[♪♪♪] IT.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> PARK MANAGEMENT FAILED OUR WORKERS.

>> WIDESPREAD SEXUAL ABUSE AT CHICAGO'S SCHOOLS AND BEACHES REVEALED IN A NEW REPORT.

>> THEY NEED TO PASS THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT SHOWS GOOD FAITH.

>> DEMOCRATIC U.S.

SENATOR JOE MANCHIN CONTINUES TO HOLD-UP THE PRESIDENT'S BUILD BACK BETTER PROPOSAL WHAT IS NEXT WE GO ONE-ON-ONE WITH SENATOR DICK DURBIN.

>> HOW CHANGES TO THE ON-LINE SALES TAX YOU PAY IN ILLINOIS WERE TIMED JUST RIGHT FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

>> WE'RE BASICALLY PROTECT AGAINST OTHER CORONAVIRUSES.

>> A NEW STUDY SHOWS COVID AND SARS VACCINE MIGHT PROTECT AGAINST RELATED VIRUSES EVEN THE COMMON COLD.

>> CHANGED MY WHOLE ROUTINE WHEN IT COMES TO GROCERIES NOW.

>> ANOTHER GROCERY STORE CLOSES ON THE WEST SIDE.

WE LOOK THE AT BARRIERS SOME FACE TO ACCESSING FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD.

>> SCIENTISTS PROBE THE ATMOSPHERE OF A DISTANT EXOPLANET AND HOW A STUDY OF BALDNESS IN MICE COULD LEAD TO TREATMENTS.

>> AND MEET THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS AT STEPPENWOLF THEATRE AS THEY ADD AN ADDITIONAL THEATRE TO THE CAMPUS.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE F.B.I.

IS INVESTIGATING LORETTA HOSPITAL'S COVID VACCINATION PROGRAM AFTER PEOPLE JUMPED THE LINE TO GET THEIR SHOT ACCORDING TO THE BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AND BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO.

THEY REPORT TWO FEDERAL GRAND JURY SUBPOENAS WERE SENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN MAY AND SEPTEMBER RELATED TO A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

LORETTO DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR COMMENT.

>> A GRAPHIC DESIGNER KILLED LAST WEEK IS REMEMBERED AT A DOWNTOWN VIGIL.

ADE HOGUE WAS RIDING HIS BIKE APPROACHING LAKE SHORE DRIVE WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN HE WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A WOMAN DRIVING A VAN HE DIED FRIDAY.

HOGUE WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMPETITIVE CYCLING TEAM AND A VIGIL SO-CALLED GHOST BIKE PAINTED WHITE WAS PLACED AT THE SITE OF THE CRASH.

HOGUE WAS 32 YEARS OLD.

O'HARE AIRPORT'S PEOPLE MOVER IS SET TO GET MOVING.

THE AIRPORT TRANSIT SYSTEM NOW FEATURES A LARGER FLEET OF NEW CARS USING THE LINE BUILT IN THE EARLY 90s.

>> INTEGRATING A NEW RAIL VEHICLE ON AN EXISTING TRACK AND CONTROL SYSTEM IS NOT A PROJECT UNDERTAKEN EVERYDAY.

AND OUR GOAL WAS TO CREATE AND MODERNIZE THIS SYSTEM NOT JUST FOR THE NEEDS OF TODAY BUT FOR THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

>> AND THE PROJECT HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY DELAYS AND DISPUTES WITH THE CONTRACTOR.

THE PEOPLE MOVER WILL RUN FROM 10:30 AM TO 3:30 P.M.

THE COMMISSIONERS HOPE TO HAVE IT RUNNING FUNDAMENTAL TIME NEXT YEAR.

IN ADDITION TO NEW VEHICLES WHICH THE CITY SAYS DOUBLES PASSENGER CAPACITY, THE LINE WAS EXTENDED TO A NEW FACILITY CONNECTING TO RENTAL CARS AND METRA.

>> UP NEXT, ONE-ON-ONE WITH ILLINOIS' SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> LAWMAKERS WERE HOPEFUL LAST WEEK BUT THERE'S NO VOTE SCHEDULED ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S SIGNATURE PROPOSALS AFTER DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOE MANCHIN OF WEST VIRGINIA PUT THE BRAKES ON IT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> SIMPLY PUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT A BILL THAT IS THIS CONSEQUENTIAL WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT THE IT WILL HAVE ON OUR DEBT, ECONOMY AND ALL OF OUR AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL AND MUCH MORE IS SENIOR SENATOR DICK DURBIN WHO SERVES AS THE SENATE MAJORITY WHIP.

SENATOR DURBIN THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU HEARD SENATOR MANCHIN, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS THE VOTES ARE THERE FOR BOTH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND THE SOCIAL SPENDING BILL.

CONGRESS VOWED TO VOTE THIS WEEK.

MANCHIN IS SKEPTICAL.

ARE THERE 51 VOTES IN THE SENATE FOR BOTH BILLS?

>> YES, I THINK THERE WILL BE AND WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH A LONG INVOLVED PROCESS, INVOLVING THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE MODERATES AND THE PROGRESSIVES AND THE AND ARES ARE IN THE BLEACHERS WATCHING.

>> AND SENATOR MANCHIN THINKS THERE ARE GIMMICKS IN THE BILL.

HE STILL DOESN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND ITS IMPACT ON THE FEDERAL DEFICIT.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK NEED TO BE IRONED OUT FOR HIM?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE I TALKED TO JOE TWO HOURS AGO ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE WHICH IS ONE THAT I CARE ABOUT A LOT.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND WE HAVE SEVERAL PROBLEMS.

FIRST RECONCILIATION THAT THE NAME OF THE PROCESS IS SPECIFIC ON WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT ISN'T ALLOWED.

AND SECOND THERE IS A GATEKEEPER THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN WHO CAN GIVE A THUMB'S UP OR DOWN TO ANY PIECE PUT IN THERE.

AND THIRD, WE'VE GOT TO FIND SOMETHING THAT TRULY DOES HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A MAJOR CHANGE IN OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS IN 35 YEARS.

AND WE DESPERATELY NEED THEM.

>> YOU NEED TO CLARIFY THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN THERE MIGHT BE A BACK DOORWAY TO HAVE RESIDENCY STATUS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AS PART OF THESE ECONOMIC BILLS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> WELL, I'LL TRY.

THERE ARE THREE PROPOSALS IN THE SENATE.

THE FIRST TWO I WON'T GO INTO IN DETAIL BUT THEY WERE REJECTED BY THE PARLIAMENTARIAN.

THE THIRD PROPOSAL IS AN IMMIGRATION VISA KNOWN AS PAROLE AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS BUT CALLED PAROLE AND IT SAYS PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR IT ONCE APPLIED WOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES UNTIL THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED WITHOUT FEAR OF DEPORTATION AND THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK AND TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND RETURN AND IF THEY PAY THEIR TAXES THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THE REGULAR BENEFITS THAT COMES WITH THOSE WHO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> AND YOU SPOKE WITH SENATOR MANCHIN ABOUT THAT AND HE IS SKEPTICAL OF SO MANY PARTS OF THE SOCIAL SPENDING BILLS.

IS HE ONBOARD WITH THE IMMIGRATION PROPONENT?

IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT COULD ADD A NEW WRINKLE FOR SOME LEGISLATORS?

>> WELL, IT WASN'T MY FIRST CHOICE.

PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP AND THE DREAM ACT AND THAT SORT OF THING THEY WERE THE FIRST TWO THINGS WE SUBMITTED THAT WERE NOT ACCEPTED.

I WILL NOT GO ON A LIMB AND SPEAK FOR JOE MANCHIN WE HAVE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

HE VOTED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM WHEN WE PASSED IT IN THE SENATE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

SO HE IS ON THE RECORD FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM.

AND THOSE WHO ARE CRITICAL OF THAT IDEA VOTE IS CAST I'M ASKING HIM TO STICK WITH IT TO GET THE JOB DONE.

>> AND BACK TO THE BUILD BACK BETTER WHAT IS IN HERE FOR ILLINOISIANS?

>> OH, BOY.

IN TERMS OF HELP FOR OUR STATE, A LOT.

A LOT.

LET'S START AT THE OBVIOUS.

THIS NOTION OF ADDITIONAL THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS ADDITIONAL YEARS OF EDUCATION, IS DRAMATIC.

250,000 KIDS IN ILLINOIS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT.

IN ADDITION THE IDEA OF DAYCARE BEING AVAILABLE FOR THOSE PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE.

750,000 KIDS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.

THE NOTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO EXTEND THE TAX CUTS FOR CHILDREN THAT HAS CUT CHILD POVERTY IN HALF IN OUR STATE AFFECTS DRAMATIC NUMBERS.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER.

WE HAVE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION.

INCLUDED IN THIS.

WHICH I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

WE CANNOT IGNORE THE OBVIOUS.

THE WORLD IS GETTING INTO A DANGEROUS STATE BECAUSE OF OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND GOING TO GLASGOW SCOTLAND CONFERENCE MANY BELIEVE WE OWE THIS TO OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS TO GET IT RIGHT.

>> WHAT ARE THE CLIMATE PROVISIONS THAT WILL GET 51 VOTES IN THE SENATE?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS, HOMES AND HOMEOWNERS AND SUCH TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND IF THEY QUALIFY FOR THE INCENTIVES THEY WILL MOVE US TOWARD HAVING AN ECONOMY THAT IS NOT DRIVEN BY THE FOSSIL FUELS.

THE NOTION IS TO CUT IN HALF OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS BY 2030 NOT THAT FAR AWAY AND TRY TO HAVE NET ZERO WHEN IT COMES TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN 2050.

THAT IS A GLOBAL GOAL.

SOME COUNTRIES ARE SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE.

SOME ARE NOT SERIOUS AND HAVE TO BE CONVINCED AND SADLY THAT INCLUDES CHINA.

>> AND ONE OF SENATOR MANCHIN'S BIG CONCERNS WITH THE BILL IS HOW EXACTLY IT'S PAID FOR.

HOW EXACTLY IS IT PAID FOR IN A FINAL VERSION THAT WILL BE VOTED ON?

>> I WILL BE VERY BLUNT ABOUT IT.

JOE BIDEN SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE TAXES ON PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN $400,000 A YEAR.

PERIOD.

AND WE HAVE STOOD BY THAT AS THE GUIDE POST WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING REVENUE.

IF YOU ARE A WEALTHY INDIVIDUAL A MILLIONAIRE OR BILLIONAIRE IF YOU ARE PROFITABLE CORPORATION AND NOT PAYING YOUR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES, YOU WILL HEAR FROM US.

WE THINK THE FOLKS OUGHT TO BE ACCEPTING THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE AVERAGE FAMILY IN ILLINOIS ACCEPTS EVERY YEAR.

>> AND TODAY, SENATE PRESIDENT SCHUMER ANNOUNCED A MAJOR PIECE OF VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION WILL BE PUT UP FOR A VOTE.

AND SENATOR MURKOWSKI IS ONBOARD BUT YOU NEED NINE MORE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN WITH THIS BILL, THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL?

>> WE'LL FALL SHORT OF THE 60 VOTES NECESSARY.

THE FILIBUSTER WILL PREVAIL BUT GIVE ME A MINUTE TO PRAISE MY FRIENDLIES SA MURKOWSKI SHE CALLED ME FROM DONALD LASSERE ON FRIDAY TO TELL ME SHE WAS GOING TO JOIN US.

THIS IS SIGNIFICANT.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WERE AS SUPPORTIVE IF NOT MORE SUPPORTIVE OF CIVIL RIGHTS THAN THE DEMOCRATS AND THAT IS BACK IN THE 1960s.

NOW, THE TABLES HAVE TURNED AND FOR SOME REASON REPUBLICANS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

SHE IS BREAK THE MOLD AND STEPPING FORWARD AND SHOWING A LOT OF COURAGE IN DOING THAT.

AND I PRAISE HER FOR DOING IT.

>> A FEW WEEKS BACK YOUR COMMITTEE PUT OUT A REPORT ABOUT JANUARY 6 SAYING THAT QUOTE WE WERE HALF STEP AWAY FROM A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REPORTING THAT CONFIRMS THAT NOTION.

AND MY QUESTION: WHAT IS CONGRESS POISED TO DO TO PREVENT AN ACTUAL CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS WHERE AN ATTEMPT AT OVERTURNING THE RESULTS OF AN ELECTION IS SUCCESSFUL?

>> WELL, FIRST LET ME SAY THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAR RECORD OF WHAT HAPPENED JANUARY 6.

THERE WAS A COMMITTEE UNDERWAY KINZINGER AND CONGRESSMAN AND CHENEY ARE ON THE COMMITTEE IT'S A BIPARTISAN EFFORT BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION.

THAT DID THIS AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST OF 9/11 AND OTHER ISSUES IN OUR HISTORY.

THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE THAT COMMISSION WAS SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL THE REPUBLICAN LEADER SAID I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE.

THAT TROUBLES IT.

BECAUSE I WAS WITH HIM ON JANUARY 6 AND WE WERE TAKEN TO A SEPARATE LOCATION AND I KNOW HOW UPSET HE WAS.

HE DIDN'T FEEL HAPPY ABOUT THE OUTCOME ON JANUARY 6 ANYMORE THAN I DID.

NOW HE DOESN'T WANT A RECORD MADE.

THAT IS UNFORTUNATE.

IN THE MEANTIME WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

THE FIRST IT LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE TO ELECT PRESIDENTS THAT RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION.

THIS LAST PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FIRST WENT TO EVERY COURT IN THE LAND AND WAS THROWN OUT BECAUSE HE HAD NO EVIDENCE OF VOTER FRAUD THEN HE TURNED AND TRIED TO TAKEOVER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHICH WE SHOWED IN OUR 400 PAGE ANALYSIS.

AND HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

AND HE CALLED FOR A RALLY AND AND TURNED THE CROWD LOOSE ON THE CAPITOL THAT IS THE IRRESPONSIBLE UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONDUCT THAT WE AS VOTERS HAVE TO MAKE SURE NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> SENATOR WE INTERVIEWED ROBERT COSTA WHO WROTE THAT BOOK A BLUEPRINT FOR VICE-PRESIDENT SENDING THE VOTE BACK TO STATE DELEGATIONS AND HAVING STATES SEND ALTERNATIVE SLATES TO DELEGATES.

HOW DO YOU PREVENT THAT KIND OF SITUATION?

IT SEEMED LIKE A BLUEPRINT IF FOLKS IN BAD FAITH WANTED TO EXECUTE THAT KIND OF PLAN?

>> WE ARE DAMN LUCKY, BECAUSE THIS PRESIDENT WAS BOUND AND DETERMINED NOT TO GIVE UP THE OFFICE.

EVEN THOUGH HE CLEARLY LOST THE ELECTION.

AND EVERYONE WHO LOOKED AT IT FOUND SO SMALL AFTER 5.7 MILLION WAS SPENT IN ONE COUNTY IN ARIZONA THEY ENDED UP FINDING MORE VOTES FOR JOE BIDEN AND THAT WAS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

LET ME TELL YOU WE BETTER BE CAREFUL AS A NATION THAT WE CHOOSE WOMEN AND MEN TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THAT RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION AND DON'T GO OFF ON AN EGO TRIP AND DESTROY THE DEMOCRACY.

>> YOU QUESTIONED MERRICK GARLAND LAST WEEK ABOUT VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

MANY PRESIDENTS HAVE SENT EXTRA RESOURCES TO THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS OFFICE HERE TO TAKE ON GANGS AND TAKE ON GUN CASES.

STILL, CHICAGO SUFFERS THE HIGH VIOLENT CRIME RATE.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE DOING?

>> THE GUN VIOLENCE SITUATION IN CHICAGO IS INTOLERABLE.

PEOPLE ARE FED UP AND I'M ONE OF THEM.

TO THINK WHAT WE ARE ALLOWING IS PART OF CITY'S ON EARTH IS UNACCEPTABLE.

I HAD A CLOSED DOOR MEETING LAST WEEK WITH THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THEY BRIEFED ME WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

IT'S GOOD VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

IT DOESN'T MATCH THE RESOURCES OF STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY HAVE THE LEAD IN THE EFFORT BUT WE NEED TO COMPLIMENT WHERE WE CAN AND I WANT TO SAY THE REPORTED U.S.

ATTORNEYS OFFICE THIS MORNING BY THE RICO CASE BROUGHT AGAINST A WEST SIDE DRUG GANG THAT IS INVOLVED IN SOME 20 HOMICIDES, IS THE KIND OF ACTION I WANT THE FEDS TO TAKE ON.

WE HAVE TO COMPLIMENT THE STATE EFFORTS TO DO THE SAME AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS GUN VIOLENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE EVEN IF IT IS HAPPENING IN SOME AREAS IN THE STATE NOT IN OTHERS WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> THAT IS THE RECENT CASE THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PUT OUT.

AND WE INTERVIEWED JOHN LAUSCH A FEW WEEKS AGO, HE WAS KEPT ON WHEN MOST U.S.

ATTORNEYS WERE CHANGED DUE TO THE CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION.

YOU AND SENATOR DUCKWORTH WANTED TO KEEP HIM.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE HE WILL STAY ON FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS PRESIDENTIAL TERM?

>> THERE ARE 90 U.S.

ATTORNEYS AND MAYBE TWO WERE RETAINED JOHN LAUSCH WAS ONE OF THEM.

DUCKWORTH AND I BELIEVE HE IS INVOLVED IN SENSITIVE LITIGATION EFFORTS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS HIGH PROFILE.

AND BE ALLOWED TO COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION.

JOHN LAUSCH I MIGHT ADD WAS CONSIDERED TO BE U.S. ATTORNEY WHEN BARACK OBAMA WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT.

SO I THINK HE FITS IT IN TERMS OF HIS LACK OF POLITICAL BENT THAT HE IS A PROFESSIONAL AND I BELIEVE HE IS DOING A GOOD JOB I HOPE HE MAKES TIMELY EFFORTS IN TERMS OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

>> SEEMS LIKE THAT HE WILL BE THERE THEN FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND THERE ARE BIG INVESTIGATIONS AS WE'VE COVERED SO I THINK OUR VIEWERS GET THE PICTURE WHAT YOU MAY BE TALKING ABOUT.

AND SENATOR DICK DURBIN THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

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

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

FOUR LIFEGUARD AS CONTRIBUTIONED, ASSAULTED AND HARASSED GIRLS AT CHICAGO'S POOLS AND BEACHES.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION RELEASED TODAY BY THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT'S WATCHDOG.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US WITH MORE.

HOW FAR BACK DO THE ALLEGATIONS OR HOW FAR BACK DID THE ALLEGED INCIDENTS OCCUR AND WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE ACCUSED LIFEGUARDS.

>> THE ALLEGATIONS DATE BACK TO 2015 AND OCCURRED AS RECENTLY AS THE SUMMER OF 2020.

THREE OF THE FOUR LIFEGUARDS OUTLINED IN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT HAVE ALREADY RESIGNED AND FOURTH SHOULD BE FIRED ACCORDING TO THE INTERIM INSPECTOR GENERAL ALISON PERONA.

THERE ARE OF COURSE MIKE KELLY WHO WAS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PARK DISTRICT HE WAS OUSTED FOR HIS HANDLING OF THIS INVESTIGATION LAST MONTH.

BUT THE PROBE IS ONGOING.

AND THERE ARE OTHER PARK DISTRICT EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND THAT ARE OTHER ALLEGATIONS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

>> WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR THE PARK DISTRICT TO TAKE ACTION ON THE ALLEGATIONS?

>> THAT REALLY IS THE QUESTION.

THERE WERE TWO REPORTS RELEASED.

ONE FOCUSED BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ON THE ALLEGATIONS THEMSELVES.

THE OTHER A REPORT FROM A LAW FIRM HIRED BY THE PARK DISTRICT EXAMINED THE ROLE OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S LEADERSHIP IN HANDLING THE COMPLAINTS.

AND IT FOUND THAT MIKE KELLY TOOK SIX MONTHS TO FORWARD THE COMPLAINT WHEN HE RECEIVED IT TO THE PARK DISTRICT'S HR.

HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION AND FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE LAUNCHED.

AND THERE ARE NO CLEARANCES TONIGHT EXACTLY WHY THAT HAPPENED.

PARK DISTRICT BOARD PRESIDENT LAVELLE SAID IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE PARK DISTRICT WAS DYSFUNCTIONAL WHEN IT CAME TO HANDLING THE ALLEGATIONS AND THERE WERE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WITH THE WAYS THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD WAS SETUP TO HANDLE THESE SORT OF EVENTS.

HOWEVER, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ROSE ROSA ESCARENO WHO REPLACED Mr. KELLY SAID THAT THAT ALLOWED A CULTURE OF ABUSE TO QUOTE FESTER.

>> THE PARK DISTRICT RELEASED A REPORT ON MIKE KELLY WHAT DID THEY FIND?

>> WELL, THAT HE TOOK TOO LONG TO ADDRESS THESE AND THAT EVEN WHILE HE WAS ASSURING OTHER PARK DISTRICT OFFICIALS THAT HE WAS HANDLING THE REPORTS CORRECTLY, HE WAS NOT.

AND I THINK WHAT IS MOST DAMNING IN THESE REPORTS TODAY IS THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT EVEN AFTER THESE FIRST COMPLAINTS WERE MADE TO OFFICIALS THAT OTHER LIFEGUARDS SOME AS YOUNG AS 15 WERE BEING ABUSED, HARASSED AND BULLIED.

>> SO INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ROSA ESCARENO SAID THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER SYSTEM FOR HANDLING THE ALLEGATIONS.

HERE SHE IS.

>> WE NEED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TEAR EVERYTHING APART AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE REBUILD IT IN A WAY THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT WE INTEND TO DO.

HOW DO WE FIND CLARITY FOR THE VICTIMS OR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO REPORT ANY VIOLATION OF THIS NATURE TO THE PARK DISTRICT.

>> AND WHAT IS THE PARK DISTRICT DOING TO INSURE THAT COMPLAINTS ARE NOT IGNORED LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE?

>> THERE WILL BE A NEW OFFICE OF PROTECTION CREATED TO HANDLE THESE SORT OF COMPLAINTS AND THAT WE WERE TOLD TODAY IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THESE SORT OF COMPLAINTS FROM BEING FAILED TO BE INVESTIGATED.

HOWEVER, THAT IS VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS AND IT'S NOT EXACTLY CLEAR WHO WOULD HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THAT OFFICE AND HOW IT WOULD BE RUN.

THE DEVIL WILL BE IN THE DETAILS IN THIS ONE.

>> AND LASTLY, AVIS LAVELLE FACING CALLS TO RESIGN FROM TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

WHAT ROLE DID SHE PLAY AND WILL SHE RESIGN?

>> SHE SAID SHE WOULD NOT RESIGN AND THAT WHILE SHE EXPRESSED REGRET ABOUT HER DECISION TO TRUST THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, TO HANDLE THESE COMPLAINTS, SHE SAYS THAT HER ROLE AS BOARD PRESIDENT PREVENTED HER FROM DOING MUCH OTHER THAN THAT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AVIS LAVELLE IS A VETERAN CITY HALL OPERATIVE SHE WORKED FOR RICHARD M. DALEY AND SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SHE UNDERSTANDS HOW INVESTIGATIONS HAPPEN AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE CONDUCTED.

AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE CALL FROM ALDERMAN WAGUESPACK AND MICHELLE SMITH THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH WHETHER THAT WILL CAUSE HER TO EITHER LOSE HER POSITION ON THE BOARD OR PERHAPS REEVALUATE HER DECISION TO STAY ON.

>> A LOT MORE TO COME I'M SURE.

HEATHER CHERONE ON THE CASE FOR US.

THANK YOU, HEATHER.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

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

>> UP NEXT, COULD THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE PROTECT AGAINST MORE THAN JUST COVID-19?

STAY WITH US TO FIND OUT.

COULD THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE PROVIDE PROTECTION AS THE COMMON COLD.

CORONAVIRUS IS THE NAME OF A FAMILY OF VIRUSES THAT INCLUDES SARS AND THE COMMON COLD.

A STUDY SHOWS THE VACCINATION AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS OR PREVIOUS INFECTION CAN PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST OTHER VIRUSES IN THAT FAMILY.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE STUDY IS ONE OF ITS AUTHORS, PABLO PENALOZA ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF IMMUNOLOGY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

CORONAVIRUS WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT COVID-19 BUT IT BELONGS TO THE FAMILY OF CORONAVIRUSES.

EXPLAIN WHAT A CORONAVIRUS IS?

>> CORONAVIRUS IS RNA VIRUSES THEY ARE VERY LARGE AND THEY BELIEVE IT OR NOT THEY HAVE AN ERROR CORRECTING MECHANISM SO THEY ARE NOT AS MUTABLE AS A FLU VIRUS IS OR AS HIV.

IN A WAY THEY ARE RNA VIRUSES THAT ARE LARGE AND HAVE A WAY TO CORRECTING THEIR ERRORS.

BUT SPORADICLY THEY MAKE MISTAKES AND THAT IS THE BASIS FOR VARIANTS THAT IS HOW THEY INVOLVE MISTAKES THAT THE ERROR CANNOT MAKE.

BUT IN SUMMARY CORONAVIRUSES ARE JUST A BIG FAMILY OF RNA VIRUSES.

>> SO THERE IS NOT A LOT OF VARIATION UNLESS THERE IS A MISTAKE LIKE THE DELTA VARIANT AND YOUR STUDY DEMONSTRATED THAT VACCINATION AGAINST COVID-19 MIGHT PROVIDE IMMUNITY FOR OTHER CORONAVIRUSES.

>> WE LOOK AT THESE IN HUMANS AS WELL AS IN MICE.

AND WE TOOK HUMANS WHO RECEIVED THE RNA VACCINES AND THE J & J VACCINE AND WE NOTICED THAT THOSE ANTIBODIES THAT WERE ELICITED IN VACCINATED HUMANS ALSO CROSS REACTED WITH OTHER CORONAVIRUSES.

SUGGESTING THEY COULD PROTECT AGAINST OTHER CORONAVIRUSES.

WE DID STUDIES AND IN MOUSE STUDIES, MICE THAT RECEIVED SARS COVID 2 VACCINE AND WE NOTICED THEY WERE PROTECTED AGAINST OTHER CORONAVIRUSES.

SO THIS SUGGESTS IS THAT IF YOU THINK ABOUT FUTURE PANDEMIC YOU MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO MAKEUP A VACCINE FROM SCRATCH BASED ON THE EMERGING VIRUS YOU COULD POTENTIALLY PIGGY BACK ON A PRIOR VACCINE THAT HAS A RELATED SEQUENCE.

>> AND THE ROADMAP IS HERE WITH THE CURRENT VACCINE.

WE MENTIONED THE COMMON COLD IS RELATED TO THIS FAMILY OF CORONAVIRUSES DOES THAT MEAN THERE COULD BE IMMUNITY TO THE COLD IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19?

>> PRECISELY.

SO PARTIAL IMMUNITY.

WE FIRST VACCINATED MICE WITH A SARS COULD.

V1 VACCINE AND THE MICE WERE PROTECTED AGAINST SARS 2.

BUT THEN WE DECIDED TO GO FURTHER.

BECAUSE SARS 1 AND 2 ARE GENETICALLY RELATED LIKE COUSINS AND THEY ARE ALMOST 80% IDENTICAL AND WE DECIDED TO LOOK AT A MORE DISTANT WE VACCINATED MICE WITH A SARS 2 VACCINE AND EXPOSED WITH THE COMMON COLD CORONAVIRUS OC43 WHICH IS AROUND 40% RELATED.

MORE DISTANT AND THERE WAS PARTIAL PROTECTION.

SO WHENEVER IT COMES TO PROTECTION IT DEPENDS HOW CLOSE THE VIRUS IS TO THE VACCINE.

>> RIGHT.

THERE IS NO ONE UNIFORM COMMON COLD VIRUS I DON'T THINK THIS IS SCIENTIFICALLY RELEVANT BUT I HAVE NOT HAD A SNIFFLE SINCE I'VE BEEN VACCINATED.

DOES IT MEAN RESEARCHERS MIGHT WANT TO DEVELOP A UNIVERSAL CORONAVIRUS VACCINE THAT COULD HELP AGAINST FUTURE PANDEMICS?

>> RIGHT.

AND IN A WAY THE MORE REALISTIC WAY IS TO MAKING GENERIC VACCINES BASED ON SPECIFIC FAMILIES INSTEAD OF JUST ONE VACCINE THAT COULD CONTROL ALL DIFFERENT CORONAVIRUSES I THINK THAT IS UNREALISTIC.

BECAUSE THESE VIRUSES ARE TREMENDOUSLY HETEROGENEOUS BUT IT'S MORE REALISTIC TO THINK ABOUT CORONAVIRUS FAMILIES.

SO IN THAT CONTEXTUAL THE PAPER SHOWED IF YOU JUST USE A VACCINE THAT IS DEVELOPED FOR A SARS RELATED VIRUS THEN YOU GET PROTECTION AGAINST MANY OF THE SARS RELATED VIRUSES INCLUDING SARS ONE AND SARS TWO.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER STUDY WITH FASCINATING RESULTS AND THIS INVOLVES ASTRAZENECA AND THE PARTICIPANTS WERE ACCIDENTALLY GIVEN A LOWER FIRST DOSE OF THE SHOT.

AND THAT ACTUALLY CAUSED PERHAPS GREATER IMMUNITY.

EXPLAIN THAT FOR US.

>> RIGHT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE AND WE FOUND THAT A LOW DOSE OF VACCINE WHICH IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE J & J BUT BASED ON MOSTLY VERY SIMILAR TO THE SINGLE ONE USED IN CHINA.

WHAT WE SHOW IS A VERY GENTLE PRIMARY IMMUNIZATION WITH A VERY LOW DOSE OF VACCINE AND BOOSTER WITH THE STANDARD DOSE WAS BETTER THAN STANDARD DOSE STANDARD DOSE.

SO IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE AND WITH THE LOW DOSE YOU GET A RESPONSE THAT WOULD EXPAND BETTER UPON A SEE QENT BOOSTER.

>> IN LAY TERMS CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS?

>> IT'S NOT CLEAR WHY THAT IS THE CASE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WITH THE LOW DOSE YOU GET THE SO-CALLED CENTRAL MEMORY PIECE RESPONSE AND IT'S CELLS THAT ARE QUANTITATIVELY IT'S LESS OF A RESPONSE BUT IT'S BETTER.

SO WE SAW BETTER QUALITY WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GET THE SUPERIOR QUALITY BUT THEN ONCE YOU GET THE BOOSTER THEY EXPAND A LOT BETTER THE MEMORY T-CELLS AND ANTIBODIES THAT RESPONSE EXPANDS BETTER IT IS NOT VERY CLEAR WHY THAT BUT IT COULD BE RELATED TO THE QUALITY OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE WHEN YOU GIVE A LOW DOSE OF VACCINE.

>> QUICKLY WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT DOES THAT MEAN THAT FOLKS MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT ALTERING THE DOSAGE IF THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN A SHOT YET?

>> NO.

I THINK WE SHOULD FOLLOW WHAT THE F.D.A.

SAYS.

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE POLICY BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD INFORM FUTURE VACCINES NOT ONLY FOR SARS COV2 BUT OTHER DISEASES HOW WE DESIGN VACCINES HOW WE MAKE CLINICAL TRIALS MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE DOSE ESCALATION WITHIN THE SAME COHORT.

>> INTERESTING FOR FUTURE INQUIRY.

AND THANKS TO PABLO PENALOZA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU PARIS.

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

>> PARIS, IT WAS THE LONGEST INTERMISSION IN STEPPENWOLF THEATRE'S 46 YEAR HISTORY.

BUT THE CELEBRATED THEATRE IS COMING BACK BIGGER.

THERE WAS A RIBBON CUTTING AT STEPPENWOLF HEADQUARTERS ON NORTH HALSTED STREET FOR A NEW WING INCLUDES A STATE-OF-THE-ART STAGE AND A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE DIRECTOR MARTHA.

IN THE FORM OF A MURAL BY A CHICAGO ARTIST.

MARC VITALI TOURED THE ADDITION AND SPOKE WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP ABOUT THE FUTURE.

>> STEPPENWOLF THEATRE HAS EXPANDED ITS FOOTPRINT WITH THE LIZ AND ERIC ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTER.

THE 54 MILLION DOLLAR ADDITION WAS DESIGNED BY GORDON GILL OF ADRIAN SMITH ARCHITECTURE.

AT ITS HEART THE BUILDING HAS AN ADDITIONAL THEATRE AN INTIMATE SPACE WITH SEATING ON FOUR SIDES OF THE STAGE.

IT'S TOPPED OFF BY THE LOFT AN EDUCATION CENTER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

YEARS IN THE PLANNING, THE OPENING FOLLOWS A 20-MONTH INTERMISSION AT STEPPENWOLF.

>> OUR INDUSTRY WAS VERY HARD HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.

THE PERFORMING ARTS WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO CLOSE AND WE ARE THE LAST TO REOPEN.

BUT WE'RE THRILLED THAT DURING THAT TIME CONSTRUCTION WAS DECLARED AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE BY THE GOVERNOR AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THIS BUILDING RISE AS A COMMITMENT NOT ONLY THAT STEPPENWOLF WILL BE BACK BUT THAT ARTS AND CULTURE WOULD REMAIN AT THE CENTER OF THIS CITY WE CALL HOME IN CHICAGO.

>> ALSO NEW TWO ARTISTIC DIRECTORS AND WE POKE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THE SPACE BRINGS.

>> FOR US THIS IS A CROWN JEWEL IN A WAY FOR MYSELF GROWING UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE I WAS NOT AWARE OF ARTS IN THE SAME WAY.

I WAS HE AAIRWHAT OF THEATRE OR ACTORS OR A LIFE IN THE THEATRE.

AND I THINK THAT WE WILL NOW HAVE A WONDERFUL ENTRY POINT FOR STUDENTS IN THEIR TEENAGE YEARS TO SAY OH, THIS IS AVAILABLE TO ME.

>> WE'RE GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB BECAUSE THERE'S TWO OF US WITH TWO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES PERSPECTIVES AND THERE IS GOING TO BE COLLISION THERE AND I THINK IT'S ONLY THROUGH THOSE COLLISION AND STAYING OPEN AND LISTENING AND BEING WILLING TO CHANGE THAT WE CAN COLLABORATE WITH COMPASSION.

>> AND I GIVE THE DELICATE SQUEEZE... >> BOTH ARTISTIC DIRECTORS ARE ACTORS THIS IS AUDREY FRANCIS WITH RAY WILLSON IN THE DOPPELGANGER.

>> MOST OF THE TIME.

>> AND HERE IS GLENN DAVIS AND THE ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION DOWN STATE.

>> YOU HAPPY NOW.

>> GLENN DAVIS APPEARED ON BROADWAY WITH ROBIN WILLIAMS IN BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO VISIT US ON-LINE FOR HIS ACCOUNT WORKING WITH ROBIN WILLIAMS.

FIRST STOP AT STEPPENWOLF CONTINUING THE REVIVAL OF WHICH HAD THE RUN CUT SHORT IN 2020 UP COMING SHOWS INCLUDE AN ADAPTATION OF 1919 AND KING JAMESES ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF LEBRON JAMES ON TWO LIFELONG FRIENDS.

AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR YOU ARE THE LEADER OF THE THEATRE YOU ARE THE FACE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND YOU ARE MAKING DECISIONS ON PROGRAMMING WHICH ARTISTS YOU ARE ENGAGED WITH FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

THE ENSEMBLE IS SO VAST WE ARE ALMOST 50 COMPANY MEMBERS.

AT ANY TIME YOU HAVE A THIRD OF THE COMPANY IN CHICAGO, A THIRD IN NEW YORK AND A THIRD IN LA.

SO IT'S A LOT TO BRING TOGETHER.

>> THE THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON THE MOST ARE HAVING AN EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE ARTISTS, STAFF, AND AUDIENCES.

AND THE WAY WE NEED TO DO THAT IS ACROSS EVERY DEPARTMENT.

>> EVERYONE BRINGS TO THE TABLE THEIR BEST SEVERALS AND BEST IDEAS WE HAVE A MODEL OF RUNNING AN ORGANIZATION WHERE THERE IS NOT MEANT TO BE A HEIRARCHY.

THIS IS BOTH AN HOMAGE TO OUR PAST AND AMAZING COLLECTION OF ARTISTS THAT HAVE CREATED THIS FIERCE FACED EXPRESSION.

AND ALSO A PROMISE TO OUR FUTURE.

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

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED THE ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTER WAS DEDICATED THE NEW THEATRE WILL NOT HOST A PLAY UNTIL THE NEW YEAR BUT THE SHOW BUG RETURNS TO THE DOWNSTAIRS THEATRE NEXT WEEK.

>> PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", ILLINOIS MODERNIZED THE TAX LAWS TO CAPTURE MORE ON-LINE SALES TAXES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?

WEST GARFIELD PARK'S ALDI CLOSES ITS DOORS WHAT BARRIERS DOES THAT LEAVE FOR SOME TO ACCESS HEALTHY FOODS?

HOW A NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE STUDY ON BALDNESS IN MICE COULD ONE DAY LEAD TO HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS FOR MEN AND WOMEN.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> REVEREND JESSE JACKSON IS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL AFTER FALLING AND HITTING HIS HEAD.

THE 80-YEAR-OLD CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WAS AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

YESTERDAY IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS PROTESTING LIVING CONDITIONS ON CAMPUS.

HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND KEPT OVERNIGHT.

JACKSON WHO HAS PARKINSON'S DISEASE WAS ALSO HOSPITALIZED OVER THE SUMMER AFTER A BREAKTHROUGH COVID-19 INFECTION.

>> AND CHICAGO MARKS THE FIRST FREEZE OF THE SEASON.

AFTER 6:30 THIS MORNING O'HARE AIRPORT REPORTED 32° FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS FALL.

IT WAS SLIGHTLY BEHIND SCHEDULE ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WHICH SAYS THE CITY SEES THE FIRST FREEZE BETWEEN OCTOBER 21-AND THE 30TH.

TONIGHT'S LOW IS EXPECTED TO GET DOWN TO 30°.

SO LONG OUTDOOR PLANTS.

>> RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME THE PANDEMIC HIT AN ILLINOIS LAW TOOK EFFECT THAT CHANGED HOW ON-LINE SALES ARE TAXED.

WHEN IT COMES TO BALANCING THE BOOKS THE LAW CAME AT A FORTUITOUS TIME.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW.

>> THE HOLIDAYS ARE APPROACHING WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S TIME FOR COOKIES, FAMILY, DECORATING AND ONE OF MY FAVORITES SHOPPING.

SALES TAX PLUMMETED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF COVID WHEN MANY SHOPS WERE FORCED TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE THEIR DOORS.

BUT SALES TAX REVENUES ARE RISING AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

SALES AND RECEIPTS FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 2021 ARE UP 17% FROM THAT SAME TIME PERIOD IN 2019 PREPANDEMIC.

IS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING MORE?

OR BECAUSE OF THAT CHANGE YOU REFERENCED IN STATE TAX LAW.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE TAXPAYER FEDERATION OF ILLINOIS CAROL PORTMAN SAYS THE ANSWER IS BOTH.

FOR MORE LET'S BACKTRACK.

CAROL PORTMAN SAYS WHEN THE SALES TAXES WERE INVENTED STORES WERE MOSTLY BRICK AND MORTAR.

>> GENERALLY SPEAKING MOST COMMERCE WAS DONE IN-PERSON YOU WALKED TO THE STORE OR ROAD YOUR BUGGY TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT YOUR THINGS AND IT WAS EASY TO CALCULATE SALES TAX.

TAX WAS DUE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PAID AT THE STORE AND TAX WAS DUE WAS BASED ON THE TOWN WHERE THAT STORE WAS.

>> FAST FORWARD A LOT OF FOLKS SOME OF THEIR SHOPPING ON-LINE.

FOR LOGISTICAL AND LEGAL REASONS IT TOOK GOVERNMENTS NATIONWIDE A WHILE TO CATCH UP WITH THAT CHANGE.

SALES TAXES WEREN'T CHARGED BY MANY ON-LINE SELLERS AND U.S. SUPREME COURT CASES THAT FORBID IT IF A SELLER HAD NO PHYSICAL LOCATION IN THE STATES.

>> TAX WAS STILL DUE.

AND YOU AS A CUSTOMER WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY MY SELLER FORGOT TO COLLECT TAX I'LL WRITE A CHECK WILL MAKEUP THE DIFFERENCE.

NOT MANY PEOPLE DID THAT.

>> EVEN WHEN STATES DID BEGIN ACTUALLY FORCING THE TAXING OF ON-LINE SALES THERE WERE HOLES IN THAT.

SO-CALLED MARKETPLACE FACILITATORS.

THINK AMAZON OR eBAY, BUT A LOT OF SIMILAR SMALLER SITES WERE INITIALLY EXEMPT.

AND THAT CHANGED IN JANUARY 2020 JUST BEFORE COVID, ILLINOIS LAW BEGAN REQUIRING E MARKETPLACES TO BEGIN COLLECTING THE STATE SALES TAX OF 6.25%.

>> EVEN THAT WAS STILL FRUSTRATING TO MUNICIPALITIES WHO WERE NOT GETTING THEIR PIECE OF IT.

AND TO THE BRICK AND MORTAR RETAILORS COLLECTING OVER 10% IN SOMEPLACES.

SO THEIR VIRTUAL COMPETITORS WERE COLLECTING TAX WAS NOW BEING APPLIED AT SIX.25 AND IF A JURISDICTION WITH THE TAX AT 10 YOU ARE AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE.

>> BRICK AND MORTAR STORES NOT THEIR LEVEL PLAYING FIELD THIS YEAR.

STARTING IN JANUARY ILLINOIS ADDED A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL MARKETPLACE FACILITATORS COLLECT THE LOCAL SALES TAXES.

CHICAGO COOK COUNTY COMBINE SECOND WHERE IT COMES TO 10.25%.

>> NOT JUST THE STATE 6.25, THE RATE THAT APPLY PLIES AT OUR HOUSE WHEN YOU ARE ORDERING ON-LINE AND SOMETHING COMES TO YOU, IT'S NOT THE TAXED AT THE PLACE AT THE WAREHOUSE NOT THE TAX AT THEIR HOME LOCATION IT'S YOUR TAX THE TAX APPLIES WHERE YOU LIVE.

>> AS A RESULT PORTMAN SAYS ILLINOIS IS CAPTURING A LOT OF REVENUE FROM VENDORS THAT IT WOULDN'T HAVE.

AND THOSE WHO DO MOST SHOPPING ON-LINE IT DID COME AT A FORTUNATE TIME FOR STATE AND LOCAL REVENUES.

>> I THINK WE WOULD ALL RATHER NOT HAD A PANDEMIC TO PROVE THE POINT.

BUT REGARDLESS GOOD TIMING.

IT IS NOT OVER THE TOP TO SAY THAT RETAIL LITERALLY SAVED STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S BUDGETS AS A RESULT OF THOSE LAWS >> NOW, BECAUSE OF A HOW TAXES ARE REPORTED IT'S DIFFICULT TO REALLY DRILL DOWN AND TELL HOW MUCH OF THIS IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHANGES IN CONSUMER SPENDING, TO THE NEW LAWS.

EXACTLY HOW MUCH MORE THE STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE GETTING BACK FROM THIS CHANGE.

BUT WE DO KNOW ILLINOIS IS SEEING AN UPTICK IN SALES.

CAN YOU SEE THAT ON THE CHART THE GRAY LINE IS 2021.

AND AHEAD OF THE RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION ROB KARR SAYS IT IS HELPING LOCAL BUDGETS ACROSS ILLINOIS AND THE DATA SHOWS THAT INCLUDING COOK COUNTY AND CHICAGO'S.

>> PART OF THE PANDEMIC WE HAD 55 MILLION PLUS TOURISTS A YEAR WHICH WE DON'T HAVE NOW.

WE HAD TWO-AND-A-HALF, 2.7 MILLION PEOPLE A DAY COMING DOWNTOWN.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT TODAY.

SO THIS HAS THIS LAW HAS IS VERY LITERALLY SAVING CHICAGO AS WELL.

>> WITH THAT, PARIS, HAPPY SHOPPING BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT AMANDA THANK YOU.

>> NOT HAPPY SHOPPING USUALLY FOR ME.

I WILL GO ON-LINE.

UP NEXT SHOPPING FOR FOOD.

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THAT EASIER.

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> THE WEST SIDE NOW HAS ONE FEWER GROCERY STORE AFTER ALDI ABRUPTLY SHUTTER ITS WEST GARFIELD PARK LOCATION.

RESIDENTS SAY THE CLOSURE WORSENS THE AREA'S INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO FOOD.

THIS OFTEN MEANS RESIDENTS MOSTLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE TO TRAVEL MUCH FURTHER SOMETIMES LEAVING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET THE FOOD THEY NEED.

WE SPOKE WITH THERON HAWK A RESIDENT OF WEST GARFIELD PARK HE LIVES BEHIND THE FORMER GROCERY STORE AND HERE IS WHAT HE SAID.

>> I HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO HALSTED AND MADISON I'M 3800 WEST AND I THINK THAT IS 800 WEST TO WHOLE FOODS.

WE HAVE A STORE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM ALDI'S HAD A SIGN THAT SAYS MADDION SUPERMARKET BUT THEY ARE NOT A SUPERMARKET THEY ARE LIKE A CIGARETTE STORE.

CAN'T BUY A LOAF OF BREAD THERE.

CAN'T BUY A GALLON OF MILK THERE.

>> AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS HOW THIS IMPACTS COMMUNITIES AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS IT ARE ANGELA ODOMS-YOUNG ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY IN THE DIVISION OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES AND WORKED AT UIC AND REMAINS BASED HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND RUBY FERGUSON, FOOD EQUITY POLICY LEAD FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

ANGELA ODOMS-YOUNG LET'S START WITH YOU, WHAT WE DESCRIBED AS A FOOD DESERT THOUGH MANY ADVOCATES ARE ARGUING IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOOD APARTHEID INSTEAD.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE SOURCE.

WE KNOW THAT LIMITED FOOD ACCESS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IS REALLY ROOTED IN SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL OPPRESSION.

PART OF THIS THINKING THAT IS JUST NATURALLY OCCURRING IS NOT THE CASE.

IT REALLY IS SYSTEMIC FACTORS THAT PLAY A ROLE IN DECIDING WHERE CERTAIN TYPES OF RESOURCES ARE LOCATED AND WHERE THEY ARE NOT LOCATED.

>> COMMUNITIES ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THEY'VE FACED DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT WE KNOW THIS.

RUBY FERGUSON, WHAT IMPACT HAS THIS HAD ON ACCESS TO FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS?

>> YEAH.

SO WE LOOK AT OUR FOOD SYSTEM AS A WHOLE AND THINK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND THE CULTURAL RELEVANCE OF FOOD.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FOOD, THAT'S CELEBRATIONS FOR BARBECUES, THANKSGIVING, BIRTHDAY CAKES.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL LAYERS OF MENTAL STRESS THAT GET PUT ON PUTTING FOOD ON THE DINNER TABLE, WE'RE JUST EXACERBATING UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED.

>> WHEN WE SPOKE TO RESIDENT THERON HAWK HE USES AN ELECTRIC BIKE TO GET AROUND BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE A BASKET TO CARRY GROCERIES HERE IS MORE OF HIM.

>> I HAVE TO UBER DOWN TO THE STORE.

I HAD TO CHANGE MY WHOLE ROUTINE WHEN IT COMES TO GROCERIES NOW YOU KNOW.

I COULD GO TO ALDI'S THREE OR FOUR TIMES A GET AND GET THE LITTLE THINGS THAT SUSTAIN ME.

AND NOW THAT'S GONE YOU KNOW.

AND I MISS THEM.

I DO.

>> ANGELA, HOW MUCH OF CHICAGO FACES FOOD ECOSYSTEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT THERON HAWK EXPERIENCES NOW?

>> YOU KNOW UNFORTUNATELY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

I THINK PART OF THE WAY THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT ONE ALDI LEFT A COMMUNITY THAT IS REALLY UPSETTING, LISTENING TO THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE RESIDENT COMMUNITY RESIDENT ABOUT HOW THIS DEPARTURE OF ALDI IMPACTED HIS SHOPPING PATTERN AND JUST ADDITIONAL STRESS THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON HIM BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

AND THIS IS JUST A VERY COMMON STORY.

UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT ONLY IN CHICAGO IT'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHEN YOU LOOK ATTICLY BLACK COMMUNITIES -- AT PARTICULARLY BLACK COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ACCESS TO FOOD.

PARTLY IF WE TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF A FOOD ECOSYSTEM NOT JUST A SUPERMARKET, THEN WE COULD SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF COMMUNITIES ARE IN THIS SITUATION.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIVERSITY OF FOOD RETAIL IN MOST BLACK COMMUNITIES.

>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FACT THIS ONE GROCERY STORE LEFT AND ALDI IS INDICATIVE AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING IS INDICATIVE OF A PROBLEM THAT ALREADY EXISTED FOR PEOPLE.

RUBY FERGUSON HOW DOES THIS IMPACT A COMMUNITY'S HEALTH?

>> YEAH, SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HEALTH, RIGHT, IT'S AGENCY TO HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT WHAT YOU CONSUME DAILY IS ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES NOT HAVING TO MANAGE THINKING ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR DINNER.

AND SO WHEN ONE GROCERY STORE IS CAUSING AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH AND HEALTHY FOODS IT MAKES IT VERY CHALLENGING TO CONSIDER YOUR HEALTH AS A WHOLE.

>> ANGELA HOW CAN THIS BE ADDRESSED?

IT IS A MATTER OF ADDING MORE GROCERY STORES?

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> NO, I THINK IT IS A MATTER OF LOOKING AT FOOD AND PLANNING, LOOKING AT FOOD WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES.

IT'S OVERALL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

GROCERY STORES TEND TO BE AN ANCHOR FOR OTHER TYPES OF RETAIL DEVELOPMENT AND IT BRINGS JOBS.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THERE'S ABOUT 25 JOBS FOR EVERY 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF STORE SPACE.

AND SO A GROCERY STORE COULD BRING IN 150 OR 200 JOBS.

AND SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY NOT JUST OK WE ARE GOING TO LOCATE ONE STORE.

AND I HATE TO ALWAYS USE THE COMPARISON TO LINCOLN PARK BUT IF THE ALDI IN LINCOLN PARK CLOSED IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN BE A HUGE STORY BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FOOD RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, AND OTHER FOOD RELATED BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCATED IN THAT COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER OVERALL FOOD RETAIL AND ALSO FOOD OWNERSHIP WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

WHO OWNS IT, WHAT IS THERE.

>> AND RUBY WHAT IS THE CHICAGO FOOD EQUITY COUNCIL DOING TO ADDRESS THIS?

>> I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WITH ARP FUNDS WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN A PROPOSAL FOR A FOOD EQUITY APPROACH THAT INCLUDES STARTING A CHICAGO GOOD FOOD FUND WHICH GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY TO DRIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITIES.

SO THE PREMISE IS THAT THERE WILL BE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCLUDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING TO CATALYZE COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR ISSUES.

WE KNOW THAT EVERY COMMUNITY SOLUTION IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME AND THAT WHEN COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS ARE DRIVEN BY MEMBERS OF THAT BASE, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO LAST FOR LONGER THERE ARE ROOTS AND TEETH WITH THAT SOLUTION.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'LL HAVE A CHICAGO GOOD FOOD FUND AND SUPPORT FOREOTHER ELEMENTS OF THE FOOD SYSTEM LIKE URBAN AGRICULTURE.

IF WE THINK ABOUT LOCAL FRESH FOODS AND HOW WE GET THEM IN OUR COMMUNITY HOW CAN WE SUPPORT GROWERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOODS FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

RUBY FERGUSON AND ANGELA ODOMS-YOUNG THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A ROUND OF RESEARCH MAKING WAVES IN THE WORLD OF SCIENCE.

STAY WITH US.

>> NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE RESEARCHERS DISCOVER A CAUSE OF BALDNESS IN MICE.

SCIENTISTS PROBE THE ATMOSPHERE OF A DISTANT ECHO PLANET THE STUDY OF THE PELVIS OF A TIGER.

AND HOW MASS POACHING LED TO TUSKLESS ELEPHANTS.

JOINING US TO HELP EXPLAIN THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE HEADLINES IS UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PALEONTOLOGIST NEIL SHUBIN.

THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE WAS SOMETIME AGO WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST BEGAN.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SCIENCE NEWS TO COVER.

SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED A CAUSE OF BALDING IN MICE THAT COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR TREATMENTS OF HAIR LOSS IN MEN AND WOMEN.

WHAT DID THE RESEARCHERS DO AND WHAT DID THEY DISCOVER?

>> WELL, THEY DISCOVERED MICE THAT GO BALD BOTH THE MALES AND FEMALES.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MICE IS THE HAIR LIKE HUMANS GROWS OUT OF FOLLICLES INSIDE THE FOLLICLES ARE STEM CELLS SPECIAL CELLS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE REJUVENATION OF THE FOLLICLE.

IN THE MICE, THE STEM CELLS ARE DETACHED FROM THE FOLLICLE JUST ABNORMALLY AND THEY LEAVE THE FOLLICLE AND THE FOLLICLE DEGENERATES THE STEM CELLS ARE NECESSARY AND THEY IDENTIFY THE SERIES OF GENES THAT CAUSED THIS BALDNESS.

AND SINCE HUMANS HAVE THESE GENES AND HUMANS HAVE THESE STEM CELLS, PERHAPS THERE'S AN ANALOGY AND IMPORTANT CONSEQUENCES FOR HUMAN BALDNESS.

>> ON THAT NOTE ARE THERE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MICE AND HUMANS FOR THIS TO POTENTIALLY LEAD TO TREATMENTS FOR HUMANS?

>> YES, THERE ARE.

THE GENES OF MICE AND PEOPLE PARTICULARLY IN THIS CASE CONTROLLING THE STEM CELLS ARE SIMILAR ENOUGH THAT RESEARCHERS ARE INTERESTED IN DOING IS MAYBE TRYING TO KEEP THESE GENES FUNCTIONING KEEP THE GENES MAKING THE GLUE THAT HOLD THE STEM CELLS THERE.

IF THEY CAN DO IT IN MICE MAYBE THEY CAN DO IT IN PEOPLE AND ONE WAY TO AVOID AND PREVENT BALDNESS IN HUMANS.

>> AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF SCIENTISTS INCLUDING RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DISCOVERED A WAY PO PROBE THE ATMOSPHERE OF A DISTANT PLANET 340 LIGHT YEARS AWAY HOW DID THEY DO THIS AND WHAT DID THEY FIND?

>> THINK ABOUT THIS THIS IS AMAZING.

THEY USED A GROUND BASED TELESCOPE ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN IN CHILE AND DESIGNED A TECHNIQUE TO ANALYZE THE LIGHT FROM THIS PARTICULAR PLANET WHICH IS 340 LIGHTYEARS AWAY.

IT'S ENORMOUS DISTANCE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PICK UP THE WAVELENGTHS OF THE LIGHT AND INTERPRET WHAT MOLECULES ARE IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND NOT ONLY THAT WHAT THEIR ABUNDANCE IS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO TELL A CERTAIN CONCENTRATION OF WATER AND CARBON MONOXIDE IN THIS PLANET SO FAR AWAY.

IT IS A STUNNING TECHNOLOGY.

>> WE'RE CALLING THIS NEXT STORY HIPS DON'T LIE.

RESEARCHERS STUDYING THE BONES OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER CAT IN LA.

THEY DISCOVERED A SOFTER SIDE OF THE LOOKING CATS.

HOW DID THEY MAKE THIS DISCOVERY?

>> THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BONES KNOWN FROM THE LA BREA TAR PITS AND SOME ARE SABER TOOTH TIGERS.

SOME OF THE TIGERS HAVE GROSS DEFORMITIES IN THE HIP JOINTS IN THE PELVIS AND THE FEMUR.

SCIENTISTS COLLABORATED WITH ORDINARY PEEDIC SURGEONS, ORTHOPAEDIC SURGE SURGEONS WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT THE HIPS WERE NOT DEFORMED FROM ACCIDENTS THEY WERE BORN WITH THESE KINDS OF HIPS.

THERE IS NO WAY THEY WOULD HAVE WALKED NORMALLY.

IN THE WILD, ANIMALS BORN WITH DEFORMED HIPS PARTICULARLY THE SABER TEETH TIGERS WHICH ARE AGGRESS STIFF THERE IS NO WAY THE ANIMALS WOULD HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT HELP?

IT SHOWS SOCIAL STRUCTURES IN THE CREATURES.

>> RIGHT.

THEY WERE BORN WITH HIP DYSPLASIA TO HAVE FOOD FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD HAVE HAD TO HELPED THEM SHARE FOOD WITH THEM AND PROTECT THEM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT IT IS AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN INTERPRET FROM THE FOSSILS THEY HAD HELP.

AND THEY CLEARLY WERE SUPPOSED THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES WITH DURING HUNTING OR RELATIVES PROVIDING THEM FOOD WE DON'T KNOW THE TYPE OF SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WE KNOW THEY SURVIVED BECAUSE OF THOSE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS.

>> RESEARCHERS IN MOZAMBIQUE SAY POACHING CHANGED THE EVOLUTION OF ELEPHANTS.

>> THAT IS AMAZING.

ELEPHANTS SUFFERED FROM POACHING.

PARTICULARLY DURING THE CIVIL WAR WHICH WAS 1972-1997.

DURING THAT TIME POACHERS WERE KILLING ELEPHANTS FOR THE IVORY WORTH MONEY.

AND WIPED OUT ABOUT 90% OF THE POPULATION IN MOZAMBIQUE.

WHAT THEY DID, IS IT WAS ACTUALLY A SELECTION EXPERIMENT THEY CAUSED NATURAL SELECTION IN THE WILD.

SUCH THAT TYPICALLY AN ELEPHANT POPULATIONS THERE IS A LOW LEVEL OF A MUTATION THAT CAUSES INDIVIDUALS NOT TO HAVE TUSKS.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE IT FAVORED THE EVOLUTION OF CREATURES THAT DIDN'T HAVE TUSKS BECAUSE THEY SURVIVED POACHING.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS MUTATION TASK FORCELESS ELEPHANTS INCREASED OVER TIME AND THE IDEA IS IT INCREASED BECAUSE POACHERS WERE WIPING OUT THE ANIMALS WITH TUSKS.

>> IN THE ABSENCE OF POPING WOULD THE IMPACT OF THIS MUTATION COULD IT BE REVERSED?

>> THAT IS THE THINKING.

WITH THE INCREASED REGULATIONS ON POACHING WHICH INCREASED ENFORCEMENT ON POACHING, THE IDEA IS WITHIN THE NEXT 10-15 YEARS WE FIND TUSKS RETURN.

>> NEIL SHUBIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND 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.

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