[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT.

FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES...

THE UNITED CENTER WILL SOON BE BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY BUT NOT FOR BULLS OR HAWKS GAMES.

FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS WILL OPEN A MASS VACCINATION SITE AT THE CENTER IN THE PARKING LOT STARTING MARCH 10TH.

THEY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE 6,000 SHOTS PER DAY AND SOME OF THAT SUPPLY COULD INCLUDE THE SINGLE SHOT JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

THE SITE WILL PRIORITIZE RESIDENTS OVER 65 AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES AND STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS CAME TOGETHER TO ANNOUNCE THE EFFORT.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SEES IT AS A SIGN THAT THE END OF THE PANDEMIC IS NEAR.

>> THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.

SOME DAY NOT TOO FAR FROM NOW WE WILL BE AT THE UNITED CENTER NOT FOR A LIFE-SAVING SHOT BUT FOR A GAME WINNING SHOT.

>> AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT MORE THAN 2400 NEW COVID CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

WITH 55 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THAT MAKES FOR A STATE-WIDE TOTAL OF 1.18 MILLION CASES AND 24060 DEATHS.

THE POSITIVITY RATE RIGHT NOW STANDS AT 2.7%.

>> CITY COUNCIL TAKES A CRACK AT VOTING ON HOW MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN FEDERAL COVID RELIEF CAN BE SPENT.

SOME ALDERMEN INCLUDING PROGRESSIVES AND FEDERALLY INDICTED ED BURKE TOOK ISSUE WITH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S DECISION TO SPEND $281 MILLION IN RELIEF AID ON POLICE PERSONNEL COSTS.

BURKE AND RAY LOPEZ A LIGHTFOOT CRITIC USED A PARLIAMENTARY MANEUVER TO BLOCK A VOTE ON WEDNESDAY WHICH LED TO TODAY'S SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

THE MEASURE PASSED BY 37-10 VOTE WITH BURKE AND LOPEZ JOINING EIGHT OTHERS TO VOTE NO.

>> OUTSPOKEN PASTOR MICHAEL PFLEGER IS CLEARED OF WRONGDOING BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES.

SAYING AN ALLEGATION OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT WAS QUOTE UNFOUNDED.

AFTER THE AGENCY CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION.

THE REPORT GOES ON TO SAY THAT ITS CONCLUSION DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THE INCIDENT DIDN'T OCCUR.

PFLEGER IS FACING AN INVESTIGATION FROM THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO RELATED TO A 40-YEAR-OLD SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATION.

HE HAS MAINTAINED HE IS INNOCENT OF THAT CHARGE.

>> JOINING US ARE MARY ANN AHERN OF NBC5 NEWS.

WILL JONES OF ABC7 NEWS AND CICH RACHEL HINTON OF "THE SUN TIMES" AND SUSIE AN FROM WBEZ.

>> MICHAEL MADIGAN HAS NOTHING TO SAY AFTER HIS HAND PICKED SUCCESSOR RESIGNED.

AND ANGIE GUERRERO CUELLAR A NEW ONE WAS INSTILLED.

>> WHAT HAPPENED, ANOTHER MANIFESTATION OF THE CANCEL CULTURE?

DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

>> WHAT CULTURE?

>> CANCEL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> A NEW CULTURE THAT THE SPEAKER IS LEARNING ABOUT.

MARY ANN AHERN, DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THIS QUESTIONABLE CONDUCT BY EDWARD GUERRA KODATT, THE MAN WHO REPLACED MADIGAN FOR THREE DAYS, WAS?

>> I DID SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO POSTED ON-LINE THAT KNEW HIM FROM HIGH SCHOOL, KNEW WHO HE WAS.

I THINK SOME OF IT YOU'D HAVE TO CLASSIFY AS HEARSAY.

EDWARD GUERRA KODATT'S NAME DID NOT SURFACE UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING AS THE MEETING TOOK PLACE.

AND AS WE'VE SEEN IN BIG APPOINTMENTS, BIG AND SMALL, USUALLY THE NAMES COME OUT AHEAD OF TIME AND THAT IS ONE WAY OF VETTING.

YOU GET PUBLIC VETTING GOING ON.

AND THEN PERHAPS THE SPEAKER AND HIS TEAM WOULD HAVE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HIM.

I DO THINK IT WAS SOME KIND OF PERSONAL CONDUCT AND THE WAY THEY WROTE THEIR RELEASE WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE IT GAVE THE HINT AND THIS IS A HINT BUT I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL STATE REPRESENTATIVES WHO HEARD THE SAME THING IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A #METOO ALLEGATION.

BUT I HESITATE TO GO FURTHER BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET ABSOLUTELY THAT CONFIRMATION, OF COURSE, DIDN'T GET IT FROM THE FORMER SPEAKER'S OFFICE.

>> WILL JONES MADIGAN [INAUDIBLE] BUTTONED UP DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES ARE YOU SURPRISED THIS YOUNG MAN WAS NOT VETTED AND HE FUMBLED THIS?

>> VERY SURPRISED.

MADIGAN SAYS HE WANTS TO FOCUS ON THE ROAD FORWARD AND NOT LOOK BACK BUT QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DID THIS GET PASSED.

HE WAS ONLY IN THIS POSITION FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS THAT IS UNHEARD OF.

>> AND APPARENTLY HE IS NOT GOING TO BE GETTING THAT MONTHLY SALARY THAT HE WAS ENTITLED TO THOUGH HE WAS IN OFFICE FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

RACHEL HINTON THE RUNNER-UP BECOMES THE SUCCESSOR, ANGIE GUERRERO CUELLAR, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HER?

>> SHE IS CURRENTLY THE MANAGER OF ENVISION COMMUNITY SERVICES A ROLE SHE PLANS TO EXIT SO SHE CAN FOCUS FULL-TIME.

AND 2015 AND 18 SHE WAS A FIELD DIRECTOR FOR ANGIE SANDOVAL'S CAMPAIGN FOR COOK COUNTY BOARD, SANDOVAL IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE MARTIN SANDOVAL, SNARED IN A PUBLIC CORRUPTION SCHEME AND ENDED UP HELPING THE FEDS BEFORE DYING LAST YEAR LAST DECEMBER OF COVID.

SHE SEEMS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

SHE IS A VOLUNTEER AT SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

MOSTLY FOCUSED ON LATINO THINGS, LATINO ISSUES.

LATINX ISSUES.

BUT SHE SEEMS TO BE VERY READY TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY IN THE HOUSE.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED TIES TO THE SANDOVAL FAMILY.

AND SUSIE AN, WHILE THIS IS GOING ON THERE IS A FAMILY FIGHT TO REPLACE MADIGAN'S OTHER ROLE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS.

THERE ARE THREE WOMEN OF COLOR VYING FOR THE POSITION.

WHAT IS BEHIND THE TENSION BEHIND THE SCENES HERE?

>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN AROUND WANTING A WOMAN OF COLOR TO FILL THIS ROLE.

THE TENSION COMES FROM WHO DURBIN SUPPORTS OR WHO PRITZKER SUPPORTS.

RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BETWEEN ROBIN KELLY REPRESENTATIVE ROBIN KELLY AND ALDERMAN MICHELLE HARRIS.

SO WE'LL SEE WHO COMES UP ON TOP.

BUT WE'RE SEEING A SPLIT ON THE TOP POLITICAL PLAYERS AND WHO THEY ARE THROWING THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND.

>> AND MARY ANN, I SPOKE TO FOLKS CLOSE TO DURBIN AND PRITZKER AND THEY WERE MAD AT EACH OTHER FOR HAVING THIS BATTLE.

WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> YES, THEY ARE PEEVED AT EACH OTHER ALTHOUGH TODAY DURBIN SAID, HEY IF IT WAS A REALLY BIG FAMILY FEUD I WOULD NOT BE ATTENDING THE EVENT TOGETHER THAT HE JOINED WITH PRITZKER.

IF YOU HEAR FROM THE FOLKS SUPPORTING ROBIN KELLY WHAT YOU ARE HEAR SOMETHING GOODNESS, THE PRITZKER PEOPLE WON'T LEAVE US ALONE AND TRYING AND CALLING TRYING TO GET US TO THE MICHELLE HARRIS SIDE.

WHOEVER IS THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS IT IS AN IMPORTANT POSITION SO YOU CAN SEE WHY WHETHER IT'S DURBIN OR PRITZKER AND DON'T FORGET, CRISTINA CASTRO THE STATE SENATOR THAT JESUS CHUY GARCIA SUPPORTS.

CRISTINA CASTRO.

>> CASTRO.

>> OF THE LATINO CAUCUS WANTS TO PLAY A ROLE THEY ARE DEMANDING A MEETING AND A PUBLIC MEETING.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT MIGHT GET SETTLED BEHIND THE SCENES BUT IT IS AN INTERESTING FIGHT.

>> RACHEL HINTON BETWEEN THE THREE CANDIDATES ARE THERE DIFFERENT VISIONS FOR LEADING THE PARTY?

YOU HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

YOU HAVE THE 2022 MIDTERMS AND THE REMAP IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

DO EACH OF THE CANDIDATES DIFFER ON THOSE THINGS?

>> LARGELY, NO.

GIVEN THEY ARE ALL RUNNING TO BE THE LEAD DEMOCRAT THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE STATE.

THEY ALL WANT TO CONTINUE INSURING THE MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND MAKE SURE THAT IN 2022 THEY KEEP THE SEATS THAT THEY HAVE IN TERMS OF GOVERNOR, THE SENATE SEATS TAMMY DUCKWORTH IS UP AND FACING REELECTION.

WE'RE SEEING ALL THREE OF THESE PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE THE BEST PERSON TO INSURE THESE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES REMAIN.

BUT LARGELY RIGHT NOW I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A SPLIT IN THEIR VISION FOR THE PARTY.

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED IT'S SENATOR DURBIN BACKING ONE CANDIDATE A POWER CENTER IN THE PARTY AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER BACKING ANOTHER AND HE IS A POWER CENTER AND WILL JONES, HE DOES HOLD THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE STATE.

AS A DEMOCRAT.

AND BASICALLY THE GUY FUNDING THE PARTY OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET.

DOES THAT STAND TO REASON THAT HE WOULD GET HIS PREFERRED CANDIDATE AS THE HEAD OF THE PARTY?

>> PRITZKER IS ALSO COMING UP FOR REELECTION SO THAT SHOULD WEIGH INTO THE DECISION.

BUT LET'S LOOK AT MADIGAN'S BEEN IN THAT POSITION SINCE 1998 THIS IS A LONGTIME COMING FOR NEW LEADERSHIP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT A WOMAN OF COLOR LEADING THE PARTY HERE IN ILLINOIS.

>> YEAH, AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT DOESN'T COME AROUND MUCH IN ILLINOIS.

AS YOU MENTIONED.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

THERE IS A COUPLE FOLKS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE THAT DECLARED ALREADY.

RACHEL HINTON, ONE IS THE STATE SENATOR DARREN BAILEY FROM DOWN STATE WHO HAS GIVEN THE GOVERNOR A LOT OF GRIEF OVER SOME OF THE SHUTDOWN ORDERS.

TELL US ABOUT BAILEY.

>> BAILEY LARGELY DEFERRED WITH GOVERNOR PRITZKER HOW TO HANDLE THE CORONAVIRUS.

HE HAS ANGERED SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE BY NOT WEARING A MASK.

LAST MONTH, WHEN THE HOUSE WAS IN SESSION HE HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

HE PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR OF THE BANK OF SPRINGFIELD CENTER OTHER THAN THAT HE IS A STAUNCH REPUBLICAN AND WITHIN ILLINOIS, HE REALLY HAS SUPPORT.

SO IT'S UNCLEAR RIGHT NOW OBVIOUSLY IF HE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE PRITZKER A RUN FOR HIS MONEY IF HE WILL BECOME THE NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A VERY STAUNCH REPUBLICAN NOT A RHINO BY ANY MEANS A REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY.

>> AND MOVING OVER TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL, SUSIE AN, CONGRESSWOMAN MARIE NEWMAN GOT INTO A SPAT WITH THE CON CONSPIRACIER TOIAL CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE OVER TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

WHAT WENT ON BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> MS. NEWMAN PUT UP A TRANSGENDER FLAG IN SUPPORT OF HER DAUGHTER AND OUTSIDE OF HER OFFICE AND ACROSS THE HALL MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE PUT UP A SIGN THAT SAID THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS I FORGET THE QUOTE SOMETHING LIKE TRUST THE SCIENCE.

IT WAS DEFINITELY AN ATTACK ON WHAT NEWMAN DID BY PUTTING OUT THE FLAG AND IT'S CAUSED A LOT OF TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO NEIGHBORS AND FIRED OFF A LOT OF DEBATE ACROSS THE NATION.

>> THIS CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE GETS HER NAME IN THE NEWS OVER THE CONTROVERSIES AND THE HOUSE PASSED AN ANTIDISCRIMINATION BILL AN LGBTQ ANTIDISCRIMINATION BILL.

MARY ANN AHERN HAS CONGRESSWOMAN GREENE APOLOGIZED OR SAID TAUNTING CONGRESSWOMAN NEWMAN'S TRANSGENDER CHILD WAS WRONG?

>> CERTAINLY NOT THAT I'VE HEARD OF.

IF HE HAS I MISSED IT.

BUT I WOULD HAVE HEARD IT.

IT'S INTERESTING THEY ARE RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL FROM EACH OTHER.

AND THE SPIRIT OF MAYBE TRYING A LITTLE BIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND THE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS PROBLEMS WITH HER NAMES.

SHE GOT INTO A SPAT WITH CONGRESSWOMAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS AREA OVER THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT AND I THINK SHE LOVES CONTROVERSY.

THIS IS WHAT SHE LOOKS OUT FOR.

>> AND THIS IS ECHOING WHAT ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER SAID ABOUT HER.

SHE IS TRYING TO MAKE HERSELF FAMOUS THROUGH SOME OF THE PERSONAL ATTACKS.

LET'S MOVE OVER TO CITY COUNCIL.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS CAUGHT ON A HOT MIC CURSING BURKE AND LOPEZ BUT IT WAS HEARD AFTER ALDERWOMAN SANCHEZ SPOKE ABOUT A RESOLUTION HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

LOOK AT THE VIDEO.

>> HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAKE THE CITY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALDERWOMAN.

CHAIR RECOGNIZES JIM GARNER.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE FING KIDDING ME.

WILL JONES IS THERE BLOWBACK FOR THE MAYOR IS THIS SOMETHING WE EXPECT FROM THE MAYOR?

>> WE'VE KNOWN HER TO USE CHOICE WORDS BUT I THINK THIS IS RELATABLE MOMENT FOR A LOT OF US BECAUSE WE ARE ALL DEALING WITH THE VIRTUAL WAY OF WORKING.

SO A LOT OF US HAVE FORGOTTEN TO PUSH MUTE AND REGRET THAT SAME CAME OVER THE AIR DURING A MEETING THAT WE DID NOT INTEND TO.

I THINK THIS WON'T HAVE BLOWBACK FOR HER IT MAKES HER A LITTLE MORE RELATABLE.

>> AND WHAT IT SHE SAYS SHE WAS PREFER FER REFERRING TO IS WHAT ALDERMAN BURKE AND LOPEZ DID, DELAYING A VOTE HOW TO SPEND THE COVID RELIEF MONEY.

MARY ANN AHERN IT ENDED UP PASSING TODAY.

WHY WAS BURKE ESPECIALLY SO OUTSPOKEN AGAINST THIS?

>> ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WANTS TO SPEND A LOT OF 377 MILLION APPROVED ON POLICE OVERTIME EXPENSES.

AND ALTHOUGH HE CLAIMS THAT SHE IS FUDGING THE NUMBERS, THAT THE CITY SAYS THIS WAS FOR SECURITY AT TESTING SITES AND SECURITY AT McCORMICK PLACE SO IT IS TIED TO THE COVID RELIEF.

AND ALDERMAN BURKE WHO, OF COURSE, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CAN COUNT HER VICTORY AT CITY HALL AND TRACE IT BACK TO WHEN ALL OF THIS FIRST DEVELOPED AND WE ALL LEARNED ABOUT ALDERMAN ED BURKE'S TROUBLES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PERHAPS IT IS PAYBACK BUT IT'S INTERESTING.

HE WAS QUIET FOR THE LAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF BUT IN THE LAST THREE DAYS HE WAS BEEN WAY MORE OUTSPOKEN.

>> FOUND HIS LEGS AND ALDERMAN BURKE IS USUALLY A RELIABLE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HE IS AGAINST SPENDING MONEY ON POLICE COSTS.

WILL JONES A FEW ALDERMEN INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME A PILOT IN THE CITY.

YOU DID A STORY ON THAT PROGRAM STARTING UP IN GARY, INDIANA.

HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

>> IT IS CALLED GUARANTEED INCOME GIVE FOR SHORT.

AND THEY LAUNCHED A PROGRAM THEY ARE GOING TO BE SENDING OUT SURVEYS TO FIND 125 RESIDENTS TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM.

NOT VERY WIDESPREAD AT THIS POINT.

THESE RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE $500 A MONTH.

NO STRINGS ATTACHED FOR A YEAR.

THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THE MONEY.

AND GARY IS A CITY THAT HAS BEEN STRUGGLING FOR DECADES AND THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A LITTLE HELP FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING.

BUT I SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT $500 THAT REALLY WON'T DO MUCH A MONTH.

BUT THE ORGANIZER OF THE PROGRAM SAYS THAT IS JUST A START.

THEY ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT THIS WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY TAX DOLLARS THEY WERE GIVEN $500,000 FOR A GUARANTEED INCOME AND HOPING TO RAISE $1.6 MILLION FROM PRIVATE DONORS AND GRANTS.

SO THAT IS A BIG TASK AHEAD BUT THEY SAY THIS SHOULD BE PART OF THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN THIS ECONOMY ESPECIALLY THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

>> SEEMS LIKE THE SIZE AND SCOPE WILL DEPEND HOW MUCH PRIVATE MONEY THEY CAN GET AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING FOR TRIAL RUNS.

RACHEL HINTON I WANT TO MOVE OVER TO ACTION IN THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MORE INDICTMENTS THAT OF FORMER STATE LAWMAKER, EDDIE ACEVEDO AND THE TWO SONS WHO ARE LOBBYISTS AND AN INDICTMENT OF THE DANNY SOLIS HELP FIND THE BLUE PILLS ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

WHAT IS BEHIND THE CASES?

>> WELL, BOTH ARE RELATED TO TAX FRAUD, I BELIEVE FOR THE ACEVEDOS AND Mr. ROBERT CALDERO, HE IS ROBERTO ROBERT CALDERO AND WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT THE SAME GRAND JURY NUMBER THAT APPEARED IN THESE INDICTMENTS HAVE APPEARED IN TERMS IN RELATION TO FEDERAL SUBPOENA THAT WENT OUT TO FORMER SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN'S OFFICE AS WELL AS THE SAME ON THE RACKETEERING CHARGES FOR ALDERMAN ED BURKE.

THIS APPEARS TO BE THE DRUM BEAT OF THESE FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS IS GROWING IT'S GETTING LOUDER MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSELY CONNECTED OR WERE CLOSELY CONNECTED TO BURKE AND TO MICHAEL MADIGAN, THEY ARE FALLING.

THEY ARE GETTING INDICTED.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THEM I'M NOT SURE.

>> AND MARY ANN AHERN IS THERE ANY WOE WINS DENSE TO THE FACT THAT MADIGAN LEFT HIS FINAL POSITIONS OF POWER AND THESE INDICTMENTS CAME DOWN?

>> WELL THERE CERTAINLY IS THAT QUESTION OF TIMING.

AND ALSO WITH THAT TIMING, JOHN LAUSCH THE U.S. ATTORNEY WHO MANY THOUGHT TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS LAST DAY, WE'VE LEARNED THAT LAUSCH WILL GET TO STAY AND ONLY UNTIL HIS SUCCESSOR IS NAMED.

MIGHT THEY SLOW OFF WHO THAT SUCCESSOR IS.

>> HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?

IT.

COULD TAKE A MONTH, IT COULD TAKE SIX MONTHS.

IT DEPENDS THERE WILL BE INTERVIEWS AND SENATORS DURBIN AND DUCKWORTH WILL PRESENT THEIR LIST.

THEY HAVE A LIST READY TO GO THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE TO THEM.

AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT TALKED ABOUT I DO WANT LAUSCH TO STAY.

BUT WHEN HE DOES GO THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A WOMAN OF COLOR IN THAT POSITION.

>> SHE WAS CONSIDERED FOR THAT REPORTEDLY YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE COVID NEWS.

NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEADERS ANNOUNCED THE MARCH OPENING OF THE UNITED CENTER AS A MASS VACCINATION SITE WHICH THEY HOPE WILL HELP ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES THAT DOGGED THE ROLLOUT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE'RE VIEWING OUR VACCINE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS PILOT PROGRAM THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT AND TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> SUSIE AN, Dr. ARWADY TALKED ABOUT IMPROVING NUMBERS FOR VACCINATIONS AND SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY THE BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITIES IS THE CITY MAKING PROGRESS ON CLOSING THE EQUITY GAP?

>> THE CITY IS MAKING SOME PROGRESS BY OPENING SITES IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME ESPECIALLY WITH LOW SUPPLY AND GETTING THINGS OUT THERE.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THE HEAT MAPS WHERE MOST OF THE VACCINATIONS ARE GOING AND A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SEEM TO BE AHEAD OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN GETTING VACCINATIONS.

IT'S STILL GOING TO TAKE TIME BEFORE WE SEE A SIGNIFICANT MOVE TO CLOSING THAT GAP.

>> AND WILL JONES PUBLIC OFFICIALS KEEP SAYING THEY WANT TO CLOSE THAT GAP THEY DON'T WANT THE DISPARITIES, HOW DO YOU PUT THAT INTO ACTION?

>> WELL, I HOSTED A TOWN HALL WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND OTHER BLACK DOCTORS FOCUSED ON THE OUTREACH TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DISPARITY AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND WANTED TO STRESS THAT ONCE THEY GET THE SUPPLY SHE WANTED PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET THE VACCINE.

SHE SAYS THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY AS WELL ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VACCINE.

AND A LOT OF BLACK CHICAGOANS ARE RELUCTANT TO GET THE VACCINE BASED ON THE HISTORICAL MISTREATMENT BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

SHE WANTS TO STRESS THAT THE VACCINE IS SAFE.

BUT SHE IS MAKING PROGRESS IN TRYING TO GET MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR VACCINATED.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE REOPENING OF THE CITY.

BECAUSE BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS MAKEUP TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION.

>> AND A LOT OF THE ZIP CODES THAT THEY LIVE IN HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE HIGHEST COVID RATES.

>> MARY ANN AHERN AT THE UNITED CENTER THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO 6,000 VACCINATIONS A DAY.

WILL THERE BE ENOUGH VACCINE IN CHICAGO TO CARRY THAT OUT?

>> BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY ARE SHIPPING THIS IS 6,000 A DAY ABOVE WHAT WE ARE ALREADY RECEIVING.

THIS IS NOT PART OF THAT COUNT.

SO THIS IS A LOT MORE VACCINE THAN WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IN THE PAST.

AND THE OTHER BIG QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU GET THE APPOINTMENT?

BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL BEEN REPORTING THOSE STORIES HOW DIFFICULT IT IS.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST A WALK UP TO THE UNITED CENTER.

YOU MUST COME WITH AN APPOINTMENT.

>> AND YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ON-LINE PROGRAM?

>> I THINK WE WILL HEAR WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THERE MIGHT BE BUT YES THAT IS ONE OF THEM.

>> AND PROVIDERS KNOW THIS THAT PERHAPS ESPECIALLY OLDER POPULATIONS THAT AREN'T AS INTERNET SAVVY, SUSY, RACHEL HOW DO YOU REACH FOLKS THAT CANNOT GO ON-LINE AND REFRESH THEIR PAGE?

>> THAT IS THE DIFFICULT PART OF THIS.

THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THE STATE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

I BELIEVE ALL THREE HAVE LIKE DOOR-TO-DOOR PROGRAMS TRYING TO REACH PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO CALL THEM, TEXT THEM, GET YOUNGER PEOPLE TO HELP THE OLDER PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY GET THESE VACCINES BUT THAT IS A HURDLE IN TERMS OF GETTING THE VACCINE OUT AND GETTING TO HERD IMMUNITY.

>> WE TALKED TO PROVIDERS AT UIC SAID THEY WERE TEXTING AND CALLING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT RELY ON PEOPLE GOING ON-LINE.

>> SUSIE AN, K-5 STUDENTS RETURNED TO C.P.S.

CLASSROOMS NEXT MONDAY WHAT ATTENDANCE DO YOU EXPECT FROM TEACHERS AND STUDENTS?

>> WE ARE EXPECTING TEACHERS WILL SHOW UP AND LESS THAN 30% OF STUDENTS K-5 OPTED TO COME BACK FOR HYBRID.

AND WE MIGHT SEE CLASSROOMS WHERE THERE ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF KIDS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

THERE ARE CLASSROOMS THAT I'VE HEARD THAT ARE ALMOST FULL BUT OTHERS THAT MAYBE ZERO, ONE KID.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT MONDAY.

>> IS THAT PARENTS THAT ARE AFRAID TO SEND THEIR KIDS BACK BECAUSE OF COVID?

>> I THINK IT IS A NUMBER OF THINGS.

COVID DEFINITELY PLAYS A PART.

OF COURSE, THE TENSION BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE UNION ALSO PLAYED A PART.

I'VE HEARD PARENTS FELT PRESSURED TO NOT OPT-IN TO GO BACK AND THERE ARE PARENTS WHO AFTER LISTENING TO THEIR SCHOOL'S PLAN OF RETURN THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT.

SO MAYBE ORIGINALLY OPTED IN AND DECIDED NO, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT.

>> EVERYBODY IN THE CITY FEELING THE TENSION.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

OUR THANKS TO MARY ANN AHERN, WILL JONES, RACHEL HINTON, AND SUSIE AN.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

CAN YOU GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

WE'LL LOOK HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS INTERRUPTED AN INCOME SOURCE FOR DAY LABORERS.

AND SUNDAY FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS A SWEEPING CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL BUT WHAT IS IN IT?

AND WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. ALL NEXT WEEK.

AND NOW FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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