>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" FOR I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENING HAPPENING ARE ONES THAT I WOULD SEE AS INCREDIBLY PRODUCTIVE.

>> >> CHANGES ARE COMING TO A CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW.

> >> YOU PROTECT FROM ALL THESE FEELINGS AND YOU JUST DON'T COME COME BACK HOME AND FLIP A SWITCH, AND THEY'RE THERE.

>> PART >> PART TWO OF OUR SERIES, PERMANENT PUNISHMENT, LOOKS AT THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEND BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

> >> NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS FOOTBALL COACH PAT FITZGERALD IS IS HERE TO CHAT ABOUT THE NEW RYAN FIELD AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR FOR HIS PROGRAM.

> >> PROVIDERS OF TELEMEDICINE ABORTION FACED LEGAL CHALLENGES FOLLOWING THE OVERTURNING OF ROE ROE VERSUS WADE.

> >> THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS IN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR SOME CHI.

SOME CHILDREN.

> >> AND CHICAGO EXPANDS ITS PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR CITY WORKERS.

WORKERS.

A LOOK AT WHEN THE BENT THE BENEFIT BEGINS AND WHAT WORKERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE.

> >> FIRST A LOOK AT SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

SOME ASSISTANCE IS COMING TO HELP RESIDENTS RECOVER FROM A DEVASTATING EXPLOSION IN THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD.

GOVERNOR JB JB PRITZKER SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT A DISASTER DECLARATION HAS BEEN APPROVED FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSION AND COLLAPSE OF THE AT BUILDING LAST MONTH.

ONE MAN DIED AND SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE WERE WERE INJURED IN THAT INCIDENT.

THE DECLARATION MEANS THAT RESIS CAN APPLY FOR LOW INTEREST LOANR DAMAGES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE.

SBA OFFICIALS SAY THEY'LL BE AT THE AUSTIN TOWN HALL PARK ON THURSDAY TO HELP WITH THE APPLICATION.

> >> COOK COUNTY PROSECUTORS ARE UPGRADING CHARGES AGAINST A WOMAN ACCUSED OF PUSHING HER THREE-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW INTO LAKE MICHIGAN.

THE COOK COUNTY STATES STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS IT IT HAS MODIFIED THE ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE FILED AGAINST 34-YEAR-OLD VICTORIA MARINO INTA CHARGE AGAINST FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOLLOWING THE BOY'S DEATH.

MARINO TOOK HER NEPHEW, JOSIAH BROWN, TO NAVY PIER LAST MONTH AND ALLEGEDLY PUSHED HIM O THE WATER AND WATCHED HIM DROWN.

DROWN.

HE DIED DAYS LATER.

> >> A LEADING FEDERAL JUDGES LEAVING CHICAGO TO SERVE AS COUNSELOR TO U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS.

JUDGE ROBERT DOW HAS HANDLED NUMEROUS MAJOR CASES INCLUDING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CONSENT DECREE AND THE ONGOING CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST ALDERMAN ED BURKE.

DOW WILL STEP DOWN FROM HIS ROLE AS A JUDGE IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS AND BEGIN HIS NEW ROLE IN DECEMBER.

THE CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST ALDERMAN BURKE IS SET TO TO GO TO TRIAL NEXT YEAR.

A SPOKESPERSON FROM THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS SAYS THE COURT RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR CONTINUITY AND CASE MANAGEMENT, AND WILL TAKE PROMPT STEPS TO REASSIGN CASES AS NECESSARY.

> >> CHICAGO HAS BEEN VOTED THE BEST BIG CITY IN AMERICA BY READERS OF CONDC NAST TRAVELER FOR THE SIXTH STRAIGHT YEAR.

THE THE MAGAZINE PRAISED THE CITY'S WORLD-CLASS ARCHITECTURE, MUSEUMS, AND RESTAURANTS, AS WELL AS CHICAGO'S VIBRANT BREWING SCENE BUT IT SAVED HIGHEST PRAISE FOR CITY RESIDENTS, WRITING, QUOTE, IT'SA WIDE AND VARIED CITY THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, ONE THING IS CONSTANT -- HERE YOU'LL MEET SOME OF THE MOST PLEASANT PEOPLE PLEASANT PEOPLE YOU'LL FIND ANYWHERE.

WE ALREADY KNOW IT.

>> >> THOSE TRAVELERS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

> >> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM WE'LL HAVE OUR SECOND PART OF TE SERIES, PERMANENT PUNISHMENT, THAT EXPLORES LIFE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD.

> >> AFTER THE BREAK, CALLS FOR CHANGES TO A CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW.

AMANDA VINICKY BREAKS IT DOWN FOR US.

STAY RIGHT THERE.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE GYM AND KY K NAGY FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> ILLINOIS'S LAW OVERHAULING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS TAKEN CENTER STAGE IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION.

THE LAW WILL ELIMINATE CASH BAIL COME JANUARY BUT IT STILL COULD CHANGE BEFORE THEN.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

AMANDA, WHAT IS THE LATEST WITH THIS LAW LAW THAT COMES UP IN THE CAMPAIGN EVERY DAY, IT SEEMS?

>> >> THERE'S A LOT ON VOTERS MINDS, ECONOMY, ABORTION, BUT ALSO CONCERNS ABOUT CRIME, WHICH WHICH MEANS YES, THE STACY ACT IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S UP THE OF THE LAW HAS ALREADY GONE INTO INTO EFFECT BUT THE CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH ELIMINATING CASH CASH BAIL ARE REALLY STOKING FRUSTRATION, INCLUDING FROM THOSE WHO PLAY A KEY PART IN THE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS -- STATES ATTORNEYS.

A HANDFUL HAVE HAVE FILED LAWSUITS SEEKING TO STRIKE THE LAW COMPLETELY.

ONE MORE FILED JUST YESTERDAY BY THE THE STATES ATTORNEY FROM BROWN COUNTY.

>> MULTIPLE LAWSUITS.

DO ANY OR ALL HAVE A CHANCE AT SUCCEEDING?

SUCCEEDING?

>> I'M NO LAWYER, BUT I HAVE READ THE COMPLAINTS AND THE GRIEVANCES WITH THEM HAVE EVERYG TO DO WITH HOW THE LAW WAS PASSED TO WHAT IT DOES.

ONE OF THE LAW'S MAIN BACKERS SAYS ADVOCATES SHOULDN'T SHY AWAY FROM HAVING THOSE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT.

>> CRIME IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN VERY PREVALENT IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

I MYSELF AM A CRIME VICTIM.

MY FAMILY HAS SEEN THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF EVERY SIDE OF THIS ISSUE.

SO I THINK THAT FOR ONE TO THINK THAT ANYBODY WOULD BE A PROPONENT OF CRIME, IT'S SILLY, AND IT'S QUITE PREPOSTEROUS.

>> THE REPRESENTATIVE'S STEPSON WAS MURDERED IN 2014.

NOW IT'S T THAT SOME CRITICS MAY HAVE POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS HERE.

AGAIN, WHO CAN FORGET THAT ELECTION ON THE HORIZON?

BUT SOME CONCERNS ARE MORE PRACTICAL MORE PRACTICAL IN NATURE.

BOOTH SAID SHE IS HAVING THOSE TALKS, INCLUDING MEETING JUST TODAY WITH STATES ATTORNEYS.

>> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THERE'S A A LOT OF AGREEMENT, RIGHT, ON CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING HAPPENING ARE ONES THAT I WOULD DEEM AS BEING INCREDIBLY PRODUC, AND I THINK THAT HAVING THE ABILITY TO GET UP TO A REALLY GOOD PLACE IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

I'M CONFIDENT OF THAT.

>> >> SO IT SEEMS UNIVERSAL ACKNOWT HERE, EVEN AMONG DEMOCRATS, THAT THAT THERE WILL BE CHANGES MADE TO THIS, PROBABLY IN A VETO SESSION AFTER THE ELECTION.

WHAT WHAT KIND OF CHANGES WILL THOSE BE?

>> THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHANGES TO THE SAFETY ACT BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS A HUGE LAW.

BILLS THAT FOLLOW UP ON EXISTING LAW ARE KNOWN AS TRAILER BILLS.

THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL.

>> FRANKLY, LEGISLATION WHICH HAS A LOT LESS IMPORT, A LOT LESS CONSEQUENCES THAN A CRIMINAL LAW, THAT REFORM BILL WOULD HAVE.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE TRAILER LEGISLATION.

THIS IN FACT IS THE THIRD TRAILER BILL FOR THE SAFETY ACT.

>> THAT'S STATE SENATOR SCOTT BENNETT, A LAWYER AND SPONSOR OF OF WHAT COULD BE THE FOURTH FOLLOW-UP OR TRAILER BILL?

>> WHAT WOULD THAT ONE DO?

>> THAT MAKES SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

ONE MAJOR CRITICISM FROM STATES ATTORNEYS IS THE STACY ACT MAKES IT TOO HARD TO KEEP SOMEONE DETAINED, EVEN IF THEY ARE PROBABLY PRONE TO BEING A FLIGHT RISK.

THIS PLAN WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR A JUDGE TO KEEP SOMEONE LOCKED UP FOR A PRETRIAL, FOR THAT VERY R. NOW THE OTHER BIG PROPOSED CHANGE IN HIS MEASURE IS THAT IT IT WOULD MAKE THE NEW BAIL SYSTEM, THE CASHLESS VERSION, TAKE EFFECT ONLY FOR DEFENDANTS ARRESTED OR DETAINED STARTING JANUARY 1st.

PUBLIC DEFENSE ADVOCATES ARE FURIOUS ABOUT THAT.

THEY SAY IT WOULD REVERSE THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SAFETY ACT.

>> WHAT I SAID BACK IS WELL, EVERYTHING IS UP FOR NEGOTIATION, BUT YOU HAVE TO TEL ME WHAT THE PROCESS WILL LOOK LE LOOK LIKE.

THERE SIMPLY AREN'T ENOUGH COURTROOMS OR DEFENSE ATTORNEYS TO BRING EVERYBODY OUT OUT OF THE JAIL, IN THE JAIL ON JANUARY 1, AND PUT THEM THROUGH THE HEARINGS THAT'S REQUIRED WITHIN 48 HOURS BY THE ACT.

>> GIVEN THAT NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING, SHE CAN'T GET INTO DETAIL ABOUT WHAT ALL A COMPROMISE MIGHT ENTAIL.

SHE SAS SHE SAYS CHANGES COULD DEAL WITH WITH MAKING SURE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS AFFORDED THE TIME IT NEEDS TO GET THINGS RIGT THINGS RIGHT .

WITH THE REALIZATN SHE SAYS, THAT DURING CRIMINAL S THINGS DON'T ALWAYS GO ACCORDING ACCORDING TO PLAN.

>> RATHER IT BE A WITNESS, NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCATE A WITNESS, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET FORENSIC BACK IN TIME.

I REMEMBER IN MY SON'S CASE, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I SAW HAPPEN AS A A PART OF A CRIMINAL HOMICIDE PROSECUTION.

THERE WERE THINGS THAT WE SAW FIRSTHAND, THINGS THAT WE SAW GO WRONG.

SO WE WANT WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THOSE THINGS.

>> WHEN MIGHT WE LEARN MORE?

>> JANUARY WILL BE HERE, YIKES, BEFORE WE KNOW IT.

SO BEFORE TH.

BEFORE THEN.

BENNETT SAYS HE DOES WISH THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD DEALT WITH SOME OF THESE OPTIONS BEFORE IT WAS CRUNCH TIME.

>> QUITE HONESTLY, I WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN ANY KIND OF ADJUSTMENT OR CLARIFICATION BILL BILL BE DONE EARLIER, BECAUSE THE YOU THEN WOULD GIVE ALL THOSE STAKEHOLDERS YOU TALKED ABOUT MORE TIME TO BRING THAT INTO THE SYSTEM.

BUT THE FACT IS IS I HAD A LUNCH MEETING TODAY WITH ONE OF THE CHIEF JUDGES IN MY DISTRICT, AND HE WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS DONE.

WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE FIGURE WHATEVER COMES OUT OF VETO SESSION, WE ARE PROFESSIONALS, WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE BACK IN SPRINGFIELD IN NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER, SO NEXT MONTH IS WHENE CAN REALLY LOOK FOR DETAILS.

THE THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE SIX DAYS OF VETO SESSION TO PASS A TRAILER BILL.

GORDON BOOTH SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT THAT IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> THERE'S THE NOISE AROUND THIS AROUND THIS BILL BUT THEN THERE ARE THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS, WHICH MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE FOUND.

SO WE'LL KEEP FOLLOWING THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

> >> NOW TO BRANDIS WITH THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN OUR WTTW NEWS SERIES, PERMANENT PUNISHMENT.

>> TERRACE, IN THE LAST FOUR DECADES, THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION IN JAILS AND PRISONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN WOMEN , AND RESEARCHERS SAY THE REASON FOR COMMITTING CRIMES ARE ARE DIFFERENT, AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

RESEARCH SHOWS THE MAJORITY OF WOMEN IN JAIL HAVE HIGH RATES OF VICTIMIZATION, INCLUDING CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND POSTC STRESS DISORDER.

THEY ALSO REPORT HIGHER RATES OF SUBSTANCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

IN THIS SECOND INSTALLMENT OF OUR SERIES, THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF PERMANENT PUNISHMENT, WHEN WOMEN ARE INCARCERATED.

>> THE LIVING ROOM, THE DINING .

DINING ROOM.

>> Reporter: TANISHA BROWN IS FURNITURE SHOPPING.

AT 30 YEARS, YEARS OLD, HER APARTMENT IN AURORA IS THE FIRST SHE'S EVER HAD ON HER OWN.

>> MY OLDEST DAUGHTER GOT HER OWN ROOM, MY TWO YOUNGEST SHAREA ROOM, I'VE GOT MY OWN ROOM.

I HAVE A LIVING ROOM, I HAVE A DINING ROOM, THE KITCHEN IS REAL IS REAL NICE.

IT'S MINE, SO IT'S IT'S REAL NICE.

>> Reporter: IT'S A BIG STEP, FINDING A HOME FOR THIS SINGLE MOM AND HER CHILDREN HAS BEEN IMPORTANT AND COMPLICATED.

>> I HAD A HARD TIME FINDING IT BECAUSE I'M ON PAROLE AND I HAVE I HAVE A BACKGROUND.

>> Reporter: BROWN SPENT SIX YEARS IN ILLINOIS STATE PRISON FOR ARMED ROBBERY.

SHE'S BEEN OUT FOR TWO.

FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS, FINDING HOUSING IS A CHALLENGE.

>> I FEEL THAT THE CAB HOUSING, MARSH WOULD GORDONS, SECTION 8, I COULD'VE GONE FOR ALL THAT, BUT SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, I FILLET FOR ALL THAT BUT I ALWAYS GOT DENIED.

>> Reporter: AND IN BROWN'S CASE, STABLE HOUSING WAS NECESSARY TO REGAIN CUSTODY OF HER FOUR CHILDREN, A GOAL SHE ACCOMPLISHED JUST THIS SUMMER.

GOING TO COURT, THEY INVESTIGATED ME.

THEY WANTED TO SEE MY PLACE.

I HAD TO DO IT SOON.

THEY HAD TO SEE MY PLACE.Y HAD TO SEE THAT I WAS WORKING.

I I SHOWED THEM THAT I HAD TO GET A ROLL.

I HAD TO GET A PAPER FOR FOR MY PAROLE OFFICER ALSO, SAYING THAT I'D BEEN DOING GOOD.

GOOD.

>> Reporter: BROWN IS ONE OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WHOSE IMPRISONMENT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO 475% INCREASE OF WOMEN IN PRISOS THE COUNTRY, BETWEEN 1980 AND 2020.

WHAT'S MORE, 58% OF INCARCERATED WOMEN ARE MOTHERS TO CHILDREN UNDER 18.

PSYCHOLOGIST AND FORMER COOK COUNTY JAIL WARDEN NIKA JONES ARGUES THE PERMANENT PUNISHMENT THEY FACE AFFECTS NOT ONLY THEM BUT THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY.

>> WHEN DCFS IS INVOLVED, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT A PARENT HAS TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE ARE ABLE TO DO IN ORDER TO GET CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILD.

AS A PART OF THAT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE MONITORED AND SUPERVISED VISITSH THE CHILD.

THEY HAVE TWO -- AND THAT'S INTENSE SCRUTINY.

THEY HAVE TWO SHOWED THAT THEY CAN MAINTAIN STABLE EMPLOYMENT, TO E TO HAVE STABLE HOUSING.

>> Reporter: RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THAT UPON RELEASE, WOMEN TEND TO TEND TO BE POORER THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, IN PART BECAUSE THEY'VE TYPICALLY BEEN SOLD CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN, AND AND ON LIMITED INCOME.

THE STIGMA FACING WOMEN ON PAROLE ARE GREATER THAN THOSE FACING MEN.

IF YOU ARE HALFWAY PROGRAMS PROGRAMS OR SHELTER BEDS EXIST FOR WOMEN POST INCARCERATION, AND WOMEN HAVE GREATER DIFFICULTY OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING, LEAVING THEM AT GREATER RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS.

>> WE LOOK AT BLACK WOMEN, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THIS COUNTRY IN GENERAL IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 5%.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS AROUND 27%.

BUT FOR BLACK WOMEN, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ABOUT 43%.

>> YOU'RE THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER OF YOUR HOUSE.

YOU COME HOME WITH THE SAME RESTRICTIONS THAT MEN HAVE.

WITH THE ADDED PROBLEM PROBLEM OF HAVING TO CARE FOR AD A CHILD WHO DEPENDS ON YOU FOR HOUSING, FOR FOOD, FOR SHELTER, ET CETERA.

>> Reporter: AND SOME OF THOSE PERMANENT PUNISHMENTS HINDER EFS TO BE AN ACTIVE MOTHER.

>> SO WITH MY DAUGHTER'S EIGHTHE DAUGHTER'S EIGHTH-GRADE GRADUATION, I HAD A NEW PRINCIPAL, RIGHT, SO I HAD TO TAKE A NEW BACKGROUND TEST, AND I DIDN'T MIND BECAUSE MY KID HAS HAS BEEN IN THE SAME CATHOLIC SCHOOL SINCE SHE WAS THREE.

CELIA COLC WENT TO PRISON AT 17 YEARS OLD AND ALREADY A MOTHER.

THAT WAS 26 YEARS AGO.

NOW AT 47, SHE'S BEEN OUT OF PRISON FOR 22 YEARS.

BUT THE SHADOW STILL FOLLOWS HER AND HER HER YOUNGER CHILDREN.

TO TELL ME, MS. COLC , I'M SAD TO SAY, BUT DUE TO YOUR VIOLENTD VIOLENT BACKGROUND, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EIGHTH-GRADE FESTIVAL.

YOU CAN ONLY COME AND PICK UP A REPORT CARD.

YOU CANNOT VOLUNTEER AT THE SCHOOL.

AND I WAS SPEECHLES.

>> Reporter: COLC 'S DAUGHTER ATTENDED SCHOOL IN HAMMOND.

LIKE LIKE IN ILLINOIS, SCHOOL IN INDIANA CAN DETERMINE IF VOLUNTEERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE SE TODAY COLC RUNS HER OWN NONPROFIT, CALLED GIVING OTHERS DREAMS.

>> THIS IS WHERE THE WOMEN COME AND GET THEIR CLOTHES FROM.

WE DO THE SHOPPING FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: TO HELP OTHER WOMEN WOMEN WITH SHARED EXPERIENCES.

>> WHY ARE YOU BEING JUDGED FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 26 YEARS YEARS AGO?

I'M A 46-YEAR-OLD MOTHER.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS 17.

I WAS A HARMED CHILD.

I WAS STILL PROCESSING.

I WAS STILL FULL OF TRAUMA.

WHO I AM TODAY HAS NO RN NO REFLECTION ON WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS 17, AND WHO I WAS AT 17.

NOBODY IS WITHOUT ERROR.

NOBODY IS WITHOUT A MISTAKE.

>> THAT'S IT, IT'S YOU, HOLD IT.

IT.

>> Reporter: WHEN 47-YEAR-OLD MARIA GARZA WENT INTO PRISON FOR FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, HER CHILDREN WERE 8 AND 9 YEARS OLD.

OLD.

SHE'S BEEN HOME FOR JUST OVER A YEAR.

NOW HER CHILDREN ARE ADULTS, AND HER PLACE AS A PARENT ISN'T THE SAME AS WHEN SHE LEFT.

>> THE FIRST THING THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IS COME BACK AND CONNECT WITH YOUR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, THE CHILDREN THAT YOU LEFT.

IT'S HARD BECAUSE AS A MOTHER, YOU THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE SEEN THEM GROW, YOU STILL THINK THAT THERE'S A 9, 10-YEAR-OLD THAT YOU LEFT MANY YEARS AGO, AND THEN YOU HAE YOU HAVE HUGE RESTRICTIONS, HE'S HE'S THERE, THEN HE'S NOT.

THEY CAN JUST COME IN AND SCOOP EVERYTHING UP FROM WHERE YOU LEFT IT.

>> THAT'S NOT THE ONLY DIFFICULTY SHE FACED.

>> Reporter: WHILE DEALING WITH THE INCOME INEQUALITY ALL WOMEN FACE, GARZA HAS TRIED TO BUILD HER CREDIT SCORE WITH A SECURE CREDIT CARD FROM CAPITAL ONE.

>> >> EMAIL THAT BASICALLY SAYS, THAT DUE TO PAST OR PENDING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THEY WERE SHUTTING DOWN MY ACCOUNT.

>> Reporter: A LETTER FROM THE BANK READ, QUOTE, CAPITAL ONE HAS DISCOVERED ADVERSE PAST OR PRESENT LEGAL ACTION INVOLVING AN INDIVIDUAL ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCOUNT.

>> THOSE ONE-SIDED NARRATIVES, WHERE THEY'RE JUST LOOKING AT SOMETHING WITHOUT KNOWING THE AS AS SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN PAYING PAYING THE CARD OFF.

YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO REESTABLISH MYSELF.

>> Reporter: PERMANENT HOUSING HAS BEEN ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

SHE LEANED ON FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR FOR SUPPORT.

>> IT'S LIKE YES, GOOD GIRL.

>> Reporter: ONE SOURCE OF INCOME, AND THERAPY, HAS BEEN SOMETHING GARZA LEARNED WHILE IN IN PRISON -- TRAINING SERVICE DOGS LIKE THIS ONE NAMED HOLLY.

>> Reporter: WHAT GARZA, COLC AND BROWN HAVE IN COMMON IS FACING THE FIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD FORWARD FOR THEIR OWN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURES.

DESPITE THE PERMANENT PUNISHMENT STEMMING FROM THEIR PAST.

FOR EACH WOMANT WOMAN, SUPPORT FROM OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN THERE HAS BEEN KEY KEY TO GETTING BACK ON THEIR FEET.

>> WHEN YOU ARE INDEPENDENT AND YOU'VE BEEN DOWN FOR SO LONG, AD BEEN THROUGH THE STRUGGLE FOR SO SO LONG, YOU HAVE TO FIND YOURS.

FIND YOURSELF.

IT'S LIKE A BIG STEP FOR ME TO GET MY OWN PLACE AND HAVE A JOB, HAVE MY CAR.

>> I DON'T GIVE UP BECAUSE I KNOW MY KIDS IS WATCHING ME.

>> YOU HEARD IN THAT PIECE ABOUL THE HOOPS THAT TANISHA BROWN HAD HAD TO JUMP THROUGH TO REGAIN CY REGAIN CUSTODY OF HER CHILDREN.

THE WOMEN'S JUSTICE INSTITUTE REPORTS THAT MOTHERS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY SINGLE PAREN, SO IF THEY ARE SEEKING TO REGAIN REGAIN CUSTODY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETE A SERVICE PLAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES.

THAT CAN OFTEN INCLUDE PARENTING CLASSES AND THE LIKE, BUT WHAT WE'RE UNDERSTANDING FROM THE WOMEN AT THE JUSTICE INSTITUTE IS PRISONS PRISONS DON'T ALWAYS OFFER THE REQUIRED PROGRAM AND OF COURSE THAT CAN FURTHER CREATE TRAUMA FOR THOSE MOTHERS WHO ARE HOPING HOPING TO DO THE WORK NECESSARY TO REGAIN CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN.

THE WJ I WROTE A WHOLE WHOLE REPORT ON THIS IN THE SPRING OF 2021, AND OF COURSE, PARIS, VIEWERS CAN FIND OUT MORE MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL AS OTHES ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS MOTHERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH ONCE THEY'RE OUT OF INCARCERATION.

BRANDIS, WE GOT TWO MORE STORIES ON THIS.

THIS.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT?

>> TOMORROW NIGHT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LABOR AND IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE, WHETHER YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD, BUT IF YOU DO HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD IT IS THAT MUCH HARDER TO TO GET AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.

SO WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THERE, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE PROGRESS THE STATE MIGHT HAVE MADE .

THEN THEN THURSDAY NIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE CALLING THE WORKAROUNDS, WAYS PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR RECORDS SORT OF CLEARED OR SEALED, EXPUNGED, AND CLEMENCY, AND WHETHER OR NOT FOLKS HAVE ACCESS ACCESS TO THEM.

>> VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS TO BRING UP.

BRANDIS, GREG REPORTING.

> >> UP NEXT, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY LOOKS TO TACKLE A BIG BIG PROJECT.

WE ARE ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE UNIVERSITY'S FOOTBALL COACH ON PLANS FOR A NEW STADIU.

NEW STADIUM.

> >> A BRAND-NEW FOOTBALL STADIUMS COMING TO THE CHICAGO SUBURBS, AND NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE BEARS, BUS TO TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD THE ALMOST 100-YEAR-OLD NORTHWESTERN NORTHWESTERN RYAN FIELD HAVE BEEN UNVEILED.

THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE NEW KNEE REALLY BILLION-DOLLAR STADIUM WILL HOLD HOLD 12,000 FEWER PEOPLE WHILE SETTING NEW STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

HOW WILL CONSTRUCTION AFFECT THE EVANSTON EVANSTON COMMUNITY, THE UNIVERSITY, AND THE SCHOOL'S FOOTBALL PROGRAM?

HERE TO DISCUSS THAT AND A LOT MORE IS NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY HEAD FOOTBALL COACH PAT FITZGERALD.

COACH FITZGERALD, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME TIME ON THE SIDELINES AT RYAN FIELD.

I REMEMBER THE OLD RYAN D BEFORE IT WAS RENOVATED 20 YEARS YEARS AGO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEW DIGS?

>> IT'S INCREDIBLY EXCITING.

THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A FOOTBALL STADIUM.

THIS IS GOING TO BECOME, I BELIEVE, AND WE LEAVE HERE, AN AMAZING COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ASSET FOR THE CITY OF EVANSTON, FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR FACULTY, AND THE ENTIRE COMY TO BE IN JUST AN INCREDIBLE AREA INCREDIBLE AREA AND THEN YOU FOR FOR 365 DAYS A YEAR, NOT JUST SEVEN HOME FOOTBALL GAMES.

JUST REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE RYAN FAMILY.

THEIR AMAZING COMMITMENT, AND OBVIOUSLY GENEROSITY, AND OUR TRUSTEES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE GREAT CITY OF EVANSTON AND THE RESIDENTS TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

SPECIAL.

>> HOW DOES THIS IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT PLAYERS?

YOU'RE TAKING THEM IN, TELLING THEM IT MIGHT NOT BE THE BIGGEST BIGGEST STADIUM IN THE COUNTRY BUT IT'S GOING TO BE THE NEWEST AND THE MOST STATE-OF-THE-ART.

WHAT DOES THAT DO WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET A YOUNG, HOT SHOT PLAYER INTO THE PROGRAM?

>> IT'S EXCITING, NUMBER ONE.

IT IT SHOWS THE COMMITMENT THAT WEE MAKING TO BUILD THIS FOOTBALL PROGRAM INTO A CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER, YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

OUT.

BUT FROM A STANDPOINT OF MAYBE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS NEED TO BE 100,000.

THE WAY THAT IT'S STRUCTURED, THE RYAN FAMILY AND ERIC RYAN, OUR GREAT DIRECTOR OF OF ATHLETICS WENT OUT WITH A LOT LOT OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO LOOK AT A NUMBER OF STADIUMS, AD THE NEW RYAN FIELD IS GOING TO BE MODELED AFTER THE OLD CHICAGO OLD CHICAGO STADIUM, WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTIMATE.

THERE THERE WILL BE A CANOPY OVER THE TOP TO PROTECT OUR FANS FROM THE THE WEATHER.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, FRANKLY, THE FOOTBALL COACH, THE FIRST TIME IT WILL EVER GIVE US A HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE IN THE HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL .

THAT'S INCREDIBLY EXCITING TO, AND FROM A RECRUITING STANDPOINS MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BUILDING, THE ATMOSPHERE, THE ENVIRONMENT, THEN IT IS NECESSARILY ABOUT THE SIZE.

I'VE I'VE BEEN IN 100,000 SEAT STADIUMS AND HAVE BEEN THE LOUDEST OF ANY I'VE EVER PLAYED IN.

>> I'VE BEEN IN THE BIG HOUSE BEFORE WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF HEAR A PIN DROP SOMETIMES.

NEXTR NEXT YEAR IS THE LAST PLANNED YEAR AT THE CURRENT RYAN FIELD, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO YEARS WHERE YOU NEED A TEMPORARY HOME.

MIGHT YOU WANT TO ROAM THE SIDELINES AT SOLDIER SOLDIER FIELD?

>> I'M GOING TO LET THOSE DECISIONS BE MADE BY OUR ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY.

IT WILL BE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN NOW AND THAT POINT.

WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES?

WHAT'S BEST FR THE PROGRAM?

WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FANS, AND YOU YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ACTUALLY FEASIBLE?

WE PLAYED A NUMBER OF GAMES AT WRIGLEY FIELD.

I'M OBVIOUSLY VERY OPEN TO THAT.

I'M I'M ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, FROM ORLD PARK, AND A PRETTY BIG WHITE SOX SOX FAN, SO I'M OPEN TO THAT.

THEY'RE PLAYING BASEBALL THERE IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

YOU KNOW NOVEMBER DISCUSSIONS ARE POTENTIALLY THERE.

BUT I'M LOOKING TO HAVE THIS BE A UNIQUE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR PLAYERS AND FANS.

SO LET'S NOT LOOK AT E TWO YEARS THAT WE'LL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS A NEGATIVE.

LET'S LOOK AT A WAY TO MAKE IT A A UNIQUE POSITIVE, MAYBE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, SIMILAR TO -- WE ARE ARE NOT GOING TO PLAY ALL OUR GAMES IN DUBLIN, IRELAND, BUT LET'S DO SOME CREATIVE THINGS TO TO MAKE IT BE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR FANS AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR PLAYERS.

>> MAYBE YOU CAN SWITCH OFF, NORTH SIDE/SOUTHSIDE, DEPENDING ON WHAT TEAM IS AWAY THAT WEEKEND.

DO YOU EXPECT ANY HURDS FROM THE EVANSTON COMMUNITY?

OBY THEY PUT UP WITH RYAN FIELD FOR 100 YEARS BUT WITH ADDED EVENTS LIKE CONCERTS, DO YOU THINK RESIDENTS MIGHT SAY HEY, LET'S PUT THE BRAKES ON?

>> I THINK WE'RE IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGES HERE.

WE'VE BOTHERED IT TO OBVIOUSLY GET OUT OUT AND LISTEN TO RESIDENTS AND HAVE MULTIPLE LISTENING OPPORTUNITIES AND ENGAGEMENT.

TS ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE HERE AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROJECT.

I KNOW THE UNIVERSITY AND ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAM, OUR TRUSTEES, WE WANT TO BE GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A FOCUS OF THIS PROJECT, IS HOW CAN WE LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THOSE CONCERNS AND MAKE EVERYBODY JUST REALLY PROUD PROUD AND EXCITED FOR A COMMUNITY VENUE THAT YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE FOR SEVEN HOME GAMES GAMES AND HOPEFULLY LACROSSE, AND ACROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND I'M A MacROLEVEL GUY.

EVANSTON HIGH SCHOOL, ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS.

THE ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

CHAMPIONSHIPS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S A REAL UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO DRIVE REVENE DRIVE REVENUE FOR THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, TO REALLY BRING PEOPE HERE TO EVANSTON, MORE THAN JUST SEVEN DAYS, BUT THIS IS GOING O BE A PROCESS.

THIS JUST GOT SCHEMATICALLY IMPROVED BY OUR TRUSTEES AND NOW THERE WILL BE A A TON OF OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO SIT DOWN AND WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS, AND THE CITY OF EVANSTON TO MAKE THIS BE A WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

>> THIS IS COMING AT A TIME OF BIG CHANGE FOR THE BIG TEN.

YOU'VE GOT USC AND UCLA, TWO MAE TWO MASSIVE PROGRAMS COMING IN, IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

HOW DO YOU YOU THINK THAT EXPANSION OF THE BIG TEN INTO A NATIONAL CONFERENCE IS GOING TO AFFECT YR PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY?

BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY GOING UP AGAINST THESE MASSIVE PROGRAMS, MICHIGAN, PENN STATE.

NOW YOU'RE YOU'RE ADDING THESE OTHER LEGACY LEGACY PROGRAMS.

>> I LOVE IT.

IT'S AWESOME.

IT'S IT'S GREAT FOR OUR FANS.

IT'S INCREDIBLE FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLS STUDENT ATHLETES AS THEY WANT TO TO GET OUT AND COMPETE ON THE HIGHEST STAGE.

THERE WILL BE NO BIGGER STAGE THAN THE BIG TEN AND I ALREADY FEEL THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

WE'VE BEEN TO 10 BOWL BOWL GAMES HERE DURING MY TIME, BIG TEN WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WE BELIEVE WE CAN COMPETE AT A CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL, OUR WAY, THE THE WAY THAT WE BELIEVE IN DOING DOING THINGS HERE.

IT'S UNIVERSITY FIRST AND THEN ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND OUR PROGRAM THIRD, RECRUITING WORLD-CLASS STUDENT ATHLETES AND AND DEVELOPING THEM FOR THE NEXT NEXT 40 OR 50 YEARS THROUGH OUR GREAT GAME, AND TO BE ON THIS WORLD-CLASS CAMPUS AND THIS WORS THIS WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION.

SO ADDING THOSE TWO TEAMS IN THE WEST I THINK JUST ADDS MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR BRAND TO GET GET MORE NATIONAL, FOR OUR PLAYERS TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENS AT A HIGHER AND HIGHER LEVEL.

WHO KNOWS?

MAYBE WE BRING UCLA AND USC IN HERE FOR THE FIRST NEW GAME IN THE NEW RYAN FIELD.

THAT WOULD BE PRETTY NEAT.

WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF THE EXPANSION.

>> YOU GET THE PROGRAM EXPOSED IN THE L.A. MARKET AND OF COURSE COURSE NORTHWESTERN HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB GOING TO 10 BOWL GAMES.

BASICALLY STARTING '95 WHEN YOU WERE LINEBACKER, YOU WENT TO THE ROSE BOWL, AND SINCE SINCE THEN, YOU'VE COMPETED WITH WITH THESE GIANT PROGRAMS REALLY REALLY WELL.

IT'S BEEN A SLOW ST TO THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE 1-1 IN CONFERENCE PLAY.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG TEN WEST, IT DOES LOOK PRETTY WIDE-OPEN.

YOU YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE TEM COULD TURN IT AROUND AND MAYBE MAKE A RUN BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYONE IS GOING TO RUN RUN AWAY, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, WITH THE DIVISION.

>> I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE, PARIS.

YOU WATCH THE WAY THAT WE WE PLAYED LAST WEEK.

AGAIN WE HAD SOME SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS T WE WENT IN THE LION'S DEN, SO TO TO SPEAK, IN BEAVER STADIUM, AND AND TOOK THE NUMBER 10 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE WIRE.

I JUST GOT TO WORK HARD TO GET THESE GUYS TO PLAY CLEANER AND PLAY MORE COMPLEMENT TO RE-FOOTBALL.

THERE'S A TON OF WILL AND GRIT IN THIS SQUAD AND YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR HERE.

WE ARE ALL KIND OF ONE-AND-ONE ON NEBRASKA'S HOME FIELD, BUT WHO WANTS IT?

WHO WANTS TO IMPROVE?

WHO WANTS TO GET BETTER AND WHO'S GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE PLAYS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN THOSE 60 MINUTES TO WIN THE WEST?

A FEW YEARS AGO UNFORTUNATELY WE STARTED GETTINS GETTING INDIANAPOLIS TO COMPETE FOR THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

I KNOW WE ARE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO TO BE AS FAR AS THE RECORD, BUT THINGS WE CAN CONTROL AND FIX WE WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO DO.

DO.

WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FOR HOMECOMING THIS WEEKEND AGAINST A WISCONSIN TEAM THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TOUGH, HARD FOUGHT BATTLES AGAINST.

IT WILL BE GREAT TO GET BACK HOME AFTER THE TOUGH ROAD TEST.

>> YOU GOT ME ALL RILED UP.

I KNOW THAT THE WISCONSIN PROGRAM IS GOING THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES NOW SO IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING MATCH.

BEST OF LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS AGAIN.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

APPRECIATE IT, IT, GO CATS.

> >> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", ACCESS TO ABORTION THROUGH TELEMEDICINE.

HOW PATIENTS ARE NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM AFTER SOME STATES CHANGED CHANGED THEIR LAWS.

> >> THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN AND HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SOME DELAYS.

> >> PLUS, CITY EMPLOYEES WILL SOON ENJOY MORE PAID TIME OFF WHEN EXTENDING THEIR FAMILIES.

A A LOOK AT CHICAGO'S NEW POLICY.

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

STATE LAWMAKER LASHAWN FORD AND THE MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF OF FOREST PARK ARE LOOKING AT EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME AND DRUG OVERDOSES ON THE.

THE CT. FORD SAYS PROBLEMS WITH ADDICTION, HOMELESSNESS, AND MENTAL ILLNESS IN CHICAGO ARE IMPACTING NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

>> THE PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE IN O IN CHICAGO IS SPILLING OVER TO A A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY LIKE FOREST PARK, AND THEY DON'T HAVE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH IT.

THIS STOP RIGHT HERE IS A PE A PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE IDENTIFD HAVE IDENTIFIED FATAL OVERDOSE M OVERDOSE FROM HEROIN, FENTANYL H FENTANYL DEATH.

THEY HAVE PEOPLE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS.

THEY ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE RESIDENTS O.

OF CHICAGO.

> >> THE BRONZEVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE ARE CELEBRATING THEIR COMBINED EFFORTS TO SAVE RECORDS RECORDS OF THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN ILLINOIS.

MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS TRAVELED TO ILLINOIS TO ESCAPE JIM CROW SEGREGATION AND THIS CLINICIAN IN THE SOUTH.

SOUTH.

ONE WAY TO DOCUMENT THAT HISTORY IS THROUGH FUNERAL RECO.

>> THIS IS THE YEARS LONG EFFORT LONG EFFORT IN WHICH MY STAFF HAD TO GO TO THE FUNERAL HOME OE SOUTHSIDE, OBTAIN COURT ORDERS TO SAVE THE RECORDS, PRY WOODEN BOARDS OFF OF DOORS AND RETREAT RETRIEVING BANKERS BOXES PIECES OF HISTORY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FOREVER LOST BEFORE THE BUILDING WAS RAISED.

>> ART CREATED BY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE HAS GONE ON DISPLAY IN A CHICAGO CHICAGO ART GALLERY.

THE EXHIBITION TITLED CAN YOU SEE ME OPENS AT THE WEINBERG NEWTON GALLERY ON OCTOBER 14th.

THE ARTWORK ORIGINATED IN ART THERAPY SESSIONS FOR USE IN CUSTODY AND WAS RUN BY A SOUTH CHICAGO-BASED SKY ART.

THE EXHIBITION WILL BE ON DISPLAY UNTIL DECEMBER.

AND NOW TO BRANDIS AND HOW SOME ARE NAVIGATING ACCESS TO ABORTION IN IN A POST DOBBS LANDSCAPE.

BRAN?

LANDSCAPE.

BRANDIS?

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS MEANT MANY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE THROUGH A COMPUTER SCREEN INSTEAD OF IN PERSON.

THIS INCLUDES PEOPLE SEEKING TELEMEDICINE ABORTION.

HOWEVER, AFTER THE DOBBS SUPREME SUPREME COURT DECISION, THE LEGALITY OF THE PRACTICE IN SOME SOME STATES ISN'T AS CLEAR FOR PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS.

JOININGS NOW ARE DR. KATIE McCUE, AN INDIANA BASED OB/GYN AND ABORTION PROVIDER, BRIDGET LEAHY, VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC POLICY AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS, AND KATIE WATSON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, MEDICAL SOCIAL SCIENCES, OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

THANKS TO ALL THREEF YOU FOR JOINING US.

DR. McCUE, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN FOR US HOW A TELEMEDICINE ABORTION WORKS.

>> TELEMEDICINE ABORTION IS A VERY SIMPLE PROCEDURE.

THE PATIENT DOES IT NEED TO BE IN THE HEALTH CENTER TO HAVE AN ABORTION IN THIS WAY BECAUSE MEDICATIONS CAN BE MAILED TO THEM.

THE HEALTH SCREENING CAN E DONE VIRTUALLY.

I AM AT MY HOME IN INDIANA RIGHT NOW AND IN THEE WAY, I'M COMING TO YOUR STUDIO OVER VIRTUAL, THE SAME WAY WE CAN BRING CARE TO PATIENTS VIRTUALLY.

SO A PROVIDER WILL SCREEN THE PATIENTS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HEALTHY AND AN APPROPRIATE CANDIDATE FOR A MEDICATION ABORTION, MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE STEPS, HOW TO CONTACT US IF WE CAN OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL HELP OR OR IF THEY NEED EXTRA CARE, AND THEN WE CAN MAIL THEM THEIR MEDICATION.

>> AND YOU CAN MAIL THAT MEDICATION OF COURSE TO THE PATIENT IN A STATE WHERE ABORTION IS STILL LEGAL.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

I AM IN INDIANA, WHERE THAT IS NOT THE CASE, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, TO BE TO BE ABLE TO DO TELE-MEDICATION TELE-MEDICATION ABORTION.

SO INY CASE, I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE MY HOME STATE OF INDIANA TO BE ABLE ABLE TO PROVIDE TELEMEDICINE ABORTION SERVICES, BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL RESTRICTIONS AROUND THAT IN MY STATE.

>> OKAY, SO KATIE WATSON, DESCRIBED FOR US IF YOU WOULD THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE FOR PROVIDERS LIKE DR. McHUGH .

>> ITS COMPLEX.

TELEMEDICINE IS -- THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE GENERALLY IS REGULATED ON A STATE-BY-STATE BASIS, AND AS WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT'S BEEN A BOON IN MANY AREAS OF MEDICINE, PARTICULARLY FOR FOLKN RURAL AREAS AND ACROSS MEDICAL SPECIALTIES.

MEDICATION ABORTION ABORTION WAS APPROVED BY THE FDA FDA IN 2000 GET VERY DELIBERATEY VERY DELIBERATELY EXCLUDED FROM THIS INCREASED ACCESS IN MANY SS MANY STATES IN A PACKAGE OF ANTIABORTION LEGISLATION.

IT WAS RESTRICTED.

NOW STATES CAN OUTRIGHT BAN ABORTION.

IT DOES E DOES INCREASE THE OBSTACLES TO THE LEGALITY.

FOR EXAMPLE, ILLINOIS IS A STANDARD OF CARE STATE.

OUR PHYSICIANS ARE ALLOWED TO PROVIDE THE REPRODUCTIVE CARE THAT IS APPROVED BY MEDICAL SOCIETY AS NECESSARY AND ESSENTIAL TO WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE.

HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT TREAT PATIENTS IN OTHER STATES THAT THEY ARE NOT LICENSED IN OR THAT BEEN THAT PARTICULAR PROCEDURE OR TREATMET OR TREATMENT OR MEDICATION.

SO A A PATIENT FROM A STATE LIKE INDA WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE ACROSS THE ILLINOIS BORDER TO BE PHYSICALLY PHYSICALLY IN ILLINOIS IN ORDER TO BE CARED FOR BY AN ILLINOIS PHYSICIAN.

HOWEVER, THAT CAN STILL HAPPEN WITH TELEMEDICINE.

SO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, TELEMEDICINE ABORTION PROVIDES INCREASED ACCESS TO PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS AND STATES LIKE IT.

IT PROVIDES STANDARD CARE TO DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE OR INTERRUPT THEIR THEIR DAY MORE THAN NECESSARY, BUT IT ALSO COULD BE HELPFUL TOE WHO ARE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES TO GET TO SAY FIVE HOURS, BUT DT HAVE TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO A A CLINIC.

AND LASTLY, THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN TELEMEDICINE BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NAME THE OPTION OF SELF MANAGED ABORTION, ABORTION, WHERE PEOPLE IN STATEE ABORTION IS BANNED MAY CHOOSE TO TO USE THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE IT THE INTERNET, OR PHONE CALLS, OR OR INFORMATION, OR MAIL PHARMACIES, INTERNATIONAL PHARMACIES THAT WOULD MAIL THEM THE MEDICATIONS, WHERE THEY WOULD DO THE SAME MEDICATION PROCEDURE THROUGHOUT THE FIRST TRIMESTER, BUT WITHOUT BEING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A DOCTOR WHO IS IS THERE DR. >> SO I WANT TO GET BRIDGET IN HERE.

HAS THERE BEEN AN UPTICK FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINS OF ILLINOIS DOCTORS AND PROVIDERS PERFORMING TELEHEALTH ABORTIONS IN A POST DOBBS WORLD?

>> DEFINITELY IN ILLINOIS WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE OVERALL IN IN ABORTION PATIENTS.

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF ABORTION BANS IN STATES SURROUNDING ILLINOIS AND EVERY STATE SOUTH OF US HAS RESULTED IN AN INCREASED NEED FOR PROCEDURES AS WELL AS MEDICATION ABORTION.

AND TELEHEALTH IS AN OPTION THAT REALLY CAN HELP SOMEONE GET CARE CARE THEY NEED.

WE HAVE HAD PATS HAD PATIENTS CROSS THE BORDER, DRIVE FROM THEIR OWN STATE, ANDE IN A PARKING LOT RIGHT ACROSS THE BORDER TO CHOOSE THEIR TELEH THEIR TELEHEALTH VISIT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY CN GET THE CARE THEY NEED.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE WHAT KATIE SAID JUST A MOMENT AGO, WHICH IS THAT TELEHEALTH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WITHIN THEE OF ILLINOIS.

WE ARE A VERY LARGE LARGE STATE, AND FOR SOME PATIENTS TRYING TO GET ABORTION PILLS MAILED TO THEM, THEY WERE HAVING TO DRIVE HUNDREDS OF MILES TO GET CARE, EVEN IF THEY COULD DO THE APPOINTMENT ONLINE THEY WERE STILL HAVING TO DRIVEO A HEALTH CENTER TO PICK UP THE MEDICATION.

NOW WE CAN DO THE TELEHEALTH VISIT AS WELL AS MAIL MAIL THE PILLS TO AN ILLINOIS A.

THAT IS FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE COMING TO ILLINOIS AS WELL AS PE WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING IN OUR SE OUR STATE.

>> DR. McHUGH, TO THAT POINT, WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON PATIENTS OF ALL THIS?

>> IT IS SIGNIFICANT.

WE KEEP USING THAT WORD, SIGNIFICANT.

THERE IS NOTHING INSIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE DOBBS DECISION, FOR YOUR STATE OR FOR MINE.

MY EXPEE WITH PATIENTS HAS BEEN THAT BEFORE THE INDIANA BAN WENT INTO INTO EFFECT, I WAS ALSO SEEING PATIENTS FROM OHIO AND KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY, AND TENNESSEE, AND ALABAMA, AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER STATES THAT HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED A BAN.

DURING THE OK THE ONE-WEEK THAT INDIANA HAD A BAN, I WAS TURNING PATIENTS AWAY AWAY AND SENDING THEM TO ILLINOIS FOR THIS VERY NORMAL AND COMMON HEALTHCARE.

NOW THATE BAN HAS BEEN ENJOINED IN INDIANA, WE ARE TRYING TO RAMP BACK UP OUR SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN HELP WITH THAT PATIENT BURD, HAVING TO GO OUT OF STATE OR SEND EVERYONE SLIGHTLY TO THE WEST OF INDIANA.

BUT IT IS DIFF, IS DIFFICULT, BECAUSE EVEN IN THAT ONE WEEK, PEOPLE LOST THEIR THEIR JOBS.

WE SENT AWAY SO MANY MANY PATIENTS AND NOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO RAMP BACK UP.

SO THE IMPACT ON PATIENTS IS MASSIVE BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE CONFUSING THEM ABOUT WHAT IS LE, WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE ACCESSIBLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIEST WE ARE ALSO MAKING THIS JUST MORE STIGMATIZED, MORE DIFFICULT MORE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS.

SO ALL ALL OF THIS CONTRIBUTES TO AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF HARM DONE BY THE STATE TO ITS CITIZENS.

>> BRIDGET, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, BUT YOU KNOW WITH SO MANY PEOPLE NEEDING ABORTION CARE IN ILLINOIS, COMING FROM OUT OF THE STATE, OF COURSE, DOES THE TELEHEALTH OPTION SORT OF ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE STRESS ON THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HERE AT AT ALL?

>> YES IT DOES, BECAUSE YOU CAN DO THE APPOINTMENT AT A MORE COT TIME FOR THE PATIENT, AND THEN EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE TO COME TO ILLINOIS TO GET THE MEDICATION, THEY CAN CROSS THE BORDER, DO THEIR APPOINTMENT, AND THEN DRIVE AND HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY OF WHEN THEY CAN DRIVE TO GET IT.

SO IT REALLY IS IS IMPORTANT AND HELPFUL.

ONE OE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING IS SOME SOME OF THE PROVIDERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN OTHER STATES PROVIDING THIS CARE ARE COMING OVER TO ILLINOIS.

WE HAVE HEALTH CENTERS CENTERS VERY CLOSE TO THE BORDE, AND THEY ARE DOING TELEHEALTH VISITS NOW IN ILLINOIS.

WE ARE DOING THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD PARTNERSHIP TO DO THAT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING TO MAKE A TRIP, THEN.

WE'LL HAVE TE IT THERE.

MY GUEST IS DR. KATIE McHUGH, BRIDGET LEAHY AND KATIE WATSON FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

> >> NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK AT HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR CHILDREN.

> >> MULTIPLE STUDIES HAVE FOUND STUDENTS TAKING A BIG HIT IN AVERAGE MATH AND READING SCORES AFTER MONTHS AND YEARS OF SHUTDS AND DISTANCE LEARNING.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE EDUCATIONAL BASICS THAT MAY HAVE SUFFERED.

THERE ARE GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT HOW COVID HAS AFFECTED CHILDREN'S SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AND WELL-BEING AS STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS HAVE NAVIGATED THE RETURN TO IN PERSON LEARNING.

AND JOINING US ARE DR. HANNAH CHAL JOHNSON, A PEDIATRICIAN AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF LOYOLA MEDICINE IN NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND JUSTINE ISLAM, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AND FIELD LEARNING AT THE COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO CHICAGO .

JUSTINA, I'LL START WITH YOU, FIRST OF ALL.

DEFINE WHAT SOCIAL LEARNING IS FOR US.

>> SURE, THANK YOU, PARIS.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING REALLY REALLY SIMPLY IS ABOUT DEVELOPING SKILLS THAT HELP US NAVIGATE ALL OF THE PARTS OF OUR OF OUR LIVES.

SO THESE ARE SKILS ARE SKILLS LIKE UNDERSTANDING OUR EMOTIONS AND STAY MOTIVATED TO OUR GOALS, AND ALSO SKILLS LIKE HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND PERSPECTIVES AND HOW DO WE WORKR TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

AND IN SCHOOLS I'LL JUST SAY THAT THE M IS OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL Y THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON HELPING STUDENTS DEVELOP THESE SKILLS AND ALSO CREATING THE TYS OF ENVIRONMENTS WHERE STUDENTS FEEL VALUED AND ENGAGED AND SAFE, SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON LEAR.

>> DR. CHAL JOHNSON, WHAT KIND OF HIT HAS CHILDREN'S SOCIAL AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, WELL-BEING, WHAT HAS IT TAKEN DUE TO COVID?

>> WE HAVE SEEN FAR MORE CHILDREN COMING IN, BEING EXTREMELY ANXIOUS AND ALSO HAVING FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION, AND THIS HAS BEEN MORE THAN WE'D WE'D EVER SEEN AT ANY POINT IN OUR CAREERS.

I'VE BEEN A PRACTICING PEDIATRICIAN FOR 25 YEARS, AND BEFORE, WE WOULD ALWAYS SEE CHILDREN WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, BUT NOT AT THE LEVEL AS IT'S BEEN IN THE IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?

LACK OF SOCIALIZATION OR JUST A GENERAL LEVEL OF ANGST IN IN THE COUNTRY?

>> I THINK IT'S THAT AND ALSO JUST BEING MORE ISOLATED.

THERE IS JUST LESS TIME TO BE -- YOU JUST DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AROUND YOUR CLASSMATES AND AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM ON A A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

ALSO THERE'T THIS LACK OF SOCIALIZATION IN GENERAL.

EVEN THE SHY KIDS HAVE A LOT TO BENEFIT FROM IN THE SCHOOL SETTING BUT WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN THE SCHOOL SETTING, EVEN THEY SUFFER QUITE A BIT FROM LAK OF SOCIALIZATION.

>> JUSTINA, WE MENTIONED THE DROP IN READING AND MATH SCORES.

SCORES.

HOW DO THESE PROBLEMS WH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IMPACT THOSE BASIC BREAD-AND-BUTTER ACADEMIC SCORE?

ACADEMIC SCORES?

>> I THINK THERE'S REALLY BROAD RECOGNITION RIGHT NOW THAT ACADEMIC SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LG IS ALL REALLY CONNECTED.

THEY GO GO HAND-IN-HAND TOGETHER OR GO THE WAY THAT KIDS LEARN, THE WAY WAY THAT THEY ENGAGE WITH ACADEMIC CONTENT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THEIR EMOTIONAL STATE, WITH THEIR SOCIAL INTERACTION, WITH HOW THEY USE THESE TYPES OF SKILLS TO EITHER ASK FOR HELP OR WORK THROUGH FRUSTRATION, AND IN FACT THERE'S THERE'S HUNDREDS OF STUDIES OUT THERE THAT SHOW THAT SOCIAL ANDL LEARNING CAN HELP WITH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SO I THINK RIGHT NOW IF WE ARE HAVING ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACADEMIC LEARNING, WE HAVE TO BE BE HAVING THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

>> WHAT DOES SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING LOOK LIKE IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> IT CAN LOOK A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND WE REALLY ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT RIGHT APPROACH FOR THEM.

IN GENERAL, IT INVOLVES A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, THERE IS REALLY USUALLY INTENTIONAL TIES FOR BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG STS AND ADULTS.

IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE A A DAILY CHECK-IN OR A MORNING MEETING, WHETHER IT'S TALKING ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS.

ALSO IT'S TIME FOR EXPLICITLY TEACHING THESE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS USING AN EVIDENCED-BASED PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY DEVELOPED TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR NEEDS.

AND LASTLY IT'S ABOUT STIMULATING THESE TYPES OF TEACHING STRATEGIES THAT FOCUS ON REFLECTION AND COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING TO REALLY ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO PRACTICE THESE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS THROUGHOUT ACADEMIC LEARNING AS WELL.

>> ONE OF THE WARNING SIGNS PARENTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD BE N THE LOOKOUT FOR, BECAUSE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASILY DETECTABLE AT FIRST.

>> IT COULD BE SOMETHING JUST VERY SUBTLE, MUCH AS REALLY JUST JUST BEING A LITTLE QUIETER, WHICH IS A LITTLE HARD WHEN YOUE IN A CLASSROOM FULL OF OTHER CHILDREN.

IT COULD ALSO JUST BE A CHANGE, A SHIFT.

IT MAY BE MIGHT JUST BE A SMALL CHANGE IN THE GRADE, MAYBE GOING DOWN FROM DOWN FROM AN A TO AB.

IT COULD ALSO JUST BE A LITTLE BIT LACK OF INTEREST, MAYBE BEING THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY WERE PRIOR INTERESTED IN.

SO CHILDREN DON'T DON'T ACTUALLY SAY I'M OUTRIGHT DEPRESSED OR UN-ANXIOUS, BUT THEY WILL OFTEN SAY THINGS LIKE I JUST DON'T -- MAYBE MY APPETITE ISN'T LOOKING VERY GOOD, I'M NOT SLEEPING VERY WELL, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT I'M JUST NOT ENJOYING THIS ROLE AS MUCH.

>> EVERYONE IS TRYING TO NAVIGATE A RETURN TO IN PERSON LEARNING, WHICH HAS GONE ON FORA YEAR OR MORE.

SO ONE OF THE BEST BEST WAYS SCHOOLS CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WITH THEIR STUDENTS?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BEST WAYS A SCHOOL CAN ADDRESS THIS IS JUST REALLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH Y HARD TIME.

THIS IS UNUSUAL.

WE'VE HAD TWO YEARS OF PANDEMIC, PANDEMIC, AND A LOT OF THAT TIME TIME THAT CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND A RESULT OF THAT, I THINK MOST SCHOOLS ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF RECOGNIZING THAT THEY JUST NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE STUDENTS.

THEY JUST NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PATIENT AND JUST TO BEA LITTLE BIT MORE ATTUNED TO THEIR THEIR STUDENTS MOODS AND JUST THE WAY THEY ARE BEHAVING ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> ARE THERE DIFFERENT SIGNS WE'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A KINDERGARTNER VERSUS A MIDDLE SCHOOLER OR HIGH OR HIGH SCHOOL IN TERMS OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS?

>> YEAH, I THINK STUDENTS AT DIFFERENT AGES ARE DEFINITELY EXPRESSING THEMSELVES DIFFERENTLY, SO WHILE A YOUNGER STUDENT IS THINKING ABOUT HOW DO DO I TALK ABOUT MY EMOTIONS, HOO I REALLY START TO ENGAGE SOME OF OF THESE FEELINGS AND COPE WITH THEM, OLDER STUDENTS REALLY HAVE HAVE MORE COMPLEX FEELINGS THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW,D ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD A LOT A LOT FROM OLDER STUDENTS IS THAT THEY WANT TIME IN SCHOOL TO TO REALLY FOCUS ON DEVELOPING F. DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS.

MANY OF THEM ARE SAYING THAT THEY FEEL A A LITTLE BIT DISCONNECTED AFTERE PANDEMIC AND THEY WANT TO REESTABLISH FRIENDSHIPS, THAT THEY WANT STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING THESE SOCIAL SKILLS IN SCHOOL.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT NEEDS FROM FOLKS BASIC BASIC EMOTION, IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT, TO HOW AM I HELPING THEM DEVELOP THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS TT HELP THEM IN THE LONG TERM?

>> SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF BEING IN SCHOOL.

WE MENTIONED THE LOSS IN READING AND TEST SCS AND THE ISSUES HERE WITH SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

HOW LONG LONG MIGHT THIS IMPACT STUDENTSR YEARS TO COME?

HOW DEEP IS THIS PANDEMIC LOSS AND HOW LONG IS IT IT GOING TO LAST?

>> THAT IS A QUESTION.

THAT'S AT AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

IT MAY BE BE SEVERAL YEARS AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO PREDICT EXACY HOW LONG, BUT WE CAN REALLY SEE JUST WHAT A SHORT PERIOD OF TIM, A MONTH CAN IMPACT THE LIFE OF A A CHILD.

CHILDREN, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AGES ZERO TO 18, TWO YEARS IS QUITE A LOT OF TIME TIME OUT OF THEIR LIFE.

>> A CRUCIAL TWO YEARS.

>> ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> A LOT TO THINK ABOUT FOR PARS AND TEACHERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS LIKE YOURSELF.

OUR YOURSELF.

OUR THANKS TO DR. HANNAH CHOW JOHNSON AND JUSTINA SLAMMED.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

MUCH.

> >> UP NEXT, CHICAGO EXPANDS ITS PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR CITY WORKERS.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

> >> WORKERS FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHO PLAN TO BECOME PARENTS WILL NOW HAVE MUCH MORE TIME OFF TO SPEND WITH THEIR NEW NEW CHILD.

AS OF JANUARY 1st, ANY CITY EMPLOYEE WHO HAS WORKED WORKED FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR FOR FOR THE CITY WILL RECEIVE 12 WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL TIME OFF.

OFF.

IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS ZERO GUARANTIED PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, CHICAGO IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF MAJOR CITIES EXPANDING THIS BENEFIT.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT E DARCY FLYNN, DIRECTOR OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE STRATEGY AND POLICY FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO, AND CHARMINGLY MONTY MADARIS, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY AND ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT WITH WOMED WOMEN EMPLOYED HIM AND WELCOME BACK TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

PREVIOUSLY THE CITY OFFERED 4 TO 6 WEEKS FOR BIRTHING PARENTS AND TWO WEEKS FOR NON-BIRTHING PARENTS.

DARCY FLYNN, WHY IS THE CITY OF CHICAGO EXPANDING IT NOW?

>> WE, LIKE MANY OF YOU, HAVE WATCHED THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON FLAWS WITHIN OUR LABOR MARKET THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE GENDER AND RACIAL INEQUITIES.

WHEN WE SAW THE CARE INFRASTRUCTURE CRUMBLE, CRUMBLE, WE SAW WOMEN LEAVE THE WORKFORCE IN DROVES, AND WE OURSELVES IN CITY GOVERNMENT HAS GOVERNMENT HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY, WE ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM THAT TREND.

WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30% FEMALES IN OUR WORKFORCE, SO THS SO THIS WORK, THIS POLICY ALIGNS ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR'S WORK TO CREATE GOOD QUALITY JOBS IN ADDRESSING THAT IN OUR LABOR MARKET.

SO NOW IS THE TIME, PARTICULARLY WHEN WOMEN'S BODILY BODILY AUTONOMY IS UNDER ATTACK NATIONALLY.

IT IS A TIME FOR US TO WALK THE WALK AND PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

>> DARCY, JUST FOR CLARITY, WHO BENEFITS?

WHAT PARENTS?

WHICH BIRTHING AND NON-BIRTHING PARENTS BENEFIT FROM THIS NEW P?

>> SURE, SO ALL BIRTHING AND NON-BIRTHING PARENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO 12 WEEKS PAID PAID PARENTAL LEAVE UNDER THIS NEW POLICY, AND THAT INCLUDES PARENTS WHO ARE HAVING A CHILD H FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, AND EVENS THOSE ACTING AS A SURROGATE FOR UP TO EIGHT WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE WITH ADDITIONAL TIME AVAILABLE IF THERE END UP BEING ANY SORT OF MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS.

THAT WORKER GETS MORE TIME OFF.

>> WHAT'S THE BENEFIT OF PAID TIME OFF?

>> WHAT ISN'T THE BENEFIT?

PAID TIME OFF, PAID LEAVE OF THIS KID THIS KIND, AND WE REALLY APPLAUD APPLAUD WHAT THE CITY IS DOING HERE, HAS HUGE DIVIDENDS FOR EMPLOYERS, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL P, INDIVIDUAL PARENTS, FOR CHILDREN, AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW THAT PAID LEAVE REDUCES THINGS LIKE INFANT THINGS LIKE INFANT MORTALITY, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN CHICAGO CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS.

IT REDUCES REDUCES LOW BIRTH WEIGHT FOR EXAMPLE, INCREASES BREAST-FEEDING.

IT CAN REDUCE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

SO THERE ARE REAL HEALTH BENEFITS, HEALTH HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BENEFITS.

BUT THEN ALSO IT REALLY ALLOWS R ALLOWS FOR WOMEN AND PARENTS TOY TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE WORKFORCE.

SO THE ILLINOIS INSTE ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC POLICY AS WELL AS THE PROJECT FOR MIDDLE-CLASS RENEWAL DID A STUDY THAT SHOWED THAT ACCESS TO TO PAID LEAVE INCREASED THE PROBABILITY THAT A WORKING MOTHER WOULD REMAIN EMPLOYED BY% BY 10% AND REDUCED HER LIKELIHOOD OF EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF INCOME BY 14%.

AND WE SEE THAT PRETTY CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

IN ADDITION, THE UNITED STATES IS THE ONLY DEVELOPED NATION THAT DOES NOT E NOT PROVIDE PAID LEAVE FOR ITS CITIZENS.

SO IN MANY WAYS, WHAT THE CITY IS DOING IS ACTUALLY CATCHING UP AND GET INTO PARITY AROUND WHAT WE'VE SEEN AROUND TE WORLD.

>> TO THAT POINT, AS YOU SAID, THE U.S. HAS NO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.

JUST ONE OF SIX WORLDWIDE SIX WORLDWIDE THAT DO NOT OFFER THIS KIND OF PARENTAL LEAVE, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.

SO HERE IS HOW WE COMPARE.

THE UK OFFERS 39 WEEKS OF PAID TIME OFF.

SWEDEN OFFERING 68, ESTONI2 WEEKS AND JAPAN OFFERING 52 WEEKS OR MORE.

BACK TO YOU, WHY ISN'T THIS SOMETHING THAT THE U.S. IS ALREADY DOING?

>> I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN REALLY THE MIX OUT THERE ABOUT WHAT THE COSTS ACTUALLY ARE OF E OF PEOPLE AND I THINK THERE'S NOT ENOUGH UNDERSTANDING OF WHAE SOCIETAL BENEFITS ARE OF PAID LEAVE.

WE REALLY -- AS I ALREADY ALREADY MENTIONED, WE REALLY DO HAVE A LOT OF WAYS IN WHICH OUR SOCIETY WOULD BENEFIT, AND WE LOOK AT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, NEW YORK CITY EMPLOYEES GET 12 WEEKS OF FAMILY PAY.

LOS ANGELES ANGELES CITY EMPLOYEES GET SIX WEEKS.

THERE ARE MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT DO PROVIDE PAID LEAVE, AND THERE ARE 11 STATES PLUS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THAT DO IT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS IS VERY PA, AND IT DOESN'T REALLY ALLOW FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO COMPETE, BECAUSE THIS IS ALL TREATED AS H IT'S AN INCENTIVE OR BENEFIT, AS BENEFIT, AS OPPOSED TO A RIGHT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY WHY WOMEN EMPLOYED IS ADVOCATING FOR PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL AND FEDERAL.

>> THAT LEADS UP TO PRIVATE-SECTOR.

WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DOES THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAVING IMPLEMENTING MORE PARENTAL LEAVE?

AS WAS MENTIONED, SMALL BUSINESSES, IT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO DO.

>> >> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CERTAINLY CALLS ON HER COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO JOIN HER IN OFFERING THIS BENEFIT.

THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS CLEAR.

THE BENEFITS FAR OUTWEIGH THE COST.

EVEN FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIV, YOU WILL RETAIN MORE EMPLOYEES D EMPLOYEES AND DIVERSIFIED YOUR WORKFORCE OVERNIGHT BY PROVIDING PROVIDING THIS BENEFIT.

AND SO THE MAYOR IS WALKING THE WALK HERE AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY COUNTRY IS NOT DOING THIS, TO YR POINT, BRENDAN, AND IN MANY WAYS, THESE BENEFITS OR LACK THEREOF ARE YOUR VALUE STATEMENS VALUE STATEMENTS AND THE MAYOR IS DOUBLING DOWN ON HER VALUES F GENDER-NEUTRAL EQUITY AND UNDERSTANDS THIS BENEFIT, IT ACHIEVES THAT GOAL AND WITHOUT IT IT WILL NOT ACHIEVE THAT GOAL GOAL OF RIGHTSIZING.

>> WE'VE GOT YOU IN JUST ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT BUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF NOT HAVING PAID LEAVE?

LEAVE?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR S WHEN THEY BRING HOME A NEW BABY OR NEW CHILD?

>> OUR OLD POLICY WAS THAT IT WAS BETWEEN 4 TO 6 WEEKS.

YOU'RE YOU'RE NOT CLEARED TO DO THINGS LIKE EXERCISE UNTIL SIX WEEKS AND THAT'S ASSUMING YOU DIDN'T E ANY MEDICAL CONDITION OR COMPLICATION.

INCLUDING THE WELL-BEING OF YOUR CHILD AND FAMILY AND A PAYCHECK.

THIS BENT AND THIS NEW POLICY THAT THE MAYOR HAS INITIATED IS REMOVING THAT CHOICE.

YOU CAN HAVE TIME WITH THAT BABY OR YOUR NEW CHILD CHILD AND YOU WILL GET YOUR PAY.

THERE'S NO MORE CHOICE IN THAT POSITION.

>> JANUARY 1st FOR CITY EMPLOYEES IS ONE THAT KICKS IN.E HAVE TO LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

MS TO DARCY FLYNN AND SHER MAINLY MONTY MADARIS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

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

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

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFI.

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

WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00.

WHAT'S THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET GOING TO GOING TO MEAN FOR YOUR WALLET?

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

> >> AND HE STARTED THE CHICAGO FILM FEST BACK IN 1965.

NOW WITH WITH A NEW MEMOIR, MICHAEL KIZZA KIZZA TELLS US ABOUT HIS LIFE AMONG THE STARS.

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

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ, THANKSR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.