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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE'RE CERTAINLY IN THE ZONE.

>> THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS A LOT TO DO BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.

WE HAVE A FULL RUNDOWN.

>> THE U.S. ECONOMY ROARS BACK GROWING MORE THAN 6% IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR AS MASS VACCINATIONS MAKE ECONOMIC RECOVERY POSSIBLE.

>> MAKE NO SECRET OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY UNHAPPY.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE HEAD OF C.O.P.A.

QUITTING AND THE MAYOR'S RESPONSE THAT AND MUCH MORE.

>> WHAT CAUSED THE MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE ADAM TOLEDO SHOOTING IN COURT BY KIM FOXX'S OFFICE?

AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION SHEDS SOME LIGHT.

>> A NEW REPORT FINDS THE VAST MAJORITY OF PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS IN ILLINOIS WERE POTENTIALLY PREVENTIBLE.

>> COVID-19 DEVASTATED THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND KEY THINGS THEY WANT THE LEADERS TO ADDRESS.

>> COULD YOU NOT DO THIS IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

>> AND THE SECRET BEHIND SOME OF THE MOST CELEBRATED HONEY IN ILLINOIS.

TOMORROW OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

SUMMER FESTIVALS ARE BACK.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CHOSE THE GOODMAN THEATRE.

THOSE EVENTS WILL NOT INCLUDE THE TASTE OF CHICAGO AT LEAST IN THE NORMAL FORM OR THE AIR AND WATER SHOW.

THE CITY ANNOUNCED A MUSIC SERIES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE ONLY TO FULLY VACCINATED CHICAGOANS STARTING WITH AN EVENT AT THE SILVER ROOM AT HYDE PARK.

LIGHTFOOT SAYS THE SUMMER WILL LOOK AND FEEL ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR.

>> THE OPEN CHICAGO ANNOUNCEMENTS WE'VE MADE TO DATE ARE ONLY THE BEGINNING OF OUR TARGETED EFFORTS TO SAFELY REOPEN OUR CITY.

AND OUR ABILITY TO MAKE MORE IS CONTINGENT UPON WHAT WE DO RIGHT NOW EVERYDAY.

WHAT YOU DO RIGHT NOW EVERYDAY TO FIGHT THIS VIRUS THAT IS STILL VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR PRESENT.

>> THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY THAT INVESTIGATES POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTINGS IS RESIGNING.

SYDNEY ROBERTS WHO LED THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS ANNOUNCES SHE IS STEPPING DOWN.

SHE SAID THE OFFICE DELIVERED THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS AND MADE PROGRESS IN IMPROVING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS BEEN CRITICAL ABOUT THE PACE OF C.O.P.A.

INVESTIGATIONS.

THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF ADAM TOLEDO AND ANTHONY ALVAREZ ARE AMONG THE MANY THAT THE AGENCY IS INVESTIGATING.

>> A FORMER ALDERMAN PLEADS NOT GILL TO CHARGES HE USED POLITICAL FUNDS FOR PERSONAL EXPENSES.

RICARDO MUNOZ ENTERED THE PLEA IN FEDERAL COURT TODAY.

THE FEDS ALLEGE HE TOOK MONEY FROM A POLITICAL FUND TO SPEND ON PERSONAL ITEMS LIKE COLLEGE COSTS, SPORTS TICKETS, TRAVEL AND OTHER PURCHASES.

HE RETIRED AFTER A PUBLIC DOMESTIC DISPUTE.

HE FACES 16 CHARGES IN ALL.

AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 2400 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 WITH 30 DEATHS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

THAT MAKES FOR A TOTAL OF 1.346 MILLION CASES AND 22,096 DEATHS.

96,000 VACCINE DOSES WERE REPORTED ADMINISTERED YESTERDAY ALTHOUGH THE STATE SAYS THAT INCLUDES 40,000 FROM PHARMACIES THAT DID NOT REPORT THE WEEKEND NUMBERS SO THE RATES IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN TRENDING DOWNWARD.

>> AND NOW, BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

>> THE MONTH OF MAY MEANS IT IS PRIMETIME FOR ACTION IN SPRINGFIELD.

THE LEGISLATURE IS SET TO WRAP UP ITS BUSINESS BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH A LOOK AT WHAT IS ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S PLATE.

AMANDA?

>> YEAH, BRANDIS IT IS A VERY FULL PLATE.

WHY?

BECAUSE OF WHAT ELSE?

THE PANDEMIC.

A TRUNCATED SESSION LAST YEAR MEANS ISSUES ARE INSTEAD ON THIS YEAR'S PLATE IF YOU WILL.

AND WHATEVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN IT HAS TO BE DONE BY MAY 31ST.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE ZALWESKI SAYS IT'S NOT QUITE CRUNCH TIME BUT THINGS ARE GETTING BUSY IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> A LOT OF MEETINGS TAKING PLACE.

A LOT OF STAFF REVIEW.

A LOT OF AMENDMENTS FILED.

WE'RE CERTAINLY IN THE ZONE.

>> AT THE TOP OF THE MUST HAPPEN LIST A NEW ROUGHLY $41 BILLION STATE BUDGET AND ONCE AGAIN COVID PLAYS A STARRING ROLE.

>> REVENUES ARE BOTH DOWN AND ARE EXPENSES HAVE GONE UP AS A RESULT ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES RELATED TO MEDICAID, THE NEED TO APPROPRIATELY HELP THOSE STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO THAT COUPLED WITH THE REVENUE LOSSES IS PUTTING STRAIN ON THE BUDGET.

WE PROJECT RIGHT NOW THAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEES HAVE TO GO OUT AND CLOSE ABOUT A 1.6 BILLION DEFICIT.

NOT GREAT, BUT ALSO NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.

>> LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT CLOSING TAX LOOPHOLES OR DOING AWAY WITH TAX CREDITS BUT MAKING THINGS A LOT EASIER.

THE 7.5 BILLION DOLLARS THAT ILLINOIS IS GOING TO BE GETTING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE COVID RELIEF PACKAGE.

BUT AN ISSUE BEING THAT ILLINOIS DOESN'T YET KNOW WHEN THAT MONEY IS GOING TO ARRIVE.

NOR WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE GOING TO COME WITH IT BECAUSE THERE WILL BE RULES THE STATE HAS TO FOLLOW.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INDICATED WE SHOULD HAVE THE REGULATIONS WE NEED WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO AND I THINK THAT'S PLENTY OF TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO DATE.

WE HAVE A GENERAL OUTLINE WHAT IT IS WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON.

THE QUESTION IS HOW CAN WE USE THE FEDERAL MONEY TO PLUG IN WHERE SO WE CAN CRAFT OUR NEEDS AROUND IT.

>> ANOTHER BIG ITEM THE ONCE A DECADE PROCESS OF DRAWING LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS DEMOCRATS WANT THAT DONE BY THE END OF SESSION AND REPUBLICANS SAY MAP MAKING DOES NOT DEA DESERVE A SPOT ON THAT LIST.

SINCE THE CENSUS INFORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED UNTIL MID-AUGUST.

RIGHT NOW, WIND THE CLOCK BACK TO FEBRUARY WHEN GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER GAVE HIS JOINT BUDGET IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> IT'S TIME TO PASS ETHICS LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.

NOBODY SHOULD HOLD THE TITLE OF BOTH LEGISLATOR AND LEBBYIST AT THE SAME TIME.

THE TO DO LIST HAVE LONG BUT IT INCLUDES KEY PRIORITIES LIKE FINALLY AUTHORIZING THE OVERDUE SECOND CANNABIS LICENSING LOTTERY AND PASSING AN ENERGY BILL THAT PROTECTS OUR NUCLEAR FLEET AND BUILDS UP OUR WIND AND SOLAR INDUSTRIES.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON ETHICS.

NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH MARIJUANA IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE A BATCH OF 75 LICENSES WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS TO OPEN UP MORE MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES.

IT STILL HAS NOT HAPPENED.

THERE IS A BILL THAT AIMS TO GET THAT GOING.

AS FOR ENERGY PRITZKER DOES HAVE HIS OWN PLAN AND SO DO CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATES AND UNIONS AND EXELON IS THREATENING TO SHUTDOWN A PAIR OF NUCLEAR PLANTS IF A STATE DOES NOT PASS A LAW TO HAVE THE CUSTOMERS PAY TO KEEP THEM OPEN.

ALL OF THIS HAS ADDED COMPLEXITY BECAUSE OF THE ETHICS SCANDAL SURROUNDING ComEd.

PRITZKER IS DEALING WITH THIS AS HE IS FACING A SCANDAL OF HIS OWN.

A RECENT AUDIT SAYS THERE WAS WIDESPREAD MISMANAGEMENT AT THE STATE'S VETERAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT THIS FALL WHEN 36 VETERANS DIED AT THE STATE VETERANS HOME IN LASALLE.

PRITZKER HAS THUS FAR BLAMED HIS SINCE OUSTED VETERANS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR BUT CRITICS SAY THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE AND THEY ARE CALLING FOR HEARINGS.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO BE MORE HUMBLE IN THIS SITUATION AFTER THE WAY HE USED THE LAST QUINCY HOME REPORT AS A POLITICAL WEAPON TO HIS ADVANTAGE AND EXPLOITED AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT AT EVERY TURN HE COULD.

HE NEEDS TO BE MORE HUMBLE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE SEE DEFLECTION COMING FROM HIM.

>> ON THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF BILLS PERCOLATING IN THE CAPITOL SOME DEAL WITH CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS LIKE GUNS AND GAMBLING OTHERS DEAL FROM EVERYTHING FROM MIDWIFERY TO A PLAN TO PROHIBIT SCHOOLS FROM BANNING CERTAIN HAIR-DOS.

>> WE'VE SEEN INSTANCES OF BLACK CHILDREN IN THE ILLINOIS AND TRAUMATIZED BY OUTDATED SCHOOL POLICIES THAT PUT IT BLUNTLY POLICE THEIR HAIR STYLES.

>> MAKING THINGS SLIGHTLY COMPLICATED ON GETTING OF THIS DONE IS THAT A LOT OF THESE HEARINGS ARE HAPPENING VIRTUALLY BECAUSE OF COVID WHICH MEANS MANY OF US HAD TO LEARN THIS YEAR YOU HAVE TO ROLL WITH THE ZOOM PUNCHES LIKE WHEN THIS MOM'S CHILD WANTED HER ATTENTION WHILE TESTIFYING AT A LEGISLATIVE HEARING.

WE WILL BE SEEING MORE OF THIS.

THE LEGISLATURE IS IN THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH.

LOOK FOR A LOT OF CHANGES, PROGRESS IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, BEFORE THE MONTH IS OUT.

BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> NOW TO PARIS FOR AN ECONOMIC OUTLOOK.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, THE U.S. ECONOMY IS BACK SOMEWHAT IT GREW AT MORE THAN 6% IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2021 AS THE COMBINED IMPACT OF A MASS VACCINATION ROLL OUT AND FEDERAL STIMULUS CHECKS TRIGGERED A SURGE IN CONSUMER SPENDING.

THIS AS PRESIDENT BIDEN TALKED ABOUT MASSIVE NEW FEDERAL INVESTMENTS AND INCREASED TAX RATES ON HIGH INCOME EARNERS.

HOW LONG CAN THE ECONOMIC BOOM LAST?

JOINING US ARE ED STUART PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ECONOMICS AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY.

AND MIKE MILLER.

USGDP GROWING AT 6.4% DOES THAT OFFICIALLY MEAN THE COVID TRIGGERED RECESSION IS OVER?

>> WELL, IT TOOK US WITHIN 1% OF THE PREVIOUS PEAK WE HIT IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR.

I THINK THAT IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO SAY THAT WE HAVE FULLY RECOVERED IN TERMS OF GDP.

THIS WILL GIVE THE NBER WHO DATES THE TIMES OF THE PEAKS AND THE TROUGHS A CHANCE TO SET THE DATE FOR THE PANDEMIC RECESSION.

WHICH I THINK THAT WILL BE SOMETIME IN LATE SUMMER EARLY AUTUMN OF 2021.

>> THAT APPEARS WHEN THE ECONOMY WOULD HAVE BOTH -- AUTUMN OF 2020.

>> THIS IS DRIVEN BY THE REOPENINGS AND THE STIMULUS PACKAGE BUT WHEN THAT MONEY RUNS OUT, WHAT HAPPENS?

>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, YOU SEE THESE LARGE NUMBERS OF 1.9 TRILLION, 2 TRILLION AND MOST OF THAT MONEY IS PHASED IN OVER A FAIRLY LONG PERIOD OF TIME IT IS NOT JUST A ONE SHOT.

A LOT OF THE STIMULUS MONEY FOR EDUCATION AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS PROGRAMMED TO LAST FOR AT LEAST THE REST OF 2021 AND WELL INTO 2022.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM THAT IS YET TO BE PASSED I SAW AN EIGHT-YEAR TIME HORIZON FOR THAT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO RUN OUT ANYTIME SOON AND THERE ARE ALSO REALLY INTERESTING NUMBERS IN THE LATEST GDP DATA THAT CAME OUT IN THURSDAY AND THEN ALSO THE PERSONAL INCOME NUMBERS THAT CAME OUT FRIDAY SHOWING HOW MUCH EXTRA INCOME AMERICAN CONSUMERS HAVE AND HOW MUCH OF THAT THEY SAVE.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONSUMER BUYING POWER THAT IS STILL IN BANK ACCOUNTS AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS THAT ARE THERE FOR CONSUMERS TO SPEND OVER A FAIRLY LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO COME.

>> A LOT OF PENT UP DEMAND AND POSITIVE INDICATORS.

MIKE MILLER, WHAT SECTORS ARE DOING BEST?

WHAT SECTORS ARE LAGGING?

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING THE DRIVER OF THE ECONOMY IS THE CONSUMER.

FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

THERE IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF PENT UP DEMAND FOR CONSUMER DURABLES THINGS WHICH LAST MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

THAT'S CARS, APPLIANCES AND FURNITURE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF BUYING OF THAT HAPPENING.

AND THEN THE HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE INCOMES EXPLODED WITH THE $1400 CHECKS TO A LARGE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS AND THEY ARE BEGINNING TO SPEND SOME OF THAT.

A LOT OF THE SPENDING ON LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY THAT WAS NOT DONE DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT IS GONE FOREVER BUT PEOPLE NEED THE WASHERS AND DRYERS THEY WERE NOT BUYING.

THE HOUSEHOLDS ARE BUYING.

THERE IS A BOOM IN HOUSING AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT IN TERMS OF GDP THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT FOR NONDEFENSE GOVERNMENT SPENDING THE NUMBER WAS UP 44%.

THAT IS ALL THAT REDISTRIBUTION THAT OCCURRED WHICH HELPED STIMULATE THE HOUSEHOLDS TO SPEND MORE.

>> AND IT COULD BE MORE AS ED STUART ELUDED TO.

LET'S HEAR WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AND THE AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN AND A PLAN TO RAISE TAXES ON HIGH INCOME EARNERS TO PAY FOR IT.

>> IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START GIVING TAX BREAKS AND TAX CREDITS TO WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES INSTEAD OF JUST THE VERY WEALTHY.

AND HERE IS WHAT THE AMERICAN FAMILY PLAN DOES NOT DO.

IT DOES NOT ADD A PENNY TO OUR DEFICIT.

IT'S PAID FOR MAKING SURE THAT CORPORATE AMERICA AND THE WEALTHIEST PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> YOUR PHILOSOPHIES YOU MIGHT BE DIVERGENT ON THIS, FIRST, ED STUART THE COMBINATION OF THIS SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CHILDCARE, COUPLED WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER TAX RATES FOR HIGH INCOME EARNERS AND CORPORATIONS HOW WILL THAT IMPACT THE ECONOMY?

>> I THINK OBVIOUSLY AS YOU ELUDED I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY POSITIVE.

BECAUSE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOT JUST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT BACK 10 OR 15 YEARS, THE AMERICAN ECONOMY HASN'T INVESTED IN CLASSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, BRIDGES THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SAID WE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS DEFICIENT IN SPENDING ON WHAT EVERYBODY AGREES IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

AS I POINTED ON THIS SHOW MANY, MANY TIMES, IN THE UNITED STATES WE HAVE ONE OF THE SLOW WEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE INTERNET SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.

SO WE NEED LOTS OF INVESTMENT IN REDUNDANT AND HIGHER GRADE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY.

THE PEOPLE IN TEXAS WILL TELL YOU THAT WE NEED A LOT MORE IN TERMS OF POWER GRID AND WATER SYSTEMS AND THEN OBVIOUSLY FOR THE NEW GREEN TECHNOLOGIES AND ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILES, WE NEED A MUCH MORE ROLLED OUT SYSTEM OF CHARGING STATIONS AND ELECTRICAL POWER.

>> I WANT TO BRING MIKE MILLER IN ON THIS.

WHAT ABOUT THAT TAX PIECE, MIKE MILLER?

AND THESE RATES FOR THE MOST PART WOULDN'T EVEN MATCH WHAT THEY WERE PRE2017.

COULD THAT SLOW THE ECONOMY?

>> WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT CORPORATE INCOME TAX IS LESS THAN 9% OF THE REVENUE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

INCREASING IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A MAJOR INCREASE IN THE REVENUE.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS TO REALIZE IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED OR WILL DECIDE IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE LIKE SCANDANAVIA, THE ONLY TAX STRUCTURE THAT CAN DEAL WITH THAT IS NOT TO TAX THE RICH THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY THERE.

THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A LARGER BASE IN THE MIDDLE CLASS PAY RATES OF 40-50% OF THE INCOME TO THE GOVERNMENT LIKE IRELAND AND SCANDANAVIA.

MAYBE THAT IS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AND IF SO WE CAN CHOOSE SO BY PICKING REPRESENTATIVES.

I AM NOT A FAN OF THAT.

THERE JUST IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY WITHIN THE RICH TO PAY FOR ALL THE PLANS WE HAVE.

>> ED STUART YOU MIGHT DISAGREE?

IS THAT HOW YOU SEE IT?

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO TAX?

>> YOU ARE AN EXTREMELY PER KAYCIOUS MAN.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WORD MEANS.

>> SHARP SIGHTED.

YES.

YES, I THINK THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH.

THERE WAS A RANDS CORPORATION STUDY JUST DONE THAT THE THROUGH TAX CUTS AND REGULATORY CHANGES FROM 1979 UNTIL 2020 THE UNITED STATES HAS TRANSFERRED 37 TRILLION FROM THE BOTTOM 90% OF THE POPULATION TO THE TOP 10% OF THE POPULATION.

THE INCOMES OF THE UPPER 1% OF THE COUNTRY HAVE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY.

THE CORPORATE PROFITS ARE THE LARGEST THEY'VE BEEN AS CHAIR OF GDP SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

CORPORATE TAXES IN THE U.S. ARE LESS THAN 1% OF GDP IN MOST OTHER COUNTRIES NOT JUST SCANDANAVIA, THEY ARE AT LEAST 2%.

SO THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR CORPORATIONS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OR AN AVERAGE SHARE OF TAX REVENUES THAT MOST INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES PAY.

>> MY POINT IS IT'S MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN THE COUNTRIES WHERE A RICH PAY A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE PIE AND THE LOWER INCOMES PAY ALMOST NONE OF THE TAX.

>> THIS IS A GREAT DEBATE AND WE WILL CONTINUE IT AT A LATER DATE.

THANK YOU TO ED STUART AND MIKE MILLER.

>> MY PLEASURE U MY PLEASURE.

>> BACK TO BRANDIS WITH MORE ON LATINO UNITY DAY AND ISSUES LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE FACING.

>> PARIS, CHICAGO'S LATINO COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY AFFECTED BY THE EVENTS OF THE PAST YEAR.

THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED LATINO RESIDENTS AND MOST RECENTLY THE COMMUNITY HAS FACED THE FATAL POLICE SHOOTINGS OF TWO YOUNG PEOPLE, ADAM TOLEDO AND ANTHONY ALVAREZ.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS KEY ISSUES FOR ILLINOIS' LATINO COMMUNITY IS STATE SENATOR CELINE VILLANUEVA WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES PARTS OF CHICAGO'S SOUTHWEST SIDE AND SYLVIA PUENTE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST TODAY WE KNOW IT IS LATINO UNITY DAY.

SYLVIA COULD YOU REMIND US WHAT THAT DAY IS AND HOW IT STARTED?

>> SURE.

IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

BUT IT'S BASICALLY, A DAY LONG EVENT THAT IS PUT ON BY A NUMBER OF LATINO LED NONPROFITS TO SHOW THAT WE CARE OUR INTERESTED IN AND WANT A VOICE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SPRINGFIELD.

WE TYPICALLY BRING 300 FOLKS TO SPRINGFIELD TO TALK TO THE GOVERNOR, OUR LEGISLATORS, BUT ALSO BASICALLY, AS WE SAY TO HAVE A SHOW OF LATINO UNITY THAT WE DO HAVE A COHESIVE LATINO COMMUNITY THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN ISSUES OF REDISTRICTING, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HOW OUR STATE RESPONDS TO OUR LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> AND WE WILL GET TO A COUPLE OF THOSE.

TODAY IS CINCO DE MAYO.

REMIND US OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT DAY AND WHAT IT MEANS AFTER WHAT THIS LAST YEAR HAS BEEN?

>> THERE IS THIS MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE THINK THAT CINCO DE MAYO IS INDEPENDENCE DAY IT'S ABOUT REMEMBERING THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR FREEDOM FOR INDEPENDENCE FOR PEOPLE THE PEOPLE IN MEXICO.

AND I THINK FOR ME AND ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS IN THE COUNTRY IT IS A DAY TO CELEBRATE OUR MEXICAN HERITAGE WHICH SOME OF US DO IT ALL THE TIME.

BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE THE MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER THINGS HAVE HAD ON OUR COMMUNITIES PARTICULARLY NOT JUST MEXICAN BUT LATINO AND LATINX COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE TRUE MEANING OF CINCO DE MAYO.

>> SYLVIA WE KNOW COVID HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A CHART THAT SHOWS FOR EVERY 100,000 RESIDENTS IN ILLINOIS THE LATINO COMMUNITY SAW MORE THAN 10,000 CASES OF COVID.

THAT IS COMPARED TO 6400 FOR WHITE RESIDENTS, 6300 FOR BLACK RESIDENTS AND 3800 FOR ASIAN RESIDENTS.

IS COVID AND IMPACT ON THE LATINO COMMUNITY A KEY CONCERN ON LATINO UNITY DAY?

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE IT IS HOW WE ADDRESS THE HEALTH AND THE ESCALATING IMPACT OF COVID IS TREMENDOUS.

TO CLARIFY IT'S FOR EVERY 100,000 OF THAT RACIAL ETHNIC GROUP THAT MEANS FOR EVERY 100,000 LATINOS OVER 10,000 HAVE HAD COVID MORE THAN 10% OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

AND WITH THAT WE ARE THE LOWEST TESTED.

SO WE REALLY FEEL THAT 10,000 PER EVERY 100,000 IS UNDER REPORTED.

AND AS YOU'VE NOTED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN THE STATE.

AND WHAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE AND HEAR ABOUT THE IMPACT OF LONG-HAULERS AND BEGINNING TO SEE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID ON THEFTS BECAUSE -- O'DETTES BECAUSE LATINOS OF WORKING AGE ARE THE HIGHEST GROUPS OF DEATHS.

AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR LITERALLY WHAT I CONTINUE TO CALL AN ECONOMIC, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION TSUNAMI FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH A COALITION WHICH IS AN AMAZING EFFORT TO COME UP WITH POLICY SOLUTIONS.

BUT ALSO TO PUT NEEDLES IN PEOPLE'S ARMS SO THEY ARE GETTING VACCINATED >> ASIDE FROM COVID'S IMPACT, CHICAGO'S LATINO COMMUNITY HAS FELT THE IMPACT OF TWO FATAL POLICE SHOOTINGS, ADAM TOLEDO AND ANTHONY ALVAREZ.

THE POLICY FORUM IS A PART OF A COALITION CALLING FOR A MORATORIUM ON FOOT PURSUITS IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

KA RINNA SPOKE ABOUT THIS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY.

>> WE ARE ON A COURSE THAT IS HEADED RIGHT TO DISASTER WHEN YOU HAVE ESCALATED ISSUES ON FOOT PURSUITS, THAT ARE IN AN INEVITABLE HEATED SITUATION WITH NO DUE PROCESS.

>> SENATOR, YOUR DISTRICT INCLUDES PART OF LITTLE VILLAGE AND YOU ARE A RESIDENT THERE HOW HAVE THE SHOOTINGS AND THE VIDEOS IMPACTED PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICING FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> I WANT TO SAY THIS.

HERE IS THE THING... ISSUES OF VIOLENCE IN LATINO AND LATINX COMMUNITIES ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE AND LITTLE VILLAGE HAVE BEEN EXISTENCE AND THERE HAVE BEEN ORGANIZATIONS AND ORGANIZERS TRYING TO DO THE INTERVENTIONAL WORK FOR A LONGTIME.

SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND SYSTEMIC DISINVESTMENT HAS LED TO OBVIOUSLY EITHER LACK OF GRANT FUNDING OR LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO THE REALITY IS THIS...

THE VIDEOS ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO WATCH.

I GOT VERY EMOTIONAL AND AGAIN IT HIT ME TO THE CORE THE SAME WAY THAT THE VIDEOS OF LAQUAN McDONALD AND SO MANY COUNTLESS OTHERS HAVE COME OUT AND WE'VE HAD TO SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

BUT THE REALITY IS THIS...

CYCLES OF POVERTY, SYSTEMIC DISINVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN LONG IN EXISTENCE.

THESE ARE MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR FACTORS WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT IS GOING ON.

AND AGAIN, LIKE MY PUSH AND CONTINUOUS PUSH AS A FORMER IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ORGANIZER COMING FROM ORGANIZING COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZING FAMILY AND NOW BEING A LEGISLATOR IS TO FIGHT TO CONTINUE TO GET FURTHER INVESTMENT WHETHER IT'S STATE FUNDING, WHETHER IT'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDING, WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS REVITALIZATION HELPING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS BEING ABLE TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.

THE REALITY IS THIS... OUR COMMUNITIES ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF RESOURCES AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO BREAK THE CYCLES OF POVERTY.

>> MY THANKS TO STATE SENATOR CELINE VILLANUEVA AND SYLVIA PUENTE OF THE LATINO POLICY FORUM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, THE SECRET BEHIND SOME OF THE MOST CELEBRATED HONEY IN ILLINOIS.

STAY WITH US.

>> MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM BREAKING DOWN THE INDICTMENTS IN THE ComEd BRIBERY SCANDAL.

BUT FIRST, ILLINOIS IS KNOWN FOR GROWING CORN AND SOYBEANS AND THERE IS A CROP SOME SAY IS READY HONEY.

QUINN MYERS HAS THE STORY OF A BEE FARM NORTH OF CHICAGO THAT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> THIS IS JUST WHAT, ONE TO ONE SUGAR?

SUGAR AND WATER.

AND WE'RE FEEDING THEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO NECTAR BEING PRODUCED RIGHT NOW.

NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE HONEY.

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS BUILD THE COLONIES UP.

>> KAREN AND JIM BELLI NEVER EXPECTED TO BECOME BEEKEEPERS.

A RETIRED C.P.S.

TEACHER AND ARCHITECT THEY GREW UP IN CHICAGO.

FAR AWAY FROM ANY SORT OF AGRICULTURE LET ALONE AN APRIL ARI.

BUT AFTER THEY BOUGHT FARM LAND IN OLD MILL CREEK ILLINOIS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER, THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHO STILL LIVED ON THE PROPERTY HAD AN IDEA.

>> AND SHE SAID WHY DON'T YOU TRY BEEKEEPING?

SHE SAYS ALL THE FARMS YEARS AGO ALL HAD A COUPLE HIVES.

>> A FEW YEARS LATER AFTER THEY BEFRIENDED A BEEKEEPER AND ATTENDED WORKSHOPS THE BELLI'S DECIDED TO GIVE IT A SHOT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAMILTON ILLINOIS TO BUY EQUIPMENT AND WE ARE GOING TO GIVE IT A TRY.

>> KAREN LOOKED AT ME AND SAID IF WE DON'T GET INTO THIS SOON WE WILL BE TOO OLD TO DO IT.

>> THEY BEGAN WITH TWO HIVES AND EXPANDED.

THEY STARTED ENTERING THE HONEY IN COMPETITIONS AND THEN THE STATE FAIR THEN NATIONAL CONTESTS.

AND TODAY HAVE RACKED UP DOZENS AND DOZENS OF AWARDS.

AND JUST LAST YEAR, THE COUPLE WERE NAMED THE 2020 BEEKEEPERS OF THE YEAR BY THE ILLINOIS STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION.

>> IT STILL IS A TECHNICAL HOBBY BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT?

>> IT IS IT IS A PASSION.

>> IT'S NOW A PASSION I WOULD SAY THAT.

>> THEIR SECRET IS THE DIVERSITY OF LOCAL PLANTS AND TREES.

MAKING NORTHEAST ILLINOIS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO RAISE HONEYBEES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

>> YOU COULD NOT DO THIS IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

AND IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THIS THAT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS WAS THIS MAGICAL PLACE FOR HONEY I WOULD HAVE SAID YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING.

>> EVERY YEAR, THE BELLI'S BEES FEAST ON LINDENS, BLACK LOCUSTS, CLOVER, WILD FLOWERS AND MORE CREATING SHADES OF HONEY THAT RANGE FROM ALMOST TRANSLUCENT TO DARK BROWN.

COLORS HARD TO FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> THE COLOR IS DETERMINED BY THE NECTAR SOURCE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HUGE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLANTS AND TREES AND SHRUBS TO GET THE DIFFERENT NECTAR SOURCES WHICH WILL GIVE YOU THE DIFFERENT COLORS.

HERE WE HAVE A LONG GROWING SEASON.

AND WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF VARIETY.

>> THE BELLI'S MAINTAIN 40 HIVES AT THE SUMMER PEAK YIELDING A THOUSAND POUNDS OF HONEY EVERY YEAR THEY DO IT ALL ON THEIR PROPERTY.

HOME TO AN EXPANSIVE BARN THEY REFURBISHED AND A CUSTOM FARMHOUSE JIM DESIGNED.

WHILE THEIR OPERATION HAS GROWN A BIT SINCE THEY BOUGHT THEIR FIRST HIVES THE BELLI'S SAY WHAT KEEPS THEM GOING IS WORKING WITH THE BEES THEMSELVES WHAT THEY CALL BEE TIME.

>> THERE'S NO CLOCK THERE'S NO DAY, IT'S JUST YOU AND THE BEES.

AND HAVE A BOND WITH THEM AND YOU'RE WATCHING THEM AND YOU'RE WATCHING THEM COME IN AND OUT OF THE HIVE AND LOOKING AT THE FRAMES AND SEEING THEM MOVE AROUND AND TRYING 0 TO BE CALM AND PEACEFUL AS YOU CAN.

AND THEY ARE JUST SO BUSY DOING THEIR JOB AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE OF TIME THERE'S NOTHING IT'S JUST YOU AND THE BEES.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT", I'M QUINN MYERS DISMOO NOT GOING TO DO IT, NOT GOING TO DO THE BEE PUN OR BUZZ.

I DID IT AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE ADAM TOLEDO SHOOTING IN COURT BY KIM FOXX'S OFFICE IS RELEASED.

PREVENTIBLE DEATHS AND RACIAL DISPARITIES TWO FINDINGS OF A REPORT ON MATERNAL MORTALITY IN ILLINOIS.

AND FOUR PEOPLE CHARGED WITH CONSPIRING TO BRIBE FORMER SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN TO BENEFIT ComEd APPEARED IN COURT TODAY.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TACKLES THAT AND MORE.

>> BUT FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

TURNOVER AT THE TOP OF THE AGENCY THAT INVESTIGATES POLICE MISCONDUCT CASES AND POLICE SHOOTINGS SYDNEY ROBERTS THE HEAD OF THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY OR C.O.P.A.

RESIGNED TODAY AFTER THREE YEARS ON THE JOB.

THAT OFFICE HAS INVESTIGATED HIGH PROFILE CASES LIKE THE SHOOTINGS OF ADAM TOLEDO AND ANTHONY ALVAREZ AS WELL AS THE UNWARRANTED RAID ON THE HOME OF ANJANETTE YOUNG.

LIGHTFOOT SAYS SHE DID NOT FORCE ROBERTS OUT BUT SAYS SHE HAS PROBLEMS WITH HOW THAT AGENCY HAS OPERATED.

>> I DID NOT SEEK HER RESIGNATION BUT I'VE MADE NO SECRET OF THE FACT THAT I'VE BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY'VE HANDLED A NUMBER OF THINGS NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS TAKING OVER 18 MONTHS TO MOVE FORWARD ON AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING ANJANETTE YOUNG AND A LOT OF THAT TIME, NOTHING HAPPENED.

THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

>> LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED NEW PERSONNEL MOVES INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT OF CELIA MEZA AS CORPORATION COUNSEL.

AND STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 2400 NEW CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES WITH 30 ADDITIONAL DEATHS THAT MAKES FOR A TOTAL OF 1.346 MILLION CASES AND 22,096 DEATHS.

AND 33% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

>> A BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNICATION THAT IS WHAT AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION BY THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOUND TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE ADAM TOLEDO SHOOTING.

WTTW MATT MASTERSON JOINS US WITH MORE.

REMIND US WHAT PROMPTED THIS INTERNAL INVESTIGATION IN THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE?

>> SO THE STATE HAD A BOND HEARING FOR RUBEN ROMAN FOR THE MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING ADAM TOLEDO'S SHOOTING.

DURING THE HEARING WE GOT THE GLIMPSE IN WHAT LED UP TO THE SHOOTING BEFORE THE BODY-CAMERA VIDEO CAME OUT.

SO STATEMENT THAT DAY MADE BY THE PROSECUTOR HANDLING THE BOND HEARING MADE IT SOUND AS THOUGH ADAM TOLEDO WAS STILL HOLDING THE GUN BEFORE HE WAS SHOT AND WHEN THE VIDEO DID COME OUT IT SHOWED HE DROPPED THE GUN AN INSTANT BEFORE HE WAS SHOT BY THAT CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER.

WHY THE MISLEADING STATEMENTS WERE MADE DURING THE HEARING.

>> AND WHAT WERE THE CONCLUSIONS WHY THOSE STATEMENTS WERE MADE AND THE GENERAL REACTION FROM THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE?

>> THEY SAID IT WAS A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE OFFICE IN HOW INFORMATION WAS SHARED BETWEEN THE GROUP INVESTIGATING THE TOLEDO SHOOTING THAT WAS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY DIVISION AND THE PROSECUTOR WAS SPEAKING IN BOND COURT JAMES MURPHY.

THE PROSECUTOR'S LANGUAGE USED WAS NOT REVIEWED BEFORE HE WENT INTO COURT AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY SAID A SERIES OF CHECKS AND BALANCES FAILED TO CATCH THESE THINGS BEFORE THAT HEARING.

>> ON A SMALLER LEVEL IT REMINDS ME OF ISSUES SURROUNDING THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE.

ANY FALLOUT?

>> JAMES MURPHY THE PROSECUTOR IN COURT HE WAS PLACED ON LEAVE AFTER THE VIDEO CAME OUT BUT HE HAS BEEN RETURNED.

AND JENNIFER COLEMAN THE FIRST ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY WHO HANDLED THAT SHE RESIGNED HER POSITION THIS MORNING.

>> MATT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS.

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

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> AN AVERAGE OF 75 WOMEN IN ILLINOIS DIE EACH YEAR WHILE PREGNANT OR WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PREGNANCY.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO A REPORT ON MA TERM MORE BITTY AND MORTALITY >> MATERNAL MORE BITBIDITY AND MORTALITY.

83% OF ALL PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS WERE POTENTIALLY PREVENTIBLE AND THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPACT OF SYSTEMIC RACISM FINDING BLACK WOMEN WERE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A PREGNANCY RELATED CONDITION THAN WHITE WOMEN.

JOINING US ARE THE EXPERTS WHO HELPED PUT THE REPORT TOGETHER.

SHANNON LIGHTNER OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES AND Dr. ROBIN JONES.

JONES IS AN OBSTETRICIAN AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SHANNON LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE, I WANT TO CLARIFY THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN PREGNANCY ASSOCIATED DEATHS AND PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS BECAUSE YOU ANALYZE BOTH WHAT IS THAT DIFFERENCE PLEASE?

>> PREGNANCY ASSOCIATED MEANS THE DEATH OF A WOMAN WHO IS PREGNANT OR ONE YEAR POST PAR TESTIMONY FROM ANY CASE.

PREGNANCY RELATED IS THE DEATH OF A WOMAN WHOSE DEATH IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO A PREGNANCY.

IN OTHER WORDS WE ASK WOULD SHE DIED HAD SHE NOT BEEN PREGNANT.

>> AMONG THE KEY FINDINGS OF THE REPORT 34% OF WOMEN WHO DIED EITHER WHILE PREGNANT OR WITHIN A YEAR OF PREGNANCY DIED FROM A PREGNANCY RELATED CAUSE.

OF THOSE WOMEN 40% HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

BLACK WOMEN ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE THAN WHITE WOMEN OF A PREGNANCY RELATED ISSUE AND WOMEN ON MEDICAID WERE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PREGNANCY.

Dr. JONES HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THOSE NUMBERS, PLEASE?

AND WHAT CLEAR DISPARITIES DO YOU SEE THERE?

>> THANK YOU.

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A PREGNANCY RELATED MEDICAL THAN WHITE WOMEN.

WHITE WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE TO DIE FROM A MENTAL HEALTH CAUSE THAN BLACK OR HISPANIC WOMEN.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CAUSES OF DEATH THE TOP FOUR INCLUDE MELODIES ORDERS MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, PREEXISTING DISEASE, AND HYPERTENSION.

BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEATHS OF THESE WOMEN.

PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN.

>> OK. AND I THINK WE WILL COME BACK TO SOME OF THOSE AS WELL.

SHANNON LIGHTNER THE REPORT ESTIMATED THAT 83% OF PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

WHY ARE WE AS A SOCIETY FAILING THOSE WOMEN?

WHY WEREN'T THEY PREVENTED?

>> ONE THING TO CLARIFY IS WHEN WE DETERMINE A CASE TO BE PREVENTIBLE, WE MEAN THAT THERE WAS SOME CHANCE THAT THE DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF REASONABLE CHANGES COULD HAVE BEEN MADE, THE PROVIDER OR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS OR PATIENT LEVELS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AMONG THE DEATHS THE CHANCE OF PREVENTING THAT DEATH CAN RANGE FROM A GOOD CHANCE TO A SLIGHT CHANCE AND THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO EACH GREAT GREATLY INFLUENCE THE CHANCE OF PREVENTABILITY.

SOME OF THE CASES WE SEE SOCIETAL FACTORS.

BARRIERS TO CARE, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, LACK OF ACCESS TO CARE AND SOMETIMES WE SEE POOR QUALITY OF CARE.

IT REALLY DOES DEPEND ON EACH SITUATION, EACH CASE AND THE NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PLAYING A ROLE.

>> A NUMBER OF FACTORS NOT ALL ARE NECESSARILY WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE SETTING?

>> CORRECT.

>> OK. Dr. JONES, THIS IS THE SECOND STATE REPORT ON MATERNAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY THE FIRST FOUND THAT BLACK WOMEN WERE SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF A PREGNANCY RELATED CONDITION THAN WHITE WOMEN.

THE GAP HAS SHRUNK BUT YOU ARE SAYING IT IS NOT EXACTLY A SIGN OF PROGRESS.

WHY NOT?

>> WELL, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE CDC AND LOOKING AT FACTORS OTHER THAN OR IN ADDITION TO MEDICAL FACTORS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND WE ARE LOOKING AT STRUCTURAL RACISM.

AND ACTUALLY THE CDC HAVE LED THE WAY IN THIS WORK AND ACROSS THE STATE THEY HAVE PROVIDED STATES WITH THE LOOK AT FACTORS SUCH AS DISCRIMINATION AND INTERPERSONAL RACISM.

>> AND Dr. JONES YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DISPARITIES THAT THE REPORT IDENTIFIED AND THAT ROLE OF SYSTEMIC RACISM.

EXPLAIN THE WAYS THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM IS IMPACTING THE HEALTH OF BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN?

>> WE HAVE STARTED OVER THE LAST YEAR IN LOOKING AT SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

AND UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, POVERTY, QUALITY EDUCATION, HEALTHY FOOD, INCOME, HOW THAT ACTUALLY AFFECTS A WOMAN'S HEALTH AND HER ACCESS TO NEEDED HEALTHCARE, IT DOESN'T HEALTHCARE DOESN'T EXIST IN A SILO.

WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE FACTORS AND UNDERSTAND THOSE FACTORS AND THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

BECAUSE THEY ARE DEFINITELY IMPACTING WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>> SHANNON, HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE ILLINOIS TO OTHER STATES ON THESE ISSUES?

>> I THINK THAT ILLINOIS IS DEFINITELY A LEADER IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND MATERNAL MORTALITY AND UNDERSTAND THE DRIVERS WHAT IS LEADING MATERNAL MORTALITY AND PUTTING RECOMMENDATIONS OUT THERE.

OUR REPORT IS HELD UP AS AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER STATES TO LOOK TO.

WE WERE THE FIRST STATE TO NAME RACISM AS A CAUSE OF MATERNAL MORTALITY AND DIVE INTO RACISM IT IS A CONCRETE EXAMPLE HOW STRUCTURAL RACISM CONTRIBUTES TO MATERNAL MORTALITY.

I THINK WE ARE LEADING THE WAY IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSES IN PUTTING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS OUT THERE IN 2018 WE RECOMMENDED THAT MEDICAID BE EXTENDED TO ONE YEAR POSTPARTUM AND WE BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO HAVE MEDICAID EXTENDED FOR CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY.

SO I THINK WE ARE LEADING THE WAY.

WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BECAUSE THAT DISPARITY DOES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT.

Dr. ROBIN JONES AND SHANNON LIGHTNER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> A VERY BUSY DAY IN COURT AND MORE TO BREAKDOWN WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM THE NAME OF WHICH I ALMOST FORGOT.

JOINING US ARE AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

SO LET'S START IN COURT.

FOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE CHARGED WITH CONSPIRING TO BRIBE FORMER SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE MICHAEL MADIGAN TO BENEFIT COMMONWEALTH EDISON APPEARED IN COURT TODAY.

PARIS WHO ARE THESE FOUR?

WHAT ARE THE CHARGES?

>> THE THINK YOU HAVE TO KNOW IS THEY ARE FORMER TOP EXECUTIVES OR LOBBYISTS FOR ComEd AND THE CHARGES REVOLVE AROUND ALLEGED SCHEMES TO GIVE JOBS AND CONTRACTS TO THOSE VERY CLOSE TO MICHAEL MADIGAN AND A LOT OF THOSE JOBS WHERE YOU DID NOT HAVE TO GO TO WORK OR DO ANYTHING IN EXCHANGE FOR MADIGAN HELPING PUSH LEGISLATION THAT BENEFITED ComEd.

A COUPLE BILLS THAT BENEFITED ComEd'S BOTTOM LINE THAT CAUSED RATEPAYERS IN CHICAGO TO PAY MORE.

AND CLEARLY HERE, AS SOME OF THE COURT'S REPORTERS INDICATED THE HEARING INDICATED THERE MIGHT BE MORE DEFENDANTS IN THIS CASE THERE MIGHT BE MORE INDICTMENTS COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT A PERSON RIGHT NOW WHO IS MENTIONED IN THE INDICTMENT BUT IS NOT CHARGED WITH ANY WRONGDOING.

THE ODDS MAKERS ARE WONDERING IF THAT IS WHO THEY MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU HEAR ATTORNEYS SAY THEY EXPECT MORE INDICTMENTS TO COME.

>> AND MADIGAN IS THE BIG FISH HERE.

AMANDA, DOES THIS MEAN PROSECUTORS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO CHARGE OR INDICT MADIGAN YET?

IS THERE THE EXPECTATION THAT THE FOUR Mr. FLIP ON HIM?

>> WE DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT WILL GO ON THUS FAR THEY ALL HAVE BEEN QUITE LOYAL.

ALL HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

AND WHY YOU DON'T SEE MADIGAN RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE HE NOT ONLY NOT HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED BUT DENIED ANY PART OF WRONGDOING HE SAID IF THERE WAS A BRIBE HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.

WHAT WE KNOW FROM COURT TODAY IS THERE WERE DEFENSE ATTORNEY TALKED ABOUT INTIMMATIONS OF A SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS NOT SAYING WHAT THAT MEANS.

ONE WOULD PRESUME YES IF THEY HAD ENOUGH TO GET MADIGAN THEY WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE DONE SO.

BUT SUPERCEDING INDICTMENT THAT SURE SOUNDS IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE BIG IT COULD BE ADDING CHARGES TO THE FOUR, BUT, YES, IT MIGHT WELL LEAD TO MADIGAN AND THE TRIBUNE ISREPORTING THAT SEVERAR HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS THAT WOULD HAVE KNOWN MADIGAN AND HOW HE OPERATES HAVE TALKED TO THE GRAND JURY OR HAVE TALKED TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RECENTLY AND THAT THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT MADIGAN.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS ARE EDGING CLOSER THOUGH, AGAIN, THE FORMER SPEAKER SAYS HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

>> STAY TUNED.

EXALDERMAN RICARDO MUNOZ ARRAIGNED TODAY.

WHAT HAPPENED AND REMIND US WHAT HE IS CHARGED WITH?

>> WELL, ALDERMAN MUNOZ PLED NOT GUILTY TO 16 COUNTS OF WIRE FRAUD AND MONEY-LAUNDERING AND THIS DATES BACK TO ALLEGED CONDUCT FROM 2016-2019 WHEN HE WAS BOTH THE CHAIRMAN AND THE TREASURER OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS.

HE IS ACCUSED OF TAKING MORE THAN $38,000 FROM THE CAUCUS' POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE ACCOUNT AND USING IT TO BUY ALL SORTS OF THINGS INCLUDING TRIPS AND JEWELRY AND CLOTHES AND TO PAY A RELATIVE'S COLLEGE TUITION.

THAT IS ENTIRELY ILLEGAL.

YOU CANNOT USE POLITICAL FUNDS FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES.

WE HAVE A RANGE OF ILLINOIS POLITICIANS WHO HAVE GONE TO JAIL FOR DOING THAT.

BUT ALDERMAN MUNOZ SAYS HE IS NOT GUILTY AND HE IS DUE BACK IN COURT NEXT MONTH AS THE TRIAL PROGRESSES.

>> ALDERMAN DALEY THOMPSON WAS CHARGED WITH LYING TO INVESTIGATORS HE IS SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED ON MAY 13TH.

HERE IS WHAT THE MAYOR SAID TODAY ABOUT WHETHER HE SHOULD STEP DOWN.

>> HAVING BEEN A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AND PROSECUTED ELECTED OFFICIALS IT IS VERY HARD FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR FOCUS ON THEIR PUBLIC LIFE WHEN THEY ARE FACING SUCH PRESSURE IN THEIR PRIVATE LIFE.

>> AND AGAIN, UNLIKE ALDERMAN BURKE WHO TONED DOWN SINCE HIS INDICTMENT ALDERMAN THOMPSON IS VOCAL.

>> HE IS.

HE PARTICIPATED IN A COMMITTEE HEARING AT THE VERY MOMENT THAT THE INDICTMENT WAS UNSEALED.

AND HE WAS PRESENT ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN A HEARING YESTERDAY ON SUMMER VIOLENCE AND WHAT THE CITY SHOULD DO TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.

HE SAYS HE IS INNOCENT.

HE SAYS IT WAS AN INNOCENT ERROR THAT HE MADE ON HIS TAXES AND THAT HE WILL FIGHT IT AND HE REMINDED US ALL IN THIS CASE, WHAT HE IS CHARGEDDED WITH DOES NOT RELATE TO THIS OFFICIAL DUTIES AS ALDERMAN.

BUT THE MAYOR CAMPAIGNED ON ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION IN ALL FORMS AT CITY HALL WHICH IS WHY I WAS INTERESTED TO HEAR HER STOP SHORT OF CALLING ON ALDERMAN THOMPSON TO RESIGN.

>> AND THOMPSON'S INDICTMENT IS PART OF A GIGANTIC INVESTIGATION INTO THAT BANK IN BRIDGEPORT WASHINGTON FEDERAL AND THEIR 10 DEFENDANTS THEY MIGHT KNOW STUFF ABOUT THOMPSON HE MIGHT KNOW STUFF ABOUT THEM WE'LL SEE HOW THE DANCE GOES.

>> ADDITIONALLY THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY'S CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR RESIGNED TODAY HERE HOW THE MAYOR REACTED.

>> I'VE MADE NO SECRET OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY'VE HANDLED A NUMBER OF THINGS NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS TAKING OVER 18 MONTHS TO MOVE FORWARD ON AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING ANJANETTE YOUNG AND A LOT OF THAT TIME, NOTHING HAPPENED.

>> HEATHER, TELL US WHAT WE KNOW?

IS THERE THE THOUGHT SHE WAS PUSHED OUT OVER THE ANJANETTE YOUNG CASE?

>> I ASKED THE MAYOR EXACTLY THAT I ASKED HER DID YOU REQUEST HER RESIGNATION?

AND SHE SAID SHE DID NOT.

BUT THE MAYOR HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF HER AGENCY UNDER HER LEADERSHIP.

SHE WAS FRUSTRATED LAST WEEK WHEN C.O.P.A.

CALLED FOR THE OFFICER WHO SHOT ANTHONY ALVAREZ IN PORTAGE PARK TO BE STRIPPED OF POLICE POWERS THEY PUT THAT OUT TO THE PRESS BEFORE SUPERINTENDENT BROWN AND THAT RANGELLED THE MAYOR.

AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK IN A TENSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE LEAD AGENCY CHARGED WITH INVESTIGATING POLICE MISCONDUCT.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING OF ANTHONY ALVAREZ AND 13-YEAR-OLD ADAM TOLEDO IS MORE DELAYS TO BE FRANK.

>> FINALLY KIM FOXX, LOSES A TOP LIEUTENANT OVER ONE OF HER PROSECUTOR'S MISSTATEMENTS AROUND THE ADAM TOLEDO VIDEO.

AMMAN -- PARIS I WILL GO TO YOU.

THE PROSECUTOR IS WORKING BUT THE TOP LIEUTENANT IS LEAVING.

FOXX SAYS THE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN HER OFFICE DID NOT WORK.

WHAT COULD BE THE POLITICAL FALLOUT FOR HER?

>> MY GUESS WOULD BE NOT MUCH BECAUSE REMEMBER THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT CASE AND THE MISTAKES MADE THERE AND CONFUSION OVER WHETHER SHE RECUSED HERSELF OR NOT.

SHE DID NOT PAY A POLITICAL PRICE SHE WON REELECTION.

THE VIEWS OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY IN COOK COUNTY TEND TO CENTER AROUND IDEOLOGICALLY WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORT THE APPROACH TO PROSECUTING.

THIS IS LIKE A SIMILAR HICCUP HERE MAYBE SMALLER THAN SMOLLETT WAS.

BUT I WOULD NOT SEE A HUGE POLITICAL FALLOUT.

>> AND SO FAR OUT FROM THE NEXT ELECTION THAT BY THE TIME IF SHE IS TO RUN AGAIN, WHO KNOWS WHAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT AT THAT POINT.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE HEARD THUS FAR ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON, I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT TALKED TO FOXX OR HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW HER.

IT'S NOT WHY SHE HAS NOT WATCHED THE VIDEO OF A CASE THAT WAS CLEARLY COMMANDING THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION AND SHE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL WHEN THIS ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY MADE THOSE STATEMENTS IN COURT ON APRIL 10TH SHE HAD NOT YET WATCHED THE VIDEO IT WASN'T UNTIL HER OFFICE BECAME PART OF THE MEDIA CUSTOMER IF YOU HAVE FELL THAT SHE WATCHED THE KERFUFFLE, THAT SHE WATCHED THE VIDEO.

>> RENAMING LAKE SHORE DRIVE AFTER DuSABLE.

HEATHER YOU REPORTED THE COMMITTEE MEETING WAS RAUCOUS AND PROFANE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> IT WAS.

ALDERMAN DAVID MOORE HAS BEEN TRYING FOR 18 MONTHS TO RENAME OUTER LAKE SHORE DRIVE FOR JEAN BAPTIST DuSABLE CHICAGO'S FIRST NONINDIGENOUS SETTLER AND THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT CAME OUT WITH A NEW ORDINANCE BUT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THEM AND ERUPTED IN ANGER SAYING THEY SANDBAGGED HIM AND INTRODUCED A LAST-MINUTE CHANGE.

SO AT THE END OF THE HEARING WHICH LASTED FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS, THEY PASSED THAT ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WHICH DOES NOT LEGALLY DEFINE OUTER LAKE SHORE DRIVE AND IS OPPOSED BY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

SO AT THIS POINT IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING LATER THIS MONTH.

BUT SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO BE DONE TO MAKE THIS CHANGE LEGAL BECAUSE AS WE DISCOVERED DURING THE HEARING THE CITY'S CODE DOES NOT DEFINE OUTER LAKE SHORE DRIVE ALTHOUGH EVERYBODY WHO LEAVE OF LIVES HERE KNOWS WHERE IT IS.

>> ALDERMAN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVOCATES WANT THE CITY TO USE FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS TO RETHINK THE SUMMER APPROACH.

PARIS, SHOOTINGS ARE UP THIS YEAR.

WHAT ARE THEY PROPOSING?

>> A LOT MORE MONEY FOR VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.

THE MEDIATORS THAT GO IN AS DISPUTES HEAT UP AND GET IN BEFORE THEY TURN VIOLENT.

BUT THE ISSUE IS THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WITH GUNS.

MORE PEOPLE ARE CARRYING MORE YOUTH ARE CARRYING AND EVERYBODY I TALK TO SAYS THE SAME THING THAT THERE IS STILL NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR THE OVERARCING SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND JOB TRAINING.

SO THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS ONE PIECE OF IT.

BUT UNTIL AS WE ALL KNOW, I MEAN VIOLENCE HAS A MILLION DIFFERENT CAUSES UNTIL THOSE ROOT PROBLEMS AREN'T ADDRESSED I'M SKEPTICAL THAT THROWING MORE MONEY AT VIOLENCE PREVENTION CAN BRING THE NUMBERS DOWN FOR THE SUMMER.

>> WE KNOW THAT C.P.S.

IS LOSING ANOTHER C.E.O.

AFTER YEARS OF SORT OF THE BACK AND FORTHWITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

JANICE JACKSON IS LEAVING.

HEATHER Dr. JACKSON'S TWO TOP ADMINISTRATORS ARE ALSO LEAVING AND WE'VE HEARD ANNOUNCEMENTS OF FOLKS LEAVING APPOINTMENTS IN RECENT MONTHS.

IS THIS A BRAIN DRAIN FOR THE MAYOR?

>> IT'S NOT A NORMAL AMOUNT OF TURMOIL.

AND I ASKED THE MAYOR ABOUT THAT TODAY.

I SAID IS THIS AN INDICATION THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS AT YOUR CITY HALL?

AND SHE SAID LOOK IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY'S TAKING STOCK OF THEIR LIVES AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM THEIR LIVES.

AND MAYBE MAKING DECISIONS TO CHANGE.

HOWEVER, THE MAYOR WILL HAVE TO FILL SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE POSITIONS JUST IN THE COMING WEEKS.

TODAY WE DID GET AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CELIA MESA WILL BECOME THE CITY'S CORPORATION COUNSEL.

SHE WOULD BE THE FIRST LATINA TO HOLD THAT POST ANOTHER INDICATION THAT DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT TO MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

>> AND LOTS MORE POSITIONS TO WATCH.

THANKS TO THE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE STORIES DISCUSSED WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON OUR WEBSITE AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE MAKE SURE TO READ A STORY ABOUT A RECENT CATCH AND RELEASE CATCH AND RELEASE OF A 240 POUND STORM SURGE EN.

I ONCE CAUGHT A FISH THIS BIG AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

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

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE.

>> TALK ABOUT REELING IN THE BIG FISH.

THERE IS A THEME.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND REPRESENT OPERATIONS REPARATIONS PROGRAM.

>> AND A LOOK INSIDE AN OLD BUILDING FOR INSIGHT INTO CHICAGO'S ANOTHER WEEK YEN PAST IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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