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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> ONE-ON-ONE WITH CHICAGO'S TOP DOCTOR TO DISCUSS THE RISING POSITIVITY RATE, INDOOR DINING AND VACCINE ROLLOUT.

>> THAT IS A QUANTUM LEAP FROM WHERE WE WERE THREE WEEKS AGO.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WEIGHS IN ON THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE UPTICK IN COVID-19 AND MUCH MORE.

>> I WANT TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> IS IT TIME TO ABOLISH THE SENATE FILIBUSTER?

WE LOOK AT THE PROCEDURE'S HISTORY AND HOW IT COULD BE CHANGED.

COULD A FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN PREVENT MASS SHOOTINGS?

A STUDY OUT OF NORTHWESTERN MAKES THAT CASE.

>> AND A NEW RECENT REPORT FINDS CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE PROGRESS WITH THE CONSENT DECREE BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES.

>> THE MOTHER OF DRAGON, THE GREAT, THE UNBURNT.

THE BREAKER OF CHANGE.

>> AND DO YOU WISH YOU HAD AN INTRODUCTION LIKE THE MOTHER OF DRAGONS IN THE "GAME OF THRONES"?

A LOCAL AUTHOR TELLS US WHY SHE THINKS IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE YOUR OWN HYPE PERSON.

>> ANOTHER EMOTIONAL DAY OF TESTIMONY IN THE TRIAL OF FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN.

SEVERAL WITNESSES BECAME UPSET ON THE STAND AND DESCRIBED FEELING HELPLESS AS THEY WATCHED GEORGE FLOYD DIE INCLUDING THE CASHIER WHO NOTICED FLOYD HAD COUNTERFEIT MONEY.

>> SAW YOU STANDING THERE WITH YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD FOR A WHILE, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

>> WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> DISBELIEF AND GUILT.

>> WHY GUILT?

>> IF I WOULD HAVE JUST NOT TOOK EN THE BILL, COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

>> CHAUVIN PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO SECOND DEGREE UNINTENTIONAL MURDER OF FLOYD AFTER KNEELING ON HIS NECK FOR NINE MINUTES.

VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS SET TO VISIT CHICAGO ON TUESDAY IT WILL BE HARRIS' FIRST TIME VISITING SINCE BEING SWORN IN AND WILL PROMOTE VACCINE EQUITY.

IT'S BEEN A THORNY ISSUE IN CHICAGO AND STATE-WIDE WITH OFFICIALS WORKING ON A VARIETY OF FRONTS TO CLOSE VACCINE EQUITY GAPS.

SINCE COVID-19 HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS.

AND ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT NEARLY 2600 NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS INCLUDING 28 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE STATE HAS SEEN 1.24 MILLION TOTAL CASES AND 21,301 DEATHS.

SO FAR NEARLY 17% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION HAS BEEN VACCINATED.

>> THE FIRST PITCHES AT TOMORROW'S CUBS HOME OPENER WILL HONOR STATE AND CITY PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

THE TEAM ANNOUNCES ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. NGOZI EZIKE AND CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY WILL EACH THROW OUT A CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH.

TOMORROW'S 1:20 START AGAINST THE PIRATE ALSO HAVE LIMITED FANS IN THE STANDS WITH THE BLEACHER SECTION RESERVED FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

>> AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT CHICAGO'S RISE IN COVID CASES FROM Dr. ARWADY IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT MADE PROGRESS IN THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE COMPLIANCE BUT IT STILL HAS MORE WORK TO DO ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM THAT IS OVERSEEING THE DEPARTMENT'S CONSENT DECREE IMPLEMENTATION.

THE REPORT COVERS THE PERIOD BETWEEN MARCH AND DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

IT FOUND THAT WHILE C.P.D.

HIT ONLY 19 OF 43 REPORTING DEADLINES, THE DEPARTMENT DID REACH SOME LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE WITH 154 OF THE 315 CONSENT DECREE REQUIREMENTS.

WTTW NEWS REPORTERS HEATHER CHERONE AND MATT MASTERSON HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS AND THEY JOIN US NOW WITH MORE.

>> WELCOME BOTH OF YOU.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE NEW REPORT, MATT, REMIND US HOW THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE CAME TO BE?

>> SURE.

THE CONSENT DECREE ITSELF HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR TWO YEARS NOW DATING BACK TO MARCH OF 2019.

IT WAS PROMPTED BY THE 2014 MURDER OF LAQUAN McDONALD BY CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE.

AND THE SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AMID THE FALLOUT OF THE VIDEO THAT CAME OUT.

AND THAT LED TO A 2017 LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY WHICH LEAD TO THE CONSENT DECREE BEING IMPLEMENTED.

>> THE NEW REPORT IS THE THIRD OF 10 REPORTS TO COME FROM MAGGIE HICKEY, THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR AND THIS WILL HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

LET'S HEAR WHAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAD TO SAY?

>> EVEN THROUGH A PANDEMIC, THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MADE UP A LOT OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS FROM THE PREVIOUS TWO REPORTS AND THEN FOCUSED LIKE A LASER BEAM ON MAKING SURE THAT THEY GOT A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT, HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF MEETING DEADLINE AND IMPORTANTLY MAKING REAL SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS.

>> THE MAYOR IS SAYING THAT THE REPORT GIVES C.P.D.

A GOOD GRADE FOR COMPLIANCE.

WHAT ARE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SAYING?

>> WELL, GOOD IS RELATIVE HERE.

BECAUSE AT THE LAST REPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BASICALLY WAS MISSING 80% OF DEADLINES.

NOW IT'S CLOSER TO 40 OR 50% DEPENDING ON HOW YOU CUT IT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL WHOSE OFFICE IS INVOLVED IN OVERSEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSENT DECREE BASICALLY SAID TODAY IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

IT MIGHT BE PROGRESS BUT THERE WAS STILL REAL PROBLEMS WITH HOW THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS WORKING TO IMPLEMENT THE REFORMS.

ALSO A.C.L.U.

WAS NOT IMPRESSED EITHER.

NOOB THE MAYOR BARKED BACK AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AFTER THAT STATEMENT.

ANOTHER POINT OF CRITICISM, HAS BEEN THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO EXPAND ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE CITY.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> WHAT THE MONITOR FOUND IS THAT WHEN THE CITY REACHES OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES IT IS VERY LATE IN THE PROCESS.

OFTEN WHEN POLICIES ARE NEARLY FINALIZED.

INSTEAD WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS SITTING DOWN, BEING OPEN TO CHANGE, TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITIES AND THEIR EXPERIENCES AND TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR NEEDS.

>> SO MATT, THE A.C.L.U.

IS SAYING THEY ARE NOT IMPRESSED WITH C.P.D.

'S EFFORT AT ENGAGING COMMUNITIES EVEN THOUGH THE REPORT SAYS C.P.D.

HAS UPPED ITS GAME THERE.

WHAT DO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS LOOK LIKE?

>> THE DEPARTMENT DID MORE IN THE LATEST PERIOD TO REACH OUT TO THE COUPS THROUGH PUBLIC SURVEYS ON SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND COMMUNITY WORKING GROUPS AS WELL.

BUT THERE WAS MIXED SUCCESS ON THOSE.

AND AS WE JUST HEARD SOME FELT THEIR COMMENTS WERE COMING TOO LATE IN THE PROCESS OR THEY WEREN'T BEING HEARD AT ALL.

AS THESE POLICY DECISIONS WERE BEING MADE.

AND WHILE THE DEPARTMENT DID RECEIVE MARKS FOR AATTEMPTING THESE THINGS AND MAKING THE OUTREACH EFFORTS THE REPORT FOUND THAT C.P.D.

IS NOT DOING ENOUGH AND STRUGGLING TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY POLICING.

>> HEATHER AS WE MENTIONED AT THE TOP THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS ONLY MEETING HALF OF ITS DEADLINES TO COMPLY WITH THIS CONSENT DECREE.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

>> WELL, WE'RE ALSO WAITING FOR THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM TO RELEASE ITS REPORT OF HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDLED THE SUMMER PROTESTS AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN POLICE CUSTODY.

WE HAVE SEEN A REPORT FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDLED THOSE PROTESTS AND HOW THEY RESPONDED TO THE UNREST.

IT WILL BE A REAL SORT OF TEST OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM WHICH CAN ORDER CHANGES AS RECOMMEND CHANGES LIKE FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS ABOUT HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID.

>> THAT IG REPORT WAS INDEED, SKAGGING.

THANK YOU TO MATT AND HEGHTDER FOR JOINING US RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND WE'LL SEE HEATHER AGAIN LATER IN THE PROGRAM FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> MORE CHICAGOANS ARE BEING VACCINATED EVERYDAY AND IT COMES AT A CRUCIAL TIME.

CHICAGO'S POSITIVITY RATE IS 4.5% COMPARED TO 3.3% THE WEEK PRIOR.

AND THE DAILY CASE AVERAGES ALSO UP UP 498 AVERAGE WHERE THE WEEK PRIOR IT WAS 363 CASES.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS TREND AND MORE IS Dr. ALLISON ARWADY, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Dr. ARWADY THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK.

YOU HEARD THOSE NUMBERS ABOUT THE POSITIVITY RATE.

WHAT EXACTLY IS DRIVING THIS LATEST SURGE?

>> SO IT IS VERY HEAVILY BEING DRIVEN BY YOUNGER CHICAGOANS.

WE ARE SEEING THAT 18-29-YEAR-OLDS LEADING THE PACK FOLLOWED BY 30-39-YEAR-OLDS.

THE GOOD NEWS AT THIS POINT WE HAVE NOT SEEN BIG INCREASES IN THOSE IN THEIR 70s AND 80s.

SOME IS BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN MORE OF THE FOLKS VACCINATED.

BUT WE ARE SEEING IT IN YOUNGER CHICAGOANS AND SEEING MORE COVID CASES AMONG WHITE CHICAGOANS THAN PREVIOUSLY.

AND MORE ON THE NORTH SIDE.

BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE CONTINUE TO SEE CASES ACROSS EVERY BIT OF CHICAGO.

EVERYBODY REMAINS AT RISK AND MY MOOD RISES AND FALLS WITH THE NUMBERS AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED BY THE WAY THEY ARE HEADING.

>> AS Dr. LANDON TOLD US IT FEELS LIKE GROUND-HOG DAY.

LET'S HEAR WHAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAD TO SAY.

>> IT IS AHE NOT THE PLAYING OF THE SPORTS OR BEING AT BARS THAT IS CAUSING THE OUTBREAKS IT'S THE RISKY BEHAVIOR IN THOSE SETTINGS THAT IS CREATING THE PROBLEM.

NOT WEARING A MASK.

NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING.

FOLKS WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO WHAT WE KNOW SAVES US, SAVES OUR FAMILY, SAVES PEOPLE IN OUR NETWORK AND OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Dr. ARWADY YOU MENTIONED YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE TO GO TO BARS AND RESTAURANTS.

WE HAVE A MAP OF CHICAGO'S POSITIVITY RATE.

WITH POINTS SHOWING WHEN INDOOR DINING OPENED BACK UP AND THE CDC RELEASED A STUDY SAYING THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN ALLOWING INDOOR DINING AND INCREASED CASES AND DEATHS.

THE MAYOR DOESN'T WANT TO GO BACK ON LOOSENED RESTRICTIONS ON INDOOR DINING, BUT MIGHT SHE HAVE TO?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT AND THIS IS WHY WE ARE ASKING EVERYBODY TO DOUBLE DOWN.

WE HAVE QUITE A BIT STRICTER REQUIREMENTS AROUND INDOOR RESTAURANTS, AROUND BARS, HERE IN CHICAGO CERTAINLY THAN ARE REQUIRED AND WE SEE ACROSS THE STATE.

AND ILLINOIS IS ALSO MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN WE SEE IN A LOT OF STATES.

MY GOAL IS NOT TO HAVE TO GO BACK AT ALL.

BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN FURTHER LOOSEN ANYTHING ON THE INDOOR SIDE.

>> HOW HIGH DO YOU PREDICT THE SURGE COULD GO AND HOW LONG COULD IT LAST?

>> WE ARE WATCHING MICHIGAN WITH CONCERN.

MICHIGAN IS LEADING THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF CASES PER CAPITA.

AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN QUITE GOOD CONTROL AMONG THE MIDWEST STATES THEY HAVE OFTEN BEEN LEADING THE PACK.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THEIR NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO UP AND UP AND HOSPITALIZATIONS INCLUDING PEOPLE IN THEIR 40s IS RISING AS WELL.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN SIGN OF IT SLOWING YET.

AND THE ASK IS WE ARE NOT DONE WITH COVID.

AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE EXCITED THE VACCINE IS HERE AND MAKING VERY GOOD PROGRESS IN TERMS OF VACCINATING CHICAGOANS, NOW IS THE TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN.

THE WEATHER IS GOOD BUT YOU HAVE TO WEAR YOUR MASK AND DON'T THINK BECAUSE IT'S SPRING WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT COVID ANYMORE.

>> ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE BUT NOT THERE YET.

AND CHICAGO IS IN ONE C OF THE VACCINATION PHASE.

HOW IS THE SUPPLY DOING RELATIVE TO THE DEMAND?

>> YEAH, SO, WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE DEMAND THAN SUPPLY.

AS YOU KNOW WE SAID WE'RE OPENING WIDE WE WANT TO GET THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN AND EVERYBODY WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

WE HEAR FOR NEXT WEEK WE ARE GETTING MORE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IN PARTICULAR.

THAN WE'VE RECEIVED IN WEEKS AND WEEKS.

WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AND SLIGHT UPTICKS IN THE MODERNA AND THE PFIZER.

BUT VACCINE SUPPLY WEEK AFTER WEEK IS THE NUMBER ONE THING HOLDING US BACK.

WE ARE OPENING TWO MASS VACCINATION SITES NEXT WEEK AND WORKING TO GET VACCINE OUT TO PROVIDERS IT WILL KEEP GETTING BETTER OVER APRIL AND ESPECIALLY MAY.

>> AND YOU HEAR DISPATCHES IN QUINCY WHERE THEY HAVE A SURPLUS OF VACCINE IS THERE ANYWAY TO SORT OF RIGHT SIZE THE ALLOCATION HERE SO THAT THERE MAY BE NOT SEEING SO MUCH OF A SURPLUS IN CHICAGO AND NOT SEEING THE DEFICIT?

>> WE HAVE CERTAINLY FOR WEEKS BEING ENCOURAGING THE STATE TO PUSH VACCINE TO PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE UNDERVACCINATED COMPARED TO THOSE DOWN STATE AREAS.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET THE STATE VACCINATED.

I DO THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THAT VACCINE SUPPLY OR ESPECIALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO CHICAGO ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

BECAUSE WEEK AFTER WEEK WE DO A LOT OF NON-CHICAGO RESIDENTS.

WE ARE HAPPY TO DO IT BUT ON THE OTHER HAND WE KNOW THE DEMAND IS HIGH HERE.

I'M HOPING THAT THE STATE WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO PUSH VACCINE UP TO THE NORTHEAST.

BUT I'M GLAD WE ARE STARTING TO SEE PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE SEEING SOME OF THAT SLOW DOWN IT GIVES ME HOPE HERE IN CHICAGO NOT TOO LONG FROM NOW THIS IS GOING TO FEEL MORE LIKE A FLU VACCINATION CAMPAIGN WHERE YOU CAN GET A VACCINE.

AND WE ARE OUT OF THIS REALLY BEANIE BABY PHASE OF TRYING TO GET A VACCINE.

IT'S COMING AND I THINK IT'S JUST WEEKS AWAY.

>> AND 48 HOURS FROM NOW, CUBS GAMES AT WRIGLEY FIELD WITH LIMITED CAPACITY.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT KIND OF GATHERING?

>> SO WE WORKED WITH THE CUBS AND THE WHITE SOX AND LOOKED CLOSELY AT THE PLANS.

LIKE YOU HEARD THE MAYOR SAY IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE EVENT OFTEN WHICH HAS PRECAUTIONS AROUND IT AND MORE ABOUT WHAT ARE PEOPLE DOING IN THE AREA.

WHAT ARE THE WAYS PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING EVEN THE ONES NOT IN THE BALL PARK AND ASKING PEOPLE TO DOUBLE DOWN THERE.

THAT IS AN OUTDOOR EVENT WE FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT BEING ABLE TO BE OPEN WITH SAFETY PRECAUTIONS OUTDOORS.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE GLAD TO BE IN SPRING.

I'M CONFIDENT IN THE PLANS THEY HAVE RELATED TO THE STADIUM.

I ASK EVERYBODY HAS BASEBALL IS COMING AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT SPRING ARE COMING, DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN AS YOU ARE BEING A FAN EVEN NOT IN THE STADIUM.

>> NOT THE GAME SO MUCH BUT WORRIES AROUND THE ACTIVITIES IN WRIGLEYVILLE SURROUNDING CUBS GAMES.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT LORETTO HOSPITAL, CDPH IS DOING AN INVESTIGATION WITH THE BOARD ON THOSE REPORTS OF OFFSITE VACCINATIONS IMPROPER, SO-CALLED VIP LISTS THAT WE REPORTED ON AT THE HOSPITAL.

WHAT ARE YOU FINDING SO FAR?

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY.

EVERYBODY'S GOAL IS TO GET THIS RIGHT.

THE SADDEST THING IS THAT LORETTO HAS A HISTORY OF A GOOD, STRONG RELATIONSHIP AND TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WE DO WANT TO BRING THEM BACK AS A VACCINATING PARTNER BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE MORE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE BECAUSE OF UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THE DECISIONS MADE IN THE PAST.

WE ARE MEETING WITH THEM AND MEETING THIS WEEK ONCE WE KNOW A FULL ACCOUNTING HAS BEEN MADE AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE VACCINATING THEIR PATIENTS AND OWN NEIGHBORHOOD WE HOPE TO BRING THEM BACK AS A VACCINATING PARTNER BUT IT WILL NOT BE NEXT WEEK.

>> AND RUSH UNIVERSITY HAS PICKED UP SOME OF THAT SLACK ON THE WEST SIDE FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS BECAUSE I KNOW RESIDENTS ARE CONFUSED WHETHER THERE ARE VACCINATION SITES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Dr. ARWADY I KNOW YOU ARE BUSY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS, APPRECIATE IT.

>> SHOULD NOTE THAT CUBS GAME IS LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY AND "CHICAGO TONIGHT" WILL BE THERE TOMORROW WITH AMANDA VINICKY.

>> THE WORD FILIBUSTER IS CROPPING UP IN POLITICAL CIRCLES.

A GROWING NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS SEE THE SENATE FILIBUSTER AS A BARRIER TO ACCOMPLISHING THEIR LEGISLATIVE GOALS AND PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN RESISTED CALLS TO END THE FILIBUSTER RECENTLY SUGGESTED HE WOULD SUPPORT IT IF REPUBLICANS BLOCKED HIS AGENDA.

MEANWHILE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL SAYS ENDING THE FILIBUSTER WOULD BRING QUOTE NUCLEAR WINTER ON TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE FILIBUSTER IS IS GISELA SIN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HAS A BACKGROUND IN LEGISLATIVE RULES AND PROCEDURES.

GISELA SIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND FIRST, REMIND US WHAT EXACTLY IS THE FILIBUSTER?

>> HI.

PARIS, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE.

THE FILIBUSTER, TECHNICALLY IS ANY ACTION THAT DELAYS THE VOTES IN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IT CAN BE DONE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE MOST COMMON TECHNIQUE WE KNOW ABOUT IT IS THE ONE USED BY SENATORS WHO CAN KEEP TALKING TO AVOID A VOTE.

THE SECOND QUESTION IS HOW DO WE END THAT DELAY?

IN THE SENATE WE END THE DEBATE THROUGH A RULE WHICH IS AN INTERM RULE THAT SAYS YOU NEED 60 VOTES.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING IN THE RULES OF THE SENATE WHICH ARE ADOPTED BY THE SENATORS THEMSELVES.

AND IT IS NOT PART OF THE CONSTITUTION AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FOUNDING FATHERS IDEA OF THE SLOW-MOVING BODY.

>> 60 VOTES ARE NEEDED FOR THE CLOSURE THOUGH THE FILIBUSTER EVOLVED TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S BEEN USED A LOT UNDER PRESIDENTS OBAMA AND TRUMP THEY HAVE BECOME MORE COMMON LET'S HEAR FROM SENATOR TED CRUZ READING GREEN EGGS AND HAM DURING A FILIBUSTER FOR OBAMACARE.

>> DO YOU LIKE GREEN EGGS AND HAM?

I DO NOT LIKE SAM I AM, I DO NOT LIKE GREEN EGGS AND HAM.

GREEN EGGS AND HAM HAS SOME AAPPLICABILITY AS CURIOUS AS IT MIGHT SOUND TO THE OBAMACARE DEBATE.

>> WE MENTIONED HOW IT WAS USED SPARSELY BEFORE OBAMA AND TRUMP AND NOW IT'S USED ALL THE TIME TO THE POINT WHERE MOST PIECES OF LEGISLATION PASS ON A PARTY LINE OR THROUGH RECONCILIATION.

WHY HAS THAT BEEN THE CASE?

>> WELL, BASICALLY, BECAUSE OF THE POLARIZATION AND THE DIVISION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.

FILIBUSTERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENDURE FOR A LONGTIME.

AND THIS IS BECAUSE SENATORS HAVE CHOSEN TO MAINTAIN THE FILIBUSTER AT TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE RULES.

THE FILIBUSTER PROVIDES LEVERAGE AND A THIRD OF THE FILIBUSTER CAN GET SENATORS ON CONCESSION FROM THE OPPOSITION FROM THE HOUSE AND IT INCREASES THE VIS VISIBILITY OF A PARTICULAR SENATOR OR BRINGS ATTENTION.

BUT IT ALSO HELPS THE MAJORITY PARTY.

McCONNELL COULD HAVE GOT A FILIBUSTER IF HE WANTED IT BUT MAJORITY LEADERS BECAUSE THEY NEED THE 60 VOTES TO END DEBATE HAS TO SHIFT THE BLAME TO THE MINORITY PARTY FOR INACTION ON ISSUES THAT THE MAJORITY PARTY AS A WHOLE CANNOT AGREE ON.

THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE MAY BE CONCERN SOMETIMES ABOUT THE FUTURE AND THAT IS WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE FILIBUSTER.

>> THERE IS A POLITICAL BENEFIT FOR THE MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY TO HAVE THE FILIBUSTER.

THE MAJORITY CAN BLAME THE MINORITY FOR SOMETHING NOT GETTING DONE.

YOU KNOW, FANS OF FRANK CAPRA AND Mr. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON JIMMY STEWART KNOW THE FILIBUSTER BECAUSE IT IS THE FAMOUS SCENE WHERE HE IS TALKING AND SENATORS HAD TO STAY AND TALK TO KEEP THE FILIBUSTER GOING.

WHY DID THAT GO AWAY?

>> THAT CHANGED IS INTERESTING, CHAT CHANGED AROUND THE 60s.

AND YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE 1960s, THE FILIBUSTER WAS A TRUE GAME OF EXHAUSTION.

ONE HAND WHEN YOU HAD THE MINORITY WHICH WAS REQUIRED TO HOLD THE FLOOR BY CONTINUING TO SPEAKING.

AND THE SPEAKING SENATORS TO LITERALLY STAND AT THE DESK AND TALK CONSTANTLY WITHOUT TAKING BREAKS OR MOVING ABOUT IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE MAJORITY HAD TO INSURE THAT THEY HAD ENOUGH SENATORS ON HAND TO FORM A QUORUM AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

SO THE SENATE IN THE MAJORITY COULD NOT FORM A QUORUM THEN THE SENATE WOULD COME TO A HALT AND THE SENATE WAS ADJOURNED AND THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT THE MINORITY WOULD TAKE UP A BREAK AND BRING THE FILIBUSTER IN THE NEXT DAY.

>> IT WAS A TEST OF WILLS FOR BOTH SIDES?

>> EXACTLY.

SO WHOEVER WOULD LAST LONGER WON THE GAME.

AND THIS WAS ONEROUS AND COSTLY FOR BOTH SIDES AND IN REALITY THE SENATORS WERE UNABLE TO ENGAGE OTHER SENATORS IN BUSINESS, BUT ALSO YOU KNOW, WERE PREVENTING FROM CAMPAIGNING FROM FUNDRAISING AND THEIR WORKLOAD WAS INCREASING.

THEIR WORK WEEK WEDNESDAY FROM TUESDAY TO THURSDAY AND THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO THEIR DISTRICTS AND HAVING A FILIBUSTER WAS NOT CONVENIENT FOR ANY OF THEM.

>> THEY BOTH DECIDED TO HAVE THE CEREMONIAL FILIBUSTER WHERE YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY THE PARLIAMENTIAN AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY AND TALK.

BIDEN EXPRESSED OPENNESS TO REAFFIRMING THAT THE TALKING FILIBUSTER WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN THE SENATE GOING FORWARD?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S I'M NOT -- ONE WAY WHICH THE TALKING FILIBUSTER COULD HAPPEN IS BY REQUIRING THE MINORITY FOR INSTANCE TO BE THERE, 41 MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY TO BE THERE INSTEAD OF JUST THE WHOLE MAJORITY TO KEEP THE SENATE MAJORITY.

AND THIS COULD HAPPEN ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT NOT.

THIS WOULD CHANGE DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY COULD CHANGE THIS THE SENATE RULES WHICH IS SENATE RULE 22.

BUT THIS OF COURSE CAN BE FILIBUSTERED AND TO CHANGE THE PRECEDENCE AND THIS IS THE WAY THEY HAVE CHANGED THE FILIBUSTER BEFORE.

AND THIS IS BASICALLY, THEY ESTABLISH A NEW PRECEDENT OF HOW TO INTERPRET THE RULE.

THIS IS WHAT MANY PEOPLE CALL THE NUCLEAR OPTION OR REFORM BY RULING WHICH IS WHEN A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF SENATORS CAN ESTABLISH A NEW INTERPRETATION OF A SENATE RULE.

AND THIS IS HOW THEY CHANGED A NUMBER OF THOSE TO END THE DEBATE ON NOMINATIONS TO THE JUDICIARY AND IN 2013, AND THEN IN 2017 THE REPUBLICANS CHANGED THE INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES WITH REGARDING TO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

>> THE FILIBUSTER WENT AWAY FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF JUDGES IN 2013 AND THEN 2017 AND THERE'S TALK ABOUT PERHAPS FOR A VOTING RIGHTS BILL YOU GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER.

FASCINATING TOPIC, GISELA SIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", A NEW STUDY FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SAYS A FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN COULD PREVENT MANY MASS SHOOTINGS.

>> THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT CANNOT BE BIPARTISAN AGAIN.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE PRESIDENT'S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.

>> AND OFFICIALS CONCERNS ABOUT THE UPTICK IN COVID-19 INFECTIONS.

>> IS MAKING TROUBLE ACTUALLY A GOOD THING?

A LOCAL AUTHOR AND PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER MAKES THE CASE.

>> FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO POLICE ARE RELY ONGOING A QUOTE DEEPLY FLAWED DATABASE OF GANG MEMBERS.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND DESPITE A REPORT FROM THE WATCHDOG MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO, THAT FOUND THE DATABASE WAS FULL OF ERRORS AND DISPROPORTIONATELY INCLUDED BLACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS.

IT SAYS C.P.D.

PROMISED TO REPLACE THE OLD SYSTEM WITH A NEW AND BETTER ONE BUT HAS MADE MINIMAL PROGRESS AND CONTINUES TO ACCESS OLD GANG DATA.

C.P.D.

CONTINUES TO COLLECT AND RELY UPON DATE THAT THAT HAS ACKNOWLEDGE SECOND FLAWED.

DAVID BROWN BLASTED THE REPORT AS INCOMPLETE AND BASED ON OUTDATED INFORMATION.

WE HAVE MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 2600 NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS.

INCLUDING 28 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

ILLINOIS HAS NOW SEEN MORE THAN 1.24 MILLION CASES AND 21,301 DEATHS.

AND LAST COUNT 5.8 MILLION DOSES OF COVID VACCINES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED STATE-WIDE.

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER REVEREND JESSE JACKSON SAYS THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES SHOULD BOYCOTT GEORGIA OVER THE NEW VOTING LAW.

>> GEORGIA IS TAKING THE LEAD [INAUDIBLE] THE OTHER STATES ARE DOING IT BUT GEORGIA IS TAKING THE LEAD AND WE NEED TO FIGHT BACK.

>> JACKSON IS CALLING ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO FIND A NEW HOME FOR THE ALL-STAR GAME AND COMPARED GEORGIA TO APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA.

>> TALK OF FEDERAL GUN LEGISLATION IS FRONT AND CENTER AGAIN THANKS TO MASS SHOOTINGS IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND BOLL BOLL.

NOT TO -- BOULDER, CHICAGO AND NOT TO MENTION CHICAGO'S HOMICIDE RATE.

THE POSSIBILITY IS THE REVIVAL OF A FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN BUT A NEW STUDY FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SAYS 30 MASS SHOOTINGS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD THE BAN STAYED IN PLACE.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THAT STUDY ARE RICHARD PEARSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION AND THE STUDY'S LEAD AUTHOR LORI POST PROFESSOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE THE MEDICAL SOCIAL SCIENCES AT NORTHWESTERN'S UNIVERSITY FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF YOUR STUDY AND THIS DISCUSSION DEFINE FOR US WHAT AN ASSAULT WEAPON IS?

>> AN ASSAULT WEAPON IS A GUN THAT IS USED PRIMARILY FOR COMBAT OR CREATED, MANUFACTURED FOR COMBAT AND IT MEANS THEY HAVE A GRIP ON THEM THAT THEY HAVE A SCOPE THERE IS A VARIETY OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND THE PRIMARY FEATURES IT INCREASES KILLING IS RAPID FIRE ABILITY AND ALSO THEY HAVE YOU CAN INSERT A MAGAZINE INTO THE ASSAULT WEAPON TO INCREASE THE LEGHTALITY.

>> AND IT GETS CONFUSION AROUND SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPONS.

YOUR STUDY FOUND THAT BETWEEN 94-2004 WHEN A BAN WAS IN PLACE FEDERALLY IT PREVENTED 11 MASS SHOOTINGS AND YOU SAY HAD IT -- WOULD IT HAVE STAYED IN PLACE SINCE 2004 IT COULD HAVE PREVENTED 30 MASS SHOOTINGS.

EXPLAIN HOW YOU CAME TO THE NUMBERS?

>> I LOOKED AT THE TREND LINE BEFORE THE IMPOSITION OF THE FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN WHICH INCLUDED A LARGE BAN ON LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

SO I LOOKED AT THE TREND LINE AND IT SHOWED AN INCREASE IT WAS TILTING UPWARDS.

AND I RAN ANOTHER A SECOND TREND LINE DURING THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN WHILE IT WAS IN PLACE, AND IT HAD A DECREASING TREND WITH THE LOWEST YEAR BEING THE LAST YEAR OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

AND AFTER THE BAN SUNSETTED, I RAN A THIRD REGRESSION LINE THAT DRAMATICALLY INCREASED.

>> AND YOU WERE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT MASS SHOOTINGS.

RICHARD PEARSON, YOUR REACTION TO THE STUDY?

>> WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT CHANGED SINCE 2004.

KIND OF AN UPHEAVAL IN SOCIETY AND I'M SURE THAT IS PART OF IT.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE LOOK AT IN ILLINOIS IS WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED THE FIREARM OWNER'S IDENTIFICATION CARD.

AND SO EVERY PERSON THAT HAS ONE OF THOSE IN ILLINOIS GOES THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK EVERY NIGHT THE ONLY TIME THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IS NEW YEAR'S DAY, EASTER, FOURTH OF JULY AND THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS BECAUSE THE COURTS ARE NOT OPEN.

BUT SO EVERY NIGHT, I GO TO A BACKGROUND CHECK BECAUSE I HAVE A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT I GO TO A SECOND BACKGROUND CHECK EVERY NIGHT.

>> SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FOID CARD AND YOUR VIDEO IS FROZEN.

SO DIFFERENT REGULATIONS IN ILLINOIS VERSUS FEDERALLY.

GO AHEAD.

>> SO IN ILLINOIS GUN OWNERS LEGAL GUN OWNERS GO THROUGH BACKGROUND CHECKS EVERY NIGHT.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHOOTINGS WITH SO-CALLED ASSAULT WEAPONS, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REALLY ASSAULT WEAPONS THERE ARE VERY FEW.

THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN ILLINOIS IS THAT THE CERTAIN PARTS OF ILLINOIS HAS A HUGE, HUGE TRAFFICKING OF DRUGS OF ALL KINDS AND THERE'S LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT CAN BE MADE OR LOST.

THERE'S TURF WARS UP THERE.

AND AROUND THE CHICAGO AREA.

AND SO WE SEE THESE PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED AND THE POLICE ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE NOW THEY ARREST THEM AND THEY IMMEDIATELY LET THEM OUT.

BEFORE, I WAS INVOLVED LOOKING AT ONE IN WHICH A YOUNG MAN WAS KILLED BY A GANG MEMBER AND HIS DAD KNEW WHO IT WAS AND WOULDN'T TESTIFY BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID TO.

>> YOU ARE SAYING IT'S MORE OF A PROSECUTION PROBLEM THAN IT IS A GUN PROBLEM THERE ARE A LOT OF ILLEGAL GUNS THAT GET IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE IN CHICAGO.

BACK TO YOUR STUDY YOU FOCUSED ON MASS SHOOTINGS NOT THE HOMICIDES THAT TYPICALLY HAPPEN IN CHICAGO.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON MASS SHOOTINGS?

>> BECAUSE MASS SHOOTINGS GENERATE THE MOST DISCUSSION AND MOST MEDIA RESPONSE EVEN THOUGH THEY MAKEUP LESS THAN 1% OF ALL DEATHS BY GUNS OF ANY TYPE.

SO I WANTED TO FOCUS ON MASS SHOOTINGS BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIFIC TYPE OF SHOOTING WHERE WHICH I DEFINE AS FOUR OR MORE FATALITIES NOT INCLUDING THE PERPETRATOR.

AND I LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN PREVENT THOSE MASS SHOOTINGS FROM EVER OCCURRING.

THOSE ARE VERY DIFFERENT TYPES FROM WHAT RICHARD IS DESCRIBING.

THEY ARE NOT IN THE COMMISSION OF OTHER CRIMES THEY ARE NOT PART OF DRUG EXCHANGES OR GANG KILLINGS WHERE SOMEBODY SPECIFICALLY GOES AND PREMEDITATES KILLING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE IN A PUBLIC AREA.

>> THESE ARE DIFFERENT CRIMES, RICHARD THAN YOU WERE REFERRING TO BEFORE AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ILLINOIS RESTRICTIONS.

ARE THERE GUN CONTROL MEASURES THAT THE ILLINOIS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION WOULD BE WIG TO SUPPORT FEDERALLY LIKE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS?

>> WE HAVE UP UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS IN ILLINOIS SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY DO FEDERALLY.

NATIONWIDE, THAT'S VERY UNPOPULAR AMONG FIREARM OWNERS THEY GET ANGRY ABOUT THAT.

AND THEY FEEL IT IS AN INVASION OF PRIVACY.

THE COURT ALSO DECIDE THAT.

I WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO THE SHOOTING FOR EXAMPLE THE LATEST ONE IN COLORADO.

COLORADO AND ILLINOIS AND OTHER PLACES HAVE RED FLAG LAWS.

SO IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY PERSON WHO IS THINKING ABOUT COMMITTING A CRIME, THE RED FLAG LAW CAN BE INVOKED AND POLICE WILL COME OUT AND TAKE HIS FIREARM AND AT SOME POINT HE WILL BE ADJUDICATED IN COURT AS BEING A DANGER OR NOT A DANGER.

BUT HE IS OUT OF THE PICTURE FOR A WHILE AND IF THE FAMILY KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IS I AM LIKE OTHER GUN OWNERS DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP OUR AR15.

>> RICHARD PEARSON MENTIONED THESE THINGS ARE UNPOPULAR AMONG GUN OWNERS.

YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE NRA, DO YOU BELIEVE RANK-AND-FILE NRA MEMBERS WOULD SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE A NATIONAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN OR FURTHER GUN SAFETY MEASURES?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT NRA MEMBERS THE HETEROGENEOUS POPULATION AND THERE IS NOT JUST ONE TYPE OF PERSON.

I WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT GUN LAWS, GUN SAFETY AND HENCE DID MY TRAINING AND LEARNED ABOUT THE NRA THAT WAY.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S NOT -- A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SUPPORT PREVENTING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS FROM OWNING ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LAST CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR DISCUSSION THERE.

THANKS TO RICHARD PEARSON AND LORI POST THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE SPIKE IN COVID-19 INFECTIONS IS CONCERNING CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS AS VACCINATIONS RAMP UP.

AND THE PRESIDENT UNVEILS TRILLIONS IN SPENDING.

WE TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE IN OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TONIGHT.

AND WE'RE JOINED AS ALWAYS BY AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE.

FIRST UP, PRESIDENT BIDEN UNVEILED THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN TODAY HOPING IT WILL BE BIPARTISAN.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT CAN'T BE BIPARTISAN AGAIN.

THE DIVISIONS OF THE MOMENT SHOULDN'T STOP US FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE FUTURE.

I'M GOING TO BRING REPUBLICANS INTO THE OVAL OFFICE AND LISTEN TO THEM AND BE OPEN TO OTHER IDEAS.

>> SO HEATHER CHERONE, 2 P.25 TRILLION OVER EIGHT YEARS, A TRILLION IN NEW TAXES BY HIKING THE CORPORATE RATE FROM 21-28% WILL IT HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AS THE PRESIDENT IS HOPING?

>> WELL, WE HEARD FROM SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL THAT HE IS NOT INCLINED TO SUPPORT SUCH A BROAD PACKAGE.

I ALSO THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE PUSHBACK ON WHAT BIDEN SAYS CONSTITUTES INFRASTRUCTURE.

REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING IT INCLUDES THINGS BESIDES ROADS AND BRIDGES AND NEW BUS LINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE A TEST OF BIDEN'S ABILITY TO GET THINGS THROUGH NOT JUST THE HOUSE BUT ALSO THE SENATE AND HE SAYS THE STAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HIGH.

HE SAYS THE FATE OF THIS PACKAGE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER DEMOCRACY CAN PROVIDE WHAT PEOPLE NEED.

SO NO SMALL TASK HE LAID FOR HIMSELF.

>> NO SMALL TASK TO FIX THE BRIDGES AND ROADS IN ILLINOIS.

AND THE EISENHOWER HAS PROBLEMS WITH TRAFFIC.

THERE ARE SO MANY BRIDGES AND VIADUCTS THAT THE ARE CRUMBLING WHAT IS IN THIS BILL FOR ILLINOIS?

>> THERE WILL BE A TON IN THIS FOR ILLINOIS IF THIS $2 TRILLION PACKAGE COMES THROUGH AND IT IS NOT JUST THE CLASSIC WHAT YOU WOULD THINK OF AS INFRASTRUCTURE.

I MEAN THIS IS ALSO DEALING WITH CHICAGO HAS AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF PIPES THAT HAVE LEAD IN THEM.

THIS WOULD ADDRESS THAT.

IT WOULD ADDRESS CLEAN ENERGY.

AI, MANUFACTURING.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

IT WOULD BE MORE THAN JUST PUTTING MONEY INTO ROADS AS THEY ARE NOW.

IT WOULD BE A TRANSFORMATION OF ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION RAIL AS WELL AND CHICAGO ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE CITY GREW SO MUCH IS BECAUSE IT IS A HUB FOR TRANSIT.

IT'S REALLY WOULD MEAN A LOT TO ILLINOIS.

AND BY THE WAY NOT JUST TO THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES BUT THE WORKERS AND BECAUSE PART OF THIS, THE PRESIDENT HAS INCLUDED A BIG BOOST FOR UNIONS AND OF COURSE THIS IS A VERY MUCH A LABOR STATE AND CITY.

>> A LOT OF TRADE UNIONS THE ROAD BUILDERS ASSOCIATION WAITING WITH BAITED BREATH.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE COVID SPIKE.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SOUNDED THE ALARM OVER THAT COVID SPIKE AT A FIREHOUSE NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY.

>> WE HAVE OVER 400 ALMOST 500 CASES ON AVERAGE AS OF TODAY.

THAT IS A QUANTUM LEAP FROM WHERE WE WERE THREE WEEKS AGO.

THAT IS CONCERNING.

AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DICTATING THAT WE HAVE TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION AS WE OPEN UP.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE ANYTHING MORE SIGNIFICANT IN THE REOPENING FRONT UNTIL WE SEE THOSE NUMBERS STABILIZE AND START TO COME DOWN.

>> HEATHER WE HAD Dr. ARWADY IN THE SHOW, ARE THESE NUMBERS RISKING A FULL REOPEN IN THE SUMMER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS A RACE AGAINST TIME BETWEEN CASES OF COVID WHICH IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE VARIANTS AND THE VACCINATION EFFORT.

YOU KNOW WHEN I SPOKE YESTERDAY WITH Dr. EMILY LANDON SHE SAID LOOK AT VACCINE IS THE TORTOISE IT'S GOING SLOW WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BUT THE VARIANTS ARE THE HARE AND THEY ARE RACING AHEAD HAD AND THIS IS THE PATTERN THAT WE SAW IN OCTOBER WHERE CASES STARTED OUT AMONG THE 18-39-YEAR-OLDS.

AND THEN IT SPREAD TO OLDER PEOPLE AND EVENTUALLY 25 CHICAGOANS WERE DYING EVERYDAY AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19.

IT'S REALLY EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW BACK IN THE FALL WHICH WAS WHY SHE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE SHE FELT LIKE SHE WAS EXPERIENCING GROUND-HOG DAY AND THAT IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO COVER THIS MOST INCREASE IN CASES.

>> I THINK IN THAT TORTOISE ENDS UP WINNING AT THE END OF THE RACE.

LET'S KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.

>> SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE.

AND THE VACCINATION EFFORT AMED UP NEW SITES INCLUDING AT WRIGLEY FIELD.

WHERE IS THE BREAKING POINT HERE WHERE THE LEVEL OF VACCINATIONS WILL OVERTAKE THE RISING CASES AND RATES CAN COME DOWN?

>> PARIS, IF WE ONLY KNEW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

THAT IS WHAT WE KEEP ON HEARING PARTICULARLY FROM THE CITY OFFICIALS WHO SAY WE NEED MORE VACCINE.

WE ARE EQUIPPED WE HAVE GOT THE ADDITIONAL MASS VACCINATION SITES AND EQUIPPED TO GIVE IT.

AND SOMETHING THAN INTERESTING POLITICAL QUARTERBACKLE YOU HEARD GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYING HEY, I THINK THE CITY IS GOING TOO SLOW WITH ITS ELIGIBILITY ROLL OUT SINGLING OUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOR NOT WANTING TO GO FORWARD WITH HIS APRIL 12TH DATE FOR MAKING ANY ADULT ELIGIBLE.

WHICH IS SORT OF AN INTERESTING POLITICAL THING IT IS NOT JUST CHICAGO THAT IS DOING THIS.

THE STATE ALLOWED ANY LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT THIS POINT TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP CAPACITY TO, AGAIN, ANYBODY OVER THE AGE OF 16, YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENTS NOT ABLE TO DO THAT PARTICULARLY THOSE IN AND AROUND THE CITY, COOK COUNTY HAS BEEN SLOWER THAN THE CITY OF CHICAGO IN EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY.

>> PRITZKER IS TALKING ABOUT CHICAGO NOT GOING FASTER AND Dr. ARWADY SAID STATE OFFICIALS NEED TO ALLOCATE MORE VACCINES BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD OF EXCESS SUPPLIES IN QUINCY.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> IT IS A BIT OF A BLAME GAME.

LET'S MOVE ON TO LORETTO HOSPITAL.

THE ALLEGATIONS AND THE REPORTS WERE FAST LAST WEEK AND THE WEEK BEFORE.

AND NOW ITS C.E.O.

IS SUSPENDED FOR TWO WEEKS WITHOUT PAY.

THE C.O.O.

QUIT.

AND THEN WE HEAR THAT STATE REP CAMILLE LILLY WHO WORKS AT LORETTO HOSPITAL SHE IS ACCUSED REPORTEDLY OF HAVING A VIP LIST.

EXPLAIN HEATHER WHERE THIS IS AT?

>> WELL, LORETTO HOSPITAL WAS SHOWCASED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AS A SAFETY NET HOSPITAL SERVING PEOPLE THAT WERE AT GREATEST RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS FROM COVID-19.

ILLNESS AND DEATH.

AND IT HAS TURNED 180°.

BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THEY WERE VACCINATING PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ELIGIBLE.

AND THEY WERE VACCINATING PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR CONNECTIONS TO BOTH THE C.E.O.

AND THE C.O.O.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT WAS A BLACK MARK IN LIGHTFOOT'S MIND AND I THINK IT CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF CONSTERNATION AMONG WEST SIDE RESIDENTS STRUGGLING TO FIND A VACCINE AND MANY PEOPLE WERE ANGRY THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE BEING PRIORITIZED OVER THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PLAYING "THE HUNGER GAMES" THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN PLAYING TO GET A VACCINE.

>> AND I'VE ASKED THIS BEFORE, I MEAN, IT'S THIS INTRIGUING ON THE HOSPITAL'S BOARD THERE WERE TWO STATE REPRESENTATIVES, LaSHAWN FORD RESIGNED AND NOW IT'S STATE SENATOR KIMBERLY LIGHTFORD AND CAMILLE LILLY, ARE THEY GOING TO ESCAPE ANY KIND OF DAMAGE FROM THE FALLOUT HERE?

>> I MEAN, THUS FAR, IT SEEMS AS IF THEY HAVE FROM WHAT WE GATHER.

THE C.E.O.

HAS NOT LOST HIS POSITION.

NOR HAS LILLY FOR AN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER SHE HAS NOT BEEN OUT IN FRONT OF THIS ANSWERING QUESTIONS, INSTEAD THERE IS A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN HIRED TO DO DAMAGE CONTROL HERE.

AND SPEAKING ON HER BEHALF, DENYING THAT REPRESENTATIVE LILLY HAD A SPECIALIST.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND WHAT THIS RAISES IS IF THERE IS A CULTURE OF THOSE AT THE TOP BEING ABLE TO DO FAVORS FOR THEIR FRIENDS WHERE ELSE HAS THAT SPRUNG UP AT LORETTO?

THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION AT THIS POINT WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT TURNS UP BUT NEITHER OF THE LEGISLATORS SAID MUCH.

>> REPORTS CRITICAL OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HEATHER HE MENTIONED THE CONSENT DECREE MONITOR COMING OUT WITH THE REPORT SAYING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER BUT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TALKING ABOUT THE GANG DATABASE THAT C.P.D.

HAS USED.

TELL US WHY THAT HAS BECOME A BUGABOO FOR THE C.P.D.?

>> TWO YEARS AGO, INSPECTOR GENERAL FERGUSON SAID THE WAY THE CITY TRACKED GANG MEMBERS WAS RHINE FOR ABUSE -- RIPE FOR ABUSE AND FILLED WITH ERROR AND THE CITY SAID WE AGREE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID YES WE ARE GOING TO DO BETTER AND CREATE A NEW SYSTEM THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS STILL USING THE DATA CONTAINED IN THAT ERROR-FILLED DATABASE INCLUDED PEOPLE WHO WERE AS YOUNG AS SELF ENVIRONMENT AND OLD AS 100 YEARS OLD.

AND DISPROPORTIONATELY INCLUDED BLACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS.

SO THE FOLLOW-UP REPORT FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE SAID THAT NOTHING HAD CHANGED OVER TWO YEARS EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BECOME A HIGH PROFILE SCANDAL, IF YOU WILL.

AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A FIRM PLAN IN PLACE TO CREATE A NEW SYSTEM WHICH, OF COURSE, IS NEEDED.

EVERYBODY AGREES.

BUT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS AS PER USUAL.

>> I'VE INTERVIEWED FOLKS PER PORTEDLY ON THE LIST AND IT'S HARD TO FIND JOBS, IT'S HARD TO FIND CREDIT AND GET A LIFE GOING AND THEY WERE NEVER PART OF ANY GANG THEY WERE PUT ON THAT LIST AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THAT THEY HAD NO BUSINESS BEING ON THE LIST.

C.P.D.

COMPILED IT.

AMANDA THIS AFTERNOON WE LEARNED OF A FEDERAL INDICTMENT OF ANOTHER FORMER STATE LAWMAKER ANNAZETTE COLLINS, WHO IS SHE AND WHAT IS SHE CHARGED WITH?

>> ANNAZETTE COLLINS WAS A LEGISLATOR REPRESENTING THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

HAD TIES AND WAS ENDORSED FOR A LONGTIME UNTIL HE ENDED UP LEAVING, JESSE WHITE.

SHE SERVED IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE BEFORE MOVING VIA APPOINTMENT TO THE SENATE AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO RUN FOR THE SEAT SHE LOST IT.

NOW, THAT AT THIS TIME PART OF THAT CAMPAIGN WAS THAT COLLINS HAD BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY AND WE KNOW THERE HAD BEEN A SUBPOENA FOR HER INVOLVEMENT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SHE HAD BEEN ABUSING IT AND MISS AWARDING IT TO UNIVERSITIES.

WHEN SHE LOST SHE WENT ON THIS REVOLVING DOOR IN ILLINOIS POLITICS TO BECOME A LOBBYIST AND YOU GUESSED IT, PARIS, SOME COMPLIANTS, ONE OF THEM COMMONWEALTH EDISON AND ANOTHER ONE IS THE SWEEPSTAKES COMPANIES AND THAT PUT UP ANOTHER FORMER MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE ARROYO.

WHAT SHE WAS CHARGED WITH HAD TO DO WITH NOT FILING INCOME TAXES PROPERLY FOR HER PERSONAL STUFF AND LOBBYING BUSINESS.

BUT WHAT IT REALLY SAYS THIS IS A REMINDER TO ALL OF US FROM THE FEDS, HEY, WE STILL HAVE OUR EYE ON ALL OF THE SHENANIGANS IN ILLINOIS POLITICS AND THIS ComEd SITUATION HAS NOT GONE AWAY.

>> ComEd NOT A SURPRISE THERE.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT.

HEATHER CHERONE, WE HEARD THAT VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS GOING TO BE COMING TO CHICAGO NEXT WEEK.

I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE THE FIRST VISIT BY ANY CABINET OFFICIAL IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT IS THAT VISIT GOING TO ENTAIL?

>> WELL, THE VICE-PRESIDENT IS GOING TO SPEAK WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ABOUT THE CITY'S EFFORT TO EQUITABLY ROLL OUT VACCINES AND TO INSURE THAT BLACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS ARE FIRST IN LINE FOR THOSE VACCINES BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THOSE COMMUNITIES SUFFER GREATLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT IS A HIGH PROFILE VISIT AND IT IS NO -- IT'S NOT A SURPRISE THAT IT WOULD BE TO CHICAGO AND SHOWCASING MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WHO ENDORSED BIDEN DURING THE PRIMARY AND IT WAS A SURROGATE FOR BIDEN DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND WHO HAS SAID SHE WAS THRILLED TO SEE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND ASIAN-AMERICAN BEING VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.

THIS IS CLEARLY SIGNALING THAT CHICAGO'S CLOSE TIES TO THE WHITE HOUSE WHICH WERE ON A FOUR-YEAR HIATUS ARE BACK IN FULL EFFECT.

>> WE WILL SEE IF THERE IS A DIRECT LINE TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> UP NEXT, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND LESSONS FROM A SELF PROCLAIMED PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER IN A CONVERSATION THAT AIRED ON SUNDAY'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

FIRST, WE LOOK THE THE WEATHER... >> FROM JUMPING OUT OF PERFECTLY GOOD FLYING AIRPLANES TO ZIP LINING THROUGH A JUNELE, LEVY JONES HAS BECOME AN EXPERT AT CHALLENGING YOUR FEARS BUT NOT ALL OF HER DARING ADVENTURES INVOLVE LEAVING THE GROUND.

SHE WAS AFRAID TO GIVE HER OWN 2017 TED TALK GET COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE NOW CLOSING IN ON SIX MILLION VIEWS.

SHE HAS GOTTEN OVER THE FEAR AND IS HELP US TO DO THE SAME WITH HER NEW BOOK, THE PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER THE FEAR MIGHTING MANUAL.

HERE IS LUVVIE JONES, WELCOME BACK WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING KNEE.

>> YOU MENTION BEING A PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER, BUT YOUR FIRST BOOK WAS I'M JUDGING YOU THE DO BETTER MANUAL WHY NOW FOR THE PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER BOOK?

>> YES, MY BOOK PROFESSIONAL TROUBLE MAKER IS A FEAR FIGHTER MANUAL AND IT'S URGENT BECAUSE WE ARE LIVING IN A WORLD THAT IS SCARIER I THINK.

AND RIGHT NOW WHEN WE NEED ARE MORE PEOPLE TO BE PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKERS AND THEY ARE DISRUPTERS FOR GOOD.

THE PEOPLE IN THE MEETING THAT SAY HAVE WE TEETH ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN?

THERE IS A FAMILY MEMBER THAT POINTS OUT THE BAD JOKE YOUR UNCLE MAKES.

PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKERS ARE THE PEOPLE ELEVATING EVERY ROOM THEY ARE IN AND WE NEED THEM TO EXIST.

I WANT TO AFFIRM THEM AND IF YOU ARE NOT ONE I WANT TO CONVINCE YOU TO BECOME ONE.

>> TOUGH SELL.

YOU ARE INSPIRED A LOT BY THE HEAD PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER IN YOUR LIFE YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

TELL US ABOUT HER AND WHY SHE INSPIRES YOU?

>> YES.

MY GRANDMOTHER FOR ME WAS THE PERSON I LOOKED AT WHO GAVE ME PERMISSION TO BE A BOLD WOMAN.

SHE TOOK UP SPACE WITHOUT APOLOGY AND ALLOWED HERSELF TO BE CELEBRATED.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS KIND BUT SHE DIDN'T TAKE YOUR STUFF.

AND SHE WAS SO DEEPLY LOVED.

AND I WAS WATCHING HOW SHE WAS MOVING THROUGH THE WORLD AND LEARNING THAT I COULD DO THE SAME THING AND BE THIS PERSON.

YEAH, THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO MY GRAND MOTHER WHO PASSED 10 YEARS AGO.

>> YOU IMMIGRATED FROM NIGERIA AT A YOUNG AGE AT NINE AND YOU WRITE ABOUT HOW THAT WAS SOMETHING TO OVERCOME IF WHAT WAYS WAS OVERCOMING THAT YOUR SUPERPOWER?

>> COMING FROM MY MIARY YEAH TO THE UNITED STATES IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS A NEW GIRL.

THE MY NAME WAS DIFFERENT AND I ADAPTED AS KIDS DO.

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT AT NINE.

WHEN I GOT TO COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AND GOT TO SEE EVERYBODY OWN THEIR CULTURE IN A REAL WAY, I WAS LIKE THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO NOT OWN MY NIGERIANNESS AND IT IS ONE OF MY SUPERPOWERS IT INFORMS HOW I WRITE AND SPEAK AND HOW I APPROACH THE WORLD.

WE HAVE BRAVADO FILLED PEOPLE AND OFTENTIMES THE THING THAT MAKES US FEEL WE ARE TOO DIFFERENT IS THE THING WE HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON BECAUSE IT IS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

>> IN THE BOOK YOU WRITE ABOUT THE ORIKE, TELL US WHAT THAT IS AND WHY YOU NEED ONE?

>> SO AN ORIKE IS FROM TRADITIONAL NIGERIA AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT TIES YOU TO YOUR LINEAGE AND YOUR FAMILY AND IT AFFIRMS YOUR VERY BEING.

I CALL IT A STANDING OVATION FOR YOUR SPIRIT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE WORLD BEING TOLD ALL THE TIME THAT WE ARE NOT ENOUGH OR TOO SOMETHING OR WE NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING THAT IS CORE TO OURSELVES.

AND ORIKE IS THE OPPOSITE IT'S SAYING YOU ARE AMAZING LIKE YOU ARE TODAY.

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

CAN'T NOBODY TOUCH YOU.

CAN'T NOBODY SAY NOTHING ABOUT YOU.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO WRITE OURSELVES ORIKE.

>> FUN EXERCISE HOW DOES ONE DO THIS?

AN EXERCISE YOU GIVE READERS OF THE BOOK.

YOU LIKEN IT TO GAME A THROWNS OF FAN ALSO KNOW THE ONE THAT IS GIVEN TO [INAUDIBLE] >> YES.

WELL, YOU THINK OF HOW THEY INTRODUCE HIM EVERY TIME YOU HEARD HER INTRODUCE YOU STILL HAD HYPE ON HER BEHALF.

QUEEN OF THE HANDLES, MOTHER OF THE DRAGONS, THE PROTECT TORE OF SEVEN REALMS AND ALL OF US NEED TO HAVE IT AND I CREATED ONE FOR MYSELF MINE IS LOVE YOUR HOUSE JONES FIRST OF HER NAME ASSASSIN OF THE BOOKS, AND THAT IS HALF OF WHAT I WROTE.

I WANT EVERYONE TO WRITE ONE FOR THEMSELVES.

IN THE MOMENTS WHEN SOMEBODY TELLS YOU SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL DIMINISHED OR A BAD DAY THAT YOU HAD.

OR WHEN YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING BIG LIKE ASK FOR A PROMOTION READ THAT THING AND LET IT GAS YOU UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHY TROUBLE MAKING?

YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT HOW IS THE ADVICE ARE YOU GIVING FOLKS HOW IS IT TROUBLESOME?

>> I THINK TROUBLE IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING.

THINK ABOUT THE LATE GREAT JOHN LEWIS WHO SAID WE NEED TO BE READY TO MAKE NECESSARY GOOD TROUBLE.

TROUBLE IS ANYTHING THAT DISRUPTING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ROOM.

AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ROOM IS OFTEN NOT OK. MAKING GOOD TROUBLE MEANS TELLING THE TRUTH AND ASKING FOR SOMEBODY'S VOICE TO BE HEARD WHEN IT WAS NOT.

IT MEANS USING YOUR POWER IN SERVICE OF OTHER PEOPLE.

AND I THINK MAKING TROUBLE IS A GOOD THING.

WE NEED TO RECLAIM THE WORD TROUBLE IN THIS WORLD THAT IS A DUMPSTER FIRE MAKING TROUBLE IS A GOOD THING.

>> YOU JUST WRAPPED YOUR BOOK TOUR.

THERE WAS A KINDNESS TRAIN THAT FORMED ON YOUR BOOK TOUR.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT AND HOW IT GOT STARTED?

>> THE KINDNESS TRAIN TOUCHED MY SPIRIT.

WHEN I ANNOUNCED MY BOOK TOUR A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE LIKE I CANNOT AFFORD TO COME.

AND PEOPLE SAID I WILL BUY YOU A TICKET.

I WILL BUY YOU ANOTHER TICKET.

THROUGH THERE OVER A THOUSAND COMMENTS 500 PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TICKETS 500 OTHER PEOPLE BOUGHT TICKETS AND MY FRIENDS PICKED UP THE MAN TELL AND SAID I WOULD BUY 1900 TICKETS WHICH MEANT 1900 BOOKS IN MY BOOK TOUR AND IT WENT TO FRONTLINE WORKERS, MOMS WHO NEED A BREAK, SOCIAL WORKERS, ANYBODY WHO JUST COULD NOT COME AND FOR ME THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS COME OUT OF THIS WHOLE BOOK TOUR AND BOOK LAUNCH IS THAT PEOPLE REALLY SHOWED UP FOR EACH OTHER AND SHOWED THAT COMMUNITY IS A VERB.

>> PAYING IT FORWARD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IT IS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER, THE FEAR FIGHTING MANUAL.

FOR MORE HOW TO FIGHT YOUR FEARS VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. WE WILL BE LIVE FROM WRIGLEY FIELD AS THEY REOPEN TO FANS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019 AND A DOCUMENTARY FROM KEN BYRNES GIVES US AN INSIDE LOOK INTO ERNEST HEMINGWAY.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

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