVES THROUGH.

SOME ALDERMEN THINK IT IS A FAKE REFORM IN NAME ONLY THAT WON'T REALLY IMPROVE AIR QUALITY ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE.

WHERE THE IMPACTS ARE MOST SEVERE.

>> AMANDA, YOU SPOKE WITH GOVERNOR PRITZKER AS THE STATE MARKS A YEAR SINCE THE FIRST COVID SHUTDOWNS HERE IS WHAT HE SAID WHY HE HAS NOT GOTTEN THE VACCINE YET.

>> I'VE SAID ALL ALONG I DON'T WANT TO JUMP THE LINE IN FRONT OF ANYBODY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE IN PHASE 1B PLUS WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE IN NOW ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR VACCINATION AND THEN I WILL GET MINE.

I'M STAYING RELATIVELY SAFE I'M WEARING A MASK WHEREVER I GO FOLLOWING THE MITIGATIONS.

I'M HOPEFUL I WILL GET VACCINATED SOON ENOUGH.

>> AMANDA ARE THERE FOLKS CONCERNED?

>> CERTAINLY.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE PHRASES WANT TO KEY ON WHEREVER I GO AND THAT IS HE KIND OF GOES A LOT OF PLACES.

HE IS OF COURSE THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE.

TRAVELING JUST TODAY WAS IN CHICAGO EARLIER THIS WEEK WAS IN DECATUR TODAY.

HE IS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE AND SHOULD HE GET COVID, GOT FORBID BECOME INCAPACITATED THAT IS A CONCERN FOR FOLKS AND THERE IS OSTENSIBLELY A REASON WHY ELECTED OFFICIALS THROUGH THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE AND FRANKLY HIS OWN WHEN HE MADE LEGISLATORS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE GROUP THAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT BEING THAT THEY ARE OUT AND ABOUT AND NEEDED TO RUN GOVERNMENT.

CERTAINLY I TALK TO FOLKS THAT SAY IT IS A CONCERN IT IS A PR MOVE AND I'VE SPOKEN TO LEGISLATORS PUTS THEM IN A DIFFICULT SPOT BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT AND ABOUT MORE AND NOT ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME AND WORKING WITH CONSTITUENTS.

BUT ARE FEARFUL OF GETTING PHOTOGRAPHED TAKING THE VACCINE WHEN THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF HAS NOT.

CERTAINLY PLENTY OF POLITICIANS HAVE DONE SO.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT GOT IT RIGHT AWAY AND SAID SHE WAS DOING SO TO SET AN EXAMPLE.

>> AND YESTERDAY, ILLINOIS COMPTROLLER SUSANA MENDOZA JOINED US TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE STATE PLANS TO USE AN INFLUX OF FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY AND SAID THE STATE IS RESTRICTED FROM USING ANY OF IT ON THE HUGELY UNDERFUNDED PENSION SYSTEM.

>> NOT A PENNY WILL GO TOWARDS MISTAKES OF THE PAST OR PENSION DEBT.

WE ARE GOING TO BE FISCALLY SOLVENT THAT IS THE GOAL AND WE'RE TRYING TO STABILIZE OUR FINANCES AND INJECT PREDICTABILITY AND STABILITY INTO OUR FINANCIAL PICTURE.

>> HEATHER WHAT WILL THE STATE USE THE CASH FOR?

>> THAT IS QUITE LITERALLY A QUESTION WORTH SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS.

WE'VE HEARD COMPTROLLER SUSANA MENDOZA SAY HER FIRST PRIORITY IS TO PAY OFF THE BORROWING THAT THE STATE MADE EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE STATE HAS A MASSIVE BILL BACKLOG LEFT FROM THE ERA WHERE THE STATE WENT YEARS WITHOUT A BUDGET AND THAT IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY.

BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY EXPECT DEMOCRATS IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND THE ILLINOIS SENATE TO PUSH PRITZKER TO ALLOW THEM TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO BEEF UP FUNDING FOR EDUCATION.

WHICH WILL NOT BE FULLY FUNDED UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET BECAUSE THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY.

HOWEVER, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RELIES ON ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS OF ENDING TAX CREDITS OR TAX LOOPHOLES DEPENDING HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

THERE IS A LOT OF NEED.

AND WHILE THE STATE IS GIVING A LOT -- GETTING A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IT CANNOT COVER ALL NEEDS SO IT WILL BE A BIG FIGHT.

>> AND PARIS YOU HEARD FROM SOME OF ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION YESTERDAY INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER WHO SAID WHILE HE IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE PIECEMEAL MEASURES UP FOR A VOTE HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LARGER BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

HERE HE IS.

>> THE RIGHT MISTRUST THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE BORDER SECURITY AND THE LEFT MISTRUST THERE'S GOING TO BE A PATHWAY TO LEGALIZATION WE ARE IN THIS STANDOFF AND WE USE IT AS A WEAPON ON BOTH SIDES.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A BROAD COMPREHENSIVE REFORM DONE IN THE PAST.

IT'S BEEN TRIED IN THE PAST BUT TANKED WITH THE LOUDEST VOICES ON THE EXTREMES.

>> WITH A POLARIZED CONGRESS IS THAT LIKELY?

>> IMMIGRATION REFORM THE SENATE WOULD NEED TO GET 10 REPUBLICANS ONBOARD OR THIS LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE IF ALL 50 DEMOCRATS THEY WOULD ABOLISH THE FILIBUSTER AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS.

ALTHOUGH PROBABLY NOT IN THE FORM THAT IT'S IN THEY HAVE TO DO IT PIECEMEAL.

THE DREAMERS THAT ACT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND OTHER ELEMENTS DON'T.

REPUBLICANS WANT TO BEEF UP BORDER SECURITY.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT IS POSSIBLE UNLESS THEY REFORM THE FILIBUSTER.

>> OUR THANKS TO THE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND OF COURSE, PARIS SCHUTZ.

AND YOU CAN FIND MUCH MORE ABOUT THE STORIES DISCUSSED TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT IS ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH A LITTLE IRISH TRADITION FROM THE TRINITY ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCERS WHICH PERFORMED FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT SWEDISH COVENANT HOSPITAL.

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

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

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