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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> JURY DELIBERATIONS ARE OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY IN THE TRIAL OF R. KELLY.

A RECAP OF POWERFUL TESTIMONY AND WHAT THE SINGER'S SENTENCE COULD LOOK LIKE IF FOUND GUILTY.

>> BEATING CANCER IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TOGETHER.

>> A WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE AIMS TO CUT CANCER DEATHS IN HALF WE TALK ABOUT HOW THAT GOAL AND HOW THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE CAN BE IMPROVED.

>> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO START A FARM?

A LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES FACING YOUNG FARMERS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP.

>> WE NEED TO BRING VACCINES TO WHERE THE COMMUNITY'S AT.

>> INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON EQUITABLE ROLL OUT OF THE MONKEYPOX VACCINE.

>> NASA IMAGES OF PLANET OUTSIDE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM HEAR FROM A LOCAL ASTROPHYSICIST WHO WAS PART OF THE TEAM.

>> THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THEY ARE BEING A FRY COOK FROM MCDONALD'S.

>> WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A PROGRAM THAT IS TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION TO REACH FOR THE SKY.

>> AND CHICAGO'S DEAN OF ROCK 'N ROLL PHOTOGRAPHERS TALKS ABOUT HIS FIRST BOOK.

THE.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE STOCK MARKET TAKES A TUMBLE.

THE DOW ENDED DOWN MORE THAN 1200 POINTS, THE S&P TUMBLED MORE THAN 4% AND THE IN ADDITION COMPOSITE FELL MORE THAN 5%.

A BAD DAY ON WALL STREET RAISED FEARS THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL AGAIN RAISE INTEREST RATES TO BRING INFLATION UNDER CONTROL.

AFTER 20 YEARS SERVING IN THE CITY COUNCIL ALDERMAN ARIEL REBOYRAS SAYS HE WILL RETIRE.

HE IS THE 13th ALDERPERSON NOT RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL NEXT WE ARE.

REBOYRAS HAS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHAIRS THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE.

AT LEAST FIVE CANDIDATES HAVE SAID THEY PLAN TO RUN FOR THE SEAT NEXT YEAR.

THAT INCLUDES JESSICA GUTIERREZ DAUGHTER OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN LUIS GUTIERREZ.

JESSICA NARROWLY LOST TO REBOYRAS IN 2019.

>> A FREIGHT RAIL WORKER STRIKE THIS WEEK COULD AFFECT THOUSANDS OF LOCAL COMMUTERS.

AMTRAK CANCELED ROUTES OUT OF CHICAGO IN PREPARATION.

METRA RIDERS MAY BE IMPACTED.

METRA WOULD HAVE TO SUSPEND A H CIVIL SERVICE ON A NUMBER LINES INCLUDING THE UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND UNION PACIFIC WEST.

BOTH AMTRAK AND METRA OPERATE ON MANY TRACKS BUT ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY FREIGHT RAILROADS ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS A FREIGHT SHUTDOWN COULD COST THE ECONOMY $2 BILLION A DAY.

UP NEXT, JURY DELIBERATIONS BEGIN IN THE TRIAL OF R. KELLY.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AFTER TWO DAYS OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS JURY DELIBERATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN THE CHICAGO TRIAL OF R. KELLY.

12-PERSON JURY WILL DECIDE WHETHER THE R&B SINGER IS GUILTY OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS AND OBSTRUCTION OF MINORS.

MATT MASTERSON HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE TRIAL AND JOINS US WITH MORE.

MATT, RECAP THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS FOR US.

>> YESTERDAY PROSECUTORS SAID ONCE R. KELLY BECAME A CELEBRITY HE USED HIS FAME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND SEXUALLY ASSAULT MULTIPLE UNDERAGE GIRLS.

AND THE CO-DEFENDANTS HELPED COVER IT UP.

THEY PROVED THE 13 CHARGES R. KELLY HAS BEEN FACING.

TODAY HIS ATTORNEY KELLY'S ATTORNEY TOLD JURORS THAT THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL DOES NOT BEAR THAT OUT.

SHE SAID MUCH OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE RELIED ON THE TESTIMONY SHE CALLED LIARS AND EXTORTIONISTS WHO CHANGED THEIR STORY OVER THE YEARS AND CANNOT BE RELIED ON TO PRESENT AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF EVENTS.

>> WE SHOULD KNOW WE ARE LOOKING AT FILE FOOTAGE OF R. KELLY COOK COUNTY TRIAL FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND KELLY IN THE FEDERAL TRIAL, HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE ON TRIAL.

TELL US ABOUT THE CO-DEFENDANTS?

>> HE HAS TWO CO-DEFENDANTS HIS FORMER BUSINESS MANAGER DERREL McDAVID AND EXASSISTANT MILTON JUNE BROWN.

THE PROSECUTORS SAID THEY HELPED HIM FOR YEARS AND WORKED TO PAY PEOPLE OFF AND RECOVER THE SEX TAPES THAT SHOWED KELLY WITH AN UNDERAGED GIRL AND THEY DID SO BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO REMAIN FINANCIALLY STABLE AND KEEP GETTING MONEY FROM R. KELLY IF THEY KEPT HIM OUT OF JAIL.

THE ATTORNEYS DENIED THIS AND CLAIMED THAT MILTON BROWN AND DERREL McDAVID NEVER KNEW ABOUT ANY OF THESE ALLEGATIONS OR AT LEAST THEY WERE LEGITIMATE WHEN THEY WERE WORKING FOR KELLY TO TRY TO GET THE TAPES BACK.

>> LOOKING BACK AT THIS, TELL US THE MOST POWERFUL TESTIMONY GIVEN ON BOTH SIDES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS?

>> CERTAINLY FOR THE PROSECUTORS, THE MOST POWERFUL TESTIMONY CAME FROM FOUR OF THE ACCUSERS WHO SAID THAT R. KELLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THEM WHEN THEY WERE MINORS INCLUDING JANE KELLY'S GOD DAUGHTER WHO TESTIFIED.

THAT KELLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER HUNDREDS OF TIME AND SHE WAS INDEED THIS 14-YEAR-OLD WHO APPEARED IN THE SEX TAPES THAT WERE AT THE CENTER OF THIS 2008 TRIAL AND THE CURRENT TRIAL AS WELL.

AS FOR THE DEFENSE, THE MOST CRUCIAL TESTIMONY CAME FROM McDAVID HE WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE THREE DEFENDANTS THAT ACTUALLY TESTIFIED.

HE TOLD JURORS THERE WAS NEVER A GRAND CONSPIRACY TO COVER UP THE TAPES AND NO ONE IN KELLY'S UNIVERSE BELIEVED THE ALLEGATIONS BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE LEGITIMATELY TRYING TO FALSIFY SEXUAL ABUSE CLAIMS AGAINST KELLY.

>> IF FOUND GUILTY IN THIS TRIAL WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT POTENTIAL PRISON SENTENCE?

>> WELL, HE IS FACING 13 DIFFERENT CHARGES.

THERE IS A BIT OF A RANGE WHAT HE COULD FACE.

A CONVICTION FOR PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IS MINIMUM OF 10 YEARS.

SENTENCES FOR RECEIVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, CONSPIRING TO RECEIVE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY RANGE FROM 5 TO 20 YEARS.

THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR ENTICE MANY OF A CHILD IS 10 YEARS AND CONSPIRACY TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE IS UP TO 5 YEARS.

KELLY HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOLLOWING THE CONVICTION IN A NEW YORK FEDERAL TRIAL LAST YEAR.

>> ALREADY DOING A LOT OF TIME AND THIS MIGHT ADD-ON TOP OF THAT.

MATT MASTERSON THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ MATT'S STORY AND CATCH UP ON THE TRIAL LEADING UP TO TODAY BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS REIGNITING AN INITIATIVE THAT AIMS TO CUT CANCER DEATHS IN HALF.

IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS.

BIDEN OUTLINED THE INITIATIVE CALLED CANCER MOONSHOT IN A SPEECH YESTERDAY THE SAME DAY AS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S REGULAR MOONSHOT ADDRESS.

>> CANCER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE RED AND BLUE.

IT DOESN'T CARE IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT.

BEATING CANCER IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TOGETHER.

>> AND BIDEN OUTLINED SOME OF THE PROGRESS AND GOALS WHICH INCLUDE INVESTING IN BIOTECHNOLOGIES, FACILITATING DATA AND GROWING THE U.S. BIOMANUFACTURING CAPACITY.

AND JOINING US ARE LAWYER ARE JANE HYDE THE, Dr. ALAN TAN DIRECTOR OF GU MEDICAL AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE REPORT H LURIE COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> WE MENTIONED BIDEN'S GOAL OF REDUCING CANCER DEATHS IN HALF OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS.

HOW FEASIBLE IS THAT IN REALITY?

>> IT IS ACTUALLY VERY FEASIBLE AND IT SHOULD HAPPEN IT MUST HAPPEN.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK ON THE TRAJECTORY OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CANCER FIELD OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE NOW TOOLS IN OUR HANDS THAT ALLOW RAPID PROGRESS.

SO WE HAVE NOW DEVELOPMENTS IN OTHER FIELDS THAT WE TAKE IN CANCER RESEARCH LIKE BIG DATA, BIOENGINEERING AND WE CAN HAVE MORE IMPACT WITH RESEARCH.

WE NEED THE RESOURCES.

IF THE RESOURCES ARE THERE, IT'S VERY DOABLE.

>> Dr. TAN IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT PUBLIC POLICY CAME TO FOCUS ON CANCER.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THAT IS NEW AND PROMISING ABOUT THIS PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVE?

>> RIGHT.

SO 50 YEARS AGO IN 1971, DECEMBER 23, NIXON DECLARED WAR ON CANCER.

BUT WE STILL ARE DEALING WITH CANCER AS SOMETHING THAT KILLS MANY PATIENTS, ALTHOUGH WE'RE DOING MUCH BETTER MORE PATIENTS ARE LIVING WITH CANCER AS A CHRONIC CONDITION NOW THAN A DEATH SENTENCE FOR ALL PATIENTS.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

AND I THINK WE NOW HAVE MORE TOOLS AND 50 YEARS LATER WE HAVE GENE TECHNOLOGY, CELL THERAPY AND GENE EDITING AND OTHER IMMUNOTHERAPIES THAT CAN HELP END CANCER AS WE KNOW IT AS JOE BIDEN MENTIONS.

>> AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCERS AND MANY TYPES OF TREATMENTS.

EACH CANCER AND EACH TREATMENT IS INDIVIDUALIZED.

LAURA JANE YOUR ORGANIZATION WORKS ON SUPPORTING PATIENTS THAT LIVE WITH CANCER.

PART OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT IS ALSO IMPROVING FOLKS LIVES THAT DO LIVE WITH CANCER PERHAPS MAKING IT A CHRONIC DISEASE.

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE LIVING WITH CANCER?

>> WELL, ONE TOOL WE USE IS CALLED THE CANCER EXPERIENCE REGISTRY AND THAT IS ADMINISTERED LOCALLY AND AGGREGATE IS GATHERED BY OUR HEADQUARTERS ORGANIZATION.

AND IT REALLY LOOKS AT THE BROAD IMPACT OF CANCER ON THE PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS.

AND HELPS US LOOK AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT PLAY INTO THE IMPACT OF THE DISEASE INCLUDING EMOTIONAL, FID CAL, PRACTICAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACT AND HELPS US DELIVER PROGRAMS BEST DESIGNED TO MEET THE PATIENT'S NEEDS.

THE SAME INNOVATION IS HAPPENING ON THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THINGS.

>> AND YOU WORK WITH CHILDHOOD CANCERS IS IT TRUE THAT MOST CHILDHOOD CANCER IS RELATED TO GENETIC FACTORS OVER LIFESTYLE FACTORS AND HOW CHALLENGING DOES IT MAKE IT TO IMPROVE DETECTION AND SCREENING FOR CHILDREN?

>> WITH KIDS IT'S ALL ABOUT GINO McDRIVERS AND IT IS NOT THINGS THAT WE CAN SCREEN FOR AND NOT THINGS THAT WE CAN PREVENT.

THE NAME OF THE GAME WITH PEDIATRIC CANCER THE REASON WE'VE MADE IMPROVEMENTS IS OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT AND SHARE DATA AND THAT IS WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE.

IT PUTS A LOT OF FUNDING BEHIND THE CONCEPT OF COLLECTING BETTER DATA AND SHARE TO GO AND ALLOWING RESEARCHERS TO HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY DATA TO MAKE BETTER DISCOVERIES.

>> AND I KNOW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO THERE'S BEEN PROGRESS IN THE DATA YOU'VE COLLECTED.

CAN YOU EXPOUND ON THAT FOR US?

>> YEAH.

AT U CHICAGO WE HAVE THE GEE GINO McWHICH HAS THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECT STHON OF GENOMIC DATA.

AND THE PEDIATRIC DATA THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF PEDIATRIC CANCER DATA AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS.

AND WE'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY HAS DECIDED IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMBINE AND SHARE DATA SO WE CAN MAKE NEW DISCOVERIES.

>> THAT IS INTERESTING THAT IS ONE OF THE TOP INITIATIVES IN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PLAN.

HAVE THERE BEEN SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS SHARING THEIR CANCER DATA WITH EACH OTHER?

>> NO, NOT REALLY.

I THINK THERE IS A CLEAR DIRECTIVE FROM THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE THAT TOLD THE COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTERS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE SAID THE DATA AND RESEARCHERS DO THAT NOW.

WE ALL REALIZE THAT WHEN YOU SHARE DATA AND SHARE INFORMATION THINGS MOVE FASTER.

I DON'T THINK IT IS A BARRIER AT THIS TIME ANYMORE.

>> AT THIS TIME.

SO IMPROVING AS YOU MENTIONED.

Dr. TAN -- GO AHEAD, YES.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY IMPROVING SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> IMPROVING SIGNIFICANTLY.

IMPORTANT POINT.

Dr. TAN, THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO MENTIONING SCREENING MORE SCREENING FOR THINGS LIKE COLORECTAL OR BREAST CANCER NOTING THAT DURING COVID MAYBE THOUSANDS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE MISSED SCREENING.

IS SCREENING A HUGE PART OF REDUCING CANCER?

OR ARE THERE OTHER PARTS THAT ARE PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT?

>> I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SCREEN CANCERS MAYBE EARLIER TOO.

I THINK YOU KNOW THERE IS INITIATIVES TO DO SELF DNA BLOOD TESTS THAT CAN DETECT CANCER AT A MORE MICRO LEVEL.

IT'S STILL IN THE INFANCY BUT IT'S LOOKING PROMISING AND WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS TO COMPARE WITH THE SICK VOLUNTEERS.

AND I THINK WE'LL HAVE A DATABASE WHERE WE CAN SCREEN PEOPLE WITH BLOOD TESTS EVEN AT A MUCH EARLIER AGE.

NOWADAYS WE'RE SEEING PATIENTS THAT THE ARE COMING IN IN THEIR 30s AND 20s LAST WEEK I SAW A BLADDER CANCER PATIENT A 27-YEAR-OLD WHICH IS NOT UNHEARD OF THESE DAYS.

>> THAT SEEMS TO BE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS THEN.

Dr. TAN, ARE THERE DOWNSIDES TO SCREENING TOO SOON OR TO SCREENING TOO OFTEN ESPECIALLY THINGS LIKE COLORECTAL CANCER, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> I MEAN THE DOWNSIDE OF OVERSCREENING IS YOU GET SOME FALSE POSITIVES.

YOU END UP DOING TOO MANY PROCEDURES AND THAT IS A BURDEN TO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AS WELL.

WE PROBABLY WANT TO SCREEN PATIENTS THAT ARE AT HIGHEST RISK MAYBE THEY HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OR HISTORY OF POLYPS AND THOSE THINGS.

BUT MANY TIMES WE'LL ALSO SEE SPORE RADDIC CANCERS WITH NO FAMILY HISTORY AND THEY COME IN WITH YOUNG AGE OF CANCER.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

MAYBE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ENVIRONMENT OR THE GUT MICRO BIOME.

THERE'S MORE RESEARCH GOING INTO THAT AS WELL.

>> SO MANY THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

LAURA JANE, ANOTHER ONE OF THE GOALS IS MORE EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF CANCER.

NOTING THAT THE DATA DOES SHOW THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DO TEND TO EXPERIENCE HIGHER DEATH RATES FROM CANCER.

WHAT IS MORE EQUITABLE TREATMENT LOOK LIKE?

>> WE HAVE TO ADDRESS WHY THAT DISTRESSED -- DISTRUST IN THE SYSTEM EXISTS AND WE SAW THAT IN COVID.

I THINK FOCUSING ON REDUCING THE SOCIAL DETERMINE FER DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF CARE AND ACCESS TO CARE IS IMPORTANT AND THAT IS A KEY PART OF THE ONCOLOGY MODEL THAT WILL BE UNVEILED THIS YEAR.

THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AND WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE BALL AND RECOGNIZE IF WE ARE NOT TREATING EVERYONE IT WON'T BE EQUITABLE.

>> HOW DOES UNDERSTANDING PEDIATRIC CANCER HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING CANCER IN GENERAL IN REDUCING DEATHS IN GENERAL?

>> YES, I MEAN PEDIATRIC CANCER HAS BEEN A PARADIGM FOR HOW TO DO DISTRIBUTED CLINICAL TRIALS.

MOST PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS ARE TREATED ON CLINICAL TRIALS RUN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.

AND I THINK THAT IS A MODEL HOW WE SHOULD BE TREATING ALL TYPES OF CANCER.

IT HELPS US LEARN FROM EVERY PATIENT AND WHAT WE LEARN ALLOWS US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIOLOGY AND EXTRAPOLATE THAT TO OTHER CANCERS.

I WANT TO MAKE THE OTHER COMMENT THAT PEDIATRIC CANCERS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SUCCESS STORIES BECAUSE A LOT MORE PATIENTS SURVIVE NOW THAN DIE.

BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SURVIVORS AND ADDRESS THE CANCERS THAT ARE STILL KILLING A LOT OF KIDS.

IT IS A LONG WAY TO GO BUT I THINK THIS INITIATIVE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN PUSHING US IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> ARE THERE ANY TREATMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIC CANCERS THAT ARE COMING ON-LINE NOW?

ANY RESEARCH YOU'RE PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT COULD PARTICULARLY HAVE AN IMPACT?

>> YES.

I'M VERY EXCITED AND THE WHOLE FIELD IS EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, IMMUNOTHERAPY.

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS VERY POWERFUL.

AND HAS THE ABILITY TO ELIMINATE CANCERS.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO ACTIVATE IT AND HOW TO DRIVE IT SPECIFICALLY TO CANCERS.

AND THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS THAT CHANGE THE DYNAMICS HOW TO DEAL WITH SOME VERY FATAL CANCERS.

FOR INSTANCE WE GET VERY IMPORTANT RESPONSES RIGHT NOW WITH IMMUNOTHERAPY IN LUNG CANCER WITH THINGS THAT WE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING BEFORE.

I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THINGS WILL HAPPEN THERE.

BUT WE NEED MORE RESEARCH.

WE NEED MORE DOLLARS FOR RESEARCH.

AND THAT WILL BE KEY.

AND WHEN I SAY RESEARCH I MEAN STARTING FROM BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH IN THE LABS ALL THE WAY TO THE CLINICAL TRIALS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT HERE.

AND A LOT OF WORK AND STUDY LEFT TO GO.

AND OUR THANKS YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO AMANDA FOR A LOOK AT EFFORTS TO GET YOUNGER PEOPLE TO FARM.

AMANDA?

>> PARIS, FARMING IS BIG BUSINESS IN ILLINOIS.

CONTRIBUTING BILLIONS TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND FOR MANY THE PANDEMIC RAISED AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR A LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN.

BUT THE NUMBER OF FARMERS IN ILLINOIS IS DECLINING AND THE MOST RECENT CENSUS DATA SHOWS US THE AVERAGE AGE OF A FARMER IS NEARLY 60.

IT IS A NATIONAL ISSUE ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY THE NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION.

THE LACK OF YOUNG FARMERS IS CONCERNING TO THE ARTICLINGAL -- AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY AND LAWMAKERS.

HERE TO TALK ARE EVAN HOLSTEIN PRESIDENT OF THE FARM BURR YO AND DAVID HARRIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NOW, EVAN LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUNG FARMERS AND BY THE WAY, I PERSONALLY LIKE TO THING THAT AGE IS JUST A NUMBER IN THIS CASE, YOUNG IS DEFINED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THOSE 35 AND YOUNGER?

>> I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE AG SECTOR AND FARMING SPECIFICALLY YOU NEED PEOPLE TO CARRY ON THE WORK FROM THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

AND WHEN THERE'S FEWER AND FEWER OF US TO DO THAT IT RELIES MORE OF A WORKLOAD ON MANY LESS FARMERS THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

>> FEWER FARMERS AND I IMAGINE THIS IS PHYSICALLY GRUELING WORK AND THE OLDER YOU GET UP IN AGE, I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, HARDER TO DO THINGS SOMETIMES.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

JUST BESIDES THE PHYSICAL STRENGTH NEEDED TO BE FARMING.

THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER STRESSORS EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL, SO IT'S YEAH, THE MORE FARMERS WE COULD HAVE THE BETTER OFF WE'D BE.

>> TO THAT END, DAVID,LY NOT ASK YOU TO SHARE YOUR AGE BUT YOU ARE YOUNG.

WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE AS YOU GOT INTO FARMING AND FOOD PRODUCTION?

>> I AM A GOOD 30 YEARS OLD.

AND SOME OF MY BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS STARTING UP AND ESTABLISHING THIS BUSINESS.

I HAVE THIS MISSION AND I HAVE THIS IDEA OF WHAT THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE CAN LOOK LIKE.

AND AS A FIRST-TIME BUSINESS OWNER AND GROWER HERE IN THE U.S., IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT.

I KNOW HOW TO WORK THE LAND.

I KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE THE BEST PRACTICES ARE.

BUT IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

IT IS A LOT OF MENTAL WORK AND LOGISTICS YOU HAVE TO STRATEGICALLY WHEN TO SEED SO YOU CAN PLAN FOR YOUR HARVEST, TAKE YOUR ANALYSIS, WHEN YOU CAN GET A NUTRITIONAL VALUE THAT WE WANT FROM LOCAL CROPS.

>> GET CROPS TO ACTUALLY PRODUCE WHEN YOU NEED IT TO.

THERE'S FINANCIAL ASPECTS I'M SURE.

APPLYING FOR GRANTS.

EVAN, ACCORDING TO THAT NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS SURVEY A MAJOR BARRIER TO ENTRY IS ACCESS TO LAND.

IS IT AT THE POINT WHERE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE YOU NEED TO INHERIT A FARM IF YOU WANT TO GROW COMMODITIES OR RAISE LIVESTOCK FOR A LIVING?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD GO THAT FAR.

BUT ESPECIALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS LAND COSTS HAVE GONE OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGHER.

ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ANY ASPECT OF FARMING IS TOUGH FOR A YOUNG FARMER.

BUT WHEN YOU PUT IN THE 20, 25% OR MORE INCREASE IN LAND COSTS WE'VE SEEN IT IS A MAJOR BARRIER TO GETTING SOMEONE STARTED AND ESTABLISHING YOUR OWN GROUND.

>> DAVID, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU EXPERIENCED AND BY THE WAY AS AN LGBTQ LATINX INDIVIDUAL WAS THAT A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE THAT SOMETHING THAT THE SURVEY SHOWED AS WELL THAT THE CHALLENGE IS GREATER FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR?

>> UM, DEFINITELY.

I STARTED MY BUSINESS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO EQUITY.

I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND I STILL WANT TO FULFILL ALL OF THESE AGRICULTURAL IDEAS AND VISIONS OF HOW THIS LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM CAN LOOK LIKE.

I STARTED MY BUSINESS WITH $3,000 FROM MY SAVINGS.

AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM MY PARENTS AND FROM THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET REVENUE AND CONTINUE TO MANAGE AND GROW OPERATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE THEM GROW BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING TO GET MORE RESOURCES TO GO AND GET AND TO CONTINUE TO ESTABLISH THE ROOTS ON THIS LOCAL CHICAGO FOOD SYSTEM.

>> AND DAVID WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU GROWING?

MICRO GREENS WE CAN PURCHASE FROM THE BACK OF THE YARDS?

WHAT ARE YOU GROWING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS FALL IS APPROACHING WE ARE WRAPPING UP OUR MICRO GREENS AND OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT MICRO GREENS.

AND WE MANAGE AND MAINTAIN PEOPLE'S HOME GARDENS AND BRING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION TO CLASSROOMS.

SO WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL INTRICATE FOOD SYSTEM AND CONTEMPORARY FARMER WANTS TO BE ABLE TO BRING LOCAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL LESSONS INTO THE CLASSROOM AND TEACHING PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN GROW FOOD YEAR-ROUND.

BECAUSE WE CAN DO IT AND IT'S NOT DIFFICULT.

AND WE ARE GOING TO NEED MORE FARMERS LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND DOING GROWING TOGETHER.

SO YEAH,.

>> NOW, EVAN, CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT BE DIFFERENT I WOULD IMAGINE, OF COURSE, FOR RESIDENTS AND FARMERS IN RURAL AREAS THAN THEY ARE FOR THOSE IN CHICAGO.

YOU ARE IN BUREAU COUNTY THAT IS TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS PAST LASALLE.

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES THERE AND THE IMPORTANCES OF REGIONAL FARMS ESPECIALLY FOR URBAN DWELLERS WHO MIGHT NOT BE ACCUSTOMED TO THAT LIFESTYLE?

>> YES, SURE.

I THINK DESPITE WHATEVER DIFFERENCES WE MAY HAVE BETWEEN THE RURAL AND URBAN AREAS, I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES IN THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING JUST LOOKING AT ANY SMALL BUSINESS.

ACCESS TO CAPITAL, HEALTHCARE COSTS, YOU KNOW JUST BASIC STANDARD OF LIVING COSTS RIGHT NOW, INFLATION.

YOU KNOW INPUT PRICES I'M SURE DAVID IS SEEING THE SAME, IS ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING, JUST THESE COSTS HAVE RUN AWAY AND IT'S JUST GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FARM AND BE PROFITABLE.

BUT AS WE SAW IN THE PANDEMIC HAVING LOCAL AND REGIONAL ACCESS TO FOOD IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART FOR ALL PEOPLE IN ALL AREAS.

>> DAVID DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING THERE BRIEFLY?

YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE FARMERS.

WHY?

>> LOCAL FOOD.

WE SAW OUR DISTRIBUTION OF FOODS OUR SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTION GET DISRUPTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND PUTTING KNOWLEDGE AND THE SKILL OF GROWING FOOD BACK TO THE PEOPLE IS GOING TO HELP LOCAL FARMERS AND LOCAL INDIVIDUALS TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR FOOD, GETTING MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS AND GETTING BACK TO NATURE SO WE CAN CONNECT AS PEOPLE AND SOCIETY AND NATURE AND REALLY HELP OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM GROW AND THRIVE.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED FARMERS.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED HOME GROWERS.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED GROCERY STORES AND ORGANIZATIONS HELPING IN EVERY WAY TO BRING GOOD LOCAL FOOD TO OUR RESIDENTS EVERYWHERE.

>> AND EVAN I WILL END WITH YOU, WE HAVE BRIEF BIT OF TIME I KNOW THE FARM BUREAU DOES WORK TO SUPPORT FARMERS.

ANYTHING THAT LEGISLATORS CAN DO?

>> I THINK JUST BEING COGNIZANT WHERE THE ISSUES THAT FACE AND THEN AS DAVID POINTED OUT, I THINK PUTTING A BIGGER AND LARGER IMPORTANCE ON VOCATIONAL AG EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS OF OUR SCHOOLING IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP PROMOTE MORE FARMERS, YOUNG FARMERS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, CHICAGO'S DEAN OF ROCK 'N ROLL PHOTOGRAPHERS TALKS ABOUT ACCESS, MEMORABLE PHOTOS AND HIS FIRST BOOK.

SO STAY WITH US.

>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING A LOOK AT A PLANET OUTSIDE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.

BUT FIRST, WHERE TOURING WITH THE ROLLING STONES OR TAKING PHOTOS HERE AT WTTW PHOTOGRAPHER PAUL NATKIN HAS SNAPPED MEMORABLE IMAGES OF MUSIC GIANTS.

ROCK, REGGAE, JAZZ, FOLK, R&B HE CAPTURED IT ALL.

MARC VITALI CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AND HE SHARED PICTURES WORTH MANY THOUSANDS OF WORDS.

[♪♪♪] >> WHEN I WAS STARTING OUT, I MADE THIS CONSCIOUS DECISION FROM THE BEGINNING THAT I WASN'T JUST GOING TO GO AND SHOOT THE BANDS THAT I LIKED.

IF I DID THAT I WOULD BE SHOOTING PICTURES OF JOHN PINE AND STEVE GEEDMAN ALL DAY LONG.

SO I HAVE TO SHOOT EVERYTHING I MADE FRIENDS WITH THE PROMOTERS AND I WOULD GO TO A CONCERT EVERY NIGHT.

A THRASH METAL AND THE NEXT NIGHT I WOULD SHOOT RODNEY DANGERFIELD.

>> WE MET PAUL NATKIN AT HIS HOME AND COMBED THROUGH 50 YEARS OF ARCHIVES.

SOME WORK ENDED UP ON MAGAZINE COVERS OTHER PICTURES FILLED THE BOOK DEDICATED TO HIS PHOTOGRAPHY.

I LIKE TO SHOOT ANYBODY THAT PUTS ON A SHOW.

EVEN IF I DON'T LIKE THEM AS PEOPLE WHICH I DO LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I PHOTOGRAPH.

I SHOOT THE ROLLING STONES ANYTIME THEY ARE IN TOWN.

BUDDY GUY I WORKED FOR, FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

I TOOK A PICTURE OF OZDY OSBOURNE IN 1983.

>> THAT IMAGE ENDED UP ON A LIMITED EDITION SNOWBOARD.

[♪♪♪] >> AT WTTW HE WORKED ON THE SET OF SOUND STAGE WHERE HE SHOT COUNT BASIE AND ELLA FITZGERALD IN 1979.

HIS BIG BREAK CAME IN 1984 WHEN HE PHOTOGRAPHED PRINCE, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE JACKSON'S VICTORY TOUR IN ONE MONTH.

HE HAD INCREDIBLE ACCESS.

>> THESE GUYS ARE NOT ALIENS THEY ARE NORMAL HUMAN BEINGS THAT JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME KIND OF TALENT THAT PROPELS THEM TO A STAGE.

AND THEY LIKE TO HAVE FUN, TOO.

>> AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW WHAT CAN SAY THIS?

>> I FOUND MYSELF PLAYING POOL WITH KEITH RICHARDS AGAINST ERIC CLAPTON AND DAVID BOWIE.

>> THAT STORY IS ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE PAUL NATKIN TELLS THE TALE OF PHOTOGRAPHING PRINCE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY.

WITH EXCEPTIONAL ACCESS SOME PICTURES ARE TOUGH TO GET INCLUDING THIS PHOTO OF MILES DAVIS.

>> HE PLAYED THE SHOW WITH HIS BACK TO THE AUDIENCE.

AND I KNEELED ON THE FLOOR IT WAS A HARDWOOD FLOOR I STAYED THERE FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS UNTIL HE TURNED AROUND TO LEAVE AND HE WAVED AND I TOOK ONE PICTURE.

>> THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED IN THE 50 YEARS HE HAS BEEN ON THE JOB.

>> I DON'T SHOOT MUCH ANYMORE.

BACK 10 YEARS AGO, I SHOT 200 BANDS IN A YEAR.

AND THE YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, I SHOT EIGHT.

AND IT'S BECAUSE BANDS AND MANAGERS AND PUBLICISTS DON'T WANT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED ANYMORE.

THEY WANT THEIR FRIENDS TO TAKE PICTURES WITH THEIR iPHONES.

AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ANSWER WHEN I ASK THEM WHY AND THEY SAY BECAUSE YOU GUYS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY OFF OF US.

AND IF THEY LOOKED AT MY SALES REPORT FROM AGENCY THAT REPRESENT ME, THEY WOULD START LAUGHING.

BECAUSE MORE THAN HALF THE PICTURES THAT THEY LICENSED OF MINE, MY SHARE OF THE SALE IS UNDER $2.

>> AND WHILE PAUL NATKIN CELEBRATES HIS BOOK RELEASE HE IS NOT SURE WHERE THE ARCHIVE WILL END UP.

>> I HAVE NOT QUITE FIGURED THAT OUT YET.

IT WILL PROBABLY GO TO A MUSEUM OR A COLLEGE.

WHO KNOWS.

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

WHAT A CAREER.

THE BOOK IS CALLED "NATKIN: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH".

THERE ARE MORE PHOTOGRAPHS AND STORIES FROM PAUL NATKIN ON OUR WEBSITE INCLUDING THE TIME HE WAS SHOOTING POOL WITH THE ROLLING STONES AND PHOTOGRAPHING PRINCE ON HIS 26TH BIRTHDAY.

NOW, PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> WE ALL HAVE STORIES LIKE THAT, RIGHT AMANDA?

WOW.

ICONIC IMAGES.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"..., THE JAMES WEB SPACE TELESCOPE USED AN IMAGE A PLANET OUTSIDE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.

MONKEYPOX VACCINES ARE SET TO GO TO COMMUNITIES UNDER RISK.

WHAT AN EQUITABLE VACCINE ROLLOUT LOOKS LIKE.

>> THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN GOING AND BEING A FRY COOK FOR MCDONALD'S.

>> THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR PARTICIPANTS IN A PROGRAM THAT IS TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION ON HOW TO FLY.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> KENNETH STARR THE FORMER SOLICITOR GENERAL WHO INVESTIGATED BILL CLINTON DIED.

KENNETH STARR GREW WORLDWIDE FRAME INTO THE CLINICAL SCANDAL IN THE 1990s WHICH LED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S IMPEACH.

HE WAS PART OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEGAL TEAM.

IN A STATEMENT TO CONGRESS STARR SAID WE ARE LIVING IN QUOTE THE AGE OF IMPEACHMENT.

STARR WAS 76 YEARS OLD.

>> REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR DARREN BAILEY HAS REFERRED TO CHICAGO AS A HELLHOLE MANY TIMES AND COSPONSORED A RESOLUTION TO REMOVE THE CITY FROM THE REST OF THE STATE.

NOW HE IS ONE OF THE CITY'S NEWEST RESIDENTS.

>> AS I'VE SAID FROM DAY ONE, I WANT TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN THE CULTURE.

>> BAILEY IS RENTING AN APARTMENT IN THE BUILDING FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JOHN HANCOCK CENTER AS HE CAMPAIGNS AND THAT IS ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST ICONIC AND EXPENSIVE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

>> CHIEF JUDGE TIMMOTHY EVANS IS ELECTED TO SERVE A 8TH TERM BY THE MAJORITY OF JUDGES.

EVANS RAN UNOPPOSED.

THE CIRCUIT COURT IS THE LARGEST OF THE 24 JUDICIAL CIRCUITS IN ILLINOIS.

CHIEF JUDGE HE HAVE RANS OVERSEES 400 JUDGES.

>> THE CITY ANNOUNCES ALL THE APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE $31 MILLION BASIC INCOME PILOT PROGRAM.

IT'S DUBBED THE CHICAGO RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PILOT AND WILL PROVIDE $500 CASH PAYMENTS TO HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES AT OR BELOW 250% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE AND EXPERIENCED ECONOMIC HARDSHIP DUE TO COVID.

THE PILOT RECEIVED MORE THAN 167,000 APPLICANTS.

OF THE CHOSEN PARTICIPANTS THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $14,000 A YEAR.

THE PROGRAM IS ONE INITIATIVE FROM THE MAYOR'S $1.2 BILLION RECOVERY PLAN FUNDED BY FEDERAL COVID STIMULUS MONEY THAT THE CITY RECEIVED.

>> A FREIGHT RAIL WORKER STRIKE LATER THIS WEEK COULD AFFECT THOUSANDS OF LOCAL COMMUTERS.

AMTRAK HAS CANCELED SOME LONG DISTANCE ROUTES OUT OF CHICAGO IN PREPARATION.

METRA RIDERS MAY ALSO BE IMPACTED AS WELL.

METRA SAYS IT WOULD HAVE TO SUSPEND SERVICE ON A NUMBER OF LINES IF THERE IS A DESCRIBING, INCLUDING THE BNSF AND NORTHWEST AND UNION PACIFIC WEST.

ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATION OF MESH RAILROADS A FREIGHT SHUTDOWN COULD COST THE ECONOMY $2 BILLION A DAY.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME THE JAMES WEB SPACE TELESCOPE HAS BEEN USED TO DIRECTLY IMAGE AN EXPO PLANET OUTSIDE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN PICTURES OF ECHO PLANETS ABOUT OUT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE TELESCOPE HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE TASK.

AND THIS COULD TELL US MORE ABOUT ALIEN WORLDS THAN EVER BEFORE AND JUST MAYBE, MAYBE, DETECT LIFE.

AND JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW IMAGES IS PROFESSOR JASON WONG AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PART OF THE NASA TEAM.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR ROLE IN THIS FIRST OF ALL WHAT IS THIS PLANET THAT WE'VE GOT IMAGES OF NOW AND WHERE IS IT?

>> SO THIS PLANET IS A SUPER JUPITER.

A PLANET THAT IS SEVERAL TIMES THE MASS OF OUR OWN JUPITER.

IT IS A VERY YOUNG PLANET.

IT'S ONLY TENS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD.

IT'S YOUNGER THAN THE DINOSAURS.

BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF PLANET THAT WE CAN TAKE IMAGES OF DIRECTLY WITH THE JAMES WEB SPACE TELESCOPE.

THIS PLANET IS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED LIGHTYEARS AWAY.

SO CLOSE BY IN ASTRONOMICAL SCALES BUT FAR.

>> IT'S YOUNG AND MASSIVE.

IT'S SEVERAL TIMES BIGGER THAN JUPITER.

DO WE KNOW WHAT ATMOSPHERE IT HAS AND WHAT IT'S MADE OF?

>> WE HAVE SOMEWHAT OF AN IDEA.

WE THINK IT IS SIMILAR TO JUPITER BUT ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF TAKING THE IMAGES IS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ATMOSPHERE IS MADE OUT OF AND ACTUALLY WHAT THE PLANETS OUTSIDE THE SOLAR SYSTEM ARE MADE OF.

>> AND THEY ARE FAR AWAY FROM ITS OWN STAR THAT TAKES LIKE 630 YEARS TO MAKE A FULL ORBIT AROUND THE STAR.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE HOW YOU CAME TO GET INVOLVED HERE?

>> SO, I'M PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM THAT'S BASICALLY OUR GOAL WAS TO TEST OUT ALL THE VARIOUS ECHO PLANET IMAGING CAPABILITIES OF THE TELESCOPE.

WE TAKE THIS TARGET AS OUR BENCHMARK TARGET TO TEST THE MODES.

AND MY EXPERTISE IS REALLY IN TRYING TO DO THE IMAGE PROCESSING TO SEE THESE PLANETS.

WHAT I'M BEEN INVOLVED WITH IS REMOVING THE GLARE OF THE POST STAR.

EVEN THOUGH IT ORBITS MANY TENS OF ASTRONOMICAL UNITS FROM THE STAR THE GLARE OF THE STAR IS SO BRIGHT IT'S HARD TO SEE THE PLANET.

MY WORK IS TRYING TO REMOVE THE GLARE OF THE STAR USING TECHNIQUES ADAPTED TO THE JAMES WEB SPACE TELESCOPE IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE THESE IMAGES.

THAT IS THE KEY.

BECAUSE WE'RE MANY LIGHTYEARS AWAY AND WE CAN ONLY SEE THE STARS AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE PLANET.

HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO DEVELOP THE TECHNOLOGY TO SEE A PLANET IN THE GLARE OF ANOTHER STAR?

>> YEAH, THIS REQUIRES TWO KIND OF -- TWO THINGS.

ONE IS SPECIALIZED OPTICS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE SPACE TELESCOPE TO SUPPRESS THE FLAIR OF THE STAR.

OFTENTIMES THEY ARE NOT ENOUGH.

THERE'S DIGITAL REFRACKED LIGHT AND I USE IMAGE PROCESSING TO BASICALLY SUBTRACT THE REMAINDER OF LIGHT.

AND GIVE YOU A SENSE HOW HARD THIS IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING FOR A PLANET THAT IS TENS OF THOUSANDS A MILLION TIMES FAINTER THAN THE HOST STAR.

IT IS AKIN TO IF YOU ARE TRYING TO WATCH A FIREFLY ORBIT A FLY AROUND A STREET LIGHT YOU ARE STANDING A FEW MILES AWAY GIVE YOU A SENSE FOR THE DISTANCES INVOLVED AND JUST THE BRIGHTNESS INVOLVED.

>> CLEARLY THE WEBB TELESCOPE IS POWERFUL AND A TOUGH JOB.

THIS ECHO PLANET THAT YOU FOUND ECHO PLANET THAT YOU FIND DOES IT TEACH US ANYTHING ABOUT OUR OWN SOLAR SYSTEM?

>> YEAH, SO THIS LIKE WE WERE MENTIONING THE PLANET IS MANY TIMES THE MASS OF JUPITER AND ORBITING MUCH FURTHER AWAY THAN ANY OF THE SOLAR PLANETS IN OUR OWN SOLAR SYSTEM IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND TEACHES US ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF PLANETARY SYSTEMS OUT THERE AND GIVES US ONE OF THE DATA POINTS FOR NOW ECHO PLAN ECHO PLAN EXOPLANET SYSTEMS ARE DIFFERENT.

>> AND GIVEN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THE BILLIONS OF EXOPLANETS IS THERE ANYWAY THAT THE WEBB TELESCOPE COULD DETECT GOLDLY LOCKS PLANET A PLANET THAT CAN BE HABITABLE FOR SOME FORM OF LIFE?

>> SO THAT IS OBVIOUSLY AN EXCITING QUESTION.

SO THERE ARE HOPES THAT WITH WEBB USING THE CAPE BILLS THERE MIGHT BE A CHANCE TO STUDY THE ATMOSPHERES OF POSSIBLY AND DETECT SIGNATURES THAT COULD BE INDICATIVE OF LIFE AROUND SOME A SMALL SUBSET OF STARS.

BUT IT'S NOT -- IT WOULD DEPEND WHETHER THE UNIVERSE WANTS TO HELP US OR WANTS TO HIDE SOME OF THESE GOLDIE LOCKS PLANETS.

>> EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN THAT IF THE UNIVERSE WANTS TO HELP US?

>> IN THAT YOU KNOW IF WE GET LUCKY AND THERE HAPPENS TO BE THE RIGHT PLANET ORBITING AROUND THE RIGHT STAR THAT JUST HAPPENS TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO US, AND AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THESE A PLANET ATMOSPHERE THEN THERE'S ONLY A FEW OF THE KNOWN SYSTEMS AND A FEW OF THE SYSTEMS WE KNOW OF.

SO IT'S REALLY THERE IS REALLY ONLY A FEW -- IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER WE GET LUCKY OR NOT WITH WHERE WE ARE IN THE GALAXY IN TERMS OF FINDING A NEARBY SOMETHING THAT HAS THE RIGHT SET THAT WEBB WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR.

>> WE'LL WAIT-AND-SEE IF THE UNIVERSE GIVES US THAT GOOD FORTUNE.

WE GOT LUCKY WITH EARTH HERE.

SO MAYBE LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE OR MORE.

EXCITING RESEARCH AND OUR THANKS TO PROFESSOR JASON WONG.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, A PUSH FOR AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE MONKEYPOX VACCINE AND THAT IS IN A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS ANNOUNCING A PROGRAM TO DISTRIBUTE MORE MONKEYPOX VACCINES FOR THOSE MOST AT RISK.

ACCORDING TO C.D.C.

DATA BLACK PEOPLE ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY 40% OF MONKEYPOX CASES IN THE U.S.

BUT RECEIVED ONLY 10% OF MONKEYPOX VACCINE DOSES.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE Dr. ANU HAZRA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT U CHICAGO MEDICINE.

AND JAGADISA-DEVASRI DACUS, RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PROFESSOR LET'S START WITH YOU.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THE NATIONAL DATA WHERE DO YOU THINK CHICAGO STANDS IN THE VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR MONKEYPOX?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

YOU KNOW, SO IN TERMS OF THE VACCINES HERE IN CHICAGO, THERE ARE PARALLELS WHAT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN WHAT WE CHARACTERIZE AS EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE TO THE COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS.

AND IT REPRESENTS THE ONGOING CHALLENGES OF THE MAKING SURE THAT THE MOST MARGINALIZED AND IMPACTED RECEIVE FIRST AND FOREMOST THE BENEFITS FROM THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTERVENTIONS.

>> Dr. ANU HAZRA MONKEYPOX DISPORTIONATELY AFFECTS MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN HOW DOES IT PLAY INTO THE ROLE IN ADDRESSING VACCINE DISPARITIES?

>> IT'S THE ENTIRE GAME HERE.

I THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS YOUING THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED THE MOST.

THINKING ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN QUEER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DOUBLY MARGINALIZED IN SOCIETY AND HARDER TO REACH WITH ANY INTERVENTIONS INCLUDING VACCINATIONS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND C.D.C.

ARE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING INTO COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND ABLE TO RELAY THE MESSAGE IN THE RIGHT WAY.

>> PROFESSOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BARRIERS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF A MORE EQUITABLE VACCINE ROLLOUT?

>> WELL, I MEAN ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STIGMA.

MEMBERS OF THE POPULATIONS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE EXPERIENCE.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO AS Dr. HAZRA THE BARRIERS TO ACCESS.

I THINK THAT IS WHY WHEN WE SAW THE ROLLOUT NATIONALLY AND I THINK OF THE IMAGES OUT OF NEW YORK CITY WHERE IT WAS MOSTLY WHITE WHO WERE IN LINE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINES AND YOU SAW FEW PEOPLE OF COLOR INDIVIDUALS THERE.

AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WHITE FOLKS HAVE MORE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND EXPERIENCE FEWER BARRIERS AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE BASED ON THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH PERCEIVED ANTICIPATED AND ACTUAL DISCRIMINATION AND BIAS WHEN THEY [INAUDIBLE].

>> HOW DO WE OVERCOME THE BARRIERS TO REACH THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO?

>> TARGETING MESSAGING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO BRING THE VACCINES TO WHERE THE COMMUNITIES ARE AT.

WE CANNOT EXPECT THE FOLKS TO COME TO EVENTS IN BOYSTOWN WHEN WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE VACCINES IN THE COMMUNITIES.

COVID VACCINES WE HAD PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS FOCUSING ON INDEX ZIP CODES AND MAKING SURE WE HAD NOT ONLY VACCINATION EVENTS BUT INFORMATION EVENTS.

IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE INTERVENTION BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT YOU TRUST IN THAT, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET TO THE POPULATIONS THAT NEED IT.

HAVING TOWN HALLS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON, RECOGNIZE WHO IS AT RISK AND THEY FEEL EMPOWERED TAKING CARE OF THEIR HEALTH.

>> WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REACH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES?

>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT Dr. HAZRA SAID IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND HAVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE AND POSITIVELY PROMOTE THE BENEFITS OF THE SERVICES.

AND IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO RECEIVE VACCINE AND HAVING CHALLENGES AROUND PROVIDING ACCESS.

THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE ARE THE PROMOTERS WHO SAID TO THEIR MESSAGES AMONGST THE NETWORKS THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS AND POSITIVELY PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Dr. HAZRA, DOES VACCINE HESITANCY EXIST FOR THE MONKEYPOX THE SAME WAY WITH THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

>> I THINK IT DEFINITELY PLAYS A ROLE.

I THINK THERE'S KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MONKEYPOX VACCINE AND THE COVID-19 VACCINE PARTICULARLY AROUND HOW LONG THE VACCINE HAS BEEN AROUND WHICH PLAYS INTO THE IMPACT OR THE DEGREE OF HESITANCY.

FOR THE MOST PART WE KNOW IN GENERAL IN THIS COUNTRY QUEER PEOPLE HAVE HAD HIGHER RATES OF UPTAKE THAN THE NON-QUEER COUNTERPARTS BUT WHEN YOU SEPARATE THAT WE SAW THE DIVIDES WE SAW IN THE GENERAL POPULATION PARTICULARLY AMONG BLACK AND BROWN QUEER AMERICANS HAVING ONGOING NEEDS FOR MORE EDUCATION AND TRUST IN THE VACCINES BEFORE THEY WOULD UPTAKE IT.

AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING HERE.

THE MESSAGING WE ARE GIVING AT HOWARD BROWN AND UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO THESE ARE NOT NEW VACCINES THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND WELL STUDIED WITH SAFETY DATA.

THIS IS NOT JUST DEVELOPED LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COVID VACCINE.

OVERCOMING THAT HESITANCY OR THE REASON HAS BEEN EASIER THAN WITH THE COVID-19 VACCINES.

>> Dr. HAZRA, IS THERE A DANGER IN TRYING TO GET THE VACCINE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS IT MOST, BUT COULD THAT SORT OF MAKE OTHER COMMUNITIES THINK WELL, THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM I DON'T HAVE TO GET THAT VACCINE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS A TOUGH NEEDLE A LOT OF US IN MEDICINE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO THREAD.

RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY AT RISK AND RECOGNIZING AND STATING THAT THAT IS NOT STIGMATIZING IT'S FACTUAL.

BUT WHEN WE IMPART THE MORAL FRAMEWORK IS CREATING SOCIAL DISTANCING MAVMENT RECOGNIZING WHO IS AT RISK IS IMPORTANT, WE CAN CREATE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS AND MESSAGING TO MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE A BLACK AND BROWN MALE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE YOUR RISK OF MONKEYPOX AND PROTECT YOURSELF.

OTHER FOLKS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT PLACE MORALITY ON TO THAT FACT AND THAT IS WHAT ENDS UPPER PETIATING STIGMA WHICH IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

IN GENERAL WE RECOGNIZE THAT MONKEYPOX HAS BEEN AROUND FOR HALF A CENTURY AND IT CAN IMPACT ANY COMMUNITY, ANY POPULATION ANYWHERE.

THE OUTBREAK IS CONCENTRATED IN THE SPECIFIC POPULATION BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE HALLMARK OF THIS INFECTION IT'S WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CURRENT OUTBREAK.

>> WHAT ARE ARE THE LESSONS WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM COVID-19 IN ADDRESSING CASE IN VACCINE DISPARITIES THAT WE CAN ALSO APPLY TO THE MONKEYPOX VACCINE?

>> SIMPLY, I THINK ABOUT THE SAME POPULATIONS ARE MOST AFFECTED BY COVID ARE MOST AFFECTED BY MONKEYPOX AND HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES.

AND THINK ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT ELEVATING AND PRIORITIZING THOSE COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS MOST AT RISK WHEN IT COMES TO THESE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES.

WE TALK ABOUT LIKE BLACK AND BROWN SEXUAL MINORITY MEN WHO ARE FACING A MYRIAD OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH RELATED AND MENTAL EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES AROUND THEIR IDENTITIES.

AND SO I THINK WE'VE AS Dr. HAZRA SAID WE KNOW WHAT TO DO IT IS A MATTER OF PRIORITIZING THE POPULATIONS AND SAYING HEY, WE'VE GOT THE DATA IT MAKES SENSE.

AND WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE INFECTIONS IMPACT OUR LARGER POPULATIONS AND WHERE THEY SHOW UP THE MOST MOST FREQUENTLY.

REALLY MAKING THAT THE PRIORITY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PRIORITIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERVENTIONS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THAT AND IT REQUIRES RESOURCES TO DO THIS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT STEPPED UP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IMPACT.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

Dr. ANU HAZRA AND PROFESSOR JAGADISA-DEVASRI DACUS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[♪♪♪] >> THE FUTURE OF FLIGHT.

THAT IS HOW A CHICAGOLAND NONPROFIT JOE BIDENS ITS PROGRAM AND PASSION FOR AVIATION.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU JETS OVER TO WEST CHICAGO WITH FLIGHT LESSONS WITH TUSKEGEE NEXT.

>> >> SINCE 2015, TUSKEGEE NEXT HAS WORKED WITH STUDENTS AGES 18-20 TO HELP THEM EXPLORE CAREER PATHS WITHIN AVIATION.

THE PROGRAM WAS ALSO BORN OUT OF A NEED.

THERE'S A MANDATORY RETIREMENT FOR PILOTS AT AGE 65.

AND IN ADDITION TO THEIR BEING SUCH A HIGH COST TO EVEN OBTAIN A LICENSE.

>> WHEN WE BEGAN OUR PROGRAM, WE WERE BLESSED BY THE PRESENCE OF SIX ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WHO WHO HELPED US DUB THIS ORGANIZATION AS THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.

THAT IS HOW WE GOT OUR NAME.

>> THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WERE THE FIRST BLACK AVIATORS IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES.

FOUNDED IN 1941, THE SQUADRON FACED RACISM AND SEGREGATION LIMITING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT.

>> WE ASKED THEM QUESTIONS HOW WE SHOULD OPERATE TO HONOR THEIR LEGACY.

>> WHILE IT TAKES THE AVERAGE PERSON INTERESTED IN AVIATION NINE TO 12 MONTHS TO EARN THE PILOTS LICENSE THEY INSURE THEIR CADETS GET IT DONE IN EIGHT WEEKS WITH A $30,000 INVESTMENT IN EACH STUDENT.

IT COVERS HOUSING, FOOD AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS OCCURRING THEIR ON CAMPUS STAY.

>> TRAINING MONDAY-FRIDAY FOR AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS.

AFTER THE TRAINING THEY HAVE ONE TO TWO HOURS OF STUDY HALL DEPENDING ON THE DAY.

RESUME WRITING WORKSHOPS.

CORPORATE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THEY GIVE BACK TO.

OUR AVIATION DAYS WHERE THEY RUN STEM STATIONS AND TEACH YOUNGER STUDENTS ABOUT AVIATION AND AEROSPACE.

>> TO SEE THEM GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES AND PILOTS TO GROW IT'S EXCITING FOR ME.

AND MARCEL IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

HIS STORY IS FIR CIRCLE.

>> I WITNESSED SOME OF THOSE HOURS MARCEL PUT IN FIRSTHAND 3,000 FEET IN THE AIR.

WITH THE FATHER IN AVIATION IT IS A DREAM FREEMAN HAS HAD 6 SINCE HE WAS SIX.

NOW AT 25 HE IS FLYING CORPORATE JETS.

>> IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULDN'T KNOW THIS IS A POSSIBILITY.

THEY REALIZE THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND BEING A FRY COOK FOR MCDONALD'S OR GOING OFF AND MAYBE BEING A CHEF.

IT IS A GREAT JOB.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET PAID TO FLY?

WHEN I FLY FOR A LIVING I'VE ONLY MET THREE OR FOUR BLACK PILOTS.

I CAN COUNT ON BOTH HANDS THE AMOUNT OF BLACK PILOTS THAT ARE IN MY POSITION.

THE ONES MY AGE, FEWER.

>> WHEN HE IS NOT SERVING AS SECOND IN COMMAND HE IS MENTORING CADETS, A POSITION HE DOES NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED.

>> BEING ABLE TO RELATE TO THOSE CADETS AND GO HEY I'VE BEEN THROUGH WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.

TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN IMAGE WHERE THEY CAN BE.

NOW YOU ARE A CADET AND YOU CAN TEACH LIKE I'M TEACHING YOU.

THAT IS MY GOAL.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND TUSKEGEE NEXT IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF CADETS.

THAT APPLICATION CLOSES DECEMBER 31.

BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THEY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> FIRST AT 9:00 P.M. TONIGHT ON WTTW, A LOOK AT THOSE IMPACTED BY ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST URGENT HEALTH CRISES SUICIDE IN THE NEW FEATURE FACING SUICIDE PREMIERING HERE ON WTTW AT 9:00 P.M. TONIGHT.

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

>> I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]