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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> YOU COULD FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY PUSHING UP BEHIND YOU LIKE YOU COULDN'T MOVE YOUR ARMS, YOU COULDN'T BREATHE.

>> EIGHT DEAD AND DOZENS WOUNDED AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL IN TEXAS.

WE TALK WITH A REPORTER ON THE GROUND ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

>> IT IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, EVER.

>> A TRILLION BILL FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SITS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DESK.

WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR ILLINOIS.

>> IT'S BEEN WELL STUDIED.

>> YOUNGER KIDS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO GET THE COVID VACCINE.

IS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HELPING THE CAUSE OR MAKING THINGS HARDER FOR FAMILIES?

>> A PILL FOR PEOPLE INFECTED WITH COVID-19.

A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHARES MORE.

>> DATA SHOWS A RECENT SPIKE IN SHOOTINGS DOWNTOWN HOW VIOLENCE IS AFFECTING THE ECONOMIC HUB.

>> I KNOW ADAM TOLEDO'S PARENTS DID NOT FAIL HIM.

>> AFTER CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS BY MCDONALD'S C.E.O.

>> AND DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME HAS ENDED BUT WHAT DOES THE CHANGE MEAN FOR YOUR SLEEP HEALTH?

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON SOME 33 COUNTRIES INCLUDING CHINA AND MUCH OF EUROPE ARE BEING LIFTED FOR FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELERS.

SOME INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS WERE REPORTEDLY PACKED AS TRAVELERS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD LOOK TO REUNITE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE UNITED STATES.

U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE GINA RAIMONDO WAS AT O'HARE AIRPORT TO CELEBRATE THE LIFTING OF THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED IN 2020.

RAIMONDO SAID QUOTE... >> AND U.S. MATTHEW HELLMAN SECRETARY XAVIER BECERRA WAS AT A HUMBOLDT PARK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER TO DISCUSS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S INVESTMENTS IN MATERNAL HEALTH.

XAVIER BECERRA WAS JOINED BY LAUREN UNDERWOOD TO TALK ABOUT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF MOTHERS DYING SHORTLY AFTER CHILDBIRTH.

A BILL WAS RECENTLY INCORPORATED INTO THE PRESIDENT'S BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION.

XAVIER BECERRA NOTED THE HIGH RATES OF DEATH FOR BLACK AND NATIVE-AMERICAN MOTHERS.

>> THERE'S STILL PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE DYING SHORTLY AFTER GIVING BIRTH.

AND WE WOULDN'T THINK OF THAT OCCURRING IN THE RICHEST NATION IN THE WORLD.

BUT IT DOES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY IT HAPPENS TO PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES MORE THAN OTHERS.

>> AND RENTERS FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC WILL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER MONTH TO APPLY FOR RENTAL RELIEF.

IT WILL REOPEN THE PAYMENT PROGRAM ON DECEMBER 6TH NOT TODAY AS PLANNED.

IN A STATEMENT, IHDA SAYS A VENDOR NEEDED ADDITIONAL TIME TO INSURE THE ON-LINE PLATFORM WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SAYS RENTAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE DISPERSED BY THE ORIGINAL DECEMBER DEADLINE.

IHDA SAYS THE FIRST ROUND LAUNCHED IN MAY APPROVED 57,000 APPLICATIONS AND PAID OUT $540 MILLION.

>> UP NEXT, DETAILS ON A MUSIC FESTIVAL THAT TURNS TRAGIC IN TEXAS.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... RAPPER TRAVIS SCOTT AND OTHER ORGANIZERS OF THE FESTIVAL CALLED ASTRO WORLD ARE FACING SEVERAL LAWSUITS AFTER FRIDAY'S DEAD LIE CONCERT.

EIGHT PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND DOZENS INJURED AFTER A CROWD SURGE AT THE HOUSTON FESTIVAL TWO NAPERVILLE NATIVES WERE AMONG THOSE KILLED.

SCOTT SAYS HE IS QUOTE ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED.

HE HAS VOWED TO PAY FOR THE FUNERAL EXPENSES OF THOSE KILLED.

HE WAS ARRESTED IN CHICAGO FOR LOLLAPALOOZA FOR ENCOURAGING FANS TO JUMP THE BARRICADES.

AND JOINING US IS LUIS ARROYO, A DIGITAL REPORTER.

>> EIGHT PEOPLE DEAD AND DOZENS TREATED FOR INJURIES DO WE KNOW WHAT THE EIGHT OFFICIALLY DIED OF?

>> THE OFFICIAL DEATHS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.

WE KNOW THE AUTOPSIES WERE CONDUCTED TODAY BUT AGAIN WE DON'T HAVE THE FINDINGS.

WHAT WE DO KNOW PRELIMINARY INFORMATION THAT WE DO KNOW THAT AROUND 9:00 P.M.

THE SURGE STARTED AS TRAVIS SCOTT BEGAN TO PERFORM AND THAT PEOPLE WERE COMPRESSED AMONG THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND IT WOULD BE HARD FOR BREATHE TO BREATHE AND RESULTED IN THEM PASSING OUT.

>> AND FROM THOSE YOU TALKED TO WHAT WERE THEIR RECOLLECTIONS OF THAT ENTIRE EXPERIENCE INCLUDING WHAT THE RAPPER TRAVIS SCOTT SAID ON STAGE?

>> YEAH, I SPOKE TO A LOT OF THEM EARLIER TODAY NEAR THE STADIUM WHERE THE EVENT TOOK PLACE.

AND THEY WERE GOING BACK TO REMEMBER AND REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WHO PASSED AWAY AND THEY WERE SHAKEN BY SUCH A TRAGIC EVENT.

A 36-YEAR-OLD WOMAN SHE ATTENDED A CONCERT WITH HER 16-YEAR-OLD NIECE AND TOLD ME THEY GOT SEPARATED AS THE CROWD STARTED TO SURGE.

AND ALL SHE COULD REMEMBER IS NOT BEING ABLE TO BREATHE AND HEARING THE SCREAMS OF HER NIECE CALLING OUT FOR HER.

AGAIN, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE VISIBLY SHAKEN AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FUN EVENT AND IT TURNED INTO SOMETHING NOT FUN.

>> AND WE MENTIONED THAT SCOTT WAS -- THERE WAS AT LOLLAPALOOZA, THERE WERE PROBLEMS OF HIM ENCOURAGING MOSHING AND PEOPLE ACTING ROWDY HE HAS A HISTORY OF THIS AND WAS ARRESTED IN ARKANSAS.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE WHO TRAVIS SCOTT IS AND THE CONTROVERSY THAT FOLLOWS HIM?

>> SO HE IS A HOUSTON RAPPER.

TRAVIS SCOTT, HE HAS MADE SONGS WITH DRAKE AND WHATNOT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HE HAS HAD ASTRO WORLD A FESTIVAL THAT HAS DRAWN A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE CITY AND IT'S BEEN A POINT OF CELEBRATION AND CONTROVERSY.

I BELIEVE IN 2019 WE HAD GATES BEING BROKEN AS PEOPLE BASICALLY STORMED THE GATES AS IF IT WAS A CASTLE.

AND THIS YEAR WAS MUCH, MUCH WORSE.

>> THE HOUSTON PD OPENED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

WHAT MIGHT THAT INVESTIGATION ENTAIL?

>> WELL, HOPEFULLY IT WILL ENTAIL A LOT BECAUSE AT THIS POINT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED DURING THOSE 40 MINUTES WHICH TRAVIS SCOTT CONTINUED TO PLAY AFTER A MASS CASUALTY EVENT WAS DECLARED.

WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO START THE EVENT OR IF THERE WAS A CONCRETE MOTIVE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A REPORT OF SECURITY WORKER WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY NICKED IN THE NECK WITH A NEEDLE NOT SURE WHAT THAT NEEDLE CONTAINED BUT THAT WORKER WAS REVIVED USING NARCAN A DRUG USED TO TREAT OVERDOSE.

>> AND PART OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE WERE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF DRUGS STABBINGS OF YOU GO DRUGS?

CAN YOU ELABORATE?

>> I PERSONALLY ONLY HEARD THE ONE REPORT OF THE STABBING NEEDLE AND THAT WAS FROM THE SECURITY HIMSELF.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE AND THROUGH FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY SAW A LOT OF DRUG USE AND ONE SPECIFIC PERSON SAW A BAG OF COCAINE BEING TOSSED AROUND.

THESE ARE ALL SPECULATION AND HARD TO VERIFY THESE THINGS.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO HOPE THAT THAT INVESTIGATION CLEARS THINGS UP.

>> AND THERE IS ALREADY LAWSUITS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED IN RELATION TO THE INCIDENT.

WHAT DO THE LAWSUITS ENTAIL?

>> THERE IS 15 AS OF RIGHT NOW AND IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME THE NUMBER WILL INCREASE AS THE WEEK GOES ON.

THEY ARE ALL AGAINST LIVE NATION, CONCERT ORGANIZERS IN GENERAL AND SOME NAMED TRAVIS SCOTT AS A DEFENDANT.

THEY ARE ALL SAYING THAT THE CONCERT ORGANIZERS AND SCOTT ARE NEGLIGENT THE WAY THEY ORGANIZED THE CONCERT AND ASKING FOR A MILLION DOLLARS EACH.

>> AND THAT LIVE NATION IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THEIR SECURITY PROTOCOLS WEREN'T UP TO INDUSTRY STANDARD?

OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE HOUSTON PD IS GOING TO INVESTIGATE?

>> AGAIN ANOTHER THING THAT IS PART OF THAT INVESTIGATION.

OFFICIALS HERE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE EMERGENCY PLAN THAT THE CONCERT OR THE FESTIVAL IN GENERAL HAD TO SUBMIT BEFORE OPENING UP.

AND THEY WILL LOOK AT WHETHER THAT PLAN WAS SUFFICIENT OR FOLLOWED AFTER THE MASS CASUALTY EVENT WAS TRIGGERED.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE BIG FESTIVALS.

LIKE LOLLAPALOOZA IN CHICAGO.

AND IT HAPPENED ALL OVER THE NATION.

TRAGIC EVENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> THANK YOU.

>> ILLINOIS CHILDREN BETWEEN AGES 5-11 HAVE STARTED GETTING VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

ACCORDING TO THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT SINCE THE APPROVAL LAST WEEK, 15,150 DOSES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED TO ILLINOIS CHILDREN IN THAT AGE GROUP.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS BOOKING TO BOOST VACCINATIONS WITH A VACCINE AWARENESS DAY FRIDAY BUT THAT IS CAUSING ISSUES.

>> A NUMBER OF DOSES GIVEN TO YOUNGER KIDS IN ILLINOIS COULD BE HIGHER GIVEN THERE IS A 72-HOUR LAG IN REPORTING AND ALSO TRAINING IS REQUIRED SO SOME PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS MAY STILL BE HAVING THEIR OWN LAG TIME BEFORE THEY ARE READY TO JAB CHILDREN IN THE ARM WITH THE COVID VACCINE.

BUT THAT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY AT LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WHICH FRIDAY HELD ITS FIRST CLINIC FOR THAT GROUP OF YOUTH AGES 5-11.

00 MORE THAN 1100 DOSES WERE ADMINISTERED TO CHILDREN IN THAT GROUP.

Dr. JENNI KUSMA SAYS IT IS A GOOD WEEK TO BE A PEDIATRICIAN.

>> IT'S BEEN REALLY WELL STUDIED.

BEEN REVIEWED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I WOULD SAY I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THIS VACCINE.

I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE.

>> SHE SAYS AS NORMAL FOR PARENTS TO HAVE QUESTIONS AND IF SO SHE ENCOURAGES THEM TO TALK TO A DOCTOR.

THE STUDIES ON YOUTH TOOK PLACE DURING THE SUMMER WHEN THE DELTA VARIANT WAS SUNGARRING.

AND -- SURGING.

AND THE VACCINE WAS PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE.

EVEN AS YOUNGER KIDS RECEIVING A SMALLER DOSE.

>> AND WHAT IS INTERESTING AND EXCITING IS THAT THAT DOSE IS SMALLER BUT THE IMMUNE SPONSOR THE ANTI-RESPONSE IS SIMILAR TO THE ADULTS WHO GOT THE LARGER DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

SMALLER DOSE BUT WE'RE SEEING THE SAME ROBUST IMMUNE RESPONSE.

>> UI HEALTH BEGAN BEGINNING THE SHOT TODAY AND THE HEAD OF THE CENTER SAYS HER KIDDO IS GOING TO BE GETTING THE SHOT AND SHE ENCOURAGES OTHER FAMILIES TO DO SO AS WELL.

KIDS AFTER ALL, CAN GET SERIOUS CASES OF COVID.

>> IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHICH CHILDREN WILL BE SEVERELY AFFECTED AND WE DO SEE CHILDREN WHO NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE BREATHING AND THE HEART COMPLICATIONS THAT GO WITH COVID.

MANY PEOPLE OF ALL AGES DO WELL HAVING HAD THE INFECTION.

BUT IT'S SO HARD FOR US TO KNOW WHO WILL AND WHO WILL NOT AND WE'RE SEEING SOME CHILDREN WITH THE INFECTION IN OUR HOSPITAL AS WE SPEAK.

>> BUT SOME PARENTS AREN'T READY.

WILLIE PRESTON IS A FATHER OF SIX CHILDREN WHO GO TO C.P.S.

SCHOOLS RANGING IN AGES FROM 16-5.

>> MY WIFE AND I ARE NOT CURRENTLY AT A PLACE WHERE WE FEEL COMFORTABLE GIVING OUR CHILDREN THE VACCINATION.

CERTAINLY NOT OUR FIVE-YEAR-OLD.

THIS WAS THE VACCINATION IT SEEMS TO BE IT'S RUSHED.

THERE'S LITTLE TO NO -- WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT.

>> NOW, PARENTS LIKE PRESTON ARE WHO CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATORS MAY HAVE HAD IN MIND WHEN LATE THURSDAY THE DISTRICT ANNOUNCED CANCELING CLASSES FRIDAY FOR THAT VACCINE AWARENESS DAY.

C.P.S.

BILLING IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MOST RECENTLY ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ALSO AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS.

BUT FOR PRESTON IT IS FRUSTRATING.

HE SAYS VACCINATIONS SHOULD BE UP TO PARENTS IT'S ABOUT CHOICE AND HE BELIEVES IT IS CLEAR THAT C.P.S.

'S NEW C.E.O.

DID NOT CONSULT WITH FAMILIES HE THINKS THEN THEY WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED WHAT IT MEANS FOR WORKING FAMILY LIKE HIS OWN.

AND THAT IS A HUGE CHILDCARE PROBLEM.

>> THE VERY SHORT NOTICE THE KIDS HAVING AN OUT OF SCHOOL DAY THAT WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF IS 100% CREATING -- CREATED A CHILDCARE ISSUE FOR MY HOUSE AND MY WIFE AND I.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO STICK TO NAMES IN THE BACK AND SHAKE UP AND SEE WHO WILL TAKE OUR WORK THAT DAY BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT CHILDCARE HELP IN PLACE.

>> ALSO TO CONSIDER PARENTS OR GUARDIANS NEED TO BE ON HAND FOR THE MINOR YOUTH TO GET THE VACCINE.

ALSO THE DAY BEFORE.

FRIDAY, WELL, THAT IS ALSO A C.P.S.

AND A FEDERAL HOLIDAY BECAUSE OF VETERANS DAY.

ONE THAT NOT ALL WORKERS GET OFF.

FOUNDER OF THE CHILDCARE SERVICE BABY BRITTANY GADDY BEGAN GETTING CALLS FROM PARENTS WHEN THAT ANNOUNCEMENT WENT OUT.

HER COMPANY ORGANIZED A SMALL GROUP SITTING SESSION AND THERE ARE SILL SOME SPOTS LEFT.

>> THEY CAN REACH US VIA E-MAIL AND IT IS A SIMPLE AS US GETTING YOUR CHILD CONTACT INFORMATION WE WEAR MASKS.

AND LUNCH AND A SNACK IS PROVIDED.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO LEAN IN TO FILLING THE GAP FOR THAT SUPPORT FOR THOSE TWO DAYS.

>> AND UI HEALTH ARE EXPANDING THEIR CLINIC SPOTS FRIDAY FOR THAT C.P.S.

VACCINE AWARENESS DAY.

LURIE 50% OF SLOTS AVAILABLE SO 600 AND THEY WILL BE OPEN STARTING AT 9:00 A.M. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A PATIENT TO GET A VACCINE OR TO HAVE YOUR CHILD VACCINATED AT EITHER OF THOSE CLINICS.

BUT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REGISTER FOR THAT AND SIGN UP ON-LINE.

C.P.S.

DID NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS INCLUDING ONE FROM CRITICS THAT SUGGEST THAT THAT DAY OFF FRIDAY REALLY WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT IS A LACK OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS AVAILABLE THAT DAY.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND WHAT THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL COULD MEAN FOR ILLINOIS.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, THE LONG DEBATED HISTORIC $1 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL SITS ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S DESK AFTER THE HOUSE PASSIONED THE MEASURE.

IT PROVIDES INVESTMENTS IN ROADS, BRIDGES, RAILWAYS AND BROADBAND INTERNET ACCORDING TO SEAN CAT 10 THE STATE WILL SEE BILLIONS FROM THE PLAN INCLUDING 149 MILLION TO EXPAND THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING NETWORK.

A MINIMUM OF 100 MILLION FOR BROADBAND COVERAGE.

27 MILLION TO PROTECT AGAINST CLIMATE RELATED EVENTS.

10 BILLION FOR HIGHWAYS.

1.4 BILLION FOR BRIDGE REPAIR.

1.7 BILLION TO IMPROVE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AKA LEAD PIPE REPLACEMENT AND 600 MILLION TO DEVELOP AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND JOINING US ARE REVEREND LARRY BULLOCK PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE U.S.

MINORITY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND MICHAEL STURINO PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE ILLINOIS ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

MICHAEL STURINO, WHAT ARE THE BIG PROJECTS IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS THAT WILL GET A BOOST FROM THE BILL?

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AND THANKS FOR INVITING BOTH OF US.

WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM MAKE THAT EVEN STRONGER.

THERE ARE SO MANY PROMISINGS ON THE WAITING LIST.

I CAN GO ON FOR HOURS BUT I KNOW TIME IS LIMITED.

JUST TOMORROW THERE WILL BE A BIG PRESS EVENT WHERE PRESIDENT HARMON AND SPEAKER WELCH WILL CALL FOR ACTION ON 290 TO IMPROVE THE NATION'S MOST CONGESTED HIGHWAY AND RECONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS TO IMPROVE THE AGING TRANSIT SYSTEM.

LAKE SHORE DRIVE IS A GREAT PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND HARDENED UP.

THERE IS A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY FOR RESILIENCY TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO WITHSTAND SOME OF THE SEVERE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND LIKELY WILL EXPERIENCE.

I80 IS MOVING AND THANKS TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND REBUILD ILLINOIS, BUT IT CAN CERTAINLY USE AN INFUSION OF MONEY TO MAKE THAT PROJECT GO QUICKER SO THE TRUCK TRAFFIC CAN GET TO AND FRO.

>> I WAS ON 290 YESTERDAY.

THAT HAS BEEN ON THE MINDS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS FOR A LONGTIME.

REVEREND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR JOBS ESPECIALLY FOR UNION LABOR IN ILLINOIS?

>> WELL, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN PARIS FOR HAVING US AS MIKE INDICATED WE LOOK FORWARD TO THESE GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

PRIOR TO THE BILL PASSING AND CERTAINLY HAD OUR PERSPECTIVES FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.

MY MAIN CONCERN HAS AND CONTINUES TO BE THE ISSUE OF HOW THE FUNDS ARE SPENT AND IF THEY ARE SPENT EQUITABLY AND IF THERE'S DIVERSITY AND EQUITY INVOLVED IN THE EXPENDITURES.

ESPECIALLY IN THE MAJOR URBAN AREAS.

SUCH AS THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THE GREATER NAPERVILLE AREA AND PLACES LIKE THAT.

BUT WE ALSO REPRESENT AS I KNOW, ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, WE'RE IN 16 STATES SO WE HAVE AN INTEREST BEYOND ILLINOIS.

HERE IN ILLINOIS I SAID THE LAST TIME WE WERE ON, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT.

BECAUSE THOSE THINGS AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN THE URBAN AREAS.

>> IS THERE MONEY FOR THIS?

IS THERE SIGNIFICANT MONIES FOR THAT?

>> YES.

NOT ENOUGH.

BUT WE ARE ON ONCE BEFORE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AND THE ILLINOIS SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SAID TO US THAT WE ARE ABOUT 20 YEARS BEHIND IN ADEQUATELY FUNDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PARTICULARLY DEALING WITH WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT AND DEALING WITH DRINKING WATER, LEAD PIPES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT AFFECT PERSON'S LIVES DIRECTLY ON A DAILY BASIS.

CAN YOU NOT LIVE LONG WITHOUT WATER AND WE HAVE SO MANY COMMUNITIES LIKE THE SITUATION IN HARVEY AND ROBINS, NOT JUST UP IN FRINT MICHIGAN.

SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THE FUNDS AND I WAS LISTENING TO FORMER GOVERNOR NOW SECRETARY TALKING ABOUT THIS BILL AND HOW CLEAN ENERGY AND THE JOBS FROM THE CLEAN ENERGY ARE GOING TO BE JOBS THAT WE CANNOT EXPORT.

THAT TO ME IS IMPORTANT.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE BRIDGES AND THE HIGHWAYS BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLEAN ENERGY AND DEALING WITH WASTEWATER TREATMENT.

>> MICHAEL STURINO SPEAKING OF CLEAN ENERGY THERE IS MONEY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO IMPROVE ILLINOIS' INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT REGARD.

WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THE BILL AS IT RELATES TO EV'S?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW IT IS A VERY EXCITING TIME IN THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE WORLD.

ILLINOIS HAS THE RIVIAN PLANT AND THE MORE WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS ELECTRIC VEHICLES WE CAN SUPPORT ONE OF OUR OWN MANUFACTURERS.

WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES WE ARE NOT AT THE TEMPERATURE WHERE PEOPLE ARE OVER THE RANGE ANXIETY AND NOT AT THE POINT WHERE IT'S AFFORDABLE TO MOST FOLKS IN ILLINOIS.

THE BILL IS LOOKING AT ADDRESSING THOSE TWO ISSUES.

IN FACT THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGY BEING DEPROID IN OTHER COUNTRIES -- DEPLOYED IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE YOU CAN INTEGRATE ELECTRIC CHARGE RIGHT INTO THE HIGHWAY AND YOU CAN HAVE CARS RIDE OVER IT WIRELESS CHARGING OF VEHICLES.

WE CAN BE A WORLD LEADER IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND MAKE OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEANER AND ECONOMY STRONGER.

>> NORTHERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DENMARK HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.

I WANT TO POINT TO A COMMENT THAT THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY MADE TODAY ABOUT RACISM THAT WAS INHERITED IN PLANNING DECISIONS IN URBAN AREAS IN THE PAST.

LET'S LOOK AT THAT.

>> I'M STILL SURPRISED THAT SOME WERE SURPRISED WHEN I POINTED TO THE FACT THAT IF A HIGHWAY WAS BUILT FOR DIVIDING A WHITE AND BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD OR UNDERPASS WAS CONSTRUCTED SUCH THAT A BUS CARRYING BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN KIDS IN NEW YORK WAS DESIGNED TOO LOW FOR IT TO PASS BY THAT OBVIOUSLY REFLECTS RACISM THAT WENT INTO THE DESIGN CHOICES.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING TO LOSE BY CONFRONTING THAT REALITY.

>> THIS IS THE KIND OF THING DISCUSSED IN CHICAGO WITH RESPECT TO PLANNING OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

SO HOW DO TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE HERE TO GUARD AGAINST THAT?

>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, SYSTEMIC RACISM EXISTS IN AMERICA AND IT HAS SINCE 1619.

WE ARE UNDER NO ILLUSIONS THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM WAS NOT INVOLVED WE KNOW IT'S TRUE.

AND THEY HAVE HAD EVIDENCE TO VERIFY THAT.

AND SOME WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO BREAKDOWN THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED STRUCTURALLY IN TERMS OF ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION TO EASE THE ACCESS OF THESE COMMUNITIES BACK INTO THE GREATER ECONOMY.

NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THIS IN TEXAS.

AND SOME OF THIS DOWN IN 10.

AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE SITUATIONS HERE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT THE EXPRESSION THAT YOU LIVE ON THE WONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS THAT IS A FACT THAT WE CREATE COMMUNITIES BASED ON SIZE OF THE -- SIDES OF THE TRACKS.

IF YOU REMOVE THOSE VISIBLE STRUCTURES YOU GO A LONG WAY TO BRINGING ABOUT GREATER DIVERSITY AND SOLUTION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW THAT THE DAN RYAN WENT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF A COMMUNITY AND FOR YEARS IN MY DISTRICT IF YOU ARE ON THE WEST SIDE YOU ARE IN BRIDGEPORT AND EASTSIDE THE HOUSING PROJECT.

SO WE KNOW AND I AGREE WITH SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG THAT THIS IS A GREAT TIME IF WE ARE GOING TO REBUILD THE STRUCTURES TO ELIMINATE THAT BARRIERS THAT HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED.

>> HE SAID THERE IS FUNDING TO UNDERTAKE THOSE EFFORTS.

THERE'S SO MUCH IN THE BILL AND WE'VE GOTTEN STARTED DISCUSSING IT.

OUR THANKS TO REVEREND LARRY BULLOCK AND MICHAEL STURINO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> INSURANCE GIANT ALL STATE MAY HAVE A BUYER FOR THE 186 ACRE NORTH SHORE HEADQUARTERS A LOOP OFFICE BUILDING IS SADDLED WITH EMPTY SPACE AND IN LIGHT OF COMMENTS MADE BY MCDONALD'S C.E.O.

ABOUT THE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO DIED THIS PAST YEAR, A NEW AD CAMPAIGN HOPES TO BRING THE COMPANY TO THE BARGAINING TABLE.

>> I KNOW ADAM'S PARENTS DID NOT FAIL HIM.

I KNOW JASLYN ADAMS' PARENTS DID NOT FAIL HER.

>> YOU ARE THE VICTIMIZED WE ARE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE IT.

>> THIS HAS TO STOP.

>> AND HERE TO GO BEHIND THE HEADLINES IS CRAIN'S BUSINESS REPORTER A.D. QUIG.

LET'S START WITH THE MCDONALD'S STORY THE AD IS ASKING THE C.E.O.

KEMPCZINSKI TO ADDRESS WORKPLACE ISSUES.

WHAT PROMPTED THE AD AND WHETHER OR NOT MCDONALD'S WILL FULL NIL ANY REQUEST?

>> WHAT PROMPTED THIS WERE TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN KEMPCZINSKI AND LORI LIGHTFOOT THAT CAME TO LIGHT THANKS TO A FOIA.

IT APPEARED TO BLAME THE PARENTS OF TWO CHILDREN SHOT AND KILLED IN THE CITY ADAM TOLEDO AND JASLYN ADAMS, JASLYN ADAMS WAS SHOT AND KILLED WITH HER FATHER IN A MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU THE CALLS CAME FROM THE UNION ASKING FOR HIM TO MEET WITH LEADERS TO FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC RACISM.

IS HE GOING TO DO IT?

HE SAYS YES HE ISSUED A SIX-MINUTE APOLOGY VIDEO THAT HE POSTED AND HOPED TO MEET WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT THE ISSUE.

>> UP NEXT, A LOOP OFFICE BUILDING TRADED HANDS BETWEEN AN IRISH REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT FUND TO THE BUILDING LENDER.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

AND DOES IT SIGNAL LARGER TRENDS FOR THE CHICAGO DOWNTOWN OFFICE MARKET?

>> THIS IS A 24 STOREY ART DECO OFFICE BUILDING AT 65 EAST WHACKER MORTON'S STEAKHOUSE IS THERE.

THEY TRIED TO SELL IT WHILE IT WAS STARING DOWN A DEFAULT ON THE MORTGAGE IT TURNED OVER A DEED IN LIEU OF FORECLOSE.

THAT IRISH COMPANY THEY WON'T FACE A LAWSUIT BECAUSE THEY MISSED LOAN PAYMENTS BUT THEY HAVE TO WALK AWAY.

AND IT IS A SNAPSHOT WHAT DOWNTOWN OFFICE LANDLORDS ARE FACING, 60% LEASED LAST FALL.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH COVID IMPACT ON WORK.

>> A WAREHOUSE DEVELOPER SET TO PURCHASE THE 186 ACRE ALL STATE CAMPUS IN NORTHBROOK.

IF THE DEAL GOES THROUGH WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT PROPERTY?

>> HUGE CHUNK OF LAND THERE IS A DEVELOPER WHO IS HOPING TO TURN IT INTO A SERIES OF INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSES.

THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT WORK-FROM-HOME RUSH YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE GETTING STUFF SHIPPED TO THEIR HOMES WHICH MEANS MORE DEMAND FOR SPACE TO STORE IT.

IT WILL BE A BIG HURDLE TO GET SUPPORT FROM FOLKS IN NEARBY GLENVIEW AND NORTHBROOK FOR THE PROJECT.

RESIDENTS ARE NOT HUGE FANS OF TRUCKS THIS CAN BRING.

SOME PROJECTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE IF WE ARE IN THE MOOD FOR MORE AMAZON SHIPPING PLACES.

THOSE WAREHOUSES ARE IN HIGH DEMAND.

A.D. QUIG THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> THANKS AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW COVID-19 ANTIVIRAL PILLS.

AS CRIME IS UPDATE TA SHOWS A SPIKE IN DOWNTOWN SHOOTINGS.

HOW VIOLENCE IS AFFECTING THE ECONOMIC HUB.

>> AND CLOCKS FALL BACK AS DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME COMES TO AN END HOW TO ADJUST YOUR SCHEDULE FOR THE EXTRA HOUR.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A MAN SHOT BY KYLE RITTENHOUSE TOOK THE STAND TODAY IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF THE TEEN.

AND HE TOLD THE COURT HE HAD NO INTENTION OF SHOOTING RITTENHOUSE EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ARMED WITH A PISTOL AND POINTED IT AT RITTENHOUSE.

GAIGE GROSSKREUTZ TESTIFIED HE IS A TRAINED PARAMEDIC WHO TRAVELED TO KENOSHA TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE PROTESTING.

HE BELIEVES RITTENHOUSE WAS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER AND HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DIE.

>> I WAS TRYING TO PRESERVE MY OWN LIFE.

BUT DOING SO WHILE ALSO TAKING THE LIFE OF ANOTHER IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M CAPABLE IN DOING IT GOES AGAINST ALMOST A LIFELONG ETHICAL CODE THAT I'VE LIVED BY IN REGARDS TO MEDICINE.

>> RITTENHOUSE IS CHARGED WITH SHOOTING THREE MEN TWO OF WHOM DIED DURING PROTESTS IN KENOSHA LAST SUMMER.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WAS PART OF A PANEL OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS AT THE U.S.

CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE TODAY.

HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK UP ILLINOIS' PASSED CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

HE PROMOTED THE STATE AS A LEADER ON TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE AND NOTING ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF TRANSITIONING TO A GREEN ECONOMY AND NOTED NEED FOR MORE ACTION.

>> EVERYONE HERE IN GLASGLOW IS ACUTELY AWARE WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO DO.

WE KNOW THAT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

BUT EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE MUST BE DONE.

>> AND CHICAGO'S OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO MILA KOUMPILOVA PARK.

THE -- MILLENIUM PARK.

TREE WAS DONATED BY A COUPLE.

AND YOU CAN FIND MUCH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TREE'S TREK ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> NEW BREAKTHROUGHS IN COVID RELATED MEDICINE AND THIS TIME IT'S THE PILL.

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES PFIZER AND MERCK HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ANTIVIRAL PILLS THAT FIGHT COVID-19.

MERCK'S PILL WAS AUTHORIZED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM LAST WEEK AND PFIZER SAYS IT PANS TO SEND THE RESULTS OF THE TRIALS TO THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.

THE COMPANY CLAIM IT IS REDUCES THE RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION OR DEATH BY 89%.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS Dr. IRFAN HAFIZ, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE McHENRY AND WOODSTOCK HOSPITALS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE YOU HAD THAT MERCK'S PILL HAS BEEN APPROVED IN THE U.K. PFIZER NO AUTHORIZATION FOR THAT YET.

HOW DO THE PILLS WORK?

>> THESE ARE BOTH ANTIVIRAL AGENTS.

IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR WE'RE AIL TO GET THESE THROUGH THE TRIALS.

BOTH WORK SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY.

THE MERCK DRUG ACTUALLY IS A KNEW CLEO SIDE IT WORKS EARLIER IN THE PHASE WHERE THE IT AFFECTS THE CELL.

WE'VE USED PORT TEASE PROTEASE INHIBITORS.

IT IS BEFORE IT LEAVES THE WHOLE CELL.

SO BOTH CAN AT DIFFERENT TARGETS AFFECT THE CELL REPLICATION.

>> AND HOW WOULD YOU SAY THEIR EFFECTIVENESS COMPARES TO ONE ANOTHER?

>> THERE IS RIGHT NOW THE TRIALS ARE NOT HEAD-TO-HEAD TRIALS.

SO IT'S HARD TO COMPARE THEM.

ABOUT THE OF THEM SEEM TO BE QUITE EFFICACIOUS.

THE MERCK'S TRIAL SAYS IT'S 50% ABILITY TO REDUCE HOSPITALIZATION IF GIVEN WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF ONSET OF SYMPTOMS.

PFIZER'S DRUG ON THE OTHER HAND IS CLAIMING 89%.

WE HAVE GIVEN WITHIN THREE DAYS.

THEY ARE BOTH HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.

I'M SURE WE ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE AS TIME GOES ON WITH WHAT THE HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON LOOKS LIKE.

>> AND THEY ARE BOTH A COURSE OF PILLS?

>> BOTH ARE FIVE-DAY TREATMENTS THAT NEED TO BE STARTED WITHIN THREE DAYS RIGHT NOW PFIZER'S LOOKS UP TO FIVE DAYS OF SYMPTOMS IS POSSIBLE.

THE SOONER THE BETTER.

THIS IS BEFORE YOU'RE HOSPITALIZED.

BY THE TIME YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED THE ANTIVIRAL DRUGS ARE TOO LATE TO DO ANY GOOD.

>> PFIZER'S C.E.O.

ALBERT BOURLA SPOKE ABOUT THE PILL.

>> EVERYBODY ARE NOT GETTING THE VACCINES THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WITH OUR ICU'S AND HOSPITALS IS OVERCROWDED PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE COVID.

AND WE HAVE A SOLUTION.

THIS IS NOT TO PREVENT COVID THIS IS TO TREAT THOSE THAT GOT THE DISEASE.

>> AND TO BE CLEAR HE SAYS NOT EVERYBODY IS GETTING THE VACCINES.

AND SO OFFICIALS OF COURSE Dr.

STILL RECOMMEND THE VACCINE NOT WAITING TO GET SICK SO YOU CAN JUST TAKE THE PILL, CORRECT?

>> THE VACCINE IS DEFINITELY THE FIRST MEANS OF TREATMENT IN PREVENTION.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT SITUATION ENCOURAGE VACCINATION FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO EITHER CANNOT GET VACCINATED OR HAVE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS THAT THE DRUGS WILL BE OF GREAT BENEFIT.

>> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK SO FAR AS THE TIMELINE FOR EITHER THE MERCK OR THE PFIZER PILL BEING AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.?

>> PROBABLY IT MAY BE IN THE NEXT MONTH TO TWO MONTHS.

I THINK THERE WILL BE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE F.D.A.

AS WELL.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THESE DRUGS WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE AND PROBABLY BE OTHER DRUGS THAT WILL BE SIMILAR COMING DOWN THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE THERE.

BUT THESE DRUGS WILL PROBABLY BE FAST TRACKED BY THE F.D.A.

>> AND IS THE PATIENT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COURSE TWICE?

IF YOU GET COVID IN JANUARY AND ARE GIVEN THE PILL AND THEN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER IF YOU SHOULD HAPPEN TO GET IT AGAIN, WOULD THE PILL STILL BE EFFECTIVE?

>> PROBABLY YES.

IT SHOULD WORK.

I THINK ONE OF THE KEY POINTS IS THAT UNLIKE VACCINATIONS THE PILLS ARE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE ANY LONG-LASTING IMMUNITY.

THEY WILL HELP CURB THE SYMPTOMS AND REDUCE THE SEVERITY FOR THAT ROUND OF INFECTION.

IT WILL NOT PREVENT THE NEXT INFECTION.

AND THEREFORE MAY HAVE TO BE USED AGAIN.

>> OK.

THE U.S. IS PAYING $712 PER PATIENT FOR MERCK'S DRUG.

HOW DOES THAT PRICE TRANSLATE TO CONSUMERS?

>> HARD TO SAY AT THIS POINT.

IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SAY.

I SAW NUMBERS OF 700 FOR THE PFIZER DRUG.

BUT THIS WAS BASED ON U.K. PRICING THAT I SAW IN AN ARTICLE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EVENTUAL RETAIL COST WILL BE.

>> THAT SEEMS LIKE A HIGH AMOUNT LESS WEALTHY NATIONS WILL NOT BE EXPECTED TO NEGOTIATE THAT AMOUNT THEY HAVE NEGOTIATED GENERICS?

>> CORRECT.

THERE'S -- THIS WILL LIMIT WHO IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE DRUG FOR SURE.

THE COST IS QUITE A BIT.

>> AND TO THAT END WILL THERE BE GUIDANCE WHO IS ELIGIBLE OR BENEFIT FROM RECEIVING THE TREATMENT FOR EXAMPLE EARLY ON OLDER PEOPLE THOSE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED WERE FIRST IN LINE FOR THE VACCINE?

>> ABSOLUTELY AS WE HAVE FOR THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY CRITERIA FOR USAGE SIMILARLY FOR I DO EXPECT THERE WILL BE USAGE CRITERIA AS WELL.

IT GETS BACK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION AS THAT COST-EFFECTIVE WAY THE HIGH -- IF YOU LOOK AT COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND THE BENEFIT RATIO ARE THE HIGHEST WITH VACCINES.

IT'S HARD TO BEAT.

>> Dr. IRFAN HAFIZ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> 10 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN CHICAGO OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE LEFT GRAPPLING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AS VIOLENCE INCREASES IN THE LOOP.

CHICAGO POLICE DATA REPORT THAT 48 SHOOTINGS SO FAR THIS YEAR IN DISTRICT 1 HAVE HAPPENED COMPARED TO 29 LAST YEAR.

THAT IS A 66% INCREASE.

AND IN POLICE DISTRICT 18, DATA SHOWS 43 SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 27 IN 2020.

A 59% INCREASE.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE IMPACTS OF THE INCREASE IN THE VIOLENT CRIME ARE DEBORAH GRESHBEIN PRESIDENT OF STREETERVILLE ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE RESIDENTS.

ANDY BOYLE DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT ENGINEERING FOR "THE SUN TIMES" WHERE HE HAS DONE DATA ANALYSIS.

AND BRIAN HOPKINS WHOSE WARD COVERS PARTS OF DOWNTOWN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ANDY BOYLE LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY ARE EXPERIENCING A RISE IN CRIME.

YOUR TEAM RECENTLY REPORTED A 220% RISE IN SHOOTINGS DOWNTOWN.

EXPLAIN TO US WHAT YOU ALL FOUND THERE?

>> YES, WHAT WE FOUND WE IDENTIFIED 16 OF THE POLICE BEATS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WE WANTED TO SEE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN HEARING REPORTS AND THERE HAVE BEEN VIRAL INCIDENTS THAT EXPLODED AROUND THERE WE WANTED TO LOOK AND WE FOUND THAT MORE THAN TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF SHOOTINGS COMPARED TO ALL OF 2019 HAPPENED THROUGH NEAR THE END OF OCTOBER FOR 2021.

AND SO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THERE IS SOME PROOF TO BACK UP WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT IT DID FEEL MORE DANGEROUS AND CRIME WAS INCREASING.

BUT WE LOOKED AT THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND WHAT YOU SEE IS THE ENTIRE CITY HAS SEEN A 68% INCREASE IN SHOOTING VICTIMS.

AND SHOOTING FATALITIES COMPARED TO 2020.

WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER BUT IT'S COMING DOWNTOWN MORE THAN IT HAS IN RECENT YEARS.

>> AND TO BE CLEAR HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE NUMBERS OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING DOWNTOWN COMPARE TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO?

>> FROM A NUMBERS PERSPECTIVE YOU HAVE A LOT OF AREAS ESPECIALLY ONE POLICE DISTRICT IN WEST GARFIELD PARK THAT ONE AREA HAD I THINK MORE THAN 50 TOTAL SHOOTING VICTIMS.

THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT WE LOOKED AT HAD 77.

SO BUT THERE'S ONLY 7,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA IN WEST GARFIELD PARK.

THERE IS A SAFETY GAP.

THAT DOES NOT SAY THAT THE SHOOTINGS OCCURRING DOWNTOWN DON'T MATTER THEY ALL MATTER.

BUT SOME OF THE THEORIES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED ALONG IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SOME OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IS NOW COMING DOWNTOWN.

AND PARTIALLY BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MOVING VISITING DOWNTOWN TO FEEL SAFER.

>> AND DEBORAH GRESHBEIN YOUR ORGANIZATION YOU WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS OF STREETERVILLE A NEIGHBORHOOD IN DOWNTOWN.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, THE RESIDENTS ARE VERY ALARMED AND THEY HAVE BEEN VOICING THEIR CONCERNS QUITE FREQUENTLY.

THIS IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR EVERYONE DOWNTOWN.

WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED CRIME AND GUN VIOLENCE LIKE WE HAVE RECENTLY.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND THE VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS JUST ON THE STREETS RANDOMLY DOES AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S VIEWER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, IT IS HAPPENING WHERE IT NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE: RESIDENTS ARE AFRAID TO GO OUT DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY AND NOW IT'S GETTING DARK EARLIER THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY.

>> ALDERMAN HOPKINS WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE LEADING TO THE INCREASE IN VIOLENCE AND SHOOTINGS DOWNTOWN?

>> I THINK THERE'S TWO MAIN REASONS DRIVING IT.

THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

IT'S KIND OF THE SAME PHENOMENON THAT DRIVES THE STUNNING INCREASES IN VIOLENCE ON AIRPLANES OR ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE ATTACKING PEOPLE IN LINE AT A GROCERY STORE.

THE WHOLE SOCIETY IS ON EDGE.

WE ARE STRESSED OUT AND WE HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH AND ARE STILL GOING THROUGH SUCH A VERY DRAMATIC AND FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE COLLECTIVELY AND NOT ALL OF US ARE RESPONDING WELL TO IT.

AND IT'S HAVING RAMIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT SOCIETY.

WHERE THE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS SEEM TO BE BREAKING DOWN BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.

SO IT FOSTERS AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE AUTHORITY CAN EASILY BE DISRESPECTED AND THAT IS WHAT THE POLICE OFFICERS TELL ME ESPECIALLY THE ONES ASSIGNED TO DOWNTOWN.

THEY ARE FRIGHTEN BIDE THE HOSTILITY AND THE VIOLENCE WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER AN EFENDER COMMITTING A RHYME.

THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE THAT IS USED AGAINST THEM HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER AND WE SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT WITH THE RECENT INCIDENT IN MY WARD WHERE SOMEONE FIRED AT THE HEAD OF A POLICE OFFICER WAS TRYING TO TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY AND SHOT HIM WITH A AND HE WILL RECOVER AND THAT INDICATIVE OF THE INCREASING LEVEL OF VIOLENCE PERPETRATED.

IT HAS EVERYONE ON EDGE NOT JUST THE RESIDENTS BUT THE POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL.

>> AND ANDY, WE KNOW FROM REPORTS THAT MORE GUNS ARE BEING RECOVERED BY CHICAGO POLICE.

HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO THIS ISSUE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IN PREVIOUS ARTICLE WE WORKED ON WAS A.T.F.

DATA.

THE AMOUNT OF FIREARMS HAVE GONE UP A THIRD.

BUT THE PISS TROLLS ONE OF THE -- PISTOLS HAVE GONE UP 75%.

AND INCLUDE THE EXTENDED CLIP MAGAZINES THAT POLICE HAVE BEEN RECOVERING WERE MIGHT HAVE HAD 15 ROUNDS YOU CAN HAVE 50 ROUNDS AND THEY ARE TURNING SOME OF THE FIREARMS INTO AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AS WELL.

BECAUSE OF HOW A GUNFIRES THAT LEADS TO MORE OF A SPRAY WHICH MEANS UNINTENDED VICTIMS GET SHOT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING DOWNTOWN WITH MORE GUNS THAN THEY USED TO HAVE JUST BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE PACKING.

>> AND DEBORAH WHAT EFFECT IS THIS HAVING ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY?

ARE BUSINESSES DECIDING TO LEAVE?

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY IF YOU WALK DOWN MICHIGAN AVENUE YOU WILL SEE MANY BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LEFT ALREADY.

AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE TO COME.

THE FACT THAT THESE GANGS OF CRIMINALS JUST WALK INTO A RETAILER AND GRAB WHATEVER THEY WANT AND LEAVE IS VERY ALARMING TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS.

IT'S LIKE WHO IS NEXT?

WHO IS GOING TO GO INTO THE NEXT STORE AND GRAB THE ENTIRE WINDOW DISPLAY AND TAKE THE CONTENTS AND THEN PROBABLY HAVE NO CONSEQUENCES?

I DON'T KNOW HOW THE POLICE CAN POSSIBLY STOP THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THESE INCIDENTS.

IT'S ALARMING.

AND I HOPE THAT THE BUSINESSES CAN COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTION TO AVOID THESE TYPE OF INCIDENTS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD WALK AND TALK WITH THE RETAILORS WITH THE 18TH DISTRICT COMMANDER AND SOME OF THE SERGEANTS AND OFFICERS ABOUT WHAT THE RETAILORS CAN DO TO AVOID THIS GOING FORWARD.

>> ALDERMAN HOPKINS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE C.P.D.

DO TO ADDRESS IT?

>> THEY HAVE TO ADJUST THEIR TACTICS WE HAVE DONE THAT WITH THE CITYWIDE CARJACKING TASK FORCE SO WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE CHANGING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY ADJUSTING THE WAY WE POLICE.

WE NEED TO DO THAT DOWNTOWN WE NEED A GREATER POLICE PRESENCE ON THE SIDEWALKS AND THE STREETS OF MICHIGAN AVENUE.

AND THEY NEED TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS WITH THE CAMERAS WE HAVE PLACED TO APPREHEND CRIMINALS WHILE THEY ARE ENGAGED IN A CRIME AND STOP THEM FROM COMMITTING THE NEXT CRIME.

>> AND THIS IS A SITUATION THAT IS EXPERIENCED BY A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT NOW IN CHICAGO AS WELL IN ADDITION TO DOWNTOWN.

ANDY BOYLE, DEBORAH GRESHBEIN AND ALDERMAN BRIAN HOPKINS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HOW TO ADJUST YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE AS DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME COMES TO AN END.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> IF YOU ARE TUNING IN TO EXPECTING TO SEE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW YOU MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN TO TURN THE CLOCK BACK.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS EVERY YEAR LEADING TO THE DREAD OF THE EARLY NIGHT FALL AND DEBATE ABOUT WHY WE DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> BUT WHAT DOES THE TIME CHANGE MEAN TO OUR SLEEP HEALTH?

AND DOES THE EARLIER SUNDOWN HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR MOOD?

JOINING US ARE Dr. JAMES WYATT AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL AND Dr. SABRA ABBOTT A SLEEP MEDICINE SPECIALIST AT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE.

WELCOME BOTH OF TO YOU "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

Dr. ABBOTT REMIND US WHY THIS TIME CHANGE EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION AND THERE IS A LOT OF LORE ABOUT THIS WHETHER WE WOULD SAVE ON ELECTRICITY COSTS IF WE EXTENDED THAT EVENING DAYLIGHT IN THE SUMMERTIME T HASN'T REALLY HELD OUT THOUGH AND I THINK FOR MOST OF US IT CAUSES A HASSLE TWICE A YEAR.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY TIME TWO TIMES A YEAR.

LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATISTICS HERE.

AFFECTS ON HEALTH ACCORDING TO A 2014 STUDY FROM OPEN HEART.

THERE WAS A 24% INCREASE IN HEART ATTACKS WHEN PEOPLE LOST ONE HOUR TO SPRING FORWARD OF SLEEP.

21% DIE CREASE IN HEART ATTACKS WHEN IT WAS TIME TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK.

Dr. WYATT CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CONNECTIONS TO THE CLOCK AND HEALTH?

>> FUNDAMENTALLY, THE ONE IN THE SPRING IS THE HARDER ONE WHERE YOU ARE LOSING AN HOUR OF SLEEP.

BECAUSE THAT CLOCK GETS MOVED FORWARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

THERE IS THE SLEEP DEPRIVATION THAT HAPPENS.

AND ANOTHER THING YOU ARE WAKING UP AT AN EARLIER TIME RELATIVE TO YOUR BODY'S SIR DECADE YUM SYSTEM THE CLOCK IN THE BRAIN THAT HELPS US STAY ASLEEP AT NIGHT AND BE AWAKE IN THE DAYTIME.

YOU ARE TRYING TO BE AWAKE AT ANLER CLOCK TIME AND THAT NEXT NIGHT YOU ARE TRYING TO GO TO BED THAT HOUR EARLIER WHEN THE SYSTEM THINKS IT'S DAYTIME SO IT'S TRYING TO KEEP YOU AWAKE.

IT'S PUTTING MORE STRAIN ON YOUR BODY THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE INCREASE IN HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES.

AND YOU HAVE THIS 6% INCREASE IN FATAL CAR ACCIDENTS IN THE WEEK FOLLOWING THE SWITCH IN THE SPRING AND SLOWER MARATHON RUNNING PERFORMANCE.

>> WOW.

Dr. ABBOTT IT IS NOT UNLIKE FLYING TO THE EAST COAST OR FLYING TO A DIFFERENT TIME ZONE OR FLYING OVERSEAS.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED TO DO TO MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES.

HOW SHOULD FOLKS MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE TIME CHANGE?

>> OUR BODIES REALLY JUST DEPEND ON THE STRONG SIGNAL OF LIGHT TO TELL US WHAT TIME OF DAY IT IS.

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS PEOPLE CAN ADAPT THIS TIME OF YEAR IS GET A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA LIGHT IN THE EVENING AND THAT GOES COUNTER TO THE ADVICE YOU GET.

BUT RIGHT NOW THAT LIGHT IN THE EVENING IS GOING TO HELP GIVE YOU THAT EXTRA PUSH TO MOVE YOU THAT HOUR LATER AND GET SLEEPIER LATER AND I WALK UP A LITTLE BIT LATER.

>> WE HEAR FOLKS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EARLY SUNSET.

ARE THERE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THAT AND PEOPLE'S MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HEALTH?

>> YEAH IT'S MORE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY CONSENSUS OF THE MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE WE PREFER TO STAY ON STANDARD TIME.

AND THE POINT THERE IS WE WANT TO FAVOR MORNING LIGHT EXPOSURE SO THAT YOU GET THAT CRITICAL SIGNAL IN THE MORNING THAT HELPS ALIGN OR EN TRAIN YOUR BODY'S CLOCK AND THE TIME OF DAY THAT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO GET LIGHT EXPOSURE TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF THINGS LIKE WINTER DEPRESSION.

THAT MORNING LIGHT THAT IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR OVERALL HEALTH THAN EVENING LIGHT.

ALTHOUGH Dr. ABBOTT IS CORRECT DURING THIS CHANGE NOW WHEN WE'VE FALLEN BACK IN THE FALL THAT IS THE TIME WHEN WE NEED EVENING NIGHT TO DELAY OUR RHYTHMS LATER T WOULD BE A SAFER THING TO STAY ON THE STANDARD TIME YEAR-ROUND.

>> Dr. ABBOTT IS THAT A CONSENSUS IT'S HEALTHIER TO STAY ON ONE STANDARD TIME 365 DAYS A YEAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK FOR TWO REASONS.

FIRST OF ALL, ALL OF THOSE STATISTICS FOR EVERYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THE SPRING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME SWITCH AND ALSO IN TERMS OF THE BEST ALIGNMENT BETWEEN YOUR INTERNAL CLOCK AND THE ENVIRONMENT IT REALLY IS MUCH HEALTHIER TO GET MORE OF THE LIGHT IN THE MORNING THAN IN THE EVENING AND THERE ARE STUDIES SHOWING THAT IF YOU LIVE ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE TIME ZONE WHERE YOU ARE GETTING LESS OF THAT MORNING LIGHT THERE ARE HIGHER RATES OF CANCER AND DEPRESSION GOES UP.

WE DO THINK AS A COMMUNITY THE SLEEP FEELS LIKE STANDARD TIME YEAR-ROUND IS THE BEST APPROACH.

>> BOTH OF ARE YOU MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS NOT POLITICIANS.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ACTUALLY GET POLITICAL LEADERS TO ELIMINATE THE TIME CHANGE.

THEY TALK ABOUT IT EVERY YEAR BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO HAPPEN?

>> THERE IS A THREAT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHICH IS SENATOR RUBIO FROM FLORIDA IS PROPOSING THE SUNSHINE PROTECTION ACT AND HE PROPOSED THIS TRYING TO ADOPT DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME WHICH DOESN'T AGREE WITH THE SLEEP SCIENCE.

AND WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO ACT.

THERE ARE STATES RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION TRYING TO ADOPT DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME YEAR-ROUND.

BUT THEY CANNOT CHANGE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO APPROVE THEM DOING THAT AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE LAW STANDARD TIME IS THE LAW AND DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME IS THE EXCEPTION THEY WOULD HAVE TO REWRITE THAT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE SAYING THAT DOCTORS BELIEVE THAT STANDARD TIME SHOULD BE THE STANDARD AND POLITICIANS ARE SAYING DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME SHOULD BE THE STANDARD BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU THE EXTRA HOUR OF SUNLIGHT.

AM I CORRECT THERE?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AND I THINK OFTENTIMES WHEN I DISCUSS THIS WITH PEOPLE THERE IS A MISPERCEPTION THAT SWITCHING TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME WILL GIVE THEM MORE LIGHT IT SHIFTS THE TIME OF DAY YOU ARE EXPOSED TO IT.

>> A LOT TO THINK ABOUT HERE.

OUR THANKS TO DOCTORS JAMES WYATT AND Dr. SABRA ABBOTT THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I ENJOY THAT EXTRA HOUR WAKING UP IN THE MORNING IT'S 6:30 AND YOU THINK IT'S 7:30.

AND.

>> IT'S EARLY EITHER WAY I WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME IN THE EVENING BUT I HEAR WHAT THE DOCTORS ARE SAYING.

I WONDER IF THE REASON FOR NOT SWITCHING IS ECONOMICS.

>> I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO SPRINGING FORWARD IT'S TOUGH TO LOSE THAT HOUR OF SLEEP.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND JOIN US TOMORROW LIVE AT 7.

PEDIATRICIANS ARE CALLING AN EMERGENCY ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

PLUS THE LIFE OF MAESTRO AND HIS INFLUENCE ON WORLD MUSIC WE WILL MEET ONE OF HIS STUDENTS.

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

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]