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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE COMMON DENOMINATOR GUNS.

IT'S THE GUNS.

>> A VIOLENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN CHICAGO WITH AT LEAST 47 PEOPLE SHOT.

WHAT ARE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PLANS TO COMBAT SUMMER VIOLENCE?

MEANWHILE, FOLLOWING THE TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER A LOOK WHERE WE'VE COME ON THE ISSUE OF POLICING.

>> WE WILL BE MOVING MOST LIKELY INTO THE HIGH LEVEL.

>> NOW, THAT THE COUNTY INCLUDING CHICAGO IS AT HIGH COVID RISK, WE CHECK IN WITH THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> AND WE'LL FLUSH OUT HOW WASTEWATER CAN PROVIDE SOLID DATA ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH I WILL TELL YOU IT IS A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT THE U.S.A. SHOULD STAND WITH TAIWAN.

>> A CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SHOWS UP UNANNOUNCED TO TAIWAN WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS.

>> HOW A CTA TRAIN BRIDGE TELLS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH SIDE IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> CELEBRATING FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE WON BY COURT THEATRE.

>> WE WANTED THIS LIBRARY TO FEEL LIKE HOME FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND THE MURAL THAT GIVES LIBRARY PATRONS A WARM WELCOME HOME IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> ANOTHER VIOLENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

THE WORST IN FIVE YEARS.

WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONDING TO THE VIOLENCE THAT LEFT NINE DEAD IN A MOMENT.

FIRST, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ATTENDED A GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR 80 NEWLY SWORN POLICE OFFICERS EARLIER TODAY.

TAKE A LOOK WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE TOLL THAT VIOLENCE TAKES.

>> THE FACT THAT YOU ANSWER THE CALL TO SERVE AND ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF POLICING, REALLY SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER AND YOUR COMMITMENT.

THERE WILL BE SITUATIONS THAT YOU CANNOT WALK AWAY FROM.

YOU ARE THE PEOPLE WHO RUN TO DANGER WHEN OTHERS RUN AWAY FROM IT.

BUT YOU CAN MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO LET YOUR EXPERIENCES AND THE TRAUMA THAT YOU EXPERIENCE HINDER YOUR LIFE AND YOUR HAPPINESS.

PLEASE USE ALL THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES OFFERED AT OUR DEPARTMENT TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES.

>> EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY IN CHICAGO AFTER TWO DELAYS.

THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS LOOP SUPER SITE IS OPEN TO VOTERS AT 191 NORTH CLARK STREET.

LAWSUITS AND BALLOT CHALLENGES FORCED THE DELAY OF EARLY VOTING SUPPOSED TO LAUNCH MAY 19TH.

EARLY VOTING THROUGHOUT THE CITY WILL BEGIN JUNE 13TH AND CONTINUE UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTS START SHIPPING TUESDAY.

>> UP NEXT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND'S VIOLENCE.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> WITH 47 PEOPLE SHOT AND NINE KILLED, THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST DEADLY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKENDS EVER IN CHICAGO.

THE PROBLEM: GUNS.

AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN BRIEFS.

HE SAYS OFFICERS REMOVED 250 GUNS FROM THE STREETS OF CHICAGO THIS WEEKEND ALONE.

>> WE ARE AWASH IN GUNS HERE AND IN EVERY MAJOR CITY.

MULTIPLE CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS, HIGH VICTIMIZATION EVERYWHERE.

AND THE COMMON DENOMINATOR: GUNS.

IT'S THE GUNS.

>> WTTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINING US NOW WITH MORE.

HOW DOES THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND COMPARE TO YEARS PAST?

>> WELL, LOOKING AT LAST YEAR, 2021 THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE KILLED AND MORE THAN 30 SHOT OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

THIS YEAR IS A SIGNIFICANT BUMP OVER THAT.

THERE ARE A FEW REASONS.

DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, DAVID BROWN MENTIONED THAT WHEN YOU COMPARE THIS YEAR'S TOTALS OF SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES TO THE LAST DECADE OF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKENDS THIS YEAR WAS AVERAGE WHILE SOME SAW MORE DEATHS AND MORE SHOOTINGS.

BROWN SAID AGAIN FOR THE YEAR FOR 2022, THE AMOUNT OF SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES IS DOWN OVER LAST YEAR TO THIS POINT.

SO 2021 DID END AS CHICAGO'S DEADLIEST YEAR SINCE THE 1990s.

>> SUPERINTENDENT BROWN CHARACTERIZED THE VIOLENCE AS STEMMING FROM PERSON CONFLICTS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE WEST SIDE VIOLENCE PERSONAL CONFLICTS.

SOUTH SIDE VIOLENCE PERSONAL CONFLICTS.

THE LITTLE BIT OF VIOLENCE WE HAD IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY DOWNTOWN AND OTHER AREAS, MOSTLY PERSONAL CONFLICTS.

RESOLVED BY GUNS.

THE COMMON DENOMINATOR AGAIN ARGUMENTS THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GUN IT'S JUST AN ARGUMENT.

>> THIS WAS THE OPEN WEEKEND IN CHICAGO MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN CHICAGO SINCE COVID.

MATT, DID THAT CONTRIBUTE TO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR?

>> IT LIKELY HAD SOME EFFECT.

THERE WERE DOZENS OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES GOING ON THAT THE CITY PROMOTED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

THE BEACHES JUST OPENED UP AND DAVID BROWN SAID HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WERE TAKING PART IN ALL THESE ACTIVITIES.

WITH ALL THOSE THINGS GOING ON REOPENING THE CITY PROBABLY DID HAVE SOME EFFECT AND IT WAS WARMER THIS WEEKEND THAN LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WERE FEWER SHOOTING AND HOMICIDES.

TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 80s AND 90s AND BROUGHT MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE AND THAT HAPPENS THERE CAN BE MORE VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.

>> IS C.P.D.

EXPECTING TO CANCEL MORE DAYS OFF FOR OFFICERS WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR SUMMER VIOLENCE?

>> BROWN SAYS HE DOES EXPECT THERE CONTINUE TO BE A ROTATION OF CANCELED DAYS OFF FOR OFFICERS DURING THE WEEKENDS THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE SEEN HIGHER LEVELS OF VIOLENCE FATHER'S DAY AND THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.

BROWN SAYS THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO DO THIS TO INSURE THAT THE CITY HAS ENOUGH RESOURCES.

BUT IT'S REPEATEDLY BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION FOR THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE WHICH COMPLAINED THAT THE LONG HOURS AND CANCELING DAYS OFF IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED OFFICER MORALE AND WELLNESS.

THE SUMMER PLAN THEY WILL CONTINUE THIS WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE ALREADY THIS YEAR.

TO INSURE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN REMAIN SAFE IN THE COMING SUMMER MONTHS.

>> OK. MATT MASTERSON THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> YOU CAN READ MATT'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> CHICAGOANS ARE NOW AT EYE HIGH-RISK OF CONTRACTING COVID-19.

AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, THE C.D.C.

ELEVATED THE THREAT LEVEL FROM MEDIUM.

MEANING THERE'S A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR STRAINING THE CITY'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

CHICAGO'S CURRENT POSITIVITY RATE IS 6% WITH A DAILY AVERAGE OF 1077 CASES.

AND 28 HOSPITALIZATIONS.

JOINING US TO BREAKDOWN THE NUMBERS IS Dr. GERALDINE LUNA, A MEDICAL DIRECTOR WITH THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Dr. LUNA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

FIRST, IF YOU WOULD, TELL US WHAT IS CAUSING THE INCREASE THAT PUTS US INTO THE HIGH-RISK CATEGORY?

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND JUST TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC AROUND THAT, CHICAGO FINDS ITSELF VERY WELL SITUATED IN TERMS OF HOSPITAL CAPACITY AND THE IMPACT WE'RE NOT STRAINED AT ALL.

SO ALL THIS COMES AS THE NEW REGULATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS THE WAY WE REPORT THE NUMBERS.

THE COUNTIES REPORT BY HOSPITAL SYSTEMS OR HOSPITAL SERVICE AREAS.

AND THAT IS HOW TO IT PERTAINS TO THE GROUP.

FORTUNATELY THESE NUMBERS ARE DECREASING WE'RE SEEING WE CRESTED AND NOW THAT PLATEAU IS COMING SLIGHTLY DOWN.

>> Dr. LUNA HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE NUMBER OF CASES?

WHEN ONE IS HIGHER WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE FROM THE OTHER?

>> EXACTLY.

SO AS WE HAVE BEEN SEEN HISTORICALLY, ONCE WE START SEEING THE CASES INCREASE, THEN WE SEE ALWAYS THIS INDICATORS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH LAGGING BEHIND.

BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS BUSY SURGE.

WE HAVE NEVER SEEN SO LOW IN THE HISTORY OF THE PANDEMIC EVEN IN A SURGE.

IS THIS AMAZING UNPRECEDENTED.

SO WE CAN START SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THE VACCINATION.

WE ARE NOT SEEING THIS COMING ONE STARTS INCREASING CASE AND THIS CASE, DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS FOLLOWING ONE WEEK OR TWO WEEKS LATER.

WE HAVE SEEN OUR DEATHS HAVE REMAINED THE LOWEST FOR THE LONGEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE COUNTY AND THE CITY RECOMMEND WEARING MASKS NOT REQUIRING THEM.

AND REMIND US AT WHAT POINT WOULD THE CITY NEED TO GO BACK TO THE MANDATE?

>> THAT IS SO TRUE.

THE REASON WE RECOMMEND WHEN WE ARE INCREASING TRANSMISSION RATES WE FIND OURSELVES IN HIGH COMMUNITY LEVELS OR COMMUNITY LEVELS AS HEIDI STEVENS, BASED ON THE HIGHWAYS WE DON'T SEE THAT STRAINING IN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

AS LONG AS WE DON'T SEE OUR CAPACITY, OUR ADMISSIONS START INCREASING AND HOSPITALIZATIONS AND HOSPITAL CAPACITY MEANING RESOURCES, VENTILATORS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PROVIDING THE SERVICES, AS LONG AS WE DON'T SEE THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO START IMPLEMENTATIONS OF MASKS MANDATE.

THAT IS THE SITUATION THAT WE FIND OURSELVES.

AND NOW THAT THE CASES ARE STARTING TO DECREASE, IS THAT NOTHING LOOKING NOTHING BUT OPTIMISTIC, THE PICTURE HERE.

>> AND WE HAVE MAY HAVE CRESTED CASES ARE STARTING TO DECREASE.

YOUR OFFICE REPORTED EARLY SIGNS THAT THE SURGE MAY BE PEAKING IN THE MIDWEST AND THE NORTHEASTERN U.S.

EITHER PLATEAUING OR TRENDING DOWNWARD.

OFFICIALS C.D.C.

DATA FOR CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY REPORTED 324 COVID CASES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS LAST WEEK VERSUS 338 THE WEEK BEFORE.

WHAT DOES THIS TELL US?

COULD WE BE COASTING INTO MEDIUM TERRITORY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS?

>> SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING.

WE'RE HOPEFUL WE SEE THIS HAPPENING.

AGAIN THIS IS A REMINDER HOW POWERFUL OUR VACCINES ARE HERE.

COVID-19 VACCINES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

VERY HIGH QUALITY, VERY PROTECTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS 65 YEARS AND OVER PEOPLE WITH MORBID CONDITIONS AND IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CONDITIONS THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO VACCINATE OURSELVES AND BENEFIT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE VACCINATION.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IMPACTING THE NUMBERS.

WE'RE HOPEFUL, VERY OPTIMISTIC AND IN THE MEANWHILE WE CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE PREVENTATIVES HIGH AND DOUBLE DOWN ON THOSE REMEMBER TO USE THE MASK IN EVERY PUBLIC SETTING AND TRY NOT TO CONGREGATE IF POSSIBLE OR DO IT OUTDOORS.

BUT NUMBERS ARE LOOKING MUCH BETTER.

>> ARE THERE ANY NEW OMICRON SUBVARIANTS THAT YOU ARE ALL CONCERNED WITH THAT COULD RUIN THE SUMMER EVERYBODY IS HOPING FOR?

>> WE HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT THOSE ONES.

RIGHT NOW THE ONES WE'RE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON AND WE UNDERSTAND WAS RESPONSIBLE THE MINNIE SURGE WE SAW ON THE EAST COAST, MAINLY MIDWEST WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE SUBLINEAGES OF BA TWO 2.12.

BUT WE HAVE NOT SEE ANYTHING AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE NUMBERS DECREASE.

WE'RE OPTIMISTIC.

WE ARE WATCHING B4, B5 WHICH WAS REASONABLY CHECKED IN AFRICA.

BUT SO FAR SO LONG SO FAR WE HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH OF A CLINICAL IMPACT.

AND SO THOSE ARE ALL GOOD NEWS.

>> CHILDREN UNDER 5, Dr. LUNA NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION MEANWHILE KIDS OVER 5 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BOOSTERS SIX MONTHS AFTER THEIR SECOND DOSE.

WHEN CAN PARENTS OF THE SMALLER SET EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED?

>> EXACTLY.

WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF BOOSTERS ARE RECOMMENDED FIVE MONTHS AFTER THEY FINISH THEIR SECOND DOSE FOR CHILDREN 5-11 YEARS OLD BASED ON PFIZER.

AND EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FROM THE F.D.A.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE VERY, VERY OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING AND WE HEARD AND WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATES, BUT WE'RE EXPECTING BY THE MID-JUNE TO HAVE THOSE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED OFFICIALLY.

WE KNOW MODERNA DID IT.

SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THE COMMITTEE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES TO THE F.D.A.

TO PUT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER C.D.C.

FOLLOWS FOR FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON EQUITY-BASED AND ALL THIS ADDITIONAL THINGS WE NEED.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC AND VERY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT POTENTIALLY WE COULD HAVE OUR CHILDREN UNDER 5 VACCINATED BY THE SUMMER.

SO THIS IS A PERFECT TIMING SO WHEN SCHOOL STARTS NOW IN AUGUST AGAIN.

>> Dr. GERALDINE LUNA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU TORE HAVING ME.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE UNITED STATES RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN AND CHINA?

STAY WITH US.

>> ILLINOIS U.S.

SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH AND A CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SHOWED UP UNANNOUNCED TODAY IN TAIWAN.

THE VISIT MEANT TO BOOST RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE ISLAND TERRITORY INTENDED TO ECHO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S STATEMENTS LAST WEEK THAT THE U.S.

SUPPORTS TAIWAN AND WOULD RESPOND MILITARILY IF CHINA WERE TO ATTACK IT.

COULD THIS VISIT STRAIN AMERICAN RELATIONS WITH CHINA?

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS EVOLVING SITUATION ARE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DALI YANG OF UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

AND COUNSEL GENERAL ZHAO JIAN OF CONSUL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN CHICAGO.

WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

PROFESSOR, IN THE START WITH THE LATEST, THE U.S.

THIS DELEGATION MADE THE SURPRISE VISIT TO TAIWAN.

IF THE U.S. HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE RECENT REMARKS BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN DO NOT SIGNAL A CHANGE IN POLICY, WHY SEND THIS UNANNOUNCED DELEGATION?

>> ACTUALLY SENATOR DUCKWORTH IN PARTICULAR WAS IN TAIWAN LAST YEAR.

THIS IS HER SECOND VISIT.

AND IT'S NOT EXACTLY A SURPRISE WITH IT.

IT IS AN UNANNOUNCED VISIT IN THE SENSE IT'S NOT ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC AHEAD OF TIME.

BUT OF COURSE, AMERICAN CONGRESS PEOPLE AND SENATORS HAVE BEEN VISITING IN RECENT MONTHS AND PREVIOUSLY AS WELL.

IT'S JUST THE FREQUENCY AND ALSO THE STATURE OF SOME OF THE SENATORS THAT ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME FALLING ON THE HEELS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VISIT TO ASIA.

>> AND TO THAT POINT, WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HER VISIT?

WHAT DOES IT TELL US COMING ON THE HEELS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VISIT TO ASIA?

>> WELL, SHE IS ON THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.

INFLUENTIAL MEMBER IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SHE HAS THE MILITARY EXPERIENCE AND SHE WANTS TO GAIN FURTHER INFLUENCE IN THE PARTY AND TO BE A LEADER AND THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

MANY WAYS THIS HELPS HER TO STRENGTHEN HER FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE.

BUT ALSO IT GIVES HER THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITING ONE OF THE HOTSPOTS IN THE WORLD POTENTIALLY.

AND IN THAT SENSE GIVEN HER SERVICE ON THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE AND OTHER COMMITTEES, IS ACTUALLY A VERY IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE FOR HER IN THE SENATE AS WELL.

>> DOES THIS AT ALL SIGNAL THERE COULD BE HEIGHTENED TENSIONS OR WAR HAPPENING BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN, PROFESSOR?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

AND I THINK ACTUALLY HISTORICALLY, IT'S THE SENATE THAT HAVE BEEN INFLUENTIAL IN MAKING POLICY REGARDING TAIWAN, THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT.

IN THAT SENSE CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS HAD MORE INFLUENCE AND A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE STATUS AND THE SITUATION IN TAIWAN.

AND IN THAT SENSE, THIS WAS CONTINUING THE TREND.

BUT OF COURSE, I DO WANT TO MENTION THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION IN THE SENATE IN PARTICULAR IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TAIWAN AS WELL.

>> CONSUL GENERAL ZHAO JIAN LET'S TALK ABOUT BASIC HISTORY WHY IS TAIWAN AN INDEPENDENT TERRITORY BUT CONSIDERED PART OF CHINA?

>> TAIWAN HAS BEEN A PART OF THE CHINESE TERRITORY SINCE ANCIENT TIMES.

AND THE FACT HAS NEVER CHANGED AND IT WILL NEVER BE CHANGED.

WE STILL CAN REMEMBER THAT THE THREE VERY IMPORTANT STRONG CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO CHINA POLICY AND THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THAT PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IS THE SOLE LEGAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTING THE WHOLE CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE CHINA AND TAIWAN IS PART OF CHINA.

AND BASED ON THOSE PRINCIPLES THAT OUR TWO COUNTRIES ESTABLISHED THE DIPLOMATIC TIES IN 1979.

AND ACTUALLY, TAIWAN HAS BEEN ALWAYS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHINESE TERRITORY.

TAIWAN HAS NOT BEEN SEIZED BY THE JAPANESE AGGRESSORS BY FORCE AND 50 YEARS AGO.

BUT AT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE DECLARATION ISSUED BY CHINA, THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED KINGDOM STIPULATED VERY CLEARLY THAT ALL THE TERRITORIES STOLEN BY THE JAPANESE FROM CHINA TERRITORIES LIKE TAIWAN, SHOULD BE RESTORED TO CHINA AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

AND THE FOLLOWING DECLARATION, REAFFIRMED THE PRINCIPLES AND ALL THOSE TERMS IN THE CAROL DECLARATION AND THE DECLARATION STATED THOSE TERMS AND THOSE AGREEMENTS IN THE CAROL DECLARATION.

SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT.

AND AT THE SECOND WORLD WAR, TAIWAN WAS RESTORED TO THE CHINESE TERRITORY AND SO THERE WAS -- THERE IS A UNIFIED CHINA.

>> CONSUL GENERAL, I JUST WANT TO GET IN A QUESTION ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

THAT RELATIONSHIP SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED UNDER TAIWAN'S NEW LEADER.

TSAI ING-WEN WHAT MAKES HER DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LEADERS BEFORE HER?

>> THE BIGGEST FACT REGARDING TENSIONS REGARDING THE STRAINED RELATIONS IS THAT THE FACT THAT TAIWAN TO THE ONE CHINA HAS NEVER CHANGED.

AS I SAID TAIWAN WAS RETURNED TO CHINA AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

AND TODAY ANTAGONISTS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES TAIWAN STRAITS WAS A RESULT OF THE CIVIL WAR IN CHINA BETWEEN 1945 AND 1949.

AFTER 1949 THE GOVERNMENT WAS DEFEATED AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA SUCCEEDED THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

SO THE TERRITORY OF THE WHOLE CHINA HAS NEVER CHANGED.

WILL NEVER BE CHANGED.

AND ACTUALLY THE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUED BY CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES IN 1972, STATED VERY CLEARLY THAT THE UNITED STATES ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PEOPLE BOTH SIDES TAIWAN STRAITS MAINTAIN THERE'S ONLY ONE CHINA AND TAIWAN IS PART OF CHINA.

AND THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT CHALLENGE THAT POSITION.

AND IN THE COMMUNIQUE, ESTABLISHING THE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IS THE SOLE LEGAL GOVERNMENT AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHINESE POSITION THAT TAIWAN IS CHINA AND THERE'S ONE CHINA.

THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES AND FACTS FORMING REGULATING THE CHINA-U.S. RELATIONS.

>> A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET TO ALL IT OF.

THANKS TO CONSUL GENERAL ZHAO JIAN AND DALI YANG FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> UP NEXT, WE VISIT COURT THEATRE WHICH WON A COVETED TONY AWARD FOR BEST REGIONAL THEATRE.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER...

THERE'S MUCH AHEAD INCLUDING A UNIQUE WAY OF TRACKING COVID OUTBREAKS.

>> THE TONY AWARDS GIVE RECOGNITION TO ONE LOCAL THEATRE IN THE U.S. COURT THEATRE HAS JUST BECOME THE 6TH THEATER IN CHICAGO TO WIN THE TONY AWARD FOR BEST REGIONAL THEATRE.

MARC VITALI VISITED THEM AT THEIR HOME ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

[♪♪♪] >> WE MET MEMBERS OF COURT THEATRE ON THE SET OF THE LATEST SHOW.

TWO TRAINS RUNNING.

>> TO HAVE THIS KIND OF NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AND ATTENTION PUT ON OUR COMMUNITY FOR COURT THEATRE FOR ALL THE PREVIOUS TONY AWARD-WINNING THEATERS AND THE OTHER THEATERS IN CHICAGO, WHO IN THE FUTURE WILL WIN TONIES, IT WAS SUCH A JOY TO HAVE THIS EVENT HAPPEN.

COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED THE A BETTER TIME.

TONY AWARDS LIKE ACADEMY AWARDS ANY AWARD, AWARDS HERE THAT IS NOT WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS AND YOU GET AWARDED SOMETHING, YOU RESPECT THAT AND IT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT TO BE ABLE TO BE ACCEPTED FROM YOUR PEERS LIKE THAT TO RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU HAVE IN THIS THEATRE WORLD THAT WE EXIST IN.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR 67 YEARS, COURT THEATRE HAS REEXAMINED CLASSIC THEATRE THAT COULD INCLUDE POURGY AND BESS OR ESPECIALLY PISS REX.

>> CLASSIC THEATER IS A REALM OF THEATRE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE CAN DEFINE WHAT A CLASSIC IS AND I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT.

>> THE FIRST PRODUCTION WAS 1955.

>> WE STARTED AS AN AMATEUR OUTDOOR THEATER IN A COURTYARD ON CAMPUS, THUS THE NAME THE COURT THEATRE.

DOING CLASSIC WORK AND THEN NICK CAME TO COURT ON FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

AND HE WAS BOTH AN ACTOR AN ACADEMIC.

AND TURNED THE COMPANY INTO A PROFESSIONAL COMPANY WITH THAT FOCUS.

AND SO TO HAVE THE EXPERTISE OF FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO A GREAT RESEARCH UNIVERSITY INFORMING THE WAY WE MAKE WORK IS PHENOMENAL.

>> CURRENTLY ON STAGE IS AUGUST WILSON'S TWO TRAINS RUNNING DIRECTED BYRON OJ PARSON.

WE ASKED HOW THEY REACTED WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THEY WON THE TONY AWARD.

>> I GOT THE NEWS AND I HUNG UP AND I WAS STUNNED INTO SILENCE AND I WALKED INTO THE LIVING ROOM WITH MY WIFE AND SON AND THEY ARE LIKE IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT.

AND I SHARED THE NEWS AND BURST INTO TEARS.

HE CALLED ME AND I WAS WITH MY HUSBAND HEY WE'RE GETTING THE REGIONAL TONY.

AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP IT QUIET FOR A WEEK.

>> THE TONY IS GIVEN FOR SUSTAINED ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF COURT THEATRE AND HOW LONG IT'S BEEN HERE EVERYBODY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.

IT'S GREAT TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR A HISTORY OF HARD WORK AND I THINK SMART WORK.

>> AS I'VE BEEN CELEBRATING THIS ACHIEVEMENT ALL I CAN SAY IS WE HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED WITH THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY AUDIENCE THAT COMPLETES THE MISSION BY BEING HERE TO MAKE THE THEATRE HAPPEN AND HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OUR WORK ASPIRES TO.

AND MORE ESPECIALLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STAFF AND ARTISTS WHO REALLY THIS IS THEIR AWARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TONY AWARDS.

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

>> AND CONGRATS TO THE TEAM AT COURT THEATRE.

THE OTHER FIVE THEATERS THAT HAVE WON THE TONY AWARD FOR BEST REGIONAL THEATRE OVER THE YEARS ARE...

THE TONY AWARDS WILL BE BROADCAST ON JUNE 12 WHICH IS ALSO CLOSING NIGHT OF TWO TRAINS RUNNING AT COURT THEATRE.

CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LOCAL SCIENTISTS ARE STUDYING SEWAGE FOR SOLID CLUES ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND THE LATEST COVID SURGE.

>> FOLLOWING THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER A LOOK WHERE WE'VE COME ON THE ISSUE OF POLICING AND WHAT IS NEXT.

>> GEOFFREY BAER ON A SOARING SOUTH SIDE BRIDGE THAT CARRIES THE CTA'S GREEN LINE INTO TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> WE REALLY WANTED THIS LIBRARY TO FEEL LIKE HOME FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND A MURAL THAT GIVES LIBRARY PATRONS A WARM WELCOME HOME IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> DESPITE BEING IN RECESS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE WORKING ON GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION IN THE WAKE OF THE MASSACRE OF 19 STUDENTS AND TWO TEACHERS AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN TEXAS LAST WEEK.

THE FUNERALS STARTED TODAY FOR SOME TEXAS VICTIMS KILLED ONE WEEK AGO.

ALSO TODAY, SENATORS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE MET ON ZOOM TO NEGOTIATE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL RED FLAG LAW.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WHO SPENT TIME IN UVALDE, TEXAS, EXPRESSED HOPE FOR A BIPARTISAN DEAL.

>> FOLKS WOULD ARE VICTIMIZED THEIR FAMILIES, THEY SPENT THREE HOURS AND 40 MINUTES AND THEY WAITED THAT TIME AND SOME CAME TWO HOURS EARLIER.

AND THE PAIN IS PALPABLE AND I THINK A LOT OF IT IS UNNECESSARY.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH AND WE'LL SEE HOW THIS WORKS.

>> ON THURSDAY, THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WILL CONVENE TO MARKUP AN OMNIBUS BILL THAT INCLUDES MEASURES TO CURB GUN TRAFFICKING, PROMOTE SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS AND TO RAISE THE PURCHASE AGE TO 21 FOR SOME SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES.

>> THE OFFICIAL TASTE OF CHICAGO LINEUP IS OUT.

THE FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL BE IN THE GRANT PARK LOCATION AND POP-UP NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATIONS INCLUDING AUSTIN ON JUNE 11, PULLMAN JUNE 18TH AND LITTLE VILLAGE ON JUNE 25TH.

THE BITE SIZED TASTE OF CHICAGO IN GRANT PARK WILL RUN FROM JULY 8-10.

ADMISSION IS FREE BUT VENDORS WILL BE ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS OR CASH INSTEAD OF TICKETS.

THERE WILL BE 30 VENDORS.

THREE STAGE ALSO PRESENT DANCE INSTRUCTION AND MUSIC AND DRIVE BY TRUCKERS.

THE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHICAGO'S BELOVED PIPING PLOVER IS OFFICIAL.

MONTY, WHO MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF WITH ROSE AT MONTROSE BEACH, DIED OF A SEVERE FUNGAL RESPIRATORY INFECTION AND LAKE ONTARIO JITTIES.

THE LINCOLN PARK ZOO THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND U.S. OF ILLINOIS WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT MONTY DID NOT DIE OF BIRD FLU.

>> A RESPONSE TO THE COVID RESURGENCE REQUIRES HIGH QUALITY REALTIME DATA.

YET PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN WARNING THAT IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WITH CERTAINLY HOW WIDESPREAD THE LATEST RESURGENCE MAY BE.

LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDING LED TO CLOSURE OF COVID TESTING SITES.

MILDER SYMPTOMS FOR THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND INCREASED USE OF AT HOME RAPID TESTS WHICH PEOPLE RARELY REPORT TO HEALTH AUTHORITIES MEANS AFTER COVID DATA IS HARD TO COME BY.

OUR GUESTS ARE WORKING ON A SLUNGS THAT INVOLVING TESTING CHICAGO WASTEWATER.

JOINING US TO SHARE THEIR DETAILS OF THEIR CREATIVE SOLUTION ARE CHARLIE CATLETT A SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST.

AND RACHEL PORETSKY, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO, RACHEL, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE, YOU THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THE NATIONWIDE DECLINE IN PUBLIC TESTING MEANS THE COVID DATA THAT WE HAVE IS UNRELIABLE?

>> THE DATA HAS ALWAYS BEEN SLIGHTLY PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LIMITED BY WHO CAN GET TESTED, WHAT TESTING AVAILABILITY IS LIKE AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME WHEN TEST RESULTS COME.

BUT IT'S WORSE NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THE HOME TESTING THAT YOU MENTIONED.

>> AND CHARLIE, TO THAT POINT, WOULD IT BE ACCURATE TO ASSUME WE ARE UNDER COUNTING THE COVID POSITIVITY RATE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE UNDER COUNTING.

PROBABLY SO BECAUSE OF THE FEWER TESTS AND BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC WILL NOT BE TESTED AT ALL.

>> IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT WE'RE ONLY COUNTING ONE IN SEVEN OR EIGHT INFECTIONS DOES THAT CONCEIVABLE?

>> RACHEL, I THINK I SEE YOU NODDING.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE TESTING [INAUDIBLE] AND WE'VE THOUGHT A FACTOR OF SEVEN TO 10 UNDERESTIMATE.

>> THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

YOUR SOLUTION HOW TO GET MORE ACCURATE COVID DATA.

LET'S WALK THROUGH THIS BECAUSE IT IS COMPLICATED.

BECAUSE SCIENCE IT INVOLVES SURVEYING CHICAGO WASTEWATER.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> RIGHT.

THE IDEA IS THAT OUR WASTEWATER DOESN'T CARE WHETHER PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TOEST ITING OR PEOPLE ARE REPORTING TESTING OR WHETHER PEOPLE ARE SICK OR NOT.

SO WE CONTINUALLY SURVEY THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND SEWERS AROUND THE CITY AND THE STATE AND LOOK FOR TRENDS IN SARS COV2 IN OUR WASTEWATER.

>> HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AS WASTEWATER AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF MEASURING WASTEWATER FOR COVID?

>> IT'S USED FOR A LONGTIME TO TRACK DISEASES.

AND WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO TRACK COVID-19 THAT IS WHEN WE STARTED AND PARTNERED WITH THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND BROUGHT IN COLLABORATORS FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY AND STARTED THIS EXPERIMENT THAT TURNED INTO A SERVICE FOR BOTH THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> SO RACHEL, TELL US ABOUT THE HIGH TECH SECRET YOU USE IN YOUR DATA COLLECTION.

TELL US WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> HIGH TECH, POOP, YES.

SO WE COLLECT WASTEWATER USED MOSTLY BECAUSE WE GET SAMPLES TWICE A WEEK AND WE EXTRACT THE VIRUS AND THE VIRAL RNA THAT IS PART OF THE VIRUS.

WE EXTRACT IT AND WE COUNT HOW MANY COPIES OF THE VIRUS THERE ARE IN A GIVEN WASTEWATER SAMPLE.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT VIDEO OF THAT EXTRACTION AND COLLECTION.

>> IT WORKS LIKE NOT A LOT, IT WORKS SIMILAR TO HOW CLINICAL NASAL SWAB WORKS.

WE'RE DOING PCR PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA OF A PCR TEST AND WE DO PCR AND WE SEND THE SAMPLES TO OUR COLLEAGUE AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LAB AND THEY DO SEQUENCING SO WE CAN TELL WHAT VARIANTS ARE PRESENT.

>> AND CHARLIE OVER THE VIDEO WE WERE LOOKING AT OF THE SAMPLE COLLECTION, YOU ARE USING A TAMPON IN A DEVICE THAT IS DROPPED INTO A MANHOLE COVER?

>> YEAH, AROUND THE STATE AND THE CITY WE TAKE SAMPLES FROM THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS BUT THEY ARE SO LARGE IN CHICAGO THAT WE WANTED TO GO OUT INTO THE CITY AND SELECT PLACES THAT WOULD REPRESENT MAYBE 100,000 PEOPLE RATHER THAN ONE OR TWO MILLION.

AND WE GO OUT AND WE LIFT THE MANHOLE AND WE HAD BEEN PUTTING A PUMP SENDING A TUBE DOWN AND TAKING A SAMPLE THAT WAY.

THEN WE SWITCHED TO USING THE MORE SWA SWAB LEAVE IT IN THERE.

WHAT WE DECIDED LATE LAST YEAR WE NEEDED SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE SWABS.

SO WE FOUND STAINLESS STEEL PARTS AND MADE OUR OWN DEVICE TO DROP DOWN AND GET BETTER SAMPLES.

AND ALSO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT OUR CREWS ARE AT THE MANHOLE.

THEY LIFT THE MANHOLE AND STOP THE TRAFFIC AND WITH THIS DEVICE THIS SHOULD ONLY TAKE FIVE OR 10 MINUTES.

WHAT WE WERE DOING BEFORE, TOOK MAYBE 40-45 MINUTES.

>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE SORT OF A FILTER THAT THE SWAB OR THE TAMPON GOES IN AND OBVIOUSLY THE STRING EXTENDS IT INTO THE SEWER.

>> RIGHT.

YOU CAN PICTURE LIKE A LOBSTER TRAP MAYBE, A CAGE THAT THE SWAB FITS IN TO PROTECT IT FROM EVERYTHING THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE SEWER.

>> AND HOW EVEN DO YOU ALL COLLECT THESE SAMPLES?

>> TWICE A WEEK.

AND YEAH, TWICE A WEEK FROM AROUND THE CITY WE DEPLOY THEM AND LEAVE THEM FOR UP TO FIVE DAYS.

AND THEN RETRIEVE THEM AND SWAP IT OUT FOR A NEW ONE WHEN WE TAKE THE OLD ONE OUT.

>> AND CHARLIE HOW DO Y'ALL DECIDE WHERE IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH MANHOLE COVERS OR WHERE IN THE SEWER TO PUT THE COLLECTION CAGES?

>> WELL, WE DECIDED BY WORKING WITH THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND FINDING OUT WHERE WERE THE PARTICULAR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, WHERE WERE THE HOTSPOTS AND THE COLD SPOTS DURING THE FIRST SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEN WE DID SOME INVESTIGATIONS.

WE HAD TO LOOK AT THE TOPOLOGY HOW THE SEWER IS LAID OUT AND FIGURE OUT WHICH MANHOLE WOULD REPRESENT WHAT IS UPSTREAM FROM EACH MANHOLE.

AND THE FEASIBILITY OF THE SELECTED MANHOLES WHERE WE WANTED TO STAY AWAY FROM VERY BUSY STREETS.

SO AT THAT TIME IT WOULD BE SAFER TO COLLECT.

SO IT IS A PROCESS.

IT'S GOT SOME ANALYSIS OF THE SEWER TOPOLOGY AND SEWER MODELING HOW THE SEWER BEHAVES.

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.

SURELY USEFUL DESPITE BEING LIKE RACHEL SAID HIGH TECH POOP.

>> RACHEL PORETSKY AND CHARLIE CATLETT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> LAST WEEK, MARKED TWO YEARS SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AT THE HANDS OF A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER.

IT IGNITED MOVES FOR CALLS FOR POLICE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.

SEVERAL STATES INCLUDING MINNESOTA AND ILLINOIS HAVE PASSED POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION.

ON THIS WEEKEND'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", ANGEL IDOWU LED A DISCUSSION OF WHERE WE'VE COME ON THE ISSUE OF POLICING.

WE BEGIN WITH WORDS FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN AS HE TOOK EXECUTIVE ACTION.

>> FOR MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MANY FAMILIES HERE SUCH ACCOUNTABILITY IS ALL TOO RARE.

THAT IS WHY I PROMISED AS PRESIDENT I WOULD DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO ENACT MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM THAT IS REAL AND LASTING.

THAT'S WHY I CALLED ON CONGRESS TO PASS THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE AND POLICING ACT.

[APPLAUSE] AND SEND IT TO MY DESK.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THIS AS THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT STALLS IN THE SENATE.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER TAKES ELEMENTS OF THE JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT INCLUDING BANNING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM USING CHOKEHOLDS UNLESS THE DEADLY FORCE IS AUTHORIZED AND REQUIRING OFFICERS TO INTERVENE IN CASES OF EXCESSIVE FORCE AND MANDATES THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL DATABASE OF POLICE MISCONDUCT TO BE USED BY ALL FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND AND LOCAL OFFICERS WHO JOIN FEDERAL TASK FORCES.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE ANTHONY DRIVER WITH THE CHICAGO ALLIANCE AGAINST RACIST AND POLITICAL REPRESSION.

>> TODD BELL CORE, COFOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL NONPROFIT SOCIAL CHANGE.

AND MARIE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE PROJECT AT THE NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.

NOW, MARIE LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER?

DO YOU THINK THIS IS ENOUGH?

>> WELL, FIRST THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE REACTION IS THAT WE'RE HAPPY THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS DOING WHAT HE CAN TO TAKE ACTION.

UNFORTUNATELY, NO IT IS NOT ENOUGH.

WHAT WE NEED IS FOR CONGRESS TO BE LEGISLATING TO PASS THE GEORGE FLOYD IN POLICING ACT AND TO PASS LAWS THAT WOULD END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AND THAT ALLOWED THE POLICE TO BASICALLY ACT WITH IMMUNITY.

>> NOW, TODD, YOU PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN GETTING A CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND POLICE REFORM BILL SIGNED INTO LAW HERE IN ILLINOIS LAST YEAR.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT CAN SOCIAL ACTIVISM HAVE IN INFLUENCING POLICY AND EFFECTING CHANGE.

>> SOCIAL ACTIVISM IS EVERYTHING.

CAN YOU NOT EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE TORTURED BY A GIVEN BODY, IN THIS CASE, THE POLICE TO TRUST THEM UNLESS THERE IS REAL GOOD FAITH EFFORT ON BOTH PARTIES TO COME TO THE TABLE AND DOING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO CREATE THAT TRANSPARENCY AND ADMIT THE PAST WRONG.

WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT SOCIAL CHANGE ADVOCATES WERE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR EIGHT PIECES OF REFORM THAT SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT HAVE BEEN LACKING AS IT RELATES TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS HERE.

TO INSURE THEY DO INTERVENE INDIANA SURE ACCESS TO RECORDS.

AND PEOPLE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR LYING ON POLICE REPORTS.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PRESIDENT TO SPEAK OUT THAT IS HISTORIC.

UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, THAT IS WHERE ALL THE CRIMES ARE TAKING PLACE BY POLICE AGAINST COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

UNTIL WE ADDRESS THAT THERE CAN'T BE REAL CHANGE THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY FEEL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TODD AN EMPHASIS ON THE LOCAL POLICING LEVEL.

>> ONE LEVEL THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN COULD NOT PASS WAS THE ISSUE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THIS IS A PART OF THE BILL THAT HAS BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

WHAT EXACTLY IS QUALIFIED IMMUNITY?

AND WHY IS IT SUCH IT'S ENDING SUCH AN IMPORTANT STICKING POINT?

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS WORKED THROUGH ANY LEGISLATURE AND NOT GONE THROUGH CONGRESS.

THIS WAS A DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT IN 1967.

A QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS A DOCTRINE USED TO SHIELD GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THIS CASE POLICE OFFICERS, FROM LEGAL LIABILITY.

SO I READ A STAT BEFORE COMING ON THAT 99.8% OF THE MISCONDUCTS ARE PAID OUT BY GOVERNMENTS.

AND 2020 CHICAGO SPENT $40 MILLION ON POLICE MUST CONDUCT SETTLEMENTS AND IN 2021 IT BALLOONED TO 70 AND IS EXPECTED TO GET HIGHER.

THE REASON GETTING RID OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT WE BELIEVE THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE A BLANKET SLATE TO BREAK THE LAW THAT INCLUDES POLICE OFFICERS AND INCLUDES POLITICIANS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

EVERYONE HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SYSTEMS TO BE TRULY JUST.

>> IMPORTANT NUMBERS THERE.

NOW MARIE WHILE PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS ISSUING HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER HE ACKNOWLEDGED HE TOOK HIS TIME BECAUSE HE WAS WORRIED IT WOULD UNDERCUT EFFORTS IN CONGRESS TO PASS THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT POWER CONGRESS HAS IN HOLDING POLICE ACCOUNTABLE THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH DOESN'T?

>> THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH CAN ONLY LEGISLATE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ORDER ONLY APPLIES TO FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

SO YOU KNOW, LIKE TODD WAS SAYING, POLICING IS AND POLICING ISSUES ARE MOSTLY ON A LOCAL MATTER AND MATTERS IN OUR STATES AND OUR CITIES.

SO IT IS LIMITED IN THAT SENSE.

CONGRESS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THEY CAN DO IS LEGISLATE TO END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

IT IS A DOCTRINE THAT WE GIVEN BY OUR COURTS AND SO IF CONGRESS DOESN'T LIKE THAT LAW THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND CHANGE IT.

IT IS NOT SET IN STONE.

AND IT IS YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT IS MONUMENTAL AND IS NECESSARY IF WE'RE GOING TO REALLY TALK ABOUT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND HOLDING THE POLICE TO STANDARDS THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD TO AND THAT THE REST OF US ARE HELD TO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, TODD, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR POLICE REFORM AND THAT EFFORT HAS RAMPED UP SINCE MAY 2020.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE?

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, POLICE AND BRUTALITY AND TORTURE AND TAKING OF LIVES AT THE HANDS OF POLICE HAS BEEN A UNIQUELY AMERICAN PROBLEM.

NO PIECE OF LEGISLATION CAN CHANGE THE WAY IN POLICE AND COMMUNITY INTERACT.

IN ADDITION TO CHANGING THE LAWS AND MAKE SURE THERE IS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WE ASK THAT PEOPLE OCCUPY THE POLICE FORCE.

IMAGINE THE ACTIVISTS WERE PROTESTING WERE THE ONES APPLYING TO BECOME POLICE OR FORMULATE ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING THAT WOULD METE OUT THE CONCERNS THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE.

THAT IS WHERE THE REAL PIECE AND TRUST COMES IN.

AND AS LONG AS POLICE AND STAKEHOLDERS CONTINUE TO BE AT THE TABLE AND ACT IN GOOD FAITH THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE FOUNDATION THAT IS THERE FOR FRUFT.

UNTIL THEN, AFTER CENTURIES OF MISTREATMENT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPECT TRUST FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN TERROR OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE PAY TO SERVE AND PROTECT US.

UNLESS THERE'S MEANINGFUL THINGS BEYOND LEGISLATION TO INSURE THAT POLICE ON THE GROUND TRULY CARE AND WANT TO TAKE STEPS BEYOND BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY ARE COMMITTING CRIMES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AN EXPLOSION OF MURALS HAS EN LIVENED ALL CORNERS OF CHICAGO ONE IS THE ACORNER OF 23rd AND KENZIE WHERE THE ART MET THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN 2020 WHETHER MURAL JOSEPH PEREZ AND A GROUP OF ARTISTS CREATED A TRIPLE WELCOME FOR PATRONS OF THE LITTLE VILLAGE BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>> I'M JOSEPH PEREZ.

MURALIST OF THE MURAL HOME AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE LIBRARY.

>> I'M ELIZABETH.

AND I'M ONE OF THE ARTISTS THAT WORKED ON THE LITTLE VILLAGE LIBRARY.

>> AND WE REALLY WANTED THIS LIBRARY TO FEEL LIKE HOME FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LITTLE VILLAGE.

BUT ALSO NORTH LAWNDALE.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE WE TOOK THE NAME FROM AND WE SPELLED IT OUT IN THE DESIGN OF THE MURAL.

WHEN YOU ARE PASSING BY YOU ARE ACROSS THE STREET YOU CAN SEE THE WORDING HOME SPELLED OUT.

AND UP CLOSE, EACH LETTER EACH PANEL IS A DESIGN IN ITSELF.

>> IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I GOT TO LEARN DIFFERENT THINGS FROM EACH ARTIST THAT WAS WORKING ON THE MURAL.

WEEK LIKE DIFFERENCE EXPERIENCE WORKING IN A GROUP VERSUS WORKING SEPARATELY.

SINCE IT WAS A LARGE MURAL WE HAD TO GET ON LADDERS AND BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.

BECAUSE IT'S SCARY LIKE ALL THE WAY UP ON THE LADDER.

>> THE STYLE IS A MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL MURAL, MURALIST STYLE AND STREET ART.

SO IT'S GRAPHIC DESIGNISH, CARTOONISH, TOO.

BUT IT'S VERY REFLECTIVE IN THOSE DESIGNS IT'S REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY OF LITTLE VILLAGE AND NORTH LAWNDALE.

>> I GREW UP HERE AND SEEING ARTWORK IN A POSITIVE LIBRARY AND BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF THAT I FEEL THAT INSPIRES OTHER ARTISTS TO TAKE THAT CAREER PATH SINCE THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE IT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> I WANT YOUNGER ARTISTS TO FEEL EMPOWERED LIKE SOMEONE LIKE ELIZABETH DOESN'T HAVE TO FEEL INTIMIDATED IF THEY WANT TO PAINT A MURAL OR GO TAKE THEIR ART AND ADD IT TO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, I WANT THEM TO FEEL THEY CAN DO IT AND NOT FEEL INTIMIDATED OR FEEL THEY DON'T HAVE THE SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN CITY.

>> THIS MURAL WAS COMPLETED THROUGH THE ARTS REACH, THE YOUTH INITIATIVE OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER FOR ELIZABETH.

SHE GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN ART EDUCATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO LAST MONTH.

UP NEXT, THE STORY OF A SOARING SOUTH SIDE BRIDGE IN AN ENCORE EDITION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE THERE IS A BRIDGE SPANNING THE DAN RYAN THAT LOOKS LIKE A DISNEYWORLD MONORAIL THAN PART OF A WORKING CTA TRAIN LINE.

GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE WITH THE BRIDGE'S HISTORY AND WHAT IT CAN TELL US ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

HEY THERE, GEOFFREY.

>> HI, BRANDIS.

>> THIS QUESTION IS: >> OK. WELL, AT FEAST THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE AN OBSCURE QUESTION JUST FOR L TRAIN NERDS LIKE ME.

BUT IF YOU'VE DRIVEN ON THE DAN RYAN IT'S LIKELY YOU KNOW WHAT OUR VIEWER DONALD IS ASKING ABOUT.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

AT ABOUT 59TH STREET, JUST NORTH OF WHERE THE SKYWAY SPLITS OFF ON THE RYE CAN, YOU -- RYAN, YOU PASS BETWEEN A BRIDGE THAT CARRIES THE GREEN LINE L WAY, WAY UP IN THE AIR.

IF YOU ARE ON THE GREEN LINE TRAIN AND LOOK AT THE RYAN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE FLYING IN AN AIRPORT.

WHAT IS THE STORY?

WELL, LET'S GO BACK TO WHEN THE BRANCH WAS BUILT BACK THEN, THE SPRETS WAY DID NOT EXIST.

WHEN CONSTRUCTION STARTED ON THE DAN RYAN IN THE MID-1950s HOW DO YOU KEEP THE TRAIN RUNNING AND DIG A REALLY WIDE, REALLY DEEP TRENCH UNDERNEATH THAT L STRUCTURE FOR THE FUTURE HIGHWAY GOING TO BE SUNKEN BELOW GRADE.

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THE CTA CONSTRUCTED A SECOND BRIDGE AND PUT THE L STRUCTURE ON TOP OF IT ON THE 19 SO 7 TRACKS SO THE CREW TO EXCAVATE BELOW THAT.

IT WAS A BRIDGE ON TOP OF A BRIDGE AND REMNANTS CAN BE SEEN TODAY ON THE RYAN.

AND THE TRAINS DID NOT HAVE TO BE HALTED AND NEITHER DID CONSTRUCTION.

AGAIN THIS IS PART OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE ENGLEWOOD OR ASHLAND BRANCH OF THE GREEN LINE, WE USED TO BE CALLED THE SOUTH SIDE ELEVATED.

THE BRANCH'S CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1905 AS A EXTENSION WHICH OPENED IN 1892 BEFORE THE CITY'S ELEVATED TRAINS WERE CONSOLIDATED IN THE CTA.

IN FACT, THAT OLD SOUTH SIDE ELEVATED IS GREEN LINE IS THE OLDEST LINE IN THE CITY.

ALL RIGHT SO NOW MORE THAN A SELF 10 INDUSTRY LATER -- THE CITY BULLDOZED A WIDE STRIP OF HOMES AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS TO BUILD THE DAN RYAN MANY WERE OWNED OR RENTED BY BLACK CHICAGOANS AND THE GAP CREATED A 14-LANE DIVIDE BETWEEN MOSTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE BRIDGEPORT AND THE BLACK BELT TO THE EAST.

BUT I SHOULD NOTE THAT BEFORE THE RYAN WAS CONSTRUCTED, THE ENGLEWOOD NOBODY TODAY WEST OF THE RYAN AND SERVED BY THE BRANCH OF THE L WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WAS ALREADY CHANGING FROM NEARLY 100% WHITE TO NEARLY ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN AS PART OF WHITE FLIGHT.

>> GEOFFREY, THE CITY MANAGED TO KEEP THE TRAINING RUNNING DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE RYAN.

AND YOU SAID THAT WAS THE CITY'S OLDEST L LINE.

IT'S HAD TO BE REFURBISHED, CORRECT?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY HAS AND THAT HAPPENED IN THE MID-1990s.

THE LINE WAS ALMOST TOTALLY REBUILT AND THE CTA DID NOT KEEP THE TRAINING RUNNING TO DO THE JOB IN THE SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE THE ENTIRE LINE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE WEST TO OAK PARK WAS SHUTDOWN FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS.

AND THE DECISION WAS FELT FOR YEARS AFTER THAT, SEVERAL STOPS WERE CLOSED PERMANENTLY ON TOP OF OTHER CLOSURES IN YEARS PRIOR.

AND THIS PHOTO YOU CAN SEE THE OLD WENTWORTH STATION RIGHT AT THE TRAIN BRIDGE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

IT WAS SHUTTERED IN 1992.

NOW, THE MOST RECENT CTA UPGRADES HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THE ONGOING RED PURPLE LINE MODERNIZATION PROJECT CLOSED STATIONS AND TRACKS FOR BRIEF PERIODS BUT NEVER SUSPENDED SERVICE.

>> TODAY THERE ARE ONGOING EFFORTS TO REOPEN ONE OF THE CLOSED GREEN LINE STATIONS, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ADVOCATING TO REOPEN THE SHUTTERED GREEN LINE STATION AT RACINE AND 63rd IN THE MIDDLE OF ENGLEWOOD.

IT'S PART OF THE GO GREEN ON RACINE DEVELOPMENT.

ON THE PROJECT IS WORKING TO REVITALIZE THE ENTIRE INTERSECTION RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY ARE CONVERTING AN OLD CORNER STORE IN A FRESH PRODUCE MARKET AND TURNING A SHUTTERED CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL INTO HOUSING AND RESOURCE CENTER FOR PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION.

AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE RAGE ENGLEWOOD AND THE INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK INVESTIGATION THE REOPENED -- ENVISION THE REOPENED STATION, AS WALKABILITY AND REBUILD THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> GO GREEN ON RACINE.

THANK YOU, GEOFFREY.

>> SURE THING.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE BRIDGE OVER THE DAN RYAN AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

>> AND A FOUGHT FOR VIEWERS.

SINCE WE RAN THAT STORY THERE HAS NOT BEEN MOVEMENT TOWARD REOPENING THAT STATION.

THE SPRING, THE CTA TOLD WTTW NEWS THAT IT IS AWARE OF THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO REOPEN THE RACINE STOP BUT THAT THE STATION WOULD NEED AN ESTIMATED $100 MILLION OR MORE OF WORK BEFORE IT COULD GO BACK INTO SERVICE WITH NO FUNDING CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND 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. G.O.P.

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES DARREN BAILEY AND RICHARD IRVIN ARE SET TO DEBATE THIS WEEK.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS ON THAT AND MORE.

AND A TOUR OF NEON SIGNS UP FOR SALE THIS WEEKEND INCLUDING A FAN FAVORITE FROM THE LAKEVIEW ROSCOE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOODS.

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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