>>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

NORTHWESTERN'S NEW FOOTBALL STADIUM FACES PUSH BACK.

>>> COVID CASES ARE UP.

HOW YOU CAN STAY SAFE.

>>> WHEN YOU ARE CRUISING ALONG ONE OF THE HIGHWAYS WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

>>> AND WTTW NEWS EXPLAINS HOW OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEMS GETS ITS EXIT NUMBERS.

>>> NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S STORIES.

TRAGEDY OVER THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY.

TWO 15-YEAR-OLD'S WERE AMONG SIX KILLED OVER.

39 PEOPLE WHY SHOT IN 33 SEPARATE SHOOTING INCIDENTS BETWEEN FRIDAY AND MONDAY EVENING.

CPD DATA SHOWS AN 8% DROP IN HOMICIDES AND A 15% DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF SHOOTING VICTIMS.

THE CITY REPORTED 418 HOMICIDES IN NEARLY 2,000 SHOOTING VICTIMS IN 2023 TO THE END OF AUGUST.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE THE LOWEST SINCE 2019.

>>> ONE PERSON IS DEAD AND ANOTHER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER BEING PULLED FROM LAKE MICHIGAN JUST HOURS AFTER BEACHES WERE CLOSED TO SWIMMERS.

MEANWHILE ANOTHER SWIMMER IS MISSING.

CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT OFFICIALLY CLOSED THE BEACHES FOR SWIMMING AT 7:00 YESTERDAY EVENING.

AROUND 10:30 THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MARINE UNIT RESPONDED TO A CALL AND PULLED A 27-YEAR-OLD FROM THE LAKE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

HE DIED AT THE HOSPITAL.

JUST HOURS LATER AT 2:15 THIS MORNING THE MARINE UNIT RECOVERED A 46-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO DOVE IN TO THE LAKE AND FAILED TO RESURFACE.

SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO ILLINOIS MASONIC IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

>>> THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS A SWIMMER WHO WENT MISSING OFF A BOAT THIS MORNING HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED.

>>> RESIDENTS IN AUSTIN ARE CRITICIZING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY AGENCY FOR THE RESPONSE TO FLOODING IN JULY.

THEY SAY FEMA AND THE SMALL BUSINESS STRAIGHT ARE LOW BALLING PEOPLE SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR FLOOD BADGE.

THEY SAY THAT FEMA HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH TO MAKE RESIDENTS AWARE OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

>> WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEG.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEG FOR FEMA.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEG FOR SDA.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO THEIR JOB.

>> MANY UNITED AIRLINES PASSENGERS EXPERIENCED A DELAY IN THEIR TRAVEL PLANS AFTER PLANES WERE BRIEFLY GROUNDED EARLIER TODAY DUE TO A TECHNICAL GLITCH.

A GROUND STOP WAS DECLARED AFTER THEY EXPERIENCED A SYSTEM WIDE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE.

A GROUND STOP MEANS PLANES ARE HELD AFTER A POINT OF DEPARTURE WHILE FLIGHTS IN THE AIR ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.

THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AFTER 40 MINUTES BUT MORE THAN 200 FLIGHTS WERE DELAYED.

>>> UP NEXT A PREVIEW OF TOMORROW'S MEETING ON THE NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL STADIUM RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> ITS BEEN A TURBULENT YEAR AMID MOUNTING LAWSUITS OVER A HAZING SCANDAL.

A BRIGHT SPOT WAS A 480 MILLION-DOLLAR COMMITMENT TO REBUILD THE STADIUM BY PAT RYAN.

TO FUND THE REST OF THE 80 MILLION-DOLLAR JOB FORTH WESTERN SAID IT NEEDS REVENUE FROM AT LEAST SIX CONCERTS.

MANY NEIGHBORS ARE PUSHING BACK ON THAT PROPOSAL AND MORE THAN 250 FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE ASKED FOR A PAUSE IN THE PLAN SAYING WE NEED TO GET THE EXISTING HOUSE IN ORDER BEFORE EXPANDING IT.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND TOMORROW'S COUNCIL LAND USE COMMITTEE HEARING ARE CITY COUNCILMEMBER, DEVON REED OF THE 8th WARD, REVERAND MICHAEL NEIGHBORS PRESIDENT OF THE EVANSTON NORTH SHORE NAACP; THE VICE PRESIDENT OF NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GROUP MOST LIVEABLE CITY ASSOCIATION WHOSE MEMBERS ARE AGAINST THE NEW STADIUM AND CONCERT AND EVANSTON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WHOSE WARD INCLUDES THE STADIUM.

BOTH NORTHWESTERN URINE AND THE MAYOR DECLINED OUR INVITATION TO JOIN THE DISCUSSION.

I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOU ARE IN FAVOR.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVANSTONO BE A CULL INTERESTAL HUB AND I THINK ADDING CONCERTS AND BRINGING IN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO EVANSTON WILL BE GOOD FOR BUSINESSES, WILL BE GOOD FOR PROMOTING EVANSTON AND THE BUILD OUT ALONE WILL BRING MANY JOBS TO NORTHWESTERN IS COMMITTED TO TARGETING THOSE JOBS TO THE MINORITY COMMUNITY.

>> YOU ARE AGAINST CONCERTS AT NORTHWESTERN'S PROPOSED STADIUM.

>> VERY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS THAT NORTHWESTERN IS REQUESTING.

ONE IS FOR THE STADIUM FACILITY ITSELF AND THE OTHERS FOR THE CONCERTS AND IT IS CONCERTS THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT -- CHANGING THE ZONING CODE WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE STANDARDS THAT THE COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO CONSIDER WHEN WE LOOK AT A ZONING CHANGE.

>> HASN'T THE UNIVERSITY THOUGH SUGGESTED TWEAKING THE NUMBER AND AUDIENCE SIZE OF THOSE CONCERTS AS A COMPROMISE?

IS THAT STILL NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?

>> IT STILL MEANS SIX COMMERCIAL CONCERTS, BRINGING 28,500 PEOPLE TO THE 7th WARD.

THE MIDDLE OF A VERY DENSE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE PARKING PLAN IS NOT REALISTIC.

IT REQUIRES MANY, MANY CONCERT GOERS TO PARK IN THE DOWNTOWN OR ON THE LAKEFRONT AND THEN TO TAKE SHUTTLES TO THE STADIUM.

UPWARD OF 200 SHUTTLES RUN AFTER THE CONCERT.

I THINK THAT'S NOT A REALISTIC EXPECTATION.

>> REVERAND, WHAT KINDS OF JOBS AND FUNDING HAS NORTHWEST EASTERN PROMISED THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THIS STADIUM IS BUILT?

>> THERE'S BEEN A TREAT DEAL OF COMMITMENT.

NOT ONLY AFTER THE STADIUM HAS BEEN BUILT BUT DURING CONSTRUCTION.

NORTHWESTERN HAS MADE A COMMITMENT OFFERING AT LEAST 35% OF ALL OF THOSE SUBCONTRACTOR JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS JOBS TO BLACK AND BROWN BUSINESSES AS WELL AS WOMEN THAT COMES OUT TO BE ABOUT IT $08 MILLION.

THEY ARE HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT FOR WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $10 MILLION AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT IS AN AREA THAT IS CENTERED SPECIFICALLY ON YOUNG, BLACK AND BROWN ADULTS SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE COMMITMENTS.

THEY HAVE ALSO COMMITTED 3,000 JOBS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION AND WE ARE MAKING A COMMITMENT TO NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AS THE NAACP TO BE SURE THAT JOBS ARE PERMANENT.

>> THOSE ARE SAID TO BE TARGETS, NOT COMMITMENTS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU TRUST THE UNIVERSITY TO MAKE GOOD.

>> IT'S NOT THAT I TRUST THEM.

IT'S THAT SINCE THEY HAVE MADE IT PUBLIC AS THE NACCP PRESIDENT WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HOLDING TRUE TO WHAT THEY HAVE TAR GETTED.

>> YOUR GROUP IS OPPOSED TO BOTH THE STADIUM AS WELL AS THE CONCERTS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

TELL ME WHY?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY CORRECT.

WE AREN'T OPPOSED TO THE REBUILDING BUT SO THE CONCERTS.

WE THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE CONCRETE PROMISES MADE TO THE COMMUNITY AND I TAKE THAT BACK.

WE DON'T WANT PROMISES BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THEY ARE SUFFICIENT.

WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN NORTHWESTERN'S COMMITMENT TO ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH.

WE THINK THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN FORCE THEM TO DO SO IS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN ASKING THE COUNCIL AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FORCE NORTHWESTERN TO AGREE TO A COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT'S LEGALLY BINDING SO WE DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON PROMISES OR WHATEVER ELSE THE NAACP HAS WHEN THEY DECIDE THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO DO THINGS.

THERE ARE OTHER COMMITMENTS LIKE A WORK TO HAVE PLUMBERS AND TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET INTO PLUMBING AND OTHER TRADES AND THEY STOPPED THAT PROGRAM AFTER A YEAR.

THEY HAVE MANY REPEATED HISTORY OF STARTING COMMITMENTS AND THEN STOPPING THEM ONCE THE ISSUE IS NO LONGER IN THE PRESS.

I WANT TO SAY WHAT IT'S RIDICULOUS BECAUSE WHEN -- IN THEIR OWN STATED DOCUMENTED THEY CLAIM 3,000 JOBS BUT THEY ARE ALL CONSTRUCTION.

THEY ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO GO TO RESIDENTS AND THEY WILL ONLY LAST FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE YOU DON'T -- CONSTRUCTION ISN'T FOREVER.

WE TALK ABOUT PERMANENT JOBS THE JOBS ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY CONCESSION BASED JOBS FOR PEOPLE WORKING THE STADIUM WHILE THEY HAVE THE VERY FEW GAMES AND THE VERY FEW CONCERTS WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN ANYONE FOR A STABLE LIVING FOR A FULL TIME JOB, MOSTLY PART-TIME JOBS AND ALSO IF ANYONE IS AT ALL WARE OF THE SITUATION IN EVANSON HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE, IT'S RIDICULOUS AND NO ONE CAN SUSTAIN A FAMILY WITH THESE PART-TIME JOBS OR TEMPORARY JOBS.

YOU MENTIONED A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT.

COUNCILMEMBER REID WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE?

>> I WOULD WANT TO SEE A COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF EVANSTON.

THERE'S -- YEARS AGO THERE WAS -- A REPORT PUT TOGETHER BY CITY STAFF THAT ESTIMATED THAT IF NORTHWESTERN DID PAY PROPERTY TAXES THEY WOULD PAY ABOUT $40 MILLION A YEAR WHICH NEEDS ABOUT UPDATED FOR INFLATION BUT IF YOU LOOK AT STATES WITH STRONG AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THEIR UNIVERSITY PARTNERS, MASSACHUSETTS IS HELD UP AS A NATIONAL MODEL AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD -- IF WE WERE IN MASSACHUSETTS NORTHWESTERN WOULD PAY 25% OF THEIR OVERALL TAX BILL.

THAT'S $10 MILLION AND SO I'M LOOKING FOR $10 MILLION BETWEEN THE CITY OF EVANSTON AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH WE -- CAN GET THIS THROUGH A SUR CHARGE ON TICKET SALES.

>> REVERAND, YOU ARE NOT A FAN OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS COMMITMENT.

WHY NOT?

WOULD THAT NOT HOLD THE UNIVERSITY TO ACCOUNT?

>> IT'S -- IT'S A PROJECT THAT WILL BE STARTED AND IT'LL END.

IF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY AGREEMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE SIGNED WHY IS IT GOING TO BE CONNECTED TO THE PROJECT?

WHY NOT SAY TO THE UNIVERSITY WE WANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY AGREEMENT BARGIN AND WE WANT IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST MUCH LONGER THAN JUST THE UNIVERSITY?

WHY ARE WE GOING TO TIE IT AROUND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY AND SAYING YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY AGREEMENT FOREVER.

WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST FOR 100 YEARS.

IT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND OUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY AGREEMENT THAT'S TIED TO A PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO START AND END THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME T WILL HAVE TO BE LARGER AND BROADER AND THE SCOPE SHOULD BE INCLUSIVE GOING AS FAR AS 100 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> GO HEAD.

>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU DISAGREE WITH THE AGREEMENT, JUST YOU THAT THINK IT SHOULDN'T BE TEMPORARY.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE WE CAN DO THAT.

YOU CAN JUST SAY THAT.

EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THAT.

THE REASON WE ARE TIEING TO THE STADIUM IS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ASK FOR SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.

IF THE -- >> IT'S OKAY.

>> IF NORTHWESTERN CURRENTLY WANTS A STADIUM WE CAN'T GET THEM TO THE TABLE WITHOUT SOMETHING TO OFFER IN EXCHANGE.

SO ONCE WE GIVE UP THAT LEVERAGE AND THE STADIUM IS OVER WE CAN'T TRY TO COME UP WITH A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT AFTERWARDS.

THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE MILK.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TRY TO FIGHT ANY HARDER.

>> I WANT TO GET YOU BACK IN HERE.

DESPITE ISSUES WITH PARKING, NOISE AND TRAFFIC YOU SAY YOU ARE A RELUCTANT VOTE YES ON THE STADIUM BUT NO ON THE CONCERTS.

>> I DO APPRECIATE THE JOBS THAT WILL COME WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW FACILITY AND -- AND IT'LL BE MUCH BETTER STADIUM IN TERMS OF ITS ADA ACCESSIBILITY, THE FAN EXPERIENCE ET CETERA, SO, I DO UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD BE IN NORTHWESTERN AND BASED -- THAT INTEREST TO HAVE A NEW FACILITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO AGREE WITH THE REVERAND.

I THINK NORTHWESTERN AS A STAKE HOLDER IN THE COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP TO A GENEROUS ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE CITY.

IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ITS FACULTY, STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE -- I DON'T WANT US TO TIE IT TO THE STADIUM AND THE ZONING CHANGE BECAUSE THEN IT'S LIKE SAYING IF YOU OFFER US ENOUGH MONEY FOR -- THEN WE WILL CHANGE OUR ZONING CODE AND IN MY -- IN MY MIND I KEEP THEM SEPARATE.

>> IF THE CITY COUNCIL DOES VOTE FOR THIS STADIUM AND FOR THE CONCERTS WILL THERE BE LAWSUITS?

>> YES.

I MEAN WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM -- WE HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH REGARDS TO ZONING ISSUES OR -- I GUESS LIKE STRUCTURAL IND GRITY TYPE ISSUES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT WE HAVE JUST GENERAL LEGAL CONCEPTS WE ARE WEIGHING OUT.

MOST PROMINENTLY I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING WE WILL BE PUSHING AND WE EXPECT THE CITY COUNCIL TO D ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE ALLOWING CONCERTS IS TO RECOGNIZE AND REQUIRE SOME DEGREE OF PAYMENT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SHOULDN'T BE ENGAGING IN BUSINESS WITHOUT PAYING PROPERTY TAXES THE WAY EVERY OTHER BUSINESS AND EVERY PERSON, RESIDENT IN EVANSTON IS PAYING WHICH IS -- DIRECTLY RELATED TO WHY HOUSING PRICES ARE SO EXPENSIVE.

>> ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE STADIUM AND ON WHAT -- YOU KNOW WHAT THE STADIUM WILL BRING TO THE AREA.

THE VALUE OF THE STADIUM AND NOT ON -- I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A SEPARATE CONVERSATION THAT IS LONG BEEN CALLED FOR ABOUT PAYMENTS INSTEAD OF TAXES, A PILOT AGREEMENT BUT I DON'T THINK THAT INDICATION IS APPROPRIATE HERE BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO GET MORE RESOURCES FOR NORTHWESTERN.

>> ALL EYES ON CITY COUNCIL THIS NEXT WEEK.

I THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER, REVERAND, THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

>>> UP NEXT WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT A SPIKE IN COVID CASES.

STAY WITH US.

>>> COVID CASES ARE CREEPING BACK UP.

THE CITY SEEING A RISE IN LAB CONFIRMED CASES AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS.

A NEW VACCINE IS EXPECTED TO BE READY FOR THE FALL SEASON.

JOINING US THE CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF INFECTIONS, PREVENTION AND CONTROL AT UI HEALTH.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FEELS LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOU BECAUSE MAYBE SOME HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE PANDEMIC BUT AVERAGES SHOW EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS INCREASED ABOUT 7% OVER JULY AND AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 80 CASES OVER THAT SAME MONTH.

HOW CONCERNS ARE THESE?

>> I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT COVID IS NOT GONE.

IT'S HERE.

WE ANTICIPATED WE WOULD GET SOME INCREASES, ESPECIALLY IN THE FALL AS THERE IS INCREASED ACTIVITIES, WE ARE ENDING THE TRAVEL SEASON OVER THE SUMMER, SCHOOLS ARE COMING TOGETHER.

THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSMISSION.

WE HAVE NEW VARIANT THAT ARE COMING OUT.

WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WE KNOW THAT CERTAIN THINGS WILL HELP.

DON'T GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL WHEN YOU ARE SICK.

MAKE SURE YOU GET TESTED FOR COVID BECAUSE COLD LIKE SYMPTOMS COULD BE THE FLU OR COVID OR OTHER VIRUSES.

MAKE SURE YOU GET TESTED.

MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE AT RISK THAT YOU GET VACCINATED AND YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW VACCINE THAT WILL BECOMING OUT AND MASKS WORK, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AT RISK.

>> I SHOULD CORRECT MYSELF.

I SAID 7%, SHOULD BE .7%.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

ARE THERE ANY VARIANTS WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR?

WE WERE ALWAYS WATCHING OUT WHAT THE NEW VARIANT WAS GOING TO DO.

>> YOU POINT OUT THE .7%.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WILL ARE INCREASES BUT THE LINE FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS IS STILL LOW.

IN CHICAGO, IN ILLINOIS, AND MOST OF THE COUNTRY WE ARE STILL AT LOW LEVELS OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS BUT IT'LL BE IMPORTANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VACCINE.

THE CURRENT VARIANTS IS INCREASING INTO THE OTHER OMICRON VARIANT WHICH IS EG IS ONE OF THE SUBVARIANTS.

THE VACCINE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO COME OUT LATER THIS MONTH WAS DIRECTED AGAINST XBB BUT ITS BEEN TESTED AGAINST THIS NEW EG VARIANT AND THE OTHER FL VARIANT THAT ARE CIRCULATING NOW IN ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO.

THE VACCINE THAT WILL BECOME AVAILABLE LATER THIS MONTH IS SOMETHING ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE MOST AT RISK TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CONSIDERING GETTING BOOSTED WITH THIS NEW VACCINE THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SIX MONTHS AND OLDER.

>> WE MENTIONED THE STAFF JUST A BIT AGO.

HOW MUCH OF AN UNDER COUNT DO THOSE REPRESENT?

PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING TESTED AT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICES.

>> THERE WAS A CHANGE IN HOW WE ARE MONITORING THE VIRUS.

THE LEVEL THAT YOU CAN LOOK ON THE CDC WEBSITE.

THE LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION FOR THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SITE AND IT'LL SHOW GREEN.

THAT'S THE HOSPITALIZATIONS WHICH IS NOT A MARKER FOR THE TESTING HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.

YES, THE NUMBERS THAT ARE GOING OFF AND THOSE COMING INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM MAY NOT BE REPRESENTING THE AMOUNT OF COVID IN THE COMMUNITY BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW MANY END UP IN THE HOSPITAL WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW SEVERE IS COVID AND ARE THE HOSPITALS BECOMING OVERWHELMED BY COVID AND WE AREN'T AT THAT POINT.

WE ARE STILL AT LOW LEVELS IN MOST OF THE AREAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICES ARE USING WASTEWATER TO COUNT AND MANAGE HOW MUCH WE ARE SEEING.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF SEE IN ANTICIPATION WHAT WE SEE IS USUALLY INCREASES IN THE WASTEWATER, IN THE COMMUNITY THEN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THEN DEATHS HAVE BEEN THE LAST LAGGING INDICATION.

THANKFULLY BECAUSE OF VACCINATION, PAST IMMUNITY WE AREN'T SEEING DEATHS AT THE SAME DEGREE WE HAD EARLY ON IN 2020 OR EVEN WITH THE FIRST OMICRON SURGE.

I THINK EVEN WITH THE SURGE THAT STARTED IN THE KIND OF THE WINTER OF 20 INTO 21 PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE VACCINATED AND THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD GET COVID BUT WE KNOW YOU CAN STILL GET IT SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS YOU WON'T GO SEE SOMETHING AT RISK WITH IN THE WEEK AFTER YOU MIGHT BE AT RISK FORGETTING COVID.

WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.

WE JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT WORKS AND REMEMBER COVID IS STILL WITH US BUT WE CAN LIVE WITH IT.

>> ARE WE EXPECTING -- IS THIS UP CREASE GOING TO CONTINUE?

>> THIS INCREASE IS GOING TO CONTINUE.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE FALL.

WE ARE GATHERING.

WE WILL SEE THE NUMBERS GO UP BUT THE IMPORTANT PART IS WE KEEP THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS LOW AND THAT'S THROUGH VACCINATION, THROUGH PROTECTING THOSE AT RISK AND MAKING SURE THAT IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS YOU GET TESTED AND DON'T GO AROUND OTHERS SO YOU DON'T TRANSMIT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE.

THE NEWER VACCINE THAT'S COMING OUT AND HOW IT'LL BE DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS VACCINES.

>> SO THIS VACCINE IS DIRECTED AGAINST WHAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATED.

IT HAS DECIDED IN JUNE THAT THIS WOULD BE THE TYPE OF VACCINE SOT VACCINE IS NOW MANUFACTURED BY SEVERAL.

WE WILL HAVE ONE AVAILABLE FROM PHIZER, ONE FROM MADERNA AND ONE THAT'S ALSO NOVAVAX.

THOSE ARE THE ONES TARGETED AGAINST THE MORE RECENT VARIANTS SO IT'LL HELP GIVE BETTER PROTECTION THAN WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST.

SORT OF LIKE WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE FLU.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THE FLU VACCINE IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

WE ANTICIPATE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FALL.

THE FLU VACCINE IS DESIGNED AND THEN WE GIVE IT TO HELP PROTECT THROUGH THE SEASON.

THIS WAS DESIGNED IN JUNE.

WE STILL HAVE THE VARIANTS THAT ARE DIRECTED -- THAT IT'S DIRECTED AGAINST AND ITS BEEN TESTED AGAINST THE NEW VARIANT THAT ARE COMING IN AND SO IT'LL BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE LIKE THE FLU VACCINE.

>> BEFORE WE LET YOU GO PEOPLE WITHOUT INSURANCE, HOW CAN THEY GET THIS VACCINE?

>> NOW THIS IS THE NOT PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT BUT MOST INSURANCE WILL COVER IT AND THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS PARTNERED ACROSS THE CITY AND HELPING PROVIDE VACCINES FOR THOSE THAT ARE WITHOUT INSURANCE.

>> PEOPLE SHOULD COLLECT OUT THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE FOR THAT.

>> AND THEIR LOCAL HOSPITAL THAT ARE GETTING SUPPORT THROUGH THE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> UP NEXT THE HIGHWAY EXIT SYSTEM AND THE LATEST INSTALLMENT OF THE NEWS EXPLAIN SERIES BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> OUR NEWS EXPLAY SERIES HAS ALREADY GIVEN YOU THE LOW DOWN ON CHICAGO'S GRID SYSTEM.

WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE ON ONE OF OUR LOCATE AM EXPRESSWAY?

THEY CONTAIN SOME USEFUL INFORMATION YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD.

HERE IS NICK TO EXPLAIN HOW THE INTERSTATE EXITS ARE NUMBERED.

>> WHEN YOU ARE CRUISING ALONG ONE OF CHICAGO LAND'S HIGHWAYS WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

WHAT SONG IS PLAYING NEXT.

WHERE THE NEAREST BURGER PLACE IS?

WHEN ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DONE?

TO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF WONDERING HOW THE EXITS GOT THEIR NUMBERS?

IT'S RELATIVELY SIMPLE.

FOR INTERSTATES THAT RUN NORTH SOUTH, LIKE 555, THE NUMBERING SYSTEM STARTS AT THE SOUTHERN MOST POINT THE HIGHWAY ENTERS ILLINOIS.

FOR THOSE RUNNING EAST WEST OKAY I-80 THEY START AT THE WESTERN MOST POINT.

A LOT OF TIMES THE FIRST TURN OFF IS EXIT 1 BUT THE NEXT ONE ISN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO BE EXIT 2.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE NUMBERS GO NOT TO HOW MANY EXITS THERE ARE BUT TO HOW MANY MILES AWAY FROM THE BORDER THEY ARE.

SO BY FOLLOWING THE EXIT SIGN NUMBERS YOU CAN ACTUALLY TRACK HOW FAR YOU ARE FROM THE STATE BOUNDARY LINE.

SOMETIMES THINGS GET A LITTLE TRICKY WHERE TWO INTERSTATES MERGE THE NUMBERING SYSTEM FOR ONE SUPERSEDES THE OTHER.

IF YOU ARE GOING DOWNTOWN ALONG I-90 WHERE IT MEETS I-94 THE EXIT NUMBERS JUMP FROM 84 TO 44 WHICH BRINGS US TO ONE MORE WRINKLE IN THE SYSTEM.

AROUND THE CITY I-90, THAT'S SKYWAY, DAN RYAN AND I-94, MOSTLY RUN NORTH AND SOUTH BUT THE SIGNS ALL WAY EAST AND WEST.

WHAT GIVES?

WELL, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE INTER PART OF INTERSTATE.

OUR HIGHWAYS ARE PART OF A NATIONWIDE SYSTEM AND 90 AND 94 BROADLY RUN EAST WEST ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY JUST GOT TO CURVA ROLLED LAKE MICHIGAN SO THEY MOVE NORTH SOUTH THROUGH THE WINDY CITY.

THE NEXT TIME YOU FIND YOURSELF STUCK IN TRAFFIC YOU MAY NOT KNOW HOW LONG YOU WILL BE SITTING THERE BUT AT LEAST YOU WILL KNOW HOW FAR YOUR BUMPER IS FROM THE BORDER.

>> AND NOW YOU GET IT.

YOU CAN SEE MORE FROM THE NEWS EXPLAIN SERIES ON THE WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT WTTW.COM/EXPLAIN.

>>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10:00 ADDRESSING THE FISCAL CLIFF FACING THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS AND RESIDENT ALSO GET TO GRILL INCOMING CHICAGO POLICE CHIEF LARRY SNELLING THIS WEEK.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS HAS THE PREVIEW.

>>> FOR ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

BE HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.