>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF A WEEK IN REVIEW.

FIRST A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE BIG STORIES FROM 2021.

COVID 19 AND NATIONAL POLITICAL TURMOIL DOMINATED ANOTHER YEAR, ONE THAT BEGAN WITH THE SHOCKING JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION ATTEMPT AS CONGRESS CERTIFIED THE RESULTS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VICTORY.

SPURRED ON BY THE WORDS OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, RIOTERS OVERWHELMED THE NATION'S CAPITOL, PUSHING MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION TO TAKE COVER.

>> KIND OF A SICK, DISGUSTING DAY IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

>> ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN BECOMES ONE OF TWO REPUBLICAN MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE JANUARY 6 SELECT COMMITTEE.

MEANWHILE, IN ILLINOIS -- >> THE DAYS OF VACCINES SCARCITY ARE OVER.

>> COVID VACCINATION GETS UNDERWAY AND THE STATE FULLY REOPENS.

>> WE NOT ONLY MARK OUR INDEPENDENCE AS A NATION BUT WE BEGIN TO MARK OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM THIS VIRUS.

>> BUT POCKETS OF VACCINE RESISTANCE, THE DELTA VARIANT, AND LATER OMICRON CAUSE CASES TO SURGE TO RECORD LEVELS.

>> WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET TO THIS POINT BUT GIVEN THE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN, WE SIMPLY HAVE NO CHOICE.

>> CITY AND STATE IMPOSED VACCINE MANDATES, FIRST FOR EMPLOYEES, AND NOW FOR MANY INDOOR SETTINGS.

>> I HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM HIS LEADERSHIP.

>> LONG-TIME HOUSE SPEAKER MADDINGON UNDER FIRE FOR HIS INVESTIGATION INTO COM ED RESIGNS FROM THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AFTER LOSING THE SPEAKER'S GAVEL.

>> AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A TRAUMATIC TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY, QUITE HONESTLY.

>> RESIDENTS MOURN AFTER POLICE SHOOT AND KILL 13-YEAR-OLD ADAM TOLEDO IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> IN EVERY INSTANCE, SOMEONE LOST A LOVED ONE.

THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO LOST A NEIGHBOR.

>> 2021 TOPS 2020'S SURGE IN SHOOTING IN HOMICIDES, NEARING LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE THE 90s.

MAYOR PASSESES A RECORD HIGH BUDGET WITH NEARLY $2 BILLION IN FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS.

>> WE CANNOT ACCEPT A MAP THAT DISENFRANCHISES BLACK AND LATINO MUNTS.

>> MARTINEZ TAKES OVER AS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL C.E.O.

AFTER JANICE JACKSON'S TENURE MARKED BY IMPROVED TEST SCORES, COVID CLOSURES AND CONSTANT FIGHTING WITH THE TEACHERS UNION.

AND A PAIR OF SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDALS ROCKED THE CITY.

ONE AT THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT AND THE OTHER CASTING A DARK SHADOW ON THE BLACK HAWKS 2000 CHAMPIONSHIP RUN.

AND JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON SOME OF THESE BIG STORIES FROM THE YEAR ARE CRAIG OF WBBM NEWS RADIO, STEVE DANIELS, TINA OF POLITICO AND DAN FROM WBEZ.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT WITH THE JANUARY 6 ISSUE.

WE'RE COMING UP ON A YEAR, TINA, ON THE CAPITOL RIOT SAYS.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE HAS RAMPED UP THE INVESTIGATION, CRIMINAL REFERRALS ISSUED, ADAM KISSINGER, ONE OF TWO REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT IN THE NEW YEAR?

>> THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION WHICH IS A LOT OF MARK MEADOWS' INFORMATION ON TRUMP FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF.

THAT'S A HUGE COMPONENT OF WHAT THEY'LL TRY TO UNCOVER.

THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE EVOLUTION OF EVERYTHING.

WITHOUT THAT, I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT.

IT'S FRESH IN EVERYBODY'S MIND.

EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE REHASHING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN A WEEK, THE ANNIVERSARY AND OF TRULY JUST A REALLY DARK DAY FOR THIS PLACE.

I'M IN WASHINGTON HERE SO IT WAS VERY DARK HERE AND PEOPLE STILL WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

IT'S A POLITICAL ISSUE AND ALSO JUST A HUMAN ISSUE.

>> DO YOU EXPECT A REPORT ISSUED IN 2022?

>> I THINK IT REALLY DOES DEPEND ON THE RELEASE OF INFORMATION.

THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE HAS HAD TO STOP SOME RELEASE OF INFORMATION BECAUSE OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE.

THAT WILL BE AMONG THE MANY LEGAL BATTLES WE'LL SEE NEXT YEAR.

>> AND THIS COMES AS A NEW POLL SHOWS SEPARATE PARTISAN REALITIES THAT FOLKS LIVE IN, A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS DON'T THINK THAT BIDEN'S WIN WAS LEGITIMATE.

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY?

>> THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY IS EXTREMELY WORRISOME IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, I THINK WE'VE SEEN AUTHORITARIAN UCHL GROWING, BUT ESPECIALLY IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE WE HAVE MORE THAN NEARLY 2 1/2 CENTURY HISTORY OF PEACEFUL TRANSFERS OF POWER, RESPECT FOR THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE EVEN IN DECIDEDLY BLUE STATE LIKE ILLINOIS, NOT JUST SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BUT EVEN IN THE CHICAGO AREA WE SAW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, EVEN THE C.E.O.

FROM THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS WHO WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR ROLES IN THE CAPITOL RIOT AND THE INSURRECTION.

PEOPLE WHO FELT THAT THEY COULD SHOW UP, BARGE INTO THE CAPITOL AND IT WAS NOT A PROTEST.

THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT'S BEEN TWISTED AND REALLY BECOME SOMETHING CONTORTED FOR SO MANY AMERICANS.

IT WAS NOT PEACEFUL.

IT WAS ANYTHING BUT PEACEFUL.

>> 2021 IS SUPPOSED TO BE A YEAR TO HEAL DEMOCRACY.

WE MENTIONED KISSINGER'S EVOLUTION.

HE HAD VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2020.

WE SPOKE TO HIM ON JANUARY 6.

HE WAS CLEARLY RATTLED.

HE WAS CLEARLY FURIOUS AT WHAT HAPPENED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK CAUSED THIS TURNABOUT WHERE HE NOW IS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSPOKEN REPUBLICANS AGAINST MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PART?

>> WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ADAM KISSINGER WAS STARTING TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE PRESIDENT WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP STARTED CONSTRUCTING WHAT HAS COME TO BE CALLED IN DEMOCRATIC CIRCUMSTANCES THE BIG LOSS, THAT WE HAD STARTED BY SAYING ANY -- IF I DON'T WIN, THE ONLY WAY THAT CAN HAPPEN IS BY THE DEMOCRATS CHEATING.

WELL, HE STARTED WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT THAT AND ABOUT THE ATTEMPTS TO PORTRAY THE ELECTION AS FRAUGHT WITH FRAUD SO HE WAS WARNING ABOUT THAT AND THEN HE STARTED WARNING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENCE WEEKS BEFORE IT OCCURRED.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE HIM FURIOUS WAS THAT HE WAS SAYING, LOOK.

THIS IS BUILDING.

YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW BIG THIS COULD BE AND IT WAS EVERYTHING.

>> TINA, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS HIS LAST TERM, HIS LAST YEAR IN CONGRESS.

WHAT IS HIS POLITICAL FUTURE?

>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A STATEWIDE RACE ANY TIME SOON BUT I MEAN, I THINK PEOPLE ADMIRE HE STOOD UP FOR THIS THE ENTIRE YEAR.

IF YOU LOOK AT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE JANUARY 6 SITUATION, HE'S VISIBLY UPSET.

IT SEEMS LIKE HE REALLY JUST SPOKE OUT ABOUT IT ALL YEAR IN A TRUTHFUL WAY.

I THINK THAT MIGHT HELP HIM IN THE FUTURE.

I DON'T THINK HE NECESSARILY WANTS THAT NOW.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING NEXT YEAR.

>> IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT OR U.S. SENATE BUT NOTHING IS FOR CERTAIN.

LET'S MOVE ON TO COVID.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, ILLINOIS AND THE REST OF COUNTRY ARE SETTING PANDEMIC RECORDS FOR DAILY COUNTS.

LET'S LISTEN TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

>> EVERY SINGLE EVENT BEING HELD DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WILL HAVE ONE OR TWO UNINVITED, UNWANTED GUESTS.

DELTA AND/OR OMICRON.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING CASES FROM ACROSS THE LAST TWO YEARS.

STEVE DANIELS, HOW FAR IN 2022 DO YOU THINK THE SURGE WILL GO?

>> I THINK WHAT I KEEP SEEING IS A PEAK IN THE THIRD OR FOURTH WEEK OF JANUARY FROM THE OMICRON VARIANCE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MORE INFORMATION EVERY DAY COMING OUT ABOUT THIS, HOW VIRALANT IT IS OR NOT AND OBVIOUSLY, IT IS EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS.

MORE SO, IT APPEARS, THAN DELTA VARIANT WAS BUT WITH, YOU KNOW, NEARLY 2/3 OF AMERICANS VACCINATED, THAT SEEMS TO BE HELPING, AT LEAST WARD OFF HOSPITALS BEING SWAMPED.

NOW AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TO THE PEAK SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT ALL TRANSPIRES OVER THE COURSE OF JANUARY.

IT WILL BE A FRAUGHT MONTH WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

>> THE HOSPITAL IS NOT SWAMPED YET, ALTHOUGH THEY TALK ABOUT FATIGUE AMONG WORKERS AND ISSUES STAFFING UP.

DAN, DO YOU THINK THESE HOSPITALS MIGHT GET OVERWHELMED AS IT STILL SEEMS LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE PEAK?

>> THEY POSSIBLY COULD, ALTHOUGH AS STEVE POINTED OUT, I THINK THE FACT THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED AND THEN RECEIVED BOOSTERS, I THINK WE'RE STILL AT ONLY A QUARTER OF THE PEOPLE WHO EVEN WERE VACCINATED HAVE GOTTEN THE BOOSTERS BUT THAT'S OBVIOUSLY INCREASING AND OMICRON IS MOTIVATING MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE BOOSTERS WHICH I DO THINK MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE BUT EVEN SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING BREAKTHROUGH CASES WITH EITHER TWO SHOTS OR EVEN THREE SHOTS OF SOME OF THE VACCINES BUT POSITIVE SIDE FOR THE HOSPITALS AND FOR ALL OF US, THOUGH, IS THAT IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, I THINK THE CHANCES YOU'LL BE SEVERELY ILL ARE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY LOW.

I'VE SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THREE IN A THOUSAND CASES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED OR ONE IN A THOUSAND WHO ARE DYING ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

>> AND CRAIG, IF WE GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO JUNE, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER REALITY EVEN, THE CITY REOPENS FULLY.

BASEBALL STADIUMS WERE FULL AGAIN.

OUTDOOR CONCERTS WERE FULL.

WAS IT TOO MUCH TOO SOON?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO CALL IT THAT BECAUSE AT THE TIME, IT SEEMED THAT THE TRENDS WERE ALL GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WHAT WE WORRIED ABOUT AND WHAT TURNED OUT TO HAVE BEEN THE CASE WAS THAT THESE VARIANTS WERE OUT THERE AND WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THEY WOULD HAVE.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT THERE'S STILL POCKETS OF RESISTANCE AND LET'S FACE IT, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OMICRON ESPECIALLY, ALMOST ALL THE CASES WE'RE SEEING ARE AMONG UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

AND THAT RESISTANCE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEEPS THIS ENGINE OF CORONAVIRUS GOING AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S PART OF THE POLITICS OF THIS, THAT ALSO HAS BEEN A FACTOR.

I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T DIVORCE THE HEALTH AND THE POLITICS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE MAKING THEIR DECISIONS, THEIR HEALTH DECISIONS POLITICALLY.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A FACTOR GOING FORWARD.

>> CERTAIN POLLS SHOWING A MUCH GREATER NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT IDENTIFY AS DEMOCRAT VACCINATED VERSUS FOLKS THAT IDENTIFY AS REPUBLICAN.

TINA, THIS WAS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BIG PUSH WHEN HE CAME IN AND SEEMED TO HAVE SUCCESS IN THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS, QUICK ROLLOUT OF MASS VACCINATION.

AS WE MENTIONED, IT LOOKS LIKE THE VIRUS WAS ALMOST LICKED IN THE SUMMER.

IT'S ROARED BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.

WHAT IS HIS APPROACH NOW THAT WE'RE SETTING RECORDS?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MESSAGING.

THERE'S EXCITEMENT OVER EVERYTHING BEFORE DELTA AND THEN NOW WITH OMICRON.

I SAY OMICRON, ME AND DAN CAN AGREE, THAT'S HOW YOU SAY IT.

BUT THIS NEW VARIANT, I THINK THEY WERE NOT -- EVEN THOUGH EXPERIENCING THIS WITH DELTA, THEY WERE NOT AS PREPARED FOR THIS AS WELL.

THEY'RE NOW KIND OF TRYING TO CATCH UP ON THE SUPPLIES, ORDERING AUTHORIZATION OF MAKING MORE AT-HOME TESTS WHICH I'M SURE ALL OF US HAVE TRIED TO TAKE ONE OR BUY SOME OF THOSE TESTS WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

I HAVE TWO FROM WALGREEN'S FROM TWO WEEKS AGO.

IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT.

SO I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTING THE PUBLIC, THE INABILITY TO GET THESE TESTS AND THE FACT YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GETTING SICK AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE FOR SOME LEADERSHIP AND WE'RE JUST SEEING LIKE A DELAYED REACTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE'RE SEEING A UNIFIED OVER ARCING MESSAGE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

WE SHOULD MENTION THE ISSUE WITH SCHOOLS.

KIDS ARE GOING TO GO BACK IN THE NEW YEAR DESPITE THE RISE IN CASES AND WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE NEW CPS CEO.

TELL US ABOUT PEDRO MARTINEZ AND HOW HE GOT THIS JOB.

>> HE IS CHICAGO BORN AND BRED BUT HE WAS BASICALLY IN TEXAS AND MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN EDUCATION AND HIS ABILITY TO FOCUS ON AREAS THAT REALLY NEED HELP.

AND SO I THINK HIS REPUTATION CALLED OUT TO LORI LIGHTFOOT AND BROUGHT HIM BACK AND SO FAR, HE SEEMS TO BE MAKING MANY OF THE RIGHT MOVES BUT AGAIN, WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC AND WHAT CAN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DO?

I MEAN, HE -- A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WERE BEING QUARANTINED, FAR TOO MANY TO MANY MINDS, EVEN TO HIS.

AND SO NOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO HONE THEIR APPROACH SO THAT MORE TESTING SO THE KIDS MIGHT BE EITHER ISOLATED OR ONLY -- YOU KNOW, DOING WHOLE CLASSROOMS BEING SENT HOME OR SCHOOLS BEING CLOSED.

NOW THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT MORE SURGICAL AND GOING FORWARD, THEY ARE TRYING TO TEST AS MANY STUDENTS AS THEY CAN BEFORE THEY COME BACK AND YOU KEEP THE KIDS WHO ARE SICK HOME.

>> WE HAVE YET TO HEAR WHAT THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION WANTS TO DO ABOUT THESE PLANS OR IF THEY WANT TO CHALLENGE THEM.

LET'S GET TO SOME OTHER NEWS THIS YEAR.

MADDEGON IS DONE.

VIOLENCE SURGES, SURPASSING 800 HOMICIDES IN 2021 AND CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT MARK KELLY RESIGNS AMID A SCANDAL OVER CLAIMS HE MISHANDLED SEXUAL ABUSE CASES.

MADDINGAN, WAS IT THE COMMENT INVESTIGATION THAT ACCOMPLISHED THE UNTHINKABLE, PUSHING HIM FROM POWER AND ULTIMATELY FROM OFFICE ALTOGETHER?

>> YEAH.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BOIL IT DOWN, YOU WOULD SAY YES.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE MANY OTHER FACTORS AS WELL.

THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, VIRTUALLY VERY FEW PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO KNEW WHO HE WAS BEFORE BRUCE BECAME GOVERNOR AND RAN ADS AGAINST HIM AND MADE HIM ESSENTIALLY THE FIGUREHEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PART IN ILLINOIS.

YOU KNOW, LAID SORT OF THE GROUNDWORK FOR SOMETHING LIKE THE COM ED INVESTIGATION.

WITHOUT THE GROUNDWORK, I'M NOT SURE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW.

BUT FOR SURE, I THINK THE COMMENT INVESTIGATION, HIS IMPLICATION, THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THIS WAS ALL -- ALL OF THESE BRIBERY SCHEME WAS DONE SIMPLY TO CURRY FAVOR WITH HIM MADE HIM IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP ON.

>> IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AFTER 50 YEARS IN POWER, DAN, WE'VE HEARD RADIO SILENCE ON THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATION BUT IT'S CLEAR READING THE TEA LEAVES THAT FEDERAL AGENTS ARE TRYING TO TWIST AND TURN SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE EN SNARED, SOME OF THE LOBBYISTS TO GIVE UP ANYTHING THEY KNOW AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE NOT REALLY.

DO YOU EXPECT MORE SHOES TO DROP?

>> YEAH.

I THINK RIGHT NOW, THEY CONTINUE TO SQUEEZE THE ONES WHO ARE DEFENDANTS ALREADY, LOBBYISTS AND FORMER EXECUTIVES OF COMMONWEALTH EDISON, THEY'VE MADE CLEAR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW THAT PUBLICLY, AND IT'S PROBABLY BEEN MORE LIKE TWO YEARS SINCE THIS BECAME CLEAR TO US THE CONTOURS OF THE ALLEGED SCHEME, IT WAS DESIGNED, ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, TO CURRY FAVOR WITH MIKE MADDINGAN.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S SOME EXECUTIVES AND LOBBYISTS THAT HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT CHARGES AND GO TO TRIAL AND MAYBE EVEN GO TO PRISON RATHER THAN TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY POSSIBLY COULD TALK ABOUT OR THAT THE FEDS THINK THEY COULD BE TALKING ABOUT.

SO WE DON'T KNOW IF MIKE MERELY LOSES POWER OR IF HE ALSO MAY BE CHARGED CRIMINAL I WILL AND FACES A THREAT TO HIS LIBERTY AND WHAT IS THE WINNER OF HIS LONG CAREER.

>> SOMETHING TO WATCH IN 2022.

LET'S GO TO THE VIOLENCE THAT CONTINUES TO RISE IN CHICAGO AS IT HAS ACROSS COUNTRY.

NEARING LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE THE 90s.

HERE IS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> WE ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE AND NEED TO ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

AS A CITY, WE CANNOT MAKE PROGRESS ON COMBATING VIOLENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IF THE COUNTY IS NOT OUR PARTNER IN THIS WORK.

IT IS THE COUNTY, NOT THE CITY THAT CONTROLS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY AND THE COURTS HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER ELECTRONIC MONITORING DECISIONS.

>> SOME OF THEM ARE POINTING FINGERS AT THE COURT OR STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT CHICAGO FINISHES 2022 WITH DAVID BROWN AS SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE?

>> IF I HAD TO GUESS, I WOULD SAY NO.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK -- I'M GOING TO SAY SOME WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ON THIS PROGRAM MANY TIMES BY MANY PEOPLE.

IT IS NOT A ONE SOLUTION PROBLEM, AND THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT IS ONLY -- ONLY CONTROLS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF LEVERS IN WHAT HAS TO BE DONE.

IT IS INVESTMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, IT IS MORE PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET SO IT'S SO MANY THINGS.

PEOPLE TRYING TO STOP THE VIOLENCE BY CONTACT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT IS SO MANY THINGS.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN POINT TO SOMETHING AND SAY, POLICE SUPERINTENDENT BROWN DID NOT DO THIS.

HE IS DOING THE THINGS THAT POLICE CAN DO.

THAT'S WHY I'M -- I'M NOT SURE THAT -- I THINK HE COULD STAY IF WE SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS.

>> IT MIGHT NOT MAKE A FACTOR BUT POLITICALLY, HISTORICALLY IN CHICAGO, THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN THE FALL PERSON FOR CRIME FOR MANY MAYORS.

I WANT TO GET TO YOUR REPORTING THIS YEAR ON THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT.

THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL COST THE JOB OF MIKE KELLY, LONG-TIME SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD CHAIR.

FIRST REMIND US HOW THE SCANDAL CAME TO LIGHT.

>> SO FOR OVER A YEAR, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT WAS INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE SENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND ALSO TO THE DESK OF MIKE KELLY ABOUT WIDESPREAD SEXUAL HARASSMENT, ABUSE AND ASSAULT AGAINST LIFEGUARDS OR TEENAGE GIRLS OR VERY YOUNG WOMEN, USUALLY BY SUPERVISORS, GUYS IN THEIR 20s AND 30s.

AND WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT THEY KEPT IT HIDDEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME UNTIL WE REPORTED ON IT IN APRIL.

WE INCURRED AFTER THAT FROM LIFEGUARDS WHO ARE AS OLD AS 60 AND 61 YEARS OLD NOW GOING BACK TO THE 1970s, BASICALLY TO THE TIME THAT WOMEN FIRST BECAME LIFEGUARDS AND GIRLS FIRST BECAME LIFEGUARDS AT THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT BEACHES AND POOLS THAT THIS WAS ENDEMIC FOR DECADES AND ENERGIES KNEW ABOUT IT AND DID NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY AND THAT'S WHAT LED TO MICHAEL KELLY'S RESIGNATION AND ALSO TO THE RESIGNATION OF AVID LABELLE WHO WAS A VERY INFLUENTIAL PLAYER IN CHICAGO POLITICS FOR DECADES NOW HERSELF.

>> GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE RICHARD M.DALY ADMINISTRATION AND A LOT OF REPORTING BROUGHT THAT TO LIFE AND DELAYED REACTION FROM CITY LEADERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR THIS YEERPMENT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OTHER CITY BUSINESS.

THE MAYOR GOT A RECORD BUDGET PASSED, RECORD SPENDING THANKS TO $2 BILLION IN FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS.

MY QUESTION, THOUGH, IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN 2022 COMES AND THEY HAVE TO PLAN FOR 2023 AND THEY'RE LIKELY NOT GOING TO HAVE $2 BILLION IN THE FEDERAL FUNDS?

>> YEAH, ALTHOUGH THIS GETS YOU THROUGH THE TIME OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, ASSUMING, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYTHING WE SAW WITH COVID AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF 2021, WE DID SEE A BOUNCEBACK ECONOMICALLY.

WE AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

WE DIDN'T SEE IT QUITE TO THE SAME DEGREE AS MANY OTHERS DID BUT WE DID SEE IT.

THAT -- PREDICTIONS LIKE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUT THERE.

IF THEY COME TRUE, I DON'T THINK THE CITY BUDGET ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE ALL THAT DIFFICULT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT OMICRON IF HOPEFULLY I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY, AND THAT'S A WILD CARD AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW GIVEN ALL THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF THE VIRUS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> CITY CASINO, WHICH THE BINNING BIDDER IS SUPPOSED TO BE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE NEW YEAR.

ANY OF THESE BIDS YOU BELIEVE HAVE A LEG UP AS A FAVORITE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO -- I WOULD -- I WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE WILL BE A CASINO IN CHICAGO.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR DECADES NOW AND, YOU KNOW, WHO RUNS IT AND WHO OPERATES IT IS RESPONSIBILITY.

THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT IS THAT SIMPLY THERE WILL BE ONE.

HOW THAT AFFECTS THE GUAM LIENING AND THE GAMBLING GOES FAR BEYOND NOW, GOING THROUGH THE STADIUMS AND THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, REALLY THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPE WHEN IT COMES TO LEGAL GAMBLING IN CHICAGO HAS BEEN COMPLETELY CHANGED FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

>> AND CRAIG, IN 2022, WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE THE MAYOR CUTTING SOME MIRACLE DEAL TO KEEP THE BEARS FROM THEIR FUTURE PLANS TO MOVE TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS?

>> I THINK THIS TIME THE THREAT TO MOVE TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS IS NOT A BARGAINING CHIP.

I DON'T THINK IT'S EMPLOYED THIS TIME.

I THINK THEY ARE SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT IT AND WILL HAVE AS MUCH TO DO WITH HOW MUCH THE BEARS WANT TO INVEST IN A MOVE AS ANYTHING.

BUT THE EASIEST THING IS FOR THEM TO REACH SOME KIND OF DEAL BUT CLEARLY, THE MAYOR IS WILLING TO GO A CERTAIN DISTANCE BUT NOT AS FAR AS THE BEARS HAVE WANTED TO GO.

THEY HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR DEAL FOR SOME TIME NOW.

THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH THE RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK TO ME, IT WILL BE A SURPRISE IF WE SEE SOMETHING VERY SOON WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYBODY IS SINGING KUM BUYA BUT I THINK THE BEARS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT BEING READY TO GO EVEN IF THE DECISION HASN'T BEEN MADE YET.

>> WE'LL SEE IF OR WHEN THEY GO TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, WHO THE HEAD COACH OR EVEN PRESIDENT WILL BE.

BEFORE WE GO HERE, KIND OF A DOWN YEAR FOR SPORTS UNLESS TINA, YOU'RE A WHITE SOX FAN, GOOD YEAR.

MAYBE YOU GET THE WORLD SERIES IN 2022.

WORLD CHAMPION CHICAGO SKY, ANYONE WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT STORY THIS YEAR AND HOW EXCITING THAT WAS?

>> I THINK HAVING PARKER BACK IN TOWN MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE AND I THINK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS -- >> NAPERVILLE, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALONG WITH YOU.

>> I'LL DEFER TO HER.

BESIDES THAT, SHE'S TALLER.

BUT NO.

I THINK SHE'S ALSO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND WELL DESERVED.

>> CERTAINLY A HEART WARMING STORY, GREAT STORY, GREAT TEAM, GREAT ATHLETE, SOMETHING THE CITY SORELY NEEDED AFTER SOME OF THE DARK TIMES THAT IT'S BEEN THROUGH SXUNTRY HAS BEEN THROUGH BUT WE'RE OUT OF TOWN.

OUR THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT BEGINNING AT 6:00 FOR SPECIAL EDITIONS OF CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES AND CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

AND THEN WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 NEXT WEEK AND NOW FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW, I THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A PLEASANT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, VERY SAFE NEW YEAR'S.