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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... FORMER MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING THE NEXT U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN.

BUT AT LEAST TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS ARE OPPOSING HIS NOMINATION.

>> I AM FULLY COMMITTED TO ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THE ENTIRE PARK DISTRICT SYSTEM.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM FOCUSES ON THE SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL ROCKING THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT.

>> STARTING WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE OF ALL CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE.

>> FACEBOOK IS MORPHING INTO META BUT WHAT IS THE METAVERSE?

OVERLOOKING WOMEN IN BIOMEDICAL UNIVERSE MAY PUT OF PATIENT TO A DISADVANTAGE.

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN I TURNED 11 AND 12 I WAS ONBOARD WITH THE VACCINE.

>> STUDENTS ENCOURAGING COVID-19 VACCINES INCLUDING 12-YEAR-OLD AUBREY EWING.

>> THE OSCAR NOMINATED ACTOR DAVID STRATHAIRN TALKS ABOUT THE ONE MAN SHOW HE IS PERFORMING AT CHICAGO SHAKES PEER THEATRE.

>> AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT [INAUDIBLE] >> AND WE HAVE A DRINK WITH TWO AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WHO SAVED THE CITY'S LAST LESBIAN BAR.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE LUIS ARROYO PLEADS GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF WIRE FRAUD.

ARROYO ANNOUNCED HE OFFERED A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS SENATE MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $2500 TO SUPPORT A BILL BACKED BY A SWEEPSTAKES FIRMED THAT HIRED ARROYO AS A LOBBYIST.

HE WAS INDICTED ON A CHARGE OF BRIBERY IN OCTOBER 19 RESIGNING FROM THE ILLINOIS HOUSE ONE MONTH LATER.

HE IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED ON FEBRUARY 18TH.

>> LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS HAVE BEGUN ADMINISTERING COVID-19 VACCINES 5 AND UP FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE C.D.C.

100,000 DOSES ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN THE FIRST WEEK OF VACCINATIONS WITH MORE ARRIVING SOON.

THIS COMES AS THE CITY IS STARTING TO SEE A SLIGHT UPTICK IN CASES AFTER WEEKS OF DECLINE.

THE DAILY AVERAGE IS 322 COMPARED TO 288 THE WEEK PRIOR.

AND THE POSITIVITY RATE IS 1.8%.

UP FROM 1.6% THE WEEK PRIOR.

>> HEATHER MACK A CHICAGOAN WHO SERVED MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS IN AN INDONESIAN PRISON FOR KILL HER IN MOTHER IN BALI HAS BEEN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES IN THE UNITED STATES AND TAKEN INTO FEDERAL CUSTODY.

MACK ARRIVED THIS MORNING AND F.B.I.

AGENTS TOOK HER INTO CUSTODY.

SHE CHARGED CAN CONSPIRING TO KILL HER MOTHER AND ALSO CAN CHARGED IS HIRE BOYFRIEND TOMMY SHAVER CONVICTED OF -- SCHAEFER CONVICTED OF MURDER IN INDONESIA AND HE IS STILL THERE.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... FORMER MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL'S NOMINATION TO BE THE U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN WAS PROVED TODAY BUT TWO DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST HIS APPOINTMENT.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US WITH MORE.

THE TWO DEMOCRATS ARE SENATORS JEFF MERKELY OF OREGON AND ED MARKEY OF MASSACHUSETTS AND THEY JOINED TED CRUZ AND MARCO RUBIO IN VOTING DOWN THE NOMINATION.

>> IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE THAT CRUZ AND RUBIO VOTED NO THEY HAVE PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS SO THAT IS NOT A SURPRISE BUT IT WAS A SURPRISE WHEN OREGON JEFF MERKELY PUT OUT A STATEMENT BEFORE THE HEARING READING QUOTE BLACK LIVES MATTER.

HERE IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT JUST SPEAK AND BELIEVE THESE WORDS BUT PUT THEM INTO ACTION IN THE DECISIONS WE MAKE.

END QUOTE.

THAT A CLEAR REFERENCE TO THE DEATH OF LAQUAN McDONALD AT THE HANDS OF A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER.

MERKLEY WAS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO PRESS RAHM EMANUEL HOW HE HAMMED THAT 2014 POLICE MURDER WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE.

AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE FORMER MAYOR DIDN'T ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS TO THE OREGON SENATOR'S SATISFACTION.

I REACHED OUT TO SENATOR MARKEY'S OFFICE AND HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE.

>> AND CERTAINLY THERE WERE LOBBYING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF RAHM EMANUEL TO GET THE NOMINATION FROM GROUPS WANTING TO SEE HIM NOT GET THAT NOMINATION.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN WHEN IT GOES BEFORE THE FULL SENATE?

>> IT MEANS THE FORMER MAYOR WILL RELY ON MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN SENATE TO PUSH HIS NOMINATION OVER THE EDGE IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL.

NOW, FIVE REPUBLICAN SENATORS SAID THEY SUPPORT HIM.

SO THAT SEEMS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

BUT HIS NOMINATION WILL NOT BE CONFIRMED WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

>> AND THESE NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING SLOW BECAUSE OF OPPOSITION.

DO WE KNOW WHEN THE CONFIRMATION IS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE?

>> WE DON'T.

AND WE HAVE TED CRUZ TO THANK FOR THAT.

HE HAS PUT A HOLD ON ALL OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NOMINATIONS AND STATE DEPARTMENT NOMINATIONS SO WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS ITS WAY OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HEATHER THANK YOU AND WE'LL SEE YOU LATER IN THE PROGRAM FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> THANKS AGAIN.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

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

>> THE COMPANY CALLED FACEBOOK IS NOW CALLED META WHEN MARK ZUCKERBERG SAID THE SOCIAL MEDIA PILOT WAS CHANGING THE NAME TO META AND PIVOTING TO METAVERSE REIMAGINING THE INTERNET THROUGH A 3D LANDSCAPE.

JOINING US ARE BLASE UR A PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND RABINDRA RATAN AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT MICHIGAN STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA AND INFORMATION.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

BLASE UR WHAT IS THE METAVERSE?

>> SURE, SO THE METAVERSE IS THIS REIMAGINING HOW WE COMMUNICATE BY PUTTING OURSELVES IN THIS VIRTUAL VIDEO GAME WORLD.

IMAGINE YOU GOT TO BE TRANSPORTED INTO A VIDEO GAME WORLD AND INTERACT WITH YOUR FRIENDS YOUR FAMILY YOUR COWORKERS BY MOVING AROUND IN THE WORLD PURCHASING OBJECTS AND HAVING YOUR COMMUNICATIONS AND CONVENINGS MEDIATED IN THIS METAVERSE.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT FOOTAGE OF MARK ZUCKERBERG IN THAT METAVERSE.

RABINDRA RATAN, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE METAVERSE THAT FACEBOOK IS MAKING THIS BIG BET AND CHANGING THE NAME TO META?

>> IT'S NOT THAT SURPRISING.

THEY ARE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION SINCE 2014 WHEN THEY PURCHASED THE VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET COMPANY FOR $2 BILLION.

IN THE PAST YEAR THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ATTENTION ON THIS IDEA OF THE METAVERSE.

IT IS NOT KNEW IT IS THE NEXT LEVEL OF INTERNET AN EMBODIED APPROACH TO THE INTERNET SO YOU CAN WEAR A HEADSET AND MOVE AROUND IN THE SPACES BUT YOU CAN ACCESS IT THROUGH A COMPUTER OR A PHONE.

BUT IT'S ABOUT LEVEL OF EMBODY.

THAT -- EMBODY RMENT AND THE INTEGRATION OF BITCOIN OR CRYPTOCURRENCY THOSE TECHNOLOGIES ARE AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THIS FUTURE INTERNET.

SO FACEBOOK WANTS TO OWN AS MUCH OF THIS SPACE AS POSSIBLE I IMAGINE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE WILL ENGAGE IN THE INTERNET IN THE FUTURE IN THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST FACEBOOK MICROSOFT INVESTED AND BRANDS LIKE NIKE WITH FOLLOWING SUIT WITH METAVERSE PLANS.

BLASE UR HOW WIDESPREAD WILL IT BE?

LIKE THE SCIENCE FICTION MOVIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING THEIR LIVES IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD?

>> I'M SKEPTICAL OF A COMPLETE SENSE OF INTEGRATION.

I THINK ELEMENTS OF THE METAVERSE WILL BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES IF WE LOOK AT THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FACEBOOK 15 YEARS AGO, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND IF WE LOOK AT THIS HOW WE'RE WORKING FROM HOME IN THIS PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE TO TECHNOLOGY MEDIATED COMMUNICATION THAT SAID BEING PART OF THE VIRTUAL WORLD HAS LOTS OF DOWNSIDES AND CONCERNS.

I'M NOT SURE I MYSELF WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE IN A VIRTUAL WORLD.

>> WHAT ABOUT LIMITATIONS WITH EQUIPMENT OR TECHNOLOGY?

IF YOU WANT TO USE THE METAVERSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HEADSET ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE LIMITING?

>> OH, CERTAINLY.

THERE IS A LITERACY REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ACCESS SOME OF THE VIRTUAL WORLD EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.

THERE ARE LIMITATIONS IN TERMS OF AGE, SOME OF THE CONTENT IS HARD TO ACCESS.

CERTAINLY CONCERNS ABOUT DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS KIDS ARE MORE MALLEABLE THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO THINK WHAT HE THEY SEE IS REAL.

I DO ACTUALLY THINK THAT THESE TECHNOLOGIES WILL INCREASE EQUALITY AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND SOCIETY BY THE QUEST IS QUITE INEXPENSIVE.

I DOUBT THEY ARE MAKING A PROFIT ON IT.

THEY ARE TRYING TO GET IT INTO AS MANY HANDS THEY WANT A BIG PIECE OF THE METAVERSE PIE.

SO I THINK THEY ARE A GOOD SIZE AND CONCERNING SIDES.

>> AND BLASE UR THERE'S CONCERNS WITH FACEBOOK AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE GATHERED ON THEIR USERS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AS WELL.

WILL THERE BE MORE CONCERNS IN IN THE METAVERSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS FACEBOOK HAS TROUBLES WITH PRIVACY.

IN MY OWN RESEARCH GROUP FOCUSES ON PRIVACY AND SECURITY.

IF WE THINK ABOUT THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION FACEBOOK HAS HAD A LOT HAS BEEN MEDIATED BY YOUR PHONE AND A KEYBOARD AND SO THEY ARE PICKING UP ALL THE SIGNALS WHO YOU ARE, PERSONALIZING THINGS TO YOU, STEREOTYPING YOU BASED ON YOUR WORDS AND PHOTO.

IN THE METAVERSE THEY ARE CAPTURING SIGNALS YOUR BODY HOW YOU MOVE THROUGH SPACE.

AND THIS VISION IF WE ARE GOING TO LIVE IN A METAVERSE IS TRUE A LOT PARTS OF YOUR LIFE WILL BE TRACKED AND SURVEILLED.

THE PRIVACY CONCERNS ARE BOUNDLESS IN THIS WORLD.

>> HOW DOES IT WORK?

WILL IT BE A GOVERNING COUNCIL, WHO MAKES ALL THE RULES?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

THE W3C, THE WORLDWIDE WEB CREATES STANDARDS FOR THE WEB TO FACILITATE THE WAYS THAT WEBSITES COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

NO ONE OWNS THE INTERNET, THOUGH.

RIGHT?

SO THERE ARE BIG COMPANIES THAT OWN SERVERS THAT CONNECT TO THE INTERNET AND THE MORE THEY CAN DRAW USERS TO THEIR SERVERS THE MORE OF YOUR DATA IS SAYING THAT THEY OWN WHICH OF COURSE IS THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER THAT IS THE VALUE THAT THEY EXTRACT FROM USERS IN.

FUTURE I KNOW THE W3C DOES HAVE A WORKING GROUP FOCUSED ON METAVERSE STANDARDS AND LIKE WE WANT INTERONNABILITY, YOU CAN MOVE A J PEG FILE TO THAT PROGRAM EASILY.

IMAGINE ON THE METAVERSE YOU CAN MOVE AN AVATAR YOU'VE CREATED IT IN READY PLAYER ME A GREAT SOFTWARE YOU CAN CREATE AN AVATAR FROM A PICTURE OF YOURSELF AND FIVE MINUTES LATER BE USING IT IN VR CHAT OR USING IT TO MOZILLA HUB.

THAT IS INTERONNABILITY, THE STANDARDS FOR THE SAME FILE TYPE IS FACILITATED BY GOVERNING AGENCIES OR AT LEAST THESE CONSORTIUMS BUT THERE'S ALSO THE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.

SO IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR, A BLOCKCHAIN ESSENTIALLY A RECORD OF A TRANSACTION A VIRTUAL TRANSACTION.

IF I HAVE A RECORD OF CREATING THIS AVATAR AND TAKING IT FROM ONE SPACE TO ANOTHER, I CAN OWN IT.

I CAN OWN IT LIKE AN NFT I CAN OWN THAT AND SELL IT.

>> YOUR AVATAR THEY ARE QUICKLY BLASE UR, FACEBOOK ALSO ANNOUNCED IT'S DOING AWAY WITH THE FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY THAT RAN AFOUL OF THE LAW IN ILLINOIS.

SAYING YOU CANNOT COLLECT PEOPLE'S BIOMETRIC DATA WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.

IS THIS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT?

>> YES, I THINK FACEBOOK MOVING AWAY FROM FACIAL RECOGNITION AS USED ON FACEBOOK OR SUGGESTING WHO MIGHT BE IN A DEVELOPMENT, THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT IN ILLINOIS SPECIFICALLY HAS HAD A LARGE PART TO DO WITH THIS.

AND OF COURSE THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE METAVERSE THEY DID NOT ANNOUNCE THAT.

>> THEY MIGHT TAKE IT AWAY FROM FACEBOOK BUT MAYBE IN THE METAVERSE THEY DID NOT SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD USE THAT TECHNOLOGY.

FASCINATING DISCUSSION WE WILL BE HAVING MORE.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR NOW.

THANKS TO BLASE UR AND RABINDRA RATAN.

>> A NEW REPORT SAYS WE COLLECTIVELY UNDERSTAND WOMEN'S HEALTH FAR LESS THAN MEN'S HEALTH.

THAT IS BECAUSE A FRACTION OF RESEARCH FUNDS TO STUDY ALZHEIMER'S, HEART DISEASE AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE GO TOWARDS STUDYING WOMEN EVEN THOUGH THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY FACE THE DISEASES THE REPORT IS FROM WOMEN'S HEALTH ACCESS MATTERS AND FOUND A $300 MILLION FOCUSED ON WOMEN WOULD YIELD A $13 BILLION RETURN.

IT IS NOT JUST THE FIELD IT'S HEALTHCARE, AND THE MEDICAL WORKFORCE.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THEM ARE Dr. SHIKHA JAIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CANCER CENTER AND THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF WOMEN IN MEDICINE.

NICOLE WOITOWICH HOLDS A DOCTORATE IN CHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY.

AND VINEET ARORA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRITSTER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

NICOLE WOITOWICH I WILL START WITH YOU.

HOW OVERLOOKED ARE WOMEN WHEN IT COMES TO BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AS SUBJECT STUDIES AND DATA ANALYSIS?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TONIGHT ON THIS PANEL.

YOU KNOW HISTORICALLY WOMEN AND FEMALES AND I SAY FEMALES BECAUSE THIS INCLUDES OUR ANIMAL MODELS WE USE IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND OUR CELLS THAT ARE THE FIRST AREAS WHERE WE DESIGN AND TEST DRUGS AND THERAPIES HISTORICALLY THEY HAVE BEEN MALE.

AND SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1993, PER AN ACT OF CONGRESS THAT WOMEN WERE REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED IN NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH FUNDED CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDIES.

IN 2016 THE NIH IMPLEMENTED A POLICY REQUIRING SCIENTISTS TO CONSIDER SEX AS A BIOLOGICAL VARIABLE IN THEIR WORK.

IT'S BEEN WITHIN THE LAST DECADE OR TWO THAT WE'VE SEEN A PUSHTORS INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND FEMALES IN RESEARCH.

>> AND Dr. VINEET ARORA THERE IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND MUCH ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUE AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH COVID-19 AND PREGNANCY.

SO EXPLAIN THAT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN THE COVID-19 VACCINE CAME OUT, YOU KNOW THERE WERE NO PRESENTING PREGNANT PEOPLE OR PEOPLE BREAST-FEEDING IN THE TRIALS.

SO ONE THING THAT RESULTED FROM THAT, WAS THIS DISCUSSION OF SHARED DECISION MAKING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DATA TO GUIDE THE DECISION MAKING FOR PREDOMINANTLY WOMEN IN THIS POSITION INCLUDING MYSELF AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER WHO WAS BREAST-FEEDING AND DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

AND WHILE MANY STUDIES HAVE COME OUT, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING COVID-19 VACCINES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PREGNANT OR BREAST-FEEDING AS WELL AS THE HEALTH BENEFITS THE EXCLUSION OF THAT POPULATION GAVE A VOID AND THAT VOID WAS FILLED WITH DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION BUT HAS STILL LED TO WOMEN PREGNANT PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO ARE BREAST-FEEDING FROM AVOIDING THE VACCINE WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING GIVEN THE HEALTH IMPACT OF COVID ON THE SEVERITY OF COVID ON THOSE WHO ARE PREGNANT ESPECIALLY.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION IN THAT FIELD FOR A LONGTIME.

Dr. SHIKHA JAIN IT'S NOT JUST RESEARCH AND HEALTHCARE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUT ALSO THE WORKFORCE IN HEALTHCARE.

SO HOW DOES THAT NEED TO CHANGE TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THESE DISPARITIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEY DIRECTLY IMPACT THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING WOMEN IN MEDICINE NOT BEING SELECTED FOR AWARDS OR NOT BEING SELECTED FOR PROMOTION OR ADVANCEMENT.

WE ARE SEEING THEM BEING OVERLOOKED FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND THERE'S STUDY AFTER STUDY THAT HAS SHOWN WHEN YOU HAVE A MORE DIVERSE WORKFORCE AND LEADERSHIP, YOU ACTUALLY SEE BENEFITS BOTH THE WAY PATIENTS ARE TREATED AND THE OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS.

BUT ALSO YOU SEE BENEFITS IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WHERE YOU SEE INCREASED RETENTION AND YOUR WORKERS ARE HAPPY AND MORE INNOVATION.

WE SEE HUGE DISPARITIES WHEN IT COMES TO PAY, PROMOTION, WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLICATIONS, AWARDS, THERE'S ALL THESE DISPARITIES THAT EXIST WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE AND THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THAT IS THAT WE'RE LOSING BRILLIANT, ACCOMPLISHED WOMEN FROM THE HEALTH FORCE THEY ARE NOT ACCELERATING INTO LEADERSHIP AND THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS THE OVERALL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND THE PATIENTS WHO WE'RE TREATING.

>> AND NICOLE WOITOWICH HOW DOES IT IMPACT MEN AND WOMEN ALL PEOPLE WHEN WOMEN AND FEMALES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN ENOUGH BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH STUDIES?

>> SO I THINK THIS HAS LED TO A GAP IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR RESEARCH HAS BEEN SOLELY IN MALES, WE'RE LACKING INFORMATION ABOUT HOW SEX AS A BIOLOGICAL VARIABLE AFFECTS HEALTH AND DISEASE ACROSS BODY SYSTEMS.

ONE EXAMPLE THAT WE MIGHT NOT THINK OF THERE WAS A STUDY THAT LOOKED AT TREATMENT FOR GLEE YO BLASTOMA A BRAIN CANCER AND ANALYZING THE PATIENTS THEY FOUND THERE WERE DIFFERENCES IN PATIENTS' RESPONSES TO TREATMENT IN MEN VERSUS WOMEN AND BY ASKING THAT QUESTION THEY ARE ABLE TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE TAILOR TREATMENTS MORE EFFECTIVE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

>> Dr. VINEET ARORA WHAT IF WE ADD IN OTHER VARIABLES, WOMEN OF COLOR IN TERMS OF RESEARCH AND QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE, ARE THERE DISPARITIES HERE, TOO?

>> THERE IS A WEALTH OF LITERATURE HIGHLIGHTING THE DISPARITIES IN U.S. HEALTHCARE PARTICULARLY WITH POOR OUTCOMES FOR THOSE WHO ARE FROM MINORITY GROUPS.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT PART OF THAT REASON IS ACTUALLY OUR WORKFORCE.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE ADMIT MEDICAL STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS TO OUR INSTITUTIONS THAT THOSE WHO ARE FROM GROUPS THAT UNDERREPRESENTED IN MEDICINE OR THOSE THAT ARE FROM LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS COMMUNITIES OR RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO SERVE THOSE COMMUNITIES.

AND SO IT IS GETS DOWN TO A WORKFORCE PROBLEM.

IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY -- MUCH OF CLINICAL RESEARCH IS INFORMED BY YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

THERE'S BEEN LITERATURE SHOWING THERE IS A HUGE GAP IN RESEARCH AS WELL TO STUDY CONDITIONS THAT PREDOMINANTLY AFFECT BLACK PEOPLE LIKELY DUE TO THE INADEQUATE FUNDING AND PROMOTION OF INVESTIGATORS WHO ARE FROM THOSE UNDERSTAND REPRESENTED IN REPRESENTED INMEDICINE GROUPS.

>> YOU HAVE A NONPROFIT CALLED WOMEN IN MEDICINE YOU ORGANIZE CONFERENCES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS WHAT ARE THE THINGS BEING DONE TO CLOSE THE GAPS RIGHT NOW?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TO CLOSE THE GAPS.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO WE HAVE AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT IS LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND ALSO OF MEN.

BECAUSE NONE OF THESE CHANGES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN WITHOUT MEN AT THE TABLE AS WELL.

WE'VE CREATED LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS TO HELP WOMEN BECOME MORE EMPOWERED AND LEARN HOW TO NEGOTIATE FOR THEMSELVES AND CHANGE THE SYSTEMS WITHIN WHICH THEY WORK AND CREATED LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING FOR MEN AS WELL.

BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MEN WHO WANT TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP AND ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE TOOLS BECAUSE IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TAUGHT IN MEDICAL SCHOOL EDUCATION AND NOT SOMETHING INTENTIONALLY LOOKED AT FOR A LONGTIME.

WE'RE STARTING TO CREATE THE PROGRAMMING TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND EMPOWER MEN AND WOMEN TO CREATE STRUCTURES THAT ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN THIS REALLY PROBLEMATIC INEQUITY THAT EXISTS IN HEALTHCARE IMPACTING PEOPLE IN THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE OR NOT.

>> IT IMPACTS EVERYBODY.

NICOLE WOITOWICH WE MENTIONED THE STUDY THAT SAID WITH A $300 MILLION INVESTMENT YOU GET A $13 BILLION RETURN.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT FOR US?

>> SO I THINK WHAT THE ISSUE IS IS THAT WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH IS UNDERFUNDED AND UNDER STUDIED AND IF WE MAKE AN ECONOMIC DECISION TO FUND RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS WOMEN AND OTHER UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.

IT HAS A TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT.

CLINICIANS WILL BE AGE TO PROVIDE FOR GRANTS.

AND ONCE THAT IS INTEGRATED INTO OUR BIOMEDICAL ENTERPRISE WE WILL THEN BE ABLE TO SEE THE OUTCOMES OF THAT RESEARCH TRANSLATING FROM THE BENCH TO THE BEDSIDE.

>> AND Dr. VINEET ARORA WHAT ABOUT PAY GAP?

THERE IS A HUGE SALARY GAP IN HEALTHCARE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHILE WE HAVE EQUAL NUMBERS OF WOMEN AND MEN ENTERING THE WORKFORCE IN HEALTHCARE, WE DO NOT HAVE EQUAL NUMBERS AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL.

AND WE ALSO SUFFER A HUGE PAY GAP.

EVEN WHEN TRYING TO CONTROL FOR A VARIETY OF FACTORS SUCH AS NUMBER OF PATIENTS SEEN OR THE TYPES OF MEDICAL PRACTICE THAT YOU HAVE, WE STILL SEE A 20,000 DOLLAR PAY GAP AND A REPORT FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES CLEARLY OUTLINES THAT THE PAY GAP PERSISTED.

WE WILL NEED A LOT OF SOLUTIONS AND LIKE TRANSPARENCY, AND GREATER PAY EQUITY.

FROM THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL FOR INSTITUTIONS TO IMPLEMENT.

>> A LOT OF ISSUES BROUGHT TO LIGHT WITH THIS REPORT AND WE'RE GLAD ARE YOU ILLUMINATING THIS FOR US.

THANKS TO Dr. SHIKHA JAIN, Dr. VINEET ARORA AND Dr. NICOLE WOITOWICH THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT A NEW EFFORT TO BRING VACCINE AWARENESS TO COMMUNITIES WITH LOW RATES OF VACCINATION WITH THE HELP OF KIDS.

STAY WITH US.

>> CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY IS PARTNERING WITH THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE AND THE BRONZEVILLE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN AN EFFORT TO BRING COVID-19 AWARENESS TO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TELLS US HOW THIS VIDEO CONTEST IS WORKING TO DISPEL VACCINE MIPGHTS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.

>> STUDENTS AT CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ARE ENCOURAGING MEMBERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE THROUGH THE HELP OF A NEW INITIATIVE CALLED VAX A MILLION.

IN ADDITION TO HOSTING COMMUNITY EVENTS WHERE VACCINES ARE OFFERED WITH A $50 FINANCIAL INCENTIVE.

>> ARE YOU VACCINATED?

WHAT YOU MEAN, NO.

>> WHY?

>> GET VACCINATE SECOND TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR PEOPLE WHY WON'T YOU GET VACCINATED.

>> IN STUDENTS CREATED ONE MINUTE VIDEOS WHY GETTING THE VACCINE IS IMPERATIVE.

THE MOST CREATIVE VIDEO WINNERS RECEIVED $1500.

>> WITH THE VACCINE, THE CHOICE IS YOURS.

>> 12-YEAR-OLD AUBREY IS ONE OF THOSE CAMPAIGN WINNERS.

>> WE ARE ETWO YEARS IN COVID AND WE KNOW THOSE RESULTS.

AND THEY ARE NOT GOOD.

SO THE VACCINE COULD GO DOWN OR UP, BUT WE'RE ALREADY DOWN SO THE ONLY PLACE WE CAN GO IS UP.

>> Dr. SUZET MCKINNEY AGREES AS A PANELIST IN THE CAMPAIGN FACTS OVER FEAR CONVERSATION SHE SAYS THE CAMPAIGN WORKS TO ADDRESS COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT NOT ONLY GETTING THE VACCINE BUT FEARS AROUND GOING TO THE DOCTOR AS WELL.

>> WHAT MANY OF THEM LOOK AT ARE HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST MANY OF WHICH HAVE EXISTED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WE SEE HIGHER RATES OF CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART DISEASE.

THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HAS NOT ALWAYS TREATED BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT THEY'VE TREATED NONMINORITY COMMUNITIES.

SO WITH COVID AND WITH THE COVID-19 VACCINE, MANY PEOPLE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES DON'T NECESSARILY TRUST THAT THIS IS A VACCINE THAT IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL TO THEM.

BECAUSE OF SPECIFIC SITUATIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN HISTORY, THEY ARE THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE OUT CONTINUING TO PROVIDE SERVICES WHEN THE DISEASE SPREAD INITIALLY STARTED.

SO BEING OUT IN THE PUBLIC THEY WERE AT GREATER RISK OF EXPOSURE.

>> NOW, THAT WAS THE FOCUS OF JUNIOR KYRA ADENEKAN VIDEO CAMPAIGN A WINNER.

>> KAI RA REMINDS PEOPLE WHO SHE IS TAKING THE VACCINE FOR.

>> I HAD UNDERLYING HEALTH PROBLEMS MY RESPECT PETITION VACCINATION NOT THE BEST AND I'M PREGNANT.

I HAD THE VACCINE AND I'VE BEEN OK. AND AT THIS POINT, I FEEL SAFER.

I TOOK THE VACCINATION FOR MY KIDS MY UNBORN CHILD AND THE PEOPLE AROUND ME NOT JUST FAMILY BECAUSE MY NEIGHBORS IS PART OF MY FAMILY MY TEACHER IS PART OF MY FAMILY.

AT THIS POINT I WANT JEFF TOBOLSKI SAFE AND HER TO GO HOME TO HER HAPPY I'M GLAD CHICAGO STATE GIVE ME POWER BEHIND MY VOICE.

>> SCOTT IS PROUD TO REPRESENT AN INSTITUTION PRAYING SUCH A VITAL ROLE.

>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO FOR OUR FUTURE IS MAKING SURE THERE'S DIVERSITY IN HEALTHCARE AND SCIENCE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO GET CULTURAL AAWARENESS AND COMPETENCY IN THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHICAGO STATE BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ANGEL IDOWU.

>> A TOTAL OF 14 STUDENTS WERE PART OF THE PROJECT WITH EIGHT VIDEOS PRODUCED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE CONTEST WHICH WILL ROLL OUT ON THE VAX A MILLION WEBSITE FRIDAY.

IT'S TO BE DECIDED IF THEY WILL HOLD AN EVENT.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER IS NOT RUNNING FOR THE HOUSE.

THAT AND MUCH MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

AND ACTOR DAVID STRATHAIRN TALKS ABOUT HIS ONE MAN SHOW AT CHICAGO'S SHAKESPEARE THEATRE AND HIS FILM CAREER.

>> WE'VE HAD SUCH A RESPONSE FROM GREAT PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU KNOW, THE TRANSCOMMUNITY.

GAY MEN.

>> AND HEAR HOW TWO WOMEN ARE WORKING TO MAKE THEIR BAR INCLUSIVE TO EVERYONE.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> SENATOR DICK DURBIN IS CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO HEARTLAND ALLIANCE WHICH OPERATES AN IMMIGRATION SHELTER IN BRONZEVILLE AND IT'S HOUSING AFGHAN REFUGEE CHILDREN AFTER REPORTS OF ILL EQUIPPED STAFF AND INSTANCES OF CHILDREN HURTING THEMSELVES.

ProPublica REPORTED DOZENS OF POLICE CALLS TO THE SHELTER FOR SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, ASSAULTS AND MENTAL HEALTH DISTURBANCES.

IT IS ONE OF FOUR RUN BY THE HEARTLAND ALLIANCE CARING FOR 77 AFGHAN CHILDREN.

THERE HAVE BEEN SAID THE REPORT RAISES TROUBLING ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN.

HEARTLAND SAYS IT SUPPORTS AN INVESTIGATION.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEACHERS UNION TO SET ASIDE FUNDING FOR HIRING ADDITIONAL SCHOOL STAFFERS.

$10 MILLION WILL GO TOWARD HIRING SUBSTITUTES AND COMPENSATION FOR MISSED TEACHER PREP TIME AND TEACHERS COVERING ADDITIONAL CLASSES.

C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PEDOR MARTINEZ SAID SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY RESILIENT AND QUOTE BY GIVING OUR SCHOOLS MORE FUNDING AND FLEXIBILITY, WE CAN RELIEVE THE BURDEN SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON PREPARING EVERY STUDENT FOR SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND.

>> DAVID STRATHAIRN HAS BEEN AN IN DEMAND ACTOR FOR DECADES THROUGH HIS OSCAR NOMINATED PERFORMANCE AS THE JOURNALIST EDWARD R. MURROW IN GOOD NIGHT, GOOD LUCK AND THE WINNING NOMAD LAND AND NOW HE IS APPEARING AT CHICAGO SPIKE SPEAR THEATRE IN A PERFORMANCE CALLED REMEMBER THIS THE LESSON OF JAN CAR SKY.

AND DAVID STRATHAIRN WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO HAVE YOU THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS FOR THIS PRODUCTION.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE REAL-LIFE CHARACTER THAT YOU PLAY AND THE THRUST OF THE STORY THAT YOU ARE GETTING AT?

>> WELL, WHERE IT BEGINS.

I GUESS WELL WE'LL START WITH WHAT THE PLAY CENTERS AROUND.

IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A CHRONOLOGICAL JOURNEY THROUGH HIS LIFE AND IT FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON HIS TIME AS A COURIER FOR THE POLISH UNDERGROUND CARRYING MESSAGES TO FROM THE FRONT TO THE GOVERNMENT IN EXILE IN FRANCE.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY TO HIS COMING TO THE WEST TO REPORT ON THE ATROCITIES OF THE HOLOCAUST TO TELL ROOSEVELT AMONG OTHERS FOREIGN SECRETARY IN ENGLAND.

AND IT TOUCHES ON HIS CAREER AS A TEACHER AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY FROM 1962-1992.

IT'S ON A LARGE SCOPE TO COVER.

BUT I FEEL THAT WE'RE DOING JUSTICE TO THE HIGH POINTS OF HIS LIFE AND INDEED TO THE INCREDIBLE LEGACY THAT HE LEAVES IN TERMS OF BEARING WITNESS.

>> IT IS AN AMAZING STORY ALMOST LIKE HE WAS SCREAMING INTO THE VOID BECAUSE HE TOLD FDR WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND OTHER LEADERS AND THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY ACTION.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND HE BLAMES HIMSELF FOR THAT.

WHY WAS THAT?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW AS HE BLAMED HIMSELF.

BUT HE DID FEEL A SENSE OF FAILURE HAVING MADE IT TO THE OFFICES OF THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AT THE TIME AND THE MESSAGE HE FELT WAS CRUCIAL TO STOP THE ANILEIATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE WHILE THERE WAS TIME TO STOP IT.

HE DID CARRY, I BELIEVE, A SENSE OF FAILURE.

OBVIOUSLY HE DIDN'T FAIL.

THE FAILURE OF OTHERS TO ACT UPON THE INFORMATION.

>> CERTAINLY AND THERE WERE POLITICAL REASONS THAT FDR DID NOT ACT IMMEDIATELY AND THE TITLE IS REMEMBER THIS THE LESSON OF JAN CARSKI.

WHAT IS THE LESSON IN THE PLAY?

>> YOU CAN TAKE A LOT OF LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE.

I THINK TO PUT IT SIMPLISTICLY, THE LESSON IS TO REMEMBER.

WE DON'T REMEMBER OUR PAST WE ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT POTENTIALLY.

AND THAT BY DOING AN EXCAVATION OF WHO WE ARE BY EXPLORING WHERE WE CAME FROM, HOPEFULLY WE CAN LEARN THINGS GOING FORWARD TO FORETHE BETTERMENT OF OUR WORLD.

>> AND IN FACT YOU NOT ONLY DO A 90 MINUTE ONE MAN SHOW YOU DO A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH THE AUDIENCE.

WHAT ARE THOSE SESSIONS LIKE?

>> WELL, WE HAVE HAD A WEEK-AND-A-HALF IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL THEATRE.

AND THEY WERE VERY MOVING.

VERY INSIGHTFUL AND VERY ENGAGED BECAUSE BOG GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS THE HOMETOWN FOR HIS LIFE.

AND HIS STUDENTS WERE THERE AND PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE THERE REALLY.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A LARGE POLISH COMMUNITY HERE IN CHICAGO OBVIOUSLY WHO WILL BE EXCITED TO SEE THESE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM OR KNOW OF HIM SHOW UP.

SO WE'RE OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS, SHARE AND EXPERIENCE IT TOGETHER.

>> INDEED A LARGE POLISH COMMUNITY HERE CALLED THE LARGEST POLISH CITY OUTSIDE OF WARSAW.

YOU ARE DOING THIS THROUGH NOVEMBER 14TH.

THE STAMINA MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY THAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS ONE MAN PERFORMANCE IT IS NOT LIKE YOU ARE JUST SITTING AROUND READING A STORY.

YOU ARE PHYSICAL.

HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S IT'S DIFFICULT, YEAH, BUT YOU TRAPE TO DO IT.

AND -- TRAIN TO DO IT AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF OF INTENSE PRESENTATION.

BUT IT'S ALSO IN RESPECT OF CARSKI HIMSELF AS A TEACHER HE WAS VERY ANIMATED.

PEOPLE WANTED TO HAVE HIS CLASS BECAUSE OF HIS PERFORMANCE AND HIS SKILLS AND ENERGY AND TELLING OF ANECDOTES.

IT'S IN SYNC WITH WHO HE WAS AS A PROFESSOR.

>> AND THERE IS A LOT OF RELEVANCE TO THE MESSAGE IN THIS PLAY TO THE TIMES THAT WE'RE LIVE UNWILLING NOW.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO GOOD LUCK THAT WAS RELEVANT THEN TALKING ABOUT JOE McCARTHY AND McCARTHYISM AND NEWS.

DO YOU REFLECT ON THAT MOVIE NOW GIVEN THE CURRENT CLIMATE OF MISINFORMATION AND DISTRUST IN JOURNALISM?

>> EVERYDAY.

EVERYDAY.

I HAVE A NOTION THAT TO CONTACT GEORGE CLOONEY AND WHOEVER HAS THE FILM AND SAY THAT FILM SHOULD BE REVISITED.

AND IT HAS -- IT DOVETAILS A LOT WITH WHAT CARSKI REPRESENTS.

MISINFORMATION.

BEARING WITNESS, TELLING THE TRUTH, BEING AN EYEWITNESS.

AND HAVING THE INFORMATION DISMISSED AND DENIED AND IGNORED.

BOTH OF THOSE EDWARD R. MURROW WERE CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH.

>> IT WOULD BE EXCITING FOR THESE CURRENT TIMES.

I DON'T KNOW YOU'VE MADE WONDERFUL SO MANY BIG FILMS.

OSCAR NOMINATED NOMAD LAND JUST SWEPT THE COUNTRY BY STORM.

WERE YOU SURPRISED AT THE RECEPTION THAT MOVIE GOT?

>> SOMEWHAT, YEAH.

AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT, I THINK IT WAS A QUESTION OF CERTAINLY GOOD TIMING BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE BEING DISPLACED PEOPLE THERE WAS A HUGE PEOPLE WHO REPORT CLOSURES AND ECONOMIC IMPOVERISH.

AND CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE WORLD AND PEOPLE WERE ISOLATED FROM EACH OTHER WHILE WE WERE MAKING THAT FILM.

AND IT WENT ON TO THIS DAY.

AND I FEEL NOMAD LAND STRUCK A NERVE ABOUT PEOPLE WANDERING LOOKING FOR A COMMUNITY AGAIN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PUT DOWN ROOTS WHETHER IT'S WHEELS ON THE ROAD OR FINDING A COMMUNITY AGAIN.

SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT THAT THAT WAS THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR IT STRUCK A NERVE.

>> CERTAINLY RELEVANT FOR THE TIME WE'RE LIVING IN AS WELL.

AND ALL THE FILMS I COULD GO OVER I WANT TO BRING UP CHICAGO CONNECTIONS 8 MEN OUT AND LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN.

ANY MEMORIES OF WORKING HERE IN OUR CHICAGO?

>> ALWAYS A GREAT TIME.

I HAVE NOT WORKED HERE ENOUGH.

IT IS A BLAST AND IT'S GREAT AND I MADE A SMALL MOVIE IN THE SUBURBS OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO.

BUT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK IN CHICAGO.

BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN CITIES FOR SURE.

HOLDS A LOT OF HISTORY AND THE PILLAR OF THE CULTURE.

>> AND YOU'RE AT A GREAT THEATRE CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE.

>> SUCH A BAUFL THEATRE IT'S EXTRAORDINARY I'M BLESSED AND GRATEFUL TO CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE FOR BRINGING THE PLAY HERE.

>> AND THE SHOW REMEMBER THIS THE LESSON OF JAN CARSKI IS PLAYING UNTIL NOVEMBER 14TH.

AND DAVID STRATHAIRN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS, PARIS.

ALL THE BEST.

>> OF COURSE, THANK YOU, YOU TOO.

>> UP NEXT WE DIG INTO THE REPORTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AT THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT AND MUCH MORE IN OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> THE STATE'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IS SHUFFLING WITH THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AND THE POLITICAL FALLOUT OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL AND MUCH MORE ARE THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT POLITICS AND JOINING US THIS WEEK ARE HEATHER CHERONE, AND SPECIAL GUEST, TONY ARNOLD FROM WBEZ.

AMANDA VINICKY AND BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ARE OFF TONIGHT.

TONY WELCOME.

LET'S START WITH THAT NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP WHERE ANTI-TRUMP CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER ANNOUNCED HE WOULD NOT RUN AGAIN FOR THE HOUSE.

>> I CANNOT FOCUS ON BOTH A REELECTION TO CONGRESS AND A BROADER FIGHT NATIONWIDE.

I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR...

THIS IS NOT THE END OF MY POLITICAL FUTURE BUT THE BEGINNING.

>> TONY ARNOLD IF IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF HIS POLITICAL FUTURE WHAT DOES HIS FUTURE ENTAIL?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT'S CONCEIVABLE HE IS AIMING TO RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE WHAT THAT OFFICE IS, IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS.

AND FUN TO SPECULATE.

IS HE LOOKING AT RUNNING STATE-WIDE HERE?

WE HAVE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR UP FOR REELECTION AND THE U.S. SENATE SEAT HELD BY TAMMY DUCKWORTH UP FOR ELECTION NEXT YEAR.

SECRETARY OF STATE?

I DON'T KNOW.

OR LOOKING BEYOND ILLINOIS AND LOOKING TO RUN NATIONALLY IN A FEW YEARS?

I THINK THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT HE HAS MADE HIMSELF A NAME AS BEING A REPUBLICAN WHO IS ANTI-TRUMP AND WHETHER HE WANTS TO BE DEFINED BY THAT OR NOT HE IS ACTING LIKE HE WANTS TO BE.

THEN THAT'S HIS WHERE HE IS WITHIN THE PARTY.

AND HE IS ALSO HE SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE A FORMIDABLE FUNDRAISER IN THE TIME OF BEING IN THE STATUS AND TAKING ON TRUMP.

I COULD SEE HIM KEEPING THAT FEDERAL CAMPAIGN OPEN AND FUNDRAISING THAT WAY AND GOING THAT ROUTE.

AND SEE HIM RUNNING STATE-WIDE.

>> HE HAS THE ACTION COMMITTEE CALLED COUNTRY FIRST WHICH SUPPORTS REPUBLICANS MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CANDIDATES THAT DO NOT WANT TO GO INTO THE DIRECTION OF TRUMP.

HEATHER CHERONE WE HAVE THE ELECTION LAST NIGHT.

THE VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN WON THERE AND IN NEW JERSEY A DEMOCRAT BARELY WON.

DO YOU THINK THAT PLAYS INTO THE CALCULATION?

VIRGINIA YOU COULD LOOK AT THE VIRGINIA RACE SAYING IT WAS HE AA TRUMPY REPUBLICAN THAT WON AND MAYBE THAT IS A SIGN THE PARTY DOESN'T RELY ON HIM?

>> YEAH.

I GOT A COUPLE TEXTS FROM PEOPLE SAYING THAT GLEN YOUNGKIN REMINDED THEM OF BRUCE RAUNER WHO WAS OF COURSE ILLINOISIANS LAST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

HE WAS A HEDGE FUND GUY WHO TRIED TO MODERATE ON SOCIAL ISSUES WHILE PROMISING TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY AND FOCUSING ON JOBS.

AND THAT IS CLEARLY IF THERE IS AN ANTI-TRUMP OR AT LEAST A NON-FULLY EMBRACED TRUMP IN ILLINOIS BLUE STATES LIKE ILLINOIS THAT IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

I'M NOT CONVINCED THERE IS THAT PATH.

BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY RUNNING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR ILLINOIS GOVERNOR IS FULLY ONBOARD WITH DONALD TRUMP.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF THAT CHANGES.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT SCANDAL TWO REPORTS OUTLINE SEXUAL ABUSE AT POOLS AND BEACHES.

FORMER PARK DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT MIKE KELLY IS OUT AND ROSA ESCARENO SAYS SHE WAS QUOTE STUNNED AND HORRIFIED BY WHAT THE INVESTIGATION FOUND.

TAKE A LOOK... >> YOU READ THE REPORT ONE OF THE REALLY SAD THINGS FOR ME, IS THAT THESE WOMEN TRIED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND IT WENT UNHEARD.

THE BALL GOT DROPPED AT SEVERAL LEVELS.

>> AND WE HAVE TO CREDIT TONY ARNOLD YOUR COLLEAGUE FOR A LOT OF GREAT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING THAT BROUGHT THIS TO LIGHT.

MIKE KELLY THE FORMER C.E.O.

IS GONE ANY OTHER HEADS TO ROLL HERE?

>> YES.

ROSA ESCARENO ANNOUNCED SHE FIRED THREE OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S TOP SUPERVISORS.

THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THE PARK DISTRICT'S RULES IN HANDLING THE COMPLAINTS.

HOWEVER THIS IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

THERE IS STILL A LOT WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DO KNOW THAT THE INTERIM INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND CORRECT ROBRATION FOR COMPLAINTS OF HARASSMENT AND ABUSE AND ASSAULT FROM FOUR TEENAGE LIFEGUARDS.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO COME AND IT IS NOT CLEAR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HELPED STEER THE PARK DISTRICT DURING THIS TIME WHETHER THEY WILL BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ROLE AS WELL.

>> AND IT IS A MESSY SITUATION AND A MESSY SITUATION AT LORETTO HOSPITAL STARTING WITH BLOCK CLUB ON THE SHOTS GIVEN TO THE RICH AND FAMOUS AND INELIGIBLE FOLKS CONNECTED.

COULD CRIMINAL CHARGES COME FROM THIS OR A FINE FOR THE HOSPITAL?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WE KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS HAVE ISSUED SUBPOENAS TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND SO WHILE PLENTY OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE OPENED AND NOT NECESSARILY DON'T RESULT IN CHARGES, IS IT CONCEIVABLE THEY ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE VACCINATIONS AND CUT IN LINE, BASICALLY, PROOF THAT THEY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE AND THAT LORETTO BASICALLY WAS USING THE VACCINATIONS TO REWARD THEIR FRIENDS IT'S POSSIBLE.

WHAT THE CRIMES ARE I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK THE SUBPOENAS THAT IF ARE AT LORETTO IT'S TIME TO GET A LAWYER.

>> AND THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT DID THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION INTO IT AND NOTHING MUCH CAME OF IT AND THEY KIND OF CLAPPED THEIR HANDS AND MOVED ON.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE CASINO SITUATION HERE.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS HOLDING A FULL HOUSE WITH FIVE CASINO PROPOSALS SUBMITTED.

DOES IT MEAN THAT A BIG CASINO RESORT IN CHICAGO IS A SURE BET?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILS ABOUT WHERE THE CASINOS WILL GO EXCEPT WE KNOW THAT ONE IS PROPOSED FOR THE SO-CALLED 78 DEVELOPMENT SOUTH OF THE SOUTH LOOP IN-BETWEEN CHINATOWN.

AND THERE SEEM TO BE SEVERAL PROPOSALS FOR McCORMICK PLACE AND ONE FOR THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" PRINTING PLANT OFF CHICAGO AVENUE.

AND IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER ANY OF THOSE WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE MAYOR AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO GET THROUGH CITY COUNCIL.

THE CASINO IS EXPECTED TO ZEN RATE OF $200 MILLION FOR CHICAGO'S POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS.

IT IS A LOT OF MONEY AT STAKE BUT A LOT OF ALDERMEN WANT TO SEE THIS CASINO SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN DOWNTOWN TO HELP BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT FACED DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT.

>> AND TONY ARNOLD, IS THIS DEVELOPMENT A WIN FOR STATE COFFERS TOO?

OR IS IT JUST RESHOVELING THE DECK WITH NEW CASINOS COMING ON-LINE IN THE SUBURBS AND RIVERS, AND GOT ELGIN, DOES IT JUST MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO?

>> NO.

THE STATE WOULD DEFINITELY GET A CUT OF THE TAX REVENUE FROM THE CHICAGO CASINO AS PART OF THAT GAMBLING EXPANSION PACKAGE THAT PASSED IN 2019.

THE SUBURB WOULDS GET SOME.

MORE NEW CASINOS SPORTS BETTING IS ON-LINE HERE IN THE STATE.

AND IS ALREADY ROLLING IN MONEY FOR THE STATE.

I WAS LOOKING AT RIVERS CASINO IN THE SUBURBS NORTH SUBURBS HERE IT DOES FAR AWAY THE MOST AMOUNT OF BUSINESS IN THE STATE.

AND THE STATE GETS $200 MILLION.

>> CANNIBALIZE THAT ONE AND WE SHOULD MENTION RIVERS HAS TWO PROPOSALS FOR CHICAGO.

>> ABSOLUTELY IT COULD BECAUSE A CHICAGO CASINO THAT IS NOT JUST A CASINO IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A MEGGY CASINO IT COULD BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

NOT THE BIGGEST BUT WHEN THEY PASS TO DO THEY SET IT UP IN A WAY THAT POTENTIALLY THERE COULD BE MORE SEATS CHAIRS TO GO SIT DOWN AND BET AT A TABLE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE FINAL PROPOSAL IS WHAT GETS ACCEPTED AND WHERE THAT GOES BUT THEY ARE LOOKING CANNIBALIZE SOME OF WHAT IS BEING ADDED OBVIOUSLY THAT IS A CONCERN.

BUT THE LEGISLATORS PASSED ON AND THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEY ARE TARGETING NORTHWEST INDIANA HERE TO TAKE BACK THE PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL ACROSS STATE LINES TO GAMBLE.

>> AND RIGHT AND NEW CASINOS IN NORTHWEST INDIANA.

IF IT IS THE BIGGEST CASINOS IN THE COUNTRY I WONDER IF THAT MEAN IT IS WILL HAVE THE MOST ELVIS IMPERSONATORS OR THE BIGGEST WAYNE NEWTON SHOW.

WE'LL SEE.

THE MIND WANDERS.

OUR THANKS TO HEATHER AND TONY THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND THERE IS A NEW BAR IN ANDERSONVILLE ONE OF THE CITY'S ONLY BARS LEFT CATERING TO YEAR WOMEN.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" JOANNA HERNANDEZ STOPPED BY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BAR'S NAME, NOBODY'S DARLING.

[♪♪♪] OF THE WOMEN CENTER FUN.

>> THOSE ARE WORDS BUSINESS PARTNERS ANGELIA BARNES AND RENAUDA RIDDLE JOE BIDEN THEIR BAR NOBODY'S DARLING.

>> I DON'T THINK WE QUITE ANTICIPATED THE RESPONSE.

I THINK WE KNEW THAT YEAR WOMEN WOULD BE LIKE THIS IS AWESOME.

YEAR WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY YOU ARE OPENING THIS BAR BUT WE HAVE HAD SUCH A RESPONSE FROM GREAT PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TRANSCOMMUNITY AND GAY MEN IT'S BEEN KIND OF BEEN THIS AMAZING SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.

>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD BAR ON THE CORNER OF RAVENS WOOD USED TO BE A LESBIAN WINE BAR THAT CLOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE LONG TIME FRIENDS JOINED FORCES TO TAKEOVER THE SPACE AND FOCUS ON INCLUSIVITY AND A CRAFT COCKTAIL.

>> I HAVE A PASSION FOR COCKTAILS.

WHEN I HAVE A GOOD COCKTAIL LIKE BITING INTO A JUICEY STEAK.

I WANT TO OPEN MY OWN BAR AND HAVE THAT SAME ENERGY AND PASSION AND GIVE IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> AS FOR THE BAR'S NAME NOBODY'S DARLING, BARNS GOT INSPIRATION FROM HER COLLECTION OF POETRY NOBODY'S DARLING BY ALICE WALKER SPOKE TO HER.

>> THE POEM IS BEING BEING AUTHENTIC AND NOT AFRAID TO FOLLOW YOUR OWN PATH EVEN IF YOU ARE CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDER.

GO BOLD AND MOVE FORWARD AND BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE.

>> WE FELT THAT IS WHAT WE WERE DOING.

>> NOW, THE LOUNGE IS GIVING WOMEN A PLACE TO COME TOGETHER AS HUNDREDS OF LESBIAN BARS HAVE CLOSED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE LESBIAN BAR PROJECT IS A SHORT FILM THAT SHOWCASES A DECLINE OF THE WOMEN OWNED BARS.

200 LESBIAN BARS HAVE SHUTDOWN AND ONLY 21 YEAR SPACES ARE STILL HANGING ON.

>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT BEING IN THIS POSITION AND WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

EVERYDAY WE'RE LITERALLY TRYING TO GET BETTER IN WHAT WE DO.

BECAUSE WE ARE NEW TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS INDUSTRY.

>> AND GIVE BACK.

>> I LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO FEATURE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED ALCOHOL AS WELL AS WOMEN OWNED OR YEAR OWNED.

>> WHEN THIS DUO ARE NOT RUNNING THE BAR, BARNS IS A LEGAL COUNSEL AND RIDDLE IS AN AUDITOR AND WORKING HARD TO CREATE THE SPACE WHERE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HOST EVENTS AND WELCOME EVERYBODY FROM THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> TO SEE YOUR 60, 70 CROWD SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THE 20 SOMETHING TRANSWOMEN SITTING NEXT TO LIKE THE GAY BOYS IN THEIR 30s SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?

IN A GOOD WAY.

LIKE IT'S JUST THE CONVERSATIONS.

>> FROM THE ESTHETICS TO THE CRAFT COCKTAILS IS BLENDS AND PLAYS HOMAGE TO BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN.

>> WE PUT OUR HEART AND PASSION INTO THE BAR WHEN WE THOUGHT ABOUT THE NAME FROM THE COCKTAILS TO THE WAY WE WANT IT TO LOOK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT OK.

WHEN WE WALK INTO THE SPACE WE'RE PROUD OF IT.

>> MAKING THEIR MARK NOT ONLY AS TWO YEAR WOMEN BUT BUSINESS WOMEN DRIVING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

HOPING TO ENCOURAGE OTHER WOMEN TO GO FORWARD.

>> YOU COME HERE TO HAVE A COCKTAIL AND LISTEN TO MUSIC AND FIND COMMUNITY.

AND THE CONVERSATIONS FLOWS FROM THERE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> NOBODY'S DARLING IS OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AND YOU CAN FIND IT IN ANDERSONVILLE.

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

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

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

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

IT'S HOME TO THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE MIDWEST WE VISIT WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

AND THE STORY HOW A CONCERT PIANIST PARALYZED ON HIS RIGHT SIDE AT THE AGE OF 10 LAUNCHED A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN MUSIC DECADES LATER.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WARM AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]