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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE RIGHT WHAT WAS WRONG.

>> THE MAYOR AND CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT UNVEIL NEW GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH WARRANTS.

CRITICS SAY THE CHANGES STILL FALL SHORT.

>> WE ARE ANNOUNCING A MAJOR STEP FORWARD.

>> WITH THE ROLLOUT OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT EVERY AMERICAN COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINATION BY MAY.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE LATEST VACCINE?

>> TODAY IS 259 STRAIGHT DAYS IN LAKE MICHIGAN.

>> AND ONE CHICAGOAN IS BREAKING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC BLUES AND RAISING MONEY FOR LOCAL MUSIC VENUES BY PLUNGING INTO THE ICY WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE.

CICADAS ARE NOT HEADED FOR CHICAGOLAND.

ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS ARE SET TO CHOOSE A NEW PARTY CHAIR AT A VIRTUAL MEETING THAT STARTED AN OUR AGO, THE DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL STATE COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING A REPLACEMENT FOR MICHAEL MADIGAN.

MICHAEL MADIGAN HAS SERVED SINCE 1998 AND STEPPED DOWN FROM ALL POWERFUL POSITIONS INCLUDING REPRESENTING HIS DISTRICT AND AS SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

THE TWO FINALISTS ARE ROBIN KELLY WHO REPRESENTS THE SECOND DISTRICT AND ALDERWOMAN MICHELLE HARRIS OF CHICAGO'S 8TH WARD.

THE ELECTION OF EITHER WILL MARK THE FIRST TIME A PERSON OR COLOR OR WOMAN HAS EVER HELD THE POSITION.

WE WILL HAVE THE RESULTS OF TONIGHT'S MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE.

ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 2100 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND 44 DEATHS.

THE TOTAL COUNT IS MORE THAN 1.19 MILLION.

THE STATE'S SEVEN DAY ROLLING AVERAGE IS 84200 PER DAY.

ILLINOIS IS ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINE USE THE V SAFE AFTER VACCINATION HEALTH CHECKER.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY BY ENROLLING YOU WILL RECEIVE A TEXT WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOUR SECOND DOSE AND ANY POTENTIAL SIDE EPROTECT EFFECTS.

THE -- EFFECTS.

>> THE ARCHDIOCESE IS TELLING THE CATHOLIC FAITHFUL THAT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS MORE ALI PERMISSIBLE.

OFFICIALS SAY THAT BECAUSE THE VACCINE WAS PRODUCED USING A CELL LINE DERIVED FROM AN ABORTED FETUS THAT THAT PARTICULAR VACCINE IS MORALLY PAT COMSTOCK MID.

BUT BLASE CUPICH WHO IS VACCINATED WITH POPE FRANCIS ADVISE FOLLOWERS TO REGISTER FOR THE VACCINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> MERCY HOSPITAL MAY HAVE A BUYER WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP THE NEAR SOUTH SIDE HOSPITAL OPEN.

MERCY SAYS INSIGHT CHICAGO A NONPROFIT AFFILIATED WITH A MICHIGAN BASED ORGANIZATION WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE A FULL SERVICE ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE ORGANIZATION FILED A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP APPLICATION WITH THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TODAY AND WILL NEGOTIATE A PURCHASE AGREEMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THE COMPANY SAYS UNTIL THAT DEAL IS DONE, CURRENT OWNER TRINITY'S PLANS TO CLOSE BY MAY 31 REMAIN IN EFFECT.

>> AND ATTORNEYS FOR ACTIVISTS AND PRIEST FATHER MICHAEL PFLEGER DENYING NEW ALLEGATIONS FROM A THIRD MAN ACCUSING PFLEGER OF ASSAULTING HIM.

THE MAN WAS A TEENAGER IN THE 70s WHEN PFLEGER GAVE HIM MARIJUANA AND ALCOHOL AND TOOK HIM TO LOCAL JAZZ CLUBS.

THE MAN WHO IS NOT SUING BUT IS COOPERATING WITH THE ARCHDIOCESE SAYS PFLEGER SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HIM IN THE PRIEST BEDROOM WHEN HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD.

IN RESPONSE PFLEGER'S ATTORNEYS SAY HE REMEMBERS THE VICTIM AND THE ASSAULT NEVER HAPPENED AND THEY ACCUSE THE ATTORNEY IN DISHONESTY IN HELPING CLIENTS TRY TO GET MONEY FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE.

>> FOR THE SECOND TIME, LORI LIGHTFOOT IS CHANGING THE POLICY FOR WHEN AND HOW POLICE CAN EXECUTE SEARCH WARRANTS AS THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR BOTCHED RAIDS INCLUDING ONE THAT LED TO A LAWSUIT FROM ANJANETTE YOUNG.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

>> ONCE VIEWED, IT'S HARD TO ERASE THAT HORRIBLE VIDEO OF YOUNG HOME AND LOAN AND CHANGING AND NAKED WHEN CHICAGO POLICE BURST INTO HER HOME AND A OFFICER DID PUT A BLANKET OVER HER BUT FOR A LONG STRETCH SHE WAS LEFT NAKED WHILE RESTRAINED IN HANDCUFFS.

WHEN YOU SEE BODY-CAMERA YOU WILL SEE A BLACK BOX AND THAT IS HER COVERED BY THE C.P.D.

WHEN IT MADE THE FOOTAGE PUBLIC FOLLOWING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING BY WBBM.

THE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE POLICE WERE IN THE WRONG HOME.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT PROMISED CHANGE.

>> TODAY C.P.D.

MAKES GOOD ON ITS PROMISE TO CHANGE HOW SEARCH WARRANTS ARE SERVED IN CHICAGO.

IT'S ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING WE SHOULD BE EVOLVING TO IMPROVE OUR POLICIES, TRAINING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> NOW, NEW STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES ANNOUNCED BY C.P.D.

CHIEF DAVID BROWN AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT REQUIRE HIGHER RANKING COMMAND STAFF TO SIGN OFF ON REQUESTS FOR A WARRANT BEFORE IT'S BROUGHT TO A STATE'S ATTORNEY AND JUDGE.

CONSIDERATIONS AND PLANS MUST BE MADE IF VULNERABLE PEOPLE LIKE CHILDREN MAY BE PRESENT WHEN A SEARCH IS EXECUTED A FEMALE OFFICER MUST BE PRESENT.

POLICE MUST WEAR AND ACTIVATE BODY-CAMERAS.

A LIEUTENANT MUST BE ON-SITE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR OFFICERS' BEHAVIOR.

THE PLANT SPELLS OUT WHAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS ACCEPTED.

>> ALL DEPARTMENTS WILL TREAT ALL PERSONS WITH COURTESY AND DIGNITY INHERENTLY DUE EVERY PERSON AND WILL ACT SPEAK AND CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A COURTEOUS, RESPECTFUL AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER.

AND IT GOES ON FROM THERE.

THIS IS COMMON SENSE BUT THIS IS NOW ENSHRINED IN THE ACTUAL POLICY.

>> NEW POLICY DOES STILL ALLOW FOR SO-CALLED NO KNOCK WARRANTS BUT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE WHEN A LIFE IS IN DANGER.

>> THE FOURTH AMENDMENT ALLOWS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN BUT ONLY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THERE IS AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT EVIDENCE OF A CRIME WILL BE FOUND IN A PARTICULAR LOCATION.

NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT, IT IS AN INTRUSION.

MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE FACTS AND THE DETAILS RIGHT AND THERE IS OWNERSHIP AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF C.P.D.

IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

>> IF THE POLICE GET SOMETHING WRONG LIKE BAD EVIDENCE OR A SITUATION LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUNG THAT HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

>> THAT IS ANOTHER SAFEGUARD THAT I BELIEVE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE JUDGE BE NOTIFIED THERE WAS A WRONG RAID.

>> ASKED WHETHER HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE STANDARDS COULD PUT POLICE IN PERIL IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS HERE IS WHAT BROWN RESPONDED IN.

>> THE QUESTION IS IF TREATING SOMEONE WITH RESPECT GETS IN THE WAY OF DOING OUR JOB?

THE ANSWER IS NO.

FOLLOWING THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WITH AN EMPHASIS OFFER R ON EVERYONE DESERVES A MEASURE OF RESPECT, ENHANCES OUR ABILITY TO DO OUR JOB.

AND CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT OF TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH, AGAIN, IS A FORCE MULTIPLYING IN OUR BEING EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING CRIME.

>> IN AN E-MAIL, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE SAID HE HAD PLENTY OF REACTION TO THE NEW STANDARDS BUT HE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW-UP IN AN E-MAIL WITH SPECIFICS.

THE PROPOSAL DID GET THE NOD FROM ALDERMAN CHRISTOPHER TALIAFERRO HEAD OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND ALSO A FORMER COP.

>> THESE REFORMS THAT THE MAYOR IS ANNOUNCING TODAY WILL HELP BRING ABOUT TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRUE RESPONSIBILITY.

>> BUT IN A STATEMENT, YOUNG'S ATTORNEY SAYS THE PROPOSAL FALLS QUOTE WOEFULLY SHORT OF THE TYPES OF THE REFORMS THAT THE CITIZENS OF CHICAGO REQUIRE TO FEEL SECURE IN THEIR HOMES FROM THE VIOLENT AND OFTEN WRONGFUL RAIDS.

IF THE MAYOR IS TRULY BEHIND THIS SHE WILL GET BEHIND AN ORDINANCE LAST WEEK THAT HAS SUPPORT BY BLACK LIVES MATTER AND UNITED WORKING FAMILIES AND THAT PLAN DOES BAN NO KNOCK WARRANTS AND PROHIBITS OFFICERS FROM POINTING GUNS TOWARD CHILDREN.

AND THERE IS TIME FOR YOUNG AND COALITION OF GROUPS SHE IS ALIGNED WITH AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO HAVE THEIR OPINION MADE AND KNOWN TO DO SO.

CHICAGO IS GOING TO HAVE A 15-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BEFORE THE STANDARDS GO INTO EFFECT.

>> A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME 15 DAYS.

ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS.

LET'S USE SOCIAL MEDIA NOT JUST FOR PASSING AROUND JOKES AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.

LET'S USE THIS TO IMPROVE OUR CITY.

>> DEPENDING WHAT SORT OF FEEDBACK THE CITY GETS, THE POLICY COULD BE MODIFIED BEFORE IT WAS OF IT IS PUT INTO ACTION BUT THE MAYOR SAYS IT IS URGENT THE CHANGES ARE MADE AND IS HOPEFUL THE PLAN WILL TAKE EFFECT BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

I SHOULD NOTE THAT NEITHER BROWN NOR LIGHTFOOT WERE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS WHEN THAT 2019 RAID BOTCHED RAID ON ANJANETTE YOUNG'S HOME TOOK PLACE.

NONETHELESS, YOUNG AND SUPPORTERS SAY WHAT HAPPENED THERE WAS NOT AN ANOMALY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, UNDERSTANDING EXPANDED VACCINE ACCESS.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED THAT MERCK WILL HELP MANUFACTURE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WHICH MEANS PRODUCTION COULD BE MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

TAKE A LOOK... >> THIS COUNTRY WILL HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE SUPPLY I WILL SAY IT AGAIN FOR EVERY ADULT IN AMERICA BY THE END OF MAY.

>> AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW VACCINE AND WHAT IS MEANS IS Dr. ROBERT MURPHY DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

WELCOME BACK Dr. MURPHY.

IF THERE ARE ENOUGH VACCINES FOR EVERY ADULT AVAILABLE BY THE END OF MAY COULD THAT MEAN WE COULD HAVE A NORMAL SUMMER PEOPLE AT CONCERTS AND BASEBALL GAMES?

>> NO.

SORRY.

SORRY TO DISAPPOINT YOU.

HAVING ENOUGH VACCINE DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE IN THE ARM OF THE PEOPLE.

AND REMEMBER MOST OF THE VACCINES EXCEPT FOR THE J AND J VACCINE REQUIRE TWO DOSES IF THEY ALL COME OUT IN MAY WHICH IS FANTASTIC AND AHEAD OF SCHEDULE IT WILL TAKE TWO OR THREE MONTHS TO ADMINISTER THOSE.

AND DURING THAT TIME WE WILL SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REMAIN BEING HESITANT IN TAKING THE VACCINE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM NOT HAVING ENOUGH VACCINE TO HAVING TOO MUCH VACCINE AND NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE.

>> OF COURSE, SHOULD PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MASK UP EVEN AFTER BEING VACCINATED AND AT WHAT POINT IS ENOUGH OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED THAT MAYBE WE START TO LOOSEN RESTRICTION ON MASKS?

>> THE CDC WAS SUPPOSEDLY COMING OUT TODAY WITH GUIDELINES TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS IT'S GOING TO GO IN STAGES.

WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE HAVING A THOUSAND DEATHS A DAY AND CASES PER DAY.

SO IT'S NOT CONTROLLED YET.

BUT THERE WILL BE A BIG ENOUGH POOL THAT HAVE TAKEN THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON ONE SHOT VACCINE OR TWO MODERNA OR PFIZER VACCINES, I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SAY GROUPS THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN VACCINATED CAN GET TOGETHER.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE I CALL IT V-O.

VACCINATED ONLY IT'S GOING TO BE VACCINATED ONLY EVENTS.

AND GATHERINGS.

THAT WILL COME FIRST BEFORE WE REACH HERD IMMUNITY.

THE QUESTION IS: WHAT PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION HAS TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE WE GET TO HERD IMMUNITY?

WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER IT COULD BE FROM 60-90%.

IT'S PROBABLY ON THE HIGHER SIDE MAYBE 80-90% AND NOW WE HAVE THE NEW VARIANT WHICH IS MORE CONTAGIOUS.

WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT THAT IS WHEN THINGS WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN UP.

>> WITH MORE VACCINES ON THE WAY, SHOULD CHICAGO CONTINUE WITH ITS PHASED ROLL OUT?

OR SHOULD IT OPEN UP THE VACCINE TO A LOT MORE PEOPLE A LOT MORE QUICKLY?

>> IT IS GOING TO OPEN UP TO MORE PEOPLE AND QUICKLY.

BECAUSE THE NUMBERS THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE THAT IS ABLE TO BE DISTRIBUTED IS INCREASING ALMOST BY THE DAY.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

SO IF THEY OPENED IT UP TO EVERYBODY YOU WOULD HAVE THE ESSENTIAL PEOPLE AND PEOPLE AT RISK THAT WILL BE FIGHTING IN LINE TO GET THE VACCINE.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE GOOD NEWS.

IT WILL HAPPEN.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN A LOT SOONER.

LIKE WE SAID IF ALL THE VACCINES ARE MANUFACTURED BY MAY, YEAH, IT WILL BE WIDE OPEN.

>> THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WAS APPROVED FOR EMERGENCY USE AS YOU'VE SAID AND STARTED GOING INTO ARMS THIS WEEK.

A FEW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THAT ONE AND THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES.

THE PFIZER MODERNA ARE 95% EFFECTIVE BUT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS A LITTLE BIT MORE NUANCED 72% EFFECTIVE IN THE U.S. SHOULD PEOPLE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE?

>> NO, THERE ARE A COUPLE REASONS.

YOU LOOK AT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON STUDY THAT INVOLVED 44,000 PEOPLE.

WHAT DID THEY FIND?

NOBODY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL EVEN IF THEY GOT SICK INFECTED.

NOBODY DIED.

SO THE METRIC THE END POINT HAS CHANGED.

NOW, IF YOU HAD PUT THAT VACCINE IN THE SAME DEVELOPMENT TIME-FRAME AS MODERNA AND PFIZER, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE ANSWER WOULD BE.

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE SAME.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE CAN'T SAY ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE CLINICAL STUDIES.

I WOULD SAY WHATEVER YOU CAN GET TAKE.

>> AND IF IT'S JUST ONE SHOT AS THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IS, VERSUS TWO, COULD THAT POTENTIALLY BUILD HERD IMMUNITY FASTER BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT THREE-FOUR WEEK TIME BETWEEN DOSES?

>> WELL, YES IT'S GOING TO OBVIOUSLY HELP BY ONE MONTH.

BECAUSE THE OTHER ONES TAKE THREE OR WEEKS BEFORE YOU GET THE SECOND SHOT AND THE OTHER THING IT WILL DO IS OPEN UP VACCINATING PEOPLE WHO WILL HOME BOUND.

BECAUSE IT IS A SAFE VACCINE IT IS A TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE HAD FOR A LONGTIME.

AND IT DOESN'T HAVE OR THEY HAVE NOT REPORTED ANYWAY YET, THE KIND OF TOUGH SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS OF THE OTHER TWO VACCINE PRODUCTS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER FOR A NURSE AIDE TO GO TO A HOME THAT CANNOT GET OUT AND GIVES THE VACCINE AND IT'S GOING TO BE SIMPLE.

BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS, I THINK WE COULD REACH HERD IMMUNITY FASTER.

>> OF COURSE, THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO MUTATE AND SOME OF THE VARIANTS WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT MAY BE RESISTANT BUT THEY ARE MORE CONTAGIOUS.

WILL PEOPLE NEED TO GET BOOSTER SHOTS FROM THE SAME VACCINE MANUFACTURER THAT THEY ORIGINALLY RECEIVED?

>> THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS.

WILL THEY NEED TO GET BOOSTER SHOTS?

I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET BOOSTER SHOTS AND THEY ARE REENGINEERING THE VACCINES AS WE SPEAK TO BE PROTECTIVE AGAINST THOSE PARTICULAR VARIANTS IT IS LIKE A NEW VIRUS.

EVERY YEAR YOU DON'T DEATH THE SAME FLU VACCINE IT'S GEARED FOR THE FLU INFLUENZA VIRUS THAT IS COMING IN THE NEXT WAVE.

SO WHEN THAT TIME COMES, WHERE THE VIRUS IS SO DIFFERENT WE NEED A BOOSTER, IT COULD BE ANYTHING.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO MATCHUP WITH THE VACCINE YOU HAD ORIGINALLY.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS RECEIVED EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR ITS SPIT TEST.

HOW RELIABLE IS THIS NEW TEST?

IT IS LESS INNOVATIVE OFSIVE BUT HOW RELIABLE IS IT COMPARED TO THE NASAL SWAB?

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO THINGS.

ONE IS THE SPECIMEN AND ONE IS THE TEST.

THE TEST IS A PCR TEST THAT THEY DEVELOPED IN CHAMPAGNE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

AND IT IS A CHAIN REACTION TEST AND IT'S FANTASTIC.

IT'S HIGH 90 SENSITIVITY AND 100% SPECIFIC AND SO FORTH.

SALIVA IS THE SAMPLE.

SO YOU COULD DO A NASAL SWAB ON THAT AS SAY.

YOU CAN DO ASALIVA THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASIER BECAUSE THEY ARE TESTING ALL THE STUDENTS TWICE A WEEK ON CAMPUS THERE.

TO KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN.

SO THE SAMPLE IS NOT THE SALIVA IS A BETTER TEST.

SALIVA IS AN EASIER SAMPLE FOR SOME PEOPLE TO GIVE.

THE TEST IS THE TEST.

YOU COULD SEND ANY SAMPLE THERE.

>> JUST AS RELIABLE.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> OUR THANKS TO Dr. ROBERT MURPHY FOR JOINING US AS ALWAYS.

>> FOR MORE THAN 260 STRAIGHT DAYS, DAN O'CONOR HAS SHOCKED HIS SENSES BY LEAPING INTO LAKE MICHIGAN.

WHAT STARTED AS A WAY TO BREAK UP THE DAYS DURING THE PANDEMIC, IS NOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LINCOLN SQUARE RESIDENT TO HELP THE CITY'S MUSIC SCENE.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" EVAN GARCIA WENT TO FULLER BEACH TO MEET A MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF THE GREAT LAKE JUMPER.

>> IT IS A CHILLY MORNING IN LATE FEBRUARY AND DAN O'CONOR IS PLANNING HIS EXIT STRATEGY.

I PROBABLY SPENT ABOUT 25 MINUTES WITH A SHOVEL AND MOSTLY A HAMMER JUST CHIPPING AWAY AT THE ICE SO I HAD A CLEAR PATH BACK OUT TO THE LADDER.

>> DAN IS DOING SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE FIND UNTHINKABLE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

PLUNGING INTO LAKE MICHIGAN.

THE WATER TEMPERATURE TODAY?

33°.

DAN SAYS THIS IS THE 259TH STRAIGHT DAY HE JUMPED IN THE LAKE.

HE SAYS IT ALL BEGAN WITH A HEADACHE BACK IN JUNE.

>> I STARTED DOING IT BECAUSE I WAS HUNG OVER THE FIRST DAY.

AND IT FELT SO GOOD TO BE OUT IN THE LAKE.

WASH AWAY ALL THE STUFF THAT WAS HAPPENING IN AMERICA AT THE TIME BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC AND THE POLITICS AND THE PROTESTS AND THE UNREST.

AND IT JUST FELT LIKE A GOOD CLEAN START TO THE DAY.

>> DUBBING HIMSELF THE GREAT LAKE JUMPER DAN GAINED AN AUDIENCE ON-LINE WHILE FILMING THE JUMPS FROM VARIOUS LAKEFRONT LOCATIONS.

DAN SAYS IT HELPS HIM COPE WITH THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LIVE MUSIC DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BEFORE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN CHICAGO'S LIVE MUSIC SCENE, DAN SOLD CUSTOM CLOTHING FROM MUSIC VENUES FROM METRO IN THE WRIGLEYVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> DOING THIS FOR ABOUT CLOSE TO 15 YEARS FOR THE FIRST, SAY, SIX, EIGHT YEARS I WAS DOING IT FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT FESTIVALS.

THERE'S 100 BANDS I WOULD PICK 10 AND CUT A STENCIL AND GIVE THEM OUT.

AND NINE OUT TO MY FRIENDS FAMILY.

>> HE WORKS FULL-TIME AS A BUS DRIVER SELLING HOMEMADE SHIRTS HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL SIDE HUSTLE.

HE WAS INVITED TO SELL CLOTHING AT LA CHILANGUEADA POOL SA.

DAN IS TRYING TO RAISE MONEY FOR CIVIC AN ORGANIZATION FORMED BY 14 INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES.

>> IF YOU LIKE THIS CONTENT ON-LINE OF ME JUMPING IN THE LAKE FOR 259 DAYS TODAY, IN A ROW, THEN DONATE TO THERE.

[♪♪♪] >> SOMETIMES LOCAL ACTS ACCOMPANY HIM WITH MUSIC.

>> JUST TRY TO GET A DIFFERENT GENRES, DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS PEOPLE TO SHOW THE BREADTH OF CHICAGO.

>> AND A WARNING TO DIVERS LOOKING TO FOLLOW DAN'S LEAD.

PLUNGING INTO COLD WATER CAN CAUSE COLD SHOCK OR GASPING THAT CAN LEAD TO DROWNING.

THE LIFEJACKET IS RECOMMENDED.

>> I HAVE SERENE MOMENTS AND I THINK PART OF IT IS DIVING IN AND THAT SHOCK TO THE BODY THAT YOU GET THIS FULL BODY BUZZ THOSE ENDORPHINS RELEASED.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M EVAN GARCIA.

>> DAN SAYS HE PLANS TO KEEP JUMPING IN LAKE MICHIGAN EVERYDAY FOR AT LEAST 101 DAYS THAT WILL BRING HIM TO A YEAR.

AND TODAY'S LAKE WATER TEMPERATURE IN CHICAGO IS ABOUT 34°.

>> COMING UP WITH A BIBLICAL SWARM IS PASSING OVER CHICAGO THIS YEAR.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

CICADAS ARE SET TO EMERGE FROM THE GROUND AND DESCEND ON ILLINOIS THIS SPRING BUT IF YOU ARE CHICAGO YOU CAN BREATHE EASIER.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI IS HERE TO EXPLAIN WHY.

PATTY, WHAT KIND OF CICADAS ARE THESE AND WHERE WILL THEY APPEAR THIS YEAR?

>> THERE'S TWO KINDS OF CICADAS.

THE ANNUAL CICADAS KNOWN AS THE DOG DAY CICADA THAT EVERYBODY IS USED TO SHOWING UP IN JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER WE THINK OF THEM AS BEING THE HARBINGERS OF THE END OF SUMMER IS ABOUT HERE.

THOSE ARE NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE SWARMS ARE PERIODIC PERIODICAL BROODS AND THEY ALL EMERGE AT ONCE.

IN THESE MASS GROUPS.

AND LIVE ONLY FOR A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT.

IT'S LIKE A LONG BUILDUP FOR A SHORT LIFE.

BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BROOD EMERGING IN A HANDFUL OF ILLINOIS COUNTIES IN 2021.

THEY USUALLY SHOW UP AROUND MAY.

ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE STATE BORDERING INDIANA WHICH, INDIANA IS BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS 2021 EMERGENCE.

BUT CHICAGO IS NOT GOING TO SEE ITS 17-YEAR BROOD UNTIL 2024.

>> AND PATTY WHEN DID THESE LAST APPEAR IN CHICAGO?

>> WE DID LAST SEE THEM IN 2007 AND I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF THAT EMERGENCE.

PEOPLE IN THE SUBURBS TEND TO GET LARGER INFESTATIONS THAN IN THE CHICAGO WHERE THE CONCRETE AND THE GENERAL DISTURBANCE MAKES THEM LESS PRESENT.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THREE YEARS TO PREPARE FOR IT.

>> MARK OUR CALENDARS FOR 2024.

PATTY WETLI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S FULL STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

ABBREVIATED TO BRING YOU SPECIAL PLEDGE PROGRAMMING.

AND STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

>> AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

VACCINES COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL SOON BUT WILL HESITANCY UNDERMINE EFFORTS IN COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY THE VIRUS?

AND MASS VACCINATIONS A BATTLE OVER GARBAGE SORTING AND HELPING MONARCHS AND WE VISIT WEST CHICAGO FOR OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

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

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]